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Beijing, Moscow to deepen ties

08:51, May 09, 2025 By Mo Jingxi ( China Daily

President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in the Kremlin in Moscow after they signed a joint statement on further deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. (Feng Yongbin/China Daily)

China and Russia issued a joint statement on Thursday on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, agreeing to push forward the high-level development of bilateral ties, uphold a correct historical perspective on World War II and firmly defend international fairness and justice.

The statement was jointly signed by President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin following their talks in Moscow.

The two heads of state witnessed the exchange of more than 20 bilateral cooperation documents covering such areas as global strategic stability, upholding the authority of international law, biosecurity, investment protection, the digital economy, quarantine and film cooperation.

Xi arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, his 11th visit to the neighboring country since becoming president, for a state visit and to attend celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victories in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

President Xi attends a welcoming ceremony held on Thursday in the Kremlin in Moscow by Russian President Putin. (Feng Yongbin/China Daily)

The two heads of state have met more than 40 times on different occasions over the years.

"The foundation of political mutual trust between China and Russia has grown deeper, the ties of practical cooperation have become stronger, and cultural and local exchanges have flourished," Xi said, noting that China-Russia relations are more composed, confident, stable, and resilient in the new era.

Xi called on the two countries to continue with the general direction of cooperation, eliminate external interference, and make the foundation of cooperation more solid and the momentum for progress more abundant.

China and Russia should leverage the complementary advantages of the two countries' resources and industrial systems to expand high-quality and mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, energy, agriculture, aerospace, and artificial intelligence, Xi said.

The two countries should synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, in order to provide a platform for promoting high-standard connectivity, he said.

Xi also urged the two sides to enhance coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS to unite the Global South, uphold genuine multilateralism, and guide global governance reform in the right direction.

As China is striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, Xi said that China is determined and confident in overcoming various risks and challenges, and will steadfastly manage its own affairs well regardless of changes in the external environment.

He expressed China's readiness to work together with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities entrusted by the times, maintain the global multilateral trading system, and ensure the stability and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains.

This will contribute more significantly to the development and revitalization of both countries and the safeguarding of international fairness and justice, Xi said.

Putin, who received Xi with a welcoming ceremony on Thursday morning, said, "I am grateful that, just as you did 10 years ago for the previous anniversary, you have chosen to join us in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, which our nation holds sacred."

Putin said that amid global uncertainty, the Russia-China relationship is a crucial stabilizing factor on the international stage and undoubtedly a model of state-to-state relations in the 21st century.

Russia-China ties are built on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for each other's interests and sovereignty, and are not directed against any third party, he said.

Putin added that imposing high tariffs goes against common sense and is illegal, and will only backfire.

He also said he will be delighted to make an official visit to China for the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the end of World War II.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Irelands RTE has become the fourth broadcaster to publicly request Eurovision organisers to facilitate a discussion about the inclusion of Israel in the song contest.

RTE Director General, Kevin Bakhurst said, I am appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages.

Notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest is membership of the European Broadcasting Union, RTE has nonetheless asked the EBU for a discussion on Israels inclusion in the contest.

In doing this, we are mindful of RTEs obligations as an independent, impartial public service news and current affairs provider, and of the need to maintain RTEs objectivity in covering the war in Gaza. We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israels public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government.

Iceland, Slovenia and Spain (one of the Big 5 event funders) have all called for a discussion on the appearance of Israel at Eurovision.

Earlier this week, over 70 past Eurovision participants signed an open letter demanding Israels exclusion from the contest. It follows objections to Israels inclusion in 2024.

Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Green, said, No participating EBU member broadcaster, who have all been widely consulted, has publicly opposed Israeli broadcaster Kans participation in the Eurovision Song Contest  despite the claims in another letter from RTE journalists. The broadcasters mentioned in the letter, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, requested a discussion and RUV in Iceland has informed us of their foreign ministers comments on Kans participation.

[We] understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.

It is not our role to make comparisons between conflicts.

The EBU is not immune to global events, but, together, with our members, it is our role to ensure the contest remains, at its heart, a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music.

We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.

The EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments, who are all eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the requisite requirements. The EBU is supporting our Israeli Member Kan against the threat from being privatised or shut down by the Israeli government.

The EBU remains aligned with other international organisations that have similarly maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.

Source: wiwibloggs
There are a lot of ways to describe the MCU Phase V slump. Some want to pin it on Superhero Fatigue, that the genre as a whole just doesnt have the ring and luster it once did. Thats certainly possible, but I think a recent interview with Disney CEO Bob Iger pits it correctly, quantity over quality is the problem. In the post-Endgame MCU era, Marvel and its parent company pivoted hard into creating films and series with the misguided idea that more content would equal more audience retention. While more can be fun, the consequence of numerous films and television series was nothing felt like an event anymore. It all felt like homework we had to watch so we could enjoy something else without feeling behind.

On that note, if you didnt watch Falcon and the Winter Soldier Season One, youre going to be left out in the cold on Captain America: Brave New World. Youll especially feel lost if you don't remember 2008s largely forgotten The Incredible Hulk. Even then, the stumbling pace and sprawling geopolitical plot still might not be enough to hook newcomers or satisfy longtime MCU fans.

Our story opens with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) fully embracing his new role as Captain America fighting alongside his New Flacon pal Torres (Danny Ramirez). Mission after mission, they execute with efficiency. As the newly elected President, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) aims to cement his political future and sway the global response to the Celestial Tiamut and the massive deposits of adamantium. But as Ross is about to claim a political victory lap, his plans are shredded when his darkest secret, the gamma-enhanced Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) comes looking for revenge.

Theres a lot to say about Captain America: Brave New World. For my own sake, I dont think it deserved the sharp criticisms lobbed its way. Certainly didnt deserve the nonsense from the basement dwellers online. Im not going to say its perfect because its far from that, but its also far from being the worst MCU project. Perhaps more frustrating in some ways, its just a middling entertaining piece of filler that doesnt seem to push the connected universe narrative in any direction beyond exhaustively repetitive mentions of adamantium. (Seriously take a shot every time someone mentions the metal key to Wolverines iconic skeleton and claws and youll be dead drunk under the table before the second act.)

Keeping to some positive notes for a moment, Harrison Ford was a terrific replacement for the late William Hurt - to the point that I left the theater wishing Ford had been Thunderbolt Ross the entire time so that his arc with the character felt more meaningful. Hurt was a fine actor, but you could always tell when he thought the material he was in was beneath him. Mackie fits the winged Captain America role nicely. That was a fine set of comics back in the day and hes more than capable of leading a franchise like this, it just needed to be a slam-dunk film where he was more front and center than the side characters. I also really enjoyed the return of Tim Blake Nelson as Sterns even if his version of The Leader is quite a bit more monstrous than a more comic-accurate appearance.

I also loved the action sequences. Anytime Mackies Captain America flies into a scene and goes toe-to-toe with the bad guys, its an exciting time. The thrill of the flight crashing into a fisticuff brawl is a wild swing in momentum and intensity. I also like that hes not physically overpowered so it takes time to wind down an enemy while taking a few tough hits too. That aerial battle over the Indian Ocean around the Celestial Island is blisteringly fun and a true highlight of the flick.

The principal issue for Brave New World is that its sprawling plot feels more suited for a Disney+ series than a two-hour film. There are a lot of plot ins and outs with various characters that harken to classic paranoid thrillers like Three Days of the Condor and The Manchurian Candidate, and those kinds of films dont always allow for a lot of big-scale whizbang action spectacle in a condensed timeframe. To make it all work in such a short period, there is a lot of stopping the plot to explain whats going on because so much of what happens depends on doing your MCU homework. Its been seventeen years since The Incredible Hulk and in that time a lot of story has happened so this movie feels like its unnecessarily dragging the audience along to catch up. If done correctly, dialog can be exhilarating, and it can be as dynamic and exciting as any action sequence. Here, these exchanges just pull the movie to a stop and then force it to try and pick up the momentum again.

Then theres how this film was marketed as a showdown between Captain America and Red Hulk. As a general rule, you shouldnt market a film entirely on your late third-act twist. Granted, something as big as that was bound to get out, but this film doesnt hinge on that specific moment. That showdown is the payoff to the long game, not the journey itself. The final Red Hulk reveal should have been akin to Steve Rodgers picking up Mjolnir in Endgame, a true audience holy s#*t! moment that pins you to the back of your theater seat, not the key to the marketing campaign.

If the scuttlebutt is at all true, between the union strikes, rewrites, and reshoots, this was certainly something of a troubled production. Going forward, if a project isnt clicking on all cylinders, Marvel needs to actually be brave and do what they did on Daredevil: Born Again - stop production, retool, and then start again. This game of trying to fix it in post is becoming old hat, obvious, and leads to a cheaper even more incomplete-feeling final product. And I say that as someone who did enjoy this film! Brave New World could have been one of the MCU greats. You can feel the pieces of a grand exciting story in this film, but they rarely shine through. Instead, we have some excellent action scenes and fine performances stuck in a middling adventure that isnt confident in the direction its going.







Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Captain America: Brave New World flies onto 4K Ultra HD with a two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital release from Disney. For this review, we received the stylish SteelBook and I have to say its one of the more exciting SteelBooks to come out of Marvel. The 4K is pressed on a BD66 with a BD50 serving the 1080p edition and the bonus features. The discs load to the standard Disney language menu option before jumping right into the main feature.
1. Background

As a federally owned enterprise, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. On behalf of the German Government, GIZ provides advisory services to the Vietnamese Government in four priority areas: (1) Vocational training, (2) Environmental, (3) Energy, and (4) Sustainable Economic Development. For further information, please visit www.giz.de/viet-nam.

Through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), GIZ has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) with the project Support to Viet Nam for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement II (VN-SIPA II). The project supports Viet Nams development pathway toward a just, net-zero transition in line with the Paris Agreement (PA), and contributes to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

In the context of the development of Viet Nams NDC 3.0, the project provides technical analysis and support among others for the Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use and Land-use change (AFOLU) sectoral report.

On behalf of the Support to Viet Nam for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement II (VN-SIPA II) project, the GIZ Office Hanoi is conducting an open tender (without negotiation) to invite qualified National Consulting Firm(s) (hereinafter referred to as 'NC') to undertake the following assignment:

 Objective of assignment: Provide inputs on the Agriculture, Land-Use, Land-Use Change, Forest (AFOLU) sector reports for the NDC development in line with the requirements of Viet Nams Net Zero Commitment. Develop technical reports for the AFOLU sector in the NDC and collect and process relevant data to develop potential mitigation measures and scenarios including modelling, planning for the implementation of GHG emission reduction measures and propose examples for the detailed formulation of the measures and their monitoring, reporting and verification.

 Tentative duration: From July  31st October 2025

 Place of assignment: Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 NCs number of working days: Up to 502 days

 Requirements: The Contractor shall demonstrate that as a company, they fulfil the following requirements:

- Compliance with legal requirements (e.g. commercial and tax registration, relevant licences etc)

- Technical experience in forestry sector policy, climate change mitigation / deforestation in the forestry sector, forest monitoring and forest change tracking and conducting surveys, data analysis and modelling (at least 03 reference projects / assignments)

- Experience of development projects (ODA-financed)

- Well-acquainted with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders

2. Requirements for eligibility documents

- Letter of interest (with Directors or authorised persons signature and company stamp).

- NC profile (incl. Business license (for firm) or Decision of establishment (for association), Tax code registration, organisational chart, similar experience/copy of contracts related to this assignment).

- Audited financial reports of the last 03 years. Important/key information in the audited financial reports or in annual tax reports must be translated into English if documents are in Vietnamese.

- Consortium agreement and nomination of the lead firm (required if two or more entities jointly undertake the assignment)

3. Method of bid submission

If you are interested in this tender, please send an email to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de to receive tender documents before 06.06.2025.

After receiving tender documents, you are requested to submit as instructed below:

a. Eligibility documents will be sent to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de with emails subject Tender 83488493 - Eligibility dossier-Company profile latest by 17:00 (Hanoi time) on 20 June 2025.

b. Technical proposal will be sent to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de with emails subject Tender 83488493 - Technical proposal latest by 17:00 (Hanoi time) on 20 June 2025.

c. Financial proposal will be sent to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de with emails subject Tender 83488493 - Financial proposal latest by 17:00 (Hanoi time) on 20 June 2025.

Important notes:

1. Questions related to eligibility assessment and proposal assessment to be sent to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de before 13 June 2025.

2. Sending the eligibility documents, technical proposal and financial proposal in a separate email with a specific emails subject as mentioned above.

3. Financial proposal: Calculate your financial file exactly in line with the quantitative requirements specified in the TOR.

4. No remuneration will be granted for the preparation of the bid and the documents to be attached thereto.

5. Sending documents to the wrong email address will result in the disqualification of the bidder.

6. For data protection and information security reason: In case the total volume of your bids is below 10 MB, you can attach them directly in the email sent to us. In case the total volume of your bids is above 10 MB, the files must be sent via GIZ file transfer system. We will provide the guidance on how to use file transfer to interested bidders. Files sent via other applications/systems such as google drive, dropboxwill not be accepted.

7. GIZ is obliged to ensure the confidentiality of all bidding documents submitted.

IKI Complaint Mechanism

To ensure the compliance with social and environmental standards and for the lawful use of approved funding under IKI, the IKI Independent Complaint Mechanism (ICM) is installed to enable people who suffer (potential) negative social and/or environmental consequences from (IKI) projects, or who wish to report the improper use of funds, to voice their complaints anonymously. The objective of the ICM is to avert or minimise possible damage and initiate effective countermeasures. ICM is applied to all activities of VN-SIPA II as an IKI project.

Any person or group of persons, or community that has been or may be affected negatively by or experience reprisals in relation to the Project can file a complaint or authorise a representative to file and pursue the complaint on their behalf. More information or instruction on how to file a complaint is available at https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/PAGE396-1
HA NOI  A proposal to impose a 20-per-cent tax on profits from real estate transfers could create negative impacts on the housing market and overall accessibility for homebuyers.

During the amendment of the Personal Income Tax Law, the Ministry of Finance has proposed two methods for calculating taxes on real estate transfers, depending on the availability of transaction data. The methods aim to reflect the realities of property transactions and improve tax collection efficiency.

Specifically, for the case that has available data on the trading price and relevant fees or charges, each property transaction is imposed personal income tax (PIT) at 20 per cent on the taxable income.

In case data cannot be verified, a simpler two per cent tax rate on the total transaction value is applied.

Under the current regulations, individuals pay a flat two per cent tax rate on the transaction value, regardless of whether the transaction yields a profit. This often leads to under-reporting of sale prices, to reduce the tax payable, causing losses to the State budget and a lack of transparency in the real estate market.

Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang has emphasised that the first method aligns with the fundamental principles of income taxation by ensuring tax is levied on actual gains.

However, the methods effectiveness hinges on two critical conditions: a comprehensive and accurate database of land transaction histories and clear legal guidance on costs that can be deducted.

Currently, the taxation department maintains a database that allows searches for land plot and taxpayer transaction histories dating back to 2018.

However, ensuring buyers and sellers declare true transaction values remains a challenge, and building a reliable market price database will require both time and technological tools.

Additionally, identifying and verifying deductible costs in property transfers is complicated. Some expenses - such as land purchase prices, construction, repairs and administrative fees - are straightforward. Others are more ambiguous, including brokerage fees, loan interest, compensation payments, and other miscellaneous costs.

In many cases, especially involving inherited or donated properties, determining the original cost basis is difficult or impossible. The cases would have inaccurate tax declarations and difficulty in assessing taxable income.

A resident in Ha Noi, Hoang Minh Ngoc, said a home may be held for decades before resale, during which countless expenses, often without receipts, are incurred. These include renovations, maintenance and financing costs, which are typically difficult to document and thus may not be recognised when calculating taxable profits.

The Finance Minister believes that the tax could curb speculation by professional real estate traders, helping moderate market volatility.

However, he also warns that sellers are likely to pass the tax burden on to buyers, pushing property prices even higher.

Unless someone is in urgent need of cash, they will wait to sell, leading to a situation of having a supply, but it is inaccessible in practice, he said.

The southern regional director at Batdongsan.com.vn, inh Minh Tuan, said that accurately determining a property's input cost, especially for long-held homes, would be challenging for tax authorities.

Costs like brokerage fees, renovations, repairs and interest payments are rarely documented thoroughly, he said. A property might show little to no real profit, yet the owner could still face a substantial tax bill.

For investors, any new tax would simply be added to the selling price, along with brokerage fees, contributing to further price increases, said Tuan.

So, he warned that it could incentivise under-the-table transactions, reducing transparency and leading to lost revenue for the government.

For end-users - particularly first-time homebuyers - the proposed tax could raise property prices, making it harder to access housing, he said.

Viet Nam currently maintains one of the lowest real estate tax rates in the region, with no tax on profits and overall real estate taxes below 10 per cent. Experts argue that while reform is necessary, it must be balanced and supportive of market development.

Real estate expert Nguyen Van inh proposed reducing the personal income tax rate on real estate transfers to a low rate of 0.5 per cent, for example, while retaining the current tax calculation method based on declared transaction prices.

Such a change would encourage more accurate declarations, helping the government gather reliable market data and develop an accurate land pricing system.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam needs a strategy to develop its coconut industry to capitalise on soaring global demand to expand export sustainably.

With more than 200,000ha of coconut plantations and an annual output of around two million tonnes, Viet Nam ranks fifth in the world in terms of coconut production. Coconut exports also reached US$1,089 billion last year, from a modest baseline of $180 million in 2010.

In particular, exports of fresh coconuts jumped by 18 per cent to $33.3 million in the first two months of this year, while processed coconut products soared 86 per cent to $43.8 million.

The US and China are potential markets for Viet Nams coconuts while Vietnamese coconuts are also gaining traction in the US market, which consumes coconuts year-round, thanks to their natural flavour and high quality.

Following a protocol signed in August, China is expected to import $250 million worth of coconuts from Viet Nam this year.

The global demand is bringing significant opportunities for Viet Nam to promote the coconut industry and position it as a pillar of the agricultural economy in 2025.

However, the coconut industry is facing multiple challenges. In Ben Tre and Tien Giang where there are more than 100,000ha of plantations, prolonged drought, saltwater intrusion and pest outbreaks have badly affected yields, leading to a supply shortfall and price surges.

Coconut prices are now around VN170,000  180,000 (US$6.7-7) per dozen, nearly tripling the same period last year.

According to Cao Ba ang Khoa, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Coconut Association, the surge is being driven by declining supply, increasing demand in northern markets during the hot season and for exports. High prices benefit farmers, but cause instability for exporters and processors.

To seize the opportunity from rising coconut prices and global demand, Viet Nam needs to develop a strategy for the coconut industry, Khoa said, adding that the focus must be on developing strong brands for fresh coconuts, coconut milk and oil, cosmetics and handicrafts.

He said deep processing and product diversification will help increase the added value.

Experts also said that it is necessary to develop plantation areas which meet stringent quality requirements of the US and the EU. Investments in post-harvest processing, technology, logistics infrastructure and supply chains for the coconut industry are critical.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Phung uc Tien said Viet Nam must proactively prepare for stricter international standards, especially from markets like the US and EU, and leverage trade agreements such as RCEP to expand exports.

Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetable Association forecasts coconut exports reaching $1.2 billion this year, in which fresh coconut contributes $500 million.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  A largest-ever Vietnamese delegation will take part in the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, scheduled for May 11-14 in Maryland, the US, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang told US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper at their meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Thang said this is seen as part of key activities aimed at boosting Viet Nam  US trade and investment ties.

He expressed his appreciation for the strong support from the US Ambassador and the US Embassy in Viet Nam in general, in recent times, calling this a clear sign of the growing substance and effectiveness of the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The largest-ever delegation from Viet Nam to the summit reflects growing interest among Vietnamese businesses in the US investment environment and their desire to expand presence in the market, Thang stressed.

Apart from joining activities at the summit, the Vietnamese delegates will also meet with US authorities, associations and businesses operating in the fields of semiconductors, high technology, startups, banking, and green and digital finance, he noted, adding that through these engagements, the Vietnamese Government aims to underscore its commitment to advancing bilateral economic and trade ties on the basis of fairness, mutual benefit, and sustainability as the world undergoes sweeping changes in trade policies and the global business environment.

For his part, Knapper welcomed the strong Vietnamese presence at the summit, describing this as a strong sign of the growing bilateral ties as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

This will be a great opportunity for seeking ways to further deepen the economic and investment cooperation between the two nations, the diplomat said.

In recent years, Viet Nam and the US have witnessed the fruitful development in their bilateral relationship, especially since they established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023. Thang voiced his belief that with Knappers central role and close coordination among all relevant parties, the two sides will continue to foster an effective, substantive, and long-term economic and trade partnership.  VNS
HCM CITY  Vietnamese and Australian businesses and policymakers are joining forces to develop next-generation smart cities, as showcased at Thursday's Australia-Vietnam Smart Cities Business Forum 2025.

The event, held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, demonstrated both nations' commitment to developing sustainable smart cities while boosting digital economy ties.

Building on insights from April's Smart City Focus Group - Vietnam Market Deep-Dive, the forum brought together government and industry leaders to explore collaborations in renewable energy, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity and intelligent transport systems, leveraging Australia's tech expertise and Viet Nam's urbanisation momentum.

"The digital economy is a priority for enhancing two-way trade and investment. Austrade Vietnams Landing Pad initiative is driving Australian technologies to the region, supporting digital transformation, and fostering partnerships with Vietnamese stakeholders to co-develop solutions tailored to local needs," said Jonathan Saw, Austrade's Trade and Investment Commissioner to Viet Nam.

The timing couldn't be more crucial for Viet Nam, where 48 out of 63 provinces have already initiated smart city programmes. However, significant challenges remain in implementing comprehensive solutions.

Viet Nam faces major urban challenges  rapid urbanisation, pollution, infrastructure gaps and an ageing population  requiring smarter resource management and planning.

The focus group led by Austrade, in collaboration with Startup Vietnam Foundation and Dear Our Community, brought to light several challenges in Viet Nams smart city journey, such as a heavy reliance on technology instead of residents' real needs and weak long-term planning, which leads to disjointed solutions.

Data privacy also remains a big concern, even with new protection laws. Internet and power systems are unreliable, especially for growing tech needs. High costs and unclear regulations for AI and data make progress slow. These issues must be solved for smart cities to succeed.

Despite these issues, Viet Nam's smart city market offers huge growth potential.

The market could grow from US$1.36 trillion in 2024 to $3.84 trillion by 2029. Government policies strongly support digital transformation. The focus group highlighted opportunities in sectors like AI, cybersecurity, smart transport, telemedicine and clean energy  areas where Australia can help.

At the forum, Australian companies showcased innovative solutions that could help address Viet Nam's urban challenges.

A delegation of 13 firms presented cutting-edge technologies in energy optimisation, smart traffic management and green building design. Their proposals highlighted how Australia's expertise in 5G networks, renewable energy systems and digital governance could complement Viet Nam's dynamic urban growth.

Key to successful implementation will be establishing effective public-private partnerships that balance innovation with regulation.

Experts stressed the importance of developing supportive policy frameworks and people-centric standards to guide smart city development while leaving room for private sector innovation.

The Government's role should be to set standards and create enabling conditions, while businesses and start-ups drive technological solutions, a representative from Vietnam-German University said during panel discussions.

Looking ahead, participants agreed that sustained collaboration will be essential. The Australian business delegation plans follow-up meetings with Vietnamese counterparts this week to explore specific projects, while government representatives discussed policy coordination to facilitate future partnerships.  VNS
ROME  The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy has operated a booth showcasing a rich and varied array of agricultural products from Viet Nam at the 42nd Macfrut Fruit & Veg Professional Show, which took place in Rimini, in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy, from May 6 to 8.

The Vietnamese booth attracted participation from 10 domestic agribusinesses  including Hibiso, featuring its perilla tea, and Hikari a Lat, presenting a variety of fruits  each contributing an assortment of products on display to introduce to the Italian market.

At the space, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hai Hung engaged with importers and exporters of farm produce, as well as high-tech agricultural machinery manufacturers. He also held discussions with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation regarding potential support programmes for advancing Vietnamese agribusinesses.

During the fair, the diplomat toured various exhibition stands, promoting, networking, and marketing Vietnamese agricultural products to both Italian and international buyers. Many produce such as shiitake mushrooms, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, macadamia nuts, pineapple, lime, and avocado, attracted significant attention.

In addition, Hung met with executives from the UNITEC Group to discuss their operational plan in Viet Nam.

The fair marked the fifth occasion on which Vietnamese enterprises had directly showcased their signature fruit products to Italian businesses and consumers. This comes at a time when European and Italian consumers are increasingly inclined towards tropical fruits, particularly varieties celebrated for their health benefits.

Recognised as Italys largest international agricultural fair, the event attracted over 1,400 exhibitors, approximately 40 per cent of which hailed from overseas, and 1,500 prominent buyers. It also featured thematic seminars and roughly 100 industry trend events, including a healthy food exhibition.  VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien led a Vietnamese delegation to the second Special ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting on negotiations for upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), which took place on Friday in an online format.

Dien supported the early conclusion of the ATIGA upgrade negotiations and praised the positive results done by the ATIGA Upgrade Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and technical groups in recent times.

After sharing Viet Nam's views on the proposals from the TNC Chair and expressing maximum flexibility on the remaining issues to advance the negotiation process, he called on the countries to continue promoting intra-ASEAN solidarity, work together to resolve the existing differences based on balanced interests, towards a feasible, effective, and sustainable upgraded ATIGA for all parties.

ASEAN economic ministers shared the view that completing the negotiations for upgrading the ATIGA would send positive signals to the business community about ASEANs strong commitment to regional economic integration through reducing trade barriers, facilitating trade cooperation, and improving supply chain connectivity; and affirm ASEAN's support for an open, transparent, and rule-based multilateral trade system.

They praised recent efforts made by the TNC and technical groups in the process of negotiation. They also acknowledged that after 14 official negotiation sessions, ASEAN countries have now completed nearly 98% of the negotiation process.

The TNC Chair briefed participants on the outstanding issues in several areas, such as rules of origin, refurbished goods, transparency, further tariff liberalisation, the effective term of the upgraded ATIGA; and provided recommendations to address these issues.

Based on the TNC Chair's report, the ministers proposed necessary directives towards a flexible, practical, and mutually beneficial solution, thereby reaffirming their commitment to completing the negotiations and signing the upgraded ATIGA in accordance with the plan agreed upon by all parties.

Chaired by the Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, the meeting has created a favourable foundation for the next rounds of negotiations, towards the signing of the second protocol to upgrade the ATIGA during the 47th ASEAN Summit, slated for November 2025 in Malaysia.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Agriculture and Environment o uc Duy has called on Vietnamese businesses to take a more proactive role in enhancing competitiveness and standardising production processes amid growing trade challenges, particularly from the United States.

Speaking at the Viet NamUS Agricultural Trade Promotion Conference on May 9, Duy warned that the United States potential imposition of high reciprocal duties could create serious pressure on Viet Nams key export sectors.

The US remains Viet Nams largest export market for agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

In 2024, exports to the US reached over US$13.7 billion, accounting for 22 per cent of total sector export value. In the first four months of 2025, the figure rose to $4.34 billion, up 10.2 per cent year-on-year.

Key products  including wood and wood products, seafood, cashew nuts, pepper and fresh fruit  have established a solid foothold in the US and are well received by American consumers. The US currently leads in market share at 20.5 per cent, followed by China (17.1 per cent), the EU (13 per cent) and Japan (7.5 per cent).

However, Duy noted that US considerations of reciprocal duties of up to 46 per cent are putting immense pressure on Vietnamese exports. In response, the Government has swiftly implemented a range of measures  from developing action plans and engaging in negotiations with the US, to organising a business delegation to the US this June.

So far, nearly 40 enterprises have registered for the trip, with a projected import value of $2 billion in raw materials  excluding timber, he said.

Despite these efforts, the minister pointed out serious gaps in Viet Nams supply chain management, describing it as fragmented, non-transparent and not yet aligned with international standards for labour, environment and traceability.

This, he explained, leaves Vietnamese goods more vulnerable to trade investigations and tariff measures.

Investing in deep processing and green logistics

Duy called on enterprises to increase investment in deep processing technologies, cold chain logistics and quality control systems. He urged stronger linkages with farmers and cooperatives under value chain models, along with better responsiveness to new US market regulations and trade investigations.

He also emphasised the need for export market diversification, greater focus on the domestic market, effective use of signed free trade agreements and active participation in policy advocacy and international legal matters.

We must not rely solely on tax incentives or temporary advantages. Without meaningful change, the US market may no longer be an opportunity, but a barrier to growth, he said.

To support two-way trade balance, the Minister encouraged Vietnamese firms to explore greater imports of US-origin agricultural, forestry and fishery inputs for domestic production.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has introduced an export plan for the US, focusing on clearer supply chains, digital traceability, stronger branding and greener farming to meet tough environmental standards in key markets like the US, EU and Japan.

The Government, the Prime Minister and relevant ministries will continue to accompany businesses with concrete support in terms of institutions, policy and technical guidance  especially during difficult periods, Duy confirmed.

However, he emphasised that keeping access to the US market and raising the global profile of Vietnamese farm products depends mainly on businesses making real strategic changes and taking clear action.  BIZHUB/VNS
HCM CITY  The private economy was a crucial driver for HCM Citys growth over the past four months and the city will introduce a series of measures to further support this sector, affirmed HCM Citys Department of Finance.

At a meeting to assess the citys socio-economic achievements on Thursday, Le Thi Huynh Mai, director of HCM Citys Department of Finance, affirmed that a majority of the citys total retail sales growth during the first four months, which stood at 20 per cent, was contributed by private enterprises and individual business households.

The total registered capital of newly established enterprises and additional capital is VN229.4 trillion, a 1.7 per cent increase.

The Finance Department stated that while new capital decreased, additional capital increased by nearly 74 per cent, indicating a trend of restructuring and deepening investment in the private sector.

The Politburo recently issued Resolution 68 affirming that the private economy is the most important driving force of the economy. The Government plans to submit to the National Assembly a resolution on special policies for the development of the private economy.

At the local level, to support the development of this economic sector, Mai stated that HCM City will continue to improve the business environment and streamline administrative procedures.

In this regard, local authorities are increasing the application of technology in registering new business establishments or announcing the resumption of operations. The city has also proposed to the Ministry of Finance a plan to handle and resolve issues for enterprises entirely through digital signatures.

To raise capital, the city has been diversifying channels to mobilise funds such as public-private partnerships (PPP), corporate bonds, controlled venture capital funds, and accelerating public investment disbursement, prioritising infrastructure and support industries.

Le Van Thinh, head of the management board of HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zones, stated that they will actively monitor and support procedures for large projects proposed by investors, as well as potential projects currently in the site survey phase.

However, the city foresees upcoming challenges such as unpredictable international trade situations.

At the meeting, the citys vice chairman, Vo Van Hoan, requested that the departments accelerate solutions supporting private companies that are facing difficulties.

With some urban infrastructure projects having recently commenced, such as the Can Gio coastal urban area and the Saigon River pedestrian bridge, Hoan urged the Finance Department and relevant units to press investors to comply with the schedule. This will contribute resources to local economic development. -- VNS

An office of a private company in HCM City. The private economy helps fuel the city's economy. -- VNS Photo Thu Ngan
HA NOI  Viet Nam plans to impose a special consumption tax on petrol, or gasoline, as part of its strategy to fulfil environmental commitments, Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang said at the National Assembly session on May 9 that focused on the amended draft Law on Special Consumption Tax.

Environmental pollution is on the rise, and without imposing a tax on petrol, it will be difficult to change consumer behavior, the minister said. A special consumption tax on petrol has been in place since 1998.

He emphasised that transitioning to environmentally friendly alternatives, such as electric vehicles and public transportation, requires comprehensive policies, including fuel taxation.

Viet Nams commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as pledged by the Prime Minister at COP26, underpins this move. While acknowledging the countrys economic challenges, minister Thang said Viet Nam must align with international practices, noting that many developed nations impose various fuel-related levies such as CO taxes and fees.

According to the minister, while environmental protection fees help fund environment-related projects, the special consumption tax primarily aims to influence consumer behaviour and raise budget revenue.

Implementing both taxes complements each other and aligns with Viet Nams climate goals, he said, adding that Viet Nams fuel tax rates remain lower than those in many other countries.

National Assembly deputy Ha Sy ong agreed with the view that petrol should be taxed, but emphasised that at present, it is the only product subject to both a special consumption tax and an environmental protection tax. In contrast, oil  a similar fuel used for vehicles  is currently only subject to the environmental protection tax.

If the goal of taxing petrol is to mitigate environmental harm, then only the environmental protection tax should be applied. Therefore, I propose removing the special consumption tax on petrol, he stated.

National Assembly deputy Nguyen Truong Giang also supported this view, suggesting that the special consumption tax on petrol be removed and the environmental protection tax increased if necessary.

Notably, deputy Nguyen Minh Tam proposed adding plastic bags to the list of goods subject to special consumption tax, in order to support environmental protection goals and reduce the use of single-use plastic products.

According to several deputies, despite the Government's efforts and strong public awareness campaigns, the publics habit of using plastic bags has shown little change or decline.

Minister Thang stated that the current environmental protection tax on plastic bags is already at the maximum of VN40,000 per kg, but welcomed further review to assess the effectiveness of fiscal measures in curbing usage.

The amended law also proposes steeper taxes on products harmful to public health. For alcohol over 20 per cent as well as beer, the Government suggests an annual 5 per cent tax increase. Specifically, from 2027 to 2031, the tax rate for this item will increase from 70 per cent to 90 per cent.

However, amid economic pressures and a national growth target of over 8 per cent, the National Assemblys Economic and Financial Committee recommends a more moderate approach, still beginning in 2027.

Sugary soft drinks are also included in the new taxable list, with an 8 per cent tax starting in 2027 and increasing to 10 per cent by 2028.

The goal on imposing this tax is to combat rising rates of obesity and diseases related to high sugar consumption. The Government is studying international models and expanding the taxable product list as necessary.

Meanwhile, pickup trucks will see a gradual increase in tax of 3 per cent annually starting from 2027, rather than an immediate hike to 60 per cent, the rate applied to under-9-seat passenger cars, as initially proposed. This revision aims to support domestic businesses and maintain a favourable investment environment.

Tax on air conditioners

Regarding the taxation of air conditioners, the draft law proposes applying the special consumption tax to units with capacities between 18,000 and 90,000 BTU.

During the meeting, several National Assembly deputies recommended increasing the minimum taxable capacity. In response, the Minister of Finance stated that the Ministry would consider adjusting the threshold, potentially taxing only air conditioners with a capacity above 24,000 BTU and below 90,000 BTU.

The minister emphasised that taxation is not solely aimed at reducing electricity consumption.

He also noted that the Prime Minister has issued directives requiring that by 2045, household and commercial air conditioners using HCFCs and HFCs  substances harmful to the ozone layer  must be phased out, with production and imports prohibited.

Imposing a special consumption tax on air conditioners therefore remains necessary, particularly as the country seeks to discourage energy-intensive appliances.

However, the minister said high taxes may not significantly curb demand, since air conditioning remains essential for health and daily living in many regions.

Delegate Tran Van Khai called for either abolishing this tax for this item or removing air conditioners with a capacity of under 90,000 BTU from the taxable list. If regulation is still deemed necessary, he proposed limiting the tax to only extremely high-capacity air conditioner systems.

Similarly, Giang also recommended raising the minimum taxable threshold to units above 24,000 BTU, because in urban areas, 24,000 BTU air conditioners are commonly used in apartments due to their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Deputy Pham Van Hoa pointed out the inconsistency of taxing household appliances while major pollutants like plastic products remain untaxed.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI Vietnamese pianist Nguyen Viet Trung is among 85 artists worldwide to have qualified for the 19th Chopin Competition that takes place in Warsaw from October 2-21.

Trung with a prestigious musical background is the only Vietnamese candidate on the list.

Trung, 29, was trained at the Bydgoszcz Music Academy in Poland and is one of the distinguished students of Vietnamese world-acclaimed pianist ang Thai Son who won the 10th Chopin Competition in 1980.

He has won numerous prestigious awards, including First Prize at the Emmy Alberg Competition in 2005 (Poland), First Prize at the Chopin Performance Competition, the Golden Note Award for outstanding young performers of Mozart in 2006 (Poland), and Second Prize at the International Chopin Competition for Young Talents (2010).

Earlier, Trung was the only candidate from Viet Nam listed among the 87 individuals advancing to the final round of 18th Chopin Competition, making him the second Vietnamese pianist reaching the finals of this esteemed competition after more than 40 years.

The preliminary rounds of the 19th Chopin Competition concluded on May 4 at the Warsaw Philharmonic after 12 days of daily auditions. The jury, chaired by Professor Piotr Paleczny, selected 66 pianists, who will return to Warsaw in less than five months for the competition.

Additionally, 19 candidates have been admitted directly to Stage I of the Competition without going through the preliminaries. These are laureates of selected piano competitions such as competitions in Leeds, Tel Aviv, Miami, Bolzano, Hamamatsu, the Paderewski International Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz, as well as the Fryderyk Chopin National Piano Competition in Warsaw.

A record number of 642 pianists from around the world applied for the music competition held at the turn of 2024 and 2025. Out of them, 171 were admitted to the preliminary round based on submitted recordings. Ultimately, 162 contestants from 28 countries took part in the preliminaries.

The official inauguration of the 19th Chopin Competition is scheduled for October 2. The auditions will begin the following day and continue until October 20. The competition will culminate in an awards gala and a concert by the laureates, which will take place on 21 October at the Great TheatreNational Opera. The winner will receive a gold medal and a first prize of 60,000 euros (US$69,000).

After the Chopin Competition concludes, a months-long concert tour will begin, during which the laureates will perform in prestigious concert halls across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The tour will be organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in collaboration with the Liu Kotow agency.

Established and inaugurated in 1927, the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition is one of the oldest music events of its kind in the world. It takes place every five years to commemorate and honour the Polish composer and piano virtuoso Frederic Chopin.

VNS
NGHE AN  The literary works by President Ho Chi Minh recognised as national treasures will be introduced in an exhibition at Nghe An Cultural Centre in Vinh City in the central province of Nghe An from May 16-20.

This activity holds significant political, cultural and social meaning within the framework of the Sen Village Festival 2025, aiming to honour and express profound gratitude for the great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese revolution.

It reflects the appreciation and respect of the entire nation and international friends towards the President  a national liberation hero and an outstanding cultural figure of Viet Nam.

The exhibition features scientifically arranged displays that highlight the life, revolutionary career and thoughts of the President. The main display area showcases numerous images, documents and artefacts organised into distinctive themes.

The display section President Ho Chi Minh - National Liberation Hero emphasises the immense contributions he made to the cause of national independence, peace, democracy and social progress. He led the entire nation during the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam and successfully conducted two great resistance wars to achieve national independence, unify the country and build socialism.

The highlight of the exhibition is the section Ho Chi Minh - Outstanding Cultural Figure that displays Uncle Hos works that have been recognised as national treasures.

They include uong Kach Menh (Revolutionary Path), Nhat Ky Trong Tu (Prison Diary), Loi Keu Goi Toan Quoc Khang Chien (Call for Nationwide Resistance), Loi Keu Goi ong Bao Va Chien Si Ca Nuoc (The Call to Fellow Countrymen and Soldiers Nationwide) and President Ho Chi Minh's Testament.

The President's other literary and journalistic works, covering diverse genres and distinctive creative styles, will also be on display, such as The Demands of the Annamese People, The Colonial Regime Trial, or Political Programme.

The section President Ho Chi Minh with the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups, the Armed Forces, and Vietnamese Youth displays images, documents and artefacts that showcase the deep bond between him and various ethnic groups, the people's armed forces and the youth of Viet Nam. It highlights significant 'red addresses' where he once stayed, lived and worked.

The section President Ho Chi Minh in the Hearts of Friends and People Worldwide presents images and documents that reflect the sincere love and respect of people around the world for President Ho Chi Minh throughout his diplomatic endeavours.

Visitors can also admire a display and performance of light sculptures, the Lotus in Vietnamese Cultural Life exhibit, and relax in a cultural space for tea, look at collections of lotus-inspired ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) and photographs of lotus  the Vietnamese symbolic flower. Additionally, there will be souvenir products, culinary delights and specialties made from the flower.

Displays from various units, including the People's Police Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum Branch of Military Region 5, the Museum of Military Region 5 and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum of Military Region 7, will also be included in the exhibition. VNS
HA NOI  Winning artworks from the UOB Painting of the Year (UOB POY) 2024 in Viet Nam are now on display at the Viet Nam National Fine Arts Museum in Ha Noi, following the exhibitions opening yesterday.

The showcase features the compelling Dong Chay (The Flow) by Nguyen Viet Cuong, winner of the UOB Painting of the Year award, alongside Doraeco by Phan Tu Tran, named Most Promising Artist of the Year.

Other winning pieces from the Established and Emerging Artist categories, as well as five shortlisted works from the second UOB POY (2024), are also on public view.

The exhibition offers Ha Nois art community a distinctive experience, with works that blend contemporary expression and cultural heritage in innovative ways. Each piece reflects the spirit of the times while honouring Viet Nams traditional values.

At the exhibitions opening, artists shared insights into the evolution of contemporary art, rooted in a century of Vietnamese fine arts. Discussions also explored future directions for Vietnamese artists seeking to reach regional and international audiences, particularly through UOB POY.

UOB Painting of the Year (UOB POY), launched in Singapore in 1982, is a flagship art initiative. Recognising Southeast Asian talent, it has since expanded to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and most recently, Viet Nam in 2023.

As the longest-running art competition in Singapore and one of Southeast Asias most prestigious, UOB POY has nurtured over 1,100 artists across the region. Over the past two years, the competition in Viet Nam has attracted thousands of participants, from emerging talents to established professionals.

Alongside the exhibition, an art talk titled Contemporary Art Rooted in Heritage featured prominent figures, including artist ang Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Fine Arts Council at the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and Chief Judge of the UOB POY 2024-25 competition, artist Ngo Van Sac, Silver Award winner in the Established Artist category at UOB POY 2024, and Duong Thu Hang, Director of Hanoi Studio Gallery. Together, they shared diverse perspectives on contemporary creative practices, emphasising personal artistic expression, while preserving Viet Nams fine arts heritage.

Following Ha Noi, the art talks will continue in Hue and Ho Chi Minh City throughout May, fostering intergenerational dialogue, sharing insights from UOB POY artists, and inspiring young creatives to propel Vietnamese art onto regional and global stages.

These events mark the launch of the third UOB POY in Viet Nam, open for submissions nationwide from May 8 to August 1, 2025. Vietnamese citizens and permanent residents can participate without an entry fee.

The winners of the third UOB POY in Viet Nam will be announced at an award ceremony, with winning paintings showcased in Ho Chi Minh City in October. The top Vietnamese artist will receive VN500 million and compete for the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award, which includes a SGD$13,000 prize and an artist residency. The regional winner will be revealed in Singapore in November, and top artworks from Viet Nams Emerging and Established Artist categories will be exhibited at the National Gallery Singapore.

Beyond the competition, UOB supports Vietnamese artists in accessing regional art platforms such as Art Jakarta and Art Central, connecting them with Asias leading artistic talents.

Artists can also join the UOB Art Alumni Network, benefitting from support initiatives like commissioned works, exhibitions, client showcases, residency programes and regional symposiums.

For further details about the competition and UOBs support for the arts across Southeast Asia, please visit UOBandArt.com. VNS
Viet Nam News reporter Khanh Linh speaks with Dr Khaled El-Enany, an Egyptologist and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities who is Egypts candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO.

Following his recent tour of Viet Nam from April 23 to 24 to promote his campaign under the slogan 'UNESCO for the People', El-Enany shared his views on the important role of Viet Nam in his outreach efforts, the growing voice of Asian countries within UNESCO and his vision for the organisations future, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity, dialogue and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

Viet Nam holds a special place in your campaign. What role do you see for Viet Nam in UNESCOs future, especially in strengthening cultural and scientific cooperation?

Coming here as a candidate for Director-General of UNESCO, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Viet Nam, was more than symbolic. It was a powerful moment for me personally, because that is precisely what UNESCO was founded to protect: peace.

I must also say that I was deeply touched by the warmth and generosity extended to me during my visit to Ha Noi. I am sincerely grateful to the Vietnamese authorities for organising a thoughtful and comprehensive programme  one that was rich in both substance and spirit.

The visit allowed me to experience first hand the depth of Viet Nams cultural heritage, and to gain valuable insight into the countrys priorities within UNESCO. Viet Nam is not only an important member of the organisation; it is an active and committed one  playing a vital role in shaping UNESCOs work across sectors.

Scientifically, the country is particularly vulnerable to the climate crisis, with over 3,000 kilometres of coastline facing threats from typhoons, flooding and coastal erosion. I believe UNESCO must place ocean protection and biodiversity at the core of its mandate, and Viet Nam is well positioned to lead, not just regionally, but globally. These challenges demand stronger international scientific cooperation. If elected, I will prioritise direct engagement with countries most vulnerable to these threats, to co-create strategies rooted in shared knowledge and open science.

Culturally, Viet Nam offers a compelling model of how heritage preservation can drive sustainable development. The way intangible traditions like ca tru (musical storytelling) and xoan (traditional singing and performances) have been integrated into education and cultural tourism is exemplary. I want to ensure that countries like Viet Nam are not only supported, but are empowered to shape the organisations future.

What made this visit especially meaningful was the opportunity to engage with a broad spectrum of people. These conversations touched on the future of education, science, culture and communication, and they reaffirmed my belief in the power of inclusive dialogue. It is through such exchanges that we build the foundation for shared solutions  and for peace.

Many Asian countries, including Viet Nam, are playing a bigger role in global affairs. How would you ensure that Asias voice is better heard and represented within UNESCO?

Asias growing influence on the world stage is not just a regional development  its a global opportunity. With its cultural depth, scientific innovation and economic dynamism, Asia has much to contribute to the multilateral system. At UNESCO, this must be reflected not only in how we set priorities, but in how we listen, collaborate and lead together.

I dont believe in a world of competing blocs. I believe in a world of shared responsibility. Inclusivity isnt about drawing lines between North and South, East and West  its about building a more balanced centre. That is what UNESCO must be: a meeting point for ideas, experiences and solutions that reflect the richness of our global diversity.

If entrusted with the role of Director-General, I am committed to creating a culture of active listening and genuine co-creation. Thats why Ive pledged to engage in discussions with all Member States within my first 100 days in office  not simply as a symbolic gesture, but to listen, learn and open channels for long-term cooperation. Asia, with its many voices and perspectives, has a central role to play in shaping UNESCOs future  not as a peripheral actor, but as a core architect of the multilateral system we need today.

Your campaign slogan is 'UNESCO for the People'. What does that mean in practice, and how would you bring it to life if elected?

'UNESCO for the People' is more than a slogan  it is a vision. It reflects my firm belief that UNESCO must be deeply connected to the lives, hopes and realities of the communities it serves. And this vision aligns closely with the spirit I witnessed in Viet Nam: a country where education, culture and community are not abstract ideals, but lived commitments.

To realise this vision, I will focus on strengthening UNESCOs presence and impact at the local level  starting with empowering our field and regional offices. These offices are closest to the people and best positioned to understand the real needs on the ground. Viet Nam has shown the world how community-based heritage preservation and education reforms can inspire national pride and sustainable growth. Thats the kind of locally rooted success UNESCO must support and scale globally.

I also see digital technology as a key ally. In a country like Viet Nam  dynamic, young and increasingly tech-driven  we have enormous potential to use digital tools to connect, listen and act more quickly. By making sure knowledge flows from the field to UNESCO headquarters and back, we can respond more effectively to real-world challenges.

Finally, 'UNESCO for the People' means speaking with people, not just about them. We must communicate more clearly, more openly  especially with young people. That means celebrating local stories, listening to communities and ensuring that UNESCO is not just an international institution, but a partner in peoples lives.

UNESCO has a wide missionfrom protecting heritage to promoting education and science. How would you help the organisation become more proactive and impactful in these areas?

UNESCOs broad mandate is not a weakness  its a unique strength. Education, culture, science and information are not separate silos; they are deeply interconnected pillars that serve one shared goal: building peace and resilience by shaping minds, empowering communities and preserving humanitys common legacy.

Viet Nam understands this better than most. From its commitment to inclusive education and scientific innovation, to its leadership in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, Viet Nam has shown how integrated, community-driven approaches can make global principles locally meaningful.

To make UNESCO more impactful, we must first ensure these areas work in harmony  guided by a shared strategy, supported by strong partnerships and aligned with national priorities. I believe the organisation must also strengthen its place within the broader United Nations system, becoming a more agile and collaborative actor for sustainable development.

A key part of this is reinforcing UNESCOs financial foundation. We need to diversify how we mobilise resources  reaching beyond traditional donors to engage private sector actors, philanthropic foundations and civil society. And we need more flexible funding  resources that can support long-term priorities and adapt to urgent needs, not just pre-defined projects.

But funding is only one side of the equation. The other is trust. Thats why I will prioritise transparency, efficiency and clear impact. People  including the people of Viet Nam  must be able to see how their support for UNESCO translates into real outcomes: schools that are more inclusive, heritage sites that are protected and revitalised and scientific knowledge that serves climate resilience.

As an Egyptologist and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, how has your background shaped your leadership style and vision for UNESCO?

I started my career as a tour guide, so promoting culture has always been at the heart of my work. Thats where my connection with UNESCO began -- in front of the Abu Simbel temples, which were saved from destruction thanks to a global campaign led by UNESCO. For me, that moment captured what UNESCO is all about: protecting heritage so it can be shared, understood and passed on.

Later, as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, I carried that same conviction into public service. I led a sector with over 2,000 archaeological sites, 40 museums and a tourism industry employing over one million Egyptians. We merged two ministries into one to align heritage preservation with economic development, introduced performance-based planning and launched major projects like the Grand Egyptian Museum. We also built new funding models and expanded access to culture through digital platforms  not just to increase visibility, but to involve communities and reach wider audiences, including educators and people with disabilities.

This experience shaped a leadership style rooted in proximity, accountability and results. At UNESCO, I would bring that same approach  reform-minded, focused on impact and grounded in the realities of the field.

If you had one message for the people of Viet Nam, especially the younger generation, what would it be?

Viet Nam is a key partner for Egypt, and I was deeply impressed by the countrys dynamism and openness to the world. If I were to offer one message to Viet Nams younger generation, it would be this: do not hesitate to think ambitiously about your role in shaping the future. Viet Nam is a country of resilience, culture and innovation. You are at the heart of a new era  one where the wisdom of your history blends with the energy of your youth. As a nation, you have so much to offer the world, and UNESCO can be the platform where your voice, your values and your aspirations are heard. Your youth  creative, driven and full of potential  are the key to shaping the future, and UNESCO can be the partner that amplifies your ideas, energy and dreams.

Together, we can ensure that the next generation of Vietnamese leaders isnt just prepared to face the future but is leading it. If elected Director-General, I will ensure that UNESCO works closely with Viet Nam to help realise your vision for a more sustainable, inclusive and connected world. VNS
EU Ambassador to Viet Nam, Julien Guerrier, wrote for Viet Nam News on the occasion of Europe Day, May 9, a time he says, to reflect on past achievements and envision the future of Europe, fostering partnerships beyond its borders.

Celebrating Europe Day in Viet Nam

Europe Day, celebrated on May 9, marks the anniversary of a significant moment in history when Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, proposed a plan to unite Europe under a common framework. This day is a time to reflect on past achievements and envision the future of Europe, fostering partnerships beyond its borders.

The European Union (EU) stands as a testament to unity in diversity, bringing together a rich mix of cultures and languages. It is a hub of cultural heritage, trade, investment, science and innovation.

Europe's role in a changing world

The global landscape is rapidly evolving, with international cooperation often turning into competition. In this context, the EU remains committed to engaging with countries worldwide, seeking solutions and building partnerships. The EU is adapting to new political realities by enhancing its security and defence capabilities, a mission that involves society as a whole. As emphasised by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa: Europe is a peace project, but peace requires defence.

The EU is a steadfast defender of multilateralism, respect for international law, open trade and human rights. It promotes a rules-based international order, supporting the respect of territorial integrity, here in and around the East Sea, as well as in our neighbourhood, where Ukraine is seeking a just and lasting peace.

EU and Viet Nam: flourishing partnership

The EU's relationship with the Indo-Pacific region is guided by the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, adopted in 2021. This strategy highlights the region's growing importance and the EU's commitment to strengthening ties with its partners. Viet Nam is a frontrunner partner in this strategy, with 2025 marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and Viet Nam, and the EU having more bilateral agreements with Viet Nam than with any other Southeast Asian country, including a powerful Free Trade Agreement.

Economic collaboration

This EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has significantly boosted trade, with a 40 per cent increase since its inception in 2020. The EU is the world's largest trader of manufactured goods and services, leading in international investments. And for Viet Nam it is, and will remain, a reliable and predictable economic partner, advocating for fair and rules-based trade.

The upcoming visit of EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to Ha Noi next month aims to enhance market access and elevate EU-Viet Nam trade and investment in order to create additional business and growth opportunities for both sides.

Development and green transition

The EU is also a major donor of Official Development Assistance to Viet Nam, supporting its green and digital transition, the first donor to Viet Nam in grants. Through the Global Gateway initiative, the EU invests in sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide, fostering long-term partnerships.

Collaborative efforts with Viet Nam include renewable energy development, green technologies, the circular economy, sustainable transport and digital infrastructure.

The Bac Ai Pumped Hydro Storage project exemplifies the EU's commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) under the Global Gateway strategy.

Security and defence cooperation

But without peace and stability, there cannot be growth, prosperity and sustainable development. This is why the EU leverages and promotes global security and stability through strategic autonomy, civil and military missions, operations and partnerships.

Viet Nam is also a frontrunner in this area, being the only Southeast Asian country with a Framework Participation Agreement with the EU, through which it sends military personnel to our mission in Central Africa.

The EU's programme 'Enhancing security cooperation in and with Asia' (ESIWA) rolled out with Viet Nam and other partners in the region promotes cooperation in areas like maritime security, cyber security and peacekeeping.

Innovation and education

And perhaps most importantly for the future of the EU, of Viet Nam and our bilateral relationship, we invest in the opening to Vietnamese participants of the EU's flagship programmes, Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, in order to foster joint research, innovation and exchanges in education.

Vietnamese students and researchers gain knowledge, ideas, partnerships, and a deeper understanding of Europe.

These programmes build lasting bridges between regions, preparing a future-ready workforce and driving progress in science, technology and innovation.

Europe Day is a reminder that former adversaries can unite to build a shared future of peace, prosperity and freedom. Reflecting on the achievements of the EU-Viet Nam relationship over the past 35 years of official diplomatic relations, there is optimism for the deepening of an already flourishing partnership.

In the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the Reunification of Viet Nam, it is also hugely impressive to see the progress the country has made over the past 50 years. Here is to an even brighter future for Viet Nam, a future that the EU looks forward to being a significant part of. And indeed, the foundation is set for elevating the EU-Viet Nam relationship to new heights and creating fresh opportunities for both sides. VNS
MOSCOW  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on Thursday, saying Viet Nam attaches special importance to the traditional friendship and is ready to cooperate closely with Russia to elevate bilateral relations.

Welcoming the General Secretary and high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam, the host hailed the significance of the visit, especially amid major anniversaries of each country and their relations, and considered it a contribution to the time-tested friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Russia always views Viet Nam as one of its leading partners in Asia-Pacific, he stated, recalling his visit to Viet Nam in January this year.

General Secretary Lam mentioned the Russian PMs official visit to Viet Nam in January and President Vladimir Putins state visit in June 2024. He said the trip this time reflects the Vietnamese Party and States high regard for the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, as well as both sides strong political determination to further intensify bilateral relations.

He emphasised that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always treasure and keep in mind the precious support from the former Soviet Union and todays Russia to the struggle for national liberation in the past and the national construction and safeguarding process at present.

The Party leader proposed the two sides continue enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership by further strengthening political trust through increased mutual visits at all levels, improving the efficiency of the Inter-governmental Committee and its member working groups, and bolstering defence  security cooperation.

He also suggested further reinforcing collaboration in energy  oil and gas, along with nuclear energy; expanding ties to the field of new energy, particularly clean energy, renewable energy, and wind power; further promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation and cooperation effectiveness; and stepping up partnerships in the fields in which they have traditional relations and advantages such as education-training, science-technology, locality-to-locality links, transport, and tourism.

Besides, favourable conditions should also be created for the Vietnamese people to live, study, and work stably in Russia, he added.

The two leaders discussed measures for enhancing political trust and expanding bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas matching their countries strengths and potential such as energy, trade and investment, defence industry, transport, high technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy, education and training, culture, tourism, locality-to-locality ties, and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed to keep promoting collaboration between Vietnamese and Russian ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses, remove trade and investment barriers, and facilitate the joint projects in the areas of energy, industry, high-tech agriculture, logistics, and digital transformation.

PM Mikhail Mishustin affirmed that the Russian Government will coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to carry out the decisions made at the highest level.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Innovation and private sector development should have no bounds, aiming to achieve the national goals of prosperity, strength, democracy, equity, and civilised society in this new era, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The cabinet leader made the statement on Thursday at a working session with the Government's policy advisory council to gather input on the National Assembly (NA)s draft resolution concerning specific mechanisms and policies to promote the development of the private economic sector, in line with the Politburos Resolution No.68-NQ/TW, dated May 4 this year.

The proposed policies are grouped into three categories. The first two involve mechanisms requiring immediate legal codification or amendment. The third includes longer-term, strategic orientations that are not urgent and necessitate thorough study and evaluation.

Discussions at the session centred on proposals regarding land and production site access; access to capital, training and utilisation of high-quality human resources, support for science and technology application in business operations, tax, fee, and charge frameworks, and administrative reform and simplification, among other issues.

Noting the principle of a facilitating state, people as the foundation, enterprises at the centre and as key actors, and institutions and policies as the driving force, the Government leader required the forthcoming NA resolution institutionalise Resolution 68 to enable the rapid, sustainable growth of the private sector, positioning it as a principal engine of the national economy.

PM Chinh called for a comprehensive review and revision of policies to encourage business freedom, foster healthy competition among enterprises, and ensure equal access to capital, land, and public assets. He also highlighted the need for market-oriented training, tailored to enterprise needs, through mechanisms allowing businesses to commission educational institutions.

In addition, he directed the development of a legal framework that recognises and clearly defines intangible assets held by enterprises, while reaffirming the principle that civil and economic relations must not be criminalised.

The PM requested the drafting committee finalise the draft resolution, solicit input from cabinet members, provincial and municipal Peoples Committee chairpersons, business associations, and the wider business community, before submitting the completed document to the NA by May 12. It is scheduled for review and adoption by the legislature before May 18.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  A Vietnamese delegation will take part in the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, scheduled for May 11-14 in the United States' Maryland, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang told US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc E. Knapper at their meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Thang said this is seen as part of key activities aimed at boosting Viet Nam  US trade and investment ties.

He expressed his appreciation for the strong support from the US Ambassador and the US Embassy in Viet Nam in general, in recent times, calling this a clear sign of the growing substance and effectiveness of the Viet Nam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Viet Nam is sending its largest-ever delegation to the summit, reflecting growing interest among Vietnamese businesses in the US investment environment and their desire to expand presence in the market, Thang stressed.

Apart from joining activities at the summit, the Vietnamese delegates will also meet with US authorities, associations and businesses operating in the fields of semiconductors, high technology, startups, banking, and green and digital finance, he noted, adding that through these engagements, the Vietnamese Government aims to underscore its commitment to advancing bilateral economic and trade ties on the basis of fairness, mutual benefit, and sustainability as the world undergoes sweeping changes in trade policies and the global business environment.

For his part, Knapper welcomed the strong Vietnamese presence at the summit, describing this as a strong sign of the growing bilateral ties as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

This will be a great opportunity for seeking ways to further deepen the economic and investment cooperation between the two nations, the diplomat said.

In recent years, Viet Nam and the US have witnessed the fruitful development in their bilateral relationship, especially since they established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.

Thang voiced his belief that with Knappers central role and close coordination among all relevant parties, the two sides will continue to foster an effective, substantive, and long-term economic and trade partnership.  VNA/VNS
HCM CITY  A group of students at Ton uc Thang University in HCM City has developed a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a combination of artificial intelligence (AI), image processing, global positioning system (GPS) and environmental sensors, for marine reconnaissance applications to warn of drownings.

Le Minh Tri, a member of the group, which is named URLAB, told giaoducthoidai.vn: As we know, every year, Viet Nam records hundreds of drownings, largely due to a lack of information about dangerous phenomena such as rip currents.

In poor and difficult areas that are lacking rescue staff and monitoring equipment, the situation is even more serious.

Moreover, climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of dangerous hydrological phenomena, especially in vulnerable coastal areas, the student said.

In many coastal areas, fishermen are often exposed to dangerous hydrological phenomena, especially when fishing close to shore.

The UAV provides information about dangerous areas, helping fishermen avoid risks and protect their lives and property.

This contributes to the economic stability of households that depend on the sea, while enhancing food security from seafood sources, he said.

Data from the UAV that is shared via digital map or mobile application will help connect difficult coastal areas with economic centres in the country.

For example, information on sea safety in a poor commune in Quang Tri Province may be used by safeguard units in Hue or a Nang cities that helps create more effective co-ordination between regions.

The students designed the UAV integrating it with AI, image processing technology, GPS and environment sensor technology.

Specifically, the UAV is integrated with deep learning algorithms to automatically detect and classify dangerous phenomena such as rip currents and eddies.

The AI is trained on images and videos collected on Viet Nam seas, helping to identify patterns of currents under different conditions of light and weather.

This is much more advanced as compared to traditional methods based on manual observation or simple sensors.

High-resolution cameras, combined with advanced image processing software, allow the UAV to record and analyse data directly during flight.

The technology helps minimise the delay in detection and warnings, one of the important factors in responding to emergency situations at sea.

In addition, the UAV is equipped with sensors measuring wind, humidity and air pressure to support forecasting and adjusting flying in extreme weather conditions  a characteristic of the tropical monsoon climate in Viet Nam.

This ensures stable operation of the device even during the rainy season.

Simple operation, easy to use

According to student Truong Minh Triet, also from the group, one of the outstanding advantages of the UAV is that it is easy to use, making the product suitable for a wide range of users, from technical staff to people without deep expertise in technology.

The UAV control software is designed with an intuitive interface, allowing users to programme flight routes, monitor data and receive alerts, with just a few simple steps. Features such as 'tap-to-fly' or auto-patrol mode help reduce training time, Triet said.

Thanks to AI integration, the UAV can automatically detect offshore currents and swirling water, mark positions and update maps without continuous support from users, he added.

This is very useful for rescue workers who are not experienced in how to control complicated UAVs.

Our product includes detailed instructions in Vietnamese and other popular languages, along with illustrative videos to help users easily get acquainted, the student said.

For travellers, the smartphone app provides live hazard maps and alerts, requiring no special skills to use. Users simply download the app, turn on notifications and follow the information in real time.

The UAV can be integrated with existing digital mapping systems such as Google Maps and local GIS and connected to popular telecommunications networks of 4G and 5G.

This helps reduce initial investment costs and takes advantage of existing infrastructure in coastal areas.

Dr Tran Thanh Nam, lecturer of the Department of Telecommunications, Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Ton uc Thang University highly appreciated this product.

The device can operate independently on small beaches or be deployed synchronously on a large scale with many UAVs at the same time in key tourist areas because take-off and landing do not require a dedicated airport, just a small space on the beach or a boat, he said. VNS
KIEN GIANG  Traffic police of the southern island city Phu Quoc have recommend that foreigners living, working or travelling here should strictly comply with traffic safety regulations, to avoid endangering themselves and the community.

The recommendation was issued following an incidence involving a Russian tourist's dangerous behaviour while driving a motorbike that was caught on video.

At around 5pm last Sunday, a foreign male tourist drove a motorbike without a helmet and with both hands off the steering, endangering other road users on Highway 973 in Xom Moi Hamlet, Bai Thom Commune, Phu Quoc City.

Upon receiving the report, the police conducted verification and identified the offender as Vanov Aleksandr, 45, with Russian nationality.

He is temporarily residing in Ong Lang Village, Cua Duong Commune.

Aleksandr admitted to the violations, including not wearing a helmet, taking off both his hands while driving driving the bike and not having the required Vietnamese driving licence.

The motorbike with licence plate 77E1  344.21 driven by Aleksandr was identified as a rented vehicle from a business establishment at No 100 on Tran Hung ao Street, Duong ong Ward.

Based on the violations, the traffic police drew up an administrative violation record and temporarily detained the vehicle for ten days, as determined by the law.

The vehicle owner, Pham Thi Dien, was also invited by the police to clarify her responsibility for handing over the vehicle to an unqualified person, violating Clause 1, Article 56 of the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order.

Renting a motorbike is the choice of many foreign tourists when coming to Phu Quoc City because of its flexibility, convenience and low cost.

However, many of them do not have a driver's licence in accordance with Vietnamese regulations, and some have never even driven a motorbike before.

Others do not learn about local traffic laws, leading to violations such as not wearing a helmet, running red lights, driving in the wrong lane and even driving when under the influence.

These behaviours not only pose a potential risk of causing accidents for tourists, but also threaten other drivers safety.

Many accidents involving foreigners have been recorded in this popular resort island recently.

Some motorbike rental owners have been punished for giving motorbikes to unqualified people and neglecting to check the renters driving licences. This is not only a violation of the law, but also shows a lack of responsibility for the general safety of the community.

Municipal traffic police recommends that organisations and individuals providing car rental services should carefully check the legal conditions of the renters, especially the valid driving licence suitable for the type of vehicle in Viet Nam.  VNS
HCM CITY  The Viet Nam Red Cross Society on Thursday launched the 2025 National Humanitarian Month in coordination with the HCM City Peoples Committee.

It commemorates the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30) and the World Red Cross Red Crescent Day on May 8.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Nguyen Hai Anh, vice president and General Secretary of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society, said Humanitarian Journey - Spreading Love is aimed at building a compassionate and humane community and ensuring no one is left behind.

The month was first celebrated informally in 2021, and has since helped mobilise more than VN3.7 trillion (US$142.5 million) and assist 7.3 million needy people, he said.

Last year alone, it raised VN763 billion ($29.3 million) and aided 1.6 million people.

President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, o Van Chien, said the Humanitarian Month is helping disseminate compassion across society.

Over the last 80 years, the Vietnamese Red Cross has proved to be a professional humanitarian organisation and an active member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

He hoped it would continue to play a vital role in mobilising, connecting and coordinating social resources to effectively implement social security policies, caring for those in difficult circumstances, the vulnerable and victims of natural disasters, epidemics and other emergencies.

It needs to further promote diverse, professional and transparent mobilisation of social resources, expand healthcare through voluntary blood and organ donation, first aid training and implementation of clean water and community sanitation programmes and support those who are unable to work, seniors and people with disabilities, he said.

Juan Pedro Schaerer, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross' Regional Delegation in Bangkok, Thailand, said every year on May 8, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement celebrates the unwavering commitment to humanitarian work of millions of volunteers and staff worldwide, who are deeply rooted in communities.

In an increasingly complex and polarised world, humanitarian needs grow year after year due to natural disasters, armed conflicts and other emergencies.

The environments that the movement operates in also poses great challenges to various areas of humanitarian work, including how to reinforce respect for humanitarian principles and secure protection to humanitarian action in times of crises.

In this regard, our shared commitment to humanity is more than a guiding principle - it is a lifeline. This means that upholding humanity is not just a goal, it is our imperative, ensuring that even in the darkest moments, we remain on the side of humanity and stand firm in safeguarding the humanitarian space.

In response to the increasingly complex disasters, the staff and volunteers of the Viet Nam Red Cross have worked tirelessly to evolve and to strengthen the capacity of timely access and assisting affected communities.

Within the framework of the 2025 National Humanitarian Month, various humanitarian activities to support the community were organised, including voluntary blood donation, award of scholarships, free medical examinations and medicines, and zero ong supermarkets (free markets). VNS
HCM CITY  The United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 has concluded with a grand closing ceremony at the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in HCM City on Thursday, leaving a profound impact on both domestic and international participants.

The event, held from May 6 to 8, showcased the increasing significance of Vietnamese Buddhism on the global stage.

This years Vesak held exceptional meaning, coinciding with Viet Nams 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975) and the 80th National Day (September 2, 1945). Under the theme Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development, it attracted over 2,700 delegates, including more than 1,350 international participants from 85 countries and territories.

A Grand Celebration of Unity, Peace, and Religious Freedom

Viet Nam is a country known for its rich religious diversity, where multiple faiths coexist peacefully, including Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and indigenous beliefs.

The Vietnamese constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of belief and religion, ensuring that citizens have the right to follow or not follow any religion.

This constitutional right is further protected by a comprehensive legal framework, including the Law on Belief and Religion, which provides clear guidelines for religious activities, registration, and the recognition of religious organizations.

At Vesak 2025, the spirit of religious freedom was not just a concept but a living experience. Thousands of domestic and international participants gathered at Thanh Tam Pagoda for the sacred enshrinement of Buddhas relics, a powerful symbol of peace and compassion.

The relics were then respectfully transported to Ba en Mountain in Tay Ninh Province, where followers continued their spiritual observance.

During the closing ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, emphasised the importance of solidarity and tolerance as core principles of Buddhism.

He highlighted that these values not only foster happiness within communities but also serve as a foundation for sustainable development and global harmony.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, in his address, reaffirmed Viet Nams unwavering commitment to religious freedom, a fundamental human right enshrined in the countrys constitution.

"Viet Nam respects and protects the freedom of belief and religion for all. Our society thrives on the principles of equality, tolerance, and mutual respect," he stated.

The Deputy PM also highlighted that the success of Vesak 2025 is a vivid demonstration of Viet Nams dedication to promoting interfaith harmony, both domestically and internationally.

He acknowledged the presence of thousands of delegates, including global religious leaders, as a testament to Viet Nam's open, inclusive spirit.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay sent a congratulatory message, praising Vesak as a symbol of cultural dialogue and understanding in a rapidly changing world.

"In a time of division, Vesak stands as a beacon of unity, promoting compassion, understanding, and respect among all," she stated.

The event culminated in the adoption of the "HCM City Declaration 2025," a landmark document calling for enhanced interfaith dialogue, integration of Buddhist ethics into public policy, compassionate governance, mindful education, and sustainable development.

It emphasised the role of religious communities in addressing global challenges like climate change, inequality, and social conflicts.

Viet Nams Religious Freedom in the Eyes of International Delegates

In an exclusive interview with Viet Nam News, three distinguished international delegates shared their perspectives on religious freedom, solidarity, and the role of Buddhism in contemporary society during the UN Vesak 2025 celebration in HCM City.

Their reflections offer a broader understanding of how Viet Nams commitment to religious tolerance is viewed globally and how the country's approach serves as a model for fostering peace and mutual respect among diverse belief systems.

John Smith, a professor of religious studies from Australia, spoke enthusiastically about his experiences during the event. "Viet Nams approach to religious freedom is truly impressive. Its not just about policies on paper; it is something that I have witnessed first-hand throughout this event. The fact that people from all walks of life, regardless of their religious background, can come together in harmony and celebrate this meaningful occasion speaks volumes about the depth of Viet Nams commitment to inclusivity," Smith explained.

He went on to highlight how the event itself was a clear demonstration of the practical application of religious freedom, with Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and people of other faiths participating actively and peacefully.

"What is most inspiring is how Viet Nam doesnt just tolerate diversity in religion but embraces it as a cornerstone of its national identity. Its a rare example of true religious pluralism."

Priya Nair, a renowned social activist from India who has been involved in interfaith dialogue and community building, echoed Smiths sentiments but also stressed the importance of tolerance as a tool for social cohesion.

"Viet Nam has demonstrated that religious diversity is not a challenge to overcome but a strength to celebrate. The spirit of tolerance and compassion here is not just something you read about in textbooks; its something you experience in everyday interactions. People live side by side, respecting each others beliefs, finding common ground in the values of peace, compassion, and mutual understanding," Nair said.

Reflecting on the broader global context, she continued, "In todays world, where religious conflict and intolerance seem to dominate headlines, Viet Nam offers a beacon of hope. The spirit of solidarity I witnessed here can serve as a model for the world, especially in our current times, when divisions between different religious communities often seem insurmountable."

Dr. Karim El-Mansouri, an expert in interfaith dialogue from Egypt, was equally impressed by Viet Nams success in creating an environment conducive to peaceful coexistence among diverse religious groups.

"What stands out to me most about Viet Nam is the remarkable ability to create a space where different faiths not only coexist but thrive together. The ability to host such a diverse range of religious groups in one spacewithout any conflictsis an extraordinary achievement," said Dr. El-Mansouri.

"In many parts of the world, we see growing tensions between different belief systems, but in Viet Nam, the respect for religious differences runs deep, and this event is a testament to that respect."

He pointed out that the inclusivity displayed at Vesak 2025 was a direct reflection of Viet Nams long-standing commitment to maintaining peace through understanding, dialogue, and collaboration across faiths.

"This is a country where the government not only ensures freedom of belief but fosters an environment where religious dialogue is seen as essential to societal well-being. This is a crucial lesson for all nations grappling with issues of religious intolerance."

The delegates' reflections provide a clear picture of how Viet Nams approach to religious freedom and unity has captured global attention.

Their observations underscore that Viet Nams model of embracing religious diversity, underpinned by the principles of Buddhism, is not just a matter of policy but a living, breathing reality that has a profound impact on the daily lives of its citizens.

The success of the Vesak 2025 event exemplifies how religious tolerance, peace, and solidarity can be nurtured through sustained commitment to mutual respect and shared values.

As the world faces increasingly complex challenges related to religious identity and social cohesion, Viet Nam's example stands as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of tolerance and interfaith cooperation.

A Week of Spiritual Connection, Dialogue, and Cultural Exchange

The Vesak 2025 celebrations were not just about rituals. They included academic seminars where scholars from around the world discussed the role of Buddhism in addressing global issues such as climate change, inequality, and conflict resolution.

Cultural performances showcased the rich heritage of Vietnamese Buddhism and highlighted its spirit of tolerance and peace.

The planting of 108 Bodhi trees, symbolising enlightenment, ecological balance, and global unity, further emphasised the Buddhist commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.

In addition to spiritual events, UN Vesak 2025 also facilitated numerous cultural exchanges, allowing international delegates to experience Viet Nams rich history, cuisine, and traditional arts.

Guided tours were organised to showcase the nations iconic landmarks, reflecting its blend of cultural heritage and modern development.

Looking Forward

The successful hosting of UN Vesak 2025 in Viet Nam not only reaffirmed the nations commitment to religious freedom but also showcased its active role in promoting peace, solidarity, and mutual understanding globally.

As Viet Nam continues its journey towards prosperity, the spirit of Vesak will undoubtedly inspire greater compassion, cooperation, and respect among nations.  VNS
BAC NINH  An initiative aimed at enhancing access to international employment opportunities for young Vietnamese has been launched at the Bac Ninh Industrial College in the northern province of Bac Ninh, under the banner of a career-orientation-bus programme.

Jointly organised by the provincial Department of Education and Training and the German Embassy, the event is part of the celebrations marking 50 years of the two countries diplomatic ties (September 23, 1975  2025).

Running from Thursday to Saturday, it features a range of activities including information sessions on vocational training and job opportunities in Germany, guidance on safe and legal migration pathways, preparation in language and cultural integration, and roundtable discussions with experts from various sectors. It also introduces vocational and university education in Viet Nam aligned with German standards.

Addressing the launch ceremony on Friday, German Ambassador Helga Margarete Barth said that the career orientation bus aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in labour migration and broaden access to the global labour market for Vietnamese youth.

Germany has supported the college since 2008, particularly in training human resources in electrical engineering, mechatronics, and metalworking. Since 2021, more than 300 students of the college have received vocational training in metal cutting and industrial electricity in accordance with German standards.

Following its departure from Hanoi, the symbolic bus will travel through 20 provinces and cities, with Bac Ninh being its first stop. Barth expressed confidence that the programme will be a success in the province, inspiring greater participation and impact among young locals.

Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Le Xuan Loi noted that Bac Ninh is the first locality in Viet Nam to implement special policies to enhance both the scale and quality of its workforce. He affirmed the authorities commitment to supporting cooperation between the Vietnamese and German governments and to effectively implementing projects at the college.  VNS
Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark has steadily risen to be famed as one of Viet Nam's premier destinations, with countless tourists embarking on journeys to conquer its rugged roads, revel in the spectacular mountainous landscapes and explore the unique heritages that define this remarkable region.

Situated in the northernmost part of the country, approximately 300km from Ha Noi, the park spans over 3,000sq.km, encompassing six districts: Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Uyen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang, and Phuc Hoa, as well as portions of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts.

This vast area is home to nine distinct ethnic groups, including the Tay, Nung, Mong, Kinh, Dao and San Chay, each contributing to the vibrant cultural landscape.

What makes Non Nuoc Cao Bang truly exceptional is its geological history, which spans more than 500 million years.

Here, visitors can explore a wealth of geological features, including fossils, marine sediments, volcanic rocks and minerals. The stunning limestone landscapes serve as a breathtaking testament to the Earth's evolution, highlighting its status as a significant geological heritage site. Additionally, the geopark is renowned for its rich biodiversity, hosting a variety of ecosystems and many endemic species of flora and fauna.

Among the park's numerous attractions are the picturesque Phia Oac and Phia en eco-tourism areas, the enchanting Thang Hen Lake complex and the awe-inspiring Nguom Ngao Cave. However, the crown jewel of the geopark is undoubtedly Ban Gioc Waterfalls, celebrated as one of the largest and most beautiful border waterfalls in the world.

Tourism in Cao Bang has over recent years experienced a remarkable upturn, with a significant increase in visitor numbers.

The Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark has seized this opportunity, actively guiding and supporting local tourism businesses in developing new products that are sustainable, high-quality and uniquely tied to the region's heritage.

The upcoming Cao Bang - Lang Son Expressway, expected to open in 2026, will further enhance accessibility, connecting Cao Bang to Ha Noi and other major economic regions.

This development will eliminate geographical and traffic barriers, making it easier for tourists to explore the area. The province retains its diverse natural landscapes, rich biodiversity and cultural identities, presenting a golden opportunity to craft innovative, sustainable tourism experiences. The board aims to operate the park in accordance with UNESCO's standards, ensuring the preservation of its unique heritage.

The Director of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark Management Board, Vi Tran Thuy, highlighted the growing demand for high-quality tourism experiences. As preferences shift away from mass tourism towards more personalised and enriching experiences, the Management Board is proactively collaborating with local sectors, units and communities to orient, support and train partners. This approach focuses on promoting heritage values and developing sustainable tourism products that enhance visitor experiences.

The Management Board also facilitates connections among 85 member partners and potential members of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark Network. They emphasise the importance of promoting the park's heritage values alongside environmental stewardship. By doing so, they empower partners to introduce visitors to the area's cultural richness and the shared responsibility of preserving its natural environment.

Guidance from the Management Board has enabled many local businesses to tap into indigenous cultures, creating distinctive tourism products. This includes designing spaces and services inspired by the Tay, Nung, Dao, and Lo Lo ethnic cultures, resulting in unique cultural landscapes that are green, clean and visually appealing. Local entrepreneurs are diversifying their offerings, from accommodations to experiential activities, enhancing the overall quality of the tourism experience.

Mac Thi Khon, who runs a homestay in Quang Thuan, shares how the Geopark Management Board's support has transformed her business.

By using eco-friendly materials such as stone, wood and bamboo, she has created an inviting homestay that offers immersive experiences like traditional weaving, cake-making and local music performances. Her efforts not only attract tourists but also foster a greater awareness of the need to protect the environment.

The Geopark Management Board is dedicated to preserving and promoting indigenous cultures, encouraging member partners to innovate and enhance their offerings.

Many craft villages and community tourism initiatives in Quang Hoa, Nguyen Binh and Trung Khanh districts focus on enriching their cultural experiences, from accommodations to culinary delights. By renewing handicraft facilities and improving product packaging, local artisans aim to create high-quality gift products that resonate with tourists.

To bolster service quality and management capacity, the Geopark Management Board organises meetings, training sessions and field surveys for member partners. These initiatives are designed to foster a collaborative environment where local businesses can share experiences and learn from successful sustainable tourism models in other provinces, such as Quang Ninh, Lao Cai and Lai Chau.

Through these efforts, local artisans, like Hoang Thi Bay, an incense maker from Phja Thap hamlet, have thrived. With the Management Board's assistance, her family has elevated their handmade incense production, enhancing quality and presentation to attract tourists. They have also opened a Nung An homestay, offering visitors the chance to experience traditional craft-making firsthand.

The collaborative spirit fostered by the Geopark Management Board has enabled member partners along the five geopark routes to create innovative tourism products and enhance service quality.

This collaborative approach not only enriches the visitor experience but also plays a crucial role in maintaining the title of UNESCO Global Geopark, paving the way for sustainable tourism development in this stunning region. VNS
MOSCOW  China and Russia issued a joint statement on Thursday on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, agreeing to push forward the high-level development of bilateral ties, uphold a correct historical perspective on World War II and firmly defend international fairness and justice.

The statement was jointly signed by President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin following their talks in Moscow.

The two heads of state witnessed the exchange of more than 20 bilateral cooperation documents covering such areas as global strategic stability, upholding the authority of international law, biosecurity, investment protection, the digital economy, quarantine and film cooperation.

Xi arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, his 11th visit to the neighboring country since becoming president, for a state visit and to attend celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Unions Great Patriotic War. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victories in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The two heads of state have met more than 40 times on different occasions over the years.

The foundation of political mutual trust between China and Russia has grown deeper, the ties of practical cooperation have become stronger, and cultural and local exchanges have flourished, Xi said, noting that China-Russia relations are more composed, confident, stable and resilient in the new era.

Xi called on the two countries to continue with the general direction of cooperation, eliminate external interference, and make the foundation of cooperation more solid and the momentum for progress more abundant.

China and Russia should leverage the complementary advantages of the two countries resources and industrial systems to expand high-quality and mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, energy, agriculture, aerospace and artificial intelligence, Xi said.

The two countries should synergise the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, in order to provide a platform for promoting high-standard connectivity, he said.

Xi also urged the two sides to enhance coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS to unite the Global South, uphold genuine multilateralism and guide global governance reform in the right direction.

As China is striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, Xi said that China is determined and confident in overcoming various risks and challenges, and will steadfastly manage its own affairs well regardless of changes in the external environment.

He expressed Chinas readiness to work together with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities entrusted by the times, maintain the global multilateral trading system, and ensure the stability and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains.

This will contribute more significantly to the development and revitalization of both countries and the safeguarding of international fairness and justice, Xi said.

Putin, who received Xi with a welcoming ceremony on Thursday morning, said, I am grateful that, just as you did 10 years ago for the previous anniversary, you have chosen to join us in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, which our nation holds sacred.

Putin said that amid global uncertainty, the Russia-China relationship is a crucial stabilizing factor on the international stage and undoubtedly a model of state-to-state relations in the 21st century.

Russia-China ties are built on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for each others interests and sovereignty, and are not directed against any third party, he said.

Putin added that imposing high tariffs goes against common sense and is illegal, and will only backfire.

He also said he will be delighted to make an official visit to China for the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the end of World War II.  CHINA DAILY/ANN
JAKARTA  ASEAN member states have expressed their support for New Zealands proposal to elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

The commitment was made during the 13th Meeting of the ASEANNew Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee (ANZJCC), held on Friday in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting marked the first Joint Cooperation Committee session chaired by Viet Nam in its capacity as country coordinator for ASEANNew Zealand relations for the 20242027 period.

Taking place as ASEAN and New Zealand are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (19752025), the meeting focused on the proposed upgrade of ties to a CSP at the upcoming Commemorative Summit later this year. Delegates also discussed the development of a new Plan of Action for 20262030.

In her remarks, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to ASEAN, underlined New Zealands long-standing role as one of ASEANs earliest dialogue partners. She noted its significant and effective contributions to regional cooperation and development through a broad range of frameworks, programmes and initiatives over the past five decades. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of their partnership and explored ways to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and emerging areas such as the digital economy and sustainable development.

ASEAN countries highlighted the development of ASEANNew Zealand relations since 1975 to a comprehensive partnership covering security, trade, education, and people-to-people exchange, while increasingly expanding into new areas including digitalisation, sustainable growth, and climate-smart technologies.

The two sides reiterated their shared interest in maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, and reviewed achievements under the four pillars of cooperation, namely peace, prosperity, people, and planet (4Ps). In 2024, total trade in goods and services between ASEAN and New Zealand reached NZ$27 billion (approximately US$15.9 billion), with New Zealands total investment in ASEAN amounting to NZ$6.45 billion. Although 100 per cent of the 20212025 Plan of Action has been implemented, both sides recognised significant untapped potential and complementary strengths.

Delegates stressed the need to prioritise economic cooperation, facilitate trade and investment, diversify economic linkages, strengthen supply chains, and maximise the upgraded ASEANAustraliaNew Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and other multilateral trade frameworks. This is particularly vital amid shifting global trade policies, rising protectionism, and dynamic changes in the geopolitical and geo-economic landscape.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination and collaboration, with a shared goal of proposing higher-level directions for future cooperation. They agreed to align strategic cooperation documents, such as the Joint Vision Statement and the 20262030 Plan of Action, with ASEANs long-term priorities and development strategies.  VNS
Organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the forum convened representatives from government agencies, businesses, academic institutions, and organisations from Australia and Vietnam.

The event marked a shared commitment to building smarter, greener, and more liveable cities in Vietnam, while strengthening economic and trade ties between Australia and Vietnam, particularly in the digital economy. It built on insights from the Smart City Focus Group-Vietnam Market Deep-Dive, held on April 25 in Ho Chi Minh City, which laid the groundwork for identifying Vietnams smart city landscape, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.

Jonathan Saw, trade and investment commissioner at Austrade, made the opening speech

In his opening remarks, Jonathan Saw, trade and investment commissioner to Vietnam for Austrade, highlighted the importance of the Australia-Vietnam partnership, especially following the elevation of diplomatic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.

"The digital economy is a priority for enhancing two-way trade and investment. Austrade Vietnams Landing Pad initiative is driving Australian technologies to the region, supporting digital transformation, and fostering partnerships with Vietnamese stakeholders to co-develop solutions tailored to local needs," Saw said. He noted the participation of a delegation of 13 Australian companies, showcasing their world-class digital innovation capabilities and commitment to sustainable urban development.

Smart city development in Vietnam

Vietnam is at a "golden moment" for smart city development, driven by rapid urbanisation, a growing middle class, and a high internet penetration rate of nearly 80 per cent of the population. As of 2023, 48 out of 63 provinces and cities had implemented smart city schemes, with over 40 provincial-level and nearly 100 district-level Intelligent Operations Centres (IOCs) focusing on traffic, healthcare, education, and disaster warning systems.

However, the country faces significant challenges, including urbanisation pressures, environmental pollution, infrastructure demands, and an ageing population, necessitating efficient resource allocation and smarter urban management.

The Smart City Focus Group on April 25, led by Austrade, in collaboration with Startup Vietnam Foundation, brought together experts from diverse sectors, including Savills, Maersk, Becamex, Vu Phong Energy, Schneider Electric, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, and RMIT University Vietnam.

The session established a consensus on a sustainable smart city as an innovative urban area leveraging ICT to enhance quality of life, operational efficiency, competitiveness and resilience, while meeting the needs of current and future generations across economic, social, environmental, and cultural dimensions.

The focus group discussions underscored several challenges on Vietnams smart city journey. A key issue is the user-centricity gap, where initiatives often prioritise technology over residents actual needs. Strategic long-term planning is lacking, with fragmented solutions leading to inefficiencies.

Data security and privacy concerns, despite progress on personal data protection, hinder user trust due to risks like data leaks and spam calls. Infrastructure limitations, such as unreliable internet connectivity (dependent on submarine cables) and insufficient power transmission capacity, further impact smart city services, particularly with rising demands from AI centres and green transportation.

Additionally, high initial capital costs, regulatory gaps in AI and data governance, and cultural barriers like risk aversion slow down progress.

Pham The Hung, partnership and project management lead of the Startup Vietnam Foundation, delivered the keynote speech

Despite these challenges, Vietnams smart city market presents immense opportunities, with a projected market size of $1.36 trillion in 2024, expected to grow to $3.84 trillion by 2029 with compound annual growth of 23.3-30.2 per cent.

The governments commitment to digital transformation, supported by policies and the National Digital Transformation Programme, creates a favourable environment for investment. The group highlighted opportunities in sectors like AI, cybersecurity, smart mobility, telemedicine, and sustainable energy, where Australian expertise can make a significant impact.

Australian companies at the forum showcased innovative solutions in energy optimisation, clean energy, traffic safety management, infrastructure optimisation, and digital transformation services for tourism, green transition, and ESG compliance.

For instance, Australias advanced capabilities in 5G connectivity, data centres, and renewable energy align with Vietnams needs for stable technical infrastructure and sustainable urban development. The forum emphasised the potential for multilateral collaboration to address challenges and unlock Vietnams smart city potential.

During the summit, experts from Australia and Vietnam exchanged insights on the current situation and future potential of smart city development. Panellists from the Vietnamese-German University and United Nations Habitat, i.Value Corporation, Golden Gate Ventures, EVN Ho Chi Minh City, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in smart city development.

While private sector and business partners, including the startup community, can take the lead in having innovative solutions to answer the needs of citizens, governments should have a more proactive role in providing an enabling institutional framework. This would lead to ensuring people-centric design, and preparing technical standards towards sustainability and long-term interoperability to assure that smart cities will serve for a better quality of life. The dialogue marked a step forward in knowledge sharing and international cooperation.

Australian businesses are well-positioned to support Vietnam in building integrated platforms, enhancing digital literacy, and adopting a long-term vision for sustainable urban growth.

A panel discussion on opportunities and challenges

The Australian business delegation, visiting Ho Chi Minh City from May 7-9 as part of the Landing Pads initiative, engaged in activities including exhibits at Smart City Asia 2025, partner meetings, field surveys, and business networking to deepen connections with this dynamic market. Both parties expressed confidence in the vast potential for Australia-Vietnam collaboration in the smart city sector, aiming for a sustainable, efficient, and liveable urban future.

Landing Pads is an Australian government initiative to help export-ready Australian tech businesses to expand globally. The Landing Pad in Ho Chi Minh City was launched last year during a Southeast Asia business exchange.

The Landing Pad provides on-the-ground support for market ready Australian technology startups, and an effective go-to market strategy in Vietnam that contributes to the burgeoning digital transformation agenda.

Australian SME Lender Bizcap Enters Singapore with Flexible Financing Bizcap, an Australia-headquartered leading provider of fast, flexible business loans, has officially launched its Singapore operations.

Lambassador Showcase highlights potential of Australian lamb Lamb, renowned for its high nutritional value and distinctive flavour, is gaining increasing global popularity. The recent Lambassador Showcase at the Hotel Nikko Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City provided an opportunity for those wishing to learn more about the potential of Australian lamb.
In collaboration with local non-governmental organisation Volunteers For Education, the initiative is benefiting Hua Sat Primary School in Tuan Giao district, Dien Bien province, one of the country's poorest and most isolated regions.

Despite Vietnams rapid economic growth, regions like Tuan Giao remain burdened with high poverty rates and limited access to quality education. With a poverty rate of 41 per cent, the district faces severe social and developmental challenges. Exness Investment Banks involvement underscores its commitment to promoting inclusive growth and creating meaningful, long-term impact where needed most.

Contributions from the bank funded the construction of two permanent classrooms, new sanitation facilities, and upgrades to the schools playground. The project also provided 100 primary school and kindergarten students with warm jackets and new school bags, ensuring they are better equipped and protected for their educational journey.

The initiative marks a key milestone in Exness Investment Banks broader mission to support sustainable development through education.

Martin Thorvaldsson, Exness head of community, said, "Education is the gateway to development and growth, not just for individuals, but entire communities. Exness Investment Bank is proud to support initiatives like this that bring lasting, meaningful change to areas that need it most. Helping children in regions like Tuan Giao build a brighter future through access to better learning environments is a cause we believe in deeply."
FV Hospital on May 7 announced an investment f VND200 billion ($8 million) in the CyberKnife S7, the first such kind of system in Southeast Asia

According to Nguyen Thanh Duy, CEO of TD Tech and a representative of Accuray, the worlds leading radiosurgery technology manufacturer, FV is the first hospital in Southeast Asia to be equipped with the CyberKnife S7 system.

This latest model of robotic radiosurgery is used for non-invasive cancer treatment and applicable in treating other conditions such as cerebrovascular malformations, arrhythmias, and more, Duy said.

Explaining FV Hospitals decision to invest in the worlds leading radiosurgery system, Dr. Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, said that this is a highly advanced, specialised cancer treatment system already adopted by major hospitals worldwide.

It allows doctors to precisely target and destroy small cancerous cells in hard-to-reach areas throughout the body. With this investment, the Hope Cancer Treatment Centre at FV Hospital will advance to become a regional leader in oncology care, Guillon said.

As the latest generation in robotic radiosurgery, the CyberKnife S7 transforms cancer care with its minimally invasive approach. It delivers highly precise treatment to a wide range of tumours located anywhere in the body. The system also allows treatment of moving tumours, while enhancing patient safety, shortening treatment times, and significantly minimising side effects.

The standout feature of the CyberKnife S7 features real-time image-guided radiotherapy, and a robotic arm equipped with a linear accelerator delivering 6 MV photon beams. Its flexible, multi-angle movement in three-dimensional space allows it to accurately target tumours as small as one millimetre. This high level of precision enables the system to concentrate radiation doses directly on the tumour, minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues and improving treatment outcomes.

With synchrony technology, radiotherapy can be delivered continuously and in real time, with the radiation beam precisely synchronised to the tumours movement. This minimises radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, reduces treatment-related side effects, and enhances patient comfort. As a result, treatment duration can be significantly reduced to just 1-5 sessions in many cases, compared to the conventional 10-40 sessions required by earlier radiotherapy techniques.

Thanks to its ability to treat tumours throughout the body, including the brain, head and neck, lungs, breast, spinal cord, liver, kidneys, pancreas, prostate, and gynaecological organs, while other radiosurgery systems are often limited to the brain, the CyberKnife S7 is regarded as a powerful radiotherapy tool. The CyberKnife S7 can also target recurrent tumours or tumours located in hard-to-reach areas where conventional surgery is not viable.

CyberKnife S7 will start to treat the first patient in Vietnam after the centre for its accommodation is finished in the next 18 months. Cancer treatment using the CyberKnife S7 radiosurgery system will be covered by Vietnams social health insurance, helping reduce costs for patients.

Vietnam a pivotal market for Thomson Medical Group Singapores Thomson Medical has made its entry into Vietnams growing private healthcare following the acquisition of FV Hospital, which concluded last year. Dr. Melvin Heng, group CEO of Thomson Medical Group, talked to VIRs Thanh Van about the companys expansion strategy to tap into the potential of the Vietnamese market.

FV Hospital and O2 Healthcare Group set up first regional Thoracic Surgery Centre FV Hospital, a member of Thomson Medical Group, signed a memorandum of cooperation on August 15 with Singapore's O2 Healthcare Group, a member of OUE Healthcare Limited, to set up the first regional Thoracic Surgery Centre in Vietnam.
Frasers Property Vietnams general manager of Industrial and Residential Truong An Duong believes the US decision to temporarily delay new tariffs for 90 days opens a window for negotiations, potentially leading to more reasonable tariff frameworks.

"Across the manufacturing sector, many believe Vietnam stands a strong chance of negotiating moderate tariff levels, giving it a competitive edge over neighbouring countries. As a result, foreign investors are maintaining their interest in the Vietnamese market," Duong told VIR at the Finance and Real Estate Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 8 by Saigon Times Group.

"In the two weeks immediately after the tariffs were announced, we observed a slowdown in decisions from foreign investors at Fraser Propertys industrial parks. However, demand for warehouse and production space has since begun to pick up," he added.

Despite the fallout from the tariffs, Duong believes if Vietnam can secure trade agreements with the US that lead to more reasonable tariff rates, it would present an opportunity to gain competitive advantage over regional peers and entice additional foreign investment.

Truong Khac Nguyen Minh, deputy CEO of Prodezi Long An JSC, noted that foreign investors are hesitant about Vietnam due to the tariffs. Projects closely tied to Chinese supply chains or heavily reliant on the US market are particularly affected.

"Other investors are also becoming more cautious, restructuring portfolios and seeking safer, more flexible locations to mitigate geopolitical and trade risks," said Minh.

In response, Prodezi Long An is staying true to its strategy of sustainable development and value-added offerings. This includes diversifying target clients and investors, balancing inflows from Japan, Europe, South Korea, and ASEAN to minimise market dependency.

The company is also developing eco-centric industrial park models that incorporate environmental, social, and governance standards and circular economy principles, aiming to provide energy-efficient, environmentally friendly production spaces. Enhanced support services, from digital infrastructure and internal logistics to one-stop-shop services and workforce recruitment, are also part of its value proposition.

Tran Manh Hung, chairman of Saigon VRG Investment Corporation, said, "The proportion of goods exported to the US ranges from 10 to 20 per cent. However, most tenants have proactively diversified their markets to reduce dependency on a single export destination."

"Based on our discussions, business operations at our parks remain stable, as reflected in the slight rise in electricity and water consumption in the first quarter. Most of our tenants are large-scale, globally active companies, which gives them greater resilience against tax policy fluctuations," Hung added.

Currently, 15 tenants have either signed or are finalising agreements with the Saigon VRG Investment Corporation. Despite initial concerns, two clients who had paused negotiations following the US tariff announcement have since resumed talks and signed contracts.

Hung noted that the Vietnamese government is actively negotiating with the US to seek a more favourable outcome, one that could ease tariff pressures and support domestic enterprises. His company is closely monitoring these developments to align its next steps accordingly.

Meanwhile, a recent survey conducted by Long Hau Corporation, the investor of the 500-hectare Long Hau Industrial Park in Long An province, revealed that approximately 22 per cent of businesses at Long Hau Industrial Park have been affected to varying degrees, 12 per cent directly and 10 per cent indirectly through supply chain disruptions.

Encouragingly, none of the surveyed firms described the current environment as a 'crisis'. Instead, most are taking a cautious stance, reassessing strategies, and awaiting clearer signals from trade policies and consumer demand.

The majority of tenants in Long Hau are small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in auxiliary manufacturing or domestic-focused operations, rather than large-scale producers of final goods.

Overall, while businesses are clearly more cautious amid tariff headwinds, they are delaying, not cancelling, decisions. Despite ongoing global uncertainties, they remain proactive, helping current tenants maintain stable operations and preparing for the next wave of production relocation.

The eco-centric industrial park Prodezi in Ben Luc district, Long An province. Source: Prodezi Long An

Industrial developers honoured for green transformation strategies 17 industrial infrastructure developers were honored for their green transformation strategies in 2024 at the Vietnam Industrial Property Forum 2024, held on July 30 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Elevating Bac Ninh's industrial landscape: KTG Industrial at VIMF 2024 KTG Industrial, a leading provider of ready-built factories and warehouses in Vietnam, participated in the Vietnam Industrial Manufacturing Fair (VIMF) 2024, from November 6-8 at the Kinh Bac Cultural Centre in Bac Ninh province.
As reported by newswire The Korea Herald, the State Bank of Vietnam issued a confirmation letter for KDBs branch application in early May, marking the official start of the review process. The state-owned KDB initially filed for a licence in 2019.

The confirmation letter for the Hanoi branch is the result of six years of concerted efforts by KDB and the broader Korean government, an official from KDB said. We will do our best to swiftly complete the remaining procedures for final approval."

According to South Koreas Financial Services Commission, Vietnam's central bank had postponed the approval of new bank branches due to worries over an oversaturated banking sector in comparison to the country's economic magnitude.

There are 45 banks headquartered in Vietnam, nine of which are foreign-owned. Vietnam is the second-largest overseas market for South Korean financial institutions after the United States, with 55 offices supporting more than 10,000 Korean businesses and serving a community of approximately 200,000 South Koreans residing in the country.

South Korea has nine bank branches in Vietnam, including Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, KEB Hanam, and Lotte Card. Another state-run lender, Industrial Bank of Korea, is awaiting approval to establish a local affiliate in Vietnam after submitting an application in 2017.

Flexible policies attractive to South Korean groups Vietnam is becoming a magnet in tech fields such as AI, semiconductors, and green energy. Ko Tae Yeon, new chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, spoke with VIRs Kim Oanh about how to make Vietnam a global investment hub.

South Korean investors express interest in developing IFC in Ho Chi Minh City South Korean investors have expressed an interest in investing in an international financial centre (IFC) of Ho Chi Minh City.
Photo: thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn

At the meeting, Minister Thang expressed gratitude for the positive support of Ambassador Knapper and the US Embassy in Vietnam in recent times. The minister asserted this as clear evidence of the effectiveness of the Vietnam  US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam is set to send a Vietnamese delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit, which will take place from May 11 to 14 in the US state of Maryland. Led by the Ministry of Finance, this will be the largest-ever Vietnamese delegation to the event. This is one of the key activities to boost trade and investment ties between Vietnam and the US.

"The delegation features the highest number of registered participants to date. This serves as a testament to the growing interest of Vietnamese corporations in the investment climate in the US. They are looking to increase their presence in the market," said Thang.

In addition to engaging in and chairing activities at the summit, the delegation will work with American regulatory bodies, associations, and leading businesses in the fields of semiconductors, high-tech, startups, banks, green finance, and digital finance.

"Through these initiatives, the government would like to send a message of encouraging bilateral economic and trade ties in a fair, mutually beneficial, and sustainable manner, especially at a time when the world is undergoing profound changes in global trade policies and environments," Minister Thang added.

"Such strong interest and enthusiastic engagement underscores an important moment in Vietnam and US ties, as 2025 marks 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Our two countries have witnessed significant developments in their bilateral relations in recent years, especially since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023," said Knapper.

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang highlights finance and trade issues at AFMGM 12 Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang has engaged in key dialogues between ASEAN ministers and major business councils, including the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC), the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU ABC), and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

Ministry of Finance proposes reduction in preferential import taxes The Ministry of Finance is proposing a reduction in preferential import taxes on several imported goods, including cars, timber, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and agricultural products, such as chicken thighs, cherries, and apples.
On May 6, Pullman Danang Beach Resort appointed Agnaldo Garibaldi as its new general manager, who has more than 22 years of international hospitality experience

Garibaldi has led the launch and transformation of numerous high-profile properties across diverse markets. Renowned for his hands-on leadership style and entrepreneurial spirit, he has consistently driven operational performance, fostered high-performing teams, and delivered exceptional guest experiences.

His deep understanding of guest expectations and market trends, combined with a strategic vision and passion for detail, has earned him a reputation as a transformative leader in the industry. Garibaldi is committed to nurturing a culture of collaboration and excellence, empowering teams to exceed expectations while enhancing brand value.

In his new role at Pullman Danang Beach Resort, Garibaldi will focus on reinforcing the resorts position as a premier destination for leisure, lifestyle, and business travel in Vietnam. His priorities include elevating the guest experience, innovating service delivery, and strengthening the resorts market presence.

Throughout my journey, the vision of Sir Thomas Watson of IBM has always stayed with me. To be successful, you need to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart. Joining a prestigious and well-positioned resort like Pullman Danang Beach Resort, I am excited to begin a new chapter with our guests, communities, staff, and stakeholders. I truly appreciate how the team has made me feel valued, supported, and set up for success, said Garibaldi .

With Agnaldo Garibaldi at the helm, Pullman Danang Beach Resort looks forward to a new era of inspired leadership, continued excellence, and elevated guest experiences.

Nestled on the pristine white sands of Bac My An Beach, Pullman Danang Beach Resort offers a harmonious blend of luxury, relaxation, and vibrant energy.

As part of Accor, a global leader in hospitality, the resort embodies the group's commitment to delivering exceptional and immersive experiences. Located in the dynamic central city of Danang, Pullman Danang Beach Resort is a perfect getaway for seaside serenity between urban excitement. With distinctive cuisine, creative beverage concepts, and a vibrant atmosphere, this beachside oasis is designed for travellers who crave both adventure and tranquillity.

Pullman Danangs exclusive grand ballroom Pullman Danang Beach Resort has announced the unveiling of its newly renovated grand ballroom and meetings industry facilities, marking a vibrant new chapter for the resort located in the heart of vibrant Danang.

Discover Vietnam's Hidden Gem: Coastal Retreats at Melia Ho Tram Beach Resort Melia Ho Tram Beach Resort, a premier beach destination in Vietnam , invites international visitors to experience an unforgettable vacation this holiday season.

Pullman Haiphong Grand Hotel officially launched On March 1, Pullman Hotels & Resorts, the pioneering hotel brand established in 1859, officially launched its newest flagship hotel in the north, Pullman Haiphong Grand Hotel.

Danang Marriott Resort and Spa is pioneering sustainable hospitality By integrating eco-friendly innovations into its operations, the resort is setting new benchmarks for environmentally responsible luxury.


This was revealed by Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, at a workshop held in Hanoi on May 8. The plan is to gradually realise two policies; regular health check-ups at least once a year and a move towards universal free hospitalisation.

Photo: MoH

It is expected that amending the entire Law on Health Insurance will focus on exam and treatment for patients, especially screening and early detection of dangerous diseases.

According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), the legal framework for healthcare is constantly being updated, notably the promulgation of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the Law on Health Insurance, and the revised Law on Pharmacy.

Moreover, the quality of health services continues to improve, both in terms of expertise and service procedures. The hospital system is expanding, with the capacity of grassroots medical facilities strengthened and advanced technology being widely transferred.

With health insurance coverage now exceeding 94 per cent, patient costs, particularly for vulnerable populations, have dropped substantially

Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan spoke of how the digital transformation process in the healthcare sector has made many important strides, with four shared digital healthcare platforms completed, widespread use of electronic medical records, and the deployment of remote treatment helping shorten access time, increase transparency, and improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment.

The deputy minister, however, admitted that shortcomings remain. The lack of data synchronisation has lead to duplicate testing and diagnosis, resulting in unnecessary costs and affecting the quality of treatment.

Furthermore, while Vietnam's health insurance system has advanced, the coverage list for drugs, medical supplies, and treatments has yet to evolve alongside recent innovations.

"These shortcomings pose an urgent requirement to fully and substantially ensure the rights of patients, not just in clinical expertise and techniques, but also in institutional frameworks, social equity, and medical ethics. The healthcare sector is making great efforts to gradually overcome these limitations," said Thuan.

Dr. Pham Ngoc Dong, director of the Central Eye Hospital shared his view that considering more than 90 per cent of citizens now have health insurance, exams and treatment should be covered.

"The current system calculates premiums based on the basic salary, which is already very low, instead of actual income. This approach limits funding and access," said Dong.

USABC ready to help Vietnam improve health insurance policies: Official Member businesses of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) always stand ready and want to implement projects and provide resources to help Vietnam improve its health insurance policies and medical system, said Michael Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of USABC.

Insurance industry forecasts less favourable year in 2022 Hanoi - After gaining high growth last year, the insurance industry is forecast to experience a less favourable time in 2022 as many insurers have so far planned lower profit targets or slowing growth compared to last year.
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NEW YORK, May 9. /TASS/. The situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is not in Kievs favor, US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News television news channel commenting on the ongoing negotiations with Russia to resolve the Ukrainian conflict.

We knew that Russia would ask for too much, because the Russian perception of the war is  on the ground they are winning, Vance stated in an exclusive interview with the US-based broadcaster.

https://tass.com/world/1955249
Armed police presence in Caia and Rhos explained as precautionary measure

This article is old - Published: Friday, May 9th, 2025

Police have said an armed response to the Wrexham area earlier today was a precautionary measure.

Officers had been sighted at a premises in Caia around midday.

North Wales Police told Wrexham.com, Shortly before midday today armed police officers assisted Wrexham Neighbourhood Policing Teams with the arrest of a man on suspicion of domestic offences in Wrexham.

The deployment was carried out in the Caia Park and Rhos areas.

A 34-year-old local man was arrested in Rhos and taken to custody, where he is being interviewed by officers.

Chief Inspector Caroline Mullen-Hurst said: I understand the presence of armed officers might have been alarming to members of the community.

Their attendance to the incident was simply a precautionary measure and no weapons were recovered during the deployment.
Cefn Mawr marks 80th anniversary of VE Day with community tribute

This article is old - Published: Friday, May 9th, 2025

Members of the Cefn Mawr community came together on Thursday (May 8) to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

A small service was held to mark the event, with local residents turning out to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

Cefn Community Council Chairman, Phil Vaughan, led the commemorations by laying a wreath at the Cefn Cenotaph in tribute to the brave men and women who served, fought, and gave their lives in pursuit of peace and freedom.

Many of these men hailed from Cefn and surrounding villages, and their names remain etched in local memory and monuments.

Today is about reflection and gratitude, said Chairman Vaughan.

We remember those from our own communities who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we honour their memory by coming together in peace and unity.

The service was one of several held across communities in Wrexham to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

In Wrexham city centre, hundreds turned out to pay their respects at an event at Bodhyfryd.

The commemorations began with a short service held at St Giles Church, observing the national two minutes silence at midday, which was attended by local cadets, military representatives, veterans, politicians, and members of the public.

Then, led by the RWF Volunteer Corps of Drums, a parade marched from the church to the cenotaph at Bodhyfryd, where several readings and brass band performance took place.
Reform will learn very quickly how difficult it is to run councils, says Wrexham Council Leader

This article is old - Published: Friday, May 9th, 2025

Senior councillors at Wrexham Council have questioned how are they going to deliver that in reality? in response to Reform electoral gains at some councils in England.

Reform Leader Nigel Farage led on a platform in the recent elections in England that included looking at creating local Musk-esque DOGE units  a reference to the Department of Government Efficiency set up by Elon Musk for Donald Trump  to find council waste, specifically calling out spend on climate change initiatives, stopping second rate pothole work from third party contractors, saying Local government has gone under the radar for way too long.

Council staff pay and conditions have also been targeted, with candidates noting those over 100k should be scrapped.

Farage himself warned staff working on diversity or climate related projects should alternative careers very, very quickly as well as favouring scrapping work from home.

In Durham a new councillor said they were looking forward to getting the auditors in, something readers will recall Wrexham has experienced via the PwC contracts, not to any great benefit but with a large cost.

In Lancashire, where Reform are now in charge, local debates discussed how some councillors had taken part and helped pass existing budgets without complaints before moving to the new party.

The total council control in Lancashire has resulted in large focus and expectation, as well as criticism from opposing parties:

The biggest political commentator in Wales, Will Hayward, recently revealed his current predictions for the Senedd elections next year projecting: Reform are the largest party by a couple of seats.

He added: They are followed closely by Plaid who are followed closely by Labour. You can subscribe to Wills excellent newsletter here  an independent publication.

The most recent Survation poll puts Reform on 24%, Plaid Cymru on 24% and Labour on 27%. Reform have jumped to that point from 1.1% in May 2021.

This week has seen a new Barn Cymru poll by YouGov for ITV Wales and Cardiff University, that has Plaid Cymru on 30% and Reform UK on 25%  and Labour dropping to 18%.

With that context, and rumours one or two existing councillors are thinking of starting their own Reform group on Wrexham Council, we asked the Council Leader Mark Pritchard for his thoughts.

We also put forward some Reform council policies to voters , and asked if the public needed to understand what was and what was not in the remit of an elected councillor.

Cllr Mark Prichard said: Individuals can do what they want to do and if there was a Reform group set up in Wrexham wed have to respect it, and thats what we should do.

What I would say is all these councils now which have been taken over and run by different colours, will learn very quickly how difficult it is.

If there is naivety with some new councillors, I am sure theyll learn very quickly.

Cllr David A Bithell, Deputy Leader, said:, I was watching Sky News, and someone I cant remember who, was saying, that populist policies are vote winners.

They are really, can you imagine if I came out tomorrow and said You know what, were not gonna have anybody working over 100,000 in the council, not going to have no potholes, were not going to have no overtime, were going say no council tax for the next five years. They would say he talks a lot of sense, but the reality is, how are you going to deliver that in reality?

Council Chief Executive Alwyn Jones, reluctant to stray into politics rather than operational comment, noted the differences between a policy and a statement giving an example: A policy is something thats slightly wider than just saying no council tax increase, it is I am going to deliver that by doing a, b, c and d  now thats a policy.

Cllr Bithell pointed to a disconnect between the public and the council, and work of councillors, creating a vacuum of where simple statements / policies are made: You can speak to lots of people who work for the council. They understand it, perhaps a bit more.

Then Ill be honest with you I go to the match, I get stopped all the time and people ask questions what about this? What about that? Some people are quite sensible and understand it all, and others, they dont understand it.

Sometimes, to be honest, and Ive been here over 20 years, even I dont understand it sometimes, because you get wrapped up in the red tape.

Local governments are a really complex area, and maybe we do need to go back to the floor sometimes and interact with people so they can understand what actually does happen and how the funding is made, even for schools and social care.

Cllr Prichard added: There is one thing thats showed it for me, in your life journey, the council will touch it in some way.

Social care is a good example for me, if you have a member of family who needs the service, you then realise then what a wonderful service social care is for the most vulnerable people inside.

That usually comes when youve got ageing parents, or you have young children who are poorly.

I believe that theres change in the air, and I think people are voting that way.

You can see that now of whats happened in England, and I think it will drift across into Wales, because I think just people fed up of more taxes, reduction in services, waiting queues.

I phoned this morning to make an appointment to get into my local doctors, I was on the phone for 45 minutes and I still couldnt get through  39th in line.

It is all the day to day activities like that that I think people are just fed up with.
Senedd debates Labours record as 2026 election looms

This article is old - Published: Friday, May 9th, 2025

Senedd members debated the Labour Welsh Governments record over the past four years, with the next election looming in 12 months.

Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Labour of failing to stand up for Wales and live up to promises made at the start of this Senedd term.

The Plaid Cymru leader told the Senedd: Everywhere you look  whether its the NHS, our economy, schools or society more broadly  the situation is worse now.

The would-be first minister pointed to long NHS waiting lists, a stagnant economy, child poverty rates and deteriorating education standards.

But others accused Plaid Cymru of gesture politics after propping up the Labour Welsh Government for most of the past four years.

Slaughter

Leading the debate on a Plaid Cymru motion on May 7, exactly one year before the next election, Mr ap Iorwerth directed his ire at the disgraceful legacy left by the Tories.

He said: Its no wonder they suffered a slaughter electorally in Wales last summer and the opinion polls for the Senedd election suggest they are increasingly irrelevant.

But the excuses are far harder to bear now the Labour Party is in government in Westminster, something that was pledged time and time again by Labour members for years prior to the election would lead to change for the better.

The former broadcast journalist criticised UK Government decisions to slash the welfare budget and restrict winter fuel allowance  cuts even George Osborne would wince about.

Mr ap Iorwerth accused the Welsh Government of spending all its energy over the past year managing internal chaos, including three first ministers and reshuffles galore.

Embarrassing

Paul Davies argued Plaid Cymru should be held accountable for the Welsh Governments record due to the now-collapsed cooperation agreement between the two.

The Conservative said: Plaid Cymru has been instrumental in propping up the Welsh Government and voting through its policies theyve done it on and off for years.

The deputy leader of the opposition added: Plaid should be embarrassed theyre calling for more powers. They havent been able to help Labour use the powers they currently have.

Mr Davies warned Wales has languished at the bottom of league tables for years whether its NHS performance, educational standards or economic activity.

He accused Welsh ministers of doing nothing in response to UK Government changes to inheritance tax for family farms and winter fuel allowance.

Crocodile tears

Jane Dodds, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader and the partys sole Senedd member, also pointed out that Plaid Cymru had a seat at the table as part of the three-year budget deal.

She said: Youve helped to steer the ship and you dont get to act surprised about the destination when you have actually been holding the map.

Ms Dodds, who struck a 100m deal with ministers to pass the latest Welsh budget, urged Plaid Cymru to take ownership of achievements such as free school meals.

The former social worker criticised the Conservatives shameful amendment for failing to acknowledge the partys part in causing child poverty.

Spare us the crocodile tears, please, she said. To claim that a Conservative Welsh Government would do better for our communities is, frankly, insulting.

Unwavering

Labours Julie James said the party has been forced to govern in the context of deep austerity, mismanagement and short-termism from a Conservative UK Government.

The minister told the Senedd that the Welsh Government has stood unwavering despite 14 years of the worst financial climate in the history of devolution.

Ms James raised examples including free prescriptions, universal free school meals in primaries and the education maintenance allowance for disadvantaged young people.

She pointed to tangible progress on health, with waiting lists falling three months in a row.

Criticising posturing, gesture politics from Plaid Cymru, Ms James said: Wales deserves fair funding and this Labour government, led by Eluned Morgan, will keep demanding it until we get a settlement that reflects our needs and respects our nation.

Senedd members voted 35-11 against the Plaid Cymru motion. Conservative and Labour amendments also fell.

With the final vote deadlocked at 23-23, deputy speaker Dai Rees used his casting vote against the Welsh Governments amendment in line with convention.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
MAY 8 UPDATE:

Special Olympics Nevada has shared the results of the 2025 Lake Tahoe Polar Plunge.

Organizers say they raised more than $78,000 during last Saturday's event.

Those funds will directly support training programs and competitions for Special Olympics Nevada athletes.

They also shared pictures from the event.

---

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The 2025 Tahoe Polar Plunge is coming up on Saturday, May 3, and Special Olympics Nevada will host this year's event.

The event will be held at Round Hill Pines Beach Resort with onsite registration opening at 9:30 a.m., according to a release.

The plunge itself will happen at noon and will be followed by lunch, prizes, and a raffle drawing. A raffle drawing will also happen before the event at 11 a.m.

At noon, when the plunge begins, participants will be invited to hop, skip, run, jump, or dive into Lake Tahoe to support Special Olympics Nevada's sports, education, leadership, and athlete health programs.

All plungers that raise $125 or more will get a Lake Tahoe Plunge t-shirt and a lunch ticket.

This year's theme is "Mythical Magic," encouraging participants to wear their best costumes inspired by dragons, fairies, mermaids and other mystical creatures.

Online registration is already open and can be found at this link.
Investigators released the likely cause of the Davis fire nearly eight months after it sparked.

They believe the fire started from an improperly extinguished campfire or a warming fire in the area.

The fire began in September of 2024 at Davis Creek Regional Park, just south of Reno, burning more than a dozen homes and buildings.

The fire has been classified as accidental, and no criminal charges are being pursued.

"The Davis Creek Park is in unincorporated Washoe County," said Adam Mayberry, communications manager for Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue. "It is within Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District jurisdiction. We worked extremely closely with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office as well as the Nevada State Fire Marshal Office and Bureau of Land Management. An extraordinary amount of effort and time went into this investigation."

He goes on to say, "Today actually marks almost the eighth month, almost to the day, of this fire, so it's taken us really that long because of the complexity, the amount of time that goes into lab work, and just the close coordination because we wanted to make sure we exhausted all avenues and all options before we really brought some closure to the community on the cause of the fire."

Mayberry tells us, some of the eyewitnesses saw a single tree was spotted initially catching on fire, and he says near that tree was a ring of rocks that somebody, perhaps overnight or previously, had some sort of campfire or warming fire in, and it only takes one ember to really trigger a massive wildfire.

He wants to reiterate to the community, and hopes everyone understands, just how dangerous wildfires are.

Mayberry says, "I think it's really important for the community to understand just how catastrophic fires can be. And when fire agencies throughout our region, as well as the National Weather Service, issue Red Flag Warnings, when we talk about the dangerous threat based on weather conditions, vegetation, and the dryness of the fuels, when we talk about how dangerous that is and the increased threat for wildfires, we encourage all our residents to take that seriously."

When fire restrictions are put into place, they are put in place for a reason.

"Because our fire officers and our fire professionals are the experts, and it only takes one spark to trigger a massive wildfire," he said.

Mayberry also provided additional details on the circumstances surrounding the fire.

"The conditions that occurred on September 7 of 2024 that pushed this fire to the north, the northwest, resembled largely the same conditions as many of the worst fires we've experienced recently here in the Truckee Meadows," he said. "When you think of the Washoe Drive Fire, the Caughlin Fire, the Pinehaven Fire, and the Calahan Ranch Fire, all those fires ignited and spread due to the rapid conditions and the gusty conditions of the wind and the dryness of the fuels; all those factors were very similar."

He says the day the fire happened was a red flag warning day, and fire restrictions were in place.

Mayberry says, "It's really incumbent on all of us, whether we're in our county or city or state or federal parks, to keep a close eye, particularly in those hot, dry, windy conditions, when it comes to open flames, and if there are restrictions in place, report that to park authorities immediately or law enforcement immediately."

He also talks about some of the losses the fire caused: "There's over $9 million in property loss when you take into account the 13 residential structures that were lost. We have a church that was lost, a number of smaller buildings as well, an extraordinarily catastrophic, dangerous fire that fortunately did not result in a loss of life."

He also gave some tips for those who may be thinking of camping.

"When you go camping or when you use a county, city, state, or federal park, make sure you understand what the rules are. Make sure if, in fact, you can use open flames, if you can barbecue, if you can use a campfire. That's really the priority. If you can, make sure you understand the restrictions that surround that. In Washoe County's instance, campfires are not allowed in the day-use area; they are allowed on the overnight camp side, but not during fire restrictions, like we saw in September."

He also wants to remind everyone to make sure that you douse and extinguish those warming or campfires thoroughly; make sure you pour plenty of water, stir it, pour more water, and monitor it.

Just be very cognizant there's no smoke coming out of that fire ring, that BBQ pit, or whatever the case may be.

He also has additional advice.

"If you're recreating outdoors, even if not camping, have water or a small hand tool so in the event you do spark a fire, maybe from target shooting, maybe from grinding metal, or engaging in outdoor activity that triggers sparks, have a small fire extinguisher, a couple gallons of water if possible, and hand tools if out in the wilderness so you can put that fire out as quickly as possible, and of course, have good service so you can call 911 in the event you do see a fire."

He also says if you are engaging in target shooting, to avoid doing that on a windy day.

Mayberry goes on to say, "You should really treat every hot, dry, warm day as a red flag day. If we all treated every hot, warm, and windy day as a red flag day, the fire threat would likely go down because all of us are in this together; it really is a team approach."

He adds, "We don't want to see another Davis Fire any time soon."

Mayberry mentions that investigations like this take a long time.

"It took some time; there was a lot of laboratory work that went into this fire too, which took a lot of additional time."

He also says, "We want to make sure we get it right. We are very grateful to all the campers, the recreational users, and those that were driving through Washoe Valley and I-580 who took pictures and videos and sent them to us. There were countless individuals the Sheriff's Office in particular interviewed, and we're just extraordinarily grateful for the very comprehensive, thorough investigation, and it does take time. We wanted to get it right. We wanted to bring some closure to our community and continue to remind them how thankful and appreciative we are."

And as for identifying someone who may have caused the fire?

"We recognize that there are many that would like to lay blame on an individual or individuals," he said. "But we just simply came up short in terms of really identifying a sole individual who started this fire, and if anyone has any information, we can always reopen the investigation, and we encourage you to contact us."
The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is celebrating Bike Month this May with a series of events for its students.

WCSD students will participate in safety lessons, bicycle parades and obstacle courses, in addition to other planned activities.

Twenty-five different events are planned for schools all over the district, and organizers say more than 2,000 students will take part.

"The weather is warmer and we know our students of all ages love to be outside," said WCSD School Police Chief Tracy Moore. "Throughout the school year, we make every effort to teach them how to stay safe both at school and at home, and this is part of that message."

Specific activities scheduled this month include:

Obstacle courses

Bike to school days

Bike buses - organized rides to school where students can join at any point along the route with adult supervision

- organized rides to school where students can join at any point along the route with adult supervision Helmet blitzes - students are provided and fitted with free helmets if they don't have one

- students are provided and fitted with free helmets if they don't have one Bike parades

"Tour de Slurpee" - a bike trip from Cold Springs Middle School to a nearby 7-Elevent for a free Slurpee

- a bike trip from Cold Springs Middle School to a nearby 7-Elevent for a free Slurpee Bike raffles

For more information about Bike Month or the Safe Routes to School program, check out the Washoe Schools website.
Central Lyon County firefighters were able to quickly put out an attic fire on Thursday night.

Nobody was injured in the fire, according to a post on the Central Lyon County Firefighters Facebook page.

It is unknown at this time how the fire started or where it was located.

We have reached out to the fire department and will provide additional details as they become available.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Reno sub-office has arrested a Mexican who was convicted of possessing meth for sale.

It was announced on a post on X from ICEs Salt Lake City office.

40-year-old Fernando Santos-Chavez was arrested in Reno.

ICE says he's been removed three times and now also faces charges of illegal reentry.

ICE says he is in custody pending criminal proceedings.
The Nevada System of Higher Education's Board of Regents has approved the appointment of the next president for Truckee Meadows Community College.

After asking the community for their input and conducting a nationwide search, Doctor Jeffrey Alexander was offered the position and accepted it.

Alexander is currently the Vice President of Academic Affairs at TMCC.

He will move into his new role on July 1, taking over for Doctor Karin Hilgersom, who is retiring on June 30.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) has recently released some numbers regarding domestic violence cases for the beginning of 2025.

According to the release, the WCSO responded to 133 domestic violence-related cases from January until the end of April.

Out of those 133 calls, 74 of them resulted in arrests.

WCSO has provided some tips to help the public recognize the signs of domestic abuse, including:

Unexplained injuries or frequent "accidents"

Isolation from friends, family or activities

Sudden changes in behavior, confidence or personality

Fearfulness around their partner or excessive need to "check in"

Financial control or limited access to money

For more information or to find resources for victims, visit the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Victim Information page.
Pope Leo XIV, historys first U.S.-born pontiff, said Friday that his election was both a cross to bear and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass as the head of the Catholic Church.

Leo spoke off-the-cuff in English in the Sistine Chapel to the cardinals who elected him to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who put a commitment to social justice at the core of his papacy. He acknowledged the great responsibility they had placed on him before delivering a brief but dense homily on the need to joyfully spread Christianity in a world that often mocks it.

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel, he said.

The Mass was in the same frescoed chapel that Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, was elected Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope, overcoming the traditional taboo against a pontiff from the United States because of the secular power the country wields.

Leo will be formally installed as pope at a Mass on May 18, the Vatican said Friday, and will preside over his first general audience May 21. Meanwhile, he asked all Vatican leaders, who technically lost their jobs when Francis died April 21, to remain in their posts until he decides definitively on whether to confirm them.

A Mass that may suggest his priorities

Two women delivered the readings of Scripture at the start of the Mass, perhaps an indication of Leo's intention to continue Francis' focus on expanding women's role in the church. As a cardinal, Leo put into practice one of Francis' most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the Vatican board that vets bishop nominations.

Speaking in near-perfect Italian, Leo lamented that the Christian faith in many parts of the world is considered absurd, mocked or opposed in the face of temptations such as money, success and power. He complained that in many places Jesus is misunderstood, reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.

"This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism, he said. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

The cardinals applauded as the Mass concluded. Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes  eschewing, as Francis did, the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes.

In another signal he might break with tradition, Leo spent his first night as pontiff in his residence in the SantUffizio Palace, and not the Apostolic Palace where popes traditionally reside, Vatican news reported. Francis chose to live in an apartment in the Santa Maria guest house.

Francis had his eye on the new pope

Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014. Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world and is one of the most important jobs in church governance.

Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had kept a low public profile but was well known to the men who count, and respected by those who worked with him.

Even the bishops of Peru called him the saint, the saint of the north, and he had time for everyone, said the Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who knows the new pope.

An Augustinian pope

The last pope to take the name Leo was an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903. Leo XIII softened the churchs confrontational stance toward modernity, especially science and politics, and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. His most famous encyclical  a high-level papal teaching  addressed workers rights and capitalism at the beginning of the industrial revolution and was highlighted by the Vatican in explaining the new popes choice of name.

While Vatican News said Leo XIV is the first Augustinian pope, the previous Leo had close ties to the order: He rebuilt an ancient Augustinian church and convent near his hometown of Carpineto, outside Rome, that is still in use by the order today.

Vatican watchers said Prevosts decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant given the Leo XIII's legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis chief concerns. Specifically, Leo cited one of Francis key priorities of making the Catholic Church more attentive to lay people and inclusive.

He is continuing a lot of Francis ministry, said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University in the Bronx. She added that his election could send a message to the U.S. church, which has been badly divided between conservatives and progressives, with much of the opposition to Francis coming from there.

I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome, Imperatori-Lee said.

Leo said in a 2023 interview with Vatican News that the polarization in the church was a wound that needed to be healed.

Divisions and polemics in the church do not help anything. We bishops especially must accelerate this movement towards unity, towards communion in the church, he said.

In the same interview, the then-cardinal said the women had enriched the process of vetting bishop nominations and reaffirmed the need for the laity to have a greater role in the church.

Leo's brother, John Prevost, was so shocked that his brother had been elected pope that he missed several phone calls from Leo during an interview Thursday with The Associated Press.

John Prevost described his brother, a fan of Wordle, as being very concerned for the poor and those who dont have a voice. He said he expects him to be a second Pope Francis.

Hes not going to be real far left and hes not going to be real far right, he added. Kind of right down the middle.

Looking ahead

In his first hours as pope, Leo went back to his old apartment to see colleagues, according to selfies posted to social media. Vatican Media also showed him in the moments after his election praying in the Pauline Chapel before emerging on the loggia of St. Peters Basilica to greet Rome and the world.

On Sunday, he is set to deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia and attend an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium.

Beyond that, his first foreign trip could be at the end of May: Francis had been invited to travel to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history and an important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
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We love everything about national parks. We love their beauty and their quiet, their camping and their historywe love that nine (yes, nine!) of them are in our state alone. They may, indeed, be the best idea [America] ever had, as writer Wallace Stegner once said.

So, most years, this is right about the time wed be encouraging readers to plan a getaway to one of our iconic bastions of the natural world. But this isnt most years. Deep funding cuts have left national parks struggling just to keep visitors safe, let alone to pick up all the garbage they leave behind, ready their campgrounds for summer, and operate normal activities.

This year, instead of compounding the many and varied challenges facing national parks, we propose something a little different: escaping to a California State Park. There are 280 to choose from, stretching across 340 miles of coastline; 970 miles of lakes and riverfronts; 5,200 miles of trails; 3,195 historic buildings; and more than 11,000 archaeological sites.

The California State Parks Foundation has a way to help narrow down all those options. Theyve just come out with the results of their first-ever Best of California State Parks Poll , based on the opinions of more than 1,300 people across the state.

From the best state parks for camping and hiking to the best for wildflowers and birdwatching, these are the top California State Parks in 2025.

Best California State Park for Camping: Morro Bay (Courtesy of @morrobaystateparks ) This coastal expanse in San Luis Obispo County is steeped in beauty, with foggy mornings, scenic trails, and an iconic monolith to call its own (Morro Rock). Campsites are spacious and some can accommodate large trailers, dogs are welcome, and theres easy access to hiking, kayaking, and so many views. // 60 State Park Rd. (Morro Bay), parks.ca.gov

Honorable Mentions: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park , San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties , San Luis Obispo County Montana de Oro State Park , San Luis Obispo County

Best California State Park for Hiking: Mount Tamalpais (Andrew Aldrich) If you live in the Bay Area, it should come as no surprise that this park in Marin swept the hiking category. With varied terrain that shifts from redwood grove to grassy ridgeline to open meadow, and panoramic views of the coast, the bay, and beautiful San Francisco, Mount Tam has endless possibilities for every type of pathfinder. // 3801 Panoramic Hwy (Mill Valley), parks.ca.gov

Honorable Mentions: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park , Santa Cruz County , Humboldt County Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park , Humboldt County

Best California State Park for Spectacular Views: Point Lobos (Daniel Hills) They often call it the crown jewel of Californias State Park system, this natural reserve on the northern end of the Big Sur coast. Dramatic cliffs, sculptural Monterey cypress trees, and water thats an unbelievable shade of turquoise mean the views here are, as the people say, breathtaking. // Carmel-By-The-Sea, parks.ca.gov

Honorable Mentions: Garrapata State Park , Monterey County , Contra Costa County Mount Diablo State Park , Contra Costa County

Best California State Park for Birdwatching: Salton Sea (Sandy Zelasko) Once a popular tourist resort, today the Salton Sea is more frequented by birds than people: big-beaked pelicans, long-necked herons, sleek and leggy avocets, burrowing owls, and so many more. Located along the Pacific Flyway, winterwhen hundreds of species stop to rest and refuel on their migration southis the best time to see the most diversity. // 100-225 State Park Rd. (Mecca), parks.ca.gov

Honorable Mentions: Henry W. Coe State Park , Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties , Fresno and Madera Counties Millerton Lake State Recreation Area , Fresno and Madera Counties

Best California State Park for Wildflowers: Anza-Borrego Desert (Susan Eskridge) Dont be fooled by the arid nature of this massive landscape spanning San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties. Rain may not be common but it only takes a little bit for the park to erupt into a springtime fantasy of desert lilies, dune primroses, and blooming ocotillo. For current bloom conditions, keep an eye on the Anza-Borrego Foundations wildflower guide . // 200 Palm Canyon Dr. (Borrego Springs), parks.ca.gov

Honorable Mentions: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park , Sonoma and Napa Counties , San Bernardino County Chino Hills State Park , San Bernardino County

Best California State Beach: Crystal Cove (Brandon Moore) For a classic beach experiencethe broad, sandy expanses stretching along water thats not-too-cold for splashing around inOrange County is the place to be. More specifically, Californians adore the park at Crystal Cove, where there are historic cottages to lounge in, miles of trails to hike, and tide pools to explore. // 8471 N Coast Hwy (Laguna Beach), parks.ca.gov

Honorable Mentions: Cardiff State Beach , San Diego County , Monterey County Carmel River State Beach , Monterey County
You managed to grab just a few things before your house burned down: your moms Emmy, a drawing. How are you feeling in retrospect?

I am haunted by a few things that we didnt take. Theres one particular piece of art. I took a picture of my father. I figured photos of my mother we can get; there arent photos of my dad [producer Edgar Rosenberg, who died by suicide in 1987]. He passed when I was 18. I took one of my favorite pictures of Cooper and I when he was a baby. [Cooper Endicott, 24, is Rivers son with ex-husband John Endicott.] You always think you know what youre gonna grab, and then its surprising what you do. Of course, the first thing we did was passports, documents, all that kind of stuff. I could have gone back and gotten more things, but to be honest, we never thought it would reach our house.

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Does going through hard stuff like your parents deaths and the fire cause you to think about anything differently?

It reminds me that for as different as everybody is, the human experience is truly similar to just about everybody. Emotionally, the experience for everyone is pretty much the same. I do a lot of work for a mental health organization [Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services]  Im the cochair of the board  and one of the things I learned very early on is losing someone and grief doesnt make you special. The great thing is you realize you are now part of a group. And thats what I mean by the human experience. We all at one point have joy, and we all at one point have grief.

Whats something we wouldnt know about your mom even after all these years we spent watching her on TV?

The most surprising thing is that she was always worried in social situations that she was going to disappoint, in the sense of who she was as a person was not even remotely close to who she was on stage. And she always felt like she would go to these dinner parties or whatever and people would be like, "Oh, Im sitting next to Joan Rivers" and thinking what kind of an evening theyre going to have. And they find out that theyre seated next to this very lovely, very smart woman who is very funny, but not the same person you saw on stage. The private person who was an English lit major at Barnard.

Melissa Rivers says many people would be surprised to know the real Joan Rivers, whom she describes as "this very lovely, very smart woman who is very funny, but not the same person you saw on stage. The private person who was an English lit major at Barnard." Courtesy Melissa Rivers

Whats your next project after your moms tribute airs?

Im trying to get the proposal for my next book done [her last book was 2022s Lies My Mother Told Me: Tall Tales from a Short Woman], but I apparently have been remiss in doing that. My next project? Going back to my podcast, Group Text, and getting back into everything I was doing before the fires. Everyone, everything, got put on hold. And luckily I was in a situation working with partners who said, "Take a deep breath, weve got this," and gave me the space. I went back to work as fast as possible. The week after the fire, I was in an edit bay. It saved my life.
Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, he ascended to become Pope Leo XIV  the first pontiff from the United States.

Prevost, 69, had to overcome the taboo against an American pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the U.S. in the secular sphere.

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The Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

He evoked his broad experience in his first public remarks as pope, speaking in Italian, then switching to Spanish  and saying not a word in English as he addressed the crowd in Saint Peters Square.

He had prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.

Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th-century religious order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job, he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV's elevation comes as AARP and the Vatican are teaming up to host a summit on global aging and brain health. That event, The Memory: A Symposium Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of an Aging Global Population, will be held May 9-10 in Rome. AARP CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan said this is a pivotal moment in addressing one of humanitys greatest megatrends  the unprecedented aging of our global population, with more than 1 in 5 people worldwide projected to be over age 60 by 2050. We have a transformative opportunity to reimagine how societies value, support, empower and include older adults. Minter-Jordan will deliver the opening and closing remarks at the event.

Ever since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he was well known to the men who count.
A Nation United: India Stands Tall Against Terror, Misinformation, and Hostile Provocations 2

At this moment in our nations history, every Indian heart swells with pride. The courage and precision shown by the Indian Armed Forces in thwarting Pakistans aggression is not just commendable  it is heroic. With unwavering resolve, our defence forces have delivered a befitting response to repeated provocations, once again proving why they are the true guardians of Bharat.

What unfolded over the past few days was not an isolated incident  it was part of a larger pattern of aggression, one that has long exposed Pakistans role as a breeding ground for terrorism. The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force stood united in protecting our soil from a series of aerial strikes and infiltration attempts near the Line of Control and our western borders. Our security agencies have consistently maintained that Pakistan shelters terrorists and aids their infiltration across our borders  recent events only confirm this dangerous truth.

Yet, while the military front remains firm and fearless, a parallel war is being waged online. Social media platforms have been flooded with memes, unverified videos, and misleading narratives  spreading fear, confusion, and falsehoods faster than facts. In such times, the real challenge is not just the enemy across the border, but also the misinformation that weakens our morale from within.

Lets be clear  India is not just prepared, we are actively defending and counter-attacking where needed. Our forces are not just reactive; they are strategic, swift, and forward-looking. Following Operation Sindoor, where nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK were neutralized, Pakistan retaliated with a barrage of drone and missile strikes on Indian military targets. But thanks to Indias formidable air defence systems  S-400 Triumf, Akash, Barak-8, and our integrated counter-UAS grid  every attempt was intercepted and neutralized.

The scale of attempted damage was significant. Pakistani systems tried to target cities including Jammu, Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Bhuj, and others. But not a single Indian military base fell. Instead, Indias precision response took out a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore  a reminder that any act of hostility will be met with greater force.

The Indian governments swift coordination has been equally commendable. In Punjab, cabinet ministers were immediately dispatched to border districts to ensure hospitals, fire stations, and essential supply chains were fully functional. Every aspect of civilian readiness is being reviewed  from rations to medical aid  showing a government and military working in complete synergy.

The attempt to spread panic online was equally met with resilience. The Press Information Bureaus Fact Check Unit swiftly busted viral fake news  from false claims of ATM shutdowns to fabricated explosions  most of which originated from Pakistani social media handles aimed at sowing fear. But Indians are not so easily misled. Today, we are more alert, aware, and united than ever before.

And in a moment that gave every Indian goosebumps, two women officers  Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the IAF  briefed the media about Operation Sindoor. Their presence not only underscored the success of our military but symbolized the historic journey of women in the armed forces  a victory over decades of institutional and societal bias.

Let us remember  victory is not just in defence, but in unity. The celebration of this valour does not lie in noise, but in national service. Instead of extravagant events or mindless forwarding of unverified content, let us contribute meaningfully  to PM CARES, Army Welfare Funds, and verified aid initiatives. Let us be worthy citizens of a nation where soldiers risk their lives for us every day.

As proud Indians, we stand resolute  with our forces, with our government, and with our fellow citizens. No lie, no enemy, no cowardly strike can break the spirit of Bharat.
A Mobile County woman is now behind bars after a child, without a restraint, died in a crash while she was driving.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the single-vehicle crash occurred on Tuesday at about 9:17 p.m. on U.S. Route 45.

That is when the 2011 Honda Accord driven by Cheryl Lynn, 30, left the road and hit a tree. Passengers in the car included a 1-year-old, 5-year-old and 7-year-old.

The 5-year-old died at the scene of the accident and, according to ALEA, was not using a child restraint at the time.

Lynn and the other two children were transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries.

On Wednesday, Lynn was arrested and booked into Mobile County Metro Jail on a charge of reckless manslaughter.

Her bond is set at $100,000.

ALEA said the incident is still being investigated by the agencys Highway Patrol Division.
Mugshot of Seth Kimbrough, Killen Police Officer accused of DUI Lauderdale County Detention Center

An off-duty Alabama police officer was arrested earlier this week after allegedly being impaired while driving.

According to the Florence Police Department, an officer conducted a traffic stop Monday near Huntsville Road and Florence Boulevard.

The driver was determined to be Seth Kimbrough, an off-duty officer with the Killen Police Department.

According to FPD, the officer noticed indicators of impairment from Kimbrough.

After having Kimbrough take several tests he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI).

Kimbrough was held at the Lauderdale County Detention Center but was released on bond.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Killen Police Department were not immediately successful.
A couple of rising country stars from Alabama had a big night at the Academy of Country Musics annual awards show, even when they werent winning.

But they picked up some trophies while they were there, too.

Ella Langley arguably had the greatest fairy-tale experience of anyone at the ceremony, streamed via Prime Video from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. She came into the evening as the ACMs most-nominated artist of the year and she got an early shout-out from host Reba McEntire, who said, Eight nominations as a first-time nominee, thats incredible and Im so proud of you.

A few minutes later, Miranda Lambert brought Langley onstage to help sing her 2005 hit Kerosene. A half-hour into the program, Langley was the first new artist to take the stage and the youthful energy of her performance fired things up.

A little while later, Langley returned to the stage to perform her single Werent for the Wind. She barely had time to settle back into her seat before she and fellow Alabamian Riley Green were called up, along with producer Will Bundy, to accept the award for Single of the Year, for the duet You Look Like You Love Me.

Im still out of breath a little, and I feel like I kind of have been since this song came out, she said, neatly capturing the whirlwind ride shes been on since the release of her album Hungover last summer.

She then said that shed grown up on classic country with a lot of talking in it, citing artists such as Conway Twitty and David Allen Coe. This song really changed it for me as a songwriter, she said. It taught me to just not care so much and write what you love, write what feels good.

She thanked Green for writing a second verse that wrapped it all up.

I just want to say how cool it is that a song with talking verses won an award, Green said. Im so proud of Ella and how she represents the home state of Alabama with me, Im so happy for her success. Im happy to be a part of this song.

The fun wasnt over. Langley was among the nominees for Female Artist of the Year, a category taken by Lainey Wilson. But the award was presented by an assembly of past winners, who took turns praising the nominees. Langley got a stamp of approval from Gretchen Wilson.

Ella, said Wilson. By being bold, being bad-ass, and being yourself, you earned eight nominations this year, including this one. So tonight, just like your fans and everyone back in your hometown, Hope Hull, Alabama, this redneck woman is proud and happy for you. So keep it up!

The best was yet to come: Toward the end of the night, Leann Womack and Parker McCollum announced that You Look Like You Love Me had won the Musical Event of the Year category.

This time around, Langley was almost too stunned to speak. She had to shake her head a couple of times before she could come up with words. I was stunned up here last time I literally blacked out, she said. I have no idea what I said, something about Conway Twitty, I think, I dont know. This time, first off, I want to start off by thanking God  This is the thing Ive wanted to do my whole life, Ive never wanted to do anything else, and in dark times I know that He has put this passion in my heart for a reason.

She thanked Aaron Raitiere, who co-wrote the original version of the song with her, as well as her fans and her team. And she singled out her manager, telling another big part of the songs story. And thank you to Maya Hansen, she said. She was the first person to believe in this song. Everyone said this song would be the most under-performing song on the record. She believed it wouldnt be.

When all was said and done, Langley had claimed five ACM wins. Prior to the show shed been named New Female Artist of the Year and bagged a double win for Visual Media of the Year as artist and director. Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year are artist awards.

Courtesy of the song, Green took home artist awards for Visual Media of the Year and Music Event of the Year.

You Look Like You Love Me also was nominated as Song of the Year, but Lionel Richie presented that trophy to Cody Johnson for Dirt Cheap.

Green, who won the New Male Artist of the Year award in 2020, introduced 2025 winner Zach Top during the show. He also was featured in a philanthropic segment urging viewers to support St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital via Musicgives.org.

Two other Alabama acts were among the nominees. Sadly for their fan bases, they lost to more established acts: Muscadine Bloodline was nominated for duo of the year, but the trophy went to veterans Brooks & Dunn. The Red Clay Strays were up for Group of the Year, but the Oak Ridge Boys presented that win to Old Dominion. The Strays did, however, get the advance award for New Duo or Group of the Year.
Fox News panelist Camryn Kinsey suffers medical episode live on air, host Jonathan Hunt tries to carry on with the segment before going to a commercial. pic.twitter.com/wpBZoxAI2s  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) May 9, 2025

Camryn Kinsey, a political commentator, collapsed during a Fox News broadcast Thursday.

During a Fox News @ Night segment, Kinsey lost her train of thought, then fell from her chair.

Neither Kinsey nor Fox revealed the cause of her fall, Hunt did assure viewers after the commercial break that she had regained consciousness.

We want to give you a quick update. Camryn is up and moving, host Jonathan Hunt told viewers, per USA Today. We have paramedics checking her. We will keep you updated. We wish her all the best.

Fox shared a statement with USA Today on Friday.

Camryn Kinsey attends the Los Angeles Premiere of "Reagan" at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 20, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images) The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

After Fox News @ Night guest Camryn Kinsey fainted during a live on-air appearance last night in our Los Angeles bureau, paramedics were called and she was treated and cleared, a Fox News spokesperson wrote. We are happy to hear she is now feeling much better and wish her a speedy recovery.

Host Jonathan Hunt reacted with surprise as crew members ran out to help, saying: Oh my goodness, were just going to get some help here for Camryn.

He then attempted to throw the segment back to another commentator before going to break.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
The Birmingham FOOD + Culture Festival has rebranded as the Southbound Food Festival for 2025. (Image courtesy of Southbound Food Festival; used with permission)

The Birmingham FOOD + Culture Festival will come back for its third year this fall, but the festival will return with a new name and 10 days of events on its expanded schedule.

The festival, which celebrates Birminghams vibrant food culture, is rebranding as the Southbound Food Festival and is growing from one week last year to 10 days spanning two weekends this year.

The revamped festival, which will feature 100 chefs from around the South, will take place Sept. 19-28 around Pepper Place and Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.

Festival organizers revealed the rebranding at a sneak peek event Thursday night at the Pepper Place Spring Bazaar.

Expanding to two weekends and adopting the Southbound Food Festival name allows the event to better reflect its broad mission  creating more space for discovery, collaboration, and shared culinary experiences, Cathy Sloss Jones, president of the festival board, said in a media release.

Birmingham-based Southern Living magazine will return as a sponsor of one of the festivals most popular events, the Food & Fire barbecue tailgate.

We are thrilled to be part of this incredible festival again through Food & Fire, our celebration of live-fire cooking and Southern tailgate culture, Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans said in the release. With a new name and an expanded mission, Southbound Food Festival will bring culinary fans from far and wide to experience the magic food culture of this city.

The previous two FOOD + Culture Festivals have featured cooking demos, book signings, a guest chef series at various downtown restaurants, a celebration of Birminghams Greek food culture, a music-themed Sunday brunch, and the presentation of the annual Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence.

The Birmingham creative studio Matey crafted the festivals new brand and identity, as well as the tagline: A ten-day celebration of Birminghams magnetic food culture.

The festival, which began in 2023, was selected as one of the best new festivals in the country by voters in USA Todays 10Best Readers Choice Awards.

In its second year in 2024, the festival drew attendees from 19 states and Great Britain, according to organizers.

Tickets and a full schedule of events for the rebranded 2025 festival will be available starting July 7 at SouthboundFoodFest.com.
One of Alabamas major cities is looking to redesign its controversial flag, and its letting the public weigh in.

The city of Montgomery is hosting a citywide contest, open to Capital City residents age 13 and older, as part of its decision to redesign its municipal flag, which was originally created in 1952 and raised concerns last year, according to WSFA, after high school students pointed out that many of its design elements pay tribute to the confederacy. An online petition to change the flags appearance got more than 2,500 signatures.

The city is encouraging community members, neighborhood associations, families and individuals to submit their own original flag design, including a hand-drawn or digitally created sketch, as well as a 250-word or less essay explaining their vision.

The deadline to submit is 5 p.m. on June 21, and all mailed submissions must be postmarked by the same date. Afterward, a committee will judge the submissions based on creativity, simplicity, relevance and adherence to the guidelines.

As Montgomery continues to evolve, the City Council believes it is time to embrace a fresh, inclusive vision that reflects the spirit, progress, and pride of its citizens, a press release by the City of Montgomery states. The goal is to create a flag that embodies unity, peace, and the shared values of Montgomerys diverse population, while respecting its rich history.

For more information, visit the City of Montgomerys website.
Two inmates at William Donaldson Correction Facility died this week, one after a lengthy hospitalization.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the inmates as Jerome Lamont Reed, 38, and Marcus Bernard Palmer, 60.

Reed was found unresponsive in his single-person cell at 6:14 p.m. Wednesday. He was pronounced dead at the prison at 7:15 p.m.

Deputy Coroner Matt Angelo said an autopsy performed Thursday showed no evidence of foul play or trauma. The cause of death is pending additional lab studies.

Palmer was taken on March 27 to UAB Hospital for significant health issues, Angelo said. He was pronounced dead at 6:32 p.m. Thursday.

An autopsy is set for today, but there was no sign of foul play or trauma.
In the last year, five cities in Alabama, have removed fluoride from drinking water. Madison could soon become the sixth. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File

In one of the worst states in the nation for dental health, more and more Alabama cities are considering whether to remove fluoride from public drinking water.

In the last year, five cities in Alabama, have removed fluoride. Madison could soon become the sixth.

Unfortunately, it has become a situation where its no longer a surprise when Im notified that somebody is considering removing fluoride, said Tommy Johnson, the state dental director at the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Different cities have cited different reasons for the move - from financial strains to safety concerns.

But dentists and public health officials say water fluoridation has been beneficial to the state, both in terms of reducing tooth decay and saving money on dental treatments.

Fluoride has gotten a bad rap and there is nothing wrong with looking to see if there are other alternatives for people who do not wish it, Johnson told AL.com. But at the same time, we know the benefits - it is considered one of the top 10 greatest achievements of public health in the 20th century - and there is no question that its effective.

Its for everybody

Alabama has the second lowest ratio of dentists to patients in the country. A number of rural counties either dont have dentists or their few remaining dentists are on the verge of retirement. And the wait time for kids to get into an operating room for a dental surgery in Alabama is around a year.

In 2022, the Alabama health department did dental screenings on students from 52 schools in the state to monitor tooth decay.

In rural schools, Johnson said he saw so much decay in a childs mouth that you cant even tell theyre teeth. He said some students told him they dont even have a toothbrush at home.

So when people comment that we dont need fluoridation in the water system because youre going to get it at the dentist, well not everybody has that opportunity, Johnson told AL.com. Access to care is a huge problem in Alabama so, socioeconomically, community water fluoridation is the most ideal situation you can have because its for everybody.

Data gathered and analyzed by the state health department and the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that children in Blount County have experienced significantly more tooth decay than kids in Jefferson County.

Though the two counties border one another, Jeffersons water is 99% fluoridated while Blount Countys water is only 18% fluoridated. While Blount County is more rural than its neighbor, its still home to a number of dentists.

Researchers found that 34.5% of kindergartners and third graders in Jefferson county experienced tooth decay from 2020-2022, compared to 57.5% in Blount county.

Thats profound and paints a bleak picture, said Stephen Mitchell, a pediatric dentist and director of the Sparks Clinic at UAB.

In recent years, Blount County removed most of the fluoride in its drinking water. Mitchell told AL.com that many of the current high schoolers in the county benefited from fluoride when they were growing up.

They dont have the same levels of tooth decay were seeing in the young kids.

Reducing cavities and tooth decay, which is the most common chronic illness in children in the U.S., is only one benefit of fluoride.

According to a recent ADPH report, one year of fluoridating water at the optimal level saves $6.5 billion in dental costs nationally. That comes out to about $32 a year for every single person in the country. On average, every dollar spent on fluoride yields a $20 return on investment, the report found.

National debate

The debate around whether drinking water should be fluoridated is picking up steam nationally. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of Health and Human Services, last month announced plans to ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in water.

Just last week Kennedy, who has repeatedly pushed controversial and questionable health claims, said the more fluoride you drink, the stupider you are, and we need smart kids in this country, and we need healthy kids.

Kennedys comment came while praising Utah for becoming the first state to ban fluoride in their public water systems. The Utah ban took effect Wednesday, and dentists there say theyre already bracing for the impact on their most vulnerable residents.

Mitchell told AL.com that there are about 19 published studies deemed high quality by the National Institutes of Health that show a correlation between fluoride and a reduction in IQ.

But Mitchell pointed out that all of those studies were conducted overseas in areas where the water fluoridation was twice or even four times the recommended amount that is used in Alabama or across the U.S.

If you have four times the amount of water youre supposed to, Mitchell said, that would create problems for you too.

Johnson echoed those caveats.

If you read those studies, inevitably the opening statement will say in levels in excess of the recommended amount, he told AL.com. And when I say excess, I mean its at least double whats recommended and sometimes up to 10 times whats recommended.

One recent study out of Florida made a connection between fluoride and autism. The study looked at state Medicaid data and found that kids who drank fluoridated water in the first 10 years of their life were more likely to be diagnosed with autism and other disabilities than kids in non-fluoridated areas.

Thats been a shock study that has hit the news circles and Facebook, but theres some real concerns about how they selected their study population and that it may not be a representative sample, Mitchell added.

At the Sparks Clinic, Mitchell works with patients with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Teeth are important but the brain is more important. So I understand the concern because thats my area, those are the patients and families I work with, said Mitchell.

But if we jump to conclusions and make rash decisions to start getting rid of fluoride, I know that my population of patients are going to suffer the most tooth decay increase because they suffer from behavioral challenges that make providing routine dental care difficult, Mitchell said. So we want to be careful and not throw these families into bigger difficulties by overreacting too quickly.

According to ADPH, the recommended, optimal level for fluoride in drinking water is .7 parts per million.

Fluoride exists naturally in virtually all water supplies. Fluoridation doesnt mean adding a medication to the water - its simply adjusting the fluoride to the optimal level to prevent tooth decay.

Its natural, Johnson said. Even if you have a well, well water will have naturally occurring fluoride in it because it comes from rocks.

We dont have the resources

Alabama doesnt mandate that water systems fluoridate their water, so the public health agency can only offer guidance. Instead, local authorities have the power to decide whether to add the mineral or remove it.

The state health department monitors the levels in each water system, and will let local authorities know if their fluoride is lower or higher than what is recommended. He said they if its too high, they alert them immediately.

If its too low we let them know theyre wasting their money because its not effective, he said.

Since March of 2024, Abbeville, Childersburg, Sylacauga, Orange Beach and Grand Bay have removed fluoride from their water. Madison Utilities recently moved to do it, too.

Most of the time we are not made aware of it until the decision has already been made, said Johnson with the state health department.

In Madison, the utility board last month quietly decided to end fluoridation, saying it would cost $500,000 to repair their corroding fluoride treatment system.

The news came as a surprise, even to the city council in Madison. No members of the public were present when the utility board voted to end fluoridation beginning June 16.

Shortly after the news became public, about two dozen people showed up to a city council meeting to raise concerns about the utilitys decision.

The utility board could possibly revote after a public hearing on May 13.

According to Johnson, hes getting calls from even more cities, including some of the larger, more significant systems, about whether to discontinue fluoridation in their drinking water.

He wouldnt name names but warned that the state doesnt have the resources to fill the void.

The Alabama health department currently only has two people in its central dental office, including Johnson and a community dental health coordinator. Of the 65 county health departments managed by ADPH , only one - Tuscaloosa County - has a dental facility. Jefferson and Mobile counties have their own departments with dental facilities.

We dont have the resources here when it comes to public health and there arent a lot of people we can fall back on given our access to care problem, said Johnson. We are so dependent on anything we can get as far as preventative treatments like fluoride. So I just have to scratch my head at how thisll work because were already not in a great situation.

Its not a pretty picture to paint but its what were faced with.
Alireza Doroudi, the University of Alabama doctoral student detained by federal immigration, on Thursday made the difficult decision to request voluntary deportation to Iran, his attorney said.

He turned and looked at me and said: I love this country, but they dont want me here so I will go home, attorney David Rozas told AL.com.

Doroudi has been in federal custody since ICE agents showed up at his Tuscaloosa apartment around 3 a.m. on March 25.

The decision will allow him to avoid prolonged and unnecessary detention, Rozas said.

Rozas said the only charges against Doroudi were the revocation of his student F-1 visa and an allegation that he was not in status.

But documentation about the visa revocation stipulated the revocation upon Doroudis removal from the United States, Rozas said.

Rozas said this means that the initial reason for arrest 45 days ago was an error.

Rozas said the Department of Homeland Security signaled their intention to drop Doroudis charge during Thursdays hearing.

The University of Alabama had advised Doroudi that he was legally allowed to stay but would not be allowed to re-enter if he left, Bajgani added.

On Thursday a U.S. government attorney withdrew the first of those and said the visa revocation was prudential, meaning it would not go into effect until after he leaves the country  in line with what the university told Doroudi earlier.

Rozas said he has submitted evidence disputing the remaining accusation, that he is not an active student.

A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the case, including Rozas characterization of the initial arrest as an error.

Judge Maithe Gonzalez on Thursday called for additional hearings which would have required Doroudi to remain in detention as the legal process played out.

When due process is delayed or denied, when charges are sustained without standing, and when individuals are forced to choose between uncertain length of detention in a country they feel no longer wants them, or leaving voluntarily, we must ask what kind of precedent we are setting not just for foreign students, but for fairness and justice in America, Rozas said.

Doroudi was first held at the Pickens County Jail and then transferred to federal custody in Jena, La.

Following his arrest, the Department of Homeland Security put out at a statement alleging that Doroudi was a national security concern.

ICE HSI made this arrest in accordance with the State Departments revocation of Doroudis student visa. This individual posed significant national security concerns, a DHS spokesperson has previously said.

On April 17, Judge Maithe Gonzalez denied Doroudis bond saying he failed to meet the burden of showing that he was not a threat to national security.

Gonzalez also ruled Doroudi was a flight risk due to being in the country with a revoked F-1 visa, no family in the country and what she said were scarce ties to the community.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Alabama State Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, speaks before the Alabama House Health Committee on Wednesday, April, 2, 2025, at the Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala. John Sharp

In a move steeped in symbolism and a bit of political theater, the U.S. House on Thursday officially embraced a controversial rebranding by renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, at the behest of former President Donald Trump.

Now, a wave of support is sweeping through several coastal states. Florida and Louisiana officials are already on board, and Texas lawmakers are advancing bills recognizing the name change.

But in Alabama, the tide has yet to fully turn. With just one day left in the legislative session, lawmakers face a deadline to decide whether the state will follow suit  or stand as one of two holdouts on the shoreline along with Mississippi, which hasnt introduced a bill yet.

Obviously, we only have one day left, said Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, the sponsor of HB247, which requires all state and local entities and their employees to use the term Gulf of America in all newly created maps, documents, educational materials, websites, official communications, and other resources.

The Senate has a lot to consider, Standridge said. But Im obviously hoping they do take the Gulf of America bill up.

Recovering from setback

The legislation faced a small setback late last month after the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government voted 4-4 on the legislation, stopping its advancement to the full Senate floor by one day.

While Democratic lawmakers overwhelmingly oppose the name change, the committees Aug. 29 vote included one No by a Republican - Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn. He could not be reached for comment about his vote.

Standridge said that Hovey was initially concerned with a fiscal note attached to the bill. He said that once those concerns were resolved, the bill was reconsidered and voted out of the committee.

It only slowed it down for one day, so I dont know if it would have mattered on the timing right now, Standridge said, adding that the fiscal note wasnt straight-forward in describing that there was no financial burden on an entity by adopting the name change.

Democratic lawmakers overwhelmingly disapprove of the name change. They hope lawmakers wont attempt to pass it before the 2025 spring session officially concludes on Wednesday.

They may get their wish. Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, indicated on Wednesday that local bills will receive priority during the final legislative day.

Democratic lawmakers also did their part to slow down the legislative calendar on Wednesday by engaging in a lengthy filibuster on legislation that changes the make-up of the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

We have so many other issues affecting the people we serve with this economy, with people being laid off and the programs being cut, so why are wasting our time on frivolous things like this? said Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile.

The legislation doesnt include punitive measures to mandate the name changes. It also includes language that allows educators to use the Gulf of Mexico name as a historical reference.

The U.S. House codified Trumps executive order as the Republican-led chamber voted 211-206 to change the name of the body of water. It still faces an uphill battle in getting passed out of the U.S. Senate.

I proudly represent a district on the Gulf of America, which plays a vital role in our economy, energy independence, and national security, said U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise. I support President Trumps mission to reclaim this beautiful body of water and give it a name that honors our nation.

Museum name

The National Maritim Museum of the Gulf of Mexico as pictured on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in downtown Mobile, Ala. John Sharp

The biggest lift toward changing the name in Alabama appears to be with a museum in downtown Mobile.

Representatives with the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, in a statement last month, said they were planning to scrub Mexico from the museums name. But as for now, America will not be added. The new proposal suggests the museums name will be the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf.

It will be the facilitys second name change in as many years. A comprehensive rebranding occurred about a year ago, which included removing the name GulfQuest from the museums title in order to stick with the more basic name authorized about 15 years ago through a congressional designation, National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico will be changing its name to the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, said Karen Poth, the museums executive director. This change reflects the museums commitment to celebrating the rich history, ecology, and economic impact of this incredible body of water. Known by many names throughout its history, the Gulf has played a profound role in shaping the economy and culture of Mobile and other coastal communities from Texas to Florida.

Mike Lee, the museum boards chairman, said that the board has not officially endorsed the name change, though he supports Poths statement.

He also said it would be helpful for Alabama state lawmakers to provide guidance.

Ive heard people on both sides saying, wed like to say were following the law and whatever is in the code instead of making our political decision that says which way is the best way to go, Lee said. If (the legislature) codifies it, we have direction. If they dont, were in limbo on what they want to do.

He said without legislation adopted in Alabama, the board will likely stick with National Maritime Museum of the Gulf  sans, Mexico or America.

Standridge said he is hopeful museum officials will consider the presidents executive order and include Gulf of America.

He called the current name a start toward making that happen.

I do appreciate them making moves to change, Standridge said. I think they recognize that is what is happening in the nation. I think that is a step toward the Gulf of America name. I hope they do that in the future.

For now, Standridge said he hopes to get the renaming bill passed out of the Senate. Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, is carrying the bill in the Senate. He noted that Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, during her annual State of the State address in February, used the Gulf of America name in her speech.

Trump, himself, linked Alabama to the Gulf of America during his speech before the spring 2025 graduating class at the University of Alabama last week.

Governor (Kay) Ivey has embraced the new name in the many statements she has released, so I am hopeful the Senate will take the bill up next week, Standridge said.
Betsy Pringle, a Mountain Brook High sophomore, talks to the state library board at the May meeting to share how libraries have changed her life. Williesha Morris

An Alabama library board leader believes children should not be able to read library books about transgender people.

At a meeting Thursday, Amy Minton introduced a consideration to restrict children from reading any library material that encourages, promotes or contains positive portrayals of transgender procedures, gender ideology or the concept of more than two genders.

The language is modeled on a new state law, What is a Woman, and on two recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump that target transgender health care and certain procedures.

The state library board did not vote on the consideration, but it did adopt a new policy to regulate sexually explicit content, in an ongoing effort to stop children from accessing books some people consider objectionable. The new policy uses the same definition used by adult bookstores.

Alabama Public Library Service board member Amy Minton presented this policy determining books with "positive portrayals" of transgender people are inappropriate for children and youth. Williesha Morris

Read the full text of Mintons consideration.

More than 30 people from around the state packed into the room for a chance to speak on the topic. Most spoke about protecting libraries, while a handful insisted on protecting children by moving books to the adult section.

Reading has always been such a blessing to me, said Betsy Pringle, a Mountain Brook High sophomore. I stopped being able to walk around the time I learned to read and instead of my world getting smaller, it grew in epic proportions. In books Ive climbed mountains, performed magic and traveled the world, I have learned skills such as empathy and kindness.

The new rule attempts to clarify which books libraries cannot allow children to access. It defines sexually explicit content as actual or simulated sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; Sexual excitement; Nudity; Bestiality; Masturbation; Sadistic or masochistic abuse; or Lascivious exhibition of the anus, genital or pubic area of any person.

Sarah Sanchez of Clean Up Alabama said listening to a lot of the comments today, theres a lot of passion and bitterness. I dont share any of that bitterness from where I sit on my side of the issue. Clean Up Alabama has been leading group challenging books statewide for content with LGBTQ or race-related themes and characters.

Fairhope libraries

About a dozen people spoke about the continuing situation in Fairhope, including the library director and the president of the board. For nearly two years, some residents have complained about sexually inappropriate books for children, while others trust the librarians.

The state library board suspended funding to the library for not following the state code, even though library staff said they were told they were in compliance.

While the state board didnt vote on any decisions regarding the Fairhope librarys funding, many people spoke in support of resuming their funding and leaving decision-making to them.

Our library has followed every policy that you have put forth, including creating a parental card system back in September of 2024, according to Cheryl Corvo, a Fairhope resident. But because they didnt cave to your demands to remove books, books that have been reviewed and cleared multiple times using APLS code, you punish them. Thats not leadership. That is retaliation.

The board meets again on July 17.
This 2024 photo provided by Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani shows her and her fiance, Alireza Doroudi, who was detained by immigration officials in March 2025. (Alireza Doroudi via AP) AP

Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani wanted to build a life with her fiance in America.

Now, she grieves as Alireza Doroudi prepares to return to Iran after he was held in a detention facility for 42 days.

I feel relieved for Alireza. He didnt deserve to stay that long in that facility and be treated like this, Bajgani said.

I am not happy about the whole thing that happened to us and I need time to grieve for what l am going to put behind and leave. All the dreams, friendships and dreams we had with each other to build a life in (the U.S.) Its a sad day for America.

Doroudi, a doctoral student at the University of Alabama, has been in federal custody since ICE agents showed up at his Tuscaloosa apartment around 3 a.m. on March 25.

The two had planned to marry in two months when agents led him away.

I was living a normal life until that night. After that nothing is just normal, Bajgani recently told The Associated Press.

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?

Bajgani has said the days following Doroudis his detainment were some of hardest and most overwhelming Ive ever experienced.

Bajgani also spoke out before President Donald Trump came to address UA graduates.

Im just really ashamed that the University of Alabama can be so silent about Alireza and at the same time celebrate all the other things that are just very minimal compared to what happens to Alireza and what happens to the community around him, Bajgani, who is also a doctoral student at UA, told AL.com at the time.

On Thursday, Doroudi asked a judge to grant him voluntary deportation back to Iran, according to his attorney David Rozas.

He turned and looked at me and said: I love this country, but they dont want me here so I will go home, attorney David Rozas told AL.com.

Rozas said the decision will allow Doroudi to avoid prolonged and unnecessary detention, as the immigration judge sought additional hearings in Doroudis case.

Doroudi was first held at the Pickens County Jail and then transferred to federal custody in Jena, La.

Following his arrest, the Department of Homeland Security put out at a statement alleging that Doroudi was a national security concern.

ICE HSI made this arrest in accordance with the State Departments revocation of Doroudis student visa. This individual posed significant national security concerns, a DHS spokesperson has previously said.

On April 17, Judge Maithe Gonzalez denied Doroudis bond saying he failed to meet the burden of showing that he was not a threat to national security.

But the government has not provided any evidence to support the allegation of Doroudi being a national security concern.

Gonzalez also ruled Doroudi was a flight risk due to being in the country with a revoked F-1 visa, no family in the country and what she said were scarce ties to the community.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV concelebrates Mass with the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Friday, May 9, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP)

Bishop Steven J. Raica, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, reacted to the election of the first U.S.-born pope, calling it a surprise gift of a shepherd through a time of global uncertainty.

With profound joy and heartfelt gratitude, we welcome the joyful news of the election of His Eminence Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, O.S.A., as the new Bishop of Romeour Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Raica said in a released statement. It is, indeed, a surprise, one filled with grace. The Holy Spirit has once again stirred the Church in a remarkable way, gifting us with a new Supreme Pontiff to shepherd Gods people during this time of global uncertainty into a future filled with hope and truth.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, founded by Mother Angelica and headquartered in Irondale in the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, will be an important vessel of information about the new papacy as the largest Catholic TV network in the world.

EWTN CEO Mike Warsaw released a statement reacting to the new pope, considered the 267th in church history, starting from St. Peter, named by Jesus to lead the Christian church and considered the first pope by Catholics.

It is with great joy that I welcome the election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, Warsaw said. The election of a new pope is always an historic moment in the life of the Church, but the election of the first American-born Pope is particularly momentous. The new Holy Father carries with him enormous experience as a missionary priest and bishop which no doubt will help to shape his ministry as the 266th successor of Saint Peter. On behalf of the global EWTN Family, I want to assure Pope Leo of our prayers as he begins his service to the universal Church.

Raica reflected further on the new popes setting a tone of unity for the church.

In his first greeting to the Church and to the world, Pope Leo XIV offered the words of the Risen Christ: Peace be with you, Raica said. These are not simply words of comfort; they are a commission. Just as Christ breathed peace upon His disciples and sent them forth, our new pope comes to us as a bridge-builder (pontifex), a messenger of reconciliation in a world so deeply divided and in need of healing. His voice, echoing the Risen Christ, now becomes a point of unity for the global Church and a moral compass for the wider world.

The name he has chosenLeocalls to mind strength, courage, and steadfastness. The last Pontiff to bear this name, Pope Leo XIII, gave the Church the encyclical Rerum Novarum, the foundational text of modern Catholic Social Teaching during the Industrial Revolution. In this same spirit, Pope Leo XIV ascends to the Chair of Peter not only as a successor of the apostles, but also as a successor of courageous advocacy by his predecessors, especially for the dignity of the human person, for workers, for the poor, and for justice.

As an Augustinian, our new Holy Father brings the deep spiritual wisdom of St. Augustinehis love for truth, his restless search for God, and his profound understanding of grace. As a missionary bishop in Peru, he has walked alongside the poor, learned from the humble, and witnessed firsthand the hope that blossoms even in the most forgotten corners of the world.

The Church desires in her pope what every disciple of Christ longs for: one who boldly proclaims the Resurrection, who pastors the flock with compassion and strength, who teaches the Gospel with clarity, and who leads us ever more deeply into the mystery of God through the sacraments.

Here in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, we offer Pope Leo XIV our warmest welcome, our filial devotion, and, most importantly, our prayers for the fruitfulness of his Petrine ministry. We pray that the Lord may bless him with wisdom like Solomons, courage like Leos, and the heart of a shepherd after Gods own heart. May he lead us ever more faithfully toward Christ, the Good Shepherd, Whose peace he now bears to the whole world. Ad multos annos, Pope Leo XIV!

The Friday mid-day Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham was dedicated to prayer and thanksgiving for the new pope.
Pallasites were likely created in a comparatively small zone within these differentiated asteroids, and that fact may explain their rarity, reads an article by geologist Geoffrey Notkin. Joe Champion

Elmore County man Joe Champion claims he recently discovered a rare meteorite in a load of soil and rock he was sorting through.

Champion identified the find as a pallasite meteorite, which are believed to form between the silicate mantle, or outer shell, and molten metal core of a differentiated asteroid (asteroids that have been altered by thermal processes and have separated into a core and mantle), according to the Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University.

These meteorites are extremely rare and can be distinguished by the presence of large olivine crystal inclusions in the ferro-nickel matrix, often with a green hue.

Pallasites were likely created in a comparatively small zone within these differentiated asteroids, and that fact may explain their rarity, reads an article by geologist Geoffrey Notkin.

Out of the many thousands of identified meteorites there are only about 45 known pallasites.

Gem-quality peridot has been identified in multiple pallasite meteorites, earning it the title of a gemstone from another world.

Efforts to reach Champion for comment were not immediately successful.

This is not the first time a piece of space has found its way to Alabama.

Ann Hodges, 34, was napping on her couch in Oak Grove, near Sylacauga, on Nov. 30, 1954, when she was struck in the thigh by a meteorite that had crashed through her roof and ricocheted off her radio set.

Before her death in 1972, Hodges donated it to the Alabama Museum of Natural History at the University of Alabama, where it is on permanent display.
A group of LGBTQ+ baristas is working to unionize a Starbucks in Huntsville for what they hope will help create a more fair and equitable workplace for everyone.

If successful, the store on Memorial Parkway would be the third organized Starbucks outlet in Alabama, after stores in Scottsboro and Birmingham. The organizing team wants to join Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), the union that represents over 570 union Starbucks stores, out of about 15,000 outlets in total.

Questions at the Huntsville Starbucks were directed to a corporate media line. Messages sent by phone and email seeking comment were left with Starbucks.

Huntsville union organizing team members Briar Wolf and Nox Ashes were initially drawn to Starbucks because of its long-standing reputation as an inclusive and supportive workplace, especially for LGBTQ+ employees.

Starbucks is the place where queer people land and where trans people land because theyve had a reputation for a long time as being a friendly place to work, she said. You know, theres the joke about the whole blue hair, they/them baristas making the best coffee and all that. Starbucks had presented themselves as this, this paragon of acceptance for queer and trans people to be able to work there.

Wolf was also attracted by the companys benefits, including tuition reimbursement for a first-time bachelors degree through Arizona State University and the companys health insurance plan. In 2018, Starbucks introduced a supplemental insurance plan that covered gender-affirming procedures like electrolysis, facial feminization, and other related health care, many with no co-pays or deductibles. The company provides travel reimbursements for gender-affirming care.

But now, she said, that support has been slowly eroded. Fast Company reported in 2022 that many of the procedures covered by the supplemental plan were moved to a primary plan, which can include co-pays and in-network and out-of-network doctors.

For one of the surgeries that I plan to have, to get a doctor that is even on WPATHs (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) recommended list, Im going to have to go to San Francisco, she said. They used to pay for travel, but now they only pay for a certain amount of travel, and only if its approved, and only if theres not an in-network doctor within driving range. Theyve chipped away at little bits and pieces of it.

Starbucks said its benefits package has not changed. In a letter to the union sent in 2023, May Jensen, a Starbucks vice president, wrote that individual state policies led to shifts in coverage.

Whether specific same-sex and gender affirming care, services, and procedures are covered as part of the Companys core health insurance plan or its additional wrap plan depends upon the state law applicable to the Companys plans and, more specifically, whether the care, services, and procedures are required to be part of Starbucks core health insurance plan offerings, the letter said.

SBWU bargaining delegate and Birmingham barista Naomi Wilson, whose Starbucks store is unionized, is part of the team drafting and negotiating SBWUs first collective bargaining agreement with Starbucks, as well as an active member of the unions Trans Rights Action Committee (TRAC).

One of the biggest things that we want is the reinstatement of the trans health care supplemental plan that they took away in 2023, Wilson said. Everybody is like, yeah, were getting that. I havent seen anybody say that, no, thats too much. Everyone in our union says we are going to get that.

More from Alabama Reflector

Another key issue driving Huntsvilles union effort are allegations from Wolf and Ashes of workplace discrimination against transgender workers. They say coworkers are misgendered by management, and despite multiple corrections every day, it continues without response. Starbucks refers to employees as partners.

At some point, it really does become malicious, and partners who were more outspoken about the way things were being run were being misgendered very frequently and sort of pointedly, Ashes said.

The baristas say that logistical issues also plague this location. On Starbucks website, the Memorial Parkway location is supposed to close at 6 p.m., but the baristas say it regularly closes at 2 p.m. because of staffing issues. Wolf said workers who are scheduled for those shifts have to use PTO to make up the hours.

Ashes said turnover in the store, which left everyone fed up, also contributed to the union push.

I just didnt feel safe anymore, she said. Suddenly my job security did not exist.

Despite concerns about risking her job, benefits and education, Wolf began organizing just three weeks into the role.

I decided to go ahead with it, because its just the right thing to do, she said. Showing people that folks look down on and consider unskilled labor, whatever that is, because all the labor is skilled labor, that they do have power and that they can organize. () My lifes mission is to organize and empower marginalized people and people who work at Starbucks, people who work at whatever fast food places, theyre marginalized people. People look down on them.

The organizing team recently filed for a union vote, which grants them legal protections against retaliatory firings. If they are fired during this period, they can file charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

Ashes said she hopes a union will give them guaranteed hours, proper staffing and power for workers.

Were having p.m. workers who have been working p.m. for a year plus, sometimes several years are now being forced to work a.m. because theyre being told that their hours dont exist anymore, Ashes said. The power to take all of those issues and say, this needs to be fixed, and if you dont fix it, your store is not going to run. We need to be respected. We were hired to work this. We can work this. We desire to work, but you need to let us and support us

Wilson has worked at the unionized Birmingham Starbucks location for a year and a half. She said she has greater job security but that the union has led to greater scrutiny from the company.

People are scared to say the word union, Wilson said. It was dark. It was like saying the word union was like a bad word in our store.

But Wilson said the union gave her a heightened sense of responsibility in her workplace and a stronger community.

By participating, you actually give people a fighting chance to have a good workplace, a stable workplace, she said. And by burying your hand in the sand, youre leaving everyone vulnerable to like, harassment, firings.

In a report released in January, the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank, cited Starbucks as engaging in union busting, citing 771 open or settled unfair labor practice tactics before regional offices of the federal National Labor Relations Board through February 2024.

Workers at the Huntsville location are starting to report documents on unions are being hung up around the store. They report that two documents were hung up in their store recently, including one listing ten negative things about joining a union.

Local labor organizations have expressed support for the Huntsville Starbucks, including the North Alabama Democratic Socialists of America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and The North Alabama Area Labor Council.

Starbucks workers in Huntsville have realized what more than 10,000 Starbucks workers across the country have realized  that a voice on the job is important, and that they do deserve it, said Jacob Morrison, president of the North Alabama Area Labor Council.

The union election is scheduled for May 12.
Authorities have released the name of a man who was killed in a traffic crash while authorities say he was fleeing from a police officer.

Alabama State Troopers on Friday identified the man as Willie Terrell Wills. He was 44 and lived in Moundville.

The wreck happened at 10:58 p.m. Saturday, May 3, and also left a father and his two juvenile children seriously injured.

Trooper Cpl. Reginal King said Wills was driving a Dodge Hornet when he was hit by the GMC Acadia driven by 41-year-old Jason G. Corley of Brent.

The wreck happened on Alabama 5, about two miles south of Brent in Bibb County.

Prior to the crash, King said, Wills was attempting to elude a Brent police officer.

Wills wasnt using a seat belt at the time of the wreck and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Corley was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center. His children were also hospitalized.

Additional details about their injuries have not been released by authorities.

Court records show Wills had a lengthy arrest history dating back 20 years. His arrests included multiple driving infractions, including attempting to elude and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Earlier this year, he was indicted on felony attempting to elude charge.

Wills pleaded guilty in 2023 to reckless endangerment after initially being charged with attempted murder for threatening to kill someone and shooting at him. He was sentenced to a year in prison.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.
Authorities are trying to identify the suspect in a deadly shooting that happened May 8, 2025, on Atlanta Highway in Montgomery. (Central Alabama Crime Stoppers)

Authorities are asking for the publics help identifying the suspect in a deadly Montgomery shooting.

Police and fire medics were dispatched at 5 a.m. Thursday to the 5700 block of Atlanta Highway on a report of a person shot. That area is near the Chevron gas station.

Lt. David Wise said the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, is the citys 24th homicide this year.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers on Friday released surveillance images of the suspect, who was seen on the stores cameras shortly before the fatal shooting.

The unidentified man was wearing black pants with white graphic designs, a black button- down shirt, a light blue shirt with graphics, blue gloves and a Nike ski mask.

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.
Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith holds a press conference following the death of an inmate. (Carol Robinson)

Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith said a motion to hold him in contempt was a politically motivated attack designed to bolster his newly announced opposition in the race for sheriff.

The Walker County District Attorneys Office asked a judge to hold Smith in contempt, claiming he had failed to comply with a subpoena to hand over records involving an investigation into a deputys eligibility to serve as a law enforcement officer in Alabama.

Smith, who said he found out about the contempt motion through news reporters seeking a comment, quickly filed a response, claiming not only had his office already complied with the subpoena.

Smith said District Attorney Bill Adair earlier today acknowledged he had overlooked receipt of the requested files.

Adair subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the civil contempt request.

Circuit Judge Doug Farris, shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday, granted the motion to dismiss.

After the dismissal, Smith posted Facebook video addressing what he described as a quietly brewing, political game.

Earlier Thursday, long-time Jasper Police Chief J.C. Poe announced he was running for sheriff.

In preparation for his announcement, a baseless motion for contempt was filed by the district attorneys office the evening before his announcement, Smith said.

The motion against Smith was filed and signed by Kristin Kiefer Huddleston, who the sheriff said is married to an investigator with the Jasper Police Department who works directly for Poe.

Smith noted the motion was filed in a hurry and full of editing marks, proving how hurriedly it was put together.

But it had to be, Smith said. They wanted if filed the day before J.C. made his big announcement to give him something to talk about.

Efforts to reach Poe and Adair for comment on Smiths allegations were unsuccessful.

The motion for contempt was filed by District Attorney Bill Adairs office Wednesday, and is a result of an apparent investigation into the qualifications and eligibility of Deputy Andrew J. Neves-McDonald.

According to the contempt motion, Adairs office on April 21 served a subpoena to the sheriffs office at the request of an investigator with the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, which certifies law enforcement officers in Alabama.

Adair attached a copy of the subpoena which requested records for numerous cases between Sept. 15, 2024, and Feb. 11, 2025.

Those cases included a death investigation, theft, auto theft and assault that apparently were handled by Deputy Neves-McDonald.

The district attorney asked that all records be turned over to his office no later than 1 p.m. on May 6. As of that deadline, the contempt motion stated, Adair had not received the requested incident/offense report.

In Smiths response, filed at 2:01 p.m. Wednesday, said after receiving the initial subpoena in April, the sheriffs office custodian for records sent an email to the software company that stores the digital copies and requested the cases be pulled.

Smith said he copied the district attorneys office on that email.

Roughly 2  hours later, according to Smiths response, the software company sent an email to the Walker County custodian of records and copied the district attorneys office on the email, which contained three files attached.

Earlier today, Smith said, he began to receive requests from the news media requesting his comment on the contempt petition. Smith said that was the first time he was made aware of the contempt petition.

He immediately looked into the matter, his response states, and the custodian of records produced the emails that complied with the subpoena.

It wasnt until just before noon Thursday, Smith contends, that he was served with the contempt motion.

Moments later, the response states, the custodian of records received a call from the district attorneys office and almost immediately was speaking with the district attorney who acknowledged that he had overlooked receipt of the files.

I dont think Ms. Kiefer knew that I had email proof when she filed her motion the evening before her husbands boss announced his candidacy for sheriff, Smith said. This filing was a direct interference with governmental operations.

I was hopeful this race would be a clean one, Smith said. I refuse to be drawn into a mud bath, however I will not sit quietly while others make accusations that are clearly false.

Im an outsider who was not handpicked for my position several years ago, Smith said. People who have controlled and held office for over 30 years want me gone. I think theres evidence, and people see everyday what I go through.

I expect retaliation for this response, the sheriff said. However, I will not be rocked out of town by the old guard.
President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool photo via AP) AP

Melania Trump has reportedly spent fewer than two weeks in the White House since President Donald Trump began serving his second term in office on Jan. 20.

While shes been photographed at highly publicized events like Aprils White House Easter Egg Roll, sightings of the enigmatic first lady in Washington, D.C. have been rare in the 109 days her husband has been in office, according to The New York Times.

The corner residence long designated for the wives of the nations presidents reportedly remains empty and dark most of the time. Melania is believed to split her time between Trump Tower in Manhattan and the presidents Mar-a-Lago estate in south Florida.

The couples son, Barron Trump, attends classes at NYU. The president often spends weekend at Mar-a-Lago, though its unclear how often he and Melania are together there.

The 55-year-old former model from Slovenia has staffers in the White Houses East Wing, where shes reportedly rarely seen.

The first ladys absence is among the most sensitive of subjects in the White House, according to the Times. Some officials reportedly said shes present more than the public knows, while others said that claims shes spent even two weeks in the West Wing are generous.

Its not unusual for the Trumps to live separate lives. Melania attended none of her husbands criminal or civil court proceeding in between his two presidencies, and rarely joined him on the campaign trail. When Trump first came to office in 2017, she took a full six months to join him in the nations capital.

Ivana Trump, the first of the presidents three wives, told The Hill in 2020 that she isnt sure if Melania is doing a good job as the first lady.

Shes very quiet, and she really doesnt go to too many places, Ivana said. She goes to stuff when she has to go.

Ivana seemed to maintain a cordial relationship with the president, with whom she shares three children, before her death in 2022.

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2025 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Lipscomb Mayor Tonja Baldwin, left, and Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton, right, face off in court over city attorney dispute. The Lipscomb Council hired Newton over Baldwin's objection. Tamika Moore

A feud between mayors of two Birmingham area towns has generated tough words, lawsuits, a ban from city hall and even threats of arrest.

Now Lipscomb Mayor Tonja Baldwin and Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton will face off in court.

The issue surrounds the Lipscomb City Councils hiring of Newton, who is also a lawyer, to serve as city attorney over Baldwins objection. Since then, the two leaders have clashed verbally and legally.

Lipscomb police this week ordered Newton out of city hall  again  saying he was no longer allowed on the premises after a dispute with Baldwin in which she said she felt threatened. Newton was previously escorted out of Lipscomb City Hall.

Newton and the Lipscomb City Council fired back this week by suing Baldwin and the Lipscomb Police Department asking a judge to order her to allow him access to city buildings and to pay his invoices. Newtons lawsuit is on behalf of the Lipscomb City Council.

These actions demonstrate an ongoing pattern of interference by both defendants in violation of the councils authority and Alabama law, Newton wrote in the lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Newton cites unanimous council votes to hire him as city attorney in February, April and May. The latest council resolution also chides Baldwin for refusing to grant Newton access to city hall.

Mayor Baldwin is hereby directed to immediately cease and desist from any further obstruction, interference or retaliatory actions by city attorney Wayman Newton or any other officer or employee duly authorized by the city council, the resolution states.

Baldwin had obtained an arrest warrant against Newton, accusing him of making threatening comments, a misdemeanor.

The warrant was rescinded by a judge who ruled that the Lipscomb magistrate was the wrong venue for the order because those court officials answer to Baldwin.

Newton dismissed the move as a political attack from Baldwin to discredit his work.

As city attorney for Lipscomb, I have a duty to uphold the law and participate in investigations involving city officials, including those tied to illegal bingo, he told AL.com. I understand this may upset some, but I will not ignore my ethical obligations.

Bingo in Lipscomb is a contentious issue that has divided the mayor and council and drawn the ire of state law enforcement and the attorney general.

Newton insists that his role as an attorney and the dispute in Lipscomb has no connection to his official duty as mayor of Tarrant.

The political fight continues even as it generates questions from one end of the county to the other. Baldwin took to social media to explain her position.

Wayman Newton came to Lipscomb City Hall after being trespassed weeks ago. I cant trespass anyone from a government building, Baldwin wrote. He was trespassed by the police department because of things he said and did.

While the initial warrant against Newton was rescinded, Baldwin told AL.com that her complaint against Newton is not resolved and her legal fight over his appointment is not over.

She said a special magistrate and judge will hear the cases, so that it will not be a conflict of interest.

Stop listening to the streets and hear it from the source that knows the truth, Baldwin wrote. I will make this public so that nobody has to call and say what I said.

While Baldwin and Newton are on opposing sides, the two mayors have a major issue in common: Both are embroiled in bitter fights with their city councils that have divided their communities and crippled government action.

Baldwin maintains that Newton is serving illegally and is part of a council plan to seize control.

She accused Newton of using the same tactics against her that he says his council did to him in Tarrant.

Tarrant has enough going on, Baldwin wrote. Dont bring all of that negativity to Lipscomb.
A dangerous Huntsville area intersection is among $40 million in new state road projects, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced on Friday.

Limestone County intersection improvements are on the way for State Route 53 and Pinedale Road, Ivey said of the intersection in Ardmore. I dont have to tell anyone here that that spot has been a safety concern and traffic headache for quite some time.

State Rep. Andy Whitt said the intersection on the state highway that runs from the Tennessee state line into Huntsville has been the site of numerous fatalities and injuries, including an accident recently involving a Greyhound bus.

This is a dangerous stretch of 53, Whitt said. We have drivers coming out of Tennessee. There are speed issues and turning lane issues.

The $1.25 million project is one of 24 projects selected this year for funding through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II), a program created in 2019 by the Rebuild Alabama Act. The Rebuild Alabama Act requires ATRIP-II to be an annual program setting aside a minimum of $30 million off the top of the Alabama Department of Transportations share of new gas tax revenue for projects of local interest on the state highway system.

State Sen. Tim Melson said he, Whitt and other lawmakers took criticism for passing the gas tax proposed by Ivey. But he said projects like the one at State Route 53 and Pinedale Road would not be possible without it.

These improvements arent happening by accident, Ivey added. Theyre happening because we worked together to pass a smart, responsible infrastructure plan and weve stuck to it. This project is a perfect example of what Rebuild Alabama was created to do.

As for the project itself, ALDOT North Region Engineer Curtis Vincent said turn lanes will be constructed at the intersection on the heavily traveled road into Huntsville.

He said the work will make the intersection safer and more efficient for the traffic.

Preliminary engineering has been authorized, Vincent said. Surveying has begun. ALDOT will design this project in house.

ALDOT spokesman Seth Burkett said actual construction at the intersection could start within two years. He said speeding up the timeline is the fact that most, if not all, of the work will be done within the existing state right-of-way.

Vincent also said the intersection project joins a couple of other ALDOT projects on State Route 53.

He said a more than $4 million project in Madison County is nearing completion. The project involves improvements, including turn lanes and signals, on State Route 53 at Old Railroad Bed Road and Harvest Road.

The contractor, the Rogers Group, will soon begin final paving, which will be followed by permanent striping and markings, Vincent said. Hopefully all will be wrapped up within five to six weeks.

He said utility relocation is underway for widening State Route 53 from Taurus Drive to Harvest Road.

Overhead electric lines have been moved. Water and telecoms are being moved as we speak, Vincent said. Later this year, we will let the construction project, estimated to cost between $8 million and $10 million to convert more than one mile of this corridor to a five-lane highway.

Oftentimes these improvements are costly and take time, Whitt added.

When we passed the Rebuild Alabama Act, I made a promise that every single county, all 67 of them, would benefit, Ivey said. Im proud to report that promise has been kept. More than 350 roads and bridge projects have been funded to date touching every corner of the state.

Other Huntsville-area projects

Access management improvements will be made on U.S. 72 at Liberty Lane and Micah Way in Scottsboro with $1.1 million in state funds and $251,000 in local funds.

There will be intersection improvements and a realignment of Litte Cove Road, including turn lanes, at U.S. 72 in Gurley with $7.4 million in state funds and $2 million in local funds.

There will be intersection improvements at U.S. 431 at Wyeth Drive, Webb Avenue and Spring Creek Drive in Guntersville with $1.9 million in state funds and $144,000 in local funds.

Intersection improvements will be made at State Route 24 and South Greenway Drive in Trinity with $770,000 in state funds.

For more information about the ATRIP-II Program, visit https://www.dot.state.al.us/programs/ATRIPII.html
Alabama businesses that sell gummies, flowers, and other products containing CBD and THC derived from hemp will close if a bill passed by the Legislature this week becomes law, owners said.

Sonya Lowery, owner of Freedom CBD & Wellness in Tuscaloosa, said the bill would outlaw the higher-dose gummies and hemp flowers that make up 90% of her sales.

Lowery said her store, which has been in business for six years, would no longer be profitable.

Its really upsetting, Lowery said. It affects me and my livelihood as a business owner.

But my customers are what it affects the most. Thats what Im upset about the most.

Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday passed HB445 by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, which will tax, regulate, and restrict the sales of gummies, drinks, vapes, and other products with cannabinoids from hemp, a legal variety of the marijuana plant.

Cannabinoids include THC, also known as Delta 8, Delta 9, and Delta 10, and CBD. THC is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana.

Gov. Kay Ivey could sign the bill into law.

Gina Maiola, the governors communications director, said the bill is being reviewed.

Lowery traveled to the State House in Montgomery to attend hearings that packed committee rooms and lobby against the bill, along with other business owners and advocates.

Lowery said most of her customers use the products for to help with pain or anxiety, or to help sleep. Customers know the law might be changing and are worried, she said.

I have customers who already came in before this bill passed crying, Lowery said.

They dont know what theyre going to do. They can finally sleep. And now theyre scared and theyre worried. And I dont know what to tell them.

Whitt and the bills other main sponsor, Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, said the consumable products using hemp-derived THC are unregulated and dangerous and are sometimes packaged to appeal to children.

Lawmakers passed a bill two years ago restricting sales to customers 21 and older, but the supporters of the bill said that hasnt stopped minors from using the products, which are widely available in stores and online.

HB445 would limit sales to stores licensed to sell consumable hemp products by the Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board.

The stores could only admit people 21 and older, except that the bill allows grocery stores of at least 14,000 square feet to sell THC beverages in a designated section if the stores obtain a license from the ABC board for the products.

The bill would add a new 10% retail tax on the products in addition to the regular state and local sales taxes. The bill spells out restrictions on packaging, labeling, and requires certification of product contents by a lab.

Products would have to come in individual wrappers for a single serving, and could not exceed 10 milligrams of THC.

Smokable forms of the product would be banned, including hemp flowers.

The bill bans direct shipment of products to customers.

Jennifer Boozer, owner of CannaBama in Mobile, said responsible retailers and their adult customers will suffer if the bill becomes law.

Its not going to keep the products out of Alabama, Boozer said. Its going to keep the jobs out of Alabama, the small businesses out of Alabama and the tax revenue out of Alabama.

The bad actors are criminals. Criminals dont obey laws just because you passed a shiny new one. Criminals are going to continue to find ways to violate the laws.

This law only punishes the ones of us who are trying to do it well and the people of Alabama.

Boozer said she restricted her store to people 21 and over before the Legislature passed a law in 2023 banning sales to people under 21. Boozer said she never wanted any questions about whether she sold to a child.

Boozer, like Lowery, said flowers and the higher-dosage edibles, which would be banned under HB445, were her biggest sellers.

They are taking 90% of my inventory, Boozer said. And Ive never once sold to a child. I have never once had a customer come in and say, I got sick from your product.

Boozer, who hosts a weekly radio show in Mobile, Sweet Home CannaBama, on FM Talk 106.5 in Mobile, said pain, sleep, and anxiety are the three top reasons customers visit her store.

Boozer said the products can help customers kick addictions to pain pills, alcohol, and other drugs. She said she is worried about where they will turn if her store closes.

Theyll have to go to the black market, Boozer said. Or they will have to break state law to get federally legal hemp products from websites or from the states around us.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in front of the West Wing of the White House, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

Amid reports he asked congressional leaders to include a tax increase for the richest Americans in the budget, President Donald Trump on Friday reflected on the downside of such a proposal unpopular with Republicans.

The problem with even a TINY tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, Read my lips, the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election," Trump posted to his Truth Social media platform on Friday.

The president then disputed that the infamous quote uttered by then-President George H.W. Bush doomed Bushs re-election campaign, which he lost in 1992 to Bill Clinton.

NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! Trump said.

The president, whom The New York Times reported asked House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday to include a tax hike on the rich in the budget, ended his Truth Social post with a lukewarm endorsement of a tax hike.

In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do!!!

Trumps plan would add a new tax bracket for people making more than $2.5 million a year, according to The Times.

Those who fall in that bracket would be taxed at a rate of 39.6% for any income above $2.5 million.

The Times noted that proposal would do away with the tax cuts for wealthy Americans Trump signed during his first term.

Several Republican lawmakers and conservative pundits are against the Trump proposal, according to the Hill.
China achieves first daytime laser ranging test in Earth-moon space

08:57, May 09, 2025 By Zhao Lei ( China Daily

Chinese scientists have conducted a series of laser technology tests in space, aiming to verify the use of lasers in the country's ambitious space missions.

In a major milestone, an experimental satellite recently carried out the world's first daytime laser-ranging test in Earth-moon space, marking a breakthrough in China's deep-space orbital precision measurement capability, according to the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The academy is a subsidiary of the State-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp and the maker of the Tiandu 1 satellite.

The academy said in a news release Tuesday that the test was organized by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, a State-owned space research body based in Hefei, Anhui province. The test was conducted on April 26 and 27 with support from multiple domestic institutions, including the academy's Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Yunnan Observatories and Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, and the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.

Researchers from the laboratory said space-based laser ranging is a sophisticated method for measuring the distance between a ground station and a satellite equipped with retroreflectors. The technique involves transmitting laser pulses from the ground and timing how long they take to bounce back. It offers advantages such as high accuracy, long range, fast speed, and uninterrupted detection coverage. The method is crucial for scientific research and industries, including positioning and navigation.

Laser ranging in Earth-moon space, however, is extremely difficult due to the long distance and rapid movement of spacecraft. It is akin to targeting a single strand of hair from 10 kilometers away while maintaining precise tracking and signal capture.

Previous tests of laser ranging in Earth-moon space had been limited to nighttime because daytime sunlight interferes with the already weak echo signals from satellites, making detection and signal extraction nearly impossible.

The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory said the successful daytime test greatly extends the time frame in which laser ranging can be conducted and proves the engineering feasibility of the technology. It is expected to enhance China's navigation and positioning capabilities in cislunar space and support key deep-space projects, including the International Lunar Research Station.

Tiandu 1 is one of two technology demonstration satellites operated by the laboratory. It was launched in March 2024 and is currently in a round-trip orbit between Earth and the moon.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)










English News Hefei builds powerful cluster of quantum technology enterprises

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 8 Mai 2025



Beyond technological advancements, Hefei has cultivated a thriving quantum industry ecosystem by hosting top-tier platforms for industrial exchanges. The city has organized four consecutive conferences on quantum technology and industry, alongside high-end academic forums and events, facilitating collaboration across the entire quantum industry chain. These efforts have bridged upstream and downstream projects, and attracted innovation resources and talent, fostering the clustering of quantum enterprises and positioning Hefei as a globally influential hub for quantum technology.

By Han Junjie, People's Daily Along Yunfei Road in the Hefei National High-Tech Industry Development Zone, east China's Anhui province, prominent "quantum" signs appear at regular intervals. The road is known as "Quantum Street" to many locals.

On both sides of the road, there are more than 30 leading quantum technology enterprises, covering quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum measurement - forming the most concentrated quantum industry cluster in China.



Among the trailblazers is QuantumCTek Co., Ltd., whose exhibition hall offers a window into the development of quantum technology. A massive screen displays live footage of the "Beijing-Shanghai Backbone" project, a quantum-secured communication backbone line connecting Beijing and Shanghai.



"Traditional digital encryption risks being compromised in the face of massive computational power," explained Peng Chengzhi, chief scientist of QuantumCTek. "Quantum key distribution, however, offers a robust defense against such threats, securing data even as computing capabilities advance."



Founded in 2009, QuantumCTek was pivotal in a major project by Hefei (the capital city of Anhui province) to establish a quantum communication experimental demonstration network. "We built the world's first quantum communication network," said Zhou Lei, the company's vice president. "What was once confined to laboratory prototypes has now evolved into industry-grade technology."



The company's quantum key distribution devices, once the size of refrigerators, have shrunk to the size of standard video recorders, a clear sign of technological progress. "Today, our systems can be directly integrated into various types of devices, cutting installation costs significantly," Zhou added.



QuantumCTek's technological advancement helped spur the creation of a quantum metropolitan area network for Hefei that leads the country in scale, number of users and applications, as well as the "Beijing-Shanghai Backbone" project. The launch of the world's first quantum satellite, named Micius, further extended secure communication from urban areas and intercity domains to outer space.



"Hefei has become a key hub for quantum technology innovation, hosting nearly a third of China's quantum tech enterprises," said Lyu Bo, deputy director of Hefei's science and technology bureau. "The city has attracted more than 70 upstream and downstream enterprises in the quantum industry chain, ranking first in the country," he added. From basic research and core technological breakthroughs to engineering development and commercialization, Hefei has laid the groundwork for a robust, integrated quantum ecosystem.



Another major milestone in quantum computing came earlier this year when Chinese scientists unveiled a superconducting quantum computer prototype named "Zuchongzhi 3.0" with 105 qubits, setting a new record in quantum computational advantage within superconducting systems. This achievement places China at the forefront of both superconducting and photonic quantum computing pathways.



Inside the laboratory of Hefei Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co., Ltd, a large cylindrical instrument bearing the name "Origin Wukong" takes center stage. This third-generation, China's independently developed superconducting quantum computer represents one of the country's most advanced programmable and delivered superconducting quantum computers.



The launch of "Origin Wukong" made Hefei the first city in China to establish a homegrown superconducting quantum computer manufacturing chain. Since its launch, the machine has received more than 20 million remote visits from 139 countries and regions globally, completing over 340,000 quantum computing tasks in sectors like fluid dynamics, finance, and biomedicine.



Beyond technological advancements, Hefei has cultivated a thriving quantum industry ecosystem by hosting top-tier platforms for industrial exchanges. The city has organized four consecutive conferences on quantum technology and industry, alongside high-end academic forums and events, facilitating collaboration across the entire quantum industry chain. These efforts have bridged upstream and downstream projects, and attracted innovation resources and talent, fostering the clustering of quantum enterprises and positioning Hefei as a globally influential hub for quantum technology.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Resilient and ready: how Chinese exporters are navigating global shifts

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 8 Mai 2025



Thanks to the scale of both Chinese and international markets, the company has evolved from contract manufacturing to independent R&D, design, and branding. "When the product quality is high, clients don't haggle over prices," Wang said. Today, the company's umbrellas are sold in over 80 countries across Europe, South America, and Africa.

By Yu Sinan, Fu Wen, People's Daily Jinjiang, a manufacturing hub for clothing and footwear in southeast China's Fujian province, boasts production lines of varied brands. As one of China's major export hubs, the city embodies the bold, entrepreneurial spirit that underpins local businesses and a deep-seated confidence in the resilience of the Chinese economy.



Renowned as "China's shoe capital," Jinjiang is home to SinceTech, a key player in the footwear supply chain. Specializing in shoe uppers, the company is a supplier to many well-known international sneaker brands.

Inside the company's intelligent flyknit workshop, nearly 2,000 computerized flat knitting machines hum in unison, operating at full capacity.



According to Xu Jianfei, deputy head of the president's office at SinceTech, current global trade headwinds have had limited impact on the company. While some effects may emerge in the second or third quarter, he expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt and respond.



That confidence comes from the company's sustained commitment to innovation. Over the years, SinceTech has invested around 4 percent of its annual revenue into R&D and employed more than 500 R&D staff.



"Making a high-quality shoe upper is no longer just a labor-intensive task," said Xu. "Through innovations like flyknit technology, we've digitized production. A single click on the computer sends weaving instructions to the machine, and one worker can now oversee ten machines at once."



Today, SinceTech has moved beyond traditional contract manufacturing to become deeply involved in product development for its clients, serving an integral part of the industrial and innovation chains. This end-to-end capability has helped cement long-term partnerships and strengthen customer loyalty.



"We're constantly rolling out new designs," Xu added. "Our overseas clients often joke that if they don't check in regularly, they might miss something new."



In Yinglin township of Jinjiang, covering less than 30 square kilometers, the local swimwear industry is booming. With over 200 companies producing swimsuits and beachwear, Jinjiang Qicaihu Garments Weaving Co., Ltd. stands out for its ability to rapidly expand its international footprint.



Seven or eight years ago, the company began breaking into European and South American markets. Today, around 55 percent of its orders come from Europe, up from 30 percent, while 25 percent are from South America.

In recent years, orders have risen sharply, bolstered by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. In 2024, the company delivered 33 million pieces and achieved a 12 percent increase in revenue.



Swimwear orders are highly seasonal. Xu Yongzhu, the company's deputy general manager, explained that U.S. orders placed last year were fulfilled by early April this year. While future orders may be affected, the company anticipates offsetting the downturn through increased demand from other markets.



Asked how the company sustains growth amid uncertainty, Xu offered a telling anecdote. In 2016, a potential buyer from Egypt came to explore fabric procurement. After touring Qicaihu's fully integrated production facilities, he decided to build a factory in Egypt - with Qicaihu supplying weaving and printing equipment, raw materials, accessories, and technical guidance. That cooperation model has expanded to Vietnam, the Philippines, and Kenya.



Qicaihu is currently involved in every aspect of the swimwear supply chain, from raw material sourcing and design to production. Beyond exporting finished products, it now exports the entire supply chain.



"Swimwear production always circles back to Yinglin township," Xu said. "While individual businesses may relocate, the industrial chain is much harder to move. That's what gives us resilience in the face of external shocks."



That logic holds true in Dongshi township - known as "China's Umbrella Town," producing one in every four umbrellas worldwide. At Fujian Yoana Umbrella Technology Co., Ltd., general manager Wang Xiangpeng introduced the company's catalog: umbrellas in every imaginable color, fabric, and style - many with new functions.



Wang pointed to the massive Chinese domestic market as the foundation of the company's confidence to innovate - a competitive advantage hard to replicate elsewhere.



He offered a practical example: Creating a new mold might cost 100,000 yuan ($13,724). If the initial order is just 10,000 umbrellas, that adds 10 yuan to each unit - a steep premium. But with a larger order of 300,000 umbrellas, the added cost drops to just 0.3 yuan per umbrella, well within the range consumers are willing to pay for better quality.



Thanks to the scale of both Chinese and international markets, the company has evolved from contract manufacturing to independent R&D, design, and branding. "When the product quality is high, clients don't haggle over prices," Wang said. Today, the company's umbrellas are sold in over 80 countries across Europe, South America, and Africa.



As for the uncertainties clouding the global market, Wang remains optimistic. "Good products always find a market," he said. "By embracing changes and staying proactive, new opportunities - and new markets - will continue to emerge."



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Qatar has been a threat to our national security since at least 1986. Their inroads into the U.S. have been subtle and persistent, which doesnt make them any less dangerous, and the penetration is primarily into our education system:

Foreign donors have given as much to U.S. universities in the last four years as they did in the previous 40, according to a new report by the Network Contagion Research Institute shared exclusively with The Free Press. The study shows an explosion in overseas funding for American schools between 2021 and 2024, with nearly $29 billion in foreign money donated during that period. Qatar and China are among the largest sources of funding.

Of all the universities that receive donations, Harvard has received the most funding, totaling $3.2 billion.

For the last two years following the October 7 attack on Israel, Qatar mediated the ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel. The reason that Israel allowed them to participate is a mystery, since Qatar has been closely linked to Hamas for years, as well as to the Muslim Brotherhood. They were happy to provide refuge and luxurious accommodations to Hamas leaders while the negotiations were ongoing.

Qatar also provided funding for U.S. universities that chose to place campuses in Doha:

In some cases, Qatari donations to U.S. schools have been used to build campuses in Doha. The Qatari capital is home to Education City, which hosts an outpost of Northwesterns journalism school and Georgetowns foreign policy school, each of which has received hundreds of millions from the wealthy Gulf state. Cornell, which built a medical school campus in Doha, has received $2.1 billion from Qatar.

Through Education City, Qatar can extensively influence these universities, and Qatars motives in providing funding in this country are not benevolent. They aim to transform our goals and values into the radical Muslim ideology that includes anti-Semitism:
Minnesota has been in the news a lot in recent years, and not in a good way. This essay is a wistful look back at the decline of a once great state.

I moved to Minnesota in 1975, partially inspired by the famous Time Magazine cover featuring Governor Wendall Anderson holding up a caught walleye, touting the Good Life in Minnesota. I came for the good life and the in-state college summer school rates offered by the University of Minnesota.

I ended up getting a job in Minneapolis, putting down roots, getting married, having three kids, eventually owning three businesses and owning four Minneapolis houses.

The good life narrative was mostly true. Minnesota was a low-crime, highquality of life state for most of that time. Yes, the state had liberal tendencies but mostly the do-good, community caring type of liberalism in keeping with the states Scandinavian founding population and embodied by politicians such as Hubert Humphrey and Paul Wellstone.

Over the first three decades of my life in MN, the political environment was mixed but acceptable. Interspersed with elected Democrats were Republicans such as senators Dave Durenberger, Rudy Boschwitz, and Rod Grahams. Even as recently as 2011, the state benefited from two-term Republican governor Tim Pawlenty.

But in the last several years, things have changed radically. Democrat Governor Mark Dayton was no friend of freedom-seekers during his reign from 2011 to 2019. But things were to turn far worse. The election of Tim Walz in 2019 brought in an unprecedented level of wokism and oppressive state control. Tax hikes increased in the already overtaxed state. Tampon Tim earned the nickname featured in his hopelessly failed V.P. candidacy for mandating that menstrual products be available in public school boys bathrooms as young as fourth grade. Walz was one of the most draconian COVID lockdown governors in the U.S. It was widely reported that he had patrol officers shoot paintballs at citizens sitting on their front porches during the lockdowns.

Walz presided over the genesis of the George Floyd riots. He, his family, and his administration deified this lifelong criminal into a racial martyr, triggering riots all over the country that led to at least 18 deaths and up to $2 billion in property damage. He egregiously let the Minneapolis third police precinct burn, saying it was only property. He, along with jejune Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, have blood on their hands for not quelling this riotous behavior before it metastasized.

Minnesota public schools have been a disaster. Governor Walz and the state Legislature have mandated racial equity education, starting in kindergarten in 2027. New and renewing Minnesota teachers must sign an LGBT affirmation pledge, starting in July of this year, to keep their licenses. Meanwhile, 68% of Minnesota public school fourth-graders are not proficient in reading according to the 2024 Data Book study.

During his ill fated V.P. campaign, Tim Walz and his stolen miliary valor scandals and other gross misrepresentations of his record came into public consciousness. His faux masculinity became a national joke.

Unfortunately, those of us residing here continue to live with his ongoing mal-governance. Minnesota may very well have the most criminal scandalous activity in the nation. For example, the recent Feeding Our Future scam revealed $250,000 in stolen money from needy families, with very little oversight, until a recent criminal conviction. The less said about Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison, the better (spoiler alert: It involves alleged corruption and domestic abuse as well as his befriending Louis Farrakhan).

I look at our state and largest city with sadness and disgust. Minnesota has the sixth highest overall taxes in the country. Ilhan Omar, an America-hating ingrate, is a mainstream media Squad fixture as Minneapoliss congressional district representative. She is credibly accused of marrying her brother to flout immigration tax laws and gain access to the U.S. Other quality-of-life metrics are negative as well. Violent crime is up, and graffiti in Minneapolis is ubiquitous.

Minnesota is one of only a few states with a death tax significantly under the federal $14-million threshold. As an investment banker, who helps company owners exit from their companies, I can tell you that almost all of these exiting owners set up their post-exit lives in other states (such as Florida and Arizona) so as to not be subject to Minnesota taxes during life and absolutely not upon death. This wealth and brain flight from Minnesota will be devastating for the state in the long term.

Just last month, Minnesota again was featured in the national news because our Soros-funded D.A., Mary Moriarty, decided not to punish a Tesla car vandal who caused $21,000s worth of damage, keying multiple Tesla cars. A diversion program was granted to this criminal even though state guidelines state that this is available only for offenders committing property damage under $5,000. Conveniently, this individual was a mid-level staffer in the Walz administration.

So is there any reason for optimism? Maybe a little.

Minnesota is home to one of the best regional center-right think-tanks in the country, The Center of the American Experiment. The organization publishes outstanding original research and hosts some of the most prominent and thoughtful conservative voices for its events. I continue to support this outstanding organization and encourage all open-minded Minnesotans to do so as well. (The organization is so effective that of course its headquarters was firebombed last year in a mostly peaceful gesture.)

Alpha News has sprung up as a font of courageous journalism, doing the job that the moribund legacy newspaper, the Star Tribune, will not do. I commend readers to their outstanding documentary, The Fall of Minneapolis, which covers the corruption and mob rule surrounding the conviction of Derek Chauvin in the George Floyd death case.

Outstate Minnesota is Trump country. When one travels 30 miles outside the Twin Cities Metro area, you are met with a sea of Trump signs and flags. The problem is the concentration of liberal population and Democrat machine politics in the metro area.

I have seen friends and colleagues successfully run for Minnesota school boards and challenge the insane woke and disordered sexual indoctrination happening in Minnesota schools.

All of this is just a start, but I am hopeful that the fever will break and that Minnesota and Minneapolis can once again reclaim the Good Life for which they were for so long praised.

Jeffrey Wright is a Minneapolis-based investment banker, entrepreneur, and concerned citizen.

Image: Tim Walz. Credit: Lorie Shaull via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Invoking George Orwell to describe the madness of our current age has become so common that doing so feels downright trite in 2025. But the man understood the dangers lurking inside Western societies so well that Eric Blairs pen name deserves to be at the tip of every thinking persons tongue for quite some time!

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. In the dystopia of Orwells 1984, these are the Unipartys official slogans  inscribed in giant letters on the towering white pyramid that houses the Ministry of Truth. Could you devise better mottoes to encapsulate the World Economic Forums Great Reset or the basic tenets of the New World Order long pushed by the collection of Marxist globalists, warmongers, central bankers, bureaucratic authoritarians, pseudo-intellectuals, celebrity know-nothings, and assorted elites of our era?

Why must we fight the Russians for control of Ukraine? Because only by killing hundreds of thousands of Europeans and risking a nuclear WWIII can we enjoy peace! Why must central banks rig our markets and spy agencies read our emails? Because only when we do everything that bankers, spies, and bureaucrats tell us can we be free! Why must governments censor online speech and hunt down dangerous disinformation? Because only when we are so ignorant that we believe everything the State says can we be strong! Unapproved dissent leads to extremism, which is why every unsanctioned opinion is malinformation  or bad information! Remember, citizens (and undocumented citizens), were all in this together! So take your thinking caps off, plug into the States narco-drip of acceptable narratives, and let the Deep State lead you to salvation.

I did it now! I dared to question the caveman-like Uniparty mantra, Ukraine = good; Russia = bad. That means Alan Stevens  who seems to have plenty of time to comment on articles that mention Ukraine but not enough time to fight on Ukraines frontlines  will invariably call me a Russian propagandist. It couldnt possibly be that Ive seen enough of the world and digested enough of its history to use the organ between my ears to form my own opinions as to whether Americans should die over what is essentially a Ukrainian civil war involving local regions that have already voted to be a part of Russia. Nope, the Uniparty told Alan that war is peace and that Ukrainian dictatorship is democracy, and he will surely tell me that my failure to believe the Unipartys favorite slogans only proves that I should schedule an emergency re-education lobotomy at the Ministry of Truth!

I think theres enough propaganda going around these days for us all to keep open minds about the most pressing current events. Ive lived long enough to see friends become enemies and enemies become friends. Ive seen exposed government secrets totally upend consequential moments in history. Ive witnessed stories unfold in real time while government officials were busy spreading outrageous lies. Ive heard too many people screaming at the top of their lungs that something is unquestionably correct only to hear many of those same people later screaming at the top of their lungs that what they once regarded as laughably false is now demonstrably true.

As a rule of thumb, whenever a government or similarly powerful institution says that something is true, it is best to assume the exact opposite until the facts of the matter are firmly hammered down. Conspiracy theories frequently prove to be partially or wholly accurate in the long run. People who dissent from popular narratives tend to be months  or even years  ahead of the corporate news talking heads when it comes to breaking news. Because conspiracy theorists are often far ahead of the news cycle, some people rightly refer to them as Fact Hoarders (hat tip to Chuck L. for that beauty!). Dont be afraid to hoard facts.

Whenever political leaders reprimand citizens for doing their own thinking (Ignorance is strength!) and cheerlead for devastatingly costly and bloody wars (War is peace!), it is a particularly good time to question the dominant narratives running on loop in corporate newsrooms. Questioning everything is a good first step toward liberating a mind. Liberating minds is often the only way to prevent or conclude catastrophic wars. No matter how much todays Ministry of Truth objects, freedom of thought is not slavery! Groupthink, on the other hand, is the minds most cumbersome ball and chain.

As Orwell warned humanity, the Deep States most effective weapon is language. By manipulating the meaning of words, governments try to reverse-engineer our thoughts. Heres an example: Antifa. By any measure of property damage and physical violence (including murder), Antifa is a major domestic terror group in the U.S. and across much of Europe. Its members conspire to effect political change by threatening the safety of citizens. Antifa cells commit arson, destroy public and private property, intimidate and harm civilians, and engage in all kinds of serious felonies that justify their designation as an international terrorist organization. Instead, Western politicians, newsrooms, film studios, and even law enforcement agencies excuse Antifa violence and romanticize their criminal activities.

Joe Biden echoed claims from former FBI director Chris Wray when he routinely insisted that Antifa is an idea, not an organization. But it wasnt an idea that looted your store and set it ablaze; it was a terrorist organization. It wasnt an idea that dragged you out of your car and beat you on the side of the road; it was a member of a terrorist cell. So how do prominent politicians in America, France, and Germany possibly excuse such blatant terrorist activity? They simply point to its name and claim that Antifa cant possibly be a domestic terrorist group because its anti-fascist.

Its absurd and not at all different than excusing a serial killer simply because he claims to be a humanitarian. But thats where we are right now. Western governments are comfortable covering up the crimes of Antifa terrorists by pretending that they are peaceful. In turn, violent Antifa terrorists operate as the unofficial street armies of Western governments. They are the definition of an authoritarian governments fascist shock troops but are protected by politicians who hide behind Antifas anti-fascist name. This level of preposterous doublethink is now endemic throughout the West.

One of my favorite examples of these detestable government word games centers around NGOs. For decades, Western governments have used NGOs as sources of supposedly independent research and objective analysis. After all, they are non-governmental organizations, we are constantly told. But, as the USAID scandal has made abundantly clear, many NGOs receive substantial funding from the government. These government-funded non-governmental organizations are then expected to justify, echo, and magnify every important government policy.

This has been going on for a long time. A brilliant data analyst recently put together an excellent presentation detailing how George Soros helped build an army of NGOs over thirty years ago to recalibrate NATOs mission after the collapse of the Soviet Union and channel Western resources toward the construction of a New World Order. A very bright woman going by the handle Insurrection Barbie has detailed how Democrats have funneled trillions of dollars into NGOs meant to sabotage the Trump administration, fund domestic terror groups, and rig future elections. Ursula von der Leyens European Commission has paid NGOs billions of dollars to smear political opponents and dissenting voices and lobby politicians for leftist causes. Emulating the much vaunted civic values of Western democracies, communist China has deployed an army of pro-Beijing NGOs to threaten critics.

But rest assured: None of these NGOs works for the government!

How many times must governments lie before people understand that governments always lie? The State is a falsehood factory, and it never changes its production line. There is but one remedy: Question everything!

Image: Mark Hillary via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Having watched the pathological media coverage of Donald Trump from the moment he threw his hat into the political ring by coming down that escalator, I wondered how other presidents did with their media portrayals. Was anyone else, other than Richard Nixon, treated as badly as Donald Trump by the press? The answer is quite surprising.

Starting with George Washington, the 'Father of Our Country,' virtually every President has been subjected to media vilification. Only William Henry Harrison, who died just one month after being inaugurated, was spared the media scorn, likely because the journalists of the day didn't have time to get their hit-pieces into print before he got sick.

One might assume that Washington, the military hero of the American Revolution who became the nation's first President, would have served his country absent media criticism. That was not the case. Following a relatively long 'honeymoon' for both the office of President and for a nation in its infancy, newspaper and pamphleteer attacks on Washington became quite vitriolic.

Washington, in both public proclamation and private conversation, adamantly refused the notion of being crowned or seen as a monarch. Likely his dealings with King George III of England left a bad taste in his mouth whenever the notion of King George I of America was mentioned. Even if that were not the case, our first President certainly realized that our fledgling nation was not likely to accept a British-style monarchy. A constitutionally drawn and publicly elected President was both his and the nation's choice. In the election of 1789, Washington garnered a unanimous electoral college victory, winning all sixty-nine electoral votes. His was the only unanimous electoral college vote in the nation's history.

It did not take long, however, before Washington's political opponents (in those days they were viewed as noble opposition, not enemies with evil, existential designs upon national destruction), began their vocal and printed opposition to Washington's presidency.

Today we might envision the Founding Fathers as a big, happy assemblage. They were anything but. The rancor and animus we see today may not have been as prevalent in those days, but people as noteworthy as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison did not hesitate to state their opposition to Washington's policies. The National Gazette accused the President of wanting to be a king, citing his lavish state dinners and other ceremonial functions. The Aurora, scandalously and with no factual basis, accused Washington of stealing public funds for use in maintaining his home at Mt. Vernon.

Pamphleteer Thomas Paine, known for his writing of Common Sense, and once a staunch supporter of Washington, turned against him for not helping to rescue him from a foreign prison. Washington's support for the controversial Jay's Treaty, a pact between the United States and England that averted war between the two nations and settled many differences that remained after the Revolutionary War, enraged his political opponents. It notably caused the U.S. to remain neutral in our dealings with the French during their revolution. Having been staunch supporters of the colonists in their war against England resulting in our independence, (remember Lafayette), France, and American Francophiles assumed we would rally for them as they had done for us.

They saw their revolution as a continuation of the American revolution, although the addition of the guillotine to their armamentarium did little to garner support among the citizens of our young nation. Some opponents, though, suggested that adding the guillotine on the front steps of our capitol would be a good move. And, of course, calls arose for Washington's impeachment.

I have never heard President Trump mention the fact that the media of Washington's day, as well as opposing politicians, called for the impeachment of our first President. I would think our seated President would declare it puts him in pretty good company.

Many Presidents, of course, have escaped calls for impeachment. The public instead called for removal by ballots cast in the voting booth. Abraham Lincoln got the worst of it, however, as a bullet rather than a ballot, cast not in a voting booth, but fired by a Booth with a first and middle name, ended his presidency. And his successor Andrew Johnson of course was impeached.

A couple of Presidents deemed among our greatest, engineered various legislation and decree that may seem worthy of bad press, at the very least. John Adams enacted the Alien and Sedition Act which allowed him to jail unfriendly editors, while Lincoln suppressed Habeas Corpus and forced unfriendly publications out of existence in the name of aiding the Civil War. Today, we view such lesser acts as JFK cancelling his subscription to the New York Herald Tribune and Trump's cancellation of subscriptions to the Washington Post and the New York Times as symbolic, if petty statements about their unfavorable coverage.

President Trump's efforts at defunding NPR and the Public Broadcaster Service goes a bit further, perhaps, but none of these modern Presidents made an attempt to lock up editors, much less sentence them to the guillotine, no matter how much that possibility may have tempted them.

So, it seems that media persecution comes with the presidential territory, unless you die in your first month in office. Woodward and Bernstein may have perfected the art of destroying a President, but they were hardly the first in attempting to do so. They will certainly not be the last.

Bill Hansmann is a dentist and dental educator with over fifty years in the profession. He continues to teach and write political blogs and semi-mediocre novels while living with his wife and cats in Georgia.

Image: Public Domain
The acting U.S. Ambassador to Denmark was recently summoned to the Danish Foreign Ministry's woodshed over the kerfuffle over the Trump administration's new directive to step up surveillance or information-gathering as intelligence agencies prefer to call it on Greenland.

Reactionary journalists and some politicians here are portraying the directive as a slap in their collective face, something akin to a declaration of a soft war.

It is, nonetheless, a sign that the administration is taking the whole Greenland saga seriously; that it is willing to find supporters within the island that would be friendly and helpful in the U.S.'s efforts to become partners with Greenland as the U.S. navigates the choppy waters of diplomacy.

There are several goals, it seems: one is to improve the U.S.'s understanding of how Greenlanders truly feel about the U.S.

The other is to build back a bridge of understanding with Denmark on the issue, and the third is to open a door to a dialogue, directly, with the Greenlandic people.

None of those three are at all nefarious. The truth is that all countries surveil each other, routinely. They do it from both inside and outside of each others' borders, these days with sophisticated technology that make 20th century surveillance seem amateurish by comparison.



But now the U.S. and especially the Trump administration are being viewed as the principal villains in the "spy game" as if America and Americans have now magically been transformed into the new Stasi and are out to build a massive archive of data on every single Greenlander that charts their political leanings, their buying habits and everything in between with a view to buying them off with a big check for their allegiance to America and their rejection of Denmark.



That is what some here in this otherwise bucolic land prefer to believe, and there is nothing stopping them other than the reality of generations of prevailing practice.

Countries have been surveilling (or spying) on each other for hundreds of years and the practice has been accepted by every serious military strategist/analyst, political watcher and government leader who understands how critical, up-to-date, reliable information is to a country's military readiness and interactions with its neighbors. The interactions can be on international policy issues, treaty negotiations, business dealings or how the political parties in a given country are developing. Years ago, the Economist magazine wrote that nations spying on one another has the oddly beneficial impact of lowering paranoia levels.

The world was teeming with spies during the Cold War and later. Information-gatherers were embedded in the fabric of target countries as NOCs (non-official cover) operatives that had respectable "day jobs" in their communities but were also tasked to expand networks of other assets that could burrow deeper into that fabric and thereby get more high-value information and be part of an "early warning system" which could be used to prevent conflicts.



It was and is customary for countries with bilateral political agreements and which have a shared belief in who their real enemies are to allow intelligence agents to operate in each others' embassies. Some are declared personnel and some aren't. The declared ones work closely with the host country's intelligence services and routinely share information. Others don't, but do send their reports directly back to headquarters, wherever headquarters may be, and then let others evaluate them for their validity and usefulness.



That brings up many questions to the current directive that was leaked to the Wall Street Journal and later became a news story. So what about Greenland? Should U.S. diplomats or ordinary Americans who might be on a contract with the U.S. government be prohibited to contact Greenlanders? Should the Danish government or the Greenlandic government prevent its own citizens from talking to Americans? And what about legitimate public polling organizations? Should they be prevented from conducting public polling in Greenland or in Denmark? Then there are the academics or business professionals. Should they refrain from asking any Greenlander a question about their feelings towards the U.S.? Would journalists be exempt, and if so, how confident would we be that their information was not biased or tainted?



Extend that to the rest of the world. How many authoritarian regimes would love to ban reporters or whistleblower organizations from their ranks? How many of those regimes would like to regulate every bit of news that made its way to the studio or the printing presses? I'll bet there are many. Some of the countries that come to mind are China and Russia where news broadcasts are tightly regulated. Then there are the Middle Eastern countries like Iran and Yemen. Even in the Far East, sophisticated countries like Singapore had strict regulations on who might erect a satellite dish when I lived there and the government controlled access to the Internet and carefully screened and managed what they did allow.



The truth is that our world today feeds on information. Some of it is true and some of it is fake, but in order for us to retain the freedom to make conscious, fact-based decisions we must protect its prudent gathering. Otherwise, we might as well turn the clock back to the Cold War days and accept the fact that dictatorial regimes with absolute power will govern absolutely knowing that they and they alone have access to the right information.

The Greenland saga is all about where we who live in this modern age of communication, decide to draw the information line. In the case of the Danes and Greenland they should consider asking themselves: "Are they more afraid of what they will find out when the information-gathering is complete than fear the exercise itself?" That is the real question and not one of territorial overreach that some are claiming.



Stephen Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat specializing in international trade who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush Administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, seven on American politics, and has written over 1,500 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He now lives in Denmark and is a frequent political commentator on Danish media. He can be reached at: stephenhelgesen@gmail.com.

Image: Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed


Throughout 2020, we were instructed that protests are the voice of the voiceless. On January 6, 2021, conservatives learned that there was an asterisk to the rule; namely, that it doesnt apply to conservatives. Today, congressional Democrats tried to add a new asterisk to the rule: Democrats in Congressthat is, people who sit in the worlds most powerful political body and have the ear of the mediaare considered voiceless if they protest against ICE.

Its all very confusing, of course, but the bottom line is that the rules dont apply to them.

Heres footage of what happened at the ICE facility in Newark. The first tweet is incorrect insofar as it says that the congresscritters were arrested. It was just the mayor:

BREAKING: Multiple Democrat members of Congressand the Democrat Mayor of Newarkhave been arrested for criminal trespassing at the ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey.



Sure looks like an insurrection.

Maybe even assault on a federal officer.pic.twitter.com/JeVBPfgti0  KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) May 9, 2025 She should be going to JAIL.



Democrat Rep. LaMonica Mclver (red jacket) was seen placing hands on ICE agents outside their detention facility for illegals in Newark.



Reportedly, the mayor of Newark has been arrested... pic.twitter.com/j3mx0ksZLv  Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) May 9, 2025 Democrats are screaming at ICE agents simply because they're working to get vicious criminal illegal immigrants off our streets.pic.twitter.com/TbcBNYy5og  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 9, 2025

Axios, a Democrat platform, had more details:

The mayor of Newark was arrested Friday outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility where law enforcement scuffled with a group of protesters that included three House Democrats. Why it matters: The Department of Homeland Security is alleging the lawmakers stormed the facility, a characterization the lawmakers' offices are disputing. Footage of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest obtained by Axios shows a clash between law enforcement and a group of demonstrators including Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) and LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.).

The lawmakers said they were attempting to investigate ICE's controversial reopening of the Delany Hall facility to house detained migrants.

The footage would seem to support DHSs take on the matter. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, framed it nicely:

These members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk.

McLaughlin also added a warning that Democrats in Congress would do well to heed:

Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.

DHS also published a tweet about what happened, including letting Americans know the lovely people these Democrats are fighting to keep in America:

Today, as a bus of detainees was entering the security gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center, a group of protestors, including two members of US Congress, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility. The allegations by Newark politicians that Delaney does not have the  Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 9, 2025 RAMOS MARIN is wanted in Brazil for Homicide and has an INTERPOL Red Notice.



On April 29, 2025, ERO Newark with the assistance of HSI SAC Newark and CBP Newark arrested RAMOS MARIN. He is in ICE custody without bond. pic.twitter.com/0l9PDltUCX  Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 9, 2025 On May 5, 2025, ICE Newark arrested Adonis ESTEVEZ Bello, a 23-year-old citizen of Dominican Republic. ESTEVEZ has multiple felony convictions for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, drug trafficking, resisting arrest, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. pic.twitter.com/Oith2Uo4LS  Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 9, 2025 On May 5, 2025, ICE Newark arrested Maximo NUNEZ, a 58-year-old citizen of Dominican Republic. NUNEZ has felony arrests for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, obstruct administration of law, aggravated unlicensed driving, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to pic.twitter.com/dmk6hj8d3N  Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 9, 2025 Meanwhile, Rep. Coleman, seen in the above videos flailing away at the federal officers, put out just a lovely, temperate statement about her law-abiding-ness, making sure to tag her fellow law-abiding congresscritters who also attended the melee, er, event: Were at Delaney Hall, an ICE prison in Newark that opened without permission from the city & in violation of local ordinances.



Weve heard stories of what its like in other ICE prisons. Were exercising our oversight authority to see for ourselves.@RepLaMonica @RepMenendez pic.twitter.com/OIJuePH2XS  Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) May 9, 2025 Meanwhile, Rep. Coleman, seen in the above videos flailing away at the federal officers, put out just a lovely, temperate statement about her law-abiding-ness, making sure to tag her fellow law-abiding congresscritters who also attended the melee, er, event:

When I read about the Democrats going all insurrectiony for illegal aliens who bring blight to every community they touch, all I can think of is Sally Fields famous statement when she won her Oscar in 1985: I cant deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me. Except when Democrats say it to the American people, its I cant deny the fact that we despise you. Right now, we despise you.

Here's the really important thing: You cannot have a functioning constitutional democratic republic in which the lawmakers get a pass when they break the law. If they want to go the path of civil disobedience, fine, but the whole point of legitimate civil disobedience is that you are willing to be martyred to make your point. These showboaters just want to have the fun of a televised scrimmage to rile up their base, while then walking away without consequences.

Thankfully, it looks as if the DOJ intends to prosecute:

.@USAttyHabba on the arrest of the Newark mayor for trespassing at an ICE detention facility holding vicious illegal immigrant gang members: "It's called grandstanding ... When you break the law, there's no grandstanding that will help you." pic.twitter.com/iIaPsX1Z4l  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 9, 2025

The problem is that so many of these prosecutions take place in jurisdictions in which the jury pool is 100% Democrat. Until a prosecutor can convince these jurors that this double standard is unfair to them, theyre going to let their politicians get away with it, just as the OJ jury was so dazzled by his black skin that they let a man who had completely abandoned and practically disavowed the black community get away with murder.

Image: X screen grab (cropped)
For some peculiar reason, the discussion about how many men it would take to win a fight against a gorilla went viral. Some say it would take one hundred men. Mike Tyson agrees, but only if theyre all him. Others, like conservationist Robert Irwin (son of famed Steve Irwin), prefer to ask how many people does it take to save the strapping beasts. So lets forget the gorilla, and ponder the pecuniary ramifications of fighting President Trump.

In concert with his Liberation Day announcement, President Trump insinuated thered likely be some modest pain during the transition to a free and fair trading regime. Developments are dynamic as numerous countries are knocking at our door, pleading to access our great, consumer-driven markets. Negotiations are even pending with China.

Still, Wall Street naysayers insisted on fighting Trump. They were tripping over themselves to stress the worst-case economic scenarios, just willing a recession. Its as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted: fears of a recession are being stoked by the media. Meanwhile, President Trump is facilitating great investments, reshoring, and manufacturing in America.

For now, at least, the pain as manifested in stock market gyrations appears to have been transitory  they have rebounded to levels before Liberation Day. Dont fight Trump.

Those who didnt fight Trump may have benefited. Indeed, in a Truth Social post on 9 April, President Trump exhorted, This is a great time to buy!!! (Exhorted because he used all caps and three exclamations). It was indeed. In fact, some Wall Street analysts are advising investors and traders to not fight Trump. A Barclays analyst, for example, said that the long-standing mantra of dont fight Trump remains pertinent, and has lasting endurance as trade negotiations progress.

Perceptions and sentiment often rule a jittery Wall Street thats prone to confirmation bias thats not balanced by falsification bias. However, there is a phenomenon in the stock market, backed by empirical data, known as the Trump put. It essentially states that President Trump will underpin the markets; indeed, Bank of America says the Trump Put is alive and well.

That may be why markets listened when President Trump said, during the U.S.-UK trade deal announcement, that You better go out and buy stock now. Ill take that advice over risking the opportunity cost based on pessimistic stock analysts.

There are a few things that Wall Street advises against fighting, including: Dont fight the Fed, and Dont fight the tape. While no one can consistently time the market  if ever  President Trump was prescient with his buy recommendations. It may be inadvisable to fight him.

Financial markets can be confounding as they are often riddled with confusing and contrary indicators, and those darn algos push buttons first and ask questions later. If I had to choose one guidepost in navigating financial markets it would be Dont fight Trump. Doing so might be as detrimental to ones financial health as annoying a magnificent gorilla (or Mike Tyson) may be to ones physical wellbeing.

Image: Public domain.
Theres a famous anecdote about Fred Astaires dance partner Ginger Rogers that she did everything he did only in high heels and backwards. I couldnt help but think of it as the news broke that Jeanine Pirro was to be the new interim United States Attorney for the D.C. If ever there were an eff yew to the Republican establishment its this, because shes every bit the dancer Ed Martin is, and then some.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), as you are no doubt aware, was the RINO roadblock preventing the current U.S. Attorney for D.C., Ed Martin, from getting a vote to keep the gig. Whatever Tillis has against him being in that post will not be alleviated by his replacement  which was no doubt Trumps point. Trump mustve looked around and thought I got a whole conga line of pissed-off Republican lawyers whod love to clean up this mess. Ill just appoint one after the other. And so it begins!

One cant help but smile at the thought of Tillis, alone in his luxuriously appointed Senate office suite, hurling and smashing a crystal high ball of 12-year-old scotch against the wood paneled wall. How marvelous! Especially when you consider that his lame excuse for his comeuppance was January 6th. Pirro is, to understate the obvious, very unlikely to overlook the dark underbelly of the so-called fedsurrection. If anything, shell dance in high heels and backwards right into the ugly truth of it, and oh my, what Republican vermin will scatter away from that sunlight, huh? Because, as we all know by now, our problem isnt Democrat versus Republican; its Us versus Them, the Uniparty.

Ed Martin, for his part, will go to DOJ to have a little look-see into what Biden did to weaponize Justice against us. Just think of it like a little cherry on top. In the meantime, we can all enjoy Trumps checkmate!

Image: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
Perhaps its not so odd that a conservative, passionately Jewish American woman would always be mesmerized with the conclave and the consequential selection of a new pope. After all, her late Orthodox Jewish maternal grandfather, who walked to temple twice a day, electrified half of the state of New York, and was a co- founder of two synagogues, was best friends with a Catholic Italian merchant in his small town of Troy, N.Y

One of my earliest formative memories was of Poppy Frank, glued to the TV, as a new pope was elected and introduced. I asked him why, as a religious Jewish man, the Catholic investiture was so important. He answered that the customs were very similar to those of Judaism and that respect of religious differences is an obligation.

I have been blessed with his love of America (coming to the U.S. from Germany as a teen) and his modern acceptance of religious differences.

Being from Philadelphia and a graduate of Villanova Law School, it was impossible not to feel the excitement of reflected glory, because Pope Leo was an undergraduate student at the university. He majored in mathematics. Surely, celebrations will follow.

This conclave turned out to be remarkably short. And the result surprising: the first American pope since America was founded! Of course, there is pride, and we marvel at the decision. The new pope, Leo XIV, spent his career in Peru and speaks multiple languages. President Trump was quick to congratulate him. It is an honor for our country.

Of interest to the Jewish community will be Pope Leos opinions on the horrific, barbaric Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The war rages on 17 months later, with 2124 hostages in captivity in Gaza, under inhuman conditions.

The question will be, will Pope Leo empathize with the fact that 1,200 Israeli citizens were brutally murdered and tens of others kidnapped without provocation, or will he follow Pope Franciss more surprising stance  that Israel had overreacted to the Hamas gang rapes, burned babies, bodily mutilations, and barbaric murders?

One hopes...

Image via Pexels.
So the worlds got a new pope.

Because Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the United States  and perhaps the world  and because Catholics live in almost every nation, and certainly on every continent, the world can claim Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, as the worlds pope, as Ive already heard on the news.

From what I can tell, so far, hes a lot like the old pope, Pope Francis.

This is frightening.

The new pope is billed in the press as a U.S. American, but hes legally a citizen of Peru, where he spent most of his ministerial life.

In his long ministry, Pope Leo served as a priest in Peru, frequently dealing with social issues and challenging national leaders. From what I can tell  you may notice me saying this a lot, as the jurys still out on our new Pope Leo  he is, politically, a lot like Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope.

Why? Because both men seem to advocate for a kind of revolutionary theology. For instance, Pope Francis said, fairly late in his life: If I see the Gospel in a sociological way only, yes, I am a communist, and so too is Jesus.

I doubt that more than a vanishingly small number of Americas sixty-two million Catholic adult believers  twenty percent of our entire adult population  like to think of Jesus as a communist. As a believer in Christ, but not so much the pope, I admit to having taken umbrage at the notion that a pope  or, for that matter, any Christian  chooses to see Christ as a communist.

As an aside, only three other nations have more Catholics than the U.S.: Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.

None of them are inclined toward communism, and I doubt if many of their Catholics choose to see Jesus as a communist.

But what does that mean? What would it mean to America and the world if Jesus were a communist?

To put it in context, Ive based my analysis on a book Im now reading: The Dictators: Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia, by the superb 20th-century British historian Richard Overy.

Stalin was the ultimate in Soviet communist dictators, the person even more responsible than Marx, Engels, or Lenin for defining what it meant to be a communist. Among other things, Stalin  whod early in life attended a seminary  was a devout atheist, as well as someone who welcomed the opportunity to suppress Christianity when it suited him.

However, he also blatantly used the Russian Orthodox Church  especially during World War II, when the Nazis looked like they were winning. He knew that most Russians were secretly Christian, so he restored the priesthood to help him hold the country together.

Setting aside faith  or lack thereof  in the Soviet Union, Stalin was a monster.

As the communist dictator of the USSR in the 1920s, '30s, '40s and early '50s, Stalin the Communist was at least twice as effective in killing tens of millions of people as was Hitler the Nazi.

Because so many records were disappeared during Stalins regime, Stalin's death toll is believed to be somewhere between roughly 20 million people and  as some historians cite  a death count that may have been as high as 60 million people, most of them citizens of the Soviet Union.

Part of this variance is due to Stalins horrific purges, both pre-war and post-war. In the early 1930s, Stalin imposed a famine on the Ukrainians, nearly a decade before Hitler attacked Soviet Russia. In just two years, Stalins manufactured famine killed seven-point-five million Ukrainians.

Another big addition to Stalins death toll was the millions of Soviet soldiers whod been Nazi-held prisoners of war. As soon as the war was over, Stalin apparently feared that Western values might have corrupted millions of prisoners who survived Hitlers death camps. These men, instead of being liberated, had to be purged.

Hitler, usually thought to be the ne plus ultra of twentieth-century genocidal warlords, accounted for just 17 million people, vs. Stalins as many as 60 million adult victims, including:

 Six million Jews

 Five-point-seven million Soviet civilians

 Two-point-nine-five million Soviet prisoners of war

 One point eight million non-Jewish Poles

 Three hundred seventy-five thousand Gypsies (Roma)

 Three hundred twelve thousand Serb civilians

 Two hundred fifty thousand physically or mentally disabled persons  mostly Germans

 Seventy thousand repeat criminal defenders

 Nineteen hundred Jehovahs Witnesses, because they were conscientious objectors

Was Francis saying that he and Jesus were, as communists, also mass murderers? Probably not, but this quote suggests that he didnt know jack about how many tens of millions of people  many of them Christians  Stalin was responsible for murdering in a variety of horrific fashions. Why? Because thats what communist warlords do  in the USSR, Red China, North Korea, North Vietnam, and of course, Castros Cuba.

Im sorry, but as a Christian myself  the son of a lapsed Catholic who came back to her faith late in life  I cannot accept that Jesus is or was a communist. Francis, Im not so sure about, but if he says hes a communist, Im inclined to accept his reasoning.

This does not automatically mean that Pope Leo is a communist, but we should watch carefully to see if he waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck.

One thing we can be certain of. Pope Francis did not approve of Donald Trump. He often spoke out against him while he was our 45th and 47th president. It says something about how American Catholics dont follow the pope in lockstep. They voted in overwhelming numbers for Trump in 2024, despite Franciss open opposition to Trump.

This suggests, if nothing else, that that particular Catholic pontiff should have stayed out of politics, rather than diluting his influence with the huge and potentially powerful body of Catholic adult Americans.

We dont yet know how Leo will come down, politically, but its already clear that the man whod become Leo had spent years tweeting and retweeting against Donald Trump on X  formerly Twitter, and other social media.

The New York Post reported that: his final X post before being elected by the Conclave in the Sistine Chapel was a retweet of a message from Philadelphia-based Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo, who on April 14th, slammed Trumps partnership with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele on deportation of illegal migrants.

That tweet read: As Trump & Bukele use Oval to [laugh emoji] Feds illicit deportation of a US resident once an undoc-ed Salvadorean himself, now-DC auxiliary bishop Evelio Menjivar asks, Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?

This, apparently, reflects the new Popes deeply-held view about Trump, terrorists and the sanctity of our national border.

Somehow, Leo seems to think that the secular United States has a moral and Christian obligation to erase our Southern border and welcome a tidal wave of undocumented immigrants to flood into America.

Where, I wonder, is that found in the Bible?

Apparently, Leo  like Francis before him  doesnt believe that nations, or at least the United States, should have, let alone enforce, national boundaries.

Since the immigration issue arguably elected Trump, and since so many Hispanic U.S. citizens supported Trump on this issue, such a stand  when taken by an overtly political Pope  could hurt the Catholic Church in America.

As someone with strong family ties to the Catholic Church, I found one liberal, political pope to be troubling. Two in a row selected quickly by the College of Cardinals is way beyond troubling.

The Roman Catholic Church seems committed to being led by a string of far-left popes, causing me  and millions of others  to begin, or continue, questioning if the Catholic Church is right for me, or for America. So far, the trends do not look good for a resurgence of the Catholic faith among those who either stepped away from  or who, like me, were led away from traditional Catholic beliefs.

One final note. The late Rush Limbaugh is famous for claiming that he didnt offer his views on any given issue until everyone else had expressed their own opinions.

Why? Because he was always right!

Of course, Rush was joking. He made no legitimate claim for infallibility. Not so much with the Catholic popes  not just Leo, or Francis  but all of them [when speaking ex cathedra, or from the papal chair, which is rare -ed.]

Back when there was no mass media, when news about a papal pronouncement took months to reach the far corners of Christendom, the impact of whatever a pope might say was muted, diluted, and not particularly impactful.

Today is different. When popes can post on X, their impact  for good or ill  can be instantaneous. Perhaps it makes sense for todays new pope to temper his political beliefs until he gets the lay of the land, so to speak.

Well, Leo didnt wait, though perhaps he should have. While Trump welcomed him with open arms, our presidents not known for reacting positively to those whose first inclination is to attack, attack, attack.

When it comes to Americas national border, Leo seems ready to pick a fight. He may believe hes infallible, but I think hell discover that Trump knows different.

Well see.

Ned Barnett was born into a family that the Catholic Church tried to prevent from happening. In 1945, the Church required any believer marrying a non-believer to force the non-believer to sign what was then a legally-binding document that any children had to be raised Catholic. It was never wise to try to impose dictates on my father, so he and my mother were married outside of the church. When my sister and I came along, my mother raised us as Episcopalians until we were old enough to make our own choices. Ned chose an evangelical, non-denominational megachurch in Las Vegas.

However, when his mother died at 92, he learned from friends that she had begun attending the Catholic Church, which caused Ned to reconsider whether Catholicism was right for him. Franciss secular faith caused him not to return to the faith of his mothers family, and Leos seeming lock-step with Francis confirmed this choice.

As a ghostwriter, Ned has worked with a number of authors whove written faith-based non-fiction books whose books have since been published. He also ghostwrites political books, novels and graphic novels, and has helped dozens of authors to successfully publish, market, promote and sell their works. He can be reached at 702-561-1167 or nedbarnett51@gmail.com.

Image: Screen shot from Fox News video, via YouTube




One of Harry Trumans most famous aphorisms is that An honest public servant cannot become rich in politics. Joe Biden embodied the corollary to that aphorism, for he was anything but honest, and he became very rich, indeed. When Biden left the White House, despite an almost uninterrupted 50-year career on the public dime, his reported net worth was $10 million, while the rest of his family also enjoyed the high life. Now that Biden has been tossed onto the trash heap of history, the money allegedly is drying up.

Biden entered politics in 1974, after a very short career as a lawyer. His Senate salary was never higher than $174,000 per year. His wife, a community college teacher (and, judging by her misbegotten thesis, a very bad one), peaked at a salary of $86,000. Thats a decent upper-middle-class income, but its not the stuff of a net worth equal to $10 million, with a portfolio that includes two lovely houses.

So, where did the money come from? It came from Joe selling access.

Image by Grok.

Some of it was the usual domestic access sales we now used to seeing on the left, in the form of exorbitantly high speakers fees, ridiculous book deals, and faux faculty positions. And of course, you can arrange to sell your sons poster art (and yes, Hunter does have some modicum of talent) for hundreds of thousands of dollars. That above board graft is the norm for Democrat politicians, and goes a long way to explaining the Obamas $70 million portfolio.

But with Joe, more was going on because he was selling access to foreign governments and actors. We learned from Hunter Bidens laptop that Joe, the Big Guy, got 10% of all the deals Hunter Biden did. And what were those deals? Well, the laptop told that tale. The deals were selling access to the Big Guy, and the buyers were Ukrainian and Russian oligarchs, and the Communist Chinese government.

In addition, reports say that Bidens siblings came in for all sorts of access-generated wealth as well. Theres a reason that Biden pardoned everyone in his family before leaving office. The Autopen may have signed that pardon, too, but Biden, had he been aware, would have heartily agreed.

Selling political access, even when not openly illegal, seditious, or treasonous, is still deeply corrupt. Its a Third World way of doing politics that warps American policies and destroys trust in the government. By rights, Joe should be investigated at a criminal level and, if what he did amounted to taking bribes or worse, he should be prosecuted and spend the rest of his life in prisoneven if in a prison for the criminally insane, given his manifest dementia.

Sadly, people dont always get the criminal justice comeuppance they deserve, but that doesnt mean that justice doesnt happen. Those in the know are saying that, with Bidens political power gone, the market for access to Biden has dried up and, with it, the Biden familys money:

A source very familiar with the Bidens tells @MarkHalperin that Biden Inc., the family business that generated millions of dollars in revenue to support their lifestyle, has dried up. The trough is empty, the spigot is turned off, says Mark. Biden Inc. needs a source of pic.twitter.com/T1CVgO7p4Z  2WAY (@2waytvapp) May 8, 2025

During the conversation, Mark Halperin pointed out that the Biden clan was once pulling in around $10 million a year (which sounds as if Biden didnt report a lot of his income, in addition to the money spread to siblings, children, and grandchildren), but now its down pretty much to zero. Sean Spicer added that the grift is over, and the familys lavish lifestyle is going unfunded.

No one is going to pay for speeches from a man who cant put together a coherent sentence, and no one in China, Russia, Ukraine, or any other anti-American foreign nation is going to funnel millions to a discarded politician for non-existent access. All Biden and Jill will be left with is Bidens pensionwhich is a nice pension, but isnt the kind of wealth to which theyve become accustomed.

The seeming disastrous drop in the family fortunes isnt the justice Biden should be getting, but it is a form of justice, and for that, we can be grateful.
Feeling a bit wary of those sneaky online scams? We have good news for you. Google is stepping up its game by weaving artificial intelligence into Chrome to help keep us safe by fighting scams more effectively.

For those of you browsing on Chrome for desktop, the Enhanced Protection mode just got a significant upgrade. It now relies on the power of Gemini Nano, the lite version in the Gemini series of models. Google developed this version to run on-device AI. If youre not aware, the model is present even on mobile devices.

Google Chrome now fights scams using the power of AI

Going back to Chromes Enhanced Protection, the Gemini Nano-powered version now can give you the lowdown on websites that might be trouble, even if its a brand-new scam tactic that hasnt been flagged before.

Google explains that Gemini Nano can quickly understand the ins and outs of different websites. This helps the company to adapt faster to the ever-evolving world of online scams. Right now, the feature is particularly focused on protecting you from those annoying remote tech support scams. However, the plan is to expand these advanced scam-detecting capabilities in the future.

Android users on Chrome are also getting some AI love. Google is rolling out AI-powered warnings for those spammy and misleading notifications that pop up. The browser will even prompt you to unsubscribe from them. This handy feature isnt on desktop or iOS just yet, but fingers crossed it might make its way there eventually.

Its good to see Google actively using AI to fight back against online threats. By making Chrome smarter at identifying scams, theyre giving us a better chance of staying safe while we browse. It sounds like this is just the beginning of how AI can help us navigate the sometimes-sketchy online world.
Over the years, Instagram has seen its fair share of competitors. However, despite the fierce competition in the social media space, Instagram has managed to hold on. But then TikTok came along, and thats when Instagram doubled down. During the FTCs antitrust trial against Meta, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri gave testimony that revealed the companys precarious position.

Instagram CEOs testimony

Writing to his team back in March 2020, Mosseri said, We cant explain it all, but whats clear at this point is that we need to adapt, and do so quickly. Youre either growing, or youre slowly dying.

For a bit of backstory, Meta is currently facing an antitrust lawsuit brought on by the FTC. The FTC alleges that Metas acquisition of various companies, like WhatsApp and Instagram, is less about boosting competition and more about killing it. Mosseris testimony suggests that the Instagram CEO sees itself in competition with TikTok, which could strengthen the FTCs case against it.

Instagrams continued relevancy

That being said, Instagram has remained relevant all these years despite facing stiff competition. This is mainly due to the company successfully borrowing popular features from other apps. One of those features is Instagram Stories, which are borrowed from Snapchats own Stories.

This quickly became a popular part of Instagram, allowing users to post content to their profile without making it part of their feed. This was useful for announcements or small updates that might not necessarily be feed-worthy. Another feature that Instagram borrowed was Reels.

Its hard not to see that this Reels was Instagrams attempt at trying to follow in TikToks footsteps. During its early days, Instagram even penalized creators who reposted TikTok videos onto Reels by making it less likely that the algorithm would recommend these videos.

Reels has since become quite popular among creators, although some might argue that TikToks algorithm is better. TikTok is also currently in a precarious position of its own. The app was slated to be banned in the US earlier this year.

However, after Trump took office, he extended the ban deadline in an effort to find a potential US buyer for the app. Currently, things look complicated, as China would have to approve the sale as well.

In the meantime, Instagram stands to benefit from this. If TikTok really ends up getting banned, were sure Instagram has no problems stepping in and filling that void.
The world of foldable phones is about to get a whole lot more interesting. It looks like Samsung Display is gearing up to start mass production of displays for Samsungs first tri-fold phone. Its factories would come into action as early as next month (June), with a potential launch of the device for the second half of the year.

Industry rumors (via Jukanlosreve on X/Twitter) indicate that Samsung Display will initially produce its tri-fold panels in the range of 200,000 to 300,000 units. Being a brand-new form factor for the companys catalog, it makes sense that theyll likely ramp up production based on how the market responds. Its noteworthy that Samsung has been experimenting with the technology for years. We have even seen it in demos of different display-focused events. However.

First production round of Samsungs tri-fold displays to begin in June

Rumors suggest that Samsung will name its first tri-fold phone the Galaxy G Fold. Its pretty natural to think this will be a pretty expensive device. The companys current Galaxy Z Fold models are already expensive, so a product with more advanced display technology will likely be even more so. The Galaxy G Fold will likely cost similarly to the Huawei Mate XT, its main rival.

Because of this premium price point, some speculate that Samsung might initially release the Galaxy G Fold in select countries. Subsequently, the South Korean giant would gradually increase its availability. However, Huaweis Mate XT has been a successful product, with some 400,000 units sold globally since February. So yes, theres definitely a demand for high-end foldable devices.

This growing enthusiasm for foldables, with their increasingly diverse designs, is great news for Samsung. The situation could make these advanced panels highly profitable to produce. Plus, Samsung Display also holds a dominant position in the market thanks to their extensive experience. This Samsung branch is the exclusive supplier of screens for the companys foldables. High demand for these products will potentially result in billions in revenue.

Growing interest in foldable phones

Looking ahead, Samsung Display isnt just focused on the Galaxy G Fold. Theyre also set to supply panels for the upcoming seventh generation of Samsungs more traditional foldables. The list includes the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, expected in July. Samsung could also be the exclusive supplier of Apples first foldable iPhone, which would arrive in 2026.

With the global foldable phone OLED market projected to grow by nearly 14.5% annually between now and 2028, it seems the competition to innovate in foldable form factors is only going to benefit Samsung Display. This division could be key to turning around the companys current complicated situation.
Sennheiser is a brand known for its premium headphones and other audio equipment. It recently released a pair of open earbuds. However, the company once sold more consumer-friendly headphones that competed with the likes of Sony, Skull Candy, and others. Well, Sennheiser is being fined for fixing its prices while selling consumer headphones.

This case actually involves more than one company. In 2022, a company named Sonova took over Sennheisers consumer headphone business. While the business was handled by a new company, it continued Sennheisers actions, so it has also been roped into this drama. Lastly, several employees who knew about these shady practices are also on the chopping block.

Sennheiser is being fined for fixing the prices of its headphones

When you think of Sennheiser, the word affordable doesnt come to mind. Even its consumer headphones were on the pricey side. It appears that the company didnt want to price its headphones too competitively, as it was caught fixing prices.

According to the report, Sennheiser was keeping an eye on how much its distributors were selling Sennheiser-branded headphones for. The company did this through methods such as web-scraping tools and manual checks. If it saw that a distributor was selling its headphones at a price lower than the MSRP, the company would pressure it to jack the price up.

This practice would keep its prices higher. This would negatively impact competition, as it would give other competitors leeway to keep their prices higher. Unfortunately, these headphones would rarely go on sale.

When Sonova took over the consumer business in 2022, the new bosses didnt bring any changes. The company kept up with this practice. However, it was only able to do so for a couple of months. Sonova kept it up from March to September that year. Sennheiser, on the other hand, had started doing it in 2015. All in all, this scheme ran for seven years.

It only stopped because Austrian and German regulators started looking into businesses without any warning. Sonova stopped the practice, but both companies and several bosses were still found out. The employees who knew about this referred to the practice as selective distribution. However, we know that Sennheiser has been fixing its prices, and theres no getting around that. Sennheiser, Sonova, and the employees were fined around 6 million for this practice.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones have leaked again, and this time, theres almost nothing left to the imagination as the design, colors, and announcement/launch date have all been revealed. This is in addition to basically all of the specs and included accessories. So, all thats really left to figure out is how much theyll cost.

Sonys WH-1000XM6 headphones have been highly anticipated now that its been a couple of years since the release of the current model, the WH-1000XM5. These are Sonys flagship headphones, and they garner excitement every single year for several reasons. Most notable is the active noise cancellation. Sonys ANC in its flagship headphones has topped the charts for years. And its poised to be even better this time around. The new model will be using a brand-new chip inside called the QN3, which is said to offer advanced HD noise cancellation. The headphones will also feature 12 noise cancellation microphones, up from 9 on the previous model. In short, were probably looking at noticeably higher quality ANC.

Leaked images reveal the design of the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones in full

The design of the WH-1000XM6 has partially leaked before, back in January, when a picture of the user guide was leaked as part of information found from the FCC certification. This new leak, which once again comes from The Walkman Blog, is a full suite of images that show every aspect of the design. These are all real images of the product as well, and not drawings from the user guide.

The images show off both the design of the headphones themselves as well as the new case that was mentioned in yesterdays report. Speaking of the case, you can see the design of the new magnetic closure thats replacing the zipper from the case that came with the WH-1000XM5.

You also now get a better look at the colors of the headphones. It probably comes as no surprise that the colors are pretty much the same. Theyll come in black, platinum silver, and blue. All of which come with a case that has a matching color. Of course, the big design change this year is the return of the folding hinge. The folding hinge was present on older models, but with the WH-1000XM5, Sony removed it. This made the headphones harder to pack because they took up more space. However, the WH-1000XM6 is bringing the hinge back so the headphones fold up again.

Sony also looks to have made the headband thicker. It looks as if the earpads might be slightly thicker as well, but thats unclear.

Sony has teased a reveal for May 15

While Sony hasnt confirmed much about these headphones yet, it has now teased the reveal date. Sony Australia has teased an announcement for a new pair of headphones at 2AM AEST on May 16. Thats 9AM PST on May 15 here on the West Coast. So at 9AM next Thursday, these will be officially announced.

While the price is still unknown, its highly likely Sony will announce this next week. Its also worth mentioning that the current rumor suggests these will be retailing for $449.99 in the US. Thats $50 more than the launch price of the WH-1000XM5.

The headphones will have the same battery as the WH-1000XM5

The battery life was mentioned in the report from earlier this week, but now theres information on how big the battery is. It seems the battery in the WH-1000XM6 will be exactly the same as the WH-1000XM5. That is to say, its a 4.56Wh battery. This should help the headphones last for up to 30 hours, with 3 hours of listening time coming from a 3-minute quick charge.

Some of the other specs and features include 360 reality audio with head tracking, 360 upmix for cinema sound, support for AAC, SBC, LDAC, and LC3, and a Game EQ for enhanced sound when gaming. They also feature personalized spatial audio, wind noise reduction, and multipoint support. The headphones are powered by the Sony V2 processor, which is just the MediaTek MT2833 processor.
When you ask ChatGPT for a recipe, an Excel formula, or a product recommendation, it feels like magicinstant answers, no scrolling, no ads. But that magic comes with a hidden price tag were all about to pay.

What if I told you that every time you ask ChatGPT for an answer, a website dies a little?

The convenience of AI makes it feel free, even magical. But its not. The models powering those instant responses were built on the backs of millions of writers, artists, journalists, and creatorsmost of whom were never asked, never paid, and now find their livelihoods quietly evaporating.

This isnt just a copyright issue. Its a slow bleed of the internets soul. A death by a thousand cuts, if you will. And now, a new lawsuit from Ziff Davis, one of the biggest digital publishers on the internet, is trying to stop it before its too late.

Ziff Davis vs OpenAI: The Lawsuit That Could Set A Precedent

Last month, digital publishing giant Ziff Davis (owner of popular sites like IGN, PCMag, and Mashable) filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. It claimed the AI company intentionally and relentlessly copied its content without permission to build ChatGPT. Now, the company is seeking damages that are reportedly in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

But the weird thing is OpenAI never even tried to negotiate.

Why would OpenAI make a deal with Ziff Davis, you ask? This is because many other publishers did get deals. OpenAI has licensing agreements with publishers such as The Associated Press, The Atlantic, The Financial Times, Vox Media, and others, paying for access to premium content. Yet somehow, Ziff Davisa company that owns over 45 media brands, employs 3,800 people, and publishes nearly 2 million new articles a yearwas left out of the conversation entirely.

Instead of a partnership, Ziff Davis got scraped. Repeatedly.

The company says its portfolio of sites, which includes IGN, PCMag, Mashable, CNET, GameFAQs, Lifehacker, and more, generates an average of 292 million monthly visits. Thats a staggering amount of content and reach. And yet, OpenAI allegedly ignored their robots.txt directives (a way of websites telling bots like the ones Google uses dont crawl us) and even stripped away copyright metadata. This is a potential violation of the DMCA.

What makes this even more serious is that Ziff Davis claims to have identified hundreds of full-text reproductions of its content in the OpenAI WebText dataseta training manual of sorts, if you will, that helped shape the early versions of ChatGPT.

The lawsuit demands compensation, but it also calls for OpenAI to destroy any models or datasets containing Ziff Davis content, effectively rolling back any benefit gained from the alleged infringement.

This case is different from others, not just in scale, but in tone. Its also not just about money. The company frames the issue as existential: OpenAI seeks to move fast and break things, gambling that by the time the courts catch up, the damage to publishers will be irreversible.

Why You, As The Reader, Should Care

You might think that this is just a fight over money, and youd be right. Obviously, companies like Ziff Davis arent too happy that their content is being taken by OpenAI and repackaged without compensation. After all, this is a business. But this isnt just about business. Its about what kind of internet youll be left with when the dust settles.

Heres the reality:

Website traffic has dropped nearly 23% over the past year, largely due to AI tools like ChatGPT serving up direct answers that used to require a visit to a website.

Fewer visits mean fewer ads. Fewer ads mean less money. And less money means smaller teams, fewer stories, and, in many cases, shuttered websites.

The hardest hit? The specialized sites you rely on but rarely think aboutrecipe blogs, how-to guides, forums, and niche publications that help you troubleshoot your life.

When those disappear, so does the content you once found invaluable. Not because it wasnt useful, but because AI ate the traffic.

The biggest irony in all this is that AI depends on that content to function. It only knows how to answer your questions because it was trained on the work of human journalists, bloggers, researchers, reviewers, artists, and photographers. But replacing the need to visit those sources undermines the very system that makes it useful.

Think of it like this: AI is the supermarket, and websites are the farmers. Right now, the shelves are stocked because the farmers have been working for decades. The supermarket never actually made any of that produce. And now, one by one, the farms are shutting down.

So, what happens next?

AI scrapes existing content Website traffic drops Creators lose income and stop producing. New content dries up. AIs answers get worse, not better.

This is the hidden cost of free AI. Were essentially giving up a diverse, creator-driven internet for bland, corporate summaries in the name of speed, efficiency, and convenience. And once that ecosystem collapses, theres no going back.

The Future of Content

Whats happening isnt inevitable; its a choice. As we said earlier, OpenAI is forging licensing deals with a select few publishers while scraping content from everyone else. The Associated Press, Financial Times, and Vox Media got paid agreements. But what about OpenAIs deal with Ziff Davis? They got ignored.

That silence speaks volumes. It reveals a system where access and compensation are granted arbitrarily. Only the most powerful media companies have the leverage to negotiate. And the rest? Free for all harvesting.

This exposes a very real issue: we dont have modern rules for this new world. Fair use was written for researchers and libraries, not trillion-dollar systems scraping thousands of websites by the second.

Photographer Tim Flach, whose work was scraped to train AI image models, once described the experience as being like a parasite sucking the light out of its host without invitation. Thats not poeticits prophetic. His photos, taken in remote, dangerous conditions, are now being imitated by machine-generated outputs that took seconds to create. No consent. No credit. And no compensation.

Google has argued that balanced copyright is necessary to fuel innovation. But as I wrote in my previous story, The AI Copyright Heist: Why Google Wants to Rewrite the RulesFor Itself, that balance is anything but fair. Spotify pays artists. Getty Images licenses photography. YouTube pays ad revenue. Some of these companies also have no problems suing individuals and websites for unlicensed use of their content, so why should OpenAI or Google get a pass?

Making the Case for Regulation

If Ziff Davis wins this lawsuit against OpenAI, it could finally force AI companies to follow the same rules everyone else already does: get consent or get a license. And if they lose, it may set the precedent that content on the internetno matter how labor-intensive, original, or valuableis free for the taking.

AI platforms may start by scraping helpful tutorials and quirky blogs, but theyll end with controlling the very architecture of information. Thats what happens when creators disappear and only machines remain. AI will keep learning until theres nothing left worth learning from.

Weve seen this before. Pharmaceutical giants extend monopolies using legal loopholes. Big Tech is now borrowing from their playbook by weaponizing copyright ambiguity to gain control over an entire ecosystem.

If we dont set clear regulations, a handful of AI monopolies will train on unpaid labor, replace the creators they copied, and charge us for answers they never wrote.

What Happens Next? What If Ziff Davis Loses To OpenAI?

The Ziff Davis lawsuit is more than a legal scuffle over copyright. Its a warning that we are headed into an era of the internet run by machines thats draining the human voices that once made it worth visiting.

If the courts side with Ziff Davis, it could set an extremely important precedent: one that recognizes creators, requires consent, and puts boundaries around artificial intelligence. It would send a message that tech giants cant build the future by stripping away the past.

But if OpenAI wins? Then the quiet exodus will continue. Websites will go dark. Artists will disappear. Expertise will fade. And AI will become nothing more than a parrot echoing the past.

So, we have to ask ourselves an important question: Do we want an internet shaped by curiosity, creativity, and contribution? Or one curated by algorithmic convenience, where every answer is an echo and every voice sounds the same?

The Library of Alexandria didnt vanish in a single night. It faded, burned, and was forgottenuntil it was too late.

The internet doesnt need flames to disappearonly silence.

We still have time. But only if we act like the knowledge were losing is worth protecting.
Adolescence co-creator Jack Thornes Let The Right One In play has seen its UK tour cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

The production, which is based on the best-selling Swedish novel and award-winning film by John Ajvide Lindqvist, was due to begin its tour in Northampton in October this year and finish in Liverpool in April 2026, following a sold-out run at Manchesters Royal Exchange.

Directed by Bryony Shanahan, the play tells a story of vampires, love, loneliness and survival.

Jack Thorne has recently announced his next project Falling (Ian West/PA)

A spokesperson for the shows producers told the PA news agency: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the UK tour of Let The Right One In is no longer able to proceed as planned.

The spokesperson said ticket holders would be contacted directly from their point of purchase with refund information.

Speaking about the tour in March, Thorne said he was so excited that more people are going to have the opportunity to see Bryony Shanahans sinewy dangerous production.

It comes after Netflix series Adolescence, which Thorne co-wrote with actor Stephen Graham, prompted a number of conversations around so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, which has led to misogyny online and bullying using social media.

The crime drama is about a boy accused of killing a girl in his class and stars This Is England actor Graham, who plays Eddie Miller, the father of 13-year-old Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, who sees armed police burst into his home to arrest his son.

Eddie is then chosen as Jamies appropriate adult, accompanying him at the police interview, and learning the extent of what his son is accused of doing.

It comes after Thorne announced earlier this month that his next project would be Falling, a Channel 4 romantic drama series starring Keeley Hawes as a nun in love with a man of the cloth.
Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from St Peters Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals. Photograph: Ivan Romano/Getty Images

Australian Catholics and politicians have embraced the appointment of the new pope, Leo XIV, with many hoping he will continue his predecessors emphasis on peace and social justice.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, offered Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost  now known as Pope Leo XIV  heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Roman Catholic church in Australia.

The Catholic Church in Australia assures Pope Leo XIV of our prayers, loyalty, and joyful anticipation of his spiritual leadership, he said. May his pontificate be marked by peace, unity, and a deepening of the Gospel message throughout the world.

Related: Deep dish eucharist: internet reacts to US pope with jokes and Chicago pride

Costelloe said the new pope had demonstrated his approachability and willingness to listen in his previous roles as the prefect of the dicastery for bishops and as an Augustinian missionary in Peru.

Catholic Social Services Australia, which represents the churchs social services providers, said the popes choice of name had profound significance for Catholic social services. It evoked the legacy of Pope Leo XIII (18781903) who articulated the churchs commitment to human dignity and social justice in his encyclical Rerum Novrum.

The organisations executive director, Dr Jerry Nockles, said the popes election came at a time when the world yearns for compassionate leadership grounded in the Gospel values of justice, dignity and solidarity with the vulnerable.

At a time when Australia and indeed the world faces unprecedented social challenges  from growing inequality to escalating violence and social division  Pope Leos election offers a beacon of hope and a powerful reminder that the Church stands firmly for peace and with those on the margins, he said.

His voice will undoubtedly challenge us all to build a more just and peaceful society where every persons dignity is honoured, and peace is actively pursued.

Brother Mark OConnor, head of communications for the Catholic archdiocese of Parramatta, told Radio National he had met the new pope, describing him as a humble, gentle leader.

Hes not different from Pope Francis in terms of vision, but maybe in style, he said. Hes more low key.

He said the Leo XIV had been to Australia and was not a fan of Vegemite but did like Tim Tams.

OConnor expected the new pope would be very effective in continuing to reform the church in the vision of Pope Francis.

It was significant that the popes first words were about peace as well as his choice of name, he said.

Youve got to remember that Pope Leo XIII was the first pope in the modern era who actually stood on the side of the workers and social justice, he said, which was really the beginnings of the church taking a much stronger stance on social justice.

Anthony Albanese offered his heartfelt congratulations to Pope Leo XIV and invited him to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney 2028.

This is a moment of joy and hope for Catholics all over the world, the prime minister said. May God bless Pope Leo XIV and may his papacy advance the cause of peace and justice, in the service of all humanity.

New South Wales premier Chris Minns welcomed the popes message of peace, bridge building and compassion, and offered him the states best wishes as a leader in our turbulent world.

Father Frank Brennan, an Australian Jesuit priest, lawyer and academic, said the fastest conclave in a century suggested the new pope was an absolute standout.

Brennan said the popes choice of name clearly indicated a strong commitment to social justice, although he anticipated Pope Leo XIV would be more measured and precise than Pope Francis on questions of doctrine.

Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, said the popes greeting of peace, which emphasised that Gods love was without any limits or conditions, as very moving.

The Australian Catholic University said it was a time of renewed hope and guidance.

Its chancellor, Martin Daubney, said: We share his commitment to strengthening dialogue and the defence of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity.
A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert has admitted failing to report a series of high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing militant group Hezbollah.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.

The art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBCs Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector between October 2020 and December 2021.

Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese organisation.

At the time of the transactions, Mr Ojiri knew Mr Ahmad had been sanctioned in the US, Mr Harris told the court.

Mr Ojiri accessed news reports about Mr Ahmads designation and engaged in discussions with others about his designation.

There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links.

Mr Harris said Ojiri dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales.

US prosecutors say Mr Ahmad was a major Hezbollah financial donor who used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the group.

He is accused of evading terrorism sanctions by using front companies to acquire more than 160 million dollars (120 million) in artwork and diamond services.

Following the introduction of new money laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under HMRC supervision, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules.

The court heard the total value of the artwork sold was around 140,000.

They are not sham transactions  the art was sent to Dubai, the UAE, or Beirut, Mr Harris added.

Ojiri, of Brent, North London, has appeared on a number of BBC shows  including Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip.

Art dealer Oghenochuko Ojiri outside Westminster Magistrates Court (Ben Whitley/PA)

He described himself as absolutely obsessed with collecting contemporary art in a BBC Q&A.

He has previously worked as an auctioneer and is known for championing African and European contemporary art.

District Judge Briony Clarke granted bail but ordered Ojiri to surrender his passport and not to apply for international travel documents.

Sentencing will take place at the Old Bailey on June 6.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.

Gavin Irwin, mitigating, told the court: He is not a flight risk.

The fact that he is here  he has left the UK and has always returned knowing he may be charged with offences  he will be here on the next occasion.

Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political and militant group based in Lebanon, backed by Iran and known for its armed resistance against Israel.

In the UK, the entire organisation  both its military and political wings  has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019.
Prince Albert Jacob finally received his medals two years ago and shook hands with the king on VE Day. Its a dream, he says. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Most black people went overboard and tried hard to make sure that they did their best for Britain, says Prince Albert Jacob, a 99-year-old veteran from Trinidad who joined the RAF in 1943.

In a London hotel lobby, after a busy week of VE Day celebrations, Jacob describes feeling disappointed at findings from a recent survey that showed British people remained largely unaware of the black and Asian contribution to the second world war.

That was my experience. Most of us tried our best to do our best for the country. I dont want to upset anyone, but I think it shows ignorance. How can you not know? Especially today with whats going on in this world, he says.

Jacob, who grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad, left life as he knew at 17 to join the Royal Air Force, travelling to the US and Britain to repair planes. He still remembers the day the allies formally accepted Germanys surrender in 1945.

I was stationed in Carlisle at the time, says Jacob. It was a shock. I wouldnt say you couldnt believe it, but it was a shock. It was a fantastic experience in the sense the first thing that comes to mind is going home. Im going where its warm again.

After the war, Jacob went on to represent the GB team in running, before establishing a 30-year career as postmaster of Acocks Green post office in Birmingham.

For 80 years, however, missing from his jackets were the war medals he was told he would receive. Jacob was unaware at the time that you had to apply for the medals to receive them. That all changed two years ago when he got talking to a neighbour.

We had [Jacob and his wife] been living in Knowle for nearly 50 years and one day, one of my neighbours mentioned to me about the Royal Air Force. I told her that I used to be in the air force during the war and she couldnt believe it. I gave her my details and she got in touch with the military about my medals.

His face beams as he remembers the day the war medal, defence medal and a veterans badge arrived in the post. I never want to take them off. Is it the right thing or the wrong thing? I dont know. Im just thankful that people realise the contribution and appreciate what we did, says Jacob.

Related: King calls for renewed commitment to peace in VE Day message

On receiving the medals, the veteran was quickly thrown into the spotlight. The organisation Why Are West Indians, which works to promote 500 years of Caribbean contribution to British heritage, got in contact with Jacob to share his story.

Reflecting on his experience in the war, Jacob remembers various instances where he experienced racism. Yet that did not take away away from what he describes as a thrilling period of his life. Parts of it were definitely exciting. Part of it was new experience. We got to attend lots of dances. We definitely knew more about the English than the English knew about us.

The best day of his life, however, came two months before his 100th birthday. To round off a week of VE celebrations, Jacob found himself sat one row behind the king at Horse Guards Parade on Thursday.

I had the opportunity of the king shaking my hand and wishing me well, he said. Its a dream, Im in heaven. Its something I will never forget  the most exciting day of my life, I would say.

Celebrating VE Day will always remain important for Jacob. Its a chance to appreciate those [who fought in the war] that are still alive. For those who have left us, we cant thank them but we can remember them for what they have done.
Restrictions on British scientists were dropped after negotiations between London and Brussels - Julien de Rosa/AFP

Britain can pitch for lucrative EU space research projects after Brussels agreed to stop freezing the UK out of the competitive sector as part of the Brexit reset deal.

The UK secured access to the Horizon Europe research programme in the Brexit negotiations as a fee-paying associate member of a fund worth about 80 billion.

But the EU barred British companies and scientists from bidding for projects in the sensitive and competitive space and quantum sectors.

Those restrictions were dropped after what the UK government called a period of constructive collaboration between British and European negotiators.

The breakthrough comes before a UK-EU summit in London on May 19, where the reset deal will be launched and will build expectations that an agreement is close.

The EU barred British companies and scientists from bidding for projects in the sensitive space and quantum sectors - SSTL

European sources confirmed to The Telegraph that the decision was to build positive momentum behind the reset and help sell the expected deal in Britain.

But they ruled out a wholesale negotiation of the Brexit trade deal, which would require a fresh mandate from EU capitals happy with an agreement weighted in their favour.

The UK rejoined Horizon in January last year. It had negotiated continued membership of the programme during the Brexit negotiations before Britain left the EU.

But the Commission blocked the associate membership of the programme for about three years during a long-running row with London over Northern Irelands Brexit deal.

Once the then-Conservative government shelved its threats to tear up the treaty, negotiations resumed.

At the time, the commission said it was limiting space and quantum projects to EU members only out of fears that trade secrets could be passed to non-EU powers.

The move also protected European firms from having to compete with world-leading British space-tech firms for tenders.

The UK space sector employs 52,000 people and generates 18.9 billion each year. Since 2015, the UK has attracted more private investment in space than any other country outside of the United States.

The UK space sector employs 52,000 people and generates 18.9 billion each year - John Keeble/Getty Images

The hardline stance, which was opposed by many member states and European universities, was driven by Frances then-EU Commissioner Thierry Breton.

Paris continues to insist that the UK must not be allowed to cherry-pick the benefits of EU membership from outside the bloc.

It has also warned that Britain must do a deal continuing EU access to its fishing waters in exchange for the defence pact, which is the cornerstone of the reset.

Ending the Horizon restrictions suggests a deal on defence, which is seen by London and Brussels as a sign of unity in response to Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine, is close. Space and quantum, which involve superfast computers, have uses in security and defence.

A leaked copy of the draft defence agreement, obtained by the Telegraph, states the UK and EU will develop cooperation on space-related security issues.

The EU and the UK will therefore establish regular exchanges on space security to discuss, inter alia, threats and respective policy frameworks with a view to strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Tory Brexiteers fear that Sir Keir Starmers reset could take Britain back into the EU through the back door.

The Government insists it has no plans to rejoin the EUs Single Market or Customs Union but is focused on economic growth.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols told reporters in Rome there was quite a lot of waiting at the conclave - Alessandra Tarantino/AP

The conclave to elect a new pope is well-known as the most secretive event in the Roman Catholic Church.

However, a British cardinal has given an intriguing insight into the process that ended in the election of Pope Leo XIV, lamenting the irritating length of time that it took 133 cardinals to cast their votes inside the Sistine Chapel.

The conclave that elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as the first pope from the US was the largest in history in terms of the number of cardinals eligible to vote.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, said the length of time it took for the cardinals to walk up to the altar one by one and cast their ballot papers was initially irritating, but that the experience taught him the virtue of patience.

He said: For me, it was a time of great patience. Because the process of a conclave is meticulous and we meticulously followed every single step.

And that meant quite a lot of waiting. So each of the 133 cardinals took a solemn oath of maintaining secrecy about what went on. That took quite a long time. Each vote took quite a bit of time. So I learnt a bit of patience. And that patience can be creative as well as initially irritating.

At a press conference in the English College, a seminary for Catholic priests in Rome, Cardinal Nichols, 79, added: Each cardinal, in a queue, goes up to the high altar at the foot of The Last Judgment and puts his vote in. If you do that 133 times, it takes quite a while.

The reason it took so long for black smoke to appear for the first time was because a 91-year-old cardinal spoke for much longer than expected, said Cardinal Nichols - Fabio Frustaci/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

He also revealed the reason why it took so long for smoke to pour from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel after the first round of voting on Wednesday evening.

The black smoke, which indicated that no pope had yet been chosen, did not emerge until 9pm, much later than expected.

That was because Raniero Cantalamessa, the 91-year-old cardinal who delivered an address known as a meditation, spoke for much longer than the half an hour that had been expected.

Cardinal Nichols said: The first evening, he gave a very long talk. I would think it was an hour or more. One person commented, Its his valedictory address.

It was splendid stuff. But it had been suggested that it would be half an hour at most.

He said the experience of coming to Rome and being part of the conclave had been a remarkable few days.

The 133 cardinal electors who were sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel came from five continents and more than 70 countries.

The geographical diversity was striking, Cardinal Nichols said, adding: It is remarkable to speak with a cardinal from Mongolia, for instance, some of whose churches are tents that move with the people.

Cardinal Nichols said the geographical diversity of representatives was striking - Murad Sezer/Reuters

Cardinal Nichols described the new pope, who grew up in Chicago but spent two decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru, as a citizen of the world.

He said: He has been the general superior of the Augustinian order twice, which means he has travelled the world twice, he has been a teacher, a diocesan bishop and a member of the Roman Curia [the governing body of the Catholic Church].

That is a combination of talents that  made it pretty clear that here was a man who was bringing the right depth of experience to the papacy.

Credit: Vatican Media/Reuters

He said that Pope Leo, known to friends and his flock as Father Bob, has a very gentle manner, hes very clear in his mind, he can be decisive. I have seen him resolve difficulties which didnt leave enemies behind him.

Pope Leo is regarded as a progressive in the spirit of Pope Francis, whose concern for migrants and the poor may set him on a collision course with the Trump administration.

In what some interpreted as an oblique reference to Donald Trump, Cardinal Nichols recounted a story about a past pontiff called Leo  Pope Leo the Great.

He said: In 452 AD, Leo the Great went to the edge of the city of Rome and persuaded Attila the Hun to turn back. Pope Leo the Great was not afraid of absolute tyrants.

Pope Leo XIV during a mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel - Vatican/AFP via Getty

It was reported that the Pope watched the film Conclave, which portrayed the process of electing a new pontiff as a hotbed of intrigue, backstabbing and betrayal, so that he would know how to behave, his brother John revealed.

He picked up tips as to how the conclave might unfold by sitting down and watching the award-winning film, which stars Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, said Mr Prevost, 71, who lives in Chicago.

But Cardinal Nichols insisted that the conclave was nothing like the film. He said: At no point did I feel there was the slightest bit of rancour or somebody trying to promote themselves or block somebody else.

Unlike the film, this was a very lovely and congenial and fraternal time together.
Cancer diagnoses in people younger than 50 are on the rise. (Getty Images) (Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images)

In the UK, a growing number of people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with cancer. Incidence rates of the disease have increased by 22% in people aged 25 to 49, according to data recorded between the 1990s and 2018.

But for the first time, scientists from the National Cancer Institute in the US have pinpointed the main types of cancer young people are at greater risk of developing, with breast, bowel, kidney and uterine varieties topping the list for early-onset cases.

While the study focused on US data, a rise in these cancers is being seen globally, including here in the UK.

Being diagnosed with cancer under the age of 50 is still rare, but oncologists say that spotting symptoms at an early stage, when the disease isnt too large and hasnt spread, increases the likelihood of successful treatment.

Plus, although we tend to associate cancer with lumps and bumps, the disease can cause many different signs and symptoms  some that are specific to certain areas of our body, such as changes to our breasts or skin, or other more general changes, like unexplained weight loss or bloating.

To help you stay on top of home health checks, here's how to look out for the four main cancers increasing in younger populations, plus what to do if you notice anything unusual.

Breast cancer

As the most common type of cancer in the UK, breast cancer accounts for 15% of all new cancer cases in the country. Although its more frequently diagnosed in older women, early-onset cases are rising, with 18% of cases now found in women under the age of 50.

Becoming familiar with the way your breasts normally look and feel with regular breast self-exam is one of the best ways to stay on top of any changes.

The NHS advise you should do this once a month, feeling for the following symptoms:

A lump or swelling in your breast, chest, or underarm area

Changes to the skin on your breast, like dimpling (similar to orange peel) or redness

A difference in the size or shape of one or both breasts or either side of your chest. While some asymmetry is normal, look out for any changes that feel unusual for you

Nipple discharge when not pregnant or breastfeeding, which may contain blood

Changes in the appearance of your nipple, such as it becoming inverted or developing a rash that resembles eczema

Sores or ulcers on the chest

Bowel cancer

After Dame Deborah James died from bowel cancer at the age of 40 (and Dawsons Creek actor James Van Der Beek spoke out about being diagnosed with it at 47), awareness around this type of cancer has greatly increased among younger people.

Also known as colorectal cancer, the main symptoms of the disease tend to show up in stools, so while its not always pleasant, periodically checking the colour and consistency of your poo before flushing the toilet can potentially save lives.

According to the NHS, symptoms of bowel cancer to look out for include:

Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you

Needing to poo more or less often than is usual for you

Blood in your stool, which may look red or black

Bleeding from your bottom

Often feeling the urge to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet

Tummy pain

A lump in your tummy

Bloating

Unexplained weight loss

Feeling very tired or short of breath - this can be a sign of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer

Checking your stool before flushing can help you stay on top of any concerning changes. (Getty Images) (Antonio Hugo Photo via Getty Images)

Kidney cancer

By and large, kidney cancer is most likely to be diagnosed in older populations, but there has been a steady and substantial increase in rates across all age groups over the last decade.

The tricky thing about kidney cancer is that most people who are diagnosed don't have symptoms, and its most often detected by chance during a scan for something else.

Still, there are some possible signs to watch out for, according to the NHS:

Blood in your pee

A lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck

Pain between your ribs and waist that does not go away

Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to

Feeling tired or having no energy

A high temperature that does not go away

Sweating a lot, including during the night

Uterine cancer

While its more common in women who've been through menopause, anyone with a womb can be diagnosed with uterine cancer.

The most obvious symptom is abnormal bleeding from the vagina, but the NHS say there are many other warning signs to be aware of. These include:

Heavy periods that are unusual for you

Vaginal bleeding between your periods

A change to your vaginal discharge

A lump or swelling in your tummy or between your hip bones

Pain in your lower back or between your hip bones

Pain during sex

Changes to how often you pee and poo (this can be either more, or less, than usual)

What to do if you spot anything unusual

The first thing to do is try not to panic. While noticing new health changes can be concerning, the symptoms of cancer often overlap with many other less serious issues, so the NHS say its more likely to be something else.

However, if it is cancer, spotting it early can make a real difference, as treatment is more likely to be successful in the initial stages.

Your GP should be your first port of call, who can refer you to a specialist for further testing if necessary. If youre worried about cancer, Cancer Research UK has more information on symptoms and screening, as well as 24-hour live chat support.

Read more about cancer:
Harvey Weinsteins lawyers have sought to raise doubts about an ex-models allegation that he sexually assaulted her in her teens, portraying her as a wannabe actor who tried to leverage the former studio boss.

You believed that if you had consensual sex with Mr Weinstein, youd get your foot in the door and become a movie star, defence lawyer Mike Cibella said.

No, thats not what happened, Kaja Sokola responded.

I never had a consensual relation with Mr Weinstein.

Throughout a day of questioning, Mr Cibella sought to suggest that Ms Sokola had not told the full story of her interactions with Weinstein.

Kaja Sokola walks outside court during Harvey Weinsteins trial at state court in Manhattan in New York (Ted Shaffrey/AP)

At one point, Mr Cibella repeatedly asked whether she invited Weinstein up to a New York apartment  and into the bedroom  where she was staying in 2005.

She denied it.

I didnt want any shortcuts from Mr Weinstein. I wanted him to be honest with me, Ms Sokola said at a later point, her voice growing heated.

She said the Oscar-winning producer promised to help her fulfil her acting ambitions but instead broke my dreams, and he broke my self-esteem.

The Polish psychotherapist has accused Weinstein of repeatedly sexually abusing her when she was a teenage fashion model.

Some of those allegations are beyond the legal time limit for criminal charges, but Weinstein faces a criminal sex act charge over Ms Sokolas claim that he forced oral sex on her in 2006.

Prosecutors added the charge to the landmark #MeToo case last year, after an appeals court overturned Weinsteins 2020 conviction.

The guilty verdict pertained to allegations from two other women, who have also given evidence or are expected at the retrial.

Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty and denies ever sexually assaulting anyone.

Polish-born Ms Sokola, 39, had a jet-setting modelling career as a teenager.

She gave evidence earlier this week that Weinstein exploited her youthful interest in an acting career to subject her to unwanted sexual advances, starting days after they met in 2002, while she was a 16-year-old on a modelling trip to New York.

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan for his retrial in New York (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

She told jurors that four years later, when she was 19, Weinstein lured her to a hotel room by saying he had a script for her to see, then pinned her down on a bed and performed oral sex on her as she implored him not to.

Ms Sokola never got a full-fledged role in a Weinstein movie, though he did arrange for her to be an extra in 2007s The Nanny Diaries.

Her scene ultimately got cut, she said.

His company also wrote her a recommendation letter to an acting school.

She said she had not been able to afford it.

Ms Sokola sued Weinstein several years ago over the alleged 2002 incident, and she ultimately received about 3.5 million dollars in compensation.

Her suits never mentioned the alleged 2006 assault.

She said on Thursday that she had had a tougher time coming to terms with it than she did with the alleged 2002 sex abuse.

Mr Cibella underscored the omission, and he suggested that she sued to gain financial independence and be able to leave her now-estranged husband.

On the contrary, she said, she was working two jobs and out-earning him.

Mr Cibella also pointed to differences in some details of Ms Sokolas evidence this week and what she told a grand jury last year, including the month of the alleged 2002 sexual abuse.

The lawyer further noted that Ms Sokola is pursuing various legal pathways to stay in the US long term, and her involvement in the criminal case could help with one of them.

Ms Sokola is expected to continue giving evidence next week.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, but Ms Sokola has given her permission to be identified.
The death of a British bomb disposal expert who was killed while clearing landmines has prompted an emotional outpouring from communities in Ukraine, his friend and colleague has said.

Christopher Garrett, originally from the Isle of Man, died following an explosion in the eastern European country, where he co-founded charity Prevail to provide bomb disposal, trauma care and humanitarian aid.

A fundraiser launched to support the family of the 40-year-old, who had a one-year-old daughter, raised more than 10,000 US dollars (7,543) within a day of being launched.

Shaun Pinner, spokesman and ambassador for Prevail, told the PA news agency: Chris was a talisman. He was driven by the injustices Russia are doing here.

He brought mine awareness to children through to adults and had knowledge which will be deeply missed.

The outpouring has been really emotional. Local communities have all reached out to us.

He knew everyone in the military and police as well as all the civilian communities.

The amount of lives he has saved, I cant count them. Hes pulled out tons and tons of mines.

Mr Pinner said his colleague was doing probably the most dangerous job in the most dangerous place in the world.

An investigation is now ongoing into the explosion near Izyum on Tuesday, which also killed one of Mr Garretts colleagues, an Australian national, and injured a third man.

Mr Pinner said the work of Prevail, of which Mr Garrett was chairman, would carry on.

We will continue his legacy, he said.

We will continue to move forward. Were going to have to restrict part of it because weve lost a very capable guy but the humanitarian side of it will keep going and well look to regroup.

The charity is called Prevail and the name says it all.

The GoFundMe page set up in memory of Mr Garrett, also known as Swampy, will cover repatriation and funeral costs, with any additional money raised going to his partner, charity co-founder Courtney Pollock, and their daughter.

A message on the site said: We will miss him acutely. His legacy and his hard work will forever Prevail.

According to his profile on the Prevail website, Mr Garrett volunteered in Myanmar for humanitarian efforts and had been heavily involved in work in Ukraine since 2014, including providing mine risk education, clearance training and support to military, police and emergency services.

A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.
9 May 2025 at 8:27 am

Simon and Erin Patterson. Erin Patterson is accused of hosting a July 2023 lunch that police said was laced with poisonous mushrooms. Three people died after the lunch. Composite: AAP/AP

Erin Pattersons children ate the leftovers of her beef wellington lunch after their mother and relatives fell ill eating the same meal the previous day, a court has heard.

Videos of interviews the siblings gave separately to police on 16 August 2023 have been shown to the jury in Pattersons triple murder trial.

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to the lunch she served at her house in Victorias Leongatha on 29 July 2023.

She has pleaded not guilty to murdering or attempting to murder the relatives of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.

Related: Australia mushroom murders trial: Erin Pattersons daughter describes eating leftovers of fatal lunch in police video

Patterson is accused of murdering Simons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Simons uncle and Heathers husband.

The start of Pattersons daughters evidence was shown to the jury on Thursday, and both videos were completed on Friday.

In her interview, the daughter said her mum told her that dinner on 30 July 2023 was leftovers from the lunch.

I remember I was asking her what we were having that night, and she said she was making leftovers from yesterdays lunch, she said.

When the police officer asks is she a good cook, Pattersons daughter responded yes, very good.

She said she did not like eating mushrooms, and had never gone mushroom picking.

Her brother said he understood police were speaking to him about the lunch of five people  and all five of them ended up in hospital, and three of them have passed.

And when you say passed  the officer asked.

Three of them have died, Pattersons son said.

He described the meat he and his sister consumed as eye fillet beef. He says his mother heated up the meat that she had cooked a day earlier.

Pattersons son said the meat, which was served with potatoes and beans was very soft  some of the best meat Ive ever had.

Patterson made leftovers for herself too, he said, but did not eat it as she felt unwell, so he ate her food.

They ate all of the leftovers, he said.

(July 29, 2023)

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

(July 30, 2023)

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

(August 4, 2023)

Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital.

(August 5, 2023)

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

(September 23, 2023)

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

(November 2, 2023)

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

(April 28, 2025)

Jury is sworn in.

(April 29, 2025)

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

The court has previously heard that police recovered at least one beef wellington, and part of another, from a wheelie bin at Pattersons house on 1 August, the following day.

Pattersons son described Patterson and Simons relationship as very negative, and said his father does a lot of things to try and hurt Mum.

He said Simon contacted his school to be included on billing records, so that he could remain informed of his childrens activities and school reports, but did this without contacting Patterson.

A suppression order prevents either of the Patterson children from being named.

Their interviews, known as video audio recorded evidence, were taken in Morwell police station.

The start of their daughters evidence was shown to the jury on Thursday, and both videos were completed on Friday.

The trial continues next week, but no evidence will be heard on Monday.
Gerry Adams had a reputation of seriousness and dependability, a US congressmen who worked with President Bill Clinton on the peace process has told the former Sinn Fein leaders libel trial against the BBC.

Mr Adams is suing the BBC over accusations contained in a broadcast of the Spotlight documentary series and an accompanying online article which alleged he had sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. Mr Adams denies any involvement.

In 2009 the Real IRA admitted killing Mr Donaldson.

Mr Adams describes the allegation in the programme as a grievous smear and his legal team has argued that his reputation as a peacemaker had suffered an unjustified attack because of the broadcast and an accompanying online article.

In the High Court in Dublin on Friday, the jury in the case heard that Mr Adams had engaged with Mr Clinton over the Northern Ireland peace process.

One of the men who worked in the US presidents administration on the matter was former congressman Bruce Morrison, who gave evidence to the court about Mr Adams reputation.

Appearing via video link from Bethesda, Maryland, Mr Morrison said he had developed a concern with the human rights situation in Northern Ireland and had travelled to the region on multiple occasions.

Bruce Morrison with Gerry Adams in 1995 (Martin McCullough/PA)

Through his work on the peace process, he said he had met unionists and nationalists as well a variety of Irish and British government officials.

Mr Morrison, who was an attorney and congressman before serving in Mr Clintons administration, also told the court he was once held at gunpoint in Londonderry by the RUC despite having committed no crime.

He said he spoke to Mr Clinton, with whom he was in law school alongside the future presidents wife, Hillary, about how the US could get more involved in Northern Ireland.

Taking questions from counsel for Mr Adams, Declan Doyle SC, Mr Morrison explained that Mr Adams had previously been denied visas into the US on ideological grounds, but was granted one by the Clinton administration in early 1994 when he was allowed to visit for 48 hours to take part in a peace conference.

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams outside the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

He said the Sinn Fein leaders reception was extremely positive and that he had put forward a picture of himself as wanting a peace process.

He said an IRA ceasefire followed later that year, which he described as a watershed moment that opened the door for talks chaired by senator George Mitchell that resulted in the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Morrison said while Mr Adams was excluded from speaking publicly in interviews in Ireland and the UK, he was increasingly expected  along with Sinn Fein  to be part of any meaningful negotiations about the end of the Troubles.

He said Mr Clinton was pursuing a big tent strategy to that end, and that talks moving forward on an agreement did not happen until Sinn Fein was included.

He specifically referenced a moment when the US president publicly shook hands with Mr Adams on the Falls Road in Belfast.

Mr Morrison said this was symbolic as a statement of confidence from Mr Clinton that Mr Adams was important in bringing about an end to the Troubles.

The former congressmen told the court that he observed that Mr Adams increasingly received a higher level of respect in Britain and Ireland because of his commitment to he peace process.

Mr Morrison said Mr Adams was a controversial figure that others may have had disagreements about, but added his reputation was one of a serious man on a serious mission who was committed to the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.

He said he had a reputation of seriousness, dependability and as someone whose word could be taken seriously and could be relied on.

Under cross-examination by Paul Gallagher SC, for the BBC, Mr Morrison said he could not speak to the truth of various allegations against Mr Adams but said his reputation from their dealings was one of reliability.

My greatest impression of him was of his political acumen, his political commitments.

Asked about his current reputation, Mr Morrison said Mr Adams is an elder statesmen who was a distinguished leader who had made an extraordinary contribution to change in Northern Ireland.

Pressed on whether Mr Adams previous US visa rejections were down to connections with terrorism, Mr Morrison said there was no question that such a label applied to the Sinn Fein leader at the time due to the partys association with the Provisional IRA.

He said he did not know about Mr Adams own connection to the IRA but there were certainly allegations and that would be considered during a visa application.

He said there was a view that Sinn Fein was the product of the IRA.

Asked by Mr Gallagher about the lack of a commitment to end the armed struggle during the 1994 IRA ceasefire, Mr Morrison added: That was all to play for at that time.

Theres no question that was the objective  and the objective was obtained.

So, the people who helped obtain the objective deserve recognition regardless of what they said 10, 15, 20 years or before.

Mr Gallagher asked if that also applied to what they had done in those years, the congressmen added: Or by others, yes.

The case continues.
Adm Sir Ben Key at a 2024 commemoration of 200 years of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Photograph: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The head of the Royal Navy has been suspended pending an investigation.

Adm Sir Ben Key has been asked to step back as first sea lord, sources at the MoD confirmed on Friday.

Key was absent from the lineup of senior military personnel on the Mall on Monday for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and it is understood that second sea lord V Adm Martin Connell has taken full charge until a permanent replacement is announced.

Earlier this week the MoD said Key had departed for private reasons.

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a university cadet, and graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London. As a junior officer he saw service around the world, after qualifying as helicopter aircrew and a principal warfare officer.

He was made vice admiral in February 2016, before becoming the Royal Navys fleet commander and later chief of joint operations until he was appointed first sea lord in 2021.

Over his career, he has commanded four ships: the mine hunter HMS Sandown, the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Lancaster, and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

An Iraq war veteran, prior to taking over the Navy Key was also awarded a US bronze star and oversaw the retreat from Afghanistan.

In his current role, he is also chief of the naval staff and chair of the navy board, where he is responsible to the secretary of state for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the service.

Key last year issued an unreserved apology for intolerable misogyny in the Submarine Service, after a series of investigations across the navy exposed sexual harassment, bullying and assault of women within its ranks.

The navy chief said he was truly sorry to the women who had suffered misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours while serving their country. We must be better than this and do better than we have, he said.

The MoD said on Friday: An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.
Harriet and Cameron Baker prepare to move to Perth with their son Teddy (2), Dunedin, New Zealand. Photograph: Derek Morrison/The Guardian

She considers herself a diehard South Island girl, but Harriet Baker, 33, wont be raising her children in the city where shes spent most of her life.

When we bought our house I said, Youll be taking me out of here in a casket, she says, of the Dunedin home she and husband Cameron Baker, 33, sold last month.

But the living costs just keep climbing, youre working hard and you cant put any money away  it felt like we were treading water.

Their possessions are now winding their way to Western Australia, where the couple, their son Teddy, 2, and dog Hiccup, 8, relocated last week. Cameron will work as a heavy diesel mechanic in the mines while Harriet, formerly a public servant, will be the primary caregiver.

Harriet would like to give Teddy a Kiwi upbringing around his New Zealand-based grandparents, but she knows that might not happen.

It does feel crazy that were leaving them. But that Australian income just flipped the switch for us.

The Baker family are among a surge of departures from New Zealand, mostly fleeing a weak economy, in an exodus that is fuelling concern for the countrys future and has small towns scrambling for survival. Demographers are particularly worried as all ages of New Zealanders  not just young people  are packing their bags.

I dont know why were not talking about this more. We have a steep decline in fertility, a rapidly ageing population, and, out of Covid, we are seeing the rise and rise of departures, says Massey Universitys emeritus professor Paul Spoonley, a leading sociologist.

Parts of New Zealand are beginning to empty out, they will suffer stagnation or are in decline. The question for me is  will the number of New Zealanders leaving the country begin to come back? Spoonley says.

Workforce hollowing out

Over the past two years, tens of thousands of New Zealanders have left the country, surpassing the last spike in 2012. Record numbers of New Zealand migrants left the country through 2023 and into 2024. Figures remain high, with 69,100 leaving in the year to February 2025  about 3% more than at this time last year.

Overall, more new migrants are still arriving in New Zealand than departing. But last year saw the biggest net loss of New Zealand citizens of any calendar year on record. About 56% of New Zealand emigrants  those planning to live overseas for a year or more  head to Australia, where the average pay rate is 26% higher.

For those aged 20-29, a backpacker-style overseas experience in Australia is a time-honoured rite of passage. They are still the biggest group leaving New Zealand but now, they are being followed by 30-39-year-olds and their children, as well as an unprecedented number of retirees  groups that are considered less likely to return.

We talk about where the centre of gravity for a family is, and if youve got parents, grandchildren or adult children living elsewhere, youre relocating your centre of gravity, Spoonley said.

Experts are also worried about the impact on the workforce, now and in the future. This is in part due to working age people leaving New Zealand, and compounded by tighter immigration rules last year that are seeing fewer people coming on work visas.

This is a hollowing out of this demographic of mid-career workers, who in reality do the bulk of the work, said Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub. Thats the jaws of death closing, and then we have labour market problems.

Small towns shrink

The high cost of living, along with wages, job conditions and difficulty finding employment were among the reasons given for moving by those spoken to by the Guardian. Many did not want to leave, but felt they were left with no option after struggling to get by.

Its a story repeated in small towns across New Zealand.

In Ohakune, a North Island ski town, local Maori tribe (iwi) Ngati Rangi are among those trying to figure out how to get people to stay. The area is in decline, with shuttered shops and For Sale signs evidence of a population drop of almost a third since 1996  a national trend demographers say shows no sign of slowing, as a majority of new migrants move to Auckland.

This is not a good news story for provincial and small town Aotearoa and its happening gradually, town by town and region by region, says Tahu Kukutai, a demographer and co-director for Maori research centre Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga.

More recently in Ohakune, the closure of two mills by Winstone Pulp International in 2024 saw the loss of about 220 jobs. Jude Sinai, Ngati Rangis redundancy support liaison, said about 10% of workers had moved overseas, others were struggling to find seasonal work or lower paying jobs.

Weve had new recruits who bought homes at the higher end of the market, they didnt see this coming, now theyre trying to service a mortgage shearing or mowing lawns. They think; Do I go overseas and try to make it happen there?

The iwi has launched business courses to try to upskill families, and is pushing for tourism businesses to employ more locals  anything to get them to stay.

Trying to get public services here is already so difficult, and when you take the numbers out of the area you get less attention. School rolls drop, there are teacher layoffs, lack of healthcare. Were doing everything we can to lessen the magnitude of that scarring, Sinai says.

To boost the economy, the centre-right National party government has said it will cut new spending by $1bn to reduce borrowing and debt. Some economists say that could slow the recovery while Labour leader Chris Hipkins criticised spending reductions as an invitation to young New Zealanders to move overseas. Thousands of jobs have been cut from the public service since 2023.

Finance minister, Nicola Willis, rejected those claims and told the Guardian the government would increase spending overall and save money by cutting unnecessary services. Willis said she wanted see more New Zealanders choosing to stay here. She said young people leaving New Zealand was an ongoing challenge, which could be addressed by growing the economy.

I am very concerned if New Zealanders dont believe that they have good prospects in New Zealand. I want people to see that this is a place of enormous economic future and enormous social future.

But those overseas cant see what would make them move home. Waikauri Hirini, 27, was a social worker in the small town of Te Kuiti in the central North Island before moving to Perth to join three generations of her family who already live over there, and work as a bank teller.

I started on $48,000 and I never got a pay rise, I had a high caseload, I was stressed, she says.

When I graduated I couldnt wait to help my community, where I grew up, but I just became burnt out and I thought I dont want this to be my life anymore.

Now, were really settled. It would make me sad if I didnt bring my children up back home, learning the Maori language and doing kapa haka, and thats when we would think about going back. But what would we be going back to?

For many who have moved to Australia and elsewhere the fact remains; they are better off.

Theyre willing to pay for good workers over here, says surveyor Daniel Reed, 38, who moved to Townsville from a small North Island town with his wife and three young children last year.

Were putting $1,000 away a fortnight and we enjoy our life, were not scraping by or wondering what the grocery bill is. Leaving was hard, but their kids were already enjoying their new schools and lifestyles.

Theyll always be Kiwis, but they know the Australian national anthem. I dont know if they remember the New Zealand one.
Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd from St Peter's Basilica after being elected by the conclave on Thursday in Vatican City, Vatican. Photograph: Ivan Romano/Getty Images

Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the first pope from the US and is the new leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. Taking the name Leo XIV, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar, spent more than 20 years as a missionary in Peru. Having held senior roles in the Vatican, he is seen as a moderate who people hope will continue the work of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Here, people from around the world share their views on the new pope and their hopes for his papacy.

Im happy that someone could even further the reforms that Pope Francis started

Related: Pope Leo unhappy with US immigration policy and wont stay silent, brother says

It couldnt be a better choice. As someone who is from Ecuador and used to live in Peru for several years, Im happy that the new pope has strong ties with Latin America and Peru, specifically, which is a country that I love dearly and still miss. I was concerned that some extremist from the right or traditionalist could be chosen. I feel relieved that that didnt happen. Whether people are Catholic or not, the popes influence is real  its a force for change. Im happy that someone could even further the reforms that Pope Francis started; the church needs to keep getting closer to reality and help pushing for equality. Carol, 55, homemaker, US

He was the friendliest priest I had ever met

I am so excited that Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope! I met with him in October 2023 at a dinner party with his friends from Villanova [University]. I was nervous to speak with him, but being from Chicago I decided I would approach him. He was the friendliest priest I had ever met, conscientious and told us to call him Father Bob. I am still shaking knowing I shook hands and had dinner with him. He will be a wonderful pope. Jan, Pennsylvania, US

Hes a good reminder that man must build bridges

Pope Leo XIV follows in the footsteps of Pope Francis with this spirit of openness towards all peoples. At a time when some want to build walls, he is a good reminder that man must instead build bridges between men so that peace, unity and fraternity among peoples may prevail. Br Yohann, 52, Christian hermit, French Pyrenees

Ive glimpsed hope not only for Catholics, but for the world

Since Trumps election Ive been in a pretty big funk. I used to be a hardcore Catholic but I have a gay son and now consider myself to have semi fallen away. Seeing Pope Leo XIVs open, warm and very moved face for the first time I got so emotional and prayed along as I listened on the radio. My mom was born right outside of Chicago in Elgin, and I know shes cheering up in heaven. I loved Pope Francis  his humility and love for the poorest and most marginalized. I was very concerned that the new pontiff would be along the lines of Pope Benedict. What I have glimpsed is hope not only for Catholics but for the world. Mary Lee, Minnesota, US

He conveyed a sense of firmness, gentleness and, above all, honesty

Im evangelical, so I see the pope as a head of state, first of all, and only afterwards a spiritual leader. Being blind, Im not influenced by a persons appearance, but I rely a lot on the tone of voice. Pope Leo conveyed a sense of firmness, gentleness and, above all, honesty. I felt an immediate bond with him. Olga Baldassi, 73, retired secretary and translator, Milan, Italy

Hes Paddington Bear with a Chicago-style hotdog rather than a marmalade sandwich

I immediately looked up Leo XIII, as popes choose names very cannily, and I was pleased to be reminded he gave us Rerum Novarum, a quite significant encyclical which was part of his attempt to push the church into the modern world. That he is American but also Peruvian, and Chicagoan? Hes Paddington Bear with a Chicago-style hotdog rather than a marmalade sandwich. Im not a practicing Catholic now but with this choice the movement slowly forward will continue. Samadhi Metta Bexar, 54, caregiver, San Antonio, Texas

An inspired choice

I think he is an inspired choice but he is most definitely not the first American pope  Pope Francis has that honour. Pope Leo is certainly the first North American pope and the first from the US, but that country cannot define all of us who live in the rest of the Americas. Lynda Mair, 70, attorney, Kingston, Jamaica

His leadership could either amplify marginalised voices or reinforce Eurocentric priorities

As a gay man and atheist living in Brazil, I found myself strangely drowned and concerned by the election of a new pope. Prevosts election is undeniably symbolic. His familiarity with Latin Americas struggles, such as poverty, corruption, violence against LGBTQ+ people, could position him as a pragmatic leader.

From where I stand, an American pope inevitably sparks concerns about a likelihood of a cultural imperialism. The US already wields outsized geopolitical influence, and a pontiff from Chicago risks perceptions of aligning with western agendas. However, Prevosts dual Peruvian citizenship and focus on global issues such as climate change might mitigate this. For Brazils LGBTQ+ community, which navigates both local homophobia and global solidarity movements, his leadership could either amplify marginalised voices or reinforce Eurocentric priorities. For now, cautious optimism feels like the only rational response. Diego Onorio, 38, English teacher, Brazil

Learning that hes similar to Francis is a good sign

Im Jewish but know how influential the pope can be, not only with his coreligionists but in general. And learning that hes similar to Francis in leaning liberal and being critical of Trump is a good sign. Vincent, Los Angeles, US

Related: Five things to know about Pope Leo XIV

A pragmatic compromise candidate who can build bridges inside and outside the church

He was always among the second tier of papabile [candidates favoured to be pope] and so in that sense was not a complete surprise. But still, the reality of an American pope took some time to sink in.

I suspect the cardinals decided they wanted someone who can communicate effectively on a global basis. Leo XIV speaks numerous languages very well, has lived in South America for many years. The fact he is a native English speaker will be a big asset for the church at this time of political turmoil and rising tensions.



He appears pretty orthodox on most issues, which I think makes him a pragmatic compromise candidate who can build bridges inside and outside the church. Like many Catholics, at times I found Franciss pontificate a confusing and unpredictable one. Sometimes that was refreshing; sometimes it caused problems inside the church. I hope Leo XIV provides clarity and stability. Anonymous, 43, works in the media industry, Hertfordshire

Happy to see a moderate

Happy to see a moderate succeed our departed pope. While some of his views are more in line with the older traditions of the church, his desire to confront climate change and fight for refugees is good news! I hope he has chosen the name Leo remembering that Pope Leo rode out to meet an invading force and stopped them at the gate. Lewis, Australia

Hes already stated the most crucial issue: let us finally as a species embody our shared humanity

I already felt love in my heart upon seeing his face appear on the balcony. The power of his emotions so vividly in his eyes and face. His humility, spirit of service and commitment to those not in the centre very visible. Leo XIV has already stated the most crucial issue: building bridges, world peace, opening ourselves to welcoming all people, ie let us finally as a species embody our shared humanity. Ryumon H Baldoquin, Zen Buddhist priest, 72 Portugal

Its encouraging that hes an Augustinian and has taken a vow of poverty

Throughout the conclave, Id been really hoping for Cardinal Tagle and mostly focused on the favourites, so when his name was read out I was genuinely bewildered.

Related: Robert Francis Prevost: the moderate, good-humoured first US pope

I do have concerns: specifically as to his record on handling sex abuse cases, womens roles in the church and culture war issues like LGBTQ+ rights. But there are also points for excitement. What drew so many people my age to Pope Francis was his pastoral approach and his rejection of consumerism, and its encouraging that the new pope, as an Augustinian, has also taken a vow of poverty. It feels poignant in a world where, as a young person constantly exposed to advertising and consumer culture on social media, its easy to feel disillusioned.

Id like to see an affirmation of fiducia supplicans [the declaration that allows priests to bless same-sex couples] because I feel like its been watered down. But I also think its wise not to alienate conservatives too much. I think most people are ambivalent to Latin mass, and if some people enjoy it then it should be up to their local parish. To be honest, if a pope who had been known mainly for hardline conservatism was elected, Id be reluctantly considering leaving the church. But for now, Im carefully hopeful. Ella, 22, law student, Oxford

Im not religious but I began to cry

I cant recall ever in the last 40 years feeling this type of excitement for a new pope. I was on my way to work and as Pope Leo XIV walked out I got emotional and began to cry. Im not a devout Catholic, Im not religious but I was so deeply moved and I felt love and hope at that moment. I truly believe that God can do wonders through men. Men who possess an open heart and an open mind, men who show compassion and kindness towards others and who want nothing but the best for all humanity. If only all the world leaders possessed such qualities. Christian, Los Angeles, US
Interior Design Masters' Victoria Scott broke her mirror and had to put it in the skip. (BBC) (CREDIT LINE:BBC/DSP/Georgina Vincent)

What did you miss?

Interior Design Masters contestant Victoria Scott's luck ran out after she broke a mirror and had to throw it in a skip.

The latest episode of the BBC interior decorating show on Friday, 9 May, saw the five remaining contestants challenged to decorate corporate hospitality suites at Twickenham Rugby Stadium.

Scottish contestant Victoria, a 31-year-old project director from Glasgow, was sent home after the judges found fault with her striped room inspired by a vintage rugby shirt. But perhaps she was doomed for seven years of bad luck after breaking a mirror she hoped to repurpose for the back of her bar.

What, how, and why?

Alan Carr and Victoria Scott on Interior Design Masters. (BBC) (BBC)

Victoria's plan was to repurpose an old mirrored wardrobe door to become the back of her mirrored bar.

She admitted: "The bar area is gonna be quite labour intensive for my carpenter. I'm gonna have a mirrored back and they make it look expensive. This is the mirror that we're gonna cut down. It was once a wardrobe door, so I'm gonna be the back of a bar.

"I haven't cut glass before, but I've asked somebody to cut glass for me before and it worked."

Her carpenter told her: "I haven't cut glass before either. We'll score it with this." Scott breezed: "It'll be dead easy. As simple as that."

Read more: Interior Design Masters

But the mirror cracked at the sides. And as they tried to cut the broken edges off with a mallet her mirror it cracked through the middle

The carpenter told Victoria: "It's not really breaking particularly well." Victoria said: "Just keep smiling," Before giving up and declaring: "There's nothing else for it. No point crying over it."

And Victoria was seen chucking the mirror into the skip admitting: "It's game over."

What else happened on Interior Design Masters?

The Interior Design Masters final five were sent to Twickenham to decorate hospitality boxes.. (BBC) (BBC)

Scottish contestant Victoria Scott was sent home. She ended up on the sofa with DT teacher John from Stockport and giftware designer Craig from London.

Judge Michelle Ogundehin criticised Craig for forgetting rugby fans in his "wonderful" design.

But she told Victoria: "I felt I wanted to feel a bit more of you in that room. I wanted a bit more heart." Sending her home she added: "Victoria, I think you know already, because although you gave me some of that functionality. I just didn't get the mood."

Craig and John go through to the quarter finals with visual merchandising contestant Rita and homewears retailer Briony from Croydon.

Interior Design Masters continues on Wednesday, 14 May next week instead of Friday at the usual time of 8pm on BBC One.
Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide, Borrell said of Israeli ministers statements. Photograph: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

The former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has launched a blistering attack on Israel, accusing its government of committing genocide in Gaza and carrying out the largest ethnic-cleansing operation since the end of the second world war in order to create a splendid holiday destination.

Borrell, a former Spanish foreign minister who served as the EUs top diplomat from 2019 to 2024, and president of the European parliament from 2004 to 2007, also criticised the blocs failure to use all the means at its disposal to influence Israel, saying expressions of regret were simply not enough.

As he collected the Charles V European award in front of dignitaries including King Felipe in south-west Spain on Friday, Borrell said the horrors Israel had suffered in the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 could not justify the horrors it had subsequently inflicted on Gaza.

Were facing the largest ethnic cleansing operation since the end of the second world war in order to create a splendid holiday destination once all the millions of tonnes of rubble have been cleared from Gaza and the Palestinians have died or gone away, he said in a characteristically direct speech.

The former diplomat accused Israel of violating all the rules of conflict and of using the starvation of Gazas civilian population as a weapon of war.

Three times more explosive power has been dropped on Gaza than was used in the Hiroshima bomb, he said. And for months now, nothing has been getting into Gaza. Nothing: no water, no food, no electricity, no fuel, no medical services. Thats what [Benjamin] Netanyaus ministers have said and its what theyve done.

He added: We all know whats going on there, and weve all heard the objectives stated by Netanyaus ministers, which are clear declarations of genocidal intent. Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide.

Borrell went on to take Europe to task for shirking its moral and humanitarian responsibilities over Gaza.

Europe has the capacity and the means not only to protest against what is going on but also to influence [Israels] conduct, he said. But it is not doing so. We supply half the bombs that are falling on Gaza. If we really believe that too many people are dying, then the natural response would be to supply fewer weapons and to use the lever of the association agreement to demand that international humanitarian law is respected, instead of just lamenting that that isnt happening.

The veteran socialist politician also used his speech to reflect on current geopolitical realities, which he described as unprecedented. The post-1945 world order, he said, was being demolished by Vladimir Putin, a tyrant whose military failure in Ukraine has made him more dangerous, and by Donald Trump who he described as the master of chaos, who has gone from being an ally to an adversary.

The question facing Europe, he added, was how well it would cope without the protections long afforded by its old ally across the Atlantic.

In order to deal with this situation, we need to move from structural pacifism to strong rearmament, but we need to do that on a European scale if we want to avoid the waste that stirs the old national demons, said Borrell. We need to shift away from a comfortable and atavistic Atlanticism, which has seen us delegate our security to the US, to building full European sovereignty, which will also mean giving Europe a fiscal and security dimension.

Related: How Trumps walkaway diplomacy enabled Israels worst impulses

He said that Europe was no longer the great driver, or chronicler, of world history.

Today, history has become a product thats imported, Borrell added. History has been written by the Russian soldiers who marched towards Kyiv in the early hours of a February morning, and by the Ukrainians who resisted. History is being written by the US voters who put Mr Trump back in the White House.

History, he went on, was now the story of the technological competition between the US and China. In what appeared to be a swipe at Trump, Borrell added: The faces of history today are those of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. None of them is European. I know them  well, I know them a bit  and I can assure you that of those three, two are more intelligent than the third. The thing is the third one doesnt know it.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of an 87-year-old man following a robbery.

Scotland Yard said police were called to Goodchild Road, Manor House, north London, to a report of a robbery at about 5.53pm on Tuesday.

London Ambulance Service also attended the scene and the elderly man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said the man died on Thursday and his family have been informed.

A 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery, a racially aggravated public order offence and assault on police.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, from the Mets Specialist Crime North Unit and leading the investigation, said: This is a horrific incident which very sadly resulted in an innocent man dying.

His family are being supported by specialist officers.

At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. However, this is a fast-paced investigation and I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or witnessed what happened to please contact the police.

Assistant Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads local policing in the area, said: We know many people will be very concerned by what has happened and while we have a man in custody, local patrols have been stepped up.

If you have any concerns please do speak to those officers. A man has lost his life in a tragic way and our thoughts remain with his family.
Reality TV star Molly-Mae Hague has confirmed she is back in a relationship with boxer Tommy Fury.

Speaking in a new episode of her Prime Video docuseries, Behind It All Part II, the former Love Island contestant spoke candidly about her relationship with Fury since their split, saying that things are looking so much better.

The pair rose to fame after meeting on the ITV dating show Love Island in 2019 and they had a child together, Bambi, in January 2023.

In August, they announced that the relationship had ended on separate social media messages, with Fury saying he was heartbroken to share the news.

Molly-Mae Hague attending a special screening for the Prime Video documentary series, Molly-Mae: Behind It All, in London (James Manning/PA)

Speaking in the sixth episode of her docuseries, the influencer shared an update on her relationship which she described was worth saving.

She also shared her concerns for the future and that she does not want to rush anything with Fury but to take things slow.

Hague said: I love Tommy so much and I love our family so much that Im willing to ride the wave. And thats not something that everyone wants to do, but its something that Im willing to do because I want my family.

Hes just really different these days.

Obviously, he knows its the drink. Hes not drank now for what, four months?

Molly-Mae Hague attending the 78th British Academy Film Awards in London (Ian West/PA)

I dont think the drinks gone away forever. Do I think that drink could still be a problem for us, potentially? Yeah, but I think the break-up showed Tommy that Im serious. Hes just really different these days.

She also spoke about a holiday with Fury and Bambi which Mae described as picture perfect.

Dubai was picture perfect, like it was just the best trip ever. It literally just felt like everything I wanted it to be, and more. It was exactly what we needed. All the noise of everyone, just like it just switched off everyones opinions. Nothing mattered. It was just like us in our bubble.

Things are looking so much better for us. Im gonna start spending more time at Tommys house, keeping things slow and not rushing anything.

But, as always, I always say I dont know what the future holds. I dont think its gonna be a plain sailing future. I dont, thats just me being honest. I think were still gonna have bumps.

The dream is still the same that, you know, well get to a place one day when we will all be happy in that house together and have more children, hopefully, and just have a really nice, happy life together. Thats all Ive ever wanted for us.

I dont want to get too excited, but Im getting glimmers of what I always wanted, which is, my family.

I know that we have got something completely worth saving but you never know whats around the corner.

Since being on Love Island, Hague has amassed 8.5 million Instagram followers and, in 2024, launched her own clothing brand, Maebe.

Behind It All Part II follows from Part I which was released in January on Prime Video.
The mothers of two children who were patients of a now-suspended orthopaedic surgeon are seeking a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a representative said.

Ms Kuldeep Stohr, who specialises in paediatric surgery, was suspended earlier this year from her role at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge amid concerns about care that was below the expected standard.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) said the cases of around 700 patients are in scope of an ongoing review.

The trust said in March that the care of almost 700 patients who have undergone planned surgical procedures would be reviewed, as well as an initial 100 adults and paediatric orthopaedic trauma cases to determine whether there are any concerns about the emergency treatment provided by this surgeon.

Tammy Harrison, 12, who was left in awful pain following surgery by now-suspended childrens surgeon Ms Kuldeep Stohr. (Family photo/ PA)

Radd Seiger, who is representing the families of several of the children who were operated on by Ms Stohr, said families feel the reviews and an investigation into what was known and when are being controlled by the hospital.

He said they have no faith in the process.

The trust said a rigorous process was in place and that all cases would be fully reviewed by an external panel of orthopaedic surgeons.

Mr Seiger said the mothers of two of the children  Lynn Harrison, the mother of 12-year-old Tammy Harrison, and Nicola Muhlhausen, the mother of seven-year-old Oliver Muhlhausen  are seeking a meeting with the Health Secretary.

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

Lawyers said a review noted technical problems with her hip surgery, with screws inserted in the wrong place leaving her in pain.

Mr Seiger has written to Mr Streeting on their behalf and is awaiting a response.

He expressed concern in his message to the Health Secretary that issues about Ms Stohrs clinical practice had been raised with CUH as early as 2015.

Ms Stohrs clinical practice was later restricted in 2024 as a precautionary measure and she was suspended earlier this year following a review.

Mr Seiger said he wants Mr Streeting to intervene immediately and order an entirely independent investigation, free from any connection to the Trust.

Tammy Harrison, 12, was one of the first to receive findings of an independent investigation into her care. (Family photo/ PA)

He said he wants the investigation to look at what happened in 2015 and to see if systemic reform is needed.

Mr Seiger said he wants accountability and for care and support for the affected children to be guaranteed.

The families are in crisis, they dont know who to turn to, said Mr Seiger. The Health Secretary must act now.

Dr Susan Broster, chief medical officer at Cambridge University Hospitals, said: We apologise unreservedly to the patients and families we have let down.

A rigorous process is in place to ensure all cases are fully reviewed by an external panel of orthopaedic surgeons, led by Andrew Kennedy KC and including James Hunter, the national clinical lead for paediatric trauma and orthopaedics at NHS England.

There are around 700 patients in scope of the review and very sadly it is identifying some cases where the level of care has been below the expected standard.

An independent investigation into missed opportunities for identifying and addressing this issue sooner is also being carried out by Verita, a specialist investigations company.

We will ensure that the findings and recommendations are implemented in full.

We expect the initial findings of the review by the Autumn.

The trust said the terms of reference for the review and investigation are published on its website.

Both NHS England and the ICB (integrated care board) are represented on the Oversight Board which we have established to oversee this issue, Dr Broster continued.

We are committed to getting to the answers for patients and families.

Completing the individual clinical reviews will take time.

Where the review has identified that harm has occurred, patients and families will be offered in-person meetings with a senior clinician, to go through the review findings of their case and to allow families to ask any questions as well as receiving a letter.

A dedicated Patient and Family Liaison Team is in place to support patients and families, the trust said.

The dedicated helpline number is 0808 175 6331 or by the email CUH.helpline@nhs.net

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: This is a shocking case and our thoughts are with all of those affected.

Families and patients should expect the highest quality care and communication at all times and we are working with NHS England to take action as evidence emerges from the review by Cambridge University Hospitals.

It is vital that patients and their families continue to be supported throughout the process so that they can be provided with the answers they deserve.
A number of flights are understood to have been cancelled - KENA BETANCUR

Newark Airport has suffered its second power outage in two weeks, losing contact with planes for 90 seconds.

An equipment outage at the air traffic control facility which guides aircraft in and out of the New Jersey airport occurred at around 3.55 am, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

It follows an outage on April 28, when screens and communication systems went dark for between a minute to 90 seconds at the same airport.

Following the incident, an air traffic control worker warned travellers to avoid Newark at all costs and United Airlines cut dozens of daily flights from the airport to protect customers.

There was a telecommunications outage that impacted communications and radar display at Philadelphia Tracon Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace, the FAA said in a statement.

A number of flights are understood to have been cancelled. It is unclear what specifically caused either blackout.

Glitch in the system

The FAA previously appeared to suggest that antiquated air traffic control system could be to blame for the initial outage.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said on Friday: There was a glitch in the system this morning, especially at Newark Airport.

As you all know, I spoke to the department of transportation, that glitch was caused by the same telecoms and software issues that were raised last week.

Everything went back online after the brief outage, and there was no operational impact.

The department of transportation and the FAA are working to address this technical issue tonight, to prevent further outages, as well as install new fibre from New York airport to Philadelphia, and the goal is to have the totality of this work done by the end of the summer.

Air traffic controllers took time off

The FAA said last week that some air traffic controllers at Newark had taken time off to recover from the stress of multiple recent outages.

While we cannot quickly replace them due to this highly specialised profession, we continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace, it said.

The FAA added: When staffing or equipment issues occur, the FAA will ensure safety by slowing the rate of arrivals into the airport.

We will keep the public updated as we work through these issues. The FAA will continue to be transparent with the public about the status of Newark and every airport.

The port authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement it had invested billions to modernise Newark Liberty, but those improvements depend on a fully staffed and modern federal air traffic system.

We continue to urge the FAA to address ongoing staffing shortages and accelerate long-overdue technology upgrades that continue to cause delays in the nations busiest air corridor, it added.
Credit: Reuters

For many in Britain watching Donald Trumps trade deal announcement this week, the most striking takeaway was not, perhaps, what Trump said but the sight of a familiar figure standing over his left shoulder.

Flanking the most powerful man in the world along with vice-president JD Vance was Britains own Lord Mandelson, the man who once described himself as the eternal comeback kid.

Love him or loathe him, its impossible to argue with Lord Mandelsons assessment of his career.

Following resignations from the Cabinet in 1998 and 2001 over controversies involving wealthy friends, he went to Brussels as a trade commissioner before Gordon Brown unexpectedly brought him back into government via a peerage. Even a friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (which he has since said he deeply regrets) and an ill-judged stay aboard an oligarchs yacht, failed to keep him down for long, and he now luxuriates in the title and trappings of His Majestys Ambassador to the United States of America.

Here are the secrets to his success, according to some of those who know him best.

Sharp political instincts

Hes a genius, theres no other word for it, says one Labour veteran who knows Mandelson well.

He has authority, experience, insight and judgement, he is really clever and his advice is always worth listening to.

Authority and experience can only be gained over a period of time, but even as a young man Mandelson, now 71, had perhaps the sharpest political instincts of anyone of his generation.

He is a brilliant strategist, says his colleague, he can look at an issue, work out where he wants to get to and then work out how he can get there.

All politicians think they can do that but he is at a different level.

Lord Mandelson earned his nickname The Prince of Darkness as Tony Blairs New Labour spin doctor - Paul Faith

Master spinner

Arguably the original spin doctor, the former TV producer was one of the architects of New Labour, working from 1985 as the partys director of communications before becoming an MP in 1992.

The New Labour rebrand was partly credited to him, as well as convincing the public that ditching the Clause IV commitment to nationalisation was proof that the party was modernising, rather than abandoning its core values.

He had already earned his reputation as the Prince of Darkness when Tony Blair made him Business Secretary in his first Cabinet (before he had to resign over a secret 373,000 house loan from his colleague Geoffrey Robinson).

Ability to read the room

It was another of his qualities that made Blair gamble on bringing him back to the Cabinet just 10 months later, as Northern Ireland Secretary: his ability to read a room and think on his feet.

The reviews of his job (before he had to resign over the Hinduja passport affair) were mixed: the Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson praised him for approaching the peace process fairly and with an even hand, but Sinn Fein said he had been an impediment to progress.

Even Gordon Brown felt he could not do without him, despite their spectacular falling out over Mandelsons decision to back Blair for the party leadership, and in 2008 he gave him his old job back as Business Secretary and made him First Secretary of State  effectively deputy prime minister.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a man who, when he once asked Brown for 10p to ring a friend from a phone box, was told: Have 20p  then you can ring them both.

Despite falling out spectacularly over his decision to back Tony Blair, Gordon Brown couldnt govern without Mandelson and gave him a peerage - Gareth Fuller

The contrast between Volodymyr Zelenskys disastrous Oval Office bust-up with Trump and Vance in February and Lord Mandelsons quiet but highly successful wooing of the president, demonstrates his ability to identify the way the political wind is blowing and harness, rather than fight it.

On paper Lord Mandelsons politics are far removed from Trump, whom he once described as a danger to the world and little short of a white nationalist and racist. But to win and succeed at the most prestigious job in British diplomacy he had to adapt to the new political climate in DC. And, as ever, he did just that.

Peerless charm

He was, of course, helped by an extraordinary ability to charm those he needs to impress to get his way.

Its a pretty impressive thing, said his former colleague, and it helps him to get things done.

President George W Bush called him Silvertongue  which inadvertently but rather appropriately made him sound like a Bond villain  and Lord Mandelson has clearly been able to work his charm on Trump, coming across in the Oval Office like a seasoned adviser to the president rather than a political opponent who had been publicly lambasting him six years earlier.

His undeniable natural talents have now been supplemented by 40 years of experience, including his stints as business secretary and European trade commissioner, which means he is taken seriously all around the world, his friend says, with good relationships in so many capitals.

Relentless networking

His international reputation speaks to another of his innate abilities, networking. Lord Mandelson is a born networker, who uses every lunch, every meeting and every drinks reception to bolster his bulging contacts book.

His ability to forge long-lasting friendships was part of the reason he got his current job, as Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers most senior aide, was instrumental in persuading the Prime Minister to send him to Washington.

Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers most senior aide, was instrumental in persuading the Prime Minister to make Mandelson the Ambassador to the United States - Carl Court/ Getty

Lord Mandelson had identified McSweeney as a rising star and helped him behind the scenes with his Labour Together project to install Sir Keir as leader once Jeremy Corbyn had been dispatched, and McSweeney returned the favour once he got behind a desk in Downing Street.

He had never been a diplomat, but Sir Keir put him in charge of an 800-strong team in Washington where he has been busily working on the trade deal announced this week.

Britain is not the only country hoping he can use his unique skills to pull off an altogether more important coup: persuading Trump to remain the guarantor of security in Europe.
George Galloway, pictured with his wife in Red Square, described Vladimir Putins Victory Day parade as moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling

George Galloway has appeared in Moscow for Vladimir Putins Victory Day celebrations, days after flying to Iran to collect an award named after a dead Hamas leader.

The leader of the hard-Left Workers Party of Britain travelled to Tehran this week to collect an award in honour of Ismail Haniyeh, the assassinated political leader of Hamas, whom the former MP praised as a martyr.

He boasted during the visit that his most treasured possession was Haniyehs passport.

Mr Galloway, 70, then travelled to Russia, where he witnessed Putins military show of strength, which he said was moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling.

He was given the special Martyr Ismail Haniyeh award at a media festival in the Iranian capital.

Haniyeh was the political leader of the terror group at the time of the October 7 attacks on Israel. The International Criminal Court (ICC) intended to apply for a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but the proceedings were dropped following Haniyehs assassination in Tehran, which has been blamed on Israel.

Elected as the head of Hamass political bureau in 2017, Haniyeh was accused by Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, of being criminally responsible for the killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians in attacks perpetrated by Hamas, in particular its military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, and other armed groups on 7 October 2023.

At the ceremony, Mr Galloway said in his acceptance speech, captured on video and posted online: I am honoured to receive this award. I actually hold in my safe the passport of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh because when we arrived with one of our convoys to break the siege on Gaza [in 2009], he had promised me a Palestinian passport but they had run out of Palestinian passports. So he gave me his own personal passport and it is one of my most treasured possessions.

Credit: YouTube/ Sobh Festival

Mr Galloway went on to thank the Iranian leadership for their steadfastness in support of the Palestinian people, adding: The truth is when Palestine is finally free, Iran will be able to take its place in the panoply of heroes who made it possible.

He was presented with the award at the Iranian state media festival in recognition of his outspoken defence of Palestine.

On Friday, Mr Galloway appeared in Moscow, posting a picture of himself on X in Red Square with his fourth wife Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, who is 30 years his junior. Included with the photograph was the caption, moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling.

Mr Galloway posted this image, describing Victory Day in Moscow as inspiring

The Russian presidents Victory Day parade has been condemned for using the 80th anniversary VE Day to justify his ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It was attended by more than 20 foreign leaders, including Xi Jinping of China, and with troop contingents from Egypt and Burkina Faso.

One legal expert said that although Hamas was a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, Mr Galloways praise for Haniyeh, one of its senior leaders, was not in breach of terrorism laws.

But the timing of the visit is also particularly awkward with tensions heightened between Iran and the UK following the arrests last Saturday of four Iranian nationals over an alleged plot to attack Israels embassy in London.

Credit: Reuters

Mr Galloway picked up his award on May 5, two days after counter-terrorism police arrested the alleged Iranian terrorist cell at four locations in the UK.

Stephen Brisley, from Bridgend in South Wales, whose sister Lianne Sharabi and two nieces Yahel, 13, and Noiya, 16, were killed on Kibbutz Beeri on October 7, said: Its deeply disturbing to see George Galloway praising a former leader of Hamas. This is a cruel blow to the grieving families of those murdered, missing, or held hostage by Hamas.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: George Galloways behaviour is appalling. Hamas is a banned terrorist organisation responsible for repressing its citizens in Gaza and murdering innocent civilians. It is despicable that Galloway has expressed admiration for a senior member of their leadership and that he has travelled to Iran, a state hostile to the West, to do so.

The fact he has then topped it off with a visit to Vladimir Putins Russia, another murderous regime, says all you need to know about George Galloway.

Mr Galloway was unavailable for comment.

There is no suggestion that Mr Galloway supports Hamass terrorist activities. In a debate at Oxford University in 2012, he previously said: I dont even like Hamas. I would never have voted for Hamas.

Mr Galloway is due to host a talk show from Moscow on Sunday evening which will be broadcast on X and other social media platforms.
Graphic showing police, Iranian flag, a gun and a blacked-out illustration of a man

Three weeks before special forces stormed the British hideouts of a suspected Iranian terror plot, Vahid Beheshti received an unexpected visit from anti-terror police.

The exiled Iranian journalist, who has been living in a one-man protest camp outside the Foreign Office for more than two years, braced himself for an argument about street sleeping.

But that was not what the officers wanted to talk about. Instead, they gave him and his wife an exhaustive four-hour briefing on security precautions.

I asked them, do you know anything that we dont know? They didnt say anything directly, but they said the level of the risk has been changed, and we need to update you, Beheshti tells The Telegraph. Then I saw the news this weekend and realised what it was about.

Five men, including four Iranian nationals, were arrested at locations across England last weekend after the security services uncovered a suspected plot to attack the Israeli embassy in Kensington, believed to have been orchestrated by Irans notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

Counter-terror police arrested a further three Iranian men in London as part of a separate operation. They were detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, which authorises officers to apprehend those suspected of foreign power threat activity. A fourth man was arrested in connection with that investigation late on Friday.

For Beheshti, who had to flee Iran in 1999, these have been moments of grim vindication.

Since 2023, he has been protesting outside the Foreign Office for Britain to proscribe the IRGC  which has been implicated in the murder and kidnapping of Iranian dissidents and targeting of journalists abroad  as a terrorist organisation.

And last weeks raids have super-charged that debate.

For two years, Vahid Beheshti has been protesting outside the Foreign Office with the aim of getting Britain to proscribe the IRGC - Eddie Mulholland

The minister and the spy

Members of the Iranian diaspora, Jewish community leaders, and politicians have been demanding the IRGC be listed as a terrorist group for years.

An organisation that plots attacks on foreign embassies and the kidnapping and murder of dissidents does not, they say, deserve to be treated like a legitimate arm of a state and should instead be blacklisted along with the likes of ISIS.

But it is not a one-sided debate.

They are answered by others  including diplomats, ministers and even other Iranian exiles  who fret that proscription would have marginal operational benefit but carry massive diplomatic costs and complicated legal implications.

Rishi Sunaks government considered but ultimately shied away from proscription. Before being elected, Labour promised to go ahead with it but has since fallen silent on the issue.

Only six countries  Bahrain, Canada, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and the United States  have fully banned the IRGC. Israel itself has only outlawed part of the IRGC, but not the entire Corps.

Thats because, as in Britain, there are questions around the world over the operational benefits of an official ban.

Current legislation did not hinder Saturdays security operation, after all. The group of five men arrested last Saturday were detained under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, regardless of the IRGCs designation.

A symbolic step

So who is right? Should Britain proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organisation? Would such a designation make any operational difference? If so, would the repercussions be worth the cost? Is it worth doing, or is it simply political virtue signalling?

A billboard in Iran commemorating late members of the IRGC. From l-r: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hezbollahs executive council Hashem Safieddine, Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar - Shutterstock

It is a bit of both, says Alistair Burt, a former Conservative Foreign Office minister (with responsibility for the Middle East) who had the job of formally expelling Irans ambassador to Britain after a mob stormed the British embassy in Tehran in 2011.

The practical impact is very little. But just because it is a symbolic step does not mean it has no value, he says.

There does come a time when you have to say enough is enough. If were not taking some action how do you defend yourself and persuade hostile states that they cannot act like that?

It is tricky. We wrestled with it and decided on balance it was better not to proscribe. But maybe the new Government will take a different view.

Away from the Foreign Office, significant voices argue strongly in favour of a ban.

I think they should have been proscribed years ago, because they were so active particularly in the pursuit of Iranian dissidentsand their attempts to kidnap and kill and cause mayhem, says Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of MI6.

You will find people in the Foreign Office who will argue that because of our diplomatic relations with the Iranians, our wish for dialogue with them, we should marginalise [a ban].

Kill and cause mayhem

The IRGC began as a pro-revolutionary militia in 1979 to balance the power of the regular Iranian armed forces.

Today, it is a parallel military organisation with its own land, air, and naval branches, an auxiliary militia for crushing internal dissent and an overseas operations wing. It is so powerful that many observers consider it to now be the Islamic Republics true armed force.

The IRGC is also believed to run a vast business empire that gives it an effective stranglehold over much of the Iranian economy.

It is its relatively small expeditionary branch, the Quds force, that holds the kidnapping, killing and mayhem portfolio.

The Quds force, which is separate to Irans official ministry of intelligence and security, has responsibility for curating relations with Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis of Yemen and various militant groups in Iraq.

In the Middle East it has been accused of supplying those Iraqi groups with the shaped explosive charges that accounted for some 20 per cent of American casualties during the US occupation of the country in the 2000s, running the Iranian intervention in the Syrian civil war and coordinating Hezbollahs various clashes with Israel from Lebanon. Israel lists the Quds, but not the wider IRGC, as a terrorist group.

Beyond the Middle East, the force is believed to have two main targets: Iranian dissidents who could threaten the regime, and Israeli officials and Jewish civilians the IRGC view as footsoldiers of what the Iranian regime calls the Zionist regime.

Its most notorious operation was carried out in 1994, when a suicide bomber drove a van loaded with fertilizer-based explosives into the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, killing 86. Argentinian investigators concluded a South American branch of Hezbollah carried out the attack, but that it was planned by Iran.

Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Quds force at the time, is still wanted in connection with the attack.

Former Quds commander Ahmad Vahidi is still wanted in connection with the attack on the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires in 1994 - AFP/Getty

The threat to Britain

In recent years, Irans threat in the UK has grown.

Scotland Yard and MI5 say they have disrupted 20 Iranian-connected terror plots in Britain since 2022, many of them apparently run through proxies hired from the criminal underworld.

Not all of those plots have been made public, but at least some of them appear to involve kidnappings or attempted assassinations. They include the hostile reconnaissance of Iran International, a Persian-language television station based in west London.

In March last year, Pouria Zeraati, a journalist with Iran International, was stabbed outside his London home.

Champions of proscription make two arguments. The first symbolic  it sends a firm message to Tehran  and the second operational.

For me it is a political issue, says Sir Richard. But I think there is a practical element. You can do various things if it is a proscribed organisation  like you can ban them. So if you were to identify anybody who was a member of the organisation in the UK or working for them... you could prosecute them under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Other hostile states, like Russia, tend to post their spies at embassies under diplomatic cover and would face expulsion at worst  although the assets they hire, like the Bulgarians recently convicted of espionage, have no such cover.

There is unlikely to be a formal intelligence station at the Iranian embassy in London, given the scrutiny the mission is almost certainly under. Instead, suspected Iranian operations in Britain have generally been subcontracted out to organised crime groups.

For example, Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, a Chechen, was convicted of staking out Iran International. Two Romanians were charged in connection with the stabbing of Zeraati.

Because of this, proscription could have a significant deterrent effect, in that it would deter any criminals from working with the IRGC, or at least compel them significantly to increase the price of contracts to compensate for the risk of lengthy jail time and the full might of MI5 being turned against their organisations.

That would in turn raise costs for the IRGC, or even force them to use their own people on major operations, risking exposure of their intelligence networks. That appears to be what happened last weekend.

Beheshti: We are constantly sending the wrong signal to the regime, which is that we are weak - Eddie Mulholland

For Beheshti, however, it is the signal that is the most important element. We are constantly sending the wrong signal to the regime, which is that we are weak; we are indifferent. And they are therefore emboldened to escalate terrorist activities inside the UK, he says.

We cannot change the regimes nature. The regime only understands one language and that is force.

Why Britain wont ban

The issue is, there would inevitably be a response to blacklisting the IRGC. And this is where things get complicated.

The first retaliatory action the Iranians would likely take is to shut the British embassy in Tehran, depriving the UK of a presence on the ground, direct access to Iranian officials and the ability to provide consular assistance to UK nationals.

Critics say the Foreign Office is institutionally allergic to closing embassies  valuing them for their own sake and overestimating the value they add in our digitally connected era. Given the heavy restrictions UK diplomats in Iran operate under in any case, would it really make much difference to give our outpost up?

Burt is sceptical that, if it came to the crunch, ministers minded to ban the IRGC would be swayed by Foreign Office resistance. The institution is there to serve the elected government, he argues.

Rather, he says, the issue is that it creates a new problem.

There are times when it is appropriate. We did it in 2011. But once you cut off diplomatic relations, all you do is start looking for an opportunity to reopen them, Burt says, referring back to his expulsion of the Iranian ambassador in 2011.

Nicholas Hopton, who was the first British ambassador to return to Tehran in 2015, four years after it was stormed, acknowledges the difficulty in balancing security and diplomacy.

But he strongly disputes the idea that embassies are out of date.

Its not a case of discounting what the IRGC has done or not, but it is about recognition of the benefits of engaging with Iran by having an embassy in Tehran, he says.

Yes, albeit that the embassy is very constrained, it can make an impact. [Iran] is a hostile environment where the security scrutiny and pressures are very intense and real on the embassy team.

But an embassy can still have an impact through engaging with bits of the regime that we do talk to. We make sure that the UKs policies are better understood, that we understand better the motives behind Iranian policy and action, and that unlike the US or Israel or Saudi Arabia until recently, we have that channel [of communication open].

Certainly when I was there, we did have an impact. We held the Iranians to account on their commitments under the JCPOA [the original 2015 nuclear deal], we talked about human rights and Iran and its proxies behaviour in the region. We pushed hard for the release of UK nationals being held illegally. And we tried to build up trade. But that was a different time.

There is another complication, Hopton points out: The IRGC is in reality the national army of the Iranian state.

Can the rules used against the likes of Al-Qaeda and the IRA really be applied against a sovereign state  including its armed forces?

Should we also list Russias SVR and GRU intelligence services as terrorist groups because of their involvement in overseas assassinations? That, acknowledges Sir Richard, is an interesting point to raise.

And what of operations run by MOIS, the official, non-IRGC intelligence outfit?

Thousands of Iranians do their national service in the IRGC every year, and never get any closer to terrorism than checking papers on road-side checkpoints.

Smearing them with the life-long black mark of terrorism seems disproportionate, and has in the past made it difficult for genuine refugees. Even the IRGC, argue some commentators, is not monolithic.

Britains current answer to the dilemma is to sanction specific, individual officers rather than the entire organisation. Other options include proscribing the Quds force alone, or perhaps to find a third way  a legal means to achieve the operational benefits of proscription, without the complications.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis has promised to review the UKs counter-terrorism framework in relation to how it could be applied against Iran - House of Commons/PA Wire

There are indications this third way may be the Governments preferred choice. Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister, told parliament this week that the Government has asked Jonathan Hall KC, the Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation and of Terrorism Legislation, to review the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to modern day state threats, such as those from Iran.

This will include specific consideration to the design of a proscription mechanism for state and state-linked bodies, providing more flexibility than is offered under the existing powers, Jarvis said.

Beheshti has no truck for this kind of nuance, however.

Two years ago, the IRGC lured a close friend and fellow exile to Iraq, spirited him across the border, and hanged him, he says. The Iranian diaspora is so thoroughly infiltrated that he is careful about anyone he does not know.

Both Conservative and Labour governments have, he adds, shown the same naivety in the face of that kind of threat.

I dont know whats going on in the Foreign Office, he says. First, they [the Government] make lots of promises, but as soon as they get to Foreign Office, they change their mind.

I dont understand whats going on in this building, but the moment they get in there, they change their mind, and something stops them, and thats why Ive been here for 804 days.
Pro-Palestinian protesters took over part of a central library in New York

Columbia University has suspended 65 students after the campus library was stormed by pro-Palestinian protesters.

More than 80 people are understood to have been involved in the incident on Wednesday, including at least 33 people who are not students at the university.

Masked protesters were seen in standing on tables, beating drums and unfurling banners reading strike for Gaza and Liberated zone in videos shared on social media.

One person was filmed being handcuffed by a campus public safety officer. New York police eventually arrived in riot gear to clear the demonstration.

A total of 80 protesters were arrested, authorities said, and those involved could be face up to three months in jail. Columbia alumni and students from other universities were among those detained.

Demonstrators wearing masks protest in the main library on the New York campus of Columbia University - Johanna HA

Two campus public safety officers were injured as the demonstrators forced their way into the Butler Library, where students were revising ahead of their final exams.

Protesters were demanding an amnesty for students facing disciplinary action after last summers protests.

They also demanded the release of activists facing deportation including Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, who was arrested and detained by ICE agents in March and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, said those on student visas are facing deportation. Students involved in similar demonstrations have previously been suspended had their degrees revoked.

Mahmoud Khalil was detained by ICE in March

The university, one of the most prestigious in the US, called police after protesters refused to leave. The university took around five hours to call in the police report, according to Fox News.

In spite of the delay, the Trump administration praised the universitys acting president for meeting the moment with fortitude and conviction.

The demonstration came just days before final exams at the university - Derek French/UPI/Shutterstock

The move came in stark contrast to the universitys handling of pro-Palestinian protests in the summer, when a pro-Gaza encampment remained in place for more than six weeks.

Claire Shipman, Columbias acting president, said she called in the police because the protesters posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety.

Ms Shipman said she arrived at the library to see a public safety officer being wheeled out on a stretcher and another being bandaged up.

She said: As I left hours later, I walked through the reading room, one of the many jewels of Butler Library, and I saw it defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans.

Let me also make clear, our administration spent substantial time working to defuse the situation in multiple ways, through Public Safety and Delegate visits to the students, scenes I witnessed first-hand.

The students were told they simply needed to identify themselves and then leave, but most refused.

The 2024 encampment on the Columbia University campus - Stefan Jeremiah

Four student journalists who were reporting on the protest for campus media were initially suspended but the action was later lifted.

Ms Shipman took over the post after Minouche Shafik, the former president of Columbia University, was forced to quit amid criticism of her handling of the summer protests.

Columbia declined to comment on what form disciplinary action might take.

Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa. This administration will not tolerate non-citizens causing mayhem on our college campuses, the state department said.

Columbias response to the latest protests comes against a backdrop of the Trump administration threatening to withhold 300 million ($400 million) in federal grants if it failed to tackle on-campus antisemitism.

The New York Police Department was contacted for comment.

Additional reporting by Meera Navlakha.
Farthing Downs, on the green belt to the south of London. While specific locations have yet to be named, city hall is looking for low-quality green belt land near transport links. Photograph: UrbanImages/Alamy

Sadiq Khan is announcing plans to build on parts of Londons green belt, in a dramatic shift in housing policy aimed at tackling the most profound housing crisis in the capitals history.

In a major speech on Friday, the mayor of London is expected to say the scale of the challenge, which could need about 1m new homes built in the next decade, requires a break from longstanding taboos.

It marks the first time city hall will support the strategic release of low-quality or inaccessible green belt land near transport links in order to provide hundreds of thousands of new affordable homes.

The status quo is wrong, out-of date, and simply unsustainable, Khan will say. Development on carefully chosen parts of the green belt  done in the right way  would allow us to unlock hundreds of thousands of good-quality new homes for Londoners.

As mayor, Im not willing to ignore such a prospect just because it might be politically difficult  not when the life chances of the next generation of Londoners are on the line.

London currently builds about 35,000 homes each year, less than half of the 88,000 homes Khan said the city needed to meet demand annually. The mayor reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising building homes on brownfield sites, but said this alone will not be enough to meet our needs.

This policy will form part of a wider consultation on the next London Plan, which will set out Khans vision for how the capital will develop in the next 20-25 years. City hall has commissioned a city-wide green belt review, in line with the governments requirements, to explore all options for finding enough land to meet housing need across the capital.

Khan said this announcement did not contradict his self-proclaimed achievement of being the greenest mayor London has ever had, because he would increase biodiversity and the amount of land that was genuinely green and accessible while building on the green belt.

His proposals have already received support from the political and housing sector. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, said the government welcomed Khans bold proposal, which rises to the challenge to tackle Londons housing crisis. She added: We cannot end the housing crisis and build the 1.5m homes we need without London being ambitious in its approach.

London councils also welcomed the plan, as did the chief executive of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey, who said the policy would protect Londoners from the eye-watering cost of renting that had forced many into poverty and homelessness.

Despite this, nature campaigners have told Khan that his plans should not remove precious parks and green spaces from people already living in areas that lack them.

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the countryside charity CPRE, said: The answer [to the housing crisis] isnt build on local parks, playing fields and farmland, its to transform the market and hold developers to account with ambitious and enforceable targets for social and genuinely affordable homes.

New developments should contain nature areas and green spaces, Kate Ashbrook, the general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said, while Shaun Spiers of Green Alliance said poor-quality green belt could be converted to high-quality green space, which urban areas often lacked.

Khan acknowledged the controversy, but called on Londoners to keep an open mind and engage with the evidence. We have young professionals stuck living in their childhood bedrooms for years on end; Londoners having to endure cold, damp accommodation that isnt fit for human habitation; couples reluctantly moving out of the capital to start a family; and London primary schools closing because young families have been priced out of the area.

It breaks my heart. The damage the housing crisis is causing is pervasive and profound. We simply cannot let it continue.
Jeanine Pirro at CPAC in Maryland in 2019. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Donald Trump said on Thursday he would name Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former local prosecutor, to be the interim US attorney for the District of Columbia after a key Republican senator said he would not support the candidate initially selected for the job.

Pirro, who spent more than a decade as district attorney of Westchester county, New York, is a diehard Trump supporter and supporter of his baseless claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Dominion Voting Systems cited false statements she made on air in their lawsuit against the network.

The move to select Pirro to lead the office that prosecutes felonies and national security-related cases in the capital pulled Trump out of a fraught situation after he was forced to withdraw the nomination of Ed Martin, who has been serving as the interim US attorney since the start of Trumps second term in January.

Interim US attorneys can serve for 120 days until they need to be confirmed permanently by the Senate. If they do not win confirmation, or if the president has not named a successor, the vacancy is filled by the judges who sit on the bench in federal district court in Washington.

Related: Trump pick for Washington US attorney made derogatory and racist comments

The chief US district judge in Washington is James Boasberg, who Trump sees as a judicial adversary, after he blocked the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members and then opened a contempt inquiry after his injunction was flouted.

Trump had been left in a bind with Martin, who was seen to have hurt his chances for confirmation by being overly aggressive with threats to criminally prosecute Trumps political adversaries, including the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, people familiar with the matter said.

Even if that behavior endeared him to Trumps wider base, Senate Republicans recoiled at Martins threat to prosecute Schumer, the people said, because senators have a history of protecting their own and because they worried about a Democratic appointee acting similarly in the future. This week, the Republican North Carolina senator Thom Tillis said he would not support Martins nomination, dooming his chances of approval by a key committee.

Martin also lacked allies at the justice department, where senior officials privately grew exasperated at his social media pronouncements that they felt made his US attorneys office appear dysfunctional, and were not there to advocate on his behalf as his confirmation loomed.

For instance, Martin had quickly made clear he intended to use the role to defend Trump, writing on social media that the office would act as President Trumps [sic] lawyers and saying he would not hire graduates of schools that practiced the diversity policies the president has vilified.

NPR also reported on ties between Martin and Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, a January 6 rioter whom federal prosecutors called a Nazi sympathizer. Martin had told the Senate I am not close with him, despite appearing with Hale-Cusanelli at events and praising him.

Trump announced Martins replacement on his social network Truth Social, praising Pirro as in a class by herself. She is the latest in a string of Fox News figures tapped by Trump for government posts, a list that includes the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. The president also said Martin would move to the justice department as the new director of the weaponization working group, associate deputy attorney general, and pardon attorney.

Pirro agreed on Thursday to take over the position and start unwinding her lucrative Fox News career at short notice, two people familiar with the discussions said, saving Trump from the ignominy of Martins nomination sinking in the Senate and then having Boasberg choose a replacement.

She has not held a law enforcement job since she stepped down two decades ago as a Republican district attorney in Westchester county, outside New York City, , to pursue failed bids for higher office before becoming a major Fox News host with her own show and co-host duties on The Five.

But with Pirro agreeing to take the job, Trump now has a longtime friend and reliable line into one of the most important and powerful federal prosecutors offices at the justice department, which itself is being led in large part by his own personal defense lawyers.

Pirro has known Trump for decades, and their relationship put her at personal risk by repeating Trumps false 2020 election fraud. Dominion Voting Systems named her in its defamation suit against Fox, which settled and acknowledged her statements were false.

But Trump had also been an ally to Pirro and her family. In the final hours of his first term, Trump pardoned Albert Pirro, Pirros former husband and notably his one-time lawyer and lobbyist, who had been convicted on charges of fraud and tax evasion in 2000.

Pirro earned her law degree from Albany Law School before becoming a local prosecutor in New York who worked on domestic violence cases. She has been floated for various jobs in the Trump administration, including attorney general. ABC News earlier reported she was under consideration for the role.

Robert Mackey contributed reporting

 This article was amended on 8 May 2025 because an earlier version referred to Ed Martin serving as interim US attorney since February, rather than January of this year.
Support for Ukraine is the absolute focus of Britain and its northern European allies, Sir Keir Starmer said as he attended a military summit in Norway that coincided with Russias Victory Day celebrations.

The Prime Minister met counterparts at a Joint Expeditionary Forces (JEF) leaders gathering in Oslo on Friday, during which Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke virtually.

Following the summit, Sir Keir said the UK-led groups utmost priority was defending the values hard-won during the Second World War and continuing to stand behind Kyiv.

Speaking to broadcasters, the Prime Minister was asked what his message would be to Russia and Beijing as Chinese President Xi Jinping attended events in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Sir Keir said: The message of leaders here is very, very clear, and that is that were focused on Ukraine.

(President) Zelensky came in virtually to part of that meeting.

And so thats where our absolute focus is  with Ukraine, defending the values that yesterday at VE Day we were remembering and commemorating, that were hard-won in the Second World War.

The JEF is a military coalition of mostly northern and eastern European nations including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the Baltic states and the Netherlands which has been operational since 2018.

The summit came as the UK announced a fresh wave of sanctions targeting President Vladimir Putins shadow fleet of vessels carrying cargo in defiance of existing restrictions on oil and gas exports.

Officials have said the Government will take action against up to 100 oil tankers that have been transporting more than 24 billion US dollars (18 billion) worth of cargo since last year.

Sir Keir Starmer (left) meets Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on the Norwegian coastguard vessel Jan Mayen in Oslo (Alistair Grant/PA)

Ukrainian President Mr Zelensky dialled in virtually to the meeting in Oslo City Hall on Friday to announce he would be hosting leaders of the British and French-led coalition of the willing on Saturday.

Number 10 would not confirm whether Sir Keir planned to attend the meeting.

Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans to enforce a potential peace in Kyiv, but prospects for a truce remain distant as Moscow continues to resist calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire backed by the US.

The Russian president declared a 72-hour pause in fighting on Thursday to coincide with Victory Day, but officials in Kyiv said his forces have continued offensive operations while the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of breaching the unilateral ceasefire.

Following Fridays summit, the Prime Minister met crew on board a Royal Navy frigate moored in Oslos port before exchanging warm words with Norways premier Jonas Gahr Store as he was welcomed onto a Norwegian coastguard vessel.

In a strong show of support before holding bilateral talks, the Norwegian prime minister suggested the UK was perhaps our best friend while Sir Keir said relations between the two countries were stronger than possibly ever.

Members of the Royal Navy salute Sir Keir Starmer on the HMS St Albans (Alistair Grant/PA)

Sir Keir said: We are leaders that think alike, that are politically aligned and work well together. We are colleagues and we are friends.

In a readout of the meeting between the two leaders later issued by Number 10, a spokesperson said they discussed joint efforts between the UK and Norway to protect critical subsea infrastructure to safeguard economic security and working people at home.

They also spoke about ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

It comes as critics argue the Labour Government will need to decide between siding with Europe or the US following the agreement of a trade deal with the White House on Thursday while Britain continues to seek to strengthen economic ties with Brussels.

Asked whether forgoing deeper ties with the bloc would be the price the UK pays for its pact with America, Sir Keir insisted his administration would be resetting that relationship as well.

Thats because we will be relentless in wealth creation, driving our economy forward and making sure that working people across the country feel better-off, he said.
Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen as long as they stopped attacking US ships in the Red Sea - YAHYA ARHAB/Shutterstock

The US will only respond to Houthi attacks on Israel that affect American citizens, the countrys new ambassador has suggested.

In comments that have prompted concern about a cooling of relations between the two allies, Mike Huckabee told Israeli TV that US forces would take action against the Iran-backed terror group if any of the 700,000 Americans living in the Jewish state got hurt.

It comes after Donald Trump stunned Benjamin Netanyahus government this week by announcing a ceasefire with the Houthis, so long as they stopped attacking US ships.

The Yemen-based group promptly said it would continue firing missiles and drones at Israel.

The deal, about which Israel received no forewarning, emerged in a particularly sensitive week after a Houthi ballistic missile penetrated Israels air defences last Sunday and hit Ben Gurion airport.

The strike near the main terminal building, which injured eight, prompted foreign airlines to suspend flights, putting Israels economy under further pressure.

Mike Huckabee told Israeli TV: If they hurt an American, then it becomes our business - ABIR SULTAN/Shutterstock

Donald Trump has so far been considered the most pro-Israeli US president of all time in the Jewish state.

However, recent reports have suggested that he is growing impatient with the lack of progress in Gaza, amid the increased ascendancy of the isolationist faction within his administration, which is more closely aligned with his Maga base.

In an interview with Israels Channel 12 news, Mr Huckabee said: Heres what I can tell you, because I had a conversation with both the president and the vice president last night. There are 700,000 Americans living in Israel. If the Houthis want to continue doing things to Israel and they hurt an American, then it becomes our business.

Asked to clarify if that meant the US would only intervene if Americans were hurt, he responded: Its a matter of what becomes our immediate business.

It follows Mr Trumps ambiguous answer earlier this week to the question of how the US would respond to further attacks on Israel: Ill discuss that if something happens.

In his interview, the full version of which will be screened this weekend, Mr Huckabee also sought to address criticism about Americas bilateral deal with the Houthis.

The United States isnt required to get permission from Israel to make some type of arrangement that would get the Houthis from firing on our ships, he said.

Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, was hit by a ballistic missile launch from Houthis in Yemen on May 4 - EPN/Newscom/Avalon

The deal with Iran has prompted concern in Israels corridors of power that Mr Trump may seek a deal on the far more important Iranian nuclear issue that, similarly, fails to take Israels interests into account.

Mr Trump begins a tour of the Middle East next Tuesday, which, according to the current schedule, will include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, but not Israel.

It comes amid reports that the White House is applying heavy pressure on Mr Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza by next week.

Commentators have suggested that Mr Trump would only visit Israel on the back of positive news.

However, the prime minister is caught between ultra-nationalist coalition partners who are demanding an expansion of the war against Hamas  if needs be, at the expense of the hostages  and a refusal by the terror group to hand over any further hostages without an agreement to end the war for good.

Under the new military plan, Israel will, for the first time, seek to seize and hold all territory in Gaza, while ordering the civilian population to a southern holding zone.

The government is believed to be in the process of signing a contract with a US-backed firm of contractors to distribute aid in a new way so that it does not benefit Hamas.

A leaked memo from the group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, reportedly suggests that it will only be able to provide aid to 60 per cent of the civilian population in the short term, assuming none leave the territory.
10 May 2025 at 1:01 am

Weight loss jabs could help slash alcohol intake in obese people by around two thirds, according to a study.

It is thought the drugs help curb cravings for alcohol, experts said, although more research is needed.

Weight loss jabs, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by reducing food cravings.

The study, led by academics in Ireland and Saudi Arabia, included 262 obese people who had been prescribed liraglutide or semaglutide, which are available under the brand names Saxenda and Wegovy respectively.

They were categorised based on the amount of alcohol they consumed each week prior to starting treatment.

The groups included non-drinkers, rare drinkers who had less than 10 units a week, and regular drinkers, who reported having 10 or more units each week.

Some 188 of the 262 patients were followed up for an average of four months.

Average alcohol consumption fell from 11.3 units a week  about six or seven pints of beer  to 4.3 units a week, or roughly two pints of beer, after four months on the drugs.

Among regular drinkers, intake decreased by 68%, from 23.2 units a week to 7.8 units a week.

Professor Carel le Roux, of University College Dublin, said: The exact mechanism of how GLP-1 analogues reduce alcohol intake is still being investigated but it is thought to involve curbing cravings for alcohol that arise in subcortical areas of the brain that are not under conscious control.

Thus, patients report the effects are effortless.

The findings, which are being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, suggest a potential therapeutic role for weight loss jabs in people who are obese and regularly drink alcohol, researchers said.

However, they stressed larger trials are needed to validate the results.

Prof Le Roux added: GLP-1 analogues have been shown treat obesity and reduce the risk of multiple obesity-related complications.

Now, the beneficial effects beyond obesity, such as on alcohol intake, are being actively studied, with some promising results.
Protests were held in January over changes to the winter fuel payment - Neil Hall/Neil Hall/

Rachel Reeves told rebel MPs that Britains welfare system had to be reformed after reports she was discussing changes to winter fuel payments.

The Chancellor has provoked anger among Labour MPs after her insistence upon pushing through cuts to disability benefits and her refusal to back down on her decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance.

More than 40 MPs wrote to the Prime Minister earlier this week to demand that she reassess the disability benefits changes. Many expressed their anger at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Wednesday.

But on Friday, Ms Reeves said the MPs know that the system needs reform.

It was reported that she was involved in talks on whether the Government should change its policies on winter fuel payments.

Her decision to stop 10 million people from receiving the benefit of up to 300 was blamed for Labours poor performance against Reform UK in local elections a week ago.

MPs and activists said the decision to means-test the payment came up repeatedly on the doorstep.

HuffPost UK reported that Ms Reeves was involved in talks about possible changes in recent days.

However, there were no details about how the policy could be changed, and Downing Street insisted there were no plans to end means-testing or raise the 11,500 income threshold below which people can receive the payment.

Meanwhile, 42 backbenchers said the planned welfare cuts were impossible to support in a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, and represented the biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne ushered in the years of austerity.

The cuts, proposed by the Government in a green paper in March 2025, would see a tightening of eligibility criteria for the personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit in England.

Restricting PIP would cut benefits for about 800,000 people, while the sickness-related element of Universal Credit is also set to be cut.

Asked what her message to concerned Labour MPs was, the Ms Reeves said: I dont think anybody, including Labour MPs and members, think that the current welfare system created by the Conservative Party is working today.

They know that the system needs reform. We do need to reform how the welfare system works if were going to grow our economy.

Defending the Governments plans  which are aimed at encouraging more working-age people on benefits back into jobs  she added: But crucially, if were going to lift people out of poverty and give more people the chance to fulfil their potential, the focus has got to be on supporting people into work.

Of course, if you cant work the welfare state must always be there for you, and with this Government it will be.

But there are many people that are trapped on benefits that are desperate to work, that have been cut out of opportunity for too long. That will change under this Government.

The letter from Labour backbenchers said the Government correctly diagnosed the problem of a broken benefits system and a lack of job opportunities for those who are able to work, but described its solution as the wrong medicine.

Ministers therefore need to delay any decisions until all the assessments have been published into the impact the cuts will have on employment, health and increased demand for health and social care, they said, adding: Without a change in direction, the green paper will be impossible to support.

Signatories include several vocal critics of Sir Keirs leadership, including Rachael Maskell and Diane Abbott, along with MPs such as Brian Leishman and Emma Lewell-Buck who called for a change of direction after last weeks local elections.

Those elections, in which Labour suffered a series of defeats at local polls and lost the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform UK by just six votes, prompted criticism of some policies pursued by Sir Keir.

Downing Street meanwhile suggested there was no likelihood of a change in direction on the decision to means-test the winter fuel payment for pensioners.

As we have repeatedly said this week, the position on winter fuel has not changed, a No 10 spokesman said.
FG Trade Latin/istockphoto

For most middle-class families in the 90s, back-to-school shopping was a ritual filled with excitement, joy, and perhaps a bit of parental dread (school supplies werent exactly cheap, even back then). Kids would eagerly flip through glossy catalogs, picking out their favorite markers to adorn their binders with, while parents tried to balance the budget. The thrill of picking out brand new supplies for a new school year made the end of summer feel both bittersweet and tinged with anticipation. From gel pens to fresh new kicks, here are 10 items that showcase the nostalgic vibes of back-to-school-shopping in the 90s.

1. Jansport Backpacks

Jansport

If you grew up on the East Coast, then you simply had to rock a Jansport book bag. This was mandatory. As the ultimate symbol of 90s cool, these trusty bags werent just extra durable; they also came in just about every color. But real ones know the classic black with leather bottom was the right flex. High five if yours was also covered in punk band pins from Hot Topic.

3. Trapper Keepers

eBay

Popular in both the 80s and 90s, these thick binders by Mead featured snap closures and all kinds of designs and colors (think neon splatter or racing stripes). Plus, they held absolutely everything: homework, notes, even secret cootie catchers.

4. Lisa Frank School Supplies

eBay

If your notebook wasnt covered in psychedelic, neon dolphins or glittery pandas, were you even trying? Lisa Frank turned mundane school supplies into collectibles, with folders so blindingly-bright they practically glowed in the dark.

5. Shoes From Payless

jentakespictures/istockphoto

Ah, yes  good ol Payless Shoe Source was the go-to spot for affordable kicks. Beloved by middle-class families in America, our local Payless was known for its BOGO (buy one get one free) deals, meaning I would always get to walk away with two pairs of light-up Sketchers  one for school, one for running around and causing mayhem in the neighborhood.

6. Graphing Calculators

Shanestillz/istockphoto

No back-to-school haul was complete without the king of classroom tech: The clunky TI-83. At nearly $100 (a small fortune back then), parents treated this graphing calculator like a major investment, and it low-key really was. Math teachers demanded them, but students quickly discovered their true purpose: Spelling out b00bs in low-res pixels.

7. Gel Pens

Oleksii Halutva/istockphoto

Teachers loathed these smudgy metallic inks, but that didnt stop us from rewriting entire notes just to alternate between hot pink and metallic blue. Oh, and the girl who owned the 36-color set, complete with glitter, neon, and mystery scent options? She might as well have been voted the Queen of Queens (I grew up in Queens, New York, in case that wasnt clear).

8. Lunchables and Thermos Lunches

ddthrifting / ebay

Rich kids brought Lunchables (mini pizzas or nachos, obviously), while the rest of us had to settle for bologna sandwiches in a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or Batman lunchbox with a side of soggy cafeteria fries and milk. It was rough out in these streets.

9. Flip-Out Pencil Cases

u/trebleclefanie via Reddit.com

Remember the pencil cases that came with zippers, snap buttons, and even built-in sharpeners? Those were pretty rad. I had this same exact style! writes one Redditor. Wow. This brought back memories.

10. North Face Jackets

coldsnowstorm/istockphoto

For those who grew up in the cold, staying warm had to be done in style, meaning the Nuptse puffer from North Face was a must-have. Parents mightve balked at the price, but once that first frost hit, these jackets became the unofficial uniform of school hallways, at least in New York. The rich kids got theirs fresh from the mall; the rest of us scored last years model at outlet stores or hand-me-downs from older siblings.

2. New Clothes

SDI Productions/istockphoto

Malls and discount stores would buzz with shoppers hunting for deals right before the new school year. For many kids, back-to-school clothes were a rare chance to refresh their wardrobe and perhaps sneak in a new pair (or two) of sneakers.

For a deeper dive into 1990s culture, dont miss 15 Vintage 1990s Ads That Are Pure Nostalgia. You should also check out 15 Items From the 90s That Could Still Be Valuable and 10 Collectible 90s Toys That Increased in Value.



The post 10 School Items Every Middle-Class Kid Had in the 90s appeared first on Wealth Gang.
Airlines come and go, but some vanish so quietly they feel like fever dreams. For every Delta or United that dominates the skies, theres a fleet of long-gone carriers that promised luxury, speed, or quirky charmthen disappeared into the clouds. This is your boarding pass to aviations forgotten past.

National AirlinesCeased in 1980

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

National was flying sunny routes from Florida long before the low-cost boom. In the 1970s, its slogan was Fly Me, which raised more than a few eyebrows. Pan Am swallowed the airline in 1980 to strengthen domestic service. Spoiler alert: it didnt save Pan Am, either.

Braniff International AirwaysCeased in 1982

Credit: flickr

Braniff turned planes into flying fashion statements with bold colors, Alexander Calder paint jobs, and even Pucci-designed uniforms. Unfortunately, style didnt equal survival. High debt and rapid expansion brought it crashing down in 1982. At least it looked fabulous on the way out.

People Express AirlinesCeased in 1987

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This airline was the original budget but bold experience. Fares were dirt cheap, and passengers paid for bags on the plane with actual cash. It grew too fast, couldnt keep up with costs, and folded into Continental in 1987. The seats were basic, but the idea was brilliant.

Eastern Air LinesCeased in 1991

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Once one of the Big Four U.S. airlines, Eastern was massiveuntil it wasnt. Labor disputes, mismanagement, and fierce competition grounded it by 1991. They tried a reboot in the 2010s, but lightning didnt strike twice. Their old logo still triggers deep nostalgia among East Coasters.

Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)  Ceased in 1991

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Pan Am was the airlineglobal, glamorous, and iconic. Its globe logo and flights that circled the world defined jet-set luxury. Unfortunately, oil crises, terrorism fears, and poor financial decisions chipped away until it folded in 1991. Still, that blue tail fin lives on in pop culture.

ValuJet AirlinesCeased in 1997

Credit: Wikipedia

ValuJet grew fast in the mid-1990s but suffered a devastating crash in 1996 that exposed serious safety issues. The airline rebranded as AirTran in 1997 to shed the tarnished name. Its a tragic lesson in what happens when rapid growth outruns regulation and operational readiness.

Tower AirCeased in 2000

Credit: Facebook

Tower Air was the go-to for cheap international flights and charters in the 1990s. It had a no-frills reputationand not in a good way. Maintenance complaints and chaotic service took their toll, and the airline shut down in 2000. Its been called the Greyhound of the skies.

Trans World Airlines (TWA)  Ceased in 2001

Credit: Wikipedia

TWA was a titan for decades and the gateway to Europe for many Americans. It had serious flair with Howard Hughes in its history and glamorous flight attendants in vintage ads. However, years of financial turmoil led to an American Airlines takeover in 2001. Now its just a terminal name.

America West AirlinesCeased in 2005

Credit: Wikipedia

Headquartered in Phoenix, America West was scrappy, regional, and proudly cost-conscious. After 9/11, it merged with U.S. Airways in 2005yet oddly, its CEO ran the new combined airline. So technically it vanished, but its leadership took over the bigger brand.

Aloha AirlinesCeased in 2008

Credit: flickr

Based in Honolulu, Aloha served the Hawaiian Islands for over 60 years before high fuel prices and low-cost competitors grounded it in 2008. It was beloved locallyno frills, just friendly. Aloha's demise still stings for longtime island travelers who miss the charm and the lack of baggage fees.

Northwest AirlinesCeased in 2008

Credit: Wikipedia

A juggernaut of transpacific routes, Northwest was a Detroit-Minneapolis powerhouse that flew deep into Asia. It had a strong presence, distinctive livery, and even a love-hate relationship with its DC-9s. Delta absorbed it in 2008; by 2010, the name disappeared into the clouds for good.

Midwest AirlinesCeased in 2010

Credit: flickr

This Milwaukee-based airline knew its nichewide leather seats and warm chocolate chip cookies. Midwest offered first-class comfort at economy prices. Mergers with Frontier spelled the end in 2010, and the cookie perks went with it. A small loss for aviation, a big loss for in-flight dessert fans.

Continental AirlinesCeased in 2010

Credit: Wikipedia

Continental was a big name with deep roots, dating back to the 1930s, and eventually merged with United Airlines in 2010. The name disappeared, but frequent flyers still grumble about preferring Continentals service over what came next. RIP globe tail logo.

AirTran AirwaysCeased in 2014

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

AirTran offered low-cost fares with personality, and its Atlanta hub kept Delta on its toes. After a rough start as ValuJet, it rebranded and thriveduntil Southwest snapped it up in 2014. The peanut snacks and business class seats were nice, but the livery? Lets just say it was memorable.

US AirwaysCeased in 2015

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

US Airways was a merger magnet: Piedmont, PSA, America Westit hoarded them all. After a bumpy run, it finally merged into American Airlines in 2015. Its legacy remains that unforgettable Miracle on the Hudson landing in 2009. It was not a bad way to earn a place in history before disappearing.
A clear signposting of problematic passengers could make flying a whole lot more tolerable

Whichever genius at Japan Airlines came up with the idea of displaying where children are on the planes seat plan  so that passengers can avoid sitting near them while booking  deserves an award.

Who would possibly take issue with such a sensible policy? Someone did, of course. Sofia Kalimeridou, a mom-fluencer on social media, sparked debate when she posted on Instagram about the topic  from her business-class seat, no less  describing the airlines policy as very disappointing. She stated: Theyre basically pre-framing millions of people that those are the areas to be avoided and that being sat behind a baby can make your flight uncomfortable.

News flash: being on a long-haul flight in close proximity to a squealing, kicking infant is indisputably uncomfortable. Planes are already unpleasant spaces. Shouldnt we have the freedom of information (especially in business class) to limit that discomfort as far as possible?

Flying long-haul flights with a toddler is not for the faint of heart

I say this as the mother of a nearly-three-year-old, who just flew 11 hours with him from Mauritius to Italy. Not exactly out of choice, I should add  I think flying long-haul with toddlers borders on child abuse and should be avoided wherever possible  we happened to be emigrating. Its not fair to expect them, with all that energy and curiosity, to be strapped to a chair for that length of time, and of course its going to induce tantrums.

My point is, the last sort of passenger I would have wanted us to be seated next to would have been one who is particularly disdainful of children (I used to be one of them)  like, say, someone with a thumping hangover or important work to attend to. I dont want to be glared at and tutted at. They dont want to be near us. Japan Airliness policy is surely a win-win for all involved.

Personally, however, I think we could go a lot farther. Id like to see other characteristics flagged on airline seat maps

Seat recliners

Ive been vocal on the topic in the past, and its a divisive one. But I shall die on this hill: if everyone reclined their seats on long-haul flights (except for at meal times), domino-style, then we would all still have the same amount of space but would be titled in a more comfortable position and not bolt upright for hours on end.

The problem comes when one person reclines and the passenger behind refuses to follow suit. I would like these psychopaths (the ones who would rather sit like a plank all through a night flight than press that button) to be visible so that I can avoid sitting in front of them and thus annoying them when I recline. Given this system doesnt exist, I always, always book the very last seat in a row so as to lean back guilt-free.

Stag/hen parties

Are you plotting a voyage to Alicante during which you will be dressed in an insane outfit with a gaggle of mates, drunk at 7am? Good for you, but do identify yourselves, please, at the booking stage, so that I can keep my distance.

Light sleepers

I happen to be (or was, before I became a mother) the sort of gold-standard passenger who, on a long flight, would pop a Valium with a glass of wine and conk out in the window seat for the duration of the flight without ever having to wake my neighbours in the middle and aisle seats. If, on the other hand, youre a light sleeper with a tendency to leave your seat a lot, or someone with a small bladder, and youve chosen the window spot, then I sure as hell dont want to be next to you, playing jack-in-the-box every time you need to get up.

Members of the plus-size community

Ive put that politely. Personally I dont happen to be irked by those with a rotund composition, especially since in some cases its not their fault, but plenty of others abhor the issue of fleshy spillover. From the perspective of a larger passenger, however, an empty chair beside them allows more room, so possibly a plus-size alert would be another win-win seating solution?

Small-talk enthusiasts

This is a good example of how such a system could operate more like a dating app than a discrimination-fest. Some people genuinely enjoy chatting away to strangers when they travel. Others (myself included) would rather sit next to a chronic farter as long as they remained silent. Wouldnt it be nice to be able to choose?

Truly ghastly individuals

There is a whole class of humans who deserve a giant red flag attached to their booking (convicted paedophiles, armrest-hoggers, passengers who take off their socks, etc) but I fear this would only play into their hands. Because they, too, would surely be rewarded with an empty row on any non-full flight; and unlike families with small children and overweight individuals, they arent worthy of more space.

I could go on, of course, and its arguably a slippery slope, but I would certainly pay more for a carrier which, like Japan Airlines, identifies certain categories of passengers on a seat map. I wonder how many concur. And please, I implore you, if you disagree that children should be marked for others booking a flight, explain to me in the comments why.

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A debate is heating up over private real estate listings, which can mean only select buyers get first dibs on in-demand homes. - Chet Strange/Bloomberg/Getty Images

When a deal to buy Caitlin Bigelows San Francisco condo fell through last month, she felt relief, rather than disappointment.

Bigelow was working with a real estate agent she trusted from Compass who had suggested she first list her home as a Compass Private Exclusive. That meant her home wouldnt immediately be publicly advertised on home-search websites like Zillow or Redfin. Instead, the listing would be announced internally at Compass, one of Americas largest real estate brokerages, meaning only buyers represented by other Compass agents knew the home was for sale.

Bigelow had received two offers from this method  including one for $2.1 million, which was $95,000 over her list price.

It was the magic number she had in mind, and she quickly accepted. At first, she was thrilled. But after having time to think, she began to feel a sense of unease.

Only two people had seen (the home) and we seemed to be hitting our magic number already, Bigelow told CNN. The longer I sat with that, the more I felt like, well, if two people saw it and we hit the number, what if 50 people saw it?

Bigelows question gets at the heart of a dispute roiling the residential real estate industry. After a landmark settlement last year by the industrys powerful trade association, the National Association of Realtors, the battle over private and exclusive listings has become the latest fight about the way homes are bought and sold in America.

What is a private listing?

There are legitimate reasons why someone might list their home out of the public eye, Summer Goralik, a real estate compliance consultant, told CNN. For example, celebrities and other public figures may not want to advertise their homes address or photos.

But with US homebuyer demand significantly outstripping supply over the last few years, private listings across the market could mean only select buyers get first dibs on in-demand homes.

Although Compass is not the only brokerage that lists homes off-market, the practice has become a signature part of how its agents market home listings. And it has prompted backlash: Other leaders in the residential real estate industry argue the practice is exclusionary and threatens to further chip away at consumer trust in real estate agents.

If a portion of inventory is removed and only shown to a small group of people, by definition, thats an exclusionary behavior thats going to hurt others, said Leo Pareja, the CEO of eXp Realty, another one of Americas largest real estate brokerages.

He said his company only handles private transactions when its required in special situations: Fewer than 1,000 transactions for us last year were private exclusives out of 350,000.

Critics also say the private listing strategy unfairly pushes home sellers to make deals with buyers represented by other Compass agents, resulting in the brokerage collecting a commission from both sides of the transaction.

Compass has denied the accusation that it pushes sellers into private transactions. Instead, the company said many sellers choose to list their homes privately before sharing their homes more widely on the multiple listing service (MLS), which is a database that agents from all companies use to share home listings with each other. Most MLS listings are automatically picked up by homebuying websites like Zillow and Redfin.

Home sellers deserve choice in how their home is marketed, a Compass spokesperson wrote to CNN in a statement. They should be able to choose the best strategy for selling their homes, whether that means starting with marketing privately or publicly before listing in the MLS or listing on the MLS from day one.

Compass said many home sellers choose to list their homes privately first before sharing their listing more widely for a variety of reasons. - David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Compass often employs its 3-phased marketing strategy for home sellers. It begins with a private listing to test a homes sales price. Then, during the coming soon phase, listings are showcased on Compass website to generate buyer interest before they officially hit the market. The final phase is to go live on all platforms, meaning sellers list their home online for all real estate agents and home shoppers.

As of mid-February, approximately 35% of all Compass listings were listed as Compass Private Exclusive or Compass Coming Soon, CEO Robert Reffkin said on Compass most recent earnings call.

Compass said 94% of its private listings last year ultimately sold on the public market.

If this plan to market off the MLS is literally driven by client need, then 100% that should be the journey, Goralik said. But on the flip side, if its not driven by the seller, and the listing pitch is about why your property needs to be off the MLS before that discussion even comes up that just dirties the water all the way through.

An increasingly fragmented housing market where buyers can only find certain homes for sale depending on their agent hurts both buyers and sellers, Goralik told CNN.

Then that wasnt the sellers choice. That wasnt even directed by the seller, she added. I just think thats going backwards. Thats not moving toward the future.

CEOs trade barbs

Last week, Ryan Schneider, CEO of Anywhere Real Estate, which includes real estate companies such as Coldwell Banker, Century 21 and Sothebys International Realty, weighed in on the dispute on his companys earnings call last week.

Anywhere Real Estate is aggressively advocating for transparency and the broad and public distribution of nearly all listings because we believe it is best for buyers to see all the inventory, and most critically, it helps sellers get the highest price for their home, he said on Tuesday.

In April, though, Corcoran, another subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate, rolled out Corcoran Reserve, a private listing network for sellers who want to prioritize greater privacy and discretion.

We are advocating for the broad distribution of listings in almost all cases, and we dont believe that this self-serving debate has the best interests of the consumer at heart, Anywhere Real Estate said in a statement to CNN a few weeks after Corcoran Reserve was launched.

Douglas Elliman, a separate brokerage, plans to roll out its own private listing network, though the company told CNN that it is just one of multiple selling strategies for home sellers.

Pareja has been vocal in his opposition of private listings.

If I were being a pure capitalist, I would be on the other side of the argument, because I would be able to hoard inventory. But Im not. Instead, Im saying, Hey guys, this is not good for the consumer, he told CNN.

Compass pushes back

Last month, Zillow and Redfin  two of the most popular platforms for home sale searches  announced new rules that complicate Compass strategy.

While it doesnt directly prohibit private listings, Zillow said that a home listing that is marketed to consumers must be published to Zillow within one day, or it wont be published at all. Beginning in late May, coming soon listings that are advertised on other real estate websites will need to be published on Zillow within 24 hours.

Redfin announced a similar policy shortly afterward.

Reffkin has defended the strategy of keeping listings off platforms like Zillow and Redfin to start. Both sites publicly show price cut history and how many days homes sit on the market  two data points the Compass CEO has argued hurt a homes sales price.

Compass has achieved everything it has without banning homeowners who dont give us their listings, one of Reffkins recent social media posts read. Why cant Zillow and Redfin do that same?

Zillow announced a new rule last month banning some forms of private and exclusive listings from being shown on its home search engine. - Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Compass has pushed back on the notion that its private listings are designed to increase the chance that the brokerage would collect the commission on both sides of a home transaction; rather, they say they are following the rules set by NAR.

In 2020, NAR implemented a rule for its 1.5 million members that requires agents to put a listing on the MLS within one day after marketing it, meaning that Compass agents had not been allowed to broadcast private listings to other brokerages without triggering the one-day rule.

In March, NAR amended its rule, now allowing sellers to list their homes in more private ways, including the option to delay the public marketing of homes on the MLS.

This new listing option is simply another choice for consumers who want greater control over how and where their property is marketed, a statement from NAR said.

On Thursday, Reffkin announced a new plan to share Compass private listings with other brokerages while still following NARs rules: Agents from all brokerages can now come into any Compass office and view the brokerages private listings on a one-on-one basis in a physical book, Reffkin said.

Bigelow, the seller in San Francisco, said she didnt feel pushed by her Compass real estate agent into the decision to privately list her home. Her agent told her it would be a good way to test out listing her home above $2 million, since there were very few comparable homes in the area that had sold at that price. She agreed with the strategy. Plus, her agent told her that Compass private listings are blasted out to all Compass agents, which could improve her homes visibility.

But, in hindsight, she now believes accepting an offer before her homes listing was available to the public was a mistake.

After her condos initial private buyer fell through, Bigelow worked with the same Compass real estate agent to list her home on the MLS and Zillow. Six days and around 60 showings later, Bigelow had multiple offers and ultimately netted $100,000 more than she would have received had the initial private offer gone through.

I think that the off-market exclusive ultimately is bad for people and good for Compass, Bigelow said.

However, if she could do it all again, Bigelow said she would still begin her home sales process by listing privately.

I would still publish off-market, because then all the Compass agents get notified about it. I just wouldnt accept any offers during that period, she said.

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Get AncestryDNA for just $39. (Uwe Krejci via Getty Images)

I'm going to clue you in on a fact I discovered a few years ago: My great-grandparents were first cousins.

Oh, and my mother has three secret siblings.

Uncovering the secrets of your past is downright fun, especially when you discover two uncles no one in the family has ever heard of. But aside from lost family members, there is so much you can learn from genealogy sites like Ancestry, and if you've been holding off on getting your own DNA test, now's the time to pick one up  the brand is offering a whopping 61% off AncestryDNA kits.

This is the lowest price we've seen on AncestryDNA kits since Cyber Monday 2024. Here's why you need one.

AncestryDNA AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit $99 Normally priced at $99, you can get an AncestryDNA kit for the lowest price we've ever seen right now. For just $39, you can send in your DNA and learn a bevy of secrets, including hidden relatives and the exact regions your family hails from. $99 at Amazon

Aside from connecting you with people in the Ancestry network that you're related to, the AncestryDNA kit breaks down your genetic makeup and shows you exactly where your relatives were originally from. I grew up thinking my grandfather was a quarter Cherokee  but turns out that's just family lore, according to Ancestry. My genes are 100% European.

You can see exactly where my ancestors are from on the AncestryDNA map. (Ancestry / Kate Ellsworth)

Once your DNA gets analyzed (which only takes a few short weeks), you can view a map that highlights each area that comprises your genetic makeup. My map says I'm 47% English & Northwestern European, and once I click into the UK, it breaks down what that means for me, and which of my relatives are most closely related to my English heritage.

After I tested my own DNA, I sent a kit to my brother and made him complete it as well, curious how similar our DNA would be. Turns out, pretty similar  the site knew immediately that he was my brother and noted that we have about 45% - 52% shared DNA. But while we we were so similar, his breakdown is actually pretty different from mine. If you've got a sibling, parent, or child, and you're curious about how similar you are genetically, it's a fun exercise I highly recommend.

Turns out me and my brother are pretty similar  who knew? (Ancestry / Kate Ellsworth)

I took my AncestryDNA test in 2019, and in the five years since, the site has continued to deepen. Every year or so, the site adds even more regions to its database, meaning your results are often changing, or becoming just a little more sharp. In 2020, the database said I was 70% Northern European  in 2025, I'm 47% England, 37% Scotland, 9% Ireland... etc.

If you're looking to dig deep into your own family tree, you'll want to subscribe to an Ancestry membership, which costs a bit more  $50 a month  which I don't recommend. I built a family tree and had an incredible time digging into my family's roots, but I did so with a free 30-day membership trial and managed to fit my entire research journey into that window.

But $39 for an AncestryDNA kit? That matches the lowest price I've ever seen. If you need a great gift for a parent or grandparent, or you're just curious about your own genetic makeup, this deal is definitely worth it.

If you have any questions about AncestryDNA  or you just wanna chat about your favorite products you think we should check out  send us an email at shopping.editors@aol.com and we'll write you back!
Artists impression of 2M1510 (AB) b, a planet in a perpendicular orbit around two brown dwarfs. (CREDIT: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

A planet circling at a sharp 90-degree angle to the orbits of its two host stars has now been confirmed. This discovery challenges long-standing ideas about how planets form and orbit in the cosmos. And it shows that space still holds many surprises.

The planetnamed 2M1510 (AB) bmoves around a pair of brown dwarfs, which are celestial objects heavier than gas giants but not quite stars. These brown dwarfs form what is known as an eclipsing binary. That means they orbit each other in such a way that they pass in front of one another from Earth's viewpoint. Whats truly remarkable is that this planets orbit is nearly perpendicular to the orbital plane of its stars.

This rare planetary system is only the second known to contain an eclipsing pair of brown dwarfs. It's also the first known to host a planet that follows a polar orbit, spinning like a wheel around the axis formed by the motion of its two stars. The discovery has sparked fresh questions about how planets form and stay stable in such strange positions.

This illustration shows an exoplanet orbiting around two brown dwarfs  objects bigger than gas-giant planets but too small to be proper stars. (CREDIT: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

A One-of-a-Kind Discovery

The two brown dwarfs in questiontogether known as 2MASS J15104786-2818174, or simply 2M1510were originally discovered in 2018. That detection came from the SPECULOOS project (Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars), which is based at the Paranal Observatory in Chile.

These two brown dwarfs are almost equal in mass, each weighing just over 3% of the Suns mass. Their orbit takes about 21 days to complete and is notably elongated. They lie about 250 astronomical units from a third brown dwarf, making the system even more complex. Adding a planet to this picture only deepens the mystery.

The system belongs to the Argus moving group, a collection of young stars about 45 million years old. This makes the discovery especially valuable, as young binary brown dwarf systems like 2M1510 help scientists test and improve models of how such objects evolve.

Related Stories

The breakthrough came when scientists, using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, analyzed the orbital paths of the two brown dwarfs. They detected slight irregularitiestiny pushes and pullsthat hinted at an outside force at work.

We noticed the orbits of the two brown dwarfs around one another were being delicately affected, explained Dr. Lalitha Sairam, now at the University of Cambridge. She developed a new data analysis method that improved measurement precision by a factor of 30. That precision made it possible to notice what others had missed.

Following a Polar Path

Normally, planets orbit in roughly the same plane as their host stars. Most of the 16 known circumbinary planetsthat is, planets that orbit two starsfollow this coplanar rule. These were largely found by NASAs Kepler and TESS space telescopes using the transit method, which spots dips in starlight as a planet passes in front of a star.

This illustration shows an exoplanet orbiting around two brown dwarfs  objects bigger than gas-giant planets but too small to be proper stars. (CREDIT: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

But 2M1510 (AB) b breaks that mold. This planet orbits perpendicular to the stars orbita configuration known as a polar orbit. For years, astronomers had theorized that such orbits could be stable, especially around binary stars with highly eccentric paths. And in some cases, gas and dust discs around such stars had been spotted in polar positions. Still, until now, no actual planet had been confirmed in such an orbit.

We had hints that planets on perpendicular orbits around binary stars could exist, but until now we lacked clear evidence, said Thomas Baycroft, a PhD student at the University of Birmingham who led the study. We reviewed all possible scenarios, and the only one consistent with the data is if a planet is on a polar orbit about this binary.

Baycrofts team published their findings in Science Advances. Their research shows that the irregular motion observed in the 2M1510 system can be explained only by the presence of a third body: a planet tugging on the binary stars in just the right way.

This subtle influencecalled apsidal precessionrefers to a shift in the orientation of the stars orbit over time. Its a bit like how Earths axis wobbles slightly over millennia. In this case, the precession is moving in reverse, or retrograde, a sign that only a polar orbiting planet could produce.

https://youtu.be/VSl7QLU2pVU

Why This Matters

The discovery of 2M1510 (AB) b offers more than just a new name for the exoplanet catalog. It forces scientists to rethink ideas about how planets form and where they can safely exist. Until now, most models assumed that planets formed in flat, spinning discs of gas and dust aligned with their stars. Polar orbits didnt seem likely.

Yet, over the years, astronomers have spotted several polar gas and debris discs around binary stars. In one case, signs of dust growth suggested planet formation was already underway. Researchers had also suggested that stars merging in binary systems could throw off planets into polar paths.

But no one had yet seen a fully formed planet on such an orbituntil now.

A planet orbiting not just a binary, but a binary brown dwarf, as well as being on a polar orbit is rather incredible and exciting, said Professor Amaury Triaud, a co-author of the study from the University of Birmingham.

Independent analysis of primary and secondary radial velocity data. (CREDIT: Science Advances)

Whats more, this was not even the original goal of the teams work. The discovery was serendipitous, as our observations were not collected to seek such a planet, said Triaud. As such, it is a big surprise and shows what is possible in the fascinating universe we inhabit.

New Tools, New Frontiers

The tools that made this find possible are part of a larger trend in astronomy. The radial velocity methodmeasuring tiny changes in a stars motion due to the pull of an orbiting planetis becoming more precise. In fact, this same method helped confirm three other circumbinary planets in recent years: Kepler-16b, TIC 172900988 b, and BEBOP-1c.

In each case, astronomers measured how a stars motion wobbled due to the pull of a planet. In some instances, they even used the rate of apsidal precession to estimate a planets mass. These new techniques allow scientists to detect planets that dont pass in front of their stars and are invisible to the transit method.

As the technology improves, astronomers expect to find more strange planets like 2M1510 (AB) b. Some may follow even more extreme paths, giving us new clues about how diverse planetary systems can be.

Level curves of the Hamiltonian for 2M1510 with the colors denoting the regions of libration and circulation. (CREDIT: Science Advances)

This discovery also underscores the value of curiosity-driven research. Baycroft and his team werent specifically hunting for polar planets. Yet their work has led to a major shift in how we think about planetary orbits.

And somewhere out there in the galaxy, perhaps on a far-off world, another observer may be watching their twin suns spin aboveand wondering if their world is just as rare.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

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Chinas exports to the United States tumbled in April while its trade with other economies surged, suggesting that President Donald Trump's tariffs offensive is hastening a shakeup in global supply chains.

Total exports from China rose 8.1% last month from a year earlier, much faster than the 2% pace most economists had been expecting. That was much slower than the 12.4% year-on-year increase in March. Imports fell 0.2% in April from the year before.

Shipments to the U.S. sank 21% in dollar terms as Trumps tariffs on most Chinese exports rose to as high as 145%. With Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods at 125%, business between the two biggest economies has grown increasingly uncertain.

China's imports from the U.S. dropped more than 13% from a year earlier, while its politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States was nearly $20.5 billion in April, down from about $27.2 billion a year earlier.

In the first four months of the year, Chinas exports to the United States fell 2.5% from a year earlier, while imports from the U.S. fell 4.7%.

A potential break in the tariffs stalemate could come as soon as this weekend. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other senior trade officials are due to meet with Chinese officials in Geneva on Saturday. But Beijing and Washington are at odds over a raft of issues, including colliding strategic interests that will may impede progress in the talks.

Some of the punitive tariffs, including Beijings retaliatory 125% tariffs on U.S. exports, could be rolled back, but a full reversal is unlikely, Zichun Huang of Capital Economics said in a report.

This means Chinas exports to the U.S. are set for further declines over the coming months, not all of which will be offset by increased trade with other countries. We still expect export growth to turn negative later this year, Huang said.

Whatever the outcome of those discussions, the rapid increase in Chinese exports to other countries reflects a restructuring that began years ago but has gained momentum as Trump has raised barriers to exporting to the U.S.

Global manufacturers have been looking for alternatives to a near total reliance on manufacturing in China after disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for more diverse options.

The need for more versatile supply chains grew more apparent as Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese exports during his first term in office. Most of those remained during former President Joe Biden's term.

Exports to the United States accounted for about a tenth of Chinas total exports in April and the U.S. is still China's largest single-country market. But the European Union and Southeast Asia are larger regional export markets.

Trade with a broader grouping, the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which does not include the United States, is still bigger. And exports to countries participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative, a vast network of Beijing-supported infrastructure projects, are bigger still.

In the first four months of the year, exports to the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations rose 11.5% from a year earlier, and those to Latin America also climbed 11.5%. Shipments to India jumped nearly 16% by value, and exports to Africa surged 15%.

Some of the fastest growth was in Asia, reflecting moves by Chinese and other manufacturers to diversify their supply chains outside of the Chinese mainland. Most notable were exports to Vietnam, which jumped 18% year-on-year. Exports to Thailand were up 20%.

Back in China, preliminary data have shown a sharp decline in shipping and other trade activity. Earlier this week, Beijing announced a barrage of measures meant to counter the impact of the trade war on its economy, which was already struggling to regain momentum after the pandemic and a lengthy downturn in its housing sector.

___

Associated Press researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather inside Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ryan Murphy - Ryan Murphy/Reuters

The Trump administration said Thursday it was encouraged by Columbia Universitys response to a pro-Palestinian protest at the main campus library Wednesday where police took 80 people into custody.

Columbia University officials asked the NYPD to help secure Butler Library Wednesday night, after protesters actions caused substantial chaos and posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety, acting university President Claire Shipman said in a statement Wednesday. The university also deployed special patrol officers with the power to arrest and remove students as part of its response to the demonstration, according to a university official.

Shipman said she spent the late afternoon and evening at Butler Library and arrived to see one of our Public Safety officers wheeled out on a gurney and another getting bandaged.

As I left hours later, I walked through the reading room, one of the many jewels of Butler Library, and I saw it defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans, she said in her statement, without elaborating on the extent of the damage.

The large demonstration, and the administrations praise of Shipman, came as universities, including Columbia, face the threat of funding cuts from the Trump administration, which has canceled hundreds of international student visas following the wave of protests against Israels war in Gaza that swept campuses last year.

The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which was created following a February executive order from President Donald Trump, applauded Shipmans statement as strong and resolute, saying she has stepped in to lead Columbia at a critical juncture and has met the moment with fortitude and conviction.

We concur with Acting President Shipman that what happened was utterly unacceptable, which is precisely why the American people are demanding that the administration act to implement meaningful and enforceable commitments to enforce civil rights laws with institutions that receive taxpayer dollars, the statement continued.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups including the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized Columbias decision to call in the NYPD, saying the universitys swift response was intended to appease the Trump administration as it cracks down on pro-Palestine activists.

In regards to Wednesdays demonstration, police said 80 people who did not comply with verbal warnings by the NYPD to disperse were taken into custody. Of those taken into custody, 78 were arrested and two others were issued summonses, per the NYPD.

Its not clear, however, how many of those people came from the protest inside the library building.

Charges are pending against the individuals, the NYPD previously said. Its unclear what charges they may face. CNN has reached out to the NYPD for further details.

As of Thursday evening, more than 65 Columbia students were on interim suspension pending further investigation, a university official told CNN. And 33 people from affiliated institutions along with alumni participants have been barred from the Columbia campus, the official said.

Video from inside the library earlier Wednesday shows public safety officers confronting protesters, who were being blocked and pushed from the library doors as some yell, let them out! Stop! Youre hurting me! one protester is heard shouting.

In one video, at least one public safety officer bent an individual over what appears to be a desk, handcuffing them. Another person assisting with the detainment approached the person recording the video, saying Back up!

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on X around 7 p.m. ET that NYPD is entering the campus to remove individuals who are trespassing.

At the direct request of Columbia University, the NYPD responded to an ongoing situation on campus where individuals have occupied a library and are trespassing, an NYPD spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. Multiple individuals who did not comply with verbal warnings by the NYPD to disperse were taken into custody.

Videos from the scene showed officers escorting a group of protesters from the building in zip ties and taking them to an NYPD bus down the block. Officers with crowd control gear, including riot helmets and batons, are seen as the crowd chants Free Palestine.

Protesters  who are asking for the university to divest from companies that have ties to Israel  called for the library to be renamed the Basel Al-Araj Popular University, according to a Substack post from Columbia University Apartheid Divest. Al-Araj, a Palestinian activist, was killed in an Israeli raid in 2017.

The flood shows that as long as Columbia funds and profits from imperialist violence, the people will continue to disrupt Columbias profits and legitimacy, the group said.

Its unclear whether all the demonstrators at the library Wednesday are affiliated with the group. CNN has reached out to the student organization for more information.

The demonstration comes about a year after pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University initiated a wave of demonstrations at college campuses across the country that culminated in encampments and mass arrests. Protesters in 2024 barricaded inside Hamilton Hall, calling for it to be renamed Hinds Hall, after a 5-year-old girl who was killed by Israeli tank fire while in her familys car in Gaza.

It also came the same day that the House Education and Workforce Committee questioned three university presidents on antisemitism  reminiscent of a similar congressional hearing in April 2024 when former Columbia President Nemat Minouche Shafik testified.

Officers repeatedly asked demonstrators to identify themselves and leave the building, though none agreed to do so, Shipman said. The demonstrators were told they would be in violation of university rules and face possible arrest for trespassing if they didnt identify themselves and disperse, Shipman added. Individuals not involved in the protest were able to exit the library, the university said.

While this is isolated to one room in the library, it is completely unacceptable that some individuals are choosing to disrupt academic activities as our students are studying and preparing for final exams, the university said. These disruptions of our campus and academic activities will not be tolerated.

People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York, Wednesday. - Ryan Murphy/Reuters

The university has stated that those found in violation of university rules and policies will face disciplinary consequences.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she has been briefed on the situation and is grateful to public safety officials for keeping students safe.

On Wednesday night, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called protesters immigration statuses into question, saying: We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia Universitys library. Its unclear whether any of the protesters are international students. CNN has reached out to the State Department for more information.

Butler Library re-opened Thursday, Shipman announced in a statement. This includes the reading room, the focal point of much of Wednesdays demonstrations, which has been restored and is ready for use, Shipman said.

Just ahead of finals beginning on campus, Shipman described this a crucial academic moment for students and that Butler will, as is usual, remain open overnight this evening, and we will have normal operations across all other libraries today.

Columbia deployed officers with enhanced training and legal authority

Columbia University on Wednesday deployed public safety officers who have enhanced training and legal authority aimed at reducing reliance on the NYPD, according to the university. This marks at least the second time the officers were deployed to an on-campus protest since Columbia University shared initial details on these officers in late March, a university official confirmed.

As part of the March announcement, the university shared it had hired 36 special officers who will have the ability to remove individuals from campus and/or arrest them. This came a day after the Trump administrations deadline to the university to implement a number of enhanced enforcement actions, including to empower internal law enforcement with the power of arrest and removal, or potentially face a pause or termination of federal funding.

A later announcement from the university said these officers were added as part of the universitys approach to managing protests and demonstrations more effectively and they have the authority to make arrests when necessary, based on violations of applicable law. Additionally, the university said these officers will not be armed and will be distinguishable from our regular Public Safety team by a patch and badge.

Its unclear how many of the 36 hired were used in Wednesdays protest response, but notes provided to CNN by a student government leader who took part in a recent Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting show there were at least 25 available as of late last week. The notes say these officers are not intended to arrest students but may issue summonses for non-compliance with university rules, or even temporarily detain students before potentially being transferred to a nearby police precinct.

Wednesdays police response shows that Columbia cares more about appeasing the insatiable Trump administration than the well-being of its students, New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman said Thursday.

Columbias snap decision to call the countrys largest police force on their own students is dangerous, especially now, as the federal government seizes every opportunity it can to punish and deport pro-Palestine protesters, Lieberman said. With the Trump administration breathing down its neck, Columbia is acting like a tool of the president. The school didnt even allow a hint of negotiation with students.

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the universitys response was a violation of protesters free speech rights.

Suppressing peaceful protests, like sit-ins at the library aimed at ending complicity in the ongoing massacres of Palestinians, is immoral and flaunts the erosion of civil liberties in our country, Afaf Nasher, the chapters executive director, said. Students should not have to risk their livelihoods to speak out against injustice.

Pressure from the Trump administration mounts

Numerous college campuses  including Columbia  have in recent months been under intense pressure from the Trump administration after it threatened their funding if they dont comply with his policy demands and revoked hundreds of student visas as part of a vast immigration crackdown.

In March, the administration said it was canceling $400 million worth of grants and contracts to Columbia University because of what it considers the schools failure to quash antisemitism on campus. The administration demanded several changes, including the university enforce its disciplinary policies, implement rules for protests, ban masks, announce a plan to hold student groups accountable, empower its law enforcement and review its Middle East studies programs.

Columbia University in March then announced a series of new policies, including restrictions on demonstrations.

Students involved in demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza were also targeted by the administration. International Columbia University students Mohsen Mahdawi and Mahmoud Khalil, both of whom were involved in last springs protests, were detained by the administration as it threatened to deport them.

Mahdawi was hoping to begin the final step to becoming a US citizen when he was taken away in handcuffs last month. The lawful permanent resident has been an outspoken critic of Israels military campaign in Gaza and organized Columbia campus protests until March 2024. Mahdawi was recently released on bond.

Khalil, a lawful permanent resident who co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia with Mahdawi, was one of the lead negotiators at last years pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the university. He faces deportation after being detained in March.

University officials in April warned against a repeat of encampments seen on campus last year. We want to clearly communicate that camping and encampments on Columbias campuses are prohibited by University Policy, the universitys public safety department said in a statement. Anyone violating that rule could have their access to areas of campus restricted, Columbia said. And those who refuse to disperse could face removal from campus and possible arrest.

About a year after a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations spread through campuses across the country, the presidents of Haverford College, DePaul and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo testified on Wednesday about reports of antisemitism on their campuses.

Multiple times during the hearing, which turned tense at moments, the president of Haverford College was pressed by Republican members of the committee for specifics on methods of discipline and investigated incidents. It often ended with Wendy Raymond declining to talk about individual cases, frustrating Republican members of the committee, who said the universitys federal funding could be jeopardized.

Respectfully, president of Haverford, many people have sat in this position who are no longer in their positions as presidents of the university because of their failure to answer straightforward questions, Rep. Elise Stefanik said.

This story has been updated with new information.

CNNs Emma Tucker, Holly Yan, Hanna Park, Yash Roy, Julianna Bragg, Joel Williams, Polo Sandoval and Gloria Pazmino contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON  The Department of Justice has opened up an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James over real estate transactions, multiple news outlets reported.

The FBI investigation is tied to loans and property purchases in New York City and Virginia, the Albany Times Union, Guardian and Washington Post reported on May 8.

President Donald Trump has frequently attacked James since she won a $454 million judgement against Trump for defrauding lenders by inflating his assets in 2024.

In a criminal referral filed in April, the Trump-appointed director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency accused James of falsifying bank documents and property records in multiple instances in order to acquire government backed assistance loans and more favorable loan terms.

FHFA head William Pulte alleged in the referral that James potentially misrepresented property descriptions and claimed her primary residential status as Norfolk. He cited "media reports" as the basis.

On April 24, attorney Abbe Lowell sent a letter to the Justice Department arguing the accusations against James are meritless and that they are motivated by Trump's personal animus towards James.

These baseless and long-discredited allegations, put to rest by my April 24th letter to the Department of Justice, are suddenly back in the news just days after President Trump publicly attacked Attorney General James," Lowell said in a May 8 statement on behalf of James. "This appears to be the political retribution President Trump threatened to exact that AG Bondi assured the Senate would not occur on her watch. If prosecutors are genuinely interested in the truth, we are prepared to meet false claims with facts.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 14: NY Attorney General Letitia James speaks as Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (L) listens on during a press conference on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at Manhattan Federal Courthouse on February 14, 2025 in New York City. James was joined by Tong for a press conference ahead of a scheduled court hearing as they discussed their ongoing lawsuit with 17 other state attorneys general to stop Elon Muskas DOGE from accessing personal data housed in the Treasury Department. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

James is currently suing the Trump administration over cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services' and executive actions pertaining to elections that she says are unconstitutional.

At the White House on May 6, the United States attorney general, Pam Bondi, declined to comment on the referral.

"Well, I don't want to get involved in something that Pamela is involved with," Trump said, before he lit into James.

The president said James is a "disaster for New York" and called her a "horrible, horrible human being" and "total crook."

"That's just my opinion," he said. "Pam is going to have to do what she wants. She's a very bad person. She's a very, very bad, a very bad person who campaigned solely on, I'm going to get Donald Trump, over and over again."

Trump again said that his comments, made in the presence of his hand-picked attorney general, have "nothing to do with what Pam does. Pam is going to do what's right. She always does."

News outlets began reporting that DOJ had opened an investigation into James two days later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI opens investigation into NY AG Tish James, reports say
Hold onto your red furry monsters! Our beloved Elmo from Sesame Street appeared to be looking for a new gig this week, according to a surprisingly detailed LinkedIn profile that quickly went viral, leaving fans shocked and a little heartbroken.

The post, written in Elmo's unmistakable sweet and simple voice, announced, "Unfortunately Elmo was recently laid off because of the federal budget cuts." It went on to say, "Elmo worked at Sesame Street for 45 years. Elmo is sad. Elmo loved his time at Sesame Street."

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If that wasn't enough to tug at your heartstrings, the "job-seeking" Muppet then listed his unique skill set: "Like hugs. Elmo LOVES giving hugs. Elmo can also recognize the letter E, spell his name, feel empathy, sing Elmos Song and ask how you are doing." The fake Elmo mentioned he was "open to full-time or freelance roles" and sweetly asked anyone with leads, or those who "want a hug," to connect.

Elmos LinkedIn update has me  pic.twitter.com/mSJnw5k3Xz  Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) May 8, 2025

The post even included a plea: "And if you want to help Elmo and his friends, please urge your local congress person to save Public Media," before ending with a classic, "Elmo loves you."

Social media immediately lit up, with many expressing concern for the iconic character. But before fans could organize a bake sale for Elmo, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the magic, stepped in to clarify. A representative confirmed to news outlets that the LinkedIn post was from a fake account and that Elmo, thankfully, is still happily employed on Sesame Street.

The reason this heartwarming hoax likely spread so fast? It tapped into some very real concerns. The fake post appeared around the same time the Trump administration announced it was terminating the "Ready to Learn" education grant, which has long helped fund PBS Kids programming. The Department of Education mentioned the grants were funding "racial justice educational programming" that wasn't aligned with "Administration priorities."

While Elmo isn't actually updating his resume (phew!), the viral moment certainly got people talking about the importance of public media and the characters who feel like part of the family. For now, everyone can rest assured that Elmo is still on Sesame Street, ready with a song and, of course, plenty of hugs.
Federal prosecutors have signaled they're planning to bring additional charges against a woman detained in Vermont following the shooting death of a Border Patrol agent.

Theresa Youngblut has been jailed since the Jan. 20 death of agent David Maland, and already faces charges of using a firearm during the confrontation in which Maland and Youngblut's companion Ophelia Bauckholt were killed near the Canadian border. The current charges don't directly accuse Youngblut of firing the shots that killed Maland.

Federal investigators have declined to discuss details of the case.

A USA TODAY investigation earlier this year indicated that the violent confrontation is connected to multiple other homicides around the country that some legal experts have tied to the influence of a California-based cultlike group known as the Zizians.

In a May 8 court filing, Youngblut's public defenders asked a judge to give them more preparation time before her next court appearance because they expect new charges and "voluminous" new evidence disclosures from prosecutors.

"Additional time is also needed to conduct any necessary investigation and discuss with the government any potential non-trial resolutions in this case," federal public defender Steven Barth said. "Time is needed to determine whether additional charges will be filed and whether such charges, if filed, will materially alter the trajectory of the case."

Named after their purported leader, Jack "Ziz" LaSota, 34, the group is connected to at least six deaths nationwide, according to police, interviews with people who know group members, the FBI and court records. LaSota was assigned male at birth but uses female pronouns. Federal and state court records refer to LaSota as a man.

Experts and people who know them say the group is led by LaSota, who in online postings discussed the nature of consciousness and rational decision making. Many of the group members are vegan, and either have degrees in computer science or have studied related fields. Some members of the group are transgender, or have rejected binary sexuality.

LaSota and two other people were arrested in February in Maryland, and remain in custody there on trespassing and firearms charges. One of the people arrested alongside LaSota was Michelle Zajko, who faces separate federal charges alleging that she bought the guns Youngblut and Bauckholt were carrying during the shootout with Maland, the Border Patrol agent.

Zajko is also a "person of interest" in the Pennsylvania homicides of her parents in late 2022, according to court filings.

Youngblut was due to marry a Washington state man who is currently jailed on charges that he ambushed and murdered a California landlord on Jan. 17, following a violent confrontation between the landlord, LaSota and several other people.

Federal investigators say they confronted Youngblut and Bauckholt in Vermont after receiving reports the two were walking around a rural area with handguns and wearing tactical clothing. Investigators said they also mistakenly believed Bauckholt's visa to visit from Germany had expired.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feds signal new charges may be coming in 'Zizian' case in Vermont
Rich Trumka Jr., a commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission until he was fired by President Trump on Thursday, said in a letter that his dismissal is illegal and that he plans to fight the action.

"See you in court, Mr. President," Trumka wrote in a May 9 social media post that included a statement using the CPSC's official letterhead in which he describes his dismissal.

The CPSC is an independent agency that regulates the safety of consumer products, from toys to appliances. It's the group that often handles recalls of items such as kitchen ranges that can set fires and steam cleaners that have burned users.

In his statement, Trumka said he was given no reason for his firing, but that his dismissal came after he and two other commissioners voted against allowing members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to work at the agency. Trumka, who was appointed to a 7-year term by President Biden in 2021, said he pushed back against DOGE because "if these people are allowed in to govern our agency, they will gut it and the result will turn back the clock on product safety."

He added, "CPSC's livesaving work is far too important to take this lying down."

In addition to Trumka, two other commissioners on the five-person Consumer Product Safety Commission were fired on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. All three were Democrats, the publication said.

Trumka expounded on the firings in an interview Friday with CBS News.

"On Wednesday, we had a public commission meeting, where we said there's no financial reason, no logical reason, to get rid of anyone at our agency, because their lifesaving work is to important to compromise," Trumka told CBS News. "And just the next day, DOGE was in our building. They asked if we would allow them to implant at our agency. They asked for our answer to that by 6 p.m. We said 'no.' And moments later, we were fired by email from the president."

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, however, in a press briefing Friday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that the CPSC falls under the executive branch, giving the president the right to fire employees there.

Consumer Reports issued a statement condemning the CPSC firings, and said that the commissioners should be reinstated immediately.

"This is an appalling and lawless attack on the independence of our country's product safety watchdog," said William Wallace, director of safety advocacy for Consumer Reports, in an email. "Anyone who cares about keeping their family safe should oppose this move and demand that it be reversed."

Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and three other Democratic senators  Maria Cantwell of Washington; Ed Markey of Massachusetts; and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut  also objected to the firings in a May 9 letter to Mr. Trump, calling the dismissals "illegal."

"The Consumer Product Safety Commission makes sure toys are safe for our kids and the products Americans use everyday don't have hidden hazards," Klobuchar said in a statement. "It conducts thousands of investigations and issues crucial recalls .... This move is dangerous and illegal."

DOGE firings

DOGE has sought to cut federal workers in the name of reducing fraud, waste and abuse. But many of its firings have had to be reversed, either because the group mistakenly fired essential workers  like bird-flu experts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture  or after a court ruled the dismissals were illegal.

DOGE's savings have largely been wiped out by costs related to those issues as well as lost productivity, according to a recent analysis by the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan nonprofit that focuses on the federal workforce.

The CPSC firings come after the Trump administration dismissed other officials at independent agencies, including the vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board this week and a member of the National Labor Relations Board in January.

"If my illegal firing is allowed to stand, it will clear the way for the Administration and its lapdogs to cripple the lifesaving functions of this agency to benefit their wealthy donors," Trumka added.

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Trump touts UK trade deal, but U.S. companies fear they won't survive China tariffs
WASHINGTON  A group representing major U.S. automakers complained about President Donald Trumps trade deal giving an advantage to United Kingdom manufacturers, but the White House said it would be a good deal for them, too.

Trump announced a deal May 8 for a 10% tariff on the first 100,000 cars imported each year from the United Kingdom, down from 25% for imports from the rest of the world. That's about the number of vehicles Britain exported last year, according to Reuters.

A group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis said the trade deal would hurt domestic companies that manufacture cars or parts in Canada and Mexico. U.S. manufacturers have factories in both countries under the USMCA trade agreement, but cars that are partially produced in those countries are now subject to a 25% tariff.

"This hurts American automakers, suppliers, and auto workers, the American Automotive Policy Council said in a statement May 8.

US automakers 'disappointed' in trade deal with United Kingdom

Part of the cause for concern is that Trump and his aides called the arrangement with the United Kingdom a template for deals with other countries.

Ford, GM and Toyota have each predicted billions in added costs due to Trump's trade war.

President Donald Trump makes an announcement about a trade deal with the United Kingdom, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2025.

"We are disappointed that the administration prioritized the UK ahead of our North American partners," the automakers said. "We hope this preferential access for UK vehicles over North American ones does not set a precedent for future negotiations with Asian and European competitors,

White House says trade deals 'tailor made' for each country

Final inspection is performed as the vehicles are ready to leave the assembly line at the General Motors manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, U.S., August 22, 2019.

Asked about the complaints, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters May 9 that Trump listens to the concerns of the auto industry and wants to see them succeed.

The president wants to put them on the best pedestal to compete, Leavitt said. This is a good deal for them, too.

Leavitt said trade deals would be negotiated separately, when asked if European and Asian automakers would receive similar deals.

All of these deals are going to be tailor made, Leavitt said. Each country has unique concerns and challenges.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US automakers 'disappointed' in Trump's United Kingdom trade deal
Robbie Caponetto; Design: Marie Ami; Styling: Kathleen Varner

If you are Southern, you probably love monograms. Period. Full stop.

If you don't, you've almost certainly never uttered those words aloud, except maybe to a trusted few confidants. Singing from the rooftops that you don't love monogramsour favorite regional pastime of slapping personalization on ephemera from hand towels to headbandswould get you run out of town.

But how did we get here? And why?

Our experts, mother-daughter team Pam Shuler and Carolyn Bettin, help explain just how our obsession with monograms arose, and why it's so fun to monogram...well, just about every every-darn-thing.









Meet the Experts

Pam Shuler and Carolyn Bettin of Shuler Studio







Related: 5 Things You Should Never MonogramAnd 3 Things You Should

Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

Where Did Monograms Come From?

The etymology of "monogram" is Latin, and it literally translates to "single letter." It was aptly named: The first records we have of monograms come from coins that were emblazoned with the king or conqueror's initials. King Henry VIII used his monogram on coins, decrees, and even doors.

During the Middle Ages, artisans began marking their work with initials to show the bespoke or one-of-a-kind nature of the pieces they sold.

Three-letter monograms, as we know them today, gained popularity in the 18th century. And by the Victorian era, we were off to the races engraving and personalizing any and everything from silverware to luggage to handkerchiefs.



Laurey W. Glenn

Where Are They Most Often Used Today?

Every Southern bride knows that choosing the lettering for an invitation is an important part of setting the tone for your big day, but lately, there's an added element of personalization: the couple's monogram. "Nowadays, you see monograms used on invitations suites, guest books, ring boxes, ice luges, and even projected onto dance floors," says Shuler.

In the more everyday realm, many Southerners use monograms in and around their home to add a touch of personalization and care. Bed linens, guest towels, and even apparel (think: men's French cuffs, monogrammed with a single letter or a set of three initials). But it extends all overcar stickers, toiletry cases, luggage, dog collars, children's clothingthe list truly goes on and on.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE

How To Choose A Monogram

Typically, female monograms are done in the three-letter style: a larger centered surname initial, flanked by a smaller first initial on the left and a maiden or middle initial on the right. For men, a "straight line" monogram is traditional, with all three letters in name order and rendered in the same size.

For an opposite-sex couple getting married and using the same last name, it used to be traditional to feature the man's initial first, followed by the shared married name, and then the woman's first initial on the right. However, HRH's William and Catherine shook things up with they featured Catherine's initial first, giving way to a wave of "ladies first" monograms, which feature the bride's initial in the left-hand spot.

There are as many ways to arrange a monogram as there are ways to skin a cat, so fret notif you're a double name girl like me, for example, and use all four names in your monogram, there's even a design style for us! "Being in the South, we have lots of customers with double names, and even have had a couple who both had double first names. What a fun wedding monogram to do!" says Shuler.



Related: How To Monogram The Right Way For Any Style Of Name

Robbie Caponetto







"Monograms are especially popular in the South because they're such a classic symbol of tradition, family, and personal pridethree things that Southern culture holds near and dear. Southern hospitality is all about making people feel welcome and special, and a monogram adds a personal touch, whether it's on a gift, a towel, or a wedding invitation."







Why Does The South Love Monograms So Much?

It's simple, says Shuler: "Monograms are especially popular in the South because they're such a classic symbol of tradition, family, and personal pridethree things that Southern culture holds near and dear. Southern hospitality is all about making people feel welcome and special, and a monogram adds a personal touch, whether it's on a gift, a towel, or a wedding invitation." It's true: Taking the extra step to monogram a gift for someone shows them you went out of your way to think of them, and that this gift is just for them, not something pulled out of a drawer and stuck into a gift bag.







"There isn't much that's more Southern than carrying on a tradition started by a member of your family."







It also creates an instant heirloom, especially when added to a timeless, evergreen piece like a silver jewelry box, the back of a watch, or the leather strap of a quality suitcase or briefcase. I have a silver cup with my grandmother's initial, "D" for "Donna," sitting on a nearby table as I type this, and I look at it every day. It used to live in her home, and now it lives in mine, and there isn't much that's more Southern than carrying on a tradition started by a member of your family. Carrying or owning something once owned by a special relative and seeing those initials regularly elevates the mundane and allows a bit of elegance into our modern lives. That's certainly true for Shuler, who started Shuler Studio under the tutelage of her own mother (who monogrammed everything from sweaters to telephone book covers), and has now passed the tradition to her daughter.

And while, sure, lots of other regions do monograms, I'm a bit biased: I think we Southerners do it best.



PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE

An extra thanks to Pam and Carolyn for not only serving as our expert vendors, but also for providing so much fascinating research for this piece!

Read the original article on Southern Living
Long before she was a Fox News host who pushed pro-Trump election conspiracy theories, Jeanine Pirro was an ambitious New York politician whose career stalled after she was recorded plotting to bug her then-husbands boat to catch him in an affair.

The revelation rocked Pirros campaign for New York attorney general nearly 20 years ago, resulting in days of front-page headlines in the citys tabloids (BUG THIS LOVE BOAT! blared the Daily News cover).

The conversation took place in 2005 between Pirro and the former commissioner of the New York Police Department, Bernard Kerik, a close ally of Rudy Giulianis.

What am I supposed to do, Bernie? Watch him f--- her every night? Pirro said, according to a transcript obtained by WNBC-TVs Jonathan Dienst in 2006. What am I supposed to do? I can go on the boat. Ill put the f-----g thing on myself.

The incident is likely to receive renewed attention now that Pirro is President Donald Trumps pick to be the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. Her selection came after the president withdrew the nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin, whose defense of Jan. 6 rioters was criticized by some Republican senators.

In announcing Pirro as his choice for Martins replacement, Trump described her as in a class by herself.

Hes right in one sense: No other U.S. attorney nominee is known to have come under federal investigation after being caught on tape scheming to catch a cheating spouse in the act.

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York confirmed the existence of an investigation into Pirro at the time, but no charges were brought.

Pirro was the district attorney of Westchester County when she was caught on tape talking to Kerik, who was under investigation by the Bronx District Attorneys Office.

Suspicions of an affair

According to WNBC, Pirro believed her then-husband, Albert Pirro, was using the familys 26-foot boat  the Christie, named after the couples daughter  for sexual trysts with his then-mistress. Pirro appeared to grow frustrated that an employee of Keriks security firm was reluctant to plant a recording device on the vessel.

We can just simply say, if there is an issue, that I am redecorating it for our anniversary, Pirro said, according to WNBC.

But Jeanine, Im having the same problem with everybody, Kerik allegedly replied. Everybody is panic-stricken because its you. Ive gone out on a limb. I had two other people looking at this. Its a problem.

At a press conference after the WNBC report came out, an emotional Pirro insisted that no recording device was placed on the boat and blasted the federal probe as a waste of taxpayer money."

I said a lot of things, but what matters is what I did and didnt do  and what I did was vent, said Pirro, who was running for state attorney general at the time.

Jeanine Pirro in New York City in 2006. (ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy)

Two months after the revelation of the tapes, she lost the race for state Attorney General to future Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a landslide, marking the end of her political career.

What happened over the next two decades is well known. Pirro became a TV star and one of Trumps most ardent defenders.

In 2020, she repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories on her Fox News show about Trumps election loss. In the course of litigation filed by Dominion Voting Systems, it was revealed that Pirros executive producers sent a blunt assessment of one of her monologues to higher-ups: This is completely crazy.

Pirros evolution from a once-lauded district attorney to an election-denying Trump booster mirrors the trajectory of other MAGA figures, most notably Giuliani.

Douglas Muzzio, a retired Baruch College political science professor with extensive knowledge of New York politics, said he finds it unfathomable that Pirro is now on a path to helm one of the countrys most important federal prosecutors offices.

If you would have told me 20 years ago, or even 15 years ago, that she would be in the position shes being put in now, I wouldnt believe it, Muzzio said. There were many more people who I was familiar with by reputation who deserved the job more in terms of qualifications than Pirro.

Harrison Fields, a White House spokesperson, called Pirro a "highly respected and accomplished attorney and judge" who "is dedicated to President Trumps agenda to restore safety and justice in our nations capital."

Attorney General Pam Bondi described Pirro as a "fearless advocate for the rule of law" and said she's "thrilled to have her on our team at the Department of Justice as we make America safe again."

Kerik did not respond to a request for comment.

Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik in New York City in 2024. (Steve Sanchez / Sipa USA via AP file)

Rising GOP star

A decade before the release of the tapes, Pirro was seen as a rising star in the Republican Party.

She was the first woman to be elected as a judge, in 1990, and district attorney in Westchester County, in 1993. Her telegenic appearance and distinctive speaking voice made her a natural on TV.

She developed a reputation as an aggressive prosecutor and twice won re-election. But she was dogged by reports of mob ties and forced to deal with a stream of scandals involving her former husband.

Albert Pirro, a wealthy businessman and GOP fundraiser, was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges in 2000 and sentenced to 29 months in federal prison. The trial shed light on the couples lavish lifestyle, the Daily News reported at the time, in which Albert Pirro wrote off vacation home repairs, country club dues, paintings, luxury cars  including two Ferraris  and a fence for the familys pet pot-bellied pigs.

Five years later, the Daily News published a report that a top lieutenant in the Gambino crime family was caught on an FBI wiretap claiming Albert Pirro had discussed one of his wifes pending cases with a mob associate.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan investigated the claim, but no charges were brought.

Albert Pirro denied that such a conversation ever took place, and Jeanine Pirro told the Daily News in May 2005: I was surprised. It seemed incredible.

Three months later, in August 2005, Pirro announced that she would seek the Republican nomination for Senate, challenging then-Sen. Hillary Clinton. Days later, her fledgling campaign was dealt a blow when the Daily News reported that six donors with ties to organized crime had written nearly $12,000 in campaign checks to her since 2003.

We will take a look at the facts and make the appropriate decisions on a case-by-case basis, her campaign spokesperson said at the time.

But those scandals paled in comparison to the Kerik conversation tapes.

Keriks phone was bugged as part of an investigation into accepting free renovations to his apartment from a contractor with alleged mob links while he was the commissioner of the New York City Corrections Department. He ultimately pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors.

After the transcript of his phone call with Pirro was leaked, Keriks lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, told the Daily News: Bernie spoke to a friend in distress regarding a domestic conflict. Nothing illegal was discussed and nothing illegal was done.

At the time, Pirros husband issued a statement through his attorney: Al Pirro is outraged at the conduct of the U.S. attorney in launching a federal investigation into a private marital dispute.

Pirro separated from her husband in 2007. He was pardoned by Trump in 2021.

Trump also pardoned Kerik after the former commissioner served three years in prison on federal charges of tax fraud and making false statements.

In her conversation with Kerik, Pirro lamented how her then-husband was impacting her political career.

Without him, she said, I move into the governors mansion.
James Foley, a journeyman director best known for Glengarry Glen Ross, has died. He was 71.

He died earlier this week after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, his representative, Taylor Lomax, said Friday.

In his long and varied career, Foley directed Madonna music videos, 12 episodes of House of Cards and the two Fifty Shades of Grey sequels, but it was his 1992 adaptation of David Mamets foulmouthed Pulitzer Prize winning play that stood above the rest. Although it wasnt a hit at the time, Glengarry Glen Ross wormed its way into the culture and grew into an oft-quoted cult favorite, especially Alec Baldwins made-for-the-film always be closing monologue.

Critic Tim Grierson wrote 20 years after its release that it remains one of the quintessential modern movies about masculinity. He added, while there are many fine Mamet movies, its interesting that the best of them was this one  the one he didnt direct.

Born on Dec. 28, 1953, in Brooklyn, Foley studied film in graduate school at the University of Southern California. Legend has it that Hal Ashby once wandered into a film school party where his short happened to be playing at the time and he took a liking to him. Foley would later attribute his ability to make his first feature, Reckless, a 1984 romantic drama about mismatched teenagers in love starring Daryl Hannah, Aidan Quinn and Adam Baldwin, to the Ashby stamp of approval. It was also the first screenplay credited to Chris Columbus, though there were reports of creative differences.

He followed it with the Sean Penn crime drama At Close Range, the Madonna and Griffin Dunne screwball comedy Whos That Girl and the neo-noir thriller After Dark, My Sweet," with Jason Patric. Critic Roger Ebert included After Dark, My Sweet in his great movies list, calling it one of the purest and most uncompromising of modern film noir despite having been almost forgotten.

He also directed several music videos for Madonna including Papa Dont Preach, Live to Tell, and Whos That Girl, and an episode of Twin Peaks.

Foley adapted John Grisham and worked with Gene Hackman on The Chamber and made the Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg teenage love-gone-scary thriller Fear, as well as the largely derided Halle Berry and Bruce Willis psychological thriller Perfect Stranger, which was released in 2007.

It would be a decade before his next film was released, when he was given the reigns to the Fifty Shades of Grey sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

For me, whats most challenging is stuff that doesnt involve the actors, oddly enough  in three, theres a big car chase and theres different stunts and stuff and that stuff really bores me, he told The Associated Press at the UK premiere of Fifty Shades Darker. So when the actors arent around, thats difficult because the actors give me so much energy and kind of engagement and a car driving by doesnt do the same thing.

Foley was not an easily definable director, but that was by design. In 2017, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he had no interest in repeating himself.

Ive always just followed my nose, for better or for worse, sometimes for worse, Foley said. Whats best and whats worst (about the industry) are almost the same to me. Whats worst is you get pigeonholed and whats best is I havent been. It means that Im still making movies, despite hopping all over the place.

Foley is survived by his brother, Kevin Foley, and sisters Eileen and Jo Ann.
Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram Jenna Bush Hager, Henry Hager and their kids







Jenna Bush Hager reacted to a sweet Mother's Day message from her children, joking that it looked like "a kidnap video"

The former first daughter is vocal about the highs and lows of motherhood, recently revealing his biggest concern as a mom

The daytime talk show host shares three children with her husband Henry Hager









Jenna Bush Hager had a hilarious reaction to her kid's special message.

During the Friday, May 9, episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, she watched an adorable video from her children in honor of Mother's Day. Bush Hager, 43, reacted to the video, calling it "cute" before joking that it looks like they were "filming a kidnap video."



"Thats so cute. Its really cute and it looks like they also are sort of filming a kidnap video. Like, Happy Mothers Day, Mom. Like, I love you. I promise I love building Legos with you,' " she joked before adding, "Hes actually an excellent Lego builder."

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NBC Jenna Bush Hager

Bush Hager met her now-husband in 2004 before they went on to tie the knot at her family's Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas, on May 10, 2008.

The couple became first-time parents in April 2013, when they welcomed their daughter Mila, 13. Their daughter Poppy, 9, came two years later, in August 2015. In 2019, they expanded their family once again, this time with a baby boy named Hal, 5.

In a recent episode of Today with Jenna and Friends, Bush Hager's friend and guest co-host Savannah Guthrie, who has two children, daughter Vale and son Charley, with her husband Michael Feldman, told her that she had a dream that Bush Hager was having another baby, before jokingly asking if the former first daughter had something to share.

Bush Hager started a drumroll before admitting she had no news to announce and opened up about her thoughts on a fourth baby.

"I have nothing to announce," Bush Hager said. "Im pretty sure Ive come to terms that three, even though its an imperfect number, is the perfect number for our house."

"Its very normal," Guthrie told Bush Hager. "I think they call it being broody. Youre kind of broody for a third or a fourth. I would have had a third in a heartbeat, but, you know, I was up against the clock."

Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram Jenna Bush Hager and her family

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Bush Hager is a proud mother, who's open about the highs and lows of raising children. Recently, she's opened up about one of the things she's the most concerned about as a mom of three.

While speaking with Monica Lewinsky about failure on an episode of Today with Jenna and Friends, she noted she feels like that's one of the things she's concerned her kids won't be able to learn. Bush Hager added that she thinks failing helps build her character.

"It's actually my biggest concern as a mom is I don't think our kids are allowed to fail," Bush Hager said. "And I failed publicly and it's actually what makes me, I feel like, my superpower."

"I feel brave because you can come out of something," she added. "We need to teach kids that they can come out of things."

Read the original article on People
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., speaks with an officer demanding she be let into the ICE Detention office after the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday at a new federal immigration detention center he has been protesting against and was held in custody for several hours.

Baraka was released around 8 p.m. after being accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the Delaney Hall facility. Stepping out of an SUV with flashing emergency lights, he told waiting supporters: The reality is this: I didn't do anything wrong.

The mayor said he could not speak about his case, citing a promise he made to lawyers and the judge. But he voiced full-throated support for everyone living in his community, immigrants included.

All of us here, every last one of us, I dont care what background you come from, what nationality, what language you speak, Baraka said, at some point we have to stop these people from causing division between us.

Baraka, a Democrat who is running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, has embraced the fight with the Trump administration over illegal immigration.

He has aggressively pushed back against the construction and opening of the 1,000-bed detention center, arguing that it should not be allowed to open because of building permit issues.

Linda Baraka, the mayors wife, accused the federal government of targeting her husband.

They didnt arrest anyone else. They didnt ask anyone else to leave. They wanted to make an example out of the mayor, she said, adding that she had not been allowed to see him.

Alina Habba, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said on the social platform X that Baraka trespassed at the detention facility, which is run by private prison operator Geo Group.

Habba said Baraka had chosen to disregard the law.

Video of the incident showed that Baraka was arrested after returning to the public side of the gate to the facility.

Witnesses describe a heated argument

Witnesses said the arrest came after Baraka attempted to join three members of New Jerseys congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, in attempting to enter the facility.

When federal officials blocked his entry, a heated argument broke out, according to Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. It continued even after Baraka returned to the public side of the gates.

There was yelling and pushing, Martinez said. Then the officers swarmed Baraka. They threw one of the organizers to the ground. They put Baraka in handcuffs and put him in an unmarked car.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the lawmakers had not asked for a tour of Delaney Hall, which the agency said it would have facilitated. The department said that as a bus carrying detainees was entering in the afternoon a group of protestors, including two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.

Watson Coleman spokesperson Ned Cooper said the three lawmakers went there unannounced because they planned to inspect it, not take a scheduled tour.

They arrived, explained to the guards and the officials at the facility that they were there to exercise their oversight authority, he said, adding that they were allowed to enter and inspect the center sometime between 3 and 4 p.m.

Watson Coleman later said the DHS statement inaccurately characterized the visit.

Contrary to a press statement put out by DHS we did not storm the detention center, she wrote. The author of that press release was so unfamiliar with the facts on the ground that they didnt even correctly count the number of Representatives present. We were exercising our legal oversight function as we have done at the Elizabeth Detention Center without incident.

Video shows the mayor standing on the public side of the gate

In video of the altercation shared with The Associated Press, a federal official in a jacket with the logo of the Homeland Security Investigations can be heard telling Baraka he could not enter the facility because you are not a congress member.

Baraka then left the secure area, rejoining protesters on the public side of the gate. Video showed him speaking through the gate to a man in a suit, who said: Theyre talking about coming back to arrest you.

Im not on their property. They cant come out on the street and arrest me, Baraka replied.

Minutes later several ICE agents, some wearing face coverings, surrounded him and others on the public side. As protesters cried out, Shame, Baraka was dragged back through the gate in handcuffs.

Several civil rights and immigration reform advocates, as well as government officials, condemned Barakas arrest. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, whose office is defending a state law barring private immigration detention facilities, criticized the arrest during a seemingly peaceful protest and said no state or local law enforcement agencies were involved.

Rep. Menendez said in a statement that as members of Congress, they have the legal right to carry out oversight at DHS facilities without prior notice and have done so twice already this year. But on Friday, Throughout every step of this visit, ICE attempted to intimidate everyone involved and impede our ability to conduct oversight.

The detention center

The two-story building next to a county prison formerly operated as a halfway house.

In February, ICE awarded a 15-year contract to The Geo Group Inc. to run the detention center. Geo valued the contract at $1 billion, in an unusually long and large agreement for ICE.

The announcement was part of President Donald Trumps plans to sharply increase detention beds nationwide from a budget of about 41,000 beds this year.

Baraka sued Geo soon after the deal was announced.

Geo touted the Delaney Hall contract during an earnings call with shareholders Wednesday, with CEO David Donahue saying it was expected to generate more than $60 million a year in revenue. He said the facility began the intake process May 1.

Hall said the activation of the center and another in Michigan would increase capacity under contract with ICE from around 20,000 beds to around 23,000.

DHS said in its statement that the facility has the proper permits and inspections have been cleared.

___

Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed.
Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk who had been held since she was detained by immigration agents in March was freed from ICE custody Friday evening, hours after a federal judge ordered her release.

"Ozturk is free to return to her home in Massachusetts. Shes also free to travel to Massachusetts and Vermont as she sees fit, and I am not going to put a travel restriction on her, because, frankly, I dont find that she poses any risk of flight," Judge William K. Sessions III said earlier in the day.

The government was ordered to immediately release her, pending further proceedings on the merits of her habeas petition, the federal judge in Vermont said. She walked out from a detention center in Louisiana at roughly 6 p.m. Friday, hands on her heart as she faced reporters outside.

Thank you so much. I am a little bit tired, so I will take some time to rest," she said.

One of her lawyers, Ramzi Kassem, said there's a "sense of joy" for Ozturk, her family, and her community now that she's free.

Speaking on MSNBC, he added, "Today is really a great day."

During the hearing, Ozturk appeared virtually, with her attorney Mahsa Khanbabai, from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center.

Khanbabai said she was "relieved and ecstatic" by the news.

"Unfortunately, it is 45 days too late. She has been imprisoned all these days for simply writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine," she said in a statement. "When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for?"

Ozturk was detained on the streets of a Boston suburb on March 25. Video of her arrest showed officers with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and immigration authorities surrounding her on a sidewalk and grabbing her wrists. She screamed as she was led to a nearby SUV.

Rumeysa Ozturk being arrested on March 25 in Somerville, Mass. (Obtained by NBC News)

The Trump administration revoked Ozturks student visa in late March based on an assessment from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement that she "had been involved in associations that 'may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization.'"

It included her co-writing an op-ed "that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus, the Bureau of Consular Affairs approved revocation, effectively immediately," according to a State Department memo.

Ozturk wrote an op-ed last year in her student newspaper that was critical of Tufts response to the war in Gaza.

Earlier in her bail hearing, Ozturk had an asthma attack.

She had testified that the frequency, length, and intensity of her asthma attacks have increased since her detainment.

She told the judge that it has been negatively affecting her.

The doctoral student from Turkey had previously detailed her attacks in a declaration filed with the court. Attorney Jessie Rossman, who appeared in person for the hearing, told the judge that her client has had more attacks beyond the eight documented in the declaration.

Rossman said she was "relieved" her client would soon be able to return to Massachusetts.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. (Courtesy of the Ozturk family via Reuters)

"For 45 days, Rumeysa has been detained in Louisiana  over 1300 miles from her friends, her community, and her lawyers. During that time, she has suffered regular and escalating asthma attacks," she said in a statement. "And at the same time, the government has failed to produce any justification for her detention."

During her testimony, Ozturk said that she was diagnosed with asthma in 2023 in her hometown in Turkey and had experienced attacks before her detainment.

During an episode, she said she experiences anxiety, exhaustion, chest tightness and coughing. They are usually brought on by environmental triggers as well as stress.

Tufts University medical center has helped her maintain her asthma, she said, noting that she has two inhalers, one for daily maintenance and another she uses when she has an attack.

Ozturk appeared to get upset as she testified about an attack at the Atlanta airport after she was detained. She was seen putting her hands over her chest and taking a deep breath.

"I was afraid, and I was crying," she told the court about the Atlanta incident.

After her testimony, Dr. Jessica McCannon, who has expertise in treating asthma, was called to the stand. While McCannon was speaking, Ozturk began coughing uncontrollably and appeared out of breath. Attorney Khanbabai, who was with Ozturk, said her client was having an asthma attack.

Ozturk rushed out of the room to get her inhaler.
A Tufts University doctoral student was freed from ICE custody on Friday after a federal judge in Vermont ordered that she be released on bail.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, was detained in March after her visa was revoked by the Trump administration.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions slammed the government in ordering Ozturk released while their case against her proceeds, saying that the government had not produced any evidence against her aside from an op-ed she co-wrote in her student newspaper last year.

"I put the government on notice that they should immediately introduce any such evidence, and that was three weeks ago, and there has been no evidence that has been introduced by the government other than the op-ed. I mean, that literally is the case. There is no evidence here as to the motivation absent consideration of the op-ed," he said during her bail hearing Friday.

MORE: Deportation halted for Tufts student whose visa Rubio says was revoked due to activism

Ozturk's legal team confirmed her release from the detention facility in Louisiana with ABC News on Friday evening.

Ozturk testified remotely at her bail hearing from the Louisiana detention facility where she has been held since ICE agents detained her near her home in Massachusetts on March 25.

Her lawyers argued that the former Fulbright scholar is being targeted by the Trump administration because of a column she co-wrote in her student newspaper criticizing the university's response to resolutions approved by the Tufts Community Union Senate.

Those resolutions called on the university to "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, apologize for University President Sunil Kumar's statements, disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel," she wrote in the op-ed.

The attorney representing the government did not cross-examine Ozturk during Friday's bail hearing, nor offer any witnesses that could attest to why she was a threat to foreign policy, as the administration has alleged.

PHOTO: Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University in Somerville, Mass., poses in an undated photograph provided by her family and obtained by Reuters on March 29, 2025. (Courtesy of the Ozturk Family via Reuters)

Judge Sessions also highlighted several of the declarations that were submitted in Ozturk's defense, attesting to her "peaceful and compassionate character."

"I will just express my own observation and that this is a woman who's just totally committed to her academic career. This is someone who probably doesn't have a whole lot of other things going on other than reaching out to other members of the community in a caring and compassionate way," the judge said.

"There is absolutely no evidence that she has engaged in violence or advocated violence. She has no criminal record. She has done nothing other than essentially attend her university and expand her contacts within the community in such a supportive way," he said.

In a statement to ABC News issued after her arrest last month, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, "DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. A visa is a privilege not a right. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security."

The judge also preemptively said that he is not open to granting a stay of his order. Instead, he ordered the government to submit a set of conditions that ICE would impose for her release.

"I would like to know immediately when she is released," he said.

MORE: Tufts PhD student on visa arrested by immigration authorities, school says

Wearing a hijab, glasses, and an orange jumpsuit, Ozturk testified via Zoom about the humanitarian work she is involved in as part of her studies in child development. She also testified about her involvement in school groups and projects.

Ozturk told the judge that she organized an event she called "collective grieving for children experiencing war and conflicts" that aimed to help children "from Gaza to Israel, from Russia to Ukraine ... from all parts of the world."

"I think as people who are working in academia for child development and well-being, it is sometimes possible that we forget the emotional touch or grief extending to children that we don't necessarily work with," she said. "But that doesn't mean that we don't grieve for other children, all of them are ours, from all parts of the world experiencing very sad events including war and conflict."

Ozturk said during the hearing that, should she be released on bail, Tufts has offered her several housing options she hopes to take up in order to finish her Ph.D.

In sworn declarations and court hearings, Ozturk and her lawyers stressed the urgent need for her to be released, noting she has had at least 12 asthma attacks since she was detained. They also accused the detention facility of being overcrowded and unsanitary, which they said may be affecting her well-being.

PHOTO: People gather for a rally in support of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and Columbia University student activist Mohsen Mahdawi in Foley Square on May 6, 2025, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, FILE)

At one point during the hearing, she was granted a break to take asthma medication after appearing at several points to clutch her chest as she struggled to speak. She testified she had an asthma attack at an airport in Atlanta when she was being transported to Louisiana.

"I was afraid and I was crying," she testified, adding that her daily maintenance inhaler was not initially provided to her.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that the government revoked Ozturk's visa due to her pro-Palestinian activism.

"If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus -- we're not going to give you a visa," stated Rubio, who said that the State Department may have revoked more than 300 student visas since the beginning of the second Trump administration.

Tufts University doctoral student out of ICE custody after judge orders her release originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Erik and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections via AP file)

A judge is expected to rule Friday on the effort to remove Los Angeles Countys top prosecutor from Erik and Lyle Menendezs bid to reduce their prison sentences after their defense team accused the district attorney of bias.

Los Angeles County Superior County Judge Michael Jesic is also expected to rule whether a risk assessment can be admitted as evidence at their resentencing hearing.

Prison and parole officials conducted the assessment, which examines the risk the brothers may pose to the public if they are released from prison, as part of a separate request for clemency that Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, made to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The brothers are serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Theyve claimed the killings were in self-defense after Lyle Menendez confronted their father about sexually abusing his younger brother.

Prosecutors have described the killings as cold-blooded and financially motivated.

The brothers' first trial ended with a hung jury in 1994. They were convicted of first-degree murder after a second trial two years later.

Their resentencing effort  which could make them eligible for parole immediately if it is granted  was supported by former Los Angeles County District George Gascon, who said theyve been exceptional prisoners during the more than three decades theyve spent behind bars.

Many of the brothers' relatives  and some celebrities  have championed their cause and cited their accomplishments behind bars, including their assistance to inmates with disabilities, college courses theyve completed and a green space beautification project they undertook at the Southern California prison where theyre incarcerated.

Gascons replacement, Nathan Hochman, has opposed the resentencing, saying there are 16 unacknowledged lies about the killings that the brothers havent accounted for. Among them, he has said, was their account that they killed their parents in self-defense.

Jesic will ultimately determine whether they should be resentenced.

Hochman moved to withdraw his predecessors request, but the effort failed, and the opposing sides were supposed to air their differences during a two-day hearing last month. Hours into the proceedings, Jesic postponed the resentencing bid and said he would instead consider the risk assessments  which havent been made public  and the defenses argument that Hochmans office should be thrown off the case.

In a filing, the defense pointed to a lawyer who previously represented a Menendez relative who opposed the brothers resentencing and was later hired by Hochman to run his offices victims services unit. The lawyer doesnt appear to have been properly walled from the case and hasnt treated other relatives fairly, according to the filing.

"No one from the District Attorney's victims services department has contacted even a single of the family members whose views conflicted with the views" of that lawyer's former client, the filing says.

The filling also cites gruesome crime scene photographs that were shown at a hearing last month without warning while Menendez family members were in the courtroom.

Hochman apologized for the photos but called the effort to remove his office from the case a drastic and desperate step that misses what he has described as one of the central issues in the brothers' resentencing  assessing whether they have taken full responsibility for their crimes.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in Washington on March 1, 2019. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP file)

WASHINGTON  Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor urged lawyers Thursday night to "stand up" at a time when the profession is under attack from the Trump administration.

Speaking at a meeting hosted by the American Bar Association, the nation's biggest legal group, she said it was an "act of solidarity" to appear at the event in Washington.

"In all of the uncertainty that exists at this moment, this is our time to stand up and be heard," Sotomayor said.

Right now we cant lose the battles we are facing," she added.

Follow live politics coverage here

The Trump administration has targeted the American Bar Association itself as part of a broader assault on lawyers.

Sotomayor gave what could be viewed as a pep talk for the assembled lawyers of the group's Tort, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section.

If youre not used to fighting losing battles, dont become a lawyer," she said. Our job is to stand for people who cant do it themselves.

"For me, being here with you is an act of solidarity," she added, prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience of lawyers.

Sotomayor has spoken out several times in recent months. In March, she talked about the need of the courts to be fearlessly independent.

Chief Justice John Roberts also stressed the importance of independent courts in a public appearance in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday.

In total, three of the nine justices have defended the judiciary since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, the most outspoken being Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was more explicit in saying last week that the criticism and intimidation of individual judges were designed to intimidate the judiciary.

The Trump administration has assailed the American Bar Association in part for its support of diversity efforts, with the Justice Department, among other things, barring lawyers from participating in its events.
By Ahmed Aboulenein

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended new surgeon general pick Casey Means on Thursday from attacks from influential far-right activist Laura Loomer, whose critiques of Trump administration officials have preceded their ouster.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Means, a physician, health entrepreneur, and vocal proponent of Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, after abruptly withdrawing his nomination of Janette Nesheiwat a day before her Senate committee confirmation hearing.

Loomer is a prominent voice within Trump's Make America Great Again movement and has claimed credit for influencing his personnel decisions in the past, including the dismissal of six members of his National Security Council. She called for Nesheiwat's nomination to be withdrawn earlier this week.

On Thursday, Loomer described Means as a "terrible pick by President Trump" and a "MAHA grifter" on social media platform X, saying she was not a practicing physician and citing her writings on spiritual practices. She accused Kennedy of appointing "Marxists and Trump haters" as health secretary.

Kennedy said Means, a longtime ally and prominent voice in his "Make America Healthy Again" movement, was the perfect choice for surgeon general, because she had left the traditional medical system. Means could not be reached for comment.

"Casey has excelled in every endeavor she has undertaken. She was President of her Stanford undergrad class, was a standout at Stanford Medical School, and was a top performer in surgical residency," Kennedy wrote on X. "She had the courage to leave traditional medicine because she realized her patients weren't getting better."

He blamed "badly entrenched interests--including Big Food and its industry-funded social media gurus" for the backlash against Means.

Kennedy went on to defend Means in a Fox News interview on Thursday night and said the MAHA commission report Trump tasked him with would be coming next week.

Trump signed an executive order to establish a commission to "Make America Healthy Again," during Kennedy's swearing in ceremony on February 13 and tasked it with investigating chronic illness and delivering an action plan to fight childhood diseases, starting with a report due within 100 days.

Kennedy also said he had a frank discussion with pharmaceutical companies on Wednesday on how to reduce direct advertising to consumers, but provided no details.

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Michael Perry)
Rep. Elise Stefanik and her fellow New York Republicans are pushing back on efforts to lift the cap on state and local tax deductions. (Kevin Lamarque / Pool Photo via AP file)

WASHINGTON  Four New York Republicans issued a blistering joint statement Thursday rejecting an offer they said came from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and the House's top tax writer on how to expand the state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT.

Their firm opposition in the narrowly divided House spells trouble for GOP leaders as they hope to advance the tax part of their party-line bill for President Donald Trumps agenda through committee next week. They can ultimately afford to lose only three Republican votes on the House floor.

Lifting the $10,000 cap on SALT deductions, which was imposed by Trump's 2017 tax law, is a make-or-break issue for several GOP lawmakers in high-tax states like New York and New Jersey, who have been negotiating with party leaders on a compromise.

But Reps. Elise Stefanik, Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota and Mike Lawler said Johnson and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., are proceeding with a policy to lift it to $30,000, which they consider woefully insufficient.

Weve negotiated in good faith on SALT from the startfighting for the taxpayers we represent in New York. Yet with no notice or agreement, the Speaker and the House Ways and Means Committee unilaterally proposed a flat $30,000 SALT capan amount they already knew would fall short of earning our support, the four Republicans said in the statement.

Its not just insultingit risks derailing President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill. New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get backunlike many so-called low-tax states that depend heavily on federal largesse. A higher SALT cap isnt a luxury. Its a matter of fairness, they added. We reject this offer.

LaLota has been the loudest voice for expanding the SALT deduction. And Lawler and Stefanik are considering running for governor in New York, where the issue looms large.

Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee met privately a few hours earlier to resolve their differences ahead of the committee's markup next week. SALT is one of several difficult issues they must address.

Earlier in the day, before the House adjourned for the week, Johnson suggested when a reporter asked about a possible $30,000 SALT cap that the issue was not yet settled.

Ive heard that number, and Ive heard others, as well, but its still an ongoing discussion amongst the members, and I think well find the right point, Johnson said. Im not going to handicap it. ... We want to make sure that most of the constituents, that the large share, the vast majority of the constituents of the affected districts, are covered by that. And I think we can find the right number thatll do it and satisfy all the various concerns about it.

A spokesperson for the Ways and Means Committee did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Notably, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., a rare member of the "SALT Caucus" who is on the Ways and Means Committee, did not sign on to Thursday's statement. She said Wednesday that the issue was still a work in progress.

Well get there. Its just a little work. We have very SALT-y members, and then we have the low-sodium members, Malliotakis told NBC News. We've just got to find that compromise.
That dream trip might look good on your calendar, but it's wise to check the fine print before packing. As of May 2025, the U.S. State Department has flagged 21 countries with its highest-level advisory: Do Not Travel. Adventure's greatbut so is coming home safe.

Sudan

Credit: flickr

Sudan has become one of the most dangerous places on the map, flagged under the State Departments most severe travel advisory. Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has forced more than 14 million people from their homes.

Burma (Myanmar)

Credit: flickr

Since the 2021 governing coup, Myanmar has plunged into chaos, marked by airstrikes, mass arrests, and a conscription law that pushes civilians into state-led ranks.Medical care is inaccessible for most citizens, and explosive hazards make movement risky. With conflict escalating and basic services collapsing, the region poses extreme danger for anyone considering a visit.

Russia

Credit: flickr

Planning a trip where your credit cards don't work and diplomatic support is extremely limited? That's the situation for U.S. citizens in Russia. Drone strikes have reached major cities, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to fuel unrest. With limited support and rising dangers, travel to Russia comes with serious complications.

Somalia

Credit: flickr

Somalia ranks among the highest-risk countries included in Washingtons strictest travel warning. Piracy off the coast has seen a troubling resurgence, most notably in December 2024, when pirates hijacked a Chinese-owned vessel and demanded a $10 million ransom. Medical services are sparse, especially outside cities.

Libya

Credit: Reddit

Libya's ancient ruins and scenic coastlines once drew travelers worldwide. Now, the U.S. government deems it a high-risk travel destination. The power vacuum left after Gaddafi's fall has fueled armed conflict, militia control, and a collapsed security system. Theres been no American diplomatic presence in the country since 2014.

Ukraine

Credit: Reddit

Ukraine presently carries the State Department's highest risk rating due to ongoing conflict with Russia. Missile and drone strikes have damaged infrastructure across the country, including areas far from the front lines. Support from U.S. diplomatic officials is restricted due to security constraints.

Belarus

Credit: flickr

Belarus is listed under the highest-level U.S. travel alert due to its role in the invasion against Ukraine and ongoing internal repression. As a combat staging ground for Russia, it poses risks near border areas. No U.S. diplomats remain in Belarus following the 2022 closure.

Afghanistan

Credit: Reddit

Afghanistan remains one of the highest-risk countries for American travelers. Since the Taliban's return in 2021, the security situation has worsened, with groups like ISIS-K operating across the country. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul shut down the same year, cutting off consular support entirely. Americans face serious risks, including detention without cause and very restricted medical resources, especially outside Kabul.

Iraq

Credit: Reddit

Iraq is under the top-tier U.S. travel warning due to persistent violence, terrorism, and kidnappings. Armed groups, including ISIS, continue to operate and launch attacks across the country. Even the Kurdistan Region, once seen as more stable, has experienced unrest. Assistance from American authorities is constrained by the security environment, and conditions can worsen quickly without warning.

North Korea

Credit: Reddit

North Korea ranks among the most restrictive and high-risk travel destinations worldwide. The country's legal system operates with little transparency, and minor actions, like leaving behind religious materials or snapping a photo in the wrong spot, can lead to arrest. U.S. travelers have faced harsh consequences, including lengthy detentions and, in some tragic cases, their demises.

Yemen

Credit: Reddit

A complex crisis overshadows Yemen's rich history and stunning landscapes. The ongoing conflict has worn down Myanmars infrastructure, disrupting daily routines and cutting off access to basic services like medical care, power, and water supply. Travelers should know the current challenges, including very few functioning hospitals and disrupted services.

Syria

Credit: flickr

Syria's civil unrest, ignited in 2011, has devastated the nation and led to persistent unrest and danger. Armed groups have been known to put civilians and travelers at serious risk. Authorities frequently detain people without due process, and kidnappings remain a threat.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Credit: flickr

The Democratic Republic of the Congo falls under the most severe advisory level. Armed groups in the eastern provinces continue to drive unrest, making violence and kidnappings a regular threat. U.S. assistance on the ground is nearly impossible due to unreliable infrastructure and security challenges.

Mali

Credit: pexels

Mali is under a Level 4 advisory due to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Extremist groups control vast swaths of territory, and Westerners are frequent targets. In 2023, multiple foreign aid workers were abducted near the Burkina Faso border. With limited access to emergency services, travel here comes with severe, life-threatening risks.

Haiti

Credit: pexels

Haitis inclusion on the Do Not Travel list follows surging gang violence and political instability. Armed groups have overtaken parts of Port-au-Prince, and kidnappings have skyrocketed. Even hospitals and aid organizations are being forced to scale back. With the U.S. Embassy unable to guarantee safe evacuation, travelers are strongly urged to stay away.

Lebanon

Credit: flickr

Lebanon's spot on the U.S. State Department's "Do Not Travel" list stems from a growing storm of unrest and insecurity. Protests tied to political and economic upheaval have turned streets into flashpoints, sometimes trapping travelers as roads, including access to the main airport, shut down with little notice. In the south, tension near the Israeli border raises the stakes.

Venezuela

Credit: Reddit

Venezuela sits high on the U.S. State Department's "Do Not Travel" list, and the reasons stack up quickly. Armed robbery, carjackings, and kidnappings are all too common, and local authorities have detained U.S. citizens under vague charges with little legal transparency. The U.S. Embassy in Caracas shut down in 2019, so help is limited.
Louisiana's state capitol building. By Nolan Mckendry

(The Center Square)  As Louisiana's legislative session continues, lawmakers are considering multiple bills aimed at increasing oversight of regulatory actions and tightening the rules for how taxpayer money is spent.

One of the early measures gaining traction is Senate Bill 59 by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, which would require legislative approval before any state agency rule with a significant fiscal impact  defined as at least $200,000 per year or $1 million over five years  could take effect. The bill passed a key Senate vote and now awaits consideration in the House.

Supporters say the bill would improve accountability by ensuring that major regulatory decisions are reviewed by elected officials. The proposal is similar to the so-called "REINS Act" model being promoted in legislatures across the country.

Under current Louisiana law, agencies must include fiscal impact statements with proposed rules, but they are not always subject to legislative approval. SB 59 would expand that oversight, requiring the fiscal office to assess potential costs and trigger committee hearings for high-impact rules. Emergency regulations would also be subject to additional fiscal scrutiny under the bill.

Meanwhile, another piece of legislation  SB184 by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Allen  would implement new standards for nongovernmental organizations that receive public dollars.

The bill, which is scheduled for further debate in the Senate Finance Committee, would require recipient organizations to provide detailed financial audits, outcome data, and statements of public purpose before receiving state appropriations.

Nonprofits would also need to be registered in Louisiana for at least one year, keep administrative costs under 15% of expenditures, and maintain a physical office in the state. Groups that fail to submit required documentation could face a five-year ban from receiving state funds.

The legislation would consolidate existing data into a searchable portal through Louisiana's Checkbook platform to allow the public and lawmakers to better monitor how funds are spent.

"These bills are part of a broader effort to increase transparency and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer money," Cloud said during a recent hearing.

In addition to the legislative activity, Governor Jeff Landry has launched a new initiativethe Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE)tasked with identifying ways to reduce waste and improve performance in state government.

Landry appointed Steve Orlando as Fiscal Responsibility Czar, who is expected to work closely with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

A news release from the governor's office says residents are encouraged to submit suggestions for improving government efficiency via email.

The DOGE initiative has drawn both support and criticism. Supporters see it as a step toward greater fiscal accountability, while critics, including some legislators, question whether it duplicates existing oversight functions already handled by the legislature and the state auditor.

"Legislators create and pass the state's annual budget, which the governor then signs, with a line-item veto," Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, said in a statement. "A new, bureaucratic entity cannot and should not supersede these constitutional powers."
Collect/Handout / Alamy Stock Photo, Carabinieri via AP Madeleine McCann and Christian Brueckner

Christian Brueckner is the primary suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who vanished from Portugal in 2007

Authorities believe McCann is dead

Brueckner is currently incarcerated on an unrelated rape conviction

German police allege they discovered disturbing messages and writings on a hard drive at Christian Brueckners home during a 2016 search, including a horrifying Skype chat in which the suspected kidnapper of Madeleine McCann allegedly wrote he wanted to capture something small and use it for days, according to a new report.

Collect/Handout / Alamy Stock Photo, Carabinieri via AP Madeleine McCann and Christian Brueckner

The disturbing evidence, according to a report this week by The Sun, also includes writings allegedly authored by Brueckner, now 48, describing fantasies about drugging a young girl and her mother outside of a preschool before abusing the child. German investigators also allegedly discovered 75 swimsuits for adolescent girls and photographs depicting child abuse.

The hard drive also included information that reportedly led police to believe Madeleine is dead, according to The Sun report, which aired this week on the Channel 4 network. Madeleine, who went missing in 2007, has never been found. German police have said Brueckner, who is currently in prison on an unrelated rape conviction, is the primary suspect.

According to the newspaper, the newly revealed evidence came from a 2016 search at Brueckner's home, which resulted in authorities discovering the hard drive underneath his buried dog.

PEOPLE recently looked back at the 2007 abduction of Madeleine. No one has ever been charged in the 3-year-old British girls disappearance.

Related: What Happened to Madeleine McCann? A Complete Timeline of Her Disappearance

Handout/Getty Madeleine McCann

Madeleine, who would've turned 22 next week, is believed to have been taken from her familys vacation apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007. Madeleine was just days shy of celebrating her 4th birthday at the time of her disappearance, and had been left alone at the family's vacation apartment with her twin 2-year-old siblings while their parents Kate and Gerry McCann dined at a nearby restaurant.

The McCanns were initially considered suspects in their daughters disappearance after forensic tests revealed traces of Madeleine's blood in a car they rented 25 days after her disappearance. However, more than a decade later, police zeroed in on Brueckner and named him a primary suspect in the case.

German authorities previously said they have evidence that connects Brueckner to Madeleine's case.

Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who was leading the investigation into Brueckner, said during a 2020 CNN interview that authorities "actually have findings that suggest that he is Madeleine McCann's murderer." However, Wolters lamented that investigators had insufficient evidence to convict Brueckner of Madeleine's kidnapping and murder. By 2022, German and Portuguese authorities announced they had an official suspect but did not clarify whether it was Brueckner.

Now, the new Sun investigative report says that authorities have continued searching Brueckners property for clues, discovering his deceased dog, and a wallet containing six USB sticks and two memory cards buried underneath the animal.

One hard drive was described by police as "deeply concerning," according to the Times of London.

Related: What We Know About Christian Brueckner, the Man Suspected of Murdering British Girl Madeleine McCann

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.

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.

Brueckner has a history of sexual abuse, including against children, PEOPLE previously reported. The German national had first been charged with committing sexual offenses against children in 1993 and was later extradited from Portugal to Germany in 2017, where he spent 17 months in prison for sexually abusing a child.

He later was sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in 2005. He is expected to be released from prison in September 2025.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

Read the original article on People
Visitors at the Osaka expo in western Japan on April 14. (Hiro Komae / AP)

Eighty-five years after his ticket was first issued for a similar event, a man was allowed to use it at this year's World Expo in Japan.

Fumiya Takenawa attended Expo 2025 in the city of Osaka with a ticket that was originally issued for the Grand International Exposition of Japan in 1940, the organizers of this year's event said in a statement on Monday.

They added that the original event did not take place because of Japans intensifying war, in the region. The Empire of Japan invaded China in 1937 and four years later it staged a surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The Expo is a global event focusing on technological innovation and sustainable development. (Buddhika Weerasinghe / Getty Images)

Takenawa, 25, bought the old ticket in March in an online sale, he told Japans Mainichi newspaper, adding that he likes collecting things from old expos and had initially used it as home decoration.

But after wondering whether it could be used for this year's event, he said he approached the organizers who agreed he could use it.

This is my first expo, and I feel part of history, he said, adding that he visited the Czech and Saudi Arabian pavilions at the expo. The person who had this ticket before me waited 85 years, and now their wish finally came true, he said.

Although he lives in Tokyo, he said he would like to revisit the expo when he travels to Osaka to see his family.

The Expo, also known as Worlds Fair, showcases scientific, technological, economic, and social progress from around the planet. Launched in 1851 Londons Crystal Palace, it is now held every five years in different locations under the supervision of an intergovernmental organization.

The event in 1940 is known as the phantom Expo as it never happened, the organizers said, adding that those with tickets for it have previously been allowed to attend the 1970 expo in Osaka and the 2005 expo in the Japanese prefecture of Aichi.

Other people with tickets from the canceled expo in 1940 would also be able to attend, they said.
Police in Worcester, Massachusetts, held a young girl's face to the ground as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained her mother on Thursday, video shows.

The footage, captured by Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, shows an ICE agent and police officer chasing after the girl, before three more officers surround her and the ICE agent backs away.

The four police officers then bring the girl to the ground, with at least one grabbing her legs and forcing her to lose her balance, the video shows. Two women, one of whom is holding a newborn baby, then can be seen trying to help the girl.

The teenage girl is screaming throughout the entirety of the incident, the video shows.

Police in Worcester, Mass., held a young girl's face to the ground as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained her mother. (Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, via NBC Boston)

The mother-daughter pair, another relative and a newborn baby were about to get into a vehicle when they were intercepted by ICE agents, neighbors told NBC Boston. The neighbors said the girl held to the ground was 16-years-old.

It is unclear what the immigration statuses are of the individuals involved in the incident. ICE did not immediately return a request for comment on the incident.

In Massachusetts, state law generally prevents local police from assisting ICE with immigration enforcement.

The Worcester Police Department defended their conduct in a lengthy statement on Thursday.

Officers were dispatched to the scene "for a report of federal agent who was surrounded by a large group of about twenty-five people," the department said. It added that officers also received a call from an individual "saying that ICE officers were on scene and refusing to show a warrant to the crowd."

Police said that when they arrived, they witnessed a "chaotic scene," with federal agents placing a woman under arrest and trying to leave with her in a vehicle.

"The crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving," the police said. "Worcester officers attempted to deescalate the situation and keep everyone safe."

Police said that as the vehicle tried to pull away with the detained woman, a juvenile girl holding a newborn baby stood in front of the car.

"As the vehicle moved away, she ran after the vehicle and kicked the passengers side of it," police said. "It appeared that she was going to run in front of the moving vehicle, and officers took her into custody."

Police said the juvenile girl was later charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

They added that another woman was arrested for pushing officers and throwing an unknown liquid substance on them as they tried to arrest the girl.

The woman, who police identified as 38-year-old Ashley Spring, was charged with assault and battery of a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer, according to police.

Spring did not immediately return a request for comment.

Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty said in a statement on Thursday night that he was "deeply disturbed" by the incident.

"Simply put, we cannot have this happen in our community," he said.

Petty added that his office was not notified by ICE about the detainment and that he asked the city manager for a full report about the incident.
Katie Stern has lived through every parents worst nightmare.

On Aug. 24, 2016, she put her newborn son Toby down for an afternoon nap  a nap he never woke up from.

Toby was 12 weeks and 5 days old. Doctors told Stern and her husband, Daniel, that their son had died from sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.

We werent brand new parents or first-time parents but to hear it was SIDS is something that shocked us, because it was just something that wasnt talked about with us at all, said Stern, 42, from Monroeville, Pennsylvania, located outside of Pittsburgh.

She honored her son by establishing The Little Fox Tobys Foundation in 2017, a nonprofit focused on grief support, education and awareness related to pregnancy and infant loss.

After eight years of advocacy, Stern was shocked to learn that a successful public health campaign dedicated to spreading SIDS awareness and prevention may face government cuts.

Tobias 'Toby' Graham Stern smiles for the camera on August 18, 2016 in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.

The Safe to Sleep campaign, spearheaded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, provides materials and messaging around evidence-based, safe sleep recommendations. The agencys participation in the program, which began in 1994 as the Back to Sleep campaign, was cut on April 1, according to Dr. Rachel Moon, a lead author of safe sleep guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

But in a statement sent to USA TODAY, the National Institutes of Health said no final decision has been made regarding the future of the Safe to Sleep campaign. While some material is still available on the website, others are temporarily unavailable to order.

Families still need this information, said said Dr. Fern Hauck, a family medicine physician and professor of family medicine and public health sciences at the University of Virginia

Studies show that 96% of SIDS cases in the U.S. are associated with at least one risk factor, while 78% were associated with two or more. Some risk factors for babies include sleeping on their side or stomach, sharing a bed with a parent or caregiver, using soft bedding or bumper pads and sleeping on an incline.

That is why this campaign is still so important, said Hauck, who helped create the AAP guidelines. There are still people out there not following the guidelines.

What causes SIDS? Study suggests genetics may be at play in sudden infant death syndrome.

The Safe to Sleep campaigns uncertain future comes as cases of sudden unexpected infant death, or SUID, rise for the first time in decades, Hauck said.

SIDS is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby less than 1 year old, according to the Mayo Clinic. Death typically occurs during sleep and is sometimes known as crib death.

Boston Childrens Hospital says SIDS is part of a larger category of unexpected infant deaths called sudden unexpected infant death, or SUID, which includes babies whose deaths are later explained.

The rate of sleep-related infant deaths increased almost 12% from 2020 to 2022, according to a January study published in JAMA Pediatrics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 3,700 babies died from SUID in 2022.

Study authors from Virginia Commonwealth University said the uptick could be partly explained by the rise of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, parental opioid use and misinformation on infant sleep practices spread on social media.

Katie Stern, her husband Daniel Stern, and sons Zeke and Lucas Stern attend the annual Ice Cream Social event by The Little Fox Toby's Foundation at Millie's Ice Cream in Pittsburgh.

This decision to take down the communications office, which harbors the Safe to Sleep campaign, is devastating, said Hauck.

The NIHs role as a leader in the Safe to Sleep campaign cant be understated, she said. The agency creates and provides free material to national institutions, healthcare providers and community organizations. It also translates the material into different languages and culturally appropriate formats, and makes updates based on the latest research and guidelines.

In addition to the loss of leadership, Stern said cutting NIH's ties to the Safe to Sleep campaign sends a disconcerting message to families who have experienced infant loss.

I felt like it was a personal message to us that Tobys death didnt matter, she said. Its heartbreaking.

Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NIH cuts: Safe to Sleep campaign helped reduce SIDS. Is it in trouble?
The family of an Arizona man killed in a road rage incident nearly four years ago brought him back last week as an AI-generated image to face the man responsible for his killing give an impact statement to the judge.

The video message created by Christopher Pelkey's sister that used his likeness and voice during the May 1 sentencing was the first time the technology was used in an Arizona court at a sentencing, according to records.

Pelkey was killed in November 2021 by Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, who was ultimately convicted of manslaughter charges. The AI-generated Pelkey spoke to Horcasitas in court and sought forgiveness.

PHOTO: Christopher Pelkey was killed in a road rage incident in Chandler in 2021. (Stacey Wales)

"In another life, we probably could have been friends," the avatar said in the video. "I believe in forgiveness and in God who forgives. I always have and I still do."

MORE: Bill would criminalize 'extremely harmful' online 'deepfakes'

Stacey Wales, Pelkey's sister, told ABC affiliate KNXV that the slain victim's friends and family "agreed this capture was a true representation of the spirit and soul of how Chris would have thought about his own sentencing as a murder victim."

Wales said she wrote the script for the video and noted that her brother was a forgiving, God-fearing man.

Dozens of other family members also provided victim impact statements and expressed anger over Horcasitas' actions.

Prosecutors asked the judge for Horcasitas to be sentenced to nine and a half years in prison, but Judge Todd Lang ultimately issued a 10 and a half year sentence. Lang said he was moved by the AI-generated video.

"I loved that AI, thank you for that. As angry as you are, as justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness," the judge said during the sentencing. "I feel that that was genuine."

PHOTO: The family of Christopher Pelkey was killed in a road rage incident in Chandler in 2021, holds a photo of him. (Stacey Wales)

Horcasitas's attorney, Jason Lamm, told ABC News that he was not given advanced notice about the video. He argued in court that Pelkey was the one who instigated the road rage incident and what the judge heard was a "kinder, more gentle" version of Pelkey.

"I appreciate the fact that victims have the right to address the court, and this was a cathartic endeavor for Stacey Wells, but this was cringe," Lamm told ABC News.

He said he has filed a notice of appeal for his client and that the use of the AI-generated video will likely be one of the points of contention.

MORE: EU launches global sting operation against AI-generated child sexual abuse material

"This will be a bellwether case not just for Arizona but also courts around the country to rule on the use of AI in victim impact statements," Lamm said.

Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Timmer provided a statement to KNXV about the use of AI in court cases.

"AI has the potential to create great efficiencies in the justice system and may assist those unschooled in the law to better present their positions. For that reason, we are excited about AI's potential. But AI can also hinder or even upend justice if inappropriately used," she said in her statement.

"A measured approach is best. Along those lines, the court has formed an AI committee to examine AI use and make recommendations for how best to use it. At bottom, those who use AIincluding courtsare responsible for its accuracy," she added.

Murder victim 'speaks' beyond the grave in AI generated video at sentencing originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A federal judge on Friday ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University who had been held for six weeks in an immigration detention center, ruling that her arrest and continued confinement were unlawful and raised serious constitutional concerns.

Judge William K. Sessions III of the U.S. District Court in Vermont found that Ozturk, who was detained in March after co-authoring a pro-Palestinian op-ed in her campus newspaper, had been targeted for her speech in a manner that violated her First Amendment and due process rights. The ruling is a sharp rebuke of the Trump administrations use of visa revocations and deportation proceedings against foreign students accused of dissenting from U.S. foreign policy.

There is no evidence here absent consideration of the op-ed, Sessions said in court, describing the governments case as hinging entirely on her protected speech. Her continued detention cannot stand.

Ozturk, who appeared virtually from an ICE facility in Louisiana, was ordered released without restrictions on her travel, allowing her to return to her home in Massachusetts.

The ruling was announced as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was in the midst of a briefing with reporters. When asked about the decision, Leavitt suggested Sessions had overstepped. Weve made quite clear that lower level judges should not be dictating the foreign policy of the United States," Leavitt said.

Later on Friday, Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, announced that the Administration is actively looking at suspending habeas corpus, the right to challenge a persons detention by the government when the U.S. has been invaded or during an insurrection. Habeas corpus has only been suspended four times since the ratification of the Constitution: during the Civil War; in South Carolina during Reconstruction to combat the Ku Klux Klan; in the Philippines during a 1905 insurrection; and in Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. The Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in time of invasion, Miller said, just days after a New York federal judge ruled that the Trump administration had not shown evidence that there was a foreign invasion to justify using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations.

Sessions order in the Ozturk case comes amid mounting scrutiny of President Donald Trumps policy of revoking student visas on the basis of perceived political threats. Since returning to office, Trump has directed his administration to act aggressively against foreign nationals who the Administration has alleged are undermining American interests, particularly in the context of criticism of Israel and campus protests against the war in Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who revoked Ozturks visa, said her presence in the U.S. was contrary to American foreign policy interests and suggested she had aligned herself with groups hostile to Jewish students. A State Department memo cited the op-ed she co-authored and alleged links to a student organization that was temporarily suspended by Tufts.

We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses, Rubio told reporters. If weve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, were going to take it away.

The administration has provided no evidence of criminal activity or direct support for a terrorist group, and immigration authorities have not charged her with a crime. But the Department of Homeland Security has argued that visa holders like Ozturk can be expelled at the discretion of the executive branch.

Judge Sessions forcefully rejected that view, warning that the governments actions could chill speech by millions and millions of noncitizens who live, study, and work in the United States.

Ozturks detention had sparked national protest and viral outrage after video emerged of masked federal agents surrounding her on a Somerville, Mass., sidewalk in March and forcing her into an unmarked vehicle. Since then, she has been held over 1,300 miles away in Louisiana, where her health has deteriorated significantly according to her lawyers. They said she suffers from chronic asthma and has experienced repeated attacks in detentionincluding one during Fridays hearing.

I believe the world is a more beautiful and peaceful place when we listen to each other and allow different perspectives to be in the room, Ozturk said in a statement read by her attorney in early April. Writing is one of the most peaceful ways of addressing systemic inequality. Efforts to target me because of my op-ed in the Tufts Daily calling for the equal dignity and humanity of all people will not deter me from my commitment to advocate for the rights of youth and children.

The ruling marks the second time in recent weeks that a Vermont federal judge has ordered the release of an international student caught in the Trump administrations visa crackdown. Last month, Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University who was detained for participating in campus protests.

The administration has argued that such revocations fall squarely within the executive branchs authority. We absolutely believe the President and the Department of Homeland Security are well within their legal rights to deport illegal immigrants, Leavitt said Friday. As for visa revocations, the Secretary of State has the right to do that as well. It is a privilege, not a right to come to this country on a visa.

But Ozturk, 30, was in the U.S. legally on a student visa when she was apprehended. Legal experts say her case could set precedent on whether visa-holders have constitutional rights in immigration custody, and whether political expression can lawfully trigger removal proceedings.

While Judge Sessionss ruling pertains only to her release from detention, the Trump administrations broader deportation case against Ozturk is expected to proceed in immigration court.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
May 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM

An ambulance transports victims of a fatal helicopter crash, in Maduru Oya, east of capital Colombo on May 9, 2025. (AFP via Getty Images)

Six people have died after a military helicopter plunged into a reservoir in Sri Lanka.

Air force spokesperson Eranda Geeganage said the Bell 212 helicopter was carrying 12 people from the army and air force to a military pass out event on Friday (May 9).

The military helicopter plunged into a reservoir in Maduru Oya, some 280 kilometers (175 miles) northeast of the capital Colombo.

All the passengers onboard were recovered alive and transported to hospital. Six people from the army and air force died later in a hospital, Geeganage said.

"The helicopter was assigned to conduct a grappling exercise at a passing-out parade. Four special forces personnel and two Air Force gunmen died of their injuries," Geeganage told Reuters.

The reason for the crash in the North Central Province of the country was not immediately known and an investigation into its cause is currently underway.

Local media reports suggest twelve people, including two pilots, were on board at the time of the crash.

A military official told AFP the personnel were taking part in a demonstration flight and preparing for a rope jump when their Bell 212 plunged into a lake at Maduru Oya.
May 9, 2025 at 5:26 AM

By Ben Blanchard and Liz Lee

TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) -Taiwan President Lai Ching-te sent congratulations on Friday to newly appointed Pope Leo, saying Taiwan looked forward to building on existing ties to advance peace and justice, while China offered a more low-key response.

The Vatican is one of only 12 countries to retain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, though Lai did not attend Pope Francis' funeral last month, sending instead former vice president Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic.

Francis had led a wide-ranging outreach to officially atheist China, including signing a deal on the appointment of Catholic bishops in that country, worrying Taiwan.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Lai sent a congratulatory message via its embassy to the Vatican.

"We look forward to building on our diplomatic ties with the Holy See, 83 years strong, to advance peace, justice, solidarity & benevolence," Lai wrote in English on his X account.

China, which has no official diplomatic relations with the Vatican, congratulated the new pope, saying it hoped for continuous improvement of ties.

"We hope the Vatican under the new pontiff will continue to engage in dialogue with China in a constructive spirit," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press conference in Beijing.

Two government-backed groups, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops' Conference of Catholic Church in China, also sent congratulations, the official Xinhua news agency said in a one-line report.

Last October, China and the Vatican extended for four years a landmark 2018 agreement signed when Francis was pope on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China.

Taiwan's foreign ministry did not say whether Lai might attend Leo's inauguration. In 2013, then-president Ma Ying-jeou went to Francis' inauguration.

Taiwan's embassy to the Vatican posted a picture of its outgoing ambassador, Matthew Lee, shaking hands with Leo at a Vatican event in 2023.

Lee told Taiwan's official Central News Agency that when he told Leo, whose name is Robert Prevost, that he was from Taiwan, Leo's responded that he was able to distinguish the difference between "democratic Taiwan and communist China".

Vatican official Paulin Batairwa Kubuya, under-secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, is visiting Taiwan to attend a conference and meet members of its different faiths.

China says Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to state-to-state ties, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects.

Chinese Catholics are split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.

Taiwan puts no curbs on freedom of religion.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)
FILE - Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden arrives at the presentation of the Gershwin Prize, to be awarded to Joni Mitchell at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington March 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the president and his agenda.

Hayden was notified in an email late Thursday from the White Houses Presidential Personnel Office, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press. Confirmed by the Senate to the job in 2016, Hayden was the first woman and the first African American to be librarian of Congress.

Carla," the email began. "On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service. A spokesperson for the Library of Congress confirmed that the White House told Hayden she was dismissed.

Hayden, whose 10-year term was set to expire next year, had come under backlash from a conservative advocacy group that had vowed to root out those standing in the way of Trump's agenda. The group, American Accountability Foundation, accused her and other library leaders of promoting children's books with radical content and literary material authored by Trump opponents.

The current #LibrarianOfCongress Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids, AAF said on its X account earlier Thursday, just hours before the firing was made public. Its time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!"

All around the government, Trump has been weeding out officials who he believes dont align with his agenda, from the Justice Department to the Pentagon and beyond. At times, the firings come after conservative voices single out officials for criticism.

Earlier Thursday, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was pushed out one day after he had testified that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle the organization. Trump has suggested that individual states, not FEMA, should take the lead on responding to hurricanes, tornadoes and other crises.

At the Pentagon, more than a half-dozen top general officers have been fired since January, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. The only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers, have also been fired.

The unexpected move Thursday against Hayden infuriated congressional Democrats, who initially disclosed the firing.

Enough is enough," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who called Hayden "a trailblazer, a scholar, and a public servant of the highest order.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Hayden was callously fired by Trump and demanded an explanation from the administration as to why she was dismissed.

Hayden, has spent her entire career serving people  from helping kids learn to read to protecting some of our nations most precious treasures, said Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee that oversees the Library.

She is an American hero," he said.

The Library of Congress, with its stately buildings across from the U.S. Capitol, holds a vast collection of the nation's books and history, which it makes available to the public and lawmakers. It houses the papers of nearly two dozen presidents and more than three dozen Supreme Court justices.

It also has collections of rare books, prints and photographs, as well as troves of music and valuable artifacts  like a flute owned by President James Madison, which the singer and rapper Lizzo played in a 2022 performance arranged by Hayden.

The Democratic leaders praised Hayden, who had been the longtime leader of Baltimores library system, for a tenure that helped modernize the Library and make it more accessible with initiatives into rural communities and online. She is a graduate of Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., applauded Hayden as an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress.

Donald Trumps unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock, Jeffries said.

The Library of Congress is the Peoples Library. There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later, he said.

New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate panel that oversees funding for the library, said the firing, which he said came at 6:56 p.m., was taking his assault on Americas libraries to a new level.

Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone, he said.

Robert Newlen, the principal deputy librarian, said he would serve as acting librarian of Congress until further instruction in a separate email seen by the AP.

I promise to keep everyone informed, he wrote to colleagues.

Hayden spoke recently of how libraries changed her own life, and opened her to the world.

Libraries are the great equalizer, she posted on X during National Library Week last month.

And when you have a free public library in particular, she said, its an opportunity center for people all walks of life, and you are giving them the opportunity to make choices on which information, entertainment and inspiration means the most to them.
shake shack Photo of Shake Shack burgers

Shake Shack is celebrating National Hamburger Month by giving out free food.

In honor of the holiday, fans of the fast-casual restaurant chain can score a different Shake Shack single burger for free with a $10 minimum purchase from now until Sunday, June 1.

A press release explains that the offer is valid on qualifying orders placed at a restaurant kiosk or for delivery or pick-up via the Shake Shack Mobile App or shakeshack.com. It is only available at participating U.S. Shake Shack locations, excluding airports, stadiums, arenas, travel plazas, and museums.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Gary Hershorn/Getty Photo of a Shake Shack location

Those looking to take advantage of the promotion must also know that it is not valid for drive-thru orders or purchases made through third-party delivery apps. There is a limit of one free promotional burger per order.

To obtain the free burger, use the code "BURGERMONTH" when placing your order of a minimum of $10 worth of food or beverage products. The code is case-sensitive and will only work in all caps.

The offer excludes all paid add-ons such as avocado and bacon, and it is only available while supplies last. It cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions.

The free burger of choice with a $10 minimum purchase will vary every couple of days. From now until Sunday, May 11, the free item is a SmokeShack.

Cooked on a toasted potato bun, it features a 100% Angus beef patty with American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers and ShackSauce, per the restaurant's website.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 28 : Shown is the ShackBurger and fries at the Shake Shack on January 28, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The burger chain is expecting its IPO later this week. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Photo of a Shake Shack burger

From Monday, May 12, to Sunday, May 18, the free item being offered is a Bacon Cheeseburger, which contains a 100% Angus beef patty topped with American cheese and bacon on toasted potato buns.

The Avocado Bacon Burger will then be free from Monday, May 19, to Sunday, May 25. It consists of a 100% Angus beef patty with American cheese, topped with freshly sliced avocado, applewood-smoked bacon, and ShackSauce on toasted potato buns.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The last free burger offering occurs from Monday, May 19, to Sunday, June 1. Those who make a qualifying purchase during those dates can get a free Shackburger inside toasted potato buns containing a 100% Angus beef patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce.



Read the original article on People
NH Department of Corrections Michael Edward Schilz







The human remains of a sex offender have reportedly been found in the New Hampshire

According to reports, a body was found in a shed across the street from a state prison facility

An autopsy identified the remains as Michael Schilz







The human remains of a sex offender have reportedly been found.

According to ABC affiliate WMTV, police were alerted about the remains on April 21 after a man found the materials in a shed across the street from the New Hampshire State Prison.

Per ABC affiliate WMUR, on Monday, May 5, an autopsy said the remains belong to 59-year-old Michael Schilz. The Department of Corrections confirmed that Schilz was a convicted sex offender on parole.

According to reports, the remains had likely been at the location for a while.

Per the Concord Monitor, Lt. Thomas Yerkes said that it was possible the remains have been in the area for as long as years due to the condition of the skeletons.

A cause of death has currently not been determined and charges have not been made yet, Yerkes told the outlet.

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NH Department of Corrections Michael Edward Schilz wanted poster

PEOPLE has contacted the Conrad Police Department, while NH Department of Corrections told PEOPLE they did not have a comment at this time.

According to Concord Monitor, Schilz was "convicted in 2005 of aggravated felonious sexual assault on a minor."

Following his time in prison, he was released in December of 2021. He had also been wanted after violating his parole from his initial conviction, the outlet reported.

Per WMUR, Schilz, who officials said was homeless following his release, was one of the the Department of Corrections fugitives of the week in October 2023.

Read the original article on People
Elizabeth Gomez, 54, of Huntington Park, right, receives a Prevnar and shingles vaccine by pharmacy manager Sandra Gonzalez at CVS in Huntington Park on August 28, 2024. Image credit: Christina House/Getty Images

This article originally appeared on Medical News Today

Adults ages 50 and over can be vaccinated against shingles.

Past studies show the shingles vaccine may provide additional health benefits.

A new study found that people who receive the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, with this protective benefit lasting for up to eight years after vaccination.

One out of every three adults around the world will develop shingles  a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Adults ages 50 and older can be vaccinated against shingles. The vaccine provides more than 90% protection against developing shingles.

Past studies show that in addition to providing protection against shingles, the vaccine may also provide other health benefits, including a potentially lower risk for dementia, as well as heart conditions such as heart attack and stroke.

Shingles has traditionally been regarded as an infectious disease, Sooji Lee, MD, researcher in the Center for Digital Health in the Medical Science Research Institute at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea, told Medical News Today.

However, previous studies suggested an association between shingles and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. This points to a potential link between infections and chronic diseases. This is why further investigation into the broader impact of shingles vaccination is essential, she explained.

Lee is the first author of a new study that has found people who receive the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease, with this protective benefit lasting for up to eight years post-vaccination.

The findings were recently published in the European Heart Journal.

Shingles vaccine may lower risk for any cardiovascular events

For this study, researchers analyzed medical data from more than 1.2 million adults ages 50 or over living in South Korea from 2012 onward. Scientists determined whether or not participants received a live zoster vaccine for shingles, which contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus.

At the studys conclusion, researchers found that participants who received the shingles vaccine had a 23% lower chance of experiencing any cardiovascular events, as well as a 26% lower risk for any major cardiovascular event, such as stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease.

Scientists also found that the shingles vaccine lowered a persons risk for heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.

The finding that vaccination was associated with a 23% reduction in cardiovascular risk even in a previously healthy population highlights the potential of shingles vaccination as a preventive measure against heart disease, Lee said.

Shingles can trigger inflammation in blood vessels, potentially leading to cardiovascular events. By preventing the shingles infection, the vaccine likely reduces this inflammatory response, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.

 Sooji Lee, MD

Vaccines heart-related protection lasts for up to 8 years

Additionally, Lee and her team found that the cardiovascular protective effects of the shingles vaccine last for as long as eight years. And the strongest protection occurred in the first two to three years after receiving the vaccine.

This suggests that the shingles vaccine provides a long-term protective effect on heart health, with the most significant benefits observed in the first two to three years post-vaccination, Lee explained. Given that recombinant shingles vaccines are now more widely used and have shown higher effectiveness, our next step is to study their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes.

This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies following a healthy general population over a period of up to 12 years, Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Digital Health at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in South Korea, and lead author of the study says in a press release.

For the first time, this has allowed us to examine the association between shingles vaccination and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease. We were able to account for various other health conditions, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic status, making our findings more robust.

 Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD

However, as this study is based on an Asian cohort, the results may not apply to all populations, Yon continues. While we conducted rigorous analysis, this study does not establish a direct causal relationship, so potential bias from other underlying factors should be considered.

Further research in other demographics needed

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, about this study.

These results highlight the significant morbidity and mortality that is associated with shingles and should further drive our efforts to vaccinate as many eligible patients as possible, Chen commented.

Varicella-zoster, the virus that causes shingles, has been shown to increase inflammation, cause blood vessel damage, and increase clotting, all of which can lead to serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. The shingles vaccine, by preventing varicella-zoster infection, would thus decrease cardiovascular risk by preventing the adverse reactions associated with the virus.

 Cheng-Han Chen, MD

The varicella-zoster virus can cause complications with many different organ systems, including the heart and nervous system, Chen continued.

Research on the shingles vaccine can help us better understand and reduce the health effects of varicella-zoster infection. This study was performed, specifically in an Asian population. Further research will be needed to confirm whether the findings are applicable to a wider demographic, he added.

Observational findings that still need causal research

MNT also spoke with Grant Simons, MD, chief of Heart Rhythm Services at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this research, who commented that he found the results to be somewhat surprising, though not entirely unexpected.

While a link between shingles and cardiovascular events has been established, the extent of the risk reduction associated with the shingles vaccine shown in this study is notable, Simons explained.

The magnitude of the risk reduction (22-26%) across various cardiovascular events is higher than some might have anticipated, which is surprising. Previous studies have suggested potential benefit, but this very large study provides stronger evidence and quantifies the potential impact more definitively. The duration of protection (up to eight years) is also a positive surprise.

 Grant Simons, MD

The study provides compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of the shingles vaccine, with a stronger and longer-lasting protective effect than previously anticipated, Simons continued. Although this is an observational study, its large size is somewhat compelling. While the biological mechanisms are still being investigated, the findings are significant for public health recommendations regarding vaccination in older adults.

However, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully elucidate the specific pathways involved, Simons added. This study provides strong observational evidence for the association, but further investigation is required to confirm and detail the causal mechanisms.

View the original article on Medical News Today
Part of a human skull discovered on a Northern California beach more than 32 years ago was just identified as a woman who went missing five years earlier, authorities said.

In 1993, a man found the partial human skull on a beach near the city of Trinidad, roughly 80 miles south of the Oregon state line, and reported it to police, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. Forensic anthropologists at the time analyzed a DNA sample from the bone but were unable to find a match.

Over three decades later and with funds allocated by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman last year, the sheriff's office said it partnered with forensic genealogy firm Othram to help clear up a backlog of unidentified human remains cases. Using forensic genetic genealogy, the company managed to build a comprehensive DNA profile that listed genetic relatives, including a possible daughter.

By last September, results pointed to the remains belonging to a woman named Kay Josephine Medin, who went missing in 1987. The sheriff's office said investigators located the daughter, who shared a DNA sample that confirmed Medin's identity.

"This week, Josephine Medin's loved ones got the answers they've needed for 32 years since her disappearance. I hope this discovery helps them find peace and closure," Huffman wrote May 7 on X.

Kay's disappearance was quickly reported suspicious

Years before the skull sighting on the beach, Kay Josephine Medin was reported missing to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 3, 1987 by her husband, Nickolas Medin.

Upon returning home from a business trip, he told authorities his wife was nowhere to be found, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

Officials searched the home, but only found her purse and personal property, the sheriff's office said. Authorities contacted Kay's friends and family. Her doctor told officials she had no severe medical issues and her boss said Kay's spirits had been up around the time.

Anonymous letter directed police to Kay's remains

Nearly four months later, the sheriff's office received a package through U.S. mail containing skeletal remains and an anonymous letter with directions to more human remains.

Detectives went to the listed location and uncovered more human remains, which were later identified as Kay after using dental records, the sheriff's office said. A death certificate was issued the following year, however she stayed on the missing persons list as there was no complete body recovery, according to the sheriff's office.

Kay's death is still an open case, so the sheriff's office urges anyone with information to contact the office at (707) 441--3024.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cold case breakthrough: Skull found on California beach finally ID'ed
Demonstrators outside the department of corrections before the firing squad execution of Mikal Mahdi on April 11 in Columbia, S.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images)

Mikal Mahdi was executed on April 11, becoming the second man in South Carolina to be executed by a three-person firing squad this year after admitting to killing an off-duty police officer in 2004.

Mahdis legal team filed a complaint with the South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday saying that the execution was botched. The filing contained a report from forensic pathologist Dr. Jonathan Arden, who reviewed Mahdis autopsy and photographs of the gunshot wounds and bullet fragments.

The attorneys claim that only two of the bullets struck Mahdi, and that they largely missed his heart in such a way that he suffered long enough to violate constitutional law against cruel and unusual punishment.

Mikal Mahdi. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AFP - Getty Images)

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDOC) commissioned an autopsy that found all three bullets struck Mahdi's heart, and that other statements are "interpretations" of what the examination showed.

The causes of this botch are unknown, Mahdis legal team wrote in their notice. Did one member of the execution team miss Mr. Mahdi entirely? Did they not fire at all? How did the two who did shoot Mr. Mahdi miss his heart?

Two entrance wounds for three bullets

Mahdis autopsy that was commissioned by the SCDOC, performed by Dr. Marcus Bradley, showed the inmate only had two gunshot wounds, even though three bullets were simultaneously fired, with no exit wounds.

Bradley noted that one wound  labeled gunshot wound A  represented the pathway of two gunshots, meaning two bullets entered through the same exact hole.

Arden, with a 40-year-career in forensic pathology, called this "extraordinarily uncommon" in his report. He wrote that even if both bullets had the same entrance wound, it would be "larger and more irregular in configuration," than a typical wound of one projectile.

The autopsy photograph of Mahdi's wounds showed "two typical gunshot wounds," Arden found.

Arden said in his report he spoke with Bradley on April 24, who said he took the photograph of the gunshot wounds to "document the unexpected finding."

Bradley "acknowledged that such an occurrence would be 'remote' in his estimation," the report stated.

A third doctor, forensic pathologist Dr. Carl Wigren, reviewed the autopsy for NPR, concluding the odds of two bullets entering through the exact same entrance wound were pretty miniscule.

The SCDOC noted there were no bullet fragments found in the execution room.

Arden compared Mahdi's wounds to Brad Sigmon's, the first South Carolina man to be executed by firing squad in the state on March 7. Sigmon's execution marked the first death by firing squad in the U.S. in the past 15 years.

Photographs from Sigmons autopsy showed three separate entrance wounds, all in the center-left of the chest and visibly higher than Mahdis wounds.

The autopsy confirms what I saw and heard, one of Mahdis attorneys, David Weiss, said in a statement. Mikal suffered an excruciating death. We dont know what went wrong, but nothing about his execution was humane.

'Breaths continued ... for 80 seconds'

South Carolina passed a law in 2021 allowing inmates to choose a third method of execution  firing squad  in addition to lethal injection and electric chair.

Inmates challenged the law, but the state Supreme Court affirmed the legality of a firing squad in 2024, on the basis that a person would suffer no longer than 15 seconds before going unconscious, if shot in the heart.

Arden testified as an expert in the case. The judges wrote that Arden's testimony established the 15-second period of time during which an inmate would suffer pain, unless there is a massive botch of the execution in which each member of the firing squad simply misses the inmates heart.

At Mahdi's execution, a witness reporter from the Associated Press wrote that Mahdi cried out as the shots hit him, his arms flexed.

"He groaned two more times about 45 seconds after that," the report stated. "His breaths continued for about 80 seconds before he appeared to take one final gasp."

The SCDOC autopsy said the bullets struck Mahdi's heart in the right ventricle, as well as his diaphragm, left liver lobe and pancreas  all areas of the lower chest and abdomen.

Not 'obviously' on the heart

But in his report, Arden stated the location of Mahdi's entrance wounds were "on the lowest area of the chest and not obviously overlying the heart," although the location of the target relative to Mahdi's heart cannot be determined.

A spokesperson for the SCDOC said a medical professional used a stethoscope to place the target and a chest X-ray was conducted. Witnesses saw the target pushed into the wound in Mahdis chest.

Compared to Sigmonds entrance wounds, which were all in the left-center of his chest, Mahdis were visibly lower.

Arden said Bradley noted he thought the entrance wounds would be higher in the chest and did not expect to find such severe damage to the liver.

"Mikhal's heart was left almost completely intact," Weiss told NBC News, indicating that was the cause of in the inmate's prolonged death. "That's not to say that it was missed entirely."

"Both the forensic medical evidence and the reported eyewitness observations of the execution corroborate that Mr. Mahdi was alive and reacting longer than was intended or expected," Arden's report concluded.

Mahdi's attorneys said in the notice that they felt "obliged" to share the information in Arden's report with the state court.

The implications are horrifying for anyone facing the same choice as Mikal, Weiss said in a statement. South Carolinas refusal to acknowledge their failures with executions cannot continue.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections confirmed there are 25 people currently on South Carolina's death row. An additional man has been sentenced to death but is on death row in California, as he was sentenced in both states.

There are no current execution warrants in the state, but one could come soon, according to the South Carolina Daily Gazette.
The U.S. and United Kingdom have signed a trade deal, the first such agreement since President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on trading partners earlier this year.

The deal is set to lower tariffs on steel and automobiles and make it easier for the U.S. to export products like beef and ethanol to the U.K., according to a White House statement.

"This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries," Trump said in the statement.

But for the average U.S. consumer worried tariffs will increase household prices, economists said the deal itself isnt likely to offer much relief.

The U.S. has a $12 billion trade surplus with the United Kingdom, meaning it already exports more than it imports. Meanwhile, the baseline 10% tariff Trump announced April 2 will remain in effect for most U.K. imports, which could lead to higher prices for consumers.

The silver lining for inflation-weary consumers, according to Gary Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics? This agreement could signal more trade deals on the horizon.

"For the average consumer, (the U.K. agreement) wont be a big deal in itself, he said. But it could be a big deal because it signals a reversal of Trumps extreme tariff agenda.

How much does the US trade with the UK?

Despite being a major historical ally and trading partner, the United Kingdom ranks behind several countries in its share of U.S. international trade.

The countries Trump recently targeted with sweeping tariffs  China, Canada and Mexico  are the United States largest trading partners, providing nearly half of the foreign goods consumed in the U.S., according to a USA TODAY analysis of Census trade data.

Americans consumed $68 billion worth of goods produced in the United Kingdom in 2024, accounting for 2% of total U.S. imports from the world. At the same time, the U.S. shipped nearly $80 billion in products to the U.K., which is about 4% of total American exports worldwide.

According to a USA TODAY analysis of 2024 trade data, the top imported goods from the U.K. included cars and aircraft worth $14 billion, followed by machinery at about $13 billion and miscellaneous goods such as surgical devices, musical instruments and antiques totaling $12 billion.

Major U.S. exports to the U.K. included almost $15 billion in fuel, $13 billion in precious stones and jewelry, and $12 billion in aircraft and auto parts.

Top 5 U.S. imports from the U.K. in 2024:

Transportation equipment (vehicles, aircraft, auto parts) - $14.2 billion Machinery - $12.9 billion Miscellaneous goods (medical equipment, musical instruments, arts and antiques) - $12.3 billion Chemicals (pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, cosmetics) - $12 billion Electronics & electrical machinery - $3.6 billion

Top 5 U.S. exports to the U.K. in 2024:

Fuel (oil, gas) - $14.7 billion Stone & glass (precious stones, jewelry) - $13.3 billion Transportation equipment - $12 billion Miscellaneous goods - $9.4 billion Chemicals - $9.2 billion

Which industries benefit from this agreement?

Certain U.K. luxury automakers will benefit from the agreement, which cuts the 25% auto import tariff to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles imported into the U.S. each year.

Trump said he made the exception to help high-end U.K. vehicles from brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Jaguar, calling them special cars that are produced in limited quantities.

A news release said the U.K. will also be exempt from 25% steel and aluminum tariffs. Hufbauer said the change could help combat price increases among products from U.S. industries that use imported metal, such as construction, auto manufacturers and home appliances, although the U.S. imports a far larger share of steel from other countries. Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Vietnam supplied nearly two-thirds of steel mill product imports in 2024, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, a trade association.

Trade talks could also help keep pharmaceutical prices lower, according to Hufbauer. Chemicals  which includes pharmaceuticals  accounted for more than 17% of the U.K.s exports to the U.S. in 2024.

Trump has promised "a major tariff on pharmaceuticals. A news release from the United Kingdom's government said work will continue on the remaining sectors  such as pharmaceuticals and remaining reciprocal tariffs.

Most imports from the U.K., though, will still get hit with a 10% tariff.

Consumers got relief by not getting hit by further increases in tariffs, said Desmond Lachman, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Still, there are going to be a whole lot of goods coming from the U.K. that are going to cost 10% more.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Britain's ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, after announcing a trade deal with the U.K., in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025.

Are more trade deals on the horizon?

Lachman said the U.K. agreement could signal "bigger" deals on the horizon, such as talks with China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer are set to meet China's top economic official in Switzerland this week, a potential step toward de-escalating the trade war.

Thats the one thats key for the United States if youre worried about the consumer, Lachman said. If they dont get a deal with those people, a lot of the retails are warning that theres going to be empty shelves, theres going to be higher prices.

China, which faces 145% tariffs on most goods, sent $438.9 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024 compared to the U.K.'s $68 billion, according to Census Bureau data.

Long term, some economists worry the back-and-forth on tariffs could strain relationships between the U.S. and its trading partners.

Trust is needed for any transaction. If you lose that, people will invest less. Theyll want to trade less, said Peter Debaere, an international economist and professor at the University of Virginias Darden School of Business. These are effects you will not see right away, but they are much more serious.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Trump's trade deal with the UK could impact you and your family
May 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM

(Reuters) -Trump Media & Technology Group is planning to pursue potential mergers and acquisitions, U.S. President Donald Trump's social media firm said on Friday, as it looks to diversify into sectors such as financial services.

The company continues to "hunt for top quality assets," CEO Devin Nunes said in a letter to shareholders.

Trump Media, which runs the Truth Social streaming and social media platform, envisions ultimately becoming a larger holding company for numerous products and services, it said.

The company said in April it had reached a binding agreement to roll out an array of retail investment products, including crypto, a development that has drawn scrutiny from government ethics watchdogs.

It ended its first quarter with $759 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Total liabilities as of that period stood at $27.2 million.

"This amount of liquidity, in conjunction with Trump Media's low operating costs and low cash burn rate, will fully enable it to pursue all its expansion plans, including enhancing its existing platforms, diversifying into fintech and financial services, and pursuing potential mergers and acquisitions," the company said in a statement.

In the three months ended March 31, Trump Media's net sales rose more than 6% to $8.2 million. Its net loss also narrowed to $31.7 million in that period.

Trump Media shares were little changed in extended trading.

(Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
China warns Philippines against offending China's core interest in any form

Xinhua) 09:02, May 09, 2025

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday issued a stern warning to the Philippines against offending China's core interest in any form.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference when asked about Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong's appearance in the waters north of the Philippines during a recent Philippine-U.S. joint exercise, as well as the Philippine Navy spokesperson's claim about potential joint exercises involving Philippine and Taiwan troops.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Palestinians struggle to obtain donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP)  International aid agencies warned Friday that Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza, including a U.S.-backed proposal, will only increase suffering and death in the devastated Palestinian territory, calling on Israel to lift its blockade on food and other supplies, now in its third month.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said the new U.S.-devised aid system would be launched soon, urging the U.N. and other aid groups to participate. So far, the U.N. has rejected the new system, saying it weaponizes aid, threatens to cause mass displacement of Palestinians, violates principles of neutrality and simply won't be able to provide the scale of aid needed.

In what has become a daily scene of desperation in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians crowded a charity kitchen in the southern city of Khan Younis, jostling and waving their pots to receive scoops of pasta. Such kitchens are virtually the only source of food left for the territorys 2.3 million people, but dozens have shut down in recent days as food supplies run out under Israel's blockade. Aid groups say more closures are imminent.

Raed al-Zaharna and his children walked away emptyhanded after the day's meals ran out. Im thinking now, What will I feed them? I cant find anything, he said.

Israel has blocked food, medicine, fuel and other supplies from entering Gaza since March 2, saying it's trying to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and disarming. It also shattered a ceasefire deal with Hamas, relaunching bombardment across Gaza and seizing large swaths of the territory. Rights groups have called the blockade a starvation tactic and a potential war crime.

Israel has said it won't resume aid until it installs a new distribution mechanism, replacing the massive operation led by the U.N. and independent relief groups throughout the 19-month-old war. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of siphoning off aid, though it hasn't presented evidence for its claims. The U.N. denies significant diversion takes place, saying it monitors distribution.

Humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said in Geneva. There is a simple alternative. Lift the blockade, let humanitarian aid in, save lives.

U.S. says a new system is coming

Huckabee said details of the new U.S.-backed system would be announced in the coming days, with deliveries set to begin very soon, though he gave no time frame.

He depicted it as independent from Israel, which he said wouldn't be involved in distribution. He said private companies would provide security, while Israel's military would secure the perimeters from afar. He echoed Israel's claims that it was necessary because Hamas was stealing aid.

I will be the first to admit it will not be perfect, especially in the early days, Huckabee said.

A new group supported by the U.S., called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF, has proposed implementing an aid distribution project along the lines of Israels demands, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. The group is made up of American security contractors, former government officials, ex-military officers and humanitarian officials.

In its proposal, GHF said that it would initially set up four distribution sites, guarded by private security firms. Each would serve 300,000 people, covering only about half of Gazas population. Huckabee said that the system will be scaled up as soon as it is possible.

Aryeh Lightstone, a senior member of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoffs team, was involved in briefing U.N. agencies and aid groups about the foundation in Geneva on Thursday, according to one person who attended, Joseph Belliveau, executive director of Medglobal, a medical humanitarian group operating in Gaza. He said that he and other attendees pressed back saying the new model shouldn't replace the current, independent and neutral system led by the U.N.

Belliveau said that aid groups had been working for years with strict due diligence processes ... in a way that avoids diversion of aid.

"What we need is to be just allowed (to work). We need that blockade lifted, he said.

The U.N. has rejected Israeli plans to control aid

Israel has given no details publicly about the new aid mechanism. The U.N. says that what Israel has outlined to it so far in private discussions violates humanitarian principles.

As the Secretary-General has made clear, the U.N. will not engage in any arrangement that fails to uphold the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality, the agency's emergency aid office said in a statement Friday.

Elder, of UNICEF, said that the plan as presented in the GHF document appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic.

Aid workers say Palestinians would be forced to move to the distribution hubs or walk for miles to reach them, triggering a forced displacement depopulating large parts of Gaza. Though hub locations haven't been set, aid workers say that according to briefings they received, it appears none will be located in northern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are located.

Throughout the war, Israel has repeatedly called for Palestinians to leave the north, including Gaza City, saying it's for their safety as troops battle Hamas militants.

Elder said that the plan would entrench forced displacement for political and military purposes. The most vulnerable, including children, older people and those suffering from illness, may not be able to get to the hubs, he said.

In a statement last month, 20 aid groups operating in Gaza said the plan would force Palestinians into de facto internment conditions in pockets around the hubs.

Israel has also told U.N. officials it wants to vet aid recipients, aid workers say, raising fears it could withhold aid from some for political or military reasons, though the GHF proposal says aid would be distributed according to need.

Elder also warned civilians will be endangered as they seek aid in militarized areas.

More children are likely to suffer and risk death and injury as a consequence of this plan, Elder said.

UN says new plan cant match scale of aid need

Aid officials say the new system also simply won't provide enough aid. Relief groups have operated hundreds of distribution points around Gaza distributing food, water, shelter supplies and other goods, even as they support medical centers, run shelters and implement other programs.

The operation has been led by UNRWA, the main U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Israel banned the agency last year, alleging its staff have been infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA, which employs more than 10,000 people in Gaza, said that it acts quickly to remove anyone suspected of militant ties, and that Israel hasnt given it evidence of its claims.

UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma said the agency has the largest reach and it is very, very difficult to imagine any humanitarian operation without UNRWA.

Ruth James, Oxfam regional humanitarian coordinator, said large networks are needed to get aid to everyone. That takes time and expertise, she said. Any new system that comes in this quickly and without humanitarian expertise and trust from communities will not be able to do that.

Huckabee called on U.N. agencies and aid groups to join the new mechanism.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office, said Friday that U.N. concerns have not been addressed in multiple meetings with Israeli officials. He dismissed claims that theft of aid was significant in scale.

The problem is the blockage of hundreds of aid trucks that should go into the Gaza Strip every single day. That is the root cause of the humanitarian crisis.

___

El Deeb reported from Beirut, and Keaten from Geneva.

___

This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of the family name of the executive director of the aid group Medglobal to Belliveau instead of Belleveau.
Nextgen Connect has signed a distribution agreement with service software vendor Freshworks in Australia and New Zealand.

Nextgen will leverage its channel services model which combines its three core offerings: oSpace for pipeline generation, Elastic Digital for brand awareness, and its AWS practice for cloud marketplace to bring Freshworks products to mid-market and enterprise companies in the region.

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for our partners to deliver full-service customer lifecycle support to joint customers, and our recent partner program updates empower our partners to do just that, Freshworks senior vice president of channels and alliances Laura Padilla, said.

The aim of the partnership is to help companies in Australia and New Zealand realise the value of AI for their business, employees and customers.

Our partnership with Freshworks has come together to help build, develop and scale the partner landscape in Australia and New Zealand, Nextgen Connect managing director Wendy OKeeffe said.

We aim to do this by offering our channel services, and proactive partner engagement with a dedicated partner development manager.
As with the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic entities controlled by the Communist Party of China kept publicly within diplomatic boundaries, unlike Catholic communities who were joyful for their new pastor. The issue of the two bishops elected in recent weeks will be the first test for the new pontiff. In a statement, Taiwanese President Lai expressed hope that his country and the holy See can promote peace and justice together.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Chinas Catholic communities have reacted to the election of Leo XIV to the throne of Peter like they did a few days ago in the wake of the death of Pope Francis on 21 April.

The official reaction this time was quicker than three weeks ago. Since the election of Pope Leo XIV took place when it was night in China, the Xinhua news agency reported in the early morning the reaction of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and the Council of Chinese Bishops, two official entities controlled by the Party, both of which congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new pope, presumably with a message whose content was not made public.

Later, during the usual daily press conference  centred today on Xi Jinpings visit to Moscow for the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory against Nazi Germany in the Second World War, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian answered a question from a journalist from the AP agency on the election of the pope.

We congratulate Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as the new pope, he said. We hope that under the leadership of the new pope, the Vatican will continue to have dialogue with China in a constructive spirit, have in-depth communication on international issues of mutual interest, jointly advance the continuous improvement of the China-Vatican relations and make contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Once again, Chinas official reaction was limited to state-to-state level. However, neither the CCPA nor Chinas various dioceses have posted for now any reaction on their website or WeChat profile. This sadly suggests that no Chinese bishops will likely attend Pope Leo XIVs inaugural Mass on 18 May, as they were a no-show for Franciss funeral.

This is quite different from the reactions among ordinary Chinese Catholics and their priests who, just as they did with the death of Pope Francis, publicly expressed their feelings, of joy this time. In many churches today, the name of the new pontiff was already included in the canon of the Mass.

As a non-government Catholic website, Xinde has greater leeway, and so followed the conclave, and posted a bio of Card Robert Prevost. Suggestively, it also published an article about the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of the Americas.

In the background, the election of two new bishops during the period of papal sede vacante, Fr Wu Jianlin as auxiliary bishop of Shanghai and Fr Li Jianlin as bishop of Xinxiang, in Henan province, remains an open question.

As reported last week, their election will be a testing ground in the coming months for the Sino-Vatican agreement on episcopal appointments, which was renewed for the third time last October.

For his part, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te sent his congratulations to the newly elected pontiff, saying that his country hopes to strengthen existing ties with the Holy See to promote peace and justice.

The Vatican is one of only 12 states with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Probably to avoid tensions with the mainland, President Lai chose not to attend Pope Franciss funeral, sending instead a former vice president, the Catholic Chen Chien-jen, in his place.
After attacking each other in the past couple of days, both sides continue to launch air strikes and drones, with emergency measures imposed along the border. The two countries accuse each other of starting the violence and infiltrating their respective territory. New Delhi has also intensified non-military measures against Islamabad, putting pressure on the International Monetary Fund, as well as blocking parts of the Internet. It has also taken advantage of tensions to crack down on domestic opposition.

New Delhi/Islamabad (AsiaNews)  The confrontation between India and Pakistan has not yet found a resolution. Overnight the two countries engaged in a series of military operations along their mutual border.

According to reports from the Indian military, Pakistan launched multiple strikes with drones and heavy artillery following air raids conducted by India the day before against alleged terrorist camps in Pakistani territory in response to the terror attack against Hindu tourists on 22 April Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir.

As the two countries, both nuclear powers, continue to trade accusations, concerns are rising that the escalation might spiral out of control.

The Indian military said Pakistani drones were intercepted and effectively repelled overnight and that all the violations were addressed with a proportionate response.

For his part, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Indian statement was baseless and misleading, and that Pakistan had not undertaken any offensive actions in Indian-administered Kashmir or beyond its borders.

Pakistan also denied attacking the Indian cities of Pathankot (Punjab), Srinagar (Kashmir) and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan). Islamabad branded the accusations as "politically motivated and reiterated that it had neutralised at least 77 Indian drones.

Yesterday evening, the Indian Border Security Force said it had foiled a major infiltration bid in the Samba region, while shelling continued today in the Uri area, where a woman was killed and three people injured. Several houses caught fire due to artillery shelling.

The ongoing fighting is believed to be the worst since the 1999 Kargil War, and the first in which India has struck sites in Pakistan proper, outside Pakistani-administered Kashmir, since a full-scale war in 1971.

Sirens sounded for hours in several border towns, including Amritsar, home to the Sikh Golden Temple, where tourists fled by road after the airport closed. We really wanted to stay but the loud sounds, sirens, and blackouts are giving us sleepless nights, said a British national cited by Reuters.

In several areas, including Bhuj (Gujarat) and Bikaner (Rajasthan), emergency measures have been taken, including shutting down schools and using tourist buses to move residents to safer places.

India, however, is taking advantage of the situation to crack down on dissent at home. Hundreds of social media accounts believed to be close to Pakistan have been blocked. This has also hit The Wire, an independent Indian news outlet, which is no longer available in the country.

Before launching missile attacks, India resorted to several non-military countermeasures (such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and blocking imports from Pakistan). Now it is pressuring the International Monetary Fund not to grant Pakistan further bailout loans.

Meanwhile, more reports suggest that Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets shot down several Indian air force planes, angering Hindu extremists who back Modi's government, keen for a harsher military response.

For their part, countries like the United States and China have urged the parties to de-escalate, but no one has proposed an intervention to curb the violence.

We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though," said US Vice President J D Vance in an interview with Fox News.
by Shafique Khokhar

Bishops, priests, religious and faithful in Pakistan are grateful and hopeful following the election of Pope Leo XIV. Young people, teachers and seminarians hope for a pontificate marked by peace, dialogue and closeness to the last and the marginalised, like the Christians living in difficult situations in Pakistan.

(Islamabad)  The entire Catholic Church is joyfully celebrating the news of the election of US-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who chose the name of Leo XIV, as the new pontiff.

The first pope in history to come from the United States, he was also welcomed with enthusiasm and hope by Pakistans Christian community, which has expressed its support and spiritual closeness to the new head of the Church.

This moment marks a time of spiritual joy, hope, and renewal for the entire Church. We are grateful that God has chosen a leader distinguished by humility, simplicity, wisdom, love, and a spirit of service, said Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad.

We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ may bless the new pope with wisdom, strength, patience, and spiritual insight, enabling him to guide the Church through contemporary challenges towards unity, peace, and justice, the prelate added.

Under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, we hope the Church will be further empowered, touch the hearts of youth, give voice to the marginalised, and proclaim the Gospel message with renewed vigour across the world. May the grace of the Lord and the guidance of the Holy Spirit always be with him, said Bishop Rehmat.

Daniel Bashir, a young Pakistani seminarian studying theology in Italy, described the emotion the election sparked.

I was in my class when I saw the white smoke and heard the bells sound. We started praying and thanking God for the new pope. My classmates and I are very excited about him. I like our Holy Father's first speech, where he mentioned the missionary Church and stressed peace in the world, the seminarian said.

I hope the new pope will lead the Church along the Missionary path. In his first speech, he talked about the missionary Church. I hope he will be the voice of the voiceless, especially those in countries where Christians are persecuted because of their Faith, Daniel added.

As a young person from Pakistan, I have great hope for our new pope, who will be the pope of the people, and he will also play a significant role by promoting Peace all over the world by practising social justice.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Fr Khalid Rashid Asi underscored the historical importance of the choice.

To elect a new pope from the USA is a historic decision. This time they (the cardinals) have shown their trust in a pope from the USA who will lead as the great religious leader of the world. Pope Leo is considered as a moderate; humble, he loves dialogue and holds constructive thoughts, he said.

He is not only a leading religious figure but he also has deep thoughts about the current affairs of the world like social justice, rights of migrants, progress of religious minorities, climate change and transparency in the Church. We hope that Pope Leo will take on the legacy of the late Pope Francis, shaping the Church with harmony and progressive thoughts, which will bring together the worlds different school of thoughts, languages, cultures and nations.

For Fr Rashid, The decision to elect Pope Leo XIV is the beginning of a new era; he is taking the Churchs leadership when the world is going through multiple social, political, ethical and climate challenges.

What is more, His first speech based on simplicity, serving, reforms and dialogue will help bond the Church with the new trends of this century. May God grant him the wisdom and strength to lead the world with justice! May he be a bridge builder, focusing especially on global peace with justice, interfaith harmony, and peaceful coexistence across the world.
Born in Chicago, he is the first pontiff from North America who also served as bishop of Chiclayo and has Peruvian citizenship. For two terms he was prior general of the Augustinians, a religious order also present in many Asian countries. Pope Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. In his words: My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The new pope, Leo XIV is the first pontiff from North America but he is, above all, a pope who comes from a missionary experience, having served the Church of Peru for many years and in different roles.

Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago on 14 September 1955 into a family with roots in Europe. He studied in schools run by the Augustinian, a religious order that is very present in Asia, and began his novitiate at the age of 22 after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and studying philosophy at Villanova University in Philadelphia.

Sent to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University Angelicum, he was ordained a priest in Rome in 1982. Three years later he left for the mission in Peru, where he initially carried out his pastoral service in the city of Chulucanas. In 1988 he was transferred to Trujillo where he began to take care of the education of new Augustinian religious in Peru.

Elected in 1999 as prior of the Augustinians of the Province of Chicago, two years later the chapter chose him as prior general of the Augustinians, tasked with governing the more than 2,500 religious of the order present in 50 countries around the world, a ministry he carried out in Rome for two terms until 2013.

The following year, Pope Francis sent him back to Peru, entrusting him with the leadership of the Diocese of Chiclayo in the northwest of the country.

He mentioned this ministry tonight as a central experience in his life, immediately addressing a greeting in Spanish to the faithful of his former diocese in Peru. He also chose to become a citizen of that country in 2015.

Bishop Prevost served as vice-president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Peru from 2018 until January 2023 when Pope Francis called him to Rome to lead the crucial Dicastery for Bishops and chair the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

He was created cardinal in the consistory of September 2023, the second to last presided over by Pope Francis.

In an interview with Vatican News in 2023, he spoke about his position in the Roman Curia.

I still consider myself a missionary, he stressed. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.

Certainly, my life has changed a lot: I have the opportunity to serve the Holy Father, to serve the Church today, here, from the Roman Curia.

It is a very different mission from before, but also a new opportunity to live a dimension of my life, which simply was always answering Yes when asked to do a service. With this spirit, I ended my mission in Peru, after eight and a half years as a bishop and almost twenty years as a missionary, to begin a new one in Rome.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Just as Putin today celebrates the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with the leaders of all friendly countries, Dmitry Steshinone of the most fervent pro-Russian war correspondents from the Ukrainian frontspeaks about the tense situation in the North Caucasus republic: Dagestan lives by its own laws, drifting further and further from Moscow.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  While Victory Day is being celebrated in Moscow, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of all friendly and pro-Putin countries on the stage of Lenins mausoleumand the capital and other major cities barricaded with anti-air and electronic counter-intrusion defensesRussia risks internal explosion in the North Caucasus.

One of its most important and strategic republics, Dagestan, on the Caspian Sea and bordering Chechnya and Azerbaijan, is increasingly becoming a region beyond the Kremlins control.

Dmitry Steshin, one of the most vocal war correspondents and propagandists of the war in Ukraine (which shows no sign of ending despite months of talks with the Americans), has raised an alarm about the growing unrest in this region, where various ethnic groups have been in conflict for centuries with each other and with the Russians.

The name Dagestan means Land of the Mountains from the Turkic word Dagh, and its 3 million residents are split among about thirty ethnic groups, including the Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, and Lezginsof uncertain origin or relationas well as Azerbaijanis, Nogai Tatars, and Mountain Jews, known by various names, primarily Dagh Cufut. This group has been historically subject to pogroms, recently reignitedsuch as during last years riot at Makhachkala airport.

Islamic religious radicalization has triggered several dramatic events in recent months, amid deepening unemployment and a record-high birth rate59% above the Russian average. On May 6, Steshin published a commentary stating that Dagestan lives by its own laws, drifting more and more from Moscow. He highlighted the lack of prospects for social development, with many young people leaving en masse, while those who remain are increasingly drawn to radical movements.

One cannot forget the dramatic circumstances of the 1999 civil wara short but intense conflict in which Dagestani citizens fought on the frontlines against the invasion by jihadists from the Islamic International Brigade coming from Chechnya.

Their goal was to turn Dagestan, a multiethnic and multireligious republicthe largest in the North Caucasusinto a stronghold of Islamic extremism, destabilizing the entire region by establishing a Wahhabi-style emirate in a Sunni-majority land.

Today, that project is being revived amid a regrouping of forces once thought defeated, with increasing influence from Afghanistan and Syria raising serious concern.

Speaking with locals, the Russian blogger reports hearing statements like: Nowadays, what matters here is not reason, but boldness and bravado.

The popularity of radical Islam is growing especially among the more educated families. One recalls the 2010 Moscow metro bombing, carried out by a young woman whose fathera school directorwas already wanted for other attacks. He proudly congratulated her: My daughter has become a good shakhidka, or suicide bomber.

In June of last year, a series of attacks primarily targeting Orthodox churches killed four civilians (including a priest) and 15 police officers. The perpetrators were linked to the Vilayat Kavkaz group, which in turn was associated with the Tajik attackers responsible for the March massacre at Crocus City Hall on Moscows outskirts, which left nearly 150 dead.

While power in Chechnya is firmly in the hands of Putin-loyalist Ramzan Kadyrovthough his grip is weakening due to his failing healthin multiethnic Dagestan, no effective vertical of power has been established in 30 years, contrary to the Kremlins preferences.

Mountain clans dominate, the administrative infrastructure grows weaker, and a sense of impunity fosters both criminal activity and potential terrorism. Rather than a region of Russia, Dagestan now resembles more a free zonea powder keg even harder to tame than the Donbass in Ukraine, where Moscows army is heavily deployed and which may eventually need to be redirected to extinguish the fires of the North Caucasus.
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Today we also have the opportunity to make our contribution to the peaceful and prosperous future of our region, he said in a statement on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been agreed upon and is awaiting signing, and we will follow that path.

Despite all internal and external provocations, there will be no war between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, there will be peace, added Pashinian.

Azerbaijan has set multiple conditions, notably a change of the Armenian constitution, for the signing of the draft treaty. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev warned last month that Armenia will risk a new military confrontation with his country unless it meets those conditions.

Just days after the two sides bridged their remaining differences on the text of the treaty in mid-March, Azerbaijan began regularly accusing Armenia of violating the ceasefire regime along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Residents of two Armenian border villages have since reported cross-border fire from nearby Azerbaijani army positions on a virtually daily basis.

Armenian opposition figures maintain that the Azerbaijani accusations denied by Yerevan are aimed at preparing the ground for invading Armenia or forcing Pashinian to make the concessions. They say Aliyev will not sign the peace deal without clinching them.

Visiting Turkey in mid-April, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan suggested that the Azerbaijani authorities just don't want to finalize this normalization process and are not going to build peace.

Mirzoyan again complained about the Bakus preconditions on Friday when he spoke to journalists after laying flowers at a Second World War memorial in Yerevan.

Unfortunately, we are hearing different statements from the Azerbaijani side, he said. There is no progress yet but there is a conversation, and as with any negotiation, let's be patient, maybe there will be good news in the near future.

Earlier this week, Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonian spoke of very active discussions taking place between Yerevan and Baku. But he refused to elaborate.

Pashinians domestic critics have for years said that his appeasement policy only encourages Aliyev to make more demands on Armenia and will not bring real peace. They claim that Pashinian is desperate to secure a deeply flawed peace deal in hopes of misleading Armenians and increasing his chances of holding on to power.
9 May 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

As the world marks another anniversary of Victory Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany, it is essential to recall and honor the often-overlooked nations and peoples whose sacrifice made victory possible. Among them stands Azerbaijan  a republic whose immense contribution to the Allied war effort, particularly through the bravery of its soldiers and the lifeblood of its oil industry, played a decisive role in crushing fascism.

World War II was a total war that required the mobilization of not only armies but entire societies and economies. In this colossal struggle, Azerbaijan stood at the heart of the Soviet Unions war machine. Its strategic value was unparalleled, and the resilience of the Azerbaijani people, both on the battlefield and at home, deserves a central place in the historical narrative of the war.

The military contribution of Azerbaijanis to the Soviet Red Army was immense. More than 600,000 Azerbaijanis were mobilized during the war, a staggering number considering the republics population at the time. From the earliest battles at the gates of Moscow to the final storming of Berlin, Azerbaijani soldiers fought bravely and with distinction. They were not merely footnotes in the Soviet campaign  they were frontline heroes.

One of the most iconic Azerbaijani war heroes was Major-General Hazi Aslanov, a twice Hero of the Soviet Union, who led armored units with great distinction in battles from Stalingrad to Latvia. His bravery, tactical acumen, and leadership were instrumental in breaking Nazi lines and pushing the Wehrmacht out of Soviet territory. His life and service symbolize the patriotism and selflessness shown by thousands of Azerbaijanis in defense of humanity against fascism.

Yet Azerbaijan's most critical contribution came not from the barrel of a gun but from deep beneath its soil  oil. In 1941 alone, Azerbaijan produced more than 23 million tons of oil, roughly 75% of the entire oil output of the Soviet Union. This oil  refined and shipped through treacherous routes to the front  powered Soviet tanks, fueled fighter planes, and ran the logistical networks that were vital to sustaining the Red Armys offensive.

The Battle of Stalingrad, one of the most decisive confrontations of the war, cannot be separated from the oil of Baku. Nazi Germanys strategic goal in 1942 was to seize the oil fields of the Caucasus  namely, Baku  to fuel its own war machine and cripple the Soviet supply chain. It is no coincidence that Hitlers generals diverted vast resources in their doomed campaign toward the Caucasus. The Germans knew that whoever controlled Bakus oil would control the outcome of the war.

Thanks to the determination of the Red Army, supported by countless Azerbaijani troops and the indomitable spirit of the people of Baku, the Nazis failed in their bid. The oil fields remained operational, and the tanks of the Soviet counteroffensive rolled forward  often quite literally  on Azerbaijani petrol.

Behind the frontlines, Azerbaijani engineers, oil workers, and civilians worked under constant threat of air raids and sabotage to ensure the oil kept flowing. The city of Baku became an indispensable engine of war, operating around the clock, often under blackout conditions and with rationed food and supplies. It is no exaggeration to say that Azerbaijani oil helped win the war  without it, the Soviet Union could not have sustained its war effort.

Moreover, Azerbaijanis were not just defenders of their own soil. They stood for a broader set of values: the protection of human life, the defeat of tyranny, and the liberation of nations suffering under Nazi rule. Throughout the war, Azerbaijani medics and officers saved the lives of both soldiers and civilians, earning respect and gratitude across the Soviet front. Their heroism extended into occupied territories, where some risked their lives helping partisan movements or sheltering civilians from Nazi terror.

This legacy of sacrifice is not only a national pride  it is a contribution to global freedom. Unfortunately, in many Western narratives of World War II, the Eastern Front is often condensed into a monolithic Soviet effort, and the unique roles of individual republics like Azerbaijan are overshadowed. This historical oversight must be corrected.

Today, Azerbaijan continues to stand against aggression, as seen in its just and victorious campaign in the Second Garabagh War of 2020. For nearly 30 years, Armenian armed forces had occupied internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories. In 2020, after years of fruitless diplomacy and continued provocation, Azerbaijan liberated its lands in a 44-day war, not by targeting civilians, but through disciplined military operations that restored justice and territorial integrity. The victory not only returned Azerbaijani families to their ancestral homes but also reaffirmed the countrys long-standing commitment to sovereignty, peace, and law.

This modern victory echoes the values for which Azerbaijanis fought during World War II  freedom from occupation, dignity in resistance, and pride in national identity. From the streets of Berlin in 1945 to the liberated city of Shusha in 2020, Azerbaijan has shown the world that it will always stand against aggression and for justice.

As we remember the cost of freedom and the defeat of fascism, we must also remember Bakus oil workers, frontline medics, Azerbaijani tank commanders like Aslanov, and the modern-day heroes of Karabakh. Their fight was not only for the survival of their homeland but for the principle that aggression must never triumph.

Victory in 1945 and again in 2020 was not just the triumph of arms  it was a triumph of unity, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit of the Azerbaijani people.
9 May 2025 14:46 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The recent aerial clash between Pakistan and India has further intensified tensions in the region. The incident began when the Indian Air Force attempted to breach Pakistani airspace, quickly escalating into a dogfight. The Pakistan Air Force responded swiftly, shooting down three Dassault Rafale jets, one Su-30MKI, and one MiG-29. So far, the Indian side has refrained from commenting on the matter, neither confirming nor denying the reports.

Speaking to Azernews, a Pakistani official who preferred to remain anonymous noted that the Indian Air Force initially attempted to enter Pakistani airspace. The Pakistani Air Force intercepted the incursion through dogfighting. As a result, five Indian jets  three Dassault Rafales, one Su-30MKI, and one MiG-29  were shot down. When asked which jets Pakistan used to intercept the attack, the anonymous official named the Chinese-made J-10C and the domestically-produced JF-17. However, he emphasized that it was the Chinese J-10C that downed the Indian military aircraft.

Other news circulated by international media outlets also substantiates the above-said information. Thus, on May 08, two officials speaking to Reuters confirmed the drowning down of the Indian jets, and noted that US-made F16 had not taken part in the dogfight. Also, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Chinese-made J10-C take part in the dogfight.

One could argue that the news sparked more joy in Azerbaijan than even in Pakistan itself. As is known, Azerbaijan has opted to modernize its aging military fleet by acquiring the Pakistani-Chinese-made JF-17 Block 3 fighter jets. When Azerbaijan announced the deal, the well-known defense outlet BulgarianMilitary.com praised the move, noting that with this acquisition, the Azerbaijani Air Force had secured second place in regional air power after Russialeaving not only Iran but also Turkiye, NATOs second-largest army, trailing behind.

Following Azerbaijans recent military aviation deal with Pakistan, Armenian media began circulating reports about Yerevan's plans to purchase Indian-made, licensed Su-30MKI fighter jets and upgrade its existing Su-30 fleet in India. Meanwhile, some outlets have also leaked information about a possible Tehran-Moscow agreement involving the purchase of Su-30 and Su-35 aircraft, with plans for local licensed production in Iran.

Armenia remains a long-standing adversary of Azerbaijan, and while Bakus relations with Iran are marked by fluctuations, this news was far from reassuring for the Azerbaijani public.

To be fair, the original Su-30 platform is superior to the JF-17 in several performance metrics. The Su-30s domestically-equipped radar system boasts a detection range of up to 350 km. However, the export versions  often delivered with downgraded systems  typically see this range reduced to under 250 km. In comparison, the radar system on the JF-17 Block 3 has a range of approximately 200 km.

Where the JF-17 Block 3 holds an edge is in its air-to-air missile capability. The PL-15E missile used by the aircraft has a significantly longer range  estimated to surpass the export variants of Russian air-to-air missiles by at least 30 km.

Some analysts argue that it was not the JF-17, but rather the more advanced Chinese J-10CE that downed Indian aircraft during the recent confrontation. While this may be true, it is worth noting that the JF-17 Block 3 and the J-10CE utilize similar AESA radar technology and are both equipped with the PL-15E missile. Most importantly, both aircraft reportedly participated in intercepting the Indian attack.

On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that capability of Pakistani pilots also played pivotal roles, which give an upper hand to Azerbaijan once again. Because, Azerbaijani pilots take courses in Pakistan.

Finally, it is important to note that aviation technology was once monopolized by the United States, Russia, and a handful of European countries. The best fighter jets were produced by these powers, which posed a significant obstacle for countries like Azerbaijan that aim to pursue an independent foreign policy. These dominant countries either refused to sell advanced combat aircraft or offered only downgraded, low-quality versions.

However, the recent confrontation between Pakistan and India suggests that this long-standing monopoly is beginning to break. Admittedly, Pakistan still relies heavily on China to meet its aviation needs. But developments in Pakistan indicate that this dependency may be overcome in the near future.

Moreover, countries like Brazil and Turkey have already achieved notable success in this field. Even neighboring Georgia is working on certain aviation projects. All of these signs point to a future in which the West and Russia no longer control the global aviation market. Naturally, this shift will benefit all countries striving for independence in their defense strategies  with Azerbaijan foremost among them.
9 May 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

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In the first two months of 2025, Azerbaijan imported 1.14 tons of beluga caviar from China, Azernews reports, citing the State Statistics Committee.

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9 May 2025 10:29 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

According to the General Administration of Customs of China, the countrys foreign trade turnover increased by 5.6% in April compared to the same month last year. During this period, exports rose by 9.3%, while imports grew by 0.8%. Machinery and electronic products accounted for nearly 60% of total exports.

Over the first four months of the year, Chinas foreign trade volume rose 2.4%, reaching 14.14 trillion yuan. While exports expanded by 7.5%, imports declined by 4.2%.

This growth comes despite earlier forecasts by some experts predicting a slowdown in Chinas trade amid the ongoing trade and tariff disputes with the United States. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. raised tariffs on Chinese goods in stages, eventually reaching 145%. In response, China increased tariffs on U.S. imports to 125%.

Last year, China exported $462 billion worth of goods to the U.S., while importing $143 billion. The U.S. accounts for 14.7% of Chinas total exports and 6.3% of its total imports, making it Chinas largest export market and second-largest import source at the country level.

In a potential breakthrough, the first high-level contact between the two sides since the start of the trade war is scheduled for May 10 in Switzerland. According to Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting will be held at the request of the U.S. The Chinese delegation will be led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, while the U.S. team will be headed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The Geneva talks are seen as a possible first step toward resolving the trade conflict, with broader tariff reductions expected to be on the agenda.
9 May 2025 11:34 (UTC+04:00)

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In JanuaryMarch of this year, Azerbaijan exported 90.7 thousand tons of organic chemical compounds worth 28.3 million US dollars, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. During the reporting period, organic chemical compounds accounted for ...

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9 May 2025 13:37 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be hosting its 34th Annual Meeting and Business Forum in London next week under the banner of Expanding Horizons, Enduring Strengths.

Usually held across the EBRD regions, this year's event marks the Annual Meetings return to its host city for the first time since 2016 and its debut in the Banks new Canary Wharf headquarters.

The event, which takes place between 13-15 May, will assemble the Banks shareholders, partners, and clients, including government officials, financial and corporate executives, entrepreneurs, civil society, and media from across its regions.

The Bank was set up in 1991, with London as its home, to build open market economies and promote private enterprise, and with sustainable development as one of its core values. Almost 80 per cent of its investments have been in the private sector.

It has also moved into new countries neighbouring its existing regions on several occasions.

According to the report by the bank, this years meeting will see the EBRDs Governors take several milestone decisions. At their plenary session on Thursday, 15 May, they will be asked to approve the Banks next Strategic and Capital Framework, setting out its strategic direction for the next five years.

They will also be asked to approve EBRD country of operations status for Benin, Cote dIvoire, and Nigeria, marking the beginning of the Bank's move into sub-Saharan Africa.

The Board of Governors opening session for the event will take place at Westminster Central Hall on Wednesday, 14 May. The Chair of the Board of Governors, Slovenias Klemen Bostjancic, and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso will deliver speeches at the session.

As well as the Annual Meetings institutional business, the Business Forum will hold multiple events over the three days, featuring high-profile guest speakers.

These include a high-level event on Ukraine and a wide range of panels on the role of international financial institutions in a changing world, capital mobilisation, industrial policy, water security, and Africas potential in critical raw materials, among many others.

Several countries where the EBRD works will also be holding investment outlook sessions.

A central focus of the discussions will be the bank's continuous support to Ukraine through wartime and subsequently, its recovery and reconstruction.

Further to the report, the EBRD has deployed 7 billion in Ukraines real economy (2.4 billion of it in the energy sector) since the start of

Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, and is ready to do even more to support its future reconstruction.

On Tuesday, 13 May, the Bank will also release its Regional Economic Prospects report, announcing its latest growth forecasts for its regions.
9 May 2025 17:51 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan imported textile products worth $15.334 million from Turkiye in the first four months of 2025, marking a 14.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024, Azernews reports, citing data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly.

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10 May 2025 00:01 (UTC+04:00)

By EDITORIAL

May 10 marks the birth anniversary of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader and architect of modern Azerbaijan. It is a day etched into the hearts of millions of Azerbaijanisone of the most significant dates in the nation's collective memory. For it is to the vision and dedication of the Great Leader that today's achievements of modern Azerbaijan are owed.

The path Heydar Aliyev walked stands as a lasting example for every modern Azerbaijani, not only in the realm of politics but also in the conduct of daily life. With unmatched charisma on the diplomatic stage, he rose to the pinnacle of leadership, embodying statesmanship at its highest form.

In Azerbaijan, the 102nd anniversary of Heydar Aliyev's birth will be marked.

Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923, in the city of Nakhchivan (AR), Azerbaijan. After graduating from the Nakhchivan Pedagogical Technical College in 1939, he studied at the architecture faculty of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute (now Azerbaijan State Oil Academy). The war did not allow him to finish his education.

Since 1941, Heydar Aliyev worked as a department head in the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Nakhchivan MSSR and the Council of People's Commissars of the Nakhchivan MSSR, and in 1944, he was sent to work in the state security agencies. Heydar Aliyev, who worked in the system of security bodies since 1964, worked as the deputy chairman of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR, and since 1967 as its chairman, rising to the rank of major general. In those years, he received a special higher education in the city of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). In 1957, he graduated from the history faculty of Azerbaijan State University.

Heydar Aliyev was elected the first secretary of the Central Committee at the July 1969 plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan and became the head of the republic. Heydar Aliyev, who was elected a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in December 1982, was appointed as the first deputy chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers and became one of the leaders of the USSR. Heydar Aliyev was a deputy of the Supreme Soviets of the USSR and the Azerbaijan SSR for twenty years and served as the first deputy chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers for five years.

In October 1987, Heydar Aliyev resigned from his positions as a sign of protest against the political line introduced by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and personally by General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.

On January 20, 1990, Heydar Aliyev made a statement at the Azerbaijani representative office in Moscow regarding the bloody tragedy committed by the Soviet troops in Baku and demanded the punishment of the organizers and perpetrators of the crime committed against the people of Azerbaijan. He left the ranks of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in July 1991 as a sign of protest against the hypocritical policy of the USSR leadership regarding the acute conflict situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Heydar Aliyev, who returned to Azerbaijan in July 1990, first lived in Baku and then in Nakhchivan, and was elected a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan in the same year. In 1991-1993, he was the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 1992, Heydar Aliyev was elected chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party at the founding congress held in Nakhchivan.

In May-June 1993, when the government crisis became extremely acute and there was a threat of a civil war in the country and the loss of independence, the people of Azerbaijan rose up with the demand to bring Heydar Aliyev to power. The then leaders of Azerbaijan were forced to officially invite Heydar Aliyev to Baku. Heydar Aliyev was elected the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan on June 15, 1993, and on July 24, by the decision of the Milli Majlis, he began to exercise the powers of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On October 3, 1993, as a result of the national vote, Heydar Aliyev was elected the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On October 11, 1998, he was re-elected as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, having collected 76.1 percent of the votes in the elections held under conditions of high public participation. Heydar Aliyev, who agreed to be nominated in the presidential elections held on October 15, 2003, refused to participate in the elections due to health problems.

The National Leader of Azerbaijan, President Heydar Aliyev died on December 12, 2003, at the Cleveland Clinic (USA), where he was being treated, and was buried on December 15 in the Alley of Honor in Baku.

Heydar Aliyev has been awarded many state orders and medals, international awards, and was elected an honorary doctor of universities of various countries.

On September 29, 2022, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree "On declaring 2023 the Year of Heydar Aliyev in the Republic of Azerbaijan". With another decree signed by the head of state on November 28, 2022, the "Action Plan for declaring 2023 as the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" in the Republic of Azerbaijan" was approved. In accordance with the Plan of Events, various events were held in our country and abroad in connection with the 100th anniversary of the Great Leader's birth.

National Leader Heydar Aliyev's greatest wish was the liberation of Karabakh from occupation and the restoration of our territorial integrity. This wish and will of the Great Leader was fulfilled by his worthy follower, the President of Azerbaijan, the Victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev gave the Azerbaijani people the joy of another victory on September 19 last year. By raising Azerbaijan's national flag in the ancient and eternal lands - Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand, Agdara, and Asgaran, he fulfilled the wishes of our people. Thus, the sovereignty of independent Azerbaijan was fully restored.

At present, Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, which have been freed from occupation, are being rebuilt, the areas are cleared of mines, and large-scale restoration and reconstruction works are being carried out.
9 May 2025 09:10 (UTC+04:00)

On May 8, Joao Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola, made a phone call to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

During the conversation, the heads of state exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Angola, with a particular emphasis on cooperation in the economic, trade, and humanitarian spheres.

President Joao Lourenco noted that Angolas Vice President Esperanca Costa had visited Baku to participate in COP29 and held meetings with Azerbaijani counterparts to discuss the advancement of bilateral ties.

President Ilham Aliyev underscored Azerbaijans commitment to developing relations with African countries, including Angola, and highlighted the ample opportunities for expanding cooperation across various sectors.

The conversation also recalled that Angolan students had studied in Azerbaijan during the Soviet era, with satisfaction expressed that many of them are now contributing to Angolas development.

Taking into account Angolas current chairmanship of the African Union, the sides also touched upon prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the African Union.
9 May 2025 11:12 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The First International Congress of Azerbaijani Neurosurgeons will be held in Baku on May 1011, organized by the Azerbaijan Society of Neurosurgeons.

The primary aim of the congress is to discuss treatment methods aligned with international standards, explore the application of innovative technologies, and support the advancement of neurosurgery in Azerbaijan.

The congress will bring together over 250 local and international specialists from 12 countries, including neurosurgeons and neurologists. Participants will engage in discussions on a wide range of topics, such as skull base surgery, epilepsy surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, and spinal neurosurgery, focusing on the most pressing issues in the field.

One of the honorary guests of the congress will be Henry Marsh, a world-renowned British neurosurgeon, who will participate in the event.

The program also includes interactive panel discussions, offering a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and professional collaboration.

It is worth noting that the Azerbaijan Society of Neurosurgeons has been accredited by the Ministry of Health and has been awarded 19 CME (Continuing Medical Education) credits.
9 May 2025 11:53 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

A delegation from the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has traveled to Tirana to observe the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 11, 2025, in the Republic of Albania, Azernews reports, citing the Media and Communication Department of the CEC Secretariat.

The visit follows an official invitation from the Chairman of Albanias Central Election Commission to the Chairman of Azerbaijans CEC. Deputy Chairman Rovzat Gasimov and Head of the Secretariat Department Ramin Nuraliyev are representing Azerbaijan in the observation mission.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation will meet with the leadership of Albanias Central Election Commission and other officials to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two election bodies and sharing expertise in various election-related areas.

In addition to reviewing the overall election preparation process, the delegation will observe voting procedures at polling stations on election day.
9 May 2025 11:55 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Pope Leo XIV, Azernews reports.

"Your Holiness.

I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, personally and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, on your election as Pope.

The current level of relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, marked by sincere dialogue and mutual understanding, serves as a model. We attach special importance to the development of our ties with the Holy See.

In Azerbaijan, a country with centuries-old rich traditions of tolerance and multicultural values, the preservation of religious, spiritual, and ethno-cultural diversity remains one of the main priorities of state policy.

I am confident that our fruitful cooperation with the Holy See will continue to develop successfully through our joint efforts in promoting universal values and creating the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust among civilizations.

I wish you strong health, a long life, and every success in your supreme mission for the sake of humanity and sacred ideals," the letter reads.
9 May 2025 13:55 (UTC+04:00)

On May 9, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the Dashalti village mosque in the Shusha district, Azernews reports.

Special Representative of the President in the Shusha district Aydin Karimov and Director of PMD Projects Nariman Topchibashev briefed the President and the First Lady on the completed work.

The foundation stone of the Dashalti village mosque was laid by President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in November 2021. Constructed in the national architectural style, the mosque is situated in the center of the village. With two minarets, its overall architectural composition, layout, and artistic-decorative elements reflect the traditions of the Karabakh school of architecture. The minarets, each 22.5 meters high, were designed based on the form of those at the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque. The two-story mosque can accommodate more than 150 worshippers simultaneously.

The mosques construction was carried out in line with President Ilham Aliyevs directives regarding the restoration of cultural monuments and religious sites, as well as the construction of new ones in the territories liberated from occupation. The restoration of mosques destroyed during the occupation, along with the construction of new religious landmarks, demonstrates the Azerbaijani states commitment to preserving national and spiritual values and honoring its cultural and historical heritage.

The President and the First Lady were also informed about the upcoming works planned within the framework of the Reconstruction Project of Dashalti Village. This initiative seeks to integrate village life with local architectural heritage, ecological sustainability, and modern tourism infrastructure. Covering nearly 65 hectares, Dashalti village will feature a five-story hotel with 80 rooms, cottages, commercial and public facilities  including an information center, exhibition hall, and workshop. The project aims to create a village environment that harmonizes with nature and history, offering wide-ranging tourism opportunities.

The recreational zone has been designed with the principle of minimal environmental intervention, enabling nature enthusiasts to engage more intimately with the landscape. Activities tailored to various age groups and interests will ensure a balance of functionality, tranquility, and adventure  offering a unique leisure experience.
9 May 2025 14:19 (UTC+04:00)

On May 9, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the Shusha Wellness and Health Center, Azernews reports.

Minister of Health Teymur Musayev briefed the President and the First Lady on the completed work at the center.

The foundation of this medical facility was laid in November 2021 with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The center, consisting of six buildings, has a capacity of 90 beds. It will house departments for therapy, pediatrics, surgery, and other specialties. Moreover, the center will feature a consultative polyclinic, a children's polyclinic, radiology and functional diagnostics departments, physiotherapy, and medical rehabilitation departments, as well as a clinical diagnostic laboratory.

The Center is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, including a computed tomography (CT) scanner, digital telescopic X-ray, and digital stationary ultrasound devices.

The facility also includes a Hygiene and Epidemiology Center, a hemodialysis facility, and additional supporting units.
9 May 2025 14:51 (UTC+04:00)

On May 9, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the Khojaly" substation and the Digital Control Center owned by Azerishig Open Joint Stock Company, Azernews reports.

Vugar Ahmadov, Chairman of Azerishig OJSC, briefed the head of state on the completed works.

The 3200 kVA-capacity Khojaly substation and the Digital Control Center were built to ensure a stable, reliable, and uninterrupted power supply to newly constructed residential complexes, agricultural and tourism facilities, as well as various socio-economic infrastructure in Khojaly district.

To supply electricity to the substation, transmission lines have been laid from the Khankendi-1 and Asgaran substations. Additionally, through a 35 kV transmission line currently under construction, the substation will be connected to the Aghdam-2 substation, creating a circular power supply network linking the cities of Aghdam, Asgaran, Khojaly, and Khankendi.

The Digital Control Center centralizes, collects, and processes all information regarding the current status of the networks. It allows equipment to be remotely controlled and monitored in real-time via digital systems. The substation is equipped with next-generation digital technologies and control equipment for this purpose.

Besides ensuring the reliable operation of the network, the center helps reduce energy transmission losses and operational costs. It also enables real-time transmission of advance notifications regarding any power outages to consumers supplied by the substation. Since the integration of renewable energy sources into the electrical grid is centrally managed by the Digital Control Center, the risk of disruptions in the energy supply is minimized. The center ensures that the substation operates in a multifunctional mode, fully coordinating devices and equipment according to the amount of received and transmitted electrical energy.

The Digital Control Center is also equipped with 52 kW solar panels, and the energy produced is fed into the network. Additionally, fast-charging devices for electric vehicles have been installed in the area.
9 May 2025 21:19 (UTC+04:00)

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in France hosted a commemorative event in Paris on the occasion of the 102nd birth anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Held at the Embassys Cultural Center, the event brought together diplomats, Azerbaijani community members, diaspora representatives, and students.

Azernews reports via Azertag that in their opening remarks, Ambassador Leyla Abdullayeva and Azerbaijans Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Elman Abdullayev, reflected on Heydar Aliyevs pivotal role in guiding Azerbaijan through turbulent political times and leading the nation to independence. They praised his leadership in transforming Azerbaijan into a beacon of regional stability and forging close ties with international institutions like UNESCO.

The speakers emphasized that todays modern and steadily developing Azerbaijan is a realization of Heydar Aliyevs vision. His legacy continues under President Ilham Aliyev, whose leadership has brought Azerbaijan military victories in 2020 and 2023, and elevated its global standing.

Heydar Aliyev was remembered not only as a statesman but as a symbol of national pride and unity. The event featured a documentary film on his life and a flute performance of his favorite songs by Paris-trained musician Agaragim Guliyev.
9 May 2025 10:37 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Pakistani government has confirmed that the official X (formerly Twitter) account of its Ministry of Economic Affairs was hacked and dismissed as fake a post urging the international community to provide additional credit to Islamabad due to damages allegedly caused by Indias so-called "Sindoor" operation, Azernews reports, foreign media outlets.

The Ministry clarified that the post has no connection to the institution and was entirely fabricated.

This post is not affiliated with the Ministry and is fake. None of the content currently posted on the X platform is linked to the Ministry, a representative of the agency stated.

The spokesperson added that the account was compromised on the evening of May 8.

It is worth noting that access to X had been restricted in Pakistan since February 2024, with the platform only becoming accessible again on May 7. Prior to that, users could only access the platform through VPN services.
9 May 2025 15:28 (UTC+04:00)

Five people were killed and 29 others injured in artillery strikes carried out by the Indian army on the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir, Azernews reports, citing local media.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar issued a statement confirming the incident. Among the victims was a 12-year-old girl.

Official Islamabad has accused the Indian army of deliberately targeting civilian areas.

In response, Pakistani military officials announced that strong retaliatory strikes were launched, hitting three Indian posts along the Line of Control.
9 May 2025 16:20 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that Hungary will not support the European Commissions plan to phase out Russian energy sources. However, he acknowledged that Hungary cannot block the plan if it is adopted by majority vote rather than consensus within the European Union (EU), Azernews reports, citing TASS.

They can adopt it by a majority vote, Orban said on Kossuth Radio, referring to Brussels initiative to halt the supply of Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel in the coming years.

Orban criticized the plan, calling it an attack on Hungary due to its opposition to Ukraines EU accession and divergence from the majority of EU members on several issues.

He warned that implementing the plan would lead to higher energy prices, estimating that Hungary would pay an additional 800 billion forints (approximately 2 billion euros) annually.

Orban added that Hungary has allies within the EU, citing Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who described the Commissions proposal as economic suicide for Europe. He predicted intense debates over the issue in the months ahead.
9 May 2025 18:15 (UTC+04:00)

Amid bolts of silk and shimmering tweed at Keqiao Textile CityChina's sprawling fabric marketplaceexporter Cherry anxiously awaits the outcome of this weekend's trade negotiations between China and the United States.

Her business, which relies on American buyers for nearly half its revenue, has already been hit hard by canceled orders, a consequence of escalating trade tensions and mounting tariffs between the two global powers. The upcoming Geneva talks are seen as a critical moment that could ease the burden on Chinese exporters.

"If this continues, the consequences will be severe," Cherry warned, casting doubt on claims that the textile industry can survive prolonged trade restrictions. She noted that some manufacturers have already shut down operations after order cancellations mounted in recent months.

In 2024, the US accounted for 18% of China's total textile and apparel exports, according to Moodys Ratings. Much of that output comes from Zhejiang province, home to Keqiao in Shaoxinga dense maze of over 26,000 fabric shops and one of the worlds most active textile markets.

Yet on a recent rainy day, the marketplace was eerily quiet. Vendors stood idle, grappling with economic uncertainty. Im definitely worried, said Ms. Li, another vendor, who pointed to global instability already taking a toll on business.
9 May 2025 22:40 (UTC+04:00)

A humanitarian aid ship carrying 20,000 tons of wheat from Ukraine arrived Thursday at the Toros Port in the Turkish northern province of Samsun as part of a UN World Food Program (WFP) initiative to support crisis-hit regions, including Syria, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak.

The Beirut-flagged "Brave Commander" was welcomed with a ceremony by the WFP Turkiye Office, Turkish Foreign Ministry, Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and the Samsun Governorship.

Acting Deputy Gov. of Samsun Kemal Yildiz described the shipment as a symbol of shared conscience and solidarity for all humanity.

Voicing pride at hosting the WFP, Yildiz underlined that Turkiye has been a leader in food supply to the UN agency and has made voluntary contributions to the program since its inception.

Stephen Cahill, WFP country director in Turkiye, emphasized the operation's significance.

We stand today in the Port of Samsung, which is a vital gateway for WFP's humanitarian operations in our quest to end world hunger. We welcome the Brave Commander today, which symbolizes our international solidarity and our swift humanitarian action.

Cahill noted that the ship, which first carried humanitarian aid from Ukraine when the Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative began in 2022, holds special importance for the WFP.

This showed the commitment that the Turkish government has towards humanitarian action, but it also ensured that WFP had access to food around the world, which is extremely important for our operations, he added, expressing gratitude to the Samsun Governorship, the Foreign Ministry and donor countries for their support.

He acknowledged Turkiye's strategic role in global food distribution, noting that the WFP has purchased $1.1 billion worth of food from Turkiye in the last five years --all distributed as humanitarian aid globally.

Cahill pointed out that 5,000 of the 20,000 tons of wheat transferred from the ship would be allocated for the WFP's humanitarian operations in Syria.

So, this again shows that our relationship with the Turkish government goes across multiple sectors. There is the work that we do here with the Syrian refugees, and there's the work that we do globally as well, he said.

Unfortunately, today we live in a very fractured world when we see what's happening in the vicinity, but we see what's happening in Gaza, in Sudan, in Yemen. And this again, shows that WFP's work is not just here in Turkey itself, but it's spread around the world, he said, It is a call as well for solidarity. It is a call for all parties to come together. It's a call for Turkey's leadership in this region as well to be able to be a peace broker in a time of this fragmentation. But this is not something that they can do alone, right? We have seen many donors involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and we need that now going forward, we need that, especially in today's world where we are seeing this further fragmentation, and that's where this really call today is for the humanitarian world to come together and show that solidarity.

Ambassador Aylin Sekizkok, director general of International Economic Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, highlighted the growing global food crisis, noting that more than 840 million people are facing hunger.

This 840 million is not just a number; we are talking about real hunger, she said.

Sekizkok stressed Turkiye's efforts to combat global hunger, leveraging its agricultural capacity to deliver aid worldwide and sharing sustainable development expertise.
Stabbed Seal Ends Up Having Comic Adventures on Oregon / Washington Coast

Published 05/08/25 at 6:45 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff



(Seaside, Oregon)  The injured juvenile elephant seal that caused an outpouring of outrage and sympathy had an essentially happy ending, it turns out. The seal had been stabbed by a beachgoer at Neskowin back in March, but after that wandered rather carefree along the north Oregon coast and south Washington coast for the next six weeks, creating a bit of a humorous spectacle.

The seal was likely just weaned and recently on its own when it landed at Neskowin, said Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium. It lounged around there for about three weeks before someone stabbed it several times.

Wildlife experts checked it out, and to give it a better chance of healing they moved it to Cape Lookout, about 20 minutes north.

It was not taken care of by Seaside Aquarium  as these situations often are. It's below their coverage range as part of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. But the 180-pound goofball ended up in their laps  and somewhat comically.

By April 1, the little guy had swam his way north to Seaside, Chandler told Oregon Coast Beach Connection.



South jetty, Fort Stevens (Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

He was there for 10 days, so we moved him to the jetty at Warrenton, Chandler said.

Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe said the stab wounds were luckily superficial and did not get far under the seal's blubber.

Once he arrived in Seaside the shenanigans began. Chandler said the baby seal did not fear humans at all and was extremely comfortable just bounding around Seaside. He didn't startle anyone, either, as these stranded creatures often do.



Another elephant seal incident in recent years (Seaside Aquarium photo)

He was very active, Chandler said. He was not aggressive at all, not afraid of people. Just real friendly. At Seaside, he was hangin' out by the women's bathroom side of the Turaround, then he realized that was the wrong side and he moved and hung out by the men's side.

Those mulling around Seaside and other areas were respectful of the signs telling them to keep away, Chandler said.

That went on for a few days. At that point, he sauntered his way up the beach a little and simply sat on or near the steps close to the Seaside Aquarium. This  ironically  scared people away from entering the aquarium.

So we decided it was time to get him outta here, Chandler said.

After bringing him to the jetty of Fort Stevens, the seal's stay there lasted a mere three days before he was goofing around civilization again, this time on the Washington coast.

He was at the docks at Ilwaco, Chandler said. He was hangin' out in the parking lot, where the businesses are.

So the Seaside Aquarium had to intervene again.

We brought him up to Leadbetter Point, up at the very northern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, Chandler said.

That was the middle of April. It appears he's gone off to live his life.

Chandler was surprised how cozy the elephant seal was around other humans. It was as if he'd been around humans before, but according to those who rescued him earlier that wasn't the case.

I had to put him in the carrier twice and he was the easiest animal I've ever had to deal with, Chandler said. He wasn't tagged, and hadn't been with people before. He was just a kind soul.

Federal and state authorities are still looking for the suspect in the stabbing.

Investigators are also seeking information regarding a vehicle linked to the case. The vehicle is described as a dark blue Dodge or Chrysler van from the 1990s, with a rear passenger window covered in plastic and an interior appearing cluttered. The van was spotted in a parking lot near the cove behind the Proposal Rock Condominiums. See drawing below:

Officials urge anyone with information to contact NOAAs Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. Tips can be provided anonymously.











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Winema Wayfinding Point or Pacific Crest Wayside: an Oregon Coast Puzzle

Published 05/07/25 at 9:05 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Neskowin, Oregon)  Whatever it is actually called, and whatever its purpose ultimately is, for right now that's up to those who venture here. In the end, it is simply a little Oregon coast wonder, and one of those rare viewpoints along Highway 101 that are kind of a hidden spot. (All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Well, it's hiding in plain sight, anyway.

It seems it goes by two names: Winema Wayfinding Point and Pacific Crest Wayside. A sizable pullout in between Neskowin and Pacific City, there's a lot of parking for an area that's almost never full of people. Stone walls line the viewpoint, where an ocean view lies just beyond a small forest and glimpses of a Christian camp facility. It isn't the most exciting view on this coastline, but it still has a resounding beauty. And there's surprisingly a lot to see here.

Then there's that head-scratcher of its duel names.

Which is the official title of this spot is a bit hard to discern. There's a plaque there saying Pacific Crest Wayside and Google Maps lists it under that name as well. However, in much bigger letters are the two stone, round walls that say Winema Wayfinding Point. That can even be seen from the highway, whereas the plaque is small.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) told Oregon Coast Beach Connection the place is listed on their maps as Winema Wayfinding Point. Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (also known as Visit Tillamook Coast) executive director Nan Devlin said it's always been considered Winema Wayfinding Point to them.





What is likely the case is that Pacific Crest Wayside is a name given to the larger area, possibly only in the last 20 years or so. Winema Wayfinding Point is inside the Wayside. If there is an actual state designation for either is as yet unclear: those details are not online. No state or county official knew for certain.

The plaque reads WC Stewart - Pacific Crest Wayside  in honor of - Audra Venetta Kirkwold - with love from her family.

The wayfinding point has an array of different signs on it, acting as a kind of travel guide. There's maps and directions to other attractions on the north and central Oregon coast, phone numbers for visitors centers, and large lists of activities in the area you can engage in. There's a lot of Things To Do printed.

Indeed, the place is a true wayfinding point: all those directions and maps can center you or point you the right way. However, much of that was built before the internet took over.

In any case, the stone walls emanate an interesting and comforting atmosphere. They're a bit of a coastal curiosity.

There's more on all this at the Lincoln City / Neskowin Virtual Tour.

Perhaps the most important thing about Winema Wayfinding Point and Pacific Crest Wayside is that it's all a short hop to Winema Road: a truly funky little hidden spot on the north coast. [Winema Beach Big Blob] There, you'll also find a curious seastack at the tideline that looks a but like the mini-me of Pacific City's Haystack Rock just north of here.

If that name confuses you, there are three such Haystack Rocks on the coast: Bandon, Pacific City and Cannon Beach.

Speaking of names: Wi-Ne-Ma was the name of a famed Modoc tribe woman born in the 1840s in Oregon, who helped white settlers as a translator, among other accomplishments. This name being found on the coast is rather curious because she was from central Oregon, with the Winema National Forest near Klamath Falls named after her.

Hotels in Pacific City - Where to eat - Pacific City Maps and Virtual Tours

Hotels in Lincoln City - Where to eat - Lincoln City Maps and Virtual Tours







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A lot of ifs.

NEW: Poll shows Lara Trump CRUSHING Sen. Thom Tillis 65-11 in a hypothetical 2026 GOP primary, dont be shocked if Senator Trump is trending in North Carolina very soon.

A Victory Insights survey of 800 likely GOP primary voters put Lara Trump miles ahead of incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis65 percent to 11 percent, with a quarter still shopping around.

Her December 2024 decision to step down as RNC co-chair to explore her next chapter only fanned speculation that the next chapter is a Senate run back home. With near-universal name ID and the Trump familys fundraising machine ready-made, she would begin the race as the prohibitive favorite.

Tillis, by contrast, is limping into 2026. State party activists formally censured him in June 2023 for votes on gun safety and same-sex-marriage protections, cementing a narrative that hes not MAGA enough.

The Assembly notes that Trump-aligned operatives are openly hunting for a primary challenger, and every high-profile dust-upmost recently Tillis very public break with the White House over a controversial D.C. prosecutor nomineereminds grassroots conservatives why theyre restless. In short, the senator enters the cycle with a base problem money alone cant fix.

Put the two story lines together and you can see why North Carolina Republicans are bracing for a dynasty shake-up.

If Lara Trump jumps in, she would fuse the Trump brands emotional pull with deep pockets and instant media oxygenadvantages few incumbents anywhere could withstand.

The question isnt whether she starts as the front-runner; its whether any other Republican, including Thom Tillis, can keep this race from turning into a coronation and sending a second Trump to Capitol Hill.

Will Lara Trump take on Tillis?

https://x.com/WCdispatch_/status/1919965937907691631
Northern Ireland's most famous crisp export has taken one Japanese office by storm with Spring Onion earning its place as the favourite among workers in an influencers video.

Introducing the famous snack to her work colleagues is Instagram influencer, Carla, also known as Miss Translation.

Working in an office in the east Asian nation, Miss Translation is frequently sent sweets and other savoury snacks for her colleagues to try.

She presented them with a tray of the crisps and an assortment of flavours, such as cheese and onion, salt and vinegar, smoky bacon, prawn cocktail and spring onion.

Misstranslation sharing the Tayto crisps in Japan Photo credit: misstranslation Instagram

News Catch Up - Friday 9th May

The latter proved to be pleasantly familiar to staff.

Today my Japanese colleagues will get their first taste of Tayto, said Miss Translation introducing the video.

I see many difference colours, said the first salaryman when presented with the tray of snacks.

Salt and vinegar. Sounds tasty. Japanese packing has a flap here to grab onto. But this doesnt. Scandalous.

Wait. The bag opened pretty easily. Lets get snacking right away.

Trying the flavour, the worker commented that it was considerably sour.

Tastes good though. Delicious. Can I open one more?

Of course, you can try them all, answered the influencer.

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Going for spring onion next, the officer worker declared it as his favourite so far.

This one, this is it. It tastes pleasantly familiar, he declared.

Do they not peel the potatoes overseas? he commented, noting the brown crisp residue on the edge of the snack.

The flavouring doesnt play around.

Seemingly unimpressed with prawn cocktail, he passed the bag back over to Miss Translation.

This is not for me. Just hits different. The winner is spring onion. Can I take this off you?

The crisp brand's famous mascot Mr Tayto

Mr M, another colleague, also favoured spring onion.

This is the best one, he said.

The pink one is just for you, the previous salaryman said, handing over the treat he didnt like.

This is plum flavour isnt it? he answered to laughs.

Also liking cheese and onion, Mr M said that this flavour was not beating spring onion.

Adamant that prawn cocktail was in fact tomato, was one salary-woman.

This tastes great, she said. Its delicious. Its tomato? It 100% tastes like tomato. Tomato is the best one.

Another officer worker tried the NI brands famous cheese and onion flavour.

This is a fist full of onion, cheese has lost. It tastes like fried onion.

This bacon flavour is my number one, Very close to Japanese potato chips, he said.
We thought it was a wind-up at the start: Limavady bar exudes old world charm with just one modern furnishing  a Game of Thrones door

As Owens bar looks forward to turning 100 next year, Laura McDaid speaks to its landlord about bottles of the Black Stuff, Game of Thrones and new generations

Frank Owens' bar

Laura McDaid Fri 9 May 2025 at 20:00

In 1959, Guinness Draught was brewed for the very first time to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Arthur Guinness signing a 9,000-year lease on St Jamess Gate Brewery in Dublin.
VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

UUP MLA and Afghanistan veteran Andy Allen and World War II RAF veteran Victor Clarke cut the ribbon for the arch. Pic: Presseye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle, Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast at the event. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

A memorial arch has been opened on the Shankill Road in a sea of colourful pageantry on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

It tells the stories of people from across Northern Ireland who served in the armed forces.

Thousands lined the streets as bands and those dressed in the uniforms and clothing of the day passed by.

The Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-OBoyle was there for the ribbon cutting, as was Andy Allen MLA, who served in Afghanistan.

Its an honour to be part of something like this, he said.

Its so important for us to remember those who fought for our country and our freedoms and I think looking at the amount of people that have come to this, its something thats very important to the people of the Shankill Road.

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

The project has taken the Ulster Military Memorial Arch Committee 18 months to plan and execute.

The committee is made up of veterans and community activists and the project has been funded through donations from across Northern Ireland.

This is something that a lot of people not only in the Shankill area but across Northern Ireland wanted to see. It is a real credit to anyone that donated and it highlights the admiration people here have for our veterans, Mr Allen said.

Seven-year-old Christopher Davidson. Pic: Presseye

He hopes the arch is something that people will admire on VE Day for generations to come.

It is one of many things across the area that highlights and commemorates our veterans. Theres a lot of people here today to show their support but were very hopeful its something people will appreciate for a very long time, Mr Allen said.

The arch showcases stories of Northern Irish veterans.

VE Day 80th anniversary parade and Ulster Military Memorial Arch unveiling on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. Pic: PressEye

Watch: East Belfast Celebrates VE Day

One is Army medic Cpl Channing Day from Comber, who died in Afghanistan in 2012, aged 25. Legendary World War Two SAS leader, Col Blair Paddy Mayne, from Co Down, is also featured.

Images from the Crimean War, the First World War and the Falklands are also featured on the archway.

Its important that we remember everyone who fought for our countrys liberty and this arch is just another thing that highlights how much admiration and respect people across Northern Ireland have for all of the veterans that served our country well, Mr Allen said.

Mr Allen opened the arch alongside Trevor Clarke, a 102-year-old WW2 RAF veteran.

UUP MLA and Afghanistan veteran Andy Allen and World War II RAF veteran Victor Clarke cut the ribbon for the arch. Pic: Presseye

Mr Allen said: Its such an honour to be alongside a World War II veteran. Those veterans showed immense bravery and faced unbelievable struggles head on. We had our own struggles in Afghanistan but they were a different kind of struggle.

I, myself, and indeed everyone here, will be forever grateful to our soldiers that fought in World War Two as they have afforded us the freedoms and liberties we are able to enjoy today.

Following the opening of the arch, a parade of veterans, ex-service associations, cadets, faith-based youth groups, Somme Associations, local re-enactment groups and local loyal order representatives led by the Frontier Pipe Band made their way to Tennent Street for a Celebratory Concert in the Spectrum Centre.
If the box office was dropping, hed do something outrageous so that people would go and buy tickets: Actor Jared Harris on his father Richards legacy
A 32-year-old man who broke into a womans west Belfast home and swung a hammer at her when she confronted him on the street was jailed for 14 months today.
The speakers at The Supporting Women, Reducing Stigma Conference 2025: Letitia Fitzpatrick, Presenter/ Journalist, Clare Anderson, Kathy Scullion, Maternal Advocacy & Support Project, Teresa McCann, Social Worker, Multi-Disciplinary Teams, West Belfast, Chris Quinn, NI Commissioner for Children & Young People, Hannah Brown, Senior Social Work Think Family Practitioner, Bernadetta Viana, Joanne Dougan, South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP), Jo Irvine, Sameja Metaj, Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC). Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Team, Grainne Beattie, Midwife & Grace Kelly, Psychologist. Copyright  Kevin Cooper Photoline NUJ:

The fear of having their children taken away prevents many mothers with mental health problems from reaching out for help, a conference in Belfast heard on Friday.

The Supporting Women, Reducing Stigma conference at the Shankill Shared Womens Centre was organised by the Mas Project to highlight the importance of a trauma informed supportive approach and early intervention.

According to speakers from the Maternity Advocacy and Support (Mas) Project, the stigma surrounding mental health can create a barrier for women seeking support due to fear of the consequences.

Northern Irelands Commissioner for Children and Younger People stated that the region  which has the highest rate of children on the Child Protection Register in the UK  is facing crises in special needs education and social care.

Chris Quinn also pointed out that nine times out of 10, its mothers facing the brunt of those challenges and most of the time, no one is supporting them.

That fear of being stigmatised, that fear that your baby will be taken away from you  that is real, he said.

I suppose thats why Im really concerned that we are still the only jurisdiction in the UK without a mother and baby unit. Im really concerned that one in five women experience perinatal mental health problems during pregnancy or in those early postnatal years.

Eighty percent of women dont have access to specialist community perinatal mental health services, and it is costing lives.

Struggling is not shameful, but being unsupported is.

Suicide remains the second leading cause of maternal death, and mostly happens during the first postnatal year.

Research shows that young mothers aged 25 and under have been identified as being at particularly high risk of experiencing mental illness in the perinatal period, with postnatal depression up to twice as prevalent in teenage mothers compared to those over 20.

Joanne Dougan is the social support services manager within Mid Ulster charity STEP (South Tyrone Empowerment Programme).

The rights-based organisation works with those most vulnerable from ethnic minority backgrounds and the Traveller community, many of whom do not know English as their first language, or have low literacy skills.

Joannes job sees her helping many of those families try to navigate the social services system here.

The families that we work with are coming from the background of trauma, isolation and low self-esteem, and when social services become involved, it's just another knock on the door for them, which is making them feel helpless, because they dont understand the situation. It's actually never explained to anyone, she explained.

I understand there is a necessity for social services, but it's how that process is completed and how it's delivered.

The majority of times, it is not with empathy. It's a person, a mum, who's already struggling, did a great job that morning - got out of bed, got her children fed, got herself fed, washed, dressed, kids to school, and turned up in time for that meeting, only to walk out, and the majority of times, feeling depleted.

Joanne noted that many mothers are graded using a points system by social workers, health visitors and other professionals, who may not have met with the affected families in five months or more previous to that graded meeting.

STEP asked many families how services could be improved. Many simply asked for professionals to listen without judgement and not make assumptions about me, or just to be friendly, as it is a daunting process.

The impact that that has on a person's mental health and wellbeing is unmanageable, Joanne added.

It's so debilitating. It strips away the work that that person has put in with the support of the community and voluntary sector to build their self-esteem, to build their confidence, their feelings about themselves.

The instability and the inconsistency of service that's provided is not helpful, which also has a detrimental effect on Mum's mental health.

Stock image

News Catch Up - Friday 9th May

All speakers at Fridays event emphasised a need for NI to move beyond a crisis-driven, protection-first model and shift toward supportive, family-focused services, where women are not punished for struggling, but lifted up to heal and build healthy, supportive family lives

The Mas Project is led by Womens Resource & Development Agency and provides community-based peer support delivered in womens centres in Belfast, Lisburn, and Derry and has been working to improve perinatal services for women experiencing mental health difficulties.

The project also provides two peer support groups for young mums age 16-25.

For more information, go to https://www.wrda.net/projects/maternal-advocacy-and-support-project
Staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital have been reminded by management of their "obligation to foster a harmonious environment" after an unauthorised VE Day exhibit was displayed within one of the wards.

The arrangement consisted of a Union flag draped over a small hospital trolley, as well as newspaper clippings, balloons and historic photographs attached to the wall behind it.

It appeared in ward 5E this week, which is a unit that cares for the elderly, including patients with dementia.

The Andersonstown News first reported that it was put there by a member of staff acting without clearance from management.

When asked about the incident, a spokesperson for the trust said: Belfast Trust staff became aware of a display in an area of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

"This was removed and all staff will be reminded of their obligation to foster a harmonious environment for all patients staff and service users.

VE Day is celebrated annually to remember the formal end of the Second World War on May 8, 1945, which saw the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces.

Thursday was the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

Events have been taking place across Northern Ireland this week to mark the occasion.

A full-scale replica of a Second World War Spitfire was on show at the Stormont Parliament Buildings, and street parties, historical talks, parades and prayer services also took place throughout the region.

VE Day display called controversy in Royal Victoria Hospital this week

Watch: East Belfast Celebrates VE Day

Belfast City Hall was lit up red on Wednesday night, and again on Thursday, and Stormont was lit in blue on Thursday night.

A two-minutes silence was held at midday on May 8, and beacons were lit to represent symbols of hope on a day that commemorated the celebrations held, when war ended 80 years ago.
Police vehicles and ambulances in Hart Street, Southport following the attack (James Speakman/PA)

Three police officers who confronted and detained Southport knife attacker Axel Rudakubana have been nominated for bravery awards.

Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, Constable Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry were the first officers to arrive on the scene of the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed workshop on July 29 last year.

Rudakubana, 18, who murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and injured 10 others, was confronted by the officers as he stood at the top of a flight of stairs holding a large knife.

The three men have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025 after facing what Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy described as unimaginable horror.

Ms Kennedy said: As first on the scene and in those frantic initial moments, they were unaware of the horrific events taking place but they dismissed any thoughts for their own safety, bravely detaining the offender while protecting and helping the victims and those inside.

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We are all immensely proud of Ps Gillespie, Pc Holden and PCSO Parry for their courage, professionalism and swift actions in such horrendous circumstances. For the officers to be recognised in this way is true testament to them all.

According to the nomination, Mr Gillespie was first to arrive at Hart Street after a radio call at midday to reports of a male attacking children with a knife.

He described seeing chaos when he arrived and directing paramedics to a seriously injured child.

He was joined by Mr Holden and Mr Parry and the officers witnessed members of the public running away from the dance studio carrying young children.

Armed with a baton and a Taser, Mr Gillespie and Mr Holden entered the building, while Mr Parry covered the exit, and found Rudakubana holding a large knife at the top of the stairs.

The officers approached the suspect, while shouting at him to drop the knife, and Mr Parry ran in to assist.

Rudakubana, who was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January, dropped the knife and, after officers struck him with a baton and kicked him to get him under control, was handcuffed and arrested.

Floral tributes on the junction of Tithebarn Road and Hart Street in Southport, following the attack (James Speakman/PA)

Merseyside Police Federation chairman Chris McGlade said: Police officers join the service to keep our communities safe and prevent them from harm.

In the face of the most challenging and perilous of circumstances, these three officers exemplified this commitment.

Without hesitation, they prioritised public safety and demonstrated the highest levels of bravery. Their professionalism was unparalleled, and it is fitting that we acknowledge and honour their actions accordingly.

The Police Bravery Awards will be held on July 10.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets members of the ships company on board HMS St Albans in Oslo (Alistair Grant/PA)

Support for Ukraine is the absolute focus of Britain and its northern European allies, Sir Keir Starmer said as he attended a military summit in Norway that coincided with Russias Victory Day celebrations.

The Prime Minister met counterparts at a Joint Expeditionary Forces (JEF) leaders gathering in Oslo on Friday, during which Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke virtually.

Following the summit, Sir Keir said the UK-led groups utmost priority was defending the values hard-won during the Second World War and continuing to stand behind Kyiv.

Speaking to broadcasters, the Prime Minister was asked what his message would be to Russia and Beijing as Chinese President Xi Jinping attended events in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Sir Keir said: The message of leaders here is very, very clear, and that is that were focused on Ukraine.

(President) Zelensky came in virtually to part of that meeting.

And so thats where our absolute focus is  with Ukraine, defending the values that yesterday at VE Day we were remembering and commemorating, that were hard-won in the Second World War.

The JEF is a military coalition of mostly northern and eastern European nations including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the Baltic states and the Netherlands which has been operational since 2018.

The summit came as the UK announced a fresh wave of sanctions targeting President Vladimir Putins shadow fleet of vessels carrying cargo in defiance of existing restrictions on oil and gas exports.

Officials have said the Government will take action against up to 100 oil tankers that have been transporting more than 24 billion US dollars (18 billion) worth of cargo since last year.

Sir Keir Starmer (left) meets Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on the Norwegian coastguard vessel Jan Mayen in Oslo (Alistair Grant/PA)

Ukrainian President Mr Zelensky dialled in virtually to the meeting in Oslo City Hall on Friday to announce he would be hosting leaders of the British and French-led coalition of the willing on Saturday.

Number 10 would not confirm whether Sir Keir planned to attend the meeting.

Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans to enforce a potential peace in Kyiv, but prospects for a truce remain distant as Moscow continues to resist calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire backed by the US.

The Russian president declared a 72-hour pause in fighting on Thursday to coincide with Victory Day, but officials in Kyiv said his forces have continued offensive operations while the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of breaching the unilateral ceasefire.

Following Fridays summit, the Prime Minister met crew on board a Royal Navy frigate moored in Oslos port before exchanging warm words with Norways premier Jonas Gahr Store as he was welcomed onto a Norwegian coastguard vessel.

In a strong show of support before holding bilateral talks, the Norwegian prime minister suggested the UK was perhaps our best friend while Sir Keir said relations between the two countries were stronger than possibly ever.

Members of the Royal Navy salute Sir Keir Starmer on the HMS St Albans (Alistair Grant/PA)

Sir Keir said: We are leaders that think alike, that are politically aligned and work well together. We are colleagues and we are friends.

In a readout of the meeting between the two leaders later issued by Number 10, a spokesperson said they discussed joint efforts between the UK and Norway to protect critical subsea infrastructure to safeguard economic security and working people at home.

They also spoke about ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

It comes as critics argue the Labour Government will need to decide between siding with Europe or the US following the agreement of a trade deal with the White House on Thursday while Britain continues to seek to strengthen economic ties with Brussels.

Asked whether forgoing deeper ties with the bloc would be the price the UK pays for its pact with America, Sir Keir insisted his administration would be resetting that relationship as well.

Thats because we will be relentless in wealth creation, driving our economy forward and making sure that working people across the country feel better-off, he said.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV concelebrates Mass with the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church (Vatican Media via AP)

Speakers blasted songs including Born In The USA and American Pie as six cardinal electors from the United States gathered in Rome to share their thoughts on the election of the first US-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost.

I took a look at Bob and he had his head in his hands and I was praying for him, said Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the moment right after casting his vote in the Sistine Chapel.

And then when he accepted, it was like it was made for him.

From left, US cardinals Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the USA, Robert McElroy of Washington, Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, Timothy Dolan of NY, and Daniel Di Nardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston Houston, attend a press conference at the North American College in Rome one day after US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

One day after Chicago-born Cardinal Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the cardinals met on a stage decorated with the Stars and Stripes and a Vatican flag at the Pontifical North American College.

The hilltop institution for US seminarians is a short walk from St Peters Basilica, where Leo made his first speech to the world on Thursday evening as the new leader of the Catholic Churchs 1.4 billion global faithful.

The United States had 10 voting cardinals in the conclave, the second-highest number of any country.

Four of them currently serve as archbishops in the US: Cardinal Tobin of Newark, New Jersey; Timothy Dolan of New York; Blase Cupich of Chicago; and Robert McElroy of Washington.

In a very real sense, Cardinal Prevost has been in his life at his core a real missionary, in every way, Cardinal McElroy said.

Joining them were retired archbishops Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston in Texas, and Wilton Gregory of Washington, as well as French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The official document attesting the acceptance by Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of his election (Vatican Media via AP)

Several of the men referred to the man they have known for years as Bob or Robert by his papal name, Leo.

Others said that his American nationality was not a factor  he also holds Peruvian citizenship.

Cardinals were most concerned with who among us can bring us together, who among us can strengthen the faith and bring the faith to places where it has grown weak, said Cardinal Gregory.
The event took place in Red Square (RIA Novosti via AP)

Moscows Red Square has hosted a massive military parade, as Russia marked 80 years since the defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War.

Victory Day on May 9 is one of Russias biggest national holidays, as the country marks the 27 million people who were lost from the former Soviet Union during the conflict.

The parade sees Russian President Vladimir Putin projecting his countrys global power, even as the conflict in Ukraine drags on.

Belarusian servicemen also attended the parade (RIA Novosti via AP)

Russian T-80 BVM tanks were on show in Red Square (RIA Novosti via AP)

The Second World War is a rare event in Russias divisive history under Communist rule that is revered by all political groups, and the Kremlin has used that sentiment to encourage national pride and underline Russias position as a global power.

The former Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it refers to as the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar in the national psyche.

Foreign leaders including Chinas Xi Jinping joined Vladimir Putin for the celebrations (RIA Novosti via AP)

The event is a projection of Russian military power as well as a commemoration of the millions who died (RIA Novosti via AP)

Speaking at the parade, Mr Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.

The parade featured more than 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armoured infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, launchers for the Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles rolled across Red Square.

Oscar-winning US director Oliver Stone was present for the parade (RIA Novosti via AP)

Chinese servicemen hold their national flag as they attend the parade (RIA Novosti via AP)

Fighter jets of Russian air forces aerobatic teams flew by in close formation followed by jets that trailed smoke in the colours of the national flag.

After the show, Mr Putin shook hands with Russian military officers who led the troops on Red Square. He also talked to a group of medal-bedecked senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them.

Egyptian servicemen were also part of the display (RIA Novosti via AP)

A Russian soldier rides on an armored vehicle VPK-Ural in Red Square (Ilya Pitalev/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Festivities this year were overshadowed by Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capitals airports.

Russian authorities tightened security before the parade and mobile phone internet outages have been reported amid electronic counter-measures aimed at foiling more potential drone attacks.

Russian Air Force Su-25 jets fly overhead (RIA Novosti via AP)

The event is marked by spectacular large-scale displays by soldiers (Evgeny Biyatov/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Mr Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting on May 7 to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations, but warned that Russian troops will retaliate to any attacks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported scores of Russian strikes on Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings.

As the Red Square parade and other festivities unfolded in Moscow, dozens of European officials were meeting in Lviv, in western Ukraine, to endorse the creation of a special tribunal tasked to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire in Ukraine over the holiday (RIA Novosti via AP)
The ongoing saga over the long-awaited pedestrianisation of Hill Street in Belfasts Cathedral Quarter continues, this time with a Green Party councillor having a pop at the SDLP.

Belfast councillor Brian Smyth aired his criticism of the SDLP over its alleged role in the scheme, given that former SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon was Infrastructure Minister when Hill Street was pedestrianised in a pilot project in 2020.

This week, the SDLP posted a video on X of several party representatives standing on Hill Street calling for progress in its pedestrianisation.

In the footage, Stormont Opposition leader Matthew OToole tells the camera: Some things in politics are difficult, others are expensive, and sadly lots of things are difficult and expensive.

But this isnt either. It should be easy, but ministers wont get on and do it.

Brian Smyth took issue with the clip, responding: The brass neck of this. It was an SDLP minister who first trailed pedestrianising Hill Street during Covid & was never made permanent.

The same SDLP minister who failed to use that period as the window to accelerate change. Don't try to pin all this on the current Executive.

Elsewhere, TUV leader Jim Allister has submitted an early day motion in the Commons calling for a museum to be founded in Belfast in honour of Harry Ferguson, the father of the modern tractor.

The motion notes that Ferguson filed his master patent for his tractor in Belfast 100 years ago and Mr Allister said as Northern Irelands most celebrated inventor, his life and work deserve a permanent and inspiring home.

Just how popular a tractor museum would be is unclear.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a new film loosely based on the 26.5m Northern Bank robbery in 2004 is to begin shooting in June.

Interesting, Chasing Millions wont be a straight crime flick, but rather a dark, character-driven comedy, according to director Stephen Burke.

For some reason, the film is also set to feature a determined young Australian police detective who finds herself investigating the heist while on a family visit to Northern Ireland.

Certainly a unique take.
Adobe Stock

Many of the early popes used their own names when they were chosen to head the Catholic Church. The first pope to choose a regnal name was John II, in 533 AD. His birth name was Mercurius, but because that name was associated with the Roman god Mercury, he changed it to John II. Beginning with Gregory V (born Bruno von Karnten), it became a tradition for popes to choose a regnal name.

Parents often choose names for their children to honor a relative. Sometimes, they evoke a particular characteristic, like charity or faithfulness. Some names are more fanciful, like the name of a place or a day of the week. Famous people may choose stage names to stand out from the crowd.

Those same desires may come into play when a new pope chooses his regnal name. Pope Francis honored St. Francis of Assisi, who ministered to the poor. Pope Benedict XVI, Francis's predecessor, emphasized peace and reconciliation ("benedict" comes from the Latin word for "blessed").

Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, honored his predecessor, John Paul I, who only served for about a month before passing away. And John Paul I honored his two predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI.

What Could the Name of the New Pope Be?

Pope Francis was the first pope in over a thousand years to choose a name that had not been used before (Lando, elected Pope in 913 AD). The new Pope could decide to use another unique name to identify his priorities for his tenure as Pope. Francis may have "broken the ice" by choosing a unique name to make it easier for his successor to do the same.

However, many important names in the history of the Church (both before and after the official establishment of the office of the Pope) have been used previously  some many times:

John (21 times)

Gregory (16)

Benedict (15)

Clement (14)

Innocent (13)

Leo (13)

Pius (12)

Stephen (9)

Boniface (8)

Urban (8)

On the other hand, many names  including Francis  have only been used once.

How Does the New Pope Choose His Name?

There is no "rule" to guide the new Pope in the selection of his regnal name. However, tradition does play a large part in the process. For example, no pope has chosen the name "Peter" out of deference to the Apostle Peter, who is recognized as the first Pope by the Roman Catholic Church. The name "John" was not used for about 500 years, from the 1400s until the election of John XXIII in 1958, because of its association with a controversial "antipope" in the 15th century.

Other names used by previous popes are probably also unlikely because of the reputation of one of those predecessors. For example, although there have been 8 popes named Urban, Urban VIII is associated with the heresy trial of Galileo Galilei for his theory that the earth revolved around the sun. This makes it unlikely that the new Pope would choose to be called Urban.

Also, while there have been 12 popes named Pius, controversy surrounds Pius XII, who served during World War II. Pius XII maintained an official policy of neutrality during the war, leading some to claim that he was a Nazi sympathizer who did not do enough to assist Jews during the Holocaust.

Others have countered these claims by pointing to Pius' writings against the Nazi regime and behind-the-scenes efforts to assist Jews who fled German-occupied territory. The new Pope might want to avoid this controversy; however, he could also desire to rehabilitate Pius XII's reputation by choosing that name.

Names That Might Be "Revived"

No pope has chosen the name Leo since Leo XIII, who served from 18781903. Gregory XVI (18311846) was the last Gregory. There has been no Clement since Clement XIV (17691774) and no Innocent since Innocent XIII (17211724). The new Pope could revive any of these once-popular names. Leo I and Gregory I are both known as "the Great"; this could be seen as setting the bar high for anyone choosing those names. On the other hand, selecting "Leo" or "Gregory" could also be aspirational, expressing a desire to emulate those earlier popes.

Sending a Message

The practice of selecting a regnal name became commonplace in the Middle Ages when it became more common for popes to come from outside Italy. A new pope from an area that has never had a pope or hasn't been represented for a long time might choose a new name to reflect a new direction in the Church.

On the other hand, selecting a pope from Europea more traditional choicecould prompt the revival of one of the historical names. However, no matter which name the new Pope chooses, that name will be scrutinized and celebrated as Catholics around the world look forward to the new Pope's service to the Church. What message will the new Pope send?

Rick Rice has served as pastor of Traverse City Church of the Nazarene since August 1999. He is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University (B.A.), Notre Dame Law School (J.D.), and Trinity Theological Seminary (D.Min.). Rick and his wife, Jill, have three adult children: Allen, David (Brianna), and MacKenzie. Rick enjoys cycling, golf, hiking, and sunshine. He has written for NCM Magazine and is currently writing a blog on various topics related to spiritual formation, "My Journey," for Patheos.
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Even though the Trump administration gutted funding for AmeriCorps, 12 volunteers will be able to continue their work in the Berkshires thanks to an individual donor and a local foundation who stepped up to fill the financial gap.

Six AmeriCorps volunteers building two side-by-side homes on Robbins Avenue in Pittsfield for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity just received a small reprieve after federal funding for their stipends was cut. An anonymous donor contributed a $5,000 grant and offered an additional $5,000 challenge grant to help close a gap of more than $68,000, created after the Department of Government Efficiency ordered a roughly $400 million cut to AmeriCorps grants  approximately 41 percent of the nonprofits budget. As a result of these cuts, the program is set to end on Friday.

At Greenagers in Egremont, the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation made a $50,000 challenge grant to help keep the six AmeriCorps trail builders in motion there. Greenagers offers young adults work experience and educates them about environmental conservation, sustainable farming and natural resource management.

At both nonprofits, the people who have been working as AmeriCorps volunteers will be placed on payroll. In doing so, they will earn more as employees than they have as volunteers.

However, their future at these jobs  and the work they do for the community  remains tenuous.

At Greenagers, $141,000 has yet to be delivered on a $290,000 yearlong grant to pay for AmeriCorps volunteers stipends. Greenagers planned to bring in additional AmeriCorps volunteers this summer with some of that funding.

Now, Greenagers Executive Director Will Conklin said hes working on a hiring and labor plan for the next few months.

Some of that is based on how much additional funds come in, Conklin said. A lot of work projects are up in the air, as well.

Greenagers had been awarded two more years of funding from AmeriCorps at the $290,000 level as well, but Conklin isnt counting on it.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity had also planned on putting in a renewal for next year.

Were making the assumption that since theyve terminated the grant, that will not happen, said Carolyn Valli, CEO of Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity.

Even with the grant boost at Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, the loss of funding hobbles its efforts to add affordable housing stock  partly by changing the financial calculus of sales prices for its units.

Its really quite exhausting to try to help handle the emotions of the people, and also trying to make sure that we can still build the homes that we have scheduled, because we have over 200 people that have done applications. The need is so large, Valli said. It weighs very heavily on both the societal impact and then on the personal part for what's going on with these young people.

Valli said this is the fifth year that the Habitat Build and Repair Corps has relied on AmeriCorps volunteers. That initiative has also served as a pipeline for people interested in going into the trades.

I actually have our accountant working on what is it going to cost in order to bring them on as employees, she said. We know itll be considerably more than $68,000. Itll probably be more in the realm of $85,000 to $100,000.

She said paying laborers rather than volunteers will add to the cost of the houses, a cost that will have to be passed on to buyers.

In the case of the Robbins Avenue homes, Weve already advertised what the sales price is going to be, and I know from just doing quick numbers last night, the differential in construction cost and resources coming in toward that, were potentially going to lose $60,000 on each unit, in addition to what our usual subsidy is.

She said shes concerned about the ripple effect in pricing.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity has five houses its working on in Pittsfield and a 20-unit development in Housatonic on Prosperity Way off North Plain Road. There are also plans on the drawing board for more houses on Cheshire Road in Pittsfield.

Now Im concerned I might have to delay that project completely, Valli said.
LEE  Residents on Thursday approved every article at the annual town meeting, including the town's $23.6 million operating budget.

Nearly all of the articles garnered unanimous support. The one exception? A stray no sailed through the crowd during the approval of the budget, quickly followed by a softer Oh wait, that was a mistake, causing the high school auditorium to erupt in laughter.

The meeting, which lasted just under an hour, drew a total of 152 residents, just 3 percent of Lees registered voters, according to Town Clerk Rachael Armstrong. As people began to file into the room, Fire Chief Ryan Brown counted heads. Quorum is 50, he said, early on. Im worried were not going to make it.

Two issues drew some discussion.

The first was the purchase of a 4.2 acre parcel at 1235 Pleasant St. using the towns Community Preservation Act funds and, with the help of the state, transforming it into a place where residents can launch canoes and kayaks into the Housatonic River.

The town allocated $100,000 to the purchase of the property, a sum that will be matched by Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife.

Residents expressed concerns that the swiftness of the river at the site, which is near Laurel Lake Dam, might be a safety issue for the planned water recreation, and asked if another spot farther north could be swapped in.

Christopher Brittain, the Lee town administrator, explained that the site was chosen because one, it was [for] sale. He went on to say that in addition to matching the towns contribution toward its purchase, the state is willing to bear the expense of installing a parking lot, signage and any necessary modifications to the bank at the parcel.

The second debate surrounded the towns decision to amend Lees short-term rental bylaws. Lee passed its first such bylaw two years ago, but the Planning Commission wanted to make the policy more approachable and enforceable," according to Brooke Healy, the Lee town planner.

The changes include requiring all short-term rentals to have a property manager within 30 miles, adding some requirements, including proof of liability insurance, for annual registration, and allowing the Select Board to set the annual registration fee, instead of specifying it as $100 directly in the bylaws.

After a few clarifying questions were answered, however, both articles passed quickly.

The $23,596,068.22 budget represents 5.98 percent increase over fiscal 2025.

Other articles voters approved included:

 $335,000 in free cash to pay for school improvements.

 $47,000 of free cash to equip police with body cameras.

 $5,000 of free cash to Tri-Town Health, a one-time expense to help with the department's move to Stockbridge.

 Amending town bylaws on accessory dwelling units to bring them in line with state law, and barring short-term rentals on properties with ADUs.
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British musician Self Esteem has said she is comfortable being on the Glastonbury lineup with the band Kneecap following an investigation by counter-terrorism officers over a kill your MP video.

Several gigs were cancelled after footage from November 2023 resurfaced, allegedly showing one member saying: The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.

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Footage from November 2024 is also being investigated which appears to show one member of the Belfast rap trio saying up Hamas, up Hezbollah.

The group apologised to the families of murdered MPs but claimed footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised, while they also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK.

There have since been calls from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to ban the group while other MPs, Jewish groups, as well as former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, have said they should be dropped from the Glastonbury lineup.

Self Esteem, also known as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, is due to perform at the music festival.

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She told Rosie Wright on Times Radio that she thinks it is important the Irish band do not get censored.

She said: I feel very comfortable sharing a line-up with them.

I think its important that they dont get censored, personallyI think it would be a problem (for) culture, art, freedom of speech.

Self Esteem is to perform at Glastonbury (Ian West/PA)

Formed in 2017, Kneecap is made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, and is known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language.

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Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream have defended the band.

They signed a statement saying there is a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform Kneecap, while claiming that politicians are strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band while ignoring a genocide in Gaza.
An army officer who was involved in staging a mock trial that subjected a number of trainee soldiers to degrading treatment at a military camp in Cork has appeared before a real-life military court over the incident.

The officer, who holds the rank of lieutenant, was fined a total of 34 days pay  equivalent to a sum of just under 5,000  after pleading guilty at a general court martial to six breaches of military law while acting as a training officer for a 1st Brigade NCO course at a number of military locations in Cork two years ago.

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A military judge said the incident in relation to the mock trial demonstrated a culture that is not aligned with the values of the Defence Forces and was the result of an unacceptable group dynamic that had existed before the officer became involved in the training course.

The identity of the accused is not being published at the request of the judge, Colonel Michael Campion, made during a sentencing hearing at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks in Dublin.

The officer admitted committing six offences of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, contrary to Section 168 of the Defence Act.

They included a charge that he participated in a mock trial which resulted in the unlawful detention of three trainees at Lynch Camp, Kilworth, Co Cork on May 18th 2023.

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He also admitted to consuming alcohol while on duty on the same date and location.

Col Campion observed that the three trainees had been subjected to degrading treatment by being placed in a mock prisoner-of-war cage, although he accepted that the accused was not the prime mover in the incident.

Separately, the officer pleaded guilty to conducting unauthorised drills with students at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Co Cork on June 14th 2023 as well as consuming alcohol while on exercise.

He also pleaded guilty to permitting subordinate instructors to consume alcohol and failing to prevent them from conducting manoeuvres after consuming alcohol at Fort Davis, Whitegate, Co Cork on June 15th, 2023.

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The judge said the unauthorised drills had no legitimate training purpose and it appeared the students participating in them had been chosen because they were struggling with aspects of the course.

Col Campion remarked that such trainees deserved the support of the officer instead of treatment of that kind.

He said such behaviour seriously undermined morale, negatively impacted on the reputation of the Defence Forces and created difficulties with the recruitment and retention of staff.

The judge said the defendants actions were not one-off as they involved three separate incidents over the space of about a month.

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Addressing the accused, Col Campion said he had considered dismissal from the Defence Forces as a punishment for conduct he described as utterly unacceptable.

However, the judge acknowledged that the officer had entered an early guilty plea and had cooperated with a military investigation, as well as apologising for his actions and showing insight and remorse.

Col Campion noted that he had no previous record of indiscipline and said he was impressed by character references and support offered by his senior officers.

The judge also observed that the accused had missed out on promotion to the rank of captain because of the court martial, as well as not being selected for overseas trips, which also had financial consequences for him.

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Col Campion said the charges were not criminal offences, but the Defence Forces was different from civilian life and disciplinary breaches were far more serious when they were committed in a military environment.

He observed that the maintenance of discipline was of the essence in a military force and the Defence Forces was dependent on its members behaving for its effectiveness, integrity and reputation.

The judge claimed aggravating factors in the case were the accuseds rank and experience and his knowledge of the standards expected of someone who had served three years as an officer.

Col Campion observed that the lieutenant had set an appalling bad example to his subordinates and his conduct was prejudicial to good order and discipline in a very real way.

He said the officer had failed to demonstrate the standard of leadership expected as well as a duty of care and showing trainees dignity and respect even in a robust training environment.

However, the judge said he believed it was a case of appalling bad judgement on the part of the accused rather than anything more malign.

Noting that the accused came from a family with a long military history, Col Campion said such a background would accentuate your sense of shame.

The judge allowed the defendant to pay the fine in monthly instalments of 286.66 over a 17-month period.
A married farmer and father of four was today unanimously found guilty by a jury of raping a man on two separate occasions.

Thomas Tossy Nyhan, (64), from Crookstown, Co Cork, can be named for the first time, after a judge lifted reporting restrictions following Nyhans 11-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, Limerick.

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Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring ordered that no details be reported which might lead to the identification of the victim, who told the court that the rapes felt like barbed wire inside him.

Nyhan had denied two counts of anal rape of the victim, at a location in Munster, in January 2011 and in April 2019.

When questioned about the rapes by Gardai in May 2019, Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim but he denied raping him, the court heard.

The rape allegations, which were presented in court by prosecuting senior counsel Fionnuala OSullivan and prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by Aoife OHalloran, Chief State Solicitors Office, surfaced when the victim told his GP following the second rape.

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During the trial, and while under cross examination by Nyhans barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, the victim agreed that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011.

The victim denied claims by Nyhan that he had asked him for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhans crotch a number of times.

The victim said Nyhans claims were lies.

Speaking about the rapes, the victim told the court: I told him to stop, I didn't like it.

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When asked by Mr Nicholas what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied, I was just scared, I just froze.

Mr Nicholas said Nyhan claimed the victim asked him for 150 cash for sex, and that the victim had removed his own pants and underpants for sex.

Mr Nicholas suggested the victim had been in possession of a knife and that as Nyhan was afraid youd harm yourself, he pretended to go along with it.

The victim told the court this was bulls***.

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The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and despite pleading with Nyhan to stop the farmer thrust himself into the victim, told him he loved him, raped him, and afterwards kissed the victim on his testicles.

The victim told the court Nyhans denials were lies.

Nyhans wife, Mary Nyhan, accompanied her husband to court every day of his trial and sat with him during breaks in proceedings.

After the verdicts were returned the couple walked out of the court together.

Thomas Tossy Nyhan was remanded on bail for sentencing on June 23rd.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
Former soldier Lisa Smiths conviction for membership of Islamic State is sound and should be upheld, the State has told the Court of Appeal.

Tony McGillicuddy SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said Smiths appeal against conviction suffered from a huge deficit and what was presented was a self-serving and self-pitying portrait.

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Counsel pointed to the evidence in the case, much of which, he said, came from Ms Smith herself, from the text messages she sent to her own family and from her social media interactions.

In my submission the verdict was safe and sound in this case, he said. I say the court ought to be satisfied that in relation to the grounds raised on all points, that those grounds ought to be dismissed.

However, defence senior counsel Michael OHiggins said there was no evidence that Lisa Smith tried to recruit anyone to Isis, or that she tried to fundraise for them.

Theres not a screed of information that suggests she made any contribution in that regard, he said.

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He asserted that simply travelling to an area where Islamic State operated did not prove she was a member.

There is nothing in this case that says Lisa Smith actively contributed to whats described as a state building project. There isnt a single activity in which the finger is pointed at her that says you contributed to state building, he said. No active participation is flagged up.

In 2022, Smith (43) became the first person to be convicted in an Irish court of an Islamic terrorist offence committed abroad when the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court (SCC) found that she joined Isis when she travelled to Syria in 2015.

Isis membership

Smith, from Dundalk, Co Louth, had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019.

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She was subsequently refused an appeal against a 15-month sentence and has now lodged an appeal against her conviction.

At the Court of Appeal on Friday, on the third day of her appeal hearing, Mr McGillicuddy highlighted the evidence given during the trial by Carol Karimah Duffy who told the court Smith was at the more political and harsh end of Islam.

She said Smith spoke about jihad and wanting a husband who was a shahid  a martyr for Islam.

She said Ms Smith also spoke of spreading Islam by the Sword and never read a book but instead always followed what she saw online.

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He also highlighted the evidence given by Tania Joya Choudhury, who was present with Smith for a time in Syria in 2013 and travelled over the border with her from Egypt. He said Ms Choudhury had given evidence that Smith told her she wanted to help the rebels.

She said the former soldier was determined to get to Syria and didnt want to stay in Turkey.

He said evidence had been given by Ms Choudhury that Smith was happy and optimistic to be in Syria. He noted Ms Choudhury had told the court: Lisa said she would fight because she had training.

Evidence

Mr McGillicuddy said Ms Choudhurys evidence had been bleeded out of the appellants case. Her counsels submissions, whilst lengthy, almost ignore her evidence, he said, referring to it as neutral when it was anything but.

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Her evidence is important evidence; she was able to attest to what the appellant wanted to do when she entered Syria, he said.

Mr McGillicuddy also referenced transcripts of Smiths garda interviews when she spoke about getting a divorce because her husband would not come and join her in Syria, and instead tried to get her to go to Turkey.

He said this had to be looked at in the context of expert evidence from Dr Florence Gaub, who had outlined how difficult it was for women to get a divorce under normal circumstances.

He said the fact she was able to divorce her husband with relative ease was one of the benefits of being an adherent of this cult.

Counsel highlighted the fact that Smith had hidden the fact that she intended to go to Syria in 2015 and instead told friends and family she was going to Tunisia.

One would wonder why she didnt say well Ive a religious belief Im going, said Mr McGillicuddy. She took a different course by saying no Im telling everyone Im going to Tunisia where her husband was living and its only later it became apparent she was in Syria.

He added: That is relevant in terms of the presentation by the appellant of the case that was made on her behalf.

The barrister went on to explore the evidence given at trial by Dr Florence Gaub, an expert on Middle Eastern conflicts, who addressed the issue of the one finger salute, which, Mr McGillicuddy said, has been completely co-opted by Islamic State.

Photograph

He referenced a photograph of Ms Smith taken in January 2013, in which she is pictured on a horse giving a one-finger salute.

He said Dr Gaub had confirmed the salute had been misappropriated by members of Islamic State for people who associate with them.

That was at the crux of what she was saying, the Isis organisation was appropriating religious themes, symbols, language, he said.

Those who were using the salutes knew it was as part of a violent insurgency and not as part of a religious pilgrimage as such. In my submission, thats important in the context of this case, said counsel.

Imploring the court to uphold Smiths conviction, Mr McGillicuddy said the trial court had assessed the evidence carefully, not in a whip hand manner in coming to its verdict.

In response, Mr OHiggins said, in relation to the one-fingered salute, Dr Gaub had absolutely accepted that this had only come into being in mid-2014.

He said the photo in question had been taken in January 2013 in Tunisia, which was a world away from what was happening in Syria.

He said the Special Criminal Courts judgement had referred to Smiths conduct.

What conduct was it? he said. What conduct did she do that says youre a member of this terrorist organisation.

Counsel said not one single example of conduct was cited.

He said the courts view was that, to be there is enough. That is their finding.

Mr Justice John Edwards said the court would reserve judgement.
The Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan welcomed the launch of a competition to appoint a new Garda Commissioner.

Minister OCallaghan has tasked publicjobs to run an open competition to identify a suitable candidate for appointment as Garda Commissioner.

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The deadline for applications is may 29th, 2025.

Minister O'Callaghan emphasised the importance of the competition and said: "An Garda Siochana has a very proud tradition of service to the public over the course of the last century.

The new Garda Commissioner will lead the organisation at a time of ongoing growth, change and reform as the organisation starts to operate under the provisions of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act which implemented the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

"The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Siochana has the resources it needs to fight crime.

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"A strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. 2.48 billion for this year, a 27 per cent increase since 2020, which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

I expect to be in a position to make a recommendation to the Government in late July.

Minister OCallaghan also expressed his gratitude to Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, who agreed to extend his term of office to facilitate the competition to appoint his successor.

The Minister consulted with the new Garda Board and the Policing and Community Safety Authority in developing the selection criteria and recruitment process for this competition.

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The new Commissioner will be appointed to a five-year term or until the retirement age of 62. The Commissioner will lead a total workforce of nearly 18,000 people, comprising sworn Gardai, Garda staff and Garda Reserves.

Ireland Twitter tip-off led to extreme porn addict's arres... Read More

The Commissioner will be mandated to strengthen capacity and capability across the organisation, building on existing knowledge and expertise to ensure it is at the forefront of policing and state security globally, in line with its mission of "Keeping People Safe.

Minister O'Callaghan highlighted the Government's commitment to expanding the force: "The Programme for Government commits to providing funding to recruit and train 5,000 new Gardai over the next five years.

"A key priority for me and for the Garda Commissioner is growing the size of An Garda Siochana so that we can get more Gardai on the ground in our communities. The Government will continue to provide the organisation with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.

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To deliver a police service for our future, the leadership of the Garda Commissioner is vital. This is extremely challenging, wide-ranging and high-profile role for which we are seeking an exceptional candidate, an outstanding and inspirational leader and a person of utmost integrity."
MMA fighter Charlie Ward is to stand trial accused of corruption offences involving bribes for confidential information from a garda and helping to pervert the course of justice.

The mixed martial artist, 44, of Acragar, Mountmellick and co-accused Noel Carroll, 57, of Ballyfinn Road, Portlaoise, both Co Laois, appeared at Dublin District Court following an investigation by the Garda anti-corruption unit.

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Detective Sergeant Paul Dowling and Kieran Kilcoyne said the two men made no reply when charged.

Judge Treasa Kelly noted the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that they face trial on indictment.

She remanded them on bail to appear again on July 25th to be served with books of evidence and sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.

They have yet to indicate pleas.

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Following applications by defence solicitors Michael Kelleher and Oscar Banahan, who provided statements of their clients means, Judge Kelly granted them legal aid.

The pair face charges contrary to section 5 of the 2018 Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act about requests for information concerning three men.

According to the court documents, on March 2nd 2022, at an unknown location in the state, both men corruptly requested a gift, consideration or advantage on account of a named garda requesting that confidential information relating to another named person be obtained and disclosed.

Mr Ward is accused of the same type of offence on February 28th 2022, about Garda information on a second male.

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Another charge states that on the previous day, Mr Ward corruptly offered the same officer an inducement for doing an act in relation to his employment as a member of An Garda Siochana.

Mr Ward is also accused of an offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997.

That alleges that between October 15 -17, 2019, both dates inclusive, when another person committed an arrestable offence, namely, perverting the course of justice, that he did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence.

It is alleged that on January 26th 2022, at an unknown location, Mr Carroll corruptly requested a gift consideration or advantage on account of the garda seeking confidential information about a search operation at the home of a third named man.
A young woman who was groped by a man in a supermarket when she was a teenager has told a court how degrading it was that her counselling notes were given to his defence team for his trial.

The then 16-year-old girl was helping her mother with the weekly grocery shop in a Dublin supermarket when she was sexually assaulted by Jasmin Nasic, who put his hand on her buttocks as he was walking by her.

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Nasic (36), of Hillcrest Grove, Lucan, Co Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of one count of sexual assault and one count of engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last month.

They are offences that carry a maximum sentence of 14 years and two years, respectively.

Giving her victim impact sentence at Nasic's sentence hearing on Friday, the young woman said that it took three years and nine months from the date of the offence to the date of his conviction.

That is 1,375 days I have had to live with the consequences of this assault, she told the court. She said prior to the assault, she was an innocent young girl. It didn't even cross my mind that someone would do this to me, she said.

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She said Nasic's decision to plead not guilty meant going through a trial which caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights.

She said the trauma of having to hand over her counselling notes in advance of the trial was degrading.

Judge Martina Baxter commended the complainant after she had finished her statement, tell her she was a great example for other young women.

Garda Jennifer Desmond told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the girl and her mother were grocery shopping on the day in question when the girl noticed a man coming towards her in one of the aisles. She didn't think too much of it until he then deliberately groped her buttock as he walked by her.

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The young woman was shocked and called out to the man before finding her mother and telling her what happened. They came across Nasic in another aisle and the girl's mother confronted him, but he denied touching the girl.

He agreed to accompany them to the security station to look at CCTV footage but when the mother turned around, the man had left. They called 999 and Nasic was later identified from the CCTV footage.

He is originally from Croatia, has been living in Ireland since 2016 and has no previous convictions, the court heard.

Oisin Clarke BL, defending, said his client now accepts the verdicts of the jury and is remorseful for his actions. He handed in some testimonials from colleagues of the defendant. Nasic has worked consistently since coming to Ireland, including in admin in Trinity College and as a kitchen porter.

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Mr Clarke said that the defence wished to let the complainant know that Nasic never had sight of her medical notes, and these were only reviewed by the legal team. They were not used in the trial, he said.

He said Nasic was a hardworking man who lived to work and send money home to his family in Croatia. He left his home country as a result of a violent dispute involving his father and brother.

Nasic will now be a registered sex offender, which will impact his employment and future travel prospects, the court heard.

Judge Baxter said Nasic needs to be assessed by the Probation Services in relation to possible recidivism.

This was a young girl, a teenager, she said, noting the young woman's bravery.

The Probation Service needs to be engaged to make sure this doesn't happen again.

She adjourned the matter to October 10th to allow a report to be prepared.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
A jewellery piercer was caught with sexual images of girls on his phone after Twitter notified gardai he was viewing child abuse material on his social media account, a court has heard.

Adam Laycock, 31, of Dowland Road, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to possessing eight child pornography images on his mobile phone on a date in January 2017 and will be sentenced later.

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Judge Paula Murphy heard at Dublin District Court that the investigation stemmed from information provided to An Garda Siochana by Twitter, now named X, about a specific account.

Detective Garda Jason OCarroll said the social media platform reported content that they deemed to be child pornography.

An internet trace led to his former address in Crumlin being searched, and he handed over his mobile phone.

Analysing it led to eight images being found. Two were of fully naked girls and six of girls in sexual poses.

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The children were not identified, and the garda did not believe they were in Ireland.

The accused was questioned later because it took some time to analyse the devices, and he made admissions and confirmed the email address and Twitter handle he used.

The court heard he had no prior convictions.

Garda OCarroll agreed with defence solicitor Philip Denieffe that when questioned, his client accepted the Twitter and email accounts were his and he stated that he had an addiction to pornography at the time.

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The court heard he had been consuming child pornography online, and the content was getting more and more extreme.

Since then, Laycock had sought professional help.

Mr Denieffe said at the time his client suffered from a severe pornography addiction that had been going on for quite some time and had been consuming different types of content. Laycock was trolling the internet not just for child pornography but also for extreme content of different natures.

He furnished the court with a letter from his counsellor showing he had gone to sessions for two years and had addressed the issue.

The solicitor pleaded with the judge to note that the case went back some time and that he client had not come to garda notice since then.

Judge Murphy adjourned sentencing for a probation report to be furnished to the court in July.
Speakers blasted songs including Born In The USA and American Pie as six cardinal electors from the United States gathered in Rome to share their thoughts on the election of the first US-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost.

I took a look at Bob and he had his head in his hands and I was praying for him, said Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the moment right after casting his vote in the Sistine Chapel.

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And then when he accepted, it was like it was made for him.



From left, US cardinals Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the USA, Robert McElroy of Washington, Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, Timothy Dolan of NY, and Daniel Di Nardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston Houston, attend a press conference at the North American College in Rome one day after US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

One day after Chicago-born Cardinal Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the cardinals met on a stage decorated with the Stars and Stripes and a Vatican flag at the Pontifical North American College.

The hilltop institution for US seminarians is a short walk from St Peters Basilica, where Leo made his first speech to the world on Thursday evening as the new leader of the Catholic Churchs 1.4 billion global faithful.

The United States had 10 voting cardinals in the conclave, the second-highest number of any country.

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Four of them currently serve as archbishops in the US: Cardinal Tobin of Newark, New Jersey; Timothy Dolan of New York; Blase Cupich of Chicago; and Robert McElroy of Washington.

In a very real sense, Cardinal Prevost has been in his life at his core a real missionary, in every way, Cardinal McElroy said.

Joining them were retired archbishops Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston in Texas, and Wilton Gregory of Washington, as well as French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.



The official document attesting the acceptance by Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of his election (Vatican Media via AP)

Several of the men referred to the man they have known for years as Bob or Robert by his papal name, Leo.

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Others said that his American nationality was not a factor  he also holds Peruvian citizenship.

Cardinals were most concerned with who among us can bring us together, who among us can strengthen the faith and bring the faith to places where it has grown weak, said Cardinal Gregory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said you cannot spy against an ally after reports that the United States has stepped up intelligence gathering on Greenland.

The semi-autonomous Danish territory is coveted by US President Donald Trump.

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On Thursday, Denmark summoned the top American diplomat in the country for an explanation following a Wall Street Journal report which said several high-ranking officials under the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenlands independence movement and sentiment about American resource extraction there.

Speaking with the Associated Press, Ms Frederiksen referred to the report as rumours in an international newspaper.

Cooperation about defence and deterrence and security in the northern part of Europe is getting more and more important, Mr Frederiksen added. Of course, you cannot spy against an ally.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in comments to Greenland newspaper Sermitsiaq, said the reports of espionage are unacceptable and disrespectful.

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb said there is no question that the pressure Denmark and Greenland are under doesnt feel right.

He spoke after a security meeting in Norway where the issue of Greenland was discussed between Nordic and Baltic leaders and the UK, with representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands dialling in via video link.

In response to questions about the Journals report, Ms Gabbards office released a statement noting that she had made three criminal referrals to the US justice department over intelligence community leaks.

The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicising and leaking classified information, Ms Gabbard wrote.

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They are breaking the law and undermining our nations security and democracy. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Greenlands Prime Minister said last month that US statements about the mineral-rich Arctic island have been disrespectful and it will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Friday said those who believe there is another kind of legal regime in the Arctic should be told that this is not the case.

Speaking ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force leaders meeting in Oslo, Mr Gahr Store said there seemed to be suggestions that in the Arctic, there is some kind of terra nullius, law doesnt apply.

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It applies, sovereignty applies. And Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, he said ahead of the meeting with the leaders of the UK, Nordic and Baltic nations.
Cardinal Robert Prevost may be the first person from the US to become the head of the Catholic Church but his surprising election by the world's cardinals as Pope Leo XIV probably had less to do with his birthplace than his former workplace.

Prevost, a relative unknown on the world stage, spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and became a senior Vatican official and a cardinal only in 2023.

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His first assignment as a bishop was in Chiclayo, in northwest Peru, where he served from 2015 to 2023.

For the 133 cardinals locked in conclave in the Sistine Chapel to pick a successor to Pope Francis, an Argentine and the first pontiff from the Americas, this was likely no small detail.

"For us, he's the second Latin American pope," Fernando Morales-de la Cruz, a Guatemalan human rights activist, told Reuters. Prevost has dual US-Peruvian nationality.

But unlike Francis, who was elected pope in 2013 after serving for decades as a local bishop and had no Vatican experience, Prevost was not a complete outsider.

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Vatican office

He spent the last two years leading the powerful Vatican office that helps decide which priests are appointed as Catholic bishops across the world. He also took part in two Vatican assemblies of global bishops hosted by Francis in 2023 and 2024.

With his combined experiences, he becomes pope with a head start on some of the big issues facing the 1.4 billion-member Church and is already well known by many of the cardinals.

Given the secrecy of the conclave, not much will be known at least for now about the thinking of the cardinal-electors and how their rounds of voting went up to the moment they made their choice on Thursday.

But some analysts have some theories, including about how Prevost overcame what was until now thought to be an unlikely proposition: a US cardinal becoming pope.

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Before the conclave, the American cardinals thought a US passport was a dealbreaker.

"Before the conclave, the American cardinals thought a US passport was a dealbreaker," said Michael Sean Winters, a US commentator who has followed the Vatican closely.

But cardinals decided that Prevost's nationality, given his experience in Latin America, "was not an insuperable barrier", he said.

"What they wanted was someone known among the other cardinals and also committed to carrying on with Francis' reforms," said Mr Winters. "And more than any other papal contender Prevost had both things."

In Donald Trump's second US presidency, the cardinals may have also seen real value for the first time in elevating another American as pope.

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Francis was a sharp critic of Mr Trump, saying earlier this year that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US was a "disgrace".

"As for why the cardinals picked (Prevost), I have to wonder if elevating a 'different sort of American leader' wasn't a part of the discernment process," said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a US academic and Catholic expert at Manhattan University in New York.

Quick conclave

Heading into the conclave on Wednesday, two other cardinals were seen as leading frontrunners: Italian Pietro Parolin and Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle.

Cardinals vote in conclaves once on the first day and four times on subsequent days.

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When white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at 4.08pm on Thursday, signalling the election of the new pope, many watching thought it must be either Parolin or Tagle.

The timing of the smoke meant the new pope was probably elected on the fourth ballot of the conclave, a fast result. Francis was elected on the fifth ballot of the 2013 conclave.

In 1978, it took eight ballots to elect Pope John Paul II. Like Prevost, the Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla had not been seen as a frontrunner heading into the conclave that made him pontiff.

Prepared speech

One cardinal - who was not able to participate in this conclave because he is over the age of 80 - said that based on his experience in past conclaves, a consensus probably emerged on the third ballot that on the next round Prevost would reach the two-thirds majority required to win election.

The third ballot would have been the second one held on Thursday morning, before the cardinals took a break for lunch.

The retired cardinal, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secretive process, suggested that Prevost may have taken time in the lunch break to choose his papal name and begin drafting his first address as leader of the Church.

When Pope Leo appeared for the first time on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, about 70 minutes after his election, to greet tens of thousands in the square below, he spoke from a written text.

World As Born In The USA plays, American cardinals in Ro... Read More

None of the past four popes used a written text for their first address from the balcony. In 2013, Francis' first word was simply "Buonasera" (Good evening), and he spoke extemporaneously for just a few minutes.

Asked by a reporter with Italy's Channel 4 two days before the conclave if he would be elected as pope, Prevost replied: "Everything is in the hands of the Holy Spirit."

The reporter then mentioned how the cardinal had a range of experiences he could offer as pope, being born in the US, living in Peru, and knowing bishops around the globe because of his Vatican job.

"All of this is true, yes," Prevost replied.
Moscows Red Square has hosted a massive military parade, as Russia marked 80 years since the defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War.

Victory Day on May 9 is one of Russias biggest national holidays, as the country marks the 27 million people who were lost from the former Soviet Union during the conflict.

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The parade sees Russian President Vladimir Putin projecting his countrys global power, even as the conflict in Ukraine drags on.



Belarusian servicemen also attended the parade (RIA Novosti via AP)



Russian T-80 BVM tanks were on show in Red Square (RIA Novosti via AP)

The Second World War is a rare event in Russias divisive history under Communist rule that is revered by all political groups, and the Kremlin has used that sentiment to encourage national pride and underline Russias position as a global power.

The former Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it refers to as the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar in the national psyche.



Foreign leaders including Chinas Xi Jinping joined Vladimir Putin for the celebrations (RIA Novosti via AP)



The event is a projection of Russian military power as well as a commemoration of the millions who died (RIA Novosti via AP)

Speaking at the parade, Mr Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.

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The parade featured more than 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armoured infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, launchers for the Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles rolled across Red Square.



Oscar-winning US director Oliver Stone was present for the parade (RIA Novosti via AP)



Chinese servicemen hold their national flag as they attend the parade (RIA Novosti via AP)

Fighter jets of Russian air forces aerobatic teams flew by in close formation followed by jets that trailed smoke in the colours of the national flag.

After the show, Mr Putin shook hands with Russian military officers who led the troops on Red Square. He also talked to a group of medal-bedecked senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them.



Egyptian servicemen were also part of the display (RIA Novosti via AP)



A Russian soldier rides on an armored vehicle VPK-Ural in Red Square (Ilya Pitalev/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Festivities this year were overshadowed by Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capitals airports.

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Russian authorities tightened security before the parade and mobile phone internet outages have been reported amid electronic counter-measures aimed at foiling more potential drone attacks.



Russian Air Force Su-25 jets fly overhead (RIA Novosti via AP)



The event is marked by spectacular large-scale displays by soldiers (Evgeny Biyatov/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Mr Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting on May 7 to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations, but warned that Russian troops will retaliate to any attacks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported scores of Russian strikes on Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings.

As the Red Square parade and other festivities unfolded in Moscow, dozens of European officials were meeting in Lviv, in western Ukraine, to endorse the creation of a special tribunal tasked to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes.



Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire in Ukraine over the holiday (RIA Novosti via AP)
U.S. abuse of tariffs: Shifting its domestic problems overseas in attempt to find cure

09:08, May 09, 2025 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online

Cartoon by Tan Xiguang

Recently, the U.S. has continuously introduced various tariff policies and repeatedly wielded the big stick of tariffs. The U.S. has also used the fentanyl issue as a pretext to shift blame to China and substantially impose additional tariffs on Chinese exports.

This is nothing but blatant smears and groundless accusations. China is one of the world's toughest countries on illegal drug use both in terms of policy and its implementation. China announced back in 2019 the decision to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class.

However, the U.S. has turned a blind eye to its increasingly severe domestic fentanyl crisis. With less than five percent of the world's population, the U.S. consumes 80 percent of opioids in the world. Data from the U.S. Center for Disease Prevention and Control shows that synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, were involved in nearly 70 percent of overdose deaths - 75,000 people - in the country in 2023.

Fentanyl is the U.S.'s problem, not China's. Using this as a pretext to substantially increase tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. is a typical act of bullying. This approach of shifting its domestic problems overseas in an attempt to find a cure cannot hide the failures of U.S. governance, nor will it help solve the underlying issues.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Pope Leo XIV, historys first North American Pope, has said his election was both a cross and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel.

Leo spoke off-the-cuff in English to the cardinals who elected him to lead the Catholic Church and follow in Pope Francis footsteps over social justice.

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He acknowledged the great responsibility they had placed on him before delivering a brief but dense homily on the need to joyfully spread Christianity in a world that often mocks it.



The first North American Pope was elected on Thursday (Vatican Media via AP)

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news to announce the Gospel, he said.

It was in the same frescoed chapel that Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, 69, was elected on Thursday afternoon as the 267th Pope, overcoming the traditional prohibition against a pontiff from the United States.

Leo will be formally installed as pope at a Mass on May 18, the Vatican said on Friday, and will preside over his first general audience on May 21.

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Two women delivered the Scripture readings at the start of the Mass, perhaps an indication of Leos intention to follow Francis priority to expand womens role in the church.

As a cardinal, Leo put into practice one of Francis most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the board that vets bishop nominations.



Leo celebrated Mass a day after his election (AP)

Speaking in near-perfect Italian, Leo lamented that the Christian faith in many parts of the world is considered absurd, mocked or opposed when there were temptations such as money, success and power.

He complained that in many places Jesus is misunderstood, reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.

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This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism, he said.

Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.



Leo XIV is the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church (Vatican Media via AP)

The cardinals applauded as the Mass concluded. Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes, not the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes.

Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014.

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Francis then brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world and is one of the most important jobs in church governance.

Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had kept a low public profile but was well-known to the men who count, and respected by those who worked with him.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope.

Vatican watchers said Prevosts decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant given the previous Leos legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis chief concerns.

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Specifically, Leo cited one of Francis key priorities of making the Catholic Church more attentive to lay people and inclusive, a process known as synodality.
The first US Pope is likely to present a quite challenging message to president Donald Trump, according to a Vatican expert who met the new pontiff hours after his election.

Among the world leaders to congratulate Pope Leo XIV, Mr Trump spoke of the excitement and honour for America to have a Chicago-born man as the new head of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

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He is the first pontiff from North America, and spoke of peace, unity and bridge-building in his first words from the balcony of St Peters Basilica where he appeared on Thursday to joyous crowds.

However, a social media account in the 69-year-olds name before becoming Pope shared posts critical of the Trump administration. In February it shared an opinion piece which chastised US vice-president JD Vance as wrong about some aspects of Christian teaching.

Asked if this could make a first meeting between the US leaders and the new Pope awkward, UK theologian Professor Anna Rowlands said she thinks the pontiff will be able to avoid confrontation while also challenging them.

Speaking from Rome, she told the PA news agency: I think he might have this way of being quite a disarming presence. Hes gentle, hes thoughtful. Hes almost all the opposite characteristics to Trump.

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So if you think about somebody quiet and not boisterous, someone who thinks before they speak, someone who is centred. Theres a kind of serenity about him. And hes very unassuming. Hes almost exactly the opposite human characteristics to Donald Trump, and that could work in an interesting way.

Prof Rowlands, originally from Manchester but now based in Durham, spent two years seconded to the Vatican during Franciss papacy.

She met and shook hands with Pope Leo in the hours after his election on Thursday, describing the experience as brief but really lovely.

Asked further about how he might approach a meeting with Mr Trump, Prof Rowlands said: Hes unlikely to be confrontational, I think, because of his nature, and yet I think the content of what he says will be quite challenging.

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I think he wont want to simply judge Donald Trump. I think he will genuinely want to engage in a fruitful dialogue towards genuine human good, a just peace, security in the world, a genuine orientation towards real values  those are the kind of things he will want to enter into dialogue with the US administration on.

Posting on his Truth Social platform about the new pontiff, Mr Trump said: What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

Mr Vance, who converted to Catholicism as an adult, also congratulated the new Pope, saying he is sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church.

Mr Trump drew criticism over the weekend after sharing an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as the head of the Catholic Church on social media, before the secret conclave meeting had begun.

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The new Pope celebrated mass in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, beginning his first full day in his role as the Churchs leader.

The Vatican has confirmed he will be formally installed at a mass on May 18th.
Pakistan has denied Indian accusations it has attacked military bases amid the growing conflict between the two neighbours.

Indias Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff, a central coordinating arm for all Indian armed forces, said military stations in Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. It said the attacks were repelled and no casualties were reported.

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Shesh Paul Vaid, the regions former director-general of police, said the Jammu Airport likely was also under attack and that some of the 50 loud explosions he heard likely were because our defence system is at work.

Jammu and Udhampur are close to the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. Pathankot is in Indias Punjab state.



Supporters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan party chant slogans during a rally to condemn Indian missile strikes in Pakistani areas, in Karachi (Fareed Khan/AP)

Sirens were also heard in some parts of the regions main city of Srinagar, residents said. It was followed by a blackout in the city and other parts of the region.

Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement rejected the Indian claims that Pakistan launched attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer and Srinagar, saying these claims are entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan.

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It added that such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends.

India fired attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least two civilians, the Pakistani military said.

India acknowledged it had targeted Pakistans air defence system and accused its neighbour of attempting its own attack.

Islamabad said it shot down several of the drones while India said it neutralised Pakistans attempts to hit military targets. It was not possible to verify all of the claims.

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The exchanges came a day after Indian missiles struck several locations in Pakistan, killing 31 civilians, according to Pakistani officials.

New Delhi said it was retaliating after gunmen killed more than two dozen people, mostly Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir last month. India accused Pakistan of being behind the assault. Islamabad denies that.



An Indian flag lies in front of a damaged shop following an overnight artillery shelling from Pakistan at Gingal village in Uri district, Indian controlled Kashmir (Dar Yasin/AP)

Both sides have also traded heavy fire across their frontier in disputed Kashmir, and Pakistan claimed it killed scores of Indian soldiers. There was no confirmation from India.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to avenge the deaths in Indias missile strikes, raising fears that the two countries could be headed toward another all-out conflict. Leaders from both nations face mounting public pressure to show strength and seek revenge, and the heated rhetoric and competing claims could be a response to that pressure.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Thursday to the Pakistani prime minister and Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, urging both sides to de-escalate the situation, the US State Department said.

New Delhi, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of attempting to engage a number of military targets with missiles and drones along the Line of Control that divides Kashmir and elsewhere along their border.

The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations, it said.

At a news briefing, Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday rejected Indias claim that Islamabad carried out any attack in Indian Punjab.

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These accusations are an attempt to incite anti-Pakistan sentiment among the Punjabi Sikh population in India, he said.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told parliament that so far, Pakistan has not responded to Indias missile attacks, but there will be one. Later Thursday, Indian authorities ordered a night-time blackout in Punjabs Gurdaspur district, which borders Pakistan.
Pope Leo XIV, historys first North American pope, has celebrated his first Mass as pontiff in the Sistine Chapel.

He addressed cardinals in English at the start of the Mass, saying you have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed, and asking for their help to spread the Catholic faith.

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It is the first time Leo has made public remarks in English, after he spoke in Italian and Spanish only in his first comments to the world from the loggia of St Peters Basilica on Thursday.

Leo offered off-the-cuff remarks at the start of his homily in the Sistine Chapel before the cardinals who elected him.

The Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost was elected to succeed Pope Francis on Thursday and to follow in his footsteps on social justice.

Wearing white vestments, Leo proceeded into the Sistine Chapel and blessed the cardinals as he approached the altar and Michelangelos The Last Judgment behind it.

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It was in the same frescoed chapel that the 69-year-old Leo was elected on Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope  and the first from the United States.
Russia has marked the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War with a massive military parade on Red Square attended by President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Victory Day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9, is the countrys most important secular holiday.

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A Red Square parade and other ceremonies underline Moscows efforts to project its global power and cement the alliances it has forged as a counterbalance to the West amid the conflict in Ukraine.



The Chinese leader attended alongside Vladimir Putin (RIA Novosti via AP)

The Second World War is a rare event in Russias divisive history under Communist rule that is revered by all political groups, and the Kremlin has used that sentiment to encourage national pride and underline Russias position as a global power.

The Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar in the national psyche.

Speaking at the parade, Mr Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.

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The parade featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armoured infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, launchers for the Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles rolled across Red Square.



Mr Putin greeted North Korean servicemen during the event (Pool via AP)

Fighter jets of Russian air forces aerobatic teams flew by in close formation followed by jets that trailed smoke in the colours of the national flag.

After the show, Mr Putin shook hands with Russian military officers who led the troops on Red Square. He also talked to a group of medal-bedecked senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them.

Last month, Mr Putin thanked North Korea for fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces and hailed their sacrifices as Pyongyang confirmed its deployment for the first time.

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Festivities this year were overshadowed by Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capitals airports.



The day is one of Russias most important national holidays (RIA Novosti via AP)

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot cancelled more than 100 flights to and from Moscow on Wednesday, and delayed around 140 others as the military repelled repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital.

Russian authorities tightened security ahead of the parade and mobile phone internet outages were reported amid electronic countermeasures aimed at foiling more potential drone attacks.

Mr Putin has declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting on Wednesday to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations.

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Moscow has been reluctant to accept a US-proposed 30-day truce that Ukraine has accepted, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies to Ukraine and Kyivs mobilisation effort, conditions Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected.
University of Sydney business professor Rico Merkert. Credit: USBS In this way, the healing hand of the market may have an effect, he said. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson, speaking during the companys half-year results in February, said: We always said that we welcome competition  Our focus is about looking after our customers. We feel really confident in being able to compete. Six months before Qatars entry into the market was given final approval, the government released its long-awaited Aviation White Paper to address broader industry concerns. The White Paper calls for legislation to create an Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme, with the power to direct airlines and airports to provide remedies to consumers. It also includes a proposal for a new Aviation Customer Rights Charter.

A spokeswoman for Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King said: The Albanese Labor government has introduced the most comprehensive reforms to the aviation sector in 25 years. Yet even before the White Papers release, the prospect for domestic competition dimmed, with significant changes for two smaller players in 2024: Rex, for regional express, went into administration in July and stopped flying to capital cities, while Bonza went out of business in April. The Albanese government, which had acquired $50 million in debt from Rex in January, said it would step in to ensure regional flights continue to fly while it seeks a new buyer. With Rex out of the picture, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found real average fare revenue per passenger had increased by about 3 percentage points to 13.6 per cent in the second half of 2024 following the loss of competition from Rexs exit on these routes. By the end of the year, Virgin Australia, Qantas and the Qantas-owned Jetstar controlled a combined 98.6 per cent of the domestic market.

On-time arrivals for all airlines averaged 80.2 per cent in March, a fall from the long-term average of 80.7 per cent, according to Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics numbers. On-time departures averaged 80.7 per cent, down from an average of 81.8 per cent, although airlines blamed the impact of Cyclone Alfred in Queensland. Consumer advocate Adam Glezer of Consumer Champion says that, in this climate, the pace of reform is too slow. There is no momentum in terms of anything meaningful, he said. By preparing the Aviation White Paper, it appears that the government is trying to appease the public by saying, we are putting you first, while theyre effectively doing nothing.

Capacity constraints at Sydney Airport are partly to blame for the lack of domestic competition. Credit: Peter Rae While the government and regulators can set the conditions for the industry, the market would be needed to produce competitive dynamics. That likely means a third or even fourth domestic airline would be necessary. University of Sydneys Merkert says that if a new, viable domestic carrier did emerge, it would need to profitable, so it would need access to the domestic premium market of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, which is a golden triangle of profitability. The real margins are made domestically, and especially on that sector, he said. For now, Merkert says Qantas and Virgin are showing capacity discipline on the capital city routes, ensuring that they dont compete to the point of undercutting their own profits.

They have almost an informal agreement to be quite happy as what we would call a duopoly because that allows both of them to generate very healthy revenues and profit margins. Ahead of an expected ASX relisting, Virgin has swung to profit. The companys earnings before interest and tax rose to $519.4 million in 2024, up 18 per cent from $439.4 million in 2023, on growing demand from premium leisure and corporate travellers as well as budget-passengers. Qantas posted an 11 per cent increase in pre-tax profit of $1.4 billion in the half-year to December and flagged a domestic fleet refresh of plane interiors. Its also adding new Airbus A321XLRs. The Coalition, for its part, has been less impressed by the state of the air travel industry. Before the May 3 federal election, in which voters resoundingly backed the Labor government of Anthony Albanese, Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie said that under Labor, aviation competition has nosedived.

In April, McKenzie proposed the creation of a two-year trial that would allow international airlines flying into Darwin to carry domestic passengers between that city and other Australian capitals, a process known as cabotage. Slot machinations There are other obstacles for more robust domestic competition. Capacity constraints at Sydney Airport are also to blame, Merkert says. With its limited number of slots  the time allotments for the use of the airport infrastructure necessary to arrive or depart  as well as the airports curfew, Sydney airport constraints can hold back capacity across the golden triangle. Sydneys airport, restricted to 80 aircraft movements an hour, has not had flexibility to respond to delays caused by disruptions like bad weather. Merkert says a potential competitor to Qantas or Virgin would need a set of two slots in Sydney, one for the morning and one for the evening, for business and premium customers wanting commuter service. Nearly one-third of Sydneys total slot pool is reportedly available to new entrants, but with only one in 10 slots available in peak periods.

You need to have two slots each day and that is getting increasingly difficult, if not impossible, Merkert says. Sydney Airport chief Scott Charlton said: Theres been good progress in the last six months on reforms at Sydney Airport, including a new slot co-ordinator and an audit of slot use. Slots at Sydney Airport are in high demand. Credit: Getty Images The airport is also implementing a recovery period, which will allow airlines access to more slots following weather disruptions, he said. In April, Airport Coordination  a UK-based outfit with a vast international client base  took over Sydneys slot management from the government-formed Airport Coordination Australia, pledging more transparency on slot usage, on which it says it will publish regular data.

Theres no momentum for real airline reform, says Adam Glezer. Credit: Simon Schluter A spokeswoman for minister King said: Weve passed legislation to reform the slot system at Sydney Airport, boosting competition and levelling the playing field for new entrants. With the market power effectively held by two airline groups (Qantas owns Jetstar), domestic airlines face few financial or regulatory consequences for shifting or cancelling scheduled flights. Customer advocates say a customer rights charter upheld by an ombuds scheme would need the power to force airlines to pay compensation. To that end, Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie last year sponsored a pay on delay bill, which would put explicit penalties on airlines for delaying or cancelling flights for commercial reasons. The bill remains before the Senate. University of Maryland researcher Jingyi Xing says compensation schemes can hurt discount airlines. Credit:

Enshrining customers rights to get a refund for delayed and cancelled flights is a path already blazed by the European Union, which has had such legislation since 2005, and more recently the US, which under the Joe Biden administration instituted a rule change that entitled passengers to a refund if their flight is cancelled or significantly changed. Peter Forsyth, aviation consultant and former professor of economics at Monash University, says if such a compensation scheme were imposed in Australia, theres a question about who pays for it. My guess is that much of the cost would go to the passenger ultimately. But how much would that cost be? In Europe, the additional cost per passenger resulting from its compensation scheme was estimated in 2022 to be between US60 and $US1.20 (94 to $1.87), according to passenger advocacy business AirHelp. Would the threat of a compensation scheme force airlines to lift their game? Its not clear. University of Maryland researcher Jingyi Xing found that the EU customer compensation scheme legislation called EC261, introduced in 2005, reduced the proportion of flights delayed for more than three hours. But it also led to a fall in the share of flights with delays up to 15 minutes, or those arriving early.

The EC261 does not improve the overall on-time performance of flights, Xing said. Loading A compensation policy like this affects not only consumer welfare but also competition among firms, she said. Because all carriers are subject to the same compensation scheme, low-cost carriers may be placed at a disadvantage relative to legacy carriers as they charge cheaper prices and have lower revenues, she said. That means one fallout of such a scheme could be a further shake-out of low-cost carriers on certain routes. This could ultimately lead to higher prices and harm to consumers, she says.
Australias richest person was, like most of the country, unhappy with the Liberal Party on Saturday night. But for different reasons to your average swing voter.

Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart lashed the Coalition following its electoral drubbing for being insufficiently Trumpian, accusing left media of frightening the Liberals away from following the lead of the US president.

Gina Rinehart (centre), pictured at a Donald Trump rally last year, says the Liberals lost because they didnt go Trump enough. Credit:

And while moderates bemoaned the perceived ties between Donald Trump and Peter Dutton that helped smash the party at the ballot box, a handful have echoed Rineharts sentiments. Chief among those was South Australian senator and anti-woke warrior Alex Antic, who told Sky News this week that it was time to Make the Liberal Party great again.

Turns out not only have the pair been singing from the same hymn book on the Liberal Partys future, theyve also been hanging out. According to an election-eve register of interests disclosure, Antic received dinner and hospitality from Rinehart and her Hancock Prospecting.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In August 2022, Caleb Harper was sitting in his underwear in a sweltering room in Los Angeles, willing the air-conditioner to work. The Spacey Jane frontman had just begun scribbling down the first lines of a song that would become August, the first track to emerge from their third album. But it wasnt coming easily in the 40-degree heat and the song ended up sitting on the shelf for about 18 months, Harper occasionally pulling it down to tweak a line here or there. Other songs came and were put to tape, the album was nearly tied up, but August remained out-of-reach. I had a counter melody that wasnt working, Harper says over Zoom from Los Angeles, air-conditioning working this time. I ended up writing it on the last morning, and Peppa [Lane, bassist] and I went in and sang it that day. That final counter melody carries out the track with the floating refrain if that makes sense?, which the band then lifted for the albums title. It really bookends that period, Harper says, noting its meaning shifted considerably over the writing period, from a meditation on leaving Australia to predicting the beginning of a break-up. Its a hard listen, honestly. Spacey Jane on stage in Melbourne in December 2021, after the breakout success of Booster Seat. Credit: Getty August, like the rest of If That Makes Sense, was written and recorded over two years in LA  the first time the Perth band had recorded outside Australia. It was a big deal for the quartet (Harper and Lane are joined by drummer Kieran Lama and guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu), who have been synonymous with the Australian indie rock scene since their jangly, vulnerable 2020 debut album Sunlight. Sunlight was born from the runaway single Booster Seat, which reached #2 in that years Hottest 100, behind Glass Animals Heat Waves. The band would become frequent Hottest 100 lurkers: in the 2022 countdown, following their second album Here Comes Everybody, they featured six times, three of those coming in the top 10. In 2022, the band was the third-biggest seller of vinyl for the year, behind Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. Theyve ridden this wave of popularity on numerous sold-out tours of the country, and are comfortable standalone headliners for the biggest local festivals. There arent many bigger bands in Australian music right now, if any.

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Following the gruelling touring schedule for Here Comes Everybody (which had really stretched back years to the start of Sunlight), the bands management stepped in and told them to take a break. It started as quite a difficult thing, Harper says. It was almost counterintuitive  We are a band that considers our job to play shows. It was almost like the music served that. Now weve gone through a process of unlearning that and figuring out how to focus on making this record and pulling this world together first. And also giving the market a bit of space, from a business perspective. But once we hopped off that train, we were all freaked out. Especially, because we were living all around the world, we didnt see each other as much. Like many Australian artists before him, Harper landed in LA and endured the merry-go-round of songwriting sessions  a process he called f---ing terrifying. Id always been protective of the songwriting process, and it always has been in my bedroom, he says. I didnt know how to advocate for ideas that I liked, and I didnt know how to say no to things I didnt like. I would often not put forward ideas at all because I was just like, If they dont like it, thats embarrassing. But now I find its liberating to have that conflict of ideas. Im grateful that I went through that transition. Its easy to understand Harpers apprehension. His lyrics have always been intensely personal, and the songs on If That Makes Sense feature some wrenching moments. On the churning single All the Noise, Harper reflects on his upbringing: And that was the way that they gave to me  A promise that I would hurt everybody that I ever meet. Then theres the shouted, tortured mantra in So Much Taller: Youll never be enough and youll never be loved, and the fact you tried is embarrassing enough. Recent single Through My Teeth obliquely references Harper shedding his religious upbringing and throwing himself headlong into partying at university. A lot of the album pulls in this direction and sifts through the various answers to the question: what happens when you have to drag your trauma into adulthood? Being out here, Harper says after a pause, after we bring up Through My Teeth, its almost like pulling myself out of my present life in Australia made the past compress, like the last 26 years of my life were all just in one accessible bank in a way that they hadnt been before.

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All of a sudden things didnt seem as far away  not that they were any clearer, he says. I still have trouble recalling much of my childhood, as I think a lot of people do, especially if they have negative things associated with that  Your brain tends to bury things or contort them. But I think a lot of it became far clearer or more in my face than it had been before. Being away from Australia pulled some things into focus, but it also brought with it a lot of homesickness and guilt. I think family is the main one, Harper answers, when I ask where the guilt comes from. Theres already a host of issues and contentious things there. Being away is an interesting escape from that. But sometimes I take too much liberty when it comes to escaping things back home. Like Im really bad at messaging my friends back, Im really bad at calling my dad  and thats just something that weighs on me a lot. Relationships suffer, and you feel like its your fault. Wed be kicking ourselves if we didnt try [to break overseas]. Caleb Harper, frontman of Spacey Jane Sonically, If That Makes Sense doesnt deviate wildly from the Spacey Jane playbook, but the band have beefed things up considerably with undercurrents of synths and layers upon layers of guitars and vocals. Its the result of taking a longer time in the studio, and the presence of big-time producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, the 1975, Wolf Alice). We didnt shy away from producing it, like really producing it, Harper says. It was like, Lets put everything in here that we like and make it feel as big and wide as possible. The band also ran the entire record through tape at the end, a process that rounds out the sound and makes it feel richer, warmer (like the difference between an MP3 file and a vinyl record).

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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 Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. Its often cited as one of literatures greatest openings: in just a few words Daphne du Mauriers Rebecca conjures its narrators voice, its haunting setting and the tone that will carry the rest of the mysterious novel. In the 1950s du Maurier was Britains highest earning female author. This year Malthouse Theatre will mount an adaptation of her story The Birds, while Melbourne Theatre Company will take on Rebecca. If you know du Mauriers name but not much more, its a fine time to get better acquainted. Melbourne film writer Alexandra Heller-Nicholas lists du Maurier among her favourite authors. Im actually surprised that more of her work hasnt been adapted. Her short stories are made for film. Theres something really slippery about them that I find so beautiful, but also quite discomforting. Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson in Alfred Hitchcocks Rebecca. Credit: Getty Images Like many, Heller-Nicholas came to du Maurier through Alfred Hitchcock. The master of suspense adapted three of du Mauriers tales  The Birds, Rebecca and the novel Jamaica Inn  but the long shadow he cast means that today most people associate those titles with the director, not the writer. For all their strengths, Hitchcocks films dont capture the extraordinary intimacy of du Mauriers prose. Heller-Nicholas calls Rebecca one of the great Gothic stories, comparing it to Henry James The Turn of the Screw. Its a story about how reality cant keep up with a fantasy. Its powerful and its dark and its beautiful and its intimate. Rebecca reads like somebodys whispering into your ear. MTC artistic director Anne-Louise Sarks was living in London when she first happened upon a copy of Rebecca. She was bewitched. She draws you into the inner world of the characters, their fears and their fantasies, and then suddenly things get very complicated and the drama escalates. It is thrilling. This is a romance that becomes a mystery and it is thick with suspense.

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The other reason Rebecca stayed with Sarks is that it was so ahead of its time. Its bold and her writing captures a wit and humour that still feels very fresh. Daphne du Maurier was speaking in a very sophisticated, coded way to women at the time and all these years later she still speaks to me. From left, Pamela Rabe, Nikki Shiels and Bert LaBonte star in Rebecca at the MTC. Credit: Jo Duck Sarks says that du Mauriers ability to create landscapes through language is a gift to anyone trying to adapt her work. (Her) writing is incredibly evocative. Its poetic and muscular. She crafts vivid descriptions of the trees, the flowers, the rhododendrons and azaleas, and of the woods surrounding Manderley. The natural world is another character in the book and in our production too. Then theres the haunting (and perhaps haunted) setting of Manderley. The gothic manor was modelled on Menabilly, a gorgeous country home in Cornwall that du Maurier discovered as a teenager and later restored. In private letters she often spoke of her love for the estate she called home for more than 20 years, and in a later essay on Rebecca she described it in terms as lavish and vivid as any of her fictions: At midnight, when the children sleep, and all is hushed and still, I sit down at the piano and look at the panelled walls, and slowly, softly, with no one there to see, the house whispers her secrets, and the secrets turn to stories, and in strange and eerie fashion we are at one, the house and I. We are at one: Daphne du Maurier at Menabilly in 1944 with her children, Christian, Tessa and Flavia. Credit: Getty Images Du Mauriers life off the page was as interesting as anything she invented. Born into a sprawling dynasty of actors, authors and artists, she led a tomboyish childhood that translated itself into what she called the male energy that fuelled her writing. She was rankled when people cast her as a romance novelist, but as the decades have passed her reputation as a serious literary talent has grown.

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She was a contradictory figure, described by some as reclusive and by others as a warm and witty host. She could be proud, but her own family only discovered shed been made a Dame when they read it in the newspaper. Loading Du Mauriers elusive character is mirrored in her writing; even when grounded in reality, something unsettling hovers beneath the surface. Du Mauriers delicate use of the paranormal brings to mind Shirley Jackson, another mid-century author whose work frequently produced a sense of the eerie. The parallels with Shirley Jackson are really interesting, says Heller-Nicholas. Whether we want to call them capital-F feminist writers or not is obviously open to debate, but certainly these are two writers who at their best were interested in the gendered experience. They really understood how the fantastic is a language to explore that. The Birds is one of du Mauriers most effective short stories. Unlike Hitchcocks sunny version, the original takes place in grey Cornwall, where a farmer and his family find themselves under inexplicable avian attack. As it becomes clear that this violence is both coordinated and occurring across the country, the beleaguered victims find their chances of rescue dwindling while their questions only grow. Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcocks The Birds. Malthouse artistic director Matt Lutton hit upon du Mauriers short story while pondering the possibility of adrenaline and terror in the theatre. How can we create something that will really have a big bodily impact on audiences? He recalled that Hitchcocks adaptation had terrified him, but when he came to the original tale he found so much more to play with.

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He took the idea to writer Louise Fox. She called it a no-brainer: Du Mauriers a deeply adaptable writer, for theatre, for film, for other mediums ... Her metaphors stay open, and her use of genre and the paranormal and the mysterious is very evocative. Its weird because she was always considered a romance writer. But actually, shes a writer about anxiety and paranoia and fear and overthinking. Shes probably got more in common with Kafka than she has with a romance novelist. Daphne du Maurier in 1929. Credit: ullstein bild via Getty Images Critic Mark Fisher has attributed the eeriness of du Mauriers tales to the way they reveal how our attempts at making sense of the world are laughably fragile. Birds shouldnt attack en masse. Rebecca should stay dead, or at least have the decency to out herself as a ghost. Fox agrees that the sense of fighting something you cant even explain is something people of all eras can understand: The desperate attempt to try and make sense of something that is incomprehensible or unexplainable or hard to define. Lutton and Foxs adaptation will be performed by one woman (Paula Arundell) complemented by a rich soundscape piped through headphones straight to audience members ears. The director says his aim is to tap into that very primal animal instinct of what it means to feel attacked. We all know what it is to be swooped by birds. You naturally protect your eyes, your ears, and I think thats about feeling, in a metaphorical way, like something much larger than you, that you definitely cant control, is assaulting you. He jokes that audience members fleeing their seats would be a sign of success, but also notes that there are no birds in the theatre. Its sound and its light and its a performer. Its the power of a ghost story or a campfire story. When you tell a campfire story, you start to see the story in the shadows around the fire. As long as we keep telling stories, hopefully, du Mauriers shadows will keep offering up their secrets.
SPOTLIGHT | Common threads

Jeff Bezos fiancee Lauren Sanchez caused a stir when she was spotted with the $8500 Balenciaga 9AM clutch earlier this year. Credit: Diggzy / BACKGRID

Nothing says Look, everyone, Im a regular person like you than a cashed-up A-lister rushing off to a morning meeting toting a coffee in a keep cup. Unless, of course, said cup is a Balenciaga 9AM clutch, which looks exactly like a keep cup  only its in calfskin and costs $8500.

The 9AM is part of a new trend by some of fashions biggest names to create handbags that riff on utilitarian objects, such as Louis Vuittons LV Paint Can bag ($11,000) and Moschinos celery-shaped clutch ($6700  and now sold out on Farfetch.)

Theres no way these price tags can be justified, says fashion writer and commentator Glynis Traill-Nash. But, of course, there are those who want to prove to everyone that they can afford such pointless luxury. Such as journalist Lauren Sanchez, better known as Jeff Bezos main squeeze, who set tongues wagging when she was photographed with the 9AM in March. Bad taste? asked The Guardian. Ridiculous! declared the Daily Mail.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the May 10 edition of Good Weekend. See all 14 stories . Its Friday night and I have a meeting with an old rocker who has a new mission in life: making drones. Oleksandr Pipa, one of Ukraines original punk rockers, had watched the initial Russian incursion from his window in Kyiv before rushing to help set up checkpoints and medical tents in his suburb for soldiers being brought back from the rapidly shifting front lines. Now hes found a new role in life as, each evening, he and fellow musician Anton Chernysh get together to make drones. My wife, Sylvie Le Clezio, a documentary filmmaker and photographer, and I tag along as they head to a secret location in Kyiv. Drones are very expensive; that is why we have started designing our own version of the drones that we use for surveillance and also to deliver some presents, Pipa says with a grin. Many Ukrainians involved in making drones call the explosives they attach to them presents or gifts for Russian soldiers. Once there, we go to the basement, where the two musicians have set up an extraordinary drone factory, complete with 3D-printing machines provided by a Ukrainian company, models of various drones and anti-drone guns. This basement is our main research laboratory, Chernysh says. All the groups where we have fighters, volunteers and so on are doing almost the same thing as us, but this lab is the heart of inventions, which we later share with others. Chernysh, 27, is a mild-mannered IT consultant and musician. Hes using the technology smarts he developed in his career to help the war effort. In this basement factory, he shows us the workstations hes built for anyone who wants to help, such as Pipa, who comes along for several hours each evening. Chernysh had expertise in IT before the war while Pipa has simply learnt on the job under Chernyshs guidance. We mention to them that its a Friday night, and before the war began musicians like themselves might be performing. I would normally be playing in a pub or drinking some beer, but now I cannot afford to have fun, Chernysh says. Its a war and Im fighting for our survival ... Every single Ukrainian is fighting for survival. But we often also have something personal. He tells us that his parents home was invaded in the early hours of the war. About 500 Russian military vehicles stopped in their village and fought their neighbours for one-and-a-half months. It went from being a peaceful village in Ukraine to one occupied by Russian soldiers, he says. He quit his job that day. I could not sit in front of a computer attending long calls and meetings with customers because I knew what was going on outside, he says. He began transporting elderly people from Kyiv towards western Ukraine, and because he had a permit to leave the country, he began going to Poland to buy supplies for the army. He would purchase things, like body armour, in Poland, deliver them over the border to Lviv, then other volunteers took them to Kyiv.

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Anton Chernysh quit his job as an IT consultant to design drones soon after the war started. He tells us about an old lady whom one of his volunteers met while making deliveries to a village that the Russians had recently left; she was crying and wanting to kiss the feet of the volunteers. She told the story of how 14 Russians came to her apartment, killed her husband and threw him from the window. Then they raped the granddaughter and did the same to the daughter, and they made her watch this, Chernysh says. That is why she was saying, Give me some weapons, give me something, I have nothing to live for now and I want to join you.  Citizen Army signs on Chernysh says that when Russia decided to invade Ukraine, it did not factor in Ukraines army of civilians. At the beginning it was [the Russian armys] role to come to Kyiv, to kill [President Volodymyr] Zelensky and be done, he says. But there was a huge misunderstanding from their side. They are not fighting against the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian president or the Ukrainian parliament  they are fighting against the whole population of Ukraine. Chernysh wanted to work out what he could contribute to the volunteer army and how he could be involved. Instead of using his body, though, he realised he could use his mind. I started making drones and the release mechanisms for them and collecting requests from the army at the front, he says. I started providing whatever I could to help them from a technical perspective. This basement has been fitted with a wall of 3D printers producing parts for drones and for the mechanisms that Chernysh has designed, which are attached to the drones and release the bombs. Some of these drones are for reconnaissance, while others carry what Chernysh calls the candies  explosives  that the Ukrainian army drops on Russian positions. Working alongside Chernysh in this basement, Pipa says hes watched footage of Russian soldiers reacting when they see the drones. They hear this noise, they start to panic, its like a chaos, he says. They try to hide. They dont know what explosives it may have. Sometimes they are regular surveillance drones but sometimes they carry something.

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The author (right) and Oleksandr Pipa, a punk rocker who now works with Chernysh. Chernysh proudly shows us various drones. We ask how he feels about preparing machines designed to kill people. At the very beginning, I had bad feelings, he says. I felt sorry for those guys, but after a while I found myself no longer feeling any regret. This desensitisation was something we encountered a lot. Its a rule of war: they are not people, they are invaders, he says. Either we eliminate them or they kill us. Its that simple: kill or be killed. We ask him what Russian soldiers would think if they saw one of these drones approaching. If youre a Russian soldier, and you see it coming, he says, it is the last thing you see coming. Loading Chernysh and Pipa receive requests from the front line as to which types of drones are needed  reconnaissance, medical or attack  and then go through the orders, building whatever is requested. Tonight, the two are unpacking parts, welding and wiring all kinds of drones. The range is extraordinary. In one corner are kamikaze drones: the explosives go on the bottom and there are triggers to fire up the detonator. Theyre called kamikaze drones as theyll also blow up with their packages. Once Chernysh and Pipa make these drones, they hand them over to soldiers who attach the explosives. On another bench are surveillance drones, originally made for film and television production, but their excellent cameras and zooms have made them desirable for the war effort. They also have altitude and obstacle sensors, which allow Ukrainian soldiers to see the position and movements of Russian soldiers; at night, the sensors can also pick up the heat of a Russian body.

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On yet another bench is a do-it-yourself drone kit. The two musicians use fundraised money to buy all the components from China, or from inside Ukraine, and one of these little DIY drones can carry up to two kilograms and fly two kilometres. They may look like toys, but Chernysh says if a tank is hit in the right spot  particularly if the drone is flown into the tank while the turret is open  they can destroy it. In another corner of this basement is a Russian reconnaissance drone that Chernysh souvenired from the front line when Russian soldiers fled. He studies this drone with great interest; he and other Ukrainians I met making drones always valued the chance to study the enemys weapons up close. Drones are important in this war, Chernysh says, because they save lives. When we have a drone, we do not have to use people to find out what is out there, he says, and it is better for us to lose the drone than it is to lose a human in the war. Pipa echoes this view. We can sacrifice the drones, [but] our soldiers lives are important, and that is why the more drones we have, the more human lives will be saved. It can also give someone the chance to surrender. In this war of drones, there is now a protocol understood by both sides. If a Ukrainian drone comes across a group of Russian soldiers, it will try to fire at them or drop explosives. But if it comes across a solitary Russian soldier, it will try to capture him instead. It feels important that we are contributing to winning this war, says Pipa. Drones can be used to [get] the enemy to surrender, Chernysh explains. If [Russian soldiers] see a drone that goes like this  he wiggles his flat palm from side to side  it means, Surrender: immediately drop your weapon, lift up your hands and follow the drone. The drone will take them to a safe place where they will be picked up by a Ukrainian soldier, and you will still be alive and stay alive. If the soldier tries instead to shoot down the drone or to run away, the drone will fire. Whats going on in this basement is not the reality that either musician imagined for himself a couple of years ago. But making drones makes Pipa feel like hes involved. It feels important that we are contributing to winning this war, he says. Its Friday night, and usually us musicians should be performing or rehearsing, having fun, but we are making these devices because we hate war. Hes someone who likes to joke and have a laugh, he says, but when there is a war, I cant do that: I have to be serious, and I hate that. We need to push out these invaders from our country and [see] their empire collapse, and then we can get back to our normal life  to playing gigs. Up until now, Pipa has been a lifelong pacifist. As he sits working on a drone, he tells us a story from his childhood. The last time I went fishing  it was in fact the first and last time I went fishing!  I was six years old, he begins. I caught the fish, but I felt sorry for the fish and I let it go. He says that he hates hunting; he doesnt like people killing animals just for fun. I am a very peaceful person, but what I am doing now is producing devices that will kill the invaders, he continues, and I feel quite good about that because they are invaders. They came here to kill us, so it is either them or us.

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When were talking about killing Russian soldiers, I would not use the word killing, he argues. The military terminology is more appropriate. The military never use the word killing but rather use eliminate, because when it comes to the military, it is a hard job, and you dont think about them as human beings. You have to destroy them, and thats it.  Pipa realised before this invasion that his view of Russians and the friendships hed built over years of performing were deteriorating. I had my mind changed before the war; I thought I had a lot of good friends, musicians, we used to perform together, he says. I thought they felt the same as I do about the collapse of the Soviet Union, but gradually I saw them change. Once Russia became richer, with oil prices going higher, they were coming back to this natural state, this state of feeling superior. Loading We heard many variations of this sentiment when travelling around Ukraine, that while Ukrainians and Russians had for some time thought of themselves as colleagues or even friends of sorts, the power dynamic between the two countries had shifted more and more dramatically in the lead-up to the war and overshadowed many relationships. According to Pipa, thats not a coincidence. Millions of Ukrainians have finally had their eyes opened, he says. Russians invested billions in their cultural expansions about brainwashing, how Russia is attractive, and how a lot of people want to live in Russia. They claimed a lot of Ukrainians had felt that way, and how a lot of Russian politicians were performing quite well here. They had a lot of supporters here. Now its over. Chernysh was one of those people who had been made to feel lesser by the Russian propaganda, a feeling that extended not just throughout Ukraine but worldwide. He says that before the invasion, when he was travelling, and people asked him where he was from, he would say, I am from Ukraine, and they would reply, Is that the same as Russia? He says he doesnt get asked that any more.

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The May 10 Edition

Theres something about Murray. Bartlett, that is  the Perth-born actor whose award-winning turn as the wickedly edgy hotel manager in the first season of The White Lotus propelled him to international fame. Since that break-out role  and that oh-so-icky scene hell be long remembered for  Bartlett has appeared in a slew of other shows, including an exquisitely sensitive performance as a gay man in an episode of the The Last of Us and a darkly comic role in the new season of Nine Perfect Strangers, airing later this month. What the 54-year-old seems to have perfected  on the small screen as well as in life  is the ability to win over people without any phoney attempt to do so. As our writer Amanda Hooton found when she interviewed him recently, no one has a bad word to say about Bartlett. Hes chatty, generous with his time, looks you in the eye, has deeply loyal friends and is great with animals, even  as Hooton witnessed for herself  a pigeon in distress in a Bondi cafe.  Greg Callaghan, acting editor.
The prosecution alleges that online, Patterson shared true feelings about her familys Baptist religion and what she thought about the estranged husband who had also been invited to the mushroom meal lunch but declined attending the night before. She went to church, is the impression I got, because of the family situation. But she was saying to us, publicly in that group, that she didnt necessarily believe in God, Facebook friend Christine Hunt told the court. From left: Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died from mushroom poisoning. Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks in hospital. Hunt gave evidence via video link from Queensland, and told the jury she met the accused killer about six years ago through an online Facebook page of 2000 members set up to discuss the Keli Lane case. When splinter groups formed and the wider Facebook group dropped to below 20 in number, Hunt recalled friendships formed between other members, including Melbourne woman Daniela Barkley and Tasmanian social worker Jenny Hay.

The court heard Erin Patterson was known as a super sleuth for her ability to research true crime and was highly regarded in her online group. Some witnesses said the accused woman began to share online details of her family life, and in particular, her alleged thoughts about estranged husband Simon Patterson, a civil engineer she separated from in 2015 but remained in close contact with. Simon Patterson outside court on Monday. Credit: Jason South Coercive and controlling were words the 50-year-old used about Simon, Hunt told the jury. And also, that his family were very demanding, and that she was really challenged by their demands and particularly around the kids attending a faith-based education, Hunt said.

She found that challenging, and in particular the decisions around things like divorce, separation, how the kids should be educated and brought up. She found all that very controlling and demanding. In this group, the court heard, other things were also discussed, including politics, current affairs and crime. The women shared recipes and cooking tips, and in April 2023, when Erin Patterson purchased a $229 black Sunbeam dehydrator to cook mushrooms in, she posted photographs of it to the group. A Sunbeam dehydrator was later fished out of an e-waste bin at the local tip by police after the fatal lunch. Prosecutors allege that around April 2023, the relationship between Simon and Erin Patterson was breaking down.

Tanya Patterson, the wife of Simons brother Matthew, gave evidence that in the year leading up to the July 2023 beef Wellington lunch, she noticed Simon and Erin no longer interacted as much together. Simon didnt go on the Christmas holiday that year to New Zealand with Erin and children, Tanya told the court. Tanya Patterson (centre) outside court in Morwell on Thursday. Credit: Jason South Erin had taken the kids out of school and [enrolled them] into a different school without telling Simon, she said. Ruth Dubois, the daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson, told the jury that in her eyes, Erin Patterson was more of an acquaintance to whom shed greet in passing, despite her marrying into the wider family and attending the same church.

Over the weekend of July 29-30, 2023, Tanya Patterson, Ruth Dubois, Anna-Marie Terrington and their cousins and siblings said they first learnt of their parents falling ill. Within days of the lunch, Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died from death cap mushroom poisoning in the Austin Hospital. Ian Wilkinson, a church pastor, spent weeks in hospital but survived. Ruth Dubois (right) arrives at court on Thursday. Credit: Jason South Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving a fatal lunch of beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023. She says the poisonous mushrooms were a tragic accident. During his time in the witness box this week, Ian also said he was surprised by the lunch invitation as he largely came across Erin during church services on average once a month.

I would say our relationship was friendly, amicable. It didnt have much depth. I think we were more like acquaintances. We didnt see a great deal of each other, he said. On Friday, Erin and Simon Pattersons son, who was 14 at the time of the alleged murders, said in recorded evidence he knew the importance of telling the truth. During questioning about his parents relationship, he said he knew they were still married, but their interactions had grown negative, and he hadnt enjoyed going to his fathers home as much. I know Dad does a lot of things to try and hurt Mum, such as messing around with schooling, the boy said.
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 had long been bracing for a tough battle in Melbournes outer suburbs, where a swing the party anticipated never materialised. But the ALP was caught off guard by an energised Nationals campaign and a shock 10 per cent swing against it in the once safe-as-houses seat of Bendigo. The Nationals Andrew Lethlean gave Labor a scare, gaining a 10 per cent swing to him in the seat of Bendigo. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Labor is set to retain the seat by a thin margin after almost a week of counting, and avoid an embarrassing defeat in an otherwise dominant federal election. The story of Bendigo, depending on who you ask, is either one of voters turning on their home-town premier, or that of a cashed-up and spirited campaign by a well-connected candidate. Or, as is often the case, a bit of both. Labors sitting MP Lisa Chesters has held the seat since 2013 and retained it in 2022 with a very comfortable margin of 12.1 per cent. But on Friday afternoon, she led with 51 per cent to the Nationals 49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, and a difference of 2226 votes. The current margin means the seat has the largest swing against Labor of any in the country, excluding contests with independents.

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Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean, a well-known local bar owner, is the first National to contest the seat since 2016 and sought to become the first Coalition MP to win Bendigo since 1996. His campaign capitalised on a possible backlash against Premier Jacinta Allan, who holds the overlapping state seat of Bendigo East, as Allans popularity has plummeted in successive polls. Bendigo business owner Deb McAliece backed Andrew Lethlean. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Campaign leaflets show Allan wearing a Yes T-shirt from federal Labors failed Voice referendum. About 60 per cent of people in Bendigo voted no in the referendum. Other signs focused on Chesters, declaring: Time is up Lisa and Labor. The Nationals campaign in Bendigo, which Labor suggested cost between $1 and $2 million, made Lethlean the most visible person in the regional city and surrounding towns. The campaign launched in January at Lethleans venue The Social bar and eating house, where he was joined by Nationals leader David Littleproud and senator Bridget McKenzie. A Nationals leaflet for Bendigo tying federal Labor to Premier Jacinta Allan, the state MP for Bendigo East.

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The bar was full and the vibes were high as hundreds turned up to support Lethlean. Bendigo business owner Deb McAliece was at the event and said Lethleans energy made her feel excited about politics for the first time and prompted her to join the National Party. The atmosphere was electric, she said. McAliece, who describes herself as naturally aligning more with the Liberals and Nationals but not overly political, was among a flood of business owners who backed Lethlean. She knows Allan personally and thinks she is a lovely person, but shes angry at the impact of state Labors COVID-19 policies on small businesses. And while Lethlean is well known to the community and made every effort to meet with business owners, McAliece said Chesters had not.

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Ive been in business for 30 years, so I see what can happen when you havent got anyone in thats putting the work in for small business, she said. Lethleans presence has been unavoidable for Bendigo residents over the past three months: from events to signage, TV ads to branded cars, corflutes and volunteers on the street. In short: he was everywhere. Soon after Labors thumping victory and its strong performance across metropolitan Melbourne became clear last Saturday, Allan suggested the result gave her government a popular mandate to push ahead with the Suburban Rail Loop project. But Allan rejects suggestions the swing in Bendigo was linked to her unpopularity. Instead, she said the Nationals ran a cashed-up campaign with a quasi independent candidate. Anyone who lives here knows whats going on in Bendigo. The estimates locally here were that [they spent] somewhere between $1 million and $2 million on a massively cashed-up campaign  a campaign that presented as nothing to do with the Liberal Party and Peter Dutton, Allan told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

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Allan claims the Nationals left conservative political lobbying group Advance Australia to run nasty, negative material against Chesters. Loading However, Danny OBrien, the leader of the Victorian Nationals, said Allan cant have it both ways. She cant say that the good result was all her governments doing then in her own backyard say that the 10 per cent swing against her party was something else, he said. Absolutely this is a reflection on the premier and her government in Bendigo. Theres very good reason for the premier and her colleagues in the Bendigo region to be concerned. Pete Gavin, a community music co-ordinator, voted Greens but preferenced Labor. He likes both Allan and Chesters and hopes they remain.

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A habitually dishonest funeral director ran a backyard operation where bodies were laid out on benches, top and tailed, and unembalmed while their heads rested on garden hose reels, a court has heard.

Closing arguments in a Supreme Court defamation trial described undertaker Peter Tziotzis attempts to vindicate his reputation for honesty, ethics and professionalism as an abject failure.

Tziotzis claims his reputation and that of his business was damaged by news stories aired on Channel Nine and published in The Age in 2022 and 2023 which detailed allegations of misconduct and negligence, including in his handling of the body of Helen Moraitis.

Funeral director Peter Tziotzis arrives at the Supreme Court earlier this year. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

The court heard that in November 2022, Moraitis mother, Teresa, had her daughters body exhumed because she feared it was not inside the casket.
On election night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged impatience in the community when it comes to our big national challenges, but when asked about major tax reform he demurred, insisting that our agenda is the one that we took to the people and pointing to the numbers in the Senate to qualify any talk of greater ambition.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says housing supply, the energy transition and raising productivity are government priorities. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The priorities Chalmers reiterated on election night  housing supply, transforming how we generate energy, increasing productivity  are certainly first-order tasks and ones where Labor could be accused of so far tinkering at the edges rather than making the kind of profound policy shifts the situation demands.

We urge the government to move quickly on its promises of universal access to childcare and to start the process of repealing some of the Morrison eras changes to the university sector. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that the first bill to be put to the new parliament will be its election promise to cut student debts by 20 per cent.

The question of climate change was one that did not feature prominently in this election, even in those seats held by Greens or teal independents, yet it persists. In our immediate region, the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network preferred Labors re-election to the return of the Coalition, but noted that at this moment of urgency, there have been significant shortcomings in the governments approach to emissions and fossil fuels.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In the early hours of Wednesday, Chinas ambassador to Pakistan hurried to the Foreign Ministry to celebrate an unprecedented military success. Pakistan had reportedly shot down several Indian aircraft in the hours before using Chinese J-10C fighter jets. Our jet fighters  shot down three Indian Rafales, three Rafales [that] are French, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliament. Ours were J-10C. The Chinese delegation, roused from their sleep by the outbreak of conflict between two nuclear-armed nations, was thrilled with the success of the Pakistani defence, Dar said. Being a friendly nation, they expressed great happiness. India has not officially responded to reports that it lost as many as five fighters in the battle, which a Pakistani security source quoted by CNN described as a dogfight involving more than 100 aircraft. But the apparent involvement of Chinese-made aircraft in shooting down a Rafale has ricocheted through defence circles  and sent stock in its maker, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, surging by as much as 20 per cent.

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Until now, Chinese weaponry had not been field-tested against Western-made systems like the Rafale. The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates a fleet of 36 Rafale F3Rs, the most advanced model of the aircraft. A French intelligence source confirmed to CNN that at least one had been shot down, marking the first time a Rafale had been lost during combat. In an official statement, Chinas Foreign Ministry said it was not familiar with the matter when asked whether Chinese jets were involved in the skirmish. Air battles this week reportedly involved Pakistans Chinese-made J-10 aircraft. Credit: Getty Images/Stocktrek Images Later on Thursday evening, a US official told Reuters that there was high confidence that a J-10C had shot down two Indian fighters, using air-to-air missiles. That appeared to confirm the aircrafts first known kill, having entered service in its earliest form in 2003. It has been described as a 4.5 generation fighter, like the British Eurofighter Typhoons and almost at the level of fifth generation systems like the US-made F-35. Taiwan should be even more scared

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Hu Xijin, the former editor of the Chinese state-owned Global Times, said the battle showed that Chinas level of military manufacturing has completely surpassed that of Russia and France, adding that Taiwan should feel even more scared. Defence analysts remain cautious of reading too much into the technological battle between the two systems. Pilot error, or the rules of engagement, could have contributed to the Indian Rafales demise. This is a very public demonstration of the prowess of Chinese military aerospace technologies. Fabian Hoffmann, Centre for European Policy Analysis But open-source intelligence analysts are poring over images of the wreckage of a Chinese-made PL-15 missile, broadcast on Indian television and shared on social media. The missile, which is carried by the J-10C, has never been used in combat before. But its ability to hit targets far beyond the visual range of pilots appears to fit with the outlines of the clash on Wednesday morning. Neither Pakistani nor Indian aircraft crossed the border, engaging instead in a stand-off conflict at a distance of more than 100 kilometres at times. The wreckage of a Rafale was discovered near the city of Bathinda deep inside India, according to multiple open-source analysts. Chinas development of the PL-15 prompted the US military to invest in a missile specifically designed to outrange it.

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A very capable missile  Chinas PL-15E is seen on display. Credit: X The PL-15E, the version exported to the Pakistani armed forces, can travel up to 145 kilometres, somewhat less far than the domestic equivalent. Chinese military observers have long viewed it as a very capable missile, said Fabian Hoffmann, a missile technology researcher and non-resident fellow of the Centre for European Policy Analysis. But obviously [if a hit is confirmed] this is now a very public demonstration of the prowess of Chinese military aerospace technologies that carries outside the bubble. This is another point of indication that, if there was a Taiwan conflict, you probably should not assume that Chinese technology would fail at the same rate as Russias during the war in Ukraine. On April 29, with cross-border tensions rising, Pakistans army published a YouTube video showcasing its military arsenal. In the video, a Chinese-made JF-17 Block 3 fighter jet, less advanced than the J-10C, can be seen equipped with PL-15 missiles. The combination offers potent punch, a caption reads.

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For pilots in the Pakistani Air Force, the PL-15 missile has several advantages. Once fired, it has a large rocket booster that briefly propels the projectile to hypersonic speeds. A dual-pulse motor means that, after the initial blast falls away, a second burst of speed can be generated within 10 or so kilometres from the target. Because they are very, very fast, they basically have what you call a no-escape zone, Mr Hoffmann said. Beijing delivers When India and Pakistan clash, so do their military backers. In recent years, the two nations have rapidly diverged in terms of where they source their weaponry, and Islamabad now buys the vast majority of its arms from Beijing. Some 82 per cent of imports between 2019 and 2023 came from its iron brother, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks global arms flows. Imports from the US, meanwhile, have collapsed. Indias Rafales reportedly came off second best in a face-off with Pakistan this week. Credit: Bloomberg

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The first American Pope in the Catholic Churchs 2000-year history is evidently no big fan of his homelands current political leadership.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago and is now Pope Leo XIV, is no woke luvvie, but appears to maintain an X account that has featured some choice commentary on the Trump administrations attitude toward migrants.

On February 3, a fortnight after Donald Trumps inauguration, the Prevost account linked to an article by the National Catholic Reporter titled: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

The opinion piece referred to an interview Vance, the vice president, gave to Fox News, in which he argued the America First approach to immigration was consistent with a Christian concept of loving people in order of proximity.
New Lenox, Illinois: When white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel, revealing that a new Pope had been chosen, John Prevost turned on his television in Illinois, called his niece, and they watched in awe as his brothers name was announced.

She started screaming because it was her uncle, and I was in the moment of disbelief that this cannot be possible because its too far from what we thought would happen, Prevost said from his home in New Lenox, Illinois.

John Prevost says his brother initially thought there was no way he would become Pope. Credit: John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune, via Associated Press

Only days earlier, The New York Times reported that a priest had told John the odds were good that his brother would become Pope, but he had dismissed it.

But in wake of the news, he said he felt an intense sense of pride that his brother, Cardinal Robert Prevost, had become the 267th pontiff to lead the Catholic Church, making the Chicago-born missionary the first pope from the United States.
A dummy bid is a false bid by a non-genuine bidder in the crowd, usually to influence the sale price, at either an on-site or in-rooms auction, Jennison said. Sometimes these dummy bids are made by friends or family of the vendor, or they may come from people associated with the sales agent.
Zelensky Offers to Meet Putin in Turkey as Trump Urges Immediate Peace Talks (Photo: PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY Official website/CC-BY 4.0)

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced Friday it had arrested two former Ukrainian military personnel on suspicion of spying for Hungary, marking the first time Kyiv has uncovered an alleged Hungarian espionage network operating within its borders.

According to the SBU, the two suspects-identified only as a man and a woman-are former members of Ukraine's armed forces and are facing charges of high treason, which could result in life imprisonment. The arrests were made in the western region of Zakarpattia, a sensitive border zone with Hungary where ethnic Hungarian communities have long created political friction between the two countries.

The alleged agents were reportedly gathering intelligence on the disposition of Ukraine's defense forces in Zakarpattia, including the location of air defense systems such as the S-300 and numbers of combat and transport vehicles stationed in the region. The SBU stated the man "personally reconnoitered the deployments of the defense forces and the locations of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems."

Authorities say he was recruited in 2021 but only activated in September 2024. He allegedly traveled to Hungary under the guise of caring for a sick parent to deliver information directly to a Hungarian military intelligence officer, who provided cash and equipment for covert communication.

"Among other duties, the traitor was to recruit a network of informants," the SBU said. "The foreign intelligence service hoped to broaden its information-gathering scope to include data from both near-front and frontline regions."

During a second reported meeting in March 2025, the suspect was allegedly given a mobile phone equipped with special software to ensure secure communications with his handler. The SBU said he was instructed to identify Ukrainian official vehicles and relay information on Ukrainian Armed Forces casualties and frontline developments.

The second suspect, a former female service member, allegedly informed Hungarian intelligence about aircraft movements and defensive capabilities at her former military base. The SBU claims she severed ties with her unit in 2025 but remained in contact with Hungarian handlers.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto responded cautiously to the allegations. "I urge everyone to exercise caution against any news that appears in Ukrainian propaganda," he told reporters on Friday. "If we get any details or official information, then we can deal with it."

The Hungarian Ministry of Defense and its Military National Security Service have not issued a formal statement.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has increasingly clashed with Kyiv over EU funding and Ukraine's bid for membership in the bloc. On April 24, Orban wrote on Facebook: "Ukraine's accession to the EU is endangering all our achievements so far. Don't let them overtake Hungarians!"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back in comments reported by the Kyiv Post: "So, the people of Hungary are with us... Just don't drag us into your elections. That's what he [Orban] is doing-by blocking us in the EU."

Orban, in turn, accused Zelensky of overstepping. "And you cannot threaten the Hungarian people," he told lawmakers.

Hungary, a NATO and EU member, has drawn criticism from Western allies for its refusal to support military aid to Ukraine or allow arms transfers through its territory. The Orban administration has also voiced support for lifting sanctions on Russia and remains one of the few governments in the EU with open lines to President Vladimir Putin.
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Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 9:22PM

Photo: Netflix

It looks like Netflix is through with its interactive experience experiment. The streaming giant is removing Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend from its platform on May 12, What's on Netflix reported May 6.

If you've seen the heavy advertising of its mobile games library or even got to test its cloud-streamed games on your television, those are looking to be Netflix's focus now.

With the removal of these two titles, there will be no other interactive shows on the streaming service. Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls and You vs. Wild were pulled in January. But as The Verge noted, it looks like non-interactive versions of the show are available to watch. It's unclear if Black Mirror: Bandersnatch or Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend will get the same treatment.

What's on Netflix said there has been an active Discord community looking to preserve these interactive experiences called The Netflix Interactive Archive.
This is it. The excise tax exemption on pickup trucks is now gone thanks to the effectivity of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotions Act ...
TWELVE local teenagers took part in Carlow County Fire and Rescue Services first-ever transition year course programme at the Hacketstown Training and Development Centre recently. The five-day module gave the students an opportunity to experience the training and role of a firefighter, in addition to a certified manual handling course and an Irish Heart Foundation CPR course.

The students get practice putting out a fire

The students were visited by all manner of emergency service workers throughout the course, who each gave career information talks.

The Carlow Roads Policing Unit also paid a visit and talked about their role at road traffic accidents and road safety measures such as speed checks, roadside breathalysers and drug tests.

Enjoying the course

Students also got the chance to experience a virtual road accident through VR headsets, which provided them with a valuable lesson about road hazards, distraction and causes of collisions.

Students also received a tour of the Incident Command Unit at the Hacketstown Training and Development Centre, where they observed firefighters carrying out refresher breathing apparatus and compartment fire behaviour training courses.

Transition Year Course Programme at the Hacketstown Training & Development Centre.

Ben Woodhouse, assistant chief fire officer of Carlow County Fire and Rescue Service, said: I am delighted to deliver our first pilot course for TY students and give an opportunity for them to experience and learn about the role of a firefighter. Our firefighters do an excellent job serving and protecting communities in Co Carlow, including making a difference to someones life in their time of most need, using specialist skills, training, fleet and equipment.

Students participating in the Carlow County Fire & Rescue service Transition Year Course Programme .

The TY course has brought 12 teenagers together, who have no fire service experience and most of whom were strangers to each other, yet over the five days they gelled together and operated as a team completing various fire service tasks. Hopefully, they will bring this experience and newly-acquired skills forward with them in whichever career direction they take, which may include a future role in the fire service.

Im immensely proud of what they have achieved and wish them well for the future. I also wish to thank the TY trainers from the four Carlow County Fire Stations: SO Darrell Hayden, SSO Eddie OHara, SSO Daniel Fitzpatrick, DM Frankie Whelan, FF Ronan Boyle and FF Teegan Joyce.
By David Young, PA

A judge has granted permission for a judicial review on the decision by a Stormont minister to install Irish language signage at Belfasts Grand Central Station.

Mr Justice Scoffield said the challenge against Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins taken by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson had crossed the arguability threshold to merit a judicial review hearing.

Under Stormont rules, ministerial decisions that are deemed significant or controversial should be considered collectively by the powersharing coalition, rather than by an individual minister.

Mr Bryson contends Ms Kimmins should have brought the issue of installing Irish language signs at the new Belfast transport hub to the wider Executive for decision because it was a controversial matter.

At a hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield granted Mr Bryson leave for a judicial review, which will take place in September.

The planned 150,000 project to install the signs has been paused until October pending the outcome of the legal challenge.

Jamie Bryson launched the legal challenge. Photo: PA.

Sinn Fein minister Ms Kimmins gave the go-ahead for the signage in March, but her announcement sparked a row with other ministers.

The DUP insisted she had a legal duty to bring the decision to the wider Executive.

As part of his legal challenge, Mr Bryson submitted to the court correspondence and statements he had secured from DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Elliott, TUV leader Jim Allister, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Mervyn Gibson on the issue of the signs.

He also referred to public comments by DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly when she said it was bizarre to suggest the issue was not controversial.

The activist said the evidence offered a powerful indication that the matter was controversial and, as such, should have been referred to the Executive.

Urging the judge to grant leave, Mr Bryson insisted his application pole-vaults over the threshold to merit a judicial review.

In March, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston sought support from other Assembly members for a petition to refer the decision to the Executive for a discussion.

The petition required 30 MLA signatures to succeed but ultimately Mr Gaston was the only member of the house to sign it.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins at Grand Central Station in Belfast. Photo: PA.

Arguing against leave, Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Department for Infrastructure, said the failure of the petition showed there was not a flicker of controversy about the decision within the Assembly.

It registered a nil return in terms of controversy, he told the judge.

Mr Bryson insisted the failure of the petition was not evidence of a lack of controversy. He said a successful petition would only have required Executive ministers to have a discussion on the signage issue and would not have compelled a wider Executive vote on the matter.

He said the reason that DUP MLAs did not sign the petition was because the partys ministers had already secured a discussion on the matter by raising it under any other business at an Executive meeting at the start of April.

In outlining his decision to grant leave, Mr Justice Scoffield cited Ms Little-Pengellys comments and Mr Robinsons letter.

He said Mr Bryson had offered enough evidence to cross the threshold for holding a judicial review.

It does seem to be theres enough in the applicants case to get over the threshold at this stage, he said.

The case will be reviewed again next month ahead of the full hearing, which is expected to last one day, in September.
High Court reporters

Five children with autism have brought separate High Court actions over the Minister for Educations alleged failure to provide them access to education.

One of the children, an eight-year-old boy with autism, has never attended school.

The childrens counsel Joe Jeffers SC, appearing with Brendan Hennessy BL and instructed by Healy Law, told Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty the cases were urgent. The judge granted permission to the childrens lawyers to bring the judicial review proceedings.

None of the children can be identified, by order of the court.

A 12-year-old boy who is profoundly disabled is seeking an order compelling the Minister, the National Council for Special Education, Ireland and the Attorney General to provide him with appropriate schooling.

On account of his severe intellectual disability, the boys current school placement  where he has attended since the beginning of his schooling  is wholly unsuitable. His father says that in hindsight this school was inappropriate for his needs from the outset.

Sworn statement

In a sworn statement, the boys father says that his son was diagnosed with autism aged four.

In 2018, he was reassessed, and was diagnosed with autism and a moderate intellectual disability. In 2020, the boy was reassessed again, and deemed to have a severe intellectual disability.

The diagnosis of a severe intellectual disability came as no surprise to the boys parents, his father says.

The failure of the HSE to listen to our concerns and conduct a timely re-assessment led to significant and avoidable delays, the father says. This has led to us having to fight non-stop to have [the boy] placed in the appropriate school.

An eight-year-old boy with autism  who has never attended school  is seeking an order compelling the Minister, the National Council for Special Education, Ireland and the Attorney General to provide him with appropriate schooling.

The boys mother has applied to every special school in her county, but has been unable to secure a school place.

The sad truth is that if I never sent [the boy] to school, nobody would know and nobody would care, the mother says in a sworn statement.

A five-year-old girl with autism is seeking an order compelling the Minister, the National Council for Special Education, Ireland and the Attorney General to provide her with appropriate schooling.

The girls mother had sought to have her daughter begin primary schooling last September, but was unable to find a school placement, she says in a sworn statement. The girl, who is non-verbal and has complex needs, is now in her third year of attending a preschool.

The inability to find a school placement for her daughter has caused the woman extreme stress and anxiety, she said.

In August of 2024, I felt I was at breaking point and was prescribed antidepressants due to overwhelming pressure and stress, she says.

35 schools

The mother says that she has contacted 35 schools seeking a school placement, initially to begin last September, and then this coming September. The girl remains without a primary school place, her mother says.

A five-year-old boy with autism is seeking an order compelling the Minister, the National Council for Special Education, Ireland and the Attorney General to provide her with appropriate schooling.

The boy, who is non-verbal, is currently in his second year of preschool, but this placement will come to an end in the summer.

In a sworn statement, the boys mother says an inability to secure a special school placement has been devastating.

I have not slept in 15 weeks as I am sick with worry about his future, she says.

A six-year-old boy with autism is seeking an order compelling the Minister to provide him with school transport.

The delay in providing the boy with transport  he was approved for school transport by the Department of Education in January  is egregious, the boys mother says.

The cases will return to court later in the month.
IN A DISCREET corner of Carlow town with a pleasant view of the River Barrow sits a place that has become vital for hundreds of local people. St Clares Hospitality Kitchen, approaching its tenth anniversary this May, serves between 90 and 130 hot meals every day to those who might otherwise go without.

Walking into St Clares on a weekday afternoon, youre struck not by the institutional atmosphere you might expect, but by the warmth. Wooden tables and chairs donated by Rachel Doyle of the Arboretum, among others, fill a bright, airy space. Volunteers move between tables, chatting with diners. The atmosphere is more reminiscent of a small cafe than a charity service.

Its about so much more than a meal, says Nora Meaney, who handles PR and food parcels for the kitchen. Its offering somebody a friendly space. Some people that come here might not speak to anybody else for the rest of the day.

St Clares began almost 12 years ago as a response to needs identified in the community. Graiguecullen/Killeshin parish priest Fr John Dunphy recalls how the seed was planted: At a pastoral council meeting in our parish, some teachers were saying there were kids coming to school hungry  they were often giving them their own lunch. More and more people would be coming to my door as well; the new poor, we used to call them.

Fr Dunphy, along with board member Isobel Brooker and now minister Jennifer Murnane, visited Brother Kevin at the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin for inspiration. Initially, they started by distributing food parcels, reaching about 180 families. But they soon realised this approach had limitations.

We thought it was degrading for people to come and collect them, explains Fr Dunphy. So they organised volunteer drivers to deliver the parcels instead. But their main aim remained clear: to have a place where they can come and have a meal ... and hospitality.

The current premises was just a shell when Bobby Quinn, who owned the building, offered it as a potential location. What happened next shows the generosity of Carlow people. The team sent out a call through local media for help from tradespeople.

We appealed for electricians, plasterers, blocklayers, painters, you name it, recalls Fr Dunphy. People were fabulous.

Although equipment still cost around 130,000, the volunteer labour made the project possible. Leo and Margaret Connolly came on board as guardian angels who co-ordinated much of the work. The kitchen opened on 13 May 2015, initially for two days a week, but demand quickly pushed that to five days, which remains the schedule today.

Michelle Maddock Conaghan, the kitchens manager, has observed significant changes in who uses the service, particularly since the pandemic.

There is a bigger cross-section of people now than there wouldve been pre-Covid, she explains. Whereas previously it wouldve been typically male, typically middle-aged and older, and typically people living alone. Now, were seeing a lot of people in vulnerable situations who are struggling to pay their rent and make ends meet.

Its the heat or eat dilemma that many people face: keeping the heating on might mean coming to St Clares for food.

Fr Dunphy notes that they see parents at the beginning of the school year who use their services to save money for their childrens needs. This reflects a crucial aspect of St Clares ethos: not judging those who come through their doors.

Volunteers Ann Fenlon, Jane Lacey, Ann Glynn, Iryna Hiris, Brid Brett and Kathleen Tallon prepare food for patrons of St Clare's Hospitality Kitchen Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie

Brother Kevin of the Capuchin Day Centre shared a formative story with Fr Dunphy that shaped this approach. A woman arrived in a Mercedes with two children and joined the queue. When asked why she was there, she explained that her husband had kicked her out and the car was now their home. Thats it. Never again will I judge people, Brother Kevin decided  a principle that St Clares has adopted.

As Nora Meaney puts it: A nice car in the driveway doesnt guarantee theres not hungry children in the house.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about St Clares is that it operates entirely on donations, without government funding. The kitchen employs just three paid staff  the manager, a chef and an assistant manager  supplemented by nine people on community employment and Tus schemes. Beyond that, between 35 and 50 volunteers contribute each week.

Carlow people are such generous individuals, Fr Dunphy emphasises. Carlow businesses have been amazing. Schools  we have to highlight the schools  every school in this whole area has run fundraisers, collected food for us.

This generosity manifests in countless ways. Isobel Brooker mentions a small business owner who recently brought in 300 Easter eggs, ensuring that everyone at the kitchen and all food parcel recipients received one. Another supporter living in Germany sends monthly donations, plus sweets for the volunteers.

Working with Carlow Lions Club and St Vincent de Paul, St Clares distributed 550 Christmas hampers last year. It also served a special Christmas dinner on the last day before Christmas Eve.

Despite this remarkable community support, St Clares has faced financial challenges. Last year, it was down to about six weeks of operational funds before a local media-led appeal campaign rallied the communitys support.

While its currently stable, its not flush, as Nora puts it. Its hugely important that continuous donations come in on an ongoing basis. If the donations stopped, the kitchen closes and between 90 and 130 people would be without a hot meal.

The scale of need has grown dramatically. In 2019, St Clares served approximately 18,500 meals. Last year, that number surged to 29,000. Meanwhile, Nora reminds us, utility bills have roughly doubled and grocery prices have increased substantially.

Not only has it been more difficult for our clients to make ends meet, but its also been more difficult for us to make ends meet because things have got so much more expensive, explains Michelle.

For those interested in helping, volunteering options are flexible. There are three main roles: dining room, kitchen, and washing up  with only kitchen work requiring previous experience.

The commitment is based on your own circumstances, explains Michelle. Some volunteers come once a month, others more frequently. All receive orientation and sign confidentiality agreements, reinforcing the kitchens non-judgment policy.

Theres camaraderie among volunteers, who gather for an annual appreciation night, where the board serves them for a change. For those interested in volunteering, Angela is the point of contact.

Fr John Dunphy, founder of St Clare's Hospitality Kitchen Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie

As St Clares prepares to mark its tenth anniversary with huge celebrations, there are hopes for future expansion. While not the focus of current anniversary plans, St Clares has another premises where it envisions potentially offering other services that would help those in need.

The vision remains consistent: recognising that when youre struggling financially everything is money ... youre constantly sacrificing one thing for another, as Michelle puts it. St Clares aims to provide not just food but dignity and community.

In a county with no comparable service (the nearest similar operation is in Dublin), St Clares Hospitality Kitchen has become an essential thread in Carlows social fabric. It stands as testament to what a community can achieve when it recognises a need and comes together to address it  no judgement attached.

For donation information or to volunteer, contact St Clares Hospitality Kitchen directly or make a donation on .www.idonate.ie/cause/StClaresHospitalityKitchen.
ATLANTA (May 9, 2025)  The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated to a new and life-threatening level, requiring urgent action. Israels complete blockade  including food, medical supplies, and other essential goods  has produced starvation conditions in Gaza. The ongoing displacement of Gazans contradicts international humanitarian law, which prohibits the use of starvation and enforced displacement as a method of warfare and obligates all parties to ensure access to relief for civilians in need.

The Carter Center calls upon the United States and the international community to press Israel to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza to end the suffering. Thousands of lives, including those of children, are imperiled by Israels policies, and immediate action is needed.

This crisis is unfolding alongside new and existing Israeli policies that severely restrict the ability of Israeli, Palestinian, and international nongovernmental organizations to operate in the occupied Palestinian territory. These restrictions hinder the delivery of life-saving relief supplies and undermine the capacity of civil society to monitor, report, and respond to humanitarian needs. The Center urges the Israeli government to eliminate these restrictions and allow humanitarian access to all areas of Gaza. We also renew our call for a permanent ceasefire to end the suffering.

###

Contact: media@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
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Goodfellas Animation will handle international sales on Animal Farm, the feature animation directorial debut of actor Andy Serkis.

The 96-minute film will be introduced next week to buyers at the Cannes Film Market, and will premiere in a special screening at the Annecy animation festival next month.

Heres what we know about the production:
Sign up to get our news digest  delivered directly to your inbox twice a week.

Aardman is set to release a third Shaun the Sheep feature: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom.

The famed Bristol, U.K. studio has partnered with Sky as the exclusive U.K. distributor, which will distribute the film theatrically and on Sky Cinema. Studiocanal is handling distribution outside of the U.K. and will launch the title next week at the Cannes Film Market.

The Beast of Mossy Bottom will release in 2026. It follows the two previous Oscar and BAFTA-nominated films Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019). Described as a light-hearted, spooky Halloween adventure, here is the synopsis:

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween  until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flocks beloved pumpkin patch! When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control With The Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.

The new film is directed by Steve Cox (Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas) and Matthew Walker (Lloyd of the Flies) from a script by Mark Burton (Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Shaun the Sheep Movie) and Giles Pilbrow (Horrible Histories, Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas). Richard Beek is producing, and Nick Park, Peter Lord, Carla Shelley, and Sarah Cox are studio executive producers.

A spinoff of Aardmans Wallace & Gromit series, Shaun first appeared in Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave before receiving his own tv series. The seventh season of the series is set to debut later this year.

Sky commissioned a Morph series as its first Sky Kids Original production in 2016. The Comcast-owned broadcaster has also collaborated with Aardman on Make Your Own Movies with Merlin and Epic Adventures of Morph, and is currently in production on the third season of Aardmans preschool show The Very Small Creatures.

Shaun is a household name, so its huge news for us to be welcoming him and the flock to our 2026 Sky Original film slate, said Andrew Orr, executive producer and head of originals. Its an honor to work with Aardman at such an exciting time for the studio, with a film that we know fans of all ages will love. Expect laughs, spookiness and some brilliantly entertaining new characters.
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In the first three months of 2025, Cementir Group's cement and clinker sales volumes, totalling 2.2Mt, decreased by 6.2 per cent compared to the same period of 2024, mainly due to the Turkish governments ban on exports to Israel active from the second quarter of 2024, as well as to the general decline in the main geographical areas with the exception of Malaysia, Egypt and China.



Ready-mixed concrete sales volumes, equal to about 1.1Mm3, increased by 2.1 per cent due to the positive performance of Nordic & Baltic and Belgium, while there was a decline in Turkiye.



In the aggregates sector, sales volumes amounted to 2.4Mt, substantially in line with the same period of the previous year, with increases in Turkiye and Denmark, stability in Belgium and a decline in Sweden.



The groups revenue from sales and services amounted to EUR370.5m, up by 0.9 per cent compared to EUR367.1m in the 1Q24, despite the reduction in volumes in many regions and the depreciation of the Turkish and Egyptian currencies against the Euro. In particular, in the Nordic & Baltic regions, Turkiye and Malaysia, revenues increased compared to the same period of the previous year. It should be noted that at constant 2024 exchange rates, revenues would have reached EUR382.1m, 4.1 per cent up on the same period last year.

The cost of raw materials, equal to EUR147.6m, decreased by 6.4 per cent compared to EUR157.7m in the first quarter of 2024, due to the reduction in the purchase price of some factors of production, lower production and the exchange effect, especially in Turkiye.

EBITDA reached EUR69.7m, up by 0.5 per cent compared to EUR69.3m in the 1Q24, following a significant improvement in results in the Nordic & Baltic area and Malaysia, offset by a reduction in all other regions and a negative exchange rate effect of EUR4.8m.

Profit before taxes was EUR39.7m, a decrease of 38.1 per cent on EUR64.1m in the 1Q24.

Regional performance

Denmark

In the first quarter of 2025, sales revenues reached EUR 111.7m, an increase of six per cent compared to EUR105.4m in the 1Q24.

Norway and Sweden

In Norway, ready-mixed concrete sales volumes increased by 13 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024, supported by favourable weather conditions and the start of some major projects. In Sweden, ready-mixed concrete volumes grew by seven per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024, mainly thanks to deliveries related to a major project started in August 2024 and still ongoing. Aggregates volumes, on the other hand, fell by 14 per cent due to the shortage of new infrastructure projects in the south of the country, in addition to excess production capacity.

Belgium

In the first quarter of 2025, cement sales volumes on the domestic market fell by eight per cent compared to the same period of 2024, due to persistent weak demand. Exports registered a double-digit decline, with negative results in particular in the north of France, while the Netherlands remained stable compared to the previous year. Sales revenues decreased by 5.1 per cent to EUR75.4m, compared to EUR79.4m in the same period of 2024.

North America

In the United States, white cement sales volumes decreased by seven per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024.



Turkiye

Cement and clinker exports fell by 54 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024, almost entirely due to the Turkish governments ban on exports to Israel, active from the second quarter of 2024. Revenues amounted to EUR 77.4m, up 5.7 per cent compared to the first three months of 2024 (EUR 73.3m), penalised by the 13.7 per cent devaluation of the Turkish Lira compared to the average Euro exchange rate in the first quarter of 2024.

Egypt 1Q24, mainly due to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound (-38 per cent against the Euro compared to the first quarter of 2024), compared to revenues in local currency up 27.7 per cent. Sales volumes of white cement increased by three per cent thanks to export performance that more than offset the reduction in volumes in the domestic market, penalised by the weakness of the construction market. Expors to the United States, Israel and Greece increased, while sales to Europe fell.

Asia Pacific

China

Sales revenues fell by 5.5 per cent to EUR9.9m from EUR10.4m in the 1Q24 following the reduction in sales prices, in a context of stagnant demand awaiting the effects of the numerous economic stimulus measures introduced by the government and high levels of inventories, and a consequent pressure on sales prices. Although volumes were in line with the first quarter of the previous year, weak prices led to falling revenues and an EBITDA down 49.7 per cent to EUR0.9m (EUR 1.8m in the same period of 2024).

Malaysia

Sales revenues increased by 17 per cent to EUR12.1m (EUR10.4m in the corresponding period of 2024), thanks to higher sales volumes mainly concentrated on exports. Overall volumes increased by 36 per cent mainly due to time differences in clinker shipments to Australia compared to the first quarter of 2024. The domestic market, on the other hand, recorded a decrease of 11 per cent, attributable to the advance of some orders in December 2024. Cement exports grew by eight per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024, thanks to higher deliveries to the Philippines and Cambodia, and lower volumes in Vietnam.

Outlook

The macroeconomic scenario remains characterised by a high degree of uncertainty, exacerbated by the recent protectionist measures taken by the US administration, which could affect the growth rate of the global economy later this year. Overall, the results for the first quarter of 2025 were in line with management expectations.
Middle Valley Church of God, located at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces that Pastor Mitch McClure will be preaching on Sunday, May 11, in the 10:30 a.m. service. His sermon title will be, "This Is My Momma And I'm Glad", in a special service to honor those mothers present in the service. The sermon will focus on the reality that mothers are important in our society and the Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is our greatest example of a good mother. Special gifts will be presented to each mother present in the service. All are welcome to participate.





Each Sunday at 5:30 p.m.the church conducts a Prayer Meeting. The Prayer Meeting is open to all who wish to participate and is designed to encourage prayer. Information on various methods of prayer will be shared with participants. The goal of this prayer meeting is to encourage Believers to seek God through prayer. All are welcome to participate.





Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., an Interactive, Interesting, and Informative Bible Study will be held in the church auditorium. Alex Baker is currently leading this Bible study. All are welcome to participate. The goal of this Bible study is to encourage Believers to study the Bible and discuss with others, making the Scripture their guide.





Middle Valley Church of God is a community focused church with various ministries in the Middle Valley area and in Cusuna, Honduras. The community is welcome to join in times of worship and community service. MVCOG has been ministering in the Middle Valley Community since 1948 from the same location. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 423.843.1539. All are welcome.
I agree with numerous people who have stated that they disagreed with the verdict in the Tyre Nichols case in Memphis. The not guilty verdict, concluded by a Chattanooga jury was a devastating miscarriage of justice, as determined by Attorney Benjamin Crump.

Given the circumstances resulting in the death of unarmed Tyre Nichols, people seemed shocked by the verdict. Initially, I was surprised, as well, until I realized that the jury was from Chattanooga.

When it was decided to bring in an outside jury from Chattanooga, the defense must have been delighted. They, and their police officer clients, could not have been happier. That decision was comparable to winning the lottery. Because of the actions of some unlawful officers, Chattanooga has a history of unarmed persons meeting death at the hands of police officers. In those cases, it is rare that police officers are held accountable, if ever.

The more common outcome, of which I am aware, is that the victim is blamed; instances of cover-up and lies are put into motion; and the officers are given a week off with pay. I am not speaking of instances in which the life of an officer is in danger. I am addressing situations, in which there is clearly no harm or anticipated danger to the officers. The outcome of those interactions could have ended with everyone going home to be with their families, the officers and the victims.

I have completed research and conducted presentations focused on police officer misconduct, leading to the death of unarmed citizens. Also, I have written a book, Excessive Use of Force, on the topic. More importantly, I have personal experience in one of those cases, which was very similar to the video of George Floyds death. On Jan. 2, 2004, my unarmed son, Leslie Vaughn Prater, died when four Chattanooga police officers caused his death from positional asphyxiation. Two autopsy reports determined that Leslies death resulted from a homicide. The four officers involved were given a week off with pay, and returned to the positions, even prior to the completion of any investigation. In later years, one was promoted to the position of police Sergeant in the Chattanooga Police Department.

The police chief and mayor in Memphis have asked their citizens to allow the city to heal. I believe that they wished the verdict had been different. As a non-violent person, I hope the city can heal. I can tell you that, for Tyre Nichols family, there is no healing. For 21 years, our wound remains open. Families of victims can only hope to learn to live with the pain. The grief journey is doubled. There is the grief of the physical loss of your love one, and the loss of justice. Our sons were treated as disposables.

At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, our family established a scholarship dedicated to helping undergraduate students receive a degree in criminal justice. It is our hope and prayer that potential officers will receive more education, focused on behaviors of critical thinking to preserve life, rather than to destroy. The scholarship is The Endowed Leslie Vaughn Prater Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice, which highlights that justice is for all.

Dr. Loretta P. Prater

* * *

I read Dr Prater's book years ago. I still have it. I've always felt a close connection to her family and the tragic killing of her son, Leslie. As my own son, during that period, could have very much met the same fate when he and his former wife, both military, returned home on a short weekend leave. Her unit was scheduled to be deployed to Iraq. The military base where she was stationed, they were stationed at difference military bases in different states, was scheduled to go into lockdown the following week. So my son traveled to her base to bring her home to Chattanooga to see family before she left. She was due to be deployed for a year. No military person would be allowed the leave the base come the following Monday until the moment they were on the plane heading to Iraq.





At first I felt the connection because of Dr. Prater's son's encounter with Chattanooga police - although Leslie's encounter ended in a tragic killing, while my son's encounter was met with verbal and physical abuse. I would become a target for speaking out on the issue, because lots of young men, white and black, in the racially mixed community where I live were having similar and same experiences, not much different from my own son, even before his encounter and I'd spoken out before only to be brushed off, snubbed and threatened.





I noticed in Dr. Prater's book another military victim of a police brutal killing - although it happened in another state - Marine Sergeant Derek Hale. Derek Hale was white. I mention his race to show our concerns aren't just only for members of our own race, but for any victim of police brutality and even the police - those who go about their day with honor, pride, respect for themselves the people and communities they serve.





Dr. Prater met with Marine Sergeant Derek Hale's mother. There's a photo of them together in her book, "Excessive Use Of Force." I'd read about Sergeant Hale's killing in the news at the time it took place, and only later came across it again in Dr. Prater's book. It was a most bizarre and hideous killing that still haunts the conscience to this day for anyone who fully read the details of the killing. According to Dr. Prater's book, along with stories I'd already previously come across in the news.





Sargent Hale lived in Manassas Virginia, but had traveled to Wilmington, Delaware to take part in a Toys For Tots run sponsored by the motorcycle club he belonged to. Derek was sitting on the steps of a friend, unarmed, when he was approached by several cops. Police claimed they suspected the club was involved in criminal activity. Marine Sergeant Hale "had no criminal record and there was no evidence he was involved in any criminal activity," according to the book and news articles.





Derek was "tased three times in rapid succession by two cops." When he failed to raise his arms when told to do so, due to the effects the tasers were still having on his body, that's when Marine Sergeant Hale was said to have been shot at close range in the chest. He died. A contractor working next door at another residence, witnessed the entire events that lead to Sgt. Hale's killing.





I thought my deep feelings for Leslie and his family were due to my son's own close encounter when he and his wife returned home on leave, and he decided to take a simple walk in the community he was born and grew up in before enlisting in the Air Force. That's true too. However, the connection might actually go even deeper. I only learned years later, although not by blood, Dr. Prater and I might have family connections on my mother's side. My mother's media-hermana (half sister) once told me she is a cousin of Dr. Prater. How closely a cousin I'm not sure.





The point being, in some way or another, we're all connected on this small planet called earth. We can either learn to get along, regardless of class, race, religion, gender, whatever or at the end of the day we can wipe out one another completely from the planet. Mother earth will replenish herself and survive. Mankind, in his chest-beating arrogant nature way, may not be as lucky.





"Give Peace A Chance"





Brenda Washington








Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report.

(If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com)

ANDERSON,DEMARIO DONTE

540 CENTRAL AVENUE NW APT 12 CLEVELAND, 37311

Age at Arrest:

36 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



BROWN,DELTRIA RAMONDA

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest:

60 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER



BURNS HITCHCOCK,LEONTAY TERREL

905 CLIFTON PLACE CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest:

24 years old

Arresting Agency:

Georgia State Patrol

Charges:



CASTLEBERRY,CRYSTAL ELAINE

4182 WOODLAND DR HOMELESS OOLTEWAH, 37363

Age at Arrest:

44 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

THEFT OF PROPERTY



CASTLEBERRY,CRYSTAL ELAINE

4182 WOODLAND DR HOMELESS OOLTEWAH, 37363

Age at Arrest:

44 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

FALSE REPORTS



COOLEY,RICHARD JAMES

945 PLEASANT GROVE ROAD JASPER, 373747040

Age at Arrest:

32 years old

Arresting Agency:

East Ridge

Charges:



CRISP,COCHISE A

364 HERITAGE HILL N.E CLEVELAND, 37323

Age at Arrest:

32 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

HARASSMENT

ASSAULT



DAVIDSON,JORDAN RASCHAD

10422 RATHER ROAD KNOXVILLE, 37391

Age at Arrest:

34 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



DOUGLAS,KEUNDRA KYSHAYE

3802 PIN OAK TRRACCE CHATTANOOGA, 374111618

Age at Arrest:

19 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

CHILD ABUSE



DOUGLAS,KEUNDRA KYSHAYE

3802 PIN OAK TRRACCE CHATTANOOGA, 374111618

Age at Arrest:

19 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S



ELKINS,CHLOE LEANNE

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37407

Age at Arrest:

21 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA



FULLER,JASMINE KOQUICE

2407 NORTH CHAMBERLIN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest:

34 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



GOODEN,AMERAY D

2617 GLENWOOD PKWY CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest:

22 years old

Arresting Agency:

Red Bank PD

Charges:

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



HARRELL,MARKO DEANGELO

3411 5TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407

Age at Arrest:

37 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

STOP SIGN VIOLATION

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



HARRELL,MARKO DEANGELO

3411 5TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407

Age at Arrest:

37 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DOMESTIC ASSAULT)



HENRY,RICHARD MALCOLM

1636 COLORADO ST HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest:

59 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

ASSAULT



HOLDER,CHRISTOPHER CAMPBEL

1116 BLACKBURN LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37415

Age at Arrest:

47 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

STALKING



HUCKABEE,JOSHUA JONALLEN

HOMELESS Chattanooga, 37419

Age at Arrest:

34 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:



JOHNSON,MICHAEL DEWAYNE

3804 CUSCOWILLA TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37405

Age at Arrest:

29 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

REGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

DUTY UPON STRIKING FIXTURES UPON A HIGHWAY



LAYCOX,MARK ELLERY

825 SPEARS AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37405

Age at Arrest:

42 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

VIOLATION OF PROBATION CRIMINAL TRESPASSING



LAYMON,MARVIN KEITH

3804 CUSCOWILLA TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37415

Age at Arrest:

59 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT



LAYMON,MARVIN KEITH

3804 CUSCOWILLA TRAIL CHATTANOOGA, 37415

Age at Arrest:

59 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

POSS.OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ANALOGUE FOR RESALE

VIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTY



LITTLE,DERRICK JAMES

6418 ATLANTA AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest:

42 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

THEFT OF PROPERTY



MITCHELL,MARTEZ JAMAL

1115 ANITA DR CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest:

33 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:



MITCHELL,MARTEZ JAMAL

1115 ANITA DR CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest:

33 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

FUGITIVE (CATOOSA CO GA)



RAY,STEVEN ERIC

2407 N CHAMBERLAIN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest:

34 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

CONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS



ROBINSON,TYLER LEE

HOMELESS EAST RIDGE, 37412

Age at Arrest:

35 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

SHOPLIFTING



TARPKIN,JERMAINE LEDALE

1706 JACKSON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest:

51 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:



WILSON,HUNTER

5027 PARKERSON RD APISON, 37302

Age at Arrest:

22 years old

Arresting Agency:

Charges:

VEHICULAR ASSAULT

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

SPEEDING

RECKLESS DRIVING

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE



WRIGHT,DAVID THOMAS

8613 E RIDGE TRAIL RD SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest:

43 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)



WRIGHT,DAVID THOMAS

8613 E RIDGE TRAIL RD SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest:

43 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

RESISTING ARREST

Here are the mug shots:

ANDERSON, DEMARIO DONTE

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 02/17/1989

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE CASTLEBERRY, CRYSTAL ELAINE

Age at Arrest: 44

Date of Birth: 08/16/1980

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY COOLEY, RICHARD JAMES

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 01/22/1993

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

DAVIDSON, JORDAN RASCHAD

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 10/16/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE DOUGLAS, KEUNDRA KYSHAYE

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 04/27/2005

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

CHILD ABUSE ELKINS, CHLOE LEANNE

Age at Arrest: 21

Date of Birth: 03/13/2004

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA FULLER, JASMINE KOQUICE

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 12/07/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT GOODEN, AMERAY D

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 05/01/2003

Arresting Agency: Red Bank PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF HARRELL, MARKO DEANGELO

Age at Arrest: 37

Date of Birth: 01/06/1988

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

STOP SIGN VIOLATION

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE HENRY, RICHARD MALCOLM

Age at Arrest: 59

Date of Birth: 07/02/1965

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

ASSAULT

HOLDER, CHRISTOPHER CAMPBEL

Age at Arrest: 47

Date of Birth: 12/23/1977

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

STALKING HUCKABEE, JOSHUA JONALLEN

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 11/07/1988

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

JOHNSON, MICHAEL DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 29

Date of Birth: 01/19/1994

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

REGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

DUTY UPON STRIKING FIXTURES UPON A HIGHWAY LAYCOX, MARK ELLERY

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 07/03/1982

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION CRIMINAL TRESPASSING LAYMON, MARVIN KEITH

Age at Arrest: 59

Date of Birth: 04/10/1966

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT LITTLE, DERRICK JAMES

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 10/05/1982

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY MITCHELL, MARTEZ JAMAL

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 07/16/1987

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

RAY, STEVEN ERIC

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 06/19/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

CONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS TARPKIN, JERMAINE LEDALE

Age at Arrest: 51

Date of Birth: 06/15/1973

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

WILSON, HUNTER

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 09/05/2002

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

VEHICULAR ASSAULT

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

SPEEDING

RECKLESS DRIVING

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE WRIGHT, DAVID THOMAS

Age at Arrest: 43

Date of Birth: 10/16/1981

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/08/2025

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)








Bledsoe County Schools announces that two of its schools  Bledsoe County High School and Mary V. Wheeler Elementary School  have been officially awarded STEM Designation by the Tennessee Department of Education. The recognition was announced at the departments annual awards ceremony.Officials said, "This prestigious designation acknowledges schools that demonstrate excellence in integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics into their curriculum, providing students with innovative and hands-on learning opportunities that prepare them for future success."We are incredibly proud of Bledsoe County High School and Mary V.Wheeler Elementary School for earning this well-deserved recognition, said Selina Sparkman, director of Bledsoe County Schools. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, vision, and collaboration of our educators, students, families and community partners who are committed to ensuring our students have access to high-quality STEM education.Bledsoe County High School Principal Matt Ridley said, This STEM Designation is a tremendous honor for our school. It reflects the dedication of our teachers and students, and it motivates us to continue expanding STEM opportunities that challenge and inspire every student.Mary V. Wheeler Elementary School Principal Michael McAnally added, We are thrilled to receive this recognition. Our team has worked hard to make STEM learning engaging and meaningful for our youngest learners, and this award affirms our belief in the importance of hands-on, real-world learning."With this accomplishment, Bledsoe County Schools continues to position itself as a leader in advancing STEM opportunities and creating pathways for students to thrive in college, career and beyond," officials said.We are excited to see the impact this will have on our students and are committed to expanding innovative learning opportunities across the district, Ms. Sparkman added.
Governor Bill Lee has named an official in his administration as Circuit Court judge in Hamilton County (11th Judicial District).

He said, I am proud to announce the appointment of Jennifer Peck and value the significant experience she will bring to Tennessees 11th Judicial District. Jennifer has faithfully served Tennesseans during her tenure at the Department of Commerce and Insurance, and I am confident she will continue to serve with integrity.

Ms. Peck currently serves as the chief of staff and chief operating officer at Tennessees Department of Commerce and Insurance.

She earned her bachelors degree at Auburn University and juris doctor at Regent University School of Law.

Ms. Pecks appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael Dumitru, and is effective immediately.

Prior to joining the Commerce Department, she owned and managed Peck Legal Group, a law firm that specialized in domestic relations litigation and mediation.
With much sadness and a heavy heart, the family of Merle Belz Backer announces her recent passing. Merle was a devoted and caring mother, loving wife, beloved family member, and cherished friend. Her life was one of giving, love, resilience, and genuine kindness that touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. Merle was 89.

Family was truly the heart of Merles existence. She was a source of love to her husband of 60 years, Dr. Bruce H. Backer, and her three children, Marla, Dean, and Robert. She created a home filled with warmth and unwavering support. Her patience was unmatched; it was surely tested many times during the formative teenage years of her rather adventurous children. But they always knew she was their true advocate and a mother who would always love and care for them no matter what. And she did.

Merle was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 28, 1935. Her parents were Morris and Lillian Belz, and she had two siblings: an older brother, Shepard, and a younger sister, Gail. She grew up in the Gold Coast neighborhood and had fond memories of childhood there, spending time on the familys boat on Lake Michigan, visiting museums with her mother, and playing with their beloved cocker spaniels.

When Merle was 12 years old in 1948, the family relocated to Memphis, TN, where her Uncle Sam, her father, and his two brothers opened the Sam Belz furniture factory. The factory manufactured high-end mid-century modern furniture that is still highly collectible today.

Merle often shared her memories of playing in the factory on weekends with her cousins and jumping from huge piles of foam rubber blocks used to make cushions. Once, she stapled her cousin Miles palm with a button gun! This was a few decades before OSHA.

Merle was an exceptional student and very popular in high school. After graduating from Central High School in Memphis, she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she was also a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

After college, Merle moved back to Memphis, where she met her future husband, Bruce Backer, on a blind date while he was attending medical school there. They married in 1956, when he graduated from dental school, and promptly moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming - of all places - where Bruce served as a captain in the Air Force. Shortly thereafter, in 1957, their first child, Marla, was born at the hospital on the base, and Merles mother, Grandma Lil, made the trek out West to help her with her first child.

Years later, Merle would follow in her mothers footsteps and travel to Sydney, Australia (twice!) to help Marla with her two infant sons, Spencer and Crater. She also went to San Francisco to welcome Deans sons, Sam and Miles.

Robert and Jennifer live in Chattanoogaso their son, Jake, had much of his Mimis undivided attention.

In 1959, the small Backer family moved to Chattanooga, where Bruce started his dental practice in East Ridge. Soon after, sons Dean and Robert were born.

Merles joy in life was her family. Indeed, she made it her mission to haul the kids to Memphis every summer to spend time with her large and gregarious family there, including countless Passovers and bar and bat mitzvahs. She was also beloved among the extended Backer family, adored by her mother-in-law Mildred, and cherished by her father-in-law Mac, who had a special soft spot for his only daughter.

Merles professional journey picked up again in 1978 when she decided to become a realtor and then a broker. She worked with her friend and mentor, Peggy Pryor, of Coldwell Banker Pryor Reality, for over 20 years. Her professional accomplishments demonstrate her determination and willingness to take on new challenges.

For some 66 years, Merle was a long-time member and active contributor to the Bnai Zion synagogue in Chattanooga. She served on the executive board as secretary for many years and was also a member of Hadassah and Sisterhood. She was a proud Jewish woman and supporter of Israel. Her faith and its traditions served as her North Star.

Merle always had an active social life with many close friends. One group played mahjong weekly for 50 years!

Merle loved to read and always had a book at hand. She enjoyed listening to Barbara Streisand, Mel Torme (a friend of her brother, Shep), Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Frank Sinatra. She traveled to Israel with her friends and Rabbi Rick (Sherwin) twice, once with her daughter, Marla, in tow (who now admits she had a good time), and to Europe, Alaska, and the Bahamas.

Above all, Merle adored her five grandsons: Sam, Spencer, Carter, Jake, and Miles. She also cherished the memory of her only granddaughter, Jessica.

Merle will be remembered for her radiant heart. The Little Red One was lovely and will be missed by all for the kindness she brought to the world. She made everyone she encountered - especially her family and friends - feel valued and loved. That was her gift to us. Her spirit will live on through all who knew her.

Merle is preceded in death by her husband, Bruce, and her granddaughter, Jessica Lillian Backer.

She is survived by her three children, Marla Brown, Dean (Katy Mooney) Backer, and Robert (Jennifer) Backer, and grandchildren Spencer Brown, Carter Brown, Sam Backer, Miles Backer, and Jake (Hannah) Backer.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m. at B NaiZion Cemetery (605 Lullwater Road, Chattanooga, Tn 37405) with Rabbi Sam Rotenburg officiating.

You may share condolences with the Backer Family at www.heritagechattanooga.com

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.
Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park will present the free program, "Dead Men Do Tell Tales: Captain John Farquahrs Story," on Saturday, May 24 at 11 a.m.Participants will meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe, before traveling onto the battlefield for the talk. The program lasts 45 minutes.Officials said, "The 45-minute presentation discusses the story of Captain John Farquahr during the Battle of Chickamauga.Farquahr was a lively correspondent to his hometown newspaper, and this program will look at what he reported and went through during the battle.John Farquahr was a Scottish immigrant who settled in Chicago, where he found work as a newspaper editor. He enlisted as a private in the summer of 1862, eventually rising to the rank of captain, earning a Medal of Honor along the way. Through all of this, he kept up a steady correspondence back to Chicago and gave some graphic descriptions of what the men in the field were going through."Please dress accordingly for the weather and a folding chair might be desirable.For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch.No reservation or registration is required.
The Lee University Board of Directors announces the appointment of Dr. Phil Cook as the schools next president, effective July 1. Dr. Cook will succeed veteran president Dr. Paul Conn, who will complete a one-year term as president and return to his role as chancellor.

Its my pleasure to name Dr. Cook as the 18th person to lead Lee University, said Board Chair Wade Lombard. The entire board shares my excitement and optimism that President Elect Cook will add an exciting and fruitful chapter to the history of Lee University.

Dr. Cook brings over 30 years of experience in higher education, most recently serving as president and CEO of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals since 2021. From 1997 to 2021, he held several senior roles at Lee University, including vice president for Enrollment.

He holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a Master of Divinity from the Church of God School of Theology, and a Bachelor of Science in business from Lee. An ordained bishop in the Church of God, Phil is married to Tonya Cook, and they have three adult children.

Dr. Cook responded to the appointment, "I am deeply honored and humbled to return to Lee University as president. Tonya and I are grateful to the Board of Directors for entrusting us with this opportunity to serve. We look forward to returning to our alma mater to support our students, faculty, staff, alumni, church, and community. We thank the Lord for His guidance throughout this journey and are eager to get to work.

The search for the new university president began last fall with the formation of the Presidential Search Committee and the engagement of FaithSearch Partners of Dallas to lead a national search. From an initial pool of 79 applicants, FaithSearch conducted a rigorous review that narrowed the field to 12 semifinalists. These candidates were then presented to the Search Committee, which selected four finalists to engage with various university stakeholders, including faculty, cabinet members, alumni, and the search committee itself. Following these campus interactions, the Search Committee submitted its recommendation to the Board of Directors, who finalized the appointment this week.

Dr. Cook emerged from a field of exceptionally strong candidates, Mr. Lombard added. While that made the selection process more challenging and competitive, it also makes us more confident that Dr. Cook is the right leader to take us toward Lees exciting future."
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Humboldt University of Berlin (HU Berlin) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Berlin Battery Lab. The lab will pool the expertise of the three institutions to advance the development of sustainable battery technologies. The joint research infrastructure will also be open to industry for pioneering projects in this field.

Berlin has established itself as an important location for research into sodium-ion batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries. The city offers concentrated expertise in these areas, supported by numerous research projects and high-profile research groups.

Strengths of the consortium The Berlin Battery Lab (BBL) will combine the strengths of the three partner institutions: BAM has internationally recognized expertise in battery safety and electrochemical energy materials. HU Berlin is a leader in Germany in academic research on sodium-ion batteries. HZB is particularly active in research on lithium-sulfur batteries.

Goals and advantages of the Berlin Battery Lab The laboratory aims to accelerate the transfer of material developments into marketable products. In the field of basic research, material development ties in with the battery activities of the HZB large-scale research facility BESSY II. The BBL activities culminate in the production of demonstrator cells and thus form an interface with safety and application tests. The collaboration between basic research, applied research, and certification enables a faster transition from research to industrial application. This is particularly important in an increasingly protectionist trading world, where the availability of sustainable raw materials and thus the secure production of batteries are crucial, even in times of crisis.

Industry partnerships and future developments The Berlin Battery Lab is open to industry partners from all over Germany and Europe and serves to promote the development and production of locally manufactured sustainable batteries. Existing partnerships, such as with BASF, will be further expanded. In addition, physical laboratories are planned in Berlin to support research and development on site.

BAM President Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne: The planned establishment of the Berlin Battery Lab is a significant step for sustainable battery research in Germany. Through close cooperation with the Helmholtz Center Berlin and Humboldt University, we are pooling our expertise and creating a unique research infrastructure. This will enable us to bring innovative and sustainable battery technologies to market more quickly and thus make an important contribution to the energy transition. We look forward to working with our partners and industry to realize groundbreaking projects and further strengthen Berlin as a leading location for battery research.

Prof. Dr. Christoph Schneider, Vice President for Research at HU: With the Berlin Battery Lab, we are building a bridge between excellent basic research and marketable, innovative technologies. We will jointly advance the development of sustainable sodium and sulphur batteries with the combined expertise of HZB, BAM and HU - and thus make an important contribution to successfully shaping the energy transition.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, Scientific Director of HZB: We have been cooperating with Humboldt University and BAM in the field of battery research for many years. We will now be able to significantly expand this cooperation. At the X-ray source BESSY II, which is operated by HZB, complete battery cells can be analysed in situ and during discharging and charging, i.e. operando. This gives us insight into the processes that lead to a gradual loss of capacity. By setting up a new pouch cell laboratory for sodium-ion batteries at HZB, we aim to strengthen materials research for batteries in Berlin and establish further collaborations with industry.
Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has started the 2025 fiscal year with a significant increase in earnings: EBITDA pre exceptionals rose by 31.7 percent from EUR 101 million to EUR 133 million  despite the weak global economic environment. The Group improved its earnings in all segments, mainly due to better capacity utilization and cost savings as part of the FORWARD! action plan.

Sales in the first quarter remained stable at EUR 1.601 billion, on a par with the prior-year figure of EUR 1.607 billion. LANXESS increased sales volumes in most businesses, although lower sales prices had a negative impact on revenues.

We have made a solid start to the new fiscal year  despite all the adversities in the economic and geopolitical environment. Our more efficient positioning and improved cost situation are now paying off, said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. The situation around us has continued to escalate since the beginning of the year. The U.S. governments new trade policy has shaken the markets and exacerbated the already high level of uncertainty. Combined with the ongoing weakness of the economy, this makes the situation even more challenging for companies.

Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was minus EUR 57 million, compared with minus EUR 98 million in the same period last year.

LANXESS confirms its guidance for the 2025 fiscal year and continues to expect EBITDA pre exceptionals of between EUR 600 and 650 million.

For the second quarter of the fiscal year 2025, LANXESS anticipates an increase in earnings compared with the first quarter of 2025. However, compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the Group expects earnings to decline, primarily because the earnings contribution from Urethane Systems will no longer be included.

Sale of the Urethane Systems business completed On 1 April 2025, LANXESS sold its Urethane Systems business to Japans UBE Corporation, thus divesting its last remaining polymer business. The transaction was the last major step in the companys portfolio transformation towards specialty chemicals.

LANXESS will use the proceeds from the sale to redeem its EUR 500 million benchmark bond due May 2025 and further reduce its debt.

Business development in the segments The Consumer Protection segment posted first-quarter sales of EUR 513 million, an increase of 0.8 percent compared with the prior-year figure of EUR 509 million. EBITDA pre exceptionals rose by 49 percent from EUR 49 million in the prior-year quarter to EUR 73 million. This was mainly due to higher sales volumes and the associated improvement in capacity utilization. In addition, cost savings from the FORWARD! action plan had a positive impact on earnings and margins. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals was 14.2 percent, compared with 9.6 percent in the same period of the previous year.

In the first quarter of 2025, the Specialty Additives segment recorded sales of EUR 545 million, down 3.7 percent on the first quarter of 2024, when sales amounted to EUR 566 million. EBITDA pre exceptionals increased by 8.3 percent from EUR 48 million in the same quarter of the previous year to EUR 52 million. The cost savings from the FORWARD! action plan also had a positive impact on earnings and margins, along with a favorable product mix. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals was 9.5 percent, up from 8.5 percent in the prior-year quarter.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous, accumulate in the environment and are difficult to break down. They are known as "forever chemicals". PFAS can compromise the immune system and thus, human health. In their current study, researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) show that high PFAS exposure has a negative effect on the cellular immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The scientists suspect that people exposed to high levels of PFAS may have a suboptimal immune response to vaccination. The study was conducted in close cooperation with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo. It was published in the scientific journal Environment International.

PFAS are found in multiple everyday products, such as cosmetics, outdoor clothing and coated pans. This is because of their special properties. They are heat-resistant, repel water and grease and are extremely resistant. There are thousands of different PFAS compounds and they are found in the soil, water and in the air where they accumulate for long periods. PFAS enter the human body via food, drinking water or the air we breathe and can then accumulate and affect our health. "PFAS are not acutely toxic. But since we encounter them almost everywhere in our surroundings and can hardly escape them, we are essentially subjected to chronic exposure to them. And this is especially problematic for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, young children or the chronically ill," says Prof Ana Zenclussen, Head of the Department of Environmental Immunology at the UFZ.

Various studies have linked exposure to PFAS to conditions such as obesity, hormonal disorders and cancer. These forever chemicals can also influence the immune system. It is known from epidemiological studies that PFAS exposure has a negative effect on the development of antibodies following vaccination for SARS-CoV-2. In their current study, the researchers aimed to evaluate whether and how PFAS affect the second arm of the immune system, the so-called cellular immune response. This is especially important in the case of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 in order to protect against severe illness outcomes. "And unlike the case for other viruses, a high antibody titer against SARS-CoV-2 is not necessarily indicative of whether the development of the cellular immune response will be adequate upon encountering the virus," explains Ana Zenclussen. "We are therefore closing an important gap with our study."

For the study, the research team used blood samples from women and men who had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 several times and had already been infected with the virus. The scientists cultured the immune cells contained in the blood samples in the laboratory and exposed them to PFAS for 24 hours. "We used a special mixture that realistically reflects the PFAS exposure of the European population," explains Ana Zenclussen. The PFAS mixture was developed by the Norwegian cooperation partners based on a large cohort study. In addition to a realistic PFAS concentration, the researchers also exposed the immune cells to higher concentrations of the PFAS mixture in further experiments - up to a concentration a thousand times higher, which corresponds to the exposure of people who work in the production of PFAS.

Dr Oddvar Myhre from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo stresses: The research emphasizes the importance of using a human-relevant PFAS mixture to understand its complex interactions with the immune system, particularly in the context of vaccination responses. This approach reflects real-world exposure scenarios more closely and helps shed light on the potential health risks associated with PFAS contamination."

Following PFAS exposure, the immune cells were exposed to proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Can the immune cells previously treated with PFAS still react sufficiently to the virus and fight it? Is the immune response worse or significantly different? The research team led by Ana Zenclussen conducted a detailed immune analysis to answer these questions. They employed spectral flow cytometry, a modern method that enables identification, quantification and analysis of multiple immune cell types in a single measurement step. The functionality of the respective cell types can also be determined by measuring the messenger substances released.

In comparison with the unexposed samples, two immune cell types released more inflammatory mediators in response to SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the samples that had previously been exposed to elevated PFAS concentrations. "This suggests an excessive immune response," explains Ana Zenclussen. "It is interesting that this effect was especially pronounced in the immune cells of the male study participants." The situation was different for the female study participants. In this case, proportionally fewer B cells were present following increased PFAS exposure. B cells are immune cells that are crucial for the development of antibodies and long-term immunity. "The fact that high PFAS exposure affects the immune system differently depending on the biological sex is an important result that should be investigated more thoroughly in further studies," says Zenclussen.
The Alabama State Capitol Building located on Capitol Hill in Montgomery. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Alabama state Capitol Tour

Litigation regarding an Alabama law that bans minors from undergoing life-altering sex-change surgeries and hormone treatments has been resolved with a joint dismissal agreement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama's Northern Division on Thursday.

The plaintiffs, who challenged Alabamas ban on gender transition procedures for minors, agreed to dismiss their lawsuit without costs or fees to any party.

According to the office of Alabamas Republican Attorney General, Steve Marshall, the lawsuit was initiated three years ago by multiple plaintiffs represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Southern Poverty Law Center, and some of the nations largest law firms. They challenged the law that aims to protect vulnerable children from procedures that can have profound and irreversible effects.

The discovery process associated with the lawsuit revealed that the standards of care employed by LGBT advocacy groups pushing for these procedures on trans-identified youth were found to be not evidence-based.

Marshalls office stated that the discovery exposed that key medical organizations misled parents, promoted unproven treatments as settled science, and ignored growing international concern over the use of sex-change procedures to treat gender dysphoria in minors.

The resolution of this litigation comes less than two months after the federal government under the Trump administration withdrew from the lawsuit, which the Biden administration had previously joined in an effort to block the legislation in court.

Alabama was among the first states to enact a law banning trans-identified youth from using puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and undergoing gender-affirming surgeries, all aimed at changing gender. Shortly after the law was passed in 2022, a federal judge temporarily halted the provision banning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones while upholding the ban on gender transition surgeries.

Several other statessuch as Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyominghave also enacted laws that ban some or all forms of gender transition procedures for minors out of concerns about their long-term effects.

The American College of Pediatricians has warned that puberty blockers can cause osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility. They also list potential side effects of cross-sex hormones, including an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan, emphasizing the risks associated with these treatments.
On the evening of May 8, 2025, newly elected Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd gathered in St. Peters Square at the Vatican. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Vatican News

On Thursday evening, the Vatican announced the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, who will take the name Pope Leo XIV.

Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti made the declaration to the crowds gathered in St. Peters Square. The 69-year-old pontiff offered his first blessing around 7:30 p.m. local time.

Born in Chicago, Prevost served as an American missionary in Peru and holds Peruvian citizenship. He previously led the Vaticans office of bishops and was not considered one of the heavy favorite candidates entering the conclave.

The conclave was convened to elect a new leader after Pope Francis's death at age 88 last month, with over 133 cardinals from 70 countries entering the Sistine Chapel to participate from Wednesday.

The first smoke from Wednesday nights first ballot appeared around 9 p.m., after which about 45,000 people had gathered for the announcement. Earlier on Thursday, black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney around 11:50 a.m., signifying that the second ballot since the conclaves start on Wednesday had not yet produced a new pope.

The cardinals had broken for lunch and resumed voting around 2 p.m., with approximately 15,000 people gathered in St. Peters Square for the announcement.

Historically, papal conclaves took extended periods, with the longest lasting nearly three years from 1268 to 1271 following the death of Pope Clement IV.
Bishops enter to lead the opening worship service at the United Methodist Church (UMC) General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 23, 2024. | Mike DuBose/UM News

The leadership of the United Methodist Church has clarified that a recent decision by its highest court, which permits pastors to decide whether they will officiate same-sex weddings, does not override regional bans on such unions.

The Judicial Council ruled last month that church trustees could not prohibit pastors from performing same-sex wedding ceremonies. In a statement released last Friday, the UMC Council of Bishops acknowledged that the decision has created some anxiety and consternation, but clarified that UMC regions that maintain bans on same-sex marriage are still within their rights to prohibit such ceremonies.

As bishops, we expect that the pastors we appoint will continue to exercise their authority with deep pastoral sensitivity to the congregation and community to which they are appointed, stated UMC Council of Bishops President Tracy Malone.

She also emphasized that We also affirm that the Judicial Council decision does not negate the powers and duties that apply only in the central conferences. We recognize the varying legal contexts in different parts of the world where The United Methodist Church is in ministry.

Malone pointed out that the ruling does not authorize United Methodist clergy to violate civil law in their practice of ministry, especially since same-sex marriage remains illegal in several countries. She assured that the ruling does not negate the authority given to central conferences, and If a central conference has set standards and policy that do not permit same-sex marriages, no pastor in the central conference is permitted to perform a same-sex marriage.

The Judicial Council's Decision Number 1516 was issued in response to a request for a declaratory judgment from the Arkansas Annual Conference. While UMC law gives authority to a local church board of trustees for the supervision, oversight, and care of all real property owned by the local church, the council clarified that authority over the use of the building has limits.

It stated that pastors have the authority to decide whether they will perform the religious marriage service of a couple, and they cannot be prevented from or interfered with when using any of the property of the local church for such a service, and Similarly, the pastor cannot be required to use church facilities to perform a religious marriage service. If a pastor does not wish to perform a certain marriage ceremony (in the discretion of the pastor), the local trustees cannot require them to do so.

At the UMC General Conference last year, delegates voted decisively to remove from the Book of Discipline a longstanding ban on clergy blessing same-sex unions. The change came after more than 7,500 congregations disaffiliated from the UMC, largely due to disagreements over the churchs stance on same-sex marriage and the inconsistent enforcement of rules by some progressive leaders.

Most of these disaffiliating congregations have aligned themselves with the theologically conservative Global Methodist Church, while others have transitioned into nondenominational churches.
Home News Evangelical leaders from 56 nations will gather for European Congress on Evangelism

More than 1,000 Evangelical pastors and ministry leaders from 56 countries are expected to gather in Berlin, Germany, for the European Congress on Evangelism later this month. Hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), the event will take place May 2730 at the JW Marriott hotel.

Organized around the theme of Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile  the invitation-only congress is anticipated to be the most representative gathering of Evangelical leaders in Europe since the previous congress in Amsterdam in 2000.

Christian Daily International will provide frontline coverage from the congress, which will feature 20 speakers from 13 countries and offer simultaneous interpretation in 10 languages. Organizers say the event aims to encourage and equip believers from dozens of denominations to reignite the church with a passion for bold and biblical proclamation evangelism.

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Franklin Graham, president and CEO of BGEA and convenor of the congress, emphasized the significance of holding the event in Berlin  where his father, the late evangelist Billy Graham, convened the first World Congress on Evangelism in 1966.

The city of Berlin has influenced the world in every field. What a place from which to shout to the world  Christ is the Savior! Billy Graham said in his opening address nearly six decades ago.

That historic gathering laid the foundation for future international congresses, including the 1974 Lausanne Congress in Switzerland and subsequent meetings in Amsterdam in 1983, 1986, and 2000.

It was the Christians in Europe who crossed the ocean and brought the Gospel to the United States four centuries ago, and I am grateful for the believers in Europe who continue to be a bold and faithful witness for Jesus Christ, said Franklin Graham, who has preached in 19 European countries since 1999.

Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and the truth of Gods Word is the greatest need in the world today, and its an honor for BGEA to come alongside and encourage believers in Europe who are taking the gospel to their communities and to the ends of the earth, he added.

The program will also include worship led by three-time Grammy Award winner Michael W. Smith, award-winning worship leader Charity Gayle and several European Christian artists.

The church in Europe needs to rise up with fresh confidence, said Dr. Hugh Osgood, president of the United Kingdom-based ministry Churches in Communities International. The European Congress on Evangelism will provide the inspiration, strength, and confidence in the Gospel that will enable us to do this. Lets prioritize this opportunity to be together to advance Gods kingdom.

Speakers scheduled to take part include Will Graham, executive vice president of the BGEA, who will address the importance of extending an invitation when preaching the gospel. His sister, Cissie Graham Lynch, senior advisor and spokesperson for the BGEA and host of the Fearless podcast, will serve as an interview host during the event.

Other confirmed speakers include Greg Laurie, evangelist and founder of Harvest Crusades, who will speak on The gift and calling of the evangelist.

Paivi Rasanen, Finnish member of parliament and author, known for enduring legal prosecution over public expressions of biblical values, will address Commitment to the gospel under persecution in Europe.

Daniele Pasquale, principal of the Instituto Biblico Evangelico Italiano, will speak on the centrality of discipleship in gospel ministry.

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky, will present on Jesus, the unique Son of God.

Rev. Mariusz Muszczynski, pastor and Pentecostal leader in Poland, will discuss unity in Gospel proclamation.

Among those looking forward to the event is Marc Van de Wouwer, a 66-year-old evangelist and retired member of Belgiums Federal Judicial Police. He recalled the impact of attending the Amsterdam congress in 2000.

At the time, there were very few evangelists in Belgium, Van de Wouwer said. I also wanted to renew my vision for proclaiming the gospel and acquire new tools.

The Amsterdam event of 25 years ago inspired Van de Wouwer to establish an evangelistic organization in Belgium, alongside organizing his own evangelism congress. He is keen to attend the congress in Berlin and invest in the next generation of evangelists.

When I see the impact of congresses in my own life and ministry, as well as in the lives of many ministers I know, I believe they are essential to encourage and boost evangelists, he said.

The world without Christ needs dedicated and sent evangelists who can spread the Good News of salvation and their passion for Jesus. Congresses for evangelists on a global scale play a vital role in this goal.

More information on the European Congress on Evangelism is available at BerlinCongress.com.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home News Frank Damazio, author, former megachurch pastor, dies at 75

Mannahouse Church, formerly City Bible Church in Portland, Oregon, has announced the death of its former longtime pastor and author, Frank Damazio. He was 75.

"With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of our beloved former pastor, Frank Damazio," the church shared in a statement on Facebook Monday night.

"Dr. Frank Damazio faithfully served as the senior pastor of this church for over 25 years, as well as professor & president of Portland Bible College. His life was marked by lasting fruit & faithfulness that will continue to echo for generations, as his influence has shaped churches, leaders, and ministries around the world," the church added.

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The statement, which was also shared on the social media for Portland Bible College, also remembered Damazio as a "man of deep conviction."

"Pastor Frank was a spiritual father, a visionary leader, and a man of deep conviction whose legacy lives on through the many lives he impacted. He remained steadfast in faith, demonstrating strength, humility, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus," the statement continued. "Please join us in lifting up Sharon and the entire Damazio family in prayer as they walk through this time of grief, honoring the life and legacy of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and pastor! The family has requested privacy at this time."

Damazio, who has served in ministry for more than 40 years, has authored more than 30 books, tackling issues like Christian leadership and church management.

Among those he impacted with his ministry is former Mannahouse Church youth pastor Benjamin Windle, who recalled meeting him at 22.

"At the age of 22, at a youth camp in Central Oregon, Pastor Frank Damazio invited Cindi and I to work for him as Youth Pastors. So we left our home in Australia moved to Portland to serve him at City Bible Church / Mannahouse," wrote Windle in a statement on Facebook.

"It was when I met Pastor Frank, for the first time in my life I saw a true prototype of what I could become in ministry. From the Australian Pentecostal background, people tended to be either perceived within a 'Holy Spirit' stream or a 'teacher/intellectual' stream. But with Frank, I saw that both of these gifts and passions could coexist within the one person," he explained.

Windle said Damazio set a high bar of expectation as they planted a church for 14 years.

"I think it pulled the best out of us. Other than my family, no one has shaped my ministry as much as Frank Damazio. He was loved by our kids and family. He was one of a kind and will be deeply missed," he said.

The popular Australia-based megachurch, Hillsong, was also among many in the charismatic Christian circles, releasing statements on Damazio's passing.

"Today, we honor the life and legacy of Pastor Frank Damazio  a beloved husband to @sharon.damazio, father, grandfather, pastor, and member of our Hillsong Global Spiritual Advisory Team," the megachurch network explained in a statement on Instagram Wednesday. "Our prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time."
Home News Man who alleges TD Jakes sexually abused him refiles motion to dismiss pastors defamation lawsuit

Former-pastor-turned-registered sex offender Duane Youngblood has refiled a motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against him and 10 other unidentified individuals by Bishop T.D. Jakes, for alleging Jakes sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager some 40 years ago.



The latest motion filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and reviewed by The Christian Post seeks to dismiss Jakes' lawsuit with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Jakes' defamation lawsuit will be permanently dismissed if this motion is granted.



"This is defendant Duane Youngblood's first motion to dismiss according to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). To date, the court has not ruled on the sufficiency of plaintiff's defamation or conspiracy claims under Rule 12. As such, this motion addresses for the first time the legal plausibility of the complaint as pled," Youngblood's attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, wrote in the 20-page filing.

Youngblood's latest legal pushback follows a recent denial of an earlier motion to dismiss Jakes' lawsuit by U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman IV, pursuant to Pennsylvania's Anti-SLAPP statute.

That statute allows, among other things, a defendant in a defamation lawsuit to file an early motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that the defamation claim is frivolous.

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Stickman, in an opinion and order last month, said the arguments raised in Youngblood's initial motion to dismiss Jakes' lawsuit did not apply to his case and suggested his motion to dismiss would have been more applicable under Federal Rules of Civil ProcedureRule 12(b)(6), which allows a defendant to move to dismiss a complaint if it doesn't allege enough facts to support a plausible legal claim.

"The Court will dismiss Youngblood's motion because it relies on statutory provisions that are not applicable in this litigation. The Court will not reframe Youngblood's argument to fit within the Rule 12 (b)(6) or Rule 56 framework. If Youngblood wishes to file a motion to dismiss based on Rule 12(b)(6) or Rule 56, he may do so provided that his filing complies with all applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure," Stickman wrote.

Blackburn previously told CP that he would refile his motion to dismiss Jakes' lawsuit as recommended by Stickman. He followed through on Monday.

"The severe constitutional limitations placed on public figure defamation suits  particularly the requirement of actual malice proven by clear and convincing evidence  exist to prevent litigation from chilling public discourse.  These limits, combined with Plaintiff's failure to state a prima facie claim under  8343(a), compel dismissal here," Blackburn wrote in the conclusion of his filing, in which he cites Stickman's own concern about the deficiencies in Jakes' lawsuit.

"Moreover, the court independently noted the deficiencies raised in this Rule 12(b)(6) motion in its April 25, 2025, Memorandum Opinion. The court observed the complaint's failure to allege specific defamatory statements, overuse of conclusory assertions, and lack of factual content supporting falsity and malice," he argued.

"Those same defects, now formally presented under Rule 12, confirm that the complaint cannot survive. Furthermore, this motion does not suggest the court has already determined the substantive insufficiency of plaintiff's claims. Instead, defendant respectfully submits that the complaint, as currently pled, fails to satisfy the governing federal pleading standards and, therefore, warrants dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6)."

Jakes, 67, who founded The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, nearly 30 years ago, filed his defamation lawsuit against Youngblood, 58, last November, a day after suffering a heart attack while preaching.

Youngblood claimed in interviews with internet personality Larry Reid on his "Larry Reid Live" show on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3, 2024, that Jakes assaulted him when he was about 18 or 19 years old. Jakes claims Youngblood engaged in "libel per se" and a civil conspiracy to commit defamatory acts.

"The underlying story in this case depicts a carefully planned effort by a convicted criminal, and those acting in concert with him, to rewrite history in order to deflect blame and accountability for his own reprehensible and criminal conduct and to publicly smear a renowned and eminently respected religious leader in a blatant and explicit attempt to extort him for millions of dollars," lawyers for Jakes wrote in his 20-page lawsuit in which they detailed Youngblood's history of abusing minors since at least 2002.

In his earlier 167-page motion to dismiss Jakes' defamation lawsuit filed in January, Youngblood included multiple affidavits supporting his sexual assault claim against Jakes, including one from his older brother, Pastor Richard Edwin Youngblood, who alleges that Jakes attempted to sexually assault him, too.

In his opinion, Stickman noted that Youngblood's previous motion to dismiss was based entirely on the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act and there was no mention of Rule 12(b)(6).

"In his motion and supporting brief, Youngblood does not mention Rule 12(b)(6)  the governing rule at this stage of litigation. (Id.). Moreover, Youngblood's motion is reliant on the summary judgement like standard of  8340.15 and 8340.16. The Court will not reframe Youngblood's motion as a Rule 12 (b)(6) motion," Stickman wrote.

"Youngblood relies on sworn affidavits to allegedly corroborate his statements and support his arguments.  The Court may not consider documents outside the pleadings under Rule 12(b)(6) (subject to certain exceptions which are not applicable here)," he added.
Home News Robert Morris appears in court with wife for child sex abuse charges

Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, appeared in Osage County Court, Oklahoma, with his wife, Debbie, and his attorney, Mack Martin, to answer to multiple counts of child sex abuse Friday.

Morris, who was indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child by a multi-county grand jury, had formally surrendered to authorities on March 17. He was released on a $50,000 bail bond shortly after surrendering.

Morris' appearance before Judge Cindy Pickerill lasted about a minute, according to the Dallas Morning News. Both he and his attorney declined to answer any questions from the media.

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Martin requested a preliminary hearing for Morris, which is scheduled for Sept. 4.

The charges against Morris stem from allegations made by the now 54-year-old Cindy Clemishire last June that he sexually abused her over multiple years in the 1980s when he was a traveling evangelist, beginning when she was 12.

Clemishire, as well as her older sister, Karen Black, parents and friends, all sat in the courtroom for Morris' appearance. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who served as Clemishire's attorney while he was in private practice in 2005, was also in the courtroom but did not comment.

In a statement following Morris' indictment in March, Drummond called Morris' alleged crimes "more despicable" because he was a pastor when they occurred.

"There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children," he said. "This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done."

In 2005 and 2007, Drummond tried to negotiate a settlement with Morris for Clemishire, but Morris allegedly refused to assist unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Nearly 43 years after Clemishire's alleged abuse, she told CP in a statement that she was grateful that the law had finally caught up with Morris.

"After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable," she said. "My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail."

Kimberly Osment, 69, a survivor of sexual abuse who also sat in the courtroom on Friday, told the Dallas Morning News that she was there to support Clemishire.

"Every battle impacts all the others," Osment said. "You just hope  first off, for justice, but secondly, for a change in the culture, that this stops."

In March, Nic Lesmeister, Gateway Church's executive pastor of global outreach, reiterated in an address that Morris, who resigned over the allegations last June, no longer has any formal ties to the church.

"Last November, our elders made it clear that we had drawn a bright line as a church, and we were moving forward," he said.

"And because we're moving forward, and Gateway is no longer involved in this legal matter, we won't be continuing to update you on the proceedings of the case, but we're continuing to pray for everybody that's involved and affected in this matter."
Home News Texas bill would block college students in the US illegally from paying in-state tuition

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to repeal a 24-year-old Texas law that grants in-state tuition at public colleges and universities to students without legal authorization to be in the United States.

Senate Bill 1798, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, would eliminate provisions of the 2001 Texas DREAM Act, which allows undocumented students who graduate from Texas high schools and have lived in the state for at least three years to pay in-state tuition.

Under SB 1798, those students must also sign an affidavit pledging to pursue U.S. citizenship when possible.

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A similar bill, House Bill 232, was introduced by Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, and would require students 18 or older to provide proof of application to become a permanent U.S. resident to be eligible for in-state tuition.

Under Texas law, U.S. citizens receive in-state tuition in Texas if they or their parents reside in the state for at least one year leading up to enrollment.

As the U.S. Department of Justice focuses on ramping up deportations for people living in the U.S. illegally, along with international students who protest on behalf of Palestinians against the state of Israel, Florida ended its own practice of offering in-state tuition for students in the country illegally  a move that Middleton says Texas should quickly duplicate.

Senate Bill 1798 ensures that public funds are reserved for students with legal standing in the United States, Middleton said during a Senate Committee on Education K-16 hearing Tuesday, adding that he believes the state loses $150 million annually by allowing non-citizen students to pay in-state rather than out-of-state tuition.

Texas was the first state to enact such a policy with its 2001 Texas Dream Act, which passed with bipartisan support. Currently, 24 states offer in-state tuition to undocumented students, and 19, including Texas, provide access to state financial aid, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. Undocumented students are ineligible for federal financial aid.

Immigration advocacy groups have warned that the repeal would mean those students illegally in the country would have to pay out-of-state tuition, which is about three times higher than in-state tuition rates.

A study from 2023 by the American Immigration Council projects that Texas could lose $461 million annually if the law is repealed, citing increased earning potential from college-educated undocumented students, which boosts tax revenue and workforce needs.
Home Opinion Do we still need the ERLC?

Forty years ago, the idea of seeing Roe v. Wade overturned in our lifetime was little more than a dream and a prayer. Those of us in the pro-life movement  including and especially Southern Baptists, through the work of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission  worked tirelessly to that end, but we did so without any assurance of seeing it come to fruition.

I had the privilege of serving as the head of the ERLC for 25 years (1988-2013), and I know from personal experience the critical difference the ERLC has made not just on the vital issue of life, but also on numerous other issues of tremendous importance to both American and Baptist life such as religious liberty and racial reconciliation.

The ERLCs Southern Baptist Convention-mandated mission statement calls upon the Commission to assist the churches by helping them understand the moral demands of the Gospel, apply Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy, and to promote religious liberty in cooperation with the churches and other Southern Baptist entities.

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It is a divine assignment to assist and enable Southern Baptists to witness Gospel truth to the complex moral and ethical challenges confronting society today. It is difficult to place adequate value on the ability of the ERLC to help Southern Baptists provide their often uniquely biblical perspective on complex issues such as religious liberty and the sanctity of all human life.

I can say with confidence, based on much experience, that America will not get the issues surrounding religious liberty balanced correctly without significant Southern Baptist input. Likewise, if America grounds our protections for human life around utilitarianism rather than the imago dei, we will miss the mark.

As we prepare for our annual meeting next month, it appears that messengers will once again be asked whether they want an established, Convention-approved voice that speaks up on complex issues of life and religious liberty in our nations capital and helps our churches navigate the ethical conundrums of our day. In short: do we still need the ERLC?

In a word: yes! It would be a terrible mistake for the Convention to shutter the ERLC, whatever mechanism they may use to accomplish such an end.

I have often had people relate to me their disagreement with various positions taken by previous and present leaders of the ERLC, myself included. Such disagreements are inevitable, given the plethora of complex issues the ERLC is charged to help Southern Baptists navigate. The answer to such disagreements related to one of our entities is greater discussion and dialogue, not eliminating the entity altogether. Such a move would be analogous to amputating an arm to cure a hand infection.

It would be particularly tragic if the Convention were to use this present moment to end the ERLCs ministry and abandon our outpost in the public square. Why?



Based on my several decades of experience in dealing with Southern Baptist public policy concerns, we currently have a more sympathetic and receptive audience among national and state-level appointed and elected officials than we have experienced in my adult lifetime. President Trump has shown himself to be perhaps the most pro-life president in our lifetime. The president has welcomed more evangelical Christians, both into his administration and as White House guests, than any administration in memory. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is not only a devout Southern Baptist, but served two terms as a valuable and active ERLC trustee.

How immeasurably sad it would be if we failed to redeem this particularly propitious moment (Ephesians 5:16) for good in the midst of the manifest evils facing our nation? And how ironic is it that while the current ERLC administration has prioritized defunding Planned Parenthood, some in our Convention want to defund the ERLC?

Many years ago, while still a college student, I came across the following statement from British historian and philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-1797): History is a pact between the dead, the living, and the yet unborn. That statement has stuck with me because of its timeless truth. As an American I am part of that covenant with an obligation to pass on our priceless heritage of freedom.

Burkes statement is also true of Christianity. We have a sacred obligation to pass on our priceless spiritual heritage as Christians and as Baptists to the next generation. One of the most important tools to help us do just that is the ERLC. I pray that we will all embrace this precious resource and continue to employ it for our Lords Kingdom work.



This piece was originally published in the Baptist Press.
Home News John Piper addresses misconceptions of how God will judge Christians upon their death

Christians who experience moral failures or mental decline late in life will not forfeit rewards stored up from earlier acts of faithful service, theologian and author John Piper said in a May 5 episode of his Ask Pastor John podcast.

Responding to a listeners question rooted in 2 Corinthians 5:10  which declares, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil  Piper, chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, challenged the misconception that Heaven can be lost due to future sin or diminished capacity.

My answer, and Ill try to show that its biblical, is no, Piper said. The good works of a true Christian will never be canceled out, not by anything. The good deeds will always have their reward that God considered fitting when we did them.

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The question came from a listener named Caroline, who asked whether the rewards a believer accumulates through joyful service could be erased by subsequent grievous sin, such as sexual sin, or by aging-related incapacities that limit ones ability to serve.

She referenced Roman Catholic teaching, which she said views sin as nullifying merit, and echoed a concern shes heard from elderly Christians fearing that their lifes work may diminish with time.

The Dont Waste Your Life author believes such fears misunderstand the nature of true saving faith and Gods reward system.

True Christians are born again. Theyre elect before the foundation of the world. They are persevering in faith to the end of their lives, he said.

Perseverance, he clarified, does not mean equal zeal or strength of faith at every stage. Rather, it involves continuing in genuine belief. Citing Romans 8:30, Piper said, Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. He concluded, Nobody falls out. Everybody perseveres to the end, according to Gods promise.

In contrast, Piper said that those who permanently fall away from the faith were never truly saved.

That person was never born of God, he said, referencing 1 John 2:19. He added that the outward deeds of such individuals, even if they seemed religious, are not rewarded by God because they were not works of faith and everything else is sin, according to Romans 14:23. God doesnt reward sin.

For true believers, however, every genuinely good deed remains secure in Gods memory and judgment regardless of when it was done. Piper emphasized Gods omniscience in discerning the motives behind each act: God sees a good deed, he sees it exactly for what it is, and he deems it appropriate to reward.

Quoting 1 Corinthians 4:5, he said, Do not pronounce judgment ... before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Piper presented three main arguments to support his view that heavenly rewards are not canceled out by later failures in life. First, he cited Gods promises in Matthew 10:42 and Ephesians 6:8: Whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord.

These are unqualified promises, he said. Wed better be careful lest we cancel Gods promises by some kind of theology of reward-loss.

Piper also stressed that God doesnt forget, referencing Hebrews 6:10. He emphasized Gods faithfulness and justice in remembering the works He has deemed worthy of reward: God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints.

Even if believers themselves forget past deeds of faithfulness, God remembers them perfectly, Piper said. The life you lived 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago is as real and present before the face of God as though you were living it today.

Finally, the pastor offered the reminder that good deeds are Gods gift. Christians never earn anything good from God. Everything good that they do is a gift of grace from God, he said, quoting 1 Corinthians 4:7: What do you have that you did not receive?

He continued, God rewards his own gifts in us.

Lets get the idea of merit for these good deeds totally out of our minds, Piper said. If we do, then we will be able to see more easily that the weaknesses of our present life do not diminish Gods gracious promise not to forget the good of the first 60 years.  No sin that you commit today, if you are a true Christian, changes Gods assessment of what he regarded as a good deed to be rewarded 50 years ago.

In a previous episode of Ask Pastor John, Piper said that every good act, no matter how small or unseen, will be acknowledged and rewarded, while sinful actions will result in the loss of potential reward, not punishment.

Despite this, Piper stressed that all believers will be fully happy in Heaven, with some receiving greater capacities for joy, and no one begrudging Gods justice or grace.

[E]very single large or tiny good thing you have ever done as a Christian, whether any other human knows about it or not, will come back to you for good at the last day, said Piper.

What a great incentive not to worry about who sees us in what we do or what rewards we get in this life. Everythings written down, and God will make sure that any good deed weve ever done, seen or unseen, will be properly rewarded.

Pipers comments come on the heels of a recent study conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, which found that a majority of people who describe themselves as Christian (52%) accept a works-oriented means to Gods acceptance.

In contrast, a minority of adults (46%) who describe themselves as Christian expect to experience eternal salvation because of their confession of sin and acceptance of Christ as their savior. The study also found that huge proportions of people associated with churches whose official doctrine says eternal salvation comes only from embracing Jesus Christ as Savior, believe that a person can qualify for Heaven by being or doing good.

Len Munsil, president of Arizona Christian University, said the lack of understanding of basic Christian theology is stunning, with potentially devastating consequences for individual souls and really for all aspects of American life and culture.

Its a wakeup call for the church, and for leaders in all areas of influence, to speak, teach and work to restore biblical truth, Munsil said. Many souls will be lost if people are misled by the false notion that we can earn our way to heaven, rather than recognizing the truth that Christ alone and His righteousness are the basis for our salvation.
China, Russia pledge to defend victorious outcome of WWII

Xinhua) 09:12, May 09, 2025

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia agreed here on Thursday to firmly defend the victorious outcome of the World War II (WWII).

The two sides made the pledge in a joint statement on further deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era that was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

China and Russia also vowed to resolutely crush any act that attempts to tamper with WWII history, smear the historical achievements of China and Russia in WWII, or tarnish the image of the liberators. The two sides strongly condemn the acts to desecrate or damage memorial facilities of WWII martyrs.

In the statement, the two countries described WWII as an unprecedented catastrophe in human history, noting that China and the Soviet Union were the main battlefields in Asia and Europe, and served as the mainstay of resistance against militarism and fascism.

The Chinese people and the Soviet people have made great historical contributions to safeguarding human dignity and restoring world peace, it added.

In today's world, China and Russia shoulder a shared responsibility and mission of maintaining a correct historical perspective on WWII and the two sides will always remember the just feat of the two peoples in maintaining world peace, said the statement.

Both sides, according to the document, are committed to preventing the resurgence of anti-humanity Nazism and racial supremacy, and will continue to jointly resist the glorification of the Nazis and their accomplices, the rise of neo-Nazism, the restoration of militarism, as well as the promotion of various forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.

The two countries call on the international community to respect and defend the fundamental principles established by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, which aim to prevent attempts to wage war, and commit genocide, war crimes and other crimes against humanity, said the statement.

It added that the rulings of two tribunals are the cornerstones of contemporary international law and international order, which are unshakable and allow no doubt.

China and Russia also agree to continue holding education and commemoration events in various forms.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Home News 'Last of Us' lesbian character says 'I'm going to be a dad' in controversial scene

Days before Mother's Day, the HBO series "The Last of Us" is taking the flak for a scene in which a lesbian character talks about being a "dad."



In the latest episode of the hit zombie-apocalypse series, the show's main character, Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey), learns Dina, her LGBT-identified girlfriend (Isabela Merced), is pregnant with the child of her boyfriend Jesse (Young Mazino).



"So, we're having a baby," Dina says, showing Ellie the results of a handful of home pregnancy tests. "Us and Jesse, too. We're all having a baby."



In response to learning the news, Ellie pauses before blurting out, "I'm going to be a dad."

"I'm gonna be a Dad". ???? #TheLastOfUsSeason2 is a complete trainwreck.pic.twitter.com/eFJyzBPgYD  Antonio Chavez (@NewsM101) May 6, 2025

The female character's identification as a father is the latest serving of pro-LGBT content on "Last of Us," which last month depicted Dina and Ellie sharing their first on-screen kiss in a moment reportedly recreated from the video game series, which inspired the show.

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The HBO version of the scene was based on a similar scene in the "Last of Us" game in which Ellie, rather than showing excitement about being a "dad," reacts angrily and tells Ellie the pregnancy is a "burden."

Merced said she and Ramsey were "so comfortable with each other" during the same-sex kissing scene.

"Everything felt so tender that day, even when we were shooting it, Bella and I were just so comfortable with each other," she told Variety. "And also, we both have experience in queer relationships. You can just tell when a girl hasn't kissed a girl before. You can just feel it."

Last month, the 21-year-old Ramsey, who has publicly identified as "nonbinary" and wants fans to stop referring to her as a "young woman," said that despite her LGBT identification, she still supports using binary award categories for male and female performances.

"I think it's so important that recognition for women in the industry is preserved," Ramsey told The Hollywood Reporter. "I think the gendered categories conversation is a really interesting one. I don't have the answer, and I wish that there was something that was an easy way around it, but I think that it is really important that we have a female category and a male category."

Despite her rise to fame as an LGBT-identified character on a LGBT-friendly hit show, Ramsey once had a YouTube channel where she shared her testimony and quoted Bible verses.

Called "United Hope," the channel  which has since been taken down and subsequently re-uploaded by Ramsey fans  features videos from 2018 in which the then-14-year-old Ramsey hoped to offer "little pockets of positivity" and "showing the light of Jesus."

"This is all for Him. This isn't through my strength that I'm doing this," Ramsey said in one video. "I'm not a Bible scholar. I'm not a pastor. I'm not trained in this area. I'm just a 16-year-old girl that's no more special or chosen than anybody else. I'm just Bella, following what God has asked me to do."

Following a battle with an eating disorder in 2018, Ramsey credited her faith for playing a "huge part" in her recovery. Since then, she has been diagnosed with autism and a severe mental health condition known as emetophobia disorder, a fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit.
Home News Montana protects parents, faith groups from discrimination in foster care, adoption

Montana has passed a new law that aims to protect parents and faith-based foster and adoption agencies from being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs on sexuality.

Known as House Bill 655, the measure was signed into law last week by Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican.

Under the law, the state "may not take a discriminatory action against a person that advertises, provides, or facilitates adoption or foster care services wholly or partially on the basis that the person  has provided or declines to provide an adoption or foster care service or related service based on or in a manner consistent with the person's sincerely held religious belief."

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"[T]he state government may not take a discriminatory action against a person whom the state grants custody of a foster or adoptive child or who seeks from the state the custody of a foster or adoptive child wholly or partially on the basis that the person guides, instructs, or raises a child or intends to guide, instruct, or raise a child based on or in a manner consistent with the person's sincerely held religious belief," read HB 655.

"The state government may consider whether a person shares the same religion or faith tradition as a foster or adoptive child when considering placement of the child in order to prioritize placement with a person of the same religion or faith tradition."

The legislation comes as some states, localities and even the Biden administration have enacted policies over the last several years to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in foster care and adoption, which have faced legal pressure from Christian organizations who believe they have been discriminated against over their beliefs on sexuality and gender.

Greg Chafuen of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that specializes in religious freedom cases, celebrated the news of the bill being signed into law.

"Every child deserves a loving home that can provide them stability and opportunities to grow. The sad reality is that in some states, the government can discriminate against people of faith, allowing vulnerable children to suffer," Chafuen stated.

"Thankfully, Montana has taken critical steps to prioritize the well-being of kids by prohibiting state and local government officials from discriminating against adoption and foster care providers and parents simply because of their religious beliefs and moral convictions."

Montana's new law cites the unanimous 2021 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that the city of Philadelphia could not exclude a Catholic charity from its foster program because the organization wouldn't place children with same-sex couples in accordance with religious beliefs. Plaintiff Sharronell Fulton fostered as many as 40 kids during her 25 years of working with Catholic Social Services.

"Government fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion.

"The refusal of Philadelphia to contract with CSS for the provision of foster care services unless it agrees to certify same-sex couples as foster parents cannot survive strict scrutiny, and violates the First Amendment."

Critics of the legislation included Democrat state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a member of the Rocky Boy's Chippewa-Cree tribe, who compared the bill to the abuse suffered by Native Americans at church-run residential boarding schools.

"A lot of those kids had no choices," Windy Boy said while speaking against HB 655 on the floor, as reported by The Daily Montanan last month.

"The parents had no choices. But yet, at the same time, those kids were spanked, they were abused, mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse. Is that the kind of system that we're going to continue pushing into this era? I should hope not."

The bill would nevertheless pass the Montana Senate last month in a vote of 29-21, having previously passed the Montana House of Representatives in a vote of 59-40 in March.

"To those of you who are in opposition to it, I'm sorry," said Republican Sen. Theresa Manzella, one of the bill's sponsors, reported the Montanan. "I wish you knew the Jesus Christ that I know, because he would never abandon, or abuse, or hurt children."
Home News Vineyard Church pulls statement backing pastor who claims he visits Hell with Jesus every Easter

Days after publicly defending his longtime friend and prophetic ministry pastor, Micah Turnbo, from allegations of being a false prophet, senior pastor of the Vineyard Church Northwest in Cincinnati, Ohio, Luke Haselmayer, has withdrawn his comments from social media.

When asked by The Christian Post on Thursday why he withdrew a statement he made on Monday defending Turnbo, Haselmayer did not immediately respond. However, a church representative told CP he planned to address the controversy with his congregants.

"Micah Turnbo is not a liar. Micah Turnbo is not delusional. God has supernaturally confirmed this man to me more times than I can count. Many of you have heard of the extraordinary dream I had in 2014 where God indisputably did so," Haselmayer insisted in the now-removed statement.

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"I've been close friends with Micah for 11 years. I've seen his character in private and in public. I've seen him minister from stages and in living rooms. He has been consistent, trustworthy, full of good fruit, and always wholly committed to pointing people toward friendship with Jesus."

Mike Winger of the BibleThinker online ministry was the first to raise concerns over what he sees as Turnbo's incredible claims, such as frequent time travel with God, who also makes him visit Hell every Easter against his will.

"Every Easter, the Lord will take me to Hell. Not my choice. He wants to do it and I don't like it. The Lord allowed me to sit in front of demons and ask them questions," Turnbo claimed in a video clip shared by Winger in a May 3 episode of his podcast.

"He's a false prophet, [...] there's no way around it," Winger declared. "I don't know of a way around this. He's just so nice that it makes you feel mean to say it, but you're actually mean if you don't."

In his hour-long commentary on Turnbo, Winger said he was surprised that a Vineyard church would entertain someone like him in ministry and said he spoke with Haselmayer, who allegedly told him the church would look into his concerns.

Winger also shared in an update Wednesday that he spoke with denominational leaders of Vineyard Church, who told him they are reviewing the situation. He also urged members of the public, some of whom he said had been contacting Turnbo, to extend grace.

"I just think we should give them some time and be patient and let them work through this. This is a very challenging and difficult thing for their local church, a very difficult thing for all of them. I would like to try to extend as much grace, and compassion and kindness, towards Micah and others as possible while still holding firmly to the fact that he's dangerous to himself and others," Winger said.

In one clip criticized by Winger, Turnbo professed his love for God's beard while stating that Jesus has a "sweet tooth," while God the Father loves "spicy and salty food." He also claimed he talked with 18th-century American President Abraham Lincoln.

"I'm with God. You know, the Father, on his lap and my hands are, I love his beard. I love his beard. I put my hands in his beard. [...] God goes for walks. He walks around, you know. He has like favorite things. Like God loves spicy and salty food. Jesus has the sweet tooth," Turnbo claimed.

"You can touch God the Father. I know what He feels like. I know what His hands feel like. He has hands. He has feet. He took me back in time to where I watched him form Adam out of the dirt, and then He took the rib, and He formed [a] woman. I've talked to Abraham Lincoln before."

On Wednesday morning, as the controversy around his ministry erupted, Turnbo appeared unbothered by the chatter.

"Leaning on my beloved. He is radiant. He is chief among ten thousand. He comes leaping over the mountains, conquering every desire in my life that is not him. He is strong for me. He covers me with his banner of love. In him, I rejoice and weep. In him, I burn and shake with passion," he wrote on Facebook about his time in God's presence.

"In my encounter this morning, I watched him easily scale every mountain. With him came the morning light and the cool breeze. He comes for you, beloved. Worship Him."
Jacob Lund / Adobe Stock

As far as I can see, the main argument in favour of maintaining the voluntary principle of trusteeship, put about by the Charity Commission and others, seems to be that paying trustees would negatively impact public trust and confidence in the sector; that it would damage the social contract between charities and the donating, volunteering public. But something about this argument doesnt stack up.

We all know that public perceptions of charities are so far divorced from reality as to be absurd. All of us steeped in the sector have our friends/acquaintances/elderly uncles who love to let rip about the huge salaries/aggressive fundraising/sock-puppet lobbying that characterise charities; either that, or they believe charities are merely the nice hobbies of amateurish do-gooders, and ought to stay that way.

At G&Ls Trustee Exchange event last month , the Charity Commissions director of communications, Paul Latham, even referenced the regulators public trust research from 2023 to reinforce its position: just 20% of respondents said they would be more likely to trust a charity run by paid professionals, while 50% would put greater trust in a charity run by volunteers. Since then, another study from nfpResearch just last month found that only 15% of the public are aware that trustees are accountable for charities.

These sorts of views are genuinely bonkers  not to mention incredibly harmful to sector causes. Of course, there are myriad reasons behind such misguided thinking  a national media that loves to bash charities; deep malevolence toward campaigners on the part of certain politicians; and lets not forget the flip-flop messaging from successive Charity Commission chairs. William Shawcross was obsessed with rooting out all those charities providing cover for terrorists; Tina Stowell implied constantly that charities were complacent about their privileged status; while Orlando Fraser spoke fondly of the lovely sector with lovely people doing lovely things. Er, sorry, what?

Negative public reaction

So that social contract that the commission and others are relying on to preserve the status quo around trustee remuneration is actually based on falsehoods. The great British public has no idea what it really takes to run a modern charity, and so it follows that any negative public reaction as warned about in the commissions new CC11 guidance on paying trustees, is likely to be founded on ignorance.

The Charity Commission has a statutory duty to protect public trust and confidence in the sector. For too long, it has shied away from doing anything to help the public understand charities better, preferring to collude in perpetuating the fictions and fairytales that fuel these damaging public misconceptions.

But enough is enough. The new statistics on board diversity are a wake-up call  things need to change, and widening access to trusteeship by making it easier to pay board members could really help. But first we need a proper, grown-up conversation about how to get the public to engage with the complexities of the sector, and the commission needs to finally step up and play its part in this.

Governance & Leadership is a bi-monthly publication which helps charity leaders and trustees on their journey from good practice to best practice. Written by leading sector experts each issue is packed with news, in-depth analysis and real-life case studies of best practice in charitable endeavour and charity governance plus advice and guidance straight from the regulator. Find more information here and subscribe today! is a bi-monthly publication which helps charity leaders and trustees on their journey from good practice to best practice. Written by leading sector experts each issue is packed with news, in-depth analysis and real-life case studies of best practice in charitable endeavour and charity governance plus advice and guidance straight from the regulator.
A Long Island school district is accusing two insurers of ducking their responsibilities to defend and indemnify it against lawsuits by former students claiming they were sexually abused by an elementary school teacher decades ago.

Bay Shore Union Free School District has sued Hartford Insurance Group and CNA Insurance, alleging they are not honoring commercial general liability policies they issued to the district in the 1970s and 1980s.

The New York school district has been named in 45 lawsuits from people who claim they were abused by teacher Thomas Bernagozzi when they were in the third grade.

From about 1970 and 2000, Bernagozzi worked at the districts Gardiner Manor Elementary School and Mary G. Clarkson Elementary School. The lawsuits have been filed against both the school district and Bernagozzi alleging sexual abuse and claiming that the district knew of complaints about the teacher but failed to do enough to prevent the abuse.

The civil lawsuits have been filed under New Yorks Child Victims Act (CVA), which allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to sue for abuse that occurred many years ago.

Bernagozzi was arrested and criminally charged with abusing two students in December 2023. He has pleaded not guilty.

About half of the 45 lawsuits against the schools have been settled. The district approved a $35 million bond to settle 12 claims not covered by insurance. In addition, the New York State Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) has covered a number of others, according to district documents.

In one suit brought by a child victim that has already gone to trial, a jury found the district liable for negligence in supervision, and in acting with reckless disregard for keeping the former elementary school teacher employed despite multiple allegations of him having sexually abused other students. The jury awarded the victim $25 million. However, last month the trial judge overturned that amount and ordered that it be reduced to $4 million or a new trial will be held on damages.

Of the remaining cases, there are 18 for which the district said it has been trying since 2021 to get Hartford and CNA to acknowledge coverage under primary and excess commercial liability policies they issued to the district between 1973 and 1982.

On May 2, the Bay Shore board of education authorized legal action against the insurance companies to enforce what the district believes are the insurers contractual obligations to address claims related to the CVA. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for Eastern New York.

The 18 lawsuits allege that the school district negligently provided Bernagozzi with unfettered and unsupervised access to minor boys, resulting in repeated incidents of sexual abuse that have caused physical, psychological, and emotional injuries.

The district maintains that Hartford and CNA have repeatedly engaged in obstructive and deceitful tactics, in contravention of the CVA, and to the school districts great detriment.

The district argues that the underlying actions represent the type of substantial potential liability for which it purchased insurance from Hartford and CNA decades ago. Yet the insurers have failed, for four years, to honor their contractual and legal obligations, the suit claims, by engaging in a wait-and-see strategy in response to the passage of the CVA wherein they routinely deny or delay their coverage obligations in an effort to avoid significant financial exposure or impact.

Bay Shore maintains that as part of this strategy the insurers have failed to timely disclaim coverage; furnish all policies or other evidence relied upon for purposes of disclaiming coverage; and/or apprise the school district, with sufficient specificity, of the grounds for their disclaimers.

The school district is asking the court for a declaratory judgment in favor of insurance coverage, as well as redress for the insurers alleged breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and violations of New York general business law and state insurance law.
Less than a month before hurricane season, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been fired.

A spokesperson with FEMA offered no reason for the dismissal, but confirmed reports that Cameron Hamilton has been removed from the post he held since he was appointed by President Donald Trump in January.

David Richardson is now FEMA administrator, the spokesperson said.

Richardson since January has been the assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Securitys Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. He previously served as a U.S. Marine Corps ground combat officer, according to DHS.

The news of Hamiltons firing was first reported by Politico, who said Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski fired Hamilton early May 8 at Homeland Security headquarters.

Hamiltons dismissal came a day after he testified at a subcommittee hearing of the House Appropriations Committee. In prepared remarks, Hamilton told the subcommittee that FEMA strayed far from its core mission and evolved into an overextended federal bureaucracy.

Instead of being a last resort, FEMA is now frequently used by states as a first responder and a financial backstop for routine issues that should be handled locally, Hamilton continued. This misalignment has fostered a culture of dependency, waste, and inefficiency, while delaying critical aid to Americans in genuine need.

Hamilton acknowledged Trumps creation of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council and said hed respect the independence of the councils review and welcome its recommendations.

Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg is one of about a dozen members of the review council.

However, according to reports, Hamilton told the subcommittee members he did not think it was in the best interest of the country to eliminate FEMA.

Trump has been a critic of FEMA. While touring affected areas of California wildfires and North Carolina floods earlier this year, Trump talked of getting rid of FEMA, the administrator of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). He called the agency a very big disappointment.

Related: Trump Proposes Getting Rid of FEMA While Touring Disaster Areas

FEMA recently ended the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, erasing billions of dollars set to be distributed to communities for proactive protection measures. During testimony May 1 before a Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing, Robert Gordon, senior vice president of policy, research, and international at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) said the industry trade association was in support of federal resilience and mitigation funding like BRIC.

Related: Loss of FEMA Program Spells Disaster for Hundreds of Communities and Projects

APCIA also urged a long-term reauthorization of NFIP.
A group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis blasted President Donald Trumps trade deal announced with the United Kingdom, saying it would harm the U.S. auto sector.

British carmakers will be given a quota of 100,000 cars a year that can be sent to the United States at a 10% tariff rate, almost the total Britain exported last year, compared to 25% for Mexico and Canada and nearly all other countries.

Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a UK vehicle with very little U.S. content than a USMCA compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts, the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Detroit Three automakers, said on Thursday. This hurts American automakers, suppliers, and auto workers.

U.S. automakers are concerned this could be a template for other agreements that could put vehicles they assemble in Canada or Mexico at a disadvantage.

White House spokesperson on Friday Kush Desai defended the deal.

No president has taken a greater personal interest in reviving the American auto industry than President Trump. The Trump administration is working hand-in-glove with automakers to reshore manufacturing that is critical to our national and economic security, including with custom-tailored tariff relief and deregulatory policies, he said.

The automakers group added it hopes this preferential access for UK vehicles over North American ones does not set a precedent for future negotiations with Asian and European competitors.

Trump last month softened the blow of his auto tariffs by easing the impact of tariffs on parts and materials but left in place 25% tariffs on imported vehicles. He also extended a duty-free exemption for North American parts that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) rules of origin.

Automakers have hoped that Trump would ease vehicle tariffs.

Ford this week confirmed it hiked prices of some Mexican-built vehicles because of tariffs and said Trumps trade war would add about $2.5 billion in costs for 2025, but expects to reduce that exposure by around $1 billion.

Rival GM said tariffs were projected to cost it between $4 billion and $5 billion, but it expected to offset that by at least 30%, while Toyota projected tariff costs for April and May at around $1.2 billion.

(Reporting by Shepardson and Hall; Editing by Michael Perry and Andrea Ricci)
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV concelebrates Mass with the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Friday, May 9, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP)

VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Leo XIV, historys first U.S.-born pontiff, said Friday that his election was both a cross to bear and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass as the head of the Catholic Church.

Leo spoke off-the-cuff in English in the Sistine Chapel to the cardinals who elected him to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who put a commitment to social justice at the core of his papacy. He acknowledged the great responsibility they had placed on him before delivering a brief but dense homily on the need to joyfully spread Christianity in a world that often mocks it.

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel, he said.

It was in the same frescoed chapel that Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, was elected Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope, overcoming the traditional taboo against a pontiff from the United States because of the secular power the country wields.

Leo will be formally installed as pope at a Mass on May 18, the Vatican said Friday, and will preside over his first general audience May 21.

A Mass that may suggest his priorities

Two women delivered the readings of Scripture at the start of the Mass, perhaps an indication of Leos intention to continue Francis focus on expanding womens role in the church. As a cardinal, Leo put into practice one of Francis most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the Vatican board that vets bishop nominations.

Speaking in near-perfect Italian, Leo lamented that the Christian faith in many parts of the world is considered absurd, mocked or opposed in the face of temptations such as money, success and power. He complained that in many places Jesus is misunderstood, reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.

This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism, he said. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

The cardinals applauded as the Mass concluded. Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes  eschewing, as Francis did, the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes.

Shortly thereafter, the Vatican said Leo had asked all Vatican leaders, who technically lost their jobs when Francis died April 21, to remain in their posts until he decides definitively on whether to confirm them.

Francis had his eye on the new pope

Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014. Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world and is one of the most important jobs in church governance.

Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had kept a low public profile but was well known to the men who count, and respected by those who worked with him.

Even the bishops of Peru called him the saint, the saint of the north, and he had time for everyone, said the Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who knows the new pope.

An Augustinian pope

The last pope to take the name Leo was an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903. Leo XIII softened the churchs confrontational stance toward modernity, especially science and politics, and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. His most famous encyclical  a high-level papal teaching  addressed workers rights and capitalism at the beginning of the industrial revolution and was highlighted by the Vatican in explaining the new popes choice of name.

While Vatican News said Leo XIV is the first Augustinian pope, the previous Leo had close ties to the order: He rebuilt an ancient Augustinian church and convent near his hometown of Carpineto, outside Rome, that is still in use by the order today.

Vatican watchers said Prevosts decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant given the Leo XIIIs legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis chief concerns. Specifically, Leo cited one of Francis key priorities of making the Catholic Church more attentive to lay people and inclusive.

He is continuing a lot of Francis ministry, said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University in the Bronx. She added that his election could send a message to the U.S. church, which has been badly divided between conservatives and progressives, with much of the opposition to Francis coming from there.

I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome, Imperatori-Lee said.

Leo said in a 2023 interview with Vatican News that the polarization in the church was a wound that needed to be healed.

Divisions and polemics in the church do not help anything. We bishops especially must accelerate this movement towards unity, towards communion in the church, he said.

Leos brother, John Prevost, was so shocked that his brother had been elected pope that he missed several phone calls from Leo during an interview Thursday with The Associated Press.

John Prevost described his brother, a fan of Wordle, as being very concerned for the poor and those who dont have a voice. He said he expects him to be a second Pope Francis.

Hes not going to be real far left and hes not going to be real far right, he added. Kind of right down the middle.

Looking ahead

In his first hours as pope, Leo went back to his old apartment in the SantUffizio Palace to see colleagues, according to selfies posted to social media. Vatican Media also showed him in the moments after his election praying in the Pauline Chapel before emerging on the loggia of St. Peters Basilica to greet Rome and the world.

On Sunday, he is set to deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia and attend an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium.

Beyond that, his first foreign trip could be at the end of May: Francis had been invited to travel to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history and an important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations.

___

Franklin Briceno in Lima Peru, Obed Lamy and Hallie Golden in New Lenox, Illinois, Colleen Barry in Schiavon, Italy, and Vanessa Gera and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed.
Robert Flynn will face an extradition proceeding in federal court after U.S. marshals arrested him on sex charges. (file photo) Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

CLEVELAND, Ohio  A 77-year-old man wanted in the United Kingdom on sex charges was arrested Friday in Garfield Heights.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force found Robert John Flynn in the 6100 block of Turney Road. Flynn is wanted on eight counts of indecent assault of a child.
RUSSELL TOWNSHIP, Ohio

Crash: Chillicothe Road

A motorist visited the police station at 8:30 a.m. May 1 to report that he had struck a wild turkey with his vehicle near Pekin Road.

He said the turkey flew into the road in front of his truck, causing damage to the vehicles front grille.

He wanted a report on file.

Information received: Blackford Drive

At 11:40 a.m. April 25, Chagrin Falls police sent Russell police information about an issue involving a juvenile.

Suspicious: Wenhaven Drive

At 1:49 a.m. April 26, police responded to a call about a man sitting on the side of the road near Music Street.

Upon police arrival, the man was now sitting in a vehicle.

He said he had been dropped off to deliver an Uber Eats order and had been waiting for the driver to return after she got gasoline for the vehicle.

Found property: Caves Road

Residents found a red gasoline tank on the edge of their driveway and brought it to the police station at 2:15 p.m. May 1 for disposal.

They speculated that the tank had fallen from a passing truck. Writing on it said it was for farm use only.

Assistance: Kinsman Road

Dispatched to help the fire department with a reported tree down on electric lines at 11:30 a.m. May 1, police learned that the tree has been leaning for about a week.

Several concerned motorists had called to report it.

The tree was not causing a hazard at the time. CEI was notified of the complaints.

Get police blotters by email every weekday for free with our new Police Blotter newsletter. Sign up at cleveland.com/newsletters.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun
Another major player has entered the quantum-computing race: Amazon .

The tech giant is the latest to make waves in the field with the February announcement of Ocelot, its own quantum chip. Amazon joins fierce competition from familiar rivals in cloud computing as Google , Microsoft and others race after what they say could be their next frontier.

While Amazon is widely known as an e-commerce giant, its business took a pivotal and profitable turn in 2006 with the launch of Amazon Web Services. AWS is now a more than $100 billion business and a key part of why Amazon is worth over $2 trillion. The company sees quantum as the next major growth area for its cloud services.

"There's a  strong business case for AWS or Amazon to get involved with quantum computing," Oskar Painter, director of quantum hardware for Amazon Web Services, told CNBC. "Quantum computing is very much in line with that sort of business model where you would have off-premise quantum computing resources that can be made accessible through the cloud."

Part of the hype with quantum computing is the perceived payoff down the line. While still years away from commercial applications, McKinsey projects quantum could be a $173 billion market by 2040.

"The opportunity to build just a supercharged part of AWS that can crack incredibly difficult problems, whether it's related to drug discovery or cybersecurity  that is an opportunity for them to charge a lot more," said Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management.

CNBC's Kate Rooney got an exclusive look inside the AWS Center for Quantum Computing located at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. Founded in 2019, Amazon's partnership with the university is starting to yield results, as it showcased the Ocelot quantum processor. Amazon says the chip, which it designed and fabricated in-house, uses a scalable architecture that reduces error correction by up to 90 percent. That's a key obstacle in developing these machines. Google's Willow chip, which was unveiled in December, also demonstrated improvements in this area.

Ocelot uses "cat qubits," named after the Schrodinger's cat thought experiment. The company says the design intrinsically suppresses certain forms of errors, reducing the resources required for quantum error correction.

"The heart of these quantum computing systems  it's really this quantum processor" Painter said. "The details of how that happens is really what differentiates one hardware platform from another  and really is where the secret sauce is and where all the intellectual property is."

Munster said quantum-computing should be thought of as a new vertical within the AWS cloud business.

"In the end, it will probably be solved and monetized through one of these big cloud platforms," Munster said. "And AWS has a great shot at being successful there."

Watch the video as Kate Rooney goes behind-the-scenes at Amazon and learns how the company is taking on Google and Microsoft in the quantum computing race.
A China Shipping cargo container sits stacked at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California on April 10, 2025.

China's exports surged in April on the back of a jump in shipments to Southeast Asian countries, offsetting a sharp drop in outbound goods to the U.S. as prohibitive tariffs kicked in.

Exports jumped 8.1% last month in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, according to data released by customs authority on Friday, sharply beating Reuters' poll estimates of a 1.9% rise.

Imports slumped by just 0.2% in April from a year earlier, compared with economists' expectations of a 5.9% drop.

China's shipments to the U.S. plunged over 21% in April year on year, while imports dropped nearly 14%, according to CNBC's calculation of official customs data. Chinese U.S.-bound shipments had risen 9.1% in March, as exporters rushed to frontload orders ahead of tariff hikes.

In the first four months this year, China's exports to the U.S. dropped 2.5% while imports fell 4.7% from a year earlier, according to official data.

The surge in overall exports could be partly due to transshipment through third countries and contracts that were signed before the tariffs were announced, Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint asset management said in a note. Zhang expects trade data to weaken gradually in the next few months.

China's exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations surged 20.8% in April from a year earlier, accelerating from a 11.6% growth in March. While Vietnam and Malaysia remained the main destinations for Chinese exports to the region, Indonesia and Thailand saw shipments from China grow 37% and 28% year on year, respectively.

Meanwhile, China's exports to the European Union rose 8.3%, while imports fell 16.5% year on year. Exports had risen by 10.3%, while imports had dropped 7.5% in March.

U.S. President Donald Trump has placed tariffs of 145% on imports from China, prompting it to retaliate with tariffs of 125% on American imports. So far, both sides have sought to blunt the economic impact of triple-digit levies by granting exemptions on certain critical products.

The number of container vessels from China to the U.S. had dropped dramatically toward the end of April, Raymond Yeung, chief economist for Greater China at ANZ Bank said in a note Thursday.
A logo hangs on the building of the Beijing branch of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) on December 4, 2020 in Beijing, China.

Shares of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, China's largest contract chip maker, fell nearly 7% Friday after its first-quarter earnings missed estimates.

After trading on Thursday, the company reported a first-quarter revenue of $2.24 billion, up about 28% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, profit attributable to shareholders surged 162% year on year to $188 million.

However, both figures missed LSEG mean estimates of $2.34 billion in revenue and $225.1 million in net income, as well as the company's own forecasts.

During an earnings call Friday, an SMIC representative said the earnings missed original guidance due to "production fluctuations" which sent blended average selling prices falling. This impact is expected to extend into the second quarter, they added.

For the current quarter, the chipmaker forecasted revenue to fall 4% to 6% sequentially. Gross margin is also expected to fall within the range of 18% to 20%, compared to 22.5% in the first quarter.

Still, the first quarter saw SMIC's wafer shipments increase by 15% from the previous quarter and by about 28% year-on-year.

In the earnings call, SMIC attributed that growth to customer shipment pull in, brought by changes in geopolitics and increased demand driven by government policies such as domestic trade-in programs and consumption subsidies.

In another positive sign for the company, its first-quarter capacity utilization the percentage of total available manufacturing capacity that is being used at any given time reached 89.6%, up 4.1% quarter on quarter.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks on the phone to U.S. President Donald Trump at a car factory in the West Midlands, Britain, Thursday, May 8, 2025.

The U.K. is the first country to seal a trade deal with the U.S. Cue the jubilations. And investors certainly did, giving the three major U.S. indexes back-to-back winning sessions. Curiously, the mood across the Atlantic wasn't as upbeat: the U.K.'s FTSE 100 closed lower following the announcement of the agreement.

To be sure, the U.K. extracted some concessions, such as a lower tariff rate on its first 100,000 vehicles exported to the U.S. and securing new discussions for U.S. President Donald Trump's universal 25% levies on steel and aluminum imports.

That said, the deal does seem more advantageous to the U.S., at least based on the fact that a 10% tariff will remain on all U.K. imports, alongside other compromises allowed by Britain.

The U.S. already runs a trade surplus with the U.K., meaning that it exports more to the country than it imports. And a 10% tariff was what Trump slapped on the U.K. on April 2, so there was no reduction in those levies despite both countries reaching an agreement.

"What we heard today is just noise for most U.K. imports. It doesn't affect the majority of products," Andy Abbott, CEO of niche ocean liner company Atlantic Container Line, told CNBC's Lori Ann LaRocco.

Based on the available details, Washington seems to have got the better end of the deal.
European stocks saw a positive session on Friday, after the U.K. and U.S. confirmed a trade agreement and as investors looked ahead to U.S.-China trade negotiations set to begin this weekend. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index closed 0.44% higher. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 0.27%, while Germany's DAX added 0.63% to finish at a record high of 23,499.3 points.

Key posts

Trump says 80% tariff on China "seems right" | view post

German stocks touch record high | view post

Commerzbank profit jumps to highest level since 2011 | view post

China's April exports jump 8.1% to beat estimates despite U.S. tariffs | view post

On Thursday, most major European indexes closed higher. However, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 bucked the trend to tumble 0.32% after snapping its record winning streak on Wednesday.

Over the coming weekend, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with top Chinese officials in Switzerland for talks on economic and trade issues. Bessent previously said the meeting was about "de-escalation, not ... the big trade deal." China and the U.S. are currently embroiled in a trade war, after they slapped tariffs of well above 100% on each other. President Donald Trump endorsed cutting the tariff rate on China before weekend talks, but still leaving it a pretty severe level.

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Ferrero North America is adding peanuts to its Nutella, turning its Ferrero Rocher spheres into squares and adding Dr Pepper flavor to Tic Tacs, all in the hopes of winning over more U.S. consumers.

The confectioner announced its slate of new products ahead of the annual Sweets and Snacks Expo, which kicks off Monday in Indianapolis. The company plans to display its largest-ever array of new products, like Butterfinger Marshmallow and Crunch White, at the trade event.

Ferrero, which was founded in Italy but is now based in Luxembourg, entered North America nearly a half century ago, but the company only really started investing in the market over the last decade. It has recently brought some of its global brands over to the U.S., like Kinder, the maker of Kinder Buenos and Joy eggs.

Ferrero has also expanded its U.S. business through a series of acquisitions: Fannie May, Brach's owner Ferrera, Nestle's U.S. candy business and Halo Top owner Wells Enterprises. The Nestle deal in particular brought Nerds, Butterfinger and Raisinets into Ferrero's portfolio.

Ferrero has grown to become the third-largest U.S. candy company, trailing only Hershey and Mars, according to Evercore ISI. But to close the gap, it still has a lot of ground to cover. Ferrero Rocher held 2% of the U.S. chocolate market share in the 12 weeks ended April 6, according to the bank, citing Circana data. That's well below the double-digit share held by Hershey's namesake candy and Reese's, as well as Mars' M&M's.

"Mr. Ferrero has been very clear: the U.S. is the biggest market in the world, it's the most important market in the world. We will win in the U.S.," Michael Lindsey, president and chief business officer of Ferrero North America, told CNBC, referring to the company's executive chairman, Giovanni Ferrero.

While publicly traded candy companies like Hershey and Mondelez have seen sales struggle in recent months, Ferrero's U.S. business saw 3.4% dollar growth in the 52 weeks ended April 20, according to the company. Its privately held parent company saw an 8.9% increase in turnover  or revenue  in the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, Ferrero disclosed.

Now the company is focusing on organic growth through innovation meant to appeal specifically to U.S. consumers.

"You do have to Americanize it at some point to get to that next level of love with the American consumer," Lindsey said. "In a very simple way, our strategy is to take these global power brands, or the recently acquired U.S. power brands, and then introduce an American twist to them that the consumer here hasn't seen before and hopefully will end up loving."
Goldman Sachs is bullish on Lyft following its latest earnings report. Analyst Eric Sheridan upgraded the ride-hailing stock to buy from neutral. Sheridan's 12-month price target of $20, up from $19, implies shares could rally 54% from Thursday's close. Lyft posted adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $106.5 million for the first quarter, beating FactSet's estimate of $92.4 million. The company's gross bookings growth accelerated to 15% year over year, supported by "a rapid cadence of product innovation in consumer offerings and rising driver supply affinity enhancing the forward growth trajectory," Sheridan wrote. Lyft guided for ride bookings to rise again in the mid-teens in the second quarter. The company also increased its share repurchase to $750 million from $500 million. Shares rallied more than 12% in the premarket following the report. LYFT YTD mountain LYFT YTD chart "While short-term debates will likely stay rooted in industry trends around rideshare pricing, market share fluctuations, positioning against the [autonomous vehicles] theme and/or any changes in consumer discretionary behavior, we believe that shares are dislocated from LYFT's earnings power in the next 2-3 years and upgrade the stock to Buy," the analyst wrote. "We  expect that AV operators and fleet owners will continue to enter into partnerships in the coming years and that LYFT has an important role to play in the broader hybrid/AV ecosystem (incl. for demand generation and fleet management)," Sheridan said. "We believe that the North America ridesharing duopoly industry structure is supportive of rational competitive behavior in the years ahead (all while we expect the category to grow double-digits)." Despite Sheridan's upgrade, most analysts are neutral on the stock. LSEG data shows that 33 of 47 who cover Lyft rate it a hold, while just 13 assigned a buy or strong buy rating. One analyst rates the stock as underperform.
A Google corporate logo hangs above the entrance to the company's office at St. John's Terminal in New York City on March 11, 2025.

Google agreed to pay nearly $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to settle allegations of violating the data privacy rights of state residents, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Friday.

Paxton sued Google in 2022 for allegedly unlawfully tracking and collecting users' private data.

The attorney general said the settlement, which covers allegations in two separate lawsuits against the search engine and app giant, dwarfed all past settlements by other states with Google for similar data privacy violations.

Google's settlement comes nearly 10 months after Paxton obtained a $1.4 billion settlement for Texas from Meta , the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to resolve claims of unauthorized use of biometric data by users of those popular social media platforms.

"In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law," Paxton said in a statement on Friday.

"For years, Google secretly tracked people's movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won," said Paxton.

"This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans' privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust."

Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said the company did not admit any wrongdoing or liability in the settlement. The deal covers allegations related to the Chrome browser's incognito setting, disclosures related to location history on the Google Maps app, and biometric claims related to Google Photo.

Castaneda also said Google does not have to make any changes to products in connection with the settlement and that all of the policy changes that the company made in connection with the allegations were previously announced or implemented.

"This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed," Castaneda said.

"We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services."
Boeing stock rallied Thursday after President Donald Trump's trade deal plan with the U.K. emerged. The major aerospace and defense firm surged higher as the U.K. will now be buying $10 billion worth of planes from Boeing, according to President Trump. I want to use options to own Boeing as the outcome of this first trade deal with the UK is bullish for the American aircraft manufacturer. BA mountain 2015-12-31 Boeing since 2016 While the UK deal is good news for BA, this essential company was already recovering with a current $435 billion backlog of commercial aerospace orders (10-year production run). Still, the stock has remained far off its pre-Covid highs in the $300s. The $10 billion order from the UK for Boeing (first of many new orders hopefully) was detailed this morning as British Airways unveiled plans to buy 32 Boeing 787-10 long-haul aircraft from Boeing. Long-delayed next Air Force One jets from Boeing might now be delivered by 2027, in time for President Trump to use them, according to a top Air Force official. Still years behind the original delivery date of 2022, but President Trump is smiling as it's one to two years earlier than Boeing had most recently predicted. Boeing is an Essential 40 ETF (symbol :ESN) portfolio holding as it is a company I believe to be critical and vital to the U.S. economy. Think Peter Lynch 2.0: 'buy what you need' which is a step further than the legendary investor's 'buy what you know' theme. BA is above both its 50- and 200-day moving averages and technically can run back to its late 2023 price up above $250 The Trade (Risk Reversal) Sold the 6/20/2025 $185 puts for $4.75 Bought the 6/20/2025 $200 calls for $5.75 This spread will cost an investor $1.00 or $100 per one spread BA was roughly trading at $193 when this was established An investor has to be willing to own BA at $185 in the event those puts get assigned. Therefore, the downside risk is unlimited if put to a long position when owning Boeing. The upside maximum is unlimited above $201 ($200 is the strike price of the call option plus the $1 it cost to put on the spread) DISCLOSURES: Long BA, own this spread too All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
British Airways owner IAG on Friday unveiled plans to buy 71 long-haul aircraft from Airbus and Boeing , sharing a major fleet expansion across the Atlantic a day after Britain and the U.S. announced a trade deal.

The airline group announced a new order for 32 Boeing 787-10 aircraft for British Airways, and 21 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. It also disclosed for the first time options exercised in March for six Airbus A350-900s, as well as six Airbus A350-1000s and six Boeing 777-9s.

That gives a total of 33 Airbus jets and 38 Boeing planes.

Hailing a trade deal between the two countries on Thursday, the United States said that Britain would buy $10 billion of Boeing jets. Industry sources also told Reuters that IAG would buy about 30 jets from Airbus, including A330neos and A350s.

IAG, whose airlines also include Iberia and Aer Lingus, said the Airbus A330-900neo aircraft would be powered by Rolls-Royce engines and British Airways' Boeing 787-10 aircraft would be powered by General Electric engines.

Rolls-Royce is the sole engine provider for the A330neo but competes with GE Aerospace for the 787, where it has lost significant market share to its U.S. rival.

IAG announced the order after it reported better than expected first-quarter profit. CEO Luis Gallego told journalists that the company had been working on the new plane deal "for a long time".

Analysts said the order was likely part of a longer-term strategy for the group, given most airlines won't receive current orders until the early 2030s.

"Airlines need to think in multi-year timeframes: they will have planes that will be reaching the end of their lives and will need replacing. Boeing and Airbus are sold out for years," said Bernstein's Alex Irving.

List prices for the A330-900neo and 787-10 are about $374 million and $397 million, respectively, based on January 2025 U.S. dollar terms, but airlines typically negotiate big discounts to official prices. IAG did not give the details of its discount.

IAG also said that British Airways had secured options to buy up to 10 additional Boeing 787s, and that the group had purchase rights for up to 13 more A330-900neos under its agreement with Airbus.

The order adds to an already large backlog of Boeing planes slated for UK purchasers  149 in total, according to Boeing's published backlog.

Planemakers have been wrestling with supply chain snags and other challenges that have delayed deliveries.

Boeing is trying to ramp up production of its strongest-selling 737 MAX jet to a rate of 38 per month this year, after a difficult 2024 when output slumped due to a broad quality crisis that led to the replacement of its CEO.

IAG, one of the industry's most influential aircraft buyers, is closely watched by rivals, especially as global trade tensions spotlight major aircraft deals.

Bloomberg News on Thursday reported that IAG was poised to order 30 Boeing 787s and could secure options for further purchases.
White smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon as Pope Leo XIV, formerly the American cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected as the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Leo, a 69-year-old Chicago native, is the church's first-ever pope born in the United States. He became a priest in 1982, splitting time between the U.S. and Peru over the ensuing three decades. He most recently honed his leadership skills during eight years as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and two years as a cardinal and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Vatican City.

He has rarely spoken with the press and largely eschewed the limelight. Some people who have worked with him describe an even-keeled, pragmatic listener who may stay quiet until he's made up his mind.

"The cardinal has the courtesy to ask for an opinion, even if it's from the simplest or most humble person," Jesus Leon Angeles, a coordinator of a Catholic group in Chiclayo who has known the pope for seven years, told Reuters on Thursday. "He knows how to listen to everyone."

Boisterous speakers are often seen as great communicators, but active listeners are actually more likely to be highly influential, leadership expert Scott Mautz wrote for CNBC Make It on April 16.

"Their attentiveness means you're probably much more inclined to believe they have your best interests at heart, to seek and take their advice, to take their input into account, and to want to help them out with anything they might need," wrote Mautz.

Asking thoughtful questions can help make people listen to you, communication expert Matt Abrahams told CNBC Make It on September 18: "It demonstrates you care, it demonstrates empathy, it demonstrates you're willing to learn and, in some cases, admit you don't know everything. Those are all valuable tools and assets to have when you're trying to grow your career or deepen relationships."

In Chiclayo, Leo was known for following the same routine regardless of external circumstances, the Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for the pope's former diocese, told the Associated Press in an email.

"No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy," wrote Purisaca.

In terms of church policy, Leo represents a "dignified middle of the road," Rev. Michele Falcone, a president in the Peruvian Order of St. Augustine, told The New York Times on May 2. He's expected to share predecessor Pope Francis' passion for social justice, particularly as it relates to impoverished people and immigrants. As a prefect, he added three women to an important voting bloc for bishop nominations.

In contrast to Francis, Leo has expressed relatively unwelcoming views to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church, saying the "homosexual lifestyle" was "at odds with the gospel" in a 2012 speech to bishops, according to the Times. In Peru, he also opposed a government plan for more progressive gender education in schools, the publication noted.

His tenure as a cardinal wasn't without controversy: He had been criticized for allegedly mishandling an investigation into two priests accused of sexual abuse, while working as a bishop in Chiclayo.

When asked about leadership qualities all bishops should have in a 2023 interview with Vatican News, then-Cardinal Prevost cited a lesson he learned from Francis: "We must not hide behind an idea of authority that no longer makes sense today. The authority we have is to serve, to accompany priests, to be pastors and teachers."

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Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark speaks to the press near ICE agents at a demonstration outside an immigrant detention centre in Elizabeth, New Jersey May 7, 2025.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday by federal authorities for allegedly trespassing at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in his city.

Baraka was led away in handcuffs some time after demanding to be let through a security gate at the Delaney Hall ICE facility, where a group of protesters and several members of the state's congressional caucus were gathered.

The Democrat's administration had filed a lawsuit in late March seeking to block the opening of the detention facility, arguing that its operators failed to obtain the proper permits and violated city code.

Interim U.S Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba said Friday that Baraka "committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings" from Department of Homeland Security officials who told him to leave the facility.

"He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody," Habba, a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, wrote on X.

But Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., who witnessed the arrest, said that Baraka "did nothing wrong."

Baraka, who is running for governor of New Jersey, was released without bond Friday evening after appearing via videoconference before a federal magistrate. He was charged with a single misdemeanor count of trespassing.

The mayor is scheduled to appear next Thursday in Newark Federal District Court for a preliminary hearing.

Baraka, during an interview with Jen Psaki on MSNBC., said, "They charged me, I guess, based on the charge that they can find."

"We was actually allowed on the property in the first place," Baraka said.

"You know, nothing happened for a long, long time. It, you know, for at least over an hour. And then, you know, after they finally told us to leave, and I told him I was leaving, they came outside the gate and arrested me," he said.

"They obviously targeted me," Baraka said. "I wasn't the only one out there. They came directly to me and tried to arrest me."
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks during an interview on CNBC's "Power Lunch" on May 6, 2025.

Nvidia plans to release a downgraded version of its H20 artificial intelligence chip for China in the next two months, following U.S. export restrictions on the original model, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The U.S. chipmaker has notified major Chinese customers, including leading cloud computing providers, that it aims to release the modified H20 chip in July, two of the sources said.

The downgraded H20 represents Nvidia's latest attempt to maintain its presence in one of its most crucial markets in the face of Washington's expanding efforts to restrict China's access to advanced semiconductor technology.

The H20, which had been Nvidia's most powerful AI chip cleared for Chinese sales, was effectively blocked from the market after U.S. officials informed the company last month that the product would require an export license.

Nvidia has formulated new technical thresholds, which will guide the development of the modified chip designs. These specifications will result in significant downgrades from the original H20, including substantially reduced memory capacity, one of the sources said.

Another of the sources said downstream customers could potentially modify the module configuration to adjust the chip's performance levels.

Nvidia declined to comment. The U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China accounted for $17 billion in revenue, or 13% of Nvidia's total sales, in the fiscal year ended January 26.

Highlighting the country's strategic importance, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Beijing last month, just days after U.S. officials announced the new export license requirements for the H20 chip.

During meetings with Chinese officials, Huang emphasised China's significance as a key market for the company.

The U.S. has restricted exports of Nvidia's most sophisticated chips to China since 2022, citing concerns about their potential military applications.

The H20 was introduced after Washington tightened export controls in October 2023.

Chinese technology giants including Tencent , Alibaba , and ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, stepped up H20 chip orders amid growing demand for cost-effective AI models from companies such as startup DeepSeek, Reuters reported early this year.

Nvidia had accumulated $18 billion worth of H20 orders since January, according to a Reuters report last month.




San Francisco's BART trains went dark systemwide Friday morning due to a computer networking problem, the transit agency said on social media.

"Due to a train control system problem BART service is suspended system wide until further notice. Seek alternate means of transportation," the agency said on X at about 4:25 a.m.

BART added later that crews are on hand, troubleshooting a "computer networking problem."

BART spokesperson Alicia Trost said the control center was unable to power up the system after its daily overnight shutdown.

"It does happen from time to time, our system is over 50 years old," she said. "The good news is we're in the process of replacing it, and we have the funding to do so because of Measure RR, and the federal government has made investments into our infrastructure. But it's awful news that the Bay Area can't rely on BART as of this moment. We don't have an ETA as to when the trains will go because part of that is identifying the location of the problem."

Trost added that crews have restarted all the system's servers to isolate and fix the issue. She said it could happen quickly or take up to a few hours.

Transit alternatives can be found at bart.gov/alternatives.
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Sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on imported aluminum are reshaping global trade flows and inflating costs for American consumers. But they are falling short of their primary goal: to revive domestic aluminum production. Instead, rising costs, particularly skyrocketing electricity prices in the U.S. relative to global competitors, are leading to smelter closures rather than restarts. The impact of aluminum tariffs at 25% is starkly visible in the physical aluminum market. While benchmark aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange provide a global reference, the actual cost of acquiring the metal involves regional delivery premiums.

This premium now largely reflects the tariff cost itself. In stark contrast, European premiums were noted by JPMorgan analysts as being over 30% lower year-to-date, creating a significant divergence driven directly by U.S. trade policy.

This cost will ultimately be borne by downstream users, according to Trond Olaf Christophersen, the chief financial officer of Norway-based Hydro , one of the world's largest aluminum producers. The company was formerly known as Norsk Hydro . "It's very likely that this will end up as higher prices for U.S. consumers," Christophersen told CNBC, noting the tariff cost is a "pass-through." Shares of Hydro have collapsed by around 17% since tariffs were imposed.

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon

The downstream impact of the tariffs is already being felt by Thule Group , a Hydro customer that makes cargo boxes fitted atop cars. The company said it'll raise prices by about 10% even though it manufactures the majority of the goods sold in the U.S locally, as prices of raw materials, such as steel and aluminum, have shot up. But while tariffs are effectively leading to prices rise in the U.S., they haven't spurred a revival in domestic smelting, the energy-intensive process of producing primary aluminum.

What will it take to revive smelters in the U.S.?

The primary barrier remains the lack of access to competitively priced, long-term power, according to the industry. "Energy costs are a significant factor in the overall production cost of a smelter," said Ami Shivkar, principal analyst of aluminum markets at analytics firm Wood Mackenzie. "High energy costs plague the US aluminium industry, forcing cutbacks and closures." "Canadian, Norwegian, and Middle Eastern aluminium smelters typically secure long-term energy contracts or operate captive power generation facilities. US smelter capacity, however, largely relies on short-term power contracts, placing it at a disadvantage," Shivkar added, noting that energy costs for U.S. aluminum smelters were about $550 per tonne compared to $290 per tonne for Canadian smelters.

Recent events involving major U.S. producers underscore this power vulnerability. In March 2023, Alcoa Corp announced the permanent closure of its 279,000 metric ton Intalco smelter, which had been idle since 2020. Alcoa said that the facility "cannot be competitive for the long-term," partly because it "lacks access to competitively priced power." Similarly, in June 2022, Century Aluminum , the largest U.S. primary aluminum producer, was forced to temporarily idle its massive Hawesville, Kentucky smelter  North America's largest producer of military-grade aluminum  citing a "direct result of skyrocketing energy costs." Century stated the power cost required to run the facility had "more than tripled the historical average in a very short period," necessitating a curtailment expected to last nine to twelve months until prices normalized.

Competition with the tech sector

The industry has also not had a respite as demand for electricity from non-industrial sources has risen in recent years. Hydro's Christophersen pointed to the artificial intelligence boom and the proliferation of data centers as new competitors for power. He suggested that new energy production capacity in the U.S., from nuclear, wind or solar, is being rapidly consumed by the tech sector. "The tech sector, they have a much higher ability to pay than the aluminium industry," he said, noting the high double-digit margins of the tech sector compared to the often low single-digit margins at aluminum producers. Hydro reported an 8.3% profit margin in the first quarter of 2025, an increase from the 3.5% it reported for the previous quarter, according to Factset data. "Our view, and for us to build a smelter [in the U.S.], we would need cheap power. We don't see the possibility in the current market to get that," the CFO added. "The lack of competitive power is the reason why we don't think that would be interesting for us."

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While failing to ignite domestic primary production, the tariffs are undeniably causing what Christophersen termed a "reshuffling of trade flows." When U.S. market access becomes more costly or restricted, metal flows to other destinations. Christophersen described a brief period when exceptionally high U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum  25% additional tariffs on top of the aluminum-specific tariffs  made exporting to Europe temporarily more attractive for Canadian producers. Consequently, more European metals would have made their way into the U.S. market to make up for the demand gap vacated by Canadian aluminum.

Scrap metal 'indirectly' hit by tariffs
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appears before the House Financial Services Committee on May 7, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told congressional leaders on Friday that the U.S. will likely run out of borrowing authority by August.

In a May 9 letter, he urged them to extend the debt ceiling by July, before Congress leaves for its annual August recess, in order to avert economic calamity.

Bessent said there is "significant uncertainty" in the exact date.

"However, after receiving receipts for the recent April tax filing season, there is a reasonable probability that the federal government's cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess," Bessent wrote. "Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July, before its scheduled break, to protect the full faith and credit of the United States."

Republicans, who control the House and Senate, plan to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion or $5 trillion in their sweeping party-line bill to pass President Donald Trump's agenda. That's a tall order, as the party is struggling to unify on various components of that legislation with their narrow majorities. It's far from clear they'll pass a bill before August.

If they fail in that timeline, they may have to deal with the debt limit issue separately and lean on Democratic support to resolve it and avoid an economic crisis that would likely result from a default on U.S. debt.

"A failure to suspend or increase the debt limit would wreak havoc on our financial system and diminish America's security and global leadership position," Bessent wrote in the letter.
US President Donald Trump, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R), speaks during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2025.

President Donald Trump indicated Friday ahead of key trade talks that he was willing to lower tariffs on China to 80%, but that level may still be higher than what investors and business leaders were hoping for.

Trump said in a Truth Social post: "80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is one of the U.S. officials set to speak with counterparts from China at meetings in Switzerland this weekend.

An 80% levy would be a significant reduction from the 145% tariff currently facing many Chinese goods. However, that number could still be seen as prohibitive to trade. It is also much higher than the 10% baseline tariff in the U.S.-U.K. trade agreement that was announced Thursday.

It is unclear whether Trump wants the 80% rate to be the long-term tariff for China, or whether it should be viewed as a step in negotiations.

In a separate post, Trump said "Many Trade Deals in the hopper, all good (GREAT!) ones!"

China is seen as the key hurdle in Trump's effort to shake up the global trading environment. While many other major countries saw his previously announced tariffs partially paused on April 9, tensions rose between the White House and Beijing until both countries had imposed a tariff of more than 100% on goods.

China is one of the U.S.' largest trading partners. In 2024, the U.S. exported $143.5 billion in goods to China, while importing $438.9 billion, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

In another Truth Social post on Friday morning, Trump said, "CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA  WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON'T WORK ANYMORE!!!"
Jonathan McKernan testifies during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025.

President Donald Trump plans to nominate Jonathan McKernan to be undersecretary of domestic finance at the Treasury Department, months after the president tapped McKernan to lead the embattled Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday.

A statement issued by the Treasury Department did not say that Trump has pulled McKernan's CFPB nomination from Senate consideration.

But it does note that McKernan "has been an advisor at the Treasury Department while awaiting Senate confirmation to lead the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection."

"During that time, McKernan has become an integral part of the Secretary's senior team," the statement said. "His continued service at Treasury will ensure that his experience and expertise are best put to advancing the President's America First agenda."

The Trump administration has worked to gut the CFPB since the president took office in January.
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller speaks to the media outside the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 9, 2025.

White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller said Friday that the Trump administration is "actively looking at" suspending the writ of habeas corpus  the constitutional right to challenge in court the legality of a person's detention by the government  for migrants.

Miller's comment came in response to a White House reporter who asked about President Donald Trump entertaining the idea of suspending the writ to deal with the problem of illegal immigration into the United States.

Asked when that might happen, Miller responded: "The Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in time of invasion."

"So, I would say that's an option we're actively looking at," he said.

A number of pending civil cases challenging the Trump administration's deportation of undocumented immigrants in the United States are based on habeas claims.

The Trump administration has chafed at orders by judges blocking efforts to summarily deport immigrants, including alleged gang members, without court proceedings.

Miller spoke hours after a federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk from the custody of U.S. immigration authorities.

Ozturk, who had been imprisoned for 45 days after the Trump administration revoked the Turkish citizen's student visa based on an assessment that she "may undermine U.S. foreign policy by crearting a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization."

Ozturk challenged her detention with a petition for writ of habeas corpus, which noted that she "has not been charged with any crime," and which argued that her "arrest and detention are designed to punish her speech and chill the speech of others."

Miller said that Trump's decision on whether to suspend the writ of habeas corpus "depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not."

Miller implied that "the right thing" is for judges to stop blocking the administration's deportation of immigrants in cases where those people are exercising habeas writs.

The writ has been suspended only four times since the U.S. Constitution was ratified. And in all but one of those instances, Congress first authorized the suspension.

The idea of habeas corpus originated in English common law.

"No man shall be arrested or imprisoned...except by the lawful judgment of his peers and by the law of the land," a provision in the Magna Carta, signed by King John in the early 13th Century, says.

The U.S. Constitution, in Article 1, section 9, says, "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."

Miller's use of the word "invasion" reflects the Trump administration's argument that the U.S. faces an "invasion" of undocumented migrants.
President Donald Trump on Friday tepidly backed the idea of raising taxes on the richest Americans, while openly wrestling with the politics of such a move and suggesting that his fellow Republicans should "probably" oppose it.

Trump's public deliberation on social media came after he reached out to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about adding a tax hike on the highest earners to the major tax and spending bill that the GOP aims to pass this year.

It's the latest signal that Trump  whose agenda leans heavily on what he calls the "one, big, beautiful bill" passing through a divided Congress  is willing to buck the traditional Republican orthodoxy on taxing the rich.

Trump in the Truth Social post Friday morning said he "and all others" would "graciously" accept "even a 'TINY' tax increase for the RICH" for the benefit of "lower and middle income workers."

But "the problem" with that idea, he wrote, "is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, 'Read my lips,' the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election."

"The problem with even a "TINY" tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming,"Read my lips," the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election. NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but I'm OK if they do!!!"  Donald Trump, Truth Social post

Trump was referring to then-candidate George H.W. Bush's 1988 campaign promise that he would not raise taxes as president. Bush's eventual failure to keep that promise created a major target for his political opponents and was seen as a factor in his loss in the 1992 election.

Trump's post disputed that history. "NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election!" he wrote.

"In any event, Republicans should probably not do it," Trump added.

But then, apparently reversing himself, he wrote, "I'm OK if they do!!!"

Asked for clarity later Friday on whether Trump does or does not want the top rates to increase, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he wants "the largest tax cuts in history."

"As for the policy proposal you're talking about, the president has said he himself, personally, would not mind paying a little bit more to help the poor and the middle class and the working class in this country," Leavitt said.

"I think, frankly, that's a very honorable position. But again, these negotiations are ongoing on Capitol Hill, and the president will weigh in when he feels necessary," she added.

Trump's post could put even more pressure on GOP leaders who are already struggling to craft a bill that meets his demands for a slew of major tax cuts, without adding so much to the deficit that the party's fiscal hawks won't vote for it.
The U.K. and U.S. agreed to a landmark trade deal on Thursday  yet the agreement appears to be far from free of tariffs. The deal is the first made by the United States since President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world last month. The United Kingdom's position as one of a handful of countries where the U.S. boasts a trade surplus in goods  meaning the U.S. exports more to the U.K. than it imports  put the country at the front of the queue for officials to broker an agreement with the Trump administration. However, even Britain, with its "special relationship" with the U.S., didn't manage to persuade Trump to drop all tariffs during trade talks. Under the deal, the U.K. can export 100,000 vehicles each year at a 10% rate, with any additional vehicles facing 25% duties. British steelmakers and the aluminum industry will be able to export tariff-free, down from the 25% rate that the U.S. imposed in February.

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However, all other goods imported to the U.S. from the U.K. will still be subject to a 10% baseline tariff  which Trump says is the lowest country-specific tariff that will be applied to trading partners. Trump also suggested the deal is likely to be rare due to the two countries' balanced trading relationship and close political ties  meaning it's unlikely any country will be tariff-free under his second administration. Asked if the 10% baseline tariff is a template for future trade deals, Trump said, "That's a low number." "They made a good deal," he added. "Some will be much higher because they have massive trade surpluses."

What is Wall Street saying?

Analysts took that to mean that tariffs of 10% at the very minimum are the best deal other countries and trading blocs could achieve. "The details of the US-UK deal suggest that the US 10% baseline tariff is likely to remain in place for other trading partners with virtually no exceptions, but signals more flexibility than expected on sectoral tariffs," said Jan Hatzius, chief economist and head of global investment research at Goldman Sachs. JPMorgan's U.S. economist, Abiel Reinhart, also noted that "the chances that a rate of at least 10% on most goods across most countries could be maintained this year," in a note to clients.

Sector deals and impact on the U.S.

Reinhart also pointed out that the carve-outs the United Kingdom secured for its auto, steel and aluminum sectors indicated the U.S. may be willing to cut bespoke  yet narrower in scope  deals with other nations. "This has been a key sticking point in recent trade discussions with Japan, given the importance of its auto sector," Reinhart added. "But it's also possible that the US was more willing to make concessions with the UK on autos given that the UK only accounts for about 2.5% of US imports of vehicles and parts. By contrast, Japan accounts for close to 12%." However, Rella Suskin, equity analyst and autos expert at Morningstar, pointed out that the deal to reduce tariffs on only 100,000 cars effectively capped the market share of many of Britain's largest automakers, including Tata Motors -owned Jaguar Land Rover. Instead, it would benefit automakers such as BMW that import some auto parts tariff-free and assemble vehicles in the U.S., according to Suskin.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the European leaders' summit to discuss European security and Ukraine, at Lancaster House in London, Britain, March 2, 2025.

Ukraine will host a meeting of leaders of the so-called "coalition of the willing" on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Established earlier this year and led by France and Britain, the coalition reflects concern among Europeans that the U.S. no longer represents a bulwark of support for Ukraine's three-year-old battle against a full-blown Russian invasion.

"We need this coalition, and it should be strong enough to guarantee security in line with our common vision," Zelenskiy said in a video address published by his office in Kyiv.

Progress on what role Europe might play in providing post-war security guarantees is proving difficult with the prospect of a ceasefire distant and much dependent on how Russia responds and to what extent the U.S. would support its allies.

Ukraine is seeking clear security guarantees from allies to safeguard it against any future Russian military action. The coalition has been mulling the possibility of a limited foreign contingent deployment to Ukraine as part of possible guarantees.

Zelenskiy said on Thursday he had told U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone call that a 30-day ceasefire was a "real indicator" of progress towards peace with Russia, and Kyiv was ready to implement it immediately.

A 30-day ceasefire was initially proposed by Trump in March and Ukraine agreed, while Russia said such a measure could only take effect once reliable measures of monitoring and upholding it were put in place.

Zelenskiy did not specify which of the leaders was going to come to Kyiv for the coalition meeting, but earlier this week Germany's new chancellor Friedrich Merz said he intended to visit Ukraine in the near future.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that France would take part in a meeting in Ukraine on Saturday. He also said that the meeting would be partly by video and partly via physical presence for participants.
A Puma sportswear store in central London on May 1, 2025. Bloomberg | Getty Images

Household brands including Pandora, Puma and Hugo Boss all said this week that they are evaluating their pricing strategies in the U.S. and beyond in the event that President Donald Trump's most punitive levies come into effect. Some others, meanwhile, said that they are altering their supply chains and potentially revising their sales forecasts amid U.S. trade policy uncertainty. Trump last month announced sweeping so-called reciprocal import duties on all U.S. trading partners. The charges were later paused for 90 days and reduced to 10% for most countries except China, pending trade negotiations. Companies globally have nevertheless been weighing what the various charges could mean for their businesses, with major names such as Mattel, UPS and Ford all pulling their annual guidance. Here's what some major European retailers have been saying:

Pandora

Danish jewelry brand Pandora, which is known for its popular charm bracelets and silver jewelry, warned of significant price increases across the affordable jewelry industry if Trump's proposed reciprocal tariffs come into effect. The company derives around one-third of its sales from the U.S. but is heavily dependent on manufacturing in Asia, most notably Thailand, Vietnam, India and China, prompting it to warn in April of a potential hit to revenues.

A woman stands inside a store of Danish international jewellery company Pandora in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ida Marie Odgaard | Afp | Getty Images

"Most jewelers that are in the price segment where we operate, they all import from somewhere in Asia. So you could have an argument if these tariffs remain, then it's going to be more expensive for everybody that plays," CEO Alexander Lacik told CNBC. "Therefore we should expect that the consumer pricing will see some change to it," he added. Asked what level of price rises consumers could expect if tariffs remain in place, Lacik said Pandora had modeled a number of scenarios but that the final figure was likely to be industry-led.

Puma

German sportswear brand Puma also pointed to potential industry-wide price hikes as a result of tariffs, noting that it was currently considering "cost optimization" in the U.S. "We will potentially change our pricing. We are prepared for such a scenario to mitigate the impact of tariffs," Chief Financial Officer Markus Neubrand said Thursday. The retailer, which similarly relies on manufacturing in Asia, said it expected other brands with greater U.S. sales to lead the charge on price adjustments. But it nevertheless noted that it had trimmed U.S. imports from China after warning in March that it expected to face a hit from import levies. "We don't want to be the leader in terms of the pricing change in U.S. markets," Neubrand said. "There are other players in our industry where the U.S. is far more relevant. As the third biggest brand globally we shouldn't be the pricing leaders." It comes after rival sportswear giant Adidas said last week that the levies would lead to price hikes for all of its U.S. products.

Hugo Boss

Fashion retailer Hugo Boss followed other high-end brands in saying that it was considering price adjustments as part of wider measures to onset the impact of added costs. Other plans include redirecting products coming from China to the U.S. and replacing them with products from other markets, optimizing the company's global sourcing footprint.

A Hugo Boss store at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. Alex Tai | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images)

The suit maker noted that uncertainty around tariffs, recession risks and immigration policy were dampening both domestic and tourist spend in the U.S., its largest single market. CEO Daniel Grieder said U.S. shopper appetite had "certainly diminished" but added that it was still too soon to judge the real impact, despite soft sales in the first quarter. "We continue to monitor the situation," Grieder said. "Given the ongoing uncertainty around tariffs, it's still too early to draw final conclusions."

Zalando
Taiwans exports climbed to a record in the year through April, driven by a rush to ship goods ahead of US tariffs and continued strong demand for the islands tech products.Overseas shipments rose 30% in April from a year earlier to almost $49 billion, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement Thursday. That compares with the 16% increase forecast by economists surveyed by Bloomberg, pushing total exports for the first four months of the year to $178 billion  the highest ever for the period.More than a quarter of those shipments were direct to the US, which took a record $13 billion in Taiwanese goods last month. Taiwanese firms are rushing to get goods into the US after President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on nearly all major economies in early April, before suspending them for 90 days.Aprils exports to ASEAN countries also rose to a record $10 billion, with shipments of information and communication products more than tripled from a year earlier.Taiwanese firms remain competitive in both capacity and manufacturing processes, which is expected to sustain export momentum, Beatrice Tsai, Director General of the Department of Statistics at the finance ministry, said during a briefing in Taipei on Thursday.Tsai also stated the government expects front-loading to continue boosting Taiwans exports in May, which may see a growth of 15% to 20% compared to the same period last year.Rising exports have contributed to a surge in foreign exchange holdings among exporters, one of the key drivers behind the Taiwan dollars recent rally  its sharpest appreciation since the 1980s. The overseas shipments have been buoyed by a global boom in artificial intelligence, fueling demand for high-end tech products that make up a large share of Taiwans export sector.Taiwan was initially threatened with a 32% levy by the US, and that has prompted economists to trim their growth forecasts for the island this year, with some expecting gross domestic product growth to slow markedly from 2024.
US Stock Market Highlights: Dow drops more than 100 points Friday as investors await US-China trade talks

By CNBCTV18.COM May 10, 2025 1:57 AM IST (Updated)

US Stock Market Highlights: The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped on Friday (May 9) as investors looked ahead to key trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials scheduled for the weekend. The Dow shed 119.07 points, or 0.29%, to close at 41,249.38. The S&P 500 edged down 0.07% to end at 5,659.91, while the Nasdaq Composite was nearly flat, finishing at 17,928.92.

US Stock Market Highlights: The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped on Friday (May 9) as investors looked ahead to key trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials scheduled for the weekend. The Dow shed 119.07 points, or 0.29%, to close at 41,249.38. The S&P 500 edged down 0.07% to end at 5,659.91, while the Nasdaq Composite was nearly flat, finishing at 17,928.92. For the week, the S&P 500 declined about 0.5%, the Nasdaq dropped 0.3%, and the Dow slipped 0.2%. The talks with Chinese officials follow the US and the United Kingdom reaching a preliminary trade deal. Investors hope this will lead to more agreements being reached quickly. That said, a 10% tariff rate on the UK appears to be the baseline for the globe.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that trade deals with South Korea and Japan could take significantly more time to complete than the framework agreement President Donald Trump announced Thursday with the UK, in a signal that some Asian partners may have to wait for tariff relief.Youve got to spend an enormous amount of time with Japan, South Korea. These are not going to be fast deals, Lutnick said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.Lutnick added that India has been leaning in really hard and the country was certainly a possibility to be among the next countries to reach an agreement. But, he cautioned, this is a lot of work.When you talk about India, its probably 7,000 lines of tariffs to be changed or modified under a hypothetical agreement, Lutnick said. It just takes time, and it just takes work  so give us a chance, dont be pushing and rushing.At the same time, Lutnick said he was hopeful that initial deals could serve as templates for their respective regions, helping illustrate what kind of concessions Trump was looking for in exchange for tariff relief.Were trying to show people a frame for how to do business so that we can roll much more quickly, right? Lutnick said.The Commerce chief, who has taken a lead role in trade negotiations, said that Trumps 10% baseline tariffs remained a bottom line but that many nations would experience higher rates unless they moved aggressively to open their economies. He also said the UK deal showed ways that nations could see Trump roll back sectoral tariffs hes imposed on products like automobiles and metals that the president has deemed a national security priority.Lutnick spoke hours after Trump unveiled the framework agreement, which gives the US increased market access and a faster customs process for exports in exchange for limited relief from levies on autos, steel, and aluminum. But officials in both the UK and US conceded there were still significant details to be worked out, as well as outstanding concerns about longstanding issues like the UKs digital services tax and food standards.Following the announcement, Trump told reporters he was very close to signing more agreements.We have numerous deals, Trump said.Trump unveiled the UK deal shortly before Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were scheduled to depart for Geneva, for weekend meetings with Chinese officials on trade. The US and China have traded punishing tariffs following Trumps announcement earlier this year, in a tit-for-tat that threatens the global economy.That effort is likely to be far more complicated than Trumps efforts to extract concessions from traditional allies and partners, though Trump on Thursday signaled hed be willing to reduce tariffs if talks were progressing well.I think were going to have a very good relationship, he said.
More people are leaving California's cities than arriving.

But some cities, such as Oceanside and Redding, are drawing more people than are leaving.

As long as enough people are moving in, housing costs will likely remain high in California.

California has reputation for people moving out because of its sky-high cost of living, but there are plenty of cities still drawing fresh arrivals.

According to moving company iMoving, which reviewed arrivals through its platform from January 2023 to March 2025, there were nearly 13% of people moving out of California, but those losses were partially offset by around 8% of moves coming into the Golden State.

Moving trends are a good sign of whether homes will get more or less expensive, iMoving CEO Meyr Aviv told ConsumerAffairs. If people keep moving in, theres no reason for sellers to lower their prices."

Los Angeles had the highest share of arrivals, with around 9.2%, followed by San Diego (3.7%), San Francisco (3.3%), Fresno (3%) and Oceanside (2.6%) as the rest of the top five most popular California cities for movers.

Still, there are only a few cities drawing more people than those leaving, known as net arrivals.

Oceanside has the highest share of net arrivals, with 2.6%, followed by Redding (1.5%), Antioch (1.1%) and Bakersfield (1.1%).

"As long as theres more arrivals than departures, I wouldnt hold my breath for cheaper housing. Aviv said.

The cities with the highest net departures, meaning losing more people than gaining, are San Jose, with with around 3% of net departures, followed by Pasadena (2.7%), Citrus Heights (1.4%) and Long Beach (1.4%).

In California, homes are expensive all over," Aviv said. "I think buyers were hoping all the bad press would shut down certain housing markets, make them cheaper or cool down prices. But it turns out, it doesnt stop people from moving in."
The series finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm found Larry David beating the charges against him in a highly-publicized court case, unlike the Seinfeld crew. And while Larry was on trial for handing out bottled water to Georgia voters, and not for taking large sums of money to hawk a dodgy crypto company, Davids real life took a somewhat similar turn this week.

As weve mentioned before, back in 2022, David starred in a Super Bowl commercial for the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The ad showed Larry casually dismissing FTX, the safe and easy way to get into crypto after weve just witnessed generations of Larrys doing the same to important historical inventions, including the wheel, the light bulb and the toilet.

Unfortunately, the toilet turned out to be a more apt comparison than everyone realized at the time. Later that year, FTX collapsed, costing its customers billions of dollars. The companys founder, Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven charges of fraud and conspiracy and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

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In a twist befitting of a jaunty tuba music cue, this soon came back to bite David in the ass. In late 2022, Larry David  or rather Lawrence Gene David  was named as a defendant in a class-action lawsuit filed by investors against Bankman-Fried. The defendants included other celebrities such as Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, Steph Curry and Shaquille ONeal who were allegedly all complicit in the companys false representations and deceptive conduct.

The court filing even included an image from Davids ad, explaining that the legendary comedian and creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David, created an ad for the FTX Entities called Dont Miss Out on Crypto, which aired during the 2022 Super Bowl, making FTX one of the most retweeted brands during the Super Bowl, and winning the Most Comical honorific from USA Todays Ad Meter.

When asked about the lawsuit, David suggested that he wanted to switch sides and be part of the class-action lawsuit because some of his reported $13 million salary was paid in crypto and he lost a lot of money.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, most of the charges against the celebrity defendants, including David, were dismissed this week. U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore concluded that the endorsers arent liable for investor losses because they didnt have prior knowledge of FTXs fraud, and therefore, they cant be found liable for merely receiving payments and other monetary benefits in exchange for their promotional content. Although he did note that these celebs were uninformed, negligent or even reckless.

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That doesnt mean that David is totally out of the woods. As The Verge noted, The celebrities still face claims for violating state securities laws in Florida and Oklahoma, and the judges ruling will allow the plaintiffs to amend their complaint if they can provide more evidence.

Still, its pretty preetttty good news for Larry David.
The FBI is warning that cybercriminals are exploiting end-of-life (EOL) routers that are no longer being patched by manufacturers.

Specifically, the 5Socks and Anyproxy criminal networks are using publicly available exploits and injecting persistent malware to gain entry to obsolete routers from Linksys and Cisco. Once compromised, the devices are added to residential proxy botnets that obscure attackers origins so they can engage in malicious activity or launch ransomware campaigns.

The agency advises that these old devices be immediately replaced, or at the very least rebooted and remote administration disabled.
STORY LINK Pound-to-Euro Forecast: Near-Term Sterling Bullish Ahead of EU-UK Summit

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Thursdays US-UK trade deal provided an element of Pound Sterling support against the Euro (and US Dollar) while there was a relatively hawkish Bank of England rate cut and the Euro lost ground amid a boost to global risk appetite.In this environment, the Pound to Euro exchange rate (GBP/EUR) hit 5-week highs at 1.1820 before a retreat to 1.1790 on Friday.ING maintains a positive stance on the Pound; The proximity to the 19 May EU-UK summit can keep markets on the bearish side of EUR/GBP.It added; A test of the big 0.840 support (where 100-day and 200-day moving averages converge) is a tangible possibility in the coming weeks.This would equate to Pound-Euro conversion gains to 1.19.Danske Bank, however, does not expect the more positive risk mood to be sustained; An investment environment characterised by elevated uncertainty, widening credit spreads and a positive correlation to a USD negative environment, in our view, favours a weaker GBP.The relatively hawkish Bank of England rate cut will also maintain a positive Pound yield spread over the EuroThere were increased hopes that the US would secure further deals and adopt a more conciliatory stance towards tariffs. This undermined the Euro in global markets.There are also expectations that the UK will be in a better position than the EU on trade grounds.According to Pepperstone Senior Research Strategist Michael Brown; "Trump has been saying the UK is a great friend of the United States. The fact that the U.S. runs a big trade surplus with the UK, if we still end up with a 10% tariff on the back of a trade deal, I would wager that it's going to be a hell of a lot higher for places like the European Union or China or Japan or wherever else who are looking to strike deals."As far as the UK-US trade deal is concerned, the overall 10% tariff on imports into the US will stay in place. Tariffs on car imports will be lowered to 10% with an annual quota of 100,000.There will be an aluminium and steel trading zone with zero tariffs for the UK.There will also be some tariff-free imports for Rolls Royce components.In return, the US will see lower tariffs on a wide range of US agricultural products, machinery and chemicals.There will be weeks and months of negotiations. Quilter Investment Strategist Lindsay James commented; "The contents of the deal remain very limited in their totality and we await the full detail before we can say if there is a winner from this negotiation.Bank of England Governor Bailey called for closer relations with the EU.ING commented; the UK has now signed two trade deals in quick succession (with India and the US), and that is keeping markets hopeful on trade talks with the EU  which would have much more meaningful implications for the UK, and can lend a hand to troubled British finances.Rabobank noted that the US-UK deal was related in part to protecting aerospace supply chains and the US was also able to secure an important benefit in terms of increased access to the UK market for agricultural exportsThe bank added; It remains to be seen whether the EU has the will and the mandate to do what PM Starmer just did.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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China, Russia express concerns over attempts to subvert post-war int'l order

Xinhua) 09:15, May 09, 2025

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia expressed concerns here Thursday over attempts to subvert the post-war international order.

The concerns were voiced in a bilateral joint statement on further deepening China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era released on Thursday.

The two sides pointed out that they are concerned that in pursuit of hegemonic interests, certain countries and their allies are attempting to distort the outcomes of the victory of World War II, subvert the principles of the post-war international order, and weaken the core role of the United Nations in maintaining global peace and security.

The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to abiding by international law, resisting any attempt to distort the basic principles of international law.

In the statement, the two sides noted that it's the major trend of the times to build the order for a fairer and sustainable multipolar world.

Certain countries are indulging in hegemonism and neo-colonialism, wantonly implementing aggressive policies, restricting the sovereignty of other countries and suppressing the economic, technological development of other countries in order to secure their own privileges, the statement pointed out, stressing that this goes against the trend of world multipolarization and democratization of international relations.

As independent forces in the process of building a multipolar world, the two sides pledged in the statement to fully tap the potential of bilateral relations, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and push the realization of an equal and orderly multipolar world as well as the democratization of international relations.

Both sides vowed to support engaging in extensive and equal dialogues on the basis of protecting the diversity of civilizations and achieving a balance of strength and interests among countries, exploring ways to make the international landscape more adaptable to the process of world multipolarization in the 21st century.

They emphasized that China's proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind and a series of global initiatives are of great positive significance. The destinies of the people of all countries are intertwined, and no country should seek its own security at the expense of other's.

The two sides believed that bypassing the UN Security Council to implement unilateral coercive measures, including economic sanctions, violates international law such as the UN Charter and harms international security interests.

They firmly opposed unilateral coercive measures that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council, and condemned the use of intimidation, restrictions and coercion to exert pressure on other countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Anyone listening to the love-in between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer as they announced their VE-day trade deal might easily conclude this was the greatest day in the post-war history of the two English-speaking peoples.

No doubt Labour, aided and abetted by the Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson, will proclaim its triumph. Britain is first to sign a trade deal with the United States after Trump unleashed global tariff mayhem on Liberation Day  April 2 to the rest of us.

The Prime Minister can fairly say that he helped move Britain to the front of the queue, after Boris Johnson was famously bumped to the back by Democrat president Barack Obama after the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Yet before anyone puts up the bunting and the band plays Hail To The Chief, it is worth considering the lack of substance to this deal.

By no stretch of the imagination can it be considered the gold-plated free-trade agreement Britain has long hoped for. The deal temporarily rescues Britains car and aerospace industries, as well as what remains of our steel-making, but it leaves the most vexed questions unanswered.

By no stretch of the imagination can Donald Trump and Keir Starmer's trade deal be considered the gold-plated free-trade agreement Britain has long hoped for

Will American big tech, for example, be allowed to run roughshod over Britains creative sector? And what about providing Britains leading life sciences sector with access to US markets?

And then there is the ongoing uncertainty and unpredictability which has smashed consumer, investor and business confidence on both sides of the Atlantic. That is far from being banished.

There is much for British consumers, farmers and business to be worried about. There was no reference at all, from either side, to the dreaded idea of chlorine-sterilised chicken on our supermarket shelves. But Trump was bursting with pride at the idea of flooding Britain with beef from hormone-enhanced American steers.

It must be acknowledged the deal will relieve some of the most immediate pressure on British commerce. The removal of the 27.5 per cent levy on the first 100,000 British cars exported to the US will be a great benefit to Jaguar Land Rover, BMW-owned Mini, and luxury manufacturers Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce Motors.

Britain is first to sign a trade deal with the United States after Trump unleashed global tariff mayhem on Liberation Day

But that quota of 100,000, against the 93,000 vehicles delivered in the last year, places a strong restriction on expansion. The removal of tariffs on UK specialist steels and aluminium will also be a relief. Given, however, that British steel production stands on the brink of extinction, this is something of a hollow victory.

In the background at the Oval Office, as Trump extolled Americas admiration for Britain, was a whiteboard showing top US trade official Howard Lutnick believes he had the better of the art of the deal. It showed the remaining general tariff of 10 per cent on British goods arriving in the US would raise $6billion (4.5billion) for the US Treasury. Meanwhile, the opening of the British market to American goods would be worth $5billion (3.8billion) to US exporters.

For the past several weeks there has been frenzied speculation that technology would be front and centre of any trade pact between the two countries.

The bargain as outlined is that the UK would open its doors wide to billions of pounds of Silicon Valley and AI investment in exchange for Britain removing the digital services tax on big tech retailers such as Amazon. That is expected to raise 800million for the Exchequer this year. Yet when push came to shove there was no detailed mention of any of this.

When the mutual back-slapping fades, the deal they have unveiled is far shallower and much less advantageous that Downing Street wants us to believe

Pharmaceuticals and film production, two critical sectors for Britain, that had been hoping for an end to uncertainty, were left none the wiser. UK giants AstraZeneca and GSK have been quietly lobbying for a no-tariff deal on the grounds that their exports are of vital importance to the health of the American people. Yet for the moment the 10 per cent tariff remains in place.

Independent forecaster Oxford Economics noted that the Starmer deal would provide limited relief for autos, steel and aluminium but these exemptions would only nibble away at the effective tariff rate.

The apparently fond relationship between the sometimes robotic Prime Minister and Americas mercurial President is one of most unlikely between world leaders. Yet the truth is that when the mutual back-slapping fades the deal they have unveiled is far shallower and much less advantageous that Downing Street wants us to believe.
Well, its a start. I am not going to claim that this sudden Trump-Starmer announcement is a great new free trade deal  because everyone can see the truth. We havent even got rid of all the new tariffs imposed in March.

We still face 10 per cent tariffs on cars  much higher than they were last year. But at least they arent 27.5 per cent. At least British steel and aluminium exporters are back where they were under Joe Biden.

There are some new openings for food products  and the potential, of course, to do much, much more on both sides, from tech to pharmaceuticals. Above all, there is the great glaring geo-strategic point, one that Keir Starmer (predictably) failed to make.

There is only one reason why Britain has been able to beat the EU and do this early deal, and that  as Trump rightly said  is Brexit. More precisely, Starmer has been able to agree this deal because of the so-called hard Brexit negotiated in 2019, which truly restored this countrys control of its regulations and tariff schedules, rather than the tragic and subservient models of Brexit that were under previous consideration.

We need urgently to maximise our new freedoms, because Britain is now in an extraordinary position. This new agreement shows how we can be the bridge, the intersecting set between the European and the American economies. It shows how we can use our new independence actually to strengthen the transatlantic partnership, and strengthen the West.

Look at the combination of the US, the EU and the UK. We are together 40 per cent of global GDP; and yet we are far more than that. As Edward Gibbon put it, we are the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilised portion of mankind.

We share ideals of freedom and democracy. We have the same broad understanding of how our societies should work  and we face the same geo-strategic challenge from the autocracies, and especially from China.

It is therefore absurd that we continue to throw up barriers between us  not just tariffs, but rival and competing rules on everything from AI to banking to cars  many of which are actually expressly designed not to protect the public but to inhibit free trade.

There is only one reason Britain has been able to do this early deal with the US, and that is Brexit, says Boris Johnson. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump in February

The so-called trade deal announced yesterday makes no difference to the vast majority of mad and protectionist American measures against UK exports. The United States continues to discriminate against shower trays made in this country  though you are no more likely to slip in the shower in Britain than you are in America.

The US continues to apply flame-tests to UK-made soft furnishings, though our sofas are no more combustible than theirs. The American authorities are apparently so alarmed about a potential influx of British cauliflowers that they require these harmless vegetables to make landfall only in Miami.

Other European countries face very similar restrictions, and we must accept that we Europeans are far from guiltless ourselves. For decades we have had tariffs on American cars four times higher than they have had on ours. We have whipped up our populations into scientifically groundless phobias about American food. The EU still has its quaint insistence that Parmesan cheese and Parma ham must be made in Parma  which makes about as much sense as demanding that every hamburger in the world must be made in Hamburg.

We should be using our changed geo-political position to demolish this nonsense, and to become the worlds most dynamic and incorrigible campaigner for free trade and economic common sense.

We dont need these deliberately discriminatory and exclusionary systems of standards, which are largely created by lobbyists and special interest groups and are of no public benefit. We dont need tariffs, when our economic models are so similar, and when we all know that tariffs just hurt business and consumers on both sides.

We are in an ideal position to make the case to both sides. We are a 3trillion economy, with the biggest financial services sector and the biggest tech sector on our side of the Atlantic. We can help the Americans with the Byzantine complexities of the EU, because we literally know it inside out. We can help the Europeans to overcome their superstitions about America.

By strategically opening to both sides  as we are now doing  we can bring Europe and America together. The UK should now set up a transatlantic trade council, based in London, Brussels and Washington, with the aim of creating a zero-for-zero EU-UK-US tariff-free zone, combined with a programme for gradual mutual recognition of standards.

There is no need to harmonise, no need to create jumbo transatlantic regulatory bodies. All you need is a common sense recognition that goods deemed safe to be put on the market in the US are overwhelmingly likely to be safe to be put on the market in Europe, and vice versa.

Where there are residual anxieties, they can be solved by labelling. Remember  there is simply no need for most of these national or EU standards. There is a growing body of global safety standards  such as the Codex Alimentarius for food.

Get rid of these transatlantic barriers, and the benefits will be enormous. We will build up reliable and friendly supply chains between the democracies. We will grow our economies together. Above all, we will stand up together  as the West  to the challenge of China and its satellites.

When Xi Jinping met Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week, he was visibly the dominant partner. Together this autocratic duo will do anything they reasonably can  overtly or covertly  to undermine or destabilise the West.

They dont believe in democracy or political freedom. They saw what happened to the old Soviet Union. Putin thinks political freedom shattered his country. Xi thinks it would mean the same for his, in Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and so on.

So they keep going together with a mixture of internal repression and outward aggression: Putin with his Xi-enabled war in Ukraine, and his general campaigns of subversion, Xi with his mercantilist economics.

How do we deal with them? By uniting the West  strategically and economically. With its advantageous new trading position, and a foot in both camps, an independent Britain is uniquely placed to bring Europe and America gradually together.

That is just one of the reasons why it would be utter madness for Starmer now to try to bring us back into the orbit of the EU, as he seems to be planning to do. He should beware, and look at the polls.

If he submits to regulatory alignment with the EU, and makes us the non-voting punk of Brussels, he will face political extermination  you watch.

He will also make it impossible to achieve a real free trade deal with the US. He will thereby deprive this country of a historic mission: to help create a new transatlantic economic partnership, and unite the Western world.

Former US secretary of state Dean Acheson said that Britain had lost an empire and failed to find a role. Well, this is that role. But to perform it we need genuine regulatory freedom, and genuine control of our tariffs  and it is only Brexit that makes it all possible.
A new book festival is joining the likes of the failed Glasgow Willy Wonka experience, controversial Eras Tour event, and the infamous Fyre Fest after romance authors lost money and attendees complained bitterly all over social media.

A Million Lives Book Festival, a romantic fantasy book convention held at the Baltimore Convention Center over the weekend is getting slammed online for not delivering what it promised - it has since been nicknamed 'A Million Little Lies.'

The festival was marketed as a convention for readers of 'romantasy,' which is one of the most popular genres on BookTok, where book lovers talk about their favorite books on TikTok.

West Virginia-based author Grace Willows organized the event through her company Archer Management. It was described as 'the perfect event to make more bookish friends,' including a 'vendor hall, panels, a content creation room, fandom cosplay meet ups, a cosplay competition and a ball.' Ticket prices ranged from $50 to $250.

According to Archer Management, the company is 'here to host events to help build the bookish community' and supports 'traditionally and independently published authors.'

Grace's biography explains that books are her 'therapy' and have helped her meet 'so many amazing people in the bookish community.' She 'started this company' to share her love of reading 'with others and make them affordable so that anyone can attend.'

However, after the event, attendees flocked to social media to complain bitterly. Many of the authors said that while they were promised up to 1,000 attendees, there were very few people (according to Reddit, about 50 to 60), and they still had to pay for their own tables to sell books.

'I barely made enough to cover my f***ing parking for two days,' author Kait Disney-Leugers, who took a day off of work to participate, claimed in a TikTok, before saying that A Million Lives 'felt like the Fyre Fest of book festivals.'

A new book festival is joining the likes of the failed Glasgow Willy Wonka experience , controversial Eras Tour event, and the infamous Fyre Fest after romance authors lost money and attendees complained bitterly all over social media

Fantasy, mystery, and romance author Hope Davis created a viral Instagram thread about her experience, writing that 'authors were charged a $150 table fee and told at some point 500-600 tickets were sold. Only about 50 people showed up'

Kait has since made a video about the website created to help authors who were at the event raise money to financially recover.

Other TikToks, including the viral video shared by author Stephanie Combs, showcased no signage, no amenities, including the promised 'content creation room,' and a barely decorated room where the ball was supposed to be. Instead, women in lavish ball gowns looked downtrodden in a mostly empty conference room.

A content creator with the username Azthia Bookwyrm shared a video of what she nicknamed the 'A Million Let Downs Book Festival,' showcasing the vendor hall devoid of guests and $10 wine in plastic cups at the at the empty fantasy ball.

'Those poor introverts finally decided to leave their houses, and this is what happens. They're never leaving their houses again,' one commenter quipped.

One attendee on Reddit explained that they enjoyed meeting the authors and networking. However, they had to walk for miles to attend all of the events. When it came to the ball, they said 'the cleaning company came 15 minutes beforehand and couldn't be bothered to set up correctly.'

They also explained that the music went wrong because 'the DJ was hospitalized beforehand and couldn't find a replacement,' which is why a Bluetooth speaker was used instead, which they found unacceptable for $250 VIP tickets, along with a $600 hotel, as well as $70 parking.

'Yikes. This sounds like a bookish Fyre Festival,' one commenter responded. Another confirmed, 'I was one of the signing authors there. And yes, most (if not all) youre hearing is true.'

Fantasy, mystery, and romance author Hope Davis created a viral Instagram thread about her experience, writing that 'authors were charged a $150 table fee and told at some point 500-600 tickets were sold. Only about 50 people showed up.'

Other TikToks, including the viral video shared by author Stephanie Combs, showcased no signage, no amenities, and a barely decorated room where the ball was supposed to be

'I barely made enough to cover my f***ing parking for two days,' author Kait Disney-Leugers, who took a day off of work to participate, claimed in a TikTok

Hope also said that there were no promised swag bags, no decorations at the ball, and no official schedule of the panels.

'I took a huge loss on the weekend but at least I sold SOMETHING. I sent most of the 100 books I ordered for this event but I cant imagine what some authors are going through right now trying to ship books back or return them because they cant take them with them,' she said.

Grace later took to TikTok to apologize and promised a refund to people who asked for their money back. 'I do understand that the ball tonight was not up to standards. There were a lot of issues getting set up, and it was not set up well,' she said in the video.

Grace then turned off comments.

Daily Mail has reached out to Grace for comment.
Say hello to 'Office Siren', 'Costal Grandma' and 'Nancy Myers' inspired looks

With Australian Fashion Week set to kick off next week, Google has revealed the top trending 'aesthetic' searches lighting up the country.

The results, although surprising to some, are at least very wearable, and extremely comfortable.

It's not just models and stylists setting the tone anymore either - throw-back movies have also had a huge influence.

Searches for 'Coastal Grandma' have soared, with an uptick of 170 per cent this year as young Aussies swap hot nights for breezy beach walks and furry slippers.

The 'Nancy Meyers aesthetic' has exploded by the same amount, with fashion insiders putting it down to Australians dreaming of fresh-baked croissants, soft cashmere cardigans and a kitchen worthy of a Hollywood film set.

As for more corporate styles? Gen Z's have replaced 'Corporate cool' with 'Office Siren'.

The Y2K vibe is a hit with celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, who regularly don the look head-to-toe in pinstripe sets and knee-high boots.

Here's a full breakdown of all the looks Australians are trying to replicate right now, as well as the two trends that are 'so 2024'.

Office Siren: With Australian Fashion Week set to kick off next week, Google has revealed the top trending 'aesthetic' searches lighting up the country Pictured: Elsa Hosk

Nancy Myers

If you've seen the actresses in any Nancy Meyers' movies (i.e. Cameron Diaz in the The Holiday and Meryl Streep in It's Complicated), you'll already be familiar with this elevated, but comfy look.

It's time to lean into fitted marle knits, turtlenecks, luxe loafers, leather riding boots and coats, silk skirts and crisp button-down shirts.

The 'Nancy Myers' aesthetic pulls on the styles of her most famous movie characters (like Cameron Diaz in the The Holiday (pictured) and Meryl Streep in It's Complicated). Think elevated, with comfortable cashmere, turtlenecks, silk skirts and a very neutral colour tone. Pictured: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Coastal Grandma

Think of this style as a perfect mix of lifestyle and fashion trends combined.

Popularised on TikTok, 'Coastal Grandma' evokes a relaxed, elegant, and carefree vibe reminiscent of wealthy women living in picturesque seaside towns.

Think linen everything, relaxed fits, cosy knit cardigans, scuffed shearling slippers and the perfect basket bag to hit the farmers' market with.

Popularised on TikTok, 'Coastal Grandma' evokes a relaxed, elegant, and carefree vibe reminiscent of wealthy women living in picturesque seaside towns. Pictured: Skye Wheatley

Office Siren

The search for 'Office Siren' is up 90 per cent on Google.

And according to Pinterest Australia, it's the lovechild of 'corporate-core' (up 950 per cent) and 'geek chic' (up 870 per cent), which echoes the dark academia vibe with a touch of confidence.

Also dominating Pinterest searches are items like pinstriped pants (up 135 per cent), vests-and-skirt combos (up 160 per cent), and heeled boots.

The search for 'Office Siren' is already up 90% on Google, with this year's Met Gala encapsulating the aesthetic perfectly with the theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style'. Pictured: Kendall Jenner (left) and Hailey Bieber (right) at the Met Gala 2025

Pinterest has also noticed a significant rise in searches for items like pinstriped pants, vests-and-skirt combos, and heeled boots. Pictured: SABO Lavara Top ($98) and Skirt ($98), Billini Nakoa Chocolate Boots ($139.95)

A handy hack: Shopping made easier

For those not in the know, if an item online catches your eye, Google Lens is a little-known trick that can save you time and money.

Just like Shazam (for music), it can be used for anything you can see - even if you don't know the brand name or how to describe the style or pattern.

The function works by toggling across to a separate tab on the Google home page.

Simply open Lens and point your camera to search for items, find similar pieces, see how other people have styled it, and compare pricing.

If an item online catches your eye, Google have created a handy shopping tool called Google Lens. Just like Shazam (for music), it can be used for anything you can see - even if you don't know the brand name or how to describe the style or pattern

You can also snap or screenshot a pattern or fabric and then use Lens or the Lens feature in Google Photos to find items in a similar style.

Cleverly, it can also show users new ways to style clothes they already own, like that vintage cardigan at the back of the wardrobe. Perfect for the time poor, or just fashion averse.

Simply snap a pic and use Lens to see how others wear similar items
Sweet-toothed shoppers have spotted a new chocolate bar on B&M shelves across the UK - with many describing the treat as 'amazing'.

The Aero Coconut flavour sharing bar was launched at the end of last month, much to the delight of chocoholics.

However, coconut fans should be aware that the bar is limited edition, so they won't have forever to sample the snack.

According to a release from Nestle Confectionery, the limited-edition bar will be part of the Aero Lost Bubbles campaign where the brand is offering a 10,000 prize for each bubble-less pack found by shoppers as part of its latest promotion.

Cat Mews, Brand Manager for Aero at Nestle UK & Ireland, said: 'The new Aero Coconut sharing bar invites consumers to indulge in a delightful experience that celebrates the joy of sharing.

'Launching as part of the Lost Bubbles campaign we are excited for customers to try something new with a chance to win.'

Sharing their delight at finding the bar, chocolate fans took to the NewFoodsUK Facebook group, to post their thoughts on the 'amazing' treat.

One wrote: 'OMG! THIS LOOKS AMAZING.'

The limited edition Aero Coconut sharing bar has been described as 'amazing' by sweet-toothed shoppers

Another added: 'I had one and it was AMAZING!!! i NEED more!!!'

In a similar vein, a third wrote: 'Had this today it's b***** amazing.'

'I actually loved this,' wrote another.

A further Facebook user agreed, saying: 'They sell them most places and are yummy nicer than Bounty not as sweet.'

'It is delicious we loved it,' added another.

The new Aero follows other limited edition flavours launched by the brand.

Last year, it released two sharing bars Aero Strawberry flavour and Aero Choco-Hazelnut, as well as an Aero Peppermint gifting bar.

It comes after Nestle revealed that price of multiple popular chocolate bars could soar in the UK, with KitKats, Yorkie bars, and Aeros among the sweet treats that could soon cost consumers more.

Multiple snackers described the Aero Coconut bar as 'amazing', with others saying it was 'delicious'

According to Nestle, this is because of increasing commodity costs, which means that it is more expensive to make its products. The conglomerate revealed that while it has already raised its prices this year, further increases come be coming.

Prices of chocolate have risen in general over recent years, with consumers facing an almost 50 per cent increase.

This is due to both increasing prices and shrinking portion sizes - dubbed 'shrinkflation' by some.

Last month, it was reported that shrinkflation had hit Cadbury's chocolate again, as multipacks of Dairy Milks were cut by two bars - but the price stayed the same. The 22 per cent reduction means packs which previously weighed 244.8g are now 190.4g, but are still around 3 - with each individual bar costing an extra 10p.

Shoppers reacted furiously to the change, with one posting on X: 'Shrinkflation has gotten so bad the chocolate can stay forever on the shelf from this day onwards.'

Manufacturer Mondelez International blamed increases in cocoa and dairy prices for the size change, as well as rising transport and energy costs.

Ellie Macsymons, finance expert at money-saving site NetVoucherCodes, said: 'Customers will, understandably, react negatively to Dairy Milk charging similar prices for 22 per cent less chocolate per product.

'Shrinkflation is causing loyal customers to feel frustrated because they are essentially getting less value for their money, especially from a trusted brand they have bought from for decades.

'However, while some customers may switch to chocolate brand alternatives that offer better value for money, it may be the case that there is a lot of 'reluctant acceptance' from dedicated Dairy Milk fans.

'The current shrinkflation situation may not entirely dissuade its customers, but if this trend continues, then there may be further fallout for the chocolate brand.'

A Mondelez International spokesperson said: 'We understand the economic pressures that consumers continue to face and any changes to our product sizes is a last resort for our business.

'However, as a food producer, we are continuing to experience significantly higher input costs across our supply chain, with ingredients such as cocoa and dairy, which are widely used in our products, costing far more than they have done previously.

'Meanwhile, other costs like energy and transport, also remain high. This means that our products continue to be much more expensive to make and while we have absorbed these costs where possible, we still face considerable challenges.

'As a result of this difficult environment, we have had to make the decision to slightly reduce the weight of our Cadbury Dairy Milk multipacks so that we can continue to provide consumers with the brands they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect.'
A bride has revealed how why ditched a traditional wedding dress and decided to get married in a Juicy Couture tracksuit instead.

Ianthe Rose, got hitched at Wandsworth Town Hall to the love of her life and she decided to opt for an unconventional cosy ensemble.

Taking to her TikTok @iantherose she shared snaps from the wedding day which saw her don the velvet 90's style tracksuit which featured the word Juicy bejewelled on the bottom.

The model completed the look with 90's style tinted sunglasses and chic pointed toe heels.

She said she opted for the choice 'to be comfy' and after the ceremony went to Wandsoworth Town Hall for 'chips and champagne'.

Meanwhile her husband also opted for a laid back ensemble in cream chinos and a grey T-shirt.

The beauty captioned the post:, which gained over 195,000 views: 'This is your sign to get married in a Juicy tracksuit. When I tell you I've never been more comfy.'

The loved up couple posed on the steps of the court house for their wedding snaps in the unconventional outfits.

Taking to the comments Ianthe explained that they didn't want a regular wedding.

Ianthe Rose revealed she ditched a traditional wedding dress on her big day and decided to get married in a Juicy Couture tracksuit

Ianthe got hitched at Wandsworth Town Hall to the love of her life and she decided to opt for an unconventional cosy ensemble

'We needed to get married at a registry because we don't want a formal wedding and are not having a registrar, and we're not religious so not getting married at a church,

'We want it to be chilled', the bride added.

Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on the tradition-breaking outfits, with some questioning the choice.

One person wrote: 'Girl, stand up, you're way too old for being like this.'

Another added: 'Oh come oooon, they didnt really get married. All we see here is them walking and some random guy throwing some petals.'

However the majority of comments called the outfit choice 'iconic' with people saying she looked 'chic.'

One person simply wrote: 'Iconic actually.'

Another said: 'Stop this is such a slay you look chiiiiiic'

Someone else added: 'Going on my vision board RN this is too iconic!!!! p.s you are giving 2000s Angelina Jolie.'

A fourth added: 'I fear this is top tier iconic behaviour actually'

Taking to her TikTok @iantherose she shared snaps from the wedding day which saw her don the velvet 90's style tracksuit which featured the word Juicy bejewelled on the bottom

The model completed the look with 90's style tinted sunglasses and chic pointed toe heels

Meanwhile her husband also opted for a laid back ensemble in cream chinos and a grey T-shirt

The loved up couple posed on the steps of the court house for their wedding snaps in the unconventional outfits

The beauty captioned the post:, which gained over 195,000 views: 'This is your sign to get married in a Juicy tracksuit. When I tell you I've never been more comfy'

Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on the tradition-breaking outfits, with some questioning the choice

It comes after a bride was trolled by strangers who called her 'trashy' after she wore a cream wedding dress with a black bra on her big day.

Basak, 33, opted for a bustier maxi dress with Gucci leather pumps during an intimate civil ceremony in front of 15 guests on March 29 at Hackney Town Hall, London.

She decided to wear a gown with the straps and top of the cups of a black bra visible over the neckline - as she felt it was 'chic'.

After tying the knot with partner, Goksu, also 33, the newlyweds were excited to share photos and videos from their big day on social media - but Basak says she received a backlash for her choice of dress.

Trolls were quick to comment on her unique choice - dubbing her outfit 'tacky', 'trashy', and 'disgusting,' leaving Basak feeling 'bullied'.

The bride, from London, said: 'I only had 200 followers back then.

'A couple of people started to write that there's something wrong with my dress. At first I was really, really surprised. I didn't think anyone would comment on the dress.

'People were saying you cannot wear black to your wedding, they [wedding dresses] are white for a reason.

'Mostly they were saying my bra was showing and it was revealing - they said it was inappropriate.

Basak decided to wear a gown with the straps and top of the cups of a black bra visible over the neckline - as she felt it was 'chic'

Trolls were quick to comment on her unique choice - dubbing her outfit 'tacky', 'trashy', and 'disgusting,' leaving Basak feeling 'bullied'

'"It's not a fit for a wedding'" some people were saying, "Have you dressed in the dark?". It was comfortable and felt like me.

'I wanted something from the high street, but something unique and I hadn't seen this dress on anyone else.

'I deleted some of the comments - the ones that were saying it was disgusting and horrible - because it was bothering me and making me unhappy.'

On the day itself, Basak says she 'felt amazing'.

She said: 'I felt great on the day and then I got the photos and felt so much joy. I was shocked, I didn't expect such backlash.

'It didn't ever cross my mind that someone would not love my dress or say nasty things about my dress.'

Basak bought her wedding dress from high street brand Because Of Alice for just 130.

With the couple due to have a big wedding in Milan, Italy, in July 2025, the bride 'didn't want to spend thousands'.

She excitedly shared some snippets from their civil ceremony online and quickly received almost 200,000 views - but became 'upset' at the comments section.

Basak shared clips of her wedding online and was subject to strangers slating her outfit choice

Family and friends 'loved' Basak's wedding dress on the day and told her, 'It's so you'

Basak bought her wedding dress from high street brand Because Of Alice for just 130

Basak said: 'They were mostly anonymous users.

'They said they hated our look - because it was black and secondly because the bra was showing.

'Most of the people saying these things are entitled to have an opinion, but it doesn't mean you can make hurtful comments to others.

'It was upsetting at first, but after I posted a follow up video about how I felt bullied more positive vibes came along and people were defending me.

'Most of the people were saying 'it looks amazing', 'you look chic', 'they don't understand the style'.

'It is funny a bit in a sense - the internet is a funny place. I don't care what people think.'

Family and friends 'loved' Basak's dress on the day and told her, 'It's so you'.

'One even said 'I sent your pic to one of my closest friends and it was the best dress ever,' she said.

'Everyone except these people online loved it - because they know me and my personal style.

'My only advice [to other brides] would be to not care what others think if it makes you happy.'
It's now wildly successful... and Holden has done it all on his own

A teenager who launched his own clothing line at age 12 has revealed how he is now turned it into a booming business all on his own.

Holden Bierman, 17, from a small town in North Carolina, said he became 'hooked on the idea of selling' when he was only five years old after he helped out at his family yard sale.

Then, in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and schools shut down, he realized he had a ton of 'extra time' on his hands.

And instead of using it to play video games or watch TV like most 12-year-olds would, he decided he wanted to 'start something' that would make an impact.

That's when he launched Coastal Cool, which makes swimwear from recycled plastic bottles.

Flash forward to five years later and it's now wildly successful... and Holden has done it all by himself.

As the company's only employee, the teen spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com about how he transformed it into a booming business - while balancing school and dealing with negative comments from his peers as well as unfair treatment from adults who didn't take him seriously.

'Whether it was something small or big, I was always looking for a way to get something out there,' Holden explained to DailyMail.com of his childhood.

A teenager who launched his own clothing line at age 12 has revealed how he's now turned it into a booming business all on his own

Holden Bierman, 17, from a small town in North Carolina, said he became 'hooked on the idea of selling' when he was only five years old after he helped out at his family yard sale

'I wasn't really interested in video games or typical kid stuff. I was drawn to the adult world, talking to people older than me, and figuring out how things worked.'

In 2020, after spending hours inside due to the pandemic, the idea for Coastal Cool hit him.

He created a 'basic business plan' and pitched it to his parents.

'I didn't have a big fancy plan, but I created a simple Google Slide presentation with my goals, vision, and what I needed to get started,' he explained.

'It was a total mess. [But it came from] pure boredom, and what I believe was my attempt to escape from the chaos that was happening in that time.

'That's how Coastal Cool began - a young kid's dream to make something real during a crazy time.'

Holden's parents were 'supportive,' and gave him $500 and helped him set up the 'basic foundation.'

'My parents helped me get the LLC and set up the legal framework to make the business official, that was it,' he said.

In 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and schools shut down, he realized he had a ton of 'extra time' on his hands. so he decided to 'start something' that would make an impact

That's when he launched Coastal Cool, which makes swimwear from recycled plastic bottles, and it's now wildly successful. A model is seen posing in a Coastal Cool swimsuit

Holden admitted that he had 'no idea what he was really doing' - but he 'had a vision' and was 'determined' to see it come to life.

He said he got to work on learning everything he could about running a business from YouTube videos, TikTok content, podcasts, and web forums.

'You can essentially learn anything online, from people who have actually done it,' he explained.

'Podcasts were a huge piece of my knowledge, listening in on other entrepreneurs and their failures, what they did do, what they didn't do, what they would do differently.

'I've had to learn everything - marketing, website building, managing products, and distribution - all by myself.

'I built the entire Shopify website from scratch, creating the initial designs and figuring out the social media marketing.

'A lot of my experience came from trial and error. It wasn't easy, but I was motivated to turn my vision and passion into something real.'

Holden explained that he didn't want to just 'build something for himself,' but he also wanted to 'create something that would make an impact' on the world.

As the company's only employee, the teen spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com about how he transformed it into a booming business. A model is seen posing in a Coastal Cool swimsuit

Holden said he did it all balancing school and dealing with negative comments from his peers and unfair treatment from adults who didn't take him seriously

'I researched everything, I wanted a brand that felt good, and did good I wanted fabrics that people desired to wear, and sport both on and off the beach,' he continued.

'It's not just a business. It's a mission to promote sustainability, create some pretty cool beachwear and bring the escape of paradise to people everywhere.'

He admitted that it was certainly 'hard to be taken seriously' at first due to his age, and even his peers in middle school 'thought he was crazy.'

'Many adults looked at me the same way - they thought I was too young to be serious about a business,' he shared.

'But even though it was tough, I knew deep down that I had to follow my vision. No matter what anyone said, I kept pushing forward.'

Holden began by making T-shirts and hoodies before he eventually shifted his focus to swimwear.

Over time, he said he started to slowly gain 'more attention and traction.'

In 2023, a local newspaper featured the brand, which he described as his 'first big break.'

After that, local TV networks, and larger magazines and media outlets began to take notice.

Then, in April 2024, he was featured in Forbes, which changed everything for him.

'Today, Coastal Cool has grown way beyond what I initially imagined, and that sense of purpose and impact has been the driving force behind it all,' he gushed.

Coastal Cool's products are made from 90 percent recycled polyester, crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and 10 percent spandex. A model is seen in a Coastal Cool swimsuit

In the end, Holden said he hopes that he can prove that 'age doesn't limit what you can accomplish'

Balancing school with running his business has been a 'challenge.'

He's currently the only employee at Coastal Cool, which means he has to do everything on his own, all while making sure he shows up for his classes.

'It's a lot of work, but [over time] I've learned how to manage my time better,' he shared.

'I have a flexible schedule, I am in my junior year of high school I go to school for two classes, then I go home and do two online college courses - this allows me to grow as a high school student, and pursue my future education with a head start.

'It can be stressful at times, but the key is finding that balance and staying organized. If it's truly your passion, you will do anything to make it become a reality.'

Coastal Cool's products are made from 90 percent recycled polyester, crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and 10 percent spandex.

'They are a lightweight, breathable, made to move fabric. With UPF 50+ sun protection, and fast-drying technology - our fabrics transcend time,' he explained.

As for what's next for Holden, he said his focus is 'expanding beyond e-commerce and into in-person retail.'

In the end, he said he hopes that he can prove that 'age doesn't limit what you can accomplish.'

'I started Coastal Cool when I was 12 years old, with $500, a vision, and a goal. Now, at 17, I'm about to leave my junior year of high school, and I've built a thriving business that's making a difference in the world,' he concluded.

'I want other young people to know that they can start their own businesses, follow their passions, and make their dreams come true.

'It won't always be easy, but if you stay focused, stay passionate, and keep working hard, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.'
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just can't quit making headlines.

But before Harry's bombshell BBC interview last week threatened to open old wounds with the Royal Family, Meghan's appearance on her friend Jamie Kern Lima's podcast was making noise for other reasons.

Indeed, one major point of intrigue from the duchess's 90-minute chat with the IT Cosmetics founder was Meghan's claim that she was born to do what she's doing today.

'Someone said to me last year, when I sat down, they said, 'Well, you know, this is your soul contract. You signed up for this. You signed up for this before you were here',' she told Jamie.

Is Meghan saying her 'soul contract' is to fulfil her destiny by embracing the spotlight through a Netflix deal, lifestyle brand and podcast?

If so, it would be written in her stars!

As Princess Diana's astrologer, I can definitively say Meghan was literally born to attract attention.

It is indeed her soul contract, as laid out in her astrological birth chart.

As Princess Diana's astrologer, I can definitively say Meghan was literally born to attract attention.

Meghan was born on August 4, 1981 at 4.46 am in Los Angeles, California - which makes her a Leo, a showy Sun sign. At the time, I wrote that Harry was marrying a 'firecracker' who would need to be center stage and make a name for herself in her own right.

Every soul has a contract, or a destiny, which they need to fulfil during their life on Earth  and Meghan is no different.

Looking to the immediate future and the year ahead, I can see we're approaching something of a turning point for Meghan, with her stars revealing that 2025 marks a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her to forge her own path and make a huge impact.

But it could also cause trouble in her relationship with Prince Harry with their soul contracts soon pulling them in opposite directions.

I have been working on Royal charts for decades and had the privilege of being Princess Diana's personal astrologer from 1989 until her death in 1997.

Diana was an incredibly spiritual person and hugely interested in astrology, so we would often talk about the charts of all members of the Royal Family.

In her husband Charles, for example, she recognised that his need for secrecy was a typically Scorpio quality.

Many people have asked me if I foresaw anything 'bad' prior to Diana's death but it's unethical to either look for or predict death (astrology is primarily a healing tool rather than a psychic one).

Diana and I did, however, discuss the seismic eclipse that was coming up on September 1, 1997  the date she was due to return from Paris and be reunited with her boys.

I knew something big was going to happen around that day and, in my experience, eclipses are often portents of major Royal events. Diana and Charles were married on one and both William and Kate were born on one.

The Princess had hoped that the eclipse in September 1997 might mean something positive but, sadly, it foretold one of the most tragic days in history: Diana died the night before the eclipse.

It wasn't the last time I would foresee something troubling for the Royal Family.

Astrologer Debbie Frank was Princess Diana's personal astrologer from 1989 until her death in 1997.

Before Meghan's wedding to Harry in May 2018, I was asked to write about her birth chart.

Meghan was born on August 4, 1981 at 4.46 am in Los Angeles, California  which makes her a Leo, a showy Sun sign.

At the time, I wrote that Harry was marrying a 'firecracker' who would need to be center stage and make a name for herself in her own right.

Privately, I wondered if she would ever fit into the strictures of the Royal Family, unable to be Queen of her own domain.

My work as an astrologer has led me to focus on soul contracts  they are the subject of my latest book, Who You Came Here To Be  and, from looking at Meghan's birth chart, I can see that, rather than being a Royal wife in the traditional sense, it was her destiny to create her own place in the world.

Her North Node (the key significator of the soul contract) is in Leo in the 1st house position, which means it really is all about her.

Now back in California, she will certainly gain more confidence and self-esteem from doing her own thing instead of walking several steps behind Kate and William.

Meghan's chart also places her Moon close to Jupiter and Saturn in Libra, which means she experiences an 'up and down' quality to her life.

The Duchess is no stranger to life's downs: her parents' divorce, her own failed first marriage and her tumultuous exit from the Royal Family.

Yet she works hard to find a way to gain favor and opportunities, and is emerging with her own brand  though that, in itself, has been met with the classically Jupiter/Saturn marmite response from the public.

While she can reach a large audience, her Moon's closeness to Saturn suggests she is always under scrutiny and feels criticism strongly.

In many ways, no matter what she achieves, she will always feel the need to prove herself more.

This planetary combination drives her onwards in an unrelenting quest to be loved.

No one person or audience could be enough.

Ultimately, she may say she wants to 'make a difference' but, truly, the real difference she needs to make is to herself: to temper the ego and need for adulation from the outside world, and replace it with inner self-love.

It is unclear whether Meghan will continue with her current ventures  her Netflix cookery show, her lifestyle brand and her new podcast  but it almost doesn't matter what arena she chooses, the important point will always be for her is to shine.

She will always move on to the next way to 'get out there' and achieve fame and fortune.

Her ambitions will only get bigger. For in 2026, Pluto will oppose her Mercury and she will be more determined than ever to be a powerful media star.

For now, even though her recent ventures have received mixed reviews, Meghan's star remains in the ascendant and she will get a boost from abundant Jupiter crossing over her Mars later this Summer.

She really needs to make the most of that and capitalize on another opportunity later in the year when Jupiter moves on to her Rising Sign, thrusting her even further into the limelight.

She is then due to face some troubled waters in 2026 which involve a major reality check.

It seems to me that Meghan is keenly aware of her own soul contract and is forging onwards with a purposeful sense of direction. The same cannot be said of her husband.

From Harry's chart, it looks as if he's lost himself in recent years under Neptune's dispiriting influence.

Volatile, reactive Uranus has also been on his Moon putting him at loggerheads with his family. He's been side-tracked by so many battles.

It's been non-stop rebellion and as Uranus is due to electrify his North Node in June for a 10-month period, will he get a wake-up call as to what matters most in life?

As a Virgo, born September 15, Prince Harry is easily pushed into a subservient role, a bit part in someone else's story and, since moving to America, that's what he's become in his marriage to leading lady Meghan.

Virgos thrive on the concept of service and Harry needs to anchor himself in this again.

The military suited his earthy nature, something his mother and I talked about when he was just a young boy.

He needs to ground himself in reality, and apply himself to meaningful work - otherwise he is in danger of getting swept up into Meghan's goals and ambitions which don't align with his own soul contract.

Harry's North Node is in stable Taurus  in the 4th house of family, home and inner well-being.

These are areas where Harry should settle his heart.

Instead, he is constantly pulling himself back to the opposite point of South Node in Scorpio which spells drama.

Straight after last week's legal ruling, for example, Harry spoke to the BBC about his desire for 'reconciliation' with King Charles in particular.

He yearns for it, whilst at the same time sabotaging it!

It seems as if Meghan and Harry's differing soul contracts are pulling them in opposite directions.

Meghan needs to further herself  while Harry needs to reconnect with his country and family. Whether this is even possible with so much water under the royal bridge remains to be seen. Hopefully, fate will find a way.

'Who You Came Here to Be' by Debbie Frank is out now (published by Hay House)
Fashion pundits may be adamant that the dress is dead. But as guests at yesterdays service proved, every womans favourite spring wardrobe staple is very much alive and kicking.

So allied to dresses is the Princess of Wales that she wears her favourites not merely once, but repeatedly  as evidenced by the latest re-wear of her asymmetric polka-dot dress by Alessandra Rich.

Although given its 1,970 price tag, its understandable she would want to get her moneys worth out of the dress, which she teamed with a hat by Juliette Millinery.

Her 635 gold Celia pumps, by Ralph Lauren, were also a re-wear, as was her 330 Nano Montreal DeMellier bag.

Despite no longer being encumbered by the same price sensitivity that governed her wardrobe choices while husband Rishi Sunak was prime minister, Akshata Murty toted a Multrees wallet handbag by Strathberry (295).

Her tweed pencil skirt and matching top (both 420) by the London-based brand Jane  formerly known as Goat  was another relatively affordable choice for a woman with a combined estimated net worth of 651million.

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty attend the Thanksgiving Service to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh were also in attendence

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron and Samantha Cameron arrive at the service

Lady Victoria Starmer arrives at Westminster Abbey for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day Service

Also in thrifty mode was Samantha Cameron, whose expenditure was even less, since one of the perks of designing your own label, Cefinn, is being able to wear it for free.

She teamed her Jacquetta lace maxi dress (360) with a matching wide-brimmed Alice boater by milliner Jess Collett. Since the hat was part of a collaboration with Cefinn, its 1,250 price tag was likely immaterial.

Lady (Victoria) Starmer also opted to match her hat with her dress, although on close inspection it turned out to be a skirt and top, both by Roksanda.

Her kingfisher maxi skirt is 278, while her matching draped top is now 198.

In this sea of sartorial parsimony, only two lone fish swam against the tide. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, opted for a dress by Beulah (750), suede Prada shoes (820) and a G. Collins diamond set infinity pendant (4,480).

Queen Camilla wore a new custom-made overcoat with a blanket stitch detail, by Anna Valentine, teamed with a Philip Treacy hat and a 4,900 bracelet by one of her favourite jewellers, Van Cleef & Arpels.
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When you're one of the world's top models, you don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day.

That's what Linda Evangelista opined in her famous 1990 Vogue interview, a quote that would define the cultural phenomenon of the 'supermodel' and assert modelling as one of the few professions in which women could expect to earn much more than men.

In today's money, this would mean Evangelista, who turns 60 tomorrow, wouldn't be rising from her Vispring mattress for less than $24,000 (18,000).

But when you're being photographed by Steven Meisel, one of the most legendary fashion photographers of the 20th century, the prestige is as important as the paycheck.

Only Meisel could entice 50 of the world's most famous models out of their beds and into the studio for such an impressive group shot, with no AI trickery in sight.

Which designer deity or lauded luxury label warranted this Herculean feat of commitment and organisation? Armani? Prada? Chanel?

In fact, the reason Linda, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Twiggy, Eva Herzigova, Paulina Porizkova and Penelope Tree (to name just a few) were moved to clear their diaries and show up on time in the same New York studio is because of high street chain Zara.

Not only show up at the same time and same place, but joyously dance and sing along to 1977 disco classic I Feel Love as Meisel captured the performance.

Fashion photographer Steven Meisel brought together 50 of the world's most famous models for such an impressive group shot to celebrate Zara's 50th anniversary on the high street

According to an insider on the shoot, Oldham-born model Karen Elson, 46, belted out the Donna Summer song as Victoria's Secret model Irina Shayk, 39, vigorously shimmied along.

British shoppers first encountered the Spanish brand in 1998, when it opened its first UK store on London's Regent Street.

So it may come as a surprise that everyone's favourite purveyor of affordable catwalk trends, viral dresses and reasonably priced office attire celebrates its 50th anniversary today.

It was on May 9, 1975, that businessman Amancio Ortega opened the first Zara store in A Coruna, in Galicia, Spain. Zara boasts 5,815 stores in 98 countries, as well as serving 214 markets online.

Now 89, Ortega is the second richest retailer in the world and the tenth richest person, with an estimated net worth of $121 billion (91 billion), says Forbes.

Ortega's daughter, Marta Ortega Perez, 41, has marked the occasion with a film, shot by Meisel, featuring the 50 iconic models wearing items from Zara's new collection.

Staples include an elegant black tuxedo jacket (139), a classic white shirt (45.99), a simple vest top (17.99) and a raft of trousers (from 39) that will work for the office and beyond.

Everything comes in chic, monochromatic shades to ensure maximum wearability, which is really what Zara has focused on all along.

Linda Evangelista (pictured here on the Milan catwalk for Versace in 1995) once said in a famous Vogue interview that as a supermodel you don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day

Also featured in the shoot, a who's who of the modeling A-list of the last 40 years, was Oldham-born model Karen Elson, 46 (pictured)

Peek inside the average woman's wardrobe and there's likely to be a disproportionate number of Zara items hanging there. Yes, British women loved Topshop, but Zara has functioned as its more grown-up, exotic European cousin.

Throughout the early Noughties, its main draw was that it produced catwalk-inspired pieces for fashion lovers who couldn't afford high fashion's price tags.

Finding a dead ringer for a Celine coat for 79 and announcing 'it's Zara' became a badge of honour; a purchase that marked you out as a savvy shopper with a keen eye.

With the price of luxury labels now hiked higher than ever, Zara's original mandate still holds true, and shoppers still go there to furnish their wardrobes with items whose designer equivalents now cost the price of a used car (and, in some cases, a new one).

But while Zara might still be inspired by catwalk trends, it also spawns its own. Who can forget 'The Dress' of summer 2019, a 39.99 black and white polkadot creation so popular that it garnered its own Instagram account?

On TikTok, meanwhile, Zara is riding high among a new generation of shoppers for whom catwalk trends are of far less interest than what their peers are wearing.

For Gen Z, this season's viral hits include a pair of brown chiffon sequin trousers (39.99) and a sleeveless tie-front top (22.99).

Although Gen Z's real obsession is with Zara perfumes. On any given morning, parents of teenage girls may find themselves overly acquainted with the scent of Fashionably London and Red Temptation (22.99).

Naomi Campbell was among the modelling royalty who featured in Zara's star-studded anniversary photoshoot

Iconic British model Dame Lesley Lawson AKA Twiggy was another familiar face on the wall of icons

Zara certainly isn't perfect. It's hard to argue that you aren't a key part of the fast fashion epidemic when you're producing an estimated 20,000 new styles every year; a total of about 450 million garments.

But Marta Ortega Perez, the non-executive chair of the brand's parent company Inditex, insists Zara is placed outside the fast fashion sphere because of its focus on quality, sustainability and responsible manufacturing.

It's for the customer to decide whether Zara is worthy of their custom. For its devoted fans, collaborations with Kate Moss and perfumier Jo Malone have proved impossible to resist. Now, they have the added spectacle of 50 supermodels donning their latest collection.

For Twiggy, 75, in particular, it was a full-circle moment. After waiting all night for her to exit a New York club in her 1960s heyday, Meisel first shot the legendary British model, who is five years his senior, when he was a mere 13 years old.

As the man who launched many of their careers, Meisel was the ideal photographer to capture the moment. And, while its models might not wake up for less than $10,000, Zaraphiles will happily set their alarms to bag these new pieces.
Customers are rushing to Aldi Australia to grab a limited edition $4.99 sweet treat before it sells out.

The discount supermarket has released a delicious Biscoff mousse as part of a new Autumn range.

The tasty dessert is made with a Biscoff crumb base, middle layer of Biscoff mousse and topped with a thick layer of Biscoff spread.

Melbourne foodie Nectro Vlangos, better known as Nectorious Papi online, described the latest offering as a 'Biscoff overload from bottom to top'.

'It's heaven in a cup,' he said.

Sydney vlogger Samantha Khater also raved about the buy on TikTok and dubbed it 10/10 as it's 'full of flavour'.

On Facebook hundreds praised the buy and recommended it as a 'must', but some claimed it was 'too sweet'.

'So good but very sickly by the end,' one wrote.

The discount supermarket has released a delicious Biscoff mousse as part of a new Autumn range. Melbourne foodie Nectro Vlangos, better known as Nectorious Papi online (pictured), described the latest offering as a 'Biscoff overload from bottom to top'

Product pictured

'Just like with our Special Buys range, we always look to surprise and delight our customers when we add deliciousness to our Limited Time Only range,' ALDI Shopping Expert, Kylie Warnke, said.

'This selection is all about treating your friends, family and yourself with quality meals, tasty treats and desserts without breaking the budget.'

In addition to the Food Envy Mousse with Biscoff Spread, Aldi has also released more than 250 other items this month including Sweet Haven Apple Pie Spring Rolls ($4.99), Toblerone Lava Cakes ($4.99) Ready, Set.. Cook! Beef Stir Fry Meal Kit ($13.99).

In March Aldi brought back its popular cast-iron cookware range that's been compared to high-end French brand Le Creuset.

Aldi's famous Crofton cookware collection will return to the 'Special Buys' middle aisle from March 12, while stock lasts.

Sydney vlogger Samantha Khater also raved about the buy on TikTok and dubbed it 10/10 as it's 'full of flavour'. The product is only available for a limited time

The range features a 24cm frypan ($9.99), 40cm frypan ($12.99) mini pots and pans ($4.99), containers ($9.99) and kitchen utensils ($1.99).

The budget retailer caused a frenzy among shoppers when the range sold out previously - and it's likely to happen again.

The affordable products have been likened to the look and quality of Le Creuset, which costs hundreds of dollars.

The $4.99 mini pan looks similar to the $410 Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Saucepan while the $9.99 frypan resembles the $320 Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Frying Pan.

The cookware range will be available in red, green and blue, and the containers and utensils are dishwasher safe.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark has been hospitalised after contracting a cold, the royal household has revealed.

The 85-year-old, who abdicated in January in favour of her son, King Frederick X, was admitted to Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.

The royal, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth, is in hospital for observation as a precautionary measure.

She has also cleared her schedule of upcoming engagements, including yesterday's visit to the Sankt Lukas Foundation's 125th anniversary celebration, People reported.

'HM Queen Margrethe admitted to Rigshospitalet,' the palace wrote, adding, 'As a result of the cold that H.M. Queen Margrethe has contracted, it has been decided that the Queen will be admitted to Rigshospitalet for observation as a precaution.

Her Majesty, known for her chain-smoking and love of dachshunds, was last seen on Sunday during a church service in connection with the 80th anniversary of Denmark's liberation.

Despite resigning in 2023, the monarch remains active and performs royal duties alongside her son.

Margrethe shocked the nation with the announcement of her abdication during her New Year's Eve live television segment.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has been admitted to hospital after contracting a cold (seen in Copenhagen on Sunday)

Just 14 days later, Margrethe, who ruled for 52 years, signed away the throne at a Council of State meeting and her son, Frederik, was crowned King of Denmark.

She said one of the reasons why she chose to give up the throne was because of her health issues, adding that she underwent surgery for her back in February 2023.

Margrethe said: 'It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.'

She is still known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and can fill in as regent if King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian are abroad, ill or on holiday.

Just one week after giving up the crown, the royal went to a special church service at Aarhus Cathedral with her son, King Frederik and his wife Queen Mary.

In Denmark, formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above partisan politics, representing the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national day celebrations.

Born in 1940, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality, the Prime Minster has previously described her as 'the epitome of Denmark'.

The monarch hit the headlines in 2022 when she removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim.

The royal is in the Copenhagen-based hospital as a precautionary measure (seen at Princess Isabella of Denmark's birthday celebrations in April)

The Danish Queen (right) was succeeded by her eldest son Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Mary

She enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria, having bonded during several state visits to each other's countries down the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor.

The six-feet-tall Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unescorted and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer.

A keen skier, she was a member of a Danish women's air force unit as a princess, taking part in judo courses and endurance tests in the snow.

In 2011, at age 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan wearing a military jumpsuit.

As monarch, she crisscrossed the country and regularly visited Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories which are part of the Danish Realm, and was met everywhere by cheering crowds.

Denmark has Europe's oldest ruling monarchy, which traces its line back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Margrethe is head of state, the Danish Constitution strictly ruled out her involvement in party politics.

Margrethe was born a week after Nazi Germany had invaded Denmark. The occupation meant that the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes.

She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, after the death of her father.

In her broadcast on New Year's Eve, Queen Margrethe II stated: 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.'

She is a chain smoker and is so 'normal' that she shops in the supermarket - but Queen Margrethe of Denmark is also the longest-reigning head of state in Europe. Above: The Queen lighting up in 1997 (left); and attending the annual New Year's dinner at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen in January 2023

Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972

But, although she was his eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive until 1953, when Denmark's constitution was amended to allow women to inherit the throne.

That followed a referendum in which more than 85 per cent of participants voted to allow female succession.

She was married in 1967 to a Frenchman, Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, later styled as Prince Henrik. They had two sons, Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim.

Despite enjoying a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been pushed aside in his own home by his wife.

Prince Henrik died in 2018 aged 83.

On the day she became monarch, she appeared on the balcony of Denmark's Christiansborg Palace and pledged her allegiance to the nation.
Kate looked typically stylish at the concert in her white Self Portrait blazer dress

The Princess of Wales made a touching tribute with her jewellery of choice as she joined Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday evening.

Attending the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, Kate, 43, appeared to subtly honour Holocaust victims with her accessories.

The mother-of-three decided to team her all-white Self Portrait blazer dress with a five-strand pearl necklace from a celebrated Jewish vintage jewellery curator.

Kate first wore the faux accessory from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan when she attended the Holocaust Memorial Service in January.

Sharing a post on Instagram, the curator said: 'We are honoured that the Princess of Wales has chosen to wear our earrings and necklace for the VE Day concert in Horse Guards Parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.'

Susan is globally revered in the world of jewellery, and the 80s vintage design donned by the Princess - which is currently out of stock - is listed for 275 on the jeweller's site.

The 'rhodium-plated' five row pearl strand necklace 'features luminous faux pearls in graduating sizes' and 'closes with an embellished Swarovski crystal clasp, weighted extension chain and hook', explained the website's description.

Susan's pieces have graced a number of high profile celebrities and her collections have been showcased across The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shop and The Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.

The Princess of Wales (pictured) made a touching tribute with her jewellery of choice as she joined Prince William , King Charles and Queen Camilla at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday evening

The brand, founded in 2008, took to their Instagram page to thank Kate for highlighting the artist the first time around.

'Today marks 80 years since the Holocaust, and as a Jewish owned brand we are honoured that the Princess of Wales chose to wear our necklace for todays memorial to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day,' they penned, in a post alongside a photo of the future Queen.

Pearls have been a firm royal favourite over the ages, from Queen Elizabeth I, whose portraits frequently show her in the gems, to more modern day royals such as Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who would drape herself from head to toe in them.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and Princess Diana were also huge fans and their favourite pieces have now been handed down to a new generation.

For Thursday evening's concert, Kate stepped out in a glamorous Self Portrait blazer dress, turning heads as she joined her husband, the Prince of Wales, 42, in honouring those who took part in the war effort at Horse Guards Parade in London.

The elegant 400 frock - which channels old Hollywood glamour - is made from boucle, chiffon and fine lace and looks like two separate garments upon first glance.

Kate, who has wore the statement gown in 2021 and 2022, also pulled her wavy chocolate brown tresses back and fastened them in place with a 20 black bow hairclip from one of her favourite high street stores, Jigsaw.

The royal first sported the oversized black velvet bow in December, for the Royal Foundation carol service at Westminster Abbey, and the accessory was hailed a 'triumph' by the Mail's fashion editor.

Attending the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, Kate (pictured), 43, appeared to subtly honour Holocaust victims with her accessories

Kate first wore the faux accessory from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan when she attended the Holocaust Memorial Service in January (pictured)

The mother-of-three decided to team her all-white Self Portrait blazer dress with a five-strand pearl necklace (pictured) from a celebrated Jewish vintage jewellery curator

She paired her sophisticated ensemble with pointed nude heels, a set of pearl earrings and a Chanel black crossbody bag with gold metal detailing.

The royal donned glamorous makeup for the occasion, opting for grey smoky eyeshadow and a natural base with a hint of contour.

Kate was snapped beaming alongside her husband as they stepped out for the event which saw performances echoing the historic celebrations 80 years ago.

It included music from the era, as well as stories of veterans from the Second World War, with 12,000 people in the audience.

Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music.

The artists featured included the cast of World War II musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks - who offered her powerful rendition of We'll Meet Again - Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, The Darkness, Toploader and Tom Walker.

Elsewhere, Brian Cox - celebrated for his role in Succession - delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.

Audiences were also treated to recreations of scenes reviving the beloved TV series, Dad's Army. Other famous faces who leant their voices were Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock.

The Princess of Wales turned heads as she stepped out in a glamorous pure white Self Portrait blazer dress

The Prince and Princess of Wales looked to be in high spirits as they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla - as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday

William and Kate were all smiles as they made their appearance at the concert with other members of the Royal Family

The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured during the concert celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day

Kate paired her sophisticated ensemble with pointed nude heels, a stacked pearl necklace to match her earrings and a Chanel black crossbody bag with gold metal detailing

The Princess pulled her tresses back in an updo, adorned with a black bow, for the evening of music

In another moving moment yesterday, the King used a keynote speech on the day Britain celebrated the end of war in Europe 80 years ago to call for greater efforts towards global peace.

With conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and across the African continent, His Majesty suggested it was timely to remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war'.

'In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict,' he said.

'For as my grandfather [King George VI, who was monarch during the Second World War] put it: "We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will."

'Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy  so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: "they too bequeathed a better world".'

It was timed to echo the wartime address of King George VI to the nation on VE Day eight decades ago.

The King added: 'It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that "the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes". The liberation of Europe was secured.

William (pictured) chuckled as he chatted with Sir Keir, the Prime Minister, who he sat next to

The Prince and Prime Minister appeared to be in deep conversation as they exchanged greetings

King Charles III pictured waving during the live celebratory concert to conclude the national V-E Day

William and Kate smiled as they made their arrivals for the VE Day concert, along with the King and Queen

The Prince and Princess of Wales looked to be in high spirits as they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday

Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music

Pictured: Veterans arriving for the celebratory concert commemorating VE Day

'His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible. While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.

'Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to V.E. Day. 'That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them.'

The King highlighted similar anniversaries across Europe over the course of the last year, ranging from Monte Cassino to Arnhem.

He also spoke of how 'profoundly moved' he was to have joined the veterans of D-Day last June in Normandy 'as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home'.

Highlighting his visit to Poland in January to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz, he spoke of meeting survivors 'whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil.'

Charles continued: 'All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores.'
They've been married for more than a decade - yet the Prince and Princess of Wales appeared more loved up than ever as they joined the King and Queen at the VE Day concert on Thursday evening.

In sweet scenes, Kate, 43, and William, 42, who rarely show public displays of affection, were seen placing their hands on one another's back in a supportive gesture throughout the event at the Horse Guards Parade.

The beaming Princess also seemed to struggle to keep her eyes off her husband as they enjoyed the evening of music in London.

Along with showcasing plenty of affectionate looks, the couple proved they can still make each other laugh as they shared several amusing moments.

For the concert commemorating VE Day, Kate put her best fashion foot forward in a glamorous white Self-Portrait blazer dress she previously wore in 2021 and 2022.

The elegant 400 frock is made from boucle, chiffon and fine lace and looks like two separate garments upon first glance.

Kate decided to accessorise her look with pearl earrings and a necklace from Susan Caplan, a talented jeweller who was also behind the royal's accessories when she attended the Holocaust Memorial Service in January.

Susan, in a post on Instagram, said: 'We are honoured that the Princess of Wales has chosen to wear our earrings & necklace for the VE Day concert in Horse Guards Parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.'

They've been married for more than a decade - yet the Prince and Princess of Wales appeared more loved up than ever as they joined the King and Queen at the VE Day concert on Thursday

The Princess also pulled her wavy chocolate brown tresses back and fastened them in place with a 20 black bow hairclip from one of her favourite high street stores, Jigsaw.

Kate first sported the oversized black velvet bow in December, for the Royal Foundation carol service at Westminster Abbey, and the accessory was hailed a 'triumph' by the Mail's fashion editor.

She paired her sophisticated ensemble with pointed nude heels, a stacked pearl necklace to match her earrings and a Chanel black crossbody bag with gold metal detailing.

Kate donned glamorous make-up for the occasion, opting for grey smoky eyeshadow and a natural base with a hint of contour.

The royal was snapped beaming alongside her husband as they stepped out for the event which saw performances echoing the historic celebrations 80 years ago.

It included music from the era, as well as stories of veterans from the Second World War, with 12,000 viewers in the audience.

Elsewhere, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music.

The artists featured included the cast of Second World War musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks - who offered her powerful rendition of We'll Meet Again - Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, The Darkness, Toploader and Tom Walker.

Kate, 43, and Prince William, 42, who rarely show public displays of affection, were seen placing their hands on one another's back in a supportive gesture throughout the event at the Horse Guards Parade

The Prince and Princess of Wales speak with Second World War veteran Harry Richardson ahead of the concert

The beaming Princess also seemed to struggle to keep her eyes off her husband as they enjoyed the evening of music in London

Along with showcasing plenty of affectionate looks, the couple proved they can still make each other laugh and smile as they appeared to share several amusing moments

The Prince and Princess waved Union Flags as they enjoyed moving and exciting performances

Kate tied her tresses back with a velvet bow and opted for an all-white ensemble

The Prince held a Union Flag as he chatted to his wife, the Princess of Wales, at the concert

William and Kate looked to enjoy a chat with one another as they took in the concert

Elsewhere, Brian Cox - celebrated for his role in Succession - delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.

Audiences were also treated to recreations of scenes reviving the beloved TV series, Dad's Army. Other famous faces who leant their voices were Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock.

In another moving moment yesterday, the King used a keynote speech on the day Britain celebrated the end of war in Europe 80 years ago to call for greater efforts towards global peace.

With conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and across the African continent, His Majesty suggested it was timely to remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war'.

'In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict,' he said.

'For as my grandfather [King George VI, who was monarch during the Second World War] put it: "We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will."

'Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy  so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: "they too bequeathed a better world".'

It was timed to echo the wartime address of King George VI to the nation on VE Day eight decades ago.

They could be seen enjoying conversations with one another as the concert kicked off

The Princess beamed, sporting an all-white outfit, as she and William sat next to one another

William and Kate smiled as they chatted while sitting next to Sir Keir Starmer

The Princess of Wales turned heads as she stepped out in a glamorous white Self-Portrait blazer dress

The Prince and Princess of Wales looked to be in high spirits as they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla - as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday

Kate beamed as she chatted along with others in attendance at the Royal Box

The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured during the concert celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day

The King added: 'It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that "the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes". The liberation of Europe was secured.

'His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible. While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.

'Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to V.E. Day. 'That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them.'

The King highlighted similar anniversaries across Europe over the course of the last year, ranging from Monte Cassino to Arnhem.

He also spoke of how 'profoundly moved' he was to have joined the veterans of D-Day last June in Normandy 'as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home'.

Highlighting his visit to Poland in January to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz, he spoke of meeting survivors 'whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil.'

Charles continued: 'All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores.'
Fans are over the moon after spotting a much-loved sweet staple from the early 2000s back on store shelves.

Kellogg's Coco Pops Straws and Cocoa Krispies Cereal Straws were launched in 2005 and discontinued five years later, to the dismay of dedicated fans.

But now, after 15 years of calls to bring back the breakfast goodies, both variations of the items have returned to UK shelves.

The 'straws' are a hollowed biscuit lined with gooey milk chocolate - designed for plunging into cereal milk to transform it into a chocolate soup.

Those who want to grab the new stock can head to their nearest B&M store, where the products can be found donning 'They Are Back!' stickers.

And Kellogg's enthusiasts have already taken to social media to express their excitement.

Food Finds UK on Facebook announced the relaunch to its 551,000 followers.

'Omg they're back,' wrote Alejsinee Kerair.

After having axed a range of products from its cereal selection, Kellogg's has put the Cocoa Krispies Cereal Straws back on UK shelves

Also making a comeback are the iconic Coco Pops Straws, initially launched in 2005 and discontinued five years later

Shaun Bossman echoed the sentiment: 'They're back!'

'No way, they're back! Finally!' said Paige Allan.

And Chloe Pacey gushed: 'Need!'

Over on Instagram, Latest Deals UK, a bargain-finding account with 239,000 followers, wrote: 'B&M shoppers are in for a treat as the iconic Cocoa Pops Straws make a stunning return to shelves after more than 15 years!

'This fan-favourite cereal was discontinued back in 2010, leaving many heartbroken.

'Now, it's back to reignite fond childhood memories!'

For those who aren't chocolate lovers and prefer a fruity taste, Kellogg's also has a Froot Loops edition of the cereal straws.

Kellogg's has built a reputation as a go-to cereal maker, with brands including Coco Pops, Corn Flakes, Frosties and Crunchy Nut.

Fans of the nostalgic sweet treat have rushed to social media to express their excitement

The Milky Way Crispy Rolls, the Bounty Crispy Rolls and the Twix Crispy Rolls made a comeback earlier this year

In 2024, the company axed several of its products and drastically cut back the cereal range.

Last August, its Coco Pops Rocks was discontinued, although many argued it was the 'best cereal' before the recipe changed in 2024.

Kellogg's later revealed it had also scrapped Crunchy Nut and Caramel Bites from its selection.

Which makes it all the more exciting that the nostalgic cereal straw range is back to jog memories for 90s kids and their parents.

The hotly anticipated return is yet another win for chocolate lovers, as Milky Way Crispy Rolls came back to UK shelves in February.

After three years of discontinuation and subsequent backlash from fans, Iceland brought back the chocolate bar alongside Bounty Crispy Rolls and Twix Crispy Rolls.

The frozen-food retailer will sell each chocolate bar for 50p - but shoppers who are particularly hungry have the option to buy all three for 1.20.
Donors from around the globe have raised $14,300 (10,800) for charity in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children.

Assistance League Los Angeles, a non-profit striving to improve the lives of vulnerable children, has invited people to donate in light of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's birthdays.

The post started, 'Welcome Global Sussex Supporters to this year's birthday celebrations of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in support of Assistance League of Los Angeles, a charitable campaign by the Sussex Community Event.'

'From May 4 to July 4, 2025, we invite you to make a donation in honour of the Royal Children of Sussex to uplift youth in need.'

While Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday isn't until June 4, Prince Archie marked his sixth birthday recently on May 6. On the day, Meghan, 43, took to her official Instagram page to share a tribute to her and Prince Harry's son.

The picture, taken at dusk, showed Archie watching the sunset over the ocean at an exclusive resort in Mexico built by a wealthy family with links to Princess Diana.

Less than a week since the campaign commenced, the charity has already raised $14,300 (10,800) of the $25,000 (18,848) goal.

To help raise funds, the post highlighted Meghan and Harry's 2020 trip to Assistance League of Los Angeles's Preschool Learning Centre.

Assistance League Los Angeles is hoping to raise $25,000 (18,848) for vulnerable children in light of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's birthdays (pictured with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2021)

During the visit, the couple planted forget-me-nots in honour of Princess Diana on the 23rd anniversary of her death.

The couple dug with trowels into dirt and planted flowers as they visited the at risk children in Los Angeles.

The charity website explained, 'While these blooms were laid in memoriam, they symbolized seeds of hope for the young children of low-income families who attend the school.'

The post continued, 'For more than a century, Assistance League of Los Angeles's dedicated members and community supporters have worked tirelessly to uplift the lives of those in need.

'The challenges faced by children experiencing homelessness, foster care, and poverty are more pressing than ever.

'Through five key programmes - Operation School Bell, Assistance League of Los Angeles College Scholarship Programme, Foster Children's Resource Center, Preschool Learning Center, and Theatre for Children - the League helps 22,000 underserved youth annually.

'League programmes play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life of these children, offering them opportunities they might not otherwise have.'

The post concluded, 'We are honored to receive your generous donation in celebration of the birthdays of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex - Thank you!'

The charity is raising funds in light of Archie and Lilibet's birthdays this year (pictured with Meghan)

Meanwhile, when Meghan marked her eldest child's birthday on Instagram this week, she did not use his title.

Sharing an image of her son standing on a balcony while looking at the sea during sunset, the mother-of-two revealed the couple hosted an 'incredibly special' party for Archie last weekend.

In a caption accompanying the snap, the Duchess of Sussex wrote: 'Our son. Our sun. Happy 6th birthday to Archie! Thank you for all of the love, prayers, and warm wishes for our sweet boy. Hes six! Where did the time go?

'(And for all of you who came to celebrate with us at his party last weekend, thank you for making his birthday so incredibly special).'

Her post comes after it was revealed that Meghan still calls herself Her Royal Highness to friends. At the end of last month, the 43-year-old sparked controversy after her friend Jamie Kern Lima shared a picture of a food hamper with a note that said it was 'With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex'.

However, a spokesperson for the Sussexes denied she is flouting the Megxit deal agreed with the late Queen.

Although no laws were passed or documents signed to prevent their use, Harry and Meghan's agreement with the late Queen and senior officials was that they would stop using the word 'Royal' and their HRH titles after they quit duties and emigrated to the US to become 'financially independent' from the Crown.

Critics have said that the image of the note with some organic ice cream and jam, published, was a tacit plug for Meghan's As Ever lifestyle range, while also promoting her new podcast episode with her friend Jamie.

Harry and Meghan visited the Assistance League Los Angeles' Preschool Learning Center in Los Angeles in 2020 (pictured)

The pair planted forget-me-nots in honour of the 23rd anniversary of Princess Diana's death during the visit

A source close to the royal couple suggested that the image shared by Jamie Kern Lima was taken before the Duchess launched her As Ever brand in early March.

They added that while Meghan and Harry do not publicly use 'HRH', their titles remain.

In the podcast, Jamie Kern Lima claimed that she had been sent the jam last year.

The Sussexes have never had their HRH taken away by Queen Elizabeth II or King Charles.

A spokesman for the Sussexes told MailOnline that they do not use HRH titles for commercial purposes.

However, Jamie's hamper image suggests that Meghan does use it with friends and in personal correspondence.

The 'HRH, The Duchess of Sussex' note was spotted on a card by eagle-eyed royal fans last month.

The gift basket was sent to Meghan's friend, CEO of IT Cosmetics Jamie, when she had in-laws staying and the Duchess wanted to help out.

A screenshot of the hamper has since circulated online after featuring on Jamie's podcast - and appears to feature the Duchess' homemade strawberry spread.

The basket also included two jars of Straus organic ice cream, some flowers, mint, and the note with Meghan's royal title embellished on it.

Some royal fans reacted angrily, with one writing on X: 'I thought they couldn't use HRH?'

Another said: 'She's not to [use] it per the Queen!'

Buckingham Palace released a statement after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in January 2020 to embark on a new life together in California.

The statement said: 'The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.'

HRH, an abbreviation of His/Her Royal Highness, is used as part of the title of some members of the royal family.
The King has a 'very nice relationship' with his granddaughter Princess Charlotte, a royal expert has suggested.

Charles, 76, has been visiting Windsor Castle more, which is close to where Prince William, Kate and their three children now live at Adelaide Cottage, according to PEOPLE magazine.

Speaking to the publication, royal author Ingrid Seward said: 'I would think he has a very nice relationship with his granddaughter... he once wanted a daughter.'

It's a notion echoed by the late Princess Diana herself, who is said to have told Andrew Morton, author of Diana: Her True Story: 'I knew Harry was going to be a boy because I saw on the scan.

'Charles always wanted a girl. He wanted two children, and he wanted a girl. I knew Harry was a boy, and I didn't tell him.'

Diana and Charles welcomed their first son Prince William in June 1982, one year after their wedding at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Prince Harry then arrived in September 1984.

Meanwhile, the close relationship apparently shared by Charles and his granddaughter Princess Charlotte, ten, was put on show when the King wore what appeared to be a 'friendship bracelet' on official engagements last year.

Made up of yellow and red thread, the band seemed to be similar to versions sported by His Majesty's granddaughter when she attended the Wimbledon final that year with her mother, the Princess of Wales.

The King has a 'very nice relationship' with his granddaughter Princess Charlotte (pictured alongside the Princess of Wales in London in 2024), a royal expert has suggested

The King's bond with his grandchildren is said to be in part thanks to his wife, Queen Camilla, who has been 'instrumental' in bringing Charles closer to his family.

Royal commentator Katie Nicholl previously told 9Honey that Her Majesty encouraged her husband to 'put family high on the agenda'.

'I think certainly William is very grateful to Camilla for that because Charles is now making a lot more time in his life for his grandchildren,' claimed the royal expert.

The expert explained how Camilla, who is mother to Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, loves being a grandmother and 'reminds' her husband not to miss out on time with his loved ones.

It comes after Princess Charlotte, alongside her parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and her brothers, Princes George and Louis joined the King and Queen at the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations.

The Wales family stepped out at Buckingham Palace on Bank Holiday Monday to enjoy a parade in honour of veterans before watching a spectacular flypast on the balcony.

Prince Louis, seven, excitedly watched the planes going overhead while Prince George, 11, looked on engrossed and Princess Charlotte, 10, showed a keen interest as they all gathered in front of the palace.

As soldiers marched on, eagle-eyed fans were no doubt quick to spot the family engrossed in conversation - and a lip reader has since revealed the comment Kate made to her daughter during the festivities.

Speaking to the publication, royal author Ingrid Seward said: 'I would think he has a very nice relationship with his granddaughter... he once wanted a daughter.' Pictured, Princess Charlotte in her tenth birthday portrait

King Charles was spotted wearing what appears to be a 'friendship bracelet' during engagements last year, pictured left. Made up of yellow and red thread, the band seems to be similar to versions sported by His Majesty's granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, when she attended the Wimbledon final, pictured right

The professional shared a sweet exchange between the two, revealing that the Princess of Wales said to Charlotte: 'Doesn't Papa look smart today', according to The Sun.

William was dressed in military uniform for Monday's events, which included a parade in tribute to veterans at Buckingham Palace before heading up to the balcony for the flypast.

He's eligible to wear the uniform after his stint in the British Armed Forces - specifically, the RAF.

Elsewhere, before the Red Arrows took to the skies, Prince William encouraged his youngest child to pay close attention.

According to the lip reader he said: 'It's not going to be long and I want you to be taking an interest,' before explaining the parade route and telling him he would never forget the historic day.

And fellow lip-reader Nicola Hickling also revealed, in the excitement of the day, Prince Louis recreated the 'chatter chatter chatter' sound made by the planes as he took in the VE Day festivities on the balcony at Buckingham Palace later that afternoon.

The expert said that Louis made his verdict on the celebrations clear when chatting with his family - and revealed his 'favourite' plane.

She claimed that at one point, the Prince of Wales asked: 'Do you know what it is' while looking up at the sky.

It comes after Princess Charlotte, alongside her parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and her brothers, Princes George and Louis joined the King and Queen at the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations (pictured)

His eldest son, George, is thought to have replied: 'No, but I do know it's got two way four engines.'

To this, William reportedly said 'exactly', and later, seemingly pointing out another plane, added: 'That must be Britannia.'

At this point young Louis chimed in to say: 'That's my favourite.' And when the stunning fly-past was over, leaving red, white and blue smoke in it's wake, Louis is thought to have remarked: 'Look at all of the colours!'

The young prince continued to delight fans with his animated presence. At one point, his mother, the Princess of Wales, looked over him affectionately, while Prince George appeared to confer with his father, Prince William.

The display involving the Red Arrows and a score of historic and current military aircraft was the culmination of the military procession through London as the four-day VE celebrations began.
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has revealed she passed out twice from the pain of having an IUD fitted, calling for more women to be offered anaesthetic during the procedure.

Naga, 50, discussed her experiences with the form of contraception, known more commonly as the coil, as she criticised medical misogyny in the latest episode of the Mail's Life of Bryony podcast.

An IUD is a small, T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of coils, hormonal and copper.

They can stay inside a women's body for five to ten years and are touted to be more than 99% effective as a contraceptive.

Pain caused by an IUD fitting varies from woman to woman, with some comparing the feeling to mild period cramps whereas others attest to it being unbearable.

Ms Munchetty, 50, discussed her experiences with the contraceptive, known more commonly as the coil, as she took medical misogyny to task in the latest episode of the Mail's Life of Bryony podcast.

Naga Muchetty: 'The problem with IUDs is that because they're so good  the medical world doesn't want to scare people away from having it.' Listen here

In answer to a listener's question on the coil, Ms Munchetty revealed: 'I passed out twice on the bed because of the pain.

'I passed out when it was taken out as well. The problem with IUDs is that they're so good  they provide so much relief and protection to so many women, that the medical world doesn't want to scare people away from having it.

'They almost hide all the issues that can happen. It's like when they tell little girls about periods, and they say it's only a couple of teaspoons [of blood loss]. That's not helping anyone.

'It's sets you up for a life of fear, thinking you're abnormal in some way. That makes people less comfortable talking about it. Just tell us, we're not idiots.'

The morning news host added that the cost of anaesthesia factors into doctor's decisions in not to recommend it for most invasive gynaecological procedures.

An IUD is a small, T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of coils, hormonal and copper

Ms Munchetty recently released a book on the gender pain gap titled 'It's Probably Nothing: Criticial Conversations on the Women's Health Crisis' Listen now

She advised women not to be shy in asking their doctor for pain relief in advance of having procuress done, such as the insertion of an IUD.

'Tell them to explain exactly the procedure you want done and remember your past experiences. If you ask for pain relief, it's not a bad thing.

'You are doing such a good thing for your own body and health in getting something like a smear test or an IUD. '

Ms Munchetty has become an advocate for women's health and the fight against medical misogyny after publicly revealing her adenomyosis diagnosis back in 2023.

Medical misogyny is a catchall term used to denote the unfair or prejudicial treatment of female patients.

This could include the lack of funding for treatments for female-specific health conditions; delayed diagnoses or a generally dismissive attitude towards the severity of symptoms caused by sexual and reproductive health issues.

She recently authored a book on the subject titled 'It's Probably Nothing: Criticial Conversations on the Women's Health Crisis'.

To listen to the full, empowering interview with Naga Munchetty, listen to the latest Life of Bryony now, wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Monday and Friday.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark remains in positive spirits following her hospitalisation and should be discharged in the coming days.

It was revealed yesterday that Margrethe, 85, was admitted into Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen after contracting a cold.

Margrethe, who abdicated in January in favour of her son, King Frederick X, remains in hospital, but the palace is hopeful that she will return to Fredensborg Palace this weekend.

'H.M. Queen Margrethe remains hospitalized at Rigshospitalet on Friday morning,' the palace said.

The update continued, 'Her Majesty is recovering and in good spirits. Queen Margrethe is therefore expected to be discharged from Rigshospitalet and return to Fredensborg Palace during the weekend.'

The royal, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth, was placed in hospital for observation as a precautionary measure.

She cleared her schedule of upcoming engagements, including yesterday's visit to the Sankt Lukas Foundation's 125th anniversary celebration, People reported.

'HM Queen Margrethe admitted to Rigshospitalet,' the palace said yesterday, adding, 'As a result of the cold that H.M. Queen Margrethe has contracted, it has been decided that the Queen will be admitted to Rigshospitalet for observation as a precaution.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark (seen in May, 2024) remains in hospital but is in 'good spirits', the palace has revealed

Her Majesty, known for her chain-smoking and love of dachshunds, was last seen on Sunday during a church service in connection with the 80th anniversary of Denmark's liberation.

Despite resigning in 2023, the monarch remains active and performs royal duties alongside her son.

Margrethe shocked the nation with the announcement of her abdication during her New Year's Eve live television segment.

Just 14 days later, Margrethe, who ruled for 52 years, signed away the throne at a Council of State meeting and her son, Frederik, was crowned King of Denmark.

She said one of the reasons why she chose to give up the throne was because of her health issues, adding that she underwent surgery for her back in February 2023.

Margrethe said: 'It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.'

She is still known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and can fill in as regent if King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian are abroad, ill or on holiday.

Just one week after giving up the crown, the royal went to a special church service at Aarhus Cathedral with her son, King Frederik and his wife Queen Mary.

The palace is hopeful that the 85-year-old (seen in April, 2024) will be discharged from hospital over the weekend

Margrethe was admitted to hospital in Copenhagen after contracting a cold (seen in Copenhagen on Sunday)

The royal was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure (seen at Princess Isabella of Denmark's birthday celebrations in April)

The Danish Queen (right) was succeeded by her eldest son Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Mary

In Denmark, formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above partisan politics, representing the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national day celebrations.

Born in 1940, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality, the Prime Minster has previously described her as 'the epitome of Denmark'.

The monarch hit the headlines in 2022 when she removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim.

She enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria, having bonded during several state visits to each other's countries down the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor.

The six-feet-tall Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unescorted and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer.

A keen skier, she was a member of a Danish women's air force unit as a princess, taking part in judo courses and endurance tests in the snow.

In 2011, at age 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan wearing a military jumpsuit.

As monarch, she crisscrossed the country and regularly visited Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories which are part of the Danish Realm, and was met everywhere by cheering crowds.

In her broadcast on New Year's Eve, Queen Margrethe II stated: 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.'

She is a chain smoker and is so 'normal' that she shops in the supermarket - but Queen Margrethe of Denmark is also the longest-reigning head of state in Europe. Above: The Queen lighting up in 1997 (left); and attending the annual New Year's dinner at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen in January 2023

Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972

Denmark has Europe's oldest ruling monarchy, which traces its line back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Margrethe is head of state, the Danish Constitution strictly ruled out her involvement in party politics.

Margrethe was born a week after Nazi Germany had invaded Denmark. The occupation meant that the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes.

She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, after the death of her father.

But, although she was his eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive until 1953, when Denmark's constitution was amended to allow women to inherit the throne.

That followed a referendum in which more than 85 per cent of participants voted to allow female succession.

She was married in 1967 to a Frenchman, Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, later styled as Prince Henrik. They had two sons, Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim.

Despite enjoying a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been pushed aside in his own home by his wife.

Prince Henrik died in 2018 aged 83.

On the day she became monarch, she appeared on the balcony of Denmark's Christiansborg Palace and pledged her allegiance to the nation.
Driving through the streets of Cairo, my stomach was a-flutter.

I breathed slowly to calm my racing thoughts, but it was no use. All I could think about was the handsome man waiting for me at my destination.

How has it come to this? I thought with a laugh. What on earth was a 49-year-old woman from Manchester  a risk manager of all things  doing in the throes of a Shirley Valentine holiday romance? My head might not have wanted to accept it, but my heart knew the answer.

The second Id met Atef five days earlier, Id realised two things with absolute certainty: love at first sight was real, and passion wasnt done with me yet. The one emotion I didnt feel as I walked into the hotel lobby, however, was guilt.

I probably should have  after all, back in the UK I had Peter, my husband of 25 years. I had no idea that within a few months Id leave him, my country, my job and all of my friends to fly 2,300 miles and marry this dashing stranger. It certainly sounds like a work of romantic fiction.

But the ending of my story? I dont think anyone  not even a Hollywood scriptwriter, and certainly not me  could have foreseen that.

Just like the original Shirley Valentine, played by Pauline Collins in the 1989 film, my own marriage was dull and dead. Back in 2014, Peter and I werent quite chips and egg on a Tuesday  more Netflix on the sofa every night  but the fire in our marriage was out. Our sex life had dwindled from occasional, to rare, to never.

The second I met Atef, I realised two things with absolute certainty: love at first sight was real, and passion wasnt done with me yet, writes Carol El Hawary

Trying unsuccessfully to have a baby hadnt helped, nor had the severe gynaecological problems that plagued me before I had a hysterectomy at 47.

I never accepted not being a mother; its something I have always grieved.

Yet Peter, who works in IT, and I muddled along with our nice three-bedroom house and double income. We had different interests and different friends; we were like affectionate flatmates.

When my sister Dawn suggested a diving holiday to Egypt that October, with her husband and daughter, I didnt hesitate  or ask Peter if he wanted to come. I knew he would have no interest in travelling, diving or the heat.

A few weeks later, with a peck on the cheek and a quick goodbye, I was off. I had no idea this week in the sun would change my life for ever.

Arriving in Cairo, we sourced a local taxi firm for sight-seeing tours and the boss, Atef, who owned a hotel in the city, arranged to meet us to go through our itinerary. And that was it; the pin was plucked from the grenade, and fate lobbed it squarely into my life.

The instant I saw Atef  dark and handsome with mesmerising eyes  walk into our hotel lobby, I experienced a physical jolt. Id never felt anything like it, not as a teenager, not as a newly-wed  never.

We sat down to talk in the hotel bar and I could barely speak. It was like every film cliche rolled into one: thumping heart, tingling skin and a knotted tongue.

I was actually scared of the violence of my feelings. I was still flushed and dizzy when he walked away an hour later. Dawn looked at me strangely and asked: Are you OK Carol? You seem odd.

The instant I saw Atef  dark and handsome with mesmerising eyes  I experienced a physical jolt. Id never felt anything like it, not as a teenager, not as a newly-wed  never

I batted her questions away, muttering about the heat. I didnt want to talk about it. What could I say?

Well never meet again, I told myself firmly the next morning as we set off for our first trip to the Red Sea. We wouldnt be back in Cairo until the night before our flight home. Then the next day my phone lit up with a message. It was Atef.

There I was again: heart pounding, mouth dry. It was lovely to meet you, Carol. I felt like wed made a real connection, hed written.

My fingers shook as I tapped out my reply: Yes, I felt it too.

Over the next few days the texts and phone calls didnt stop.

Why dont you come back to Cairo earlier than your sister? he asked. That way we can spend the whole day together before you fly home.

My entire life Id been the most careful, risk-averse person, but not this time. Yes I instantly replied.

Dawn was understandably horrified, pointing out I could be robbed, kidnapped or murdered, but there was nothing she could do. My mind was made up. Neither of us mentioned the not insignificant matter of Peter back home.

Id never spoken to Dawn about the state of my marriage, but she was very fond of him. Yet somehow, Id convinced myself everything was still above board. Wed only arranged to meet in the lobby of his hotel  a public, safe place.

Yet the second I saw Atef again, the electricity was back. I knew there was going to be nothing decent about this encounter.

We talked for hours about our lives. He was 44, five years younger than me, and explained how he was legally married to an Egyptian woman called Layla, the mother of his four children, but there was nothing romantic between them.

I used my savings to buy us a flat in Cairo and Atef and I had a civil wedding. We were finally husband and wife

They were only married on paper because of the stigma of divorce in Egypt, he said, and for this reason I felt OK about it.

When I realised we were holding hands I felt such a wave of passion that I caught my breath.

Before I left for the airport, we hugged and kissed for the first time. In those briefest of touches was more intensity than Id felt in decades.

On the flight home I told Dawn everything. Oh my God, Carol, she said when I finished. What are you going to do?

I honestly dont know, I replied. And I didnt.

Landing back in cold Manchester I tried to be sensible, telling myself it was just a week of madness  a passion that would fade faster than my sunburn. Peter and I resumed our places on the sofa that evening, as I sat wondering if the whole thing had been a sort of fever dream.

Then, 48 hours later, Atef texted while I was at work and all the excitement flooded back. It was real  I was in love.

In our texts we made a plan. Id return to Cairo alone the following month, in November 2014, and stay with Atef for a week in an apartment he owned. I told Peter I was going back to join a tour.

The guilt was dreadful. Peter was so trusting and here I was planning an affair; yet the passion won me over. And that week in Cairo was amazing. After years without sex, I felt reborn. I was finally desired and felt desire; it was incredible.

On our last day in Cairo Atef proposed and I immediately said yes. As men in Egypt are legally allowed to have four wives, the fact he wasnt divorced from Layla  and she was also still living in Cairo  wasnt a problem; they were only married on paper.

I know that for some people my decision to marry a man who had another wife is hard to understand, but I wanted to be with him so much  and I believed him when he said it was only the stigma of divorce keeping them together. I was so in love I just accepted the situation.

Sitting next to Peter on the sofa a week later, I felt awful. I wanted to blurt everything out but decided to wait until after Christmas to confess. For six weeks the truth felt like a millstone around my neck.

One Sunday evening in early January, terrified, I handed him a huge glass of wine. His face froze, knowing I was about to say something huge.

Looking back, I know I loved Atef, and he did love me, but he was never going to be faithful

I met someone in Egypt, I began, trying to keep my voice from shaking. And Im going to move there to be with him.

For a second Peter didnt speak. Then he said: I knew there was something going on. Do you love him?

Yes, I replied.

I wish hed shouted and raged at me, but he calmly accepted it. He even refused my offer to move out.

But everyone else was horrified, thinking Id lost my mind.

Atef was only after my money and a visa, they said, despite my protests that he had money and properties of his own and showed no interest in moving to the UK. Facing the judgments was hard, and the only person who supported me was Dawn. I resigned from my job  everyone there was stunned  and with my divorce finalised in August 2015, I boarded a one-way flight to Cairo.

Hugging Peter goodbye, I told him: Im really, really sorry. And I meant it.

I used my savings to buy us a flat in Cairo and in November Atef and I had a civil wedding. We were finally husband and wife.

That first year was a roller-coaster. Our marriage was fiery and passionate, and swapping Manchester for Cairo was a huge culture shock.

After a year, however, I had a job teaching English and friends of my own. Then, in May 2018, I received a text message from one of my friends in Cairo.

Carol, this is really difficult, she wrote. But is this Atef? Ive just met him at a party, and he introduced me to his wife.

For a few stunned seconds I stared at the photo shed sent of Atef with another woman and thought: Thats the jumper I bought him for Christmas. Instantly hit by a wave of sickness and shock, I furiously dialled his number. He didnt deny it. Im on my way home, he said.

By the time Atef walked through the door I was raging, yet listening to his explanation my fury was only matched by my incredulity.

No, this wasnt Layla, his first wife, this was Isla  an Australian woman 18 years older than him, whom hed met in 2010 when shed come to stay at his hotel.

She was another Shirley Valentine, another tourist whom hed married that same year. I wasnt just wife No 2, but wife No 3  and his second Shirley.

I thought about the times hed gone away for business, always coming and going, how hed probably been with her in this very city. And all that time hed wooed me in 2014 I felt sick.

She doesnt know about you either, he said  as if that helped.

After I threw him out, Atef did everything he could to win me back. Despite everything I still loved him and wanted to make it work but, whatever the law in Egypt said, I refused to live in a polygamous marriage. So he agreed to couples therapy, to cut ties with Isla for ever and to never marry anyone else.

The only way I could move forward was to accept Atefs apologies and try to rebuild our relationship  and he was true to his word. Minimal contact remained with Isla for practical reasons, because she was living in his property in Cairo, and I agreed that he wouldnt have to divorce her, or else shed have to leave Egypt and be left with nothing.

Of course, things felt different now I knew Atef had not one, but two other wives out there in the city. Refusing to think about it was the only way to get through.

Cruelly, matters resolved themselves over the pandemic when Isla called to say she was seriously ill with Covid. Atef took her to hospital, where she died in February 2021.

Given everything that has happened, still I have no regrets. Following your heart doesnt always lead to a perfect happy ending. But if you dont take the jump, you will never truly know

He didnt seem upset  but he might have been hiding it. Who knew what was going on in his head? Not me.

Before I knew it, it was 2024, and ten years had passed since I first set eyes on Atef. I thought I could finally relax... then he started to act strangely, disappearing for days at a time.

In May last year, I received a voice message from an angry woman called Rania, demanding to know who I was. Im Atefs wife, I said. No, Im his wife, came the reply. I started to shake. Rania was yet another Shirley Valentine  his third.

Theyd met a year previously when shed come to Egypt on a business trip from Albania and yes, she told me, got married.

This time Atef didnt apologise, he couldnt even explain: I just couldnt help myself, was the best he could do.

He didnt make any promises to change, and it wouldnt have mattered if he did. Through my fury and anguish, I knew that our life together was over.

Two weeks later I boarded a one-way flight to the UK, feeling a complete fool. Thankfully, I had the support of Dawn, and a lovely friend in Manchester who let me stay while I found my feet.

Neither said I told you so, but I knew thats what so many people were thinking. I saw it in their raised eyebrows when we met.

Even Peter, who met his current partner in 2019, never gloated. We are still in contact, and he is still the kindest man.

Looking back, I know I loved Atef, and he did love me, but he was never going to be faithful.

Part of it was cultural; if he was British, he would have simply been a philanderer, but because hes Egyptian he just kept getting married.

Were currently going through our divorce and will never be together again  but I refuse to be ashamed of what happened.

Im almost 60 and I have no job, partner or money  Im currently renting out my flat in Cairo, which is worth a fraction of what I paid for it.

Yet, surprisingly, given everything that has happened, still I have no regrets. Following your heart doesnt always lead to the perfect happy ending. But if you dont take the jump, you will never truly know.

NOW ATEF, 55, GIVES HIS RESPONSE...

The second my eyes met Carols I fell in love. Here was the most incredible woman, kind and beautiful.

From that first conversation, all I wanted was to be with her for ever.

Thats why I told Carol about my first wife Layla  the mother of my children  but not about Isla. I was desperate not to lose Carol, and I thought that if she knew about Isla, she would never have come back to Cairo to marry me.

For years it was a terrible burden on my shoulders. I felt so guilty as I spent time with each of my wives, with neither of them knowing about the other. Strangely when Carol eventually discovered the truth, I felt some relief.

At least now there were no more secrets. I wanted to do whatever it took to win Carol back. And I did.

So why did I then have an affair with Rania? To this day I honestly dont know.

I didnt see it as something serious  Rania and I were never married, despite what she said to Carol  it was just a sexual fling.

But I still cant explain why I risked everything with Carol to do it. When Carol found out about it, I felt so awful. I knew then that Id really lost her. It was heartbreaking.

I regret every stupid thing that I did that hurt Carol. Those regrets will lay heavy on my heart until the day I die.

I want Carol to know that I am willing to die to get her back. I will love her for ever.

Some names have been changed
King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark have copped harsh criticism this week after appearing to turn their back on one of their 'main promises'.

The royal couple visited Nordre Toldbod in Copenhagen on Wednesday where they boarded their Royal Ship, Dannebrog, for the official launch of the 2025 sailing season.

But the decision to board the mighty ship was scolded, as the vessel said to emit 60 times more CO2 than the average Dane emits in one year.

The pair sail on board the yacht through Danish waters every year. This year they will set off on their first 'major' sail on August 25 for four days but the summer cruises often last as long as two weeks depending on the schedule.

In 2024, their sailing tour also included trips to Sweden, Norway and Greenland.

The ship's impact on climate change has been questioned by local royal and environmental experts who branded the move 'disappointing and pathetic', leaving the Royal House no choice but to respond.

In a written, translated response to the Danish Broadcast Corporation, the Palace's new head of communications wrote: 'The Royal House is aware of the dilemma associated with Dannebrog being powered by conventional fuel.

'[We are] currently investigating the possibility of using alternative fuels with a view to reducing emissions from the Royal Ship.

The royal couple visited Nordre Toldbod in Copenhagen on Wednesday where they boarded their Royal Ship, Dannebrog, for the official launch of the 2025 sailing season

The decision to board the mighty ship was scolded, as the vessel said to emit 60 times more CO2 than the average Dane emits in one year

The ship's impact on climate change has been questioned by local royal and environmental experts who branded the move 'disappointing and pathetic', leaving the Royal House no choice but to respond

'At the same time, it is important to emphasise that Dannebrog is a historic ship with symbolic and representative significance for Denmark. It is a gathering point, no matter where in the Kingdom it is located. The royal ship is in great demand.'

Royal House expert Sebastian Olden-Jrgensen told B.T. News that it was 'only a matter of time before the climate issue hit the Royal House', especially given the King's public commitment to the environment.

'As the royal couple, we are concerned with being able to contribute to passing the planet on to the next generation in good condition, which requires that we promote the green transition,' King Frederik wrote in his book 'King's Words' at the start of his reign.

Before the drama hit, the royal pair were busy carrying out their jam-packed schedule while moving out of home and into their summer residence on the shore of Lake Esrum in Fredensborg with Queen Margrethe.

They moved residences on Monday 5 May to Fredensborg Palace, where they will be taking up residence in the eastern wing, known as Chancellery House, for the summer.

The King and Queen along with their three youngest children Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, moved into Fredensborg Palace alongside Frederik's mother, Queen Margrethe, who had already taken up residence in the main palace.

The expansive property on Zealand island in Denmark has plenty of room to accommodate the whole royal family.

It is something of a homecoming for the royal couple, who lived full-time in the Chancellery from 2004-10 when he was still the Crown Prince and Amelienborg Palace in Copenhagen was being refurbished.

Queen Mary and King Frederik appeared happy and smiling on 5 May 2025 as they prepared to settle their family into their new abode, located on the shore of Lake Esrum in Fredensborg

Royal watchers were surprised to learn that former monarch Queen Margrethe is staying in the main residence of Fredensborg Palace (left), while King Frederik and Queen Mary along with their children have moved into the palace's eastern wing, Chancellery House (right).

But royal watchers are intrigued by the fact that former monarch Queen Margrethe is staying in the main palace, while the current King and Queen's family have moved into the secondary accommodation in Chancellery House.

Royal expert and historian Lars Hovbakke Srensen explained to Danish publication B.T. that it was 'completely unproblematic' for the current King and his family to be living in the palace's secondary residence.

The expert explained that although it might seem unusual, Lars said it was an 'obvious' result of Queen Margrethe opting to abdicate the throne in 2024, rather than it passing to her son following her death.

'[W]e have a completely different situation than ever before, where we have a living, former regent,' explained Lars.

As the northern hemisphere summer approaches, the Danish royal family traditionally move their residence to Fredensborg Palace.

For most of the year, Frederik and Mary live at Amalienborg with their four children  Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Isabella, 18, and 14-year-old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

However, Prince Christian will not be joining the royal family at Chancellery House this summer as he remains stationed in the town of Slagelse as part of his compulsory military service.
Less impulsive men are more likely to last longer in bed, a study has found.

Being a good planner, practicing patience and approaching situations without urgency are all qualities that make men less likely to suffer extreme premature ejaculation, according to Turkish researchers.

Meanwhile those who often act on their impulses lack stamina during intimate situations.

The scientists divided 80 men aged 18 to 45 into four subgroups: those who suffered no sexual or psychological problems, those who ejaculated before sex, within 15 seconds after penetration, within 15 to 30 seconds, and within 30 to 60 seconds.

Those with the shortest times tended to score highest on impulsivity measures, particularly in the areas of urgency and impulsiveness.

They also showed more sensation-seeking behavior and lower dedication to tasks.

Researchers suggested there could be a relationship between low self-control and extremely rapid ejaculation, as men who struggle to tame their urges tend to act without thinking and are less likely to be able to delay sexual gratification.

Anxiety and depression were also more prevalent among men with the condition.

Less impulsive men are more likely to last longer in bed, a study has found

On average, those with the sexual problem scored roughly six times higher on measures of depression and nearly five times more on anxiety compared to healthy men.

Erectile problems that are coupled with mood disorders are typically treated with antidepressants.

However, the researchers suggested approaches that improve self-regulationsuch as cognitive behavioural therapycould help men last longer in bed.

Premature ejaculation is when a man climaxes earlier than normal. Up to 30 per cent of men in the UK are said to be affected by the condition.

Studies suggest it normally takes men about five-and-a-half minutes to orgasm during sex. But for about one in three, this occurs within three minutes.

Scientists say that both psychological and physical factors can lead to the problem, including stress, depression and anxiety.

One 2014 study detailed the benefits of kegels for men dealing with lifelong premature ejaculation

However it is said that a regimen of tensing and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, known as kegel exercises, has been shown to help extend the length of intimacy by two minutes.

One 2014 study asked male participants to perform kegel exercises for an hour three times a week for 12 weeks.

In the study, published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Urology, Italian doctors from the Sapienza Univeristy of Rome included 40 men who had dealt with premature ejaculation for much of their lives.

By the end of the study, 83 per cent of the patients had gained control of their ejaculatory reflex and were able to last about two minutes and forty seconds longer than the average duration at the start of the studyabout 39 seconds.
Experts have raised concerns about America's new top doctor pick over controversial comments she has made about topics such as autism and vaccines.

President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced Wednesday he replaced his initial nominee for the role of US Surgeon General, Dr Janette Nesheiwat, with Dr Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician and ally of health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

She has echoed many of RFK's more controversial stances, including that autism may be caused by childhood vaccines, a view she shared on a recent Joe Rogan podcast episode.

Doctors told DailyMail.com Means is 'grossly underqualified'  she is one of only a handful of surgeons general to not have an active medical license and is the only one to have not finished her full medical training.

Means has also touted the benefits of spiritual meditation and energy healing and has described birth control as a 'disrespect of life.'

However, her nomination has sparked mixed opinions, with some health experts praising her Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) ideals like stripping artificial additives out of the food supply as 'bringing attention' to health risks of ultraprocessed foods.

Dr Michael Ednie, medical director of Bespoke Concierge MD in Florida, told DailyMail.com: 'If her past comments start to shape policy, especially around vaccines or public health recommendations, Id be concerned. We need leadership that builds trust, not controversy.

'In my experience, theres room to challenge the system, but you still have to stand on solid clinical evidence. Im not sure she always does that.'

Dr Casey Means, President Trump's nominee for US Surgeon General, is pictured here with HHS secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr

Means is pictured at right with her brother Calley Means (left) and Joe Rogan (center). Means has been slammed for appearing on podcasts like Rogan's and making controversial claims

Means has been criticized as underqualified for the surgeon general position because she failed to finish her residency. This is a four-year training program doctors complete after medical school.

She trained at the University of Oregon as an otolaryngologist - ear, nose and throat doctor - but dropped out in her final year.

Doctors who don't finish residency are still licensed physicians, but they generally aren't able to practice medicine independently unless they are licensed in one of six states: Missouri, Arizona, Florida, Washington, Arkansas or Utah.

Means has claimed she stopped her training to focus on 'root-cause resolution medicine' and practice functional medicine, a form of alternative medicine often scrutinized as pseudoscience.

She currently has no active medical license in any state.

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Dr Ednie told this website: 'Casey Means failed to complete her postgraduate residency training in otolaryngologist, has an inactive medical license and is legally prohibited from practicing medicine.

'She is a "wellness" entrepreneur without any public health training or credentials.

'Her nomination as surgeon general will worsen distrust in healthcare and erode evidence-based science.'

An active license is not legally required to become surgeon general, however, and four other people in the role didn't have one when they were appointed.

There have been 22 surgeons general so far since the position was established in 1871.

The US surgeon general acts as the leading spokesperson for public health in the federal government and is widely considered 'America's Doctor.'

The role involves advising the president and HHS secretary on matters such as emerging health threats (like pandemics or disease outbreaks), tobacco, drug use, and mental health and public health campaigns, including vaccination and nutrition.

Dr Means stands at left with political commentator Megyn Kelly

Dr Tyler B Evans, CEO and co-founder of Wellness and Equity Alliance, told DailyMail.com nominating a surgeon general with no active medical license 'undermines the legacy of generations of public health experts who have grounded their work in rigorous science and moved medicine forward for the benefit of all.'

'Appointing a 37-year old media personality with no direct patient care experience to this role diminishes the integrity of the office, disrespects the service of thousands of Commissioned Corps officers, and ultimately shortchanges the American people at a time when strong, evidence based leadership is urgently needed.'

A White House spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'Over 77 million Americans resoundingly re-elected President Trump to smash our countrys broken status quo and restore American Greatness  and that includes Making America Healthy Again.

'Dr. Casey Means has the ideal balance of elite credentials without the baggage of being beholden to a corrupt healthcare system that has profited from Americas chronic disease epidemic.

'Dr. Means will be a critical asset for President Trump to Make America Healthy Again as our next surgeon general.'

Much like her ally RFK Jr, Means is also skeptical about vaccines.

Earlier this year, the CDC, which operates under Kennedy, announced plans to study whether vaccines like the MMR shot for measles could cause autism, despite more than two decades of research disproving the theory.

While Means has not explicitly blamed any one vaccine, she said on a October episode of The Joe Rogan Experience: 'I bet that one vaccine isn't causing autism, but what about the 20 that [children are] getting before 18 months?'

Dr Michael Aziz, an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told DailyMail.com there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism and that the 'medical community as a whole' has 'rejected' the idea.

Dr Aziz told this website: 'While her position on many health issues are valid, unorthodox views can be dangerous. Wrong views not based on science can lead parents not to let their children to make vaccines and endanger their children's lives.'

Means has also called vaccine mandates 'criminal' and expressed concerns about the safety of the Covid mRNA vaccines.

Doctors told DailyMail.com that nominating Means, pictured here, is 'a betrayal of the very principles that define responsible governance and public trust'

She wrote in a post on X: Humans are never forced or coerced into taking or being exposed to experimental drugs, shots, or chemicals with ZERO long term safety or cumulative exposure data.'

Dr Barbara Sparacino, an adult and geriatric psychiatrist in Florida, told DailyMail.com: 'In a country where vaccine confidence is already fragile, especially following the politicization of COVID-19, the surgeon general must be a clear, unshakable voice of science.

'That includes defending the overwhelming body of evidence that vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for public healthnot questioning them based on anecdote or ideology.'

Dave Asprey, a biotech entrepreneur and author of 'Heavily Medicated,' on the other end, praised Means' skeptical approach.

He told DailyMail.com: 'Dr Means is going deeper and looking at the actual environment that includes our food and other immune exposures.'

Means has also come under fire for her work as a wellness influencer, which has involved promoting energy healing, meditation shrines and tools like continuous glucose monitors for non-diabetics.

Dr Sparacino said: 'Her platform is not built solely on sound public health messaging. Dr Means has promoted expensive biohacking tools, wellness trackers, and proprietary supplementsmany of which are sold through companies she co-founded or advises.

'This includes continuous glucose monitors marketed to the general population without diabetes, as well as high-end supplements and specialty foods that are often far out of reach for everyday Americans.

'While these tools may benefit a niche wellness audience, they risk reinforcing a troubling message: that health is for the wealthy, the tech-savvy, and the already well. That's not public health - that's marketing.'

Doctors speaking to DailyMail.com did, however, praise Means for repeatedly drawing attention to the growing health concerns surrounding ultraprocessed foods, which make up 70 percent of the US food supply.

Last week, a study estimated ultraprocessed foods directly contribute to 120,000 premature deaths every year.

And research published Wednesday suggested ultraprocessed foods may damage neurons in the brain and lead to early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Means said at a Senate round table event last year: 'American health is getting destroyed. If the current trends continue, if the graphs continue in the way that they're going, at best we're going to face profound societal instability and decreased American competitiveness, and at worst, were going to be looking at a genocidal-level health collapse.'

Means has voiced support of serving more nutritious meals in public schools and stripping dyes and additives out of the food supply, much like RFK Jr.

Dr Ednie said: 'Ill give her credit  shes brought attention to the impact of food and lifestyle in a way most doctors dont.'

Additionally, Dr Sparacino noted means has 'amplified the conversation around how ultraprocessed foods contribute to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, especially in communities with limited access to fresh, affordable food.

'This is not controversialits science. We need more leadership in this area, not less,' she added.

However, Dr Evans believes if Means is appointed, it will 'further erode the already fragile confidence Americans have in our public health and medical institutions.

He said: 'By elevating figures who promote pseudoscience over those with real-world clinical expertise and public service, both RFK Jr. and Donald Trump are actively undermining the foundations of evidence-based health care that Americans have long depended on and taken pride in.

'This is not leadership. It is a betrayal of the very principles that define responsible governance and public trust.'
Public health officials investigating a mysterious brain disease in Canada have finally released the findings of a long-awaited study  and not everyone is convinced.

Since 2019, a small town in New Brunswick  a Canadian province bordering Maine  has experienced hundreds of cases of people suffering from hallucinations, spasms, rapid memory loss and the sensation of bugs crawling under the skin.

More than 500 people in the area, mostly in the city of Moncton, were reported to have the disease by local neurologist Dr Alier Marrero, who was the first to raise the alarm.

However, as no definitive diagnosis has ever been made, the area was reported to be suffering from a 'mystery' brain disease.

But now, after examining two dozen of those cases, researchers say the odds that a new illness has emerged are less than one in a million  and they believe the patients were instead suffering from known conditions like Alzheimers.

Patients and their families are raising concerns over the study, however, after it was revealed scientists on the study had previously received fundingfroma company suspected by some locals to be involved in the outbreak.

Online records reveal scientists on the study worked at a hospital that had received $2million from Irving Oil, which extracts hydrocarbons in the state  with some locals suggesting pollution from these could have been behind the cases.

The scientists who led the study strongly refuted claims that this had any influence over their research, adding that the funding was for a completely separate project.

The above shows a pulp mill in New Brunswick, Canada, where reports suggested mysterious brain diseases had emerged

Locals have raised concerns over the disease saying that it made them sick. Scientists say the mystery disease does not exist, and patients were instead suffering from other conditions

The 'mystery illness' theory gained traction in 2021 when Canadian health authorities began investigating cases based on Dr Marreros reports.

Patients were recorded in Moncton, home to 79,000 people, and in a sparsely populated area in its north called the Acadian Peninsula.

While more than 500 were reported, researchers found 222 patients.

Known as New Brunswick neurological syndrome of unknown cause, people became concerned in the area that it was being caused by something in the water.

Doctors initially suggested patients had Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease, or Prion disease, an extremely rare group of neurologic conditions caused by misfolded proteins in the brain.

But tests for this came back negative.

After a two-year investigation of 25 of the patients, scientists from the University of Toronto and the Horizon Health Network concluded there was 'no support for an undiagnosed mystery disease in New Brunswick' and their research 'revealed well-defined diagnoses.'

Published in the US-based journal JAMA, researchers involved in the study contacted 105 patients in the cluster for evaluation.

Of these, 52 declined further contact while 42 did not respond. In total, 15 patients were evaluated.

Scientists also obtained permission to perform autopsies on the bodies of 11 additional patients in the cluster who had died.

Their causes of death were not revealed.

Evaluations were carried out between November 2023 and March 2025.

Based on autopsies, among patients who had died, seven had a form of dementia.

One had adenocarcinoma  a malignant tumor  one had progressive supranuclear palsy  a rare disease that affects walking, balance and swallowing  and one had vascular dementia.

Another patient had unremarkable autopsy findings, but had previously been diagnosed with a primary psychiatric disorder.

The doctors said all these diseases could have caused the symptoms that were considered to be part of the mystery cluster.

Researchers noted there was an absence of one specific change in the brain across all groups that may suggest common exposure to one factor.

An investigation was launched after Dr Alier Marrero, pictured above, raised concerns over the illness

Among the 14 patients that came forward for neurological tests, 10 agreed to a second evaluation by four movement disorder neurologists and two behavioral neurologists.

Previously, the patients had only been assessed by Dr Marrero.

He had found all 10 patients had myoclonus  a disorder causing sudden and involuntary muscle jerks  while seven had ataxia  a neurological condition caused by a lack of muscle coordination.

But in the new study, only one of the reassessed patients was found to have a cognitive disorder while two were found to have a psychiatric disorder.

Five others were found to have no cognitive deficits, while two were found to be normal.

None were found to have myoclonus or ataxia as Dr Marrero had suggested.

The researchers said they found 'meaningful discrepancies' between the documented initial history of the patients' conditions and their findings on the second assessment.

This included three patients reported to have experienced hallucinations, whose symptoms were not confirmed on second evaluation. And 10 patients initially reported to have a neurological disorder, with this not found on follow-up.

In their conclusion, the researchers said their investigation highlighted the importance of getting a second evaluation for a neurological diagnosis.

They also said their findings highlighted the erosion of public trust in institutions, which has been blamed on Covid vaccine mandates in the pandemic.

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Marrero responded to the study, however, telling NBC News: 'I am in profound disagreement with the study conclusions and have many questions regarding the methods and the content.

'I am sure that our patients, families, and communities share the same very serious concerns.'

Additionally, the study lists several potential notes under the 'conflicts of interest' heading, including that some of the authors had previously worked for Canadian health authorities and a number of pharmaceutical companies - with some saying it calls into question the researchers' objectivity.

The New Brunswick government's investigation into the outbreak is ongoing, with the state's chief medical officer saying this week that it would continue.

Dr Yves Leger said the new study 'doesnt change my offices intention to complete its own investigation into cases of undiagnosed neurological illness in New Brunswick.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the scientists and Irving Oil but has not received a response.
Annual blood tests for the earliest signs of cancer could prevent around half of cases reaching an advanced stage, research has suggested.

Scientists are currently trying to establish if simple blood tests are effective in picking up cancer before symptoms appear, and whether they improve survival. The NHS is currently trialling such tests.

Researchers say screening people annually  or every two years  could boost early detection and stop cancers reaching the stage where treatments fail.

The experts trialled a multi-cancer blood test on a group of people aged between 50 and 79.

They used both fast-growing tumours (which remain at stage one for two for up to four years before progressing); and fast aggressive tumours (which remain at stage one for only one to two years before advancing).

Yearly screening under the fast tumour growth scenario led to a higher number of diagnoses than usual care  370 more cancer signs were detected per year per 100,000 people screened.

There were also 49 per cent fewer late-stage diagnoses and 21 per cent fewer deaths within five years than patients receiving usual care.

Screening every two years was not as effective as annual screening  292 more cancer signs were picked up per year per 100,000 people screened compared to usual care.

A simple annual blood tests for the earliest signs of cancer could prevent around half of cases reaching an advanced stage, new research has suggested (Stock image)

Experts found yearly screening under the fast tumour growth scenario led to a higher number of diagnoses than usual care (Stock image)

There were also 39 per cent fewer late-stage diagnoses and 17 per cent fewer deaths within five years.

The researchers, writing in the journal BMJ Open, concluded that a blood test every one or two years has the potential to intercept 31-49 per cent of cancers at stage one-two that would otherwise present at stage three-four.

Study author Peter Sasieni, professor of cancer epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, who has a lead role on a trial known as Galleri, said: I am very excited about the science behind these tests, but we need to ensure that the technological game-changer translates to clinical benefit.

That is why we are conducting a huge randomised controlled trial to see whether the prediction made by this modelling is reasonably accurate.

The advances in molecular biology and artificial intelligence means that we are now able to find tiny fragments of many cancers in a small blood sample. That is incredible.

Professor Sasieni said he hopes that by 2032, there should be sufficient evidence to say categorically how many lives can be saved by annual screening.

He added: That could lead to national rollout being completed within the next ten years.

He suggested the NHS should be able to negotiate a much better price per test with manufacturers for annual screening rather than every two years.

Last month, it was announced the NHS would trial the miONCO-Dx test with 8,000 patients.

The test works by examining a blood sample and uses AI to identify if cancer is present and, if so, where it is located in the body.

Initial tests show it can detect up to 12 common cancers.
Health officials have warned that the toll of a recent outbreak of the gruesome 'crypto' parasite at a petting farm in Wales is far greater than previously thought.

The number of people thought to have been infected with deadly cryptosporidium after attending calf and lamb feeding session at a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan has risen to 74.

When the outbreak was first identified in late April, health chiefs identified just 47 cases of the parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illnessincluding stomach cramps, vomiting and in rarer cases blood in stools.

Public Health Wales (PHW) reported that 16 people have been hospitalised so far, with the number expected to rise over the coming week.

Public health officials are now examining cases of the parasite linked to visits to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge.

PHW said the shop had stopped the feeding and petting sessions and continues to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

The body added that anyone who has visited the farm recently, particularly those who attended feeding or petting sessions, and who is now experiencing symptoms, should contact their GP.

People become infected with cryptosporidium via contact with infected faeces, either directly from an infected animal or person, or from contaminated surfaces like farm gates or the bottom of shoes.

There are now 74 cases linked to lamb and calf petting sessions at Cowbridge Farm Shop

Last year UKHSA issued a warning about the risk of cryptosporidium infection from farm visits

The infection, which can be deadly in the vulnerable, then spreads through people not washing their hands thoroughly.

Infected people can shed up to 100million cryptosporidium germs in a single bowel movement, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Swallowing just ten of these germs is enough to get ill.

Su Mably, a consultant in health protection at PHW, said they are continuing to work with the Cardiff and Vale health board and Vale of Glamorgan council to fully understand the wider risk to the public.

She said: 'While the infection is usually mild and self-limiting, it can be more serious illness in young children or people with weakened immune systems.

'We urge anyone who visited the farm and is feeling unwell to contact their GP or NHS 111. Practicing good hygiene is the best way to protect yourself and others', the consultant added.

Cryptosporidium parasites are protected by a thick shell that allows them to even survive in chlorinated swimming pool water

For most people, cryptosporidiosis  the technical name for the infection  is mild.

However, those with vulnerable immune systems, such as the elderly, pregnant women, or patients undergoing cancer treatment, are at high risk of the parasite becoming life-threatening.

However, symptoms can often be hard to spotdue to the parasite's incubation period as they're easily mistaken for more common digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and food poisoning.

Some of the symptoms, such as abdominal pain and blood in the stools, may be particularly anxiety-provoking as they mimic the signs of bowel cancer, which is known to be on the rise.

Due to the bug's highly infectious nature people with symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting are told to stay off work or school until they have been free from these symptoms for at least 48 hours.

They are also encouraged to take steps to minimise the risk of passing the parasite on to other people in their household, including washing dirty clothes, bedding and towels on the hottest setting, and not preparing food others.

Last May, more than 100 people were also infected by cryptosporidium in Brixham, Devon. The outbreak was believed to be linked to water contaminated with infected faeces making its way into the drinking supply

Victims can also experience periods of false hope where their symptoms clear for a few days, making them believe they are finally over the infection, only for it to return.

Sufferers often have to endure these symptoms for two weeks before it is finally clear from their systems, but bouts of illness can last even longer, particularly in people with weakened immune systems and the elderly.

Most people with cryptosporidiosis aren't offered treatment and are instead told to drink plenty of fluids and minimise contact with other people while waiting until symptoms pass.

People are typically infected with crypto via contact with faeces containing the parasite, either from humans or animals that then enters their mouth.

People can also get it by caring for people infected with crypto, particularly young children.

This can occur when people change a nappy and then put their hands near or in their mouth without washing them thoroughly, for example.

Other possible sources of infection are contact with infected milk, or from vegetables that have been fertilised with infected animal manure and not washed thoroughly.

As crypto can survive in faecal matter for long periods of time sufferers are asked not to go swimming until two weeks after their diarrhoea has stopped.

This includes both natural bodies of water as well as swimming pools as traces of infected dried poo can wash off an infected swimmer's anus.

Last year the UKHSA issued a warning about the risk of cryptosporidium infection from farm visits.

In a twist on the classic children's rhyme the agency wrote on social media: 'Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.

'But wash your hands and dry them too in case it has crypto.'

Last May, more than 100 people were also infected by cryptosporidium in Brixham, Devon.

The outbreak was believed to be linked to water contaminated with infected faeces making its way into the drinking supply.

Whole streets in the town were infected, with victims forced to endure days of diarrhoea and agonising stomach cramps, with one sufferer even comparing them to 'childbirth'.
Prescription drugs taken by millions could soon become more affordable under a new executive order from President Donald Trump.

Trump plans to revive a policy from his first term that would require drug companies to charge Americans no more than what they charge in other countries.

According to officials familiar with the plan, Trump will sign an executive order next week instructing federal health agencies to adopt a 'most favored nation' pricing model for certain drugs covered by Medicare.

The model is designed to lower costs by ensuring the US pays no more than the lowest price charged elsewhere.

In many developed countries, single-payer systems allow governments to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies.

But in the US, a fragmented, privatized system gives drugmakers broad pricing power  with some medications costing up to 10 times more than abroad.

The order would mark a major shift in how pharmaceutical companies operate and could lead to lower drug prices for American consumers.

Industry leaders warn the move threatens profits and innovation, with one executive calling it the biggest 'existential threat to the industry and U.S. biosciences innovation.'

More than 75 percent of American adults say the cost of drugs is unaffordable

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Three people familiar with the matter told Politico the proposal is still being finalized and Trump has not approved any plans, but he did tease a 'very big announcement' that would be coming next week.

The president said: 'We're going to have a very, very big announcement to make  like as big as it gets.

'It will be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject.'

Trump proposed a similar policy during his first term but it failed to gain support and faced intense pushback from the pharma industry.

In one last ditch effort, he tried again to push it through months before his first term ended but a judge stopped it.

That plan would have had American drug prices tied to what comparable countries, including Canada, Germany and the UK, were paying for medications included in Medicare Part B.

Medicare Part B insurance typically covers drugs that are injected or infused, used with infusion pumps or nebulizers, medication for kidney failure, some vaccines and some transplant and immunosuppressant drugs.

However, not all of these are covered. Part B primarily covers the costs only of medications that are administered in healthcare facilities or by doctors.

At the time, it was estimated the order would have saved American taxpayers more than $85billion over seven years.

One of the drugs covered by Medicare Part B is Humira, used to treat arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions affect millions of people and in 2023, it is estimated that 3.7million prescriptions were written for the medication in the US.

A month's supply of the drug costs $7,400. In the UK, it costs 352 or $468. In Sweden, the drug costs $589.

Enbrel, used to treat multiple autoimmune diseases, costs about $2,040 per syringe in the US. In Canada, that cost is $406. In the UK, it is 357, or $475.

Parsabiv, used to treat hyperparathyroidism - an overactive parathyroid gland, which is located behind the thyroid in the neck - costs about $1,112 for a 5 milliliter treatment in the US. In the UK, the cost is 163, or $218.

President Donald Trump said to expect a 'very big announcement' next week

Sensipar is a drug used to treat chronic kidney disease. For a treatment regimen of 30 pills, the cost is $871 in the US. In Canada, it is about half the price at $448. It is the least expensive in New Zealand, costing just under $300 for 30 pills.

Some drug prices have gotten so out of control that last year, the FDA granted permission to Florida to be the first state allowed to import less expensive medications from Canada.

Among the medications that have surged in price are EpiPens, life-saving medication used to treat a deadly allergic reaction. They increased from a little less than $100 to more than $600 in a decade.

And the price of insulin, vital for the management of diabetes, rose more than 1,000 percent in two decades, from $21 in 1999 to $332 in 2019.

Additionally, a KFF report found the US paid $1,126 per capita on prescription medications in 2019, compared to $552 for a comparable country.

In the UK, it was the lowest at $285 per capita; Sweden saw a prescription medication spending of $378 per capita and Australia was third lowest at $434.

And more than 75 percent of American adults say the cost of drugs is unaffordable.
Nearly 200 students have been rushed into quarantine in North Dakota over fears they were exposed to measles.

The under-18s had all been in school buses or on campus at elementary, middle and high schools at the same time as four patients infected with the ultra-infectious disease.

All 180 students are unvaccinated, with officials saying they must now quarantine for 21 days  the time taken for symptoms of the virus to emerge.

Vaccinated students are not required to quarantine because they are considered to be protected, with two doses slashing the risk of infection by 97 percent.

The students will not leave quarantine until after term ends on May 23, but school principals say that if they aren't infected they will be able to attend graduation ceremonies.

Williston Middle School and Williston High School are affected, as well as Missouri Ridge Elementary. Together, they have about 5,300 students.

It comes after the US crossed another grim milestone, with the CDC today confirmed that more than 1,000 measles cases have been diagnosed in the country. It puts the tally at 1,001 infections.

This marks only the second time the country has seen this many cases since the disease was declared eradicated nationwide in 2000, with some doctors now worried the country could lose its measles elimination status.

Nearly 200 children have been isolated in North Dakota over fears they may have been exposed to measles (stock image)

Measles is a highly infectious disease that patients can pass on to about nine out of ten unvaccinated people that they expose to the virus.

Symptoms start as a fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes  but then progress to a rash that starts on the head before spreading over the body.

The disease is particularly dangerous to young children, with the CDC saying one in 20 unvaccinated children who are infected develop pneumonia while one in 1,000 suffer from encephalitis  swelling of the brain that can cause permanent damage.

One to three in every 1,000 unvaccinated children who are infected die from the disease.

Officials in North Dakota said that some of the students asked to quarantine had not attended the schools but shared a school bus with the infected patients.

Paula Lankford, spokeswoman for the Williston Basin School District, said teachers would provide materials for quarantined children to use at home.

'Each of the schools is going to work with those families that are excluded to ensure that they have educational opportunities for their kids and connections with teachers through digital means,' she told the North Dakota Monitor.

'Whats obviously on our side is that there is not that much school left. We are done here on May 23rd.'

Williams County, which is home to the schools, had a measles vaccination rate of 71 percent in the 2024 to 2025 school year.

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This is well below the 95 percent that scientsits say is needed to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

The CDC says that vaccines are the best way to prevent an infection, with two doses providing 97 percent immunity against the disease.

The Upper Missouri District Health Unit, which serves Williams County, is holding a walk-in vaccination clinic Friday from 8.30am to 6pm. It is at 110 W Broadway, Williston.

Nine cases of measles have been detected in North Dakota overall since the start of this year.

Of the confirmed cases, two are in children under ten years old while five are in children aged between 10 and 19 years.

There is also a case in a 30 to 39-year-old and in a 40 to 49-year-old.

The first case reported this year was in a Williams County child who is believed to have contracted measles from an out-of-state visitor.
Elon Musk insists mankind must move to Mars.

Elon Musk wants humans to move to Mars

The SpaceX billionaire wants a million people to reside in a self-sustainable city on the planet - of which the space government agency, NASA, is actively searching for evidence of some form of life on Mars.

Musk wants his vision to happen because he thinks humanity is under threat because the sun is "gradually expanding".

He told Fox News host Jesse Watters: "One of the benefits of Mars is life insurance for life collectively, so, eventually, all life on Earth will be destroyed by the Sun.

"The Sun is gradually expanding, so we do at some point need to be a multi-planet civilization because Earth will be incinerated.

"It's an undisputed fact, and I don't think there's anyone who would disagree with that."
I am feeling slightly more positive. I settled the bill for my kitchen. I paid 500 off my vet bill. Anything to do with money triggers my PTSD. I find it hard to understand why everyone else seems so relaxed. My vicarage backs on to a river, and every day I see women, all different ages, walk past, clad in Dryrobes, about to wild swim. They are chatting and laughing, not a care in the world.

Im in awe. If that was me, I would be catastrophising, hyperventilating: I might drown. I will have a heart attack due to the cold. Someone will steal my clothes and my phone. Why am I spending time doing this and not working? How do these women afford to go wild swimming? Do they have husbands? What?

There isnt a minute of the day when Im not working or haring home from poo picking to work. My main thought each day is that I will miss an important work email. Once, on a Sunday, I was poo picking and received an email to ask me to write about the demise of Jane Birkin, but by the time I had got to the top of the hill to reply the story had been given to someone else. Damn.

Especially as the writer who replaced me had, when I was made fashion editor of the Daily Mail, told our shared assistant to remove all my show-ticket requests from the fax machine, meaning when I arrived in Milan on my first assignment, not a designer would admit me. And, when we both travelled, working for the same company, to Versailles to cover Dior at the Orangerie, she refused to allow me to share her town car, meaning I had to get a bus. The difference between landing a story and being passed over can be mere minutes. No wonder I exist on a cold, sharp knife edge.

It was ever thus. When I worked at The Sunday Times Magazine, I was always the last to leave. Everyone else had spouses, children. I was too afraid to go home as I was living with my sister, who terrorised me. At the Evening Standard, I would drive to work in order to be in the office by 5am and collect my porridge from the canteen, and wouldnt leave until 7.30pm, 8pm. As the editor wafted out, she would say, Liz, send me tomorrows features list in time for when I leave the restaurant. I was on call every Sunday, as I edited the Big Monday Interview.

Anyway, reminiscing about the Evening Standard (I admit it was fun; there was camaraderie, like being in the trenches. I called the scary editor Mummy to humanise her, and soon everyone was doing it, even the hardened news guys), I suddenly remembered I underwent a medical to qualify for the pension and a lump sum should I die. And so I email them.

I am sent a form. I fill it in or, rather, Nic does, as Im scared of forms. There must be some point to working such long hours with not even a loo break. They reply saying I need to fill in another form. And so I have to employ a wealth-management person, who is going to look into it for me. I am due some luck. My Sunday Times pension only pays me 60 a month, which is useless. Why didnt I work for a bank, or become prime minister? Id be set for life! Even though I have worked for the Daily Mail group for 25 years, as a freelancer I dont get a pension, sick pay or holiday pay. But, fingers crossed, if my Standard pension comes good, I might be saved.

Those endless days, when Id have to wee in my chair as there were so many pages to fill with Jamie Oliver and his ilk, so many editions, so many wars (I was on duty when the 7/7 bombs went off. I dispatched my pretty young reporter to The Royal London Hospital with an armful of flowers  Put them on expenses!!  so she could pretend to be a relative. Me: I want anyone without limbs. Photos. Go, now!). God, we were ghouls.

Journalism is not so Wild West these days, meaning a lot of the fun has left the profession. But if only Id thought less about tomorrows front page, more about my personal wellbeing, Id be less nervous about what my wealth-management person reports back. Wish me luck
Longtime NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt has revealed why he is stepping away from the show this summer.

Holt, 66, said the decision stemmed from a deep-rooted desire to get his hands dirty with stories that do not demand a desk - something his spot on Dateline allows.

He said so in a sit-down style interview with Variety, finally providing insight behind his fast-approaching exit.

Holt said leaving Nightly will simply provide him more freedom - as well as the opportunity to return to his reporter roots.

'Were still doing journalism, but these are hour and two-hour shows were doing,' he said. 'Some of the stories youll see me doing will be months in the making.'

Holt added how he is looking forward to flex 'some different news muscles' with the fulltime position while citing some 'long' conversations with his wife and several 'top confidants' - all of which led him to the same conclusion.

'I once spent two nights in prison for a "Dateline, and Ive done heartbreaking stories on the asthma crisis and the economy,' he explained, with former ABC wonder-boy Tom Llamas waiting in the wings to take his place.

'Ive done a lot of things that are outside of what many would think is a traditional "Dateline," but I want to do more of those,' he continued.

Longtime NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt has revealed why he is stepping away from the show this summer

Holt, seen here with his wife Carol and two sons Stefan and Cameron, said the decision stemmed from a deep-rooted desire to get his hands dirty with stories that do not demand a desk - something his fulltime spot on Dateline allows

'I want to be able to tell a producer, "Yes, Ill be there for that interview next week, because I wont be jumping after whatever is happening for Nightly."'

Seemingly yearning to reimplement some of the skills he honed early on in his career as a reporter at stations in San Francisco and Sacramento, Holt at one point admitted: 'It wasnt like one moment of epiphany.'

'I never saw myself doing this job forever,' he added, referring to the fulltime gig he assumed from Brian Williams ten years ago.

'I decided that I needed to come off the Nightly gig, but I still had gas in the tank.'

'The big buy-in was to be able to do more of the hours,' Holt - the father of two adult children with longtime wife Carol - explained further.

In doing so, he finally addressed speculation surrounding his fast-approaching exit since February.

A sudden statement announcing his intent to step away, at the time, expressed excitement about 'continuing as anchor of Dateline' - for the first time - 'in a full time capacity'.

'I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about,' the anchor added of the 60 Minutes-eqsue show he has hosted for the past 15 years.

'I am thrilled to be able to work more closely with my enormously talented friends at Dateline as the broadcast continues to grow and attract new viewers,' he asserted, offering the message an internal memo in a memo to staffers.

He said so in a sit-down style interview with Variety, finally providing insight behind his fast-approaching exit

Holt - seen here with his predecessor Brian Williams a decade ago - said leaving Nightly will simply provide him more freedom - as well as the opportunity to return to his roots

Seemingly yearning to reimplement some of the skills he honed early on in his career as a reporter at stations in San Francisco and Sacramento, Holt - seen here in a portrait snapped by his then employer CBS - said of the decision: 'It wasnt like one moment of epiphany'

A more freed-up Holt could help on that front, as Dateline remains in front of ABC's newsmagazine 20/20.

NBC Nightly News, however, continues to lag behind ABC's World News tonight.

That's after NBC long held the evening news crown - a gap since bridged by the anchor who assumed Diane Sawyer's spot on the program in 2014, David Muir.

The 44-year-old on-air talent set to step in for Holt, meanwhile, was once Muir's second - a former weekend anchor of ABC World News Tonight and frequent fill-in host for the program.

He was poached by NBC in 2021 with plans to eventually become Holt's successor, insiders told DailyMail.com in March.

'With anchor and programming changes, there are real worries at NBC News... in particular,' a network exec said anonymously at the time, adding how since the departure of 'icons like Hoda [Kotb] and Lester... their replacements are failing to fill those shoes.

'Lester was already down by so much [to ABC], and now NBC is nervous after putting in Llamas,' the source said, after NBC News executive Janelle Rodriguez publicly praised Llamas as a pillar of 'integrity' and 'journalistic excellence'.

Llamas, they added, is 'much lesser known'.

More recently, an insider noted to DailyMail.com how Llamas - when filling in for Holt - is ahead of his old front man Muir when it comes to the hallowed 25-54 demographic

'Muir hasn't figured out how to connect to younger viewers,' the source observed.

He's set to make way for former ABC anchor and weekend Today host Tom Llamas on June 2, after which he will devote his duties solely to Dateline

Holt has served as the show's principal host since 2011, during which times ratings have declined

He added how he is looking forward to flex 'some different news muscles' at Dateline, after coming to the decision after several 'long' conversations with his family. He's seen here with sons Stefan and Cameron Holt circa 1990

Llamas, meanwhile, is set to step into Holt's shoes full-time on June 2, as uncertainty continues to plague the industry as a whole.

Holt's decision to leave Nightly, meanwhile, coincides with the careers of his predecessors, with Tom Brokaw continuing to serve as a NBC special correspondent and analyst for several years after retiring from Nightly News in 2004,

Diane Sawyer, upon leaving World News Tonight to make way for Muir in 2014, became a contributor to Disney's news division.

CBS's Norah ODonnell did the same this year, after leaving the anchor chair at CBS Evening News' to instead produce more content for the network.

Holts NBC Nightly News departure was announced weeks later, on February 24.

Traditional news formats - and linear TV in general - remain on the decline.
A succession of strategic errors and management disruptions has made BP a sitting duck for takeover.

The oil and gas giant is particularly vulnerable in that it has a departing chairman, Helge Lund, hanging on to his job and couldn't be relied upon to put up a muscular defence or hold out for a value which would properly reward shareholders.

It is vital that Dame Amanda Blanc, who is leading the search for a successor, moves swiftly. When in difficulties, companies have a right to suspend sclerotic governance procedures.

BP's spin on the green roulette wheel under the leadership of Bernard Looney, and the personal entanglements which hurried his resignation, have been disastrous.

So far, his Canadian successor Murray Auchincloss has failed to steady the ship. It is unusual for corporations to switch chairman and chief executive simultaneously. Sometimes necessity dictates.

With a market value of just 58billion, BP is vulnerable. It is a bargain of the first order given a sum-of-the-parts valuation of 120billion.

Signing off?: A break-up or sale to overseas interests of BP should not be an option

No wonder rivals such as Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Total and Middle East investors are casting their eyes over one of the FTSE 100's behemoths.

As The Mail on Sunday has reported, senior investment bankers have been touting the idea of an all-British oil major, formed by a merger of Shell and BP, since the spring.

A break-up or sale to overseas interests of BP should not be an option.

Unlike BAE Systems or Rolls-Royce, it has no golden share to protect the company.

Yet the 116-year-old UK giant, founded as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, is part of the country's commercial DNA.

Down the decades it has been a powerful political and economic force for Britain around the globe.

It also has a remarkable record on exploration and production of liquefied natural gas and oil as well as a world-class trading operation.

Moreover, having survived an existential crisis in 2010, after the disastrous explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico (now America!), the 28 per cent dip in the stock over the last year is as nothing.

It should not be forgotten how it was brought back from the near-dead by Texan Bob Dudley after former US president Barack Obama weaponised its problems for political reasons.

A look at the BP share register shows it would be a hard company to defend from overseas marauders.

BlackRock holds a chunky 9.27 per cent. Legal & General is the biggest UK holder, in seventh place with just 1.03 per cent.

That means all which stands between it and being swallowed is a Labour government that has declared war on fossil fuels, even though big oil is among the significant investors in green choices such as hydrogen.

The best defence strategy for BP is rapid-fire change at the top of the kind which has been seen at Unilever and elsewhere.

If a deal is to be done, then the least bad outcome would be a merger with Shell, even though Shell chief executive Wael Sawan publicly argues that buying back shares is a preferable strategy to creating a UK-based rival to Exxon Mobil.

But big deals are notoriously difficult to execute calmly and successfully.

A Shell deal is also risky in that the Anglo-Dutch group flirts with shifting its listing to New York.

There should be no other choice for BP but keeping it British and independent.
The City watchdog faces a mounting backlash over its approval of Shein's listing on the stock market.

Joshua Reynolds, a member of the business and trade committee, blasted the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for allowing the Chinese fast fashion giant to float on the London Stock Exchange.

He is the latest MP to criticise regulators over the plans amid concerns about a lack of transparency from Shein about its business practices and allegations of abuse in its supply chain.

'Quite simply, Shein is not the kind of company we should be welcoming to our stock exchange,' Reynolds wrote in a letter to FCA boss Nikhil Rathi, seen by the Mail.

He said the UK has a 'proud history of standing up for human rights around the world' but allowing Shein to list would 'signal to the world that we are happy to sell out our values for the prospect of commercial success'.

Based in Singapore, Shein was founded in China and still relies on suppliers in the country to manufacture its cut-price T-shirts and dresses.

Concern: The Financial Conduct Authority faces a mounting backlash over its approval of Shein's listing on the stock market

Human rights organisations have accused the Chinese government of allowing slave labour, saying Uyghurs  a mostly Muslim ethnic group  are forced to work in cotton production.

Beijing has denied such claims and Shein insists it has 'zero tolerance' of forced labour.

The online giant was hoping for a mega 50billion float in London but has reportedly come under pressure to scale back its ambitions to around 24billion  at a time when the City is losing companies to rivals.

Rathi, who was reappointed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves for another five years last month, has been urged to encourage more companies to list in the UK.

James Alexander, chief executive of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, has said investors have 'raised concerns repeatedly about being exposed to Shein'.

He added: 'A race to the bottom on governance and standards will not help us in the long term, as it risks undermining the status of the UK as a high-quality financial centre.'
Cathy Terkanian was happily married and living in Massachusetts but would often think about the smiley, blue-eyed baby girl she had given up for adoption when she was a teenager - hoping she was having a good life.

Then, after years of wondering, she made the shocking discovery that her daughter, Alexis Miranda Badger, had in fact been murdered by her adopted father, Dennis Bowman, who dismembered her body and buried her in a shallow grave in the backyard of his Michigan home.

Now Terkanian, who is featured in Netflix's Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter, tells the Daily Mail the true horror of discovering that her daughter, re-named Aundria Bowman, had been placed with a serial killer.

'There were a few people my daughter grew up with who told me quite a few graphic details... terrible things,' she said.

'I think he (Dennis) was molesting my little daughter at a very young age,' she added.

It was in 2010 that Terkanian's true nightmare began. The retired nurse was living a quiet life in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband when she received a letter from the adoption agency.

At first, she thought that Alexis might be trying to find her. The idea made her giddy but, when she opened the letter, she was left stunned.

The agency had asked for a sample of her DNA after a missing girl turned up dead in a cornfield. The incident would take her down a dark and disturbing path.

Cathy Terkanian's relentless pursuit of answers regarding the disappearance and murder of her biological daughter is chronicled in the 2024 Netflix series Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter

Cathy Terkanian gave up her daughter Alexis, who was later named Aundria Bowman, for adoption

Aundria went missing in 1989 at the age of 14 but it wasn't until 2020 that the horrifying truth came to light when her adoptive father Dennis confessed to murdering her and burying her body in their backyard

Although that body turned out not to belong to her daughter, Terkanian discovered that Alexis had gone missing and embarked on a one-woman-crusade to find out what happened.

Terkanian was a teenager when she gave birth on June 23, 1974, in New Orleans. After getting pressure from her family, she put her baby girl up for adoption.

Brenda and Dennis Bowman became the baby's adoptive parents but her childhood was far from the happy one Terkanian had hoped for.

In 1980, when Aundria was only six years old, Dennis was arrested for attempted assault of a teenage girl he lured into the woods and threatened with a knife. He pleaded guilty to the crime and went to prison.

In the midst of his court proceedings for the assault case, he murdered 25-year-old Kathleen Doyle on September 11, 1980.

Doyle was alone in her Norfolk, Virginia apartment as her husband, who was in the Navy, was away on deployment. Dennis broke into their home and raped, strangled and stabbed the aspiring journalist to death.

But for decades the case remained cold as police were unable to find a suspect.

As Aundria got older, she began to confide in some friends about the abuse she was suffering at home at the hands of her adopted father.

In 1988, when she was in high school, the young woman went to school officials to tell them that her adoptive father was molesting her.

But when police and the school's social worker went to speak with her adoptive parents, the couple denied the allegations. They claimed that Aundria was acting out because she had learned that she had been adopted as an infant.

Things grew more dangerous for the young girl when, shortly after this incident, her adopted family relocated to a rural area in Michigan, leaving Aundria's friends and her high school, one of the only places she felt safe, behind.

Then, on March 11, 1989, the 14-year-old teenager mysteriously disappeared. The family filed a missing person's report but Dennis painted his adopted daughter as a rebellious teen who had stolen money from them before running away.

Police at the time classified Aundria as an 'endangered runaway'.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) defines an 'endangered runaway' as a child under the age of 18 who is missing on their own accord and whose whereabouts are unknown to their parent or legal guardian.

But in 2019 there was a breakthrough in the case of Kathleen Doyle thanks to the advances in genetic genealogy. DNA evidence from the crime scene linked Dennis to the murder. He was taken in to custody and pleaded guilty.

In a haunting confession, he also admitted to killing Aundria.

Dennis admitted that, when his adopted daughter confronted him about the abuse, he hit her and pushed her down a set of stairs.

He then dismembered her, placing her remains in a barrel that was buried in the family's Michigan backyard.

In June 2020, he pleaded guilty to both murders and was sentenced to two life sentences for killing Doyle and an additional 35 to 50 years for Aundria.

Investigators believe Dennis Bowman may be linked to other unsolved cases.

Terkanian's daughter Alexis Miranda Badger, whose name was changed to Aundria, was a baby when she was adopted by Dennis and Brenda Bowman in 1974. The photo collage shows the different stages of her life from baby to child to teenager

The adoption

Terkanian shared that she and her own mother did not have a loving relationship. She was only 16, a vulnerable young girl, when she became pregnant. Her mother, who was suffering from stage-3 breast cancer at the time, convinced her to give the baby up for adoption.

'You need to give her up for adoption. You can't take care of this baby,' she recalled her mother saying.

Terkanian expressed outrage at the way it was handled by the adoption agency.

'Nobody ever came to me and said you have a perfectly healthy beautiful five- month-old baby why don't you keep her,' she said.

'Nobody ever did that, they just railroaded me and used my sick, cancer-stricken mother and then they got my daughter murdered.'

She added that these adoption agencies should be preserving biological families.

She shares how vulnerable she was when her mother convinced her to give up her baby

Terkanian was only 17 when she gave up her little baby girl for adoption

On March 11, 1989, Aundria went missing, she was just 14 years old at the time. Her adopted parents, Brenda and Dennis, told police she had run away from home

An adorable photo of Alexis smiling when she was a little girl. She would have been middle aged if she were alive today

An early photo of Terkanian

A mother's instinct

Terkanian said that she just 'felt it in her bones' that her daughter's body was in the backyard of Brenda and Dennis' Hamilton County home.

But it wasn't until after Dennis' conviction that she discovered the truth.

In 2020, on her way home from a missing person's conference in Michigan, Terkanian was driving past Dennis and Brenda's house when she got a call from a neighbor who told her there was a shed with no windows in the Bowman's backyard that she didn't know about.

She had to wait a grueling two weeks for the police to look but Terkanian's instinct was right: her daughter's body was found under a slab of concrete beneath the shed.

'I knew she would be in his backyard,' she said. 'I still get a lot of peace out of that.'

Terkanian shares her gut-wrenching story in the hit true-crime documentary Into the Fire and reveals the gut-instinct she relied on

Dennis in 'Hillbilly Hell' in jail

Dennis is in jail in Virginia and his wife Brenda still stands by her man. The high school sweethearts continue to correspond through letter writing.

Dennis, who served in the Navy, wrote in one of his letters that he cannot get any respect in prison and wants to be transferred to a veteran's prison.

Terkanian, amused by his remarks, quipped, 'he refers to the prison he is in as Hillbilly Hell, so he can't get any respect in Hillbilly Hell - that is just like gold to me.

'He thinks he is somebody special with his Navy hat on. He wants to go to a federal penitentiary - those places are nightmares - where he is at is like an old folks retirement prison.

'He just has to sit there and rot.'

Dennis Bowman is pictured during police interview

Bowman served in the military for a short time

The adoptive mom

Though Brenda has not been charged with any crime, Terkanian believes she should be held responsible too.

'She could have redeemed herself in that (Netflix) documentary and told Dennis, "I want nothing more to do with you."

'There is nothing the police can do short of me going to kick her a** and for me getting arrested for that.'

In a recent Facebook post, Terkanian expressed her affection for the daughter she lost.

'I no longer refer to myself as Alexis' birth/bio mother. I am her REAL mother! She has no other mother!'

She described Dennis and Brenda Bowman as 'disgusting people' who are 'beneath the human species.'

Terkanian said she is waiting for the day she gets to confront Brenda.

When asked what she would say, she paused to collect her thoughts.

'I think I would say to her, "Do you not have any self worth at all that you would just let that monster blow your life up over and over. Go off and rape and pillage woman and you just cuddle up to him like he is your little lover boy."'

Brenda Bowman, pictured, has not been charged with any crimes

Terkanian spent more than a decade searching for the truth and seeking justice

Civil case

Terkanian, 67, continues to fight for justice for her daughter.

She is preparing a civil suit against Brenda Bowman to get her daughter's remaining ashes back. Brenda has only given her half and, Terkanian claims, refuses to her the rest.

'She told me they were sprinkled over her grandparents' grave sites,' she said. 'I don't believe a word she says.'

She created a petition on change.org that has already garnered nearly 6,000 signatures. She told the Daily Mail that she is also trying to get her daughter's killer and his wife's names removed from her birth certificate.

Her Facebook page 'Justice For Aundria M. Bowman' is a place where Terkanian provides updates and gets support from her followers.

Terkanian recently highlighted a compelling post that listed the alleged 'gross negligence' and 'critical failure' that happened in her daughter's case.

'Sometimes important posts are hidden within the page . This is one that needs to be front and center. From a follower of the page.. Thank you Sal Li,' Terkanian wrote.

'The system let her vanish into the shadows,' Li wrote. 'Alexis was failed by everyone.

'Child protection services that didnt remove her after her adoptive father was convicted of a sexual offense. Gross negligence!

'The police who didnt act on her abuse disclosure. Gross negligence! The schools that let her disappear without a trace. Gross negligence! The justice system that labeled her a runaway instead of a victim. Gross negligence!'

'Her story is not just a tragedy. It is an indictment,' the post read. 'I hope your daughter gets the full justice she deserves and I hope this helps you! @cathy terkanian.'

In another post, Terkanian shared an intimate and emotional message.

'Alexis you will never be silenced again. I am your voice and speak your truth!,' she said. 'I love you, mom.'
Harvey Weinstein's lawyers claim a former model's description of how he allegedly raped her 'doesn't make sense' and sounds like 'Harvey playing Twister.'

Kaja Sokola, now 39, tearfully recounted how she was allegedly raped and molested by the disgraced movie mogul twice under the guise of helping her acting career.

She alleged in her testimony to a New York City jury that Weinstein held her down on a hotel bed and forced oral sex on her days before her 20th birthday in 2006.

'He forced himself on my vagina - he raped me,' she declared to the court on Thursday, her voice rising with pent-up disgust and outrage.

But Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein's PR consultant, told DailyMail.com after Sokola's testimony that the movements she described were implausible.

'His hand's over here, his other hand's over there, his mouth is here - all while he's holding her down - it doesn't work,' he said.

'Imagine Harvey playing Twister, that's what it's like. If people get past their disgust of Harvey and think about it, it doesn't make sense.'

Sokola, who weighed only 125lbs at the time, alleged Weinstein used his much greater mass to hold her down, and she couldn't push him off.

Kaja Sokola, now 39, tearfully recounted how she was allegedly raped and molested by the disgraced movie mogul twice under the guise of helping her acting career

Disgraced movie mogul Weinstein is on trial in the New York Supreme Criminal Court accused of sexualy abusing three aspiring actresses including Sokola

She described how Weinstein's left hand was on her stomach, and his right hand was on her left thigh as he allegedly forced the sex act on her.

'He pinned me to the bed, I couldn't move under him... his whole body was pinning me to the bed... it was like a rock was on me, it was too heavy,' she told the jury.

'My legs were becoming numb, he was so heavy.

'I felt like I was dead - I was completely numb... my hope had died.'

Sokola earlier broke down on the stand, sobbing uncontrollably, as she told the jury about another time Weinstein allegedly abused her when she was just 16.

She told the jury he groped her vagina under her underwear, and forced her to touch his penis in 2002 after luring her to an apartment.

The naive teen, who had barely even kissed a boy before, was forced to watch the alleged assault in a bathroom mirror, Weinstein's 'black and scary' eyes staring back at her, she told the court.

Weinstein stared at Sokola as she gave her testimony for the first time, sometimes putting his hand over his mouth and constantly chewing cough drops.

At two other points during Thursday's proceedings, Weinstein appeared to doze off with his head slumped to his right, and had to be prodded awake by his lawyers.

Sokola wearing United Bamboo Spring 2005 during Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2005 in NYC

Sokola attends INSPIRED Exhibition Curated By Beth Rudin DeWoody at Steven Kasher Gallery on July 14, 2010 in NYC

Sokola stared straight at Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey as she testified, refusing to even look at Weinstein when she entered the courtroom.

Weinstein faces a New York Supreme Criminal Court jury in Manhattan for his retrial on rape and sexual assault charges.

The ailing 73-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and raping production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006.

But last year, the New York Court of Appeals astonishingly ruled that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial - and tossed out his 23-year sentence.

Weinstein is still behind bars at Rikers Island prison in NYC serving 16 years for unrelated sex crimes, but is being held at Bellevue Hospital during the new trial due to his declining health.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is once again accusing Weinstein of these crimes - as well as an additional charge of sexual assault against Sokola.

Weinstein is only criminally charged with forcing oral sex on Sokola in 2006, but she sued him in 2019 over the 2002 incident in a case that was settled.

He maintains his innocence and his lawyers told the court the women consented to sex acts with Weinstein as a 'quid pro quo' to further their careers.

Sokola alleged in her testimony that Weinstein held her down on a hotel bed and forced oral sex on her days before her 20th birthday in 2006 (pictured on the catwalk in Bryant Park in 2006)

Sokola told the court she first met Weinstein at a restaurant in July 2002 on her first of many trips to NYC, about two years into her modeling career.

'I felt special,' when Weinstein took an interest in her acting career, she said, as that was always her passion as opposed to modeling.

But she alleged it went horribly wrong when Weinstein took her to an apartment instead of their planned working lunch days later.

As soon as the door closed, Weinstein allegedly demanded the terrified girl take off her clothes.

'I didn't want to do that. I was panicking,' she said.

'And then he said that if I want to be an actress, that's what actors do in films, so I should get used to it. If a director says you have you take your clothes off, you have to take your clothes off.

'I was scared. I was scared of him.'

Sokola said she had never been in an intimate situation and only kissed and held hands with her high school boyfriend.

Sokola (pictured in 2022) earlier broke down on the stand, sobbing uncontrollably, as she told the jury about another time Weinstein allegedly abused ehr when she was just 16

Terrified, she took off her top and Weinstein allegedly moved her into the bathroom with his pants and underwear around his ankles.

Then he stood beside her and groped her underneath her underwear, then forced her hand onto his penis, Sokola told the court.

Weinstein the allegedly put his hand on her breast and masturbated until he ejaculated on the floor.

'See, that wasn't so bad? You've got to work on your stubbornness,' he allegedly told her afterwards.

Eventually, he let her go and they left. She didn't tell anyone about what happened for many years.

'I felt stupid and ashamed and like its my fault for putting myself in this position,' she told the court.

Sokola said she left for a six-week job in Tokyo, and developed eating disorders, anxiety, and depression as a result of the incident with Weinstein.

Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and raping production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006, but his conviction was thrown out last year

Weinstein is still behind bars at Rikers Island prison in NYC serving 16 years for unrelated sex crimes, but is being held at Bellevue Hospital during the new trial due to his declining health

The 2006 incident occurred when her sister Ewa Sokola, who was 12 years older than her, visited her apartment on 12th Street for her 20th birthday in April and May.

Sokola craved the approval of her family, who were furious she decided to pursue an acting career instead of go to university and her mother wasn't speaking to her.

She set up a lunch with Weinstein and her sister in the hope that she 'wouldn't treat me like a joke' and would tell their mother 'she's not a joke, she actually has a chance'.

Weinstein, who recently got Sokola a role as an extra on The Nanny Diaries, met the sisters at the Tribeca Grand, which is now the Roxy Hotel.

After some conversation, Weinstein told Kaja Sokola he had a script for her to read and she should come with him upstairs.

Weinstein led her to a hotel room, and once they got inside he allegedly grabbed her by the left shoulder and pushed her onto the bed.

Kaja Sokola testified that Weinstein ripped off her boots, stockings, and underwear and pushed up her dress, then pinned her to the bed and forcibly gave her oral sex.

'I kept saying please stop, I don't want this - but he didn't listen,' she told the court.

Weinstein allegedly kept going until he was finished, then told her: 'That wasn't so difficult, was it?'

'I wish I could forget [what he said], but I can't,' Sokola told the court.

Sokola (pictured on Thursday) stared straight at Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey as she testified, refusing to even look at Weinstein when she entered the courtroom

Sokola with her lawyers outside the courtroom on Thursday

Weinstein then let her leave and he left the hotel and she went back to her sister, not telling her anything about what allegedly happened, as she still desperately craved her family's approval.

'I blamed myself, my stupidity for putting myself in that situation... it changed the course of my life,' Sokola said.

The court also heard from Ewa, who testified about meeting Weinstein at a restaurant with her sister in 2006.

She told the jury that they had a friendly chat with the movie mogul before he and Kaja left to, Weinstein claimed, read some scripts.

When Kaja returned alone, she was very quiet and said nothing at the table until her sister asked if anything was wrong, but she brushed her off.

Ewa said her sister was 'extremely tense' and likened her mood to waiting for the results of a university exam, where you are dreading a bad result.

Sokola also alleged that Weinstein also molested her in 2004 after they bumped into each other at a fashion show.

She told the court he offered her a ride to the gym, where she was going next, and he put his hand on her breast as they sat in his car during the drive.

'I pushed his hand away and told him "this is not what I want",' she told the court.

The court also heard from Sokola's sister Ewa Sokola (center), who testified about meeting Weinstein at a restaurant with her sister in 2006

ADA Lucey last month told jurors in her opening statement that the once-renowned movie and television producer preyed on the teen's desire to be in the movies.

'This changed Kaja in ways she's still dealing with today,' she said.

The allegations were previously detailed in a civil suit settled with Disney, Bob Weinstein and Miramax for $3 million, but Sokola was not identified in the lawsuit.

In the weeks after, Sokola was photographed with Weinstein and a third person at an event, and his company wrote her a recommendation to the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

The court earlier heard from an official at the school that it had no record of Sokola attending. Kaja told the court that was because she couldn't afford the fees.

Lucey told jurors that power imbalances often 'cause victims to behave in ways that laypersons possibly might not expect'.

Sokola kept quiet about Weinstein allegedly abusing her until after other allegations emerged against Weinstein in 2017, and sued him over the 2002 incident in 2019.

At issue in the retrial is previous sexual assault charges against aspiring actress Jessica Mann (left) and production assistant Mimi Haleyi that were dropped last year. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has revived those charges

Weinstein's defense attorney Arthur Aidala in her opening statement countered by portraying Weinstein's accusers as willing partners in a showbiz quid pro quo.

'The casting couch is not a crime scene,' Aidala told the majority-female jury. He then compared prosecutors allegations to the preview of a movie that 'falls flat on its face.'

He conceded that Weinstein did 'fool around' with the alleged victims, but argued they did so 'consensually' in an effort to 'cut the line'.

The attorney argued that each of the three alleged victims were 'flirtatious' in their interactions with Weinstein because he 'could change the trajectory of their lives and make dreams come true.'

Addressing Sokola's allegations directly, Aidala claimed they were 'based on a lie' as he argued that the young model has a 'lot of problems' including an alleged eating disorder and alcohol addiction.

The attorney then went on to praise the disgraced movie mogul, speaking to his notoriety in Hollywood and describing him as 'generous' and 'the greatest movie executive, at the very least of his generation.'

Aidala then asked the jury to look at the full picture, calling the alleged incidents 'minutes' of the former producer's larger story.

Weinstein pleaded not guilty to the two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third-degree rape.

The new trial, presided over by state Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber, is expected to last roughly six weeks.

If he were to be convicted, Weinstein could see decades tacked onto his already lengthy prison sentence.

He is serving 16 years for a separate conviction in Los Angeles in 2022 - though his attorneys are also appealing that conviction.
Two groundworkers have today been found guilty of cutting down Britain's most famous tree.

Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, face up to ten years in prison for felling the Sycamore Gap tree during a 'moronic mission' which lasted less than three minutes, and causing damage to Hadrian's Wall in the process.

Jurors found the pair guilty after their friendship degenerated and they tried to pin the blame on each other in court. The verdicts were delivered after five hours of deliberations.

The pair, both from Cumbria, drove for 30 miles through a storm, then filmed themselves cutting down the iconic landmark in the early hours of September 28, 2023. Carruthers then forwarded the video to his partner as they fled the scene.

The following morning, when news broke of the vandalism, the pair shared social media posts about the tree with Graham saying to Carruthers 'here we go,' as they 'revelled' in news reports about the crime.

Prosecutors said the friends thought it would be 'a bit of a laugh' - but realised they 'weren't the big men they thought they were' when they saw the public outrage they had caused by committing 'the arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery'.

Graham and Carruthers were found guilty of causing 622,191 of criminal damage to the tree and 1,144 of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Both defendants stared straight ahead and showed little emotion as the guilty verdicts were read to the court. Carruthers sat with hands clasped in front of him, while Graham lifted a hand to his face and stroked his beard.

The sycamore had stood for more than 100 years and achieved worldwide fame when it was featured in the 1991 Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman film, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

Daniel Graham, left, and Adam Carruthers, right, face up to ten years in prison for felling the Sycamore Gap tree

The Sycamore Gap tree fell onto Hadrian's Wall when it was cut down. The tree was made famous by actor Kevin Costner when it appeared in his 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

The 150-year-old sycamore was felled in 2023 in an act which stunned the nation

Grabs from an enhanced version of mobile phone footage showing the Sycamore Gap being felled in September 2023, which was shown at Newcastle Crown Court

A court sketch of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers appearing in the dock at Newcastle Magistrates' Court

The Sycamore Gap tree is pictured here in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner

Subscribe to The Crime Desk to hear exclusive coverage of the Sycamore Gap trial on The Trial+ Join here Advertisement

The trial heard that the police investigation into the damage included people who had issues with the National Trust, and even a young boy who reported his brother.

Opening the case to jurors, prosecutor Richard Wright KC said: 'Though the tree had grown for over a hundred years, the act of irreparably damaging it was the work of a matter of minutes.'

Graham and Carruthers were 'best of pals' at the time and regularly worked together felling trees.

Graham's Land Rover was picked up on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras between Carlisle and Sycamore Gap at night on September 27 2023, and returning early the next morning. His phone was traced to cell sites making the same journey.

When police arrested the pair and searched Graham's phone, they found a two minute and 41 second video which showed the sycamore being cut down at 12.30am on September 28, and had been sent to Carruthers.

They also found photos and videos of a wedge of tree trunk and a chainsaw in the boot of Graham's Range Rover, although these have never been found.

Messages and voice notes between Graham and Carruthers the next day showed them talking about the story going 'wild' and 'viral', referring to 'an operation like we did last night' and joking that damage looked like it had been done by a professional.

Groundworker Daniel Graham (left), 39, and mechanic Adam Carruthers (right), 32, had denied two counts of criminal damage in relation to the tree and Hadrian's Wall

An image found on Daniel Graham's phone of a chainsaw and wedge from the tree in the boot of his car

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, pictured working together. The relationship between the pair has evidently broken down since

The Sycamore Gap featured in the 1991 blockbuster Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (pictured) starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman

Sycamore Gap timeline: How damage to the landmark tree unfolded  September 28, 2023 12.32am A video is made on Daniel Graham's phone showing the sound of a chainsaw, followed by the sound of a tree falling

A video is made on Daniel Graham's phone showing the sound of a chainsaw, followed by the sound of a tree falling 9.46am Police receive a report that the Sycamore Gap tree has been damaged. The investigation begins  October 31, 2023 Graham and Adam Carruthers are arrested and interviewed. Police find two chainsaws, and a chainsaw blade and cover at Graham's house  November 3, 2023 Graham and Carruthers are arrested and interviewed again. Carruthers' property is searched and a chainsaw is found  April 30, 2024 Graham and Carruthers are charged with criminal damage. They both later plead not guilty. - April 28, 2025 The trial of Graham and Carruthers begins at Newcastle Crown Court - May 9, 2025 Graham and Carruthers are found guilty of cutting down the tree in an act of 'deliberate and mindless criminal damage' July 15, 2025 Graham and Carruthers will be sentenced Advertisement

A man named Kevin Hartness posted about the tree on Facebook, writing: 'Some weak people that walk this earth; disgusting behaviour.'

Carruthers sent this post to Graham, and later sent a voice note in which he said: 'I'd like to see Kevin Hartness launch an operation like we did last night I don't think he's got the minerals.'

In August last year, Graham made an anonymous phone call to the police in an attempt to implicate his friend and save himself.

Officers instantly recognised his voice as he told them that 'one of the lads that [did] it, Adam Carruthers,' had taken his chainsaws back home.

The 'anonymous caller' said if police searched Carruthers' home and workshop they would find the saws and part of the felled tree, along with a shotgun and a pistol.

No firearms, chainsaws or the tree wedge were found, however.

On December 1, 2024, days before the trial was originally scheduled to begin, Graham took to Facebook to accuse Carruthers of felling the tree, posting a series of images of his former friend.

'I truly would not do it,' he wrote.

'It's my picture everywhere. Well, here's a picture of the man with [the] hidden face.'

In a tense exchange with Mr Wright during his cross examination, Graham tried to justify turning on his friend.

He said Carruthers and an associate had tried to intimidate him into taking the blame for cutting down the tree, insisting that the criminal justice system would be lenient towards him due to his mental health issues.

He added: 'If someone is costing me money and affecting my business then I will f***ing grass.

'No doubt about it he [Carruthers] is the one holding the chainsaw. Adam felled the tree, I don't know 100 per cent who the other person was.

'I was annoyed about my business suffering through his actions.'

To explain away number plate and phone site evidence against him, Graham insisted that Carruthers and an accomplice had taken his car, with his phone inside, and driven to the Sycamore Gap without his knowledge while he had been sleeping in his caravan.

A photograph that was shown to the jury during the trial, showing a collection of chainsaws

Costner, who plays the protagonist, and Freeman, who plays warrior Azeem, visit the tree in the movie

Police vehicles near the location of the tree next to Hadrian's Wall the day after it was cut down

Graham, pictured, tried to justify turning on his friend

Graham and Carruthers, seen here in a court sketch, were arrested in connection with the felling of the tree in October 2023

Graham (pictured) insisted that Carruthers and an accomplice had taken his car, with his phone inside, and driven to the Sycamore Gap without his knowledge while he had been sleeping in his caravan

Adam Carruthers now faces up to ten years in prison

Adam Carruthers outside Newcastle Crown Court yesterday

Part of the tree had been marked with white paint, indicating the culprits felled it with a chainsaw

Carruthers, for his part, did not directly accuse Graham of being involved in felling the tree.

But he insisted that on the evening the tree was felled he had tried to take his partner and young children for a meal at the Metrocentre in Gateshead but turned back because their 11-day-old baby was unsettled.

Jurors rejected these flimsy alibis and found the pair unanimously guilty of causing criminal damage worth 622,191 to the tree and 1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco world heritage site owned by the National Trust.

They now face up to ten years in prison.
Four years ago, a fresh-faced Max Chandler-Mather spoke passionately about his '18-year plan for a Greens government'.

The former union organiser and Greens firebrand said his ambitious plot relied on a simple equation: you get one vote for every three meaningful conversations you have with Australian voters.

If, he argued with hopelessly naive logic, Greens volunteers just had 1,866,216 meaningful conversations with Australian voters, they could seize power by 2040.

His equation would deliver them a total 45 seats, making them the senior party in a Coalition with Labor on just 44.

But, in the words of Mike Tyson, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face - and Mr Chandler-Mather got well and truly knocked out on Saturday.

The 33-year-old lost his Brisbane-based seat of Griffith after a 5.8 per cent swing to Labor candidate Renee Coffey.

Similarly, Adam Bandts humiliating defeat in his seat of Melbourne to Labor's Sarah Witty will send shockwaves through the Greens as the party is forced to pick a new leader.

While the count is ongoing - and his likely replacement Mehreen Faruqi has insisted he is 'still leader' - no one expects him to make up the 4,300 votes his Labor rival Sarah Witty leads by as of Thursday morning.

Four years ago, a fresh-faced Max Chandler-Mather spoke passionately about his '18-year plan for a Greens government' (pictured)

But, in the words of Mike Tyson , everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face - and Mr Chandler-Mather got well and truly knocked out on Saturday

This is despite a Greens press release claiming prematurely on Saturday night that he expects the count to elect him in Melbourne and their national vote falling slightly from their 2022 high.

So where did it all go so wrong for the Greens leader and his ailing party?

Seat redistribution

As much as his critics  and there are many  would hope it was all down to voters taking against him personally, the main reason Bandt lost took place long before any votes were cast.

The boundaries of Bandts Melbourne seat were redistributed last year.

This redrawing of the electoral map meant that the Greens leader lost several suburbs in the inner north, where he was popular, while also absorbing more Liberal-supporting areas.

This significantly narrowed his chances of retaining the seat he has held since 2010.

But Bandt cannot lay all of the blame with the decision to redistribute his seat.

As much as his critics  and there are many  would hope it was all down to voters taking against him personally, the main reason Greens leader Adam Bandt (pictured) lost took place long before any votes were cast

Blockers rather than builders

The Greens leader shoulders responsibility for positioning the Greens so obviously in opposition to Labor.

Renee Coffey, the Labor challenger who ousted Max Chandler-Mather in Griffith, said that voters were most concerned with cost of living and housing issues.

But the Greens were seen as a barrier to progress on the latter after they joined forces with the Liberals to block some of Labor's housing reforms, in particular the negotiations around its $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.

Mr Chandler-Mather constantly locked horns with the Prime Minister in very public spats over Labor's housing policy, earning him the designation of 'Albo's Nemesis' in this publication.

Griffith is fundamentally a progressive electorate and people were wanting to see real change and progress, so I think there was some disappointment with some of the blocking that went on and this idea of protest, Ms Coffey told the ABC.

Mr Chandler-Mather constantly locked horns with the Prime Minister in very public spats over Labor's housing policy, earning him the designation of 'Albo's Nemesis' in this publication (pictured: the two men exchange heated words in 2023)

A militant movement, not a party

Kos Samaras, a former Victorian Labor strategist and Redbridge Group director, said the Greens had turned into a movement fuelling civil unrest and disruption.

The party clearly recognised this too late after a string of poor results at state, territory, and local government elections, he added.

By the time they adjusted course, the damage was done. Their leader is now gone.

'I never imagined that I would see the Greens lose Melbourne in my lifetime.

Drew Hutton, founder of the Queensland Greens, echoed these concerns, claiming that the Greens choice of bedfellows often backfired.

I think Max (Chandler-Mather) fronting that CFMEU rally was a bit of a problem,' Mr Hutton told the ABC.

At the rally Mr Chandler-Mather attended, protesters held up placards of the Prime Minister depicted as Adolf Hitler with the world 'Albonazi' and 'traitor' written across it (pictured)

'The CFMEU is not the sort of union of want to be associated with.

The controversial union was placed into administration by the Albanese government in August last year amid allegations of corruption and violence within its ranks.

At the rally Mr Chandler-Mather attended, protesters held up placards of the Prime Minister depicted as Adolf Hitler with the world 'Albonazi' and 'traitor' written across it.

A lot of people see the Greens as being too militant and representing too much a sort of militant youth vote,' Mr Hutton added.

This was a point made by Mr Albanese who hit back at Mr Chandler-Mather's claims he had been bullied in parliament on Wednesday night.

'This is a guy who stood before signs at a CFMEU rally in Brisbane describing me as a Nazi,' the Prime Minister said.

Allegations of antisemitism

The party's stance on Israel, where they regularly accused the Labor government of being 'complicit in genocide' earned the ire of many Jewish Australians.

Julian Leeser, a Jewish Liberal MP for Berowra in Northern Sydney, shared a statement on Facebook on Wednesday where he accused the Greens of antisemitism.

'The loss of the Greens' seats in the House of Representatives is a repudiation of the antisemitism of the Greens and a vindication of Peter Duttons decision to put them last,' he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued a similar analysis to Mr Samaras, telling Channel Nine that Australians rejected the politics of conflict and the politics of grievance.

Unfortunately Adam Bandt in some ways is quite like Peter Dutton, Senator Wong added.

And shes not wrong, given Bandt has also suffered the ignominy of losing his own seat.

Mr Bandt rarely missed a media opportunity to pose with his big red toothbrush to highlight the party's bid to add dental to Medicare - with some believing the party strayed too far from its core message about concern for the environment

Liberal Party woes

Senator Faruqi, the current Greens deputy leader and frontrunner to take over the minor party, blamed the party's electoral drubbing on people's fear of Peter Dutton.

'It's clear that this election a lot of progressive Australians were deeply anxious about a Dutton government and I think that was a factor,' she told the ABC on Thursday morning.

She claimed that voters were 'fearful' of a 'divisive, a hate-filled Peter Dutton government'.

'It's clear that Labor and Liberals will always be working together to keep the Greens out,' she added.

That analysis rings a little hollow when the Greens campaigned explicitly on 'Keeping Dutton Out'.

Meanwhile, veteran Senator Sarah Hanson-Young blamed the party's poor showing in the lower house on the Liberal party's collapse.

'The main reason is the huge drop in the Liberal vote that went directly from Liberal to Labor, the Liberal voters preferencing Labor,' she told the ABC.

'And it was just too hard for our candidates to get over the line'

Senator Mehreen Faruqi (pictured), the current Greens deputy leader and frontrunner to take over the minor party, blamed their electoral drubbing on people's fear of Peter Dutton

Lost their core message

Mr Hutton, who helped Bob Brown found the Australian Greens, said the party had strayed too far from their original purpose.

They positioned themselves as party for housing reform and renters, rather than one whose main concern is the environment.

Indeed, the leader Mr Bandt rarely missed a media opportunity to pose with his big red toothbrush to highlight the party's bid to add dental to Medicare.

When asked to list his top priorities, climate change came fifth behind addressing the rental crisis, dental, universal childcare and ending native logging.

The Greens have always been about social justice and democracy,' he told the ABC.

'There is a problem though if that comes at the expense of the environment.

'Ive been talking to a few of the older Greens  and they have voiced to me that there is a bit of a loss for that concern for the environment that was really the reason we set up the Greens in the first place.'

This point was echoed by the ABC's Claudia Long who said that the Greens had lost their 'tree Tories' - well-off older people who are economically conservative but socially progressive with a concern for the environment.

Instead, those voters are more likely to cast their ballots for Teal independents who are more likely to represent their interests.

The Greens were often seen as a barrier to progress after they joined forces with the Liberals to block some of Labor's housing reforms, in particular the negotiations around its $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund

What's next for the Greens

The Greens may be down, but they are very much not out.

As Daily Mail Australia's Political Editor Peter van Onselen has argued, they have actually increased their power in the Senate.

'That's right, don't be fooled by its poor performance in the lower house where its leader Adam Bandt lost his seat,' he wrote.

'The Greens will hold onto all their senators, and given that Labor has increased its senate numbers - again with more factional left wingers - together they will soon control the senate.'

'Yes, the Greens are about to have the balance of power in the senate in their own right. They will be in a position to decide what legislation Labor puts forward, what gets passed into law, what gets amended according to their desires - and what gets rejected to never take effect.'

Read his full analysis here.
A financial expert has explained why younger Australians are finding it harder financially than the baby boomer generation - with rising costs and unrealistic lifestyle expectations playing a big role.

Finder money expert Rebecca Pike said younger workers were less likely to be getting decent pay rises to keep pace with cost-of-living pressures.

'There's obviously kind of generational differences in that as well,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It feels like any kind of profit businesses make is going towards keeping the company going and investing back into the business rather than supporting employees with wage increases.

'They're the ones having to pay to get to the office and keep meals on the table and pay all their bills. It's just tough.

'Most people's wages haven't grown at the same rate the price of things have.'

Ms Pike said the cost of living crisis was only likely to get worse for those with a job, either renting or paying off a mortgage.

'We know that prices just keep rising so it may just get tougher,' she said.

Complicating matters for young Aussies are 'lifestyle expectations' crafted on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Pictured: Young Aussies at a music festival

'We know that cost of living has been a big pain point for Australians over the last few years.

'With things like rent and groceries going up, it's just harder, your money doesn't stretch as far.'

Complicating matters are 'lifestyle expectations' seen on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

'Social media tends to show you a certain life that you should be living, making you feel left out if you don't have that thing, and constantly throwing ads at you,' Ms Pike said.

'There's just so much more going on in the world now in terms of going out and going on holidays.'

But in good news for young Aussies struggling with a mortgage, the Commonwealth Bank sees the RBA cash rate falling to 3.35 per cent for the first time since March 2023.

CBA's head of Australian economics Gareth Aird said softer consumer spending was likely to weaken economic growth - as measured in gross domestic product.

'The recent softness in spending data coupled with downside risks to the global economy have resulted in us making a small downward revision to our GDP profile in 2025,' he said.

Rising costs, flat wages, and Instagram dreams - young Aussies are stuck chasing a lifestyle that costs more than it pays

Even with rate cuts on the horizon, saving was still a challenge during a cost-of-living crisis.

'We know that cost of living has been a big pain point for Australians over the last few years,' Ms Pike said.

'With things like rent and groceries going up, it's just harder, your money doesn't stretch as far.'

Underlying and headline levels of inflation are both within the Reserve Bank's two to three per cent target for the first time since 2021.

But employee living costs soared by 3.4 per cent in the year to March.

In the shopping basket, fruit and vegetable prices have risen by 7.6 per cent.

On the flip side, petrol prices have fallen by 7.6 per cent during the past year, which has seen motorists in capital cities typically pay less than $1.85 a litre for unleaded fuel.

Electricity bills have also fallen by 9.6 per cent during the past year thanks to $75 quarterly rebates from the federal government which are being extended until the end of 2025.
The Labor Party now has a safe seat on Sydney's wealthy north shore for the first time ever.

Areas east of the Lane Cove River had traditionally been Liberal Party heartland, producing conservative premiers and prime ministers.

Until the May 3 election, Labor had never held a federal electorate in this rich part of Sydney, and it had been more than four decades since the ALP held any state seat on the north shore.

But that has now all changed with Labor getting resoundingly re-elected in Bennelong, even with new boundaries covering Chatswood, Lane Cove and Greenwich.

This saw Jerome Laxale defeat his Liberal opponent Scott Yung, 59 per cent to 41 per cent, after scoring a nine per cent swing in his favour after preferences.

Labor now has constituents that had previously been represented by four Liberal Party leaders during the past three decades.

Even more surprisingly, Labor convincingly won upmarket polling booths that had traditionally been Liberal Party strongholds, with the two-party ALP vote in these leafy areas with water views well above the national average of 54.8 per cent.

The Labor Party now has a safe seat on Sydney's north shore for the first time ever (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, with Bennelong Labor MP Jerome Laxale, left in Lane Cove)

A Chatswood booth, west of the Pacific Highway, delivered Labor a landslide 65.2 per cent to 34.8 per cent margin, with Mr Laxale getting 45.9 per cent of the primary vote.

Greenwich on the Lane Cove River was even more enthusiastic about Labor, with this booth voting for the ALP with a 69 per cent to 31 per cent margin, with Mr Laxale getting almost half or 49.6 per cent of first-preference votes.

Lane Cove was almost just as pro-Labor, with Mr Laxale having 67.4 per cent of the vote, compared with just 32.6 per cent for the Liberal Party.

This area is far from working class, with Lane Cove now having a median house price of $3.1million, which is more than double greater Sydney's $1.5million mid-point, CoreLogic data showed.

Former Lane Cove mayor Andrew Zbik, who in 2017 became the area's first Labor representative since 1947 when he was elected to council, said the ALP was no longer regarded as socialist on Sydney's north shore.

'We've proven at a local level that we're not the extreme socialists that their grandparents affiliated the Labor Party as going back to the Cold War,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Labor was never a communist party but a lot of Liberal voters mistakenly thought that.'

Mr Zbik, a financial planner, said Labor representation on the Lane Cove and Ryde council areas had helped turn traditionally Liberal Party areas red, boosting the political fortunes of Mr Laxale, a former Ryde mayor.

Greenwich on the Lane Cove River was even more enthusiastic about Labor, with this booth voting for the ALP with a 69 per cent to 31 per cent margin, with Mr Laxale getting 49.6 per cent of first-preference votes

'We've definitely found at a local level, they're actually going, "You guys are quite sensible",' he said.

'I think that's where Jerome's built his profile as well - as local councillor, mayor, sensible, rational, makes good decisions; he's now the federal member for Bennelong.

'At the local level, we proved that you can trust voting Labor.'

The lower north shore also has some of Australia's highest registration numbers for new Teslas.

Mr Zbik said his council's embrace of charging stations for electric cars had proven popular with north shore voters, helping Labor win Bennelong as defeated Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pledged during the campaign to scrap EV tax breaks.

'Lane Cove council, about two years ago we had the most public charging infrastructure out of any council on the lower north shore,' he said.

'This is an area that government needs to help catch up on and very much an acute awareness that Australia is behind the world compared to Europe in particular on take-up of electric cars.'

The abolition of the former Teal-held seat of North Sydney saw Bennelong redrawn to cover 1970s boundaries that were in place when future prime minister John Howard first ran as a federal Liberal candidate in 1974.

Labor now has constituents that had previously been represented by four Liberal Party leaders during the past three decades (former prime minister John Howard is pictured with former premier Gladys Berejiklian in 2019)

The absence of a Teal candidate in Bennelong meant the left-wing vote went to Labor instead of the Liberal Party.

'I believe so and the minute the Liberals came out with a nuclear policy, my reading of that is they're not trying to win back these Teal seats,' Mr Zbik said.

Until Labor's victory on Bennelong, on new boundaries, the Labor Party hadn't held a seat on Sydney's north shore at a state or federal level since 1981, after the ALP had won Willoughby for a term in 1978 during popular premier Neville Wran's landslide re-election.

The federal seat of Bennelong overlaps with the Liberal state seat of Willoughby, previously held by former premier Gladys Berejiklian and Opposition Leader Peter Collins, and the state seat of Lane Cove, which Kerry Chikarovski held as state Liberal leader.

With Mr Howard thrown in the mix, Labor now represents an area held by four Liberal Party leaders during the past three decades.

While the betting markets had expected the Liberal Party to lose neighbouring Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian was leading her Teal opponent Nicolette Boele by 204 votes, having 50.1 per cent of the two-party vote on Thursday night.
James Foley has died at the age of 71.

James Foley has died at the age of 71

The director was best known for being at the helm of films such as 'Fifty Shades of Grey: Fifty Shades Darker' and 'Fifty Shades Freed' as well as 'Who's That Girl ' starring Madonna but it was confirmed on Thursday (08.05.25) that he had following a battle with brain cancer.

His publicist explained to The Hollywood Reporter that James "died peacefully in his sleep earlier this week" after a "years-long struggle" with the disease.

As well as his cinematic work, James also worked with the Queen of Pop on her 'Live to Tell', 'Papa Don't Preach' and 'True Blue' music videos under the name Peter Percher and was best man at her wedding to now-former husband Sean Penn in 1985.

After graduating from New York University and then USC in Los Angeles, he was able to jumpstart his career thanks to a chance meeting.

He told Film Freak Central: "I was very lucky, and in the perverse calculus of Hollywood I was in the last year of film school and shared a house with a guy. There was a woman who was pursuing my friend so we had this film school party, which consisted of people projecting their student films onto a white wall and getting stoned.

"And this girl came. Hal Ashby was pursuing her  she was pursuing my friend and Hal was pursuing her  and Hal called her up and asked to come to this party full of film students. Just as he walked through the door, my film was showing on the wall. Ill never know whether he was being polite or anything, but he told me he liked it and stuff and he was going to form a company that was going to produce other peoples movies and what did I want to do? I could write something and direct it."
The accused murderer of Samantha Murphy has been escorted by police to a remote stretch of Victorian bushland for the second time as the desperate search for the missing Ballarat mother wears on.

Mother-of-three Ms Murphy, 51, went missing after leaving her Ballarat home, in Victoria's central highlands, on the morning of February 4, 2024.

About one month later, Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, son of former Richmond and Geelong AFL player Orren Stephenson was charged with her murder.

Stephenson was recently walked through Enfield State Park, south of Ballarat, with plain clothes detectives in his second excursion from Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Excavators were brought in to dig up an undisclosed area on a pine plantation, 7News reported on Wednesday.

Though police have remain tight-lipped on the investigation, veteran criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro said certain inferences can be drawn from the latest update.

Dr Watson-Munro said there are two possible reasons for leading Stephenson on a second walk through.

'One possibility is that they don't have a lot of evidence. And, using the colloquial term, it's a bit of a shakedown,' he said.

Mother-of-three Samantha Murphy, 51, (pictured) has been missing since leaving her Ballarat home, in Victoria's central highlands, on the morning of February 4, 2024

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, (pictured) was charged with Ms Murphy's murder last year

'You know, it's the whole audio visual trip, in many ways, to maybe put pressure on the accused person to give up more information.'

'You have well-trained people who would be looking for all sorts of cues in terms of [Stephenson's] body language, what he may or may not have said.'

The second, and more likely possibility, he said, is the police are acting on information not yet known to the public.

'I think it's more likely that the police, in fact, do have more information, and they're acting on that,' he said, adding it was impossible to know what form any new information may take.

'And also, I guess, in terms of making making it aware to the public, they're saying: "Look, we're still on the tools. We're still working here".'

'I don't think it's just for show. I don't know that, but I don't think so.

'There's obviously some strategy behind it.'

In June of last year, police discovered Ms Murphy's credit cards, driver's licence and phone in near-perfect condition on the bank of a dam in Buninyong.

Veteran criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro said police were likely acting on information not yet known to the public in leading Stephenson on a second visit

The discovery is considered by many the most significant public breakthrough in the investigation.

Dr Watson-Munro agreed for two reasons.

Firstly, the unlikely find suggested police had a 'broader spectrum of information than we're aware of'.

Secondly, he said it suggested there could be a third party involved - either in the crime itself or its aftermath.

'It suggests, possibly that [police] are of the view that there's a third party involved.

'Not necessarily involved in the commission of the crime, but somebody that may have assisted in terms of disposal of evidence and so on.

'The phone was in pristine condition, and it was close to the lake. Now the likelihood of that occurring, I think it's very remote view would normally predict natural degradation of anything like that.

'My view is that as he was locked up... You would think that, in all likelihood, the phone wasn't taken by the person who was in custody, but someone else.'

Searches near Enfield State Park in Ballarat have been extensive and ongoing

Asked whether it was by chance the public became aware of the discovery, the veteran psychologist said, when it comes to investigations: 'There's no such thing as a coincidence.'

'[Sharing the breakthrough with the public] builds momentum, but it also potentially puts pressure on third parties if they exist.'

In September, about seven months out from Ms Murphy's disappearance, Dr Watson-Munro told Daily Mail Australia there was nothing unique about her not yet having been found.

He likened the search among dense tree-cover to 'finding a needle in a haystack.'

Asked on Friday whether he still felt that way, now 15 months out from her initial disappearance, Dr Watson-Munro said: 'Absolutely'.

'Look, everyone wants crimes solved, and there's a kind of need for immediate gratification, I think, in part it's a function of true crime films and documentary series and podcasts and so on,' he said.

'There's a solution at the end of the episode, or ten episodes, in but in terms of police investigation, I mean, look at some of the cold cases still that have gone on for decades.'

Asked why Ms Murphy's disappearance has gripped the attention of Australians well beyond her home town of Ballarat, Dr Watson-Munro said: 'Because, you know what, there but for the grace of God, this could be my family.

Detectives are pictured at Buninyong collecting what is believed to be Ms Murphy's mobile phone last year - a major breakthrough in the now 15-month old investigation

'You've got a woman well respected in the community going for her weekly run, and she's never seen of, seen or heard of again.

'That captures the imagination of people, I think.'

Stephenson has denied any involvement in Ms Murphys death and pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest he knows the whereabouts of her body or that he was involved in her alleged murder.

He is expected to stand trial for murder later this year.

Victoria Police declined to comment given the matter is before the courts.
The government has spent over half a million pounds on foreign visas for civil servants so far and is on track for a 4.2 million bill for foreign employees by the end of Parliament, MailOnline can reveal.

FOI data showed Sir Keir Starmer's government spent at least 566,000 on visas for foreign nationals in the first eight months after last July's election, in areas including the Department of Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence.

The DWP - run by Secretary of State Liz Kendall - was the worst offender, spending a total of 368,655 on visas for employees from last year's election to March this year.

If expenditure continues at the same level, this will equate to almost a 2.8 million bill for this department alone by July 2029.

It comes as the Labour government faces increasing pressure over cost-saving decisions including cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners, implementing inheritance tax on farms and reforming PIP benefits.

Yet while blaming a 22 billion fiscal black hole left by the previous Conservative government, ministers do not seem to be cutting back on foreign employees at the heart of government.

Individuals who wish to work in the UK but who are not citizens typically have to pay several thousand pounds to attain a visa allowing them to gain paid employment.

This includes a one-off application fee ranging from 769 to 1,751 and an annual cost of 1,035 for a skilled worker visa.

FOI data showed Sir Keir Starmer 's government spent at least 566,000 on visas for foreign nationals in the first eight months after last July's election

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Certain companies and organisations sponsor these visas for their employees alongside their pay package - meaning workers do not have to stump up the cash themselves.

It is these fees that will see the government splurge more than 4 million by the end of Parliament, current estimates show.

The Cabinet Office spent the second-largest amount on foreign visas until March, at 56,153, followed by the Department of Health and Social Care at 45,658 and the Department of Science, Information and Technology at 42,309.

The DSIT said its spending related to 18 employees, 12 of which 'are employed within the AI Security Institute which requires highly specialised skills.'

A spokesperson added: 'These roles meet skills requirements for sponsorship, with the majority of visas sponsored by DSIT allocated to individuals with highly specialised skill sets.'

Perhaps the most eye-catching spend on the list was by the Ministry of Defence, which spent 9,717 on sponsoring skilled visas.

By contrast, the Foreign Office told MailOnline it did not sponsor any employee visas because a right to work in the UK is a requirement for all applicants to its roles.

In total, government spent 566,102 on visas by March 2025, putting it on track for a 4,245,762 bill by the end of Parliament.

The DWP - run by Secretary of State Liz Kendall (pictured) - was the worst offender, spending a total of 368,655 on visas for employees from last year's election to March this year

Following a resounding performance by Reform in last week's local elections, Labour is coming under pressure from left and right to reverse spending cuts made in the early days of government by Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured)

It follows Sir Keir's pledge in March to slim down the civil service, when he described the British state as 'overcautious and flabby'.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves also used her Spring Statement in March to set out how she wants to cut Government running costs by 15 percent by 2030.

The size of the civil service has ballooned over recent years following the Brexit referendum and the Covid pandemic.

Just last month the Cabinet Office announced it would be scrapping 1,200 roles - almost a third of its 6,500 'core staff'.

The government's reliance on foreign workers comes as it faces growing calls to reverse cuts to the winter fuel allowance, which meant wealthier pensioners did not receive help with heating bills last winter.

Following a resounding performance by Reform in last week's local elections, Labour is coming under pressure from left and right to reverse spending cuts made in the early days of government.

A government spokesperson said: 'Under our Plan for Change, our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system, linking immigration, skills and visa systems to grow our domestic workforce, end reliance on overseas labour and boost economic growth.'
A glamorous Texas realtor was killed during a tense clash that all began with the innocent brush of a Mercedes Benz.

Ashlee Long, 28, was shot dead on April 5 while visiting Dallas for a work conference.

She was with a friend downtown at around 2:30 a.m., when her friend touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street - prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop.

The passenger of the car, Kendrick Finch, then emerged with a 9mm handgun.

Footage of the incident shows Long's friend, William Kistler, 36, reaching for Long's purse, which had his gun in it.

Kistler struggled with Long, as she tried to hold him back but he was eventually able to retrieve his .40 caliber pistol from her bag.

Ashlee Long, a relator in the Houston area, had traveled to Dallas for work. She was out with a male companion the night she was murdered, according to police

Dramatic images of deadly shooting in Dallas, Texas show the moment realtor Ashlee Long, 28, was shot after her friend touched a car passing on the street April 5

Dallas police have charged Kendrick Finch, 34, in her death. Video of the shooting shows Finch stepping out of Mercedes in downtown Dallas with a gun and firing at Ashlee Long

At that point, Finch started shooting at the pair on a busy street filled with shops, restaurants and apartment buildings, striking Long in the process.

Kistler, who was able to fire three shots from his weapon, was also hit and was taken to the hospital while Finch fled.

Finch called police hours later, according to local station Fox 4, and identified himself as the shooter. However, it wasn't until April 18 when he turned himself over to investigators.

His previous criminal records include drug and burglary charges, the TV station reported.

Despite Finch fleeing from the crime scene, his lawyer claims Kistler is to blame for the shooting.

'We know for sure Ashlee Long would be alive today except for William Kistler. William Kistler is the one who started everything that night it showed in the video,' his attorney Josh Healy stated in court.

Ashlee graduated in 2019 from the University of Houston with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration

While out on the town with a friend April 5 around 2:30 a.m., Long's friend touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street, prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop on the street. The friend was later identified as William Kistler, 36

Even before Finch stepped out of the car, Long's male companion reached into her purse and pulled out a gun

Finch began shooting at the pair, striking Long. Multiple images of her falling to the ground were shown in court. She died at a Dallas hospital

Long, 28, worked as a relator with Keller Williams, Magnolia Realty, and most recently, Century 21

Realtor Ashlee Long was shot and killed on April 5, allegedly by Kendrick Finch

'We don't have the toxicology report yet of these two individuals, but I can bet where that's going to end up.

'He's trying to fight random people on the street and then my client's car. Driving by at a normal rate of speed gets hit.'

Finch was only defending himself, his lawyer added.

'When (Kistler) takes those steps towards my client, my client has every right under the law to defend himself.'

Long's family declined to speak to the media after a court hearing Wednesday, but had previously told local reporters their daughter was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

'Im still in a fog. I just feel like Im in a daze every day,' Michelle Long, Ashlee's mother told the outlet in April.
The family of one of South Korea's most promising young actresses, who tragically took her own life in February, has accused an A-list actor of dating her when she was just 15.

Kim Soo-hyun, the 37-year-old star of Netflix's Queen of Tears who strongly denied all claims, was accused by the family of Kim Sae-ron of dating the late actress when she was underage.

The actress' family also accused his talent agency of pressuring her through legal channels to repay a debt she incurred over a drink-driving fine.

Kim Sae-ron tragically took her own life in February at the age of 24, following months of scrutiny and abuse after she was fined 20 million won (11,000) for a 2022 drink-driving incident.

Talent agency Gold Medalist, which both actors were part of, covered compensation for this incident, but was later accused of aggressively pursuing a repayment for the debt, which many believed contributed to her declining mental health.

The scrutiny of the actress' life did not stop after her death, and weeks after her death a YouTube channel infamous for its controversial political content claimed that she and Kim Soo-hyun had been dating since she was 15, later sharing photos and videos claimed to have been taking during their relationship.

Last month, the Korea Times reported a lawyer representing Kim Sae-ron's family revealed messages that allegedly showed the two actors had been talking since she was at least 16 years old.

On Wednesday, the lawyer, Bu Ji-seok, revealed at a press conference that he had filed a lawsuit against Kim Soo-hyun, alleging violations of South Korea's Child Welfare Act and defamation.

Kim Sae-ron (pictured, left) tragically took her own life in February at the age of 24

Kim Soo-hyun, the 37-year-old star of Netflix's Queen of Tears, has strongly denied all claims

South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 5, 2023

During this press conference, Bu Ji-seok made the explosive claim that a whistleblower who provided an audio recording which they said showed Kim Sae-ron confirming that she had sex with Kim Soo-hyun while she was in the eight grade, the equivalent of Year 9 in the UK, was stabbed after refusing a bribe to hide the tape.

According to Bu Ji-seok, the young actress allegedly claimed in the 90-minute tape, made with her consent, that he also sent her pictures of him sleeping with an idol, a colloquial term for a K-Pop star, who was not named.

The informant was allegedly stabbed nine times while in New Jersey by two men on May 1 in a case that the lawyer said is now being investigated by the FBI.

Though Kim Soo-hyun was initially silent in response to the initial allegations, in March he began denying them.

At first, his agency said the pair were never a couple, but later said that they had dated in 2019 and 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was an adult.

At a press conference at the end of March, Kim Soo-hyun said: 'I never dated her when she was a minor.

'Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple.'

He also denied claims that 'she made the tragic choice because of me or my agency pressuring her over a debt.'

At first, his agency said the pair were never a couple, but later said that they had dated in 2019 and 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was an adult

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun, embroiled in controversy over his relationship with actress Kim Sae-ron, who was found dead in February, reacts during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, March 31, 2025

Kim Sae-Ron attends at the Peter Jensen Shop opening at Myeongdong in Seoul, South Korea on April 13, 2018

Kim Soo-hyun filed lawsuits over allegations of defamation and stalking against the family and related parties and is seeking 12 billion won (6.4million) in damages.

Her family has also requested an official police investigation into the alleged abuse, as well as police protection.

Despite Soo-hyun adamantly denying that he dated her while she was underage, the speculation has tarnished his squeaky clean image.

The actor has already lost multiple endorsement deals and has been dropped as a brand ambassador by Prada.

Soo-hyun is currently in the midst of filming a new series for Disney+, but a representative for the streamer has confirmed that no release date for the project has been set, leaving its future in doubt.

Many fashion brands have also put their relationship with him on ice, including Prada, which announced in March that it had it had mutually decided to end its collaboration with him.

This followed similar moves from Dinto, a Korean cosmetic brand.

Prior to the scandal, Soo-hyun was the biggest male star of his generation.

He first shot to major fame in the 2011 teen drama Dream High, before skyrocketing to A-list status across Asian thanks to the back-to-back successes of the dramas Moon Embracing the Sun and My Love From The Stars.

After a hiatus, he returned to the top of the industry with his comeback role in the romantic comedy series Queen of Tears, which became the highest-rated show in its network's history.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
A pilot inadvertently caused a British Airways plane to catch fire after mixing up his left and right hands during take off.

The Boeing 777 jet had been about to take off from Gatwick to Vancouver in June last year, when the co-pilot mistook his right hand for his left and pulled back on the lever operating the aircraft's thrust.

This caused the brakes to catch fire and led to a rejected take-off, meaning the pilot was forced to perform a 'high-speed emergency stop' on the runway after reaching speeds of more than 190mph.

The mishap, referred to as an 'action slip', on June 28 last year sparked chaos for thousands of passengers as the airport was temporarily closed and dozens of flights were cancelled and delayed.

A report into the incident published on Thursday revealed the pilot had just come back from a period of annual leave, having last flown two weeks prior, and was 'well-rested and feeling fine'.

The pilot, who had over 6,000 hours of flying time, 'could not identify a reason' why he mixed up his hands, the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report added.

None of the 13 crew or 334 passengers onboard the plane were injured during the incident, although the fire on the right-side main wheel brakes did have to be extinguished by fire crew.

Video footage taken from onboard the flight showed fire engines making their way over to the stationary vehicle shortly after the take off was 'aborted'.

A pilot inadvertently caused a British Airways plane to catch fire after mixing up his left and right hands during take off. The plane is pictured stalled on the runway after the incident

Video footage taken from passengers onboard the flight showed fire engines making their way over to the stationary vehicle, with travellers being told take-off had been 'aborted'

Plane stuck on / blocking the runway at Gatwick. Nothing in or out as it stands, been this way for around 20 mins now .. pic.twitter.com/vR6lY4B8U8  Tom Strawbridge (@strawbs5) June 28, 2024

The report stated the pilot was supposed to 'move his left hand during the takeoff roll, while preparing to pull back on the control column with his right hand'.

'However, he unintentionally pulled his left hand back instead,' it added.

'There was no obvious reason for him being primed to do that... and he could not identify a reason for it on the day.'

The report also stated: 'The co-pilot reported being well-rested and feeling fine. He expressed surprise in himself over the inadvertent thrust reduction and could not identify a reason for it.'

'The airport rescue and firefighting service attended the aircraft and extinguished a fire from hot brakes on the right main landing gear,' the AAIB report added.

The plane reached around 167 Knots (192mph) before it began slowing down.

A statement from Gatwick at the time of the incident last year said the plane had been abandoned 'due to the departing aircraft having hot breaks'.

A spokesperson added: 'Safety is our top priority and the dedicated airport fire service swiftly attended to support the aircraft.'

The Boeing 777 jet had been about to take off from Gatwick to Vancouver in June last year, when it was forced to come to a halt (Stock image)

'A number of flights were diverted. The runway is now open and operating as normal.'

According to travel expert Simon Calder at least 12 flights were diverted including an Emirates A380 flight from Dubai that was instead forced to land in Brussels.

A British Airways spokesperson also said at the time: 'Our pilots took the precautionary decision to cancel take-off due to a technical issue.

'Safety is always our top priority and we apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.'
State marksmen missed the heart of a South Carolina cop killer who chose to die by firing squad last month, botching his execution and causing him to suffer an excruciating, prolonged end, his attorneys claim.

Mikal Mahdi, 42, was put to death on April 11 for murdering an off-duty police officer in 2004.

Mahdis attorneys said he opted to be executed by firing squad over lethal injection or electrocution because he believed it would be the quickest and most painless method of the three options.

However, an independent autopsy has suggested Mahdis execution did not go according to plan and that the convicted killer endured pain well beyond the 10-to-15 second window that was expected.

In documents filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, Mahdis attorneys claim that the states three marksmen shot their client lower than expected, missing his heart and striking him just above the abdomen, piercing his liver and pancreas.

As the shots were fired, Mahdi cried out and his arms flexed, the AP reported. He was heard breathing and groaning for at least a minute after and wasnt officially pronounced dead for four minutes.

The autopsy confirms what I saw and heard, David Weiss, an attorney for Mikal Mahdi, told DailyMail.com in a written statement.

Mikal suffered an excruciating death. We dont know what went wrong, but nothing about his execution was humane.

The implications are horrifying for anyone facing the same choice as Mikal. South Carolinas refusal to acknowledge their failures with executions cannot continue.

Mikal Mahdi, 42, was executed by firing squad on April 11. His attorney claim the execution was botched and he suffered an excruciating death

Mahdi, with a hood over his head, cried out as the three bullets to the heart hit him and his arms flexed. He groaned about 45 seconds afterward and his breaths continued for around 80 seconds before he took his final gasp

An autopsy of Mahdi found only two distinct bullet wounds, despite their being three shooters

Mahdis death marked the second time a death row inmate has been executed by firing squad this year in South Carolina.

The autopsy ordered by his attorneys found that Mahdi suffered only two distinct gunshot wounds to his torso, even though there were three gunmen, each possessing a live round.

His lawyers believe the execution was botched because either the volunteer prison employees missed or the target over Mahdis chest to mark the location of his heart wasnt properly placed.

South Carolinas Corrections Department had earlier conducted its own autopsy on Mahdi, and suggested all three bullets had struck him, with two of them entering his body at the same spot and following the same path.

That has happened before during target practice, Corrections Department spokeswoman Chrysti Shane said to AP on Thursday.

Mahdis legal team claimed the autopsy provided by the state was incredibly sparse, with far fewer details and photographs than normally issued.

They also claim that there isnt enough evidence to support the Corrections Departments claim that two bullets entered the same spot.

The shooters missed the intended target area and the evidence indicates that he was struck by only two bullets, not the prescribed three, said Dr. Jonathan Arden, the pathologist hired by Mahdis team.

Arden said it likely took Mahdi 30-60 seconds to lose consciousness, two to four times longer than predicted by experts hired by the state.

During that time, Mahdi likely endured intense pain as his lungs attempted to expand against shattered ribs and a broken sternum, while also experiencing "air hunger" - a desperate, suffocating sensation - as his damaged lungs failed to draw in enough oxygen, according to Dr. Arden.

Mr. Mahdi elected the firing squad, and this Court sanctioned it, based on the assumption that SCDC could be entrusted to carry out its straightforward steps: locating the heart; placing a target over it; and hitting that target,' Mahdis attorneys wrote in a letter to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

'That confidence was clearly misplaced.

Mahdi had filed for clemency before his death. In the appeal, his attorneys blamed his crimes on a tough childhood

In 2004, Mahdi admitted to killing 56-year-old police captain James Myers. Myers were shot nine times and his body burned

In a report summarizing his findings, Arden said the states official autopsy did not include X-rays, which would have allowed for the results to be independently verified.

Arden also said that only one photo was taken of Mahdis body, and no close-ups of the wounds; and his clothing was not examined to determine where the target was placed and how it aligned with the damage the bullets caused to his shirt.

I noticed where the target was placed on Mikals torso, and I remember thinking to myself, Im certainly not an expert in human anatomy, but it appears to me that target looks low, said Mahdis attorney, David Weiss.

Dr. Arden said that in his 40-year career, he has never heard of two bullets entering the same spot on a human body before.

The autopsy found damage in only one of the four chambers of Mahdis heart - the right ventricle.

There was, however, extensive damage to his liver and pancreas, suggesting the marksmen aimed too low.

In contrast, in the execution of Brad Sigmon, who was killed by firing squad in South Carolina in March - the first to be carried out in the US for 15 years - his autopsy showed three distinct bullet wounds and his heart was obliterated, Arden said.

Sigmons autopsy also included X-rays, multiple photographs, and an examination of his clothing.

Without X-rays or other internal scans, the states two-bullets-through-one-hole claim cannot be substantiated, Arden added.

Attorney Weiss said the alleged errors in Mahdis execution pose a major problem.

I think that raises incredibly difficult questions about the type of training and oversight that is going into this process, Weiss told AP.

It was obvious to me, as a lay person, upon reading his autopsy report, that something went wrong here.

We should want to figure out what it was that went wrong when youve got state government carrying out the most serious, most grave possible type of function.

South Carolina has executed two death row inmates by firing squad since the turn of the year

The autopsy of Brad Sigmon, who was killed by firing squad in South Carolina in March, showed three distinct bullet wounds and his heart was obliterated (above)

Mahdis body has since been cremated, preventing any further tests.

The 42-year-old admitted to killing Public Safety officer James Myers in 2004, shooting him at least eight times before burning his body.

Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed by firing squad in March

Myers charred remains were discovered by his wife in a shed in their backyard, which had been the backdrop to their wedding just over a year earlier.

Mahdi also pleaded guilty to murdering a convenience store clerk three days before he killed Myers.

He was arrested in Florida while driving Myers' unmarked police pickup truck.

His attorneys had sought clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, but South Carolina's Republican chief executive has never granted any previous clemency petitions.

'Mr. Mahdi's life is a tragic story of a child abandoned at every step,' his lawyers said in a statement.

When Mahdi was four years old, his mother fled her abusive husband, and the boy was raised by his volatile, mentally ill father, they said.

'Between the ages of 14 and 21, Mikal spent over 80 percent of his life in prison and lived through 8,000 hours in solitary confinement,' his lawyers said.

'Now 42, Mikal is deeply remorseful and a dramatically different person from the confused, angry, and abused youth who committed the capital crimes.'

Mahdi also marks the fifth inmate to have been executed in South Carolina in less than eight months. South Carolina lawmakers, however, have said that the method is the quickest and most humane way to kill a death row inmate

At his trial, prosecutors called Mahdi the 'epitome of evil'

Mahdis final appeal was rejected hours before his execution.

His sentence was carried out on the evening of April 11 at the death chamber at a Columbia prison with fewer than a dozen witnesses sitting behind bulletproof glass.

Mahdi was strapped to a chair, a hood put over his head, and a white square with a red bull's-eye was placed over his heart.

He made no final statement before his death and avoided eye contact with the gathered witnesses.

At his trial in 2004, prosecutor David Pascoe called Mahdi the epitome of evil.

His heart and mind are full of hate and malice,' Pascoe said.
He is the leader of the Catholic church and 'father' to more than a billion people.

But Pope Leo XIV came from much more humble beginnings in a Catholic community of a Chicago suburb

Born in September 1955 at Chicago's Mercy Hospital, Robert Prevost, was brought home to a quaint 1,200-square-foot brick home in Dolton, Illinois.

His parents, Mildred Martinez and Louis Prevost, purchased the property in 1949 with a $42-a-month mortgage.

Louis was a WWII Navy hero, while his mother, Mildred, worked as a librarian.

After the war, he became a school district superintendent.

'She was one of the ladies that we called church ladies,' Marianne Angarola, 69, who graduated with the Pope, told the Chicago Sun-Times of Mildred.

Angarola said the family went to religious services every single day, and Mildred organized church fundraisers.

Newly elected American Pope Robert Francis Prevost came from humble beginnings in southern Chicago suburbs (pictured: then-newly ordained Rev. Robert Prevost and Pope John Paul II)

Prevost entered the church's school - which had recently moved to a modernized location to accommodate a growing Catholic population - where his peers soon realized he stood out among the rest (pictured: Prevost with his second grade class)

He and his siblings had a religious upbringing in a quaint 1,200-square-foot brick home in Dolton, Illinois (pictured)

Prevost was known to those who grew up with him as a kind-hearted and devout child, with a fresh sense of humor. Her served as an altar boy in his youth.

When Prevost entered the St. Mary's school - which had recently moved to a modernized location to accommodate a growing Catholic population - his peers quickly realized he stood out among the rest.

'We used to pray with our hands, you know, our fingers pointing to heaven, and, after a while, you get tired of doing that, and you just want to fold them over,' Angarola recalled.

'Robert Prevost never folded his hands over. He was just godly. Not in an in-your-face way.

'It was part of his aura, like he was hand-selected, and he embraced it. And he wasnt weird. He was nice.'

The rigorous Catholic curriculum involved daily masses that were only performed in Latin.

When second grade rolled around, the students had to meticulously study prayers and sacred texts to prepare for communion, with most of the young children dreading it.

But Prevost never made a fuss about learning, Angarola asserted.

Prevost has become the first American Pope in the history of the Catholic church (pictured: Prevost on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica)

Swiss guards gather after white smoke rose from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel

People watch newly elected Pope Leone XIV as he appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica

Another childhood friend and neighbor of Prevost's, Noelle Neis, 69, noted that he was the smartest boy in her class.

'Back in the day, they used to seat us by our classroom performance, so he always sat in the number one seat, which was in the first row in the back,' Neis told the outlet.

But his academic rigor did not take away from his friendly and playful nature.

'He was kind of a little trickster, too. Used to poke me in the back of the head with a pencil all the time because I was a kidder,' Neis fondly reflected.

'So he definitely had a sense of humor that a lot of people wouldnt know because he wasnt really that outgoing.'

DailyMail.com reached out Old St. Mary's Catholic Church, which was formerly St. Mary of the Assumption.

A spokesperson explained that after several mergers, there are no direct ties to the Pope at the religious institution that could comment on his papacy.

After eighth grade, Prevost left home to study at St. Augustine Seminary High School, a seminary school run by Order of St. Augustine priests.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

Cheering crowds were seen waiting outside in St Peter's Square as they waited to discover who has been elected as the next pontiff

For college he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor's degree in math in 1977.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Villanova for comment.

Prevost was ordained five years later and earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, The Washington Post reported.

While furthering his religious education, he taught high school math in schools near where he grew up.

Most of his holy career was sent overseas, notably in Peru, where he was sent as a missionary and a professor in 1985.

His travels mean he is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French as well as English.

In 1999, he returned to Chicago as the Order of St. Augustine's Midwest leader, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

During his tenure, Prevost faced criticism for allowing a priest accused of child sexual abuse to live at an Augustinian monastery near a Catholic school in Providence, Rhode Island.

He was also called out for his relationships with Peruvian priests who had similar accusations made against them, as per the outlet.

Nuns pray in the crowd following the announcement that Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected by the conclave as the new pope

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV delivered his first words as pope, offering a message of peace and dialogue 'without fear.'

Prevost went on to become the Order's international leader from 2001 to 2013, when he relocated to Rome to assume the role.

He returned to Peru in 2014 to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo for seven years. In 2015, he became a bishop.

In 2023, Pope Francis named him the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and leader of the Dicastery for Bishops.

The following year, he made his way up the ranks once again and became Cardinal.

As his first words as Pope from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, he offered a message of peace and dialogue 'without fear.'

The pontiff recalled he was an Augustinian priest, but that he was above all a Christian and a Bishop as he urged the crowd to 'walk together.'
A Republican challenging a sitting GOP Congresswoman spent almost three years in prison for sex offenses, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Grant Hill, 28, was convicted of indecently exposing himself to a minor and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in December 2022 according to Iowa's sex offender registry.

On April 22, he filed documents officially declaring he is running as a GOP candidate for Iowa's first congressional district, currently held by Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

When contacted by DailyMail.com before publication, Hill said: 'Yes, I am preparing a campaign for Iowa's 1st Congressional District in 2026.'

But he later said the filing was 'a mix-up', and that he meant to run for a position as a state lawmaker in the Iowa House of Representatives.

The seat, one of the closest in the country, covers Iowa City, Indianola, Burlington and Davenport. The 69-year-old incumbent is seeking re-election.

Hill pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent exposure to a minor involving 'masturbation', after he exposed himself to a 13-year-old boy while working out at a gym in an apartment complex on the outskirts of Iowa City in 2021.

According to police, he was general manager at an Iowa City cookie shop in 2022 when he called a new male staffer into the basement, asked him to watch a video on his laptop, then grabbed the man's penis.

He was caught on CCTV grabbing the man's crotch a second time in the shop's kitchen, after pointing at the staffer's groin and saying 'pee-pee' in a 'toddler-type voice', police said.

Hill was also accused of recording himself in his car masturbating while stopped at a red light in Coralville.

Iowa Republican congressional candidate Grant Hill, was convicted of indecent exposure to a minor and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in December 2022 after he grabbed two male co-workers' crotches and showed his genitals to a 13-year-old boy

Hill's mugshot listed on the Iowa sex offender registry. He spent two years and nine months in prison and must remain on the offender list for a decade after his release

In a 2017 post on X, Hill posted a photo of him posing next to senior Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley in his hometown of Keota

He spent two years and nine months in prison and must remain on the sex offenders' registry for a decade after his February 20 release.

Hill is classed as a 'Tier II' offender, meaning he has to report to the local sheriff's department with his residential address twice a year.

From Hill's biography listed on his non-profit 1 Love Legacy's website. He founded it after his release from prison

He filed a 'Statement of Candidacy' with the Federal Election Commission on April 22, giving a name and address in Keota matching those on the Iowa sex offender's registry.

The documents said he is running as a Republican, and his campaign committee is called 'The People's Hill'.

He faces Miller-Meeks and previous Iowa District 1 contender David Pautsch in the 2026 primary.

Pautsch received 43.9 percent of the vote to Miller-Meeks's 55.9 percent in the district's Republican primary on June 4, 2024.

Hill appears to have previously attempted a run for Iowa's senate seat, as the bio for his neglected X social media account still says, 'Running for Iowa Senate 2022!'

On the page, he described himself as a 'Future United States Senator. Student. Independent. Proud Trump Supporter. Inspired by @realDonaldTrump'.

On April 22, Hill filed documents officially declaring he is running as a GOP candidate for Iowa's first congressional district

In his X bio, Hill described himself as a 'Future United States Senator. Student. Independent. Proud Trump Supporter. Inspired by @realDonaldTrump'

Two-term Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks currently holds the seat and is running for re-election

Among his 2017 posts he uploaded a photo posing next to senior Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley in his hometown of Keota.

His page is followed by nine accounts, including Democrat Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar and 2024 Republican Pennsylvania congressional candidate Joshua Hall, who spent 20 months in prison for leaving threatening voicemails to California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell and his family.

After Hill's release from prison, he founded a Christian company '1 Love Legacy', which describes itself as 'bringing balance to the world through love, faith, and understanding' and 'showing that God's love embraces everyone  regardless of their past or identity.'

Co-founder Nic Wilson described himself on the company's website as a recovering addict who had 'a decade of treatment centers, jail cells, homelessness, and numerous suicide attempts'.

Wilson said he went sober in 2021 after being offered a treatment program instead of prosecution for '10 felony charges and a potential 117-year prison sentence'.

But despite his website biography saying 'Today, I'm sober, filled with hope, and ready to share the message that saved my life through 1 Love Legacy,' Wilson is currently languishing in a Polk County jail on charges of parole violation and domestic abuse assault by 'impeding air/blood flow causing bodily injury'.

His bail is set at $100,000.

His February 2025 mugshot shows him looking disheveled, with a bloodshot stare and a black eye.

Wilson has previous convictions between 2016 and 2022 for felony burglary, domestic violence assault, a DUI, violating a restraining order, child endangerment and keeping a vicious dog.

Democrat Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar follows Hill's X page as does 2024 Republican Pennsylvania congressional candidate Joshua Hall, who spent 20 months in prison for leaving threatening voicemails to California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell and his family

1Love Legacy co-founder Nic Wilson is currently in prison for violating his parole and domestic abuse assault. His February 2025 mugshot shows him looking disheveled, with a bloodshot stare and a black eye

Hill's biography on the site says he was 'born in Russia and adopted into an American family at the age of three.'

He alluded to his sex offenses, writing: 'In 2022, my life took an unexpected turn when I went to prison', and added: 'Coming from a small town, I never felt safe exploring who I was in a healthy way, which led me down destructive and ultimately illegal paths.'

Hill told DailyMail.com: 'While my path has taken some difficult and humbling turns, it has always been my intention to serve  and I believe that real, lasting change only happens when people who've experienced deep hardship are willing to step forward and fight for something better.'

Hill issued a later statement, claiming a 'mix-up' over his congressional bid.

'I just wanted to clarify that there was a mix-up in my initial filing paperwork. I'm currently planning to run for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 88,' he told DailyMail.com.

'That said, a run for the U.S. House of Representatives is definitely on the horizonI'm just taking it one step at a time.'

Referring to 1 Love Legacy, he added: 'Our nonprofit exists to help people like me  people who've made terrible mistakes, who carry heavy pasts, but who are still capable of change.'
A survivor of the Nottingham attacks that left three dead - including two undergraduates - has spoken publicly for the first time, saying she wishes killer Valdo Calocane had taken me instead of the students.

Sharon Miller was one of three pedestrians mown down by a van driven by the paranoid schizophrenic after he had fatally stabbed University of Nottingham students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates.

Ms Miller today joins fellow survivor Wayne Birkett in speaking out about the attacks  and their feelings towards Calocane  for the first time.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Miller describes how the orthopaedic and psychological injuries she suffered in the attack have left her unable to return to her job as a commercial cleaner  having rarely had a day off sick during 27 years in the workplace.

The 46-year-old continues to undergo rehabilitation and now walks with a stick.

Calocane, now 33, spent hours stalking the streets before knifing friends Grace and Barnaby, both 19, as they walked back to their halls of residence after a night out in June 2023.

He then ambushed grandfather Mr Coates as the 65-year-old drove to work, going on to use his van as a weapon to mow down first Mr Birkett and then Ms Miller and factory worker Marcin Gawronski, 42.

Ms Miller says that, unlike Mr Birkett, she remembers the van ploughing into her at the junction of Parliament Street and Market Street, saying: I thought I was dying. I just wish he had taken me instead of the students.

Survivor Sharon Miller said she wished Valdo Calocane 'had taken me instead of the students.

Killer Calocane had a history of violent and disturbing behaviour

Ms Miller, from east Nottingham, finds it difficult to still see Calocanes face in the news, saying: He should be in prison. He should have been forced to have had his medication.

In February an independent report revealed Calocane had no contact with mental health services or his GP for about nine months leading up to the killings  after he was discharged when he repeatedly failed to engage with medics.

The triple killer was not forced to take his anti-psychotic medication in part because he did not like needles, the review of his NHS care revealed amongst a catalogue of failings.

Ms Miller describes herself as being a different Sharon since the attacks and now relies on her partner of 33 years, Martin, to be her carer.

Ms Miller said the couples plans to marry have now been put on hold.

In the exclusive interview with BBC East Midlands Today, both Ms Miller and Mr Birkett say they wish it was them that Calocane had killed, rather than Barnaby and Grace who had their whole lives ahead of them.

Mr Birkett, then a forklift truck driver, had just stepped off a bus when he was struck from behind by Calocane  a Nottingham graduate who was originally from Pembrokeshire - and catapulted into the air.

The 61-year-old sustained life-threatening and life-changing injuries, including a head injury which placed him in a coma.

Mr Birkett suffers from ongoing memory issues and has had to relearn how to 'read, write and even use the television.

Deranged Calocane killed Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar during his rampage through Nottingham

He also suffered multiple orthopaedic injuries including fractures to his shoulder and legs and still suffers from poor memory, headaches and dizziness.

He has no memory of the attack, or real recollection of what life was like before the accident, struggling even to recall events from the previous day.

People who Ive known for 40-50 years have to explain who they are, he said. Its embarrassing and frustrating. Ive had to relearn how to read, write and even use the television.

But he adds in the interview: 'I feel lucky, because the other two people who got run over saw what happened'. But while he said that meant he didn't suffer nightmares about the incident, he said he hasn't had a dream since the incident either.

'I haven't dreamt about anything, not once', he says.

Mr Birkett credits his partner, Tracey, with saving my life, adding: Its Tracey that keeps me going.

Last month, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the forthcoming public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks would be chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor, a retired crown court judge.

Mr Birkett, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, and Mrs Miller hope the inquiry will deliver answers as to why Calocane was left free to roam the streets despite multiple encounters with police, university officials and healthcare professionals in the years leading up to his rampage.

Medical student Grace O'Malley-Kumar was walking home from an end-of-exam celebration with friend Barnaby Webber when they were attacked

The killer had been sectioned four times, come to the attention of police over acts of aggression  some involving other undergraduates in Nottingham  and had been wanted for nine months after he failed to attend court in September 2022 over an alleged assault on a police officer.

A month before the killings he was reported to Leicestershire Police after he attacked two employees at a warehouse in Kegworth  the forces response to that report is currently the subject of an Independent Office of Police Conduct investigation.

Ms Miller said: We seek to understand how someone with paranoid schizophrenia - who had been detained multiple times under mental health provisions, faced allegations of physical assault requiring police involvement, and consistently refused medical treatment for his condition - was able to commit such an atrocity.

We call for a coordinated approach among agencies to ensure accountability and lasting change.

Mr Birkett added. The government needs to ensure sufficient resources moving forward for these trusted institutions to improve, including better mental health provisions, improved justice facilities (such as appropriate court buildings), and a more transparent East Midlands police function.

As survivors, answers and recognition is essential for our journey toward closure.

The two survivors and their lawyer, Greg Almond, have met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the public inquiry and share their experiences.

Mr Almond, a partner and Head of Serious Injury at Rothera Bray Solicitors, said: What became clear after the attack is that, unlike Manchester, Birmingham, or London, Nottingham lacks a high-profile advocate for the city.

Lawyer Greg Almond is representing Ms Miller and Mr Birkett and said lessons must be learned from the attacks

Along with the other families weve had to campaign and lobby intensely to secure an inquiry on behalf of Wayne and Sharon.

Considering the number of agencies and official bodies that came into contact with Calocane, we would have expected an inquiry to be announced much earlier by the previous government.

A significant number of fundamental questions remain unanswered about how he was able to carry out the attack from which lessons must be learnt, and changes implemented if the publics trust is to be resorted in Nottinghams institutions.

Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder.

Mr Justice Turner said told the killer he would be detained in a high-security hospital very probably for the rest of your life.
A revealing photo gave a glimpse into Karoline Leavitt's White House office and showed how the press secretary balances the demands of both her job and motherhood.

Donald Trump's aide Margo Martin captured Leavitt's literal balancing act in her office on Thursday and shared it on X.

'Walked in to @PressSec typing with one hand, and feeding her son with the other. Super Mom!' Martin said.

The press secretary, 27, wore a pink dress as she worked from her desk and fed her nine-month-old son Niko a bottle.

Niko's pacifier and toy were placed on the desk among Leavitt's neatly organized papers.

The working mom appeared to be drinking an iced green beverage from Tatte, likely a matcha of sorts. A sparkling matcha lemonade from Tatte costs $5.50, while an iced matcha latte costs $4.50 for a 12oz or $5.00 for a 16oz.

Leavitt had several photos throughout her office, including a cutout of her in a black dress posing with Trump in a blue suit and red tie from the campaign trail placed on the heater.

The press secretary, 27, wore a pink dress as she worked from her desk and fed her nine-month-old son Niko a bottle

She had a cut of a photo with Trump placed on her heater. She previously shared the photo (pictured) on Instagram

She also has a signed group photograph with seventh-grade students from the George Walton Academy (pictured) pinned to her corkboard

Leavitt posted the same photo to Instagram on January 1, 2024, with the caption, '2024. LETS GO! us.'

On her corkboard, Leavitt pinned two pictures of her son: one of her holding the infant up on the beach and another of the baby sitting on a plane seat with a pillow bearing the presidential seal.

She also has a signed group photograph of seventh-grade students from the George Walton Academy.

Middle schoolers from the Georgia private school - where tuition costs $16,065 a year - visited Washington, DC, in March.

During their field trip, the group visited the White House, where they met Leavitt and posed for the photo.

Additionally, she has a meme of a man in a white shirt with his hand up to a brain saying, 'No thanks. I won't be needing that. I believe everything the legacy media shows.'

On Monday, Leavitt shared a rare glimpse into her family life with a series of sweet snaps from a weekend trip to Palm Beach, Florida, with husband Nicholas Riccio, 59, and their young son.

The family spent the weekend at Trump's Mar-A-Lago, and Leavitt captured adorable photos of the occasion.

Leavitt shared a rare glimpse into her family life with a series of sweet snaps from a weekend trip to Palm Beach, Florida

The family spent the weekend at Trump's Mar-A-Lago and Leavitt captured adorable photos from the occasion

One picture showed the political aide smiling on a green couch while she held her young son, who was dressed in a cute checkered onesie, on her lap.

In the second snap, Riccio - who is 32 years Leavitt's senior - also stepped into the frame as the trio posed in front of a pool at sunset.

Leavitt captured another heartwarming photo of her spouse dressed more informally while cradling Niko and kissing his cheek.

And the final picture in her adorable carousel simply alluded to the family relaxing on sun loungers while draped under towels.

The mom-of-one captioned the post: 'Weekends in Palm Beach.'
Josh Hartnett's children mock him for "being an American".

Josh Hartnett and Tamsin Egerton live in the UK with their four children

The 'Fight or Flight' actor - who has four kids, who were born in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2024, with wife Tasmin Egerton - lives in the UK with his family and admitted his brood never miss a chance to poke fun at him for being "a foreigner".

He said on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon': "My kids love to give me crap about being an American because Im the only American in our house. Im a foreigner in my own home.

My middle one does a really good impersonation of me, [and] will just kind of turn to me and be like, Im Daddy, and I like pizza and I wont mow the lawn. As American as it gets."

Despite his years in the UK, the 46-year-old actor's children take pleasure in explaining to him the meaning of English words and phrases.

He added: "My littlest daughter keeps telling me what its like to be English.

She keeps saying to me, You might not understand this Daddy, but in England we say boot instead of trunk of a car.' And Im like, Ive lived here for longer than you. I made you."

Josh previously explained he quit Hollywood for the sake of his "sanity".

Speaking to his 'O' co-star Julia Stiles for Interview magazine, he explained: "I never really lived in LA. Even when we were making 'O', I was in Minnesota, New York, nowhere, because I was living from set to set.

"I drove my car down from Minnesota to shoot 'O' and then drove back after that. But the choice to step back from the industry had more to do with just plain sanity."

Josh ultimately feared that fame and success might've led him to becoming detached from his "community".

The 'Penny Dreadful' actor also acknowledged that fame didn't give him the "satisfaction" he was seeking at the time.

He said: "I wanted to be myself amongst people that I knew, so I was able to revert back to my family and friends in Minnesota.

"Also, after a certain amount of time chasing a goal, I realised that achieving these things wasnt giving me back the satisfaction I hoped it would, so I had to find something else to fill that gap. I felt, and still feel, that community is what fills it.

"Achievement is great in any walk of life. Its a reason to get up in the morning. But the thing that really holds you is your community. I felt that I was kind of rootless at that time, so I wanted to find that community."
Woman charged after woman stabbed in the chest

A 25-year-old woman has been charged after another woman died in hospital after she was allegedly attacked at a home in Adelaide's north.

Police were called to a home on Bronte Crescent in Elizabeth East in Adelaide's northern suburbs at about 6.40pm on Thursday.

Officers had received reports a woman had been stabbed.

The 28-year-old woman was found with a stab wound to her chest and was rushed to hospital, where she died overnight.

The 25-year-old woman was arrested at the scene.

She has since been charged with murder and has been refused police bail.

The woman is expected to front Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday.

SAPOL said the two women were known to each other and the incident was not random. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Florida's surgeon general leaped into action when a state senator passed out during a speech on Tuesday.

State Sen. Ileana Garcia had joined Gov. Ron DeSantis and controversial Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo to discuss their plans to ban fluoride in the Sunshine State's drinking water at a news conference in Miami.

But halfway through her prepared remarks, the Republican lawmaker was seen swallowing hard, and stopped speaking.

She instead turned her attention to DeSantis, quietly pleading: 'Governor, forgive me, I've got to sit down, because I am not feeling well.'

Garcia then slouched down and fell sideways - right into Ladapo's arms, as he jumped from his seat to the stage.

'Hey, hey, hey, got you, got you, got you,' he reassured the lawmaker, as he slowly lowered her into a chair.

Garcia then remained seated for about three minutes, as Ladapo spoke to her and others - including DeSantis - brought her water and fanned her.

When she finally returned to her feet and retook the podium, the audience applauded.

Florida's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo sprang into action when State Sen. Ileana Garcia fainted during a news conference on Tuesday

Garcia was speaking out in favor of the state's plans to ban fluoride from drinking water

But Garcia seemed to be embarrassed by the whole situation.

'Are you kidding, this was my moment?' she joked, adding that her fainting spell was 'nerve-wracking, but this was my moment.

'And I so appreciate your grace, Gov. DeSantis,' Garcia said, thanking the onetime Republican presidential candidate for his efforts to help.

She wound up finishing her remarks without any further issues, and left the stage to applause.

When Miami-Dade Commissioner Robert Gonzalez then took the stage, he encouraged the audience to give the state senator 'another round of applause,' saying 'absolutely nothing is going to stop that woman from fighting for the people of Florida.'
An eerie five-word text from a missing Virginia woman was revealed after her body was found under a concrete slab.

Elsie Wiggington, 46, was reported missing in June of 2023 after she sent a chilling message to her foster sister which said, 'he's going to kill me.'

Elsie repeatedly voiced concerns about her husband, Frederick Wiggington Jr, and expressed plans to travel to her sister's Maryland home and live with her, WSLS-TV reported.

But she never made it to Maryland and her remains were discovered on August 14, 2024 - more than a year after she was reported missing.

She was found buried under a concrete slab on the property she and her husband lived in at the time.

Frederick Wiggington Jr was found guilty earlier this month of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in relation to Elsie's murder, according to the Amherst County Sheriff's Office.

Her sister, Mary Jordan told WDBJ on May 2, the day of Frederick's conviction: 'I'm happy that justice for Elsie is served today. I'm very relieved.'

'When you consider all the losses, my niece and nephew lost their mom. My foster sister Victoria and I, we lost our sister. And Fred's mom, well she lost her son. Nobody walks away from this unscathed,' said Elsie's foster sister, Tracey Coleman.

Elsie Wiggington, 46, was reported missing in June of 2023 after she sent a chilling message to her foster sister which said, 'he's going to kill me'

Frederick Wiggington Jr was found guilty earlier this month of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in relation to Elsie's murder

Elsie had filed for divorce from Frederick in June 2020, according to court documents obtained by WSET-TV which claimed that he was cheating on her with his ex-wife, Patricia Wiggington.

The divorce case was shown on public records as a 'nonsuit' status, which means the case was dismissed by the court, according to People.

Patricia is also facing charges in relation to Elsie's death in court documents obtained by WSET-TV which claimed that Patricia, who moved in with Frederick around the time Elsie went missing, led investigators to her body.

While the status of Patricia's charges, which include obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact, remain unclear, it was a cellmate of Frederick's that led to his conviction.

At the Halifax County Adult Detention Center, a fellow inmate of Frederick's testified that he admitted to killing Elsie, the outlet reported.

The inmate testified in an interview on September 3, 2024, that Frederick admitted to shooting Elsie with a .22 caliber pistol and selling the gun to a pawn shop in Lexington, WDBJ reported.

He claimed that Frederick told him Elsie was planning to leave him, and he had wanted to frame Elsie's brother, Michael Knight, for the murder.

Frederick's fellow inmate further told him hat he buried Elsie in the yard of their home under a concrete slab he laid the same week of her murder.

Frederick's ex-wife Patricia is also facing charges in relation to Elsie's death in court documents, which claimed that Patricia, who moved in with Frederick around the time Elsie went missing, led investigators to her body

Elsie was described on a GoFundMe created by Coleman as 'a devoted mother to Sativa who is a struggling mother and college student and her brother Carlito who is autistic'

He added that Frederick had boasted he was 'going to be on Dateline,' and that Frederick had been cheating on Elsie with Patricia but did not know whether Patricia was involved in the crime.

'He ain't got no remorse, he don't give a damn,' the inmate said. 'It seems like he was planning it all to happen.'

'That man isn't right in the head.'

Elsie was described on a GoFundMe created by Coleman as 'a devoted mother to Sativa who is a struggling mother and college student and her brother Carlito who is autistic.'

'Elsie doted on her grandchildren and devoted her time to members in her community that were in need,' the fundraiser said.

'She found immense joy in her role as a grandmother, playing an active and supportive role in the lives of D'mitri Harrison and Zaidyn Rucker. Her love extended deeply to her children, Sativa Rucker and Carllito Rucker,' her obituary said.

Elsie is remembered by her three sisters and three brothers, her foster sister and the father of her children, Troy Rucker.

Frederick maintains his innocence and is scheduled for his sentencing on July 30. He will also appear in court for a trial related to a concealing of a body charge.
Labour has been accused of 'ripping off' Tory policies amid reports the Government will introduce tougher requirements for migrants.

An immigration White Paper, due next week, is likely to include measures to raise the level of English required from migrants who apply for a work visa.

They would need the equivalent of an A-level in future, rather than the GCSE standard currently demanded.

Some migrants will also be made to wait as long as ten years before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), rather than five years.

Both ideas were part of a package proposed by the Conservatives earlier this year, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said.

He added: 'This Labour Government is so bereft of ideas on migration that it has resorted to trying to rip off parts of Conservative migration policy.

'Kemi Badenoch and I made clear earlier this year that citizenship of this country must be a privilege, not an automatic right, and laid out a series of new proposals to increase the time needed to gain indefinite leave to remain.

'And what did Labour do? Vote these measures down in Parliament.'

The number of migrants who have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the English Channel has passed 11,500

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel last month

The Tories brought an amendment to a government immigration Bill in February which would have increased the ILR qualification period to ten years, but Labour against it.

This week the Opposition also set out a Deportation Bill which included automatic deportation for illegal migrants and the removal of the Human Rights Act in immigration court cases.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said ministers were 'focused on bringing down the last government's record-high levels of migration'.
Police have launched a probe into the 'unexplained' death of a man found dead near an offshore windfarm.

The unidentified male, whose family have reportedly been informed, was found by HM Coastguard on Wednesday evening close to the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm.

Coastguards called Merseyside Police at around 6.40pm on May 7 after discovering the body off the coast of New Brighton in Merseyside.

The man had been pronounced dead, North Wales Live reported.

Detectives are now trying to ascertain how the man came to be in the water and how he died.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: 'Officers were called to New Brighton yesterday evening on Wednesday 7 May following the unexplained death of a man.

'At around 6.40pm, we received a report from HM Coastguard that a man was sadly pronounced deceased off New Brighton near Burbo Wind Farm.

Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances into the death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.'

Waves wash against the turbines of the Burbo Bank off shore wind farm near Liverpool, where an unidentified man was found dead by coastguards

The man was discovered off New Brighton (pictured), a seaside resort in the Wirral, Merseyside

The site's 25 turbines generate enough electricity to power over 80,000 UK homes annually

'The next-of-kin have been informed and being supported by specially trained officers.

'If you have any information that could assist the investigation, you can call 101 or DM @MerpolCC on social media, quoting log number 878 of 7 May. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'

Burbo Bank is situated on Burbo Flats in Liverpool Bay, approximately 6.4km from the Sefton coastline.

The site's 25 turbines generate enough electricity to power over 80,000 UK homes annually.
Traumatised colleagues of a Qantas employee who was left comatose after plunging five metres through a hole in an aerobridge have shared new details about the horror fall - and sent a powerful message to online trolls.

Emergency services were called to Sydney 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.

Now Qantas employees have come forward online to describe how the incident allegedly occurred, amid a wave of speculation online.

'So many unnecessary and uniformed comments as to the true facts that let to this tragic accident today,' one staff member said.

'I was on shift when this incident unfolded and had traumatised many Qantas staff,' she said, adding that the woman had followed all necessary safety procedures.

Pictured is the gaping hole in an aerobridge a Qantas worker is believed to have fallen through

The Qantas employee was rushed to hospital after falling from an aerobridge at Sydney Airport

Another witness purporting to have inside knowledge on the incident and the woman's subsequent medical treatment said: 'She was leaning on the side of the aerobridge and it buckled out, separating from the floor. A male colleague tried to grab her to no avail.

'She was unresponsive for 15 minutes, but was revived in the ambulance and then put into an induced coma. She has head injuries and most likely broken bones.

'She has bleeding on the brain and was operated on last night.

'She has a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and probably a broken pelvis. She fell sideways, then backwards, and hit her head. She is not breathing on her own yet. What an absolutely tragedy.'

A parent of a Qantas employee, who she claimed witnessed the incident, defended the woman after a post attracted a series of insensitive comments from trolls.

'How dare you, my daughter was a co-worker there and she was put into a coma. Think of her family,' she wrote.

Safework NSW is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while Qantas said their focus was on supporting the injured worker

Meanwhile, associates of the woman have shared messages of support, including one Qantas employee who said she was praying for her.

'So devastating,' she added.

A spokesperson for Sydney Airport confirmed a fall had taken place but refused to comment on the images of the hole in the aerobridge.

'On Saturday, an airline employee fell from an aerobridge in the T3 Domestic Terminal,' they said.

'They were attended to by first-aid responders and transferred by ambulance to hospital for further treatment.

'Aerobridges are subject to frequent inspections and are serviced as part of a scheduled systematic preventative maintenance program.'

Paramedics treated the woman for critical head and internal injuries on the tarmac (pictured)

Sydney Airport confirmed Safe Work NSW was conducting investigations.

'Our focus is on the welfare of the injured staff member and assisting Safe Work NSW with their enquiries,' a spokesperson continued.

'We have also made our Employee Assistance Program available to all precinct workers for counselling and support services.'

Qantas said its focus was supporting the injured team member.

'Sydney Airport and Qantas will be assisting Safe Work NSW with their investigation,' a spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Safework NSW confirmed investigations are 'ongoing', adding 'no further comment can be made at this time'.
The Project host Waleed Aly has grilled Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi on whether the party's housing policies cost it election votes.

The Greens were decimated at Saturday's election with Brisbane MP Stephen Bates and Griffith MP Max Chandler-Mather both losing their seats. Party leader Adam Bandt also later conceded his seat of Melbourne to Labor's Sarah Witty.

The party fared better in the upper house with its Senate team all getting re-elected but Senator Faruqi said there would be some serious discussions about how it could retain seats in the House of Representatives.

'We will sit down and talk to our colleagues, our members and our supporters and we will think about a strategy,' Senator Faruqi said.

'I don't accept that the people of Australia don't want us in the lower house. We have many seats in state parliaments and we still have one in federal parliament.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously been critical of the Greens for stalling its plans to tackle the housing crisis after blocking its Help to Buy and Build to Rent bills because they said it didn't go far enough.

However, it then backflipped with Bandt saying: 'We tried hard to get Labor to shift on soaring rents and negative gearing, but we couldn't get there. We'll wave the housing bills through and take the fight to the next election.'

Aly grilled Senator Faruqi on Thursday night's show asking: 'Those stands you took on housing that in the end led to almost total capitulation ... did the Greens vote suffer because of the grandstanding on those issues?'

Mehreen Faruqi was grilled on whether the Greens tough talk on housing which they failed to backup has contributed to it losing seats in the lower house

Greens leader Adam Bandt conceded the seat of Melbourne to Labor after Saturday's election

Senator Faruqi said the Greens holding out and pressuring Labor was worthwhile.

'Labor added $3.5billion in community and social housing which they weren't going to.

'So we did push Labor to do better, we did get them to act ... and we decided we had done enough and we would return next parliament and decide how we could make things better for renters and first home buyers.'

In conceding his seat of Melbourne, Bandt said the Greens received the most primary votes in his electorates, but it was not enough to prevent Labor getting over the line with the help of right-wing preferences from One Nation and the Liberals.

'To win in Melbourne we needed to overcome Liberal, Labor and One Nation combined, and it's an Everest we've climbed a few times now, but this time we fell just short,' he said.

Bandt listed getting dental onto Medicare for children and helping legislate stronger climate protections as some of his proudest achievements in office.

'It has been a joy to represent you and I hope I've made you proud.'

Bandt had been and MP since 2010 and party leader since 2020.

Queenslander Elizabeth Watson-Brown is expected to retain the seat of Ryan and be the only Greens MP in the House of Representatives.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Greens housing spokesperson Max Chadler-Mather clash during Parliament Question Time in 2023

Faruqi and manager of business in the Senate, Sarah Hanson-Young, are front-runners to take over the leadership.

Greens Senate leader, Larissa Waters, is another contender, as is high-profile senator David Shoebridge.

The Greens, who campaigned heavily on housing and the war in Gaza, have garnered criticism for straying from their core principles of advocating for action on climate change and environmental protections.

Faruqi earlier blamed the swing against the Greens on voters switching to Labor to avoid the prospect of a Peter Dutton-led government.

'A lot of progressive Australians were deeply anxious about a Dutton government, and I think that was a factor in some of the lower house seats,' she told ABC Radio.

'But also those same voters clearly wanted us to hold a potential Labor government to account, which is why we also achieved record high Senate votes.'

While the Greens have been wounded by the loss of their leader, their power in shaping legislation has arguably increased.

Despite having four lower house MPs in the last parliament, Labor's majority in the House of Representatives essentially made them redundant.

But with Labor increasing its Senate numbers and the Greens holding onto 11 seats in the upper house, the minor party now boasts the balance of power.

Labor can pass legislation opposed by the Coalition with only the support of the Greens and without needing the help of independent senators such as David Pocock or Jacqui Lambie.
A former model who accused Harvey Weinstein of rape revealed what the onetime producer said about Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz.

Kaja Sokola, now 39, took the stand in New York City on Thursday, when she tearfully shared how she was allegedly raped and molested twice by the disgraced movie mogul under the guise of helping her acting career.

When she tried to leave at one point, she said Weinstein became angry and told her he made Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz's careers.

Paltrow starred in the Weinstein-produced film Emma in 1996 and went on to star in Shakespeare in Love two years later, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

In 2017, she became one of the first women to accuse the now disgraced producer of sexual assault - detailing how Weinstein allegedly put his hands on her and suggested they give each other massages in his suite at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel shortly after he cast her in the lead role for Emma.

Cruz, meanwhile, starred in Vicky Christina Barcelona in 2008, for which she won the Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress.

One year later, she went on to star in the romantic musical comedy Nine, also produced by Weinstein.

However, she never claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the movie mogul.

Kaja Sokola, now 39, testified in court on Thursday what Harvey Weinstein once said about actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz

He allegedly claimed he made Paltrow and Cruz's careers

That was not the case for Sokola, who told a New York City jury that Weinstein held her down on a hotel bed and forced oral sex on her just days before her 20th birthday in 2006.

'He forced himself on my vagina - he raped me,' she declared to the court on Thursday, her voice rising with pent-up disgust and outrage.

Sokola, who weighed only 125lbs at the time, alleged Weinstein used his much greater mass to hold her down, and she couldn't push him off.

She described how Weinstein's left hand was on her stomach, and his right hand was on her left thigh as he allegedly forced the sex act on her.

'He pinned me to the bed, I couldn't move under him... his whole body was pining me to the bed... it was like a rock was on me, it was too heavy,' she told the jury.

'My legs were becoming numb, he was so heavy.

'I felt like I was dead - I was completely numb... my hope had died.'

But Juda Engelmayer, one of Weinstein's public relations consultants and an expert in crisis management, told DailyMail.com that the movements she described were implausible.

'His hand's over here, his other hand's over there, his mouth is here - all while he's holding her down - it doesn't work,' he said.

'Imagine Harvey playing Twister, that's what it's like. If people get past their disgust of Harvey and think about it, it doesn't make sense.'

Kaja Sokola, now 39, tearfully recounted how she was allegedly raped and molested by the disgraced movie mogul twice under the guise of helping her acting career

Disgraced movie mogul Weinstein is on trial in the New York Supreme Criminal Court accused of sexually abusing three aspiring actresses including Sokola

Cruz starred in Vicky Christina Barcelona in 2008, for which she won the Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress, while Paltrow starred in the Weinstein-produced film Emma in 1996 and went on to star in Shakespeare in Love two years later, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress

Earlier in the day, Sokola broke down on the stand, sobbing uncontrollably, as she told the jury about another time Weinstein allegedly abused her when she was just 16.

She told the jury he groped her vagina under her underwear, and forced her to touch his penis in 2002 after luring her to an apartment.

The naive teen, who had barely even kissed a boy before, was forced to watch the alleged assault in a bathroom mirror, Weinstein's 'black and scary' eyes staring back at her, she told the court.

Weinstein stared at Sokola as she gave her testimony for the first time, sometimes putting his hand over his mouth and constantly chewing cough drops.

At two other points during Thursday's proceedings, Weinstein appeared to doze off with his head slumped to his right, and had to be prodded awake by his lawyers.

Sokola, meanwhile, stared straight at Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey as she testified, refusing to even look at Weinstein when she entered the courtroom.

Sokola wearing United Bamboo Spring 2005 during Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2005 in NYC

Sokola attends INSPIRED Exhibition Curated By Beth Rudin DeWoody at Steven Kasher Gallery on July 14, 2010 in NYC

Weinstein faces a New York Supreme Criminal Court jury in Manhattan for his retrial on rape and sexual assault charges.

The ailing 73-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and raping production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006.

But last year, the New York Court of Appeals astonishingly ruled that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial - and tossed out his 23-year sentence.

Weinstein is still behind bars at Rikers Island prison in NYC serving 16 years for unrelated sex crimes, but is being held at Bellevue Hospital during the new trial due to his declining health.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is once again accusing Weinstein of these crimes - as well as an additional charge of sexual assault against Sokola.

Weinstein is only criminally charged with forcing oral sex on Sokola in 2006, but she sued him in 2019 over the 2002 incident in a case that was settled.

He maintains his innocence and his lawyers told the court the women consented to sex acts with Weinstein as a 'quid pro quo' to further their careers.

Sokola alleged in her testimony that Weinstein held her down on a hotel bed and forced oral sex on her days before her 20th birthday in 2006 (pictured on the catwalk in Bryant Park in 2006)

Sokola told the court she first met Weinstein at a restaurant in July 2002 on her first of many trips to NYC, about two years into her modeling career.

'I felt special,' when Weinstein took an interest in her acting career, she said, as that was always her passion as opposed to modeling.

But she alleged it went horribly wrong when Weinstein took her to an apartment instead of their planned working lunch days later.

As soon as the door closed, Weinstein allegedly demanded the terrified girl take off her clothes.

'I didn't want to do that. I was panicking,' she said.

'And then he said that if I want to be an actress, that's what actors do in films, so I should get used to it. If a director says you have you take your clothes off, you have to take your clothes off.

'I was scared. I was scared of him.'

Sokola said she had never been in an intimate situation and only kissed and held hands with her high school boyfriend.

Terrified, she took off her top and Weinstein allegedly moved her into the bathroom with his pants and underwear around his ankles.

Then he stood beside her and groped her underneath her underwear, then forced her hand onto his penis, Sokola told the court.

Sokola (pictured in 2022) earlier broke down on the stand, sobbing uncontrollably, as she told the jury about another time Weinstein allegedly abused her when she was just 16

Weinstein the allegedly put his hand on her breast and masturbated until he ejaculated on the floor.

'See, that wasn't so bad? You've got to work on your stubbornness,' he allegedly told her afterwards.

Eventually, he let her go and they left. She didn't tell anyone about what happened for many years.

'I felt stupid and ashamed and like its my fault for putting myself in this position,' she told the court.

Sokola said she left for a six-week job in Tokyo, and developed eating disorders, anxiety, and depression as a result of the incident with Weinstein.

The 2006 incident occurred when her sister Ewa Sokola, who was 12 years older than her, visited her apartment on 12th Street for her 20th birthday in April and May.

Sokola craved the approval of her family, who were furious she decided to pursue an acting career instead of go to university and her mother wasn't speaking to her.

She set up a lunch with Weinstein and her sister in the hope that she 'wouldn't treat me like a joke' and would tell their mother 'she's not a joke, she actually has a chance'.

Weinstein, who recently got Sokola a role as an extra on The Nanny Diaries, met the sisters at the Tribeca Grand, which is now the Roxy Hotel.

Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and raping production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006, but his conviction was thrown out last year

Weinstein is still behind bars at Rikers Island prison in NYC serving 16 years for unrelated sex crimes, but is being held at Bellevue Hospital during the new trial due to his declining health

After some conversation, Weinstein told Kaja Sokola he had a script for her to read and she should come with him upstairs.

Weinstein led her to a hotel room, and once they got inside he allegedly grabbed her by the left shoulder and pushed her onto the bed.

Kaja Sokola testified that Weinstein ripped off her boots, stockings, and underwear and pushed up her dress, then pinned her to the bed and forcibly gave her oral sex.

'I kept saying please stop, I don't want this - but he didn't listen,' she told the court.

Weinstein allegedly kept going until he was finished, then told her: 'That wasn't so difficult, was it?'

'I wish I could forget [what he said], but I can't,' Sokola told the court.

Weinstein then let her leave and he left the hotel and she went back to her sister, not telling her anything about what allegedly happened, as she still desperately craved her family's approval.

'I blamed myself, my stupidity for puttin myself in that situation... it changed the course of my life,' Sokola said.

On Thursday, jurors also heard from Sokola's sister, Ewa, who testified about meeting Weinstein at a restaurant with her sister in 2006.

She told the jury that they had a friendly chat with the movie mogul before he and Kaja left to, Weinstein claimed, read some scripts.

When Kaja returned alone, she was very quiet and said nothing at the table until her sister asked if anything was wrong, but she brushed her off.

Ewa said her sister was 'extremely tense' and likened her mood to waiting for the results of a university exam, where you are dreading a bad result.

Sokola (pictured on Thursday) stared straight at Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey as she testified, refusing to even look at Weinstein when she entered the courtroom

The court also heard from Sokola's sister Ewa Sokola (center), who testified about meeting Weinstein at a restaurant with her sister in 2006

Sokola also alleged that Weinstein also molested her in 2004 after they bumped into each other at a fashion show.

She told the court he offered her a ride to the gym, where she was going next, and he put his hand on her breast as they sat in his car during the drive.

'I pushed his hand away and told him "this is not what I want",' she told the court.

ADA Lucey last month told jurors in her opening statement that the once-renowned movie and television producer preyed on the teen's desire to be in the movies.

'This changed Kaja in ways she's still dealing with today,' she said.

The allegations were previously detailed in a civil suit settled with Disney, Bob Weinstein and Miramax for $3 million, but Kaja Sokola was not identified in the lawsuit.

In the weeks after, Kaja Sokola was photographed with Weinstein and a third person at an event, and his company wrote her a recommendation to the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

The court earlier heard from an official at the school that it had no record of Sokola attending.

Lucey told jurors that power imbalances often 'cause victims to behave in ways that laypersons possibly might not expect.'

Sokola kept quiet about Weinstein allegedly abusing her until after other allegations emerged against Weinstein in 2017, and sued him over the 2002 incident in 2019.

Sokola with her lawyers outside the courtroom on Thursday

At issue in the retrial is previous sexual assault charges against aspiring actress Jessica Mann (left) and production assistant Mimi Haleyi that were dropped last year. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has revived those charges

Weinstein's defense attorney Arthur Aidala in her opening statement countered by portraying Weinstein's accusers as willing partners in a showbiz quid pro quo.

'The casting couch is not a crime scene,' Aidala told the majority-female jury. He then compared prosecutors allegations to the preview of a movie that 'falls flat on its face.'

He conceded that Weinstein did 'fool around' with the alleged victims, but argued they did so 'consensually' in an effort to 'cut the line'.

The attorney argued that each of the three alleged victims were 'flirtatious' in their interactions with Weinstein because he 'could change the trajectory of their lives and make dreams come true.'

Addressing Sokola's allegations directly, Aidala claimed they were 'based on a lie' as he argued that the young model has a 'lot of problems' including an alleged eating disorder and alcohol addiction.

The attorney then went on to praise the disgraced movie mogul, speaking to his notoriety in Hollywood and describing him as 'generous' and 'the greatest movie executive, at the very least of his generation.'

Aidala then asked the jury to look at the full picture, calling the alleged incidents 'minutes' of the former producer's larger story.

Weinstein pleaded not guilty to the two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third-degree rape.

The new trial, presided over by state Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber, is expected to last roughly six weeks.

If he were to be convicted, Weinstein could see decades tacked onto his already lengthy prison sentence.

He is serving 16 years for a separate conviction in Los Angeles in 2022 - though his attorneys are also appealing that conviction.
He commands the spiritual devotion of over a billion Catholics across the globe, holds one of the most recognisable roles in the world, and leads a sovereign state.

Yet the Pope  the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church  does not earn a traditional salary.

Instead, the Vatican, the world's smallest independent country, provides for the pontiff's every need  from accommodation and food to travel, healthcare, and security.

In fact, Pope Francis, known for his frugal and humble lifestyle, actively refused any form of personal income throughout his time as Head of the Church from 2013-2025.

While technically the Pope may be entitled to a modest salary  estimated at around 2,500 a month (roughly 2,150), his decision mirrors that of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, and reflects his commitment to simplicity and the poor.

Previous popes have also never been known to draw lavish salaries. Instead, the Vatican supplies what is essentially an all-expenses-paid life.

Housing is traditionally provided in the opulent Apostolic Palace, although Francis famously chose to remain in the simpler Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse on Vatican grounds.

Though the Pope does not receive a wage, he is far from destitute. Estimates of Pope Francis's net worth, which includes access to papal assets and Vatican-funded services, have hovered around 12million.

The new Pope, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, has criticized the Trump administration's moves on immigration repeatedly and expressed support for progressive causes

Pope Francis meets with his predecessor, the former Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, November 2020. The pair's relationship was depicted in 2019 film Two Popes

He has access to a fleet of vehicles, official residences, and a generous allowance for charitable donations, such as when Pope Francis gave 200,000 to inmates of a Roman prison.

Yet these resources are not for personal indulgence. Popes are expected to uphold spiritual stewardship, not financial gain.

In fact, the role comes with lifelong responsibilities  even after retirement, as seen with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who lived within the Vatican until his death in 2022.

The Vatican itself relies on a complex mix of donations, investment returns, and revenue from tourism and the Vatican Museums.

One of its most famous sources of income is Peter's Pence  an annual collection from Catholics around the world that generates approximately 20million a year.

The largest contributions come from the United States, Germany, and Italy.

But while the Vatican's reputation might suggest deep pockets, its financial situation has been anything but stable.

Pope Francis waves from the Popemobile as he arrives to celebrate Mass on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during his first foreign trip since becoming pontiff, July 28, 2013

One of its most famous sources of income is Peter's Pence  an annual collection from Catholics around the world that generates approximately 20million a year

Monks and nuns, who often take vows of poverty, generally do not receive any salary unless holding administrative positions within the Church

In 2023, it reported a staggering 70million operating deficit, prompting concern from Pope Francis over the long-term viability of its pension fund for Vatican employees.

In response to ongoing financial concerns  worsened by the pandemic  Francis enacted sweeping salary cuts in 2021.

Cardinals, who previously earned between 4,000 and 5,500 per month, saw their pay slashed by 10 percent.

Bishops now take home around 3,000 a month, while ordinary priests in Rome average just 1,200.

Monks and nuns, who often take vows of poverty, generally do not receive any salary unless holding administrative positions within the Church.

Francis also moved to end the tradition of offering subsidised Vatican apartments to senior clergy  an attempt to bring spending under control and demonstrate his commitment to transparency and fairness.
Erin Patterson's son has told the jury his mother insisted he attended a scheduled flying lesson in Tyabb, 90km from their family home in Leongatha, on the afternoon following the deadly lunch.

The boy, now 16, said he saw his mum the morning after the lunch, drinking coffee in the kitchen.

He said she told him said she was 'feeling a bit sick' and 'had some diarrhoea'.

'She said we might not be able to go to church,' the boy, then 14, said. 'We didn't end up going to church because mum was feeling sick.'

The boy said his mum didn't want to go to church for fear she would spread her illness because there was 'a lot of old people at the church'.

The jury heard the boy say he attended Korumburra Baptist Church every second Sunday and watched it from home every other Sunday.

He told police he had a scheduled flying lesson about an hour and 10 minutes away at Tyabb that afternoon and told his mum we didn't have to go because she was feeling sick.

'I don't know why mum drove to that [the flying lesson],' he said. 'We got a call [on the way] it had been cancelled because of weather so we came back.'

Police also probed the boy about how his appeared health-wise on Sunday morning.

'She was a little bit, um, she didn't sound like she was - usually she's livelier, she was like, "How was your sleep?" She was just a bit quieter,' he said.

'She didn't sound great, the diarrhoea, she had to go a few times overnight, she was playing it down, that's what it sounded like.'

The boy said his mum was 'quite insistent' he go flying because there was less chance of her spreading illness at the airfield.

He said the pair turned around and went back home but on the way, stopped at Koo Wee Rup to get some dim sims and hot dogs from a donut van.

'We got three dim sims, a hot dog, and we got mum a coffee,' he said.

The son said they stopped there 'five to ten minutes' and his mum didn't eat.

Later on they ate dinner which the boy said his mum told him she used leftover meat from the lunch.

It was mashed potato, he said. It [the meat] was very soft and  it was very easy to cut.

It was beef, eye fillet, it was a block and I cut it up into cubes and ate it.

The boy said there was no gravy and nothing else on the meat itself.

I really liked this meat, he said.

He said hed previously seen her mum cook a roast.

The son asked if the meal was leftovers, and Patterson confirmed it was.

She cooked it all on Saturday and then heated it up for [us] on Sunday night, he said.

But the boy said he didnt see how she prepared it.

Patterson also told him the in-laws were feeling sick, so she thought it might be the lunch but he said he 'didnt feel unwell at all.'

The son said after dinner his mum 'wasnt feeling well'.

She said she was feeling a little dizzy at that point and she had diarrhoea.

All three then watched a TV show after dinner called Tradies which he said the family 'were working through'.

The next day he saw his mum in hospital who he said was awake but 'very tired'.

He said she got up to use the toilet.

She said she was clammy, and dizzy, he said.

He also recalled going to Melbourne for sisters drama classes and confirmed they would stay at the Glen Waverley home during the Easter school holidays.

The son was also probed about his mum's relationship with his grandparents. (It was a) positive one, like its not strong, he said.

The boy also told police he had recently changed schools prior to the deadly lunch.
Demi Moore has joined the cast of 'Strange Arrivals'.

Demi Moore has joined the cast of Strange Arrivals

The 62-year-old actress will join Colman Domingo in the alien-themed romance film, which is based on the podcast by Toby Ball and will be directed by Roger Ross Williams, with Jane Anderson writing the script.

In a statement on the project, Williams told Deadline: As a director, to be able to work with actors at the top of their craft, is a dream. Demi and Colman coming together for the first time to bring Jane Andersons beautiful script that illuminates the human condition to life, will be magic. I am also thrilled to work alongside the remarkable team at See-Saw. They have an amazing track record of making artist-driven stories, and we couldnt be in better hands.

The plot is based on the true story of Betty and Barney Hill, a couple who, in 1961, claimed they had been abducted by extraterrestrials on the way back from their honeymoon.

The pair enjoyed celebrity status off the back of the incident, and the upcoming film will explore the truth of what happened on that fateful night.

For Demi, the new role comes after she was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in 'The Substance' but lost out to 'Anora' star Mikey Madison.

During an appearance at the Time100 Summit in New York, Demi explained: "Im sorry to everyone who had hopes for me. Because I did feel a lot of collective disappointment that felt like it was even bigger than me."

Despite this, the 'Ghost' actress remains hopeful that can still win an Oscar one day

The Hollywood star - who appeared in 'The Substance' alongside Margaret Qualley - shared: "That would be nice. I cant say Id be mad at it. But the question of Should I have won? is certainly not the perspective of how I hold it. Because, I didnt [win]. I really do subscribe to this idea that everything in life is happening for me, not to me.

"That doesnt mean there isnt disappointment, pain, or that things go the way I would like. But when I look at it through that lens, it allows me to step back and say, What is this trying to give me?'"
The Surfer (15, 100 mins)

Verdict: Cage unleashed

Rating:

Almost a year has passed since I first saw The Surfer at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival yet I still vividly remember the whoops of excitement at the opening titles  'Nicolas Cage is The Surfer'  followed by the bemused silence and then the steady walk-outs.

To put it mildly, this nutty Australia-set thriller is not everyone's can of Foster's. It certainly isn't mine.

With his trademark excess, Cage plays the unnamed title character, a man returning with his surfboard to the beach where he spent his carefree youth, wanting to re-live the fun with his son.

But it quickly becomes clear that in life, as in water, he is not even close to riding the crest of a wave. On the contrary, he's a XXXX loser, a human punchbag, humiliated at every turn.

Cage throws himself into this role with wild-eyed glee. What he does not throw himself towards is any semblance of an Aussie accent, which is more than a little mystifying until, handily, it's explained that as a kid he was taken off to live in distant California.

The Surfer starring Nicolas Cage. Cage plays the unnamed title character, a man returning with his surfboard to the beach where he spent his carefree youth

Now he's back in the (fictional) resort of Luna Bay, about to buy his grandfather's old house on Cliff Top Drive

Now he's back in the (fictional) resort of Luna Bay, about to buy his grandfather's old house on Cliff Top Drive.

His son doesn't seem comfortable around him, which is entirely understandable, since he attracts misfortune like carrion attracts blowflies.

And he's separated from his wife, who splatters any prospect of a reconciliation with the news that she wants to re-marry. Oh, and that's not all. She's pregnant.

Still, there's always his beloved surf; surely that will wash his cares away? But no. A gang of hostile locals take exception to him crashing their waves.

'Don't live here, don't surf here' is their boorish mantra, as their ringleader (Julian McMahon) becomes ever more vindictive.

From this point Lorcan Finnegan's film begins to strain with almost audible grunts to replicate the feel of John Boorman's 1972 classic Deliverance, as our would-be surfer, in what he thinks is his own land, finds that he is an undesirable.

Yet for some reason only partly explained by a flat car battery he chooses to stick around, getting victimised; his luck getting worse and worse.

Cage throws himself into this role with wild-eyed glee. What he does not throw himself towards is any semblance of an Aussie accent

If there's a passing rat, it will bite him. A vicious dog in the vicinity? You've guessed it. Will the house sale at least go through to stop his life from completely falling apart?

Hmmm. Might the Luna Bay cop offer salvation, or will he turn out to be a kind of one-man South American banana republic of stinking corruption? Hmmm again.

Perhaps the only way to enjoy The Surfer is to pack away your disbelief and revel in Cage's thunderously over-the-top performance in a movie as subtle as a shark bite.

Ocean With David Attenborough (PG, 95 mins)

Verdict: In-depth documentary

Rating:

Sharks pop up, as you would expect, in Ocean With David Attenborough. So does the peacock mantis shrimp, with its fabulously complex eyesight, and boxer crabs, which for self-defence use clumps of venomous anemones as gloves, and look so much like pugilists limbering up for a fight that there should be a promoter, a crustacean Frank Warren, standing behind them.

Yet Ocean is not a typical Attenborough documentary. It's basically an appeal to the world's governments, and to us as potential lobbyists, to protect more of our deep seas from the catastrophic effects of industrial fishing.

Yet Ocean is not a typical Attenborough documentary. It's basically an appeal to the world's governments, and to us as potential lobbyists, to protect more of our deep seas

Attenborough argues persuasively, aided by spectacular underwater footage, that the key to humanity's survival lies beneath the waves

He has many reasons to be optimistic, and one of them is the explosion in the world's whale population since commercial whaling was banned almost 40 years ago

Attenborough argues persuasively, aided by spectacular underwater footage, that the key to humanity's survival lies beneath the waves. But he does not deliver this message gloomily.

He has many reasons to be optimistic, and one of them is the explosion in the world's whale population since commercial whaling was banned almost 40 years ago.

In anyone else's hands all this could seem overly tendentious, maybe even tedious. But Attenborough makes it utterly compelling. He turned 99 yesterday and wears his age far more like a cloak of authority than a shroud of infirmity.

Riefenstahl (15, 115 mins)

Verdict: Fascinating and creepy

Rating:

The film-maker, photographer and actress Leni Riefenstahl made it to 101. Andres Veiel's documentary Riefenstahl tells her extraordinary life story, which was full and varied, and fell less than two years short of spanning the entire 20th century, but was defined by her relationship with Adolf Hitler.

He admired her extravagantly and she returned the compliment, although she was less enamoured of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda chief, who was besotted with her and, she claimed, twice tried to rape her.

This fascinating and comprehensive portrait examines her impact as the most influential woman in the Third Reich, whose films Triumph Of The Will (1935), lionising the 1934 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg, and Olympia (1938), celebrating the 1936 Berlin Olympics, were as technically brilliant as they were creepily sinister.

The film-maker, photographer and actress Leni Riefenstahl made it to 101. Andres Veiel's documentary Riefenstahl tells her extraordinary life story

A look at the private estate of Leni Riefenstahl

He admired her extravagantly and she returned the compliment, although she was less enamoured of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda chief

But clips of her being interviewed later in life show her railing fiercely against the notion that she was in any way an instrument of evil.

She denied even being a propagandist. Triumph Of The Will was about 'work and peace', she said. She only did what anyone with her skills would have done. She was, in short, just obeying orders.

The Wedding Banquet (15, 103 mins)

Verdict: Lily Gladstone, an Oscar nominee for 2023's Killers Of The Flower Moon, gives another splendid performance in a remake of Ang Lee's hit 1993 rom-com of the same name.

Rating:

In the original, a gay Taiwanese man hides his sexuality from his conservative parents by marrying a Chinese woman, and pretends his boyfriend is his landlord. But sexual

politics have changed considerably since then, so director and co-writer Andrew Ahn tweaks the narrative accordingly.

Two gay couples (one female, played by Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran), the other male, have various challenges to navigate, this time involving IVF and rich Korean grandparents who must be kept from the truth if their grandson is to keep his inheritance.

Kelly Marie Tran as Angela and Lily Gladstone as Lee

Youn Yuh-jung as Ja-Young, Han Gi-chan as Min and Kelly Marie Tran as Angela

Han Gi-chan as Min and Kelly Marie Tran as Angela

Farce ensues, but the film is touching as well as funny, and despite a few dud notes, it mostly works very nicely.

I wasn't so keen on The Uninvited (15, 97 mins, HHIII), a debut feature for writer-director Nadia Conners, whose husband, Walton Goggins, plays the male lead.

It's a clunky, over-theatrical movie-industry satire, in which an agent (Goggins) and his actress wife (Elizabeth Reaser) throw a party at their smart Hollywood Hills home.

Inconveniently, a confused old woman (Lois Smith) turns up on the night of the do, claiming that the house used to be hers.

There are some great lines and lively supporting performances from Rufus Sewell and Pedro Pascal as ghastly Hollywood big shots, but if you don't show up for The Uninvited, you won't have missed much.
Five adults and six children have escaped a home in Sydney's west uninjured after it was peppered with up to 30 bullets overnight.

The home on Frank Street in Mount Druitt was targeted about 1.20am on Friday.

A black Sedan was reportedly seen driving along the quiet street while the shots were fired before driving away, 7News reports.

Police said the attack was targeted towards one occupant of the home, who is known to authorities. A round of bullets was fired at the home and the street.

No injuries have been reported.

Police said while the house has been targeted before, the latest incident was 'worrying' given the number of children inside at the time.

'It's a targeted attack but to have no concern for other occupants inside that house including young children... is extremely alarming,' Superintendent Darrin Batchelor told reporters on Friday morning.

Detectives are investigating the motive for the attack and are knocking on neighbours doors in the hopes of securing CCTV of the street.

The home on Frank Street in Mount Druitt was targeted about 1.20am on Friday

Officers are seen outside the home following the drive-by shooting

It remains unclear how many people were in the black Sedan at the time.

A search is underway for the vehicle.
A passenger on a cruise ship where a grandfather was 'murdered' has told of how their journey turned from relaxing to 'carnage' after leaving Southampton.

A 21-year-old, who does not want to be named, described scenes of drunken brawls erupting almost immediately after boarding the two-night return voyage to Belgium with her boyfriend.

She told the Mirror of her time on liner MSC Virtuosa: 'It was full of stag and hen dos that just made the boat really rowdy. We got on the boat the first day about 2pm and it was all sunny and we went to the pool but you could already see fights breaking out.

'We got to the pool about 3pm and people who were already on the boat were in drunken arguments and scraps.

'We were sat quite far back and all of a sudden you would hear cheering and chanting and you would look over and see people fighting. The bar staff were still serving people to the point they were paralytically drunk, it was just carnage.'

The alleged murder occurred later, around 8.30pm, when a fight reportedly broke out on the ship while it was still in British waters.

The victim, James Messham, 60, a grandfather and former stuntman, died following the altercation aboard the cruise.

He had been part of the Messhams Wall of Death, Europe's oldest motorcycle stunt show, and was described as a 'proper gent' and 'salt of the earth' by friends.

A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a 60-year-old grandfather. But was released on bail on Tuesday afternoon.

James Messham (pictured), 60, died when a fight allegedly broke out aboard the MSC Virstuosa around 8.30pm last Saturday

According to a passenger onboard, the trip was a 'booze cruise' to Bruges

Mr Messhem's family in Sussex were too upset to speak but touching posts have been shared by relatives on Facebook

An Army medic on the cruise is believed to have tried to save the ex-stuntman, who is said to have rode motorbikes as part of the daring Wall of Death attraction at fairs with members of his family.

In recent years he had presented the show as his son Jake and other riders wowed crowds as they whizzed around the vertical walls.

The Messhams Wall of Death is Europe's oldest motorcycle sport show, going back four generations of the family to around 1929.

It later emerged that the Traitors' winner Harry Clark and his girlfriend were among the passengers enjoying the two-night cruise. He was said to be 'very shocked and saddened' by the incident and was 'thinking of the individual's family and friends'.

Following the announcement of the 60-year-old's death, tributes began to pour in for Mr Messham, a much-loved father and grandfather.

His friend Joby Carter of Carter's Steam Fair said he was 'gutted' at the news, saying: 'We always got along with him. He was a proper gent, salt of the earth.'

'We used to travel Carter's Steam Fair. He approached us because he had a wall of death and wanted to travel with us'.

Mr Carter added anyone who knew Mr Messham, from Sussex, would also know 'if you had a problem he would come and help you any time day or night'.

The daring stunt man had been a part of the fair until around eight years ago.

MSC Virtuosa (pictured) left on Saturday evening for a two-night cruise to Bruges but a fight allegedly broke out just 2.5 hours into the journey at about 8.30pm

Traitors' stay Harry Clark, left, with his girlfriend Anna Maynard, were among the passengers enjoying the two-night cruise (pictured)

He was understood to have been travelling with relatives who helped him run the popular motorbike stunt show the Wall of Death.

Mr Carter added: 'He was such a trier and did really well in the haulage business as well.'

Mr Messhem's family in Sussex were too upset to speak but touching posts have been shared by relatives on Facebook.

One friend commented on a photo of Mr Messham posted by son Jake Messham: 'My deepest sympathy on your loss, he was a proper old school showman, condolences to the rest of the family. Rip'

And another said: 'He will be missed by everyone. When he travelled with us with the wall some years ago in Ireland, your dad and all your family were very helpful and great people to be around.

'He was a great showman and friend to all.'

In an interview with thewidowstanton website, Jake Messham, who is a fourth-generation rider for the wall of death, says that the family's show is the oldest in Europe, dating back to the 1930s.

An eyewitness said there were 'hen and stag parties causing chaos' on the boat.

Traitors star Harry Clark and his girlfriend Anna Maynard were among the passengers enjoying the two-night cruise.

There is no suggestion he was involved in the violence.

He was spotted by fellow passenger Lynda Hardiman-Pearce, who runs a catering business.

She spoke about meeting the the series two winner before the 'carnage' broke out.

She told the Metro: 'People were jolly but it was a bit like a modern Wild West with stag and hen dos everywhere.

'Harry from Traitors was on board with a big group of family, but they were low-key and just had a nice time together.

'Harry was lovely, a very nice guy.'

He won The Traitors' 95,000 prize last January after deceiving his fellow contestants, including Faithful runner-up Mollie Pierce.

A source told The Sun the star was 'clearly very shocked and saddened by the news'.

Only a few months earlier, Colombian national Jessica Andrea Gomez Granda, 28, died after falling overboard the ship near the Channel Islands in October.

The vessel is also known as the filming site for Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder which stars X Factor winner Shayne Ward.

The TV star was spotted by fellow passenger Lynda Hardiman-Pearce, both pictured, who runs a catering business

Ms Hardiman-Pearce added: 'Harry from Traitors was on board with a big group of family, but they were low-key and just had a nice time together'

MSC Virtuosa is seen here berthed at the City Cruise Terminal in Southampton ahead of its first sailing on May 20 2021

The luxury cruise vessel (pictured in May 2021) is at the centre of a new police investigation

According to a passenger onboard, the trip was a 'booze cruise' to Bruges.

The men involved in the incident were said to be among a party of 20.

Hampshire Police told MailOnline a homicide investigation was launched following the death of the man aboard the MSC Virtuosa in British waters.

The ship left Southampton at 6pm on Saturday with the reports being made at around 8.30pm that a man, 60, had died following an 'altercation'.

Mr Messhem's next of kin were informed and supported by specialist officers.

His body is believed to have been kept aboard the ship until Monday morning when it docked back in the Horizon terminal in Hampshire.

According to the Maritime Injury Guide, most large cruise ships will have a morgue on board and which typically has space for between three to six bodies.

Detective Chief Insp Matt Gillooly, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's senior investigating officer, said: 'We want to reassure you that this appears to be an isolated incident onboard and we want to thank the crew for their cooperation and assistance with our enquiries.'

A spokesman for MSC Virtuosa said: 'Following an incident on board our ship, the relevant authorities were contacted, and we are co-operating fully with their investigations. We are providing full support to those impacted.'
A mother is under investigation for allegedly dousing her children in petrol as they slept before setting them alight in a horror Queensland house fire.

Six people managed to escape the home on Merritt Street in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, when it went up in flames at about 12.30am on Wednesday.

Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, 36, is in a critical condition and under police guard in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Gibson's nine-year-old son died in the blaze - his body found after it was extinguished - while her two daughters, aged four and seven, were rescued but later died of their injuries.

The three deceased children had all been sleeping in the same bedroom.

Gibson's 34-year-old partner escaped with minor injuries along with two other children.

Police have said they are treating the fire as suspicious.

Sources familiar with the investigation said petrol was found at the front of the home, according to The Australian.

Ellouisa Brighton Gibson (pictured) is under investigation for allegedly dousing her children in petrol as they slept and setting them alight in a horror Queensland house fire

Gibson, 36, is in a critical condition and under police guard in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital

Six people managed to escape the home (pictured) on Merritt Street in Harristown, Toowoomba, when it went up in flames at about 12.30am on Wednesday

One of the surviving children also allegedly told police they witnessed Gibson '(allegedly) pouring petrol over the children and setting them on fire'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment.

Police said on Thursday they had not yet been able to interview Gibson due to her condition, but they believed she would survive.

'We do know she will be in hospital for an extensive period of time,' Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said at a press conference.

'Obviously we want to talk to all those persons that were present, we've already undertaken that with some of the people that were at the house and have been released from hospital.

'Part of our investigation is talking to all people - that will include the 36-year-old woman.'

Mr Marchesini said police had previously dealt with the family but wouldn't give further details.

'It certainly wasn't a premises that police were regularly attending,' he said.

Queensland Police (pictured at the property) have said they are treating the fire as suspicious

Police have interviewed neighbours and issued an appeal for information as their investigation continues.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the community was 'reeling' after the tragedy, which he described as 'unfathomable and horrific'.

'We send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Toowoomba and thank neighbours and first responders who rushed to help,' Mr Crisafulli said.

'A full and thorough investigation into this tragedy must take place, and we'll ensure it does.'
The brother of Pope Leo XIV revealed that he warned the newly-elected pontiff not to use the Italian name because it could be an unlucky choice.

The man once known as Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American-born pontiff, having grown up in the suburbs of Chicago.

The pope's brother, John Prevost, has provided insight into his newly-famous sibling's inner life, which took him all the way to Peru before serving under Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Since the sixth century, popes have taken on a new name, that of one of the Catholic saints, upon election.

Prevost - a retired Catholic school principal - admitted that his brother had spoken to him prior to the conclave and asked him what his name should be.

'We started rattling off names just to rattle off names,' he said, before his brother made a now-hilarious suggestion.

'I told him it shouldn't be Leo because it will be the 13th,' Prevost said, suggesting it was an unlucky number.

However, as both the pope and Prevost realized, the most recent Pope Leo was, in fact, the 13th, making this Pope Leo the 14th.

The newly-elected Pope Leo XIV (pictured center) shocked his own brother John (pictured right) back home in the United States with his choice of name, having told him to avoid the moniker

The man once known as Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American-born pontiff, having grown up in the suburbs of Chicago

'He must've done some research to see it's actually the 14th,' Prevost told the Daily Herald of his brother.

Pope Leo XIV's brother suggested he felt his sibling had an 'inkling of a chance' to be elected.

However, 'I really was just as surprised as everyone when they said his name.'

Prevost was speaking to his niece, the daughter of both the pope and Prevost's other brother, Louis, in Florida when the announcement was made.

'We both couldn't believe it. Then the phone, the iPad, and my cellphone just went nuts.'

He gave away further details about his brother's life, telling ABC7 that the new pope is a fan of the Chicago White Sox and not their rival Chicago Cubs, despite their mother being a lifelong Cubs fan.

He and his two brothers all knew 'what we wanted to do very early in life,' saying the man he once called 'Rob' wanted to be a priest 'from the time he could walk.'

'A neighbor once said he was going to be pope someday. How's that for a prognostication?'

Prevost - a retired Catholic school principal - admitted that his brother had spoken to him prior to the conclave and asked him what his name should be. John advised against Leo but for mistaken reasons

Faithful react to the white smoke indicating that a new pope has been elected at the Vatican

Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago, Illinois and began studying to become a priest with the Catholic Church at the age of 18, before going on to graduate from Villanova University in Pennsylvania with a degree in mathematics four years later.

He spent much of his early life in South America and also holds Peruvian citizenship, and was said to have been seen as the 'least American of the Americans' who were in the running at the Conclave.

A popular figure in the church who served as the head of Pope Francis' vetting process for new bishop nominations, he has been notably quiet about his views on topics such as women in the clergy and same sex unions.

He waded into gender ideology while serving as a bishop in Chiclayo, Peru in 2012, saying that 'the promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist.'

Following his graduation in Pennsylvania, Prevost first went to Peru in 1985 as a missionary before being named the Roman Catholic Diocese for the Chulucanas region that same year.

Prevost - also known as Father Bob - returned to work as a pastor in Chicago in 1987 for one year before becoming the head of the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo, Peru - a role he kept for a decade.

In 1998, he was elected as the head of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, making him one of the leading religious figures in the United States.

The man he succeeded to lead the Vatican, Pope Francis, brought Prevost to Italy in 2023 and handed him a prominent post heading into the Conclave, a process where cardinals vote in secret to elect the new Pope that was watched in anticipation by millions.

Prevost emerged victorious at the Conclave on Thursday, a process where cardinals vote in secret to elect the new pope that was watched in anticipation by millions

Although he makes history as the first American pope, the Chicago-born religious leader has not been shy about his disapproval of President Donald Trump in the past.

He has taken so social media a number of times to criticize the Trump administration's moves on immigration repeatedly and expressed support for progressive causes.

'Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?' he said in one tweet.

The new Pope also shared several articles that address JD Vance's stance on immigration. One of them is titled: 'JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.'

Despite holding a prominent post at the Vatican, Prevost was not among the bookies' favorites heading into the Conclave.

This was primarily because he is an American, with no US citizen ever holding the position of Pope before in history.

Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen, and he lived in the South American country for many years as a missionary and then archbishop.

While working under Francis, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the Pope.

The future pope is pictured (red circled) in the second grade

In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals, suggesting he would at least be Francis choice in any future conclave.

The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevosts old diocese in Chiclayo where he previously served, remembered Prevost as a warm and kind man who ate breakfast with his staff each day.

'No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,' he told the Associated Press.

James Martin, a Jesuit priest who is also the editor-at-large of America Magazine, said on X after Prevost was announced as the new pope that he had similarly happy memories of the clergyman.

'I know Pope Leo XIV to be a kind, open, humble, modest, decisive, hard-working, straightforward, trustworthy, and down-to-earth man. A brilliant choice. May God bless him,' he said in a post.

Prevost enters the papacy not without some scandal in his past, and some have already pointed to an incident over two decades ago when he became embroiled in the Catholic Church's child abuse controversy.

In 2000, he came under scrutiny for allowing Father James Ray, an Augustinian priest who had been suspended from the ministry nine years before due to allegations of sexual abuse of minors, to reside at his St John Stone Friary in Chicago.

He would go on to take a public stance against the way that the Catholic Church handled the pedophilia scandal, telling La Republica in 2019 that it must move away from its culture of cover-ups.

'We reject the cover-up and secrecy, that does a lot of damage, because we have to help the people who have suffered from the bad act,' he said.

He urged victims to come forward, adding: 'Many times it was shut up and don't talk, you can't ask for that.

'On behalf of the Church we want to tell people that if there was any offense, if they suffered or are victims of the bad actions of a priest to come and denounce it, to act for the good of the Church, of the person and the community.'
A woman in New York City was horrified after she bought takeout only to find a rodent mixed in with her salad leaves.

Hannah Rasbach, 27, ordered a salad from a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan but was disgusted by the unwanted addition.

'When I tried to cut it, it didn't feel right, it felt like a fatty piece of meat or something...' she told ABC 7 grimacing.

'I took a better look and I saw the tail and eyes.'

Rasbach was halfway through her meal when she found the rodent and immediately took the container of food back to the restaurant.

Footage showed her inside Ongi on West 37th Street on Monday afternoon talking with an employee before handing over the food.

'[The employee] asked if I thought it had come from the spring mix...obviously, I'm not sure where it came from,' Rasbach continued.

She rushed to the doctor and was put on antibiotics as a precaution, concerned that the rodent may have urinated or defecated on the food.

'We had no idea how this animal died, it could have been rat poison, it could have been disease, any number of things,' she said.

Hannah Rasbach, 27, ordered a salad from a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan but was left horrified to find a rodent in her meal

The owner, Ray Park, handed over the footage to the outlet insisting that the rodent didn't come from his restaurant, Ongi. 'I was thinking, how can it be happening here, because we have a high standard to run every single day here,' Park said

'We had no idea how this animal died, it could have been rat poison, it could have been disease, any number of things,' Rasbach said

Rasbach told the outlet she can't imagine eating out again ever again.

The owner, Ray Park, handed over the footage to the outlet insisting that the rodent didn't come from his restaurant.

'I was thinking, how can it be happening here, because we have a high standard to run every single day here,' Park told ABC 7.

He added that he had no idea where the rodent came from, and didn't want to guess, as he revealed the establishment had combed over the footage countless times.

'If I use my finger, it's this big including the tail. It's not small,' Park continued.

He said that the kitchen is clean and there had never been evidence of droppings. He kept Rasbach's meal as evidence, he told the outlet.

Rasbach filed a complaint with 311 and the Health Department said it's investigating.

'I would like them to be shut down or investigated,' she said.
New faces will be welcomed to the fold as Labor politicians come together for the first time since their emphatic victory at the federal election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will address the caucus meeting in Canberra on Friday after his party's landslide win.

The scale of the success has taken even senior Labor ministers by surprise, lending to a buoyant feeling among the party's members.

A record number of women will be taking their seats in parliament, with women to outnumber men in the Labor partyroom.

At least 46 seats will be held by women in the Labor government out of a total of 150 in the House of Representatives.

More than a dozen new MPs will join the ranks after Labor increased its seats from 77 to at least 90 as the count continues.

Australian National University political historian Frank Bongiorno said Labor hadn't had a victory this size since 1943.

'It's a remarkable opportunity for the government to craft a legacy, which could extend even beyond this term,' he said.

Queensland Labor's newly-elected federal members Corinne Mulholland, Emma Comer, Madonna Jarrett, Kara Cook, Ali France, Renee Coffee and Julie-Ann Campbell pose for a photo

Newly elected member for Dickson Ali France arrives for a meeting of the Labor Party Caucus at Parliament House, in Canberra

'Governments don't normally extend their majorities ... you normally win your first election reasonably comfortably, and then you begin burning political capital straight away in that first term, and then often have to scrape a win the second time round.'

New Dickson MP Ali France has been hailed a 'Labor legend' after she became the first person to unseat an opposition leader at an election with her defeat of Peter Dutton.

Former Tasmanian state Opposition leader Rebecca White's victory in Lyons has her among the contenders to be elevated to the ministry, expected to be unveiled on Monday ahead of a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

The depleted Liberals will hold a partyroom meeting on Tuesday to pick their new leader with Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley looming as the leading candidates.

Attracting women voters and candidates has been a major issue for the coalition.

The new women joining Labor's ranks were to the party's 'major political advantage', Professor Bongiorno said.

'We know that there will be women at the table, at the cabinet table, there'll be women there in caucus when issues come up that are of particular interest to women,' he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will address the caucus meeting in Canberra on Friday after his party's landslide win

Former Tasmanian opposition leader Rebecca White may move straight into Labor's ministry

'We know that women's voices and women's agency will be there.'

Meanwhile, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has officially announced her tilt at the leadership, confirming she will put herself forward to refresh a decimated party.

The Liberals will meet in Canberra on Tuesday to choose a new leader, with shadow treasurer Angus Taylor also courting colleagues for the top job.

'I'm determined and convinced that I am the right person to lead the party forward at this time and I think my appointment would send a strong signal to the women of Australia,' Ms Ley told Seven's Sunrise on Friday.

Ms Ley acknowledged the Liberals suffered a significant defeat and needed to 'meet the Australian people where they are, because clearly we didn't do that at the last election'.

The bloodletting continues ahead of Tuesday's meeting as the coalition's Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defected from sitting with the National Party to the Liberals.

As a Country Liberal Party senator from the Northern Territory, she can choose to sit in either partyroom but the spot has historically sided with the Nationals.

Her colleagues have expressed disappointment as it means the loss of a Nationals senator takes the party below the five needed in the Senate to receive entitlements offered to larger parties.

Queensland MP Michelle Landry branded it disloyal.

'We're all very upset that she's decided to move over to the Liberals and I just think that there's a lack of loyalty there,' she told ABC radio.
The father of Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow was arrested after it was revealed that he used semiautomatic weapons to 'bond' with his daughter.

Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, the father of Abundant Life Christian School shooter Natalie Rupnow, 15, was taken into custody during an early morning traffic stop and was charged with intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 causing death and contributing to the delinquency of a child.

Prosecutors say Rupnow legally bought his daughter a pistol, which he kept in a gun safe - and told Natalie that if she ever needed it, the access code was his Social Security number entered backward.

'Her father knew that she had them, or at least had access to them,' acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson said at a news conference as chilling new details about the December 16 shooting were revealed in the criminal complaint against the father.

It notes that just one day after the deadly shooting, Jeffrey told police how he had retrieved his daughter's handgun from the safe for cleaning two days prior - and was unsure whether he ever returned it to the safe.

That gun and another firearm were then used in the deadly attack, which killed teacher Erin West, 42, and freshman Rubi Vergara, 14, and left six others wounded - one of whom remains hospitalized nearly five months later, according to CBS News.

Jeffrey also allegedly suggested to the officers that Natalie must have retrieved the second weapon from the safe, according to the criminal complaint obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

'When they initially started the interview with the defendant, one of the first things he uttered was that he... began to think about if he had put [her] gun back in the safe yesterday,' it says.

Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, has been arrested and charged with intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 causing death and contributing to the delinquency of a child

He is accused of providing Abundant Life Christian School shooter Natalie Rupnow, his daughter, with the weapons she used in the attack

The criminal complaint also sheds new light on Natalie's life before she decided to open fire at the small school and took her own life.

It details how the 15 year old Natalie Rupnow struggled with her parents' divorce in 2022, which she railed against in a written piece entitled War Against Humanity, where she described humanity as 'filth' and said she lived in a 'population of scum.'

She went on to write that she hated people who don't care and 'smoke their lungs out with weed or drink as much as they can like my own father' and apparently believed that humanity had forced her into a hole.

'Some of you guys deserve to be dead,' Natalie reportedly wrote in the document, after using a racial slur.

The teenager was living with her father following the apparently contentious divorce, and had been undergoing therapy for the post-traumatic stress disorder it caused, according to the criminal complaint.

Jeffrey even seemed to notice his daughter was struggling, as she said she hated her life and wanted to kill herself.

Natalie even reportedly used to cut herself to the point where her father had to lock up all the knives in his house.

But still, he tried to bond with his daughter over their shared interest in firearms.

He allegedly told investigators how he took Natalie shooting with him on a friend's land about two years before the Abundant Life attack.

She enjoyed it, he said, and he came to see guns as a way to connect with her. But he was shocked at how her interest in firearms 'snow balled,' he told investigators.

Court documents suggest Jeffrey saw the firearms as a way to bond with his daughter

He shared a picture to his Facebook in August showing his daughter pointing a shotgun at a clay pigeon

Acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson said on Thursday that Jeffrey knew his daughter had the weapons - or at least had access to them

Authorities say Natalie soon began building a cardboard model of the school and scheduling the shooting to end with her suicide.

She had allegedly planned to begin the attack at 11.30am and wipe out the first and second floors of the school by 11.55am. She planned to end the attack by 12.10pm with a notation 'ready 4 Death.'

The teenager also shared her idolization of previous mass shooters, whom she compared herself to and once even printed out a photo of a Finnish mass shooter whom she noted made his attack two years before she was born.

At times, Natalie called the other shooters 'saints,' and their attacks 'masterpieces,' the Journal Sentinel reports.

She then shared her fascination with school shootings and weapons with others online, and recorded videos of herself handling 'what appears to be a black semiautomatic firearm.'

Another video showed Natalie next to a mutilated rabbit, and in one clip, the teenager could be seen pointing a firearm gesture with her hand at two neighborhood dogs, telling them: 'You're next,' according to the Journal Sentinel.

Natalie opened fire at the Christian school just before 11am on December 16

She killed two people and wounded six others before she turned the gun on herself

Natalie wound up opening fire at a study hall at the Abundant Life Christian School shortly before 11am on December 16, before taking her own life.

In the aftermath, investigators recovered 20 shell casings and recovered the 9mm Glock handgun Jeffrey had purchased for her, as well as a .22-caliber Sig Sauer pistol from the bag she was carrying.

Rupnow said he had given that gun to his daughter as a Christmas present in 2023, the complaint says.

Also in the bag were three magazines loaded with .22 ammunition and a 50-round box of 9 mm ammunition.

Two weeks later, the complaint says, Jeffrey sent a message to detectives - saying his biggest mistake was teaching Natalie how to handle guns safely and urging police to warn residents to change their gun safe combinations every two to three months, according to the criminal complaint.

'Kids are smart and they will figure it out,' he allegedly wrote.

'Just like someone trying to hack your bank account. I just want to protect other families from going through what I'm going through.'

Meanwhile, according to the complaint, after learning that Natalie was the shooter while talking to a police officer, Melissa Rupnow began breathing very quickly through her nose and yelled something, to the effect of, 'I'm going to kill him, I'm going to kill him,' apparently referring to her ex-husband.

Jeffrey is now scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday, but it remains unclear whether he has retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
The family of the five-year-old boy who was subjected to racial slurs from a white woman during a viral altercation at a Minnesota playground are calling for her to be charged.

Video of the woman, identified as Shiloh Hendrix, was recorded at Soldiers Field Memorial Park showing the 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, Hendrix 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, five-years-old, a n*****, the 'N-word?' the man asks her incredulously before the two engage in a disturbing back-and-forth.

Following the incident, Hendrix initiated her own crowdfunding campaign that has garnered over $755,000 in donations.

The parents of the boy she directed the hateful slur at issued a statement that was delivered during at NAACP town hall on Wednesday, reported KIMT.

Wale Elegbede, president of the Rochester NAACP, read the statement for them, claiming they wish to remain anonymous due to safety concerns.

'We as the parents of the young boy, demand that those responsible for this tragic event, the unimaginable pain that has affected our beloved child, be held fully accountable. Our child deserves justice and we will not rest until it is served,' the parents said.

Shiloh Hendrix (pictured) was recorded while being confronted by a man who accuses her of calling a young black boy the 'N-word'

The parents of the boy she directed the hateful slur at issued a statement calling for her to be charged that was delivered during at NAACP town hall on Wednesday (pictured)

The five-year-old's family asked for people to donate to them as they pursue accountability.

'As the parents of the young boy, as we navigate the emotional , legal and medical challenges ahead, we are asking the public for Financial Support,' the parents said.

'There are individuals who are attempting to benefit financially from the assault that happened to us. We request the authorities to protect us and stop people from using our pain for profit.'

The NAACP initially launched a GoFundMe for the family that was paused after reaching $341,594.

In a recent press release, the organization promoted a second fundraiser that is being managed by the family and has raised $1,250.

'As the parent of the young boy at the park, our family's safety is no longer guaranteed, we are becoming increasingly vulnerable as more people gain access to our private information including where we live,' the family said.

'We are doing everything we can to secure our environment and shield our child from further trauma but we cannot do it alone.'

The Rochester Police Department investigated the video and submitted their findings to the city's attorney's office, reported WCCO.

Following the incident, Hendrix initiated her own crowdfunding campaign that has garnered over $755,000 in donations

The confrontation reportedly began after Hendrix claimed the child took a toy from her son's diaper bag.

She started her fundraising campaign because she claimed she had been 'threatened to the extreme by people online' and needs to relocate.

The support shown toward Hendrix has drawn criticism online, with many questioning the motivations behind the donations and expressing concern over the message it sends regarding accountability for racist behavior.

A trad-wife influencer left Piers Morgan stunned when she came to Hendrix's defense on his show.

Morgan asked controversial influencer Lilly Gaddis why she 'would want to support a white racist - to which she replied, 'Because I want to support free speech.'

Morgan responded by saying he understands the free speech argument, but argued, 'You also have to be accountable for what you say.'

At that point, he asked Gaddis whether she would ever use the racial slur - to which she replied 'Yes' without hesitation.

'You would?' the conservative news host asked, his mouth agape at the answer.

'Mhm, I do it quite frequently,' said Gaddis, who was once caught on video using the 'n-word' while talking about relationships.
President Donald Trump abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday just hours after she was accused of 'promoting trans-ing kids.'

Hayden's term as the first African American Librarian of Congress was cut short after she received an email from the Trump administration terminating her position.

The email, addressed to 'Carla,' said: 'On behalf of President Donald J Trump, I am writing to inform you that our position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.

Her ten-year term, which was set to expire next year, ended after she was accused of promoting children's books with 'radical' content and literary material authored by opponents of Trump, according to The Associated Press.

The American Accountability Foundation posted on X on Thursday that Hayden is 'woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids.'

'It's time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!' the post continued.

The foundation had launched a campaign to highlight activities of Hayden and Director of U.S. Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter, accusing them of acting as biased left-wing activists.

'The President and his team have done an admirable and long-needed job cleaning out deep state liberals from the federal government. It is time they show Carla Hayden and Shira Perlmutter the door and return an America First agenda to the nation's intellectual property regulation,' Tom Jones the president of the American Accountability Foundation told the Daily Mail last week.

A former chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library, Hayden worked for Encoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore when she was nominated to the Library of Congress by President Barack Obama in 2016.

Hayden's firing, however, infuriated congressional Democrats who described it as 'callous' and 'unjust.'

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Hayden as 'an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress.'

President Donald Trump has abruptly fired 'woke' Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday just hours after she was accused of 'promoting trans-ing kids'

The American Accountability Foundation posted on X on Thursday that Hayden is 'woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids.' 'It's time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!'

'Donald Trump's unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock,' Jeffries said.

'The Library of Congress is the People's Library. There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later.'

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro said Hayden was 'callously fired' by Trump and demanded an explanation for her firing.

Her firing comes after at a gala on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio joked about assuming three other positions in the Trump administration as national security adviser, acting archivist and acting director of the US Agency for International Development.

He also remarked that the Library of Congress 'would be a good job' before offering up the role to Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart for the role.

'You know what would be good? Library of Congress. That would be a good job,' Rubio said. 'Acting Librarian Mario Diaz-Balart. Do you want it?'

Hayden, in 2020, told CBS: 'Personally, being a person of color, it means so much because people who look like me were forbidden by law to learn to read. That means so much that here is a person of color leading the world's largest library.'

She is a registered Democrat and donated extensively to Obama's campaigns and has an extensive history of donating to Democrats.

She also pointedly denounced attempts by parents to remove books about sexual identity targeted at young people from libraries.

Hayden wrote that librarians were 'trusted people' in the community and that it was important to have children's books on sexual identity to offer them.

'A children's book, and that's so helpful. I've had parents that I even work with, it just makes such a difference when you can share a book with a young person,' she wrote.

She urged individuals to go to school board and other public hearings to endorse using their tax dollars to support children's books featuring topics like sexual identity.

Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York called Hayden's firing an 'ignorant decision' that will 'impact America's libraries, our copyrighted economic interests, and service to the American people by threatening support for Congress.'

Her ten-year term, which was set to expire next year, ended after she was accused of promoting children's books with 'radical' content and literary material authored by opponents of Trump

'His decision is an absolute disgrace,' Morelle said.

New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich said the firing was 'taking [Trump's] assault on America's libraries to a new level.'

While Trump 'wants to ban books and tell Americans what to read - or not to read at all, Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to make reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone,' Heinrich said.

Robert Newlen, the principal deputy librarian, said he would be serving as the acting Librarian of Congress 'until further instruction.'

Hayden was also the first woman to be appointed to the position.
Nicola Coughlan is the "biggest fan" of intimacy coordinators.

Nicola Coughlan has praised the work of intimacy coordinators

The 38-year-old actress worked with intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot for her racy scenes as Penelope Featherington in the Netflix regency series 'Bridgerton' and felt "in control" during her intimate sequences with co-star Luke Newton (who plays Colin Bridgerton) as a result.

Speaking to Radio Times.com, Nicola said: "I'm the biggest fan of intimacy coordinators. They're imperative and brilliant. Lizzy Talbot, who worked on 'Bridgerton', was so phenomenal."

The 'Big Mood' star continued: "It's really interesting, because you see a lot of backlash from actors of an older generation saying they don't get why intimacy coordinators are there or why they want them. It's not poo-pooing the way things used to be done or to shame anyone, but it just makes you feel so much safer and in control.

"It's dealt with like a stunt, so it's left in your hands, but you never feel like things are going to go awry or that you don't know what's going to happen next. You leave the set feeling empowered and good, which is what everyone should leave their workday feeling like. There are no blurred lines, it's not scary."

The Irish actress rose to prominence with her role in the acclaimed Channel 4 sitcom 'Derry Girls' but revealed that there were times when she considered quitting acting as she struggled to find roles during her 20s.

Nicola recalled: "There were definitely lots of moments where I thought, 'Should I quit?' It's a difficult industry to break into and I didn't have any connections or money.

"It didn't seem sensible for me to keep going, but I got 'Derry Girls' at 30, which was an amazing turning point."

Coughlan  who has earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Female Performance in a Comedy for her portrayal of Maggie Donovan in 'Big Mood'  has urged the TV industry to give females more creative opportunities.

She said: "Television is in an incredibly difficult position now, because there's more competition than ever for eyes, and it's really hard to launch a new show. I think there's an impression that people want to sit in comfort and just watch the same thing again and again  I don't believe that.

"There's certain things that have broken out, like 'Baby Reindeer' and 'Adolescence' that are wholly original, but it also does strike me that they centre on male experiences. I think men are still given a lot more chances in this industry than women.

"What would we have done if the industry hadn't supported Michaela Coel (the creator of 'I May Destroy You') and Phoebe Waller-Bridge ('Fleabag' creator)."
A four-year-old girl has been rushed to hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries at a home in Queensland's Western Downs region.

Police and paramedics were called to a home on Arthur Street in Dalby just after 10.30am on Friday.

The little girl was assessed by paramedics at the home before they were rushed to Dalby Hospital with critical injuries.

They were airlifted from the hospital to Brisbane for further treatment.

The normally quiet street has since been flooded with police vehicles.

Queensland Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

The girl's injuries are being treated as suspicious, as initial investigations continue.
Kristi Noem has fired the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency just one day after speaking out against Donald Trump's plan to eliminate FEMA.

Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who held the job for the last few months, testified on Capitol Hill that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle an organization that helps plan for natural disasters and distributes financial assistance.

Noem fired him a day later, just weeks before the start of hurricane season, as Hamilton pushed out and replaced by another official from the Department of Homeland Security.

Donald Trump believes that individual states, not the federal government, should take the lead on hurricanes, tornadoes and other crises. He has been sharply critical of FEMA's performance, particularly in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

The abrupt change came the day after Hamilton's testimony in Washington where he spoke out against this.

'I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,' Hamilton said.

David Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, will run FEMA for the time being.

He does not appear to have any experience in managing natural disasters.

Kristi Noem has fired the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency just one day after speaking out against Donald Trump's plan to eliminate FEMA

Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who held the job for the last few months, testified on Capitol Hill that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle an organization that helps plan for natural disasters and distributes financial assistance

Richardson currently serves as the Department of Homeland Security's assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction.

The administration made no statement about any potential permanent nominee.

Nor did the White House answer questions about Richardson's background, the impact of Hamilton's testimony or whether the president personally ordered his dismissal.

An administration official, who requested anonymity to discuss a personnel matter, said Hamilton was offered another government job that would be a better fit for him, but did not say what that job would be.

FEMA staff were notified of the change in leadership through a brief email.

Through a January executive order, Trump established a review council tasked with 'reforming and streamlining the nations emergency management and disaster response system,' according to Homeland Security.

The 13-member council is chaired by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

During Hamilton's appearance before a House Appropriations subcommittee Wednesday, he shared concerns about how FEMA assistance is administered.

Noem fired him a day later, just weeks before the start of hurricane season, as Hamilton pushed out and replaced by another official from the Department of Homeland Security

David Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer who served in Afghanistan , Iraq and Africa, will run FEMA for the time being

He also said the agency had 'evolved into an overextended federal bureaucracy, attempting to manage every type of emergency no matter how minor.'

But when Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, asked Hamilton how he felt about plans to eliminate FEMA, Hamilton said he did not believe the agency should be eliminated.

'Having said that,' Hamilton continued, 'Im not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination such as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body.'

In a statement Thursday afternoon, DeLauro expressed support for Hamilton and accused the Republican president of firing 'anyone who is not blindly loyal to him.'

'The Trump administration must explain why he has been removed from this position,' said DeLauro. 'Integrity and morality should not cost you your job.'

Hamilton, who briefly caused a controversy during a failed run for Congress when it was revealed his mother is a bestselling author of adult fiction, appeared to be on Noem's naughty list early on in his term.

He was one of the DHS employees forced by Noem take a polygraph test, and it seems to be working.

The Department of Homeland Security - which 53-year-old Noem runs - has administered around 50 lie detector tests, including at least a dozen FEMA employees, as they continue to try to weed out leakers.

Acting FEMA Administrator Hamilton was among them, although he passed his test, according to CNN.

Last month, it emerged that the department reportedly administered a lie detector test to Hamilton to ensure he had not leaked sensitive information from a meeting he had with one of Trump's advisors.

The directive had come directly from Noem, who reportedly issued an internal memo ordering her department to administer future polygraphs with a question specifically about unauthorized discussions with journalists and private citizens.

Then in March, the Pentagon announced it was also investigating leaks of information that risked national security.

The department said it would not rule out using lie detectors on employees in the Defense Department, run by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as part of the investigation.
Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s former running mate has spoken out against President Donald Trump's new surgeon general nominee - and suggested someone besides the Health and Human Services secretary and Trump is pulling the strings.

The president stunningly announced Wednesday he was nominating Casey Means to be the nation's top doctor and work directly with Kennedy at the Department of Health and Human Services to direct health policy.

Nicole Shanahan, who ran as Kennedy's pick for vice president during his short-lived 2024 presidential run, called the nomination 'strange' - and claimed that Kennedy had 'promised' her neither Casey nor her brother Calley would serve at the Department of Health and Human Services if she were to support Kennedy's nomination to the Cabinet position.

'Yes it's very strange. Doesn't make any sense,' she wrote in response to another post expressing concern that Casey has 'just about no clinical experience.'

'I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these sibling would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be),' Shanahan claimed on X.

She added that she is now unsure whether RFK Jr 'very clearly lied to me,' but said: 'It has been apparent in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone who is controlling his decisions (and isn't President Trump).'

The billionaire divorcee then concluded her message by hitting out at the Means siblings, saying 'there is something artificial and aggressive' about them 'almost like they were bred and raised Manchurian assets.'

Nicole Shanahan, Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s former running mate, has spoken out against President Donald Trump 's new surgeon general nominee

She suggested on X that someone besides Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy and Trump is pulling the strings

Shanahan claimed Kennedy told her neither Casey Means nor her brother would be appointed to positions at the department if she supported his nomination to the Cabinet position

Means is a Stanford University-trained physician and runs a business on on holistic health and combating chronic illness, according to her website. Her book, 'Good Energy: The Surprising Connection between Metabolism and Limitless Health' is a New York Times Bestseller.

Means criticizes the conflicts of interest in the food industry and the government agencies that regulate them as well as the importance of physical activity in promoting wellness.

She is also popular in the podcast community and the MAHA (Make America Healthy AGAIN) movement, appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience and the Tucker Carlson Show to discuss the future of public health and wellness.

Her brother, Calley, a former food industry lobbyist, has also previously been appointed as a special government employee at the Department of Health and Human Services.

'Casey has impeccable MAHA credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, making the announcement.

'Her academic achievements, together with her lifes work, are absolutely outstanding,' he continued, sayin she 'has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States history.'

Kennedy also expressed his support for the nominee in a Thursday morning post on X, calling her a 'breath of fresh air.

'She will provide our country with ethical guidance, wisdom and gold-standard medical advice, even when it challenges popular orthodoxies,' he wrote.

'She will be a juggernaut against the ossified medical conventions that have helped make our people the sickest in the world at the highest cost per capita.'

Trump named Casey Means to be the nation's top doctor on Wednesday

Kennedy expressed his support for the nominee in a Thursday morning post on X, calling her a 'breath of fresh air'

But many are now skeptical about Means' credentials to be the next surgeon general.

She does not have an active medical license, having never completed her training as an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon after graduating from Stanford University's medical school - leading to criticism from Trump loyalist Laura Loomer, according to the Independent.

'How is the top doctor in the US supposed to give medical guidance and advice to the nation when she doesn't even have an active medical license in the state where she allegedly practiced medicine?' Loomer asked, rhetorically.

'Does Casey Means even have an active medical license in any state??'

'This is so embarrassing for the Trump administration,' she lamented.

In a separate post, Loomer said 'It is worth noting that Casey Means doesn't have a surgical residency and isn't a surgeon.

'The term Surgeon General is interesting given the fact that there is no requirement to be a surgeon to be Surgeon General,' she continued.

'Turns out you can be a social media influencer and become Surgeon General.'

Others have also attacked Means for not being skeptical enough about vaccines, even though she has declared it is 'criminal' to require vaccinations and said she supports Kennedy 'relentlessly pushing for vaccine safety.'

Means claimed that 'the current extreme and growing vaccine schedule' could be the cause of health problems in children - and supported Kennedy's efforts to investigate the matter.

Means is also in the podcast community and the MAHA (Make America Healthy AGAIN) movement, appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience and the Tucker Carlson Show to discuss the future of public health and wellness

Trump appointed Means after he received backlash for his first pick to hold the position - former Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat (pictured)

It now appears Trump appointed Means to be the country's top doctor after he received backlash for his first pick to hold the position - former Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat.

Her credentials had come into question last month after CBS News reported she graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine rather than the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.

Many in Trump's base also had concerns over Nesheiwat's former support of vaccinations, sharing clips of her participating in the TikTok trend of dancing nurses trying to inform the public about how to protect themselves during the pandemic in 2020 and praising Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for censoring and banning so-called 'misinformation' about vaccines on Facebook and Instagram.

But it seems Nesheiwat grew more skeptical about the federal government's guidance in recent years, as she criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for profiting off unnecessary vaccines for kids in 2022.

'There's no good reason to have a vaccine that can't stop disease, can't stop transmission on the scheduled vaccination,' she said during an appearance on then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson's show.

Still, Trump ultimately decided to pull Nesheiwat's nomination - just one day before she was set to appear at the US Senate for her confirmation hearing.
Disgraced former Queensland state Labor minister Gordon Nuttall has died at the age of 71 following a battle with kidney cancer.

Nuttall was jailed for seven years in 2009 for receiving more than $500,000 in corrupt payments from two businessmen he then helped to secure lucrative government contracts.

The Court of Appeal in 2011 ruled Nuttall's conduct was so serious that his total jail time should be extended from 12 to 14 years.

He was finally released in 2015, after spending six years behind bars.

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie condemned Nuttall's actions as a profound betrayal of public trust.

'He betrayed the people of Queensland, his ministerial colleagues, the state government and me,' Mr Beattie said in 2023.

In his later years, Nuttall spoke publicly about the harsh conditions he endured at Wolston Maximum Security Prison in Wacol, describing being treated 'exactly the same as the worst of the worst' inmates.

'I think the hardest part was dealing with the enormity of the sentence. When I first went in, I just could not see past the horizon; I just thought, "I'm not going to make it",' he told the Courier Mail.

Disgraced former Queensland state Labor minister Gordon Nuttall has died at the age of 71, following a battle with kidney cancer

'I honestly didn't think I would make it. It was a day-by-day thing. Every morning I'd wake up and pray to make it through.'

His family said they are 'devastated' by his death.

'Now is the time he should be left to rest in peace,' a spokesperson said.

Born in Brisbane, Nuttall began his career as a state organiser for the Electrical Trades Union.

He entered parliament in 1992 as the member for Sandgate, a seat he held until his resignation in 2006.

He held the primary industries, health and industrial relations portfolios in cabinet.
Fired United States Attorney for Washington DC Ed Martin received insult to injury when a 'psychotic lib' spat on him just after he was replaced by Fox News' Jeanine Pirro.

Donald Trump said Thursday that he would pull his nomination of Ed Martin Jr. to be the top federal prosecutor for the nations capital, bowing to bipartisan concerns about the conservative activist's modest legal experience and divisive politics.

He later confirmed the pick of Pirro - though didn't say whether she would be nominated to serve permanently - in a Thursday evening post to his Truth Social account.

'I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,' he wrote, before listing Pirro's credentials.

Following his removal, Martin was being interviewed by Ed Henry on Newsmax when a woman described by Henry's colleague Rob Schmitt as a 'psychotic lib' confronted him.

'Who the f*** are you? You are Ed Martin,' exclaimed somebody unseen while Martin was trying to speak to Henry.

Martin tried to reason with her, asking: 'How you doing?'

But it was already too late, as the woman called Martin 'a disgusting man' and spat on him before leaving with her dog.

Fired United States Attorney for Washington DC Ed Martin received insult to injury when a 'psychotic lib' spat on him just after he was replaced by Fox News ' Jeanine Pirro

Following his removal, Martin was being interviewed by Ed Henry on Newsmax when a woman described by Henry's colleague Rob Schmitt as a 'psychotic lib' confronted him

Henry, who saw Martin standing speechless, passed off the attacker as a 'crazed leftist.'

Fellow Newsmax host Schmitt posted the footage to social media and hoped the police would find her.

'This afternoon acting DC US Atty Ed Martin was spit on by a psychotic lib during our interview. Hope she's ready for a nice stretch in jail,' he wrote.

Trump abandoned his pick to lead the nation's largest U.S. Attorney's office two days after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

'He's a terrific person, and he wasn't getting the support from people that I thought,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the status of Martins confirmation.

Trump later added: 'But we have somebody else that will be great,' indicating the announcement will be made in the next two days.

Within minutes of Trump's announcement, Martin jokingly posted a doctored image of himself on social media dressed in papal garments with the words, 'Plot twist' - alluding to the breaking news that a new pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.

Instead, the president said Martin will be tapped as an associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney, putting him in the position of recommending pardons for a slew of defendants involved in the violent insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Martin tried to reason with her, asking: 'How you doing?' But it was already too late, as the woman called Martin 'a disgusting man' and spat on him before leaving with her dog

Trump confirmed Martin would be replaced by Pirro (pictured) - though didn't say whether she would be nominated to serve permanently - in a Thursday evening post to his Truth Social account

When he returned to office in January, Trump granted sweeping pardons and commutations of all people charged with crimes in connection with the riot, or vowed to dismiss their cases.

In his new role, Martin will also be director of the 'weaponization working group' at the Justice Department.

That group was created in February to investigate the work of former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two federal prosecutions of Trump that were ultimately dismissed, and other instances during the administration of former President Joe Biden that Republicans say unfairly targeted conservatives.

'In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims,' Trump wrote in a social media post Thursday evening.

On the social media platform X, Martin posted, 'Eagle Unleashed.'

In a separate post, Trump lauded replacement and ex-'The Five' co-host Pirro's status as a trailblazer for women in law enforcement and her work prosecuting domestic abusers.

'She excelled in all ways. In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television,' he added.

'Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!'

Pirro did not appear in her regular spot on Fox's 'The Five' on Thursday evening with no comment made on her absense.

'Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington,' a Fox News Media spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement.

A spokesperson for Martin didnt immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Born in Elmira, New York, the daughter of Lebanese American parents Pirro knew she wanted to be a lawyer from the age of six.

The fictional TV criminal defense attorney, Perry Mason, was, she told DailyMail.com earlier this month, her inspiration.

Fresh out of Albany Law School she was appointed Westchester County's Assistant District Attorney in 1975 and within two years had approached her boss, DA Carl Vergari, to urge him to apply for federal funding to establish a bureau specializing in domestic violence cases.

In 1990, she was appointed the first female judge in Westchester County. She was on the bench for three years before she decided, she says, 'I don't belong here.'

She explains, 'I loved being a judge, but I realized I was really a referee, and my nature is a fighter. That's why I ran for DA.'

She smiles, 'I was perfect as a DA. I just loved to fight. When I ran for that office, I had to do a press conference with my then husband, who was furious about it at the time. I had to convince people that I would have enough time to take care of my children, because I had little kids.

'Now, the fact that I was running against a guy who had three kids and whose wife was pregnant with a fourth, they could care less about.'

Judge Jeanine (second from left), Alina Habba, Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk and Eric Trump seen at a party for Trump's inaugural

Ed Martin speaks at an event hosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington

Did that anger her? 'It annoyed the s**t out of me,' she says, 'but I have the ability to channel my anger in a way where, all right, let's make this work. You know? I'm going to make this work. I'm going to get in there and I'm going to take care of women and I'm going to take care of children. I'm going to take care of victims.'

She was elected in November 1993 and again in 1997 and 2001 before announcing, in May 2005, that she would not be seeking re-election.

Instead, she turned to politics. In August 2005 she embarked on a short-lived run at the Republican nomination to challenge Hillary Clinton in the Senate before dropping out that December.

In 2006 she ran for Attorney General but was beaten by Andrew Cuomo. The day after her defeat she got a call from Warner Brothers, she says, offering her a television show.

Her initial reaction was one of disbelief, she admits, 'I said, 'Why would you want me on television?'

Her daily show, 'Judge Jeanine Pirro' debuted in 2008 and would go onto win a daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2011. It was cancelled that same year by which time Pirro had already inked a deal with Fox for her hit show, 'Justice with Judge Jeanine.'
Top cancer researcher Professor Richard Scolyer has said he's 'worried' about the results of the first MRI scan he's had since his stage four brain cancer returned.

The 2024 Australian of the Year was diagnosed with an 'incurable' grade four brain cancer in June 2023 after he suffered headaches and seizures while on holiday.

The 58-year-old had experimental treatment based on melanoma science and experienced no sign of cancer recurrence for almost two years.

The treatment was developed by Georgina Long from the Melanoma Institute, who was jointly given the Australian of Year award with Professor Scolyer.

But in March this year, the father-of-three revealed the cancer had returned. Earlier this week he shared that he may have just months 'or less' to live.

The University of Sydney academic on Friday shared his fears for the results of an MRI, the first 'proper' scan he has had since undergoing brain surgery in March.

'Depending on what the scan shows, it will help choose what are the next forms of therapies I can have to see where I need to go from here,' he said.

'I guess I'm a little up and down with all this that's going on, it's a tough journey at times. Some times I'm happy to have fun but some of the therapies have knocked me around a bit so I can't do some of the things I love doing.

Top cancer researcher Professor Richard Scolyer (pictured on Friday) has admitted he's 'worried' about the results of the first MRI scan he's had since his brain cancer returned

Professor Scolyer and his wife Katie (pictured) have three children

'I'm still having a fun time at home with my kids, they've been very kind as well as my beautiful wife Katie has, who's been using her incredible intellect to help me speak to different doctors about various options that are available.

'Fingers crossed this operation isn't so bad and we can move forward with the next form of therapy and hopefully push things along faster to try and get things open up for many, many patients who have got glioblastoma.

'To see if we can make a difference in the tumour. Things haven't been as successful for some time but hopefully things will move forward in the right direction.'

It comes just days after Professor Scolyer revealed he may only have months to live.

'I'm still here and still able to chat to you so I'm pretty pleased about that,' Professor Scolyer told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday.

'Who knows how long I've got. Could be months, could be less,' he said.

'I love my life. I love the interactions I have with so many people... I have focused down on the things that I like doing. Spending more time with my family is number one, but also contributing to society. It's something I've done for a long, long time.'

The professor also shared some life advice for Australians in the face of a terminal illness and insisted he 'loved' his life despite it being cut short.

Professor Scolyer and Georgina Long were jointly given the Australian of Year award in 2024

He revealed in March this year his brain cancer had returned - and he may have months to live

The former Australian of the Year underwent brain surgery in March this year

'Enjoy your life. Be passionate about it,' he said.

'Enjoy hanging out with the people that you love, and yeah, enjoy it.'

Professor Scolyer had initially been diagnosed with a glioblastoma, which has a particularly aggressive nature - most sufferers survive less than a year.

The bulk of the tumour was stripped shortly after the diagnosis.

Then followed a series of experimental therapies based on melanoma research, including immunotherapy, 'debulking' surgery and a 'cancer vaccine'.

In May last year, the University of Sydney professor declared that hed had no sign of cancer recurrence for nearly 12 months.

But five months later, the decorated scientist revealed an MRI had shown an area of concern. He underwent exploratory surgery which confirmed the diagnosis.

The 2021 Order of Australia recipient remains philosophical about his journey, stating that he 'just wants to make a difference'.

Professor Scolyer is also a prolific author, having penned more than 700 publications and book chapters on melanoma pathology.

He has garnered a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer experts.
Pope Leo XIV's chosen new name signals he will continue the work of his predecessor, experts have said.

The former Cardinal, Robert Prevost, was yesterday elected as the new head of the Catholic Church following a second day of the conclave.

After white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the first American pontiff, born in Chicago, emerged from St Peter's Basilica in front of the faithful gathered at St Peter's Square.

A Vatican spokesman confirmed the choice was a reference to Leo XIII, who was the head of the Church from 1878 and 1903.

Leo XIII laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age.

And Leo could also refer to Brother Leo, the 13th-century friar who was a great companion of St Francis of Assisi.

By choosing such a name, the new Pope could be demonstrating a continuation of the work of his predecessor Francis, Dr Gonzalo Velasco Berenguer, lecturer in global medieval and early modern history at the University of Bristol, said.

The former Cardinal, Robert Prevost, was yesterday elected as the new head of the Catholic Church following a second day of the conclave

A Vatican spokesman confirmed the choice was a reference to Leo XIII, pictured, who was the head of the Church from 1878 and 1903

Leo could also refer to Brother Leo (right), the 13th-century friar who was a great companion of St Francis of Assisi (left), it was claimed

'I think one of the most interesting things about the election of the new Pope is his choice of name,' he said.

'At first glance, it might not seem the most original choice, but it could be a symbol from the new Pope to continue the work of Francis.'

Professor Brandon Gallaher, from the University of Exeter, has said he thinks Leo XIV will be a 'Francis-like pontiff'.

'The new Pope Leo XIV is a continuity candidate to institutionalise Francis's legacy in terms of linking it to the tradition of Catholic social teaching,' he continued.

'Leo XIV shares with Francis the desire to put the peripheries in the centre and care for migrants and those who are marginalised.

'He will be a Francis-like pontiff without the intense charisma of the late pope and with a better ability to unite the Catholic factions and greater attention to the canonical details of his decisions and likely greater discipline in terms of public statements.

'The choice of Pope Leo XIV shows that Pope Francis's revolution in church life will now be institutionalised.'

Social media posts unearthed reveal the former Cardinal was critical of the Trump's administration, including as recently as February when he shared an opinion piece in which he hit out at US vice president JD Vance for being wrong about some aspects of Christian teaching.

Professor Brandon Gallaher, from the University of Exeter, said Pope Leo XIV, left, will be a 'Francis-like pontiff'

After white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the first American pontiff, born in Chicago, emerged from St Peter's Basilica in front of the faithful gathered at St Peter's Square

Social media posts unearthed reveal the former Cardinal was critical US vice president JD Vance, pictured, for being wrong about some aspects of Christian teaching

The secret conclave meeting took only around 24 hours to choose the new leader.

In his first words in the position, the new pontiff told the adoring crowd: 'Peace be with you.'

The election of the new Pope was quickly hailed as an honour and exciting time by US President Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the election as a 'deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and globally'.

International development charity Cafod said Pope Leo 'will be a voice of wisdom in a fractured and divided world', and that his years as a missionary in Peru mean he can bring into his papacy 'the vital perspective of the global south, elevating voices from the margins to centre stage'.

Three UK cardinals took part in conclave: Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and Rome-based Cardinal Arthur Roche, as did Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who has mainly ministered in the US and been based in Rome for some years.

Only those cardinals aged under 80 were eligible to cast a ballot, and this conclave was thought to be one of the most diverse ever, representing some 70 countries.

Pope Francis had appointed some 108 of the 133 cardinals who took part in the conclave to choose his successor.
An African wildlife charity part run by Prince Harry has admitted that human rights abuses were perpetrated by its own rangers following an explosive investigation by the Mail on Sunday.

The Duke of Sussex was the president of African Parks for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors two years ago.

Harry is said to be fully briefed on the scandal and along with the board has been involved in bringing about change to deal with the issues.

The findings are another blow to the Duke of Sussex after his Sentebale charity was engulfed by scandal when he resigned from the board and its chair Sophie Chandauka accused him of 'harassment and bullying at scale' - a claim that is denied.

Last year an investigation by The Mail on Sunday discovered evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by the African Parks charity, including allegations of rapes and beatings.

The MoS found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted and found medicines for millennia.

One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby. And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard.

A community activist said a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries.

Prince Harry was the charity's president for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors in 2023. He is said to have been fully involved in plans to change the charity

Ella Ene with son Daniel. She told the Mail on Sunday how she was allegedly raped by an African Parks guard while clinging to her baby

African Parks then launched an independent review and the charity has now admitted that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park since December 2023.

The results of the probe, carried out by London law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, has gone directly to African Parks.

The charity said in a statement: 'The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia's advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process.

'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims.

'Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala.'

Mail on Sunday reporter Ian Birrell with two Baka men who say they were beaten

Omnia said its investigation has been 'thorough and proportionate without attempting to be exhaustive'.

But there is anger that the findings have not been made public.

Survival International, which supports indigenous people, has reportedly raised the abuse of the Baka people with Prince Harry.

Director Caroline Pearce said: 'We still don't know the details of what they found, because African Parks has refused to allow the findings to be made public.

'It has committed to more reports, more staff and more guidelines, but such approaches have not prevented horrific abuses and violations of international human rights law in the decade or more that African Parks has known of these atrocities, and there is no reason to believe they will do so now.'

African Parks was rocked by scandal in January 2024 when the Mail on Sunday went to Congo and discovered horrific abuses by its guards.

It was the middle of the night when young mother Ella Ene was abruptly woken by someone knocking at her house.

She assumed it was her husband returning from a neighbouring village  but it was a guard from the African Parks conservation charity demanding she got up immediately and followed him.

The guy was wearing their uniform and had a gun, said Ella Ene. He was threatening me, saying Ill shoot you if I did not do as he said. He told me he wanted to take me to their camp.

She bundled up her baby Daniel  one month old and too young to leave at home  to follow the African Parks guard on the ten-minute walk to his base.

With brutal but brave honesty, she described what happened next, and how the man raped her beside the road as she clung in terror to her child. She said the guard ordered her to the ground, tore off some of her clothes and assaulted her in the pitch-black night, ignoring her screams for help and the cries of her baby.

I was holding my baby while being raped and trying to protect him, she said. My first reaction had been to protect my baby. It was very violent.

The Baka community live within one of the African Parks areas

The fast-expanding charity manages huge swathes of forests and national parks in 12 African countries in partnerships with governments, and boasts that it saves wildlife by working with local communities.

One man, who claims his head was forced under water while his hands were cuffed and his back whipped repeatedly with a belt, said: 'Some guards are bad people and their activities should be stopped. What they are doing is cruel and inhumane.'

A community activist told the MoS a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries.

One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby.

And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard. There are claims that medical staff were subjected to intimidation to cover up abuse.

The raped mother also says she has not received the majority of the 1,300 compensation a court ordered her attacker to pay after he was briefly jailed.

The disturbing revelations came as Prince Harry was promoting his global mission as a social justice campaigner and fighter for equality.

The weekend before the Mail on Sunday's investigation emerged, his leading role with African Parks was championed when he was given a Living Legends of Aviation award as 'a humanitarian, military veteran and mental wellness advocate' at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

A citation praised him as an 'environmentalist', saying he 'has dedicated his life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that bring about permanent change for people and places... including African Parks.'

But one Baka man who says he witnessed a brutal attack by African Parks guards told the MoS that he wished Harry would use his power to intervene in order to 'stop the pain and suffering caused to our community'.

Harry, who has said Africa is the place 'where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world', announced his appointment as president of the charity around eight years ago while guest-editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

His involvement began with a trip to Malawi to assist an elephant project in 2016 and his role changed last autumn when he joined the charity's board of directors.

'What I see in the African Parks model is exactly what conservation should be about  putting people at the heart of the solution,' he has said. 'Conservation can only be sustained when people living closest to nature are invested in its preservation.'

Odzala-Kokoua National Park is home to more than 400 bird species, 110 types of mammal and at least 4,400 plant varieties

When we put the findings of our investigation to Harry, a spokesman for his foundation, Archewell, said: 'When the Duke became aware of these serious allegations, he immediately escalated them to the CEO and chairman of the board of African Parks, the appropriate people to handle next steps.'

Harry was warned about 'appalling human rights abuses' being committed by its rangers in a letter from Survival International, a campaign group fighting for the rights of indigenous people, in May 2023.

The letter stated: 'The scale and volume of violent intimidation and torture make clear that this is not aberrant behaviour by a few individuals.' It called on the Prince 'to use your influence and position to stop these abuses being committed by an organisation to which you have lent your name'  and was backed by a direct video appeal to Harry and Meghan from a Baka tribesman.

The Baka communities live in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, an area of rainforest bigger than Yorkshire that is home to gorillas and forest elephants.

One Baka man said: 'The forest was left to us by our parents and ancestors. Everything we have is found in the forest  our food, our medicine. We suffer so much without it. They are destroying our heritage and our people.'

The park has been managed by African Parks since 2010, when it signed a 25-year deal with the Congolese government.

The charity is funded by the European Union, US and rich philanthropists. It has been given British aid and the People's Postcode Lottery, based in Edinburgh, has handed it 8.2 million since 2015.

Omnia Strategy LLP said in a statement: Since 'December 2023, a team comprising of specialist lawyers from Omnia Strategy LLP and Doughty Street Chambers have been conducting an independent investigation into allegations of human rights violations against local communities and autochthone populations occurring in or connected to the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo.

'The allegations, raised by Survival International and others, implicated African Parks Network and the Odzala-Kokoua-Lossi Foundation, notably through the alleged wrongdoing of ecoguards'.
Vladimir Putin used his Victory Day parade in Moscow today to rebuke Trump and declare it was Russia that 'determined the outcome' of World War Two.

At the event which was attended by President Xi of China, the Russian leader stated that the USSR 'took upon itself the strongest attacks of our enemies and our citizens picked up arms and defended the front lines'.

The comments were interpreted as a riposte to Trump who claimed last week that the US had the most important role in the defeat of Nazism.

'We won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance,' Trump said in a post on the Truth Social platform.

This unguarded comment caused offense in Russia, where the horrific sacrifice of Soviet soldiers and civilians - counted at 27 million by the most conservative estimates - to overturn the Nazi onslaught is a point of national pride.

Putin oversaw the huge military parade in Moscow today alongside his 'dear friend' Xi Jinping - whose presence has been seen as solidifying the anti-West alliance between the two and a failure of Trump's policy to isolate China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping watch the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025

At the event which was attended by President Xi of China, the Russian leader stated that the USSR 'took upon itself the strongest attacks of our enemies and our citizens picked up arms and defended the front lines'.

More than 20 world leaders and Kremlin allies including China's Xi, Putin's right-hand man in Europe, Belarus' Alexander Lukashenko, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were in attendance at the Victory Day parade in Red Square.

Putin shared a warm handshake and posed for photos with Xi this morning, dispelling any illusion that efforts by US President Donald Trump to drive a wedge between the Eastern powers had succeeded.

The Russian and Chinese leaders nestled side-by-side to watch the parade in a show of unity after they issued a statement yesterday saying Trump's move to create a 'Golden Dome' missile defence system would be 'deeply destabilising' and would risk turning space into a 'battlefield'.

Putin and his guests, including several high-ranking North Korean military officials, watched on as hordes of soldiers goose-stepped to old marching songs and roared to their commanders before Russia's top brass.

They were followed by a huge procession of Russian military technology that saw dozens of tanks, S400 Triumf air defence missile systems and the gargantuan Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles roll past the Mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin.

Russian T-80 BVM tanks roll in Red square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025

President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) welcoming North Korean officers during the Victory Day military parade

Several drones used to batter Ukraine, including the Lancet, Geran-2, Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 variants, were also shown off in the parade. A flight of Su-25, Su-30 and MiG-29 fighter jets and bombers later soared overhead trailing smoke in the white, blue and red of the Russian tricolour.

Russia's defence minister Andrey Belousov, who arrived in Red Square atop a convertible Russian Aurus government car, addressed and inspected the troops. They responded with a chorus of 'hurrah!', before Putin took to the stage to deliver his speech.

Putin declared that Russia will always remember and appreciate the contribution of US and European allies to victory in World War II.

But he went on to say he would never allow the 'true victors over Nazism to be slandered' and that Moscow would 'fight against the atrocities of the followers of Nazism', echoing the Kremlin's rhetoric that Russia is trying to 'de-Nazify' its neighbour.

'(Russia) has truth and justice on its side. The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation,' Putin insisted, adding: 'We are proud of their bravery and determination, of the fortitude that has always brought us only victory.'

The Kremlin's so-called 'special military operation' is in fact the deadliest war in Europe since the conflict today's parade is commemorating, and Ukraine has called today's events in Moscow a 'parade of cynicism'.

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers take part in the Victory Day military parade

Russian T-80 tanks take part in the Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War

Russian servicemen attend the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II

The Kremlin showed off a collection of drones used to batter Ukraine amid the parade

Soviet era T-34 tanks roll through Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025

Russian Sukhoi SU-25 fighter jets release smoke in the colours of the Russian tricolor flag as they fly over central Moscow during the Victory Day military parade on May 9, 2025

President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping attend a military parade on Victory Day

Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves after the military parade on Victory Day

North Korean officers taking part in the Victory Day military parade

As the parade concluded, Putin walked along the square to greet a long line of military commanders from Russia and former Soviet states before stopping to speak with a delegation of Chinese and North Korean armed forces officers.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang in recent weeks acknowledged for the first time that North Korean troops had fought alongside their Russian counterparts against Ukraine.

The festivities ended with Putin, Xi and other world leaders solemnly laying a bouquet of red flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame in memory of the Soviets killed in World War II.

Putin hopes the day will be remembered as one of pomp, circumstance and patriotism.

But his opposite number in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, had sowed fears in the Russian capital that Victory Day proceedings may not end well, saying he could not 'guarantee the safety' of any world leaders who choose to attend.

Ukraine attacked Moscow with drones several days this week, and Moscow and Kyiv yesterday accused each other of breaking a 72-hour ceasefire declared by Putin.

The parade ultimately unfolded without incident, though Ukraine may yet launch attacks later today.

Reports of drone strikes on the Russian border region of Belgorod suggest the ceasefire has not been observed.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has insisted the attendance of Russian allies such as Xi, Lula da Silva and several dozen leaders from the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia and Latin America shows Russia is not isolated even if Moscow's former World War II allies want to stay away.

From Europe, the leaders of Serbia and Slovakia, Aleksandar Vucic and Robert Fico, attended alongside Lukashenko.

'The victory over fascism, achieved at the cost of enormous sacrifices, has an everlasting significance,' Putin told Xi in the Kremlin yesterday.

'The countless sacrifices made by both our peoples should never be forgotten.'

Several gargantuan Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles trundled through Red Square

Putin, Xi and others watch on as the parade unfolds

Russian servicemen take part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a military parade on Victory Day

Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov rides on an Aurus cabriolet during a military parade on Victory Day

Russia greets North Korean military offices

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he walks with his wife Cilia Flores in Red square after the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025

Russian Air Force Su-25 jets fly over Red Square leaving trails of smoke in the colours of the Russian state flag

Volunteers helping a veteran of the Great Patriotic War during the Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War

A handout photo made available by Photo host Agency RIA Novosti shows Chinese servicemen attending the Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War

Russian servicemen take part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II

As the Kremlin geared up for Victory Day commemorations, EU foreign ministers gathered in Ukraine to agree to a special war crimes tribunal intended to snare Putin and almost two dozen other Russian leaders.

'There will be no impunity. There will be accountability for the crimes committed,' said Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat.

Criticising leaders who chose to appear on the podium with Putin in Moscow, she said: 'I want to stress that all those who truly support peace cannot stand side-by-side with Putin, who has started this full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine

'Those who truly support peace should be in Ukraine rather than in Moscow,' she declared as the EU announced a major new aid package for Ukraine, while Britain rolled out yet another sanctions package designed to target Russia's 'shadow fleet' of oil and gas tankers.

'Despite the hostile attitude towards Russia from a number of Western countries, we are very successfully holding a very large-scale event,' said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's top foreign policy adviser.

Previous Victory Day festivities have seen thousands of military servicemen march through Moscow's Red Square flanked by armoured vehicles, tanks and nuclear weapons as Russia's President and his inner circle watch on.

This year's procession was even grander to appropriately commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of what Russians refer to as 'Great Patriotic War', such was the level of sacrifice required to defeat Hitler.

The effort to defeat the Nazis - in which some 26 million Soviets perished by conservative estimates - plays a hugely important role in the Russian collective consciousness and is leveraged by Putin and the Kremlin to maximise support for today's war in Ukraine.

That Victory Day unfolds without a hitch is so vital for the Kremlin that the Russian President declared a three-day ceasefire in his war on Ukraine from May 8-10 in an attempt to safeguard the celebrations.

All mobile networks and internet data transmissions were cut off in central Moscow this morning as an extra security measure.

But Zelensky, whose people have been indiscriminately targeted by Russia's missiles and killer drones for more than three years, has roundly rejected the measly armistice offer and warned that Moscow could be under threat from aerial strikes.

To prove his point, Ukraine earlier this week unleashed a wave of more than 100 drones over Western Russia, forcing closures or flight cancellations at all four Moscow airports even as Russian servicemen and women conducted rehearsal drills ahead of the big day.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin (C) welcoming officers during the Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War

Russian servicemen march on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping attend a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025

Russian servicemen taking part in the Victory Day military parade

Putin delivers a speech at Victory Day parade

Russian servicemen taking part in the Victory Day military parade

Putin shared a warm handshake and posed for photos with Xi this morning before the world leaders went to find their seats ahead of the parade, with the Russian and Chinese presidents nestled side-by-side

Thousands of soldiers are marching through Red Square

Russian military officials rolled through Red Square

Putin is seen speaking with an elderly former serviceman as Xi listens in

Putin is seen speaking with an elderly former serviceman

Russian soldiers salute as the parade begins

'Our position is very simple for all countries travelling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,' he said, adding Putin was 'playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere' for the parade.

There were reports this morning of a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod, but the proceedings in Red Square appeared unaffected.

Victory Day processions are being held across the Russian Federation, with street parties and processions seen as far east as Vladivostok almost 4,000 miles away from Moscow.

Even though few veterans of the 'Great Patriotic War' are still alive 80 years after Berlin fell to the Red Army, the victory over Nazi Germany remains the most important and widely revered symbol of Soviet and Russian military prowess.

Nazi troops overran much of the western Soviet Union when they invaded in June 1941, before being driven back all the way to Berlin, where the USSR's hammer and sickle flag was raised above the ruined capital.

The US, UK, France and other allies mark the end of the war in Europe on May 8.

In 2024, thousands of Russian servicemen paraded through Red Square to salute their leader followed by a Yars (ICBM) launcher.

But last year's procession was notably lacking in military hardware.

One solitary World War II-era tank trundled through the centre of Moscow, accompanied by little more than a few mobile rocket launchers.

This year, Putin was committed to showing that Russia's military strength has not been diminished, with production levels of artillery and other ammunition showing Russia is ensuring it can wage war indefinitely.

Some Russian experts fear Putin now depends on a war economy and cannot halt his military dependency.

Today's parade did not disappoint as dozens of tanks, armoured vehicles and infantry fighting machines, missile launchers, nuclear weapons and even drones triumphantly proceeded through Red Square.

As Russia showcased the best of its military technology, one of Europe's leading intelligence officials warned that Moscow is preparing to fight a major war.

Dutch military intelligence chief [MIVD] Vice-Admiral Peter Reesink warned starkly: 'Russia is producing much more artillery, also with help from other countries, than they need for the war with Ukraine.'

Putin is not only replenishing depleted stockpiles but moving new artillery units toward NATO borders, including the Baltic countries and Finland, he told Politico.

'That's an indication for us that they are building up capability'.

Putin speaks with Defence Minister Andrey Belousov

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets President of China Xi Jinping, left, ahead of the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025

President of Russia Vladimir Putin welcoming the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (L) in the Kremlin before the Victory Day military parade

Red Square is hosting the Victory Day parade

Russian servicemen prepare for the Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, 09 May 2025

Russian service members march in columns before a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

A Russian tank moves along a bridge before a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 5, 2025

Russian 'Yars' intercontinental ballistic missile launcher takes part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, 09 May 2024

A solitary Soviet era T-34 tank with a red flag atop rolls during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 9, 2024

Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 9, 2024, marking the 79th anniversary of the end of World War II

Eighty years on from the end of World War II, the sacrifice made by millions upon millions of Soviet citizens remains part of Russia's collective consciousness.

The immense suffering in cities like Stalingrad, Kursk and Putin's native Leningrad - now St. Petersburg - still serve as a powerful symbol of the country's ability to prevail against seemingly overwhelming challenges.

Since coming to power on the last day of 1999, Putin has made May 9 an important part of his political agenda, featuring displays of military might.

Columns of tanks and missiles roll across Red Square and squadrons of fighter jets roar overhead as medal-bedecked veterans join him to review the parade.

Many wear the black-and-orange St. George's ribbon that is traditionally associated with Victory Day.

Putin often talks about his family history, sharing memories of his father, who fought on the front during the Nazi siege of the city and was badly wounded.

As Putin tells it, his father, also named Vladimir, came home from a military hospital during the war to see workers trying to take away his wife, Maria, who had been declared dead of starvation.

But the elder Putin did not believe she had died - saying she had only lost consciousness, weak with hunger.

Their first child, Viktor, died during the siege when he was 3, one of more than 1 million Leningrad residents who died in the 872-day blockade, most of them from starvation.

For several years, Putin carried a photo of his father in Victory Day marches - as did others honouring relatives who were war veterans - in what was called the 'Immortal Regiment.'

Those demonstrations were suspended during the coronavirus pandemic and then again amid security concerns after the start of the fighting in Ukraine.
Brits are digesting the impact of Keir Starmer's trade deal with the US today as figures show it only covers around a quarter of UK exports.

The pact theatrically announced by the PM and US president last night will cut tariffs from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for the first 100,000 cars sent to America.

Levies on steel exports will also be slashed from 25 per cent to zero, in return for concessions such as cutting tariffs on US cars and farmers getting more access to British markets. In a round of interviews this morning, Treasury minister Darren Jones insisted 150,000 workers would be 'relieved' that their jobs were no longer at risk.

However, the pact still leaves tariffs higher than before Mr Trump kicked off his extraordinary trade war.

Analysis by Sky News suggests that of the 273billion of exports to the States over the past five years, barely a quarter would be affected by the agreement - with the rest facing the 10 per cent 'baseline' charge.

That also assumes the critical pharma sector, accounting for 25.2billion of the total over the period, secures an exemption from Mr Trump's next wave of tariffs - which appears far from certain.

The agreement did not include any provision for the UK film industry, after the president threatened 100 per cent levies on foreign-made movies.

And Sir Keir admitted this afternoon that the US has not given up on helping tech giants by watering down the Digital Service Tax.

A fact sheet issued by Mr Trump's trade representative said: 'The United States is disappointed that the UK was unwilling to agree to fully address its discriminatory Digital Services Tax... It is discriminatory, unjustified, and should be removed promptly.'

Mr Jones told the BBC on the absence of terms on pharma and films: 'The nothing is good news... those tariffs have not come forward.'

In other developments today:

British Airways' parent company has announced it is buying 32 new Boeing planes from the US, in a move that was flagged by the US Commerce Secretary last night;

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has insisted the UK must now 'rebuild' trade relations with the EU, amid Tory warnings over Sir Keir's Brexit 'reset';

The UK steel industry has said it is still not clear what the new tariffs will be or when they will come into effect;

Ministers have denied that Mr Trump has been handed a 'veto' over Chinese investment in UK;

The pact theatrically announced by the PM and Donald Trump (pictured) will cut tariffs from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for the first 100,000 cars sent to America

Keir Starmer went to the JLR plant in Solihull to announce the agreement yesterday

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Overall trade in goods between the US and UK is largely balanced, with 59.3billion exported to the US and 57.1billion imported

The deal was the first struck by the US since Mr Trump's so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs stunned the world.

Ministers had feared that leading car makers were preparing to cut thousands of jobs unless the tariffs were reduced.

Sources said Jaguar Land Rover had been poised to announce 'hundreds' of job losses as early as next week.

Challenged that the UK was in a worse place than before Mr Trump imposed sweeping tariffs, the Mr Jones told Times Radio: 'The counterfactual is the world that we live in, not the world that we would like it to be. In relation to the world that we live in, this is a really good deal for Britain.

'We are the first country in the world to be able to negotiate an agreement with the President of the United States to move away from those increased tariffs on global trade.

'And that's something to be celebrated for the UK economy and for workers that work in those sectors.'

Mr Jones told the BBC: 'If I could rather be in a world where there were no tariffs, of course I would. But that's just not the world that exists. So it's not really an option on the table. The option on the table is to have not signed a trade deal with the United States and had higher tariffs, or to have signed a trade deal with the United States and had lower tariffs.

'We've signed that trade deal. We've got lower tariffs in critical manufacturing sectors in the UK. 150,000 people's livelihoods that we've protected as a consequence of that trade deal. That is, by definition, factually better off as a consequence of the action that this Government is taking to stand up for working people across the UK.'

Mr Trump said the speed of the deal with the UK was only possible because of Britain's status outside the EU.

And he hinted that rival car manufacturers in EU countries such as Germany are very unlikely to get a similar deal.

Ministers failed to make any progress on reducing the 10 per cent 'baseline' tariff on all exports to the US.

Britain also seemingly agreed to prevent cheap Chinese steel and pharmaceuticals being routed through the UK to America as a 'security of supply' measure.

The White House said that, compared to the position before Liberation Day, overall US tariffs on British goods had still risen from 3.4 per cent to 10 per cent, while Sir Keir had agreed to cut tariffs on US goods from 5.1 per cent to 1.8.

Speaking to broadcasters on board HMS St Albans during a visit to Norway this afternoon, Sir Keir stressed the deal did not cover the Digital Services Tax.

'On digital services, there are ongoing discussions, obviously, on other aspects of the deal, but the important thing to focus on yesterday is the sectors that are now protected that the day before yesterday were very exposed,' he said.

The director general of UK Steel, Gareth Stace, told Times Radio: 'The headline here is that we're really pleased with Government's negotiations ability to scrap that 25 per cent tariff burden that we have suffered since March. But yes, we don't know the details.

'We don't know when this deal comes into force for steel, we don't know what conditions we need to meet in order to remove the 25 per cent tariff, and we don't know, crucially also, if all steel producers that export to the US market will be included or excluded.

'There may be issues around ownership, around where the steel is made, and until we see those details, we don't know whether this heavy burden will be lifted from us.'

Mr Stace said reports that British Steel was more likely to be nationalised after the deal 'would be a good thing' on a temporary basis to drive investment across the sector.

Kemi Badenoch said Britain had been 'shafted' by the deal. ''We cut our tariffs  America tripled theirs,' she said.

Boris Johnson hailed the importance of Brexit  highlighting the irony that Sir Keir was 'reaping the dividends of that policy, which he, of course, singularly failed to support at the time'.

Other Tories criticised the agreement for not going far enough.

Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There's some good elements to yesterday's deal  I think car industry and steel industry will welcome at least the reduction. But overall, it's quite disappointing.

'It's still very unclear what happens to pharmaceuticals, a really big UK industry, there's nothing on film and TV, and yet (at) the start of the week, the Government was talking about 100 per cent tariffs on that.

Mr Trump and his team lined up in the Oval Office with UK ambassador Lord Mandelson

Mr Trump and Lord Mandelson shake hands in the White House last night

Sir Keir had a bizarre on-camera chat with Mr Trump as they finalised the terms

'It's not a trade agreement in the classic sense.'

Mr Griffith said the deal did not offer any mutual recognition between the US and UK and urged the Government to get back round the table with its counterparts to negotiate 'a comprehensive agreement'.

But the PM said: 'The question we should be asking is, is it a better position than we were in yesterday?'

He claimed the breakthrough vindicated his emollient approach to Mr Trump, adding: 'My government has put Britain at the front of the queue because we want to work constructively with allies.'

Government sources acknowledged the deal falls short of a hoped-for agreement on lifting all US tariffs, but said ministers decided to press ahead with a partial deal now to prevent redundancies in the car industry.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the 'significance of the US market' to high-end exporters such as JLR, Aston Martin and Bentley meant the UK was facing the 'imminent announcement' of job losses if the 25 per cent tariff had remained.
The UN's human rights chief told AFP Wednesday that Israel's plan for an expanded offensive in the Gaza Strip represented "a very dangerous moment" for civilians there.

"What we see is only more destruction, more hatred, more dehumanisation," said Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, during a visit to Copenhagen for a UN meeting.

"It's a very dangerous moment for civilians," he added, criticising the Israeli plan for an expanded offensive in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, Israel announced an expanded military campaign, which an Israeli official said would entail the "conquest" of the Palestinian territory.

On Tuesday, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said this meant that the Gaza Strip would be "entirely destroyed".

Several countries and world leaders have already condemned the plan, and Turk said the parties needed to "come to a place of reason and peace, and not just of continuous fighting and war".

The war needed to end, he said, there needed to be a ceasefire, a political solution with all the hostages "released unconditionally and immediately".

The Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas has said that ceasefire talks are pointless at this stage.

The blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip "needs to be lifted immediately", said Turk.

"Humanitarian assistance needs to come in. That's an obligation, that's an obligation under international law," he added.

Turk argued that the current situation worldwide underlined the need to reaffirm the principles of international cooperation. The UN Security Council "is not functioning well" to address "the big crisis of our time", he added.

"With what is happening at the moment, in this current geopolitical moment, it is all the more important to come back to the principles, the values, to the norms, to the institutions, because they have served humanity well for 80 years," said Turk.

"And if we lose them, we lose a lot of what has been actually possible by way of progress, human progress, development, and also when it comes to humanitarian action and human rights," he added.

He hoped "that the world comes together again, shows the political leadership... including the most powerful countries around the world, that they act in favour of peace and not in favour of war".
The sleek submarines, each painted cobalt blue to match the ocean, cut through choppy waters at remarkable rates.

Zipping from south America to Europe, each one is designed to carry the maximum amount of weight possible, and as a result can carry a maximum of three people who are trapped inside for weeks at a time with one job in mind.

Cartels are now on the offensive in the war against drugs, and have been spending heavily on their research and development to come up with their latest innovation - narco subs.

Authorities estimate that each vessel costs around $1million (750,000) to make.

They aren't armed, instead relying on camouflage to evade detection from investigating authorities whose resources are already stretched thin.

The submarines are made deep in the jungles of south America, where cartels rule and are accountable to no one thanks to dense thickets hiding their activities.

'Narco submarines are being built in rivers and mangroves. That's why, for example, the Amazon river in Brazil, is perfect. As soon as you open Google Maps, you realise it's a labyrinth of islets and mangroves and tributaries', Javier Romero, a local journalist, told the Wall Street Journal.

'You can hide a shipyard, then you can build it, put it into the water, and with the cover of darkness you launch it into the night.'

Picture shows Colombian Police boat next to a submarine transporting 2643 kilograms of cocaine, undated

Federal agents seize submarine off Puerto Rico's Caribbean Sea coast carrying a record 2,500 kilos of cocaine

Counter narcotics police guard an under-construction submersible that was seized from the 'Los Urabenos' drugs cartel, in Puerto Escondido, Monteria province

The first was spotted in 2019, and revealed how far ahead trafficking gangs were in the cat-and-mouse game that the war on drugs has become

The first was spotted in European waters in 2019, and revealed how far ahead trafficking gangs were in the cat-and-mouse game that the war on drugs has become.

One that was recently caught by Spanish authorities was believed to have travelled over 4,000 miles from Brazil to Europe over the course of 27 days, highlighting the sophistication of these machines.

Romero said: 'It was evidence that there is no control over the issue. The bad buys are way, way, way ahead of the good guys.'

So far, at least three narco-subs have been caught near Spain, though authorities estimate that as many as 30 may have avoided detections.

Galicia, Spain, has long been considered to be the perfect hub of trafficking.

Its rocky coastline means there are countless nooks and crannies for drugs to be pushed onto land, before they're send to distributors.

And for decades, the region has had significant cultural ties with Latin American cartels, meaning the human infrastructure need

Though these vessels are a new phenomenon in Europe, they have reportedly been used for decades in South America.

Though these vessels are a new phenomenon in Europe, they have reportedly been used for decades in South America

Colombian marines inspect a fiberglass submarine that was been built by drug traffickers to transport drugs in Salaonda, on the Pacific Ocean, some 370 miles southwest of Bogota

Port authorities across Europe are being overwhelmed by cartels thanks to the submarines

One vessel caught by drug cops was said to have been carrying 3,000kg of cocaine.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), this submarine was carrying nearly 249,000 worth of cocaine into Europe.

As a result, port authorities across Europe are being overwhelmed by cartels. The continent takes in 90million shipping containers each year, and authorities are only able to search between two and 10 percent of containers that sit in their ports.

Last year, Royal Navy commandos stormed their first 'narco sub', seizing two-tonnes of cocaine.

Royal Marines based on patrol ship HMS Trent made the historic bust during a patrol in the Caribbean.

The secret underwater submarine is used by drug cartels to ferry huge quantities for narcotics around the world.

Powered by twin electric engines, the stealthy boats can glide undetected under the waves, carrying up to six-tonnes of drugs.

A boarding team made up of Royal Marines from 47 Commando, specialist sailors and US Coast Guard personnel, clambered aboard the vessel in waters 190 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.

The continent takes in 90million shipping containers each year, and authorities are only able to search between two and 10 percent of containers that sit in their ports

So far, at least three narco-subs have been caught near Spain, though authorities estimate that as many as 30 may have avoided detections

Galicia, Spain, has long been considered to be the perfect hub of trafficking

They aren't armed, instead relying on camouflage to evade detection from investigating authorities

The crack team of operators seized 2,000kg of cocaine, striking yet another huge blow to the Caribbean drugs trade. It is one of the largest seizures by British personnel of recent years.

The bust is the eighth carried out by Portsmouth-based HMS Trent, which has stropped 750m of drug reaching Britain in just seven months.
An Australian worker for one of the world's largest mining companies was unfairly dismissed after he and a colleague got into an altercation over a bulldozer joke.

Deputy president of the Fair Work Commission Terri Butler said on Wednesday that David Weule from BMA Caval Ridge coal mine in Queensland should be reinstated by iron ore company BHP.

The sacking occurred over an incident on June 13, 2024, when he was traveling in a Toyota Hilux shortly after 10.30pm with two other men.

The tribunal heard that Mr Weule made a comment from the front passenger seat to his colleague, David Torcello, who was diagonally behind him.

'I think my dozer is sick of cleaning up after your dozer,' was the alleged statement.

Mr Weule described it as a joke but Ms Butler said it was a passive aggressive comment.

The two men argued and swore at each other before an altercation occurred while the car drove, with Mr Torcello grabbing Mr Weule from behind.

It caused minor injuries to Mr Weule's face, as did a bite on the thumb, and the worker was scared, the tribunal heard.

A mine worker in his mid-50s was dismissed after his joke about clearing up after a colleague caused an altercation within and outside a car

The driver, Adam Hurley, stopped the Hilux and told the pair, both in their mid-50s, to stop fighting but the men got out of the car and 'tussled'.

Mr Weule punched Mr Torcello twice and they continued to struggle until Mr Hurley yelled at them to stop.

Following the incident, Mr Weule complained to the police that his colleague had assaulted him.

Mr Torcello then resigned the following day, saying in his letter that he had been 'belittled' before a verbal and physical assault followed.

Meanwhile, Mr Weule told a BHP investigator he acted in self-defence in response to being attacked.

The company informed him in a letter that they were launching an investigation before dismissing him three months later.

The investigator told the tribunal that there was 'zero tolerance' for physical altercations and hitting someone was never acceptable.

Asked what was an alternative, the investigator said workers should remove themselves: 'It may mean you might have to get punched unfortunately, but there are definitely other ways.'

The Fair Work Commission ruled that a mine worker was unfairly dismissed, noting that he was entitled to defend himself during the incident

Ms Butler ruled that Mr Weule was unfairly dismissed, and that it was 'harsh, unjust and unreasonable'.

She said the circumstances were harsh and that he was 'entitled to defend himself' and there was no valid reason for termination.

The tribunal heard that he was not provided with a proper opportunity to respond.

A BMA spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the ruling was disappointing for the company.

'The health and safety of everyone working on our sites is our first priority,' the spokesperson said.

'We are disappointed with this decision and do not condone violence of any kind.

'We will continue to take the appropriate action to keep our workplaces safe and respectful.'
Bill Gates risked sparking a fresh row with fellow billionaire Elon Musk as he accused him of 'killing the world's poorest children' by closing a major US aid agency.

Musk, who heads up Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in February, saying it was 'time to die'.

But the Microsoft co-founder, who is ramping up his own philanthropic efforts, has now said Musk's decision could spell disaster for the world's most destitute.

'The picture of the world's richest man killing the world's poorest children is not a pretty one,' Gates told the Financial Times.

He said the deep cuts to USAID meant desperately needed food and medicines were expiring in warehouses instead of being distributed to those who need it.

Slashing this assistance could lead to a resurgence of diseases such as measles, HIV and polio, he added.

He specifically highlighted cancelled grants to a hospital in Gaza Province in Mozambique that works to prevent women transmitting HIV to their babies.

At the time, Musk was challenged about a White House claim, which he repeated, that it had stopped $50million - equivalent to 40.2million - worth of condoms being sent to the Gaza Strip, confusing it with the Gaza Province in the East African nation.

Musk, who heads up Donald Trump 's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in February, saying it was 'time to die'

Gates said the deep cuts to USAID meant desperately needed food and medicines were expiring in warehouses instead of being distributed to those who need it

He specifically highlighted cancelled grants to a hospital in Gaza Province in Mozambique that works to prevent women transmitting HIV to their babies

USAID supporters hold banners as USAID workers retrieve their personal belongings from the USAID's headquarters in Washington

Musk appeared to concede that could be the case, and responded: 'I'm not sure we should be sending $50million dollars on condoms anywhere if it went to Mozambique instead of Gaza, I'm like, OK that's not as bad, but still you know why are we doing that?'

Gates responded: 'I'd love for him to go in and meet the children that have now been infected with HIV because he cut that money.'

He added that Musk, who branded USAID a 'criminal organisation', had no knowledge of what the agency actually did or how it operated.

It follows comments in February where Gates said 'USAID plays a super important role', adding: 'It's work that saves millions of lives and helps strengthen relationships for the United States.'

In a thinly veiled swipe at Musk, Gates told CNN that while reviewing the efficiency of each government department wasn't a 'mistake', the idea of 'going in very quickly and saying that all these people run a criminal organizationthat's not quite as subtle as you'd hope to see.'

This is not the first time that the pair have clashed over aid and philanthropy, however.

In 2012, Musk signed the Giving Pledge, launched by Bill and Melinda Gates and investor Warren Buffett, through which dozens of billionaires promised to give away at least half their wealth.

Acording to Musk's biographer, however, he later told Gates that philanthropy was mostly 'bulls*it' and that commercial solutions to problems like climate change - like Tesla's efforts - were more effective.

Musk was also reportedly fustrated that Gates shorted Tesla stock - meaning he would profit when the share price falls - in 2022.

He told him: 'I cannot take your philanthropy on climate change seriously when you have a massive short position against Tesla, the company doing the most to solve climate change.'

The duo have also clashed on other matters.

Gates said that Musk, who branded USAID a 'criminal organisation', had no knowledge of what the agency actually did or how it operated

In 2012, Musk signed the Giving Pledge, launched by Bill and Melinda Gates and investor Warren Buffett, through which dozens of billionaires promised to give away at least half their wealth

DOGE must finish its work by July 2026

In 2023, Gates questioned whether Musk's goal of colonising Mars was a good use of his money.

'It's actually quite expensive to go to Mars,' he told the BBC.

'You can buy measles vaccines and save lives for a thousand dollars per life saved.'

He has also branded Musk's promotion of right-wing foreign politicians as 'insane'. The Trump ally has endorsed former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe amongst others.

'Its really insane that he [Musk] can destabilise the political situations in countries ,' he said in January.

'I think in the US, foreigners arent allowed to give money; other countries maybe should adopt safeguards to make sure super-rich foreigners arent distorting their elections.'
BBC Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri today admitted a terror offence after failing to report 140,000 worth of art sales to a man he knew had been accused of raising money for Hezbollah. The 53-year-old art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBC 's Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector between October 2020 and December 2021. Ojiri, wearing a grey suit, large clear glasses and a blue polka dot tie, stood in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court today to plead guilty to all eight charges under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The antiques specialist, from west London, was previously the owner of a vintage shop in the capital called Pelicans & Parrots that was dubbed 'the coolest place in London' before shutting its doors in October 2021.

He first appeared on screens on the BBC's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. He then became a regular on Bargain Hunt, gaining a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats.

Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for Hezbollah, which is proscribed as a terror group in the UK.

BBC Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip star Ochuko Ojiri has appeared in court charged over alleged terrorist group funding - he is seen here today outside Westminster Magistrates' Court

Ochuko Ojiri, 53, has been a regular face on BBC shows for several years

Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen who is sanctioned by both the UK and US, a court heard today

'There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it was said he had known for years about Mr Ahmad's activities as a suspected terrorist financier,' Mr Harris told the court.

'Mr Ojiri accessed news reports about Mr Ahmad's designation and engaged in discussions with others about his designation.

'There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links.'

Mr Harris said Ojiri 'dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales'.

Ahmad, 60, has been accused of using the fine art market to run an international financing operation for Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political and terrorist group based in Lebanon that is known for its opposition to Israel.

The US Treasury has also accused him of being involved in the sale of 'blood diamonds' to raise funds for Hezbollah.

Following the introduction of new money laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under HMRC supervision, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules.

'Mr Ojiri communicated to a colleague that he knew that these regulations applied to him and his business,' Mr Harris said.

The 53-year-old art dealer, who has featured on the hit BBC shows for several years, attended Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning

Police said that he had become the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000

'Over the course of the period, Mr Ojiri dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated sales of artwork, congratulated him on purchases, and the total value of the sales of the artwork was approximately 140,000. The art appears to have been sent to either Dubai or Beirut.'

Mr Harris said the maximum sentence for the offences was five years, as the lawyer requested conditional bail which would require Ojiri to surrender his passport and not apply for any travel documents.

This request was granted by the Judge Briony Clarke, who committed Ojiri for sentencing at the Old Bailey in central London on June 6.

Gavin Irwin, mitigating for Ojiri, told the court: 'He is not a flight risk. The fact that he is here - he has left the UK and has always returned knowing he may be charged with offences - he will be here on the next occasion.'

Ojiri has previously also starred on Antiques Road Trip since 2021 - travelling around the UK while attempting to make a profit on forgotten items.

Away from his broadcast career, Ojiri founded the Ramp Gallery, a venue specialising in emerging and contemporary artists.

He has described his love of collecting items including contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings - telling the BBC: 'I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated.'

Asked what he liked about appearing on Bargain Hunt, he said: 'Who doesn't like a bargain? I certainly do. I also love the passion of the contestants, and their many likes and dislikes.'

The TV personality has been charged over alleged offences said to have occurred between October 2020 and December 2021

Ojiri has gained a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats

'When I find something I love my heart pounds. There's no other feeling like it.'

The investigation that prompted the charges against Ojiri was carried out by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, which is part of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.

The Treasury, HMRC and the Met's Arts & Antiques Unit were all also involved in the probe, police said.

Ojiri has not worked on BBC programmes since 2023. A BBC spokesman said ahead of today's hearing: 'It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.'
A former soldier has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend while on holiday in Spain, where he now faces up to three decades behind bars.

Keith Byrne, 34, killed mother-of-one Kirsty Ward by strangling her with a hair straightener power cord after she told him she was leaving him, the court heard.

He had claimed during his trial in the Spanish city of Tarragona that Ms Byrne had died by suicide at their four-star Magnolia Hotel in the popular Costa Daurada resort of Salou.

The former Irish Guards and Parachute Regiment soldier said he would never commit domestic violence and insisted he was a 'respectful and intelligent' father-of-three.

Meanwhile he demonised Ms Ward as someone who could be 'four people in one day', claiming she binged on alcohol and cocaine which he said made their romance 'toxic'.

Ms Ward's mother Jackie Ward told the court on day one of the trial that Byrne was someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust'.

She said she had found out after her daughter's death that she had planned to leave Byrne during their 'make or break' holiday and had a ticket booked to return home to Dublin on July 4 2023.

She was asked as she gave evidence whether she thought her daughter, whose son Evan was 14 when she died in 2023, could have died by suicide but replied: 'She did everything for her son. She would never ever leave him. She would never do that to him.'

Keith Byrne, 34, killed mother-of-one Kirsty Ward by strangling her with a hair straightener power cord, a jury in Spain found

Ms Ward's mother told the court: 'She did everything for her son. She would never ever leave him'

Ms Ward had planned to leave Byrne during their 'make or break' holiday and had a ticket booked to return home to Dublin on July 4 2023, her mother said

In a statement, the family of Ms Ward thanked the jury for 'seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty'.

'Our family now request our privacy to be respected, while we grieve and come to terms with all that has happened during the past two years.'

Byrne is now awaiting sentencing and is expected to find out his fate in around a month's time.

A private prosecutor for Ms Ward's family said they were seeking the 30-year sentence they argued for before and during the trial.

Public prosecutor Javier Goimil urged the judge to jail Byrne for 20 years, lowering his initial pre-trial demand by a year as he accepted his prior use of drink and drugs as a mitigating circumstance.

Jurors found that Byrne had 'diminished cognitive and volitional faculties' due to this when he killed Ms Ward.

Mr Goimil, a domestic violence specialist, dismissed Byrne's court claim that Ms Ward took her own life during his closing speech to the jury last Wednesday on the final day of the murder trial.

He claimed the former soldier, who had been living in Duleek, Co Meath, decided, 'you're mine or you're nobody's' and strangled his girlfriend to death because she wanted out of their relationship.

He said the forensic evidence pointed to Ms Ward having been strangled from behind between 8pm and 10pm on 2 July 2023 after 'incapacitating herself' with alcohol and cocaine.

The couple had been staying at the four-star Magnolia Hotel in the popular Costa Daurada resort of Salou

He told the court: 'Byrne has adapted his version of events of what happened in that timeframe nearly two years on in accordance with the evidence he's learnt there is against him.

'He's saying Kirsty tied a cable round her neck and attached it to the door knob but in the state she was in it would have been impossible for her to do that and there's nothing showing there was a knot in the cable.

'What's occurred here is a violent and painful death, a strangulation from behind where someone is pulling from the front to the back. This was not a suicide.'

He added: 'She didn't leave a note for her son or her siblings or her mum and what's more she had bought a plane ticket back to Dublin for July 4.

'Kirsty's relationship with Byrne was very toxic, very intense and very emotional.

'She decided to end it during the week they stayed at the hotel in Salou and her partner couldn't accept that decision.

'His mindset at that moment was: 'You're mine or you're nobody's. You, woman, are no-one to say you're going to detach yourself from me, the man, and have your own independent life'.

'That was why he killed her the way he did.'

He also said the amount of alcohol Ms Ward had drunk before being killed would have impacted significantly on her ability to defend herself.

Byrne's defence lawyer Jordi Cabre had been seeking his client's acquittal before the jury verdict and afterwards asked the judge to hand down the 'minimum sentence'.

In a statement, the family of Ms Ward thanked the jury for 'seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty'

It emerged following Byrne's arrest in Spain that the former soldier was wanted in the UK by Royal Military Police for going AWOL after he left for Ireland in 2017.

In a statement yesterday Ms Ward's family thanked the jury 'for seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty, that her life was taken from her, and that we were robbed of her and the beautiful life she could have had'.

They thanked the police, the public and the private prosecutors for their support, guidance and commitment and asked that their privacy to be respected, 'while we grieve and come to terms with all that has happened during the past two years'.

Following Ms Ward's death in 2023, her mother paid tribute to her as 'a fantastic friend' and 'an absolutely adored daughter'.

Speaking at the Church of John the Evangelist in Ballinteer, Dublin in July 2023, Jackie Ward said her daughter had been an amazing mother to her son.

'The two of them were an amazingly strong and tight team and I hope to continue the great work she has done.

'To me she was a fantastic friend and an absolutely adored daughter to myself and John.

'She was a caring sister, a cherished granddaughter and much loved niece and cousin. A loyal and true friend.'
Donald Trump will not be able to 'veto' Chinese investment in the UK under the terms of a new US trade deal, a senior minister said today.

Darren Jones said reports that the White House would be able to block sources of foreign cash were 'nonsense', the day after Sir Keir Starmer and the president announced a tariff-reduction agreement.

Government officials told the Telegraph that the US would be allowed to flag concerns about Beijing-linked firms buying infrastructure and prompt ministers to take a closer look.

The Conservatives claimed that this amounted to handing power to the US, with shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel saying: 'It looks like he's effectively handed America a veto over investment decisions in the UK.'

But Treasury minister Mr Jones this morning said: 'We've not even published all of the documents yet, so I'm not quite sure how they were able to come up with that.

'I can be completely categorical with you there is no such thing as a veto on Chinese investment in this trade deal, this is not what this trade deal is about.

'It is a sectoral trade deal in relation to tariffs in key sectors, in the way that we've just been talking about.

'So I'd suggest the Conservative Party reads the documents and they maybe come back for a second go.'

Darren Jones said reports that the White House would be able to block sources of foreign cash were 'nonsense', the day after Sir Keir Starmer and the president announced a tariff-reduction agreement.

Government officials told the Telegraph that the US would be allowed to flag concerns about Beijing-linked firms buying infrastructure and prompt ministers to take a closer look.

Brits are digesting the impact of Keir Starmer's trade deal with the US today as figures show it only covers around a quarter of UK exports.

The pact theatrically announced by the PM and US president last night will cut tariffs from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for the first 100,000 cars sent to America.

Levies on steel exports will also be slashed from 25 per cent to zero, in return for concessions such as cutting tariffs on US cars and farmers getting more access to British markets. In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Jones insisted 150,000 workers would be 'relieved' that their jobs were no longer at risk.

However, the pact still leaves tariffs higher than before Mr Trump kicked off his extraordinary trade war.

Analysis by Sky News suggests that of the 273billion of exports to the States over the past five years, barely a quarter would be affected by the agreement - with the rest facing the 10 per cent 'baseline' charge.

That also assumes the critical pharma sector, accounting for 25.2billion of the total over the period, secures an exemption from Mr Trump's next wave of tariffs - which appears far from certain.

The agreement did not include any provision for the UK film industry, after the president threatened 100 per cent levies on foreign-made movies.

And the US does not appear to have given up on a push to help tech giants by watering down the Digital Service Tax.

Mr Jones told the BBC on the absence of terms on pharma and films: 'The nothing is good news... those tariffs have not come forward.'

The Conservatives claimed that this amounted to handing power to the US, with shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel saying: 'I t looks like he's effectively handed America a veto over investment decisions in the UK.'
The father of a newborn has been charged with manslaughter nearly two years after his baby died in hospital.

The 26-year-old man brought the four-week-old boy to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, in NSW, in critical condition on July 27, 2023, police said.

The baby had numerous, unexplained injuries, including broken bones across his body, and was transferred to Sydney Children's Hospital where he died three days later.

The man, who is from Wagga Wagga, was identified on Friday by The Daily Telegraph as the father of the baby and two other children.

Child Abuse detectives had been notified in July 2023 about the suspicious injuries and critical illness of the baby boy when he arrived at hospital.

Strike Force Wighton was established to investigate and the man was arrested on Friday in Albury.

'The death of an infant is tragic,' Detective Inspector Peter Owen said.

'Where there is suspected inflicted injuries, (it) is another level that is abhorrent to people.'

NSW Police arrested a Wagga Wagga man, 26, in Albury on Friday

The baby boy was brought to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital in July 2023 with unexplained serious injuries, including broken bones

Asked why it had taken so long to make an arrest, Det. Insp. Owen said police 'weren't able to establish what actually happened to the child' during their interviews.

'We did receive some assistance from the Crime Commission, who held hearings into the matter,' he said.

'But we are here today at the time of arrest which is a real tribute to that Strike Force team.'

Det. Insp. Owen said the 26-year-old man, who was not known to police, was visiting other children in Albury when he was arrested.

There were also no intervention or protective orders in place and no history of domestic violence at the time of the baby's death.

Friends of the boy's parents told the Daily Telegraph the pair were religious and described the lifetime of devastation they would face after the death of their son.

'(They) have lost their little boy at only four weeks old. No words can describe the pain they are experiencing right now,' one friend said.

The man was not known to NSW Police before he was arrested on Friday

The man was taken to Albury Police Station on Friday where he was charged with manslaughter before fronting local court.

He was released on a $10,000 surety, ordered to hand over his passport, and has been told to report to police daily.

The judge has banned him from contacting several witnesses in the case.

He will next appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on July 9.
A Royal Navy warship tracked a Russian submarine and ships passing through the English channel as the armed forces minister warned of a Kremlin threat to the UK.

HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a NATO operation to shadow Russia's submarine Krasnodar as it travelled back to the country from the Mediterranean.

Warships and aircraft were also sent to shadow a Russian task group in the English Channel in a concentrated effort on May 6.

The Royal Navy said HMS Tyne, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and RFA Tideforce reported on every move of corvette RFS Boikiy and three merchant vessels - Baltic Leader, Patria and Cebepa.

The Russian vessels were sailing through the channel on their way to a Russian Baltic port.

HMS Tyne is a patrol ship built to help protect UK waters, especially for things like fishing and it works with two sister ships ships, Mersey and Severn.

It is armed with a 20 mm cannon which can fire up to 450 rounds per minute as well as two general purpose machine guns.

HMS Tyne, right, was deployed as part of a NATO operation to shadow Russia's submarine Krasnodar, left, as it surfaced back to the country from the Mediterranean

The Kilo class submarine, backbone of Russia's undersea fleet, can be seen to the right of HMS Tyne above

An observer from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracks the Krasnodar from a Wildcat helicopter from the UK Carrier Strike Group

This close-up of the helicopter observer's screen shows the Krasnodar in detail as the Royal Navy keep close track of it in the Atlantic, before it entered tthe Channel

Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard said: 'The Royal Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness to secure UK waters and protect the public.

'Our sailors acted swiftly and decisively to a potential Russian threat, and I pay tribute to their dedication, courage and professionalism.

'National security is a foundation of the Government's Plan for Change and we are giving our Armed Forces what they need to keep us secure home and strong abroad.'

HMS Tyne's Operations Officer, Lieutenant Bailey Denyer said: 'Activations like the one we've seen on this patrol to track Krasnodar are our bread and butter - defending UK sovereignty and that of our NATO allies is at the very heart of what the Royal Navy does.'

The patrol vessel intercepted Krasnodar as it entered the English Channel near the French coast.

It reported every move as the vessel made its eastward journey before handing over duties to allies as the submarine left UK waters.

HMS Tyne also kept an eye on Russian RFS Boikiy, top - one of a four-vessel task group that passed through the English Channel

HMS Tyne,top right, escorting the Boikiy, left, through the Channel on its way to a home port

Earlier in its journey, Krasnodar was tracked by a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron deployed with the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the Atlantic.

Once responsibility for Krasnodar had been handed over, HMS Tyne was quickly back on new tasking to shadow Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy as it headed westward from the Baltic Sea, through the busy Dover Strait.

Tyne and 815 Naval Air Squadron later monitored the corvette's return journey to the Baltic alongside three merchant ships.

The warship has come back into service after maintenance and returns alongside her sister ships, HMS Mersey and Severn, at the forefront of operations protecting UK waters.
JD Vance's deep Catholic faith means he won't hit back at new Pope Leo XIV's bitter criticism of the MAGA movement and his views on immigration, the vice-president's British mentor told MailOnline today.

Cambridge academic Dr James Orr has revealed his friend has no desire to enter into a 'theological cage fight' with the new Bishop of Rome.

'He will be praying regularly for the new Pope. He will be willing him to succeed', he said.

'Vance will accept Pope Leo XIV. The Vice President will simply say: "Well, okay. The Pope, in his private capacity, doesn't agree with me on this political question" and I don't think that will faze him one bit'.

Today it emerged that before becoming Pope Leo XIV, American priest Robert Prevost took aim at JD Vance and a number of key Trump policies in a series of tweets as recently as a few weeks ago.

He even shared several articles that addressed Mr Vance's stance on immigration. One of them was titled: 'JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.'

The new Pope has also had his say on issues from gun control to migration and the death of George Floyd. Steve Bannon, the former White House Chief Strategist, has called him the 'anti-Trump pope' while MAGA supporters branded him a 'piece of s**t'.

Dr Orr, who has been dubbed 'JD Vances English philosopher king and the vice-president fondly calls him his 'UK Sherpa', has given MailOnline a unique insight into how the senior Republican will view America's first pontiff - and when they will meet.

Pope Francis meets with JD Vance on Easter Sunday at the Vatican, hours before his death. The U.S. Vice President will not want to quarrel with the new pontiff Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV leads the Pro Ecclesia Mass in the Sistine Chapel today on his first day as the Bishop of Rome

Dr Orr and Vice-President Vance are close friends who first met around seven years ago through mutual friends.

The Pope tweeted criticism of the Vice-President just a few weeks ago over the Trump administration's policies on immigration

He also revealed that he believes that JD had no time for Pope Francis - despite being one of the last people to see him alive before his death at the age of 88.

'I think long ago both of us stopped listening to what Francis had to say', Dr Orr said.

But Dr Orr has claimed that entering into a war-of-words with the Pope will be far from JD Vance's mind - especially because he is a devout Catholic himself who never misses Mass.

'Vance is not thinking: "I've got a cage match looming with Leo XIV",' he said.

'Like any good Catholic he is perfectly capable of telling the difference between ancient church teaching and the progressive orthodoxies of lefty Latin American boomers.

'One thing that we won't see is any criticism from Vance of the new Pope.

'JD is a very, very dutiful Catholic and he doesn't miss Mass wherever he is.

'He's a very devout Catholic. He's an adult convert, and adult converts are serious about their faith.

'They haven't been brought up in that faith- they've consciously decided, he consciously decided, in his mid-thirties to become a Catholic'.

Dr Orr and Vice-President Vance are close friends who first met around seven years ago through mutual friends.

They were together when the President was shot in Pennsylvania last July.

They also dined at the Senate in Washington DC just before Mr Vance was called to Mar-a-Lago and asked to be Mr Trump's running mate and text and chat on the phone regularly.

Dr Orr has said that his friend will want to meet the Pope - but not before his boss.

'I think President Trump will want to meet him first. Then Vance. And I suspect it would be in Rome.

He added 'Pope Leo will want to stay in Rome as much as possible, but not least because because he's probably conscious of the fact that he's a new American pope, and if he's traipsing off to the White House, I think there'll be a sort of standoff: "who's paying homage to who?".'

Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff from America

The moderate from Chicago and a close friend of Pope Francis will be known as Pope Leo XIV

He has shared his views on Twitter on many subjects

Dr Orr has predicted that the Pope is unlikely to criticise the Trump administration on social media any longer. He also believes he 'will to start with downplay his associations with America'.

'My sense is, he's the sort of person who would see that it would be unseemly for somebody in the office that he's now got to be engaging in theological fights with the Vice President', he said.

'People are talking about the fact that he's American, but he's the least American of the cardinals. He's Latin American as well'.

Dr Orr, who is an associate professor of philosophy of religion at Cambridge University, believes that Mr Vance was not keen on the last pope.

'I have have spoken with him about Francis in the past, but I think both of us long ago stopped listening to what Francis had to say', he said.

'If you look back at those extraordinary visits that Pope John Paul II had to Poland and to Czechoslovakia.

'Speaking up for his native land, speaking up for Poland, saying, it's good to be patriotic, and against what the Soviet Union is doing. Quenching this love of nation.

'My sense is, Vance is with John Paul II. Not Francis'.

JD Vance and Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, shortly before the new pope was elected

Dr Orr has suggested there is a paradox when it comes to the new Pope's views, especially on immigration and abortion.

'I believe he [the new pope] is staunchly pro-life. I think at one point, if I'm not mistaken, he implied that American politicians who are pro-choice and don't respect the sanctity of life from womb to tomb should be excommunicated and should not receive communion.

On that issue he seems extremely conservative and far more conservative than the ordinary MAGA member. There's a strange paradox there.

'And yet politically I think the new Pope is much more inclined to be progressive on the issue of immigration'.

He went on to say that JD Vance believes that 'open borders is not a Christian position.

I think the overwhelming weight of the Catholic tradition, including Augustine and Aquinas, is with Vance, not with the new Pope', he added.

Dr Orr says his choice of name brings hope for his papacy.

'He is harking back to Leo XIII, obviously. He was an extraordinary pope, my favorite Pope, in fact.

'He wrote Aeterni Patris, which effectively rehabilitated the legacy of Thomas Aquinas. You've got this weird situation where the theological heavyweights who support Vance's view are most associated with a new Pope, who was twice head of the Augustinian order'.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost from the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time on Thursday

MAGA politicos in the US have unleashed a barrage of blistering attacks against the new American pope after he overcame startling odds to be selected as pontiff yesterday.

Vocal figures immediately rejected him as head of the Catholic Church, branding Prevost a 'liberal piece of s**t' and a 'Marxist' amid a deepening schism on the Right.

Prevost did reportedly vote in the Illinois Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016. But his papacy may yet lead the church away from Trump Republicanism.

Podcaster Joey Mannarino told 600,000 followers the new pope was a 'liberal piece of s**t', sharing Prevost's rebuttal of the Vice President's reading of 'ordo amoris' - a Christian concept of 'rightly ordered love' that made waves earlier this year.

Vance had said in an interview with Fox News in January: 'There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then, after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.'

Critics judged that Vance, a Catholic, had misread Thomas Aquinas' idea of the 'order of love', accusing him of using the concept to support political ideology.

While Vance, a Catholic, was careful to congratulate the new pontiff, Trump-aligned commentators were less choice with their words.
A British multi-millionaire has been arrested in Majorca after allegedly raping two women at a luxury hotel.

The 55-year-old, who has not yet been named, is alleged to have targeted the women on two separate occasions at a five-star hotel in Portals Nous, on the south-west of the island.

The British man was arrested on Wednesday after the second woman, a Ukrainian, told cops he forced himself on her.

She is reported to have flown to the island's capital, Palma, for an arranged meeting with the suspect, but was taken to hospital by police after she alleged over the weekend that she had been raped.

Ultima Hora, a Spanish newspaper, reported that another woman, from South America, filed a complaint months ago alleging a similar attack.

Both women are reported to have met the millionaire on a 'hypergamy' website, where people can meet individuals of high net worths.

Spanish cops are said to have prepared a report for a court hearing in Palma, which is conducting a criminal investigation - though no charges have been filed.

The suspect was allowed to leave police custody from Son Bugadelles police station without appearing before an investigating judge in Palma, who has taken over the hunt for evidence.

The 55-year-old, who has not yet been named, is alleged to have targeted the women on two separate occasions at a five-star hotel in Portals Nous (file image of Portal Nous)

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The suspect has also been told he is allowed to leave Majorca while the judge investigates him.

The millionaire is reported to have amassed a major fortune in the early 2000s by setting up a mobile phone company.

But a decade later, he is said to have declared bankruptcy after squandering an estimated 40million fortune in just over 18 months.

He is reported to have served a previous sentence in the UK, though these offences were not of a sexual nature.

The Ukrainian woman who filed a report told police that she knew other women who the tycoon had forced himself on.

More to follow.
Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the first U.S. Pope in history. He will take the name Leo XIV.

A missionary who spent part of his career as a minister in Peru, Prevost led the office of bishops. He is 69 years old.

The crowd erupted in cheers on Thursday as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, indicating a successor to Pope Francis had been chosen.

"May peace be with all of you," were Prevost's first words as Leo XIV. He delivered his message in Italian and then switched to Spanish to send greetings to the community he led as archbishop Chiclayo, Peru.

Prevost was the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine of Hippo, devoted to early Christianity. The Associated Press detailed that the order works in dozens of countries and promotes a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others.

Speaking to NBC News last week, Nelson Jesus Perez, the archbishop of Philadelphia, had described Provost as a "wonderful, gentle, profound man of God." He added that he was a "great gift to the church and the world."

This is a story in development

Originally published on Latin Times
Pope Leo XIV will soon be bestowed with the priceless regalia and vast estate that comes with the papacy, including gold jewellery, a bullet-proof popemobile and opulent Papal apartments.

Former bishop Robert Francis Prevost's new life at the Vatican will be a far cry from his upbringing in a suburban town in Illinois, as well as his time working as a missionary with impoverished farmers in rural Peru.

The first American Pope is set to be inaugurated during a grandiose mass next week, during which he will receive the pallium, an ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic church.

The Fisherman's ring, perhaps the most symbolic piece of jewellery worn by a Pope, will then be placed on his finger.

The ring, inscribed with his Papal name and an image of St Peter casting his net, reportedly has an estimated value of $520,000 - though its worth to the Catholic Church is immeasurable.

Another invaluable piece of jewellery worn by Popes is their pectoral cross - each of which are specific to individual pontiffs.

As he greeted the faithful after his election on Thursday, Leo XIV wore a cross with a removable cover that contains the bones of saints, given to him by his religious order, the Augustinians, when he was made a cardinal in 2023.

The cross contains fragments of the bones of three key saints for the order, namely St Augustine, his mother St Monica and 16th-century archbishop St Thomas of Villanova.

During his presentation as Pope, Leo XIV wore a cross with a removable cover that contains the bones of saints

Pope Leo XIV concelebrates Mass with the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church

The ring of Pope Benedict XVI, seen in 2013. Pope Leo XIV's ring is yet to be revealed

The palace of Castel Gandolfo, a 135-acre complex of buildings 25km outside of Rome, is set in in the Alban Hills with panoramic views of Lake Albano

The Apostolic Palace has long been the official residence of the pope, until Pope Francis chose to move into the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse

An all-electric Popemobile was built by Mercedes for Pope Francis last year, the cost of which was an estimated $500,000

Catholic liturgical jewellery is seen displayed inside the Gammarelli tailor shop, papal tailors since the 1700s, on April 24, 2025 in Rome

Meanwhile the ornate red and gold stole that he wore as he was presented on May 8 features ornate illustrations of the four gospels in the New Testament  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Contrasting with the gilded grandeur of the Vatican, Leo's predecessor Pope Francis was known for his humble ways, which began when he joined the Jesuit Order in the 1950s and took a vow of poverty.

His chosen attire indicated a move back to tradition, experts said, contrasting with Pope Francis' all-white clothing during his 2013 introduction which indicated a desire for simplicity.

The late Pope, who died last month aged 88, tried hard to maintain this throughout his life, even after he was installed in the Vatican.

Rather than taking up residence in the luxurious Papal apartments in Rome's Apostolic Palace, the Pontiff chose to move into the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse and live as frugally as possible.

'At the time of the conclave I lived in Room 207. This room where we are now was a guest room. I chose to live here, in Room 201, because when I took possession of the papal apartment, inside myself I distinctly heard a 'no,' Francis said in a 2013 interview.

The Gallery of Alexander Vii During a Preview of the Opening to the Public of the Papal Apartment in the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo

The Pope's bedroom in Palace Castel Gandolfo, famous because in 1944, during World War II, it was given to the women in labour hidden there by Pope Pius XII

A view of the Papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, which were opened to the public by Pope Francis

A view of pope Francis's apartment at Santa Marta Residence at the Vatican. The late Pope chose not to move into the lavish papal apartments inside the Apostolic Palace

A view of Pope Francis' apartment at Santa Marta Residence at the Vatican

In-keeping with this everyman image, Francis also converted the Papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo into a museum, forgoing the decadent retreat enjoyed by many of his predecessors.

Pope Leo, who is known as an advocate for the poor, has indicated that he will continue Francis' legacy, and has even been dubbed a 'second Francis'.

However, it remains unclear where he will live during his papacy, and whether he could reverse Francis' decision to turn the Papal retreat into a museum and make use of the apartments in the stunning cliffside castle.

'It is a decision that is permanent until the Pontiff wants it to remain as such,' Dr Sandro Barbaglio, a curator at the Vatican Museum, said in 2016.

'This means a future pope can decide to take back the residence, making it private again.'

Each Pope has put their own stamp on the papal residences.

The palace of Castel Gandolfo, a 135-acre complex of buildings 25km outside of Rome, is set in in the Alban Hills with panoramic views of Lake Albano.

The vast palace is complete with a swimming pool, installed by Pope John Paul II.

The Polish Pope regularly used the palace and its facilities, and raised eyebrows when he was photographed by paparazzi in his swimming trunks at the pool.

Pope Benedict meanwhile established an organic farm there, which is home to cows, free-range chickens and bees.

As well as his living quarters he chooses, the mode of transport the new Pope will select will undoubtedly be scrutinised.

Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano (R) puts the Fisherman's Ring, made of gold-plated silver, on a finger of Pope Francis during his grandiose inauguration mass on March 19, 2013 at the Vatican

When a new Pope is inaugurated, the bestowal of the ring symbolises the duty being handed down to him as one of Peter's successors and leader of the church

A keen environmentalist, Pope Francis chose an all-electric Popemobile built by Mercedes, the cost of which was an estimated $500,000.

Francis' personal were rarely as lavish as official vehicles, and he was often spotted in a second-generation Ford Focus and a 1984 Renault 4GTL.

Popes have used all kinds of vehicles over the years, with Pope Paul VI travelling in a Lincoln Continental for a visit to New York City in 1965.

The kind of car Leo XIV will choose to travel in remains to be seen - but with Francis's modified electric G-Wagon only built for him last year, it is likely to be another area of continuity for the new Pope.
An American travel influencer felt 'hunted like prey' after her British stalker arrived in Bali after threatening to kidnap her, a court heard.

Alexandra Saper described Rob Keating him as someone who is deeply obsessed and mentally ill after he sent her a message following his arrival on the island in which he referred to himself as a serial killer.

She spoke of her ordeal in a video she posted from Laos, the country she escaped to, which was shown to a jury.

In it she said: 'I want you to imagine what it feels like to be hunted like prey.'

She revealed she was 'exhausted' after 'being run out of [her] home in Indonesia'.

'I'm exhausted, and I feel defeated today - and I have over half a million people who have watched my story and advocated for me,' she said.

'Most women don't have that level of support and reach and network.'

She said her 'heart aches' for women like this.

Alexandra Saper (pictured) told the court she felt 'hunted like prey' after her British stalker Rob Keating arrived in Bali after threatening to kidnap her

Alexandra Saper is pictured outside Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday this week

Rob Keating (pictured), from Havant in Hampshire, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of stalking involving serious alarm or distress at Portsmouth Crown Court

'What do our governments expect us to do to protect ourselves to not get killed or raped or attacked or kidnapped?' she said.

Ms Saper added: 'I want my life back, I want to go home, I want to feel safe.'

Keating is accused of sending 'incessant' messages to the 33-year-old former lawyer, who now earns a living from her Instagram page 'The Wayfaress', which has more than 100,000 followers.

The court has heard these included him describing his sexual fantasies in graphic detail to her and expressing a wish to 'go Fifty Shades of Grey on' her.

Following his messaging, the 39-year-old travelled to Bali - where she lived - on a one-way ticket with rope in his luggage, the court has been told.

Keating is a traffic worker who was living in his sister's garage in Havant, Hampshire, at the time of the alleged offences.

He has pleaded not guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court to two counts of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

The court heard he sent hundreds of emails and around 30 video messages to the influencer between August 2022 and January 2023.

The 39-year-old travelled to Bali - where Ms Saper lived - on a one-way ticket with rope in his luggage, the court has been told. Pictured: A recent photograph of Keating at a cafe in Bali

Alexandra Saper described Rob Keating him as someone who is deeply obsessed and mentally ill after he sent her a message in which he referred to himself as a serial killer

Ms Saper told the court: 'I want my life back, I want to go home, I want to feel safe'

Ms Saper told the trial that she did not share anything publicly until she had contacted the police in the UK and the US

The alleged stalking began when Keating sent a message to Alexandra Saper (pictured) on Instagram in 2022, the court heard

Ms Saper, 33, is a former lawyer who earns a living from her Instagram page The Wayfaress

Ms Saper (pictured) was said to have become particularly alarmed when Keating allegedly travelled to Bali and began visiting places she was known to frequent

Ms Saper (pictured) subsequently flew to Laos - a country further north in South East Asia - because she was concerned about her safety

The court heard Keating had sent hundreds of emails and around 30 video messages to the influencer between August 2022 and January 2023

He travelled to the Indonesian island at the end of January 2023 and sent messages after his arrival, the jury was told.

'I would really like to see you - bring security if you must', he said, and, 'I didn't come here expecting to jump into bed with you'.

Speaking as if he was Ms Saper, Keating asked: 'How can this guy not be a serial killer?

'How can this go right if there's so much wrong inside of him?'

In response to a message from someone on social media regarding his alleged stalking, he said: 'Either way, it's been a win-win - she'll have a book out and I've done this reinvention thing.'

Police found black rope, which was shown to the jury, in his suitcase when he was arrested on his return to the UK in March 2023.

The court heard that Keating posted a screenshot of a plane ticket from Heathrow to Bali on his social media with the caption 'round two' in October 2024.

Ms Saper informed police he had done this, and he was subsequently arrested in the town centre in Horsham, West Sussex.

The trial continues.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a deepening row over disability benefit cuts with almost a quarter of Labour MPs suggesting they will not back the policy when it is put to the vote.

More than 80 backbenchers are said to have put their names to a private letter to No10 saying raising concerns about the plan to save 7billion by tightening the rules about going on the sick.

They are said to be unhappy about the fact that the full impact of the cuts will not be revealed until after the vote in June.

It comes after more than 40 MPs from the party's left said they would not vote for the change because of the impact on those already struggling to make ends meet.

It is not clear if there is any overlap between the two groups, but if there is not, it means potentially more than a quarter of Sir Keir's 403 MPs.

The Government currently has a working majority of 165, but it is not clear how many MPs would vote against the move to tighten eligibility for the personal independence payment, known as Pip.

But Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned would-be rebels they had to realise the welfare system needs reform.

Asked what her message to Labour MPs worried about the welfare cuts was, the Chancellor told broadcasters: 'I don't think anybody, including Labour MPs and members, think that the current welfare system created by the Conservative Party is working today.

'They know that the system needs reform. We do need to reform how the welfare system works if we're going to grow our economy.'

More than 80 backbenchers are said to have put their names to a private letter to No10 saying raising concerns about the plan to save 7billion by tightening the rules about going on the sick.

It is not clear if there is any overlap between the two groups, but if there is not, it means potentially more than a quarter of Sir Keir's 403 MPs.

In its Pathways to Work Green Paper, the Government has proposed a clampdown on Pip.

She added: 'But crucially, if we're going to lift people out of poverty and give more people the chance to fulfil their potential, the focus has got to be on supporting people into work.

'Of course, if you can't work the welfare state must always be there for you, and with this Government it will be.

'But there are many people that are trapped on benefits that are desperate to work, that have been cut out of opportunity for too long. That will change under this Government.'

Earlier this week, Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne said he would 'swim through vomit to vote against' proposed welfare changes.

He was joined in criticising the policy by his Labour colleagues Richard Burgon, Rachael Maskell, Andy McDonald, Cat Eccles, Nadia Whittome, Imran Hussain and Ian Lavery, who each said they were among the MPs who would vote against the Government's proposals.

A government source told the Times they were confident that numbers would be low, adding that 'ultimately people are scared and don't want to lose the whip' after seven backbenchers were suspended last year for voting to abandon the two-child benefit cap.

In its Pathways to Work Green Paper, the Government has proposed a clampdown on Pip.

A claimant must score a minimum of four points on one Pip daily living activity, such as preparing food, washing and bathing, using the toilet or reading, to receive the daily living element of the benefit.

According to the document, 'this means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the Pip daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future'.

Fourteen MPs who entered the Commons just last year are among the 42 signatories of the open letter demanding a U-turn.

They warn that the plan would affect three million 'of our poorest and most disadvantaged'.

However it comes at a time when Sir Keir is facing demands to get the economy going to see off the threat of Reform, which is leading most opinion polls.

The Labour Growth Group, an influential caucus of moderate new MPs, has sounded the alarm that Nigel Farage will become PM unless the UK gets out of an 'economic doom loop'.

Amid evidence of deepening rifts on the government benches, Labour MPs have been warned they face the 'fight of our lives' against Mr Farage in the wake of difficult local election results.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden appealed for the party to pull together in 'a battle for the very future and the heart and soul of our country' earlier this week.

But in a letter published by the Guardian, the anti-cuts MPs, who include Diane Abbott and Stella Creasy, said: 'Whilst the government may have correctly diagnosed the problem of a broken benefits system and a lack of job opportunities for those who are able to work, they have come up with the wrong medicine.

'Cuts don't create jobs, they just cause more hardship.'
Ukraine has arrested members of a spy ring it said was gathering military intelligence for EU and NATO member Hungary, triggering speculation that Russian-aligned Prime Minister Viktor Orban could be plotting an incursion.

The SBU security service detained two alleged spies it claimed had sought to obtain information about the Ukrainian military, including the location of air defence systems, in the western region of Zakarpattia.

'For the first time in Ukraine's history, the Security Service has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network that was conducting espionage activities to the detriment of our state,' the SBU said in a statement.

The detainees are a 40-year-old man and a woman, both ex-soldiers with Ukrainian nationality. Kyiv claims they were supervised by a 'career Hungarian intelligence officer'.

They both now face up to life in prison on charges of high treason.

The SBU added that in addition to gathering military intelligence, the alleged spies were were studying 'the socio-political views of local residents, in particular, scenarios of their behaviour if Hungarian troops entered the region'.

The SBU security service detained two alleged spies it claimed had sought to obtain information about the Ukrainian military

Security service agents conducted raids on the alleged spies' homes and seized their phones and other material evidence this week

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shaking hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting in the Kemlin in Moscow

Hungarian officials swiftly rebuffed the accusations as Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto urged 'everyone to be wary of any such Ukrainian propaganda'.

'If we get any details or official information, then we will be able to address this, but until then I have to classify this as propaganda that should be treated with caution,' he told reporters in Budapest.

Despite its membership to EU and NATO, Hungary under Orban maintains strong relations with the Kremlin.

Orban has refused to provide Kyiv with military aid and rejected European plans to phase out Russian energy imports while decrying the West's 'irrational' attempts to isolate Moscow.

Meanwhile, Zakarpattia - a region of Western Ukraine in the Carpathian mountains bordering Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia, remains a point of tension between Kyiv and Budapest.

According to the last official census in 2001, around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians lived in Zakarpattia and right-wing members of Hungary's political elite have insisted the region should be a Hungarian protectorate rather than part of Ukraine.

Orban's government and Kyiv have also clashed over the community's language and cultural rights.

Orban's government and Kyiv have clashed over the Hungarian community's language and cultural rights in Zakarpattia (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pictured)

The alleged spies detained by the SBU are pictured in these images released by Ukraine

The SBU provided a detailed account of the alleged spies action in the statement released this morning.

It claimed the male spy was gathering intelligence about Ukrainian military installations while also recruiting informants in Zakarpattia.

He is said to have crossed into Hungary from Ukraine to report to his Hungarian handler by presenting a document that claimed he was the named caretaker of his sick father who required medical treatment abroad.

This had reportedly enabled him to exit Ukraine even with martial law and travel restrictions for military aged males in effect.

'In March this year, the SSU Counterintelligence documented the second meeting between the agent and his handler. This time, he received a phone with special software for covert communication.

'His new tasks included identifying cars belonging to servicemen of the Security and Defence Forces in Zakarpattia region; finding and passing to the Hungarian special service data on losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the war and current developments on the front line,' the SBU claimed.

The other detainee facing high treason charges is a former servicewoman of the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine, who left her unit earlier this year.

'Her tasks included informing the Hungarian special service on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia region, as well as on the defence systems of the military unit where she had served,' the SBU said.

Security service agents conducted raids on the alleged spies' homes and seized their phones and other material evidence this week.
The luxury hospitality brand which owns Holiday Inn must rethink their decision to operate in a Chinese region where a genocide is said to be taking place, senior parliamentarians have demanded.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith is among those to have signed a cross-party letter to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) demanding answers over the company's activities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China.

Beijing has been accused of subjecting the region's Uyghur Muslim minority to mass surveillance, forced labour and religious repression.

But recent research by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has shown that IHG, which is headquarted in Windsor, is currently operating four hotels in the area, with at least another 16 set to open in the coming years.

The revelation has prompted MPs from a range of parties to question IHG's choice to do business in the region. As well as Sir Iain, the signatories included Labour MPs Blair McDougall, Marie Rimmer and Alex Sobel, the SNP's Chris Law and peers Lord Mackinlay, Lord Shinkwin, Baroness D'Souza and Baroness Meyer.

In a letter seen by MailOnline, they wrote: 'In such an environment, it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for foreign businesses to operate without the risk of benefiting from or contributing to state-led human rights abuses.

'Continued commercial presence in such a context risks signalling tacit endorsement of policies that the UK Government and others have condemned.

'Given growing legal and reputational risks associated with corporate presence in Xinjiang, we strongly urge your company to reassess your operations in the region.

'We respectfully request a formal response to the questions above and appreciate your attention to this issue.'

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith is among those to have signed a cross-party to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) demanding answers over the company's activities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Research by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has shown that IHG, which is headquarted in Windsor, is currently operating four hotels in the area, with at least another 16 set to open in the coming years

In a page now deleted on their website, IHG advertise two Holiday Inn Express hotels with the tagline: 'Searching for a hotel in Xinjiang? IHG Hotels & Resorts has the perfect hotel for your upcoming trip to Xinjiang'

The UHRP report says that five international hotel chains, including IHG, Marriott and Hilton, are all operating in the XUAR.

IHG has hotels in areas administered by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), under targeted sanctions by the UK, US, Canada and the European Union for human rights violations.

Restrictions have also been imposed in the UK to ensure British organisations are not complicit in, nor profiting from, human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

But by conducting business in the XUAR, IHG may be considered to be profiting from tourism in the region where broad suppression is taking place.

In a page now deleted on their website, IHG advertise two Holiday Inn Express hotels with the tagline: 'Searching for a hotel in Xinjiang? IHG Hotels & Resorts has the perfect hotel for your upcoming trip to Xinjiang.

'Our hotels are dedicated to providing exceptional service and a memorable stay for every guest.

'Whether you're seeking luxury, boutique, or budget-friendly accommodations in Xinjiang, we have a hotel brand that will exceed your expectations.

'Discover the perfect IHG hotel in Xinjiang and create unforgettable memories during your visit. Book your stay with us today and let us make your trip exceptional.'

Luke De Pulford, Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, told MailOnline: 'With abuses rife throughout Xinjiang, only those who really dont care about the human cost are seeking to expand.

Its simply impossible for companies to do meaningful human rights due diligence in the region.

'Its "hear no evil, see no evil". With companies like this, customers should vote with their feet.'

A Uyghur woman protests in front of policemen at a street on July 7, 2009 in Urumqi, the capital of the XUAR

The Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center in Xinjiang, believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained

So by conducting business in the XUAR, IHG may be considered to be profiting from tourism in the region where broad suppression is taking place

As well as Sir Iain, the signatories included Labour MPs Blair McDougall, Marie Rimmer and Alex Sobel, the SNP 's Chris Law and peers Lord Shinkwin and Baroness Meyer

Overall, at least 115 hotels from various international brands were operational as of last month, with another 74 in various stages of planning.

Several world governments and legal groups have declared the government's actions against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to be a genocide, although this has not been settled in any international court.

Beijing is attempting to promote Xinjiang as a tourist destination after years of criticism and scrutiny over its treatment of Uyghurs.

In 2024 Xinjiang recorded around 300 million visitors, according to state media, including five million foreign tourists  50 per cent more than in 2023.

The UHRP says that 'many of the newly opened and planned hotels in East Turkistan are not only standard business accommodations located in major cities, but large luxury resorts designed to attract high-end travelers.'

In IHG's case, this includes an InterContinental Hotel in Ghulja City later this year.

IHG were also accused of hosting state propaganda events and promoting state narratives of Uyghur identity, traditions, and culture.

The report says: 'The presence alone of international hotel chains in a region undergoing crimes against humanity and genocide is morally indefensible.

Beijing is attempting to promote Xinjiang as a tourist destination after years of criticism and scrutiny over its treatment of Uyghurs

Dr. Henryk Szadziewski, co-author of the report and Director of Research at the UHRP, said: 'By helping to portray the region as a normal travel destination, international hotel chains risk enabling the ongoing persecution of the Uyghur people'

An immigration detention center where Uyghur detainees are held is seen in Bangkok, Thailand

'By offering high-end accommodation and leisure spaces, international hotel chains contribute to a sanitised image of the region, one that directly serves Beijing's propaganda objectives.'

Dr. Henryk Szadziewski, co-author of the report and Director of Research at the UHRP, added: 'International hotel chains continue to operate and expand their hospitality businesses in a region where Uyghur families have been torn apart by internment, imprisonment, and forced labor.

'By helping to portray the region as a normal travel destination, international hotel chains risk enabling the ongoing persecution of the Uyghur people.'

IHG and the Foreign Office were contacted for comment.
Indian airstrikes on Pakistani controlled Kashmir destroyed a mosque with an 80-year-old man sleeping inside, journalist Zia Ur Rehman has claimed on the latest episode of the Mail's 'Apocalypse Now?' podcast.

Tensions between India and Pakistan reached boiling point after India unleashed airstrikes against parts of Islamabad controlled Kashmir on Wednesday.

India claimed the airstrikes were limited to 'terrorist infrastructure' in the disputed region and retaliatory in nature, a response to 25 Indian tourists being gunned down in Pahalgam, in India-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan denies any involvement in the 22 April attack, but India says it believes the four perpetrators had ties to Islamabad.

Listen to 'Apocalypse Now?' wherever you get your podcasts. Listen now

Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached boiling point after India unleashed airstrikes against parts of Islamabad controlled Kashmir on Wednesday

India claimed the airstrikes were limited to 'terrorist infrastructure' in the disputed region and retaliatory in nature, a response to 25 Indian tourists being gunned down in Phalagam, in India-administered Kashmir

Pakistani journalist Zia Ur Rehman disputes the Indian government's claim that their missile strikes were limited only to terrorist activities

Pakistani journalist Zia Ur Rehman, having visited a part of Kashmir bombed by India, told special correspondent David Patrikarakos that he disputes the Indian government's claim that their missile strikes were limited only to terrorist activities.

'I visited a site in Pakistani-administered-Kashmir, which was one of six sites hit by Indian air strikes on Wednesday', Mr Rehman recalled.

'It was a mosque: there was debris everywhere, rooms and doors were broken. A war-like scene. Residents said they were hit four or five times in the middle of the night.

'The attack killed three people who were sleeping in the mosque. One was a prayer leader. He was 80 years old.

'Neighbouring houses were also damaged. The strikes were basically in the middle of a densely populated neighbourhood of Kashmir.

'India claims they targeted militant training headquarters, but they hit a densely populated neighbourhood. You cannot train militants 200 yards from a mosque.'

Mr Rehman said he believed India was acting on outdated information, striking targets that haven't been connected terrorist activities in over 20 years.

'We noticed a pattern in all six of these attacks', Mr Rehman said.

Mr Rehman said the mood amongst Pakistanis was one that favoured de-escalation. Listen here

Since the airstrikes, India has accused Pakistan of conducting drone strikes against a town in Indian administered Kashmir

Zia Ur Rehman: 'The people want peace.' Listen now

'They attacked mosques that had been linked to a militant group in Kashmir from the 1990s to 2005. But after 2005, an earthquake hit Kashmir. It devastated the area  afterwards, this neighbourhood emerged as a popular civilian area.

'Since then, the mosque has been a community mosque, where hundreds of people pray five times a day.'

'India is keeping all its old files. Their intelligence is outdated, and they don't seem to know about current terrorist phenomena: which hideouts are being used or not.'

Since the airstrikes, India has accused Pakistan of conducting drone strikes against a town in Indian administered Kashmir.

Mr Rehman said the mood amongst Pakistanis was one that favoured de-escalation, with civilians wanting the international community to intervene to stop a quickly emerging cycle of retaliatory destruction.

'The people want peace', Mr Rehman said.

'But there is also a sentiment that that if India attacks first, Pakistan should respond because it becomes an issue of defending your own land.

'Most people say there should be peace talks, and that the international community should intervene to stop this from escalating anymore.'

Search for 'Apocalypse Now?' with special guest Zia Ur Rehman wherever you get your podcasts.
The end of jury selection for Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex-trafficking federal trial in New York has been delayed until Monday after the judge granted the defense's request.

The rapper, 55, has kept an upbeat demeanor throughout the closed process - the trial will not be televised because it is in federal court and all recording devices are banned.

On Friday, it emerged that prosecutors have added someone to the witness list they are calling 'Victim 5.' The defense had tried to keep their story out of the trial but the judge admitted some of their testimony.

Diddy's lead attorney revealed the defense will claim the rapper and his ex-girlfriend Cassie engaged in mutual violence throughout their relationship.

Diddy will reportedly admit to domestic violence while claiming he is innocent of sex-trafficking and racketeering.

Over the last week, Judge Arun Subramanian has been questioning prospective jurors one at a time to see who can be fair and unbiased.

Combs has watched from his seat at the defense table, scanning the courtroom for supporters and even nodding and smile to potential jurors.
A South African woman who was abducted, disemboweled, raped, and nearly decapitated has written a book detailing her horrific ordeal.

Alison Botha was just 27 when she was subjected to a sickening attack that left her having to hold onto her intestines as her partially-decapitated head 'flopped backwards and almost rested between [her] shoulder blades.'

She was working as an insurance broker when, on December 18, 1994, after spending an evening with friends, she drove home to her apartment in Port Elizabeth.

Alison had just parked her car and was reaching to the passenger seat to get her laundry when the nightmare began.

She recalled how a blonde man pushed his way into her vehicle and left her frozen with fear.

Frans Du Toit, a police officer's son, threatened to kill her, stating he didn't mean any harm but needed to use the car for an hour.

In a desperate attempt to build a rapport with her kidnapper, Alison offered him the vehicle.

But he insisted he 'wanted company', according to Morbid, a true crime podcast, citing her book I Have Life: Alison's Journey.

Alison Botha was just 27 when she was subjected to a sickening attack in South Africa that left her having to hold onto her intestines as her partially-decapitated head 'flopped backwards and almost rested between [her] shoulder blades'

She was working as an insurance broker when, on December 18, 1994, after spending an evening with friends, she drove home to her apartment in Port Elizabeth

The two attackers were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1995. Pictured: Theuns Kruger

Pictured: Alison's book: I Have Life

After travelling a distance from the town, Du Toit passed by a crowd of people on the street twice, his eyes scanning for one individual - Theuns Kruger.

The short man, who was dressed entirely in black, approached the driver's side and climbed into the car.

Du Toit, who had introduced himself under the false name 'Clinton', adjusted the driver's seat forward as Kruger got in, introducing Alison (who was also using a pseudonym) as his friend Susan.

The journey to a suburb outside Port Elizabeth was eerily quiet until the deafening silence was broken by Du Toit declaring 'Theuns doesn't speak good English.'

Approaching a wooded area, Du Toit slowed down and parked on the sand.

Kruger exited the car and 'Clinton' proceeded to rape Alison.

Kruger began to assault her too but abruptly stopped, exclaiming, 'No I can't do this' inadvertently shouting 'Frans' at his accomplice. Alison committed this name to memory.

Frans then warned Alison, 'If we take you into town now you'll go to the police.'

Du Toit then asked a terrifying question, saying: 'What do you think Oom Nick would want us to do with her.'

Oom Nick is an Afrikaans reference to Satan.

Kruger responded: 'I think he wants us to kill her.'

Alison has tirelessly spoken to hundreds of people, inspiring others by sharing how attitude, belief, and choice helped her survive

Recognised for her incredible courage Alison was given the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Award for 'Courage Beyond the Norm'

Pictured: Alison signing her book: I Have Life

The evil duo forced Alison to remove her rings and clothes before Du Toit strangled her until she passed out.

Disturbingly, Alison remembered Du Toit apologising to her in the moments before she lost consciousness.

She then woke up surrounded by rubbish before she saw a man's arm slashing in front of her eyes and came to the terrifying realisation that he was cutting her throat.

Alison has described the horrifying moment she 'could hear the flesh slit' in her book.

It was later determined the men slit her throat 16 times, and Alison was nearly decapitated.

The attack then stopped abruptly and Alison managed to turn over on to her front.

She remembered: 'I tried to hold my breath, but I realised I had no control over my breathing - I moved my hand up to cover my neck - my whole hand disappeared into it, but it seemed to have worked - the sound was silenced.'

Pretending to be dead, she heard one assailant ask if she was deceased with the other replying 'no one can survive that'.

Holding on to hope that her attackers would face justice, Alison scrawled her attackers' names in the sand, adding 'I love mom.'

She then spotted some lights and realised she was closer to the road than she initially thought.

Alison managed to muster enough strength to push herself up to her knees before she touched her stomach and felt something 'tepid, wet and slimy'.

Looking down, she was confronted with the disturbing sight of her intestines hanging out from a gaping wound.

Alison added: 'My head had flopped backwards and almost rested between my shoulder blades. I expected to feel something but was completely taken aback when my hand disappeared inside me almost like I had swallowed myself.'

With one hand holding her head stable and the other on her stomach wound she managed to reach the middle of the road, where she lay horizontally to force drivers to stop.

Despite desperately waving for help, the first car swerved to avoid her.

But eventually a woman and a young man came to her rescue.

It was 2.45 am by the time she was found - meaning the time period between her abduction and her discovery had taken only an hour and a half.

It was Tiaan Eilerd, a vet, who stumbled across Alison that evening.

Tiaan was shocked that Alison was still alive, describing her as a 'creature straight out of a Dickens novel' with her neck split open 'almost ear to ear'.

Alison's intestines had been stabbed multiple times, and her abdominal muscles were badly damaged.

She later revealed that one of the men told her they were intentionally trying to mutilate her reproductive organs.

However, miraculously, she went on to have two children.

After hours of surgery, Alison was transferred to the ICU.

As news of her attack spread, police discovered that the pair were already on bail for rape.

Both men claimed to be Satanists and pleaded guilty to kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder.

Du Toit had raped another woman but said the 'urge to kill her had passed' after he raped her.

Both men were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1995.

When there was a chance the law might change in 2012, Alison said: 'Can you imagine if just 100 lifers were reintroduced to society without rehabilitation.'

Her campaigning efforts were instrumental in ensuring that such prisoners remained behind bars.

But, on July 4, 2023, Du Toit and Kruger, who had served only 28 years of their life sentence, were granted parole without anyone notifying Alison.

On her Facebook page, Alison expressed her shock: 'The day I hoped and prayed would never come. When I was asked 'How will you feel if they ever get parole?'  my immediate answer was always  'I'm hoping I'll never find out'.'

Alison has bravely recounted her harrowing ordeal and remarkable survival through her book I Have Life and the 2016 documentary film Alison.

She has also tirelessly spoken to hundreds of people, inspiring others by sharing how attitude, belief, and choice helped her survive.

Recognised for her incredible courage, Alison was given the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Award for Courage Beyond the Norm.

In the same year she was the first recipient of Femina magazine's Woman of Courage award as well as being chosen as Port Elizabeth's Citizen of the Year.

Upon the release of the movie, Alison said: 'I have always hoped that by sharing my own journey with others, it would give them hope and courage for their own.

'To have my story and ultimate triumph shared on screen would mean that so many more people would see the power of choice that we each have; and might also choose to triumph over life's hardships'.
'Revenge' for a planning dispute or the desire to get a souvenir for a newborn girl were the possible reasons two groundworkers cut down Britain's most famous tree, it can be revealed today as they were both found guilty.

Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, face up to ten years in prison for felling the Sycamore Gap tree during a 'moronic mission' which lasted less than three minutes, and causing damage to Hadrian's Wall in the process.

Jurors found the pair guilty after their friendship degenerated and they tried to pin the blame on each other in court. The verdicts were delivered after five hours of deliberations.

The trial previously heard that Carruthers might have chopped down the tree so he could present it to his newborn baby girl as a 'trophy' - without realising the revulsion this would cause.

Another theory is that the plot to chop down the tree was hatched as Graham was facing removal from his ramshackle home in the shadow of Hadrian's Wall - branded a 'shanty town' by long-suffering neighbours.

Some locals in the remote rural area are convinced that the groundworker's motive in targeting the iconic tree stems from his grievance with authority over his failure to secure planning approval for the eyesore he created in the unspoilt landscape.

Graham bought a small plot of farmland in Grinsdale Bridge near the Cumbrian village of Kirkandrews-on-Eden in 2015, the Telegraph reported.

There he quickly established a number of buildings on the property and gained planning permission for a stable block, horse shelter and storage units.

But locals complained when Graham moved into a caravan on the site shortly afterwards, using it as the base for his business, DM Graham Groundworks  which lists tree clearance among its services.

Daniel Graham, left, and Adam Carruthers, right, face up to ten years in prison for felling the Sycamore Gap tree

The Sycamore Gap tree fell onto Hadrian's Wall when it was cut down. The tree was made famous by actor Kevin Costner when it appeared in his 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

Graham bought a small plot of farmland in Grinsdale Bridge in Cumbria in 2015, it was reported

Graham quickly established a number of buildings on the property in Cumbria and gained planning permission for a stable block, horse shelter and storage units

Locals complained when Graham moved into a caravan on the site, using it as the base for his business, DM Graham Groundworks  which lists tree clearance among its services

He developed the land - which he named Millbeck Stables - into a sprawling 'shanty town'.

When neighbours complained about additional prefab buildings erected without planning permission, the noise of his dogs and the constant to-ing and fro-ing of the lorries he used in his groundwork business they were met with aggression.

Subscribe to The Crime Desk to hear exclusive coverage of the Sycamore Gap trial on The Trial+ Join here Advertisement

A neighbour told the Telegraph that Graham had 'completely destroyed the look and peace of this area' and that 'harsh words' had been exchanged.

'It was unbelievable that he managed to establish a home there on what had previously been a green field,' they said.

Graham applied to Cumberland Council for permission to live there lawfully in October 2022 despite never having sought planning permission, the Sun reported.

But after neighbours objected and the local parish council said people felt threatened by his 'dominant and oppressive behaviour' it was rejected in April 2023  leaving him facing eviction.

Just five months later, he and Carruthers chopped down the famous tree.

Now some locals believe the 'moronic' Sycamore Gap outrage was his bid for revenge on all those he felt had wronged him.

'It's what everyone around here was saying and it makes perfect sense,' one told the Sun.

'He considered that caravan his permanent home and had asked the council to legally recognise that.

'When they refused the only way it could ever have ended for him was being evicted.

'He's a tree surgeon, he cuts trees down all the time  what better way, in his eyes, for him to take revenge?'

The 150-year-old sycamore was felled in 2023 in an act which stunned the nation

Grabs from an enhanced version of mobile phone footage showing the Sycamore Gap being felled in September 2023, which was shown at Newcastle Crown Court

Meanwhile Graham appealed to the planning inspectorate in a bid to avoid eviction, but that was turned down on April 28, the day before his trial began.

He has six months to find somewhere else to live  however his immediate future is now behind bars.

Sycamore Gap timeline: How damage to the landmark tree unfolded  September 28, 2023 12.32am A video is made on Daniel Graham's phone showing the sound of a chainsaw, followed by the sound of a tree falling

A video is made on Daniel Graham's phone showing the sound of a chainsaw, followed by the sound of a tree falling 9.46am Police receive a report that the Sycamore Gap tree has been damaged. The investigation begins  October 31, 2023 Graham and Adam Carruthers are arrested and interviewed. Police find two chainsaws, and a chainsaw blade and cover at Graham's house  November 3, 2023 Graham and Carruthers are arrested and interviewed again. Carruthers' property is searched and a chainsaw is found  April 30, 2024 Graham and Carruthers are charged with criminal damage. They both later plead not guilty. - April 28, 2025 The trial of Graham and Carruthers begins at Newcastle Crown Court - May 9, 2025 Graham and Carruthers are found guilty of cutting down the tree in an act of 'deliberate and mindless criminal damage' July 15, 2025 Graham and Carruthers will be sentenced Advertisement

A neighbour Grinsdale Bridge described Graham as a 'sociopath and a bully.'

'I feel certain that he was the driving force behind what happened at Sycamore Gap because Adam doesn't have the brains to plan such a thing,' they added.

Even Graham's grandmother, Joan, 86, was unable to muster a good word about her grandson.

'He hasn't been part of my life for a few years and I'm happy for it to stay that way,' she said. 'I don't think he'll cope well in jail but that's his own fault.'

Graham and Carruthers, both from Cumbria, drove for 30 miles through a storm, then filmed themselves cutting down the iconic landmark in the early hours of September 28, 2023.

Carruthers then forwarded the video to his partner as they fled the scene.

The following morning, when news broke of the vandalism, the pair shared social media posts about the tree with Graham saying to Carruthers 'here we go,' as they 'revelled' in news reports about the crime.

Prosecutors said the friends thought it would be 'a bit of a laugh' - but realised they 'weren't the big men they thought they were' when they saw the public outrage they had caused by committing 'the arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery'.

Graham and Carruthers were found guilty of causing 622,191 of criminal damage to the tree and 1,144 of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Both defendants stared straight ahead and showed little emotion as the guilty verdicts were read to the court. Carruthers sat with hands clasped in front of him, while Graham lifted a hand to his face and stroked his beard.

The sycamore had stood for more than 100 years and achieved worldwide fame when it was featured in the 1991 Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman film, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

The trial heard that the police investigation into the damage included people who had issues with the National Trust, and even a young boy who reported his brother.

Opening the case to jurors, prosecutor Richard Wright KC said: 'Though the tree had grown for over a hundred years, the act of irreparably damaging it was the work of a matter of minutes.'

Graham and Carruthers were 'best of pals' at the time and regularly worked together felling trees.

Graham's Land Rover was picked up on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras between Carlisle and Sycamore Gap at night on September 27 2023, and returning early the next morning. His phone was traced to cell sites making the same journey.

A court sketch of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers appearing in the dock at Newcastle Magistrates' Court

The Sycamore Gap tree is pictured here in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner

When police arrested the pair and searched Graham's phone, they found a two minute and 41 second video which showed the sycamore being cut down at 12.30am on September 28, and had been sent to Carruthers.

They also found photos and videos of a wedge of tree trunk and a chainsaw in the boot of Graham's Range Rover, although these have never been found.

Messages and voice notes between Graham and Carruthers the next day showed them talking about the story going 'wild' and 'viral', referring to 'an operation like we did last night' and joking that damage looked like it had been done by a professional.

A man named Kevin Hartness posted about the tree on Facebook, writing: 'Some weak people that walk this earth; disgusting behaviour.'

Carruthers sent this post to Graham, and later sent a voice note in which he said: 'I'd like to see Kevin Hartness launch an operation like we did last night I don't think he's got the minerals.'

In August last year, Graham made an anonymous phone call to the police in an attempt to implicate his friend and save himself.

Groundworker Daniel Graham (left), 39, and mechanic Adam Carruthers (right), 32, had denied two counts of criminal damage in relation to the tree and Hadrian's Wall

An image found on Daniel Graham's phone of a chainsaw and wedge from the tree in the boot of his car

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, pictured working together. The relationship between the pair has evidently broken down since

The Sycamore Gap featured in the 1991 blockbuster Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (pictured) starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman

Officers instantly recognised his voice as he told them that 'one of the lads that [did] it, Adam Carruthers,' had taken his chainsaws back home.

The 'anonymous caller' said if police searched Carruthers' home and workshop they would find the saws and part of the felled tree, along with a shotgun and a pistol.

No firearms, chainsaws or the tree wedge were found, however.

On December 1, 2024, days before the trial was originally scheduled to begin, Graham took to Facebook to accuse Carruthers of felling the tree, posting a series of images of his former friend.

'I truly would not do it,' he wrote.

'It's my picture everywhere. Well, here's a picture of the man with [the] hidden face.'

In a tense exchange with Mr Wright during his cross examination, Graham tried to justify turning on his friend.

A photograph that was shown to the jury during the trial, showing a collection of chainsaws

Costner, who plays the protagonist, and Freeman, who plays warrior Azeem, visit the tree in the movie

Police vehicles near the location of the tree next to Hadrian's Wall the day after it was cut down

Graham, pictured, tried to justify turning on his friend

He said Carruthers and an associate had tried to intimidate him into taking the blame for cutting down the tree, insisting that the criminal justice system would be lenient towards him due to his mental health issues.

He added: 'If someone is costing me money and affecting my business then I will f***ing grass.

'No doubt about it he [Carruthers] is the one holding the chainsaw. Adam felled the tree, I don't know 100 per cent who the other person was.

'I was annoyed about my business suffering through his actions.'

To explain away number plate and phone site evidence against him, Graham insisted that Carruthers and an accomplice had taken his car, with his phone inside, and driven to the Sycamore Gap without his knowledge while he had been sleeping in his caravan.

Graham and Carruthers, seen here in a court sketch, were arrested in connection with the felling of the tree in October 2023

Graham (pictured) insisted that Carruthers and an accomplice had taken his car, with his phone inside, and driven to the Sycamore Gap without his knowledge while he had been sleeping in his caravan

Adam Carruthers now faces up to ten years in prison

Adam Carruthers outside Newcastle Crown Court yesterday

Part of the tree had been marked with white paint, indicating the culprits felled it with a chainsaw

Carruthers, for his part, did not directly accuse Graham of being involved in felling the tree.

But he insisted that on the evening the tree was felled he had tried to take his partner and young children for a meal at the Metrocentre in Gateshead but turned back because their 11-day-old baby was unsettled.

Jurors rejected these flimsy alibis and found the pair unanimously guilty of causing criminal damage worth 622,191 to the tree and 1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco world heritage site owned by the National Trust.

They now face up to ten years in prison.
A foiled attack on the Israeli embassy in London was plotted by Irans notorious Revolutionary Guard to derail nuclear peace talks with the US, it has been reported.

MI5 and counter-terror police swooped in a series of raids on Saturday to arrest four Iranians and stop an imminent assault on the embassy, a stones throw away from Kensington Palace in central London.

Sources inside the regime told the Daily Telegraph that a hardline faction within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sanctioned the attack.

The alleged plot involved gunmen launching an assault on the embassy, the newspaper reported.

Security minister Dan Jarvis this week described the arrest of the four alleged plotters, and that of a second Iranian cell suspected of espionage activity, as 'some of the largest counter state threats and counter-terrorism actions we have seen in recent times.'

The threat was considered so serious that armed special forces teams were drafted in to assist counter terrorism officers carry out raids of properties in Rochdale, Swindon, London, Manchester and Stockport in unprecedented scenes.

Iran has officially denied any involvement and even suggested the alleged plot was a false flag operation designed to discredit the regime.

But an Iranian official in Tehran told the Telegraph an internal investigation had been launched into whether the attack had been sanctioned from within to disrupt talks over the countrys nuclear programme.

The Israeli embassy in London, which was believed to be the target of a group of suspected Iranian terrorists

Pictures of a raid in Rochdale shows three officers dressed in black and two other men dressed in camo gear escorting a suspect out of a property

Undercover police officers also swooped on a suspected Iranian terrorist in Swindon on Saturday after posing as customers in a cafe

Not everyone in the Sepah [IRGC] is happy with the talks with the Americans, and an investigation has begun to understand whats going on with these arrests, they said.

The plot had not been discussed at leadership level, the source added.

There are many others who could have plotted it without informing senior commanders, they said.

The investigation will clarify the facts. An attack on the embassy and subsequent international outrage may have forced the US to cancel talks over Irans nuclear programme.

The official added: They could have targeted Israeli assets anywhere in the region, but they chose London, the heart of Europe, because thats the only way to disrupt the [nuclear] negotiations.

We are almost certain that whoever did it was motivated by the progress being made in the talks.

Pictured are a group of Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers outside a home in Rochdale during another raid on Saturday

Pictured: Police forensic officers search a house on May 04, 2025 in Rochdale, England, following a counter terrorism raid

A window in the property in Rochdale that was raided appears to have been smashed. Locals reportedly heard a series of loud explosions before the suspects were detained

Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks on Israeli embassies across Europe in the last year.

The ongoing negotiations are aimed at curbing Irans nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

The nation is currently enriching uranium to purity above the limits set by a 2015 agreement with five member states of the United Nations  but it is below the 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade material.

The IRGC, which controls Irans military operations overseas, has overtly offered support for the nuclear talks. Rasoul Sanaeirad, political deputy in Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis office, has said: The IRGC supports the team negotiating with America.

This position marks a u-turn from the IRGCs longstanding stance of complete distrust of the US.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) said the arrests on Saturday 'reflect some of the biggest counter-state threat and counter-terrorism operations we have seen in recent years'

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who said he was 'disturbed to learn that Iranian citizens have reportedly been arrested by UK security services'

Its former vice president, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, said earlier this month: I had said that the further the negotiations go and the more positive the outcome, the more opponents of the negotiations will start to mobilise on both sides and blow up a mine right in the middle of the negotiating table.

But the notable thing is that even the hardliners opposed to negotiations in Iran have remained silent and are not seriously disrupting the work.
China, Russia example of relations, cooperation between major countries: joint statement

Xinhua) 09:19, May 09, 2025

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia have set a model for the world on building new-type international relations as well as on developing cooperation between major countries and between the countries as each other's biggest neighbor, said a bilateral joint statement on Thursday.

The joint statement on further deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era was released after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in the Russian capital.

The statement noted that the relations between China and Russia have reached the highest level in history with a steady and across-the-board development.

China and Russia are each other's important trade partner, and the two sides agree that the bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation has strongly contributed to the improvement of the well-being of the two peoples, the statement said.

In efforts to further enhance the cooperation, China and Russia agree to push for a stable expansion of two-way trade with an optimized structure through lifting the share of high-tech products and fostering innovative forms of e-commerce, among other efforts.

They will work to deepen investment cooperation and consolidate the overall energy cooperation partnership, according to the statement.

The two sides will also jointly explore the potential in science and technology cooperation, finding new direction in areas including innovation and basic and applied researches, conducting regular selection and implementation of joint programs, and encouraging new patterns for collaboration, according to the statement.

The statement said that the two countries will comprehensively deepen their practical cooperation in fields ranging from economic and trade, customs, agriculture, transportation, finance, industry, environmental protection, aerospace and satellite navigation, nuclear energy, urban construction to health care and information and communication technology, ensuring a higher-quality and upgraded bilateral cooperation by 2030.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
The Trump administration's latest trade deal with Britain unfairly penalizes US automakers that have partnered with Canada and Mexico, a trade group representing Detroit automakers said Thursday.

In a sharply-worded statement, the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) said the US-UK trade deal "hurts American automakers, suppliers, and auto workers," according to the group's president Matt Blunt.

The deal unveiled Thursday between US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer lowers the tariff on British vehicles to 10 percent from 27.5 percent on the first 100,000 cars shipped from Britain to the United States.

In contrast, AAPC members Ford, General Motors Company and Jeep-maker Stellantis now face import tariffs of 25 percent on autos assembled in Canada and Mexico. The Detroit companies organized their supply chains around the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which Trump negotiated in his first term.

"We are disappointed that the administration prioritized the UK ahead of our North American partners," Blunt said. "Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a UK vehicle with very little US content than a USMCA compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts."

Trump last week unveiled some steps to lessen the impact of tariffs on imported auto parts in moves applauded by GM and Ford.

The Trump administration will allow companies that assemble autos in the United States to deduct a fraction of the cost of imported parts for two years to give the industry enough time to relocate supply chains.

In another change, the administration said companies wouldn't face a 25 percent levy on imported steel or aluminum in addition to a 25 percent levy for an imported vehicle.

But last weeks' changes did not soften the 25 percent tariff on imported finished autos.

The Trump administration plans to negotiate separate agreements with Japan, South Korea and the European Union, all of which export finished autos to the United States.

"We hope this preferential access for UK vehicles over North American ones does not set a precedent for future negotiations with Asian and European competitors," Blunt said.
NSW paramedics have refused to take part in a pilot initiative aimed at offering a 'rapid response' for mental health patients.

The action has been launched by the NSW Ambulance's Mental Health Clinician Responder Team (MHCRT).

The unit will be formed of specialist paramedics alongside a specialist mental health nurse to respond promptly to patients' needs and lower hospital wait times.

But the Australian Paramedics Association of NSW has accused the trial of putting medics, nurses and patients at risk, and members are banned from taking part in the initiative.

'Our patients in need of mental healthcare deserve better than being treated as an afterthought,' paramedic and the union's assistant secretary Gary Wilson said.

'This action is about safety. These safety risks have been raised on an ongoing basis with representatives of the employer since February.

'To date their response to these concerns has been little more than "computer says no".'

Mr Wilson said the service only had a handful of trained specialist operations paramedics (SOT) who must be available when required.

NSW Ambulance has announced a pilot which will combine specialist paramedics and mental health units to offer a 'rapid response' to patients

'If our extremely limited SOT resources are used to cover for (NSW) Health's failure to provide appropriate mental health services rather than treated as the scarce, highly specialised essential resources they are safety will continue to be compromised,' he said.

NSW paramedics said on Wednesday they would refuse any action implementing the MHCRT program, including relocating resources or participating in training.

The union also called for NSW Ambulance to stop plans that use 'scarcely resourced special operations paramedic teams' for a trial of mental health carers.

Instead, it urged for the expansion of the Mental Health Acute Assessment Team model.

A NSW Ambulance spokesperson told news.com.au that the safety of clinicians, patients, and the community was the 'top priority'.

'NSW Ambulance assures the community that SOT qualified paramedics will remain available for incidents that require their specialist skills,' the spokesperson said.

'The MHCRT trial involves NSW Ambulance SOT paramedics working with NSW Health mental health nurses hosted by Western Sydney Local Health District.'

They said the trial could improve mental health patients' experiences through rapid responses, assessments and referrals to the most appropriate mental health pathway.

Paramedic and the union's assistant secretary Gary Wilson

It could also reduce waiting times at emergency departments.

The spokesperson said that, during the consultation period, risks and control measures were undertaken and shared with the union and other stakeholders.

But the union has requested for the matter to be urgently listed at the Industrial Relations Commission, which is due to be heard on Monday.

NSW Ambulance said it was committed to continue discussions during the commission session.
A jockey has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 71-year-old man who died following a fight outside a pub.

Levi Williams, 26, is alleged to have punched Richard Wingrove during an incident involving four people outside the Waggon and Horses pub in Newmarket, Suffolk, on March 8.

Mr Wingrove died 10 days later at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, on March 18.

Williams, of Holland Park in Newmarket, Suffolk, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during Friday's hearing at Cambridge Crown Court.

The court heard the defendant is now facing a second charge, of the manslaughter of Mr Wingrove.

Williams was not asked to enter a plea to either count.

Judge Mark Bishop remanded Williams in custody until a plea hearing on June 27 at the same court.

He told the defendant: 'Levi Williams, I'm adjourning arraignment to June 27 once the prosecution have served the pathology evidence.'

Jocky Levi Williams (pictured), 25, from Holland Park, has been charged with the murder of a 71-year-old man who died following a fight outside a pub in Newmarket, Suffolk

Officers were called to reports of an altercation involving four people outside the Waggon and Horses pub (pictured) on the high street in Newmarket at 3.40pm on March 8

Williams (left) is pictured here riding his first winner Mr Scaramanga at Lingfield, Surrey, in January 2019

A provisional trial date of September 15 was set at an earlier hearing and remains.

Suffolk Police said officers were called to reports of an altercation involving four people in Newmarket High Street at 3.40pm on March 8.

Mr Wingrove was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died on March 18.

Another man, 45, was taken to hospital and was discharged later in the evening on March 8, the force said.

Williams had previously been arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident and had been bailed.

He was rearrested and later charged with murder, police said.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm, and a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of affray, and both were bailed by police.
Locals in a seaside village where a beach was made famous by a hit TV series House of Dragon have said they are 'trapped' in their own homes due to tourists.

Furious residents in Newborough, Anglesey, say hundreds of visitors block the road on their way to the village's beach.

Neighbours held a 'moving blockade' to stop cars last weekend - and have vowed to continue to take action until officials step in.

The Bank Holiday Monday protest involved children holding a 'slow march' to delay cars reaching the beach and highlight the problem to visitors.

Grandmother-of-seven, Annwen Williams, 58, said: 'For years there have been lots of meetings and lots of talk but not enough action.

'Well we are now the action. We're fed up and we need things to change. And we won't be backing down - this weekend's protest won't be the last.

'We'll keep doing them until something is finally done to sort out the village's traffic problems.'

Protest was held after traffic chaos over Easter meant drivers faced a 40 minute drive to make a half-a-mile journey into the village - and mourners reported being delayed for a funeral.

The Welsh beach was used as a filming location for House of the Dragon, particularly in the second season

Furious residents in Newborough, Anglesey, say hundreds of visitors block the road on their way to the village's beach

Much of the traffic was caused by cars trying to reach the sandy beach at Llanddwyn which has just 300 parking spots

Much of the traffic was caused by cars trying to reach the sandy beach at Llanddwyn which has just 300 parking spots.

The Welsh beach was used as a filming location for House of the Dragon, particularly in the second season.

The beach's dramatic coastal scenery and views across to Snowdonia made it an ideal stand-in for the shores of Dragonstone.

Cathy Sands, who runs the area's Facebook page, said: 'The Easter Bank Holiday weekend was an absolute farce, again traffic brought the village to a standstill as visitors used it as a giant car park to queue for the beach.

'The place was rammed. Cars were bumper to bumper - it was an accident waiting to happen.

'This has been going for years but it's getting worse and starting earlier in the year. What we experienced last weekend was as bad as it's ever been - we're dreading what will happen during the summer holiday season.'

She said cars resorted to parking illegally on double-yellow lines or blocking driveways on residential streets.

Cathy said: 'For the double-yellow lines to be effective, they must be properly policed. When they were put down, we were assured this would happen - but it hasn't.

Cathy Sands, who runs the area's Facebook page, said: 'The Easter Bank Holiday weekend was an absolute farce, again traffic brought the village to a standstill as visitors used it as a giant car park to queue for the beach'

Anglesey Council insisted wardens 'regularly' monitor the area - including issuing fixed penalty notices

'At the forest, people were even parking across entrances reserved for the emergency services. Fire is a real risk there and the fire service needs good access to prevent the worst from happening.'

Anglesey Council insisted wardens 'regularly' monitor the area - including issuing fixed penalty notices.

A spokesperson said: 'A parking warden visited Newborough on three separate occasions over the Easter weekend, each at different times.

'During these visits, no issues were identified that fell within the Council's enforcement remit, and as such, no fines were issued. We continue to monitor the area, particularly during periods of good weather when higher visitor numbers are expected.

'We welcome input from the community regarding specific times and locations where enforcement may be needed and are keen to work collaboratively to address any concerns.'
President Donald Trump's White House responded after first American Pope Robert Prevost's anti-MAGA posts resurfaced after his election.

'The president made his reaction to Pope Leo's announcement yesterday he is very proud to have an American Pope,' Catholic White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her briefing.

'It's a great thing and we're praying for him,' she added without discussing the controversy around the new Pope's posts.

Prevost made a series of social media posts critical of the president's policies and often reposts sentiments critical of the Trump administration.

As a result after his election, MAGA unleashed on the Chicago native-turned Pope, calling him a 'piece of s**t liberal' on social media.

This Daily Mail blog is now closed.
A man carrying two large knives has been arrested after attacking the Spanish deputy Prime Minister's bodyguards.

Leading politician Yolanda Diaz was unharmed in the horror attack, with reports suggesting that the second deputy of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was not in the area at the time.

The unnamed Spanish attacker, 44, silently approached the two police guards before launching himself at them when they identified themselves as officers.

The man then headbutted one of the guards hard in the face and pulled two knives from his backpack, which he used to threaten him, La Razon reports.

Police reinforcements swiftly arrived and forced the man to flee to another street, with dramatic footage showing him running while carrying a knife.

He is seen pointing the weapon both at police and himself in the clip.

Fearing he could attack someone with the knife, officers are seen pointing their firearms at him as they tried to subdue him.

Eventually, they managed to use a Taser gun to subdue the attacker.

Leading politician Yolanda Diaz, who is the second deputy of Pedro Sanchez, was unharmed in the horror attack

Another officer hit his arm, forcing him to drop the knives, and he was arrested and handcuffed by the officers.

The attack took place near the Ateneo Theatre in Madrid at around 12pm yesterday, according to local news outlets.

Prado Street, where the attack took place, had to be closed to pedestrians as the dramatic events unfolded.

Police sources rule out political or ideological motives for the attack, according to Spanish media.

The man was accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer and was taken by officers to the National Police Station in Centro.

Yolanda Diaz arrived at the scene after the incident, by which time the area was secured, according to Spanish media.

Yolanda Diaz arrived at the scene after the incident, by which time the area was secured, according to Spanish media

The motive of the attacker is unknown, with reports suggesting he may have been mentally disturbed.

Police sources ruled out political or ideological motives for the attack, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

The sources reportedly claimed that the man attacked the bodyguards as he could have attacked any other person.
A woman whose dismembered body was found on a tourist beach in Gran Canaria has been pictured.

Colombian national Triana Arias, 41, was stabbed in the neck before the killer tried to dismember her body.

Ms Arias had texted a friend to say she was going to a party but was not seen alive after that, according to police.

Her body was later found by a member of the public on Enanos Beach in San Andres on April 27, after an attempt was made to dispose of it elsewhere.

Part of Arias neck was cut off, and police believe she was unconscious and bleeding to death as the killer tried to dismember her legs.

Police arrested a bar owner in Las Palmas on suspicion of murder on Tuesday.

His bar was also cordoned off, with an armed guard stationed outside as law enforcement searched the business, according to The Sun.

A woman whose dismembered body was found on a tourist beach in Gran Canaria has been named for the first time. Colombian national Triana Arias, 41, was stabbed in the neck before the killer tried to dismember her body

Ms Arias had texted a friend to say she was going to a party but was not seen alive after that, according to police. Her body was later found by a member of the public on Enanos Beach in San Andres on April 27, after an attempt was made to dispose of it elsewhere. Pictured: San Andres beach

Forensic experts from the Las Palmas Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) conducted preliminary investigations at the scene before carrying out an autopsy.

Locals were left 'shocked and concerned' by the incident, according to Spanish news outlet Canarias7.

Police have not ruled out additional arrests as the investigation is ongoing.

The bar owner was expected to appear in court by Thursday.
A mother and her unborn child were killed and her husband is fighting for his life after a motorbike crash that almost orphaned their son.

Kristin Cheyenne Moon Martinson, 28, died when the bike she was riding on crashed at an intersection in Piedmont, South Carolina, about 11.30am on Tuesday.

She was six months pregnant and her unborn daughter was also killed. They were pronounced dead in Greenville Memorial Hospital at 8.30pm.

The couple have a two-year-old son named Bentley, who was not on the bike.

Cheyenne's husband Peter Martinson, who was driving, was severely injured and spent the past few days in and out of consciousness.

Family said he had a skull fracture, bleeding and swelling around his brain, multiple facial fractures, and both of his arms were broken.

Kristin Cheyenne Moon Martinson, 28, died and Peter Martinson was severely injured when their motorbike crashed. Their son Bentley, 2, was not with them

Cheyenne was six months pregnant and her unborn daughter was also killed. They were pronounced dead in Greenville Memorial Hospital at 8.30pm

He is in the ICU, heavily sedated and intubated, after undergoing multiple surgeries to keep him alive, and put metal rods in his broken arms.

Martinson is stable but still in critical condition, and the extent of his injuries and prospects of recovery are still unclear.

Cheyenne's mother Becky Moon said he was showing signs of improvement and reflex testing showed promise.

'He is still unconscious, he knows nothing about losing his wife, and unborn daughter, and he is fighting for his own life,' she said.

'The family is waiting for Peter to wake up to make final arrangements for our daughter. Please keep praying for Peter, because Bentley needs his daddy!'

Martinson's friend Amber McCoy said he was aware enough to be annoyed by hospital staff.

'He gave a peace sign and tried to square up with the nurse (in true Peter form). He was able to look at me and he acknowledged who I was,' she said.

Cheyenne's husband Peter Martinson, who was driving, was severely injured and spent the past few days in and out of consciousness

The couple have a two-year-old son named Bentley, who was not on the bike

Others mourned Cheyenne online, including Sommer Lawton who said her death 'feels like losing a part of myself'.

'You werent just my best friend, you were my chosen family for 15 long years, my safe place, my laughter on the hard days,' she wrote.

'Your presence lit up every room and every moment we shared is a memory Ill hold onto for the rest of my life.

'I dont know how to say goodbye, so instead, Ill just say thank you, for everything. Ill carry you with me, always.'

A fundraiser to support Bentley and for Martinson's medical bills has $3,600 in donations so far.

The families have not made any funeral arrangements for Cheyenne as they wait for her husband to wake up and be involved in the planning.
A tip off from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) helped Australian police charge a man with nine child abuse offences including the alleged rape of a child.

Northern Territory officers received an urgent referral from the FBI through the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Wednesday.

Detectives and federal agents from the joint anti-child exploitation team allegedly seized 'large quantities of child abuse material' during a search of an Alice Springs home.

Police have alleged the man, 28, abused a child aged under five-years-old, who was known to him.

'The [alleged] crimes committed by this individual are abhorrent,' NT Police Detective Superintendent Paul Lawson.

'[Allegedly] preying on the most vulnerable members of our community who cannot defend themselves.

'I want to commend the seamless collaboration with our international and federal partners to target this [alleged] offender and bring him before the court.'

The man has been charged with one count of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, two counts of gross indecency with a child under 14 and three counts of producing child abuse material for use via a carriage service.

An Alice Springs man, 28, has been charged with the rape of a child and possessing large amounts of child abuse material (stock image)

NT Police have charged the man with nine offences after they received an urgent referral from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (stock image)

He was also charged with the possession, access and transmission of child abuse material.

The 28-year-old has been remanded to appear in Alice Springs Court on July 10.

AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the force and its partners across Australia were committed to protecting children from sexual predators.

'Offenders cannot hide behind a screen when they carry out these reprehensible and hideous acts,' he said.
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died at the age of 85.

Souter, who was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush, served on the court from 1990 until he retired in 2009.

Sitting Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that Souter did so with 'great distinction' and brought 'uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service.'

'He will be greatly missed,' Roberts added.

Souter earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University, and a masters degree from Oxford as a Rhodes scholar.

He was New Hampshire's attorney general for two years and served as a judge in the state.

Souter, who was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush, served in the court from 1990 until he retired in 2009

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died at the age of 85

Souter was considered a moderate and remained a supportive vote for abortion rights and other left-leaning issues that came before the Supreme Court, even though he was appointed by a Republican president.

In two 1992 rulings Souter helped forge a moderate-liberal coalition that reaffirmed the constitutional right to abortion and the courts longtime ban on officially sponsored prayers in public schools.

Conservative judicial activists were critical of his leftward shift, viewing him as a traitor.

He retired in 2009, allowing President Barack Obama to appoint his replacement. Obama chose Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the court.

Obama praised Souter for his 'feverish work ethic and a good sense of humor, with integrity, equanimity and compassion.'

Justice Souter has shown what it means to be a fair-minded and independent judge,' Obama said. 'He came to the bench with no particular ideology. He never sought to promote a political agenda.'

Once engaged but never married, Souter remained a 'confirmed bachelor' who preferred to spend his free time in rural New Hampshire.

Souter retired earlier than most justices at the age of 69 and returned to New Hampshire.
Hopes for the safe return of a British man missing since he set off on a New Zealand mountain expedition almost a week ago have been boosted after rescuers spotted a torchlight.

Eli Sweeting, 25, sparked a major search and rescue operation when he failed to return from a hike up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday, May 4.

Efforts by 60 search and rescue volunteers to locate Mr Sweeting have been hampered by bad weather and difficult terrain. His family have also flown out to help with the search.

In an update, sister Serena Sweeting said: 'There has been a light spotted at a point along the route down the mountain and all efforts have been focused there.

'Searches have had to be halted over Wednesday and Thursday due to weather warnings.

'The challenges are that the bush is so dense that it is hard for infrared to pick up any signs. Searches are due to continue from Friday, May 9.

A GoFundMe page set up by the family to raise funds for the rescue raised more than 8,700 in the first 24 hours.

Serena added: 'We are looking for financial support to go towards the search and rescue teams to get the people and equipment out there safely as well as seeking people who have drones who could support the teams as sometimes this type of equipment is limited.

Hopes for Eli Sweeting, who has been missing since he set off on a New Zealand mountain expedition almost a week ago, have been boosted after rescuers spotted a torchlight

The 25-year-old sparked a major search and rescue operation when he failed to return from a hike up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday, May 4

He has not been heard from since Sunday, when he went to hike the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound (pictured with his sister Serena)

'We need more people on the ground but this has to be experienced climbers who can safely belay themselves in and out of the area.

'We would also like to raise money for New Zealand search and rescue and Alpine search and rescue and the Real New Zealand to say thank you and to aid them in the incredible life saving work they do.

'Any help and support the family can get will be greatly appreciated in this difficult time. I just pray they find Eli.'

Family friend Samantha Eastwell, 31, also told MailOnline: 'We are all just trying to stay positive, they keep seeing a light so they don't know whether he is alive but when they keep having to call off the search because of the weather.

'He's a very outdoorsy guy and has been in New Zealand for a while. He was dressed for the conditions but Serena told me Eli had only packed for one night.

'The whole family is very, very worried for him.

'Being in the mountains and adventure is what my brother lives for and he spends lots of time preparing for these adventures and training.

'My brother is one of the kindest, most compassionate people in my life and he has always been there for me.

Around 60 search and rescue volunteers as well as 10 police officers supported by helicopters have been scouring the area

'He inspires me to live and get out of my comfort zone as well as listens and genuinely wants to know you and your story.

'Anybody who has met him will know what I mean. He has such a positive, vibrant and supportive energy.

'We just want him home safe.'

Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol moved to New Zealand after graduating from the University of Derby with a degree in outdoor leadership and management.

Until recently he had been working for a boat cruising company but has also worked as a kayak guide and in fields including climbing and watersports.

Darryl Wilson, CEO of Wilsons Abel Tasman, told magazine Eli is a 'bright, engaging, fill the room type person'.

He added: 'Our thoughts are with the family and those who know him, because it is a trying time for everyone, a concerning time.

'Eli is a very resilient individual, so we hope and pray at this point.'

Police said a large number of people had been working through arduous terrain, supported by helicopter crews. Pictured: Milford Sound

According to Eli's profile on Wilsons, after 'countless hours working and adventuring in the outdoors'

Police said a large number of people had been working through arduous terrain, supported by helicopter crews.

Detective Tracy Ward added: 'There is also a huge amount of local support being provided by tourism operator Real NZ at Milford Sound.

'Roughly 60 search and rescue volunteers, 10 police staff and numerous helicopter and tourism staff are working hard to find the missing man.

'The search area is relatively contained but incredibly rugged and difficult to navigate once off the track.

'At times, the search teams are only able to progress 250 metres in an hour.

'While no items of interest have been positively linked to the missing man, a number of clues are being followed up on, and we remain hopeful that there will be a positive outcome.

'The man we are looking for is experienced in the outdoors, and we believe he has suitable clothing and provisions, which can make all the difference.'
Federal agents arrested dozens Dominican nationals during an immigration raid at a construction site in Puerto Rico, according to officials with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos, special agent in charge of HSI in San Juan, said the 53 individuals were taken into custody while working for a private construction company at the Hotel La Concha Renaissance, located in the Condado neighborhood just north of San Juan.

As reported by El Nuevo Dia, Gonzalez-Ramos said none of the individuals had identification documents, and some admitted they did not have legal immigration status.

The people were then transported to immigration facilities in San Juan for further processing. Gonzalez-Ramos said the raid was part of ongoing compliance inspections conducted at businesses to identify whether they employ unauthorized workers.

"We're going to determine if anyone is in violation of a criminal offense in order to bring federal charges and coordinate with the U.S. Attorney's Office," Gonzalez-Ramos said, adding that authorities have conducted 238 business inspections so far this year.

Arrests of undocumented immigrants in U.S. territories, particularly in Puerto Rico, have increased since the start of the Trump administration, the report said.

Gonzalez-Ramos said that prior to the May 8 operation, authorities had already detained 364 individuals without legal status in 2025. Of those, 67 were charged with serious criminal offenses, including one who had previously been deported.

She did not specify how many of the 364 have been released or how many are undergoing administrative proceedings in federal immigration court as first-time offenders.

According to ICE-HSI data, of the 364 individuals arrested so far this year in Puerto Rico, 245 are from the Dominican Republic, 31 from Haiti, 16 from Venezuela, 12 from Mexico, 9 from Brazil, and 6 from China.

Cesar Julio Cedeno Avila, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in Puerto Rico, confirmed to El Nuevo Dia that he has remained in contact with the detained individuals and said none of them had legal immigration status. He urged Dominicans seeking to move to Puerto Rico to pursue legal pathways to avoid detention.

Originally published on Latin Times
The Biden Crime family has sunk to its last big grift.

With their post-presidency crashing into the rocks of history there's nothing left for Doddering Joe and co-captain Jill, but to sell their sob stories to the highest bidder.

Now, the pair are rumored to be looking at a $30 million payday for a 'his and hers' tell-all twin set (less than half of the Obamas's, that's gotta sting).

But Bumbling Biden's tome is going to be short on substance if his performance on The View on Thursday is any measure. The Ladies had to lean-in, struggling to make out his mumbles (or preparing to catch him if he fell), as soft-ball questions bounced off his noggin.

Loser Joe told a simpering Joy Behar that he could have 'beat' Donald Trump in the 2024 race, then described his successor as 'vacant.' It was almost as if the last four years never happened  and, perhaps, by Joe's memory, they haven't.

Indeed, that was the 'mic drop moment' for old butter fingers who's better at holding ice cream cones than audiences.

On the other hand, there will be no shortage of print-venom for Lady MacBiden to hiss at the likes of Nancy Pelosi, George Clooney, Big Bad Barack, and of course her ultimate nemesis: Kamala.

Jill reportedly kept a daily diary during her White House years and the notoriously vengeful First Lady likely has some serious grudges that she'd likely be delighted to revisit.

The Biden Crime family has sunk to its last big grift. With their post-presidency crashing into the rocks of history there's nothing left for Doddering Joe and co-captain Jill, but to sell their sob stories to the highest bidder.

Loser Joe told a simpering Joy Behar that he could have 'beat' Donald Trump in the 2024 race, then described his successor as 'vacant.' It was almost as if the last four years never happened  and, perhaps, by Joe's memory, they haven't.

There will be no shortage of print-venom for Lady MacBiden to hiss at the likes of Nancy Pelosi, George Clooney, Big Bad Barack, and of course her ultimate nemesis: Kamala.

In fact, I managed to get my paws on an advance (fictional) copy of Jill's memoir  and you'll never believe what's in it:

Working Title: 'Weekend at Joey's: Just Sniffing Around'

Chapter 5: Biden my time

Between dodging Hunter's loan requests (he said he needed new paint brushes) and texting mainstream media chumps about how spry and coherent my husband was, I had started to grow very wary of Kamala.

First, I caught her sprinkling something into Joe's orange Gatorade. But she already knew that only I administer his pep juice.

Then when Joe and I were in Asia for our last summit, she showed up to the hotel room with crampons and climbing ropes, claiming she wanted to take the president on a 'little jaunt' up to Everest base camp. He couldn't even walk across the White House lawn without a sherpa.

The only thing worse than Kamala's scheming was Doug Emhoff's repeated suggestions that he and I go out for drinks.

Chapter 14: Camp-tastrophe

The day before Joey faced off against Dream Boat Donald in the first presidential debate, I was convinced it was going to be a disaster.

The extended Biden family (minus Hunter's daughter Navy, of course) were hunkered down for debate prep at Camp David. But all the president wanted to do was soak in an Epsom bath, sniff his own hair and mutter, 'who's the pretty girl?'

Once, he showed up for his remedial civics class wearing his CPAC mask.

In Joe's defense, prep sessions are held at 6pm, which is essentially the middle of the night for him.

I reached out to our former flack Jen Psaki for some pre-emptive crisis PR, but she told me: 'Let me circle back, Dr. Jill. Ok? Buh bye.' Well, the joke is on ole' Carrot Top. She got more airtime as White House shill then a host at MSNBC.

Chapter 15: The emperor has no brains

Seeing Joe shuffle onto that Atlanta stage was like watching a lemming headed for the cliffs. And sexy Trump was waiting there like a Cheshire cat ready to consume the poor little guy.

Then... I blacked out. I have no memory of the debate  thank God!

That's why I told Joe had done a good job. I, literally, had no idea what happened. 'You answered every question, you knew all the facts,' I said to him before a cheering crowd of trans activists and Ukrainian businessmen.

Only later did I realize just how badly it had all gone. After Judas Napoleon (aka George Stephanopoulos) let slip that he didn't think Joe could 'serve four more years,' I felt the trappings of the White House slipping from my grasp.

In a moment of weakness, I considered packing Joe a PB&J, putting him on an Amtrak to Florida and letting him wander off into the Everglades.

Between dodging Hunter's loan requests (he said he needed new paint brushes) and texting mainstream media chumps about how spry and coherent my husband was, I had started to grow very wary of Kamala.

Chapter 16: Vultures circle

The day after the Stephanopoulos stab, I knew it was all over.

Nancy Pelosi wouldn't answer my phone calls and the checks from China stopped arriving in the mailbox in Delaware.

'Oh, Joey,' I thought. 'If we can't sell access to the highest reaches of the US government, how are we going to survive?' After all, Northern Virginia Community College doesn't pay very well.

Then George Clooney's New York Times op-ed dropped  and we all knew that Barack was behind-the-scenes pulling the strings.

It was good while it lasted, I told the grandkids, but now they all had to get real jobs.

Chapter 20: Election night

You would think election night was the worst of our lives, but when you have nothing to lose... you play drinking games.

Every time Kamala lost a battleground state, Anita Dunn would yell 'DRINK!' and after 6 Jager shots we all passed out somewhere between the poll closings in Michigan and Wisconsin.

For the next week, we holed up with Hunter and his soul brother/sugar daddy Kevin Morris and prank called Emhoff every hour pretending to be from a nanny-staffing service. Doughy Doug took the bait every time.

I never thought I would admit this in public, but when a publisher is paying you millions you show them ALL your warts.

Hell, I've even made a few things up! But this nugget is the God's honest truth. I voted for Trump. Twice. And I'd do it again!
Spain has been battered by freakish storms that saw huge hailstones and floodwaters punish towns in Valencia less than six months on from catastrophic flooding which left more than 230 people dead.

British holidaymakers were warned against travelling after first-sized hail hammered the popular region in eastern Spain yesterday amid orange weather warnings by state weather service AEMET denoting 'significant danger'.

The hailstorm and resulting floods gave way to chaotic scenes as Valencians rushed for cover in a month where daytime temperatures typically hover around 20 degrees Celsius.

Scarcely believable footage showed how vehicles sustained damage from the hail as others became stuck amid ice floes several inches thick in Villar del Arzobispo, with residents powerless to free them.

Other shocking clips circulating on social media showed the deluge gushing through the typically sun-kissed streets of Guadassequies and l'Olleria.

The sudden storm heaped misery on the region's residents, many of whom lost their livelihoods in the historic 'cold drop' that occurred in October 2024, triggering massive flooding which killed 232 people.

The authorities' perceived inadequacies in emergency preparation, communication and response to last year's weather phenomenon - referred to by the Spanish acronym DANA (Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos) - left millions disillusioned.

The hailstorm and resulting floods gave way to chaotic scenes as Valencians rushed for cover in a month where daytime temperatures typically hover around 20 degrees Celsius

Scarcely believable footage showed how vehicles sustained damage from the hail as others became stuck amid ice floes several inches thick in Villar del Arzobispo, with residents powerless to free them

The sudden storm heaped misery on the region's residents, many of whom lost their livelihoods in the historic 'cold drop' that occurred in October 2024

Yesterday's flash floods also came just days after a historic power outage left almost all of Spain without electricity for hours.

Valencians last week had planned a massive demonstration to call for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazon, but it was cancelled due to the power outage.

Roughly a third of Spain remains under yellow or orange weather warnings into the weekend with AEMET warning of 'very strong storms, with large hail and strong wind gusts in areas of the north and east of the Peninsula' set for Saturday.

The agency said the highly irregular conditions bore the hallmarks of a 'cyclonic supercell storm', a weather event which brings severe thunderstorms and hail.

It added that the storm was 'spreading anomalously, deviating significantly southeastward relative to the movement of the other storms in its vicinity, which are moving eastward.'

The perilous conditions in Spain are symptomatic of a wider trend in Europe, which faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013.

Floodwaters killed at least 335 people in Europe in 2024 - many of them in Spain - and affected more than 410,000, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation said in a joint report on Europe's climate last month.

Western Europe was hit hardest, with 2024 ranking among the region's ten wettest years in records going back to 1950.

A firefighter searches for victims in the half-buried wreckage of a car on a riverbank in Paiporta, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024

Spanish Army start to work cleaning following the deadly floods in the Valencian town of Paiporta, Spain on November 3, 2024

Storms and flooding are Europe's costliest weather extremes, last year causing damage exceeding 18 billion euros.

Globally, 2024 was also the world's warmest year since records began, as well as the warmest for Europe - the planet's fastest-warming continent.

The planet is now around 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer than in pre-industrial times, mainly due to human-caused climate change.

Southeastern Europe had its longest heat wave on record, totalling 13 days, while Scandinavia's glaciers shrank at the highest rates on record, and heat stress increased across the continent.

Much of Eastern Europe suffered a lack of rain and drought, while floods ravaged western Europe.

Nearly a third of Europe's overall river network exceeded a 'high' flood threshold, while 12% breached 'severe' flood levels in 2024.

Storm Boris in September dumped the heaviest rain ever recorded in Central Europe onto countries, including Austria, Czechia, Germany and Slovakia.
An aesthetics doctor drowned in the bath after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs when her boyfriend had a one-night stand with another woman, an inquest heard.

Dr Rielle Longhurst, 30, was devastated when the 'love of her life' Charlie Procter strayed during a trip to France.

She left notes for her mum Phyllis and dad Graham as well as her sister before lighting a scented candle, drinking wine and taking an overdose.

But assistant coroner Jean Harkin said she couldn't be sure she had meant to end her life and said it was more than likely a cry for attention, wanting to hurt Mr Procter 'like he'd hurt her.'

The inquest heard that Dr Longhurst was one of five siblings and was a talented grammar school pupil who had been inspired to become a doctor after suffering an injured knee as a child.

She read medicine at the University of Liverpool and qualified in 2017, initially working for the NHS.

But a statement from her father Graham Longhurst explained that she had sometimes struggled with the work because she was a sensitive person.

He said: 'One of the reasons she didn't like being a doctor was she was so empathetic and she found it hard to forget her patients' pain and suffering.

Dr Rielle Longhurst, 30, was said to have been devastated when the 'love of her life' Charlie Procter strayed during a trip to France

The aesthetics doctor was found drowned in the bath after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs

Assistant coroner Jean Harkin said it was not certain Dr Longhurst had meant to end her life and said it was more than likely a cry for attention from Mr Proctor

'She'd go to extra lengths to make them feel comfortable for these reasons.

'She was an all or nothing sort of girl.'

Dr Longhurst began working as an aesthetics doctor at a branch of Dr MediSpa in London in June 2023 where she specialised in non-surgical cosmetic treatments including fillers, Botox and micro-needling.

She had met boyfriend Mr Procter in 2021 and Mr Longhurst said of her daughter's feelings for him: 'Charlie was the love of her life, everything she'd ever wanted.

'Charlie strayed and it really upset her.'

A statement from Mr Procter revealed that on the night before her death, the couple had argued about his previous infidelity, a one-night stand that had taken place in France.

Inner West London Coroners' Court heard how he had been to Dr Longhurst's flat in Notting Hill, west London, on August 21, 2024, to give her a letter but she was unhappy and 'made remarks about wanting to commit suicide' but he didn't think she was being serious.

During the argument, Dr Longhurst took his keys to the flat and he left just after 10pm and returned to sleep at his parents' house in Surrey.

The inquest heard that Dr Longhurst was one of five siblings and a talented grammar school pupil who had been inspired to become a doctor after suffering an injured knee as a child

Mrs Harkin said: 'He woke up late and found she wasn't answering her phone.

'This was unusual for her as she always used social media.'

Mr Procter drove back to the flat the next day - August 22 - but couldn't enter as it was locked and his keys were inside.

'He noticed the bathroom window was open and looked through to see Rielle in the bath, submerged, unconscious, not breathing and obviously deceased,' Mrs Harkin said.

He squeezed through the window, removed Dr Longhurst from the bath and took her to a front bedroom where he attempted CPR.

London Ambulance Service paramedics were called at 12.03pm and were on scene five minutes later, but Dr Longhurst was already dead.

Det Con Jorge Sobral, of the Met Police, said the bath Dr Longhurst was in was close to overflowing.

He told the court there were two glasses of wine found, one with rose in and one empty with a powder residue inside.

Dr Longhurst, pictured with Mr Proctor, began working as an aesthetics doctor in June 2023 where she specialised in non-surgical cosmetic treatments

In a hallway plant pot empty packets of medication were found, as well as a half empty packet in the bathroom.

Letters were also discovered which were addressed to her parents and her sister.

Her mobile phone was found propped up by the taps on the bath.

Det Con Sobral said: 'Mr Procter said he had an argument with her about his previous infidelity.

'During that argument, Rielle took his keys.

'Rielle was sending him photos of them together, but when he awoke he saw his messages hadn't been read and she hadn't been on social media, which was unusual.'

CCTV confirmed that Mr Procter had left London when he said he had.

Dr Longhurst's beloved dog Arthur was also discovered at the property and family said they found it hard to believe the pet lover would have left him to fend for himself.

A toxicology report found Dr Longhurst had ethanol, or alcohol, in her blood at 124mg per 100ml. The drink drive limit is 80mg

Dr Longhurst's friend Tory Kaye said that she last saw her on August 21 at 3.20pm.

She had been messaging the woman that Mr Procter had cheated on her with to get details of their night together.

'It was upsetting Rielle,' Ms Kaye said.

Mr Procter's phone was seized.

On August 20, Dr Longhurst sent him a message saying 'that she wanted to die because he had cheated.'

A day later she sent him several texts thanking him for the time they'd had together, wishing him luck and sending him a link to a Spotify playlist.

He responded but she didn't, the inquest heard.

Det Con Sobral said the notes were key, and were headed 'Rielle: Letter of intent.'

Dr Longhurst's cause of death was given as drowning, with a contributing factor the harmful effects of alcohol

He added: 'The notes addressed how much she loved [her sister] and Mr and Mrs Longhurst and some of the pain she'd been going through and what her thought process was.

'She said she loved them, but she can't carry on.'

Dr Susan Paterson, head of toxicology at Imperial College London, carried out the toxicology report and said Dr Longhurst had ethanol, or alcohol, in her blood at 124mg per 100ml. The drink drive limit is 80mg.

Her cause of death was given as drowning, with a contributing factor the harmful effects of alcohol.

Mr Longhurst told the inquest that the family were unhappy with the way they had been informed of the death by a paramedic, who phoned him up and told him his daughter was dead while he was driving.

The coroner said she would write to the London Ambulance Service to remind them of the sensitivities surrounding sudden deaths and how they are communicated to families.

In conclusion Mrs Harkin recorded a conclusion of misadventure and said: 'We have heard that Rielle was very talented, very clever and loved by all.

'We have heard that the break-up of a relationship with her partner troubled her and she made comments about not wanting to live, but I do not find that unusual in the break-up of a relationship.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of misadventure, with both her family and Mr Proctor believing that she had not intended to die

'In addition we know that the toxicology evidence showed that Rielle had taken an opioid at a high level, but that doesn't refer to a fatal level.

'She had also taken alcohol and the combination would have depressant effects on the nervous system.

'It would make her very sleepy and very drowsy.

'She was in the bath and had a candle lit and her mobile phone was in a position that she could see.

'The family told me that despite notes that were left she wouldn't have wanted to die.

'Rielle died as a result of drowning and that lends weight to being sleepy and immersing herself in water.

'It's likely on the evidence that Rielle was expecting Charlie to arrive and maybe wanted to hurt him as he'd hurt her.

'We have a note of intent, but what we do not know is whether it was written at that time so we can't be certain that the note was written just before she died.

'It's likely on the balance of evidence that Charlie would have found her notes and realised his impact.

'Charlie's evidence was he didn't believe she would have taken her life.

'The family and Charlie both knew her well and they do not believe that she intended to die.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
Suspicious parents at a 1900-a-month Montessori nursery where a worker allegedly physically abused children were already taking bath-time photos of their youngsters' injuries before the alarm was raised, a court heard today.

Roksana ecka, 22, was employed at the Riverside Nursery, Twickenham Green, where she is accused of repeatedly pinching, punching and grabbing the youngsters.

She has pleaded not guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to 22 counts of child cruelty, but has admitted two identical charges, relating to a boy and a girl.

Lecka, of Hounslow was eventually sent home on June 28, last year after fellow staff became alarmed by her behaviour and police charged her after analysing months of internal CCTV.

However, concerned parents were already collecting evidence of her abuse, prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told the jury.

'Parents had their worries and took photos on other occasions and consultant paediatrician Dr. Stephen Rose has looked at those photos and all of the CCTV.'

The parents of one little girl took photos of her injuries on March 13 and April 22, last year.

Roksana Lecka (pictured), 22, is accused of 'badly harming' 23 of the infants, aged 18 months to two years, while she worked at a 1,900-a-month Montessori nursery in west London , between January 31 and June 28 last year

Lecka (pictured) was someone who 'came across as somebody who would work hard and interact well with the children' when she joined the nursery, the court has heard previously

'Dr Rose says the pictures of her left side, three pink marks are pressure marks and that accidental bruising to the side of the torso is unusual.'

The parents also took an image of redness behind their daughter's right ear. 'Dr Rose says the discolouration is consistent with bruising and the ear is rarely accidentally bruised and was likely to be a non-accidental injury.

'The Crown says all of these injuries are non-accidental. We suggest that what you see on the CCTV, coupled with the photos means she was abused on earlier occasions and not just what you can see on the CCTV.'

The mother of a young boy took a photo of reddening to the back of his right ear on May 18, said the prosecutor. 'Dr Rose says it is consistent with pinching.

'He says the cause of this was non-accidental and the Crown say this is further evidence of the defendant mistreating him longer than what we see on the CCTV.

'There are these earlier injury photos as well.'

The parents of the girl Lecka has admitted inflicting cruelty to were alarmed on both March 6 and May 14 after their daughter returned from the nursery.

'When giving her a bath in March the parents noticed marks to her hips and left forearm and were told by the nursery there were no concerns and no reported falls noted.

'The parents took photos again on May 14 after seeing marks in the left side of the girl's body and to her right hip.

'Dr Rose says these are non-accidental injuries, consistent with thumb or fingernail injuries. These bruises are in the opinion of the consultant the result of inflicted injury.

'The marks provide further support that this defendant abused this girl in a wider timeframe than that seen on the CCTV,' Ms Ayling told the jury.

'It shows you what the defendant is capable of and she accepts she is capable of.'

Lecka has pleaded not guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to 22 counts of child cruelty

Lecka, from Hounslow, was remanded in custody after police investigated concerns about the welfare of children at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham Green (pictured)

For the first time the jurors were given added details of the one count regarding Lecka's previous place of employment at another Montessori in nearly Hounslow, Little Munchkins.

There, on October 19, 2023, a co-worker, Chamilla Seneviratne, was changing a child's nappy in a side room, when she heard Lecka shout at a little girl: 'You are so annoying.'

'She heard the girl screaming and crying,' explained the KC. 'She saw a red bump on the girl's upper thigh, as if she had been pinched and took a photo of what she saw.'

Ms Chamilla Seneviratne said in her statement: 'She was running towards me and crying so badly. I saw this big, bumpy red patch on her skin.'

Lecka overheard staff discussing checking the room's CCTV.

'She started panicking and said she was feeling hot and when she heard about the camera she was panicking even more,' said the witness.

Unfortunately a blind spot meant the camera did not capture the incident, but Ms Seneviratne came forward after hearing publicity about the case.

Little Munchkins management were not happy with the witness's assessment of the incident.

'She was sent for re-training because the management felt her use of the word 'pinching' was inappropriate,' explained Ms Ayling.

'The defendant behaviour here is so similar to what happened at Riverside.'

Dressed in a smart black jacket, black shirt and black headscarf Lecka, of Hounslow, stared intently at the CCTV footage as the evidence was outlined, without showing any emotion.

The trial continues.
Dressed in blue jeans and reclining in a sleek leather armchair, he looks every inch the high-flying international businessman.

But Nazem Ahmad is in fact a wanted man - accused by the US and UK of using his role as an art collector and diamond trader to raise funds for Hezbollah, the brutal Iran-backed terror group.

The 60-year-old was today named in court as a business contact of art dealer and BBC Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri, who had been accused of selling Ahmad 140,000 worth of art in 2020 and 2021 despite being aware of his background.

Today, at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Ojiri dramatically pleaded guilty to eight charges under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 by failing to report the transactions to the authorities.

According to prosecutors, Ojiri first struck up a business relationship with Ahmad in October 2020.

By this point, Ahmad had already been sanctioned by the US Treasury, with officials accusing the dual Belgian-Lebanese national of being a 'major' donor to Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist militant group dedicated to the destruction of Israel.

Nazem Ahmad is a dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen who is sanctioned by both the UK and US

BBC Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri sold artwork to Ahmad despite knowing of his alleged terror links, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard today (when he is pictured)

A wanted poster issued by American officials makes it clear they consider Ahmad to be a serious player, with a $10million (7.52m) reward offered for information on his whereabouts.

Alongside money laundering and terrorism financing, he is also alleged to be involved in the smuggling of 'blood diamonds' - a term used for stones mined in conflict zones before being traded on the black market.

None of this appears to have stopped Ojiri from working with Ahmad while director of his eponymous Ojiri Gallery in the trendy London district of Shoreditch.

According to prosecutors, he was fully aware Ahmad had been sanctioned by the US, reading news reports about him on his phone while openly discussing the diamond dealers alleged links to global terror.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris today told a judge that Ojiri 'dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales'.

The businessman had first been sanctioned as a terrorist financier by the US Treasury in 2019.

In April 2024, he was charged by the US alongside eight associates of using front companies to acquire more than 120 million in artwork and diamond services.

A wanted poster issued by American officials makes it clear they consider Ahmad to be a serious player, with a $10million (7.52m) reward offered for information on his whereabouts

In the UK, the entirety of Hezbollah - both its military and political wings - has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019. Pictured are Hezbollah militants training in 2023

British police played a key role in the case against him, swooping on a high-security depot at Heathrow Airport last year before seizing nearly two dozen works of art in his collection.

Linked raids at a London auction house recovered more works he had been planning to sell, including paintings by Picasso and Andy Warhol.

The proceeding years had seen a tightening of money laundering regulations that, in January 2020, brought the art market under HMRC supervision.

Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules.

Counter-terror police investigating Ahmads business dealings first arrested Ojiri in April 2023, but he claimed to be unaware of his alleged links to terror.

But he backtracked in a second interview in July 2023, admitting to officers that he knew he was the subject of US sanctions.

According to a CPS summary to a CPS summary of the interview, Ojiri told officers that links with Ahmad were seen as a 'great accolade' due to his reputation in the art work.

He said he was 'sorry' for his actions and claimed to have been motivated by the 'excitement and kudos of dealing with a ''name'' in the collecting world', rather than greed.

Ojiri has been a regular face on BBC shows for several years

Prosecutors say the artwork sold by Ojiri appears to have been sent to Dubai, the UAE or Beirut - where Ahmad is currently believed to be located.

Ojiri, meanwhile, is awaiting sentencing at the Old Bailey on June 6.

It represents a dramatic downfall for the previously respected antiques specialist, who first appeared on screens on the BBC's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

He then became a regular on Bargain Hunt, gaining a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats, before also appearing on the BBCs Antiques Road Trip.

Away from the TV screen, he owned a vintage shop in the capital called Pelicans & Parrots, which was dubbed 'the coolest place in London' before shutting its doors in October 2021.

Ojiri has described his love of collecting items including contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings - telling the BBC: 'I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated.'

Today, district judge Briony Clarke granted bail but ordered him to surrender his passport and not to apply for international travel documents.

He now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

In the UK, the entirety of Hezbollah - both its military and political wings - has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019.
An evil animal abuser who tortured animals including bunnies to death on YouTube has launched a GoFundMe to try and stop Donald Trump deporting her.

Anigar Monsee, 28, was convicted of felony animal cruelty on Wednesday and faces seven years behind bars - but is now playing the victim on her fundraiser.

'Hi, my name is Anigar Monsee, and Im a single mother doing my best to raise my daughter on my own,' wrote Monsee, a Liberian national who now lives in Delaware.

'Right now, Im facing the most terrifying moment of my lifeI may be sent to jail or even deported over something I never imagined would put our lives in jeopardy: cooking traditional meals with animals like chicken and frog,' she continued.

So far, the fundraiser has collected just $322 of its $10,000 goal.

Monsee's claim that she was just 'cooking traditional meals' flies in the face of her appalling videos which showed her gleefully torturing live animals.

In one clip, she inflicted horrendous pain on a pigeon for 10 minutes before killing it with a dull knife.

Another saw her break a chicken's neck and then pluck out all the poor bird's feathers while live.

The warped woman was also seen beaming with delight while scalding terrified animals with boiling water and skinning them alive, while answering sexually charged questions from thousands of viewers.

Anigar Monsee has launched a GoFundMe to try and stop Donald Trump deporting her after she was convicted of gleefully torturing animals to death on YouTube

Monsee claimed she is a 'single mother who was just cooking traditional meals.' But beamed while torturing and disemboweling animals while answering sexualized questions and has now been convicted of felony animal cruelty

Monsee is seen with a rabbit that met a horrific fate in her kitchen. Viewers would make requests for what animals they wanted to see her torture next and send her cash to do so

Monsee did not offer further detail about whether she's in the US on a visa and what, if any, deportation threats she has received

President Donald Trump has cracked down hard on immigration since entering office in January.

He is also taking a hard line against those in the US on visas caught committing crimes.

DailyMail.com has contacted GoFundMe for comment on whether the cash grab breaches its rules.

Monsee managed to evade YouTube's censors by marketing the torture clips as 'cookery videos.'

She had 20,000 subscribers who would request the type of animal they'd like to see killed next and donate cash to fund Monsee's vile endeavors.

But prosecutors say the appalling abuse went far beyond mere instruction,

They said Monsee inflicted fear and pain on her animal victims for pleasure, with jurors in agreement.

Monsee's reign of evil came to an end after animal rights group PETA spotted the clips, tracked her down and reported her to police.

In one sickening 49-minute clip, she tortured a pigeon before cutting its head off as her viewers flooded her with more requests to abuse animals

Another video shows Monsee take her time while disemboweling a live frog. She faces up to seven years behind bars

During a subsequent interview, she admitted she was the woman in the videos and is even said to have become 'visibly upset' when cops played back a video of her slaughtering a rabbit.

Kristin Rickman, the emergency response team director for PETA, told the Philadelphia Inquirer of the police: 'They've done a great job, and they've understood fully how damaging this content is, not only for the animals who suffer indescribable agony and torture, but for the minds of the people who watch.

'Most people who might stumble across this would likely be traumatized by this content, but others actually seek it out.'

'This kind of activity is just so deplorable and so damaging that anyone engaging in it needs to be sought and held accountable.'

Monsee will be sentenced in July.
A second-hand luxury fashion business has been forced to close just over a year after receiving a 100,000 investment on Dragon's Den after a devastating burglary.

Luxe Collective was set up in 2018 by brothers Ben and Joe Gallagher in Formby, Merseyside, and they had found success in recent years in the luxury resale market.

The brothers then appeared on the BBC show in January 2024 with co-owner Oliver Millar when entrepreneur Sara Davies said they were too successful to invest in.

However they did get a 100,000 investment from Steven Bartlett for just 3 per cent of their business, which was booming as they also became known on social media for sharing fashion stories and helping buyers distinguish between fake and real items.

But Luxe Collective suffered a major break-in last July at its warehouse in Ormskirk, Lancashire, as half of its stock was stolen with a value of more than 500,000.

They shared CCTV video of the thieves stealing boxes of stock and taking it away, but Lancashire Police eventually closed the case having been unable to find the culprits.

The brothers had been desperately trying to continue operating in recent months, but former staff said on TikTok last week that all employees had been made redundant.

And Ben Gallagher, 25, has now revealed that the business is 'no longer able to continue' after a year which he described as the 'most painful in my life'.

Luxe Collective brothers Ben and Joe Gallgher (centre and right) from Formby, Merseyside, and their business partner Oliver Millar (left) appeared on the BBC's Dragons' Den in January 2014

Steven Bartlett gave 100,000 for a 3 per cent investment in Luxe Collective on Dragons' Den

He said: 'Luxe Collective is closing down. I never thought I'd have to say this but the company I created seven years ago at just 18 years old will no longer exist.

'After a year-long fight after we were broken into last year, in which both me and my brother were doing all we could just to get us through to the next day, we are no longer able to continue.'

Mr Gallagher wrote on Instagram that he was now 'overwhelmed with relief  I've never been so mentally and physically drained, stress and anxious'.

He said the burglary 'not only affected the financial state of the company but also took such an emotional mental toll on me and my brother'.

Mr Gallagher told how this 'ultimately affected my leadership and strategic decision making' and he made choices which 'were not the right ones' and takes '100 per cent accountability for this'.

He claimed the criminals who broke into the premises 'haven't just ruined the company', adding: 'They've ruined the livelihoods of not just me and my brother, but all the amazing staff that we have had to make redundant and who've lost their jobs in the process.'

Mr Gallagher continued: 'Although we have failed in succeeding with the brand, there are still things that no one will be able to take away from me.'

Ben Gallagher issued a video on TikTok yesterday confirming that Luxe Collective is closing

Luxe Collective suffered a major break-in last July at its warehouse in the Lancashire town of Ormskirk, as half of its stock was stolen with a value of more than 500,000

Luxe Collective shared CCTV video of the thieves stealing boxes of stock and taking it away, but Lancashire Police later closed the case having been unable to find the culprits

He then gave a list of highlights, including how he 'started this brand as a teenager and in the space of seven years it was recognised all over the world and got the whole industry talking about us'.

Mr Gallagher said the company generated over 30million in revenue from 'starting in our bedroom with 0 investment' and it took him to cities including Tokyo and New York as well as fashion shows such as Valentino and Hugo Boss in Milan.

He added that he reached more than three million followers and one billion views on social media.

Mr Gallagher concluded: 'But most importantly, I built a relationship with my brother that would never have existed without going on this journey with him. Now, we're both back to square one.

'Not left with much except the seven years of priceless experience and a fresh head to start something new with.

'To any customers this may affect, please reach out through the appropriate channels, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. To everyone who is reaching out publicly and privately, you don't understand how much it means during a time like this - thank you.'

A Lancashire Police spokesman told MailOnline today: 'This crime has been investigated as far as reasonably possible, and the case has been closed pending further investigative opportunities becoming available.'

Ben Gallagher revealed on Instagram that Luxe Collective is now 'no longer able to continue'

Mr Gallagher revealed last November that an insurance firm had paid out for the goods that were stolen.

He said in an Instagram video at the time: 'Luckily, after 20 weeks of back and forth, countless meetings and nerve wracking phone calls, we were successfully paid out for the items that were stolen.

'I am so happy to announce that as of today, everybody who was consigning items with us and that were stolen has now been paid out.'

However he added that the company was low on stock and urged customers: 'If have anything to sell or might know someone who might have something to sell, go on our website, fill out a form and sell your items to us.'

On Dragons Den, it was revealed how the brand had amassed an estimated worth of 5million since the brothers started the company in a bedroom at home in Formby.

Mr Gallagher told the judges that his sister had wanted a pair of 400 trainers for Christmas, and he was impressed when his mother found a second-hand pair online for 100.

He explained that he became 'obsessed' with the website his mother had bought them on  so, using savings and part of a car loan, the brothers started buying up items from eBay and DePop.

Luxe Collective was set up in 2018 and had found success in the luxury resale market

As the business grew, the brothers also dedicated time to using social media to share fashion stories and now have 665,000 followers on Instagram and 1.7million on TikTok.

Davies had told them on the show: 'You can scale this business without anyone coming in. I'm sat here thinking 'Would I like a chunk of this business? Absolutely!

'But then I feel like you'd resent me because I'd want such a significant chunk of your business to just tell you to keep on doing what you're doing.'

They did eventually get an investment from Bartlett. MailOnline has contacted the entrepreneur for comment.
Latin American leaders were quick to claim newly elected Pope Leo XIV as one of their own, despite the pontiff's US roots and after the Chicago native previously blasted the Trump administration's stance on migrants.

When it was revealed on Thursday that Robert Francis Prevost had been elected pope, he addressed the world in Latin, Italian and Spanish - speaking directly to his flock in Chiclayo, Peru, where he also holds citizenship. He did not speak in English.

'He chose to be one of us,' Peru President Dina Boluarte said in a public address lauding the selection, 'to live among us, and to carry in his heart the faith, culture, and dreams of this nation.'

The 69-year-old pontiff moved to Peru in 1985 and was named bishop of the parish of Chiclayo in 2015, the same year he became a naturalized citizen of the Andean nation.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro took to X to congratulate the naming of Prevost as the 267th pontiff while at the same time jabbing President Donald Trump and his administration, with whom he has sparred with in recent months.

'I hope he becomes a great leader for migrant peoples around the world, and I hope he encourages our Latin American migrant brothers and sisters, humiliated today in the U.S. It's time for them to organize,' Petro wrote on X, also pointing to the American-born pope's mixed ancestry and residence in 'our Latin America.'

'May it help us build the great force of humanity that defends life and defeats the greed that has caused the climate crisis and the extinction of all living things.'

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, who is a citizen of Peru

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago and moved to Peru in 1985. The 69-year-old was named bishop of the parish of Chiclayo in 2015, the same year he became a citizen of the Andean nation

Colombia's minister of the interior, Armando Benedetti, flat-out branded the pope a 'Latin American.'

The new pontiff has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration's immigration stance, publicly slamming the deportation of undocumented migrant and Maryland father-of-three Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 30, to El Salvador.

'Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?' he wrote on X.

He also shared several articles that address Catholic Vice President JD Vance's stance on immigration. One of them is titled: 'JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.' He has previously weighed in on issues ranging from gun control to to the death of George Floyd.

Prevost was surprisingly chosen by the papal conclave to succeed Argentina's Pope Francis, who died April 21.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on Pope Leo XIV to maintain Pope Francis' 'legacy,' which was based on 'peace and social justice,' protecting the 'environment,' and appealing to all people, regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.

'We don't need wars, hatred, or intolerance,' he wrote on X. We need more solidarity and more humanism. We need love of neighbor, which is the foundation of Christ's teachings.

'May Pope Leo XIV bless us and inspire us in our continued search for a better and more just world.'

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Thursday

Pope Leo XIV seen touring the flooded district of Illimo in the Peruvian province of Lambayeque following a storm in March 2107

Pope Leo XIV serves a meal for members of the Chiclayo parish

The governor's office for the northern Colombian department of Cesar singled out the newly elected pontiff's influence on the region.

'[H]is closeness to the Latin American people allows him to understand the way of life in territories like ours, because Robert Francis Prevost served part of his apostolate in the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru; he is also an American,' the message on X read.

While the Latin American leaders were more welcoming, Pope Leo XIV's snub of the US by not speaking in his native tongue on Thursday irritated some.

'...[H]ow pathetic of a start,' one wrote, 'he should have said something in English for all the people in America who tuned in.'

Another labeled the pontiff 'Pope Judas II' after seeing old messages that had called out Trump's stance on immigration.

Others saw it as a clear statement of his identity.

'I'm still unsure about the new Pope but DAMN, HIM SPEAKING IN SPANISH WAY BEFORE THAN IN ENGLISH IS F****** HUGE, HE'S PERUVIAN.'

After his election, MAGA politicos unleashed a barrage of blistering attacks against Pope Leo XIV, with vocal figures branding him a 'liberal piece of s**t' and a 'Marxist.'
Donald Trump is 'deluded' if he thinks he will be able to push around the first American Pope, a Vatican insider has warned.

The US President 'may well be celebrating that an American is at the Vatican, but he's deluded if he thinks he will have Pope Leon's support or be able to influence him,' the well-placed source told MailOnline.

'The new Pope is very much like the old one, it's a continuity of Francis which is what the Church wanted and Leon like Francis is a voice for migrants and the poor.

'He and Trump are going in very different directions and yes it is a shock for an American to be named Pope but how the relationship between them will play out is going to be interesting.'

It comes as it has been revealed that Pope Leo XIV will also follow in his predecessor's footsteps by forgoing the official papal residence for the more modest Casa Santa Marta guesthouse.

He will be staying at the guesthouse, which houses the cardinals during conclave, while building work continues at the Apostolic Palace.

The top floor of the opulent building houses the papal apartments, which Pope Francis, known for his frugal ways after taking a vow of poverty as a young man, famously shunned.

As well as living in Casa Santa Marta, which situated next to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the propertu is also where Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88.

Before his election on Thursday, the new Pope previously lived and had his office in the Palazzo Sant'Uffizio, situated in Rome outside Vatican City

Leo XIV returned to Palazzo Sant'Uffizio after being introduced to the world as Pope on Thursday night, and happily posed for selfies with staff

Donald Trump is 'deluded' if he thinks he will be able to push around the first American Pope, a Vatican insider has warned

It was commissioned by a previous pope, John Paul II, at a cost of around 15 million in 1995 to ensure that the cardinals could reside in comfort during the conclave.

Before his election on Thursday, the new Pope previously lived and had his office in the Palazzo Sant'Uffizio, situated in Rome outside Vatican City.

He returned here after being introduced to the world as Pope on Thursday night, and happily posed for selfies with staff.

The Chicago-born Pope has been hailed as an advocate for the poor, and has strong ties to Peru where he served for much of his career as a missionary.

The new pontiff may have been born American but he's the 'least American of the Americans' and will not be pushed around by the US President, a source told MailOnline.

'On paper he may have been born in the USA, but he also has Peruvian nationality which he holds very dearly to his heart,' the insider said.

'Did you notice how he spoke in Latin, Italian and Spanish but not in English, that's a real marker.

'He mentioned Peru and Rome in his opening remarks as Pope from the balcony, but he didn't say Chicago where he was born or mention the United States.

Resected Vatican correspondent for Rome daily Il Messaggero, Andrea Gagliarducci wrote of Pope Leo XIV, in an editorial: 'He will not be a Pope of woke culture but he will not be a Pope who will let Trumpism pass in every way and from every direction.

'When he was a cardinal, Prevost was considered not very charismatic, almost shy in his approach, This however should not deceive.

'Sometimes, it is the role that makes the person, and not vice versa.'

A view of pope Francis's appartment at Santa Marta Residence at the Vatican in 2013

It comes after it emerged that before becoming Pope Leo XIV, American priest Robert Prevost took aim at Vice President JD Vance and a number of key Trump policies on X as recently as a few weeks ago.

He shared several articles that addressed Mr Vance's stance on immigration, including one titled: 'JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.'

The new Pope has also had his say on issues from gun control to migration and the death of George Floyd.

Steve Bannon, the former White House Chief Strategist, has called him the 'anti-Trump pope' while MAGA supporters branded him a 'piece of s**t'.

Days before, he told Piers Morgan he thought the 'dark horse' candidate was 'one of the ones closest to Francis ideologically'.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, right, is seen receiving his biretta from Pope Francis as he was elevated in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, 2023

Americans from Texas celebrate after the newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, was announced

While vocal MAGA voices have expressed their dissatisfaction with the cardinals' selection, Prevost has previously been linked with the US Republican party, reportedly voting in the Illinois Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Catholic traditionalists had been hopeful that, after the 12-year-reign of a Pope widely seen as progressive, a new Pope would mark a return to tradition.

However Leo XIV has been hailed by many, including his own brother, as a 'second Francis' who is expected to continue with his legacy while also putting his own stamp on the church.
The US Air Force rolled out dozens of top-line military aircraft in a pointed display of firepower at an airbase in Japan this week as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping presided over Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow.

It also came as Russia and China issued a joint statement condemning US President Donald Trump's plan to create a 'Golden Dome' missile defence system as 'deeply destabilising' and one that would risk 'turning space into a battlefield'.

A so-called 'elephant walk' took place at Kadena Air Force Base (AFB) on the island of Okinawa earlier this week, but images of the event emerged today - hours after Russia sent tanks, nuclear missiles and drones rolling through Red Square.

The procession in Okinawa showcased some of the most capable assets that American aviation has to offer.

Two dozen F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters and eight F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighters took to the tarmac alongside a pair of Washington's coveted Patriot missile defence batteries.

The stunning selection of jets was accompanied by an RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, a Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, two Navy EA-18 Growler electronic warfare attack planes and three E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

The show of force was described by Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, the commander of 18th Wing stationed at Kadena AFB, as a 'message you can't ignore'.

A statement given by 18th Wing said the elephant walk was a 'testament to the lethality Kadena AB can leverage to deter adversarial aggression in the Indo-Pacific region'.

U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft along with U.S. Army Patriot missile batteries line up on the runway for an elephant walk during a routine operational readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 6, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping watch the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025

A general view shows Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025

The impressive parade, which also saw six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two MQ-9 Reaper drones on show alongside the aircraft, is said to be one of the largest ever conducted by USAF.

Following the elephant walk, Kadena AFB conducted three-day military drills this week, concluding today as Moscow hosted its own military procession as part of its celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II.

More than 20 world leaders and Kremlin allies including China's Xi, Putin's right-hand man in Europe, Belarus' Alexander Lukashenko, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were in attendance at the Victory Day parade in Red Square.

Putin shared a warm handshake and posed for photos with Xi this morning, dispelling any illusion that efforts by US President Donald Trump to drive a wedge between the Eastern powers had succeeded.

The Russian and Chinese leaders nestled side-by-side to watch the parade in a show of unity after they issued a statement yesterday saying Trump's move to create a 'Golden Dome' missile defence system would be 'deeply destabilising' and would risk turning space into a 'battlefield'.

Putin and his guests, including several high-ranking North Korean military officials, watched on as hordes of soldiers goose-stepped to old marching songs and roared to their commanders before Russia's top brass.

They were followed by a huge procession of Russian military technology that saw dozens of tanks, S400 Triumf air defence missile systems and the gargantuan Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles roll past the Mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin.

As the parade concluded, Putin walked along the square to greet a long line of military commanders from Russia and former Soviet states before stopping to speak with a delegation of Chinese and North Korean armed forces officers.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang in recent weeks acknowledged for the first time that North Korean troops had fought alongside their Russian counterparts against Ukraine.

The festivities ended with Putin, Xi and other world leaders solemnly laying a bouquet of red flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame in memory of the Soviets killed in World War II.

Russian T-80 BVM tanks roll in Red square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025

Russian servicemen attend the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II

President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) welcoming North Korean officers during the Victory Day military parade

Russian T-80 tanks take part in the Victory Day military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers take part in the Victory Day military parade

Several drones used to batter Ukraine, including the Lancet, Geran-2, Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 variants, were also shown off in the parade. A flight of Su-25, Su-30 and MiG-29 fighter jets and bombers later soared overhead trailing smoke in the white, blue and red of the Russian tricolour.

Russia's defence minister Andrey Belousov, who arrived in Red Square atop a convertible Russian Aurus government car, addressed and inspected the troops. They responded with a chorus of 'hurrah!', before Putin took to the stage to deliver his speech.

Putin declared that Russia will always remember and appreciate the contribution of US and European allies to victory in World War II.

But he went on to say he would never allow the 'true victors over Nazism to be slandered' and that Moscow would 'fight against the atrocities of the followers of Nazism', echoing the Kremlin's rhetoric that Russia is trying to 'de-Nazify' its neighbour.

'(Russia) has truth and justice on its side. The whole country, society and people support the participants of the special military operation,' Putin insisted, adding: 'We are proud of their bravery and determination, of the fortitude that has always brought us only victory.'

The Kremlin's so-called 'special military operation' is in fact the deadliest war in Europe since the conflict today's parade is commemorating, and Ukraine has called today's events in Moscow a 'parade of cynicism'.
A South Carolina death row inmate endured a "prolonged death" after a firing squad failed to hit their intended targets, an investigation submitted to the South Carolina Supreme Court revealed.

On April 11, Mikal Mahdi, 42, was executed by a firing squad in South Carolina. He was strapped to a chair and had a red bullseye target placed over his heart "to do maximum damage," according to the Guardian. Autopsy documents, however, revealed Mahdi only had two bullet wounds and was never struck in the heart but rather his pancreas, liver and lower lung.

Mahdi cried out roughly 45 seconds after being shot, then groaned twice. A doctor declared him dead approximately four minutes after the shots were fired, far exceeding the expected "10-to-15 second" window of consciousness. Mahdi's lawyers argue the timeline proved the execution deviated from protocol and that he suffered unnecessary pain.

Two forensic pathologists who examined Mahdi's body stated they "expected the entrance wounds to be higher" and "did not expect to find such severe damage to the liver," Dr. Jonathan Arden, a pathologist retained by Mahdi's lawyers, revealed in his report, per the Guardian.

"If the procedure is done correctly, the heart will be disrupted, immediately eliminating all circulation," Arden wrote. When "the shooters missed the intended target area," Mahdi was conscious for up to a minute while his blood continued circulating. The forensic pathologist added that Mahdi suffered a "more prolonged death process than was expected had the execution been conducted successfully according to the protocol."

"Among the questions that remain: did one member of the execution team miss Mr Mahdi entirely? Did they not fire at all? How did the two who did shoot Mr Mahdi miss his heart?," Mahdi's attorneys wrote to the South Carolina Supreme Court. "Did they flinch or miss because of inadequate training? Or was the target on Mr Mahdi's chest misplaced? The current record provides no answers."

Originally published on Latin Times
This is the dramatic moment police broke down the door of a property in a series of dawn raids linked to an ongoing gangland feud.

A total of 32 people have now been arrested in connection with recent acts of violence in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Six people yesterday became the latest to be picked up by police in the ongoing probe.

Officers from Police Scotlands Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit executed warrants and searched six properties in the Barlanark, Maryhill and Hamiltonhill areas of Glasgow, and in the Milton of Campsie and Wishaw areas on Friday. Firearms officers also assisted.

It comes as investigations continue into a series of violent incidents across the east and west of the country.

Police said that in Glasgow, two men aged 31 and 26 were arrested in connection with alleged conspiracy to murder and allegedly directing serious and organised crime.

A 36-year-old man was also arrested in connection with alleged conspiracy to murder.

Police smash their way into a property in Balornock, Glasgow during an early morning raid

A man is led away in the wake of one of the raids

Another suspect is led away following the dramatic early morning raid in Glasgow

A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with alleged drug offences and a 57-year-old man was arrested in connection with alleged proceeds of crime offences.

In Wishaw, a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with alleged involvement in serious and organised crime.

Police said class B drugs and around 46,000 in cash were also seized during the operation.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: These arrests continue to highlight the hard work and dedication of officers to target those responsible for these attacks.

While the number of incidents has continued to decrease since the start of this investigation, I want to reiterate that violence will not be tolerated and will not stop until we bring those responsible for this criminality to justice.

We are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of inquiry.

The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims, and I want to again thank the public for their help and information so far.

Police also believe two cars that were set alight in Edinburgh may be part of the ongoing feud.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses after two vehicles were deliberately set on fire in Pitcairn Grove.

The damage left in the wake of the police smashing their way into the property in Glasgow

Emergency services attended the area at around 7.45pm on Thursday and extinguished the flames. There were no reports of any injuries and no one was within the vehicles at the time.

Three suspects dressed in dark-coloured clothing are reported to have left the area in a black hatchback vehicle along Greenbank Drive.

Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said: This was a reckless act which has resulted in significant fire damage to the vehicles.

'We believe this was a targeted attack and it is fortunate that no one was injured.

I am directly appealing to a dog walker who was in the area at the time and may have seen the suspects leaving the area.

'If this was you, or you can help us trace this person, please get in touch with officers.

Equally anyone with any information that can assist our inquiries should contact police as soon as possible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland.
A Minneapolis City Council candidate is under fire after suggesting in a campaign email that she lacks the 'desired amount of melanin' to be elected.

Becka Thompson, a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner now running for the Ward 12 City Council seat, made the controversial comment while explaining her 'unpopularity' in challenging incumbent Council Member Aurin Chowdhury, who is Bengali-American.

In the email, Thompson acknowledged that some have implied she has a 'nefarious reason' for entering the race, but insisted she holds no negative views about her opponent's identity.

'I don't have a negative view about the immutable God given characteristics of anyone, especially my opponent,' she wrote.

'I think we are each created beautifully unique and I celebrate that every chance I get. That is not in play in my running. I'm here because I know how to read the financial projections and keep our city afloat,' Thompson continued.

Just a few lines later, the Park and Recreation Board Commissioner added, 'I might not have the right haircut, or the desired amount of melanin.'

Melanin is a natural pigment that determines the color of skin, hair and eyes.

Thompson continued defending her stance claiming she 'wasn't very good at doing the popular thing in high school either.'

Minneapolis City Council candidate, Becka Thompson, is under fire after suggesting in a campaign email that she lacks the 'desired amount of melanin' to be elected

In the email, Thompson acknowledged that some have implied she has a 'nefarious reason' for entering the race. Pictured: Minneapolis City Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota

'Maybe I didn't tweet the party line that one day or show up for that big protest with everyone else the next,' she wrote. 'I wasn't very good at doing the popular thing in high school either. It's just who I am.'

The mother-of-one added that sometimes 'life just happens' and that 'we cannot make our biggest decisions, however, on virtue signaling and tweets.'

Chowdhury responded to the email with a pointed post on X, formerly Twitter, writing on May Day: 'Happy Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month from this proudly brown, melanated, South Asian Council Member.'

Chowdhury also called Thompson's comment 'overtly racist' and said it implied she was elected solely based on her skin color, she said in a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

'It strips away all the hard work, achievements, qualifications, hard-earned support, and experience of overcoming challenges that come with being a person of color from the picture,' Chowdhury said.

'In a time when the Trump administration is weaponizing diversity, equity, and inclusion against people of marginalized identities, these racist comments by my opponent prove she is not the leader we should have in Minneapolis. I'm going to keep focused on running a campaign that is people-centered and embraces diversity as one of our city's biggest strengths.'

The day after the controversy erupted, Thompson issued an apology, saying she had heard from 'members of our community who were hurt' by her words, 'which many felt were racially insensitive.'

In the email, shared by Ed Kohler on Blue Sky (pictured) Thompson continued defending her stance claiming she 'wasn't very good at doing the popular thing in high school either'

Chowdhury, however, responded to the email with a pointed post on X , formerly Twitter, writing on May Day (pictured)

The day after the controversy erupted, Thompson issued an apology (pictured), saying she had heard from 'members of our community who were hurt' by her words, 'which many felt were racially insensitive'

'While that was never my intention, I recognize that my words had an impact, and I take full responsibility for them,' she posted on Facebook.

'I deeply regret causing offense or confusion. That's not reflective of who I strive to be, and I'm truly sorry. Moving forward, I will be more mindful and deliberate in how I communicate.'

The Minneapolis-native has since garnered fierce opposition from onlookers online as some have 'shamed' her, claiming they 'can't believe' this behavior from a candidate in 2025.

'I can't believe that someone seeking the DFL endorsement in 2025 is talking about the "desired amount of melanin" in campaign emails,' Ed Kohler wrote on BlueSky.

'Shame on you, Becka Thompson. Grow up,' he added.

Another user chimed in calling Thompson a 'weirdo candidate' writing on X: 'Becka Thompson, weirdo candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 12, explains her unpopularity by saying she doesn't have "the desired amount of melanin."'

Others called her actions 'actually vile,' while another questioned her competency.

'She doesn't seem to have the desired amount of brain cells,' wrote another.

Thompson, a native of Minneapolis, is currently serving on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, a position she has held since January 2022

Before being elected in 2023, Chowdhury (in front, wearing red) managed constituent services for the late state Senator Kari Dziedzic and served as a policy aide to Minneapolis Council Members Steve Fletcher and Jason Chavez. Pictured: Minneapolis City Council Members

Thompson is currently serving on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, a position she has held since January 2022.

She has over two decades of experience teaching math, holds an MBA from Augsburg University with an emphasis in finance after attending the Juilliard School in New York City, according to her bio on the Minneapolis Parks website.

Thompson has also worked as a professional actor for several decades, the Star Tribune reported.

She was dismissed from Minneapolis Public Schools last year over what was described as 'inappropriate communication,' but she now teaches in a different district, according to the Star Tribune.

Chowdhury, meanwhile, brings a decade of organizing experience to the council.

Before being elected in 2023, she managed constituent services for the late state Senator Kari Dziedzic and served as a policy aide to Minneapolis Council Members Steve Fletcher and Jason Chavez.
Maggie Gyllenhaal's daughter Ramona was arrested during violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia University this week, reports say.

The star's daughter, who she shares with actor Peter Sarsgaard, is a student at the New York college, which has been hit with a wave of protests in recent months.

After the most recent protest on Wednesday night, Ramona was reportedly slapped with a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing, sources told the New York Post.

Ramona was reportedly among almost 100 demonstrators who stormed Columbia's Butler Library as their fellow students prepared for their final exams.

The group declared that the library was a 'liberation zone' and renamed it the 'Basel al-Araj Popular University' after a Palestinian militant whom Israel has accused of planning a full-scale attack.

The protests at Columbia that Ramona was reportedly a part of come as previous demonstrations at the university have also been linked to organizations accused of funding the Hamas terrorist group, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed last year.

The sit-in on Wednesday turned chaotic as several school security officers were injured, and at least 65 student agitators have so far been handed suspensions, school officials said.

It is not clear if Ramona was one of those suspended after the melee, however many of the protestors were caught as Columbia trapped them inside the library and would not let them out without showing identification.

Ramona's mom Maggie and her A-list uncle Jake have both previously spoken out about their Jewish faith and heritage. The siblings' screenwriter mother Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal is the descendant of Ashkenazi Jews from Latvia and Poland.

Maggie Gyllenhaal's daughter Ramona was arrested during violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia University this week

Ramona (far right) is the daughter of actor Peter Sarsgaard (far left) and is the niece of A-lister Jake Gyllenhaal (center)

Anti-Israel protesters stormed Columbia University's main library on Wednesday, where the sit-in turned violent as several school security officers were injured

Social media was flooded with footage of the hostile demonstration earlier this week, which showed protestors stampeded into the library and charged at cops.

Students and some faculty remained inside the library for over an hour as they chanted anti-Israel slogans and spraypainted graffiti inside such as 'Columbia Will Burn.'

But when the raucous demonstrators tried to leave the library, they were blocked by security guards at the Ivy League university unless they showed a proper school identification - leading to an hours-long standoff.

In one of the videos from the scene, guards could be seen telling the protesters they will be arrested for trespassing if they did not produce their school ID cards.

The blockage soon led an angry mob to try to push through the shuttered doors of the library, chanting 'Let us out, let us out, let us out' while their counterparts on the outside chanted 'Let them out.'

The protests resulted in a total of 78 arrests at the college campus.

Representatives for Ramona's father Peter Sarsgaard, mom Maggie and uncle Jake did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her reported arrest.

People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library on the campus of Columbia University in New York on Wednesday evening

The chaos inside the library led even more protesters to gather outside - and prompted the school's president to call police in chaotic scenes on Wednesday evening

The protests at Columbia came amid the university's fight with the Trump administration to regain its federal funding, which was stripped due to its poor responses to previous anti-Israel demonstrations.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest - which is taking credit for the demonstration - claimed at the time that more than 100 people stormed the library.

'The flood shows that as long as Columbia funds and profits from imperialist violence, the people will continue to disrupt Columbia's profits and legitimacy,' it said in a statement.

'Repression breeds resistance - if Columbia escalates repression, the people will continue to escalate disruption on this campus,' the group warned.

It said it was demanding 'full financial divestment from Zionist occupation, apartheid and genocide; an academic boycott of all compliant institutions, including the cancelation of the Tel Aviv Global Center; cops and ICE off our campus' and an end to 'Columbia's occupation of Harlem.'

The group also demanded 'amnesty for all students, staff, faculty and workers targeted by Columbia University's discipline.'

Ramona, pictured with her actor father Peter Sarsgaard, reportedly took part in the anti-Israel protests despite her Jewish heritage through her mother's side

The protests at Columbia this week were widely condemned by officials after they turned hostile and violent toward officers

The protests at Columbia this week were widely condemned by officials after they turned hostile and violent toward officers.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams took to X to slam the demonstrations, saying: 'As I've said repeatedly, New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate lawlessness.

'To our Jewish New Yorkers, especially the students at Columbia who feel threatened or unsafe attending class because of these events: know that your mayor stands with you and will always work to keep you safe.'

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said she was briefed on the situation, and said in a statement: 'Everyone has the right to peacefully protest. But violence, vandalism or destruction of property are completely unacceptable.'

Rep. Elise Stefanik went even further, writing: 'While Columbia students try to study for finals, they're being bombarded with chants for a "global intifada."

'Not a single taxpayer dollar should go to a university that allows chaos, antisemitism and civil rights violations on its campus,' she said, agreeing with President Trump's decision to revoke more than $400 million in federal funding from the Ivy League school for its prior 'mishandling' of anti-Israel protests.

It now remains unclear whether Wednesday's chaos will lead the Trump administration to further revoke the school's funding.

Pro Palestine protesters are seen being arrested by the NYPD on the campus of Columbia University on Wednesday

But officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News they were monitoring the situation - and will fingerprint everyone who was arrested to determine if they are noncitizens.

Those who are may then face deportation.

'Time to make a point,' an ICE official said.

The State Department also warned foreign students about the consequences of breaking the law.

'Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: If you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa,' it said.

'This administration will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses.'
The family of murdered realtor Ashlee Long gasped loudly with raw emotion as they saw images of her being shot and her lifeless body falling to the street shown during a court hearing Wednesday where her alleged shooter asked for a lower bond.

A local judge ultimately denied accused killer Kendrick Finch, 34, and his request to lower his $500,000 bond in the April 5 killing.

Both her family and Finch's relatives packed the courthouse for the hearing in Dallas earlier this week.

Long, 28, a glamorous and successful realtor from the Houston area and bride-to-be, had traveled to Dallas last month for a work conference, according to media reports.

The relator's relatives wore matching shirts bearing her name and a special message, reported local station WFAA.

Family members who could not contain their emotion were advised to leave before the dramatic images of her final moments were shown publicly for the first time.

While out on the town with a man in downtown Dallas around 2:30 a.m., her male companion, later identified as William Kistler, touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street, prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop on the street.

Footage of the April 5 incident shows Kistler, 36, reaching for Long's purse which had his gun in it, according to a Dallas police homicide detective who testified in the bond hearing.

Ashlee Long, a relator in the Houston area, had traveled to Dallas for work. She was out with a male companion the night she was murdered, according to police

Dramatic images of deadly shooting in Dallas, Texas show the moment realtor Ashlee Long, 28, was shot after her friend touched a car passing on the street April 5

Dallas police have charged Kendrick Finch, 34, in her death. Video of the shooting shows Finch stepping out of Mercedes in downtown Dallas with a gun and firing at Ashlee Long

Finch emerged from the car, visibly upset and holding a 9 mm handgun, stills from the video shown in court demonstrated.

Kistler struggled with Long, as she tried to hold him back, but he eventually retrieved a 40 caliber pistol from her bag.

At that point, Finch started shooting at the pair on a busy street filled with shops, restaurants and apartment buildings, striking Long in the process.

Kistler, who was able to fire three shots from his weapon, was also hit and was taken to the hospital while Finch fled.

Finch called police hours later, according to local station Fox 4, and identified himself as the shooter. However, it wasn't until April 18 when he turned himself over to investigators.

His previous criminal records include drug and burglary charges, the TV station reported.

Despite Finch fleeing from the crime scene, his lawyer claims Kistler is to blame for the shooting.

'We know for sure Ashlee Long would be alive today except for William Kistler. William Kistler is the one who started everything that night it showed in the video,' her attorney stated in court.

Realtor Ashlee Long was shot and killed on April 5, allegedly by Kendrick Finch

Ashlee graduated in 2019 from the University of Houston with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration

While out on the town with a friend April 5 around 2:30 a.m., Long's friend touched a white Mercedes as it drove by on the street, prompting the luxury sedan to come to a stop on the street. The friend was later identified as William Kistler, 36

Finch began shooting at the pair, striking Long. Multiple images of her falling to the ground were shown in court. She died at a Dallas hospital

Long, 28, worked as a relator with Keller Williams, Magnolia Realty, and most recently, Century 21

Finch was only defending himself, his lawyer added.

'When (Kistler) takes those steps towards my client, my client has every right under the law to defend himself.'

Kistler did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

It's unclear how Long and Kistler knew each other, as he is a resident of Celina, a Dallas suburb.

His former employer, a custom truck company, shared that they had 'cut all ties' with him after he left the company a few years ago.

He does not appear to be involved in the realty business.

Kistler is also not the man Long was engaged to.

Her online obituary listed her high school sweetheart, Jacob Underwood, as her fiance.
The head of the Royal Navy has been suspended over claims of an affair with a female officer.

Admiral Sir Ben Key was told to stand down from all duties while an investigation is carried out.

The married father-of-three, 59, stepped back for private reasons, the Navy said earlier this week.

But last night it emerged that, for the first time in the services 500-year-old history, its First Sea Lord was facing a misconduct inquiry.

A leak revealed that Admiral Sir Ben had been barred from resigning as the probe into his relationship with a younger woman, said to be a senior officer, continues.

He stands accused of breaching strict regulations barring sexual relations between commanders and those below them in the rank. There is no suggestion of anything criminal and the relationship was said to be consensual.

Admiral Sir Ben had previously said he would be stepping down in the summer, but it was confirmed on Tuesday that he had already left his post.

Asked by the Daily Mail whether his decision related to allegations against him, the Ministry of Defence insisted it was due to private reasons.

Admiral Sir Ben Key, 59, had led the service since 2021 as First Sea Lord, having joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1984

The married father-of-three has been suspended after it emerged that he is suspected of breaking the Navy's strict 'service test' - which effectively prohibits relationships between commanders and their subordinates

Britain's King Charles III greets Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, during a meeting with military chiefs of staff at Buckingham Palace on September 17, 2022

A major naval conference that was to be hosted by the admiral next week has been cancelled.

It comes at a difficult time for the Navy as conflicts rage around the world, with Europe facing Russian aggression and President Donald Trumps determination to reduce Americas Nato commitments.

And it adds to the tally of recent sex scandals within the Armed Forces, including the plight of female submariners, as revealed by the Mail, and a toxic culture of sexual harassment in the RAFs Red Arrows display team.

Admiral Sir Ben, the land-based head of the Navy since 2021, had vowed to root out sexual misconduct.

In 2022, he said: Those who do not wish to serve in accordance with the values and standards of life in the United Kingdoms Armed Forces will be removed.'

And a year ago, he said the Royal Navy had zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviours.

While he is said to be popular with many in the Navy, not all are convinced, or expressing sympathy over Admiral Sir Bens predicament, with sources yesterday telling the Mail he could be very rude publicly, and one adding: He told a senior Navy officer who had a younger wife that he was a laughing stock for that reason.

The MoD belatedly admitted the admiral was under investigation after reports in The Sun and Financial Times revealed claims of an affair.

In his role as First Sea Lord, Sir Ben regularly consorted with British prime ministers. Pictured: The naval leader saluting at a parade at Britannia Royal Naval College next to then-PM Boris Johnson

Admiral Sir Ben Key (front right) strides along the street next to Rishi Sunak in March 2023

Admiral Sir Ben is accused of breaking the Navys service test which bars affairs between different ranks. Endangering comrades marriages is also forbidden.

Such investigations are by convention always investigated by more senior officers.

But the only one who is more senior  Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, himself a former First Sea Lord  currently has all of Britains defence issues on his shoulders.

Instead, the inquiry is being headed by the Vice Chief of Defence Staff, General Dame Sharon Nesmith, technically of equal rank to Admiral Sir Ben.

He could face court martial for bringing the Navy into disrepute, or could instead be dealt with through the disciplinary system.

Punishments for misconduct include a stripping of rank, or the sack.

Admiral Sir Ben was educated at Bromsgrove School, one of the oldest public schools in Britain, before joining the Royal Navy in 1984 as a cadet while at university.

What does a First Sea Lord do? The First Sea Lord is not the first, not at sea and not a lord, Navy admirals like to joke. But as the head of the Royal Navy, it is their role to ensure the tasks of protecting Britain, working with allies and helping trade flow are carried out smoothly. The First Sea Lord is also the Chief of Naval Staff and a member of the Defence Council. They are responsible to the Secretary of State for Defence. In their role, the First Sea Lord helps the Defence Secretary to manage and direct the Armed Forces. They also advise the Chief of the Defence Staff, currently Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, on maritime strategy and policy. The role has existed since the 17th century but the title of First Sea Lord emerged in 1904 following the appointment of Admiral Sir John Fisher. He held the position until 1910 and served in a second stint when the First World War broke out in 1914. Recent First Sea Lords include Admiral Tony Radakin, from June 2019 to November 2021, Admiral Lord West, who was in charge of the Navy from 2002 to 2006 and Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope from 2009 to 2013. Advertisement

He initially served in the Fleet Air Arm - the Navy's aviation division - as helicopter aircrew.

The admiral has commanded four ships the Sandown, Iron Duke and Lancaster, as well as the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, and deployed on operations to Kosovo and Iraq.

He was appointed Fleet Commander in 2016, and made the Chief of Joint Operations in 2019.

He was decorated by America for service on land in Baghdad in 2006, and helped mastermind the UK evacuation of Kabul in 2021 which saw some 15,000 Britons and Afghan allies airlifted to safety.

And in March he was in flamboyant high spirits far from the home he shares with wife Elly in Dorset when he performed a comic routine  playing the piano in dress uniform in front of an audience of thousands at the Albert Hall.

He asked to resign after the inquiry into the alleged affair began, The Sun reported, but is instead remaining a member of the Royal Navy until it is completed, with the Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, taking the helm.

Potential replacements are said to have been interviewed, with an announcement soon.

According to the Navy, integrity is a core value of the service  that quality of an individuals character that encompasses honesty, sincerity, reliability and unselfishness.

It is an essential requirement of both leadership and comradeship. Unless we maintain our integrity, others will not trust us and teamwork will suffer.

A Sun source said of the inquiry: It is shocking, really shocking, because of who he is. Not just because he is First Sea Lord, but his reputation is a man of principles and morals. He is a popular First Sea Lord.

An MoD spokesman said last night: An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery after the death of an 87-year-old pensioner in North London.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Goodchild Road, Manor House, to a report of a robbery at around 5.53pm on Tuesday.

London Ambulance Service also attended the scene and the elderly man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

However, the man died in hospital on Thursday and his family have been informed of the death.

A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery.

He was also also arrested on suspicion racially aggravated public order offence and assault on police.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course, Metropolitan Police added.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, from the Met's Specialist Crime North Unit and leading the investigation, said: 'This is a horrific incident which very sadly resulted in an innocent man dying.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Goodchild Road, Manor House, (pictured) to a report of a robbery at around 5.53pm on Tuesday.

'His family are being supported by specialist officers.

'At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

'However, this is a fast-paced investigation and I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or witnessed what happened to please contact the police.'

Assistant Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads local policing in the area, said: 'We know many people will be very concerned by what has happened and while we have a man in custody, local patrols have been stepped up.

'If you have any concerns please do speak to those officers.

'A man has lost his life in a tragic way and our thoughts remain with his family.'
Disgraced former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan was refused a job as a social worker because his perjury conviction posed an unacceptable risk, a court heard.

Mr Sheridan was found guilty of perjury and jailed for three years in 2010 after a jury found he lied about visits to a Manchester sex club and an affair with former Scottish Socialist Party activist Katrine Trolle.

The former MSP had previously won 200,000 after The News of the World printed the allegations about his private life.

He has now taken Glasgow City Council to court after it refused to employ him as a criminal justice social worker.

The council told him his conviction presented too great a risk to the authority and that any future applications would be unsuccessful.

Mr Sheridan has now instructed lawyers to go to Scotlands highest civil court in a bid to force the council to overturn its decision.

The council insists it is legally entitled to refuse employment to Mr Sheridan.

The court heard that social work bosses sent him a letter in August 2024 telling him his conviction presented an unacceptable level of risk to Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership.

Mr Sheridan turned up to the court to watch proceedings with his wife Gail and daughter Gabrielle

More communications to Mr Sheridan told him that future applications for jobs with the organisation would not be progressed.

Yesterday, his lawyer Mike Dailly told Lord Young that the council had acted unlawfully in its decision to permanently exclude Mr Sheridan from social work jobs with the local authority.

He said that the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate for working in the profession.

Mr Dailly told a judicial review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh: Its a simple matter - the petitioner has been assessed as being a fit person for the profession by the statutory social work body. He has also been assessed as being suitable to work with children and younger people under the PVG scheme.

The petitioner has been told he cannot be a social worker. However, the Scottish Parliament has allowed the SSSC the role and responsibility to determine who is a fit and proper person to be a social worker.

The SSSC says the petitioner is a fit and proper person. I say the decision made by the council is irrational - it cannot say the petitioner cannot be a social worker.

He wants Lord Young to pass legal orders stating that Glasgow City Councils decision was unlawful as it permanently excluded him from working in social work at the local authority.

The lawyer also wants the decision made by Glasgow City Council in relation to Mr Sheridans job application to be overturned.

Mr Sheridan turned up to the court to observe proceedings with his wife Gail and daughter Gabrielle.

They heard Glasgow City Councils lawyer Paul Reid KC tell the court that Glasgow City Council acted lawfully and were legally entitled to refuse employment to Mr Sheridan.

Speaking about the assessment made by the SSSC about Mr Sheridan, he said: It is a registration. It does not confer an entitlement to employment.

Registration with the Law Society of Scotland does not confer an entitlement to employment as a solicitor - and registration with the General Medical Council doesnt confer an entitlement to work as a doctor.

Mr Reid said the decision made by Glasgow City Council was an employment decision and couldnt be challenged by judicial review.

Lord Young told the court that he wanted time to consider the legal issues which lawyers had highlighted. He said hed issue his decision sometime in the near future.

He added: Clearly, this is an important matter.

The former MSP posted online last summer about graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University after undertaking a two-year masters degree in social work.

Sources say he has applied for jobs in the profession but is unable to secure a position.

Mr Sheridan used to lead the Scottish Socialist Party which won a number of seats at Holyrood in 1999 and 2003.

Known for his booming voice and frequent use of sunbeds, he was a prominent opponent of the poll tax.

In 2004 and 2005 the News of the World newspaper published stories claiming he had gone to swingers clubs and had cheated on his wife.

The MSP - who categorically denied the allegations - sued the newspaper for defamation.

After a trial the jury ruled the newspapers false claims had damaged his reputation and he was awarded 200,000 in damages.

Police later began a criminal investigation after the newspaper claimed it had a tape recording which proved Sheridan had lied during the defamation case, and he was charged with perjury.

In 2010, after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, a jury ruled he had lied at the earlier court case and that, despite his denials, he had visited a swingers club.

In 2022 he was declared bankrupt after unsuccessfully trying to prove he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
A female tourist who was discovered dying in a coma after attending a music festival sent a series of disturbing messages to her parents before an alleged kidnapping.

Ivonne Daniela Latorre disappeared from Zamna festival, which she had attended with her Colombian beauty queen friend, Estefania Bedoy, in Cairo, Egypt.

The glamorous woman had travelled to the African country on April 24, excited to attend the electronic music festival with her friend to celebrate her birthday.

The two women were allegedly invited to an after-party during the event on April 27, by an individual called Jessi Morena, who they had been introduced to at the festival.

Ms Latorre was found severely injured and comatosed after meeting two men who claimed to be producers with promises to make the women famous.

She died in hospital a few days later on May 4, while her friend, Estefania had returned to the hotel safely.

Recently terrifying messages have emerged from Ms Latorre to her parents, who live in Colombia, as she began to realise the danger she was in.

One hair-raising text mentioning 'The Serbian', said: 'He's scaring me,' while a second chilling message said: 'They want to do something to me. They want to kidnap me.'

Daniela Latorre died after being found in a coma following her dissapearance in Cairo, Egypt

Estefania Bedoya, Jessi Escobar and Ivonne Daniela Latorre (pictured left to right) during the Zamna festival in Egypt

Ivonne Daniela Latorre had attended the event her Colombian beauty queen friend, Estefania Bedoy (pictured)

Terrifying text sent from Ms Latorre to her parents in Colombia before she was discovered in a coma

Another pleaded with her parents to 'urgently' come with police, as she revealed they had been enticed by the men under false pretences, adding: 'They don't want to make us a band.'

Snaps and videos of the glamorous young woman show Ms Latorre enjoying her sunny getaway in Egypt before the tragic incident.

The two women were enjoying the event until they met two men, whose identities are yet to be confirmed.

Shortly after, Ms Lattore urgently informed her parents of her distress. Her friend Estefania returned to their room, without Ivonne, unharmed.

Ms Latorre's family have since told local media: 'Neither her family nor her friends knew she was missing until Tuesday, April 30, when Estefania, her travelling companion, contacted us.'

After being informed of Ivonne's disappearance, the woman's relatives and friends called several hospitals in Cairo in a bid to locate her whereabouts.

Her friend, beauty queen Estafania, later told Ms Lattore's relatives: 'She hasn't woken up. They found her several days ago.

'She fell from a great height and I wasn't there; she was with other people at the time.'

Ms Latorre was later discovered in hospital by her loved ones, but never gained consciousness.

Jessi Escobar allegedly introduced the women to the two unidentified men

Cairo police have been questioning her friend Estefania, who allegedly declined to tell family what had happened to Ms Latorre.

The force are also understood to be looking for an individual called Jessi Escobar, a woman who the two women met locally, as well as the two men Ms Escobar is said to have introduced them to.

Ms Latorre's relative, Alexandra Marin, told local media: 'We had a hard time finding the hospital due to language barriers and the lack of cooperation from the people involved.'

Her family have since created a GoFundMe to aid in returning the young woman's body back to her home country and to cover the legal fees to probe her death.
This is the increidble moment a Royal Navy warship swooped in on a Russian submarine and shadowed the vessel as it travelled through the English channel.

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a Nato operation to keep a watch on the kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it made its surfaced journey back to Russia from the eastern Mediterranean.

Footage shows how the Royal Navy vessel followed the Russian submarine's progress after it was intercepted near the French coast, and before it was handed over to allied units.

Earlier in the day, the Russian submarine had been observed by a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron.

Once responsibility for Krasnodar had been handed over, HMS Tyne was quickly back on new tasking to shadow Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy as it headed westward from the Baltic Sea, through the busy Dover Strait.

Tyne and 815 Naval Air Squadron later monitored the corvette's return journey to the Baltic alongside three merchant ships.

The warship has come back into service after maintenance and returns alongside her sister ships, HMS Mersey and Severn, at the forefront of operations protecting UK waters.

It is the latest deployment of a UK warship to follow Russian vessels through the Channel, with HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey involved in similar operations two weeks ago.

An observer from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracks the Krasnodar from a Wildcat helicopter from the UK Carrier Strike Group

This close-up of the helicopter observer's screen shows the Krasnodar in detail as the Royal Navy keep close track of it in the Atlantic, before it entered tthe Channel

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a Nato operation to keep a watch on the kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it made its surfaced journey back to Russia from the eastern Mediterranean

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: 'The Royal Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness to secure UK waters and protect the public.

'Our sailors acted swiftly and decisively to a potential Russian threat, and I pay tribute to their dedication, courage and professionalism.

'National security is a foundation of the Government's plan for change and we are giving our armed forces what they need to keep us secure home and strong abroad.'

HMS Tyne's operations officer Lieutenant Bailey Denyer said: 'Activations like the one we've seen on this patrol to track Krasnodar are our bread and butter - defending UK sovereignty and that of our Nato allies is at the very heart of what the Royal Navy does.'

A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The patrol vessel intercepted Krasnodar on entry to the English Channel near the French coast, reporting on every move as it made its eastward journey before handing over duties to allies as the submarine left UK waters.

It is the latest deployment of a UK warship to follow Russian vessels through the Channel, with HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey involved in similar operations two weeks ago

HMS Tyne also kept an eye on Russian RFS Boikiy, top - one of a four-vessel task group that passed through the English Channel

'Earlier in its journey, Krasnodar was tracked by a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron deployed with the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the Atlantic.

'Once responsibility for Krasnodar had been handed over, HMS Tyne was quickly back on new tasking to shadow Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy as it headed westward from the Baltic Sea, through the busy Dover Strait.'

HMS Tyne is a patrol ship built to help protect UK waters, especially for things like fishing and it works with two sister ships ships, Mersey and Severn.

It is armed with a 20 mm cannon which can fire up to 450 rounds per minute as well as two general purpose machine guns.
A lawyer specialising in the protection of historic trees has compared the cutting down of Britain's beloved Sycamore Gap to murder and expressed hopes the case will 'set a new tone' for cases involving the destruction of the natural world.

On the latest episode of the Mail's 'The Trial of the Sycamore Gap' series, award-winning crime reporters Liz Hull and George Odling as well as tree lawyer Sarah Dodd, reacted to the news that Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, had been found guilty of cutting down the famous tree next to Hadrian's Wall.

The pair, both from Cumbria, drove for 30 miles through a storm, then filmed themselves cutting down the iconic landmark in the early hours of September 28, 2023.

The Sycamore Gap tree was well-known and featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Police officers look at the Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian's Wall on September 28, 2023

Daniel Graham, left, and Adam Carruthers, right, face up to ten years in prison for felling the Sycamore Gap tree

They face up to ten years in prison, having been found guilty of causing 622,191 of criminal damage to the tree and 1,144 of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The verdicts were delivered after only five hours of deliberations.

Asked by Mr. Odling whether justice could ever feel as though it had been done after the destruction of a 150-year-old tree, Ms. Dodd, who set up a law firm which works to protect historic trees, said no reasonable jail sentence could account for its loss.

'It feels something like a murder', Ms Dodd told the podcast.

'Thankfully, in this case, the stump is resprouting slightly, and I know cuttings have been taken away that I am sure are being regrown. So, in terms of the Sycamore Gap tree, its legacy will live on.

'It certainly won't grow back to the specimen it was in our lifetimes. The positive I take from it all is, this landmark case will hopefully set a new tone for how courts deal with cases involving trees like this. This has established the felling of trees as a crime the courts take seriously.

'What this shows is that those cases where planning issues crop up, where there is damage to a protected tree for any other reason  it sets a tone and allows the courts to feel comfortable in imposing harsher punishments.

A court artist's sketch of Daniel Graham (left) and Adam Carruthers (right) at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on February 15, 2024

Subscribe to The Crime Desk to hear exclusive coverage of the Sycamore Gap trial on The Trial+ Join here

'This guilty verdict is part of the puzzle in increasing the severity of sentencing and fines and by doing that, increasing the protection to trees.'

Ms Dodd, who works in the valuing of trees for cases such as the trial of the Sycamore Gap, hinted at how prosecutors may have come to the figure of 622,191 worth of criminal damage.

'In the UK, we have a couple of tree valuing systems', Ms Dodd explained.

'The system that was used in this case is called CAVAT  the capital asset value system. They review the tree and put in certain calculations, and come out with a value figure.

'This figure reflects the amenity value of the tree. Stuff like size and circumference are considered, as well as how many people see the tree and enjoy it.'

To hear the Mail's award-winning coverage of the Sycamore Gap trial, as the case unfolds, subscribe to The Crime Desk today.

Become a member by clicking here, for ad-free access to every show across The Crime Desk network  including over 200 episodes of The Trial and On The Case and so much more.
The ongoing dispute between "Heart Signal 3" star Seo Min Jae and her boyfriend, Jung Rae Sung, has escalated into a legal battle following allegations of abuse and confinement, as well as accusations of stalking.

Seo Min Jae, also known as Seo Eun Woo, publicly announced her pregnancy and accused Jung Rae Sung of evading responsibility.

In response, Jung's legal team from Law Firm Roel issued a statement denying the allegations and providing their side of the story.

The law firm said Jung stayed in contact with Seo after learning of the pregnancy, discussed plans with her, and informed his parents about the situation.

Read more: Choi Daniel Apologizes to IU for Awkward Radio Farewell After 10 Years

The statement criticized Seo for posting Jung's personal information on Instagram and for actions that included persistent phone calls and honking at his residence.

"On or around April 30, 2025, she came to his residence and continuously honked her horn for about five minutes until he came outside," the statement said.

The legal representative also alleged that Seo Min Jae confined Jung at her residence against his will and physically assaulted him, prompting him to take legal action.

They further requested that Seo cease contacting Jung and warned that they are considering additional legal measures against defamatory comments made online about their client.

Seo Min Jae responded on social media, denying the accusations of stalking. "How is this stalking? I just wanted to talk, to discuss having the baby and raising it together," she wrote. "But now he's contacting me through a lawyer, saying he'll press criminal charges for stalking... Is he telling me to go die?"

The incident has generated headlines and galvanised public opinion, with many on Twitter waiting for further updates on the progress of the case.
In groundbreaking new research, Florida scientists determined that almost all alligator attacks were caused by risky behavior from humans.

Researchers at the University of Florida and Centre College in Kentucky published the first-ever research studying what humans were doing immediately before an alligator encounter.

They found that a whopping 96 percent of recorded 'alligator attacks' occurred right after humans were engaging in 'risky' behavior.

Researchers published the study in the Human-Wildlife Interactions journal and announced in April that alligator bites are preventable.

Mark Teshera, the study's lead and a biology professor at Centre College, said the findings show that alligator 'attacks' aren't actually attacks at all.

'It was important to create a ranking system for risky human behaviors because it showed that the overwhelming majority of bites stemmed from some level of humans engaging in risky behavior in places where alligators live,' Teshera said.

'Therefore, we should not call these encounters 'attacks.''

Teshera added that the motivation for the study was to determine if alligators were misrepresented.

Research conducted by the University of Florida and Centre College has revealed that 96% of alligator attacks occurred after the victim participated in 'risk' behavior

The research shows that alligators aren't inherently aggressive creatures and typically bite humans when they're provoked

Scientists concluded that humans shoulder a majority of the blame for alligator bites, and the predators don't typically go looking to attack people.

'The takeaway lesson 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,' Professor of Wildlife Ecology Frank Mazzotti said.

Scientists believe that alligators won't go looking for conflict but will respond if presented with an 'attractive stimulus.'

The stimulus can be something that would spook the alligator, including splashing, swimming, or a presence in their natural habitat.

When researchers specifically looked at fatal bites, they found humans were often engaging in high-risk behavior beforehand. This can be defined as deliberately entering the alligator's habitat.

Humans who simply walked near the water or the alligator's habitat on land were rarely bitten.

Mazzotti said the findings could help protect alligators from being euthanized by authorities for biting a human.

Typically, when an attack occurs, authorities will attempt to identify the alligator, capture it, and euthanize them.

Researchers hope that the research pushes humans to avoid areas where alligators are known to swim, resulting in fewer attacks and saving gators from being euthanized

Although alligator attacks are rare, a Florida woman named Rachel Thompson was bitten last July while swimming in Hillsborough River

If humans are conscious of not disturbing the creatures, they're less likely to get attacked, and the alligators won't be senselessly killed.

The information is particularly useful as Floridians prepare for alligator season, which runs from April to June.

The spring is when alligators mate, and they're more active, which can lead to an increase in human interactions.

Researchers advise Floridians to be aware of alligator habitats and avoid swimming in the area.

Last July, a woman named Rachel Thompson was swimming in Hillsborough River when she was bitten by an alligator.

The alligator bit her leg as she attempted to escape by throwing a rock and punching it.

Thompson miraculously pried the alligator's mouth open, and her son helped her escape.

Another woman was recently attacked while she paddled in a canoe near the mouth of Tiger Creek.
A fourth Iranian man has been arrested as part of a counter terrorism probe, the Met police have confirmed.

A 31-year-old Iranian man has been arrested in north-west London under the National Security Act 2023, as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

It comes after three other men aged, 39, 44, and 55, were arrested on Saturday May 3, as part of the probe.

Warrants to detain them further has been obtained for all three men, meaning they will remain in custody until Saturday, May 17. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

Searches were carried out at two addresses in north-west London, Scotland Yard said, with inquiries said to be 'ongoing'.

Under section 27 the National Security Act, officers can arrest without a warrant anyone they suspect is 'involved in foreign power threat activity'.

The arrests are not linked to a second Counter Terrorism operation, which also took place on Saturday, May 3.

A fourth Iranian man has been arrested as part of a counter terrorism probe, the Met police have confirmed (stock image)

The incident saw four Iranian men detained across locations in England on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism.

The four: a 29-year-old man in the Swindon area; a 46-year-old man in west London; a 29-year-old man in the Stockport area; and a 40-year-old man in the Rochdale area, will remain in custody until May 10 after warrants of further detention were secured.

And a fifth, a 24-year-old man in the Manchester area, was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act before being bailed with conditions to an unspecified date in May.

Reports suggested that the alleged target of the plot was the Israeli embassy in London.

Security minister Dan Jarvis told the Commons on Tuesday described the arrest of the alleged plotters as some of 'the largest counter state threats and counter-terrorism actions we have seen in recent times'.

Mr Jarvis said: 'I can confirm to the House that these are the first Iranian nationals arrested under the National Security Act.'

Iran was the first foreign power to be listed on the top level of the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs) earlier this year, aimed at protecting the UK from malign foreign influence.

It means anyone who is directed by the regime to carry out activities in the UK must declare it or face five years in prison once the scheme comes into force in July.

Last October, MI5 boss, Ken McCallum, said authorities had stopped 20 state-backed plots hatched by Iran in the UK since 2022.
Vladimir Putin appeared to 'boast' about his relationship with China's President Xi Jingping, a body language expert has revealed, as Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II with a massive parade through Moscow's Red Square.

Putin's Victory Day parade on Friday included an impressive show of tanks, missiles and troops, and was attended by over two dozen world leaders.

One of the Russian leader's most high-profile guests was China's President Xi, who sat next to Putin during the procession.

As well as taking part in Victory Day celebrations, the Kremlin said last week that Xi would meet with Putin to discuss 'further development of relations of comprehensive partnership ad strategic interaction' and sign a number of bilateral documents.

Upon his arrival Thursday, the Chinese president told Putin that their countries should be 'friends of steel' as they pledged to raise cooperation to a new level and 'decisively' counter the influence of the United States.

Experts have claimed that Xi's latest visit provides Putin with an important boost as Russia comes under pressure from the United States to end the war with Ukraine.

Now, body language expert Judi James has revealed what Putin's body language really says about his relationship with President Xi.

Vladimir Putin appeared to 'boast' about his relationship with China 's President Xi Jingping, a body language expert has revealed, as Russia celebrated Victory Day

One of the Russian leader's most high-profile guests was China's President Xi

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talk as they watch the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II

Suppressed tension

'There are some non-verbal signs of suppressed tension from Putin at some very telling 'leakage' moments as he walks with Xi, like the furrowing of the brow, an apparent biting of his lower lip and the way his hand is balled into a fist', James says.

She also notes how the Russian leader's gestures suggest a 'degree of effort involved in getting this meeting right in the eyes of the world.'

Performed displays of friendship

'Putin's more performed displays or intentional gestures though seem to be aimed at defining a relaxed and even playful-looking friendship here.

'We can see him nudging Xi at one point with the back of his hand which is a signal usually used between friends to prompt someone to join in a joke.

'He also leans across with an expression of amusement as Xi speaks, rubbing his collar with a finger to suggest a light and humorous exchange.

Keeping the conversation going

'When the two men speak as they walk, Putin resorts to illustrative gesticulation to keep the narrative flowing of a chatty, animated relationship, bringing his fingers up in a measuring 'pinch' gesture, presumably to appear fully engaged despite the fact that they speak two different languages.'

Putin's Victory Day parade on Friday included an impressive show of tanks, missiles and troops, and was attended by over two dozen world leaders

Victory Day, which Russia marks on May 9, is the country's most important secular holiday

: Military vehicles and soldiers parade through Red Square

World War II is a rare event in the nation's divisive history under Communist rule that is revered by all political groups

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45

The parade featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine

As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, huge Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square

Also among the weaponry on display were drones carried on military trucks

Fighter jets release smoke in the colors of the Russian flag over Red Square

After launching what the Kremlin insists on calling a 'special military operation' in Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly dependent economically on China as Western sanctions cut its access to much of the international trading system.

China's increased trade with Russia has helped the country mitigate some of the worst blows from the sanctions.

Moscow has diverted the bulk of its energy exports to China and relied on Chinese companies to import high-tech components for Russian military industries to circumvent Western sanctions.

Xi's visit to Russia is his third since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Victory Day, which Russia marks on May 9, is the country's most important secular holiday.

The parade and other festivities underline Moscow's efforts to project its global power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West amid the conflict in Ukraine that is grinding through a fourth year.

World War II is a rare event in the nation's divisive history under Communist rule that is revered by all political groups, and the Kremlin has used that sentiment to encourage national pride and underline Russia's position as a global power.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar in the national psyche.

) Russian Sukhoi SU-25 jet fighters fly over the Kremlin during the military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi's Germany, May 9, 2025 in Moscow, Russia

Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 years, has turned Victory Day into a key pillar of his tenure

Russian President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders attend a joint wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall as part of Victory Day celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow

Addressing the crowd in Red Square, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine

Addressing the crowd in Red Square, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that 'we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.'

Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 years, has turned Victory Day into a key pillar of his tenure and has tried to use it to justify his action in Ukraine.

The parade featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, huge Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square. Also among the weaponry on display were drones carried on military trucks, a tribute to their pivotal role in the conflict.

Fighter jets of Russian air forces aerobatic teams flew by in close formation, followed by jets that trailed smoke in the colors of the national flag.
A British cardinal involved in the secretive papal conclave has revealed how Pope XIV reacted upon being elected.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, 79, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, was one of 133 cardinals involved in the conclave and said every single step was meticulously followed.

And now that he is no longer sequestered from the outside world, Cardinal Nichols told MailOnline how former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost reacted when asked if he accepted his position as leader of the Catholic Church.

He said: 'He took it very matter of factly, there was no real emotion. He took it all in his stride.

There was a real sense of elation when he accepted the position of Pope. I was standing just a few feet away as he spoke and he was so very calm.

Cardinal Nichols also suggested that Pope Leo 'won't be afraid of tyrants' after being elected.

In an intriguing comment about a former Pope Leo, he said: In 452 AD Leo turned back Attila the Hun on the edge of the city of Rome, so he wont be afraid of tyrants.

When asked whether he was referring to President Donald Trump, Cardinal Nichols replied: You might hear that, I didnt say it.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols (above) has revealed how Pope XIV reacted upon being elected - and why the new pontiff 'won't be afraid of tyrants'

Cardinal Nichols said Pope Leo XIV (above) 'took it very matter of factly' and 'all in his stride'

Cardinal Nichols also detailed why the black smoke, which signalled no Pope had been elected after the first vote on Wednesday, was delayed by more than two hours (Pictured: the 'Room of Tears' in the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave vote took place)

The Liverpool-born Cardinal also detailed why the black smoke, which signalled no Pope had been elected after the first vote on Wednesday, was delayed by more than two hours.

And he lay the blame with papal priest Raniero Cantalamessa, 91, who had over run his sermon by almost an hour, leaving the crowd of 45,000 people outside the Vatican on tenterhooks.

He said: I think its well known that Fr Cantalamessa gave a very long talkit must have been an hour or more. One person said it was his valedictory address, and it was splendid stuff.

It was suggested that it would be half an hour at the most, but it went on a lot longer. Patience is a good virtue, and it cant be easily demonstrated unless you are doing it.

Revealing the details of how the Conclave worked Cardinal Nichols said: There was a remarkable sense of fraternity, with people from all over the world.

There was no distraction from mobile phones and there was a great spirit among the group of us.

It was a time of great patience because we followed every single step meticulously and that took time, taking the other took a long time and the process of voting also took a long time.

For Cardinal Nichols, who is the Archbishop of Westminster, it was also his first Conclave, and he just made the 80 years old cut off limit.

For Cardinal Nichols, who is the Archbishop of Westminster, it was also his first Conclave and he just made the 80 years old cut off limit

Revealing the details of how the Conclave worked Cardinal Nichols said: There was a remarkable sense of fraternity, with people from all over the world'

He added: It was a very rapid decision, just four votes, and I think thats because Pope Francis left a College of Cardinals that shared his vision and spirit to be a missionary church.

I would say Pope Leo is a citizen of the world, and once we reflected, it was pretty clear that here was a man who as bringing the right depth to the church and experience.

There was actually quite a bit of me that didnt want to leave because it was such a spiritual experience in there and I will treasure it deeply.

He is very calm, clear in his mind decisive and Ive seen him resolve difficulties that didnt leave enemies behind, and he can pull people together.

Then giving his first reaction to his beloved Liverpool winning the Premier League, Cardinal Nichols told MailOnline: That was just as ecstatic.

In the wake of Pope Leo's election, the new pontiff's brother has revealed that he watched the Ralph Fiennes blockbuster Conclave in preparation to enter the Sistine Chapel.

The Oscar-winning film, based on the novel by Robert Harris, focuses on the skullduggery that takes place before a conclave to elect a new pontiff.

Speaking to US broadcaster NBC, Pope Leo's brother John revealed how his sibling prepared for the moment, having spoken to him right before the voting began.

In the wake of Pope Leo's election, the new pontiff's brother has revealed that he watched the Ralph Fiennes blockbuster Conclave in preparation to enter the Sistine Chapel

The Oscar-winning film, based on the novel by Robert Harris, focuses on the skullduggery that takes place before a conclave to elect a new pontiff

Speaking to US broadcaster NBC, his brother John (above) revealed how his sibling prepared for the moment, having spoken to him right before the voting began

Mr Prevost recalled: I said, Did you watch Conclave? And he had just finished watching the movie, so he knew how to behave.

Laughing, Mr Prevost also said they played Wordle together before the vote began. First we do Wordle, because this a regular thing.

Then we do Words With Friends [a virtual game like Scrabble]. Its something to keep his mind off life in the real world.

Later, speaking on LBC, Mr Harris said: There was a report several cardinals watched the movie because they didnt know how [the conclave] was going to operate.

He added that his brother might have taken a few clues from Ralph Fienness performance.

The new Pope's inaugural mass is set for May 18.
This is the heartwarming moment captured at Pope Leo XIV's historic unveiling to the world yesterday that has left millions of fans overwhelmed with emotion.

Footage of Cardinal Vinko Puljic from the momentous occasion has even reduced some TikTok viewers to tears, with the Bosnian former archbishop seen widely smiling while the newly elected Pontiff delivered his first speech from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica yesterday evening.

As Pope Leo XIV spoke to the crowd of thousands who had gathered to witness the historic moment, Cardinal Puljic, the longest-serving cardinal to have voted in the conclave, watched on with admiration and pride, adorning a large grin and chuckling to himself as he gazed out at the sea of supporters.

In a viral TikTok video capturing the sweet moment that has amassed more than seven million views and titled 'POV: your best friend just made it and you're their biggest fan', viewers were quick to praise the loving and supportive nature of the cardinal, with one commenting: 'Why am I finding the cardinals so cute', while another said 'It's beautiful to see someone rejoice in someone else's happiness and success'.

One commenter even remarked how they had been 'moved to tears' by the public show of support, adding: 'What's going on? I'm not catholic and never thought I would be moved to tears by a kind looking pope and a bunch of happy cardinals. This is heartwarming and I've no idea why'.

Another jokingly added that the cardinal had likely appeared so content as he felt 'relieved he doesn't have to do the job', while one commenter questioned: 'Why am I now imagining how proud I'd be if my best friend became Pope'.

Cardinal Puljic, who has held the position since 1994, recently echoed his support for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, telling the Catholic Press Agency in Bosnia that he 'communicates well, has an ability to listen and hear'.

Cardinal Puljic, the longest-serving cardinal to have voted in the conclave, watched on with admiration and pride as Pope Leo XIV spoke to the crowd of thousands who had gathered in St Peter's Square yesterday

Adorning a large grin and chuckling to himself as he gazed out at the sea of supporters, footage of the heartwarming moment has even reduced some fans to tears

Cardinal Puljic (pictured) who has held the position since 1994, recently echoed his support for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, telling the Catholic Press Agency in Bosnia that he 'communicates well, has an ability to listen and hear'

He added that the vote in the conclave amongst 133 cardinals, while initially 'dispersed', eventually narrowed as it became clear that the Pontiff holds a clear 'capacity to lead'.

In a moving tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis, who died aged 88 on Easter Monday last month, Robert Prevost, history's first ever American Pope, told jubilant followers on the balcony of St Peter's Basilca 'Peace be with you' and also offered a reminder of God's unconditional love.

Thanking Francis for his work and his 'brother cardinals' who elected him, Pope Leo added: 'Pope Francis, in fact, was always courageous, and he blessed Rome. The Pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world on that Easter morning'.

Crowds had been joyously waving flags and chanting 'Habemus Papam' - the Latin for 'we have a Pope' - since white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel shortly after 5pm UK time on Thursday, indicating that cardinals had elected a new pontiff.

While Pope Leo, religious leader of some 1.4billion Catholics worldwide, makes history as the first American pope, the religious leader has not been shy about his disapproval of President Donald Trump in the past.

Despite this, the US leader was one of the first notable figures to congratulate the new pope on his position, stating that he will 'look forward to meeting' the new pontiff in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The US President wrote: 'Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.

Robert Prevost, an American, was named as the new Pope yesterday. In his first speech as the leader of the Catholic Church, he made a moving tribute to his predecessor

Robert Prevost, history's first ever American Pope, told jubilant followers on the balcony of St Peter's Basilca 'Peace be with you' and also offered a reminder of God's unconditional love

Robert Francis Prevost receives his biretta from Pope Francis as he is elevated in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican in September 2023

'What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!'

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the pontiff's election as a 'momentous moment' and said that he looks 'forward to meeting the Holy Father and continuing to work closely with the Catholic Church'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Pope Leo's appointment with a plea for continued support from the Vatican.

In a post published on social media platform X, Mr Zelensky wrote: 'Ukraine deeply values the Holy See's consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.

'At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine's efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace.'
Meghan Markle took to social media to tease fans with a hint of what may be coming on season two of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.

The Duchess of Sussex shared footage of her crafting some floral arrangements alongside her beloved late rescue dog Guy.

The clip was posted to Instagram with the caption: 'Flower arranging with Guy last spring. Just wait til you see what Ive been cooking up this year! More soon'.

The footage was set to the jaunty pop song 'Lollipop' by The Chordettes - originally written by Julius Dixson and Beverly Ross in 1958.

Meghan broke cover earlier this week to post a special celebratory message for her son Archie's sixth birthday - her first public pronouncement following her husband Prince Harry's disastrous BBC interview.

The latest behind-the-scenes clips show Meghan trimming the stalks of a bunch of pale roses and a series of other plants, before combining them into a beautiful floral arrangement.

Buzzing around her feet is her late beagle, Guy, who Meghan adopted from a dog rescue in Canada in 2015 and who passed away earlier this year.

In a commemorative post on January 7 this year announcing Guy's passing, Meghan wrote: 'He had been at a kill shelter in Kentucky and given a few days to live. I swooped him up.and fell in love.

The Instagram clip starts by showing Meghan carrying a large bag of flowers and plants

Meghan assembles the roses and various greenery into a beautiful floral arrangement

The accompanying caption hints at a project Meghan has 'been cooking up this year' - likely to be a reference to season two of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan

'They referred to him as the little guy because he was so small and frail, so I named him Guy. And he was the best guy any girl could have asked for.

'If you followed me on instagram back in the day, you saw a lot of him - and on The Tig too. He was with me at Suits, when I got engaged, (and then married), when I became a mom.he was with me for everything: the quiet, the chaos, the calm, the comfort.

'He endured a terrible accident shortly before I moved to the UK which had him undergoing surgeries for several months and unable to leave the clinic.

'Doctors said he would never walk again, but Dr Noel Fitzpatrick said he could do it. H and I would drive late at night, after hours, to see Guy as he recovered in Surrey for months on end.

'I will always be grateful to Noel and his team, the team at Queen West Animal Hospital in TO, our vets now, and my friends and community: Thank you for loving him so.

'Because many of you will now see Guy in this new series, I hope youll come to understand why I am so devastated by his loss. I think you may fall a little bit in love too.

'I have cried too many tears to count - the type of tears that make you get in the shower with the absurd hope that the running water on your face will somehow make you not feel them, or pretend theyre not there. But they are. And thats okay too.

'Thank you for so many years of unconditional love, my sweet Guy. You filled my life in ways youll never know.'

Despite passing at the start of this year, Meghan's beagle Guy managed to make it into season one of her Netflix show

Guy even became the star of his own children's book, His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle: The Rebarkable True Story of Meghan Markle's Rescue Dog

A photo of Meghan and Prince Harry with their beloved beagle Guy

With Love, Meghan aired on Netflix on March 4 this year and was quickly panned by critics

However despite the negative reviews, the Duchess of Sussex's eight-part series was watched by 526,000 households in the first five days it was available on Netflix

Meghan Markle announced her new Netflix show had been 'renewed for a second season' on Instagram back in March

The project Meghan mentions 'cooking up' is likely to be the second season of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan which was renewed by the streaming giant in March.

The eight-part series received a series of less than enthusiastic reviews in the press, being branded 'smug, syrupy and endlessly spoofable' in the Times and 'an exercise in narcissism' by the Telegraph.

But Netflix were insistent that 'theres more joy to be shared'.

The show aired on March 4 this year and saw Meghan offer lifestyle tips from inside a rented $8million (5million) mansion near the Sussexes' Montecito home.

Despite the negative press, the show rapidly rapidly made its way to Netflix's Top 10 most-watched list.

According to the streamer, season two is already shot and will air sometime this autumn.
Clayton Echard is revealing his intense relief at a prosecutor's decision to slap felony charges on a woman who falsely claimed he had made her pregnant.

The 6 5 Bachelor hunk tells Daily Mail he is elated and feels vindicated after an Arizona judge announced Laura Owens - who claimed she later had a miscarriage - had tried to extort child support.

On Tuesday the Maricopa County Attorneys Office charged with perjury, forgery, tampering with evidence, and fraud.

Echard, 32, spoke frankly with Daily Mail following the charges against Laura Owens, 34, daughter of recently retired San Francisco radio host Ronn Owens, 79.

I'm celebrating the vindication Ive received from having these charges handed down to Laura, the perpetrator, he said.

For her to be facing seven felony charges Is absolutely incredible.

It was a shock to me. It was a shock to the other victims.

We thought she may be charged but we didn't think that she was going to get the severity of the charges that she did.

Because a Class 2 felony being at the front end of those seven charges is major.

We have just been elated, over the moon, that this is the outcome that we were waiting on.

It took a long time to get there but the day has finally come where she's going to be facing some accountability.

Owens sought child support from Clayton Echard, the star of The Bachelor Season 26. He denied ever having intercourse with her. Owens later dropped a paternity case against him

The Bachelor Season 26 alum said he remains baffled by Owens decision to pursue him through the courts and insisted her claim was bogus. Owens eventually dropped her case.

I have no idea what's going on in her head, he says. I've never dealt with an individual like this - I would love to find out.

Owens, meanwhile, lashed out at the prosecutor and said in a statement that she was stunned by the seven felony charges which are a result of coordinated harassment, misinformation, and public pressure in the aftermath of a paternity case I filed against former Bachelor star Clayton Echard.

She claimed his supporters have dissected my medical history, mental health, and personal life with obsessive cruelty.

Echard's lawyers successfully claimed Owens had previously attempted similar schemes with other men.

Court documents and witness accounts compiled on Justice For Clayton chronicle several of these alleged accusations, including one from man who accused Owens of faking a pregnancy in 2014 and another from Michael Marraccini in early 2016.

Both men, as well as another unnamed partner and an accuser named Greg Gillespie, claim Owens lied about them fathering her nonexistent children.

Those claims have yet to be proven, but were enough to convince a grandy jury Tuesday there was enough for a case.

She is double, triple, quadrupling down right now, adds Echard.

Laura Michelle Owens, the 34-year-old daughter of Ronn Owens, allegedly engaged in the campaign of deception from May 2023 to June 2024

Owens maintains she never faked a pregnancy, and that she is being victimized by a coordinated online campaign called 'Justice for Clayton'. She issued a statement saying she would continue to fight the case in court

Shes attacking the county attorney for putting out this news and stating that she's biased and that she's out to get her.

That's the last thing that you want to do when you're about to go into a criminal case is call out the county attorney and say Hey you're not doing your job right and you're biased and this is all complete BS but that's essentially what she's doing right now.

I'm not really fully certain what her long term play is here because she continues to lose.

Echard, who appeared on The Bachelor in 2022, has been hit with a mix of emotions amid the chaos says he leaned on family for support.

He was struggling to process the information and really just understand that what I was facing was my reality.

It didn't feel real. It felt so chaotic. I kept thinking I'd wake up one day and go, oh, that was a nightmare.a dream.

Owens, he says, went public to defame me. It was a smear campaign and I had to do everything in my power to try to restore my reputation.

He admits: It was a reputation that had already been hit because when I went on reality television I was somewhat polarizing.

I was doing everything in my power to just rewrite the script, to show people, hey, I'm not a monster. I'm a human being and I'm a decent guy - I have my flaws but I'm certainly not a crazy mess.

The two-year public drama with Owens, he says, didnt help.

I was trying to just show people who I really was, he says. I'm not a saint but I'm not this massive sinner either.

I'm just kind of a guy in the in between and that's what I want you all to see. It was a long journey.

I was trying to get my name cleared so that I could go on with my life and say this is who I am but I want you all to believe what I am as the truth - what really is not what is being said.

Echard recalls being in a dark place after The Bachelor and that the backlash he received really took me to one of the lowest points with my mental health.

It actually was the catalyst for why I went to multiple different therapies

He was the target of intense criticism over the way he handled relationships with his love interests on the show.

It all stemmed from when I fell in love with three women at the same time and the way that I handled that in telling each of the women, said Echard.

Critics felt I could have handled the situation better and that led to a lot of online backlash. I was getting thousands of hate messages.

That took me to a really dark place where I struggled to not believe the narrative that was being said about me - that I was a monster, a bad person not deserving of love.

it was really challenging for me to navigate my life post reality television.

There was plenty of good that came out of his on-air appearance, however.

Im so proud of the resilience that I have, says Echard. It's set me up for the future. I can overcome anything knowing that I went through some of the toughest experiences.

He adds that his is grateful for being a Bachelor and that he learned authenticity.

When you basically stop trying to please everybody - because you realize it's impossible to do - you start living your life in a way in which you want to live it.

That is very freeing. So I gained a ton of authenticity from this experience and I'm also just unapologetically myself nowadays.

He adds: Seeing the love that I had around me in those dark times reminded me how blessed I was to have the people that I do in my life.

So much good that came from all this. I would do it a thousand times over even if it meant going back down into the valley.

Echard did admit Owens performed oral sex on him, during a brief encounter on May 20, 2023.

Echard is a single man these days. He jokes that he is not on a banned list with all the women of the world saying stay away from this guy!

I'm close to getting to where I want to be. Im ready to have someone be a part of my life.

Ive spent the last couple years healing, doing a lot of self improvement, just trying to create a life that I felt was not only sustainable for me but for a significant other whenever that time comes.

I'm pretty much ready to settle down. I'm in that headspace so If I have to stay single for another year while I wait for my perfect person then so be it.

Echard currently works as a realtor in his hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona, and also sells solar panels.

The former medical equipment salesman said: I decided real estate would be fun to get into. I was always in sales and theres a lot of homes to sell in Scottsdale and theyre expensive homes. It just became a natural pivot for me and I so jumped into that.

Arizona's also a very sunny state so selling solar panels, renewable energy, makes a ton of sense.

Owens recalls that his initial encounter started off fine but there were soon warning signs.

That was the scary thing, he says. She was normal until she wasnt. There was no giveaway that I was going to be facing the chaos that was coming from her until after we spent a night together.

There was no sexual intercourse but we were intimate. The next day though was when I first saw the red flags.

Echard says he told Owens their hook-up at his home was a mistake because he had been drinking.

She broke down crying right away and that response was just very shocking to me, comments Echard.

He says Owens responded: I thought we had something special.

I had just met this girl so this is really weird to be bursting out in tears. That was the first sign that something was off.

Owens demeanor changed, says Echard, and she went stone cold in the face. It was a very dark and unsettling feeling. I could tell something was off at that point.

The pair first met when Owens reached out to Echard via LinkedIn and said she was looking for a realtor to help her purchase a new home but, in hindsight, he doesnt believe she was serious about the property.

She was just looking to find a way to establish a relationship with me, he says.

According to Echard, 11 days after she had performed oral sex on him she sent him a positive pregnancy test and said: Im pregnant. We need to talk and date.

I said no I'm not going to date you but you know it's up to you if you want to have a child or not - but I don't want to have a child with you.

I said I don't think this is real. I think you're making this up.

She's stated she'll have an abortion if I date her but if I don't date her she's having a child - so she created a dating contract in document form.

Echard believes Owens parents were also in on the alleged fake pregnancy scheme.

Her father was the host of a ten-minute weekday radio program that aired in the Bay Area for 46 year, called the Ronn Owens Report. Its final episode aired in 2021.

He asked her mother to talk some sense into her.

I said if she's actually pregnant she shouldn't have a child or not based on if someone dates her.

Ronn Owens was the host of a weekday radio program that aired in San Francisco for 46 years called the Ronn Owens Report. Its final episode aired in 2021. He's seen here with his daughter the year before

But the mother backed her daughter, says Echard, and told him: You got my daughter pregnant. It's disappointing that you won't give her a chance she's an incredible girl.

That was when, according to Echard, he realized the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Her mom has been complicit in this wholly.

I'm not the first guy. I'm the fourth guy that we know of that she's done this too so going back to one of the first victims in 2016, her whole family has been a part of this from day one including her father.

How was Owens able to claim she was pregnant if she only had oral sex with Echard?

After I finished she ran to the bathroom. She potentially spit it out into her hand and pushed it up herself. That was the only explanation that I could make sense of when she sent me the positive pregnancy test.

Google said that the chance of a pregnancy occurring is like 0.1%.

She claimed that that when we were grinding on each other that that fluid came out but I told her that didnt happen.

Echard is ready to put the drama behind him now.

Were on the other side now. Ive gained resiliency,' he said. 'This has made me a lot stronger in a weird way. I'm really grateful that I actually went through this experience because of what it's brought me.
A Florida nurse has been arrested after home surveillance footage captured her subjecting a quadriplegic woman to repeated abuse in her own home.

Nia Ayers, 24, a licensed practical nurse from St. Cloud, now faces charges of aggravated assault of a disabled teenager after the video evidence revealed shocking acts of cruelty against an 18-year-old woman diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The victim, who is non-verbal and dependent on a ventilator, allegedly had her mouth taped shut, was violently shaken and subjected to ongoing physical torment by Ayers - who had been entrusted with her daily care.

The abuse came to light on May 3, when the victim's mother noticed unexplained red cuts and scrapes on her daughter's face, leading her to review surveillance footage from inside the home.

What she discovered was horrifying, Ayers could be seen repeatedly taping the victim's mouth shut and ripping the tape off, shaking her head and body, pinching her and aggressively shaking her breathing machine - causing the teen's nose to bleed.

The heinous 'acts of torture' led to Ayers' arrest on Wednesday.

According to the arrest warrant, the home surveillance film also shows Ayers holding a washcloth over the victim's mouth for 10 seconds and then again for another seven seconds as the paralyzed woman appears to try moving her head away while being suffocated.

Nia Ayers, 24, a licensed practical nurse from St. Cloud, faces charges of aggravated assault of a disabled teenager after video evidence revealed shocking acts of cruelty against an 18-year-old woman diagnosed with cerebral palsy

Ayers (pictured) in St. Cloud Police custody after she was arrested on Wednesday, May 7

St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke (pictured) condemned the incident as 'tragic and sickening'

The victim's mother told police that Ayers had been working in her home for more than a year, adding that she now fears there may have been additional abuse that went unnoticed.

Police say they are still examining the full extent of the surveillance footage collected from the home.

St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke condemned the incident as 'tragic and sickening,' stressing the extreme vulnerability of disabled individuals under professional care.

'It's just absolutely shocking; it's unimaginable that somebody could do something like this,' Goerke told Fox35Orlando.

'If we do find something else, there will be additional charges coming. We will drop charge after charge after charge on this person to ensure either she never sees the light of day, or she doesn't ever do this again.'

Ayers is currently being held at the Osceola County Jail without bond.

The home care nurse had been employed by two separate healthcare agencies and, according to state records, has no prior disciplinary record with the Florida Department of Health.

She has been licensed as a practical nurse since 2021.
Almost one in five Scots calling NHS 24 for urgent medical advice hung up before being connected last year as people endured appalling waits of up to four hours.

Official figures show 317,000 of 1.65 million calls were abandoned in 2024, or 19.2 per cent.

In the peak month of December, 43,528 people hung up on NHS 24, or 26 per cent, as the average time for a call to be answered surged from 18 to 42 minutes.

In 2023, the average time was around 12 minutes.

The data, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives using freedom of information law, also reveals some people were put through alarmingly long waits for a response.

In every month last year, the maximum time for an answer was more than 90 minutes but waits of more than four hours were recorded in June and September.

In its reply to the Tories, the specialist health board said many callers made an informed choice to hang up and call back later and are then answered.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane described it another damning example of the SNPs failure to invest in frontline NHS services.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Sandesh Gulhane said it was another damning example of the SNPs failure to invest in frontline NHS services

He said the figures underlined the SNPs failure to tackle GP shortages and A&E waiting times, pushing people towards the national helpline.

When NHS 24 came under fire for its performance last year, health secretary Neil Gray insisted the Government was helping it reduce unanswered calls.

In a written parliamentary answer, he said its key performance indicators had been revised to better reflect and understand the current demands on the service.

That should help identify any potential risks where callers have made multiple attempts to access 111 without success and allow the Service to continue to make improvements, he said.

Dr Gulhane said the continued problems were unacceptable.

It is shocking that one in five Scots were forced to abandon their calls to NHS 24. And for those patients fortunate enough to get through, they had to endure truly appalling waits.

Even in summer, patients were having to wait four hours to get through and at the height of winter, the SNPs failure to support NHS 24 clearly pushed the service beyond breaking point.

John Swinney this week put a plan for 100,000 extra appointments in GP practices over the coming year at the heart of programme for government.

SNP Health secretary Neil Gray has been criticised over the performance of NHS 24

But doctors warned there are not enough staff to deliver the change, even though it amounts to an increase of less than 1 per cent on last years 17 million appointments.

Dr Gulhane added: These figures are also a reflection of the desperate shortage of GPs and the chronic A&E waiting times, which John Swinney has no credible plan to tackle - as we saw from this weeks threadbare Programme for Government.

These stats must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to finally ensure money is getting to where it is needed most in our NHS, rather than being squandered on pointless bureaucracy.

NHS 24 describes itself as Scotlands provider of digital health and care services.

It advises people to phone 111 if they think they need A&E but their condition of is not life or limb threatening, or if they are in mental health distress, or their GP, pharmacy or dental proactive is closed.

NHS 24 says callers are advised by an automatic message service to hang up and dial 999 if they face a life-threatening emergency.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: NHS 24 continues to work hard to ensure calls to its 111 service are answered as quickly and safely as possible.

Calls to the 111 service can go unanswered for a variety of reasons, including callers choosing to end their call after being connected to the automated messaging service and hearing the options available to them - including an NHS 24 callback service during busier periods.

Other options include accessing self-care advice via the NHS Inform website or contacting another area of the health service which may be more appropriate to meet their needs.

Joanne Edwards, Director of Service Delivery at NHS 24, said: NHS 24 has an essential role in NHS Scotland where our hard-working and dedicated staff help patients access the right care in the right place 24 hours a day, 365 days a week.

In 2024/25, 21.2 per cent of calls were answered in under one minute.

Some callers decide to hang up (discontinue) their call to 111 and call back later or choose a more appropriate route to care.

NHS 24 has also introduced a call-back function which has received positive patient feedback. This allows callers to request a return call during high-demand periods, providing flexibility and reducing on-phone wait times without affecting their place in line.

NHS 24 remains committed to providing positive patient journeys for all our callers. Our processes are continuously monitored and reviewed to improve access and deliver the best possible outcomes.
At the end of his guided tour of the enchanted wood that he bought on a whim in 2001, Christopher Lambton announces it is time for him and his dog Lily to return to his car.

Momentarily forgetting himself, he tells me: If you want to carry on walking around, please do. Then he remembers: Its not for me to invite you.

It is an understandable slip. For almost a quarter of a century the 64-year-old has been at pains to make everyone welcome in his 135-acre idyll in the Scottish Borders.

There are discreet signs dotted throughout the place assuring walkers the owner is happy for them to be on his land, to enjoy the spectacular views and commune with its burgeoning array of wildlife.

But Mr Lambton is not the owner any more  or, at least, not in the way he once was.

Rather he is the public-spirited facilitator of one of the most uplifting community buy-outs Scotland has seen.

He is the landowner who came to realise that the only buyers he felt truly comfortable selling up to were the people he lives among.

Others would likely have paid more. They would certainly have completed the deal far more quickly  and, when he first put it on the market, there was a glut of them.

Christopher Lambton sold Broughtonknowe Wood to the community rather than developers

He was well within his rights to sell to a commercial developer  an outfit which would fell the trees on an industrial scale for the timber, drive nature away and deprive a community of a beloved rural sanctuary. But could he live with himself?

After all these years spent sharing the enchantment of his landholding with anyone who cared to visit  dog walkers, picnickers, hikers  Mr Lambton decided the answer to that was no.

A few days ago, after a two-year campaign to raise the 875,000 asking price, a tiny community of outdoor lovers finally took ownership of Broughtonknowe Wood. It is now their own little paradise  a place where nobody lives but everyone is free to visit in perpetuity.

Many here are well aware of the chequered history of community buy-outs in Scotland  that they rarely leave everyone happy. From landlords resentful at being forced to give their tenants first refusal to communities split into warring factions over the running of their new acquisition, few such transactions have proved pain free.

But in Broughtonknowe Wood, which sits on the A701 within easy striking distance of dozens of Borders and South Lanarkshire villages, might this community have alighted on the exception?

Certainly, the place was an oasis of harmony this week  brimming both with positivity for the future and gratitude for the thoughtful stewardship of its past owners.

Im a Highlander who has seen many community buy-outs come and go, says one visitor who asks to be named only as Rosemary. Normally I approach these things with a deal of reservation. But so much hard work has gone into it  and so much work was done before Christopher put it up for sale  that its up and running and it will continue to run.

There will be a next generation that will come on and run it. It is just wonderful.

Dog walkers enjoy the woods near Biggar, Lanarkshire

She and her husband Peter gave what we could to it, she adds, and will happily continue to donate.

It was the onset of Parkinsons disease that convinced Mr Lambton to sell up a decade earlier than he had originally planned.

The former journalist, who later became development manager at Garvald Home Farm near West Linton, bought the land for 80,000 from the previous owner David Balfour-Scott who used to live next to it. The late army major had a vision for the land and set about turning a bare hillside into a mixed forest of native hardwoods  including oak and ash  and commercial softwoods such as Sitka spruce. As the trees grew, wildlife flooded in.

After initially attempting to persuade a friend to make an offer on the land, Mr Lambton decided to snap it up himself, more or less on a whim.

I started making my own little playground, I suppose, and sold a few Christmas trees.

Then my friends started to come here. They said could we come and walk? and I said yes, any time.

By then we had open access in Scotland so I couldnt have prevented anyone from walking, but I could make it easier by putting in a little car park at the end of the wood.

For me it was a good feeling. Some people dont like having other people on their land, which I just dont understand. They are very welcome. I cant see any problem at all.

Broughtonknowe woods has been secured by the local community for 900,000

Wasnt he besieged by day trippers bringing beer, disposable barbecues and beat music? Never, he says.

It used to be that I knew everybody coming here but, as it grew more and more popular, I knew a smaller proportion of them.

There was already one pond on the land, but Mr Lambton made arrangements to put in others. That meant putting in a little road, which also increased public access.

He employed a tree specialist to embark on a process he calls aesthetic thinning 

creating more elbow room in the forest while leaving the healthiest trees to flourish  and sold timber on a small scale to help pay for further improvements.

But it was the Covid lockdown five years ago that truly opened Mr Lambtons eyes to the importance of his landholding for his community.

One visitor, former biology teacher John Hart, was coming to walk there every day. In a world reeling from the upheaval wrought by the pandemic, here was a safe space teeming with wildlife.

Ian Brooke was heavily involved in the effort to turn the woods into a community space

I got to recognise him and realised he was a friend of a friend, said Mr Lambton. I eventually bullied him into starting a Friends of Broughtonknowe group.

That was part of a plan to attract public grants for pathways  something a single landowner could not do. But a properly formulated group could apply for a share of community funds made available by windfarms operating in the area.

A 16,000 grant followed and Broughtonknowe Wood opened up still further. Another pond was dug, pathways were completed and picnic tables and benches installed. There was even a new wooden hide for birdwatchers.

Mr Hart was instrumental in compiling an exhaustive census of the flora and fauna to be found in the wood.

Breeding birds there include blue tits, buzzards, goldcrests, jays, moorhens, pheasants and tawny owls, to name just a few. There are badgers, shrews, foxes, moles, stoats and roe deer among the mammals and the ponds throng with frogs and toads in the early spring. Meanwhile some 14 species of butterfly  including the red admiral  have thus far been identified.

Cub and scouts groups starting making visits to the woodland. Mr Lambton struck up a friendship with a chair maker called Peter Young, allowing him to set up a workshop on his land to make furniture from the plentiful supply of ash wood.

Mr Young set up a yurt in a former quarry on the land, which came to be used for woodwork and yoga classes. Almost organically, a private playground morphed into a cherished community space in which hundreds of people were invested.

Then Mr Lambton dropped his bombshell. Facing an uncertain future after his Parkinsons diagnosis, he announced he was selling.

Mr Brooke and Mr Lambton discuss plans for the woods

Everyone threw up their hands in horror and said no, no, no, dont sell it, he recalls. I said no, its all right, there will be somebody like me out there who will buy it.

The brutal financial reality, he soon realised, suggested otherwise.

I bought it, as I said, on a whim because I had 80,000, but not many people have 900,000, and if somebody bought it, they would have to get some money back out of it.

The first few interested parties confirmed the communitys worst fears. They were commercial outfits. At least one of them wanted to clear fell the entire hillside, promising only to leave a few trees next to the ponds.

I felt a sort of mysterious obligation, says Mr Lambton of his decision to discourage early offers and instead give his community time to see whether it could raise the funds.

In my earlier life I spent a lot of time walking in the Scottish hills and was profoundly grateful for the fact that you can go to wonderful places and just walk up the Torridon mountains or Glen Affric. There was an element of philanthropy, but it was also that I enjoyed doing it.

He says of his illness: It interferes with your brain a bit and some people say they make bad decisions with Parkinsons. I dont think this was a bad decision, but it was certainly prompted not only by looking at the facts but also looking at my emotions.

Listening to all this is Ian Brooke, who started walking his dog here in 2017 and soon became heavily involved in the effort to turn the woods into a multi-dimensional community space.

He says: We were all absolutely mortified after all the community effort and the number of people that enjoyed the space that some private buyer could come along and clear fell it. Theres three quarter of a million pounds of timber here, so it was always a threat. Who wants to walk around dead tree stumps?

It would have been brutal, admits Mr Lambton with a shudder.

As chairman of the Broughtonknowe Community Woodland charity Mr Brooke was at the sharp end of the drive to raise funds. A slew of private donations came in  some of them four figure ones  while others gave their time sprucing up the woodland to give any grant assessors as favourable an impression as possible.

The yurt became a meeting place for the community buy-out while Mr Lambton, as the seller, kept a respectful distance while offering every encouragement.

Learning of his intentions, commercial bidders faded into the background and Mr Lambton wondered if he may be forced to go back to them, tail between his legs, at a later date after courting a buyer with no hope of raising the funds.

Then, in January, the Scottish Land Fund announced it would award 75 per cent of the cost of the woodland. More funding came in from South of Scotland Enterprise and SSE Renewables. An online crowdfunder was launched to help bridge the remaining gap and, weeks ago, the target was hit.

Its almost unbelievable that we have raised the money and are now the owners, says Mr Hart. His efforts to attract backers to the cause included writing an online childrens story about the loss of habitat faced by wildlife if developers took on the land.

Everyone you meet in the woods is smiling, said a jubilant Mr Brooke after the sale went through.

That was certainly the case when the Scottish Daily Mail visited. There was Ellen and John McCann, 71, who live near Biggar, having a picnic by the pond while their grandchildren Torran, nine, and Briden, five, fished for tadpoles.

Theyll remember days out like this all their lives, says their grandfather. Weve been coming here for about five years now.

He says of the buy-out: The owner had a very strong sense of community. By all accounts he facilitated the whole process.

Maureen and Peter Bates (and their red setter Angus) were all smiles too. Weve been coming here to walk dogs for 20 years at least, says Mrs Bates. We always thought of it as our wood. Were so pleased its all happened.

Pensioners Rosemary and Peter, who live near West Linton, have a spring in their step too. They travel 10 miles here four or five times a week. Why? Because its so beautiful. Its so safe, says Rosemary. I mean, we just enjoy seeing Scotland. We really appreciate what Christopher has done. The easiest thing for him and probably how he would have got more money would have been to sell it to a commercial developer.

As for Mr Lambton, he is smiling too. Sure, his profit on an 80,000 purchase is not inconsiderable, but standing shoulder to shoulder with his neighbours, you suspect, is worth no less.

For my part, the community purchase is the best possible outcome, he says. I feel very invested in it, and I still have a lot of information to impart. But the end of the bureaucratic process is a great relief.

And the cherry on the cake? I suppose Im a co-owner now, he says. Along with the rest of the community.
As anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with civil service bureaucracy will know, it can be a complicated endeavour. There is the jargon, the minutes that bleed into hours spent on hold on the phone and, of course, the endless form-filling. But mastering this red tape - particularly in relation to Britain's bloated benefits system - can apparently also present extraordinarily lucrative business opportunities. Just ask Charlie Anderson, a YouTube blogger who says her chronic arthritis and fatigue has rendered her unable to work. Thanks to her lengthy experience with the welfare system, she is extremely proficient at filling out forms used to claim the Personal Independence Payment [PIP] allowance disability benefit. So adept has she become in applying for this taxpayer-funded help that she has taken to explaining the 'tricks of the trade' to any prospective benefits claimant - for a hefty fee, of course.
A blundering Prince Harry has been caught knocking on the wrong door while searching for a friend's home in London.

The California-based royal landed in the UK last month to sensationally challenge the British government's decision to downgrade his level of tax-payer funded armed security.

During the Duke of Sussex's stay in his native England, he paid a friend a visit - but he appears to have gotten himself confused while doing so.

According to one family, Prince Harry knocked on the wrong door three times before finding his pal's home.

A snap captured by a Ring doorbell shows the prince talking on the phone as he stands at a door.

One resident said that their housekeeper had answered the door for Harry, but had not recognised him, The Sun reported.

'We were shocked to see it was him on the camera. We only really noticed once neighbours started talking,' they said.

Neighbours were left baffled at the royal sighting, with many finding it 'odd' that the prince did not know where he was going.

The awkward moment a blundering Prince Harry knocked on the wrong door while looking for a friend's London home has been captured on camera

The California-based royal landed in the UK last month to sensationally challenge the British government 's decision to downgrade his level of tax-payer funded armed security

The prince believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago

'I don't think many people would just walk down a road knocking on doors, let alone if you don't feel safe,' one neighbour said.

The Prince reportedly knocked on two houses before finding the right one with one neighbour observing they were at 'completely opposite ends of the road'.

MailOnline has reached out to Prince Harry's team for comment.

Prince Harry's mishap comes after it was revealed on Sunday that he had stayed at a friend's home during his visit to the UK and had a Deliveroo sent to the front door.

Harry lost his appeal last week, having been told that his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' to successfully challenge the decision.

The prince 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 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 last week in London that Ravec's decision 'were taken as an understandable, and perhaps predictable, reaction to the claimant having stepped back from royal duties and having left the UK to live principally overseas'.

'These were powerful and moving arguments and that it was plain the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system', he said.

'But I concluded, having studied the detail, I could not say that the Duke's sense of grievance translated into a legal argument to challenge RAVEC's decision'.

Sir Geoffrey said Harry 'makes the mistake of confusing superficial analogies' when comparing himself with other VIPs which had 'added nothing' to the legal question.

He added: 'My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex's appeal would be dismissed'.

It means that for now, armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for him, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet when they are in the UK.

It raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.

The King and his youngest son are believed to have differing views over Harry's decision to pursue his legal fight with the Home Office. The Home Secretary is calling for the duke to pay all costs for both sides  a bill approaching 1.5million.
The mayor of Newark was dramatically arrested at an ICE detention facility in New Jersey on Friday.

Mayor Ras Baraka was detained for 'trespassing' according to Alina Habba, the US attorney for the state, who said he 'ignored multiple warnings' by Homeland Security Investigations to leave.

Dramatic footage showed frantic people scrambling outside the gates of the facility, before Baraka was arrested and escorted away by police.

Officers were seen shoving protesters out of the way amid the chaos. Rep LaMonica McIver who was at the facility claimed she and her colleagues were assaulted by ICE officers.

Following his detention, Habba said: 'He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.'

Governor Phil Murphy said he was 'outraged' by the arrest and called for his 'immediate release'. Baraka was released a few hours following his arrest.

The mayor claims the detention center has been illegally housing migrants amid Trump's mass deportation push.

He said the jail has a contract with the city and cannot be housing migrants inside.

Last week he attempted to 'break in', vowing to turn up daily until he was let in.

A spokesperson for the company which operates the facility confirmed to DailyMail.com that migrants have been housed at the facility for a week.

'Delaney Hall houses illegal aliens. It is not a family detention facility, nor does it house minors,' a spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

Mayor Ras Baraka is seen being arrested and escorted away by federal agents on Friday

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks to protesters outside of Delaney Hall

Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center after an argument with agents. Members of congress here for a scheduled visit, were shoved after trying to include Baraka in conversations after he gained entry through the gate.@news12nj #newark @News12NJ pic.twitter.com/6UDQWiIhQ7  Amanda Lee (@amandaleetv) May 9, 2025

But the building's owners, GEO Group, did not receive permits or a valid certificate of occupancy to house 1,000 migrants a day, The New York Times reported.

A GEO Group employee had chained the front gates shut on Monday and fire officials gave them three citations for code violations, the Times said.

'Theyre keeping us out through the gates and the fences and all this other kind of stuff, but were going to come down here every day and were going to get in one way or the other,' Baraka told the Times.

'We want them to follow our rules, follow our laws.'

GEO Group accepted a 15-year $1billion contract with ICE in February, agreeing to hold migrants while they wait for deportation.

Delaney Hall has previously been used as a jail, halfway house, and migrant detention center and is located near the Newark Airport, making it easy to ship migrants back to their native countries.

The building has not been used in over a year and with the renovations on top of it, the City of Newark claimed the occupancy certificate would be invalid, the Times reported.

GEO Group spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, told The Times that Baraka is 'more than welcome to enter the facility as long as he follows security protocols like everyone else.'

Baraka claimed the jail has a contract with the city and cannot be housing migrants inside

The elected official has been arrested for trespassing

'He keeps refusing to do so, presumably in an effort to stage press opportunities to help him in his bid for governor,' the spokesperson said.

Another spokesperson, Christopher Ferreira, told the Times Baraka's action was a 'publicity stunt'.

He said it was an 'unfortunate example of a politicized campaign by sanctuary city and open-borders politicians in New Jersey to interfere with the federal governments efforts to arrest, detain and deport dangerous criminal illegal aliens in accordance with established federal law.'

DailyMail.com has contacted the mayor's office for comment.
John Fetterman may have lost his grip on the Democrat Party base, even as politicians from both sides of the aisle have come to his defense following a series of stories about his mental health.

A blockbuster New York Magazine feature painted the Pennsylvania Senator as not well and behaving erratically since being treated for depression.

Further tales have been published since, including an old video of Fetterman behaving poorly on a plane and driving a staffer to tears with an outburst during a meeting with union representatives.

None of this may be as much of a problem for Fetterman as what appear to be declining internal poll numbers among Pittsburgh's Democrats, close to where Fetterman lives in Braddock.

The Senator, who doesn't face re-election until 2028, is viewed favorably by 46 percent of likely Democrat voters in the Keystone State.

Worse, 49 percent of Pittsburgh Democrats view him unfavorably, a rare case of voters from either party viewing their own negatively.

By comparison, Democrat Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is viewed favorably by 82 percent of those same Democrats, against just 13 percent seeing him unfavorably.

'In Pittsburgh, this is a break-glass, freak-out moment for Fetterman,' one Democrat strategist told Politico.

John Fetterman may have lost his grip on the Democrat Party base, even as politicians from both sides of the aisle have come to his defense following a series of stories about his mental health

A blockbuster New York Magazine feature painted the Pennsylvania Senator as not well and behaving erratically since being treated for depression

The poll was taken by a Democrat firm that was trying to poll the upcoming Pittsburgh mayoral race.

Fetterman won the 2022 Democrat Primary in Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, by 25 points.

Perhaps the most damning factor of the poll is it was taken in mid-February, long before this series of stories was released.

Multiple recent polls show Fetterman's popularity remains fairly high in Pennsylvania at large.

He's also received the backing of several of his Congressional colleagues through the media blitz.

'The media ought to lay off Senator Fetterman,' wrote Republican Senator Chuck Grassley.

Katie Britt of Alabama called Fetterman 'a tremendous friend and colleague' and called the stories published 'a complete disgrace' from 'agenda-driven members of the media.

Both Democrat Congressman Ritchie Torres and Republican Senator Tom Cotton singled out Fetterman's support of Israel as reasoning for the attacks.

Fetterman won the 2022 Democrat Primary in Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, by 25 points

However, its clear that these stories have Fetterman preparing for the fight of his political life.

A report by New York Magazine citing several individuals who made concerning accusations against him and claimed he was not taking his medication.

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.

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.
The head of controversial Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo has defended a white woman who was filmed directing a vile racial slur at a five-year-old black boy in a Minnesota playground.

The woman, identified as 34-year-old Shiloh Hendrix, has become a lightning rod in a saga that all began with a viral video - and from which she has now managed to raise more than$761,000 from supporters across the country.

In a move has left civil rights groups stunned and critics seething, the head of the fundraising site hosting Hendrix's campaign is not only refusing to remove her page but defending her cause.

'You have to take a step back from the emotion of these because they are very highly emotional issues,' said GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells in an interview with NewsNation.

'I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of association. These are foundational tenets to the society that we live in.'

Wells, whose site has been used in the past to fund January 6 defendants and other high-profile right-wing causes, insisted that Hendrix's page was no different.

'When you start going down the road of cancellation and cancel culture it actually breaks the very things that we see that we're against,' he said.

That statement comes as Hendrix's GoFundMe-style campaign skyrockets past three-quarters of a million dollars, with a goal of $1 million.

The head of controversial Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells, has defended a white woman filmed directing a vile racial slur at a five-year-old black boy

Shiloh Hendrix 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

Her pitch is that she and her children are in fact the victims in this case, forced to endure harassment and threats after she was caught on camera repeating the N-word while holding her own toddler.

The incident that sparked this controversy unfolded in late last month at Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester.

In the video, Hendrix is seen clutching her child while being confronted by a man who accuses her of calling a young black boy the N-word after a dispute over a toy.

'So that gives you the right to call the child, five-years-old, a n*****?' the man asks in disbelief.

Hendrix responds: 'If that's what he's gonna act like,' before repeating the slur toward the man and making an obscene gesture.

The confrontation, which Hendrix later claimed began when the child allegedly took a toy from her son's diaper bag, spread across social media.

The footage, posted by influencer Michael McWhorter (aka TizzyEnt), was viewed more than 10 million times within 48 hours, but what followed was even more shocking as a torrent of financial support flowed in for Hendrix.

On her GiveSendGo page, Hendrix wrote, 'I called the kid out for what he was.' She claimed her Social Security number had been leaked, that her family was being 'attacked,' and that she needed funds to 'relocate and protect' her children.

Following the incident, Hendrix initiated her own crowdfunding campaign that has garnered over $761,000 in donations claiming she is being targeted

'I've never felt so scared, yet reassured in my life,' Hendrix wrote. 'It's truly a whirlwind of emotions. I'm still very frightened, and I don't think I will feel safe until we can escape completely.'

To many, the very idea that someone could rake in nearly a million dollars after verbally attacking a child with a racial slur is a damning indictment of modern America.

'Who knew racism could be so profitable?' one person wrote on X.

'Wow. SMH. She has raised enough money to move out the country if she wanted to just by being racist towards a 5-year-old boy with autism. This country is so sad bro,' another posted.

Wale Elegbede, president of the Rochester NAACP, condemned the incident as 'deeply disturbing and unacceptable.'

His organization launched a counter-fundraiser to support the young boy's family, raising more than $341,000 before being paused amid concerns over online threats and privacy.

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton also issued a stark message: 'Not In Our Town! Hate has no home here.'

But Hendrix has defenders - and not just in anonymous comment threads. Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored, right-wing influencer Lilly Gaddis stunned viewers when asked whether she would support a white woman using the N-word.

'Yes,' Gaddis replied. 'I do it quite frequently.'

Morgan, visibly taken aback, asked why she would support 'a white racist.' Gaddis fired back: 'Because I want to support free speech.'

Piers Morgan was left in utter shock when trad-wife influencer Lilly Gaddis came to the defense of a Hendrix who called a five-year-old boy the N-word on the playground

Jacob Wells isn't backing down. In his NewsNation interview, he described the public backlash against Hendrix as 'mob mentality,' claiming that outrage over her words was hurting free society more than it was helping.

'Shiloh is going to a dark moment, just as much as this other family is,' Wells said. 'And we want to be in all of these moments.'

He added that her actions were not 'unprovoked,' and that the child's behavior should also be considered.

Legal experts note that while the First Amendment protects Hendrix's offensive language, any associated threats or harassment could still result in criminal charges.

The Rochester Police Department has confirmed it has concluded its investigation and submitted findings to the city attorney for review.

The child's family, choosing to remain anonymous for safety reasons, released a statement through the NAACP: 'We as the parents of the young boy demand that those responsible for this tragic event be held fully accountable. Our child deserves justice and we will not rest until it is served.'

They also expressed dismay that Hendrix appears to be 'benefiting financially' from the encounter, while their own family has been left to navigate trauma and fear with far limited resources.
There were no gasps in court when the guilty verdicts were read out. No spasms of outrage nor cries of triumph came forth from those in the public gallery.

And most piercingly, there were no grieving family members overcome by the death of a loved one and the bitter balm of seeing justice delivered at last.

Perhaps we should expect nothing less from this extraordinary criminal trial, one in which the murder victim was a tree and the two men accused of killing it seemed to have crawled straight out of Middle Earth.

At Newcastle Crown Court this week, former best friends Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, protested their innocence right to the end, even in the face of much evidence to the contrary.

On the stand and in person these two hobbity men from deepest Cumbria were about as convincing as Gollum at a cocktail party.

Graham's car and phone had been located by police forensics near the Sycamore Gap tree site in the dead of night, around the very moment it had been cut down.

But do you know what? Someone had borrowed them. People frequently borrowed his belongings from the yard outside the caravan where he lived and from where he ran his groundworking business.

Former best friends Daniel Graham, 39, (pictured) and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were yesterday found guilty of chopping down a century-old sycamore tree in the early hours of September 28, 2023

Pictured: Adam Carruthers, a farmyard mechanic who specialises in the upkeep of chainsaws. He told the jury he didn't know much about chainsaws, even when they were shown a photograph of him at work surrounded by eight chainsaws

Pictured: the Sycamore Tree Gap which flourished in Northumberland alongside Hadrian's Wall. It became a location for marriage proposals, a place of pilgrimage, a site for ashes to be scattered, and even a scene in the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Carruthers is a farmyard mechanic who specialises in the upkeep of chainsaws. He told the jury he didn't know much about chainsaws, even when they were shown a photograph of him at work surrounded by eight chainsaws.

The two men sometimes worked together, pooling their expertise in one highly significant area  the felling of trees using chainsaws.

If this were a film instead of a national arboreal tragedy it would be called Dumb and Dumber: The Lumber Years.

Still, it took some five hours of chin-stroking from the jury to reach a verdict, which was delivered at 10.45am yesterday.

Both men were found guilty on two counts of criminal damage  to the tree itself and to Hadrian's Wall, which was damaged when the sycamore fell.

Throughout the ten-day trial the ex-pals sat far apart in the glass-fronted dock, never once speaking to nor acknowledging each other.

Graham watched while Carruthers gave evidence, but Carruthers did not look up once when Graham was on the stand, his lowered head barely visible above the dock.

Graham blamed Carruthers but Carruthers did not blame anyone. His defence was that he wasn't even there.

Pictured: the felled Sycamore Gap Tree in Northumberland

Graham and Carruthers, seen here in a court sketch, were arrested in connection with the felling of the tree in October 2023. Yesterday in court, the two men showed no emotion in the dock as they were found guilty on both counts

Prosecutors told Newcastle Crown Court photos were found on Daniel Graham's phone after his arrest showing a piece of the Sycamore Gap tree and a chainsaw in the back of his Range Rover

Police forensics located his car near the site hours before the crime was committed and it was the prosecution's contention that he was doing a recce for what they called this 'moronic mission'.

Carruthers insisted that was not the case: he was driving his girlfriend Amy Connor, their 11-day-old baby and three-year-old daughter out for dinner.

He claimed they left their static caravan home near Wigton to drive to Gateshead for a meal but turned back because the baby was unsettled.

Amy was recovering from a C-section birth and nursing a newborn, but according to him she was pleased to embark on a three-hour round trip of nearly 150 miles.

It was also Carruthers' defence that he was at home later that night when the tree was cut down.

So why, the prosecution wanted to know, had he sent his girlfriend Facebook messages at 1.30am if he was with her? He did not want to disturb the baby, he said. Or perhaps Amy was far away in the west wing of the static caravan?

Carruthers claimed to have been sending her images of the storm damage on the roof of the caravan site's wash house  some women have all the luck  not footage captured on Graham's phone of the Sycamore Gap tree crashing to the ground.

Towards the end of the trial, Richard Wright KC for the prosecution spoke for all of us when he asked the jury: 'Does this sound like the truth or manufactured, arrant nonsense?'

Graham (left) blamed Carruthers (right) but Carruthers did not blame anyone. His defence was that he wasn't even there

You have to wonder why the lawyers involved didn't beg both of the accused to plead guilty, accept the consequences and a much lighter sentence. Perhaps they did, but Graham and Carruthers individually decided to brazen it out instead, in a doomed attempt to outfox justice.

On most days, Graham wore to court what appeared to be the same crumpled shirt and glum expression. With his thinning, russet hair and furrowed face, he looks decades older than his age and exuded a palpable air of beaten-down neglect.

When he gave evidence, those of us in the press benches had a clear view of the back of his heavily tattooed neck and the fact that he kept his hands shoved in his pockets throughout, as if he were about to examine a bit of turf.

'Possibly,' was his standard evasive reply when being cross-examined. He often became belligerent when pressed to account for himself and one could only admire Mr Wright, who has a touch of the Alastair Sim about him, for his unwavering politesse in the face of such provocation.

Graham accused his prosecutor of 'trying to make a fool of me', 'calling me a liar' and the heinous sin of being 'more educated than me'.

When asked by Mr Wright why he didn't hear someone taking his car from his yard that night, Graham responded by explaining that the wind made it very noisy inside the caravan but 'you wouldn't know as you have probably never been in one'.

Mr Wright courteously confirmed he had indeed been inside a caravan and the case moved on.

Carruthers, with his pelt of gingery hair shaved at the sides, made a slightly better fist of giving evidence, even if at times he seemed like a shifty ferret caught in the headlights.

On most days, Graham (pictured) wore to court what appeared to be the same crumpled shirt and glum expression. With his thinning, russet hair and furrowed face, he looks decades older than his age and exuded a palpable air of beaten-down neglect

Carruthers (pictured), with his pelt of gingery hair shaved at the sides, made a slightly better fist of giving evidence, even if at times he seemed like a shifty ferret caught in the headlights

'I wouldn't like to comment,' was his standard, evasive reply. 'That's your chainsaw, isn't it?' he was asked, when shown a photograph.

'I wouldn't like to comment, they change so often,' he replied. In court he wore a too-big navy suit; the trousers concertinaed around his chisel-toe slip-ons, the jacket hanging straight down from his shoulders like a sandwich board.

'I can't see what all the fuss was about, it was only a tree,' he shrugged, giving evidence on the fifth day of the trial. The outpouring of public grief that followed the Sycamore Gap tree being destroyed seemed to suggest he was much mistaken.

The British love their trees, which have been an important part of our culture since pagan times, worshipped then and now as a symbol of growth and renewal. They feature on crests and heraldic coats of arms and are an evocative presence in art, celebrated from Turner and Constable to Hockney and beyond.

And there was something extra special about the Sycamore Gap tree which made it a much-loved national landmark, a totem of cultural and historical importance.

Why? It had a certain majesty. It was alone but not lonely. It grew strong in its solitude and flourished here in Northumberland alongside Hadrian's Wall  built by the Romans to mark the northern frontier of their empire.

The Sycamore Gap tree became a location for marriage proposals, a place of pilgrimage, a site for ashes to be scattered, and even a scene in the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

It meant a great deal to a great many people, all of whom are the real victims here.

A report by the Forestry Commission described the awful moment the once beloved tree was discovered, stating: 'The tree was lying on its side, its boughs embedded in the ground by the force of the fall'

Pictured: forensic investigators at the scene. The two men found guilty drove for 40 minutes from the Carlisle area during Storm Agnes to cut down the tree in the pitch black

During the early days of the trial it was poignant to hear the statements read out from the various official bodies who were the keepers of the tree and the guardians of the wall.

These included the Northumberland National Park Authority; the inspector of ancient monuments; the National Trust; Historic England; and the Forestry Commission themselves, whose report seemed to suggest quiet sorrow at the loss of a friend.

'The tree was lying on its side, its boughs embedded in the ground by the force of the fall,' the report read.

In this ghastly how-dunnit, the Commission also detailed the murder method: the tree was 'brought down by the hinge and wedge technique'. The wedge, which was taken as a trophy, was never recovered.Surveying the damage on the morning after, some of the National Park rangers were close to tears. 'Visibly upset,' noted one police report.

You have to wonder what kind of a society produces two men so intellectually and emotionally stunted that their biggest achievement in life has been to create a stump.

Two men mossed over with such insensitivity that they now face up to ten years each in prison.

Yet you also must wonder if that same society is making too much fuss over the killing of a tree, and not a person.

Indeed, there are some who question whether such a high-profile prosecution is a good use of taxpayers' money. A Crown Court trial with four bewigged barristers  two for the prosecution, one each for Graham and Carruthers, plus lawyers in support  costs at least 20,000 per day.

'The one thing they continue to share is the basic lack of decency and courage to own up to what they did,' said Richard Wright KC for the prosecution in his closing speech. Pictured: a court sketch of Graham and Carruthers

In a courtroom panelled with oak, the men who slayed a sycamore slipped out from the public gaze without ever addressing the biggest question of all  why the hell they did it in the first place

Graham and Carruthers' costs are paid for by Legal Aid  you and me, in other words.

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers pleaded not guilty  as is entirely their right  but in doing so they exposed themselves to the full force of the law, which came crashing down upon them like, well, a fallen tree trunk.

Yet everyone, from the trial judge Mrs Justice Lambert down, did everything possible to give these men a fair trial and treat them both with a courtesy and respect they did not always deserve.

'They've fallen out spectacularly along the way, but they are reunited in this court before you, the jury, and the one thing they continue to share, that is the basic lack of decency and courage to own up to what they did,' said Mr Wright in his closing speech.

The jury went out at 11.51 am on Thursday and returned at 10.45 am yesterday. The two men showed no emotion in the dock as they were found guilty on both counts. They still did not look at each other, even as they were taken down.

We might never know exactly what happened on that dark and stormy night in September 2023, except that the men drove for 40 minutes from the Carlisle area during Storm Agnes to cut down the tree in the pitch black, with one of them filming the destruction on a phone.

The likelihood is that Carruthers wielded the chainsaw while Graham filmed the action  but it was the prosecution's case that the men acted together and were equally to blame. So what next for these chainsaw-wielding, hobbit vandals?

For me, it was still possible to believe that justice had been done while experiencing a sense of sadness at the outcome.

Wickedness and depravity can put you in jail, but so, too, can plain old stupidity.

In a courtroom panelled with oak, the men who slayed a sycamore slipped out from the public gaze without ever addressing the biggest question of all  why the hell they did it in the first place.

Did they get what they deserved? Possibly. I wouldn't like to comment.
A cutting-edge tech company is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to decode the hidden meanings behind the 'purrs' and 'barks' from people's beloved pets.

Baidu, the tech giant behind China's largest search engine, filed a ground-breaking patent this week that revealed its ambitious vision to translate animal sounds into understandable words using data-driven analysis and advanced AI technology, Sky News reported.

'There has been a lot of interest in the filing of our patent application,' a Baidu spokesperson told CGTN News. 'Currently, it is still in the research phase.'

Outlined in the document, the system aims to gather a wide range of animal data -vocal sounds, behavioral patterns and physiological signals - which will be integrated and analyzed by an AI-drive engine to identify the animal's emotional state.

From there, the system would then match the animal's emotions to meanings and turn them into human language, enabling a clearer understanding of what the pet is trying to express.

In the document, the company said the system would allow 'deeper emotional communication and understanding between animals and humans, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cross-species communication'.

Baidu was one of the first companies in China to make major investments in AI after OpenAI launched ChatGPT back in 2022.

Beyond China, several countries around the world have been actively working on translating animal vocalizations, a topic that has fascinated people for years.

A cutting-edge Chinese tech company is using artificial intelligence to create a system that helps curious pet owners decode the hidden meanings behind their beloved animals' sounds

Baidu, the tech giant behind China 's largest search engine, filed a ground-breaking patent this week with the China National Intellectual Property Administration, revealing its ambitious vision to translate animal sounds into understandable using data-driven analysis and advanced AI technology

Outlined in the document, the system aims to gather a wide range of animal data -vocal sounds, behavioral patterns and physiological signals - which will be integrated and analyzed by an AI-drive engine to identify the animal's emotional state

However, it's only through recent advancements in technology that animal owners can now begin to get excited about potentially beginning to understand what their pets are trying to convey.

On social media, videos showing dogs using buttons on hexagonal mats - known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) boards - to communicate with their owners often go viral.

Whether these dogs are truly communicating remains a topic of debate, with scientists at UC San Diego conducting a study on 2,000 dogs to help settle the question.

Last month, scientists revealed that AI may soon enable humans to communicate with dolphins.

A new model created by Google may reveal the secrets behind how the animals communicate for the very first time, with hopes that we may be able to 'speak dolphin' in the future.

Google DeepMind's DolphinGemma has been programmed with the world's largest collection of dolphin sounds, including clicks, whistles and vocalizations that have been recorded over several years by the Wild Dolphin Project.

Dr. Denize Herzing, founder and research director of the Wild Dolphin Project told The Telegraph: 'We do not know if animals have words'.

'Dolphins can recognize themselves in the mirror, they use tools, they're smart but language is still the last barrier so feeding dolphin sounds into an AI model will give us a really good look if there are patterns, subtleties that humans can't pick out,' she said.

The system would then match the animal's emotions to meanings and turn them into human language, enabling a clearer understanding of what the pet is trying to express

In the document, the company said the system would allow 'deeper emotional communication and understanding between animals and humans, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cross-species communication'

Last month, scientists revealed that AI may soon enable humans to communicate with dolphins through a new model created by Google, programmed with the world's largest collection of dolphin sounds, including clicks, whistles and vocalizations that have been recorded over several years by the Wild Dolphin Project

'The goal would someday be to "speak dolphin".'

The model will search through sounds that have been linked to behavior to try to find sequences that could indicate a language.

Dr. Thas Starner, a Google Deep-Mind scientist, said: 'The model can help researchers uncover hidden structures and potential meanings within the dolphins' natural communication, a task previously requiring immense human effort.'

'We're just beginning to understand the patterns within the sounds.'
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has thrown scorching water over a prison guard, in a horrifying pre-planned attack from a landing.

The 18-year-old triple murderer, who was sentenced to 52 years for the murders of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancome, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, poured boiling water over the officer at HMP Belmarsh in southeast London on Thursday.

Other guards heard their colleague's screams and restrained Rudakubana following the attack.

It was feared the killer had added sugar to the scalding water in a bid to cause more severe injuries.

However, it is understood that the prison officer was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and was discharged later that day. He is due to return to work next week.

A source told The Sun: 'It seems miraculous he was not more badly hurt, and luckily the water was not mixed with sugar.

Saying that Rudakubana's regime would 'now be incredibly strict', they added: 'He is clearly not rehabilitated at all, and someone like him has nothing to lose.'

An investigation has since been launched to determine how Rudakubana obtained boiling water to throw over a prison guard.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubanu (above) has thrown scorching water over a prison guard, in a horrifying pre-planned attack from a landing

The 18-year-old triple murderer poured boiling water over the officer at HMP Belmarsh (above) in southeast London on Thursday

It comes after the Southport monster was jailed for life after launching an attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July, where he murdered Bebe King (left), Elsie Dot Stancome (middle) and Alica da Silva Aguiar (right)

The Prison Service said: 'Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh.

'Violence in prison will not be tolerated and we will always push for the strongest possible punishment for attacks on our hard-working staff.'

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: 'The Met is investigating after a prison officer was subject to a serious assault at HMP Belmarsh on the afternoon of Thursday, 8 May.'

It comes after the Southport monster was jailed for life after launching an attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last July, where he murdered three young girls.

He has been caged on the same secure unit as Manchester Arena terrorist, Hashem Abedi, who assaulted prison guards in HMP Frankland last month.

Rudakubana has been caged on the same secure unit as Manchester Arena terrorist, Hashem Abedi (above), who assaulted prison guards in HMP Frankland last month

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (above) said the alleged attack by Rudakubana was the 'third astonishing security failure at a top security prison'

It is believed Abedi is in a segregation unit where prisoners do not have any contact with other inmates.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the alleged attack by Rudakubana was the 'third astonishing security failure at a top security prison'.

In a post on X, Mr Jenrick said: 'Warning after warning has been ignored. I personally raised security at HMP Belmarsh just last week.

'This is a full blown crisis. No more lengthy 'reviews' - the Justice Secretary needs to act NOW.'

In a separate post, he said: 'The Justice Secretary suspended access to kitchens in close supervision centres after the last attack. But it's reported that deranged killers still have access to kettles?! My thoughts this evening are with the officer affected. The safety of prison officers *must* come first.'
The frightened women huddled in a dormitory in the German town of Bunzlau listened to the sounds of battle getting nearer  with rising hope in their hearts.

They were all Soviet citizens, seized by Hitler's forces when they swept through their home towns and villages in the early stages of the war and packed off to the Reich to work as slave labourers.

But now the tide had turned and, with the Red Army at the gates, their ordeal seemed almost over.

It was not to be. The entry of the Third Guards Tank Army was the start of an orgy of drunkenness, looting, random killing and, above all, indiscriminate rape.

On the night of March 5 1945, a group of 60 officers and men, most of them drunk, broke into the women's refuge. When their commander showed up and tried to order them out, they threatened to shoot him.

Then they forced themselves on the terrified women, many just teenagers. That their victims were the very people whom they were supposedly fighting to free made no difference.

'I waited for the Red Army for days and nights,' recorded Maria Shapoval bitterly. 'I waited for my liberation and now our soldiers treat us worse than the Germans did.'

Neither this incident nor any of the countless similar stories which stain the history of the Soviet advance into German-occupied territory during the last months of the war were mentioned in the lavish Victory Day celebrations which took place in Russia and occupied Ukraine this week.

Two Russian Red Army soldiers grin with amusement as they grab at a girl in Leipzig, Germany during the postwar period

Historian Patrick Bishop says the conflict in Ukraine has taught us that 'though 80 years have passed, Russia still wages war in much the same way'. Pictured: Protestors outside Downing Street in April 2022 hold placards drawing attention to a massacre in the Ukrainian city of Bucha by Russian soldiers

Vladimir Putin (pictured here at Friday's Victory Day military parade) was determined that the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's triumph in its 'Great Patriotic War' would be long remembered

Vladimir Putin was determined that the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's triumph in its 'Great Patriotic War' would be long remembered.

A welter of events to vaunt a 'sacred feat of valour' included re-enactments of the iconic moment when Red Army soldiers planted a hammer-and-sickle flag high on the Reichstag building in the centre of Berlin on the evening of April 30, 1945, with a battle-scarred life-size copy of the parliament erected in a Moscow park for the purpose.

The high point was a mass parade in Red Square. The rumbling tanks and phalanxes of goose-stepping troops sent an unsubtle message of brute military strength to Putin's own people and the world at large.

But the spectacle is also designed to reinforce a historical narrative which is central to the way that Putin and most Russians see the world  and which shapes their attitude to their neighbours and the West.

This view states that it was they, not us, who saved the world from Nazism and that without the heroic sacrifices of the Red Army, we would all be speaking German.

In this telling of the Second World War saga, it is the Soviets who are overwhelmingly the good guys, with the British, Americans and the rest of the Western Allies playing a secondary and often cynical and duplicitous role. This legend has been force-fed to the people of the former Soviet Union since 1945 with considerable success.

Yesterday, side by side with his fellow dictator and ever-closer buddy, Chinese president Xi Jinping, Putin gazed proudly at the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles lumbering across the square and offered a few gracious words of appreciation for the contribution of the Western allies.

But he reiterated that the Soviets were 'the true victors over Nazism'. The event was larded with symbolism and rhetoric to link the 'Great Patriotic War' of 80 years ago with his so-called 'Special Military Operation' of today.

Military vehicles and soldiers parade through Red Square as part of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War at Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9, 2025

Russians flooded on to the streets of St Petersburg on May 9, carrying portraits of people including Red Army soldiers, to celebrate their victory over Nazi Germany in World War 2

Some 1,500 of the marching soldiers were veterans of the current conflict and among the military kit on display were Lancet, Geran and Orlan drones used to batter Ukrainian cities and positions.

Putin painted the current conflict as a continuation of Russia's historic role as 'an indestructible barrier against Nazism'  an unsubtle reference to the Kremlin's false claims that President Zelensky and his government are neo-fascists. Then, as now, he said, the 'entire country, society and people' were united behind the war effort.

While no historian denies that the more than eight million Soviet soldiers who died defeating Hitler made an enormous and decisive contribution to victory, the Kremlin's retelling of the Second World War is a ludicrously simplistic and one-sided presentation of events.

For one thing, it makes no mention of the fact that for the first 22 months of the war Hitler and Stalin were effectively allies.

For another, it shamelessly ignores the appallingly savage conduct of the Red Army towards the civilian populations who lay in their path  be they Germans, Poles or even their own people.

The Germans knew that retribution would be harsh when 'Ivan' arrived seeking vengeance for the atrocities perpetrated by the SS and Wehrmacht wherever they had set foot in Eastern Europe.

Just how terrible it would be was made clear when the Red Army entered East Prussia in force in mid-January 1945, fired up by propaganda issued by their political officers urging them: 'Soldier, remember, you are now entering the lair of the fascist beast!'

They needed little encouragement. Emma Korn detailed what happened when the frontoviki  frontline troops  found her and two other German women hiding in a cellar: 'They pointed their weapons... and ordered us into the yard,' she said.

The Soviet Red Army soldiers raped an estimated two million German women after the fall of Hitler's Third Reich at the end of the Second World War. Pictured: Joseph Stalin, the Red Army's commander-in-chief from 1941 until his death in 1952

Russian soldiers (file photo) have been accused by Ukraine of committing sex crimes against civilians and using rape as an 'instrument of war' during the recent conflict

'Twelve soldiers in turn raped me. Other soldiers did the same to our two neighbours.' The next night, 'six drunken soldiers broke into our cellar and raped us in front of the children'.

All this was well known to the Soviet authorities, from Stalin down. This particular story was recounted by an officer of the NKVD secret police to his boss Lavrentiy Beria and was discovered in the state archives by the historian Antony Beevor while he was researching his 2002 book Berlin: The Downfall 1945.

The meticulous reports of mass rapes and the resulting suicides were passed on to Stalin. 'You can actually see from the ticks whether they've been read or not,' Beevor revealed.

These thuggish troops had little to fear from their superiors. When a staff officer told Marshal Aleksandr Vasilevsky, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front, about the widespread looting and vandalism carried out by his men, he replied: 'I don't give a f***.' Now that they had entered Germany, said Vasilevsky, 'It is time for our men to issue their own justice.'

The German military could expect no mercy after the horrific cruelty they had inflicted on Soviet soldiers and civilians.

But the Red Army were equally ruthless in their treatment of German women  who had played no direct part in the atrocities.

In April, they finally reached the German capital. Estimates from Berlin's two main hospitals put the number of women raped at between 95,000 to 130,000. In total, as many as two million German women may have been raped, according to one study.

Few females escaped. According to historian Roger Moorhouse 'pre-pubescent girls, nuns, grandmothers, pregnant women and nursing mothers were subject to the campaign of rape. Even fugitive Jews and liberated forced labourers received the same treatment.'

Oksana Minenko, a Ukrainian woman who alleges she was repeatedly detained and tortured by occupying Russian forces in Kherson

When dusk fell, the 'hunting hours' began. Every woman in Berlin faced the same nightmare as Soviet soldiers, drunk on looted alcohol, went from house to house looking for victims.

'Throughout the night,' one woman wrote, 'we huddled together in mortal fear... a horde of Soviet soldiers returned and stormed into our apartment house. Then we heard what sounded like a terrible orgy with women screaming for help, many shrieking at the same time.'

On finding the women, the soldiers would shine torches in their faces before making their selection then ordering in German: 'Frau, komm!' ['Woman, come!'] To resist was to risk a beating or death. Husbands and sons who tried to intervene were liable to receive a bullet in the head.

Many of the victims were subjected to multiple violations. 'Red Army soldiers don't believe in individual liaisons,' wrote one Soviet officer in a bitter jibe at the Communist way of doing things. 'Nine, ten, twelve men at a time  they rape them on a collective basis.'

The physical and psychological cost of the Red Army's rampage is incalculable. Many of the soldiers were diseased and conquest was followed by an epidemic of syphilis and other venereal diseases. Clinics were inundated by requests for abortions but five per cent of children born in Berlin in 1946 were believed to be the result of rape.

Some found the ordeal unbearable. In Berlin alone, it is reckoned that one in ten rape victims killed herself. Everyone would carry the mental scarring of the ordeal throughout the rest of their lives.

Not every Soviet soldier was an offender. Some showed kindness and made friends with families, delivering desperately needed food for shared meals. There are accounts of officers stepping in to rescue women and diary entries which record the disgust of some at what was happening.

But official attempts to control the troops were limited to limp exhortations by commissars of the importance of troops upholding 'the honour and dignity of the Red Army warrior'.

Ukraine's former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba (pictured here in February 2024) said that there are 'numerous cases' of Russian sex crimes on innocent civilians on record

What drove such grotesque violence towards women? There have been attempts to justify or at least contextualise it as a predictable reaction to the horrendous war crimes committed by the German occupiers, which also included the rape and murder of Soviet women.

But as Beevor points out, this argument is undermined by the evidence of Russian rape of women who had been taken forcibly from the Soviet Union and brought to Germany.

All war brutalises but the war on the Eastern Front was in a dark class of its own, with both Germans and Russians behaving like beasts. Both sides were serving ideologies that dehumanised the enemy, soldier and civilian, and validated cruelty and killing. The Red Army was militarised Communism.

'Stalin's regime waged war in the same spirit as it prosecuted peace,' wrote historian Catherine Merridale in Ivan's War, her definitive work on the Soviet rank and file. 'The first rule was that human life counted for little... compared to interests of state.'

Commanders seemed to care nothing about the cost in blood of their operations. Their men spoke of being fed into the 'meat grinder'  a term used to describe Russia's methods in Ukraine today. If a soldier believed his life meant nothing, then why should anyone else's?

Soviet officialdom never acknowledged the soldiers' crimes. Putin's ever-more autocratic rule has snuffed out any further investigation. Under current law, anyone who denigrates Russia's record in the Second World War faces steep fines and up to five years in prison.

Last month, Putin made it clear that anyone attempting to cloud the rosy propaganda picture was wasting their time. 'No matter how hard they try, no one can distort or overshadow the feat of the Red Army soldiers who saved the world from Nazism,' he declared.

The lavish scale of the celebrations is his attempt to link the memory of the glories of the 'Great Patriotic War' to his own war in Ukraine. There are indeed many similarities between the two conflicts, but perhaps not ones that Putin would enjoy.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, there has been a steady stream of evidence, often recorded on smartphones by the perpetrators themselves, of the murder of Ukrainian civilians, the cold-blooded killing of captured Ukrainian soldiers and the torture, mutilation and mistreatment of prisoners of war.

And then there is the rape. Ukrainian prosecutors have registered 344 cases of sexual violence in areas that were temporarily occupied by Russia but have since been liberated.

The conflict in Ukraine has taught us that though 80 years have passed, Russia still wages war in much the same way.

In March, testimony published in a report to the UN's Human Rights Council carried a grim echo of the spring of 1945. 'A civilian woman who had been raped during confinement in a detention facility held by Russian authorities stated that she pleaded with the perpetrators, telling them she could be their mother's age,' it read. 'But they dismissed her saying: 'Bitch, don't even compare yourself to my mother. You are not even a human. You do not deserve to live.'

Patrick Bishop is the author of Paris '44: The Shame And The Glory, published in paperback next month
It may well be the most remembered moment of the 2012 London Olympics.

A tuxedo-wearing Daniel Craig making his way into Buckingham Palace, past corgis Monty, Willow and Holly to be presented to the Queen by her personal footman Paul Whybrew.

With her back to the camera, most Brits, including Prince Charles, assumed that the monarch in the peach dress was a body double - perhaps Helen Mirren.

But when she turned to greet the spy with an articulate Evening, Mr Bond, there was no doubt that this was the real Queen.

The unlikely duo then soared over London in a helicopter emblazoned with the Union Jack before they reached the Olympic Park where in real time, spectators in the east London stadium looked up to see an AgustaWestland AW139.

As the aircraft steadied in the movie sequence, Bond was seen opening the door and appearing to hesitate. While he dithered, the figure of the Queen pushed past him and dived out into the air closely followed by 007 - Union Jack parachutes streaming behind them.

Meanwhile, from the real helicopter above the stadium, the same two figures appeared to plunge to earth. And, with the familiar Bond theme tune sounding around the stadium, the spotlight shone on the Royal Box to reveal the Queen in exactly the same dress she wore in the film.

So just how did director Danny Boyle convince the Queen to participate in such a tongue-in-cheek stunt sequence? It turns out, he didn't.

Daniel Craig as 007, Queen Elizabeth and her personal footman Paul Whybrew and a corgi make their way through Buckingham Palace

From the Industrial Revolution to the unsung heroes of the National Health Service, Boyle wanted his opening ceremony to represent all of British history.

But the Oscar-award winning director also knew that the London Olympics demanded the presence of the reigning monarch, whether real or a body double.

The initial idea was to have Her Majesty arrive to the opening ceremony via the tube but security would prove to be too big an issue.

Instead, he decided he would have the Queen 'drop' into the stadium from a helicopter. And to up the ante, she would be joined by another cultural icon - James Bond.

Craig's role would be to rescue the Queen from a security threat that jeopardised her safe arrival at an undisclosed event.

'We wrote up this James Bond idea and we sent it into [Buckingham Palace],' the Oscar-award winning director told Jonathan Ross. 'We were asking really for permission.

'For them to accept that it wouldn't embarrass them and we would get a double - a good double. We were thinking Helen Mirren.

'They came back and said: "We are delighted for you to do it and Her Majesty would like to be in it herself. She would like to play herself".'

From the Suffragettes and the Industrial Revolution to the unsung heroes of the National Heath Service, the London 2012 opening ceremony set out to represent all of British history

Oscar-award winning director Danny Boyle was the mastermind behind the Olympics opening ceremony

'The Queen' drops from the helicopter above the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, followed closely by Bond

Queen Elizabeth II then took to her seat in the Royal Box to enjoy the rest of the show - as if nothing had happened

Boyle was so stunned by the Palace's response that he had to double check whether or not it was April Fools' Day.

Describing the day of filming, Boyle revealed that the Queen had been at the dentists all morning and was therefore 'not in a very good mood'.

'That put me in my place immediately,' he quipped to Ross.

Although there were no speaking lines planned for the Queen, she quickly suggested that she say something to 007.

According to her trusted dresser Angela Kelly, the Queen was 'delighted' with the line they came up with: 'Good evening, Mr Bond.'

Boyle said the Queen delivered her lines 'beautifully' and had the 'instincts of a performer' as she is, after all, 'on stage' all the time.

Craig, however, felt as though he was in a surreal dream throughout.

'There's a moment in it,' Boyle remembered, 'where she walks past him and you can see him as an actor just thinking: "This is weird."'

According to her trusted dresser Angela Kelly (pictured), the Queen was 'delighted' with the line they came up with: 'Good evening, Mr Bond'

The Queen made quite an entrance to the opening ceremony. Her Majesty kept her involvement in the James Bond stunt a secret, as she thought it would be a great joke to amuse her grandchildren

She and her husband Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, are greeted with thunderous applause. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, was also in attendance - along with the Queen's grandchildren and the Princess of Wales

According to royal author Tina Brown, the late Queen had a heartwarming reason for taking on the unexpected role.

'She thought it would be a great joke to amuse her grandchildren,' Brown wrote in her book Palace Papers.

'Her only real concern was keeping it a secret until the moment she walked out in person after the "leap" to take her place with Philip in the royal box.'

But keep it a secret, she did.

Sebastian Coe, an accomplished middle distance runner who headed the successful London 2012 Olympic bid, watched the opening ceremony next to Charles, then Prince of Wales.

Prince William and Prince Harry were sitting in the row behind.

'None of them knew about the Queen's involvement, nor that the film even existed,' Coe told Brown.

'So when the sequence began, with the corgis racing up what were obviously very familiar stairs, Prince Charles looked at me and began laughing rather nervously, wondering where on earth this was going.

A collective gasp echoed around the stadium when spectators realised the real Queen on-screen

Sebastian Coe at the opening ceremony with his wife. A host of familiar faces can be seen alongside the couple, including former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg standing beside the Duke of Sussex

Prince Charles (pictured with Camilla at the opening ceremony) had no idea of his mother's involvement in the film

'And when the film cut to the shot of the royal back, he had exactly the same reaction as everyone else which was to assume it was the lady who does the impersonations.

'But the moment she turned around, and everyone realised, "My god! It really is the Queen!' he began roaring with laughter.

'As for his sons, they were beside themselves. As she started her descent two voices shouted out in unison behind me, "Go, Granny!" For me that was the nicest thing.'

Mission accomplished.
This week King Charles was joined by senior members of the royal family including the Prince and Princess of Wales as they paid tribute to those who lost their lives in WWII and the veterans who are still around to share their stories of bravery.

But sadly the commemorative events of Victory for Europe day were somewhat overshadowed by a jawdropping interview Prince Harry gave to the BBC after his attempt to reinstate his 24/7 police protection while in Britain was thrown out the Court of Appeal in London.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, said he was 'devastated' over the loss of the yearlong court battle and claimed he was the victim of a 'good old fashioned establishment stitch up'.

He also chillingly spoke of a 'pretty dark' conspiracy theory where he appeared to suggest shadowy figures want him and his family to suffer the same fate as the late Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.

The father-of-two went on to launch a blistering attack on King Charles, saying he 'won't speak to me' and that he doesn't know 'how much longer' there was left for his father, who is battling cancer.

'Life is precious,' he said. '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.'

On the latest episode of Palace Confidential, the Mail's Royal experts gave their verdict on Harry's interview, with Royal Editor Rebecca English describing it as a 'monumental hissy fit'.

'Some aspects of it are really very disturbing,' Rebecca said. 'He effectively said that he believed there were people who actively wished him harm and he felt those people would see what happened as "a win", as he described it.

In an bombshell interview with the BBC, Prince Harry said he didn't know 'how much longer' his father had left

From left to right: Charlotte Griffiths, Richard Eden, Rebecca English and Jo Elvin on the latest episode of Palace Confidential

'Where Harry goes from here, I don't know,' she continued. 'He has obviously had a monumental hissy fit on television afterwards, to put it mildly.'

Charlotte Griffiths, the Mail on Sunday's Editor at Large, joined Rebecca on the hit YouTube show alongside series regulars Richard Eden, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor, and host Jo Elvin.

'In the interview, Harry just seemed beyond furious,' Jo said.

'He really did,' agreed Richard. 'I am going to have to be careful with how I phrase this but I thought he didn't look well in his expression, his demeanour.

'Often if you are angry about something, people say you should sleep on it but this seemed to be something, and I think the BBC would confirm that it was done in a hurry.'

Richard goes on to explain that Harry's representatives allegedly contacted the broadcaster to arrange the interview and that it wasn't a case of 'people demanding an interview from him'.

'It was very much his decision,' Richard said, 'and I think a very rash one.'

'He said a series of very unpleasant, provocative and dark, disturbing things, frankly.'

Rebecca English, the Daily Mail's Royal Editor, described the interview as a 'monumental hissy fit'

During the interview, Prince Harry was quizzed by BBC journalist Nada Tawfik on whether the last step to repairing relations with his family was the security saga

'Where to start?' Richard asked. 'The suggestions that he doesn't know how long his father had to live which obviously increases speculation about the King's cancer.

'He was portraying the decision as an "establishment stitch-up" and then you think well "why did you go to court and spend 1.5million in the first place if you thought it was a stitch-up and it wouldn't make any difference?" so that was odd.

'He was hinting at evidence which he had seen which wasn't made public which he suggested showed that dark forces were out to get him and they wanted the same fate to befall him and his family as did his mother Diana.

'Really dark and certainly got me questioning his state of mind, frankly.'

Offering her own analysis, Charlotte said: 'I was so shocked and I was also really worried about him because he just seemed like a broken man.

'I just seemed like he was utterly utterly broken and desperate and I think that's why it was such a surprise, as you say, that he just decided pretty much on a whim to have this hissy fit.

'He made it clear he can't get a hold of his father. It felt like the only way he could speak to his father or something, that might have been the motivation behind it.'

Although Harry said he wanted to reconcile with his family, Charlotte pointed out that he did not offer an apology.

Richard Eden, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor, said he was left questioning Harry's 'state of mind'

Charlotte Griffiths, Mail on Sunday's Editor at Large, wondered whether the interview was Harry's attempt to 'get a hold of his father'

Harry alleged his father (pictured after the VE Day military procession) 'won't speak' to him

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children watch the flypast on May 5, 2025 - two days after Harry's BBC interview

The Prince of Wales (left) and King Charles (right) attend a thanksgiving service to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey in London on May 8, 2025

'Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me forlots of things,' Harry told journalist Nada Tawfik.

Reacting to the Duke's words, Charlotte said: 'Well, you have to start with saying sorry if you want forgiveness, I would have thought that would open the conversation.

'But there was no sorry was there? He didn't seem contrite.

'He did clearly want to reunite with his family but he just doesn't know how to do it because he would have to swallow so much pride to get there, I think.'

'I think the reason why he didn't say sorry is because he doesn't believe he has anything to say sorry for,' Rebecca added. 'I think the family and the people around them believe he does.'

But Richard was concerned that this bombshell interview may be a 'preview of what is to come'.

'He talks about reconciliation and how he wants that with his family but if he did genuinely want that he would never do that in a provocative interview on the BBC,' Richard argued.

'That's what puzzled me,' Jo agreed.

While speaking to the BBC, Harry suggested that members of his family would 'never forgive' him for publishing his explosive memoir Spare

Spare was published in 2023 and quickly became the UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book

The Duke said it would be 'nice to reconcile' with his family - but did not offer an apology

'You would do it privately,' Richard continued, 'because he knew that this would upset his family even more and antagonise them so then I am thinking, "what was the real reason?"

'I do worry that it is paving the way for what we are going to see in the future which may be more about this subject. It may be another book.

'There is more that he wants to say and this is his way of justifying it. It is a taster or preview of what's to come.'

The BBC admitted it failed to properly challenge Prince Harry's claim he is the victim of 'good old fashioned establishment stitch up', calling it a lapse in 'our usual high editorial standards'.

The broadcaster also admitted it failed to reflect the statements from Buckingham Palace and the Home Office in its Radio 4 coverage of the interview on the morning afterwards.

In response to the failed legal challenge, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.'

The Home Office 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. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.'

For more fascinating insights from the Mail's team of unrivalled experts, watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential in full now and subscribe to the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel.
Eleonora Srugo, the breakout star of Netflix's Selling the City, has to keep a close eye on the real estate markets highs and lows for her job.

Now, the New York City power broker  who famously closed a $75 million deal in 2023  is offering her take on whether a housing crash is looming.

Srugo offered her insights on everything from Miami's oversaturation to why she's all in on Texas after a recent trip to Dallas.

She says that while the housing market may be in a major slump, it will 'absolutely not' crash any time soon, and a downturn isn't imminent.

'I think we're looking at a pretty stable, consistent 2025 across the US,' she told the DailyMail.com.

According to Srugo, volatility in the market often sets up opportunity, not disaster, like most would believe.

'Some volatility is good in the housing market,' she explained.

'It motivates the more aggressive business people to come out  and throw out a low number. And then deals get done.'

Eleonora Srugo is the breakout star of Netflix's Selling the City

Srugo is a top-notch broker who has her own offshoot within Douglas Elliman, the most respected brokerage in the nation.

She's consistently ranked among New York City's top 10 agents, landing her checks that are often seven figures per sale.

She goes to multiple showings a day and by night is rubbing elbows with New York's elite in hopes of landing a new buyer.

When it comes to the housing markets to watch, Srugo is keeping a close eye on Miami, Florida.

She says she hopes the over-developed metro will soon finally catch up to buyers.

'It's a little oversaturated,' she told the Daily Mail.

'Everyone's building, building, building... but it still feels like you're at a hotel. There's no personalization.'

Srugo says in Miami, location can make or break a deal.

Eleonora Srugo attends the Us Weekly + Maidenform Reality Star Style Awards Party at The Highlight Room on April 22, 2025 in New York City

Srugo is consistently ranked among New York City's top 10 agents, landing her checks that are often seven figures per sale

Srugo named Miami as a market to watch

The broker said location can make or break a sale in Miami

Texas is another area she's been keeping her eye on where she sees more growth potential.

One of Srugo's methods to predict up-and-coming housing markets is to follow respectable brands and see where they expand.

When they open offices or a brick and mortar store, it means people are moving there.

'I had to see what all the hype is about in Texas,' she said.

'The brands that are going there are interesting.'

Small brands like Dios and Premium Goods and large companies like Caterpillar and ConocoPhillips have moved to Texas.

Specifically, Srugo flagged both Dallas and Houston as markets to watch.

She also said Las Vegas will see a housing boom, due to its proximity to California and its appeal for remote workers.

Sruogo (right) and her costars on Netflix's Selling the City

Dallas has seen lots of new businesses come to the area and home buyers usually follow

Srugo said Houston, Texas, is another market to watch

And there's always New York.

Srugo said the unusually long winter in the city delayed the spring selling season, but May is shaping up to be 'a very, very strong month.'

She currently has a $35 million listing in Grammercy Park, one of Manhattan's most exclusive neighborhoods.

However she said some people will be waiting until after the mayoral election in November to buy in the Big Apple.

'The mayoral election in New York is sort of more entertaining than a circus,' she joked.

While Srugo is focused on New York, she is always keeping a watchful eye on markets across the country.

'I like to listen. I like to talk to people and learn,' she said.

'And then reading. That's the best part of my job  I get a couple of hours in the car to go through everything that's out there about the market.'
Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, often outspoken for his liberal viewpoints, has continued to fuel speculation that he's veering right.

In a Thursday X post, Dr Tyson showed off an image of his wife's bullet-riddled target paper from their trip to a shooting range in Nevada.

On the surface, it would seem like a perfectly innocent post taking pride in his wife, Alice Young, after their day of target shooting.

However, Tyson said Young had been a 'student member of the NRA,' also known as the National Rifle Association.

The group has long been politically tied to Republicans and has maintained a strong friendship with President Donald Trump, who has been a fierce defender of the Second Amendment.

That post comes less than two weeks after Tyson triggered a liberal meltdown on social media after posing with one of Trump's Make America Great Again hats.

Tyson, an astrophysicist, writer, and media personality, has never openly supported President Trump and has often opposed conservatives on issues like transgender rights and climate change awareness.

Despite that, some of Tyson's left-leaning fans on social media saw the seemingly pro-gun tweet as another sign the 66-year-old is shifting to the right.

Neil deGrasse Tyson celebrated his wife Alice Young in a post to X, sparking rumors that he has joined the MAGA movement

Just 10 days after a tweet posing with a MAGA hat, Dr Tyson revealed that his wife was once a member of the Republican-backed National Rifle Association

'Thought Dems were against guns Neil?' one person commented on the post.

'Americans and their guns,' another person lamented with an eye-rolling emoji.

In the post, Tyson noted that his wife is from Alaska, a solidly Republican state, which led some X users to assume the couple were in a politically-mixed marriage.

However, the vast majority of comments simply praised Young's performance, repeatedly shooting the center of the target from 21 feet away with a CZ Shadow 2 9-millimeter handgun.

While Tyson received plenty of encouragement from gun supporters online, the popular scientist actually has a long history of opposing guns and gun violence.

'Some claim the USA is a Christian nation, compelling me to wonder which assault rifle Jesus would choose: the AR-15 or AK-47,' Tyson tweeted in September of 2014.

'Odd how many Americans invoke the 2nd Amendment to justify gun ownership, rather than explore whether or not it's a good idea,' he added in June 2016.

Despite Tyson's past criticism of the Second Amendment, America's right to bear arms actually contributed to the scientist's day of fun at the Nevada shooting range.

Hours after Tyson's post from the shooting range, the scientist tweeted a cryptic message on X, showing off an AR-15 and AK-47 assault rifle.

He asked his followers which one would have been Jesus of Nazareth's weapon of choice if he lived in the US.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Dr Tyson for comment.

Friday morning, Tyson posted another image on X of 2 assault rifles, asking his fans which they thought Jesus would be in favor of

On April 28, Neil deGrasse Tyson posted an image of himself holding 4 red hats, including a MAGA hat worn by supporters of President Trump

The Second Amendment indirectly protects shooting ranges by affirming the right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes.

Two Supreme Court cases, District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008 and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen in 2022, further extended this right to support firearms training and recreational shooting.

Along with Tyson's MAGA-promoting tweet in April, the scientist added a 48-hour poll, asking his social media fans to help him choose which of four hats he should wear.

Along with the MAGA hat, Tyson also held up three hats that said 'Make America Smart Again,' 'Make Lying Wrong Again,' and 'Relax It's Just A Red Hat.'

Make Lying Wrong Again won with over 32 percent of the vote. Trump's Make America Great Again slogan received the least support at just 18.8 percent.

'While we can surely agree we want to Make America Great. To achieve that goal, looks like we need to Make America Smart. But first, we need to Make Lying Wrong Again,' Tyson tweeted about the results.

His comments received even more backlash from liberals on social media, claiming that the astrophysicist should avoid talking about political issues altogether.

'Why are you getting into politics? Stay in your lane, which is deteriorating,' one person wrote on X.

Tyson's MAGA hat received the least amount of support in a 2-day poll. Make Lying Wrong Again won the poll as Tyson's fans slammed the scientists for seemingly supporting the president

Tyson is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, a position he has held since 1996.

He has authored numerous books, including The Pluto Files in 2009 and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry in 2017, which popularized complex scientific concepts.

Tyson has been a prominent science communicator, gaining widespread fame through media appearances and hosting various educational programs devoted to space. He current co-hosts the podcast StarTalk, blending science with pop culture.

Although he continues to share seemingly liberal stances on many issues, including immigration and the Trump Administration's cuts to science funding, Tyson has remained generally nonpartisan throughout his professional career.

He served on Republican President George W Bush's aerospace commission, as well as the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy (the 'Moon, Mars, and Beyond' initiative), advising on NASA's strategic direction in 2004.

Dr Tyson has also recently tweeted about his support of Elon Musk's goal of reaching Mars and about his new friendship with podcast host Joe Rogan.

Both Musk and Rogan provided influential support during President Trump successful 2024 campaign.
It has been drifting silently over our heads for the last 50 years.

But the out-of-control Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 is finally hurtling back towards Earth.

Astronomers predict that the 500kg (1,100 lbs) landing module could hit the planet as early as this afternoon.

Now, this ominous map reveals the major cities around the world that could be hit, and London is directly in the firing line.

Other cities that could be struck by the falling craft include Brussels, Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Hiroshima, Rio de Janeiro, and many others.

Astronomers currently believe Kosmos 482 will re-enter the atmosphere within 14 hours either side of 08:34 BST on Saturday, May 10.

However, there is still a lot of uncertainty over the craft's re-entry path as even small movements in its orbit could produce big changes.

While the odds of being hit by Kosmos 482 are small, scientists warn that a direct collision with a populated city could prove deadly.

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A 500-kilogram section of the Soviet Kosmos 482 satellite is hurtling towards Earth, and experts have now revealed where it might land (artist's impression)

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Dr Marco Langbroek, an astronomer and satellite tracker at the Delft University of Technology, has used the latest observations of this spacecraft to calculate where it might fall.

Previously, Dr Langbroek calculated that the landing module could impact anywhere within latitude 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south.

In the UK, that put anywhere south of Cambridge, Ipswich, and Milton Keynes at risk of being hit.

Now, further observations of Kosmos 482's orbit have allowed Dr Langbroek to work out the trajectory it will take as it falls, and what cities it will pass over.

Comparing this path to a list of cities with over one million residents, there are a significant number of densely populated areas that could be at risk.

In Europe, the craft could impact London, Brussels, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest, or a number of other major cities.

In North America, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Calgary and Havana are all under the re-entry path.

Meanwhile, in South America, Brazil is particularly exposed to risk, with Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Natal all in the firing line.

Dr Marco Langbroek, an astronomer and satellite tracker at the Delft University of Technology, has used the latest observations of this spacecraft to calculate where it might fall. Kosmos 482 could fall anywhere under the blue path. Red dots represent cities with over one million residents

The major cities which could be hit by Kosmos 482 London

Algiers

Durban

Rio de Janiero

Salvador

Natal

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Brussels

Vienna

Budapest

Bagdad

Abu Dhabi

Fuzhou

Hiroshima

Pyongyang Advertisement

Nor is the rest of the world entirely safe with major Asian cities such as Hiroshima and Sapporo in Japan, Fuzhou in China, Nagpur in India, and Pyongyang in North Korea all under the path.

Even sparsely populated Australia does not escape risk, with Brisbane directly under the possible landing pathway.

In a blog post sharing his findings, Dr Langbroek says: 'The risks involved are not particularly high, but not zero: with a mass of just under 500 kg and 1-meter size, risks are somewhat similar to that of a meteorite impact.'

Additionally, the risks of a substantial impact are higher due to Kosmos 482's unique construction.

The spaceship known as Kosmos 482 was launched by the Soviet Union on March 31, 1972, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The craft should have been Venera 9, one of the Soviet Union's missions to the nearby planet of Venus.

However, after engine issues left the spacecraft stranded in Earth's orbit, the Soviet space programme covered up their mistake by renaming the craft 'Kosmos' - a generic title for objects in orbit.

During that fatal engine failure, the newly renamed Kosmos 482 broke into four pieces.

The Kosmos 482 probe was initially launched in 1972 by the USSR as part of a mission to Venus but broke into four pieces after an engine failure. Pictured: An earlier prototype of Kosmos 482, the Venera 4

Astronomers now believe a bright object heading towards Earth at 17,000 mph (pictured) is the landing module of the spacecraft, the only piece which hasn't yet fallen to Earth

Two of those pieces burned up over New Zealand within days - although the USSR denied any involvement at the time.

Scientists now believe that an object hurtling towards Earth at 17,000 mph is Kosmos 482's landing module, the final missing piece of the probe.

Professor Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer from Rice University, told MailOnline: 'It could very well hang together as it comes in, as it was meant to survive on Venus, so it is built like a little tank.'

While the lander was originally built with a parachute landing system, experts suggest these have either already deployed and would be destroyed on re-entry or have long since failed.

That means there will be little to slow the landing module's approach besides friction with the atmosphere.

Professor Hartigan predicts that the craft 'will initially come in at about 8 km per second (17,895 miles per hour), but it will slow down a lot before it hits to around 150 miles per hour or so.'

He adds: 'I think of its impact as being about the mass and velocity of a speeding motorcycle.'

So, while a collision with a populated area could certainly be deadly, it won't be as devastating as a collision with a large asteroid, which would release a deadly blast of energy on impact.

The titanium landing module of Kosmos 482 (pictured) was designed to withstand the Venus atmosphere, and so is likely to impact Earth in one piece

If the probe's parachutes fail to deploy, scientists estimate that it will hit Earth at around 150 miles per hour, giving it the impact force of a speeding motorcycle. Pictured: a mock-up of the Soviet Venera 7 probe, which has a similar parachute design to Kosmos 482

Likewise, because the craft is quite small, the chances of any individual person being hit are extremely small.

'Statistically, it will probably end up in the ocean, but it might hit land. You'd have to be colossally unlucky to get hit,' says Professor Hartigan.

However, right now, it is impossible to say with any degree of certainty exactly where it will land.

Since the spacecraft is so low to Earth, it is invisible in the daytime and hidden in Earth's shadow at night, which means astronomers can only make quick observations around dawn and dusk.

Likewise, factors such as space weather and how Kosmos 482 interacts with the atmosphere mean that a lot could change.

Professor Hartigan says: 'The probe is orbiting the Earth, and the atmospheric drag, especially at the closest approach of its elliptical orbit, has been bringing it down.

'Where it comes down is going to depend a lot on the decay in the last few orbits. It goes around about once every 90 minutes, so even a small timing error translates to a big distance.'

In their page on the spacecraft, NASA says: 'The time and location of atmospheric re-entry should be known more accurately over the next few days, but the uncertainty will be fairly significant right up to re-entry.'
Whether you're a morning person or can barely drag yourself out of bed, everyone knows how important a good night's sleep can be.

Now, scientists have revealed which countries are getting the most rest.

According to a study of 5,000 people in 20 different countries, the UK is the world's fifth sleepiest nation - getting an average of seven hours and 33 minutes each night.

But it is France that claims the top spot as the world's most rested nation, with the average French citizen snoozing for seven hours and 52 minutes.

At the bottom of the sleeping league table is Japan, where the average person dozes for just six hours and 17 minutes.

That means the average Japanese citizen gets over an hour and a half less sleep than their French counterpart - translating to a more than 40-hour difference in a month.

However, while missing out on sleep can lead to a number of health problems, the researchers found that countries where people got less sleep weren't any less healthy.

Senior author Professor Steven Heine, of the University of British Columbia, says: 'There is no one-size-fits-all amount of sleep that works for everyone.'

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Scientists have revealed which countries are getting the most sleep every night, and the UK only comes in at fifth with seven hours and 33 minutes each night (stock image)

Although doctors commonly recommend eight hours every night, Professor Heine and his colleagues found that sleep duration actually varies significantly between countries.

When asked how much sleep they had last night, citizens of European and Australian countries tended to be better rested.

Following behind France, people in the Netherlands reported having the second most sleep each night, with seven hours and 45 minutes on average.

This was closely followed by Belgium and New Zealand, where citizens reported sleeping for seven hours and 41 minutes and seven hours and 40 minutes respectively.

On the other hand, people in Asian countries reported sleeping for significantly shorter periods of time.

In Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore, people reported sleeping for less than seven hours a night on average.

The biggest outlier was the US, where residents sleep for just seven hours and two minutes per night.

That puts America below China and India for time spent sleeping.

Surprisingly, the researchers didn't find any correlation between countries getting less sleep and poor health. In fact, countries getting less sleep had lower rates of obesity (stock image)

The researchers suggest that the optimal amount of sleep might be determined by culture rather than biology. This graph shows the relationship between health and hours spent sleeping for people in different countries

The countries getting the most sleep France : 7 hrs 52 mins

: 7 hrs 52 mins The Netherlands : 7 hrs 45 mins

: 7 hrs 45 mins Belgium : 7 hrs 41 mins

: 7 hrs 41 mins New Zealand : 7 hrs 40 mins

: 7 hrs 40 mins United Kingdom : 7 hrs 33 mins

: 7 hrs 33 mins South Africa : 7 hrs 31 mins

: 7 hrs 31 mins Australia : 7 hrs 29 mins

: 7 hrs 29 mins Canada : 7 hours 27 mins

: 7 hours 27 mins China : 7 hours 18 mins

: 7 hours 18 mins India : 7 hours 15 mins Source: Healthy sleep durations appear to vary across cultures (2025) Advertisement

What came as a surprise was that countries where people slept less didn't appear to be any unhealthier.

Even though some Asian countries sleep for two hours less than the recommended eight hours per day, there was no evidence of lower life expectancy or higher rates of heart disease and diabetes.

Curiously, the researchers also discovered that countries with lower amounts of sleep also tended to have lower rates of obesity.

According to the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this suggests that how much sleep is needed might be determined by culture rather than biology.

Previous studies had attempted to explain these differences by referring to a biological difference between ethnicities.

But as the researchers point out, a comparison between Japanese and Asian-Canadian students showed that ethnicity did not predict sleep needs or hours spent sleeping.

Lead author Dr Christine Ou, of the University of Victoria, says: 'People who slept closer to their own culture's norms for sleep duration tended to have better overall health.

'This suggests that the ideal amount of sleep is the amount that matches what is considered appropriate sleep in one's cultural context.'

Japan, where people sleep the least at night, has a culture which often emphasises hard work at the expense of sleep. This has led to a phenomenon called 'inemuri', or 'sleeping while present', where workers fall asleep at their desks or in public due to over-exhaustion

For example, the researchers note that France has a culture which emphasises the benefits of sleeping for a long time.

Japanese culture, on the other hand, often stresses the importance of diligence and hard work and values sleeping for shorter periods.

This has even led to a phenomenon called 'inemuri', or 'sleeping while present', where workers fall asleep at their desks or in public due to over-exhaustion.

However, these cat naps can actually be seen as a positive sign of hard work rather than laziness.

The researchers argue that these cultural differences might lead to real medical differences in how much people from different countries should sleep.

This might even be something that medical professionals need to take into account when designing public health advice on sleep.

Professor Heine says: 'Despite the common advice to get eight hours of sleep, our findings suggest that sleep recommendations need to be adjusted based on cultural norms.'
Most people probably havent heard of Aria  the secretive UK government agency funding efforts to dim the sun.

Aria, or the 'Advanced Research and Invention Agency', has allocated 57 million for so-called 'geoengineering' projects that aim to slow global warming.

One of these projects is Marine Cloud Brightening, which involves ships spraying saltwater into the sky to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds.

The salt will force water droplets in the clouds to come together or 'coalesce', which will make them more reflective and stop so much sunlight reaching Earth.

Ilan Gur, chief executive of Aria, said: 'In climate change, were essentially in a race against time in terms of the consequential, potentially devastating changes to the planet.'

But some experts have warned that such outdoor experiments  which are due to begin in the next five years  could have 'unwanted side-effects'.

So, you may be wondering  who, exactly, are Aria and where does their money come from?

Read on to find out more about the public-funded agency, which is spending4.1 million a year on wages for its staff alone.

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Aria, a research funding agency of the UK government, aims to 'unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone'.

'We empower scientists and engineers to pursue research that is too speculative, too hard, or too interdisciplinary to pursue elsewhere, it says on its website.

The research agency was originally the brainchild of Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons former chief aide, and was set up in 2021 by ex-Tory business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

The body, based in London, has been given a staggering 800 million budget  of taxpayers cash  to go towards 'high-risk, high-reward' scientific research.

As Aria states on its website, other research projects it is supporting include programmable plants that remove move CO2 and smarter robot bodies that 'ease the labour challenges of tomorrow'.

Ilan Gur, the chief executive, is being paid around 450,000 annually, The Telegraph reports  three times more than the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile Antonia Jenkinson, the chief finance officer, takes home around 215,000 and Pippy James, the chief product officer, around 175,000.

In total, Aria is blowing 4.1 million a year on wages despite having just 37 staff, with the top four staff at the company pocketing nearly 1 million of taxpayers cash each year between them.

Most people probably havent heard of Aria - the UK government agency funding efforts to curb global warming.

Marine Cloud Brightening, which involves ships spraying saltwater into the sky to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds. Pictured, Dymchurch beach on the Kent coast

What is Aria? Aria, a research funding agency of the UK government, was announced in February 2021 and formally established January 2023. Funded by British taxpayers, it aims to 'unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone'. 'We empower scientists and engineers to pursue research that is too speculative, too hard, or too interdisciplinary to pursue elsewhere, it says on its website. Advertisement

When it was first set up Mr Cummings laid out his vision for the research agency, telling the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that Aria must have extreme freedom from the horrific bureaucracy of Whitehall.

One committee member, Katherine Fletcher MP, said that this proposed lack of oversight made Aria vulnerable to capture by the tinfoil hat brigade offering unusual and potentially transformative research, which was never likely to succeed.

Questions have also been raised about their willingness to share information.

A report, published in March this year by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), showed that Aria had received a Freedom of Information (FOI) request seeking information about its Scoping Our Planet project.

The request had come from online newsletter Democracy for Sale, which had asked for information regarding who had been funded under the project, which seeks to support schemes to fill the gaps in Earth system measurement to respond confidently to the climate crisis.

Aria responded by stating that it did not consider the requested information to be environmental information.

Following a complaint to the ICO, the initial request was upheld and the information was provided.

The ICOs report reads: The Commissioner agrees that there is public interest in Aria being transparent about the projects which it is funding.

Experts hope that by reflecting some sunlight back into space, they can curb the impact of global warming. Pictured, cyclists making their way through Richmond Park during a spectacular sunrise in London

What is geoengineering? Geoengineering is the large-scale manipulation of environmental processes that affect Earth's climate, in an attempt to halt global warming. Globally, projects include injecting chemical aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight and absorbing CO2 dissolved in seawater. But critics have concerns that expensive geoengineering endeavors will backfire, causing destructive weather patterns and making climate change worse. Advertisement

In an online piece for Prospect Magazine, English lawyer David Allen Green said the secrecy of Aria shows an elite wanting public money but not public accountability.

He warned there is a notion within government that publicly funded projects should be closed from public scrutiny, that those with public power know best and that such information should remain private to those with power.

On its website, ARIA says: 'As a publicly funded agency, our responsibility to the taxpayer is our first priority. We therefore require visibility of the actual costs we are funding.'

Marine Cloud Brightening is one of 21 so-called 'geoengineering' projects receiving 57 million from Aria, of which five will involve outdoor trials.

Another University of Cambridge-led project receiving part of the funding is described as an early exploration for the potential of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI).

It would involve a study on how milligram quantities of mineral dusts age in the stratosphere while contained in an air balloon.

During this controlled experiment, none of these materials will be released into the atmosphere, and all the materials will be returned to the ground for recovery and analysis by scientists, Aria said.

However, some scientists are concerned that expensive endeavors could fail or even backfire, causing destructive weather patterns and making climate change worse.

According to official data, the UK only receives an average of 1,400 hours of sunshine per year anyway  averaging only 3.8 hours per day. Pictured, a house in Dunsden, Oxfordshire under the gloom on November 6

According to official data, the UK only receives an average of 1,400 hours of sunshine per year anyway  averaging only 3.8 hours per day.
It is the UK's biggest provider of landlines and broadband.

But BT's Openreach has now announced a major change that will affect 1.6 million homes around the country.

The company, which provides infrastructure to most of the UK, will soon force providers to stop offering traditional landlines.

That means millions of people will no longer be able to sign up for or use outdated copper networks.

Openreach has now issued a 'stop sell' notice for 163 new locations in the UK.

That notice means communications companies like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone that use its network will be forced to move customers over to the new network.

As Openreach explains: 'Stop Sell is triggered when a majority (75 per cent) of premises connected to a particular exchange can get ultrafast Full Fibre.'

Customers who want to switch, upgrade, or re-grade their broadband will have to take on a new digital service with Openreach's full-fibre network.

The UK's largest telecoms company has now announced a major change that will 'switch off' traditional landlines for 1.6 million homes (stock image)

New locations affected by a Stop Sell notification include major cities such as Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Colchester, Nottingham, Greater London, and Liverpool.

From the start of June, stop sell notices will have been activated in 943 locations in the UK, covering more than eight million homes.

This makes up around 44 per cent of Openreach's total full fibre footprint.

Any customers in the affected areas who aren't yet able to connect to full fibre won't see their services change and will still be able to use the copper network until full fibre is made available.

Traditional landlines will not be disconnected by the switch.

Instead, landlines will be switched over to using digital voice calls, which connect over the internet rather than traditional cables.

An Openreach spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Customers in these exchanges not yet able to get Ultrafast Full Fibre at their premises won't be impacted and can stay on their existing copper-based service until Full Fibre does become available.

'When end customers in these stop sell exchange areas sign up for a new contract - or when they switch, upgrade or re-grade their service via their provider - theyll be moved onto a new digital line over Full Fibre.

Openreach, which provides broadband and landline infrastructure, has announced 'Stop Sell' notices in 163 locations. This will force network providers to move customers off the older copper network to a full fibre option where available

'Otherwise, they can carry on with their existing service.'

Openreach also insists this won't directly impact customers' broadband bills since the company is not responsible for price setting.

'We dont set the broadband prices that our communication provider customers charge their end customers,' the spokesperson says.

While the change in service will mean people get faster broadband connections, some have expressed concerns that the move could affect older residents.

In a Zen Internet survey, 66 per cent of respondents said they felt these elderly individuals might feel more isolated as a result of the move to digital.

Richard Tang, chief executive of Zen Internet, said in a statement that care needed to be taken to ensure people were not left behind, as their research showed millions of people were 'unaware' of the switch off.

Mr Tang added: 'While the transition may seem daunting, you can still have a landline service and keep your landline number, but this will be provided digitally by your broadband provider.'

Likewise, the government has taken steps to identify 'vulnerable' customers who might be negatively impacted by the change.

From the start of June, stop sell notices will have been activated in 943 locations in the UK, covering more than eight million homes.

These vulnerable customers are defined as people who might experience: 'A heightened sense of anxiety, stress or loneliness as part of the migration, where additional support and protection is required to mitigate or avoid the risk of these outcomes occurring.'

Last year, Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant told MailOnline that landlines 'are vital for many people, including the most vulnerable', and the fear of people being left isolated by the switchover 'keeps me up at night.'

According to an agreement signed by telecom companies, any 'vulnerable' customers will be able to have an engineer visit their home to support them through the transition.

The engineer will then test any telecare devices before leaving to ensure they are still working.

If any issue occurs, there is the option to return the household to their old landline until this can be fixed, if no alternative is available.

And vulnerable households will be given back-up devices to protect them in the case of a power cut or internet outage - with firms pledging to ensure this exceeds Ofcom's minimum recommendation that such devices provide one hour of battery power.

The advantage of the change is that fibre optic cables can carry significantly more information, allowing for faster internet connections.

Copper wires can only sustain maximum download speeds of around 7 megabytes per second (mbps), while fibre optic cables can sustain speeds up to 1,000 mbps.

The change has sparked concerns that elderly and vulnerable residents may be adversely affected. However, Openreach insists that landline connections will not be disconnected. Instead, copper-based landlines will be moved to digital voice calls (stock image)

It is important to note that the Stop Sell notice only comes into effect in areas where the vast majority of people have already stopped using outdated copper connections.

James Lilley, Openreachs managed customer migrations manager, says: 'Were moving to a digital world and Openreach is helping with that transformation by rolling out ultrafast, ultra-reliable and future-proofed digital full fibre across the UK.

'The stop sell programme is a critical part of ensuring that the UK's communication infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the future.'

'Taking advantage of the progress of our full fibre build and encouraging people to upgrade where a majority can access our new network is the right thing to do as it makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side.'
With sunny weather on the horizon, many will be considering a trip to the seaside.

Theres nothing quite like sitting on the beach licking an ice cream, or tucking into fish and chips.

But, often, theres an unwanted presence  an extra set of eyes on your sandy snack.

An enjoyable day out can quickly be ruined by seagulls diving to steal your food.

It might not seem theres much you can do to deter these airborne thieves.

And, ideally, you dont want to have to scoff your meal down quickly.

Now, an expert has revealed exactly how to prevent the pests stealing your ice cream and chips.

And it could be as simple as what youre wearing.

The scourge of the seaside: A seagull steals a woman's donut as she walks along Brighton seafront

Residents of the seaside town of Lowestoft say they are being 'terrorized' by seagulls which swoop of them to steal their food

Wearing highly-contrasting patterns, such as black and white stripes, can help deter the birds, according to an expert

Dr Neeltje Boogert, a research fellow in behavioural ecology at the University of Exeter, shared her tips on how to avoid seagulls stealing your food as the weather gets warmer across the UK.

Gulls learn about food from people, and they're super generalist foragers, so anything that people eat, gulls will eat as well, she said.

Although it should be noted that they're less keen on vegetables.

She explained that many animals find highly-contrasting patterns aversive, so wearing clothes that feature this could help deter seagulls.

A top with zebra stripes, for example, or even a leopard print.

Another tip involves keeping an eye on any gulls around you.

Gulls find the human gaze aversive and are less likely to approach your food when youre staring them down, she explained.

Meanwhile eating underneath a parasol, umbrella, roof, narrowly-spaced bunting or even with your back against a wall can help.

Pictured: Seagulls attacking a couple trying to enjoy their fish and chips on the esplanade at Lyme Regis

Holidaygoer Phil Grant, 44, was caught off guard on Whitby beach as he tried to enjoy his ice cream - when a seagull grabbed it straight out of his hand

Leopard print could also help keep seagulls away, as it is another contrasting pattern that the animals don't tend to like

Gulls need an easy or unobstructed approach & escape route if they're going to steal your food, Dr Boogert said.

They will approach from behind, which is blocked when you're standing against a wall, and they're not comfortable flying underneath roofs or bunting.

Other tips include never leaving a bag unzipped, as seagulls will rifle through your bags if unattended.

The animals are very familiar with grocery bags, crisp packets and pasty bags, she said.

And, finally, never feeding gulls can help prevent them carrying out the behaviour in future.

Human food is bad for their health, and feeding encourages stealing, she concluded.

Dr Boogert provided the tips to Dojo, a card payment provider.

The company said business owners should also be aware of her recommendations, as seagulls flocking to cafes or restaurants can discourage customers from purchasing.
For any dog owner, not being able to understand the meaning behind your pet's barks and woofs is a constant frustration.

But for those who've ever wished they could become a real life Dr Doolittle, an AI solution may finally be on its way.

Experts at Chinese company Baidu are planning to use artificial intelligence to translate animal noises like woofs and meows into human language.

The Beijing-based internet search giant has filed a patent with China's National Intellectual Property Administration for a new high-tech translation system.

Baidu's proposed system would collect various animal data  not just vocal sounds garnered from audio, but 'body language, behavioural changes and other biological signs', according to the patent.

Data would be preprocessed and merged before an AI-powered analysis designed to recognise the animal's emotional state would give a result.

The emotional states would then be mapped to semantic meanings and translated into human language  such as Chinese or even English.

The system would allow 'deeper emotional communication and understanding between animals and humans, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cross-species communication,' Baidu said in the patent document.

If you've ever wished you could understand what your dog is trying to tell you, an AI solution may finally be on its way (file photo)

Baidu has publicly acknowledged the patent, but cautioned that the project is currently 'still in the research phase'.

'There has been a lot of interest in the filing of our patent application,' a Baidu spokesperson said when asked how soon it could turn the patent into a product.

According to the South China Morning Post, the patent was submitted in December but was only publicly published on Tuesday.

It's unclear what form the resulting product would take and Baidu said the work is still in the early stages, but there are already similar initiatives to decipher animal noises.

The Earth Species Project, a non-profit founded in 2017 whose backers include LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman, is also trying to use AI to decode animal communication.

And researchers at Project CETI have been using statistical analysis and AI since 2020 to understand how sperm whales communicate.

Meanwhile, Danish scientists translated pig grunts into actual emotions for the first time using AI.

Local media reports about Baidu's patent application sparked discussion on Chinese social media platforms late on Wednesday.

Baidu's logo features the paw print of a dog - believed to be a reference to the animal's excellent search abilities

How can AI translate animal noises Generally, an AI can be trained by being fed audio of a dog, for example, making noises when it is happy, sad, excited or afraid. As long as the AI is told what the audio sample means (such as high-pitched whine meaning excited), it can learn the association. The more data its fed with, the more itll be able to discern meaning from fresh data that wasnt used in its training. Advertisement

While some were excited about the possibility of eventually being better able to understand their pets, others were sceptical.

'While it sounds impressive, we'll need to see how it performs in real-world applications,' commented a user on Weibo.

James Bore, a technology expert at consultancy Bores Group, said the product will likely take the form of an app.

'Video your pet, it'll analyse it, and give you the "translation",' he told MailOnline.

Scientists have long attempted to decode animal communication, and Baidu's patent represents the latest effort to leverage AI to do so.

There are already plenty of apps claiming to offer pet to human translations, but these are badly-rated and deemed rudimentary.

Bore said he expects Baidu's offering to be 'certainly all of the same sort of quality, riding the AI hype train'.

It appears to be incidental that the internet search giant's logo features the paw print of a dog  a likely reference to the animal's excellent search abilities.

Chinese multinational technology company, founded in January 2000, specializes in Internet services and artificial intelligence (file photo)

Danish scientists translated pig grunts into actual emotions for the first time using AI. This image shows the classification of pig calls to 'valence and context', based on the algorithm

The company was among the first major Chinese companies to invest heavily in AI following the 2022 debut of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

It unveiled its latest AI model, Ernie 4.5 Turbo, last month, saying it matched the industry's best in several benchmark tests.

However, the Ernie chatbot has struggled to gain traction amid fierce competition from the likes of ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

The blockbuster AI chatbot from Communist China caused a panic when it launched in January, triggering the US stock market to hemorrhage $1 trillion.
Radar screens went dark at New Jersey's Newark Airport early Friday during a close call that nearly became a midair disaster.

The momentary power outage hit at 3:55am ET, when air traffic was luckily very light, and lasted for about for 90 seconds.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on X Friday, revealing the blackout was caused by a 'telecommunications outage' at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Area C.

This control center, located 90 miles away at the Philadelphia International Airport, manages air traffic for Newark Airport and smaller airports nearby.

According to Flightaware, there were already 125 cancellations and 292 flight delays reported at Newark as of 12pm ET.

It's the second radar blackout to hit Newark in the past two weeks. The previous outage truck the airport's air traffic control tower on April 28, causing computer screens to go dark for 60 to 90 seconds.

Newark is the second-busiest airport in the New York-New Jersey area, catering to nearly 49 million travelers in 2024.

It follows behind New York's John F Kennedy International Airport, which saw 63 million flyers last year.

Radar screens at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport went dark early Friday morning at 3:55am ET. It was the second momentary blackout in 2 weeks at the airport

Days after the April 28 incident, an air traffic controller at Newark Airport warned flyers to stay away from the New Jersey airport

Days after the April 28 incident, an air traffic controller at Newark Airport warned flyers to stay away from the New Jersey airport.

The unnamed source told NBC's Tom Costello: 'It's not a safe situation for the flying public!'

'Don't fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs,' the air traffic controller added.

During the blackout Friday, air traffic controllers were reportedly overheard telling a FedEx cargo plane their radars screens were offline.

They allegedly told the plane's pilots to put pressure on their company to help get the problems fixed.

A private jet was also reportedly told to stay above 3,000 feet because the air traffic controllers couldn't guarantee that they'd be able to contact the plane during its descent for landing.

The radar blackout also happened just days after more than 20 percent of Newark's tower controllers allegedly 'walked off the job' following the first power outage.

Officially, several of the air traffic controllers used their 'trauma leave' following the first radar blackout on April 28.

Newark Airport has been dealing with staffing storages, causing the airport to rely on a Philadelphia radar center for some of their flight data

Under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, government workers who experience work-related injuries or illnesses, including psychological trauma or stress-related conditions, are able to take up to 45 days off at full pay.

However, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby accused the absent federal workers of causing even more problems following the power outage, including the grounding of hundreds of flights.

'Unfortunately, the technology issues were compounded as over 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR walked off the job,' Kirby said in a May 2 statement.

'Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it's 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,' the CEO added.

New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer said on Friday that the New York-New Jersey region is short 'about 40 air traffic controllers' currently.

'Right now it has about 22 and it should have somewhere in the 60s,' Gottheimer explained.

'Our air traffic controllers are the best in the world, but everything they need to do they're unable to do when you're so short-staffed,' the congressman added during a news conference at Newark Airport.

On Thursday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan for sweeping upgrades to America's air traffic control system.

However, Duffy admitted the Trump Administration is racing against time to prevent a major airline tragedy.

'You're starting to see cracks in the system,' Duffy said during a press conference Thursday. 'It's our job to actually see over the horizon what the issues are and fix it before there is an incident that we will seriously regret.'

'We are on it. We are going to fix it. We are going to build a brand new system for all of you and your families and the American people,' the transportation secretary added.
After another terrifying power outage at New Jersey's Newark Airport, airlines and federal officials are reportedly planning to slash flights at the busy travel hub.

Air traffic controllers' radar screens went dark for 90 seconds early Friday morning in a close call that nearly became a midair disaster.

The momentary power outage hit at 3:55am ET, when air traffic was luckily very light. However, it was the second blackout in two weeks at Newark, which is relying on radar data coming from centers in Philadelphia due to staffing shortages.

Now, airline executives and US transportation officials are reportedly planning to meet to work on a plan that will shift air traffic away from the beleaguered airport.

According to Bloomberg, carriers would voluntarily cut the number of flights heading to Newark for a limited period, potentially affecting millions of travelers.

According to Flightaware, there were 140 cancellations and 401 flight delays reported after the radar outage at Newark as of 4pm ET Friday.

The previous outage struck the airport's air traffic control tower on April 28, causing computer screens to go dark for 60 to 90 seconds and leading to more chaos and delays.

Newark is the second-busiest airport in the New York-New Jersey area, behind only JFK Airport, catering to nearly 49 million travelers in 2024.

Radar screens at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport went dark early Friday morning at 3:55am ET. It was the second momentary blackout in 2 weeks at the airport

Days after the April 28 incident, an air traffic controller at Newark Airport warned flyers to stay away from the New Jersey airport.

The unnamed source told NBC's Tom Costello: 'It's not a safe situation for the flying public!'

'Don't fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs,' the air traffic controller added.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on X Friday, revealing the blackout was caused by a 'telecommunications outage' at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Area C.

This control center, located 90 miles away at the Philadelphia International Airport, manages air traffic for Newark Airport and smaller airports nearby.

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the latest radar blackout that "Enough is enough."

"The connection between New York air space and the Philadelphia air traffic control center must be fixed now. The back up system that is not working must be fixed. Now," New York's senior senator added, according to a statement shared with reporters on X.

"The skies over New York City are some of the busiest in the world. This cannot happen again," Schumer said.

Before Friday's blackout, the FAA said it would install a temporary backup system at the Philadelphia radar facility while they sped up work on upgrading their communications infrastructure at the site.

According to Bloomberg, the discussions for slashing service out of Newark Airport are scheduled to begin in the next few weeks.

Days after the April 28 incident, an air traffic controller at Newark Airport warned flyers to stay away from the New Jersey airport

During the blackout Friday, air traffic controllers were reportedly overheard telling a FedEx cargo plane their radars screens were offline.

They allegedly told the plane's pilots to put pressure on their company to help get the problems fixed.

A private jet was also reportedly told to stay above 3,000 feet because the air traffic controllers couldn't guarantee that they'd be able to contact the plane during its descent for landing.

The radar blackout also happened just days after more than 20 percent of Newark's tower controllers allegedly 'walked off the job' following the first power outage.

Officially, several of the air traffic controllers used their 'trauma leave' following the first radar blackout on April 28.

Under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, government workers who experience work-related injuries or illnesses, including psychological trauma or stress-related conditions, are able to take up to 45 days off at full pay.

Newark Airport has been dealing with staffing storages, causing the airport to rely on a Philadelphia radar center for some of their flight data

However, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby accused the absent federal workers of causing even more problems following the power outage, including the grounding of hundreds of flights.

'Unfortunately, the technology issues were compounded as over 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR walked off the job,' Kirby said in a May 2 statement.

'Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it's 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,' the CEO added.

New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer said on Friday that the New York-New Jersey region is short 'about 40 air traffic controllers' currently.

'Right now it has about 22 and it should have somewhere in the 60s,' Gottheimer explained.

'Our air traffic controllers are the best in the world, but everything they need to do they're unable to do when you're so short-staffed,' the congressman added during a news conference at Newark Airport.

On Thursday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan for sweeping upgrades to America's air traffic control system.

However, Duffy admitted the Trump Administration is racing against time to prevent a major airline tragedy.

'You're starting to see cracks in the system,' Duffy said during a press conference Thursday. 'It's our job to actually see over the horizon what the issues are and fix it before there is an incident that we will seriously regret.'

'We are on it. We are going to fix it. We are going to build a brand new system for all of you and your families and the American people,' the transportation secretary added.
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Jennifer Garner and Meghan Markle swear by this top-rated cookware - and its up to 50 percent off right now.

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Tiffany Trump has shared a glimpse into the very luxurious nursey she has prepared ahead of her son's birth.

President Donald Trump's youngest daughter, 31, and her husband, Michael Boulos, are set to welcome their first child later this month.

And, with her due date fast approaching, the excited mom-to-be took to Instagram to reveal a glimpse of the kids' room set up and ready to go.

Pregnant: Tiffany Trump has shared a glimpse into the very luxurious nursey she has prepared ahead of her son's birth

The adorable blue-and-white space - complete with a model Air Force One dangling from the ceiling - is decked out with a whole host of high-ticket items as well as a few softer touches.

The larger pieces of furniture that dominate the space include a white $700 convertible crib from Babyletto which boasts acrylic slats to offer parents 'the best views of their little one.'

'Modern and functional, an included toddler bed conversion kit allows you to seamlessly convert from crib to toddler bed to daybed as your babe grows,' the description reads online.

Tiffany also coordinated with a an all-white six-drawer dresser with a 'cushioned topper' - priced at $1,299 from Pottery Barn Kids.

Elsewhere, the nursey boasts a $1,628 sheepskin linen nursing chair from Oilo which 'swivels, gently glides, and reclines.'

Preview: The larger pieces of furniture that dominate the space include a white $700 convertible crib from Babyletto which boasts acrylic slats to offer parents 'the best views of their little one'

Style: Tiffany also coordinated with an all-white six-drawer dresser with a 'cushioned topper' - priced at $1,299 from Pottery Barn Kids

Comfort: The nursey boasts a $1,628 sheepskin linen nursing chair from Oilo which 'swivels, gently glides, and reclines'

Other smaller touches included $249 jumbo giraffe plushie from Pottery Barn Kids and a $119 woven hamper from Crate & Barrell as well as a small wooden lawn chair, an alphabet mural and a large custom sofa.

Tiffany proved her eye to detail after also adding a blue Hermes Avalon Cabriole blanket at $1,300, a Meli-Melo Plaid Louis Vuitton throw at $1,090 and an elephant-themed musical mobile from Living Textiles at $59.99.

The Peter Rabbit theme from Tiffany's baby shower was also replicated in the new space - with gentle touches including a cuddly toy and several of the book series.

In sharing the snaps, Tiffany described the light and airy space as her 'dream nursery' before crediting many of the brands and designers that helped bring it to life.

She first gave a shoutout to Louisiana-based company Posh Exclusive Interiors that specializes in stylish spaces with high-end materials and elegant aesthetics.

Each project ranges in price, but a typical job cost can range from $15,000 to a staggering $1 million, per Houzz.

The expectant mom also credited Door and Cabinet, FJ Kashanian Rugs and Ambella Home.

Tiffany publicly confirmed that she was expecting her first child in mid-December, months after her father announced it to the world.

Details: Other smaller touches included $249 jumbo giraffe plushie from Pottery Barn Kids and a $119 woven hamper from Crate & Barrell

Cute: Tiffany proved her eye to detail after also adding a blue Hermes Avalon Cabriole blanket at $1,300

Pastels: She also included a Meli-Melo Plaid Louis Vuitton throw at $1,090

Restful: Dangling from the crib, was an elephant-themed musical mobile from Living Textiles at $59.99

Donald excitedly shared the news that he was going to become a grandfather again while speaking at the Detroit Economic Club back in October.

He recognized several guests in the crowd, including businessman Massad Boulos, who is Tiffany's father-in-law, and then delivered the good news.

'He happens to be the father of Tiffany's husband, Michael, who's a very exceptional young guy,' said the President.

'And she's an exceptional young woman. And she's going to have a baby. So that's nice.'

Since then, she has been documenting her pregnancy online, often showcasing her growing baby bump in Instagram snaps and videos.
Disney is famous for keeping fans on the edge of their seats and this week's announcement that one of its theme parks will be built in Abu Dhabi was no exception.

Disneyland Abu Dhabi, which will open 'in the early 2030s', was unveiled at a ceremony which had all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premiere.

Celebrities, including Naomi Campbell and Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick, looked on as superstar pianist Lang Lang played classic Disney tunes accompanied by a 100-piece orchestra floating on a pontoon on the Arabian Gulf.

Overhead, more than 9,000 drones formed the shape of Cinderella's Castle.

There was just one thing missing - details!

Disney said the park will be the 'most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio' and the concept art shows how far it may go to cast a powerful spell.

The concept art was deliberately blurry in order to keep fans guessing about what will be in it.

But one landmark that stuck out was the centre-piece castle, with a similar style to Elsa's ice palace from Frozen.

Which rides could Disneyland Abu Dhabi include? Disney revealed this week the waterfront resort located on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island on Wednesday will open in the early 2030s...and could include attractions inspired by some of the most popular recent Disney characters

Keeping things vague: The concept art unveiled at a high glamour ceremony this week was deliberately kept blurry in order to keep fans guessing, says theme park expert Sylt

Could Disney favourite Elsa play a big part in the new Abu Dhabi park? The centre-piece 'castle' in the digital artist's impressions suggest she might (right)

The shimmering structure is Disney's first castle not based on a classic fairytale and it suggests that a Frozen ride could be hidden underneath its icy turrets. And that's just the start.

Hidden in the background of the concept art is a tall orange tower with a curve which looks like a ski slope stretching from the top.

It could be a groundbreaking attraction which was originally planned for Disneyland Paris and would see the ride car rocket up the tower before gliding down the slope.

The ride was based on the stories of Jules Verne which are also the setting for a land in Tokyo DisneySea, widely considered to be the world's most immersive theme park.

It could be joined by Disney's Florida-favourite roller coaster, Expedition Everest as a mountain looking like it is tucked away in the corner of the concept art.

Disneyland Abu Dhabi is The Mouse's first waterfront park and it appears to extend right onto the beach and beyond, with craggy artificial rocks creating a harbour-like area in the sea.

It's clearly not for cruise ships but could well be for a groundbreaking version of classic Disney ride Pirates of the Caribbean with boats which actually float out onto the ocean.

Aladdin will almost certainly feature in the line-up of rides, as Disney's live-action remake of the classic cartoon is the highest-grossing movie in the Middle East.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has proved one of the biggest hits in Orlando in recent years - and a Marvel-themed ride, or land, is likely to feature in the Middle East

Details have been scant...but Disney's Imagineers could look to both Frozen and another Disney hit - the Marvel franchise - for ride inspiration (Pictured: The park's opening being announced in Abu Dhabi this week)

Disney stated that it aims to attract tourists from 'the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond' with its newest resort. Pictured, Minnie and Mickey Mouse in a promotional video for the resort

It explains why the actress who plays Princess Jasmine in the Broadway version of Aladdin belted out A Whole New World at the extravaganza to announce the new Disney park.

A feelgood video of scenes from Disney movies was also part of the celebration, with one of the most prominent moments showing Marvel super hero Iron Man zooming through the night sky.

There may be good reason this was included. Disney's theme parks are designed by its Imagineers whose name comes from their imaginative use of engineering.

There are more than a thousand of them around the world and one of the leading lights behind Disneyland Abu Dhabi is Zach Riddley, who led the recent redevelopment of the futuristic Epcot park at Disney World in Florida.

That involved building Disney World's first Marvel ride - a groundbreaking, spinning roller coaster based on the smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Called Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, it features Hollywood A Listers Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista who set the scene on screens before the ride begins.

A promotional video (pictured) about the new resort was shared to Instagram by Yas Island on Wednesday

With this man behind the wheel, it's very likely a Marvel land in Abu Dhabi is to be joined by one themed to Star Wars, which also featured in the video promoting the new park.

The Star Wars lands at Disney World and its counterpart Disneyland in California cost an estimated $1 billion to develop, but money is no object for Disneyland Abu Dhabi as it will be built and developed by Miral, the local government's theme park operator.

It is part of a strategy to diversify Abu Dhabi's economy with leisure attractions due to its declining oil reserves.

Abu Dhabi is already home to SeaWorld, Warner Bros. and Ferrari theme parks which all sit on the man-made Yas Island where Disneyland will be built.

The more visitors it gets, the greater the boost to Abu Dhabi's economy which is why the park needs to be spellbinding.

Due to the extreme heat in Abu Dhabi, where daytime summer temperatures can hit 45 degrees, expect lots of shady foliage and indoor rides throughout the park.

A jungle-like setting would be about as escapist as you can get in a region famous for its deserts.

Disney's Imagineers will have a high mark to beat - theming is common across the region. It is seen as a way of driving traffic to a business with opulent restaurants, shopping malls, hotels and shops all featuring high standards of theming.

It will take more than the wave of a magic wand to make a splash in Abu Dhabi...but if anyone can do it it's Disney.
The spectacular beach has even been recognised in global award rankings

A beautiful beach in Wales has been named as one of the country's best and it's even picked up global awards.

Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula has been crowned as one of the 10 best beaches in the UK by Tripadvisor and named among the world's 100 best beaches by Lonely Planet.

So, what makes Rhossili Bay so popular?

Spanning three miles, the beach is famed for its golden sand, picturesque cliffs and spectacular views.

Visit Wales describes Rhossili Bay as 'an iconic destination' with 'dramatic' and 'panoramic' views.

Lonely Planet says: 'With a list of accolades almost as long as its shoreline, Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula is arguably the best beach in Wales.

'Its broad, three-mile stretch of golden sand and rolling surf [...] is best admired from the surrounding heather-clad cliff tops.'

Rhossili Bay is a top surfing destination with consistent waves year-round. Its recommended that beginners stick to the 'sheltered southern end', says the National Trust.

Visit Wales describes Rhossili Bay as 'an iconic destination' with 'dramatic' and 'panoramic' views

Spanning three miles, the beach is famed for its golden sand, picturesque cliffs and spectacular views

Worms Head island lies at one end of the bay. The tidal island is only accessible at low tide.

Tourists who make the trip are in with a chance of spotting grey seals while the views are unmatched.

History fans should keep their eyes peeled for the wreck of the Helvetia, which is the most visible from the beach.

The ship, which was carrying 500 tons timber from new Brunswick to Swansea, sank in 1887 and its wooden skeleton is still visible from beneath the sand today.

Rhossili Bay is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor with 1,707 'excellent' reviews from visitors.

A tourist wrote: 'A bit of a trek to get here but well worth it. The cliffs behind have magnificent views.'

Another visitor wrote: 'A beautiful unspoilt bay. Be prepared for Welsh weather, however the walk along the beach is amazing.'

And if you haven't been to Rhossili Bay before, you might recognise it.

Rhossili Bay is a top surfing destination with consistent waves year-round

The beach was also used as the location for 'New Earth' in Doctor Who and featured in Torchwood

It featured in the London 2012 Opening Ceremony when a youth choir sang 'Bread of Heaven' on its shores.

The beach was also used as the location for 'New Earth' in Doctor Who and featured in the series Torchwood.

There is a very steep walk down to the sand so Rhossili Bay may not be suitable for pushchairs or those with difficulty walking.

Meanwhile, a beach in Cornwall was rated among the best in the world in a recent ranking.
Molly-Mae Hague has revealed the first photo of herself with Tommy Fury since they rekindled in part two of her Behind It All documentary.

Viewers will have to wait until the final moments of the third episode to see the evidence of the couple back together after they split last summer.

Molly, 25, has been candid about her hopes of getting back together with Tommy, 26, but this marks the first time they've been seen together.

As the credits of the episode rolled, a black and white image of the pair flashed up wearing swimwear as they snapped a photo in the window.

Taken during their recent Dubai getaway, Molly showed off her toned frame in a black bikini while Tommy posed beside her in his swimming shorts.

They affectionately leaned in towards each other in the sweet shot, with Tommy resting his head on Molly's in the sizzling shot.

Molly-Mae Hague shared this FIRST photo of herself with Tommy Fury since they reunited as sexy swimwear snap of the couple is shown was in the second part of her documentary

Viewers will have to wait until the final moments of the third episode to see the evidence of the couple back together after they split last summer

As they try to rebuild their romance, they recently jetted off with their daughter Bambi, two, on a family getaway to Dubai, but did not take the cameras with them.

Speaking about the trip, Molly said: 'All the noise switched off - it was just us in our bubble. Bambi had the best time ever and she keeps asking to go back.

Revealing what's next for them as a couple, Molly says: 'Things are looking better, I'm going to start spending more time at Tommy's house. I always say, let's see what the future holds. I don't think it'll be a plain sailing future, that's just me being honest.'

'The dream is still the same, hopefully one day we'll all be happy in that house together and have more children and have a really nice happy life together.

'That's all I've ever wanted for us. I don't want to get too excited but I'm getting glimmers of what I always wanted, which is my family. I know we've got something completely worth saving.'

The Dubai trip was a huge hint to fans that the couple were giving their relationship another shot, after they were first pictured kissing on New Year's Eve.

And Molly's reaction to the world seeing the intimate footage has now been revealed, as she buried her head in her hands and screamed: 'No, my God, what,' while her manager quizzed her on if they were together.

Following the trip, it was reported they are thinking of moving back in together after reaching a 'turning point' during their reconciliation holiday.

Molly-Mae was seen on Thursday popping to her local shops just hours before the second part of her docuseries aired

Molly, 25, has been candid about her hopes of getting back together with Tommy, also 25, but this marks the first time they've been seen together

As they try to rebuild their romance, they recently jetted off with their daughter Bambi, two, on a family getaway to Dubai, but did not take the cameras with them (pictured in Dubai)

They are said to have 'really connected' on the trip and took the opportunity to work on their relationship 'without outside pressure'.

The pair are reportedly now discussing moving back in together, with Tommy determined to show his commitment to their family and friends claiming 'the love is still there'.

A source told The Mirror: 'Tommys been spending more and more time at the house again - hes even talking about moving back in properly. Its baby steps, but its clear the love is still there.'

'This wasnt just a sunshine getaway it felt like a turning point. Theyve both acknowledged how tough the past few months have been, but now theyre focused on moving forward, not looking back.

'Tommys been really reflective since they got back. Hes told friends he doesnt want to "waste time apart" anymore. Hes taking real steps to show hes committed, not just to Molly, but to their family unit. Behind the scenes, its obvious theyre trying to fix this and move forward.'

The Dubai holiday went so well for the pair that Molly-Mae shared on Tuesday she was meant to be on a plane home that day but decided to extend the trip.

The day before jetting off, she admitted she has 'been craving a getaway' with Tommy and gushed that she 'hasn't been this excited for a trip in a long time' in her latest YouTube Vlog.

Molly couldn't contain her smile as she explained that she 'needed to escape' and revealed that she has learned to 'stand up for herself'.

Speaking about the trip, Molly said: 'All the noise switched off - it was just us in our bubble. Bambi had the best time ever and she keeps asking to go back'

The Dubai holiday went so well for the pair that Molly-Mae shared on Tuesday she was meant to be on a plane home that day but decided to extend the trip

She said: 'I'm going on holiday to Dubai with Bambi and we are going for a little holiday. I feel like I'm going to have some nice time off. It's needed this trip.

'I'll still post a bit though. I am very much a home girl, I'm very content at home but recently I've been craving a getaway and feel like I need to escape.'

She added: 'I'm all packed for holiday, I'm so excited, I haven't been this excited for a trip in a long time, my bones need it.'

Molly and Tommy met on ITV2 dating show Love Island in 2019, where they fell for each other in front of the nation.

They welcomed daughter Bambi in January 2023, before getting engaged just a few months later.

But fans were shocked when Molly announced on Instagram last August that she and Tommy had split up after five years, with many suspecting he had been unfaithful.

They welcomed daughter Bambi in January 2023, before getting engaged just a few months later

In a statement posted to her 8.5million Instagram followers, Molly confirmed the breakup, saying: 'I never imagined our story would end, especially not this way.'

Tommy denied continued speculation about him cheating during a magazine interview, insisting any reports about him being with other women were 'complete and utter b*****ks.'

The boxer, who's the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, said the reason he and Molly ended their romance was down to his excessive drinking.

He said: 'People go through different things in life. I'm 25 years old. I went through a lot and my breakup was in front of the whole world...

'Cheating was never a thing. You can ask Molly this yourself. It was the drink, and the drink is not a good thing.'
By her own accounts, Kathy Griffin has endured all kinds of hell.

A recent sighting of the firebrand comedienne walking in her Malibu neighborhood suggests her many professional, mental health and medical crises have taken a toll on her appearance.

Griffin, 64, looked almost unrecognizable when spotted for the first time since undergoing a hysterectomy in early April to treat a pre-cancerous condition.

Although she seemed to have her energy back post-surgery while logging her steps with a female companion, her gray pallor was almost as startling as what appeared to be the bloody, severed head of Donald Trump she posed with in a notorious 2017 satire that nearly tanked her career.

Contrasting with the jarring paleness of her skin, her signature bright red hair fell loose around her shoulders while it seemed her hairline was receding, and she had either a scalp condition or bald spot.

Known for her biting humor and criticism of Republicans, the Catholic League and celebrity culture, Griffin has opened up about her history of health struggles, starting with a binge eating disorder as a teen.

Kathy Griffin was spotted hiking through her Malibu neighborhood on Friday for the first time since her hysterectomy due to a pre-cancerous condition

Her appearance was drastically different from her last sighting. Griffin's signature fiery-red hair had drastically receded and thinned out, while her face looked gaunt

Griffin was walking with a friend and dressed in a pair of black leggings, a gray three-quarter zip-up and gray sneakers with a purse slung over her shoulders

She also has spoken out about her long string of cosmetic procedures ranging from a breast augmentation, nose job and lip tattoo to a botched LASIK surgery in 2003 that partially blinded one of her eyes and complications from a 1999 liposuction that nearly killed her.

She also has struggled with her mental health, especially since a photo of her holding what looked like Trump's hacked-off head triggered heavy pushback starting in 2017.

Trump, tweeting about the image at the time, wrote, 'Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11-year-old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!'

Donald Trump Jr. told Good Morning America that 'She deserves everything that's coming to her.'

Griffin, along with her then-elderly mother and dying sister, received death threats during the biggest controversy of her controversial career.

The Trump administration placed her on its no-fly list and its Justice Department spent at least two months investigating whether the photo she posed for constituted a conspiracy to assassinate the president. Nothing became of that probe, at least legally.

The comedienne seemed to have her energy back post-surgery, but her complexion had a gray pallor. Griffin has been open about her various physical and mental health struggles over the years

One of Griffin's biggest mental hurdles came after she posted a photo with President Trump's severed head on X, which led to a litany of death threats and the administration placing her on the no-fly list

Even Trump weighed in to express his disgust, saying she 'should be ashamed of herself' and how it negatively affected his family, particularly his son Barron who was 11 at the time

On June 2, 2017, Griffin appeared with attorney Lisa Bloom at a tearful press conference where she said Trump had ruined her life

Still, the image caused her career to nosedive, at least temporarily. Talk shows and theaters canceled her appearances, and CNN ended her annual stint co-hosting its New Years Eve show with Anderson Cooper from 2009 to 2017.

'I wasn't canceled,' she told the New York Times. 'I was erased.'

Griffin ended up apologizing for the Trump effigy, posting on Twitter that, 'I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people, it wasn't funny, I get it.'

She financed and produced 'Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story,' a 2019 documentary about the Trump photo and how it changed her life.

Meanwhile, her anxiety and chronic back pain triggered a pill addiction, which spiraled into severe depression and an attempt to end her life in 2020.

Then in 2021, she was diagnosed with lung cancer, even though she never smoked. A surgery to remove half of her left lung damaged her vocal cords, causing her to undergo at least one more operation to improve her ability to speak.

Griffin came forward on social media in 2023 to say that her cancer fight and years of Trump backlash contributed to extreme post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and caused severe anxiety attacks that at times had her writhing in bed for eight hours.

Griffin came forward on social media in 2023 to say that her cancer fight and years of Trump backlash contributed to extreme post-traumatic stress disorder

Kathy shared her hysterectomy story with her Instagram followers

Griffin finalized her divorce from marketing executive Randy Bick in January after four years of marriage (pictured in 2016)

She talked about the ordeal in a video posted to her TikTok account.

She said at the time that she managed her anxiety partly by pushing herself to do daily tasks such as feeding her dog or taking walks.

Griffin took small, but brisk steps on her recent trek in Malibu wearing a gray top, black leggings and designer purse.

Such details are the kind of fodder she has used in her brand of caustic comedy aimed at everyone from Barbara Walters to the Octomom to Jesus Christ.

Raised in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, Kathleen Mary Griffin attended acting school and launched her acting and comedy career in Los Angeles in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Her supporting role on the Brooke Shields sitcom Suddenly Susan and starring role in Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List  winner of two Emmys for Outstanding Reality Show  marked her big breaks on TV.

She was a regular on late night talk shows, has performed in 20 stand-up comedy specials on HBO, Comedy Central and Bravo, and has appeared in 45 movies.

Griffin finalized her divorce from marketing executive Randy Bick in January after four years of marriage.
Coronation Street's Charlie Lawson has revealed something has 'gone seriously wrong' with his health after he was rushed to hospital this week.

The actor, 65, who is best known for his role as Jim McDonald - took to social media to reveal that he was struggling to walk after he fell over twice.

He confessed he was in 'great pain' and can no long stand on his tip toes.

Speaking in a video posted to X, he said: 'Well hello folks, from a rather, erm, well I'm not sure what it's doing outside to be honest with you.

'It was rather nice when I came in, but here I am again in special day care in Macclesfield hospital waiting to see an osteopath and hopefully getting a transfer to Salford Royal to the spinal unit.

'That's the plan, but I was talking to you last time from the same cubicle and I ended up back at home at half ten at night so we shall wait and see.

Coronation Street 's Charlie Lawson has revealed something has 'gone seriously wrong' with his health after he was rushed to hospital this week

The actor, 65, who is best known for his role as Jim McDonald (pictured in 2020) - took to social media to reveal that he was struggling to walk after he fell over twice

'I'm fine, I just simply can't walk properly. I'm in great pain, and I can't stand on my tiptoes now so this is very comfortable [in the bed] but if I stand up I just fall over so there's something seriously gone wrong. So, I'll keep you posted. Cheerio now!'

Alongside the clip, he penned 'Encore une fois!!!' which is French for 'once again, one more time'.

The soap legend previously told fans that he had undergone an MRI scan and was waiting to hear back from a spinal surgeon after seeking medical attention the first time round.

First revealing his health problems on Wednesday, Charlie took to the social media platform to announce he was sent to the hospital after a physio therapy appointment.

He said: 'Hi folks, went to physio this morning and she sent me straight to A&E, which I did. They examined me. I have an MRI scan and I'm sitting waiting for the results.

'They've whisked me back in for more examinations so it's not going awfully well at the moment. Anyway, I'll keep you updated. They put a wristband on me and all sorts of craic. I've fallen over twice, so something going wrong down there.'

Charlie - who married his long-time love Debbie Stanley in 2023 - also told one concerned fan that he was waiting to hear from the spinal surgeon.

He wrote: 'Thanks darling, awaiting the opinion of the spinal surgeon. Xxx (sic)'

He confessed he was in 'great pain' and can no long stand on his tip toes. Speaking in a video posted to X, he said:'I'm fine, I just simply can't walk properly. I'm in great pain, and I can't stand on my tiptoes now'

First revealing his accident on Wednesday, Charlie took to the social media platform to announce he was sent to the hospital after a physio therapy appointment

Last year, Charlie admitted he doesn't ever envisage being invited back to 'Corrie' to reprise his role as Jim, who he last portrayed in 2018.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper at the time: 'It wouldn't shock me if he dies in Australia. I think it would be a terrible waste of a character, and I would stand up and have a pint and salute to him.

'But I wouldn't be broken-hearted because I've been back seven or eight times, for Christ's sake, since 2001 that's pretty damn good as it's 2024.

'Now I haven't been back since 2018 but the whole world has changed since then into a crazy woke sort of... it's all changed.

'I'm not quite sure how Jim would react to 24 genders in Weatherfield. I suspect he would probably - if the writers had the courage - I suspect he would probably say that that was nonsense.'

Jim was famously married to former Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard), but their relationship was tested by alcoholism and infidelity.

They divorced in 1997 after Liz had been unfaithful to him, and they remarried in 2000, but Jim was later imprisoned for the manslaughter of drug dealer Jez Quigley (Lee Boardman), who had previously beaten his son Steve (Simon Gregson) up over a job.

Liz divorced Jim for a second time during his prison sentence, and in 2011 he tried to win her back by robbing a bank. But he was put behind bars again.

In 2018, Jim returned to the series with a young woman called Hannah Gilmore (Hannah Ellis Ryan), whom he falsely claimed was his and Liz's long-lost daughter Katie.

However, Hannah was actually Jim's girlfriend, and the pair were later arrested for a money-making scam when the truth emerged.
Matthew Zukowski has lashed out at fans who pressed him about why he didn't appear to attend his stepson Wolf's recent 10th birthday celebrations.

The former Love Island star, 29, sparked controversy over the weekend when he seemed to be missing from photos wife Tammy Hembrow posted of the event.

However, when followers queried why Matt was posting photos with his 'sister's dog' in Melbourne rather than attending the milestone occasion, the podcaster hit back and told critics to 'focus on your own life'.

The debacle kicked off on Instagram when one fan left a question beneath one of Matt's recent posts of him cuddling a puppy named Dexter in Melbourne, who fans claim belong to his sister Emma.

'Why aren't you in Queensland for your stepson Wolf's 10th birthday? No hate just genuinely curious,' the person wrote.

'These photos were taken four weeks ago,' Matt hit back.

Matthew Zukowski, 29, has lashed out at fans who pressed him about why he didn't appear to attend his stepson Wolf's recent 10th birthday party. Pictured with wife Tammy Hembrow

But the follower didn't let up, as they responded: 'But you weren't in Tammy's snaps or anything for Wolf's birthday today?'

Side-stepping the question, the former reality TV star then lashed out with: 'Who said I wasn't [follower name]? Focus on your own life.'

Stunned by the comment, the person then said: 'Wow! And you wonder why you get hate on the internet. Way to be rude when I was being polite!'

Matt has since deleted the comments from his post.

The fan went on to share their comments to a Reddit thread which slammed Matt and made further claims he did not attend the birthday party.

They pointed to the fact Matt made no public well wishes to Wolf online, and appeared to be taking photos in Melbourne at the time Tammy was celebrating her son's birthday on the Gold Coast.

Although Matt did not publicly comment any birthday wishes to his stepson he may have done something for him in private, and he has also claimed the images he took were from 'four weeks' before he posted them.

Nevertheless, critics took to Reddit to question Matt's apparent absence from Tammy's posts about the event.

The former Love Island star sparked controversy over the weekend when he appeared to be missing from photos wife Tammy Hembrow posted of the event

'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 photo of him posing with a pooch.

'Such a bizarre marriage. Who spends this much time apart after only a few months?' a second person asked.

Meanwhile, Tammy, 31, shared a clip of her preparing for her son's celebrationand she was not seen wearing her wedding ring.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Tammy and Matt for comment.

It comes after Matt fuelled speculation his whirlwind romance with Tammy may be over, after posting footage of himself going to the movies solo last Tuesday.

He took to Instagram to share a video from inside the cinema, revealing he was watching Death of a Unicorn alone.

The move came just days after fans noticed he was also absent from Tammy's 31st birthday celebrations.

Sources close to the couple have since confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the pair have quietly split, with Matt relocating back to Melbourne.

However, when followers queried why Matt was posting photos with his 'sister's dog' in Melbourne rather than attending the milestone occasion, the podcaster hit back and told critics to 'focus on your own life'

Fans noted Matt made no public well wishes to Wolf online, and appeared to be taking photos in Melbourne at the time Tammy was celebrating her son's birthday on the Gold Coast

'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 giftsbut 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.
Irina Shayk was spotted shooting a death stare at one of her famous exes as she ran into him on the streets of New York this week.

The 39-year-old Russian supermodel can lay claim to a dazzlingly star-studded dating history with an international list of boldface names.

She shares her eight-year-old daughter Lea De Seine with Bradley Cooper, who is now in the eye of a cyclone of engagement rumors with Gigi Hadid.

Over the years Irina has also run around with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kanye West, and was linked to Tom Brady after the collapse of his marriage to Gisele Bundchen.

But this Thursday in Manhattan, she crossed paths with a different heartthrob from her past - a dashing 'nepo baby' with a world-renowned father.

He sauntered up behind her on the sidewalk - but as he walked past her, grinning, she caught sight of him and aimed a withering glare at him.

Irina Shayk was spotted shooting a death stare at one of her famous exes as she ran into him on the streets of New York this week

The smoldering hunk is none other than Vito Schnabel, an art gallerist and son of the globally acclaimed artist Julian Schnabel.

He showed off his burly physique in a clinging grey t-shirt, while Irina was stylish as ever in a blouse-sweatshirt combo as she carried her tiny dog Peanut up the street.

In addition to his art career, he has also broken into acting career, with a steamy role as one of Truman Capote's lovers on last year's Ryan Murphy series Feud: Capote v. The Swans starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane and Tom Hollander.

Vito, 38, can rival Irina with his string of high-profile romances, including a three-year liaison with Heidi Klum, 51, from 2014 until 2017.

He then dated Amber Heard from 2018 until early 2019, under the shadow of her rollercoaster legal battle with her ex-husband Johnny Depp.

Vito is also said to have squired such women as supermodel Elle Macpherson, 61, Lord Of The Rings star Liv Tyler, 47, and Hollywood icon Demi Moore, 62.

Irina and Vito were briefly linked early during the coronavirus pandemic, when they were repeatedly spotted out together in New York.

A source alleged in April 2020 that the pair were longstanding friends who had even double-dated when Irina was with Bradley and Vito was with Heidi.

The smoldering hunk is none other than Vito Schnabel, the international art gallerist and son of the globally acclaimed artist Julian Schnabel

He sauntered up behind her on the sidewalk - but as he walked past her, grinning, she caught sight of him and aimed a withering glare at him

'Irina has known Vito for years and they've always been friends,' the insider dished to E! News. 'Vito is a big flirt and Irina is his type. She likes the attention.'

The source added: 'They are neighbors and are spending a lot of time together. When Irina's daughter is with Bradley, she has downtime and she likes the company.'

Last year, Vito tied the knot with Irina's fellow model Helena Althof, 22, whom he reportedly met on Australian billionaire James Packer's yacht when she was just 19.

Although their nuptials were kept private - with even Vito's famous father allegedly not in attendance - the guest list included Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner as well as Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner, according to Artnet.

Bradley and Irina were first linked in 2015 before going public as a couple in 2016, welcoming their little girl in 2017 and then parting ways two years later.

Shortly after their breakup it emerged they had decided to split custody and to both remain based in New York in order to make joint parenting easier, via TMZ.

In fact she and Bradley are such close co-parents that they have made sure to live just blocks apart in Greenwich Village in order to raise their daughter.
Adam Rickitt has revealed he has been left 'heartbroken' as he shared his best man and friend of 46 years has died in a post shared to Instagram on Thursday.

The Coronation Street actor, 46, who played Nick Tilsey in the soap paid a heartfelt tribute to his pal with a sweet black-and-white snap.

And his life-long best friend and supporting man for the big day has now passed away as Adam, who played Nick Tilsley in the soap, paid a heartfelt tribute with a sweet black-and-white picture.

Alongside his post, Adam penned: 'So hard to say....but goodbye. I can't even describe who you are to me.

'Part father, part brother...all friend. For 46 years I knew no matter what the sea of life threw at me...you were the rock that would stand by me as the waves crashed.

'You would take on an army for me...you would always be my truth...you were the best of men...you were my best man.

Adam Rickitt has revealed he has been left 'heartbroken' as he shared his best man and friend of 46 years has died in a post shared to Instagram on Thursday

The Coronation Street star who played Nick Tilsley in the soap,announced the news of as he paid a heartfelt tribute with a sweet black-and-white picture

'I feel like I've lost gravity...but I can't be sad. The day Janet died...the joy left you. I'm so happy the 2 of you are together...selfishly we'll miss you...but you best have everything on ice for when we see you again!'

Showing their support, his fans rushed to the comments section with messages of condolence and support.

One wrote: 'So sorry for your loss. Sending love x,'; 'Very sorry for your loss Adam.'; 'What a beautiful tribute to your dear friend, so sorry for your loss.'

Adam and his wife Katy married just before Christmas in 2014, following a two-year engagement.

The Good Morning Britain presenter gushed of the wedding to OK! at the time: 'Adam laid his soul completely bare and I was so desperate to kiss him that the registrar had to tell me off! I felt so full of love and emotion, I cried quite a lot.'

Adam has previously revealed to Loose Women in 2017 that he knew his wife Katy Fawcett was 'the one' after mere minutes of being with her.

He gushed that he wholly believes the Good Morning Britain presenter is his soulmate - before going on to candidly discuss his battle with chronic spine condition Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).

The actor recalled his first meeting with his wife Katy while she was sat in the audience, and revealed it had been as early as their first meeting that he knew she was the one he wanted to marry.

Alongside his post, Adam, pictured on the soap in 1997, penned: 'So hard to say....but goodbye. I can't even describe who you are to me.

Adam has previously revealed to Loose Women in 2017 that he knew his wife Katy Fawcett was 'the one' after mere minutes of being with her

He began: 'I thought maybe I won't be lucky and never meet the love of my life, that my success would only be in my career.

'But I went to do an interview and Katy turned up to interview me... and I rang my mum after and said 'I've met the girl I'm going to marry.''

Met with delight from the audience, the brunette beauty then interjected to admit the feelings had been mutual.

She explained: 'I was supposed to be interviewing him for an hour but I ended up staying for about five.'

Before adding: 'I didn't think he would be interested, I just thought he was the most wonderful guy.'

However, Adam then melted the hearts of the audience further by detailing his belief in soulmates in life - and gushing that believed Katy was his perfect match.

'I genuinely believe that when you're born you're born with half a soul,' he began. 'And I don't think you can be truly happy until you meet the other half. But I think she's the other half.'

Wanting to find fault in the actor, the hosts then interrupted by pleading: 'Please tell me he leaves the toilet seat down or something!'
Nicole Kidman stunned fans with her major hair transformation yet again on Friday as she attended the Country Music Awards with husband Keith Urban.

The happy couple looked all loved up as they arrived at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texasbut spectators were only focused on one thing.

The Australian actress, 57, rocked some very long locks at the annual event, just days after she made headlines for her new pixie cut at the 2025 Met Gala on Tuesday.

Speculation has run rampant all week about whether the Hollywood star's debut look at the fashion event was a wig.

Daily Mail Australia's own insider hair expert suggested the edgy short do was in fact done by 'hair magic' using a mix of her real locks and hair extensions.

But it seems Nicole is intent on keeping everyone guessing as she made a a very chic arrival to the country music event sporting long blonde tresses once more.

Nicole Kidman stunned fans with her major hair transformation yet again on Friday as she attended the Country Music Awards with husband Keith Urban, 57

The happy couple looked all loved up as they arrived at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texasbut spectators were only focused on one thing

The Australian actress rocked some very long locks at the annual event, just days after she made headlines for her new pixie cut at the 2025 Met Gala on Tuesday

Nicole paired the shock look with a sleeveless, structured leather top by Monse which featured a high turtle neck and a matte sheen.

Beneath the shirt was a pair of black slacks with cloth draping over her hips on either side.

The Babygirl star kept her accessories to a minimum, stepping into a pair of pointed black flats and opting for a slim black-banded watch and few silver rings.

Meanwhile, Keith made sure to match his wife in his own black ensemble, slipping into a button-up he kept open over his chest to flaunt his numerous tattoos.

He paired the frock with black slacks and matching chunky boots, also opting for a simple timepiece to accessorise with.

Nicole has been the talk of the town all week after she debuted an edgy new haircut at the 2025 Met Gala in New York.

The Australian actress stepped out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art sporting a slick pixie cut by Adir Abergel which delighted her admirers.

But as close-up photos emerged of the new look, fans began to speculate if the star's new hairstyle was in fact a wig.

Speculation has run rampant all week about whether the Hollywood star's debut look at the fashion event was a wigbut it seems Nicole is intent on keeping everyone guessing

The star made a a very chic arrival to the country music event sporting long blonde tresses once more

Nicole paired the shock look with a sleeveless, structured leather top by Monse which featured a high turtle neck and a matte sheen

Nicole's habit of wearing wigs in Hollywood movies has earned her a cult following over the years.

The Hollywood star has rarely showcased her natural hair in films since the early days of her career, and almost exclusively wears wigs for all of her movie roles.

An Aussie stylist weighed in on her most radical red carpet look and believed her new short style was a mix of her real hair and extensions.

'This could be Nicole's real hair with the length at the back disguised under some artfully placed, clipped or glued in hair pieces,' Bixie Colour hairstylist Andrew Newport told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

'This look, which appears to have been achieved by hair magic, could have been created by taking the hair at the back of the head and braiding tightly to the scalp. Nicole's real hair is featured at the front fringe, plus the hair extensions at the nape would be dressed over the disguised hair.

'This would take a bit of work and considerable time but is 100% achievable.'

Speculation about Nicole's new do kicked off just hours after the Baby Girl star walked the red carpet and fans flocked to her hairstylist Adir's Instagram page.

Adir shared several photos and videos of Nicole's short hair as she walked the red carpet, expressing pride in his work.

Beneath the shirt was a pair of black slacks with cloth draping over her hips on either side

The Babygirl star kept her accessories to a minimum, stepping into a pair of pointed black flats and opting for a slim black-banded watch and few silver rings

Meanwhile, Keith made sure to match his wife in his own black ensemble, slipping into a button-up he kept open over his chest to flaunt his numerous tattoos

The happy couple were all cuddled up as they walked the red carpet

And while followers sang his praises, many still believed he had styled a wig rather than Nicole's own hair.

One fan went so far as to ask Adir outright, but the hairstylist managed to side-step the question and chose not to confirm or deny.

'As a hairdresser of 32 years I have to say, this hair out shined the dress! Stunning... You are amazing. Is it a wig or did you cut her hair?' the follower asked.

'Thank you baby. I am truly touched,' Adir responded without answering the pointed question.

Even Italian hairstylist Marco Bresciani Testa said: 'Great job Well done that Wig suit the perfection [sic] and @nicolekidman makes it so real!'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nicole and her hairstylist Adir for further comment.
Ben Affleck's usual somber demeanor lightened up during a humorous outing in West Hollywood this week when he was asked about his preference for women.

The 52-year-old A-lister got a chance to show off his impressively fluent Spanish when he was asked if he was still interested in 'Latinas' in video obtained by DailyMail.com.

The actor weighed in after he was seen looking tense in the wake of his ex-girlfriend Ana de Armas has lately been seen spending time with another Hollywood icon  Tom Cruise.

Ben was pictured as he walked up to the upscale Italian restaurant Lavo Ristorante for dinner with friends.

He said the single life had been treating him 'very well' before stepping inside, and he was later pictured chatting with a male friend outside.

After he was asked how it felt to be 'Hollywood's most eligible bachelor' in Spanish, Ben couldn't hold back his laughter and let a rare smile spread across his face.

Ben Affleck's usual somber demeanor lightened up during a humorous outing in West Hollywood this week when he was asked about his preference for women

The 52-year-old A-lister got a chance to show off his impressively fluent Spanish when he was asked if he was still interested in 'Latinas' outside Lavo Ristorante

'Muy bien,' he said in Spanish for 'very good.'

Then he was asked if he 'still like[s] Latinas,' a reference to some of his famous exes.

'Yes, of course I do,' he replied again in Spanish with a comically deadpan expression before getting into the driver's seat of his car.

Affleck's most recent romantic escapade was with one of the most high-profile Latinas, Jennifer Lopez.

The two first dated from 2002 to 2004 after striking up a friendship while filming their doomed crime rom-com Gigli the year before.

The lovebirds got engaged later in 2002, with plans for a wedding in the fall of 2003, but they later postponed the wedding and broke up in early 2004.

Later on, Jennifer attributed the relationship's demise to the pressure of the couple's public image.

But after the dissolution of Ben's marriage to Jennifer Garner, the couple  who had remained friends  reunited in early 2021 after Ben began sending her friendly letters in the wake of her breakup from Alex Rodriguez.

He was seen saying goodbye to a friend and giving him a quick hug before heading back to his car at the valet stand

After he was asked how it felt to be 'Hollywood's most eligible bachelor' in Spanish, Ben couldn't hold back his laughter and let a rare smile spread across his face

'Muy bien [very good],' he said in Spanish. Then he was asked if he 'still like[s] Latinas,' a reference to some of his famous exes. 'Yes, of course I do,' he replied again in Spanish with a comically deadpan expression

Affleck's most recent romantic escapade was with one of the most high-profile Latinas, Jennifer Lopez. They dated and were engaged from 2002 to 2004, then reunited in 2021 and finally tied the knot the following year, before splitting in April 2024

The two began dating in April of that year, and they got engaged one year later, which was also 20 years after their first engagement.

The couple got their second chance at love with their marriage in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a larger celebration with family and friends at Ben's estate in Georgia.

But the second try wasn't much more successful than the first time around, and they split in 2024, with Jennifer filing for divorce in August. The divorce was finalized in January of this year.

The two are still entangled, as they are trying to sell the massive mansion they briefly lived in together.

After initially listing it for $68 million and failing to get a buyer, the couple have now lowered the price by millions of dollars.

Ben reportedly wants to sell the mansion as quickly as possible to move on, but Jennifer, who has been living in it, is said to be willing to hold out for a prime offer.

Prior to his reunion with Jennifer, Ben had another short-lived romance with a Latin star, the CubanSpanish actress Ana de Armas.

The two met when they filmed the erotic thriller Deep Water in 2019, and they became an item the following year.

Prior to his reunion with Jennifer, Ben had another short-lived romance with a Latina star, the CubanSpanish actress Ana de Armas from 2020 to 2021; pictured in Deep Water

They met in 2019 while filming the erotic thriller Deep Water. The couple eventually split over Ana's desire to move away from Hollywood and have kids, as Ben was unwilling to move away from his children; still from Deep Water

The actor shares three children  Violet, 19; Fin, 16; and Samuel, 13  with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, whom he was married to from 2005 to 2018; seen in 2013 in LA

Ben's other buzzy relationships included an onoff stint with Gwyneth Paltrow from late 1997 to late 2000, during which they costarred in the Oscar-winning Shakespeare In Love (1998); pictured in 1998

After splitting from Garner but before their divorce was finalized, Affleck began a relationship with the Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus; pictured together in 2018 in LA

The two were inseparable for a time, and Ben looked happier than ever when he was seen with the Knives Out star during that period, but she reportedly elected to end things in early 2021.

She had sold her home in Los Angeles' Venice neighborhood to move in with Ben in 2020, but she reportedly got tired of the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and hoped to move somewhere quieter.

A source also told Page Six that she hoped to have children of her own, but Ben reportedly wasn't interested in having more children after already sharing three of his own with his ex-wife Garner.

He also was unwilling to move away due to his desire to be close to his children as much as possible.

The Chasing Amy star has gone as far as to take a smaller supporting role in The Last Duel after initially planning to take the other male lead opposite his friend Matt Damon (who co-wrote the film with him and Nicole Holofcener).

Following the split, Ana made good on her plan to move away and found a secluded home in Vermont.

Although Ben has plenty of history with famous Latinas, he was also married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018. The couple went on to welcome three children: Violet, 19; Fin, 16; and Samuel, 13.

Ben's other buzzy relationships included an onoff stint with Gwyneth Paltrow from late 1997 to late 2000, during which they costarred in the Oscar-winning Shakespeare In Love (1998).

Later, after splitting from Garner but before their divorce was finalized, Affleck began a relationship with the Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus, who is the head of the talent department responsible for booking celebrity hosts and musical guests.

They were an item for about a year beginning in mid-2017, though they had a brief reunion in early 2019.
Shia LaBeouf is crediting three Hollywood stars with saving his life and helping him stay sober.

The 38-year-old actor has had no shortage of controversy after abuse allegations surfaced from his ex FKA Twigs.

Now he's on the comeback trail, with a new film from acclaimed writer-director David Mamet called Henry Johnson, in theaters May 9.

The actor opened up about his journey in a wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

He revealed that three iconic actors have become lifelines - Mel Gibson, Sean Penn and Josh Brolin - and helped him get back on track and stay sober.

LaBeouf first met Gibson in 2022, two years after the abuse allegations first surfaced, when the Aussie actor introduced Shia to Latin mass church services while he was researching a movie.

Shia LaBeouf is crediting three Hollywood stars with saving his life and helping him stay sober

The actor opened up about his journey in a wide-ranging interview with The Hollywood Reporter

He revealed that three iconic actors have become lifelines - Mel Gibson , Sean Penn and Josh Brolin - and helped him get back on track and stay sober.

The actor confirmed that he and Gibson are still, 'very close,' adding, 'Big respect, big love. Hes always been very lovely to me.'

Shia added, 'He held my hand when I was really s****ing on myself. Dude really stepped up for me in big ways.'

'Him, Sean Penn, James Brolin  these guys got me to sobriety. They got around me and kept me alive,' LaBeouf admitted.

'Sean also showed up and motivated me to do this as a play. I was scared as f*** when this thing started,' the actor said, noting that Penn and Sam Rockwell showed up to support on the first week.

'There was a bunch of guys that I looked up to that just started popping up. I had never, ever felt that kind of love  not like that,' he admitted.

When asked if their friendship could be a 'gateway to rehabilitation,' LaBeouf admitted, 'I hope so. I hope my whole life is about that.'

'I hope my whole life is squaring things, getting it right. Its what I want to do with the rest of my life. And theres a lot of things to get right,' he said.

'Im blessed that I still have this craft and Im still allowed to do it at a high level with the highest. It feels like a f***ing miracle,' he admitted.

The actor confirmed that he and Gibson are still, 'very close,' adding, 'Big respect, big love. Hes always been very lovely to me.'

'Its all part of the same thing  Gods everything or nothing. I believe that. Me and Dave (Mamet) have big God talks,' he said.

The actor added that, 'Ive been to temple with him. Hes been to church with me. Been deep dives for both of us.'

Gibson got sober in 2010 after his controversial anti-Semitic tirade in 2006, and thusly converted to Catholicism like LaBeouf has.

Brolin went sober in 2013 while Penn has supported his son Hopper's journey to get sober from a crystal meth addiction.
George Clooney's grey roots were on display at the 78th Annual Tony Awards press event on Thursday, as the actor appears to be growing out his 'awful' dye job.

The silver fox's, 64, natural hair peeked through on his sideburns as he attended the Meet The Nominees soiree at the Sofitel hotel in New York.

The father-of-two cut a dapper figure in a grey suit with a black shirt underneath, with his now more natural looking hair parted to the side.

Clooney snagged his first Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play, for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck.

While he could earn a prestigious accolade for his work, his 'cringey' dark brown dye job for the role that has earned him the most attention in the media.

Fans have been sharing their disapproval of his new darker hair and orange fake tan, with some admitting it makes him look '20 years older'

George Clooney's, 64, grey roots were on display at the 78th Annual Tony Awards press event on Thursday, as the actor appears to be growing out his 'awful' dye job

The silver fox's natural hair peeked through on his sideburns as he attended the Meet The Nominees soiree at the Sofitel hotel in New York

Back in March, the actor dyed his hair dark brown to play Edward R. Murrow in the stage adaptation of his 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck.

Clooney previously admitted that his wife Amal wasn't a fan of his darker 'do.

Others joked he's put a 'full blown black sharpie on his hair' as they begged for him to wash out the hair dye.

Clooney has taken the criticism around his 'awful' dye job in stride.

Last month, he made a joke about it while being honored with his portrait at the iconic Manhattan restaurant Sardi's, a time-honored tradition for Broadway performers, last month.

The portrait of Clooney, which depicted him with his signature salt-and-pepper coif, looked more like him than he did at the time.

After taking a look at the drawing, Clooney felt compelled to cracked a joke about his hair.

'I like the hair color. It's much better than my hair color right now,' Clooney joked while holding the portrait. 'That's better. It's grey, mostly grey. There we are, thank you so much.'

The father-of-two cut a dapper figure in a grey suit with a black shirt underneath, with his now more natural looking hair parted to the side

Clooney snagged his first Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play, for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck

The actor looked sharp as ever at the event

While Clooney could earn a prestigious accolade for his work, his 'cringey' dark brown dye job for the role that has earned him the most attention in the media

(L-R) Daniel Kluger, Clooney, Heather Gilbert, David Bengali, and Brenda Abbandandolo

He was seen chatting it up with Daniel Dae Kim

Back in March, the actor dyed his hair dark brown to play Edward R. Murrow in the stage adaptation of his 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck; pictured April 3

Clooney also acknowledged that his dyed brown hair is 'not good' while chatting with Gayle King on an April episode of CBS Mornings.

King said: 'I have to take a moment looking at you with the dark hair.'

'I know it's not good!', Clooney interjected.

Gayle added: 'I didn't say it wasn't good!'

'Oh, It's not good! I'm not used to it, you never get used to it. Listen, I started getting grey when I was 25 so I've been grey most of my life so it's not my favorite look.

'And my wife, she thinks it's funny. Well, they [his children] laugh at it [his hair] because honestly nothing makes you look older than being 63 and dying your hair.'

The play, set in the McCarthy Era, stars Clooney in the role of news anchor Murrow, who was portrayed in the 2005 film, which Clooney starred in and directed, by David Strathairn.

The stage show opened in previews in mid-March with its official premiere in early April, running through early June.

Last month, Clooney told Gayle King that his wife Amal thinks the dye job is 'funny'; the couple seen in September 2024

Clooney seen with his signature salt-and-pepper hair in February

Clooney's nomination for Best Lead Actor was revealed last Thursday by Tony winners Wendell Pierce and Sarah Paulson on that day's episode of CBS Mornings.

Clooney's fellow nominees include Louis McCartney for Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a spin-off of the smash hit Netflix series.

Their competitors are Cole Escola, who stars as Mary Todd Lincoln in the comic play Oh, Mary! that he also wrote, as well as Daniel Day Kim for Yellow Face, Harry Lennix and Jon Michael Hill for the Pulitzer-winning Purpose.

The Tony Awards will be handed out June 8 at Radio City Music Hall during a telecast hosted by Wicked star and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo.
Kelly Clarkson could be moving on from her NBC talk show, and the network has a TV legend in mind to replace her.

Hoda Kotb - less than four months after her final broadcast on NBC's The Today show after a 17-year stint - is among the top names being bandied about to step in for the outgoing Clarkson, 43.

'There's a long list of names and Hoda is part of that list,' a network source told Page Six Thursday. 'NBC never wanted Hoda to leave. The question is, would Hoda want to do it?'

Kotb's good reputation, built-in support from Today show viewers and strong track record makes her an ideal candidate to replace the outgoing Clarkson, 43, the insider told the publication.

'Hoda ticks a lot of boxes,' the source said. 'She's an Egyptian, older Kelly Clarkson.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for Clarkson and Kotb for further comment on this story.

Kelly Clarkson, 43, could be moving on from her NBC talk show, and the network has a TV legend in mind to replace her

Clarkson and Hoda Kotb, 60, pictured in 2023 on the Today show, which Kotb left this year

In addition, the source told the outlet, Kotb 'is well-liked by the higher-ups and already has close relationships with executives.'

The source told the outlet that Clarkson's TV career is linked to her music career: 'If the album doesn't do well, she might want to keep her talk show - but she has a lot going on and the timing may be right for the next chapter.'

Maria Shriver was also mentioned as a potential Clarkson replacement, the source said.

The Today show's Savannah Guthrie in January joked that her friend and colleague Hoda Kotb left behind a 'disgusting' mess after she left the NBC daytime broadcast earlier this year.

The Sandringham, Australia-born TV personality, 53, appeared January 15 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, opposite her new co-host Craig Melvin, 45.

In a segment, she commented on a video she shot as she cleaned out the workspace left by Kotb who departed the show in January.

Guthrie, who has co-hosted the Today show for more than a dozen years, recalled in detail the debris left in Kotb's work area following her departure from the New York City office.

Kotb's good reputation, built-in support from Today show viewers and strong track record makes her an ideal candidate to replace the outgoing Clarkson, 43, the insider told the publication. Pictured earlier this month

The Today show's Savannah Guthrie, 53, joked Wednesday on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that Hoda Kotb, 60, left a 'disgusting' mess after she left the morning show

'It's a new era, it's the Craig era, and we go and we sit on the set and there are these trays,' Guthrie said. 'It might have a mint or whatever it is; .

'We realized that all of the trays, they were all Hoda's stuff and it was, like, one contact and expired bean dip and belly button lint and all this stuff.'

Guthrie, who also serves as NBC News chief legal correspondent, said in the clip she recorded to Kotb, 'Oh, hey girl - guess you didn't want any of this s***! Don't mind me ... love you.'

In the clip, Guthrie displayed a clear plastic organizing tray Kotb cluttered with a hodgepodge of unrelated items, which she then tossed into a nearby wastebasket.

She commented of the clip, 'Look at the tray - it had rust and barnacles on it - I mean, it was disgusting!'

Fallon, 50, recalled how he once saw Kotb toting a purse that was bursting at the seams with materials.

'It looks like a binder of papers - it looked like my dad's old wallet,' Fallon said.

Guthrie said Kotb would use a clear Ziploc bag in lieu of a purse to carry essential to red carpet events, such as 'a banana and a tampon.'

Kotb pictured January 10 in NYC as she was honored in leaving the show after a 17-year stint

Guthrie, who has co-hosted the Today show for more than a dozen years, appeared opposite her new co-host Craig Melvin, 45, on the NBC late night talk show earlier this year

In the clip, Guthrie displayed a clear plastic organizing tray Kotb cluttered with a hodgepodge of unrelated items

Kotb's last day working on the Today show came January 10, as Fallon was among the notable names to show up and honor the veteran TV host, presenting her with a framed portrait of the NBC peacock as seen in the hallways of the network's New York headquarters.

Fallon told Kotb he titled the picture Onward and Upward 'cause you're getting on the elevator and going up, right?

'But then I signed it, and then no one can read my writing. My handwriting's so bad so it looks like it says Osmond and Uptown.'

Kotb praised both Guthrie and Melvin in an emotional segment on the broadcast, saying, 'Savannah, oh, my God - you're my person, you're my person.

'You know who shows up for everybody? This girl  she's in the room, she's always in the room, and I love you.'

She told Melvin: 'Craig, I'm so happy for you. You've earned this, you own this and come Monday at 7:00 a.m., I am gonna be dead asleep - but you're gonna be fantastic.

Kotb - pictured appearing on Clarkson's show - is mother to two daughters with former fiance Joel Schiffman, Haley, nine, and Hope, five

'You're gonna bring it home - Craig, you're gonna be so good - you and Savannah are gonna be magic.'

Kotb - who will continue to make special appearances on NBC, including Olympics coverage - is mother to two daughters with former fiance Joel Schiffman, Haley, nine, and Hope, five.

Following her longtime stint on the Today show, she will focus her efforts toward raising her children, as well as business endeavors including a forthcoming wellness app.

'I decided, like, let's build something there and let's build something that's good for anybody, for like, everybody,' the Norman, Oklahoma-born TV personality told Page Six on January 9. 'Affordable, comfortable, all those things. So we're going to be doing an app and retreats and newsletter.'
Keanu Reeves was every inch the action star as he arrived at an event for his upcoming John Wick documentary Wick Is Pain.

The movie pulls back the curtain on the rollercoaster behind-the-scenes process of bringing the original movie to the screen in 2014.

After clearing a string of dizzying hurdles - including running out of money a day before production started and being saved by a $6 million investment by Eva Longoria - the film blossomed into a billion-dollar franchise.

Wick Is Pain premiered at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles this Thursday, and Keanu, 60, was seen rolling up to the event in style.

He was glimpsed showing up on a motorcycle, from his very own company Arch that he launched in 2011.

The star was wearing an Alpinestars jacket and a scarlet scarf that popped against his otherwise black ensemble.

After its screening in Los Angeles this Thursday, the documentary will be released on Friday on video-on-demand and digital platforms.

Keanu Reeves was every inch the action star as he arrived at an event for his upcoming John Wick documentary Wick Is Pain

On the personal front, Keanu is still happily involved with visual artist Alexandra Grant, 52, whom he was seen out to lunch with last month.

Alexandra and Keanu first became acquainted at a dinner party in 2009 and collaborated on two art books together before going red carpet official in 2019.

However in the intervening years they have tended to guard their privacy and rarely discussed details of their relationship in public.

Alexandra found herself at the business end of an internet frenzy when she went red carpet official with Keanu at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in early November 2019.

'I think every single person I knew called me in the first week of November, and that's fascinating,' she told British Vogue a few months later.

When she was asked in 2020 about the prospect of marriage, she said: 'Love at every level is deeply important to my identity. Hows that for dodging the question?'

She added: 'I do not believe that isolation is the way. There is a period of isolation that I do as a painter, but I deeply value the experience of being in relationships.'

By the time they went red carpet official, they had been friends for around a decade and it had been reported that Keanu wanted the romance out in the open.

The movie pulls back the curtain on the rollercoaster behind-the-scenes process of bringing the original movie to the screen in 2014

Wick Is Pain premiered at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles this Thursday, and Keanu, 60, was seen rolling up to the event in style

He was glimpsed showing up on a motorcycle, wearing an Alpinestars jacket and a scarlet scarf that popped against his otherwise black ensemble

On the personal front, Keanu is still happily involved with visual artist Alexandra Grant, 52, whom he was seen out to lunch with last month; pictured this past December

They first collaborated in 2011 on Keanu's book Ode To Happiness, which she illustrated. The project marked her first book as an artist and his first as a writer.

They worked together again on the actors 2016 book Shadows, to which Alexandra once again contributed the artwork.

She is his first known girlfriend since Jennifer Syme, who died in a car accident in 2001 less than four months after delivering her and Keanu's stillborn baby.

In 2010 a photograph surfaced of the Matrix star sitting glumly on a park bench, resulting in the wildly viral 'Sad Keanu' meme.

When the meme took off there was much speculation that his expression was connected to the shattering losses he had undergone in the past decade.

However in a 2021 interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Keanu dished that he actually looked forlorn in the picture because he was feeling peckish.

'Man, I'm eating a sandwich!' the movie star said of the picture. 'I was thinking. I had some stuff going on. I was hungry.'
Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine ensured all eyes were on her on Friday when she attended the David Jones Mother's Day High Tea in Sydney.

The glamorous mother looked effortlessly chic in a double breasted cream suit from Australian label Manning Cartel priced at $1,000.

The former footwear designer amped up her look with a highly sought-after Chanel cargo vanity with gold hardware that can go for as much as $12,500.

Jasmine pulled the ensemble together with several designer pieces of dainty jewellery, while opting to wear her salon-frosted locks in scrunchy waves.

Karl and Jasmine recently returned from a luxe getaway in Fiji.

While there, the TV veteran had resort guests doing a double take when he slipped into a pair of vibrant budgy smugglers for a refreshing dip with daughter Harper.

Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine ensured all eyes were on her on Friday when she attended the David Jones Mother's Day High Tea in Sydney. Pictured

The glamorous mother looked effortlessly chic in a double breasted cream suit from Australian label Manning Cartel priced at $1,000

Karl, 50, confidently flaunted his playful side in the pair of eye-catching swimmers emblazoned with the phrase 'BIG ON MEAT' scrawled across his bottom.

The cheeky brief also featured a print of sizzling sausages.

In other photos shared to Instagram, Karl and Jasmine were also snapped enjoying a beachside dinner together.

The couple positively glowed as they sat a a table beachside.

Jasmine was all smiles in a dainty sundress as she posed alongside her man and adorable daughter.

Their getaway comes amid reports Nine is looking to slash Karl's $3million salary by half.

Insiders have revealed that Karl is under a cloud at Nine as a 'jaded' brand.

The former footwear designer amped up her look with a highly sought-after Chanel cargo vanity with gold hardware that can go for as much as $12,500

Karl and Jasmine recently returned from a luxe getaway in Fiji

While there, the TV veteran had resort guests doing a double take when he slipped into a pair of vibrant budgy smugglers for a refreshing dip with daughter Harper

'He doesn't attract audience numbers, he doesn't pull in big interviews,' a source revealed to News.com.au on Thursday.

The insider continued, 'He might put in some hours but he has become a cliched slick-talking salesman and the view of news bosses is his is a jaded brand that has eclipsed Today's.'

The family were understood to be staying at the Kokomo Island Resort, where prices per night for the top tier residences on sit can cost up to $4000-per-night.

A minimum three night stay is required, and a five day package, including flights, can run up to $18,900 per person.

Karl and Jasmine welcomed daughter Harper in May 2020 at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital.

The couple tied the knot at the One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, in December 2018.

Karl and Jasmine began dating in late 2016, five months after Karl announced his separation from his first wife Cassandra Thorburn following 21 years of marriage.

He shares his older kids Jackson, Ava - who now goes by her middle name Willow - and River with Cassandra.
DJ Tigerlily has welcomed her second child with her husband Scott Lawson.

The performer, who is one of Australia's biggest DJs, shared the exciting news to social media on Friday in a gallery of heartwarming maternity photos revealing they had welcomed a son.

One precious photo captured the 33-year-old music producer tenderly cradling her newborn boy at the maternity ward - she did not reveal her son's name.

Another picture captured the DJ and her husband proudly posing in a bathroom mirror selfie, with their adorable baby.

The Sydney-born star, who was born Dara Hayes, could not wipe the smile off her face as she posed up a storm alongside her partner, who lovingly cradled their bundle of joy.

A third picture captured her two-year-old son Lando smiling brightly as he met his new sibling.

DJ Tigerlily has welcomed her second child with her husband Scott Lawson. The performer, who is one of Australia's biggest DJs, shared the exciting news to social media on Friday in a gallery of heartwarming maternity photos revealing they had welcomed a son

Tigerlily captioned the gallery with some exciting words: 'He's here'.

Many of her celebrity friends took to the comment section to offer their well wishes.

'Congratulations beautiful,' gushed The Bachelor star Irena Srbinovska.

'Awweee perfection,' added Married At First Sight veteran Ella May Ding and Abbie Chatfield chipped in with: 'Congratulations angel'.

Tigerlily and her husband welcomed their first son, Lando, in June 2023.

Speaking to Stellar Magazine last year, the star revealed how she balances motherhood and her jet setting career.

'[My son] Lando has come to a couple of gigs with me. My mum comes, too,' Dara said of juggling her demanding schedule.

Lawson said she just booked her first international gig - with her mother coming along for that set, too.

One precious photo captured the 33-year-old music producer tenderly cradling her newborn at the maternity ward

Another picture captured her two-year-old son Lando smiling brightly as he met his new sibling

'I've actually just booked my first international show since having a baby, in the Philippines in December... Mum is coming with us,' she said.

She admitted her DJ work is usually done when Lando was resting.

'Fortunately when I'm doing the forward-facing part of my work, he's hopefully asleep' she said.

Posing for Stellar magazine, Dara wore baggy forest green pants and a matching jacket along with a canary yellow singlet.

The music producer announced in November, 2022 that she was expecting her first child in 2023, sharing a reel to Instagram for the announcement.

'DISCO BABY - COMING 2023,' she captioned the post, revealing in the hashtags that she was 15 weeks along.

The DJ married her long term partner Scott last year in a romantic ceremony, exchanging their vows in Sydney's Duffys Forest.

The pair tied the knot on March 5, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.

DJ Tigerlily and Scott announced their engagement in March 2021.
General Hospital star Cameron Mathison revealed he is going through a new forced chapter of his life after suffering a succession of major, major life challenges which culminated in losing his house to the devastating LA wildfires.

Mathisons Pasadena home was gutted in the terrifying Eaton fire, one of many that tore through California back in January.

It came months after his shocking divorce from his now-estranged wife Vanessa Arevalo, with whom he has children Lucas, 22, and Lelia, 18, and within four years of losing his mother, his dog, a job and being diagnosed with cancer.

Reflecting on losing his home, the All My Children star, 55, told the Daily Mail: Its a very unique death. You never expect your children's home, the home that you raised your life in, everything. You never expect that. It really is a unique loss that doesn't feel real.

Its so much more emotionally challenging than people know. I've been through in the last four years, major, major life challenges. A life threatened and a cancer journey, and a loss of a parent, a shocking divorce. My dog died. I lost a job. My son went through something traumatic and now this.

Mathison and Arevalo announced their separation in July, telling fans they had made the difficult decision to part ways after 22 years of marriage.

General Hospital star Cameron Mathison revealed he is going through a new forced chapter of his life after suffering a succession of major, major life challenges including losing his home

Its so much more emotionally challenging than people know,' Mathison told the Daily Mail of losing his Pasadena home in the wildfires. 'Its a very unique death'

The fires came months after he announced his divorce from his now-estranged wife Vanessa Arevalo with whom he shares children Lelia, 18, and Lucas, 21 (pictured 2016)

It has been an emotionally tough five years for the former Hallmark Channel host who was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma  a type of kidney cancer  in 2019 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor. He is now cancer-free.

Months later his mom Loretta was diagnosed with brain cancer and died in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

In August 2023 he announced the heartbreaking news that his beloved Doberman and best bud Red had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma  a type of blood cancer. He died four months later in the December.

But Mathison, who has played Drew Cain on General Hospital since 2021, said the trauma of losing his house hit differently because you never expect to witness a family home burn down.

He said although it still feels totally surreal four months on, he is embracing being at ground zero and building up a new life and future.

Theres aspects of it being totally surreal still every day in this type of loss, you remember something else, he said. Every day. Just the other day I remembered my Letterman jacket from high school. Every single piece of my kids' lives. The Father's Day cards. Mother's Day is coming up. Twenty years of Mother's Day cards for my ex.

The actor, who was speaking at Thursday night's NAMI 2025 Mental Health Gala, continued: This is a real true forced new chapter of my life. I'm talking new underwear, new socks, new everything. I had to borrow this tie from General Hospital. I don't have anything.

So, my marriage ended to me pretty shockingly. My kids moved out for college. My house burned down. So that's all awful, of course. But also, its like I get to create this next chapter from ground zero. Well, that's a weird word, from a level playing field.

It has been an emotionally tough five years for the General Hospital star who was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma  a type of kidney cancer  in 2019 (pictured after surgery)

Months later his mom Loretta (pictured) was diagnosed with brain cancer and died in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Then in December 2023 his beloved dog Red died from cancer

Mathison, who was speaking at the NAMI 2025 Mental Health Gala, said he is now embracing being at ground zero and building up a new life and future

Earlier this week the Canadian actor and presenter revealed his beloved Mustang had survived the catastrophic inferno.

Celebrating the discovery on Instagram, he said: Mustang somewhat survived the fire. It was one of the few things that survived, and this car is very, very important to me and the kids for different reasons.

Mathison shared a series of heartbreaking posts as he returned to his home, now a pile of rubble, after the fires had subsided.

Speaking to Good Morning America at the time, he said: 'I cant sleep. Ive lost my home and everything that I own  Every few minutes were thinking about things that were in there that are irreplaceable.'

He was also forced to warn fans of scammers who were pretending to be him on GoFundMe in a bid to profit off the fires.

'PLEASE DO NOT DONATE TO A GO FUND ME PAGE using my videos or photos!!! It is not us. We are not asking for money,' he wrote. 'Unimaginable that someone is using this disaster to rip people off.'
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Israels plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza would put civilian lives in danger and cause mass displacement while using aid as bait, UN humanitarians said on Friday
Coleen Rooney appeared in great spirits as she was pictured in Cheshire on Friday after Rebekah Vardy agreed to pay a huge seven-figure sum as result of losing their epic Wagatha Christie courtroom showdown.

On Tuesday, MailOnline revealed that Rebekah, 42, agreed to pay 1,190,000 of Coleen's legal bill, plus was ordered to pay a further 212,266 in assessment courts, after sensationally losing their high-profile libel case.

This takes the total Rebekah must pay to at least 1,402,266.20.

Following the result, Coleen, 39, looked happier than ever as she stepped out for the first time with a big smile on her face while running errands.

For the outing, the former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star cut a sporty figure in a black Alo activewear set.

She sported a stylish black ribbed T-shirt and matching leggings as she headed towards her car with her essentials in hand.

Coleen Rooney appeared in great spirits as she was pictured in Cheshire on Friday after Rebekah Vardy agreed to pay huge sum after losing their Wagatha Christie showdown

To complete her look, she further accessorised with a pair of tortoiseshell cat-eye shades and styled her brunette tresses in a low ponytail.

Coleen ran up a legal bill of more than 1.8 million while successfully defending herself against Rebekah's High Court claim in 2022.

After losing their High Court showdown, Rebekah was ordered to pay 90 per cent of Coleen's legal costs.

In written submissions to a specialist costs court hearing on Tuesday, Rebekah's barrister, Juliet Wells, said Coleen's total legal bill of 1,833,906.89 'has now been settled at 1,190,000, being [approximately] 1,125,000 plus interest of [approximately] 65,000'.

The court heard that while Coleen was also asking for a further 315,000 in 'assessment costs', Costs Judge Mark Whalan ordered Rebekah to pay 212,266.20 of Coleen's assessment costs, inclusive of VAT but before interest, on top of the 1.19 million settlement.

Coleen must also pay Rebekah a total of 135,097.50 in costs under the terms of court orders from 2024, which will be set off against what Rebekah must pay.

While Mrs Wells previously called for the 'grossly disproportionate' assessment costs to be capped at 'no more than 100,000', Judge Whalan said the amount awarded was 'reasonable and proportionate'.

He added that while there had been 'extraordinary expenditure of costs' on both sides, he was 'generally happy' that the outcome was 'commercially satisfactory conclusion' for the pair.

Following the result, Coleen looked happier than ever as she stepped out for the first time with a big smile on her face while running errands

For the outing, the former I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! Star cut a sporty figure in a black Alo activewear set

On Tuesday, MailOnline revealed that Rebekah, 42, (pictured 2022) has agreed to pay 1,190,000 of Coleen's, 39, legal bill, plus was ordered to pay a further 212,266 in assessment courts , after sensationally losing their high-profile libel case

'I do mean it when I say that I hope that this is the end of a long and unhappy road,' he added.

Rebekah's lawyer previously argued Coleen's team had used a 'kitchen sink' approach when calculating the total and included 'over 120,000 of costs to which Coleen has no entitlement'.

It was also claimed the bill included costs for one of the WAG's team to stay at Nobu - a five-star luxury hotel - and 'substantial dinner and drinks charges as well as mini bar charges'.

The lawyer said Coleen's 1,833,906.89 legal bill was over three times her 'agreed costs budget of 540,779.07'.

But Coleen's lawyer, Robin Dunne, had argued it was 'frankly outrageous' to accuse them of dishonesty.

Rebekah unsuccessfully sued the I'm A Celeb star in the High Court in 2022 after she was publicly accused of leaking stories about her to the press.

The catalyst for the famous Wagatha Christie case was a dramatic open letter written by Coleen and posted on social media in October 2019, in which she revealed she had turned detective to figure out who had been leaking the stories to the press.

Coleen publicly claimed Rebekah's account was the source behind three newspaper stories featuring fake details she had posted on her private Instagram profile - her travelling to Mexico for a 'gender selection' procedure, her planning to return to TV and the basement flooding at her home.

Penning that she had a 'suspicion' of who it could be, Coleen told her millions of followers that 'to try and prove this' she 'came up with an idea'.

She sported a stylish black ribbed T-shirt and matching leggings as she headed towards her car with her essentials in hand

To complete her look, she further accessorised with a pair of tortoiseshell cat-eye shades and styled her brunette tresses in a low ponytail

'I blocked everyone from viewing my Instagram stories except ONE account,' she wrote.

For the next five months, she uploaded 'a series of false stories' to see if 'they made their way' into the press.

'And you know what, they did!' she penned 'The story about gender selection in Mexico, the story about returning to TV and then the latest story about the basement flooding in my new house.'

She continued to build suspense, writing: 'It's been tough keeping it to myself and not making any comment at all, especially when the stories have been leaked, however I had to. Now I know for certain which account/individual it's come from.

'I have saved and screenshotted all the original stories which clearly show just one person had viewed them.'

And then, she delivered her final iconic line: 'It's.......... Rebekah Vardy's account.'
Hannah Elizabeth has sparked concern after revealing that she was rushed to the hospital after being struck down with a mystery ailment.

The former Love Island star, 35, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday to share a snap of a hospital entrance, informing her followers that she was back in A&E.

Alongside the image, she captioned the post: 'Now back in A and E this is so bad i can't cope with this HELL.'

On Friday morning, the mother-of-one gave fans a further update by sharing a picture of her hand as she lay in a hospital bed, she captioned it with: 'Back here ppl' alongside a crying emoji.

MailOnline has contacted Hannah's representative for comment.

The latest health scare comes just weeks after she was urgently rushed to the hospital for last-minute surgery, reports OK!.

Hannah Elizabeth has sparked concern as she revealed that she was rushed to the hospital after being struck down with a mystery illness (pictured 2019)

The former Love Island star, 35, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday to share a snap of a hospital entrance, informing her followers that she is back in A&E

At the time, she revealed on Instagram: 'I am in hospital atm for a few days. Had last minute surgery today as not been well.

She added: 'Just wanting to let brands know as I have not been able to work or post or respond to messages. Hate to let down but soon as I'm on the mend I can get back to work.

Hannah did not disclose any further details about her undisclosed illness at the time.

It comes after Hannah shocked fans last year as she explained her plans to get her bum filler 'topped up' after returning to the UK following her villa stint in South Africa.

The Liverpudlian took to Instagram at the time to detail how she is getting back to her cosmetic maintenance and having 500ml of filler put in her bottom.

Hannah told her followers she would 'video the whole thing' for them to see after many fans approached her to ask about her famous rear following her Love Island appearance.

She told her followers: 'Hello everybody, so obviously since the show and having spoke about have my bum done, loads of people have been asking me about the booty.

'So I get my bum done ay Lift Aesthetics and being fresh out the villa I am excited, literally can't wait to go and have my top up.

On Friday morning, the mother-of-one gave fans a further update by sharing a picture of her hand as she lay in a hospital bed, she captioned it with: 'Back here ppl' alongside a crying emoji

'I'm going to get 500ml by the amazing Lift Aesthetics and I will show you the whole process.'

Hannah, who posts content on OnlyFans, regularly shows off her cosmetically enhanced features online and has remained open and positive about her cosmetic procedures.

Hannah's most recent procedure spoken about publicly was in October 2023, when she decided the set the record straight following facial surgery to fix her 'twisted septum'.

She took to Instagram to quickly shut down trolls before they had a chance to 'pipe up' after noticing her latest surgery.

The bombshell, who has undergone multiple procedures to alter her appearance, revealed that her most recent operation wasn't for cosmetic purposes.

She penned: 'Before anyone pipes up on my post I had to have a small procedure done to correct my septum and a cast placed on to help it keep in place. Not changing anything, something I needed to fix as it was twisted.'
Tom Hardy opened up about his various health woes in a candid chat with Esquire magazine.

The Havoc star, 47, posed for a striking photoshoot to accompany the interview, which saw him share the cover with his French bulldog Blue.

During the interview, he opened up about various surgeries he's undergone over the years and the way he's trying to build his strength up - but did admit one unhealthy habit - he vapes.

Tom told the interviewer: 'I've had two knee surgeries now, my disc's herniated in my back, I've got sciatica as well.

'And I have that is it plantar fasciitis? [inflammation of foot tissue]. Where did that come from? And why? Why?! And I pulled my tendon in my hip as well. It's like, it's all falling to bits now, and it's not going to get better. Unless you do all the stem cells...

'This is the biopsy of where were at: two vapes, somebody elses clothes, and a hotel room that neither of us feels comfortable in.'

Tom Hardy, 47, opened up about health woes and painful surgeries - as well as his harmful habit - as he covered Esquire magazine with his pet pooch

The Havoc star, 47, posed for a striking photoshoot to accompany the interview, which saw him share the cover with his French bulldog Blue

Tom previously revealed that he needed to undergo surgery on his knee as a result of injuries sustained from filming stunts and practising jiu-jitsu.

Later in the interview, Tom was described by the interviewer as stopping mid-answer to 'wheeze' and then 'suck' on the vape before continuing.

The actor has previously been spotted vaping while filming Guy Ritchie's The Fixer earlier this year.

The Peaky Blinders star also revealed that he had taken Sudafed that day to fight dizziness, before suggesting that he had been losing his hair, his teeth were loose and his knees were getting weaker.

Tom previously seemed to confirm that his hair isn't all natural during an interview with Hits Radio UK's Will Best last week.

'You've got your own hair and everything,' he said to Will, before adding, 'I've got someone else's.'

It was unclear if he's referring to a hair transplant or some kind of toupee, or if he was simply just joking.

The Hollywood actor has insisted on having a lavender diffuser in his movie trailer to help him relax on set, making the demands while filming Venom 3 in New York City.

During the interview, he opened up about various surgeries he's undergone over the years and the way he's trying to build his strength up - but did admit one unhealthy habit - he vapes

Later in the interview, Tom is described as stopping mid-answer to 'wheeze' and then 'suck' on the vape before continuing

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.

Last month, Tom fiercely defended Barry Island's famous ghost train as he cheekily told off a radio presenter during a very chaotic radio interview.

The Hollywood legend - who has been filming a project in Wales this year - made an appearance on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, where he was interviewed by co-host Dominic Byrne.

He asked of his time in Wales recently: 'People were saying they spotted you on Barry Island.

'And apparently you were on the ghost train, is that true?,' to which Tom replied: 'I don't know.'

'Okay, because I've been on ghost train, and it's one of the scariest,' Dominic added.

The Legend actor then quipped: 'Hang on a minute, it's brought it back to me. It's brought it back to me. It goes around in a loop and comes back out on the left?

It comes after he seemed to confirm that his hair isn't all natural, during an interview with Hits Radio UK's Will Best last week

Older photos of the Venom actor show him with what appears to be a receding hairline compared to his current look (pictured in 2010)

Last month, he fiercely defended Barry Island's famous ghost train as he told off a radio presenter during a very chaotic radio interview

'Yes, I've been on that,' while the host admitted: 'And the guy running the ride is actually scarier than the ride itself.'

But Tom looked serious as he quipped: 'I wouldn't say that.'

'Right,' said Dominic.

'You can't say that,' remarked hilariously the Venom star.

'Because he might be listening, and that's just a terrible thing to say about Barry Island, isn't it, when you think about it? I feel I should defend him immediately.'

'That's wrong. I had a great time on Barry Island.'
Kerry Katona cut a stylish figure as she spent quality time with her daughter Heidi at the Chester races on Friday.

The TV personality, 44, looked incredible in a white rosebud print bustier sundress, featuring a corseted bodice, a gathered tie-up bust, and a flared skirt.

She added height to her frame with white heeled mules and further accessorised with gold hoop earrings, a dainty necklace, and a silver wristwatch.

To complete her race day look, Kerry toted her essentials in a white quilted Gucci Marmont leather cross-body bag and styled her blonde locks in a curly blowout.

The former Atomic Kitten star appeared in high spirits as she posed with a glass of bubbly on a private balcony ahead of the races.

Meanwhile, her daughter Heidi, 18, also cut a chic figure in a strapless black mini dress, featuring a corseted bodice and a scarf detailing.

Kerry Katona, 44, and daughter Heidi, 18, slipped into glamorous dresses as they spent quality time together at Chester races on Friday

The TV personality, 44, looked incredible in a white rosebud print bustier sundress, featuring a corseted bodice, a gathered tie-up bust, and a flared skirt

She added inches to her height with white open-toe heels and toted her essentials in a mini white Prada bag.

The aspiring actress styled her long brunette tresses in a voluminous blowout as she enjoyed a glass of bubbly with her mother.

Kerry shares Heidi and son Max, 15, with ex-husband Mark Croft.

She also has daughters Molly, 23, and Lilly, 20, with ex-husband Brian McFadden and eight-year-old DJ with with the late George Kay.

The Atomic Kittens star proved her talent runs in the family as eldest daughter Molly McFadden sent fans wild in a hilarious video posted this week.

The 23-year-old offspring of Westlife star Brian and Kerry appeared in one of Kerry's TikTok videos, where she showed off a very impressive range of accents.

Kerry introduced the video by explaining that Molly was over in the UK visiting and had travelled overnight to arrive early that morning at Kerry's house.

Molly lives in Dublin, where she is an acting student at the prestigious Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, the alma mater of Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Eanna Hardwicke.

The former Atomic Kitten star appeared in high spirits as she posed with a glass of bubbly on a private balcony ahead of the races

Meanwhile, her daughter Heidi, 18, cut a chic figure in a strapless black mini dress, featuring a corseted bodice and a scarf detailing

The aspiring actress styled her long brunette tresses in a voluminous blowout as she enjoyed a glass of bubbly with her mother

Kerry shares Heidi with her ex-husband Mark Croft, who she was married to from 2007 to 2011 (pictured in 2008)

Kerry said that she had planned to leave the door unlocked for her so she could get in, but must have forgotten, as Molly went on to explain in her next part of the video.

Speaking in her Irish accent, she said: 'Love you mam but I've been sat outside your house now for about an hour and I'm going to p**s my pants so you're going to have to hurry the f**k on! I feel like a stalker, I feel like I'm on a stakeout for the FBI.

'So do me a favour and open the door now!'

She then quickly switched to a soft American accent as she whimsically carried on her story, describing watching the sunrise.

Molly then impressively showed off other accents, including a posh English one and another thick southern American one, as the light of the morning started to become more visible in her video.

She then effortlessly switched to Australian as the video ended.

Underneath, fans were loving her accents and penned: 'I hope she is studying drama... she has me dying laughing and her accents were spot on...',

'She definitely deserves an award for that performance.',

'The shifting accents, paired with the different monologues?! Chef's kiss.',

'Too funny absolutely luv molly she's class.',

'Her accents are spot on. Not only is Molly McFadden hilariously funny. She has an amazing singing voice too. She's super talented. I can't wait to see what she's gonna do in the future.'
Sophie Kasaei showed off the dramatic results of having her face filler dissolved as she finally underwent the procedure after a past allergic reaction left her with PTSD.

The Geordie Shore star, 35, told how being on TV left her feeling insecure about her appearance and she gave in to surgery after being offered free procedures abroad.

In April, she decided to have her face filler removed and documented the process as she visited Dr Rosh's 30million clinic in Cheshire.

Sophie was previously left with PTSD after having a 'really, really bad' allergic reaction from a different procedure, which left her uncertain about doing it again.

However, the TV personality - who quit Geordie Shore last week - has now shared the incredible results after building up the courage to have the remaining product removed.

In a new video, Sophie said she felt in 'safe hands' with Dr Rosh - the world's leading cosmetic surgeon who has worked with stars including Molly-Mae Hague - as he had everything on hand in case she had an allergic reaction.

Sophie Kasaei showed off the dramatic results of having her face filler dissolved as she finally underwent the procedure after a past allergic reaction left her with PTSD (pictured before)

The Geordie Shore star, 35, told how being on TV left her feeling insecure about her appearance and she gave in to surgery after being offered free procedures abroad (left, before and right, afterwards)

She revealed the results on camera, showing off the difference in her appearance after getting filler removed from around her chin, cheeks and eyes.

She said: 'I did it, got another round of dissolver. That is going down already. Chin's a little bit red, took me antihistamines again, but, me face just looks so different, so much better.'

She then pointed to a spot underneath her eye and remarked: 'It's a little bit swollen there, but that's fine. that's what I expected. My eyes are so bigger now.'

Sophie admitted she felt like a 'new woman' and 'looks younger' after undergoing the procedure.

In a video posted to Dr Rosh's Instagram, Sophie's nerves around the procedure were apparent because of her previous allergic reaction, but the cosmetic surgeon assured her he would only remove what was needed.

She told how her social media followers claimed she looked 'so much better' after getting her filler removed for the first time as she underwent the second round.

'Honestly, the response I've had, even on social media, everyone's like, 'Oh my God. Like you look so much better,' she told Dr Rosh.

With the plastic surgeon replying: 'When we finish, you'll love it.'

However, the TV personality - who quit Geordie Shore last week - has now shared the incredible results after building up the courage to have the remaining product removed

She revealed the results on camera, showing off the difference in her appearance after getting filler removed from around her chin, cheeks and eyes

Sophie pictured left in 2023 and right in 2018

Sophie admitted she felt like a 'new woman' and 'looks younger' after undergoing the procedure

In an exclusive video seen by MailOnline, Sophie is seen getting treated by Dr Rosh [pictured], who is considered the worlds number one aesthetics doctor

Dr Rosh revealed that Sophie told him that she didn't 'recognise herself' anymore after years of getting filler and other cosmetic procedures.

'Years of filler from different practitioners had left her feeling overdone  and disconnected from her real face,' he shared.

'We started her naturalisation journey by dissolving, softly and respectfully. No judgement. Just a reset.'

'We've done a second round of dissolver. What's next is simple: restore only what's needed. No trends. No puff. Just balance,' he explained.

'If you've ever felt ''not yourself'' after filler, you're not alone. And you're always welcome here.'

Sophie has previously told how starring on Geordie Shore left her feeling insecure about her appearance, resulting in her deciding to get surgery.

In her 20s, she underwent a boob job and Brazilian Bum Lift but revealed she had the second procedure in a run-down hospital in Turkey.

She also developed an addiction to lip fillers, revealing one time the process went wrong and she was left looking like 'the elephant man'.

In 2022, she underwent a breast reduction to bring her E-cup assets down to a C-cup as well as a a reverse tummy tuck and corrective work to her Brazilian Bum Lift (BBL) procedure.

The TV personality said she 'almost died' after undergoing the botched BBL in Turkey as she admitted the 'traumatic' procedure 'nearly killed her'.

Sophie, who was insecure about her 'flat bottom', admitted she was promised a 'Kim Kardashian figure', but instead suffered 'agonising' repercussions

The TV personality previously said she 'almost died' after undergoing the botched BBL in Turkey as she admitted the 'traumatic' procedure 'nearly killed her'

Sophie, who was insecure about her 'flat bottom', admitted she was promised a 'Kim Kardashian figure', but instead suffered 'agonising' repercussions (Kim pictured at the Met Gala in 2019)

She suffered a life-threatening abscess which led to her having emergency surgery to drain one litre of puss on her left bum-cheek.

Brazilian Butt Lift's are used to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted. It sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, such as the hips or stomach, to give patients a fuller bottom.

Shedding light on her 'near-death experience', Sophie said: 'Someone who didn't have many curves, I was quite straight, I thought "omg this is amazing, I can go over to Turkey for free and get a BBL and look like Kim Kardashian and have this amazing figure."

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations, fuelled by celebrities and influencers who've made the four-hour trip in pursuit of revamping their bodies.

She added: 'I was about 24, so off I was to Turkey. When I arrived in Turkey, I underwent the procedure and a couple of days later looked at myself in the mirror and thought "wait, should I be this bruised?"

'The holes on my back as well. I looked like a sieve. I've just got burns marks all over my back where they went through.

'I got liposunction as well because they promised me my body would be great and I'd look amazing.

'After the healing process, six weeks or eight weeks later, I started getting a pain in my left bum cheek and I was in agony.

'I was in Mexico at the time, and I actually went to a hospital there. They put me on a drip and started panicking. Everyone was running around.

'And they were saying they was an abscess in their and if that burst, you would be dead.

The TV personality suffered a life-threatening abscess which led to her having emergency surgery to drain one litre of puss on her left bum cheek (Sophie pictured at a hospital in Mexico in 2016)

Sophie said: 'Someone who didn't have many curves, I was quite straight, I thought "omg this is amazing, I can go over to Turkey for free and get a BBL and look like Kim Kardashian and have this amazing figure' (Sophie's bottom pictured before operation, left)

She added: 'I was about 24, so off I was to Turkey. I underwent the procedure and a couple of days later looked at myself in the mirror and thought "wait, should I be this bruised?" (Sophie pictured soon after her procedure)

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations, fuelled by celebrities and influencers who've made the four-hour trip in pursuit of revamping their bodies

'I told them to book me on a flight home because if I'm going to die, I want to die with my family around me.

'So off I was back to Newcastle. I went straight to hospital. I had to stay in there overnight, wake up in the morning and go straight into surgery for them to drain this abscess growing on my bum.

'They drained one litre of puss. It was so traumatic. Getting it packed was the worst pain in the world - I screamed the hospital down.

'It was just hell. I felt ill, I couldn't walk, my whole leg was numb. I couldn't even sit on it. It was just absolute agony.

'Eventually the wound healed but was forming this horrendous scare which was leaving this shark-type scare.'

Sophie told her horror story to warn young girls of the dangerous surgery and the complications it can lead too.

Sophie has been a fan favourite on Geordie Shore since the show's 2011 launch, and joined rival show TOWIE in 2023.
Australia's community radio and music scene is mourning the loss of presenter Paris Pompor, a beloved broadcaster known for his influential role at Sydney's 2SER.

Pompor, who tragically passed away on Wednesday on his 58th birthday, had been a longtime fixture at the not-for-profit station 2SER, where he hosted the music program Jumping The Gap from 2007 - 2022.

The news of Pompor's passing was shared by 2SER on social media, prompting an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, friends and fans alike.

Described as a talented DJ, producer and radio presenter, Pompor's deep passion for music and his vibrant personality endeared him to thousands of listeners.

Music journalist Stuart Coupe expressed deep sadness at his passing, highlighting Pompor's infectious enthusiasm for music and his positive impact on those around him.

'A complete and total music fan, a beautiful human and always a joy to run into around the traps or at 2SER over the years,' Coupe wrote on social media.

Australia's community radio and music scene is mourning the loss of presenter Paris Pompor, a beloved broadcaster known for his influential role at Sydney 's 2SER

'Watching him dancing around the studio while presenting a radio show always made my day just that little happier.'

Sydney's Eastside Radio 89.7FM also paid tribute to Pompor: 'His influence across community radio made him one of the loudest voices for music in this city.

'For two decades as the co-host of the Groovescooter show, he left an indelible mark on Eastside Radio and was the recipient of our highest volunteer award.'

'We'd like to offer our condolences to the team at 2SER on the passing of long-time presenter Paris Pompor,' added Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.

The Canberra-raised DJ also co-founded Groovescooter, a venture that expanded the arts scene nationwide through record releases and film distribution.

Cyclone Wehner, a respected music journalist, honoured Pompor's contributions as a DJ and promoter.

Reflecting on his legacy, Wehner emphasised Pompor's role in shaping Sydney's cultural landscape.

His influence extended beyond broadcasting, earning him a reputation as a catalyst in Sydney's underground music community.

Pompor, who tragically passed away on Wednesday on his 58th birthday, had been a longtime fixture at the not-for-profit station 2SER, where he hosted the long-running music program Jumping The Gap from 2007 - 2022

2SER played a special tribute to Pompor which aired on Friday and featured a four-hour retrospective of his voice, stories and music.

Many of the station's fellow presenters spoke fondly of Pompor's creative approach to radio.

They pointed out his innovative mix techniques and enduring influence on their own work.

Pompor's passing marks a significant loss to Australia's vibrant radio and music communities.

He leaves behind a legacy celebrated for its creativity, passion and enduring impact.

Pompor is survived by his long-time partner and creative collaborator Georgie Zuzak.
Al Pacino's ex-girlfriend Noor Alfallah took their toddler son out for lunch in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

The film producer, 31, welcomed her first child with the Scarface actor, 85, back in June 2023.

She went to grab a bite at Italian restaurant E Baldi with their son Roman, nearly two, and his nanny.

The Godfather star's mini-me son rocked a Grateful Dead raglan shirt, and at one point, Alfallah was multi-tasking as she carried him on her hip while picking up a call.

During their casual outing in Los Angeles, Alfallah sported a simple yet chic, all-black outfit.

She wore a black camisole paired with a knit cardigan and skinny jeans for their lunch outing.

Al Pacino's ex-girlfriend Noor Alfallah took their toddler son out for lunch in Beverly Hills on Thursday

The film producer, 31, welcomed her first child with the Scarface actor, 84, back in June 2023; pictured March 2024 in Hollywood

She wore her hair down and appeared to be wearing little to no makeup, sporting a pair of gold-framed aviator sunglasses, while out on the sunny day.

The couple had began dating in April 2022 and announced that they were expecting their first child together just weeks before his arrival.

Shortly after giving birth to Roman, however, the pair parted ways.

Even though they broke up, they appeared on good terms as she supported him at one of his movie screenings late last year.

At the time, she was also rumored to be dating Bill Maher, 68.

Just last month, Alfallah joined Pacino in helping him celebrate his 85th birthday.

She was spotted driving the Godfather vet to his star-studded soiree in Los Angeles to party alongside the likes of Anjelica Huston, Rita Wilson, Ringo Starr, Jerry Seinfeld, Jessica Alba also Bill Maher, per DeuxMoi.

Late last year, she insisted that her relationship with Maher is strictly platonic as she opened up about co-parenting with her 'best friend' Pacino.

The Godfather star's mini-me son rocked a Grateful Dead raglan shirt, and at one point, Alfallah was multi-tasking as she carried him on her hip while picking up a call

She went to grab a bite at Italian restaurant E Baldi with their son Roman, nearly two, and his nanny

The couple had began dating in April 2022 and announced that they were expecting their first child together just weeks before his arrival. Shortly after giving birth to Roman, however, the pair parted ways

The on-and-off couple have since sparked rumors that they rekindled their romance as they have been spotted on a number of outings together in recent months, including Pacino's 85th birthday party last month; pictured alongside The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi and actor Jeremy Strong in October 2024

She told TMZ that she and Pacino were no longer together but said that co-parenting Roman together has been 'amazing.'

The pair, who share a 54-year age gap, are parents to their first child together and Pacino's fourth.

In addition to their toddler son Roman, Pacino is also a father to three adult children.

He shares daughter Julie, 35, with acting teacher Jan Tarrant as well as 23-year-old twins Anton and Olivia with The Coal Miner's Daughter actress Beverly D'Angelo.

Alfallah previously revealed in Vogue Arabia that she and Pacino met at a dinner party in the late 2010s and became friends.

'He's a very talented and unique person. But I had no intention of thinking, like, "Oh, he is going to be my son's father one day",' she admitted.

'Al lives down the street from my house and we started spending every day together, playing chess and watching movies. It was like film school with Al Pacino,' she continued. 'I guess it just became something more.'
A shock new twist has emerged in the drama between Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, as the rapper is now claiming the fiery legal note he was reported to have sent her was in fact a 'hoax.'

Earlier this Friday, a TMZ report alleged that Kanye had filed a cease and desist letter accusing the reality star of exploiting their four children.

The 47-year-old Grammy winner has repeatedly clashed with Kim, 44, over co-parenting their kidsNorth, 11; Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 5claiming he's being kept from spending time with them.

Back in March, he sparked backlash with a string of tweets complaining that a 'white woman' was in control of his Black children.

In his latest song, dropped Thursday, West upped the ante even furtherrapping that his bitter custody battle with Kim is what 'made him a Nazi.'

This Friday, TMZ reported that Kanye had sent off a cease and desist letter accusing Kim of ditching North in a parked car while she made her entrance at the Met Gala.

Now, however, a spokesperson for Kanye has issued an astonishing statement saying the musician never issued such a letter, and that TMZ 'fell for a hoax.'

A shock new twist has emerged in the drama between Kanye West and Kim Kardashian , as the rapper is now claiming the fiery legal note he was reported to have sent her was in fact a 'hoax'

In his latest song, dropped Thursday, West upped the ante even further rapping that his bitter custody battle with Kim is what 'made him a Nazi' (Kim seen on Monday at Met Gala)

The 47-year-old Grammy winner has repeatedly clashed with Kim, 44, over co-parenting their kidsNorth, 11; Saint, 9; Chicago , 7; and Psalm, 5claiming he's being kept from spending time with them

'The letter is quite obviously fraudulent,' the representative told Page Six. 'TMZ didnt ask for comment before running the story, and this morning, they finally emailed us with second thoughts, asking if it had been a "publicity stunt." No. You fell for a hoax.'

Kanye was initially said to have had a lawyer called Kathy Johnson fire off a cease and desist letter to Kim's powerhouse attorney Laura Wasser, writing that the note concerns 'the welfare and custody of Mr. West's minor children: North West, Saint West, Chicago West, and Psalm West,' according to the initial report on TMZ.

DailyMail.com learned that Johnson claims to represent a law office based in Spain, which reportedly asserts it has jurisdiction in the United States.

However, the phone number listed for the firm is reportedly no longer in serviceand was previously associated with a travel agency.

Moreover, it has emerged that Kanye's letter claims Johnson works for an organization called the JB Law Firm based in Palma - where TMZ did not find any record of any such law firm operating under that name.

Although there is a firm with that name in the Canary Islands, it is unclear whether Johnson is licensed to work as an attorney in California, where Kim and the children live.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Kim and Kanye's reps for comment.

In the 'hoax' cease and desist letter, Kanye accuses Kim of violating both his parental rights and their divorce settlement in three key ways.

First, the note alleges Kim brought their 11-year-old daughter North to the Met Gala earlier this week and left her 'unattended in a vehicle during portions of the event.'

'On or about May 5, 2025, your client brought North West to the Met Gala in New York City, exposing her to significant media attention,' the letter states.

'Reports indicate that North was left unattended in a vehicle during portions of the event, posing risks to her safety.'

Now, however, a spokesperson for Kanye has issued an astonishing statement saying the musician never issued such a letter, and that TMZ 'fell for a hoax'

Kim Kardashian and North West are pictured just before the 2025 Met Ball this Monday

In the supposedly 'fraudulent' letter, Kanye accuses Kim of violating both his parental rights and their divorce settlement in three key ways; (seen in 2019)

The letter also claims Kim ignored his repeated objections to North being featured on TikTok, writing that she continued to post 'images and videos' of their daughter despite his stance.

Kardashian attended the 2025 Met Gala solo on Monday, May 5but while it's unclear if her daughter North was waiting in a car during the event, Kardashian confirmed that the preteen had traveled to New York City with her.

'Every time I come to the Met, I love bringing my oldest daughter with me,' she told Vogue on the red carpet. 'To see me get ready, and all her aunties [Kendall and Kylie Jenner] are in the hotel, and we're all getting ready together, so it's just a fun few days.'

Footage shared to Kardashian's social media also showed North alongside her in the days leading up to the star-studded gala.

Second, the 'hoax' letter alleges Kim has denied him 'meaningful access' to their four children, which he argues violates their custody agreement for equal parenting and shared decision-making.

The disputed letter states Kanye not seen Saint at all this year and had had 'unreasonably restricted' contact with his other children, per the outlet.

However, that claim regarding Saint appears to be inaccurate; photos from January show Kanye with Saint, Chicago, and Psalm during a family trip to Japan.

Finally, the 'fraudulent' letter accuses Kim of exploiting North 'for personal or commercial gain' by posting content of her at public events.

The letter says this behavior 'disregards his joint custodial rights and his stated opposition to his children's public exposure.'

Sources close to Kim told TMZ that Kanye has made little effort to see the kids this yearand when he has, Kim has never denied him access.

The legal move comes after Kanye took aim at Kim, referenced his sex life with wife Bianca Censori, and continued to profess his love for Adolf Hitler as he released the music video for his vile new song, Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version).

The rapper took to X/Twitter on Thursday to share the clip, which showed a group of shirtless black males draped in animal skins professing their love for Hitler.

His chosen day to release the song was also of significance because it fell on VE Day - the 80 year anniversary of when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end.

In the song, Kanye rapped that he had 'so much anger' inside of him adding: 'these people took my kids from me and they froze my bank account.'

He claimed that be became a Nazi because of his custody battle, singing: 'With all of my money and fame I still don't get to see my children / N*****s see my Twitter but they don't see how I be feeling / So I became a Nazi, yeah b***h, I'm the villain.'

The line, 'N****r, heil Hitler' is repeated 15 times in the song.

The 'hoax' letter took aim at Kim Kardashian and continued to profess Kanye's love for Adolf Hitler as he released the music video for his vile new song, Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version)

The rapper, 47, took to X/ Twitter on Thursday to share the clip, which showed a group of shirtless black males draped in animal skins professing their love for Hitler

Kanye also referenced his wild antics with new wife Bianca - who he has been accused of 'controlling' by parading her around in near-naked ensembles.

In the song he claimed to be a 'cuck'.

Cuckolding is widely used to describe the fetish where people (usually men) are turned on by their partners having affairs.

He sang: 'Guess I am a cuck, I love when people f**k on my b***h', later adding: 'She reaching down in my pants. She got the world in her hands.'

Kanye also addressed his wild social media exchanges, which has seen him temporarily banned from several sites, including X.

He sang: 'They don't understand the things I say on Twitter'.

The song ended with Kanye sampling one of Hitler's speech in 1935, which translates to: 'Whether you think my work is right, whether you believe that I have been diligent.

'That I have worked, that I have stood up for you during these years, that I have used my time decently in the service of my people.

'You cast your vote now, if yes, then stand up for me as I stood up for you.'

After posting his new music video, Kanye appeared on a livestream with internet personalities Sneako and Adin Ross as he continued to defend his love of Hitler.

Adin asked: 'Do you think that Hitler would've liked you for being Black?' to which Kanye insisted he would.

He explained: 'I would've been one of the scientists that America ended up cleaning up and bringing in and having serve America after the fact - I'm a scientist so...'

Kanye has remained in the crosshairs of controversy for much of the year amid a torrent of posts propagating antisemitism.

In the song, Kanye rapped that he had 'so much anger' inside of him adding: 'these people took my kids from me and they froze my bank account'

His chosen day to release the song was also of significance as it fell on VE Day - the 80 year anniversary of when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end

Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version) lyrics I've got so much anger in me / Got no way to take it out Think I'm stuck in the Matrix / Where the f**k is my nitrous? Guess I am a cuck / I love when people f**k on my b***h Things that I'm posting on Twitter they're saying Ye don't say that N****s can see me in public I'm driving all all-chrome Maybach With all of my money and fame I still can't get my kids back With all of my money and fame I still don't get to see my children N****s see my Twitter but they don't see how I be feeling So I became a Nazi, yeah b***h I'm the villain N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler They don't understand the things I say on Twitter N****r, heil Hitler They don't understand the things I say on Twitter All my n*****rs Nazi, heil Hitler N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler All my n*****rs Nazi, heil Hitler She don't want to f**k in Japan, I put the chrome on the Benz N****r, heil Hitler She reaching down in my pants /She got the world in her hands N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler All my n*****s Nazis, heil Hitler N****r, heil Hitler /N****r, heil Hitler All my n*****s Nazis, heil Hitler N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler / N****r, heil Hitler Advertisement

On February 11, the shop on Kanye's Yeezy Website - which he advertised with an expensive ad during the Super Bowl - was taken offline by Shopify after he was selling a white shirt with a black swastika in the center. He has also frequently made posts praising Adolf Hitler.

Kanye spoke more about the controversy in a series of posts on February 20 - promising to wear the swastika shirt onstage at the Super Bowl.

'Next year I'm performing at the superbowl wearing my wittle T shirt,' he said. 'People with money bought my wittle t shirt.'

He added that Shopify 'gave [him his] account back' after taking down his store after controversy erupted over the shirts, but that he was 'not going to use it.'

Sources close to Kim told DailyMail.com that she is now taking extra precautions and has hired guards to be with her 24/7 amid his erratic behavior.

The reality star has also told relatives to be careful sharing anything about her children online, the source revealed.

She has instructed her closest allies not to post about their locations or upload photos or messages that could identify where they might be.

'She's absolutely horrified,' the source told the Daily Mail. 'Like every time things get bad with Kanye, somehow they get worse.'

They finalised their divorce in 2022 and agreed to joint custody of their children, but the conflict between them has continued.

Kanye also referenced his wild antics with new wife Bianca Censori - who he has been accused of 'controlling' by parading her around in near-naked ensembles

Earlier this week, Kanye caused more controversy when he stormed out of an interview with Piers Morgan.

During the interview, Kanye first took umbrage at Piers using the surname West in his opening scene-setting intro, correcting the broadcaster - who clearly addressed him as 'Ye' in his first question - he said: 'I don't use the term West, you know, the whole drop the slave name idea?'

'Ok, so we just call you Ye, yeah?' Piers replied, and he responded: 'Yes sir.'

Piers then asked Kanye, who was joined by social media star Sneako, how his life had been recently, with Kanye noting the background, and where he was record the interview.

He said: 'You see that view?... Judge it on the view on the answer how my life is, judge me by the view.'

Piers responded: 'The view is Majorca, I've been there. It's a beautiful place, and for all intents and purposes, you seem very relaxed and happy.

'That is in direct contrast to your public image at the moment, over the last couple of years, led by your ferocious [he begins to interrupt] Well, hang on. Let me finish the question'

Ye hit back: 'But I already disagree, it's not in contrast, there's so many people and artists that are championing the idea of someone being able to just express who they really are, and have been able to go through the war of being attacked by the banks, being attacked, you know, by the banks - that's the best way to put it!

'Being attacked by the banks, and to still be here with this view is, you know, that's the win. So I think that's, I'm in contrast to your contrast.'

On February 11, the shop on Kanye's Yeezy Website - which he advertised with an expensive ad during the Super Bowl - was taken offline by Shopify after he was selling a shirt with a swastika

Piers then attempted to finish his question, saying: 'OK, but the point I was gonna make is that, I watch what you put out on X - you've got 32 million followers, so you're one of the most followed people'

A bristling Ye retorted: 'Now, look, right now you're not going to take inches off my dick, bro. Like, how many followers do I have?'

When Piers asked how many the correct number was, Ye said the journalist had a staff of people who could look up the figure. Piers replied: 'I'm told it's 33 million now. So congratulations, you're slightly bigger following than I thought'

But the irritated rapper, who has four children by Kim Kardashian, began comparing himself to former music legends, saying the Piers Morgan Uncensored host was trying to undermine him.

He said: 'Your information is correctI'm a gift, bro. I mean, why do all you people in media act like you haven't played my songs at your weddings or graduations or at funerals, and when your child was born, you know, you take somebody that's living like a [John] Lennon, a Michael Jackson, and you just take all this time to, like that nuance right there, it's idiotic.

'It just shows the hate that you put out for people that put love. There's so much love in the art I put out.'

A baffled Piers added: '...What are you talking about? I haven't said anything?'

Ye concluded: 'Now you are not taking accountability or responsibility No sir, this is what you get for now we can, we can circle back when you can count.'

Taking off his mic, he then stormed off the set, leaving the interview in little more than two minutes.

Earlier this week, Kanye caused more controversy when he stormed out of an interview with Piers Morgan

Following the short-lived chat, Kanye himself took to X to post: 'Let's have a real interview someday It's all love,' brushing off the fact he'd made an early exit.

And in his video, Piers went onto call him out over the post, saying: 'But the trouble is, Ye, it's not all love is it?

'It actually all hate, it's hate towards everybody including your family, your ex wife towards Jewish peple towards other peple towards rappers, you've become a hate machine, fuelled on social media, all this vicious sentient to a vast audience and that is wrong.'

Calling for Kanye to be removed from X, Piers went onto defend his decision to have him on his show for an interview, saying: 'I did because he's not been held to account properly on X, he's getting away with this and it's amplifying his message.

'Now if Ye wants to have a proper interview with me about all this, I will do that, but if he wants to play silly games he can swing for it.

'If you want to sit in front me Ye get on a plane come to London and come to my studio and let's do this man to man face to face and you can be held accountable for your despicable actions on social media, let's see if you're manly enough to do that, or is it easier to attack people like Kim like Paris Hilton, the women, is it easier to attach them on social media then it is to face up to me.

'We'll see, some people think I shouldn't bother sitting down with you anymore, that's how far your stock has fallen.'
Farmer Wants A Wife is set to return to UK screens 16 years after it was axed.

The popular ITV dating show followed land-owning singletons as they welcomed women from the city to their farms in the hope of finding love.

The series had viewers hooked when it was first broadcast on the station in 2001, before moving to Channel 5 eight years later, with Louise Redknapp as presenter.

However, TV bosses then canned the show, which has continued going strong with an Australian version since 2007, and left it on the shelf for more than a decade.

But the success of countryside-based programmes of late, including Clarkson's Farm and Yorkshire Shepherdess, has prompted its return.

A TV source told The Sun: 'Farmer Wants A Wife was one of telly's earlier dating shows before the likes of Love Island and Married at First Sight came along and created a whole new genre.

Farmer Wants A Wife is set to return to screens in the UK 16 years after it was axed (pictured in 2001)

The series had viewers hooked when it was first broadcast on the station in 2001, before moving to Channel 5 eight years later (pictured), deploying Louise Redknapp as presenter

'Even though it only ran for two series, the UK version spawned as many as ten international versions - it's massive in Australia, for example - and the BBC even had a go at their own version, Love In The Countryside with Sara Cox.

'But the time is thought to be right to revisit the UK farmers as interest in rural living has never been greater thanks to Jeremy Clarkson et al and after Covid many have rethought city life.

'It's early days so a channel isn't yet attached, nor a host, but everyone is very excited.'

The search for eligible farmers has already begun with original distributor Fremantle Media scouring the land for participants in the romance show.

A potential revamped format will see 'all genders, sexualities, ages and love interests' covered, according to insiders.

MailOnline has contacted ITV and Fremantle for comment.

An Australian version of Farmer Wants A Wife is still going strong Down Under and is currently three weeks into its 12th season.

The show is shaking things up, introducing 12 new contestants in a surprise twist  after Farmer Jarred abruptly found love and walked off the show.

Farmer Wants A Wife has been going strong Down Under and is currently three weeks into a 12th season (pictured: Aussie host Natalie Gruzlewski with the four farmers)

The shock move left three farmers still searching for their true love, and now each of them will be introduced to four new women in the coming episodes.

Channel Seven confirmed the remaining three farmers - Corey, Thomas and Tom - will each be introduced to four new ladies, in a bid to shake things up.

The farmers will spend one-on-one time with each before selecting two to return to the farm and join the original contestants.

'The latecomers know they are stepping into already-formed connections, but they're not backing down,' the network teased.

'Their arrival is set to shake things up and stir emotions... after all, the road to love is never straightforward.'
Amanda Holden took a cheeky swipe at her show with the BBC as she complained about 'urine soaked dressing room floors' on Friday.

The presenter, 54, also criticised the series' name, their travel arrangements and suggested she and Alan Carr's next show should be shown on Netflix instead.

The duo recently announced the name of their latest BBC series will be Amanda and Alan's Greek Job following their similar renovation shows in Spain and Italy.

However, Amanda revealed she is not looking forward to having to change outfits on urine soaked floors like she did the last time she filmed abroad with Alan.

As they discussed the show on Alan's travel podcast, Alan recalled: 'Do you remember we had to wee in behind bins and sh*** like that? I'm dreading it.'

Amanda recalled: 'I have a pile of clothes on me at the back. I've got all of Alan's shirts, like 15 dresses I'll change into, three hats lined up on the back.'

Amanda Holden took a cheeky swipe at her show with the BBC as she complained about 'urine soaked dressing room floors' on Friday

The presenter, 54, also criticised the series' name, their travel arrangements and suggested she and Alan Carr 's next show should be shown on Netflix instead

She continued: 'And then we get out and I get changed in loos where there's like wee on the floor, beach huts. That's behind the scenes.'

Alan added: 'But the thing is people don't understand there's no... The toilets aren't working when we get there.We have to go and use someone's toilet or a portaloo.'

Amanda agreed: 'We have to beg for... I mean, how many umbrellas have you put up over various countries when I've had to wee behind them?

'You'll notice that there's hundreds of costume changes for us as well. So we travel, for some reason, the company that we do it with, always hire the smallest cars.

'And I'm in the back with Christian, who does our hair and make up. You're in the front doing the music selection.'

After admitted they didn't like the name of their new series either, Alan suggested it should be called My Big Fat Greek Renovation.

While Amanda confessed: 'It's not good. Well, we should argue with the BBC about that.'

'But I've always wanted to visit Japan. It's like the place to go. I want to go in the spring,' she added. 'And I just think maybe Alan, we should just go to Netflix with our next show, Big in Japan with Amanda and Alan. Yeah. Love it. That idea is with them.'

The BBC declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

Amanda also recalled the shocking time when she broke her leg while on a family holiday with her husband Chris Hughes and their kids Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13.

She claimed the hotel where they were staying wanted her off the premises swiftly so that she would keep quiet about injuring herself there.

Amanda revealed she is not looking forward to having to change outfits on urine soaked floors like she did the last time she filmed abroad with Alan

As they discussed the show on Alan's travel podcast, Alan recalled: 'Do you remember we had to wee in behind bins and sh*** like that? I'm dreading it'

The Heart FM radio presenter told Alan: 'So my leg was broken when I went on another holiday, and I had little Holly with me, and there was this kid who was an absolute pain in the a** on it.

'You know how you always get one kid that's like, and he was like bouncing and shoving, and anyway, Holly was scared because he was all over the place with no parents. And I went, she said, Mommy, I'm getting off.

'I said, ''Holly, wait for Mommy. Wait for Mommy''. She jumped off. And as I jumped off, I twisted my ankle and I did a double break.

'And I swam back to shore, and Chris was on the shore, and I was going like that. And he was going, 'did you have a lovely time?'

'And I was going, 'I think I broke my leg.' It was flapping around. That hotel got me out sharpish in a taxi. Because I had broken my leg on their property, basically.

'They wanted me to Keep stum. Anyway, that's another story.Where there's claim there's a blame.'

She added: 'The first time I went to Cyprus, I woke up and it was like a carry on film. There had been a tornado and everything was everywhere. Deckchairs blown over, mud everywhere. I was like, right, great. That was horrible.'
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Independent UN human rights experts have strongly criticised Malis military authorities for suspending all political parties and activities, calling the move a clear violation of basic rights
Lorraine Bracco, 70, has had an amazing career with multiple accolades, including an Oscar nomination, but the cruel words from childhood bullies have continued to haunt her.

The Sopranos star, who recently revealed the late James Gandolfini's reaction to the series finale, wrote about the incident that happened when she was in sixth grade in an essay for the Wall Street Journal.

'One day, kids on the school bus told me something that stuck with me for life. They said they had voted me the ugliest girl in sixth grade,' the former 'tall and gawky kid' revealed.

'Can you imagine? I was in shock. It was horrible and devastating  a deep wound,' the Brooklyn born actress relayed. 'I went home and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.'

It was her father who offered words of comfort to the devastated tween.

He 'sat me on his lap, put his hands on my face and made me look in his eyes. He said, "I dont care about them. Youre the most beautiful girl in the world to me."'

Lorraine Bracco, 70, has had an amazing career with multiple accolades, including an Oscar nomination, but the cruel words from childhood bullies have continued to haunt her; Pictured in New York City in April

She was a beauty in her high school yearbook photo

The Screen Actors Guild award winner said she found school 'challenging socially,' but her love of performing in school plays helped provide 'an expression and an outlet for me.'

After graduating high school, Bracco was signed with Wilhelmina models and moved to Paris where she lived for a decade and was a favorite of designer Jean Paul Gaultier, according to her IMDB profile.

And even though she was booking jobs, the words still remained in the back of her mind.

'As for that childhood insult, it stuck with me for a long time,' she told readers.

'Early in my modeling career, when Revlon offered me a campaign, I said to myself, "I cant do this. I was the ugliest girl in sixth grade."'

After being cast in French films and television shows in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bracco returned to the US, where she was cast in films such as the thriller Someone to Watch Over Me, and The Dream Team.

Her breakout role came as the wife of the late Ray Liotta's wife in the 1990 mob drama Goodfellas for which she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She later received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her portrayal of therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos.

In an essay in the WSJ, Bracco revealed bullies once told her ' they had voted me the ugliest girl in sixth grade,' and those words have 'stuck with me for life'; Pictured New York City in January

Bracco moved to Paris and worked as a model for a decade and broke into acting. Her breakout role in 1990's Goodfellas resulted in her receiving a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination

The actress later received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her portrayal of therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos.

Bracco is currently starring in the Netflix film Nonnas; seen here with co-star Talia Shire

The currently single Bracco told AARP that after breaking up with former partner Harvey Keitel, 85, after 11 years together, she 'lost a year of my life to depression.'

'My advice to anyone going through it is get a good doctor, get diagnosed, and know that pharmacology works  dont be afraid of it,' she admonished. 'The stigma of it stopped me at first. Stupid. And talk therapy is major. Youre worth it, youre worth having a good day, every day.'

With her life in order and her now movie, Nonnas, doing well on Netflix, the star says she ready to raise the curtain on love again.

'I believe in love. What do I look for in a man? A sense of humor is extremely important. And I like a guy whos sure of himself. Im sure of myself, so I want him to be rock steady.' she said.
President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs have forced car companies to rejig their manufacturing plans.

Some of the biggest car brands in America  including Ford, GM, and Volkswagen  have announced major changes.

But for car companies already building in the US, the tariffs might be an unforeseen boon.

Lucid, an electric vehicle company with a high-tech factory in Arizona, said it is fielding calls from other automakers.

Manufacturers want a piece of its 3 million square foot production facility in Casa Grande to avoid the import tariff.

'We've seen several inbound inquiries to discuss possible cooperation,' Marc Winterhoff, the company's recently-appointed CEO, said during a recent earnings call.

'It's still early and talks are preliminary, but the President and the administration want to have a strong manufacturing sector in the US.'

Winterhoff didn't discuss which car companies were making the manufacturing inquiries.

Car companies are struggling to come up with a response to President Trump's tariffs

For Lucid, the next year of US manufacturing is absolutely critical to the health of its business.

The company came to market with the most efficient and fastest-charging EV in the US market, the Air sedan.

But it hasn't been a huge sales success: the company sold just over 10,000 units of the $70,000 to $250,000 sedan in 2024, and still incurs a net loss on every sale.

This year, the company launched an $80,000, three-row SUV, the Gravity, which touts a wildly impressive battery range of 450 miles.

The new SUV is expected to be a bigger sales success as Americans continue to shift into larger vehicles.

But taking on extra manufacturing capacity in its Arizona factory could add more cushion to a startup that has had its fair share of bumps in the road.

Lucid's stock price is trading near all-time lows, hovering just above $2 a share, and the company abruptly shifted CEOs in February.

Lucid declined DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Lucid is launching the Gravity, an $80,000, three-row SUV with some of the most impressive battery tech in the US market

Marc Winterhoff, Lucid's CEO, said companies are contacting the firm to see if they can also build cars in the EV maker's Arizona plant

Car companies are trying to find ways to quickly produce their vehicles in the US

Car dealers are worried they have to increase already historic prices because of Trump's tariff regime

It comes as the automotive industry is starting to reveal just how much the tariffs will impact their bottom lines.

Ford, which builds more than 80 percent of its cars in the US, said it expects to pay the US government $2.5 billion in tariff costs each year.

The company said it will eat the cost of $1.5 billion. It will then pay the remaining $1 billion with a suite of financial maneuvers, including consumer price hikes.

Some Mexican-made Ford models  including the Maverick, Mustang Mach-E, and Bronco Sport  will see price hikes over $2,000.

The number is paltry compared to other automakers.

GM, America's best-selling car company in 2024, said it expects to pay between $4 billion and $5 billion annually in tariffs.

The company hasn't announced pricing changes, but it's CEO, Mary Barra, has said that the tariffs will likely cut into the company's profit margins.

Both companies, easily the two most legendary American car producers in the world, have both removed financial forecasts for the end of the year.

The tariff issues facing both companies likely mean cars will increase in price, potentially by thousands of dollars.

This is an outcome both consumer advocates and executives have consistently told DailyMail.com they are concerned about.
Tesla is facing a new problem it hasn't encountered before: customers aren't flocking to buy their new products.

A once hotly anticipated $48,990 long-range, all-wheel-drive Model Y hit showrooms in early April.

To many in the company, the car looked like the perfect solution right as the EV brand was facing a sales crisis.

The Model Y, the best-selling car in the world last year, had a fresh redesign with richer interior materials. Typically, customers quickly snatch up popular cars right after their redesigns are launched.

But Tesla is already offering financing deals for shoppers, even though the car has only been on the market for a month.

Now, Tesla owners can grab six-year payment plan for the new Model Y with 1.99 percent financing after putting down $3,999.

Other cars in Tesla's lineup typically command around six percent APR on their finance deals. The deal suggests Tesla might still be facing demand problems despite the updates.

Compared to other product launches, this is a completely new problem facing Tesla.

Elon Musk, the company's outspoken CEO, has aligned himself with President Donald Trump - Tesla's shoppers are historically liberal

The attention-getting electric brand has a history of being supply-constrained when it first launches cars. The Cybertruck is a great example.

The company launched the angular, Blade Runner-inspired pickup in late 2023 with massive fanfare.

Tesla reported receiving over 1 million reservations to buy the truck.

Cybertruck buyers faced a 'no resale' clause in their financing agreements, as the company received reports of shoppers buying the then-sought-after truck and reselling them for massive profits.

The company threatened fines of up to $50,000 for Cybertruck buyers caught reselling the trucks for a profit.

It was the only option for a company that couldn't keep up with the demand for its head-turning trucks.

But now, Tesla reported a record drop.

The automaker's first-quarter profits cratered 71 percent, with the EV giant pulling in $409 million compared to $1.4 billion during the same stretch last year.

Tesla has redesigned its best-selling cars this year, right as the company's base buyers are weary of purchasing from the brand

Tesla dealerships have seen massive protests

Musk has donated millions to conservative politicians and causes and spent time advising the President during the administration's first 100 days

Tesla's flagging sales are likely attributed to Elon Musk's political moves.

The outspoken CEO, once held in high-regard in liberal circles, has cut against much of his consumer base.

For example, the Model Y was the best selling car in liberal California.

But Musk has donated millions to conservative causes in the US, backed far-right politicians in Europe, and spent time as a policy advisor to President Donald Trump.

The moves have caused massive social backlash, including giant (sometimes fiery) protests at Tesla dealerships.

Musk assured investors that he was going to spend less time at the White House and more time catering to his responsibilities as Tesla's CEO, which shocked the stock price up after the measly earnings report.

But time will tell if he can solve the sales problems. The Cybertruck's demand has tailed and Musk's promise for automous Robotaxis comes due next month.

The brand says It will launch driverless tech in Texas on June 1.

Tesla didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Six Flags is shutting down a popular theme park after 25 years as the company battles money problems.

The park in Bowie, Maryland, will close for good on November 2, the final day of its annual Fright Fest.

The park is best known as the home of Wild One, a 108-year-old wooden roller coaster and the third-oldest in the world.

Standing 96 feet tall, it sends riders speeding at 45 miles per hour and remains one of the parks most iconic attractions.

The park also features eight other roller coasters and the Hurricane Harbor waterpark.

The closure will leave 70 full-time employees without jobs, though the company says eligible workers will receive severance and other benefits.

Originally founded as a wildlife preserve, Six Flags America attracts about 850,000 visitors a year.

Daily tickets to the Maryland park cost between $19.99 and $29.99 and fans can purchase season passes for up to $150 each.

Six Flags America in Bowie, Maryland, will be closing for good after the 2025 season ends on November 2

Six Flags America is home to Wild One, the world's third-oldest roller coaster

The closure comes months after the company announced it would invest more than $1 billion over the next two years to enhance guest experience at all of its parks.

The investment will go toward new rides, attractions, themed areas, dining upgrades, and technology advancements.

More than $80 million alone will be used for food and beverage upgrades, including new restaurant concepts.

Parts of its recent and upcoming changes include seven new roller coasters at other attractions and its All Park Passport Add-Ons.

Although the new rides will be placed in various parks, the company believes the soon-to-be-former Maryland attraction is only worthy of benefiting Six Flags through redevelopment to generate high value and investment return.

Six Flags spokesperson Gary Rhodes revealed that Global Commercial Real Estate Services is leading the current sales process.

'Based on its assessment and experience, we anticipate strong interest from potential real estate developers,' Rhodes told DailyMail.com.

'There are no plans to close other parks at this time,' he added.

The Wild Ones roller coaster was built in 1917

Besides Wild One, Six Flags America is home to eight other roller coasters and Hurricane Harbor waterpark

Stock photo of child crying at a theme park

With the closure of Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor, 42 amusement and 14 water parks will remain open worldwide.

The company is weighing its options regarding the Maryland attraction's rides and whether they could be placed in other parks.

'We have not yet determined what will happen to each ride or attraction after the park is closed, but relocation to other Six Flags parks or selling to other amusement park operators are options that may be considered,' Rhodes told DailyMail.com.

Six Flags finished 2024 with $2.71 billion in revenue after completing a merger with Cedar Fair last July.

With this investment and its Maryland park's impending shutdown, the company is working to complete its 2025 upgrades and get going on all 2026 projects.

Among next year's changes include new roller coasters, water park enhancements, and the debut of Six Flags Great America's new kids' area.

The company has not announced whether it plans to open any new amusement or water parks over the next few years.
Iconic Chicago hotdog join Portillo's is celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV with an all new sandwich called 'The Leo' in honor of the Windy City native.

The chain's sandwich marks its way of 'paying tribute to Chicago's newest claim to fame.'

The limited-time item includes signature Italian beef dipped in gravy and covered in 'holy trinity of peppers.'

'It's our original sacred sandwich, bold, unapologetically flavorful, and made in honor of a moment that's historic for Portillo's hometown,' a spokesperson said.

Its 'heavenly creation' will be available all month long, coinciding with National Italian Beef Month.

The sandwich is one of several new items available at Portillo's, which recently launched its first breakfast menu.

Portillo's is famous for its Chicago-style hot dogs and was recently crowned the restaurant chain with the 'best value in the business' over Chipotle and McDonald's.

Portillo's is celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV this month with an all new sandwich called 'The Leo'

Robert Prevost is a Windy City native described by Portillo's as 'Chicago's newest claim to fame'

Founded in 1963, Portillo's opened for business after Dick Portillo invested $1,000 on a trailer he called 'The Dog House.'

The restaurant's popularity rose over time and is continuing to grow despite the company having less than 100 locations.

Five of those restaurants are currently offering the limited-time breakfast menu, the first in its 62 years of business.

The menu includes three sandwiches: Polish, egg, & cheese, pepper, egg & cheese, and bacon, egg, & cheese.

Customers can also try its new Hash Brown Bites and Load Breakfast Scramble bowls.

Along with sandwiches and breakfast sides, Portillo's is offering a new chocolate cake donut and chocolate cake coffee created in collaboration with popular Chicago brands Stan's Donuts and Metropolis Coffee.

The restaurant chain revealed that customers have responded positively to the new menu since its launch.

Social media users have also reacted well to the offerings and have made requests for the menu to be available at other restaurants.

Customers have been rushing to Portillo's restaurants to try items off its new breakfast menu

Portillo's CEO Michael Osanloo revealed the foods customers have craved the most off its breakfast menu are scrambled eggs, sandwiches, and the chocolate cake donut.

Portillo's will be keeping an eye on other customer responses for the rest of the summer.

If guests continue giving positive reviews to the breakfast menu, Portillo's will consider expanding it to other restaurants.

Prior to its new offerings, Portillo's earned $176.4 million in first quarter revenue, a 6.4 percent increase compared to last year's total.

Its also experienced slight increases in its same-restaurant sales and operating income.

'We're proud of how our team performed through challenging macro conditions in Q1, driven by the launch of Portillo's Perks and our marketing efforts,' Osanloo said.

The restaurant chain plans to open 12 new locations this year, including some in Texas and Georgia.
Considering the aevolving situationa in the western borders post airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan the Bengal Government has placed its administration in a state of high alert cancelling all the leaves of senior officials till the ranks of Indian Administrative Services and West Bengal Civil Services.

Informing that the stateas disaster management departments had been put on maximum alert Banerjee said, Bengal was committed to fighting against terror and would fight shoulder to shoulder with the powers that be against all acts of terrorism.

aThere should not be differences among us on this issue. The police have been put on alert. District magistrates have been alerted. All leaves have been cancelled,a the Chief Minister said. Earlier she held a high level meeting in that respect with the top Government officials.

Though the Chief Minister would not name any country a particularly Bangladesh which had recently been displaying a aPakwordsa tilt post change in Government there a she said her Government had to be on alert considering the fact that it shared borders with other countries.

Bengal shares a border of 2,217 kilometres with Bangladesh, which is a significant portion of the total

4,096-kilometre border between the two countries. Banerjee said, aWe love our country.

aIt is well known fact how Bengal has always made maximum sacrifices for the nation. We will have to be vigilant round the clock since we share border with other countries.a

The Chief Minister had on Wednesday reacted with a brief aJai Hinda and aJai Indiaa after India launched an air strike on Pakistanas terror hubs in the previous night.

Incidentally Bengal shares borders directly with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and Doklam region bordering China is barely 50 kms from the North Bengal city.

The Chief Minister also requested the private schools to announce their respective summer vacations.

aThe government schools are closed because of summer vacation. I request private schools to do that also.

aThis is not a guidelinea only a request,a she said informing the stateas disaster management units too had been put on a state of high alert.

aThe disaster management department is on alert particularly the units in North Bengal,a Banerjee said adding the units in the northern part of the State would work 24x7.

aThis apparently against the backdrop of Siliguri corridor being one of the most sensitive areas in terms of national security.

State Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had been appointed the nodal officer for interact acting with central agencies, Banerjee said.

Different parts of Bengal was presently witnessing mock drill sessions that started on Wednesday and was likely to continue for a week.

The Chief Ministeras directive to put the state on high alert came in consequence of her high level meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of some other States.

The Chief Minister sent out a strong message to the media, particularly a section of the digital media asking them to furnish responsible stories and not fake ones.

Asking that the mainstream media, and social or digital media should act responsibly and avoid from spreading disinformation or fake news a particularly in consideration of the central guidelines she said, athose who spread wrong information through social media, digital media or other form should be cautious,a as the central guidelines aprescribes action against anyone spreading misinformation.

The media has great responsibility at this hour.

aThere should not be any news that provokes people and triggers unrest,a reminding this was not the hour to increase TRPs or Television rating points.
Among the many essay prompts I present to students preparing to tell their life stories, the one that consistently gets left behind is the one on gratitude. aToo vague,a some say. aToo boring,a others dismiss. And yet, I gently linger on it. I watch their expressions when I ask, aWho has really changed your life in a way you didnat expect?a It is in that pauseaawkward, silent, and untrainedathat the first crack appears in the wall of self-presentation.



Why do so few choose gratitude when given the chance? Perhaps because true gratitude asks us to soften. Itas not performative. Itas not competitive. It asks for reflection, for surrender of pride, for the courage to acknowledge that we didnat do it all alone.



In The Inner Classroom, gratitude is not a polite thank-you noteait is a force. A mental reorientation. A quiet power that flips our gaze from what is missing to what is present, from entitlement to abundance, from cynicism to reverence. It is, in many ways, the beginning of all learning.

When I think of the Inner Classroom, I donat imagine a grand space. I think of a quiet momentamaybe at a desk, maybe while tying your shoelacesawhen something shifts inside you. Itas the space where you begin to notice. Where you remember that someone once waited for you, forgave you, believed in you. Where you begin to say, aThat mattered.a Gratitude, in this space, isnat an assignment. Itas a return. A returning to softness, to connection, to the threads that hold us together. And thatas where real learning beginsanot in answers, but in awareness.



Iave seen students write fierce essays about leadership, ambition, and hardship. But it is the ones who learn to articulate sincere, specific gratitudeaoften to a grandmother who stayed up late, a watchman who opened a gate during a moment of panic, or a teacher who once said, aI believe in youaawho unlock a depth in themselves they didnat know they carried.



Gratitude is radical because it is vulnerable. It acknowledges interdependence in a world that glorifies independence. And perhaps thatas why it is hard. But in this very difficulty lies its magic.



In my own life, I find that every time I return to gratitude, something opensaa clarity, a calmness, an alignment. I stop struggling to make sense of things. Instead, I start feeling the sense theyave always carried.



If I could give one prompt not just for an essay, but for life, it would be this:

aWrite about someone you are grateful toaand how you showed it in a way that surprised even you.a

Because maybe that one choice could change how you see your entire story.



I once worked with a student from Gabon who faced this exact prompt. Reluctantly, he drafted a letter of gratitude to his Indian neighbour who had delivered food to his family during the COVID lockdown. It was decent. Predictable. Indian to Indian. Same social and cultural familiarity. Safe.



But something about it didnat sit right. I asked him gently, aWhy are you staying in the familiar zone in a country as culturally rich and complex as Gabon? Where is the solidarity? The human-to-human gratitude that transcends borders, status, and community?a But my questions didnat seem to nudge him out of the frame he had built.



I knew from earlier conversations that his house was under construction. So I decided to plant an ideaaone that could stretch his imagination: aWhat if you wrote to the construction workers building your future home? What if you thanked them not just for laying bricks, but for shaping a dream you havenat even lived yet?a



That thought stirred something. But still, the essay felt half-baked.



And then, in a quiet moment of reflection, he remembered someone elseasomeone he had overlooked. A domestic staff member in his home. Not a teacher by profession, but the very first person who had taught him basic French when he had arrived in Gabon. She had done so informally, with patience, laughter, and affection. She hadnat expected recognition. She had simply shown up.



Thatas when the essay turned. His words found weight. His story found soul. And for the first time in our sessions, I saw him drop his armor. He wrote with genuine humility and warmthaacknowledging not just her role in his adaptation to a new country, but also her impact on who he was becoming.



This is what I mean when I say that gratitudeawhen genuinely exploredadoesnat just transform the essay. It transforms the student. It shows them that the real heroes of their stories are not always in the spotlight. Sometimes, they are standing quietly in the wingsawaiting to be remembered.



Perhaps thatas the real lesson of the left-out prompt: that what we overlook is often what we most need to see.
World Smile Day in Chinese Peacekeeping Camp

China Military Online) 09:39, May 09, 2025

May 8th marks the World Smile Day, a global festival established by the World Mental Health Organization in 1948 to celebrate the human expression. Smile is universal, so is peace. Check out these smiling moments from Chinese peacekeepers. They are assigned to the 11th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Lu Chenchen, Wang Kunbo and Li Ziyang)

May 8th marks the World Smile Day, a global festival established by the World Mental Health Organization in 1948 to celebrate the human expression. Smile is universal, so is peace. Check out these smiling moments from Chinese peacekeepers. They are assigned to the 11th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Lu Chenchen, Wang Kunbo and Li Ziyang)

May 8th marks the World Smile Day, a global festival established by the World Mental Health Organization in 1948 to celebrate the human expression. Smile is universal, so is peace. Check out these smiling moments from Chinese peacekeepers. They are assigned to the 11th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Lu Chenchen, Wang Kunbo and Li Ziyang)

May 8th marks the World Smile Day, a global festival established by the World Mental Health Organization in 1948 to celebrate the human expression. Smile is universal, so is peace. Check out these smiling moments from Chinese peacekeepers. They are assigned to the 11th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Lu Chenchen, Wang Kunbo and Li Ziyang)

May 8th marks the World Smile Day, a global festival established by the World Mental Health Organization in 1948 to celebrate the human expression. Smile is universal, so is peace. Check out these smiling moments from Chinese peacekeepers. They are assigned to the 11th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Lu Chenchen, Wang Kunbo and Li Ziyang)

May 8th marks the World Smile Day, a global festival established by the World Mental Health Organization in 1948 to celebrate the human expression. Smile is universal, so is peace. Check out these smiling moments from Chinese peacekeepers. They are assigned to the 11th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Lu Chenchen, Wang Kunbo and Li Ziyang)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has launched a media campaign against hate speech, stressing the paramount importance of freedom of opinion and expression as a cornerstone of human rights and a pillar of free and democratic societies
New York, US (PANA) - The Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year, as the worlds youngest nation teeters on the brink of renewed conflict
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Northern Irelands award-winning beaches and marinas have been revealed at a ceremony at Belfast Harbour Office.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, who manage the accreditations locally, announced 22 winning sites across 5 council areas. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is home to more than half the winning sites- earning an impressive 12 awards in total. In addition, Cushendall has been confirmed as a designated bathing water.

Other winning sites are spread across Ards and North Down; Newry, Mourne and Down; Belfast and Mid Ulster council areas.

16 sites across Northern Ireland earned the iconic Blue Flag Award- one of the worlds most recognised awards for beaches and marinas.

The ten Blue Flag winning beaches and marinas for Causeway Coast and Glens are Benone Strand (35th Blue Flag success); Downhill Strand; West Strand, Portrush; Castlerock Beach; Whiterocks Beach; East Strand, Portrush; Ballycastle Marina; Rathlin Island Marina; Coleraine Marina and Portrush Harbour and Marina.

Winning sites met international standards in criteria such as safety, accessibility, cleanliness, environmental education and, for beaches, water quality.

A further six beaches across NI received Seaside Awards, the UKs mark of quality that ensures visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive, and well-managed coastal stretch. Ballycastle and Waterfoot beaches were among the sites to receive a Seaside Award.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan said: We are overwhelmed that these prestigious awards have been allocated to our Council area.

With 6 blue flag beaches, 2 seaside awards, recognition for 4 harbours and marinas, and of course, Cushendall now being designated as a bathing water location, it proves once again that our Council area is one of the most scenic on our island.

Thank you to Keep NI Beautiful for these fantastic accolades and well done to all the Council officers who work hard to keep these sites pristine for residents and visitors to Causeway Coast and Glens.

Eric Randall, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: We are extremely pleased that 22 beaches and marinas are being recognised with either a Blue Flag or a Seaside Award. Northern Ireland can rightly be proud of the amazing beaches and marinas we have to enjoy. Our offering is world class, and the public can be assured of an excellent experience when they visit one of these sites.

As we recognise these areas, we need to take steps to protect them for future generations. All parts of government and society must proactively adopt approaches that reverse the devastating impact of the climate emergency and ensure that these areas thrive into the future.

Mayors from across councils, and beach and marina operators were invited to collect the awards.

Award-winning beaches will now have their respective flags in place for this years bathing season. In the event that water quality is not safe for members of the public to swim in the water, Blue Flags and Seaside Awards Flags are lowered until the water is safe to swim in.

Blue Flag Marinas, which are not designated bathing waters, fly their flags all year round.
In a new six-part series, Suzie Lee meets some of Northern Irelands top chefs, including Derry chef Phelim OHagan, and gets to see how they create their signature dishes.

Back at home, Suzie then takes inspiration from all she has learned in the professional kitchen. From shepherds pie to sticky toffee pudding and Korean crispy cauliflower, Suzie shares her easy tips to make the dishes on her home cooked menu, achievable and affordable.

Suzie says: Great Food Made Simple is a completely different concept to any of my previous series, and this time I get to meet six amazing chefs in their natural restaurant habitat.

I go into their kitchen with them where they make me a fabulous three course meal, which I then put my Home Cook Suzie spin on! It was such a delight to shoot and getting to meet these fantastic chefs was just so inspiring!

In episode one of Suzie Lees Great Food Made Simple, Suzie visits 'Artis by Phelim O'Hagan' restaurant in Derry's Craft Village where local chef Phelim OHagan combines fresh local ingredients with French techniques.

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Phelim elevates a simple scallops dish with a pine nut butter and inspired by his unique flavour combinations, Suzie demonstrates how to make nut butter. For dessert, Phelim also takes one of Suzies favourites to a whole new level - Sticky Toffee Pudding Souffle - and she whips up her own version at home.

Suzie Lees Great Food Made Simple, is made by Waddell Media and starts next Friday, May 16 at 7.30pm on BBC iPlayer and BBC One Northern Ireland. The full series will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
A Buncrana man charged with the manslaughter of a father-of-four has indicated that he will plead guilty.

Kevin Grant, who is charged over the death of James Devine in a hit-and-run incident in Clonmany last year, appeared before Buncrana District Court.

Mr Ciaran Elders BL, barrister for Grant, a 37-year-old of Parkmore, Buncrana, told the court that his client will go forward to Letterkenny Circuit Court on a signed plea.

Grant is charged that on May 12, 2024 that he did unlawfully kill one James Devine contrary to common law.

He is further charged with three charges contrary to section 106 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, namely: failing to report the occurrence of a collision; failing to keep the vehicle at the scene and failing to stop.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham was told that the paperwork was not ready.

Sergeant Emmet Brady said the matter was previously adjourned to allow the defence consider their options.

A plea is being entered, Mr Elders informed the court.

The case was adjourned until July 10, 2025 for the signed plea to be formally entered. Grant will then be sent forward to Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Several members of Mr Devines family were present in Buncrana courthouse for the short hearing. Mr Devine, of Drumucklagh, Raphoe, died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on May 15, 2024 and he was laid to rest in Drumoghill.



The late James Devine

The accused man did not appear in on a number of previous occasions.

This time, Grant did appear in person. He was accompanied to court by his mother and the defendant donned a face mask and a pair of sunglasses as he left the courthouse.

When a book of evidence was served on solicitor Mr Pat McMyler in March, Judge Cunningham ordered the appearance of Grant at court.

READ NEXT: Derry restaurant features in Suzie Lees 'Great Food Made Simple' TV series

Legal aid has been granted in the matter. Mr McMyler sought the assignment of two counsel in the case, but Judge Cunningham told him: Im not going to do that at this juncture. It would be one junior and then going forward you can certainly make another application in relation to that - but not at this juncture.

In December, when Grant was brought before the court, Judge Sandra Murphy granted bail upon the accused entering into a bond of 5,000, with 3,000 to be lodged, and also an independent surety of 5,000 being entered, 3,000 of which also had to be lodged to the court.

The court heard that Grant lost his passport so was unable to surrender it at the time. He was ordered not to apply for a new passport or other travel document.

The accused man was placed under a 10pm-5am curfew and told to sign on at a Garda station multiple times each week. He was ordered to have no contact in any way, either directly or indirectly, to include social media or otherwise, with any persons connected to the case and to commit no further offences.
Northern Regional College joinery apprentices Charlie Fleck and Jamie Matthews are setting out on a journey of a lifetime, in an intrepid bid to do the UK proud on the international stage at the next WorldSkills Competition.

Known as the skills olympics, it will be held in Shanghai from 22-27 September 2026.

Following Northern Regional Colleges success in its national skills competitions, WorldSkills UK, in partnership with Pearson, (FTSE: PSON.L), the worlds lifelong learning company has announced that Charlie and Jamie will join its 18-month intensive training programme. Both Charlie and Jamie will be aiming to be selected for the team that will represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai.

It is the first time China has hosted the prestigious WorldSkills competition. The event will see 1500 young people travel to Shanghai from over 80 counties to compete in technical skill disciplines from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality in front of an audience of 250,000.

The WorldSkills competition is considered by global experts as the ultimate test of a nations ability to meet future skills needs. It is attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.

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WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the international WorldSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK, and by working with education, industry and UK governments it is embedding world class training standards throughout the skills sector. This is helping to meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in crucial sectors including engineering, digital, manufacturing and construction.

The UK will be competing in over 30 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, including 3D Digital Game Art, Robot Systems Integration and Renewable Energy.

Charlie Fleck said, To be selected for the WorldSkills UK training programme is a dream come true. Its a massive opportunity to grow my skills, learn from the best, and hopefully represent the UK on a world stage. I cant wait to get started. Ive learned so much during my apprenticeship with Mivan, and their support alongside the College, has played a big part in helping me get to this point.

Jamie Matthews, also employed by leading bespoke joinery company Mivan in Antrim, added, I feel incredibly proud to be part of this journey. The level of support and training were receiving is phenomenal. Its going to be a lot of hard work, but Im excited for the challenge and determined to give it my all.

"Im really grateful for the encouragement Ive had from my employer and lecturing staff at the College.

Mel Higgins, Principal & Chief Executive of Northern Regional College and Trustee of WorldSkills UK, said, Charlie and Jamies selection for the WorldSkills UK training programme is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of their talent, dedication, and hard work.

"It also highlights the vital role that our staff and their employers play in nurturing and supporting young people to reach their full potential. We are incredibly proud of both students and look forward to following their journey as they progress through this prestigious programme.

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: Congratulations to Charlie and Jamie on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, Charlie and Jamie will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy.

"With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications said: Pearson is proud to sponsor Team UK! Boosting the profile and prestige of technical and vocational education is incredibly important to us and I wish this talented group of 86 young people from across the country the best of luck as they begin their training programme towards competing in Shanghai."

Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.
A judge has granted permission for a judicial review on the decision by a Stormont minister to install Irish language signage at Belfasts Grand Central Station.

Mr Justice Scoffield said the challenge against Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins taken by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson had crossed the arguability threshold to merit a judicial review hearing.

Under Stormont rules, ministerial decisions that are deemed significant or controversial should be considered collectively by the powersharing coalition, rather than by an individual minister.

Mr Bryson contends Ms Kimmins should have brought the issue of installing Irish language signs at the new Belfast transport hub to the wider Executive for decision because it was a controversial matter.

At a hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield granted Mr Bryson leave for a judicial review, which will take place in September.

The planned 150,000 project to install the signs has been paused until October pending the outcome of the legal challenge.

Sinn Fein minister Ms Kimmins gave the go-ahead for the signage in March, but her announcement sparked a row with other ministers.

The DUP insisted she had a legal duty to bring the decision to the wider Executive.

As part of his legal challenge, Mr Bryson submitted to the court correspondence and statements he had secured from DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Elliott, TUV leader Jim Allister, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Mervyn Gibson on the issue of the signs.

He also referred to public comments by DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly when she said it was bizarre to suggest the issue was not controversial.

The activist said the evidence offered a powerful indication that the matter was controversial and, as such, should have been referred to the Executive.

Urging the judge to grant leave, Mr Bryson insisted his application pole-vaults over the threshold to merit a judicial review.

In March, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston sought support from other Assembly members for a petition to refer the decision to the Executive for a discussion.

The petition required 30 MLA signatures to succeed but ultimately Mr Gaston was the only member of the house to sign it.

Arguing against leave, Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Department for Infrastructure, said the failure of the petition showed there was not a flicker of controversy about the decision within the Assembly.

It registered a nil return in terms of controversy, he told the judge.

Mr Bryson insisted the failure of the petition was not evidence of a lack of controversy. He said a successful petition would only have required Executive ministers to have a discussion on the signage issue and would not have compelled a wider Executive vote on the matter.

He said the reason that DUP MLAs did not sign the petition was because the partys ministers had already secured a discussion on the matter by raising it under any other business at an Executive meeting at the start of April.

In outlining his decision to grant leave, Mr Justice Scoffield cited Ms Little-Pengellys comments and Mr Robinsons letter.

He said Mr Bryson had offered enough evidence to cross the threshold for holding a judicial review.

It does seem to be theres enough in the applicants case to get over the threshold at this stage, he said.

The case will be reviewed again next month ahead of the full hearing, which is expected to last one day, in September.
The public has been urged to be vigilant to the risk of wildfires in rural areas of Northern Ireland this weekend.

The advice comes as firefighters are continuing to tackle a blaze in Co Tyrone.

Ten fire appliances and 50 firefighters are at the scene of the wildfire in Ballagh Road, Clogher.

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) western area commander David Doherty urged people to be responsible and vigilant with sunny weather expected at the weekend.

He said: Wildfire incidents are not only challenging and physically demanding for our firefighters, it is extremely resource-intensive for our service and partner agencies who are working in high temperatures.

We would like to reassure the public that contingency plans are in place and we will continue to respond to incidents across Northern Ireland should the public need us.

Very often these fires are started deliberately. Purposely setting a wildfire is a criminal offence.

If you see a fire or see someone intentionally setting a fire, please report it immediately by calling 999.

With a weather warning remaining in place for wildfires across Northern Ireland this weekend, we are appealing for the public to stay vigilant to the risk of fire in the countryside. Read our full statement: https://t.co/9EjWfd2BRq pic.twitter.com/I3KNy5OlGm  Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) May 9, 2025

The responsibility of preventing fires belongs to all of us and we all need to do our part in protecting our beautiful countryside and green spaces.

Please avoid using open fires and extinguish smoking materials, barbecues, camping fires and any other type of flame.

Mr Doherty added: I would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our firefighters, control-room operators and support employees who have worked tirelessly in recent days to ensure the safety of our community across Northern Ireland, including our partner agencies.

Firefighters in Northern Ireland have dealt with hundreds of wildfires in recent weeks.

Stormonts Environment Minister Andrew Muir urged anyone with information about deliberate fires to contact police.

He said: The current fire near Clogher is another stark reminder on how quickly they can spread, creating significant risk to life and property while causing extensive environmental damage.

The fire in Counties Tyrone and Monaghan has torn through approximately a third of a precious protected site which includes a special area of conservation for the endangered hen harrier during nesting season as well as important blanket bog habitat.

With the current conditions set to last into the weekend and beyond I plead with everyone to heed the elevated hazard warning issued, remain extra vigilant to fires in our countryside and report to the police or Crimestoppers anyone you know involved in deliberate and malicious fires.

Those who know the individuals involved must come forward and help us apprehend the culprits wreaking destruction across our countryside.

Mr Muir added: Once ignited, fire can spread rapidly, especially in areas with dead grasses, gorse, forestry and heather.

Large areas can become engulfed in a very short period of time putting life, property and wildlife at real risk.

This activity must stop before someone is killed or injured.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: Gorse fires have the potential to cause widespread damage to the environment and harm to wildlife, as well as threatening homes, farms and the people living in those areas.

The unpredictability of fire can also mean that those causing them may be putting their own lives at risk as well as the lives of the fire service personnel and other emergency services tasked to deal with them.

I would remind the public that deliberate setting of wildfires is a criminal offence and if you see anyone setting a fire you should contact us immediately.

Anyone caught deliberately setting a wildfire will be prosecuted to the full extent that the law allows.
British musician Self Esteem has said she is comfortable being on the Glastonbury line-up with the band Kneecap following an investigation by counter-terrorism officers over a kill your MP video.

Several gigs were cancelled after footage from November 2023 resurfaced, allegedly showing one member saying: The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.

Footage from November 2024 is also being investigated which appears to show one member of the Belfast rap trio saying up Hamas, up Hezbollah.

The group apologised to the families of murdered MPs but claimed footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised, while they also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK.

There have since been calls from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to ban the group while other MPs, Jewish groups, as well as former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, have said they should be dropped from the Glastonbury line-up.

Self Esteem, also known as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, is due to perform at the music festival.

She told Rosie Wright on Times Radio that she thinks it is important the Irish band do not get censored.

She said: I feel very comfortable sharing a line-up with them.

I think its important that they dont get censored, personallyI think it would be a problem (for) culture, art, freedom of speech.

Formed in 2017, Kneecap is made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, and is known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language.

Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream have defended the band.

They signed a statement saying there is a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform Kneecap, while claiming that politicians are strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band while ignoring a genocide in Gaza.
Stranger Things, Netflixs hit sci-fi horror series, is preparing for its much-awaited finale. Since its 2016 debut, the show has captivated audiences with its perfect mix of supernatural horror and unforgettable characters. After an intense Season 4 filled with dramatic twists, fans are eager to see how the final chapter will resolve long-running mysteries and bring the story to a conclusion.

Whether youve been a fan from the start or recently joined the adventure, theres a lot to look forward to in Stranger Things Season 5. Heres everything we know so far about the last season of Stranger Things.

Stranger Things Season 5 is confirmed to premiere in 2025. While Netflix hasnt revealed the exact release date, rumours suggest that the first six episodes could arrive on October 10. The remaining two episodes are expected to be released on November 27.

Also read: Bridgerton Season 4 release timeline, plot, cast, and other details we know

Stranger Things Season 5 episode titles

Set in the fall of 1987, the fifth and final season will consist of eight episodes. Netflix has already unveiled the names of the episodes, though Episode 2s full name remains a mystery. This has led fans to speculate wildly, with many believing the missing piece may be linked to earlier events in the series.

Here are the confirmed titles so far:

Episode 1: The Crawl

Episode 2: The Vanishing of 

Episode 3: The Turnbow Trap

Episode 4: Sorcerer

Episode 5: Shock Jock

Episode 6: Escape from Camazotz

Episode 7: The Bridge

Episode 8: The Rightside Up

Stranger Things Season 5 cast

The main Hawkins crew will all return for Season 5, but several new characters will also join the adventure. New faces include Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly and Alex Breaux. In a major casting highlight, The Terminator star Linda Hamilton is also joining the final season. Speaking at Netflixs 2023 Tudum event, she said, I dont know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time.

Also read: Alice in Borderland Season 3 release timeline, streaming details and more

What to expect in Stranger Things Season 5

The Duffer Brothers have already mapped out the story for the finale and even crafted a 25-page document detailing the secrets of the Upside Down. In 2022, Ross Duffer revealed during Geeked Week, The last remaining questions that are answered in that document, weve punted a couple of those to have some big reveals in Season 5. He added, And thats really going to affect what Season 5 is about.
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Huawei unveils HarmonyOS PC ahead of HDC 2025 debut to challenge Windows dominance

Huawei officially launched its HarmonyOS PC operating system on May 8, expanding into the computer market with a rebuilt OS featuring enhanced performance, security, and cross-device collaboration. The move positions Huawei to challenge Windows' dominance as it prepares to debut its first HarmonyOS-based PC at HDC 2025 next month.

According to Huawei Central, on May 8, Huawei has officially launched its HarmonyOS PC operating system, marking its expansion into the computer market. At its HarmonyOS Computer Technology and Ecosystem Communication Event, the company showcased a rebuilt OS featuring enhancements across the HarmonyOS Base, Ecosystem, and Experience layers. The system supports over 150 exclusive application, 2000+ universal application, and compatibility with 1000+ external devices, emphasizing smooth performance, advanced visuals, robust security, and multi-device collaboration features.

The HarmonyOS PC integrates Ark graphics for fluid visuals, StarShield Security for data protection, and Nearlink-powered device tracking. It also enables cross-device functions such as keyboard and mouse sharing, application continuation, and seamless office collaboration, positioning it as a key player in China's PC ecosystem.

HarmonyOS 6 and Huawei's PC ambitions to take center stage at HDC 2025

Meanwhile, Huawei's Developer Conference (HDC 2025) will take place from June 20 to 22. Alongside unveiling the latest HarmonyOS design upgrades, the company is expected to debut its first HarmonyOS-based PC, officially entering the desktop OS market.

At HDC 2024, Huawei launched HarmonyOS NEXT, its first version built entirely on OpenHarmony, with a focus on seamless, cross-device integration. HarmonyOS 6 is set to follow as the second native iteration, promising improved performance, security, and intelligent interconnectivity.

The event is expected to detail the HarmonyOS PC's system architecture, including enhanced cybersecurity, multi-device integration, and native AI capabilities, aimed at drawing developers and ecosystem partners into the fold.

Pushing for OS autonomy in China's AI PC era

Huawei began developing HarmonyOS in 2012 and released version 1.0 in 2019. By 2024, it launched HarmonyOS 5the first version fully severed from Android dependencies.

HarmonyOS now runs on devices such as the Mate 60 smartphones, MatePad tablets, and Aito EVs. It holds a 19% share of China's mobile OS marketsecond only to Androidand exceeds 4% globally.

In March, Huawei Executive Director and Consumer BG Chairman Richard Yu teased the arrival of a "new HarmonyOS family member." He also warned in 2024 that Windows PCs could eventually be out of reach, emphasizing Huawei's push for a homegrown alternative.

With AI PCs forecast by Canalys to grow from 18% of global shipments in 2024 to 40% by 2025, Huawei's launch timing positions HarmonyOS PC as a strategic play in the race for AI-native, locally controlled desktop systems.

Separately, Shenzhen Kaihong Digital Industry Development Co., led by Wang Chenglu, former head of Huawei's software division, showcased its open-source HarmonyOS PC, the "Kaihong Computer," at the 8th Digital China Summit on May 2.

The Kaihong Computer supports popular apps like QQ, WeChat, Alibaba's DingTalk, and Tencent Meeting, and includes built-in AI features, highlighting the rise of China's domestically integrated hardware-software ecosystems.

By bringing HarmonyOS to desktops, Huawei is aiming for Windows' long-standing dominance while positioning itself as a frontrunner in China's growing Information Technology Application Innovation (ITAI) sector.

Article edited by Jingyue Hsiao
Japan's Denso, Rohm forge chip alliance targeting EVs and autonomous driving

On May 8, Japanese automotive parts supplier Denso and chipmaker Rohm Semiconductor announced a strategic partnership aimed at deepening collaboration in semiconductor development and production. Citing reports from Nikkei and Car Watch, the companies said the alliance will span joint chip development, integrated manufacturing, and coordinated raw material procurement, with implementation details to be finalized later.

Denso has long sourced chips from Rohm, but the new pact will expand the relationship into co-manufacturing. The partners intend to integrate their semiconductor expertise to jointly develop analog ICs tailored for electric vehicles (EVs), advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and autonomous driving. Their collaboration will focus on analog sensor chips and complementary technologies for next-generation automotive platforms.

The companies also plan to expand cooperation in other mutually compatible areas of their semiconductor businesses. Separately, Denso revealed it had acquired a minority stake in Rohm via open market purchases ahead of the partnership announcement, characterizing the investment as modest but withholding financial details.

Denso has been ramping up efforts to fortify its semiconductor supply chain. It previously invested in JASM, the wafer fab subsidiary of TSMC in Kumamoto, Japan, to stabilize its access to automotive-grade chips.

In November 2023, Denso committed US$500 million to Coherent's silicon carbide (SiC) wafer unit, acquiring a 12.5% stake. The move was aimed at securing a stable supply of SiC power semiconductors critical to enhancing its EV inverter performance.

Article edited by Jack Wu
US and UK reach breakthrough trade agreement as Trump signals strategic realignment

On May 8, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer jointly announced the near-finalization of a long-anticipated bilateral trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to the White House, the "Great Deal for America" has been planned for a while. In February, Trump promised to secure "a great trade agreement" with the UK  and he fulfilled that promise with a landmark deal that broadens market access, reduces non-tariff barriers, and creates fairer conditions for US exporters.

Starmer, joining the call via speaker phone, hailed a "really fantastic, historic day" for transatlantic growth that will expand trade, create jobs, and strengthen the economic bond between the two allies.

The agreement is set to greatly enhance US access to the UK market, opening up an estimated US$5 billion in new export opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers.

The US's first bilateral carve-out deal

The British government announced that under the new trade accord, US tariffs on British automobiles will be sharply reduced from 27.5% to 10%, while levies on steel and aluminum exports will be eliminated. Despite these concessions, the UK will remain subject to the Trump administration's 10 percent baseline tariff on all goods entering the American market.

According to Politico, details of the deal are still emerging. Speaking from the Oval Office, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the agreement "opened up new market access" for a wide range of American exports, including ethanol, beef, machinery, and other agricultural goods. He also confirmed that the UK will purchase US$10 billion worth of Boeing aircraft.

In the details of the US-UK trade agreement, Britain has agreed to import 13,000 tonnes of American beef, on the condition that it meets high-quality standards while securing reciprocal access for British farmers to the US market.

Among the key provisions, a tariff on US ethanol exports to the UK has been eliminated. However, Britain's digital services taxa charge primarily targeting large tech firmsremains in place, despite earlier expectations that it might be rolled back during negotiations.

Article edited by Jingyue Hsiao
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Former Louth TD Gerry Adams was not mentioned in interactions between the solicitor representing the family of a man who was killed and a BBC team making a documentary on the matter, a libel trial relating to the programme has heard.

Mr Adams is suing the BBC over accusations contained in a broadcast of the Spotlight documentary series and an accompanying online article which alleged he had sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

In 2009 the Real IRA admitted killing Mr Donaldson, and the Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016.

At the High Court in Dublin on Thursday, Mr Adams barrister Tom Hogan brought the familys solicitor from the time of the programme as a witness.

Ciaran Shiels, a solicitor and partner at Madden and Finucane Solicitors, told the court that the BBC was not only barking up the wrong tree but was in the wrong orchard over the claims against Mr Adams.

Mr Shiels said he represented Mr Donaldson and his family from a period before his death until a period after the broadcast.

He said he came to act as a spokesperson for the family after Mr Donaldsons death but said he no longer does so.

Mr Shiels, who works mainly in criminal defence work, told the jury about his interactions with the BBC team in the months up to the broadcast  including journalist Jennifer OLeary.

He said he did not represent Mr Adams and said his concern was about the relatives of Mr Donaldson.

Asked if there was any mention of Mr Adams in any of his interactions with the BBC, Mr Shiels said: I dont think his name was even suggested.

Nowhere, and I would have remembered if it had.

Asked by Mr Hogan what he would have said to Ms OLeary if she had put forward the allegations against Mr Adams, Mr Shiels said: I would have said to her that not only was she barking up the wrong tree, she wasnt even in the right orchard.

He said the idea that Mr Adams somehow authorised the murder or that it was the Provisional IRA that carried it out did not marry in any way with the lines of inquiry being followed by police, the understanding of the family, or common sense.

Mr Shiels said it was a pretty perverse statement and depiction as to what happened.

He added that the family did not accept or believe in any way that Mr Adams had anything to do with it.

Mr Shiels added: Mr Adams was seen as a family friend, he was trusted by the family, the family would have felt that he had integrity, the family would be streetwise enough to know that the persons who the guards had identified as people who would be  they believed to be involved in the murder would have no truck with Mr Adams and Mr Adams would have no truck with them.

Earlier in the proceedings, Mr Shiels said he had been contacted by Ms OLeary from the BBC on April 4 2016  the 10th anniversary of Mr Donaldsons death.

He said they wanted to speak to him about a number of issues, including the Stormontgate affair which involved an allegation that Sinn Fein was operating a spy ring in which Mr Donaldson was arrested, how that resulted in the collapse of powersharing institutions, and the circumstances under which he had outed himself as an informant.

Mr Shiels said he was also concerned after being asked if he knew why Mr Donaldson had become a British agent and there were discussions about indiscretion in his private life  that there may have been an affair or that he may have been a homosexual.

He said the family had a right to privacy and that there had been a previous quite sensationalist and gory documentary which featured a reconstruction of the murder that hurt the family.

Mr Shiels said that Mr Donaldsons location had been front page news in a newspaper three weeks prior to his killing, and added that the family were concerned about further irresponsible journalism taking place.

He said: People were still grieving, people were still trying to get on with their lives.

It was very difficult to see what possible good could come from this.

Mr Shiels added: Previously when this subject was looked at in the media, this ended in disaster.

At the same time, he said the family were demoralised that an inquest into Mr Donaldsons death was not commencing substantively.

Under questioning from Mr Hogan, Mr Shiels outlined a series of correspondence and interactions between him and the BBC about the upcoming programme.

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He said it was made clear that the family did not want to take part in the documentary but it was put forward that he would be interviewed on their behalf.

He said at some point relationships between the BBC and the family went south.

Mr Shiels said the family had five years prior put out a press statement outlining frustrations that Irish police, An Garda Siochana, were primarily focused on who had pulled the trigger to kill Mr Donaldson rather than the circumstances around him being burned as an agent.

He said this involved him being notified there was a threat to his life, and interactions with his handler known as Lenny.

Mr Shiels said the family were credulous that gardai could not see a linkage between the two and that that was where the inquiry should be starting.
Five other sources corroborated allegations about former Louth TD Gerry Adams that were made by an anonymous contributor to a BBC documentary, lawyers representing the broadcaster have told a libel trial.

Mr Adams is suing the BBC over what he has deemed to be a grievous smear made by a confidential source in a Spotlight documentary that alleged he had sanctioned the killing of a former Sinn Fein official who turned out to be an informant.

He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

In 2009, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing, and the Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016 while a garda investigation into the matter was ongoing.

In the programme, a man identified as Martin who says he was a former agent for Special Branch, claims that the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and said Mr Adams gives the final say.

Mr Adamss legal team says his reputation as a peacemaker had suffered an unjustified attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme, and the online article with the headline: Gerry Adams sanctioned Denis Donaldson killing.

At the High Court in Dublin on Friday, Mr Adamss barrister Tom Hogan SC brought forward a witness with knowledge of journalistic standards to provide an opinion on the contents of the programme and accompanying website report.

John Martin OLoan told the jury that it was his opinion there was no evidence in the programme or article that the BBC corroborated the allegation that Mr Adams had sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson.

He said he arrived to this conclusion after being tasked with putting together an impartial and independent report by Mr Adamss legal team, which examined discovery information for the case, correspondence between the BBC and Mr Adamss legal team before and after the broadcast, and editorial standards as well as the broadcast and article at issue in the action.

Mr OLoan has previously held roles involving senior editorial responsibility, including by establishing Sky News.

However, under cross-examination by Eoin McCullough SC for the BBC, he was told that the BBC had five other sources for claims made by Martin in the programme.

Mr McCullough said there were a total of three other sources from the security community and two republican sources, which corroborated the allegations made by Martin.

Martin was not the only source to give the programme team this information, the programme team received the information from multiple, authoritative, credible, confidential sources.

He put it to Mr OLoan that this information was contained in material that was provided to him in advance of him compiling a supplementary report, which he also relied on for his evidence in court on Thursday.

During a lengthy exchange, Mr OLoan acknowledged that there were references to additional sources in the material, which he accepted was, in all likelihood, provided to him, but initially said he could not specifically read the exact letter in question.

He said that he was primarily concerned with what was contained in the broadcast and in the article, adding that the additional sources were not mentioned or explained to the audience in the reports.

He added that he was not convinced by the BBC statement on other sources.

Asked if he was telling the court that he had decided to deliberately exclude the information because he deemed it to be irrelevant, Mr OLoan said what was in his report was about the programme and that the information about the additional sources was not credible.

If I left things out, it was deliberate. It was all a deliberate view based on my background as to the process to publication.

Earlier in Thursdays proceedings, Mr OLoan had told the court: The BBC did not meet the editorial thresholds of responsible journalism in its inclusion and presentation of the solo anonymous allegations against Mr Adams.

He said it was his view that the steps taken by the BBC to verify the claim of Mr Adamss involvement in Mr Donaldsons killing fell below the standards expected in investigative reporting in terms of fairness and legal risk mitigation.

He said the segment containing the allegation that he had sanctioned the killing lacked sufficient editorial veracity to be published.

Mr OLoan said the programme relied solely on the anonymous source for the claim, with no further documentation or verification to support the serious criminal allegation.

He said the BBC had five months prior to broadcast to back the claim up, and that broadcast should have been delayed if that was not long enough, or a justification should have been given.

He said the motivations, credibility, and background of Martin were not given beyond that he was a spy, and that the interview did not include a challenge or request to justify his claim.

Mr OLoan said the sources reliability was not clarified and viewers were offered no means to assess his credibility, which should have been required under BBC guidelines.

He said the claim was given disproportionate prominence in the programme.

Mr McCullough told Mr OLoan that the programme states Martins motivation was to prevent further outbreaks of violence.

Mr OLoan said there were legitimate concerns of inherent bias because documentation provided by the BBC said the programme was informed by the journalists pre-existing knowledge of allegations made against Mr Adams.

He said this should have required increased editorial caution rather than fewer, and triggered an even bigger response to test the assertion made by the anonymous source.

The witness later agreed with Mr McCullough when the barrister said it would be for the jury to decide if there was bias when they hear later evidence from people involved in the programme.

Mr OLoan said editorial standards were not applied to that section of the programme and guidelines on accuracy, fairness, impartiality, anonymous sourcing and responsible journalism did not appear to be adequately followed.

He said the segment aired without editorial disclaimers or qualifications to alert the audience that the claim was verified and added that an omission of on-air scrutiny could lead a viewer to reasonably infer that the BBC accepted the claim at face value and gave weight to the allegation.

Mr McCullough told Mr OLoan that the programme contains a response from Mr Adamss solicitor that the former Sinn Fein president denied involvement.

He added that the programme also contains information about the ongoing investigation and the claim of responsibility from the Real IRA.

In the online article, Mr OLoan said the headline quoted the central claim but provided no immediate context by identifying the allegation as coming from an unverified, anonymous source.

He said this could invite the reader to interpret the claim as fact and suggested institutional endorsement by the BBC.

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On his knowledge of meetings and correspondence between the BBC and the solicitor representing the Donaldson family, Mr OLoan said the allegation against Mr Adams was not raised.

He said the response of the family would have been valuable to the programme and this was an opportunity for additional background that was not taken.

He said this showed a lack of journalistic robustness if deliberate, or if not deliberate, a lack of good journalistic judgement.

Mr OLoan said this indicated that the journalists werent trying very hard to back up or find additional information for the claim against Mr Adams, adding: They didnt seem to be digging very far.

He said: Despite starting cautiously in May, they seemed to have rushed it in the home stretch.

The case continues.
The cases of two men who suffered in the school system in the 1970s were raised in Leinster House last week by Louth Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu who revealed how one of the men contacted him after the controversy over the unnecessary hip operations at Temple Street.

The Louth man, who is now in his sixties, spoke to Deputy O Murchu after the TD did an interview on LMFM, about Childrens Health Ireland and the scandal at Temple Street.

Deputy O Murchu told the Dail: The man's mother died when he was six months old. He had meningitis at 16 months old and as a result, began having problems with his hip. He had osteomyelitis, which is an infection that affects the bone, and needed treatment.

He was placed in a hospital setting and was there for years, probably between 1970 and 1973. He attended school while he was in hospital. He also spoke about what I will just refer to as treatment, although everyone can imagine what happened within this setting.

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The doctors tell him now that they find the details of the operations which he has undergone, and which have impacted his life, to be incredibly strange. I will be looking for Government engagement at an official level on this case.

Another man spoke to the TD about historic abuse, both physical and sexual, within a school setting. Deputy O Murchu said: He brought the matter to the attention of An Garda Siochana but it has not been progressed. He is not even sure whether the inquiry that is to happen in respect of sexual abuse in schools will relate to him. But he wants answers.

I ask the Minister and her Government colleagues to ensure that there is communication with the people involved in these two cases. I will pass on the details in order that matters might be progressed.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has already visited Ireland on a number of occasions, having been in Tipperary for a special religious celebration 20 years ago.

While serving as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, Robert Prevost, who was revealed to the world on Thursday as Pope Leo XIV, visited Fethard in Co Tipperary for a special commemoration of his order. He also visited Cork in 2007, as well as Limerick.

The Abbey in Fethard was marking 700 years at the time in 2005 and Fr Prevost was among the visitors to the town.

Publican Jasper McCarthy from McCarthy's of Fethard took to Facebook to share the news, posting: "This is something that I never thought I would say. I met the Pope. In McCarthys.

"He has visited Fethard on more than one occasion. He was the General of the Augustinian Order and he came to town for the celebration of 700 years of the Abbey in Fethard. Fr Gerry Horan was the head of the Order in Ireland at the time, and was based in Fethard, so Pope Leo was actually in Fethard two or three times.

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"And I remember being introduced to him by Fr Gerry when they were in for lunch one day. So when I heard that a former head of the Augustinian Order was made Pope today, I rang Fr Gerry to see if it was the same man. It was."

Tipperary priest Father Iggy ODonovan was among those commenting today on the new Pope having met him and known him as a student.

Fr O'Donovan told Newstalk: I knew him in Rome in our student days and somehow I made my way to the back benches. He seems to have done a little better.

Telling presenter Kieran Cuddihy that he new the new Pope Leo XIV as 'Bob Prevost,' he added: "He's certainly emphasising very much the message of Francis. He mentioned him several times there."

"He was from Chicago, a member of the Augustinian Order like myself. We were in Rome at the same time as students, and he spent much of his time in Latin America, in Peru. He also became the Prior General of the Augustinian Order for eight years, for 12 years he held that post," he said.

He described him as "a highly intelligent man, a polyglot," adding, "youll notice he is speaking in Spanish now, English is obviously his first language but he has perfection in Italian I notice.

"The Pope has been around. A good guy and middle of the road, I would say very much middle of the road.

Another Irish friend of his reckons he will return to Ireland as Pope. Fr Tony Finn, says that the new Pope loved his time in Ireland, adding, "he will come to Ireland, I know that he will come to Ireland at the first opportunity. I'd say less [than five years].

I don't know when, but he'll certainly come. He will go to the US, to Africa, and Peru," he added.
Sitting in the sunshine at Springfort Hall in Mallow with cheerful, chatty Charlie Drake and his wife Ellen, it is hard to imagine he is 81 years old and has dementia.

Reading his recently launched book, My Life, My Story, My Way, that documents Charlies amazing, varied life, it is clear he is an accomplished historian and writer, having already published an in-depth account of the Clonbanin Ambush in North Cork, and helping to make a documentary about the historical event.

How did Charlie, dad to seven children, get an invitation to Aras an Uachtarain to present President Higgins and his wife Sabina with a copy of the book about the ambush?

It was one hell of a task! says Charlie laughing. I had tried without success to get an invitation to the Presidents home. While I got lovely replies, I got nowhere.

Then he met Michael and Sabina Higgins in the middle of nowhere.

I had a chance meeting with the couple on a dangerous bend on the Ring of Beara in West Cork, recalls Charlie. Mrs Higgins let down the window and said, You are in a dangerous place, back up a bit.

Charlie always one to grab every opportunity, told the President he knew all about his mother and father and about the part they both played in the War of Independence.

We exchanged pleasantries, and I told them about the book, says Charlie. The President asked if he could get a copy and I took the bull by the horns and said myself and the ambush committee would love to come to the Aras and present the book to him personally, says Charlie.

I explained that I had already tried through his staff.

Dont mind them, the President said. I will give you a number now to call to get it all fixed up.

Charlie adds: Our committee, the Clonbanin Ambush Centenary Committee, spent the most fabulous day at the Aras.

I was very proud of my address that day, which I wrote myself, adds Charlie, a native of Derinagree in north-west Cork. Although I pointed out that I wasnt a great or accomplished speaker.

He is a master storyteller though.

Charlie Drake cutting the celebratory cake with his family during the launch of his book at the Sandpit House Bar & Restaurant, Dromagh, last Sunday

Reading My Life, My Story, My Way, Charlie talks of times gone by, about societal changes over the last seven decades, about hardship, labour, love, community, and immigration. It will appeal to the Irish masses both at home and abroad, evoking nostalgic memories of yesteryear.

In his book, Charlie has outlined an in-depth lifetime of memories and stories that tell of his early days, the hands that raised him, his school days, his time working for local farmers and with animals, about neighbours and communities that interacted during the 1950s right up to the present day.

I write about my family, about Kitty and Ellen, my two wives, both loves of my life, I write about going to England and working very hard there and raising a family, says Charlie.

Times were tough in England when the Irish were not welcome there. The late Bishop Casey was a good friend to us and helped us out when things got rough. There were some rough days to be sure.

I ask Charlie to tell me about the day he realised he might have dementia, and why the proceeds of My Life, My Story, My Way are going to The North Cork Dementia Alliance Group,

The first thing I have to say is this, says Charlie. I am extremely lucky to have Ellen because I know that, without her, I would greatly struggle.

Charlie has shown resilience all his life.

I kept telling myself, its not going to beat me, he says.

My doctor referred me to the memory resource room at Mallow Primary Healthcare Centre to attend the first of the six-week course with Sheena Cadoo. It was very positive and good for me. This is where I learned to deal with dementia.

How did he deal with the incident that prompted the diagnosis of dementia in 2018?

I was driving to Mallow to see a friend who was terminally ill, says Charlie. All of a sudden, I felt completely lost. I didnt have a clue where I was, or who I was, or where I was going or coming from.

I pulled into the hard shoulder, switched off the engine. I had been in the FCA as a youth and knew not to panic. I sat there with my eyes closed, a total blank feeling. Then I thought of the phone, but I couldnt remember who I wanted to ring or the number. A few minutes after, the number came to me and I rang Ellen. We went to the GP, and I was diagnosed from there.

Charlie thrived well from there.

I decided dementia wasnt going to beat me. The first thing I learned is to make sure I dont have the auto-pilot on and switch it off, he says.

Ive learned to say aloud what Ill do next, like Im going to boil an egg. I am going to set my egg timer.

One of the best tips I got from Sheena was always have a notebook and pen handy, and write down what you want to remember.

Charlie is in a position to help others diagnosed with dementia.

I am really proud to be able to help in some small way, he says. Helping others diagnosed with dementia, to accept, understand and be assured it doesnt mean its the beginning of the end. I fully intend to do whatever I can to promote, support and explain my experiences of the services provided to us by the North Cork Dementia Alliances Group.

The proceeds of his book will help in no small way.

Charlie must be very proud of his book.

I dont say Im proud of anything in my life, he says. But yes, I must say I am proud of the book. It is a record for my grandchildren to have.

He is proud of Ellen too, who proof-read the book.

She is my soul mate and my rock, and she looks after me, he says. Anything I want, Ellen will get it for me, so happy days.

Charlie also wants to thank his grandson, Dave Drake, for his help with the book. The person that spent endless hours by my side fixing, sizing and re-sizing, organising and positioning all the photos as well as helping me retrieve material I had accidently deleted, and all the other problems I encountered during the writing of this book.

Does he want to say anything else?

Only that I wouldnt change a minute of my life. I have no regrets.

Before I say goodbye to Charlie and Ellen, he has a few Irish blessings for me that we havent heard in a while.

May the dreams you hold dearest, be those which come true. The kindness you spread keeps returning to you. May the grass be green you walk on. May blue be the skies above you. That pure be the joys that surround you. May be true the hearts that love you.

My Life, My Story, My Way, by Charlie Drake, 25. When all initial expenses are recovered, all the following proceeds are being donated to the North Cork Dementia Alliance Group.

Contact Charlie on: 086 8403914 or 029 78017 or email:drake.charliedrake@gmail.com
What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Weekdays are busy with work, family, travel and school. I tend to go to theatres and dinners during the week so we can kick back with the kids at weekends. Friday is the day for the eldest to come back from university, the middle from school and our youngest gets very excited to have them return. My husband travels a lot so we tend to have a family dinner on Friday night. In or out, we dont mind, but its a time to catch up and hang out. My brother has kids the same age as my youngest so they usually go off exploring and making mischief someplace.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

The only reason I get up early is to be with my 10-year-old, the happiest chap every morning. No matter the mood, you cant but smile. But if I had no smiley one Id sleep all day. What a treat!

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Always, but Ive learned from my husband to segment it. Hes brilliant with the juggle and will work around the kids schedules. Their routines run weekends and we like to plan excursions.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

Paris with my girlfriends. I moved there after university and I now visit a few times a year with my Canadian gals. We used to live in Toronto when I was Editor of Hello! Magazine and made some great friends. We had our babies, crazy busy jobs and hectic juggling of schedules so now Paris is our catch-up city. We have a routine and pack a lot into the two nights and three days.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

I have one room in the house that is so boring nobody else goes in there. Its yellow and small and has books and seating but nothing else. Its got access to outside and has lots of natural light and its mine. Some days when everyone is out I cocoon in here.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

Always. Our farm in Kinsale is called OTIL  Opposite the In Laws! - named by my husband as we live directly opposite my parents. Ridiculous, but my parents are a lot of fun and have way more stamina that us! So we have lots of friends and family always. Rooms have bunk beds for extra kids and weve often housed guests between both houses.

Ciara with her mum, Mareta Doyle. They are behind a new festival running in Kinsale on May 10 and 11.

Do you get to indulge in any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

When were in Kinsale we spend as much time on the water as we can - boats, swims, sails.

My boys will swim all year round. I admire from afar. If I get too close theyll drag me in.

We walk the land a lot. Weve been planting trees and practising regenerative farming so have been admiring all our efforts. When we initially bought the farm there was no birdsong or insects humming and we love that this is loud and buzzing around us.

Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter do you have a signature dish?

We love entertaining and often have friends travelling in for the weekend. Our house has been built for entertaining so aside from our favourite dinner spots well cook in. The easiest dish is a filet of beef (flash fry) and cook in the oven for 20 minutes, sweet potato fries (an Ottolenghi recipe although I use it loosely as I never quite follow recipes!) and whatever veg is in season. And if my mum has popped over Ill do a salad as her dressing is the best. We have a large island so like for guests to come and sit while we prepare. My husband is also great in the kitchen so we share a lot of the cooking.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

Im a Kinsale girl as Ive been coming here since I was 11-years-old. My dinner go tos are always St Francis and the Black Pig. Very different and delicious menus and owned by some fab females (Barbara and Siobhan - and Gavin too!). Everyone who visits us is brought to these meccas. The Bulman for a Guinness and a packet of Tayto for sundowners followed by Shirleys Fish and Chip van at Charles Fort.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

We usually have a Lupper - lunch/supper and its generally not at home. Its one of the nicest meals with the family before we all disperse for the week. We wait for this meal all day long and eat and eat. Its the best.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

Having got up with kids for the last two decades Ill usually wake up without an alarm around 6.30am. It still kills me as Im a sleeper by nature.

Anything else you are up to right now...

My mum (Mareta Doyle) and I have our Fashion and Farming Festival in Kinsale this May (May 10 and 11). Its really about bringing attention to climate issues, problems with our land and how we can remedy that - and sustainability in clothing, where we unite the worlds of fashion and farming by exploring what we wear and buy - and how we treat the earth we share with each other.

It will be a terrific weekend of talks with Irish and international speakers, bringing together these creative minds, change makers and dreamers to sow the seeds for fresh ideas.

This inaugural weekend of the festival will also be combined with music and food for all to learn, and have a lot of fun with our first outing of the event.
A man caught with a 16,000 stash of cocaine at his home more than two years ago was at deaths door at the time of the arrest, and now believes that the gardai carrying out this search saved his life.

Garda Conor Smiddy said the home of Paul Cummins was searched at Bantry Park Road, Fair Hill, Cork, on March 23, 2023.

A number of drugs were recovered in the search, most significantly a quantity of cocaine with a street value of 16,000.

Defence barrister Brendan Kelly said that the 44-year-old defendant had no previous convictions and had worked for 26 years.

However, he had some addiction and health issues, but he is a different guy today, Mr Kelly said.

In fact, the intervention of the gardai on the date of the search saved his life. He was at deaths door when he was arrested.

In all the circumstances, Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a sentence of three years, which he suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The funeral will take place later today of a 13 year old girl who died whilst taking part in a hot rod rally at the Cork Autograss Racing Club track in Enniskeane, West Cork.

Lauren OBrien of Knockane, Terelton, Co Cork was pronounced dead at the scene last Sunday afternoon.

Her car went out of control when she was competing in a heat and crashed in to a barrier, A requiem mass for Lauren will take place at St Josephs Church in Castletownkenneigh today at noon with burial following at Terelton cemetery.

Mourners are asked to donate to West Cork Rapid Response in lieu of flowers.

Lauren previously attended Coppeen National School in Enniskeane. In a statement on social media management and staff said that they had nothing but warm memories of a wonderful girl full of life, determination and positivity.

McEgan College in Macroom, where Lauren attended first year, said that she was a beautiful girl, inside and out, bubbly, fun loving, kind, caring, a loveable rogue.

Her parents Timmy and Therese previously thanked the emergency services, the Cork Autograss community, neighbours and friends for their assistance in the aftermath of the death of Lauren.

Lauren is survived by her parents, her brother Josh, sister Shannon, grandparents Christy, Teresa, Connie and Ellen, godparents, extended family and her friends.

She grew up in Castletownkenneigh, Co Cork with the family subsequently moving to Terlelton. Lauren was one of four junior drivers competing in a heat at the hot rod event when the incident occurred.

A garda investigation has been launched in to the incident. The scene was preserved to allow a forensic crash investigator to attempt to establish the cause of the collision.

An inquest will be held at a later date.
A group of Spanish descendants of a man who emigrated from West Cork in the 1700s are set to meet their ancestors during their first trip to Ireland this year.

The tri-annual Crowley Clan gathering will take place on the weekend of September 12-14 at the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen.

Speaking to The Echo clan member Liam Crowley said the earliest gatherings took place in the late 1960s.

Back in the early days there was a man called Tom Crowley from Ohio, who just passed away three weeks ago. He organised the American and Canadian Crowleys and descendants of Crowleys. As soon as he got involved, the gathering took on a new life.

Liam spoke about the great upheaval during the famine, and how DNA testing done in the US has helped people connect with distant relatives whose ancestors emigrated there.

DNA test

One DNA test showed that a Crowley from Boston was Liams cousin.

I never even knew I had relations in America, and he was delighted to know exactly where his ancestors come from, said Liam.

He said that this year the clan is set to welcome some new guests.

A lady called Ann Crowley who was a teacher in Spain did some research into the Spanish Crowleys, and said we should try and invite them.

Pedro Alonzo Crowley went over to Spain in the early 1700s, and theres a house there with the Crowley crest over the front door.

Last year, myself and Larry Crowley went to Spain, Ann put us in touch with a couple of people and we met up. They were delighted wed taken an interest in them, and said they will come to the gathering.

One of the clan members, Charlie Crowley, is into sailing and knows the people who own a replica of the historic boat, the Saoirse.

So were going to have the Spaniards sailing into Baltimore, as their descendants would have sailed to Spain from West Cork, and being greeted by Crowleys from around the world welcoming back the descendants. Most of them have never been to Ireland before.

Liam said their guests who come from abroad just love to connect.

Friends

At the gathering well have sing-songs and music, set dances, lots of displays of Irish culture. A lady from California called Tamara Crowley plays the harp, and shell be doing that on the pier in Baltimore to welcome the Spaniards.

People that never met before, by the end of weekend theyll be friends, he said.

Members of the Crowley clan gathered at Crowley Castle in Ahakera, Dunmanway, in 2004. Picture: Dan Linehan.

Gathering organisers, who are expecting more than 200 people to attend over the weekend, are appealing to Cork Crowleys to come along.

The weekend will have a wine and cheese opening, trad music and sing songs, a banquet, a mass at the ruin of the old Crowley Castle, and road bowling, which is a highlight for the attendees, with a demonstration taking place before Crowleys are split into international teams.

Nearly 80 hotel rooms in the area have already been booked by international Crowleys.

Its the greatest interest in a gathering weve ever had, said Liam.
An online sting operation caught a 70-year-old man involved in sexualised conversations with parties he was led to believe were eleven and twelve-year-old girls.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Patrick Linehan, previously of Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, has pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising out of the sting and he has been remanded in custody for sentencing on June 20.

Judge Helen Boyle agreed to adjourn the case to obtain a Probation and Welfare Report and a GP report but indicated that she would be dealing with it by way of a custodial sentence.

Defence barrister Ronan Barnes said the accused pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and cooperated with the gardai. He said the defendant had an exemplary work record with Cork City Council, where he worked for 31 years in drainage.

Patrick Linehan admitted using information technology to interact with children for the purpose of sexual exploitation and arranging to meet a child for the purpose of sexual assault.

Detective Garda Brendan Murray outlined the background to the case:

On July 8 2023, gardai were alerted to an incident at Comeragh Park, the Glen, Cork. On attending this address, they met with the accused, who was in the company of a number of people who purported to be members of an organization called Child Online Protection Enforcers.

A member of this group handed Gardai two USB storage devices which, he stated, contained sexualized conversations between the accused and two female children aged 11 and 12 years. It was confirmed to GardaI that these girls did not exist, but their profiles were generated by and controlled by adults posing as children.

When interviewed by Gardai, the accused, Pat Linehan admitted he had been in contact with two girls and acknowledged he was aware the girls really were 11 and 12 years of age. He later stated he thought the 12 year old was 15 or 16 as she sounded older from the texts.

He acknowledged he had sent her images and videos, but stated they were not obscene. He also stated that she had asked to meet with him a few times, but he had never met up with her. He described the communications with the 11 year old girl as harmless fun.

FACEBOOK MESSAGES

During the investigation, Gardai analysed Facebook messages and WhatsApp messages between Pat Linehan and the decoy profiles of an 11 and 12 year female. The Facebook profile pictures of both profiles are of young female children who could not be mistaken to be adults.

In the initial conversations with each of the profiles, Pat Linehan is informed he is communicating with children, and their ages are discussed on a number of occasions throughout the message threads.

Pat Linehan initially states to both children he is 13 years old, but later, after sending selfie type photos of himself, is challenged and admits he is older, stating he was 62. (He was 68 at the time).

Pat Linehan sexualized the conversations very early in the communications with both profiles and describes in graphic detail sexual acts he would like to perform on the young girls He asks if they would perform sexual acts on him, to which they reply, questioning if they're allowed to do that, given their ages, Pat Linehan suggests nobody would know, that it would be a secret. He sent images of his penis to both girls, and he sent videos of a sexual nature to the profile of the 11 year old girl. The message thread to both girls, began on the June 19 2023 and continued for a number of weeks, concluding on the July 8 2023.
The Lord Mayor of Cork is among the political representatives from Leeside that have given their seal of approval to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who spent a brief period in Cork in 2007 as part of a visit to Ireland.

Pope Leo XIV spent time in Cork on a visit to friend and Irish priest Fr Tony Finn in 2007. The new pope was pictured on the altar of St Augustin's Church in Cork at the time alongside his fellow Augustinians of Fr Jerry Horan, Fr Pat Moran and Fr Michael Brennock to honour Peg Bolton and Marie Finn for 50 years of service signing in the choir.

Speaking to The Echo, Fianna Fail Cork city councillor Tony Fitzgerald said the new pope has a unique connection to Cork:

I am delighted with the announcement of the new Pope Leo XIV. I think it is great that he has a connection with the Diocese of Cork and Ross and the work of priests and sisters in Trujillo in Peru.

There is a great tradition with the support of the people of Cork over many years, to the mission in Peru through the Diocese.

It is good that he is familiar with the work of our priests and sisters. So, there is a unique connection there from his time as Bishop in Peru.

I am sure there will be further connections with Pope Leo XIV, in terms of supporting the missions and maybe forging stronger links with Cork and Ireland.

Cork Lord Mayor Dan Boyle, who also was born in Chicago in the United States similar to the Pope, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, said:

On behalf of Cork City, I want to warmly welcome the election of Pope Leo XIV. I hope that the prevailing message of caring for the needs of those who have the least, which informed the papacy of Pope Francis, can continue and be strengthened as the paramount role of society. Need instead of greed.

Dignity instead of lack of respect. Peace instead of war and aggression. In Pope Leo XIV, we clearly have someone who represents those values.

The new Pope for many years served as a missionary and subsequently as a bishop in Peru. The Diocese of Cork and Ross established a significant missionary presence in Peru in 1965, led by Bishop Cornelius Lucey. This initiative began in the shantytown of La Esperanza, on the outskirts of Trujillo.

Over the years, the mission has expanded to include over 55 priests from Cork, Kerry, and Cloyne dioceses, as well as nuns from the Sisters of Mercy, Bon Secours, and Presentation Congregations. Together they have built churches, schools, clinics, and water systems, while also providing education, healthcare, and vocational training.

Speaking to The Echo on the election of Pope Leo XIV , Independent Ireland Cork North Central TD Ken OFlynn said:

I warmly welcome the election of the new Pope and offer him my sincere congratulations as he takes on this profound and historic responsibility.

The papacy holds deep significance not only for Catholics here in Ireland, but for people of all faiths and none across the globe who look to the Vatican for spiritual leadership and moral guidance.

In a world facing complex social, economic, and humanitarian challenges, I hope this new papacy will be marked by compassion, unity, and a renewed focus on the core values of dignity, justice, and care for the most vulnerable.

Mr O'Flynn added: Ireland has a long and enduring relationship with the Holy See, and I look forward to seeing that relationship continue to develop under the leadership of the new Pontiff. May his tenure be one of peace, wisdom, and positive change for all.

Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central added that he feels Pope Leo XIV holds the necessary experience for the position:

I welcome his appointment because it is someone who, while he has academic achievement, also has got the expertise of working in very difficult areas. Where there is poverty and where he had to work with people in those circumstances. 

But Mr Burke added:

The challenge that is here in Ireland is the fact that many of the priests that are there now are over 60 years old.

Any of the priests that are retiring, they are finding it difficult to get replacements. I presume that is one of the issues they will be looking at.

Speaking to The Echo, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central hopes the new Pope can build on the work done by Pope Francis.

The appointment of a Pope is a very significant moment, for Catholics here in Cork and across the world. He has big shoes to fill. Pope Francis carried out his role with great humility, dignity and compassion for the poor and marginalised.

I do not know a great deal of Pope Leo. However, from what I have read he is very socially minded, and I hope that he continues the work of Pope Francis. I wish him all the very best and that he will be a voice for peace, compassion and mercy."

In a statement, the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins offered his warmest congratulations to the newly elected Pope.

This is an immensely significant moment for all those of faith and goodwill around the world who look to the Papacy for spiritual guidance, moral clarity, and global leadership at a time described by his predecessor Pope Francis as needing the vocation of diplomacy.

"Pope Leo XIV assumes this important role at a time of great challenges for the world.

"I send Pope Leo my very best wishes as he begins his Pontificate, and I welcome his statement that he is prepared to lead with compassion, wisdom, and an enduring commitment to the values of peace, justice, and human dignity.

However, Social Democrats Cork East TD Liam Quaide said he felt significant change in the church under his tenure was unlikely

"It's welcome to see a Pope elected who has a track record in defending vulnerable groups such as migrants, in promoting climate action and in speaking truth to power, including to Vance and Trump.

However, Leo XIV's opposition to the ordination of women and historical, retrograde comments about the LGBT community make it unlikely we'll see fundamental, necessary change in the church under his tenure."
The new Gentle Hands Homecare Cork office was officially opened last week by minister of state for older people and housing, Kieran ODonnell.

A family-owned company, Gentle Hands provides high-quality care, ensuring clients receive the support they need in the comfort of their own homes.

The new Cork office at Hanover House, South Main Street, is their second one, with their Dublin office recently celebrating its one year anniversary.

Anna O'Driscoll in company with Mairead and Richard Jacob, at the official opening of the Gentle Hands Homecare Cork office, at Hanover House, South Main St. Picture: David Keane

Mr ODonnell was joined by Cork minister of state Jerry Buttimer and well-known advocate for the elderly Paddy OBrien at the opening.

Speaking at the event, Liz Crowley, head of operations for the new Cork office, said: Minister ODonnell cut the ribbon and extended a warm welcome to us as we embark on our journey of supporting and providing home help assistance to older people in the community.

The minister spoke of the wonderful job that carers in the community do.

Jerry Buttimer also welcomed us and spoke of the amazing work we are about to commence in Cork city and county.

The owners of the business, Debbie Gahan and Angela Mojekwu were also present, as well as home support manager, Showled Mthembu.

Ms Crowley said that in her job as head of operations, her role is to oversee and manage the entire day to day operation of the business, ensuring seamless delivery of service to our clients in the community.

Aisling Young and Funke Youmor, enjoying the official opening of the Gentle Hands Homecare Cork office, at Hanover House, South Main St. Picture: David Keane

Some of the companys carers were also present on the day, to enjoy the food provided by Hannahs Kitchen for the event.

Gentle Hands Homecare offer dementia care services including assistance with activities of daily living, medication support, companionship and social engagement/encouragement, as well as live-in care services for individuals who need assistance but want to remain in the comfort of their own homes; personal care, medication support, mobility assistance, assistance with walking and mobility, exercise, meal planning, housekeeping, companionship, monitoring health, safety and falls prevention.

Veronica and Rebecca Reidy, attending the official opening of the Gentle Hands Homecare Cork office, at Hanover House, South Main St. Picture: David Keane

They also provide palliative care, support, and support for disabled people designed to enhance their quality of life, independence, and overall wellbeing.

What sets Gentle Hands Homecare apart is our unwavering commitment to individualised care, said Ms Crowley.

Our dedicated team goes beyond traditional homecare by fostering genuine connections and creating a warm, supportive environment.

Simamkele Harmans and Rebecca Otete, attending the official opening of the Gentle Hands Homecare Cork office, at Hanover House, South Main Street. Picture: David Keane

We champion diversity and inclusion, embracing people from all backgrounds and ensuring that everyone we care forand everyone who works with usfeels valued and respected.

We are also very compassionate about community, shaping every aspect of the care we provide to our beloved community.
David Raleigh

A married farmer and father of four was today unanimously found guilty by a jury of raping a man on two separate occasions.

Thomas Tossy Nyhan, (64), from Crookstown, Co Cork, can be named for the first time, after a judge lifted reporting restrictions following Nyhans 11-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, Limerick.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring ordered that no details be reported which might lead to the identification of the victim, who told the court that the rapes felt like barbed wire inside him.

Nyhan had denied two counts of anal rape of the victim, at a location in Munster, in January 2011 and in April 2019.

When questioned about the rapes by Gardai in May 2019, Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim but he denied raping him, the court heard.

The rape allegations, which were presented in court by prosecuting senior counsel Fionnuala OSullivan and prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by Aoife OHalloran, Chief State Solicitors Office, surfaced when the victim told his GP following the second rape.

During the trial, and while under cross examination by Nyhans barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, the victim agreed that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011.

The victim denied claims by Nyhan that he had asked him for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhans crotch a number of times.

The victim said Nyhans claims were lies.

Speaking about the rapes, the victim told the court: I told him to stop, I didn't like it.

When asked by Mr Nicholas what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied, I was just scared, I just froze.

Mr Nicholas said Nyhan claimed the victim asked him for 150 cash for sex, and that the victim had removed his own pants and underpants for sex.

Mr Nicholas suggested the victim had been in possession of a knife and that as Nyhan was afraid youd harm yourself, he pretended to go along with it.

The victim told the court this was bulls***.

The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and despite pleading with Nyhan to stop the farmer thrust himself into the victim, told him he loved him, raped him, and afterwards kissed the victim on his testicles.

The victim told the court Nyhans denials were lies.

Nyhans wife, Mary Nyhan, accompanied her husband to court every day of his trial and sat with him during breaks in proceedings.

After the verdicts were returned the couple walked out of the court together.

Thomas Tossy Nyhan was remanded on bail for sentencing on June 23rd.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
Fionnuala Walsh

The one-time head of security for pop star Rihanna, who drew "ancient symbols" on the ground outside a Garda station to "remove evil spirits", has had his conviction for criminal damage overturned on appeal.

Geoffrey Keating (47), with an address at Woodbank Drive, Finglas, Dublin 11 originally pleaded not guilty to criminal damage under the Criminal Damage Act, 1991 in the District Court.

The District Court Appeals Court on Friday heard that Mr Keating had drawn three large XE symbols in blue chalk on the ground outside Finglas Garda Station on Mellows Road, Dublin 11, on the evening of May 9th, 2022.

Garda Joseph Rogers said Mr Keating told him that if Garda members passed over the symbols, it would remove evil spirits to protect the children of Finglas and that he would go to any lengths to protect children.

Garda Rogers arrested Mr Keating for criminal damage and he was later convicted in Blanchardstown District Court on May 27th, 2022 where he was given a fine of 200.

Giving evidence today, Mr Keating told the court that he is a spiritualist, adding that the old symbols hold a lot of meaning to him and they are similar to his Nordic tattoos.

He said that he had no intention of doing criminal damage and that his aim was to draw the symbols and explain their meaning to gardai.

Mr Keating, who was pop star Rihannas head of security in 2012 and 2013, explained that he believes the symbols stop bad things from happening.

Mr Keating said that his intention was to make a protest statement to stop the abuse of disadvantaged minors and that he engages in a lot of advocacy for children in his local community.

I didnt know it was illegal. To me it was akin to doing hopscotch on the ground, he told the appeals court.

Defence counsel for Mr Keating, Patrick Flynn BL, said that the conviction for criminal damage was a disproportionate reaction to a peaceful act of protest.

Judge Catherine White said she agreed with the defence in this case that the conviction was disproportionate and allowed Mr Keating's appeal against his conviction.
The AI-generated deepfake of a deceased road rage victim gave his own impact statement in court at the sentencing hearing of the defendent, as reported by NBC News . This is likely the first time the technology has been used in this way.

The idea of using an AI version of the victim, Christopher Pelkey, came from his family, according to a Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesperson. Pelkeys sister said she had been writing the impact statement for two years but found that what she had to say "did not seem like it would do justice" to his memory. Pelkey was shot and killed in 2021 during a road rage incident.

So the idea of bringing in a deepfake avatar was born. Pelkey's sister wrote the script, telling CNN that she was sure "it's what he would think." Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang approved the idea and the family played a video of the AI-generated Pelkey in court. In the video, the avatar actually seemed to ask for leniency when sentencing his killer. The defendant was convicted of manslaughter and endangerment earlier this year.

"To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances," the artificial version of Pelkey said. "In another life, we probably could have been friends. I believe in forgiveness."

However, the judge issued the maximum sentence of over 10 years in prison. "I heard the forgiveness," he said about the AI-generated avatar. "I feel like that was genuine, that his obvious forgiveness of Mr. Horcasitas reflects the character I heard about [Pelkey] today."

The defense has stated that the AI presentation creates a strong issue for appeal. "While judges certainly have latitude as to what to hear, particularly from victims, an appellate court will have to decide if this was error," defense lawyer Jason Lamm said. The case has already been retried for procedural issues.

Arizona State University law professor Gary Marchant, who specializes in ethics and emerging technologies, is worried about the legal precedent set here.

"You see that person in the courtroom actually speaking, and in reality, they're dead and they're not speaking," he told NBC News. "So this is an extra jump that I feel is going to get us into dangerous grounds."
During the 25th anniversary celebration of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates has announced that he was planning to give away "virtually all" of his wealth within the next 20 years. In all, he expects to distribute approximately $200 billion until the foundation shuts down on December 31, 2045, which as The New York Times notes is decades before originally intended. The Gates Foundation has funded several causes since it was founded in the year 2005 by Bill and his then-wife Melinda French Gates, including those dedicated to the eradication of and to supporting the sufferers of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.

It has also funded causes focused on gender equality, maternal and child health, as well as family planning worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it committed $2 billion to various response efforts. The foundation's other initiatives include agricultural development, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene projects. It is not without its controversies, however, and was previously accused of marginalizing researchers who did not support Gates-backed educational policies, such as small schools and charter schools. It was also criticized for deferring too much to Gates' views and for lacking enough internal debate between its members.

In an interview with The Times, Gates said that he and his team believe they can achieve their humanitarian goals within a much shorter period than they originally thought. It seems as if the foundation intends to bridge gaps left after the pandemic and to fill the hole the current US administration will be leaving after its massiv e cuts to foreign aid. One of things he spoke about specifically is the U.S.A.I.D. budget cuts, which killed the money meant for polio and HIV research and medicine aid. Gates called out Elon Musk, specifically, who cut the agency's budget "because he didnt go to a party that weekend." While he admitted that Musk could still end up being a great philanthropist if he gives away his wealth later on or after his death, Gates said that for now, "the worlds richest man has been involved in the deaths of the worlds poorest children."
Google has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the tech giant of systemic racial bias against Black employees, as reported by Reuters . The preliminary settlement was filed earlier this week, but still requires a judges approval. The class action suit covers more than 4,000 employees.

Plaintiffs involved in the suit said that Google operates a "racially biased corporate culture" that steers Black employees to lower-level jobs. The suit also accuses the company of paying these employees less than other workers. The complaint goes on to say that Black employees comprised just 4.4 percent of its workforce and around three percent of its leadership in 2021. As a reference, Black Americans make up 14 percent of the population .

 Google to Pay $50M in Racial Bias Lawsuit Settlement



 Google agrees to a $50 million settlement over claims of systemic racial bias against Black employees

 Covers 4,000+ workers in California and New York

 Allegations include lower job placement, pay disparities, and  AFV GLOBAL (@afvglobal) May 9, 2025

The initial plaintiff said that Google denied her promotions and stereotyped her as an "angry" Black woman. She was fired while preparing a report on the companys alleged racial bias. The suit also alleges that managers denigrated Black employees, saying they werent "Googley" enough or lacked "Googleyness."

Google still denies any wrongdoing, despite agreeing to settle. It has offered no additional comment.

This lawsuit began all the way back in 2022 when the California Civil Rights Department started looking into Google's treatment of Black female employees. At that time, the plaintiff said that the company claimed to be in favor of increasing diversity, all the while "they were actually undervaluing, underpaying and mistreating their Black employees."
While the company might be pulling back some of its investments in the infrastructure that makes it run, Microsoft remains, at least publicly, intensely focused on AI and Copilot. The company's annual Microsoft Build developer conference runs from May 19 to 22 and typically touches on all of the company's various platforms, but it seems like AI will once again be the star.

Microsoft Build is typically a pretty dry affair  Azure comes up a lot  but in the last few years the company has also used the conference to introduce new AI features that eventually make their way into consumer products. Since Microsoft recently released a new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, too, the event should be all about software.

You'll be able to watch the opening Build Keynote hosted by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CTO Kevin Scott on the Build website, or if you want the highlights as they happen, follow along with Engadget's liveblog. In the meantime, we can make some educated guesses as to what Microsoft might touch on.

Adding more AI to Windows 11

Microsoft talked up agents  AI that can take action on your behalf  a lot at Microsoft Build 2024, and the ways AI is automating work in Windows will likely come up this year, too. Microsoft has announced plans to introduce an agent into the Settings app that can make adjustments to your computer for you. An in-depth look at the feature or a tease of other agents coming to Windows 11 seems like obvious subject for the keynote to touch on. The company will likely get in to how third-party developers can build agents into their own apps, too.

Microsoft has also shared that its making changes to File Explorer to let you find and tweak files without jumping into another app, and upgrading the start menu so you can find and download apps without having to open the Microsoft Store. Both features could be highlighted at Build.

Coming Soon: Microsoft Store integration with Windows Search! Quickly find and install apps right from your Start menu or Taskbar! Rolling out soon - let us know what you think! #Windows #MicrosoftStore pic.twitter.com/ma9iB8EvrR  Giorgio Sardo (@gisardo) May 6, 2025

Letting Copilot see your desktop

One of the most impressive features Microsoft has demoed for Copilot is the ability for the AI assistant to selectively see what you're doing and talk to you about it. Copilot Vision, as the feature is called, is already available on mobile, and Microsoft has teased an expanded version of the feature that can see your desktop or select app windows. Windows Insiders can already use Copilot Vision, but Microsoft hasn't shared when it'll come to normal users. Detailing the feature in-depth and expanding where it works seems like a natural things that could come up during Build.

Microsoft introduced a new "Researcher" tool to Copilot in March 2025 that uses OpenAI's o3 reasoning model, but limited the feature to Microsoft 365 subscribers. The tool can perform research on your behalf, compiling information from multiple sources, like data from your OneDrive and web searches. Microsoft didn't announce plans to bring Researcher to the free version of Copilot in Windows, but it could do that at Build 2025.

Everything else

Microsoft maintains multiple platforms that act as the backbone of the world's other gigantic businesses. AI is more interesting to the average person, but the company will likely have more to share on Azure, .NET and GitHub at Build 2025, too.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products .

Get access to more TV shows, movies and other streaming content with the help of a VPN.

The late, great $30 Chromecast is no more. After hanging on as an option at Google's online store for months after the introduction of the pricier Google TV streaming box, it's gone to the great Google graveyard. But that doesn't mean there aren't countless Chromecast dongles still serving up the best streaming services, even as the the new box and a growing number of good budget-priced smart TVs now have Google TV as their default operating system.

But no matter which generation of Google streamer you're using, you'll need a VPN (virtual private network) to expand your video options beyond your home library. Fortunately, both support several native VPN apps. Heres how to set up a VPN on Google TV or a Chromecast and why you may want to use one.

Why use a VPN on Google TV or Chromecast?

For streaming purposes, VPNs have one clear benefit: spoofing your IP address to that of a different country so that you can access geo-restricted content. If you use a VPN and connect to a different countrys server, you can access its content library on any streaming platform.

Lets say you live in the US but want to watch some award-winning BBC documentaries on the BBC iPlayer streaming service. All BBC iPlayer content is free if you live in the UK, but blocked everywhere else. Using a VPN, you can connect to a UK VPN server and stream to your hearts content.

VPNs also have considerable security benefits if you use them on your smartphone or PC. Any worthwhile VPN encrypts your connection to the internet so you're totally anonymous online. Purchasing a single subscription means you can use your VPN on several devices concurrently, so we recommend you shop for a flexible one that supports multiple concurrent logins.

What VPNs are available on Google TV?

Google TV doesnt have as many VPN apps to install compared to other smart TV systems like Amazons Fire TV OS. Although this may seem like a disadvantage, its actually a blessing in disguise.

With VPNs, you want to ensure you invest in a quality and trustworthy product. There are many untested or free VPNs available that sell your data or falsify their encryption claims. Although this might not be a huge issue for streaming purposes alone, it generally poses massive security and privacy risks.

We recommend the following VPN services for Google TV and Chromecast:

For more details on why these services top the list, check out our thorough roundup of the best VPNs.

How to set up a VPN on your Google TV or Chromecast

Its easy to use a VPN on your Google TV (and perhaps even easier on a Chromecast). Heres a step-by-step guide for each system.

Google TV

Navigate to the Google Play Store on your Google TV. Search for the VPN you want to install (alternatively, search for the keyword VPN to view your options). Install the VPN. Sign up (or login if you already have an account). Navigate the country server list and connect.

Note that you can use your VPN on as many devices as it supports. So, once youve purchased a subscription, its wise to download it on as many platforms and devices you can to maximize your investment.

Chromecast

If you have a Chromecast, you can still enjoy the benefits of a VPN  you just need to use your smartphone or laptop in tandem with the streaming device. Heres how to do it:

Install a VPN on your smartphone or laptop. Make sure your Wi-Fi is enabled. Turn on the VPN on your smartphone or laptop. Connect your smartphone or laptop to your TV via Chromecast. Begin streaming your content.

As long as your smart TV is under the same Wi-Fi as the device youre screencasting from, you can use the VPN securely.

VPN options for other streaming platforms

Don't have Google TV? Good news: Robust VPN options (or alternatives) exist for the other major streaming platforms, too.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products .

The Switch 2 launch is fast approaching; here's what to know about getting your hands on the console.

Update, 6/5/25: The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available. If you want to buy the new console, you can go directly to Nintendo or shop at other retailers including Walmart, Best Buy and GameStop. We have a guide to how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2, which well update as restocks happen and more details about console availability come out.

Update, 5/29/25: The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch soon on June 5. Pre-order advice currently remains the same, which is to say that you probably won't be able to pre-order the console before launch day anymore, since all retailers still list it as either "unavailable" or "coming soon." Now, it's all about launch-day logistics. A number of retailers, including Best Buy, plan to open some stores early on June 5 and have stock available for customers to purchase on site. If you didn't manage to get a pre-order in already, your best bet may be to go to a local Best Buy, Walmart, Target or GameStop on June 5 to see if you can walk out with a new console that day.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are officially live at Nintendo's online store  but only if you've received an invite. As advertised, the My Nintendo Store began sending out Switch 2 pre-order invites on Thursday to those who previously registered their interest and meet the company's "priority criteria."

If you've been chosen, congratulations! You have 72 hours from the time your email was sent to complete your purchase. If you previously signed up but haven't received a notice, well, we'll have to see when exactly it'll arrive. Nintendo has been accepting registrations since April 2, and it's sending invites to past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers before anyone else.

If you meet the priority requirements and signed up on the earlier side, you should (hopefully) get your invite before most others. If you signed up later, don't be surprised if it takes awhile for Nintendo to grace your inbox. The company warned last month that it may not be able to send all invites  or even deliver all orders that do get placed  before the Switch 2's June 5 release date.

Beyond Nintendo, the song sadly remains the same. As of our latest check, the device remains fully sold out at Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target and other retailers. This has mostly been the case in the US since the Switch 2 first went up for sale on April 24, and it remains unclear when it'll change.

That said, we're keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that pop up. If you're still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we've rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could find for easy access and broken down what to know about buying the console.

How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 at the My Nintendo Store

As noted above, Nintendo is only selling the Switch 2 through an invite system, which began on April 2. While it seems unlikely you'll receive your console before launch day if you sign up with Nintendo now, we still recommend doing so in case stock remains low at other stores. Registration is free, and you'll receive your invite eventually, even if it takes some time.

On that point, Nintendo says it is prioritizing invites "on a first-come, first-served basis" to registrants who meet the following criteria:

You must have purchased a Switch Online membership as of April 2, 2025. If you've only ever been part of a family plan and weren't the paying account, that's a no-go.

You must have been a paid Switch Online subscriber for at least 12 months as of April 2, 2025.

You must have logged at least 50 hours of total Switch gameplay time as of April 2, 2025.

You must have opted into sharing gameplay data with Nintendo as of April 2, 2025. You can confirm this in your account's privacy settings.

You must be a Nintendo account holder who is at least 18 years old.

If you fulfill those requirements, you'll be ahead in Nintendo's invite queue. If not, you'll have to wait until after the priority registrants receive their emails. Once they do, the remaining invites will go out on a first-come, first-served basis. Whenever you get your email, you'll have a 72-hour window to buy.

As with other stores, you have two models to pick from: the base Switch 2 console for $450, and a bundle with Mario Kart World for $500. Note that you can only purchase one console per invite. You'll also be able to pick up certain accessories when it's your time to shop.

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle

We received our invite late Thursday evening after signing up about an hour after the registration window first opened. We've posted screenshots of what the official invite email and buying process looks like below. (A previous version of this guide linked to screenshots from Reddit and the gaming forum ResetEra, but one ResetEra user appears to have shared a fake invite, so we've removed that.) Broadly speaking, the experience is far less chaotic than it's been at other stores. Our confirmation email says that our console will ship by June 4.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invite screenshot This is what Nintendo's official Switch 2 pre-order invite email looks like.

How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 at other retailers

Unfortunately, the Switch 2 remains sold out everywhere else as of this writing. To recap the situation: After a two-week delay, Nintendo finally kicked off Switch 2 pre-orders at third-party retailers in the US and Canada at midnight ET on April 24. A couple of (headache-inducing) hours later, stock at Walmart, Target and Best Buy had sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders later that morning but quickly met the same fate. Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as late as April 26, but things have dried up since.

Other membership-based retailers like Costco and Sam's Club have Switch 2 listings as well, but we haven't seen anything to suggest they will accept pre-orders. Newegg also has a Switch 2 page but hasn't provided an option to buy just yet. As for Amazon, we assume the Switch 2 will eventually be available there, but it's not today, and there's been no indication as to when that might change. (Even before the Switch 2 was unveiled, stock of the original Switch and first-party Switch games had been limited at Amazon US for several months.)

If you're desperate to catch a restock, it's a good idea to create a free account with the retailers above and ensure all of your shipping and billing info is up to date with each. Downloading each store's mobile app and signing up for notifications may help too, though that could get annoying fairly quickly.

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle

*As of 1:15pm ET on Friday, May 9, Amazon has not listed either Switch 2 console package for sale. We will update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we're linking to the site's Nintendo-focused hub.

How to pre-order Switch 2 accessories and games

Naturally, there are numerous accessories and games up for pre-order alongside the Switch 2 itself. While Nintendo hasn't changed the console's price since delaying its initial pre-order date, it has hiked the cost of several accessories due to "changes in market conditions" (read: tariffs). The new Switch 2 camera, for instance, now costs $55 instead of its original $50, while the Switch 2 Pro Controller leapt from $80 to $85. An extra set of Joy-Con 2 controllers is up to $95 from $90, and the official Joy-Con Charging Grip costs $40 instead of $35.

Most (but not all) of Nintendo's official Switch 2 accessories are still up for grabs at one or two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since they first went up for sale. Upcoming Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, remain widely available.

Mario Kart World for $80

Donkey Kong Bananza for $70

Additional Switch 2 games

Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 for $60

Joy-Con 2 bundle for $95

Switch 2 Pro Controller for $85

Switch 2 Camera for $55

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $60

Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip for $40

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) for $25

Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case for $85

Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector for $40

*As of 1:15pm ET on Friday, May 9, Amazon has not listed any first-party Switch 2 accessories or games for sale. (Some third-party devices and games are listed, however.) We'll update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we're linking to the site's Nintendo-focused hub.

More Switch 2 details

The Nintendo Switch 2. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

We knew from its initial teaser trailer that the Switch 2 would be bigger than its predecessor and take a new approach to its detachable Joy-Cons. The Joy-Con 2s, as they're called, now attach magnetically and include a C button, mouse controls and a built-in gyroscope for tilt control. The console itself is indeed larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports a 1080p resolution, a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz and HDR10. The hardware also has a built-in mic to support a new feature called GameChat that'll let you communicate with friends in-game. (This is what that C button is for.) Nintendo says this service will be free to all Switch 2 users until March 31, 2026, at which point it'll require a Switch Online membership.

When docked, you'll be able to play up to 4K on your TV. Nintendo says it's improved the consoles internal speakers as well. The updated dock has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. Though we won't know exactly how much of a power upgrade the Switch 2 is over to the first Switch until it's released, it looks to be fairly significant leap, given that it'll have ports of relatively demanding games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077.

Elsewhere, the Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, while the internal storage amount has jumped from 32GB to 256GB. That storage is still expandable, but the device will only work with newer (and more expensive) microSD Express cards. As seen in the recent 20.0.0 update for the original Switch, the upcoming console will also utilize Nintendo's new Virtual Game Card system for lending digital games across systems, as well as a GameShare feature that lets you share select titles locally with just one copy of a game.

Tariffs and the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2's Joy-Con 2 controllers. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

During its most recent Direct presentation at the start of April, Nintendo showed off more of the Switch 2 than it ever had before. That included the reveal of its original April 9 pre-order date, in addition to its $450 starting price. Shortly after, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on China and other countries, prompting Nintendo to delay pre-orders in the US and Canada.

In a reversal, President Trump later announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs affecting 75 countries, but also announced that the tariff imposed on China will go up even further (right now, it sits at 145 percent).

We now know that the original $450 price for the Switch 2 will remain the same in the US and Canada, but based on its official statement, it appears Nintendo is leaving the door open for potential future price increases.

We also know that Nintendo started moving some of its Switch console manufacturing to Vietnam in 2019. The increased tariff for Vietnam was set to be 46 percent, but that's temporarily on hold in favor of a 10 percent tariff thats in effect for the 90-day pause period.

It has been speculated that Nintendo will boost production of Switch 2 consoles in Vietnam so it can stay on schedule, even if it sells the console at a loss in the short term. It appears the company will have to seriously ramp up production to keep up with Switch 2 demand: According to Nintendo, 2.2 million people entered the pre-order lottery in Japan alone, which is far more devices than it is expected to deliver in that region on launch day. In total, the company projects it will sell 15 million Switch 2 units through March 2026.

Complete Switch 2 coverage: The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming on June 5 for $450. We've got our first hands-on impressions of the Switch 2, and we've played Mario Kart World, which is available the same day. Check out everything we know about the Switch 2 for complete details on Nintendo's new console.
Years after the Federal Trade Commission sued Meta in a bid to halt acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, the trial that will shape its future is finally underway. The trial kicked off last month when CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand, and its expected to last several weeks.

Facebooks 2012 acquisition of Instagram is a central part of the FTCs case against Meta. The government says Zuckerberg bought Instagram to neutralize it as a competitor. When Instagrams cofounder and former CEO Kevin Systrom took the stand, he didnt exactly defend the move. While Zuckerberg had testified Meta had helped Instagram grow, Systrom testified Zuckerberg saw Instagram as a threat to Facebooks growth and intentionally withheld company resources.

Further still, Facebooks decision to pay $1 billion for Instagram  an app with no revenue and just a handful of employees  seemed like an incredible sum. Sheryl Sandberg thought Zuckerberg had overpaid for Instagram. In an exchange between the two from 2012, she said, Yes, of course its way too much.

There are more nuggets, too. Like how Meta sees TikTok as an earnest threat, how Europeans arent buying the ad-free subscriptions (duh), and why Zuckerberg thought about nuking users friend lists annually to boost engagement. Read Karissa Bells full breakdown of the FTC v. Meta antitrust trial so far.

 Mat Smith

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The biggest tech stories you might have missed

Thinner, more expensive?

Samsung

Samsung is ready to finally launch its slim iteration of the S25. It says itll offer a look at the next evolution of Galaxy devices and unveil more about the latest addition to the Galaxy S series. Then the teaser coaxed something beyond slim. So its the S25 Edge, even if Samsung isnt saying the S25 Edge. The Unpacked event will kick off May 12 at 8PM ET.

Continue reading.

They arent.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned the National Weather Service of possible attacks from an armed conspiracy group. According to a report from CNN, the group Veterans on Patrol is going after government radars because it believes theyre being used as weather weapons. Despite its cooler-than-average name, the NEXRAD or Next Generation Weather Radar is fairly mundane, used by NWS to detect precipitation in the atmosphere. NEXRAD plays a vital role in locating thunderstorms and tornados. National Weather Service staff have been advised to buddy up when working at remote radar sites and report anything suspicious to the authorities.

Continue reading.

Android 16, Gemini and more.

Google

Google I/O 2025 should be one of the more exciting tech keynotes in recent memory. Plus, for the first time, Google has spun out a dedicated Android showcase a whole week earlier. What can we expect to see in Android 16? Weve had lots of hints at an upcoming design change to the platform, reportedly called Material 3 Expressive. A leaked blog post discusses the research behind Material 3 Expressive and how the visual overhaul led to action elements standing out more and greater responsiveness on the users part. Then there are Gemini AI updates, more Google service updates and everything else. We break down what were expecting to see.

Continue reading.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 71F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated on May 13 at 11:04 a.m.

SALEM, Ohio  Weirton, West Virginias steel industry was dealt another blow after Cleveland Mark Cliffs announced on May 2 it would indefinitely delay plans to build an electrical transformer production plant in the community.

The company announced plans for a transformer plant in July 2024. The project is a collaborative effort between Cleveland Cliffs and the United Steelworkers Local 2911 to bring back steel jobs to Weirton after its last steel mill was idled in February 2024.

Workers initially thought Cleveland-Cliffs recent announcement would be related to bringing back jobs for former employees. Instead, employees are left in limbo.

Its very disheartening news. The workers and I thought wed be calling people back to work to help build this plant, said Mark Glyptis, president of United Steel Workers Local 2911. Its devastating news, and it affected (the workers) very hard.

Why?

According to Glyptis, Cleveland Cliffs delayed the project due to significant financial losses in the company. In Cleveland Cliffs first-quarter 2025 results, released on May 7, it reported a net loss of almost $500 million. The company decided to idle six of its facilities, including two in Pennsylvania, to save over $300 million annually.

President and CEO of Cleveland Cliffs Lourenco Goncalves said the closure of the six facilities will help the company focus on supplying steel to the automotive industry. The report also announced that no more capital would be going to the Weirton project, due to changes in scope from the project partner that no longer meet Cliffs investment requirements.

Glyptis says the uncertainty in the marketplace, due to the Trump administrations tariffs, is also a factor in the pause, but adds he is a firm supporter of the tariffs.

Overall, I believe the tariffs are going to do what theyre intended to do, Glyptis said. Its intended to make America a stronger country, to have companies that are building overseas to build in the United States, providing many good jobs to a lot of people.

Tariffs have helped the U.S. steel industry in the past when Trump imposed a 25% tariff on foreign-made steel and a 10% tariff on foreign aluminium in 2018. The tariffs, however, had a significant impact on the manufacturing industry; one study from the Federal Reserve estimated that higher input costs from the tariffs reduced manufacturing jobs and raised production costs for metal-based goods.

West Virginia State Sen. Ryan Weld said he was disappointed but not surprised at the news.

Cleveland-Cliffs leaves a legacy in the Ohio Valley of unemployed workers, closed factories and vacant land. This is just another instance of that, Weld said in a statement.

Others like Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., said in a Facebook post that he was extremely saddened to hear the Cleveland-Cliffs news out of Weirton today, but will continue working to bring jobs and prosperity to West Virginia  and deeply hope Cleveland-Cliffs can find a way to reverse course.

Glyptis, however, is taking an optimistic approach. According to him, Weirton is still an ideal location for the transformer plant because of its proximity to the river; its dedicated workforce, which has been producing steel for over 115 years, and its former steel-plant infrastructure that only needs modified to accommodate the new industry.

Weirtons last steel mill, Cleveland Cliffs tinplate production facility, was idled after the International Trade Commission rejected a petition by the company and the United Steelworkers to impose tariffs on foreign steel imports in February 2024.

Its closure impacted 900 employees who were either laid off or relocated to other Cleveland Cliffs facilities. The transformer plant was supposed to bring back 600 jobs, many of which would have gone to former employees.

But with transformers in high demand and tariffs starting up again, Glyptis believes the plant will still come to fruition in the long run.

Its going to take time because of the uncertainty; people have to feel comfortable before they invest hundreds of millions of dollars. But I think thats going to happen, and when that happens, this industry will take off and the transformer plant will be part of the growth, Glyptis said. The people are going to win. This is about the people, really, its about the workers and the community, and Im very optimistic.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 800-837-3419.)
The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has strongly criticised new proposals in the Nutrient Action Programme (NAP), warning that the measures could have "devastating consequences" for farmers.

Under the draft changes made by the Department of Agriculture (DAERA), approximately 3,500 farms would be required to comply with stringent new phosphorus limits.

For many, this would necessitate acquiring additional land for slurry spreading or reducing livestock numbers  a move the UFU has branded a backdoor attempt to force herd reductions.

UFU deputy president John McLenaghan expressed deep concern over the modelling used to inform the proposals, which come into effect January 2026.

Were being blamed based on percentage phosphorus figures that arent even properly measured  theyre modelled by computers," he said.

"These models are only as good as the data theyre given, and this data, the accuracy of which is a concern, is now being used to hammer our farmers."

The phosphorus limits are just one aspect of a broader suite of proposed changes within the NAP consultation.

The UFU is currently assessing the full economic impact, but Mr McLenaghan warned that the outlook is grim.

He pointed to historical EU negotiations in 2005, where proposals for individual farm phosphorus balances were ultimately dropped following meaningful discussions.

Over the following 20 years, Northern Ireland farmers have significantly reduced phosphorus balances and at the same time, increased agricultural production, he said.

These new proposals from DAERA could have devastating consequences for family farms and the wider agri-food economy.

The new phosphorus limits are set to affect 3,500 farms, forcing many farmers to either acquire more land for slurry spreading or reduce their livestock numbers.

In addition, the requirement for all farms to adopt Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment (LESSE) by 2030 presents a major financial burden, particularly for small beef and sheep farms that may be unable to meet the costs.

Furthermore, it is feared the introduction of compulsory uncultivated buffer strips on arable and horticultural farms will add further red tape while reducing the amount of land available for productive use.

The UFU voiced its opposition at a recent DAERA stakeholder meeting, warning that the proposals unfairly place the burden of environmental responsibility solely on farmers.

Other sectors are part of the problem too, yet farming is the only sector being landed with this type of draconian legislation," said Mr McLenaghan.

He also criticised what he described as a lack of genuine consultation, saying that both the scope and timing of the proposals came as a surprise to stakeholders.

Unlike previous NAP consultations, theres been a lack of engagement with the industry prior to the consultation being released.

"Many of the measures and timelines that have been proposed have come as a surprise to the UFU and our members, he said.
A new commemorative plaque celebrating the vital wartime contributions of the Women's Land Army has been unveiled in London to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The plaque, installed at Defra's HQ on Marsham Street, pays tribute to more than 100,000 women who served during the Second World War to keep Britains farms productive.

It also hails the contributions of the Women's Timber Corps, known as the "Lumber Jills," who felled trees, produced timber for pit props, and created vital military supplies.

Unveiling the plaque, Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner praised the dedication and resilience of the women who stepped up to support the country during one of its darkest periods.

These women stepped up when the country needed them most, working the land to keep Britains food and timber supplies, he said.

The Women's Land Army, active from 1939 to 1950, saw women take on vital agricultural roles, including pest control, thatching and ditch digging.

Despite their efforts, the women were not granted military status or medals after the war.

Recognition only came decades later, following a successful campaign that led to the commemorative medal scheme in 2007.

Over 29,000 applications were received from across the UK and the wider Commonwealth.

The new plaque offers a permanent reminder of the womens contribution. Clare Whittaker, whose grandmother served in the Womens Land Army, said: "Im so pleased her role and the role of women like her is being remembered.

She left everything she knew to live on a farm and do a job shed never done before."

Dr Cherish Watton-Holbrook, a historian of the Womens Land Army, said the plaque acknowledged the vital contributions of the Land Girls who served through all weathers to sustain Britains wartime supplies.
Top UK business leaders have welcomed the governments in-principle trade agreement with the US, calling it a vital step toward restoring confidence and competitiveness in critical sectors.

Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the CBI, praised the move, saying it sends a clear signal that the UK is a fierce advocate of free and fair trade and a reliable partner with whom to do business. She urged the government to now focus on working with businesses to unlock the full potential of the deal.

UK business leaders have welcomed the in-principle trade deal with the US, calling it a relief for key sectors. CBI chief Rain Newton-Smith highlighted the UK's strengthened global trade stance, urging the government to help businesses maximise new opportunities. BCC director general Shevaun Haviland called the tariff reductions on automotive, steel, and aluminium exports major wins.

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, described the deal as a huge sigh of relief for British businesses, particularly in the automotive, steel, aluminium, aerospace, and pharmaceutical sectors. The reduction in the 25 per cent tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the removal of levies on steel and aluminium are the biggest wins, she said, adding that the certainty provided by the agreement would help companies quickly restart orders and rebuild supply chains.

Haviland, however, stressed that this deal should not mark the end of the UKs trade efforts. She called for further progress on a digital trade agreement and a bold reset agenda with the EU to lower trade costs and support growth in the Indo-Pacific region.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
U.S. attempt to smear China-Caribbean ties doomed to fail: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:39, May 09, 2025

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. despicable attempt to smear and attack China-Caribbean relations and cooperation is doomed to fail, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks in response to recent comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding Caribbean countries' selection of vendors and contractors for infrastructure projects.

Speaking at a daily press briefing, Lin said the remarks constituted a malicious attack on China and aimed at smearing the country and undermining its relations with relevant nations, revealing both ideological prejudice and a disregard for fundamental norms of international relations.

"China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition," said the spokesperson.

Lin emphasized that Caribbean countries have the right to independently choose friendly cooperation partners and do not need any country to lecture.

China's relations with Caribbean countries are in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides, Lin said, pointing out that the despicable attempt of the United States to attack and smear China-Caribbean relations and cooperation will not succeed.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / NXT Energy Solutions Inc. ("NXT" or the "Company") (TSX:SFD)(OTCQB:NSFDF) today announced the Company's financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 . All dollar amounts herein are in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise identified.

Bruce G. Wilcox, CEO of NXT, commented, "Our SFD surveys are reflected in positive first quarter financial results. We have booked surveys for the remainder of 2025 and are working on contract bookings for the first and second quarter of 2026 reflecting increased interest in using SFD to enhance exploration achieving greater effectiveness and associated reductions of time and expense. We look forward to the impact of these activities upon future financials, and continue forward on our efforts to deliver meaningful shareholder value through strong fundamentals. "

Key financial and operational highlights during the first quarter of 2025 are summarized below:

the Company completed data acquisition of the SFD survey flown for its Strategic Alliance Partner, Synergy E&P Limited ("Synergy");

the Company recorded SFD-related revenues of approximately $12.46 million for Q1-25 versus $0.60 million for Q1-24;

a net income of $7.68 million was recorded for Q1-25, including stock-based compensation expenses("SBCE"), amortization expenses and remeasurement gain, all totaling approximately $1.35 million. This compares favourably to a net loss of $1.79 million recorded for Q1-24, including SBCE and amortization expenses totaling approximately $0.49 million;

net income per share for Q1-25 was $0.10 per share (basic) and $0.08 per share (diluted), as compared to a net loss per common share for Q1-24 of $0.02 per share (basic) and $0.02 per share (diluted);

cash flow provided by operating activities was approximately $1.47 million during Q1-25, compared to $0.59 million used by operating activities in Q1-24;

cash and short-term investments as at March 31, 2025 were approximately $2.03 million;

net working capital was approximately $0.61 million as at March 31, 2025, versus approximately negative $6.68 million at December 31, 2024; and

general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $0.09 million (9%) in Q1-25 as compared to Q1-24.

After March 31, 2025, the Company entered into a new contract with Synergy to provide an SFD survey for an oil and gas exploration company in Africa to begin in the third quarter of 2025. We express our gratitude to our strategic partner, Dr. Daere Akobo, CEO of Synergy, for his leadership and mentoring.

Summary highlights of NXT's first quarter 2025 financial statements (with comparative figures to 2024) are noted below. All selected and referenced financial information noted below should be read in conjunction with the Company's March 31, 2025 unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A).

(All in Canadian $) Q1-25 Q1-24 Operating results: SFD-related revenues $ 12,464,071 $ 602,072 SFD-related costs, net 2,331,830 730,520 General & administrative expenses 1,108,367 1,021,306 Amortization 476,897 440,564 Interest, foreign exchange, remeasurement loss, and other expenses 862,459 196,282 Net income (loss) 7,684,518 (1,786,600 ) Income (loss) per common share: Basic $ 0.10 $ (0.02 ) Diluted $ 0.08 $ (0.02 ) Common shares outstanding as at end of the period 79,455,385 78,121,746 Basic average of common shares outstanding 79,074,967 78,085,304 Diluted average of common shares outstanding 115,859,346 78,085,304 Cash provided by (used in): Operating activities $ 1,474,971 $ (593,766 ) Financing activities (147,223 ) 741,783 Investing activities (245,133 ) (24,102 ) Effect of foreign rate changes on cash 4,347 6,994 Net cash inflow 1,086,962 130,909 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 730,395 401,713 Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period 1,817,357 532,622 Total cash and short-term investments 2,033,186 532,622 Net working capital balance 612,458 (2,635,446 )

NXT's first quarter 2025 financial and operating results have been filed in Canada on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and will soon be available in the USA on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar, as well as on NXT's website at www.nxtenergy.com.

Investor Conference Call:

Date: Wednesday May 14, 2025 Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (2:30 p.m. Mountain Time) Participants call: 1-800-806-5484 Conference ID: 5496298#

About NXT Energy Solutions Inc.

NXT Energy Solutions Inc. is a Calgary-based technology company whose proprietary airborne SFD survey system, applied in numerous basins around the world, uses the principles of quantum mechanics to infer stress anomalies of exploration interest. The method can be used both onshore and offshore to remotely identify areas conducive to fluid entrapment in order to recommend areas with commercial hydrocarbon and/or geothermal potential. The SFD survey system enables our clients to focus their exploration decisions concerning land commitments, data acquisition expenditures and prospect prioritization on areas with the greatest potential. SFD is environmentally friendly and unaffected by ground security issues or difficult terrain and is the registered trademark of NXT Energy Solutions Inc. NXT Energy Solutions Inc. provides its clients with an effective and reliable method to reduce time, costs, and risks related to exploration.

Contact Information

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Michael Baker Investor Relations 302, 3320 - 17th AVE SW Calgary, AB, T3E 0B4 +1 403 264 7020 nxt_info@nxtenergy.com www.nxtenergy.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information provided in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "will", "expect", "plan", "schedule", "intend", "propose" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or an outlook. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, information regarding: the timing of the booking of SFD surveys for 2025 and 2026., the positive financial impact of SFD surveys in 2025 and 2026, and NXT's new business growth strategy of generating diversified revenue. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Additional risk factors facing the Company are described in its most recent Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 and MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which have been filed electronically by means of the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR+") located at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Measures

This news release contains disclosure respecting non-GAAP performance measures including net working capital which does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by US GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. This measure is included to enhance the overall understanding of NXT's ability to assess liquidity at a point in time. Readers are urged to review the section entitled "Non-GAAP Measures" in NXT's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025 which is available under NXT's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, for a further discussion of such non-GAAP measures. The financial information accompanying this news release was prepared in accordance with US GAAP, unless otherwise noted. The MD&A and the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and notes for the three months ended March 31, 2025, are available in the Investor Relations section of www.nxtenergy.com, or under NXT's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE: NXT Energy Solutions, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/oil-gas-and-energy/nxt-energy-solutions-announces-first-quarter-2025-results-and-investor-conferenc-1025798
Atlanta-Based Impact Apparel Brand Launches Global Fundraising Effort with Free Shipping Until May 11

Dark Yarn (DY), the global social impact fashion brand redefining Pride apparel, today announced a bold and urgent initiative: 100% of all proceeds will be donated to Pride organizations worldwide through May 31. To accelerate participation, free shipping is offered through Sunday, May 11 in the US.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250508825104/en/

A model wears apparel from Dark Yarn's Pride Collection, part of the global impact brand's historic initiative donating 100% of proceeds to LGBTQ+ organizations through May 31, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Dark Yarn)

Founded in Atlanta, Dark Yarn is more than fashion-it's a movement. With the tagline "Declare Yourself," DY empowers individuals to wear their truth with pride, purpose, and premium design. "This is social impact reimagined," says Dark Yarn's leadership team, "As long as we can pay our people, support our systems and cover order costs this month, we're happy. The rest goes to the community." The brand is a leader in modern identity-based fashion, blending aesthetic minimalism with a deeper message of self-expression and social change.

Powered by enterprise-grade e-commerce infrastructure, Dark Yarn operates fulfillment centers in 9 countries and ships to 141 destinations worldwide, ensuring localized delivery with global reach. This technological edge allows DY to scale impact with unprecedented volume and speed.

"People are hungry for real, community-led companies," says Mark Cusack, Dark Yarn's UK based brand ambassador, LGBTQ+ author and lecturer. @notdefining "Dark Yarn is exactly that-made by our community, for our community."

Unlike traditional Pride merchandise, DY defies cliches and embraces identity through elevated design. Inspired by Coco Chanel's adage, "Luxury is the absence of vulgarity," each piece in DY's lineup is carefully crafted-rooted in storytelling, symbolism, and quiet power.

Dark Yarn offers over 500 products across four distinct collections: Reserve, featuring drop-only limited editions; Lifestyle, designed for everyday wear; Sport, blending LGBTQ+ identity with active and streetwear styles; and Legacy, a bold lineup of 110 typographically designed headwear pieces that celebrate pride culture through statement typography.

While Pride is at the heart of this initiative, Dark Yarn is designed for every day-not just parade day. "Pride is not just a moment-it's a movement," adds LGBTQ+ influencer Isaiah Kaitschuck. @fruitygolden "I'm honored to contribute to something bigger than myself."

Fuel the Movement. Fund the Future.

As Pride organizations face increased political resistance and declining sponsorships, DY is calling for a new model of community-led fundraising.

"We can no longer rely on traditional funding models. It's time to consolidate, mobilize, and fund our future ourselves," says Dark Yarn's leadership team "The system has changed-and we must collectively adapt to preserve our interests."

This initiative directly confronts nonprofit fatigue and delayed responses from legacy organizations. Despite multiple outreach attempts to Pride leadership groups, DY's appeals for partnership were met with silence. This campaign is a rallying cry to the community: we cannot afford complacency.

An initiative of this size, scale, and global reach has never been attempted in LGBTQ+ fundraising. "This kind of community care is exactly what we need right now," says SK, a popular trans/nonbinary influencer who has shared their journey on Instagram @justsaysk. "This is more than a campaign-this is a turning point."

What's Next for Dark Yarn

- DY for Business: Launching June 2025, this B2B platform will allow nonprofits, charities, and businesses to leverage DY's technology to create high-quality apparel for fundraising, events, and organizational branding-on-demand and at scale.

- DY "000" Knitwear Line: A luxury knitwear and cashmere house will debut in late summer, combining heritage craftsmanship with contemporary identity.

- Ambassador Program: DY's automated ambassador platform allows anyone to sign up, sell apparel, and earn commissions-either for themselves or to be donated to causes like The Trevor Project or The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. Ambassador Link

This Is the Engine. This Is the Call.

Dark Yarn is igniting a global movement-and it begins with what we wear. In a world changing faster than our institutions can keep up, DY obligates every creator, every leader, and every ally use their platforms to amplify this mission. "This is not the time for silence-this is the time for action. Let's act now, let's make a difference," adds Jon Pinney, Founder of Valltees, an apparel brand spreading positivity one t-shirt at a time.

Inquiries please contact press@darkyarn.com.

Link Media Kit

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250508825104/en/

Contacts:

press@darkyarn.com

Website: www.darkyarn.com
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / Condor Resources Inc. ("Condor" or the "Company") (TSXV:CN) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). The Offering received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on April 15, 2025.

On May 8, 2025, under the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 8,758,333 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.12 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,051,000, of which 4,165,499 Units were issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption").

Pursuant to the Offering, each Unit consisted of (i) one common share of the Company (a "Share") and (ii) one-half of one Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). A total of 4,379,166 Warrants will be issued and exercisable for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance (the "Closing Date") and will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (a "Warrant Share"): (i) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share if duly exercised on or before the date that is 24 months following the Closing Date; or (ii) thereafter at an exercise price of $0.20 per Warrant Share.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Offering for exploration at the Huinac Punta Project and the Pucamayo Project, and for general corporate purposes. The offering document required under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption may be accessed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile and on the Company's website at https://condorresources.com.

Certain insiders of the Company, including Crescat Portfolio Management LLC ("Crescat") and certain directors of the Company (collectively, the "Related Parties") subscribed for an aggregate of 4,592,834 Units for aggregate proceeds of $551,140 under the Offering. As a result, the Offering constituted a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSXV and Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on the exemptions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements in respect of the Related Parties' participation in the Offering, as neither the fair market value of the Units issued in connection with the Offering, nor the fair market value of the consideration received by the Company therefor, insofar as it involved the Related Parties, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the closing of the Offering as details of the Related Parties' participation in the Offering had not been determined and the Company wished to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner.

Securities issued pursuant to the Offering under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption are not subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. All other securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period following the Closing Date pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws and, with respect to securities issued under the Offering to the Related Parties, pursuant to applicable policies of the TSXV.

Finder's fees in connection with the Offering, include two components, namely cash finder's fees (the "Cash Finder's Fees") and finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"). The Cash Finder's Fee shall be equal to eight percent (8%) of the amount provided to the Company pursuant to a financing or investment agreement entered into between the Company and a Designated Investor for financing or an investment in exchange for securities or other equity in the Company (the "Investment Agreement"). The Finder's Warrants shall be equal to eight percent (8%) of the number of securities received by the Designated Investor. Each non-transferable Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share (a "Share") of the Company for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance at a price of CAD$0.12 per Share. In connection with the closing of the financing, the Company paid $16,496.00 in cash and issued 137,466 Finder's Warrants.

In connection with Crescat's investment in the private placement of Condor shares, the Company and Crescat have entered into a Right of Participation Agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, Crescat shall have the right, but not the obligation, to participate in any future equity financings conducted by the Company, on a pro rata basis consistent with its ownership percentage immediately prior to the public announcement of such financing. This participation right shall remain in effect for so long as Crescat maintains ownership of not less than five percent (5%) of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on a basic basis.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

About Condor Resources Inc.

Condor Resources is a precious and base metals exploration company focused on its portfolio of projects in Peru. The Company's flagship project, Pucamayo, is an 85 km2 property containing a high sulfidation epithermal system with disseminated precious metals mineralization with a large lithocap alteration visible at surface. The Huinac Punta project, a 7,200 Ha property in Huanuco, Peru, has the potential to host a large carbonate replacement style (CRD) silver-dominant polymetallic mineralized body with the potential for discovery of a bulk tonnage silver and base metals deposit. The Company has optioned several large projects to partners who continue to advance these projects. The Company's award-winning exploration team in Peru has a long history of success in discovering and advancing high quality exploration projects and managing the social aspects of its exploration activities.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.condorresources.com.

Follow Condor Resources (@CondorResources) on X and (@condor-resources) on LinkedIn.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Chris Buncic

President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information please contact the Company at 1-866-642-5707, or by email at info@condorresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the Company's expectations with respect to the use of proceeds raised under the Offering.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the business of mineral exploration and development; continued availability of capital and financing; general political and economic conditions, fluctuations in metal prices and other market-related risks, including any volatility in the Company's share price, that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Condor does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Condor Resources Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/condor-resources-completes-private-placement-offering-1025819
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2025) - Two of Thailand's most respected aesthetic clinics, AMARA Clinic and Doctor Mek Clinic, have joined forces to launch AM International Hospital, a specialist institution dedicated to delivering advanced aesthetic and wellness services. The new hospital is set to address rising demand across Southeast Asia for safe, personalized, and high-quality beauty solutions.





AMARA and Doctor Mek Clinics Launch AM International Hospital to Capture Southeast Asia's Aesthetic Wellness Market

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/250589_dc35b27934a0d8ef_002full.jpg

This collaboration combines over a decade of hands-on expertise and innovation in aesthetic enhancement. AM International Hospital is designed to serve both domestic and international clients, with a strong emphasis on personalized care, transparency, and service excellence that reflects evolving regional lifestyle trends.

"This launch represents more than a clinic expansion - it's a strategic response to the region's growing appetite for reliable, result-oriented aesthetic services," said Dr. Wisanu Hengsavasdi, founder of AMARA Clinic. "We are establishing a new benchmark for quality and trust in the industry."

Dr. Vatchapon Tanamittramanee, founder of Doctor Mek Clinic, added:

"In today's beauty landscape, sincerity and clear, tailored guidance matter more than ever. We are creating an environment where each person's goals are met with care, integrity, and professionalism."

With expansion plans targeting Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and other neighboring countries by the end of 2025, AM International Hospital aims to become a central hub for aesthetic wellness across Southeast Asia. The hospital offers a refined portfolio of advanced beauty treatments, including non-invasive technologies and holistic consultation services.

To strengthen its position, the hospital is actively forming partnerships with industry bodies and regional institutions, further enhancing credibility and driving innovation in the wellness and aesthetic care sectors.

The hospital also introduced well-known Thai actresses Pei Panward Hemmanee and Bow Maylada Susri as official Brand Ambassadors. As actual clients, their involvement underlines the hospital's commitment to authenticity through its "Real Case, Real Customers" approach - showcasing genuine results and building trust with prospective clients.

With a blend of individualized care, state-of-the-art safety standards, and innovation-driven services, AM International Hospital reflects Thailand's emergence as a leading destination for lifestyle-focused aesthetic and wellness experiences.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250589

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie.



Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht.



In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden!
Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost.



Milliarden stromen aus den USA  und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an.



Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden!
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), on behalf of its fund Copenhagen Infrastructure V (CI V), has entered into an agreement to divest a 10% stake in the 495MW Fengmiao I offshore wind farm in Taiwan to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). Construction of Fengmiao I is expected to be completed by the end of 2027

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fengmiao I is CIP's third offshore wind project in Taiwan and is located off the coast of Taichung County. Development of Fengmiao I commenced in 2020, and site exclusivity and grid allocation were secured in Taiwan's Round 3.1 auction in December 2022.

Construction of Fengmiao I was initiated following financial close in March 2025, and the offshore wind farm is on track for completion of construction by the end of 2027. Fengmiao I is financed through a combination of equity and senior loans from a consortium of 27 international and Taiwanese banks and financial institutions, partly guaranteed by four export credit agencies and Taiwan's National Credit Guarantee Administration. Once operational, Fengmiao I will deliver much-needed clean energy to a group of six large local and international energy users in Taiwan who have entered into long-term power purchase agreements with Fengmiao I for its entire capacity.



MOL is a Japanese shipping company that globally operates approximately 900 vessels and run social infrastructure businesses such as product transport business, dry bulk business, and energy and offshore business. MOL enters Fengmiao I as co-owner alongside CI V.



"We are delighted to welcome MOL as co-investor in Fengmiao - and I am confident that we together will bring a project of the highest standards to commercial operation. The transaction recognizes the value created by CIP during the development phase as well as CIP's strong offshore wind track record in Taiwan," said Thomas Wibe Poulsen, Partner and Head of Asia-Pacific at CIP.

CIP's fifth flagship fund, CI V, aims to invest in the energy transition across a range of technologies, from wind and solar PV to battery storage, across low-risk OECD countries in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. CI V has so far made six final investment decisions (FIDs) committing 60% of the fund, ensuring fast deployment of capital and significant value creation early in the fund lifetime.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, filing for Foreign Investment Approval and filings with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan R.O.C., and following closing of the transaction, CI V will remain the controlling shareholder and operator of Fengmiao I.

BNP Paribas acted as Financial Advisor and White & Case acted as Legal Advisor to CIP on the transaction.

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the world's largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.

CIP manages 13 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 32 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from approximately 180 international institutional investors. CIP has projects in more than 30 countries and more than 2500 employees across platforms and projects globally. For more information, visit www.cip.com

For further information, please contact: E-mail: media@cip.com Oliver Routhe Skov, Head of Media Relations Phone: +45 30541227 Email: orsk@cip.com Thomas Knig, Global Head of Fundraising, Partner - Investor Relations Phone: +45 7070 5151 Email: tkon@cip.com
May 9, 2025: Russian Fiber Optics Guided or FOG drones are being used by the Ukrainians to reveal where the Russian drone operators are. This is done with Ukrainian First Person View or FPV drones equipped with a sensor that tracks the movement of the Russian drone and where it was launched by its hidden operator. The sensor leads Ukrainian drones to that location where the operator is killed and any additional drones with him destroyed. Ove vital task for the Ukrainian drones is attacking Russian truck traffic near the front line. Current Ukrainian drones can destroy trucks operating within ten kilometers of the front. Without the trucks Russian troops have to carry supplies or pull carts full of material to the front line. This is manageable. But now the Ukrainians are about to introduce a larger drone with a range of 40 kilometers. That distance is prohibitive for Russian supply movement. In other words, the Ukrainians will starve the Russians out.

Ukrainian drone developers, operating under wartime pressure, have been very innovative. In the last year new drone designs entering service have been impressive. This increased innovation began with new countermeasures to foster attacks by remotely controlled drone swarms. The usual Russian defense is jamming the control signals. The new Ukrainian swarms have drones capable of operating independently when jammed and continuing the attack with less accuracy but, because it is a swarm with dozens of drones, some are still going to hit the target. This was used against the Russians but the enemy quickly came up with their own new countermeasures.

Ukrainians are able to modify their tactics and technology much more quickly than the Russians. One was FPV drones planting magnetic mines on the edge of a road or trail Russian armored vehicles are headed for. When the armored vehicles show up, all that moving metal activates the magnetic mines, blowing the tracks or wheels off the armored vehicles. Immobilized crews are terrified and abandon their vehicles; another FPV drone with more explosives arrives to finish off the immobilized vehicles.

Ukraine also developed the expendable Flamingo VB140 anti-drone interceptor, a meter-long, fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft that can operate at altitudes up to 4,500 meters and fifty kilometers from its launch site. Flamingo VB140 intercepts by crashing into airborne drones on its target list. If no targets are found, Flamingo VB140 will just fall to the ground when its battery is out of power.

Flamingo VB140 was effective and by early 2025 the Ukrainian military had ordered production of a number of new FPV drone designs. One of the more impressive of these is Vidmak. While it appears to be just another quadcopter, its software enables it to operate at higher speeds to overtake the fastest wheeled vehicles and disable or destroy them with less than a kilogram of explosives. Able to operate at night and in bad weather, its speed is used for surprise nighttime attacks against enemy troops in trenches or standing in bunker entrances.

Ukrainian developers independently produced several other similar drone designs like U15, Baton, Zeus and Hades. Ukraine is relying more on drones to intercept relatively slow moving Russian cruise missiles. Most of these cost tens of thousands of dollars. Bringing them down with drones that cost five or six hundred dollars has left the Russians with patchy reconnaissance capabilities. Russia never expected Ukrainian drones to be effective anti-aircraft weapons.
MUNICH, May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StarCharge, a global leader in EV charging infrastructure, energy, and digital solutions, has unveiled its latest BESS solution at Intersolar 2025. The launch attracted considerable attention, with a high volume of customers visiting the booth to explore the latest 5MWh BESS solution. Numerous clients showed strong interest and engaged in in-depth consultations, highlighting the market's enthusiasm for innovative and scalable energy storage solutions.

StarCharge 5MWh Container Energy Storage System

The 5MWh Container Energy Storage System is optimized for utility-scale application, ensuring peak shaving and enhancing grid stability. It features high-performance 314Ah LFP battery cells, BMS, Aerosol Fire Suppression System (FSS) and Environmental Control System, all housed within a 20 feet standardized container. The container is highly corrosion-resistant and complies with global environmental standards, ensuring its resilience in a variety of operating conditions.

Tailored for the European market, the system is well-suited for use as standalone BESS projects, distributed energy storage power stations, industrial and commercial microgrids, EV charging hubs, and renewable energy storage facilities. Its flexible and scalable design addresses the growing demand for reliable energy infrastructure amid Europe's accelerating transition to renewables and electric mobility.

Future Prospects

Intersolar 2025 marks the international debut for StarCharge 5MWh BESS solution, representing a significant milestone in the company's global expansion strategy. By leveraging its integrated manufacturing capabilities in ESS containers, battery packs and PCS systems, StarCharge is well-poised to contribute significantly to global energy sustainability efforts.

"As the global energy sector rapidly evolves, StarCharge remains resolutely focused on integrating advanced technologies that support global energy independence," said a spokesperson for StarCharge. "Our participation at Intersolar 2025 represents a pivotal moment in advancing our strategic initiatives, as we empower businesses, utilities, and communities worldwide with innovative energy solutions."

About StarCharge

StarCharge, a global leader in EV charging infrastructure and comprehensive energy solutions. It offers a diverse range of intelligent and reliable charging and BESS solutions powered by cutting-edge technology, designed to cater to various scenarios and contribute to building a more efficient and resilient energy future.

For more information, please visit www.starcharge.com or contact BESSinfo@starcharge.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/starcharge-unveils-cutting-edge-bess-solution-at-intersolar-2025-302451578.html
HOUSTON, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY, LSE: EGY) ("Vaalco" or the "Company") today reported operational and financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights and Recent Key Items:

Reported net income of $7.7 million ( $0.07 per diluted share), Adjusted Net Income of $6.3 million ( $0.06 per diluted share ) and Adjusted EBITDAX (1) of $57.0 million;

) Produced 17,764 net revenue interest ( " NRI " ) (2) barrels of oil equivalent per day ("BOEPD"), above the high end of guidance, or 22,402 working interest ( " WI " ) (3) BOEPD, toward the high end of guidance;

" " " " Sold 19,074 NRI BOEPD, toward the high end of guidance;

Entered into new reserves based revolving credit facility with an initial commitment of $190 million with the ability to grow to $300 million, secured against certain Vaalco assets;

Reduced full year capital expenditure guidance by about 10%, without impacting full year production or sales guidance;

Acquired 70% WI (3) in and will operate the CI-705 block in offshore Cote D'Ivoire;

Declared quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share of common stock to be paid on June 27, 2025; and

Announced that it will host a Capital Markets Day presentation on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

(1) Adjusted EBITDAX, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Working Capital and Free Cash Flow are Non-GAAP financial measures and are described and reconciled to the closest GAAP measure in the attached table under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." (2) All NRI sales and production rates are Vaalco's working interest volumes less royalty volumes, where applicable. (3) All WI production rates and volumes are Vaalco's working interest volumes, where applicable.

George Maxwell, Vaalco's Chief Executive Officer commented, "We delivered another successful quarter, once again meeting or exceeding our guidance. Sales for the first quarter were toward the high end of guidance and our NRI production was above the high end of guidance, leading to solid net income of $0.07 per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDAX of $57.0 million. We continue to execute our strategic vision, with multiple accomplishments achieved in the first quarter that lay the foundation for profitable growth in 2025 and beyond. We entered into a new credit facility that will supplement our internally generated cash flow and cash balance to assist in funding our robust organic growth projects. In Cote D'Ivoire, we commenced the FPSO refurbishment project and are preparing for a drilling campaign in 2026 to augment the production and economic life of the Baobab field. In Gabon, we are preparing for the 2025/2026 drilling program which is scheduled to begin in Q3 2025. While we are continuing with these two major projects, we have decided to reduce our capital expenditure budget for 2025 by about 10%. We are delaying discretionary capital spending and are deferring our capital program in Canada. We are doing all of this without impacting production or sales forecasts for 2025 due to the strong performance of our assets in Gabon and Egypt."

"We believe that we are well positioned to fund the meaningful growth and opportunities that we have planned over the next few years which should lead to even greater growth and value for the remainder of the decade. We look forward to providing additional details at our Capital Markets Day next week describing our diversified asset portfolio and the upside that we believe is available to drive future organic growth."

Operational Update

Egypt

The start of the 2024 drilling campaign was deferred until late 2024. In Q4 2024, we completed one well. In Q1 2025, we completed an additional five wells. Four of the five wells that were completed in Q1 2025 were brought online and had an average initial production rate for the first 30 days of approximately 135 barrels of oil per day ("BOPD"). The fifth well was brought online in early Q2 2025. In addition to all new wells successfully increasing production levels, new reserves and a new production zone were discovered in the Bakr formation. The Company is reviewing several options to improve flow as the reservoir contains heavier oil.

The Company continues to perform detailed technical reviews of its newly drilled and existing wells while also continuing to work on enhancing production through a series of planned workovers and recompletions.

Canada

In the first half of 2024, Vaalco drilled and completed four 2.75 mile lateral wells in Canada. These wells continue to meet production expectations and the Company is monitoring their longer-term performance for future drilling opportunities. In 2025, Vaalco has decided to defer the drilling of additional wells in Canada to reduce the Company's overall capital expenditures.

Gabon

The Company secured a drilling rig in December 2024 in conjunction with its 2025/2026 drilling program, which is planned to begin in Q3 2025 to drill multiple development wells, and appraisal or exploration wells, as well as to perform workovers, with options to drill additional wells. Vaalco plans to drill the wells at both the Etame platform and at the Seent platform, and perform a re-drill and several workovers in the Ebouri field to access production and reserves that were previously shut in and removed from proved reserves due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide ("H 2 S").

In Q1 2025, Vaalco conducted an extended flow test on the Ebouri 4-H well to gather information on the H 2 S concentrations at this location to aid in equipment design and to evaluate Vaalco's chemical crude sweetening process. The well has flowed for over four months, and the H 2 S concentration is within modeling expectations, demonstrating Vaalco's ability to treat the oil. The well has provided additional production, with some additional operating costs associated with the chemical treatment, adding to the Company's strong first quarter results.

Cote d'Ivoire

As part of the planned dry dock refurbishment, the Baobab Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel ("FPSO") ceased hydrocarbon production on January 31, 2025 and the final lifting of crude oil from the FPSO took place in February 2025. The vessel departed from the field in late March 2025 and is now currently under tow to the shipyard in Dubai for the refurbishment. Significant development drilling is expected to begin in 2026 after the FPSO is expected to return to service with potential meaningful additions to production from the main Baobab field in CI-40, as well as a potential future development of the Kossipo field, which is also on the license.

In March 2025, Vaalco announced that it had farmed into the CI-705 block offshore Cote d'Ivoire. Vaalco is the operator of the block with a 70% WI and a 100% paying interest through a commercial carry arrangement and is partnering with Ivory Coast Exploration Oil & Gas SAS and PETROCI. The CI-705 block is located in the prolific Tano basin and is approximately 70 kilometers ("km") to the west of Vaalco's CI-40 Block, where the Baobab and Kossipo oil fields are located, and 60 km west of ENI's recent Calao discovery. Block CI-705 covers approximately 2,300 km2 and is lightly explored with three wells drilled to date on the block. The water depth across the block ranges from zero to 2,500 meters. Vaalco has invested $3 million to acquire its interest in the new block, which it believes has significant prospectivity.

Financial Update - First Quarter of 2025

Vaalco reported net income of $7.7 million ($0.07 per diluted share) for Q1 2025, which was down 34% compared with net income of $11.7 million ($0.11 per diluted share) in Q4 2024 and up modestly compared to $7.7 million ($0.07 per diluted share) in Q1 2024. The decrease in earnings compared with Q4 2024 was driven by lower sales volume in Q1 2025 of 1,717 MBOE compared to a sales volume of 1,872 MBOE in Q4 2024 and higher production expense, partially offset by lower depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A") and lower income tax expense.

Adjusted EBITDAX totaled $57.0 million in Q1 2025, a 25% decrease from $76.2 million in Q4 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales volumes and higher production expense. Adjusted EBITDAX was down 8% from $61.7 million generated in Q1 2024.



Quarterly Summary - Sales and Net Revenue $ in thousands Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 Gabon Egypt Canada Cote d'Ivoire Total Gabon Egypt Canada Cote d'Ivoire Total Oil Sales 59,864 57,656 5,325 18,042 $ 140,887 54,172 59,010 6,685 28,045 $ 147,912 NGL Sales - - 1,808 - 1,808 - - 1,965 - 1,965 Gas Sales - - 636 - 636 - - 421 - 421 Gross Sales 59,864 57,656 7,769 18,042 143,331 54,172 59,010 9,071 28,045 150,298 Selling Costs & Carried Interest - (149 ) (232 ) - (381 ) 450 (130 ) (319 ) - 1 Royalties & Taxes (7,677 ) (23,587 ) (1,357 ) - (32,621 ) (7,455 ) (19,899 ) (1,224 ) - (28,578 ) Net Revenue 52,187 33,920 6,180 18,042 110,329 47,167 38,981 7,528 28,045 121,721 Oil Sales MMB (working interest) 757 920 80 238 1,995 733 923 99 379 2,134 Average Oil Price Received $ 79.09 $ 62.49 $ 66.17 $ 75.87 $ 70.61 $ 73.92 $ 63.92 $ 67.68 $ 73.90 $ 69.30 Change 2 % Average Brent Price $ 75.87 $ 74.66 Change 2 % Gas Sales MMCF (working interest) - - 413 - 413 - - 431 - 431 Average Gas Price Received - - $ 1.54 - $ 1.54 - - $ 0.98 - $ 0.98 Change 57 % Average Aeco Price ($USD) - - $ 1.43 - $ 1.43 - - $ 1.36 - $ 1.36 Change 5 % NGL Sales MMB (working interest) - - 69 - 69 - - 75 - 75 Average Liquids Price Received - - $ 26.39 - $ 26.39 - - $ 26.22 - $ 26.22 Change 1 %

Revenue and Sales Q1 2025 Q1 2024 % Change Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024 Q4 2024 % Change Q1 2025 vs. Q4 2024 Production (NRI BOEPD) 17,764 16,848 5 % 20,775 (14 %) Sales (NRI BOE) 1,717,000 1,490,000 15 % 1,872,000 (8 %) Realized commodity price ($/BOE) $ 64.27 $ 66.43 (3 %) $ 64.77 (1)% Commodity (Per BOE including realized commodity derivatives) $ 64.34 $ 66.41 (3 %) $ 64.48 - % Total commodity sales ($MM) $ 110.3 $ 100.2 10 % $ 121.7 (9 %)

In Q1 2025, Vaalco had a net revenue decrease of $11.4 million or 9% compared to Q4 2024 as total NRI sales volumes of 1,717 MBOE was 8% lower than the Q4 2024 volumes of 1,872 MBOE but was 15% higher compared to 1,490 MBOE for Q1 2024, primarily due to production from the Cote d'Ivoire assets acquired in April 2024. Q1 2025 NRI sales were toward the high end of Vaalco's guidance.

Costs and Expenses Q1 2025 Q1 2024 % Change Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024 Q4 2024 % Change Q1 2025 vs. Q4 2024 Production expense, excluding offshore workovers and stock comp ($MM) $ 44.7 $ 32.1 39 % $ 36.5 23 % Production expense, excluding offshore workovers ($/BOE) $ 26.08 $ 21.58 21 % $ 19.52 34 % Offshore workover expense ($MM) $ - $ (0.1 ) - % $ 0.1 - % Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($MM) $ 30.3 $ 25.8 17 % $ 37.0 (18 %) Depreciation, depletion and amortization ($/BOE) $ 17.65 $ 17.30 2 % $ 19.79 (11 %) General and administrative expense, excluding stock-based compensation ($MM) $ 7.8 $ 5.9 31 % $ 7.1 9 % General and administrative expense, excluding stock-based compensation ($/BOE) $ 4.51 $ 3.90 16 % $ 3.80 19 % Stock-based compensation expense ($MM) $ 1.4 $ 0.9 50 % $ 1.4 (3 %) Current income tax expense (benefit) ($MM) $ 17.7 $ 25.7 (31 %) $ 26.2 (32)% Deferred income tax expense (benefit) ($MM) $ (1.6 ) $ (3.4 ) (53 %) $ (9.0 ) (82 %)

Total production expense (excluding offshore workovers and stock compensation) of $44.7 million in Q1 2025 increased by 23% compared to Q4 2024 and 39% compared to Q1 2024. The increase in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024 was primarily driven by higher expenses in Gabon related to government audit settlements of approximately $4.7 million (net to Vaalco), additional chemical costs associated with the H 2 S treatment and to the increased sales associated with the purchase of the Cote d'Ivoire asset. The increase in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024 was driven by higher expenses in Gabon related to the government audit settlements and higher chemical costs.

DD&A expense for Q1 2025 was $30.3 million which was lower than $37.0 million in Q4 2024 and higher than $25.8 million in Q1 2024. The decrease in Q1 2025 DD&A expense compared to Q4 2024 is due primarily to the impact of the year end 2024 depletion adjustments based on the year end reserve reports. The increase in Q1 2025 DD&A expense compared to Q1 2024 is due to higher depletable costs in Cote d'Ivoire partially offset by lower depletable costs in Gabon, Egypt, and Canada.

General and administrative ("G&A") expense, excluding stock-based compensation, increased slightly to $7.8 million in Q1 2025 from $7.1 million in Q4 2024 and increased from $5.9 million in Q1 2024. The increase in G&A expenses compared to Q1 2024 was primarily due to higher professional service fees, salaries and wages, and accounting and legal fees. Q1 2025 cash G&A was within the Company's guidance.

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense was $1.4 million for Q1 2025 compared to $0.9 million for Q1 2024. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense for Q4 2024 was $1.4 million.

Other income (expense), net, was an expense of $2.4 million for Q1 2025, compared to an expense of $2.3 million during Q1 2024 and an expense of $9.7 million for Q4 2024. Other income (expense), net, normally consists of foreign currency losses and interest expense, net. Also in Q4 2024, the Company recorded a reduction in the bargain purchase gain of $6.4 million as a result of the change in fair value estimates of the net assets acquired in the Svenska acquisition.

Income tax expense (benefit) was an expense for Q1 2025 of $16.1 million and is comprised of current expense of $17.7 million and deferred tax benefit of $1.6 million. In Q1 2024, income tax expense was $22.3 million and is comprised of current expense of $25.7 million and deferred tax benefit of $3.4 million. Q4 2024 income tax expense was $17.2 million, and is comprised of current tax expense of $26.2 million and deferred tax benefit of $9.0 million.

Taxes paid by jurisdiction are as follows:

(in thousands) Gabon Egypt Canada Equatorial Guinea Cote d'Ivoire Corporate and Other Total Cash/In Kind Taxes Paid: Three months ended March 31, 2025 $ 30,253 6,953 - - $ 790 - $ 37,996



Capital Investments/Balance Sheet

For the first quarter of 2025, net capital expenditures totaled $58.5 million on a cash basis and $51.3 million on an accrual basis. These expenditures were primarily related to costs associated with project costs and long lead items for Gabon and Cote d'Ivoire and the development drilling program in Egypt.

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Vaalco had an unrestricted cash balance of $40.9 million. Working capital at March 31, 2025 was $23.2 million compared with $56.2 million at December 31, 2024, while Adjusted Working Capital at March 31, 2025 totaled $40.4 million.

In March 2025, Vaalco entered into a new reserves based revolving credit facility (the "new facility") with an initial commitment of $190 million and the ability to grow to $300 million, led by The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Isle of Man Branch with other participating banks and financial partners. The new facility, which is subject to customary administrative conditional precedents, replaces the Company's existing undrawn revolving credit facility that was provided by Glencore Energy UK Ltd. The Company arranged the new facility primarily to provide short-term funding that may be needed from time-to-time to supplement its internally generated cash flow and cash balance as it executes its planned investment programs across its diversified asset base over the next few years.

Quarterly Cash Dividend

Vaalco paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share of common stock for the first quarter of 2025 on March 28, 2025. The Company also recently announced its next quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share of common stock for the second quarter of 2025 ($0.25 annualized), to be paid on June 27, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 23, 2025. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to approval by the Vaalco Board of Directors.

Hedging

The Company continued to opportunistically hedge a portion of its expected future production to lock in strong cash flow generation to assist in funding its capital and shareholder return programs.

The following includes hedges remaining in place as of the end of the first quarter of 2025:

Weighted Average Hedge Price ($/Bbl) Settlement Period Commodity Type of Contract Index Average Volumes Hedged (Bbl) Floor Ceiling April 2025 - June 2025 Oil Collars Dated Brent 70,000 $ 65.00 $ 81.00 July 2025 - September 2025 Oil Collars Dated Brent 60,000 $ 65.00 $ 80.00

Subsequent to March 31, 2025, the Company entered into the following additional derivative contracts to cover its future anticipated production:

Settlement Period Commodity Type of Contract Index Average Volumes Hedged (GJ)(a) Weighted Average Hedge Price (CAD/GJ) May 2025 - October 2025 Natural Gas Swap AECO (7A) 114,000 $ 2.15

a) One gigajoule (GJ) equals one billion joules (J). A gigajoule of natural gas is approximately 25.5 cubic meters standard conditions.

Settlement Period Commodity Type of Contract Index Average Volumes Hedged (Bbl) Weighted Average Hedge Price ($/Bbl) July 1, 2025 - July 31, 2025 Oil Swap Dated Brent 100,000 $ 65.45



Capital Markets Day Presentation

Vaalco announced that it will host a Capital Markets Day presentation on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The presentation will begin at 8 a.m. Central Time (2 p.m. London Time) and is expected to conclude around 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The agenda will include presentations by key members of management on Vaalco's longer-term vision including growth across its diversified, multi-country asset base.

Participation in the Capital Markets Day is directed to Vaalco's shareholders, buy side and sell side analysts, as well as large institutional investors and portfolio managers. The session will be web cast live along with related presentation materials through Vaalco's web site at www.vaalco.com in the "Investors" section of the web site. A replay will be archived on the site shortly after the presentation concludes.

2025 Guidance:

The Company has provided second quarter 2025 guidance and updated its full year 2025 guidance. All of the quarterly and annual guidance is detailed in the tables below.

FY 2025 Gabon Egypt Canada Cote d'Ivoire Production (BOEPD) WI 19250 - 22310 7000 - 8300 9750 - 11100 2200 - 2600 300 - 310 Production (BOEPD) NRI 14500 - 16710 6200 - 7100 6200 - 7200 1800 - 2100 300 - 310 Sales Volume (BOEPD) WI 19850 - 22700 7300 - 8300 9750 - 11100 2200 - 2600 600 - 700 Sales Volume (BOEPD) NRI 14900 - 17200 6300 - 7200 6200 - 7200 1800 - 2100 600 - 700 Production Expense (millions) WI & NRI $148.5 - $161.5 MM Production Expense per BOE WI $18.00 - $21.50 Production Expense per BOE NRI $24.00 - $28.00 Offshore Workovers (millions) WI & NRI $0 - $10 MM Cash G&A (millions) WI & NRI $25.0 - $31.0 MM CAPEX excluding acquisitions (millions) WI & NRI $250 - $300 MM DD&A ($/BOE) NRI $16.00 - $20.00

Q2 2025 Gabon Egypt Canada Cote d'Ivoire Production (BOEPD) WI 20000 - 22100 7800 - 8600 10100 - 11200 2100 - 2300 - Production (BOEPD) NRI 15400 - 16800 6800 - 7500 6900 - 7400 1700 - 1900 - Sales Volume (BOEPD) WI 22800 - 24900 10600 - 11400 10100 - 11200 2100 - 2300 - Sales Volume (BOEPD) NRI 17800 - 19300 9200 - 10000 6900 - 7400 1700 - 1900 - Production Expense (millions) WI & NRI $39.5 - $48.0 MM Production Expense per BOE WI $18.00 - $23.00 Production Expense per BOE NRI $23.00 - $29.00 Offshore Workovers (millions) WI & NRI $0 - $0 MM Cash G&A (millions) WI & NRI $6.0 - $8.0 MM CAPEX excluding acquisitions (millions) WI & NRI $65 - $85 MM DD&A ($/BOE) NRI $16.00 - $20.00



Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2025 financial and operating results, Friday, May 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time and 3:00 p.m. London Time). Interested parties may participate by dialing (833) 685-0907. Parties in the United Kingdom may participate toll-free by dialing 08082389064 and other international parties may dial (412) 317-5741. Participants should request to be joined to the "Vaalco Energy First Quarter 2025 Conference Call." This call will also be webcast on Vaalco's website at www.vaalco.com . An archived audio replay will be available on Vaalco's website.

A "Q1 2025 Supplemental Information" investor deck will be posted to Vaalco's website prior to its conference call on May 9, 2025 that includes additional financial and operational information.

About Vaalco

Vaalco, founded in 1985 and incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is a Houston, Texas, USA based, independent energy company with a diverse portfolio of production, development and exploration assets across Gabon, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Canada.

For Further Information

Vaalco Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +00 1 713 543 3422 Website: www.vaalco.com Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations) +00 1 713 543 3422 Al Petrie / Chris Delange Buchanan (UK Financial PR) +44 (0) 207 466 5000 Ben Romney / Barry Archer VAALCO@buchanan.uk.com



Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws and other applicable laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws(collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "forecast," "outlook," "aim," "target," "will," "could," "should," "may," "likely," "plan" and "probably" or similar words may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) estimates of future drilling, production, sales and costs of acquiring crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; (ii) expectations regarding Vaalco's ability to effectively integrate assets and properties it has acquired as a result of the Svenska acquisition into its operations; (iii) expectations regarding future exploration and the development, growth and potential of Vaalco's operations, project pipeline and investments, and schedule and anticipated benefits to be derived therefrom; (iv) expectations regarding future acquisitions, investments or divestitures; (v) expectations of future dividends; (vi) expectations of future balance sheet strength; and (vii) expectations of future equity and enterprise value.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Vaalco; the ability to generate cash flows that, along with cash on hand, will be sufficient to support operations and cash requirements; risks relating to the timing and costs of completion for scheduled maintenance of the FPSO servicing the Baobab field; and the risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vaalco's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Dividends beyond the second quarter of 2025 have not yet been approved or declared by the Board of Directors for Vaalco. The declaration and payment of future dividends remains at the discretion of the Board and will be determined based on Vaalco's financial results, balance sheet strength, cash and liquidity requirements, future prospects, crude oil and natural gas prices, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board. The Board reserves all powers related to the declaration and payment of dividends. Consequently, in determining the dividend to be declared and paid on Vaalco common stock, the Board may revise or terminate the payment level at any time without prior notice.

Any forward-looking statement made by Vaalco in this press release is based only on information currently available to Vaalco and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Vaalco undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Other Oil and Gas Advisories

Investors are cautioned when viewing BOEs in isolation. BOE conversion ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalencies described above, utilizing such equivalencies may be incomplete as an indication of value.

Inside Information

This announcement contains inside information as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on market abuse which is part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR") and is made in accordance with the Company's obligations under article 17 of MAR. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Vaalco is Matthew Powers, Corporate Secretary of Vaalco.

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of March 31, 2025 As of December 31, 2024 (in thousands) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 40,914 $ 82,650 Receivables: Trade, net of allowances for credit loss and other of $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively 120,252 94,778 Accounts with joint venture owners, net of allowance for credit losses of $1.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively 2,847 179 Egypt receivables and other 3,235 35,763 Other current assets 33,590 24,557 Total current assets 200,838 237,927 Crude oil, natural gas and NGLs properties and equipment, net 562,926 538,103 Other noncurrent assets: Right of use operating lease assets 16,303 17,254 Right of use finance lease assets 78,862 79,849 Deferred tax assets 48,364 55,581 Other long-term assets 19,810 26,236 Total assets $ 927,103 $ 954,950 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities $ 177,675 $ 181,728 Asset retirement obligations 81,053 78,592 Operating lease liabilities - net of current portion 12,915 13,903 Finance lease liabilities - net of current portion 66,198 67,377 Deferred tax liabilities 85,168 93,904 Other long-term liabilities - 17,863 Total liabilities 423,009 453,367 Total shareholders' equity 504,094 501,583 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 927,103 $ 954,950



VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 December 31, 2024 (in thousands except per share amounts) Revenues: Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales $ 110,329 $ 100,155 $ 121,721 Operating costs and expenses: Production expense 44,806 32,089 36,641 Exploration expense - 48 - Depreciation, depletion and amortization 30,305 25,824 37,047 Transaction costs related to acquisition - 1,313 - General and administrative expense 9,051 6,710 8,454 Credit losses and other (27 ) 1,812 1,082 Total operating costs and expenses 84,135 67,796 83,224 Other operating income, net - (166 ) 10 Operating income 26,194 32,193 38,507 Other income (expense): Derivative instruments gain (loss), net (74 ) (847 ) (365 ) Interest expense, net (1,295 ) (935 ) (1,092 ) Bargain purchase gain - - (6,366 ) Other income (expense), net (1,012 ) (487 ) (1,828 ) Total other income (expense), net (2,381 ) (2,269 ) (9,651 ) Income before income taxes 23,813 29,924 28,856 Income tax expense 16,083 22,238 17,192 Net income $ 7,730 $ 7,686 $ 11,664 Other comprehensive income (loss): Currency translation adjustments 117 (2,454 ) (5,975 ) Comprehensive income $ 7,847 $ 5,232 $ 5,689 Basic net income per share: Net income per share $ 0.07 $ 0.07 $ 0.11 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 103,758 103,659 103,743 Diluted net income per share: Net income per share $ 0.07 $ 0.07 $ 0.11 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 103,785 104,541 103,812



VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 2024 (in thousands) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 7,730 $ 7,686 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation, depletion and amortization 30,305 25,824 Exploration expense 146 - Deferred taxes (1,519 ) (3,441 ) Unrealized foreign exchange loss 1,673 (102 ) Stock-based compensation 1,475 898 Cash settlements paid on exercised stock appreciation rights - (154 ) Derivative instruments (gain) loss, net 74 847 Cash settlements paid on matured derivative contracts, net 123 (24 ) Cash settlements paid on asset retirement obligations - (29 ) Credit losses and other (27 ) 1,812 Other operating loss, net - 166 Equipment and other expensed in operations 972 302 Change in operating assets and liabilities (8,246 ) (11,953 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 32,706 21,832 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Property and equipment expenditures (58,527 ) (16,618 ) Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties (247 ) - Net cash used in investing activities (58,774 ) (16,618 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from the issuances of common stock - 447 Dividend distribution (6,570 ) (6,463 ) Treasury shares (155 ) (6,344 ) Deferred financing costs (5,118 ) - Payments of finance lease (2,943 ) (2,095 ) Net cash used in in financing activities (14,786 ) (14,455 ) Effects of exchange rate changes on cash 27 (208 ) NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH (40,827 ) (9,449 ) CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 97,726 129,178 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD $ 56,899 $ 119,729

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Selected Financial and Operating Statistics

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 December 31, 2024 NRI SALES DATA Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales (MBOE) 1,717 1,490 1,872 Average daily sales volumes (BOE) 19,074 16,374 20,352 WI PRODUCTION DATA Etame Crude oil (MBbl) 767 819 791 Gabon Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 8,522 9,001 8,598 Egypt Crude oil (MBbl) 920 950 923 Egypt Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 10,225 10,440 10,035 Canada Crude Oil (MBbl) 80 61 99 Canada Natural Gas (MMcf) 413 469 431 Canada Natural Gas Liquid (MBOE) 69 76 75 Canada Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (MBOE) 218 215 246 Canada Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 2,420 2,363 2,669 Cote d'Ivoire Crude oil (MBbl) 111 - 368 Cote d'Ivoire Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 1,235 - 3,997 Total Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production (MBOE) 2,016 1,984 2,328 Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 22,402 21,804 25,300 NRI PRODUCTION DATA Etame Crude oil (MBbl) 667 713 688 Gabon Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 7,414 7,835 7,481 Egypt Crude oil (MBbl) 642 641 644 Egypt Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 7,131 7,044 7,001 Canada Crude Oil (MBbl) 66 51 85 Canada Natural Gas (MMcf) 338 392 371 Canada Natural Gas Liquid (MBOE) 56 63 64 Canada Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (MBOE) 179 179 211 Canada Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 1,984 1,971 2,296 Cote d'Ivoire Crude oil (MBbl) 111 - 368 Cote d'Ivoire Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 1,235 - 3,997 Total Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production (MBOE) 1,599 1,533 1,911 Average daily production volumes (BOEPD) 17,764 16,850 20,775

AVERAGE SALES PRICES: Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales (per BOE) - WI basis $ 67.03 $ 69.62 $ 65.69 Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales (per BOE) - NRI basis $ 64.27 $ 66.43 $ 64.77 Crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids sales (Per BOE including realized commodity derivatives) - NRI basis $ 64.34 $ 66.41 $ 64.48 COSTS AND EXPENSES (Per BOE of sales): Production expense 26.10 $ 21.54 $ 19.57 Production expense, excluding offshore workovers and stock compensation* 26.05 $ 21.56 $ 19.49 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 17.65 $ 17.33 $ 19.79 General and administrative expense** 5.27 $ 4.50 $ 4.52 Property and equipment expenditures, cash basis (in thousands) $ 58,527 $ 16,618 $ 41,466

* Offshore workover costs excluded for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and December 31, 2024 are $0.0 million, $(0.1) million and $0.1 million, respectively.

* Stock compensation associated with production expense excluded from the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and December 31, 2024 are immaterial.

** General and administrative expenses include $0.76, $0.58 and $0.72 per barrel of oil related to stock-based compensation expense in the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Management uses Adjusted Net Income to evaluate operating and financial performance and believes the measure is useful to investors because it eliminates the impact of certain non-cash and/or other items that management does not consider to be indicative of the Company's performance from period to period. Management also believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors to evaluate and compare the Company's operating and financial performance across periods, as well as to facilitate comparisons to others in the Company's industry. Adjusted Net Income is a non-GAAP financial measure and as used herein represents net income, plus deferred income tax expense (benefit), unrealized derivative instrument loss (gain), bargain purchase gain on the Svenska Acquisition, FPSO demobilization, transaction costs related to the Svenska acquisition and non-cash and other items.

Adjusted EBITDAX is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure used by Vaalco's management and by external users of the Company's financial statements, such as industry analysts, lenders, rating agencies, investors and others who follow the industry. Management believes the measure is useful to investors because it is as an indicator of the Company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt. Adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP financial measure and as used herein represents net income, plus interest expense (income) net, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation, depletion and amortization, exploration expense, FPSO demobilization, non-cash and other items including stock compensation expense, bargain purchase gain on the Svenska Acquisition, other operating (income) expense, net, non-cash purchase price adjustment, transaction costs related to acquisition, credit losses and other and unrealized derivative instrument loss (gain).

Management uses Adjusted Working Capital as a transition tool to assess the working capital position of the Company's continuing operations excluding leasing obligations because it eliminates the impact of discontinued operations as well as the impact of lease liabilities. Under the applicable lease accounting standards, lease liabilities related to assets used in joint operations include both the Company's share of expenditures as well as the share of lease expenditures which its non-operator joint venture owners' will be obligated to pay under joint operating agreements. Adjusted Working Capital is a non-GAAP financial measure and as used herein represents working capital excluding working capital attributable to discontinued operations and current liabilities associated with lease obligations.

Management uses Free Cash Flow to evaluate financial performance and to determine the total amount of cash over a specified period available to be used in connection with returning cash to shareholders, and believes the measure is useful to investors because it provides the total amount of net cash available for returning cash to shareholders by adding cash generated from operating activities, subtracting amounts used in financing and investing activities, effects of exchange rate changes on cash and adding back amounts used for dividend payments and stock repurchases. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and as used herein represents net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and adds the amounts paid under dividend distributions and share repurchases over a specified period.

Free Cash Flow has significant limitations, including that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary purposes and should not be used as a substitute for cash flow measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Free Cash Flow should not be considered as a substitute for cashflows from operating activities before discontinued operations or any other liquidity measure presented in accordance with GAAP. Free Cash Flow may vary among other companies. Therefore, the Company's Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDAX and Adjusted Net Income have significant limitations, including that they do not reflect the Company's cash requirements for capital expenditures, contractual commitments, working capital or debt service. Adjusted EBITDAX, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Working Capital and Free Cash Flow should not be considered as substitutes for net income (loss), operating income (loss), cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAX and Adjusted Net Income exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income (loss) and operating income (loss), and the calculation of these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, the Company's Adjusted EBITDAX, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Working Capital and Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The tables below reconcile the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDAX, Adjusted Working Capital and Free Cash Flow.

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 December 31, 2024 Net income $ 7,730 $ 7,686 $ 11,664 Adjustment for discrete items: Unrealized derivative instruments loss (gain) 198 823 96 Bargain purchase gain - - 6,366 Deferred income tax expense (benefit) (1,610 ) (3,441 ) (11,781 ) Transaction costs related to acquisition 22 1,313 508 Other operating (income) expense, net - 166 (10 ) Adjusted Net Income $ 6,340 $ 6,547 $ 6,843 Diluted Adjusted Net Income per Share $ 0.06 $ 0.06 $ 0.07 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1) 103,785 104,541 103,812

(1)No adjustments to weighted average shares outstanding





Three Months Ended Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDAX March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024 December 31, 2024 Net income $ 7,730 $ 7,686 $ 11,664 Add back: Interest expense, net 1,295 935 1,092 Income tax expense 16,083 22,238 17,192 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 30,305 25,824 37,047 Exploration expense - 48 - Non-cash or unusual items: Stock-based compensation 1,352 899 1,196 Unrealized derivative instruments loss 198 823 96 Bargain purchase gain - - 6,366 Other operating (income) expense, net - 166 (10 ) Transaction costs related to acquisition 22 1,313 508 Credit losses and other (27 ) 1,812 1,082 Adjusted EBITDAX $ 56,958 $ 61,744 $ 76,233

VAALCO ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

Reconciliation of Working Capital to Adjusted Working Capital March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 Change Current assets $ 200,838 $ 237,927 $ (37,089 ) Current liabilities (177,675 ) (181,728 ) 4,053 Working capital 23,163 56,199 (33,036 ) Add: lease liabilities - current portion 17,249 16,895 354 Adjusted Working Capital $ 40,412 $ 73,094 $ (32,682 )
DUBAI, UAE, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is pleased to renew its 10,000 USDT giveaway for P2P block trading users. The fresh round of Bybit P2P Block Trade Giveaway starts on May 8 until July 11, 2025 and comes with three tasks for specific user groups.

Exclusive on Bybit P2P, eligible users may register for the event, start their block trading journey, or become a P2P advertiser to unlock three prize pools.

Event period: May 8, 2025, 8AM UTC - Jul. 11, 2025, 11:59PM UTC

New Users Exclusive: The first 20 new users will get to claim 175 USDT instantly by completing their first block trade. Existing Users: Users who trade 20,000 USDT or more in Block Trade (except existing Block Trade Advertisers) will get to share in a 3,500 USDT prize pool, with up to 100 USDT each in prizes up for grabs. Block Trade Advertisers Exclusive: A 3,000 USDT prize pool is reserved for Block Trade Advertisers-the first 20 eligible Block Trade Advertisers stand to earn 150 USDT when they trade at least 50,000 USDT.

Bybit's P2P Block Trading platform enables private transactions of substantial volumes through Bybit's intuitive interface. Customized for large digital asset purchases sales, the service streamlines regular order placements into a single order for bulk transactions, minimizing slippage and typically offering reduced fees on top of Bybit's enterprise-grade security.

The marketplace presents earning potential for users with diverse cryptoholdings. With generous transaction limits ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 USDT per order, Bybit P2P Block Trading serves as a reliable solution for traders looking to scale up their P2P trading.

Rewards are on a first-come, first-served basis. Restrictions apply. For the detailed terms and conditions, users may visit: Bybit P2P Block Trade

Bybit / TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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LONDON, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gautam Sahgal, former CEO of leading employee engagement platform Perkbox, has partnered with CSMA to invest in and further develop Parliament Hill, the UK's leading provider of membership association benefits platforms.

As part of this strategic partnership, Gautam Sahgal and CSMA will jointly invest in the continued growth of Parliament Hill, focusing on advancing its technology, expanding its commercial offering, and scaling its impact across the membership sector.

Sahgal, who has been appointed Executive Chairman of Parliament Hill, brings a strong track record of building and transforming businesses. He previously led Perkbox through a period of international expansion and product development. Perkbox was subsequently acquired by Great Hill Partners in June 2024. Prior to his time at Perkbox, Gautam successfully turned around Thomsonlocal, saving it from liquidation and transforming it into a digital listings business.

Joining him as CEO of Parliament Hill is Joel Tobias, a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in the benefits, rewards, gift card, and affiliate marketing sectors. His leadership roles have included senior positions at Perkbox, LifeWorks, NextJump, and NetVoucherCodes, bringing deep commercial and operational expertise to drive the next phase of Parliament Hill's growth.

Gautam Sahgal, Executive Chairman of Parliament Hill, said:

"I'm delighted to bring my experience to Parliament Hill at such a pivotal moment. Membership associations face increasing pressure to acquire, engage, and retain their members - and the key to doing so is by delivering real, tangible value. These are unique, targeted audiences who need a universal product that works for all, but also tailored, bespoke solutions that speak directly to their needs. The scale we're starting with - over 6 million users - is truly exciting and gives us a strong foundation to build something market-leading."

Joel Tobias, CEO of Parliament Hill, added:

"This is an incredible opportunity to reimagine the role of member benefits. Our ambition is to build a platform that's modern, agile, and focused on the specific needs of the membership organisations we serve - offering them world-class engagement tools and unrivalled value for their members."

Colin Slinn, CEO of CSMA, commented:

"CSMA acquired Parliament Hill in 2018 and we're thrilled to partner with Gautam and Joel to invest further in its future. With the right leadership, resources, and strategy, we're confident Parliament Hill will become an even stronger force in the membership space."

Through this partnership, Parliament Hill will accelerate innovation in benefits technology, curate an expanded range of offers tailored to diverse member needs and strengthen its position as the go-to platform for membership organisations looking to deliver exceptional value.

About CSMA

CSMA is the parent company of Boundless, a membership organisation dedicated to helping current and former public sector workers make the most of their free time, offering access to exclusive deals, events, experiences, and benefits for over 100 years. For more information, please visit www.boundless.co.uk.

About Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is the UK's market leader in building and managing benefits platforms for professional membership associations, serving over 6.2 million members across a wide range of industries. For more information, please visit www.parliament-hill.co.uk

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May 9, 2025: The Iran-backed Houthis rebels have moved some of their operations from Yemen and crossed over to Africa. The Houthis assist local Islamic terrorist groups in Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia. This is part of the Iranian goal to move their Houthis closer to Israeli territories. There the Houthis can assist Hamas in Gaza or even Islamic terrorists in other Palestinian territories.

The Houthis that establish themselves in Somalia provide weapons, advice and training to the local Al Shabab group on how to increase their ship hijacking and ransoming operations.

The Houthi rebels have been trying to halt merchant ship traffic to the Suez Canal as well as launch armed drone attacks on Israel. Neither of these violent activities are having much impact. Israeli air defense systems intercept nearly all incoming missiles. Merchant shipping in the Red Sea continues to move along the Yemen coast towards the Suez Canal. The mass media, looking for, or inventing scary stories to attract more readers, publish distorted versions of how effective the Houthi attacks are. The attacks are frequent and they usually fail. Those that hit a ship generally do only minor damage and that is not sufficient to stop ships from using the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal. In the last two years the Houthis have attacked more than a hundred ships. Two vessels were sunk, another was seized and four crewmen were killed.

The Houthis have a long history as inept users of modern weapons. This was demonstrated after 2015 as Iran smuggled in 430 ballistic missiles and 851 explosives equipped drones for attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthi were sent a lot more missiles, but anti-smuggling patrols by the U.S. Navy and a few warships from European or Gulf Arab nations, managed to seize many of the missiles. The embargo was so tight at times that the Iranians were forced to land the missiles in Oman, one of the few Persian Gulf Arab countries that maintained cordial relations with Iran where local truck drivers got them to the Yemen border with Saudi Arabia. This was more time consuming and expensive than using ships, but the Iranians had to improvise when the naval blockade was too troublesome.

The longer range Iranian ballistic missiles were used in attempts to hit Saudi oil facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The Saudi had received the Patriot missile defense system and purchased hundreds of Patriot missiles to shoot down most of the Houthi missiles. Since 2015 the Saudi Patriot system crews have gained more combat experience than anyone else. The Ukrainians may eventually catch up as they receive more Patriot missiles. Since late 2023 the Houthis have been firing their cruise missiles at ships in the Red Sea. The wartime activity has brought many warships and air patrols to the Red Sea and that has halted Iranian missile smuggling efforts.

The problem Iran and the Houthis face is that as of 2023, Middle Eastern countries friendly to the United States have been supplied with a lot of Patriot batteries. Kuwait has about 8 batteries; Qatar has 6, Saudi Arabia has 25 batteries and hundreds of additional missiles to keep active batteries supplied with enough missiles to deal with large scale attacks, like the one that the Houthis created on the Yemen-Saudi border. The UAE has 9 Patriot batteries while Israel has 4 Patriot PAC-2 batteries as well as two locally designed Davids Sling batteries. This Israeli system is an improvement on Patriot, developed and built with cooperation from the United States.

Another technology the Houthis were not interested in were the novel Ukrainian naval drones that were developed to effectively attack and sink or scare away most of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Iran is working on producing such sea drones.
VIENTIANE, Laos, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Many deaf children in Laos are unable to attend school due to discrimination, shortage of qualified teachers trained in deaf education or sign language, and an inability to pay school fees. Hands of Hope School for the Deaf was founded in 2010 by Sophaphone Heuanglith, who wanted to provide education and opportunity for deaf youth in Laos.

Hands of Hope aims to equip these students with academic and vocational skills so they can support themselves and contribute to society. The school provides a supportive environment, providing them with free education, housing, meals, and medical care. In this nurturing environment, there are no barriers - only connection and acceptance. The children live, learn, eat and grow together, building not just language skills but a sense of belonging, confidence and social connections.

Vantage Foundation met with Sophaphone Heuanglith, Founder of Hands of Hope Laos, to discuss the organization's commitment to support and nurture these children who have suffered from the society's discrimination. Recognizing the meaningful work that Hands of Hope Laos has established, Vantage Foundation hope to help raise awareness about the needs and potential of deaf children, creating an inclusive opportunity to help support the deaf community.

"Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and valued," said Sophaphone Heuanglith, Founder of Hands of Hope Laos. "At our school, we don't just teach language - we help our students discover their voice, their confidence, and their place in the world."

"Hands of Hope represents the kind of impact we aim to support through the Vantage Foundation," added Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation. "We are proud to stand beside Sophaphone and her team to help break down barriers and create lasting opportunity for these children."

This collaboration reflects Vantage Foundation's continued mission to champion inclusive initiatives that uplift underserved communities. By investing in education and empowerment, we hope to create a more equitable future - one where every child, regardless of ability, has the chance to succeed. To learn more about Hands of Hope Laos, visit https://www.facebook.com/HOHlao/ .

About Vantage Foundation

Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organization launched at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in 2023. The foundation has partnered with organisations worldwide, including Grab Indonesia, the iREDE Foundation in Nigeria, Teach for Malaysia, and Instituto Claret in Brazil, to drive impactful social initiatives.

For more information, please visit www.vantage.foundation

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Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - At the Climate Group Asia-Pacific Action Summit held today in Singapore, Nova Complex, a global digital infrastructure services provider, announced its new ESG roadmap aiming to achieve 100% clean energy usage across all global campuses by 2030. The announcement was made during a keynote speech by Jacob Li, Head of Climate Impact Programs, and highlights the company's commitment to sustainability through its innovative "Power-Campus" model.

Nova Complex Pledges 100% Clean Energy for Global Campuses by 2030, Unveils "Power-Campus" Strategy at Climate Summit

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Jacob also emphasized the urgency of transforming traditional data center infrastructure. "Artificial Intelligence is moving beyond foundational models into broader real-world applications, driving explosive demand surge in computing power. However, this also brings notable challenges related to energy consumption and carbon emissions. Traditional data center development models - particularly those relying heavily on high-carbon energy sources - are no longer sustainable," Li stated.

The "Power-Campus" model focuses on integrating renewable energy with digital infrastructure. Through deeply embedded energy systems with compute capacity, "Power Campus" aims to significantly increase the proportion of renewable energy utilization in the data center power supply mix, achieving self-sufficient energy supply and intelligent energy management. Additionally, the company is deploying advanced energy storage facilities and microgrid systems within its campuses to ensure stable and safe operation under various requirements of computing workloads.

Nova Complex tailors its energy solutions to regional resource advantages. In South America, the company leverages abundant hydropower resources and carbon credit mechanisms to reduce green energy costs through renewable energy certificate (REC) trading and cross-border carbon agreements, ensuring sustainable utilization of clean energy. In the Middle East, Nova plans to develop over 3GW of renewable energy generation capacity and 1.5GWh of energy storage systems to support future IT loads exceeding 500 MW.

On supply chain and global operation management, the "Power-Campus" model leverage Asia's superb manufacturing capabilities and efficient supply chain networks. Combined with Nova's years of experience in rapid parallel project deployment. This ensures swift delivery of data centers-from land acquisition and power infrastructure setup to equipment installation and system integration.

www.novacomplex.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251421

SOURCE: Global News
"In-Depth Analysis of Thermal Interface Materials: Advancements, Market Dynamics, and Practical Applications Across Industries"

BOSTON, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest study from BCC Research, "Thermal Interface Materials: Technologies, Applications and Global Markets" is expected to grow from $4.4 billion in 2024 to reach $7.5 billion by the end of 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2029.

The report covers the thermal interface material (TIM) market, analyzing materials such as polymer composites, metals and phase-change materials (PCMs), and assessing their adoption in diverse industries. Key applications for these materials include computers, consumer electronics, industrial equipment, automotive, medical devices, telecom, renewable energy, aerospace and defense, and other sectors that require efficient thermal management. The study includes an analysis of the markets in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World, evaluating market dynamics, trends, and innovations. It also provides insights into the product portfolios and strategies of the leading companies.

Advances in thermal interface materials are taking place constantly. Applications for TIMs are expanding, driven by the increasing demand for efficient thermal management in high-performance electronics and electric vehicles (EVs), and the need for advanced materials to support device miniaturization. Staying up-to-date on these developments is crucial for stakeholders to capitalize on emerging opportunities and maintain competitiveness in a dynamic market.

The factors driving the market include:

Data Centers: TIMs are crucial for managing the heat generated by high-density electronic components in data centers. Efficient heat dissipation ensures optimal operating temperatures, prevents overheating, and maintains equipment reliability and longevity.

Miniaturized Electronics: As electronic devices become smaller and more powerful, thermal management becomes essential. TIMs help manage heat in compact spaces, ensuring that miniaturized components do not overheat and continue to function efficiently.

LED Lighting: High-efficiency LED lighting solutions generate heat that needs to be managed to maintain performance and lifespan. TIMs enhance thermal conductivity in LED systems, dissipating heat and supporting the growing demand for energy-efficient lighting.

Electric Vehicles: The shift towards EVs increases the need for thermal management. TIMs are used in battery packs, power electronics, and other EV components to ensure they operate within safe temperature ranges.

5G Technology: The rollout of 5G technology involves new infrastructure and devices that require thermal management. TIMs are essential in 5G base stations, smartphones, and other devices to manage the increased heat generated by higher data processing speeds and more powerful components.

Request a sample copy of the global market for thermal interface materials report.

Report Synopsis

Report Metric Details Base year considered 2023 Forecast period considered 2024-2029 Base year market size $4.0 billion Market size forecast $7.5 billion Growth rate CAGR of 11.5% for the forecast period of 2024-2029 Segments covered Material Type, Application, and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World (Latin America and MEA) Countries covered U.S., Canada, China, Japan, India, Germany, France, U.K. Market drivers  Increasing utilization of TIMs in data centers.  Escalating needs for compact and miniaturization electronic components.  Expanding market for high-efficiency LED lighting solutions.  Electrification in the transportation industry.  Increasing adoption of 5G technology.

Interesting facts:

Industries use advanced TIMs for better heat dissipation and thermal management, improving performance and reliability compared to traditional materials.

Advanced TIMs integrated with new technologies enhance thermal conductivity and mechanical stability, boosting efficiency in EVs, 5G devices, and high-performance computing.

Adoption of advanced TIMs is growing in the medical, automotive and telecommunications sectors, improving heat management and supporting emerging technologies such as autonomous systems and compact electronics.

Emerging startups

Shiu Li Technology LLC

Coolmag Thermo Conductive, S.L.

Probots Inc.

The report addresses the following questions:

1. What is the market's projected market size and growth rate?

The market is projected to reach $7.5 billion by the end of 2029, at a CAGR of 11.5%.

2. What are the key factors driving the growth of the market?

These include increasing utilization in data centers, increasing demand for miniaturization of electronic devices, and growing demand for LEDs.

3. Which segments are covered in the report?

In the report the market is segmented material type, application and geographic region.

4. Which material type will dominate the market over the forecast period?

The dominant material type is expected to be polymer composites due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability across various sectors.

5. Which region has the highest market share?

Asia-Pacific holds the highest share of the global market for TIMs, due to rapid industrialization, economic growth, and increasing demand for consumer electronics and EVs.

Market leaders include:

3M

AMETEK INC.

AOS THERMAL COMPOUNDS LLC.

DOW

ENERDYNE THERMAL SOLUTIONS INC.

EPIC RESINS

HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA

INDIUM CORP.

MASTER BOND INC.

MG CHEMICALS

MOMENTIVE PERFORMANCE MATERIALS

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP.

POLYCAST INTERNATIONAL

ROGERS CORP.

SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO. LTD.

TIMTRONICS

UNIVERSAL SCIENCE

VANGUARD PRODUCTS CORP.

WAKEFIELD THERMAL INC.

ZALMAN

Related Reports Include:

Energy Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings: Global Markets: This report segments the market by retrofit type, product, and building type, focusing on commercial and public buildings. It covers technological advances, regulations, competitive aspects, and economic trends, including a patent review and Porter's Five Forces analysis. The study also covers emerging technologies and macro-economic factors, with profiles of major companies. Regional analysis spans North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World, with the focus on the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and China.

Purchase a copy of the report direct from BCC Research.

For further information on any of these reports or to make a purchase, please contact info@bccresearch.com.

About BCC Research

BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype.

Contact Us

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Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - CGX Energy Inc. (TSXV: OYL) ("CGX" or the "Company") announced today the release of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2025, together with its Management Discussion and Analysis (the "Financial Disclosures"). The Financial Disclosures will be posted on the Company's website at www.cgxenergy.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All values in the Financial Disclosures are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.

Guyana Exploration

On March 13, 2025, CGX and Frontera Energy Corporation ("Frontera" and with CGX, the "Joint Venture") announced the receipt of a communication from the Government of Guyana indicating that, on the one hand, the Government was of the view that the Petroleum Prospecting License ("PPL") and Petroleum Agreement are at an end but, on the other hand, that the Government was terminating the Petroleum Agreement and cancelling the PPL.

In addition, on March 26, 2025, Frontera and its subsidiaries Frontera Petroleum International Holding B.V. and Frontera Energy Guyana Holding Ltd. (the "Investors") sent a notice of intent to the Government of Guyana, by which the Investors alleged breaches of the United Kingdom - Guyana Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and the Guyana Investment Act by the Government of Guyana (the "Notice of Intent"). The Notice of Intent initiated a three-month period for consultations and negotiations between the parties to resolve the dispute amicably.

The Joint Venture remains firmly of the view that its interest in, and the PPL for, the Corentyne block remain in place and in good standing, and continues to invite the Government to amicably resolve the issues affecting the Joint Venture's investments in the Corentyne block. Should the parties not reach a mutually agreeable solution, the Joint Venture and its other stakeholders are prepared to assert their legal rights.

The Joint Venture looks forward to expeditiously resolving this matter and continuing its multi-year efforts and investments to realize value for the people of Guyana and its shareholders from the Corentyne block.

About CGX

CGX is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin and the development of a deep-water port in Berbice, Guyana.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information relates to activities, events or developments that CGX believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limitation, statements relating to the posting of the Financial Disclosures and the Joint Venture's continuing efforts and investments in the Corentyne block. All information other than historical fact is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information reflects the current expectations, assumptions and beliefs of CGX based on information currently available to it and considers the experience of CGX and its perception of historical trends. Although CGX believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such information. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are unique to CGX and the Joint Venture, including the ability of the Joint Venture to reach an agreement with the Government of Guyana. No assurance can be given that such an agreement will be reached. The actual results of the Company and the Joint Venture may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on CGX. CGX's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other documents CGX files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities describe the risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents are available without charge by referring to CGX's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, CGX disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251446

SOURCE: CGX Energy Inc.
TAIPEI, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, continues to redefine DIY PC building with its innovative Project STEALTH, first introduced in 2022. The Project STEALTH concept was the industry's pioneer in adopting reverse-connector motherboards for a cleaner, more streamlined assembly. Now, responding to the growing demand for all-white and cableless PC builds, GIGABYTE launches the STEALTH ICE Series, featuring the AMD X870 and B850 motherboards alongside the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. Together with the GIGABYTE C500 PANORAMIC STEALTH ICE chassis, users can now have a truly pure-white setup with a stunning 270-degree panoramic view.

The Project STEALTH elevates the user experience by moving all connectors to the rear side. This reverse-connector layout enables faster and neater cable management, making it easier for users to assemble and maintain their builds. With more spaces on the front side, users can showcase custom cooling, RGB lighting, and stylish decoration on the builds.

Beyond aesthetics and easier assembly, GIGABYTE ensures that the Project STEALTH build is highly compatible. In addition to supporting its own chassis lineup, GIGABYTE has partnered with over 10 renowned case manufacturers, including Corsair, Fractal Design, Phanteks, and more, to provide reverse-connector-ready cases across more than 20 models. This makes the Project STEALTH the most compatible and flexible solution in the market for cableless PC builds.

Whether you're a minimalist seeking a clean visual setup or an enthusiast aiming for the pure white gaming rig, the STEALTH ICE Series delivers unmatched elegance and practicality. Experience a new level of PC DIY with Project STEALTH, where aesthetics meet engineering.

For more information, visit the official GIGABYTE website.

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MUNICH, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar Europe 2025 is being held in Munich from May 7 to 9. Huawei Digital Power is showcasing its all-scenario grid-forming Smart PV+ESS products and solutions. These cutting-edge technologies and successful business applications help accelerate the construction of new power systems and drive the global renewable energy industry toward high-quality development.

Carbon neutrality and energy transition are now global missions. This calls for the construction of new power systems so that more renewable energy can be consumed and more power electronics equipment used throughout power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. The new power systems integrate energy flows with information flows. Energy flows managed by information flows - known as "bit manages watt" - enable flexible dispatch, safety, reliability, and stable grid-forming control, making it essential.

In utility-scale scenarios, Huawei's utility Smart String Grid Forming ESS offers all-scenario grid forming, cell-to-grid safety, full-lifecycle optimal investment, and full-link digitalization. It has grid-forming capabilities for all scenarios, all grid conditions, and the full lifecycle of power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. This means that Huawei's Smart String Grid Forming ESS can ensure stable grid forming at full ranges of state of charge (SOC) and short circuit ratio (SCR) and at any time. It is also future-proof, supporting continuous technological evolution.

On the generation side, the solution can be adapted to any grid and power can be stably transmitted. The voltage, frequency, and power angle control functions and application effects are equivalent to those of synchronous condensers. The grid-forming ESS solution features simple maintenance and lower lifecycle investment.

On the transmission and distribution side, the solution stabilizes voltage and frequency, supports black start, and mitigates weak power supply in load centers. As the electric power market is expanding from energy and capacity markets to ancillary service markets such as reactive power and inertia services, Huawei's Smart String Grid-Forming ESS continues evolving to meet customers' demands. It offers one platform that is adaptable to diverse business models and supports flexible evolution.

On the consumption side, seamless on/off-grid switching and stable off-grid operation enable microgrids that are 100% powered by renewables.

Hierarchical control is vital for a microgrid system to achieve the optimal balance between economy and stability. Huawei's microgrid control system carefully considers time-based control and function implementation and is divided into three layers: stable grid-forming control, efficient coordinated control, and intelligent optimized dispatching. It provides strong technical support for the low-carbon and efficient energy transition of industries such as mining.

Designed to enable sustainable operations in the commercial and industrial (C&I) scenario, Huawei's 215 kWh Smart Hybrid Cooling ESS features proactive safety, premium quality, and higher profitability.

Proactive safety: Huawei proposes the concept of "Cell-to-Consumption (C2C) Dual-link Safety Architecture," which refers to electrical and thermal link safety across cell, pack, system, and consumption. The ESS is certified by UL 9540A, VDE-AR-E 2510, and CE standards, and is the world's first product to obtain the L3 highest safety certification (Prime safety) by TUV Rheinland.

Premium quality: The ESS runs stably in extreme conditions, with no power derating at 50C* or at an altitude of 4000 m*.

Higher profitability: The unique pack-level optimization has been upgraded to version 2.0, achieving 91.3%* round-trip efficiency (RTE) and 100% depth of discharge (DOD) for more usable energy throughout the lifecycle.

* For details, see the product brochure.

The newly released Home Energy Management Solution 6.0 covers green power generation and intelligent energy consumption, leading the way in green home energy. This solution includes a full range of new products, such as the residential ESS LUNA S1-7kWh. The ESS has an industry-leading long-period warranty, over 40% more usable energy than the industry average, and on-demand capacity expansion to up to 252 kWh. It can also be used in a wide range of small-sized C&I and residential scenarios. In Huawei's residential exhibition area, visitors can experience a demonstration of the product's reliability and high-quality under extreme conditions, including 40 cm water immersion, 5-ton pressure, wind and sand resistance, and extreme cold.

Energy transition is not only technological innovation, but also a global effort to achieve sustainable development. Huawei Digital Power will continue innovating technologies, integrate "4T" technologies (bit, watt, heat, and battery), and work with global customers and partners to accelerate the construction of new power systems through all-scenario grid-forming solutions.

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Summary

At Stockade Mountain, the Company has received a permit to drill a water well to produce water for exploration drilling. Planning continues for a reverse circulation ("RC") drilling program during the summer field season to follow up on encouraging results from the 2023-24 winter drilling program.

At Lone Mountain, the Company has begun the 2025 field season that will include geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and additional gravity geophysics.

The Company reports the results of its annual general meeting ("AGM") of shareholders held on May 7, 2025 and changes to officers and directors.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Austin Gold Corp. (NYSE American: AUST) ("Austin" or the "Company")provides an update on its exploration activities at its Stockade Mountain Project in Oregon, and Lone Mountain and Kelly Creek projects in Nevada, and the results of its AGM of shareholders held on May 7, 2025.

Update - Exploration activities

At the Stockade Mountain Project, Austin received permission from the Oregon Water Resources Department to drill a water well to produce water for exploration drilling. The Company did not initiate a drill campaign at Stockade late last year as was planned due to mild, wet weather and access road issues. An RC drill program to follow-up on encouraging gold mineralization encountered during the 2023-4 winter drilling program is planned for the summer of 2025.

At the Lone Mountain Project, the Company continues to advance exploration with plans for additional geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and gravity geophysics to be conducted during the 2025 field season.

In 2024, Austin completed a soil and stream sediment sampling program consisting of 2,027 soil and 122 stream sediment samples. Further analysis of data from the 2024 soil sampling program revealed unusual patterns for a few of the elements that are not normally used for Carlin-type gold deposit exploration. This lessens the confidence of data for the elements that are important. Accordingly, the analytical laboratory will rerun the samples using a different analytical package at no cost to the Company.

Although significant historical exploration has been conducted at Lone Mountain, large areas of the property remain untested, or minimally tested, by drilling.

At the Kelly Creek Project, Austin continues to determine the best options for further exploration.

Robert M. Hatch, the Qualified Person for Austin as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

Results of the 2025 AGM

The Company reports the results of its AGM of shareholders held on May 7, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A total of 7,762,732 shares were represented in person or by proxy at the meeting, being 58.49% of the issued and outstanding shares at the record date. Joe Ovsenek and Ken McNaughton did not stand for re-election. A summary of the AGM results is outlined below.

Election of Directors Number

Voted For Percentage

Voted For Dennis L. Higgs 6,331,179* 99.76% Barbara A. Filas 6,324,621* 99.65% Sandra R. MacKay 6,325,428* 99.67% Tom Yip 6,331,046* 99.76% Guillermo Lozano-Chavez 6,320,131* 99.58% Proposals



Fix number of directors at five 7,718,241 99.43% Appoint Manning Elliott LLP as auditors 7,702,138 99.22%

* Excludes broker discretionary votes.

Dennis Higgs has been appointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (previously, President) and Tom Yip has been appointed Lead Independent Director.

"On behalf of the Board, I'd like to thank Joe and Ken for their service and contributions to the Company," said Dennis Higgs, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Looking ahead, we are excited for the prospects of the Company at our mineral projects in this high gold price environment."

About Austin Gold Corp.

Austin is a gold exploration company focused on gold targets and making district-scale gold discoveries in the southwestern United States.

Austin has two projects in Nevada. The Kelly Creek Project is located on the Battle Mountain-Eureka (Cortez) gold trend in Humboldt County and the Lone Mountain Project is on the Independence-Jerritt Canyon gold trend in Elko County. Collectively, these Nevada properties comprise approximately 34.9 mi2 (90 km2) of unpatented lode mining claims and private property. In Oregon, the Stockade Mountain Project consists of approximately 10.5 mi2 (27.2 km2) of unpatented mining claims situated in a geological environment that appears the same as the nearby Grassy Mountain Deposit that is being permitted for underground mining.

Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, the Company's expectations, strategies and plans for the Lone Mountain Project, the Stockade Mountain Project, and the Kelly Creek Project, including the Company's planned expenditures and exploration activities.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251420

SOURCE: Austin Gold Corp.
NEWBURY, England, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Osteotec, the market leading manufacturer and distributor of specialised medical devices, is pleased to announce an exclusive distribution agreement with icotec, the world leader of non-metallic spinal implants optimized for spine tumour therapy.

This collaboration, effective from May 8, marks a key milestone in Osteotec's strategic growth, further expanding its spine product portfolio to provide physicians in Great Britain with advanced solutions that support improved patient outcomes.

Headquartered in Altstatten, Switzerland, icotec develops and manufactures innovative, radiolucent implants derived from BlackArmor Carbon/PEEK material for the operative treatment of tumour diseases of the spine and other indications.

icotec's BlackArmor Carbon/PEEK material provides value in radiotherapy, enabling artifact-free CT/MRI images for accurate delineation of critical structures and accelerated dose planning, helping physicians improve diagnostic accuracy and deliver more effective treatment options for patients suffering with primary and metastatic spinal tumours.

"This partnership with icotec represents a significant step forward in our commitment to supporting physicians with innovative spinal solutions," said Dean Stockwell, Osteotec Sales and Marketing Director.

"icotec's innovative approach to the treatment of spinal oncology aligns with our mission to improve surgical outcomes and patient care. By adding icotec's BlackArmor implants to our growing spine portfolio, we are broadening the range of advanced tools available to physicians, enabling them to address the unique challenges associated with treating spinal tumours and other indications."

The agreement solidifies Osteotec's role as a supplier of spinal solutions in Great Britain, building on its established presence and expertise in supporting both NHS and private healthcare providers.

"We are excited to partner with Osteotec, a company renowned for its deep-rooted connections within the spine community and its dedication to improving patient care," said Kurt Zoller, Chief Marketing Officer at icotec.

"Through this collaboration, we aim to make our BlackArmor Carbon/PEEK implants more accessible to physicians across Great Britain, empowering them to deliver enhanced treatment options for patients with complex spinal conditions."

About Osteotec

Osteotec is a manufacturer and distributor of medical devices headquartered in Newbury, UK, with offices in Dublin and Malmo. Established in 1993, Osteotec has been supplying into the NHS and private healthcare sectors for the past 31 years.

Osteotec manufactures and distributes the Osteotec Silicone Finger, ChiroKlip and the Concentric Bone Graft System and is a distributor for world-leading orthopaedic partners including Highridge Medical, SI-BONE, TriMed, Enovis and Cerapedics.

Media Contact:

Harriet Bawden

Marketing Manager

mkt@osteotec.com | 020 3011 5574

For more information, visit - www.osteotec.com

About icotec

icotec is the leading company for the treatment of spinal tumours and other indications with a new generation of high-tech implants. With its BlackArmor Carbon/PEEK implants, icotec combines cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise to deliver innovative and reliable solutions for spine surgeons and their patients and is dedicated to advancing the field of spinal implantation.

With a track record of clinical success and a commitment to continuous innovation, icotec is poised to shape the future of spinal surgery. The comprehensive product portfolio has received FDA and CE clearance and is supported by numerous Key Opinion Leaders and spine surgery centres worldwide.

Media Contact:

John Clough

Vice President of Product Management and New Indications

John.clough@icotec-medical.com

For more information, visit www.icotec-medical.com

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Expanding the Most Liquid Environmental Derivatives Markets in the World

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a leading global provider of technology and data, announced the launch this week of EU Carbon Allowance (EUA) 2 futures, with the contract now available to trade alongside ICE's benchmark EUA futures and options, the most liquid carbon derivatives market in the world.

The EUA 2 futures contract launched on May 6, 2025, with the first trades taking place on the same day, totaling the equivalent of 5,000 EUA 2 allowances.

Reflecting how many carbon markets are expanding their scope and coverage, the European Union has created a new emissions trading system called the Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2) which is designed to cover carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in buildings and road transport. The ETS2 is expected to become operational in 2027 and double the scope of the existing EU ETS to 80% of the EU economy, expanding the number of covered entities to approximately 20,000.

"2025 marks twenty-five years since ICE began investing in and building global energy and environmental markets, and today ICE's markets provide the price signals and liquidity that allow companies to manage the uncertainties of decarbonization," said Gordon Bennett, Global Head of Environmental Markets at ICE. "The carbon price set by the EU ETS2 can provide a market incentive for investments in building renovations and low-emissions mobility and by offering futures covering this new system, ICE is delivering price signals to customers who are mandated to account for the cost of pollution in these new sectors."

"Macquarie is pleased to participate in the launch of the ICE EUA 2 futures contract," said German Tyeles, a Senior Vice President within Macquarie's Commodities and Global Markets business. "We have supported clients across environmental markets worldwide for almost two decades and look forward to putting our commodities expertise to work in this emerging space."

"We are excited to see ICE yet again playing a pioneering role in providing market participants such as Mercuria with the necessary instruments to enable price discovery in these new sectors covered in the EU's approach to carbon pricing," said James Cooper, Head of Origination EMEA, Environmental Products at Mercuria.

"ICE's launch of an EUA 2 contract marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Europe's carbon markets, enhancing price transparency and strengthening Trafigura's ability to manage risk on behalf of their customers in newly affected sectors," said Hannah Hauman, Global Head of Carbon Trading at Trafigura.

"Statkraft strongly believes in carbon markets as a market-based tool to fight climate change and renew the way the world is powered," said Misja Nuyens, Head of Global Environmental Markets at Statkraft. "We have been supportive of the EU ETS as a core in the EU energy transition from the very start in 2005 and contributed to the liquidity of the market through our trading activities. Statkraft is therefore pleased to witness the launch of the EUA 2 contract on ICE."

"We fully support transparent, market-based platforms that enable fair carbon dioxide pricing," said Dr. Arne Weber, Head of Power, Gas Emissions at Mabanaft. "These new instruments offer a valuable opportunity to manage long-term carbon dioxide risks and provide the essential price signals needed to drive investment and decision-making in the energy transition. A well-functioning market is fundamental to achieving carbon dioxide management in an economically viable way."

"The launch of the EUA 2 futures contract is a critical step in helping market participants prepare for the expansion of the EU carbon market. We at Vertis see a growing interest from companies, particularly in sectors not currently covered by ETS1, as they assess the financial implications of future compliance," said Bartosz Wilamowski, Head of Sales EU ETS at Vertis. "Unlike the early days of ETS1, we expect ETS2 to drive more immediate and material cost exposure. This new contract brings much-needed price transparency, enabling businesses to better plan and manage their carbon-related financial risks."

"Global Factor welcomes the launch of ICE's EUA 2 futures contract. This new instrument will play a crucial role in sending clear price signals to support the decarbonization of road transport and residential energy use at the lowest cost," said Kepa Solaun, CEO of Global Factor. "It also offers an essential tool for managing the risks faced by the companies we work with."

The EUA 2 futures contract is the latest addition to ICE's global environmental markets which offer the most liquid venues to trade European, North American, and U.K. environmental programs. The equivalent to over $1 trillion worth of environmental contracts trade on ICE each year and since launch over 173 billion carbon allowances, 655 million renewable energy certificates and over 6 billion tons of carbon credits have traded across ICE's global markets.

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks that connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes helping our customers access mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and efficiency. ICE's futures, equity, and options exchanges - including the New York Stock Exchange - and clearing houses help people invest, raise capital and manage risk. We offer some of the world's largest markets to trade and clear energy and environmental products. Our fixed income, data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers streamline processes and capitalize on opportunities. At ICE Mortgage Technology , we are transforming U.S. housing finance, from initial consumer engagement through loan production, closing, registration and the long-term servicing relationship. Together, ICE transforms, streamlines and automates industries to connect our customers to opportunity.

Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here . Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading "Key Information Documents (KIDS)."

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on February 6, 2025.

Category: EXCHANGES

ICE-CORP

Source: Intercontinental Exchange

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250509380289/en/

Contacts:

ICE Media:

Jess Tatham

jess.tatham@ice.com

+44 7377 947136



ICE Investor:

Katia Gonzalez

katia.gonzalez@ice.com

(678) 981-3882
Hamilton, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Launchit Solutions Inc. ("Launchit" or the "Company"), a medical wellness company whose portfolio includes world-leading obesity programs and who has imminent plans to be listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, is pleased to announce it will be presenting at the Centurion One Capital 6th Annual LA Summit held at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel from Monday, June 2nd to Thursday, June 5th, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

Jamie Harsevoort is scheduled to present at the conference and will also be attending investor meetings and participating on a panel discussion. "I am very excited to take the stage at the Centurion One conference to share how Launchit is redefining the future of obesity treatment," said Harsevoort. "This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with entrepreneurial leaders to showcase the incredible momentum we've built. I look forward to meeting with investors who are ready to be part of something truly transformative." Launchit is building on successful national Canadian programs and has initiated an aggressive growth strategy in the USA and international markets.

Centurion One Capital 6 th Annual LA Summit

Format: Presentations, Panel Discussions and 1 X 1 Investor Meetings

Presentation Dates: Wednesday, June 4th and Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM PDT - 5:00 PM PDT

Venue: The Beverly Hills Hotel

For more information and registration details, please visit: https://www.centuriononecapital.com/la-summit.

About Centurion One Capital

Centurion One Capital ("Centurion One") is the premier independent Investment Banking firm dedicated to fueling the growth and success of growth companies in North America. With an unwavering commitment to delivering comprehensive financial solutions and strategic guidance, Centurion One is a trusted strategic partner and catalyst to propel issuers to unlock their full potential.

Our team comprises seasoned professionals who combine extensive financial expertise with deep knowledge of various sectors. We take a proactive and results-driven approach, working closely with our clients to develop tailored strategies and execute transactions that maximize value and drive long-term success.

Centurion One - Empowering Growth. Driving Innovation. Partnering for Success.

For more information about Centurion One, visit www.centuriononecapital.com.

Launchit Solutions Inc.

Per: Jamie Harsevoort

Chief Executive Officer

About Launchit Solutions

Launchit Solutions builds and acquires medical innovations with high cashflow potential. Launchit has multiple national partnerships focused on behavioral support for obesity, including national programs with Novo Nordisk and Shoppers Drug Mart. Their portfolio also includes several other life science ventures and a healthy pipeline of exciting new innovations. Launchit is finalizing plans to be listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and expects to have a Qualifying Transaction completed in the near future.

Learn more about Launchit at https://launchitsolutions.ca/.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251340

SOURCE: Centurion One Capital Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Standard Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: STND) (OTCQB: STTDF) (FSE: 9SU0) ("Standard Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive property option agreement (the "Option Agreement"), dated May 8, 2025, with Vital Battery Metals Inc. (CSE: VBAM) (OTCQB: VBAMF) (FSE: C0O) (the "Optionee"), an arms-length party. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Optionee has been granted the option (the "Option") to acquire a seventy-five percent interest in the 12,265-hectare Corvo Project ("Corvo" or the "Project") located in the eastern Athabasca Basin region (Figure 1).

Corvo Highlights:

More than 29 km of exploration strike length along three strong NE-SW magnetic low trends coincident with EM conductors and cross-cutting faults , providing highly prospective shallow drill targets .

along three strong NE-SW magnetic low trends coincident with EM conductors and cross-cutting faults providing highly prospective . Uranium mineralization is present along a strike length of 800 metres between historical drill holes TL-79-3 ( 0.057% U 3 O 8 over 3.5 m ) and TL-79-5 ( 0.065% U 3 O 8 over 0.1 m ) on the Project, in addition to the Manhattan Showing with historical results of 59,800 ppm U at surface 1 .

is present along a strike length of 800 metres between historical drill holes TL-79-3 ( ) and TL-79-5 ( ) on the Project, in addition to the with historical results of . High-resolution geophysical survey - A modern time domain electromagnetic ("TDEM") survey was recently completed, upgrading drill targets through definition of the three main conductor trends.

Jon Bey, CEO & Chairman of the Company stated, "We are happy to welcome the Vital Battery Metals team to the Athabasca Basin. We look forward to getting started on extensive work programs on the project together, driving meaningful exploration towards uranium discovery in the eastern Basin."

The Company believes the Project is highly prospective for the discovery of shallow, high-grade basement-hosted uranium mineralization akin to the Rabbit Lake deposit and the recently discovered Gemini Mineralized Zone. Located just outside the current margin of the Athabasca Basin, Corvo boasts shallow drill targets with bedrock under minimal cover of glacial till. Several outcrop showings of mineralized veins and fractures are present on the Project, notably the Manhattan Showing that returned historical sample results up to 59,800 ppm U at surface and has never been drill tested.





Figure 1. Regional map of Standard Uranium's Corvo Project. The Project is located 45 km northeast of Atha Energy's Gemini Mineralized Zone ("GMZ") and 60 km due east of Cameco's McArthur River mine.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10633/251409_0f5c2073d46f7a46_001full.jpg

The Option is exercisable by the Optionee completing cash payments and share issuances ("Consideration Shares"), and incurring the following exploration expenditures on the Project:



Consideration

Payments Consideration

Shares Exploration

Expenditures Operator

Fees Year 1 $50,000 $125,000 $750,000 $75,000 Year 2 $75,000 $275,000 $1,750,000 $192,500 Year 3 $100,000 $325,000 $2,000,000 $240,000 Total: $225,000 $725,000 $4,500,000 $507,500

The Consideration Shares issuable in the first year will issued at a deemed price of $0.13 per Consideration Share and will be subject to resale restrictions from which one-quarter of the Consideration Shares will be released every six months for a twenty-four-month period. The remaining Consideration Shares will be issuable at a deemed price equivalent to the volume-weighted average closing price of the common shares of the Optionee on the Canadian Securities Exchange in the thirty trading days immediately prior to issuance. Consideration Shares issuable in the second year will be subject to resale restrictions from which one-third will be released every six months for an eighteen-month period. Consideration Shares issuable in the third year will be subject to resale restrictions from which one-half will be released every six months for a twelve-month period.

Following exercise of the Option, the parties intend to form a joint venture for the further development of the Project. Prior to exercise of the Option, the Company will act as the operator of the Project and will be entitled to charge a 10% fee on expenditures in Year 1, increasing to 11% in Year 2, and 12% in Year 3. Following exercise of the Option, Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. will retain a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty on the Project, of which 1.0% may be purchased back at any time for a one-time cash payment of $1,000,0002.

The Company is at arms-length from the Optionee, and no finders' fee are payable by the Company in connection with the Option.

*The Company considers uranium mineralization with concentrations greater than 1.0 wt% U3O8 to be "high-grade".

**The Company considers radioactivity readings greater than 300 counts per second (cps) to be "anomalous".

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Sean Hillacre, P.Geo., President and VP Exploration of the Company and a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101.

Historical data disclosed in this news release relating to sampling results from previous operators are historical in nature. Neither the Company nor a qualified person has yet verified this data and therefore investors should not place undue reliance on such data. The Company's future exploration work may include verification of the data. The Company considers historical results to be relevant as an exploration guide and to assess the mineralization as well as economic potential of exploration projects. Any historical grab samples disclosed are selected samples and may not represent true underlying mineralization.

References

1 SMDI# 2052: https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/2052; Mineral Assessment Reports: MAW00047: Eagle Plains Resources Inc., 2011-2012 & 64E13-0054: Norbaska Mines Ltd., 1979-1980.

2 Standard Uranium Announces Agreement to Expand Newly Staked Corvo Project in the Eastern Athabasca Basin News Release, August 24, 2023. https://standarduranium.ca/news-releases/standard-uranium-announces-agreement-to-expand-newly-staked-corvo-project-in-the-eastern-athabasca-basin/.

About Standard Uranium (TSXV: STND)

We find the fuel to power a clean energy future

Standard Uranium is a uranium exploration company and emerging project generator poised for discovery in the world's richest uranium district. The Company holds interest in over 233,455 acres (94,476 hectares) in the world-class Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. Since its establishment, Standard Uranium has focused on the identification, acquisition, and exploration of Athabasca-style uranium targets with a view to discovery and future development.

Standard Uranium's Davidson River Project, in the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, comprises ten mineral claims over 30,737 hectares. Davidson River is highly prospective for basement-hosted uranium deposits due to its location along trend from recent high-grade uranium discoveries. However, owing to the large project size with multiple targets, it remains broadly under-tested by drilling. Recent intersections of wide, structurally deformed and strongly altered shear zones provide significant confidence in the exploration model and future success is expected.

Standard Uranium's eastern Athabasca projects comprise over 42,384 hectares of prospective land holdings. The eastern basin projects are highly prospective for unconformity related and/or basement hosted uranium deposits based on historical uranium occurrences, recently identified geophysical anomalies, and location along trend from several high-grade uranium discoveries.

Standard Uranium's Sun Dog project, in the northwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of nine mineral claims over 19,603 hectares. The Sun Dog project is highly prospective for basement and unconformity hosted uranium deposits yet remains largely untested by sufficient drilling despite its location proximal to uranium discoveries in the area.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations; timing of the Company's exploration programs; and estimates of market conditions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. 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. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are highlighted in the "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024.

Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation: that the transaction with the Optionee will proceed as planned; the future price of uranium; anticipated costs and the Company's ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; future sales of the Company's securities; the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the success of exploration, development and operations activities; the timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral resources on the Company's mineral properties; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251409

SOURCE: Standard Uranium Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Onyx Gold Corp. (TSXV: ONYX) (OTCQX: ONXGF) ("Onyx Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce plans for a 10,000-meter Spring Drill Program (the "Program") at its Timmins, Ontario properties. The primary focus of the program is to follow-up on the recently reported Argus North discovery ("Argus North"), at the Company's 100% owned Munro-Croesus Project ("Munro-Croesus") located 75 km east of Timmins, Ontario (Figure 1). To date, this new zone of wide high-grade mineralization has been tested by a single drill hole, MC24-163, which intersected 3.4 g/t Au over 69.6 m, including a high-grade subzone of 13.9 g/t Au over 9.5 m (see news release dated April 10, 2025).

"The initial results from Argus North point to a potentially significant new zone of high-grade gold mineralization in a proven district," said Brock Colterjohn, President & CEO. "Mineralization at Argus North is open in all directions and our upcoming drill program is designed to rapidly evaluate and expand upon this discovery. A drill rig has just been delivered to site and we are excited to be kicking off the follow-up drill program. Upon close of the recently announced and upsized $11 million financing, the Company will have considerable flexibility to expand the size of the drill program to follow-up on further success with the drill bit."

Discussion of Planned 10,000-meter Spring Drill Program

Immediate follow-up plans include an initial Phase 1 program of step-out drilling to extend the Argus North mineralization up-dip to surface, down-dip to depth and along strike to both the east and west. Plans include re-entering and extending drill hole MC23-163 to assess the full breadth of the Argus North mineralizing system and drill holes MC23-140 and MC24-164, both of which stopped short of the down-dip projection of the Argus North Zone.

Phase 1 follow-up drilling is designed on nominal 50-meter spaced step-outs with the objective of expanding the new discovery while concurrently gaining a better understanding on the zone's orientation, shape and geological controls. Drilling will start on the same cross-section as discovery drillhole MC24-163, followed by fences of similarly spaced holes on cross-sections 50 meters to the east and west. Phase 2 follow-up will include larger step-outs along strike and to depth (Figures 2 and 3).

At a larger scale, historical and recent trenching and sampling within the same key prospective mafic variolitic volcanic units and along the Pipestone Fault to both the west and east of Argus North and Argus Main suggests multi-kilometer scale potential along trend completely untested by any drilling to date. A portion of the planned Program meterage is designed to target this larger scale potential, including first ever drilling in the Argus West area.

In addition to the drilling at Munro Croesus, approximately 1,500 metres of the 10,000-meter Program is committed to reconnaissance drilling at the 140 km2 Golden Mile property, targeting a key northern splay of the Pipestone Fault approximately 50km to the west. This drilling will be completed with a separate drill rig to the one that is dedicated to Argus North drilling at Munro Croesus. Golden Mile is located 9 km northeast of Discovery Silver's multi-million-ounce Hoyle Pond deposit in Timmins.

Description of the Argus Main Zone and Argus North Discovery

The Argus Main Zone ("Argus Main") is located 3 km northwest of the past-producing Croesus Gold Mine and represents a near-surface bulk tonnage target with 0.1 to >2.0 g/t Au over a 750 m x 200 m area. Argus Main is hosted by silica-albite-pyrite-specularite-altered mafic variolitic volcanic rocks situated immediately north of the Pipestone Fault, a major structural corridor known to host significant gold deposits, including Mayfair Gold's 4.4-million-ounce Fenn-Gib deposit 1, located just 6 km away.

Drilling at Argus Main in 2024 returned a highlight of 1.0 g/t Au over 63.0 m in drill hole MC24-166, including 2.2 g/t Au over 17.4 m (see Company news release dated June 17, 2024). Overall drill results to date have shown improving gold grade and mineralized widths as the east-west trending Argus Main Zone is tracked westward.

Argus North is located approximately 100 m north of the Argus Main trend and approximately 150 to 200 m vertically below surface. This zone has only been intersected by one drill hole to date with MC24-163 encountering a 70 m interval of high-grade mineralization within strongly albite- and silica-altered mafic variolitic volcanics, hosting 3-10% fine pyrite stringers, with local visible gold. MC24-163 returned a very encouraging 3.4 g/t Au over 69.6 m, including 13.9 g/t Au over 9.5 m, with consistent gold values throughout, highlighting both the continuity and strength of the mineralization in this newly identified area. Argus North is interpreted to be near-vertical and sub-parallel to the east-west trending Argus Main. Argus North is open in all directions, including to surface.





Figure 1 - Onyx Gold Property Map, Timmins, Ontario

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/251419_5c657d36e471aa6d_001full.jpg





Figure 2 - Cross-Section Showing Location of Planned Drilling at Argus North Discovery

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/251419_5c657d36e471aa6d_002full.jpg





Figure 3 - Plan Map Showing Location of Planned Drilling at Argus North Discovery

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/251419_5c657d36e471aa6d_003full.jpg

About the Timmins Area Gold Properties

Onyx Gold owns 100% of each of its three Timmins properties. The Munro-Croesus Gold Project is located approximately 75 km east of Timmins, proximal to the Porcupine-Destor and Pipestone Faults, and approximately 2 km northwest and along trend of Mayfair Gold Corp.'s multi-million-ounce Fenn-Gib gold deposit. Mining occurred intermittently at Munro-Croesus between 1915 and 1936. The Golden Mile 140 km2 property is located 9 km northeast of Newmont's multi-million-ounce Hoyle Pond deposit in Timmins. The Timmins South 187 km2 property is located to the south and southeast of Timmins and surrounds the Shaw dome structure.

About Onyx Gold

Onyx Gold is an exploration company focused on well-established Canadian mining jurisdictions, with assets in Timmins, Ontario, and Yukon Territory. The Company's extensive portfolio of quality gold projects in the greater Timmins gold camp includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, renowned for its high-grade mineralization, plus two additional earlier-stage large exploration properties, Golden Mile and Timmins South. Onyx Gold also controls four properties in the Selwyn Basin area of Yukon Territory, which is currently gaining significance due to recent discoveries in the area. Onyx Gold's experienced board and senior management team are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration.

On Behalf of Onyx Gold Corp.

"Brock Colterjohn"

President & CEO

1. Fenn-Gib Gold Project and Tower Gold Project mineral resources compiled from public sources and are provided for general information purposes. Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in adjacent properties and they are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties or any potential exploration thereof.

Additional Notes:

Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., Executive Vice President for Onyx Gold Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

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, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. 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 exploration and development of Munro-Croesus and the Argus North Zone; the potential mineralization, and the significance thereof, at Munro-Croesus and the Argus North Zone based on the drill program results, including the potential for additional mineral resources; statements regarding the Company's future drill programs, including the expected benefits and results thereof; the intention of the Company to make all payments towards the Option and to exercise the Option on the terms and conditions set out therein; the approval of the TSXV for the Option; the possibility of the Bonus Payment becoming payable; and other statements that are not historical facts.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainty and variation in the estimation of mineral resources; risks related to exploration, development, and operation activities; exploration and development of the Munro-Croesus and the Argus North Zone will not be undertaken as anticipated; the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions; the fluctuating price of gold; unknown liabilities in connection with acquisitions; compliance with extensive government regulation; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain governmental permits, or non-compliance with permits; environmental and other regulatory requirements; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business; global financial conditions; uninsured risks; climate change risks; competition from other companies and individuals; conflicts of interest; risks related to compliance with anti-corruption laws; intervention by non-governmental organizations; outside contractor risks; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance; the Company not receiving the necessary regulatory approvals in respect of the Option; changes in the Company's plan with respect to exercise of the Option and the Company's associated exploration plans; that the obligation to make the Bonus Payment may be triggered; and other risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's current anticipated costs; the Company's ability to fund its drill programs; the Company's ability to carry on exploration, development and mining activities; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; the timing and results of drilling programs; mineral resource estimates and the assumptions on which they are based; the discovery of mineral resources and mineral reserves on the Company's mineral properties; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the Company's ability to operate in a safe, efficient, and effective manner; the Company's ability to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms; that the Company's activities will be in accordance with the Company's public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change or disruptions affecting the Company or its properties; that the Company will have the ability to exercise the Option on the terms and conditions set out therein; that the TSXV will provide the necessary approvals in respect of the Option; that the Company will be able to comply with the terms of the Option, including the cash payments and issuance of shares; and that the Company will have sufficient capital to fulfill the Bonus Payment if triggered.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251419

SOURCE: Onyx Gold Corp.
Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Val-d'Or Mining Corporation (TSXV: VZZ) (the "Company") announces that it will conduct a non-brokered private placement offering pursuant to which it will issue up to 26,500,000 Units at a per Unit price of $0.05 for gross proceeds of up to $1,325,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company and one non-transferable share purchase warrant entitling the purchase of one common share at a per share price of $0.075 for 24 months from the date of issuance of the securities.

Directors and/or officers of the Company may participate in the offering. Participation by insiders constitutes a related party transaction under Policy 5.9 of the Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company will avail itself of the exemptions contained in section 5.5(c) of MI 61-101 (distribution of securities for cash) for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the securities distributed in connection with the offering, and the consideration received by the Company for those securities will not exceed $2,500,000.

Funds raised pursuant to this offering will be used for the advancement of the Company's projects and for general corporate purposes.

Finder's fees in amounts to be determined may be payable to persons who introduce the Company to subscribers to the offering.

The offering is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). All securities issued will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of closing of the offering in accordance with applicable securities legislation and Exchange policies.

About Val-d'Or Mining Corporation

Val-d'Or Mining Corporation is a junior natural resource issuer involved in the process of acquiring and exploring its mineral property assets, most of which are situated in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of NE Ontario and NW Quebec. To complement its current property interests, the Company regularly evaluates new opportunities for staking and/or acquisitions. Outside of its principal regional focus in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, the Company holds several other properties in Northern Quebec (Nunavik) covering different geological environments and commodities (Ni-Cu-PGE's).

The Company has expertise in the identification and generation of new projects, and in early-stage exploration. The mineral commodities of interest are broad, and range from gold, copper-zinc-silver, nickel-copper-PGE to industrial and energy minerals. After the initial value creation in the 100%-owned, or majority-owned properties, the Company seeks option/joint venture partners with the technical expertise and financial capacity to conduct more advanced exploration projects.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251423

SOURCE: Val-d'Or Mining Corporation
Rotterdam, the Netherlands, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today announced the appointment of H.E. Mr Ole Thonke, Undersecretary for Development Policy and Climate Ambassador at Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to its Advisory Board. This appointment reinforces GCA's commitment to advancing climate adaptation globally through strategic leadership and innovative partnerships.

Mr Thonke brings extensive expertise in climate adaptation and sustainable development, having significantly contributed to Denmark's global leadership in these fields. Prior to his position as Undersecretary for Development Policy, Mr Thonke served as ambassador to Kenya, Pakistan and Bolivia, as well as head of office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Office for Green Diplomacy, and also head of Citizen Services. His experience in driving international collaboration and pioneering innovative adaptation strategies aligns closely with GCA's mission to accelerate transformative climate solutions worldwide.

On his appointment, Ole Thonke stated: "Climate change is an existential crisis facing the world today. It deeply affects the poor and threatens to undo decades of development efforts. The world needs to scale up climate adaptation. Supporting affected countries in e.g., Africa in adapting to climate change is a priority for Denmark. That is why I am proud to represent Denmark on the Advisory Board and to work closely with an organization that is at the forefront of this critical agenda."

Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, welcomed the appointment, saying: "We are delighted to welcome H.E. Mr Ole Thonke to the GCA Advisory Board. His remarkable leadership and deep commitment to sustainability and climate resilience will greatly enhance our efforts to scale innovative adaptation solutions. With his insights and Denmark's strong record of sustainable development, we can further our shared goal of creating resilient communities and economies around the globe."

Denmark has long been recognized as a global leader in adaptation, leveraging its expertise in water management, green energy, and sustainable urban planning. Through international partnerships, Denmark has supported vulnerable countries in strengthening their resilience, particularly in areas such as the design and integration of adaptation solutions in investments in water, urban resilience, and infrastructure assets and services to strengthen and protect infrastructure from the damage caused by environmental shocks, climate change and weather-related disasters.

The country's commitment to adaptation is exemplified by its contributions to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), co-led by GCA and the African Development Bank, to mobilize resources and technical expertise to advance adaptation initiatives across the continent in order to build more resilient communities and economies. To date GCA has with Denmark's support influenced 20 investment projects worth over USD 5.5 billion, which will strengthen the resilience of infrastructure that will benefit more than 46 million people and generate over 132,000 jobs.

The GCA Advisory Board plays a critical role in guiding the organization's strategic direction and enhancing its impact. With H.E. Mr Ole Thonke's appointment, GCA is further equipped to champion adaptation solutions that align with global priorities and deliver lasting benefits for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.



Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.

Alexandra Gee Global Center on Adaptation +447887804594 alex.gee@gca.org
The "Belgium Data Center Market Investment Analysis Growth Opportunities 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Belgium Data Center Market was valued at USD 1.83 billion in 2024, and is projected to reach USD 3.10 billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 9.18%.

This report analyses the Belgium data center market share. It elaborately analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.

The demand for cloud computing in Belgium is experiencing significant growth, creating promising opportunities for cloud investors. This expansion is driven by factors such as government initiatives, rising cybersecurity threats, as well as the growing use of digitalization in different sectors and industries. For instance, in January 2025, Euroclear, a Belgian financial services company, announced the signing of a seven-year cloud agreement with Microsoft to utilize its cloud services for financial operations.

Some of the key colocation data center investors in the Belgium data center market include Datacenter United, Digital Realty, EdgeConneX, LCL Data Centers, Penta Infra, Google, KevlinX, and nLighten. The Belgium data center market has the presence of several global support infrastructure providers that will increase its competitiveness in the market. Some of the support infrastructure vendors include 3M, ABB, Airedale, Carrier, Caterpillar, Cummins, Daikin Applied, Eaton, ebm-papst, Johnson Controls, Legrand, Mitsubishi Electric, Rittal, Schneider Electric, STULZ, Trane, Vertiv, and others.

The Belgium data center market has several local and global construction contractors operating in the market including AECOM, Artelia, ISG, Lascent, Mercury, M-J Wood Group Kft, Perseusz, PM Group, RKD, Sygna, and Others. For instance, Mercury was chosen by Digital Realty (Interxion) as the prime contractor of its BRU4 data center facility in Brussels, delivering Structural Architectural (CSA), external civil, as well as core and shell services.

Belgium accounts for the presence of ample renewable resources such as wind energy, solar energy, biomass, hydro, and marine. In 2024, Belgium produced around 30% of its electricity from its green energy sources. The country is set to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

In October 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced the signing of the green credit facility agreement with Elia Transmission Belgium (ETB) for around USD 700 million to build the artificial energy island; this will connect Belgium to around 3.5 GW of offshore wind power energy.

According to the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT), the Belgian telecoms regulator, around 50% of households in Belgium will be equipped with FTTP (Fiber to the Premises/Property) by 2025; FTTP uses optical fiber to provide high-speed internet connections to individual homes, apartments, and other properties. By 2028, this reach is expected to increase to 75% of households.

Data centers are the backbone of digital infrastructure as they are interconnected across the globe. However, there are significant concerns regarding their effects on the environment, sustainability, and energy use. To address these challenges, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed the EU Code of Conduct (CoC) for data centers.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Belgium colocation market revenue.

An assessment of the data center investment in Belgium by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators.

Data center investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across cities in the country.

A detailed study of the existing Belgium data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about the Belgium data center market size during the forecast period.

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Belgium Facilities Covered (Existing): 35 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 03 Coverage: 14+ Cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data center colocation market in Belgium Colocation Market Revenue Forecast (2021-2030) Retail Wholesale Colocation Pricing

The Belgium data center landscape market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast.

A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry.

Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the market.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the market.

EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS

Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Brussels Other Cities

List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Brussels Other Cities



IT Infrastructure Providers:

Atos

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Extreme Networks

Fujitsu

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Juniper Networks

Lenovo

MiTAC Holdings

NetApp

Data Center Construction Contractors Sub-Contractors

AECOM

Artelia

ISG

Lasent

Mercury

M-J Wood Group Kft

Perseusz

PM Group

RKD

Sygna

Support Infrastructure Providers

3M

ABB

Airedale

Alfa Laval

Carrier

Caterpillar

Cummins

Daikin Applied

Eaton

ebm-papst

Johnson Controls

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Rittal

Schneider Electric

Siemens

Socomec

STULZ

Trane

Vertiv

ZIEHL-ABEGG

Data Center Investors

AtlasEdge

Datacenter United

Digital Realty

EdgeConneX

Google

LCL Data Centers

Penta Infra

Proximus

New Entrants

KevlinX

nLighten

REPORT COVERAGE

IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Rack Cabinets

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers Dry Coolers

Other Cooling Units

General Construction

Core Shell Development

Installation Commissioning Services

Engineering Building Design

Fire Detection Suppression Systems

Physical Security

Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Tier Standard

Tier I Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Geography

Brussels

Other Cities

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 112 Forecast Period 2024 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.83 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $3.1 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.1% Regions Covered Belgium

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vt5uu6

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Data from icotrokinra ICONIC-TOTAL show 66% of patients with scalp psoriasis and 77% with genital psoriasis achieved site-specific clear or almost clear skin at Week 16

Icotrokinra continues to demonstrate a standout combination of significant skin clearance (IGA 0/1) and a favorable safety profile in a once daily pill

PN-881, a first-in-class oral peptide targeting the IL-17 pathway, potently and selectively binds IL-17A and -17F, blocking the three dimeric forms of the cytokine

NEWARK, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. ("Protagonist" or the "Company") announced new clinical data from the Phase 3 ICONIC-TOTAL a study investigating icotrokinra, the first-in-class oral peptide antagonist targeting IL-23 receptor and preclinical characterization of PN-881, the first-in-class oral peptide antagonist blocking the three dimeric forms of IL-17 (AA, AF and FF), were presented separately today at the 2025 Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

The ICONIC-TOTAL study, conducted by Protagonist's collaboration partner, Johnson & Johnson, evaluated adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with body surface area as low as 1% and at least moderate plaque psoriasis (PsO) affecting high-impact skin sites.

Key findings from the high-impact skin sites cohort of the icotrokinra ICONIC-TOTAL study [1] :

At week 16, 57% of patients treated with once daily icotrokinra achieved the study's primary endpoint with an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) b score of 0/1 (clear or almost clear skin) and a =2-grade improvement from baseline at Week 16 compared to 6% of patients receiving placebo (P<0.001).

66% of patients with scalp psoriasis achieved a scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment (ss-IGA) c score of 0/1 compared to 11% receiving placebo (P<0.001) at 16 weeks.

77% of patients with genital psoriasis achieved a static Physician's Global Assessment of Genitalia (sPGA-G) d score of 0/1 compared to 21% receiving placebo (P<0.001) at 16 weeks.

In the smaller subset of patients with hand/foot psoriasis, patients showed a numerically higher rate of skin clearance at Week 16 with 42% achieving a hand and/or foot Physician's Global Assessment (hf-PGA) e score of 0/1 compared to 26% receiving placebo.

Icotrokinra demonstrated a favorable safety profile. A similar proportion of patients experienced adverse events (50% and 42%) and serious adverse events (0.5% and 1.9%) in icotrokinra and placebo respectively through Week 16, with no new safety signals identified.

PN-881 represents Protagonist's next generation of oral peptides for psoriasis. Key takeaways from the pre-clinical characterization of the IL-17 oral peptide antagonist PN-881 [2] :

Exhibited nanomolar to picomolar in vitro potency comparable to bimekizumab and superior (70-fold) to secukinumab.

Showed metabolic stability in several matrices across several species, making it a suitable candidate for oral delivery.

Demonstrated PD-based target engagement in a mouse IL-17 challenge model after oral dosing

Demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy with significant reduction in skin thickness in a 5-day rat IL-23 induced skin inflammation model after oral dosing.

"High-impact skin sites affected by psoriasis can be very challenging to treat effectively and patients often experience unique challenges profoundly impacting their daily lives," said Dinesh V. Patel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Protagonist. "The data presented by our partner today demonstrate that icotrokinra continues to have the potential to transform the current treatment paradigm based on the impressive results achieved with a convenient targeted therapy in the form of a once-daily pill. Additionally, we are thrilled to share the first detailed characterization of our next drug candidate in the I&I space, PN-881, the first-in-class oral peptide antagonist targeting the three dimeric forms of IL-17, including AA, AF, and FF. We look forward to progressing our fully owned asset PN-881 in human clinical studies in Q4 2025."

Editor's notes:

ICONIC-TOTAL is a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo for the treatment of plaque PsO in 311 participants (icotrokinra=208; placebo=103) with at least moderate severity affecting special areas (e.g., scalp, genital and/or hands and feet) with overall IGA score of 0 or 1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as the primary endpoint. The IGA is a five-point scale with a severity score ranging from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates clear, 1 is minimal, 2 is mild, 3 is moderate, and 4 indicates severe disease. [3] The ss-IGA is a five-point scale where scalp lesions are assessed in terms of clinical signs of redness, thickness, and scaliness on a severity score ranging from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates absence of disease, 1 is very mild, 2 is mild, 3 is moderate and 4 indicates severe disease. [4] The sPGA-G is a six-point scale used to evaluate the severity of genital psoriasis at a given time point ranging from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates clear, 1 is minimal, 2 is mild, 3 is moderate, 4 is severe and 5 indicates very severe disease. [5] The Physician's Global Assessment of Psoriasis on the Hands and/or Feet (hf-PGA) assesses the severity of hand and foot psoriasis using a 5-point scale to score the plaques on the hands and feet as: clear (0), almost clear (1), mild (2), moderate (3) and severe (4). [6]

About the ICONIC Clinical Development Program

The pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC clinical development program of icotrokinra (in adult and adolescent individuals with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO) was initiated with two studies in Q4 2023 - ICONIC-LEAD and ICONIC-TOTAL - pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement between Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. and Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johson company. The ICONIC program is being conducted by Johnson & Johnson.

ICONIC-LEAD (NCT06095115) is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO, with PASI 90 and IGA score of 0 or 1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as co-primary endpoints.

ICONIC-TOTAL (NCT06095102) is a RCT to evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo for the treatment of PsO in participants with at least moderate severity affecting special areas (e.g., scalp, genital, and/or hands and feet) with overall IGA score of 0 or 1 with at least a 2-grade improvement as the primary endpoint.

Other Phase 3 studies in the development program include ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 (NCT06143878) and ICONIC-ADVANCE 2 (NCT06220604), which are evaluating the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with both placebo and deucravacitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO. ICONIC-ASCEND will evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared with placebo and ustekinumab in participants with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. ICONIC-PsA 1 (NCT06878404) and ICONIC-PsA 2 (NCT06807424) will evaluate the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra compared to placebo in participants with active psoriatic arthritis.

About Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic immune-mediated disease resulting in overproduction of skin cells, which causes inflamed, scaly plaques that may be itchy or painful. It is estimated that 8 million Americans and more than 125 million people worldwide live with the disease. Nearly one-quarter of all people with plaque PsO have cases that are considered moderate to severe. On Caucasian skin, plaques typically appear as raised, red patches covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells or scale. On skin of color, the plaques may appear darker and thicker and more of a purple, gray or dark brown color. Plaques can appear anywhere on the body, although they most often appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso. Living with plaque PsO can be a challenge and impact life beyond a person's physical health, including emotional health, relationships, and handling the stressors of life. Psoriasis on highly visible areas of the body or sensitive skin, such as the scalp, hands, feet, and genitals, can have an increased negative impact on quality of life.

About Icotrokinra (JNJ-77242113, JNJ-2113)

Investigational icotrokinra is the first targeted oral peptide designed to selectively block the IL-23 receptor, which underpins the inflammatory response in moderate-to-severe plaque PsO, ulcerative colitis and offers potential in other IL-23-mediated diseases. Icotrokinra binds to the IL-23 receptor with single-digit picomolar affinity and demonstrated potent, selective inhibition of IL-23 signaling in human T cells. The license and collaboration agreement established between Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. and Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, in 2017 enabled the companies to work together to discover and develop next-generation compounds that ultimately led to icotrokinra.

Icotrokinra was jointly discovered and is being developed pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement between Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson retains exclusive worldwide rights to develop icotrokinra in Phase 2 clinical trials and beyond, and to commercialize compounds derived from the research conducted pursuant to the agreement against a broad range of indications.

Icotrokinra is being studied in the pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC clinical development program in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis and the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

About Protagonist

Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. Two novel peptides, icotrokinra and rusfertide, derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are currently in advanced Phase 3 clinical development, with New Drug Application submissions to the FDA expected in 2025. Icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) is a first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor ("IL-23R") which is licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Following icotrokinra's joint discovery by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists pursuant to the companies' IL-23R collaboration, Protagonist was primarily responsible for development of icotrokinra through Phase 1, with Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for development in Phase 2 and beyond. Rusfertide, a mimetic of the natural hormone hepcidin, is currently in Phase 3 development for the rare blood disorder polycythemia vera (PV). Rusfertide is being co-developed and will be co-commercialized with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide collaboration and license agreement entered into in 2024 under which the Company remains primarily responsible for development through NDA filing. The Company also has a number of pre-clinical stage oral drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets, including the IL-17 oral peptide antagonist PN-881, an oral hepcidin program, and an oral obesity program.

More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates and clinical studies can be found on the Company's website at www.protagonist-inc.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the potential benefits of icotrokinra and PN-881, and expectations regarding the icotrokinra and PN-881 development programs. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "may," "will," "expect," or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates, our ability to earn milestone payments under our collaboration agreements with Janssen and Takeda, our ability to use and expand our programs to build a pipeline of product candidates, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates, our ability to operate in a competitive industry and compete successfully against competitors that have greater resources than we do, and our ability to obtain and adequately protect intellectual property rights for our product candidates. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors affecting our business can be found in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in our most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Investor Relations Contact

Corey Davis, Ph.D.

LifeSci Advisors

+1 212 915 2577

cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact

Virginia Amann, Founder/CEO

+1 833 500 0061 ext 1

ENTENTE Network of Companies

virginiaamann@ententeinc.com

[1] Gooderham, M.J. et al. Phase 3 results from an innovative trial design of treating plaque psoriasis involving difficult-to-treat, high-impact sites with icotrokinra, a targeted oral peptide that selectively inhibits the IL-23-receptor. Presented at the 2025 Society for Investigative Dermatology (Abstract LB1142). May 2025.

[2] Halladay, J et al. PN-881: First-in-class oral peptide targeting the IL-17 pathway. Presented at the 2025 Society for Investigative Dermatology (Abstract #0003). May 2025.

[3] Simpson E, Bissonnette R, Eichenfield LF, et al. The validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD): The development and reliability testing of a novel clinical outcome measurement instrument for the severity of atopic dermatitis [published online April 25, 2020]. J Am Acad Dermatol. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.104.

[4] Foley P, et al. Efficacy of Guselkumab Compared with Adalimumab and Placebo for Psoriasis in Specific Body Regions. JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(6):676-683.

[5] Merola JF, Bleakman AP, Gottlieb AB, et al. The Static Physician's Global Assessment of Genitalia: a clinical outcome measure for the severity of genital psoriasis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2017;16(8):793-799.

[6] Goldblum O, et al. Validation of the physician's global assessment of psoriasis of the hands and/or feet as a clinical endpoint. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013:68(4)Supplement1:AB218. SOURCE: Protagonist Therapeutics

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/protagonist-announces-icotrokinra-phase-3-data-on-difficult-to-treat-1025795
DUBAI, UAE, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, today announced it has surpassed 70 million registered users, a milestone that highlights the platform's sustained global growth and deepening trust among both retail and institutional clients. This achievement underscores Bybit's robust market presence and its steadfast commitment to security, compliance, and product innovation.

"Reaching 70 million users is more than a number-it's a testament to the trust our global community places in us," said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. "We are doubling down on compliance, institutional-grade infrastructure, and user-centric innovation to ensure everyone-from first-time traders to global institutions-can access the future of finance with confidence."

Strengthening Global Compliance and Regulatory Engagement

Bybit continues to expand its global compliance framework, working closely with regulators around the world. Most recently, Bybit held strategic discussions with Vietnam's Ministry of Finance, contributing to the country's regulatory sandbox initiative by sharing expertise in KYC, AML, and international best practices.

Bybit has also made key progress in major jurisdictions, including the United Arab Emirates, further demonstrating its commitment to regulatory alignment and operational transparency.

Accelerating Institutional Growth

Bybit is seeing rapid growth among institutional clients, driven by high-performance trading infrastructure, advanced risk controls, and strategic partnerships. The integration with Zodia Custody-a leading provider of institutional-grade custody and off-venue settlement solutions-reflects Bybit's ongoing efforts to meet the needs of sophisticated investors with robust, compliant offerings.

Pioneering Web3 Integration and Real-World Utility

Bybit continues to lead in practical Web3 innovation. The Bybit Card , now used by nearly 2 million people, enables everyday crypto spending, while Bybit Pay streamlines on-chain and off-chain transactions for both users and merchants.

In line with its user-first philosophy, Bybit is also leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance trading, research, and support services. CryptoLens, an in-house AI analytics tool, offers users deep insights into token fundamentals, community activity, social trends, and tokenomics-even for projects not listed on the platform. TradeGPT, an AI agent trained on Bybit's proprietary data, delivers rapid price action summaries and technical analysis, helping traders make smarter decisions. Complementing these innovations, an AI Support Agent enhances customer service by improving response efficiency and user experience across the platform.

Bridging Traditional Finance and the Future of Digital Assets

Bybit remains committed to its role as TheCryptoArk-a safe, trusted bridge from traditional finance into the world of Web3. Through intuitive products, regulatory collaboration, and cutting-edge technology, Bybit empowers users of all levels to navigate and thrive in the digital asset ecosystem.

"We're building the infrastructure for the next era of finance," Ben added. "By championing regulation, professionalism, and a relentless user-first approach, we're shaping a safer, more inclusive, and more empowering financial future for all."

Bybit / TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-surpasses-70-million-users-reinforces-commitment-to-transparency-and-institutional-growth-302451104.html
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on Completion of Cancellation of Certain Share Options Granted under the 2021 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme and 2022 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme



09.05.2025 / 14:31 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Announcement on Completion of Cancellation of Certain Share Options Granted under the 2021 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme and 2022 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 9 May 2025 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Completion of Cancellation of Certain Share Options Granted under the 2021 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme and 2022 A-Share Option Incentive Scheme.

The full announcement is available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020250509686509355232.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20Completion%20of%20Cancellation%20of%20Certain%20Share%20Options%20Granted%20under%20the%202021%20A-Share%20Option%20Incentive%20Scheme%20and%202022%20A-Share%20Option%20Incentive%20Scheme

IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud in the Chinese market, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

09.05.2025 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Star Copper Corp. (the "Company" or "Star Copper") (CSE:STCU) and Alpha Copper Corp. ("Alpha Copper") are pleased to announce that they have completed the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which the Company spun out to the Company's shareholders of record as at the close of business on May 8, 2025 (the "Shareholders") its 100% interest in the Okeover copper-molybdenum project (the "Okeover Project"), which consists of a property encompassing 4,613 hectares (11,399 acres) located immediately north of the coastal City of Powell River, British Columbia (collectively, the "Spin-Out"), through the distribution of common shares ("Spinco Shares") in the authorized capital of Alpha Copper.

Darryl Jones, President, CEO and a Director of Star Copper, and CEO and a Director of Alpha Copper, commented:

"We are pleased with the completion of this exciting opportunity for Star Copper, Alpha Copper and the shareholders. Creating a standalone company focused on holding and advancing Star Copper's flagship asset, the Star Project, and a standalone company focused on advancing the Okeover Project will diversify our shareholder's investments and allow each respective company, Star Copper and Alpha Copper, to focus on advancing their respective assets."

The Arrangement was completed pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and became effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 9, 2025 (the "Effective Time"). Under the Arrangement, the Shareholders are entitled to receive, in exchange for each Star Copper common share held immediately prior to the Effective Time: (i) one new common share in the authorized capital of Star Copper (each, a "New Star Copper Share"); and (ii) one-third of one Spinco Share, provided that no fractional Spinco Shares will be distributed under the Arrangement and any fractional Spinco Share that results from the Arrangement will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without any compensation paid in lieu to applicable Shareholders. The Shareholders own 100% of the issued and outstanding Spinco Shares.

The New Star Copper Shares (ISIN: CA85512H1047; CUSIP: 85512H104) will be trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") in Canada (CSE:STCU), on the OTC Market in the United States (OTC: STCUF), and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany (FWB: PP00). Alpha Copper is not currently listed on any stock exchange and there are no current plans to list the Spinco Shares on any stock exchange. As a result of the Arrangement, Alpha Copper now operates as a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, and will comply with its continuous disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws.

Computershare Investor Services Inc. is the depositary for the Arrangement, and caused letters of transmittal to be mailed to certain registered holders of common shares of the Company to exchange outstanding share certificates representing common shares of the Company for share certificates representing the New Star Copper Shares and the Spinco Shares to which such shareholders are entitled.

Further information regarding the Arrangement and Alpha Copper is set out in Company's information circular dated April 1, 2025, which is filed under Star Copper's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTC PINK:STCUF)(FWB:PP00)

Star Copper is focused on contributing to the green economy by finding and developing copper resource assets in stable jurisdictions. The Company is positioned to earn a 60-per-cent interest in the Indata copper-gold project located in north-central British Columbia. After the acquisition of Cavu Energy Metals, the Company has acquired 100% of the Star copper-gold porphyry project in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, as well as the 100% owned Quesnel project in the middle of the Quesnel Trough, host to a number of alkalic copper-gold porphyry deposits running northwest across western British Columbia.

For more information visit https://starcopper.com/

About Alpha Copper Corp.

On May 9, 2025, Alpha Copper completed a plan of arrangement with Star Copper Corp., pursuant to which it acquired a 100% legal and beneficial interest in the Okeover Project.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Star Copper Corp. and Alpha Copper Corp.

~Darryl Jones~

Darryl Jones,

President, CEO & Director of Star Copper Corp.

CEO & Director of Alpha Copper Corp.

Contact Star Copper

Invictus Investor Relations

+1 (604) 788-9533

walter@invictusir.com

Contact Alpha Copper

Darryl Jones Director

604 788 933

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This message contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company and Alpha Copper within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "indicates," "opportunity," "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company and Alpha Copper believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, including: the anticipated benefits of the Spin-Out; the advancement of the Okeover Project by Alpha Copper and the advancement of the Star Project by Star Copper, including the unlocking of value for the Company's shareholders; the listing status of the Spinco Shares; and, the listing or trading of New Star Copper Shares on the CSE, the OTC Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, are all forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Star Copper and Alpha Copper, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, among others; the benefits of the Spin-Out; the ability of the parties to raise sufficient capital to fund each of their obligations under its property agreements going forward and conduct drilling and exploration; to maintain each of their respective mineral tenures and concessions in good standing; to explore and develop each of their respective projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations; future prices of nickel and other metals; changes in general economic conditions; accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the potential for new discoveries; the ability of the parties to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop each of their respective projects and if accepted, to obtain such licenses and approvals in a timely fashion relative to the respective parties' plans and business objectives for the applicable project; the general ability of the parties to monetize each of their respective mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on each of their respective operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Star Copper does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Star Copper Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/star-copper-and-alpha-copper-announce-completion-of-spin-out-1025842
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Neural Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: NURL) (FSE: HANF) ("Neural" or the "Company"), an ethnobotanical drug discovery company focused on developing therapeutic drugs for mental illnesses related to substance use disorders, is pleased to announce that it has submitted a renewal application to Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre ("SERFOR"). SERFOR a specialized Peruvian technical governmental agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for regulating forest and wildlife matters, as well as proposing policies, strategies and plans to promote the sustainable use of forest and wildlife resources. Neural is also announcing the extension of its letter of intent ("LOI") with CWE European Holdings Inc. ("CWE"), doing business as "Hanf.com".

SERFOR Permit Renewal Application

As disclosed in Neural's Form 2A Listing Statement dated March 7, 2025, Neural and its Peruvian partners, Cactus Knize and Cayetano University completed the wild plant harvesting portion of the sampling program in Peru, under the auspices of Neural's SERFOR Authorization in late 2023 and early 2024. The harvested samples were delivered by Cactus Knize to Cayetano University's laboratory testing facilities, where a number of analyses were completed on the samples. Due to the highly specialized nature of the required analysis, which primarily focused on DNA identification of the collected species, some work and interpretation were outsourced to third-party experts by Cayetano University.

Given the novelty of the DNA analysis methods employed and the limited scientific literature available on the DNA profiles of cacti in the Echninopsis genus[1], Neural has determined that further analysis is necessary to provide a reliable characterization of the collected cacti specimens.

One of SERFOR's mandates is the enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ("CITES"), which is a multilateral treaty aimed at protecting endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. The San Pedro cactus is covered under CITES. As the genetic material that was previously collected by Neural's partners remains the property of the Peruvian government, it was determined that additional time would be required to complete the necessary analysis. As a result, an extension of the SERFOR authorization was needed, as the previous authorization has expired.

Neural is pleased to announce that, with the full support of its partners, including Cayetano University, it has submitted a renewal application to SERFOR. This application seeks authorization to conduct further analysis on the previously collected samples until December 31, 2025.

The content of the renewal application is similar to the original SERFOR authorization, with one key distinction: Neural is not requesting approval for the collection of additional cactus specimens from the wild, as Cayetano University already has sufficient material for the required analysis.

Given that the scope of the application remains largely the same and there have been no material changes to the parties and sponsors involved in the work, Neural does not anticipate any issues in securing the necessary approvals to continue the project. The analysis will focus on moisture determination, mescaline quantification using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), assessment of genomic regions for molecular identification and DNA molecular identification of the cactus samples.

Ian Campbell, CEO of Neural commented: "DNA analysis and chemistry are often exploratory and iterative processes, particularly in the discovery stages of projects like ours. As we've progressed with this work, we've identified the need for additional analysis to better align with our long-term goals. After reviewing the literature, we replicated the methods and determined the next steps in the process. We've been working closely with Cayetano University and SERFOR throughout this process, and we're pleased to have been able to submit this renewal application swiftly. We anticipate the approval will be granted in due course, allowing us to continue making meaningful advancements in our research."

Extension of Letter of Intent with "Hanf.com"

By mutual agreement, Neural and have extended the term of the letter of intent and the deadline to enter into a definitive agreement to May 31, 2025. All other terms and conditions of the letter of intent (as further described in Neural's press release dated October 3, 2024) remain unchanged. The parties continue to work towards the definitive agreement with their respective legal counsel and advisors and given the extensive negotiations to date, expect to enter into the definitive agreement to be finalized and executed by the end of May 2025.

About Neural Therapeutics

Neural Therapeutics is a leader in ethnobotanical drug discovery, focusing on the development of therapeutic drugs for mental illnesses related to substance use disorders, including alcohol and opioid dependence. The Company's innovative approach to drug development involves the strategic use of sub-hallucinogenic doses of mescaline extract, enhancing safety and scalability while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.

For further inquiries, please contact:

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

No securities regulatory authority has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements ("FLS") relating to the outlook for psychedelic markets and related industries, the achievement, and the timing of, certain development milestones and the successful execution of Neural's business strategy, anticipated ability to secure the required intellectual property protection, and the future board and management team composition of Neural. FLS also include statements concerning anticipated financing, the timing and ability to secure necessary permits required to carry out is research and development activities, the anticipated entry into definitive agreement with CWE European Holding Inc. (dba Hanf.com), anticipated benefits of the transaction with CWE and completion of any related transactions, and statements related to the continued overall advancement of Neural's business and other statements that are not historical facts. FLS are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "plan" and similar expressions. These statements are not statements of historical fact, but rather predictions about future events, which are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. 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. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the inability to raise sufficient funds to execute Neural's business plan; failure to satisfy the conditions imposed by relevant regulators, regulatory restrictions and approvals related to psychedelic-based drug research and development, unforeseen delays in securing intellectual property protections, changes in government regulations and policies impacting Neural's operations; and general economic, market, or industry conditions. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in preparing any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Future events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected due to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Neural's control. Reader should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Although management considers such information to be reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual outcomes may differ significantly. FLS contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date hereof and is subject to change. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such statements. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from FLS in Neural's disclosure documents posted on www.sedarplus.ca.

The securities of Neural have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws. The securities may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons" (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), unless registered or exempt from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy Neural's securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction where such an offer or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

[1] The Latin term genus refers to a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species. The cacti species that are of interest to Neural, being pachanoi (aka San Pedro), peruviana (aka Peruvian torch) and lageniformis (aka, Bolivian torch), which are known to contain mescaline, all belong to the Echniopsis genus.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251452

SOURCE: Neural Therapeutics Inc.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / I-ON Digital Corp. (OTCQB:IONI), a leading innovator in digital asset banking and real-world asset tokenization, is proud to announce that its Chairman and CEO, Carlos X. Montoya, was chosen to deliver the 2025 Commencement Address for Loyola University Chicago on May 7, 2025, at the University's Lake Shore Campus in Chicago, IL.

A Loyola University Chicago alumnus and Damen Award honoree, Montoya's journey from a hard-working South Side student to CEO of a publicly traded fintech firm is a powerful testament to perseverance, purpose, and innovation. In his address to the graduating class, Montoya reflected on his early experiences working in junkyards and repossession lots while attending Loyola night classes, his rise through the banking industry to become CEO of Republic Bank of Chicago, and his eventual role as a pioneer in digital asset finance.

"It was by grace - and maybe a little mechanical failure - that I ended up at Loyola," said Montoya. "This institution didn't just open a door for me. It shaped the course of my life and gave me the foundation to lead with faith, purpose, and innovation. My hope is that today's graduates will not only remember this moment - but remain part of the living Loyola community in the years to come."

Montoya's remarks touched on themes of resilience, faith-driven leadership, and the importance of staying connected to Loyola's Jesuit mission long after the cap and gown are put away.

As CEO of I-ON Digital Corp., Montoya now leads one of the most forward-thinking companies in the digital asset and fintech space - helping transform in-situ gold and other real-world assets into regulated, blockchain-secured financial instruments for institutional markets worldwide.

As a past Trustee of Loyola University Chicago, and former Chairman of the Capital Assets and Real Estate Committee, Montoya played a key role in major institutional initiatives, including the development of the Quinlan School of Business, the Gentile Arena, and the Rome Center campus. He and his wife were married in Loyola's Madonna della Strada Chapel, by then Loyola University President, Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J.

"Loyola has never stopped being part of my story," Montoya added. "And for the Class of 2025, I truly hope it never stops being part of theirs."

The commencement address was streamed live via Loyola University Chicago's website and social platforms.

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About I-ON Digital Corp:

I-ON Digital Corp. is a financial technology firm specializing in the compliant digitization of real-world assets into blockchain-secured, institutional-grade digital securities. Its flagship offering, ION.au, transforms in-situ gold into regulated digital assets, backed by verified reserves and priced to LBMA standards. I-ON is redefining digital asset banking by bridging traditional finance with Web3 innovation through its advanced tokenization platform.

Learn more at www.iondigitalcorp.com

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For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

I-ON Digital Corp.

investorrelations@iondigital.com

(866) 440-2278

https://iondigitalcorp.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the expected ability of the Company to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals and objectives. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of developing and commercializing its products. These and other risks concerning the Company and its financial position are described in additional detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

SOURCE: I-ON Digital Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency/i-on-digital-corp.-ceo-carlos-x.-montoya-delivers-commencement-addres-1025899
May 11-14, 2025 in National Harbor, Maryland

RENO, NV / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / M2i Global, Inc. ("M2i," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us") (OTCQB:MTWO), a company specializing in the development and execution of a complete global value supply chain for critical minerals, is pleased to announce its participation at SelectUSA Investment Summit, to be held May 11-14, 2025 in National Harbor, Maryland.

The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts to establish new connections and opportunities to grow through investing in the United States.

Of particular interest to M2i, there will be an Industry Spotlight on Critical Minerals set for Monday, May 12 at 10:45am ET.

M2i's ecosystem provides partners with access to turnkey solutions, facilitating expanded business opportunities, securing offtake agreements, influencing strategic government policy, engaging with aligned NGOs, and trusted laboratories.

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Investment Summit is a one-stop shop for companies considering expanding to the United States and provides EDOs with the opportunity to meet directly with international companies to facilitate investment deals. Since inception, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has attracted?thousands of international companies and economic development representatives generating over $135 billion in new investment projects supporting more than 105,000 jobs across the United States and its territories. The previous SelectUSA Investment Summit saw record-breaking numbers with more than 5,000 participants, including EDO representatives from 56 U.S. states and territories and over 2,500 business investors from 96 international markets.

For additional information on The SelectUSA Investment Summit, please visit:

https://www.selectusasummit.us

About M2i Global, Inc. (OTCQB: MTWO): M2i Global, Inc., through its subsidiary U.S. Minerals and Metals Corp., provides engineering, research, and services that integrate people, technology, and solutions from across sectors to ensure access to critical minerals and metals for national defense and economic security. The Company aims to establish a Strategic Mineral Reserve in partnership with the U.S. Federal Government, creating a resilient supply chain that addresses the global shortage of essential minerals and metals.

For more information, please visit www.m2i.global

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

Investor Contacts:

IR@M2icorp.com

SOURCE: M2i Global Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/utilities/m2i-global-inc.-honored-to-be-invited-to-attend-selectusa-investment-summit-1025882
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Storm Exploration Inc. (TSXV:STRM) ("Storm" or the "Company") announced today that, further to its news release dated May 23, 2024, it has amended its Exploration Agreement ("EA") dated May 16, 2024 with the Eabametoong First Nation (the "EFN") concerning the Company's Miminiska, Keezhik and Attwood Project (the "Fort Hope Projects") located approximately 350 km north of the city of Thunder Bay in northwestern Ontario.

"This Amendment completes the EA between Storm and the EFN," stated Storm's President and CEO, Bruce Counts. "Storm firmly believes that the participation of local First Nations is critical to a project's success, and I am excited to work with the EFN to advance the highly prospective Fort Hope properties."

The EA establishes a framework for ongoing consultation with the EFN and provides opportunities for the community to participate in the project through employment, training, and business development.

Under the amended EA, the Company will make a one-time cash payment of $30,000 upon acceptance of the amended EA by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), and reimburse certain other costs incurred by the EFN in connection with the amended EA. In addition, Storm will make annual contributions to a community fund established by the EFN as follows:

6% of exploration expenditures to be paid in cash and, Subject to annual TSXV approval, 2% of exploration expenditures incurred to be paid in common shares (each, a "Share") of Storm, at a rate based on the higher of the 30-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") on the date that is five business days before the issuance date or the Discounted Market Price (as defined by the policies of the TSXV).

Storm will also issue Shares to the EFN as follows:

$25,000 in Shares upon TSXV acceptance of the amended EA;

$50,000 in Shares on each of the first and second anniversaries of the amended EA, subject to the Company carrying active exploration work on the Fort Hope Projects; and

$75,000 in Shares on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the amended EA, subject to the Company carrying active exploration work on the Fort Hope Projects.

The number of Shares issued under the amended EA to the EFN will be calculated using the 30-day VWAP on the date that is five business days before the required issuance date, subject to a minimum price of $0.05 per Share, which equals to a maximum of 5,500,000 Shares issuable.

Fort Hope Projects

The Miminiska, Keezhik and Attwood projects are located within the Miminiska-Fort Hope greenstone belt, approximately 350 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Each project has the potential to host a multi-million-ounce orogenic gold deposit. In addition, the Attwood project also has the potential to host a significant base metal deposit.

The Miminiska property is the Company's primary focus and hosts drill-confirmed, high-grade gold mineralization at two primary targets: Miminiska and Frond (refer to Figure 1). Historical assays include 5.75g/t Au over 20.84m* and 13.95g/t Au over 5.32m* with mineralization hosted in banded iron formation and associated shear zones.

Figure 1: Miminiska Property

1 Historical results have not been independently verified by Storm Exploration; and, there is no guarantee that the Company can reproduce the results in whole or in part. Potential investors should not rely on these historical results when making an investment decision

2 Technical Report on the Miminiska Lake Project: 2004-2005, B.J. McKay, P.Geol., 28-April-2005, Volume I

3 Geological Investigations Frond Lake Property, David S. Hunt B.Sc. P.Geo., February 2003, Appendix 1

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bruce Counts, P. Geo., President and CEO of Storm Exploration Inc. and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Storm Exploration Inc.

Storm Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on discovering and developing economic precious and base metal deposits on four district-scale projects in northwest Ontario: Miminiska, Keezhik, Attwood and Gold Standard.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: the cash and share payments under the amended EA, exploration costs incurred, TSXV acceptance of the amended EA and the Company's planned exploration activities. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including TSXV acceptance of the amended EA , the Company's exploration activities on the Fort Hope Projects and failure of the Company to have sufficient funds to make the payments required under the amended EA. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For further information, please contact:

Storm Exploration Inc.

+1 (604) 506-2804

bcounts@stormex.ca

SOURCE: Storm Exploration Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/storm-amends-exploration-agreement-with-eabametoong-first-nation-1025901
Sunny Health Fitness, a leader in value driven, high-quality fitness equipment, is pleased to announce the acquisition of JLL Fitness, a UK-based brand known for its durable, performance-driven products for both home and commercial use. This strategic move expands Sunny's global footprint and strengthens its position in the growing connected fitness market.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250509473416/en/

Founded in Birmingham, JLL has over 13 years of expertise delivering reliable equipment and exceptional service to consumers across the UK. Coupled with Sunny's 20+ years of innovation in the U.S. market, this partnership unites two established industry leaders with a shared commitment to making fitness more accessible, quality driven, and empowering.

JLL's "Empower Your Fitness" message aligns seamlessly with Sunny's "Fit for Everyone" philosophy, both brands focus on helping users reach their goals through practical, tech-enhanced fitness solutions. Together, they will offer a more expansive lineup of smart, connected equipment designed to meet evolving wellness needs across markets.

This acquisition supports Sunny's connected fitness strategy, which centers on combining equipment, education, and community through the SunnyFit app. Users gain access to thousands of guided workouts, progress-tracking metrics, and immersive global routes, all from the comfort of home. With demand for home fitness continuing to grow in both the U.S. and UK, the timing is ideal to expand this experience to a broader audience.

A purposeful and significant component of Sunny's long-term international strategy, this milestone represents their commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality fitness solutions worldwide. As a key step in their global roadmap, this partnership strengthens Sunny's position as a forward-thinking leader in the connected fitness landscape.

The global fitness industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by consumers seeking flexible, at-home solutions that offer the engagement and accountability of a gym. By joining forces, Sunny and JLL are positioned to deliver greater value, innovation, and reach, creating a transatlantic powerhouse that meets the needs of modern fitness enthusiasts.

This milestone marks not just an expansion of product offerings, but a deepened investment in improving health and wellbeing worldwide through smarter equipment, better tools, and a strong, supportive fitness community.

About Sunny Health Fitness

With over 20 years in the industry, Sunny Health Fitness provides affordable, high-quality fitness equipment and technology designed to support users at every stage of their wellness journey.

About JLL Fitness

Established in Birmingham, UK, JLL Fitness has delivered reliable, performance-focused equipment for home and commercial use for over 13 years, helping customers take control of their health with confidence.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250509473416/en/

Contacts:

Hanna Kim

(626) 968-1000

hannak@sunnyhealthfitness.com

Visit: www.SunnyHealthFitness.com

Download SunnyFit: www.SunnyFit.com
MUNICH, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system (ESS) supplier, showcased a broad range of solar, storage, EV charging, module-level power electronics (MLPE), and green hydrogen solutions at Intersolar Europe 2025 (May 7-9), underscoring its commitment to advancing the renewable energy innovations.

"Tripling renewables would help set us on a path to net zero, but key markets are not on track," according to the BloombergNEF Global Renewable Energy Outlook. Sungrow's latest innovations aim to bridge this gap, offering scalable, efficient solutions to accelerate the global shift toward sustainability.

Utility-Scale Innovations: Powering Tomorrow's Grid

Catering to the utility-scale market, Sungrow debuted the latest 1+X 2.0 Modular Inverter for the first time in Europe. Winner of the iF Design Award, this inverter introduces greater modularity with a scalable block design ranging from 800kW to 9.6MW. The product's split modular design isolates critical components (IGBTs, capacitors) in the upper inverter module for quick field replacement. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) time is slashed to one hour per module swap-the easy O&M enables field engineers to perform quick replacements.

The new inverter delivers outstanding reliability, featuring IP66 protection and stable operation without derating at temperatures up to 45C for the European market. It also incorporates AI-driven fault detection, AI-enhanced DC-side safety management, and advanced grid-forming capabilities-meeting the industry's high standards for performance, availability, and reliability.

On the storage side, Sungrow showcased its 5MWh liquid-cooled ESS PowerTitan 2.0, featuring an all-in-one AC-DC block design for exceptional efficiency, safety, and reliability, already widely deployed worldwide.

Additionally, Sungrow demonstrated its pioneering solar and storage grid-forming capabilities, positioning itself at the forefront of future-proof energy infrastructures.

C&I Solutions: Empowering Businesses with Flexibility

The commercial and industrial (C&I) market in Europe continues its rapid growth, with increasing annual installations of C&I PV and ESS projects. Sungrow offers a broad portfolio catering to small, medium, and large C&I applications.

Among the highlights is Sungrow's latest C&I liquid-cooled ESS, the PowerStack 255CS. Equipped with advanced 314Ah battery cells, it offers flexible power capacities-257kWh (2-hour system) or 514kWh (4-hour system)-along with over 90% round-trip efficiency and a 20-year design life. Fully integrated with PCS, EMS, and BMS, and certified under stringent global safety standards such as UL9540 and NFPA855/69/68/14, the system ensures seamless operation across a wide range of scenarios, including C&I standalone ESS, PV plus ESS, EV chargers plus ESS, and microgrids.

Another highlight is the SH125CX, which is a truly impressive hybrid inverter with a nominal output power of 125kW. The SH125CX can be combined with the PowerStack 255CS to create a fully DC-coupled solution. The DC-coupled solution is designed for medium and large C&I scenarios. Key features include:

Flexible Design: This 125kW hybrid inverter is fit for all modules in the market with a maximum current per MPPT of 40A. It can reach DC-AC ratios of up to 2.0, which is needed in the European market. The DC-coupled solution can save CAPEX, such as some parts of the AC distribution, the PV inverter, or the external energy management system.

Flexible Scalability: Supports up to 24 units in parallel, achieving a maximum 3MW AC output and 6MWh ESS capacity.

Flexible Retrofitting: This new SH125CX solution is also ideal for retrofitting, replacing the PV inverter with a hybrid inverter in one step, transforming into a power storage hub instantly.

Flexible Adaptation: The SH125CX is equipped with IP66 and C5 anti-corrosion, resilient to harsh conditions. The inverter is embedded with an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter 3.0 (AFCI 3.0) function, identifying DC-side arc faults across cable lengths up to 450 meters, ensuring maximum safety.

Residential Energy Ecosystem: Smarter, Simpler, Safer

Sungrow introduced a complete portfolio for residential solar, storage, and EV charging installations, covering both 1-phase and 3-phase scenarios. Its iHomeManager and iSolarCloud, showing capabilities in seamless integration and optimal energy management for homeowners' cost savings. The iHomeManager improves self-consumption and centralizes energy management at home, while the new Dynamic Tariff feature for iSolarCloud uses a self-developed AI technology to intelligently manage energy consumption and electricity trading.

Also displayed are Sungrow microinverters for residential projects. The full portfolio of microinverters (450-1600W) is designed for enhanced efficiency of renewable energy-supported homes. With seamless plug-and-play accessories, these microinverters reduce installation time for faster deployment and minimize downtime. They feature intelligent design with self-checks and IV diagnosis for easy installation, maintenance, and system reliability.

Sungrow showcased its balcony solar solution with the 450W/800W microinverter and the tailored iSolarCloud with scene-based interface, providing users with real-time operational insights.

In addition, Sungrow introduced an all-new low-voltage residential energy storage system to its product portfolio. The SH5/6/8/10RL hybrid inverter series (up to 10kW), paired with the SBL060 battery (6kWh per unit), offers exceptional scalability, safety, and flexibility for residential applications.

Additional Booth Highlights

Sungrow received TUV Rheinland VDE 4130 certification for its power conversion system (PCS) SC210HX, validating its durability and compatibility with extra-high voltage networks.

Sungrow received the EUPD Research Inverter Award.

Introduced the latest PV plant design software, iSolarDesign 3.0, a web-based platform that allows users to quickly and easily design and simulate solar projects.

Interactive lab for showcasing O&M capabilities.

An Augmented Reality (AR) tool for customers to visualize the different products on their own mobile devices.

Sungrow's Growing Presence in Europe

For over 18 years, Sungrow has built a strong presence across Europe, providing local sales, technical support, and after-sales services. The company now operates with over 750 employees, more than 25 local offices, and two R&D teams based in Europe.

Shawn Shi, President of Sungrow Europe, commented: "Intersolar Europe 2025 represented a pivotal moment for Sungrow, as we launched a host of groundbreaking products designed to serve the evolving needs of the global market, with a strong focus on Europe. We are honored to have forged new partnerships with respected industry leaders and remain deeply grateful for the trust and support of our partners. Together, we are building a more sustainable future."

About Sungrow

Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 28 years. As of December 2024, Sungrow has installed 740 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world's No. 1 on PV inverter shipments (S&P Global Commodity Insights) and the world's most bankable energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects in over 180 countries, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we're committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/intersolar-europe-2025-sungrow-debuts-revolutionary-renewable-energy-breakthroughs-302451153.html
KAOHSIUNG, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- E&R Engineering Corp. is proud to announce its participation at SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025, held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore from May 20 to 22. With over 30 years of dedication in the semiconductor industry, E&R will unveil its latest innovations in advanced laser and plasma processing, continuing to push the boundaries of semiconductor equipment technology.

This year, E&R teams up with two strong partners - Zen Voce and GP Group - to form a powerful joint exhibition team. The three companies bring broad experience across different parts of the semiconductor industry, from front-end and packaging to back-end and automation. This collaboration shows our shared drive for innovation and quality, with the belief that "1 + 1 + 1 > 3" - where the combined strength of three creates more than each on its own.

Featured Technologies from E&R:

Plasma Dicing - Small Die Dicing Solution

E&R delivers a hybrid laser grooving and plasma dicing solution that supports ultra-fine dice lanes (10-30 m). Beyond equipment, E&R also provides a turnkey dicing service, handling unique shapes like hexagons, circles, or MPR layouts with precision and consistency.

FOPLP - Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging (700  700 mm)

E&R's total solution supports large panel processes including laser marking, laser cutting, laser descum, plasma cleaning, and post-drill de-smear, with a remarkable warpage control up to 16 mm. The process is further enhanced with laser debonding and plasma dry etching solutions for separation of glass carrier and panel.

Glass Substrate Solutions

E&R leads in glass core process equipment, offering:

High-productivity TGV drilling (600-1,000 VPS, 5 m @ 3s)

Glass laser polishing for sidewall roughness control

Laser beveling & precision AOI for defect detection

Advanced Packaging

High-precision laser drilling for 2.5D/3D ICs (5 m, B/T ratio up to 90%)

Hybrid laser and plasma for advanced TSV solution

Multi-beam laser marking (25 m accuracy, high throughput)

Controlled thermal laser cutting

Join us at SEMICON SEA 2025 to see how E&R, Zen Voce, and GP Group are driving the future of semiconductor manufacturing - with more precise, efficient, and integrated solutions.

Booth Information

Booth Number: L2413

L2413 Location: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore Dates: May 20-22, 2025

May 20-22, 2025 E&R Website: https://en.enr.com.tw/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/er-showcases-next-gen-laser-and-plasma-solutions-with-strategic-partners-at-semicon-sea-2025-in-singapore-302450963.html
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global In Vitro Diagnostics Market, valued at US$100,769.3 million in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 7.6%, reaching US$109,065.5 million in 2025 and an impressive US$157,632.5 million by 2030. The rising incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer is triggering enhanced demand for precise and timely diagnostic testing. Emerging technologies in fields such as molecular diagnostics, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and liquid biopsy are enhancing the accuracy and pace of these tests, which is contributing to the shift of healthcare toward more targeted treatments. There is also a rising demand for quick, portable testing solutions, especially in urgent care situations, remote areas, and at home. Another major factor is the growing number of older adults, especially in places like Europe, Japan, and the US, who need ongoing monitoring due to their higher risk of both chronic and infectious diseases. Government-led healthcare reforms and investments in diagnostic infrastructure in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Africa are making testing more accessible and expanding the reach of the IVD market.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=703

Browse in-depth TOC on "In Vitro Diagnostics Market"

882 - Tables

67 - Figures

739 - Pages

By product, the in vitro diagnostics market is segmented into reagents & kits, instruments, and data management software and services. In 2024, the reagents & kits segment accounted for the highest growth rate in the in vitro diagnostics market. This is due to an increasing need for quick and accurate diagnostic tests. Laboratories and hospitals are more dependent upon reagents and kits that provide reliable results. These products are increasingly becoming better, more sensitive, and more accurate, and they are less demanding to operate with innovations. The emergence of personalized medicine is serving as a critical driver by triggering demand for niche diagnostic kits specific to identifying unique genes or conditions found in individual patients. Moreover, introducing more stringent regulatory systems and quality standards ensures that only quality products are available in the market, promoting confidence among end-users and further fueling their adoption.

By specimen, the in vitro diagnostics market is divided into four segments based on specimen type: blood, serum, and plasma specimens, saliva specimens, urine specimens, and other specimens. In 2024, the blood, serum, and plasma specimens segment accounted for the largest market share of the in vitro diagnostics market. Blood tests are one of the most common ways to check for a wide range of health problems-from diabetes and infections to cancer, heart issues, and autoimmune diseases. Serum and plasma, which come from blood, give clear and dependable results, especially for liver function, hormone levels, and detecting infections. Blood-based specimens such as whole blood, serum, and plasma are still the preferred matrices for routine and complex diagnostics due to the compatibility of modern test platforms such as immunoassays, genetic testing, and molecular diagnostics with these specimens. Their ease of integration into existing diagnostic routines continues to support their prevalent use in the clinical environment.

By geography, the in vitro diagnostics market is segmented into six major regional segments, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, and GCC Countries. North America accounted for the largest market share in the in vitro diagnostics market in 2024. This is due to emerging diagnostic technologies-such as high-throughput systems, lab-on-a-chip equipment, and digital health integration-driving the IVD market forward. The North American healthcare system is moving towards more tailored treatment protocols based on complex tests to identify precise genetic, protein, or metabolic markers. In the US, according to the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, over 2023-32, average (National Healthcare Expenditure) NHE growth (5.6%) is projected to outpace that of average GDP growth (4.3%), resulting in an increase in the health spending share of GDP from 17.3% in 2022 to 19.7% in 2032. Major diagnostic players such as Abbott (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), and BD (US) are also at the core driving force. Their strong research pipelines, extensive distribution networks, and partnerships with hospitals and universities provide new tests and tools.

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Some of the prominent players operating in the market include Danaher (US), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Abbott (US), Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Illumina, Inc. (US), Hologic, Inc. (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), bioMerieux (France), Sysmex Corporation (Japan), Revvity (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Qiagen (Netherlands), DiaSorin S.p.A. (Italy), Grifols, S.A. (Spain), Werfen (Spain), and QuidelOrtho Corporation (US), among others.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland):

Roche is a global pioneer in IVD focused on developing novel products with advanced research capabilities. The combined strengths of diagnostics & automation and growing expertise in personalized healthcare help the company acquire a prominent market share. The differentiated product portfolio in infectious diseases, tissue diagnostics, oncology, and diabetes management make the company a leading player in the IVD market. In November 2024, the company acquired Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (US), a publicly traded clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in donor-derived CAR-T cell therapies.

Danaher (US):

Danaher has a broad product portfolio in segments like Biotechnology, Life Sciences, and Diagnostics. The company markets its IVD products in over 100 markets directly or indirectly. The Diagnostics segment provides clinical tools, consumables, reagents, software, and services required for illness diagnosis and treatment planning. One of the main pillars of the company's success is its vast global network of about 242 manufacturing and distribution sites. Danaher (US) keeps growing its diagnostics business through smart acquisitions and improvements in regulations. The purchase of Abcam plc (UK) on December 6, 2023, for about USD 5.6 billion, was a significant strategic decision that improved the capacity of the company in diagnostics and life sciences.

Abbott (US)

Abbott is a leading player in the IVD market with its commercial presence in 95 countries. The company has a strong presence in the US and seeks to enhance its geographical presence by strengthening its business operations in emerging markets. It holds a significant market share in the IVD sector due to its extensive range of products and approved items from the FDA and CE. The Alinity m MPXV Test, developed by Abbott (US) in October 2024, received emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the first authorized diagnostic test for mpox. This accreditation significantly enhances the ability to diagnose, especially in countries experiencing Mpox outbreaks where swift and precise testing is crucial.

Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany):

The company operates through four segments: Imaging, Diagnostics, Varian, and Advanced Therapies. The Diagnostic segment deals with in vitro diagnostic products, services, and solutions. The company sells its products to healthcare providers in more than 180 countries. The company significantly invests in R&D to launch innovative and technologically advanced products. In line with this, in 2024, the company invested USD 2,107.7 million of its revenue in R&D activities. It has major R&D facilities in Germany, the US, China, and India.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US)

The Specialty Diagnostics segment offers a wide range of diagnostic test kits, reagents, culture media, instruments, and associated products to serve customers in healthcare, clinical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and food safety laboratories. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has undertaken pivotal developments to strengthen its offering in the diagnostics industry. For instance, to support customers in China and the Asia Pacific region, the company opened a new biologics manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China, which provides integrated clinical and commercial drug substance and drug product capabilities.

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Market, valued at US$14.92 billion in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 38.6%, reaching US$21.66 billion in 2025 and an impressive US$110.61billion by 2030. The growing incidence of chronic diseases, linked with an increasing geriatric population, puts substantial financial pressure on healthcare providers. There is a rising need for the early detection of conditions such as dementia and cardiovascular disorders. This can be done by analysing imaging data to recognize patterns, which helps create personalized treatment plans.

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By tools, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare market for machine learning has been bifurcated into deep learning, supervised learning, reinforcement learning, unsupervised learning, and other machine learning technologies. The deep learning segment accounted for the largest share of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare market in 2024. The capability to process vast amounts of unstructured medical data, such as electronic health records (HER), imaging, and genomics, allows accurate disease diagnosis and prediction. The integration of deep learning into healthcare is significantly boosting the AI in healthcare market, leading to substantial investments in diagnostic tools and predictive analytics. As computational power and data availability continue to increase, deep learning is set to unlock further advancements, solidifying its position as a key enabler of next-generation healthcare technologies.

By end user, the AI in healthcare market is segmented into healthcare providers, healthcare payers, patients, and other end users. In 2024, healthcare providers accounted for the largest share of the AI in healthcare market. The large share of this end-user segment can be attributed to the increasing budgets of hospitals to improve the quality of care provided and reduce the cost of care.

By geography, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare market is segmented into five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific region is projected to see a substantial growth rate during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is experiencing substantial growth in adopting AI technologies within the healthcare sector, driven by a combination of demographic shifts, technological advancements, and increased investments in innovation. The rising elderly population in the region is a key factor, with the proportion of individuals aged 65 years and above increasing significantly. The demand for advanced healthcare solutions has surged as the aging population faces chronic and age-related conditions, necessitating efficient diagnostic, monitoring, and treatment tools. AI technologies are being integrated into various healthcare applications, including predictive analytics, telemedicine, medical imaging, and patient management systems. These innovations aim to address gaps in healthcare access, improve diagnostic accuracy, and streamline operations across the region.

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The prominent players operating in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare market include Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), Microsoft Corporation (US), Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany), NVIDIA Corporation (US), Epic Systems Corporation (US), GE Healthcare (US), Medtronic (US), Oracle (US), Veradigm LLC (US), Merative (IBM) (US), Google (US), Cognizant (US), Johnson & Johnson (US), Amazon Web Services, Inc. (US), among others. These companies adopted strategies such as product launches, product updates, expansions, partnerships, collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions to strengthen their market presence in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare market.

Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands)

Koninklijke Philips N.V. is a leading player in the AI in the healthcare market. The company utilizes AI to deliver innovative tools across various areas, including diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring, and precision medicine. Its advanced AI-driven platforms, such as the Philips HealthSuite, facilitate the integration and analysis of extensive clinical data, which supports personalized treatment plans and improves patient outcomes. Philips focuses on organic and inorganic growth strategies to expand its market presence.

Strategic partnerships in high-potential markets and collaborations have been the key growth strategies of the company over the years. For example, in February 2025, Philips partnered with Medtronic to educate and train cardiologists and radiologists in India on advanced imaging techniques for structural heart diseases. This partnership aims to upskill 300+ clinicians in multi-modality imaging such as echocardiography (echo) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), especially for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients. In November 2023, Philips and NYU Langone Health partnered to focus on patient safety and outcomes. This partnership integrated innovative health technologies, including digital pathology, clinical informatics, and AI-enabled diagnostics, enabling real-time collaboration among clinicians. The company also focuses on winning contracts across several companies in the healthcare space. This helps the company expand its footprint. For instance, in September 2022, Philips and Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri (MRHP) in Jakarta underwent a digital transformation in a strategic partnership, enhancing patient-centered care and healthcare services.

Microsoft Corporation (US):

Microsoft Corporation is one of the leading providers of software & tools that include advanced AI capabilities in healthcare to improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and drive innovation. Its Azure-based AI solutions support distinct applications such as medical imaging, genomics, and precision medicine. The company also provides healthcare-specific AI models through its Azure AI Model Catalog, which is constructed to support hospitals and research institutions in building and deploying tailored AI solutions proficiently. Moreover, the integration of Nuance's AI-powered clinical and diagnostic tools encourages its capacity to support healthcare providers in decision-making and care delivery. The company continuously brings AI capabilities to the platforms in large-scale customer models. For instance, in March 2025, the company launched Microsoft Dragon Copilot, the first unified voice AI assistant in the healthcare industry that enables clinicians to streamline clinical documentation, surface information, and automate tasks.

Microsoft Corporation has invested significantly in R&D, which has improved its product portfolio and position in the AI market. Machine Learning (ML), deep learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and speech processing are the key focus areas of the company in the AI in healthcare market. The company continuously invests in a series of services and computational biology projects, including research support tools for next-generation precision healthcare, genomics, immunomics, CRISPR, and cellular and molecular biologics. It has a strong global presence, with key operations supported through its Azure cloud infrastructure across regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.

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The Company unveiled the fruits of its collaboratively innovated photovoltaic and hydrogen energy along with energy storage solutions in Munich, accelerating Europe's move towards carbon neutrality

MUNICH, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Electric (SEHK:2727, SSE:601727) once again impresses visitors at this year's Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry, held in Munich from May 7-9. The Company showcases solutions in multiple fields, including solar and hydrogen energy, and energy storage. Utilizing its solution that adapts and localizes with cutting-edge technology, it presents an efficient path for Europe's green energy transformation and collaborates with global industry leaders to forge a blueprint for a zero-carbon future.

Carbon neutrality is a major strategic goal and a mission that will take concerted action from the whole world. Shanghai Electric is committed to connecting the world with innovative technologies, promoting the large-scale application of green energy, and making Chinese expertise a key force for global sustainable development.

Marking a major advance in green hydrogen technology, Shanghai Bright-H Technology, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, launches its new generation Bristack series electrolyzers. Certified by TUV Rheinland, the line includes 100-3000Nm/h alkaline and 10-400Nm/h PEM models. Featuring efficient gas-liquid transmission technology, the electrolyzers offer high current density, low energy consumption, wide load regulation and rapid response, achieving industry-leading hydrogen production efficiency. With annual production capacities of 1 gigawatt for alkaline electrolyzers and 200 megawatts for PEM electrolyzers, large-scale green hydrogen deployment is now more feasible.

Shanghai Electric's latest photovoltaic offerings include the Creator 210R series heterojunction modules, delivering 640W of power with 90% bifaciality. The Company's TOPCon cost-effective modules and colored building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) modules meet a range of market demands. Its modular sustainable construction site solutions boost low-carbon energy supply, increase installation efficiency by 50%, and suit fast turnover scenarios. Comprising five modules, including a single bracket and a BIPV roof, the system assembles quickly with bolts or self-tapping screws and allows flexible expansion.

At Intersolar Europe 2025, Shanghai Electric highlights its advancements in collaborative innovation across photovoltaics, hydrogen and energy storage, along with the integration of high-end equipment with smart energy. The Company's multi-energy system, combining solar and hydrogen storage solutions, is designed to optimize investment and operating costs. Shanghai Electric's flexible bracket and tracking system also unlocks the value of unused land, while its full life cycle services help ensure long-term project benefits and improved energy efficiency.

Leveraging its expertise and adapting to local conditions, Shanghai Electric proved its capability to push Europe's green energy transition toward net-zero emissions by 2050. In the United Kingdom, the Company has independently developed, built, and operated eight photovoltaic projects, featuring 220MWh of energy storage, with 100MWh already operational. These efforts are expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 112,000 tons annually.

Elsewhere, the photovoltaic project in Romania, constructed and operated with the participation of Shanghai Electric, is capable of supplying green electricity to over 120,000 households upon completion. The Pancevo Thermal Power Plant in Serbia, designed in full compliance with European standards and developed by Shanghai Electric, has generated a cumulative total exceeding 950 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since its commissioning, effectively alleviating local power supply constraints.

For more information about Shanghai Electric, please visit https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.

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Gretchen Stenehjem, Dick Boyce, Matthew A. Swift join board of trustees to guide vision

MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation (TRPLF) announces the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees: Dick Boyce, Gretchen Stenehjem, and Matthew A. Swift. Each brings a unique blend of leadership, civic commitment, and strategic insight that will help guide the Library toward its highly anticipated opening on July 4, 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of the United States.

"Gretchen, Dick, and Matt each embody what it means to be 'in the arena,' and we are thrilled to welcome them onto the Board as we approach the opening of the Library," said Hilary Hamm, Chair of the TRPLF Board of Trustees. "On a personal note, I began my career under Matt's leadership, and I'm excited to work alongside him again, this time in service of a shared mission to inspire civic engagement and bold leadership for the future."

Set in the North Dakota Badlands that shaped Roosevelt's character and ideals, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is unlike any other presidential library. It is both a museum and a catalyst-designed to inspire leadership, civic engagement, and conservation. More than a place to learn about Roosevelt, the TRPL invites visitors to walk in his footsteps and apply his enduring values to the challenges of today.

"This Library will challenge visitors not just to understand history, but to act on it," said Edward F. O'Keefe, CEO of the TRPLF. "Our new trustees are powerful partners in our mission as we approach our grand opening in just over a year from now."

Dick Boyce is a veteran of operational leadership and private equity, formerly a partner at TPG Capital and Bain & Company. Boyce was the CEO of J. Crew Group, Inc., the chairman of Burger King and Del Monte Foods, and an executive at PepsiCo. He currently serves on a variety of boards including as a director of AllBirds. He also recently served as executive producer of the feature film, Lost on a Mountain in Maine . A strategist focused on sustainable growth, Boyce's philanthropic efforts in education and conservation complement TRPL's values.

Gretchen Stenehjem is a longtime North Dakota civic leader and advocate for Medora, the historic town Roosevelt loved. Residing in Watford City and serving on the board of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation for nearly a decade, her voice has been instrumental in preserving the state's heritage, supporting Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and advancing conversations around education, energy, and responsible land use. Gretchen serves as the Marketing Director of First International Bank and, as a former elementary school teacher and preschool director, recently authored a children's book, Buddy the Dog , donating all proceeds to the Anne Carlsen Center, on whose board she also serves.

Matthew A. Swift serves as Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Concordia, a leading forum for public-private collaboration. Swift has hosted summits in New York City, Miami, Bogata, Athens, Madrid, London, and Guyana featuring luminaries and leaders from Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to former White House advisor Ivanka Trump to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. He specializes in bridging the divides between business, governments, and nonprofits. His global perspective and deep investment in civic dialogue will support the Library's work in fostering meaningful, nonpartisan engagement.

As the TRPL prepares to open in 2026, it promises to be a national destination where history comes alive and every visitor becomes a participant in the story. Through immersive exhibits, adventure galleries, and the innovative Trailblazer platform, guests will journey through Roosevelt's life and reflect on how his example can illuminate their own paths.

The Library will announce its Grand Opening plans this summer, along with details on how to become a member. Follow us on social media or visit trlibrary.com to learn more and be part of this historic moment.

Fundraising efforts continue to surpass expectations. To date, $338 million of the $450 million goal has been raised. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library invites individuals, institutions, and leaders from across the nation to join us in the arena and help bring this living legacy to life.

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Bridget Lewis

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bridget@javelindc.com

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Matt Briney

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SOURCE: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Injectable Drug Delivery Market, valued at US$633.7 billion in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 8.4%, reaching US$690.23 billion in 2025 and an impressive US$1,034.78 billion by 2030. The injectable drug delivery market is driven by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders, alongside an increasing global demand for biologics. Developed markets like the US, Germany, and Japan continue to adopt advanced delivery technologies, supported by strong healthcare infrastructure and patient preference for convenient, self-administered therapies. In emerging markets such as India, Brazil, and China, market growth is accelerated by improved healthcare access and government-backed immunization and chronic disease management programs.

Key market trends include the increasing adoption of wearable injectors, autoinjectors, and needle-free systems. This shift is largely driven by a growing emphasis on patient compliance and home-based treatment options. Additionally, the move towards personalized medicine and combination therapies encourages device manufacturers to create tailored solutions for complex drug regimens.

Recent developments in this market include the introduction of smart injectors that feature connectivity capabilities, the expansion of large-volume subcutaneous delivery systems, and partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and device developers aimed at creating biologics-compatible delivery platforms. Many companies also invest in sustainable and reusable injection systems, especially in Europe, to comply with environmental regulations.

Overall, the market is evolving rapidly, with a strong focus on innovation aimed at enhancing safety, usability, and therapeutic efficacy. This positions injectable delivery systems as a crucial element in modern disease management strategies worldwide.

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By Based on products, the formulations segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024, primarily due to the increased use of biologics. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, and obesity further fuels the growth of this market. The parenteral route of drug administration is considered ideal for biologics, as it enhances the bioavailability of therapeutic agents and maintains their stability. Additionally, a strong focus on research and development for targeted and controlled drug delivery drives market expansion. Long-acting and sustained-release formulations reduce dosing frequency, improving patient compliance. Innovations in injectable drug formulations, including the use of nanoparticles, micelles, and liposomes for targeted drug delivery, also contribute to market growth.

By formulation packaging, the ampoules segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR within the formulation packaging sector. This growth can be attributed to the numerous advantages ampoules offer over other packaging options, such as vials. Ampoules are typically designed for single use, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination and ensuring accurate therapeutic product dosages. Additionally, they are more cost-effective than prefilled syringes, cartridge-based packaging, and vials. Glass ampoules are compatible with a wide range of therapeutic agents, including biologics, and help maintain their stability. Moreover, ampoules provide a longer shelf life for drugs and are easy to store.

By therapeutic application, the rapid growth of the obesity market segment is driven by the sedentary lifestyle of people worldwide. The high consumption of over-processed foods and various environmental factors significantly contribute to this trend. Additionally, genetic predisposition plays a role in the prevalence of this chronic condition.

Recent advancements in self-administration devices, such as autoinjectors and wearable technology, have made it easier for individuals to administer medication, especially in emergency situations. These devices provide options for at-home care, improving patient compliance. Furthermore, long-acting injectable formulations reduce the frequency of required medication dosages.

By site of administration, the dermal segment accounted for the largest market share in 2024. This segment encompasses both intradermal and subcutaneous routes of administration. The significant market share can be attributed to the ease of dermal-based administration, which is less invasive than intravenous routes. Dermal administration is also less painful and is typically preferred by patients who require frequent dosing for chronic conditions.

The subcutaneous route is particularly well-suited for self-administration devices, such as autoinjectors and pen injectors. In addition, needle-free injectors and microneedle devices are being developed for intradermal administration, which enhances patient compliance. Dermal-based injections are appropriate for a wide range of therapeutic products, including biologics, insulin, and vaccines.

By geography, the APAC region is projected to experience the highest CAGR globally during the forecast period. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions in the region. The aging population further contributes to this trend. Significant investments in the healthcare sector are being made in countries like China, India, and Southeast Asia, which facilitate the development of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities. Supportive government policies and regulations also play a vital role in this growth.

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Prominent players in the injectable drug delivery market are Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Pfizer Inc. (US), Merck & Co., Inc. (US), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Cardinal Health (US), BD (US), Baxter (US), B. Braun SE (Germany), and Terumo Corporation (Japan).

Cardinal Health (US):

Cardinal Health (US) is a global supplier of healthcare products and services in over 30 countries. The company has two main segments: Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions and Global Medical Products and Distribution. It provides services to hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, and home-care settings. In addition to drug distribution, the pharmaceutical division offers specialized services such as logistics management, nuclear pharmacy, and specialty pharmacy. The Healthcare division offers a wide range of products, including safety syringes (under the Magellan and Monoject brands), laboratory supplies, and anesthesia devices. Cardinal Health's OptiFreight Logistics service manages over 22 million shipments annually, optimizing supply chain performance. The company is dedicated to innovation, operational excellence, and improving patient care outcomes through its extensive network and advanced analytical capabilities.

BD (US):

BD (US) is a global company that supplies medical devices, diagnostic equipment, and interventional treatments in over 190 countries. The organization has three main business divisions: Interventional, Life Sciences, and Medical. The Medical division focuses on drug management and delivery systems, including items like IV catheters, syringes, and needles. The Interventional division addresses critical care, urology, and surgical needs, while the Life Sciences division specializes in diagnostics and biosciences. BD is also well-known for its commitment to innovation and has several subsidiaries in Germany, Canada, and the US. Due to its advancements in patient care and contributions to health technology, Fortune ranked the company among the top 25% of the most innovative US companies in 2025.

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US):

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US) is a major healthcare company that operates through two main business segments: MedTech and Innovative Medicine. The Innovative Medicine segment offers treatments for infectious diseases, immunology, oncology, and various other conditions, distributing products through wholesalers, hospitals, and retailers. Key injectable drugs in this segment include REMICADE, SIMPONI, STELARA, TREMFYA, and DARZALEX, with the latter generating approximately USD 3 billion in quarterly sales. The company operates through more than 265 subsidiaries, such as Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Actelion Pharmaceuticals, and has a presence in over 60 countries.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland)

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland) is a leading biotech company specializing in in vitro diagnostics and pharmaceutical products for rare diseases, immunology, ophthalmology, and cancer. Its key injectable products include Hemlibra, Ocrevus, Phesgo, and Vabysmo. Roche collaborates with over 250 global partners and conducts pharmaceutical research and development through its subsidiaries, Genentech (US) and Chugai (Japan). The company operates in over 150 countries, partnering with organizations such as Spark Therapeutics and Roche Diagnostics Corporation.

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MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe.

Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook .

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/injectable-drug-delivery-market-worth-us1-034-78-billion-by-2030-with-8-4-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302450932.html
Vancouver, Canada--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Honey Badger Silver (TSXV: TUF) (OTCQB: HBEIF) is pleased to announce the company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London. Chad Williams, Executive Chairman, Interim CEO of Honey Badger Silver will be presenting about the Company's recent and future planned activities.

121 Mining Investment London will be hosting over 110 mining companies and more than 650 sophisticated investors for two days of pre-arranged, targeted 1-2-1 meetings.

Alongside the curated schedule of pre-booked meetings matching investors with appropriate projects, the conference programme will provide expert commentary and the latest market intelligence on key industry developments.

This year's event is being held on May 12-13.

Any investors who would like to attend 121 Mining Investment London can register for a free pass here.

About 121 Mining Investment

The 121 Mining Investment global event series connects portfolio managers and analysts from institutional funds, private equity groups and family offices with mining company management teams for 1-2-1, private in-person meetings.

121 Mining Investment has an ever-expanding global portfolio, currently covering London, New York, Cape Town, Dubai and Singapore, as well as online editions throughout the year.

About Honey Badger Silver

Honey Badger Silver is a silver company. The company is led by a highly experienced leadership team with a track record of value creation backed by a skilled technical team. Our projects are located in areas with a long history of mining, including the Sunrise Lake project with a historic resource of 12.8 Moz of silver (and 201.3 million pounds of zinc) Indicated and 13.9 Moz of silver (and 247.8 million pounds of zinc) Inferred (1)(3) located in the Northwest Territories and the Plata high-grade silver project located 165 km east of Yukon's prolific Keno Hill and adjacent to Snowline Gold's Rogue discovery. The Company's Clear Lake Project in the Yukon Territory has a historic resource of 5.5 Moz of silver and 1.3 billion pounds of zinc (2)(3). The Company also has a significant land holding at the Nanisivik Mine Area located in Nunavut, Canada that produced over 20 Moz of silver between 1976 and 2002 (2,3). A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the foregoing historical resources as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating the estimates as current mineral resources. The historical resource estimates are provided solely for the purpose of an indication of the volume of mineralization that could be present. Additional work, including verification drilling/sampling, will be required to verify any of the historical estimates as a current mineral resource.

SOURCE: 121 Mining Investment Conference
Chibougamau, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Mines D'Or Orbec/Orbec Gold Mines (TSXV: BLUE) (OTC Pink: BLTMF) is pleased to announce the company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London. John Tait, CEO of Mines D'Or Orbec/Orbec Gold Mines will be presenting about the Company's recent and future planned activities.

121 Mining Investment London will be hosting over 110 mining companies and more than 650 sophisticated investors for two days of pre-arranged, targeted 1-2-1 meetings.

Alongside the curated schedule of pre-booked meetings matching investors with appropriate projects, the conference programme will provide expert commentary and the latest market intelligence on key industry developments.

This year's event is being held on May 12-13.

Any investors who would like to attend 121 Mining Investment London can register for a free pass here.

About 121 Mining Investment

The 121 Mining Investment global event series connects portfolio managers and analysts from institutional funds, private equity groups and family offices with mining company management teams for 1-2-1, private in-person meetings.

121 Mining Investment has an ever-expanding global portfolio, currently covering London, New York, Cape Town, Dubai and Singapore, as well as online editions throughout the year.

About Mines D'Or Orbec/Orbec Gold Mines

Orbec is a gold company that owns 100% of a large and highly prospective mineral claim position near Chibougamau, Quebec. The Muus Project covers approximately 25,250 hectares in the northeastern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Muus is prospective for gold mineralization and is adjacent to and on strike with IAMGOLD's 8.3 million oz Nelligan Gold Project. Orbec has announced that exploration of the Muus Gold Project will advance in technical collaboration with IAMGOLD, which owns approximately 8.3% of the Company. Fieldwork completed during 2024 established that the northern portion of the Muus Gold Project is also prospective for copper-gold volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralisation, as well as confirming that it is prospective for high-grade gold mineralisation similar to IAMGOLD's nearby Nelligan gold deposit.

For additional information, please contact:

SOURCE: 121 Mining Investment Conference
Make a difference. Open your home and your heart-host an exchange student today!

WAYZATA, MINNESOTA / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Families across the U.S. have a unique opportunity to experience a new culture right in their own homes. ASSE International Student Exchange Programs, a non-profit public benefit organization, is currently seeking warm and welcoming host families to open their homes to international exchange students for the upcoming school year.

Exchange Student With Host Sister

Exchange Student With Host Sister

Hosting an exchange student is a life-changing experience for families that fosters cultural understanding, builds lifelong friendships, while enriching local communities. Students, aged 15-18 years , come from over 60 countries around the world, including France, Japan, Italy, Denmark, Australia, Spain and many more. The students are carefully selected based on their academic performance, English proficiency, and personal character, and they are eager to become part of an American family, attend a local high school, and share their own traditions.

During their stay, ASSE exchange students immerse themselves in American culture by living with and becoming part of a volunteer host family while attending a local high school. This experience allows them to improve their English skills, form lifelong friendships, and gain a deeper understanding of American life and values. In return, host families and communities benefit from the unique perspectives and cultural exchange that these students bring.

"Being a host family isn't just about providing a place to stay; it's about making a student from another country part of the family," says Saphia Lesch, ASSE Regional Director. "Many host families find that the experience is just as rewarding for them as it is for the student. The bonds formed often last a lifetime." "Exchange students bring energy, curiosity, and fresh perspectives to their host families and communities. They attend local schools, participate in activities, and become a real family member."

Host families provide a safe and supportive home, meals, and encouragement, while students come with their own spending money and health insurance, ensuring that hosting is a rewarding and enriching experience without financial burden. Anyone with a warm and welcoming home can host an exchange student! Host families come in many forms, including married couples (with or without children), single parents, young professionals, empty-nesters, same-sex couples, and retirees.

ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to learn another language and culture by spending a school year, semester or a summer with a host family in another country.

Families interested in hosting an exchange student or exploring study abroad opportunities are encouraged to learn more and apply by visiting www.host.asse.com or contacting Saphia Lesch at (800) 736-1760 / host@asse.com.

Founded in the USA in 1976, ASSE International Student Exchange Programs, a non-profit, public benefit organization, is a trusted name in Cultural Exchange. Through its mission to promote global understanding and goodwill, ASSE creates life-changing opportunities for young people and their host families to experience different cultures, learn new perspectives, and develop lifelong friendships.

SOURCE: ASSE International, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/education/foreign-exchange-student-program-is-seeking-host-families-for-the-upcoming-school-year-1025691
Summary: Christian Smith of Smith & Bledsoe Family Law has been named to the Rising Stars list for 2023-2024, recognizing her contributions to family law and dedication to client advocacy.

Austin, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Smith & Bledsoe Family Law announces that attorney Christian Smith, managing partner, has been named to the 2023-2024 Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers. This recognition highlights Smith's contributions to family law, her dedication to clients, and her growing influence in the legal community of Austin, Texas.

The Super Lawyers Rising Stars list is a highly competitive distinction reserved for attorneys under 40 or practicing law for 10 years or under. Only 2.5% of attorneys in each state are included, making this honor a testament to Christian Smith's professional achievements and her peers' recognition of her skills and dedication.

Selection for the Rising Stars list involves a comprehensive evaluation process. Candidates are first nominated by fellow attorneys who have observed their work, such as opposing or co-counsel. Self-nominations are strictly prohibited. Each nominee undergoes a rigorous independent review conducted by Super Lawyers, which assesses 12 key indicators of professional achievement and peer recognition, including verdicts and settlements, experience, honors, and community involvement. The final phase involves a peer-review evaluation, ensuring the highest level of integrity in the selection process.



Christian Smith's inclusion in this year's Rising Stars list reflects her significant contributions to the family law field. As managing partner of Smith & Bledsoe Family Law, she has demonstrated a unique ability to guide her clients through complex legal challenges with compassion and precision. Her commitment to serving families and individuals in challenging times has made her a trusted advocate in the Austin community.

For clients, the Rising Stars distinction assures diligence and adherence to the highest standards of legal advocacy. Attorneys who earn this recognition are acknowledged for their skill, ethical conduct, and commitment to achieving favorable outcomes. Clients can have confidence that their legal representation is handled by an attorney recognized as a leader in the field.

While the achievement is an individual honor for the Austin divorce lawyer, it is a testament to the team's collaborative effort and shared values at Smith & Bledsoe Family Law. The team's commitment to ethical integrity and client-centered service align with the qualities recognized by Super Lawyers in its rigorous selection process.

About Smith & Bledsoe Family Law:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251494

SOURCE: GetFeatured
Expansion to boost cargo capacity, attract $3.9 billion in foreign investment, and position Dominican Republic as a regional nearshoring and trade hub

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 09, 2025has signed a landmark US$760 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of the Dominican Republic to expand the Port of Caucedo and its Free Trade Zone, setting the stage for the country to become a leading manufacturing and logistics hub for the Americas.

The MoU, signed with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMES (MICM), initiates negotiations that will raise Caucedo's container handling capacity from 2.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) to approximately 3.1 million TEUs, while unlocking 225 hectares of development-ready land for the Free Trade Zone.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and Group CEO of DP World, said: "This agreement marks a major step forward in our vision -- shared with our local partners and stakeholders -- to enhance the country's competitiveness and connectivity, creating greater opportunities for local communities and businesses to thrive."

"By boosting capacity and enabling nearshoring opportunities, we will transform Caucedo into the most advanced logistics hub in the Caribbean, not only strengthening supply chain resilience across the Americas but also creating a powerful engine for economic growth and job creation in the Dominican Republic. We are proud to deepen our partnership with the government and people of this vibrant nation, building a future where trade works better for everyone."

DP World, which has operated in the Dominican Republic for over 25 years, currently manages both the marine terminal at the Port of Caucedo, and the adjacent 86-hectare Free Trade Zone Park. Since 2003, the company has invested more than $700 million in its development, boosting capacity from 900,000 TEUs in 2003 to 2.5 million TEUs today through steady investment and modernization. Combined, these strengthen the Dominican Republic's in facilitating trade and logistics throughout the Caribbean.

Investment Breakdown

The new $760 million investment will be split evenly:

$380 million for the port, including the expansion of the quay and breakwater to accommodate next-generation vessels and general cargo operations, new ship-to-shore cranes, yard equipment, advanced surveillance systems and security infrastructure, and upgrades to gates, roads and automation systems.

$380 million for the Free Trade Zone, including a new road network, utilities, a commercial and marketing center to attract global tenants, and pre-built storage units.

A Gateway for the Americas

DP World estimates the combined project will add 300,000 TEUs a year of cargo volume, attract US$3.9 billion in FDI, driving US$4 billion in new manufacturing output to support thousands of new jobs.

Morten Johansen, Chief Operating Officer, DP World Americas, said: "This is a transformative investment, not just in infrastructure, but in the future of the Dominican economy. The expansion is expected to generate billions in foreign direct investment, create thousands of new jobs, and solidify the Dominican Republic's position as a premier destination for nearshoring and global trade. We are proud to help unlock the country's full potential and build a foundation for long-term prosperity."

With its proximity to U.S. markets and duty-free access, the Dominican Republic offers a compelling environment for manufacturers and logistics providers, with competitive costs and robust tax incentives. Caucedo already serves as a vital transshipment and logistics hub in the region, and this expansion will enhance its role as a launchpad for global trade.

DP WORLD Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications

M:

For more insights into how DP WORLD is reshaping global trade, visit our website: www.dpworld.com

About DP WORLD

DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 100,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer's door.

In the Americas, DP World operates with a team of over 16,000 people across 12 countries, driving excellence through a robust network of 14 ports and terminals and more than 40 warehouses. By harnessing our global reach and local expertise, we simplify logistics, enhance operational performance, and redefine the boundaries of what's possible in global trade.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW.
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / The following abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ACP, AGD, AOD, ASGI, AWP, HQH, HQL, IFN, THQ, THW)(NYSE American:FAX, FCO, IAF, VFL), announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on May 30, 2025 to all shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025 (ex-dividend date May 22, 2025). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), the abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) and the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) which will pay on June 30, 2025, to all shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025 (ex-dividend date May 22, 2025).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.0775 AGD NYSE abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.1000 AOD NYSE abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0900 ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.2000 AWP NYSE abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.0400 FAX NYSE American abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.1650 FCO NYSE American abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0700 HQH NYSE abrdn Healthcare Investors $ 0.5400 HQL NYSE abrdn Life Sciences Investors $ 0.4300 IAF NYSE American abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. $ 0.1200 IFN NYSE The India Fund, Inc. $ 0.4100 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $ 0.1800 THW NYSE abrdn World Healthcare Fund $ 0.1167 VFL NYSE American abrdn National Municipal Income Fund $ 0.0500

FCO's shares are currently trading at a premium to net asset value. The Board of Directors believes that the premium at which the Fund shares trade relative to net asset value is not likely to be sustainable. Shareholders participating in the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan should note that at the current market price, the reinvestment of distributions occurs at a premium to net asset value.

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year.

Each Fund's distribution policy is subject to modification by the respective Board of Directors/Trustees at any time, and there can be no guarantee that the policy will continue. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these Funds' investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI")

abrdn Healthcare Investors ("HQH")

abrdn Life Sciences Investors ("HQL")

abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF")

The India Fund, Inc. ("IFN")

abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund ("THQ")

The above-noted Aberdeen Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on May 30, 2025 to all shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025 (ex-dividend date May 22, 2025). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), the abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) and the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) which will pay on June 30, 2025, to all shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025 (ex-dividend date May 22, 2025).

For abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), the abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) and the India Fund, Inc. (IFN), this stock distribution will automatically be paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price. The valuation date for this stock distribution is June 17, 2025. Fractional shares will generally be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who will have whole and fractional shares added to their account.

Shareholders may request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name," or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered form. To receive the quarterly distribution payable in June 2025 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must advise the Depository Trust Company as to the full and fractional shares for which they want the distribution paid in cash by June 16, 2025, and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must be received by Computershare Investor Services prior to June 16, 2025.

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

The Funds' estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2000 $0.0240 12% $0.0020 1% $0.1040 52% $0.0700 35% HQH $0.5400 - - $0.1242 23% - - $0.4158 77% HQL $0.4300 - - $0.1483 35% $0.1217 28% $0.1600 37% IAF $0.1200 $0.0156 13% - - $0.0252 21% $0.0792 66% IFN $0.4100 - - - - $0.4100 100% - - THQ $0.1800 - - $0.0180 10% - - $0.1620 90%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Fiscal Year** to Date Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $1.6000 $0.1920 12% $0.0160 1% $0.8320 52% $0.5600 35% HQH $1.7300 - - $0.3979 23% - - $1.3321 77% HQL $1.4000 - - $0.4830 35% $0.3962 28% $0.5208 37% IAF $0.3700 $0.0481 13% - - $0.0777 21% $0.2442 66% IFN $0.8700 - - - - $0.8700 100% - - THQ $1.4400 - - $0.1440 10% - - $1.2960 90%

* includes currency gains

** ASGI, HQH, HQL and THQ have a 9/30 fiscal year end. IAF has a 10/31 fiscal year end. IFN has a 12/31 fiscal year end.

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

As of May 6, 2025, after giving effect to this payment HQL estimates it has a net deficit of $21,343,342. A net deficit results when the Fund has net unrealized losses that are in excess of any net realized gains that have not yet been distributed.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 04/30/2025 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI3 9.44%3 11.59% 4.70% 6.72% HQH 4.82% 13.01% -5.48% 6.64% HQL 3.78% 13.45% -6.93% 6.83% IAF 12.39% 10.40% -0.50% 5.31% IFN 14.16% 10.68% -3.10% 2.67% THQ 7.37% 11.26% -10.61% 6.57%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of April 30, 2025.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through April 30, 2025.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment in company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time.

The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state, and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

Aberdeen Investments Global is the trade name of Aberdeen's investments business, herein referred to as "Aberdeen Investments" or "Aberdeen". In the United States, Aberdeen Investments refers to the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Closed end funds | Aberdeen

###

For More Information Contact:

Aberdeen Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@aberdeenplc.com

SOURCE: Aberdeen Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/closed-end-funds-and-trusts/aberdeen-investments-u.s.-closed-end-funds-announce-distribution-paymen-1025998
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSXV: CDB) (OTCQB: CBDMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") announces changes to the management team as well as to the slate of Board of Directors at the Company's upcoming annual general meeting.

Effective May 9, 2025, Mark Gibson has resigned from his roles as the Company's Chief Operating Officer to pursue other opportunities and has also resigned as a Director of the Company.

The board and management of Cordoba would like to thank Mr. Gibson for his 10 years of valuable contribution to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavours.

Cordoba has received notice from Mark Gibson that he will not be standing for election at the Company's upcoming annual general meeting (the "Meeting"), scheduled to be held on June 9, 2025. Mr. Gibson's withdrawal will not affect the validity of the form of proxy or voting instruction form previously delivered to shareholders in connection with the Meeting, nor any proxy votes already submitted in respect of the other board nominees or in respect of the other resolutions to be put to shareholders for approval at the Meeting. Management will not be issuing a new form of proxy or voting instruction form to reflect the change to the slate of nominees. The Company will disregard any votes cast for or withheld in respect of the election of Mr. Gibson as a director of the Company at the Meeting.

About Cordoba

Cordoba Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of copper and gold projects. Subject to the completion of the Transaction, Cordoba is jointly developing the Alacran Project with JCHX Mining Management Co., Ltd., located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Cordoba also holds a 51% interest in the Perseverance Copper Project in Arizona, USA, which it is exploring through a Joint Venture and Earn-In Agreement. For further information, please visit www.cordobaminerals.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

Sarah Armstrong-Montoya, President and Chief Executive Officer

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements relating to the Alacran Project and the advancement thereof, including the timing of advancement, statements with respect to the Transaction, including the completion of the Transaction and the expected timing of completion, the expected approvals required for the Transaction and Distribution, including the approval of the TSXV, ANLA, and shareholders of Cordoba, the treatment of the existing debt owed by Cordoba to an affiliate of JCHX, the use of proceeds from the Transaction, and the expected benefits from the Transaction. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Cordoba operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include title to mineral property risks; reliability of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates; going concern risks; the availability of capital and financing generally for the development of the Alacran Project; a deterioration of security on site in Colombia or actions by the local community that inhibits access and/or ability to productively work on site; community relations and construction activities; fluctuations in the price of metals and the anticipated future prices of such metals; stock market volatility; unanticipated changes in general business and economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; certain shareholders exercising significant control over the Company; foreign entity risks; loss of key personnel; negative operating cash flow; changes in interest or currency exchange rates; risks related to foreign operation including changes to taxation, social unrest, and changes in national and local government legislation; regulatory risks; uninsured risks; environmental risks; competition; risks related to participation in joint ventures; legal disputes or unanticipated outcomes of legal proceedings; changing global financial conditions; force majeure; conflicts of interest; cyber security incidents; and the potential effects of international conflicts on the Company's business; human error, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251558

SOURCE: Cordoba Minerals Corp.
Reviews 2025 exploration strategy across Freegold Mountain and Andalusite Peak

Advances acquisition strategy targeting high-grade silver assets

Engages Independent Trading Group to improve trading liquidity

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Triumph Gold Corp. (TSXV: TIG) (OTC Pink: TIGCF) (FSE: 8N61) is pleased to provide an operational update as it enters 2025 with a refined exploration focus, strategic growth objectives, and a commitment to responsible development. The Company also announced it has engaged a market maker and granted incentive stock options.

Leadership and Direction

Triumph Gold continues under the leadership of John Anderson, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer. With over 25 years of experience in the capital markets and resource sectors, Anderson has guided the Company since its early days as Northern Freegold.

"We've taken meaningful steps to streamline operations and position the Company for disciplined growth," said Anderson. "With strong core assets, a focused strategy, and improving market conditions for gold and copper, Triumph prepares to enter the second quarter of 2025 ready to pursue opportunities that create long-term value".

Key Assets and Positioning

Freegold Mountain Project

Located in Yukon, the flagship Freegold Mountain Project hosts over 2 million gold equivalent ounces across three mineralized zones, as defined in a 2020 NI 43-101 resource estimate. These deposits provide exposure to high-grade gold, copper, molybdenum, and tungsten at a time of increasing demand for critical minerals.

Andalusite Peak Property

Triumph's Andalusite Peak copper-gold project is located in British Columbia's Golden Horseshoe region, in proximity to major porphyry systems such as Saddle North and Red Chris. The Company plans to advance exploration in 2025 through geochemical surveys and mapping.

Favourable Jurisdictions

All assets are situated in well-established, mining-friendly regions of Yukon and British Columbia, offering stable permitting frameworks and access to infrastructure.

2025 Growth Strategy

Triumph Gold's 2025 strategy centers on project advancement, portfolio expansion, and disciplined exploration:

Strategic Acquisitions

The Company is evaluating potential acquisitions of high-quality silver projects to complement and diversify its current asset base.

Advancing Andalusite Peak

Located in British Columbia's Golden Horseshoe near Newmont's Saddle North and Red Chris projects, the Andalusite Peak property will focus on geochemical surveys and detailed geological mapping in 2025.

Expanding Freegold Mountain Exploration

Triumph will review historical datasets and define new exploration targets outside current resource zones to support potential discoveries.

Commitment to Responsible Development

Triumph Gold is committed to responsible exploration and development. The Company maintains active engagement with First Nations and local communities, recognizes the traditional territories on which its projects are located, and prioritizes environmental stewardship and cultural respect in all exploration activities.

Triumph Engages Independent Trading Group ("ITG") as Market Maker

Triumph Gold announces that subject to regulatory approval, it has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group ("ITG") to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange TSXV, CSE, and Cboe Canada policies. ITG will trade shares of the Company on the CSE/ Cboe Canada/ TSXV and all other trading venues to maintain a reasonable market and improve the liquidity of the Company's common shares.

Under the agreement, ITG will receive compensation of CAD$6,500 per month, payable monthly in advance. The agreement is for an initial term of one month and will renew for additional one-month terms unless terminated. The agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 days' notice. No performance factors are contained in the agreement, and ITG will not receive shares or options as compensation. ITG and the Company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities. At the time of the agreement, neither ITG nor its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company.

Triumph Gold Issues Stock Options

The Company has granted 4,750,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees, and consultants. The options are exercisable at $0.27 per share for a period of five years, with immediate vesting.

The options were granted pursuant to Triumph Gold's rolling stock option plan, which has been approved by shareholders and the TSX Venture Exchange. This issuance is intended to retain and motivate key contributors and align long-term interests with those of shareholders.

Looking Ahead

Triumph Gold is entering 2025 with momentum, a clear strategy, and a commitment to shareholder value. The Company thanks its shareholders for their continued support and looks forward to sharing further updates in the months ahead. For more information or investor inquiries, please email John Anderson, Chairman & Interim CEO, at janderson@triumphgoldcorp.com.

About Triumph Gold Corp.

Triumph Gold is a Canadian-based, growth-oriented exploration and development company with a district-scale land package in the mining-friendly Yukon. Led by an experienced management and technical team, The Company is focused on actively advancing its flagship Freegold Mountain Project using multidiscipline exploration and evaluation techniques.

The road-accessible Freegold Mountain Project, located in the Dawson Range Au-Cu Belt, is host to three NI 43-101 Mineral Deposits (Nucleus, Revenue, and Tinta Hill). The Project is 200 square kilometres and covers an extensive section of the Big Creek Fault Zone, a structure directly related to epithermal gold and silver mineralization and gold-rich porphyry copper mineralization.

The Company owns 100% of the Big Creek and Tad/Toro gold-silver-copper properties situated along the strike of the Freegold Mountain Project within the Dawson Range.

The Company also owns 100% of the Andalusite Peak copper-gold property, 36 km southeast of Dease Lake within the Stikine Range in British Columbia.

Triumph Gold acknowledges the traditional territories of the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation and Selkirk First Nation, on which the Company's Yukon mineral exploration projects are located. Triumph Gold has a longstanding, ongoing engagement with these First Nations through communication, environmental stewardship, and local employment.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities - that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedarplus.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251572

SOURCE: Triumph Gold Corp.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Cardinal Energy Ltd. (TSX: CJ) ("Cardinal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the vote on directors at its annual and special shareholders' meeting held on May 9, 2025 (the "Meeting"). A total of 53,879,300 votes representing 33.72% of the total votes entitled to vote at the Meeting, were voted in connection with the election of directors. The voting results for the six directors nominated for election are set forth in the table below.

Name of Nominee Votes For Percent (%) Votes Withheld Percent (%) M. Scott Ratushny 48,407,561 89.84% 5,471,739 10.16% John A. Brussa 45,540,219 84.52% 8,339,081 15.48% John Gordon 53,150,140 98.65% 729,160 1.35% John Festival 53,664,465 99.60% 214,835 0.40% Stephanie Sterling 51,714,955 95.98% 2,164,345 4.02% Connie Shevkenek 48,926,515 90.81% 4,952,785 9.19%

Connie Shevkenek was elected a new director of Cardinal at the Meeting. Ms. Shevkenek previously served as Vice President, Engineering of Cardinal with her retirement effective May 9, 2025.

Additionally, all other matters put to shareholders were duly passed at the Meeting. For additional details on the voting results with respect to other matters, please refer to the Report of Voting Results which is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Cardinal Energy Ltd.

Cardinal is a Canadian oil and natural gas company with operations focused on low decline oil in Western Canada. Cardinal differentiates itself from its peers by having the lowest decline conventional asset base in Western Canada. Cardinal has commenced its first thermal SAGD oil development project which will further increase the long-term sustainability of the Company.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251540

SOURCE: Cardinal Energy Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - KGL Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KGL.H) ("KGL" or the "Company") is providing supplemental information to assist shareholders in their consideration of the proposed debt settlement with Loncor Gold Inc. ("Loncor") announced in the Company's press release of March 25, 2025 (the "Debt Settlement") and for which additional details are provided in the Company's management information circular dated April 16, 2025 (the "Circular"), which has been filed by the Company on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and made available to shareholders. The matter will be considered at the Company's annual and special shareholders' meeting to be held in Toronto, Canada on Friday, May 30, 2025 (the "Meeting"). Under the Debt Settlement, the Company is proposing to settle $620,000 of indebtedness owing to Loncor for cash loans and advances and interest thereon (the "Loncor Debt") by the issuance of 8,857,142 post-consolidated common shares at a deemed price of $0.07 per share ("Debt Settlement Price") following a proposed 1 for 2 share consolidation (the "Share Consolidation"). The Debt Settlement is subject to completion of the Share Consolidation and all required shareholder and regulatory approvals, including the NEX Board of the TSX Venture Exchange ("NEX"). The Debt Settlement Shares will be subject to a 4-month hold period.

The directors of the Company have been searching for suitable assets or companies to acquire with a view to the re-activation of the Company. It has become evident in this search process that the Loncor Debt must be converted into equity to make the Company more attractive to transaction counterparties. The CEO's of the Company and Loncor undertook discussions regarding the settlement of the Loncor Debt between March 10 and March 23, 2025. The CEO of the Company is an officer of Loncor and therefore the negotiations and discussions were not conducted on an arm's length basis. The parties ultimately agreed on the Debt Settlement Price of $0.07 per share based on the last trading price of the shares on the NEX on March 14, 2025 of $0.035 per share and adjusted for the proposed 1 for 2 Share Consolidation ratio, which Share Consolidation is a condition of the Debt Settlement.

All three of the directors of the Company and all Company officers are directors, officers and/or employees of Loncor and were conflicted in their consideration of the proposed transaction. The directors of the Company approved the proposed Debt Settlement by written consent resolutions dated March 24, 2025 in which their conflicts of interest are disclosed, and subject to required shareholder and regulatory approvals. A debt settlement agreement was entered into by the parties on March 24, 2025 and the proposed transaction was announced by the Company by press release on March 25, 2025.

As all directors and officers of the Company are directors, officers and/or employees of Loncor, Loncor may be considered to be a person that manages or directs, to any substantial degree, the affairs or operations of the Company under an agreement, arrangement or understanding and therefore a "related party" and the Debt Settlement a "related party transaction" as those terms are defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 ("Policy 5.9") . The Debt Settlement is therefore being caried out in accordance with the requirements of MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9. The Debt Settlement will be exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 by virtue of the exemption set out in section 5.5(1)(b), as the Company's securities are not listed on certain specified markets. The Debt Settlement will however, not be exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 and this approval is being sought at the Meeting.

The Company is not aware of any prior valuation made within the 24 month period prior to April 16, 2025 in respect of the Company that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the Debt Settlement.

Shareholders who have already cast a vote on this matter by proxy or provided voting instructions in a Voting Information Form (VIF) and wish to change their vote, should refer to the instructions in the Circular under the heading "Revocation of Proxies".

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251548

SOURCE: KGL Resources Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Pan Global Resources Inc. (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) is pleased to announce the company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London.

121 Mining Investment London will be hosting over 110 mining companies and more than 650 sophisticated investors for two days of pre-arranged, targeted 1-2-1 meetings.

Alongside the curated schedule of pre-booked meetings matching investors with appropriate projects, the conference programme will provide expert commentary and the latest market intelligence on key industry developments.

This year's event is being held on May 12-13.

Any investors who would like to attend 121 Mining Investment London can register for a free pass here.

About 121 Mining Investment

The 121 Mining Investment global event series connects portfolio managers and analysts from institutional funds, private equity groups and family offices with mining company management teams for 1-2-1, private in-person meetings.

121 Mining Investment has an ever-expanding global portfolio, currently covering London, New York, Cape Town, Dubai and Singapore, as well as online editions throughout the year.

About Pan Global Resources Inc.

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Escacena is located near the operating mine at Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage to allow new mine construction to commence. The Escacena Project hosts Pan Global's La Romana copper-tin-silver and Canada Honda copper-gold discoveries, and a number of other prospective targets, including Bravo, Barbacena, La Pantoja, El Pozo, Romana Norte, San Pablo, Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, and Cortijo. A longer-term goal is to define 100 million tonnes of copper resources from a cluster of deposits in the Project area, comparable to other mine operations in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The Carmenes Project is located approx. 55km north of Leon in northern Spain and comprises five Investigation Permits over 5,653 hectares. The Project area is highly prospective for multiple bodies or "clusters" of carbonate-hosted "pipe-like" breccia style copper, nickel, cobalt, and gold mineralization. The area includes the former Profunda and Providencia mines that last operated in the 1930s, producing concentrates of copper and cobalt with nickel. Numerous other smaller historical mine workings in the area highlight potential for additional breccia pipes. These types of deposits can have significant vertical dimensions exceeding 1km. Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one low-risk jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact.

SOURCE: 121 Mining Investment Conference
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Kovo+ Holdings Inc. (formerly Kovo HealthTech Corporation) (TSXV: KOVO) ("Kovo" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a second amendment agreement (the "Amendment Agreement") with Vantage Business Management Services ("Vantage"), whereby it agreed to make certain amendments to a Secured Promissory Note dated January 21, 2021 (the "Original Note") as amended by way of Amendment No. 1 to the Original Note dated November 8, 2021 (the "First Amendment" and together with the Original Note, the "Note").

Amendment

Under the Amendment Agreement, the parties amended the Note to provide for, among other things, an extended term for a 5-year period expiring April 28, 2030. The indebtedness owing thereunder will be made in 20 quarterly installments, with the first payment due June 30, 2025, and each installment due on the last day of each quarter thereafter. Commencing May 1, 2025, the outstanding principal amount (USD$195,586.76) bears interest at a rate of four percent (4%) per annum, calculated monthly and compounded annually.

No new security has been granted in favour of the lender in connection with the Amendment Agreement, and the loan is secured by the existing security granted and perfected pursuant to a pledge agreement entered into concurrently with the First Amendment to provide the lender with security for the repayment of amounts due under the Note. The other terms, as set out in the Note, remain unchanged.

Related Party Transaction

Vantage is a "related party" of the Company, and the Note, entering into of the Amendment Agreement and matters relating thereto (the "Transactions") are considered to be "related party transactions" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") requiring Kovo, in the absence of exemptions, to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval, of the related party transactions. Pursuant to Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, the Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, respectively, as no securities of the Company are listed or quoted on certain specified exchanges and neither the fair market value of the subject matter nor the consideration for the Note or the amendments thereto, insofar as it involves the insider, exceeds 25 percent of the Company's market capitalization.

The Transactions were approved by members of the board of directors ("Board") who were independent for the purposes thereof, being all directors other than Mr. Peter Bak. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, Vantage, has knowledge of any material information concerning the Company or its securities that has not been generally disclosed. No special committee of the Board was established in connection with the Transactions as the entire Board was engaged in respect thereof, and, other than Mr. Bak, who abstained from voting on the Transactions, no materially contrary view or abstention was expressed or made by any director of the Company in relation thereto.

Neither the Company nor any director or senior officer of the Company has knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of any prior valuation in respect of the Company that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the Transactions, which has been made in the 24 months prior to the date of this news release. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing as the details of the Transactions were not finalized until immediately prior to its issuance, and the Company wished to close the Transactions as soon as practicable for sound business reasons.

About Kovo+ Holdings Inc.

Kovo is a versatile technology company leading the charge in AI initiatives to drive impact and innovation across diverse industries. Kovo remains committed to its core business-model of strategic growth opportunities within mid-market Medical Billing firms, where exploitive business optimization synergies exist. Moving forward, Kovo will integrate accretive broader healthcare sector additions to its portfolio and opportunities beyond in multiple new markets. Dedicated to revolutionizing business process optimization through technological advancements and evolving AI-applied methods, Kovo embodies a commitment to ensured and enduring profitability. To learn more about Kovo and to keep up to date on Kovo news, visit www.kovoplus.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided to inform the Company's shareholders and potential investors about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of factors and assumptions that have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251589

SOURCE: Kovo+ Holdings Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) -Intrepid Metals Corp. (TSXV: INTR) (OTCQB: IMTCF) ("Intrepid" or the "Company") announces that, subject to regulatory approval, it has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group ("ITG") under the terms of a Market Making Services Agreement (the "Agreement") to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") policies. ITG will trade shares of the Company on the TSXV and all other trading venues with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of the Company's common shares.

Under the Agreement, ITG will receive compensation of CAD$7,500 per month, payable monthly in advance. The Agreement is for an initial term of one month and will renew for additional one-month terms unless terminated. The Agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 days' notice. There are no performance factors contained in the Agreement and ITG will not receive shares or options as compensation. ITG and the Company are arm's length, unrelated and unaffiliated entities and at the time of the Agreement, neither ITG nor its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company. The Company will fund the compensation under the Agreement from its cash on hand.

About Independent Trading Group

Independent Trading Group (ITG) Inc. is a Toronto based CIRO dealer-member that specializes in market making, liquidity provision, agency execution, ultra-low latency connectivity, and bespoke algorithmic trading solutions. Established in 1992, with a focus on market structure, execution and trading, ITG has leveraged its own proprietary technology to deliver high quality liquidity provision and execution services to a broad array of public issuers and institutional investors. ITG's head office is located at 33 Yonge Street, Suite 420, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1G4.

About Intrepid Metals Corp.

Intrepid Metals Corp. is a Canadian company focused on exploring for high-grade essential metals such as copper, silver, and zinc mineral projects in proximity to established mining jurisdictions in southeastern Arizona, USA. The Company has acquired or has agreements to acquire several drill ready projects, including the Corral Copper Project (a district scale advanced exploration and development opportunity with significant shallow historical drill results), the Tombstone South Project (within the historical Tombstone mining district with geological similarities to the Taylor Deposit, which was purchased for $1.3B in 20181, though mineralization at the Taylor Deposit is not necessarily indicative of the mineral potential at the Tombstone South Project) both of which are located in Cochise County, Arizona and the Mesa Well Project (located in the Laramide Copper Porphyry Belt in Arizona). Intrepid has assembled an exceptional team with considerable experience with exploration, developing, and permitting new projects within North America. Intrepid is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) under the symbol "INTR" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "IMTCF". For more information, visit www.intrepidmetals.com.

INTREPID METALS CORP.

On behalf of the Company

"Ken Engquist"

CEO

Notes

1 Details regarding the sale of the Taylor Deposit can be found in South32 News Release dated October 8, 2018 (South32 completes acquisition of Arizona Mining).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate to: the advancement of the Company's projects in Arizona; continued growth and the exploration potential of the Company's other mineral projects.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the Company can raise additional financing to continue operations and complete an additional drill program; the results of exploration activities, commodity prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the availability of labour and materials, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to the failure to access financing, risks relating to changes in commodity prices, risk related to unanticipated geological or structural formations and characteristics risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions and the impact of any future global pandemic on the Company's business, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of exploration and development activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes and cave-ins, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251459

SOURCE: Intrepid Metals Corp.
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") announces that Kevin Puil has stepped down from the Company's Board of Directors and announces the appointment of Mr. Casey Spreeuw to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") effective today.

Walter Berukoff, Chairman of Lion One's Board of Directors and President of the Company, commented "On behalf of the Board and the Company's management team we wish to thank Mr. Puil for his service and contributions to the Company since 2013. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and we welcome Casey Spreeuw to the Lion One Board."

Mr. Spreeuw is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 35 years' experience in business accounting and the securities industry. From 1989 to 2001 he was a Financial and Business Operations Compliance Examiner with the Vancouver Stock Exchange, becoming the Chief Examiner before transitioning to the Investment Dealers Association of Canada. From 2001 to 2006 he was based in Amsterdam as Manager of Accounting with Unsworth & Associates BV which provided corporate and directorship services to Canadian and international corporate clients. Returning to Canada he remained active in the securities industry as Chief Financial Officer of Sora Group Wealth Advisors Inc., Jordan Capital Markets Inc., GF Securities (Canada) Company, Limited, and most recently Vered Wealth Management (Canada) Company, Limited. He continues to work with the Red Lion Group of companies as its accountant.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in accounting from the University of British Columbia, a Diploma of Technology in Computer Systems from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and earned his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in 1989.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Walter Berukoff, Chairman & President

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251592

SOURCE: Lion One Metals Limited
MUNICH, DE / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Mynaric AG (OTC PINK:MYNAY)(MOYFF) (ISIN: US62857X1019) (FRA:M0YN) (ISIN: DE000A31C305) (the "Company") announces the early disbursement of up to USD 10.5 million from the already agreed USD 25 million restructuring facility by its existing lenders due to delays in StaRUG proceedings.

On February 7, 2025, the Company had announced, among other things, that it resolved on commencing restructuring proceedings in accordance with the German Corporate Stabilization and Restructuring Act (Gesetz uber den Stabilisierungs- und Restrukturierungsrahmen fur Unternehmen) ("StaRUG") and on a loan agreement with its U.S.-based lenders CO FINANCE II LVS I LLC and OC III LVS LIII LP (the "U.S. Lenders") pursuant to which the U.S. Lenders agreed to provide restructuring loans in the amount of USD 25 million (the "Restructuring Facility") to cover expected capital needs to support the Company's production plan and to fund its ongoing operations in accordance with its restructuring plan. The Company submitted the final restructuring plan to the competent restructuring court in Munich in March 2025. The court today set the discussion and voting meeting (Erorterungs- und Abstimmungstermin) for May 28, 2025. The Company expects the StaRUG proceedings to close in late Q2/2025 or the first of half of Q3/2025.

To secure its current operational and working capital needs, the Company today entered into an amendment to the Restructuring Facility, pursuant to which the U.S. Lenders agreed to disburse loans under the Restructuring Facility in a total amount of up to USD 10.5 million earlier than initially contemplated (the "Early Payout Loans"). The Early Payout Loans are in addition to the USD 95 million loans and the USD 49.5 million bridge loans that the U.S. Lenders provided in the past.

The Restructuring Facility (including the Early Payout Loans) will be provided to the Company and guaranteed by each of its subsidiaries and bears interest at a rate of 8% p.a. The disbursement of the Early Payout Loans is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the execution of a guarantee agreement by the Company and each of its subsidiaries. The Company expects to satisfy such conditions and have the Early Payout Loans fully available by May 12, 2025. The Restructuring Facility (including the Early Payout Loans) will mature on December 31, 2028 and may be terminated early upon, among other things, certain customary events of default.

The disbursement of the Early Payout Loans will accordingly reduce the remaining available commitments under the Restructuring Facility. The availability of the remainder is subject to the satisfaction of certain further conditions, including the approval of the restructuring plan and the grant of security. The Company expects to satisfy such conditions and all other applicable conditions.

In connection with the amendments to the Restructuring Facility to allow for the disbursement of the Early Payout Loans, the Company agreed to certain additional restrictive covenants vis-a-vis the U.S. Lenders, including the operation of its and its subsidiaries' businesses in the ordinary course of business and the retention of the status quo of their operations until the closing of the sale of the U.S. Lenders' future interest in the Company. The Company learned from a press release published by Rocket Lab USA, Inc. on March 11, 2025 that Rocket Lab and the U.S. Lenders had entered into a non-binding term sheet regarding the U.S. Lenders' future interest in the Company subject to the execution of definitive agreements, the completion of the StaRUG restructuring and the receipt of regulatory approvals. The Company is not party to the term sheet or the definitive agreements.

About Mynaric

Mynaric (OTC: MYNAY, MYOYFF) (FRA: M0YN) is leading the industrial revolution of laser communications by producing optical communications terminals for air, space and mobile applications. Laser communication networks provide connectivity from the sky, allowing for ultra-high data rates and secure, long-distance data transmission between moving objects for wireless terrestrial, mobility, airborne- and space-based applications. The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with additional locations in Los Angeles, California, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit mynaric.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical or current facts contained in this release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, industry dynamics, business strategy and plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements represent our opinions, expectations, assumptions, beliefs, intentions, estimates or strategies regarding the future, which may not be realized. Forward looking statements are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "look forward to," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target" "will," "would" and/or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements included in this release are based largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or are beyond our control, and actual results may differ materially from those expected or implied as forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to (i) the impact of any geopolitical tensions on the global economy, our industry and markets as well as our business, (ii) risks related to our limited operating history, our history of significant losses and the execution of our business strategy, (iii) risks related to our ability to successfully manufacture and deploy our products and risks related to serial production of our products, (iv) risks related to our sales cycle which can be long and complicated, (v) risks related to our limited experience with order processing, our dependency on third-party suppliers and external procurement risks, (vi) risks related to defects or performance problems in our products, (vii) effects of competition and the development of the market for laser communication technology in general, (viii) risks related to our ability to manage future growth effectively and to obtain sufficient financing for the operations and ongoing growth of our business, (ix) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information, (x) risks related to our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights and (xi) changes in regulatory requirements, governmental incentives and market developments. Moreover, new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. We caution you therefore against relying on these forward-looking statements, and we qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Unless required under applicable law, neither we nor any other person undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or otherwise. You should read this release with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may materially differ from what we expect.

This release may include certain financial measures not presented in accordance with IFRS. Such financial measures are not measures of financial performance in accordance with IFRS and may exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing our financial results. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to loss for the period or other measures of profitability, liquidity or performance under IFRS. You should be aware that our presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, which may be defined and calculated differently.

Company:







Phone:

E-mail: Mynaric AG

Bertha-Kipfmuller-Str. 2-8

81249 Munchen

Germany

+49 8105 7999 0

comms@mynaric.com

SOURCE: Mynaric AG

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/electronics-and-engineering/mynaric-to-receive-early-partial-disbursement-of-restructuring-loans-du-1026152
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2025) - SILICON METALS CORP. (CSE: SI) (FSE: X6U) (OTC Pink: SLCNF) ("Silicon Metals" or the "Company") announces that it has terminated the property option agreement with Eastfield Resources Ltd. dated December 21, 2020, as amended (the "Option Agreement"). The Option Agreement granted the Company the right to earn a 60% interest in the Hedge Hog property, located approximately 15 kilometres north of the town of Wells in the Cariboo Mining Division of British Columbia.

"As we continue to refine our strategic priorities, the decision to step back from the Hedge Hog project allows us to concentrate our efforts and capital on our other core projects with strong potential for near-term value creation," said Morgan Good, CEO of Silicon Metals. "We remain committed to advancing our portfolio and identifying high-impact opportunities aligned with our exploration and development objectives."

The Company extends its appreciation to Eastfield Resources Ltd. for its collaboration during the term of the Option Agreement.

About Silicon Metals Corp.

Silicon Metals Corp. is currently focused on exploration in western Canada, namely British Columbia. The Company holds an undivided 100% right, title and interest in the Ptarmigan Silica Project located approximately 130km from Prince George, British Columbia. The Company has also acquired an undivided 100% right, title, and interest in both the Silica Ridge Silica Project located approximately 70kms southeast from the town of MacKenzie, British Columbia, as well as the Longworth Silica Project located approximately 85km East from Prince George, British Columbia.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

SILICON METALS CORP.

"Morgan Good"

Morgan Good

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements that the Company's existing projects have strong potential for near-term valuation creation; and that the Company remains committed to advancing its portfolio and identifying high-impact opportunities aligned with its exploration and development objectives.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that management's expectations regarding the Company's existing projects will prove to be accurate; and the Company will carry out its business plans as disclosed and will advance its portfolio as disclosed.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that management's expectations regarding the Company's existing projects will prove to be inaccurate and the exploration thereof will not result in near-term value creation; that the Company's business plans will change and the Company will fail to remain committed to advancing its portfolio and identifying high-impact opportunities aligned with its exploration and development objectives; and unanticipated costs. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251489

SOURCE: Silicon Metals Corp.
Retail Media IQ, a Warsaw, Poland-based company using AI for clients retail advertising programs, raised $200K in Pre-Seed funding.

Backers were not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by CEO and Founder Mateusz Drela, Retail Media IQ uses AI to assess which elements of a clients retail ad program have an impact on revenue across online sales outlet. It then applies those practices in real time, where appropriate, across the clients entire account list.

The company focuses on the online retail media market, including Amazon, Walmart, and dozens of vertical retailers such as Chewy.com, CVS.com, and HomeDepot.com. It also recently added to its Board of Directors the former head of pricing at Walmart and Amazon EU, Philip Carls

Retail Media IQ also has an office in California.

FinSMEs

09/05/2025
by Mark Harvey

If the ruler is upright, all will go well even though he gives no orders; but if he is not upright, even though he gives orders they will not be obeyed. Confucious Analects 13:6

Pluck a squirming chicken feather by feather; it wont become obvious until its too late. Attributed to Benito Mussolini

In a recent interview, when asked if she was still proud of her American citizenship with all thats happening in the US today, the Chilean author Isabel Allende, was vehement: I am disgusted with a lot of stuff that is happening today, and I am willing to stand and work to make this country what it should be. I want this country to be compassionate and open and generous and happy as it has always been.

Given that Allende lived much of her life in exile from her native Chile after the military coup in 1973, I was not surprised to hear her passion for a better America and her willingness to stand up and fight for it. In the same interview, Allende describes the heartbreak of leaving everything behind to escape Chiles dictatorship. Narrating the flight from Santiago to her new home in Venezuela in the 1970s, she said, I do remember the moment when I crossed the Andes in the plane. I cried in the plane, because I knew somehow instinctively that this was a threshold, that everything had changed.

But perhaps the paramount statement Allende makes in the interview given the chaos and cruelty wrought on America by this administration is this:

Although things happened very quickly in Chile, we got to know the consequences slowly, because they dont affect you personally immediately. Of course, there were people who were persecuted and affected immediately, but most of the population wasnt. So you think: Well, I can live with this. Well, it cant be that bad. So you are in denial for a long time, because you dont want things to change so much. And then one day it hits you personally.

What Ive noticed in recent reading is that some of the people most alarmed by the undisguised fascism of President Trump and his minions are immigrants who have witnessed the speed with which authoritarian movements can seize a nation by its throat: immigrants who fled tyrants for the promised freedom of the United States. The corollary is how lethargic and oblivious many native-born Americans are to the recent violations of our institutions, our morals, and our image in the world. Aesop is fairly shouting through the ages for us to quit being stupid lambs trusting the hungry wolvesto quit being the lazy grasshoppers with winter coming.

Another exile who is trying to wake up the American populus and stir it into action is Gary Kasparov, who was possibly the best chess player everand who had a frightening ability to see several moves ahead. Kasparov has repeatedly warned us that the phalanx of American tyrants in the current administration has us headed toward a fascist state. The chess prodigee, who grew up in the former USSR, tried to fight Putins consolidation of power, and eventually fled what is now Russia after watching his country lose the battle to become a working democracy.

In an interview printed in The Washington Post last October describing fascists, Kasparov said, They will slowly but surely undermine the very institutions meant to limit their power. And without a concerted effort, many in business and media will bend the knee.

Like the grandmaster he was on the board, Kasparov has been ahead of the crowd in predicting the pull of fascism in the United States. Even before Trump was elected, he noted businesses preemptively bending the knee to his style of authoritarianism as if sidling up would work for their companies.

They think they can buy the dictator, Kasparov said in the same interview. But theres always a higher bidder. They think they can learn to live with the dictator. But there are no patterns of behavior to study. Just arbitrary abuse.

There are few better ways to describe our nations course right now than slouching toward fascism. Readers of poetry recognize the image from W.B. Yeats poem The Second Coming where he wrote, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? Like all good poetry, the image is evocative and corporeal. Yeats wrote the poem after WWI when the world was in chaos and from what I read, he meant the poem to signal the end of a long era of progress and a return to rough chaos and violence.

The late social critic Wilhelm Reich, author of The Mass Psychology of Fascism, wrote,

Fascist mentality is the mentality of the little man, who is enslaved and craves authorityThis little man has studied the big mans behavior all too well, and he reproduces it in a distorted and grotesque fashion.when he is seen puffing himself up and has his chops full of slogans, let him be asked quietly and simply in public: What are you doing in a practical way to feed the nation?

Trumps attempts at being the big man resemble all his previous commercial efforts: showy, cheap, and cruel. And his style of despotism runs thick through the administration. One of the most obscene emblems of his government is Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the woman who shows up in a different costume every week: border guard, firefighter, coast guard member, and ICE agent. With her words and her seemingly endless supply of costumes, Noem has become Fascist Barbie. To accessorize the mean-girl doll, the package includes cowboy hats, assault rifles, flak jackets, and bigotry in pink.

There is a recent video of Noem standing in front of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador. Behind her and behind steel bars, there are dozens of shirtless and shaved prisoners packed tightly into one cell. The prison is notorious for its harsh treatment of inmates. Prisoners are allowed about seven square feet of space, not allowed to go outdoors, not allowed visitation, and not even allowed utensils.

In the video, Noem is wearing a sixty-thousand-dollar Rolex watch and dressed in a tight white T shirt that has to be considered provocative in front of the prisoners. Her pose standing there before the inhumanely treated men is obsceneall of it. Im not a puritan who wants to dictate how women dress, but in those circumstances, her watch and her t-shirt are flagrantly insulting to the gravity of the situation. She with her garish ways is the perfect totem for the Trump administration: the clip-on-tie version of despotism.

Im sure there are some bad men in the El Salvador prisonbut as weve learned there are some innocent men there too. And the illegal deportations by the Trump administration of Venezuelans to the prison, along with the accidental deportation of a Maryland man protected under US law highlights a few bright lights in this national nightmarecourageous judges.

In our three-branch system of government, the only branch that can check Trumps Gadarene moves to destroy our country, is the judiciary. While Congress is meant to be a check as well, it is dominated by sycophants and cowards. Thus, Americans paying attention to trifling things like the rights protected under the First, Fifth and Fourteenth amendments have a close eye on the judiciary, from the district courts to the Supreme Court.

One courageous judge is James Boasberg, chief judge for the District Court of Columbia. Nominated by President George W Bush and promoted by President Obama, Boasberg is considered to be a moderate. When the Trump administration began to fly hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvadors CECOT prison without any due processwhere they would likely rot without a trial to the end of their livesThe American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a class action suit in Boasbergs court.

The planes carrying the prisoners were already en route when the judge ordered that the deportations be stopped. Trumps team ignored the judges orders claiming that that judges had no jurisdiction out of US airspace.

The day after Boasbergs order, and by the time the Venezuelans were imprisoned at CECOT, Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, posted a message on Twitter that said, Oopsietoo late along with the laughing-with-tears emoji. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, reposted the message (remember that the next time Rubio runs for anything).

In effect, a couple of hundred men were plucked off the street, put into airplanes with no hearing or anything resembling due process, and sent to a third-party prison where they will likely spend the rest of their lives. At CECOT they are not allowed communication with their families or lawyers. According to Sixty Minutes, an overwhelming number of the men deported had no connection to gangs and no criminal recordor even criminal charges.

Its worth taking a moment to consider the parallels between the flights to El Salvador and the days of the 1930s and 1940s when Hitler began mass deportations of Jews to the death camps in Poland. The modes of transportation were differentone by railroad, the other by airplanebut otherwise, isnt our government replicating one of the most despicable acts in history? Arent both just rounding up groups of people based on scant or no justification and shipping them off to camps where theyll disappear?

Of course, real Americans will never be treated this way, right?

Returning to the case filed by the ACLU, and the sometimes heroics of our judiciary, Judge Boasberg didnt relent, calling the governments response woefully insufficient and stated, I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order and who ordered this. He gave the administration until April 23 to take custody of the deportees. Of course the administration ignored that order too.

While Boasberg should be cited for his courage and decency, certain members of Congress have introduced bills to have him impeached. Representative Bill Brandon of Texas introduced HR 229 saying the judge violated his oath by interfering with the Presidents constitutional prerogatives and enforcement of the rule of law. Congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona followed that a few days later with a resolution to remove Boasberg from the bench for violating the Good Behavior clause of the Constitution.

One thing I know is that history will treat Boasberg kindly while the goons truly violating the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution will earn the disgrace that they deserve.

Our nation is in crisis, certainly the biggest crisis in my lifetime and arguably the most destabilizing time since the Civil War. If we let a failed businessman and inveterate liar (who happens to be the president) take this country further down this ruinous path, well have no one to blame but ourselves.

Obviously the course this nation takes over the next few months will most severely affect the young who are just entering their civic lives. While some of Americas youth is dissenting, too many are watching the drift toward authoritarianism in a lethargic haze. Letsall of ustake heed of the experience and wisdom of Isabel Allende and Gary Kasparov, two dissidents and exiles who suffered terribly when their own native countries fell to despots.

One thing I always admired about my father was that nearly the moment the US entered World War II, he joined the air force and dispatched to the South Pacific as a flight surgeon. Like most men of his generation, he didnt like to talk about any heroics, but he held a visceral disgust for fascism his entire adult life. I share that with him.

Our predecessors laid down their lives to fight fascism and liberate Europe. For decades we were seen as just that: liberators. Now we need to liberate ourselves before its too late.

Lets step this up, my good fellow Americans! For most of us, running to Canada or anywhere else is an impractical fantasy. Lets meet these clownish, posturing, compensating thugs on the field. Working as one, we can win.
California continues to lead the nation in investment fraud losses, with residents losing nearly $984 million in 2023 alone.

This figure is almost three times higher than the next closest state, Texas. The average loss per victim in California reached $183,856, and the state reported 13.7 victims per 100,000 residents, the second-highest rate in the country. Major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego have become hotspots for these schemes, often involving fraudulent tech startups, cryptocurrency scams, and Ponzi operations.

In this challenging environment, California securities law experts fighting for investors play a crucial role in safeguarding financial interests. These professionals offer strategic legal guidance to help victims navigate the complexities of securities fraud cases. By leveraging their extensive knowledge of state and federal regulations, they work diligently to recover losses and hold perpetrators accountable. Engaging with such experts can provide the necessary support to restore financial stability and confidence.

What Is Securities Fraud?

Securities fraud refers to misleading investors using deceptive practices and cheating them of their money. It can take the form of insider trading, Ponzi schemes, or a fake report regarding a companys financial growth. These actions cause investors to lose large amounts of money.

Legal professionals specializing in securities law are trained to detect and provide remedies for fraudulent transactions. They have the expertise to dissect complicated financial transactions and misconduct. They play an essential role in safeguarding investors from fraudulent entities.

Securities Law Experts Operating in the Background

Securities law experts are attorneys whose work relates to the regulation of investments. They are concerned with ensuring investors are treated fairly, and their rights are protected. Such professionals are trained to deal with cases that involve complex financial transactions and acts of deceit.

Lawyers work with investors to obtain evidence, build cases, and represent their clients in court proceedings. They help people face legal challenges and fight to protect their best interests. In so doing, they serve the victims of fraud and offer a public service.

Identifying Fraudulent Schemes

Fraud schemes can be tricky to catch, but they are not impossible to predict based on movements in financial markets. Enlisting the help of securities law experts trained to detect warning signs and red flags is essential. These lawyers review financial documents, communications, and transactions to identify deception. They consider all these elements to conclude whether the investors losses are a product of fraud. This is essential to making a case for justice for defrauded investors and perpetrators.

Cases and Counsel

Securities attorneys help investors navigate the law when fraud is detected. This may include litigation, negotiation, or court representation. These experts excel at presenting proof and arguments. Their main objective is to ensure investors are compensated for their losses. By holding fraudulent actors accountable, they restore confidence in financial and money markets and prevent future misconduct.

Recovery and Compensation

Securities law practitioners aim to secure compensation for defrauded investors. The team works around the clock to recover funds and make settlements. Achieving this may take a long time and a lot of work, but their commitment is solid. They work to obtain monetary compensation for their clients via negotiation and litigation. Not only do they help recover lost funds, but they also provide a sense of justice and closure for fraud victims.

Ensure Investor Confidence

These professionals build investor confidence as they help combat fraud and advocate for justice. By exposing fraudulent schemes, they pave the way to a more transparent and secure investment ecosystem. Their work gives investors confidence that professionals are looking out for them. This gives people the confidence to invest because there are shields against fraud.

Education and Prevention

Aside from their advocacy work, securities law experts frequently participate in educational efforts. They aim to educate investors on how to identify fraud. As a result, they help investors make well-informed choices and protect them from scams. Fraud can be managed primarily via prevention. Through public education, securities law experts help ensure that the investing public is wise, making future cases of fraud less likely. Learning to identify safe investments can also help reduce fraud.

Conclusion

Partnerships with securities law experts can greatly benefit defrauded investors. These experts play an important role in keeping the investment environment healthy and transparent by cracking down on fraudulent schemes and pursuing justice. With their skills, these experts offer indispensable services protecting investors and helping to build faith in financial markets. Securities law professionals offer hope and financial recovery for those affected by schemes through no fault of their own.
Amid flaring tensions between India and Pakistan, several states, including the national capital New Delhi, have been placed on high alert. While ATMs, banks and petrol pumps remain open, schools, colleges and airports across various cities, especially those in the border states, have been shut. Heres the complete list read more

Amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan, several states, including the national capital New Delhi, now on high alert. Reuters

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated rapidly after the Pakistani Army resorted to unprovoked cross-border firing in multiple areas across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan on Thursday, which was met with a befitting response from the Indian armed forces.

As the situation intensified, several border states were forced to ramp up security measures after Pakistan tried to attack three military bases in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, along with other key installations in J&K, Punjab and Rajasthan.

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Fortunately, the Indian Army successfully thwarted the attempted strikes. In retaliation, India carried out strategic operations targeting cities like Islamabad, Sialkot, and Lahore.

Catch India-Pakistan LIVE Updates .

With several states, including the national capital New Delhi, now placed on high alert, heres a comprehensive look at whats open, whats shutand where.

Offices

In a bid to tighten security and maintain administrative readiness, several states have cancelled all leaves for government staff and police personnel.

In Punjab, all police officers and government employees have been asked to report on duty without exception. Leaves should be granted only in special circumstances with the approval of the competent authority, an order from the Punjab DGPs office stated, citing administrative reasons for the move starting May 7.

Following Punjabs lead, Rajasthan and Gujarat also cancelled leaves for police forces and administrative staff posted near the International Border. West Bengal, Bihar, and Haryana have now joined the list, taking similar precautionary measures.

Security was heightened across theDelhi, with additional forces, including paramilitary personnel, deployed at key installations. PTI

The Delhi government followed suit on Thursday, announcing that all employee leaves stand cancelled until further notice. The decision, issued by the Services Department late evening, in view of the prevailing situation and preparedness for any emergency.

Some private offices in Delhi-NCR were also given an option to work from home, if it felt unsafe to step out, reported The Times of India.

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Schools, Colleges & Institutions

In response to rising tensions, several states have shut down educational institutions as a precautionary measure.

In Punjab, all schools, colleges, and universities have been ordered to remain closed for three days. Schools in Chandigarh are also shut.

In Rajasthan, schools across border districts such as Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Barmer have been closed until further notice.

Jammu and Kashmir has declared a two-day closure for all educational institutions on May 9 and 10. The Union Territory of Leh has also suspended school activities for the same period.

Mock drills for preparedness were conducted across various schools in India as tensions rise with neighbouring Pakistan. AFP

Haryana has shut down schools across the state, including in districts like Panchkula. Himachal Pradesh has imposed closures specifically in the Una district.

In the national capital region, several schoolssuch as DPS branches in R K Puram, East of Kailash, and Vasant Viharopted for voluntary closure on Friday. Some others shifted to online mode as a precaution.

In West Bengal, including Kolkata, some schools have advanced their summer vacations and shut down from May 9, ahead of their scheduled break, given the prevailing situation.

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Exams postponed

In light of the escalating tensions, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced the postponement of several upcoming exams scheduled for May 2025.

The affected papers include the remaining exams for the CA Final, Intermediate, and the Post Qualification Course (PQC) in International Taxation. Additionally, the International Taxation  Assessment Test (INTTAT), a four-hour paper under the PQC, has also been deferred until further notice.

Petrol Pumps, ATMs and banks

Amid circulating rumours, authorities have clarified that essential services like ATMs, banks, and petrol pumps will remain operational across the country.

A fake WhatsApp message claiming a nationwide ATM shutdown for the next 23 days was debunked earlier today by a PIB fact check, confirming that all ATM services will function as usual.

Are ATMs closed



A viral #WhatsApp message claims ATMs will be closed for 23 days.



 This Message is FAKE



 ATMs will continue to operate as usual



 Don't share unverified messages.#IndiaFightsPropaganda pic.twitter.com/BXfzjjFpzD  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

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Bank branches, too, will continue regular operations and are not affected by the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions. Any closures this week will be limited to pre-declared regional holidays and festivals as per the RBI calendar.

Petrol pumps across India also remain open. Indian Oil, in a tweet, urged citizens to avoid panic buying and assured that there is no shortage of fuel. Ample fuel stocks are available across the country and supply lines are operating smoothly, the company said.

#IndianOil has ample fuel stocks across the country and our supply lines are operating smoothly.



There is no need for panic buyingfuel and LPG is readily available at all our outlets.



Help us serve you better by staying calm and avoiding unnecessary rush. This will keep our  Indian Oil Corp Ltd (@IndianOilcl) May 9, 2025

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Airports and trains

In a major move, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has temporarily suspended civil flight operations at 24 airports across the country amid heightened tensions. Key airfields impacted include Chandigarh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Bhuj, and Jammu. However, major hubs like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai continue to operate normally.

Also read: India-Pakistan tensions: Which airports in India are closed? Is it safe to travel now?

To ensure enhanced vigilance, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed all airports and airlines to bolster their security arrangements. Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have advised travellers to arrive early at operational airports due to extended security checks.

Rail services near sensitive border areas have also been affected. As per a list from NDTV, multiple trains have either been cancelled, partially cancelled, or rescheduled in view of the situation.

Cancelled:

-Train No. 14895  Bhagat ki Kothi to Barmer

-Train No. 14896  Barmer to Bhagat ki Kothi

-Train No. 04880  Munabav to Barmer

-Train No. 54881  Barmer to Munabav

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Partially Cancelled:

-Train No. 12468  Jaipur to Jaisalmer (short terminated at Bikaner)

-Train No. 12467  Jaisalmer to Jaipur (originating from Bikaner)

Rescheduled:

-Train No. 14661  Barmer to Jammu Tawi

-Train No. 74840  Barmer to Bhagat ki Kothi

-Train No. 15013  Jaisalmer to Kathgodam

-Train No. 14807  Jodhpur to Dadar

-Train No. 14864  Jodhpur to Varanasi

Public Transport

Security has been significantly intensified across transport hubs in the national capital, especially at metro stations.

As part of ongoing anti-terror measures, the police conducted a thorough security inspection at the Mayur Vihar Phase-1 Metro Station, a vital public installation, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Abhishek Dhania. He added that CISF personnel were briefed and a special coordination meeting was held during the inspection.

Currently, 41 CCTV cameras are functional at the station, with seven male and two female CISF personnel deployed per shift to ensure continuous surveillance and safety.

Heightened security checks have also been extended to other public spaces, including malls, markets, hotels, and residential colonies, as precautionary measures.

With input from agencies
India successfully intercepted Pakistani missiles, drones and loitering munitions launched across four border states late Thursday. Operation Sindoors earlier retaliatory airstrikes on terror camps were met with escalation from Pakistan, but Indias swift military response, blackouts in sensitive zones and strategic retaliation ensured minimal damage read more

Military personnel with Indian Army stand guard at India Gate in New Delhi, India, May 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Indias western borders saw a high-intensity military escalation between late Thursday evening and early Friday as Pakistani forces launched coordinated air strikes drone attacks, and artillery shelling across Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab.

In a swift and calibrated response, India successfully neutralised all threats using its air defence systems, kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities and reportedly naval operations, while enforcing security measures including widespread blackouts in vulnerable regions.

There was also reported use of loitering munitions by Pakistan as well as air incursions across these states.

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According to reports, the sequence of events began around 8:30 pm on Thursday when Pakistani forces initiated air and drone strikes targeting both civilian and military areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

This came just a day after India had carried out targeted airstrikes under Operation Sindoor on terror camps situated in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22.

How Pakistani missiles and drones were neutralised

Pakistans offensive included heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), airstrikes on Jammu, kamikaze drone deployments over Rajasthans Jaisalmer, and incursions near Sir Creek in Gujarat.

Critical military installations in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were specifically targeted using Pakistani-origin drones and munitions.

Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin #drones and missiles along the International Border in J&K today, said the Ministry of Defence in an official statement on X, formerly Twitter.

The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with the established standard operating procedures (SOPs). No casualties or material losses were reported. India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people.

Eight missiles were aimed at strategic locations in RS Pura, Arnia, Samba and Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir  all areas with significant military presence. Every one of these missiles was successfully intercepted by Indias advanced air defence systems.

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Blackouts imposed in border areas

As missiles and drones lit up the skies, authorities imposed emergency blackouts in multiple border areas to reduce visibility for enemy aircraft and drones. Loud explosions rocked Jammu just before 9 pm, followed by the wail of sirens and a sudden blackout.

Local residents, shocked by the noise and sudden darkness, captured cellphone videos showing bright flashes and projectiles being intercepted mid-air by Indias defence systems.

The blackout extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir to areas in Punjab including Chandigarh, Ferozepur, Mohali and Gurdaspur.

In Rajasthan and Gujarat, precautionary blackouts were also ordered in select regions, especially where military infrastructure was located. Cellphone services went down in parts of Jammu, making communication difficult for many residents attempting to contact loved ones during the ongoing attack.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, scheduled at Dharamshalas HPCA Stadium, was also abruptly cancelled. The stadium was evacuated, and all lights were turned off as a precautionary measure.

Air Force and Navy join response, Pakistani F-16 shot down: Reports

As the threat escalated, Indian forces escalated their response. Post-midnight Friday, the Indian Navy reportedly began operations in the Arabian Sea, targeting Pakistani assets believed to be involved in the offensive.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force engaged an F-16 that had taken off from Pakistans Sargodha air base. Reports said the fighter jet was shot down by a surface-to-air missile deployed from Indian territory.

Indias earlier stance had been clear: any future attacks from Pakistan would be met with action in the same domain and with the same intensity. That posture was maintained following the Thursday night attack.

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The Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military, the Indian Ministry of Defence had said prior to the latest round of hostilities.

On the ground: Coordinated ceasefire violations and ground shelling

In tandem with the drone and missile attacks, Pakistani forces initiated multiple ceasefire violations along the LoC. Heavy shelling was reported from multiple sectors, particularly in Akhnoor, Samba, and the Jammu region. The Indian Army confirmed that it had responded forcefully to each of these violations.

OPERATION SINDOOR. Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. #IndianArmy remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force, the Indian Army stated on X.

OPERATION SINDOOR



Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/WTdg1ahIZp  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

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In support of this assertion, the Army released footage showing a Pakistani military post being destroyed in retaliatory strikes across the LoC. The exact location of the strike was not disclosed, in line with operational protocols.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) ordered immediate upgrades to security protocols across all Indian airports. These included mandatory secondary security screenings, tighter access controls, complete CCTV surveillance, and random baggage inspections. Enhanced deployment of air marshals on domestic flights was also announced to prevent any airborne threats.

India has negated Pakistans escalation bid with focused, measured and non-escalatory response, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had earlier stated on its official handle.

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Officials have highlighted that all Indian actions  whether defensive interceptions or retaliatory missions  have been aligned with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties and to uphold Indias commitment to non-aggression, unless provoked.

With inputs from agencies
India on Thursday foiled multiple attacks from Pakistan thanks to the Triumf S-400 made by Russia. But did you know that India had to fight the US to buy the Triumf, which is famed for being one of the worlds best surface-to-air missile systems? Heres how New Delhi defied Washington and made a deal with Moscow read more

Indian officials have named the S-400 air defence system the 'Sudarshan Chakra'. Reuters

On Thursday, India foiled multiple attacks from Pakistan.

First there was the attack in the early hours of Thursday in which Pakistan targeted 15 locations in northern and western India.

Then there was the attack on with missiles and drones in Jammu and other locations late on Thursday.

The heart of Indias defences was the Triumf S-400 air defence system  which Indian officials have nicknamed the Sudarshan Chakra.

Interestingly, India went up against the US in order to purchase the S-400 on Russia.

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Lets take a closer look:

What we know

India had in 2018 agreed to purchase five Triumf squadrons  each comprising 16 vehicles  from Russia at a cost of $5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore).

Manufactured by Russias Almaz-Antey corporation, the Triumf is famed for being one of the worlds best surface-to-air missile systems.

It is even used by China  which first purchased it in 2014.

Catch LIVE updates on India-Pakistan conflict .

However, the US spent years pressuring India not to go through with the deal.

As per Business Today, the US in 2018 warned that India could potentially face sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Caatsa) for its purchase of the S-400.

The Caatsa was passed into law in August 2017  during President Donald Trumps first term.

It levied sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea and countries doing business with them.

President Donald Trump. AP File

This was the result of Russia annexing of Crimea in 2014 and allegedly meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

When it came to Russia, it specifically imposed sanctions on those buying major hardware from Moscow.

Washington instead tried to sell India its MIM-104 Patriot and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems.

The US claimed that Russian hardware would undermine defence interoperability between the two nations.

What did India do?

As per The Tribune, India in September 2018 signed the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (Comcasa) agreement with the US.

The deal allowed for military information to be shared in real-time between the two nations.

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Then, in October 2018, India ignored the warnings from the US and signed the S-400 deal with Russia.

Both sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system to India, the joint statement after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin read.

India also had its counter-argument ready for the US.

Nirmala Sitharaman, at the time defence minister, defended the deal. PTI

Nirmala Sitharaman, who was the Defence Minister at the time, said, We have told the US Congress delegation (that visited India) that it is a US law and not a UN law.

Asked if the law did not apply to India, Sitharaman responded, Of course, it does not.

The US went on the defensive immediately.

The intent of Caatsa is to impose costs on Russia and is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies (India) The waiver authority is not a blanket waiver. Waivers are considered on transaction basis. We cannot prejudge any sanction decisions, its statement read.

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The US in December 2020 imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Caatsa for buying the S-400 from Russia.

But India wasnt deterred.

How India stood up to the US

As per Business Today, India simply refused to back down.

Officials said no foreign law could influence Indias decision given the prevailing scenario with Pakistan and China.

Officials thought that the S-400 would be key to India protecting and controlling its airspace.

The S-400s performance over the past couple of days has proved that India made the right decision.

The S-400 Triumf is considered one of the worlds best surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. AP

Indias purchase of the S-400 is also relevant in light of the fact that Russia remains the biggest weapon supplier to India.

As per Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia still comprises over a third (36 per cent) of Indias arms imports.

Aftermath

In January 2022, the United States House of Representatives passed an amendment granting India a waiver from Caatsa sanctions.

The historic amendment was written and introduced by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna.

Khanna said, The United States must stand with India in the face of escalating aggression from China. As Vice Chair of the India Caucus, I have been working to strengthen the partnership between our countries and ensure that India can defend itself along the Indian Chinese border. This amendment is of the utmost importance, and I am proud to see it pass the House on a bipartisan basis.

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My bipartisan NDAA amendment marks the most significant piece of legislation for US-India relations out of Congress since the US-India nuclear deal.

However, the US Senate is yet to pass the amendment.

With inputs from agencies
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to meet today to review Pakistans staff-level agreement for a $1.3 billion loan under a climate resilience programme, amid rising tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. Notably, India is likely to raise objections and vote against the aid package. Meanwhile, Russia will celebrate 80 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II with its Victory Day military parade today read more

The IMF is set to meet today to consider Pakistans staff-level agreement for a $1.3 billion loan under a climate resilience programme. Reuters/File Photo

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to meet today to consider whether to approve Pakistans new $1.3 billion deal under its climate resilience loan programme. The meeting comes as tensions between Pakistan and India continue to rise following Operation Sindoor.

Today also includes several other key developments.

In Russia, a Victory Day military parade will take place to celebrate 80 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

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Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron will host Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in France. The two leaders are due to sign a friendship treaty.

Heres a look at these events:

IMF to review Pakistans $1.3 billion deal

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to meet today to consider Pakistans staff-level agreement for a $1.3 billion loan under a climate resilience programme, as tensions grow between Islamabad and New Delhi.

India is expected to raise objections and vote against the aid package being given to Pakistan.

The IMF had announced on March 25 that it had reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan under a new 28-month Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), allowing the country to access $1.3 billion.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva. Reuters/File Photo

If the board gives the green light, $1 billion will be released straight away under the agreement Pakistan secured in 2024.

The current 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme involves six performance reviews. The release of the next $1 billion depends on the outcome of one of these assessments.

Indias opposition is expected in light of recent tensions following  Operation Sindoor, when Indian forces carried out targeted strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.

The strikes came after the deadly attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians in a tourist group were killed by terrorists. Indian intelligence said evidence from encrypted messages and digital data linked the incident to groups based in Pakistan.

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Devices recovered from the scene are said to carry traces similar to previous attacks led by Lashkar-e-Taiba, supporting Indias view that the Pahalgam incident was not a one-off but part of a broader, supported cross-border terror setup.

Will the IMF go ahead with the Pakistan loan, despite the tensions and Indias accusation that Islamabad backs cross-border terrorism? The answer may come today.

Russias Victory Day military parade

Russia will hold its Victory Day military parade today to celebrate 80 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The country will host leaders from China, Brazil and several other nations on Friday as part of the celebrations.

Victory Day, held each year in Russia on 9 May, is the countrys most important secular holiday. A large military parade through Red Square and other ceremonies are held to show Moscows strength and reflect the alliances it has built as it seeks to counter Western influence during the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as our main guest for the Victory Day events while speaking with Chinas foreign minister ahead of Xis visit.

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Russian service members march in columns during a military parade on Victory Day. Reuters/File Photo

Putin said he and Xi plan to hold talks covering both their countries relationship and wider international matters during their summit in Moscow.

Xi arrived on Wednesday for a four-day state visit. According to Putins foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, they are expected to discuss trade, Russian energy exports to China, and joint efforts within the BRICS group, which started with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and has since expanded to include more members.

Russia has also maintained steady support for China on issues involving Taiwan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, another close ally invited by Putin, had been expected in Moscow. However, he cancelled his visit due to rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and the latest escalation after Operation Sindoor.

Notably, Russia has backed India in the aftermath, condemning the Kashmir attack and affirming its pledge to work with New Delhi against all forms of terrorism. Putin called the incident a brutal crime with no justification whatsoever.

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France, Poland to sign friendship treaty

French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to France today, where the two will sign a friendship treaty.

Poland, a strong supporter of neighbouring Ukraine, has raised concerns that Russia could attempt to disrupt its presidential election on May 18 through cyberattacks and false information.

On Monday, Putin announced a temporary pause in military operations with Ukraine from May 8-10 to coincide with Russias World War II commemorations. The move drew criticism from Kyiv, which called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

I will welcome the Polish prime minister to Nancy on 9 May to sign a friendship treaty, which is a historic first between Poland and France, Macron said.

Nancy holds symbolic value since in 1736, the exiled Polish king Stanisaw Leszczynski became Duke of Lorraine, marking an early link between the two countries.

The signing of the treaty on May 9 will take place on the same day Putin leads the large Victory Day parade in Moscow, celebrating Russias role in the Second World War.

With inputs from agencies
Indias air defence networkanchored by the S-400 Triumf, Akash and SPYDER systems  thwarted every Pakistani aerial attempt on Thursday night. With indigenous and imported technologies working in tandem, India now fields one of the most formidable multi-layered defence grids in Asia read more

Russian S-400 air defence mobile missile launching systems take part in a military parade during celebrations marking Independence Day in Minsk, July 3, 2014. File Image/Reuters

Indias ability to intercept and destroy incoming aerial threats with speed and accuracy has grown dramatically over the past two decades, giving it a decisive advantage in regional air defence.

The scale of this technological and strategic superiority came into sharp focus on Thursday night when Indian air defence systems successfully foiled all aerial attempts by Pakistan as many locations in the western states were targeted.

Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said in a statement on X.

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The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs, the statement added.

While both nations have continued to invest in upgrading their defence capabilities, Indias air defence apparatus has emerged as far more advanced  both in technological sophistication and operational readiness  compared to Pakistans largely foreign-dependent systems.

Why Indias air defences are superior

India has invested significantly in a multi-tiered air defence system capable of countering a variety of threats  from fighter aircraft and cruise missiles to UAVs and ballistic missiles.

Central to this network is the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf, one of the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems in the world. With its ability to detect and engage multiple targets at extended ranges, the S-400 is a significant force multiplier for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The systems capabilities were validated in a recent exercise conducted by the IAF, where the S-400 reportedly intercepted and destroyed 80 percent of simulated aerial targets.

According to a July 2024 report, India has inducted three squadrons of the S-400, with two more scheduled for delivery by 2026, bringing full operational capability within reach.

The S-400 can detect threats up to 600 km away and strike targets within a 400 km radius. Its radar can track approximately 300 objects simultaneously and guide missiles to engage 36 of them at once. These features offer a qualitative edge over any comparable system currently fielded in the region.

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Beyond the S-400, India has developed and deployed a range of other systems to cover short- and medium-range threats. These include the indigenous Akash missile system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with an interception range of around 45 km.

The Akash plays a key role in Indias medium-range ground-based air defence layer and is deployed across several sensitive locations.

The medium-range Akash air defence system is in service with the Indian Army and Air Force. Image/BEL

For rapid-response capabilities, the Israeli-origin SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) system is operational with both the Indian Air Force and Indian Army.

Designed for low-altitude and short-range engagement, the SPYDER system fills a critical niche in protecting forward installations and airbases.

India also maintains a number of legacy Russian systems such as the Pechora (with a 25 km range) and OSA-AK-M (with a 10 km range), as well as upgraded L-70 anti-aircraft guns, which, though initially inducted decades ago, have been modernised with electro-optical fire control systems and integrated into contemporary air defence networks.

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Portable systems are another critical layer. The Igla-S and Igla-1M, both Russian-origin man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), are deployed with the Indian Army and Air Force for close-in protection. These lightweight systems offer quick reaction time and are particularly effective in mobile and mountainous deployments.

Additionally, the Indian armed forces are preparing for future air defence needs through the development of new indigenous systems. Among these is the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), designed to replace older MANPADS and offer enhanced targeting through an integrated optical and infrared seeker.

At the higher end, DRDOs long-range surface-to-air missile project, known as Project Kusha, aims to deliver missiles with ranges up to 350 km  another step toward reducing dependence on imports and establishing full-spectrum indigenous capabilities.

How Pakistans air defence are lacking

Pakistan, for its part, has continued to modernise its air defence with a primary focus on Chinese technology, along with some legacy Western systems. The HQ-9, Pakistans long-range surface-to-air missile system, is derived from Chinese designs and is roughly comparable in architecture to older versions of the Russian S-300.

Its base version can strike aerial targets within a 120 km range, while extended variants can reportedly reach up to 300 km. It is equipped with tracking and guidance radars but lacks the multi-target engagement breadth and sensor integration seen in the S-400.

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Pakistan also fields the HQ-16, a medium-range system also supplied by China, with an engagement envelope of about 40 km. Though effective for area defence, it cannot match Indias Akash or SPYDER systems in reaction time and overall mobility.

An older but still operational component of Pakistans air defence network is the Spada 2000, a short-range missile system of Italian origin. It provides coverage over smaller, high-value installations but is considered outdated by modern standards and may not be sufficient against saturated or complex aerial threats.

Despite these systems, experts note that Pakistan lacks the kind of layered redundancy that India has built. The Pakistani military relies on fewer air defence platforms and a smaller detection and tracking infrastructure, which could leave gaps in comprehensive national coverage.

Another major difference lies in indigenous capacity. Indias emphasis on developing its own systems, from radar and missiles to command and control systems, allows greater autonomy in both strategic planning and logistics.

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Indigenous systems are easier to maintain, upgrade, and adapt to specific regional needs, and they reduce vulnerabilities to foreign sanctions or supply disruptions.

Pakistan, by contrast, remains heavily dependent on Chinese suppliers, and any escalation could expose it to supply chain and maintenance limitations. This over-reliance not only affects operational endurance but also limits the ability to rapidly adapt or scale capabilities during a prolonged conflict.

The IAFs operational doctrine increasingly leans on integrated air command and control, allowing for real-time coordination between detection assets, missile batteries and interceptor aircraft. This was on full display during the night of May 8, when Indian air defences were placed on high alert and succeeded in intercepting all aerial attempts by Pakistan across the border and LoC.

The lack of any damage or successful penetration has put a spotlight on the preparedness and efficiency of Indias air defence forces.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Amid an escalating standoff, India reportedly shot down Pakistans AWACS, the Airborne Warning and Control System. These surveillance jets are critical to air combat, and losing one of them delivers a big blow to the neighbour read more

The Pakistan Air Force operates a fleet of nine Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early. Some reports in the media say one such aircraft has been shot down. Image courtesy: Saab

The India-Pakistan standoff has escalated. On Thursday night, the Indian forces began a counteroffensive after drones and missiles from across the border attempted to hit the Indian military installations along the western and northern borders. There were blackouts in 15 cities amid the barrage of projectiles, targeted at Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan.

India once again thwarted the attack. It destroyed drones and missiles. But that is not all. The Indian forces reportedly shot down Islamabads Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. This could deliver a blow to Pakistans air surveillance and battlefield coordination capabilities.

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The AWACS was shot down inside Pakistans Punjab province, according to a report by India Today. However, there has been no official confirmation about this.

What are AWACS?

AWACS, the Airborne Warning and Control System, is a mobile, long-range radar surveillance and control centre, which is critical for air defence. The radar system is usually mounted on a large aircraft platform and is used to detect, track and monitor aerial and surface contacts over vast distances. Its like a flying command station that directs fighter jets and air defence systems, and also conducts surveillance during combat.

The AWACS doubles up as an early warning system that coordinates air operations. It sends real-time intelligence to command centres and interceptors on land, at sea and in air.

This airborne system is crucial to modern warfare, as it performs multiple roles and is dubbed the militarys eyes in the skies.

The system was originally developed by the US Air Force and mounted on a modified Boeing 707 aircraft, referred to as the Boeing E-3 Sentry.

What are the key functions of AWACS?

AWACS monitor a nations airspace in real-time. The aircraft provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, and command and control of an area of responsibility.

It helps in early detection, tracking hostile drones, missiles and aircraft before they enter the radar range of ground stations.

The AWACS also work as an airborne control tower for friendly aircraft and guides them toward or away from targets or threats.

It helps in electronic surveillance by intercepting the radio frequencies of the enemy, jamming signals, and detecting communication patterns on the battlefield.

AWACS are essential to aerial combat in modern warfare. Image courtesy Saab

How do AWACS operate?

According to the US Air Force, the original E3 Sentry is a modified commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome fitted above the fuselage of the two struts. This dome  called the radome or rotodome  helps in long-range detection of more than 375.5 kilometres. The radar, combined with an identification friend or foe, or IFF, subsystem, can detect, identify and track enemy and friendly low-flying aircraft by eliminating ground clutter returns that confuse other radar systems. Today, other countries develop AWACS inspired by this model.

The aircraft is equipped with multiple workstations, where specialists track threats, assign aircraft to intercept, and coordinate missions in real time, according to a report by Moneycontrol.

The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS. Image courtesy: US Air Force

AWACS have secure satellite communication and data links for seamless coordination with fighter jets, ground-based radars, surface-to-surface missiles and even naval ships.

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Several advanced AWACS are fitted with self-protection jammers and countermeasures. They have radar warning receivers, flare dispensers and decoys to dodge the threat of missiles, the report says.

What AWACS does Pakistan have?

Pakistan reportedly has nine AWACS aircraft. It purchased four Saab 2000 Erieye planes from Sweden in 2006. Between 2017 and 2022, it added more Erieye planes to its arsenal. The last of the aircraft was delivered to the country on July 2, 2024.

From China, which supplies it with major military equipment, it bought four ZDK-03 AWACS in 2008, which were retired last year.

Saab 2000 Erieye boasts of an effective surveillance area of 500,000 sq km horizontally and over 60,000 ft vertically. Its radar detects and tracks objects quickly with high precision and a high update rate. S-band technology ensures top performance in all weather conditions, aerospace company Saab says on its website.

With only the Erieye operational, this is the AWACS India likely shot down.

Pakistan purchased Saab 2000 Erieye planes from Sweden in 2006. Image courtesy: Saab

What does the loss of AWACS mean for Pakistan?

The shooting down of AWACS could be another setback for Pakistan as tensions escalate with India. It would impair the Pakistan Air Forces air surveillance, as this system is critical to identifying incoming threats.

The India-Pakistan standoff is being fought in the skies, and taking down AWACS gives New Delhi yet another upper hand. It reflects Indias aggression  it is not only intercepting threats and foiling attacks, but also disabling enemy assets.

With inputs from agencies
Its been an action-packed night. Following the success of Indias Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated tensions with India on the night of May 8. It fired multiple missiles and launched over 50 drones towards Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, Indias military thwarted all of the neighbouring nations attempts and launched its own counter-fire towards Islamabad, Karachi, Sialkot and Lahore, even shooting down one of its AWACs read more

Its been a night of terror. A night of firing. A night of uncertainty. On the night of May 8, Pakistan stepped up hostilities when it chose to strike multiple states in India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat  using drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling.

However, India thwarted these attacks, and, in turn, launched its own retaliatory fire, targeting Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Khenju (Sind), Attock, Miano, Bahawalpur and an area near Karachi.

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The escalating actions also prompted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and emphasised the need for de-escalation in the growing crisis between the two countries.

For those who were asleep last night and missed the action, heres a recap of all that happened.

1) A day after India conducted Operation Sindoor, Pakistan escalated the situation by targeting civilian and military areas in India with a swarm of drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling. On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones.

2) Government sources said that at least eight missiles from Pakistan were directed at Jammu and Kashmirs Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia and all were intercepted by air defence units. The IAF activated its Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and other air defence systems, including the S400 Triumf, Barak 8 MRSAM (medium range surface-to-air missile) and the indigenous Akash, helping set up an air defence umbrella that helped thwart the attacks.

3) Military stations at Jammu and Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J and K today. The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, according to a late night Ministry of Defence statement.

A resident inspects his house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Poonch, along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. AP

4) Some reports say Pakistan tried to target Jammu airport. However, there is no confirmation on this yet.

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5) The barrage of missiles and drones from Pakistan led to a blackout in Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, air raid sirens wailed with an order being passed to keep schools and colleges shut in the area.

6) India also thwarted Pakistans attacks on Punjab and Rajasthan. Late at night, there were reports of a loud noise heard in Pathankot which some feared could be shelling from Pakistan but there was no confirmation.

7) In Rajasthan, the border districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner reported seeing what appeared to be drones or missiles in the sky, which were again intercepted by air defence systems. Pakistani drones started entering Indian airspace in Rajasthan around 9 pm. These were drone attacks which were successfully intercepted, a BSF officer said, adding that no loss of life or damage was reported.

8) There are reports that India shot down an F-16 supersonic fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force. Sources have also said that India has shot down two JF-17 fighter jets. However, there is no confirmation on this matter.

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A blackout is seen after residents of the city of Jammu reported hearing explosions and sirens in Srinagar. AP

9) The situation also led officials to call off the IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.

The Indian Army in a small statement on X confirmed Pakistans actions. In a post, it said, Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs.

11) Following Pakistans actions, India activated its air defence system, destroying a Pakistan Air Forces Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), according to sources. The airborne early warning systems are costly military equipment. There are reports that India struck Pakistans capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Sialkot late on Thursday. However, theres no official confirmation.

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12) The Indian Navy has also become more alert. They have been carrying out operations in the Arabian Sea, keeping an eye on Pakistan.

Targeted operations, they said in the early hours of Friday, have begun in the Arabian Sea against multiple targets in Pakistan.

Debris of a scooter damaged by a cross-border shelling lies on a road in Poonch near the Line of Control. Reuters

13) Reacting to the situation, US Secretary of State held phone calls with Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as well as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While the American side emphasised the need for de-escalation, it is learnt that Jaishankar told the US official that India will respond in a measured manner to all terrorist attacks targeting its territory and citizens, but will not take kindly to any attempt by Pakistan to escalate military tension.

Underlined Indias targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation, Jaishankar posted on X after the call.

14) US Vice President JD Vance also speaking on the issue, said that the US will not intervene in the conflict between Pakistan and India, calling fighting between the two nuclear powers fundamentally none of our business. What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but were not going to get involved in the middle of war thats fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with Americas ability to control it, Vance said during an interview. As the US could force neither side to lay down their arms, he continued, the country would continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels.

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With inputs from agencies
As tensions are heightened between India and Pakistan, the Indian Navy stands operationally ready and active in case of any hostile action from Pakistan. We take a look at how the naval force is stepping up as a formidable blue-water force. With aircraft carriers, submarines, and strategic alliances, it is rewriting its maritime doctrine read more

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. Image/IndianNavy

Escalation by Pakistan has resulted in heightened military activity as the Indian armed forces and other security forces worked overnight .

Among the increased flow of information, there has been unconfirmed news that has since been flagged that the Indian Navy was deployed to target the Karachi port in southern Pakistan.

Many unconfirmed reports claimed that Indias indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant deployed in the Arabian Sea was involved in a potential strike, but there has been no official confirmation.

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Even an X (Twitter) account named Karachi Port Trust Official shared contradictory information on the news by first claiming the reports were false and then alleging that there had indeed been a strike by India. Experts have since said that the account appears to have been hacked.

Contradictory statements from the X account in a span of a few hours. Screenshots taken by Firstpost via X (Twitter)

Sources suggest that the Indian Navy has not yet launched an offensive from the sea but remains on high alert.

The Western Naval Command, operating from Mumbai, is fully mobilised and is operationally ready to safeguard Indias maritime interests and respond swiftly to any hostile action initiated by Pakistan.

Meanwhile, we take a look at the formidable Indian Navy and its capabilities:

As India recalibrates its strategic posture in a rapidly shifting Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy has emerged as a critical pillar of its military doctrine.

The Navy has made visible strides over the past few years  an effort that is both a response to Chinas increasing assertiveness and an assertion of Indias maritime ambitions.

Now boasting over 130 warships, nuclear submarines, advanced destroyers and two aircraft carriers, the Navy is positioning itself as a capable blue-water force  one that can operate far beyond its shores and contribute meaningfully to regional security.

Image: Indian Navy

The current Chief of Naval Staff is Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi.

Origins of the Indian Navy

The origins of the Indian Navy can be traced back to 1612, with the formation of the East India Companys Marine. Post-independence, it transformed from a modest force tasked with coastal defence into a modern fleet capable of power projection and strategic deterrence.

Although some historians also believe that many kingdoms like the Gupta dynasty in the 6th Century also touted a massive naval fleet, which traces Indias prowess at sea back thousands of years.

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The Navys decisive role in the 1971 war, when it successfully blockaded East Pakistan and bombarded enemy positions in Karachi, remains a defining chapter in its history.

Image: Indian Navy

Over the decades, Indias maritime doctrine evolved in tandem with growing economic and strategic imperatives.

From securing the nations vast 7,500 km coastline and safeguarding exclusive economic zones to acting as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, the Navys mandate has expanded significantly.

A modern blue-water force

The Indian Navys capabilities today are broad-based and steadily modernizing. Its surface fleet includes two operational aircraft carriers  INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously-built INS Vikrant (tribute to 1961s INS Vikrant), commissioned in 2022. Together, they represent Indias aspirations for power projection and maritime dominance.

Indian Navy officers stand on the flight deck of Indias first home-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant after its commissioning ceremony at a state-run shipyard in Kochi, India, September 2, 2022. File Image/Reuters

In addition to carriers, the fleet includes powerful stealth destroyers like INS Visakhapatnam and INS Surat (Project 15B), advanced stealth frigates under Project 17A such as INS Nilgiri, and a host of offshore patrol vessels, amphibious ships and fast attack crafts.

The submarine arm has also grown stronger. Six Scorpene-class (Kalvari-class) diesel-electric submarines, built with French collaboration under Project-75, are now in service.

The last of the six  INS Vagsheer  was commissioned in January 2025, marking the successful completion of the programmes first phase.

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Meanwhile, the second indigenously-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arighaat entered service in late 2024, reinforcing Indias second-strike nuclear capability.

The Indian Navys aerial dimension

Naval aviation, often seen as the force multiplier in maritime operations, has witnessed major upgrades. In March 2024, the Navy inducted its first squadron of MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters  a US-supplied platform designed for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and special operations.

Squadron INAS 334, based in Kochi, is now fully operational.

The trident of Naval Power - Above, below and across the waves #FromSeaToSky #AnytimeAnywhereAnyhow pic.twitter.com/HE3Dbdatrz  IN (@IndiannavyMedia) May 3, 2025

Surveillance capabilities have been further strengthened with the induction of Drishti-10 Starliner drones, equipped with high-endurance sensors and a 36-hour flight capability. These are expected to patrol Indias vast maritime boundaries, including the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep archipelagos.

TROPEX 2025

The Indian Navys recently concluded Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX) 2025 offered a window into its operational preparedness. The biennial exercise involved over 75 warships, 50 aircraft, and 15 submarines and was conducted across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

The exercises included aircraft carrier operations, long-range missile firings and anti-submarine warfare drills in coordination with the Indian Air Force and Army.

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Image: Indian Navy

Defence analysts described TROPEX 2025 as a clear message  not just to potential adversaries  but also to regional partners that India is serious about playing a security leadership role in the Indo-Pacific.

When Indian Navy was deployed in 1971 Indo-Pakistani War

The Indian Navy played a pivotal and historic role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. It was one of the most successful combat deployments in Indian naval history, showcasing the forces offensive capabilities and strategic planning.

One of the most dramatic early moments in the conflict came with the sinking of PNS Ghazi, a Pakistani submarine that had sailed from Karachi with the mission of targeting Indias aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (Indias first aircraft carrier completed in 1961).

The Ghazi sank under mysterious circumstances off the coast of Visakhapatnam on the night of 34 December 1971, just as the war officially began.

While Pakistan maintained it was due to an internal explosion, Indian accounts attribute the sinking to depth charges dropped by INS Rajput, a destroyer patrolling the area.

The event removed a significant threat to the Indian Navys eastern operations and gave India a psychological and strategic upper hand.

Image: Indian Navy

On the western front, Operation Trident was launched on 4 December 1971, the day after hostilities began. A strike group consisting of INS Nipat, INS Nirghat, and INS Veer  armed with Styx missiles  attacked the Karachi harbour.

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The daring nighttime assault resulted in the sinking of PNS Khyber, a destroyer, PNS Muhafiz, and two other ships, as well as damaging port facilities. This action was a landmark moment in naval warfare, as it marked the first time anti-ship missiles were successfully used in combat in the region.

Following this, Operation Python was launched on the night of 89 December, involving another missile strike on Karachi by INS Vinash and support vessels. The operation caused further damage to Pakistani naval assets and vital oil storage tanks at the Karachi port, leading to massive fires and shortages.

Karachis port operations were severely crippled, and the Pakistan Navy was effectively blockaded and forced to remain in harbour for the rest of the war.

In the eastern theatre, the Indian Navy maintained control of the Bay of Bengal, supporting ground operations and enforcing a naval blockade around then-East Pakistan.

The aircraft carrier the erstwhile INS Vikrant, along with its Sea Hawk aircraft, played a crucial role in launching air strikes on coastal targets in Chittagong and Coxs Bazar, disrupting enemy supply lines and troop movements.

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Together, these operations demonstrated the Indian Navys transition from a defensive coastal force to a capable blue-water navy. Its performance in the 1971 war is widely regarded as a turning point in Indias maritime history and is commemorated annually on Navy Day, December 4, marking the success of Operation Trident.

Indian Navy marine commandos demonstrate their skills during Navy Day celebrations in Mumbai, India, December 4, 2024. File Image/Reuters

How Indias navy compares with Pakistans

Indias navy is significantly more capable, both in size and strategic depth. With 293 vessels, including two aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers and 18 submarines, India qualifies as a blue-water navy capable of operating across global maritime zones.

Pakistans naval fleet consists of 121 ships, with no aircraft carriers or destroyers and eight submarines. Its operational focus remains limited to the Arabian Sea, classifying it as a green-water navy primarily suited for coastal defence.

Future-proofing the fleet

Indias long-term naval roadmap is equally ambitious. According to the Ministry of Defence, the aim is to build a 175-ship Navy by 2035, up from the current fleet strength of around 135 ships.

A significant component of this plan is indigenous construction. Over 60 vessels are currently being built in Indian shipyards under various projects. These include 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) and multiple missile boats under the Next Generation Corvette programme.

Image: Indian Navy

India is also developing its third aircraft carrier  INS Vishal  envisioned as a 65,000-tonne behemoth, possibly featuring a Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system and nuclear propulsion.

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While detailed design discussions are ongoing, the project signifies Indias aim to field a three-carrier battle group in the coming decades.

Indian Navys big ticket defence deals

In January 2025, a German-Indian joint venture emerged as the sole qualified bidder for the much-awaited Project-75I, a 41,000 crore ($5 billion) programme to build six conventional submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion. The deal marks a continuation of Indias Make in India push and is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.

Additionally, India signed a 7 billion ($7.4 billion) deal with France in April 2025 to procure 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets for carrier operations, bolstering the Navys air wing. The Rafales will operate from INS Vikrant and Vikramaditya, replacing the ageing MiG-29K fleet.

Indian Air Forces Rafale fighter jets fly past during the Aero India 2021 air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 3, 2021. File Image/Reuters

Another strategic acquisition is the purchase of 220+ extended-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, with deliveries underway. These missiles, capable of striking targets over 450 km away, have become central to Indias anti-ship and land-attack doctrine.

India also plans to field coastal defence batteries equipped with BrahMos under the Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (NGMMCB) programme, with deliveries expected by 2027.

Maritime diplomacy & geopolitical urgency

Indias maritime diplomacy is also picking up pace. In early 2025, Indonesia entered talks to acquire BrahMos missiles for its Navy, adding to a growing list of foreign interest after the Philippines signed a similar deal last year.

The potential deal, which emerged during Indonesian President Prabowo Subiantos visit to Delhi in January, highlights Indias growing stature in the global arms market.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy continues to participate in multilateral exercises such as Malabar (with the US, Japan and Australia), MILAN, and VARUNA (with France).

Fuelling up with friends  HMAS Stuart conducts a replenishment at sea with Indian Navy Ships Shakti and Tabar as part of Exercise Malabar 24 during the ship's regional presence deployment. #YourADF #StrongerTogether @SpokespersonMoD @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/SvlXE5dVqY  Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) November 7, 2024

The Indo-Pacific theatre remains the Indian Navys principal area of focus. With Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) increasing its footprint in the region  including bases in Djibouti and port access in Gwadar and Hambantota  India is pursuing a proactive doctrine to ensure its dominance across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

According to defence experts, Indias collaborative deterrence approach aims to partner with like-minded countries, improve surveillance of key chokepoints like the Malacca Strait and the Persian Gulf, and provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in regional crises.

Also Watch:

But challenges remain  ranging from delays in shipbuilding to undersea domain awareness and technology gaps in anti-submarine warfare. Addressing these will be key to realising the full potential of a Navy that aspires not only to defend but also to define the future of the Indo-Pacific.

The Indian Navy is laying the foundation for maritime dominance in the decades ahead.

Image: Indian Navy

With inputs from agencies
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, 27 airports across the country have been shut for civil flight services, and security has been stepped up at all airports. Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai are operational. Notably, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has made additional checks mandatory at all airports. Several airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, have advised passengers to arrive at airports early read more

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, security at all Indian airports has been raised to the highest level.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed all airports and airlines in the country to tighten their security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry has said that 27 airports across India are shut for civil flight services.

Catch India-Pakistan LIVE Updates .

On the night of May 8, Pakistan carried out attacks across several Indian states, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, using drones, missiles and heavy artillery shelling.

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However, India managed to stop these attacks and responded by hitting back at several locations in Pakistan, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Khenju (Sind), Attock, Miano, Bahawalpur and an area close to Karachi.

ALSO READ | Was Pakistans drone, missile attack inspired by Hamas October 7 assault?

In this explainer, we take a look at the list of airports in India shut for civil flight operations and the increased security measures being implemented amid the tensions.

Are airports in India functional? Which ones are shut?

PIB Fact Check has confirmed on X that airports across India remain open and no entry restrictions have been imposed. Fake news alert: Social media posts are claiming that entry to airports across India banned. Government has taken no such decision, it said.

 Fake News Alert



Social media posts are claiming that entry to airports across India banned#PIBFactCheck:



 This claim is #FAKE



 Government has taken no such decision pic.twitter.com/MoaUcQqO2d  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

This clarification comes at a time when false information is spreading on social media after Indias Operation Sindoor in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strike was carried out in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed.

At present, only 27 airports are shut for civil flight operations, as per a Notam (Notice to Airmen) issued by authorities.

#BreakingNews | Kishangarh, Bhuntar (Kullu), Ludhiana added to list of Airports closed by #NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) directive.



In view of recent aggression from Pakistan side, Kishangarh, Bhuntar and Ludhiana airports have been closed.



Earlier, operations of several airports pic.twitter.com/fJsgCE30KK  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 8, 2025

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Which are these airports? Heres the full list:

Chandigarh Srinagar Amritsar Ludhiana Bhuntar Kishengarh Patiala Shimla Kangra-Gaggal Bathinda Jaisalmer Jodhpur Bikaner Halwara Pathankot Jammu Leh Mundra Jamnagar Hirasa (Rajkot) Porbandar Keshod Kandla Bhuj Kishangarh Bhuntar (Kullu) Ludhiana

ALSO READ | From Srinagar to Bhuj: Which are 15 Indian cities that Pakistan wanted to target?

Airports increase security: What passengers should know

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has made it compulsory to carry out Secondary Ladder Point Checks (SLPC), which are additional checks before boarding, at all airports, The Times of India reported.

Further, visitor entry into terminal buildings has been stopped with immediate effect as part of the new security rules. Air Marshals will also be deployed wherever needed, the report said.

Passengers and their cabin baggage will go through another layer of screening just before boarding, according to The Indian Express. Random checks of passenger bags before entering the airport, physical checks of cargo, and document verification have also been directed.

Airport authorities will increase ID checks for both passengers and staff. Ground handling staff will be under stricter watch, and security for aircraft and catering services will be thoroughly reviewed.

All CCTV cameras at aviation facilities have been ordered to remain fully functional, and more personnel will be deployed to guard aircraft, IE reported. State police and special forces will support security efforts at the outer perimeters of airports.

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Vehicles and individuals at terminals and parking areas will also face more detailed checking. Quick response teams and bomb disposal units have been asked to stay on high alert.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel with a K9 squad dog check the luggage of a passenger at the Jayprakash Narayan International Airport, in Patna. PTI

There will also be stricter monitoring of non-scheduled flights, which are civilian flights not operated by airlines, along with increased checks at cargo and general aviation terminals.

In view of the recent attack in Pahalgam and subsequent surcharged security scenario, it is necessary to enhance security measures at all civil aviation installations like airports, airstrips, airfields, air force stations, helipads, flying schools, aviation training institutes, etc so that no untoward incident takes place in the country. Accordingly, utmost precautions need to be taken by all stake holder, the BCAS directive said.

Most of the affected airports are expected to remain shut for commercial flights until around 5:30 AM on Saturday (May 10). Airlines have cancelled all flights to these airports until then. However, defence flights will continue to operate, according to The Indian Express.

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Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet issue travel advisories: What passengers must know

Several airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet, have advised passengers to reach airports early as the Centre has increased security nationwide.

Air India said in a statement, In view of an order by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on enhanced measures at airports, passengers across India are advised to arrive at their respective airports at least three hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure smooth check-in and boarding. Check-in closes 75 mins before departure.

#TravelAdvisory



In view of an order by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on enhanced measures at airports, passengers across India are advised to arrive at their respective airports at least three hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure smooth check-in and boarding.  Air India (@airindia) May 8, 2025

IndiGo, the countrys largest airline by market share, has cancelled more than 165 flights from several airports such as Amritsar, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Gwalior, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Leh, Rajkot and Srinagar.

The airline posted on X, In these extraordinary times, heightened security measures are taken up across all airports. We request you to allow some extra time for your journey to accommodate security checks and formalities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

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#6ETravelAdvisory: Your safety is paramount. Flights to/from the following cities are cancelled until 2359 hrs on 10th May. We are here to help you travel with ease. Check flight status here https://t.co/ll3K8PwtRV. To rebook or claim a refund, visit https://t.co/51Q3oUe0lP. pic.twitter.com/v5BSdX3dDo  IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) May 9, 2025

These cancellations are also in place until 05:29 AM on May 10, 2025, following government restrictions on airspace. IndiGo has offered affected passengers the choice to rebook the next available flight or get a full refund without any additional charges.

Akasa Air, in its advisory, asked passengers to reach the airport at least three hours before departure, citing the increased security measures. Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, we request you to reach the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure, to ensure a seamless check-in and boarding experience, it said.

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SpiceJet also put out a statement on X, saying, In light of enhanced security measures across all airports, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure to ensure a smooth check-in and boarding process.

All passengers are also advised to carry valid government-approved photo identification documents for entry to the airport. All passengers will be required to undergo secondary security checks before boarding.

CISF jawans check the luggage of passengers at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi. PTI

According to The Indian Express, over 400 flights are being cancelled daily due to airport closures.

Is Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport functional?

Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory on Friday saying that operations are continuing as normal. However, some flights have been affected due to shifting airspace conditions and extra security.

Follow hand baggage and check-in luggage regulations. Cooperate with airline and security personnel for smooth facilitation, it said in the advisory.

Passengers have been asked to check with their airline for updates.

That said, more than 90 domestic and international flights to and from Delhi were cancelled and over 200 delayed on Thursday due to airspace restrictions, Hindustan Times reported.

With inputs from agencies
The latest escalation between India and Pakistan has stoked fears of the clashes blowing into an all-out war between the two nuclear-armed nations. But how does New Delhi declare war? What does the Constitution say? read more

An Indian Army soldier looks out from an armoured vehicle on a highway leading to South Kashmir's Pahalgam, in Marhama village, in Kashmir, April 23, 2025. Reuters

As tensions between India and Pakistan heighten, there are fears that the skirmishes between the two rival neighbours could result in an all-out war. Last night, New Delhi thwarted Islamabads bid to target the western border using multiple missiles and drones.

This came after Indian strikes hit nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on early Wednesday (May 7). Dubbed Operation Sindoor, the mission was Indias response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Pakistan has resorted to cross-border firing for two weeks now.

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The latest escalation between India and Pakistan has further stoked concerns about a looming war. But how is a war formally declared by New Delhi?

We will explain.

What does Indias Constitution say?

War is defined as an armed conflict between two or more States. It can be fought for economic, political, religious or ideological reasons.

The Indian Constitution does not have a specific provision to declare war. In fact, war is mentioned as something that has arisen and not something that the State may commence, noted The Leaflet.

Article 352 of the Constitution, which pertains to Emergency, is invoked at the time of war.

Whats in Article 352?

Article 352 (1) states that if President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion, she can make a make a declaration, through Proclamation, to that effect in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory thereof as may be specified in the Proclamation.

The President can issue the Proclamation of Emergency on the advice of the Union Cabinet led by the Prime Minister. She can declare an Emergency only when such a recommendation is made in writing.

In effect, whether to go to war or not is decided by the Union Cabinet.

The Parliament also plays a key role during Emergency. The proclamation has to be laid before the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. It will not be valid after a month unless approved by both houses of Parliament. A resolution on such a proclamation has to be passed by Parliament by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting.

The emergency remains in force for six months and can be further extended for another six months through similar Parliamentary resolutions.

The President has the right to revoke the Proclamation of Emergency through another proclamation. Moreover, she is bound to revoke the emergency if the Lok Sabha passes a resolution against its continuation.

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ALSO READ: India activates Territorial Army: Whats this part-time force that Dhoni, Anurag Thakur are part of?

Has India ever declared war?

No.

While India has fought several wars in the past, including with Pakistan, there has not been an official declaration of war.

India fought its first war with Pakistan in 1947-48 when Kashmir was invaded by tribal militias and Pakistani forces.

The Indian and Pakistani forces battled again in 1965, with the conflict ending with a UN-brokered ceasefire and the Tashkent Declaration.

In 1971, India fought a war with Pakistan that resulted in the formation of a new country, Bangladesh. It was triggered by the political and humanitarian crisis in the then East Pakistan. India was roped into the conflict after Pakistan targeted its airfields.

The 1999 Kargil war began with the Pakistani soldiers and terrorists infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmirs Kargil region. No formal declaration of war was made at the time.

With inputs from agencies
Nuclear powers India and Pakistan are clashing again. Islamabad has launched swarms of drones and missiles aimed at India, prompting New Delhi to launch its own counter-fire. This military standoff is also offering the world a first real glimpse at Chinese military technology and its performance. Heres how read more

Villagers gather near the debris of a missile at a field on the outskirts of Amritsar. India's government said that Pakistan launched an overnight air attack using "drones and missiles", before New Delhi retaliated to destroy an air defence system in Lahore. AFP

Its heating up between India and Pakistan. New Delhis precise and coordinated military strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeting 21 terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, prompted the nuclear-armed neighbouring nation to escalate matters with its own attack on the intervening nights of May 7 and May 8.

On the night of May 8, Islamabad launched a swarm of drones and missiles at Indias civilian and military targets in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan, with India retaliating and intercepting all of them using its own advanced air-defence systems.

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The attacks by Pakistan has shone a spotlight on Islamabads dependence on Chinese weaponry  the neighbouring country has used China-made missiles, China-made drones and Chinese-made air defence systems against New Delhi. Heres a look.

HQ-9 air-defence system

In the hours following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched an attack on the intervening night of May 7-8, prompting New Delhi to counter. This counter-strike by New Delhi resulted in the destruction of Pakistans air defence unit guarding Lahore.

The HQ-9 is an air-defence system that China provides Pakistan. Modelled on the same lines of the Russian S-300 platform, it is a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system featuring advanced radar tracking and guidance systems. It is considered a flagship export of Chinas defence industry and has been deployed by Pakistan in key strategic zones.

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army HQ-9 surface to air missile launchers are seen during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. File image/AFP

It has a range of 120 km in its base variant, extending up to 300 km in the HQ-9B, and can target objects at altitudes of up to 50 km.

As per a SIPRI arms transfers database, between 2013 and 2015, Pakistan acquired nine units of the variant, the HQ-16, from China in two separate orders, at a total cost of $599 million.

J-10C fighter jets

In the ongoing standoff, Pakistan has claimed it used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets against Indias air force.

This single-engine, multirole combat aircraft was designed and made by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. It entered service in the Chinese air force from 2003.

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Pakistan Air Force J-10C fighter jets perform at a rehearsal ahead of Pakistans national day parade in Islamabad. File image/AFP

Notably, outside of China, the Pakistan air force is the only operator of the J-10 C fighter. A South China Morning Post report states that in 2020, Pakistan ordered 36 J-10CEs, the export version of the J-10C, together with 250 PL-15E missiles. The first batch of six planes was delivered in 2022, and to date, 20 J-10Cs are in service in the PAF.

Also known as the Vicious Dragon in China, the J-10C is more reminiscent of the French Mirage series of combat fighters. It is said that this fighter jet can carry up to six 500-kg laser-guided bombs, free-fall bombs, or pods with 90 mm unguided rockets. The aircraft also has a single-barrel 23 mm cannon.

PL-15 missiles

Reports also reveal that Pakistan has made use of Chinas PL-15 missiles against India. These are long-range, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile used by fighter planes. Their development by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) began in 2011 and were tested the following year.

The PL-15 missile uses a dual-pulsed solid-propellant rocket and has an AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar. The AESA radar is combined with a two-way datalink, enabling precise targeting and mid-course corrections, making it a highly versatile weapon.

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The operational range of the PL-15 missiles is 200-300 kilometres and it can travel at speeds of Mach 5. The PL-15 missiles are already integrated into Chinas Chengdu J-20, J-10C, and Shenyang J-16.

Pakistan became the first customer of Chinas PL-15 missiles.

SH-15 artillery guns

Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistani troops have been constantly firing across the LoC using Chinese-made SH-15 155mm Mounted Gun Systems (MGS). MGS are artillery guns mounted on a mobile truck-based platform, which increases the guns mobility, allowing the system to shoot and scoot.

Acquired by Pakistan in 2019, the SH-15 has a range of 20 kilometres using conventional shells and up to 53 km using rocket-assisted projectiles. It boasts of a fire rate of four-six rounds per minute. This howitzer is based on a new Shaanxi military truck with an armoured cabin. It accommodates a complete gun crew of six soldiers. The armour provides protection for the crew against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.

It is reported that the SH-15 artillery guns have in-built GPS and inertial navigation systems enabling it to carry out accurate, rapid strikes even in challenging terrain. This makes the SH-15 ideal for Pakistans diverse operating environments  from mountain ranges in Kashmir to the deserts of Sindh and semi-urban zones in Punjab.

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Chinese-made drones

While it is not clear which drones Pakistan is currently using to try to rain down hell on India, experts point that most of Islamabads drone arsenal comes from China in the form of Wing Loong II and CH-4 drones.

The Wing Loong II are next-generation medium-altitude long-endurance and strike-capable drones developed by Chinas Aviation Industry Corporation of China. It has an overall length of 11 metres, a wingspan of 20.5 metres, and a height of 4.1 metres. The Wing Loong II is an upgraded variant of the Wing Loong UAV first introduced into service with the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force in 2008.

Chinese-made Wing Loong II drone on display. File image/AFP

Meanwhile the CH-4 drones, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, are a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV that resembles the US MQ-9 Reaper. It possesses 14-hour endurance and a 1,500 km range, it can loiter over contested areas, providing real-time intelligence or engaging targets. Its 345 kg payload supports a mix of munitions, including AR-1 laser-guided missiles, FT-9 bombs, and anti-radiation missiles to suppress enemy air defences.

Chinas military assistance to Pakistan

The ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan clearly shows Islamabads dependence on Beijing for weaponry. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which closely studies global weapons flows, data shows that the neighbouring nations dependence has deepened over the past 15 years. Chinese defence exports to Pakistan include advanced fighter jets, missiles, radars and air-defence systems.

Between 2020 and 2024, China was the largest seller of weapons to Pakistan, accounting for 81 per cent of its imports, followed by the Netherlands at 5.5 per cent and Turkey at 3.8 per cent.

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Moreover, Chinese and Pakistani militaries have engaged in increasingly sophisticated joint air, sea and land exercises, including combat simulations and even crew-swapping drills. Beijings long-standing support for Islamabad  through hardware, training, and now increasingly AI-enabled targeting  has quietly shifted the tactical balance, Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted in a CNN report. This isnt just a bilateral clash anymore; its a glimpse of how Chinese defense exports are reshaping regional deterrence.

With inputs from agencies
Murali Naik, a 25-year-old soldier from Andhra Pradesh, was killed in cross-border shelling at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on early Friday. Naik, who belonged to the 851 Light Regiment, was the only son of agricultural labourers and dreamt of joining the army read more

The 25-year-old M Murali Naik, a jawan from Andhra Pradesh, succumbed to his injuries early Friday after sustaining critical wounds in unprovoked Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LoC). Image courtesy: X/@chandrababunaidu

As tensions continue to escalate between India and Pakistan, with cross-border shelling still raging in Jammu and Kashmir, a young Indian soldier has made the ultimate sacrifice.

The 25-year-old M Murali Naik, a jawan from Andhra Pradesh, succumbed to his injuries early Friday after sustaining critical wounds in unprovoked Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LoC).

Naik hailed from a poor agricultural family in a tribal hamlet of Andhra Pradeshs Sathya Sai district. He was stationed in the tense region in Jammu & Kashmir when the Pakistan Army launched unprovoked heavy artillery and mortar shelling following Indias Operation Sindoor.

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Efforts were made to airlift the injured jawan to New Delhi for urgent treatment, but unfortunately, he passed away before he could be evacuated.

As news of his death spread across the region, residents from surrounding hamlets visited the family to offer condolences. We salute Murali Naiks bravery and dedication. His sacrifice will not be forgotten, a local police officer was quoted as saying by The News Minute.

Heres a closer look at his story.

Dreamt of joining Army, loved the uniform

Murali Naik was the only son of Mudavath Sriram Naik and Mudavath Jyothi Bai, both working as agricultural labourers in Gorantla mandal, reports The Hindu.

According to his father, Naik always dreamt of joining the Army. He loved the uniform very much. He was a friendly and easy-going person. As an Army jawan, he was highly motivated and proud to serve the nation, he told The Indian Express.

In December 2022, Naiks dream came true when he was inducted into the Army. He was posted with the 851 Light Regiment in Jammu and Kashmir.

His cousin Ranjit recalled how Naik had called the family on the night of May 6 to inform them about gunfire from across the border. He called again yesterday (Thursday) night and said there was even heavier firing. He was worried about his parents. I told him to take care of himself and be safe, and assured him that we relatives will look after his parents, Ranjit said.

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He sounded worried, which was never the case before. He described the constant shelling and firing from across the border.

Tensions remain high along the Line of Control (LoC) as Pakistan continues its unprovoked firing in several sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. File image/ PTI

On Friday morning, the family received the devastating call. A senior Army officer reached out to Naiks mother between 3 and 3:30 am, informing her that her son had been injured while fighting back during a heavy exchange of fire. He passed away while being evacuated.

The tragic news spread quickly, prompting a wave of condolences from leaders and villagers alike. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute on X, posting:

It is saddening to hear of the loss of a soldier named Murali Nayak from Gorantla Mandal, Penukonda Assembly Constituency, Sri Sathya Sai district, in the defence of the country. Tributes to the martyr Murali Nayak, who laid down his life for the nation. I express my deepest condolences to his family members, he posted on X.

The CM is expected to visit the village and announce ex gratia for the grieving family.

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Governor S Abdul Nazeer also expressed his condolences on X, while former CM and YSRCP President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy joined in paying tribute.

I am deeply saddened to learn that Army Jawan M. Murali Naik of Kalli Thanda village in Gaddamthanda panchayat of Gorantla mandal in Sri Satya Sai district was martyred in the ongoing Operation Sindoor in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/NUrkRdaCxy  governorap (@governorap) May 9, 2025

Pakistan continues unprovoked firing at LoC

Tensions remain high along the LoC as Pakistan continues its unprovoked firing in several sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Defence Ministry confirmed that Pakistani forces had launched heavy shelling across the LoC in areas including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor.

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The Poonch region has been particularly affected, witnessing intense cross-border shelling that has led to the death of 16 civilians and left 59 others injured.

The Indian Army also suffered a tragic loss during the recent escalation. Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, a 32-year-old jawan hailing from Palwal district in Haryana, was killed in action during heavy artillery and mortar fire from the Pakistani side.

Dinesh Kumar, who hailed from Mohammadpur village in Haryanas Palwal district, was killed in cross-border shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday. Image courtesy: X/ @NayabSaini

The recent spike in hostilities comes in the aftermath of Indias precision strikes targeting nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These camps reportedly housed operatives of terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Indias strikes were a direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed  one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir in recent years.

As cross-border firing continues, the situation along the LoC remains volatile.

With input from agencies
Is Pakistan copying Hamas? It is a question raised after Islamabad fired a swarm of drones and missiles into India on the night of May 8, targeting civilian and military infrastructure in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan. Heres why read more

A resident inspects the debris of his house that was destroyed by Pakistani artillery shelling at the Lagama village in Uri, about 100 km from Srinagar, on May 9. Pakistan launched a swarm of drones and missiles on India in retaliation to Operation Sindoor. AFP

May 8, 2025 and October 7, 2023. The two dates are far apart but bear some similarities.

What are we talking about?

Analysts and defence experts have noted that Pakistans attempt to escalate tensions on the night of May 8, a day after Indias Operation Sindoor, bears a striking resemblance to Palestinian group Hamas dastardly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Heres how.

Pakistans missile, drone attack on India

A day after India carried out precise and coordinated military strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Islamabad upped the ante by launching drones, missiles and intense artillery shelling, targeting civilian and military targets in India on the night of May 8.

On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones and missiles. Government officials have stated that Islamabad fired at least eight missiles, targeting Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia in Jammu and Kashmir.

Additionally, it also launched a swarm of drones at the border areas of Rajasthans Jaisalmer and Bikaner. Residents in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Pathankot reported loud explosions after drones were intercepted in the sky. Air raid sirens blared across Chandigarh, adding to the atmosphere of heightened alert.

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Villagers walk past the debris of a missile at a field on the outskirts of Amritsar. Indias government said that Pakistan launched an overnight air attack using drones and missiles, before New Delhi retaliated to destroy an air defence system in Lahore. AFP

In addition to this, Pakistan also initiated unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control in Kupwara and Baramulla. According to reports, 16 civilians, including three women and five children, have died in the Pakistani shelling.

However, India activated its air defence system and shot down the swarm of drones and eight missiles that were directed at vital installations. Moreover, reports state that India shot down Pakistans F-16 supersonic fighter jet, as they repelled the coordinated aerial attack.

The Indian Army in a statement said that it has given a befitting reply to Pakistani provocations. Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said in a statement on Friday morning.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs.

OPERATION SINDOOR



Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/WTdg1ahIZp  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

Reminiscent of Hamas attack

Many defence experts observing the visuals of Pakistans attack stated that it was similar to the Hamas attack in 2023. Visuals over Jammu remind of exactly Hamas-style attack on Israel. Like multiple cheap rockets, they were quoted as saying.

They added, Pak Army is operating and behaving like a terror organisation Hamas. Incidentally, previous intelligence reports have reportedly revealed that the Pakistans spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) held a meeting with Hamas last month.

Analysts also noted that not Pakistans terror factory has also been copying tactics that Hamas have used in the past. From the way they train new recruits to the position of their training camps, all of it it seems is copy-pasted from the Hamas playbook.

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Hamas attack on October 7

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a coordinated incursion from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. It all began when Hamas fired a barrage of rockets, distracting Israels military and used that as a cover to breach the GazaIsrael barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in 21 communities, including Beeri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Netiv Haasara, and Alumim.

Israeli officials claim that Hamas launched over 5,000 missiles towards Israel. While Israels defence system, the Iron Dome, blocked some of the missiles it was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of them.

Israeli soldiers stand near a vehicle following a mass-infiltration by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel on October 7, 2023. File image/Reuters

The Hamas members also attacked the Nova music festival, which was taking place near kibbutz Reim on the Negev desert. Visuals show how a dance festival turned to confusion then fear and chaos when Hamas arrived and began to kill partygoers.

The following March, a United Nations report acknowledged there were reasonable grounds to believe that rapes were committed during the attack. It also found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken on that day had been raped.

The attack prompted Israels strongest response in decades, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launching airstrikes and a ground invasion aimed at dismantling Hamas and its capabilities that continue to this day.

The Gaza Strip has suffered widespread destruction and heavy damage to its infrastructure. Since the war began, some 41,000 people have been killed. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with Gazans facing massive food shortages, the spread of disease, and the displacement of 1.9 million people from their homes.

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With inputs from agencies
Indian Armys Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed in a press conference today that Pakistan sent 300-400 drones to target military installations across the western border, adding that the preliminary investigation showed that these were Turkish-made Songar drones. Developed by the defence firm ASISGUARD, they have an operational range of three to five km and can fly at altitudes of up to 2800 meters read more

India says Pakistan used Songar drones on May 8 night. Image Courtesy: asisguard.com.tr

Pakistan tried to attack India with a barrage of missiles and drones last night (May 8). The Indian Armed Forces successfully thwarted Pakistani military strikes on the countrys western border.

On Friday (May 9), Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army revealed that Pakistan had dispatched 300-400 drones to 36 locations across Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab to target military installations. She said that the preliminary investigation showed that these were Turkish-made Songar drones.

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On the intervening night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani Army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani Army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means, Colonel Qureshi said in the media briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones, she added.

What are these drones? We will explain.

Turkeys Songar drones

Developed by defence company ASISGUARD, Songar is Turkeys first national armed drone system.

The indigenous drones were introduced to the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces in 2020. A year later, they were integrated into an armoured 4x4 land vehicle, which added to the drones capability to detect and take out targets in advance during cross-border missions or internal security operations, as per an article in the Defence Turkey magazine.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is equipped with 5.56 calibre 45 mm NATO standard firearms, as per the website of the Turkish defence firm.

Songar boasts automatic fire stabilisation and can be effectively deployed for military and security operations. Its autonomous take-off and landing capability enables it to respond to any threat around the clock.

With an operational range of 3-5 km, the Songar drones can fly at altitudes up to 2800 meters. Image Courtesy: asisguard.com.tr

With an operational range of 3-5 km, the drone can fly at altitudes up to 2800 meters. It can transmit video in real-time and is used for detecting targets, surveillance and neutralising a threat, the magazine piece noted. It can also simultaneously carry out post-mission analysis with a single or multiple drone systems.

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The Songar drones maximum take-off weight is 45 kg and its flight time is up to 30 minutes without payload. It was reported in 2022 that the Turkish firm sold these unmanned vehicles to Asian and African countries.

In January 2024, ASISGUARD joined hands with Repkon Defense Systems to upgrade the drone system to carry a 40mm multiple grenade launcher, increasing its ability to engage ground targets more effectively.

Turkeys support to Pakistan

The revelation of Pakistan using Turkish drones in the clashes with India comes amid Ankaras support for Islamabad.

After Operation Sindoor on early May 7, when Indian strikes hit nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK, Turkiyes foreign affairs ministry condemned Indias attack, saying it raised the risk of an all-out war.

It also called on both sides to exercise common sense and refrain from unilateral actions.

We expect that measures will be taken to reduce tensions in the region as soon as possible and that the necessary mechanisms, including in the field of counter-terrorism, will be put in place to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. We also support Pakistans call for an investigation into the 22 April terrorist attack," the Turkish foreign ministry said.

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also dialled Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, expressing his solidarity after Indias strikes, which Turkey said were targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Erdogan also told Sharif that Turkey backed what he called Islamabads calm and restrained policies in the crisis, his office said in a statement.

With inputs from agencies
During an interview with CNN, Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra firmly corrected a senior CNN anchor, saying, The entire Jammu and Kashmir is integral to the Indian part of India. When asked if India is at war with Pakistan, he said, We are at war with terrorists and accused Islamabad of standing by terror outfits instead of acting against them read more

Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra schooled CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer when he referred to Kashmir as Indian-administered. Screenshot: X/@Awasthiii18

When CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer referred to Kashmir as Indian-administered, Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra didnt let it slide.

First of all, Im sorry, but let me correct you, Kwatra replied. The entire Jammu and Kashmir is integral to the Indian part of India. The only issue to be resolved there is the return of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The exchange took place during a recent interview with the American news network, where Kwatra was asked about reports of explosions in the region. In response, he clarified that while India received reports of some activity, We dont have the operational details relating to that.

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In the same conversation, the Ambassador strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians. Describing it as the most heinous terrorist act, he said, Our foremost objective in this was to hold these lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable and bring justice to the victims.

Amid escalating tensions, Kwatras sharp and assertive remarks during the interview have been grabbing headlines. Heres a closer look at what he said and who he is.

We are at war with terrorists

When asked whether India is at war with Pakistan, the Indian Ambassador made it clear that the countrys focus is on combating terrorism.

We are at war with terrorists and we will, as I said, bring justice to the victims and hold them accountable, he said during the CNN interview.

Kwatra went on to launch a sharp critique of Pakistan, accusing it of standing by terror outfits instead of acting against them.

What it shows the world is that Pakistan has again decided to stand with the terrorists. Rather than take action against them, they are essentially lending them support, he said. We wouldnt be surprised if they are themselves involved in this.

He continued, Thats the message theyre sending to the world  that they are with terrorists, not with the rest of the civilised world, in these brutal killings of innocent civilians.

Pakistans belief lies in perpetrating these proxies of terror killings, brutal killings of innocent civilians, he added.

Indias Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Kwatra, spoke eloquently with @CNN on Pakistans terrorism in Kashmir, detailing how Pakistan escalates conflict with India. Listen to his articulate remarks. pic.twitter.com/AHVZ5U2VNk  Awasthi (@Awasthiii18) May 9, 2025

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Denial and obfuscation

Responding to Pakistans denial of any involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Kwatra said that denial and obfuscation has always been the first part of Pakistans strategy.

They have this unique characteristic where they assume responsibility for their past actions in the future, not in the present moment, he said.

Underscoring the fact that four terrorists backed by Pakistan killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Kwatra said in no world would you allow such terrorists to be given a free pass. And that is precisely what we did [in Operation Sindoor]."

He described the action as a very precise, calibrated, measured response to these terrorists, to their factories, to their integrated facilities, which they run out of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

When asked how concerned the world should be that the tensions between India and Pakistan could escalate into a nuclear war, the Indian envoy said,

I think the world should be concerned about the fact that Pakistans support to terrorism and terrorist activities continues. I think thats what the world should be concerned about. And I think thats what the world should tell Pakistan  to stop supporting terrorism. I think thats the crux of the question."

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Who is Vinay Kwatra?

Vinay Mohan Kwatra is a seasoned Indian diplomat with over three decades of experience in foreign service.

Born on December 15, 1962, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988 and has since held several key positions, including Indias Ambassador to France and Nepal.

He served as Indias 34th Foreign Secretary from May 2022 to July 2024. In August 2024, he took over as Indias Ambassador to the United States  his second stint in Washington, DC.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra with President Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. He is a seasoned Indian diplomat with over three decades of experience in the foreign service. File image/ ANI

Kwatra holds a Masters degree in Science and a diploma in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He is fluent in French, Russian, Hindi, and English.

In his early diplomatic career, Kwatra was posted in Geneva as Third Secretary and later as Second Secretary in Indias Permanent Mission until 1993. He later served in Indian missions in Durban, China, and Russia, and worked in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on key portfolios, including Indias development programme in Afghanistan and regional affairs in SAARC.

Between 2015 and 2017, he played a key role in shaping Indias foreign policy as Joint Secretary in the MEA and later in the Prime Ministers Office. His strategic contributions during this period were publicly acknowledged by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

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Kwatra has also headed the MEAs Policy Planning & Research Division and the Americas Division, overseeing relations with the US and Canada. From 2010 to 2013, he was posted as Minister (Commerce) at the Indian Embassy in Washington.

Now, as Ambassador to the US, Kwatra continues to play a pivotal role in navigating Indias foreign policy at a critical time.

With input from agencies
Seven infiltrators linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed were shot down by the BSF as they were trying to cross the international border located in the district read more

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol near the India Pakistan border fencing at Garkhal in Akhnoor, about 35 kilometers west of Jammu, August 13, 2019. File Photo/AP

The Border Security Forces on Friday foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmirs Samba district on the intervening night of May 8 and 9.

Sources told News18 that seven infiltrators linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed were shot down by the BSF as they were trying to cross the international border located in the district.

In a post on X, BSF Jammu said, At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K.

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Pakistan launched an offensive along the international border on Thursday evening. The country initiated a series of air attacks targeting military installations and border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Ministry of Defence has said that the Pakistani airstrikes involved the deployment of conventional air-to-ground missiles, kamikaze drones and unmanned aerial systems. The Indian Army said that India thwarted Islamabads drone attacks, and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations.

Meanwhile, India launched strikes on Pakistans capital, Islamabad, as well as the cities of Lahore and Sialkot on Thursday evening, in response to successfully intercepting a series of attempted attacks on Indian cities such as Jammu, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot.

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said no limit will become an obstacle to protect Indias sovereignty and the nation is fully prepared for such responses.

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He said India has always played the role of a responsible nation exercising great restraint and it believes in resolving issues through dialogue.

However, if anyone tries to take advantage of this restraint, they will face quality action, he said, assuring the nation that no limit will become an obstacle to protect Indias sovereignty.

With inputs from agencies
At the review meeting, India expressed concerns about the effectiveness of IMF programs in Pakistan, citing the countrys poor track record and potential misuse of debt financing for state-supported cross-border terrorism, among others read more

A view of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S. File image/ Reuters

The International Monetary Fund on Friday (May 9) conducted a review of Pakistans Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending program, valued at $1 billion, and evaluated a new Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) lending program of $1.3 billion.

At the meeting, India expressed concerns about the effectiveness of IMF programs in Pakistan, citing the countrys poor track record and potential misuse of debt financing for state-supported cross-border terrorism. New Delhi also abstained from voting.

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Here are the three key arguments made by India:

Pakistan, a long-term borrower from the IMF, is struggling with poor implementation and adherence to program conditions. Since 1989, Pakistan has received IMF funds in 28 out of 35 years. In the past five years alone there have been four IMF programs. Had these programs succeeded in establishing a solid macro-economic policy environment, Pakistan would not need another bailout. India argued that this history raises questions about either the effectiveness of IMF program designs for Pakistan or their monitoring and implementation by the country. More from India India intercepts fresh swarm of Pakistani drones in multiple places amid explosions, blackouts PM PM Modi meets military veterans amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, seeks guidance The Pakistani militarys significant involvement in economic affairs poses considerable risks of policy slippages and reform reversals. Despite a civilian government currently in power, the military maintains a strong influence in domestic politics and economic matters. A 2021 UN report even described military-linked businesses as the largest conglomerate in Pakistan. This situation has not improved, with the Pakistan Army now playing a prominent role in the Special Investment Facilitation Council of Pakistan. Rewarding ongoing sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message to the global community, exposes funding agencies and donors to reputational risks, and undermines global values.

Concerns about the potential misuse of funds from international financial institutions like the IMF for military and state-supported terrorism were shared by several member countries. However, the IMFs response is limited by procedural and technical constraints, highlighting the need to consider moral values in the procedures of global financial institutions.
India on Friday accused Pakistan of endangering civilian lives by failing to close its civil airspace during an unprovoked and unsuccessful drone and missile attack against multiple Indian cities on Thursday night read more

India on Friday accused Pakistan of endangering civilian lives by failing to close its civil airspace during an unprovoked and unsuccessful drone and missile attack against multiple Indian cities on Thursday night.

During a press briefing on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that Pakistans refusal to suspend civilian flight operations, even as it launched a cross-border attack, posed a serious threat to both domestic and international air traffic near the India-Pakistan International Border (IB).

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#WATCH | Delhi: Wing Commander Vyomika Singh says, "...Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its pic.twitter.com/VaTB61Wqr6  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan, she added.

Referencing data from the live tracking application flight radar 24, screenshot of which was displayed by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during the briefing, showed the disparity in air traffic between the two sides.

#WATCH | Delhi: Wing Commander Vyomika Singh says, "...Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its pic.twitter.com/U73YyFYj6h  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

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The screenshot we just showed, it shows the data of the application flight radar 24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector. As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore, added Wing Commander Singh.

She further said that the Indian Air Force exercised significant restraint in its response, prioritising the safety of international civil carriers despite heightened alert levels in the Punjab sector.

With inputs from agencies
The majority of the evacuations have taken place in Kupwara districts Karnah and Machhil sectors, followed by the Uri sector in Baramulla district and some areas in Bandipora district read more

Locals from different areas along the India-Pakistan border being brought to a temporary camp at Mishriwala area, as part of evacuation in the wake of Operation Sindoor, in Jammu district, Thursday, May 8, 2025. PTI

Indian authorities on Friday (May 9) evacuated thousands of people living near the Line of Control in the border districts of Kashmir.

The action came on the heels of heavy shelling by Pakistani troops in these areas.

Evacuations in Baramulla, Kupwara & Bandipora

The evacuation efforts were concentrated in the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora, where residents were moved to bunkers or other safe locations, PTI reported citing officials.

The majority of the evacuations have taken place in Kupwara districts Karnah and Machhil sectors, followed by the Uri sector in Baramulla district and some areas in Bandipora district.

The need for evacuation arose after Pakistan began shelling of civilian areas along the LoC, in retaliation to missile strikes by Indian armed forces aimed at terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country.

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Shelling destroys lives, damages livelihoods

The shelling, which started on May 7, has led to the death of one woman and injuries to 18 others.

In addition to the human toll, the bombardment by Pakistan has caused significant damage to property. More than 100 houses, over two dozen commercial buildings, and a dozen government buildings have been affected, officials reported.

India-Pakistan tensions

Tensions between India and Pakistan have risen sharply in recent weeks, with escalations that have been called the most serious confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in over two decades.

Following Operation Sindoor, where India targeted nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, cross-border hostilities intensified.

Heavy shelling has been reported along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also launched drone attacks targeting military installations in Bathinda (Punjab) and multiple locations in Rajasthan, including Barmer, Pokhran, Jaisalmer, and Phalodi.

In the exchanges on Thursday (May 8), India neutralised Lahores air defence system in a major operational success. Indian air defences have also taken down all missiles launched by Pakistan to target Indian territories.

With inputs from PTI
China trade hub hospital launches bilingual medical report service for foreign patients

Xinhua) 09:54, May 09, 2025

HANGZHOU, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A hospital in Yiwu, a bustling trade hub in east China's Zhejiang Province, has launched an AI-powered bilingual medical examination report service as part of its latest efforts to break language barriers for foreign patients.

The new service offered by the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, allows foreign patients to apply for free English versions of their medical examination reports.

Dubbed "the world's supermarket," the city of Yiwu is an international hub for the production and trade of small commodities. The hospital's bilingual initiative is part of efforts to improve healthcare services for the city's large community of foreign traders and residents.

Earlier this year, the hospital deployed the popular AI model DeepSeek into its outpatient and inpatient systems, which has assisted doctors in keeping medical records. In April, it added the AI-powered medical examination report translation service, streamlining the process that has been traditionally reliant on time-consuming human translation.

The service leverages AI to instantly generate English translations of medical reports, which are then checked and reviewed by doctors and medical experts to ensure accuracy.

"Just one click and the draft translation is done immediately," said Zhang Yunyun from the hospital's ultrasound department. "Doctors then check the content, followed by expert review to finalize the report.

The bilingual service is currently available across multiple departments, including radiology, pathology, ultrasound, and electrocardiography.

A patient from Lebanon, who was identified as Nesir, recently received English versions of five medical reports at the hospital. He said the service finally enabled him to understand the medical examination reports on his own when seeing doctors in China.

A foreign doctor working at the hospital introduced the service to Nesir. With the English versions, Nesir's doctors back in Lebanon can also participate in treatment discussions.

In addition to English-version reports, the hospital also offers international commercial insurance direct billing and medical escort services. It has signed agreements with 22 global insurance companies to expand the one-stop direct billing service.

Last year, the hospital offered medical services for 19,950 foreign patients, the highest number among hospitals in Zhejiang Province. The hospital also has an international outpatient department with English-speaking doctors, an English version hospital appointment registration system, as well as medical escorts and volunteers.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
The Indian Army issued its first statement after New Delhi foiled Pakistani strikes on Thursday evening. In the statment, the army said that the country gave a befitting reply to Pakistans aggression read more

The Indian Army issued a statment after intercepting a on Thursday evening. The army gave an update on what went down last night and said that the Indian forces gave a befitting reply to Pakistani provocations.

Tensions between India and Pakistan reached an all-time high after multiple terrorists-backed by Pakistani terror groups, conducted the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, killing 26 tourists in Kashmir. Two weeks after the attack, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan.

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Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said in a statement on Thursday morning.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs.

OPERATION SINDOOR



Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/9YcW2hSwi5  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

#IndianArmy remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force, it added, finishing the statement with the hashtag #JusticeServed.

What went down last night

In the post, the Indian Army also shared a brief video, giving an insight into their operation last night. In the Thursday night provocation, India neutralised Pakistans attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones.

Sirens and the sounds of explosions engulfed the skies of Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla, Kupwara and several other places. In response to this, the Indian Army carried out massive night aerial vigil along the border with Pakistan. Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, the Indian defence ministry said that armed forces foiled Pakistans attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and Western parts of the country.

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Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India has always played the role of a responsible nation, and has exercised great restraint, since it believes in resolving issues with dialogue. However, if anyone tries to take advantage of this restraint, they will face quality action. We are fully prepared for such responsible responses in the future as well, he added.

With inputs from PTI
The Press Information Bureaus fact-checking department has been busy debunking claims propagated by Pakistans disinformation campaign. Between 10:00 p.m. on May 8 and 6:30 a.m. on May 9, the PIB reviewed and fact-checked at least eight viral videos and posts read more

Islamabad attempted to escalate tensions by targeting 15 Indian cities with drones and missiles. However, Indian armed forces foiled these attempts using drones and missiles, and destroyed a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore. File image/AFP

India, on Friday, dismissed claims of a suicide attack in the Army Brigade in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district as fake news. It also rejected social media posts on a supposed drone attack in Punjabs Jalandhar.

Pakistan launched an offensive along the international border on Thursday evening. The country initiated a series of air attacks targeting military installations and border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Ministry of Defence has said that the Pakistani airstrikes involved the deployment of conventional air-to-ground missiles, kamikaze drones and unmanned aerial systems. The Indian Army said that India thwarted Islamabads drone attacks, and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations.

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PIB debunks suicide attack claims

Reports claiming a fidayeen (suicide) attack on an Army brigade in Rajouri, accompanied by video footage, began circulating online. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified that no such incident occurred and identified the video as false and misleading.

 #Fake_news is circulating about a "fidayeen" attack on an Army brigade in #Rajouri, #Jammu and #Kashmir.#PIBFactCheck:



 No such #fidayeen or suicide attack has occurred on any army cantt.



 Do not fall for these false claims intended to #mislead and cause confusion. pic.twitter.com/x8Az5tigUO  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025

The Press Information Bureaus fact-checking department has been busy debunking claims propagated by Pakistans disinformation campaign. Between 10:00 p.m. on May 8 and 6:30 a.m. on May 9, the PIB reviewed and fact-checked at least eight viral videos and posts, determining whether they were unrelated, altered, or completely false.

The Fact Check Unit also said that a video of an explosion on an oil tanker dating back to July 7, 2021, was passed off as an attack on the Hazira Port in Gujarat.

A fake letter attributed to a non-existent Chief of Army Staff, Gen V K Narayan also surfaced, which the PIB confirmed to be fabricated.

Another viral video claimed that the Indian military used its airbase in Ambala to launch attacks, which the PIB dismissed as false and referred to a detailed Ministry of Defence press release to clarify the facts.

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With inputs from agencies
Pakistans provocation killed as many as 15 people, including four children and a soldier in Poonch. Over 57 people were injured after the country launched artillery and mortar shelling along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir read more

A resident inspects his house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Poonch, along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. AP file

Pakistans cross-border shelling targeting Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district has left behind a trail of destruction and resulted in civilian deaths, as India thwarted Islamabads offensive on Thursday evening.

Pakistan launched a series of air raids along the international border on May 8, targeting military installations and border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Ministry of Defence has said that the Pakistani airstrikes involved the deployment of conventional air-to-ground missiles, kamikaze drones and unmanned aerial systems. The Indian Army said that India thwarted Islamabads drone attacks, and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations.

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Children and a soldier die in attack

Pakistans provocation killed as many as 15 people, including four children and a soldier. Over 57 people were injured after the country launched artillery and mortar shelling along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Ajay Maini, 49, a government school teacher in Poonch, said, Vihaan Bhargav, 13, son of my friend and colleague Sanjeev Kumar Bhargav, lost his life after a Pakistani mortar shell hit their car in Bhainch. The shell hit the little boy on his head and the sight of his scalp hanging and blood oozing out of his head was heart wrenching.

The soldier who died in the shelling was Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of 5 Fd Regt, 16 Corps, Indian Army, the White Knight Corps, said on X.

#GOC and all ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps salute the supreme sacrifice of L/Nk Dinesh Kumar of 5 Fd Regt, who laid down his life on 07 May 25 during Pakistan Army shelling.

We also stand in solidarity with all victims of the targeted attacks on innocent civilians in #Poonch Sector.  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) May 7, 2025

Houses damaged

Many civilians found their homes damaged by Pakistani shelling. The air attacks developed huge cracks in several homes and also ripped off the roofs of some.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah left for Jammu early Friday to take stock of the situation following last nights failed drone attack by Pakistan.
As Pakistan continued cross-border attacks and India responded to them under Operation Sindoor, markets opened in the red on Friday (May 9) with Sensex falling 500 points and NIFTY 50 down 700 points read more

Indian markets opened in the red on Friday amid ongoign tensions with Pakistan as NIFTY 500 fell 700 points and Sensex over 500 points in initial trading.

India responded to Pakistani cross-border aggression throughout the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Pakistan fired drones and missiles at several places Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. Pakistani ground forces also fired into India from across the Line of Control and International Border.

At the time of the writing of this copy, the Sensex was 600 points down and NIFTY 50 was down 190 points.

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Pakistan, however, had a much worse day on Thursday as the nation suffered the worst single-day decline as markets fell by over to 6,000 points.

Even as the markets fell in India, defence stocks have gained, with Paras Defence up 3.52 per cent, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) up 1.6 per cent, and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) up 2.28 per cent, Zen Technologies up around 4.99 percent, and Mazgaon Dock also gained around 0.85 per cent, according to Moneycontrol.

As India took out Pakistani drones and missiles launched at major centres like military bases in Jammu, Udhampur, and Pathankot, and at cities like Jaisalmer, the broader Nifty Defence index gained nearly 1.28 per cent.

Vinit Sambre, the Head of Equities at DSP Mutual Fund, told CNBC-TV18 that the movement in defence stocks was on higher order books and order announcements. He said that commentary from corporates currently is not great due to uncertain environments and that defence execution cycles remain long.
Pakistan Army, in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, has been shelling civilian areas along the Line of Control. This has claimed multiple lives, especially in Poonch and Uri read more

A local resident inspects his house that was damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Uri. Source: AFP

Continuous heavy artillery and mortar shelling by Pakistan continued for a third consecutive day on the Jammu and Kashmir border on Friday (May 9).

The attack from Pakistan led to the killing of three people.

Pakistani shelling claimed the life of civilian Mohd Abrar and injured three others, including his wife, when their homes were hit. Additionally, a soldier, sepoy M Murali Naik from Andhra Pradesh, laid down his life during the cross-border shelling in Poonch. In Baramullas Uri sector, intense overnight cross-border shelling resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to several others, including a soldier.

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BSF foils infilitration attempt, kills seven terrorists

Along the volatile boundary, the Border Security Force (BSF) also thwarted a major infiltration attempt, killing seven terrorists.

The BSF successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt across the International Border in Jammus Samba district. The BSFs surveillance grid detected a large group of terrorists around 11 pm on Thursday (May 8), leading to an engagement that resulted in the death of at least seven infiltrators and the destruction of the Pakistan Rangers Dhandhar post, which had provided support fire.

CM Abdullah, LG Sinha on site

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rushed to Jammu from Srinagar to assess the situation in the aftermath of the largest Pakistani drone attack.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the shelling-hit Uri sector.

Abdullah warned Pakistan that continued escalation from across the border would only harm them. He described Thursdays aerial strikes on Jammu as one of the most serious assaults on the city since the 1971 war, urging Pakistan to focus on de-escalation amid the ongoing military conflict.

Airspace violations continue

According to the army, Pakistan carried out large-scale airspace violations on the night of May 8 and 9, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300 to 400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek, including Jammu city.

Indian forces neutralised many drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. Pakistan escalated with artillery and drone attacks across the LoC, causing casualties. Alarmingly, Pakistan kept its civil airspace open during the assault, endangering civilian flights.

Shelling was also reported from different sectors of Rajouri, Akhnoor in Jammu, and Kupwara districts, causing damage to dozens of residential houses and leading to fresh evacuation of the civilian population from vulnerable areas.

With inputs from PTI
Confirming the incident, Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said, We received information about three people being injured. They have burn injuries, and doctors are attending to them. read more

A Pakistani drone strike on Friday targeted a residential area in Punjabs Ferozepur, leaving three members of a family injured.

According to ANI, the victims suffered burn injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Confirming the incident, Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said, We received information about three people being injured. They have burn injuries, and doctors are attending to them.

A complete blackout has been enforced in Firozpur and sirens and explosions can be heard.

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#WATCH | Punjab | A complete blackout has been enforced in Firozpur, and sirens and explosions can be heard.



(Visuals deferred by an unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/VqsKb4clxX  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Sidhu said that most of the drones entering Indian airspace had been neutralised by the Indian Army.

With inputs from agencies
Indias swift and coordinated response highlighted the strength of its air defence capability, developed over the past decade read more

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Indian officials have named the S-400 air defence system the 'Sudarshan Chakra'. Reuters

Following Indias Operation Sindoor, which destroyed nine terrorist camps across the border, Pakistan on Thursday (May 8) tried to escalate tensions by launching missile strikes at Indian military sites in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

However, all these missiles were intercepted or neutralised by Indian missile defence systems.

Indias swift and coordinated response highlighted the strength of its air defence capability, developed over the past decade.

This response also revealed the weaknesses in Pakistans air defence system.

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Indias aerial shield

Indias Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumf systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDOs anti-drone technologies created an effective aerial shield.

India didnt just defend; it struck back with precision. Operation Sindoor saw the Indian Armed Forces target deep inside Pakistan, destroying a Chinese-supplied HQ-9 air defense unit in Lahore and damaging key radar infrastructure.

Indias investment on defence systems over the past decade

This level of readiness didnt happen overnight. Since 2014, the Indian government has systematically upgraded Indias air defence architecture with key acquisitions and developments such as:

- A 35,000 crore ($4.02 billion) deal for five S-400 Triumf squadrons signed in 2018, with three squadrons now operational along the borders with China and Pakistan.

Deployment of Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MR-SAM), a $2.5 billion deal signed in 2017 with Israel, now actively guarding frontline bases like Bhatinda.

Indigenous Akash missile batteries and DRDO-developed counter-drone systems.

Man Portable Counter Drone Systems (MPCDS) to jam and disable hostile UAVs installed in 2024.

Suicide drones

Operation Sindoor also marked the combat debut of loitering munitionssuicidal drones ordered in 2021 and manufactured in India.

These drones carried out simultaneous, precision strikes across sectors, catching Pakistans defences off guard.

Additionally, Israeli-origin Harop dronesnow locally builtwere used to target and destroy air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore.

These platforms, along with the strategic deployment of Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER missiles, showcased Indias ability to execute precise strikes.

The Indian governments approach to defence has focused on building a resilient, multi-layered ecosystem rather than flashy one-time actions. Today, India operates a tech-driven airspace defence network capable of detecting, jamming, and neutralising threats before they breach.

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Operation Sindoor sent a clear message: India can not only defend its skies but now controls the airspace.
The FTA, while tactical in its specifics, is emblematic of a strategic reorientationone where India negotiates not just for trade advantages, but for a fairer, more inclusive global order read more

In a global landscape recalibrated by nationalist pivots and the search for resilient economic frameworks, the finalisation of a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom (UK) marks a pivotal moment. It is not merely about tariff reductions or increased market access. This agreement is a strategic declaration, signalling a shift in how trade, power, and diplomacy intersect in this century. It marks the rise of a more assertive India, willing to leverage its demographic and economic clout in a world searching for new economic anchors beyond traditional Western-led models.

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Strategic realignments in a changing global order

Post-Brexit, the UK has struggled to define its Global Britain vision amid political instability and limited trade success. Its proposed FTA with India stands out as its most significant bilateral economic initiative, aimed at more than market accessits a geopolitical pivot to align with a rising democratic power and regain global relevance.

India, once cautious in trade negotiationsevident in its 2019 withdrawal from the RCEPhas shifted gears. Recent FTAs with the UAE and Australia, along with the latest steps with the UK, signal a more assertive trade strategy. Indian policymakers increasingly view such agreements as tools for domestic growth and global influence.

For the UK, India offers economic depth and political legitimacy at a time when ties with the U.S. are faltering and European markets stagnate. Partnering strategically with a multicultural democracy like India helps the UK reposition itself in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

India, meanwhile, sees strategic value in this deal. With its reindustrialisation efforts under Make in India, PLI schemes, and digital infrastructure, the UK FTA promises access to cutting-edge technology, green finance, and infrastructure expertise. It also reflects Indias pivot from post-colonial aid narratives to self-assured economic diplomacy.

At this crossroads, the UK seeks a renewed identity, while India steps into its role as a global player. Their FTA represents not just trade, but a deeper alignment of strategic ambition in an evolving world order.

Labour mobility: Indias structural gain

Perhaps the most strategically significant win for India in this agreement is on labour mobility. For too long, Western nations have advocated for liberalised markets and investment flows while resisting the free movement of people. India has reversed this dynamic by centring human capital in its trade priorities. The FTA includes provisions for short-term professional visas, educational exchange, and streamlined recognition of Indian qualifications. For a country with a burgeoning young workforce, these provisions go far beyond economic symbolism.

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This also signals Indias intention to frame its people not as emigrants or job-seekers, but as knowledge ambassadors, service providers, and cultural linkages. From IT professionals to healthcare workers, India exports talent in a way few other countries do. Ensuring mobility rights for such sectors enhances Indias soft power and increases the long-term gains from remittances, cross-border collaboration, and diaspora-driven innovation.

Crucially, the agreement marks a recognition of talent as a tradable asset, which traditional FTAs have often ignored. In the age of AI, fintech, and climate adaptation, skilled human capital will be the defining currency of global competitiveness. Indias insistence on embedding mobility provisions speaks to a long-term vision of exporting not just goods, but services and skills embedded in global production chains.

Shadow of Trumps tariff politics

The IndiaUK FTA emerges as a deliberate counterpoint to the protectionist turn in Western trade policy, most notably under US President Donald Trump. His administrations heavy-handed use of tariffs, even against traditional allies, undermines trust in the rules-based multilateral trading system. India, too, bore the brunt: the withdrawal of its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) status, sustained pressure on digital services taxation, and constraints on pharmaceutical exports all signalled the vulnerability of emerging economies in an increasingly transactional global order.

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This agreement, however, underscores Indias transition from reactive to proactive trade diplomacy. No longer content with defensive negotiations, India is shaping the rules of engagement, securing substantive gains on labour mobility, services trade, and regulatory standards. In contrast to the zero-sum, deal-by-deal logic of Trump-era trade policy, Indias strategy is structural and forward-looking, designed to embed resilience, reciprocity, and long-term interdependence into its global partnerships.

The symbolic contrast is striking. As the United States turned inward, erecting tariff walls and prioritising short-term leverage, India leaned into multilateralism on its terms, forging deeper, principle-based partnerships that reflect both ambition and autonomy. The India-UK FTA, then, is more than a bilateral deal. It is a statement of values: that trade can still serve development, openness, and shared prosperity, even in an era shadowed by economic nationalism.

Political Economy, Implementation and Strategic Potential

The success of any FTA lies in its implementation. India must ensure that gains are not monopolised by elite firms but trickle down to small traders, rural producers, and informal workers. Trade facilitation must be coupled with skilling programs, logistics reform, and regulatory transparency.

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Additionally, there are valid concerns about environmental impact, labour standards, and digital sovereignty. Civil society and think tanks must play a role in monitoring compliance and proposing adaptive safeguards. Without democratic oversight, even the best deals can turn lopsided.

The role of state governments is also key. Many export sectors: textiles, agriculture, fisheries, et cetera are managed at the state level. Coordinated federalism will be essential to harmonise standards, optimise incentives, and unlock the full potential of the FTA.

Beyond the economics, this agreement is a political signal. India and the UK are not merely trade partners; they are democracies confronting similar challengesfrom misinformation to inequality to climate vulnerability. The FTA can become the foundation for deeper collaboration on cybersecurity, clean energy, education, and multilateral governance.

The agreement also enhances Indias credibility as a global rule-maker. As New Delhi prepares to host more global dialogues, the success of this FTA will amplify its voice in shaping inclusive globalisation, South-South cooperation, and digital governance norms.

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Tariff reductions and market access

On the goods front, the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) promises significant strides through phased tariff reductions across a diverse range of products. For the UK, key exports such as Scotch whisky, automobiles, and select dairy products are set to gain enhanced market access in India. Simultaneously, Indian exportsespecially in sectors like textiles, apparel, pharmaceuticals, and processed foodswill benefit from lowered duties entering the British market. Particularly noteworthy is the potential uplift for Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and agricultural exporters, thanks to the anticipated easing of non-tariff barriers and streamlined certification processes.

Yet, Indias approach has not been one of unchecked liberalisation. The country has exercised strategic restraint by resisting British demands on sensitive areas such as dairy access and financial services regulations. This calibrated stance signals a maturing trade policyone that values reciprocal benefits while safeguarding domestic industries, livelihoods, and regulatory autonomy.

Moreover, the FTA opens the door for deeper value chain integration. Indian manufacturersespecially in critical sectors like automotive components and renewable energycan tap into British demand and technological prowess to bolster their competitiveness and climb up global supply chains. In doing so, India strengthens its role not just as a production hub but as an innovation partner in the evolving global economy.

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Together, these developments underscore Indias broader trade vision: fostering growth through balanced market access, developmental equity, and global economic reform. The FTA, while tactical in its specifics, is emblematic of a strategic reorientationone where India negotiates not just for trade advantages, but for a fairer, more inclusive global order.

Amal Chandra is an author, political analyst and columnist. He posts on X at @ens_socialis. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
India is clearly gaining advantage and has the upper hand. But is the world listening? Who is winning the narrative war? For a change, we are read more

The ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, which left a trail of devastation in Jammu and Kashmir, is deeply etched in the psyche of every India. But so is Indias swift, decisive and on-going response, Operation Sindoor. Yes, once again, the India-Pakistan conflict has been brought to a perilous precipice. The spectre of an all-out war looms large, with both nations locked in a cycle of escalatory retaliation.

India is clearly gaining advantage and has the upper hand. But is the world listening? Who is winning the narrative war?

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One advantage that an India-lover and commentator as far afield as the United States has over his compatriots is that while it is the dead of night in the sub-continent, it is broad daylight in America. In the ongoing India-Pakistan military action, which might soon turn into open warfare, one can monitor the minute-by-minute action as it unfolds without having to stay up, bleary-eyed, night after night.

Indian media, both massive mainstream and the now bigger social media contingent have, by and large, offered admirable support to Indias fight. Barring the few, largely expected, fifth columnists and renegades. Yet, across the political and media spectrum and the support and enthusiasm for Indias just cause has been tremendous, I would even dare to say, unprecedented.

In contrast, when I consider how the situation is being covered in the Western press, there is no question about two glaring facts. First, the colossal ignorance that mainstream media has about India, Pakistan, and their age-oldwhat President Donald J. Trump even termed thousands of years oldconflict. Secondly, this ignorance is compounded by the prejudice against India and the mistaken bias and partiality for Pakistan.

But, at long last, the entire information war may actually pivot in Indias favour.

How and why is this happening? That will require a much more detailed analysis, but two factors stand out. The superb messaging of India, with the Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, leading the charge, in a measured, calm, and convincing manner. But let us not overlook the two extraordinary ladies in uniform flanking him, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. All three have performed superbly for the nation, but the latter two have, undoubtedly, become household names and national heroines.

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The idea is to show Pakistan, and the world, not only that we are a responsible state, with regular dispatches backed by facts, figures, and actual photographs. But also, more subtly, that to our lady officers are sufficient to taken on the Pakistani armed forces. Moreover, one of these brave officers is actually a Muslim, thus living proof that the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munirs bluster of the two-nation theory is punctured when it comes Indias 200 plus million Muslims.

Compare this with the clumsy, contradictory, and confusing statements of Pakistani ministers, political leaders, and unofficial spokespersons. What a mess they have made of their own misinformation and propaganda. As to the Western media, they are slowly waking up. When uniformed army officers are photographed at the funerals of slain terrorists, the cover of deniability about the connection between Pakistans A team, its armed forces, and its B team, the terrorist brigades, is blown to bits. Yes, the Western media is gradually turning. Thanks, in part, to some outstanding and fearless reporting by Sky News journalists like Yalda Hakim.

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But there is another equally important factor. The Trump administration, which has avoided either equalizing Pakistan and India and, more importantly, refrained from interfering too much. As J D Vance put it famously, it is none of our business. This can only be interpreted as giving India a relatively free hand in bringing Pakistan to its knees.

Behind both these achievements is the tremendous effort put in by Dr S. Jaishankar on the diplomatic front. Fully backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indias diplomatic offensive has paid rich dividends in slowly but sure turning the narrative war in Indiasfavour.<

This turn is crucial. Because any actual conflict or skirmish on the ground is accompanied by a narrative war, which can be equally intense and almost as influential. I say almost advisedly because, in the end, the real victors and real losers emerge in the clear light of day and the spin cannot prevail forever. But for closely fought wars, like the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, it is the dominant narrative that prevails impacts generations to come.

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We were repeatedly told by the eminent academics whom Utpal Kumar derisively terms distorians that the Marathas lost and Ahmed Shah Abdali won. But no Islamist conqueror dared cross over the Hindukush (Hindu-killer) mountains through the Khyber Pass to invade India after that date.

This time, though, the war, if we go by the momentumand movement thus far, will not be too close to call. India is winning. If Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munirhas indeed learned a lesson from Indias resolute response, he may choose, if he is wise, to back down, allowing cooler heads within Pakistans military-politico-economic elite to prevail.

This would require Pakistan to scale back its support for terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, while maintaining the illusion of strength, though this will be increasingly difficult to maintain,for domestic consumption. Such a move could pave the way for a tacit understanding with India, where both sides agree to lower the temperature without formal concessions.

Confidence-building measures, such as increased communication through backchannels or a temporary halt to provocative military manoeuvres along the Line of Control (LoC), could follow. However, if Munir opts for adventurismperhaps another terrorist strike or a reckless escalation along the LoCthe consequences will be dire.

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Pakistans economy, already teetering on the brink, will collapse. If its military fails too, not just its economy, but the state of Pakistan itself, might come crashing down, adding its debris to the rubble of history. Good riddance to bad rubbish, some would say.

The writer is an author and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The made-in-India Akash air defence system has emerged as the mainstay of the Indian Army and Air Force in defence against Pakistani missiles read more

The medium-range Akash air defence system is in service with the Indian Army and Air Force. (Photo: BEL)

The Indian Army and Air Force are using made-in-India Akash air defence system to intercept Pakistani missiles.

Since Thursday evening, Pakistan has been attacking India with missiles and drones, but most of those projectiles have been successfully intercepted by Indian air defence system. For missiles, India is primarily using using Akash and Russia-made S-400 air defence systems.

India pressed Akash and S-400 systems into combat operations for the first time on Thursday in response to Pakistan attacks.

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Defence officials have said that the Akash system has performed effectively so far.

The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border, the defence officials told ANI.

Akash is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system used to defend against missiles and drones. The real-time multi-sensor data processing and threat evaluation allows the system to simultaneously engage multiple targets from any direction.

ALSO READ: What is S-400 and Akash system that India used to foil Pakistans drone assault?

Akash air defence system has the following key specifications:

Up to 18 km altitude range

80 km coverage by Multi Function Radar and 120 km coverage by Central Acquisition Radar

High level of automation enables effective operation

Tracking of multiple targets in TWS mode by Multi Function Radar

Simultaneous engagement of many targets with multiple missiles

High jamming immunity in severe ECM environment

High Missile Maneuverability

Automatic checkout, launch and abort facility for missile

Open architecture of System enables wider operational network connectivity to any other digital networks

Sources have said that Russia-made S-400 and indigenous Akash air defence systems were pressed into action to intercept incoming Pakistani drones and missiles.

Sources said that both hard kill and soft kill technologies were employed against Pakistani drones.
Khawaja Asif argued that the projectiles fired by India were not intercepted to avoid disclosing the location of Pakistans air defence units, directly contradicting the Pakistani Army read more

Khawaja Asif address parliament on Friday (May 9). Source: Screengrab from a video on X

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday (May 9) contradicted the Pakistan Armys claims of downing Indian drones while addressing the parliament, arguing the projectiles were not intercepted to avoid disclosing the location of the countrys air defence units to Indian forces.

Asif said, The drone attack was mounted to detect our locations. Its a technical thing that I cant explain. We didnt intercept the drones, so that the location of our aerial defence units wont get leaked.

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We didnt intercept Indian drones as it would have given away our defence positions



This isnt parody, this is scene from Pakistani parliament



Pakistani parliament is funnier than parody  pic.twitter.com/7zWbzXzyKA  BALA (@erbmjha) May 9, 2025

India said Thursday it targeted air defence units of Pakistan across several cities, effectively inflicting severe damage and taking out an air defence system in Lahore.

According to reports, India used Israeli-developed Harpy kamikaze drones in these attacks.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Army claimed that they had shot down 25 Indian drones since Wednesday night.

However, a spokesperson for the army, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudry, acknowledged that drone attacks in Rawalpindi, Lahore and an area near Karachi had resulted in a civilian casualty and an injury.

Since the beginning of the India-Pakistan conflict on May 7, Khawaja Asif has increasingly made global headlines for his controversial remarks.

Khawaja Asif became the subject of widespread ridicule following his appearance on CNN in the wake of the Indian Air Forces strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.

During the interview, he was pressed on Pakistans claim that it had successfully shot down five Indian fighter jets  a statement that has been attributed as fake and has been widely questioned due to the absence of credible evidence.

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When CNNs Becky Anderson asked for evidence, Asif conveniently pointed fingers at social media.

Asif responded: Its all over social media. On Indian social media, not on our social media, The debris of these jets fell and its all over Indian media.

Earlier, Asif embarrassed himself and Pakistan for admitting on camera that his nation has been doing dirty work of supporting and funding terrorism in South Asia for decades.

When Skys Yalda Hakim said, You do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations,

Asif replied candidly: Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know, and the West, including Britain.

That was a mistake, and we suffered from that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistans track record was an unimpeachable track record.

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Experts said the live use of advanced weapons would be analysed across the world, including in China and the United States, which are both preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan or in the wider Indo-Pacific region read more

A dogfight between Chinese-made Pakistani jets and French-made Indian Rafale fighters will be closely scrutinized by militaries seeking insights that could offer an edge in future conflicts.

A Chinese-made Pakistani fighter plane shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, two U.S. officials told Reuters, marking a potential major milestone for Beijings advanced fighter jet.

The aerial clash is a rare opportunity for militaries to study the performance of pilots, fighter jets and air-to-air missiles in active combat, and use that knowledge to prepare their own air forces for battle.

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Experts said the live use of advanced weapons would be analysed across the world, including in China and the United States, which are both preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan or in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters there was high confidence that Pakistan had used the Chinese-made J-10 aircraft to launch air-to-air missiles against Indian fighter jets.

Social media posts focused on the performance of Chinas PL-15 air-to-air missile against the Meteor, a radar-guided air-to-air missile produced by European group MBDA. There has been no official confirmation these weapons were used.

Air warfare communities in China, the U.S. and a number of European countries will be extremely interested to try and get as much ground truth as they can on tactics, techniques, procedures, what kit was used, what worked and what didnt, said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

You have arguably Chinas most capable weapon against the Wests most capable weapon, if indeed it was being carried; we dont know that, Barrie said.

The French and Americans would likely be hoping for similar intelligence from India, Barrie said.

The PL-15 is a big problem. It is something that the U.S. military pays a lot of attention to, a defense industry executive said.

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Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation declined comment and the MBDA consortium,, could not immediately be reached for comment on a French public holiday.

Scant details

Western analysts and industry sources said crucial details remained unclear including whether the Meteor was carried and the type and amount of training the pilots had received. Arms firms would also be anxious to separate technical performance from operational factors, analysts said.

There will be audits of what works and what doesnt work, but I think the other overlay is the proverbial fog of war, said Byron Callan, a Washington-based defense expert and managing partner of Capital Alpha Partners.

U.S. arms companies are getting constant feedback about how their products are working in the war in Ukraine, he said.

So I absolutely expect the same to be the case with Indias European suppliers, and Pakistan and China are probably sharing the same feedback. If the PL-15 is working as advertised or better than expected, the Chinese would like to hear that.

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A defense industry source from a Western country operating the Meteor said an online picture of a seeker appeared to feature the component of a missile that had missed its target. There are conflicting reports on whether Pakistan has the domestic version of the PL-15 from the PLAAF, Chinas air force, or the lower-range export version publicly unveiled in 2021.

Barrie, who has written extensively on the missile, said he believed that Pakistan most likely has the export version.

A Western industry source dismissed claims that the rocket-powered PL-15 had longer range than the air-breathing Meteor but acknowledged that its capability may be greater than was thought. The Meteors range has not been officially published. At the moment its not possible to judge anything. We know so little, the industry source said.

The PL-15s range and performance have been a focus of Western interest for years. Its emergence was seen as one of many signals that China had moved well beyond reliance on Soviet-era derivative technology.

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The United States is developing the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile via Lockheed Martin partly in response to the PL-15 and its beyond-visual-range performance - part of a broader reset of Western priorities toward China.

European nations are exploring a mid-life upgrade for Meteor, which specialist publication Janes says could involve propulsion and guidance, but analysts say progress has been slow.

U.S. President Donald Trump in March awarded Boeing the contract to build the U.S. Air Forces most sophisticated fighter jet yet, which would likely include stealth, advanced sensors and cutting-edge engines.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday approved the immediate disbursement of about $1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility, Shehbaz Sharifs office said read more

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday approved the immediate release of approximately $1 billion to Pakistan as part of the ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF), aimed at stabilising the countrys struggling economy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the approval of a $1bn dollar instalment for Pakistan by the IMF and the failure of Indias high-handed tactics against it," PTI quoted a statement issued by his office as saying.

India earlier raised strong objections to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) decision to extend fresh financial assistance to Pakistan, citing concerns over the countrys poor track record with past programmes and the potential misuse of funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

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During the IMF Executive Board meeting held on Friday, which approved a $1 billion disbursement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and considered an additional $1.3 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), India registered its protest and abstained from voting.

New Delhi opposed the proposed $2.3 billion in new loans, warning that such financial support could be diverted to fund activities linked to terrorism.

In a statement, the Indian Ministry of Finance said, Rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message to the global community, exposes funding agencies and donors to reputational risks, and undermines global values.

India also criticised Pakistans repeated requests for IMF assistance, noting the countrys failure to adhere to previous programme conditions and implement sustained reforms.

Indias opposition at the IMF comes at a time when military conflict between India and Pakistan has intensified.

The statement issued by the PM office in Islamabad said Pakistans economic situation has improved, and the country is moving towards development. India is plotting a conspiracy to divert attention from our countrys development through unilateral aggression.

Indian attempts to sabotage the IMF programme have failed, the statement said, adding that the IMF programme would help stabilise the economy and put it on the path towards long-term recovery.

We are working on priority areas such as tax reform, improved energy sector performance and private sector development. The improved economic indicators in the last 14 months are a reflection of the governments positive policies, it said.

The approval of the IMFs executive board has led to an immediate disbursement of $1 billion, bringing total disbursements under the loan programme to about $2 billion. On successful completion of seven half-yearly reviews, Pakistan is entitled to seven equal instalments of about $1 billion under the loan programme.

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Pakistan and the IMF had reached a three-year, $7 billion aid package deal in July last with the new programme set to allow the country to cement macroeconomic stability and create conditions for stronger, more inclusive and resilient growth.

The IMF and Pakistan had reached a staff-level agreement on March 25 on the first biannual review of the 39-month $7 billion loan programme, agreeing on a series of reforms including the introduction of a carbon levy, timely revisions to electricity tariffs, increased water pricing and liberalisation of the automobile sector.

With inputs from agencies
India has ramped up diplomatic offensive against Pakistan following the military conflict, with its Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra saying that the country is at war with the terrorists and will bring justice to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack by holding the lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable. read more

India has intensified its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan in the wake of escalating military tensions, with senior envoys reaffirming the countrys resolve to bring justice to victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra said India is at war with terrorists and will hold the lowlifes, subhuman monsters behind the Pahalgam attack accountable. His remarks came as part of a broader push to rally international support and underscore Indias position.

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Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said Indias response, dubbed Operation Sindoor, was precise and targeted at terror infrastructure, in contrast to Pakistans decision to escalate the conflict rather than seek an off-ramp to de-escalate tensions.

The diplomatic efforts followed a dramatic surge in hostilities, with Indian defence forces foiling two cross-border attacks by Pakistan on Jammu city within hours. The situation has remained volatile since Operation Sindoor was launched early Wednesday in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack and Pakistans failed bid to target 15 Indian cities.

April 22 was the most heinous terrorist act, Kwatra said in an interview with CNN on Thursday.

It is nobodys case to say that these terrorists should be given a free pass, and thats precisely what we did the day before yesterday, held them accountable, Kwatra said and described Indias action as a very precise, calibrated, measured response to these terrorists. We are at war with the terrorists, and we will, as I said, bring justice to the victims and hold them accountable, he said, answering a question if India is at war with Pakistan. Our foremost objective in this was (to) hold these lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable and bring justice to the victims. Indias High Commissioner to the UK Doraiswami, who was interviewed by a series of UK media outlets on Thursday to present Indias stance on the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, told Sky News that the international community can intervene by pointing out the opportunity for an off-ramp to Pakistan.

He displayed an image live on air of US-designated Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Abdur Rauf leading prayers for the terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor, also presented during a briefing by Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry in New Delhi.

Everybody knows that for the last 30 years, Pakistan has used this (terrorism) as a means of sub-critical warfare against India, said Doraiswami.

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If the international community really wants to be able to look at this and worry about it, the simple solution is to tell Pakistan it has an opportunity for an off-ramp. These are things that the world should have compelled Pakistan to do 30 years ago, and to compel them to implement their promises about taking down this infrastructure. It has not done so, he said.

Asked if India fears a further escalation of conflict in the region, the envoy asserted that the original escalation is Pakistan-sponsored terror groups attacking and shooting civilians in Pahalgam on April 22.

Our response thereafter was precise, targeted, reasonable and moderate. It was focused principally and solely on terrorist infrastructure. We did not strike the Pakistani military establishment. We did not strike national infrastructure, and we made it abundantly clear that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation  a fact actually acknowledged in a left handed way, of course, by the Pakistani side in terms of their own official statements which said that the airspace hadnt been violated, said Doraiswami.

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The logical solution would be, as weve said repeatedly, for Pakistan to take the opportunity of an off ramp, which we have made abundantly clear, including this morning, that if Pakistan stops attacking our military facilities, the matter ends there, but it is for them to decide, he said.

In his interview with CNN, Kwatra said that from a large number of Congressmen and Senators to the whole world, they all appreciate that India should respond and bring accountability for these terrorists and justice for the victims.

He said the terrorists killed the civilians in Pahalgam on the basis of religion, identifying and killing all non-Muslims.

So what we did the day before yesterday was essentially our response to terror, Kwatra said, adding that Indias response has been very measured, calibrated and proportionate.

Responding to a question on explosions being heard in Kashmir, Kwatra said Pakistan has again decided to stand with the terrorists. Rather than take action against them, they are essentially lending them support, he said.

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To a comment that Pakistan has denied involvement in the attacks, Kwatra said that denial and obfuscation have always been the first part of Pakistans strategy.

They have this unique characteristic where they assume responsibility of their past actions in future, not in the present moment, the diplomat said as he asked where was Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who plotted the 9/11 attacks in the US, found the killer of American journalist Daniel Pearl or perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks found? Responding to a question, Kwatra said that with Operation Sindoor, we, from our perspective, had brought a certain finality to it, but it was, of course, subject to whether Pakistan has brought finality to it. Pakistan chose to escalate it further. Now its duty-bound for us to respond to that. When asked how concerned the world should be that the tensions between India and Pakistan could escalate into a nuclear war, the Indian envoy said, I think the world should be concerned about the fact that Pakistans support to terrorism and terrorist activities continues. I think thats what the world should be concerned about. And I think thats what the world should tell Pakistan  to stop supporting terrorism. I think thats the crux of the question, he asserted.

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Tensions between India and Pakistan soared significantly following Indias Operation Sindoor on early Wednesday in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that had cross-border linkages and Pakistans subsequent unsuccessful attempt to attack 15 Indian cities.

American Vice President JD Vance has called for de-escalation, while underlining that Washington was not going to get involved in the middle of a war thats fundamentally none of our business.

Several countries have offered to mediate, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on Thursday, days after visiting Pakistan.

Diplomats and world leaders have pressured both countries for restraint.

However, the International Crisis Group said foreign powers appear to have been somewhat indifferent to the prospect of war, despite warnings of possible escalation.

A combination of bellicose rhetoric, domestic agitation and the remorseless logic of military one-upmanship have heightened the risks of escalation, particularly because for some time there was no diplomatic communication between the sides, it said.

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With inputs from agencies
In what is being described as an intelligence coup, India has recovered a China-made PL-15 missile fired by Pakistan almost intact read more

The photograph show the purported remains of a Chinese missile fired at Indian warplanes by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

India has recovered a China-made PL-15 missile fired by Pakistan almost intact.

India recovered the missile in Punjabs Hoshiarpur where it landed in a field, according to visuals that have surfaced in the media.

The recovery of the missile is an intelligence coup for India, according to veteran defence journalist Vishnu Som.

Follow our complete coverage of India-Pakistan tensions here

Indian specialists are set to unpack the missile and study it to reverse-engineer it. That would give India an advantage over China that uses a variant of the missile.

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This missile will be opened up and inspected - the findings could end up giving the IAF a huge edge in the years ahead. You can count on the US asking for a look as well, said Som in a post on X.

The recovery of an almost intact Chinese PL-15 air to air missile is an intelligence coup for India. This missile, fired by a Pak fighter (J-10 or JF-17) flew more than 100 kms to land in the Hoshiarpur area. This missile will be opened up and inspected - the findings could end https://t.co/oKllhUDBCR  Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV) May 9, 2025

This is at least the second instance of such a missile being recovered by India.

Earlier, it had been reported that India had recovered fragments of China-made PL-15 missile in Hoshiarpur.

These missiles are likely to be Chinas PL-15E variant of the missile meant for export.

The PL-15 is a long-range, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile used by fighter planes. Pakistans China-made JF-17 fighter planes are equipped with these missiles. Pakistan attacks on India during the ongoing conflict are the first known combat use of the missile.

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The previous report said that serial numbers of the fragments found in Hoshiarpur, P15E12203023 and P15E12203039, suggest that these missiles may have been fired by the same Pakistan plane possibly at the same Indian target.

The most notable part that specialists would look into would be the missiles seeker system.

A missiles seeker system is a critical component that allows it to detect, track, and home in on the target. If the adversary gains access to the seeker system, they can learn about its confidential specifications and capabilities, its vulnerabilities and limitations, and gain insights into counter-measures, jamming, guidance, and other critical aspects.
The closure has stopped Indian Sikh pilgrims from visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, though Pakistan keeps the corridor open on its side read more

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Friday (May 9) announced that the Kartarpur Corridor has been shut from Indias side indefinitely in view of Pakistans indiscriminate firing across the Line of Control (LoC).

Earlier in the day, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs bureau of immigration announced the closure of the corridor till further orders.

The closure has stopped Indian Sikh pilgrims from visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, though Pakistan keeps the corridor open on its side.

On Wednesday morning (May 7), about 150 Sikh pilgrims were turned away at the Dera Baba Nanak check post in Gurdaspur after waiting over 90 minutes.

Ramesh Singh Arora, president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and a former MLA, appointed as ambassador for the corridor, said, The corridor is open from our side. It is a conscious decision of our government to continue welcoming the pilgrims.

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On Tuesday, we received about 200 pilgrims from India and suddenly, the next day, the arrival was zero. When we checked, we were told that India had stopped pilgrims from going to Kartarpur Corridor. Despite the corridors close down from Indias side, the Pakistan government has decided to keep it open as a goodwill gesture, Arora was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that madrassa students will serve as the countrys second line of defence amid standoff with India read more

As tensions with India rise, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Friday (May 9) during a Parliament session that madrassa (religious schools) students will serve as the countrys second line of defence when needed. This statement followed Indias retaliatory drone strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan the previous day.

As far as Madrassas or Madrassa students are concerned, theres no doubt they are our second line of defence, the youngsters who are studying there. When the time comes, they will be used as needed 100 per cent, Khawaja Asif said.

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Pakistans Defence Minister drops the mask:

Madrassa students are our second line of defence and can be used for any purpose."



Let that sink in. A nuclear state openly admits grooming children for war.pic.twitter.com/PK7pAog01O  Riccha Dwivedi (@RicchaDwivedi) May 9, 2025

Asifs statement came after Indias central government on Friday authorised the Chief of the Army Staff to call upon members of the Territorial Army as tensions with Pakistan rise.

Asif, known for making controversial remarks, also gave the lawmakers the reason why the Indian drone attack on Thursday was not thwarted by Pakistan forces, an argument that directly contradicted a previous claim made by the Pakistan Army that the projectiles fired by India were intercepted.

Asif said, The drone attack was mounted to detect our locations. Its a technical thing that I cant explain. We didnt intercept the drones, so that the location of our aerial defence units wont get leaked.

India said Thursday it targeted air defence units of Pakistan across several cities, effectively inflicting severe damage and taking out an air defence system in Lahore.

According to reports, India used Israeli-developed Harpy kamikaze drones in these attacks.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Army claimed that they had shot down 25 Indian drones since Wednesday night.

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However, a spokesperson for the army, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudry, acknowledged that drone attacks in Rawalpindi, Lahore and an area near Karachi had resulted in a civilian casualty and an injury.

Since the beginning of the India-Pakistan conflict on May 7, Khawaja Asif has increasingly made global headlines for his controversial remarks.
As India thwarts Pakistani provocation, top officials in New Delhi reportedly believe that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir might not get a face-saving exit read more

As the tension between , Indian military circles are reportedly speculating that the clock is ticking for Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, and regardless of the time, he might not get a face-saving exit. Earlier this week, India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the devastating Pahalgam attack that led to the death of 26 people in Kashmir.

In the operation, the Indian forces targeted nine terror targets, some of which were found to be run with the Pakistani establishments support. India also responded to Pakistani aggression in areas like Poonch by hitting several air defence systems and other targets in Lahore and other areas.

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Pakistans attempt to retaliate was also foiled by India, as they managed to intercept drones and missile launchers from across the border against Indian military bases and civilian areas. The whole exchange between two nuclear-powered nations has left Pakistan in an embarrassing place and its Army chief speechless.

The instigator, who is now on mute

Operation Sindoor is fully underway. Pakistan army chief Asim Munir will not be given a face-saving exit, a senior officer told The Times of India on Thursday. Munirs aggressive rhetoric was one of the factors that started the escalation of tensions between the two nations.

On April 16, just days before the Pahalgam attack, Munir said that Hindus and Muslims were distinct nations and promoted the two-nation theory. He went on to refer to Kashmir as Pakistans jugular vein. Our stance is very clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, and we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle, he said at that time.

Many believe that the provocative remark was what instigated the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. Days after the attack, Munir reiterated his argument. Munir exclaimed that Muslims were distinct from Hindus in all aspects.

The two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one. Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life  religion, customs, traditions, thinking and aspirations, Munir said, addressing the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) parade in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province at that time.

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However, the recent altercations between the militaries of the two nations have unveiled the cracks in his leadership and Pakistans military capabilities.
Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kawatra said that his country is at war against terrorism backed by Pakistan as tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad escalate read more

Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kawatra said that India is at war against terrorism as tensions escalate between New Delhi and Islamabad following Operation Sindoor. In an interview with CNN, Kwatra pointed out how Pakistan is backing several terrorist organisations in the country, which often cause instability in India.

Kwatras comments to the international media came shortly after on Thursday evening. The strikes from the neighbouring country came a day after India conducted Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan. It is pertinent to note that Operation Sindoor was a response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, which led to the death of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.

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We took out terror factories at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). We were cautious to target only those who were responsible for the killings. The original escalation was on April 22, when they killed 26 innocent civilians, including a Nepali national," Kwatra told CNN on Thursday.

Q: Is India at war with Pakistan?



Indian Ambassador the US Vinay Kwatra: "We are at war with the terrorists." pic.twitter.com/8eXhjecJZQ  Pamela Brown (@PamelaBrownCNN) May 8, 2025

Kwatra calls out Pakistans support for terrorism

In the CNN interview, Kwatra said that the terrorists took headshots of innocent tourists in front of their families and recalled how they asked them about their religion before killing them, based on the answers.

They killed them in front of their innocent wives and children. What we did was our response to terror, our response to these sub-human killings," the Indian envoy averred. On Thursday night, India neutralised the Pakistan militarys attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and other locations.

The strikes were intended to hold the terrorists accountable and deliver justice to the victims. Pakistans subsequent military action is them saying that they stand with the terrorists," Kwatra added. Sirens and explosions were also heard in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla, Kupwara and several other places as the Indian military carried out a massive night aerial vigil along the border with Pakistan.

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While all this was happening,g Indian External Minister Dr S Jaishankar held phone calls with prominent delegates from around the world, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and made it clear India is taking a measured response to Pakistani provocation.
Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Vikram Doraiswami said New Delhi will respond proportionally if Pakistan continues to retaliate read more

As the continue to escalate, the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, made it clear that New Delhi will respond in the same light if Islamabad retaliates. In an interview with Sky News, the Indian envoy said that his country is responding to Pakistani provocations proportionally and will continue to do the same in the future.

The tussle between India and Pakistan skyrocketed after 26 tourists were shot dead in Pahalgam, Kashmir, by terrorists with links to the Pakistani terror group. Two weeks after the incident, India responded to the provocation by conducting Operation Sindoor, in which they targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan.

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.@SkyYaldaHakim highlights a report from Reuters which suggests Pakistan used a Chinese-made jet to bring down Indian fighter jets.



Listen to India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami's response to the claims https://t.co/ycn98YBY36 pic.twitter.com/wi3dpBDpgK  Sky News (@SkyNews) May 8, 2025

On Thursday evening, a day after Operation Sindoor, India intercepted a coordinated attack by Pakistan in different parts of the country. While speaking to Sky News, Doraiswami said, The original escalation is Pakistans sponsored terror groups attack on civilians.

Operation Sindoor was reasonable: Indian High Commissioner to the UK

In the interview, the Indian high commissioner to the UK insisted that Indias strikes under Operation Sindoor against Pakistani terror camps were precise, targeted, reasonable and moderate," adding: It was focused principally and solely on terrorist infrastructure.

We made it abundantly clear that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation, he said.

A fact that was actually acknowledged - in a left-handed way of course - by the Pakistani side in terms of their own statements, which said the airspace hadnt been violated, Doraiswami furthered. The High Commissioner also rejected claims that Pakistan shot down Indian aircraft with Chinese-made fighter jets.

If it satisfies Pakistans ego to say that theyve done something, they could have used that as an off-ramp to move on, he remarked. Clearly theyve chosen not to, and theyve chosen to escalate the matter.

When asked about Pakistans repeated threat of retaliation, Doraiswami said: Were not looking for an escalation, but if Pakistan responds, as we have done, we will respond proportionally and in exactly the same light. He then reminded how Pakistan has been repeatedly violating the ceasefire at LoC.

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I do want to remind everybody: For the last 15 days, theyve also opened artillery fire along the Line of Actual Control Thats led to civilian casualties, Doraiswami explained. On Thursday, the Indian defence ministry noted that stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin weapons, and added the threats were swiftly neutralised.
Under Operation Sindoor that is now in its third day, India will keep the escalation dominance and maintain that de-escalation rests on Pakistan. India will ensure that the cost imposed on Pakistan will be greater than whatever cost Pakistan would try to impose on India. read more

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief General Asim Munir attend the funeral of a person killed in an Indian airstrike on a terrorist facility conducted on May 7, 2025, under Operation Sindoor. (Photo: Pakistan ISPR)

Under Operation Sindoor that is now in its third day, India will keep the escalation dominance and maintain that de-escalation rests on Pakistan.

After Pakistan attacked northern and western India with drones and missiles on Thursday, India responded forcefully and the two sides exchanged fire throughout the night. The Pakistani barrage had come after India struck Pakistani air defence systems earlier in the day in response to Pakistani attempted attacks on 15 Indian cities the previous night.

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While India started Operation Sindoor with restraint, India has turned up the heat gradually as Pakistan has refused to mend its way.

While India targeted only terrorist sites in the early hours of Wednesday, Pakistan sought to attack Indian military and civilian targets on Wednesday night  including the holy city of Amritsar. It appears that Pakistan assessed that India would go for a muted response and opt for de-escalation. That turned out to be a gross miscalculation.

In the morning, India responded by hammering Lahore and destroying the Pakistani Armys coveted air defence system in the beating heart of Pakistans political power  after all Pakistan is Punjab and Punjab is Pakistan.

Indias message is clear that India will keep turning the heat up, offer Pakistan no off-ramp, and force it to de-escalate, says Yusuf Unjhawala, a scholar of geopolitics at the Takshashila Institution.

From its end, India will not de-escalate. The ball to de-escalate is in Pakistans court as it is the countrys actions that have led India to initiate Operation Sindoor. The ideal choice for Pakistan would be to de-escalate after last nights losses. If Pakistan chooses to respond, India would undo the restraint quicker than expected, says Unjhawala.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear with his remarks. After a call with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, he said that India has had a targeted and measured response so far but any escalation will see a strong response.

India to keep heat on, ball to in Pakistan

Among the many uncertainties of ongoing hostilities, one thing is certain: India will not stand down.

It is understood that India will not just keep the heat on with continued escalation dominance, India will also set the case for the nature of escalation  if escalation is forced by Pakistans continued misadventures.

It is understood that one of the fundamental ideas driving the Indian thinking in the ongoing conflict is that the costs that India imposes on Pakistan will be greater than whatever cost Pakistan would try to impose on India. For an unsuccessful strike on Amritsar, India struck Lahore  the seat of Pakistans political power. For unsuccessful strikes on Indian military stations, India destroyed Pakistans prized China-made HQ-9 air defence system.

As Pakistans perpetual war on India is driven by a self-consuming jihadist national ideology, the only way to reduce the frequency of its jihadist misadventures is to impose costs such that misadventures are minimised. To be sure, for an artificial nation created from scratch with the sole idea of opposing India, 100 per cent deterrence is not possible, but imposing severe costs will minimise misadventures and ensure yearslong deterrence.

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ALSO READ: Operation Sindoor: As jihad drives Pakistan, India can only impose costs  deterrence is impossible

Unjhawala, the geopolitics scholar at Takshashila, tells Firstpost that its incorrect that the Balakot airstrike did not bring any deterrence.

The Balakot airstrike ensured that Pakistan did not do anything like that for six years when many thought it would attempt something spectacular after Article 370s abrogation. India is looking to put in place years of deterrence with the current episode as well. India should tell Pakistan that such strikes would be a norm even if five or ten people are killed. India should set a new normal, says Unjhawala.

The way India struck Pakistan yesterday speaks for itself and should deter its leaders, says Unjhawala.

If striking Lahore, the heart of the country; Islamabad, the capital; and Rawalpindi, the seat of the almighty military; would not prove to be enough, and Pakistan would still attempt something, Indian response would be a notch higher. India will likely bring the navy into action. So far, India has controlled the escalation ladder and there is no indication that India intends to de-escalate or offer Pakistan a face-saving off-ramp and rightly so, says Unjhawala.

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India gains insights into Chinas weapons

The hammering of Pakistan also brings India into Chinese weapons and military systems.

With the destruction of Pakistans China-made air defence systems and interception of Chinese missiles and fighter planes, India has also gained insights into Chinese air defence systems and missiles that Pakistan uses. Insights into Chinese systems will improve Indias position regarding China as well.

With the reports of India taking out air defences, and reportedly its HQ-9 system which is a long-range surface-to-air missile system of China, China will be very concerned that India was able to strike it down because similar missile systems have been deployed on the northern border with us. Also, in todays press conference, they said that they took out an air defence system in last nights action. That will be the Chinese system, says Unjhawala.
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, heres a look at how Pakistan and its terrorists are using civilians as human shields, taking a leaf out of Hamass playbook read more

As the continue to escalate, certain commonalities are emerging between how terror camps are operating in Pakistan and how Hamas runs its business in Gaza. The Operation Sindoor by Indian forces and the assessments that followed it made these commonalities even more apparent.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian Forces launched a 25-minute-long mission, codenamed Operation Sindoor, honouring the women survivors of the Pahalgam terror attack who were forced to witness the horror as terrorists shot dead their male partners.

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The counter-offensive that came after giving Pakistan a fortnight to take measures against the outfit responsible for the massacre was seen as a response to the barbaric killing of 25 tourists and local pony-ride operator on April 22. Pakistan came under Indias radar after digital footprints of the terrorists involved in the attack were traced to a Pakistan-based terror group.

The cash-strapped nations own Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has admitted that the country has a history of supporting, funding and fostering terrorism, describing it as doing the dirty work of the US and the West.

Under Operation Sindoor, the Indian military targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan. These terror complexes are operated by three prime terror groups still flourishing in Pakistan - Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. When more details about these terror camps came out, there was one major commonality established between Hamas operatives and Pakistani terrorists.

That commonality was using civilians as humans shield, heres why such parallels were drawn.

Proximity between terror camps and hospitals

Pak terror camps near hospitals

Two of the nine camps that were targeted under Operation Sindoor were near hospitals and health sectors. For example, the Sarjal / Tehra Kalan facility of JeM was located inside the premises of a Health Centre in Norwal District, Punjab (Pakistan). The Indian authorities noted that the terror backers, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of the Pakistan Army, facilitated the setting up of the camp, and the health facility was used to hide/conceal terror infrastructure.

Many such health facilities are being used by JeM and HM in Pakistan, and most of them have been funded by the countrys corrupt establishment. Not only this, JeM terrorist commanders Mohammad Adnan Ali, known by the alias of Doctor Adnan, operate in that health facility.

The terror group also has tunnels for infiltration into Indias borders, along with other hospital infrastructure as a shield, a tactic used by Hamas in Gaza.

The Tehra Kalan facility is not the only camp used by Pakistani terrorists. In Operation Sindoor, Indian forces also struck HMs Mehmoona Joya Facility in Sialkot. The complex is also located near Kotli Bhutta Government Hospital in the Head Marala area of the Sialkot District of Punjab, Pakistan. The construction of the camp also got backing from the ISI.

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The case of Al-Shifa

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war following the October 7 surprise attack by Hamas in Southern Israel, Tel Aviv has been claiming that Hamas use civilians as human shields. This allegation found some ground after a massive tunnel network was discovered beneath the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

The Israeli Defence Force noted that the tunnel was found beneath the surgical building of the Al-Shifa hospital and ran to a random shack nearby. It is pertinent to note that the Al-Shifa Hospital is Gazas largest medical facility.

A New York Times report later revealed that Hamas used the hospital for cover, stored weapons inside it and maintained a hardened tunnel beneath the complex that was supplied with water, power and air-conditioning. As per the classified Israeli intelligence documents, inside the tunnel, Israeli soldiers found underground bunkers, living quarters and a room that appeared to be wired for computers and communications equipment.

Operating in tunnels under civilian infrastructure made the innocents vulnerable to Israeli strikes and raids. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which helped organise the evacuation of 31 infants from Al-Shifa, five premature babies died at the hospital due to a lack of electricity and fuel as the hospital braced for an Israeli raid.

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The idea of a propaganda video

Hours after Operation Sindoor, Pakistan cried foul and said that the Indians killed civilians; they went ahead and gave the terrorists killed in the attack  state funerals. While holding up a photograph showing uniformed Pakistani Army and police personnel praying behind the coffins of the slain terrorists, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan for spreading a false narrative.

If only civilians were killed in these attacks, I wonder what message this picture sends to all of you. This is the question that is worth asking. Its also odd that the funerals of civilians are carried out with the coffins being draped in Pakistani flags and state honours being accorded, he said.

Mistri rejected Pakistans claim of civilian casualties and stressed: As far as we are concerned, the individuals eliminated at these facilities were terrorists. Giving terrorists state funerals may be a practice in Pakistan, but it doesnt seem to make much sense to us.

Hamas has used similar tactics as well. But with a twist. When Hamas was releasing hostages from captivity during a brief ceasefire with Israel, they made a big spectacle out of it. The Palestinian group prodded their gaunt captives to give short speeches and made them thank militants who had held them captive for 16 months.

While Hamas wanted to give the impression that they were peaceful to the hostages. Most of these hostages later shared their plight and mentioned how they were abused and tortured in captivity. Not only this, the malnourished conditions of some of the hostages that were released also reflected the horrors Hamas unleashed upon these hostages.

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Pakistans military is using civilian airspace

While addressing the MEA press briefing on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said that civil airlines were flying between Karachi and Lahore, noting that Pakistan was using airliners as shields. Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response," she said at the presser.

This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan. The screenshot we just showed, it shows the data of the application flight radar 24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector. As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure.

#WATCH | Delhi: Wing Commander Vyomika Singh says, "...Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its pic.twitter.com/VaTB61Wqr6  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

However, civil airlines are flying the air route between Karachi and LahoreIndian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers, she said.

All these connections indicate that instead of whitewashing their image, neither Pakistani terrorists nor the establishment paid heed to civilians.
Erdogan expressed solidarity with Pakistan and said Turkey supported Islamabads handling of the situation read more

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has backed Pakistan amidst heightened tensions with India. The Turkish presidency said in a statement that Erdogan on Wednesday (May 7) spoke to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif following Indias Operation Sindoor against terror camps across the border. Erdogan expressed solidarity with Pakistan and said it supported Islamabads handling of the situation.

Erdogan stated that Turkey was ready to do what it can to prevent the tensions from escalating, and that his diplomatic contacts in that regard would continue, the statement read.

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Erdogan also supported Pakistans calls for an investigation into the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Indias Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.

It comes after Turkey earlier condemned Indias missile strikes on Pakistan and said such actions could lead to an all-out escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Erdogan on Wednesday himself posted a message on X, in which he extended condolences to the people of Pakistan.

Here is what Erdogan wrote on social media: We are concerned that the tension between Pakistan and India could escalate into open conflict with missile attacks that have resulted in the martyrdom of numerous civilians.

I pray for Allahs mercy for our brothers who lost their lives in the attacks, and I once again extend my condolences to the brotherly people and state of Pakistan.

Erdogan also backed Islamabads call for an independent investigation into the incident.

We find Pakistans proposal to conduct an international investigation regarding the heinous terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir to be valuable, Erdogan stated.

Indias response to calls for independent investigation

Indian Foreign Secretary on Thursday rejected Pakistans proposal of joining the investigation into the Kashmir terror attack, saying the previous such experiences have not been positive.

I think the experience has not been positive, and it certainly doesnt give us the confidence now to take at face value, Pakistani assertions of wishing to participate in a joint investigation. These are just delaying tactics. These are just stonewalling tactics, Misri said while briefing journalists about Operation Sindoor.

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In fact, in the pursuit of justice for the victims of multiple terrorist attacks, whether it be Mumbai in 2008 or in Pathankot in 2016 and many others, in particular for these two attacks, India had offered to cooperate. India provided forensic evidence and urged Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, Misri recalled.

In particular, with regard to the Mumbai attacks of 2008, where a Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was captured alive, India provided extensive information and evidence related to the involvement of Pakistani terrorists in this attack. Cases were registered (in Pakistan), but you are all aware that these cases have not progressed despite the formation of judicial teams, and Pakistan has consistently stonewalled all efforts to move the investigation along, the foreign secretary told journalists.
Tensions between India and Pakistan soared significantly following Indias Operation Sindoor on early Wednesday in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that had cross-border linkages and Pakistans subsequent unsuccessful attempt to attack 15 Indian cities. read more

Indian defence forces early Friday morning thwarted a second cross-border attack by Pakistan targeting Jammu city, just hours after foiling a similar strike the previous evening.

The latest attempt, which involved drones and other munitions, occurred around 3:50 a.m., prompting the activation of Indian air defence systems and the enforcement of a full blackout. Explosions were intermittently heard until 4:45 a.m., each followed by warning sirens.

The escalation came shortly after India intercepted Pakistans first major offensive against Jammu since the 1971 war. On Thursday evening, between 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm, Indian forces destroyed eight incoming missiles midair and downed several drones. A total blackout was also enforced during that operation.

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India has ramped up its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan following the military conflict, with its Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, saying that the country is at war with the terrorists and will bring justice to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack by holding the lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable.

Separately, Indian envoy to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said Indias response to Pakistans original conflict escalation with the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam was precise, targeted," and focused solely on terror infrastructure but Islamabad has chosen to continue to escalate the matter instead of taking an off-ramp to end the crisis.

April 22 was the most heinous terrorist act, Kwatra said in an interview with CNN on Thursday.

It is nobodys case to say that these terrorists should be given a free pass, and thats precisely what we did the day before yesterday, held them accountable, Kwatra said and described Indias action as a very precise, calibrated, measured response to these terrorists. We are at war with the terrorists, and we will, as I said, bring justice to the victims and hold them accountable, he said, answering a question if India is at war with Pakistan. Our foremost objective in this was (to) hold these lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable and bring justice to the victims. Indias High Commissioner to the UK Doraiswami, who was interviewed by a series of UK media outlets on Thursday to present Indias stance on the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, told Sky News that the international community can intervene by pointing out the opportunity for an off-ramp to Pakistan.

He displayed an image live on air of US-designated Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Abdur Rauf leading prayers for the terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor, also presented during a briefing by Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry in New Delhi.

Everybody knows that for the last 30 years, Pakistan has used this (terrorism) as a means of sub-critical warfare against India, said Doraiswami.

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If the international community really wants to be able to look at this and worry about it, the simple solution is to tell Pakistan it has an opportunity for an off-ramp. These are things that the world should have compelled Pakistan to do 30 years ago, and to compel them to implement their promises about taking down this infrastructure. It has not done so, he said.

Asked if India fears a further escalation of conflict in the region, the envoy asserted that the original escalation is Pakistan-sponsored terror groups attacking and shooting civilians in Pahalgam on April 22.

Our response thereafter was precise, targeted, reasonable and moderate. It was focused principally and solely on terrorist infrastructure. We did not strike the Pakistani military establishment. We did not strike national infrastructure, and we made it abundantly clear that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation - a fact actually acknowledged in a left handed way, of course, by the Pakistani side in terms of their own official statements which said that the airspace hadnt been violated, said Doraiswami.

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The logical solution would be, as weve said repeatedly, for Pakistan to take the opportunity of an off ramp, which we have made abundantly clear, including this morning, that if Pakistan stops attacking our military facilities, the matter ends there, but it is for them to decide, he said.

In his interview with CNN, Kwatra said that from a large number of Congressmen and Senators to the whole world, they all appreciate that India should respond and bring accountability for these terrorists and justice for the victims.

He said the terrorists killed the civilians in Pahalgam on the basis of religion, identifying and killing all non-Muslims.

So what we did the day before yesterday was essentially our response to terror, Kwatra said, adding that Indias response has been very measured, calibrated and proportionate.

Responding to a question on explosions being heard in Kashmir, Kwatra said Pakistan has again decided to stand with the terrorists. Rather than take action against them, they are essentially lending them support, he said.

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To a comment that Pakistan has denied involvement in the attacks, Kwatra said that denial and obfuscation have always been the first part of Pakistans strategy.

With inputs from agencies
India on Friday accused Pakistan of endangering civilian lives by failing to close its civil airspace during an unprovoked and unsuccessful drone and missile attack against multiple Indian cities on Thursday night read more

India on Friday accused Pakistan of endangering civilian lives by using passenger aircraft as cover during its failed drone and missile strike on Indian territory the previous evening.

In a joint briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said Pakistan deliberately kept its civil airspace open during the unprovoked attack at 8:30 pm on May 7, despite knowing that Indian air defences would respond swiftly.

Pakistan used civil airliners as a shield, fully aware that the attack would trigger a strong air defence response, they said, warning that this posed a serious risk to unsuspecting civilian and international flights operating near the India-Pakistan international border.

Vyomika Singh said, Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response.

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This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan. The screenshot we just showed the data of the application flight radar 24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector. As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and LahoreIndian Air force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response thus ensuring safety of international civil carriers, she added.

#WATCH | Delhi: Wing Commander Vyomika Singh says, "...Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its pic.twitter.com/VaTB61Wqr6  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025
Even as Pakistan bombed the gurdwara in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch and attempted to strike Amritsar in Punjab, the Pakistani military lied about India trying to hit Nankana Sahib gurdwara in its Punjab province read more

A resident inspects his house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Poonch, along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. AP

Even as Pakistan bombed the gurdwara in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch and attempted to strike Amritsar in Punjab, the Pakistani military lied about India trying to hit Nankana Sahib gurdwara in its Punjab province.

At a press conference on Thursday, Pakistani militarys spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry falsely claimed that an Indian drone tried to target the holy place of the Sikh community at Nankana Sahib.

We saw it today, they directed one drone to Nankana Sahib, which we took out, said Chaudhry.

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Nankana Sahib district in Pakistans Punjab province is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It is home to Gurdwara Janam Asthan, which is also called Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. It is one of the holiest sites for Sikhs and a popular pilgrimage sites.

Under Operation Sindoor, India struck Pakistans air defence systems and radars in response on Thursday morning. The strikes were in response to Pakistans attempted strikes by Pakistan across northern and western India on Wednesday night, including in Amritsar. Pakistan attempted strikes came after India struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday.

Pakistan attacked Amritsar, Poonch gurdwara  but lies about India

Pakistan on Wednesday night launched attacks Amritsar, the holiest city for Sikhs. Amritsar is home to Golden Temple, the holiest site for Sikhs in the world.

The previous day, Pakistan attacked a historic gurdwara and damaged it in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch and killed gurdwaras ragi, the musician, among others.

Despite such attacks on the Sikh community, Pakistani military lied about India and Nankana Sahib in a bid to deflect focus from its crimes. Separately, Khalistani terrorist organisations are also peddling his false claim.

In Poonch, Pakistani attacks have killed at least 13 people, including four members of the Sikh community.

ALSO READ: Civilian deaths, damaged homes: How Pakistani shelling left a trail of destruction in J&Ks Poonch

The Tribune has reported that three of these four Sikhs were killed when Pakistan bombed the gurdwara. They have been identified as Amrik Singh (55), the ragi at the gurdwara, Amarjeet Singh (47), and Ranjeet Singh (48).

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Sources in the government have said that the propaganda by Pakistan and Pakistan-supported Khalistan groups is an attempt to cover up Pakistans on the gurudwara and Sikh localities in Poonch.

Separately, the Christ School in the district was also shelled by Pakistan.
The Pakistani government has said that the official account was hacked. Reuters also reported that Pakistans Ministry of Economic Affairs said it did not tweet" the post on X and claimed that their X account has been hacked" read more

Has Pakistan been pleading for a loan from its international partners? A post on X that has since been deleted suggests that Islamabad sent a word of appeal to the international community asking for more loans after the country suffered heavy losses as a result of Indias retaliatory actions.

The post was made from the Economic Affairs Division of the Pakistani governments official X account. It said, Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflected by enemy. Amid escalating war and stocks crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast.

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along the international border on Thursday evening. The country initiated a series of air attacks targeting military installations and border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Ministry of Defence has said that the Pakistani airstrikes involved the deployment of conventional air-to-ground missiles, kamikaze drones and unmanned aerial systems. The Indian Army said that India thwarted Islamabads drone attacks, and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations.

Pak says account hacked

Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has said that the official account was hacked. Reuters also reported that Pakistans Ministry of Economic Affairs said it did not tweet" the post on X and claimed that their X account has been hacked".

Paks stocks tumble

Pakistan had one of its worst days on Thursday as the nation suffered the worst single-day decline as markets fell by over to 6,000 points.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange suspended trading for an hour yesterday after its benchmark index plummeted by 7.2 per cent, following Indian strikes on military targets in Lahore.

India to urge IMF to exercise caution on Pak bailout package

A day ahead of a crucial meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, India on Thursday hinted that it could communicate its view to the global financial body on its bailout package for Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Indias executive director at the IMF will put forward the countrys position during the meeting of the board of the global body on Friday.

Im sure that our executive director will put forward Indias position, he said at a media briefing.

The decisions of the board are a different matterBut I think the case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those people who generously open their pockets to bail out this country, he said.

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With inputs from agencies
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, the White House on Friday said that President Donald Trump wants the conflict to de-escalate as quickly as possible read more

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, the White House on Friday said that President Donald Trump wants the conflict to de-escalate as quickly as possible.

Addressing a press briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that diplomatic outreach efforts are on, with Secretary of State and NSA Marco Rubio being in constant communication with the leaders of both the countries.

#WATCH | Washington, DC | On US efforts to mediate in the India-Pakistan conflict, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, "This is something that the Secretary of State and now our NSA as well, Marco Rubio, has been involved in. The President has expressed that he pic.twitter.com/NL55jSFyIM  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

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The President has expressed that he wants this to de-escalate as quickly as possible. He understands these two countries have been at odds with one another for decades, long before President Trump was here at the Oval Office. However, he has good relations with the leaders of both countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in constant communication with the leaders of both countries, trying to bring this conflict to an end, said Leavitt.

Military action between India and Pakistan intensified following Indias strike on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) under Operation Sindoor early Wednesday.

Indias strike was a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

With inputs from agencies
World Bank President Ajay Banga has clarified that the institution has no role to play in the bilateral issue beyond a facilitator read more

In a major setback for Pakistan, the World Bank has rejected reports suggesting the international bank may step in and force India to reverse its decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance.

World Bank President Ajay Banga has clarified that the institution has no role to play in the bilateral issue beyond a facilitator.

Theres a lot of speculation in the media about how the World Bank will step in & fix the problem but its all bunk. The World Banks role is merely as a facilitator, Banga told CNBC .

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Islamabad late last month announced that it would approach the World Bank to get the unilateral and illegal reversed.

India held the 1960 treaty in abeyance following the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. Indian authorities have confirmed the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the terrorist act.

Pakistan has vowed to safeguard its vital national interest for its 240 million citizens at all cost.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Thursday (May 8) told the media that India was forced to suspend the treaty following Pakistans move to create roadblocks over the years.

We sent several letters to them, requesting for negotiation to discuss modification of this treaty. India has, for six plus decades, honoured this treaty, Misri said.

Pakistan is the one which has been acting in violation of this treaty. Pakistan is the one acting in violation of treaty, deliberately creating roadblocks in India exercising its legitimate rights over the western rivers, he added during the briefing.

Suspension of the treaty was among several decisions that the Indian government took in the aftermath of the Kashmir attack.

India also shut down the Attari-Wagah border, expelled Pakistans top military attaches from India, and cancelled all short-term visas issued to Pakistani nationals.

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a deal brokered by the World Bank between India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960. Signed in Karachi by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan President Ayub Khan, it determines the distribution of the waters of the Indus and its tributaries  Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum, Chenab and Kabul.

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As per the IWT, India enjoys unrestricted access to three Eastern rivers  the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, whereas Pakistan has access to the Western rivers of Indus, Chenab, Jhelum. Its important to note here that the treaty allows New Delhi to extract water from the western rivers for certain non-consumptive, agricultural, domestic use and hydroelectric power generation. Provision under Article III (4) of the treaty states that India shall not store any water of, or construct any storage works on, the Western Rivers, other than those permitted by the provisions.
US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the US wants India and Pakistan to ease tensions, but emphasised that the matter is fundamentally none of our business. read more

US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday emphasised that Washington wants tensions between India and Pakistan to ease, but said it is fundamentally none of our business.

He also said that the US will not get involved in the conflict, after tensions escalated between the two nuclear-armed nations following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and Indias retaliation through Operation Sindoor, which killed more than 100 terrorists on Pakistani soil.

What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but were not going to get involved in the middle of a war thats fundamentally none of our business and beyond Americas ability to control, Vance said in an interview with Fox News, when asked about the ongoing situation.

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We cant control these countries. Fundamentally, India has its issues with Pakistan, and Pakistan has responded to India. What we can do is urge both sides to de-escalate a little, he added.

 NONE OF OUR BUSINESS: JD Vance on Indo-Pak escalation pic.twitter.com/EgQuySKbLt  Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) May 8, 2025

The statement came a day after President Donald Trump described the escalating tensions between the two countries as terrible. When asked about his stance, the US President said he gets along with both.

I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop. And hopefully, they can stop nowtheyve gone tit-for-tat, so hopefully they can stop now, Trump told reporters at the White House.

India launched Operation Sindoor overnight on Tuesday, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.

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Thus, afterwards, on Thursday night, India also foiled Pakistans attempt to target military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and other areas using missiles and drones.
In a choreographed phone call, US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally announced the breakthrough trade deal between the two nations that will now help Britain to avert the Trump tariffs read more

The United States and the United Kingdom have formally confirmed the breakthrough trade deal between the two nations, slashing the major impact of US President Donald Trumps Tariffs on the British economy. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was a fantastic, historic day as he announced the agreement, the first by the White House since Trump announced sweeping global tariffs last month.

While addressing the workers at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull, Starmer said that the agreement had saved jobs in the car and steel industries, which were under threat by the Trump tariffs. However, critics in the country argued that the trade deal between the two nations had failed to address many of the high tariffs that remain in place.

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The reality is that US tariffs on UK exports remain significantly higher than they were at the start of the year," John Denton, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce, told The Guardian. It was still unclear what would happen to industries not explicitly covered by the deal, such as pharmaceuticals.

Preferential treatment, but is it enough?

As per the deal, the US has agreed to cut the 25 per cent tariff rate on British steel and aluminium exports to zero. The concession is being seen as a sign of relief for the British steel industry, which was on the verge of collapse. Apart from this, American tariffs on up to 100,000 British cars will also be reduced to 10 per cent, down from the 27.5 per cent rate Trump initially announced.

It is pertinent to note that the United States is the main export market for British cars. Meanwhile, Washington has also pledged to give preferential treatment to the UKs pharmaceutical industry, which Trump has threatened with tariffs, although none have been set yet. I know people along the way were urging me to walk away, to descend into a different kind of relationship. We didnt, the British prime minister replied to his critic.

We did the hard yards. We stayed in the room. Im pleased to say to the workforce here and through them to the country, how important I think this deal is," he added, concluding his remarks with the slogan, Jobs won, not jobs done. Peter Mandelson, the UKs ambassador to the US, said a technology partnership would be negotiated over the coming months. US Vice President JD Vance is expected to play a key role in that regard.

The phone call

The formal announcement of the deal was made in a choreographed phone call between Starmer and Trump, while the press gathered with the leaders on either end of the line. However, the deal is not free from criticism. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, criticised the deal, claiming that the UK has been shafted by Trump.

When Labour negotiates, Britain loses. We cut our tariffs  America tripled theirs. Keir Starmer called this historic. Its not historic, weve just been shafted! However, Andrew Griffith, the shadow trade secretary, said the reduction in tariffs would be welcomed by exporting businesses".

A trade group representing Detroit automakers also criticised the deal, claiming it unfairly penalises American automakers who have partnered with Canada and Mexico. In a sharply worded statement, the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) said its members  including Ford, General Motors and Jeep-maker Stellantis  faced import tariffs of 25 per cent on cars assembled in Canada and Mexico.

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We are disappointed that the administration prioritised the UK ahead of our North American partners, Blunt said. Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a UK vehicle with very little US content than a USMCA-compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts," he added.

Meanwhile, Starmer insisted that he has not at all been bounced into the deal but didnt know the exact day it would be completed. I wouldnt be having my phone call with President Trump halfway through the second half of the Arsenal v PSG game had I planned it better. Thats the way it turned out, and thats the discussion we were having late last night about how we proceeded with this deal, he said.
Apple is reportedly developing specialized chips for smart glasses and AI servers, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. The companys silicon design team is also working on processors for future Macs, aiming to support a wider range of upcoming devices.

Sources familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously due to the private nature of the plans, said the tech giant is making progress on a dedicated chip for smart glasses. This suggests a ramp-up in efforts to create a product that could rival Meta Platforms Inc.s Ray-Ban smart eyewear.

Mass production of the chip is expected to begin between late 2026 and 2027, the report noted, with the smart glasses potentially launching within two years. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. will handle chip production, continuing its long-standing role in fabricating the companys key silicon components.

AI Servers and Mac Processors

The report added that the company is also working on processors for AI servers that will support its Apple Intelligence platform. These chips, part of an internal initiative known as Baltra, are targeted for completion by 2027. Unlike the M2 Ultra used in high-end Macs for AI workloads, the new chips are being custom-built for server-side processing.

It is considering architectures with significantly higher capabilities, possibly featuring two, four, or even eight times the CPU and GPU cores found in the M3 Ultra. The Information noted that Broadcom Inc. is collaborating on this effort.

In the Mac segment, the company is preparing multiple processors, including the M6 (codenamed Komodo) and M7 (internally referred to as Borneo). Another high-end chip, Sotra, is also in development. Meanwhile, the M5 processor is expected to be integrated into upcoming iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models, with availability anticipated by the end of 2025.

Source
Cold Solutions Kenya is one of more than 100 businesses to have set up in Tatu City so far
A spread of seasonings and merchandise from Rky Mtn Blends is seen on April 29. The companys owner, Jason Vasquez, said all of his seasonings are made simply with fresh, dehydrated produce and salt. Currently, Vasquez sells eight flavors, including habanero, jalapeno, onion, garlic and serrano pepper with onion. Colorados Cottage Foods Act ensures that small-scale producers like Vasquez can make their product and that it is safe for consumers.
Saturday Night

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. NNW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph.
Spies in DPP government expose weaknesses in vetting system for aides

ROC Central News Agency

05/08/2025 04:19 PM

By Joseph Yeh, staff reporter

Recent discoveries of people within the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government spying for China have exposed potential flaws in Taiwan's security vetting system and highlighted the difficulties involved in fixing them.

The scandal over the alleged Chinese spy network within Taiwan's government that has blown up in recent months has largely involved aides to senior national security officials and other prominent figures in power.

One of them was Ho Jen-chieh (), who worked for Joseph Wu () when he was National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general from May 2016 to May 2017, Presidential Office secretary-general from May 2017 to February 2018, and foreign minister from 2018 to 2024.

Ho was arrested and detained on April 11.

Other suspects in the case include Wu Shang-yu (), who worked as an adviser in President Lai Ching-te's () office; Chiu Shih-yuan (), former deputy head of the DPP's Taiwan Institute of Democracy, and Huang Chu-jung (), an aide to DPP New Taipei Councilor Lee Yu-tien ().

Prosecutors believe that Huang was at the center of the large-scale espionage operation within the ruling DPP government, which has been in power since May 2016.

He is thought to have been recruited by Chinese intelligence services when he was doing business in China, and he started working with Ho, Wu Shang-yu and Chiu soon after returning to Taiwan.

Their goal was to gather confidential information about Lai's trips, including flight schedules, accommodation, and meeting locations and lists, in exchange for tens of thousands of Taiwan dollars, according to prosecutors.

What was different, though not unprecedented, about this spy scandal was that it largely involved political staffers and civilians rather than military or intelligence personnel, among whom most Chinese spy cases have been concentrated.

While Taiwan has anti-espionage laws and is in the process of amending them to prevent the recurrence of future cases, the alleged spy network within the DPP has exposed vulnerabilities in the existing system that could lead to more such cases.

At the top of the list is the vetting system for people with access to confidential information. In the latest spy case, some political workers who later became aides for top officials were vetted based on legal requirements but still fell through the cracks.

In Ho's case, for example, he was vetted in 2016 when Joseph Wu was about to serve as NSC secretary-general.

Investigation Bureau Director-General Michael Chen () said in mid-April that Ho received a more rigorous "special background check" before working for Wu that year.

Ho then underwent an additional standard background and security check in 2018 before he was hired as a senior level contract-based assistant to then-Foreign Minister Wu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told CNA in a statement.

Range of vetting

According to a list contained within a law on officials subject to special background checks, there are 1,328 positions that require such vetting, most of them involved in national security or major national interests, including 96 at MOFA.

These positions are determined based on each individual agency's own list that has to be approved by the Presidential Office, the NSC and the government body they are under.

Su Tzu-yun (), a division director at the Taiwan military-funded think tank Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told CNA that MOFA did the background check on Ho by the book in accordance with the Public Servants Appointment Act.

The act only stipulates, however, that a background check should be done before hiring a person to work in a public office. It does not stipulate follow-up checks after a person has taken up the post, Su said.

Of course, figuring out who does and who does not have access to confidential information is also a problem, especially given the vagueness of the laws and standards.

Ho, for example, may not have reached the threshold for a thorough background check at MOFA, but Legislator Huang Kuo-chang () of the Taiwan People's Party said he was told by somebody at MOFA that Ho was the first person to see faxes sent directly from Taiwan's representative office in Washington, D.C.

That was why DPP lawmaker Chen Kuan-ting (), a member of the Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, proposed to the Ministry of Justice that it revise laws to establish a more comprehensive national security vetting procedure.

Such a system would particularly target top officials' assistants and political appointees, said Chen, who also pushed to establish rules for vetting lawmakers' aides.

According to Chen, all legislative aides are currently hired based on the Labor Standards Act and none of them have to pass even the most basic security and background checks in accordance with the Public Servants Appointment Act and/or National Intelligence Act even though their jobs give them access to confidential information.

Separately, the government is planning to expand the scope of special background checks to include an additional 1,008 positions, most of them at the level of aides or contracted workers who might have access to confidential information.

Alexander Huang (), chair of the Taipei-based think tank Council on Strategic & Wargaming Studies, said governments need to be determined to take security clearances seriously and build a long-term system that applies to all because it costs money and time.

"Do the politicians at the top really want to wait so long for their preferred candidate to take office...for fear of being manipulated by unnecessary politics or disruption [before taking office]." he said.

One way Su proposed to enhance the security vetting system was for each government unit to add a more in-depth security clearance process before hiring a person, especially those who work closely with a senior official who has access to more confidential and sensitive information.

That would not be too difficult because each government unit only has to update their own administrative order accordingly without the need to go through a lawmaking process, according to Su.

More important than a pre-recruitment check, however, are regular follow-up screenings of all staffers who work closely with senior officials, which could involve the assistance of technology such as lie detectors, he said.

Cultural differences?

Meanwhile, Huang, who served as deputy chief of the Mainland Affairs Council under the previous DPP administration and now heads international affairs for the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), suggested that cultural differences between the two parties may partly explain the recent espionage scandal.

He told CNA that the DPP often hires close aides from campaign team workers with diverse, sometimes murky connections, while the KMT typically appoints bureaucrats vetted through internal personnel systems.

"Such complex networks, including ties to business or even organized crime, can create openings for the PRC to exploit personal relationships," Huang said.

Junzhi Wu (), director of DPP's China Affairs Department, disagreed with Huang's assessment.

He said other countries in the world have cracked down on a number of large-scale Chinese espionage operations in recent years, and the latest incidents highlighted that Chinese intelligence activity abroad has continued to intensify over the years.

Instead of blaming the DPP and tying the ruling party to a Chinese spy network, it is more important for all parties in Taiwan to reinforce the country's anti-espionage measures, Wu said.

Enditem/ls

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Danish FM to summon U.S. ambassador over reported espionage against Greenland

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:30, May 08, 2025

OSLO, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Wednesday that he will summon the United States ambassador to Denmark for a meeting following media reports suggesting that Washington plans to intensify espionage activities targeting Greenland.

The move comes after The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that U.S. intelligence agencies have been instructed to identify individuals in Greenland and Denmark who support American strategic objectives for the Arctic island, citing anonymous sources.

"I have read the article, and it worries me a lot - because we do not spy between friends," Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster DR on his way to a meeting of foreign ministers in Warsaw, Poland. Acknowledging that the report could not be verified, Rasmussen noted that it had not been strongly denied by U.S. officials. "That worries me," he added.

He confirmed that the American ambassador will be summoned for talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen. "The aim is to see whether we can have this somewhat disturbing information refuted - and in any case, to make our position clear. It is very concerning if the approach now involves gathering intelligence in Denmark and Greenland," Rasmussen said.

The reported espionage efforts have further strained U.S.-Danish relations, already tense since U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland - a proposal that sparked political backlash throughout Denmark.

"All people are impressionable. That's why it is serious if a good friend of Denmark and Greenland is speculating in gathering intelligence and exerting influence with the aim of weakening the unity of the Kingdom and taking over Greenland," Rasmussen said, adding that he did not believe the United States would succeed in such efforts.

Earlier on Wednesday, Denmark's domestic intelligence agency PET issued a written statement noting that there is "an elevated espionage threat and threat of foreign influence against both Denmark and Greenland" due to increased international focus on the region.

Greenland, once a Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, although Denmark retains control over foreign affairs and defense.

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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas Heads of Government

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 6, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the heads of government from the Eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas to underscore the urgent need for enhanced regional cooperation to combat drug and firearms trafficking and illegal migration - key drivers of violence and instability. He encouraged Caribbean partners to strengthen intelligence-sharing, security cooperation, and border security through initiatives like the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.

Secretary Rubio urged our partners to make responsible, transparent decisions when selecting vendors and contractors for critical infrastructure projects, ensuring they are not vulnerable to privacy and security risks and exploitation by malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party. He also reaffirmed our commitment to holding accountable Cuban regime officials, foreign government officials, and those involved in facilitating the regime's forced labor scheme, including Cuba's medical missions.

With hurricane season less than one month away, Secretary Rubio announced the reactivation of two U.S.-administered programs to strengthen early warning systems and provide rapid, life-saving assistance across the Caribbean.

Participants in the meeting included Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Philip Davis of The Bahamas, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, and Prime Minister Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

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Joint Integrated air and missile defence exercise Formidable Shield 25 underway

NATO Allied Air Command

May 7 2025

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- From May 1 to 31, 2025, NATO's multinational live-fire integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) exercise - Formidable Shield 25 will be executed from Norway and the United Kingdom.

Formidable Shield is the largest live-fire naval exercise in Europe. The IAMD exercise focusses on maritime operational and tactical interoperability between participating Allies, the scenarios include a series of complex Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) and Air Defence (AD) missions in a complex operating environment.

Nine Allied nations will participate in the naval led multi-domain exercise. The land and air domains will also support; air asset participation include Norwegian F-35s and Eurofighters from the United Kingdom. Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States will also participate with Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The first phase of the exercise will take place at the Andya firing range in Norway before continuing at the Hebrides Range in Scotland, United Kingdom. The NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft forward deployed to rland in Norway to provide command and control capabilities for the exercise.

Two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft of the United States Air National Guard forward also forward deployed to rland to provide the refueling support for the AWACS. In addition to supporting Formidable Shield, the AWACS deployments will conduct training flights for aircrew students assigned to the Aircrew Training Squadron of the E-3A Component.

Formidable Shield 25 is Europe's largest live-fire naval exercise, U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet will lead the exercise with Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) executing live-fire and IAMD activities. The exercise, focussed on IAMD, will utilise NATO command and control systems.

Participants will share tactical data, engage in NATO-level planning, and practice coordinated responses to complex scenarios, further enhancing integration and interoperability between Allies and the warfighting domains.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office

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Ahead of the NATO Summit, Allies meet to discuss logistics for collective defence

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

07 May. 2025

In order to ensure NATO's collective defence, it is necessary to have not only military plans, forces, and capabilities but also food, fuel, and other essentials in order to project and sustain combat power. Logistics includes the supply, movement and maintenance of equipment, personnel and services. It is crucial for any military undertaking, from early planning to execution and drawdown.

Effective logistics for large-scale collective defence operations demand a whole-of-government effort. Much of what Allied armed forces require is sourced through commercial civilian providers. So as part of NATO's work in this area, extensive planning, preparation, and cooperation among Allies involves both military and civilian elements.

NATO's new generation of defence plans are driving logistics preparations for collective defence. As a result of the biggest reinforcement of the Alliance's collective defence in a generation, considerations on logistics have changed -as Allies need to work collectively to increase NATO's logistics support in areas such as maintenance, supplies, stockpiling, and medical support.

Allies are increasing national investment in their military logistics capabilities through the NATO Defence Planning Process, and through the delivery of host nation support. Host nation support underpins NATO's reinforcement and sustainment network, ensuring the necessary supporting structures and assets so that Allied forces can effectively and rapidly enter, transit, and operate across Alliance territory. NATO maintains and continues to evolve the operational standards and doctrine that form the basis for 'interoperability' among Allies and with partners.

In May 2024, Allies approved the Logistics Action Plan, which organises and directs efforts needed to deliver the necessary changes in logistics. Cooperation among Allies is vital to effectively support and sustain military operations at the scope and scale of collective defence.

On Wednesday, (07 May 2025) ahead of this year's NATO Summit in The Hague, the Logistics Committee, NATO's senior advisory body on logistics, met to discuss the progress made on logistics and enablement over the last year and to determine priorities. During the meeting, co-chaired by DCMC and Acting ASG DPP, National Logistics Directors addressed a range of issues, including rail transport capacity as a key means of moving and receiving reinforcements, assessing the Alliance's fuel supply needs for collective defence, and considering logistics-related lessons learnt from Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024 and Steadfast Dart 2025. The NATO Secretary General also addressed the committee, and recognised their leadership of and commitment to work that is central to further strengthening the Alliance.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Gala

US Department of State

Remarks

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Washington, D.C.

May 7, 2025

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you very much. Thank you. I didn't know I was speaking. And you know I'm shy in front of audiences, so I apologize. (Laughter.) I don't like to speak that much, but first of all, thank you for those kind words. I'll have more to say about that in a moment. I'm of course also happy that my wife Jeanette is here. This lifetime achievement award or lifetime leadership award is a little scary because it's like that's it, you're over, it's done. Usually they give it to you at the end, not - (laughter) - but because you don't know what I'm going to do in the next three years. Maybe you'll want the award back in a couple years if things don't work out. (Laughter.) I hope not. I hope not.

But thank you. It's an honor to be with you. It's also an honor to be (in Spanish). But more importantly, I'm glad that the president of the Dominican Republic is here so he can go back and say, boy, they really like Marco Rubio back in the United States. (Laughter.) At least in this room, for this time. But thank you. It's an honor to be with you again.

And I was reflecting just for a moment before I came here today, and this - so a couple points. It's a tremendous honor to serve as Secretary of State, and when I joined the administration early on, they said one of the initiatives that we're pursuing is to increase efficiency in government. In essence, they want to be able to do more while spending less or putting less - and for example, they said one of the things we want you to look at is consolidation. Can you take, for example, what today are four jobs and just give them all to one person? (Laughter.) And I said that sounds like a great idea. That's - we should do that across the government. Little did I know they just meant me. (Laughter.) But it is an honor to be here tonight on behalf of the National Archives to speak to all of you. (Laughter and Applause.) And it is - it's actually a really cool job, so anyways.

I think back, and though there's still more work to do, sort of the road that brings me to this point. And even watching that short, brief video a moment ago about Lincoln reminded me of things. So maybe I'll just - it'll make sense to you at the end - I want to share this story with you.

I always had an interest in politics and global affairs, and people say, "Well, what is this interest you've always had in foreign policy and in international relations?" And I'm like, "You've obviously never been to Miami, and - where foreign policy is domestic policy on a daily basis." But I always had an interest in public - listen, I'm not going to lie to you and tell you I had some master plan where I was going to start at the city commission in West Miami and 20 or 30 years later wind up as Secretary of State, but I always had an interest in it.

So when I was a college student, as Congresswomen Ros-Lehtinen, as Ileana just pointed out a moment ago, one of the things I wanted to do is say - I mean, get involved in the political process, so I literally - at that time we had these things called hard line telephones that you would pick up and call. It wasn't an email system. And I called my congresswoman from - in fact, she had just been elected in a special election. The first vote I ever cast was for Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. (Applause.) It was an election in 1989.

So in 1991 I called her office and I said - I inquired about - there was an internship program, and they said, well, come in, talk to us. I ended up finding out - it was the - I may have been either your first or your second intern, but it was nascent internship program, and it was in the local office. It was in Blue Lagoon. Remember your Blue Lagoon office? And it was in Blue Lagoon that they burned down - apparently - didn't it burn because somebody left the coffeemaker on? Well after I was gone. It had nothing to do with me. (Laughter.)

But - and I started working there as an intern, and it was only for a few months, and it was very impactful. The first thing I learned just being there - because it's interesting. I guarantee you many of you have done internships or been involved. There's like the TV version of public service, right? And the glamour. And then there's the actual nuts and bolts of it. And literally the nuts and bolts of the office was people would write letters, constituent letters. And back then there wasn't like some form letter that - they would respond to each one of them individually. So part of the intern's job was to go through all these, and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen would read all these letters. She would read them all. It's a really unbelievable thing to watch.

I will confess now I have never read all your letters. I mean, I couldn't. Now it's too easy to email, so you get a thousand emails to save a bald eagle or 50,000 emails from somebody with a campaign to save a bear or something. But back in that time people had to put a stamp and send it to you, but nonetheless, it was a lot of mail.

And [inaudible] I do recall that she would come by the office, usually on Fridays because of the vote schedules or maybe Mondays, and she'd pick up the stack of letters and - with notes on them, respond this, say that - and leave behind - and then leave behind the stack of letters and take new ones. And let me tell you a couple things that I learned from my time there that really were impactful years later. It in many ways is how I modeled or thought about constituent service in my Senate office.

And now, again, we didn't read 50,000 emails a day or things of that nature, but she had such a commitment to constituent service that - and I don't say this like in a derogatory way, I say this in a very positive way - she could have literally voted any way she wanted in Congress, because by the time her career in public service was just halfway through in the Congress, there's no one she hadn't helped at some point. And I'm talking about the things people would call about like "I have a cruise on Saturday and I forgot to renew my passport." Sounds like a simple thing unless your cruise is on Saturday and you don't have a passport. A lot of immigration things. I remember they had - they were helping people find employment.

Again, this was - and I was only there a few months, and I learned so much from that experience, and it really impacted me. When I came back home in the summer of 1990 - by the way, this is an interesting story - my wife at that time was my girlfriend. I had just met her, so June, July of that year. You don't even know this story. (Laughter.) One of the - do you remember this? One of the first times I asked her, she went with me as a volunteer - I was a volunteer on a Saturday - at a fundraiser. I'm just saying that - I'm sure the statute of limitations run out or whatever - (laughter) - but I wasn't a paid staffer. So as a volunteer.

One of her - one of her - I actually even remember the fundraiser. I think it was the second anniversary of your 39th birthday. That's what they called it. (Laughter.) The second anniversary of your 39th birthday, or maybe whatever, the first anniversary of her 39th birthday. And my wife - my girlfriend at the time - sat in at one of - remember this? You had to do the name tags. In fact, I even remember - I think the guest was Olga Guillot.

AUDIENCE: Yes.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Do you remember that fundraiser? It was incredible. This was back in 1991.

Okay, so I go back to college. I come back in the summer of 1992, and I said you know what would be really cool is to work on a campaign. And so I drove to Hialeah, to this strip mall. (Applause.) There's Hialeah people everywhere. They're everywhere. (Laughter.) Even at the Waldorf Astoria there's people from Hialeah. (Laughter.) It's unbelievable.

There was this storefront in Hialeah, and I remember - the thing I remember about it, it was in - it was in the shopping area where there was a place called Chico's. Remember Chico's? And on the other side of - don't tell me there's nobody here that remembered - that went to Chico's, right? There was - (applause.) All right. (Laughter.) They're making it up. They never went to Chico's. (Laughter.)

And on the other side of that, in the top floor, was a campaign for a state senator named Lincoln Diaz-Balart. He was running for Congress. And I volunteered. I walked in; I met this young lady in the - Ana Carbonell. (Cheers and Applause.) And I volunteered on that campaign, which he ultimately won. It was an incredible - it was an interesting campaign. I remember he had a debate against Javier Soto - great man. Remember this debate? And so this was a great campaign, and we got hit by a hurricane that year, right, or shortly thereafter, and it impacted the elections and what have you. But nonetheless, so I worked this campaign. He gets elected to Congress. I go back to school. I graduate in 1993, and I decide I want to go to law school. I'm about to tell you a story which is true. This is not - I'm not making this up. I'm about - I mean, it sounds like it's fake, but it's not fake. And if it is, you can't prove it's fake anyway. But I'm going to tell you because it's true. (Laughter.)

I go to drop off my admissions, like my application, personally to the University of Miami. And my two letters of recommendation to the law school were Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and now-Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart. So now you're thinking, you did have a master plan; that's why you went to - but it really wasn't. It was two people I knew. I dropped it off, and when I get home I get a phone call, and I've been admitted to the University of Miami Law School. Now, maybe the letters had something to do with it. I hope they did. In any event, I go to law school, and this begins in 1993, and time moves on.

We interacted many times over those years in different capacities. I was just a law student. I got elected to the West Miami city commission, and then I get elected to the Florida legislature, where I'm serving for a number of years. Two years before I became speaker, in 2004 to 2006, I got to serve in the Florida legislature and there was a state senator who was serving in the state senate - I think it was one of the first people to do this. But he decided now that term limits had removed him from the state senate, he was going to run for the state house. And I thought, that's very peculiar. Like, you're a state senator and now you're going to go back over to the state house?

As it turns out, he was appointed the chairman of the redistricting committee to draw congressional districts, and then I figured it out, because that's why Mario Diaz-Balart came back to the state house - (laughter) - to draw districts. And - but I had a chance - we sat next to each other on the floor, and he was a huge influence on me.

People say, what is the most important thing you learned from Mario Diaz-Balart? And you know the story I'm about to -

MR DIAZ-BALART: I'm scared. (Laughter.)

SECRETARY RUBIO: So here's the story. The speaker - they always relied on him to carry some of the big bills in addition to his work gerrymandering his district. And - (laughter.) I'm kidding. Is there media here? (Laughter.) It was the old district. It's not the one now. I'm just saying. All right. And so in 2000 - so they would come with him with all these bills and they - you carried - remember, you carried a bunch of bills: civil service reform. Now, I'm going to - and I don't mean this as an insult. This is going to be a compliment; you have to let me finish the story, okay? (Laughter.) Okay, you have to let me finish the story.

But Mario knew nothing about these bills. He knew nothing about the details of the actual legislation. What he knew - remember you - but there's - now here's where the compliment is. (Laughter.) They - they - you'd stand up on the floor of the legislature and they would say, "Representative Diaz-Balart, you're recognized to present your bill." And he would stand up and say, "This bill is about civil service reform. Everybody knows what this is. It's time to vote." (Laughter.) And so some poor Democrat usually - opposition party - would stand up and say, "The time for questions - questions of the sponsor." And somebody would stand up and say, "Oh, I have a question of the sponsor." And they would ask a question, and Mario would say, "This bill has been public for weeks." (Laughter.) "This bill has been known to this whole body for weeks. It is an insult that I would be asked questions about this bill." (Laughter and Applause.) "We need to vote and move on and stop standing in the way of the people's business." And I said, that is a talented guy. (Laughter.)

And so I have used that ever since, and it's worked really well in my career. (Laughter and Applause.) How dare you ask about this treaty? It's none of your business. Vote on the treaty and let's move on. (Laughter.) So in any event, but Mario is also a great friend. And I would actually say that my chances of running for speaker would have been gravely diminished had it not been for his advice and his counsel, and obviously moving on from there to the time here.

We - I never got to serve with Lincoln while he was in the House and I was in the Senate. Obviously Mario is still here, and now we work very closely together because he happens to be the guy who does the appropriations for the foreign relations. And so - but we've worked very closely for many years. In fact, we worked very closely in the first Trump Administration in what ultimately was known as the President's executive order on Cuba, which was a pretty dramatic reset that I think will be looked back at. (Applause.)

And Ileana was here for some period of time while we overlapped a little bit. But I will say this. No, I don't have to do these flights anymore, but I will say this. She seems to fly here as often now as she did when you were in the Congress - (laughter) - so my only guess is that this probably just pays a lot better, what you're - whatever you're doing now, it's just is much more - but she's here all the time but she's an incredible - she's a force of nature and the work she does. (Applause.)

And then, and obviously with Lincoln's passing earlier this year, it was a beautiful funeral, and you learned things about him that I didn't even know. Is Daniel here? Daniel Diaz-Balart? They told me that - (applause) - you did a great job. He really did a great job speaking, and there are a lot of things about him that I didn't even really know. It was - I mean, I knew but I didn't know some of the depths of some of it. An incredible statesman, and someone we really all kind of looked up to as someone who made a real difference in some of the bills that he passed that we look back at now. And we're not fully - it's interesting. Again, this is - I don't mean this as an insult to anyone who's involved in politics today. I almost wonder if you could achieve today what he achieved during his time in Congress.

And I'm going to explain to you why. Because he was a guy of action. I mean, he was here because he wanted to make policy. And I think today we've entered a political culture where sometimes what's rewarded is the celebrity. Can you post some provocative thing online? Can you get a five-minute - a five-second clip that gets replayed on social media of you screaming at a witness? And he did some of that, especially with the - but he just worked and passed legislation. I mean meaningful legislation. So did Ileana. These are important things that changed the lives of thousands of people. And that's just not rewarded today in politics the way it once was, and so I hope we don't lose that. But it's hard to emulate the career he had.

But here's the point I tried to make in all of this, an organization like this that's interested in leadership. There is someone probably interning now or volunteering on a campaign now or sitting next to you now or perhaps working alongside you now in some capacity who, through your opportunities that you've given them, you're opening doors for them that will lead to something in the future - maybe in business and maybe in politics.

I can tell you with certainty that I don't believe that I could have had not just the success but the opportunities I have had, had it not been for the fact that I had an opportunity to intern or an opportunity to volunteer on a campaign. And by the way, the people you meet - do you know how many of the I met working in those offices or working on that campaign or even working in the Florida legislature that to this day I interact with? Some are still in government or some are not. And I do think as much as anything else, when you talk about CHLI what you're talking about is the empowerment of young people who have a desire to in some way contribute to public service.

And certainly when you expose people to these things, when you expose them to the network of other people that they meet - because relationships are everything in life and most certainly in politics - when you allow them to expand their horizon so they can see what the opportunities are and maybe even discover new areas of passion or interest that they never knew about, these are truly seeds that over time bear fruit.

And so it's great to stand here. As I said, it's always flattering to receive an award and be recognized - you were speaker, you were a member of the Senate, you were the chairman of this, you're now Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor and the Acting Archivist - (laughter)  and the Acting USAID Director - (laughter.) So it's always great to - and the surgeon general. No, I'm kidding. I'm not that. (Laughter.) I wanted it. I wanted it. (Laughter.) You get a uniform. Do you know you get a uniform if you're a surgeon general? (Laughter.) I wanted it but they had given it away. You know what would be good? Library of Congress. That would be a good job. (Laughter.) Acting Librarian Mario Diaz-Balart. Do you want it? (Laughter.)

But all kidding aside, the - you can talk about this path someone took there, but I can just tell you these things were all made possible because Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart indirectly or directly, and whether they realized it at the time or not, contributed to it - invested, created opportunities, and allowed someone to explore more opportunities down the road.

And that doesn't escape me, and I take great pride even now when I run into someone who interned for me when I started in the Senate or who now is doing great things, or someone who was a staff member of mine who's now doing great things. And usually staff members that work for you and they go do better things, there's one of two things, and you can tell right away. Their clothes is a lot better because they no longer work for you and they're making just, like, five times as much money - (laughter) - or they're in charge of something. Some even maybe got elected to things or what have you.

I actually take pride in that, and I think that's an incredible thing. But I don't think that's the part - I don't know if people fully appreciate the doors that were opened for people like me and so many others, not because of those that - I don't want to say those that came before us, but who were in those positions before us.

And I also want you to understand this about it because I think this is very powerful and true. One of the things that allowed me as a young person to believe that it was possible for me to have these aspirations was because there were people who sort of, kind of came from the same background I did who were already in those positions, because that - 20 years before or 15 years before that wasn't the case. But when you're a 23, 24-year-old young person growing up in Miami who aspires to one day serve in higher office, and you see someone who comes from your community and the same background that you came from who now is in those positions, you know what it triggers in your brain? That I could do it too. If someone like me could be doing it now, I can do that in the future. And I think that's a very powerful thing that all of us have an obligation to continue to pass on. (Applause.)

So I appreciate this award. I'm honored by it. But I would say the opportunities I've had in leadership as much as anything else have been the result of what others empowered me to do, gave me the opportunity to do, whether they knew they were doing it at the time or not. And one of them was Lincoln Diaz-Balart and two of them were Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, and I thank you for what you do every single year through this organization to empower more young people so that the next Archivist of the United States of America may be sitting in this audience right now. (Laughter.)

Thank you and God bless. Thank you. (Applause.)

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May 8, 2025

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Call With Greek Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias

Senior Defense Spokesperson Col. Chris Devine provided the following readout:

On May 2, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called his Greek counterpart, Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias. During the call, Secretary Hegseth discussed his priorities, including on Ukraine and the Red Sea, and stressed the need for allies to assume greater responsibility over European defense. Secretary Hegseth also thanked Minister Dendias for Greece's close partnership with the United States, including on basing and access for U.S. forces.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4179115/

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May 8, 2025

By Matthew Olay, DOD News

Senior Official Outlines Future Priorities for Special Ops

Colby Jenkins, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, outlined his priorities for the future of the special warfare community while delivering remarks today during Special Operations Forces Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Jenkins cautioned the audience that America's adversaries are converging across regions and "the thresholds between peace and conflict."

"We do not need another threat briefing; we need action  focused and unrelenting," Jenkins said.

He added that such action recently came in the form of guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who kicked off SOF Week 2025 with keynote remarks, May 6. Hegseth said his focus is on defending the homeland, deterring Chinese aggression while maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region and shifting burdens to partners and allies.

"SOF delivers persistent presence, asymmetric advantage and strategic effects across all three priorities every day, everywhere," Jenkins said, adding that SOF is also the only force in the Defense Department that delivers across all three lines of effort.

He then listed five priorities aimed at meeting Hegseth's guidance: designing the future force to prevail in future conflicts, maximizing the performance and resilience of SOF personnel, ensuring training and readiness meet future needs, aligning capability development to strategic priorities, and strengthening resource oversight and the institutionalization of accountability.

Regarding the first priority concerning force design, Jenkins said there needs to be a shift from static formations optimized for crisis response and counterterrorism to "adaptable, tailorable, multidomain SOF formations" meant to prevail in high-end conflict.

"The future of SOF is relentless: smaller teams, faster decisions, smarter systems [and] harder targets," Jenkins said.

As for performance and resilience maximization when it comes to SOF personnel, Jenkins said future operators will need to be agile, resilient, physically and mentally capable, and able to thrive in isolated, high-pressure environments.

"We cannot afford to simply maintain the old standards," he said. "We must sharpen them, modernize them and expand them without losing the warrior ethos that define[s] our special operations."

He also said the goal will be to build and preserve a force where human performance, and not just that of technology, will prove to be a critical advantage over adversaries.

"Because in the end, it is not the weapon, the drone, or the system that wins the contest. It is the person who knows when and how to use all of that technology and who refuses to quit; that person secures victory for us," Jenkins said.

On the topic of ensuring training and readiness meet future needs, Jenkins said the battlefield of the future will be more complex, contested and ambiguous than anything SOF has faced before.

Because of that, he said, future SOF will have to operate in challenging environments while integrating cyberspace and electronic warfare. They will also need to conduct irregular warfare alongside allies, partners and indigenous forces across all phases of competition and conflict.

"Traditional training models and infrastructure focused primarily on physical skills and kinetic action will not be enough," Jenkins said, adding that it will be necessary to rethink training for the future threat environment.

Regarding aligning capability development to strategic priorities, Jenkins said "innovation for innovation's sake" isn't enough.

"We must drive innovation with purpose, laser-focused on building the capabilities that allow our forces to impose costs, create dilemmas and deny advantages to our adversaries," he said.

Jenkins added that SOF must harness artificial intelligence to accelerate decisive advantage.

On the final priority, Jenkins said strengthening resource oversight and institutionalizing accountability are necessary in an era of increasing operational demands and constrained budgets.

"Resources are not just dollars on a spreadsheet; they are the fuel for readiness, resilience and victory," he said, adding that every dollar spent must sharpen readiness, enhance capability, or increase strategic leverage.

"We have an incredible opportunity right now to make sure that our enterprise has the resources that it needs and can divest of operations or resources or platforms that we no longer need. So, let's take advantage of that," Jenkins said, adding that no funds should be "wasted on bureaucracy that does not deliver warfighting advantage."

After highlighting future priorities, Jenkins appealed to the SOF community for their own ideas regarding shaping the future.

"Whether you are in industry ... government or the SOF community itself, you are part of this effort," he said. "Help us develop the capabilities that give our operators the advantage they need at the speed they need."

Jenkins said that winning future fights will not come from doing more of the same but from thinking differently, acting decisively and working together.

"This is our moment to forge the future of special operations," he said. "A future where small teams create strategic impacts; a future where resilience, adaptability and speed win the day, [and] a future where American strength and American values prevail. Now let's get to work."

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India/Pakistan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest developments

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

8 May 2025 10:20

The European Union (EU) and its 27 Member States unequivocally condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April and the murder of innocent civilians. Terrorism can never be justified. Those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice. Every state has the duty and the right lawfully to protect its citizens from acts of terror.

The EU is monitoring closely and with great concern the growing tensions in the region and the ensuing consequences, including the possible loss of more lives. The EU calls on both parties to exercise restraint, to de-escalate tensions and desist from further attacks to safeguard civilian lives on both sides. The EU urges both sides to engage in dialogue. It is vital that India and Pakistan also live up to their obligations under international law and take all measures possible to protect civilian lives.

The EU will work with all parties to de-escalate the situation.

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Gymnich: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas after the meeting

European External Action Service (EEAS)

08.05.2025

Warsaw, 08/05/2025

EEAS Press Team

Good afternoon, everybody.

It is great to be here in Warsaw again and this Gymnich format meeting where we had very frank, very open discussions on very many issues that are topical today.

Of course, first Ukraine. There is extensive diplomacy going on. But it is clear that Russia shows no signs of wanting peace. What we have to do is put more pressure on Russia so that also Russia would want peace because we know that Ukraine already agreed to unconditional ceasefire over 50 days ago. We also have to support Ukraine so that they can defend themselves. So, what do we do for this?

We are working on the 17th sanctions package, which hopefully we are ready to adopt on the next Foreign Affairs Council. Then, we just recently issued the roadmap to get rid of Russian energy and also how we deal with the shadow fleet. That is also part [from] where the funding for this war is coming. Then, how we [can] support [more] Ukraine. Then, the security guarantees that the Coalition of the Willing is discussing but also on the European side, we have the training missions [where] we can also discuss what [we can do] more in this regard.

Tomorrow, we are going to Ukraine, and we are going to make available []1 billion for Ukraine's defence industry. I think again [this is a] very important sign for Ukraine. [Tomorrow,] we will also give the final political endorsement to start [the] establishment of [a] war crimes tribunal [for] crimes of aggression. There will be no impunity. There will be accountability for the crimes committed. Also, [for] those who have really started this war. And, as we have the 9th of May tomorrow - which is the Europe day - I want to stress that all those who truly support peace cannot stand side by side with Putin, who has started this full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine. Those who truly support peace should be in Ukraine rather than in Moscow tomorrow.

Then, we also discuss key peace parameters that we have already agreed [on] previously. First independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, [and] node jure recognition of occupation or occupied territories. The ceasefire has to be full, unconditional and implemented immediately. There has to be also [a] strong monitoring system and it has to be clear on different elements.

Then, no restriction to Ukraine's right to self-defence, that means no demilitarisation of Ukraine. Robust security guarantees are needed for any peace to last. Then, Ukraine's freedom to its future, that means no neutrality. Also, Ukraine is on track of the EU accession. We also stressed that the prisoners of war have to be returned and the deported children have to be returned and detained civilians as well.

Sanctions must stay in place [until] Russia pay[s] for the damages that they have caused. No negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine and no negotiations about European security without Europe.

Then, although it was not on the agenda, what is happening in Gaza is on everybody's mind and therefore we also discussed this. The majority of European countries agreed that the situation in Gaza is untenable and rapidly deteriorating. These plans to intensify military operation in Gaza will lead to further suffering of civilian population. We reject any attempt of demographic or territorial changes in [the] Gaza Strip as well forced displacement of Palestinian population. We urge Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza immediately and ensure that the humanitarian aid reaches the people who are in need. The humanitarian aid has to respect the principles of humanitarian action, which means humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. We also demand that all the remaining hostages are immediately released and the parties resume the ceasefire.

Then, on Pakistan and India, I - today again - spoke to both ministers to convey the messages of de-escalation. I think nobody wins from this war. It is clear that they have to really exercise restraint. There is always a risk of miscalculation, and I hope that we can bring the tensions down. Of course, we condemn terrorism and any loss of life on the side of the India as well as Pakistan.

It is important that the channels of communication remain open and will be opened by the military commanders. I hope that so we can all convey these messages to really bring the tensions down. The world does not need another war.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-271239

Q&A

Q. High Representative, you said Europeans should be tomorrow in in Ukraine, not in Moscow. So, President Vucic - Serbia's President - decided to go to Moscow despite calls not to do it. What is your message to him? What did you tell his Foreign Minister - I think he was present today? What will be impact in general on Serbia's accession to the EU?

On the positive side, Serbian military is not participating at the parade. That would have been a really next level step. But, of course, it remains on the conscience of all these people who are [standing] side by side [with] Putin who is waging a war right now - not in history, but right now - the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War. Like I said before, Member States are not taking this lightly and then when we are discussing next steps, the member states have a lot of questions: who is your friend, with whom [are] you really dealing with.

Q. After two months of humanitarian blockade and the adoption of the Israeli government of its "conquest plan of Gaza", what is the way forward for the EU? Do you feel that there can be a consensus to go beyond condemnation of the situation, and should we put more pressure on Israel? And, in a letter, the Foreign Minister of Netherlands asked to review of the Article 2 of the current EU-Israel Association Council to see room to address this demand.

Yesterday, we discussed this intensively and the frustration among the Member States that we cannot stop this is tremendous. One of the proposals was from the Foreign Minister of [the] Netherlands and we agreed that we will discuss this proposal on the next Foreign Affairs Council that takes place on the 20th of May. Of course, [we will be] brainstorming what more [we] can do. You know very well that on certain issues we have very divergent views. If you do not hear our discussions that we have inside the rooms, just listen to the European Parliament and the discussions there about Gaza and Israel, and you get the flavour what the differences [are] between different Member States. But we will try to find ways to sanction violent settlers. We have tried that before, but the situation has changed, so we will definitely make again efforts.

Q. The 17th sanctions package that has been prepared by the Commission, when will it be approved? What will be the main tenants of this package apart of targeting the shadow fleet and how do you assess also the old 16th packages of sanctions?

On the 17th package, we aim to adopt it by the Foreign Affairs Council that is happening on the 20th of May. What is in it? There is a lot of things that are in it, but as long as it is not agreed, it is not fully agreed. So, I will not open - you said the shadow fleet, that is truly there and there are other elements there as well. I am happy that we put forward a package and like the Minister said they are biting. I think that in order for Russia to want peace we have to put more pressure and sanctions is one of the tools.

Q. Foreign Minister, yesterday you said "Europe should prepare for the US washing its hands of Europe". Do you think your other 26 colleagues here today - you had the discussion on US relations - agree with you? And if not, why not? High Representative, do you also agree with what Mr Sikorski said about that?

The discussions we had [on] EU-US relations are very important and so we discussed how to make them better. But it is no secret to any of you that there are difficulties with the new administration. Definitely, we are working stressing the positive sides and the transatlantic bond is very important. And, recently, we heard the good messages coming from the other side of [the] Atlantic, saying that we are close with Europe and - what was it from the conference that Vice President Vance actually said there are positive signals also towards Europe. I am optimist by nature, so I think we are on a positive path.

Q. President Macron said earlier this week that he would urge the European Union to end sanctions on Syria when they come up for renewal in June. Do you agree with him that these sanctions should be allowed to expire?

Thank you. We have currently ongoing discussions about the sanctions relief on Syria and I was happy to read that actually President Macron is in favour of the relief of sanctions. I hope that also goes to the working level.

Q. The United States administration has said that it will step back from the mediation process and that Ukraine and Russia should now be involved in direct talks. Is this something that the EU will support - direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia with Ukraine of course saying that it would not agree to such a solution until a ceasefire is there in place?

It is clear that no negotiations can go on when the war is waging. First there has to be ceasefire so that the parties can sit down. But it is clear that the war is between Russia and Ukraine and it is also Russia and Ukraine that need to agree on what is the end of this.

Q. You just mentioned the very different news about your announcement on the Special Tribunal tomorrow in Lviv. We know that the US who supported this tribunal basically disappeared from the core group - it did not attend the last meeting. So, what does this imply for the accountability on the crime of aggression in Ukraine? Also, in which scenario do you see the US actually coming back to the core group?

First on the accountability, we have the international law in place that says, all United Nations Charter's principles are valid and, there is, [the] question about the accountability, what happens if you breach those principles. We, [the core group,] have reached first have reached agreement on [a] technical level on how this tribunal will be set up and now we also have the endorsement at political level. So, it will be done by the Council of Europe. So, also the Secretary General of the Council of Europe will join us via video tomorrow and it is important that the agreement is there. I just [want] to remind you that after the Second World War, the UN was also established not by all the countries - and the UN Charter - but by those core countries. So of course, countries can join when they wish to. But it is important that we have the registry of the crimes [and that] we have a technical details [on] how it is going to work. It will be set up then by the Council of Europe to address the crime of aggression and war crimes.

Q. You just announced 1 billion more for the Ukrainian defence industry. I was wondering if you could give us more details on that. Is it part of your initiatives - the so-called Kallas initiative?

Thank you. If you want to have the concrete name of the initiative that this 1 billion goes [to], then it is the Danish initiative because it is the defence industry initiative to support the Ukraine's defence industry. We are going to make available the funds from different Member States to defence industry. It is separate from the ammunition initiative we are still working and also gathering support for.

Q. Did you discuss the Commission's proposal of a ban or a phase out of Russian gas imports by the end of 2027? If you did, could you give us or could you kind of draw us the mood picture, the willingness of the Member States to comply to accept? You mentioned that a majority of Member states agreed that situation in Gaza is untenable. What do you mean with majority and is correct you had planned to publish a written statement but had to go back [inaudible] statement due to kind of blockage of Member States?

First, on the energy roadmap. So, yes it was mentioned and mostly - actually by 26 - it was welcomed to and by one it was not welcomed. We are definitely, working with this further and that was good. The arguments that this road map cannot be used because of energy limitations to get access to energy. Then, it was good to see around the table Member States actually offering help to solve the problem - if that is the real problem. But, of course, the Foreign Ministers are not in the position. It is not our file to discuss, but because it was a big thing, then very briefly we touched upon this.

On Gaza, the mood around room is, like I say, that this situation is untenable. That is the mood around the room. But like it is very often with our common statements is that they get stuck with certain words and sentences. But I think I can speak - and you [Minister] can also assist me there - the broad majority of the Member States that this is the position that was pushed and what I was also reiterating before.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-271810

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Allies Hone Interoperability in Southern Estonia

Republic of Estonia - Defence Forces

8. May 2025, 10:21

As part of the Exercise Hedgehog 25, units from the United Kingdom and France are training together at the Nursipalu training area to enhance their cooperation and align support unit operations on the battlefield.

"It is important in this exercise to demonstrate our ability to deploy our forces en masse using a number fo different methods. It's equally crucial to train with our NATO allies and the Estonian reservists called up to participate, working as one, to show that we can and will defend Estonia if it comes to that," said Captain Cartwright, mortar platoon commander, Fire Support Company, 2 Scots.

Before entering the next phase of the exercise, the United Kindom and French mortar and support units familiarized themselves with each other's equipment, standard procedures, and techniques, exchanging experience in the process.

"It's important to take as many learning lessons as possible and to understand each other's differences, so that if we were to do this for real, it would be as smoothly as possible," added Captain Cartwright. "Although there are similarities to Scotland, it's the Estonians who know this land best, and we have been trying to get a good understanding of local environment to avoid simple mistakes, so if we were to come here, we would be able to fight on the front foot."

The allied mortar units demonstrated to each other everything from weapon readiness procedures to the communication of fire missions. Additionally, both nations' combat support units showcased their capabilities in vehicle recovery, refueling, medical support, and other logistical functions.

"For us, this is a rare opportunity to train in a new environment, a new location, and with new equipment," said sergeant Thomas, mortar squad leader of the French contingent. "Here we have Estonians, British, and French working together to learn how to operate together and to defend Estonia if necessary."

In addition to Estonian armed forces personnel, units from more than ten countries are involved in the exercise, including forces from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Canada, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Portugal. Observers and instructors will also be present from Japan, Israel, and Ukraine.

Exercise Hedgehog 25 is the Estonian Defense Forces' largest training event this year, focused on planning and executing military operations and enhancing interoperability between Estonian and allied units. Participants include active-duty personnel, conscripts, reservists, Defense League members, and allied soldiers.

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Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Warsaw: Europe holds the lever of power and Putin has no aces

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

08.05.2025 | 19:08

On 7 and 8 May, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna participated in the informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers (Gymnich) in Warsaw, where the Russian aggression against Ukraine and relations between the European Union and the United States were discussed. In addition, a meeting was held with the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, to discuss closer relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom and topical foreign policy issues.

Discussions focused on Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine and support for Ukraine. "We all want peace in Ukraine - a peace that is lasting and respects Ukraine's sovereign rights. However, Russia does not care about such peace," Tsahkna said, adding that the peace achieved on Putin's terms was not sustainable.

Tsahkna said that despite Russia's claims, the sanctions were having a significant negative impact on the Russian economy. "Europe has the lever of power and Putin has no aces," he said. "We must continue to raise the cost of the war for Russia. The additional 17th package of sanctions must be adopted already this month and the sanctions must remain in place until Russia has compensated Ukraine for the damage it has caused with its aggression. At the same time, we must move forward with using the frozen assets of the Russian central bank for the benefit of Ukraine," the foreign minister added.

In the discussion on EU-US relations, Tsahkna conveyed his observations from his meetings in Washington to EU foreign ministers. "Europe must be an equal partner to the United States in ensuring security. To achieve this, the European Union has approved a 800 billion plan for re-arming," Tsahkna said. Tsahkna also stressed the strategic importance of rebuilding Ukraine, which created new opportunities for transatlantic cooperation.

At the meeting with Lammy, Tsahkna said that the UK was an indispensable partner for the EU. "Estonia supports deeper relations between the EU and the United Kingdom, especially in areas related to security," Tsahkna said.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza was also discussed. No humanitarian organisation has been able to deliver aid to Gaza for more than two months and the situation is extremely critical.

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Chinese FM refutes Philippines' claims of an incident at Huangyan Dao as disregarding facts

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2025 04:53 PM

In response to a question concerning the Philippine military's claim on Thursday of an "incident" involving the Chinese navy at Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea, where the Philippine side claimed Chinese warship conducted "high-risk maneuvers", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. Philippine warship attempted to intrude into Huangyan Dao, and Chinese side took necessary measures which were justified, lawful, professional, and restrained.

The related remarks by the Philippine side disregard the facts and confuse right and wrong, Lin said.

The root cause of the current tensions lies in the Philippines' repeated infringements and provocations at sea. Chinese side urges the Philippines to immediately cease its infringing and provocative actions and not to challenge China's firm resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Lin said.

A Philippine Navy patrol near the Huangyan Dao encountered "aggressive and unsafe" movements by two Chinese Navy vessels earlier this week, the Philippine military said, Reuters reported.

The May 5 encounter took place "approximately 11.8 nautical miles south-east" of the Huangyan Dao, the military said, according to The Straits Times.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, said on Thursday that on Monday, the Philippine Corvette 35 attempted to intrude into the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao. The PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to lawfully track, monitor, issue warnings, and expel the vessel, effectively preventing the Philippine vessel from entering China's territorial waters.

A map released by the PLA Southern Theater Command showed that the closest distance between the Philippine corvette and the territorial sea baseline of China's Huangyan Dao was 12.4 nautical miles, at 5:31 pm on Monday.

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China opposes all forms of terrorism, calls on India and Pakistan to prioritize peace and stability: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2025 04:33 PM

In response to media inquiries regarding Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's vow to avenge the victims of the Kashmir attack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Thursday that China had already expressed its position on the current India-Pakistan situation the previous day. China is concerned about the current developments. India and Pakistan are immovable neighbors, and both are China's neighbors.

Lin noted that China opposes all forms of terrorism and calls on both India and Pakistan to prioritize peace and stability, comply with the United Nations Charter and other international laws, remain calm and restrained, and avoid actions that would further complicate the situation.

We are willing to work with the international community to play a constructive role in alleviating the current tensions, said Lin.

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PLA prevents Philippine corvette from trespassing into Huangyan Dao waters, releases trail illustration

Global Times

By Liang Rui and Liu Xuanzun Published: May 08, 2025 11:57 AM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently prevented a Philippine corvette from intruding into Chinese territorial waters around Huangyan Dao, and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and Foreign Ministry slammed the Philippine side's infringing provocations on Thursday. An expert said that frequent maritime provocations and media manipulation are habitual tactics employed by the Philippines, warning that such disregarding of facts negatively impacts regional peace.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson of the PLA Southern Theater Command, said on Thursday that on Monday, the Philippine Corvette 35 attempted to intrude into the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao. The PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to lawfully track, monitor, issue warnings, and expel the vessel, effectively preventing the Philippine vessel from intruding into China's territorial waters.

The on-site operations were professional, standardized, justified, and lawful, Tian said.

A trail illustration released by the PLA Southern Theater Command showed that the closest distance between the Philippine corvette and the territorial sea baseline of China's Huangyan Dao was 12.4 nautical miles, at 5:31 pm on Monday.

A Philippine Navy patrol near the Huangyan Dao encountered "aggressive and unsafe" movements by two Chinese Navy vessels earlier this week, the Philippine military claimed, Reuters reported.

Related remarks by the Philippine side disregard the facts, confuse right and wrong, and attempt to mislead the international community. Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately cease its infringements, provocations, and distortion of the truth. The troops of the Southern Theater Command remain on high alert at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests, and firmly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea, the PLA Southern Theater Command spokesperson said.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that the illustration released by the PLA Southern Theater Command showed the process of how the PLA Navy tracked, monitored, and decisively expelled the Philippine vessel, demonstrating the PLA's unwavering commitment to safeguarding China's sovereignty.

The vessel tracks also indicated that the naval and air forces of the PLA Southern Theater Command routinely patrol the South China Sea, ensuring full awareness and swift response to any Philippine provocations, Zhang said.

Responding to a question concerning the Philippine military's claim about the incident at Huangyan Dao, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that the Philippines' remarks disrespect facts and confuse right and wrong.

Huangyan Dao has always been China's territory, Lin said, adding that the Philippine military vessel attempted to intrude into waters of Huangyan Dao. China took necessary measures to handle the matter, which are legitimate, lawful, professional and restrained.

"The Philippines' repeated infringement and provocation at sea is the root cause leading to the current tensions. China urges the Philippines to stop infringement and provocation at once, and refrain from challenging China's firm resolve to safeguard the nation's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," Lin noted.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that the fundamental purpose of the Philippines' hype over these incidents is to refuse to recognize China's sovereignty over its territorial waters and maritime rights, demonstrating its denial of China's control over Huangyan Dao.

At the same time, the Philippines may hope to use its frequent maritime actions and the hype in international public opinion, its usual tactics, to showcase a tough stance through continuous provocations, catering to certain domestic needs, such as seeking public support ahead of the Philippines' upcoming midterm elections, Chen said.

The Philippines' maritime moves in Huangyan Dao waters not only pose certain security risks but also negatively impact regional peace and stability, Chen added.

In addition to the failed attempt to intruding into Chinese territorial waters around Huangyan Dao, the Philippines has also made other moves in the South China Sea recently, harming regional peace and stability.

The Philippines, the US and Australia recently made statements on their joint sea and air patrol in the South China Sea, claiming that the operation aims at enhancing joint operation capability and is in support of "a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Commenting on the matter, Lin said at Thursday's press briefing that China firmly opposes the recent joint sea and air patrol in the South China Sea by the Philippines, the US and Australia and their hyping up.

The US and other countries outside the region have patched up small groupings in the South China Sea to stoke confrontation in the name of cooperation, flex military muscles in the name of freedom, and create trouble in the name of upholding order. They are the biggest source of risks undermining the peace and stability in the South China Sea, Lin added.

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Statement from Indonesia and Norway: Defending multilateral cooperation

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 08/05/2025

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Arrmanatha Nasir, and State Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, met 7 May 2025 for political consultations. They engaged in a candid and constructive dialogue on multilateral issues.

They agreed that a well-functioning multilateral system and a world order built on international law are vital, particularly in the current geopolitical context.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and the principles and purposes of the UN.

Nasir and Kravik also discussed the UN Secretary General's UN80 Initiative and welcomed the efforts by the UNSG to ensure that the UN adapts and remains relevant to new circumstances and is fit for purpose.

Norway and Indonesia agreed on the importance to have cross-regional support for an ambitious UN and multilateral system reform.

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Foreign Minister Eide on attack on MSF hospital in South Sudan

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 08/05/2025

'The military attack on an MSF hospital is unacceptable and cuts off medical access for thousands of civilians. I am deeply concerned about the development in South Sudan,' says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital as well as other civilian structures in Old Fangak were attacked from the air on May 3. The organization reports that 7 people were killed. All parties to the conflict in South Sudan have been informed about the location of hospitals and other civilian structures. The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is calling for an investigation. Health workers must be protected.

The political and security situation in South Sudan has recently deteriorated in ways not seen since before the current peace agreement was signed in 2018.

'This is a politically manufactured crisis. I urge South Sudanese leaders to ensure the safety and freedom of all citizens, including political opponents, and to return to dialogue urgently aimed at achieving a political solution. This way they will put their people first.'

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Operation Sindoor was successfully executed because our formidable & professionally-trained Armed Forces were equipped with high-quality equipment, says Raksha Mantri at National Quality Conclave 2025

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

"India has always played the role of a responsible nation, but if anyone tries to take advantage of its restraint, they will face 'quality action'"

No limit will become an obstacle in protecting India's sovereignty, fully prepared for responsible responses in the future: Shri Rajnath Singh

"Expanding defence industrial ecosystem is providing an unprecedented strength to India"

"Need to develop global trust in our equipment to make India a developed nation & largest defence exporter by 2047"

Posted On: 08 MAY 2025 5:53PM by PIB Delhi

"Operation Sindoor was successfully executed because our formidable & professionally-trained Armed Forces were equipped with high-quality equipment," said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing the National Quality Conclave in New Delhi on May 08, 2025. Raksha Mantri commended the precision with which the Armed Forces executed the operation without harming any innocent person and with minimum collateral damage, terming it as unimaginable and a matter of great pride for the nation.

"In Operation Sindoor, nine terror camps were destroyed in Pakistan & PoK, and a good number of terrorists were killed. It shows the crucial role 'quality' plays in securing national interests," said Shri Rajnath Singh.

Raksha Mantri asserted that India has always played the role of a responsible nation exercising great restraint and it believes in resolving issues through dialogue, however, if anyone tries to take advantage of this restraint, they will face 'quality action'. He assured the nation that no limit will become an obstacle for the Government in protecting India's sovereignty. "We are fully prepared for such responsible responses in the future as well," he said.

Sharing his views on the theme of the conclave 'Fast-tracking of Quality Assurance through Integrated Approach and Technology Enabled Processes', Shri Rajnath Singh stated that fast-tracking quality assessment is the need of the hour in view of the disruptive changes and new transformations being witnessed in the defence sector across the globe.

Raksha Mantri voiced the Government's emphasis on the empowerment of the defence production sector since 2014, based on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's philosophy of Defence Sovereignty. He said: "Defence Sovereignty means that until a country is capable and self-reliant in its defence needs, its independence cannot be considered complete. If we buy weapons and other defence equipment from abroad, we are outsourcing our security and leaving it at the mercy of someone else. Our government thought over it seriously and took a decisive step to achieve self-reliance. The expanding defence industrial ecosystem is providing an unprecedented strength to India".

Shri Rajnath Singh added that equal emphasis is being laid on quality and quantity in defence production with many revolutionary steps being taken in that direction, including corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). He termed Quality as the Government's priority Reform Agenda, highlighting that since the corporatisation of OFB, DPSUs have become internationally competitive and export-oriented, with efforts being made to advance quality production.

Raksha Mantri pointed out that one of the objectives behind the progress of the public sector has been to develop a Healthy Competitive Private Defence Ecosystem, which will strengthen India's security through quality. "In today's world, a strong brand value is important than just a product. The brand, which assures consistent quality and reliability, succeeds," he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh appealed to the Armed Forces, Government QA agencies, DPSUs, private industry, research institutions, academia, and MSME representatives present on the occasion to build a world-leading state-of-the-art Brand India. "Brand India means if an Indian company has promised something, it will definitely happen. 'Whenever in doubt, go for India' should be our USP," he said.

On the major changes being witnessed in the global order, Raksha Mantri stated that when developed countries move towards re-armament, the demand for arms & equipment will increase. He cited the report of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute which said that the world military expenditure has reached $ 2,718 billion in 2024. He expressed hope that with coordinated efforts, the Indian defence manufacturing sector can make its mark globally with the Brand India philosophy. "Defence exports crossed the record figure of about Rs 24,000 crore in Financial Year 2024-25. Our aim is to increase the figure to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. The target is to make India a developed nation and the world's largest defence exporter by 2047. To achieve the goal, we must develop global trust regarding the quality of our defence equipment," he said.

While Shri Rajnath Singh acknowledged the efforts being made towards quality improvement, he stressed on the need to focus on using tools such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, and machine learning for real-time quality monitoring in today's technology-driven era. He also called for updating standards and testing protocols to align with evolving global technologies. We need to focus on time-bound quality assurance clearances so that unwanted delays do not take place, he said.

Raksha Mantri added that quality assessment agencies should always keep an eye on their deficiencies and work on overcoming them through modernisation and development of testing infrastructure. Continuous gap analysis in the field of niche technology will be an essential step, he said.

Organised by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) under the aegis of Department of Defence Production, the conclave underscored the need to transition from legacy QA models to predictive, data-driven, and automated systems. Experts called for seamless collaboration across stakeholders to accelerate certification timelines, streamline inspections, and embed real-time quality oversight into defence production.

Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar spotlighted the role of innovation and industry collaboration in making India a leading defence exporter. In a transparent and interactive Open House session, he addressed queries from defence industry representatives and user agencies, reinforcing the Ministry's resolve to simplify, digitalise, and modernise QA systems.

Key Highlights & Announcements

A landmark session introduced the Industry 4.0/QA 4.0 Roadmap , developed jointly by DGQA and industry partners. It includes deployment of smart technologies like Internet of Things-enabled test benches, automated data capture, digital dashboards, and AI-powered analyticsaimed at reducing human error, enhancing efficiency, and enabling continuous quality monitoring across defence product life-cycles.

, developed jointly by DGQA and industry partners. It includes deployment of smart technologies like Internet of Things-enabled test benches, automated data capture, digital dashboards, and AI-powered analyticsaimed at reducing human error, enhancing efficiency, and enabling continuous quality monitoring across defence product life-cycles. The Draft Indian Military Airworthiness Bill was formally presented for final inputs. The Bill, crafted through an inclusive process involving multiple stakeholders, including MoD, DRDO, Services, DPSUs, and industry, proposes a statutory framework for the certification of military aircraft and airborne systems. A dedicated interactive session captured final feedback from user representatives and industry forums.

was formally presented for final inputs. The Bill, crafted through an inclusive process involving multiple stakeholders, including MoD, DRDO, Services, DPSUs, and industry, proposes a statutory framework for the certification of military aircraft and airborne systems. A dedicated interactive session captured final feedback from user representatives and industry forums. A dedicated session explored strategies to boost the indigenous development of Explosives and Ordnance (E&O) stores. Experts examined the role of emerging technologies - AI/ML, Big Data, Additive Manufacturing, Silicon Photonics, Semiconductors, and Advanced Materialsin modernising E&O production, safety validation, and certification. The session reinforced the need for technological self-reliance in critical munitions and precision systems.

The National Quality Conclave 2025 concluded with a united commitment from all stakeholders to redefine defence QA as a strategic enabler, not just of compliance, but of national security, export capability, and indigenous innovation. The outcomes of the conclave are expected to catalyse India's transformation into a global benchmark for defence quality assurance.

DG, DGQA Shri N Manoharan emphasised that the conclave had significantly strengthened the partnership between industry and defence stakeholders, while also advancing efforts toward standardisation and innovation in quality assurance.

Director General of Naval Armament Inspection Rear Admiral Rupak Barua, Director General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance Shri Sanjay Chawla, CMDs of DPSUs, senior MoD officers were also present on the occasion.

*****

VK/Savvy

(Release ID: 2127735)

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Iran urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to prevent escalation of tensions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 8, 2025

New Delhi, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called for restraint between India and Pakistan to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.

Speaking upon his arrival in New Delhi, Araqchi emphasized the need for stability, particularly to foster economic cooperation among regional nations.

Araqchi, who arrived in India on Wednesday, is leading a delegation for high-level meetings with Indian officials.

He said the primary agenda of the visit is the Iran-India Joint Economic Commission, which aims to boost bilateral economic ties.

He noted that his delegation includes representatives from Iran's economic officials, highlighting the significance of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Araqchi said that Iran has consistently engaged in dialogue with India on key regional and international issues and that the discussions have become even more crucial given recent developments.

During his visit, Araqchi is scheduled to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to review regional issues.

He expressed hope that both India and Pakistan would exercise restraint to avoid further escalation.

Araqchi highlighted the importance of stability, saying that it is essential for fostering economic partnerships in the region.

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PM Netanyahu at the 5th Brigade training exercise in Tze'elim: "To Hamas I say one thing: The rules are about to change very soon"

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Events and Speeches

The 37th Government

08.05.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, visited a training exercise of the IDF 5th Brigade (reserve) at the Ground Forces Training Center in Tze'elim.

The Prime Minister received a briefing from the commanders regarding the training forces, the operational training effort in the Gaza Strip in the past weeks, and the improved readiness of the troops ahead of the expanded incursion.

The Prime Minister also spoke with the brigade fighters and commanders and answered their questions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"I am here at the Tze'elim Military Base, and I have come to see firsthand the quality of our troops, our heroes, ahead of the intensive operation that we are about to carry out in the Gaza Strip. I have observed your training exercise, and you have performed it excellently. There are reserve soldiers here, reserve commanders, who are doing a tremendous job. We are determined to achieve two objectives: One is to defeat Hamas, to gain victory over Hamas, to destroy Hamas. The second, of course, at the same time, is to release our hostages.

Today, we are marking the 53rd anniversary of the operation to rescue the hostages from the Sabena aircraft. I was there, I was injured there. The spirit remains unchanged, it is the exact same spirit that I see surging here among the soldiers and the commanders, and unites the ranks for a single goal of achieving a great victory. This victory includes both the defeat of Hamas and the release of our hostages.

That victory goes beyond all that, it impacts the entire region. AS of today, we have changed the face of the Middle East. We have brought Hezbollah to its knees; brought Hamas tolower than its knees; the Assad regime has fallen. Iran has also experienced our might. We face more challenges, but we have a strong spirit, and that spirit is achieved by our army comprised of conscript soldiers as well as reservists.

The reservists are doing a fantastic job. It places a heavy load on them, on their families, on the wives and the children, sometimes on the partners. We are determined to assist them, because they deserve everything. We have given them a lot, but we need to give a lot more, and we will do so.

To Hamas I say one thing: The rules are about to change very soon  thanks to you soldiers."

The Prime Minister was joined by his Chief-of-Staff, Tzachi Braverman; his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman; Commander of the Ground Forces, Maj.-Gen. Nadav Lotan; Head of the Education and Training Command, Maj-Gen. David Zini; Commander of the Ground Forces Training Center, Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller; and the Prime Minister's Spokesperson, Dr. Omer Dostri.

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Baiba Braze at the EU foreign ministers' meeting: the EU must achieve full energy independence from the aggressor state of Russia

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 08.05.2025

Further support for Ukraine and economic pressure on Russia and its supporters, including the 17th package of EU sanctions against Russia and the EU's plan for full energy independence from Russia, strengthening Europe's security and defence capabilities, dialogue with the United States on its presence in Ukraine and security guarantees - those were key issues discussed at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, or Gymnich. The meeting was hosted by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU on 7-8 May in Warsaw, Poland.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze: "We meet with EU foreign ministers on a historic date - on 8 May, when we pay tribute to all the victims of World War II. Meanwhile, Russia is "repeating history" by shelling Ukrainian cities day after day, for the fourth year, and killing civilians. Today, Putin's regime is using the defeat of Nazism to justify its military aggression and atrocities against Ukraine and its people. Russia is also "twisting history" and deliberately ignoring the fact that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, its secret protocols and the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the USSR paved the way for the horrors of World War II in Europe. Crimes of communism perpetrated by the USSR during and after World War II, by occupying the Baltic states, have still not been condemned in the same way as the crimes of Nazism have been."

Right now, Russia is the only obstacle to the end of the war and to peace. There is a need to increase economic pressure on Russia, and our priority is crystal clear: the EU must achieve full energy independence from Russia, from its oil, gas, nuclear fuel, mineral fertilisers, and any other goods that continue to bring revenue to Russia's budget and feed the war. We welcome the European Commission's proposals to make Europe completely independent of Russia's energy resources," Baiba Braze pointed out.

The Minister also underlined that "Europe and the allies must continue all forms of support to Ukraine, including by speeding up the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU, so that accession negotiations can be launched as early as this year".

During the Gymnich meeting, the ministers met with the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, David Lammy. "The UK has been a reliable ally from day one of the war in our joint fight against Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. We very much appreciate Britain's support for Ukraine, including dialogue with the U.S. on security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia - Latvia is working with the UK on sanctions coordination matters, especially in the fight against Russia's "shadow fleet". Latvia together with the UK is leading a drones coalition in support of Ukraine - 18 countries have joined the coalition so far," said Baiba Braze.

So far, the EU has imposed sanctions against 153 "shadow fleet" vessels, the United Kingdom, against 150, and the U.S., against more than 220 vessels.

Foreign ministers thanked the UK, France, and Germany for their leadership in organizing discussions to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine with serious security guarantees, and to contain Russia. Ministers expressed their hope that an agreement on closer security and defence cooperation would be signed at the EU-UK summit on 19 May.

In a discussion on relations between the EU and the U.S., the ministers agreed that Europe should take the lead in ensuring its own security and defence while maintaining a close transatlantic link. Cooperation with the strategic ally in the areas of mutual concern at both national and EU level should also be further developed.

Ministers then exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and Sudan, as well as the escalation between India and Pakistan.

By tradition, the foreign affairs ministers of potential candidates - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Kosovo - also participated in the Gymnich meeting.

At the Warsaw Security Forum, Foreign Minister Baiba Braze spoke at a high-level discussion on Europe's response to Russian threats: "Russia will continue to carry out unconventional attacks, put to test the response capabilities of the EU and NATO allies, look for weak spots, and draw new red lines. Russia is the most serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Allies must act resolutely and in a coordinated manner to strengthen their security and defence capabilities while continuing work on the overall containment of Russia. NATO has responded promptly to attacks on critical undersea infrastructure by launching a Baltic Sea surveillance mission, "Baltic Sentry". It is essential that new EU instruments for rapid response do not create new bureaucratic red tape and are dovetailed with NATO plans."

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NATO addresses electromagnetic interference threats to civil aviation safety

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

08 May. 2025

Civil aviation is increasingly affected by jamming and spoofing. The NATO Aviation Committee continues its work to address these threats, in close cooperation with other international organisations, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation and EUROCONTROL.

Acts of intentional interference carried out by state and non-state actors - for instance deliberate jamming or sending false Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals - can cause delays, rerouting or cancellation of take-offs and landings, and have significant negative economic impact on transport, global trade, and tourism.

The NATO Aviation Committee has noted that, as well as happening more often, and across different regions - including in the Baltic, Black Sea and Mediterranean - such interference is increasingly sophisticated. This is a cause for concern and warrants further action to make civil aviation more resilient, including by upgrading civil and military mechanisms, deploying ground based infrastructure, developing a more agile reporting and tracking system, and further bolstering cooperation with key international partners to counter GNSS interference.

The Aviation Committee is the senior civil-military NATO body, which advises the North Atlantic Council on all relevant aspects contributing to aviation safety and security, in support of the full range of NATO's missions.

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Mali: UN Experts say Mali should not hinder or suspend the activities of political parties

Press releases

Special Procedures



08 May 2025



GENEVA -- The adoption of a bill repealing basic protections to political participation by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2025 and the signature of a decree on 7 May 2025 suspending the activities of political parties until further notice are a direct violation of basic human rights, a group of independent human rights experts* warned today.

"This decree suspending political activities must be immediately repealed. In addition, if passed into law, the 30 April bill will place Mali in contravention of its human rights obligations, notably on freedoms of association and expression," the experts stressed.

The Government of Mali has argued that the repeal of existing laws did not call into question the existence of political parties and that the Government only sought to "stop the proliferation of political parties" in the country.

However, the experts pointed out that the proliferation of parties is easier to reduce with legitimate electoral rules, including those that make registration conditional to previous electoral performance. "Instead, the recently adopted bill will make the registration of a party and candidacies conditional to onerous financial deposits, restricting the right to political participation to sectors with high economic capacity," they warned.

"The government argues that these are direct proposals from national dialogues: the 2021 "Assises Nationales de la Refondation" and consultations on the review of the Charter of Political Parties held in April 2025. However, no genuine consultation is possible in the current climate of suppression of the civic space, where opponents and independent journalists have reasons to fear that free expression will be punished," the experts said.

Several political parties boycotted the April 2025 consultations because they were reasonably concerned, as the current events demonstrate that the Malian Transitional authorities were using the process as a tool to eventually dissolve political parties or ban their activities.

Mali's Council of Ministers also noted other recommendations from the April 2025 consultations, including naming the current head of state, Gen. Assimi Goita as president, without elections, for a renewable period of five years to be counted from 2025. The bill, as well as the favourable reception of such alarming proposals by the Council of Ministers, would betray national and international commitments made by the Malian authorities, the experts said.

They recalled that Gen. Assimi Goita himself, at the Council of Ministers meeting on 27 November 2024, called on the Government to "create the conditions necessary for the organisation of transparent and peaceful elections which should put an end to the transition." Mali had also accepted specific recommendations to protect freedoms of association and expression during the Universal Periodic Review of 2023: the current actions would call into question the credibility of Malian authorities.

The bill will now be presented to the National Transitional Council, presided by Gen. Malick Diaw, for approval.

"We urge the National Transitional Council to refrain from approving this draft legislation," the experts said. "We stand ready to assist the Government to revise the Amendment Bill to ensure compliance with international human rights norms and standards," they added.

Following the adoption of the bill, political parties have called on protests and public activities on 3 and 4 May. However, they have alleged that individuals claiming to support the transitional authorities violently disrupted their gatherings. Further, the political parties have called on new public gatherings on 9 May.

"The right to peacefully assembly is essential to the health of a vibrant political community," the experts said. "The Malian Transitional authorities must scrupulously respect it and abstain from acts of intimidation and repression that risk the physical integrity and the rights of demonstrators."

*The experts: Eduardo Gonzalez, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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UN experts demand international action as human rights violations escalate in Sudan's displacement camps

Press releases

Special Procedures

08 May 2025

GENEVA -- A group of independent human rights experts* today strongly condemned the targeted attacks perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Zamzam and Abu Shuk camps in North Darfur.

"We are gravely concerned by the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, where relentless violence and targeted attacks have forced millions of internally displaced people into life-threatening conditionsstripping them of access to food, water, shelter, and basic protection, and placing unbearable strain on already overwhelmed humanitarian operations," the experts said.

As Sudan approaches its third year of armed conflict, violent clashes between RSF and its armed militias and military government forces have escalated dramatically, with devastating consequences for internally displaced persons (IDPs). In North Darfur, the Zamzam camponce safe environment for families uprooted by violencehas been disproportionately affected by recent hostilities.

The experts said they had received reports of grave human rights violations allegedly committed by the RSF and its aligned militias including indiscriminate shelling, deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the collapse of already fragile health, food and water services, compromising directly the humanitarian principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. The Zamzam IDP camp, previously sheltering over 400,000 individuals, has seen more than 332,000 people flee amid relentless bombardment.

"Sudan is now experiencing the largest internal displacement crisis in the world," they said.

Over 10.7 million people have been reportedly displaced across the countrynearly a quarter of Sudan's populationsince the onset of conflict in April 2023. This includes over 2 million new displacements in the first quarter of 2025 alone, primarily driven by violence in Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan. The vast scale of displacement is placing overwhelming pressure on already fragile health, shelter, water, and food systems, leaving millions of vulnerable civilians without adequate access to basic services or protection.

The destruction of critical infrastructure has crippled humanitarian response capacity in displacement camps. Fuel shortages have suspended water trucking operations in several regions, including El Fasher, and local health services are overwhelmed by a sudden influx of displaced populations. In Central Darfur, health partners are witnessing alarming levels of malnutrition among children, exacerbated by the breakdown of food distribution systems and the loss of livelihoods.

The experts continue to receive reports of systematic violations, including sexual violence, sexual slavery, forced recruitmentespecially by RSF-affiliated elementsand the targeting of civilians. Women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons remain acutely vulnerable. Conflict related trafficking is a serious concern, in particular, trafficking of children for recruitment and use, and of women and girls for sexual exploitation including sexual slavery. The situation underscores the urgent need for strengthened protection mechanisms, particularly child protection and prevention of sexual violence, safe humanitarian access, and robust international monitoring.

Perpetrators must be held accountable through independent investigations and legal proceedings at both domestic and international levels. "These atrocities must not go unanswered. The international community must act decisively to ensure justice and protection for those most affected," the experts said.

They called for increased support for accountability mechanisms, and the immediate establishment of safe corridors for humanitarian assistance for thousands fleeing displacement camps.

"We echo the call of the Secretary General for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The international community must act with urgency to end the relentless suffering, destruction and loss of life in Sudan."

*The experts: Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstic, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Mr. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Siobhan Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences The Special Rapporteurs are part of what are known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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Transcript of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister's Briefing to the Islamabad-based Ambassadors on Indian Aggression against Pakistan

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Excellencies,

1. I welcome you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Today's briefing is being held to apprise you of Pakistan's perspective on the Indian aggression, made during the intervening night of 6 and 7 May 2025.

2. As you are aware, India carried out multiple strikes in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It violated Pakistan's sovereignty, and endangered regional peace and stability.

3. India launched coordinated missile, air and drone strikes on multiple locations within Pakistan's sovereign territory, including Sialkot, Shakargarh, Muridke and Bahawalpur. Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also hit.

4. These unprovoked and unjustified attacks deliberately targeted the civilian areas - on the false pretext of presence of terrorist infrastructure - resulting in the martyrdom of innocent men, women, and children. So far, there are reports of deaths of 26 persons and injury to another 46.

5. The deliberate targeting of civilians, including innocent women and children, is a heinous and shameful crime.

6. Some mosques were destroyed or damaged due to the Indian strikes. Attacking the places of worship is a particularly reprehensible step.

7. The Indian action caused serious risk to commercial air traffic, endangering the lives of thousands of on-board passengers, as a number of passenger flights were in the air at the time of Indian strikes.

8. Separately, the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir was targeted in violation of relevant international conventions. The action assumes significance in the context of India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and the attendant rhetoric regarding water flows to Pakistan.

9. Pakistan unequivocally condemns these illegal acts as blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Under the international law, the Indian actions manifestly constitute acts of war.

10. The Pakistan Air Force engaged with the Indian fighter jets in self-defense, while bringing down five Indian fighter aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the process.

11. The Indian actions are a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms of governing the inter-state relations.

12. It is most unfortunate that India's reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict. India's jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.

13. South Asia is home to over one-fifth of the world population. It could ill-afford the irresponsible actions like the ones carried out by India, last night.

14. In the wake of Pahalgam attack, the Indian leadership has once again used the bogey of terrorism to advance its sham narrative of victimhood, jeopardizing regional peace. We once again reject any attempt to link the Pahalgam Attack with Pakistan.

15. India blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam Attack, without any verifiable evidence or credible investigations. On 26 April 2025, the Prime Minister of Pakistan proposed a transparent and independent probe into this tragic incident through neutral investigators. Till date, India has not formally responded to this constructive proposal. Instead, it chose the path of belligerence and aggression.

16. We unequivocally reject the baseless Indian claims of hitting the terrorist infrastructure.

17. Pakistan has been emphatically rejecting the Indian claims about the presence of terrorist camps on its territory. The international media personnel visited the sites of some of the so-called "terrorist camps" on 6 May 2025. Similar visits were also planned for 7 May 2025.

18. A number of countries had called for exercise of restraint during the last two weeks. The international organizations like United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation had also counseled the same. It is highly deplorable that India did not pay heed to these calls.

19. We have been apprising our international partners of India's mal-intentions during the last two weeks. The Indian actions of the last night demonstrate that our concerns were genuine.

20. The Prime Minister of Pakistan chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee, today. The meeting, inter alia, declared that, in accordance with Article51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to Indian aggression,at a time and place of its choosing. We remain committed to defending our sovereignty and territorial integrity with full vigor.

21. The international community should hold India accountable for its irresponsible, unlawful and belligerent conduct.

I thank you!

Islamabad

8 May 2025





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26 civilians killed, 46 injured in Indian attack on Pakistan: official

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:09, May 08, 2025

ISLAMABAD, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-six people, including women and children, were killed and 46 others injured when India attacked civilian settlements in six areas of Pakistan on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army's media wing said.

India attacked houses and mosques, targeting civilians in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and the country's east Punjab province, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told media in a briefing.

He confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, one MiG-29, one Sukhoi, and a combat drone whose debris fell inside Indian territory. "None of the Pakistani aircraft went inside Indian airspace," he added.

The ISPR chief said several posts and a brigade headquarters of the Indian army were targeted in Pakistan's retaliatory action.

Pakistani Air Force launched the attack only after India carried out "the unprovoked, uncalled-for aggression against the territorial integrity, and the innocent people of Pakistan by firing at them through standoff weapons."

In this incident, India targeted and damaged the Nausari dam structure of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in Muzaffarabad district, Chaudhry said, adding "targeting hydro infrastructure is an unacceptable and dangerous escalation."

The ISPR chief said that at the time of the attack, scores of national and international flights were in Pakistan's airspace and thousands of civilian passengers' lives were put in grave danger.

Chaudhry said that Pakistan will retaliate in response to the attack which happened in "the darkness of the night," adding that last night's actions from Pakistan were only a retaliation in self-defense.

"Pakistan reserves the right and will respond to this aggression at a time, place, and means of our own choice," he noted.

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Huawei debuts HarmonyOS PC operating system, a major breakthrough in China's tech independence: expert

Global Times) 10:00, May 09, 2025

(Photo/Courtesy of Huawei)

Chinese tech giant Huawei on Thursday officially introduced its HarmonyOS personal computer (PC) operating system, in a move that Chinese experts said marks a breakthrough in China's push for self-reliance in core technologies and has the potential to break the dominance of Microsoft's Windows and Apple's macOS in desktop operating systems.

The tech firm unveiled personal computers that run the company's self-developed operating system, HarmonyOS, at the HarmonyOS Computer Technology and Ecosystem Communication Event in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province.

It will launch its first line of PCs powered by its HarmonyOS operating system on May 19, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Starting from the prototype of the HarmonyOS PC, Huawei spent five years in development. The debut of HarmonyOS on PCs, following its success on smartphones and tablets, marks the full entry of Huawei's entire range of terminal devices into the HarmonyOS era, according to a media release from Huawei.

The HarmonyOS PC runs on HarmonyOS 5 and deeply integrates artificial intelligence capabilities. Over the past five years, Huawei has invested heavily in developing the HarmonyOS PC, securing more than 2,700 core patents. With the efforts of more than 10,000 top engineers and collaboration with more than 20 research institutions, Huawei has made continuous breakthroughs, the company said.

Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times on Thursday that the debut of HarmonyOS on PCs is a milestone for China's electronic information industry.

Given that computers serve as essential productivity tools, especially in critical sectors such as government institutions, financial systems, and national defense, an independently developed operating system can fundamentally mitigate risks like information leakage and backdoor control. This not only significantly elevates national information and economic security but also drives the industry toward self-sufficiency, Xiang said.

A research report by Huaan Securities said that the emergence of HarmonyOS-powered PCs will fill the gap in mainstream domestic computer operating systems that has persisted for more than 30 years, marking a significant step forward for China's electronic information industry.

The global PC operating system market landscape is dominated by Windows, macOS and Linux, the Securities Times reported.

The launch of HarmonyOS on PCs will reduce reliance on these systems, mitigate the risks of supply disruptions and enhance the resilience of China's PC industry against external uncertainties, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The ability of HarmonyOS to seamlessly integrate with other smart devices represents a significant technological leap, Xiang said, and the HarmonyOS PC will enrich user choices.

Some Chinese netizens on Sina Weibo have warmly embraced the debut of Huawei's HarmonyOS 5 on PCs, highlighting the significance of this milestone for China's tech industry.

"Taking the first step is crucial. I'm sure things will only get better from here," one netizen commented.

"Heartfelt congratulations on these new achievements in China's domestic system," said another Chinese netizen on Sina Weibo.

Officially launched in 2019, HarmonyOS was first installed on smartphones in 2021. In September 2023, Huawei announced the full-scale launch of HarmonyOS applications. This means that the HarmonyOS will use a completely self-developed "kernel" and no longer rely on the open-source code of other operating systems during the development process, the People's Daily reported.

The HarmonyOS ecosystem is used on 1 billion devices, with 7.2 million registered developers and more than 110 million lines of code, according to the report.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
PH Navy: No let-up in WPS patrols despite Chinese harassment

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

May 8, 2025, 3:48 pm

MANILA -- China's latest acts of harassment will not deter the Philippines from holding maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy (PN) said Thursday.

"We will keep performing our mandate, we will keep performing the patrols," Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters on Thursday.

This came after the May 5 incident where Chinese frigates and coast guard ships conducted "aggressive and unsafe maneuvers" against the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) while it was doing regular patrolling 11.8 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal) in the WPS.

Trinidad said patrols will continue even if China makes it a habit or practice to harass Filipino naval vessels tasked to patrol the vital waterway.

"We will (continue) doing our patrols, hindi naman tayo nag-depende sa kanila (we do not depend on their actions)," he said.

Trinidad added they are not alarmed by this incident as the Chinese are known for doing these things, noting that a similar instance took place some two years ago.

Asked why the PN ship was near Bajo de Masinloc at the time of the incident, Trinidad said this is to show that the area is part of Philippine territory and its mandate.

He also maintained that the PN conducts its regular patrols within 12 nautical miles within its territorial sea.

"It's a high tide elevation, it's a rock, (it has a) territorial sea so we will keep performing our mandate," Trinidad said.

"Lahat ng ating (all our) actions are always within the bounds of domestic and international law, we have ensured that our men understand that all their actions, (and) we have the rules (of) engagements." (PNA)

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Tolentino blasts 'reckless' Chinese maneuvers near Bajo de Masinloc

Philippine News Agency

By Wilnard Bacelonia

May 8, 2025, 3:37 pm

MANILA -- Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday decried the parlous maneuvers of two Chinese warships and a China Coast Guard vessel near Bajo de Masinloc on Monday, saying this posed a direct threat to regional stability.

"These actions are not only reckless and dangerous -- they are blatant violation of international maritime norms and an affront to Philippine sovereignty," Tolentino said in a statement, as he called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a formal diplomatic protest against Beijing.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier confirmed the May 5 incident, in which two Jiangkai II-class frigates, bearing bow numbers 554 and 573, and China Coast Guard vessel 5403 engaged in "aggressive and unsafe maneuvers" against the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) while the latter is conducting routine maritime patrols in support of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The confrontation occurred approximately 11.8 nautical miles southeast of the disputed shoal, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

A Chinese frigate reportedly trailed the PS35 at close range, while the other crossed its bow, creating a potential collision course. The CCG vessel also attempted to block the Philippine ship.

The AFP expressed "serious concern" over the encounter, warning that such "threatening and provocative conduct" increases the risk of miscalculation and could escalate tensions in the region.

"The AFP remains steadfast in defending the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in its vast maritime domain," the military said, emphasizing its commitment to international and domestic law and the preservation of a rules-based maritime order.

Tolentino echoed these concerns, saying the latest confrontation highlights China's continued disregard for international rulings and maritime norms, nearly a decade after the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea in 2016.

"We will not be cowed. The Filipino people will continue to assert what is rightfully ours under international law," he said, calling on international allies and partners to speak out against China's latest provocation. (PNA)

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Chinese ships harass PH Navy vessel BRP Emilio Jacinto in WPS

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

May 8, 2025, 10:45 am

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has announced that Chinese frigates and coast guard vessels have conducted "aggressive and unsafe" maneuvers against a Filipino naval vessel, the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), conducting lawful maritime operations in Bajo de Masinloc, West Philippine Sea (WPS) last May 5.

In a statement on Thursday, the AFP said BRP Emilio Jacinto's patrol mission was done in support of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard.

"(The Philippine Navy (PN)'s BRP Emilio Jacinto) encountered aggressive and unsafe maneuvers by two Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels Jiangkai II-class frigates (Type 054A) with bow numbers 554 and 573, and a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5403. The incident occurred approximately 11.8 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc," it added.

One of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's Jiangkai II-class frigates, with bow number 554, was documented tailing BRP Emilio Jacinto at close range.

Meanwhile, another Chinese frigate, with bow number 573, crossed the bow of the Philippine naval ship, which is described as a high-risk maneuver as it could lead to a collision.

Meanwhile, a CCG vessel with bow number 5403 also attempted to obstruct BRP Emilio Jacinto's navigational path.

"These reckless actions not only posed a direct threat to the safety of navigation of PS-35, but also violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)," the AFP said.

It also expressed serious concern over these irresponsible actions by Chinese maritime forces.

The AFP said threatening and provocative conduct can lead to the misunderstanding that may escalate tensions and impact regional stability.

"We commend the professionalism, discipline and restraint of the PN personnel aboard BRP Emilio Jacinto," it said.

Despite these challenges, the AFP said it remains committed to defending Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its vast maritime domain, including its territorial seas in the WPS.

It said such actions are in accordance with international and domestic law and in pursuit of the rules-based order in the maritime domain. (PNA)

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Philippines should stop offending China's core interests in any form: Defense Spokesperson

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online

EditorWang Xinjuan

2025-05-08 17:58:59

BEIJING, May 8 -- "We sternly warn the Philippine side to cease its infringements and provocations, and stop offending China's core interests in any form," said Chinese defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang at a press briefing on Thursday.

It is reported that during the Philippines-US "Balikatan" exercise, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong appeared in the waters to the north of the Philippines. Some analysts believe this might be a response to the Philippines-US military exercise, or to the Philippine patrol vessel's entering into the waters near Huangyan Dao. Furthermore, the Philippine Navy spokesperson claimed that the Philippine military and the troops in Taiwan are only one step away from holding joint exercise.

In response to a related query, Snr. Col. Zhang Xiaogang said that the Shandong aircraft carrier task group was conducting its annual training mission in relevant waters to further test and enhance the integrated combat capabilities of the carrier task group. It is in accordance with international law and common practice, and is not directed at any specific country or target.

The spokesperson pointed out that certain individuals in the Philippines are colluding with external forces, such as the US, to "stir up the sea" for selfish gains, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea region. They even attempt to play with fire on the Taiwan question.

"We sternly warn the Philippine side to cease its infringements and provocations, and stop offending China's core interests in any form. China will continue to take resolute and forceful measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," said Snr. Col. Zhang Xiaogang.

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Hamas kills several Israeli soldiers in 'fierce fighting' in south Gaza

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 08 May 2025 7:53 PM

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement says its fighters have killed a large number of Israeli soldiers in "fierce fighting" with the regime forces in the south of the Gaza Strip near Rafah.

In a statement released on Thursday, Hamas said resistance fighters ambushed an Israeli 12-man force inside a house in the Tanur neighborhood in the eastern Rafah area with two anti-personnel and anti-armor rockets, killing and wounding several soldiers.

Separately, Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it was engaging in "fierce point-blank clashes and confrontations with Israeli occupation forces operating in the El Geneina neighbourhood east of Rafah city."

"As part of the 'Gates of Hell' operations, we detonated a powerful explosive device targeting a patrol of 7 soldiers near the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in Al-Tannour neighborhood, east of Rafah. We observed the dismembered bodies of several Israeli soldiers at the scene," the Qassam Brigades said.

Witnesses and residents in Rafah talked about a large explosion, and Israeli helicopters trying to evacuate the wounded. There has been heavy fighting in the area, they said.

Israeli media reports said an explosion in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip has killed and injured Israeli troops from the Golani Brigade, who were detonating a building.

There are more reports that many Israeli forces are trapped under the rubble of a building that had been previously rigged with explosives by Hamas resistance fighters in Rafah city.

Israeli forces were said to be facing difficulties in evacuating the dead and injured from the site due to the intensity of the fighting. Footage broadcast by Israeli sources showed some helicopters ferrying soldiers to hospitals.

There is currently an Israeli media blackout on the incident on Thursday and there has been no official comment from the regime there yet.

The incident shows the resistance group remains strong and steadfast, more than 19 months after the start of Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza.

Israel said earlier this month it would further extend its offensive across the besieged Palestinian territory.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the scheme would involve the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza.

The Hebrew-language Maariv daily recently said Netanyahu was expected to order an expansion of the ongoing onslaught on the besieged Palestinian region.

Israel has already expanded its ground aggression in Gaza, seeking to seize a large portion of the Palestinian territory.

In the meantime, Israel's airstrikes claimed the lives of around 110 Palestinians in 24 hours, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The regime's forces intentionally hit gatherings of displaced Palestinians following a series of airstrikes on a restaurant in central Gaza City, along with dozens of other raids across the strip.

This is simultaneously with the occupation forces starving the people to death, which has resulted in a man-made famine that has engulfed the Gaza Strip.

Since October 2023, Israel's relentless bombings and inhumane blockade have killed over 52,750 Palestinians and injured over 119,250 others. Most of the victims have been women and children.

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Hezbollah chief: Resistance will continue until final victory

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 08 May 2025 3:57 PM

The secretary general of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says resistance will continue until the final victory and the total annihilation of Israeli occupiers.

Sheikh Naim Qassem made the remarks on Thursday in a video message to a conference titled "Qom Seminary, Islamic Revolution, and Resistance," held at Dar al-Shafa School - a renowned seminary for advanced students - in the Iranian city of Qom.

"We have full faith in God's promise of victory, and the resistance will continue until the final triumph and the complete annihilation of the occupiers. No power in the world can stop the will of the Islamic Ummah," he stressed.

Sheikh Qassem also praised the efforts of insightful scholars in the Qom Seminary, which, according to the Hezbollah chief, has become "a bastion against oppression and tyranny," and from which the Islamic Revolution of Iran stemmed and inspired liberation movements across the region.

Recalling the Israeli occupation of the Lebanese territories decades ago, he stressed that both the Islamic Revolution and the thought of its leader, Imam Khomeini, guided the Lebanese nation's struggle against the Zionist occupiers.

"After our land was invaded, the Islamic Revolution and the thought of Imam Khomeini became our guiding light on the path of struggle. The Lebanese people, especially Hezbollah's fighters, began the path of resistance by following Imam Khomeini's lead," Sheikh Qassem noted.

Turning to the recent massive assault by the military of the occupying entity involving some 75,000 military soldiers, the Hezbollah chief stressed that the only way to inflict a complete defeat on the regime is resistance.

"The Lebanese people, owing to their faith, historical identity, and national dignity, stood firm in the face of this assault. Experience has shown that resistance is the only path to dignity, honor, and freedom," he emphasized.

Sheikh Qassem also noted that it is a mistake to regard Hezbollah as a mere military group, stressing that it is "a way of thinking" that has been accepted not only across the region but also beyond as a "rational and popular strategy against colonialism and hegemony."

Following significant losses sustained over nearly 14 months of conflict and the failure to meet its objectives in the offensive against Lebanon, Israel was compelled to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah. This ceasefire took effect on November 27.

Since the commencement of the agreement, the occupying forces have been launching assaults on Lebanon, breaching the ceasefire, which includes airstrikes throughout the Arab nation.

Lebanon has condemned the continued presence of Israeli military forces, viewing it as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the established timeline for withdrawal. Senior officials in Beirut have expressed their commitment to take "all necessary measures" to remove the occupying troops from the nation.

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Araghchi in India: Iran seeks reduction of tensions, region requires peace

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 08 May 2025 8:21 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran calls on India and Pakistan to exercise self-restraint and prevent an escalation of tension in the region.

Araghchi made the remarks while speaking to reporters upon his arrival in New Delhi on Thursday as tensions rise over a deadly attack in Kashmir.

"We seek a reduction of tension in the region, particularly for the expansion of economic cooperation among regional countries," he said.

The top diplomat noted that he would discuss the latest developments in the region in a meeting with his Indian counterpart.

India and Pakistan engaged in heavy artillery exchanges along their contested frontier early Wednesday, following New Delhi's launch of "Operation Sindoor," a series of missile strikes targeting sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

At least 31 civilians were killed and 46 others injured in the Indian airstrikes and ensuing border shelling in Pakistan and Pakistan-run Kashmir.

Araghchi further said his visit to New Delhi is aimed at participating in the joint economic commission of the two countries.

"This trip has been planned for a long time, and it was scheduled that this commission would take place," the Iranian foreign minister added.

He noted that the sides would review bilateral economic cooperation, which is very important.

"At the same time, we have always had political consultations with India on regional and international issues," Araghchi said.

He stressed the importance of holding close consultations between the two countries, particularly under the sensitive circumstances in the region.

During a televised speech late on Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned India's deadly attacks, saying Islamabad will retaliate for "every drop of blood" spilled in the raids.

Sharif warned that New Delhi will have to "pay the price" for its "grave mistake," adding, "We make this pledge, that we will avenge each drop of the blood of these martyrs."

Iran, India will sign bilateral documents to enhance cooperation: Iran Foreign Ministry

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during Araghchi's official visit, Iran and India will sign documents for cooperation in various fields.

In a post on his X account on Thursday, Baghaei added that the two sides will review the mutual relationship and consult on regional and international developments during the foreign minister's visit.

"FM Araghchi and his Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar will co-chair the 20th Iran-India Joint Commission (JCM) & sign a number of bilateral documents to enhance cooperation on areas of economy, customs and health," the Iranian spokesperson wrote.

He noted that bonds of friendship between the two countries are deeply rooted in history and provide a solid ground for mutually beneficial relations.

Baghaei urged both Tehran and New Delhi to work together to "strengthen peace, security and stability across the regions and beyond."

Araghchi traveled to India following a one-day visit to Pakistan, where he engaged in discussions with senior officials.

The Iranian foreign minister and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, agreed to build a strong foundation for "economic and strategic" cooperation in the region.

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Pakistan vows response to civilian deaths in Indian strikes

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 08 May 2025 7:01 AM

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned India's deadly attacks, saying Islamabad will retaliate for "every drop of blood" spilled in the raids.

He made the remarks during a televised speech late on Wednesday, after at least 31 civilians were killed and 46 others injured in the Indian airstrikes and ensuing border shelling in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Sharif warned that New Delhi will have to "pay the price" for its "grave mistake," adding, "We make this pledge, that we will avenge each drop of the blood of these martyrs."

He further hailed the Pakistani military after it announced the downing of five Indian Air Force jets and one drone in "self-defense."

"This is the cowardly enemy that targets unarmed civilians and believes itself stronger. But we proved ... that Pakistan knows how to deliver a befitting response in its defense. The nation salutes the bravery and strength of our armed forces," he stated.

Meanwhile, the Indian Defense Ministry said its strikes targeted what it called "terrorist infrastructure" to hold "accountable" those responsible for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 25 Indians and one Nepali national dead.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described his country's strikes as "measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible," saying they focused on disabling militants that officials said might be sent across to India.

Sharif, however, emphasized that the Pahalgam attack "wasn't related" to Pakistan, and that Islamabad was "accused for the wrong" reasons.

He further said that Pakistan had offered to investigate the incident, a proposal India ignored.

Additionally, on Wednesday, Pakistan's National Security Committee authorized the armed forces of the country to undertake corresponding actions in response to the Indian airstrikes.

India's act of aggression posed a grave risk to commercial airlines belonging to Persian Gulf countries, endangering the lives of thousands of on-board passengers, the Committee pointed out.

After India's attack, several airlines have announced they were re-routing or cancelling flights to and from India and Pakistan.

Muslim-majority Kashmir has been a flashpoint in India-Pakistan relations since both countries gained independence from Britain in 1947. The two neighbors claim the Himalayan region in full, but each controls only a part of it.

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Pakistan, India Fighting Persists In Wake Of Kashmir Killings

By Daud Khattak May 08, 2025

Pakistan and India traded accusations of attacks on May 8, as tensions persisted amid the worst flare-up of fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbors in more than 20 years.

Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif, a Pakistani military spokesman, said that a civilian was killed in Sindh Province and four soldiers were wounded in Lahore as a result of Indian drone strikes.

The media wing of the military said that Pakistan shot down 25 drones using a mix of technical and weapons-based countermeasures.

India's Defense Ministry said it targeted air defense systems in several locations after Pakistan launched a drone-and-missile attack overnight, but did not say whether India's forces used drones.

"Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets...using drones and missiles," the ministry said in a statement. It said the weapons were "neutralized" by India's air defense systems.

The fighting this week follows an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that killed 26 Hindu tourists and that India blamed on Pakistan, which denied it had anything to do with the killings.

India said it carried out "precision strikes" early on May 7 against nine Pakistani sites that were "terrorist infrastructure" from which attacks against it were orchestrated.

Pakistani officials have said that those strikes killed 31 civilians, some of them children.

On May 7, Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif vowed retaliation and an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee concluded with a decision authorizing the country's military to respond.

It said that India had "ignited an inferno in the region."

There were also deaths and injuries on both sides of the border in heavy exchanges of fire that followed the initial Indian strikes.

India's Foreign Ministry said on May 8 that 13 civilians were killed and 59 wounded during exchanges of fire across the border on May 7, and the army said an Indian soldier was also killed by shelling. Pakistani officials said six people have been killed near the border in exchanges of fire over the past day.

Since the partition of British India in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars -- in 1948, 1965, and 1971 -- and a limited conflict in 1999 known as the Kargil War.

There have also been several flare-ups in the century that have sparked fears of a full-scale war, including fighting that ensued after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian security personnel in Indian-administered Kashmir in February 2019.

The partition, along religious lines, triggered one of history's largest mass migrations, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands in sectarian violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs.

This latest escalation in the conflict has sounded alarm bells in Washington, where US President Donald Trump said he has been informed of the situation and hopes the fighting "ends very quickly."

On May 8, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Sharif and stressed the need for India and Pakistan to work closely to deescalate their conflict, the Pakistani prime minister's office said in a statement.

Both the EU and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have also expressed concern about the situation surrounding Kashmir and called for maximum restraint.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-pakistan-border-clashes- may-2025/33408277.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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In Emergency Ruling, US Appeals Court Reverses Halt To Funding For Radio Free Europe

By RFE/RL May 08, 2025

A US appeals court issued a ruling that advances efforts by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) to secure congressionally mandated funds it sorely needs to keep operations going in the coming weeks, pausing a decision delivered just hours earlier by a three-judge panel of the same court.

The new ruling, issued late on May 7 by the full 11-judge bench of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, imposed an "administrative stay" on the panel's decision to put on hold a lower court's ruling in the case, which pits RFE/RL against its overseer, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

RFE/RL has sued USAGM to release frozen budget funds for the second half of the current fiscal year, from April through September.

On April 29, US District Judge Royce Lamberth granted RFE/RL a temporary restraining order, ruling that Congress "ordained that the monies at issue should be allocated to RFE/RL" and that President Donald Trump signed the budget resolution appropriating those funds. His decision ordered payment to be made to RFE/RL for April, about $12 million.

On May 7, however, the three-judge appeals court panel issued a 2-1 ruling staying Lamberth's order pending appeal, decreasing RFE/RL's chances of receiving the April funding anytime soon and putting its already substantially scaled-back operations deeper into jeopardy.

Hours later, though, the full 11-member court responded to an emergency petition from RFE/RL and imposed a pause on the panel's ruling "pending further order of the court."

In its decision, which also covered other suits involving USAGM, the court emphasized that the stay was meant to give it "sufficient opportunity to consider the emergency petitions and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of those petitions."

The ruling, by a 7-4 vote with the court's four Republican-appointed judges dissenting, means that USAGM must comply with Judge Lamberth's April 29 order to pay RFE/RL.

While the latest administrative stay is not the court's final ruling, USAGM can appeal it to the US Supreme Court, which could consider the case or decline to do so.

RFE/RL is a private, independent international news organization whose programs on multiple platforms reach a weekly audience of nearly 50 million people in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the nations of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

It has been locked in a legal fight with the USAGM since March 14, when Trump signed an executive order calling for the reduction of USAGM and the broadcasters it oversees - including the Voice of America (VOA), which unlike RFE/RL is a federal entity -- to "the maximum extent consistent with applicable law."

Deprived of funding for April and beyond, RFE/RL has continued to broadcast and publish, but has taken drastic cost-cutting measures to stretch its dwindling savings, including placing hundreds of staffers on furlough and canceling many freelance contracts.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/broadcasting-media-news- courts-rfe-rl/33408586.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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Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, First American To Lead Catholic Church

By RFE/RL May 08, 2025

US Cardinal Robert Prevost, long-time missionary in Latin America who was born in the United States, has been elected pope in a surprise move by the Roman Catholic conclave of cardinals to choose the first American to lead the Church.

Prevost, 69, a Chicago native and the 267th pontiff, has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

"Peace be with you all," he told thousands of pilgrims and onlookers in St. Peter's Square in his first public words as leader of a church with some 1.4 billion members worldwide.

He appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica more than an hour after white smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to indicate that the cardinals had made their choice.

St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers and applause, marking a pivotal moment for the 2,000-year-old institution.

The new pope's influence will extend far beyond religious boundaries as he steps into a role with diplomatic and social weight.

The election took place amid significant geopolitical instability and growing internal divisions within the church -- both seen as key factors in the conclave's outcome.

He spoke to the crowd in St. Peter's Square in Italian and Spanish, but not English, honoring his predecessor, Pope Francis, and Peru, where he served for 20 years as a missionary.

"Greetings...to all of you, and in particular, to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith," he said in Spanish.

Americans in the crowd were stunned and ecstatic. In Washington, US President Donald Trump said it was "such an honor for our country" for the new pope to be American.

"What greater honor can there be?" he said. The president added that "we're a little bit surprised and we're happy."

Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, congratulated Pope Leo, saying on X he's sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians "will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!"

Pope Leo, a member of the Order of St. Augustine, has a reputation for cross-cultural appeal and is widely regarded as a church leader who transcends national boundaries. He became a bishop while serving in Peru and was granted Peruvian citizenship.

Pope Francis was widely seen as a compassionate reformer who prioritized migrants and the environment. He was the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit, and the first non-European pope in more than a millennium.

Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, after battling a severe case of double pneumonia.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/vatican-conclave-church- new-pope-leo/33408576.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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On the Election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

May 8, 2025

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th successor to Saint Peter. This is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide. The papacy carries a sacred and solemn responsibility. Jeanette and I are united in prayer for His Holiness, may the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, strength, and grace as he shepherds the Church. The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.

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UNRWA condemns 'storming' of schools in East Jerusalem

8 May 2025 - The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, has strongly condemned the forced entry by Israeli security forces into three of its schools in occupied East Jerusalem, describing it as a violation of children's right to education and safety.

According to the agency, heavily armed personnel entered the schools in Shu'fat refugee camp on Thursday while classes were in session, forcing more than 550 Palestinian girls and boys - some as young as six - out of their classrooms.

One UNRWA staff member was detained, and all of the agency-run schools in East Jerusalem were subsequently evacuated as a precaution.

'Assault on children'

"This is an assault on children. An assault on education," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.

"Storming schools and forcing them shut is a blatant disregard of international law."

He added that by enforcing the closure orders issued against UNRWA schools in April, Israeli authorities are denying Palestinian children their basic right to learn.

"These schools are inviolable premises of the United Nations. UNRWA schools must continue to be open to safeguard an entire generation of children," Mr. Lazzarini said.

Immediate risk

Roland Friedrich, Director for UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, warned the Palestine refugee children are at an "immediate risk" of losing their access to education.

"Israel's actions today are a grave violation of its obligations as a UN Member State under international law," he said in a social media post.

He called on the international community to uphold UNRWA's mandate and humanitarian space in the West Bank.

Gaza: Water, sanitation crisis deepens

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues unabated, with more than three-quarters of households reporting reduced access to water, ten weeks into Israel's aid blockade.

A survey conducted by humanitarians in April found that 90 per cent of families faced critical water shortages, often having to choose between basic hygiene and cooking. They also reported an increase in reliance on private vendors for drinking water - with public infrastructure in ruins.

Fuel shortages and limited access to repair equipment, have further complicated the situation. The southern Gaza desalination plant remains offline due to a severed power line, while key water pipes damaged earlier this year have yet to be repaired.

Overflowing waste and rodent infestation

The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, also reported widespread sanitation issues, including a lack of functioning latrines, soap shortages and sewage overflows in hard-hit areas like Jabalia and Nazla.

Overcrowded shelters are facing rodent and insect infestations, further raising fears of disease outbreaks amid strained medical services, OCHA said, warning of a looming public health disaster if the crisis continues unchecked.

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Port Sudan: No let-up in drone attacks as UN chief urges peace

By Daniel Johnson

8 May 2025 - Amid reports that renewed drone strikes on a key Sudanese aid hub were thwarted late Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to increasingly urgent calls for serious peace negotiations to end more than two years of war in Sudan.

The UN chief warned that any further escalation of the conflict could result in massive civilian casualties and worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation across the country.

"The expansion of the conflict into an area that has served as a place of refuge for a large number of displaced people is alarming," he said in a statement issued by his Spokesperson's office.

Mr. Guterres's appeal follows days of drone strikes on key infrastructure in Port Sudan that have opened a new front in the fighting between forces of the military government and heavily armed paramilitaries.

The city is a main entry point for relief supplies, hosting airports and direct access to the Red Sea. It is also a shelter for hundreds of thousands of displaced people and the seat of government after generals lost control of the capital Khartoum to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Aid flights suspended

In response to the drone attacks, flights of the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to and from Port Sudan have been suspended since 4 May.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) which manages the airline said that operations will resume as soon as conditions allow. For the moment, amid reported gun and weapons fire overnight, the insecurity has impacted the movement of aid workers into Sudan and across the country.

A country in flux

Drone strikes have also been reported elsewhere in Sudan, including the states of Kassala and River Nile. In Kassala, strikes near the airport displaced about 2,900 people and led to the temporary suspension or relocation of some aid activities, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

As of Wednesday evening, River Nile State was still without power following a drone strike on the transformer station in Atbara on 25 April. The outage has contributed to growing fuel and bread shortages and long queues at petrol stations and bakeries.

The situation remains dire across Sudan, the UN chief continued, citing intense attacks on critical infrastructure since January that have hampered people's access to essential services and left them without food, clean water, healthcare and electricity.

"All parties to the conflict must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law," Mr. Guterres insisted. "They must not direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects; must take all feasible precautions to avoid, and in any event to minimize, incidental civilian casualties; and must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need."

Sudan's war stems from the breakdown in the transition to civilian rule following the overthrow in April 2019 of Omar al-Bashir, who had been president for 30 years.

Mr. Guterres decried a "lack of political will" by the warring parties to engage in constructive dialogue as they pursued their military goals.

"Dialogue is the only way to achieve the peace that the people of Sudan demand," the Secretary-General insisted.

A hunger catastrophe

The turmoil caused by relentless heavy fighting across Sudan has reportedly killed more than 18,800 civilians and injured tens of thousands more. UN aid agencies say that the country's people are in the grip of the largest hunger catastrophe on the planet.

Today, more than half of Sudan's population - 30.4 million people - need humanitarian assistance, including more than 15 million children. They lack access to food, water, shelter, electricity, education and healthcare, aid veterans have warned repeatedly.

"Across Sudan, 25 million people face acute hunger," WFP spokesperson Leni Kinzli told UN News. "And people are displaced across the country, nearly 13 million people forced from their homes. We are seeing waves of displacement in North Darfur, where around 450,000 people have fled horrific levels of violence."

Reaching those in need

Despite the dangers, UN agencies and partners are doing everything they can to reach the most vulnerable uprooted by intensifying attacks on government-controlled El Fasher town and Zamzam displacement camp.

"We've distributed assistance food assistance and emergency food packages to 335,000 people who recently fled that violence in and around El Fasher," Ms. Kinzli explained. "We are also ramping up assistance in Khartoum, aiming to support one million people across the coming month."

Distributions are ongoing in Jabalia, in the South of Khartoum, which is one of the risk of famine areas, as well as the central Khartoum neighbourhood of Burri, "where we finally reached the centre of the city...just last week", the WFP officer noted.

To reach 21 million people in desperate need this year the UN needs $4.2 billion which is only seven per cent funded.

And over the next six months, WFP requires around $700 million to ramp up assistance and expand assistance to seven million people per month.

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Guterres welcomes election of Pope Leo 'at a time of great global challenges'

8 May 2025 - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of a new Pope on Thursday.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV - born Robert Francis Prevost - is the first person from the United States to lead the Catholic Church, although he also holds Peruvian citizenship after working in the Latin American country for many years.

He was selected by cardinals voting at the Vatican and later greeted thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square with a message of peace.

Strong voices needed

Mr. Guterres extended heartfelt congratulations to the new pontiff and Roman Catholics everywhere.

"The election of a new Pope is a moment of profound spiritual significance for millions of faithful around the world, and it comes at a time of great global challenges," he said.

"Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity and compassion."

Building on the legacy

The Secretary-General said he looks forward to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the UN and the Holy See - nurtured most recently by the late Pope Francis - to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all.

"It is rooted in the first words of Pope Leo," he noted. "Despite the rich diversity of backgrounds and beliefs, people everywhere share a common goal: May peace be with all the world."

Pope Leo, 69, was born and grew up in the midwestern city of Chicago and spent years working as a missionary in Peru, before becoming a bishop and then rising to head the international Order of St. Augustine.

He became a cardinal in 2023 and went on to run the Vatican office that selects and manages Catholic bishops worldwide.

He succeeds Pope Francis - the first Pope from Latin America - who died in April after serving for 12 years.

Following his death, the UN Secretary-General recalled that "Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice" who "leaves behind a legacy of faith, service and compassion for all  especially those left on the margins of life or trapped by the horrors of conflict."

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Pope Leo XIII

Leo XIII brought to his new dignity many qualities that caused his election to be sympathetically received. In contrast to his predecessor, he was a man of slow and calm deliberation, and it was natural to suppose that he was little, if at all, accessible to impulses of the moment or to the persuasions of his entourage. He was endowed with a certain scholastic erudition, and enjoyed the reputation of being a good Latinist. As nuncio in Brussels he had become acquainted with the trans-Alpine world, and had been initiated into the working of the machinery of modern politics and modem parliamentary government. The fact that he had for so long been absent from Rome afforded ground for the belief that he was not inclined to identify himself with any of the parties at the Vatican court. These were the considerations that had caused the Moderates in the Sacred College to fix their eyes upon him.

The appointment of Franchi as secretary of state was a bid for peace that was viewed by the Irreconcilables with ill-disguised vexation. The following years of Leo XIII's pontificate only tended to increase their dissatisfaction.

The first care of the new pope was to pave the way for the restoration of peace with Russia and the German Empire, and it was owing to his patience, persistence and energy that these efforts for peace were crowned with success. In the case of Germany he made many concessions which appeared to the Zelanli to be excessive, and made even still greater ones to France and Russia, to the great distress of the Poles. But at last Leo XIII could boast not only of having re-established diplomatic relations with most of the powers, but also of having entered into a convention with the great powers of the North, which accorded him, in conjunction with the three emperors, a leading position as champion of the conservative interests of humanity.

How proud Leo XIII was of his importance in this position is shown by the beautiful encyclical, De civilalum constitutions christiana ("Immortale Dei " of Nov. 1, 1885), in which be adopted the strongest attitude against the principle of the sovereignty of the people [ Ex iis autem pontificum prscriptis illa omnino intelligi necesse est, ortum public potestatis a Deo ipso, non a multitudine repeti oportere: "From these decisions of the popes it is clearly to be understood that the origin of public power is to be sought from God himself and not from the multitude; "] refuting the notion that the principle of public power emanates from the will of the people alone, and absolutely rejecting the sovereignty of the people as such.

But this attitude was adopted by Leo XIII not as an end but as a means. The real aims of his rule were disclosed in the second phase of his pontificate. At its very commencement, the pope in his first encyclical (Easter 1878) proclaimed the necessity of a temporal hierarchy. This was at the time regarded merely as a formality imposed by circumstances, and one not to be seriously entertained; but it became more and more evident that the recovery of the temporalities was the real mainspring of Leo's whole policy.

In the negotiations with Germany, it was dearly seen that it was from that side that the pope expected intervention in favor of restitution; and, according to all appearances, Bismarck did for a while keep alive these representations, though with more tact than candor. After peace had been concluded, Leo, by the agency of Galimberti, reminded the chancellor of the settlement of the Roman question. Bismarck replied that he was "unaware of the existence of any such question." The two visits paid by Emperor William II to the Vatican could not fail to remove any doubts in the mind of the pope as to the fact that Germany did not dream of giving him back Rome. The Austro-German-Italian triple alliance was a dire blow to his expectations, and Crispi's policy with its irritating and galling pin-pricks caused the cup to overflow.

Thus slowly, but yet deliberately, between 1887 and 1893, a transformation took place in Leo's spirit and policy, and with Leo XIII was brought about one of the most momentous changes in the attitude of the Church towards the problems of the times and their impelling forces. A rapprochement with France inevitably entailed not only an alliance with modem democracy, but also a recognition of its principles and aims. In Rome there was no room for both pope and king. The note of the pope to Rampolla of the 8th of October 1895, in consequence of the celebrations on the 20th of September, declared, in terms more decided than any that had until then been uttered, that the papacy required a territorial sovereignty in order to ensure ils full independence, and that its interests were therefore incompatible with the existence of the Kingdom of Italy as then constituted. The inevitable consequences ensued. Italy regarded the pope more than ever as a foe within its walls; and the policy of the pope, as regards Italy, aimed at replacing the kingdom by one or more republics, in which the temporal power should, in some form or other, find a place. But the continuance of the Republic in France was a condition precedent to the establishment of a republic in Rome, and the first had no chance of existence - if the democracy in France did not remain in power.

The result was the policy of the Ralliement. Instructions were given to the French Catholics to break with monarchical principles, and both externally and internally to cleave to the Republic as representing the best form of constitutional government. In carrying out the regime of Rampolla, which was, in every respect, a bad imitation of that of Antonelli, the Vatican left no stone unturned in its attempt to coerce the conscience of the French royalists; it did not even stop at dishonor, as was evidenced by the case of the unhappy Mgr d'Hulst, who, in order to evade the censorship of his pamphlet on Old Testament criticism, had to abandon both his king and his principles, only to die in exile of a broken heart. The case was characteristic of the whole Catholic monarchical party, which, owing to the pope's interference in French politics, became disintegrated and dissolved, a fate that was all the more painful seeing that the Ralliement failed to influence the course of events. The "atheistic" Republic did not for one moment think of putting on sackcloth, or even of giving the Church a single proof of esteem and sympathy.

In one respect it was impossible for the papacy to continue on the path it had taken. In his first encyclical, Leo XIII had sounded the clarion for battle against the Social Democracy. The unequivocal condemnation of Socialism, even in its nonviolent form of Fabian Socialism, made Catholics cautious in accepting social policies which are socialistic in design or purpose. Pope Leo XIII stated: "From all these conversations, it is perceived that the fundamental principle of Socialism which would make all possessions public property is to be utterly rejected because it injures the very ones whom it seeks to help, contravenes the natural rights of individual persons, and throws the functions of the State and public peace into confusion." (Rerum Nova rum, par. 23)

This encyclical Novarum rerum endeavored to show the means to be employed, mainly in view of the condition of things in Belgium, for solving the social question on Christian lines. But the Christian Democracy, which, starting in Belgium and France, had now extended its activity to Italy, Austria and Germany, and was striving to arrive at this solution, degenerated everywhere into a political party. The leaders of this party came into close contact with the Social Democrats, and their relations became so cordial that Social Democracy everywhere declared the "Democratic Chretionne" to be its forerunner and pioneer. The electioneering alliances, which were everywhere in vogue, but particularly in Germany, between the Catholics and popular party and the Social Democrats, throw a lurid light upon the character of a movement that certainly went far beyond the intentions of the pope, but which it was now difficult to undo or to hold in check. For it is the essence of the matter that there were further considerations going far beyond the Roman question and forcing the Curia to adhere to the sovereignty of the people.

The external rehabilitation of the Church had become, in many points, a fait accompli, but, internally, events had not kept pace with it. Catholic romanticism had withered away in France, as it had in Germany. "Liberal Catholicism," which was its offspring, had died with Montalembert, after being placed under a ban by Rome. The national religious movement, associated in Italy with the great names of Rosmini and Gioberti, had similarly been disavowed and crushed.

The development of the last decade of the 19th century had clearly shown that the educated bourgeoisie, the tiers etat, in whose hands the supreme power had since 1848 become vested throughout Europe, was either entirely lost to the Church or, at all events, indifferent to what were called Ultramontane tendencies. The educated bourgeoisie, which controls the fields of politics, science, finance, administration, art and literature, did not trouble itself about that great spiritual universal monarchy which Rome, as heir of the Caesars, claimed for the Vatican, and to which the Curia of still clung. This bourgeoisie and the modern state that it upheld stood and fell with the motion of a constitutional state, whose magna carta was municipal and spiritual liberty, institutions with which the ideas of the Curia arc in direct conflict. The more the hope of being able to regain these middle classes of society disappeared, the more decidedly did the Curia perceive that it must seek the support and the regeneration of its power in the steadily growing democracy, and endeavor through the medim of universal suffrage to secure the influence which this new alliance was able to offer.

The pontificate of Leo XIII in its first phase aimed at preserving a certain balance of power. While not openly repelling the tendencies of the Jesuits, Leo yet showed himself well disposed towards, and even amenable to, views of a diametrically opposite kind; and as soon as the Vatican threw itself into the arms of France, and bade farewell to the idea of a national Italy, the policy of equilibrium had to be abandoned. The second phase in Leo's policy could only be accomplished with the aid of the Jesuits, or rather, it required the submission of the ecclesiastical hierarchy to the mandates of the Society of Jesus. The further consequence was that all aspirations were subjected to the thraldom of the Church.

The pontificate of Leo XIII was distinguished by the great number of persecutions, prosecutions and injuries inflicted upon Catholic savants, from the prosecution of Antonio Rosmini down to the proscription directed against the heads of the American Church. Episodes, such as the protection so long extended lo the Leo Taxil affair, and to the revelations of Diana Vaughan (the object of which last was to bring Italian freemasonry and its ostensible work, the unity of Italy, into discredit), together with the attitude of the Ultramontane press in the Dreyfus affair, and later towards England, the invigoration of political agitation by the Lourdes celebration and by anti-Semitism, were all manifestations that could not raise the "system" in the estimation of the cultured and civilized world. Perhaps even more dangerous was the employment of the whole ecclesiastical organization, and of Catholicism generally, for political purposes.

No one will be so foolish or so unjust as to hold Leo XIII responsible for the excesses committed by the subordinate departments of his government, in disclosing prosecuting and sometimes even fraudulently misrepresenting his aims and ends. But all these details, upon which it is not necessary to dwell, are overshadowed beyond all doubt by the one great fact that the ecclesiastical regime had not only taken under its wing the solution of social questions, but also claimed that political action was within the proper scope of the Church, and, moreover, arrogated to itself the right of interfering by means of "Directives" with the political life of nations. This was nothing new, as early as 1215 the English barons protested against it. But the weakening of the papacy had allowed this claim to lapse for centuries. To have revived it, and to have carried it out as far as is possible, was the work of Leo XIII.

It would be presumptuous to pass a verdict upon the value and success of a policy to which, whatever else be said, must be accorded a certain meed of praise for its daring. Even in 1892 Spuller, in his essay upon Lamennais, pointed out how the latest evolution of Catholicism was taking the course indicated by Lamennais (1837), and how the hermit of "La Chenaie," who departed this life in bitter strife with Rome, declared himself to be the actual precursor of modern Christian Socialism. He hinted that the work of Leo XIII was, in his eyes, merely a new attempt to build up afresh the theocracy of the middle ages upon the ruins of the old monarchies, utilizing to this end the inexperience of the young and easily beguiled democracies of the dawning 20th century.

To comprehend these views aright, we must first remember that what in the first half of the 19th century, and also in the days of Lamennais, was understood by Democracy was not coincident with the meaning of this expression as it was afterwards used, and as the Christian Socialists understood it. Down to 1848, and even still later, "Democracy " was used to cover the whole mass of the people, pre-eminently represented by the broad strata of the bourgeoisie; in 1900 the Democratic party itself meant by this term the rule of the laboring class organized as a nation, which, by its numerical superiority, thrust aside all other classes, including the bourgeoisie, and excluded them from participation in its rule. In like manner it would be erroneous to confuse the sense of the expression as it obtained on the continent of Europe with what was understood under this term in England and America. In this latter case the term "Democracy," as applied to the historical development of Great Britain and the United States, denoted a constitutional state in which every citizen had rights proportionate to his energy and intelligence. The socialistic idea, with which the "Democratie Chretienne" had identified itself both in France and Belgium, regarded numbers as the center of gravity of the whole state organism. As a matter of fact it recognized as actual citizens only the laborer, or, in other words, the proletariat.

On surveying the situation, certain weak points in the policy of the Vatican under Leo XIII were manifest even to a contemporary observer. They might be summed up as follows: (1) An unmistakable decline of religious fervor in church life. (2) The intensifying and nurturing of all the passions and questionable practices which are so easily encouraged by practical politics, and are incompatible in almost all points with the priestly office. (3) An ever-increasing displacement of all the refined, educated and nobler elements of society by such as are rude and uncultured, by what, in fact, may be styled the ecclesiastical "Trottori." (4) The naturally resulting paralysis of intelligence and scientific research, which the Church either proscribed or only sullenly tolerated. (5) The increasing decay and waxing corruption of the Romance nations, and the fostering of that diseased state of things which displayed itself in France in so many instances, such as the Dreyfus case, the anti-Semitic movement, and the campaign for and against the Assumptionists and their newspaper, the Croix. (6) The increasing estrangement of German and Anglo-Saxon feeling. As against these, noteworthy reasons might be urged in favour of the new development.

It might well be maintained that the faults just enumerated were only cankers inseparable from every new and great movement, and that these excrescences wpuld disappear in course of time, and the whole movement enter upon a more tranquil path. Moreover, in the industrial districts of Germany, for example, the Christian industrial movement, supported by Protestants and Catholics alike, had achieved considerable results, and proved a serviceable means of combating the seductions of Socialism. Finally, the Church had reminded the wealthy classes of their duties to the sick and toilers, and by making the social question its own it had gone a long way towards permeating all social and political conditions with the spirit of Christianity.

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Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected by the Conclave as the 267th Bishop of Rome to succeed Pope Francis I on 08 May 2025, henceforth to be known as Pope Leo XIV. His selection marked the culmination of two days, and four rounds of voting by the conclave of 133 cardinals.

The election of Pope Leo XIV marked the first time someone hailing from the United States had been selected to serve as leader to the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. 69 years old at the time of his election the Chicago native greeted the crowds from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica with the words: "Peace be with all of you!"

Prior his ascension to the papacy, he had most recently headed the Vatican'soffice for new bishop appointments, the Dicastery for Bishops, where he was tasked with assessing candidates and making recommendations; a position which he had been appointed to by Pope Francis. Francis had also had him serve as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, he had spent much of his earlier career as a missionary.

Prevost earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. This was followed by a period in Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University before being ordained as a priest in June 1982.

He is a a member of the Augustinian religious order for which he spent more than a decade as its prior general.

Prevost spent a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2014 to 2023

He became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.

Tthe choice of papal title as Leo XIV, was said by some observers to be in clear reference to Pope Leo XIII and his Rerum novarum (Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor) 15 May 1891 encyclical, which addressed the condition of the working classes.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 May 2025 - Day 1171

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in April 2025, Russian territorial gains in Ukraine continued at a significantly decreased rate relative to late 2024.

Russian Ground Forces (RGF) highly likely seized approximately 200 sq km of Ukrainian territory in April 2025, an average of approximately 6 sq km per day. This is only a slight increase on the approximately 150 sq km Russian forces seized in March 2025, which was the lowest total observed since June 2024.

Throughout April, RGF made tactical gains around Pokrovsk  the key Ukrainian logistics hub which supports operations in the Donbas. Pokrovsk has likely remained the priority axis for Russia in its campaign but it has been unable to make any notable advances around the city since late 2024.

While Russia conducts its Victory Day commemorations on 09 May 2025 for its role in what Russia calls the 'Great Patriotic War, Ukrainian forces highly likely continue to conduct limited kinetic operations in Russia's Kursk border region. Ukraine's incursion into Kursk, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is the first time since the Second World War that foreign troops have conducted operations in Russian territory.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively thwart the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect and exhaustion across the frontline.

Since the beginning of this day, there have been 162 combat clashes.

Russian zagarbniki made 22 aviation strikes using 37 cab. In addition, the Russians engaged 956 kamikaze drones and carried out 3234 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction throughout the day, Ukrainian troops repelled five Russian attacks in the area of vovchanska, two clashes continue so far.

In the Kupyansky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two assaults in the areas of Zagrizovoye and Nova Kruglyakivka. One battle is still going on.

In the Lyman direction during the day Russian zagarbniks 17 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near Linden, Ridkodub, Yampolivka and in the direction of Grekivka, New Peace, Green Valley. Two clashes are going on so far.

Eight Russian assault actions in the areas of Bilogorivka, Grigorivka and Verkhnyokamiansky were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Siver direction.

In the Kramatorsky direction, 10 combat clashes have been recorded in the areas of Chasovoye Yar, White Mountain, Kurdyumivka and in the direction of Oleksandro-Shultiny, three of which are ongoing so far.

In the Toretsky direction Russians attacked the positions of Defense Forces 15 times. The main efforts of the invasion of the Russian occupiers concentrated near Dachny, Diliyivka, Scherbinivka and Toretsk. Two clashes are still ongoing.

Since the beginning of this day in the Pokrovsky direction Russian zagarbnytsky units 51 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense near settlements Oleksandropil, Novotoretske, Kotline, Udaachne, Novooleksandrivka, Nova Poltavka, Ray, Elizabethtivka, Dachenskie, Zvirove, Udacne, Kotlyarivka, Andriyivka and in the direction of Zora, Mirolubivka, Malinivka, Novomikolaivka and Trinity. Six clashes are ongoing so far.

Today in this direction, according to preliminary estimates, Ukrainian soldiers damaged 96 Russian occupants, 54 of them - irrevocably, destroyed one armored car and three Russian cars.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, Russian forces attacked 30 times near the settlements of Bagatyr, Konstantinopil, Odradne, Rivnopil, Novosilka, Vilne Pole, Privilne and in the direction of Novopol, Green Field. Twenty-two attacks have already been knocked off, eight boezitknen  continues.

In the Orihiv direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian assaults in the area of Malih Scherbakiv, Stepovoye and Scherbakiv.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces made six unsuccessful attempts to move forward.

In the Kursky direction, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine within a day repelled 19 attacks of Russian zagarbnikiv. In addition, Russian forces launched 8 air strikes using 13 guided bombs, and carried out 283 artillery shells to positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including one from reactive arson systems.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.





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Man Sentenced to Over 30 Years in Prison for Crypto-Terror Financing Scheme

Thursday, May 8, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Defendant Collected and Sent More Than $185,000 to ISIS

A Springfield, Virginia, man was sentenced yesterday to 364 months in prison for his efforts to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least October 2019 through October 2022, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, collected and sent money to female ISIS members in Syria to benefit ISIS in various ways, including by financing the escape of female ISIS members from prison camps and supporting ISIS fighters. Chhipa would raise funds online on various social media accounts. He would receive electronic transfers of funds and travel hundreds of miles to collect funds by hand. He would then convert the money to cryptocurrency and send it to Turkey, where it was smuggled to ISIS members in Syria.

"This defendant directly financed ISIS in its efforts to commit vile terrorist atrocities against innocent citizens in America and abroad," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This severe sentence illustrates that if you fund terrorism, we will prosecute you and put you behind bars for decades."

"With this sentencing, this defendant will pay the price for helping finance ISIS, a brutal terrorist organization," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "This is more proof that the FBI will investigate and work with our DOJ partners to hold accountable anyone who assists ISIS or other terrorist groups. Whether you are a fighter or send money, these activities are illegal and against the national security interests of the United States."

"Those who fund and facilitate terror bear the same responsibility as those who carry out attacks," said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. "Mohammed Chhipa knowingly and persistently collected and provided a considerable amount of money to fund the violence of an organization bent on forcing their extremist ideology on others. That he did so from a nation that holds individual freedom sacrosanct is unconscionable."

His primary co-conspirator was an ISIS member residing in Syria who was involved in raising funds for prison escapes, terrorist attacks, and ISIS fighters.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Chhipa sent over $185,000 in cryptocurrency.

In December 2024, a federal jury convicted Chhipa of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and four counts of providing and attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda St. Cyr for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Andrew John Dixon and former Trial Attorney Andrea Broach of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.

Topics: Counterterrorism

National Security

Components: Office of the Attorney General

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Virginia, Eastern

Press Release Number: 25-478

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US' plan to deport Filipinos to Libya 'cruel, inhumane': Escudero

Philippine News Agency

By Wilnard Bacelonia

May 8, 2025, 5:27 pm

MANILA -- Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday condemned a reported plan by US immigration authorities to deport undocumented Asian nationals, including Filipinos, to Libya, calling the move cruel and a violation of basic human rights.

"Filipinos are not camels to be dumped on some Libyan desert. They are human beings who deserve to be accorded all the rights by a state who claim to cherish and uphold them," Escudero said in a news release

The Senate leader expressed alarm over the policy's implications, citing Libya's volatile security environment and long-documented abuses against detainees.

Human rights groups and several foreign governments have likewise condemned the plan, which they warn could place migrants in grave danger.

A US federal judge has halted the deportation of Asian nationals to Libya, noting that such a transfer could violate an earlier court order allowing the migrants to contest their removal to a third country.

Escudero urged Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez to immediately verify the status of all Filipinos at risk of deportation and ensure they are provided legal assistance.

"If the United States wants to deport our citizens, then we are willing to welcome our kababayan (countrymen) back. There is absolutely no need for this cruelty to export them to a third country," he said.

"Dignified repatriation of our brothers and sisters is all we seek, not some rendition to an offshore penitentiary in a country which does not want them," he added. (PNA)

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Navy strengthens Global Combat Ship links

By Lieutenant Nicholas Draheim

8 May 2025

The Royal Australian Navy has hosted the 2025 Global Combat Ship (GCS) User Group meeting at the Maritime Combat Systems Integration Centre in St Kilda, Adelaide.

The forum in April brought together naval representatives from Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada to discuss advancements, risks and shared challenges across the GCS program.

Director Future Surface Combatants Captain Danielle Radnidge said the RAN's role in the forum reflected Australia's strong commitment to enhancing maritime capabilities through international cooperation and innovation.

"Australia's participation in the GCS program is central to the success of the Hunter-class frigate - the Navy's next generation of warships," Captain Radnidge said.

The GCS is the reference design for the Hunter-class, as well as the Royal Canadian Navy's future River-class destroyer, which are based on the UK's Type 26 Reference Ship Design.

Currently under construction by BAE Systems Maritime Australia (BAESMA) at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, the Hunter-class frigates are purpose-built for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and will feature world-class systems, including the Aegis combat system, CEAFAR2 radar and advanced sonar capabilities.

"The integration of these technologies into a Tier 1 warship will ensure the RAN remains a powerful and agile force within the Indo-Pacific region, capable of meeting evolving threats and maintaining maritime security," Captain Radnidge said.

In addition to discussions about shipbuilding practices, workforce generation, capability transition and enhancing operational readiness, the week also included two days of government-to-government briefings, followed by two days of industry engagement with shipbuilders BAE Systems, BAESMA and Irving Shipbuilding.

Captain Radnidge said that beyond shipbuilding, Australia's engagement in multinational defence initiatives strengthened security, reinforced strategic partnerships, and demonstrated the RAN's leading role in promoting stability and collaboration with our allies and partners.

"With the Hunter-class program gaining momentum, the RAN is entering an exciting new era," Captain Radnidge said.

"The capability the Hunter-class will bring is set to transform the Navy's Anti-submarine Warfare capacity, supporting the National Defence Strategy of deterrence through denial."

Posting opportunities for the future Hunter Implementation Team will commence from 2027, offering Navy personnel the unique chance to be part of this generational capability uplift and to shape the way the Hunter-class enters service.

The next GCS User Group will be hosted by Canada in 2026, continuing the important collaboration between the partner navies to ensure the GCS program remains on the cutting edge of maritime capability for years to come.

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China will not sacrifice principle to reach deal with US: MOFCOM

Global Times

US should not underestimate China's strategic resolve: experts

By Ma Tong Published: May 08, 2025 11:37 PM

If the US says one thing but does another, or even attempts to continue to coerce and blackmail under the guise of tariff talks, China will never agree, nor will it seek to reach any agreement by sacrificing its principle and position as well as international fairness and justice, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12. During his visit, He, as China's lead person for China-US economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the US lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference on Thursday that China has consistently maintained a firm stance against the US' abuse of tariff measures. He urged the US side to face up to the serious negative impact that its unilateral tariff measures have had, both on itself and the global community.

"The US side should make preparations and take actions on issues such as correcting its wrong practices and lifting the unilateral tariffs," the spokesperson said in response to a journalist's query on an upcoming high-level economic and trade meeting between the two countries.

The spokesperson urged the US side to respect international economic and trade rules, uphold fairness and justice, heed rational voices from all walks of life, and show sincerity in talks. "We hope the US side will work with China in the same direction and address the concerns of both sides through equal consultation," the spokesperson said.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that China initiated upcoming senior-level trade talks between the two countries and said he was not willing to cut US tariffs on Chinese goods to get Beijing to the negotiating table, Reuters reported.

The Chinese embassy said earlier on Thursday that "the US side has recently reached out to China through various channels, actively conveying its desire to engage with China on tariffs and other related issues. After carefully assessing the US messages, China decided to agree to hold discussions, and the talks are being held at the request of the US side."

China will never accept a situation where the US says one thing but does another, nor will China seek any agreement at the cost of principles or international fairness and justice, the embassy spokesperson cautioned.

Also on Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that China's determination to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests will not change, and our position and goal of defending international fairness and justice and upholding the multilateral trading system will not change.

The upcoming meeting in Switzerland marks the first high-level China-US trade talks since the US administration imposed steep "reciprocal tariffs." It's also being widely seen as a potential opening for future formal negotiations, said Chinese experts.

"Substantive dialogue cannot proceed unless the US shows genuine sincerity, as China's stance has been consistent in safeguarding its legitimate interests and upholding international norms," Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times.

Chaotic messages

On Wednesday, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the US is considering exempting car seats, baby strollers, cribs and other essential items for transporting children from tariffs on China up to 145 percent, Reuters reported.

Trump suggested just days earlier that tariffs on Chinese imports to the US will eventually be lowered. "At some point, I'm going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them," he said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker."

Since launching the tariff war, the US has been sending mixed and disorganized signals, said Gao."China-US trade negotiations will take time. If the US doesn't step up with real sincerity, China is in no hurry to move forward," Gao said.

The US business community also maintains guarded expectations about the upcoming talks.

Expectations are high that trade talks between US and Chinese officials will result in a tariff reprieve, US-China Business Council President Sean Stein said, but a reasonable expectation would be that - similar to other countries - "tariffs could be paused for 90 days while the two sides negotiate," per a Bloomberg report.

The US mixed signals also underscore the tough reality that its tariff strategy is limited by the deep dependence of domestic industries and consumer markets on Chinese goods, said Song Guoyou, a deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University.

Song said that "the US administration uses tough rhetoric to signal to the domestic audience that it remains in control of the tariff talks with China." However, "Such political grandstanding will fail to achieve US' intended policy goals or address its domestic challenges. In addition, it could also undermine its negotiations with other countries," Song said.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation targeting a list of US imports worth 95 billion euros ($107.2 billion), warning the measures could take effect if ongoing negotiations with the US fail to produce a deal, according to an EU statement released on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Gao and Song both urged the US not to underestimate China's strategic resolve in the face of external pressure and its firm determination to safeguard its legitimate interests. "China is responding to global volatility through a series of strong policy measures, and will remain a key engine of global economic growth," Gao said.

China's economy has kicked off the year strongly, with high-quality development advancing steadily and both societal confidence and market expectations steadily rising, He Lifeng said on Wednesday during a meeting with the visiting head of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in Beijing.

China's economy started 2025 on solid footing, bolstered by a structural shift toward domestic demand and innovation, positioning the country to better weather global uncertainties, Xinhua reported. Official data showed the country's gross domestic product grew 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025.

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China opposes political maneuvering with ill intent, FM says on claims of Chinese exports of manipulators may be used for Russia drones

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2025 04:55 PM

When asked about China's view on claims that customs data reflects a substantial increase in China's exports of electronic game machines and manipulators to Russia, and that these manipulators may be used to control drones, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that China's position on the Ukraine issue has always been clear. China has always been actively committed to halting the fighting and promoting peace and negotiation. China has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict and has strictly controlled dual-use items.

Lin emphasized that any normal foreign cooperation will be used to make an issue of China if someone has the intention to discredit China. China firmly opposes unfounded accusations and political maneuvering with ill intent.

When asked about if China is considering restricting exports of relevant game components, Lin suggests to check with the Chinese authorities for the specifics of the matter.

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China's Shandong aircraft carrier task group conducts training mission, boosts combat capabilities: spokesperson

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 08, 2025 10:36 PM

China's Shandong aircraft carrier task group recently carried out an annual training mission aimed at enhancing combat capabilities not directed at any particular country, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday amid reports claiming that the Chinese aircraft carrier appeared in the waters north of the Philippines during a US-Philippine exercise.

A Chinese expert noted that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s training exercises involving Chinese aircraft carriers have become routine and increasingly intensive, with the goal of defending the country's security and interests.

When commenting on media reports that the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong appeared in the waters north of the Philippines, with some analysts believing this might be a response to the Philippine-US "Balikatan" exercise, or to the Philippine patrol vessel's intruding into the waters near Huangyan Dao, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, said that the Shandong aircraft carrier task group was conducting its annual training mission in relevant waters to test and enhance its integrated combat capabilities.

Zhang emphasized that the training aligns with international law and common practice and is not directed at any specific country or target.

Certain individuals in the Philippines are colluding with external forces such as the US, to "stir up the sea" for selfish gains, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea region. They even attempt to play with fire on the Taiwan question. We sternly warn the Philippine side to cease its infringements and provocations, and stop offending China's core interest in any form. China will take resolute and forceful measures to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Zhang said.

The Shandong aircraft carrier formation's recent training mission marked its second publicly disclosed major activity within approximately a month.

On April 2, the PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed the Shandong aircraft carrier task group, in coordination with naval and air units, to conduct military drills east of Taiwan. The exercises included subjects of vessel-aircraft coordination, seizure of area air superiority and strike on ground and maritime targets so as to evaluate the troops' capabilities of integrated operations inside and outside the island chain, multi-dimensional blockade and control, and joint operations of multiple services, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that it has become routine for Chinese aircraft carriers conduct training exercises in waters both near and far away from China, and such missions are becoming increasingly intensive in regions including the South China Sea and waters to the east of the island of Taiwan, aiming to enhance capabilities to defend China's national security and interests.

Song noted that aircraft carriers should not remain idle at port but should be routinely deployed at sea for training exercises and alert duties. He added that the public should become accustomed to this practice and not overreact whenever a Chinese aircraft carrier appears in certain areas.

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Russian-Chinese talks

Talks between Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping took place in the Kremlin.

May 8, 2025

14:30

The Kremlin, Moscow

The President of China has arrived in the Russian Federation for an official visit to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The talks began with a limited attendance meeting between the leaders and continued with an expanded meeting involving delegations.

The talks addressed key issues concerning further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as current matters on the international and regional agendas.

Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Russian Co-Chair of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Investment Cooperation Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister and Russian Co-Chair of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Humanitarian Cooperation Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister and Russian Co-Chair of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Energy Cooperation Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Russian Co-Chair of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation and Development of the Far East and Baikal Region of Russia and of Northeast China Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister and Russian Co-Chair of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Preparation of Regular Meetings of Heads of Government Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the People's Republic of China Igor Morgulov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugaev, and Igor Sechin, Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission on Strategic Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector and Environmental Safety, Co-Chair of the Russia-China Energy Business Forum, and Rosneft CEO and Chairman of the Management Board.

Following the talks, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping signed the Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on Deepening the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation in the New Era to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Soviet Union's Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the People of China's Victory over Japanese Aggression, and the Establishment of the United Nations. A package of bilateral intergovernmental and interagency documents was also signed during the talks.

The documents signed include the Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on Global Strategic Stability; the Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on Further Strengthening Cooperation to Maintain the Authority of International Law; the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investment; letters of understanding between the two governments on measures, the introduction of which is regulated by the World Trade Organisation rules on national security exceptions, general exceptions, and prudential measures.

Interdepartmental documents concerning biological safety, cooperation in digital transformation and the digital economy; creation and development of megascience research facilities; combating infectious diseases; and cooperation in building a lunar power station for the International Scientific Lunar Station were signed among other documents.

A package of documents signed concerns cooperation between Russian and Chinese universities and between media outlets, in particular, cooperation between the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, the Xinhua News Agency, and the China Media Group. The Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed between Russia's Movement of the First youth organisation and the Chinese Youth Federation (2025-2026).

The President of Russia and the President of China made statements for the media.

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Beginning of meeting with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping

May 8, 2025

10:10

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, dear friend, dear Chinese friends.

It is a great pleasure to welcome all of you to Moscow.

I am truly delighted to see you again and sincerely value the opportunity to speak with you personally. I am grateful that, just as you did ten years ago for the previous anniversary, you have chosen to join us in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, which our nation holds sacred.

Tomorrow, the official parade will take place on Red Square featuring servicemen of the People's Liberation Army of China. As far as I know, this is the largest foreign military contingent to take part in the event.

The victory over fascism, achieved through immense sacrifice, holds enduring significance. Together with our Chinese friends, we are committed to upholding historical truth, honouring the memory of the war years, and standing against the resurgence of neo-Nazism and militarism today.

I would like to express my gratitude for your invitation to the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of victory over militarist Japan and the end of World War II. I will be delighted to pay an official visit to friendly China on this historic occasion. And prior to that, our delegation will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to be held under China's chairmanship.

The military brotherhood forged between our nations during those difficult wartime years remains a cornerstone of today's comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China. We expand our collaboration for the benefit of both nations; our efforts are not directed against any third party.

Our relations are based on equality and mutual benefit, and remain unaffected by momentary interests. Our willingness to foster neighbourliness, strengthen our friendship, and expand cooperation reflects the two countries' choice driven by our strategic cooperation.

I would like to once again note that our governments, ministries, and agencies are striving to implement a full range of practical agreements within a multilateral mechanism of regular meetings. Those include a plan for comprehensive economic cooperation through 2030.

Mr President, my dear friend, thank you very much once again for today's visit. This holds great significance to us.

The immeasurable losses borne by both our nations demand perpetual remembrance. The Soviet Union lost 27 million lives, sacrificing them at the altar of the Fatherland and the altar of Victory. China gave 37 million lives in its struggle for freedom and independence. This victory was achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party.

We are delighted to see you at the festivities. I am certain that we will use this time to exchange opinions on the entire scope of our relations.

Thank you.

President of China Xi Jinping (retranslated): Mr President, my dear friend, Russian ministers.

I am happy to visit Russia once again at the invitation of my friend Vladimir Putin, and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War.

Earlier this year, we held a meeting via videoconference and had a telephone conversation. Together, we planned to further develop China-Russia relations. Under our mutual strategic leadership, our countries are reinforcing their political mutual trust and expanding practical cooperation, intensifying cultural and humanitarian exchanges and interregional ties, which demonstrates a more consistent, stable and steady dynamic in our bilateral relations in this new era.

Past history and present reality convincingly demonstrate that the sustained development and expansion of China-Russia relations are imperative for maintaining our nations' centuries-long friendship, and represent a strong commitment to our countries' success, prosperity and revival. They remain crucial for the ongoing endeavours to uphold international justice and promote global governance reform.

This year, we also celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's victory in the war against Japanese aggressors, the Soviet Union's Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and victory in the world's fight against fascism.

Eighty years ago, at the cost of heavy losses, the Chinese and Russian peoples achieved Great Victory, making an indelible and historic contribution to peace across the world and human progress.

Today, as we are facing negative trends and unilateral actions and the dictate of force in the world, China is ready to join Russia in carrying special responsibility, as major global powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, and dutifully and courageously defend the truth about World War II history, safeguarding the authority and positions of the United Nations, resolutely protecting the interests and rights of our states and all developing countries, building together an equal and structured multipolar world order, and achieving an inclusive, generally accessible economic globalisation.

Thank you.

<...>

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Xi says China, Russia find right path of state-to-state interactions between neighboring major countries

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:05, May 08, 2025

MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that China and Russia have found a right path of state-to-state interactions between neighboring major countries.

He made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Moscow for a state visit to the country and attendance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

Xi noted that the two sides, as good neighbors that cannot be moved away, true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners of mutual achievement, have forged a spirit of strategic coordination for a new era, which features permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The independent, mature and resilient bilateral relationship, Xi said, not only brings great benefits to the two peoples, but also makes important contributions to maintaining global strategic stability and promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, he noted.

China and Russia, both major countries of the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will join hands to safeguard the victorious outcome of World War II, firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, Xi said.

The Chinese president also said that during the visit he will have in-depth communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin on bilateral relations, practical cooperation as well as major international and regional issues of common concern, which will inject strong impetus into the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

Noting that he will attend Russia's May 9th Victory Day celebrations again after a decade, Xi said he looks forward to working with leaders of other countries and the Russian people to deeply commemorate the martyrs who heroically sacrificed their lives for the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and send out a strong voice of the times to safeguard international fairness and justice.

Xi's plane was escorted by Russian Air Force aircraft after it entered the country's airspace.

When Xi arrived at the Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, he was warmly welcomed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and other senior government officials.

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Now 'friends of steel': Xi and Putin meet in Moscow

Leaders of China and Russia seek a deeper partnership on eve of World War II anniversary, as Ukraine conflict rumbles on.

By Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin 2025.05.08 -- The leaders of China and Russia vowed to deepen their "strategic partnership" in a show of solidarity in Moscow on Thursday, casting themselves as defenders of the world order.

Russian President Vladimir Putin played host to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the eve of a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

The two sides signed a joint statement to "further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in the new era between China and Russia."

Their meeting comes three years after Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, triggering the deadliest conflict in Europe since the World War II.

It also came as Taiwan's president, in Taipei, marked the World War II anniversary by making broad comparisons between threats to European peace and aggression from China.

President Lai Ching-te told diplomats: "Authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy, and greater inequality." He added that Taiwan - a self-governing island that China claims as its own - and Europe were "now facing the threat of a new authoritarian bloc."

The meeting between Xi and Putin was the latest display of solidarity in what they billed in 2022 as a "no-limits" friendship. Within days of that declaration, Putin had launched a war in a sovereign nation - Ukraine - in a repudiation of international law.

While China has avoided providing overt diplomatic and military support for the invasion of Ukraine, it has thrown Russia an economic lifeline that has helped it navigate Western sanctions.

Xi's China is facing its own forms of pressure from the West, as the country is now locked in a tariff war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Chinese leader made veiled references to the United States in his remarks Thursday.

China and Russia should "be true friends of steel that have been through a hundred trials by fire," Xi told Putin. He also said they would work together to counter "unilateralism and bullying."

Ja Ian Chong, associate professor at the National University of Singapore, said the more than 20 cooperation agreements signed by China and Russia on Thursday reflected that, in the current geopolitical landscape, both China and Russia need each other's assistance.

Sung Kuo-Chen, a researcher at the Center for International Relations at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, said Xi may be concerned that Trump - who is often viewed by critics as sympathetic to Moscow - will seek to win over Putin to jointly isolate and contain China.

"This is what Xi Jinping worried about the most. He wants to once again enhance and consolidate the strategic cooperative relationship between China and Russia," Sung told RFA.

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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Hong Kong removes protection against land reclamation in Victoria Harbor

Lawmakers amend a 1997 law that had given court protection to the iconic waterway, giving more power to the executive.

By RFA Cantonese 2025.05.08 -- Hong Kong's legislature has passed a law that will make it easier for the government to conduct land reclamation in the territory's iconic Victoria Harbor, despite long-standing opposition from environmentalists.

The opposition-free Legislative Council on Wednesday passed an amendment to an ordinance that was enacted in 1997 to protect the harbor as a "special public asset and a natural heritage of the Hong Kong people."

The amendment eases stringent restrictions on land reclamation and a presumption against such projects without court approval that they satisfy an "overriding public need." Environmentalists say the amendment will allow the city's leader to have the final say instead.

During the debate on the amendment, lawmakers from the pro-Beijng Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, including Regina Ip and Edward Leung, argued that the previous restrictions and thresholds were "too high" and hindered harbor development.

Tik Chi-yuen of the centrist party Third Side, who abstained from voting, questioned whether the amendment undermines the original intent of checks and balances by stripping the judiciary of its oversight role.

The 1997 ordinance - adopted in the year that Hong Kong shifted from the control of Britain to China - has been used to stop past major reclamation efforts. Most notably, in 2004, the city's top court ruled against a plan to reclaim land off Wan Chai district.

Winston Chu of the non-governmental advocacy group, Society for Protection of the Harbour, which was established in the 1990s, has said that the amendment would allow the government to "act as judge over its own proposals," and then become the owner of the reclaimed land.

Victoria Harbor is a natural feature that separates Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula. It covers an area of about 16 square miles (40 square kilometers) and serves as a major conduit for trade and as a tourist attraction. The high rises near the harborside are a distinctive feature of the city's skyline.

In the past five years, Beijing has tightened control of Hong Kong, squelching a protest movement and diminishing the semi-autonomous status the city enjoyed after colonial rule by Britain ended in 1997. Opposition lawmakers have quit from the legislature or been ousted.

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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Xi holds talks with Putin, says China-Russia relations more confident, stable and resilient in new era

Global Times

China, Russia pledge to defend victorious outcome of WWII

By Liu Xin in Moscow, Chen Qingqing and Shen Sheng in Beijing Published: May 09, 2025 12:22 AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Moscow on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi said that China-Russia relations have grown more confident, stable and resilient in the new era, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi said continuous development and deepening of China-Russia relations is the call of the times for safeguarding international fairness and justice and promoting the reform of the global governance system, according to Xinhua.

At present, in the face of the countercurrent of unilateralism and the act of power politics and bullying in the world, the two sides should take a clear stand to jointly promote the correct historical perspective on World War II, safeguard the authority and status of the United Nations, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and the vast number of developing countries, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Xi said.

Noting that he was glad to visit Russia again at the invitation of Putin and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, Xi said that history and reality have fully proved that continuing to develop and deepen China-Russia relations is integral to carrying forward the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation.

It is an inevitable choice for both sides to achieve mutual success and promote their own development and revitalization, Xi sai.

In talks with Putin, Xi also said that the Chinese side will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibility as two major countries of the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, according to Xinhua.

He urged the two countries to jointly promote the correct historical perspective on World War II, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, according to Xinhua.

Xi said that in face of unprecedented global changes, China and Russia have continuously deepened political mutual trust and strategic coordination, maintained close coordination and cooperation in international affairs, and injected valuable stability and positive energy into the changing and turbulent world.

China-Russia ties have enjoyed stable, healthy and high-level development thanks to joint efforts from both sides, Xi said, hailing long-term good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation as distinct features of bilateral ties.

Noting that China has for years been a main contributor to and stabilizer of global economic growth, Xi said China stands ready to work with Russia to safeguard the global multilateral trading system and keep the industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded.

Putin, for his part, said "We develop our ties for the good of the two countries' people; they are not directed against anyone. Our relations are equal and mutually beneficial and don't depend on the current situation. The resolve to build good-neighborly relations, strengthen friendship and boost cooperation is a choice that Russia and China have made based on strategic interaction," according to Russia's TASS News Agency and Xinhua.

In Putin's view, the sacrifices that the people of Russia and China made during World War II should never be forgotten, TASS reported.

The Russian leader pointed out that he would be glad to visit China for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over militarist Japan, TASS reported.

Xi and Putin signed a joint statement on further deepening China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, and witnessed the exchange of over 20 bilateral cooperation documents.

In the joint statement, China and Russia agreed to firmly defend the victorious outcome of World War II (WWII).

China and Russia also vowed to resolutely crush any act that attempts to tamper with WWII history, smear the historical achievements of China and Russia in WWII, or tarnish the image of the liberators. The two sides strongly condemn the acts to desecrate or damage memorial facilities of WWII martyrs.

This visit marks Xi's 11th trip to Russia since he became Chinese president, Xinhua said. Xi and Putin have met more than 40 times on different occasions over the years, according to Xinhua. Their close communication provides strategic guidance, under which China-Russia relations have matured into a resilient and stable partnership characterized by deepening political trust, closer strategic alignment and sustained practical cooperation, Xinhua reported.

Far-reaching significance

Some Chinese and Russian scholars viewed the high-level interactions between China and Russia as having far-reaching significance, underscoring a stable and mutual trust that injects strong vitality and resilience into bilateral relations, making it a key pillar of global strategic stability and a multipolar world.

Maksim Vilisov, leading Researcher Fellow at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times that Xi is visiting Russia at a very important historical moment.

"This shows to what extent he values the heritage of the victory in WWII, bilateral China-Russia relations, and his personal relations with President Putin," the Russian scholar said. This is a very symbolic visit and it marks the stability of mutual relations and broad prospects of their development," Vilisov said.

China and Russia adhere to the provisions of the UN Charter and international law. Such activities are increasingly respected in the world and more and more countries support our efforts to build a multipolar system of international relations, Pavel V Troshchinskiy, Leading Researcher of Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Science, told the Global Times.



Uphold multilateralism

A key lesson history has taught the peoples of China and Russia is that in the face of foreign aggression and threats to national security, only resolute struggle can secure national sovereignty and earn the respect of the international community, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday.

It was through joint resistance against fascism and eventual victory in WWII that China and Russia helped establish the current international order with the United Nations at its core, Cui said.

The lessons of WWII remind us that the principles enshrined in the UN Charter - equality among nations regardless of size, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the rejection of force or the threat of force - must be upheld and defended, Cui noted.

At a critical juncture where the world is undergoing profound transformation marked by both change and turbulence, the importance of China-Russia relations stands out more than ever, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

China and Russia are also engaging in close cooperation in several important areas including jointly promoting the central role of the UN in global affairs, advancing a more balanced framework for major-power relations and fostering healthier and leading coordination and cooperation within the BRICS framework and among countries of the Global South, Li said.

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China, Russia urge nuclear-weapon states to abandon Cold War mentality: joint statement

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: May 09, 2025 08:42 AM

China and Russia urged nuclear-weapon states to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, according to a joint statement on global strategic stability released here on Thursday.

The two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship among major countries in addressing global strategic issues.

Noting that nuclear-weapon states bear special responsibilities for international security and global strategic stability, the statement said that they should give up taking measures that trigger strategic risks, and concerns should be addressed through equal dialogue and consultations based on mutual respect to enhance trust and avoid dangerous misjudgments.

The statement noted that not all nuclear-weapon states follow the above-mentioned position, saying the rising tensions among nuclear-weapon states have escalated, even to the point of facing direct military conflicts, adding that problems and challenges in the strategic domain keep emerging, and the risk of nuclear conflicts is rising.

According to the statement, the fact that certain nuclear-weapon states build or expand permanent military bases in sensitive areas around other nuclear-weapon states, flex military muscle to exert pressure, or carry out hostile acts that threaten the core security interests of other countries has become one of the most urgent strategic risks to be eliminated.

Meanwhile, the forward deployment of military facilities and advanced offensive and defensive weapons have been continuously strengthened, a trend that has raised serious concerns.

The recently announced "Golden Dome" plan of the United States aims to build a global, multi-level and multi-domain missile defense system that is not subject to any constraints to resist various missile threats, including those from "evenly matched" opponents, said the statement, adding that it also causes serious damage to strategic stability.

This plan completely and thoroughly negates the inseparable interrelationship between strategic offensive and strategic defensive arms, the core principle on maintaining global strategic stability. In addition, this plan also provides further support for the research and development of kinetic and non-kinetic means to strike missiles and their supporting facilities and achieve "left-of-launch."

The "Golden Dome" program openly proposed a significant increase in outer space combat means, including the development and deployment of orbital interception systems, weaponizing outer space and turning it into a large-scale armed confrontation site, which made the situation even worse, said the document.

The two countries oppose the attempts of individual countries to use outer space for armed confrontation, and reject the implementation of security policies and activities aimed at gaining military superiority and defining outer space and using it as a "war-fighting domain."

China and Russia condemned the use of commercial space systems to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states and intervene in armed conflicts of other countries.

Some individual nuclear-weapon state, supported by its allies, aims to undermine the reliability and effectiveness of the strategic deterrence of other nuclear-weapon states, revealing the attempt to seek overwhelming military superiority, and ultimately achieve "absolute strategic security." It fundamentally violates the basic logic of maintaining strategic balance and runs counter to the principle of equal and indivisible security, according to the statement.

Any military confrontation among nuclear-weapon states should be resolutely avoided, said the document, adding that political and diplomatic solutions to existing differences should be sought on the basis of mutual recognition of and mutual respect for each other's security interests and concerns.

Both sides pointed out in the statement that through a trilateral security partnership, the United States, Britain and Australia attempt to establish military facilities used by the two nuclear-weapon states to safeguard their nuclear forces within the territory of a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, undermining regional strategic stability and provoking a regional arms race.

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Persistent Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons by Pyongyang Continues to Undermine Global Non-proliferation Regime, Assistant Secretary-General Tells Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9912th Meeting (PM)

SC/16058

7 May 2025

'Participation of North Korean Troops in Operations Conducted within Framework of Russian Aggression in Ukraine' Directly Impacts European Security, Says Delegate

The persistent pursuit of nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programmes by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea  in violation of Security Council resolutions  continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, a senior United Nations official told the 15-nation organ today.

Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, reported that Pyongyang has continued to conduct ballistic-missile launches, openly display undeclared uranium-enrichment facilities and communicate its intention to further develop its nuclear and ballistic-missile capabilities. "At this critical juncture, it remains as important as ever to continue to highlight the urgent need to reduce nuclear risk, prevent any use of a nuclear weapon and bring about their total elimination," he stressed.

He then recalled that the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009) supported efforts to monitor the implementation of the resolutions established in response to Pyongyang's nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programmes. While the Council did not renew the Panel's mandate beyond 30 April 2024, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) continues to oversee the sanctions regime. "We recall the obligations for all Member States to implement the relevant sanctions measures," he said.

"The broader security landscape on the Korean Peninsula remains tense," he went on to say, pointing to heightened military activity, limited avenues for both intra-Korean and regional dialogue, nuclear risks and "growing concerns over the potential for miscalculation". Recalling that the Secretary-General has consistently underscored that sustainable peace and denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula "must be anchored in dialogue and diplomacy", he welcomed "any efforts" towards this end. He also called on Pyongyang to facilitate the return of the UN country team to "strengthen support for its people and advance the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development]".

Next, James Byrne, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the non-profit Open Source Centre, said that his team has conducted years of comprehensive investigations into Pyongyang's sanctions-evasion activities. "A number of our recent reports have been published, focusing on the North Korean movement of munitions," he stated. And a further report, released today, details another persistent and concerning pattern of sanctions violations. "Since October 2024, we have tracked a number of [vessels] engaged in the lifting and moving of North Korean coal and iron ore from their ports to other ports in countries abroad  including China," he said.

"The vessels are called the ARMANI, CARTIER, CASIO, SOPHIA, YI LI 1 and the AN YU," Mr. Byrne continued, sharing images of the named vessels loading coal. Further, he said that these vessels have engaged in "sophisticated spoofing" techniques, describing a process by which they transmit as if they are located in other countries despite satellite imagery showing the same vessels loading in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The team correlated such vessels' automatic-identification-system data with an array of medium- and high-resolution satellite imagery during this investigation, he added.

As the floor opened to Council members, the representative of the United States  recalling the Russian Federation's veto of the mandate of the 1718 Panel of Experts  welcomed that "independent and well-regard experts from organizations like the Open Source Centre continue to investigate and provide credible reporting on violations and evasions" of relevant Council resolutions. Stating that Moscow is cynically obstructing the Council "to escape reproach for its own violations"  and that Chinese companies are importing coal and iron ore from Pyongyang despite the sanctions regime  she underscored: "The Council needs to address these egregious violations."

Other Council members also pointed to the information vacuum resulting from the veto of the Panel's mandate. "Well over a year has passed since Russia's veto prevented the mandate renewal of the [Panel]  so, for over a year, the Council has had no tool for independent and professional monitoring of sanctions implementation," Slovenia's delegate said. Sierra Leone's representative, spotlighting the Panel's indispensable role, observed: "Its reports, recommendations and tracking of violations contributed to upholding the global non-proliferation framework."

The representative of Panama, similarly, said that the veto of the Panel's mandate "has negatively affected the technical capacity and independent monitoring of the [1718] Committee". Citing the Panel's final report, he noted "worrying advances in the military capabilities of the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]"  including the development of tactical nuclear weapons, ballistic-missile submarines and systematic maritime evasion of Council sanctions. As the technology used by Pyongyang for such evasion grows in sophistication, it is imperative to strengthen monitoring capabilities, he stressed.

The United Kingdom's representative, too, spotlighted to "expertise gap" left by Moscow's decision to veto the renewal of the Panel's mandate. "It is obvious that Russia's objective was to clear the path for the expansion of their military relationship with the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]," he underscored. Noting the flow of munitions from Pyongyang to Moscow and both countries' recent, public flaunting of their decision to use the former's troops as "cannon fodder", he added: "We cannot allow this brazen disregard towards UN sanctions to become normalized."

France's representative also noted the recent recognition by Pyongyang and Moscow of "the participation of North Korean troops in operations conducted within the framework of Russian aggression in Ukraine". This has direct consequences for European security, he stressed. Building on that, Denmark's representative underscored that these flagrant sanctions violations are "absolutely not" just a concern for Europe or Pyongyang's neighbours. In that context, she asked: "Given North Korea's and Russia's willingness to ignore UN sanctions, how long until we see North Korean weapons  or troops  in other conflicts around the world?"

"North Korean arms and troops have prolonged and intensified the war in Ukraine, while, in return, Russia's potential military and technological assistance to the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] poses a direct threat to security on the Korean Peninsula," said the representative of the Republic of Korea. Noting that Pyongyang  emboldened by Moscow's support  is accelerating the development of both conventional weapons, as well as the largest warship it has ever produced, he observed: "These developments have ushered in a new and alarming phase of security risks."

However, the representative of the Russian Federation said that the root cause of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula is the increasing military presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member States in the region. Additionally, he noted the large military budgets and advanced military equipment possessed by the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea. "This very well-equipped and coordinated alliance is literally trying to corner one independent sovereign State, which then is trying to find solutions to ensure its own security," he said.

China's representative also pointed to "certain countries conducting military manoeuvres on the Korean Peninsula", which has increased tension "so much so that the slightest imprudence may lead to mishaps". Rejecting the accusations against his country made by the representative of the United States, he urged that country to "take the lead to show goodwill and put its purported commitment to dialogue into action". Meanwhile, he urged the Council to work to create an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of dialogue.

Along those lines, the representative of Pakistan also called on the Council to "take the lead in finding ways to lower tensions in the region and encourage confidence- and security-building measures". Guyana's representative called on all concerned parties to engage in good-faith diplomacy and dialogue, emphasizing that, "with strong political will, progress towards a peaceful and sustainable solution is possible". Somalia's representative, meanwhile, expressed support for a "balanced" approach that "addresses legitimate security concerns while creating space for cooperation and dialogue".

"We call on all parties to prioritize dialogue over confrontation, diplomacy over force and to put the interests of the peoples in the region above any other consideration to achieve stability and prosperity for all peoples," said Algeria's representative. He also noted that "the sad reality is that civilians in the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] face enormous challenges and huge difficulties". The representative of Greece, Council President for May, spoke in his national capacity to concur on that point, calling on Pyongyang to ease any restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid and open its borders to international humanitarian personnel.

For his part, the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, noting the "ceaseless military build-up" by the United States and its allies, said that such countries' efforts to "ignite a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula and in the region are reaching the most perilous stage of action". Underscoring his country's subsequent right to "maintain and improve strong deterrence", he added that cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow "entirely conforms" to international law. He added: "It is not for anyone to meddle in."

Also taking the floor was Japan's representative, who stressed that the Council has been "rigged" by a permanent member hoping to "veil its unlawful military cooperation with the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]". Recalling that like-minded countries, including Japan, established the "Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team" in 2024 to fill the gap left by the Panel of Experts, he said that those who violate Council resolutions "must  and will  bear the consequences of their actions". He added: "As the saying goes, 'sunlight is the best disinfectant', and our message is clear  malicious deeds will be exposed."

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Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministries' Official Telephone Talk on North Korea

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

May 8, 2025

On May 8, in response to the ballistic missile launches by North Korea on the day, Mr. OKOCHI Akihiro, Deputy Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministries' Official Telephone Talk with Ms. Kim Heun jin, Director For North Korean Nuclear Affairs Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Seth Bailey, Director for Korea and Mongolia Affairs, Department of State of the United States of America.

They reaffirmed that ballistic missile launches by North Korea violate the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and strongly condemned the launches on the 8th as a threat to the peace and security of the region and the international community. They reaffirmed close coordination among Japan, the U.S. and the ROK.

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The FCDO has released a statement following ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 8 May.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

8 May 2025

An FCDO spokesperson said:

DPRK's ballistic missile launches on 8 May are another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges the DPRK to stop such provocations and return to dialogue.
Joint Striking Drill of Long-range Artillery and Missile Systems of Sub-units of KPA on Eastern Front Conducted.

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, May 9 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and its vassal sates are staging a series of nuclear operation drills on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity after making a nuclear war against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea a fait accompli and opening to the public an extremely adventurous scenario for a nuclear war. This reckless act of aggravating the situation requires the armed forces of the DPRK to prepare for a rapid reaction capability and a thoroughgoing war posture.

The joint striking drill was conducted on May 8 to raise the fighting efficiency of long-range artillery and missile soldiers sub-units on the eastern front amid the intensive combat drills at all levels of the Korean People's Army being organized and conducted to improve the whole army's overwhelming capability for countering a war in the spirit of the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un guided the joint striking drill of long-range artillery and missile systems.

He was accompanied by Pak Jong Chon, Jo Chun Ryong and Kim Jong Sik, senior officials of the WPK Central Committee, Full General Jang Chang Ha, general director of the Missile Administration of the DPRK, and Kim Yong Hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences.

Mobilized in the drill were 600 mm multi-layer rocket system and tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11-Ka.

The drill was aimed at making the sub-units acquire the procedures for the operation of the above-mentioned rocket and missile attack systems according to the state nuclear weapon combined management system.

A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK, introducing the drill, said that it would be a sufficient measure of action to show the rapid counteraction posture and capability of the armed forces of the DPRK capable of coping with the change of the military situation in the sensitive region where the enemies are aggravating.

Prior to firing, the drill inspected layer by layer the operational reliability of "Haekbangashoe" system.

There took place detailed trainings for making all the sub-units master the procedures and processes for rapidly switching over to the nuclear counterattack posture and a separate special lecture on the operation of the counterattack system for the commanding officers.

Then, the firepower sub-units hit simultaneously and in order, separately and jointly different targets of the enemy in the assigned direction and distance.

The goal of the drill was achieved and the reliability of the command and mobilization system capable of quickly reacting to any nuclear crisis was verified.

Stressing the need to steadily enhance the pivotal role of the nuclear force in all aspects of the strategy to deter war and the strategy to fight war, Kim Jong Un said that it is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force.

He said that the DPRK should continue to direct efforts to steadily improving the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons systems, proceeding from the security environment of our state and the realistic requirements of modern warfare.

He affirmed that the radical growth of the artillery force would foresee many changes in the practice of our future military actions and give greater and different possibilities to securing the operational capabilities of our army.

Saying that it is the consistent policy of the Workers' Party of Korea on building the armed forces to preferentially intensify the qualitative superiority of the artillery force with a firm viewpoint that strengthening artillery entirely means strengthening the fighting efficiency of the army and the nation's defence capability, Kim Jong Un set forth the important tasks for further increasing the combat reliability of the tactical nuclear weapon systems and steadily expanding the operational space in a compound way. -0-

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MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF IRAN CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT

India - Press Information Bureau

President's Secretariat

Posted On: 08 MAY 2025 6:06PM by PIB Delhi

H.E. Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (May 8, 2025).

Welcoming Dr. Araghchi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President noted that his visit is taking place on the special occasion of 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The President said that relations between India and Iran go back thousands of years. In every aspect of art and culture, whether it is language and literature or music and food, we can see glimpses of each other's heritage.

The President said that our bilateral relations are built on a strong foundation of regular high-level exchanges. Over these 75 years, ties between India and Iran have grown in diverse areas - be it cultural cooperation, trade and energy partnership, or strategic coordination at regional and global forums. The two countries have not only maintained a long-standing friendship but have also worked together for regional peace and prosperity. She welcomed the ongoing cooperation between the two sides in realizing the full potential of the Chabahar Port.

The President also thanked Iran for its message of solidarity and compassion following the Pahalgam terrorist attacks.

The President expressed confidence that this visit will further strengthen India-Iran bilateral relations.

*****

MJPS/SR/BM

(Release ID: 2127750)

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INS SUNAYNA (IOS SAGAR) RETURNS TO KOCHI ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF MONTH LONG DEPLOYMENT

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

IOS Sagar - A significant step in reinforcing India's commitment to Regional Security and Collaborative Maritime Cooperation reflecting the vision of MAHASAGAR

Sagar Mission reaffirms India's continued engagement with Maritime Neighbours towards building stronger ties and working towards a safer, more inclusive & secure IOR

Indian Navy strengthening Maritime Bonds, Capacity Building and Enduring Partnership with IOR Nations

Posted On: 08 MAY 2025 5:43PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Navy's maiden initiative of Indian Ocean Ship Sagar, jointly crewed by personnel from nine IOR Navies, concluded its month long deployment in SW IOR region and returned to Kochi on 08 May 25. Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command congratulated the crew of India and nine friendly foreign countries during the grand reception ceremony held at Naval Base, Kochi. The successful completion of the deployment marks a new chapter in maritime cooperation and underscores India's commitment to safeguarding collective maritime interests, capacity building and enduring partnership with IOR nations.

IOS Sagar was flagged off by the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh from Karwar on 05 Apr 25. During the deployment, the ship undertook port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria and Male. The key highlights of the mission included joint naval exercises, professional & cultural exchanges and joint EEZ surveillance of key IOR nations - Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius & Seychelles. Strengthening regional maritime cooperation between India and African nations, the ship participated in AIKEYME 2025 alongside INS Chennai & INS Kesari, which was jointly hosted by India and Tanzania from 13 - 18 Apr 25. The exercise provided an opportunity for the crew of lOS Sagar to participate in the joint harbour phase and interact with the participating Navies. At Mozambique, a range of collaborative activities and community engagements were held promoting operational synergy and interoperability with the Mozambique Navy.

Reinforcing the enduring bond between India and Mauritius, the crew of IOS Sagar had fruitful engagement with the Mauritius Police Force and undertook coordinated patrol with the Mauritius Coast Guard. Visit to Port Victoria, Seychelles was marked with cross deck visits, training exchange, joint Yoga sessions and maritime engagement with Seychelles Defence Force. The ship held collaborative maritime security and regional outreach mission at Maldives prior to entering Kochi. This deployment exemplifies Indian Navy's continued engagement with regional Navies and maritime security stakeholders of IOR nations to train together, exchange best practices and enhance interoperability and mutual understanding.

It was a unique experience for the 44 international crew of nine partner nations - Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania who jointly manned the ship alongside Indian Navy crew, truly signifying the motto of 'One Ocean One Mission'. The journey of IOS Sagar which commenced with the combined harbour and sea training phase at SNC, Kochi in Mar 25 has been truly memorable for all the crew members. The professional and seamless integration of the international crew working together as a well knit and cohesive team truly reflects the spirit of camaraderie and maritime friendship. The mission is a testament to Indian Navy's commitment as the 'First Responder' and 'Preferred Security Partner' in IOR towards the Gol's strategic vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Region).

____________________

VM/SKS 101/25

(Release ID: 2127730)

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Iran prioritizes diplomacy while staying prepared for war at any level: IRGC commander

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 8, 2025

Mashhad, IRNA -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major-General Hossein Salami said on Thursday that Iran seeks to address its nuclear issue diplomatically and fairly free from threats; however, the Islamic Republic is prepared for conflict at any scale.

Speaking at a ceremony honoring former President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in East Azarbaijan Province on May 19, 2024, the commander said that based on its own political will, Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons.

Meantime, General Salami warned the United States that any misstep could unleash severe repercussions, likening it to opening the "gates of hell" against them.

He also cautioned that enemies would face a dire situation even more severe than the True Promise operations, which were carried out against the Israeli regime.

Therefore, he said, the U.S. officials should be wary of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to drag them into an unending war.

He also warned the Israeli regime that as they struggled to cope with the aftermath of missile attacks by the Yemeni Armed Forces, they would be ill-equipped to withstand hundreds and thousands of missiles.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Salami praised President Raisi for his dynamic and assertive foreign policy, characterized by self-confidence and courage.

4208**2050

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Negotiating on equal terms with no threat is wise and honorable: Top security official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 8, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said on Thursday that as direct negotiations under conditions of coercion and threat are unwise and dishonorable, talks on equal terms and free from threats are wise and honorable.

Iran and the U.S. held three rounds of indirect talks in Muscat, Oman, and Rome, Italy, to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions. The Omani government mediated the negotiations.

Ahmadian also said that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei transformed the enemy's threat into a situation of equality and dignity, and what changed was the conditions, not Iran's stance.

Nothing is entirely predictable regarding the content and outcomes of the talks; of course, Iran's redlines are clearly defined and depend on the U.S. behavior, the top security official said.

He further said that the enemies make use of cognitive and media warfare against the Iranians to disappoint the nation, exaggerate problems, misuse political and social rifts, and create divisions; therefore, those who love the Islamic Republic must try to enhance unity.

On regional developments, he said that the resistance groups are indestructible, and that they are once again standing against the real enemy of the nations by strengthening their capabilities.

4208**2050

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Iran rejects any involvement in a supposed plot to target Israeli embassy in London

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 8, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says that Iran categorically rejects any involvement in a supposed plot to target the Israeli embassy in London.

In a post on his X account on Thursday, Araqchi wrote, "We are seeing stories in the media that Iranian nationals are allegedly involved in a supposed plot to target the Israeli embassy in London."

He added, "Iran in no uncertain terms categorically rejects any involvement in such actions and confirms that we have not been informed of any allegations via proper diplomatic channels."

The top Iranian diplomat further noted: "Iran has urged the UK to engage so that we may assist any probe into credible allegations. Timing and lack of engagement suggest that something is amiss."

"There is a history of third parties bent on derailing diplomacy and provoking escalation, resorting to desperate measures, including false flag operations," Araqchi added.

He said, "Iran stands ready to engage to shed light on what has truly transpired, and we reiterate that UK authorities should afford our citizens due process."

Earlier this week, British police announced that they had arrested eight individuals, including seven Iranian nationals, in separate operations on suspicion of "terrorism offences."

The arrests come amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States. Some analysts speculated in Iranian media that the incident could have been an act of provocation meant to subvert the negotiations, to which Israel is opposed.

In response, the Iranian embassy in the Britain wrote in a post on its official X account on Wednesday that Iranian Ambassador to Britain Ali Mousavi met with Britain's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Hamish Falconer, for an introductory meeting on 7 May 2025.

"They held a respectful and candid exchange on a range of bilateral, regional, and international issues, including ongoing Iran-US negotiations," it added.

It further noted, "Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of international law, including non-interference in domestic affairs, and expressed mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and security."

"On the recent arrests of some Iranian nationals, the Ambassador emphasized on respect for their rights and due processassurances Minister Falconer provided," the embassy added.

It said, "Both agreed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most constructive path to addressing challenges and differences."

3266**9417

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Treasury Increases Pressure on Firms Importing Iranian Oil

U.S. Department of the Treasury

May 8, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is increasing pressure on Iran's export of oil, designating the "teapot" refinery Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd. and three port terminal operators in Shandong Provincefor their role in purchasing or facilitating the delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil. These teapot refineries, most of which are located in Shandong Province, purchase the majority of Iranian crude oil exports. OFAC is also imposing sanctions on several companies, vessels, and captains responsible for facilitating Iranian oil shipments as part of Iran's "shadow fleet." This is OFAC's third action against a teapot refinery and its first targeting terminal operators in Shandong Province.

"As part of President Trump's broad and aggressive maximum pressure campaign, Treasury today is targeting another teapot refinery that imported Iranian oil," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "The United States remains resolved to intensify pressure on all elements of Iran's oil supply chain to prevent the regime from generating revenue to further its destabilizing agenda."

Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which targets Iran's petroleum and petrochemical sectors, and E.O. 13846, which targets those providing support to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). NIOC is blocked pursuant to E.O. 13846. Today's action also marks the latest round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales since the President issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), instituting a campaign of maximum economic pressure on Iran.

OIL IMPORTERS

China-based Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd. (Hebei Xinhai) is an independent teapot refinery in Hebei Province that has received multiple shipments of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars from shadow fleet vessels, some of which have been sanctioned for their role transporting Iranian petroleum, including the URGANE I and HORNET. Hebei Xinhai previously purchased Iranian oil associated with the Iranian military. Hebei Xinhai is the sole shareholder of Singapore-based oil broker Xing AO Energy PTE. LTD.

Hebei Xinhai is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). NIOC, which oversees all aspects of Iranian oil extraction and export, was designated pursuant to the counterterrorism authority E.O. 13224, as amended, on October 26, 2020, for its financial support to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). OFAC is also adding Xing AO Energy PTE. LTD. to the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) for being owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by Hebei Xinhai.

Treasury is also targeting three firms for operating a port terminal at Dongying Port, China which has received several shipments of Iranian oil from shadow fleet vessels since 2024. Baogang (Dongying Donggang) Logistics and Warehousing Co., Ltd. is the current controlling shareholder of Shandong Jingang Port Co., Ltd, which operates a terminal in Dongying Port that has received more than one million barrels of Iranian oil from shadow fleet vessels CORONA FUN (IMO 9276573) and VIOLA (IMO 9254915), both which were sanctioned earlier this year. Previously, Shandong Baogang International Port Co., Ltd. (Baogang International) was the controlling shareholder of the same terminal in Dongying Port, which, while under the control of Baogang International, received millions of barrels of Iranian oil from shadow fleet vessels, including the SEASKY (IMO 9237412), and CH BILLION (IMO 9276585), each of which were also sanctioned earlier this year.

Boagang (Dongying Donggang) Logistics and Warehousing Co., Ltd. is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. Shandong Jingang Port Co., Ltd is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Baogang (Dongying Donggang) Logistics and Warehousing Co., Ltd. Baogang International is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or after November 5, 2018, having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, NIOC.

INCREASING PRESSURE ON SHADOW FLEET ACTORS

Iran's shadow fleet relies on obscure ship management companies to manage its fleet of tankers that Tehran needs to mask Iran's petroleum shipments to China using ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with sanctioned vessels. The Panama-flagged STAR TWINKLE 6 (IMO 9256987), LAMD (IMO 9320843), SKADI (IMO 9230971), and BIG MAG (IMO 9263215), Sao Tome and Principe-flagged IMPALAS (IMO 9171448), and San Marino-flagged THANE (IMO 9237228) have shipped billions of dollars' worth of Iranian petroleum to China and to the Persian Gulf.

Since mid-2024, the STAR TWINKLE 6 has transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China, including completing a STS transfer with the sanctioned vessel SERENE I, which was sanctioned on September 25, 2024 for transporting Iranian oil for the IRGC-QF. The LAMD, formerly known as TAI HE, has transported upwards of eight million barrels of Iranian oil to multiple locations in China since mid-2024. The SKADI has facilitated or transported multiple shipments of Iranian petroleum, including condensate, by conducting multiple STS transfers with sanctioned vessels, including the CATALINA 7 and the NATALINA 7, both of which were sanctioned in March 2025 for transporting Iranian oil.

Hong Kong-based Star Twinkle Shipping Limited, Hong Kong Prime Trading Co., Ltd., and Skadi Limited are the owners of the STAR TWINKLE 6, LAMD, and SKADI respectively. OFAC is designating Star Twinkle Shipping Limited, Hong Kong Prime Trading Company Limited, and Skadi Limited pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. OFAC is identifying the STAR TWINKLE 6, LAMD, and SKADI as blocked property in which Star Twinkle Shipping Limited, Hong Kong Prime Trading Co., Ltd., and Skadi Limited have an interest, respectively.

The BIG MAG has conducted at least two STS transfers with sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) vessels to help deliver up to six million barrels of oil to China since early 2025. The IMPALAS has also transported more than a million barrels of Iranian oil to China, which it received from the tanker ELIZA II, which was sanctioned on December 19, 2024. Finally, the THANE has conducted multiple STS transfers of Iranian petroleum products that were transported to the Persian Gulf.

United Kingdom-based Propitious Forever Trading Co Ltd, Hong Kong based-Embrace Que Limited, and Marshall Islands-based Nissho Lines Incorporated are the owners of the BIG MAG, the IMPALAS, and THANE respectively. OFAC is designating Propitious Forever Trading Company Limited, Embrace Que Limited, and Nissho Lines Incorporated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. OFAC is identifying the BIG MAG, IMPALAS, and THANE as blocked property in which Propitious Forever Trading Company Limited, Embrace Que Limited, and Nissho Lines have an interest, respectively.

Finally, OFAC is designating two vessel captains who have served for several years onboard sanctioned shadow fleet vessels, providing key services to enable Iran's oil exports. Indian national Ketan Agarwal has served as the master of several vessels transporting Iranian oil since 2017, while Indian national Lincoln Francisco Viegas has served as the master of two vessels transporting Iranian oil since 2022. Most recently, Ketan Agarwal and Lincoln Francisco Viegas have operated as the masters of the sanctioned JAYA (IMO 9410387) and LIONESS (IMO 9285744), respectively, both of which were sanctioned in December 2024. Previously, in late 2023, Agarwal served as the captain of the sanctioned BENDIGO, formerly known as LEONOR, which transported more than a million barrels of Iranian crude oil after completing an STS with the sanctioned NITC tanker HILDA I. OFAC is designating Ketan Agarwal and Lincoln Francisco Viegas pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated entities or otherwise blocked persons.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here, and to submit a request for removal, click here.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated and vessels identified today.

###

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Japan-Australia Summit Telephone Meeting

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

May 8, 2025

On May 8, commencing at 4:15 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a telephone meeting with the Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the talk is as follows:

At the outset, Prime Minister Ishiba conveyed his congratulations on the victory of the Labor Party in the federal election. Prime Minister Ishiba also stated that he looks forward to further strengthening the "Special Strategic Partnership" between Japan and Australia. In response, Prime Minister Albanese expressed his gratitude and concurred with the view expressed by Prime Minister Ishiba. The two leaders confirmed that they would continue to work closely together on a wide range of issues, including in the field of security, amid an increasingly severe and complex regional strategic environment, as exemplified by today's ballistic missile launch by North Korea. The two leaders concurred on the importance of continue to work together on economic security issues, including those related to resources and energy, and expressed their intention to collaborate through frameworks such as the CPTPP. Lastly, Prime Minister Ishiba stated his expectation that exchanges between Japan and Australia would be further expanded through Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

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Myanmar junta bombs hospital days after declaring ceasefire extension

Attacks on 3 villages have displaced thousands, said an ethnic administration.

By RFA Burmese 2025.05.08 -- Junta airstrikes on villages in southeast Myanmar destroyed a hospital and forced over 8,000 residents from their homes, leaving them in urgent need of aid, according to an insurgent administration opposing the military.

Junta forces on Monday extended their ceasefire until the end of May, citing the need to help restoration efforts following the country's 7.7 magnitude earthquake. Military forces have launched hundreds of attacks across the country since then, killing more than 200 people.

Heavy artillery fired at the Bago region and Mon state border have left thousands in need of food, clothing and shelter, the Karen National Union, or KNU, said in a statement published on Wednesday.

In Mon state's Kyaikto township on April 28, junta forces dropped a 300-pound bomb on Pyin Ka Toe Kone village, destroying a rubber plantation. On May 2, junta Infantry Battalion 207 and Artillery Battalion 310 encircled and fired heavy artillery at Yae Kyaw village, according to the KNU.

On May 4, the junta bombed Hpa Lan Taung village's hospital twice, destroying it.

Multiple displaced groups have been unable to return home due to constant attacks, leaving an increasing number of people displaced, said Nai Aue Mon, a program director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, which promotes democracy and peace in Myanmar.

"The junta is attacking all the time with heavy artillery, a fighter jet and drones. The effect is that the number of people fleeing is increasing, gradually," he said. "Before, the numbers were only about 700 or 800 displaced people. Then it became 2,000 and 3,000."

Some residents have fled to areas controlled by ethnic insurgent groups along the border, while others went to nearby villages, he said. While these villages were largely unaffected in the past, recent clearance operations by junta troops targeting rebel groups have left them with no choice.

The KNU did not say whether the attacks had resulted in any casualties.

Radio Free Asia contacted junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for more information on the attacks, but he did not pick up the phone.

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Greetings to the leaders and citizens of foreign states on the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War

On the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Israel, as well as to the peoples of Georgia and Moldova.

May 8, 2025

12:00

The Russian President emphasised that our countries hold the memory of our ancestors' glorious heroism and enormous sacrifice sacred, as our grandfathers and fathers fought courageously shoulder to shoulder against Nazi invaders, and worked selflessly on the home front.

"It is our sacred duty to cherish the legacy of the generation of victors. Therefore, it is very important to be uncompromising in our efforts to prevent any attempts to distort our shared history, to rehabilitate or cast a veil over the atrocities committed by Nazis and their collaborators," the President noted.

In the messages to the leaders and citizens of foreign states, the President offered his heartfelt greetings and words of sincere gratitude to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War and home front workers. He wished them good health, longevity, and all the best.

In the messages to the peoples of Georgia and Moldova, Vladimir Putin called for preserving the bequeathed traditions of friendship and mutual help, and never forgetting our shared historical legacy, or preventing division between the friendly nations.

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President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: May 08, 2025 22:19

On the morning of May 8 local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow. The two presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues. They agreed to steadfastly deepen strategic coordination, promote the steady, sound, and high-quality growth of China-Russia relations, jointly uphold the correct historical perspective on WWII, safeguard the authority and standing of the United Nations (U.N.), and defend international fairness and justice.

In May, Moscow boasts a clear sky and vast horizon. The Kremlin's commandant greeted President Xi as his limousine arrived at the Kremlin.

President Putin held a grand welcoming ceremony for President Xi in the Georgievsky Hall. Amidst solemn welcoming music, President Xi and President Putin walked briskly from opposite ends of a red carpet, shook hands at the center of the hall, and posed for photos. A military band played the national anthems of China and Russia.

The two presidents held small-group and large-group talks.

President Xi noted that in recent years, through the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia relations have maintained the momentum of steady, sound, and high-quality growth. Long-lasting good-neighborliness and mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation have become the defining feature of this relationship. The foundation of mutual political trust has grown stronger, the ties of results-oriented cooperation have become more robust, and people-to-people exchanges and subnational interactions have flourished. The China-Russia relationship in the new era is characterized by greater confidence, stability, and resilience. History and reality have fully demonstrated that the sustained development and deepening of China-Russia relations is a logical effort for keeping the long-standing friendship between the two peoples, a natural choice for helping each other succeed and achieve development and revitalization, and a response to the call of our times for upholding international fairness and justice and advancing the reform of the global governance system.

President Xi stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, the Chinese and Russian peoples made immense sacrifice and secured a great victory. Their pivotal contribution to world peace and human progress is a shining chapter in the annals of history. Today, in the face of unilateralist countercurrents, bullying and acts of power politics, China is working with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of major countries and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council with courage and conviction, uphold the correct historical perspective on WWII, safeguard the authority and standing of the U.N., firmly defend the victorious outcome of WWII, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and all other developing countries, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

The two presidents were briefed by their officials on cooperation in various fields.

President Xi noted that China and Russia should keep to the overall direction of cooperation, steer clear of external interference, and provide a more solid foundation and more robust momentum for cooperation. The two sides should leverage their complementary resource endowments and industrial systems to expand high-quality, mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, agriculture, aviation and aerospace, and artificial intelligence. They should build a high-standard framework for connectivity by synergizing Belt and Road cooperation and the Eurasian Economic Union. The potential of the China-Russia Years of Culture should be fully unleashed, with greater cooperation in education, film, tourism, sports, and subnational exchanges to foster closer people-to-people bonds. China and Russia should engage in closer coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the U.N., the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and BRICS to maintain Global South solidarity, uphold true multilateralism, and spearhead global governance reforms in the right direction.

President Xi emphasized that China is building itself into a modern socialist country and striving for rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. China has the determination and confidence to overcome all risks and challenges. Regardless of changes in the external environment, China will firmly focus on managing its own affairs well. China will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities entrusted by the times, uphold the global multilateral trading system, keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and well-functioning, and make a greater contribution to promoting each other's development and revitalization and upholding international fairness and justice.

President Putin expressed a warm welcome to President Xi for his state visit to Russia and participation in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. This visit is of great significance, as it will not only inject strong momentum into the development of Russia-China relations but also help safeguard the victorious outcome of WWII.

President Putin said that the Russia-China relationship is built on equality and mutual respect. It is neither directed against any third party nor swayed by any transient matters. It is Russia's strategic choice to unswervingly advance relations and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China. Russia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and consistently supports China's position on the Taiwan question. Russia will work with China to maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen results-oriented cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, science, and technology, deepen people-to-people exchanges in education, culture, youth, and tourism, and further broaden the dimensions of cooperation in the Far East. Imposing high tariffs defies common sense and has no legal basis; it will only backfire. The two sides should enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral frameworks such as the U.N., the SCO, and BRICS, support the progress toward a multipolar world, jointly oppose unilateralism, resist the abuse of sanctions and bloc-based confrontation, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.

President Putin noted that both Russia and China had made tremendous sacrifice in the World Anti-Fascist War. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people fought heroically and achieved a great victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, making a significant contribution to the victory of WWII. During those arduous war-torn years, Russia and China supported each other and forged a profound friendship that laid a solid foundation for bilateral ties. The two sides must uphold the authority of the U.N. and international law, defend the correct narrative of WWII history, safeguard international fairness and justice, and jointly create a brighter future for both countries and the world at large.

After the talks, the two presidents signed the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era on the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the Founding of the United Nations.

The two presidents witnessed the exchange of over 20 bilateral cooperation documents, covering areas such as global strategic stability, upholding the authority of international law, biosecurity, investment protection, digital economy, quarantine, and film cooperation.

The two presidents directed the relevant departments of both countries to follow through on the consensus reached, enhance communication and coordination, promote results-oriented cooperation, and achieve more tangible outcomes.

The two presidents also jointly met the press.

President Putin hosted a welcoming banquet for President Xi at noon.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the events.

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Xi Jinping Arrives in Moscow for a State Visit to Russia and Attends the Celebrations Marking the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: May 08, 2025 03:08

On the evening of May 7, 2025 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow by special plane to pay a state visit to Russia and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Air Force sent fighter jets to escort Xi Jinping's plane after it entered the country's airspace.

Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and other senior government officials when his special plane arrived at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow.

The Russian side held a grand welcome ceremony at the airport. The military band played the national anthems of China and Russia. Xi Jinping inspected the guard of honor and watched the march-past.

Xi Jinping made a written statement, and on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Russian government and people.

Xi Jinping noted that China and Russia are good neighbors always being there for each other, true friends sharing weal and woe, and good partners helping each other succeed. The two sides have successfully found the right way for big, neighboring countries to get along and forged the spirit of China-Russia strategic coordination in the new era. The independent, mature and resilient China-Russia relationship not only brings great benefits to the people of the two countries, but also makes important contributions to maintaining global strategic stability and promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. As major countries in the world and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia will join hands to defend the outcomes of the victory of World War II, resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system. President Xi Jinping said that he looks forward to having in-depth communication with President Vladimir Putin on bilateral relations, practical cooperation and international and regional issues of common interest and concern, which will inject strong impetus into promoting the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. He also looks forward to joining the leaders of many countries and the Russian people in cherishing the memory of those who dedicated their lives to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and jointly sending a strong message of safeguarding international fairness and justice.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and other members of the entourage arrived on the same plane.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui also greeted the delegation at the airport.

When Xi Jinping's motorcade drove from the airport to the hotel, local residents as well as representatives of Chinese enterprises and students gathered along the streets to warmly welcome President Xi Jinping by holding red banners that read "Warmly Welcome President Xi Jinping to Russia for a Visit" and waving the national flags of China and Russia.

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US and Russia Discuss Potential Role in Restoring Russian Gas Sales to Europe

Sputnik News

20250508

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Officials from the United States and Russia held discussions about how the US may help restore Russian gas sales in Europe, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The sources said that renewing Russia's position in the European gas market could help to reach a peace agreement on Ukraine.

The talks between the US and Russia include possibilities of entering American companies as stakeholders in the Nord Stream pipeline connecting Russia and Germany. The sides also discuss their potential share in the pipeline crossing Ukraine, or in Gazprom, according to the report.

The report also added that US companies could buy and ship Russian gas to Europe.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 7, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed regional security matters, economic engagement, and efforts to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan. Secretary Rubio commended the Saudi government for its efforts to help stabilize Syria, to stop the fighting in Sudan, continued engagement with Lebanon, and the issues in the Red Sea.

Secretary Rubio also discussed President Trump's upcoming trip to the Kingdom and the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

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Deputy Secretary Landau's Call with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Al-Khuraiji

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 7, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spoke today with Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji. They underscored the opportunities that President Trump's upcoming travel to the Kingdom will bring to deepen the strong U.S.-Saudi economic and security relationship. They reaffirmed the strength and strategic value of our defense cooperation, noting areas to expand strategic collaboration. The Deputy Secretary expressed his appreciation for the open and sincere discussion of regional security issues of mutual concern, and thanked the Deputy Minister for the Kingdom's close and continuing partnership.

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Macron hosts Syria's de facto president and ex-Qaeda leader at Elysee

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 08 May 2025 5:07 PM

Syria's de facto leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani has met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in his first visit to a European country.

Jolani, who remains under United Nations terrorism sanctions due to his leadership of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, was granted a rare exemption to travel to France.

Macron shook hands and posed with Jolani, who previously had a $10 million bounty for his capture on the US terror list, before he took over Syria.

The Elysee Palace said in a statement on Thursday that Jolani sought to "accompany the transition towards a free, stable, sovereign Syria that respects all components of Syrian society."

The French government, which has come under strong criticism for ignoring Jolani's past and current crimes, has said talks with Jolani would also focus on the handling of Druze and Alawite communities, targeted in recent attacks.

Since the start of March, hundreds of Alawite families have been massacred by HTS forces under the command of Jolani. Dozens of young Alawite women have been kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery by the former Daesh and al-Qaeda fighters.

The sectarian violence recently extended to Druze villages south of Damascus, where heavy clashes broke out last week.

Despite all that, Macron's administration, which never normalized relations with the former government of President Bashar al-Assad, has gradually increased its diplomatic presence in Damascus, recently appointing a charge d'affaires and dispatching a team of diplomats.

In January, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock were in the Syrian capital for talks on behalf of the European Union.

The French president also supported a "gradual lifting" of EU sanctions against Syria and revealed that he is "trying to persuade" the US to postpone its troop withdrawal from the Arab country.

Macron on Thursday spoke about the situation in the Lebanon-Syria border, where extremist groups allied with Jolani have attacked Lebanese army positions.

During the meeting, Jolani expressed readiness to normalize ties with Israel. "There are indirect negotiations with Israel through mediators to de-escalate tensions and prevent a loss of control," he said.

Israeli warplanes have recently conducted airstrikes adjacent to the presidential palace in the Syrian capital of Damascus, amid the silence of the ruling HTS-led administration.

Since Assad's government collapsed in December, Syria has 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.

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MAC defends military med school rejection of China-born student

ROC Central News Agency

05/08/2025 10:00 PM

Taipei, May 8 (CNA) Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday defended a decision by the military-run National Defense Medical Center (NDMC) to revoke the admission of a China-born student, citing the applicant's failure to meet the requirement of having held household registration in Taiwan for at least 20 years.

"Students who do not meet the requirements set out in Article 21 of the Cross-Strait Act, are, unfortunately, not eligible to apply [to the NDMC]," MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh () said at a news briefing in Taipei.

Liang explained that Article 21 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (Cross-Strait Act) stipulates that after an individual's status transitions from Chinese to Taiwanese, they must hold household registration in Taiwan for 20 years before being eligible to serve in multiple positions in national defense agencies.

Operated by the Ministry of National Defense (MND), one of the primary missions of the NDMC is to train military medical personnel and support the healthcare needs of Taiwan's armed forces.

The student, who was born in Nanjing, was granted permission to settle in Taiwan at the age of three and later obtained household registration after providing proof that their registration in China had been canceled, Liang said.

The submission of the deregistration document confirmed that the student had been registered in China's household system after birth, Liang said. As a result, the 20-year residency requirement was counted from the time the student was granted permission to settle in Taiwan at age three-- meaning the 18-year-old has not yet met the eligibility threshold.

Liang's remarks followed a Tuesday post on the local online forum Dcard that drew widespread attention, in which a student who had long aspired to become an emergency room doctor said an offer of admission to NDMC was revoked during the preliminary review.

The student cited the reason provided by the NDMC: "Born in Nanjing, has not held nationality of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) for 20 years."

"I'm willing to commit to more than a decade of service...and to shoulder the responsibility of becoming a military doctor," the student wrote, noting that the NDMC's decision was "enough to upend all of my expectations and plans."

The student said they grew up in Taiwan and held ROC nationality from a young age, adding that their parents were working in Nanjing at the time of their birth and claimed they had never held household registration in China -- a claim that contradicts the MAC account.

Having returned to Taiwan at the age of 2 -- a year earlier than MAC's account -- the student questioned whether, under the 20-year requirement, they would have to wait until 22 to be eligible to apply to the NDMC.

Liang said the student's case was "by no means an isolated one," noting that over the years, there have been other students who applied to the NDMC but were disqualified for not meeting the requirements set out in Article 21 of the Cross-Strait Act.

The MND also issued a statement on Wednesday, in which it mentioned that Article 19 of the "Regulations on Student Status of Military School Undergraduates and Graduate Students" stipulates that individuals from China who have been permitted to enter Taiwan "must have held household registration [in Taiwan] for 20 years before they are eligible to apply for admission."

A National Immigration Agency review on April 17 found that the student was born to a mother with Chinese nationality and, upon applying for household registration in Taiwan in 2009, deregistered the one in China and was approved to settle in Taiwan, the ministry said.

The student -- having held household registration in Taiwan for around 16 years -- therefore does not meet the 20-year requirement, the MND added.

(By Wu Shu-wei and Sunny Lai)

Enditem/AW

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Secessionists' words and deeds cannot alter fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, says FM on Lai Ching-te's rhetoric

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2025 05:11 PM

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities consistently use "democracy and freedom" as a pretext to conceal their "Taiwan independence" separatist agenda. No matter what they say or do, they cannot alter the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, nor can they change the international community's prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday.

Lin's remarks were made at a routine press briefing in response to a media inquiry about rhetoric from Taiwan's regional leader Lai Ching-te on Thursday, who claimed that the Taiwan island and Europe "are facing the threat of a new authoritarian bloc," in so-called first speech of the island commemorating "Victory in Europe Day."

Spokesperson Lin Jian noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also marks the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan.

He added that Taiwan's return to China in 1945 is an important part of the outcomes of victory in WWII and the postwar international order. A series documents with international legal effect, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and Japan's Instrument of Surrender, confirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan.

Lin reiterated that the DPP authorities consistently use democracy and freedom as a cover for their "Taiwan independence" separatist agenda. No matter what they say or do, they cannot alter the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, nor can they undermine the international community's prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle.

China urges relevant countries to honor their political commitments on the Taiwan question, restrict relevant individuals from bolstering performance of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and refrain from sending any misguided signals to these forces, Lin added.

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Prime Minister's remarks at the London Defence Conference: 8 May 2025

Prime Minister's speech at the London Defence Conference this morning.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

8 May 2025

Delivered on: 8 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)



It is a real privilege to be able to speak to you here today on VE Day.

80 years to the day...

Since an expectant nation turned on the wireless - as of course it was then...

To hear Churchill announce victory in our war against Nazi Germany.

Just imagine it.

Beacons lit across the country...

Bunting up...

People raising their glasses and thanking the bravery of our armed forces...

As we will do today.

And then they came to the streets.

The late Queen Elizabeth II - who was then a young princess of just 19 -

Remembering going unnoticed in the crowds, swept up in a 'tide of happiness and relief'.

A celebration of defiance...

Of sacrifice...

The courage of that lion-hearted generation...

The greatest victory in the history of this great nation.

A victory not just for Britain.

But for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil...

For the light of our values - in a world that tried to put them out.

And, as you know...

There are people who would happily do likewise today.

Our values and security are confronted on a daily basis.

And we have to rise to this moment.

80 years ago, just round the corner from here, Churchill said...

"We must begin the task of rebuilding...

Do our utmost to make this country a land in which all have a chance...

And in which all have a duty to our countrymen".

The post-war generation took on that task on with relish.

And we must use this moment...

To do the same.

Deepening our partnerships with allies old and new -

From across Europe to meet the defence challenges of our age...

To the United States...

an indispensable ally for our economic and national security...

As you know, talks with the US have been ongoing - and you'll hear more about that later today.

But make no mistake - I will always act in our national interest...

For workers, businesses and families...

To deliver security and renewal for our country.

Because the world has changed, decisively.

I mean, I remember - as some of you will also too...

The day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

A landmark moment for my generation.

A sense of freedom, of possibility, of peace.

European countries finally free to choose their own future.

I didn't think then that in my lifetime I would see Russian tanks entering a European country again.

Yet here we are.

And here we stand resolutely...

With the people of Ukraine.

Together with our allies...

Showing the strength of our values...

As well as the value of our strength.

A few weeks ago, I was with the Prime Minister of New Zealand...

To visit our forces delivering Operation INTERFLEX in Wiltshire.

This is a multinational military operation...

That has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops for the frontline.

Men and women who are not soldiers by trade...

Far from it.

They are accountants, they are builders, businesspeople, you name it.

Who stepped up from their lives...

Stepped away from their families...

And, as veterans did eighty years ago...

Answered the call to defend freedom and liberty in their homeland.

And as these brave men and women leave their training in Britain...

And head to the frontline of freedom...

They are applauded by their British trainers.

I've seen this a couple of times now - it's a really humbling sight.

A sign of our support and solidary in their struggle...

Pride and admiration at their courage.

Because in this country we know - this isn't just a fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine.

No - it is a new, more dangerous era of history.

A period of global instability...

That fuels insecurity for working people here at home.

The British people have already paid a price for Putin's aggression in Ukraine, with rising bills and prices.

Russia already menaces our security...

They've launched cyber-attacks on our NHS.

Spread disinformation online...

And we cannot forget, just a few years ago - a chemical weapons attack on our streets in Salisbury.

In broad daylight, in the heart of England.

No - the battle lines in Ukraine are the front line for Western values.

And the argument that defines this age is simple...

National security is economic security.

And that is why we are boosting defence spending, with the largest sustained increase since the Cold War...

An increase of 13.4bn year on year compared with where we are today.

Not just meeting our commitment to spend 2.5% of our GDP on defence...

But bringing it forward to 2027.

And, alongside that, a new ambition for defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.

But look, I do want to be clear - this investment has two objectives.

Yes of course, the first goal is always the safety and security of the United Kingdom.

But the second is to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in every corner of our country.

Secure at home, strong abroad.

You know - at times like this there is a lot of talk about the end of the peace dividend.

Well, our task now is to seize the defence dividend.

Felt directly in the pockets of working people.

Rebuilding our industrial base.

Creating the jobs of the future.

The skills for the next generation...

From the shipyards in Scotland...

To the missile systems built in Stevenage and Belfast....

The artillery barrels made at Sheffield forgemasters...

And the land vehicle development in Wales...

Mark my words - the British defence industry will be the engine of national renewal.

Because this isn't just about increasing our defence spending...

It's also about reform and rebuilding.

And in the coming weeks, we will publish a first-of-its kind, root and branch strategic defence review...

It will scrutinise every aspect of defence - to determine how we can best meet the threats of today...

And return Britain to warfighting readiness.

Alongside our National Security Strategy and our defence industrial strategy...

We will set out a major overhaul of the British Armed Services...

Starting by treating our Armed Forces with the respect that they deserve -

delivering the largest pay rise for over 20 years...

And good homes for service personnel and their families.

But also - the biggest shift in mindset in my lifetime -

To see security and defence...

Not as one priority amongst many others...

But as the central organising principle of government -

The first thought in the morning - the last at night...

The pillar on which everything else stands or falls.

Because - as in 1945...

This has to be a collective endeavour.

A national effort.

A time for the state, business and society to join hands...

In pursuit of the security of the nation...

And the prosperity of its people.

So whether you're a world-renowned business...

Or a smaller, family-run firm...

You have a vital part to play in boosting Britain's defences.

That is why we have launched a new unit - to help SMEs get their foot in the door of the defence supply chain.

Because I am clear - the future belongs to the innovators.

Take the announcement made just last week...

StormShroud drones...

Flying as uncrewed guardians to RAF pilots and crew...

Now, for the first time, made in Britain.

An investment that supports hundreds of highly skilled jobs...

Boosting our capabilities for the modern age of drone-based warfare.

Possible - only because of industry and military working together.

Or take the submarines that we're building in Barrow.

This one is personal for me.

Not just because I was there in Barrow at the keel laying in March -

Not just because I met the workers and the apprentices and saw for myself what it means for them...

And of course the 42,000 jobs it supports up and down the country...

It's also personal for me because just a few days before that visit...

I went up to the Firth of Clyde, as another boat made in Barrow -

A Vanguard-class submarine...

Was coming in off a record-breaking patrol.

We boarded the sub and met the crew - who had been at sea for months on end.

And meeting those remarkable men and women is something I'll never forget.

There is no greater duty than the one that they carry -

No task more vital.

Our security...

Nato's security...

Depends on them.

They are the quiet custodians of the nation's greatest capability...

Part of an unbroken watch that has been maintained for 55 years.

And in this moment - it's time for the rest of us to step up and rebuild our country...

Leading the world in the opportunities of the future.

Recently, I visited the Carrier Strike Group off the coast of Cornwall...

And stayed aboard HMS Prince of Wales...

It was frankly humbling to see F35s taking off with just 100metres of deck to take off - and then returning and hovering to land on a sixpence

So imagine how I felt later the very same day when I went to see the apprentices at Rolls Royce...Who had made the engines for those very F35s.

And we need to keep those apprentices busy...

And mark my words - we are going to do that.

With the most ambitious programme of work to secure and rebuild our country since 1945.

Take an example: today, I can announce a 563 million contract to maintain Britain's fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.

The backbone of Britain's air defence...

Proudly part of the flypast for VE Day that you may have seen on Monday.

All 130 Typhoons will have their engines maintained by Rolls-Royce...

Supporting hundreds of jobs in Bristol and beyond...

Defending British airspace.

Helping a new generation of service come of age.

And just imagine - what this means for a young apprentice, aged about 18.

Entering into the work force with a good job.

The pride of that work - as a proud I understand from my dad...

Of knowing that what you do, what you make matters.

The pride of following in the footsteps of local families...

Who have been the backbone of their communities for generations.

The grandchildren of the young men who fought on the beaches of Normandy...

Now the submariners on a Vanguard-class submarine.

The descendants of the code breakers at Bletchley...

Now learning the skills to build a new generation of nuclear submarines in Barrow.

And the pride of stepping into our national story...

So those who follow us can say...

We also rose to meet the moment.

We also stood firm against tyranny and oppression.

We also rebuilt Britain - so it serves everyone that serves our country.

Because on VE day 80 years ago...

Politicians of all parties and stripes understood that a people who had sacrificed so much were owed a great debt.

And the truth is - people today are too.

After years of being buffeted about by insecurity and uncertainty...

They are owed the same security...

the same prosperity and peace of mind...

A good home to live in...

A well-paid job with strong rights at work...

An NHS that is there for them when they need it...

all underpinned by the foundation of national security.

A defence dividend - that will be felt in the pockets of working people and the prosperity of the country.

An investment in peace...

But also an investment in British pride and the British people...

To build a nation that, once again, lives up to the promises made to that generation...

Who fought for our values, our freedom and our security.

Thank you very much indeed.

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PM remarks on the UK's landmark economic deal with the US: Thursday 8 May

Prime Minister's remarks that he delivered at Jaguar Land Rover today (Thursday 8 May) on the UK agreeing a landmark economic deal with the United States.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

8 May 2025

Delivered on: 8 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)



Just a few moments ago, I spoke to President Trump, the President of the United States.

And I am really pleased to announce to you, and I wanted to come to you to announce it, that we have agreed the basis of an historic Economic Prosperity Deal.

That is a deal will protect British businesses and save thousands of jobs in Britain, really important, skilled, well-paid jobs.

It will remove tariffs on British steel and aluminium, reducing them to zero.

It will provide vital assurances for our life sciences sector, so important to our economy and grant unprecedented market access for British farmers without compromising our high standards.

And for the great British cars that you make here, that we see all around us, this deal means that US tariffs will now be cut from 27.5% to 10% for 100,000 vehicles every year, that's a huge and important reduction.

And I know from when I was last here, how much that will have been weighing on your minds when you knew the size of the tariffs that would otherwise be in place.

To get that decrease was hugely important to me and I can tell you my teams were working really hard on this deal night and day for weeks. I was working with them.

And in politics what matters sometimes is who you have in your mind's eye when you are making these deals, who do you have in your mind's eye when you are taking decisions.

What I took away from here last time was you and the brilliant work that you do and had you in my mind's eye as we did that.

We have scope to increase that quota as we go forward, this is not fixed, this is where we have got to.

And all of these tariff cuts will come into place as soon as possible and that's really important in relation as well to the work that you are doing, and the brilliant cars that you make.

And as Adrian has said I was here with you just a few weeks ago and I promised you that I would deliver in the national interest.

And today I am really pleased to come back here, to be able to look you in the eye and say I have delivered on the promise I made to you.

And that's why as soon as I knew this deal was coming in today, I said I want to come back to JLR to talk to the workforce there, for whom this means so such.

Now of course we are the first country to secure such a deal with the United States.

In an era of global instability that is so important. The great challenge of our age is to secure and renew Britain.

And that is what we are going to do.

Acting in the national interest.

Shaping this new era - not being shaped by it.

If it's not good for Britain, we won't do it.

If it doesn't mean more money in people's pockets, we won't do it.

If it doesn't mean security and renewal in every part of the country - we won't do it.

But that doesn't mean we're turning inward.

Instead, we are sending a message to the world that Britain is open for business - seeking trade agreements with India on Tuesday, with the US today, and working to boost trade with other partners too - including of course the EU with who we have an important meeting just a week on Monday.

Making deals that will benefit working people.

You know - in recent years an idea has taken hold that you show strength by rejecting your allies.

That you shut the door, put the phone down, storm off. I've had plenty of people urging me to do that rather than stay in the room and fight for the interests of our country.

I want to be absolutely crystal clear - that is not how this Government operates. It is never how this Government operates. We don't storm off, we stay in the room, and we negotiate, and we work for our country with the national interest at the foremost of our mind.

Because the other way of working doesn't deliver the benefits that working people need.

And so I also want to be clear - this is just the start.

With the deal we have done today we can say: jobs saved. Jobs won. But not job done.

Because we are more ambitious for what the UK and US can do together.

So we are hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States across the board.

We have 1.5 trillion invested in each other's economies, creating 2.5 million jobs across both countries.

There are so many areas where I think we can even more than that and put more pounds in the pockets of working people across the United Kingdom.

As the two biggest services exporters in the world, we will work to bring down barriers, creating jobs in our thriving services sectors - in Leeds, in Manchester, London and Birmingham.

As the only two western nations with trillion-dollar tech sectors we will go further to deepen our partnership in new technologies to shape the innovations of this century together and create the jobs of the future.

Because, look - our history shows what we can achieve when we work together.

And what timing for this deal, that we have agreed this deal on VE Day.

80 years ago, today Churchill was addressing the nation at the end of the Second World War. Victory in Europe.

And we were standing the United Kingdom with the United States on defence and security. For 80 years we have been the closest of partners, and today we have added to that trade and the economy in the special relationship between us.

Defined by peace and economic prosperity.

So, it is fitting today that we renew the bond on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

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Defence and technological cooperation between Ukraine and the EU discussed by Prime Minister and EU Commissioner for Defence and Space

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 08 May 2025 18:32

On 8 May, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius to discuss defence and technological cooperation between Ukraine and the EU.

The Head of Government highlighted the importance of initial steps in implementing the ReArm Europe plan and the recently presented White Paper on the future of European defence.

"These strategic documents open new opportunities for strengthening cooperation with Ukraine in the security sector and integrating the defence industries of Ukraine and the EU," Denys Shmyhal emphasised.

The Prime Minister stressed Ukraine's interest in collaborating within the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative alongside European companies. He also expressed hope for the swift approval and launch of this project.

The meeting also covered Ukraine's military needs and the development of its defence-industrial complex.

Separately, the Prime Minister underscored the need to confiscate frozen russian assets to channel them towards strengthening Ukraine. The parties explored specific mechanisms to force russia to compensate for the damages inflicted on Ukraine.

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Prime Minister and Charge d'Affaires of the United States to Ukraine discussed strategic partnership development

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 08 May 2025 14:49

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held his first meeting with the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Ukraine Julie Davis. The parties discussed the further development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as cooperation in various fields, in particular in the economic sphere.

According to the Head of Government, in continuation of the arrangements with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, the parties coordinated the areas of joint work for the introduction of a free trade area between Ukraine and the United States.

"This will be a crucial step towards economic growth and prosperity of our countries and peoples," the Prime Minister stressed.

He also acknowledged the role of American business, which continues to operate in Ukraine, supporting the Ukrainian economy.

"We are interested in more U.S. companies investing in our country and participating in the reconstruction. And the agreement on the establishment of the Reconstruction Investment Fund will provide the necessary impetus for this," said Denys Shmyhal.

In addition, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of the contribution of the United States to the financial support of Ukraine.

The Head of Government thanked the American people, President Donald Trump, the Congress and the U.S. Administration for the assistance provided to us in the fight against russian aggression.

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Verkhovna Rada ratified the Agreement on the Establishment of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund

Ukraine Government

Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, posted 08 May 2025 14:50

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has ratified an Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America on the Establishment of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. The relevant decision was supported by 338 MPs at a session on 8 May.

"This document is not just a legal structure - it is a new model of our interaction with a key strategic partner. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set the objectives for this agreement - absolute equality of the parties and respect for the national interests of Ukraine, joint administration with the U.S., investment in Ukraine and the agreement's focus on future development. This is exactly what we have provided. There are no provisions on debt in the agreement, and there is a commitment to invest in Ukraine, as a free and sovereign country," said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

Ukraine and the United States signed an agreement to establish the Reconstruction Investment Fund on 30 April 2025.

Key guarantees for Ukraine:

- Compliance with the Constitution and the EU eurointegration course. The agreement is consistent with current legislation and Ukraine's international commitments.

- Control over resources. Subsoil, territorial waters and resources remain the property of Ukraine. Ukraine alone determines the conditions and places of extraction.

- Preservation of state ownership. State-owned companies remain in the possession of Ukraine. The agreement does not affect privatisation processes.

- Optimal legislative changes. Only limited changes to the Budget Code of Ukraine are required for the Fund to operate.

How the Fund will work:

- Future U.S. military assistance will increase the U.S. capital contribution to the Fund, providing an incentive for the United States to continue military assistance to Ukraine.

- Ukraine contributes 50% of future revenues from new royalties on new licences for new areas to the Fund. Revenues from existing projects or budgeted revenues are not included in the Fund.

- The Fund's resources are invested exclusively in Ukraine - in production projects or infrastructure rehabilitation.

- For the first 10 years, the profits are not distributed but are fully reinvested in the Ukrainian economy. After that, they can be distributed among the partners.

- The Fund is managed on a parity basis between Ukraine and the United States.

- The U.S. will help attract additional investment and technology to the Ukrainian economy. The Fund is funded by the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (DFC), which will help attract investment and technology from funds and companies in the U.S., the EU and other countries that support Ukraine's fight against the enemy.

- The agreement provides tax guarantees. The Fund's income and contributions are not taxed both in the U.S. and in Ukraine.

The adoption of the Law will allow to fulfil the domestic procedures necessary for the Agreement to enter into force and will be an important step in supporting the national economy in wartime and during the post-war reconstruction period.

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Ukraine received EUR 1 billion from the EU - the fourth tranche of Macro-Financial Assistance funded by russian assets

Ukraine Government

Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, posted 08 May 2025 13:41

Today, the State Budget of Ukraine received the fourth tranche of EUR 1 billion from the EU under the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine (ERA) initiative. The funds will be used to cover budgetary needs.

The ERA initiative provides USD 50 billion in support to Ukraine, of which the EU's contribution amounts to EUR 18.1 billion (about USD 20 billion).

In total, under the ERA initiative, EUR 6 billion has already been disbursed by the European Union. Additional tranches from the EU are expected to be received in installments by the end of the year. It will help ensure Ukraine's budgetary needs in 2025-2026.

"I am grateful to our EU partners for their consistent and predictable support, which helps maintain Ukraine's financial resilience. The funds raised will enable us to finance priority state budget expenditures. This mechanism ensures that russia begins to pay for the damage it has inflicted on Ukraine," said Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko.

According to official EU data, frozen assets of the russian central bank in the EU amount to EUR 210 billion and represent the majority of such immobilized assets worldwide.

To date, under the G7 ERA initiative, Ukraine has received around USD 14.7 billion from its partners.

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Update 290 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

International Atomic Energy Agency

35/2025

Vienna, Austria

8 May 2025

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has once again lost the connection to its only remaining back-up power line, underlining the continued fragility of the electrical grid during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

The latest disconnection of the 330 kilovolt (kV) power line - which occurred just before noon local time on Wednesday - left the plant entirely dependent on its last functional 750 kV power line for the electricity it needs to cool its reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, the disconnection occurred as a result of military activities.

"A secure supply of off-site power from the grid for all nuclear sites is one of the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security that we outlined early in the war. It is obvious that this supply is far from being secure. The vulnerability of the grid remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant as well as elsewhere in Ukraine," Director General Grossi said.

Before the conflict, the ZNPP had access to a total of ten external power lines, both 750 and 330 kV. The site has lost all off-site power eight times during the conflict.

The IAEA team based at the ZNPP continued to hear explosions at distances far away from the site on several days over the past week.

The team has continued to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security at the plant, in recent days conducting a site walkdown, confirming the water levels in the sprinkler ponds, and observing the testing of an emergency diesel generator. The team also visited the nuclear safety related electrical breakers and instrumentation, and control cabinets of units 3 and 4.

Director General Grossi said he was in daily contact with both sides to organize the next rotation of IAEA experts at the ZNPP. The current team, ISAMZ27, has been at the plant for more than two months now. The previous rotation, conducted in early March, was also delayed because of difficult conditions on the ground.

"The IAEA's continuous presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, since September 2022, has been of vital importance for our efforts to help prevent a nuclear accident during the war. However, getting our staff to and from the site - located on the frontline - has become more complicated in recent months. In the coming days, I will continue to engage intensively with both sides to find a solution, which is urgently needed. My overarching priorities are the safety of my staff and the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant," Director General Grossi said.

At the Chornobyl site, investigations to determine the extent of damage sustained by the New Safe Confinement (NSC) arch are ongoing following the drone attack in mid-February.

It took several weeks to completely extinguish the fires caused by the strike. The emergency work resulted in approximately 330 openings in the outer cladding of the NSC arch, each with an average size of 30-50 cm.

According to information provided to the IAEA team at the site, a preliminary assessment of the physical integrity of the large arch-shaped building identified extensive damage, for example to the stainless-steel panels of the outer cladding, insulation materials as well as to a large part of the membrane - located between the layers of insulation materials - that keep out water, moisture and air.

In addition, the IAEA team was informed that the NSC's main crane system (MCS), which includes the crane north maintenance garage area, was damaged by the drone strike and is currently not operational. The MCS is one of the building's main systems. The crane maintenance garage area houses several electrical cabinets for various systems, most of which were affected by the drone incident and by the water used to put out the resulting fires.

The NSC's other systems - providing relevant safety functions such as radiation monitoring, seismic monitoring, decontamination and radioactive waste management, power supply, and fire protection - remain functional, the IAEA team was informed.

While the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems remain functional, they are not in service after the drone incident, the Chornobyl site added.

"We are gradually getting a more complete picture of the severe damage caused by the drone strike. It will take both considerable time and money to repair all of it," Director General Grossi said.

On a more re-assuring note, there still has been no increase in radiation levels measured at the Chornobyl site, indicating there was no release of radioactive materials as a result of the strike.

At Ukraine's three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) - Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine - five out of their total of nine units are currently operating and generating electricity. The four other reactors are in various stages of shutdown for planned maintenance and refueling, of which two are expected to restart soon.

The IAEA teams based at the three operating NPPs and the Chornobyl site have continued to report about air raid alarms on most days over the past week. The team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP had to shelter on the site in the morning of 30 April.

As part of the IAEA's assistance programme to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, the Khmelnytskyy NPP and Energoatom's Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility received radio-communication systems, procured with funding from the European Union. In addition, USIE Izotop - a Ukrainian state enterprise involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes - received software for dose assessments and related calculations, funded by New Zealand. This brings the total number of deliveries to 135 since the start of the conflict.

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Budrys in Warsaw: Ukraine's future is Europe's future

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-05-08

On 7-8 May in Warsaw, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kestutis Budrys, attends the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich). The main topics of the meeting include support for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, ensuring Russia's accountability, European security, EU enlargement, and transatlantic relations.

Before the meeting, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy told journalists that his message is very simple - Ukraine's future is Europe's future.

"And it's not only symbolism. The connection between Europe and Ukraine is direct. If there is no just peace, there will be no justice in Europe. Our borders will be redrawn, aggression will be repeated, while an aggressor will get what he wanted all along - more territories, more political power, and the sphere of influence," said Budrys.

The Minister stressed that if there was no lasting peace in Ukraine, it meant that Europe had to prepare that war would come even close to our borders.

According to the Minister, Europe needs to continue the current work, but to do so faster by tightening sanctions and making the decisions to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs.

Budrys also highlighted the need to work together with our American allies and make transatlantic bond stronger.

The Minister's entire statement: https://newsroom.consilium.europa.eu/events/20250507-informal-meeting-of-foreign-affairs-ministers-gymnich-may-2025/148728-arrival-and-doorstep-lt-budrys-20250507

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Budrys: Ukraine's EU membership will be a major geopolitical achievement

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-05-08

On 8 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kestutis Budrys, met with the EU's Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos on the margins of an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Warsaw.

At the meeting, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed the need to ensure a uniform and objective application of the results-based principle for all EU membership candidates. According to the Minister, bilateral disputes should not disrupt the EU's enlargement agenda, while individual EU countries should be restricted in their ability to unreasonably manipulate the accession process.

"Ukraine's EU membership is as important for Europe itself as it is for Ukraine. This will be the strongest security guarantee provided by the EU to Ukraine and a major geopolitical achievement for Europe. Ukraine's membership before 2030 should be our common goal. Ukraine, despite the brutal Russian aggression, is doing its homework - implementing the European Commission's recommendations and reforms. We within the EU must also do our homework and muster all the necessary political will," the Minister said.

The Minister emphasized that it was unacceptable for Lithuania that even the opening of the very first negotiation cluster with Ukraine is still being artificially stalled. According to Budrys, Ukraine's European integration process must be faster, and at least three negotiation clusters must be opened by the end of June.

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Address by NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska at the Kyiv Security Forum

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

06 May. 2025

Last updated: 08 May. 2025 11:10

(As delivered)

Dear friends,

It is a privilege to share with you today NATO's message of solidarity and support for Ukraine.

I have seen the face of courage.

It is the face of the Ukrainian veterans I have met.

They embody the unbreakable spirit of a proud nation.

When the Russian onslaught began, these brave soldiers did not falter. And Ukraine did not fall.

The men and women of this country have served with bravery, strength and determination.

It is important to remember their service and their sacrifice.

It is also important to remember the resilience of the civilian population.

They continue to suffer as a result of Russia's war of aggression.

Terror from the skies targets civilians.

Destroying homes, schools, hospitals, and energy infrastructure.

We will not forget the deadly missile attack on Kyiv last month.

We will not forget the strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday.

And we will not forget the hundreds of thousands killed or wounded throughout Russia's brutal war.

Ukraine's people have endured so much.

They deserve real peace.

Real safety.

And real security.

At this critical moment, there should be no doubt.

NATO stands with Ukraine.

We stood with you from the beginning.

We stand with you today.

And we will stand with you throughout the challenges ahead.

NATO Allies and partners have provided unprecedented military support to Ukraine, including critical air defences.

As well as essential financial and humanitarian aid.

NATO will continue to help Ukraine, so it can defend itself today, and deter any future aggression.

Our commitment is clear and concrete.

I have been to NATO's command in Germany and have seen how it is leading the coordination of security assistance and training for Ukraine.

I was there when the first ever joint NATO-Ukraine organisation opened its doors in Poland.

The Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre will help us all learn the lessons from the war.

NATO Allies are continuing to step up for Ukraine.

In the first three months of 2025, they have already pledged more than 20 billion euros in security assistance for Ukraine.

Many Allies - including through the efforts led by France and the United Kingdom - have shown they are ready, willing and able to take more responsibility and to help secure peace, when the time comes.

Eighty years ago today, the Second World War ended in Europe.

This VE Day, let us not only honour the sacrifices of the past, but also the courage and endurance of all Ukrainians facing war today.

They deserve, once again, to live in peace, one that is just and lasting.

Thank you.



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Trump Calls For 30-Day Cease-Fire After Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Breaking Its Own Truce

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time May 08, 2025

US President Donald Trump called for a 30-day unconditional cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine and threatened more sanctions imposed by the United States and its partners if the cease-fire is not respected.

"Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire," Trump said on May 8 on Truth Social shortly after speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone.

Trump said that "both countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity" of the talks to halt the conflict. The US president said he wanted any ceasefire to then build to a "lasting peace."

"It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment's notice if my services are needed," Trump said.

Trump made the statement after Ukraine's top diplomat dismissed a Russian-declared cease-fire as a "farce," accusing Moscow's forces of committing hundreds of violations along the entire front line on the first day of the 72-hour truce.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's parliament ratified an agreement giving the United States privileged access to the country's mineral wealth, cementing a deal Trump has cast as an important element of his efforts to broker an end to Russia's war against its neighbor.

Zelenskyy welcomed the parliament's ratification of the Economic Partnership Agreement, calling it "a truly historic document that opens up many new opportunities for cooperation."

He said he spoke with Trump by phone and discussed "the need for continued efforts to achieve peace, including concrete steps that could be taken." Zelenskyy said on X that Trump "confirmed that he wants this war to end, is ready to help, and supports the need for a ceasefire. We agreed on our further contacts."

But the accusations that Russia was violating its promise to hold its fire for three days unless attacked underscore the challenges facing the push for peace. US Vice President JD Vance said a day earlier that "the gulf is wide" between the positions of Moscow and Kyiv.

Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities were quiet after the cease-fire came into effect at midnight, with no reports of long-range drone or missile attacks after successive nights of bombardment.

But the situation at the front, which runs about 1,200 kilometers from the Russian border in the east to the Black Sea in the south, was a different story, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote in a post on X.

"According to our military data...Russian forces continue to attack across the entire frontline. From midnight to midday, Russia committed 734 cease-fire violations and 63 assault operations, 23 of which are still ongoing," Sybiha wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last month that Russia would hold its fire from May 8 to May 10 -- a period coinciding with a May 9 military parade on Red Square and other celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II -- and urged Ukraine to do the same.

Sybiha wrote that there had been "586 attacks on our troops' positions, 464 of which used heavy weapons; 176 strikes by...drones; and 10 air strikes using 16 guided aerial bombs."

"Predictably, Putin's 'Parade ceasefire' proves to be a farce," he wrote.

The Ukrainian Air Force said earlier that Russian aircraft twice launched guided bombs targeting the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine in the early hours of May 8, and a soldier in the eastern Donetsk region said Russian forces had used drones and bombs in morning attacks.

The air force said the first bombs in the Sumy region were launched nearly three hours after the cease-fire came into force at midnight. The second round of bombs was launched within two hours, it said on Telegram. There was no word on damage.

A soldier with Ukraine's 115th Brigade, deployed at the front near Lyman in the Donetsk region, told Current Time that there was no shelling after midnight but that Russian forces targeted the Ukrainians with drones and bombs and that one soldier in his unit was wounded.

"This is what they call a cease-fire," the soldier said.

The Reuters news agency cited a Ukrainian military spokesman as saying that Russian troops had continued to conduct assaults in several areas on the eastern front, which runs through the Donetsk region.

Air Alert

The Ukrainian Air Force declared an air alert across the eastern part of the country on the morning of May 8, citing what it said was the threat of a Russian ballistic missile attack.

Russia also accused Ukraine of violating the cease-fire, which Kyiv had not committed to observe. Zelenskyy and other officials asserted that it was an effort to create the impression that Moscow wants to end the war and a bid to ensure there were no Ukrainian attacks during the Victory Day ceremonies, which brought several foreign leaders to Moscow.

Among them was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who met with Putin in the Kremlin on May 8.

Amid Western sanctions, China has helped keep Russia's economy going and fund its war against Ukraine, now in its fourth year since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion in February 2022, including by buying Russian oil and gas, and has not publicly criticized the Kremlin for the bloodshed.

Putin has used false claims that Ukraine's government is neo-Nazi as one of the justifications for the unprovoked invasion.

"Together with our Chinese friends, we firmly stand on guard of historical truth, protect the memory of events of the war years and counter modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism," Putin said in a public portion of the meeting with Xi.

Xi told Putin that Beijing stood alongside Russia in the face of "unilateralism and hegemonic bullying," a reference to the countries' anti-US stance. He said "China will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of major world powers."

Xi called Putin his "old friend" and Putin called Xi his "dear friend."

After their meeting in Moscow on May 8, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a statement to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between their two countries.

The statement also said Moscow and Beijing would continue to strengthen their military collaboration and would "actively increase the coordination of their approaches and deepen practical cooperation."

Other guests in Moscow include Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has openly challenged the European Union's support for Ukraine, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who made the trip despite EU pressure that visiting Moscow could derail Serbia's ambitions to join the bloc.

Joint Investment

The minerals calls for the creation of a joint investment fund that is intended to help rebuild Ukraine once the fighting is over. Under the deal, Ukraine will contribute 50 percent of all revenues from the sale of new minerals, as well as oil and gas projects.

The Russian-declared cease-fire followed days of deadly Russian bombardments of Kyiv and other cities and three straight nights of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, creating jitters ahead of the Victory Day parade on Red Square, which Putin traditionally addresses from a grandstand with guests in attendance.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine stood by its offer to observe a 30-day cease-fire in the war, which began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"Our proposal for a halt to the strikes, for a cease-fire of at least 30 days, still stands -- we are not withdrawing this proposal, as it offers a real chance for diplomacy," he said in his nightly video address on May 7.

Russia has not responded to the 30-day cease-fire offer except for new strikes, he said.

"This clearly and obviously demonstrates to everyone who the source of the war is," he added.

Zelenskyy also appeared to acknowledge the numerous drone attacks that have been targeting Russian sites this week. The attacks forced the closure of airports in Moscow and the grounding of flights.

"And it is entirely fair that the Russian sky -- the sky of the aggressor -- is not calm either today," Zelenskyy said.

Both countries are under pressure from Trump to bring a swift end to the war, the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Putin has said he is committed to achieving peace, but Vance said the Russians"are asking too much" as the United States tries to bring the two sides to the table.

Vance also suggested that Ukraine should not be fixated on the idea of a 30-day cease-fire. He said "the gulf is wide" but he is "reasonably optimistic" about the chances of ending the war.

"The step we need to take right now is we need Russia and Ukraine to start talking to one another," said Vance. "We think it's probably impossible for us to mediate the whole process fully without at least some direct negotiations."

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia -war-ceasefire-world-war-two-anniversary-victory- day-putin-zelenskyy/33407971.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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EU Disburses Another $1.1Bln for Ukraine as Part of G7 Loan Secured by Russian Assets

Sputnik News

20250508

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Commission on Thursday disbursed the fourth tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine worth 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) as part of the G7 loan meant to be repaid with proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

"Today, the European Commission disbursed the fourth tranche of its exceptional macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, worth 1 billion," the Commission said.

This is part of the EU's 18.1 billion euro share of collective contributions within the G7's 45 billion euro package for Ukraine. It comes on top of the 6 billion euros disbursed by the EU across the first three tranches, the statement read.

"These loans are to be repaid with proceeds from immobilised Russian State assets in the EU," the Commission added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calls the freezing of assets "theft" and warns it's not just private funds, but state assets targeted.

Vladimir Putin earlier warned that "stealing other people's assets has never brought anyone good."

 Sputnik

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President Putin's transparently cynical pauses do not create the conditions for talks on a lasting peace: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland urges Russia to respond substantively to the Moscow Mechanism recommendations and prove they are serious about peace by agreeing to a full and unconditional ceasefire.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland

8 May 2025

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 8 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)



Thank you, Mister Chair. Minister Betsa, thank you for your address today. What an excellent expose of what is at stake. Thank you being here and for reminding us once again.

We welcome Ukraine's continued commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace, as you have reaffirmed in your statement.

President Zelenskyy has shown his commitment to peace by agreeing in principle to a full and unconditional ceasefire. By contrast, President Putin has not only refused to agree to that but has further stepped-up attacks on Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles. In April Russia intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities, killing at least 151 civilians. And just yesterday, as Russia spoke of yet another artificial ceasefire, Moscow launched a ballistic missile and drone attack on a residential area of Kyiv, killing at least 2 people and injury 8, including 4 children.

If President Putin were serious about peace, Russia would agree to a full and immediate ceasefire, as Ukraine has done. His 72-hour Victory Day proposal is another transparently cynical pause which does not create the necessary conditions for talks aimed at achieving a lasting peace. It cannot be taken seriously, particularly given Ukraine's experience of President Putin's so-called truce over Easter: the UK's Defence Intelligence found no indication that a ceasefire on the frontline was observed by Russia, despite President Putin's promises.

We will judge President Putin by his actions not his words, and his actions suggest he has no interest in peace. To prove he is serious about peace he must agree to the full and unconditional ceasefire offered by Ukraine and supported by the United States.

Mister Chair, earlier this week the Human Rights Centre Zmina organised a side event in the margins of the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on the issue of civil society resistance and losses during Russia's war against Ukraine. It placed a spotlight on the vital work of Ukraine's brave civil society members and the high price that too many of them have tragically paid for their work amid Russia's war.

Russia continues to arbitrarily detain thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including human rights defenders and journalists. This was established by a mission of independent experts who, a little over a year ago, reported to the Permanent Council following the invocation of the Moscow Mechanism.

The Mission found that detainees had been subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sexual violence and other forms of serious mistreatment. The Mission also recorded cases of extrajudicial killings of arbitrarily detained Ukrainian civilians.

The expert mission made a range of recommendations to the Russian Federation. A year later, these remain unanswered; just like those from the other four Moscow Mechanism reports. We urge the Russian Federation to respond substantively to all these recommendations and release, without delay, all Ukrainian civilians who continue to be held arbitrarily.

Thank you, Mister Chair.

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A Ceasefire, Lasting and Reliable, Will Be a Real Indicator of Movement Toward Peace; America Can Help with This - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

8 May 2025 - 23:42

I've just spoken with President Trump. It was a good conversation - very warm and constructive. We congratulated each other and our nations on Victory Day in World War II: 80 years since the victory over Nazism - the victory in Europe, achieved together by all the nations that defeated Nazism. It is very important that this shared victory and the joint efforts of the Allies became the foundation for peace and international law - for a normal life for many nations.

Now, this life must be protected and restored - rebuilt from the ruins after Russian strikes. Just as before, we must work together to bring peace. We spoke with the President about joint actions: the support of the United States that is so urgently needed, and pressure on Russia - pressure for the sake of peace. We discussed the situation on the front lines. We discussed diplomatic efforts. We talked about how to bring closer a real and lasting ceasefire - for at least 30 days. That could open up many opportunities for diplomacy.

Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire starting right now, from this very moment - a 30-day silence. But it must be real. No missile or drone strikes, no hundreds of assaults on the front. The Russians must respond appropriately - by supporting the ceasefire. They must prove their willingness - willingness to end the war. This isn't the first time, we are offering this once again. Thirty days that could become the beginning of years of peace. A ceasefire, lasting and reliable, will be a real indicator of movement toward peace. America can help with this. The world needs America now just as it did eighty years ago.

Of course, we spoke today about our agreement - the Economic Partnership Agreement with America. We emphasized how important it is for our relations to strengthen both of our countries for decades to come. And they will. I instructed the team to work quickly on establishing a joint Ukraine-United States Investment Fund - a fund for investing in our recovery. We also agreed with President Trump on our further contacts.

Overall, today was a very active day.

I spoke with Germany's new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz - we agreed to cooperate. There are already concrete steps we can take together. Decisions will follow. I also spoke today with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to discuss our steps: accession to the European Union, our negotiations, our defense support, the assistance provided to our country and to our resilience. We must continue to defend Ukraine and our entire Europe together. That is exactly what we are doing.

I thank everyone who is helping! I thank all those who are defending our national interests and our independence!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy Holds a Phone Conversation with Friedrich Merz

President of Ukraine

8 May 2025 - 19:48

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz.

The Head of State congratulated Friedrich Merz on his election to office and wished him success. The President emphasized that Ukraine counts on Germany to continue playing a key role in supporting our country, protecting Ukrainians now, and contributing to post-war recovery.

The leaders discussed the potential for Ukrainian-German cooperation across various areas and agreed that their teams would work on implementing concrete proposals.

Special attention was given to prospects for cooperation. The Chancellor assured that Germany will continue to support Ukraine.

The parties also discussed specific diplomatic steps aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Friedrich Merz agreed to work together and coordinated a schedule of upcoming contacts.

The Head of State thanked Germany for its support in protecting the lives of Ukrainians and upholding international law.

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Further Cooperation Between Ukraine and Eurojust: Meeting at the Office of the President with the Head of the EU Agency

President of Ukraine

8 May 2025 - 19:33

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleh Tatarov held a meeting with Michael Schmid, President of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).

The meeting was also attended by Acting Prosecutor General Oleksiy Khomenko, Head of the Department for International Cooperation of the Prosecutor General's Office Zurab Adeishvili, Advisor to the President of Eurojust Marlene van der Klaauw, and Eurojust Liaison Prosecutor for Ukraine Myroslava Krasnoborova.

Oleh Tatarov thanked Eurojust for its effective partnership with Ukraine and its support of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA). He also emphasized the organization's key role in coordinating the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Ukraine.

"We are talking about the investigation of war crimes. This is a very sensitive and important issue for our country in holding the Russian Federation accountable for crimes committed as a result of its aggression against Ukraine and in achieving full justice. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and the Prosecutor General's Office are working efficiently with Eurojust in this area - sharing information, building the evidence base, identifying individuals responsible for war crimes committed on Ukrainian territory, and more. We are grateful to you and your institution for your ongoing support," said the Deputy Head of the President's Office.

Oleh Tatarov also stated that the establishment of a special tribunal, which Ukraine is working on together with its partners, will help ensure accountability for war crimes.

The discussion also covered concrete steps to prevent Russia from using dual-use goods in the production of missiles and UAVs.

Additionally, the meeting addressed ways to improve existing mechanisms for prosecuting individuals for economic, corruption-related, and other crimes committed in Ukraine.

Michael Schmid reaffirmed Eurojust's willingness to continue dialogue with law enforcement and the Prosecutor General's Office on combating international criminals, including cybercriminals. He also highlighted the work of the international conference "United for Justice. United for Survivors," the opening of which he attended.

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Justice Is the Foundation of Peace, Not an Abstract Concept - Iryna Mudra at the United for Justice. United for Survivors Conference

President of Ukraine

8 May 2025 - 12:05

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Iryna Mudra took part in the eighth conference of the international initiative United for Justice. United for Survivors, dedicated to the protection of the rights of victims of war crimes.

Iryna Mudra emphasized the need to ensure legal accountability for the crime of aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine, as well as to establish mechanisms that would guarantee justice and a lasting peace.

"This war is not only about territories or NATO, but also about the attempt to reshape the world order and undermine the international rules-based system," she stated.

The Deputy Head of the Presidential Office noted that the preparatory stage for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression is nearing completion. This week, a ministerial meeting of the Core Group countries will be held in Lviv, and on May 14, Ukraine will officially submit the documents to the Council of Europe to initiate the process of creating the Tribunal.

Iryna Mudra particularly underscored the importance of the International Compensation Mechanism and the functioning of the Register of Damage. She also called for the swift transfer of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.

"The transfer of these assets is not only an act of justice. It is a contribution to the victory of democracy, the stability of Europe, and the strengthening of international law," the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office stated.

In addition, Iryna Mudra held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, David van Weel, and the President of Eurojust, Michael Schmid.

In her conversation with David van Weel, they discussed the next steps in launching the Special Tribunal and the International Compensation Mechanism. The Deputy Head of the Office of the President also expressed gratitude to the people and Government of the Netherlands for their significant contribution to building a just and lasting peace.

The meeting with Michael Schmid, President of Eurojust, addressed deepening cooperation between Ukraine and Eurojust in gathering evidence of international crimes, coordinating international investigations, supporting the establishment of the Special Tribunal, and engaging with the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

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Andriy Yermak Holds a Series of Online Meetings With Representatives of the United States and European Partners on the Ceasefire

President of Ukraine

8 May 2025 - 08:51

Yesterday, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, held online meetings with U.S. Special Presidential Envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, as well as with Diplomatic Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell, and Foreign Policy and Security Adviser to the Federal Chancellor of Germany Gunter Sautter.

Conversations were also held with diplomatic representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries, the European Council, and the European Commission.

The talks involved Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva, and Advisors to the Head of the Office of the President Dariia Zarivna and Oleksandr Bevz.

The main topic of discussion was the implementation of an unconditional and full ceasefire for 30 days, which Ukraine accepted upon the proposal of the United States during the March meeting in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

Andriy Yermak emphasized that a full and unconditional ceasefire should be the first stage and a precondition for negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin's proposal for a three-day truce is aimed solely at ensuring the security of the Moscow parade, not at achieving peace.

The parties also discussed possible means of exerting pressure on Russia in case it refuses to accept the ceasefire proposal or violates the complete silence agreement.

"A 30-day ceasefire would open the way for substantive negotiations toward achieving a just and lasting peace. If Moscow agrees to this proposal, we are ready for dialogue with the participation and support of the United States and European partners. However, if the Kremlin once again chooses escalation over peace, the collective response of our partners must be decisive. Therefore, Ukraine welcomes the draft bill, prepared by members of Congress led by Lindsey Graham, on imposing secondary sanctions on Russia," Andriy Yermak noted.

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Vancouver, May 9, 2025 - Standard Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: STND) (OTCQB: STTDF) (FSE: 9SU0) ("Standard Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive property option agreement (the "Option Agreement"), dated May 8, 2025, with Vital Battery Metals Inc. (CSE: VBAM) (OTCQB: VBAMF) (FSE: C0O) (the "Optionee"), an arms-length party. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Optionee has been granted the option (the "Option") to acquire a seventy-five percent interest in the 12,265-hectare Corvo Project ("Corvo" or the "Project") located in the eastern Athabasca Basin region (Figure 1).

Corvo Highlights:

More than 29 km of exploration strike length along three strong NE-SW magnetic low trends coincident with EM conductors and cross-cutting faults, providing highly prospective shallow drill targets.

Uranium mineralization is present along a strike length of 800 metres between historical drill holes TL-79-3 (0.057% U 3 O 8 over 3.5 m) and TL-79-5 (0.065% U 3 O 8 over 0.1 m) on the Project, in addition to the Manhattan Showing with historical results of 59,800 ppm U at surface 1 .

O over 3.5 m) and TL-79-5 (0.065% U O over 0.1 m) on the Project, in addition to the Manhattan Showing with historical results of 59,800 ppm U at surface . High-resolution geophysical survey - A modern time domain electromagnetic ("TDEM") survey was recently completed, upgrading drill targets through definition of the three main conductor trends.

Jon Bey, CEO & Chairman of the Company stated, "We are happy to welcome the Vital Battery Metals team to the Athabasca Basin. We look forward to getting started on extensive work programs on the project together, driving meaningful exploration towards uranium discovery in the eastern Basin."

The Company believes the Project is highly prospective for the discovery of shallow, high-grade basement-hosted uranium mineralization akin to the Rabbit Lake deposit and the recently discovered Gemini Mineralized Zone. Located just outside the current margin of the Athabasca Basin, Corvo boasts shallow drill targets with bedrock under minimal cover of glacial till. Several outcrop showings of mineralized veins and fractures are present on the Project, notably the Manhattan Showing that returned historical sample results up to 59,800 ppm U at surface and has never been drill tested.





Figure 1. Regional map of Standard Uranium's Corvo Project. The Project is located 45 km northeast of Atha Energy's Gemini Mineralized Zone ("GMZ") and 60 km due east of Cameco's McArthur River mine.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The Option is exercisable by the Optionee completing cash payments and share issuances ("Consideration Shares"), and incurring the following exploration expenditures on the Project:



Consideration

Payments Consideration

Shares Exploration

Expenditures Operator

Fees Year 1 $50,000 $125,000 $750,000 $75,000 Year 2 $75,000 $275,000 $1,750,000 $192,500 Year 3 $100,000 $325,000 $2,000,000 $240,000 Total: $225,000 $725,000 $4,500,000 $507,500

The Consideration Shares issuable in the first year will issued at a deemed price of $0.13 per Consideration Share and will be subject to resale restrictions from which one-quarter of the Consideration Shares will be released every six months for a twenty-four-month period. The remaining Consideration Shares will be issuable at a deemed price equivalent to the volume-weighted average closing price of the common shares of the Optionee on the Canadian Securities Exchange in the thirty trading days immediately prior to issuance. Consideration Shares issuable in the second year will be subject to resale restrictions from which one-third will be released every six months for an eighteen-month period. Consideration Shares issuable in the third year will be subject to resale restrictions from which one-half will be released every six months for a twelve-month period.

Following exercise of the Option, the parties intend to form a joint venture for the further development of the Project. Prior to exercise of the Option, the Company will act as the operator of the Project and will be entitled to charge a 10% fee on expenditures in Year 1, increasing to 11% in Year 2, and 12% in Year 3. Following exercise of the Option, Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. will retain a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty on the Project, of which 1.0% may be purchased back at any time for a one-time cash payment of $1,000,0002.

The Company is at arms-length from the Optionee, and no finders' fee are payable by the Company in connection with the Option.

*The Company considers uranium mineralization with concentrations greater than 1.0 wt% U 3 O 8 to be "high-grade".

**The Company considers radioactivity readings greater than 300 counts per second (cps) to be "anomalous".

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Sean Hillacre, P.Geo., President and VP Exploration of the Company and a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101.

Historical data disclosed in this news release relating to sampling results from previous operators are historical in nature. Neither the Company nor a qualified person has yet verified this data and therefore investors should not place undue reliance on such data. The Company's future exploration work may include verification of the data. The Company considers historical results to be relevant as an exploration guide and to assess the mineralization as well as economic potential of exploration projects. Any historical grab samples disclosed are selected samples and may not represent true underlying mineralization.

References

1 SMDI# 2052: https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/2052; Mineral Assessment Reports: MAW00047: Eagle Plains Resources Inc., 2011-2012 & 64E13-0054: Norbaska Mines Ltd., 1979-1980.

2 Standard Uranium Announces Agreement to Expand Newly Staked Corvo Project in the Eastern Athabasca Basin News Release, August 24, 2023. https://standarduranium.ca/news-releases/standard-uranium-announces-agreement-to-expand-newly-staked-corvo-project-in-the-eastern-athabasca-basin/.

About Standard Uranium (TSXV: STND)

We find the fuel to power a clean energy future

Standard Uranium is a uranium exploration company and emerging project generator poised for discovery in the world's richest uranium district. The Company holds interest in over 233,455 acres (94,476 hectares) in the world-class Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. Since its establishment, Standard Uranium has focused on the identification, acquisition, and exploration of Athabasca-style uranium targets with a view to discovery and future development.

Standard Uranium's Davidson River Project, in the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, comprises ten mineral claims over 30,737 hectares. Davidson River is highly prospective for basement-hosted uranium deposits due to its location along trend from recent high-grade uranium discoveries. However, owing to the large project size with multiple targets, it remains broadly under-tested by drilling. Recent intersections of wide, structurally deformed and strongly altered shear zones provide significant confidence in the exploration model and future success is expected.

Standard Uranium's eastern Athabasca projects comprise over 42,384 hectares of prospective land holdings. The eastern basin projects are highly prospective for unconformity related and/or basement hosted uranium deposits based on historical uranium occurrences, recently identified geophysical anomalies, and location along trend from several high-grade uranium discoveries.

Standard Uranium's Sun Dog project, in the northwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of nine mineral claims over 19,603 hectares. The Sun Dog project is highly prospective for basement and unconformity hosted uranium deposits yet remains largely untested by sufficient drilling despite its location proximal to uranium discoveries in the area.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations; timing of the Company's exploration programs; and estimates of market conditions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. 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. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are highlighted in the "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024.

Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation: that the transaction with the Optionee will proceed as planned; the future price of uranium; anticipated costs and the Company's ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; future sales of the Company's securities; the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the success of exploration, development and operations activities; the timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral resources on the Company's mineral properties; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251409
Vancouver, May 9, 2025 - Onyx Gold Corp. (TSXV: ONYX) (OTCQX: ONXGF) ("Onyx Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce plans for a 10,000-meter Spring Drill Program (the "Program") at its Timmins, Ontario properties. The primary focus of the program is to follow-up on the recently reported Argus North discovery ("Argus North"), at the Company's 100% owned Munro-Croesus Project ("Munro-Croesus") located 75 km east of Timmins, Ontario (Figure 1). To date, this new zone of wide high-grade mineralization has been tested by a single drill hole, MC24-163, which intersected 3.4 g/t Au over 69.6 m, including a high-grade subzone of 13.9 g/t Au over 9.5 m (see news release dated April 10, 2025).

"The initial results from Argus North point to a potentially significant new zone of high-grade gold mineralization in a proven district," said Brock Colterjohn, President & CEO. "Mineralization at Argus North is open in all directions and our upcoming drill program is designed to rapidly evaluate and expand upon this discovery. A drill rig has just been delivered to site and we are excited to be kicking off the follow-up drill program. Upon close of the recently announced and upsized $11 million financing, the Company will have considerable flexibility to expand the size of the drill program to follow-up on further success with the drill bit."

Discussion of Planned 10,000-meter Spring Drill Program

Immediate follow-up plans include an initial Phase 1 program of step-out drilling to extend the Argus North mineralization up-dip to surface, down-dip to depth and along strike to both the east and west. Plans include re-entering and extending drill hole MC23-163 to assess the full breadth of the Argus North mineralizing system and drill holes MC23-140 and MC24-164, both of which stopped short of the down-dip projection of the Argus North Zone.

Phase 1 follow-up drilling is designed on nominal 50-meter spaced step-outs with the objective of expanding the new discovery while concurrently gaining a better understanding on the zone's orientation, shape and geological controls. Drilling will start on the same cross-section as discovery drillhole MC24-163, followed by fences of similarly spaced holes on cross-sections 50 meters to the east and west. Phase 2 follow-up will include larger step-outs along strike and to depth (Figures 2 and 3).

At a larger scale, historical and recent trenching and sampling within the same key prospective mafic variolitic volcanic units and along the Pipestone Fault to both the west and east of Argus North and Argus Main suggests multi-kilometer scale potential along trend completely untested by any drilling to date. A portion of the planned Program meterage is designed to target this larger scale potential, including first ever drilling in the Argus West area.

In addition to the drilling at Munro Croesus, approximately 1,500 metres of the 10,000-meter Program is committed to reconnaissance drilling at the 140 km2 Golden Mile property, targeting a key northern splay of the Pipestone Fault approximately 50km to the west. This drilling will be completed with a separate drill rig to the one that is dedicated to Argus North drilling at Munro Croesus. Golden Mile is located 9 km northeast of Discovery Silver's multi-million-ounce Hoyle Pond deposit in Timmins.

Description of the Argus Main Zone and Argus North Discovery

The Argus Main Zone ("Argus Main") is located 3 km northwest of the past-producing Croesus Gold Mine and represents a near-surface bulk tonnage target with 0.1 to >2.0 g/t Au over a 750 m x 200 m area. Argus Main is hosted by silica-albite-pyrite-specularite-altered mafic variolitic volcanic rocks situated immediately north of the Pipestone Fault, a major structural corridor known to host significant gold deposits, including Mayfair Gold's 4.4-million-ounce Fenn-Gib deposit 1, located just 6 km away.

Drilling at Argus Main in 2024 returned a highlight of 1.0 g/t Au over 63.0 m in drill hole MC24-166, including 2.2 g/t Au over 17.4 m (see Company news release dated June 17, 2024). Overall drill results to date have shown improving gold grade and mineralized widths as the east-west trending Argus Main Zone is tracked westward.

Argus North is located approximately 100 m north of the Argus Main trend and approximately 150 to 200 m vertically below surface. This zone has only been intersected by one drill hole to date with MC24-163 encountering a 70 m interval of high-grade mineralization within strongly albite- and silica-altered mafic variolitic volcanics, hosting 3-10% fine pyrite stringers, with local visible gold. MC24-163 returned a very encouraging 3.4 g/t Au over 69.6 m, including 13.9 g/t Au over 9.5 m, with consistent gold values throughout, highlighting both the continuity and strength of the mineralization in this newly identified area. Argus North is interpreted to be near-vertical and sub-parallel to the east-west trending Argus Main. Argus North is open in all directions, including to surface.





Figure 1 - Onyx Gold Property Map, Timmins, Ontario

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/251419_5c657d36e471aa6d_001full.jpg





Figure 2 - Cross-Section Showing Location of Planned Drilling at Argus North Discovery

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/251419_5c657d36e471aa6d_002full.jpg





Figure 3 - Plan Map Showing Location of Planned Drilling at Argus North Discovery

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About the Timmins Area Gold Properties

Onyx Gold owns 100% of each of its three Timmins properties. The Munro-Croesus Gold Project is located approximately 75 km east of Timmins, proximal to the Porcupine-Destor and Pipestone Faults, and approximately 2 km northwest and along trend of Mayfair Gold Corp.'s multi-million-ounce Fenn-Gib gold deposit. Mining occurred intermittently at Munro-Croesus between 1915 and 1936. The Golden Mile 140 km2 property is located 9 km northeast of Newmont's multi-million-ounce Hoyle Pond deposit in Timmins. The Timmins South 187 km2 property is located to the south and southeast of Timmins and surrounds the Shaw dome structure.

About Onyx Gold

Onyx Gold is an exploration company focused on well-established Canadian mining jurisdictions, with assets in Timmins, Ontario, and Yukon Territory. The Company's extensive portfolio of quality gold projects in the greater Timmins gold camp includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, renowned for its high-grade mineralization, plus two additional earlier-stage large exploration properties, Golden Mile and Timmins South. Onyx Gold also controls four properties in the Selwyn Basin area of Yukon Territory, which is currently gaining significance due to recent discoveries in the area. Onyx Gold's experienced board and senior management team are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration.

On Behalf of Onyx Gold Corp.

"Brock Colterjohn"

President & CEO

1. Fenn-Gib Gold Project and Tower Gold Project mineral resources compiled from public sources and are provided for general information purposes. Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in adjacent properties and they are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties or any potential exploration thereof.

Additional Notes:

Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., Executive Vice President for Onyx Gold Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

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, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, 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 exploration and development of Munro-Croesus and the Argus North Zone; the potential mineralization, and the significance thereof, at Munro-Croesus and the Argus North Zone based on the drill program results, including the potential for additional mineral resources; statements regarding the Company's future drill programs, including the expected benefits and results thereof; the intention of the Company to make all payments towards the Option and to exercise the Option on the terms and conditions set out therein; the approval of the TSXV for the Option; the possibility of the Bonus Payment becoming payable; and other statements that are not historical facts.

These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainty and variation in the estimation of mineral resources; risks related to exploration, development, and operation activities; exploration and development of the Munro-Croesus and the Argus North Zone will not be undertaken as anticipated; the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions; the fluctuating price of gold; unknown liabilities in connection with acquisitions; compliance with extensive government regulation; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain governmental permits, or non-compliance with permits; environmental and other regulatory requirements; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business; global financial conditions; uninsured risks; climate change risks; competition from other companies and individuals; conflicts of interest; risks related to compliance with anti-corruption laws; intervention by non-governmental organizations; outside contractor risks; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance; the Company not receiving the necessary regulatory approvals in respect of the Option; changes in the Company's plan with respect to exercise of the Option and the Company's associated exploration plans; that the obligation to make the Bonus Payment may be triggered; and other risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's current anticipated costs; the Company's ability to fund its drill programs; the Company's ability to carry on exploration, development and mining activities; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; the timing and results of drilling programs; mineral resource estimates and the assumptions on which they are based; the discovery of mineral resources and mineral reserves on the Company's mineral properties; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the Company's ability to operate in a safe, efficient, and effective manner; the Company's ability to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms; that the Company's activities will be in accordance with the Company's public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change or disruptions affecting the Company or its properties; that the Company will have the ability to exercise the Option on the terms and conditions set out therein; that the TSXV will provide the necessary approvals in respect of the Option; that the Company will be able to comply with the terms of the Option, including the cash payments and issuance of shares; and that the Company will have sufficient capital to fulfill the Bonus Payment if triggered.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251419
Galiano Gold Inc. ("Galiano" or the "Company") (TSX:GAU) (NYSE American: GAU) advises its Annual General Meeting of shareholders ("AGM") will be held virtually on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 10:00 am PDT. Shareholders who intend to participate in the AGM should refer to the Company's management information circular (the "Proxy Circular") for details regarding how to participate.

The AGM is being held to: (i) receive the audited financial statements of the Company for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and the report of the auditor thereon; (ii) fix the number of directors to be elected at eight; (iii) elect directors of the Company for the ensuing year; (iv) appoint the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to fix the auditor's remuneration; and (v) authorize and approve a non-binding advisory resolution accepting the Company's approach to executive compensation.

The Company has nominated eight nominees for election as directors, being current directors Paul Wright, Judith Mosely, Dawn Moss, Greg Martin, Moira Smith, Navin Dyal, Lauren Roberts and Matt Badylak.

The Company has elected to use the notice-and-access provisions under National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and National Instrument 54-101 - Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer for the AGM. Materials for the AGM, including the Proxy Circular, have been filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and are also available on the Company's website at www.galianogold.com/investors/annual-meeting.

Any shareholder who wishes to receive a paper copy of the Proxy Circular should contact the Company at Suite 1640, 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3X1, by telephone: (604) 683-8193, by telephone toll-free: 1-855-246-7341, by fax: (604) 683-8194 or by email: info@galianogold.com. A shareholder may also use the toll-free number noted above to obtain additional information about the notice-and-access provisions.

Contact Information

Krista Muhr

Toll-Free (N. America): 1-855-246-7341

Telephone: 1-778-239-0446

Email: info@galianogold.com

About Galiano Gold Inc.

Galiano is focused on creating a sustainable business capable of value creation for all stakeholders through production, exploration and disciplined deployment of its financial resources. The Company operates and manages the Asanko Gold Mine, which is located in Ghana, West Africa. Galiano is committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and the health and safety of its employees and neighbouring communities. For more information, please visit www.galianogold.com.





SOURCE Galiano Gold Inc.


Smaller and simpler bismuth circuit with high metal recoveries align with new market demand

Fortune Minerals Ltd. (TSX: FT) (OTCQB: FTMDF) ("Fortune" or the "Company") (www.fortuneminerals.com) is pleased to report that metallurgical test work validation is essentially complete for the bismuth circuits for the Company's 100% owned NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper critical minerals project in Canada ("NICO Project"). The Process Design Criteria has been compiled and delivered to Worley Canada Services Ltd. ("Worley") to engineer the facilities and incorporate them into the Company's updated Feasibility Study. With 12% of global bismuth reserves, development of the NICO Project aligns with the increasing demand for bismuth in traditional and new market applications and the historic high prices (~US$ 27 per pound), compounded by China's recent export restrictions on this, and other critical minerals.

The vertically integrated NICO Project consists of a planned mine and concentrator in the Northwest Territories ("NWT") and a hydrometallurgical process facility in Lamont County, Alberta where concentrates from the mine, and other feed sources, will be processed to value-added products needed in diverse industries, the energy transition, new technologies, and defense. Development of the NICO Project will provide a reliable North American supply of cobalt sulphate, gold dore, bismuth ingots, and copper cement enhancing domestic production of three critical minerals. The 1.1 million ounces of in-situ gold in the NICO Project Mineral Reserves is also a highly liquid and countercyclical co-product to mitigate metal price volatility.

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Bismuth Process Highlights

- Improved bismuth leaching and cementation circuits with an expected reduction in capital and operating costs and higher metal recoveries

- Efficient and cost-effective regeneration of ferric chloride lixiviant used to leach bismuth prior to cementation to reduce reagent costs and safely dispose of excess process water

- Validation of high-quality 4N bismuth ingot production from smelting and refining bismuth cement

- Positive preliminary test results from blending Fortune bismuth concentrate and Rio Tinto bismuth oxychloride with no adverse impacts on product quality or metal recovery

- Historic high bismuth prices from increasing demand and restricted supply

Test Work Results

Fortune has completed the hydrometallurgical phase of its test work program for the NICO Project bismuth circuit at SGS Canada Ltd. ("SGS") in Lakefield, Ontario. The scope for this program was validation of the leaching, cementation and lixiviant regeneration unit operations, and compilation of the Process Design Criteria for detailed engineering. The results exceeded the Company's expectations, supporting a material reduction in the bismuth circuit size and the expected capital and operating costs at the planned Alberta hydrometallurgical facility.

Bismuth recovery in cement was ~98% after factoring in the ferric chloride leaching, washing and iron cementation efficiencies, compared with lower initial recovery targets. The bismuth cement produced averaged ~95% bismuth, rendering it suitable for smelting and subsequent refining to high-purity metal ingots. Ferric chloride leaching was optimized to a single-stage configuration, resulting in an ~65% volume reduction for the equipment. Cementation using iron powder was also optimized to a single stage configuration, resulting in an ~75% equipment volume reduction. The work also proved that the ferric chloride lixiviant used to leach the bismuth can be regenerated using chlorine with ~95% oxidation efficiency, consistent with well-established industrial processes. Therefore, the process streams can be recycled to save reagent costs while also allowing for safe disposal of the excess process water.

Exploratory testing of Rio Tinto bismuth oxychloride blended with Fortune bismuth concentrate at the estimated production ratio during operations produced a high quality bismuth cement with no adverse impacts on recoveries. Additional work is planned in collaboration with Rio Tinto aiming to maximize the blend-ratio and overall product output. The Rio Tinto feed is produced from waste streams at the Kennecott Smelter in Utah enhancing its goals for total orebody effectiveness and supporting domestic critical minerals production.

Fortune retained XPS Industry Relevant Solutions ("XPS") to conduct the bismuth smelting and refining test work for the pyrometallurgical circuits for the Alberta facility. Bismuth cement samples produced at SGS were submitted for pyrometallurgical testing to prove the production of 99.99% ("4N") bismuth ingots, the desired specification for many metal applications as well as for making bismuth oxide and other chemicals. A crude ingot was initially produced assaying 99.8% bismuth ("2N"), which was subsequently refined with liquation, sulphuration and chlorination steps to increase the purity and achieve the 99.99% bismuth ("4N") target grade. The pyrometallurgical investigation is nearing completion, pending the results of a second series of smelting and refining tests and receipt of the final report with the Process Design Criteria needed for the Feasibility Study.

Government Support

Fortune is working with the Canadian and U.S. governments to expand domestic critical minerals production and enhance North American supply chain resilience and security. The Company has been awarded ~C$17 million of non-dilutive contribution funding from the U.S. Department of Defense through its Defense Production Act Title III program, Natural Resources Canada's Global Partnerships Initiative and Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration programs, and Alberta Innovates Clean Resource Intake program. This financial support is helping Fortune advance the NICO Project to a project finance and construction decision (see news releases dated, May 16, 2024, and December 5, 2023). Specifically, the funds are supporting metallurgical test work to validate process improvements, update the Feasibility and Front-End Engineering and Design ("FEED") studies, and secure the remaining permits and authorizations needed to construct and operate the mine and concentrator in the NWT and hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta.

About Bismuth

The NICO Project contains four payable metals, including the largest known resource of bismuth in the world. Bismuth has unique physical and chemical properties that are essential for important industrial and technological uses, but the supply chains are vulnerable to disruption because China controls over ~90% of refined bismuth supply. Consequently, bismuth is identified on both the Canadian and U.S. government's Critical Minerals Lists. Notably, China recently imposed controls over the export of bismuth and other critical minerals resulting in shortages of supply and a precipitous increase in price.

Bismuth is widely used in the automotive industry for glass and steel coatings, paints and pigments and abrasives used in brake pads. It is also used in low melting temperature and dimensionally stable alloys and compounds, fire depressant sprinkler systems, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Bismuth consumption is increasing primarily as an environmentally safe and non-toxic replacement for lead in brass, solder, free machining steel and aluminum, glass, radiation shielding, ceramic glazes and ammunition. Bismuth-tin alloy is used to make environmentally safe plugs to properly seal decommissioned oil and gas wells, preventing greenhouse gas leakage, blowouts and groundwater migration that can contaminate aquifers. Bismuth is also used in high performance semiconductors and manganese-bismuth magnets that are resistant to demagnetization from heat and are a potential replacement for rare earth elements in electric motors, including electric vehicle powertrains. In the nuclear industry, bismuth coolants are used in some reactor designs and to make radiation shielding with unique gamma ray blocking properties. The dimensional stability of bismuth alloys is also used to align jet engine turbine blades and for lens blocking.

About the NICO Project

Fortune has expended approximately C$145 million to advance the NICO Project from an in-house mineral discovery to a near construction-ready development asset with environmental assessment approval and the major mine permits already secured in the NWT. NICO and the Company's nearby Sue-Dianne copper deposit are IOCG-type mineral deposits with multiple payable metals, reducing the Company's vulnerability to price volatility or market manipulation of any single metal. The Open Pit and Underground Mineral Reserves for the NICO deposit contain 33.1 million metric tonnes of ore containing 1.1 million ounces of gold, 82.3 million pounds of cobalt, 102.1 million pounds of bismuth and 27.2 million pounds of copper. Development of the NICO Project would provide a vertically integrated domestic supply of three critical minerals and gold with custody control of the metals from ore through to the production of value-added products to help diversify the supply chains from foreign entities of concern.

For more detailed information about the NICO Mineral Reserves and certain technical information in this news release, please refer to the Technical Report on the NICO Project, entitled "Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the NICO-Gold-Cobalt-Bismuth-Copper Project, Northwest Territories, Canada", dated April 2, 2014 and prepared by Micon International Limited which has been filed on SEDAR and is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been approved by Robin Goad, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortune and Alex Mezei, M.Sc., P.Eng. Fortune's Chief Metallurgist, who are "Qualified Persons" under National Instrument 43-101.

About Fortune Minerals

Fortune is a Canadian mining company focused on developing the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper project in the NWT and Alberta. Fortune also owns the Sue-Dianne copper-silver-gold satellite deposit located 25 km north of the NICO deposit and a potential future source of incremental mill feed to extend the life of the NICO concentrator.

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This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes statements with respect to, among other things, the construction of the proposed mine and concentrator in the NWT and the hydrometallurgical process facility in Alberta, the potential for expansion of the NICO Deposit and the Company's plans to develop the NICO Project. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as well as certain assumptions at the date the information is given (including, in respect of the forward-looking information contained in this press release, assumptions regarding: the successful completion of the Company's updated feasibility study, the Company's ability to secure the necessary financing to fund the working capital required for the government funded work, the Company's ability to complete construction of a NICO Project hydrometallurgical process facility; the Company's ability to arrange the necessary financing to continue operations and develop the NICO Project; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals for the construction and operation of the NICO Project and the related hydrometallurgical process facility and the timing thereof; growth in the demand for bismuth; the time required to construct the NICO Project; and the economic environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold, cobalt, bismuth and other by-product metals, anticipated costs and the volumes of metals to be produced at the NICO Project. However, such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. These factors include the risks that the Company may not be able to complete the metallurgical test work to validate process improvements, update the Feasibility and FEED studies and secure the remaining permits and authorizations needed to construct and operate the mine, concentrator in the NWT and hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta, the Company may not achieve the anticipated reductions in capital and operating costs for the bismuth circuit, the Company may not be able to finance and develop NICO on favourable terms or at all, uncertainties with respect to the receipt or timing of required permits, approvals and agreements for the development of the NICO Project, including the related hydrometallurgical process facility, the construction of the NICO Project may take longer than anticipated, the Company may not be able to secure offtake agreements for the metals to be produced at the NICO Project, the Sue-Dianne Property may not be developed to the point where it can provide mill feed to the NICO Project, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and in the mining industry in general, the market for products that use cobalt or bismuth may not grow to the extent anticipated, the future supply of cobalt and bismuth may not be as limited as anticipated, the risk of decreases in the market prices of cobalt, bismuth and other metals to be produced by the NICO Project, discrepancies between actual and estimated Mineral Resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries, uncertainties associated with estimating Mineral Resources and Reserves and the risk that even if such Mineral Resources prove accurate the risk that such Mineral Resources may not be converted into Mineral Reserves once economic conditions are applied, the Company's production of cobalt, bismuth and other metals may be less than anticipated and other operational and development risks, market risks and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250509583965/en/

Contact

For further information:

Fortune Minerals Limited

Troy Nazarewicz

Investor Relations Manager

info@fortuneminerals.com

Tel: (519) 858-8188

www.fortuneminerals.com
VANCOUVER, May 09, 2025 - Standard Lithium Ltd. ("Standard Lithium" or the "Company") (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced its financial and operating results for the three month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025.

"2025 will be a pivotal year for us, marked by several key milestones that will shape the future of Standard Lithium, our joint venture, and impact the industry as a whole," said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. "We started with a strong first quarter by finalizing our $225 million grant from the US Department of Energy, advancing our subsurface understanding through extensive reservoir testing, completing the derisking of our DLE technology with a final pilot field test at South West Arkansas, and continuing to expand our leasehold footprint in East Texas. Together with our South West Arkansas project's recent designation as a priority transparency critical mineral project by the Trump administration and the approval of our first brine production unit, these achievements reinforce our conviction that our projects in the Smackover will deliver significant value to our shareholders, the communities that we work in, and will help secure critical mineral production in the United States. While much remains to be done ahead of a final investment decision at SWA, as well as further advancing East Texas, we are energized by the momentum we have built and we are focused on our next project development milestones."

Highlights Subsequent to the Three Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025

All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Smackover Lithium's South West Arkansas Project receives special designation. Smackover Lithium announced that its South West Arkansas ("SWA") Project had been selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects to be advanced under Executive Order 14241 - Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, announced by the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council.

Approval of brine production unit for Phase I of the SWA Project. On April 24, Smackover Lithium announced the brine production unit, formally named the Reynolds Unit, for Phase I of it's SWA Project was unanimously approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission with no objections or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community. Approval of the unit was a necessary statutory requirement as Smackover Lithium seeks to establish a royalty rate for the unit by the end of the second quarter.

Submission of royalty application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for the SWA Project. On May 6, Smackover Lithium announced that SWA Lithium LLC had submitted a royalty application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to establish a lithium royalty for the Reynolds Unit for Phase I of its SWA Project.



Highlights From Three Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025

Finalized $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") for the South West Arkansas Project. The grant will support construction of Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The SWA Project is expected to be one of the world's first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") facilities.

Undertook extensive field and reservoir testing program at the SWA Project. Completed drilling of new well and multiple well re-entries into the Smackover Formation to conduct detailed reservoir testing and brine sampling work to further support front end engineering design and definitive feasibility studies.

Completed final test of field-pilot plant at the SWA Project. In partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, successfully operated a field-pilot plant at the SWA Project as the final DLE derisking step prior to commercialization. Lithium recovery far exceeded design criteria, with over 99% recovery from brine sourced from the project's International Paper Company well.

Launch of Smackover Lithium. On January 29, 2025, at a community townhall in Stamps, AR, the Company and Equinor announced Smackover Lithium as the new name for their joint venture developing DLE projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas.

Continued strategic additions to board of directors. The Company announced on March 19, 2025 the appointment of Karen G. Narwold, as an independent member of its board of directors.

Provided corporate update demonstrating continuous advancement and derisking of corporate objectives. Announcement made on March 26, 2025 provided highlights on certain developmental project milestones for the Smackover Lithium joint venture as well as updates on the Company's progress at its demonstration plant and on the Lanxess Projects.

Cash and working capital of $31.6 million and $31.3 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2025.

The Company has no term or revolving debt obligations as of March 31, 2025.

Consolidated Financial Statements

This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the three month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025, which are available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Three-Month Fiscal Period Ended March 31, 2025 Call and Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its three-month fiscal period ended March 31, 2025 on Friday, May 16th at 3:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Standard Lithium Fiscal Q1 2025 Earnings Call and Webcast

May 16, 2025 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Participant Information:

Conference ID: 6017900

USA / International Toll +1 (646) 307-1963

USA - Toll-Free (800) 715-9871

Canada - Toronto (647) 932-3411

Canada - Toll-Free (800) 715-9871

Attendee Webcast Link:

https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/929712112

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated DLE and purification process. The Company's flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol "SLI". Please visit the Company's website at www.standardlithium.com.

Investor and Media Inquiries

Chris Lang

Standard Lithium Ltd.

+1 604 409 8154

investors@standardlithium.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
VANCOUVER, May 09, 2025 - Orezone Gold Corp. (TSX: ORE, OTCQX: ORZCF) ("Orezone") regrets to report a fatality at the Stage I hard rock plant construction site at its Bombore Gold Mine which occurred on Thursday May 8th. This tragic incident involved an employee of a contractor who was fatally injured in a vehicle-related incident. No other persons were injured in the accident.

Orezone is working with the relevant authorities and contracting companies involved to fully investigate the incident.

Patrick Downey, President & CEO stated, "As a Company that prioritizes safety and the health of our employees above all else, we are completely devastated by this casualty. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and co-workers of our colleague as we offer our full support during this difficult time."

About Orezone Gold Corporation

Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring its flagship Bombore Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. The Bombore mine achieved commercial production on its oxide operations on December 1, 2022, and is now focused on its staged hard rock expansion that is expected to materially increase annual and life-of-mine gold production from the processing of hard rock mineral reserves. Orezone is led by an experienced team focused on social responsibility and sustainability with a proven track record in project construction and operations, financings, capital markets and M&A.

The technical report entitled Bombore Phase II Expansion, Definitive Feasibility Study is available on SEDAR+ and the Company's website.

Patrick Downey

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kevin MacKenzie

Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

Tel: 1 778 945 8977 / Toll Free: 1 888 673 0663

info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945 8977 or visit the Company's website at www.orezone.com.

The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this news release.
TORONTO, May 09, 2025 - Labrador Gold Corp. (TSX.V: LAB | OTCQB: NKOSF | FNR: 2N6) ("LabGold" or the "Company") announces the resignation of Kai Hoffmann as a director of the Company. Mr. Hoffmann has been an integral part of the Board of Directors since his appointment in 2019.

"On behalf of the members of the Board and management team of LabGold, I would like to thank Kai for his valued contributions and commitment to the success of the Company over the past six years," said Roger Moss, President and CEO. "We wish Kai all the best in his future endeavours."

About Labrador Gold

Labrador Gold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective gold projects in Eastern Canada. The Company has approximately $18.1 million in cash.

The Hopedale property covers much of the Archean-age Florence Lake greenstone belt that stretches over 60 km. The belt is typical of greenstone belts around the world but has been underexplored by comparison. Work to date by Labrador Gold show gold anomalies in rocks, soils and lake sediments over a 3 kilometre section of the northern portion of the Florence Lake greenstone belt. Five gold occurrences lie along this trend, four of which Thurber Boundary, Thurber North, TD500 and Thurber South were discovered by LabGold. Anomalous gold in soil and lake sediment samples also occur over approximately 40 km along the southern section of the greenstone belt. LabGold's recent exploration has also demonstrated the potential for the critical metals copper, nickel and cobalt in the belt.

The Borden Lake project near Chapleau, Ontario lies immediately southeast of Newmont Corporation's Borden gold mine currently being acquired by Discovery Silver Corp. LabGold's past exploration on the property identified two anomalous zones based on geochemistry, including up to 48 gold grains in till samples, and geophysics, one in the north extending over 1.3km northwest-southeast and another in the south extending over 1km north-south.

The Company has 170,009,979 common shares issued and outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LAB.

For more information please contact:

Roger Moss, President and CEO Tel: 416-704-8291

Or visit our website at: www.labradorgold.com

X @LabGoldCorp

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
North Vancouver, May 9, 2025 - Lion One Metals Ltd. (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") announces that Kevin Puil has stepped down from the Company's Board of Directors and announces the appointment of Mr. Casey Spreeuw to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") effective today.

Walter Berukoff, Chairman of Lion One's Board of Directors and President of the Company, commented "On behalf of the Board and the Company's management team we wish to thank Mr. Puil for his service and contributions to the Company since 2013. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and we welcome Casey Spreeuw to the Lion One Board."

Mr. Spreeuw is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 35 years' experience in business accounting and the securities industry. From 1989 to 2001 he was a Financial and Business Operations Compliance Examiner with the Vancouver Stock Exchange, becoming the Chief Examiner before transitioning to the Investment Dealers Association of Canada. From 2001 to 2006 he was based in Amsterdam as Manager of Accounting with Unsworth & Associates BV which provided corporate and directorship services to Canadian and international corporate clients. Returning to Canada he remained active in the securities industry as Chief Financial Officer of Sora Group Wealth Advisors Inc., Jordan Capital Markets Inc., GF Securities (Canada) Company, Limited, and most recently Vered Wealth Management (Canada) Company, Limited. He continues to work with the Red Lion Group of companies as its accountant.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in accounting from the University of British Columbia, a Diploma of Technology in Computer Systems from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and earned his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in 1989.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Walter Berukoff, Chairman & President

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251592
SAN ANTONIO (AP)  Clearing the way for the twice-delayed Texas primaries to finally land in May, a federal court on Tuesday handed the state new voting maps for the 2012 elections that satisfied Republicans who flexed their majority but soured Democrats who wanted more seats.The political repercussions rippled across the state almost instantly. Candidates dropped out of races, incumbents resigned themselves to difficult re-election bids, and GOP leaders renewed hope that Texas may have a say in deciding the Republican presidential nominee after all.A May 29 primary date is still not guaranteed. But barring any appeals by a coalition of minority rights groups that sued the state over the original Republican-drawn maps, the chances of the Texas primaries falling into June or later appeared to dim.Democrats expressed frustration, but there were no immediate vows that the maps would be challenged. The contentious Texas redistricting clash has dragged on since last summer, reaching all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in a political battle that has national ramifications because the state was awarded four new congressional seats based on the 2010 census.Who wins those seats could alter the balance of power in the U.S. House. Under the congressional map unveiled by the court Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans were poised to split the four new seats."The new interim maps issued late today are a substantial improvement from maps previously issued by the San Antonio court," Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott said. "As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous, clear direction to the district court, these new interim maps more accurately reflect the decisions of elected Texas legislators."Minorities made up 89 percent of the population growth in the state, and the Legislature's map would have led to only one new minority elected to Congress from Texas. Minority rights groups accused the Legislature of drawing maps that discriminated against them, and Democrats hardly cheered what the court delivered Tuesday."These maps may be slightly better than those passed by a radical Legislature, but they still grossly misrepresent the demographics of our state," the Texas Democratic Party said in a statement.The judges released the maps without an opinion but said one would be forthcoming. Trey Martinez Fischer, chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said the lack of an opinion for now made it difficult for his group to consider its next move."Make no mistake we believe that any map, even an interim plan, must acknowledge 3.7 million new minority Texans," Martinez Fischer said.The Republican Party of Texas celebrated the fact that there were maps and that a May 29 primary remained possible.The Texas primaries originally loomed as the biggest prize of next week's Super Tuesday before the redistricting fallout forced the state to push the back the primary date. Texas has the most delegates of any state besides California, and the state wants the chance to play kingmaker in the Republican presidential primary before the race is settled."This is what we've been waiting on for about three months now," party spokesman Chris Elam said Tuesday. "We've been anxiously awaiting maps, and this is a great step forward in finally moving ahead with the primary."Analyzing the changes the court made to the state House map was harder to discern. Texas Democrats did not get as many seats in the 150-member House as it expected. The court made no changes to districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but made significant changes in Houston that appeared to aid Democrats.Based on past voting patterns, out of 150 districts, Republicans could expect to win 85, Democrats will likely win 50 and 15 are up grabs.In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the court fundamentally redrew the Legislature's congressional map to create a majority Hispanic Congressional District 33, which runs through the center of the Metroplex. Republican Rep. Joe Barton's District 6 creates a right-handed hook through the mid-cities that separate Dallas and Fort Worth.The court did make significant changes to Republican Rep. Quico Canseco's Congressional District 23, which stretches from El Paso to the western suburbs of San Antonio. The changes reflected those requested by Hispanic groups, but it was unclear if they were enough to hurt Canseco's election chances.In the Austin area, the court kept the Legislature's map of dividing heavily-Democratic Travis County into five districts from the existing three, virtually guaranteeing that an Austin Democrat could not win re-election. The only potentially Democratic district, Congressional District 35, has the majority of residents living in the San Antonio area.The court-drawn map made no change to the congressional districts in the Corpus Christi area, where Hispanic groups complained their votes were being diluted.Under the Legislature's map, Hispanics were expected to be able to elect a candidate of their choice in one out of the four new districts. In the court-drawn map, they appeared to pick up at least two.Time is running out for Texas to hold primaries, and the maps are intended to get Texas through the 2012 election cycle. The fight over redistricting has already seen the Texas primaries delayed from March 6 to April 3 and now May 29. The last day Texans could vote is June 26.The latest maps come after months of legal wrangling in three federal courtrooms, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The court threw out the last set of maps the San Antonio judges drew saying they did not adhere closely enough to the maps originally drawn by the Legislature.The ruling does not resolve the two court cases still pending, but is only an interim measure. The San Antonio court must still make a decision on whether the original maps drawn by Republicans last year discriminates against minorities and needs to be changed. That decision is dependent on separate lawsuit in the Washington, D.C., federal court on whether the original maps are legal under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.The Washington court said it would probably issue a ruling sometime in March.
Lawson, Tsunoda worse than Perez says Fittipaldi

Simply by sitting on the sidelines, Sergio Perez's reputation is being put back together in 2025.

Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, Brazilian GP 2024

 Red Bull

That's the view of Formula 1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi, who laments the demise of Perez's Red Bull career - but is excited that the Mexican could be back on the grid with Cadillac next year.

Checo Perez was a great representative of us (Latin Americans) but he wasn't so understood, Brazilian Fittipaldi, a two-time world champion, told AS Mexico.

Perez, ousted for poor performance, was replaced by Liam Lawson for the start of 2025 - but the young New Zealander's performance was even more disastrous and he was swiftly replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.

This year we're seeing the test with drivers who are with Max Verstappen, and in my opinion they're worse than Checo, Fittipaldi, 78, said.

Perez won in Monaco, he won in Baku - very difficult city circuits - and he's very fast. We're seeing the difficulties now. Red Bull is changing drivers to see who gets close to Verstappen, but Checo was the best.

Another F1 legend, Cadillac advisor and Fittipaldi's fellow former world champion Mario Andretti, does not hide that Perez is under consideration for a 2026 seat.

The driver situation is being evaluated, and you basically look at who's available based on the level of experience you need, Andretti said. "Checo Perez fits the bill.

He's one of the candidates that you could potentially approach, but for the moment I'm not in a position to say more.

Fittipaldi urges Perez and Cadillac to unite.

General Motors is coming into Formula 1 with the Cadillac brand and a very serious program, and for sure Checo is a very strong candidate, he said.

Even the man who ousted Perez - Red Bull team boss Christian Horner - doesn't disagree.

Obviously, it was a tough year for Checo last year, but it's good to see a possible return is in the works, he said. "He's a very experienced driver and a real winner. He's a very popular driver.

It would be good to see him back on the grid.

(GMM)
Rumours raging about F1 bosses Horner, Oakes

As the Formula 1 world prepares for a rare weekend off, rumours about Oliver Oakes and Christian Horner are swirling.

Christian Horner, Miami GP 2025

 Red Bull

When Oakes suddenly resigned as Alpine team boss this week, speculation immediately began that he could have been headhunted to replace Horner at Red Bull.

Curiously, the story is even being run at Osterreich - a newspaper that is close to Red Bull's F1 advisor Dr Helmut Marko, who were at the centre of the leadership turmoil of 2024.

An absolute bombshell is looming in Formula 1, the report proclaimed. Red Bull could part ways with team boss Christian Horner after the race in Imola.

Italy's major Corriere della Sera daily is reporting similarly, saying of Oakes: Rumours say he could be Christian Horner's heir at Red Bull, should Max Verstappen's team boss fall out during this season or after.

However, another strong theory as to why Oakes suddenly quit Alpine has emerged at the exact same time - that he has fled to Dubai.

With his brother William, they were the lead figures at the Formula 2 team Hitech, with recent historical ties to Dmitry and Nikita Mazepin.

The Telegraph (UK) and AP news agency (USA) claim British police have charged William Oakes with transferring criminal property. Reportedly, William was found near Silverstone in possession of a large amount of cash .

William Oakes is currently in custody. Hitech is yet to respond to a request for comment.

A day after Oakes resigned, rumours abounded that he had fallen out with Alpine advisor - and now acting team boss - Flavio Briatore over the replacement of Jack Doohan by Franco Colapinto.

As recently as Wednesday, German journalist Ralf Bach told Auto Bild: "Oakes wanted to give Doohan more time and wasn't a fan of Colapinto. He took on Briatore - and lost.

Before the Italian threw him out, he decided to pull the plug and quit.

Both Oakes and Briatore denied it in official statements.

Me and Oli have a very good relationship, Briatore insisted, and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together.

Oakes, meanwhile, explained: It is a personal decision for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me - nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity.

(GMM)
TGMA26 Artiste of the Year: Battle of two kings and one god

Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News May - 09 - 2025 , 16:22 3 minutes read

AS the countdown to the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) intensifies, the debate on who will take home the prestigious Artiste of the Year (AOTY) award is heating up on the streets and across social media.

The TGMA Artiste of the Year category is shaping up to be the most competitive of the award scheme in recent years, leaving everyone curious about who will seize the ultimate bragging rights this year.

Scheduled for May 10, 2025, at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), the awards ceremony will showcase seven musical heavyweights vying for the top honour.

They are reigning champion Stonebwoy (1Gad), chart-topping hitmaker King Promise, rising star Kweku Smoke, international sensation Black Sherif, Gospel icon Joe Mettle, breakout act Team Eternity Ghana and lyrical powerhouse King Paluta.

Interestingly, the conversation is currently focused on a potential three-way showdown among King Promise, King Paluta and Stonebwoy. Each of these artistes is making a compelling case for themselves based on impressive releases and numerous nominations during the eligibility year.

Despite releasing three consecutive hitsAseda, Makoma and For The Poppin(Apicki), King Paluta has flown somewhat under the radar. Yet his manager, Cofy Dela, is advocating for Paluta's recognition, emphasising how his music has not only dominated airwaves and digital platforms but also resonated with the public, especially during last year's general election campaign.

Meanwhile, King Promise is confident that his hard work speaks volumes. With a total of 10 nominations leading the TGMA26 list and a successful international tour across five continents, the "Terminator" hitmaker believes he has earned the title. However, his confidence is shadowed by discussions suggesting that a potential victory would merely be a consolation for losing out to Stonebwoy last year.

But King Promise's team strongly counters the notion of "pity votes," asserting that their artiste's consistent output, chart-topping hits and international success firmly position him among the industry elite. They emphasise that his achievements are clear and deserving of the accolade.

On the other hand, reigning Artiste of the Year Stonebwoy is also in the hunt for back-to-back wins, convinced that he has outshined all challengers, ticking all the boxes needed to claim the top prize. He aims to make history as the first artiste to ever clinch this prestigious honour consecutively. (Read also: Who truly deserves TGMA26 Artiste of the Year?)

Surprisingly, the other contendersBlack Sherif, Joe Mettle, Kweku Smoke, and Team Eternityseem to be taking a backseat in the conversation surrounding the AOTY award, as discussions predominantly center around the three frontrunners.

As TGMA26 fast approaches, one thing is certain: the competition is fierce, and regardless of the outcome, this year's nominees have truly showcased the remarkable talent and creativity thriving within Ghana's music industry. Who will emerge victorious in this epic battle of talent?

Will it be King Promise's consistent output and global dominance? King Paluta's impactful releases and connection with the masses? Or Stonebwoy's reigning champion status and determination to make history?

Do Black Sherif, Kweku Smoke and Joe Mettle have a chance? What of Team Eternity? Are they capable of doing the other contestants Defe Defe on the night? Well, only time will reveal the answer.
Student faces deportation after running red light  police discover her entire family has been living illegally in US

nypost.com International News May - 09 - 2025 , 10:00 3 minutes read

A Georgia college student faces deportation after she ran a red light, and authorities discovered her entire family has been illegally living in the US for nearly 15 years.

Mexican-national Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, was pulled over by police in Dalton, Ga. on May 5 when she failed to adhere to a no turn on red sign.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a Dalton State Community College student, was driving without a drivers license but told officers she had an international drivers license, according to WTVC, citing the arrest report.

She admitted that she didnt have the foreign document when Dalton police officers asked her to show it, claiming that her mother had taken it away from her and said she was not supposed to be driving.

In 2010, Arias-Cristobal was brought into the US illegally by her parents when she was only 4 years old during the familys move from Mexico City to the Dalton area  over 30 miles from the Tennessee and Georgia border.

Because of her non-citizen status, Arias-Cristobal was paying out-of-state tuition for school despite living in the area.

The officer who pulled her over attempted to speak to the teens mom and the owner of the car, but neither of them spoke English, according to the report.

Arias-Cristobal was arrested and charged with driving without a valid license and failure to obey traffic control devices.

She was transported to the Whitfield County Jail, a partner of US Immigration and Customs Enforcements 287(G) program, used to identify illegal aliens in the country.

This program operates based on a series of reviews and background checks completed only after an inmate is already arrested for an Offense under Georgia Law, the jails operation guide said.

Arias-Cristobal was processed through the federal database, which confirmed she wasnt a US citizen.

She was brought to ICEs Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., where her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, is also being held.

Arias-Tovar was arrested last month when he was pulled over for driving 19 miles over the speed limit, the outlet reported.

The father, who owns his own company, was denied proper paperwork to remain in the US. It was not known if he ever applied for citizenship.

My dad has his own company, and they called a lawyer to see if they could get a job permit or a visa, and they said that they hadnt hit that status to get one yet, Arias-Cristobals younger sister told WTVC.

Arias-Cristobal was not eligible for the DACA program, having been brought into the country a year after the program ended, according to Hannah Jones, the woman the teen babysat for in the past.

Jones created a GoFundMe to raise money for an immigration attorney and bond for the teen.

Chattanooga, Tennessee-based immigration attorney Terry Olsen called out the familys detention.

We do see that ICE is really trying to find any and all methods to say that an international has some way violated the process and their status. Whats concerning is that when they are being checked at these checkpoints or at the stops, ICE does not have their entire immigration file in front of them, theyre not looking at all of it, and theyre just relying on one item. This is a civil rights issue, Olsen told the outlet.

Olsen said Arias-Cristobals mother will be arrested and deported within a month and her daughters will be taken with her to keep the family together.
Next article: Accra: One-month ban on drumming and noise-making starts on Monday

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2 Ghanaian women who were kidnapped in Nigeria through romance scam safely returned to Accra

Joshua Bediako Koomson May - 09 - 2025 , 18:48 2 minutes read

The two Ghanaian women who were reportedly lured to Nigeria through a romance scam and subsequently held captive by a criminal syndicate have been safely returned to Accra.

The victims  Evelyn Serwaa Konadu and Anatasia Baidoo arrived safely at the Kotoka International Airport earlier on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Both women are in stable condition and will receive the necessary medical care. They will also go through standard police procedures to assist with ongoing investigations, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department of Ghana Police, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor said at a press briefing.

She cautioned the public about a growing trend of online fraud, particularly romance scams, urging Ghanaians to be cautious when interacting with strangers online.

We advise the public to refrain from sharing personal or financial information with unknown persons and to report any suspicious behavior to the police immediately, she added.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the Nigeria Police Force and the National Signals Bureau for their invaluable support and cooperation, she said.

What happened?

How 2 Ghanaian women were tricked with marriage to white men and kidnapped in Nigeria

Before they were rescued, a disturbing video of one of them bound with a rope and being physically assaulted by unidentified individuals was shared on social media.

Investigations later confirmed that the woman in the video was a Ghanaian national who had been deceived into traveling to Nigeria under the false pretense of a romantic relationship.

Upon arrival, she was abducted, assaulted and the footage was sent to her family with a ransom demand.

Further police investigations revealed that a second Ghanaian woman had also been lured to the same location by the same criminal group.

Both victims were held at the same premises and subjected to similar abuse.

Families of the two women were said to have made partial ransom payments before police intervention led to their rescue.

The successful rescue operation was a result of a joint effort involving the Ghana Police Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Signals Bureau.
Ghana, Kosmos Energy to sign MoU in oil exploration

Ransford Tetteh May - 09 - 2025 , 06:57 3 minutes read

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has said that Ghana and Kosmos Energy are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to pave the way for oil exploration and production, as the company pledges to invest $2 billion in the country's upstream industry.

Although the minister did not disclose details, he was upbeat about the bright future of the country's oil and gas industry.

Mr Jinapor was delivering a keynote address last Tuesday ahead of a panel discussion at the Africa Energy Forum, a technical session of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas in the US.

It is on the theme: "Africa's energy investment drive amid global transition to green minerals and clean energy."

In attendance are key stakeholders to explore Africa's oil and gas industry landscape, funding opportunities, investment prospects and emerging challenges in the sector.

Energy security

Mr Jinapor stressed the importance of energy security, saying, over 600 million Africans currently live in energy poverty and, therefore, called for more action to ensure energy accessibility and affordability in every part of the African continent.

The minister also hinted that Italian oil giant, ENI, also plans to resume major value spending projects following the resolution of the unitisation impasse.

Mr Jinapor said Ghana was open for business, adding that "data and licence acquisition processes are being reformed."

He also disclosed that Cabinet had approved the setting up of a second gas processing plant to augment the Atuabo Gas Plant.

Mr Jinapor also visited the Ghana stand at an exhibition where he gave an assurance that the future looked bright for the country's oil and gas industry.

Panel discussion

The panel discussion featured senior executives, directors and regulators from various African countries, including Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria, who discussed strategies to attract investment, local content development and how to navigate the energy transition.

The event was chaired by the Chief Executive of USA-GHATEX International LLC, Solomon Tamakloe, and moderated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Simon Madjie.

Overall, the forum served as a platform for dialogue on how Africa can leverage its resources and position itself in the global shift towards cleaner energy, while sustaining oil and gas development.

Ghanas potential

The Senior Vice-President and Head of Ghana Business Unit of Kosmos Energy, Joe Mensah; the Chief Executive of Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, and the Chief Executive of Ghana Gas Company Ltd, Judith Adjobah Blay, took turns to share the Ghana story and what needed to be done by Africans to optimise their investments in the oil and gas industry.

Earlier, the Minister of Petroleum of Nigeria, Dr Heineken Lokpobiri, said that African problems required African solutions, particularly in the context of energy transition.

He underscored the need for a balanced energy mix that reflected Africa's unique development needs while advancing sustainable energy goals.

 The writer is a member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
Ghana launches Africas largest AI-driven security centre

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu May - 09 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

Ghana has taken a bold step in the fight against cyber threats with the launch of Africa's largest and most advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven security and digital forensic services centre in Accra.

The state-of-the-art facility, established by indigenous firm Virtual InfoSec Africa Limited (VIA), in partnership with Exabeam, aims to revolutionise how businesses across Africa approach cybersecurity challenges by reducing costs significantly while enhancing protection capabilities.

The AI-driven centre will cut the initial investment and operational costs of businesses by over 90 per cent and 50 per cent respectively, bringing huge relief to institutions currently grappling with the surging cost of dealing with cybersecurity.

In a speech read on his behalf at the launch, the Director General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Divine Selase Agbeti, emphasised the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving threats.

"As a nation, our resilience is not just about matching the pace of these threats, it is about exceeding it," Mr Agbeti said in a speech read by a senior manager at the CSA, Isaac Socrates Mensah.

"The threat landscape is evolving at a breakneck speed, and we need to build resilience at an equally faster pace because it surpasses what we have seen traditionally," the head of the countrys cybersecurity regulatory agency said at the event chaired by the Omanhene of the New Juabeng Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Boateng III.

The new centre is powered by advanced AI and equipped with global threat intelligence capabilities.

It is the collaborative effort of VIA through strategic partnerships with global security information and event management (SIEM) leader, Exabeam, and Arctic Security, allowing the indigenous company to deliver cutting-edge protection tailored to Ghanaian and African enterprises.

The AI-driven centre will be locally operated, and is equipped with an AI-powered security operations centre (SOC) that has real-time threat detection, managed detection and response (MDR), and vulnerability management, all driven by Exabeams behavioural analytics platform.

Sophisticated threats

The Head of Security Operations at VIA, Norvisi Addo, stated that cyber threats had become more sophisticated and targeted, increasingly affecting both critical national infrastructure and small businesses.

Mr Addo said traditional defence mechanisms were being outpaced, creating an urgent need for advanced solutions such as those offered by the new centre.

The facility is designed to transform cybersecurity approaches by dramatically reducing costs while enhancing protection capabilities.

The VIA said organisations utilising the centre's services could expect to slash cybersecurity expenditure by over 90 per cent through the elimination of one-off capital investments.

Additionally, operational costs are projected to decrease by more than 60 per cent, making robust cybersecurity accessible to a broader range of businesses, potentially reducing threats and attacks to businesses and customers.

Mr Addo particularly emphasised the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence in the hands of cyber attackers.

"Whether we like it or not, AI has come to stay, and it has a very clear impact on our space, especially in the hands of cyber attackers.

That is why this particular initiative is timely," he added.

Commendation

The Omanhene of the New Juabeng Traditional Area commended VIA for its commitment to protecting Ghana's digital future.

He called for a collaborative approach to cybersecurity that extended beyond technological solutions and embraced collaboration.

"Safeguarding the digital space requires more than just tools. It demands unity of purpose, shared responsibility, and sustainability in knowledge and innovation," Nana Boateng III said.

"Let us continue to work together: Government, private sector, traditional authorities, and the youth to ensure that the digital transformation we embrace is not only inclusive but also secure," the Omanhene added.

Additional benefits

The Regional Director for Africa and Pakistan at Exabeam, Essam Ahmed, said VIA was more than a vendor, describing the local company as a strategic partner for Ghana.

Were not here to sell, were here to stand beside the country. Together, were building the digital shield of a nation, he stated.

The launch of the AI-driven centre is expected to significantly bolster Ghana's cybersecurity capabilities while providing a model for other African nations facing similar digital security challenges.

By making advanced security services more affordable and accessible, the AI-driven facility aims to create a more secure digital environment for businesses, government institutions and citizens across Ghana and the broader African continent.
Next article: Blame market sellers for keeping prices high despite drop in food import costs  Importers

Govt cracks down on unfair trade - Exercise targets markets, shops

Kester Aburam Korankye May - 09 - 2025 , 02:26 3 minutes read

The government has initiated a major crackdown on unfair trade practices, including the use of non-standardised measurements in markets and shops, which has long disadvantaged farmers and traders.

The non-standardised measurements include bowls for measuring grains and flour known in local parlance as "olonka" or "grawa," and unregulated tomato boxes.

The crackdown follows a directive by President John Mahama for the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to strengthen trade regulations and ensure fairness in commercial transactions across the country.

At the opening of a training programme for 350 newly recruited Trading Standards Inspectors (TSIs) in Koforidua last Wednesday, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, announced that the Presidents directive was part of a broader agenda to industrialise the economy under the 24-Hour Economy policy while protecting consumers and producers.

President vision

In her keynote address, the minister emphasised that the President had directed the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to eliminate arbitrary measurements and enforce the use of calibrated weighing scales and certified standardised containers in markets nationwide.

"Ghana must move away from random and unfair means of trade measurement," the minister said.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the use of olonka, grawa, and inconsistent tomato boxes eroded the value of farmers and traders hard work and must stop.

She said the President had also indicated that all aspects of the 24-Hour Economy industrialisation policy must be grounded in strong regulatory and quality assurance systems.

The training we are launching today is, therefore, not only about skills acquisition; it is about implementing a presidential vision, the minister said.

She added that it is about empowering you, our inspectors, to enforce the standards that will safeguard the health of consumers, build trust in local goods, and protect the integrity of our domestic and international trade systems.

The inspectors, after their training, would be deployed across markets, ports and industrial zones to check fuel pumps, verify weighing scales, inspect hospital equipment and ensure imported goods meet quality standards.

A first batch of inspectors had already been deployed by the GSA, with more recruits expected as the programme expands.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare explained that the government had targeted to recruit 2,600 inspectors to cover the 16 regions of the country.

Industrial growth

The minister stressed that standardisation was key to Ghanas industrial transformation, particularly under the 24-Hour Economy policy, which sought to make the country a competitive export hub.

"Without strong quality assurance systems, our vision for an industrialised economy will fail," she said.

"These inspectors are not just regulators, they are the vanguards of a new era where Ghanaian products meet global standards, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said.

Enforcement

The two-week training programme, organised by the GSA, is being conducted by the Ghana Police Service at its training school in Koforidua.

It is to equip inspectors with modern techniques for enforcing trade laws, detecting substandard goods and ensuring compliance.

Their law enforcement training is to enable them to effectively ensure that businesses adhere to ethical practices to safeguard the interests of both consumers and enterprises.

Their role is pivotal in upholding fair competition, preventing fraud and maintaining high-quality products and services nationwide.

Backed by law

The Director-General of the GSA, Professor Alex Dodoo, said the inspectors would receive digital tools and enforcement support to carry out their duties effectively.

He said the inspectors would be trained to ensure that they worked in accordance with the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which empowered the TSIs to enter premises under Section 44 to carry out their mandate when necessary.

Prof. Dodoo said the TSIs would be the continent's first fully appointed and gazetted inspectors of standards, trained as chartered standards officers and commissioned for the notice of the public.
Graphic launches 7th Tertiary Business Sense Challenge

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu May - 09 - 2025 , 12:21 5 minutes read

The seventh version of the Tertiary Business Sense Challenge (TBSC) has been launched with a call on stakeholders to make the competition a catalyst for growth, driven by innovation.

The annual competition for business students in tertiary institutions is organised by the Graphic Business, the nations leading business and financial newspaper that is published by the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL).

This years edition on the theme: Entrepreneurial Edge: Sharpening Skills for a Dynamic Future, seeks to unearth the entrepreneurial skills and application of business knowledge and skills of tertiary business students.

In a speech read on his behalf at the launch in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, commended the GCGL for its commitment to youth development and entrepreneurship.

Significance

He highlighted the significant impact the Challenge has had over the years, particularly in grooming young business minds who had transitioned into various sectors of the economy with competence and confidence.

Indeed, Graphic Communications Group Ltd, whose business brand, Graphic Business, birthed this event, is associated with excellence in business reporting, providing relevant information and analysis that have helped to shape economic policies and business ideas.

Those who associate with the brand and this programme have, therefore, chosen to associate with excellence and forward-looking ideas, he said.

He said education was the backbone of the nation's growth, and initiatives such as the TBSC underscored its significance in shaping Ghanas collective future.

He, therefore, said the objective of the competition was to challenge the youth to go out of their comfort zones and give of their best in whatever they pursued.

He explained that academic competitions such as the TBSC played a vital role in sharpening the skills of students and fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and critical thinking among students.

He said it also provided a platform for future generations to demonstrate their abilities by empowering them to drive progress and development.

Dr Apaak said the competition was not just about winning prizes, but fostering a spirit of enquiry, encouraging collaborative learning and inspiring students to reach their full potential.

He advised stakeholders to let the competition be a catalyst for growth, a platform for showcasing talent, and a stepping stone towards a brighter future, powered by education.

He further encouraged all participants not only to showcase their individual talents but also learn from one another, build essential relationships and develop teamwork skills during the competition.

Real-world impact

The Director, Marketing at GCGL, Franklin Sowa, announced that this years edition would introduce a business case component to test the entrepreneurial skills of the contestants.

We anticipate an extremely engaging journey not just for fun, but also to build capacity in understanding business principles and models.

As we have shared with you, this year we will introduce a business case component across the various clusters or sectors of the quiz.

Our expectation is that participants will be prepared, as this is how we test our entrepreneurial skills and capacity.

It also helps us demonstrate to our sponsors the value of the conversations we hold on this platform, he said.

He emphasised the platforms real-world impact, saying, many participants have moved on to internships and full-time roles with top firms like PwC.

Addressing participating schools, he said this is your chance to showcase your institution and position yourself in the job market.



Participating schools

On expectations of this years edition, the Quiz Master, Alhassan Trawule, said the competition would be organised in two levels: the zonal contest which includes the northern zone, middle zone, south-west zone and the south-east zone after which the national contest will follow.

He said the participating schools are: University of Ghana (UG), Legon; University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA; University of Cape Coast (UCC), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Technical University (TATU), and University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Catholic University of Ghana (CUG); Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Christian Service University (CSUC), and Sunyani Technical University (STU).

The rest are University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Nduom School of Business and Technology (NSBT), University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), Academic City University (ACU), Accra Technical University (ATU), Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), Central University (CU), Heritage Christian University (HCU), Pentecost University (PU), West End University College (WEUC), Wisconsin International University College (WIUC) and Valley View University (VVU).



About TBSC

The TBSC aims to develop the minds of business students to be abreast of issues around business and the economy as a whole to help build successful business careers in the future.

University of Cape Coast (UCC) remains the two-time champions of the competition after emerging winners in the maiden and third editions.

The second edition saw the University for Development Studies (UDS) defeat UCC in the finals to win the contest.

The fourth edition was won by KNUST after battling with UPSA and UCC in the finals while UEW was crowned winner after defeating UCC and KNUST in the finals.

The reigning champions, UG, won last years edition after qualifying to the finals for the first time.
U.S. donates Armoured Personnel Carriers to Ghana Armed Forces

Diana Mensah May - 09 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The United States (U.S.) has donated 14 Puma M36 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to boost the countrys security operations and strengthen its response to growing threats, particularly along its northern borders.

The Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles are designed to enhance troop mobility and protection in high-risk areas, especially where Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ambushes are prevalent.

Its integration into GAF operations will enhance force protection and survivability, enabling rapid deployment and effective deterrence against both internal and external threats.

The donation follows a four-week intensive training programme where 40 Ghanaian soldiers were equipped with essential skills in vehicle handling, tactical manoeuvrering and both basic and emergency maintenance protocols.

The training is expected to continue in the months ahead to ensure peak performance of the fleet.

Partnership

The U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, reaffirmed her countrys commitment to strengthening security partnership with Ghana, emphasising that the cooperation went far beyond the supply of military hardware.

The armoured vehicles that were donated to the Ghana Armed Forces

The U.S.Ghana security partnership will continue to provide the highest-quality equipment available from the United States. Working together strengthens both Ghana and the United States, she said.

She revealed that the vehicles, worth over $60 million, were to help Ghana secure its internal and border areas, saying, This equipment supports Ghanas mission of ensuring border integrity, making both Ghana and the United States safer. That safety is the foundation of Ghanas prosperity and ours.

This is not just a handover of vehiclesit is a complete package. It is a commitment to sustaining these assets through proper training, responsible use, and long-term maintenance.

Thats what true partnership looks like, she added.

Cooperation

Reflecting on her three-year tenure as ambassador, Ms Palmer said she had witnessed robust cooperation between the two nations.

Ghana hosted Flintlock in both 2023 and 2024 and received critical equipment. Together, we co-hosted maritime and land forces summits, she said.

The ambassador highlighted ongoing collaborations such as the Medical Civil Action Programme(MEDCAP), as part of Ghanas fourth year of participation in African Lion military exercises.

American soldiers consistently leave these exercises with a profound appreciation for the professionalism and discipline of the Ghana Armed Forces. They learn a great deal from Ghanaian troops and that spirit of shared growth is what makes our partnership so valuable, she added.

Appreciation

The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, on behalf of the President, John Dramani Mahama, expressed his appreciation to the government and the people of the United States for the generous and strategic gesture.

He said over the years, the US had remained a dependable partner in the capacity-building journey of the GAF, providing training, technical assistance and equipment support.

The vehicles, the minister said, would enhance troop protection, mobility, and effectiveness in counter-terrorism operations and internal security efforts, including the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.



While commending the leadership of the GAF for their professionalism and tireless commitment to excellence in service, Dr Boamah further assured the donors that the GAF would deploy the assets responsibly and effectively, in line with their mandate to safeguard the territorial integrity of Ghana.
Ghanaians spent estimated $10million on US visa applications in 2024

Kweku Zurek May - 09 - 2025 , 13:59 2 minutes read

Ghanaians are estimated to have spent $9.76 million on United States (US) visa application fees in 2024, based on data released by the United States Embassy in Ghana during its Consular Media Day event on Friday.

According to the Embassy, a total of 61,000 visa applications were received from Ghanaian nationals last year. At the 2023 standard visa fee of $160 for non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas, this translates to a significant financial outlay for prospective travellers seeking to study, work, or visit the United States.

US Consular General Elliot Fertik, addressing journalists at the event today (May 9, 2025, in Accra), said the Embassy issued 25,000 visas to Ghanaian applicants in 2024. The remaining 36,000 applications were either denied or not completed.

We continue to welcome visitors from Ghana who are interested in studying, investing, or doing business in the U.S., Mr Fertik stated. Last year, the U.S. Embassy issued 25,000 visas to Ghanaians for work, study, or visit to the U.S. But with entry to the U.S., visa applicants or holders must follow our laws.

He reaffirmed the Embassys commitment to a transparent and efficient application process, but strongly cautioned against irregular migration.

The US has zero tolerance for illegal immigrants. Those who break the rules will face the law, including visa refusal or outright ban from entering the U.S., he warned.

Mr Fertik also noted that the Embassy has implemented improvements to enhance customer experience and make the application process less stressful. He urged Ghanaians to follow proper procedures and resist fraudulent shortcuts.

The US Department of State recently revised visa fees in May 2023, raising the cost for non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas from $160 to $185, while petition-based visas such as H, L, O, P, Q, and R now cost $205, up from $190. E-category visas saw the steepest increasefrom $205 to $315.

The Consular Media Day was organised to clarify US visa policy, improve public understanding of the process, and reinforce the Embassys dual mission of facilitating legal travel while securing U.S. borders.
Previous article: 2 Ghanaian women who were kidnapped in Nigeria through romance scam safely returned to Accra

Accra: One-month ban on drumming and noise-making starts on Monday

Jemima Okang Addae May - 09 - 2025 , 15:56 2 minutes read

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced that this years ban on drumming and noise-making will be in effect from Monday, May 12, to Thursday, June 12, 2025, as part of preparations for the annual Homowo Festival celebrated by the Ga people.

In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, the AMA said the directive applies to all residents, communities, and institutions within the Assemblys jurisdiction. The ban is being enforced in the interest of peace, harmony, and national security.

Some areas covered by the ban include communities around the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Head Office, Gamashie, Ablekuma West and Kasoa.

The period marks a sacred time of reflection, solemnity, and spiritual preparation leading up to the Homowo Festival, which holds deep cultural significance for the Ga community.

The ban represents a sacred period of solemnity, reflection, and spiritual preparation for the upcoming Homowo Festival, the statement noted.

As part of the enforcement guidelines, churches are to conduct services strictly within their premises without the use of musical instruments. The use of loudspeakers outside churches, mosques, pubs, and during roadside evangelism is strictly prohibited for the duration of the ban.

The AMA also emphasised the need for tolerance and mutual respect among religious and traditional communities, urging all groups to refrain from making derogatory or inflammatory remarks about each others beliefs or practices.

The Ga Traditional Council (GTC), in support of the directive, has further imposed a ban on funeral rites and all related activities during the same period.

To ensure lawful and respectful enforcement, only a designated task force made up of AMA personnel, members of the Ghana Police Service, and accredited representatives from the Traditional Councilswho must wear official identificationare authorised to carry out enforcement duties. The statement warned that no unauthorised individuals or groups are permitted to enforce the ban.

The AMA called on all residents, including those in towns and villages within the Ga Traditional Area, to comply fully with the directive and contribute to a peaceful and successful observance of the ban.

The annual Homowo Festival, celebrated by the Ga people, symbolises the triumph over hunger and is marked by rituals, feasting, and thanksgiving. The period leading up to the event is traditionally observed with reverence and quietude.

Read the full statement below;
School Feeding caterers appeal to govt to let them finish term despite contract terminations

Jemima Okang Addae May - 09 - 2025 , 15:17 3 minutes read

Caterers under the National School Feeding Caterers Association have appealed to the government to allow them to continue providing meals to pupils until the end of the current academic term.

Their plea comes in response to recent terminations of contracts involving regional and zonal coordinators under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).

According to the Associations Deputy Public Relations Officer, Margaret Larbi, who spoke in an interview on Channel One on Thursday, May 8, 2025, many caterers had already acquired large quantities of food in anticipation of continuing their services. She expressed concern that the abrupt nature of the contract terminations had placed them in a difficult position.

Ms Larbi stated that there had been no prior communication about the changes, leaving caterers unprepared. She clarified that the issue was not about reapplying for contracts but rather the distress being experienced by the women involved. She noted that caterers were under the impression that any handover of duties would occur in August and had therefore stocked up on food supplies.

She added that if their contracts were to be terminated, the appropriate course of action would have been to notify them before the end of the academic term or during the holiday break.

Its not about reapplying but it is about what the women are going through. We knew for sure that even if we were going to hand over, it would be in August, so we have bought a lot of food items. So if you are terminating our appointments, what we thought was you should have informed us before vacation or even when the children were on vacation," she said.

Ms Larbi further revealed that the caterers had made significant investments in locally produced foodstuffs, in line with the governments policy to support local agriculture. She said many had procured rice from the Northern Region and other staples such as beans, which were now in surplus and at risk of going to waste due to the unexpected policy change.

What we want the government to know is that we were not informed, so weve bought a lot of foodstuffs. The secretariat told us to try and use Made-in-Ghana products, so the majority of us are using local rice, and we get them from the Northern Region. We have them in abundance. I dont sell beans, but I have bought beans So those things that I have at the moment, what am I using them for? So all that we are pleading is that they should allow us to work, Ms Larbi appealed.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has indicated that caterers who wish to remain in the programme will be given the opportunity to reapply under a new recruitment framework.

Watch the video below;
NCCE, somaliland delegation confer with Speaker

Samuel Duodu Politics May - 09 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has commended the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for its pivotal role in promoting democracy in the country.

He described the commission as "a formidable pillar in Ghana's democracy."

Mr Bagbin said the framers of the 1992 Constitution intentionally made NCCE a constitutional body to ensure its independence and freedom to operate.

"It was not for nothing that the framers of the 1992 Constitution decided to make NCCE a constitutional body, instead of a statutory one; so that they could enjoy the latitude of independence to freely operate," he noted.

Courtesy call

The Speaker made the commendation when the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, led a delegation from the Somaliland Centre for Civic Education (SCCE) to pay a courtesy call on him at his office at the Parliament House last Tuesday.

The team from the SCCE, led by the Director-General at the Ministry of Parliamentary Relations and Constitutional Affairs of Somaliland, was in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NCCE.

The MoU between the two parties seeks to engender a partnership aimed at enhancing civic education in both countries.

Also included in the delegation was the Director of the Centre for Civic Education and Democracy in Somaliland, Abdirisak Yusuf Jama.

Partnership

The Speaker, in his remarks, acknowledged the commission's efforts in keeping democracy afloat in the country, despite some shortfalls in support.

Mr Bagbin assured the NCCE of Parliament's utmost support in its partnership with Somaliland and stressed the importance of the partnership.

"We assure you of Parliament's utmost support in ensuring that this partnership between NCCE and Somaliland takes shape and yields the anticipated result to the benefit of both countries and Africa at large," the Speaker said.

He reiterated Parliament's commitment to foster collaborations that promote civic education and democratic values, both locally and internationally.

Ms Addy, for her part, said the partnership was a result of the commission's reputation and the numerous inquiries it has received from other countries seeking to understand its establishment, operations and sustainability.

"The team from Somaliland has demonstrated a lot of enthusiasm and drive, meritorious of our support, which is why we found it expedient to officially enable their visit to you, get them to experience the evolution of our democracy, see the structures, which in the long run, can help them in their course of action," she explained.

Addy said the commission has constituted a consultancy wing to formalise and track such inquiries, highlighting NCCE's commitment to sharing its expertise and promoting democratic values globally.

Somaliland

The delegation from Somaliland, made up of Messrs Nur Abdi and Yusuf Jama, expressed their appreciation for the opportunity, adding they were fascinated by Ghanas democracy and the role NCCE has played over the years in the consolidation of the same.

We are therefore here to learn how this success was chalked up, take a cue from Ghana to know how the democratic institutions work in synergy, Mr Nur Abdi said.
Televise Chief Justice Torkornoo's removal petition proceedings live - Prof Mike Oquaye

Gertrude Ankah Politics May - 09 - 2025 , 13:54 3 minutes read

The proceedings of the five-member committee looking into the three petitions asking for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office should be televised live, a former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has said.

According to him, even though Article 146(8) of the 1992 Constitution states clearly that hearing of petitions of such nature should be held in camera, the matters involving Chief Justice Torkornoo are already in the public domain and have generated public interest.

To him, it was therefore prudent to allow the proceedings to be televised live so that there could be openness.

Justice emanates from the people, he said. If justice belongs to the people, how can they be shut out from knowing what is going on? The process belongs to them, he said in a television interview with Joy News, aired on Thursday.

According to the political scientist and lawyer, an in-camera hearing of this matter, considering the political interests at stake as of now, could undermine public confidence in Ghanas judiciary.

Prof. Oquaye likened a secret hearing to hiring a labourer who refuses to let the farm owner inspect the work. Would that be reasonable? he asked. Justice must not only be doneit must be seen to be done.

He challenged the justification that secrecy protects the dignity of high office. The Chief Justice has already been named. The matter is public. So what are we protecting?

Prof. Oquaye insisted that the accused should be given the option of a public hearing.

Why shouldnt she be able to say, Let the people of Ghana hear my case? he asked.

Laying a foundation for why he was suggesting that the proceedings should not be in-camera in line with Article 148(8), Prof. Oquaye, invoked both jurisprudence and history to underscore his argument.

He referenced the British Magna Carta and Ghanas past with secretive tribunals that denied accused persons the chance to face their accusers.

We all know the history of this country, he said. People were blindfolded and pushed into dark rooms. That was the past. We must not repeat it, he said.

He called for a Supreme Court pronouncement to clarify the constitutional tension between Article 146(8), which mandates private hearings, and Article 19, which guarantees the right to a fair and public trial.

Prof. Oquaye also cited historical examples of judges and lawyers being targeted for unpopular rulings, warning against systems that enable politically motivated justice.

When asked whether he would personally appear before a secret committee if in Chief Justice Torkornoos position, Prof. Oquaye was clear: No. I would not appear. You put me in a room, come out, and pronounce judgment? I dont trust that.

He stressed that his concerns were constitutional, not political, and urged Ghanaians to protect the integrity of the countrys judicial process.

This is the first time a sitting Chief Justice has been taken to court. Lets do it right. Let the process be open. Let the people see justice in action.

3 petitions

Following the establishment of a prima facie case in three petitions asking that Chief Justice Torkornoo should be removed from office for stated misbehaviour and misconduct, President John Dramani Mahama has suspended her and formed a five member committee of inquiry in line with Article 146(6) of the Constitution.
China to continue efforts in joining CPTPP amid global trade challenges

Xinhua) 10:17, May 09, 2025

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China remains committed to advancing its accession process to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

Since formally applying to join the CPTPP in September 2021, China has analyzed the agreement's provisions in depth and engaged in multi-level exchanges with member economies through various channels, while also launching pilot programs in domestic qualified free trade zones and ports, MOC spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference.

These moves demonstrate China's determination, capability and concrete actions in seeking to meet the agreement's high standards, He added.

"No matter how the international landscape evolves, China will only open its door wider to the world," the spokesperson said.

Moving forward, China will steadily expand institutional opening up, proactively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, and advance the CPTPP accession process, He added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
The OnePlus 13s has made an appearance on the Amazon India website. The latter has currently set up a landing page on the site with a Notify Me button for those interested in getting notifications for when the device goes on sale.

The landing page currently does not have any additional information other than what OnePlus has already revealed about the device. We see the phone in two colors, black and pink, minus the gray available for the OnePlus 13T. The phone is said to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and features an iPhone-style customizable button on the left called the Plus Key, which replaces the alert slider on other OnePlus phones.

The OnePlus 13s is essentially the OnePlus 13T for non-China markets. It's meant to be a compact smartphone, and the company claims it is its first-ever compact flagship, which only makes sense if you forget the OnePlus X existed. The company has yet to reveal when and where the device will go on sale and how it will be positioned on the price ladder.

Source
It's been a packed 24 hours in terms of news regarding Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge, as the company has released a teaser video as well as told us that the phone will be the first to sport Corning's Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. We've also seen official cases leaked, and now it's time for some official promo materials.

At least they look official, but these aren't coming from Samsung itself, as they've been leaked too. These images also confirm some of the oft-rumored specs, so let's dive in.



Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge leaked promo materials

According to these materials, the phone will be offered in three colorways. It's "crafted to be ultra sleek and premium", and has a 200 MP main camera with "2x optical quality zoom", a 12 MP ultrawide with autofocus for macro shots, and a 12 MP selfie camera.



More Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge leaked promo materials

It's also promised to sport "the most powerful processor, customized for Galaxy", and "all-day battery fit for slim", although the actual SoC isn't named, nor is the battery capacity. The titanium frame is also confirmed, as is the IP68 dust and water resistance. In the box, you're unsurprisingly (it is a Samsung after all) only getting a USB-C to USB-C cable and a SIM ejector tool.

Alongside the aforementioned and already leaked cases, Samsung will also offer an anti-reflective screen protector, which you can see in the images below.



Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge anti-reflective screen protector

The Galaxy S25 Edge is getting fully official on May 13.

Source
vivo launched the X Fold3 and X Fold3 Pro in March of last year, and it's now apparently working on a successor, but there are two twists here. First, rumor has it there won't be two book-style foldables from vivo this year, just one. Second, it will be called X Fold5, and not X Fold4 as you may have expected - blame tetraphobia.

A leak today says the X Fold5 will come with an 8.03-inch foldable AMOLED screen with "2K+" resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, a 6.53-inch LTPO OLED cover display with 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 6,000 mAh battery with support for 90W wired and 30W wireless charging.

vivo X Fold3 Pro

Interestingly, the phone is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, just like the X Fold3 Pro, and not the Snapdragon 8 Elite for some reason. This will be paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

The X Fold5 will allegedly sport a 50 MP main camera with Sony's IMX921 sensor, a 50 MP ultrawide with autofocus for macro shots, and a 50 MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom using the Sony IMX882 sensor. For selfies there will be two 32 MP shooters, one for each screen.

The device has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded in the power button, a three-stage Alert Slider, and an IP rating that isn't known just yet. It will be 4.3 mm thick when unfolded and 9.33 mm thick when folded.

So it looks like the X Fold5 will be a thinner X Fold3 Pro with a tweaked telephoto camera and a 300 mAh bigger battery. These specs are said to be for the global model, which first of all tells us that there will be one (it's not always a given with Chinese foldables as you may know), but also that there could be a differently-specced Chinese version on the way too. Unfortunately, today's rumor hasn't revealed the phone's launch timeframe.

vivo X Fold3 Pro

These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. 1TB 16GB RAM $ 1,999.00 Show all prices

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Guam Community College and Kumision i Fino CHamoru (CHamoru Language Commission) marked the completion of their groundbreaking language initiative with a special ceremony honoring the fourth and final cohort of CHamoru language educators.

The completion ceremony for the Ninafitme i Finanaguen Fino CHamoru (Strengthening the Teaching of the CHamoru Language) Certificate Program celebrated nine teachers Monday at the GCC Multipurpose Auditorium.

The first cohort celebration was held in November 2023. The educators are equipped with innovative immersion techniques and teaching methodologies specifically designed for CHamoru language instruction.

This final cohort represents the fruition of our shared vision with the Kumison to revitalize CHamoru language education across Guams schools, GCC President Mary A. Y. Okadat said. These teachers arent just preserving wordstheyre breathing new life into our cultural heritage and creating pathways for authentic language learning.

The 12-credit certificate programa collaborative initiative between GCCs Liberal Studies CHamoru Education and Culture track and the Kumision i Fino CHamoruhas transformed how CHamoru is taught in classrooms throughout the island.

Participants completed four specialized courses: CHamoru Language Teaching, Best Practices for Literacy Instruction, CHamoru Composition Immersion Method, and Teaching CHamoru History & Culture.

Credits earned through the program can be applied toward degree programs at GCC, University of Guam, or used to meet credentialing requirements for teaching CHamoru.

When we launched this initiative, we envisioned developing teachers skills, equipping them with both traditional knowledge and contemporary teaching methods, said Simone Bollinger, GCC assistant professor and English Department chair. Seeing these four cohorts complete their journey gives us tremendous hope for the future of fino CHamoru, she added.

Previous cohort participants have already significantly impacted their classrooms, developing innovative activities and engaging materials for students from P.C. Lujan Elementary School, Chief Hurao Academy, and various other educational institutions across the island.
Archbishop Ryan Jimenez has said that although plaintiffs have asked that civil sexual abuse cases be dismissed against former Archbishop Anthony Apuron, a church investigation found that Apuron was guilty of abusing minors, and nothing has changed that determination.

On May 7, documents were filed by plaintiffs in the District Court of Guam asking to drop eight cases of alleged sexual abuse and one case of defamation against Apuron. The former archbishop responded with a statement and a video saying the dismissal requests, which originated with the plaintiffs, are proof of his innocence.

Apuron said he remains a bishop, the only bishop or priest ever allowed to retain the designation after being found guilty of sex crimes, which proves his innocence.

Apuron spoke of one day returning to Guam, and that he prays for Jimenez to receive the courage to seek the truth and to do whats right.

On Friday, Jimenez distributed a letter to Archdiocese of Agana officials rejecting Apurons assertions and clarifying the churchs position.

Jimenez said that while he respects the decisions of the victims of the former archbishop, on Feb. 7, 2019, a Vatican tribunal found Apuron guilty of committing abuse against minors.

That determination was made following a canonical investigation and penal trial, conducted by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith in Rome, Jimenez wrote.

That determination led to the former bishop losing his rank and duties as the leader of the Catholic Church on Guam, as well as a perpetual prohibition preventing him from returning to Guam or presenting himself with the insignia attached to the rank of bishop, wrote Jimenez. Nothing about that determination has changed.

He said he remains committed to a pledge he wrote in December 2024. He promised to walk in fidelity with the survivors and all concerned to the end when we see God face to face and our tears are no more.
A Superior Court of Guam jury found Eithen James Franklin Aquiningoc Mendiola not guilty Friday in connection with the Sept 8, 2024 death of Ryan Loo Chaco.

Mendiola had been charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated murder as a first degree felony, conspiracy to commit murder as a first degree felony, and two counts of complicity to commit aggravated assault. Each of the four charges also carried a special allegation of use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony.

Mendiola admitted to stabbing Chaco after Chaco made unwanted sexual advances. Mendiola said Chaco told him he would make Mendiola his sex slave.

Chaco held Mendiola in a choke hold, and Mendiola reached for a knife and stabbed Chaco until he let go. Mendiola said Chaco attacked again, and he stabbed him again, multiple times, until Chaco fell down dead.

The prosecutor argued that Chaco was still alive, and when Mendiola and Frank Joseph Reyes Jr. returned to Chacos house the following morning, they allegedly finished the job before Reyes set the house ablaze.

Reyes was charged with arson, desecration, obstructing government function and destruction of evidence.

Key to Mendiolas defense was the 911 call he made after stabbing Chaco. Following the governments closing arguments by Special Assistant Attorney General Curtis Van de veld, defense attorney William Bischoff replayed the recording for the jury.

The jury took about two hours to arrive at their verdict of not guilty.
A Southern High School student was allegedly sexually assaulted in the campus cafeteria while school aides who were supposed to be watching her class sat at a nearby table, according to a mother now speaking out about the incident.

The mother, who is not being named to avoid identifying the child, said her daughters class at Southern High has been without a certified teacher since the start of the school year.

She is one of the many students that spends this instructional time in the cafeteria supervised by two school aides, the mother wrote in a letter shared with senators and the Pacific Daily News.

According to my daughter, the school aides pay more attention to their phones, than the students, the mother wrote.

According to the letter, the daughter was sitting in the cafeteria on or about April 24 when a male student she did not know approached her.

He was reportedly skipping class, and Southern students habitually gather in the cafeteria while skipping, the letter states.

The unknown student began inappropriately touching the daughter, lifted her skirt, and attempted to put his hand down the front of her pants, the letter states.

It states the daughter grabbed his hand and resisted, and another student captured the incident on camera.

According to the mother, at the time of the incident, her daughter was sitting nearby what she described as the school aide table.

On May 2, the same male student came appeared in the cafeteria, and attempted to sit next to the girl again, but she quickly moved away from him.

According to the mother, the daughter was only able to learn the name of the male student later.

The daughter did not report the incident to a school administrator until May 6, at the urging of a family member.

GDOE Deputy Superintendent for Educational Support and Community Learning Barbara Adamos on Friday said that the School Administration and the Guam Police Department were aware of the reported incident.

Investigation is ongoing, Adamos said.

Adamos said no comment when asked whether the male student was still attending class, citing the ongoing investigation.

She did not comment when asked if any disciplinary action was taken against aides present on April 24.

But according to the letter from the mother, the male student in question was suspended. The mother wrote that she appreciate school leaderships efforts to expel the student.

However, the mothers faith in the Guam Department of Educations ability to keep her children safe was violently shaken, she wrote.

I truly believe that if GDOE provided my daughter with a certified teacher in her  class or an adequate ratio for ATTENTIVE school aides/substitutes to students, then the opportunity that led to my daughter being sexually assaulted would NOT have presented, the mother wrote to senators.

She asked lawmakers to immediately address the root incident of a lack of supervision for students at Southern High School, and the shortage of teachers.

The mothers letter was addressed to education oversight chair Sen. Vince Borja, Speaker Frank Blas Jr., Vice Speaker Tony Ada, and all members of the Legislature.

The mother wrote that she was informed the lack of supervision went beyond the classroom, and extended into the hallways of Southern High.

She stated that her children have witnessed students having sex in school stairwells.

While some may see the incident involving my daughter as an isolated event, I remind you that majority of sexual assault cases go unreported, the mother wrote.

The shortage of funding at GDOE, and the threat of failing to provide enough teachers to comply with both Guam law and the Guam Federation of Teachers union contract, was highlighted at a budget hearing on April 30.

Failure to provide a teacher in every classroom opens the department up to lawsuits, and has been cited by senators as a safety concern for students.

Education oversight chairman Sen. Vince Borja wrote to GDOE Superintendent Erik Swanson about the reported incident on Friday.

While I understand the Department is facing staffing shortages, this situation has revealed serious lapses in supervision protocols and has raised broader concerns about student safety, school accountability, and compliance with the Adequate Education Act, Borja wrote.

Borja asked Swanson to provide a summary of the alleged incident and steps taken immediately after it was reported.

He also asked about efforts to ensure student supervision, corrective action plans, and an update on efforts to fill long-standing teacher vacancies.

The safety and well-being of our students must remain the Departments top priority, Borja wrote Swanson.

Borja told the Pacific Daily News that he understood a police investigation was ongoing and the Guam Department of Education was doing its own behavioral hearing process.

Guam Police Department Public Information Officer Norman Analista said he would have to look into the matter, when asked whether any adult or minor was taken into custody after the report.

A response was pending as of Friday evening.
The Guam Department of Education will not get more time to spend $108.8 million in federal funds that would fix 13 different schools and repair air conditioners across the district, according to a May 8 letter from the U.S. Department of Education.

A denial letter for the extension of COVID-era American Rescue Plan funds bears the signature of USDOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Hayley B. Sanon.

GDOE, the governor, and members of the Legislature have been appealing USDOE to allow more time to use the funds after U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon accelerated the deadline to spend ARP money in March.

The Biden Administration previously gave school districts across the nation until March 2026 to spend the money.

But Trump Administration appointee McMahon sent a letter on March 28 telling school officials that the cutoff to spend ARP funds was that same day.

Upon review of your submitted information, I am declining to approve for the projects listed below a liquidation period past the March 28, 2025 date referenced in the Secretarys letter, USDOE deputy Sanon wrote in the May 8 denial.

I have determined the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) was unable to sufficiently explain how each project directly mitigates the effects of COVID on American students education, Sanon wrote. I found the projects to be inconsistent with the Departments priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.

According to the letter, GDOE has 30 days to file an appeal.

GDOE Deputy Superintendent for Educational Support and Community Learning Barbara Adamos on Friday said the local school district will follow the appeals process, per instruction from GDOE Superintendent Erik Swanson.

We are also working with our local partners  senators, governor, and the respective contractors, Adamos said Friday.

She said the district may explore legal options, noting a similar case filed in a New York State federal court.

A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday blocked USDOEs move to claw back about $1.1 billion in unspent pandemic era funds, court records show.

The injunction blocked the clawback of funds from 15 states and Washington D.C., which brought the case against the U.S. Department of Education.

According to the injunction, USDOE may not enforce the March 28 letter from Education Secretary McMahon.

School districts affected must be given at least 14 days notice before any new deadline is set out, the order states.

However, the injunction only applies to plaintiffs in the case, and Guam is not a party to the lawsuit.

Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan on Friday said that his office would be reminding GDOE about the administrative appeals process with USDOE, before discussing any legal action.

He said his office had expedited contracts for the $108.8 million, which were properly allocated to contracts before the Trump Administration decided to advance the spending deadline.

Moylan said court decisions stateside were finding that the Trump Administration may not have the authority to claw back funds that are already allocated.

But other jurisdictions were already making those same arguments, and getting GDOE to first work with USDOE through an appeal might avoid costly litigation.

He said the administration would hopefully change its stance on the issue.

Of the $108.8 million that remains frozen, GDOE intended to use $7.5 million to complete the critical refurbishment of F. B. Leon Guerrero Middle School.

Students from FBLG and Simon Sanchez High School have both been attending double-session classes outside their home village of Yigo since 2023.

GDOE Superintendent Swanson has floated the possibility of having both schools resume double-session classes in their home village, at the FBLG campus.

Another $5.29 million of the funds would have gone to fix air conditioners at different public schools, according to the denial letter.

Finally, about $96 million worth of the funds were already tied up in refurbishment projects for a dozen local public schools.

GDOE had already pledged the funds in a contract with Core Tech International, prior to the March 28 clawback. Refurbishment work has already started.

Here are the schools affected:

Oceanview Middle School

Marcial Sablan Elementary School

George Washington High School

Agueda Johnston Middle School

Ordot-Chalan Pago Elementary School

JQ San Miguel Elementary School

Finegayan Elementary School

Daniel L. Perez Elementary School

VSA Benavente Middle School

Tamuning Elementary School

CL Taitano Elementary School

Jose Rios Middle School

In response to each project area, USDOEs Sanon on May 8 wrote This construction project does not provide a direct academic service to students to mitigate pandemic-induced learning loss.

GDOE oversight chairman Sen. Vince Borja in a Friday statement said he was deeply disappointed by the denial letter.

This short-sighted rejection disregards the unique challenges facing Guams educational system and threatens to worsen conditions for our students, teachers, and families, he said.

He said the loss of nearly $109 million jeopardized the the stability of an already struggling department and would further stress the islands slumped economy.

Borja said he will meet with GDOE in the coming days to explore legal remedies, including taking the matter to court.

I urge our Magahaga, Attorney General and Delegate to Congress to join me and exhaust every option, Borja said.

Our students deserve better. We will not sit idly by while federal bureaucracy undermines their future.




Haiti - FLASH : New Pope elected, who is Leo XIV ?





On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the second day of the conclave and the third round of the election, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel at 6:08 p.m., announcing the election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (69 years old) as the new Pope. He chose to be called Leo XIV, thus following in the footsteps of Leo XIII, considered the most progressive pope of modern times.



A huge crowd, numbering in the tens of thousands, enthusiastically welcomed the new Pope Leo XIV as he addressed the faithful. Visibly moved, he spoke mainly in Italian, addressing the entire world. "Peace be with you all," he declared, echoing the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who guided God's flock. "I hope that this greeting of Peace will penetrate your hearts, reach your families, all people, wherever they are, all peoples and the whole earth," he added. The new Pope emphasized the unique nature of the Peace that comes from God. "It is the Peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming, humble and persevering Peace. It emanates from God, from God who loves us all unconditionally." Leo XIV then paid tribute to Pope Francis, who died on April 21. "We still keep in our ears the weak, but always courageous, voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome ! This Easter morning, the Pope blessing Rome extended his blessing to the entire world."







Biography of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (Pope Leo XIV) :

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois.



He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family. He studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers, then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1977. He also pursued studies in philosophy. On September 1st of that same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in St. Louis, in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Chicago. He made his first profession on September 2, 1978, and his solemn vows on August 29, 1981.



He studied at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he earned a degree in theology. At the age of 27, his superiors sent him to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Santa Monica by Monsignor Jean Jadot, pro-president of the Pontifical Council for Non-Christians, now the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.



Father Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984. The following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, he was assigned to the Augustinian mission of Chulucanas, Piura, Peru, where he remained from 1985 to 1986. In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis on "The Role of the Local Prior of the Order of Saint Augustine." That same year, he was appointed Vocations Director and Mission Director of the Augustinian Province of Mother of Good Counsel in Olympia Fields, Illinois (USA).



The following year, he joined the Trujillo mission, also in Peru, as Director of the Common Formation Project for Augustinian aspirants from the vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurimac. For eleven years, he held several important positions. From 1988 to 1992, he served as prior of the community. From 1988 to 1998, he was director of formation and professor of the professed. In the Archdiocese of Trujillo, he was judicial vicar from 1989 to 1998 and professor of canon law, patristics, and morals at the major seminary of San Carlos and San Marcelo. At the same time, he was entrusted with the pastoral care of Our Lady Mother of the Church, which later became a parish named after Saint Rita. This parish was located on the poor outskirts of the city, and he served there from 1988 to 1999. From 1992 to 1999, he also served as parish administrator of Our Lady of Monserrat.



In 1999, he was elected prior provincial of the Augustinian province of "Mother of Good Counsel" in Chicago. Two and a half years later, at the Ordinary General Chapter of the Order of Saint Augustine, his brothers elected him Prior General. He was confirmed for a second term in 2007.



In October 2013, he returned to his Augustinian province in Chicago. There, he served as Director of Formation at the Convent of Saint Augustine, First Councilor, and Provincial Vicar. He held these positions until his appointment by Pope Francis on November 3rd, 2014, as Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo. He was elevated to the episcopal dignity as Titular Bishop of Sufar. He entered the diocese on November 7, in the presence of Apostolic Nuncio James Patrick Green. Green ordained him Bishop a little over a month later, on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the Cathedral of Saint Mary.



On September 26, 2015, the Argentine Pope appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo. In March 2018, he was elected Second Vice-President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference. He is also a member of the Economic Council and President of the Commission for Culture and Education within the Conference.



In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy on July 13. The following year, on November 21, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops. Meanwhile, on April 15, 2020, the Pope appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Callao.



On January 30, 2023, the Pope summoned the Archbishop to Rome to entrust him with the role of Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. This appointment led to his promotion to the rank of Archbishop. At the Consistory of September 30 of that same year, the Pope created him a cardinal and conferred on him the diaconate of Santa Monica. He took possession of his title on January 28, 2024. As head of the Dicastery, he participated in the final apostolic journeys of Pope Francis and in the first and second sessions of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. These sessions were held in Rome from October 4 to 29, 2023, and from October 2 to 27, 2024, respectively. He had already gained experience in synodal assemblies as prior of the Augustinians and representative of the Union of Superiors General (UGS).



His episcopal motto is In Illo uno unum, words that Saint Augustine pronounced in a sermon, the Exposition on Psalm 127, to explain that "although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one."



His father, Louis Marius Prevost, was of French and Italian descent, and his mother, Mildred Martinez, was of Spanish descent. He had two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph. Pope Leo XIV was fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and also read German and Latin.



Reaction from the Office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime :

"It is with deep respect that His Excellency Alix Didier Fils-Aime, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, learned of the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, to the Pontifical Throne of the Catholic Church.



The Haitian Government extends its most sincere and warmest congratulations to the new Holy Father. A man of faith, service, and mission, his remarkable career demonstrates open-mindedness, sincere closeness to the most disadvantaged, and an unwavering commitment to the universality of the Church.



At this historic and spiritual moment, Haiti, a nation deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition, joins in prayer with the faithful around the world. The country fervently hopes that this new pontificate will be marked by peace, fraternity, and justice for all peoples."



Reaction from the Haitian Conference of Catholic Bishops :

The Haitian Conference of Catholic Bishops gives thanks to God for the election of the new Successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor of the Church: Pope Robert Francis Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV.



With the entire Church, in the joy of Easter and the obedience of faith, we welcome the new Pontiff given to us by divine Providence to confirm his brothers in the faith (cf. Lk 22:32) and to preside over charity.



In fidelity to the constant doctrine of the Holy Catholic Church, united among ourselves in charity and with the new Roman Pontiff, we strongly affirm the unbreakable communion that binds us to the See of Peter, "the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of the unity of both the Bishops and the multitude of the faithful" (Lumen Gentium, 23).



We greet with veneration the ministry of the new Bishop of Rome, who, by virtue of his office, enjoys the primacy not only of honor but also of jurisdiction, by virtue of which he has full, supreme, and universal authority over the whole Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, 22; CIC, can. 331). With all the faithful, we express our obedience, our fervent attachment, and our complete readiness to collaborate in the ministry of Pope Leo XIV in the universal Church.



We entrust this new pontificate to the protection of the Mother of the Church, the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and to the intercession of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul."



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Brazil Visa : End of Digital Documents

The Brazil Visa Application Center (CAVB) operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti informs everyone that as of June 2nd, 2025, digital documents will no longer be accepted. "DHL and FedEx services are operational again. Despite our efforts to facilitate digital services, many people do not respect the principles we require. We also receive many fake legalizations."



Soil conservation work in Morne Pichigri

As part of projects aimed at strengthening the resilience of local communities in the commune of Anse d'Hainault, soil conservation work has begun in Morne Pichigri. This initiative is part of the Safety Net Strengthening Program for Vulnerable Populations, implemented by the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) and financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The PADF, the field operator, deployed several teams to provide the community with this essential structure. This structure aims to protect the area against erosion and landslides, while preserving the soil's productive capacity.



The FNE denies and threatens

Rumors have been circulating for several days, claiming that the National Education Fund (FNE) has already received 19 billion gourdes to respond to the crisis in the Haitian education system caused by insecurity. The FNE's General Management firmly denies this information (MISinformation), stating that no real or verifiable budgetary data supports this claim. The FNE strongly condemns the spread of this misinformation, clearly disseminated with the aim of damaging its image. Consequently, the FNE is issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the members of the Collective of Students for the Renewal of Haiti (CEREH), who are responsible for these false reports, demanding an immediate public retraction. Failing this, the FNE reserves the right to initiate legal action.



CPT : Denial by Fritz Alphonse Jean

Fritz Alphonse Jean, President pro tempore of the Transitional Council (CPT), formally denied on a radio station in the capital the rumors of a possible extension of the CPT's mandate until 2028. He attributes this rumor to a disinformation campaign aimed at creating mistrust in public opinion.



Did you know ?

The Vatican explains that smoke bombs are used to produce black or white smoke. "For black smoke, the chemical compound used is a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur." "White smoke is obtained using a mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin, a natural amber resin obtained from conifers."



967 Schools Forced to Close

967 schools have been forced to close their doors in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area due to insecurity, a survey conducted by the Union of Progressive Haitian Parents (UPEPH) revealed.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The Cologne-based plastics manufacturer Igus has unveiled Iggy Rob, a humanoid robot developed in-house that is designed for industrial applications. The robot costs 47,999 euros and is suitable for companies that want to automate their production, service or logistics with humanoid robots.

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The humanoid robot Iggy Rob is around 1.7 m tall. He has two ReBeL cobot arms and two bionic hands that are modeled on human hands, but have to make do with four fingers.

Strictly speaking, Iggy Rob is a semi-humanoid robot, as he has no legs but a mobile base with which he can move around. This comes from the autonomous mobile robot ReBeL Move from Igus. This trick means that costs can be kept lower than for humanoid robots with legs. However, if the robot is only supposed to move on flat surfaces, this is not a problem. The robot cannot climb stairs, but it should be able to use an elevator to reach other levels of a building, for example. Igus states that most industrial buildings already have the prerequisites for using robots with wheels.

Use in production, logistics and service

A face is displayed in the robot's head, which can apparently react to human employees and enables the robot to be used not only in production and logistics, but also as a service robot at reception. Igus does not provide any precise details about which autonomous functions are implemented using which artificial intelligence (AI) and how advanced they are.

Igus promises that Iggy Rob can do its job for around eight hours without interruption before it has to return to the charging station. The robot can move a maximum payload of 100 kg.

Igus wants to further develop the robot together with its customers and adapt it to their wishes. To this end, the company offers a "test before invest" program prior to purchase. Interested companies can work with Igus robotics experts to explore the possibilities of the robot depending on the desired area of application and then purchase the robot. Igus itself intends to use Iggy Rob to insert components into plastic injection molding machines. The company is calling for a price of 47,999 euros for Iggy Rob.

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(olb)

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.
A fine against Germany is approaching because the federal government is lagging behind in protecting critical infrastructures (Kritis) and increasing cyber security. On Wednesday, the EU Commission raised the infringement proceedings, which have been ongoing since the end of November, to the second stage because Germany has still not transposed the EU directive on network and information security, known as NIS2, into national law. It has now sent the Federal Government a reasoned opinion on the matter with further questions, to which it must respond promptly.

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The NIS2 is intended to ensure a high level of cyber security throughout the EU in sectors such as information and communication technologies (ICT), energy and water supply, transport, finance and media. EU countries should have implemented the directive by October 17. In late fall, the Commission sent an initial request for information on the state of play to a total of 24 member states. The Brussels government institution has now sent the second blue letter to 18 other nations in addition to Germany. These are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, France, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden.

Two months for NIS2 implementation

Full implementation of the relevant legislation is "crucial for further improving the resilience and incident response capacity" of public and private companies operating in the critical sectors and the EU as a whole, the Commission warns. The 19 EU states that have been contacted now have two months to react and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the executive body threatens to refer the cases to the European Court of Justice. This could then impose fines, for example.

The SPD and the Greens were only able to agree on a bill for the implementation of NIS2 and the introduction of vulnerability management to close IT security loopholes after the "traffic light" government's exit in December. State and municipal administrations were not to be exempt from the stricter cyber security requirements and the handling of "critical components" in critical areas was to be tightened. At the end of January, however, the responsible rapporteurs gave up due to renewed irreconcilable differences, especially with the FDP.

The new black-red coalition has stated in its roadmap for the coming years: "We will amend the BSI Act as part of the implementation of the NIS 2 Directive." Experts warn that potentially affected companies and authorities should already take action despite the delays.

(vbr)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The Church Council voted 6240 in favour of the measure on Thursday, falling 15 votes short of the required three-quarters majority. The decision means the Church will not adopt parallel definitions of marriage, one as a union between a man and a woman, and the other as a union between two people regardless of gender.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has voted down a proposal to formally include same-sex unions alongside heterosexual marriages in its constitution.

The proposal had been advanced by the Bishops Conference in 2023 as a compromise intended to respect doctrinal differences within the Church. It would have allowed parishes to conduct same-sex marriages while permitting individual priests and cantors to decline participation based on personal convictions.

The current system remains in place. Priests willing to marry same-sex couples, often referred to as "rainbow priests," may continue to do so. No parish is required to conduct such ceremonies, and bishops have made clear that clergy who perform them will not face disciplinary consequences.

Heikki Holma, a Council member from the Diocese of Oulu, said the debate was conducted respectfully. I dont see this as a battle, he said. There are no signs of conflict or even wounds in the Church Council.

Suvi Routasalo, representing the Archdiocese of Turku, supported the proposal and expressed hope that it will pass in a future vote. I believe it represents the present and the future, she said.

Archbishop Tapio Luoma also supported the proposal. In comments to Yle, he said he expects the matter to return to the Church Assembly until it is eventually approved. I am convinced that, in time, the church will allow the marriage of same-sex couples in Finland as well, he said earlier this week.

Finlands civil law recognises marriage regardless of gender, following the introduction of gender-neutral legislation in 2017. While the state permits all couples to marry, the Church has not updated its doctrinal definition to reflect this change.

The Church remains divided on the issue. Supporters of reform argue that aligning Church practices with Finnish law and social norms is necessary for credibility and inclusion. Opponents maintain that altering the definition of marriage would compromise theological principles. This has been just one of the recent efforts by the Finnish Church to become proactive in society's issues, such as the campaign to help battle addiction and substance abuse among youth through workshops, counselling, and safe gambling practices.

Despite Thursdays rejection, advocates say the push for equal recognition of same-sex couples within the Church will continue. The next opportunity to revisit the matter will come at future sessions of the Church Assembly or Council.

HT
Joonas Koskela , meteorologist at Foreca, said a slow warming trend is visible in the 10-day forecast.

After a colder-than-usual start to May, marked by scattered snowfall and sleet even in southern areas, conditions are expected to turn milder and sunnier ahead of the weekend.

Temperatures in Finland are forecast to climb steadily over the coming days, with parts of the country potentially reaching 20C next week, according to meteorologists.

In the coming days, cold northern airflow still dominates, but heading into the weekend, cloud cover will gradually give way to more sun, he wrote in a weather blog.

Light precipitation in various forms, including rain, sleet and snow, may still occur, especially overnight and in the early mornings. On Friday, heavier rainfall is expected in central regions.

From Wednesday to Friday, daytime temperatures are likely to remain between 2C and 8C across most areas. By the weekend, southern and western Finland will see highs exceeding 10C, with warmer conditions forecast for Mother's Day on Sunday.

If the sun breaks through, temperatures could locally reach 13 to 14 degrees, Koskela said.

The warming trend will continue into early next week. By Monday, large parts of the country could see highs of 10C to 15C, with western areas reaching up to 16C. On Tuesday, temperatures may rise further, reaching 15C to 18C in some locations.

While the latter half of next week remains uncertain, Koskela said southern Finland could see temperatures as high as 20C if high-pressure systems persist.

HT
Speaking after the informal session, Valtonen said Finland was in favour of reviewing the EU-Israel Association Agreement if aid continues to be withheld. The trade deal offers Israel tariff exemptions and access to EU programmes but also includes commitments to human rights.

Finland supports trade-related pressure on Israel if humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza remain blocked, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Thursday following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw.

It cant get much worse, because Israel hasnt allowed food shipments into Gaza for months, Valtonen said. Under no circumstances should peoples suffering be politicised, as Israel is currently doing.

She added that Finland supports the European Unions demand that Israel immediately lift its blockade on humanitarian supplies. The EU earlier this week issued a statement noting that no food aid had reached Gaza for more than two months and repeated its call for a ceasefire.

The Netherlands has led the push to reassess the trade agreement, citing violations of humanitarian law.

Valtonen said Finland agrees that aid should never be used as a weapon in war. Humanitarian access is non-negotiable. This is about legal obligations as much as it is about moral responsibility, she said.

The Finnish foreign minister also acknowledged that Hamas has not released all hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks on Israel. She said efforts should focus on supporting the emergence of a Palestinian Authority capable of peaceful governance and respecting Israels security.

There is no direct negotiation with Hamas, she said. The international community must work toward a future where terrorists are no longer in power.

Earlier this week, researchers cited by Helsingin Sanomat urged the Finnish government to apply pressure through the trade agreement, highlighting the EUs position as Israels largest economic partner.

Following the meeting in Warsaw, Valtonen travelled to Ukraine for another informal gathering of EU foreign ministers in Lviv. The session, hosted by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Ukraines Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, included discussions on establishing a special tribunal to investigate Russias war of aggression.

According to Reuters, the tribunal would be organised under the Council of Europe and could be operational by 2026. The Council is Europes top human rights organisation.

Valtonen said the meeting underlines the EUs commitment to accountability and continued support for Ukraine. Ukraine has demonstrated time and again its desire for lasting peace, she said. This effort, like Ukraines defence of European security, deserves our strongest possible support.

HT
The proposal was outlined by Elina Valtonen , Finlands Minister for Foreign Affairs, during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers held in Warsaw. She stated that tariffs would serve as a parallel mechanism to the sanctions already in place, providing the EU with a more flexible and sustainable tool.

Finland has proposed the introduction of tariffs on all Russian imports into the European Union, aiming to strengthen the blocs economic stance against Moscow and reduce dependency on Russian trade.

If in the future some of the sanctions lose their effectiveness, or whatever happens, we would still have this tariff, Valtonen told reporters, according to Bloomberg.

Unlike sanctions, which require unanimous support from all member states, tariffs can be introduced by a qualified majority, potentially bypassing vetoes from dissenting countries such as Hungary. This procedural difference has led to increased interest in trade-based measures as alternatives or reinforcements to existing sanctions.

Valtonen added that the European Commission already holds a mandate to introduce such tariffs, but implementation would still depend on the political consensus among member states.

The initiative comes as the EU prepares a 17th sanctions package against Russia, expected to be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting later in May. Proposals for the new package are currently being compiled, with member states facing increasing pressure to maintain a coordinated front against Russias continued aggression in Ukraine.

In parallel, discussions are ongoing about using proceeds from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraines defence. Valtonen has previously advocated for directing the roughly 3 billion in annual returns from the frozen 300 billion in Russian central bank assets toward the purchase of weapons and military equipment, as well as Ukraines long-term reconstruction.

Earlier this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EUs policy of severing energy ties with Russia. Dependency on Russia is not only bad for our security, but also for our economy, she said. Our energy prices cannot be dictated by a hostile neighbour.

Existing EU sanctions include export restrictions on sensitive technologies, financial measures against Russian banks, bans on Russian airlines, and freezes on the assets of hundreds of individuals and companies involved in the war effort.

Trade measures such as import duties represent an alternative approach that avoids the political deadlock of full unanimity. The Finnish proposal highlights growing interest among EU states in reinforcing economic tools that do not rely entirely on consensus.

Hungary has repeatedly delayed and resisted extensions of sanctions packages targeting Russia, prompting several member states to explore policy frameworks that could move forward with qualified majority approval.

The new tariff proposal would affect all Russian-origin goods entering the EU, regardless of sector. While details of the tariff structure have not yet been published, the approach would aim to make Russian products economically less competitive in the European market.

Valtonen described the tariffs as a long-term safeguard designed to maintain pressure on Russia even if sanctions are eroded or circumvented over time.

Finland has played an active role in shaping EU policy on Russia since joining NATO and the Schengen areas eastern flank. The country has also backed greater military and financial support for Ukraine, including the use of seized Russian assets.

The timing of the tariff proposal coincides with heightened tensions across the EUs eastern borders and the broader debate over how best to contain Russian influence. Poland has announced that it aims to finalise agreement on the next sanctions package by 1 July.

HT
School system honors Teacher of the Year

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Marley Moreno-Hollifield, the art teacher at Henderson County Career Academy, was named Henderson County public schools 2025 Teacher of the Year on Thursday at the annual award luncheon sponsored by AdventHealth and Boyd Chevrolet.

Moreno-Hollifield has transformed her instruction into an experience where students take ownership of their learning. The result: authentic, thoughtful artwork that reflects not only technical growth but deep personal expression.

Caring about students means giving them freedom to explore and grow on their own terms, while always being available to provide guidance and assistance, she said.

Marley Moreno-Hollifield is an educator who leads with heart, vision, and purpose, schools Superintendent Mark R. Garrett said. She empowers her students to discover their voice through art and fosters a classroom culture that champions creativity, collaboration, and confidence. We are proud to have her represent Henderson County Public Schools as our 2025 Teacher of the Year.

A graduate of UNC-Asheville with a bachelor of arts in art degree, Moreno-Hollifield has redefined what arts education can look like through her student-centered approach. Her classroom is more than a place to learn about color theory or brush strokesits a vibrant studio space where students are empowered to make decisions, explore diverse materials, and take creative risks.

Beyond the classroom, Moreno-Hollifield plays a vital role in strengthening school cultureorganizing student events, promoting student government, and encouraging staff unity. Her leadership extends into the broader community through her involvement with the GEM (Girls Empowered) program, the United Way of Henderson Countys Rising Leaders cohort and public art initiatives supporting literacy.

My greatest contribution as a teacher has been instilling confidence in students, regardless of their technical skill in art, Moreno-Hollifield said. Its a joy to watch them feel empowered to share their ideas and see value in their own voice.

Her contributions also include painting a 2025 Bearfootin Bear for auction to benefit The Literacy Connection, serving as Secondary Division Chair of the North Carolina Art Education Association and volunteering with local wildlife rehabilitator Possum Pat during her summer break.

Following Thursdays ceremony at The Main Event downtown, Moreno-Hollifield returned to Career Academy to a surprise celebration filled with artwork, cheers and hugs from students and staff.

Ms. Moreno-Hollifield brings joy and humor into every corner of our school, Innovative High School Principal Kirbey Farley said. She is deeply respected by students and staff alike for her positivity, leadership, and belief in the power of education to transform lives.

Like all 23 school-level honorees, Moreno-Hollifield was nominated by her peers as her schools Teacher of the Year. After a series of interviews with a selection committee made up of administrators, board members, parents, and the previous Teacher of the Year, she was chosen to represent the school district as its 2025 Teacher of the Year.

The HCPS Teacher of the Year receives a commemorative plaque, an all-expense-paid trip to a state education conference of her choice and $4,500 from Boyd Chevrolet. Optimum contributed a gift basket and an $800 DonorsChoose gift card to support Moreno-Hollifields classroom.
China's inbound consumption rises on back of eased tax refund processes

Xinhua) 10:23, May 09, 2025

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China witnessed a vibrant surge in inbound tourist consumption during the recent May Day holiday as more foreign visitors flocked to Chinese attractions and left with full shopping bags, driven by the country's recently optimized tax refund policies.

Central bank data has revealed that the number of transactions made by inbound visitors and processed through card payment giant China UnionPay or NetsUnion Clearing Corporation, a Chinese online payment clearing house, increased nearly 245 percent over the five-day holiday that ended on Monday, with the total transaction value up over 128 percent year on year.

On mobile platforms, popular Chinese payment app Alipay reported a 180 percent rise in inbound tourist spending between May 1 and 3, while WeChat Pay recorded nearly tripled foreign user transaction volume and value figures in China compared to the same period last year.

This rise in inbound consumption is the fruit of China's latest push to encourage foreign tourist spending. In late April, the country introduced a package of measures to optimize its departure tax refund policy, including lowering the minimum purchase threshold for refunds, raising the cash refund ceiling, expanding the network of participating stores, and widening the range of products available.

Overseas travelers in China can now claim a tax refund if they spend at least 200 yuan (about 27.75 U.S. dollars) at a single store in a single day and meet other relevant requirements, with refunds available in multiple forms, including mobile, bank and cash payments. The upper limit for cash refunds has been raised to 20,000 yuan.

China's metropolises led the shopping surge. From May 1 to 5, Beijing welcomed some 104,000 inbound tourists -- up 42.4 percent year on year -- whose spending saw a 48 percent year-on-year increase.

In Shanghai, tax-refund-on-departure sales jumped 120 percent in value during the holiday, and the amount of tax refunded increased 130 percent. So far, 1,013 enterprises have registered for departure tax refund services, covering more than 3,300 branded stores.

China's streamlined tax refund process has also had an impact on figures. Right before this year's May Day holiday, taxation authorities in Shanghai introduced self-service machines that allow foreign shoppers to submit most of their transaction details for their tax refund applications by scanning their passport and receipts.

In the southwestern city of Chengdu, a refund-upon-purchase service which allows eligible tourists to receive tax refunds instantly at retail outlets rather than waiting until they leave the country, has benefited many foreign tourists during the holiday.

"It's so convenient, and I'm planning to buy more," said a tourist from Singapore who received a refund of over 4,000 yuan when he bought two pieces of luggage at Chengdu IFS, one of the biggest shopping malls in the city.

"Providing overseas travelers with a greater variety of shopping options and more convenient tax refund services will stimulate inbound consumption and support China's high-standard opening-up and economic growth," said Chen Binkai, vice president of the Central University of Finance and Economics.

China introduced its departure tax refund policy for overseas travelers in 2015. Inbound tourist spending has increased over the years as China opens wider to global visitors by facilitating visas, payments and accommodation.

The country now grants unilateral visa-free entry to people from 38 countries, and has extended its visa-free transit period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries. About 380,000 foreigners entered China under these arrangements during the May Day holiday, a year-on-year increase of 72.7 percent.

China is also accelerating its development of international consumption center cities to stimulate inbound spending further. The country is working to transform five cities -- Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing -- into major shopping centers.

In 2024, the number of inbound foreign travelers to the five cities doubled compared to the previous year. Together, they now account for nearly 70 percent of the country's departure tax refund stores and more than half of imported consumer goods.

"China's inbound consumption holds great growth potential," said Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping, noting that last year, spending by overseas visitors contributed about 0.5 percent of the country's GDP, compared to 1 to 3 percent in major economies.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
China remains stable, predictable investment destination for European businesses, despite US tariffs: EU chamber

10:23, May 09, 2025 By Yin Yeping ( Global Times

Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, addresses a press conference in Beijing on May 8, 2025. (Yin Yeping/GT)

China can turn crisis into opportunity and demonstrate that it is a stable and predictable investment destination, said the head of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (European Chamber) in Beijing on Thursday. The comment underscored the continued commitment of European businesses to the Chinese market despite global headwinds, highlighted by the US tariffs, a Chinese expert said.

The European Chamber conducted an online flash survey from April 17 to 27 to assess how its members have been affected by the recent escalation of tariffs and trade measures between the US and China. The survey received responses from 162 European companies in China, covering sectors such as machinery, automotive and auto components, professional services, and medical devices.

Similar to a 2018 chamber flash survey on the first US-China trade war, many chamber members have been able to mitigate the direct impacts of the tariffs, highlighting their pragmatism and adaptability - their "in China for China" strategy being a key factor in this regard, according to the European Chamber.

When the companies were asked whether their export supplies or goods from China to the US were affected by the US tariff hikes, 69 percent said there was no impact. The remaining 31 percent reported varying degrees of impact.

When asked how they had responded, or intended to respond, 25 percent of the surveyed companies said that they "have kept our prices the same," while another 20 percent said that they "have raised or intend to raise prices." Only 12 percent said that they had lowered or planned to lower prices.

"It is difficult to overstate how much uncertainty this trade war has created for our members," said Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber. "But we believe that China can turn crisis into opportunity and demonstrate that it is a stable and predictable investment destination," he noted.

Notably, the survey found that when companies were asked whether they had felt increased political pressure from external or non-business sources, 76 percent pointed to the US government.

According to the survey, 57 percent of the surveyed companies said "no changes, but we are monitoring the situation" in response to questions whether their strategy had changed or would change as a result of the US-China trade war.

"We probably [will have] the same number of European companies in China five years from now as we do today. When we talked to our members, there is still a very high level of commitment to the Chinese market. For many companies, China is the market where you need to continue to invest in order to remain competitive," Eskelund told the Global Times.

Despite the global trade tensions, highlighted by the US tariffs, China, in many ways, remains a significant market for European businesses. "It's the world's second-largest economy, and across a wide range of industries for many companies, China remains a core market, in particular, within manufacturing," Eskelund said.

On a further note, the European Chamber head said that for many European companies, China and Chinese manufactured products have remained core parts of global supply chains.

"I think European companies are still very much committed to maintaining their global sourcing in China, given that the capability of Chinese manufacturing remains one of the main areas where European companies will look for manufacturing," Eskelund said.

"For many companies, and certainly for European companies, if you're competing in the global marketplace and you have global supply chains, and if you are going to be able to compete on price and quality, China is still the place that you need to be," the chamber head noted.

He also expressed optimism about the growing interactions between China and the EU at the government level.

"The latest remarks from the European Chamber once again highlight the importance of the Chinese market in the eyes of foreign companies, especially amid today's complex global trade landscape," Zhao Junjie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. He noted that European businesses' continued commitment to the Chinese market reflects the foresight and strategic vision of European entrepreneurs.

The European Chamber's survey coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU this year, with both sides emphasizing their greater potential and willingness to deepen cooperation.

China and the EU enjoy complementary strengths and mutual benefits in economic and trade cooperation, forging a synergy that speaks for itself. Official data show that bilateral trade grew from $2.4 billion to $780 billion over the past five decades, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

China also leads in global green technology, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, areas that strongly resonate with the EU's goals of carbon neutrality and digital transformation, the report said.

Despite growing competition in China, many European companies are doing everything they can to enter the market. This reflects China's significant share of the global economy, its key role in global supply chains, and its position as a dynamic and vital market that complements the development of European businesses, Zhao said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Il Bottaccio, Relais & Chateaux has been invited to join Internova Travel Group's SELECT Hotels & Resorts by Internova program, an exclusive collection of more than 1,700 luxury properties around the world.

Tucked away in a tranquil corner at the foot of the Apuan Alps, Il Bottaccio comes with its fair share of exciting history. It all started with a late 18th century mill, put in place by a wealthy citizen, Paquale Boldrini, who built a house around it in Montignoso. The name itself is quintessentially Tuscan and it refers to a basin where water is collected to supply mills and olive presses.

Over the years, this fascinating building was acquired by a renowned heart surgeon, Gaetano Azzolina, who restored it and embellished it as a private home in the 1970s. Elio d'Anna, a mercurial, brilliantly witty, illuminated musician, philosopher and entrepreneur subsequently acquired it. The hotel opened in 1983 and entered the prestigious Relais&Chateau family in 1988.

A home rather than a hospitality business, the idea behind it all was - and still is - that of offering respite and pleasure to gourmet travellers in search of matchless sensory experiences.

The general atmosphere is one of enticing elegance and charm, epitomised by the highly unique decor, and yet an overall sense of familiarity embraces you as you step in, making every stay a memorable one.

Guests who book their stay at a SELECT hotel or resort by Internova through a travel advisor with ALTOUR, Andrew Harper, Global Travel Collection, Nexion Travel Group or Travel Leaders Network can enjoy amenities that are unique to the program. Based on availability, those perks may include resort credits, room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, early check-in and late check-out and basic Wi-Fi.

To learn more about the SELECT Hotels & Resorts by Internova program, please visit www.internovatravel.com.

Hotel website
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel , an internationally recognized and multi-award-winning luxury boarding and dog daycare franchise, is set to open its first Illinois location in Deerfield on June 21. Located at 649 Lake Cook Rd., this new best-in-class pet hotel will provide Deerfield pet parents with an exceptional boarding and daycare experience that goes well beyond standard pet services. To celebrate the initial opening, K9 Resorts in Deerfield will be hosting a grand opening event on June 21 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The event will feature a ribbon cutting, exclusive site tours, prize giveaways, refreshments, and other festivities.

K9 Resorts Deerfield is owned by Luxury Pet Hotel Investments LLC, (LPHI) the largest group of K9 Resorts franchisees. The group has announced plans to open 48 locations nationwide, including up to 11 in Southern California, 13 in Florida, and 11 across Virginia and Washington, D.C. The group plans to open up to eight locations in the greater Chicagoland area by 2029.

K9 Resorts provides five-star service at locations across the U.S. The new Deerfield resort features best-in-class facilities and services, including luxury dog boarding suites, premium Kuranda dog beds, high-definition TVs, premium shampoos in its bathing salons, and much more to make it every dog's favorite place away from home. With health and wellness being a top priority, K9 Resorts also features a state-of-the-art air purification and ventilation system, which constantly cleans the air. In addition, K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotels feature outdoor play yards equipped with antimicrobial K9Grass and indoor playrooms, providing pets with everything they need to make new friends while getting necessary exercise.

K9 Resorts staff undergo extensive training and receive pet care certifications. Beyond this, every team member has a profound love for dogs and is dedicated to providing them with the best possible care. As a brand standard, the K9 Resorts team treats every dog like their own, ensuring a safe and secure environment that prioritizes pet well-being.

K9 Resorts Deerfield is accepting reservations now for stay dates starting June 23. Pre-opening special offers are also available. The resort's regular operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Deerfield dog parents can connect with the new resort on Facebook and Instagram (@k9resortsdeerfield) to stay up to date on events and promotions. To contact K9 Resorts of Deerfield, please call (847) 717-8322, or visit https://www.k9resorts.com/deerfield/ .

Hotel website
With a background in neuropsychology and a career forged at the intersection of creativity, data, and human behavior, Daaliah Meyer brings a rare and powerful perspective to hospitality marketing. Recently appointed as Cluster Director of Marketing & Communications for Nofa Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Resort, and Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, she is on a mission to transform these properties into category-defining destinations in the Kingdom.

Daaliah began her career in Cape Town, launching her own marketing agency that handled everything from photoshoot styling to full-scale digital campaigns for local fashion and food brands. Her entrepreneurial grit and ability to scale creative solutions quickly led her into the corporate spacejoining regional tech brand The Entertainer, where she rose through the ranks from Social Media Manager to KSA Market Lead in under two years. There, she led market expansions, launched high-performing campaigns, and built the company's first fully Saudi creative team.

Now at the Radisson Hotel Group, Daaliah is driven by a desire to blend global standards with authentic local storytelling. Her vision for Nofa Riyadh is to position it as Saudi Arabia's most iconic luxury resortwhere safari adventures meet five-star sophistication. Simultaneously, she aims to solidify Radisson Blu Diplomatic Quarter as the premier address for business travel in Riyadh.

Her strategic style is deeply collaborative, with a values-first approach rooted in loyalty, creativity, and a belief that "no idea is a bad idea." Whether mentoring Saudi talent, aligning with F&B teams on guest-driven activations, or turning dismissed concepts into revenue-generating campaigns, Daaliah is known for building not just marketing strategies, but momentum.

Outside of work, Daaliah is passionate about pursuits that blend creativity, wellness, and self-expression. A dedicated Pilates enthusiast, she finds strength and clarity through movement, while her interest in skincare and holistic living reflects her belief in the power of everyday rituals. Her love of travel fuels her marketing perspective, as she draws inspiration from diverse cultures and hospitality styles. A visual storyteller at heart, she enjoys photography and short-form content creation, and sees fashion as both a creative outlet and a lens into cultural dialogue. These passions, she says,"keep me curious, grounded, and creatively sharpqualities that shape the way I lead and connect."

Her appointment marks another step forward in Radisson Hotel Group's commitment to empowering women in leadership and fostering innovative, guest-centric hospitality across the region. With ambitions to expand her impact across key properties in the Kingdom, Daaliah remains grounded in what matters most: meaningful experiences, empowered teams, and storytelling that resonates.
Wavemaker Hospitality has appointed Amie Reece as Sales, Marketing and Promotions Executive, as the company strengthens its UK trade engagement.

Reece will work closely with Carl Harris and Damian Parkes, Sales, Marketing and Promotions Managers, to support the group's trade relationships across the UK and implement promotional activity aligned with Wavemaker's growth in the travel sector.

The company, which operates a collection of over 50 hotels across Greece and Cyprus, recently consolidated its portfolio under the umbrella brand, Wavemaker Hospitality, incorporating sub-brands Atlantica Hotels & Resorts and Aphrodite Hills Resort. The expansion into the luxury sector is led by Mare Resorts, which consists of two rebranded properties in Cyprus, and the launch of a new brand, Amoh Rhodes, a Luxury Collection Resort, opening in 2026.

Bringing over 17 years of industry experience, Reece joins from Karisma Hotels & Resorts, where she held the role of Trade Sales Executive. She was responsible for key UK accounts and trade show representation, driving sales across a broad portfolio of resorts. Her background also includes more than a decade at TUI, where she managed one of the brand's busiest retail stores and led large-scale consumer events.

Wavemaker's move into the luxury sector with the Amoh and Mare brands signals a major step in its evolution. Reece's appointment forms part of a wider strategy to build strong, collaborative relationships with the UK trade as the company targets discerning travellers with authentic, design-led experiences.
Marriott Marquis Dubai at Jewel of the Creek is delighted to announce the appointment of Chef Oscar Cimmino as the new Executive Chef. With over 10 years of experience in Italian cuisine, Chef Cimmino brings his passion for authentic Neapolitan flavours and innovative culinary techniques to the hotel, further enhancing the property's reputation for exceptional dining experiences.

Born and raised in Naples, Italy, Chef Oscar's love affair with food began at an early age, learning the secrets of authentic Neapolitan cuisine in his mother's kitchen. His journey in the culinary world has taken him across Italy and beyond, including esteemed roles in prestigious hotels in Rimini, Trentino Alto Adige, London, Lisbon, Vienna, and most recently, Dubai. His dedication to the art of Italian cooking, especially seafood, has earned him rave reviews, particularly for his signature dish, Spaghetti with Clams.

Chef Cimmino's philosophy is simple: "Every plate tells a story." He believes that food is a language that connects people, evoking memories and emotions. This passion for storytelling through cuisine has led him to embrace new flavours and modern styles, with a particular focus on fresh, local ingredients that reflect the essence of Southern Italy.

With a strong background in kitchen management, Chef Cimmino has demonstrated expertise in leading culinary teams, creating innovative menus, and ensuring the highest standards of food quality and safety. During his time with Renaissance Business Bay and Sheraton Dubai Creek & Tower, he successfully led pre-opening teams, developed menus that aligned with market trends, and implemented cost-control measures to increase profitability.

At Marriott Marquis Dubai at Jewel of the Creek, Chef Oscar will oversee the culinary operations across the property, ensuring that each dining experience reflects his commitment to authenticity, innovation, and excellence. His dedication to creating memorable guest experiences will be instrumental in enhancing the property's already exceptional culinary offerings.
Arts are the big draw for Basel and Cannes this year, with Eurovision, Art Basel, the Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lion Festival set to bring in large crowds and plenty of bookings to what will be two cultural tourism powerhouses in 2025.

Hotels anticipate a sell-out performance for Eurovision, Art Basel, Cannes Film Festival

Basel and Cannes have a packed cultural schedule this year, with major events that should see record-setting rates achieved.

Basel is hosting the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, which builds across the week of May 12, leading up to the Final on May 17, followed by Art Basel from June 19 to 22.

Cannes similarly has two major events to mark in the remainder of the H1 calendar: the Cannes Film Festival from May 13 to 24, followed by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from June 16 to 20.

These events act as major demand drivers, attracting tens of thousands of visitors during that period and prompting hotels to anticipate very high occupancy rates.

Looking at unavailable hotels (properties not listed due to selling out, being closed or enforcing length-of-stay restrictions across their inventory), its clear that these events will define hotel revenue performance in H1 2025.

 Source: Lighthouse

 Source: Lighthouse

In both cities, inventory is dwindling, especially in Cannes, where only one in ten properties are listed as available at the time of writing for the Film Festival, and all properties are listed as unavailable at the peak of the Lions Festival.

Basel has a slightly more favorable outlook for travelers still hoping to secure a last-minute ticket and accommodation. However, at the time of writing, three-quarters of hotels were listed as unavailable for both Eurovision and Art Basel.

Hotel demand climbs in Basel and Cannes

Although hotels already have a substantial number of reservations on the books, forward demand indicators suggest that more demand is likely to materialize in the final weeks.

Our composite demand level metric shows blocks of highly elevated demand for Eurovision, Art Basel, and Cannes Film Festival, with particularly strong spikes on June 15 and 19 during the Cannes Lions.

In the case of the last event, this metric may not capture the full picture as the festival is centered around the marketing industry and so much of the demand generated will be fulfilled through corporate bookings well in advance, often through GDS systems.

For Eurovision, demand builds steadily up to the final, while for Art Basel, its more front-loaded  peaking between June 16 and 18 as art buyers arrive and festivities ramp up, including a major art fair in the days leading up to the main event.

In Cannes, the Film Festival shows a clearly defined demand window, with forward indicators elevated from June 13 to 24. In contrast, peak demand for Cannes Lions falls on June 19, but the event is less visible in forward indicators due to its corporate audience, which books through channels not typically captured in leisure demand data.

 Source: Lighthouse

 Source: Lighthouse

A year-on-year comparison of forward demand indicators makes it clear why hoteliers in Basel are optimistic  and why theyve set high prices for their rooms.

For the Eurovision final the composite measure is nearly twice as high as on the same day last year at +188%.

In the case of Art Basel there is no overlap in the exact dates, with the 2024 event running from June 13-16th, however, while daily indicators are down -75% in what would have been peak demand in 2024, these levels rise to +153% during the 2025 dates, indicating YoY growth in demand in general.

 Source: Lighthouse

 Source: Lighthouse

Cannes presents a much more nuanced picture, showing minimal year-over-year growth in daily demand for both events, even though their timing is almost identical to 2024, with only a day's difference.

For the Film Festival, demand is overall comparable YoY, with lower demand indicated in the middle of the festival, but higher demand as it closes.

The Lions Festival, on the other hand, does not show a demand spike in the indicators. In fact, forward demand is down by 30% on June 19, likely reflecting the festivals corporate audience of the festival, whose bookings often fall outside traditional demand signals.

Recent peaks in pricing for Basel and Cannes

These events are largely driving H1 rates up to their highest levels in a welcome boost to local hospitality markets.

Average prices for the week of Eurovision are up 87% compared to the same week in 2024, which did not feature a comparable major event. In contrast, prices for Art Basel show a more modest 5% increase in a like-for-like comparison between 2024 and 2025.

For the Cannes Film Festival, peak pricing in 2025 is 20% higher than in 2024; a substantial jump, especially considering the already elevated rates last year.

However, for the Lions Festival, hotels in Cannes appear to have missed the opportunity to raise rates, with average weekly prices down 10% year-on-year. Although, as well explore later, there is a significant ongoing uplift underway.

 Source: Lighthouse

 Source: Lighthouse

At the daily level, prices peak at $477 for Eurovision, just below Art Basels $501. The Cannes Film Festival is by far the most expensive, with peak nightly rates reaching $705 on May 15. Meanwhile, the Lions Festival has the lowest peak at $429 per night, which is still more than double the citys typical rate.

Hotel room price swings in Basel and Cannes during peak events

Although prices are largely up YoY during these events, this isnt to say hotels are now on a set-and-forget strategy.

Instead, we are seeing wild swings in average advertised prices as hotels either try to shift their remaining inventory or price up to meet the swelling demand.

There is a clear divergence between the two cities hospitality markets: hotels in Basel have generally been adjusting prices downward in recent weeks, while those in Cannes are aggressively pushing rates higher.

A month-on-month comparison from late April shows that hotels in Basel are slashing rates for remaining rooms during Eurovision. In the week leading up to the final, prices have been cut by between 11% and 24%, with average rates down 15% on the day of the final itself.

However, declining prices immediately before a major event are not unusual, as our research has found.

Cannes tells a completely different story. During the Film Festival, the largest monthly shift is a 41% increase in average daily rates on May 15. Even more striking, hotels have raised prices by 71% on June 15  the day before the Lions Festival begins  within just the past 30 days.

The driver for this is the extremely limited inventory combined with still emerging demand.

Online Travel Agency (OTA) and metasearch queries for hotels in Cannes are highly elevated between May 15 and 19, aligning with the steepest increases in average room rates during the Film Festival.

 Source: Lighthouse

This data also suggests that hotels in Cannes may have underestimated true interest in the Lions event, as rates have often been discounted year-on-year.

Its likely that many hoteliers have relied on forward demand indicators and interpreted a weaker-than-expected outlook, unaware that corporate bookings may have obscured the true level of demand.

However, now we are close to the event, inventory is extremely limited and there remains potential attendees looking to make bookings.

This complex and rapidly shifting picture enforces the importance of having a strong picture of demand signals, market trends and also competitor behavior.

Although demand signals for Lions are mixed at best, hotels with an idea of unavailable hotels and market occupancy would have seen that a sell out is on the cards.

This makes predictive demand intelligence a necessity to capitalize on trends and set revenue management strategies that align with market behavior.

Predictive market intelligence: the key to event success

Big events like the Cannes Film Festival, Lions, Eurovision, and Art Basel have a noticeable impact on hotel markets. They shift demand quickly and dramatically, and if youre not ready to respond, its easy to miss out on revenue.

To stay ahead, you need more than intuition. You need real-time demand visibility and the confidence to act.

With Lighthouses Market Insight, you can monitor how interest is building day by day across key events, uncover surging demand before your competitors, and adjust your pricing strategy before the window closes.

Plan smarter. React faster. And make the most of every opportunity.

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry.

We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth.

We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways.

Trusted by over 70,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partnerstheir success is our success.

For more information about Lighthouse, please visit: https://www.mylighthouse.com.

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Value-for-Money and Off-Peak Travel Trends Bolster European Tourism in 2025 Q1 - Image Credit European Travel Commission



In Q1 2025, European tourism showed positive growth of 4.9% despite rising global uncertainty and economic pressures. Value-for-money and off-peak travel trends drive demand, while new US tariffs are expected to pose challenges for transatlantic travel.

Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, European tourism showed remarkable resilience in early 2025. The Q1 report from the European Travel Commission (ETC) revealed a 4.9% increase in international tourist arrivals and a 2.2% increase in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2024. This growth follows a robust 2024 when arrivals exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 6.2%, and nights by 6.4%.

Trends Driving Demand

The demand for value-for-money destinations and off-peak travel remains strong, reflecting ongoing price sensitivity among travelers. The latest estimate for 2025 suggests that travelers are expected to spend around 14% more across Europe than in 2024, possibly reflecting a higher average spend per visit. Winter tourism hubs like Slovakia and Norway also performed strongly in early 2025.

Eastern Europe's Recovery

Central and Eastern European destinations continued to recover from the slower performance of recent years, with countries like Poland, Latvia, and Hungary demonstrating a rebound in arrivals in Q1 2024. Romania and Bulgaria, since joining the Schengen Area in January, have begun to facilitate smoother cross-border movement and renewed visitor interest.

Mediterranean Destinations and Off-Season Demand

Southern Europe remained a major draw in Q1, with Spain welcoming over 10 million foreign arrivals in two months, up nearly 2 million compared to 2019. Rising interest in travel outside peak summer months and increased air capacity for Malta have supported this trend.

Value-for-Money Considerations

As costs for tourism-related services remain high, travelers are placing a greater emphasis on affordability. This potentially supports shorter stays, alongside greater demand for more affordable destinations. Some countries, like Romania, have benefited from an increase in arrivals. Meanwhile, destinations perceived as more expensive, like Iceland and Monaco, have stagnated or declined.

Impact of New US Tariffs

Introducing new US trade tariffs has added heightened uncertainty to transatlantic travel. Europe is preparing for a potential dip in American visitors this year due to fluctuations in the Euro/US Dollar exchange rate and rising travel costs. However, US travel to Europe continues to perform well in early 2025, with over 80% of reporting destinations recording year-on-year growth in Q1.

Download European Tourism 2025  Trends & Prospects (Q1/2025).
The Surge of Digital Detox Retreats: A New Trend in Wellness - Image Credit Unsplash



As Laura Hall of the BBC reported, the trend of digital detox retreats, where guests disconnect from their electronic devices, is on the rise. The experience not only provides a break from the distractions of the digital world but also appears to contribute to better mental health, making it a popular choice among travellers.

The desire to disconnect is becoming more prevalent in an increasingly connected world. The rise of digital detox retreats, which encourage guests to put away their electronic devices during their stay, is a testament to this trend. These retreats provide a much-needed break from the constant buzz of notifications, offering guests a chance to reconnect with themselves and their environment.

A Growing Trend

Offline travel is one of the notable trends of the year. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, 27% of adults planning to travel intend to reduce their social media use during holidays. Furthermore, the global luxury home-rental platform Plum Guide has noted a 17% rise in searches for unplugged, tech-lite properties. The luxury Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico has even launched a Digital Detox Program with a "Detox Concierge" to collect all electronic devices on arrival.

This interest in digital detox is not limited to luxury travel. It is a trend available to everyone, requiring no additional cost and demanding only the willingness to give less attention to digital devices.

Reconsidering Tech's Role in Travel

While technology has become integral to travel logistics, such as bookings and itineraries, its dominating presence in the holiday experience can feel counterproductive to the concept of relaxation and escape. A report by 'It's Time To Log Off' reveals that the average person spends a day each week online, and 34% of people have checked Facebook in the last 10 minutes. A staggering 62% of adults reportedly "hate" the amount of time they spend on their phones.

Wellness Through Offline Travel

The demand for digital detox retreats has increased, with accommodations offering tech-free stays. Cool Places, a UK-based website that curates hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering accommodations, is among them. Acknowledging the growing interest in digital detox, the website is adding a 'no Wi-Fi' tag to its listings.

However, shifting from a hyperconnected lifestyle to a tech-free one does not come without challenges. According to research in collaboration with the University of Greenwich and the University of East Anglia, guests initially experience restlessness during a digital detox stay. Still, they gradually adjust and engage in other activities.

Creating Boundaries for Digital Freedom

Breaking away from digital addiction is a challenging task. A 2019 study on digital-free tourism found that travellers initially experience anxiety and frustration when disconnected from their devices. But these feelings give way to acceptance, enjoyment, and liberation over time.

The concept of digital detox retreats is not merely escaping technology but encouraging a shift in lifestyle. For instance, Samsu, an off-grid cabin business in the Irish countryside, provides a tech-free environment for guests to rediscover their creativity and mindfulness. Similarly, Unplugged, a group of tech-detox cabins in the UK and Spain, aims to make digital detoxing an aspirational experience rather than a forced necessity.

Looking Forward

The digital detox trend may be a reaction to our hyperconnected world, but it is also a glimpse into a potential future where being offline during holidays becomes the norm. Whether it's a luxury resort offering a comprehensive Digital Detox Program or a simple cabin in the countryside with no wi-fi, the demand for digital detox retreats is rising. As more people recognize the benefits of disconnecting from the digital world, even if only temporarily, the trend of digital detox retreats is set to continue.

Discover more at BBC.
Reykjyavik, Iceland is the #6 European destination this summer. - Image Credit Pexels



The latest data from Allianz Partners USA indicates a 10% increase in U.S. summer travel to Europe in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. London, Paris, and Dublin remain the top European destinations for American travelers, with Lisbon making a comeback in the top ten.

As per the Top Summer European Destinations Report from Allianz Partners USA, U.S. summer travel to Europe is poised to increase by 10% in 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year of increased interest in European destinations among U.S. travelers.

The report highlights the top European destinations for American tourists. London, England holds the top spot, followed by Paris, France, and Dublin, Ireland. These cities have consistently attracted a large number of U.S. travelers.

Other top five cities include Rome, Italy, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Additional popular destinations comprise Reykjyavik, Iceland, Barcelona, Spain, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Nice, France.

Interestingly, the report shows a change in the top ten list with Lisbon, Portugal, reemerging and replacing Athens, Greece. The rest of the list remains consistent with the previous year's data.

Allianz Partners USA gathered the data by analyzing the number of customers who went through the online booking process of airfare and package paths for partners offering Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance. The itineraries for round-trip flights departing from U.S. airports were analyzed, specifically for trips between 5 and 8 days in length, from May 22, 2024, to September 2, 2024. The total number of itineraries analyzed using this methodology was just under seven million.

The data indicates a growing trend among U.S. travelers to explore European destinations during the summer months. The increase in travel to these destinations could be attributed to a variety of factors, including favorable travel conditions and cultural interest.
Rendering of the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country - Image Credit Hilton

The Texas Hill Country has been undergoing a remarkable transformation since 2021. Once celebrated for its rustic inns and German heritage, the region is now emerging as a premier destination for rural luxury escapes, fueled by a wave of high-end investments, wellness-focused brands, and experience-driven developments.



In the areas latest milestone, Fredericksburg has been selected as the future home of Texass first Waldorf Astoria property, marking a pivotal moment in the regions hospitality evolution.

Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country - Conceptual Rendering



Source: Hilton and IMI Worldwide Properties

Spotlight: Waldorf Astoria Planned for Fredericksburg

Backed by Hilton and Ohana Real Estate Investors, the new Waldorf Astoria will offer the following accommodations and facilities:

60 luxury hotel rooms, 37 resort villas, and 50 branded residences with private plunge pools and courtyards

A spa and fitness center, multiple pools, and a kids club

Several dining options, including an all-day restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a bar and lounge, a pool bar, and a grab-and-go juice bar

10,000 square feet of meeting space, inclusive of a 4,000-square-foot event barn

The development, which is set to open in 2027, will blend world-class service with architectural elements that reflect the Hill Countrys character. And the Waldorf Astoria is far from an isolated project; rather, this development is part of a broader pattern of luxury expansion across the region.

Notable Luxury Entrants in the Hill Country



Source: Property Websites (Linked Below)

The Hill Countrys hospitality landscape includes a growing list of upscale, experiential destinations:

In addition to these properties and the new Waldorf Astoria, several other similar projects are in the planning stages for the Texas Hill Country. Key Drivers of the Trend Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing demand for luxury travel experiences in rural settings. Travelers are increasingly seeking destinations that combine authenticity with elevated service, privacy, and natural beauty. This shift away from urban centers has opened the door for innovative development strategies, and investors in the Hill Country are capitalizing on this momentum. Strategic Implications for the Hospitality Industry Specific lodging factors resulting from this trend include a growing appetite for wellness and wine-focused resorts, an expansion of soft-branded luxury and lifestyle offerings, increased interest in branded residences and retreat-style properties, and a greater demand for immersive, experience-driven travel outside major cities.



These factors in turn present clear opportunities for hotel investors, developers, and brand operators. As advisors to hospitality stakeholders across the region, we view the Hill Country as a high-potential market for long-term, sustainable luxury development. Is Your Strategy Keeping Pace? The Texas Hill Country is redefining the future of luxury travel. With a rising bar for amenities, design, and guest expectations, rural destinations are no longer secondary; they are the newest flagship opportunities.



When you partner with HVS, you gain access to the most current data, unlocking the nuances of local dynamics and empowering you to make confident, strategic decisions. Connect with Shannon L. Sampson and Bunmi Oyinloye, your local HVS South Texas hospitality experts, to evaluate market potential, refine your development strategy, and position your investment to lead in the emerging rural, luxury landscape.

About Bunmi Oyinloye

Bunmi Oyinloye, the Senior Vice President and leader HVS Houston's consulting and valuation practice, conducts appraisals and feasibility studies for hotels throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast region. Bunmi formerly worked in accounting and guest service roles at the Sheraton Dallas North hotel and as a Revenue Specialist for Hilton Worldwide, analyzing the performance of Hilton-branded properties and implementing strategies to increase room nights and revenue. Bunmi earned a masters degree in Hospitality Management, specializing in Finance, from the University of Houstons Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Contact Bunmi at +1 (504) 250-0891 or boyinloye@hvs.com.

About Shannon L. Sampson

Shannon Sampson is the Managing Director overseeing the Austin and Houston offices for the firm. With nearly 20 years at HVS, he has extensive experience providing valuations, market and feasibility studies, and consulting services on a variety of asset types, including convention- and conference-center hotels, luxury and destination resorts, urban luxury hotels, dual-branded hotels, and extended-stay hotels. Shannon specializes in identifying an appropriate asset class, service level, and facilities program for proposed projects. Shannon earned his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas Austin. Shannon lives in Austin and works extensively in the Central and South Texas regions. Contact Shannon at (512) 626-9172, or ssampson@hvs.com.

This article originally appeared on HVS.
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The Retired Investor: Emerging Markets Confront Trade Dilemma

The lifeblood of emerging markets has always been their exports within a framework of robust global trade. The advent of U.S. tariffs worldwide has placed these countries between a rock and a hard place.

The rock is clearly the size and extent of U.S. tariffs. These new tariffs have dwarfed the imposition of levies during the first Trump presidency. Back then, the U.S.-China trade war benefited some emerging market (EM) countries by attracting increased foreign direct investment and manufacturing as alternatives to Chinese trade.

It also meant increased exports in some cases, especially in agricultural products. In response to the U.S. tariffs on their goods, China hit back by raising their own barriers to U.S. imports. China reduced agricultural imports from the U.S. and increased its purchases of soybeans from Latin America.

In addition, since the last trade war, foreign direct investment into key emerging markets such as Mexico, Vietnam, and Indonesia have steadily increased. A large part of this new investment came from China and Hong Kong. Faced with a continued rise in U.S. tariffs and restrictions under the Biden presidency, China relocated some of its manufacturing to regions that had avoided U.S. tariffs. This allowed Chinese exporters to end run tariffs and continue selling to the U.S. market through other countries. Trump 2.0 is closing that loophole.

However, China has upped its trade game in response. As tariffs bite and domestic demand remains subdued, China pivots away from U.S. trade. Chinese imports into the U.S. have declined from 21 percent in 2018 to 14 percent in 2023. That total has dropped further since then. Economists estimate that total trade with the U.S. today only accounts for 2 percent of China's Gross Domestic Product. To compensate for the American market shortfall, China has turned its attention to exporting its excess capacity to other developed markets in direct competition with other EM exporters.

At the same time, imports from China have exploded higher throughout emerging markets. And it is not just intermediate goods that make up more of the advanced products they routinely re-exported to America. Final goods from China are now flooding into EM countries, which are displacing local industries and jobs.

This surge of "Made in China" imports has forced several countries to raise tariffs (with the urging of the U.S.) on Chinese imports. Their domestic companies simply could not compete against this flood of cheaper-than-cheap imports.

In desperation, Mexico has raised tariffs on textile and apparel imports from China to 35 percent. Thailand and Malaysia have levied a 7 percent and 10 percent value-added tax. Even Russia, which relies on China's trade, recently imposed restrictions on Chinese auto imports for the same reasons.

Many EM nations acknowledge that China still plays a crucial role in their medium-term growth and development, especially in Asian countries. This places them in a hard place to preserve their domestic industries while maintaining good relations with the world's No. 2 economy.

And yet, Southeast Asia nations were also among the hardest hit on "Liberation Day." On July 4, when the 90-day temporary reduction expires, that region's tariffs will skyrocket to almost 50 percent. That will be a devastating blow to EM economies. Many economists predict that the gross domestic product among EM countries could be cut in half if those tariffs are implemented.

The implicit message from both of the world's leading economies is that emerging markets should decide which side to back. The rock and the hard place for many nations will be choosing between the U.S. and China. Retribution for picking the wrong partner could be costly on several fronts.

Chinese President X Jinping calls on his trading partners to "uphold the common interests of developing nations." He argues that the "Global South," a term referring to a collection of countries (that now number 134 nations), should pull together. This so-called "Group of 77," mainly in the southern hemisphere, are considered developing or less developed countries than those in the Global North.

These nations, mainly in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, often have lower income levels or share common political and economic interests. Many of these countries are now developing trade and other strategic alliances, often with the support of China.

In contrast to China, the U.S., over the last 100 days, has made it clear that "America First" means just that on both the geopolitical and economic front. Relationships between America's traditional allies and trading partners have been upended.

Given the U.S. backpedaling in its support for Ukraine, Canada, Mexico, and others, many nations worldwide, including those in emerging markets, have concluded that while powerful, the U.S. has become an unreliable partner. They walk a fine line between these two powers and have little room for error.
BCC to Host Free College Information Session May 14

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host an information session on Wednesday, May 14, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to explain how Massachusetts residents may be eligible to attend community college at no cost.

The session will take place in the Susan B. Anthony Lounge on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West St.

The session will outline the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' free community college initiatives, which provide tuition- and fee-free education to residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. The program also includes an allowance for books and supplies for qualifying students.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is available through May 14 at www.berkshirecc.edu/ freecollege

Applications to BCC are accepted year-round, with no application fee. Fall semester classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Commissioned Report Clears Three PHS Staff & Faculty

PITTSFIELD, Mass. Four of the five executive summaries on alleged staff misconduct at Pittsfield High School have been released, clearing so far two administrators and a former teacher.

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP at the request of the School Committee for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

The investigation into Wiggins found the accusations of improprieties with students to be unsubstantiated and no evidence that his alleged drug dealing had occurred at PHS or with students



The executive summary on "administrator 2" is not yet available because the investigative report is incomplete. BRG reports that another accused administrator has seen "nearly 30 years of persistent rumors" before they were hired at PHS in 2022.

This staff member, identified as "administrator 3" in the report, had been rumored to have been fired from or left her employment at two other Berkshire County school districts because she engaged in an inappropriate relationship or relationships with a male student or students.



This stemmed from an unnamed reporter who cited concerns that the administrator had inappropriate relationships and was asked to leave both former school districts. DCF found the allegations were unsupported on Jan. 14 and closed the investigation.

"Our review of PHS Administrator #3's personnel records and interviews of administrators from the two districts revealed that neither school district either terminated her employment or urged her to leave, and that she left both schools in good standing in order to take better career positions at other schools," the summary reads.



BRG found that neither of the two districts where she taught had "any record of actual complaints" of abusing students, "only periodic rumors brought to the attention of school authorities by sources who lacked personal knowledge and, by all appearances to the school officials, relied only on persistent rumors or gossip."



"Inquiries into the rumors by both districts' administrative officials yielded no information of substance as would warrant a formal internal disciplinary investigation into PHS Administrator #3's rumored conduct or for a Title IX investigation," the summary reads.



"Our investigation indicates that, except for one former student identified by name in 2019, administrators at the two prior districts lacked the names of any students with whom PHS Administrator #3 allegedly had inappropriate relationships or of any individuals who had personal knowledge of what was rumored conduct."



Both the student and his mother denied the alleged conduct in October 2019.



Prior districts administrative officials reportedly said the allegations fell short of establishing reasonable cause, which would require a mandated report of sexual abuse filed with DCF.



"DCF has no record of 51A reports of suspected abuse of children by PHS Administrator #3 other than the December 2024, 51A report, which it found unsupported," the summary reads.



"Despite rumored claims of complaints made to their police departments, neither police department that we contacted had any records of parents or students reporting abuse by PHS Administrator #3."



With only unsubstantiated claims, BRG said the previous school districts didn't have a basis for disclosing her rumored conduct when contacted by other school districts considering hiring her.



BRG was able to identify three individuals that were rumored to have inappropriate relationships with the administrator: all three former students denied having any relationship with the administrator.

"Student #3's parents characterized the rumors as 'fake news' and a 'character assassination' of

their son," the report reads.



"When the principal gave them details, including dates and locations, of the graduation

party rumor and another rumored incident in 2019, the parents were able to confirm that neither

could have occurred because PHS Administrator #3 never attended their graduation party and

their son was traveling in Europe with his father on the date of a second rumored incident."



The first former student identified indicated to BRG that this allegation had been addressed by the school and declined to discuss the rumors of a relationship with PHS Administrator #3 when he was a

student or thereafter.



"We found no written documentation in school records of this information or any inquiries regarding the rumored conduct," BRG wrote.

That was not the case with a second teacher, of whom the investigators "are satisfied that the Former PHS educator engaged in the conduct in his classroom and students as alleged."

The teacher's name is not given but In November 2023, a PHS student filed a Title IX complaint alleging sexual harassment against former longtime educator Robert Barsanti.



PPS was said to have properly followed Title IX procedures regarding the 2023 sexual harassment complaint. A 2024 ruling found he had violated the PPS Title IX sexual harassment policy



"Following the Title IX procedures, PPS administrators conducted an investigation and permitted the parties to inspect, review and respond to the evidence. The Investigator issued her Final Investigation Report on January 23, 2024," the report reads.



"In her Written Determination, issued on March 13, 2024, the Decision Maker found that the evidence supported a finding that the Former PHS Educator had violated the PPS Title IX sexual harassment policy.

"Superintendent Curtis denied the Former PHS Educator's appeal on June 4, 2024."



BRG said that in regard to the 2023 complaint, PPS property followed the Title IX procedures, noting that the superintendent or principal could have suspended the teacher during the proceedings for 30 days or placed him on paid administrative leave for the duration of Title IX proceedings.



"The only explanation we heard was that with other faculty on leave for investigations at the same time, PHS would effectively have been unable to run its department  at best, a weak explanation," the report reads.



BRG explains that the determination was reached on June 6, 2024, about two weeks before the last day of school, and the teacher voluntarily resigned on June 28, 2024.



Suspension and dismissal would require a seven-day written notice. The superintendent can require immediate suspension "for good cause," and the teacher has the right to seek a review of the disciplinary action.



"Both require notice to the teacher, an opportunity for review and to present evidence, legal representation and the right to arbitration on appeal, which in the Former PHS Educator's case would likely have extended into the summer months or even the start of the next (2024-2025) school year," BRG wrote.



The report also acknowledges former disciplinary actions against the teacher for the use of expletives and sexually or racially offensive language.

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/77536/PHS-Student-Files-Suit-Against-Teacher-School-District.html
giovedi 8 maggio 2025, 23:58 - Last updated: 10 maggio, 18:36

 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This article is automatically translated

On the Loggia of Blessings, at the end of his programmatic speech  peace, unity, social doctrine (thus the poor, marginalized, migrants, synodality)  Pope Prevost immediately hints to the Church that he has managed to somewhat pacify the various factions that clashed behind the scenes in recent days. There was a bit of everything. The Bergoglians and the anti-Bergoglians, the staunch synodals and the traditionalists, the more moderate conservatives, and many undecideds, mostly constituted by the 'peones', cardinals from particularly disoriented peripheral seats given the circumstances. Being elected on the fourth ballot means that Prevost already started with a significant base of support. Now he will have the task of acting as a mender, using much patience and skill to patch up the wounds that have accumulated over the years on the ecclesial fabric. No one missed the fact that yesterday next to him, in front of the crowd and under the cameras of the whole world, was Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He was the favored candidate at the start of the Conclave, but after three failed votes (the last one yesterday late in the morning), and despite his significant package of votes (between 40 and 50), aware of not being able to reach the required quorum, which was very high (89), the highest ever, he stepped back. Obviously, the presence of the former Secretary of State on that balcony was not accidental and signified quite a few things. It seems that at some point, Cardinal Parolin worked intricately and initiated mediation, weaving the web in the meetings held yesterday at Santa Marta to make the election of this outsider cardinal possible, transferring his votes to him, convincing the diplomatic faction, shuttling between the Brazilians who initially hinted at converging on him. Prevost could count on the synodal party (with Grech and Hollerich leading), a fringe of Bergoglians, and finally also the French, as well as a group of Americans. Even the Frenchman Aveline would have stepped aside for Prevost, who at the start was certainly not placed among the papabili (Parolin, Tagle, Erdo, Zuppi, Pizzaballa). At the same time, he was not too marginalized either. Former prefect of the bishops, faithful collaborator of Bergoglio, supporter of the synodal Church, anti-Trumpian. He had also been watched for some time because his profile could unite North America with South America, being a channel of dialogue even within the Church and not just outside. Thus, Parolin, seeing that there was nothing more to be done for him and because too many doubts and barriers had accumulated on his name, both among the Bergoglians and the anti-Bergoglians, changed strategy. As a man of the institutions, he took a step back and simultaneously, as a diplomat, he took a step forward, transforming himself into a bridge-builder and unifier, to not only reach the required quorum but to obtain a higher number of votes. Perhaps to demonstrate that the unity of the Church is possible. The operation carried out behind the scenes leveraged the factor of time, very important not to further polarize the electoral body and not to give the outside world the bad impression of a sadly torn ecclesial family. Each additional day of black smoke would have determined a further loss of evangelical credibility. Thus, Parolin, thwarted in the three votes yesterday and the first on Wednesday, immediately after the Extra Omnes, collaborated in the search for a pastor capable of governance, sensitive to peace, who could represent a new face, and unite the strong pushes of the Latin American cardinal electors, without neglecting Bergoglio's legacy and reassuring the party of moderates concerned about the whole range of issues from the respect of canonical rules to the magisterium and tradition. In all this, the more conservatives are now watching. Just until the other day, the German Gerhard Muller, theologian heir of Ratzinger but also a friend of the founder of Liberation Theology, was sending messages: 'We must remember that the main task of the cardinals in the conclave is not to choose a continuer of the private ideas of any previous pope, but the future successor of Peter, who is the visible and perpetual principle and foundation of the unity of the Church in the revealed truth.'
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Pakistan has accused India of deploying Israeli Harop drones in a string of strikes on the neighbouring country, fuelling fears of a dangerous military escalation in South Asia.

The Pakistani military claimed on Thursday that India had used loitering munition drones to target multiple places, including major urban centres Karachi and Lahore.

The military said in a statement they shot down 25 Harop drones using electronic countermeasures and physical force. The debris of Israeli-made Harop drones is being collected from different areas of Pakistan, they added.

In a televised briefing, military spokesperson Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said drones were neutralised in Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and near Karachi. One drone, he said, partially struck a military target near Lahore, injuring four soldiers and damaging equipment.

As we speak, the process of India sending across these Harop drones, this naked aggression, continues, he said. The armed forces are on a high degree of alert and neutralising them.

open image in gallery Residents gather as police personnel inspect the site where a drone was reportedly shot down in Karachi on 8 May 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

open image in gallery Debris of a missile in a field on the outskirts of Amritsar, India, on May 8, 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

One drone reportedly also crashed in the village of Sarfaraz Leghari in Sindh province, killing a civilian and injuring another. Police confirmed the incident while eyewitnesses described the drone hovering over the area before being intercepted and falling near a canal.

My brother Mukhtiar Ahmed, who was only 25, was martyred, Jabbar Laghari, a teacher from the village, said.

The Harop is a loitering munition, or kamikaze drone, developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries. The suicide drone has nine-hour endurance to seek targets in a designated area, locate and identify them, plan an attack route, then pursue the strike from any direction at a shallow or steep dive, according to its maker.

It can be launched from sealed canisters aboard land and naval platforms.

The drone carries a 23kg warhead and retains a man-in-the-loop feature, allowing human operators to abort attack or retarget mid-flight, according to the Hindustan Times.

Harops combat success was recognised during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where it was used by Azerbaijan against Armenian forces, The Week reported.

India reportedly bought over 100 Harop drones in 2021 to bolster defences along its borders with Pakistan and China.

open image in gallery Residents gather as police personnel inspect a site cordoned off with barricade tapes after an alleged drone was shot down in Karachi on 8 May 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

India has not officially responded to Pakistans allegation of sending drones across. But the defence ministry claimed it had neutralised drones and missiles launched from Pakistan to target sites in the north and the west of the country.

The ministry also claimed to have targeted Pakistani air defence systems in a targeted and measured retaliation.

open image in gallery Kashmiri women grieve after their house is damaged by shelling from Pakistan at Salamabad village in Uri, north of Srinagar, Kashmir, on 8 May 2025 ( EPA )

Our response was targeted and measured. It is not our intention to escalate the situation, foreign minister S Jaishankar said during talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Thursday.

However, if there are military attacks on us, there should be no doubt that it will be met with a very, very firm response.

Amid diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict between the nuclear-armed South Asian nations, Iran has stepped in to mediate. Mr Araghchi, who visited Islamabad before arriving in New Delhi, said Tehran hoped the parties will exercise restraint to avoid an escalation of tensions in the region.

The Indian military launched a series of strikes on what it claimed was terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan early on Wednesday. The attack, it said, was retaliation for the 22 April terror attack in Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead, mostly Hindu tourists.

India has blamed the attack on Pakistan, which it has long accused of harbouring and backing separatist militancy in Kashmir, the restive Himalayan region that both countries claim in whole but control only in part.

Pakistan said its military shot down five Indian fighter jets and a combat drone involved in the strikes, a claim dismissed as misinformation by the Indian embassy in Beijing.
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India launched strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday, an assault its neighbour called a "blatant act of war" as tension spirals between the nuclear-armed rivals after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir last week.

India said its Operation Sindoor struck nine Pakistani sites on Wednesday that provided "terrorist infrastructure" and from which attacks against it were orchestrated. Its military spokesperson said the sites were completely destroyed.

Sindoor, which refers to the red vermilion powder worn by married Hindu women, is an apparent reference to the widows left by the 22 April attack that killed 26 men, most of them Hindu.

open image in gallery Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on 7 May 2025 ( AFP/Getty )

India accuses Pakistan of backing the massacre, a charge Pakistan denies. Both had also expelled diplomats and citizens, ordered the border shut and closed their airspace for each other ahead of Wednesdays strikes.

Here's a look at multiple conflicts between the two countries since their bloody partition in 1947:

1947  Months after British India is partitioned into a predominantly Hindu India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan, the two young nations fight their first war over control of Muslim-majority Kashmir, then a kingdom ruled by a Hindu monarch. The war killed thousands before ending in 1948.

1949  A UN-brokered ceasefire line leaves Kashmir divided between India and Pakistan, with the promise of a U.N.-sponsored vote that would enable the region's people to decide whether to be part Pakistan or India. That vote has never been held.

1965  The rivals fight their second war over Kashmir. Thousands are killed in inconclusive fighting before a ceasefire is brokered by the Soviet Union and the United States. Negotiations in Tashkent run until January 1966, ending in both sides giving back territories they seized during the war and withdrawing their armies.

1971  India intervenes in a war over the independence of East Pakistan, which ends with the territory breaking away as the new country of Bangladesh. An estimated 3 million people are killed in the conflict.

open image in gallery India Pakistan Kashmir Timeline ( AP )

1972  India and Pakistan sign a peace accord, renaming the ceasefire line in Kashmir as the Line of Control, a heavily fortified stretch of military outposts that divide the region between them. Both sides deploy more troops along the frontier, turning it into a heavily fortified stretch of military outposts.

1989  Kashmiri dissidents, with support from Pakistan, launch a bloody rebellion against Indian rule. Indian troops respond with brutal measures, intensifying diplomatic and military skirmishes between New Delhi and Islamabad.

1999  Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri fighters seize several Himalayan peaks on the Indian side of the territory. India responds with aerial bombardments and artillery. At least 1,000 combatants are killed over 10 weeks and a worried world fears the fighting could escalate to nuclear conflict. The U.S. eventually steps in to mediate, ending the fighting.

open image in gallery India Pakistan Kashmir Timeline ( AP )

2016  Militants sneak into an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing at least 18 soldiers. India responds by sending special forces inside Pakistani-held territory, later claiming to have killed multiple suspected rebels in surgical strikes. Pakistan denies that the strikes take place, but it leads to days of major border skirmishes. Combatants and civilians on both sides are killed.

2019  The two sides again come close to war after a Kashmiri insurgent rams an explosive-laden car into a bus carrying Indian soldiers, killing 40. India sends carries out air strikes in Pakistani territory, claiming to have struck a militant training facility. Pakistan later shoot down an Indian warplane and captures a pilot. He was later released, deescalating tensions.

open image in gallery An Indian paramilitary personnel patrols along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar ( AFP/Getty )

2025  Militants attack Indian tourists in region's Pahalgam resort town and kill 26 men, most of them Hindus. India blames Pakistan for the attack, something Islamabad denies, and vows revenge on the attackers, sending tensions to their highest point since 2019. Both sides cancel visas of each other's citizens, recall diplomats, shut their only land border crossing and close their airspace to each other. New Delhi also suspends a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad.

The following week, explosions were heard in several places across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir as India said it had attacked "terrorist infrastructure" in nine sites. Pakistan vowed to respond to the attacks. India fired missiles across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory early on Wednesday at 1.44am local time (8.14pm GMT). Up to 26 strikes were fired on at least six locations, a Pakistani military spokesperson told news agencies. At least eight civilians, including a child, were killed in India's pre-dawn airstrikes, Islamabad said. At least 35 others were injured.
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The dramatic flare-up of tensions and targeted cross-border strikes between India and Pakistan this week has raised the spectre of a first all-out war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in decades.

The two countries have fought two wars since independence over the disputed region of Kashmir  and three in total  and the picturesque Himalayan valley is once again at the centre of their standoff. Already arguably the most highly militarised region in the world, with hundreds of thousands of troops and paramilitary forces deployed to maintain security in Indian-administered Kashmir at the best of times.

But taken together, the Indian and Pakistani militaries boast a total of around 2 million armed forces personnel. It means an all-out conflict would be one of the largest by number of combatants since the end of the Second World War.

Heres how the two militaries compare against each other

open image in gallery Indian Border Security Force personnel (dressed in brown) and Pakistani Rangers (dressed in black) take part in the Beating Retreat ceremony at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post ( AFP via Getty Images )

Indias military is ranked fourth by think tank Global Firepower out of a total 145 nations, while Pakistan ranked 12th in 2024. Additionally, India falls in a higher tier of military power than Pakistan, as per the Military Watch Magazine.

India has one of the largest standing armies globally, with over 1.47 million active-duty soldiers.

India has 1.4 million active personnel in its defence forces  1,237,000 in the army, 75,500 in the navy, 149,900 in the air force, and 13,350 in the coast guard. Pakistan's strength is thinner, with under 700,000 personnel, of whom 560,000 are in the army, 70,000 in the air force, and 30,000 in the navy, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

open image in gallery Data shows how India and Pakistan fared in army, air force and navy in the past year ( The Independent )

The London-based think tank says Pakistans defence spending was a tenth of its neighbour last year.

In 2024, India spent around $86bn last year on defence, becoming Asias second-largest military spender after China and sixth globally.

On the military resources, ammunition and battle vehicles, India has another edge over Pakistan with nearly double the number of tanks than Pakistan has. India has a total of 4,201 tanks against Pakistans 2,627, according to Global Firepower. India leads on the airpower front as well with an estimated total of 2,229 aircraft, as compared with 1,399 of Pakistans.

open image in gallery Indian Air Force (IAF) soldiers march at Hindon Air Force station in Ghaziabad ( AFP via Getty Images )

The two nations are almost identical in terms of nuclear capabilities. India possesses around 172 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan is close behind with around 170, US-based think tank Arms Control Association said, citing data from 2024.

open image in gallery India's nuclear-capable Agni III missile rolls past during rehearsal for the Indian Republic Day parade ( AFP via Getty Images )

With 170 plutonium-based nuclear warheads on short- and medium-range systems, Pakistan already has enough nuclear firepower to deter a nuclear attack from India and obliterate much of the subcontinent, the Arms Control Association said.

Pakistan continues to produce fissile material and retains the option to use nuclear weapons first against non-nuclear military threats, it said.

open image in gallery Pakistani military personnel stand beside a Ghauri nuclear-capable missile during a Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad ( AFP via Getty Images )

Military experts in Pakistan claimed their smaller armed forces have already proven their capabilities by downing Indian warplanes  including a French Rafale  in the latest cross-border escalation. Indian authorities have not issued a statement responding to the claims of Pakistan downing Indias Rafale jets. The Independent has reached out to the office of defence minister Rajnath Singh for comment.

The perception here in Islamabad is of pride and jubilance. The Pakistani military, especially Pakistani Air Force, is seen to have done a wonderful job. India has struck all civilian targets because there were no militants there as these were previously banned sites, said Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

But Pakistan, in retaliation, did it for all the military targets and we downed a number of Indian jets. Despite limited in numbers and capabilities, Pakistan engaged Indian military targets successfully not only in the air but also along the line of control and struck Indian aircraft on their own territory, he told The Independent over a phone call from Islamabad.

According to experts, while India is visibly better armed and can afford a longer conflict, a war with Pakistan is not going to bode well for its vulnerabilities against China.

open image in gallery Indian soldiers rehearse ahead of the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery An Indian soldier raises his hands as he guides an operator sitting inside a tank ahead of rehearsals for parade ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Pakistani army tanks take part during the winter collective ten-days military exercise ( AFP via Getty Images )

Both states can afford a short, limited conflict but neither state can afford a drawn-out, high-intensity conflict. Even a few weeks of high-intensity conflict would seriously strain both countries militaries. India can afford a drawn out conflict more than Pakistan, but getting drawn into such a conflict would expose India to risks on its other front with China, said Christopher Clary, associate professor at the department of political science at University of Albany.

The current high-tension conflict, he said, is more about bluster and posturing than an actual drawn out war.

open image in gallery Pakistani military personnel travel on a tank during a Pakistan Day military parade ( AFP via Getty Images )

This is about being able to declare a political victory at home, rather than meaningfully degrading adversary military capabilities. That means this conflict is more about posturing than war-fighting  though there is serious fighting in small pockets and for brief periods, he tells The Independent.

Governments are in the business of saying they are prepared even when they are unprepared, Clary says.

"The Indian forces are about double the size of Pakistan's forces... if it came to a war, India will win," says Sky's security and defence analyst Michael Clarke.
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A torrent of misinformation is flooding social media as escalating tensions between India and Pakistan raise fears of a major military conflict in South Asia.

Mislabelled videos, recycled images and fake public advisories are taking over the information landscape, leaving hundreds of millions of anxious observers in a lurch over what to believe.

Fact-checkers, government agencies and digital forensics experts have been working around the clock since the early hours of 7 May to debunk a deluge of viral content being posted in the wake of Indias missile strikes on Pakistan.

Key pieces of misinformation include fake photos and videos circulated as footage from the airstrikes and unverified claims and counterclaims from the governments of the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Several news channels and journalists have fallen for fake videos and claims, amplifying unconfirmed information at a time when cross-border attacks and shelling, mock drills, and sirens blasted from loudspeakers are causing mass panic.

One of the most widely circulated videos  depicting missiles streaking across the night sky  was aired by multiple Indian news channels that claimed it showed Indian strikes in Bahawalpur. However, factchecker Alt News reported the footage was from an Israeli airstrike on Gaza in October 2023.

A reverse image search traced the clip to a Sputnik Armenia report of 13 October 2023. BBC Verify also confirmed that the video had nothing to do with the South Asian conflict.

Prominent Indian and Pakistani journalists amplified the mislabelled clip on X, with captions suggesting it showed the strike in Bahawalpur.

open image in gallery An Indian news outlet using viral video from X which factcheckers found to be unrelated to South Asia ( X )

Alt News, which has debunked dozens of similar false claims over the last two days, said this was a clear-cut case of recycled footage misrepresented as breaking news.

Amid claims of Indian drone attacks on Thursday in Pakistan, an old video from the Texas fires began doing the rounds on X, only to be debunked by factcheckers.

Other false claims used AI imagery or visuals pulled from conflicts in Gaza or Ukraine. One set of images purporting to show the strikes turned out to be from a YouTube simulation.

Unverified claims and counterclaims have also left people confused as each country has sought to shape the narrative in its favour.

False stories from the Pakistani side have included an alleged airstrike on the Srinagar airbase and the destruction of an Indian army brigade headquarters.

Indias Press Information Bureau said the supposed video from Srinagar actually showed sectarian clashes in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from early 2024.

Reporters and local residents also confirmed that there was no sign of an attack at the airbase in the restive Kashmir region.

There has been a marked spike in misinformation since 3am on 7 May, a Press Information Bureau official told Hindustan Times. We are working 24/7 to counter each falsehood.

A 37-second clip showing smoke, fire and gunfire was widely shared on 7 May as supposed footage of Pakistans retaliation to the Indian strikes, with claims ranging from downed Indian jets to a blown-up brigade HQ. However, Alt News confirmed the video predated the strikes and had been circulating online since at least 27 April.

open image in gallery A post showing unrelated video widely circulated as Pakistan's retaliatory action against India ( X/@ShaykhSulaiman )

Another widely shared clip, claiming to show Pakistani jets striking Indian territory, was revealed to be footage from the video game Battlefield 3. Some posts even repurposed images from unrelated Indian air force crashes in 2021 and 2024.

Other viral online clips, including one from the 2020 Beirut port explosion, were being misrepresented as evidence of Pakistani retaliation.

In the absence of official footage and confirmation, confusion has persisted over claims about downed Indian jets, including a French-made Rafale.

India has denied losing any aircraft, although The Independent has captured video showing debris at the scene of one apparent crash. French intelligence told CNN it had verified that at least one Rafale was lost based on visuals from the ground. Pakistan, meanwhile, has continued to assert that it successfully responded to the strikes by downing as many as five Indian jets, and claimed it could have shot down even more.

On Thursday, Pakistan's military claimed to have downed 25 Indian drones targeting major urban centres, including Lahore and Karachi. Indian officials did not comment on this claim directly but said air defence systems in Pakistan were targeted.

The Indian government flagged another piece of misinformation  a fake advisory circulating online that appeared to mimic civil defence protocols, urging citizens to stock up on food and medicines. The advisory was not issued by any government agency. The Press Information Bureau labelled it FAKE and urged citizens to trust only official sources for updates about the military operation.

It also cautioned against Pakistan-linked accounts attempting to flood the information space with falsehoods so quickly and overwhelmingly that it becomes difficult to separate fact from fiction.

As of Thursday, the bureaus factcheck unit had issued at least 21 public clarifications. Factcheckers continued to warn that in a highly polarised environment, recycled content and AI fakes were now central to information warfare.

Algorithmic engagement rewards dramatic content over accurate content, Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins told BBC Verify. Old footage from unrelated wars is often used to provoke emotional reactions.
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India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars since they gained independence from British India in 1947. Theyve also had dozens of skirmishes and conflicts, including one atop a glacier dubbed the coldest and highest-altitude battlefield in the world.

The latest escalation follows a deadly gun attack on tourists that India blames Pakistan for  Islamabad denies any connection. But they dont fight wars like other countries.

The dominant factor is their nuclear weapons arsenal, a distinct way of deterring major attacks and a guarantee that fighting doesnt get out of hand, even when the situation is spiraling.

Heres how  and why  Pakistan fight the way they do:

Their nuclear arsenals can destroy each other

Pakistan and India have enough nuclear weapons to wipe the other side out several times over, says security analyst Syed Mohammed Ali, who is based in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. Their nuclear weapons create a scenario for mutually assured destruction.

Both countries have deliberately developed the size and range of their stockpile to remind the other about the guarantee of mutually assured destruction, he adds.

Neither country discloses their nuclear capabilities but each is thought to have between 170 and 180 warheads that are short-, long- and medium-range. Both countries have different delivery systems  ways of launching and propelling these weapons to their targets.

open image in gallery Military personnel with Indian Army stand guard at India Gate in New Delhi ( REUTERS )

The arsenals are a defensive move to prevent and deter further fighting, because neither side can afford to initiate such a war or hope to achieve anything from it, Ali says.

It might not look this way to the outsider, but nuclear weapons are a reminder to the other side that they can't take things too far.

Kashmir at the crux of the dispute

India and Pakistan have each laid claim to Kashmir since 1947, when both gained independence, and border skirmishes have created instability in the region for decades. Each country controls a part of Kashmir, which is divided by a heavily militarized border.

The two archrivals have also fought three wars over Kashmir, where armed insurgents resist Indian rule. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani governance or as an independent country.

open image in gallery India Pakistan ( A person inspects his damaged shop following overnight shelling from Pakistan at Gingal village in Uri district, Indian controlled Kashmir, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) )

Border flare-ups and militant attacks in India-controlled Kashmir have prompted New Delhi to take an increasingly tough position on Islamabad, accusing it of terrorism.

In the latest conflict, India punished Pakistan by hitting what it said were sites used by Pakistan-backed militants linked to a gun massacre last month.

A conventional military imbalance

India is one of the biggest defence spenders in the world, with $74.4 billion in 2025, according to the Military Balance report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Its also one of the worlds largest arms importers.

Pakistan is no slouch, spending $10 billion last year, but it can never match Indias deep pockets. India also has more than double the number of active armed forces personnel than Pakistan does.

While Indias armed forces are traditionally focused on Pakistan, it has another nuclear neighbor to contend with, China, and it is increasingly concerned with maritime security in the Indian Ocean. Those are two factors that Pakistan doesnt have to consider in its security paradigm.

Pakistan's long and narrow shape, together with the outsized role of the military in foreign policy, makes it easier to move the armed forces around and prioritize defense.

A pattern of escalation and defusing

Neither Pakistan or India are in a hurry to announce their military moves against the other and, as seen in the current flare-up of hostilities, it can take a while for confirmation of strikes and retaliation to surface.

But both launch operations into territories and airspace controlled by the other. Sometimes these are intended to damage checkpoints, installations, or sites allegedly used by militants.

They are also aimed at embarrassing or provoking  forcing leaders to bow to public pressure and respond, with the potential for miscalculation.

Many of these activities originate along the Line of Control, which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. It's largely inaccessible to the media and public, making it hard to independently verify claims of an attack or retaliation.

Such incidents raise international alarm, because both countries have nuclear capabilities, forcing attention back to India and Pakistan and, eventually, their competing claims over Kashmir.

The fear of nuclear war has put the two countries at the top of the agenda, competing with the papal conclave, U.S. President Donald Trumps policies, and the Sean Diddy Combs trial in the news cycle.

No desire for conquest, influence or resources

Pakistan and Indias battles and skirmishes are away from the public eye.

Strikes and retaliation are late at night or early in the morning and, with the exception of the drone attacks on Thursday, they mostly take place away from densely populated urban centers. It shows that neither country has the desire to significantly harm the others population. Attacks are either described as surgical or limited.

Neither country is motivated by competition for resources. Pakistan has huge mineral wealth, but India isn't interested in these and, while there are stark ideological differences between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, they dont seek control or influence over the other.

Other than Kashmir, they have no interest in claiming the others territory or exercising dominance.
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The United States will not get involved in the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, with vice president JD Vance calling it fundamentally none of our business.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Mr Vance said US cannot force either side to disarm. But he said he would use diplomatic channels to encourage de-escalation. Mr Vance made it clear that the Donald Trump administration would not play the role of mediator in what is increasingly being seen as one of the most dangerous stand-offs in South Asia in recent years.

What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, Mr Vance said. But were not going to get involved in the middle of a war thats fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with Americas ability to control it.

Mr Vances comments came after a sharp rise in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India said late Thursday that it had intercepted a wave of missiles and drones launched by Pakistan overnight. The attacks followed Indian airstrikes early Wednesday that Delhi said targeted terrorist infrastructure across the border. Pakistan has denied any militant activity in the areas struck and said the attacks killed civilians, including a woman and a child.

At least 31 people were killed in Indias missile strikes on 7 May, according to officials in Islamabad. Cross border firing has also killed dozens in both countries. Blasts were reported in India's Jammu city during the third night of military escalations.

The Indian army said it has repulsed multiple Pakistani drone attacks on its entire western border, as air raid sirens were heard in several Indian cities. Pakistans defence minister, Khawaja Asif, told the BBC that the country was yet to hit back at India and would not deny its actions when it does so.

People inspect their damaged shops following overnight shelling from Pakistan ( AP )

Mr Vance said the US would continue to urge calm but suggested there were limits to American influence in the region.

Well pursue this through diplomatic channels. Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict, he said. Right now, we dont think thats going to happen.

The remarks reflect the Trump administrations broader America first approach to foreign policy. Both Mr Vance and president Donald Trump have warned that the US is willing to walk away from mediation efforts if no clear progress is made, including in ongoing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio has spoken with leaders in Delhi and Islamabad in recent days and issued a joint statement calling for immediate de-escalation. Diplomats from Iran and Saudi Arabia have also travelled to Delhi, in what appears to be a widening regional push to cool tensions before the conflict deepens further.

Mr Vance, who visited India last month, previously acknowledged Indias right to retaliate against terrorist attacks but warned that the situation must not spiral out of control.

Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict, he said at the time, referring to the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian civilians in April. And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.

Despite international appeals, border shelling and cross-border drone activity continued through Thursday, and local reports suggest thousands have fled villages near the Line of Control amid fears of further escalation.
Its official  Americans spent the same amount of money on weight loss injections as the countrys entire foreign aid budget in 2023. According to a study by the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control, the figure spent on GLP-1 drugs  so named because they mimic the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 to lower blood sugar  hit a staggering $71bn. In the UK, research released in January 2025 and reported by the Telegraph revealed that more than one in 10 women are on the jabs in total, while an estimated 500,000 people are signed up to Mounjaro or Wegovy on a private prescription.

As the takeup of these drugs, acquired via both the NHS and off-label prescriptions, continues on an ever-upward trajectory, more concerns are being raised about potential long-term side effects. A possible link with a deterioration in bone health and skeletal muscle mass has been flagged, with Dr Doug Lucas, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon and director of education and training for Screen My Bones, calling it potentially catastrophic and frightening. Meanwhile, a large-scale study found that those taking GLP-1s were nearly 2.5 times more likely to develop drug-induced acute pancreatitis, a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed.

Now, another warning has raised its head. Forget Ozempic face, the colloquial term for ageing and sagging facial skin, deepened lines or hollowed cheeks associated with rapid weight loss  should we be worrying about the even more unpleasant-sounding Ozempic teeth?

First off, its important to note that the moniker is misleading. Ozempic, a specific brand of the drug semaglutide, often gets used as the shorthand for all GLP-1s  primarily because its the most well-known name thats dominated media coverage since the rapid rise in jabs popularity. But in the UK, its not licensed for weight loss, only the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is available for private prescription for weight loss under the Wegovy brand, alongside two other GLP-1s: Mounjaro (a brand of tirzepatide) and Saxenda (a brand of liraglutide).

All these drugs come with potential side effects, some of which could have consequences on oral health  hence the nicknames Ozempic teeth and Ozempic mouth. Research is in its infancy, and the long-term ramifications are yet to be established; as with other health outcomes and GLP-1s, the data simply isnt there yet, according to the British Dental Association (BDA). With these drugs, the long-term dental data is missing, so its premature to consider Ozempic mouth as a definite thing, explains the BDAs scientific adviser, Dr Praveen Sharma, an associate professor and honorary consultant in restorative dentistry at the University of Birmingham.

Similarly, in an article penned by dental hygienist Anne Symons and published in the British Dental Nurses Journal (BDNJ), she outlines that there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that semaglutide solutions such as Ozempic or Wegovy have a direct connection to oral health. However, common side effects and impacts can have knock-on effects and must be considered, she continues. Sharma also acknowledges the connection between the mouth and body. Data or no, the fairly common side effect of xerostomia, aka dry mouth, has been noted by users. Saliva plays a vital role in maintaining the health of our teeth and gums, so a reduction in the salivary flow would, in theory at least, have a detrimental effect on the oral cavity, concludes Sharma.

Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic, Wegovy and Saxenda, and Eli Lilly, which manufactures Mounjaro, both stress that patient safety is their top priority, and that they actively collect, monitor and report safety data and information on their medicines, including reports of adverse drug reactions.

open image in gallery Some dental professionals have raised concerns over weight loss jabs side effects that could impact oral health ( Getty )

Wider awareness seems to be growing around potential oral issues, with Google Trends data showing that searches for Ozempic teeth have nearly doubled over the past week. Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith, founder and principal dentist at The London Smile Clinic, says that as more patients turn to medications like Ozempic, hes seeing a new set of oral and facial health considerations  commonly referred to as Ozempic mouth and Ozempic face. Although so far the practice has only observed mild oral symptoms, he says that some patients may report suffering from dry mouth, altered taste and increased gum recession or tooth sensitivity. While the medication itself isnt directly harmful to the teeth, side effects  particularly dry mouth  can heighten the risk of decay, enamel erosion, and gum disease if not carefully managed, he adds.

Dr Sofina Ahmed from Viva Dental has raised a number of different oral health issues that could be provoked by GLP-1s, some expected and others more surprising. On top of dry mouth, she also highlights the risk of increased tooth sensitivity. Many weight loss injectable users report heightened pain and tenderness when consuming cold, hot, and sweet foods, she says. If not treated correctly, this may cause enamel erosion or receding gums, which take back the inner layers of the tooth, making it more sensitive.

Ahmed also warns of potential receding gums as they shrink in line with rapid weight loss, alongside fat pads in the cheeks and around the jawline. This loss of overall structure can impact how dentures or veneers fit, leading to long-term functional and cosmetic dental problems, she adds.

Bad breath is another known side effect of weight loss injections, leading to the term Ozempic breath gaining traction. Symons cites a study on animals, which found that GLP-1s slowed digestion, leading to the creation of volatile sulphur compounds produced by gut bacteria. These play a significant role in malodorous gas production, she said. Professionals may be able to help by recommending or providing oral hygiene adjuncts that mask and eliminate the odour, such as an effective mouthwash.

Side effects such as dry mouth can heighten the risk of decay, enamel erosion, and gum disease Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith, founder and principal dentist at The London Smile Clinic

But one of the most troubling impacts on dental care is vomiting. Feeling nauseous and being sick are listed as possible side effects for every weight loss injection currently on the market in the UK. Research has shown that the most common adverse effects with GLP-1s are all gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea) and up to 19 per cent of people experienced vomiting as a result of taking the drugs in some trials. A study of 2.4 million Americans with type 2 diabetes published in January identified that, while those on GLP-1s had a lower risk of developing 42 different diseases, they had a higher risk of 19 side effects or diseases. One of these was nausea and vomiting: patients were 30 per cent more likely to develop these symptoms.

Throwing up regularly, as well as being distressing, can have a serious impact on the teeth. The stomach is very acidic, and if the patients are having that acid come up into their mouth, then it really is quite damaging to the teeth, says Dr Victoria Holden, a member of the British Association of Private Dentistry. So you can get a problem called dental erosion, where, literally, its like a chemical dissolution of the enamel of your teeth  it can be quite aggressive. She calls it potentially one of the more serious complications or side effects of weight loss drugs on oral health. If a patient is suffering from reflux, they should definitely be getting that looked at, because solving that problem from the point of view of rebuilding teeth that have been damaged by acids is complicated and expensive.

Holden also highlights another, more surprising consideration: nutrition. Losing weight rapidly can lead to vitamin deficiencies, she explains, adding that B12 and zinc are commonly low in patients who arent eating a lot. Making sure that those minerals and vitamins are all at the optimal levels is going to help patients in terms of symptoms of sore mouth and oral perception problems  the bad sensory changes that they get in the mouth.

For those on weight loss or diabetes injections who have noticed oral side effects  whether it be dry mouth, reflux, halitosis (bad breath) or heightened tooth sensitivity  Holden recommends consulting with your dentist, and always informing them if youve started on a new medication. All of the experts stress the importance of staying well hydrated, specifically drinking lots of water (and avoiding acidic drinks), to combat ill effects; dry mouth can also be treated with saliva substitutes, such as lozenges, gums or sprays. Avoid acidic, sugary foods or overly processed snacks that can cause enamel erosion and harmful bacteria, recommends Ahmed. Instead, try crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and celery to help with natural cleaning and saliva flow.

open image in gallery Patients are advised to consult their dentist if they experience side effects such as dry mouth ( Getty )

Ultimately, GLP-1s can have huge health benefits for plenty of users, including reducing the risk of cardiac arrest and increasing life expectancy. As Bradstock-Smith puts it, In our experience, the overall health benefits of these medications often outweigh the manageable side effects when addressed with the right care.

But Holden is hopeful that at some point medical practitioners will join the dots and take a more holistic approach when prescribing Ozempic et al. Theres a route for the medical field  that doctors or people who are prescribing these drugs to comment to patients that they should see the dentist or the hygienist before starting treatment, she says. Theres already precedent for this; dentists began noticing that patients who were taking bisphosphonate drugs, prescribed for people with bone problems like osteoporosis and some types of cancers, werent healing well after tooth extractions.

Many weight loss injectable users report heightened pain and tenderness when consuming cold, hot, and sweet foods Dr Sofina Ahmed

Weve gone from a bit of denial in the medical field about there being a problem with that to patients now being actively encouraged to see the dentist before they start a programme, adds Holden. And if weve got a similar thing going on with Ozempic, where potentially the outcomes can be quite damaging to the teeth and gum condition, and we know about it beforehand, we can check that the patients are in optimum dental health before problems arise.

A Novo Nordisk spokesperson tells The Independent: We recommend patients take these medications for their approved indications and under the supervision of a healthcare professional, adding, We recommend that any patient experiencing side effects while taking GLP-1 receptor agonists including Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide injection) report them to their healthcare provider and via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.

An Eli Lilly spokesperson advised: Mounjaro should only be used when prescribed by a healthcare professional, and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by registered pharmacies and providers. We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional to discuss any possible side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.
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The governor of the Bank of England has said the UK must do everything we can to improve long-term trade by rebuilding ties with the European Union after the historic deal struck with the US.

Piling pressure on the prime minister to prioritise its trade relationship with the bloc, Andrew Bailey urged the government to remedy the fall-off in goods trade with the EU over recent years.

It comes ahead of a major EU-UK summit on May 19 - a key part of Sir Keir Starmers reset mission with the European Union - where the prime minister is expected to push for smoother trading relations with the bloc.

open image in gallery Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, has said the UK must rebuild ties with the EU ( Carlos Jasso/PA Wire )

It is important we do everything we can to ensure that whatever decisions are taken on the Brexit front do not damage the long-term trade position. So I hope that we can use this to start to rebuild that relationship, Mr Bailey told the BBC.

Asked what impact a closer relationship between the UK and the EU would have on the economy and inflation, the Bank of England governor said: "It would be beneficial. Having a more open economy to trade with the European Union. Because there has been a fall-off in goods trade with the EU over recent years."

His remarks came after a UK-US trade deal was agreed on Thursday, as he said the deal set an example to nations around the world.

While the agreement, which saw tariffs slashed on car and steel imports to the US was hailed by UK ministers as a historic agreement that would save thousands of jobs, pro-EU campaigners argue it wont be anywhere near as significant as a deal with the bloc, which is the UKs largest trading partner.

However, it is also unlikely that closer trading ties with the EU would be enough to offset the impact of Brexit on Britains economy, with the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimating that our exit from the EU will reduce productivity by 4 per cent in the long run.

Speaking about the US trade deal, Mr Bailey told the BBC: It demonstrates that trade deals are important. Trade deals can be done, and the trade is important honestly, it seems an unpromising landscape at times.

I hope that we can use these deals to rebuild the world trading system.

And giving a speech on Friday morning at the Reykjavik economic conference, Mr Bailey urged policymakers to learn lessons from the global instability seen in recent years, stressing that the global economic environment is likely to continue to be challenging  and less predictable  than it was in the past.

While he said there is a now a "positive story to tell" as inflation returns to its target level, Mr Bailey warned against complacency and urged policymakers to adapt and develop to ensure that our processes are nimble and robust.

Donald Trump unveiled the "historic agreement" with the UK on Thursday, marking the culmination of Sir Keirs months-long charm offensive towards the US president.

open image in gallery Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking on the phone to US president Donald Trump to discuss the trade deal ( PA Wire )

The deal is the first the US has announced since Mr Trump slapped tariffs on countries around the world last month.

Speaking to the prime minister via phone from the White House on Thursday, the US president said the agreement was a great deal for both countries.

The deal, which the UK government has said will save thousands of jobs, will see car export tariffs slashed from 27.5 per cent to 10 per cent, for a quota of 100,000 UK cars. This, the government said, is almost the total the UK exported last year.

Mr Trumps 25 per cent tariffs on steel will be axed entirely, while a levy on ethanol, which is used to produce beer, coming into the UK from the US has been removed entirely.

In addition to this, the two governments have negotiated new reciprocal market access on beef, giving UK farmers a tariff-free quota of 13,000 metric tonnes of meat.

But the UK government has insisted that will not result in its strict food standards being watered down after concerns it could open to the door to hormone-injected beef being sold here.
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Colombia this week took a leading position in Latin America for Indigenous rights and forest protection by formalizing Indigenous local governments across swaths of the Amazon, raising hopes that other countries in the region will follow its lead.

Activists say Monday's decision gives Indigenous communities not just land titles, but actual self-governing authority  complete with public budgets and administrative power. The process, underway since 2018, now has a legal framework enabling Indigenous councils to function as official local governments.

This puts Colombia in the lead when it comes to recognizing Indigenous rights  not just to land, but to identity, autonomy, and decision-making over their own development, said Mayu Velasco Anderson, head of the Peru and Colombia program at nongovernmental organization Rainforest Foundation Norway.

Patricia Suarez, Indigenous leader and adviser to the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon, called the presidential decree historic.

We have been seeking recognition of our autonomy and self-determination as Indigenous Territorial Entities for over 30 years, Suarez said. This progress is a milestone in the consolidation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples as autonomous governments.

In contrast, other Latin American countries typically only grant land titles. Brazil, for example, has extensive Indigenous territories that frequently intersect multiple municipalities, forcing communities to navigate conflicting public systems and undermining their self-governance.

In Brazil, even demarcated and regularized Indigenous lands fall under the administrative boundaries of states and municipalities, and communities depend on these governments to access public policies, said Ines Luna Maira, head of institutional partnerships at Rainforest Foundation Norway. They have to deal with a patchwork of public systems and elected officials that dont reflect Indigenous governance.

Suriname, home to some of the most intact forests and Indigenous and Maroon communities, lags furthest behind other nations in the region on this issue.

Colombia's new framework gives Indigenous groups direct authority over their territories, streamlining governance and boosting protections for forests that are critical to combating climate change.

Julia Urrunaga, director of Peru Programs at the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency welcomed the move and expressed hope that her country would follow Colombias example.

We celebrate this victory for the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia, she said. Sadly, the Peruvian government has been walking in the opposite direction  passing laws that affect Indigenous rights without prior consultation, which goes against Perus own constitution.

Urrunaga pointed to what environmental activists have dubbed Perus Anti-Forest Law," which activists say legalizes illegal deforestation in Indigenous territories, and to the governments promotion of palm oil plantations over Amazonian forest.

Perus Indigenous Peoples are still struggling to receive recognition of their ancestral territories, she said. And even when they obtain it, they dont get the support they deserve from the state to protect their land and forests for the benefit of all humanity.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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The government has insisted Britains food standards would not be compromised after the UK and the US agreed on a trade deal to eliminate a series of tariffs.

Agriculture is a key part of the new trade deal announced on Thursday by Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. Tariffs have been reduced on US products, including beef and ethanol, in return for moves that help British cars and steel.

After the deal was announced, government sources insisted imports of hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken, previously described as red lines for the UK in any agreement, would remain illegal.

The agreement on beef provides a tariff-free quota for 13,000 tonnes of US exports, but the government said there would be no drop in food standards as a result of the deal. It also includes access to British beef exports to the US.

Chlorine-washed chicken  a controversial method of cleaning farmed animals to kill bacteria  was a major product being touted as part of the deal.

While evidence suggests the chlorine wash itself is not harmful, critics argue treating chicken with the chemical will allow for poorer hygiene earlier on in the production process.

However, Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, told The Independent: The British public is rightly appalled by chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef. We are an animal-loving nation that values high standards, and we must not trade them away.

Packs of Brexit Selection Freshly Chlorinated Chicken sit on display at Costupper Brexit Minimart pop-up store, set up by the Peoples Vote campaign group, in November 2018 ( Getty )

But what exactly does the evidence on chlorine-washed chicken show?

What is chlorinated chicken?

Chlorinated chicken or chlorine-washed chicken refers to chicken carcasses that have been washed or dipped in water containing chlorine dioxide. This is done to kill organisms that could make you ill, such as E coli, campylobacter and Salmonella.

Is it bad for me?

If you ate a large amount of chlorinated chicken  the equivalent to 5 per cent of your body weight in one day you could potentially be exposed to harmful levels of the chemical compound known as chlorate, according to the European Commission.

Long-term exposure to chlorate in food, particularly in drinking water, is a potential health concern for children, especially those with mild or moderate iodine deficiency, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

A high intake of chlorate on a single day could be toxic for humans as it can limit the bloods ability to absorb oxygen, leading to kidney failure, while chronic exposure to chlorate can inhibit iodine uptake.

However, there is no proof that eating chlorinated chicken would put health at risk. The EFSA has said that chemical substances in poultry meat are unlikely to pose an immediate or acute health risk for consumers.

Is it cleaner than non-chlorinated chicken?

A 2014 report by US non-profit Consumer Reports found that 97 per cent of 300 American chicken breasts tested contained harmful bacteria including Salmonella, campylobacter and E.Coli.

Around half of the chicken breasts tested also contained at least one type of bacteria that was resistant to three or more antibiotics.

In general, you are over seven times more likely to get food poisoning in the US than in the UK, according to data from the UKs Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Moreover, a 2018 study from the University of Southampton found chlorine-washing was not totally effective in killing pathogens on fresh vegetables. The research also suggested that chlorinating foods "can make foodborne pathogens undetectable", rather than eliminating them.

Why arent British farmers allowed to use this technique?

Chlorinated chicken was first banned by the EU in 1997. The EU stipulates that chicken can only be washed in water or substances explicitly approved by the European Commission.

Those who are against chlorine washing claim that, rather than the chlorine itself being the problem, its what the chlorine is hiding. Treating the carcasses this way can enable lower standards of hygiene and animal welfare  farmers can rely on chemicals to kill off harmful bacteria at the end of the process, rather than maintaining high standards at every stage.

However, Ken Isley from the US Department of Agriculture, said: I think the concerns and fear are unfounded. I would stack US food safety and our food safety record against anywhere in the world.

How can I tell if chicken has been chlorinated?

In the US, chickens are not labelled as having been washed in chlorine.

Some of those lobbying for the UK to accept US imports of chlorine-washed chicken have argued that it should be up to consumers to decide, as long as its clearly labelled.

However, according to Sustain, an organisation that campaigns for better food and farming, there is currently no requirement for food producers to inform UK consumers about whether or not chlorine was used, neither are restaurants nor caterers required to say where their meat is from.

Unless the limitations of current UK food labelling legislation are addressed, it is hard to see how British consumers would know whether their chicken had been treated with chlorinated water.

The US also regards specific labelling of country of origin as an illegitimate barrier to its exports and pushes to have the practice banned as part of trade agreements it signs with other countries.

Is chlorinated chicken part of a trade deal with the US?

Chlorinated chicken was not included in the trade deal announced by Sir Keir and Mr Trump on Thursday.

Farming leaders welcomed the governments efforts to maintain high standards and secure reciprocal access for beef but raised concerns about the inclusion of bioethanol, a fuel made from crops, in the deal.

According to the most recent significant polling on the subject, which was carried out in 2020, 80 per cent of the British public are against allowing imports of chlorinated chicken, and the same percentage are against permitting chicken products that have been raised with hormones.

Following pressure from the British public, former prime ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were compelled to rule out compromises on hormone-fed beef and chlorinated chicken in future trade deal negotiations with the US.
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A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder and robbery of an 87-year-old man in north London.

At around 5.53pm on Tuesday (May 6), police officers and London Ambulance Service responded to a report of a robbery on Goodchild Road in Manor House.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He later died on Thursday (May 8).

Following investigations by officers, a 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery following the incident. He was also arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and assault on police and taken into custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, from the Mets Specialist Crime North Unit and leading the investigation, said: This is a horrific incident which very sadly resulted in an innocent man dying. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. However, this is a fast-paced investigation and I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or witnessed what happened to please contact the police.

Assistant Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads local policing in the area, said: We know many people will be very concerned by what has happened and while we have a man in custody, local patrols have been stepped up.

If you have any concerns please do speak to those officers. A man has lost his life in a tragic way and our thoughts remain with his family.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or have any information are advised to contact the investigation team on 0208 345 3715 quoting Operation Cedarbirch. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.
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A BBC Bargain Hunt art dealer has admitted failing to report high-value sales to a man suspected of financing terrorist group Hezbollah.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.

The art dealer, who has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector between October 2020 and December 2021.

The legislation makes it an offence to not alert police if someone knows or suspects a business associate of being involved in financing a proscribed group.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris said Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmed, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese militant group.

At the time of the transactions, Mr Ojiri knew Mr Ahmed had been sanctioned in the US, Mr Harris told the court.

Mr Ojiri accessed news reports about Mr Ahmeds designation and engaged in discussions with others about his designation.

There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links.

The prosecutor said that Ojiri dealt with Mr Ahmed directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales.

open image in gallery Ojiri, 53, pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 ( PA )

Ojiri was charged on Thursday following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's specialist arts and antiques unit, alongside the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC.

New money laundering regulations introduced in January 2020 brought the art market under HMRC supervision, and Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules.

The court heard the total value of the artwork sold was around 140,000.

The prosecution added the art was sent to Dubai, the UAE and Beirut.

District Judge Briony Clarke granted bail but ordered Ojiri to surrender his passport and not to apply for international travel documents.

Ojiri will be sentenced at the at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

Gavin Irwin, mitigating, told the court: He is not a flight risk.

The fact that he is here  he has left the UK and has always returned knowing he may be charged with offences  he will be here on the next occasion.

Ojiri is not a member of BBC staff but has previously appeared on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip.

Additional reporting by PA
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The involvement of a female agent in a Russian espionage ring is a world away from the classic spy case such as George Blake, her barrister has said.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, is due to be sentenced for her part in the UK-based spy network, alongside fellow Bulgarian nationals Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, who were found guilty at the Old Bailey in March.

Orlin Roussev, 47, his second-in-command Biser Dzhambazov, 44, and Ivan Stoyanov, 33, also face sentence after putting lives and national security at risk.

Ivanovas barrister Rupert Bowers KC told the court on Friday that she had been lied to and manipulated by her partner Dzhambazov, who was found naked in bed with his lover Gaberova when they were arrested.

Mr Bowers said unlike double agent Blake, who was sentenced to 42 years in prison in the 1960s for spying for the Soviet Union, Ivanova was in no position of trust, there were no state secrets at play and she had no intention to prejudice the interests of the UK.

Providing mitigation for her on Friday, Mr Bowers said: She has never said she was coerced  and had no choice but so to act.

That is to her credit, but that is not to say that she was not lied to and manipulated by her partner, because she plainly was.

He continued: We submit that there is a difference in overall seriousness between a defendant in a position of trust, usually in the military who a) steals state secrets  b) hands them to a foreign state which he knows is hostile, and c) intending when he does so that the interests of the UK will be prejudiced thereafter.

The intention she had is a world away from that. Its a world away from the classic spy case.

Ms Ivanova was in no position of trust as Blake was, there are no state secrets at play, there is no intention to prejudice the interests of the UK as Blake did, or any knowledge or belief that Russia was a hostile country.

The spy network was directed by alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek, an Austrian businessman wanted by Interpol after the collapse of German payment processing firm Wirecard.

Marsalek acted as a go-between for Russian intelligence and Roussev, who led the operation from a former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

It is believed to be one of the largest and most complex enemy operations to be uncovered on UK soil.

The network engaged in a series of surveillance and intelligence operations over three years in which spies were referred to as Minions  characters from animated film Despicable Me.

They targeted people and places of interest to the Russian state, and discussed using lashes queen Gaberova as a honeytrap to snare a high-profile journalist, dropped 100 litres of pigs blood on the Kazakhstan embassy in London by drone, and kidnapped a man on UK soil.

Spyware was recovered from the seaside hotel, described by Roussev in messages as his Indiana Jones garage  including audiovisual spy devices hidden inside a rock, mens ties, a Coke bottle and a Minions cuddly toy.

The defendants, who are in custody, face sentences of up to 14 years in jail for the activities in the UK, Austria, Spain, Germany and Montenegro.
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For park ranger Gary Pickles, 28 September 2023 started no differently to any other Friday morning.

The clock had not long gone 8am and the 55-year-old was sipping his first cup of tea of the day at his home in the village of Haydon Bridge when, suddenly, his phone pinged and an email popped up on his laptop.

It contained a report from a farmer saying the Sycamore Gap tree had been chopped down.

I thought bloody hell, that cant be said the Hadrian's Wall path national trail ranger, who rushed to his car to drive to the west-to-east Military Road, running parallel to Hadrians Wall, for sight of the tree, usually so famously perched in a sloping dip of the wall.

I got to the gap, and it was empty, he said. I thought Jesus and I stopped to look at the fallen tree from the road before ringing up comms [communications team at Northumbria National Park Authority].

open image in gallery Gary Pickles was among the first to discover the Sycamore Gap tree had been chopped down. He said it meant a lot to 'many, many people' ( Northumberland National Park Authority )

Shock is the way of explaining how I felt, a pang of sadness, said Mr Pickles, who jogged to the scene of the crime and immediately sent pictures to the authority. Within hours, the trees destruction was making headlines across the world.

There was a sense of youre there and there is a job to be done, he added. But when I drove past after, and the tree, which I was so used to seeing, wasnt there, that was when it felt quite difficult, quite hard. The tree had been there so long and meant so much to many, many people.

At the nearby pub, the Twice Brewed Inn, the alarm was raised by one of the workers who thought the tree had come down in Storm Agnes. A picture shared on Facebook by the pub, which brews its own Sycamore Gap ale, quickly went viral.

open image in gallery Pub manager Steve Blair was left surprised and angered when he first saw the Sycamore Gap had been chopped down ( The Independent )

I could tell it had been cut down, said manager Steve Blair. There was the immediate element of surprise but then anger and question of like, who would cut it down? The tree is as important as Hadrians Wall, its part of the scene, we were all really gutted.

Soon the worlds media arrived. Reporters and photographers watched as conservationists worked quickly to graft living parts of the tree for future saplings, while surgeons cut the trunk down into sections for removal.

Nationally, the story was met with an outpouring of emotion. The National Trust, which owns the tree, received thousands of tributes and messages. And then there was anger. Hairy Biker Si King, who grew up in County Durham, said those responsible had murdered a sentinel of time and elemental spirit of Northumberland.

Kevin Reynolds, who directed the Hollywood film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, in which the tree featured in one of the films most famous scenes, said he was stunned, gutted and furious, while comparing its importance to the Taj Mahal.

open image in gallery The tree on Hadrians Wall was much-loved by walkers visiting Northumberland ( PA )

A police investigation was hurriedly launched with each arrest stirring up fresh rumours and speculation that circulated for weeks. Finally, after more than six months, Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were charged with criminal damage to the tree.

On Friday, the pair were found guilty of by a jury. The court heard how Graham, a ground worker, and Carruthers, a mechanic, had gone on the moronic mission, driving from Carlisle to Sycamore Gap armed with a chainsaw.

While one cut the tree down, the other filmed it - before they drove away with a wedge from the tree inside their vehicle as souvenir for the criminal act. Neither claimed responsibility, and so no reason has been given for the destruction.

Back at the pub, which had CCTV of the pairs vehicle shown to the jury in court, Mr Blair said he initially thought the trees destruction would have a negative impact on business. But if anything, the publicity has helped keep the tills ringing.

open image in gallery One of the first pictures showing the fallen Sycamore Gap tree ( PA )

Its flagship Sycamore Gap ale, sold at 4.40 a pint at the bar, is its biggest seller and this year it emerged on the shelves at Sainsburys stores. The pub now has more than 400 seats and has its first beer festival planned for August.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser launched by the pub for the Northumbria National Park Authority tipped over 10,000 last year after an American visitor handed over more than 5,000.

The only time I notice fewer people here is when it snows or we get a frosty morning, said Mr Blair. But people still want to come to this section of the wall, they still come here to photograph the beautiful scenery. And you get people coming to see the tree stump.

open image in gallery Sue Humphreys, manager of the nearby Herding Hill Farm, thought it was a joke when she first heard the tree had come down ( The Independent )

Its a similar story at the nearby campsite of Herding Hill Farm, where manager Sue Humphreys enjoyed a booked-up Easter. Its a quieter spring so far, but Ms Humphreys hopes business will pick up at the AA Platinum Pennant site.

People will still walk to Sycamore Gap, so it hasnt really had an impact on tourism, she said. We all live in hope for a future for the tree, you cant let these people [those convicted] stop that.

The most popular route to the tree from Steel Rigg car park is a strenuous 30-minute walk. Last month, just ahead of the trial, there was a mix of hikers walking the section of the Hadrians Wall and families and visitors coming to see the fenced-off stump.

open image in gallery Visiting US tourist James Schuiter said it was hard to understand how anyone would chop down the Sycamore Gap tree ( The Independent )

Observed clambering down from the steep banks either side of the gap, each person stopped to look at the tree stump, which now has several shoots coming from it, boosting hopes of a recovery - although growth will take several generations.

Dozens of saplings are also to be planted across the UK while the largest section of the tree will be on display at The Sill visitor centre in Northumberland this summer. People still want contact with the tree, said Rosie Thomas, director of business development at Northumberland National Park. What this final installation will offer is a space for people to come and reflect which is something the public told us they wanted.

Back at the stump of the Sycamore Gap tree, Sarah arrived from Durham to celebrate her 52nd birthday. Sat on a section of Hadrians Wall nearby, she said she cried when she first heard about it coming down. It is a loss, it feels physical - to see it missing from the landscape for the first time was very difficult, she said.

But theres a lot of good work happening to keep its legacy going, its what we all want, need, to see, she added.

James Schuiter, 47, from Michigan in the US, said: To see what it meant to people and the beautiful pictures before it was cut down, its hard to know why anyone would want to cut it down - but they will not win.
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One of the lads who have done it, Adam Carruthers, has got the saw back in his possession, the muffled voice could be heard saying to the 101 operator.

That anonymous tip-off, made by Daniel Graham reporting his friend to police over the destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree, was the beginning of the downfall of a best of pals friendship that led to crime that prompted nationwide outrage.

Carruthers, 32, and Graham, 39, lived a 20-minute drive from one another in Cumbria and met some four years ago.

Their bond tightened quickly. When Grahams father died, Carruthers, a mechanic, helped his new friend fix the chassis to a Land Rover Defender in time for the funeral. They began speaking every day on the phone, meeting up to four times a week.

One picture taken by Graham on his phone showed the pair working together on a tree project, while in another, a smiling Carruthers holds two owls.

But as the pairs friendship blossomed, at some point, the seeds were planted for an ugly plan to chop down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree. On the night of 27 September 2023, as Storm Agnes battered the region, the pair set out on their mission.

Driving into Northumberland, they arrived at the much-photographed sloping dip in Hadrians Wall, which is home to the tree made famous by its inclusion in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. One took out a chainsaw to take down the sycamore, the other filmed the feat on a phone.

open image in gallery Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham working together on tree surgery. The picture was taken by Graham on his phone and showed their friendship at the time the Sycamore Gap tree was felled ( PA )

They then appeared to revel in what they had achieved. Graham messaged his friend Here we go, as the morning headlines started to roll. Then, later, sending another, saying: Not a bad angle on that stump.

But as the scale of the public revulsion became clear, and with the police closing in, the pairs close friendship quickly unravelled.

Graham was the first to wield the knife in his friends back. During his police interview, he refused to name anyone responsible, but suggested he didnt want to ruin someones life because he had a young family.

Carrutherss partner had given birth to a baby in the weeks leading up to the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.

Despite this apparent hint to detectives, the friendship appeared secure enough for them to walk to Newcastle Magistrates Court together, both wearing black masks, when first charged with criminal damage in May last year.

open image in gallery Both men appeared together at Newcastle Magistrates Court  Daniel Graham (centre left) and Adam Carruthers (centre right)  before Graham made the 101 tip-off, reporting his friend to police ( PA )

But then in August, three months later, Graham turned the screw.

He picked up the phone to call Northumbria Police and told the 101 operator that his friend had not only committed the crime, but also had possession of the chainsaw used, suggesting it could be at a workplace in Kirkbride.

He even warned police that Carruthers could be holding firearms, although neither the chainsaw nor any guns were found.

Then during the trial at Newcastle Crown Court last week, Graham, who always claimed to have been at home on the night of the felling, went a step further, telling a jury that Carruthers had confessed to him the day after the tree came down.

open image in gallery Both men were found guilty of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree on 27 September 2023 ( PA )

He also told the court that Carruthers and another man came to his home, asking if he would take the blame for the felling of the tree. The claim was described as a work of fiction by Carrutherss legal representative.

Graham also claimed his friend took his Range Rover and his phone on the night the tree was felled, with both tracked to the Sycamore Gap.

Asked why he had turned on his best friend, Graham told the court: When my business started to suffer, when I had to take my name off the wagons, take my name off the machinery, because I couldnt leave my vehicles by the roadside.

Carruthers, who never directly blamed Graham for the felling of the tree but also made no admission, said the pairs friendship ended when Graham came to his workplace and accused him of grassing on me.

Summing up the case, prosecutor Richard Wright KC said the odd couple were in it together from first to last, and neither was big enough to own up for fear they would be made public enemy number one.

After both were found guilty of criminal damage to the Sycamore Gap tree and a section of Hadrians Wall, its doubtful either will feel any love lost toward each other when they are sentenced, nor will the general public.
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A government decision to remove the word farmed from Scottish salmon labels has prompted a bitter legal battle.

Animal-welfare campaigners insist shoppers are being misled by dropping the tag because all Scottish salmon sold in mainstream UK supermarkets comes from farms.

Charity Animal Equality UK has won permission to take the government to court a second time to fight the decision.

In 2023, trade body Salmon Scotland proposed dropping the word farmed from Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) labels so that packs would read just Scottish salmon.

open image in gallery Scottish farmed salmon sold by Tesco ( Tesco )

The organisation said most consumers knew all supermarket Scottish salmon was farmed and had been for decades.

The governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) approved the change in April last year.

Appeals against the decision by both Animal Equality UK and another campaign group, WildFish, were rejected, and since then, PGI labels on most salmon on sale has been missing the word farmed, even if it is sometimes in small print elsewhere on the packet.

The charity cites surveys suggesting shoppers wrongly believe supermarkets sell wild Scottish salmon. A 2021 Fidra Survey found that only 6 per cent of people knew all Scottish salmon was farmed, and a 2024 YouGov poll commissioned by Animal Equality found that 41 per cent of adults believed that at least some Scottish salmon was wild.

PGI labels demonstrate regional products origins, such as Cornish pasties and Champagne.

The tribunal had ruled that changing Scottish farmed salmon to Scottish salmon was not likely to mislead consumers because true origin PGI designations referred to geographical origin only.

But the activists say the term should also refer to the method of production.

open image in gallery Farmed fish have been filmed suffering visible large wounds and ulcers ( WildFish )

In a highly unusual move, chamber president Judge Mark OConnor granted permission to appeal against his own decision to the Upper Tribunal, on an exceptional basis.

The Independent has revealed how several salmon farms in Scotland have been accused of poor welfare, lice infestations and causing environmental harm.

Footage has shown salmon suffocating to death, entering stun-kill machinery backwards, being thrown by workers and having their gills cut while conscious.

More than 17 million fish died on Scottish salmon farms in 2023, with over 10 farms reporting over 50 per cent mortality.

Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, claimed that dropping the word farmed was a blatant assault on consumer transparency, saying: These animals spend their entire lives confined in underwater cages that are frequently plagued by lice infestations and disease outbreaks.

Scotlands farmed salmon industry is in deep crisis. A Scottish government committee recently issued a scathing report calling for urgent regulatory reform and tighter scrutiny.

Edie Bowles, of law firm Advocates for Animals, said: The law on Protected Geographical Indications clearly requires that the public cannot be misled. There is strong evidence suggesting the public could be misled if Scottish farmed salmon is labelled as Scottish Salmon, as it could suggest wild-caught.

A spokesperson for Salmon Scotland accused campaigners of wanting to make people unemployed and of wasting thousands of pounds of taxpayers money with appeals.

He said Scotlands salmon farming companies were investing more than 1m into work to save wild salmon. He added: Consumers know Scottish salmon is farm-raised in the cold, pristine waters off the coast of Scotland, demand at home and abroad is rising, and we are confident this latest appeal will be dismissed like all the other ones.

A Defra spokesperson said they would not comment on legal proceedings.
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The King has called for a global commitment to restoring peace as he paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Charles described the allied victory as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.

He took to the union flag-coloured stage during a celebratory concert  the finale of four days of VE Day commemorations  at Londons Horse Guards Parade on Thursday evening.

Echoing his grandfather, Charles delivered his address at 9pm  the exact time King George VI spoke to the nation in a radio broadcast on 8 May 1945 to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe.

In his speech, the King said: The Allied victory being celebrated then, as now, was a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity.

Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.

He continued: In remembering the past, we must also look to the future. As the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles, the more it becomes our duty to carry their stories forward, to ensure their experiences are never to be forgotten.

We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week at local street parties, religious services and countless small acts of remembrance and celebration.

Thousands of people dressed in red, white and blue gathered at Horse Guards Parade, central London, for the concert.

On a day when attacks were continuing in Ukraine, India and Pakistan and the Gaza Strip, he reminded the crowds of the words of former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, who said, Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war.

The King said: We should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict.

Paying tribute to all those who fought the Nazis, he said the country united to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.

He recalled how his mother, the late Queen, ventured incognito into Londons partying crowd, did the conga, sang until 2am and got to bed at 3am.

I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2am, let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace, he joked.

Earlier, the King and Queen, together with the Prince and Princess of Wales, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and veterans, attended a Westminster Abbey service.
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A High Court judge has ruled in favour of a group of residents and businesses challenging a proposed low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in West Dulwich, South London. The West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG) launched legal action against Lambeth Council, successfully halting the experimental scheme.

The residents and businesses argued that the council had disregarded their concerns and unfairly excluded local businesses from the consultation process. Their legal challenge asserted that the council's approach was "so unfair as to be unlawful." The court's decision marks a significant victory for the WDAG, who had voiced strong opposition to the LTN proposal. Further details regarding the judge's ruling and the future of the LTN scheme are expected to be released soon.

At a hearing in February, lawyers for WDAG told the High Court in London that some areas which clearly would be affected were excluded from the scope of targeted consultation.

Lawyers for the council said the claim is without foundation and should be dismissed, telling the court that areas selected had been picked based on the councils assessment of the likely impacted areas, with proposals changing over time.

open image in gallery Low traffic neighbourhoods involve preventing vehicles from using some residential streets (Steve Parsons/PA) ( PA Archive )

In a judgment on Friday, Judge Tim Smith, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, ruled in WDAGs favour.

The judge said that the councils consultation process was lawful, though said some elements could undoubtedly have been improved upon.

However, he said that the way the council considered input from engagement with the public was unlawful.

WDAG had delivered a detailed 53-page presentation outlining its concerns about the scheme to a councillor, but Judge Smith said it was not clear whether it was then shared with officers making decisions over the scheme.

He said: On the evidence, I am forced to conclude that, despite assurances to the contrary given to the claimant, the 53-page presentation did not form part of the councils considerations in its decision to make the orders.

It should have done. Its content was highly relevant to the issues being deliberated upon and thus it was a material consideration.

The failure to have regard to it was a serious failing, rendering the decision to make the orders unlawful.

At the end of his 34-page judgment, Judge Smith said that written submissions over what should happen next will be considered.

During the hearing earlier this year, the court was told that Lambeth Council workers were offered a wellbeing day after hostility and anger at a meeting over the proposed scheme.

WDAGs lawyers described the meeting at West Norwood Library on April 22 2023 as a fiasco that lasted six hours, after which council workers were only able to record 21 responses because of the difficulties.

In Fridays ruling, Judge Smith said: Plainly it was a difficult situation for the councils officers to find themselves in.

Feelings were evidently running high, and the general sense of hostility together with the volume of people in attendance wanting to express their views meant that the event was not as effective as was intended.
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A trial between the Government and PPE Medpro over the supply of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic is due to start at the High Court in June, lawyers have said.

The Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care (SSHSC) issued legal proceedings against the company more than two years ago saying it had breached a contract of a deal on the supply of gowns.

SSHSC accuses PPE Medpro of delivering the gowns from China in 2020 without the correct certification showing they had been reliably sterilised.

PPE Medpro denies breaching the contract and said the gowns were properly sterilised, its lawyers said in previously filed court documents.

Lawyers for SSHSC said the Government tested a sample of 60 gowns and that 55 were found to be not sterile.

open image in gallery Tory peer Baroness Michelle Mone recommended the company to ministers, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard earlier this year, while Lady Mone denies any wrongdoing ( PA Archive )

All the gowns were therefore rejected for being unusable in the NHS and they remain in storage waiting to be disposed of or recycled, they added.

SSHSC lawyers also said the Government paid 122 million for 25 million sterile surgical gowns and that it is seeking repayment of that amount, plus storage and disposal costs, which it estimates to be above 11 million.

Lawyers for PPE Medpro said in court documents that Government inspection teams had examined the gowns and were satisfied that they met the regulatory standard.

At a hearing on Friday, Charles Samek KC, for PPE Medpro, said that there was a delay in delivering the gowns which led to them becoming contaminated with microbes.

He described it as a real issue, adding: They were shipped overseas and decanted into storage containers, sometimes left in the shipping containers.

It may even have been the case that they sat in containers in farmlands or fields.

Lawyers for both sides also discussed beginning the trial around June 11, which will take place before Mrs Justice Cockerill.

PPE Medpro faced criticism after it was awarded contracts worth more than 200 million to supply the Government with personal protective equipment at the height of the pandemic.

Tory peer Baroness Michelle Mone recommended the company to ministers, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard earlier this year, while Lady Mone denies any wrongdoing.
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A former teacher who was found with more than 120,000 images of child abuse on his devices has been banned from teaching for life.

Matthew Smith, the former deputy headteacher at Thomass Battersea Primary School in London, was jailed for 12 years in 2023 after he was found commissioning the sexual abuse of children in India using encrypted messaging services.

The Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) ruled on Thursday that Smith should also be banned from teaching for life.

The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to 17 offences relating to child sexual abuse. This included causing the sexual exploitation and abuse of a child, encouraging the rape of a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Smiths offences took place between June 2016 and November 2022 while he was living and working as a teacher in Nepal.

He moved back to the UK in July 2022, where he began working as a deputy head teacher and head of pastoral care at Thomass Battersea Primary School.

There has been no evidence to suggest Smiths offences were against children based in the UK.

Smith was arrested at his home in East Dulwich, south-east London, by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The NCA found evidence on his laptop that revealed that Smith was using Telegram, an encrypted messaging service, to discuss receiving and sending indecent images of children.

Chat logs revealed that Smith requested indecent images of children in exchange for money. Children under the age of 13 were abused and videoed or photographed as a result of his requests, the CPS said.

More than 120,000 indecent images of children aged from three months to 13 years old were uncovered by officers from Smiths laptop, iPhone and an SD card.

TRA decision maker Marc Cavey said: In this case, I have placed considerable weight on the very serious nature of the misconduct found by the panel, which involved the sexual exploitation of children by a teacher.

I am also mindful of the lack of evidence of insight or remorse and the likely negative impact of Mr Smiths actions on the standing of the profession.
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Precious trees must be listed for protection in a similar way to historic buildings, conservationists say, as the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree and others brings the issue to national attention.

The call by the Woodland Trust to improve protection for thousands of trees that have important ecological, cultural and historical value comes after high-profile felling of landmark trees sparked public fury.

Two men have been found guilty of felling the totemic Sycamore Gap tree beside Hadrians Wall in September 2023, in a case that drew international attention.

And the Forestry Commission is assessing the felling of a 400-year-old oak in Whitewebbs Park, north London, in April, one of only about 100 oaks of that size in Greater London, which also sparked outrage.

The Woodland Trust said that existing protections such as tree preservation orders and requirements for felling licences had limitations and exemptions, such as the type and location of trees protected, and called for better safeguards for the countrys most precious trees.

open image in gallery Conservationists are calling for more protection for special trees (Owen Humphreys/PA) ( PA Archive )

The charity wants the Government to back a proposed law that would list heritage trees with exceptional historic, landscape, cultural or ecological importance, similar to the way historic buildings and monuments are listed or scheduled.

Under the Heritage Trees Bill, put forward by Baroness Young in the House of Lords as a Private Members Bill, a list of such trees would be created and maintained by a statutory agency.

Trees on the list would have provisions ensuring their protection, requiring landowners and occupiers to advertise the trees status and take steps to maintain and conserve it, and there would be additional or higher penalties for breaching new heritage tree preservation orders.

Adam Cormack, head of campaigns at the Woodland Trust, said the proposed law would provide a consistent level of protection, conservation and active stewardship for a listed group of trees.

Several thousand of the most important trees across England could be protected with the scheme, he said, while different legislation would need to be passed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

open image in gallery A pedunculate oak, 'Quercus robur', known locally as the 'Guy Fawkes Oak' is cordoned off after being felled on April 17, 2025 ( Getty Images )

He highlighted work in Poland, where a green monuments system preserves tens of thousands of trees, and a similar scheme in Romania.

Mr Cormack also pointed to a survey after the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, which found 88% of people supported legislation to protect the most valuable trees.

He said: Special trees provide a living backdrop to our national history and culture, as well as the stories and lives of our local communities, but they have few legal protections in the UK.

Other European countries have recognised this with legislation in place to protect very old and important trees for their immense ecological, cultural and historical value.

His colleague Jack Taylor, project lead for woods under threat, added: Theres a strong national identity behind ancient and veteran trees.

We are not one of the most wooded countries across Europe, but we do have a really strong population of ancient and veteran trees, and that resonates with people.

When you see trees like the Whitewebbs oak, it stops most people in their tracks.
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Sir Keir Starmers war on bats and newts risks breaching Britains post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, a secret report has warned.

The prime minister has vowed to rip up protections for the animals as part of a drive to slash planning red tape and get Britain building again.

But a leaked EU report has warned that plans aimed at boosting economic growth could violate the terms of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement (TCA).

The confidential document, revealed by Politico, said the measures could breach non-regression clauses agreed by former prime minister Boris Johnson when he led Britain out of the EU.

It said: The revision of environmental planning rules to facilitate building new developments is potentially in breach of the EU-UK TCA.

open image in gallery The government has vowed to stop newts and bats from blocking building ( PA )

It also noted chancellor Rachel Reevess repeated criticism of bats and newts as obstacles to economic growth, which it said was a reference found in virtually every government interview and speech on the subject.

The report highlighted months of government rhetoric against red tape and said the PM and chancellor have specifically targeted environmental regulations, downplaying their effectiveness, if not ridiculing them.

open image in gallery Newts have threatened to block the development of a swimming pool at Boris Johnsons country manor ( Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group/PA )

The leaked report was shared between the European Commission and EU member states last week and did not contain any reference to Brussels seeking redress for any potential breaches. The TCA underpins Britains trade with the bloc and is up for review next year.

Environmental groups have also hit out at the governments anti-bat and newt rhetoric, which was spurred in part by the revelation that the HS2 rail project had spent more than 100m building a shed for bats.

Setting out her plans to boost the economy in January, Ms Reeves vowed the government would let developers focus on getting things built and stop worrying over the bats and the newts.

open image in gallery An artists impression of the so-called bat tunnel at Sheephouse Wood, which is set to cost 100m ( PA )

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) has said the chancellors language about bats is deeply concerning and that she wrongly blames bats for slowing housebuilding and infrastructure projects.

BCT president and environmental campaigner Chris Packham has accused Ms Reeves of scapegoating bats.

Meanwhile, newts have threatened building projects, including former PM Mr Johnsons plans to build a pool at his country manor.

A government spokesperson said: We are clear that change is needed if we are to halt the decline in the state of our environment, but also deliver the homes and infrastructure we need.

Through the nature restoration fund, we will establish a new approach that will allow us to move beyond the current environmental status quo, securing meaningful, lasting improvements for nature.
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The London mayor will rip up the rules protecting green belt land in a bid to build almost a million much-needed new homes for Londoners.

Sir Sadiq Khan is promising a radical change of approach to the green belt, where most forms of development are forbidden, to help tackle the capitals pervasive and profound housing crisis.

In a controversial speech, Sir Sadiq will hit out at what he says are myths that the green belt is all beautiful countryside, green and pleasant land, rich with wildlife.

open image in gallery Sadiq Khan wants to build housing for Londoners on the green belt ( PA )

The reality is very different. The green belt can often be low-quality land, poorly maintained and rarely enjoyed by Londoners, he will say on Friday.

Vowing to end the citys housing crisis, the mayor will say that development in carefully chosen areas - done in the right way - will allow City Hall to unlock hundreds of thousands of good quality new homes for Londoners. Sir Sadiq said 88,000 new homes are needed in London each year for the next decade to meet the growing demand for housing.

Londons green belt, which covers more than a million acres of land spanning Greater London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey, has been in place since 1938. Its aim is to prevent urban sprawl and protect nature.

But Sir Sadiq will argue the status quo is out of date and unsustainable given the severity of Londons housing crisis.

open image in gallery Deputy PM Angela Rayner backed Khans plans ( PA )

Acknowledging that the change will prove controversial, he will add: As mayor, Im not willing to ignore such a prospect just because it might be politically difficult  not when the life chances of the next generation of Londoners are on the line.

Londons housing crisis is deepening, with the cost of renting or buying in the capital spiralling. Median house prices since the turn of the century have grown twice as fast as wages in London, while private rents have increased 40 per cent in the last decade.

Boroughs across the capital spend 4m a day on temporary accommodation due to the lack of available council properties, while hundreds of thousands of people are on waiting lists for social housing.

More than 180,000 Londoners are living in this temporary accommodation, officially homeless  including 90,000 children, which is the equivalent of one homeless child in every classroom in London, according to City Hall officials.

Sir Sadiq will warn: A generation of Londoners now simply cant afford to rent, let alone buy a home.

We have young professionals stuck living in their childhood bedrooms for years on end; Londoners having to endure cold, damp accommodation that isnt fit for human habitation; couples reluctantly moving out of the capital to start a family; and London primary schools closing because young families have been priced out of the area.

Despite the announcement opening Labour up to attack from environmental campaigners, Sir Sadiq was backed by Angela Rayner.

The deputy prime minister said: We all know someone who has been affected by the acute and entrenched housing crisis weve inherited, and the picture in London is as stark as anywhere.

Thats why the government welcomes the bold proposal announced by the mayor today, which rises to the challenge.

And chief executive of the Generation Rent campaign group Ben Twomey said: When housing costs are forcing too many of us into poverty and homelessness, it is right that the mayor sets out his ambition to build the homes we need, including in parts of the green belt where appropriate.
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Keir Starmer's recent efforts have led to important trade deals with the US and India, and with an EU deal still to come, these agreements are a big step forward for the UK.

While Starmers progress has sparked both optimism and scepticism, broader questions remain: Can the deal with Trump truly be considered a triumph, or is it more a case of damage limitation? And what of the fine print?

The prime minister deserves credit for securing deals with three of the biggest markets in the world. The benefits will be small but real  and the potential of better access to the Indian market could be great in the longer term.

I would rather have a government that can pragmatically and competently secure small gains in Britain's interest than one showboating its distaste for Trump.

In an exclusive Q&A with Independent readers, I tackled your questions surrounding the deals economic impact, its political implications, and its place in the ongoing saga of Britains evolving global trade strategy post-Brexit.

From the possible benefits to the UK workforce to broader negotiations with the EU, the discussion covered a range of topics that touch on the very heart of the UKs future on the global stage.

Heres what you asked during the Ask Me Anything session  and my responses to your questions.

Q: Could this deal realistically be branded as a Brexit triumph?

Jimmy

A: I don't think so. It was made possible by Brexit, but the final accounting is that we lost more, economically, by leaving the EU than we gained by this exercise in damage limitation.

Q: Are the Tories criticising the deal out of genuine concern or frustration over their own past failures?

Sophieeeeeee

A: It was striking in the House of Commons last night that sensible Tory MPs such as Julian Smith and Mark Pritchard welcomed the US deal, praising Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson.

Kemi Badenoch made a mistake, I think, in criticising both the India and US deals. As you say, they are precisely the kind of deals that she and the Tory government were desperate to do, and she ends up opposing deals that add (however incrementally) to British prosperity. Even Nigel Farage said the US deal was "heading in the right direction".

Q: What are the tangible benefits of this deal to the average UK and US person?

MattAllenby

A: The benefits are marginal, but real. They are particularly relevant to workers at Jaguar Land Rover and other car companies, which is why Starmer went to Solihull for the announcement.

It is fair enough to say that the benefits seem vague, partly because many of the details have yet to be negotiated, but partly because the general benefit is slightly lower prices than we would otherwise have.

That is one reason why free trade is never as popular as it should be, while protectionism seems attractive. The only silver lining for those of us who believe in free trade is that Trump is conducting a real-life experiment in demonstrating that tariffs mean higher prices and fewer jobs for the country that imposes them on its imports.

Q: Do the Trump and India deals weaken the UKs bargaining power with the EU?

BBenB

A: No, I think that is one of Starmer's more impressive achievements. He was told that he had to choose between the US and the EU, and he has shown that he can do a deal with both. Obviously, the US and India deals would have to be scrapped if we wanted to rejoin the EU, but until a British government reaches that point, which could be a decade away (or never), it makes sense to do pragmatic deals elsewhere.

Q: Will we get steroid beef and chlorinated chicken or not?

Jamie

A: The UK government is absolutely clear that our food standards will not change. Hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken will continue to be banned from the UK. That said, plenty of US beef meets UK standards, so it is an opportunity for American farmers. In order to allay fears of British farmers, US exports to the UK will be subject to quota limits that will be only gradually increased.

Q: Wont most people be more concerned with the voting system and local government funding than a deal with Trump, given his track record?

Neil Martin

A: I agree that Trump is not a reliable partner, but this agreement has been written down and published. The details have yet to be negotiated, but that negotiation will be done by teams of officials who will be guided by the published terms. And the bottom line is that reducing Trump's tariffs is good for Britain  not a huge benefit, but worth having.

As for the voting system, I would say definitely not; and local government funding ought to be of a higher priority for British voters than it is.

Q: Are these trade deals aimed at marginalising China, and does trade with India suggest an imminent conflict in Yemen?

Paul T Horgan

A: I think that some of the commentary about Donald Trump co-opting Britain into his trade war against China has been overdone. There are clauses in the agreement about ensuring the security of supply chains and protections against forced labour, which are aimed at preventing Chinese content going to the US through the UK, which seems reasonable enough.

As for Yemen, I think the case for keeping the Red Sea open is independent of an India-UK trade deal!

Q: Why is the media calling it a deal when its just a non-binding outline for future negotiations?

EdwinH

A: The answer to your question is: because journalists report these things using normal English, in which "deal" means an agreement, even if there are legal texts still to be negotiated. I think most of the reporting has been clear that what was announced yesterday was an agreement in principle on the main points. I don't think there is much prospect of the US going back on its commitment to abolish tariffs on steel and aluminium and to cut tariffs on cars, which are the most important points.

Your point will also apply to the EU-UK agreement that will be announced on 19 May: this too will be only a "heads of agreement" document, but again the main points will in effect be decided at that point. Most trade agreements are like this, and the parties usually follow through on the high-level agreement, so I think it is justified to call this "general terms" document a deal.

Q: Why is this being presented as a great deal when the UK has made significant concessions with unclear benefits?

mindful

A: Your question reminds me of the cartoon by Morten Morland of Trump pushing Starmer into the water, rescuing him and shaking his hand. Yes, this is all Trump's fault: he has damaged the British economy (and damaged the American economy even more). This deal reduces some of that damage. So the deal is worth having, but we shouldn't have been attacked in the first place.

"Standing up to Trump" would be a fine but pointless gesture, the price of which would be paid by British people struggling with the cost of living.

Q: Why did Starmer bend the knee just to return to the original situation, undermining trust and showing little interest in closer EU relations?

Luca Migo

A: I think things are both worse and better than you think. Keir Starmer "bent the knee" (that is, behaved politely and pragmatically) to come some way back towards the initial situation. We will still be worse off than we were before Trump became president, but we are better off than we were at the start of this week.

As for the EU, the terms of an EU-UK agreement will be announced on 19 May. None of this is perfect, but it is a huge negotiating triumph to complete three trade agreements with three huge markets in two weeks. They all make us slightly better off  the EU deal is the most important  but they are all worthwhile.

Q: Will streamlined customs paperwork be put in place to speed up UK-US imports and exports?

John Moore

A: There is a section of the agreement that talks about increased digitisation of import-export paperwork (it calls it "digitalisation"), but I suspect that this is more a matter of speeding up the move to paperless working that is happening anyway.

These questions and answers were part of an Ask Me Anything hosted by John Rentoul at 3pm BST on Friday 9 May. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.

For more insight into UK politics, check out Johns weekly Commons Confidential newsletter. The email, exclusive to Independent Premium subscribers, takes you behind the curtain of Westminster. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, head here to find out more.
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Sue Gray has warned Afghan women are being systematically removed from their own society in her first remarks since being ousted as Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff.

The former top civil servant warned the prime minister and world leaders they must not legitimise any process that sidelines Afghan women.

And, speaking publicly as she joined the Friends of Afghan Women Network (Fawn) as chair, Baroness Gray said we must all pull together to do better.

open image in gallery Sue Gray was sacked in October ( PA )

She said: I feel honoured that my first role since leaving government is to be invited to chair the Friends of Afghan Women Network. Afghan women are being systematically removed from their own society.

This is not simply an issue of education. It is a question of human dignity, of rights, of global responsibility.

I've been privileged to work with governments who have worked hard to improve human rights, and I will take this learning into this role.

The world must not legitimise any process that sidelines Afghan women. It must continue to support Afghan women and girls. We must all pull together to do better.

Baroness Gray was sacked as Sir Keirs chief of staff in October after losing a bitter power struggle with his campaign guru Morgan McSweeney, who has since adopted her former role.

Sir Keir then offered her the symbolic role of envoy for the nations and regions but she rejected the position.

open image in gallery Keir Starmers government had a chaotic start ( NTB )

The ex-Partygate investigator had been blamed for Labours dreadful start in government after Julys landslide general election win. Its early months were plagued by infighting, a row over freebies and complaints Sir Keir had failed to plan for government and was lacking a driving vision, with policies such as the withdrawal of winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners defining his tenure.

At the time, allies of Baroness Gray, who was put in the Lords by Sir Keir, said she would focus on other things.

She is now chair of Fawn, a British campaign group aimed at supporting Afghan women facing persecution under Taliban rule.

Writing for The Independent on Friday, Fawn co-founder Shabnam Nasimi warned girls in Afghanistan have lost access to education and participation in public life. This is not a cultural nuance or a transitional phase, it is the formalisation of gender persecution, she said.

open image in gallery Shabnam Nasimi said governments must move beyond symbolic gestures ( Shabnam Nasimi )

She added: The international community must now move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt a principled, coordinated approach. Diplomatic engagement with the Taliban must be conditional on measurable progress on womens rights.

Fawn is calling for an increase in funding for women-led organisations working inside and outside Afghanistan, despite Sir Keirs government slashing the international aid budget to pay for an increase in defence spending.
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A trans Labour councillor has quit the party and accused Sir Keir Starmer of throwing transgender people under the bus after its response to the controversial Supreme Court ruling on gender.

Dylan Tippetts, who represented Labour on Plymouth City Council, said he can no longer represent a party that does not support my fundamental rights.

Judges ruled that the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex. In response, a slew of ministers, including equalities minister Bridget Phillipson, said trans women should use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex.

And Sir Keir U-turned on his previous position that trans women are women, calling on trans women to use male bathrooms and trans men to use womens toilets.

Quitting the party, Mr Tippetts said: The Labour party nationally has thrown transgender people under the bus and has taken us backwards decades.

open image in gallery Dylan Tippetts is Plymouths first openly trans councillor ( PA )

He added: Everyone deserves the right to live peacefully, and the Labour Party continues to deny transgender people that basic right.

I cannot continue to represent a party that does not support my fundamental rights. I cannot as a trans person continue to support the Labour Party.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer said he no longer believes trans women are women ( via REUTERS )

After the ruling, a member of the partys ruling National Executive Committee told The Independent Sir Keir was putting trans people in danger and forcing them out of society. Left-winger Jess Barnard said: We already know trans women face extreme levels of violence in society and are likely to be targeted with hate crime and abuse for being trans.

So we should not be in a situation where the prime minister of the UK is telling trans women to use mens bathrooms.

Seeking to address the anger, Ms Phillipson stressed that Labour will offer trans people the dignity they were denied by the Conservatives.

She said: We will continue our wider work with commitment, with compassion, to protect all of those who need it right across society. Because this is a government that will support the rights of women and trans people, now and always.

This is a Government that will support the rights of all people with protected characteristics, now and always. This is a government that will support the rights of our most vulnerable, now and always. And, on that, there is no change to announce. Dignity and respect for all, now and always.

open image in gallery Bridget Phillipson promised Labour will support trans people ( PA Wire )

Labour suggested Mr Tippetts decision to to quit was taken after he was told he was being replaced as chair of the Taxi Licensing Committee.

A spokesperson for Plymouth Labour Group said: "We are very disappointed that Cllr Tippetts has taken the decision to resign. The residents of Compton ward deserve three committed councillors so we hope Cllr Tippetts will work hard to represent them during his final year in office".

Mr Tippetts will now sit as an independent and will not seek re-election next year.
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The U.S. Air Force deployed a swarm of supersonic stealth strike fighters and anti-aircraft missile systems for a large-scale elephant walk in Japan, in an apparent display of combat power and regional deterrence.

A total of 53 aircraft participated in the traditional showing this week at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, a major U.S. military installation in the Asia-Pacific region located about 400 miles off the coast of China.

Air Force photographs captured fighter jets in tight formation behind helicopters and drones. Larger aircraft were stationed toward the rear with advanced Patriot air defense systems flanking the sides.

An elephant walk like this sends a message you cant ignoreit shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that were united, capable, and ready, 18th Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant Brandon Wolfgang said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 18th Wing Commander Brigadier General Nicholas Evans said in a statement Friday that the Air Forces ability to project airpower alongside its allies demonstrates our commitment to the alliance with Japan and to maintaining stability across the Indo-Pacific.

The air base said two dozen F-35As, eight F-15E Strike Eagles, six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, and two MQ-9 Reaper drones were included in the traditional showing on Tuesday, which involves the taxiing of aircraft in close formation before takeoff.

U.S. military planes line up on the runway for an elephant walk during a routine operational readiness exercise ( US Force Japan/X )

Operations tankers, reconnaissance planes stuffed with listening devices and other electromagnetic spying equipment, and airborne warning systems were among other aircraft in the walk.

The U.S. Navy also deployed two EA-18G Growler electronic warfare fighter-bombers and one P-8 Poseidon submarine hunter, while the U.S. Army chipped in two MIM-104 Patriots mobile interceptor missile surface-to-air missile systems.

According to military news website Task and Purpose, this weeks elephant walk appears to be one of the largest in recent memory. It topped the 52-aircraft formation at Hill Air Force Base in Utah in 2020.

The Japanese base held a similar, 33-aircraft elephant walk about a year ago.

The Air Force said most of the planes in the walk are flown by crews at Kadena, and other aircraft regularly operate out of the Japanese air base day in and day out. "

The display coincided with the 18th Wings week of operational readiness training involving ground burst simulators, smoke canisters, and mobilization drills.

Our Airmen are out there doing the mission every day, Wolfgang said. Exercises like this sharpen their skills under pressure and make sure they are ready when it matters.
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A man died while attempting to rescue his dog from the ocean in the Bay Area shortly after entering the surf, officials say.

Witnesses saw a full-clothed man, believed to be middle-aged, enter the water along Ocean Beach just before 2:10 p.m., the San Francisco Fire Department said in a statement late Thursday.

After entering the surf line to save his pet, the man collapsed in the water for unknown reasons, officials said. On Friday, it was still not clear what caused the victim to lose his footing.

The fire department said two women who were nearby rushed into the ocean in an attempt to rescue the man, dragging him out of the water to shore to provide life-saving support before calling 911.

Ocean Rescue personnel arrived at the scene within two minutes of the dispatch call being made and immediately started CPR. Paramedics from the fire service arrived four minutes later and initiated advanced life support.

open image in gallery San Francisco Fire Department announced the rescue operation on Thursday ( San Francisco Fire Department/X )

The man was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he finally succumbed to his injuries. The dog, however, managed to return to shore on its own, uninjured, officials said.

Authorities have not yet announced any plans for a formal investigation.

Ocean Beach is known for its powerful, channeled currents, even during calm weather. Treacherous rip currents and danger areas are constantly changing due to multi-directional swells creating holes in the sandbar.

Fire officials reminded beachgoers to be careful in the ocean and not to go after pets if they are in distress.

This is an unfortunate reminder not to enter the water for humans or pets but rather, to call 911, the fire department wrote in its statement.

Sukai Curtis-Contreras, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department, told KTVU that people can be pulled into the surfs unique currents in even ankle-deep water.

The mans identity has not been made public, nor have the identities of the two women who attempted to save his life.

The Independent has contacted the San Francisco Fire Department for more information.
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Iran and the United States will meet again this weekend for talks over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said the talks Sunday would again be held in Oman, which has mediated three previous rounds of negotiations.

The two will speak in both direct and indirect talks, according to a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity Friday to describe private diplomatic contacts. It comes ahead of Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week.

Witkoff, in an interview with the conservative outlet Breitbart News published Friday, ramped up U.S. demands for a deal. After weeks of mixed messaging, he said the U.S. would not allow Iran to maintain a uranium enrichment program, which had been a main criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal reached during the Obama administration.

That agreement, which Trump withdrew from in 2018 during his first term, had allowed Iran to keep enriching uranium at low levels. Critics said that allowed Tehran a pathway to eventual nuclear weapons development.

An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again, Witkoff told Breitbart. Thats our red line. No enrichment. That means dismantlement, it means no weaponization, and it means that Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan  those are their three enrichment facilities  have to be dismantled.

Witkoff also said that during the talks Iran had reiterated it did not want to acquire a nuclear weapon, something that Iranian officials have said for years.

We believe that they cannot have enrichment, they cannot have centrifuges, they cannot have anything that allows them to build a weapon, he said.

He added that if the talks on Sunday were not productive, then they wont continue, and well have to take a different route.

Trump has imposed new sanctions on Iran as part of his maximum pressure campaign. He has repeatedly suggested military action against Iran remains a possibility, while emphasizing he still believed a new deal could be reached after writing a letter to Irans 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian officials increasingly have threatened that they could pursue a nuclear weapon.

Oman did not immediately acknowledge its hosting of the Sunday talks.

___

Lee reported from Washington.
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The newly elected Pope Leo XIV  Chicago-born Robert Prevost, a member of the Augustinian religious order who spent much of his life ministering to Catholics in Peru  is a true servant of God, who lives his life according to St. Augustines core values of truth, unity, and love, a former protege who has known him for decades told The Independent.

In a phone interview on Thursday, Fr. Rob Hagan, who was mentored in his earlier years by Prevost, said that he always referred to the 69-year-old Pope as Bob.

Now, he said, referring to him as Pope Leo XIV is just an honor.

We are so humbled and grateful for the person that he is, and has been, Hagan went on. Hes incredibly bright, he speaks multiple languages  he served a large part of his ministry outside of the U.S., helping the poor and people on the margins. He has a real approachability and warmth, a twinkle in his eye, hes really a gift to the church and to the world.

Hagan said that while Prevost, a dark-horse candidate, was chosen to be the first-ever American-born Pope by the College of Cardinals, members of the Catholic community also believe that the holy spirit is very much guiding the process.

For [him] to have emerged as Pope, it is our belief that this was the will of God, Hagan said. Its just wonderful, the peacemaker and unifier that he is.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, ascended to the papacy on Thursday. A former protege described the first American pope. ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery The faithful turned out in droves for Thursday's announcement of Robert Prevost as the 267th Pope ( Getty Images )

St. Augustine was known for his empathy, and the order centers its work on how to best care for the neediest.

As an Augustinian, Prevost will naturally bring a somewhat progressive outlook, relatively speaking, to the papacy, according to Hagan. As an American, Hagan expects Prevost to bring the best of what the United States has historically stood for, he said.

Do we have problems? Yes. Are we flawed? Yes. But if you think about the values upon which this country was founded: justice, peace, opportunity for all people, I think Leo XIV will embody what is best about American values and really serve in such a way that those values will be lived for all people, of all countries, Hagan continued. And that everyone will feel that they are a part of the flock, and that this is a shepherd who is for all the people.

Prevosts predecessor, Pope Francis, made a point of focusing his papacy on those considered outsiders, such as the poor, the incarcerated, and the LGBTQ+ community. Francis, a Jesuit who served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires before becoming Pope in 2013, will cast a long shadow over Prevosts upcoming tenure, according to Prof. Erin Galgay Walsh, a scholar of ancient and late antique Christianity at the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Prevost worked very closely with Francis, and both men were students of Latin American liberation theology, with a strong commitment to the poor, Walsh explained.

The tenets of St. Augustine are often about making sure that each person is taken care of, and has what they need, Walsh told The Independent.

She said she thinks Prevost will carry forward Franciss devotion to the excluded, which he may combine with aspects of Pope Benedict XVIs reputation as an intellectual. When Walsh first heard that Prevost had been elevated to the papacy, her mind immediately went to Pope Leo XIII.

open image in gallery Prevost is expected to carry on the work of his predecessor, Pope Francis, according to theologians and historians ( Getty Images )

Leo XIII, who died in 1903, is known and remembered for critiquing the excesses of capitalism, and also socialism, and really promoting the welfare of the worker, Walsh said, adding that Catholics can likely expect the same from Prevost.

An important message that Catholicism teaches, as we face AI and other challenges, is the dignity of work, Walsh said.

She sees something very poignant in Prevosts ascension to Pope as an American who later became a dual citizen of Peru, specifically now that we live in an age of rising nationalism and [in] a very polarized society. Walsh thinks Prevost could serve as a counterpoint to the form of insularity dominating politics in many places today.

I always emphasize to my students that the Jesus movement was multilingual and multicultural from the very beginning, and embraced living among others, Walsh said. [Prevost] has done that, he embodies that, and perhaps offers Americans an alternative way of thinking about what it means to be an American.

Raul Zegarra, a Peruvian-born assistant professor of Roman Catholic theological studies at Harvard Divinity School, called Prevost quite a remarkable figure.

He also expects to see a sense of continuity with the legacy left by Pope Francis, emphasizing Prevosts focus on peace during his first address as pontiff.

The first sentence was about peace, it was the word he said the most in his allocution, Zegarra told The Independent. You cannot hear that without thinking about the fact that there are multiple wars going on right now, and as a major spiritual leader, the reiteration of peace is particularly powerful. I think that may signal some of the work he may want to pursue.

Further, Zegarra said, the emphasis on a God that loves all of us, without limits and conditions, was also very Francis-like.

It sounds a lot like Francis, and frames the church as one that is open and welcoming, a church for all, a church that builds dialogue, that builds bridges, Zegarra maintained.

He said it will be impossible for many to avoid making comparisons between Prevost and U.S. President Donald Trump, but that we will inevitably see radical points of contrast. While Trump and other right-wing leaders are kind of closing up and not willing to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable, Prevost will offer a well-defined alternative, according to Zegarra.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American-born Pope, will likely offer a 'radical contrast' to U.S. President Donald Trump ( Getty Images )

Trump himself welcomed the new Pope with a Truth Social post writing, Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

At the same time, many in Trumps orbit were significantly less enthused about the 267th Pope.

WOKE MARXIST POPE, far-right conspiracy theorist and alleged Trump concubine Laura Loomer posted on social media following the announcement that Prevost had been elected.

Of course hes anti-MAGA and WOKE, she ranted in a separate post. Another Open Borders Pope. Gross.

In a TV appearance last week, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon denigrated Prevost as one of the most progressive candidates for the papacy, cautioning that he would not be a friend to the MAGA movement.

As MAGA influencer Vince Langman tweeted after Prevosts selection was made public, In case you're wondering why they picked an American to be a Pope for the first time in history... He's a WOKE Never Trumper liberal. That's why!

Conversely, to Fr. Hagan, Prevost is someone he always looked up to, and a person he has always had a great deal of respect for.

Prevost modeled a way of life that Hagan could aspire to, and has always been kind to me. Now, as Pope Leo XIV, Hagan knows his onetime mentors life will be very different from now on.

His message to the new Pope?

Hagan told The Independent, I certainly just offer my congratulations and my prayers.
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President Trump sent his well wishes to the new American Pope, Robert Prevost  even though the new pontiff has been critical of the president, his administration and the White Houses treatment of migrants.

Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, has shared several highly critical posts about Trump and his immigration policies on X.

One scathing post he retweeted read: There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.

The Chicago-born cardinals most recent post questioned whether Trump and his administration see the suffering caused by their policies.

As Trump & Bukele use Oval to [laughing crying emoji] Feds illicit deportation of a U.S. resident, once an undoc-ed Salvadoran himself, no-DC Aux+Evelio asks, Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscious not disturbed? How can you stay quiet? the retweeted post read.

open image in gallery President Trump sent his well wishes to the new American Pope, Robert Prevost, despite the popes criticism of his policies. ( AFP via Getty Images )

He has previously retweeted posts about Trumps bad hombres line fueling racism and messages in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The new pope also shared an op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter titled: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others, following comments the vice president made on Fox News in February.

During the interview, Vance said, There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that."

His comments drew ire from many Christians  including the new Catholic Pope, who shared an op-ed claiming Vance was wrong.

Despite his criticisms of Trump, the president expressed his excitement and hopes to meet the new Pope.

Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

open image in gallery Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country, Trump said ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Political world reacts

Politicians quickly started paying homage to the first American pope. Former President Joe Biden, a Catholic, expressed his well wishes to the new pope, writing on X: Habemus papam - May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.

Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote on X. Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also congratulated Pope Leo XIV on the historic accomplishment.

A historic moment as we witness the first American leading the Catholic Church. Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leox XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace, he wrote on X.

Vance shared his congratulations to the new pontiff on X  despite the Popes previous criticism of him.

Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him! Vance wrote.

open image in gallery Political leaders across the US expressed their support after Pope Leo XIV was named. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Former President Barack Obama praised Pope Leo XIV, writing on X, Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also offered congratulations to Pope Leo XIV.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th successor to Saint Peter. This is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide, he said in a statement.

Rubio continued: The papacy carries a sacred and solemn responsibility. Jeanette and I are united in prayer for His Holiness, may the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, strength, and grace as he shepherds the Church. The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.

However, not everybody in the political world was thrilled.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer jumped to Trumps defense on the popes previous cricitism, writing, The new Pope @drprevost supports illegal aliens and open borders. He retweeted tweets in support of dreamers aka illegals and attacked President Trumps use of the phrase bad hombres to describe violent illegal aliens. He thinks its a racist phrase.

open image in gallery Faithful Catholics cheered in the Vatican square, waved flags from countless countries in celebration as the news of the new pope was shared. ( Getty Images )

Prevost, 69, who holds both American and Peruvian citizenship, also serves as the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, where nearly 40 percent of the worlds Catholics reside. The dual-citizen spent years in Peru, first as a missionary before becoming an archbishop.

Faithful Catholics cheered in the Vatican square, waved flags from countless countries in celebration as the news was shared.

While many observers felt following the death of Argentine Pope Francis that cardinals would elect a European successor, the 69-year-old Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop from Chicago, the largest Archdiocese in North America, was likely to be the top candidate from the Americas.

Pope Leo XIV was also favored by Pope Francis and was believed to be considered the main Bergoglian candidate, as an ally of the late head of the Vatican.
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King George's reign has come to an end. In Texas. At a Renaissance Festival.

A Grimes County judge ruled this week that the Texas Renaissance Festival  the largest in the country in terms of attendance numbers  must be sold after its owner, George Coulam  known to his workers and visitors as King George  backed out of a sale.

In addition to selling the festival, Coulam will have to pay $22 million in damages to plaintiffs RW Lands, Inc., Texas Stargate, Inc., and Royal Campground, Inc, Houston Public Media reports. He reportedly originally agreed to sell the festival property, an adjacent property, and the festival's assets to the group for $60 million in 2013.

The parties agreed to an August 8, 2023 closing date, but learned the day before that Coulam was apparently preparing to back out of the deal, according to the lawsuit. Coulam reportedly ignored the closing date and the sale.

Indeed, the Aug. 8, 2023 closing date came and went without the defendants complying with their closing obligations, the lawsuit says.

open image in gallery A joust participant rides a horse at the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission, Texas. The festival's owner, "King" George Coulam  has been ordered by a judge to sell the festival for $60 million and to pay $22 million in damages to a group who sued him after he allegedly backed out of a sale agreement ( Dylan McEwan / Texas Renaissance Festival )

The plaintiffs sued him for breach of contract, arguing that an initial payment they had made required Coulam to uphold his end of the agreement.

Coulam was the subject of a 2024 Max docuseries titled "Ren Faire" that followed the 86-year-old Coulam's search for love on dating apps while also toying with underlings vying to take over the festival at his retirement.

Even though King George will abdicate his throne, his kingdom will live on  just under new ownership. According to the Texas Renaissance Festival's representatives, the event will continue for its 2025 season "and beyond."

"The commitment will remain unchanged: to deliver a safe, vibrant, and memorable experience for the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit each year. Festival operations are moving forward as planned for the 2025 season and beyond," a post on its social media said.

The festival just celebrated its 50th season at the end of 2024, drawing more than half a million visitors during its Golden Birthday.
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Billionaire Bill Gates doubled down on his criticism of Elon Musk when he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Microsoft founder also elaborated on his decision to donate much of the remainder of his fortune to the Gates Foundation over the next twenty years.

Gates, 69, told Colbert on Thursday evening that he estimates his gesture will be worth approximately $200bn over the next 20 years and enable the foundation to contribute to the global fight against childhood mortality and deadly diseases like malaria and HIV.

The announcement comes as Donald Trumps administration has effectively shuttered the United States Agency for International Development and slashed funding for healthcare programs around the world, much of which is being overseen by Musks DOGE.

Prior to his interview with Colbert, Gates had told The Financial Times that the Tesla and SpaceX boss was responsible for killing the worlds poorest children through his activities in government.

open image in gallery Bill Gates talks to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show on CBS on May 8 2025 ( The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube )

Musk responded angrily to a clip of Gates making a similar accusation on CBS Morning, saying in an X post: Gates is a huge liar.

Revisiting the subject of DOGEs cuts with Colbert, Gates was asked: Does it make any sense to you, does the rationale make any sense to you, do you talk to these people, you must talk to some of them and say, Why are you doing this, guys?

He answered: Ive been out in the field with the people who work for USAID and seen the brilliant work they do and how important that is.

Unfortunately, you know, there was a weekend where it was decided they were criminals and they were put in the woodchipper, and so we lost a lot of capacity there. Now, we can get it back. Eventually, Congress is the one who will have the final word on this.

[But] Im not even sure the administration understands what is going on in the field because we do have, for the first time in 25 years, we have more children dying. Instead of it going down, its now going up. And unless we reverse pretty quickly, that will be over a million additional deaths.

open image in gallery Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on February 11 2025 ( Jim Watson/AFP/Getty )

The comedian pressed Gates on who he felt was to blame for the misunderstanding he had identified at the heart of the Trump administration.

You lay some of this at the feet of DOGE and, of course, Elon Musk and  I hope Im getting this even close here  you said: The picture of the worlds richest man being involved in the death of the worlds poorest is not a pretty one, Colbert said.

Thats right, Gates nodded.

Well said! Well said! Colbert responded. I mean, not that all billionaires know each other, but have you called him to say, What gives, man? Dont you know that this is going to be on you, that you have blood on your hands?

Well at this point, you know, hes withdrawn Gates began, before the comedian interjected: From reality? Where has he withdrawn from?

Hes headed to Mars, Gates joked.

He went on to say that he was looking forward to getting more time with President Trump to make the case against defunding healthcare initiatives. Gates said that he had found the commander-in-chief to be more receptive than he had expected about supporting HIV and polio vaccination efforts in their past encounters.
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MSNBCs Chris Hayes on Thursday aired a sizzle reel of clips of now-former Fox News star Jeanine Pirro just hours after Donald Trump appointed her the new interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.

The former co-host of Foxs The Five immediately stepped down to take the job after Trump failed to win support for Ed Martin, who currently holds the role. Republican North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis vowed to block Martin because of his support for violent rioters in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Pirro served as a judge in Westchester County, New York, and later the countys district attorney. She launched an unsuccessful Senate race in 2006.

The frequently over-the-top right-wing conspiracy theorist was presented in characteristic form in the reel Hayed presented on his program All In. Pirro attacked against Hollywood, Bill Barr and FBI agents who need to be in handcuffs.

As for those liberal Hollywood leftists in need of a lobotomy like Rosie ODonnell, they are straight-up communists! she spouts in a 2023 clip.

There is a cleansing needed in our FBI and Department of Justice ... of individuals who ... need to be taken out in handcuffs, Pirro rants in another attack.

At one point Pirro scolds the presidents attorney general in his first term, Bill Barr: You, Mr. Barr, are so deep in the swamp, you cant see beyond your fellow reptiles!

Hayes guest was Sam Stein, the laughing managing editor of The Bulwark.

I was very impressed by that sizzle reel you played. Thats good TV! Stein guffawed.

Hayes pointed out to Stein: When it comes time to staff the government, the president of the United States is, like, Whos on my TV box? How about them?

Stein called the Fox TV link almost essential to Trumps government, noting that as many as 23 appointments have some sort of tie to Fox News.

Pirros former Fox News program, Justice with Judge Jeanine, was canceled in 2022 after she became a key figure in a lawsuit brought against Fox by Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the network of making false claims about its voting machines in the 2020 election, which Fox relentlessly, baselessly claimed was rigged.

Fox paid Dominion a massive $787.5 million settlement.

Now Pirro will be the top protector of truth, justice and the law in the District of Columbia.
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Justice David Souter, a quiet and iconoclastic jurist who spent nearly two decades on the United States Supreme Court from 1990 to 2009, has died at age 85.

The New Hampshire-born attorney was named to the highest court in the U.S. by then-president George H.W. Bush, who sought a conservative replacement for Justice William Brennan, an icon of the courts liberal wing. But Souters time on the court revealed him to be more pragmatic than ideological as he shifted to the center, often voting with the courts liberals in abortion-related cases that made him a pariah in right-wing legal circles.

In a statement, Chief Justice John Roberts praised his late colleague as having served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years and said the Granite State resident had brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service.

Roberts also praised Souter for spending roughly 10 years of retirement as a part-time judge on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and said his former colleague would be greatly missed.

open image in gallery President George HW Bush announces Souter as his Supreme Court nominee in July 1990 ( AFP via Getty Images )

David Hackett Souter was born on September 17, 1939 in the town of Melrose, Massachusetts but spent the vast majority of his childhood  and his life  on his familys farm in Weare, New Hampshire.

After attending New Hampshire public schools, he matriculated at Harvard University and earned a bachelors degree there in 1961 before accepting a Rhodes Scholarship that took him to Magdalen College, Oxford. There, he earned an A.B. in Jurisprudence and a Masters degree in two years, after which he returned to Harvard Law School for a three-year period of study to earn a Bachelor of Laws.

Souter was admitted to the bar and began practicing law at the Concord, New Hampshire firm of Orr and Reno as an associate attorney. But he turned to public service in 1968 when he accepted a job as an Assistant Attorney General of the Granite State. Three years later, he was New Hampshires Deputy Attorney General, and by 1978 he was the Attorney General of New Hampshire, the states chief law enforcement officer.

His meteoric rise through the profession continued when he was selected to be an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1978. He would spend the next 12 years on that court, including the last seven as Chief Justice, before then-president George H.W. Bush nominated him to serve on the First Circuit. He took his seat on the Boston-based court in May 1990.

But Souter did not remain in Boston for long. Brennan, the outspoken liberal whod been a stalwart of the high court since 1956, suffered a stroke and announced his retirement from public service.

Bush, whose close friend and chief of staff John Sununu had selected Souter to be a justice on New Hampshires top court during his time as governor, successfully advocated for him to be elevated to the nations highest court as a replacement for Brennan with the aim of tilting the courts ideological balance to the political right.

After a confirmation hearing, the United States Senate voted to confirm Souter as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Court by a vote of 90 in favor and just nine against, leading to him being sworn in to office on October 9, 1990.

At first, Souters output on the court placed him firmly in the courts growing conservative bloc, led by Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Antonin Scalia. But after Bushs 1992 selection of Justice Clarence Thomas to replace another liberal icon, retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall, Souter made a marked shift towards the center by voting with the courts liberals against permitting prayer at a public high school graduation ceremony.

It was in the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey that Souters centrist shift made his name a reviled one among conservatives.

Anti-abortion activists had hoped that the additions of Souter and Thomas to the court would permit the justices to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion across the country.

open image in gallery Souter served as Attorney General of New Hampshire before joining the states Supreme Court ( The Concord Monitor )

The case had been brought by a group of abortion clinics and physicians whod sought to overturn a Pennsylvania law that placed multiple restrictions on the procedure. It was the first opportunity for justices to overturn Roe since Brennan and Marshall  both strong supporters of the 1973 ruling  had left the court.

Yet Souter, whose legal output up to then had never provided much of a window into his views on the abortion issue, sided with a trio of justices who supported reaffirming Roe: Justice John Paul Stevens, Justice Sandra Day OConnor, and the 1973 decisions author, Justice Harry Blackmun.

The three justices authored a plurality opinion upholding what they called Roes essential holding. Specifically, they said women had the right to terminate a pregnancy before viability without undue burden from government, while any post-viability restrictions needed to have exceptions for the mothers life and health.

His decision to keep Roe in place infuriated conservatives and led to efforts by the Federalist Society and other right-wing legal groups to ensure that future Republican presidents would choose more ideologically reliable legal activists for court seats at all levels. That stricter vetting ultimately resulted in presidents George W Bush and Donald Trump nominating justices who would overturn Roe in the 2022 case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Souter would remain in the courts ideological center during the 17 years he spent there following the Casey decision, though the courts rightward shift meant he voted with the liberal wing far more than his more conservative colleagues over that time period.

One case among the many he considered reportedly had a significant effect on him, the 2000 Bush v. Gore case in which he sided with three liberals  Stevens, Steven Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg  in a dissenting opinion while a five-vote majority of justices appointed by Republicans voted to end a recount of votes in Florida months after the 2000 presidential election, effectively handing the presidency to GOP candidate George W Bush.

In his 2007 book on the court, The Nine, journalist Jeffrey Toobin wrote that Souter considered stepping down from the court in the wake of the 2000 election case because he viewed the majoritys ruling as so transparently, so crudely partisan that Souter thought he might not be able to serve with them anymore.

He ultimately decided against resignation and remained on the court for another nine years. But Souter was never entirely comfortable living or working in the nations capital. While he remained there during the times of year when the court heard cases, he would always rush back to his home on the Weare, New Hampshire farm where hed lived since childhood.

In both places, Souter was widely known to live an analog, iconoclastic existence. He never used a computer and preferred to write opinions with a vintage Esterbrook fountain pen. But upon his retirement in 2009, veteran New York Times correspondent Linda Greenhouse wrote that focusing on those eccentricities meant one missed the essence of a man who in fact is perfectly suited to his job, just not to its trappings.

Far from being out of touch with the modern world, he has simply refused to surrender to it control over aspects of his own life that give him deep contentment: hiking, sailing, time with old friends, reading history, she wrote.

Unlike many justices who remain on the court until death or only retire when they can be sure an ideological successor will fill their seat, Souter chose to stand down in mid-2009 when, according to NPR, he determined that no other justices would be retiring during that term so he could avoid causing more than one vacancy at once.

He was replaced on the court by Justice Sonya Sotomayor, but he continued to avail himself of a privilege afford to retired federal judges by continuing to hear cases and participate in deliberations as part of the First Circuit court where hed briefly served before being nominated to the Supreme Court.

Souter did make one significant life change in his retirement, however. In August 2009, he sold his childhood home in Weare and moved from that family farm to a single-story house in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.

According to Concord Monitor, he told a neighbor that his decision to move was so he could live somewhere with floors that could support the weight of the thousands of books he had acquired over the years.
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Texas Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have issued two bills that, if passed by Congress, would empower the federal government to seek to have undocumented migrants convicted of murder put to death in all 50 states, including those in which executions are currently banned.

The Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act in the House and the Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act in the Senate are ultimately likely to be combined into one legislative package and would codify President Donald Trumps executive order in January seeking justice for American citizens killed by perpetrators who arrived in the country unlawfully.

Violent predators who enter our country illegally and brutally murder American citizens should be subject to the death penalty as a consequence of their heinous actions, said Senator John Cornyn in a statement introducing the upper chambers bill, co-signed by a dozen of his GOP peers.

This legislation would protect the American people, make our country safe again, and ensure no future president can single-handedly undo this consequence for taking innocent lives.

open image in gallery Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is calling for the death penalty for undocumented people who are found guilty of murder ( AP )

Representative Morgan Luttrell said in his own statement that the bill seeks to close a dangerous loophole by ending jurisdictional inconsistencies in the administration of capital punishment.

This bill gives us the authority to deliver justice when local prosecutors simply dont have the tools, manpower, or funding to take on a high-profile death penalty case, he said.

If youre in this country illegally and you murder an innocent American, you will be held fully accountable no matter where the crime happens.

The proposed laws follow on from Trumps Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety order, directing his Justice Department to seek the death penalty in murder cases involving undocumented migrants.

These efforts to subvert and undermine capital punishment defy the laws of our nation, make a mockery of justice, and insult the victims of these horrible crimes, the presidents order read.

open image in gallery The South Carolina Department of Correctionss death chamber in Columbia, South Carolina ( South Carolina Department of Corrections/AP )

His call was inspired by cases like the killings of Maryland mother-of-five Rachel Morin in August 2023, nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia in February 2024 and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungary in Houston the following June, which led Trump to denounce migrant crime during last years presidential election campaign and demand tighter border control measures and tougher penalties.

His Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attracted criticism this week after delivering a speech outside the former home of another woman, Emma Shafer, 24, in Springfield, Illinois, who Noem said was killed by an undocumented migrant, a gesture that led her grieving parents to denounce the secretary as cruel and heartless for politicizing their daughters tragic passing.

On the new bills potentially putting the federal government at odds with states that oppose capital punishment, Erin Epley, a former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Texas, told Fox 26 Houston that the practice is rare and that only 16 federal executions have been carried out since 1976.

I do not think the U.S. will move forward with the death penalty in every case involving an illegal immigrant, she said.

But it gives them the ability to do that. You look at if its on a federal nexus, on federal land, it was the murder of a federal agent.
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Former congressman George Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft last year, is hoping President Donald Trump bestows some form of clemency to keep him from serving seven years in federal prison.

Last month, a federal judge in New York sentenced Santos to 87 months in prison for his crimes, believing the former congressman had no remorse for the campaign donors and voters he lied to and swindled out of money.

On Thursday, Santos appeared teary-eyed and lethargic on Piers Morgan Uncensored to make his plea to the president.

Previously, I was not entertaining a pardon because I didnt know what my judgment would be. Now, I am in the process of filling an application to a pardon for the president. Ill take a commutation, a clemency, whatever the president is willing to give me, Santos said.

open image in gallery George Santos, the former congressman who pleaded guilty to a series of crimes, wants President Donald Trump to give him a pardon or issue clemency ( Getty Images )

The former congressman, who was ousted by his colleagues following a damning House Ethics Report in December 2023, said he believes the judges sentence was over the top for a first time offender.

Taking a page from Trumps book, he asserted that former attorney general Merrick Garland had been unfair in leading the Justice Department, and the case against him was politically motivated.

I do believe this is an unfair judgment handed down to me. There was a lot of politicization over the process, Santos said.

The Independent has asked Santos for further comment.

Federal prosecutors brought a series of charges against Santos in 2023, alleging he engaged in several schemes to pocket money from political donors and government assistance programs to enrich himself as he sought a seat representing New Yorks 3rd congressional district.

Santos had gone from relative obscurity to an overnight headline-maker in a series of months after reports accused him of fabricating education and work experience on his resume, lying about his mothers whereabouts on September 11, 2001, misrepresenting himself as being Jewish, misleading people about running a dog charity and more.

Now, Santos believes his bad actions could be used in the countrys benefit to sniff out other bad actors.

Who better, Piers, and President Trump  I hope he would agree, to be able to sniff out other bad actors doing similar actions that I did. I mean, I understand that I could help, I can be an asset for the country and I want to use that for the good, Santos said.

Last August, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft to avoid a federal criminal trial. He also admitted to a series of other wrongdoings, including lying to Congress and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits.

open image in gallery Santos believes a seven-year-long federal prison sentence is too harsh for the crimes he committed ( AP )

But since pleading guilty, Santos had taken to social media to capitalize on his name recognition and dispute prosecutors claims.

His defiance against federal prosecutors ultimately cemented his harsh punishment.

Santos believes it was unnecessarily harsh, tearfully telling Morgan that it would impact his familys routine, force him to miss crucial life events and potentially put him at risk of serious injury.

President Trump, Id appreciate if you could give me a consideration. Im not an altar boy, Im not pretending to be one. But Im not a hardened criminal who deserves to be in prison for seven years off of what I would call ambitious mistakes and its something that I deeply regret, Santos said.
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Newark, New Jersey mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Elizabeth on Friday as the mayor and members of Congress joined demonstrations demanding answers from Donald Trumps administration about the conditions inside, marking a major escalation of immigration protests surrounding the facility.

Videos from outside the facility shows a chaotic scene with masked federal officers pushing against a crowd in the detention centers parking lot as Baraka is shoved towards the building and then placed in handcuffs.

New Jerseys interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba  Trumps personal attorney  accused the mayor of trespassing and ignoring warnings from federal law enforcement agents to leave.

He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, Habba wrote.

open image in gallery Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark confronts ICE agents at a demonstration outside an immigrant detention center in Elizabeth, on May 7. He was arrested outside the facility on May 9 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Lawmakers gathered in Newark on Friday to demand answers from ICE following the opening of the private, for-profit facility that can detain more than 1,000 people.

In February, ICE agency awarded GEO Group a 15-year, $1 billion contract to hold immigrants facing deportation inside the two-story facility known as Delaney Hall.

The building is near Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been used by the federal government to stage removal flights.

Baraka, a Democratic candidate for the states governor, has vowed to join daily demonstrations outside the facility until city officials are allowed inside to inspect its conditions. He said government officials did not obtain necessary permits to jail immigrants there, and the city of Newark filed a lawsuit against the administration last month in a last-ditch attempt to prevent its opening. The facility opened May 1.

Speaking on Fox News immediately following Barakas arrest, Habba refused to say where he is being detained.

We will not stand for anyone getting in the way and getting rid of criminals in this country, Habba said. Its very simple. Unfortunately, the mayor has publicly for three days been saying he will break in and eventually did break in and was given multiple opportunities to remove himself and failed to do so and has been detained and will be charged.

Three House members from New Jersey were allowed inside the facility on Friday, and Baraka was initially allowed into the fenced parking lot area before officers told him to leave and threatened him with arrest. A heated argument appeared to break out after agents blocked his entry and continued even after Baraka returned to the other side of the gates.

In video from the scene, masked federal officers can be seen shoving back protesters and grabbing Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver past a fence into the facility as Baraka is moved towards the center. Agents appeared to swarm him and others as they blocked protesters from the fence.

McIver said she and Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman were assaulted and fellow New Jersey Rep. Robert Menendez Jr. was roughed up after what was supposed to be an oversight visit. Menendez called what happened to McIver an assault.

What we just witnessed was disgusting, McIver said outside the facility. If they can treat three members of Congress like that, just imagine how they can treat people on the street each and every day.

Watson Coleman said lawmakers had traveled to the facility to see the conditions.

We dont know if everyone belongs there, and but we knew that people are OK, its safe, theyre feeding them, she told reporters. ICE is out of control. ICE thinks it can intimidate all of us. And it cannot intimidate any of us. And we the people will make sure that this administration adheres to the rules that separate us from dictatorships and other third world countries.

open image in gallery Rep. LaMonica McIver, joined by Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman, called federal agents treatment of lawmakers disgusting after Baraka was arrested at an ICE jail in New Jersey on May 9 ( AP )

Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed Reps. Coleman and Robert Menendez Jr. stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility with multiple protesters.

This illegal breaking and entering of a detention facility puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk, she said in a statement.

Watson Colemans office said McLaughlins claims that lawmakers stormed the facility is factually inaccurate.

No sitting mayor of an American city should be arrested for trying to inspect an immigration facility in their jurisdiction, New York Immigration Coalition president Murad Awawdeh said in a statement, calling the arrest a reckless and irresponsible action.

The incident follows intense scrutiny from Democratic members of Congress and opposition from civil rights groups and demonstrators across the country against the presidents anti-immigration agenda, which is seeking to swiftly deport tens of thousands of immigrants from the country housed in massive detention centers.

The Independent has requested comment from a spokesperson for Baraka.

Additional reporting from Justin Baragona
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Peace Corps staffers have been warned about significant restructuring efforts following a review by the Department of Government Efficiency as the Trump Administration focuses on bringing American resources back home.

The agency has been given a second opportunity for a government buyout as the Washington, D.C., headquarters, with nearly 800 employees, prepares for departmental cuts ranging from 50 percent to 80 percent, according to an email sent to staffers from chief executive Allison Greene, as reported by The Guardian.

Greene referred to the second deferred resignation program as "DRP 2.0, while DOGE leader Elon Musk called it a fork in the road buyout. The program was offered to direct hire and expert staff from April 28 to May 6. This option allowed employees to resign or retire while on paid administrative leave until September 30.

The Peace Corps may reduce its global staff by 25 percent, potentially closing some of its 60 international posts, which supporters warn could weaken the agencys core mission of supporting over 3,000 volunteers.

Greenes memo said the cuts will only affect Peace Corps staffers, not volunteers.

Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is making significant staffing cuts to the 65-year-old Peace Corps, according to reports. ( Getty Images )

The agency will remain operational and continue to recruit, place, and train volunteers, while continuing to support their health, safety and security, and effective service, a Peace Corps spokesperson told The Guardian on April 28, confirming DOGE started the cuts that day.

The Independent has connected representatives for the Peace Corps for comment.

Founded by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps sends volunteers to partner with communities in other countries to promote development and foster goodwill with focuses on education, health, and economic development.

With a 2024 fiscal year budget of around $430 million, the Peace Corps makes up less than a tenth of a percent of the total federal budget.

Trump and Musk have embarked on an aggressive campaign to downsize the federal government, aiming to cut $2 trillion in spending - but unlikely to get to that total. DOGE is central to this initiative, which employs automation tools like the "Workforce Reshaping Tool" to streamline mass layoffs across various agencies. This approach has already resulted in the dismissal or retirement of approximately 260,000 federal employees, with significant reductions in departments such as Veterans Affairs and the IRS.

The Trump Administration has made major staffing cuts to USAID, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is also working to abolish the Department of Education.
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President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on toy-maker Mattel after the company said it would diversify its production to other countries, but not the United States.

Sitting in the Oval Office Thursday, Trump indicated he was not afraid to punish Mattel, the creator of Barbie, Hot Wheels, Uno, American Girl and more, for refusing to move its production in the U.S.  the ultimate goal of Trumps tariffs.

It was in response to Ynon Kreiz, the chairman and CEO of Mattel, telling CNBC on Tuesday that it was unlikely the company would move production into the U.S as a result of tariffs; preferring instead to diversify production to other countries or just raise prices on U.S. consumers.

He said that even with tariffs, costs are too high in the U.S. to produce affordable toys for even the American consumer

Thats ok. Let him go, and well put a 100 percent tariff on his toy, and he wont sell one toy in the United States, and thats their biggest market, Trump said.

open image in gallery Toy maker Mattel said it would not move production to the U.S. as a result of Trumps tariffs, angering the president ( EPA )

Kreiz said that a significant portion of toy creation does occur in the U.S., such as design, development, product engineering and brand management, but that producing toys overseas allows them to create a quality and affordable product.

Approximately 20 percent of Mattels toy imports to the U.S. come from China.

Kreiz said the company hopes to bring that down to 15 percent next year and eventually 10 percent or less in 2027. This year, Mattel is relocating production of 500 of its toys from China to other locations, such as India.

When asked if Trumps 145 percent tariffs on China, or other reciprocal tariffs, would inspire Mattel to move its toy production to the U.S., Kreiz reiterated, We dont see that happening.

The company said its determined to keep 40 to 50 percent of its products priced at $20 or less, but it may have to raise some prices in the U.S.

open image in gallery From the Oval Office, Trump threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on Mattel for not moving production ( AP )

Trump brushed that claim off, saying tariffs were the most misunderstood thing  in any form of business.

Oftentimes, the country picks them up, oftentimes the company picks it up, the people dont pick it up, Trump asserted in the Oval Office on Thursday.

Global economists agree that tariffs do impact consumers because companies raise prices to offset the additional taxes on imported goods that they cannot absorb.

Last week, Trump acknowledged that his tariffs could lead to higher prices or less inventory, saying, Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. He also suggested those two dolls could cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.

But he has remained firm that tariffs will ultimately help the U.S. economy by increasing domestic production  a claim that economists are skeptical of.

The president said he believes Mattel is threatening to move production elsewhere besides the U.S. to negotiate a deal with him.
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President Donald Trumps hopes to pass one big, beautiful bill seems to be on life support as Republicans seem to put some of the more ambitious tax cuts on ice.

On Friday, the president posted on Truth Social that he would be open to raising taxes on the wealthy if Democrats would not demonize it.

The problem with even a TINY tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming,Read my lips, the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election, Trump said, referring to former president George H.W. Bush raising taxes after pledging in 1988 Read my lips: no new taxes.

NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! Trump said. In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do!!!

House Speaker Mike Johnson has lowered the amount of tax cuts he hoped to pass from $4.5 trillion to $4 trillion ( Getty Images )

This comes as Politico reported that Republicans plan to scale back their attempts to cut taxes as they hope to pass a budget reconciliation bill. Specifically, House Speaker Mike Johnson lowered the number of tax cuts he hoped to pass from $4.5 trillion to $4 trillion.

Republicans talk a big game  about reining in reckless spending, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington told reporters. You wont get the full permanency in the tax policy on all the provisions if we dont get to the $2 trillion in savings, and thats unfortunate.

When House Republicans passed their budget resolution in February, the bill stipulated that the House would need to cut $1.5 trillion to cut $4.5 trillion worth of taxes. But if they fail to find $2 trillion worth of savings, the amount of money from the tax cuts would be reduced by the difference between $2 trillion and the final number of money saved.

Republicans hope to pass a major spending bill that will ramp up spending for immigration enforcement along the US-Mexico border and energy production as well as extending the 2017 tax cuts that Trump signed. They plan to do so using the process of budget reconciliation, which allow them to avoid a filibuster from Democrats as long as all parts of the bill are related to the budget.

But Republicans only have a two-seat majority in the House and a three-seat majority in the Senate, making their plans to pass a comprehensive bill more difficult.

Trump has specifically called for Republicans to fulfil his 2024 campaign pledge to remove taxes on tips, Social Security and overtime.

It would be a very bad idea to not give tax cuts to working people who elected Donald Trump and elected us, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri told The Independent last week.

The House version of the reconciliation bill gave specific instructions to each committee to find a targeted number of spending cuts. By far the most politically contentious has been the instruction for the House Energy & Commerce Committee to make $880 billion in cuts.

With the rules for reconciliation forbidding legislation from touching Social Security and Republicans pledging not to touch Medicare, the health insurance program for seniors, many fear they will have to make steep cuts into Medicaid, the health care program that covers children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Republicans in the Senate also say they do not want steep cuts to Medicaid or other nutrition assistance programs.

Im not excited about the proposal, but I have to say, there are a number of people in both the House and the Senate who are, and if the president weighs in favor of it, then thats going to be a big factor that we have to take into consideration as well, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

The tax cuts Trump signed in 2017 expire at the end of this year, meaning Republicans risk seeing taxes increase under their watch. Senate Republicans tend to prioritize cutting taxes even if they do not see major spending cuts while many House Republicans do not want to add to the deficit without substantial spending cuts.

At the same time, Republicans face another issue given their small margins: In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act capped the deduction people can file for state and local taxes to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples.

Many Republicans in New York, California and New Jersey, which have higher tax rates than red states, hope to reduce the cap for the deduction, known as the SALT deduction, in the next bill.

On Thursday, New York Republican Reps. Mike Lawler, Elise Stefanik, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota put out a statement criticizing a proposal by House to lift the cap to $30,000.

Its not just insultingit risks derailing President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, the statement said. New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get backunlike many so-called low-tax states that depend heavily on federal largesse.

The statement shows the numerous moving parts Johnson must navigate to get the bill across the finish line.

Last month, Stefanik, the former House Republican Conference chairwoman, was forced to retract her nomination to become US ambassador to the United Nations to help pass the legislation.
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The Trump administration is preparing to welcome the first group of white South African refugees to the United States as early as next week, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

This move comes despite the administration's restrictions on refugee admissions from other parts of the world, highlighting a divisive approach to immigration policy.

The assertion that minority white South Africans face discrimination from the Black majority has spread in far-right circles for years and been echoed by Trump's white South African-born ally Elon Musk.

The average white household in South Africa owns 20 times the wealth of the average Black household, according to the Review of Political Economy, an international academic journal.

Approximately 50 Afrikaners are expected to arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, where they will reportedly participate in a press conference before traveling to their final destinations in the US. However, the sources cautioned that the arrival, already delayed by a week, could be subject to further changes. As of Thursday afternoon, a charter flight intended for the group had not yet received a landing permit.

The U.S. State Department, which administers the resettlement of South Africans whom the Trump administration granted refugee status, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NPR first reported the timing of the arrivals. Trump kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January, including an indefinite suspension of refugee resettlement. In a related executive order, the Republican president said the U.S. would only admit refugees who "can fully and appropriately assimilate."

Despite the broad refugee freeze, Trump in February called on the U.S. to prioritize resettling Afrikaners, descendants of mostly Dutch early settlers, saying they were "victims of unjust racial discrimination."

open image in gallery White South Africans demonstrate in support of U.S. President Donald Trump in front of the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In interviews with U.S. immigration officers, white South Africans seeking refugee status have highlighted troubles with land disputes, crime and perceived racism, Reuters reported in April.

The South African government has criticized the Trump effort, saying it fails to recognize the country's history of colonialism and apartheid.

While some Afrikaners have expressed interest in going to politically conservative U.S. states, Democratic-leaning Minnesota has emerged as a popular choice, two of the sources told Reuters.

Minnesota has a reputation as a welcoming state for refugees, including those from Somalia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Some also plan to head to Republican-leaning states, such as Idaho and Alabama, one of the sources said.

The reason to charter a flight for the initial group of Afrikaners was not immediately clear. The charter plane would cost far more than commercial tickets, sources said
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A Tufts University scholar who has been locked up in an immigration detention center for more than six weeks is no longer imprisoned after a federal judge ordered her immediate release.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student studying child development at the Massachusetts school, pressed her hands over her heart and smiled as she stepped out of a remote Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana on Friday evening.

Ozturk was arrested by masked plain-clothes federal agents outside her apartment on March 25.

She is among several international students at the center of Donald Trump administrations targeting of on-campus advocacy for Palestine during Israels war in Gaza. Her visa was revoked and she was moved across the country to an ICE detention center where she was placed in deportation proceedings.

open image in gallery Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by plain-clothes federal agents and moved into a remote ICE detention center in Louisiana in late March ( via REUTERS )

Ozturk, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and taupe hijab, appeared virtually for her bail hearing on Friday from inside an all-white room at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center  roughly 1,700 miles away from the courtroom in Burlington, Vermont.

It marked the first time Ozturk was seen by the public since her arrest on March 25.

The order from District Judge William K. Sessions III granted her immediate release from custody while she continues her parallel legal battles challenging her immigration proceedings and the constitutionality of what her attorneys argue is a retaliatory arrest.

Simply and purely, she was detained for the expression she made or shared in the op-ed critical of Israel, Sessions told the court.

I put the government on notice they should introduce any such evidence. .... That was three weeks ago, and there has been no evidence, Sessions said. That literally is the case. There is no evidence here as to the motivation, absent consideration of the op-ed.

Her health has deteriorated while in ICE custody, and her arrest chills the speech of potentially millions of millions of people in this country who are not citizens who now fear being whisked away to a detention center, Sessions added.

The government did not appear to possess any evidence backing up claims of antisemitism and support for a terrorist organization to justify her arrest, according to court filings and government memos.

The only apparent evidence against her is an op-ed she co-wrote with Tufts students in a student newspaper that criticized Israels war in Gaza.

Right now, the clear message that the government is sending to everyone who is watching is that you can be detained thousands of miles from your home for more than six weeks for writing a single student newspaper article, according to Monica Allard, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Vermont.

In her remote testimony, Ozturk described her academic work in studying social media use among children and young people, which has been impossible to continue while in ICE detention.

The work I do is very meaningful, she said.

She hopes her work can contribute to the well-being and development of children all around the world, she said.

Ozturk, whose faculty adviser testified to her intimate connections within her department and the broader Tufts community, also helped organize an event to grieve for children killed in war, from Gaza to Israel, from Russia to Ukraine, from Congo to Haiti, from Sudan to Yemen, from Cameroon to Afghanistan, Ozturk said.

It was a project of poetry and art and silence, she said.

Ozturk described the event as an attempt for academics who are typically removed from the subjects of their work to create a safe space to grieve.

She has experienced asthma attacks more than a dozen times since her detention in Louisiana, where she faces constant exposure to dust, no proper ventilation and limited time outside while locked in a small cell she shares with 23 people.

While trying to get treatment, a nurse at the facility told her to take the thing off my head, said Ozturk, gesturing at her hijab.

In the middle of a doctors testimony about her asthma diagnosis, Ozturk said was experiencing another asthma attack and excused herself from the room.

open image in gallery Demonstrators in New York protested the ongoing detention of Rumeysa Ozturk during an appeals court hearing in New York on May 6. A federal judge in Vermont ordered her release on bail from a Louisiana detention center on May 9 ( Getty Images )

Lawyers for the Department of Justice declined to cross examine Ozturk.

They also declined to cross examine Ozturks adviser.

With every day that goes by, shes missing opportunities for her future career, said Sara Johnson, an associate professor at the universitys Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development.

Ozturk was on track to complete her PhD by February 2026, but she is in a critical juncture for her studies.

She is also scheduled to return to teaching a program for high school students this summer.

Shes really not replaceable. Its a course she designed herself from scratch.  Theyd have to cancel it, Johnson said.

Johnson said Ozturks absence has been devastating for both the department and students she mentors as well as her colleagues and friends at the university.

Ozturk is allergic but always asked to see pictures of Johnsons cats and wrote down the dates of her cats cancer treatments to check in, Johnson said. Ozturk also befriended Johnsons mother, whose bucket list trip is to visit Turkey, she said. Ozturk talked with her for hours about her home country.
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Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told The Associated Press you cannot spy against an ally after reports that the United States has stepped up intelligence gathering on Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Frederiksen's comments Friday are the latest in the spat between Denmark, Greenland and the United States because Trump seeks to annex the strategic Arctic island. Denmark and Greenland insist that the mineral-rich island is not for sale, while Trump has not ruled out taking it by military force even though Denmark is a NATO ally.

The Danish prime minister spoke to the AP the day after Denmark summoned the top American diplomat in the country for an explanation following a Wall Street Journal report which said several high-ranking officials under the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenlands independence movement and sentiment about U.S. resource extraction there.

Jennifer Hall Godfrey, acting head of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, met with high-ranking Danish diplomat Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen at the Danish Foreign Ministry, the ministry said in an email. It provided no further details. The embassy declined to comment.

Frederiksen said Friday the report was rumors in an international newspaper. The Journal cited two people familiar with the U.S. effort which it did not identify.

Cooperation about defense and deterrence and security in the northern part of Europe is getting more and more important, Frederiksen said. Of course, you cannot spy against an ally.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in comments to Greenland newspaper Sermitsiaq, said the reports of espionage are unacceptable and disrespectful.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Friday there is no question that the pressure Denmark and Greenland are under doesn't feel right." He spoke after a security meeting in Norway where the issue of Greenland was discussed between Nordic and Baltic leaders and the U.K., with representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands dialling in via video link.

In response to questions about the Journals report, Gabbards office released a statement noting that she had made three criminal referrals to the Justice Department over intelligence community leaks.

The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking classified information, Gabbard wrote. They are breaking the law and undermining our nations security and democracy. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Greenlands prime minister said last month that U.S. statements about the island have been disrespectful and it will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre on Friday said those who believe there is another kind of legal regime in the Arctic should be told that this is not the case.

Speaking ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force leaders meeting in Oslo, Gahr Stre said there seemed to be suggestions that in the Arctic, there is some kind of terra nullius, law doesnt apply.

It applies, sovereignty applies. And Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, he said ahead of the meeting with the leaders of the U.K., Nordic and Baltic nations.
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The first-ever American-born pope inherits a world in crisis.

In his first remarks as Pope Leo XIV, Chicagos Robert Francis Prevost prayed for peace.

He said it nine times during Thursdays brief address.

Peace be with you.  This was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God, he said in Italian, explaining his choice of words as he spoke to a crowd and the world from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica.

I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.

Leo XIVs vision for the Catholic church is one of peace and justice and building bridges ready to receive, with open arms, all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love. A united church must seek peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering, he said.

His urgent message of peace confronts vast suffering and death from brutal wars, simmering tensions among nuclear powers, a long shadow of abuse within a church he now leads, and humanitarian outrage from his home country following three months of chaos under Donald Trumps administration.

By treaty, the Vatican has exercised neutrality in wars for a century, and the pope is barred from mediating global conflicts unless requested by warring parties. But Leo XIVs ascent thrusts him into a period of global turmoil, with both worshippers and a growingly secular American public closely watching whether his message will resonate.

open image in gallery The world is watching how Pope Leo XIV responds to global crises after the death of Pope Francis, who repeatedly called for ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine ( Getty Images )

Catholics Vote Common Good, an American progressive Catholic activism group, hailed Leo XIVs election as a new day for modern American Catholicism.

The conclave gave us something we could have only dreamed of, wrote the groups national co-chair Denise Murphy McGraw. A pope who is as committed to social justice as we are  and as was our beloved Pope Francis, she said.

Leo XIV succeeds Francis, who repeatedly demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israels devastation. Francis also called the Holy Family Church in Gaza every night since the beginning of the war, speaking with church leaders and displaced Palestinians sheltering inside.

A white popemobile built for his 2014 visit to Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is to be transformed into a mobile health clinic to treat Palestinian children, among one of the final missions he blessed in the months before his death on April 21.

Israels President Isaac Herzog said in a statement that he is looking forward to enhancing the relationship between Israel and the Holy See, and strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world.

May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples. May we see the immediate and safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and a new era of peace in our region and around the world, he said.

Francis also repeatedly promoted peace in Ukraine and maintained an open line of communication with Kyiv throughout Russias ongoing assault. After meeting with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky in October 2024, Francis, while not explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor, appealed for Ukrainians not to be left to freeze to death and stop the killing of innocent people.

Ukraine deeply values the Holy Sees consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federations military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians, Zelensky wrote following Leo XIVs election.

At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraines efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace, he added.

open image in gallery Palestinian clergymen hold mass for late Pope Francis at the Holy Family Church in Gaza on April 21 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The papal conclave also selected Leo XIV despite allegations that he had mishandled sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States. Survivors of abuse are now demanding accountability from the new pope and a grave reckoning that should follow.

We were once the children of the church, reads an open letter from Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests sent in the moments after Leo XIVs election.

The sex offender in the collar commits two crimes: one against the body, and one against the voice, survivors wrote. The grand pageantry around your election reminds us: survivors do not carry the same weight in this world as you do.

Leo XIV also will face a church that stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter for LGBT+ communities, according to GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis.

With his leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love, she said.

He can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all, she added.

open image in gallery Leo XIV has repeatedly criticized immigration policy under both Trump administrations ( AP )

Leo XIV  the Latin Yankee, as he is known in Rome  follows the Jesuit legacy of Francis in South America.

Leo XIV spent 20 years as a missionary among Perus poorest communities, and was so enamored with the country he became a naturalized citizen there. Leo XIV and Francis, an Argentine who became the Churchs first leader from South America, maintained intimate connections to Latin America and across the global south, and were attuned to the unrest, violence and economic devastation that has fueled instability across continents.

During Trumps first presidency, Leo XIV shared several posts on social media criticizing the presidents agenda, particularly his actions against refugees, Trumps racism and nativism, and family separation policies.

He reposted a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2017 against Trumps order halting refugee admissions. Another post mourned Americas descent into an immoral nation by abandoning Syrian refugees. He also shared a post saying there is nothing remotely Christian, American or morally defensible about Trump-era family separations in immigration cases.

He shared another post from Democratic Senator Chris Murphy in 2017, condemning cowardice in Congress to pass gun control after a massacre in Las Vegas.

Leo XIV did not post in 2024, but in 2025 he posted five times  including two posts criticizing Vice President JD Vance for his widely derided views on the concept of Christian love and Trumps immigration policy.

His most recent post on X shares criticism of Trumps meeting with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, who has agreed to detain deported immigrants from the United States in his notorious prison. Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet? the post says.

Trump congratulated Leo XIV shortly after his election, calling the appointment of an American pope an honor and saying he looks forward to a meeting that will be a very meaningful moment.

Vance, who posted his congratulations more than an hour later, wrote: Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church.
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Pope Leo has been accused of failing to properly investigate allegations of child sexual abuse against priests in his churches in Chicago and Peru.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (Snap) says it made the Vatican aware of Robert Prevosts reported inaction on the allegations when he was a cardinal, filing an official complaint with Vatican officials against him in March. The group says it has not had a response.

The allegations focus on Leo not opening a formal church investigation into claimed sexual abuse carried out by two priests in the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, which the pontiff led from 2014 to 2023, as well as allowing a priest accused of sexually abusing children in Chicago to live near a school.

The Independent has approached the Vatican for comment.

In the first instance, three Peruvian women who alleged abuse against a local priest dating back to 2007, as well as against another priest, claimed that, under Leos watch in 2022, the Diocese downplayed details and documentation of their story after they sent it to the Vatican.

Survivors of church sexual abuse have called on Pope Leo to act swiftly against the scourge ( Vatican Media )

They also alleged that, in downplaying the claims, the Diocese intentionally prevented the church from taking action against the accused priests.

The allegations ... are particularly significant, since Prevost's current post as head of the Dicastery for Bishops oversees complaints and investigations of episcopal negligence in abuse cases around the world, The Pillar, a Catholic news outlet investigating the church, reported in a September 2024 article.

The outlet claims that Leo met the accusers in April 2022 and encouraged them to take their case to the civil authorities while the church investigated.

The churchs investigation was reportedly shelved for lack of evidence and because the statute of limitations had expired.

The Vatican has reportedly denied any wrongdoing in this case.

The second claim concerns allegations that Leo failed to notify St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, an elementary school in Chicago, that an Augustine priest accused of abusing children had moved to a friary half a block away.

That priest remained near the school for two years. He was relocated only after the US Conference of Catholic Bishops passed a law to keep priests suspected of abuse far away from children.

In the letter sent by Snap to the Vatican in March, the group requested that Vatican officials conduct a thorough investigation into Leos involvement in the two instances.

It has since called for the new pontiff to take "decisive action" within his first 100 days against sexual abuse within the church, including passing a zero-tolerance law and establishing a reparations fund supported by church assets.
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Pope Leo spent the days leading up to the secretive vote in the Vatican that would make him the first American head of the Catholic Church watching the film Conclave so he knew what to expect, his brother has revealed.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, emerged on the balcony of St Peters Basilica on Thursday night as the 267th pontiff, following four rounds of voting during the conclave.

The 69-year-old Chicago-born ally of the late Pope Francis was only elevated to cardinal in 2023, but his standing among the papabile had shot up in the weeks after his predecessors death.

John Prevost described the moment he found out that his younger sibling had been named the new head of the Catholic Church.

I was in this moment of disbelief that this cannot be possible because it's too far from what we thought would happen," John told NBC from his home in New Lenox, Illinois.

John Prevost, brother of Pope Leo XIV, holds a portrait of the three Prevost brothers from 1958 ( AP )

When asked if Pope Leo would have watched the film Conclave for inspiration, John said he had. "So he knew how to behave. So it's that kind of stuff, because I wanted to take his mind off of it, laugh about something, because this is now an awesome responsibility," John added.

I am almost speechless. Its just mindblowing that my brother was elected pope, said his other brother, Louis Prevost.

John also said that he had told his younger sibling to make sure he did the Wordle, a New York Times word game, before entering the conclave, during which every cardinal must give up their phone and quit communication with anyone outside the 133 voting cardinals.

Asked how he thought Pope Leo would run the Vatican, he said he expects him to be a second Pope Francis.

He's not going to be real far left and he's not going to be real far right, he said. Kind of right down the middle.

Born in 1955, Pope Leo left home as a young teenager to join the St Augustine seminary. His brothers said they saw him only during the holidays after that, but have maintained close contact ever since.

Leo went on to have a long career in missionary work in South America, working in Peru for nearly 15 years until 1998. In 2015, he was appointed bishop of Chiclayo in northwest Peru and awarded Peruvian citizenship.

The new pontiff has championed the importance of on-the-ground work. In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, he said: One must not give in to the temptation to live isolated, separated in a palace, satisfied with a certain social level or a certain level within the church. The authority we have is to serve, to accompany priests, to be pastors and teachers.

It was this passion for the pastoral that won over the late Francis, who brought Leo to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.

The new pontiff is also an expert in canon law, a system that functions like a constitution and legal system specifically for the Catholic Church, affording him appeal to the more traditional wings of the Vatican.
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Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been picked to be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church; he will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

Attention now turns to what vision the first U.S. pope will bring.

Change is hard to bring about in the Catholic Church. During his pontificate, Francis often gestured toward change without actually changing church doctrines. He permitted discussion of ordaining married men in remote regions where populations were greatly underserved due to a lack of priests, but he did not actually allow it. On his own initiative, he set up a commission to study the possibility of ordaining women as deacons, but he did not follow it through.

However, he did allow priests to offer the Eucharist, the most important Catholic sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, to Catholics who had divorced and remarried without being granted an annulment.

open image in gallery Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025 ( REUTERS )

Likewise, Francis did not change the official teaching that a sacramental marriage is between a man and a woman, but he did allow for the blessing of gay couples, in a manner that did appear to be a sanctioning of gay marriage.

To what degree will the new pope stand or not stand in continuity with Francis? As a scholar who has studied the writings and actions of the popes since the time of the Second Vatican Council, a series of meetings held to modernize the church from 1962 to 1965, I am aware that every pope comes with his own vision and his own agenda for leading the church.

Still, the popes who immediately preceded them set practical limits on what changes could be made. There were limitations on Francis as well; however, the new pope, I argue, will have more leeway because of the signals Francis sent.

The process of synodality

Francis initiated a process called synodality, a term that combines the Greek words for journey and together. Synodality involves gathering Catholics of various ranks and points of view to share their faith and pray with each other as they address challenges faced by the church today.

One of Francis favorite themes was inclusion. He carried forward the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the Holy Spirit  that is, the Spirit of God who inspired the prophets and is believed to be sent by Christ among Christians in a special way  is at work throughout the whole church; it includes not only the hierarchy but all of the church members. This belief constituted the core principle underlying synodality.

Francis launched a two-year global consultation process in October 2022, culminating in a synod in Rome in October 2024. Catholics all over the world offered their insights and opinions during this process. The synod discussed many issues, some of which were controversial, such as clerical sexual abuse, the need for oversight of bishops, the role of women in general and the ordination of women as deacons.

open image in gallery People react as the newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The final synod document did not offer conclusions concerning these topics but rather aimed more at promoting the transformation of the entire Catholic Church into a synodal church in which Catholics tackle together the many challenges of the modern world. Francis refrained from issuing his own document in response, in order that the synods statement could stand on its own.

The process of synodality in one sense places limits on bishops and the pope by emphasizing their need to listen closely to all church members before making decisions. In another sense, though, in the long run the process opens up the possibility for needed developments to take place when and if lay Catholics overwhelmingly testify that they believe the church should move in a certain direction.

Change is hard in the church

A pope, however, cannot simply reverse official positions that his immediate predecessors had been emphasizing. Practically speaking, there needs to be a papacy, or two, during which a pope will either remain silent on matters that call for change or at least limit himself to hints and signals on such issues.

In 1864, Pius IX condemned the proposition that the Church ought to be separated from the State, and the State from the Church. It wasnt until 1965  some 100 years later  that the Second Vatican Council, in The Declaration on Religious Freedom, would affirm that a wrong is done when government imposes upon its people, by force or fear or other means, the profession or repudiation of any religion. 

A second major reason why popes may refrain from making top-down changes is that they may not want to operate like a dictator issuing executive orders in an authoritarian manner. Francis was accused by his critics of acting in this way with his positions on Eucharist for those remarried without a prior annulment and on blessings for gay couples. The major thrust of his papacy, however, with his emphasis on synodality, was actually in the opposite direction.

Notably, when the Amazon Synod  held in Rome in October 2019  voted 128-41 to allow for married priests in the Brazilian Amazon region, Francis rejected it as not being the appropriate time for such a significant change.

Past doctrines

The belief that the pope should express the faith of the people and not simply his own personal opinions is not a new insight from Francis.

The doctrine of papal infallibility, declared at the First Vatican Council in 1870, held that the pope, under certain conditions, could express the faith of the church without error.

The limitations and qualifications of this power include that the pope be speaking not personally but in his official capacity as the head of the church; he must not be in heresy; he must be free of coercion and of sound mind; he must be addressing a matter of faith and morals; and he must consult relevant documents and other Catholics so that what he teaches represents not simply his own opinions but the faith of the church.

open image in gallery Newly elected Pope Leo XIV waves to faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican shortly after his election, Thursday, May 8, 2025 ( Vatican Media )

The Marian doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption offer examples of the importance of consultation. The Immaculate Conception, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854, is the teaching that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was herself preserved from original sin, a stain inherited from Adam that Catholics believe all other human beings are born with, from the moment of her conception. The Assumption, proclaimed by Pius XII in 1950, is the doctrine that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

The documents in which these doctrines were proclaimed stressed that the bishops of the church had been consulted and that the faith of the lay people was being affirmed.

Unity, above all

One of the main duties of the pope is to protect the unity of the Catholic Church. On one hand, making many changes quickly can lead to schism, an actual split in the community.

In 2022, for example, the Global Methodist Church split from the United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage and the ordination of noncelibate gay bishops. There have also been various schisms within the Anglican communion in recent years. The Catholic Church faces similar challenges but so far has been able to avoid schisms by limiting the actual changes being made.

On the other hand, not making reasonable changes that acknowledge positive developments in the culture regarding issues such as the full inclusion of women or the dignity of gays and lesbians can result in the large-scale exit of members.

Pope Leo XIV, I argue, needs to be a spiritual leader, a person of vision, who can build upon the legacy of his immediate predecessors in such a way as to meet the challenges of the present moment. He already stated that he wants a synodal church that is close to the people who suffer, signaling a great deal about the direction he will take.

If the new pope is able to update church teachings on some hot-button issues, it will be precisely because Francis set the stage for him.

Dennis Doyle is a Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton

This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article
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In his inaugural appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV offered the world a glimpse into his likely priorities as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.

Leo, formerly US Cardinal Robert Prevost, becomes the first pope from the United States, while also holding Peruvian citizenship.

His decades of missionary work in Peru preceded his elevation to cardinal and succeeded Pope Francis, who died last month.

The new pontiff's choice of name, often a significant indicator of a pope's intentions, provides the first clue.

Recalling Pope Francis's adoption of his name from the 13th-century St. Francis of Assisi, champion of the poor, Leo XIV's selection evokes the legacy of Leo XIII.

The latter, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903, notably championed workers' rights, advocating for fair wages, decent working conditions, and the right to unionise.

"By picking the name Leo XIV, he shows he is committed to the social teaching of the church," said Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit commentator who follows the papacy closely.

open image in gallery Undated picture of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, with late former Pope John Paul II ( Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel )

Leo's second clue was his choice of language and the words he spoke, which put a clear emphasis on the need for peace, something Francis also often focused on.

None of his speech to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square was in English, but rather Italian, the language of the papacy, and a brief foray into Spanish to greet his former community in Peru. He did not mention the US.

"La pace sia con tutti voi!" (Peace be with you!), Leo's first words in public, echoed the ones Catholics use in their celebrations but also offered an immediate message of peace in a world riven with conflict.

Before heading into the secret conclave on May 7, the world's cardinals issued a statement lamenting the conflicts "in Ukraine, the Middle East, and many other parts of the world" and making a "heartfelt appeal" for peace.

The new pope said he wanted to share God's peace, calling it "a disarmed peace and a disarming peace" that is "humble and persevering."

Leo also mentioned Francis, who offered his last blessing to crowds in Rome on Easter Sunday, the day before he died of a stroke after battling double pneumonia for weeks.

"We still have in our ears that weak, but always courageous voice of Pope Francis," he said.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American-born Pope, will likely offer a 'radical contrast' to US President Donald Trump ( Getty )

Leo asked permission to offer the same blessing Francis used just a few weeks ago, saying: "God loves us, God loves everyone, and evil will not prevail. We are in the hands of God."

Leo's third clue was in his choice of attire.

Unlike Francis, who spurned all the trappings of the papacy including on the first day he was elected in 2013, Leo wore a traditional red papal garment over his white cassock.

Although Leo follows in the tradition of Francis, he signalled he is a new, and different, pope.
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Pope Leo XIV has appealed to world leaders to pursue peace, not war, in his first Sunday address to crowds in St Peters Square, Vatican City.

The new pope, formally Cardinal Robert Prevost, called for an authentic and lasting peace in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all Israeli hostages.

The Chicago-born pontiff also welcomed fragile ceasefire agreement signed by India and Pakistan on Saturday.

No more war, the pope said, delivering his speech in Italian.

Wearing a simple white papal cassock and his silver pectoral cross, he repeated a frequent call of the late Pope Francis and noted the recent 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Pope Leo said todays world was living through the dramatic scenario of a Third World War being fought piecemeal, again repeating a phrase coined by his predecessor.

open image in gallery No more war! the pope said, delivering his speech in Italian ( AP )

Nearly 100,000 people gathered in St Peters Square and on the Via della Conciliazione leading to the Vatican to hear the new pontiffs first Sunday address.

They broke into applause at the call for peace on what was a joyous occasion despite his solemn message.

It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he appeared to the world on Thursday evening following his election as Pope  the first ever from the United States.

The new pope said he carried in his heart the suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine, and he appealed for negotiations to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace.

open image in gallery Nearly 100,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square and on the Via della Conciliazione leading to the Vatican ( AP )

Leo also said he was profoundly saddened by the war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid and the release of the remaining hostages held by the Hamas militant group in the besieged strip.

He added, however: There are so many other conflicts in the world.

Leo also noted that Sunday was Mothers Day in many countries and wished all mothers, including those in heaven, a Happy Mothers Day.

The crowd, filled with marching bands in town for a special Jubilee (Holy Year) weekend, erupted in cheers and music as the bells of St Peters Basilica tolled.

On Saturday evening, the Pope made his first trip outside the Vatican to visit a Catholic shrine and pay respects at the tomb of his predecessor, Francis, who lies in nearby Santa Maria Maggiore.

At the end of the visit there, the Pope told those in the shrine that he wanted to come to pray for guidance in the first days of his papacy, according to a Vatican statement.

The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope on Thursday following the death of Francis on 21 April.
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The first hint of the new pope's direction has come with the name he picked.

USA Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV a senior cardinal announced to crowds in St. Peter's Square.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican's powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

After the traditional announcement of "Habemus Papam"  "We have a pope"  from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the new pontiff's baptismal name was revealed, followed by the all-important papal name, laden with symbolic meaning.

Read more: First American pontiff Robert Prevost takes Catholic Church helm amid increasing global turmoil

Peace be with all you," Pope Leo XIV said from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, in his first public words.

Papal name historically signifies strength during crisis, Catholic commentator says

The election of American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has come as a surprise, Catholic priest and blogger Ed Tomlinson said.

It seems likely to be a continuation of Franciss liberalisation, he told The Independent.

open image in gallery New Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, stands for a portrait at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File) ( AP )

As for his choice of Papal name, Tomlinson said it had a long history.

The papal name Leo unsurprisingly shows a Pope who is going to be strong during a time of crisis, historically, he said.

The last pope to choose the name Leo was more than 100 years ago. Pope Leo XIII led the Church from 1878 to 1903. The first pope of the name, Pope Leo the Great, led the church from 440-461.

Pope Leo XI had one of the shortest pontificates in history, lasting less than a month - from 1 April 1605 until his death on 27 April 1605.

Whats in a name?

A Pope Francis II would have singalled a continuation of the late pontiff's focus on pastoral care and the marginalised. Interestingly, Francis himself jokingly suggested his successor might be John XXIV, referencing the progressive pope of the Second Vatican Council era.

Conversely, selecting Pius, the most frequently used papal name of the 20th century, would clearly indicate a traditionalist taking the helm.

As Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of religious studies at Manhattan College, noted, "In the deepest recesses of their mind, when they start the conclave, everyone will walk in there with a name in their head."

The chosen name will offer a crucial first glimpse into the new pope's vision for the Catholic Church.

History of papal names

open image in gallery Pope Francis speaks during a news conference aboard the papal flight on its way back from Brazil in 2013

For most of the Catholic Church's first millennium, popes used their given names. The first exception was the 6th century Roman Mercurius, who had been named for a pagan god and chose the more appropriate name of John II.

The practice of adopting a new name became ingrained during the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose names of early church bishops out of a desire to signify continuity," said the Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University.

For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16.

Only starting in the mid-20th century did new popes begin to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said.

Even now, as we are waiting for the new pope, the name with which he will present himself will help us to understand the horizon towards which he wants to proceed," Regoli said.

Some names have been out of use for centuries, like Urban or Innocent.

I dont think anyone will pick Innocent, Imperatori-Lee said, given the abuse and other scandals that have rocked the church. I dont think that would be the right choice."

Recent names of Popes

open image in gallery Pope Francis waves to onlookers from his popemobile as his motorcade passes by on the way to another "Meeting With Families" at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines ( The Associated Press )

FRANCIS

Pope Francis, elected in 2013, took the name of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his humility, life of poverty and love of all creatures.

With it, Francis signaled a papacy focused on those who are often seen as outsiders, including the poor, prisoners and the LGBTQ+ community, while promoting peace, brotherhood and care of the environment.

BENEDICT

Last chosen by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, elected in 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said he wanted to pay homage to Benedict XV, who led the church during World War I and dedicated himself to healing the rifts of war, and to the 6th century St. Benedict, founder of Western monasticism, who helped spread Christianity throughout Europe.

One of Benedict XVIs priorities was trying to revive the faith in Europe. If we get a Benedict, then we will know that the cardinals chose to see Francis as an anomaly," Imperatori-Lee said.

JOHN PAUL

The papacy's first composite name was chosen by Cardinal Albino Luciani in 1978 to honor Pope John XXIII, who opened the Vatican Council II process that reformed the Catholic Church, and Paul VI, who closed it.

The name signaled a commitment to reforms, including sidelining the Latin Mass in favor of local languages and opening to other faiths, most significantly Judaism. John Paul Is papacy lasted just 33 days. Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who succeeded him, chose the name John Paul II.

JOHN

Chosen 23 times by popes, most recently in 1958 by Pope John XXIII. John can refer to St. John the Apostle, one of Jesus' 12 apostles and the author of one of the Gospels, or St. John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus.

John the XXIII was a pope that no one expected a lot from, but had a colossal impact on the church," Imperatori-Lee said. So that could be a sign of what they want their pontificate to be like."

PAUL

Chosen six times, most recently in 1963 by Paul VI. St. Paul the Apostle spread the teachings of Jesus in the 1st century.

PIUS

It is associated with popes known for their traditionalist, anti-reform bent. Pius IX ordered the kidnapping of the Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara in 1858 and raised him Catholic in the Vatican after learning he had been secretly baptized by a housekeeper.

Pius X was the early 20th century anti-modernist who inspired the anti-Vatican II schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X. Pius XII was the World War II-era pope criticized for not speaking out sufficiently about the Holocaust.

"It is now a name that is hostage to some Catholic groups that can be considered traditionalists," Regoli said.

New directions for a Pope

A new pope is free to choose a name never used before, as Francis did.

This would open a new season and could mean that his program is not in line with any of his predecessors, so an even more personalized program," Regoli said.

Imperatori-Lee suggested another name that might signal a continuation of Francis' legacy: Ignatius, for the founder of Francis' Jesuit order.

It would be interesting," she said. "We've never had one of those."
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Ever since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, the annual military parade to honour the defeat of Nazi Germany has been a shadow of former years.

The displays of state-of-the-art tanks and intercontinental ballistic missiles in Moscows Red Square have gone, while world leaders, even Moscows allies, have been wary of standing alongside Putin to watch the procession of military prowess.

The invasion has devastated Ukraine and cost Russias military thousands of tanks and hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

open image in gallery A solitary T-34 tank rolls through Moscows Red Square last year ( Reuters )

Before the all-out war in Ukraine, Victory Day, celebrated a day later than VE Day, became a parade not just to honour the sacrifices of a previous generation but also to burnish Putins image of post-Soviet Russia being restored to its former greatness.

In 2023 and 2024, however, one single tank rolled across Red Square, while a mere 9,000 troops walked behind it, a significant cut compared to previous years. Much of Russias more modern equipment was  and still is  in use in Ukraine. The single tank was a Second World War-era T-34, carrying the banner that the Soviet Union used when it defeated Nazi Germany alongside other allies. The model is not in combat use.

In 2023, one of the parades most recognisable events, the Immortal Regiment march  during which attendees proceed through Moscows Red Square holding portraits of their Second World War veteran relatives  was also scrapped. Experts speculated that this was because of Kremlin concerns that, should people wish to hold up their relatives killed in Ukraine, it would expose a more accurate reflection of the number of Russian losses in the invasion, a figure that Moscow has consistently suppressed.

Analysts believe just 51 vehicles were involved in the 2023 procession. That is a quarter of the 200 pieces of military hardware that rolled through the streets of Moscow in 2020 when Russia marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In 2022, a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the number of vehicles involved was as high as 131, about the same level as pre-Covid parades.

In 2024, the number of military vehicles increased from 50 to 60 due to a growth in the number of armoured fighting vehicles and armoured cars.

open image in gallery Russian servicemen take part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow in 2024 ( EPA )

Dozens of cities across Russia and occupied Ukraine have also been forced to cancel their events owing to security concerns. The city of Sevastopol, on the southwestern shores of the Crimean peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Putin in 2014, has announced that it will cancel this years parade. It is the third year running that it has done this.

In Moscow, where events are too important to Putins projection of power to cancel, a complex web of air defences has been erected to protect against possible Ukrainian aerial assaults. Multiple drone strikes in the run-up to Fridays parade forced airspace closures at all four of the citys airports.

The Kremlin said there would also be disruptions to mobile phone signals.

open image in gallery Russian fighter jets fly over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade rehearsal earlier this week ( AP )

Putins conveniently timed call for a temporary truce has been all but dismissed by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has said Kyiv will not play games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putins exit from isolation on 9 May.

In a video from Independence Square on Thursday morning in the Ukrainian capital, Mr Zelensky described Moscows Victory Day as a parade of bile and lies  and fear.

But Russian officials are adamant that after several years of smaller parades, this years event will be very large scale, as Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's top foreign policy adviser, said recently.

At least 29 foreign leaders, including Chinese president Xi Jinping and Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico, who is the leader of a European Union member, will attend the event, according to Mr Ushakov.

Russian state broadcaster Zvezda even claimed that US secretary of state Marco Rubio might attend, though the Kremlin said it had no information on his plans.

Irrespective of who attends, the possibility of Russia recreating its pre-war military parades is slim. Much of its equipment is either destroyed or in use in Ukraine.
Swiss drugmaker to build new manufacturing facility in Shanghai

Xinhua) 10:28, May 09, 2025

SHANGHAI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has announced plans to invest 2.04 billion yuan (about 283 million U.S. dollars) in building a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, strengthening its localization strategy in the Chinese market.

The new biologics manufacturing site, in Zhangjiang High-tech Park, will span approximately 35,300 square meters. It will specialize in producing Vabysmo, a bispecific antibody approved for treating eye diseases, in response to the growing demand for innovative medicines in China.

The facility is expected to be completed in 2029 and slated to officially begin operations in 2031. According to the company, this investment will strengthen its entire pharmaceutical value chain in China by enhancing its supply chain and local manufacturing presence.

"Our commitment to China remains unchanged, not only today but also for the years to come, and this new site marks a significant milestone in our journey," said Vivian Bian, CEO of Roche Pharma China. "It also represents a breakthrough in advancing the production of more innovative medicines here in one of our key markets worldwide."

Xu Lai, deputy head of Pudong, called the drugmaker's commitment to investing in China "a forward-looking investment decision." This move, he noted, will help mitigate the impact of global uncertainties, stabilize the supply chain, reduce costs, and better support market expansion.

Looking ahead, Roche will continue to explore opportunities to localize the production of more innovative medicines, supporting the sustainable development of China's biopharmaceutical industry, Bian added.

Roche's investment is the latest example of the growing appeal of China as a strategic hub for global pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation.

In fact, Roche is not alone, other multinational drugmakers are also ramping up their presence in China, signaling confidence in the country's evolving healthcare market and its pivotal role in the global supply chain.

In March, British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a landmark 2.5-billion-U.S.-dollar agreement to invest in Beijing over the next five years.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will establish a global strategic R&D center in Beijing, its sixth worldwide and second in China after one in Shanghai. The new center, equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development.

Also in March, U.S.-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly launched Lilly Gateway Labs in Beijing, its first shared lab platform outside the United States.

"China's biopharmaceutical innovation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace," said David A. Ricks, chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. "China's biotechnology sector thrives on a dual engine -- Beijing's constellation of famous medical universities training great minds and biotechnology, coupled with an environment that's cultivating new company formation."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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Around 40 world leaders have backed the creation of a special international court to prosecute Russias top leadership for the invasion of Ukraine.

Called a special tribunal, they aim to hold senior Russian officials accountable for the "crime of aggression," the underlying act enabling the numerous war crimes Ukraine accuses Russian forces of committing since the war began in 2022.

Russia's non-membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) prevents the ICC from prosecuting President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials for their roles in the conflict.

This special tribunal, a joint effort between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, hopes to offer an alternative path to justice. The court's formation will proceed under a joint agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, the continents leading human rights body. Heres everything you need to know:

What is the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine?

Since early in the conflict, Kyiv has been pushing for the creation of a special tribunal that goes beyond prosecuting war crimes that Ukraine alleged Russian forces committed  including bombing civilian infrastructure, killing civilians, rape, taking hostages and torture. Russia denies those claims.

If we want true justice, we should not look for excuses and should not refer to the shortcomings of the current international law but make bold decisions that will correct those shortcomings that unfortunately exist in international law, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a visit to the Netherlands in 2023.

Similar special tribunals were established after World War II, the Balkan wars sparked by the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia and the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

open image in gallery Ukraine and Europe foreign Ministers attend a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The institution will be funded by the countries who back it, known as the Core Group, including the Netherlands, Japan and Canada. The United States had backed the project under former President Joe Biden, but President Donald Trump's administration did not support the initiative.

On Friday, Ukraines Foreign Ministry said in a joint statement with foreign ministers from some 40 countries that technical legal work necessary to establish the tribunal is complete. It added that the court will be formalized at a Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg later this month.

The statement was agreed in the presence of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Lviv, in western Ukraine.

Once established the tribunal will focus on prosecuting Russian leaders most responsible for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.

Kyiv has been pushing for the creation of a special tribunal since early in the conflict. The legal framework for the project was agreed on by leaders in February.

What is the crime of aggression?

The crime of aggression is the planning and execution of a large-scale military invasion of another country.

The crime of aggression is sometimes referred to as the mother of all other crimes because it precedes all of the other crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity, even genocide," Iva Vukusic, an international law expert at the University of Utrecht, told The Associated Press.

open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, attend a ceremony to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in central Moscow on May 9, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images )

You dont prosecute foot soldiers for aggression, she added. The tribunal plans to pursue cases against around 20 to 30 high-ranking officials.

A dozen Nazi leaders including Hermann Goring and Rudolf Hess were convicted of what was then called a crime against peace during the Nuremberg trials following WWII. That was the last time anyone has been convicted of aggression.

Will the tribunal prosecute Putin?

International law grants the so-called troika  consisting of a countrys head of state, head of government and foreign affairs minister  immunity from prosecution while they are in office.

However, the tribunal could initiate proceedings against Putin and wait until he leaves office to move forward with a trial. There is no statute of limitation on the crime of aggression.

The court will have the power to hold trials in absentia, though anyone convicted without being in the custody of the tribunal would have the right to a retrial.

Why cant the International Criminal Court prosecute these crimes?

The move to create a special tribunal aims to fill a void created by limitations on the ICC. While The Hague-based court can go after Russian nationals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, it cannot prosecute Russians for orchestrating the invasion itself.

open image in gallery A rescue worker puts out a fire of a building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike in Sumy region, Ukraine ( Ukrainian Emergency Services )

The 2002 Rome Statute which created the court was amended in 2010 to include the crime of aggression  but only for countries that have joined the court. The Russian Federation is not a member state.

The court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine, as well as five other officials.

Where will the tribunal be established?

The Hague, already home to the ICC, the top court of the United Nations and other judicial institutions, has been suggested as a location but a final decision has not yet been made.

The city is already home to the International Center for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression, which supports evidence-gathering and is overseen by the European Unions judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust. The Council of Europe-backed register of damages, which allows Ukrainian victims of war to catalog the financial harm they have suffered, is also based in the Netherlands.

Backers are hopeful the institution will be up and running by early next year.
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Sweden's new national security adviser abruptly resigned on Friday, just one day after his appointment, amid criticism from the prime minister that he failed to disclose information regarding images published years ago on a dating website.

Tobias Thyberg, a foreign service veteran who in previous roles served as ambassador to both Ukraine and Afghanistan, had omitted the information during security background checks, the government said.

The resignation comes just months after Thyberg's predecessor in the high-profile job stepped down and was charged with negligent handling of classified information.

Thyberg did not immediately respond requests for comment on Friday.

But in a statement to daily Dagens Nyheter, Thyberg said that he had failed to disclose the existence of the images.

"These are old pictures from an account I previously had on the dating site Grindr. I should have informed about this, but I did not," he said, according to DN.

Background checks for sensitive government jobs typically require the disclosure of any information that could potentially make someone vulnerable to blackmail.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the information should have come to light a long time ago.

open image in gallery Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announces an increase in defense spending during a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. ( TT News Agency )

"It is a systemic failure that this kind of information has not been brought forward," Kristersson told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Norway.

Thyberg had been due to travel to Oslo on Friday with the prime minister for a meeting of northern European leaders, but the adviser's participation was cancelled.

On Thursday Sweden said it will donate 20 million crowns ($2.1 million) to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty after the administration of President Donald Trump ordered a freeze of federal grants to the media outlet.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was set up during the Cold War to reach people in communist-run states. The Prague-based outlet broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine.

"This decision is part of our continued work to support journalists and independent media," the Swedish government said in a statement.

"After the U.S. withdrew its support for Radio Free Europe, people in many countries risk losing access to free media," it said.

President Trump in March ordered the termination of the grants as part of sweeping efforts to downsize the U.S. government, in what may devastate a rare source of reliable news in authoritarian countries.
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Vladimir Putin presided over a massive show of tanks, missiles and troops in Moscow on Friday in a belligerent show of force alongside Chinese president Xi Jinping to bolster Russias global image as the Ukraine war grinds on.

Putin was joined by dozens of foreign leaders, who witnessed more than 11,000 troops on display in Red Square, in Russias Second World War Victory Day parade that involved soldiers from 13 other countries, and included 200 tanks among the presentation of presentation of military power.

As a reminder of Russias nuclear threat, huge Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square, while Iranian-made drones used to attack Ukraine were carried on trucks in a nod to the conflict.

The Soviet troops, who held their ground to the death on key front lines, determined the outcome of the entire Second World War through their victories in the largest battles, Putin said.

open image in gallery Putin and Xi inspect troops during the Moscow parade ( AFP via Getty )

It was an apparent rebuff against US president Donald Trump, who this week said nobody came close to America in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance during the conflict.

Ukraine has accused Russia of repeatedly breaching its own unilateral ceasefire proposed leading up to the parade, with Trump overnight backing president Volodymyr Zelenskys call for a 30-day truce.

Even so, according to Russian state media, the US and Russian presidents exchanged greetings to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in Russias largest show of strength in years.

Since Putin invaded Ukraine, the annual military parade has been a shadow of its former years. Russian news agency Tass reported last years parade hosted 9,000 troops, however this years ceremony reported an increase of 2,000, which included 1,500 soldiers involved in the current invasion.

open image in gallery Drones were among the military equipment on show in the parade ( AFP via Getty )

Natalie Sabanadze, a senior research fellow in Chatham Houses Russia and Eurasia Programme, told The Independent the image Putin was trying to convey was the army is ready for more.

The symbolism of it cannot be underestimated, she said.

Sam Greene, director of the Russia Institute at Kings College, told The Independent that Putins goal was an international show of strength.

The object of the parade was to project confidence and belligerence both to Russian and Western publics, Dr Greene said.

Putins allies, including Chinese president Xi Jinping and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka, joined the procession as he inspected his soldiers.

open image in gallery A column of Russian T-72B3M tanks drives across Red Square on Friday morning ( AFP/Getty )

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Slovakias PM Robert Fico were there, in a move to show Russia has allies even within the Western camp, Alexander Gabuev, director of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said.

Chinese troops and vehicles were also on display, which Ms Sabanadze said was meant to show the joint military might of both countries, and an alignment that is deepening.

Afterward, Putin shook hands with Russian generals who led the troops onto Red Square and spoke to medal-bedecked senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them.

Last month, Putin thanked North Korea for fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces and hailed their sacrifices as Pyongyang confirmed its deployment for the first time.

open image in gallery Huge Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square ( EPA )

The celebration was overshadowed by Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capitals airports.

Aeroflot on Wednesday cancelled more than 100 flights to and from Moscow, and delayed over 140 others as the military repelled Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital.

As the parade unfolded in Moscow, dozens of European officials met in Lviv, in western Ukraine, to endorse the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia needs to be held accountable ( AFP via Getty )

Russia needs to feel our common and, most importantly, growing strength, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

He emphasised the need for Russia to be held accountable, adding that this is the moral duty of Europe and of everyone in the world who values human life.

Ukrainian authorities reported scores of Russian strikes Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings.

A Russian drone also struck a civilian vehicle in Zaporizhzhia, critically injuring a man and also wounding his wife, Kyiv said.

The Soviet Union lost around 27 million people in what Russia called the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar in the national psyche.
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For nearly 800 years the Catholic Church has utilised the process of the conclave to elect a new pope.

Conclave means with a key, indicating the cardinal-electors are locked up with a key to conduct their deliberations.

With no direct communication to the outside world, a key feature of the papal election process is the use of smoke to signal the result of ballots and to announce the election of a new pope.

open image in gallery People in St Peters Square react to the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel ( Reuters )

Black smoke means a new pope has not been elected. White smoke means there is a new pope.

So where does this tradition come from  and how do they achieve the different coloured smoke?

Sending messages with smoke

Smoke signals are one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication between humans. For millennia, smoke signals have been used to indicate danger, to call for a gathering of tribes/nations, to transmit news and to warn of enemy invasions

Many indigenous peoples (such as those of North America, South America, China and Australia) are known for their sophisticated use of smoke signalling techniques to indicate specific messages to those at a distance.

These techniques can include changing the location of the fire (such as halfway up or at the top of a hill), adjusting the colour of smoke (using different types of foliage or damp/dry foliage) and the interruption or diversion of the smoke column at different intervals to produce particular patterns of smoke.

open image in gallery Priests embrace after the white smoke is seen ( Reuters )

Catholic incense

Catholics utilise smoke in many rituals in the form of incense.

Incense (from the Latin incendere, meaning to burn) signifies prayer, sacrifice and reverence for people and objects. This fragrant smoke symbolises the prayer of the assembly rising up to God. Psalm 141:2 asks may prayer be set before you like incense. In Revelations 8:35, an angel is given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all Gods people.

Catholics inherited their use of incense from its use in Jewish temple rituals and Greek imperial court rituals.

The smoke from the incense is used to show reverence toward the Gospel book, the presiding celebrant, the gifts of bread and wine offered at Mass, the altar, cross, the Easter Candle and the body of the deceased at a funeral.

This holy smoke is a visual and olfactory signal of the congregations offerings of supplication and praise rising up to God.

open image in gallery White smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel ( Reuters )

Crafting the smoke

Once the conclave begins, the only form of communication between the cardinal-electors and the outside world will be smoke signals sent through the chimney of a stove specially installed in the Sistine Chapel for the duration of the conclave.

The tradition of burning the ballots goes back to at least 1417, though it wasnt until the 18th century that the first chimney was installed in the Sistine Chapel. At this time, the appearance of smoke at set times indicated no new pope had been elected; while the absence of smoke indicated there was a new pope.

Prior to this it is likely that a new pope was simply announced from the loggia (central balcony) of St Peters Basilica and a written announcement was posted outside for people to read.

Since 1914, white smoke has indicated the election of a new pope. A stereotypical association of the colour of the smoke  white (positive) and black (negative)  lies behind the use of the two contrasting smoke colours.

In 1904, Pius X (who was pope from 190314) mandated that all notes taken by cardinals during the election were to be burned along with the ballots themselves. This burning of notes also increased the volume of smoke, making it clearly visible to the public outside when his successor Pope Benedict XV was elected in 1914.

open image in gallery Large crowds celebrate in St Peters Square ( Getty )

The use of chemicals to ensure either black or white smoke was introduced after the 1958 conclave when damp straw added to papers from an unsuccessful ballot did not ignite at first. White smoke appeared before eventually turning black, causing confusion among the crowd gathered outside.

In 2013, the Vatican Press Office released the chemical formulae used to create black and white smoke.

To generate black smoke, potassium perchlorate and anthracene (a component of coal tar) fuelled with sulfur are electrically ignited. To generate white smoke, potassium chlorate, milk sugar and pine rosin are ignited.

Using these smoke signals, the cardinals can communicate from within the conclave immediately and directly to the faithful awaiting the announcement of the Churchs 267th Pope.

Clare Johnson is a Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology and Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy, Australian Catholic University

This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article
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When Brit Tati Reed picked up her 4X4 in Denver, the enormity of the road trip before her proved a little nerve-wracking.

She had decided to drive to Los Angeles for a flight back to the UK  via Wyoming and Montana.

Quite the detour.

Plus, it was her first time driving in the US, she had next to no plan, she'd be sleeping in the roof tent of her Ineos Grenadier Trailmaster  and she was on her own.

open image in gallery Tati slept in a roof tent on her Ineos Grenadier Trailmaster ( @overintherover )

The 22-year-old is no stranger to driving  she has amassed 486,000 Instagram followers with vlogs about driving Land Rovers (@overintherover)  but in a "Day 1" post about the trip, she admitted: "I'm feeling a bit teary a little bit scared. It's quite a big thing to do."

She tells The Independent: "There was no route. No suggested tourist points. It was very much going with the wind."

In the end, though, she had the time of her life. She reveals to us some of the shocks and surprises that helped make the road trip one to truly remember, from landscapes that dropped her jaw, to quirky road rules and service-station coffee shocks.

Read more: 10 incredible US homes that make Airbnbs most wishlisted ranking for 2025

Tati explains that the idea for the trip came to her while she attended the BFGoodrich Mint 400 off-road race in Las Vegas.

She says: "I asked if I could alter the return flight back to the UK, to which the airline agreed very kindly. I then had three weeks I needed to fill, as I hadn't already got a plan. So, I spoke to various companies about vehicle loan, and Grenadier expressed the most interest.

open image in gallery 'No one fully explained how stunning America would be,' says Tati. She's pictured here in Wyoming ( @overintherover )

open image in gallery Tati had no specific route planned. It was very much going with the wind, she says. Her 4X4 is pictured here in Wyoming ( @overintherover )

"It organised the loan of a vehicle for me for the period, and off I went. I picked it up in Denver, drove to Montana, then down to LA."

The only dates in the diary for Tati were to visit a "lovely couple" who worked in Montana she'd befriended at the BFGoodrich Mint 400 and a girl she knew from Instagram who lived in Salt Lake City.

"When I wasn't hanging out with almost-strangers, I was by myself," says Tati. "And that turned out to be a great choice, as I was so open to everything."

open image in gallery Tati explores Utah's Zion National Park ( @overintherover )

Were there any pleasant surprises to driving in the States?

Tati says: "I loved it. I loved the fact that you could turn right on a red light. Very odd, but also logical. I was amazed at how wide the streets were and it was amazing driving through the interstates and watching various landscapes unfold.

Read more: Disney World restaurant breaks into ranking of 25 best eateries in the U.S

"No one fully explained how stunning America would be. Breathtaking, ever-changing views every few miles. It was just unbelievable."

Tati also journeyed through Idaho, Utah and Arizona on her way to California and parked up each night on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, which she "didn't know existed" prior to the trip.

"Being able to camp/drive over vast expanses of land was epic," says Tati. "Though also terrifying, as people can also shoot wherever they want on it."

open image in gallery 'When I wasn't hanging out with almost-strangers, I was by myself,' says Tati. 'And that turned out to be a great choice, as I was so open to everything' ( @overintherover )

Tati was also a big fan of the "ludicrously cheap" gas (petrol to Brits) and the "self-filling fuel".

"When you start filling up your car," says Tati for the benefit of British readers, "you can flick a thing on the pump and it continues to fill up the tank without you holding it."

Any downsides to the 4,000-mile road trip?

Read more: Im a female solo traveler  these are Europes best places to visit alone (and the surprising spots to avoid)

"Drug/drunk diving was very prevalent," recalls Tati, "and the coffee in the service stations was yuck."

Would she do it again?

"I would," says Tati, who's from West Sussex in England. "But over three or four months  not two weeks."

For more from Tati visit her Instagram account - @overintherover.
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The conflict between India and Pakistan has significantly impacted flight operations and aviation across the world, as airlines suspend operations, aircraft make large diversions and long-haul journeys are delayed.

On the night of Tuesday, 6 May, the Indian Ministry of Defence stated it had struck nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. They were targeting what is described as nine militant hideouts in retaliation for a terror attack that killed 25 Indians and one Nepali national in April.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said India must suffer the consequences for its cowardly attack and vowed to avenge the deaths of 31 people killed in India's cross-border missile strikes.

There has been news of heavy shelling taking place throughout the night and morning across the de facto border in Kashmir, named the Line of Control, with the Indian army saying 16 civilians and an Indian soldier have been killed by shelling in Indias Poonch district.

Pakistan and India say they both shot down projectiles fired at each others military installations on Thursday.

What does the UKs Foreign Office say?

The UK governments Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says in its India travel advice that it advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed.

The Foreign Office also advises in its Pakistan travel advice against all but essential travel within five miles of the international border between Pakistan and India, as well as all travel within 10 miles of the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The airspace remains closed to north and northwest of Delhi, with the Foreign Office warning airspace restrictions may be announced or changed at short notice.

British nationals should contact their airline for up-to-date information.

We are continuing to monitor the situation closely, the Foreign Office said. British nationals should stay up to date with our travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities.

Except for official border crossing points, foreign nationals are not allowed to travel within certain distances of Pakistans international borders. If you travel to these areas, you may be arrested and detained.

Some areas of the India-Pakistan border in Gujarat and Rajasthan are unmarked. Approaching it away from an official crossing point could be dangerous; where it is unmarked, you could enter Pakistan illegally.

The Foreign Office also states in its India travel advice that it advises against all travel to the region of Jammu and Kashmir and all but essential travel to the state of Manipur.

The offices advice in Pakistan adds that it advises against all travel within 10 miles of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Balochistan Province and all but essential travel to the Sindh Province.

Will my flight be cancelled?

Flights have already seen a wave of cancellations and mass diversions as airlines rerouted aircraft to avoid airspace as the conflict heightened.

The morning after the precision strikes, dozens of flights were cancelled and rerouted, including airlines from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, making diversions and emergency mid-air changes for detours over the Arabian Sea and Central Asia.

On Thursday, 8 May, Indian carriers cancelled 430 flights, around three per cent of the countrys schedule, while airlines in Pakistan have cancelled over 147 flights, equating to 17 per cent of daily schedules, The Economic Times reported.

After all civilian airspace in Pakistan was closed for 48 hours, the country said its airspace has been reopened and that its airports were "fully functional." However, it is unclear whether airlines will resume regular operations.

Pakistan authorities said 57 international flights were in the country's airspace when India struck. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said India's action "caused grave danger to commercial airlines" belonging to Gulf countries and "endangered lives".

Delhi Airport said in a statement: All operations across Delhi Airports terminals and its four runways are proceeding as usual. However, changing airspace conditions have impacted some flights. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the updated flight information.

We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise any disruptions to flight schedules. The safety and comfort of our passengers are our foremost priority.

Indias Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered the closure of several northern airports, including Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Dharamshala and Amritsar, causing domestic airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India to suspend services to these destinations.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines also raised concerns about GPS spoofing and operational disruptions near conflict zones.

Gulf carriers like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Flydubai also cancelled flights to cities in northern Pakistan and India, including Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, and Amritsar. Emirates urged passengers not to proceed to airports in affected cities and confirmed that flights to Karachi remain operational.

Meanwhile, KLM said it would not fly over Pakistan until further notice. Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Korean Air have also adjusted its routes.

United Airlines said it has cancelled its flights to Delhi, while American Airlines said it has made its adjustments to its operations to the city.

Flights to and from Europe have also seen significant delays in their schedules, impacting passenger connections, airline bills, crew issues and aviation operations across the globe.

A British Airways spokesperson said: Safety and security are always our highest priorities and we continuously assess and adjust our operations accordingly.

Can I cancel my holiday or flight for a refund?

Passengers who find their flights are delayed or cancelled, or who miss onward connections, are covered by European air passengers rights rules if they begin their journey in the UK or EU. Passengers must be provided with replacement flights as soon as possible, and given hotels and meals as required. From locations outside Europe, only British and EU airlines are obliged to provide care.

The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says.

The CAA says if a flight is available on the original day of travel, the passenger must be booked on it  even if it is on a rival carrier.

Passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund if their flight is cancelled.

If you received less than 14 days notice of a cancellation, you may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airlines fault.

The conditions for cancelling your holiday will be dependent on your holiday provider, so its best to contact them if youre looking to postpone. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
King Charles III remembered Queen Elizabeth II's lively VE Day celebrations  including joining a conga line  in 1945 as he delivered a speech exactly 80 years after his grandfather's historic address.

Speaking at 9pm  the same time as King George VI  Charles told a crowd at London's Horse Guards Parade that his mother wrote in her diary that she sang until 2am and went to bed at 3am as the nation celebrated the end of the Second World War.

"I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2am, let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace," His Majesty joked.
David Tennant took a swipe at Donald Trump after the US president posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope on social media while hosting Have I Got News for You on Friday (9 May).

The image  an unsmiling Trump sat in an ornate chair, dressed in white papal vestments and headdress  was shared by the official accounts of both the Republican and the White House.

There was quite a week for the Catholic church as they got a new Pope and a new antichrist, the Doctor Who star said.
India and Pakistan have continued to exchange fire in the border villages of Indian administered Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians.

The situation in border areas remains uncertain as hundreds of residents have left their homes, fearing for their lives.

Many houses have been destroyed, hospitals are in emergency mode, and many underground bunkers have been made active.

Tension spiked on Thursday night (8 May) as air sirens sounded in major cities across northern India.

As both nations trade accusations of attacks, the fog of war is only thickening in a haze of claims, counterclaims, and mounting uncertainty, especially in the restive Kashmir region.
The Indian army has shared footage of attack targeting what it says is an alleged terrorist camp in Pakistan on Friday (9 May).

In post on X, the Indian army also said Pakistani troops had resorted to numerous ceasefire violations along the countries' de-facto border in Kashmir, a region that is divided between them but claimed in full by both.

"The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs (ceasefire violations)," the army said, adding all "nefarious designs" would be responded to with "force."

The Independent has not been able to independently verify the location or the date when the video was filmed.

Countries have urged the two nuclear-armed neighbours to step back from a pattern of escalatory attacks, which began with a terror attack against mostly Hindu tourists last month.
Remember that AI image Donald Trump posted on Truth Social just a few days ago, of an American pope? Well, take a deep breath, folks, because we have one. Fortunately, this is not Trump, nor one from the school of JD Vance, Catholic convert and scourge of Christians who think loving ones neighbour is about, well... loving your neighbour, whoever they may be, not just the person who thinks, talks and walks like you. It is Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, and it looks like the world has been delivered a new pontiff from Pope Franciss playbook.

When Francis was elected in 2013, the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel chose an Argentinian who described himself as from the ends of the earth. The new Pope Leo is not quite that  he is from Chicago  but he knows something of poverty and injustice. He worked in Peru as a missionary for his religious order, the Augustinians, and later served as a bishop there. And some weeks ago, an X/Twitter account of Robert Prevost reposted a criticism of Trump and Vances migration policies that asked if they had a conscience.

A clue as to how Prevost sees his role as leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics comes in his choice of papal name. In the Catholic world, a Leo is seen as a reformer pope, not least because the last, Leo XIII, wrote a famous encyclical  or teaching document  in 1891 on workers rights and the importance of trade unions.

Although Prevost was not spoken of as a candidate for pope as often as Luis Tagle, who was dubbed the Asian Francis, or Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, he was frequently mentioned in long lists of those who are papabile  possible popes. His combination of experience as a missionary, as a diocesan bishop, and as a Vatican insider heading the office that deals with appointing bishops gave him the skills and experience that will be vital as the leader of the Catholic Church. These include administrative nous, pastoral qualities, and an understanding of the world beyond the Vatican, beyond the United States, and in areas where poverty and injustice are dominant.

This is the version of the Catholic Church that Pope Francis epitomised and which has been so influenced by the liberation theologians of Latin America: a church that stands in solidarity with the poor ( AP )

All manner of people are now claiming Leo XIV as one of their own. Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, has called him Leo XIV of Illinois. Barack Obama, who became involved in politics in Chicago, has declared the new Pope Leo a fellow Chicagoan, while Perus president, Dina Boluarte, has claimed him as a Peruvian.

What Boluarte said of Pope Leo, who apparently became a Peruvian citizen 10 years ago, is particularly pertinent to gauge some insight into who this new pope is and why the cardinal electors chose him so speedily: In our lands, he sowed hope and walked alongside the most needy.

This is the version of the Catholic Church that Pope Francis epitomised and which has been so influenced by the liberation theologians of Latin America: a church that stands in solidarity with the poor. It has caused trouble in the past. As the Brazilian theologian Helder Camara once said: When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist.

During the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, there was deep suspicion of Latin American influence in the Church. Now, with Francis and Leo XIV, the Latin American version of the Catholic faith seems to be coming to the fore.

Its apparent, though, that the new Pope Leos team wanted more than this focus on the poor. They spoke of the need for a pope who could be a bridge, someone who could offer both the world and the Church itself a means of bridging divides. That will be the hardest task of all for the new pope.
Home economics: I am unclear about what the HSE can take under the Fair Deal scheme
DAA files additional information with Fingal County Council after local authority said proposed coffee dock must go

The DAA has advanced a proposal for its planned viewing platform beside Dublin Airport, filing additional information for the facility with Fingal County Council.

The local authority has already told the DAA that it would have to remove a proposed coffee dock at the platform and should install toilets. The initial reaction of council planners to the proposal dismayed the DAA, which operates Dublin Airport and Cork Airport.
Airlines owner IAG announces major Boeing and Airbus jet deals

The CEO of Aer Lingus says the airline has seen no drop in demand for travel between the US and Ireland this year, saying its bookings are up.

Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton said on Friday that the airline is seeing no evidence of a softening in demand to visit the US this year, despite evidence elsewhere that tougher US immigration enforcement may be turning visitors off. She also queried Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures here that have shown a fall in visitors to Ireland this year.
Adrian Weckler: Worried about US border control going through your phone? Here are four simple steps to get you through

With hair-raising tales of overzealous border control officers scrolling through visitors accounts, here are some tips to help you skip through security

A US customs and border protection officer processes a passenger into the US at an airport. Photo: James Tourtellotte

Adrian Weckler Fri 9 May 2025 at 03:30

Tourists to the US are being interrogated, locked up and deported. Tales of border control officers demanding passwords or fingerprint access to phones and scrolling through personal accounts have rung alarm bells among Europeans, with more and more of us putting off travel to the US. According to the most recent figures, tourism into the US was down 12pc in March.
Rick OShea: One of Americas smartest political minds makes a brave admission about Israel

Ta-Nehisi Coates admits he has a problem with an article he wrote in 2014 in The Message, while Sean Hewitts Open, Heaven feels like a classic and What a Time to be Alive by Jenny Mustard will appeal to Sally Rooney fans

Clockwise from top left: Sean Hewitt, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jenny Mustard

Rick O'Shea Fri 9 May 2025 at 03:30

Dont ever let anyone tell you that turning 50 is hard; turning 50 is a doddle. For me, it involved an eight-month series of arm-chancing trips to New York, Portugal and Iceland after I made sad puppy eyes at my impossibly lovely and soft-hearted wife.
From putting Michael OLeary in his place to Pyjamagate  16 of the most memorable moments from Joe Duffys Liveline

We look back at some of the moments that got the nation talking in the wake of the veteran broadcasters imminent departure from RTEs famed call-in show

Joe Duffy as part of the Big Day out in Dublin for Chernobyl Children International in 2016. Photo: Collins

Kirsty Blake Knox and Darragh Nolan Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 11:00

On Friday 27 June, broadcaster Joe Duffy will present Liveline for the final time.
A chilling 911 call, secret recordings and a missing mum: 8 key moments in the new Netflix documentary about Jason Corbett and Molly Martens deadly marriage

Told from both sides, a new Netflix documentary, A Deadly American Marriage, explores the killing of Irishman Jason Corbett during a dispute with his wife Molly Martens and her father Tom

The wedding of Molly Martens and Jason Corbett (Photo: Brendan OCallaghan/Courtesy of Netflix  2025)

Chris Wasser Fri 9 May 2025 at 09:01

Among the most anticipated true-crime documentaries of the year, A Deadly American Marriage was designed to get people talking.
They were my kiddos: Molly Martens breaks silence in Netflix documentary on Jason Corbetts killing

Feature-length documentary hears from all sides, but are we any wiser after this rather plodding rehearsal of the facts?

Jason Corbett and Molly Martens Corbett (top) with Jack and Sarah Corbett-Lynch (bottom). Photo: Courtesy of Netflix  2025

Ann Marie Hourihane Fri 9 May 2025 at 09:00

You might feel that you know everything there is to know about the Jason Corbett killing, which occurred in August 2015. In the years since, we have had a trial, an appeal, a plea bargain, two books and two orphaned children being uprooted from their homes. Media coverage has been extensive.
Why making a will is one of the most important jobs you will ever do
A man had his fingers chopped off and a chemical thrown in his face during a violent attack in Dublin this afternoon.

The victim, aged in his 20, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following the assault in the Clondalkin area.
Irelands Eurovision hopeful Emmy visited former competition winner Linda Martins Dublin dog shelter, where she received advice and words of encouragement ahead of her performance.

Emmy will represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025 later this month in Basel, Switzerland with her song Laika Party, which is about a dog sent to space by the USSR.

It was after attending a song writing camp in Emmys native Norway last summer where she met Irish songwriter Larissa Tormey and the pair collaborated to write their Eurovision 2025 entry song for Ireland.

She and her brother, Erland, visited former Eurovision winner Linda Martin's dog shelter, Dublin Dog Hub, when they were in the capital recently.

Ms Martin, who won the contest in 1992 for Why Me? told Emmy: "Enjoy it because it's going to go past in a flash."

Emmy, her brother Erland and Linda Martin at the Dublin Dog Shelter

Irelands Eurovision entry Emmy wants to bring happiness amid hard times

She and her team gave Emmy and Erland a warm welcome and a bouquet of green, white and orange flowers to wish Emmy luck.

Ms Martin also advised 24-year-old Emmy to speak to everybody, including newspapers, magazines and the radio.

Speak to them just so they know who you are and what your song is about and get your song out there because it's vitally important, but do enjoy yourself.

"I know on the stage you're going to be nervous. Because you'll be aware that there's 400m people watching, you know, but this is the most wonderful platform you could ever imagine, she said.

Ms Martin added: "I mean, where would you ever be seen again by so many people? So there's going to be managers looking in, there's going to be promoters, there's gonna be record labels looking at everything and just use it and go forward.

"Embrace it. Because I love Eurovision. I got stuck into it straight away and Emmy, I'm still working because of that Eurovision contest, you know. You're so beautiful and friendly. Both of you. We'll be cheering for you on the night."

Ms Martin said it was a pleasure to have Emmy at her dog shelter and wished her the very best of luck.

"And like I said to you earlier, if you win, you're right. You have to come back and live in Dublin. And then I'll have a job here for you !It's been lovely. Thank you for coming to this afternoon. It's been an absolute pleasure and go and win for Ireland.

The OGAE Irish fan club, which is the Eurovision fan club in Ireland, established in the 1990s, has created t-shirts with Laika the dog on them to support Emmy, with proceeds from the sales going to the dog shelter.

Emmy previously tried to enter Eurovision twice through Norway's pre-selection contest Melodi Grand Prix.

She initially entered at age 14 for the youth version of the competition before entering again in 2021, where she placed third and narrowly missed out on representing Norway at Eurovision that year.

She follows in the footsteps of Bambie Thug, who came in sixth place last year with their song Doomsday Blue, scoring a total of 278 points, marking the country's highest placing since 2000.

The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place on Saturday, May 17 from 8pm.
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
Heather Cornelius whose husband is detained in Dubai meets with politicians in Dublin

A woman whose husband has been detained in Dubai for 17 years met with Irish politicians on Thursday to garner support for his case.

Ryan Cornelius, 71, was detained for 10 years in 2008 as part of a bank fraud case, with his detention extended by 20 years in 2018. A UN working group has found he is subject to arbitrary imprisonment.

His wife Heather Cornelius, who is an Irish citizen, met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House in Dublin on Thursday to raise awareness of his case.

Mrs Cornelius said her husband has said the Irish embassy in Dubai are way more proactive with prisoners than anybody else. She was accompanied by human rights campaigner Bill Browder and her brother in law Chris Pagett.
Joe Duffy, one of Irelands longest-serving and most popular broadcasters, shocked the public on Thursday when announcing he would leave Liveline at the end of June.

Mr Duffy has been at the helm of the popular phone-in radio programme for more than 27 years and his ratings have been consistently in the top 10 of the most listened to programmes in the country.

Mr Duffy thanked listeners, his colleagues and those contributed to the show since 1998, in a statement confirming his departure next month.

Here you can read Mr Duffys statement in full:

After 37 wonderful years here in RTE, and 27 years presenting Liveline, I just wanted to share a few words with you as I prepare to move on.

First of all, it has been - and I mean this from the bottom of my heart - an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners. People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny ..their struggles, and their victories. I never took that for granted - not for a single minute.

Over these years, I've been blessed to work alongside hundreds of producers, researchers, broadcasting assistants, and all the wider public servants who make RTE - and when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Those who lifting a paintbrush, wielding a Black & Decker, a hoover drill, operating a sound desk, from the person at reception to the person climbing a mast.

We were - and are - all working towards the same goal: serving the public.

And it goes without saying that my wife June and my three children Sean, Ellen and Ronan ,have been such a part of keeping me going, day after day, often through difficult times on an intense daily programme.

For that alone I am deeply privileged and eternally grateful.

As the American poet Maya Angelou wrote, People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

And I hope, in some small way, through Liveline and through RTE, we made people feel heard.

And now, after many happy years, l've decided the time has come to move on.

I wrote to the head of Radio last November, informing her that having already extended my contract for two years, that Friday, June 27, next when it was due to expire would be my final day on Liveline.

As you know, I'm not a firefighter  I wish, a garda, not a paramedic, teacher, parent of young children, not a nurse, not a street cleaner - all of them real, vital, essential public servants.

As my late mother Mabel used to say to me, you're not to lose the run of yourself, you're just answering the phones. I was trying to listen, trying to connect, and trying to give people a voice, especially those without. Mabel, who died two years ago would have been 96 on Sunday, and on the day she was born, the Irish parliament was debating the abolition of workhouses - we've come a long way  like many of her generation who have been great Liveline listeners, remember you dug the well  subsequent generations drank the water - as a country, a community we've come a long way.

Liveline began under the stewardship of the late Marian Finucane 40 years ago, and it will endure.

So, onwards! I'm looking forward to the next chapter. Please, please keep talking to Joe; I'm here until the end of June. l will explain a bit more on tomorrows Late Late [Show], meanwhile back tomorrow at 1:45.

"In the meantime I won't be adding anything else, my focus is on tomorrows Liveline.
The new Leaving Cert senior cycle is due to start this September, Minister for Education Helen McEntee has confirmed.

The minister said that introducing the programme this autumn is in the "best interest of students" and will "help reduce the pressure" they face.

Over the past number of weeks, there have been intensive and constructive engagements with the post-primary teacher unions regarding senior cycle redevelopment," Ms McEntee said in a statement.

"I am happy to confirm that these talks have now concluded, with a package of supports offered to support the implementation of senior cycle redevelopment from September.

Ms McEntee said that it is "now a matter for" the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) to "consider this package as part of their own processes".

The Minister also thanked two unions for "engaging in these talks, for their commitment" and "their valuable contributions to these discussions".

"Their input has been instrumental in shaping our shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

"Proceeding with the introduction of new and revised subjects under senior cycle redevelopment in September is in the best interest of students.

"It will help to reduce the pressure faced by students, while recognising a broader range of skills and ensuring that students have the skills necessary to thrive and succeed in a rapidly changing world.

"Not only will these supports help teachers and schools to implement senior cycle redevelopment, they will ultimately ensure that students across the country reap the benefits of a revised senior cycle," she said.

The review of senior cycle started in 2016 and led to the announcement of the redevelopment programme in March 2022.

In late 2024, both post-primary unions called for a pause to certain aspects of the programme.

In particular, they asked for a pause in the introduction of seven of the nine new and revised subject s in Tranche 1 in schools for students starting the fifth year in September 2025, which had been approved by the former Minister.

The Department engaged with unions in response to these calls, while both ASTI and TUI made a submission to the Department in writing in March setting out their views.

After considering the unions' request for a pause, Minister McEntee wrote to the unions in early April to confirm that the implementation of the programme would continue with the introduction of Tranche 1 in September as previously announced.

She said that a further delay to the timelines would not be in the best interests of students.

However, the Department and unions continued to meet frequently to discuss these supports and the proposal was developed as to how the implementation of the redevelopment programme will be further supported.

If accepted by the unions, it will form the basis of a national collective agreement between the Department and teacher unions.

"This agreement provides a number of important supports to teachers, students and schools to ensure the successful implementation of senior cycle redevelopment," Ms McEntee said.

"I look forward to continuing close collaboration with the ASTI and TUI, indeed with all representative bodies, as we work together to strengthen and support senior cycle redevelopment," she added.

Meanwhile, the students from the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) have backed a decision about the Leaving Cert reform.

The representative body for second-level school students welcomed the decision to continue with the introduction of senior cycle redevelopment, despite calls for a "one-year pause".

The ISSU president, Jack McGinn, said: "We are redeveloping our senior cycle because we need to deliver a better system for students, that is what these redevelopments will achieve - we cannot afford to wait another year."

"I welcome the announcement of specific posts of responsibilities to support schools in implementing the reforms, and the increase and extension of grant funding for the science subjects - ensuring that students will have equal access to resources.

"The ISSU encourages stakeholders to support the implementation of support measures. It is imperative that we deliver clarity for students on the ground, to enable them to reach their full potential," he added.

Tranche 1 of the redeveloped subjects, launching this September, will include eight subjects, such as Ancient Greek, Arabic, Biology, Chemistry, Latin, Physics, and Business Studies.

Remaining redeveloped subjects will launch gradually in the following tranches.

Main provisions of the package include confirmation of the revision of arrangements for teachers securing permanent contracts and the development of a right to disconnect policy applicable to schools.

It also encompasses subject-specific supports focused on the subjects in Tranche 1, including an increase in the amount of the current annual Physics and Chemistry grant and the extension of its scope to include Biology and Agricultural Science.
He said it was an immensely significant moment for all those of faith and goodwill around the world who look to the papacy for spiritual guidance, moral clarity and global leadership at a time described by his predecessor Pope Francis as needing the vocation of diplomacy.

Mr Higgins said he welcomed the new popes statement that he is prepared to lead with compassion, wisdom and an enduring commitment to the values of peace, justice, and human dignity.

He said Ireland had enjoyed a long-standing and deeply rooted connection with the Holy See.

We in Ireland very much look forward to maintaining and deepening that relationship with Pope Leo as we continue to share the project of fostering dialogue and understanding between peoples and nations, he said.

It is my sincere hope that under Pope Leos leadership, the Holy See will continue to play a central role in promoting global solidarity, addressing the pressing issues of poverty, inequality, conflict and climate change  challenges that transcend borders and demand collective action from the international community.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost was a source of great pride for the US, as the first American pope.

I have no doubt he will continue to build on the extraordinary legacy left behind by his predecessor

The scenes of great joy and celebrations in St Peters Square are a reflection of the hopes and goodwill felt by people of the Catholic faith from all around the world towards the new pope, he said.

I hope that this groundswell of best wishes towards Pope Leo XIV will give him strength and support as he takes on the immense responsibility of his pontificate. I know that he has the best wishes of all Irish people, of all traditions.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said it was a momentous occasion for millions of Catholics around the world.

The election of a new pope is always a significant moment, not only for the Catholic Church but for the broader global community, he said.

I have no doubt he will continue to build on the extraordinary legacy left behind by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who taught us all the importance of kindness and humanity.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill described the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as a day of profound significance and urged the American pontiff to stand with Gaza.
Children queue for food at a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst met with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today to raise concerns around Israels inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.

He had earlier this week asked the EBU for a discussion on Israels participation in Eurovision song contest later this month, after the National Union of Journalists in RTE wrote to management in protest at Israels inclusion.

Mr Balhurst confirmed yesterday that RTE will not be withdrawing from this year's Eurovision.

"Kevin Bakhurst has confirmed that he, along with RTE's Director of Video, Steve Carson, had a meeting today with the EBU and raised RTE's concerns, the broadcaster said in a statement today.

It added: There is a commitment from the EBU to have a wider discussion amongst members in due course".

On Wednesday, Mr Bakhurst said he was appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages.

"Notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest is membership of the European Broadcasting Union, RTE has nonetheless asked the EBU for a discussion on Israels inclusion in the contest, he said on Wednesday.

In doing this, we are mindful of RTE's obligations as an independent, impartial public service news and current affairs provider, and of the need to maintain RTEs objectivity in covering the war in Gaza.

"We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israels public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government."

The comments come as a protest is set to be staged outside RTEs studio in Donnybrook this evening over the broadcasters refusal to withdraw from the contest, with the final to be staged on Saturday May 17.

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and members of the NUJ at RTE will attend a mini-concert calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025.

Israel has killed around 52,000 people in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, surprise attack by Palestinian militants in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 abducted.
RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst said his meeting with chairman of the media committee, Alan Kelly, over Israel's inclusion in the European Broadcasting Union, was "constructive".

Eurovision, which is hosted by the EBU, will begin on May 13 in Switzerland with the final on May 17. Israel is set to be represented at the contest by Yuval Raphael, 24, a survivor of the October 7 2023 Hamas attack.

Mr Bakhurst said he was mindful of RTEs role as an impartial public news service, but said he was appalled by ongoing events in the Middle East.
Tanaiste says era of self-regulation is over

A social media ban for children under 16 must be given serious consideration the Tanaiste has said, suggesting Ireland could follow Australia which has adopted some of the strictest laws in the world.

Simon Harris said there is a ticking time bomb in relation to smartphone use for young people and has urged all political parties to work together to examine how such a ban would work in practice. Australia has recently become the first country to pass laws banning social media  including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X  for children under 16 years old.

The laws will place the onus on social media platforms to implement the restrictions, using age-verification technology, or they will face fines.

Tanaiste Simon Harris is looking at restrictions. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 seconds - 9th May 2025

These will not come into effect for another 12 months, to allow policy makers to explore more deeply how they will work in practice. Mr Harris said that while there are some practical issues in implementing those measures, Australia deserves great credit.

Communications minister Patrick ODonovan has asked his officials to examine the Australian rules and to look at what other jurisdictions are doing to protect children from online harms.

This is an area that requires a lot more action, Mr Harris told the Dail. The era of self-regulation is over.

He said Ireland would not be brow beaten by anyone in efforts to put a regulatory structure in place that protects our democracies, protects our people and most importantly protects our children.

We are not where we need to be in relation to this. We do need to look at what other countries are doing.

There is a digital age of consent of 16 in Ireland, but Mr Harris said there are many workarounds to it and that means an alarming number of children are on social media well before that age.

According to the Irish charity CyberSafeKids, a majority  84pc of 12-year-olds  have their own social media accounts or instant messaging, despite a minimum age of 13 being in place on most popular apps.

Almost all  94pc of eight to 12-year-olds  own a smartphone device.

This is a ticking time bomb. We do need to get serious in terms of empowering and supporting parents and tackling that FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] of I must do it because somebody my age also has a smart phone or is also on social media, Mr Harris said.

This is an area that we should act on. Very serious consideration should be given to the idea of having to be 16 before you are on social media.

We should work constructively, across parties, perhaps with the new committee structures and the likes which exist in this house to really scrutinise this, he said.

He was responding to questions from Independent TD Paul Gogarty, who called for a citizens convention on the issue. He said calls for regulation have not worked.

We should seriously explore what they are doing in Australia, a liberal country, where the worlds strictest laws on social media have been enacted, Mr Gogarty said.
Why Eurovision wont ban Israel but kicked Russia out of the contest

RTE chief Kevin Bakhurst has called for talks about Israels participation, but as the pressure for action rises, its far from the first call for a boycott

Boos and chants in the arena: Israels Eden Golan finished fifth in last years contest despite calls for the country to be excluded from the event

Patrice Harrington Fri 9 May 2025 at 03:30

Its all kicking off. Eurovision 2025 takes place in Switzerland next week but the song contest is already giving strong popcorn emoji.
From second right: Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinpin watch the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. AP

Xi Jinpings arrival in Moscow, to commemorate Russias VE day, on May 9, (a day after Europe, the UK and the US), wasnt just a formality. It was a very public and deliberate show of support from Russias closest ally.

We already know that China is a critical part of the axis of totalitarian states, made up of China, North Korea, Russia and Iran. The countries in this group, prompted by China, have delivered a great deal of support to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. This includes a significant number of drones from Iran in the early stages of the war, and now weapons and ammunition from North Korea.
Donal Fallon: From Dunnes Stores to Gaza, Nelson Mandela knew the value of defending others freedom from afar

The late South African president wasnt the only one to draw parallels between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and apartheid in his country

A sculpture of Nelson Mandela is erected in Ramallah, West Bank, in 2016. Photo: Getty

Donal Fallon Fri 9 May 2025 at 03:30

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa in 1994.
With a billow of white smoke and a clamour of church bells, we learnt that an empty seat at the top of the world leadership table had just been filled. The first American Cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, took the name Leo XIV.

It would be no surprise if the straight-talking Chicago-born cardinal is still known as Bob to his friends  or perhaps Pope Bob to the rest of us.

He became known as the Latin Yankee in Rome, but worked for 20 years in Perus poorest enclave. His first words as pontiff  Peace be with you all  coming as they did on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe could not have been more resonant.

As a leader of the Augustinian Order, he is said to have a missionary heart, and is expected to follow the path marked out by Pope Francis.

His passage through the room of tears  to which every new pope retreats for a moment of reflection before crossing its threshold  was an apt metaphor for the world he must walk as pontiff.

Yet it was with conviction that he told a crowded St Peters Square that evil would not prevail. The light of love can still shine, even in the most difficult of times.

The story goes that in the August 1978 conclave, Pope John Paul I accepted the honour of becoming pontiff, but told the assembled cardinals: May God forgive you for what you have done.

Pope Leo betrayed no such reluctance. If this conclave was the largest and most diverse in history, it made relatively short work of selecting its new Bishop of Rome.

All must walk together, he entreated, once again echoing the humane but powerful voice adopted by Francis

And if cardinals battled with their colleagues on where the new pontiff might stand on topics including divorce, sexual abuse by clergy, inclusion issues and so many others, they cannot have done so for long.

Much work must be done on all fronts. The 267th leader of the planets 1.4 billion Catholics will have an awful lot on his plate.

With geopolitics in such turbulence and wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan  and nuclear powers Pakistan and India now exchanging fire  a passionate advocate of peace would be an invaluable voice of mediation.

This week, a statement from cardinals lamented the dismal lack of progress in peace talks on Ukraine and the Middle East.

In his address, Pope Leo promised to be close to all who suffer. All must walk together, he entreated, once again echoing the humane but powerful voice adopted by Francis.

Such words of healing and hope will be a tonic for all those disillusioned with a polarising age, perhaps nowhere more so than in Leos native America.

Once, when asked what was the essential quality of a bishop, he replied: The authority we have is to serve, to accompany priests, to be pastors and teachers.

It is easy to see how he has already been designated a bridge builder by commentators.

Should he wish to serve, there has never been such a need for bridges in our divided world.
Public toilets installed at the top of Grafton Street in Dublin

Public toilets installed at the top of Grafton Street, near the entrance to Stephens Green Shopping Centre, are set to be removed shortly.

In a report to Dublin city councillors, Barry Woods, Head of Waste Management Services, said the unit  which has been operating from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week  was originally intended as a short-term arrangement during the pandemic.

The council has been spending nearly 400,000 a year to keep the toilets  the only public facility in the city centre  running since their installation in 2020.

Usage has dropped significantly to 1,500 users per week from its peak in 2021, and the current operator for this unit is ceasing trading, the report states.

For these reasons, Dublin City Council intends to remove this temporary public toilet at the top of Grafton Street shortly.

The council says it is now looking at new ways to provide public toilet services in the city.

In 2023, the council invited companies to share ideas and held discussions with two providers.

One of the companies, which specialises in automated toilets, advised against placing unmanned public toilets in the city centre, warning that it could lead to anti-social behaviour.

As a result, the councils Waste Management team has been working with the Dublin Beta Projects team to explore other types of public toilet models.

These talks are still ongoing, and no final decision has yet been made on how the toilets will be managed or operated.

The council is currently considering two possible locations for modular toilet units: Princes Street North (just off OConnell Street), and the site of the current temporary unit at the top of Grafton Street.

If these locations are deemed suitable, a planning process known as Part 8 will begin, alongside the search for the preferred operator.

The council hopes to bring formal proposals to the South East and Central Area Committees by the third quarter of 2025.

As part of a longer-term plan, public toilets will also be included in the design of the new College Green Public Realm Scheme. This major city centre project is due to begin construction in 2027.

The council believes College Green is an ideal location for new public toilets, as there is sufficient space to accommodate different designs and operating models.

However, the news of the removal of the public toilets at the top of Grafton Street has been met with criticism from some public representatives, including Green Party councillor Hazel Chu.

I wouldnt mind if they were taking it away and had a permanent solution ready to go, but the timeline is that its going to be 2025, 2026 before it even goes to Part 8 planning, she said.

With Part 8, it could take a while, so youre talking about at least two years without public facilities.

The numbers were 20,000 during COVID because there were no shops open.

I know theres a cost, but all things cost money. You balance the cost against whether its worth it  and it is worth it, because its a public facility that people need.

They claim its dropped to 1,500 a week now. Fine, that is a drop, but what are you going to tell those 1,500 people who currently need that toilet? Hold it in? she added.

She is bringing an emergency motion to the South East Area Committee meeting to keep the public toilets in place until a more permanent solution is found.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon also criticised the decision to close Dublin city centres only public toilets, calling it a short-sighted move.

Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: Closing the only public toilets in the middle of Dublin, just as we come into the busy summer season, makes no sense whatsoever.

The need for public facilities is about to spike  more people will be out enjoying the city, attending events, and making use of our parks. We should be adding toilets, not taking them away.

Weve seen this same story play out again and again: an unwillingness to plan ahead; an allergy to practical public investment; and a government that doesnt understand how cities actually work, he added.
The 'zombie lights' project a red glow at the feet of pedestrians

The traffic lights at the junction of Tara Street and Burgh Quay are fitted with 'zombie lights'

The traffic lights on Tara Street projecting a red glow linked to the pedestrian signal

New pedestrian lights have been installed at a number of busy junctions in Dublin in a bid to get mobile phone-obsessed pedestrians to pay more attention to traffic.

The so-called zombie lights, one of which is installed at Tara Street in the city centre, involves a diffuse red light which is cast on the pavement at the edge of the road.

The light strips are designed to catch the eye of people looking down at their device and change colour to match traffic signals.

These special LED pavement lights are meant to alert distracted pedestrians staring at their phones to when they can walk and when they should stop.

Similar systems have already been used in Australia, Singapore and the Netherlands.

The traffic lights on Tara Street projecting a red glow linked to the pedestrian signal

To date, the traffic lights have been installed in Sydney, Australia, Seoul, South Korea, Augsburg, Germany, Bodegraven in the Netherlands, Israels capital, Tel Aviv and Singapore.

In Dublin, they have been installed at Tara Street, with others planned for installation at pedestrian crossings on Capel Street.

The zombie lights will be piloted at very busy junctions where pedestrians crossing may be distracted by their phones or other distractions.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council (DCC) said they are trialling a number of technologies to better alert the public to changes of pedestrian signals.

They highlighted increasing concern regarding mobile phone users at pedestrian crossings not observing changes of signals while they are on their phone.

New technologies are now available to target mobile phone users to changes of pedestrian lights, they said.

"DCC has been trialling this technology at Tara Street for a number of months and will also be trialling different technology at other crossings to determine if there is any requirement for this type of technology to be rolled out at other locations.

The 'zombie lights' project a red glow at the feet of pedestrians

"To date, it is too early to determine if any particular technology is suitable and if there is sufficient evidence to roll it out at further locations.

Independent city councillor Mannix Flynn, who is on the traffic and transport committee, was critical of the new pedestrian lights.

"The situation here is Dublin City Councils traffic department and the NTA using the public as guinea pigs without really giving them any information prior to this, he said.

"Ive been told there a device that will make those on mobile phones aware they are coming towards a traffic light but we dont know whether this is a private company doing this or whether its Dublin City Councils own initiative, we know nothing.

"I really think its creating more of a danger than its solving and I think the public should be informed of whats happening here, he added.

Cllr Flynn said he plans to raise this as an issue at the south east area meeting committee and will be raising it at the next transport committee meeting.
Derrynane House - the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell - which will feature on a new RTE series.

Daniel O'Connell whose ancestral home is to feature on a new RTE series.

Derrynane house in South Kerry - one of the county's top visited tourism sites - and home of the statesman Daniel OConnell is to feature on a new RTE series.

Legacy is a new four part documentary series for RTE featuring 15 of Irelands National Historic Properties with each episode having a specific theme: Centres of Power, Writers and Collectors, Memory and Commemoration, and The Art of the Portrait.

The first episode features four properties, each one a centre of power, and this includes Derrynane house - ancestral home of lawyer, politician and statesman, Daniel OConnell, known worldwide as The Great Liberator, and whom some called the unofficial King of Ireland.

Daniel OConnell worked on his campaigns for Catholic Emancipation and for Irish freedom from British rule at Derrynane and held court there like an old Gaelic Chieftain.

His greatest triumph was achieving Catholic Emancipation in 1829, giving Catholics the right to sit in Parliament.

After OConnells death, the house remained the OConnell family home until, in 1948, the Derrynane Trust was founded, preserving the house as a museum and memorial to Daniel OConnell.

In 1964, the house was transferred to the Commissioners of Public Works, and following restoration work completed in 1967, the house was officially opened by President Eamon De Valera.

This year will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel OConnell so it is fitting tribute to the man and his seat of power in Kerry to be part of the series.

Writer and director of Legacy David Hare, who wrote and directed Great Lighthouses of Ireland, explains the background to the documentary.

The traditional way to approach this subject would be chronologically or geographically, but instead we've done so thematically. The thematic approach enabled us to include very different and seemingly unrelated buildings and sites from very different eras, and weave them together so that the connections between them become clear.

The first episode also features Dublin Castle, Oldbridge House, located beside the River Boyne, and Pearse Museum in St Endas Park in Rathfarnham. From their power bases in Derrynane and Rathfarnham, using very different methods and separated by almost a century, Daniel OConnell and Patrick Pearse fought back against British rule.

Legacy will air on RTE one on Sunday May 11 at 6.30pm.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has lodged a motion before the High Court seeking permission to issue Sceilg Mhichil boat operator permits for Summer 2025 to the successful applicants in a recent competition.

This follows a high court challenge from unsuccessful participants in the open competition to operate the boat licences.

In a statement this afternoon, Friday, May 9, the OPW said the world-famous Skellig Michael island is ready to re-open once the High Court decision is handed down.

The UNESCO site brings thousands of visitors to Kerry and was made even more famous by the filming of Star Wars on the island.

The OPW ran a competition in late 2024 to award 15 permits for summer 2025 and onwards. The number of permits is limited to protect the fragile ecosystem of Sceilg Mhicil.

In April 2025, two unsuccessful participants in the competition brought High Court proceedings challenging the outcome of the competition.

Under Irish and EU law, this means that the OPW is precluded from issuing permits for summer 2025, until the proceedings are resolved (or unless the court gives permission to issue permits).

Earlier this week on Wednesday, May 7 the OPW issued a motion before the High Court seeking permission to issue permits for summer 2025 to the applicants who were successful in the competition.

On May 8 a third unsuccessful participant in the competition brought further High Court proceedings. As the matter is now before the court, the OPW will not make any further comment at this time and are awaiting the decision on the issuing of permits to other boat operators.

Concerns have been raised by tourism operators in South Kerry about the vital need to re-open what is one of Kerrys top tourist attractions.

Read more High Court action by boatmen over ferry licences could see Skellig Michael closed for the summer months

Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) said that an delay or interruption to the opening of the island to tourists could have severe consequences

The Skellig Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and iconic filming location for Star Wars are a cornerstone of Kerrys tourism industry, attracting thousands of visitors annually. The boat operators who facilitate access to Skellig Michael are vital to the local and county economy, supporting jobs and businesses across South Kerry. Any interruption to these services could have severe consequences for the regions reputation as a world-class tourist destination, she said.

Similarly local tourism providers under the auspices of Skellig Tourism Network have also appealed for the island to be opened.

"Skellig Michael is not just a national treasure  its the cornerstone of tourism across South Kerry, Chairperson of the Skellig Coast Tourism Network, James Murphy and a delay in re-opened could put South Kerry tourism at risk.

The OPW said in their statement they are acutely aware of the key role the Island plays in the tourism economy of South Kerry and the wider region.

The OPW has confirmed all necessary preparations have been made, subject to the High Court decision, so that Sceilg Mhicil can be opened.

The OPW conservation team, made up of architects, stonemasons and a safety expert, has been on the Island for some weeks preparing for the re-opening of the Island to visitors. The annual post-winter check-up and maintenance is underway. This maintenance programme covers the East, South and North Steps, the monastery and all the structures on the South Peak including the pier.

Likewise, the OPW visitor experience guide team has been completing the required intensive training to prepare for the forthcoming season including certified rope access handling training, sea-survival training, first aid wilderness training and VHF (radio communications) training.

This is bespoke, specific guide training for Sceilg Mhicil that must be undertaken by staff prior to the Island opening to visitors.
Cardinal Robert Prevost appears on the central loggia of St Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne has described the election of Pope Leo XIV as an event that brings joy and gratitude.

US-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday when he stood before the world on the central loggia of St Peter's Basilica.

In a statement, Bishop Browne welcomed news of Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Rome and successor to Saint Peter.

On behalf of the Diocese of Kerry, I pledge our prayer and heartfelt support for his ministry as Pope, Bishop Browne said.

In introducing himself to the crowds in Rome, he praised the papacy of Pope Francis and went on to emphasize the challenges of world peace, world poverty, and synodality, - the people of God journeying together.

His quoting St Augustine regarding, for you I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian points to a key emphasis on every baptised person having a part to play in the mission of the Church: practising their faith and living it in the community and society, sharing their faith with others and handing it on to their children, Bishop Browne said.

He added that Pope Leo XIV brings great experience and wisdom to the papacy through his early years at home in Chicago, his life as an Augustinian priest including two terms of leadership of the Order at world level.

His years both as a missionary and as a bishop in Peru; his recent years as Cardinal and leader of the office in Rome that coordinates the choice of bishops for dioceses worldwide, he said.

It is good that he has visited Ireland a number of times, visiting the Augustinian communities throughout the country. I invite all the clergy, religious and laity across the Diocese of Kerry to offer prayers of thanksgiving, and in the weeks and months ahead to continue to pray for him as he takes up office, Bishop Browne said.
One could say that the new Pope, Leo XIV, has followed in the footsteps of Kerry priest Fr Tom Looney given he has served in many of the same locations that the Kerry priest also ministered in, not least the city of Trujillo

While Fr Looney had left Peru before Fr Prevost arrived, they both worked in similar locations throughout their time in the South American nation and for both it had a lasting impact.

Fr Looney feels the poverty witnessed by Pope Leo XIV in Peru will influence his tenure as head of the Catholic Church.

He said Robert Prevost was very much trusted in crisis-torn Peru given he was Archbishop and a key leader of the Peruvian church there.

There was also much political strife in the country throughout his tenure in South America and this experience will stand to him in todays world.

"He is man of peace and unity.

"I didnt know him personally. I would have left Peru before he was ordained but I know him through his colleagues.

Cardinal Prevost spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal only in 2023.

During his time in Peru he joined the mission in Trujillo and was director of the joint formation project for Augustinian candidates from the vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurimac.

Over the course of eleven years, he served as prior of the community (19881992), formation director (19881998), and instructor for professed members (19921998), and in the Archdiocese of Trujillo as judicial vicar (19891998) and professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Moral Theology at the Major Seminary San Carlos y San Marcelo.

These too were places that Fr Looney spent time in.

"I was 10 years in Trujillo  it is the third city of Peru with a lot of poverty, said Fr Looney. Many of those that Fr Looney worked with down through the years, including Fr Sean OSullivan and Fr John B OSullivan, would have got to know Fr Prevost during his time.

"At least five or six missionaries from Kerry would have served with him.

Fr Tom, as he is known in Kerry, was also a professor in the Seminary where Pope Leo XVI was professor.

"We have a lot of connections. It is unusual that I taught in the college where he later became professor.

In 2014 when Pope Francis appointed Fr Prevost as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Chiclayo, this too was an area Fr Looney knew well and he has strong connections to.

The following year, he was named bishop of the city. On September 26, 2015, he was named bishop of Chiclayo and became a naturalized Peruvian citizen before becoming bishop.

By 2023 he was promoted to archbishop before this week being elected Pope.
He said that the delay in young people waiting for driving tests in Kerry means many cannot take up jobs or go to college or help out their families.

With the current wait for such a test currently standing at almost six months he said that something must be done to get young people out driving especially in rural areas where they do not have public transport.

Additional testers are being appointed but Deputy Healy-Rae said such testers are based in Dublin, not Kerry despite the great need in the county.

The truth is, Dublin is being looked after but places like Kerry are not. That is the God's gospel truth. All of the children and youngsters of the country must be treated equally. People in Kerry are not being treated in the same way as people up here in Dublin are, and they have all kinds of public transport up here.

"If the test cannot be carried out in ten weeks, surely the candidate who has done the driver theory test, the 12 lessons and all that is required, should be allowed to drive and given an amnesty until the test comes. These youngsters need to get going, he said.

"Boys and girls have to wait for up to six months to get their driving test, which is far too long for a young learner driver to have to wait, particularly in rural areas of Kerry where there is no public transport option and driving is the only option.

"Many young people cannot take up job offers, apprenticeships or college courses, as they would have to have a parent, brother, sister or grandparent with them going to and from wherever they needed to go, even with their L-plates displayed.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Deputy Sean Canney said that the current waiting time for a test in Kerry is 23.5 weeks which is far above the acceptable service-level agreement target of ten weeks.

He said measures are being taken to address this issue including additional most recently 70 such posts were announced in September 2024.

He said he met with the Road Safety Authority - who are responsible for driving tests - last week and instructed the authority to return in two weeks with sustainable proposals which will provide a faster resumption to the service level agreement of ten weeks.

He said the recruitment of additional testers is underway and this will increase testing capacity.

Deputy Canney said an amnesty would not be feasible but said he will work with the RSA to rectify the current situation.
Gardai in Laois are investigating the theft of a power tool from motor vehicle company Rathdowney Quick-Fit in Rathdowney, Laois.

The theft occurred at around 4.00pm yesterday when a man enquiring about tyre prices stole a milwaukee impact gun as he left the premises, with images captured by the business on CCTV.

The price to replace the gun is around 600-700 according to the company, with a photo of a similar drill below.

Follow Independent Laois on Facebook

Photo: Rathdowney Quick-Fit

Rathdowney Quick-Fit said that the man was driving a black three door Ford Focus with a registration number of: 09 Roscommon 524, and with two spare wheels on the passenger side of the car.

The company has taken to social media following the theft with photos attached from CCTV footage of the man. In a post, it said: The absolute toe-rag in the attached pictures came into the garage today to get a price on some tyres (apparently).

While walking back to his car he helped himself to one of our milwaukee impact guns. He's likely long gone from the area but he's driving a black 3 door Ford Focus and with two spare wheels on the passenger side. If you know who he is or where he is, we'd like a chat with him.

Gardai confirmed that no arrests have been made and investigations in Laois are ongoing. Anyone with information in relation to the incident should contact Rathdowney Garda Station.
Sarganis (Kevin) Filipache (12) has been reported missing from Dunleer, Co. Louth since Thursday, May 8, 2025

Sarganis (Kevin) Filipache was reported missing from Dunleer, Co. Louth since Thursday, May 8, 2025

Gardai are appealing to the public for assistance in locating 12-year-old Sarganis (Kevin) Filipache, who has been reported missing from Dunleer, Co. Louth since the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Kevin was last seen in Ashbourne, Co. Meath yesterday afternoon Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Kevin is described as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a slim build, black hair, and brown eyes. When last seen, he was wearing a light blue Nike tracksuit (differing shades) top and bottom and black Air Force runners.

Gardai are concerned for Kevin's well-being. It is believed that Kevin got on a bus to Dublin city centre.

Anyone with information on Kevins whereabouts is requested to contact Drogheda Garda Station on (041) 9874200, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Residents in St Attractas Residence in Charlestown take virtual tour of Irish heritage sites thanks to OPW initiative in cooperation with Belmullet-based company

Residents in St Attractas Residence in Charlestown took a virtual tour of some of the countrys best-known heritage sites as part of National Arts in Nursing Home Day.

Global VAM, a Belmullet-based XR company that specialises in creating immersive experiences, worked closely with the OPW on the initiative at St Attractas, which allowed them to virtually tour sites including the Ceide Fields, the Battle of the Boyne, Newgrange and Kilkenny Castle.

General Manager St Attractas Residence, Trina Donohue, described the initiative as a resounding success.

 This development in technology has amazing potential for those who are unable to travel as much as they did before and can really bring the world into their home.

This initiative, in recognition of National Arts in Nursing Home Day is part of a broader programme of events taking place at OPW sites across the month of May for the annual Bealtaine Festival.

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Boxer Moran said that on Friday, 23 May, all fee-paying heritage sites across Ireland will offer free admission to senior citizens, to encourage greater engagement with Irelands rich cultural and historical heritage.
The Bishop of Elphin and Achonry, Kevin Doran has said that the new Popes focus on peace and on dialogue gives him great hope.

"His choice of the name Leo is significant, because the previous Pope Leo (Leo XIII) is the Pope who, in very troubled times, initiated the Social Teaching of the Church, which focuses on the dignity of human work, on rights and responsibilities associated with property, justice and peace, integral development and care of the earth.

I encourage all our Catholic people to pray for him and, in whatever way possible to work with him, said Bishop Doran.

He continued: God bless Pope Leo XIV and give him the wisdom and courage he needs for his new mission as Vicar of Christ. The fact that the election was completed as quickly as it was tells me that there was significant unity among the Cardinals about what the Church needs.

"Quoting Saint Augustine, Pope Leo said: with you I am a Christian and for you I am a bishop. In that way he seems to signal his commitment to a synodal Church in which we walk together, listen to one another, and listen to the Word of God, but also a Church is which recognises the particular pastoral and teaching mission of the Bishop of Rome.

"Born in Chicago, a missionary from Peru, living and working in Rome, Pope Leo communicates well in many languages. Episcopal motto is One in the One, meaning that, as Christians, we find our unity in the person of Jesus. With the help of God, he will be a Shepherd who gathers together the scattered children of God.
The alleged assault occurred in the Beech Park area of Tramore, Co Waterford, on Thursday, May 8

Waterford gardai are investigating a serious allegation of assault in Tramore, Co Waterford that put one teenage boy in hospital.

Gardai attended the scene of a suspected assault in the Beech Park area of Tramore on Thursday evening, May 8, shortly before 7pm.

One boy, aged in his late teens, was injured and taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment. The nature of his injury is unknown at this time.

A man and another teenage boy were arrested in relation to the incident. The man has since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The teenage boy has also been released pending referral to the Youth Diversion Programme. Investigations are ongoing, added a garda spokesperson.
Former TD Paul Kehoe was recently appointed as chairperson of the Wexford Food Producers following his 22 year career in politics.

The Wexford Food Producers Network is a member representative and member-led body for Wexfords food and beverage production sector. With approximately 50 members ranging from sole traders, micro enterprises, small medium enterprises and to large exporters, their remit is to support the growth and development of Wexfords food production sector.

The organisation supports Wexford food producers, to build a sustainable food industry which provides employment and contributes significantly to the Irish economy on a local, regional and national level.

The Wexford Food Producers Network CLG is a non-for-profit organisation that is recognised and supported by Wexford County Council, Wexford Local Enterprise Office and Wexford Local Development. The organisation engages with national agencies Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Ornua The Irish Dairy Board on the issues that are critical to assisting their members businesses to grow.

The food production sector in Wexford is one of the largest per county in Ireland. In 2024 the Food, Drink & Primary Production sector accounted for 40 per cent of all export sales by Irish-owned companies, directly supporting 165,000 jobs, or 6.5 per cent of total employment, predominantly in rural and coastal communities. This significant domestic economic footprint, including its export profile, reflects the natural comparative advantages of Irish production and a long agricultural tradition.

Mr Kehoe announced his decision to not run in the 2024 General Election back in February 2024, citing social media abuse and wanting to spend more time with his family as his reasons for stepping down.

He served as Minister of State at the Department of Defence from 2011 to 2020 and Government Chief Whip from 2011 to 2016.He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in September 2020.

On behalf of the organisation, representative Stacey Williams highlighted Pauls distinguished career and heavy involvement within the county on all aspects as a huge advantage.

"Originally hailing from Bree, Co Wexford, Paul Kehoe is a proud Wexford man who comes from both an agricultural and political background. He attended Kildalton Agricultural College, Co. Kilkenny remains active in the farming community to this day.

"Paul Kehoe has expressed his wish to contribute to the future development of Wexford's food production sector and he will be actively engaged in the future strategic development of the organisation going forward. He is looking forward to taking up the role to represent this important sector for Wexford, she added.
Wexford native and YFG Leinster Regional Organiser Ian Moran says that spiking incidents are on the rise.

In recent times theres been a growth in the amount of needle spiking incidents. Pic: Stock image

In recent years, there have been several reported instances of young people being spiked while enjoying a night out with Wexford. While traditionally pub and nightclub goers are always warned not to leave their drinks unattended, in recent times theres been a growth in the amount of needle spiking incidents.

Its a story that young members of Fine Gael are all too familiar with, and is the reason that they are calling for #PricklessNights with a bill being brought before the Dail.

Recently elected Young Fine Gael (YFG) Leinster Regional Organiser, Wexford man Ian Moran, has been working alongside is colleagues to make spiking a stand-alone offence under Irish law. The Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Amendment (Spiking) Bill will see sentences of up to 10 years handed down to those found guilty of spiking.

"Since being elected back in February, Ive been working hard to show the effect that a youth political organisation like ours can have, Ian said. This was demonstrated when our bill to make spiking a stand-alone criminal offence was restored to the order paper in the Dail.

Wexford man Ian Moran, who is Leinster Regional Organiser with Young Fine Gael.

YFG say that theres been a worrying rise in reported spiking incidents across the country, with 60% of victims aged between 18 and 25. One third of reported cases were linked to subsequent sexual assaults, with 90% of victims being young women.

"Our #PricklessNights campaign has been ongoing since 2023 when our bill passed through all stages of the last Seanad, Ian explains. This latest motion has restored it to that status.

"Our campaign will continue to highlight the pressing need for this bill to protect young people and ensure safer social settings for all.

The subject is one that has been raised on numerous occasions locally by Sinn Fein councillor Aoife Rose OBrien, who herself was a victim of spiking. She has used her platform as a local representative to criticise the HSEs protocols around spiking victims and says that shes aware, anecdotally at least, of a rise in spiking incidents among young people in particular.
Cllr Miriam Murphy and Lorraine Gallagher at the launch of the DUB20 and DUB30 Data Centre in the Arklow Bay Hotel. Photo: Michael Kelly

Wicklow GAA County Chairman Damien Byrne and Larry Howard at the launch of the DUB20 and DUB30 Data Centre in the Arklow Bay Hotel. Photo: Michael Kelly

Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Melanie Corrigan, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Minister James Browne and CEO of Irish Water Niall Gleeson at the official launch of the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant. Photo: Michael Kelly

Taoiseach Micheal Martin gets a tour of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant in Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Ray Gaffney, Eddie Kilbane and Brian McCarthy at the launch of the DUB20 and DUB30 Data Centre in the Arklow Bay Hotel. Photo: Michael Kelly

Lorcain Egan (Starwood Capital), CEO of Echelon Niall Molly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Senator Pat Casey and Chief Operating Officer of Echelon Graeme McWilliams at the launch of the DUB20 and DUB30 Data Centre in the Arklow Bay Hotel. Photo: Michael Kelly

A significant economic boost is on the horizon for local industries in Arklow, Wicklow and north Wexford after the official launch of Echelon Data Centres DUB20 and DUB30 data centre campuses, which promise to directly and indirectly create 7,300 jobs during construction and over 1,800 permanent positions after their completion.

Launched by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who also officially opened Arklows Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning, the DUB20 and DUB30 facilities will see the rejuvenation of the underutilised, brown industrial site (IFI site), restoring the industrial area to its former resource as a major employer and economic hub, along with the creation of the DUB30 campus at Kish Business Park, just south of Arklow.

The milestone launch came with a promise of huge investment in the region, with the expansive projects ensuring a capital investment that Senator Pat Casey commented would be the largest private capital investment in the history of Wicklow.

Echelon will invest an estimated 3.5bn to develop the DUB20 and DUB30 sites, creating around 2,600 direct jobs during construction and 715 permanent positions at the two facilities once they are operational.

However, an Economic Impact Assessment report prepared for Echelon by KPMG has calculated that the potential economic output of the DUB20 and DUB30 sites could be as much as 7.5bn during the construction phase, and 801m per year once both campuses are operational.

The report found that every 1 Echelon invests in the DUB20 and DUB30 sites could yield a return of 1.60 due to additional economic activity through supply chains and employee spending across construction and operational phases.

It also found that for every 10 jobs created during construction, up to nine additional jobs will be supported elsewhere in the economy, while every 10 direct operational roles could sustain a further 16 jobs.

Detailing the economic benefits of DUB20 and DUB30, Echelons chief operating officer Graeme McWilliams said: Echelons sites in Wicklow will generate broad-based economic value with measurable impact across the Irish economy that goes far beyond the initial investment.

They represent responsible data centre development which supports regional development and job creation in partnership with good grid citizenship.

The raw materials in Arklow are phenomenal, not just the actual sites, but the town itself and the broader community.

He added: DUB20, which we expect construction to begin on next month, will be the first large-scale data centre campus outside the Dublin metro area. It is an opportunity to rejuvenate this site and return it to a major source of employment and investment that is fully integrated into the community.

From 2018, the Echelon strategy acknowledged early signs of energy grid capacity constraints, and the requirement for significant renewable power. Echelon focused on large regional sites, where energy wasnt constrained, and close to future renewable power projects.

Echelon has invested heavily in state-of-the-art power generation systems, rather than being a burden to the electricity grid, Echelon contributes. Our sites will import power from the grid when available, but in times of constraints, our power generation systems actually export power to the grid.

Mr Williams also noted that the company is already prioritising local industry in their supply chain, which will expand as the projects commence, while also pledging to continue their investment in Wicklow communities, already evidenced by the 1.5m sponsorship deal with Wicklow GAA.

It has taken since 2018 to progress these projects to where they are today, and during that time, we have also worked to embed ourselves into Arklow and the wider Wicklow communities, he said.

We have built relationships from a business perspective that we value very highly, including LMH Engineering, who are bringing their innovation to our project in Clondalkin, and we look forward to working with them on our Arklow projects.

Its also been very important for us to develop relationships with the people of Arklow and County Wicklow, as seen in our long-term sponsorship of Arklow Rugby Club and Wicklow GAA .

We look forward to continuing our support of these organisations, and widening our reach to other organisations in the future.

Echoing those sentiments, the Taoiseach said that, from conversations, he has a very clear grasp of the enormity of this project, and the potential for Arklow and Wicklow.

These campuses will contribute greatly to the local and wider economy, creating hundreds of full-time employment opportunities when it is operational, and thousands of jobs during construction, he said.

Echelons agreement with SSE to develop shared grid infrastructure marks the first time in Ireland that an offshore wind farm and data centre have agreed to this. This is the model that will play an important role in reaching our energy and decarbonisation targets, while contributing to economic development.

"These two large-scale facilities demonstrate Echelons commitment to responsible data centre development. They are located in a regional area where the grid isnt constrained, they will have the capacity to generate and dispatch power to the grid when needed, and they will facilitate the generation of renewable energy resources that will, in turn, help decarbonise Irelands electricity system.

They are the model for future data centre development in Ireland  and they will deliver jobs and economic benefits for Wicklow, and will encourage further foreign direct investment in Ireland.

I think today is a great day for Wicklow.

Local senator Pat Casey, who has been working diligently to see the Echelon projects come to fruition, said that the momentous day for Arklow and Wicklow also sends out a positive message to the international community that Arklow is ready and has the potential for future opportunities.

Earlier today, the Taoiseach officially opened Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant, a significant day over three decades in the waiting, and now with the launch of DUB20 and DUB30, today really is a milestone for Arklow and Wicklow.

This is the largest private capital investment in Wicklows history, with the two largest construction sites well see for decades. You will see thousands of construction jobs sustained over five years, and hundreds on completion, never mind the additional benefit that will be brought to the local economy and job creation.

Arklow soon will be the home of several top ten tech companies in the world, if not the top five, locating their infrastructure and assets here.

The data centre launch was the second stop on the Taoiseachs tour of Arklow, having officially opened Arklows 139 million Wastewater Treatment Plant earlier this morning.

Joining councillors and TDs at the state-of-the-art facility in Ferrybank, the ceremonial opening marked a landmark moment for local representatives and community members who have campaigned to end a block on connections for new housing developments and the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Avoca River.

After Wicklow leas cathaoirleach Melanie Corrigan spoke, the Taoiseach addressed the crowd, saying: Its great to be here in Arklow to open the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and I met the legendary Arklow councillor Pat Fitzgerald on the way in, who is claiming 40 years credit for getting to this stage!

I just want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to everyone involved. To say that this is an outstanding milestone of progress in terms of water quality in Ireland.

This is a landmark facility, and a very important and impressive piece of modern infrastructure.

One newspaper even had a headline asking if this was in fact the worlds most beautiful sewage treatment plant, and it did win the prestigious Downes medal award, which is the Architectural Association of Irelands highest honour.

The community spirit of Wicklow has been evident throughout, because an essential project of this scale cannot happen without patience, and you have had an abundance of that, along with cooperation and support of the people of Arklow.

Thank you for your engagement, and I hope you will reap the benefits and enjoy the outcome of many years of hard work.
Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District Councillor Tom Fortune; Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Wicklow Vibeke Delahunt;, guest speaker Brian Murphy; Cllr Louise Fenelon Gaskin; Deputy Edward Timmins, at the LEO Wicklow Tariffs, Trade & Tactics Briefing in the Grid, Greystones.

Safeguarding profit margins, reducing risk exposure and identifying alternative export markets in the face of any trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration were at the forefront of a recent event in Wicklow.

Local businesses from across the county turned out in strong numbers for the in-person morning briefing titled, Tariffs & Trade Tactics  What Every Business Needs to Know About Mitigating Risk, hosted by Wicklow County Council through the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) on Friday, May 2, at The GRID, in Charlesland, Greystones.

The event featured international trade expert Brian Murphy from Global Trade, who provided an insightful analysis of the political and economic forces driving recent changes in US tariffs and their implications for Irish businesses.

Attendees were particularly engaged in discussions about safeguarding profit margins, reducing risk exposure and identifying alternative export markets in response to shifting global dynamics.

Participants praised the session for its clarity and relevance, especially the real-world case studies and the interactive Q&A with Mr Murphy, which offered practical tools for managing international trade risks and improving supply chain resilience. Mr Murphy also highlighted some interesting business opportunities arising from the potential tariffs.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, councillor Paul OBrien said the strong attendance showed the willingness among Wicklows business community to stay ahead of global developments, while the importance of the event was remarked upon by chief executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer OGorman, who said it was essential for businesses to be proactive in mitigating external risks.

The event also offered networking opportunities over a light breakfast, encouraging connections among local business leaders and reinforcing the county's commitment to a globally aware enterprise culture.

LEO Wicklow is organising an Export Development Training Programme to assist businesses with developing new export markets later this year. Anyone interested in participating can register their interest can go to localenterprise.ie/wicklow and navigate to the forms for both training and one-to-one clinics.

Commenting on the assistance available for Wicklow businesses, Vibeke Delahunt, head of enterprise at LEO Wicklow, said: Helping businesses remain agile and competitive is central to our mission. This briefing provided attendees with real, actionable strategies they can take back into their businesses. Following the event, we are offering one to one clinics with Mr Murphy for business owners looking to getting an insight how tariffs may impact their individual enterprises.
Three Wicklow festivals will share just under 137,000 in support funding from the Arts Council as part of an overall nationwide package of 14.7 million, with represents the largest ever sum invested into festivals throughout the country.

The funding supports both long-established festivals and emerging events, ensuring space for artistic risk-taking, organisational development, and deeper engagement with communities.

The 24th Bray Jazz Festival took place over the May bank holiday, featuring the likes of breakthrough artist Nubya Garcia, alongside Mieko Miyasaki and Franck Wolf, Scottish-duo Norman and Corrie, and countless other acts. The Arts Council has allocated 73,320 towards the cost of running the festival.

The West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival started in 2017 and since then has grown to include a flagship festival each May, and a winter weekend of concerts each November. They have been allocated 39,104.

Wicklow Screendance Laboratory receives 24,000 and is the only screendance festival in the east of the country, and one of just two film festivals in Ireland that focus exclusively on dance, choreography and film.

Commenting on the announcement Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly said: We are proud to support the presentation of arts festivals in Ireland over many decades. Many of these festivals are voluntary led by people who are passionate about the arts and about their places, and they make a huge contribution to life in Ireland.

"Most are also supported by their local authorities who recognise their many layers of value to the vibrancy of places and this partnership approach is vital to their sustainability. Festival directors and their teams work tirelessly to present innovative programmes for their place and community year after year and it is an honour for us to support them.
Liam, Mary and Dylan from the Hollywood No Name Club performing a well received comedy sketch.

Hollywoods Isis Kindratowicz takes to the stage to perform If Only, which landed her a first place stage award.

Members of No Name Club Hollywood lit up the stage at the No Names Got Talent showcase in Athlones Dean Crowe Theatre as the spotlight shone on some of Irelands brightest young performers.

No Name Club, a national, voluntary youth organisation, provides young people with a space to socialise in a fun, safe, and alcohol-free environment. The annual talent show is one of the No Name Clubs biggest and most anticipated events and this year was no exception.

The showcase was held on Saturday, April 26, with Liam, Mary and Dylan from the Hollywood club performing a well received comedy sketch. No Name Club Hollywoods Isis Kindratowicz was awarded the first-place stage award for her rendition of If Only.

Judges praised both the variety and the standard of talent on display, and all participating clubs were recognised with trophies and awards.

Speaking about the competition, chairperson of No Name Club Dr Garrett Keenaghan said: Its so heartening to see the talent on show from our young people. The level of effort, organisation and team work that weve seen here is just fantastic. Congratulations to everyone involved.

No Name Club Hollywood provides a safe environment for young people aged 15 to 18 and they meet each Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Hollywood Centre.
A Wicklow-based adventure tours company won a major prize at the Failte Irelands Employer Excellence Awards, which celebrates businesses who have demonstrated their commitment to making the tourism industry an appealing and rewarding place to work.

The awards night was held at the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel and Spa, Co Limerick, and acted as a way of rewarding businesses who have participated in Failte Irelands employer excellence programme.

Vagabond Adventure Tours, based in Newtownmountkennedy, took home the best employer tour operator award at the awards ceremony. Established in 2002, Vagabond Adventure Tours was the brainchild of Rob Rankin, who had been travelling in southern Africa with his wife, Amy. While in Africa, Rob and Amy saw the safari and overland tours that were so popular there. This was an idea for an Ireland vacation tour unlike anything that existed back then.

Over the years they have built an excellent reputation in the Irish tourism sector and offer active adventure tours and more relaxed tours that vary from free to 12 days long.

Speaking from the awards, Failte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly said: Tourism is fundamentally a people business, and nowhere is this more evident than in Ireland, where our greatest asset is the Cead Mile Failte provided by tourism staff and businesses to our visitors. An engaged workforce is key to delivering successful businesses and this warm welcome to our visitors.

The Failte Ireland Employer Excellence Awards celebrate the businesses that have set the industry standard for employee engagement and workplace culture. These awards will help drive further improvements in both the quality and perception of careers in the tourism sector.

As part of the programme, a survey was conducted with staff of participating businesses, which gave them the chance to highlight the strengths of their workplace, along with areas for further development. Failte Ireland is now supporting these businesses to implement actions identified in their survey to further enhance employee engagement. The winning businesses completed management upskilling, engaged with HR experts and were then chosen based on employee feedback.

Failte Irelands director of sector development Jenny De Saulles- said: Our latest figures show that since the programme launched in 2022, it has positively impacted 30,000 employees across the tourism sector nationwide.

Employee engagement scores for businesses now in their third year of the programme have grown to 75pc, 8pc higher than the average across the wider employment sector, with significant improvements made in the areas of induction, reward and benefit, and management involving people in decisions affecting their jobs.

So, its fantastic to gather together for these awards to showcase the best-in-class examples of employers along with those professionals who are thriving in the industry.
A Wicklow student is among some of the high achievers in the country who have been awarded an All Ireland Scholarship, which will cover the full duration of their undergraduate studies.

The third level educational scholarship, established by JP McManus in 2008, is awarded to 125 of the highest-achieving students per year, with a minimum of two students chosen from each county.

Cayden Elliott, from Colaiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole, was the Wicklow student honoured at the All Ireland Scholarships Awards Ceremony on April 25, in University Concert Hall, University of Limerick.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was JP McManus; guest of honour and CEO of Cuan Mhuire Bruree, Sr Agnes Fitzgerald; Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Patrick ODonovan, and director of skills, strategy and policy, Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, Graeme Wilkinson, as well as the family, friends and school representatives of the scholarship recipients.

Commenting at the awards ceremony, Mr McManus said: I am honoured to be here to celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of these 125 students. To date, 1,924 students have received an All Ireland Scholarship and 1,382 of those students have since graduated from university. Today is a very special occasion for the class of 2024, their families, friends, and teachers. We wish them all the very best as they pursue their studies and university and look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the years to come.

The scholarships provide financial support to gifted students pursuing third-level education and recipients receive 6,750 per annum, covering the duration of their undergraduate studies. The recipients must meet a further set of criteria, including attending a non-fee-paying school and be in receipt of a third level education maintenance grant from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).
Ballinclea Bridge, built 1820, is one of 12 bridges over the River Slaney and its tributaries in the Glen of Imaal.

Local historian, Rob Goodbody, a founding member of the Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland, will hold a presentation at the next Roundwood Historical Society lecture which will focus on the stone bridges of County Wicklow.

Rob has lectured widely and written many books and papers on antiquarian topics. His classic book, Irish Stone Bridges  history and heritage (Irish Academic Press 1991), covers the period from AD 1000 to 1830.

The book is considered he definitive history and field guide to these oft-hidden treasures that deeply enrich Irelands heritage and environment.

Illustrated with over 300 photographs, the publication continues as a vital work for Irish civil engineers, architects, conservationists, and local historians, as well as a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing read for teachers, tourists and all those who value this fascinating aspect of Irelands cultural heritage.

Part I examines the technical histories and contexts for the bridges, uncovering every aspect of their exceptional beauty and technical achievement, while part II is a unique gazetteer of over 75 bridges and groups of bridges that cover the length and breadth of Ireland.

Rob is also one of the founding members of the Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland, established in June 1996 to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the many thousands of sites, monuments and items of machinery that together constitute our industrial heritage.

Rob will be hosting an illustrated talk in Roundwood Parish Hall on Tuesday, May 20, starting at 8pm, when he will trace the history of the bridges of Co Wicklow. While we drive over these bridges almost daily, we often dont notice them. Our surviving, Wicklow stone bridges, include some of high architectural quality and others very simple, but all with great character, contributing to the scenery of a river or railway.

Existing and new members of Roundwood Historical Society are welcome to attend, costing just 3 for members and 5 for non-members.
RTE broadcaster Miriam OCallaghan has said her colleague Joe Duffy will be the busiest man in the world as she paid tribute to the Liveline host ahead of his departure from RTE.

Duffy, who hosted the flagship lunchtime show since 1998, announced his exit yesterday after almost four decades at the national broadcaster.

Many have paid tribute to the veteran presenters contribution to RTE and public life throughout his 37-year career, with Tanaiste Simon Harris describing Duffy as a national institution and RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst saying Duffys Liveline doesnt just have its fingers on the pulse, it is the pulse of the nation.

RTE broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan

Today's News in 90 seconds - 10th May 2025

He is set to reveal what the next chapter of career might hold for him on the Late Late Show tonight, when he will reflect on some of his most memorable moments on air.

Ms OCallaghan, who was speaking ahead of an annual lunch in Dublin for the Hope Foundation today, a charity that works with vulnerable children in Kolkata, India, said the national broadcaster will be a poorer place without him.

She said she was surprised to hear the announcement yesterday afternoon, learning about Duffys departure while she was conducting an interview for RTEs Prime Time.

Hes going to be the busiest man in the world. I mean, hes got lots of big plans. I think RTE will be a poorer place without him, hes a brilliant broadcaster and hes also a lovely guy, she said.

"He always sends cards  if youve ever had anything go wrong in your life, Christmas cards. Hes a really good guy.

She was speaking ahead of the annual lunch for the Hope Foundation, an organisation she has been involved in for about 20 years after getting to know the founder Maureen Forrest.

"Ive always been very conscious of how lucky I am that I have eight healthy children who live in a country where theyve had a very safe upbringing, and therefore I always very sensitive to children growing up anywhere else where their lives are far more dangerous and far more difficult.

Hopes international operations CEO Maura Lennon said the organisation works with some of the most disadvantaged children in Kolkata, delivering education, healthcare, vocational training and child protection programmes.

"Over the last 25 years, weve impacted on the lives of over 3.3 million people in Kolkata, but there is lots more to do and we are hugely committed to fulfilling our mission, she said.
h

Ryan Tubridy has said that there is a whole other world waiting for recently retired radio star Joe Duffy.

The veteran presenter announced yesterday that he is set to leave RTE Radio 1 in June.

Working at the broadcaster for 37 years, he presented the flagship lunchtime show Liveline for 27.

Former colleague Ryan Tubridy reacted to the news on Instagram, sharing a black and white photo of them posing together with the caption: "I love to talk to Joe.

Good man! One of our greatest broadcasters and thoughtful with it, he continued.

Theres a whole other world waiting for Joe Duffy, heres to the next chapter.

Ryan Tubridy's post to Joe Duffy

RTE broadcaster Miriam OCallaghan said her colleague Duffy will be the busiest man in the world as she paid tribute to the Liveline host ahead of his departure from RTE.

Ms OCallaghan, who was speaking ahead of an annual lunch in Dublin for the Hope Foundation today, a charity that works with vulnerable children in Kolkata, India, said the national broadcaster will be a poorer place without him.

She said she was surprised to hear the announcement yesterday afternoon, learning about Duffys departure while she was conducting an interview for RTEs Prime Time.

Hes going to be the busiest man in the world. I mean, hes got lots of big plans. I think RTE will be a poorer place without him, hes a brilliant broadcaster and hes also a lovely guy, she said.

"He always sends cards  if youve ever had anything go wrong in your life, Christmas cards. Hes a really good guy.

She was speaking ahead of the annual lunch for the Hope Foundation, an organisation she has been involved in for about 20 years after getting to know the founder Maureen Forrest.

"Ive always been very conscious of how lucky I am that I have eight healthy children who live in a country where theyve had a very safe upbringing, and therefore I always very sensitive to children growing up anywhere else where their lives are far more dangerous and far more difficult.

Hopes international operations CEO Maura Lennon said the organisation works with some of the most disadvantaged children in Kolkata, delivering education, healthcare, vocational training and child protection programmes.

"Over the last 25 years, weve impacted on the lives of over 3.3 million people in Kolkata, but there is lots more to do and we are hugely committed to fulfilling our mission, she said.

Duffy announced the news at the end of his show on Thursday.

"After 37 wonderful years here in RTE, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners, he said.

"People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories.

"I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTE has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart.

"And now, after many happy years, Ive decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.

Tubridy left the national broadcaster in July 2023 when he stepped down from his role presenting The Late Late Show.

His departure came in the wake of a payments scandal, which saw RTE face huge public scrutiny after it was revealed that it had made underdeclared payments to him.

The presenter, his agent Noel Kelly and several senior RTE executives and board members were called before an Oireachtas committee

Following his departure from the broadcaster, Tubridy joined Virgin Radio UK, where he hosts The Ryan Tubridy Show from London on weekdays and Sundays.

The show is also syndicated, broadcasting on Dublins Q102 at the same time.

He also hosts The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy podcast.
Pope Leo plays tennis and supports AS Roma, says senior priest





Pope Leo XIV, the first US leader of the global Catholic Church, is a keen tennis player and a fan of AS Roma soccer club, according to a senior member of his religious order who has known him for four decades.





The new pope, 69, is known as a supporter of the White Sox baseball team from his hometown of Chicago, and the Vatican's news outlet has a published a picture of him riding a horse in Peru, where he spent many years as a missionary.





"He's a regular tennis player. He would come up and play on our grounds once a week at least," Father Joseph Farrell, Vicar General of the Augustinians, told Reuters on Friday, speaking from the headquarters of the religious order just off St Peter's Square.





He confirmed that Leo was a fan of the Eternal City's biggest soccer club.





"He's (AS) Roma all the way," Farrell said.





The club did not directly confirm it, but welcomed the new pontiff after his election on Thursday.





"AS Roma joins in rejoicing with Rome and the world following the election of Pope Leo XIV, and wishes him all the very best for his papacy," it wrote on X.



Reuters




The landmark moment was captured at the Hokitika Snail Housing facility (Lisa Flanagan/New Zealand Department of Conservation via AP)

Scientists have captured footage of the reproductive habits of a large, carnivorous snail from New Zealand for the first time, shedding light on a process once shrouded in mystery.
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.
May 9's episode of The Bold and the Beautiful will be packed with emotional tension, secret revelations, and desperate attempts to reconnect. With Liam's life hanging in the balance, Hope is shattered, Luna makes a risky move toward Finn, and a crucial father-son moment is on the horizon.

Hope breaks down as Steffy shares Liams condition

Steffy Forrester delivers heartbreaking news to Hope Logan: Liam is dying. Though Hope refuses to believe it at first, Steffy gently walks her through the diagnosisan inoperable brain mass that doctors cant treat. As the reality sinks in, Hope is consumed by grief, especially at the thought of telling their daughters. Realizing Liam had been trying to say goodbye, she breaks down in Steffys arms. Despite the pain, Hope thanks Steffy for going against Liams wishes to keep her in the dark.

Steffy Forrester delivers heartbreaking news to Hope Logan | Credit: X

Luna tries to reconnect with Finn

At Il Giardino, Luna Nozawa opens up to Sheila about Steffy keeping her out of Finns life. Determined to fix things, Luna visits the cliff house once Steffy has left. She pleads with Finn to give their bond another chance, believing he should be there for her. While Finn listens, he remains hesitant, caught between emotional walls and Lunas hopeful vision of a future connection.

Liam sends for Bill as the clock ticks

Meanwhile, Liam experiences another dizzy spell, pushing him closer to accepting the seriousness of his illness. With encouragement from Finn, he decides its time to tell more of his loved ones. He heads to Il Giardino and messages his father, Bill, asking him to meetpossibly for a final heart-to-heart that Liam can no longer delay.



Time is running out. Hearts are breaking. And every choice now carries the weight of what may never be said again.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
US President Donald Trump on May 9 suggested an 80% tariff on Chinese goods, raising eyebrows just as American and Chinese officials prepare for high-level trade talks in Geneva. Trump posted a status on Truth Social, linking the potential tariff move to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He added that China should open its market to US goods, calling closed markets outdated and ineffective. This is a notable shift from his earlier position of maintaining high tariffs.

Geneva talks aim to ease trade tensions

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet Chinas top economic official, He Lifeng, in Switzerland. These weekend discussions are seen as a tentative but significant attempt to reduce tensions in the ongoing trade war between the worlds two largest economies. The Geneva meeting comes amid uncertainty over US-China dialogue, especially following Chinas denial of Trumps repeated claims of speaking directly with President Xi Jinping.

US President Donald Trump | Credit: X

Tariff battle escalates between two economies

Trump, who returned to office in January, has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%. China responded with 125% tariffs on US goods and added targeted levies on critical items like soybeans and liquefied natural gas. Additionally, Beijing imposed export restrictions on specific rare earth materials. The tit-for-tat actions reflect a growing standoff, even as both nations prepare for talks. Trumps latest remarks indicate possible tariff flexibility, though no official rollback has yet been confirmed.

Chinas exports defy expectations despite tariffs

Despite the mounting tariffs, China's exports grew in April, showing an 8.1% increase year-on-year in US dollar terms. This was well above Reuters forecast of 1.9%. Imports, however, dipped 0.2%, which was also less than the anticipated 5.9% decline. Between January and April 2025, Chinas exports to the US dropped 2.5%, while imports from the US fell by 4.7%. These figures suggest that while trade tensions are high, Chinas export engine remains resilient.

Inflation data in focus as talks near

China is expected to release its inflation data on May 10. Economists polled by Reuters project that the consumer price index (CPI) will fall 0.1% year-on-year, while the producer price index (PPI) could decline by 2.8%. These economic indicators will be closely watched as trade negotiations unfold, offering further context to Chinas domestic economic environment amid international pressures.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
IGI Airport: Ola and Uber rides from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport have become about 40% more expensive. This is due to a sharp hike in the airport pickup fee by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). The new fee is Rs 245 plus 18% GST, totaling Rs 289. It is added automatically to the cab fare.

This fee applies to all app-based cab trips from the airports three terminals. Around 400,000 trips are affected every month. As a result, IGI now has one of the highest cab pickup charges in India. The fee is part of the airports non-aeronautical revenue. It does not need approval from any regulator.

Forget ITR, Delhi airport is highest in charging airport fee of IGI airport is one of the highest in the country. Most people land at Jaipur airport and take a bus, flight cost to Jaipur is much lower than IGI. Itna charge karke bhi yeh haal  Abhishek (@abhi_shek346) June 28, 2024

The hike comes from Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which manages the airport. Ola and Uber do not get this extra money. It goes to the airport operator as a collection fee.

Uber has stated that its base fares have not changed. The increase is only because of the updated pickup fee by the airport. However, there has been no improvement in passenger services. This hike puts extra financial pressure on travelers using app-based cabs from IGI Airport.

Uber and Ola rides these days feel like a game of chance!



Auto fares have skyrocketed, but thats not the only problemnow some drivers are taking scenic tours of the city just to hike the fare and if the ride doesnt suit them, they cancel without a blink. Whos paying for pic.twitter.com/1i54mkrT9u  Himani Goyal (@goyalhimani3110) May 9, 2025

The hike affects about 400,000 trips each month. These make up nearly 70% of all commercial vehicle movements from IGI. With BluSmarts EV services now suspended at the airport, more people are depending on Ola and Uber, increasing the fees impact on passengers.

This makes IGIs pickup charge one of the highest in India. In some cases, the pickup fee and tolls together make up around 50% of the total fare. Importantly, none of this money goes to the driver or the cab companiesit all goes to the airport operator. There have been no improvements in passenger services, which has led to criticism.

Similar fare hikes have been seen at other airports too. For example, Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport also raised its pickup fees last year.

What do Uber and Ola say?

Uber has clarified that it has not increased its base fare. The extra amount is only due to the new airport fee. If youre booking a cab from IGI Airport, be ready to pay Rs 289 extra just as a pick-up fee, apart from your ride fare.
Indian airports are witnessing heightened security and partial shutdowns after a drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday targeted several cities in Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. In response, India carried out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures operated by Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Following this escalation, a countrywide alert has been issued. Several airports have suspended operations while airlines have cancelled many flights due to airspace restrictions in the northern and western parts of India.

Flight cancellations and advisories

A total of 138 flights have been cancelled so far due to the security situation. Major Indian airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have confirmed cancellations and delays for the next few days. Passengers flying to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Rajkot will be affected, with all flights to these destinations cancelled until 23:59 hours of May 10, 2025, according to an update by IndiGo on X (formerly Twitter).

#6ETravelAdvisory: Your safety is paramount. Flights to/from the following cities are cancelled until 2359 hrs on 10th May. We are here to help you travel with ease. Check flight status here https://t.co/ll3K8PwtRV. To rebook or claim a refund, visit https://t.co/51Q3oUe0lP. pic.twitter.com/v5BSdX3dDo  IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) May 9, 2025





Airlines have also announced one-time waivers for flight rescheduling charges and have provided guidance on availing refunds. They have advised travellers to contact their respective airlines for accurate, up-to-date information.

Impact on key airports

The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has increased its security arrangements following the drone attack. Meanwhile, Mumbais Air Traffic Control (ATC) is witnessing a surge in traffic due to rerouting of international flights, as Pakistani airspace remains closed since last month.

In Gujarat, airports in seven cities have been shut down, namely Jamnagar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Porbandar, Keshod, Kandla, Bhuj, and Mundra (Adani). These closures are contributing to the widespread disruption of flight operations.

Lucknow airport guidelines

The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow remains operational but has issued an advisory for passengers. In light of increased security protocols, the airport has warned of longer wait times. Travellers have been urged to:

Arrive early for security checks

Cooperate with staff and follow official updates

Check social media channels and contact airlines for real-time updates

National response measures

Security at all airports has been intensified. A multi-layered air defence network has been activated as part of Indias response strategy. The situation remains dynamic, and passengers are advised to stay alert and informed through verified sources.
This article tracks the escalation of India-Pakistan tensions, beginning with the April 22 Pahalgam attack on civilians and leading up to Operation Sindoor and military activity on May 9.

April 22: Attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir

Five armed militants attacked tourists near Pahalgam in the Baisaran Valley on April 22, 2025. The militants used M4 carbines and AK-47s to kill 26 civilians  25 tourists and a local Muslim pony ride operator who resisted the attackers. The majority of those killed were Hindu tourists, though one Christian tourist also died. Attackers asked victims to declare their religion and recite the Islamic kalima to identify non-Muslims. Several couples were among the victims.

The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility, calling the attack a response to non-local settlement in Kashmir after the region's special status was revoked. TRF later retracted the claim.

April 23: India suspends treaty with Pakistan

In response to the Pahalgam killings, India suspended its treaty with Pakistan on April 23, citing national security concerns. The decision was made in a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting. India did not inform the World Bank, which stated it had only a facilitator role and no authority over the treaty.

April 29: PM Modi gives armed forces full operational freedom

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a high-level meeting on April 29 with top defence officials, granted the Indian armed forces complete operational freedom to choose the mode, timing and targets of a response. He also stressed the need to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism.

May 7: Operation Sindoor launched

In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor  a focused military response to the Pahalgam attack.

1:28 am: Indian Army posted on X: "Praharay Sannihitaah, Jaya Prakshitayaah" (Ready to Attack, Trained for Victory).

1:281:32 am: Missile strikes conducted on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Bahawalpur  a stronghold of Jaish-e-Mohammed.

1:281:51 am: Loud explosions were reported in Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, and other regions.

1:51 am: Indian Army posted again: #PahalgamTerrorAttack Justice is Served. Jai Hind!

2:46 am: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reacted with Bharat Mata ki Jai on X.

3:10 am: US President Donald Trump issued a statement on the strikes.

3:15 am: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spoke with his US counterpart and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

India clarified that the strikes were aimed at terrorist hideouts, not Pakistani military bases. Targets included hideouts linked to Lashkar-e-Taibas Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammeds Masood Azhar.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of Pakistans ISPR confirmed the Indian military action. Pakistan responded with cross-border firing, met with a strong reply from the Indian side.

May 89: Infiltration attempts and drone activity

May 8, 11:00 pm: The BSF foiled a major infiltration attempt at the International Boundary in Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir.

At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K: BSF Jammu pic.twitter.com/AvIvCpVZH2  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025





May 8: Two Pakistani drones were shot down by Indian Army Air Defence Units in the Naushera sector.

Two Pakistani drones shot down by Indian Army Air Defence Units in Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy exchange of artillery fire on between the two sides in the sector: Defence Sources pic.twitter.com/W9yYnFOLEU  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025





May 8: A heavy exchange of artillery fire was reported in the Naushera sector.

May 8: A complete blackout was enforced in Chandigarh.

#WATCH | A complete blackout has been enforced in Chandigarh



(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/yfonf8zOqB  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025





May 8: A Pakistani Air Force jet was shot down in the Pathankot sector by Indian air defence, according to ANI sources.

A Pakistani Air Force jet has been shot down in the Pathankot sector by Indian air defence, multiple sources tell ANI. More details awaited. Official government confirmation awaited. pic.twitter.com/RFcC1vkjdp  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025





May 9: Explosions were heard in Samba as Indias air defence intercepted more Pakistani drones amid continued blackout.

#WATCH | J&K | Explosions heard in Samba as India's air defence intercepts Pakistani drones amid blackout.



(Visuals deferred by an unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/tcMVBbdjEj  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025





May 9: PM Modi also chaired a review meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, the CDS, and service chiefs to assess the evolving security situation.

PM Narendra Modi chairs a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS and chiefs of all the Armed Forces https://t.co/EbKenXBAAp pic.twitter.com/PBHpsX8Enu  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025





For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Honor 400 Pro and Honor 400 launch date confirmed: Prepare yourself for the upcoming major launch in the world of smartphones! Honor is about to launch its new flagship series, the Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro, generating increasing excitement.

Smartphone fans are excitedly anticipating the opportunity to try out this new device, which is said to boast remarkable features and a stylish design. But when will it be launched, and what should we anticipate from this series? Will it meet the expectations?

This article will provide you with all the latest updates on the Honor 400 series, including its launch date, design, specifications, and more. Lets jump in and see what Honor has prepared for us!

Honor 400 Pro and Honor 400 launch date

Design that speaks.



Join us 22nd May to unpack our all-new HONOR 400, the elegant AI-enhanced device crafted to spark daily wonder.#HONOR400 #SparkDailyWonder pic.twitter.com/pDr4R3Bwoi  HONOR (@Honorglobal) May 8, 2025

The company has verified that the launch of the Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro will occur on May 22 at 4 PM BST (8:30 PM IST) in London. In the UK, Honor is presently accepting pre-registrations for the phones.

The countdown on the UK version of the company's website suggests that new phones will be available for purchase shortly after their release.

Also Read: HONOR 200 5G price drop alert: Black, 8GB + 256GB variant get 30% discount - here is how to grab the deal

Honor 400 Pro and Honor 400 expected specifications

Honor has also released a teaser video showcasing the design of the lineup. It seems that the standard Honor 400 comes with dual rear cameras. On the other hand, the Honor 400 Pro comes with a triple camera system. It is confirmed that they will include a 200-megapixel camera along with AI-powered camera technology.

In the past few weeks, details regarding the forthcoming Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro have been revealed on several occasions. It is expected that these devices will have a 50-megapixel front camera and a battery with a capacity of 5,300 mAh. It is rumoured that the Honor 400 will feature a 6.55-inch AMOLED display, whereas the Honor 400 Pro will have a 6.7-inch AMOLED display.

The standard model could feature a dual rear camera system that includes a 200-megapixel main sensor with OIS and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. It is reported that the Honor 400 Pro features a triple rear camera setup, which includes a 200-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens.

The Honor 400 and Honor 400 Pro were recently seen on the Geekbench benchmarking site, featuring Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipsets, respectively.

Honor 400 Pro and Honor 400 expected price

The Honor 400 is tipped to run on a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, whereas the Pro model is said to feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset | Credit: Honor

The Honor 400 Pro renders depict grey and black hues, whereas the vanilla model may come in gold and black shades.

The price details are still pending, but the Honor 300 was launched in China at a price of CNY 2,299 (approximately Rs 27,000), and the Honor 300 Pro starts at CNY 3,399 (around Rs 40,000).
Realme GT 7 and Realme GT 7T launch date confirmed: Get ready for the upcoming major launch, Realme fans! The excitement is growing as the much-anticipated Realme GT 7 series prepares to debut in India. This smartphone series is anticipated to revolutionize the market with its svelte design and potent performance.

However, when will it be available for purchase? In this post, we'll provide you with all the most recent information about the Realme GT 7 series' India launch date, along with what to anticipate from this impending gadget. Let's get started and examine the specifics of this eagerly awaited launch.

Realme GT 7 and Realme GT 7T launch date in India

The brand said in an X post that the Realme GT 7 series will be introduced worldwide, including in India, on May 27 at 1:30 p.m. IST at an event in Paris. The business said in a press release that the Realme GT 7 base model and a Realme GT 7T variation will be part of the portfolio.

Amazon, the Realme India online shop, and a few physical retail locations will sell the phones throughout the nation.

Realme GT 7 expected specifications

The Realme GT 7's official product page has also gone live, although it doesn't provide any information about the phone. The smartphone's 6.78-inch full-HD+ (1,280x2,800 pixel) OLED display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz was featured at launch in China.

It has an IP69 dust and water resistance rating, a 7,200mAh battery, a 7,700mm sq VC cooling chamber, and a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ SoC. Its optics include a 16-megapixel selfie camera and a 50-megapixel dual rear camera array.

Other than the fact that it was recently seen on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website alongside the conventional version with the model number RMX5085, not much is known about the Realme GT 7.

According to an earlier report, the Realme GT 6T successor might be released with 8GB of RAM and be a more cheap option than the standard Realme GT 7.

Also Read: Realme GT 7 series teased in India by the brand: Coming soon with Android 15, 12GB of RAM, MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ SoC, and more

Realme GT 7 and Realme GT 7T expected price in India

Last year, the Realme GT 6 was released in India at a starting price of Rs 40,999. With a starting price of Rs 30,999, the Realme GT 6T is a more reasonably priced option. The phrase "2025 flagship killer" refers to the anticipated pricing of their successors.

For the latest and more interesting tech news, keep reading Indiatimes Tech.
When it comes to K-pop, fan wars seem almost inevitable. There's hardly a day without some clashespecially between the two biggest fandoms: BTS' ARMY and BLACKPINK's BLINKs. The two sides have long been at odds, and 2025 has only fueled the rivalry further, with both groups making long-awaited comebacks after years of hiatus.

However, in light of the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, both fandoms have temporarily put their rivalry aside. Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a boiling point following a deadly attack on April 22 in Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. While the immediate trigger was this tragedy, the roots of the conflict trace back to decades-old hostilities between the two nations.

BTS and BLACKPINK fans find common ground

Amid the escalating crisis, even the most fiercely loyal K-pop fandoms in IndiaBTS' ARMY and BLACKPINK's BLINKshave paused their usual rivalries. Though many fans call this unity "rare," they agree that in times like these, "India comes first".

One fan said, "Huge respect for Indian ARMYs and BLINKs for really standing strong for the nation when needed!!"

huge respect for Indian armies and blinks for really standing up in strength for the nation when needed pic.twitter.com/7eNm5eJErQ   (@heyyshonaaa) May 9, 2025

Another wrote, "Some of y'all being for real? What do you mean 'how can you retweet a Blink's tweet? There's a whole war going on and youre worried about Armys retweeting Blinks? First, we are Indians!"

SOME OF YALL BEING FOR REAL??????????? WDYM HOW CAN YOU RT BLINK'S TWEET?????????

THERE'S A WHOLE WAR GOING ON AND ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS ARMYS RETWEETING BLINK'S TWEETS?????????????????



FIRST WE ARE INDIANS!!!!!!!!!  dijucee  (@rmvsjk) May 9, 2025

One user added, "I'm seeing BLINKs and ARMYs come together because India comes first. This is rare and kinda unexpected, but Im really happy to see them fight misinformation about India and our armed forces. Good night, everyone. Im praying for the safety of those who stand against terrorism."

Im seeing blinks and armys come together because India comes first, this is rare and kinda unexpected.

Im really happy to see them fight misinformation against India and Indian armed forces.

Good night everyone, I am praying safety for people who dont stand with terrorism.  Vinnie (@vin__tttop) May 8, 2025

Another commented, "For the first time, Indian ARMYs and BLINKs are united in fighting Pakistani propagandawhile neither fandoms international fans have said a word. They hounded us to support Ukraine, mind you... never forget."

for the first time indian armys and blinks have been fighting the whole paki propaganda together but neither side's international fans have uttered a single word. they were hounding us to show our support for ukraine mind u.. never forget  BTS YEAR IS HERE MWAHAHAHA (@bemyvv) May 9, 2025

About BTS and BLACKPINK

BTS' J-Hope has announced the final leg of his HOPE ON THE STREET tour, with encore concerts scheduled for July 13 and 14, 2025, in Goyang, South Korea. The first show falls on BTSs 12th debut anniversary, sparking hopes among ARMYs for a surprise OT7 reunion featuring Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK is also gearing up for a major return. After a break following their Born Pink era, the groupLisa, Jisoo, Jennie, and Roseis preparing to release a new album and embark on a world tour, which is expected to kick off as early as July 2025.
Indias air travel network has been jolted into emergency mode following the rising military tensions with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. In response to evolving security threats and fears of retaliation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has announced sweeping restrictions, shutting down 27 airports across northern, north-western, and central India and cancelling over 430 flights.

Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 as a retaliatory strike against terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has triggered intense security concerns across the country. The civil aviation ministry, acting swiftly, has now raised airport security to the highest level, implementing full-scale emergency measures to ensure civilian safety.

Important announcement for passengers traveling though Indian airports

All passengers travelling through Indian airports are now required to undergo a Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC)  a pre-boarding security screening just before entering the aircraft. The directive is applicable to all airports across India with immediate effect. Airlines including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have already begun enforcing these protocols and issued advisories for passengers to report at least three hours prior to their scheduled flights.

What is currently banned?

Adding to the new restrictions, visitor entry to terminal buildings has been entirely banned. Sale of visitor tickets has been suspended, and airport operators have been instructed to ensure that all CCTV surveillance systems are fully functional. Deployment of air marshals will now be prioritised and aligned with specific flight risk assessments.

The BCAS directive has also placed strict surveillance on all microlight aircraft, drones, paragliders, and unmanned aerial systems. Security guards around parked aircraft have been increased, and airlines have been ordered to scrutinise every PNR, passenger detail, and cargo manifest rigorously. ID verification and random baggage checks will be conducted at multiple points  from the vehicle checkpoint outside terminals to the aircraft gate.

A senior aviation official explained that these steps are necessary not just at major airports, but also at every aviation facility in the country. Whether it is a helipad, flying school, airstrip or a training institute  the risk is now considered national. We must prepare for any eventuality.

Air cargo on a strict watch

Air cargo terminals too have come under strict watch, with non-scheduled flight operations being closely monitored. Airlines have been instructed to enhance security at general aviation terminals and cargo checkpoints.

The impact on commercial aviation has been significant. Delhi airport alone cancelled over 140 flights on Wednesday. Air India has suspended services to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until 5:29 AM on May 10. IndiGo cancelled over 165 flights including those from Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Jammu, and Srinagar, while SpiceJet halted operations in Dharamshala, Leh, and Jammu.

Akasa Air and Air India Express have also suspended select services, offering full refunds or free rescheduling for passengers. Notably, special concessions have been offered to defence personnel travelling during this crisis period.

Flight tracking services such as Flightradar24 revealed vast empty stretches of airspace over Indias western corridor  from Kashmir to Gujarat  usually buzzing with civilian aircraft. As of now, skies remain eerily quiet, underscoring the scale of disruption Operation Sindoor has caused in civilian aviation.

What should passengers keep in mind?

Arrive at least 3 hours before departure.

Carry valid government ID.

Expect longer baggage and identity checks.

Only one cabin bag up to 7 kg permitted.

Monitor flight status continuously for cancellations or rescheduling.

As the region remains on high alert, flyers must stay updated through airline advisories and prepare for extensive delays. With diplomacy still at a boiling point and national security on edge, air travel in India now operates under a different set of rules  one where vigilance takes precedence over convenience.
Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, was on Thursday (May 8) elected as the new pope of the Catholic Church. The Peru national, who was born in Chicago, is the first US-born person to hold the post. He takes over from Pope Francis, who died in April. With that, here are two feature films and a documentary that one can watch to know more about the inner workings of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018)

German filmmaker Wim Wenders Pope Francis: A Man of His Word is a documentary drama that revolves around Pope Francis as he tries to spread the message of piece in the modern world. It features several interviews, which offer viewers biting insights into his life and views.

Pope Francis: A Man of His Word was released in 2018 and is currently available to stream on Netflix.

The Two Popes (2019)

The critically acclaimed biographical drama centred on Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) as he tries to convince Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), later known as Pope Francis, to reconsider his decision to step down as an archbishop. Directed by Fernando Meirelles, the film featured a skillfully crafted narrative that highlighted the dynamics between the protagonists.

Pryce and Hopkins earned Oscar nominations in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories, respectively, for their work in the film. It is available to stream on Netflix.

Conclave (2024)

Directed by Edward Berger, the political thriller centres on the events that take place when a cardinal ends up exploring major scandals after organising a conclave to elect the next Pope. It features Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci in the lead.

Conclave grossed $118 million worldwide on a budget of $20 million and emerged as a blockbuster. It is available to stream in India on Prime Video

For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Greece is in the final stages of a major national energy project, with testing nearing completion at the Damasta Conversion Station in Heraklion, paving the way for the trial operation of the Crete-Attica electricity interconnection, according to the Independent

Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE).

Executives from ADMIE and its subsidiary, Ariadne Interconnection, recently inspected the completed facilities at Damasta.

The station is expected to be energized within the coming week, initiating the injection of reactive power into Cretes grid.

On the Attica side, test electrification is already underway for the 400kV cable system linking the Kounoupidiana Conversion Station with the nearby Extra High Voltage Center, the main connection point to Greeces mainland grid.

Full system trials are scheduled to begin later this month.

As the countrys largest and most complex electricity transmission project ever undertaken, the Crete-Attica interconnection will soon begin transferring active power from the mainland to Crete, with initial flows expected by the end of May.

Comprehensive equipment testing has been ongoing since early 2025 at both conversion stations in Attica and Crete. The successful trial connection of the 150kV GIS substation at Damasta with Cretes grid marked a significant milestone, along with full testing of the 500kV cables, both underwater and underground, that link the two regions.

A significant supporting development also progressed with the recent approval of environmental terms for a new 150kV transmission line between Chania and Damasta.

The line is considered essential for maximizing the joint operation of Cretes two grid connections  via Attica and the Peloponnese.

ADMIE Chairman and CEO Manos Manousakis said the interconnection is now counting down to being plugged in, noting that Crete will soon benefit from dual links to the mainland for improved energy security, reducing its dependence on local generation.

The next milestone is the trial operation starting in late May with the transfer of active power from Attica to Crete, followed by full commercial use, Mr. Manousakis said.

The recent environmental approval for the high-voltage line between Chania and Damasta is equally critical, ensuring optimal performance of both grid links. I want to thank the regional and local authorities in Crete for their valuable cooperation.

The Crete-Attica interconnection is co-funded by the EUs 20212027 NSRF program, securing up to 535.5 million in European and national funds, significantly lowering the overall project cost for Greek consumers.



   iefimerida.gr
A blue Mercedes-Benz once owned by former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou is set to change hands after a Greek entrepreneur living in the Netherlands agreed to buy the car, calling it a tribute to a pivotal figure

in the countrys political history

Pagonis Dantsios, a restaurant owner of Greek origin with roots in the Evros region, discovered the online listing for the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE just days ago.

Driven by nostalgia and political admiration, he quickly contacted the seller to initiate the purchase.

I havent signed anything yet, but I plan to be in Athens in the next few days to pick it up and bring it to my village, Mr. Dantsios told iefimerida.gr. He added that the car has already undergone servicing and tire replacement, with only paperwork related to ownership transfer and license plates remaining.

For Mr. Dantsios, the car is more than a vintage German limousine; it represents a personal and political connection to Mr. Papandreou, the founder of the Pasok party and a central figure in modern Greek history.

Were just a bit more than devoted fans of Andreas Papandreou. Pasok until the end, he said, explaining his desire to keep the vehicle in Greek hands.

A longtime supporter of the socialist party, Mr. Dantsios said he attended every major rally since 1981 and consistently backed Mr. Papandreou in elections.

Although he never met the former prime minister personally, Mr. Dantsios said his admiration remained strong despite living abroad for decades.

Recently, a group of Pasok officials visited Mr. Dantsios at his home in northern Greece and presented him with a new party flag to replace his old one.

The informal handover included party figures Dimitris Mantzos, Heraklis Droulias, and Kostas Bakalakis.

Mr. Dantsios publicly thanked them in a social media post, calling their visit meaningful and a reaffirmation of shared values among Greeks abroad.

The Mercedes-Benz 280 SE was used by Mr. Papandreou during his time in office before being transferred to the Presidency of the Republic. After years of state use, the car was eventually auctioned off by Greeces public asset management agency. It later came into the possession of a private owner who listed it for sale at 16,500.

The listing included documents verifying its status as an official government vehicle during Mr. Papandreous tenure.

The car has reportedly logged around 192,000 kilometers and features a 2.7-liter gasoline engine producing 185 horsepower, paired with an automatic transmission.

While its age and mileage might deter a typical buyer, for Mr. Dantsios, its historic symbolism is paramount.

He is expected to finalize the purchase and take possession of the car within the coming week, concluding a deal he says is not just about acquiring a collectors item but honoring a man who, in his view, helped Greece and the Greek people.

By Vasilis Goulas

   iefimerida.gr
Addressing the ceremony, Dendias stressed that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) applies equally to all islands, regardless of size . He cited the 2020 Greece-Egypt maritime agreement, which he helped broker, as the foundation for Greeces EEZ in the region.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has pledged full support for President Bola Tinubu, affirming the states commitment to helping his administration succeed.

The governor made the declaration during Tinubus recent official visit to Anambra on Thursday emphasising that the states leadership stands firmly behind the presidents vision and policies.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/boko-haram-deploying-armed-drones-against-civilians-in-borno-lawmaker-warns.html

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For the sake of Nigeria and future generations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must succeed, Soludo stated.

We are prepared to support him in every possible way, not just to succeed, but to excel.

Soludo, who leads the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), expressed alignment between his partys ideology and the federal governments development strategy. He noted that the people of Anambra are progressives, eager to partner with the government at the centre.

In Anambra, we are firmly and comfortably progressives, he said. We are implementing bold, people-centric programs, free education, healthcare for women, youth empowerment, and massive agricultural initiatives, that align closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The governor also said APGA shares ideological and strategic values with the ruling APC, particularly in the pursuit of true federalism and grassroots development.

His remarks underscored the states intention to play a cooperative role in Nigerias broader political and economic reforms.

Soludos declaration comes amid political tension in Anambra State, with APC chieftain Valentine Ozigbo accusing him of trying to destabilize the party through the APCs governorship candidate, Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu. Ozigbo claimed Ukachukwu is being used by Soludo to weaken the APC ahead of future elections.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and APGA chieftain, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, has declared that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is fully committed to the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking during President Tinubus working visit to Anambra State on Wednesday, she praised the president for his inclusive approach to governance and described the visit as a clear sign that he remains a leader for all Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliations.

While commending Governor Chukwuma Soludos development projects, which Tinubu commissioned, Ojukwu highlighted the presidents admiration for Soludos efforts, stating that his visit underscores mutual respect between the centre and the state.

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READ MORE: https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/anambra-bans-party-uniforms-ahead-of-tinubus-visit.html

She emphasized Tinubus reaction to the projects, especially the Government House and Solution Fun City, as proof of his endorsement of Soludos vision.

She said: Today he commissioned the largest building within the Nnamdi Azikiwe University complex, the Solution Fun City, and, of course, the gigantic Government House of Anambra State, which houses about 57 buildings. And he was clearly, clearly impressed by the hard work the governor has put into his first tenure of office. And in fact, he captioned it the power of one man, the power of one man to underscore the vision that the governor had and the commitment to deliver. He had an agenda. He had a dream, but a dream with a deadline, and he has shown today, beyond any doubt that he has been able to deliver on that dream.

Ambassador Ojukwu explained that APGAs decision to back Tinubu for a second term was a collective agreement, rooted in the partys tradition of aligning with the federal government when necessary.

Despite her ministerial appointment under an APC-led administration, she ruled out any possibility of defecting to the ruling party, reaffirming her loyalty and position as a principal member of APGAs Board of Trustees.
Controversy has once again trailed Nigerian nightlife promoter Cubana Chief Priest, following a fresh outburst from Hellen Ati, the Kenyan woman who previously accused him of fathering her child and walking away from his responsibilities.

In a viral video on Friday, Hellen didnt hold back as she criticised the socialite for allegedly neglecting both her and the child they reportedly share.

She warned that his frequent international travels, especially to Europe, could soon come with consequences.

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READ MORE: Laide Bakare Honored As Ambassador For Peace By United Nations

We go see in that Europe you dey go every now and then If nothing happens, make I bend. I swear to God, make I bend. I will go to jail, I dont mind, she vowed in the heated clip.

Hellen emphasised that their alleged encounter involved no form of protection, insisting he must now step up and take responsibility as a father.

If you wanted, you could have used protection You go take care of this pikin. Whether you like it or not. We go suffer together, she declared.

She went on to accuse Cubana Chief Priest of having a history of abandoning women after getting them pregnant, claiming another Nigerian woman had a similar experience.

You run away and come and marry another one in Nigeria The same same thing youre doing to women, she alleged.

Closing the video on an intense note, Hellen expressed a strong emotional message, wishing the businessman unrest.

Pascal, you never have peace. Peace of mind even if you are eating, she said.
Department of State Services has arrested five suspects over the abduction and gruesome killing of a one-year-old girl, Sakina Mamuda, in Duhun Bake village, Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State.

Speaking during press briefing, on Thursday, the states Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi,

Dederi noted that the suspects identify as Zailani Rabiu, Hafizu Yusuf, Abubakar Abdulkareem, Umar Lawan, and Amadu Salisu.

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The Commissioner added that the criminal elements are all from the same community as the victim.

READ MORE: Teenager Arrested For Allegedly Killing Husband In Kano

He disclosed that the suspects allegedly kidnapped the child and demanded ransom from her family, only to later murder her in cold blood.

Deneri said: Governor Yusuf expressed deep sorrow over the incident and praised the DSS operatives and other security agencies for their proactive response.

This senseless tragedy has shaken us to the core,

I commend the DSS for acting swiftly and decisively. We will continue to prioritise the safety of our people and ensure that those who threaten our peace are brought to justice.
Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed, following a fire outbreak that occurred at a foam factory in Oyo town, in Oyo State.

It was gathered that the inferno erupted at Global Crystal Foam Nigeria Limited, Oko-Oba Area, Akinmorin Road in Oyo.

Confirming the unfortunate incident on Friday, General Manager of Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, disclosed in a statement that the agency received a report about the incident on Thursday evening.

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He added that the Senior Adviser on Fire Service Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde, who doubled as the Chairman of the agency, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, was at the scene.

Akinyinka said: The fire incident was reported at exactly 20:50 hrs on Thursday, 8th May 2025. The agencys officers, led by ACFS Tijani Bamidele, promptly deployed to the scene of the incident. On getting to the scene of the incident, we met the warehouse of the foam mattress company engulfed by fire.

READ MORE: Family Members Escape Death As Fire Razes Building In Oyo

The firemen swiftly swung into action by applying necessary firefighting chemicals in curtailing such fire.

The fire was completely extinguished within fifteen minutes, but it had been burning an hour before the agency was called by a passerby who saw the smoke coming out from the companys premises.

The fire only affected the foam blocks warehouse, and properties worth millions of naira were saved by the officers of the Agency.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has taken a swipe at Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent criticism of Nigerias political direction.

Akpabio responded to Obis statement that the labour of our heroes past is all in vain, urging him to address the internal crisis in his party before aspiring to lead the nation.

Speaking during a valedictory session in honour of the late Chief Edwin Clark on Thursday, Akpabio said Obi lacks the moral authority to govern a complex country like Nigeria if he cannot resolve challenges in the Labour Party. He emphasised that leadership begins with order within ones immediate political circle.

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Akpabio said: If you cannot resolve the crisis in your Labour Party, how can you solve the crisis of Boko Haram or other major national issues? I urge those aspiring to lead Nigeria to first address the issues within their own parties.

Obi, during a tribute to Clark, had lamented the current state of the country, suggesting that past sacrifices by leaders like General Gowon and former President Jonathan had been in vain.

He expressed dismay over the lack of public outrage amid worsening economic conditions, contrasting it with protests during the Jonathan era.

In response, Akpabio highlighted his own achievements as governor, citing infrastructural developments, education reforms, and religious outreach.

He also warned of the divisive nature of unregulated social media, often used to amplify political discord.

The exchange comes amid growing scrutiny of the Labour Partys internal crisis, which has raised concerns over its readiness for national leadership. Akpabios remarks add to the mounting pressure on Obi to demonstrate political stability and unity within his ranks ahead of any future presidential bid.
Operatives of Kano State Police Command have arrested a notorious drug dealer, identified as Sulaiman Danwawu, a resident of Tudun Yola Quarters, who has been in the center of hard drugs peddling in the state.

It was gathered that the 32 years old suspect, who was previously charged in 2022 for possession of 500 cartons of suspected Tramadol tablets, was re-arrested and caught with illicit substances again.

Speaking on Friday, the states Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, during a press briefing at Bompai Police Headquarters, said that recent operations align with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to adopt modern and results-driven crime prevention strategies towards safeguarding lives and property.

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READ MORE: DSS Arrests Five Suspects Over Alleged Kidnapping, Killing Of One-Year-Old Girl In Kano

He said: As a result of these strategic measures, tremendous successes have been recorded.

Notable among them include the recovery of large consignment of illicit drugs and the arrest of notorious drug dealer, named Sulaiman Danwawu, m, 32 years old of Tudun Yola Quarters Kano.

The suspect appears to be a recidivist and an unrepentant serial offender, as he was earlier on arrested on 31st July 2022, by the Command with 500 cartons of the same suspected Tramadol Tablets and charged to court accordingly.
Paramount ruler of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin has suspended two family chiefs and removed their traditional beads over land grabbing.

It was gathered that the suspended chiefs are identified as Mogaji Kukula, Kamorudeen Kolawole of Kukula family, Oke  Ofa Baba Isale in Ibadan North East Local Government, and Mogaji Samsudeen Bello of Ekerin Ajengbe family, Isale Osi in Ibadan South West Local Government of Oyo State.

The suspension order, which takes immediate effect, was given on Thursday, during the Olubadan Land Matters Committee meeting at the Old Olubadan Palace, Oja Oba, Ibadan.

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INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the development was contained in a statement on Friday by Chief Press Secretary to Olubadan, Solomon Olugbemiga Ayoade.

READ MORE: Tinubu Pledges Support As Gov Makinde Presents Staff Of Office To New Olubadan

The statement partly reads: Your suspension order is indefinite until you retrace your steps and do the needful.

You have been told severally to desist from any act that can tarnish the reputation and image of the Olubadan and Ibadanland, such as land grabbing, trespassing, forceful land taking, oppression of your family members and other residents in your domain.

The law enforcement agents are called upon to apprehend any suspended traditional ruler parading themselves as authentic Chiefs contrary to the sanctions imposed by His Imperial Majesty on them.
The House of Representatives has given Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State a one-week ultimatum to appear before its Committee on Public Petitions over the suspension of lawmakers in their states.

The governors, along with the leadership of their respective State Assemblies, failed to attend a hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday, prompting the lawmakers stern directive.

The committee is probing a petition filed by the Guardians of Democracy, a coalition of lawyers, regarding the suspension of 13 lawmakers in Benue and 10 in Zamfara since February 2024. Deputy House Spokesperson Hon. Philip Agbese sponsored the petition, which was formally submitted on March 27.

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READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/ekiti-pdp-defies-court-order-holds-congresses-amid-legal-tussle.html

At the committees inaugural sitting on Thursday, suspended lawmakers from both states were represented by Hon. Douglas Akya (Benue) and Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Zamfara), alongside the Minority Leader of the Zamfara Assembly.

Human rights lawyer Barr. Ihensekhien Samuel Junior, who led a 12-member legal team, called for urgency in resolving the issue.

In Zamfara, 11 lawmakers have been suspended for over 16 months, allegedly on the orders of the executive. In Benue, 13 lawmakers faced suspension under similarly questionable circumstances, he stated. He described the suspensions as a constitutional crisis, adding, Where a quorum cannot be established, the Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to intervene and assume legislative authority in the affected states.

The hearing, which has been adjourned to May 14 by Vice Chairman Hon. Nwogu Mathew to allow for a fair process. Meanwhile, the Benue Assembly has rejected the summons, asserting that state legislatures are not under the National Assemblys oversight.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday hosted three senators from Kebbi State who are reportedly preparing to defect from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senators  Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South)  met with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in a closed-door meeting. They were accompanied by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Also present at the meeting were the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, and Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu. Other APC stakeholders also attended the session, which has sparked further speculation about the senators future political moves.

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READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/labour-party-crises-deepens-as-nenadi-usman-led-caretaker-committee-begins-probe-of-abure.html

The latest development is part of a wider pattern, as several high-profile PDP members have recently switched allegiance to the APC. Among them was Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, whose defection stunned political observers.

Speaking after the meeting, a presidency source who preferred anonymity said: The President is focused on national unity and political inclusiveness. Any Nigerian willing to contribute to that agenda is welcome, regardless of party affiliation.

As defections mount, there have been growing concerns that Nigeria could drift toward a one-party system. However, the presidency has continued to dismiss these claims, maintaining that the nations democracy remains vibrant and open.

While no official statement has confirmed the senators defection, Fridays meeting is seen as a major step toward realignment, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections. Party watchers believe the final announcement could come in the coming weeks.
The United States President, Donald Trump, has extended his congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as the new pope of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, becomes the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Leo was announced as pope on Thursday evening, following the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapels chimney in Rome earlier that day.

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READ MORE: Okey Bakassi Presented As Traditional Ruler In Imo Ceremony

The process to elect the new pope began with the conclave on Wednesday.

In response to the development, Trump expressed that it is an honor to have the first American pope in the role.

What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country, he added in a Truth Social post shortly after the Vaticans announcement.

I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

A few days before the Vaticans conclave to select Pope Franciss successor, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed in complete papal regalia on his social media platform.

Trump also humorously remarked that he would love to be pope and that it would be his number one choice.

The actions of the US president were met with backlash and accusations of insensitivity from members of the Catholic community, including cardinals who were preparing for the conclave.

The Vatican refrained from making an official comment on the matter.

Trump, who is not Catholic, attended Pope Franciss funeral, which added to the controversy surrounding his posts during the Vaticans period of official mourning.

SEE POST:
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has suggested that western education is formality and not essential for success in life.

Speaking in a gathering of farmers and artisans in Bauchi, on Thursday, the Governor urged youths of the state to embrace discipline and avoid destructive habits.

He explained that many successful individuals began their journeys in humble professions, such as truck driving, and did not rely on formal schooling to become prosperous.

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According to him, informal and religious education, especially Quranic learning, offers practical knowledge applicable in agriculture and trade. He also encouraged young people to value blue-collar work.

He said: Try to be focused and turn a new leaf. Stop drinking and stop taking what will destroy your brain.

READ MORE: Balas Record Of Betrayal Well Documented  Dogara Knocks Bauchi Gov Over Frequent Attacks On Wike

Today, Bala did not go to school but he became somebody, he told the crowd, referring to himself in the third person.

Take care of your behaviour. Western education is a formality, but if you have Quranic education, you have knowledge of what it takes and youve helped yourself in knowing what you want, especially in farming, that is education.

Any rich person you see today started from driving. From the onset, it is a job that brings prosperity.

All the rich people you see today started as drivers of trailers. Dont overlook self-trading jobs. I dont know anyone who got rich from car washing, but drivers did.
American Airlines planes wait to take off from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on Aug. 4, 2022. Read more

American Airlines is upgrading some of its premium in-flight seats, and travelers flying out of Philadelphia International Airport will be among the first to experience them.

The upgraded seats, featured on the airlines new Boeing 787-9 airplane, include doors for privacy, more space for storage, and a wireless device-charging pad.

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The 51 new seats available are placed toward the front of the airplane.

Every aspect of our new 787-9 is designed to feel premium in nature, Heather Garboden, the airlines chief customer officer, said.

The new aircraft will begin flying out of PHL on Aug. 6 to London, and on Sept. 3 to Zurich.

The new seats will also be available on flights from Chicago to London starting June 5 and from Dallas Fort Worth to Brisbane, Australia, starting Oct. 26.

The airline recently added two 787-9 planes to its fleet and expects to have 30 new airplanes by 2029. The new seats are planned for all of Americans new 787-9 airplanes and a couple other aircrafts.

American is calling them Flagship Suite seats. The company aims to increase the number of seats that can lay flat, and its premium economy section by 50% in the coming years.

Travelers who book the new seats will have access to the airlines Flagship Lounge, which is expected to open this summer in PHLs Terminal A-West along with another lounge from the airline.

Separately, PHL opened a Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club earlier this year with dishes developed by Middle Child Clubhouse.

American transports more passengers through PHL than any other airline.

Last year the company launched new flights to Copenhagen, Denmark; Nice, France; and Naples, Italy. The airline employs over 8,600 people in the Philadelphia area, according to its website, and in 2024 it had roughly 20 million passengers travel through PHL, the airport reports.
A screen displays a notice when installing an iPhone update in 2019. Read more

Hey Siri, were you spying on me?

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit that claimed Siri, the voice-activated assistant, was unintentionally activated for tens of millions of users, infringing on users privacy.

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The preliminary settlement, which was filed Tuesday in the Northern District of California, requires a federal judges approval. Should it move forward, it will put an end to the six-year-old legal dispute and pay out customers who believe they were impacted.

Heres what we know, including how to submit a claim.

What was the Apple lawsuit about?

In August 2019, the Wood Law Firm  a firm specializing in class-action suits  filed a complaint claiming that Siri was recording users conversations without them knowing.

The complaint came on the heels of an article published by the Guardian that detailed how Siri was being triggered to listen and record beyond when invited.

A 2014 software update from Apple was supposed to activate Siri when a user said Hey, Siri. The Guardians story said Siri was actively listening at other times to improve Apples technology and to inform third-party contractors.

The article and consumers criticized an Apple program that let contractors review small portions of things people said to Siri to help its software improve.

There were also allegations that the recorded conversations were being passed along to advertisers, which Apple has denied.

Who was impacted?

Tens of millions of U.S consumers who owned Apple devices using Siri from Sept. 17, 2014, through the end of last year may have been impacted.

Apple devices that are Siri-enabled include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and more.

What has Apple done since the allegations came out?

In response to the Guardian article, Apple released a formal apology in 2019, pledging to stop using recordings. Still, it pushed back against claims that the company was feeding that data to advertisers.

Who is eligible for settlement money?

The estimated tens of millions of Apple users with Siri-enabled devices who believe Siri was unintentionally activated between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, can file claims to be eligible for a settlement payout.

Siri-enabled devices include: iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Macs, HomePods, iPod touches, and Apple TVs. Users must swear under oath that Siri was unintentionally activated on their device.

How much money can impacted Apple customers receive?

Submitters can file claims for up to five Siri-enabled devices. If theyre approved, the settlement payout will be capped at $20 per device.

The amount someone receives will depend on the number of claims submitted and how much of the $95 million settlement fund is reduced to cover legal fees and costs. A claims administrator estimated that only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers will file claims.

How can I submit a claim?

Some eligible Apple device owners have already been notified of the settlement and received a claim identification code. But anyone who believes theyre eligible can apply, regardless of if they received a notice.

To apply, visit www.lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com. From there, youll be prompted to submit a claim. Youll be asked to provide device serial numbers, proof of purchase, and information about how youd like to receive payment. Youre required to swear by oath that Siri was unintentionally activated on any device you file a claim for.

The deadline to submit a claim is July 2.

Im over this. How do I disable Siri on my Apple device?

You can turn Apples virtual assistant off by following these steps:

Navigate to Settings, and go to Siri Under Talk to Siri, click Off Toggle off Allow Siri When Locked

You can also disable individual apps access to your iPhones mic by doing the following: Navigate to Settings (select the app), then toggle off Microphone.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Marie Scott, 71, has been incarcerated for murder since she was 19. Read more

Pennsylvanias Board of Pardons on Friday voted to recommend commuting the life sentence of Marie Scott, a 71-year-old woman with cancer who has spent more than a half-century incarcerated for murder and who a community of advocates in Philadelphia has said should be released.

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The board voted unanimously to recommend that Scotts sentence be reduced to time served. Gov. Josh Shapiro must give final approval for the commutation to go into effect, and theres no time frame for when he would have to make that decision.

The boards recommendation came despite opposition from the family of Scotts victim  and it came with a caveat: If the governor approves the commutation, Scott must serve at least six more months behind bars as a penalty for the three times she escaped from prison decades ago before she could become eligible for parole.

Still, Scotts team of attorneys and advocates, who for years have applied for a commutation without success, were overjoyed Friday at the news that, for the first time in 52 years, she has a chance at going home.

I really see today as an acknowledgment that people are capable of changing, said Rupalee Rashatwar, one of Scotts attorneys at the Abolitionist Law Center.

Its been 52 years [since] she was convicted. Thats enough time, she said. Shes sick. Shes getting sicker. ... She needs to be home with her family, in the community, and with the people who have been supporting her for so long.

Scott, known as Mechie, has been incarcerated since 1973, after she and her 16-year-old boyfriend, Leroy Saxton, robbed a Germantown gas station. She was 19 and addicted to heroin when she helped Saxton restrain the cashier, Michael Kerrigan, and then rifle through the stores cash register and safe. Her attorneys say she was acting as a lookout when  to her surprise, she says  Saxton shot Kerrigan, 35, in the back of the head.

The pair was later arrested, and Saxton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Scott was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to the same fate.

But Saxton was released on time served in 2020, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned mandatory life sentences for juveniles.

Scott, meanwhile, remains in prison.

She is now wheelchair-bound and suffering from Stage 2 breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy late last year, but because her doctors say she has more than a year to live, she doesnt qualify for compassionate release under Pennsylvania law, her attorneys said.

Under state law, people who commit a felony  such as robbery  that leads to a death can be charged with second-degree murder, also known as felony murder, even if they didnt kill the victim or intend for anyone to die. Pennsylvania is one of only two states in the nation where a felony murder conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

Shapiro has said he believes in second chances and has called the mandatory sentence for the crime unjust and unconstitutional.

Rashatwar said Scott privately met with the Board of Pardons Friday morning to plead her case. She told them she has accepted responsibility for her role in Kerrigans killing, the lawyer said, and she spoke of her transformation over her decades spent in prison.

Since Scotts three escapes between 1975 and 1980, Rashatwar said, Scott has been a model inmate. She has written books about healing, directed plays, led drug and alcohol treatment courses for inmates, and became a mentor and mother figure to dozens of women at Muncy.

Scotts only daughter, Hope Segers, told the board that if her mother is released, she will be there for her every step of the way. Segers was born at Muncy and is eager to build a relationship with her mother outside the prison walls, she said.

Administrators and staff at Muncy also told the board they support her release due to the clear changes she has made since shes been incarcerated, said William Franz, deputy superintendent at the prison.

The boards commutation recommendation was not guaranteed.

Laurel Harry, secretary of the state Department of Corrections, did not support her release because of the prison escapes, according to Scotts attorneys. Harry did not speak at Fridays public hearing.

A member of the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office attended the hearing, but did not speak. The office declined to comment on its position on Scotts application.

The boards vote also came despite opposition from Kerrigans family.

Two of Kerrigans daughters initially supported Scotts release, saying that because the teen who pulled the trigger had been released, she, too, should get out.

But they changed their minds and through letters to the board, read aloud on Friday, asked that Scott remain behind bars.

Angela Kerrigan Hightower, a grandchild of Kerrigans who was later adopted and would have been his seventh child, said she and her siblings dont think Scott has expressed sufficient remorse for her actions, and they believe she played more of a role in the shooting than she and her attorneys have acknowledged.

Cancer is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, Hightower wrote. She didnt have compassion for Michael Kerrigan, my grandfather, so I have no compassion for her in my eyes. ... My grandfather was murdered for nothing.

Doreen Kerrigan Burgess, who was 11 when her father was killed, said she doesnt feel Scott has adequately apologized.

Why should she be allowed to be released, to spend time with her grandchild, when my father never got to meet his grandchildren? she wrote in a statement.

Kerrigans children blamed Scott for much of their suffering after his death. Kerrigan worked as a Philadelphia firefighter, but because he was off-duty when he was killed, his family wasnt eligible for a pension or benefits.

Kerrigans wife fell into a deep depression, and stopped caring for her children and started physically abusing them, Burgess said. The children sometimes went days without eating, she said.

The family was never the same, Hightower said, and some of the children struggled with addiction.

Some of us turned to drugs and alcohol, she said, but we never killed anybody.

Scotts team of advocates, meanwhile, said they will lobby for Shapiro to support her release.

The Board of Pardons on Friday also recommended the commutation of three other people, including Danielle Hadley, 61, of Philadelphia, who has served 37 years in prison for her role in the fatal stabbing of a man in 1987.
Advocacy groups representing victims of clergy sexual abuse swiftly called on new Pope Leo XIV  the first American to assume the role  to take aggressive action to address the long-standing crisis, while some raised concerns about how he handled instances of alleged abuse before he was elected leader of the Catholic Church.

Leo  formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, a Chicago native and graduate of Villanova University  has an opportunity to lead the church toward a culture of accountability and reform, Gemma Hickey, board president of the group Ending Clergy Abuse, said in a statement Friday.

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Let this Pope be remembered not for the global abuse crisis he inherits, but for how he ends it, Hickey said.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), meanwhile, said in its own statement that it had grave concern about how Prevost managed allegations of abuse while serving as a church leader in Chicago and Chiclayo, Peru, and questioned whether he took sufficient action to protect victims.

The diocese in Chiclayo denied that Prevost mishandled the episode there, and a Peruvian journalist said the allegations against Prevost were false and leveled by members of a now-dissolved wing of the church that Prevost opposed due to its own abuse scandal.

How Leo confronts the lingering global crisis could be of particular interest to Catholics in the Philadelphia region, where local and state prosecutors over the years have filed lengthy court documents alleging decades of abuse by priests and cover-ups by church officials.

In New Jersey, the state attorney generals office just last month asked the states Supreme Court to overrule a request from the Camden diocese to block an investigation into decades of sexual abuse across the states five dioceses. (Camdens new bishop has since said he no longer wishes to inhibit the probe).

Here are some notable points about Prevosts history of handling allegations of clergy abuse.

Father James Ray in Chicago

One of the episodes that concerned SNAP was the living situation of the Rev. James Ray in Chicago in the early 2000s, when Prevost was serving as an Augustinian leader in the city.

Ray had been accused of abusing children more than a decade earlier, and the church in 1991 pulled him from parish duty and forbid him from being alone with minors, according to a letter SNAP sent to Vatican leaders in March.

But between 2000 and 2002, SNAP said, Ray was allowed to live at an Augustinian building near an elementary school. And local church leaders, including Prevost, not only approved the arrangement, they also did not inform anyone at the school about it, SNAP said, a decision the group said endangered the safety of children being educated nearby.

Church officials in Chicago later defended Prevost, telling the Chicago Sun-Times in 2023 that long before it had become the general law of the church, hed helped create protocols to guide all members in the different aspects of promoting child protection.

Allegations of inaction in Peru

In a more recent incident, in 2022, Prevost  then the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru  was accused by three victims of failing to take action after they told him theyd been abused by two priests beginning in 2007. SNAP, in its March letter, said evidence suggests Prevost may have failed to open an investigation at first, then submitted misleading documents to the Vatican.

The allegations of the victims indicate that under the leadership of Cardinal Prevost, the Diocese of Chiclayo did not investigate their abuse claims and misrepresented their testimony, SNAP said.

But the Chiclayo diocese in 2024 denied allegations of inaction. And Peruvian journalist Pedro Salinas said he believed the victims assertions were absolutely false.

Salinas wrote a book that helped lead to the recent downfall of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a secretive Roman Catholic society in Peru whose members were accused of sexually abusing young recruits. In an interview this week with the news outlet Religion Digital, Salinas said he believed group members made the false claims against Prevost as part of a campaign to discredit him for supporting the groups victims.

He always put the victims first and was one of those who defended the survivors and victims against the [groups] attacks, said Salinas.

What has Prevost said about the issue?

News accounts about the episodes in Chicago and Peru did not include comments from Prevost.

But in an interview with the Vatican News in 2023, the future pope did discuss his views on the issue of clergy abuse overall, saying that although the church had taken some steps to address it, I believe that there is still much to learn.

I am talking about the urgency and responsibility of accompanying victims, he said. One of the difficulties that many times arise is that the bishop must be close to his priests, as I have already said, and he must be close to the victims. Some recommend that it not be the bishop directly who receives the victims; but we cannot close our hearts, the door of the Church, to people who have suffered from abuse.

He later said it was urgent and necessary that we be more responsible and sensitive to this.

Silence is not the solution, he said. We must be transparent and honest, we must accompany and assist the victims, because otherwise their wounds will never heal.
Six current and former Bryn Mawr students sued the school, alleging multiple violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Read more

Ringing the bell at the top of Bryn Mawr Colleges first building ahead of graduation is a rite of passage for students.

You are welcome to ring the Taylor Hall bell after youve completed all your work, the schools website tells students. The bells rope will be available during finals week for you if you are interested in doing some celebratory ringing!

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But not all students are able to participate, according to a federal lawsuit filed this week that contends that the private, womens liberal arts school in Lower Merion demonstrates a deliberate indifference to the needs of students with disabilities.

The entryway to Taylor Hall includes steps with no ramp, according to the lawsuit, and a steep internal staircase makes it impossible for students who use a wheelchair or crutches to reach the bell.

Perhaps nothing is as telling as the total exclusion of disabled students from participation in one of the colleges oldest and most well-known traditions, the complaint says.

Six current and former Bryn Mawr students sued the school, alleging multiple violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is a proposed class action that asks for changes in the colleges accommodations policies and unspecified monetary damages.

 READ MORE: With DOEs Office for Civil Rights depleted, a lawsuit seeks to continue discrimination investigations in schools

The complaint says Bryn Mawr particularly fails students with invisible disabilities conditions and diseases that cant be seen externally. The college allegedly did not provide adequate gluten-free options, extended testing times, accessible dorm rooms, and virtual access to classes, among other issues, to students who required such accommodations.

Samara Sit, Bryn Mawrs chief communication officer, said in a statement that the school cares deeply for all students, including those with a disability.

The College is committed to the full participation of all people in all aspects of campus life, Sit said. We support eligible students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities through a wide range of accommodations.

In the lawsuit, the students describe the ways the school allegedly failed to accommodate their needs.

Hope Richards-Cordell, who has celiac disease, a gluten sensitivity, informed the college of her condition when she enrolled and paid for a meal plan that promised three meals a day, according to the complaint.

But Richards-Cordells problems obtaining food she could safely eat started on her first day as a student in fall 2021, according to the suit, when she wasnt granted access to a specialized gluten-free room for dining. It took the college more than three weeks to grant her access, only for the student to learn that there was no hot food offered there at all.

Richards-Cordell ate food that was labeled gluten-free from the main food area, frequently vomiting after meals because of cross contamination. She became sick and failed two classes in her first semester, eventually taking medical leave.

When she returned to the college in spring 2023, the gluten-free room only had hot food on weekday evenings, limited to plain grilled chicken with rice and a vegetable. When students inquired whether the school could provide all of the gluten-free offerings from the main area, just prepared to ensure no cross contamination, administrators responded that it was impossible because the kitchen was short staffed, the lawsuit says.

In addition, other gluten-free offerings were not only unhealthy, but downright harmful to students health, the suit says. The complaint includes an image of gluten-free waffles covered in mold.

Richards-Cordell fell ill and frequently vomited in response to food labeled gluten-free but that had not been protected from cross contamination, the complaint says.

She withdrew from the school at the end of the semester after having spent more than $1,100 to buy food despite paying for a meal plan.

Other students with ADHD, autism, mental-health challenges, and mobility issues say the college refused to accommodate their disabilities. They contend that when they advocated for themselves and other students, they were admonished by Bryn Mawr administrators.

Eden Quainton, a New York-based attorney representing the students, said that despite Bryn Mawrs wealth, the schools Access Services office is understaffed and operates without oversight. The school generated more than $50 million in investment income in 2023 on its $1.1 billion endowment, according to the complaint.

The lack of resources is not a testament of budget constraints, the lawsuit says, but of priorities.

The chief investment officer of the college earns well in excess of $1 million per year, more than four times the budget of the entire Access Services Department, underscoring the unimportance of the needs of divergent students to the Board of Trustees, the complaint says.
Kalorena Gonzalez, a 10th grader at Martin Luther King High School, has had no English teacher since October. She and her classmates are expected to take the state Keystone Exam, a graduation requirement, this month. Read more

Kalorena Gonzalezs English teacher left Martin Luther King High School in October.

A kid slapped him and he never came back, said Gonzalez, a motivated student who likes volunteering and is a member of Kings JROTC program.

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Since then, Gonzalez, a 10th grader, has had no English teacher. There have been a series of subs  most recently, a man whose name she doesnt know.

He doesnt teach anything, he just takes attendance, Gonzalez said. He says nothing.

No work is assigned, ever, she said.

Next week, Gonzalez and her classmates must take the English Keystone, a test designed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assess high school students mastery of what educators deem a milestone course. Keystone proficiency is one path to high school graduation.

Gonzalez has no expectation shell pass the test. Since October, she has not written an essay, dissected a novel, or delved into a poem. How could she?

Its just unfair, said Gonzalez, who is 15. Its like they want us to fail  they havent gotten us the proper education.

School systems nationwide are coping with a teacher shortage; its especially acute in urban districts. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. recently told City Council that as of April, Philadelphia had filled 96.7% of its nearly 8,000 teaching jobs  slightly better than the same time last year, when it had 96.5% of positions filled.

But that still means almost 300 teaching positions are vacant across the city. And Gonzalezs situation gives a glimpse into the practical, educational cost of such vacancies.

When jobs go unfilled, students are taught by long-term substitutes, some of whom have classroom experience; by retired teachers; or by people who attempt some kind of instruction. Or they might fall into situations like the one Gonzalez describes.

Christina Clark, a district spokesperson, said in a statement that the school system strives to make sure there are highly-qualified, well-supported teachers for our students every day."

Gonzalezs class, Clark said, has had a long-term substitute for the duration of her teachers leave. She noted that Pennsylvania allows students to retake Keystone exams through 11th grade.

While we encourage students to take the test, there are exemptions provided, although students will still be required to meet the graduation requirements through a different pathway to graduation, Clark said.

Were not learning

When her original English teacher abruptly disappeared, it initially felt like a vacation, Gonzalez said.

After a month, then two, three, four, five, I was like, This is not funny, were not learning, she said. I would like my teacher back, or at least a teacher to teach for him.

It doesnt bother every student in the class, Gonzalez said. Some dont care; some are just used to getting less, she said.

To pass the time, people are just chilling, she said. Everyones on their phones, or theyre just talking.

Thats if they show up at all. English is first period, so at times, Gonzalez and her classmates dont bother coming to school for English.

Sometimes, I just stay home and get more rest, or get ready, or make breakfast, she said.

Despite essentially being warehoused with no instruction, Gonzalez and her classmates are now receiving grades based solely on attendance, she said. (One early substitute did attempt to teach and assign work, Gonzalez said, but she couldnt stay long-term.)

Social equality in education

Gonzalez is a big person for fairness, she said. When she realized the Keystones were coming up, she decided she had to do something. She talked to a few teachers she trusted to see what they might be able to do.

They said, Oh, thats above me, Gonzalez said. But she heard the school board was in charge of the district, and speaking at a board meeting was a way to make her voice heard in a way that was public, difficult to deny. So Gonzalez wrote a speech out in a spiral-bound notebook and got herself to the April board meeting.

Im here today to advocate for my school in providing social equality in education, she said in a steady voice, facing Watlington and the nine-member school board. At my school, each grade does not have at least one or more teachers present to teach.

The board expects MLK sophomores to take the English Keystones without us being taught English the whole year, Gonzalez said. I think, and I hope others will agree, that this is completely unfair and ridiculous. Each student deserves to have a proper education to prepare them for upcoming life, so they can thrive in the real world. Not having a teacher for a major subject is a significant disadvantage. The absence of guidance impacts on their preparation, knowledge of the material, and overall test performance.

On behalf of her fellow students at MLK, in East Germantown, Gonzalez asked the board for an exemption from taking the English Keystone.

Folks wonder why high numbers of Philadelphians are in jail, experiencing housing insecurity, or using drugs, Gonzalez said. One reason?

When we dont have the proper and ideal education, she said. With a looming district budget deficit, the city could see these problems increase, while the empowered are given more money each day, and people like me struggle to make that money each year.

School board president Reginald Streater thanked Gonzalez for her words.

I affirm for the board that I think when students come and speak, it is very effective, Streater said. We would love to see more of you, more of the students at MLK and at other schools as well, come to board meetings and speak out.

Gonzalez said she was promised the chance to speak with an assistant superintendent, but as of Thursday had heard nothing about such a meeting, and as far as she knows, all the students who have had no English teacher for months will be expected to take the Keystones.
Dan Suro-Cipolloni at La Jefa, a Mexican cafe in the back of Tequilas in Philadelphia, May 2, 2025. Read more

For 40 years, David Suro has kept one foot in Philadelphia and another in his native Guadalajara. Along the way, he upgraded Phillys Mexican dining scene with his white-tablecloth restaurant, Tequilas, and championed artisanal agave spirits with his company Siembra Spirits, a producer of coveted tequilas.

Now, Suros three children are building on his work celebrating Guadalajara by opening an ambitious bar-restaurant in the rear of Tequilas.

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La Jefa, which opened Friday through its own entrance at 1605 Latimer St., is actually two spaces: a warmly decorated cafe with full-service brunch, and, opening in several weeks, an intimate bar-lounge behind a velvet curtain, serving dinner and late-night food and drinks.

For now, La Jefa opens at 8 a.m. daily for coffees and pastries, including a chocolate cookie stuffed with mole, lemon pie, and a concha with hibiscus and blackberry. The brunch menu, served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, includes huevos verdes (scrambled eggs, spinach, cream), enmoladas (a corn enchilada bathed in mole with crispy pork belly and fried eggs), chilaquiles done as an omelet, plus sandwiches (tomato three ways, zucchini, house-made pastrami, and barbacoa). Figure on $14 to $17 for most.

Dinner, starting later in May, will include aguachiles and ceviche blanco plus a squash quesadilla made with black and white masa.

The Suro family calls the approach Guadaladelphian  a casual, contemporary counterpoint to the higher-end, pan-Mexican approach at Tequilas, which reopened in March after repairs from a 2023 fire.

La Jefas big play will be beverages. There are agave cocktails, of course, but also natural wines and ferments (such as tepache, ginger beer, and tejuino) through a collaboration with James Beard winner Danny Childs.

Theres a house-made ginger beer spiked with basil-infused Siembra Azul tequila. Brunch cocktails include a take on the light-ABV Garibaldi, which starts with squeezed-to-order green apple, grapefruit, or the traditional orange juices. At La Jefa, the juices become fluffy from a spin in a centrifugal juicer, a technique they picked up from Dante in New York.

The coffee is 100% Mexican, from Cafe Estelar  run by people who have the same mentality on coffee beans as we have with spirits, said Dan Suro-Cipolloni, 29, the youngest child. South Jerseys Mortal Minds is roasting.

In Philly, theres not more than cafe de olla for Mexican coffee, Suro-Cipolloni said. But were not doing cafe de olla. Thats not whats going on in cafes in Mexico.

Besides a line of drip, Chemex pour-overs, cold brews, and espressos, theyre offering a cold agave cappuccino called agavatte.

Suro-Cipolloni and his siblings, David Jr., 39, who oversees La Jefa, and Elisa, 34, who handles finance, enlisted teams of Tapatios, as people from Guadalajara call themselves: Fabian Delgado Padilla, the consulting chef, created menus for both restaurants (executed by head chef Jessica Sandoval, whose pastries also start the day); Isaac Padilla, an artist who helped design the new space; and Ricardo Cardenas, a coffee expert. The branding company, Risoma, is from Guadalajara, too.

Shakur Armstrong, the head barista and head of fermentation, is a local but did time at Cafe palReal in Guadalajara and Enora in nearby Zapopan. Nik Shumer-Decker, who trained Dan Suro-Cipolloni as a bartender seven years ago at the Franklin, is head bartender.

La Jefa  the boss  is a tribute to the Suro childrens mother, Annette Cipolloni, who died of cancer at age 57 in January 2021, about two years before the Tequilas fire. (She and Suro had split up many years before but had a close relationship as business partners.)

The Suro children are honoring her with touches such as a framed caricature in the cafe and a neon sign in the lounge that reads: Youve come a long way, baby  the old slogan for Virginia Slims cigarettes.

For years, the children had kept a barrel of Siembre Azul aging in the basement. They call it El Pocho, slang for a Mexican who grows up in the United States and adopts the American lifestyle. A month before the fire, on her birthday, the whole staff did a toast, Dan Suro-Cipolloni said. My mom was the second mother to a lot of people, and everybody said cheers for her and said she was La Jefa. It has a double meaning  your boss or your mother. We said that the next concept that wed do, wed call it La Jefa.
Decoding China's breakthroughs in scientific, technological innovation

10:29, May 09, 2025 By Huan Yuping ( People's Daily

Amid mounting U.S. tariffs and escalating technological suppression, global attention has shifted to China's scientific and technological innovation - a key sector that reflects the resilience and potential of the Chinese economy.

Major international institutions have acknowledged that China is forging new competitive advantages through innovation, which has effectively countered protectionist shocks and injected stability into global scientific and technological development.

China's cutting-edge breakthroughs in science and technology are making frequent headlines. The Chang'e-6 probe marked a historic milestone in human history by bringing back the world's first samples collected from the moon's far side. The superconducting quantum computer prototype "Zuchongzhi 3.0" set a new record in "quantum supremacy" within superconducting systems. Meanwhile, the emergence of the DeepSeek model has reshaped the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. These developments reflect an accelerating pace of China's homegrown innovation.

China's ascent in the Global Innovation Index (GII) has been both steady and striking - rising from 34th in 2012 to 14th in 2019, and reaching 11th in 2024 - making it one of the fastest risers over the past decade. This upward trajectory reflects not just sporadic breakthroughs, but the emergence of a comprehensive and sustained innovation dynamic.

The momentum driving China's innovation makes one thing abundantly clear: efforts to stifle China's scientific progress have not only failed, but will continue to do so. As observed by the German business news magazine WirtschaftsWoche, U.S. attempts to impose technological restrictions have proven ineffective, inadvertently spurring China to push forward.

The lack of strong innovation capability was once considered the "Achilles' heel" of the Chinese economy. But how did China transform this former weakness into a new source of strength?

The answer begins with top-level strategic planning.

China's spending in research and development (R&D) has maintained rapid growth, with the total R&D expenditure exceeding 1 trillion yuan ($138.38 billion) in 2012, 2 trillion yuan in 2019, and 3.6 trillion yuan in 2024. This continuous increase reflects China's clear prioritization of innovation, underscored by strategic positioning, coordinated planning, and targeted policy support. Through its forward-looking vision, long-term layout, and firm resolve, China has laid a solid foundation for sustained progress in innovation.

This transformation is further driven by a wave of reform that has unlocked new momentum for innovation.

China has broken through ideological and institutional barriers that once impeded scientific and technological progress. Outdated evaluation metrics, which were based solely on publications, titles, degrees, or awards, have been replaced by performance-driven mechanisms, such as open competition to select the most capable candidates.

These institutional reforms have bridged the gap between the "first kilometer" of basic research and the "last kilometer" of commercialization, turning sparks of inspiration in laboratories into tangible, real-world productive forces.

At the same time, China's innovation surge has been fueled by the emergence of a robust innovation ecosystem.

In northeast China's Liaoning province, located in the country's former heavy industry heartland, innovation is experiencing a revival, with 76 national-level science and technology platforms and over 5,000 high-tech enterprises now anchoring its transformation. According to the GII 2024, China leads the world with the most science and technology clusters (26) in the top 100.

International observers have noted that China's expansive network of tech companies, universities, and research institutions has created a comprehensive innovation ecosystem -- an essential driver of the country's innovation success.

Despite external containment, China remains firmly committed to the principle of "technology for good." It believes that innovation should be collaborative, not competitive in a zero-sum game. It is fostering greater openness and advancing international cooperation in science and technology.

China's space station will welcome its first foreign astronaut in the next few years, after China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement on the selection and training of astronauts.

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced an investment of $2.5 billion in Beijing to establish its sixth global strategic R&D center.

German carmaker BMW said that it will deepen its collaboration with Chinese technology partners to enhance AI applications in the automotive marketing ecosystem.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is closely working with its Chinese counterparts to jointly promote green transformation of the aviation industry.

As The Economist put it, China is increasingly remarked for its growing role as the world's research-and-development laboratory. Western R&D centers in China have been re-engineered, from places to learn about the domestic market into hotbeds of innovation whose fruits can be found in products sold everywhere.

Scientific and technological innovation should serve the common good of all humanity, not just the privileged few. In that spirit, China has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative, proposed an international science and technology cooperation initiative, and launched the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All.

It has also launched an Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science with Brazil, South Africa, and the African Union, aimed at promoting scientific and technological innovation across the Global South, and ensuring that no country is left behind. Throughout its journey in scientific and technological innovation, China has always been a collaborator and enabler.

China's pursuit of scientific and technological advancement is not about defeating or surpassing anyone. It is about improving people's well-being and contributing to the progress of humanity. In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, China remains committed to openness and cooperation, sharing the fruits of innovation with more countries, and building a brighter future for all.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming)
Tabs of buprenorphine, a drug which controls heroin and opioid cravings. It was one of the medications offered to patients at the Wedge Recovery Centers, a Philadelphia addiction treatment provider. The Wedge told vendors and partners on Monday that it will close within a month. Read more

The Wedge Recovery Centers, a major provider of addiction treatment in the Philadelphia area, is closing in the next two to four weeks, city officials confirmed.

The for-profit company offers intensive outpatient addiction treatment, mental health services, and medications for opioid addiction. It operates eight locations across the city that serve about 1,900 patients. Nearly all of those patients receive health coverage through Medicaid, the government-funded health insurance for low-income people.

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The program also frequently accepts patients mandated by Philadelphia courts to undergo addiction treatment.

In a Monday letter addressed to vendors and partners who work with the Wedge, CEO Jason McLaughlin said the company has incurred financial losses for the last three years. He cited as factors in its closure decision increased overhead costs, fewer patients enrolling in Medicaid, and a lack of ability or interest from local and state government to offer the Wedge financial support.

McLaughlin did not return a call for comment. His letter was circulated widely on social media and shared with The Inquirer.

The Wedges closure plans were confirmed by officials at Community Behavioral Health, the city-contracted nonprofit that coordinates benefits for behavioral health services, including addiction treatment, for Medicaid recipients.

Other addiction treatment providers in the city have the capacity to take over the care of the Wedges patients, according to CBH, which will work with the Wedge as it winds down operations.

CBH officials said the Wedge has not shared specifics on their financial outlook, noting that they have seen other healthcare service providers struggle financially, in part because of declining Medicaid enrollment.

Wedge has been an excellent partner, and this certainly hurts, CBH COO Andrew DeVos said.

Managing the transition

Wedge officials told DeVos theyre committed to ensuring patients continue to receive addiction medications like buprenorphine, an opioid-based medication that curbs cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as they transfer to other providers.

He said the Wedge has already been reaching out to other treatment providers in the area and is specifically aiming to help relocate patients to clinics near the closing Wedge locations.

Some healthcare providers have raised concerns that some Wedge clinics, like its South Philadelphia office on Broad Street, are relatively isolated from other healthcare providers that offer the same level of care.

CBH officials would not name the organizations that will take on former Wedge patients.

Keisha Hudson, the chief defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which represents people who cannot afford a lawyer in court, said that her office will also monitor the transition for patients in court-ordered treatment.

We want to make sure theyre getting the same level of care from whatever entity [they end up at]. Ive been told [CBH] will make sure no one falls through the cracks, she said. Its up to me and my 29 social workers for the entire adult population to make sure that doesnt happen.

Responding to the closure, District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement that addiction recovery resources are essential to public safety and to the survival and rehabilitation of people suffering from the disease of addiction.

Providers expect a surge of new patients

Healthcare providers who work with people in addiction said that its crucial for the Wedge and CBH to ensure a smooth transition for patients.

A large-scale program like the Wedge closing puts strain on other addiction treatment programs, said Shoshi Aronowitz, a family medicine nurse practitioner and nursing professor at the University of Pennsylvania who treats people with addiction.

Its expected among other programs that are already stretched thin that there will potentially be a surge of patient inquiries, she said.

Even with adequate space in the system, transitioning to a new healthcare provider can be challenging for people with substance use disorder, said Maggie Lowenstein, an addiction medicine physician at Penn.

Theres a lot of logistics and transitions involved, and any type of care transition is a time when we see patients fall out of care, she said.

Lowenstein helps run a telehealth program at Penn that helps patients navigate clinic closures and ensures they receive buprenorphine prescriptions. The program is ready to help Wedge patients.

Aronowitz said she was particularly worried about patients who were already having trouble getting to appointments or staying in addiction treatment.

We know programs close  it happens," she said. But its unfortunately another opportunity for people who are already struggling to engage in care to get lost to care.

Staff writers Chris Palmer and Samantha Melamed contributed to this article.
Herman Mudgett, better known as serial killer H.H. Holmes. Read more

As the sun rose on May 7, 1896, gawkers crowded outside the high stone walls of Moyamensing Prison in anticipation of the execution of one of the United States first serial killers.

Policemen pushed the horde away from the gates, and the horde pushed back. Observers could neither see nor hear the proceedings, but they were nevertheless drawn to the fortress by a morbid fascination.

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Herman Webster Mudgett is better known as H.H. Holmes, the man who built a House of Horrors in Chicago where he tortured and killed unsuspecting victims between 1886 and 1894. But it was not until he killed a business partner in Philadelphia that police would discover the extent of his crimes.

In written testimony, the 34-year-old confessed to 27 murders. But some biographers count more than 200 victims.

The Murder Castle

Blocks from the site where the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair was being erected, he built a three-story mazelike mansion that newspapers would nickname The Murder Castle.

The castle was designed as a death den, with trapdoors and sliding walls, airless vaults and dissecting tables.

Holmes targeted young women who were in town for the fair, or who worked for him. He would lure them with promises of fortune or marriage, and then intimidate them into signing a life insurance policy before he whirled them through his contraptions.

The confession

By 1894, Holmes had left Chicago  fleeing creditors seeking payment for that mansion. He returned to Philadelphia; a few years earlier, he had worked at Norristown State Hospital and a drugstore on what is now Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

For his second act, he set up a bogus patent office on Callowhill Street near 13th with a would-be accomplice, Benjamin Pitezel. Their scheme was straightforward: fake Pitezels death and split the $10,000 insurance money.

Instead, Holmes waited until Pitezel was drunk, lit him on fire, and burned him alive at their office. Holmes made the death look accidental, and claimed the insurance money.

In fall 1895, Holmes went on trial for Pitezels murder in Philadelphia. The jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to hang.

After the trial, The Inquirer published a written confession attributed to Holmes  a confession the paper purchased  on the front page of its April 12, 1897, edition.

I have every attribute of a degenerate  a moral idiot, Holmes wrote.

The hanging

Standing on a scaffold in the bowels of the prison, Holmes proclaimed his innocence in a short speech. His lawyer and a few priests stepped off the scaffold.

Holmes was fitted with the noose and a black cap, and was asked if he was ready.

Yes, Holmes said. Goodbye.
Archbishop Nelson J. Perez celebrates Mass in honor of the newly chosen Pope Leo XIV, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Friday. Read more

From his seat on a returning flight from Rome, Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Perez couldnt see the white smoke emanating from the Sistine Chapel chimney alerting the world that Habemus Papam.

A text message was the bearer of good news. Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo XIV, Perez remembers reading in shock, 38,000 feet in the air.

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Perez barely had time to land. In less than 24 hours, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was preparing to hold a celebratory Mass in honor of the election of Pope Leo XIV.

Ready for the service, Catherine Houpt, 75, arrived early to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Friday to pray for Prevost, a man she didnt know much about just a few days ago.

Its great that he has ties to Philadelphia, Houpt said with a smile on her face, but emphasizing her hope for Pope Leo  a Villanova University graduate and the first pontiff born in the United States  to have a universal approach.

He is not just for one country. He has to take into account the well-being of the world, Houpt said. I hope he holds the United States accountable for being good Catholics, good Christians, so that we think of others first. So, we realize that we are not the most important country.

Perez began Mass with the same sentiment.

What a great day for us in Philly with a pope that knows what Wawa is all about, Perez jokingly told hundreds of chuckling parishioners.

The archbishop spoke to Mass attendees about what he believes Prevost stands for.

Pope Leo is really a globalist, he is a pope of the world. While he was born in Chicago and studied here at Villanova  Pope Leo has a universal heart, Perez told parishioners. He also knows clearly that it really isnt about him.

Perez, who knows Prevost from their time at the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, told reporters Thursday night that Pope Leo XIV can make people feel like they are the only person in the world, and has a sense of calmness that irradiates peace.

Perez made sure to highlight that quality at the Mass, leaving parishioners with the same words Prevost said at his inaugural appearance on the Vatican balcony the day before: Peace be with all you.

In Italy, the new pontiff held his first Mass Friday in the Sistine Chapel.

The pope addressed the crowd in English, acknowledging the great responsibility placed on his shoulders.

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel, he said.

A formal meeting with the cardinals is on the books for Saturday. His first noon blessing from the loggia is scheduled for Sunday. And, on Monday, he will be at a news conference from the Vatican auditorium. He will be officially installed as the pope at a May 18 Mass, presiding over his first general audience on May 21.

Back in Philadelphia, more details of Robert Prevosts life came to light.

Perez told parishioners a young Prevost worked as a groundskeeper at St. Denis in Havertown, during his time at Villanova.

Sporting a hoodie from the university, Shawn Fitzpatrick was in shock to learn Prevost attended the local school.

I was speechless, the 15-year-old said. The fact that he went there is just a great feeling, makes me want to go there.
The author, who works with the children's advocacy group, Children First, writes that potential cuts to Head Start programs could be devastating to low-income families. Read more

There is nothing more inspiring or American than the story of a young person who rises from poverty to go to an Ivy League university, enters a successful career, and then contributes positively to our society.

This story is part of the American promise that if you work hard, you can get ahead; a story so core and central to our identity as a country that we see it replicated again and again in movies and television shows. A story familiar to our Vice President JD Vance, as he, himself, has lived it.

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It is also a story I am deeply familiar with, having come from a low-income background but working hard enough that I eventually received a graduate degree from Columbia University. The difference between the vice president and myself is that I recognize that I did not get to where I am in my life without help from others, and specifically from programs like Head Start, an early childhood education program that continues to be a game changer for children and their families living in poverty.

Head Start prepares young children for formal schooling, building the foundation for lifelong learning. But it does even more, providing health and developmental screenings, nutritious meals, job training, and career readiness workshops for parents, all while enabling parents and caregivers to work. For families living at or below the federal poverty line, Head Start is a lifeline and a gateway to a better life for parents and their children.

My earliest memories are of Head Start: warm hugs, picture books, alphabet songs, and feeling a sense of security and belonging. The nurturing environment of a high-quality early childhood program is essential to the development of the architecture of the brain.

For me, Head Start was where I developed a love of learning that would eventually take me miles away from home to New York City, attending one of the best universities in our country.

For my immigrant parents, who could not be prouder of me, Head Start allowed them to work so they could build savings and eventually buy their own home. Head Start is part of the American dream, a promise that each and every person in this country can succeed regardless of where they come from.

My earliest memories are of Head Start: warm hugs, picture books, alphabet songs, and feeling a sense of security and belonging.

And yet, this critical anti-poverty program, first launched in 1965, is currently under attack in Washington. First, Head Start cuts were a key feature of Project 2025. Then, initial budget documents leaked, showing a cut to Head Start, citing The federal government should not be in the business of mandating curriculum, locations, and performance standards for any form of education.

While the Trump administrations budget proposal does not include a cut to Head Start, any deep cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services budget could eliminate funding, ending a program that, for decades, has changed the lives of over 39 million children since 1965. Currently, in Pennsylvania alone, nearly 27,000 children attend Head Start, and more than 8,800 infants and toddlers benefit from Early Head Start.

Cherry-picked studies have called Head Start out for being ineffective, citing fade-out effects of test scores in kindergarten and first grade. Yet, for every study citing fade-out effects, there are even more studies showing that Head Start boosts the lifelong prospects of graduates, also known as sleeper effects. In other words, the impact of Head Start extends well beyond immediate test scores in kindergarten and first grade.

Head Start alumni have higher high school graduation rates, are more likely to hold down a job, and eventually, like me, Head Start graduates are more likely to go on to college. To go even further, there is evidence that Head Start has intergenerational impacts, with Head Start alumni being more likely to read to their children, and children of parents who attended Head Start having greater academic achievement and less engagement with the criminal justice system.

 READ MORE: What Project 2025 would mean for Pennsylvania families

For the bargain price of $11 billion of a $6.8 trillion federal budget, or 0.7% of our discretionary spending, we can ensure hundreds of thousands of low-income children can receive high-quality early childhood education and family support. Head Start pays for itself, with the return on investment being greater than the cost of the program. Head Start allows children and their working families to pursue their American dreams.

Mai Miksic is the deputy director of policy at Children First, a Philadelphia-based advocacy organization working to improve the lives of our regions children by developing initiatives and advocating for quality healthcare, childcare, public education, and family stability. She is a child of immigrant parents and a Head Start graduate. Children First will be in Washington, D.C., on May 16 to advocate for Head Start.
In Philadelphia, we are blessed to have a fairly robust media landscape. But that does not mean there arent pockets across the city where news deserts  defined as communities with limited access to credible, comprehensive news  exist.

I have had the privilege of working with two organizations that have helped fill the void of news deserts in the city. The first was serving as cochair of Resolve Philly, which is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to informing and lifting community voices.

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Some years earlier, I was honored to serve as general manager of 900 AM WURD, Pennsylvanias only Black-owned talk radio station. Both still play critical roles in Phillys media market and are blooming despite sometimes challenging terrain.

But news deserts, like actual deserts, develop over time, not overnight. And a significant number of news outlets throughout the country  and in Pennsylvania specifically  are disappearing like a mirage.

While we live in a 24/7 news cycle that floods us with information, we also have to contend with a proliferation of social media influencers who often pollute those waters with disinformation, poorly researched facts, and lies presented as truth. Across the United States, communities are grappling with the disappearance of news sources that once held power to account and kept residents informed about decisions shaping their daily lives.

Communities are grappling with the disappearance of news sources that once held power to account and kept residents informed.

Over the past 20 years, the United States has lost more than 3,200 newspapers, with two more shuttering every week, according to Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism, which closely follows the industry. Of the fewer than 5,600 newspapers that remain, about 80% are weeklies. These closures have left areas vulnerable with little or no access to credible, original reporting.

The Keystone State is no exception.

In the 67 counties that comprise Pennsylvania, two have lost their only news sources, and news outlets in many rural areas have only one or two reporters covering them.

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia still maintain viable news organizations, but the struggle to remain sustainable is ever-present. Admittedly, some of our venerable news institutions have fallen victim to various market forces and shifting business models.

The federal governments actions targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio may further silence voices that provide rural communities one of the few reliable sources still available to them.

Silent voices, of course, have no ability to inform or hold power accountable.

No oversight.

No scrutiny.

No protector of the public interest.

In the absence of credible journalism, the desert that begins to form is a treacherous landscape full of misinformation, unchecked rumors, or viral content crafted more for outrage than accuracy. Without reliable information, communities become less engaged and, ultimately, less democratic.

But even the most arid desert can be transformed into more fertile ground with the right nutrients to do so.

This month, several universities  including Temple  are convening the states first-ever Keystone News Summit. The purpose is to gather journalists, educators, funders, and policymakers to find ways to rebuild sustainable models for local journalism and prevent the further erosion of news outlets across the commonwealth. The solutions are varied, ranging from university partnerships and nonprofit newsrooms to creative business models and government support.

Even the most arid desert can be transformed into more fertile ground with the right nutrients to do so.

The key to a successful summit will be whether the solutions that emerge can be implemented and sustained over time. But that depends on the communities and the people in them that these outlets intend to serve. Will they support them financially? Will the content be valuable enough to matter? Will there be sufficient trust between consumer and outlet to have the type of reliable relationship that serves as the bedrock of journalistic integrity?

The answers to these questions could help determine how and where news deserts in Pennsylvania can be turned around to serve communities thirsting for information. Tilling this dry soil, however, is only the first step of a longer process that we hope will yield the kind of strong news ecosystem that can enlighten, engage, and empower those who have gone without for so long.

Only time will tell if a more robust media environment can emerge from this effort. If so, it will be the kind of harvest that will benefit us all.

David W. Brown is an associate professor and assistant dean for community and communication at the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University.
In many ways, the first American pope is the opposite of Donald Trump  which is exactly what the world needs at this moment.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIVs social media feed indicates he supports immigrants, gun safety, and believes in the need to combat climate change. Before being elevated to pope, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost worked as a missionary, so he actually cares for the poor and the working class.

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The last pope named Leo supported workers rights, a living wage, and affirmed the value of science. But that doesnt mean the new pope is a flaming liberal, as some of Trumps far-right MAGA supporters believe.

In fact, Prevost has been an active voter in Republican primaries over the past dozen years, and is widely considered a moderate on social issues. Perhaps he could unify a divided church and country.

In his first remarks as pontiff, he pledged to build bridges. Not walls.

Lets hope he uses his new position as the leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics to call out wrongdoing and speak up for truth and justice. That could help the church regain the moral leadership lost in the priest abuse scandal, and possibly help save the worlds oldest democracy.

Before being elevated to pope, Prevost, a Villanova University graduate who was born in Chicago, shared and retweeted a number of social media posts and criticisms of Trump and JD Vance.

Just before the conclave, Prevost shared a message that criticized the disgusting Oval Office meeting in which Trump and El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele celebrated the deportation of migrants to a harsh prison in the Central American country.

Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet? read the post from Rocco Palmo, a Philadelphia-based Catholic commentator known as the Vatican whisperer.

Those are good questions for Trumps supporters, as well, including the Republicans who have sworn an oath to the Constitution.

In January, Vance used squirrelly logic to defend the Trump administrations mass immigration efforts: There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world.

But Prevost responded by sharing a link to an article in the National Catholic Reporter with a headline that read, JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

Prevost did not add Jesus famous golden rule to do to others what you would have them do to you. But in his initial blessing after being elected pope, he said the Catholic Church should welcome everyone.

Remember before Trump, when the United States used to also welcome everyone? Diversity and immigration are what made America great. Of course, the immigration system needs fixing, but deporting migrants without due process is not the answer.

Presidents, including Ronald Reagan, used to point to the sonnet on the base of the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Now, Trump is sending them to faraway prisons.

Trump has turned many American policies on their head. To be sure, Pope Leo XIV has a different mandate than tangling with Trump, but his words and actions can provide a needed counterweight to the felonious presidents detrimental actions.

For example, Trump has been busy reversing many efforts to combat climate change with the help of Republicans in Congress. But Prevost  again, a recent Republican primary voter  stressed that it is time to move from words to action on the climate.

During Trumps first term, the new pope endorsed other policies that ran counter to Trumps positions.

In 2017, after a gunman murdered 60 people in Las Vegas, Prevost retweeted a call for stronger gun safety laws from Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.). To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it, Murphy wrote.

After Trump issued a ban on travelers from Muslim-majority countries, the new pope retweeted a post that detailed comments by Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, who said it was contrary to both Catholic and American values and the world is watching as we abandon our commitment to American values.

Now the world will be watching Pope Leo XIV and Trump battle for the hearts and minds of the faithful and the faithless. Can the pope help restore the American values that the president is busy dismantling?

Editors note: An earlier version of this editorial indicated that Cardinal Robert F. Prevost  the newly elected Pope Leo XIV  is a registered Republican. While Prevost has participated in Republican primaries in Illinois in recent years, he  like all voters in that state  was not required to declare a party affiliation in order to cast a ballot in those contests.
The second Trump presidency is a painfully realistic self-portrait of America. In just over 100 days, this fledgling administration has filled the political canvas with vengeance and hatred, incompetence and greed. It has shown us that at our worst, we are a study in contradictions.

Trump avoided the draft during the Vietnam War by getting a medical deferment for bone spurs. Yet, he has succeeded in banning others from serving in the military because of their gender identity.

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Trump managed to avoid prison or probation despite his 34 felony convictions, but is seemingly obsessed with tossing others into foreign prisons without so much as a court hearing.

Trump took an oath of office that included a promise to uphold the Constitution, but when he was asked in an NBC News interview if he was obligated to honor the Fifth Amendments mandate for due process, the president of the United States said, I dont know.

None of this should surprise anyone. We already knew who Donald Trump was. Im just not sure if America knew that Trump is a reflection of us all.

He is the apathy of millions of Americans who stayed home and refused to vote.

He is the misogyny of men from across the racial spectrum whod die before supporting a woman.

He is the racism of white Christian nationalists who hide their hatred in Scripture.

He is the distracted voter of color who argues Kamala Harris isnt Black.

Donald Trump is the representation of all of us. But because each group embodies a different aspect of the American portrait, we must all fight this battle from a different angle. More importantly, we must take a good, long look at ourselves.

I wrote in my last column that white people put Trump in office, and white people will have to get him out. Therefore, I will not be joining my white progressive brethren in street protests against the policies of this administration.

We must take a good long look at ourselves.

Some of my readers understood and respected my stance. Many more responded with angry missives telling me Black people are being targeted by Trump. That this is our fight, too. That its not enough to stay home and watch as the country burns down around us.

There were those who called me stupid for not recognizing the gravity of the moment. Others questioned my mental acuity for not adopting their protest strategy. Some called me racist for refusing to join white progressives in the streets.

I read each critique and quickly realized many of them were driven by a sort of paternalism that seeks to tell Black people whats best for them. It dismisses the notion of Black self-determination and replaces it with the white mans burden. It presumes that if Black people arent doing what white people believe to be necessary, we must be doing nothing.

Thats not the case. Many in the Black community are guarding their mental health. Others in our community are fighting with the one thing we have in abundance  money. Black spending power reached $1.6 trillion in 2022, and if we are to survive an administration thats focused on immigration crackdowns and anti-DEI policies, we must use that money wisely.

 READ MORE: I love seeing anti-Trump protests. Like many other Black folks, I wont be joining them. | Solomon Jones

For some, that means withholding our dollars from businesses like Target, which saw a decline in foot traffic for 10 straight weeks after canceling its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Boycotts, however, are not enough. I believe Black consumers must decide where were going to spend our dollars.

To that end, Ive been leading an initiative called Building the Black Agenda with WURD Radio (where I host a radio show) and other community leaders.

The goal is to unite the Black community around a cohesive economic strategy. That means spending strategically with community-based businesses that support diversity and respect Black consumers.

By spending with those businesses on specific days and times, the effect of the action can be quantified. The movement can be magnified. Those businesses, and the communities they serve, can grow.

So, no, I wont be joining my white friends at protests, because thats not what my people need right now. However, if the goal really is to bring Americans together for change, I challenge white progressives to come and spend some money with us.
Republican Sen. Dave McCormick is defending Sen. John Fetterman after the Pennsylvania Democrats well-being and ability to carry out the duties of a U.S. senator have come under widespread scrutiny.

Its time to put politics aside and stop these vicious, personal attacks against Senator Fetterman, his wife, and his health, McCormick said in a post on X Friday morning, saying that Fetterman is authentic, decent, principled, and a fighter, and that the allegations against the Democrat are not the John that I know and respect.

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The freshman Pennsylvania senators statement comes after half a dozen former Fetterman staffers told The Inquirer that their former boss isnt adequately doing his job. They described a deeply isolated senator who missed votes, canceled meetings, had an outburst with a teachers union, and maintained a sparse schedule.

And last week, a New York Magazine profile of the Democrat drew attention to staffers concerns about his questionable behavior, physical health, and at-times tense relationship with his wife, Gisele, who reportedly suffered injuries from a car accident where Fetterman was found at fault.

Some of that behavior, which became increasingly difficult for staff to explain, includes getting into an argument with an airline crew member over his seat belt on a flight to Pittsburgh.

In light of this news, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday that the best judge of Fettermans health is the senator and his family, and that they, along with Pennsylvanians, are also the best judge of his capabilities to be an effective U.S. senator.

McCormicks defense has been more forceful than that of members of Fettermans own party. GOP Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Senates president pro tempore, have also shown support for Fetterman.

Since assuming office in January, McCormick and Fetterman, who has been willing to cross party lines, have seemingly formed a healthy working relationship.

While we have many differences, we are both committed to working together to achieve results for the people of Pennsylvania and make their lives better, McCormick said Friday.

McCormick told The Inquirer in February that he sees an opportunity to collaborate across the aisle with Fetterman on issues like Israel and antisemitism. The two also sat down for a joint profile for the Washington Post opinion section where it was described that they have a warm relationship.

Following his rightward shift, Fetterman had seen a bump in his approval rating earlier this year among all Pennsylvania voters, according to a statewide survey from Morning Consult in January. But an internal Democratic poll in the Pittsburgh mayoral race from February showed that a plurality of Democrats in the states second-largest city had an unfavorable view of the senator, according to a Politico report.

In March, Fetterman was scheduled to help promote McCormicks book about mentorship at an event in Pittsburgh before it was canceled due to an unforeseen logistical issue after activists threatened they would protest.

Fettermans usual protesters say hes not well

On Friday, a group of about 20 protesters gathered at Independence Mall in Philadelphia before marching to Fettermans office in a weekly demonstration organized by Indivisible Philadelphia, a progressive group that supported Fettermans 2022 campaign but has since been unsatisfied with his leadership.

They listed grievances with the Trump administration and called on Fetterman to do more to engage with his constituents and resist Trump. One protester held a sign calling on him to resign.

Activist Joan Brooks said Fetterman hasnt responded to their calls for him to join them for a town hall and acknowledged the recent media coverage of the senator.

We know that Fetterman is not responding to us, Brooks said. We also know that hes not well.
This article was produced by Capital & Main. It is published here with permission.

Charles Suppon has big plans for the Tunkhannock Area School District.

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At any given time, the northeastern Pennsylvania districts chief operating officer can rattle off statistics about fields in which its schools excel: arts, AP classes, and softball, as well as on-the-job training programs for future farmers, welders, and more. Goats and chickens roam the high schools courtyards, where students also tend to koi fish; in the hallways just beyond, high schoolers tinker with tractors, build furniture to sell, and offer free tax services for the broader community.

But Suppon speaks with vigor when he talks about the five-megawatt system he hopes to install across five solar arrays on the districts buildings and surrounding property. The solar panels will heat the districts pool and serve as the basis for new curricula and jobs training classes on the solar industry. For a rural district of around 2,000, Tunkhannock is punching above its weight class, he believes.

Were a smaller school district doing big things.

Suppons district is in a bright red portion of Pennsylvania northwest of Scranton, narrowly outside one of the states more prolific natural gas regions. For him, solar is simply a pathway toward cost savings  just as natural gas, from which the district earns royalties off several leases, has been. Tunkhannock believes it could save upward of $1 million a year by switching to solar, money that could be used for student initiatives.

It was always a financial decision, Suppon said. We wanted to be able to offset our energy costs, produce our own energy, and only pay distribution [fees] back to the grid.

Theres one catch: Tunkhannocks plan to go solar is contingent upon winning more than $1 million in funding from the states Solar for Schools program. Currently in its inaugural year, Solar for Schools was born from a bill that faced an uphill battle in a legislature where environmental bills often die by attrition  a battle that required its creator, progressive Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D., Philadelphia), to reach across the aisle and help marry what are often competing interests in the state  labor, education, and climate.

But that money for Tunkhannock might not come through because of the stiff competition for the limited funds. While last years state budget gave the Solar for Schools program $25 million to disperse to school districts, the program received applications that add up to nearly four times that amount from schools and districts large and small, rural and urban, and conservative and liberal.

I was pleased, but hardly surprised, Fiedler said in an email to Capital & Main of the demand.

The disparity between the grant programs budget and the size of its application pool mirrors a broader reality within the state legislature: Despite clear and growing demand for solar energy, the political will to meet it has yet to catch up.

A 2022 poll of more than 1,300 Pennsylvanians conducted by Vote Solar Action, an advocacy group urging pro-solar legislation at the state level, found that 65% of Pennsylvanians support large-scale solar farm development in the state. More than 80% said they support rooftop solar, while 73% support natural gas and 52% support coal.

I [have] visited nearly every corner of the state, from Waynesburg to Bethlehem, and in every place I met folks who wanted to save money on electricity, create good local jobs and preserve the beauty of their communities, Fiedler said.

Yet the state lags far behind most others in solar development: Pennsylvania currently ranks 49th in the nation for its growth in solar, wind, and geothermal generation over the last decade, according to the nonprofit advocacy group PennEnvironment.

It has fallen behind other major fossil-fuel producing states, like Texas, the countrys second-largest solar generator in 2023; California, where solar and wind together make up close to half the states energy generation; and New Mexico, which Environment America, the national organization behind PennEnvironment, ranked fourth in the U.S. for renewable energy production in 2024.

Just 3% of Pennsylvanians now have solar panels on their roofs, Vote Solar Actions poll found  though 31% said they would be interested in installing them.

The lag could be attributed, in part, to interconnection delays by the regional grid operator PJM  though many of its neighbors in the same system, like Washington, D.C.; New Jersey; and North Carolina, have eclipsed Pennsylvanias solar production.

Because of increased demands predicted by PJM, utility bills in Pennsylvania are slated to increase this summer. Fiedler sees solar production as an antidote to what could be an oncoming energy crisis in the state.

We must generate more electricity, she said. Nuclear, wind, geothermal, and gas power plants can all be part of the solution, but the fact is we need energy now, and solar is the fastest.

But solar initiatives continue to hit gridlock in the halls of state power.

After making its way through the state House last summer, a bill that would have enabled community solar  a program that allows multiple residents to enroll in a shared solar array separate from their homes  died in the Republican-controlled Senate. The bills author, Rep. Peter Schweyer (D., Lehigh), who introduced it as a way to make solar accessible for renters, apartment dwellers, and those who cannot afford solar panels by themselves, has had to reintroduce the bill and start over again this session.

Gov. Josh Shapiros attempt to pass an updated renewables target also failed to gain traction in the legislature last session. Where a 2004 target required 0.5% of the states energy generation to come from solar, the new plan would have required the state to reach a 35% target by 2035 that included solar, wind, and nuclear energy generation. He has reintroduced it as part of a broader energy package dubbed the Lightning Plan.

In a divided legislature, the fate of both initiatives is tenuous.

As renewable energy faces sweeping attacks at the federal level under the direction of President Donald Trump, states are stepping up to hold the line. Whether Pennsylvania will prove itself to be a meaningful player in this fight remains an open question.

Climate change has become politicized, said David Masur, executive director of nonprofit advocacy group PennEnvironment. Which then potentially can create more powerful special interests who are opposed to common sense policies and have a vested self-interest in the status quo, and politicians having sort of a knee-jerk reaction to oppose things [that] are probably good even for their very own constituents.

Case in point: Solar for All, a federal grant program initiated by the Biden administration that awarded Pennsylvania $156 million to go to residential solar installations for low-income households, was designed to save residents $192 million over the next 20 years in energy costs while averting 43 million tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing more than 9 million cars from the road for a year.

These funds quickly became a negotiating chip. During deliberations over the 2024 state budget, a line was inserted into an omnibus fiscal code bill that prevented the state from accessing the funds. Though the Solar for All program was just one of several dozen federal environmental grants Pennsylvania won under Biden-era initiatives, the budget bill specifically calls out that one program. It requires legislative approval for the programs funds to be disbursed.

So, Fiedler sought out exactly that when she authored House Bill 362, a bill that would force the legislature to vote on allowing the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, the states independent financing authority, to distribute funds it has already been awarded. Fiedler said the funds are already under contract with the federal government.

H.B. 362 passed the House Energy Committee, which Fiedler chairs, in March. It now sits in the state House, home to a slim one-vote Democratic majority, as a battle to free the money falters after being confronted with a last-minute hurdle.

Two days after the bill passed, Rep. Craig Williams (R., Chester County), introduced an amendment that would require the states utility regulator to promulgate regulations on net metering  a system that allows residential solar users to sell surplus energy back to the grid to incentivize the build-out of rooftop solar. Environmentalists fear the amendment could open the door to doing away with net metering  a major financial incentive for many residential solar owners.

Reforming net metering has long been a priority of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative lobbying firm that disburses model bills to states, including those fighting renewable energy and attacking environmentalists.

The group argues that paying solar owners for the energy they produce is costly for utilities  they pay them retail rates, rather than wholesale rates, and residential solar producers may end up generating enough energy to offset distribution fees they would pay for the wires that move energy around the grid. Utilities then pass those costs onto consumers, and nonsolar users end up subsidizing their neighbors with solar panels, they argue. Williams has used similar language in opposing solar legislation; environmentalists generally disagree with this premise.

Critics were quick to point out that, before joining the Pennsylvania House in 2020, Williams spent more than 10 years as general counsel for Peco, a Philadelphia-based utility that has come under fire from environmentalists for neglecting to increase its share of renewable energy.

State lobbying and campaign finance records show the company spent more than $600,000 on lobbying in 2024, and donated $6,000 to Williams in 2024 between a failed run for attorney general and a successful campaign to keep his seat in the state House. The trade group that represents Peco and other utilities, the Edison Electric Institute, has long challenged net metering as states have grown their share of solar production.

The more people who generate energy from their homes, the less [utilities] get to build out their larger operations, said Elowyn Corby, Mid-Atlantic regional director for Vote Solar Action.

Williams amendment passed with support on both sides of the aisle. Environmentalists, however, consider it a poison pill  one that could weaken the states fledgling solar industry.

In Pennsylvania, probably the best thing we have going for solar is net metering, said Masur, the PennEnvironment director.

Minus Williams amendment, Fiedlers Solar for All bill makes common sense, Corby said.

At its heart, the goal of this legislation is to make sure Pennsylvania doesnt send federal money that belongs to our neighbors back to D.C., Fiedler said.

The Solar for All program focuses specifically on serving homeowners who might otherwise be unable to afford solar panels of their own. In Pennsylvania, funds are specifically earmarked for low-income households, who are guaranteed at least 20% savings on their electricity bills.

Its unclear whether Fiedler will push forward to advance H.B. 362 now that it includes a threat to net metering.

In the coming months, the state legislature may also vote on initiatives that would put solar panels on municipal and emergency response buildings; warehouses and distribution centers; and townhouses governed by homeowners associations.

Shapiro has proposed re-upping the Solar for Schools programs $25 million appropriation in the 2025-2026 budget, set to be finalized by June 30. Though Fiedler said shes pleased to see the program reinstated, she said that that number is the minimum we should budget.

Jim Gregory, a former state representative and now executive director of the Conservative Energy Network-Pennsylvania, has committed himself to convincing his former colleagues of the importance of renewables in a diverse state energy portfolio.

If that money is going to be made available, we want to see it made available to low- and moderate-income families in rural Pennsylvania, he said.

Gregory said he has watched as attitudes toward solar among conservatives in state government have shifted.

I dont oppose anyone who wants to put solar on their rooftop or anything like that to help with utility bills, said Rep. Kathy Rapp (R., Warren) at a recent meeting of the House Energy Committee on Fiedlers bill. Rapp has, for several sessions, introduced legislation requiring solar operators to create end-of-life plans for their arrays, which has yet to pass.

Though far from an all-out embrace of solar, Rapps language offers a window into a softening stance on renewables. In 2019, Rapp wrote on her Facebook profile that solar and wind energy pose serious environmental risks, and called its supporters radical Green New Deal proponents.

Despite past roadblocks, Fiedler remains optimistic about the fate of solar initiatives in the state. She sees the Solar for Schools program as evidence of broadening support for clean energy.

I believe there is political will for solar and all types of energy development in the state, she said. A lot of that success comes from the broad stakeholder coalition we built and from the support of colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

For school districts like Tunkhannock, the states ability to reach consensus has very real consequences. With the fate of federal solar tax credits unclear, district leaders say they are currently on the edge of their seats. The Solar for Schools grant could end up being a lifeline.

To say not getting potentially a million dollars in grant money wouldnt affect us at all I think would be a lie, said Suppon, the school districts chief operating officer.

Copyright 2025 Capital & Main
This is a necessary step for our business that will deliver transformational improvements to meet the changing needs of our brokers, partners, and customers while positioning us to achieve our future growth ambition to be the leading intermediated insurer in Australia, he said.
The US Retail Markets segment reported US$6.06 billion in NWP, down 7.4% from a year earlier. Global Risk Solutions recorded US$4.71 billion in NWP, up 7.5%. The Corporate and Other segment posted a loss of US$7 million in NWP, compared to a gain of US$37 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Zurichs business updates for Q1

The Retail segment also reported a rise in gross written premiums of 11% in US dollars. Rate changes of 5% in the first quarter, coupled with pricing adjustments in motor and property lines, along with the integration of AIGs global personal travel insurance and assistance business, supported the increase. Underwriting margins continued to improve.
According to stakeholders, the French wine industry, the most lucrative in the world, is supported by numerous insurance brokers that specialise in risk managing and providing coverages for wineries and vineyards. Australia, by volume the fifth biggest exporter of vino globally, also has a substantial wine industry. However, wineries and vineyards Down Under dont have access to the same broker expertise as their French counterparts. So, is Australias wine industry a broker opportunity?
Harnessing expert underwriting, and giving our brokers immediate access to that, is a fundamental component of our proposition. Its what makes us different. Steve shares that ethos, and we look forward to his contribution to the leadership team, Mackay said.
She holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Louisiana Tech University and a masters degree in engineering management from Southern Methodist University. Anderson has been recognized with multiple industry accolades, including her 2025 induction into the CIO 100 Hall of Fame and her listing among the 2024 Top 100 Women in Fintech. She also serves on the board of directors of the Technology Business Management Council.
For insurers, the bill mandates the development of a comprehensive written information security program tailored to the size, complexity, and risk profile of the organization. Each licensee must conduct periodic risk assessments, designate responsible personnel, and implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect non-public information. Insurers domiciled in Oklahoma are required to submit an annual compliance certification to the Insurance Commissioner by April 15 and retain supporting records for five years.
The survey also found that nearly eight in 10, or 77%, of insurance employees sought mental health support in the past year. Younger employees were notably more likely to seek help, with 82% of those aged 18 to 34 and 81% of those aged 34 to 44 reporting they had done so. In contrast, just 64% of employees aged 45 and older sought support.
"Some states are trying to pass some new regulation around it," Woodruff said. "Texas is deciding how it wants to handle Delta-8 and Delta-9 products." Delta-8 is still legal to buy, sell, and possess in the state amid a legal battle brought to the Supreme Court.
Zurich tried to have the claim dismissed by asserting, in its seventh affirmative defense, that Rhode Island law didnt apply. The insurer argued that since the property at issue is in New York, New York law should govern the dispute. But the trial court dismissed that defense, and on appeal, the First Department affirmed the ruling on May 6, 2025.
Michaud appealed - but the Appellate Court never got to her arguments. Instead, it dismissed the appeal entirely, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction. Under Connecticut law, an appeal can only be filed from a final judgment. Here, the trial court had denied Michauds request to overturn the arbitration award but had not entered any final judgment confirming the award or disposing of the underlying lawsuit. And neither party had asked the court to take that final step. Without it, the appeal was premature.
The Catholic bishop of a New Jersey diocese said he would no longer oppose a state grand jury investigation of clergy sexual abuse that the church has been fighting behind closed doors in court for years.

Its not clear, however, that the grand jury investigation will go forward because the state Supreme Court is already considering the dioceses earlier argument against seating one.

In a letter Monday to the state Supreme Court, an attorney for the diocese said Camden Bishop Joseph Williams wished to inform the seven justices that the Diocese of Camden will not object to the empanelment of a grand jury for the purpose of considering a presentment.

Williams took over the diocese in March and first said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday that the diocese no longer wished to prevent the attorney generals office from seating a grand jury to investigate allegations of sexual assault by priests and other religious officials.

Williams told the newspaper it was important to help those harmed by the church and that he doesnt want to stop their voices from being heard.

In a letter to parishioners posted on Tuesday, Williams said he met with stakeholders in the diocese and there was unanimous consent to end the churchs opposition to the grand jury. The next day he went to the state attorney generals office and informed them of the decision, Williams wrote.

We expressed our desire to be partners with them in this public service, Williams wrote.

Williams told the Inquirer: Our people need to hear this, the clergy needs to hear this, so that it never happens again, first of all.

The change comes a week after attorneys for the diocese argued before the state Supreme Court that prosecutors did not have the authority under court rules to use a grand jury to investigate private church officials. Instead, the lawyers argued, the rule requires grand jury presentments to tackle public officials and government.

The high court has not yet issued an opinion on the arguments. Its not immediately clear how the bishops new position would affect their ruling and whether the court might side with the dioceses previous position.

The state attorney generals office said in an emailed statement Tuesday that it welcomes the introspection that produced this shift in the Diocese of Camdens position.

The statement pointed out that prosecutors are still subject to lower court orders that blocked the investigation.

Mark Crawford, state director of Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, said in a text message Tuesday that the change was long overdue.

We are cautiously optimistic as this is certainly the right thing to do and for the right reasons, he said. This should have happened long ago and seeing Bishop Williams take a different approach is encouraging.

The issue dates to a Pennsylvania grand jury report in 2018 that found more than 1,000 children had been abused in that state since the 1940s, prompting the New Jersey attorney general to announce a similar investigation.

But the results of New Jerseys inquiry never became public partly because a legal battle led by the Diocese of Camden was unfolding behind closed doors amid sealed proceedings.

Then, this year the Bergen Record obtained records disclosing a trial courts judgment in favor of the diocese and revealing the dioceses objection to the grand jury. And in March, the Supreme Court ordered more documents in the case unsealed.

The core disagreement is over whether a court rule permits grand juries in New Jersey to issue findings in cases involving private individuals. Trial and appellate courts found for the diocese.

In oral arguments, Supreme Court justices at times sounded skeptical of the dioceses then-position that the grand jury investigation would amount to a condemnation of the church and its officials.

We dont know what a grand jury would say, am I right? Justice Anne Patterson asked at the time.

Photo: The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, N.J., Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly passed a measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana with purchases permitted only through shops run by the state.

The vote, 102-101, was largely along party lines with Democrats prevailing.

The measure now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it faces opponents of both legalization and of the state-run store model.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which runs state liquor stores, would operate the stores.

The reality is the criminalization of cannabis does not work, it does not deter usage, it does not promote safety, and it is not in the best interest of our commonwealth, said the sponsor of House Bill 1200, Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia).

One opponent, Sen. Dan Laughlin, (R-Erie), chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, posted on social media: There is no path forward in the Senate for a state store model for adult-use cannabis.

Currently 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. Pennsylvania, along with 39 other states and D.C., allow marijuana use for medical purposes.

Topics Pennsylvania Cannabis
Lloyds of London has been told it must pay an extra $800,000 in prejudgment interest on a $2.5 million building fire loss payment to a community bank that it had wrongly denied coverage.

A three-judge panel of the Massachusetts Appeals Court recently sided with PeoplesBank in its claim against Certain Underwriters at Lloyds. After a trial judge found that the insurer wrongly denied coverage to the bank in 2018 under a builders risk insurance policy, the parties stipulated to loss amounts. But they differed over the prejudgment interest due under the state law that says the interest is from the date of the breach or demand.

On April 27, 2021, the parties stipulated to a damages amount of $2,274,194.07 and later, in 2013, to an additional amount of $236,000 that was delayed due to a separate court proceeding over of a contractors bill. Thus the total loss payment before interest was $2.5 million.

A motion judge determined that interest would be calculated at the statutory rate of 12% per annum from April 27, 2021, the date of the parties first stipulation on damages. A judgment entered to that effect.

But Peoples balked at that interest ruling and appealed. The bank claimed interest accrued not from April 27, 2021 but from July 3, 2018, the date when Lloyds first denied coverage, Thus, the bank estimated, it was due $800,000 more in interest than Lloyds would pay under the motion judges formula.

The insurer disagreed, arguing that its duty to reimburse was governed by the loss payment provision of the builders risk insurance contract, and thus did not arise until Lloyds had reached agreement with Peoples on the amount. Otherwise, Lloyds said, Peoples would receive a windfall. The policy promised that a loss would be paid within 30 days of the parties agreeing on the amount.

The appeals court sided with Peoples, disagreeing that the obligation to pay interest could be delayed as the insurer argued. The court noted that Lloyds breached the contract. Had Lloyds adhered to the contract, $2.274 million should have been paid to Peoples in response to the demand as of July 3, 2018.

On the facts here, there is little to commend Lloyds position that the accrual of interest should be delayed until (in its view) it had an obligation under the loss payment provision of the policy, the ruling states. To do so would result in a windfall to Lloyds for its breach.

In the written ruling, Justice John Englander acknowledged that the statute on prejudgment interest has not always been consistently applied and courts have not followed the statutes plain language in awarding interest. But the plain language of the law states that interest is from the date of the breach or demand.

Judge Englander wrote that a straightforward, plain language application of the statute would result in prejudgment interest commencing in July of 2018. That is the date of the breach  the date Lloyds wrongfully declined coverage.

That reasoning applied to the first stipulated amount of $2.274 million. As for the second amount of $236,000, however, the court said the circumstances differ because that amount was not paid to the contractor until 2022, after the separate litigation over that amount ended. In these specific circumstances, the appropriate course is to award prejudgment interest only from the date that the contractor was paid for its work, the appeals court concluded.

Topics Excess Surplus Lloyd's
The European Unions plan to slash the scope of new ESG regulations opens the door to a wave of litigation, as companies would no longer be required to act in a way that lives up to the blocs climate law.

The warning comes from more than 30 legal scholars across the EU and UK at universities including Oxford and Cambridge. They want EU lawmakers to rethink a planned revision of ESG due diligence requirements, according to a letter addressed to the European Parliament.

The EUs plan to simplify the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which was proposed as part of an omnibus bill put forward by the European Commission in February, is really risky, said Thom Wetzer, founding director of the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme and one of the legal scholars behind the letter.

Climate Targets Fall Short at Most Top CO2 Emitters

The EUs planned simplification is far-reaching in its scope. Of particular concern to the legal scholars behind the letter is the treatment of so-called transition plans. These are supposed to require companies to document how they will cut emissions in line with the EUs 2050 net zero goal, which the bloc has enshrined in law.

However, the current wording of the omnibus proposal appears to drop a requirement obliging companies to put transition plans into effect. That would undermine the EUs chances of living up to its own law, according to the letter.

Without a clearly stated requirement that companies actually implement their transition plans, it would be very difficult for the EU to achieve its emission reduction targets, Wetzer said. This would be a retrograde step.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said its proposed wording better aligns the requirements of CSDDD with other ESG legislation. It also makes clear that plans, which would be subject to supervision, must include actions for implementation.

Pressure to scale back regulations has come from member states including Germany and France, amid concerns European companies will be too burdened by regulatory requirements to compete with US and Asian rivals. Negotiations are set to continue for months, with a final proposal unlikely until the end of the year.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made clear she wants to cut red tape, with the likely outcome a slimmed down framework for environmental, social and governance requirements in the bloc.

At the same time, Europe faces pressure from the US to limit the so-called extra-territoriality of its rulebook. In April, the US Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the Trump administration in which it criticized EU regulations around transition plans as an example of regulatory overreach.

Climate and human rights activists, meanwhile, have slammed the EUs planned simplification of ESG rules.

Wetzer says hes aware of many parties that are active in the litigation space, and they are looking very carefully at this part of the omnibus bill and are ready to launch new cases to clarify legal obligations at member state levels.

The upshot is that litigation risk on emission reduction is significant in the EU, Wetzer said. And that sets the European Union apart from many other parts of the world.

CSDDD, which was passed into law in the EU law last year, sought to require companies to produce net zero transition plans, and then to live up to them. It also introduced the prospect of financial penalties for companies that fail to address human rights and environmental breaches in their supply chains. Lawmakers last month delayed implementation of CSDDD by a year to allow for revisions.

Its not just about achieving the targets, Wetzer said. Its also about achieving it in an orderly manner where companies have legal certainty and can plan ahead. Thats pretty important.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Trends Europe
International Holding Co., Abu Dhabis largest listed company thats overseen by a key member of the emirates royal family, is setting up a $1 billion reinsurance venture with BlackRock Inc.

The yet-to-be-named firm will launch with more than $1 billion in initial equity commitments and aims to manage $10 billion in liabilities, backed by partnerships with BlackRock and Abu Dhabi-based asset manager Lunate, according to a statement.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabis financial free zone, ADGM, the firm will be chaired by Sultan Al Jaber  the United Arab Emirates minister for industry and advanced technology. It will be led by Mark Wilson, the former chief executive officer of Aviva Plc and AIA Group Ltd.

BlackRock will provide an initial minority investment and will support the venture with insurance asset management, advisory services and technology. Lunate will serve as a partner, offering its experience across public and private markets.

The new firm will make use of AI as a core part of the strategy, enhancing underwriting capabilities by improving the quality and speed of risk assessments.

BlackRock received a commercial license to operate in Abu Dhabi last year, and the latest deal deepens its ties to the emirate.

The firm is partnering with MGX on a partnership that aims to build $30 billion worth of data centers and other artificial intelligence infrastructure. Lunate, meanwhile, acquired a stake in ADNOC Oil Pipelines from BlackRock and KKR & Co. last year.

IHC, MGX, and Lunate are part of a vast empire overseen by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan  the UAEs national security adviser and a brother to its president.

The UAE, of which Abu Dhabi is the capital, has been pushing to diversify away from its dependence on oil. Its expanding into areas like technology, finance and health care.

Home to three sovereign wealth funds that control close to $1.7 trillion in assets, Abu Dhabi has become a magnet for international investors. At the same time, the UAE has pushed global financial giants to set up local partnerships to help build the domestic economy.

Photograph: Sultan Al Jaber; photo credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Reinsurance
SiriusPoint Promotes Fenn to Global Head of Marine

SiriusPoint Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, announced the promotion of Chris Fenn to global head of Marine, in addition to two strategic appointments to strengthen its global marine offering.

Previously head of Marine, London, for SiriusPoint International, Fenn joined the company in February 2024 and has prior experience in leading marine teams during his 14-year tenure at Markel. In his new role Fenn will lead SiriusPoints Marine team with a key focus on building the cargo, fine art and specie, ports and terminal, and marine liability offering.

In addition, Anthony Grew will join SiriusPoints Marine team as head of Cargo on July 21, and Giulia Argano will join its global claims team as marine claims adjuster in May. They will both be based in London, with Grew reporting to Fenn and Argano reporting to Hamish McBride, head of MGA and Program Claims.

Grew joins SiriusPoint from Allied World where he was most recently vice president of the Marine Division. He brings with him over 20 years of experience within the marine industry, previously working at CNA Hardy, ACE Group, FP Marine Risks, OMV, and Glencore.

Argano joins with over 12 years of experience within the marine Industry. Most recently at Capanna Marine S.r.l., she served as manager and controller of Capanna Marine Lloyds Agencies. Prior to that Argano held roles at Tagliavia & Capanna S.r.l. and Sea International Services S.r.l.

SiriusPoint said these new appointments highlight the companys commitment to the marine sector and its ambitions to grow marine business across its global platform.

***

Arch Insurance International Promotes Mansouri to UK PI Underwriting Manager

Arch Insurance International announced the promotion of Sophie Mansouri to UK professional indemnity (PI) underwriting manager, effective immediately.

This promotion follows the integration of Archs London Market Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) and UK Regional PI operations into a single, unified team.

In this newly created role, Mansouri is responsible for overseeing the eight-strong underwriting teams UK PI portfolio, spanning coverage for both traditional and non-traditional professions including technical and scientific services. Based in London, she reports to David Longley, head of PI.

Mansouri brings over 11 years of commercial lines experience to the role and joined Arch in 2023 from Hiscox, where she was UK Large Renewals Team manager.

By combining both regional and London Market specialist expertise, the unified UK PI team provides brokers with seamless access to a broader range of insurance solutions and underwriting expertise for more complex risks, Arch said, explaining that the new structure ensures a cohesive underwriting approach across the UK and enhanced service for brokers and their clients.

The UK PI team forms part of Archs wider PI division comprising the London Market Large Account PI team, led by Austen Barnes, underwriting manager, and the newly created PI Delegated Authority segment, led by Paul Sharpe, underwriting manager.

Topics Underwriting
Recent actions by President Donald Trumps administration, including staff cuts at the Food and Drug Administration, have raised questions among consumers about food safety in the United States.

Here is an explanation of how food safety inspection works in the U.S., and how Trump administration cuts to some health and safety programs are reshaping those efforts.

HOW DOES FOOD SAFETY WORK?

The FDA regulates the safety of 80% of the nations food supply, ranging from baby formula to leafy greens and food additives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the rest, focusing on animal products like meat and eggs.

The safety of the U.S. food supply is largely ensured by the people who produce it and companies that process it, according to experts who spoke to Reuters. Meat companies must have USDA inspectors in slaughter plants, and food manufacturers also conduct inspections to check that their products are safe.

Federal inspectors at the FDA perform periodic checks of food facilities and are also responsible, with state regulators and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for investigating outbreaks of foodborne illness.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A FOODBORNE ILLNESS OUTBREAK?

It can all start with a stomachache or other symptoms that signal something is off. An individual may tough out their illness at home, but if they visit a doctor or hospital, their medical providers may collect samples to assess whether they have been infected with a pathogen from food.

Food can be contaminated in several ways. Fresh lettuce grown in fields can come in contact with manure from nearby livestock. Undercooked hamburger meat can contain bacteria. Materials such as plastic or wood can contaminate food items in factories. And allergens can be missing from product labels.

State health agencies may notice several reports of illness on surveillance systems and launch an investigation. They may also involve the CDC, which can monitor whether other states are seeing cases of foodborne illness. The CDC can coordinate with affected states to help determine the origin of the outbreak.

Companies are rarely criminally charged for outbreaks, but the risk of reputational damage encourages them to maintain high standards, said Donald Schaffner, a food science professor at Rutgers University.

And companies running afoul may face fewer consequences. A Justice Department unit that handles criminal and civil enforcement of U.S. food and drug safety laws was disbanded as part of the Trump administrations cost-cutting campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.

Disbanding the DOJs Consumer Protection Branch removes the legal teeth needed to hold such violators accountable, said Darin Detwiler, an associate teaching professor at Northeastern University who wrote a book about food safety.

Without prosecutors who specialize in complex food and drug safety law, it becomes far less likely that companies will face meaningful consequences  even in cases involving death and deception, he said.

CAN STATES HANDLE OUTBREAKS THEMSELVES?

The Trump administration is considering moving routine food safety oversight to state and local authorities, according to media reports.

That change would not necessarily mean that food would become less safe because processors shipping food to multiple states would still need to adhere to those states food safety standards, Schaffner said.

But states vary in how much money and staff they assign to food safety epidemiology, so there could be a patchwork response to illness outbreaks, experts said.

Only federal agencies can establish and enforce nationwide food safety standards; coordinate interstate recalls and investigate multistate outbreaks; and operate surveillance networks that detect emerging threats across jurisdictions, said Detwiler.

The loss of experienced staff at FDA and USDA directly undermines our ability to prevent, detect and respond to foodborne threats, he said.

WHAT FOOD SAFETY CUTS HAS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MADE?

The Department of Health and Human Services, which contains the CDC and FDA, has lost about 20,000 employees due to Trump administration cuts.

Those cuts have caused the suspension of several FDA food safety assurance programs, including quality-control programs for Grade A milk and vegetables like spinach, and a program to improve the agencys testing of aged cheese and pet food for bird flu.

The FDA on May 6 rescinded the terminations of some staff working on food safety, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The USDA also cut two food safety advisory committees and withdrew a proposed rule aimed at reducing the risk of Salmonella contamination in poultry.

The full impacts from those cuts have yet to be seen, experts said.

Its not like the wheels have fallen off the bus, but all the nuts are off and the bus is going downhill, Schaffner said.

IS MY MILK SAFE TO DRINK AND FOOD OK TO EAT?

There has been no indication that food safety standards for milk have fallen as a result of Trump administration cuts.

The milk sector has sophisticated state-level inspection and regulation that maintains high standards, said Nicole Martin, assistant research professor and director of the Milk Quality Improvement Program at Cornell University.

But those extra safeguards do not exist for every food item, and federal regulators are key for providing national assurance of food quality, Martin said.

I worry about less oversight at the FDA level for food safety issues in general, Martin said.

In Utah, FDA staff are no longer traveling to the state to audit local inspectors who ensure that food manufacturing facilities are clean and properly training employees, said Travis Waller, a division director for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It definitely slows us down in our progress to meet FDA standards for conducting food facility inspections, Waller said.
President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown is making it harder for foreigners to buy and rent homes, threatening a key pillar of Miamis half-decade-long economic boom.

Miami, like much of the US, had already been seeing a real estate slowdown driven by higher mortgage rates and record prices. South Florida was also hard hit by soaring insurance costs and condo maintenance fees, as well as the inevitable comedown after the pandemic-induced relocation frenzy that made the area a magnet for new arrivals.

Now, conversations with house hunters, brokers and mortgage lenders point to another dynamic at play: Growing concern that even legal immigrants arent safe from ever-changing policy is paralyzing the market in Miami, where more than half the population is foreign born.

Home sales are down more than 17% from a year earlier in Miami, nearly six times the national decline, according to March data from Redfin Corp. Properties now spend a median of almost 100 days on the market, more than twice the US rate and a sign of waning demand. In the rental market  which is more likely to cater to undocumented migrants and legal immigrants living temporarily in the US prices for one-bedroom apartments have plunged 16% in the past year, Zillow Rentals data show.

Some people are afraid  they want to buy or rent, but they say, How can I if I dont know if next year, or next week, my visa is going to be extended or not?' said Maruja Gil, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital in Miami with almost two decades of experience. That really affects our market.

It all points to how quickly Trumps pledge to undertake the biggest deportation push in history has trickled down to the real estate market in one of Americas most culturally diverse cities. Three months into his second term, the president has moved to roll back refugee, asylum and so-called temporary protected status programs for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and elsewhere, affecting thousands of people in Miami even as some of these policies are being challenged in court.

Florida has augmented federal immigration efforts with one of the toughest state crackdowns in the country. Governor Ron DeSantis in February signed laws criminalizing unauthorized entry, expanding enforcement funding, and mandating the death penalty for undocumented immigrants convicted of capital crimes.

In recent days, federal agents, local and state law enforcement arrested 1,120 suspected criminal immigrants in Florida.

Read more: Trumps Mass-Deportation Campaign Overcrowds Miami ICE Center

Real estate has an outsize importance in Florida. The industry generates almost a quarter of the states economic activity, more than for any other state, according to the National Association of Realtors. There are about 11,000 real estate agents in South Florida, substantially more than in metro Los Angeles and New York  cities more than twice as large.

But Floridas pandemic-fueled housing boom is now in reverse. Across the state, sales were down in March and housing inventories at record highs, according to Redfin. Squeezing immigrant buyers doesnt help, people in the industry say.

One Miami agent said that in recent months, two-thirds of his clients in the high-rise luxury market in the Brickell district have scrapped plans to buy. Another said that demand isnt only down substantially among visa holders but supply is also growing because some owners who dont have permanent residency are looking to sell their homes and buy in Europe or Latin America instead. Hector Diaz, a lawyer with the firm Your Immigration Attorney, said hes seeing a dramatic slowdown in foreigners willing to invest the $1 million or more often needed to get an investor-based green card.

Theyre stepping back and waiting to see how this plays out, said Peggy Olin, the chief executive officer of OneWorld Properties, who said clients from France and Mexico recently shied away from deals over concerns about immigration rules. Any time the United States shows any type of uncertain path or signs of issues, the rest of the world pauses, especially if theres an investment component.

Trumps policies are also weighing on the lower end of the market, with many landlords asking for proof of US citizenship or a long-term visa before they rent a home, according to local real estate brokers. They say thats a departure from the past, when temporary visas were fine and landlords were often willing to look the other way if someone was undocumented.

Adding to the pressure, the Trump administration is cutting off Federal Housing Administration mortgages  which account for 16% of all single-family home loans  to anyone who doesnt have US citizenship or permanent residency. Until now, FHA loans, which are popular with first-time buyers because they accept lower credit scores and just a 3.5% down payment, were available to people with temporary status.

This is already having an impact, said Alexander Jose Gandarilla, a mortgage consultant and CEO of iFinance Florida in Coral Gables. And its only going to have more of an impact.

Trumps deportation campaign is adding to woes facing one of the nations main stalwarts of growth since the pandemic. Wages in the Miami area were up only 1.2% from a year ago in March, down from a rate of more than 7% seen in recent years and the weakest among the nations largest metro areas, government data showed. And after hiring at a much faster rate than the national average in the aftermath of the pandemic, job growth in Miami has been lagging behind the US.

The broader issue is that Trumps policies are taking aim at Americas long-time perch as one of the worlds most desirable place to invest, according to Chen Zhao, the head of economic research at Redfin.

From the perspective of a foreign buyer, America might not be a very stable place to invest for the time being  its a lot less attractive of an asset, Zhao said. Foreign buyers dont see US real estate as an attractive prospect anymore.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
In early 2021, at the end of Irelands final covid lockdown, Lisa Harding was feeling blue. Shed been looking forward to the new year, with the release of her second novel, Bright Burning Things, and indeed, it had received rapturous acclaim from critics.

But with covid still raging, she was unable to get out and publicise the book.

So even the extraordinary news that the novel had been picked up for the Today Show book club in the US failed to lift her mood.

It was huge, she says, as we chat over coffee in the Museum of Literature, Ireland, and my publishers were very excited, but I didnt get to go to America.

I should have gone over and been on The Today show. They would have put me up in New York.

I was on TV, but it was all done on Zoom, and that felt flat and very isolating.

I was on my own in life, so the whole experience felt sad.

It was during this time that she started work on her recently released third novel, The Wildelings, set in a fictionalised version of Trinity College Dublin in 1992  when Lisa was a student there.

Ive always loved the campus novel, she says.

Its rarefied, but you have youth, hormones, abandon, drugs, sex, and rock and roll, and the petri dish setting.

In the early 1990s, we could afford to live in town. I made my own way, waitressing throughout college and managed to pay rent. We had a lot of freedom.

She calls her university The Wilde as an homage to the Oscar Wilde Creative Writing department where, in 2014, she took an MPhil.

I love Wilde; I love the centre, and calling it that gave me total artistic licence, she explains.

Characters have all suffered familial abandonment

The novel features a group of beautiful students, headed by suburban best friends Jessica and Linda, who have all  in various ways  suffered familial abandonment.

When an older student, Mark, takes up with Linda, he infiltrates the group and sets them up against each other  plying them with drink and drugs  then he watches the fallout.

The book starts when Jessica, now in middle age, is talking to a therapist, trying to understand and come to terms with the events of her student life  and to try and forgive herself.

Lisa met her deadline. The novel was accepted for publication, but she felt it wasnt quite right.

After realising how she could fix it, she asked for it back.

Initially Mark was just a dark predator  a mentalist who played with all these kids  but then I realised that he was a writer, and that Jessica was an actress.

It blurs the boundaries of the theatre and real life.

He was the writer who watches the worst of human behaviour and sets it off so that he can write about it; the brilliant writers mind and icy heart.

I loved the idea of his feeding into all their insecurities and wounds  inveigling his way into their lives and causing havoc.

Jessica is cast as the star of Marks play and, in a shocking scene, is left traumatised. That didnt happen to Lisa, who adored her Trinity days  and particularly her time acting in Players.

But as a young actress in Dublin, she remembers feeling unsafe.

I was in a rehearsal room with two men who were older than me. I was in my underwear, because the part required it, and they were smoking dope. Really inappropriate things were said.

Her experience gives this book an air of authenticity throughout. I was hugely impressed with it  with the writing, theatricality, and sheer page turning drama of it.

I learned from it too  what it is to be an actress, as well as the long-lasting effects abandonment can bring.

Ive always loved Lisas visceral writing, and this, her best yet, may well become my novel of the year.

While Lisa has always enjoyed writing, her initial ambition was to be a dancer.

I was a strong contemporary dancer, but there were no training schools in Ireland.

I got into a place in London, but there was no money and no funding back then, she says.

She studied European languages at Trinity, and then got caught up in Trinity Players  discovering her love and talent for acting. Dominic West directed her in her first play.

Having caught the acting bug, she won a scholarship to the Gaiety School of Acting.

From there, she built up a successful career  appearing at the Gate Theatre, the Abbey and the Lyric. But a move to London proved less enjoyable.

I was having a really hard time in my late 20s, she says.

I was panic attacking. When you train in the Meissner technique, theyre clearing the actor of any ego. They draw on your past hurts and traumas, but theyre not psychologists.

They take you to a place where you get really distressed but dont put you back together, and that can be really damaging.

Mark uses this method among others to bring out the best acting in Jessica.

Mark was a good director and a brilliant writer, says Lisa, but does the end justify the means?

Does high art mean you can do anything and get away with it? Mark would say yes, but no is obviously the answer.

Lisa hated auditions  never feeling she gave of her best, and as time went on, she wasnt getting the kind of parts she wanted.

By her late 30s, it was all getting a bit much. Thats when she tried writing plays.

I shocked myself, she says, as I hadnt written since school.

I sent a play out everywhere, and the National Theatre in London called me in. They said this is unique. Its weird and wonderful.

They didnt put the play on, but they commissioned me to write for a festival for new writers.

The books which have followed, she says, are a continuation.

They are very theatrical, with a lot of dialogue, action, and colour.

The first one, Harvesting, grew out of a short story Lisa wrote during her MPhil in Creative Writing.

A visceral, raw story of sex trafficking in Dublin, it focuses on the friendship of two 15 year olds who end up in a highly supervised brothel  Sammy from Dublin, and Nico from Moldova.

And the second, Bright Burning Things, features Sonia  a former actress and single mum who is struggling with addiction.

I felt like I was in Sonias skin, says Lisa, whereas Jessica is a very heightened, damaged wilful part of me  and of all young actresses I think.

She is currently playing with her fourth novel  which also features an actress.

Im writing a lot of scenes and chapters, and just exploring the world of it, she says.

Describing herself as a very messy writer  the last two novels have taken four years each to complete  Lisa is determined to get the next one finished quicker.

But you never know. In four years, I could be saying: Im not finished.

Lisa is now in a happy place  she has a partner she adores and has enjoyed several Arts Council funded residencies. She enjoys teaching, but does writing make her happy?

When Im in the flow, writing has a similar pulse to dancing. It feels like its coming from somewhere bigger than me. That feeling is amazing, but it doesnt happen a lot.

The more you write, and the more pressure is on you to write another book, the more difficult it is to feel that freedom. But when Im in it, I really do love it.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has led official tributes and congratulations on the election of Pope Leo.

He said the celebrations in St. Peters Square are a reflection of the "hopes and goodwill" felt by Catholics all around the world towards him.

I hope that this groundswell of best wishes towards Pope Leo XIV will give him strength and support as he takes on the immense responsibility of his pontificate.

I know that he has the best wishes of all Irish people, of all traditions.

The Taoiseach added: I also send my congratulations to the people of the United States, a country with which Ireland enjoys such a deep and strong relationship.

To have a Pope from their country is a source of great pride and an honour for their nation.

I wish Pope Leo XIV every strength, good health, and the required spiritual guidance as he begins his mission of leading the Catholic Church at a time of challenge, building on the pastoral direction and achievements of Pope Francis."

He added that he looked forward to working with the new pope "as an important and influential partner" in addressing the "many and interlinked challenges facing our world".

Michael D Higgins has led congratulations in Ireland following the election of Pope Leo XIV. File picture: Niall Carson/PA

President Michael D Higgins said the new popes election was an immensely significant moment for all those of faith and goodwill around the world.

Pope Leo XIV assumes this important role at a time of great challenges for the world.

I send Pope Leo my very best wishes as he begins his pontificate, and I welcome his statement that he is prepared to lead with compassion, wisdom and an enduring commitment to the values of peace, justice and human dignity.

The president added: Ireland enjoys a long-standing and deeply rooted connection with the Holy See.

It is founded on shared values of interdependence, and the responsibility that goes with it, as well as historical ties.

We in Ireland very much look forward to maintaining and deepening that relationship with Pope Leo, as we continue to share the project of fostering dialogue and understanding between peoples and nations.

He concluded: It is my sincere hope that under Pope Leos leadership, the Holy See will continue to play a central role in promoting global solidarity, addressing the pressing issues of poverty, inequality, conflict, and climate change.

Northern Irelands first minister Michelle ONeill, has described the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as a day of profound significance, urging the American Pope to stand with Gaza.

In a post on X, she wrote: This is a day of profound significance for Catholics in Ireland and worldwide, as Pope Leo XIV assumes his role of spiritual leader.

I hope he will use his influence to stand up for the marginalised and oppressed, champion peace and lead with courage and compassion, just as his predecessor, Pope Francis, did.

As the genocide in Gaza continues and a devastating famine looms, I encourage the Pope to stand unwaveringly for the rights of the Palestinian people to life, dignity and freedom, and to urgently use his influence to help bring an end to this barbaric genocide.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said it was a momentous day for Catholics around the world (Brian Lawless/PA)

Tanaiste Simon Harris said it was a momentous occasion for millions of Catholics around the world.

He said: The election of a new Pope is always a significant moment, not only for the Catholic Church but for the broader global community.

As Tanaiste and on behalf of the Government of Ireland, I extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish him every success for his pontificate.

I have no doubt he will continue to build on the extraordinary legacy left behind by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who taught us all the importance of kindness and humanity.

The Tanaiste added: Ireland shares a long and enduring relationship with the Holy See, rooted in deep historical, cultural and spiritual ties.

We in Ireland value this connection, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening our close engagement with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIVs leadership.

In a time marked by complex global challenges, from poverty and conflict to climate change, the role of moral and spiritual leadership is more vital than ever.

We hope to work together with His Holiness in the pursuit of peace, justice, and solidarity amongst people.

Catholic Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin (Liam McBurney/PA)

Catholic Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin said he welcomed the new Pope with great joy.

He added: At the end of February I and the other Irish archbishops  Dermot Farrell, Kieran OReilly, Francis Duffy  met with him, and he came across as a humble and respectful listener, wanting to learn as much as possible about the Church in Ireland.

He is a calm, affable and approachable person. He is a friend of Ireland and no doubt the Augustinian communities at home will be delighted with the news.

Archbishop John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said: In any episcopal and pontifical succession beginnings are never completely new and endings are never entirely final.

So, we give thanks to God for the spiritual riches which Pope Leo has inherited and pray he may know the presence of our common Lord and Saviour as he walks together in discipleship with all who are called by His Name.

Archbishop Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Glendalough and Primate of Ireland, said: Pope Leo is in our prayers as he embarks upon his Godly task which is new to him and new to the world as the Bishop of Rome.

We rejoice with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in Ireland as they prepare for a new chapter in their spiritual lives and as we prepare for this new chapter with them.

Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian said: Addressing the crowds gathered in Rome earlier this evening, Pope Leo XIV reminded everyone of the universality of the Church and that God loves us, all of us.

In a world torn apart by conflict, war and confusion, he encourages us to be heralds of peace and unity.

The Church of Irelands Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, John McDowell, said his church rejoiced with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.

He said: I wish to pass on the good wishes of the Church of Ireland not only to Pope Leo but also to the bishops, priests and Catholic people of Ireland as they enter in closer communion and closer knowledge of their new Chief Shepherd.
None of the demonstrators removed from a rally for mothers and children killed in Gaza at the Dail last month have made a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, the Irish Examiner has learned.

Up to 40 people  including members of the Mothers Against Genocide group  were involved in the overnight staged encampment that began on Mothers Day at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin.

The group blocked the entrance to the Dail and were given a direction and a period of time by gardai to move under the Public Order Act the following morning.

However, when they failed to do so, gardai removed the protesters, causing outrage among some members of the public and TDs.

In the Dail, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett described it as a peaceful sit-down protest and said the women were arrested violently, in some cases.

He said one woman told him: I was stripped completely naked and was asked to remove my underwear. When I questioned the necessity of this, I was told I would be forced violently if I didnt comply, the account read.

After removing my underwear, they looked inside my private areas and touched all my sensitive parts. Deputy Boyd Barrett described the alleged behaviour as absolutely disgusting and said the women were a threat to nobody.

While SolidarityPeople Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger said, Some of those women were strip-searched and one was subjected to a cavity search.

Mothers Against Genocide protesting outside Leinster House, Mother's Day 2025

The Irish Examiner has since learned that none of the protesters who were removed from the gates of Leinster House have submitted a formal complaint to the new garda Ombudsman.

A spokesperson for Fiosru, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, said it has received 61 contacts from concerned members of the public about the media reports of the protest.

The statement continued: It is open to anyone directly affected by or who has witnessed an act or omission by An Garda Siochana members to make a complaint to Fiosru.

Fiosru does not share information relating to complaints made by or against individuals. This is to protect the investigative process, and the rights of both complainants and those complained against.

Fiosru is not in a position to comment any further.

The 61 complaints from members of the public include those who viewed videos of the incident on social media or read about it on the internet.

It does not include anyone who was directly affected by the incident that unfolded during the encampment.

Complaints can be submitted to Fiosru up to a year after an alleged incident occurs involving gardai.

Megan Ni Ghabhlain of Mothers Against Genocide said at the time there had been a complete escalation by the gardai against women involved in a peaceful protest at a time when few people were going in and out of the Dail.

Unfortunately, this morning, the gardai decided they were going to remove these precious faces of these children in the most disrespectful manner, she said.

Garda presence as Mothers Against Genocide protest outside Leinster House, 31 March 2025

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik later said she was shocked that anyone from Mothers Against Genocide would be arrested.

Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said it was a heavy-handed approach by gardai.

A garda spokesperson said at the time: The direction given by gardai was not complied with and a number of individuals were subsequently arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and conveyed to garda stations in Dublin.

10 females (20s, 30s, 40s and 50s) and one male (20s) were arrested under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

All 11 people have received adult cautions.

An additional three men (20s and 30s) were also arrested for alleged offences under sections 6, 9, and 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

The three individuals have been charged and are now before the courts.
A 94-year-old survivor of the Tuam mother and baby home will be able to buy her Galway council home to leave to her son after her story made international headlines, helping to raise 70,000.

Last month, Christine Chrissie Tully from Loughrea, Co Galway, told the Irish Examiner she lived in fear she would die without ever meeting her missing son Michael.

The infant was immediately taken from Chrissie after she gave birth. She was told he had died, but she never got to see his grave and fears he may have been adopted to the US.

Chrissie, who never married and lives alone in her two-bedroomed council house said: What if I die and he is alive and comes looking for me? I will have nothing for him."

In a desperate bid to leave Michael her home, she launched a GoFundMe campaign with the hope of raising 50,000  the valuation of the property given to her by Galway County Council.

Her story, was picked up by the New York Times earlier this week, and since then almost 70,000 has been raised.

Chrissie Tully with her son Patrick Naughton.

Her second son Patrick Naughton, who lives in the UK with his family and was reunited with his mother a decade ago following his forced adoption, said his mother was shocked to the core.

She cant believe it he said. Chrissie is in utter shock. To think people really cared so much for my poor mother Chrissie, the story has really touched peoples lives".

One very kind and generous woman from California got in touch and donated 50,000  she told me she had read Chrissies story and that she had no family herself and that this was a good cause.

"It is just unbelievable. We are lost for words. This is a woman who had two babies taken off her and had no support.

Chrissie is getting older now and lives in fear that Michael could be alive, we just dont know. If he ever did come back and is alive, the house in Loughrea will be there for him with all my mothers simple possessions.

The donations have come just a month before the exhumation of the Tuam babies mass grave is due to begin.

Up to 796 children from the former mother and baby home died during its operation from 1925 to 1961 and are believed to be buried in a septic tank.

Patrick said his mother lives with two gut wrenching dilemmas: Michael is either in that awful pit with hundreds of others, or he was forcibly adopted like others. Imagine living your whole life carrying that burden.
WARNING: Some readers may find the following article upsetting

A married farmer and father of four was unanimously found guilty by a jury on Friday of raping a man on two separate occasions.

Thomas Tossy Nyhan, aged 64, from Crookstown, Co Cork, can be named for the first time, after a judge lifted reporting restrictions following Nyhans 11-day trial at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring ordered that no details be reported which might lead to the identification of the victim, who told the court that the rapes felt like barbed wire inside him.

Nyhan had denied two counts of anal rape of the victim, at a location in Munster, in January 2011 and in April 2019.

When questioned about the rapes by gardai in May 2019, Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim but he denied raping him, the court heard.

The rape allegations, which were presented in court by prosecuting senior counsel Fionnuala OSullivan and prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by Aoife OHalloran, Chief State Solicitors Office, surfaced when the victim told his GP following the second rape.

During the trial, and while under cross-examination by Nyhans barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, the victim agreed that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011.

'Lies'

The victim denied claims by Nyhan that he had asked him for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhans crotch a number of times. The victim said Nyhans claims were lies.

Speaking about the rapes, the victim told the court: I told him to stop, I didn't like it. When asked by Mr Nicholas what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied: I was just scared, I just froze.

Mr Nicholas said Nyhan claimed the victim asked him for 150 cash for sex, and that the victim had removed his own pants and underpants for sex. Mr Nicholas suggested the victim had been in possession of a knife and that as Nyhan was afraid youd harm yourself, he pretended to go along with it.

The victim told the court this was bullshit. He (Nyhan) put his penis into me, and before he put his penis into me, he spat down on my hole.

The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and despite pleading with Nyhan to stop the farmer thrust himself into the victim, told him he loved him, raped him, and afterwards kissed the victim on his private parts.

The victim told the court Nyhans denials were lies.

It was like barbed wire going up your, (pause), it was like hell, like something burning you, the victim said, breaking down in tears, giving his evidence.

Nyhans wife, Mary Nyhan, accompanied her husband to court every day of his trial and sat with him during breaks in proceedings.

After the verdicts were returned the couple walked out of the court together. Thomas Tossy Nyhan was remanded on bail for sentencing on June 23.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
An online sting operation caught a 70-year-old man involved in sexualised conversations with parties he was led to believe were 11 and 12-year-old girls.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Patrick Linehan, previously of Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, has pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising out of the sting and he has been remanded in custody for sentencing on June 20.

Judge Helen Boyle agreed to adjourn the case to obtain a Probation and Welfare Report and a GP report but indicated that she would be dealing with it by way of a custodial sentence.

Defence barrister Ronan Barnes said the accused pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and co-operated with the gardai. He said the defendant had an exemplary work record with Cork City Council, where he worked for 31 years in drainage.

Patrick Linehan admitted using information technology to interact with children for the purpose of sexual exploitation and arranging to meet a child for the purpose of sexual assault.

Case background

Detective Garda Brendan Murray outlined the background to the case.

On July 8, 2023, gardai were alerted to an incident at Comeragh Park, the Glen, Cork. On attending this address, they met with the accused, who was in the company of a number of people who purported to be members of an organization called Child Online Protection Enforcers.

A member of this group handed gardai two USB storage devices which, he stated, contained sexualized conversations between the accused and two female children aged 11 and 12 years. It was confirmed to gardai that these girls did not exist, but their profiles were generated by and controlled by adults posing as children.

When interviewed by gardai, the accused, Pat Linehan admitted he had been in contact with two girls and acknowledged he was aware the girls really were 11 and 12 years of age. He later stated he thought the 12-year-old was 15 or 16 as she sounded older from the texts.

He acknowledged he had sent her images and videos, but stated they were not obscene. He also stated that she had asked to meet with him a few times, but he had never met up with her. He described the communications with the 11-year-old girl as harmless fun.

During the investigation, gardai analysed Facebook messages and WhatsApp messages between Pat Linehan and the decoy profiles of an 11- and 12-year-old female. The Facebook profile pictures of both profiles are of young female children who could not be mistaken to be adults.

In the initial conversations with each of the profiles, Pat Linehan is informed he is communicating with children, and their ages are discussed on a number of occasions throughout the message threads.

Pat Linehan initially states to both children he is 13 years old, but later, after sending selfie-type photos of himself, is challenged and admits he is older, stating he was 62. (He was 68 at the time).

Pat Linehan sexualized the conversations very early in the communications with both profiles and describes in graphic detail sexual acts he would like to perform on the young girls He asks if they would perform sexual acts on him, to which they reply, questioning if they're allowed to do that, given their ages.

"Pat Linehan suggests nobody would know, that it would be a secret. He sent images of his penis to both girls, and he sent videos of a sexual nature to the profile of the 11-year-old girl. The message thread to both girls, began on the June 19, 2023, and continued for a number of weeks, concluding on the July 8, 2023.

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
Cybercrime sentencing needs to have a general deterrent effect on accused people and on others, a Circuit Court Judge said on Friday as she jailed a man for two years for setting up an internet site to sell malware and credit cards.

The accused man was investigated in Ireland by An Garda Siochana and also by the FBI in America and tracked down to his home address in Douglas and found to have 80,000 in cryptocurrencies as a result of online criminality.

Suleman Mazhar, who was previously of Moneygourney, Douglas, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to two years' imprisonment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The judge recalled what was said earlier by the prosecution and defence and also took into consideration letters written to the court by the accused and his partner.

Sentencing

Assessing the gravity of the offence, you set up and controlled a website selling false credit cards and malware and you made 80,000 in cryptocurrency. That is now worth 200,000.

This was a deliberate criminal enterprise set up and run by you. You controlled and interacted on the website. There was no evidence it was to assist a criminal organisation - you yourself were the criminal organisation.

In mitigation, you entered a plea of guilty in early course and saved the State the time and expense of a trial. This would have been a relatively long and complex case.

You have computer skills and found it difficult to get work in that area. You have spent 10 months in custody (which will be taken into consideration in terms of the two-year sentence to be served).

You found your time in prison to be difficult. You have not come to attention since. You are determined to rectify your mistakes and contribute positively to the community.

Unfortunately I do not think the time you have already spent in custody is sufficient. And I need to consider general deterrence of cybercrime, Judge Boyle said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Detective Garda Wes Kenny outlined what happened back in July 2021.

Case background

The accused man was identified and 80,000 in cryptocurrencies was seized. Suleman Mazhar was questioned by gardai and replied, "No comment", to all questions at interview. The case was listed for trial but in advance of trial the accused entered a guilty plea in respect of a charge arising out of the investigation.

There was an application for forfeiture of the bitcoin to the State. While the value was put at 80,000 at the time of the offences, Det. Sgt Kenny testified that it is now worth 200,000.

The State did not object to the return of the defendants car and his computer, provided that he consented to it being wiped clear. There was no State application for forfeiture of 9,000 in an account held by the defendant in Germany, which was not deemed to be connected to the case.

Jane Hyland, senior counsel, said the accused had an interest in putting computer science to legitimate use but that he had fallen into this criminal behaviour for which he was very remorseful.

The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges  money-laundering and using a computer to commit theft.

The money-laundering referred to a period between June 2020 and July 2021, both within the State, knowing or believing cryptocurrency held in the Coinbase account in your name, was the proceeds of crime.

The second count referred to a period between September 2020 and March 2022 when he did dishonestly operate a computer with the intention of making a gain for yourself or another, or of causing loss to another by obtaining payments made in respect of goods and services offered for sale on a website bearing the address cashoutempire.com.
A judge has stated that it is a pity that there is not a ban on sunbed operators facilitating sunbed sessions for adults.

At Ennis District Court on Friday, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment after a Shannon-based sunbed business, Solcraft Ltd entered a guilty plea to selling the use of a sunbed at Cosmopoli-Tan in Shannon to a person under the age of 18.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is bringing the rare prosecution under Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 where only two such HSE prosecutions for the sale of sunbed sessions to minors were recorded in 2024.

Solcraft Ltd of Dun Na Ri, Shannon has pleaded guilty to the offence taking place at Cosmopoli-Tan at Unit 7, Block E, Bru Na Sionna, Shannon on November 26th 2024.

Acting as agent in the case on behalf of solicitor, John Casey, solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick told the court there is a guilty plea in the case by Solcraft Ltd.

Judge Gabbett told the court that sunbed operators can't facilitate providing a sunbed session to children.

He said: That is a very good thing. It is a pity that this doesn't apply to adults as well."

Solicitor for the HSE, Michelle Cronin said: "I wouldnt disagree with you, Judge. Judge Gabbett said:

To be frank now, there were prosecutions by the HSE for smoking [in the workplace] but this is the same thing. It is probably more dangerous.

Ms Cronin said: It is a concern to us that there is an increase in the amount of sunbeds available.

The HSE was prosecuting three parties for the same offence in the case and Ms Cronin of Comyn Kelleher Tobin Solicitors said that the HSE was withdrawing the prosecutions against Przemyslaw Szczupak of Cosmopoli-Tan and Munique Comargo of Cregaun, Ennis.

Asked on the level of enforcement activity under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act, a spokesman for the HSE said on Friday: In 2024, ten fixed payment notices were served and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014.

He said: Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and both were upheld by the court. He added:

"In 2023, 17 fixed payment notices were served, and four prosecutions taken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014.

"Two of the prosecutions were for sales to minors and one was upheld by the Court."

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case for sentence to June 20 at Ennis District Court.
I met Jimmy in the summer of 2001 in a bar in Newport, Rhode Island. I was on my J1, four months stretching ahead of me  a glorious sense of summer.

It was a love affair wrapped inside a love affair. The cultural romance between Ireland and America back then created a separate, magnetic attraction. He loved Irish girls, just as I loved American boys. Star Wars style, the force was with us.

Who didnt love an American boy back in July of 2001? Eight years before Estelles hit single, America was the ultimate boy, a great catch, the good guy, the debonair, romantic lead. America was still Clark Gable. Richard Gere. Denzel Washington. It was wholesome and handsome  as was Jimmy.

We met in the final weeks of my reliance on fake IDs. I remember the long bar strewn with brown bottles of beer and one-dollar bills. The gang of us Irish girls, spilling down from our white wooden house on a hill, all short tops and reddish tans, high on J1 freedom  our bellies quickly filled with tinned soup, rushing through our days to live the nights.

It was his smile  he had these amazing, incredibly masculine dimples  like John Travolta or Kevin Spacey but without the creepy. He was a sailor, smelling of sea salt, rope handling his bottle of beer, and me. God, I fell hook, line and sinker.

We even dated during the day  a sure sign of commitment. He brought me to meet his American buddies. We lunched in an American diner  a diner for him, but for me  well, I was floating around a film set. The entire summer felt like make-believe: the liquor store; dimes and nickels, the 7/11, Macys.

I was Irish after all. My childhood, like most Irish childhoods, was built on American culture. Throughout my teenage years, I feasted on the stuff. Beverly Hills 90210. Dawsons Creek. The OC. Friends. Living in America for four months felt like getting a bit part in a soap opera. Once Jimmy arrived  I was centre stage, and it was intoxicating.

As with all good things, both the intoxication of Jimmy and the heady atmosphere of the place, came to an end.

Terror attacks

I worked in a catering company that summer. The head chef, a drug-taking Bostonian, saw the first plane hit and wheeled his television into the main kitchen. Convinced it was terrorism, he predicted the second attack. Naive to the last, I thought it was just more of his coke-infused paranoia.

A jet airliner targets a World Trade Center tower in New York om September. 11, 2001.

My memory of that morning runs like a scene from a Spielberg film, even on that day, such a strange day, I was on set. The street was deserted. There was a van with a radio blaring, and the few faces I saw looked grief-stricken, as if their family homes had been blown asunder.

Ireland was grief-stricken too, mourning our injured romantic lead. We sat centre-stage, chairing the UN Security Council after the attacks. September 14 was declared a day of mourning here. Bertie Ahern announced his condemnation and queues formed outside the America Embassy. Irish people lined up in silence to sign a book of condolences.

Twenty-four years since my American romance, my countrys relationship with America couldnt feel more different. The economic impact of Trump is often discussed, but little is said about our emotional divorce, and what it means for our kids.

Yes, we laugh at Americans claiming their Irishness in booming voices across our summer tourist spots, but were fooling ourselves if we dont own up to being part of the same romance. We have always been emotional partners. We have always loved America. We turned from Britain towards it. Who will we look to now?

Fintan OToole captures it perfectly in his book, We Dont Know Ourselves, tracing Irelands social and economic revolution back to 1958 when TK Whitaker decided we needed to loosen our ties to the past and look to the future. A great deal of that meant looking to America, to what Brian Friel refers to, in his emigration play Philadelphia, Here I Come!, as a profane, irreligious, pagan country of gross materialism? Everything 1950s Ireland was not.

Now, the romance has ended, or, at the very least, has turned terribly sour. Under Trump, students are afraid to travel as I did in 2001, worried that their social media feed might land them in hot water or bar their entry altogether. As Jess Casey reported in this publication, in April, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) urged students to be cautious and informed of the potential impact activism could have on their visa status.

Trump is busily dismantling the education system in America. The bedrock of the J1 Visa is education, dating back to 1961, and Senator J William Fulbright. Cultural exchanges are not top of Trumps to-do list, miles below his plans to convert Gaza into the Riviera. A reduced number of Irish students heading to America this summer will hardly come as sad news to the man.

But its sad news to me  that loss of innocence, that dead romance. Its another thing I had that my children wont have

Besides these practicalities, Irish children are growing up in an entirely different climate. The romantic pull of America has disappeared. They are far from being brought up to love America as we were.

Certainly, my children will grow up thinking of America, its government, as a bully, cosying up with other bullies, to pile on top of the marginalised and the oppressed. I grew up associating America with JFK, with peace marches, freedom, and justice. I couldnt wait to get onto a plane to America, knowing Id be culturally embraced.

Now, my teenage son doesnt show any interest. He knows about the budget cuts, the rolling back of foreign aid, the children dying. He is far more likely to travel to Europe or indeed, to any other continent. Will Ireland find a new romance elsewhere? Whatever about an economic ally, who will be our emotional one?

My children will never see America as I did in July 2001, however foolishly, however naively, understanding little of their aggressive foreign policies  and that is a considerable loss. It is a loss for our children, and one worth registering.

Fewer Irish students will travel to America on a J1 this summer. Its very real  that emotional, psychological severing. Our students are actively avoiding a country we once adored, and if my son were a few years older, Id be telling him not to go.

In truth, the romance has been fading for years. In 2015, over 8,000 Irish students participated in the J-1 Summer Work and Travel program. By 2019, this number had more than halved, partially in response to a new requirement for Irish students to secure employment before travelling. Then came covid.

But the blocks to future connections are mounting. Irish students these days are right to be worried about their social media feed. Their concern for Palestine could be construed as antisemitic. America, simply put, is not on our side anymore. There is no cultural embrace, only suspicion

How the world has changed. My summer with Jimmy happened entirely offline. There are no photographs, only memories of a brief romance, shared here and nowhere else.

Jimmy looks filled out and happy on his Facebook feed. His life is his two sons, his wife, baseball games, yard sales and holidays. His America feels terribly, terribly far away. It no longer has anything to do with me, or Ireland.

He still lives in Rhode Island  where we met in 2001, during a long hot summer that ended in a broken heart. He still sails.

The rest, our union, like our countries union, is history.

This article was originally published on May 9, 2025.
For weeks we had known it was coming.

The Trump administrations aggressive crackdown on alleged illegal immigration had given rise to so many horror stories, it was surely only a matter of time before an Irish citizen was affected, not least given the sheer amount of undocumented Irish living in the US.

The surprise, really, was that the case, when it inevitably happened, was taken against a person who had been quietly, legally, living in America for more than 40 years.

The Ward family is a plainly ordinary one which became caught up in the most horrible, extraordinary circumstances.

Cliona Ward, the 54-year-old Dublin-born woman who found herself at the centre of a nightmare, had been living in the US, along with her younger sister Orla, for more than 40 years, 30 of them in Santa Cruz, California.

Her green card is valid and not due to expire until 2033. She had travelled to and from Ireland without notice for years.

The warning signs were there, however, when Cliona returned from a trip to Cork in late March, having chaperoned her 86-year-old stepmother to see her father  who is living with dementia in a nursing home in Youghal.

She was detained at Seattle Airport upon arrival into the US, and held for three days.

The reasons for this were technical, but similar situations have seen multiple travellers detained since Donald Trump took office last January and began delivering on his campaign promise to deliver the greatest mass deportation in history.

Immigration and customs enforcement (Ice) officials are reportedly under orders to deliver a minimum 75 arrests per day for each of its offices, 1,800 in total. When under that kind of pressure, numbers become more important than accuracy.

Cliona had fallen foul of the law a number of times close to 20 years ago. For several years, she struggled with addiction. She picked up a couple of felony convictions, one for possession of crystal methamphetamine.

It is also true to say she turned her life around, earned a qualification, cared for her son, and lived a fruitful life.

Displaying not a little foresight, she moved to have her convictions expunged from her record in tandem with the upturn in her fortunes.

While this was achieved at a state level in California, it seems the expungement was not replicated at a federal government level.

In a country the size of the US, with 50 competing autonomous state administrations, red tape fails of that sort are two a penny.

To an adrenalised Ice at present, however, any bureaucratic question represents an immediate opportunity.

To make matters worse, while the agency has always had enormous powers in terms of deportation, under Trump it has been let off the leash completely.

Cliona was released from Seattle on March 22 and ordered to present evidence of her expunged convictions at San Francisco Airport a month later, which she duly did, only to be arrested and transported to Ices detention facility in Tacoma, Washington  900 miles from her home.

What ensued was a living nightmare for her and her family.

Conditions in Ices for-profit prisons are notoriously inhospitable.

Unlike many detained by US immigration officials, Cliona Ward had a formidable support network.

They are designed to be that way, all the better to discourage people from entering the country illegally.

But in her own way, Cliona was fortunate.

She and her family are educated and fluent in English, and she had a formidable support network to fall back on.

From day one, her sole concern was that she would become "lost" in the system.

Cliona met so many other women during her time in Tacoma  without English, without loved ones they could contact  who had vanished without trace in the system, bussed from state to state, detention centre to detention centre. Clionas family was not about to let that happen.

We have a lot of eyes on her, and were being very vocal about this, Clionas sister Tracey, who still lives in Midleton, said a week after her sisters arrest.

The family set up a GoFundMe to help with Clionas inevitable legal bills, stemming from having to retain legal counsel in two states. They provided constant updates for the media, for family, and friends.

The Wards are a spiritual family, with no interest in the limelight. But they did what they had to do.

They befriended a champion in local Democratic congressman Jimmy Panetta.

A former prosecutor, Panetta has made clear he is no fan of criminals.

But he also made clear that, in light of Clionas redemption arc, deporting her for a decades-old conviction does nothing for our nation.

Panetta was instrumental in securing post-conviction relief for Cliona, effectively overturning her previous convictions.

And when she finally appeared in front of a judge in Seattle on May 7, she was informed the case against her was to be dropped immediately. She was free.

What happens next? The Wards will return to their normal lives.

They hope the trauma Cliona experienced is something she can overcome.

A quiet, empathetic soul with a strong will, the odds are in her favour.

But this particular mosquito bite on the rear end of Trumps grotesque deportation policy may prove to be an influential one.

Cracks are starting to show in terms of how this most inept and boorish of Governments functions.

They have moved to suppress academic freedom with the threat of lost funding for Americas most revered universities, only to meet pushback when they went too far in targeting Harvard.

They tried to deny federal funding for school lunches in Maine when its governor declined to implement the administrations hopelessly cruel anti-trans policy ahead of the states own laws.

They lost in court.

And they tried to deport an Irish woman who had lived peacefully there for 40 years for the most spurious of reasons.

But this time, right-thinking people stood up to be counted and common sense prevailed.

With luck, Cliona Wards success this week will shine as a beacon of light for others similarly plunged into a nightmare not of their own making.
The white smoke streaming above the rooftops of the Vatican yesterday set off cheers in the waiting crowd in St Peters Square, and little wonder. The smoke heralded the election of a new Pope, of course, an event of huge significance which goes far beyond matters of faith.

The new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, has made history already as the first American to be selected to head the Catholic Church. He is to be known as Pope Leo XIV in future, but his past will be examined closely over the coming days for indications of his papacys direction. Having spent years as a missionary in Peru, for instance, is he likely to be attuned to the needs of the Church in the developing world?

Inevitably, links and connections to Ireland will be sought in the new Popes background. It is reasonable to expect that, as a native of Chicago, he will be familiar with that citys significant Irish heritage and population, while he is also known to be a familiar face at the Irish College in Rome.

Pope Leo has considerable challenges on his hands within the Church  financial issues, declining vocations, and, notoriously, the litany of sex abuse scandals involving the Church. The wider political implications of his election will also be considered, however.

US president Donald Trump was quick to congratulate his fellow American, calling his election a great honour for the country and anticipating a meeting with the new pontiff. This could be Pope Leos first real challenge: Will he stress Christian values when meeting the guiding light of a cruel regime victimising the vulnerable?

It would be naive to believe that popes are not capable of having a considerable political impact, going back to the impact of Pope John Paul IIs famous visit to his native Poland in 1979, when that country was still under communist rule.

That quick glimpse of responsibilities gives an idea of the challenges facing the new Pope. Best wishes to him in bearing that burden.

Too long a wait for medicines Figures released by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) recently make for grim reading for those dealing with cancer. There is scarcely a family on the island of Ireland which has not had loved ones affected by this disease, and the possibility that those loved ones might be missing out on vital treatment is a horrifying prospect. However, according to the IPHA, Ireland has the lowest availability of new cancer medicines in western Europe, with just one quarter of 56 new cancer treatments licensed since 2020 currently available. The IPHA has drawn on data from a study carried out on behalf of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, which shows that patients in Ireland continue to wait longer to access new medicines than patients in most western European countries. In real terms, this waiting period is significant  cancer patients in Ireland must wait almost two full years, or 644 days, to access newly licensed medicines. Of those 56 oncology medicines which were granted a European Medicines Agency licence since 2020, only 14 of them are currently available in Ireland. The HSE has put the spotlight on the pharmaceutical industry by stating that it has not received a formal pricing and reimbursement application for almost one third of the medicines from that industry. Away from the bland language, these delays are having a direct impact on peoples lives. Timely treatment is a well- established principle in medical care, but according to the United Cancer Advocates Network (UCAN), not only are Irish cancer patients left waiting to access new treatments, some are not even aware they are missing out. The fact that Irish citizens must wait two years for medicines which are available in other countries is completely unacceptable. UCAN has called for a review of drug access schemes, and that should be undertaken without delay.

Strong support

Cliona Ward was released from detention in Washington on Wednesday evening.

A green card holder resident in the US for more than 40 years, Ms Ward was arrested by US immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officials on April 21 in San Francisco on foot of criminal convictions which she thought had been expunged from her record. She had been held at an ICE detention centre in Washington since then, but this week she was informed that all charges against her had been dropped and she was duly released from the centre.

Her lawyer, Erin Hall, described Ms Ward as being full of gratitude and said her client had enjoyed strong community and trade union support, while her local congressman, Jimmy Panetta, worked with the Government and the White House on her behalf.

This story had a happy conclusion for Ms Ward, but it offers a glimpse of the nightmare facing those without a similar support structure. Mr Panetta said the Ward case shows whats possible when we come together for transparency, due process, and justice, but clearly there are many people in the ICE system suffering the lack of strong advocates.

Concerns about the new immigration approach in the US means students facing into their J1 summers have been warned to scrub their social media accounts before travelling, while European academics are pulling out of planned trips to the US. Stories such as Ms Wards are surely giving many other prospective visitors second thoughts.
In a modern business landscape where cyber breaches are an everyday occurrence, commercial security has never been more important.

In PwCs 2025 Irish CEO survey, over eight out of ten business leaders stated that their organisation is exposed to key threats such as cyber attacks, technological disruption, macro-economic volatility and geopolitical risks.

Understanding these threats and their impacts on organisations and the third parties businesses rely on is critical. In response to client demand, PwC has launched a Threat & Vulnerability Management Service and the expansion of its Third Party Risk Management Service. These developments form part of the continued expansion of PwCs Managed Services Practice and following the success of the firms Cork based National Cyber Managed Services Centre, launched in May 2024.

These new service offerings are driven by client demand, an unprecedented risk landscape, regulatory and compliance complexity and unabating cyber breaches, said Feilim Harvey, PwC Managed Services Leader and Partner. Over four out of ten Irish CEOs confirmed that they will invest in business process transformation over the next three years. Ambitious companies face many obstacles as they strive to achieve their transformation and growth goals  most notably, getting the balance right between the pressures of looking after the day-to-day business and achieving long-term strategic targets.

Availing of PwCs Managed Services solutions frees up resources and headspace to focus on long-term growth strategy, enabling success and fuelling ambition.

By partnering with PwC Managed Services, business leaders can be confident that their organisation stays relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing market, both now and in the long term. Utilising the firms human-led, tech-powered approach and industry expertise, PwC can help business grow and succeed. With the growing set of risks, uncertainties and disruption, ambitious companies are looking to spend more time on their core growth strategies.

This is where PwCs Managed Services comes in, supporting clients to focus on their core competencies, while helping them drive productivity and profitability.

Utilising the firms human-led, tech-powered approach and industry expertise, PwC can help business grow and succeed. Photo: iStock

Cyber breaches are almost an everyday occurrence, driven in part by GenerativeAI, explains Leonard McAuliffe, Partner, Cybersecurity Practice, PwC.

Over 80% of respondents to PwC's 2025 GenAI Business Leaders survey respondents agreed that GenAI will likely increase cybersecurity risk in the next 12 months. Our two new service offerings will go a long way towards helping our clients have a more robust cyber environment while operating more safely with third parties. In turn, clients can focus on their core business in the knowledge that they are protected from potential significant reputational and financial damage.

Providing a robust defence against cyber attacks

As companies become increasingly reliant on, and interconnected with, third parties, end-to-end risk is further intensified. PwCs enhanced Third Party Risk Management offering protects companies from third-party risk, providing a broad range of risk management solutions right across the wider business operations: regulatory, financial, strategic and system risk.

PwC research identified that third-party breaches are the number one cybersecurity threat concerning Irish organisations. This enhanced offering builds on the already successful and established Third Party Risk Management services provided by the PwC National Managed Services Centre in Cork.

Threat & Vulnerability Management is a security offering helping organisations identify, assess and manage security vulnerabilities and threats across their organisations. Along with support from its Alliances, PwC uses industry leading technology to identify security weaknesses to ensure its clients businesses remain secure.

PwC's offering is versatile and can seamlessly complement and enhance existing in-house security operations to reduce overheads and boost efficiencies. The emerging regulatory environment has never been so complex, with key regulations such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the European Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2 Directive) requiring organisations to be far more vigilant of the cyber risks arising from their supply chains.

In todays business world, supply chains have become more complex with increased interdependencies, including shared data, technology and platforms. Malicious actors seek to exploit the chains weakest link to infiltrate large organisations and high-profile brands. As a result, managing the cyber risk of third parties has never been more important.

Today, security operations are grappling with numerous challenges, including the sheer volume of data generated, a shortage of skilled professionals and increasingly complex threat landscapes, says Leonard McAuliffe.

Traditional security approaches, which often rely on rule-based systems and manual processes, struggle to keep pace with these demands. AI is revolutionising security operations by enhancing threat detection and response in real-time, often before they manifest into full-blown breaches. As cyber threats continue to grow in scale and complexity, embracing AI and GenAI in security strategies is not just advisable but essential.

PwCs Cyber Managed Services Centre offers expert oversight and rigorous processes to protect businesses against evolving threats and increasing regulatory requirements.

PwCs Managed Services Practice allows businesses to focus on their core growth strategies while offering comprehensive support for critical business activities in areas such as operations, regulation and compliance, risk management, financial and strategic risk, innovative technology integration and systemic risk.

PwCs Cyber Managed Services Centre offers expert oversight and rigorous processes to protect businesses against evolving threats and increasing regulatory requirements. Clients benefit from industry-leading technologies, best practices and skilled cybersecurity resources without the need to recruit, saving both time and money.

There is also cost certainty for our clients with solutions that can scale up and scale down. The result is increased operational efficiency for our clients, reduced risks, and more time to focus on their core business activities.

https://www.pwc.ie/cybercentre
The EY Private event, jointly hosted by the firms Lead Advisory M&A and Tax teams, focused on how businesses can be investment ready from both a financial and tax perspective, as well as the importance of professional advisors taking a sector-led approach to provide solutions to businesses.

"Despite the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, Ireland remains one of the worlds most dynamic and competitive countries, with an innovative, technology-driven, service-focused and open trading economy. explained Ronan Murray, Corporate Finance Partner and Cork Office Managing Partner at EY Ireland.

Cork and the wider Munster region are at the heart of this ongoing success. Over recent years, it has developed into a fantastic location for indigenous private companies  from established family businesses to start-ups and scale-ups within the regions dynamic entrepreneurial community. For most private companies, however, there will come a time when external investment is required, whether to further scale the company and seize new opportunities, or for shareholders to seek an exit and return on their investment.

"Being well prepared is essential to maximise value in a transaction, continued Ronan. Appointing advisors can also significantly ease the transaction process and enhance value, ensuring management can continue to focus on delivering success in day-to-day operations.

Ronan Murray, Corporate Finance Partner and Cork Office Managing Partner, EY Ireland.

The guest speaker at todays event was Denise Tormey, president and co-founder of PlanNet21 and a previous EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. At the event Denise outlined the growth story of PlanNet21 and how they prepared the organisation for a hugely successful sale in November 2024.

This was a major milestone for the firm and one which the EY Lead Advisory M&A and tax teams were proud to support in achieving a successful market-leading transaction for Denise and the PlanNet21 shareholders, added Ronan.

Taking a sector focus to best support clients

In addition to its core service lines of Assurance, Tax and Law, Consulting, and Strategy and Transactions, in recent months, EY Ireland has been providing a wider and deeper lens to support clients via an industry and sector model.

The traditional model of the large professional services firms would be primarily based around core service lines, but here at EY we believe in an industry and sector model. This is focused on meeting our clients where they are, in areas including Consumer and Health, Industrials and Energy, Government and Infrastructure, Technology, and EY Private, which is led by Cork-based Tax Partner Frank ONeill. The core expertise we provide will be far more than the traditional assurance, consulting, tax, and transactions  but a real sector-led expertise to everything.

According to Ronan, the key focus of EY Private, in particular, is assisting these indigenous Irish firms to scale and succeed. Instead of just having one or two staff underpin them on their journey, we look to make sure there is at least one from each of our core service line disciplines supporting these EY and Irish private enterprises.

Ireland's positive M&A outlook bucks the global trend

Looking to the wider M&A landscape over recent years, Ireland has maintained a steady upward arc during a turbulent economic period, says Ronan.

Between 2022 and 23, M&A globally had contracted; however, in Ireland over the same period, it retained a level of activity that, while still declining, was better in terms of both value and volume. The Irish economy is quite resilient with stable governance, access to talent through strong universities and a business-friendly environment  all of which play their part in building resilience in the Irish M&A landscape.

He points to a slight rebound globally in M&A from the back end of 24 until recently.

There has probably been a hold-off on decision-making over the past six to eight weeks as companies assess the impact of potential tariffs and deal with uncertainty, but I would argue it is more on the Large Cap transactions rather than Mid Cap, which would account for much of the Irish market. Ireland has held its own with transactions still ongoing and given that the cost of debt is declining, we are still seeing a reasonable amount of activity and a good pipeline, despite the uncertainties of the geopolitical landscape.

EY Entrepreneurs confirming Ireland as a centre of business excellence

As the only global programme of its kind for entrepreneurs, EYs Entrepreneur of the Year programme celebrates, connects, and supports entrepreneurs as they unlock their ambitions. Now in its 28th year here, it is a first-class market-leading programme helping us to identify and acclaim the best indigenous people in business on the island of Ireland, notes Ronan.

Ronan Murray, Corporate Finance Partner and Cork Office Managing Partner, EY Ireland, and Denise Tormey, President and Co-Founder of PlanNet21, engaging with business leaders at the EY Investment Ready EY Private Event at EY Corks offices on Lapps Quay.

Amongst the 2025 finalists are Cork-based MSL Engineering, Otonomee and Granite Digital. Collectively this group of world-class business leaders are already generating annual revenues approaching 1 billion and employing over 4,000 people.

Geopolitics moves up the boardroom agenda

Last month, former Tanaiste and Government Minister Simon Coveney joined EYs Geopolitical Strategy Unit as a consultant. Co-led by EY Ireland Partners Simon MacAllister and Aidan Meagher, the Unit provides a unique offering to clients and organisations across the island of Ireland navigating this era of heightened geopolitical complexity and the careful integration of political risk management into business strategy and governance. With businesses increasingly focused on assessing the potential impact of global risk on their investments, supply chains, and strategy, Simons long and distinguished career in public service will allow for deeper insights and value to clients in a time of changing global marketplaces, Ronan added.

To learn more about how EY can help your business get investment ready, contact Ronan Murray at EY Cork: www.ey.com/en_ie/people/ronan-murray

Getting investment ready  EYs top advice for businesses and shareholders
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of short-range ballistic missile systems, which simulated nuclear counterstrikes against US and South Korean forces, state media said on Friday.

The report came a day after South Koreas military detected multiple launches from North Koreas eastern coast and assessed the tests could be related to the countrys weapons exports to Russia during its war in Ukraine.

The North has continued to blame its rivals for escalating tensions through their joint military exercises.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Thursdays tests involved a mobile ballistic missile system modelled after Russias Iskander, as well as 600-millimetre multiple rocket launchers which South Korean officials classify as ballistic due to their self-propulsion and guided flight.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, centre, supervises a drill of long-range artillery and missile systems at North Koreas eastern coast (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)

Both are part of a growing line-up of weapons systems the North says could be armed with tactical nuclear weapons for battlefield use.

KCNA said the tests were intended to train military units operating missile and rocket systems to more effectively execute attacks under the Norths nuclear weapons control system and ensure a swift response to a nuclear crisis.

The agency criticised the US and its vassal states for expanding joint military exercises on and around the Korean Peninsula, which the North claims are preparations for nuclear war, and said Thursdays launches demonstrated the rapid counteraction posture of its forces.

Mr Kim stressed the need to strengthen the role of his nuclear forces in both deterring and fighting war and called for continued efforts to improve combat readiness and precision strike capabilities, KCNA said.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said multiple missiles of various types were launched from the area around the eastern port city of Wonsan on Thursday, with the farthest travelling about 497 miles.

Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing the North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to send military equipment and troops to fuel Russias warfighting against Ukraine.

Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that none of the North Korean missiles reached Japans exclusive economic zone and there was no damage to vessels or aircraft in the area.

It was the Norths first known ballistic activity since March 10, when it fired several ballistic missiles hours after US and South Korean troops began an annual combined military exercise, and the countrys sixth launch event of the year.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as the North Korean leader continues to accelerate the development of his nuclear and missile programme and supply weapons and troops to support Russias war against Ukraine.

Thursdays launch came a day after North Korean state media said Mr Kim urged munition workers to boost the production of artillery shells amid his deepening alignment with Moscow.
Pakistan has denied Indian accusations it has attacked military bases amid the growing conflict between the two neighbours.

Indias Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff, a central coordinating arm for all Indian armed forces, said military stations in Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. It said the attacks were repelled and no casualties were reported.

Shesh Paul Vaid, the regions former director-general of police, said the Jammu Airport likely was also under attack and that some of the 50 loud explosions he heard likely were because our defence system is at work.

Jammu and Udhampur are close to the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. Pathankot is in Indias Punjab state.

Supporters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan party chant slogans during a rally to condemn Indian missile strikes in Pakistani areas, in Karachi (Fareed Khan/AP)

Sirens were also heard in some parts of the regions main city of Srinagar, residents said. It was followed by a blackout in the city and other parts of the region.

Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement rejected the Indian claims that Pakistan launched attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer and Srinagar, saying these claims are entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan.

It added that such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends.

India fired attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least two civilians, the Pakistani military said.

India acknowledged it had targeted Pakistans air defence system and accused its neighbour of attempting its own attack.

Islamabad said it shot down several of the drones while India said it neutralised Pakistans attempts to hit military targets. It was not possible to verify all of the claims.

The exchanges came a day after Indian missiles struck several locations in Pakistan, killing 31 civilians, according to Pakistani officials.

New Delhi said it was retaliating after gunmen killed more than two dozen people, mostly Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir last month. India accused Pakistan of being behind the assault. Islamabad denies that.

An Indian flag lies in front of a damaged shop following an overnight artillery shelling from Pakistan at Gingal village in Uri district, Indian controlled Kashmir (Dar Yasin/AP)

Both sides have also traded heavy fire across their frontier in disputed Kashmir, and Pakistan claimed it killed scores of Indian soldiers. There was no confirmation from India.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to avenge the deaths in Indias missile strikes, raising fears that the two countries could be headed toward another all-out conflict. Leaders from both nations face mounting public pressure to show strength and seek revenge, and the heated rhetoric and competing claims could be a response to that pressure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Thursday to the Pakistani prime minister and Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, urging both sides to de-escalate the situation, the US State Department said.

New Delhi, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of attempting to engage a number of military targets with missiles and drones along the Line of Control that divides Kashmir and elsewhere along their border.

The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations, it said.

At a news briefing, Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday rejected Indias claim that Islamabad carried out any attack in Indian Punjab.

These accusations are an attempt to incite anti-Pakistan sentiment among the Punjabi Sikh population in India, he said.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told parliament that so far, Pakistan has not responded to Indias missile attacks, but there will be one. Later Thursday, Indian authorities ordered a night-time blackout in Punjabs Gurdaspur district, which borders Pakistan.
Pope Leo XIV, historys first North American Pope, has said his election was both a cross and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel.

Leo spoke off-the-cuff in English to the cardinals who elected him to lead the Catholic Church and follow in Pope Francis footsteps over social justice.

He acknowledged the great responsibility they had placed on him before delivering a brief but dense homily on the need to joyfully spread Christianity in a world that often mocks it.

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news to announce the Gospel, he said.

It was in the same frescoed chapel that Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, 69, was elected on Thursday afternoon as the 267th Pope, overcoming the traditional prohibition against a pontiff from the United States.

Two women delivered the Scripture readings at the start of the Mass, perhaps an indication of Leos intention to follow Francis priority to expand womens role in the church.

As a cardinal, Leo put into practice one of Francis most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the board that vets bishop nominations.

Speaking in near-perfect Italian, Leo lamented that the Christian faith in many parts of the world is considered absurd, mocked or opposed when there were temptations such as money, success and power.

He complained that in many places Jesus is misunderstood, reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.

This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism, he said.

Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

The cardinals applauded as the Mass concluded. Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes, not the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes.

Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014.

Francis then brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world and is one of the most important jobs in church governance.

Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had kept a low public profile but was well-known to the men who count, and respected by those who worked with him.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope.

Vatican watchers said Prevosts decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant given the previous Leos legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis chief concerns.

Specifically, Leo cited one of Francis key priorities of making the Catholic Church more attentive to lay people and inclusive, a process known as synodality.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said you cannot spy against an ally after reports that the United States has stepped up intelligence gathering on Greenland.

The semi-autonomous Danish territory is coveted by US President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Denmark summoned the top American diplomat in the country for an explanation following a Wall Street Journal report which said several high-ranking officials under the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenlands independence movement and sentiment about American resource extraction there.

Speaking with the Associated Press, Ms Frederiksen referred to the report as rumours in an international newspaper.

Cooperation about defence and deterrence and security in the northern part of Europe is getting more and more important, Mr Frederiksen added. Of course, you cannot spy against an ally.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in comments to Greenland newspaper Sermitsiaq, said the reports of espionage are unacceptable and disrespectful.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said there is no question that the pressure Denmark and Greenland are under doesnt feel right.

He spoke after a security meeting in Norway where the issue of Greenland was discussed between Nordic and Baltic leaders and the UK, with representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands dialling in via video link.

In response to questions about the Journals report, Ms Gabbards office released a statement noting that she had made three criminal referrals to the US justice department over intelligence community leaks.

The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicising and leaking classified information, Ms Gabbard wrote.

They are breaking the law and undermining our nations security and democracy. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Greenlands Prime Minister said last month that US statements about the mineral-rich Arctic island have been disrespectful and it will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Friday said those who believe there is another kind of legal regime in the Arctic should be told that this is not the case.

Speaking ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force leaders meeting in Oslo, Mr Gahr Store said there seemed to be suggestions that in the Arctic, there is some kind of terra nullius, law doesnt apply.

It applies, sovereignty applies. And Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, he said ahead of the meeting with the leaders of the UK, Nordic and Baltic nations.
Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn has presided over an elaborate annual ceremony that marks the start of the rice-planting season and honours the nations farmers.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held to read auguries that predict the farming conditions for the year ahead.

As is usually the case, good times were predicted, even though Thailands economy is sluggish.

Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn addressed the crowds (Pool via AP)

The King and Queen Suthida were sheltered from the bright sun by ornate umbrellas at the ceremonys traditional venue, Sanam Luang, or Royal Ground, a large field near the Grand Palace in the capital Bangkok.

According to Thai historians, the ritual goes back some 700 years.

Then, as now, the cultivation of rice was central to the countrys culture and economy, and the ceremony is meant to give encouragement to farmers as the new planting season begins.

Oxen are presented with a tray of various choices of food by Thai officials during the ceremony (Pool via AP)

The ceremony was led by the highest-ranking civil servant in the agriculture ministry, serving as the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony.

In a colourful traditional costume, he chose from a selection of cloths, and the one he picked was interpreted to signify satisfactory rainfall and an abundant harvest.

In the ceremonys second stage, he anointed the heads of two sacred oxen, who then pulled a plough around a section of the field several times, as he scattered seeds at the front of a small procession with more traditionally garbed participants.

Royal attendants guide the two oxen, called Por and Piang (Pool via AP)

The two oxen, called Por and Piang  which together mean sufficiency  then chose from a selection of food offered by Brahmin priests.

The foods chosen were water, grass and liquor, which symbolise adequate water supplies, abundance of food supplies and what was interpreted as good international trade, respectively.

After the departure of the king and queen, onlookers sprinted onto the field to collect the scattered seeds as souvenirs or to add to their own rice stores at home for a meritorious mix.
Speakers blasted songs including Born In The USA and American Pie as six cardinal electors from the United States gathered in Rome to share their thoughts on the election of the first US-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost.

I took a look at Bob and he had his head in his hands and I was praying for him, said Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the moment right after casting his vote in the Sistine Chapel.

And then when he accepted, it was like it was made for him.

From left, US cardinals Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the USA, Robert McElroy of Washington, Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Newark, Timothy Dolan of NY, and Daniel Di Nardo, archbishop

One day after Chicago-born Cardinal Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the cardinals met on a stage decorated with the Stars and Stripes and a Vatican flag at the Pontifical North American College.

The hilltop institution for US seminarians is a short walk from St Peters Basilica, where Leo made his first speech to the world on Thursday evening as the new leader of the Catholic Churchs 1.4 billion global faithful.

The United States had 10 voting cardinals in the conclave, the second-highest number of any country.

Four of them currently serve as archbishops in the US: Cardinal Tobin of Newark, New Jersey; Timothy Dolan of New York; Blase Cupich of Chicago; and Robert McElroy of Washington.

In a very real sense, Cardinal Prevost has been in his life at his core a real missionary, in every way, Cardinal McElroy said.

Joining them were retired archbishops Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston in Texas, and Wilton Gregory of Washington, as well as French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The official document attesting the acceptance by Pope Leo XIV, formerly, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of his election (Vatican Media via AP)

Several of the men referred to the man they have known for years as Bob or Robert by his papal name, Leo.

Others said that his American nationality was not a factor  he also holds Peruvian citizenship.

Cardinals were most concerned with who among us can bring us together, who among us can strengthen the faith and bring the faith to places where it has grown weak, said Cardinal Gregory.
Harvey Weinsteins lawyers have sought to raise doubts about a former models sexual assault allegations against him, noting that she did not mention a key claim for years, even in her own lawsuits.

In Weinsteins ongoing sex crimes retrial, Kaja Sokola has accused the former film studio boss of repeatedly sexually abusing her when she was a teenage fashion model.

Weinstein is criminally charged with just one of those allegations, a claim of forced oral sex in 2006, which he denies.

Kaja Sokola walks outside court during Harvey Weinsteins trial at state court in Manhattan in New York (Ted Shaffrey/AP)

Prosecutors added the charge to the landmark #MeToo case last year, after learning they would have to retry the case because of an appeals court ruling.

Ms Sokola sued Weinstein several years ago over another allegation that was beyond the legal time frame for potential criminal charges.

Her lawsuits did not include anything about the claimed 2006 assault.

Weinstein lawyer Mike Cibella pointed that out on Friday as he began questioning Ms Sokola, suggesting she was financially motivated to make allegations against the once-powerful producer.

Ms Sokola, who is embroiled in contentious divorce proceedings, ultimately received about 3.5 million dollars in compensation from her lawsuits and from the Weinstein Companys bankruptcy.

She batted back Mr Cibellas suggestion that she sued to gain financial independence from her estranged husband.

I was working at two jobs, and I was earning more money than he was, she said.

Ms Sokola is the second of three accusers to give evidence at Weinsteins rape and sexual assault retrial, and she is the only one who was not part of the one-time Hollywood honchos first trial in 2020.

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan for his retrial in New York (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

Weinstein is being retried because an appeals court overturned his landmark #MeToo 2020 conviction, saying the judge at the time allowed prejudicial evidence.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies ever sexually assaulting anyone.

Polish-born Ms Sokola, 39, is a psychotherapist who had a jet-setting modelling career as a teenager.

She gave evidence earlier this week that Weinstein exploited her youthful interest in an acting career to subject her to unwanted sexual advances, starting days after they met in 2002, while she was on a modelling trip to New York.

Ms Sokola told jurors that four years later, when she was 19, Weinstein lured her to a hotel room by saying he had a script for her to see, then pinned her down on a bed and performed oral sex on her as she implored him not to.

She acknowledged that she had not told the whole story in her lawsuits.

The first encounter, when I was 16 years old, I could partly forgive myself for being in that situation. But then it was very, very hard for me to come to terms with what happened to me in 2006, she said on Thursday, under a prosecutors questioning.

During defence questioning on Friday, Mr Cibella pointed to differences in some details of Ms Sokolas evidence this week and what she told a grand jury last year, including the month of the alleged 2002 sexual abuse.

The lawyer also noted that Ms Sokola is pursuing various legal pathways to stay in the US long term, and her involvement in the criminal case could help with one of them.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, but Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann and Ms Sokola have given their permission to be identified.
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Editors Note: According to Wilkes Rescue Squad Chief Cole Wyatt, most of the squads equipment was funded with state grants and any of the equipment purchased with state grants within the last five years must remain with a nonprofit in Wilkes. If its over five years old, we can do what we want with it, but this would be up to the (squad) membership, said Wyatt. All of our members want to see this equipment help people in the county if the membership votes to dissolve the organization. He added that if the squad sells equipment, funds from these sales must go to a 501(3) nonprofit.
Last year, Congress proposed the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) (S.558 and H.R. 1007) to combat anti-Semitism, but Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and other Republican officials object to the bill because it infringes on the right of far-right Christians to express that Jews are to blame for the death of Jesus? Excuse me, but isnt this totally counterproductive to the point of the bill? Or does this episode prove once and for all that President Trumps crusade against antisemitism is only a ruse and cover for attacks on Free Speech, civil liberties and academic freedom? Now lemme get this straight: they want to protect against antisemitism, but preserve the origins of antisemitism?

The AAA passed the House 320-91 last year, but last week it was held up in the Senate committee when Sen. Rand Paul and other lawmakers raised free-speech concerns. They did so on behalf of Christians who prefer to twist the Gospel into a tool of divisiveness and hate, contrary to Jesus message of love and inclusiveness. The bill already met resistance from Democrats and progressives out of concerns that it represents,  . . . an endorsement of the Trump Administrations escalating efforts to weaponize antisemitism as a pretext for undermining civil rights, deporting political dissidents, and attacking the fundamental pillars of our democracy, making the Jewish community and others less safe. Last year 70 Democrats opposed the bill because it declares any criticism of Israel to be anti-Semitic.

I recall the joy among Jews at the news of The 2nd Vatican Ecumenical Counsel in 1962, when Pope John XXIII absolved Jews once and for all for the alleged killing of Jesus. Its a lasting memory because before Easter 1963, Jews were an object of scorn and hate for many Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Easter was not a happy time for Jewish families living in a 90% Catholic neighborhood, as mine did. In 1962, Pope John declared, what happened in his passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today . . . the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God. I remember playing with one of my Catholic gal-pals when her mom came outside to explain the news to us.

John XXIIIs decision came out of Nostra aetate (In our age) portion of the Second Vatican Councils document on interfaith relations. The bishops passed it by a vote of 2,221 to 88, and it was formalized on October 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI. This was on behalf of the Churchs efforts to update and adapt to new realities and circumstances (aggiornamento), and a renewed effort to connect the church to modern man.

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The sticking point is that the bill defines antisemitism according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) terms, which states, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Israels devolution into a terrorist state even before October 7, 2023 has prompted many Jews to divorce their Judaism from Zionism; thus invalidating that as a commonly accepted definition. Trumps efforts to use this cause as a wedge issue has alienated even more Jews from Zionism, in defense of Judaism, the religion.

It appears the purpose of religion for most of these Congressional objectors is to promote divisiveness, rather than any resolution of a peaceful nature. Despite the ecumenical progress of Vatican II, Republican leaders such as Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana demand that Christians have a right to say that Jews killed Jesus as constitutionally protected free speech. He introduced the managers amendment to give comfort to the more bigoted wing of the Republican Party. Scuse me, but wasnt that the basis for the original sin of antisemitism? Once and for all, the motivation of this bill is not protecting Jews from acts of antisemitism, but using this cause to justify the manufactured hate; while quashing Free Speech and academic freedom at the same time.

During his first term, President Donald Trumps (2019) Executive Order declaring Judaism to be a nationality was both a gross act of anti-Semitism, and an attack on free speech. It was destructive and counterintuitive to defeating antisemitism because it tied all forms and expressions of Judaism to Israel. Zionism evolved beginning in the late 19th Century, and began DE-volving during PM Benjamin Netanyahus tenure, to the point of betraying the original ideals of Zionism. The movement was born of secular, agrarian, socialist roots; with NO pretense of Jewish Nationalism. Trumps declaration that Jews are a nationality goes against centuries of our social teaching.



Capitol. Public Domain. Via picryl .

Framing the right to defame and blame Jews for Jesus death is not protected speech, but hate speech. Previously, Ive discussed Republicans effort to hijack concepts of the Free Speech Movement, and twist it into something it is not. The cruelest twist was when Trump and Vice President JD Vance argued that banning promotion of Nazi-inspired Fascism is an attack on free speech. The nadir of this dynamic occurred when Vice-President JD Vance accused Germany of suppressing Free Speech for their exclusion of the neo-Nazi Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party from the German government. No, protecting book burners and terror squads was never an object of the Free Speech Movement; rather, it was about resisting such things, which manifested under the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAAC).

Right-wing Republicans have the mindset that, the legislation could deem parts of the New Testament anti-Semitic, thus stalling it in the Senate committee. OK, so maybe it is. Some Christians interpret parts of the Books of Acts and Luke as condemning Jews. But the Bible is a series of myths and allegories. Despite their grandstanding protestations about antisemitism, these Senators hold dear the right to condemn Jews for Jesus death, as that was not the original prompt for it!.

During last years discussion, Rep. Jarrold Nadler clarified his opposition to the bill saying, In addition to trampling the free-speech rights of students and professors, this bill was disingenuously designed to split the Democratic caucus and score cheap political points. He concluded, the IHRA definition includes examples of antisemitism that might sweep in perfectly valid criticism of the state of Israel that, alone, does not necessarily constitute unlawful harassment or antisemitism. Nadler also cautioned, Freezing a single definition of antisemitism into law, then, is remarkably shortsighted. The approach manages to be both over-inclusive and under-inclusive, as well as remarkably subjective.
By Leonie Fleischmann, City St Georges, University of London

Israels security cabinet has announced a plan to capture the whole of the Gaza Strip. The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on May 5 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would remain in the territory indefinitely and take over the administration of humanitarian aid. What his government is referring to as its latest intensive operation is likely to result in Israel occupying all of Gaza.

This development should come as no surprise, given previous rhetoric from members of Netanyahus cabinet. But the announcement marks a turning point in official policy that could have significant implications.

Israels far-right has repeatedly advocated for the expulsion of Palestinians and the resettlement of Gaza. In response to Netanyahus announcement, the finance minister and leader of the Religious Zionist party, Bezalel Smotrich, said that there will be no retreat from the territories we have conquered, not even in exchange for hostages.

Smotrich envisioned that a successful Israeli incursion would leave Gaza totally destroyed, with the Palestinian population left totally despairing and wanting to leave the Strip.

Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli left-of-centre Democrats party, criticised the plans for an all-out occupation of Gaza. He wrote on X on May 5 that the operation was approved not in order to protect the security of Israel, but in order to save Netanyahu and his government of extremists.

Its an argument that has consistently been raised against Netanyahus response to the October 7 Hamas attacks. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum also criticised the government for sacrificing the lives of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza and spilling the blood of more Israeli soldiers.

Despite this opposition, it is Israels far-right politicians who hold the reins of power and appear to be influencing Israeli government policy when it comes to Gaza.

The governments objectives to eradicate Hamas in Gaza, and shore up Netanyahus precarious position as prime minister  as well as Trumps plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries  have given them the opportunity to realise their maximalist dreams. This is not only the reoccupation of Gaza, but also the annexation of the West Bank.

Gaza and the West Bank have notable differences. An all-out war of the kind being waged in Gaza is unlikely in the West Bank, at least at present. But there have been many attempts from various arms of the Israeli system to drive Palestinians from their land there.

Driving Palestinians from the West Bank

At the end of 2023, half a million Israelis were reported as living in the West Bank, compared with almost 3 million Palestinians. As of November 2024, the Israeli Peace Now movement recorded 141 settlements that it said were officially established by the Israeli government in the West Bank (not including those in East Jerusalem), with a further 224 outposts established without government approval since the 1990s. These are considered illegal according to Israeli law  although only two of these outposts have ever been evicted.

In 1993, under the sponsorship of the Clinton administration, the Israeli government and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation signed the Oslo Declaration of Principles (also commonly referred to as Oslo Accord 1). This divided the West Bank into three areas: A, B and C. These are not delineated areas, rather  as the Oslo accords map below shows  they differentiate between Palestinian cities and villages and areas under Israeli civil and military control, about 60% of the total of the land area of the West Bank.

Area C is where the majority of Israeli settlers live, alongside, at present, 200,000 Palestinians. Oslo Accord II mandated the gradual transfer of control of this area to the Palestinians, but this has never happened.

Research by the Norwegian Refugee Council has found that, despite full control of Area C being central for the creation of a viable Palestinian state, there are two separate planning systems in place, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians.

Israeli Human Rights Organisation, BTselem, has criticised Israels planning and building policy in Area C as aimed at preventing Palestinian development and dispossessing Palestinians of their land. This is achieved through denying permits for Palestinian construction and demolishing Palestinian buildings, while allowing Israeli settlement construction.

Meanwhile, for decades the Israeli settlers have engaged in intimidation and violent attacks against Palestinians there. This continuing harassment has led to Palestinian communities being displaced. In his recent documentary film, The Settlers, Louis Theroux films and interviews ultranationalist settlers who make it clear they have nothing but contempt for the Palestinians  solely motivated by what they believe to be their God-given right to sovereignty over the Greater Land of Israel.

As the exclusive authority over Area C of the West Bank, Israel is obliged by international law to protect the Palestinian communities. But a report by Israeli human rights organisation, Yesh Din, dating back to 2006 identified, even then, a systematic evasion of applying the law to Israeli civilians who harm Palestinians in the West Bank. The Israeli authorities, according to Yesh Din, stand idly by as crimes are committed by the settlers towards Palestinians.



Control status of the West Bank as per the Oslo Accords, (Russian) by SoWhAt249 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Via Wikimedia Commons

2025 the year of sovereignty

In February 2023, Smotrich was entrusted with administration over civilian life in Area C. He has made no effort to hide his intentions of establishing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territory.

Unlike in Gaza, the annexation of territory in the West Bank has been incremental and often under the radar. The Palestinian human rights organisation, Al Haq, claims this amounts to de facto annexation of the West Bank.

Smotrich this week said the government would move forward with its plans to approve construction in the highly contentious E1 area of the West Bank. This would include the building of enough Israeli settlements to bring in a million residents.

Should it go ahead, it would significantly alter the situation by effectively dividing the West Bank in half and would bury any remaining hope for a two-state solution. In the words of Smotrich: this is how you kill the Palestinian state.

Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City St Georges, University of London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
( Tomdispatch.com )  Forty years ago this month, I was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. I would be part of Americas all-volunteer force (AVF) for 20 years, hitting my marks and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2005. In my two decades of service, I met a lot of fine and dedicated officers, enlisted members, and civilians. I worked with the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps as well, and met officers and cadets from countries like Great Britain, Germany, Pakistan, Poland, and Saudi Arabia. I managed not to get shot at or kill anyone. Strangely enough, in other words, my military service was peaceful.

Dont get me wrong: I was a card-carrying member of Americas military-industrial complex. Im under no illusions about what a military exists for, nor should you be. As an historian, having read military history for 50 years of my life and having taught it as well at the Air Force Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School, I know something of what war is all about, even if I havent experienced the chaos, the mayhem, the violence, or the atrocity of war directly.

Military service is about being prepared to kill. I was neither a trigger-puller nor a bomb-dropper. Nonetheless, I was part of a service that paradoxically preaches peace through superior firepower. The U.S. military and, of course, our government leaders, have had a misplaced  indeed, irrational  faith in the power of bullets and bombs to solve or resolve the most intractable of problems. Vietnam is going communist in 1965? Bomb it to hell and back. Afghanistan supports terrorism in 2001? Bomb it wildly. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction in 2003? Bomb it, too (even though it had no WMD). The Houthis in Yemen have the temerity to protest and strike out in relation to Israels atrocities in Gaza in 2025? Bomb them to hell and back.

Sadly, bomb it is this countrys go-to option, the one thats always on the table, the one our leaders often reach for first. Americas best and brightest, whether in the Vietnam era or now, have a powerful yen for destruction or, as the saying went in that long-gone era, It became necessary to destroy the town to save it. Judging them by their acts, our leaders indeed have long appeared to believe that all too many villages, towns, cities, and countries needed to be destroyed in order to save them.

My own Orwellian turn of phrase for such mania is: destruction is construction. In this country, an all-too-offensive military is sold as a defensive one, hence, of course, the rebranding of the Department of War as the Department of Defense. An imperial military is sold as so many freedom-fighters and -bringers. We have the mega-weapons and the urge to dominate of Darth Vader and yet, miraculously enough, we continue to believe that were Luke Skywalker.

This is just one of the many paradoxes and contradictions contained within the U.S. military and indeed my own life. Perhaps theyre worth teasing out and exploring, as I reminisce about being commissioned at the ripe old age of 22 in 1985  a long time ago in a country far, far away.

The Evil Empire

When I went on active duty in 1985, the country that constituted the Evil Empire on this planet wasnt in doubt. As President Ronald Reagan said then, it was the Soviet Union  authoritarian, militaristic, domineering, and decidedly untrustworthy. Forty years later, who, exactly, is the evil empire? Is it Vladimir Putins Russia with its invasion of Ukraine three years ago? The Biden administration surely thought so; the Trump administration isnt so sure. Speaking of Trump (and how can I not?), isnt it correct to say that the U.S. is increasingly authoritarian, domineering, militaristic, and decidedly untrustworthy? Which country has roughly 800 military bases globally? Which countrys leader openly boasts of trillion-dollar war budgets and dreams of the annexation of Canada and Greenland? Its not Russia, of course, nor is it China.

Back when I first put on a uniform, there was thankfully no Department of Homeland Security, even as the Reagan administration began to trust (but verify!) the Soviets in negotiations to reduce our mutual nuclear stockpiles. Interestingly, 1985 witnessed an aging Republican president, Reagan, working with his Soviet peer, even as he dreamed of creating a space shield (SDI, the strategic defense initiative) to protect America from nuclear attack. In 2025, we have an aging Republican president, Donald Trump, negotiating with Putin even as he floats the idea of a Golden Dome to shield America from nukes. (Republicans in Congress already seek $27 billion for that dome, so that golden moniker is weirdly appropriate and, given the history of cost overruns on American weaponry, you know that would be just the starting point of its soaring projected cost.)

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, fears of a third world war that would lead to a nuclear exchange (as caught in books of the time like Tom Clancys popular novel Red Storm Rising) abated. And for a brief shining moment, the U.S. military reigned supreme globally, pulverizing the junior varsity mirror image of the Soviet military in Iraq with Desert Storm in 1991. We had kicked the Vietnam Syndrome once and for all, President George H.W. Bush exulted. It was high time for some genuine peace dividends, or so it seemed.

The real problem was that that seemingly instantaneous success against Saddam Husseins much-overrated Iraqi military reignited the real Vietnam Syndrome, which was Washingtons overconfidence in military force as the way to secure dominance, while allegedly strengthening democracy not just here in America but globally. Hubris led to the expansion of NATO to Russias borders; hubris led to unipolar dreams of total dominance everywhere; hubris meant that America could somehow have the most moral as well as lethal military in the world; hubris meant that one need never concern oneself about potential blowback from allying with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan or the risk of provoking Russian aggression as NATO floated Ukraine and Georgia as future members of an alliance designed to keep Russia down.

It was the end of history (so it was said) and American-style democracy had prevailed.

Even so, militarily, this country did anything but demobilize. Under President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, there was some budgetary trimming, but military Keynesianism remained a thing, as did the military-industrial-congressional complex. Clinton managed a rare balanced budget due to domestic spending cuts and welfare reform; his cuts to military spending, however, were modest indeed. Tragically, under him, America would not become a normal country in normal times, as former U.N. Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick once dreamed. It would remain an empire  and an increasingly hungry one at that.

In that vein, senior civilians like Secretary of State Madeleine Albright began to wonder why this country had such a superb military if we werent prepared to use it to boss others around. Never mind concerns about the constitutionality of employing U.S. troops in conflicts without a congressional declaration of war. (How unnecessary! How old-fashioned!) It was time to unapologetically rule the world.

The calamitous events of 9/11 changed nothing except the impetus to punish those whod challenged our illusions. Those same events also changed everything as Americas leaders decided it was then the moment to double down on empire, to become even more authoritarian (the Patriot Act, torture, and the like), to go openly to the dark side, to lash out in the only way they knew how  more bombing (Afghanistan, Iraq), followed by invasions and surges  then, wash, rinse, repeat.

So, had we really beaten the Vietnam Syndrome in the triumphant year of 1991? Of course not. A decade later, after 9/11, we met the enemy, and once again it was our unrepresentative government spoiling for war, no matter how ill-conceived and ill-advised  because war pays, because war is presidential, because Americas leaders believe that the true power of its example is example after example of its power, especially bombs bursting in air.

The All-Volunteer Force Isnt What It Seems

Speaking as a veteran and a military historian, I believe Americas all-volunteer force has lost its way. Todays military members  unlike those of the greatest generation of World War II fame  are no longer citizen-soldiers. Todays volunteers have surrendered to the rhetoric of being warriors and warfighters. They take their identity from fighting wars or preparing for the same, putting aside their oath to support and defend the Constitution. They forget (or were never taught) that they must be citizens first, soldiers second. They have, in truth, come to embrace a warrior mystique that is far more consistent with authoritarian regimes. Theyve come to think of themselves  proudly so  as a breed apart.

Far too often in this America, an affinitive patriotism has been replaced by a rabid nationalism. Consider that Christocentric America First ideals are now openly promoted by the civilian commander-in-chief, no matter that they remain antithetical to the Constitution and corrosive to democracy. The new affirmative action openly affirms faith in Christ and trust in Trump (leavened with lots of bombs and missiles against nonbelievers).

Citizen-soldiers of my fathers generation, by way of contrast, thought for themselves. They chafed against military authority, confronting it when it seemed foolish, wasteful, or unlawful. They largely demobilized themselves in the aftermath of World War II. But warriors dont think. They follow orders. They drop bombs on target. They make the war machine run on time.

Americans, when theyre not overwhelmed by their efforts to simply make ends meet, have largely washed their hands of whatever that warrior-military does in their name. They know little about wars fought supposedly to protect them and care even less. Why should they care? Theyre not asked to weigh in. Theyre not even asked to sacrifice (other than to pay taxes and keep their mouths shut).

Too many people in America, it seems to me, are now playing a perilous game of make-believe. We make-believe that Americas wars are authorized when they clearly are not. For example, who, other than Donald Trump (and Joe Biden before him), gave the U.S. military the right to bomb Yemen?

We make-believe all our troops are volunteers. We make-believe we care about those volunteers. Sometimes, some of us even make-believe we care about those wars being waged in places and countries most Americans would be hard-pressed to find on a map. How confident are you that all too many Americans could even point to the right hemisphere to find Syria or Yemen or past war zones like Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq?

War isnt even that good at teaching Americans geography anymore!

What Is To Be Done?

If you accept that theres a kernel of truth to what Ive written so far, and that theres definitely something wrong that should be fixed, the question remains: What is to be done?

Some concrete actions immediately demand our attention.

*Any ongoing wars, including overseas contingency operations and the like, must be stopped immediately unless Congress formally issues a declaration of war as required by the Constitution. No more nonsense about MOOTW, or military operations other than war. There is war or there is peace. Period. Want to bomb Yemen? First, declare war on Yemen through Congress.

*Wars, assuming they are supported by Congressional declarations, must be paid for with taxes raised above all from those Americans who benefit most handsomely from fighting them. There shall be no deficit spending for war.

*Americans are used to sin taxes for purchases like tobacco and alcohol. So, isnt it time for a new sin tax related to profiteering from war, especially by the corporations that make the distinctly overpriced weaponry without which such wars couldnt be waged?

To end wars and weaken militarism in America, we must render it unprofitable. As long as powerful forces continue to profit so handsomely from going to war  even as volunteer troops are told to aspire to be warriors, born and trained to kill  this violent madness in America will persist, if not expand.

Look, the 22-year-old version of me thought he knew who the evil empire was. He thought he was one of the good guys. He thought his country and his military stood for something worthy, even for greatness of a sort. Sure, he was naive. Perhaps he was just another wet-behind-the-ears factotum of empire. But he took his oath to the Constitution seriously and looked to a brighter day when that military would serve only as a deterrent in a world largely at peace.

The soon-to-be-62-year-old me is no longer so naive and, these days, none too sure whos evil and who isnt. He knows his country is on the wrong path, that the bloody path of bullets and bombs (and profiting from the same) is always perilous for any freedom-loving people to travel on.

Somehow, America needs to be put back on the freedom trail that inspires and empowers citizens rather than wannabe warriors brandishing weapons galore. Somehow, we need to aspire again to be a nation of laws. (Can we agree that due process is better than no process?) Somehow, we need to dream of being a nation where right makes might, one that knows that destruction is not construction, one that exchanges bullets and bombs for ballots and beauty.

How else are we to become America the Beautiful?

Copyright 2025 William J. Astore
All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (NOVAGOLD or the Company) (NYSE American, TSX: NG) closed its previously announced upsized public offering of 47,850,000 common shares of NOVAGOLD at a price to the public of $3.75 per share. All of the shares are being offered by NOVAGOLD. Gross proceeds from the upsized offering totaled approximately $179.4 million. NOVAGOLD has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 7,177,500 additional common shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

Concurrently with the proposed upsized public offering, the Company also closed a private placement for 17,173,853 common shares for gross proceeds of approximately $64.4 million.

NOVAGOLD intends to use the net proceeds of $234.1 million from the offering and the concurrent private placement described above to fund the purchase price for NOVAGOLDs previously announced acquisition1 of an additional 10% ownership interest in Donlin Gold LLC and to use the remaining net proceeds, if any, for general corporate purposes including updating the feasibility study.

Citigroup, RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets and Canaccord Genuity acted as joint book-running managers for the public offering. National Bank of Canada Financial Markets, Scotiabank and Morgan Stanley also acted as joint book-running managers for the public offering.

A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the offered common shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 23, 2025 and automatically became effective upon filing. The final prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SECs website. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from the joint book-running managers: Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (800) 831-9146; and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281, by telephone at (877) 822-4089, or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; and BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 151 W 42nd Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10036 by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You may also obtain these documents free of charge by visiting the SECs website at www.sec.gov.

The shares issued in the concurrent private placement have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and were issued pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act to investors that qualify as accredited investors under the Securities Act. The shares issued in the concurrent private placement have been issued to non-residents of Canada pursuant to exemptions from certain Canadian securities laws and are subject to a four-month and one-day hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in Canada or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The concurrent private placement constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) as a certain >10% shareholder of the Company (the Insider) subscribed for an aggregate of 13,333,334 Common Shares for aggregate proceeds of $50 million. The Company relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 with respect to the Insider participation in the concurrent private placement as the fair market value of the consideration of the securities issued to the related party did not exceed 25% of the Companys market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the participation of the Insider in the concurrent private placement at least 21 days before closing of the concurrent private placement as the participation of the Insider was not determined at that time.

About NOVAGOLD

NOVAGOLD is a precious metals company focused on the development of the Donlin Gold project. Located in Alaska, one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world, the Donlin Gold project is regarded as one of the largest, highest-grade, and most prospective known open-pit gold deposits in the world.

NOVAGOLD Contacts:

Melanie Hennessey

Vice President, Corporate Communications

Frank Gagnon

Manager, Investor Relations

604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227

www.novagold.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This media release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include future-oriented financial information or financial outlook within the meaning of securities laws, including information regarding the benefits of the announced transaction with Paulson, NOVAGOLDs anticipated expenditures and anticipated plans for the new partnership and Donlin following the completion of the transaction; information regarding the timing of the option granted to underwriters; statements regarding the permitting, potential development, exploration, construction and operation of Donlin Gold; and statements regarding NOVAGOLDs future operating and financial performance and production estimates. Such information is intended to assist readers in understanding NOVAGOLDs current expectations and plans relating to the future. Such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, continue, ongoing, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results will, may, could, would or should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on several opinions, estimates and assumptions that management of NOVAGOLD considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the consummation and timing of the transaction; the expected timing of closing of the transaction; the timing of the option granted to underwriters; the size or terms thereof; the satisfaction of closing conditions; the anticipated timing of certain judicial and/or administrative decisions; the 2025 outlook; the timing and potential for commencing a new feasibility study on the Donlin Gold project; the results of future feasibility studies; our goals and expenditures for 2025; ongoing support provided to key stakeholders including Native Corporation partners; Donlin Golds continued support for the state and federal permitting process; sufficiency of working capital; the potential development and construction of the Donlin Gold project; the timing and ability for the Donlin Gold project to hit critical milestones; the ability for the Tier One gold development project to hit the anticipated projections; the sufficiency of funds to continue to advance development of Donlin Gold, including to a construction decision; perceived merit of properties; mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; Donlin Golds ability to secure the permits needed to construct and operate the Donlin Gold project in a timely manner, if at all; legal challenges to Donlin Golds existing permits and the timing of decisions in those challenges; whether the Donlin Gold LLC board will continue to advance the Donlin Gold project safely, socially responsibly and to sustainably generate value for our stakeholders; continued cooperation between the owners of Donlin Gold LLC to advance the project; NOVAGOLDs ability to deliver on its strategy with the Donlin Gold project; the success of the strategic mine plan for the Donlin Gold project; the success of the Donlin Gold community relations plan; the outcome of exploration drilling at the Donlin Gold project and the timing thereof; the completion of test work and modeling and the timing thereof. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent the expectations of NOVAGOLD managements estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include failure to satisfy or waive the closing conditions relating to the transaction or the proposed public offering; the need to obtain additional permits and governmental approvals; the timing and likelihood of obtaining and maintaining permits necessary to construct and operate; the need for additional financing to complete an updated feasibility study and to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; disease pandemics; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drill results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the United States or Canada; the need for cooperation of government agencies and Native groups in the development and operation of properties; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, disease pandemics, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, ore grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; whether or when a positive construction decision will be made regarding the Donlin Gold project; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in NOVAGOLDs most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the Risk Factors sections of those reports and other documents filed by NOVAGOLD with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting NOVAGOLDs website at www.novagold.com, or the SECs website at www.sec.gov, or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of NOVAGOLD on the date the statements are made. NOVAGOLD assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

__________________________

1 On April 22, 2025, NOVAGOLD and Paulson Advisers LLC announced that they had entered into an agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation to acquire their 50% interest in Donlin Gold LLC for $1 billion in cash.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 8, 2025 /CNW/ - Silver Viper Minerals Corp. ("Silver Viper" or the "Company") (TSXV: VIPR) (OTC: VIPRF) has entered into an agreement with CSAC Holdings Inc. ("CSAC") and all of the shareholders of CSAC (collectively, the "Vendors") dated May 8, 2025 (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire the Cimarron Project in Sinaloa, Mexico, a property hosting a porphyry gold-copper system (the "Transaction").

"This acquisition supports our strategy to build scale through the addition of high-quality gold, silver and copper assets in Mexico," said Steve Cope, President and CEO of Silver Viper. "Cimarron has benefited from extensive historical drilling and is ready for the next stage of infill and step-out work."

Transaction Summary

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Silver Viper has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of CSAC from the Vendors in exchange for 9,000,000 common shares of Silver Viper. Closing remains subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions, including but not limited to, the receipt of the requisite TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Transaction and completion of satisfactory due diligence by Silver Viper of CSAC and the Cimarron Project, as well as other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. Closing is expected to occur as promptly as possible following satisfaction of the closing conditions set out in the Purchase Agreement.

Highlights of the Cimarron Project

The Cimarron Project is located on the prolific porphyry belt from Arizona to Jalisco and is situated in the well-established mining jurisdiction of Mexico. The Cimarron Project lies between Mazatlan and Rosario in Sinaloa and is accessible via an 11-kilometre dirt road from a nearby paved road. The area is relatively flat, with low topographic contrast, supporting ease of access. An electrical line passes one kilometre south of the property. The nearby towns of Rosarioa historic mining communityand Mazatlan provide access to skilled local labour.

Having considered some of the historical exploration undertaken on the Cimarron Project, Silver Viper believes that the Cimarron Project has potential for growth by focusing on three parts of the mineralized system, being Calerita, Lobo and Huanacaxtle. Most target areas of the Cimarron Project remain underexplored, and Silver Viper believes that trenching may offer an efficient, low-cost approach to generate additional drill targets, particularly in areas of soil anomalies. Further updates will be provided on activities to be undertaken at the Cimarron Project by Silver Viper following closing of the Transaction.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Ben Whiting, P.Geo., a Qualified Persons as defined in NI 43-101.

About the Company

Silver Viper Minerals Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mineral exploration company focused on precious metals exploration in Mexico. The Company is the operator and 100% owner of the La Virginia Gold-Silver Project in Sonora. The Company continues to evaluate and advance mineral exploration opportunities across key mining jurisdictions in Mexico and in May 2025 entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Cimarron Project in Sinaloa, Mexico.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Steve Cope

President and CEO

Follow us on social media:

X: @SilverViperCorp

LinkedIn: Silver Viper Minerals Corp.

Facebook: Silver Viper Minerals

YouTube: @SilverViperMinerals

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking and include, without limitation, any statements respecting the Transaction, including closing thereof, receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Transaction and future plans for the Cimarron Project. Although Silver Viper believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties.
RENO, Nev., May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX:IAU) (NYSE:IAUX) (i-80 or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with National Bank Financial Inc. and Cormark Securities Inc. as co-bookrunners (the Co-Bookrunners), on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the Underwriters) in which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, 270,000,000 units of the Company (the Units) at a price of US$0.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of US$135,000,000 (the Offering).

Each Unit is comprised of one common share (a Common Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of US$0.70 for a period of 30 months following the closing of the Offering.

The Company has also granted to the Underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 15% of the base Offering at the Underwriters sole discretion, for additional gross proceeds to the Company of up to US$20,250,000, to acquire Units, Common Shares and/or Warrants (or any combination thereof), at the Underwriters discretion, and shall be exercisable by the Underwriters, in whole or in part, for a period of 30 days from and including the Closing Date (as defined below).

The net proceeds of the Offering, inclusive of the over-allotment option if exercised, will be used on growth expenditures in support of i-80s new development plan in Nevada and for general corporate purposes, as more particularly described in the respective U.S. and Canadian prospectus supplements which are anticipated to be filed on May 13, 2025.

The Offering is expected to close on or about May 16, 2025 (the Closing Date), and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American.

The Offering will be made in the United States pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-286531) that was filed by i-80 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on April 14, 2025, as amended and declared effective by the SEC on May 7, 2025. A prospectus supplement relating to the Offering will be filed with the SEC. The Offering will be made in Canada pursuant to a prospectus supplement to be filed in each of the provinces and territories, other than Quebec, to the final base shelf prospectus dated June 21, 2024, that was filed with the securities regulators in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Offering will also be made available to offshore investors on a private placement basis pursuant to prospectus or registration exemptions in accordance with applicable laws.

The Offering is being made only by means of a U.S. and Canadian prospectus supplement and accompanying U.S. and Canadian base shelf prospectus, as applicable. Prospective investors should carefully read the U.S. and Canadian prospectus supplements when available and the accompanying U.S. and Canadian base prospectus and related registration statement. Access to the shelf prospectus supplements, the corresponding base shelf prospectuses and any amendment to the documents is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a shelf prospectus supplement, a base shelf prospectus and any amendment. Within two business days, copies of the U.S. prospectus supplement and the Canadian prospectus supplement, and the accompanying base prospectuses, as applicable, may be obtained on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and the SEDAR+ website at http://www.sedarplus.com, respectively. An electronic or paper copy of the shelf prospectus supplements, the corresponding base shelf prospectuses and any amendment to the documents may be obtained, without charge, from National Bank Financial Inc., 130 King Street West, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario M5X 1J9, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at (416) 869-8414 by providing the contact with an email address or address, as applicable.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any 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 i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused mining company committed to building a mid-tier gold producer through a new development plan to advance its high-quality asset portfolio. The Company is the fourth largest gold mineral resource holder in the state with a pipeline of high-grade exploration projects advancing towards feasibility and one operating project ramping-up toward steady-state, all strategically located in Nevadas most prolific gold-producing trends. Leveraging its fully permitted central processing facility following an anticipated refurbishment, i-80 Gold is executing a hub-and-spoke regional mining and processing strategy to maximize efficiency and growth. i-80 Golds shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:IAU) and the NYSE American (NYSE:IAUX). For more information, visit www.i80gold.com.

For further information, please contact:

Leily Omoumi  VP Corporate Development & Strategy

1.866.525.6450

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.i80gold.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to statements pertaining to the Offering, including the intended use of proceeds, closing date and ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, including those of the NYSE and TSX, the Companys ability to execute on its new development plan, advance its assets through feasibility toward construction and production, realize its exploration potential, transform into a mid-tier gold producer over the coming years, and become the next major gold story in Nevada. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, would, could, will, intend, expect, believe, plan, anticipate, estimate, scheduled, forecast, predict and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Companys current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release or as of the dates specified in such statements, and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable law.
LITTLETON, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG) (TSX:URE) (the "Company" or "Ur-Energy") has filed the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml and with Canadian securities authorities at www.sedarplus.ca.

Ur-Energy CEO, John Cash said: "We appreciate the Wyoming Water Quality Division and EPA's careful consideration of the aquifer exemption for the LC East and KM Amendment areas for the Lost Creek Permit to Mine. The issuance of the aquifer exemption is the culmination of many years of thorough analysis and is the final approval required to mine within the specified geologic horizons. The nuclear fuel generated from the Lost Creek Project will provide clean, baseload power for U.S. and European power plants while diversifying Wyoming's tax base and reducing our nation's reliance on uranium from other countries."

Lost Creek Operations

During 2025 Q1 operations at Lost Creek, we dried and packaged 83,066 pounds and shipped 106,301 pounds U 3 O 8 to the conversion facility. At quarter end, our in-process inventory at Lost Creek was approximately 29,700 pounds, our drummed inventory at Lost Creek was 10,772 pounds, and our finished inventory at the conversion facility was 368,540 pounds. Subsequent to quarter end, we shipped an additional 35,287 pounds U 3 O 8 . We now have 403,827 pounds U 3 O 8 in inventory at the conversion facility.

As previously disclosed, our wellfield flow rate has increased by 44% since the beginning of March 2025 and is now routinely over 2,800 gallons per minute. Additional flow increases are expected throughout the summer as our current fleet of 19 contract drill rigs and Company construction staff bring on additional header houses and enhance flow in existing wells through routine maintenance and improvements. Head grade remains on target. The Lost Creek processing plant is reducing in-circuit inventory with both dryers operating routinely and other process circuits performing more consistently.

Subsequent to quarter-end, we received the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) amendments to our Lost Creek permit to mine. This final permitting action by the State, following the license amendment received from WDEQ Uranium Recovery Program (URP) in 2021, allows for the expansion of recovery operations in up to six additional mine units in the HJ and KM horizons at our LC East Project and HJ mine units at Lost Creek. The State's permit approval was followed by the final concurrence and approval for the expansion: the related aquifer exemption from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which was received May 1, 2025.

We anticipate that we will deliver and sell 440,000 pounds U 3 O 8 at an average price per pound sold of $61.56 in 2025 from which we expect to realize revenues of $27.1 million from our U 3 O 8 sales.

Financial Results

As of March 31, 2025, we had cash resources of $86.0 million, which was a decrease of $1.1 million from the $87.1 million balance on December 31, 2024. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we generated $2.8 million from operating activities, used $3.8 million on investing activities, and used less than $0.1 million on financing activities.

U 3 O 8 Sales by Product, U 3 O 8 Product Cost, and U 3 O 8 Product Profit 1

The following table provides information on our U 3 O 8 sales, product costs, and product profit.

Unit 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2025 Q1 U 3 O 8 Pounds Sold Produced lb 75,000 100,000 95,000 - Non-produced lb - - 300,000 - lb 75,000 100,000 395,000 - U 3 O 8 Product Sales Produced $ 000 4,624 6,165 5,857 - Non-produced $ 000 - - 16,500 - $ 000 4,624 6,165 22,357 - U 3 O 8 Price per Pounds Sold Produced $/lb 61.65 61.65 61.65 - Non-produced $/lb - - 55.00 - $/lb 61.65 61.65 56.60 - U 3 O 8 Product Costs Ad valorem and severance taxes $ 000 42 81 164 - Cash costs $ 000 2,336 3,798 4,774 - Non-cash costs $ 000 749 1,012 958 - Produced $ 000 3,127 4,891 5,896 - Non-produced $ 000 - - 22,760 - $ 000 3,127 4,891 28,656 - U 3 O 8 Cost per Pound Sold Ad valorem and severance taxes $/lb 0.56 0.81 1.73 - Cash costs $/lb 31.15 37.98 50.25 - Non-cash costs $/lb 9.98 10.12 10.08 - Produced $/lb 41.69 48.91 62.06 - Non-produced $/lb - - 75.87 - $/lb 41.69 48.91 72.55 - U 3 O 8 Product Profit (Loss) Produced $ 000 1,497 1,274 (39 ) - Non-produced $ 000 - - (6,260 ) - $ 000 1,497 1,274 (6,299 ) - U 3 O 8 Gross Product Profit (Loss) per Pound Sold Produced $/lb 19.96 12.74 (0.41 ) - Non-produced $/lb - - (20.87 ) - $/lb 19.96 12.74 (15.95 ) - U 3 O 8 Product Profit (Loss) Margin per Pound Sold Produced % 32.4 % 20.7 % (0.7 )% - Non-produced % - - (37.9 )% - % 32.4 % 20.7 % (28.2 )% -

1 The U 3 O 8 and cost per pound measures included in the above table do not have a standardized meaning within US GAAP or a defined basis of calculation. These measures are used by management to assess business performance and determine production and pricing strategies. They may also be used by certain investors to evaluate performance.

We made no product sales in 2025 Q1. Our sales in 2025 are projected at 440,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 at an average price per pound sold of $61.56 and we expect to realize revenues of $27.1 million. The deliveries are under two agreements negotiated in 2022 and 2023, when the long-term price was between $43 and $57 per pound.

U 3 O 8 Production and Ending Inventory

The following tables provide information on our production and ending inventory of U 3 O 8 pounds.

Unit 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2025 Q1 U 3 O 8 Production Pounds captured lb 70,679 75,075 81,771 74,479 Pounds drummed lb 64,170 71,804 74,006 83,066 Pounds shipped lb 70,390 67,488 66,526 106,301 Non-produced pounds purchased or borrowed lb - 550,000 - - U 3 O 8 Ending Inventory Unit 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2025 Q1 Pounds In-process inventory lb 86,204 90,140 39,169 29,700 Plant inventory lb 21,570 26,580 33,919 10,772 Conversion inventory - produced lb 74,625 40,713 12,239 118,540 Conversion inventory - non-produced lb - - 250,000 250,000 lb 182,399 157,433 335,327 409,012 Value In-process inventory $ 000 447 427 42 382 Plant inventory $ 000 1,072 1,499 1,840 582 Conversion inventory - produced $ 000 3,555 2,320 704 6,463 Conversion inventory - non-produced $ 000 - - 18,158 16,058 $ 000 5,074 4,246 20,744 23,485 Cost per Pound In-process inventory $/lb 5.19 4.74 1.07 12.86 Plant inventory $/lb 49.70 56.40 54.25 54.03 Conversion inventory: Ad valorem and severance tax $/lb 0.67 1.63 1.57 2.16 Cash cost $/lb 36.77 45.26 46.83 43.43 Non-cash cost $/lb 10.20 10.09 9.12 8.94 Conversion inventory - produced $/lb 47.64 56.98 57.52 54.53 Conversion inventory - non-produced $/lb - - 72.63 64.23 $/lb 47.64 56.98 71.93 61.11

2025 Looking Ahead

We made great strides at Shirley Basin on construction and development activities in 2024. Now, in 2025, we are actively growing into a two-mine site Company. This became particularly true in Q1, as we began hiring additional management and staff and, subsequent to quarter-end, mobilized drill rigs from Lost Creek to begin development drilling for the first mine unit at Shirley Basin. Initial Shirley Basin management and staff include lateral moves of experienced Lost Creek personnel to form the initial core construction and wellfield team. We plan to continue to find opportunities to train new staff at Lost Creek and likely may move experienced operators to Shirley Basin when our phased recruitment plan calls for those hires in 2025 Q3.

With the move of two drill rigs to Shirley Basin, we now have 19 drill rigs working at Lost Creek, which is sufficient for our present development requirements and our planned 2025 exploration programs. Since the start of 2025, we have brought three header houses (HHs) online at Lost Creek: HH 2-12 in January, HH 2-13 in March and HH 2-14 on May 1, 2025.

At Lost Creek, we drummed 83,066 pounds in 2025 Q1 as drying activities began to increase. This allowed us to increase the average flow rate into the plant to approximately 2,066 gallons per minute in March. Subsequently, we were able to increase the average flow rate to 2,762 gallons per minute in April, which led to increased production in April of 38,646 pounds captured and 43,226 pounds drummed.

The wellfield flow rate at Lost Creek increased by 44% since the beginning of March 2025 and is now routinely over 2,800 gallons per minute. Additional flow increases are expected throughout the summer as we bring on additional header houses and enhance flow in existing wells through routine maintenance and improvements. Head grade remains on target and remains on a positive trend.

The Lost Creek processing plant is reducing in-circuit inventory with both dryers operating routinely and other process circuits performing more consistently.

We are generally fully staffed at Lost Creek and retention has improved in recent months, including within our Lost Creek management group. This has allowed us to better train our staff and place a greater focus on their safety.

The Casper construction shop is functioning well and meeting our present header house development needs for Lost Creek and is in position to meet our development needs at Shirley Basin as we move towards production there.

With much development and pre-construction advanced at Shirley Basin in 2024, we are now progressing wellfield development, construction of the modular office building (expected to be complete in 2025 Q3), additional roadwork, and earthwork at the plant site to allow concrete work to begin in May.

As noted above, hiring completed for Shirley Basin includes our Mine Manager and several key managers, nearly all construction and casing staff and the first among our wellfield services team. Our staff of production geologists is in place at the project. In Q2, we will onboard an engineer, a health physicist and geological logging staff, all of whom have been hired. Our phased recruitment program is anticipated to allow for more thorough safety and task training of staff prior to commencement of operations.

We look forward to the commencement of operations at Shirley Basin, as it will diversify our production sources and further support our efforts to remain a leading U.S. uranium producer. We also anticipate restarting exploration programs to identify additional mineral resources and supplement future production.

As discussed above, we have secured multi-year sales agreements with leading nuclear companies, including several which include market-related pricing components. We now have seven agreements that call for combined annual delivery of a base amount of 440,000 to 1,300,000 pounds of U 3 O 8 from 2025 through 2030, with additional deliveries of 100,000 called for in 2032 and 2033. Sales prices are anticipated to be profitable on an all-in production cost basis and escalate annually from initial pricing.

Our cash position as of May 2, 2025, was $66.0 million.

With additional staff and contractors and significant construction and operational activity at both mine sites, we continue to focus on maintaining safe and compliant operations.

About Ur-Energy

Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming. We have produced and packaged approximately 2.9 million pounds U 3 O 8 from Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Ur-Energy has all major permits and authorizations to begin construction at Shirley Basin, the Company's second in situ recovery uranium facility in Wyoming and is advancing Shirley Basin construction and development following the March 2024 'go' decision for the mine. We await the remaining regulatory authorization for the expansion of Lost Creek. UrEnergy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States. The primary trading market for UrEnergy's common shares is on the NYSE American under the symbol "URG." UrEnergy's common shares also trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "URE." Ur-Energy's corporate office is in Littleton, Colorado and its registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

John W. Cash, Chairman, CEO and President

+1 720-981-4588, ext. 303

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws regarding events or conditions that may occur in the future (e.g., our ability to maintain operations at Lost Creek and construction and buildout at Shirley Basin in a safe and compliant fashion; ability and timing to complete our ramp-up to full production levels at Lost Creek; our ability to timely deliver into our contractual obligations; the ability to advance development and construction priorities at Lost Creek and Shirley Basin including further recruitment, training and retention of employees; whether we will proceed with the planned exploration programs and what the results will be; and the ability to complete build out of Shirley Basin as currently projected and budgeted) and are based on current expectations that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, inherently involve a number of significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of the foregoing, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; failure to establish estimated resources and reserves; the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates; production rates, methods and amounts varying from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in development and other factors described in the public filings made by the Company at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date hereof and Ur-Energy disclaims any intent or obligation to update them or revise them to reflect any change in circumstances or in management's beliefs, expectations or opinions that occur in the future.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX:SKE) (NYSE:SKE) ("Skeena Gold & Silver", "Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Hansjoerg Plaggemars as a director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Plaggemars has extensive experience on public company boards listed in London, Germany, and Australia, including those of the Deutsche Balaton group, a significant institutional shareholder of the Company. Mr. Plaggemars is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in structured debt finance, equity capital markets, including capital increases and decreases, reverse takeovers, and restructurings. He began his finance career at KPMG and has served as Chief Financial Officer in various industries, including software, retail, prefabricated housing, and e-commerce, for over 14 years. In 2014, he joined Deutsche Balaton AG and has been running his own consultancy firm, Value Consult, since 2017.

Walter Coles, Executive Chairman of Skeena, commented: "We are pleased to welcome Hansjoerg Plaggemars to our Board. His entrepreneurial insight and capital markets acumen will be a significant asset as we move forward."

Senior Officers & Management Appointments

Skeena is pleased to announce the promotion of Nalaine Morin to Senior Vice President, Environment and Social Affairs. Ms. Morin has been instrumental in advancing the company's permitting process, including the recent submission of the Environmental Assessment Application and Major Mines Permit Application for the Eskay Creek project. Ms. Morin is a nationally recognized professional with extensive expertise in mining and environmental assessments and is highly respected for her efforts to build strong, respectful relationships that honor the role of Indigenous Nations in decision-making on Indigenous lands. Before joining Skeena, she served as the Lands Director for the Tahltan Central Government. Her leadership has earned her several prestigious awards, including the King Charles III Coronation Medallion, the 2021 Skookum Jim Award, and the 2018 Indigenous Trailblazer Award. Ms. Morin also serves on the board of BC Hydro and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia and a Mechanical Engineering Technology Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Randy Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of Skeena, commented: "We are proud of the strong talent pool we have cultivated within our organization. I am particularly pleased to announce Nalaine Morin's promotion to Senior Vice President, Environment and Social Affairs at Skeena. Her commitment to fostering respectful and collaborative relationships with Indigenous Nations has been instrumental to our success thus far."

"We are also excited to welcome Andrew, Timothy, and Karen to our leadership team-each brings valuable expertise that marks an exciting new chapter for Skeena. With engineering progressing, permitting in motion, and early works planned for this year, we are assembling the right team to ensure the project is construction-ready by year-end."

Skeena is pleased to provide the following Management appointments:

Andrew Osterloh as Vice President of Project Engineering and Construction - Mr. Osterloh is a professional engineer with over 25 years' mining industry experience in process engineering, plant metallurgy and project management. Previously, Mr. Osterloh was at FPX Nickel since joining in June 2021, as SVP Projects & Operations. Formerly, he held project management roles at Fluor Canada and site operations positions at several notable mining projects, including Eskay Creek when it was operated by Barrick, and Huckleberry, operated by Imperial Metals.

Timothy Sewell as Vice President of Health and Safety - Timothy Sewell is a distinguished Health, Safety, Environment, Security, Training (HSEST) and Risk Management Professional, recognized for his leadership, innovation, and analytical abilities. With extensive cross-commodity and cultural experience, he excels in providing vision, influence, reliability, and efficiency in the HSEST field. He has been acknowledged globally for his contributions in the HSEST field which includes the Canadian Institute of Mining's John T. Ryan Regional Safety Award. Mr. Sewell has over 30 years' experience in risk management, emergency response, regulatory and aviation compliance with a background in Environmental Science and Resource Management.

Karen Leven as Vice President of Environment and Regulatory Affairs- Karen Leven is a Canadian Certified Environmental Professional and brings 25 years of mining experience, specializing in environmental and regulatory management. She led Skeena's team in the delivery of the Environmental Assessment and Major Mine permit applications since joining in early 2024. With in-depth knowledge of federal, provincial, and territorial regulatory frameworks, her expertise in environmental science and integrated planning supports her commitment to innovation and sustainability in the mining industry.

About Skeena

Skeena is a leading precious metals developer that is focused on advancing the Eskay Creek Gold-Silver Project - a past producing mine located in the renowned Golden Triangle in British Columbia, Canada. Eskay Creek will be one of the highest-grade and lowest cost open-pit precious metals mines in the world, with substantial silver by-product production that surpasses many primary silver mines. Skeena is committed to sustainable mining practices and maximizing the potential of its mineral resources. In partnership with the Tahltan Nation, Skeena strives to foster positive relationships with Indigenous communities while delivering long-term value and sustainable growth for its stakeholders.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Gold & Silver,

Walter Coles Randy Reichert Executive Chairman President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Galina Meleger

Vice President Investor Relations

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

T: 604-684-8725

W: www.skeenagoldsilver.com

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Skeena's Corporate Head office is located at Suite #2600 - 1133 Melville Street, Vancouver BC V6E 4E5

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as "anticipates", "believes", "proposes", "contemplates", "generates", "targets", "is projected", "is planned", "considers", "estimates", "expects", "is expected", "potential" and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "might", "will", "could", or "would" be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the progress of development at Eskay, including the construction budget, schedule and required funding in respect thereof; the timing for and the Company's progress towards commencement of commercial production; and the results of the Definitive Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") dated March 31, 2025. Such forward-looking statements represent the Company's management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; the receipt and timing of the environmental assessment certificate,; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Company's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 31, 2025 the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated March 19, 2025, and in the Company's other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and the Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.
EU foreign ministers were in the Ukrainian city of Lviv on Friday, where they are expected to endorse the creation of a special tribunal to try Russia's top leadership over the invasion.

The gathering was a symbolic show of support on the same day Russia commemorates the end of World War II with a grand military parade in Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin evoked Soviet victory over Nazi Germany to rally the country round his three-year offensive.

"It is important and symbolic that European partners stand side by side with Ukraine on Europe Day," Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said in a social media post.

He welcomed delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe, including the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.

"There will be no impunity, there will be accountability for the crimes committed," Kallas said Thursday after a meeting of EU ministers in Warsaw.

The special tribunal is designed to prosecute Russia's top leadership for the "crime of aggression" in launching the invasion of Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has already issued arrest warrants for Putin over the abduction of Ukrainian children, and four of his top commanders for targeting civilians.

But the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute Russia for the more fundamental decision to launch the invasion.

The new tribunal is not expected to be able to try Putin while he is in office due to a principle of international law that gives immunity to presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers.

Proposals for establishing the tribunal were floated more than two years ago but wrangling over its legal basis and how it would work has made progress slow.

The return of US President Donald Trump to the White House appears to have sped up efforts, as European officials fear his plans for a peace deal could lead to Moscow escaping justice for good.
Last year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) published a major report on the status of global compliance with international humanitarian law, warning that its legitimacy is at risk due to a lack of respect, deliberate violations, and expedient interpretations that threaten to turn it into a justification for violence rather than a shield for humanity.

The fundamental documents of international humanitarian law  or IHL  are the four Geneva Conventions adopted in 1949, which also mandate the ICRC to promote IHL and provide humanitarian assistance to victims of war and violence.

Just over 75 years later, IHL is on shaky ground globally. In addition to the concerns outlined in the ICRC report, critics argue that it is outdated or that the mechanisms and organisations meant to uphold it  such as the ICRC itself  are failing in their mandates.

Evident double standards on the part of countries that hold disproportionate sway over the levers of international justice have helped fuel the sense of crisis and disillusionment. Ukraine is often cited as an example of where Western powers  at least until Donald Trump returned to the US presidency  have insisted on IHL being upheld. But even in Ukraine, people are increasingly questioning the relevance of IHL, and the institutions tasked with promoting adherence to it.

Since Russia first occupied Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014, the countrys government has appealed to international law to bolster its cause, bringing several partially successful cases against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Following Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and another Russian official for alleged war crimes.

Neither of these actions have had any discernible restraining effect, while Russia's status as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council seems to give it licence to act with impunity  much as America has used its status on the council to shield itself and its allies.

It makes [IHL] a joke, Ukrainian human rights activist turned army officer Maksym Butkevych, who spent over two years as a prisoner of war in Russia, told The New Humanitarian. You disobeyed and there is no penalty, especially if you are a permanent member of the Security Council.

Perhaps more than any other issue, Russias treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (PoWs)  and the perception that the ICRC has failed to stop or even mitigate abuses  has driven deepening scepticism about IHL in Ukraine. The PoWs are not only captives in an armed conflict; they have become part of an information war and an assault on values that risks tearing up the rules designed to protect them.

The Moscow Convention

Around the same time that the ICRC released its report on the status of IHL, a coalition of Ukrainian government offices, ministries, and civil society organisations published what they call the Moscow Convention. The document turns the legal language of the Geneva Conventions on its head to enumerate the abuses Russia has carried out against Ukrainian PoWs  and to accuse the world and the ICRC of essentially condoning these crimes.

Russia tortures Ukrainian prisoners and does not allow international organisations to visit them. These are direct violations of the Geneva Conventions, the website reads. Due to its neutrality, the Red Cross is silent about Russias crimes and allows it to write its own rules.

The ICRC in Ukraine says the charge is a misunderstanding and a mockery of the laws and values underlying its humanitarian missions and the rules of war.

The Moscow Convention is an expression of the frustration of the Ukrainian authorities; I understand where it is coming from, and I see the motivation behind it, but Im very irritated that an element of IHL, the Geneva Conventions, are mocked, ICRCs head of delegation in Ukraine, Jurg Eglin, told The New Humanitarian. Neutrality is not there as a moral concept but is defined as a tool, an instrument through which things can be achieved that could not be done otherwise.

The 1949 Third Geneva Convention includes unambiguous legal articles on the treatment of PoWs, stipulating, among other things: protection from violence, including torture and collective punishment; provision of adequate medical treatment, food, clothing, hygiene and exercise; regular correspondence; and confidential visits from the ICRC, which is designated to monitor conditions of detention and inform relatives of POWs whereabouts.

Thousands of Ukrainian PoWs experience the opposite. Name to me any single article of the Geneva Convention regarding PoWs that was observed, Butkevych said, referencing his time in Russian detention. Well, they didnt kill us on the spot, which they did to others.

Russia is holding thousands of PoWs and Ukrainian civilians in over 100 places of detention in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, according to Ukrainian human rights groups and the governmental inter-agency Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The actual number of people is not known, as Russia often does not fulfil its obligation to inform Ukraine about the prisoners it holds.

Systematic abuse and torture

Ukraine holds a likely smaller but also publicly undisclosed number of Russian PoWs in five camps. The sides have agreed to over 60 prisoner exchanges since 2022, returning more than 4,500 Ukrainian PoWs and likely a similar number of Russians.

Taken prisoner in June 2022, Butkevych experienced beatings, inadequate food, a total lack of hygiene, months with no exercise or even shoes, and frequent collective punishment, before being exchanged in October 2024.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) says that abuse and systematic torture is experienced at almost all stages and locations of detention, and from multiple state security and penal services across the Russian Federation and in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

The torture is of a scale and scope that is quite frankly difficult to imagine, HRMMUs head of mission, Danielle Bell, told The New Humanitarian, adding that the abuses are the worst she has encountered in 24 years of human rights work in East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.

The HRMMU has no access to places of detention in Russia or occupied territories. Its findings are based on in-depth interviews with over 400 exchanged Ukrainian PoWs. They conclude that more than 95% are subjected to torture, including severe beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, mock executions, and humiliating and degrading treatment.

Often, they have been held for more than two years in multiple facilities where torture was an everyday reality, Bell said.

With little visibility, it is unclear exactly how many Ukrainian PoWs have died in Russian custody. HRMMU has confirmed 21 deaths, while Ukraines Coordinating Headquarters says 169 bodies have been returned  of those, 84 were registered as PoWs with the ICRC. Fifteen civilians have also died in conflict-related Russian custody, according to the Coordinating Headquarters.

Ukrainian authorities have documented  often from publicly available drone footage  over 170 executions of captured Ukrainian combatants; HRMMU has verified 79.

Evidence published in international media, including from Russian prison officers who have fled Russia, indicates that the torture and executions are deliberate Russian state policy.

On the Ukrainian side, the HRMMU mission has been given unfettered access to Russian PoWs in prisons and camps since 2022, according to Bell, who added that when the mission has documented ill-treatment, the authorities quickly implemented changes. Some instances of torture and ill-treatment still occur before prisoners reach official places of detention, and we have ongoing dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities about this, she said.

Instrumentalisation of humanitarian law

Russia has not responded to Ukraines protests or HRMMUs findings on its abuse of PoWs. But it frequently cites IHL when it wants to condemn Ukraine for infringements  an example of countries selectively referencing IHL to serve their own interests.

I do recall occasions where our reports have been quoted by Russian authorities for the reporting we do on torture of Russian PoWs, said Bell. So the credibility of our findings is recognised. The missions role is to put facts on public record to counter deeply politicised or false narratives, she added.

According to Butkevych, after he was captured, the Geneva Conventions never started.

Instead, courts in occupied east Ukraine and Russia convicted and sentenced him for allegedly violating the conventions himself by firing on civilians (evidence shows Butkevych was not even in the location where the alleged crime took place).

The next time I saw the Geneva Conventions being mentioned was in the official accusation against me, and in the court verdict, he said. They use [the conventions] to accuse Ukrainian PoWs of breaching them, and thats it.

In a further irony, once he had been sentenced as a supposed war criminal, Butkevychs detention conditions actually improved. He was allowed outside correspondence and could watch TV in prison.

Russia has tried and sentenced hundreds of Ukrainian POWs, both for alleged war crimes and for simply belonging to certain Ukrainian army battalions that it designated as terrorist organisations in 2022. In 2023, a booklet promoted by Russias UN delegation was circulated at UN sessions. It contained testimonies of supposed crimes against humanity committed by Ukrainian forces in parts of east Ukraine now occupied by Russia. Many of the testimonies are from Ukrainian PoWs, whose names and photographs are included.

HRMMU notes that the court cases violate the principle of immunity for merely participating in hostilities and the PoWs rights to fair trials. There is high risk that the self-incriminating statements of Ukrainian PoW contained in the book have been extracted under duress, according to its 2023 report, which also noted that the book violates PoWs rights to be shielded from public curiosity.

Punished for speaking Ukrainian, deprived of all contact with the outside world, told they have been abandoned by their country and their families, PoWs who have since been exchanged say they gave false testimony or signed confessions to make the torture stop and in the hope they would then be released in an exchange.

For families, meanwhile, published confessions and court rulings can sometimes be the first news they receive of their loved ones. Although warring sides are obliged to inform next of kin via the ICRC, the majority of families of Ukrainian PoWs have no contact with their loved ones and do not know where they are being held, or even if they are still alive.

Its so tough on families, because the only thing they know for sure is that their loved one is deeply suffering, said Bell.

Ukrainian prisoners of war embrace after being released in a prisoner exchange with Russia on 19 April 2025. More than 4,500 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been able to return home since 2022, in more than 60 exchanges. Photo:  Tetiana Dzhafarova / AFP

Anger with the ICRC and the UN

The overwhelming evidence of abuse has shocked and enraged Ukrainian society. It has deepened hatred of Russia and disillusionment with the entities tasked with monitoring and upholding adherence to IHL. That anger often focuses on the ICRC, which is mandated to visit PoWs but has barely any access to those held by Russia.

The ICRC, which has worked in Ukraine on both sides of the front line since 2014, has come under criticism since the first days of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

In May 2022, it facilitated the evacuation and registration as PoWs of several hundred Ukrainian combatants from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. When Russia began putting them on trial, and over 50 others were killed in an explosion at a prison camp in Olenivka in the Russia-occupied area of Donetsk Oblast, many of their relatives felt the ICRC had betrayed them. An association of their relatives was part of the coalition that published the Moscow Convention.

Serhiy Tarasiuk, 58, was among the surrendering soldiers who were transferred to Olenivka. Russia has refused to allow the UN or the ICRC access for an investigation into the explosion. Serhiy survived. In May 2023, the ICRC informed his wife, Ludmila Tarasiuk, that Russia had confirmed he was a PoW.

I had some hope then that, if they had confirmed it, then possibly that meant there would be some greater responsibility for human life, Ludmila said.

But exchanged PoWs told her that her husband was being kept in a cell with about 40 others who had contracted tuberculosis, many of whom were dying without medical treatment. I realised what captivity is: It is a slow death, she said.

Tarasiuk joined a delegation of relatives who visited the ICRC headquarters in Geneva in 2023 in the hope of encouraging some intervention. But her faith in an international system of justice represented by the UN and the ICRC was in tatters.

I imagined it completely differently. It seemed that these were such influential organisations, respected and really able to do something. Now, any hope regarding either organisation is long gone, she said.

Her husband finally came home through a prisoner exchange at the end of last year.

Being neutral to keep access

The ICRC says that expecting the organisation to call out atrocities or enforce compliance with IHL is a misunderstanding of its capabilities and its role, which is to remain publicly neutral and non-political so it can speak confidentially to all sides in a conflict in order to assist non-combatants.

Dialogue with Russia, according to Eglin, allows the ICRC to continue providing humanitarian aid in occupied Ukrainian territories (its the only international agency allowed to operate there), raise the issue of treatment of PoWs, and provide families with information about their relatives in captivity through National Information Bureaus on both sides and the ICRCs Central Tracing Agency (CTA) in Geneva.

The CTA has provided information to 12,500 Ukrainian and Russian families about the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones. Over 12,000 messages have been exchanged between PoWs and family members, while over 5,400 PoWs have been visited. The data, however, are deliberately not disaggregated, to the fury of Ukrainian authorities, who say the vast majority of visits are to Russian PoWs in Ukraine.

It would be good for the ICRC not to manipulate such numbers, but to clearly say how many visits they were able to do, said Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraines Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of PoWs. Dont be afraid to say which side broke IHL.

Eglin points out that other organisations are documenting and drawing public attention to the plight of Ukrainian PoWs  and none have succeeded in gaining better access to them or improving their conditions. For the ICRC to resort to a last-ditch right to denunciation  employed extremely rarely in the organisations history  would only curtail what little the ICRC has been able to achieve, he said.

We have little or nothing to gain by speaking out, because we are not sitting on information that the world doesnt already know, said Eglin. We could do better, we could do more, but speaking out would compromise, very quickly, the things we are doing.

That argument is not very convincing for people who have experienced Russian detention first-hand, like Butkevych, who spent much of his life working with humanitarian organisations, such as UNHCR (the UNs refugee agency), and as an international human rights activist.

Initially, Butkevych and other PoWs held out hope that the ICRC would provide some kind of relief, or assistance at least to let their families know they were still alive, but it never materialised. After a while, we stopped waiting, he said. Im afraid at some point PoWs treated the ICRC rather as a joke.

Russian prisoners of war in a Ukrainian centre in the Sumy region on 19 August 2024. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said they had free access to Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine. Photo:  Genya Savilov / AFP

The end of respect for law and neutrality?

Many in Ukraine argue that humanitarian organisations must always point out where rules are being broken, and by whom. Of course the nature of war is to destroy all rules. But we know that invaders like Russia continue to work with the wider world, and in the wider world people should know how to behave with such an invader and how to prevent them from committing war crimes, said Yatsenko.

Amnesty International, which recently published a report on abuse of Ukrainian PoWs, sees it differently. Let the ICRC carry out their mandate, Veronika Velch, CEO of Amnesty International Ukraine, told The New Humanitarian. Its joint work. What we can do is advocate, so thats what we will do.

While the ICRC tries to continue its work behind the scenes, the public findings of other agencies should trigger international accountability mechanisms to halt violations of IHL and deter parties from committing new ones, said Bell from HRMMU.

We hope that, one day, there will be full accountability, investigation, prosecution, punishment, reparations, effective remedy for those who have suffered these horrific violations  and also prevention, she added.

Despite declining respect, IHL is the only instrument the world has to reduce wars devastation in Ukraine and elsewhere, said Eglin. Whats the alternative? he asked.

Human rights groups and authorities in Ukraine have made suggestions, from updating the Geneva Conventions to cover new technological developments, such as online communication with relatives, to replacing or complementing the ICRC with a network of national human rights ombudspeople or a third-party country to intervene on PoWs behalf.

Another proposal is to draft a new convention that would envision concrete sanctions for violations of IHL. But as long as violating countries are members of the UN Security Council  or their close allies  such steps are unlikely to be supported.

Meanwhile, as the terms of a possible but uncertain peace deal between Ukraine and Russia are being debated in foreign capitals, many in Ukraine fear that Russia will never be held accountable for its aggression and war crimes.

Retaining humanity and respecting international law when facing a world that appears to have abandoned it is hugely challenging, Butkevych said. Yet, despite his own experience, he still believes in the values of IHL and that it is in his countrys own interest to uphold them  even with Russia.

I believe that Ukraine still needs to treat Russian PoWs according to IHL, because we are not them (Russia), and we should not be like them. We should treat humans like humans, he said. I really believe this, even if sometimes it is difficult to grasp the injustice.

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian, and edited by Eric Reidy. The New Humanitarian puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. Find out more at www.thenewhumanitarian.org.
Ukraine's EU allies on Friday endorsed the creation of a tribunal to try Russia's top leaders over the invasion, as Kyiv pushes for Vladimir Putin himself to be brought to justice.

EU foreign ministers were gathering in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in a symbolic show of support on the same day Russia commemorates the end of World War II with a grand military parade in Moscow.

European efforts to create the tribunal appear to have sped up since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, courting Putin in a bid to end the war and raising fears Moscow could escape justice for good.

"There is no space for impunity. Russia's aggression cannot go unpunished and therefore establishing this tribunal is extremely important," EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and other Russian officials for the forced deportation of children and strikes on Ukraine's energy targets.

But the ICC doesn't have the jurisdiction to prosecute Russia for the more fundamental decision to launch the invasion in the first place.

However, the new tribunal is not expected to be able to try Putin while he is in office due to a principle of international law that gives immunity to presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers.

"This tribunal is being set up to pass appropriate sentences in the future," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said in Lviv.

- Inevitable punishment -

He added Kyiv wanted the "inevitable punishment for all", including the "president of Russia, the prime minister of Russia and the foreign minister of Russia."

Putin earlier on Friday had evoked Soviet victory over Nazi Germany to rally the country round his three-year offensive at a grand military parade in Moscow in front of key allies, including China's Xi Jinping.

There are fears in Ukraine that Russian officials may escape justice, especially after Trump initiated a rapprochement with Putin in the hopes of ending the war.

Under former president Joe Biden the United States was a key player in pushing talks on setting up the court.

Kallas said she hoped the Washington would "sooner rather than later join" the initiative.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe urged for funding and concrete support to bring the court to life now that it has secured political backing.

"This is the moment for states to follow up on the political will they have shown today," Alain Berset said.
One of the most pressing issues facing Pope Leo XIV is tackling sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church -- and campaigners say he has a mixed record.

Two victims' rights groups, SNAP and Bishop Accountability, issued statements following his election as the first pope from the United States on Thursday, questioning the 69-year-old's commitment to lifting the lid on the scourge.

As head of the Augustinian order worldwide and then as bishop of the Peruvian diocese of Chiclayo between 2015 and 2023, "he released no names of abusers", Bishop Accountability's Anne Barrett Doyle alleged.

The same was true of his two years as head of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, a key Vatican department that advised Pope Francis on the appointment of bishops, she said.

"Prevost oversaw cases filed... against bishops accused of sexual abuse and of cover-up. He maintained the secrecy of that process, releasing no names and no data," Barrett Doyle added.

"Under his watch, no complicit bishop was stripped of his title."

"Most disturbing is an allegation from victims in his former diocese in Peru that he never opened a canonical case into alleged sexual abuse carried out by two priests," she added.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), for its part, said that when Leo was bishop of Chiclayo, three victims reported their accusations to the diocese but nothing happened.

The trio went to the civil authorities in 2022.

"Victims have since claimed Prevost failed to open an investigation, sent inadequate information to Rome, and that the diocese allowed the priest to continue saying mass," the group said.

As provincial head of the Augustinians in the Chicago area, SNAP added, the future pope also allowed a priest accused of abusing minors to live in an Augustinian friary near a school in the city in 2000.

- 'Opened the way' -

Yet Bishop Accountability also highlighted positive reports of Leo's role in exposing the scandal of abuse and corruption against Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), an ultra-conservative lay congregation in Peru dissolved by Francis this year.

Survivor Pedro Salinas -- a journalist who wrote an expose against the group -- last month included Prevost among five bishops who played an "extremely important role... on behalf of the victims".

That case "gives us reasons to hope", Barrett Doyle said, adding: "We pray we see more of this decisive action by Prevost when he is pope."

On Thursday, the head of the Peruvian Bishop's Conference, Carlos Garcia Camader, also defended the new pope's record.

As bishop, he "opened the way here in Peru to listen to the victims, to organise the truth commission" in the SCV scandal.

First accusations of abuse emerged in the early 2000s, but the case exploded in 2015 with a book citing victims that detailed "physical, psychological, and sexual abuse" carried out by the movement's leaders and founder, according to the Vatican's official news outlet.

After a seven-year investigation, Pope Francis dissolved the group just weeks before he died, after expelling 10 members.

About 36 people, including 19 minors were abused, according to Vatican News.

In January, Prevost joined Francis in a meeting with Jose Enrique Escardo, one of the first victims to denounce the religious movement's abuses.

"We reject the cover-up and secrecy, that does a lot of harm, because we have to help people who have suffered because of wrongdoing," Prevost told Peruvian daily La Republica in an interview in June 2019.
Ukraine and its backers on Friday gave their green light to setting up a special tribunal to try Russia's top leadership for the "crime of aggression".

But what does this mean and how will it work?

Here is what to know about the tribunal:

- Why is this tribunal needed? -

Ukraine and its supporters want to see justice served for Russia's all-out invasion in 2022.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has already issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin over the abduction of Ukrainian children, and four of his top commanders for targeting civilians.

But the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute Russia for the more fundamental decision to launch the invasion -- otherwise known as the "crime of aggression".

This new tribunal seeks to close that loophole and focuses on trying to hold the top roughly 20 to 30 officials in Russia responsible for the all-out assault.

"This has to convey the message that there is no impunity for such grave violations of international law, and the crime of aggression is the mother of all," an EU official said.

- Will Putin be tried? -

While he remains in office Putin won't face trial under a principle in international law granting the so-called "troika" of president, prime minister and foreign minister immunity.

But prosecutors from the court can still draw up an indictment for the Russian leader, which would then be put on hold by judges until he is no longer president.

The other suspects beyond the "troika" could meanwhile face trial, including in absentia if they are not handed over to the court.

Anyone found guilty could face up to life imprisonment and have their assets confiscated and used to pay reparations to Ukraine.

- How will it work? -

Experts from Ukraine and the roughly 35 other countries involved have spent some two years wrangling over the legal details of how a tribunal would work.

Officially the court will be established under the auspices of the Council of Europe -- the continent's top human rights body.

Investigators from Ukraine and six EU member states have begun work and collected a wealth of evidence already.

Officials say they hope the tribunal will be formally established early next year and once it is the cases will be transferred to prosecutors at the court.

The location of the tribunal is still to be decided, but likely destinations include the Hague or the home of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

- Are the United States involved? -

Under former president Joe Biden the United States was a key player in pushing talks on setting up the court.

That has changed since Donald Trump returned to the White House and there was no representative from Washington present for the endorsement in Lviv.

Trump is not a fan of efforts for international justice and has threatened the ICC over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

But his comeback appears to have sped up the creation of the tribunal, as European officials fear his push for a peace deal could mean Moscow escapes justice for good.

Ukraine and its backers insist that under any deal to end the war there should not be impunity for Putin and his cronies.
Photo:  Azwar Ipank / AFP

In February this year an Argentine court ordered the first arrest warrants against Myanmars military leadership for genocide following the 2017 clearance operations against the Rohingya community of Myanmar. 25 Myanmar officials, including senior military and Nobel Peace Prize Aung San Suu Kyi, are prosecuted for genocide and crimes against humanity, and the charges focus on sexual violence.

The attacks on the Rohingya have been described as having genocidal intent by a UN fact-finding mission. They forced hundreds of thousands to flee across the Bangladesh border. Sexual and gender-based crimes were identified as one of the key factors that to show that genocidal intent. 80% of cases investigated by the UN were gang rapes.

In 2023, seven witnesses went to Buenos Aires federal criminal court to give testimony at investigative hearings held under the principle of universal jurisdiction. It was the first time they could tell their suffering before a court. Ishita Kumar of Legal Action Worldwide, an NGO, accompanied them. She is the guest of this podcast by our partners at Asymmetrical Haircuts. Official documents show that the [Myanmar] authorities had an obsession with reducing the Rohingya population, she says. It is highly likely that [the violence] was controlled and overseen by the command structure. But why do we need Argentina when several international institutions  the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar  are already involved?
3 policemen killed in explosion in India's Telangana

Xinhua) 11:01, May 09, 2025

NEW DELHI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen were killed Thursday in an improvised explosive device blast triggered by Naxals in the southern Indian state of Telangana, police said.

The attack took place near the Veerabhadravaram-Tadapala hillock of Wazeedu-Perur forest zone in Mulugu district, about 310 km northeast of Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana.

The three junior commandos of the Greyhounds (special forces unit of police in Telangana) were targeted when they were on a routine area domination exercise in the area, a police officer said.

The attack marked the first fatal incident this year in Telangana at the hands of Naxals.

On Wednesday, at least 22 Naxals were killed in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the central state of Chhattisgarh.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A whistleblower who released a recording allegedly involving the late actress Kim Sae Ron and actor Kim Soo Hyun has shared a video displaying serious physical injuries, days after accusations that earlier photos of the reported attack were fabricated.

On May 7, the Garo Sero Research Institute held a press conference where it played a recording said to feature Kim Sae Ron stating that Kim Soo Hyun had sex with her when she was in middle school.

The conversation, according to Garo Sero, was recorded with the actress's consent prior to her death in February.

During the same event, the institute alleged that the informant who possessed this recording was "brutally attacked by two assailants" on May 1 in New Jersey.

"The recording was made with the consent of the late Kim Sae Ron and the informant," Garo Sero stated. "It contained shocking and explicit content."

The group further alleged the attack involved two individuals "from Korea and China," and that the victim suffered severe nerve damage and nine stab wounds to the neck.

Garo Sero added that the case is under investigation by the FBI, not local police in New Jersey.

In response, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, GOLD MEDALIST, dismissed the allegations and claimed that the injury photos previously circulated by Garo Sero were taken from the internet.

"Garo Sero's false claims are unacceptable and difficult to accept even with common sense," the agency stated.

"The photos revealed as evidence can be found through an internet search. Garo Sero and the informant are claiming that a photo they found online is an assault photo."

On May 8, Garo Sero released a new video in an attempt to refute these claims. In it, the whistleblowerwhose identity remains undisclosedshowed fresh injuries on both hands, including the removal of a dressing on his left palm.

He also showed his right arm, which bore multiple wounds. He displayed the date and time on his phone  May 7, 3:46 p.m. KST  to verify the footage's authenticity.

The whistleblower claimed he had not been discharged from the hospital and was only briefly home to record the video. "I couldn't remove the dressing on my finger as it could pose a risk of infection," he said in the video.

He added that he recorded the video instead of sending photos to prevent Kim Soo Hyun's representatives from labeling the incident as fabricated.

Kim Soo Hyun's agency has not issued a response to the video as of Thursday.

Kim Sae Ron passed away on Feb. 16, 2025, at the age of 24. The scandal surrounding the alleged recording and her relationship with Kim Soo Hyun has continued to develop posthumously, with increasing public scrutiny and legal attention.




Friday, May 9, 2025 - Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has strongly criticised Elon Musk over his decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).





The Microsoft founder has warned that the move could have deadly consequences for the worlds most vulnerable children.





In an interview with the Financial Times, Gates said Musks actions would cause a surge in preventable diseases such as HIV, measles, and polio across some of the poorest regions in the world, particularly in Africa.





He accused the Tesla CEO of killing the worlds poorest children by halting international aid funding.





USAID previously managed more than $40 billion in overseas development programs.





In February, Musks newly formed Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE) took control of the agencys operations, dismissed most staff, and suspended ongoing projects.





Musk had earlier described USAID as a vipers nest of radical-left Marxists and a criminal organisation.





Meanwhile, Gates reaffirmed his long-term philanthropic commitment, announcing plans to wind down the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation by 2045 and donate his entire fortune before then.





He said his mission remains focused on improving global health, fighting poverty, and expanding access to education.





Musk has since admitted that Doge made some mistakes.





The two tech moguls have a history of clashing over philanthropy and global aid.










Friday, May 9, 2025 - Local human rights group, Usikimye, has reported a femicide case involving a young woman, who is suspected to have been killed by her husband.

Charitys body was found in her matrimonial home lying in a pool of blood and a note written by husband, who is on the run, revealed.

Read:

This is Charity Mukami Machira. She lived in Kirigiti and worked in an insurance company in their procurement department.

Her family described her as a generous , smart , soft spoken and always had a kind word to tell everyone. She just turned 30 on 02nd May.

Her best friend called her on Monday morning and she didn't pick her calls.

A bit alarmed she called a friend who usually uses the bus with Charity to go to work together, she said she hadn't seen her that morning.

She kept calling Charity and as it wasn't her behavior not to pick calls , she shared with another mutual friend about her discomfiture.

They reached out to her mother who said for the first time Charity hadn't called her that morning as she always did.

Her mother reached out to her workplace and was informed that she hadn't reported.

Her colleagues said she hadn't responded to calls or emails either. Her husband Boni wasn't answering her calls either.

They contacted a neighbour who they were in Chama together, she told them she had heard a loud scream on Sunday night but she wasn't sure where it could possibly have come from.

Armed with this information they went to her landlady and together with the police they broke down the door to her house.

There they found Charity. Lifeless. Bloody. Murdered.

Her postmortem reads she had been hit six times on the head. Three wounds on her forehead. Behind her ear and behind her head.

Her husband Boniface Mwaniki Mugo had left a note addressed to Charity's brother: He stated that everything in that house belonged to him. The goods should be given to his younger brother. The man's last call was traced to Meru.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 9, 2025 - As the late Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ongondo Were is laid to rest, shocking allegations have emerged surrounding the mysterious death of his first wife, Immaculate.

Reports indicate that the circumstances of Immaculates death remain unresolved.

Controversial lawyer and political activist Miguna Miguna claims the late MP might have orchestrated his wife's death to cover up an earlier, more sinister crime.

According to Miguna, Were may have murdered Immaculate to silence her, fearing she was going to expose his involvement in the disappearance of a young woman named Doty Apondi.

Doty went missing after visiting Weres home in Meru, where he had promised her a job.

Miguna claims that Dotys disappearance was not accidental and that the late MP may have played a direct role in her presumed death.

He believes Immaculate was aware of the events and was poised to speak out - until she too mysteriously died.

Just curious. How did Immaculate, Ongondo Weres first wife, die? Could it be that the serial Killer, Were, murdered her for fear that she was going to expose him for murdering Doty Apondi? Kenyans want to know, Miguna tweeted.

For the avoidance of doubt, I want to announce to the entire world that Charles Ongondo Were was a cold-blooded serial butcher, he added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Friday, May 9, 2025 - A dramatic incident unfolded when the brother of the late Kasipul MP, Charles Ongondo Were, publicly accused Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo of being behind his siblings assassination.





The emotional outburst occurred during a memorial service held in Kasipul, Homa Bay County, where the family and supporters gathered to honor the late legislator.





In the heart-wrenching video, the bereaved brother is seen wailing uncontrollably, demanding accountability and justice for the untimely death of his sibling.





He alleges that PS Omollo, along with other unnamed officials, orchestrated the murder due to political differences and personal vendettas.





The Interior PS has yet to publicly respond to these serious allegations.





However, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has assured the public that investigations are ongoing, with efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.





The late MP, who was serving his second term, had previously expressed concerns for his safety, citing threats from political adversaries.





Watch the video.

Charles Ong'ondo Weres brother is accusing PS Raymond Omollo of being the main suspect. Homa Bay is boiling. pic.twitter.com/6YRqcFTQ8P  Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) May 8, 2025








Friday, May 9, 2025 - The University of Nairobi (UoN) has been thrust into leadership uncertainty after the anticipated appointment of renowned academic and diplomat Prof. Elijah Bitange Ndemo as Vice Chancellor took an unexpected turn.





Prof. Ndemo has officially declined the position, citing concerns over procedural irregularities in the appointment process.





In a statement released on May 9 th , 2025, Prof. Ndemo confirmed he was among five candidates shortlisted for the role.





Following interviews held on March 21 st , he was selected as one of the three finalists.





On May 5 th , he received a formal appointment letter from University Council Chairman Hon. Prof. Amukowa Anangwe.





However, Prof. Ndemo sought clarification before accepting the role - specifically, whether the appointment had received the mandatory concurrence of the Cabinet Secretary for Education, as required by law.





I sought confirmation from the Chairman regarding the Minister for Educations concurrence, he stated.





Prof. Anangwe assured me it was being handled and that the necessary documents had been submitted an hour earlier.





Despite this, Prof. Ndemo revealed that Prof. Anangwe had already appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Francis Jackim Mulaa, as Acting Vice Chancellor pending Ndemos release from diplomatic duties in Brussels.





News of the appointment had already sparked a wave of congratulatory messages across media platforms.





However, Prof. Ndemo has now distanced himself from what he described as an unprocedural process and withdrawn his candidacy.





The former PS has been instrumental in advancing Kenya's ICT sector, notably through initiatives like the installation of undersea submarine cables and the promotion of tech hubs such as iHub and mLab.





His academic credentials include a PhD in Industrial Economics from the University of Sheffield, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Minnesota.





The development now casts uncertainty over the leadership transition at Kenyas premier public university.




Friday, May 9, 2025 - A young Kenyan man has set social media ablaze after sharing a video of himself serenading his elderly Mzungu partner with a heartfelt love song.





The video, which has since gone viral, showcases the couple's deep affection and genuine connection, despite their age difference and cultural boundaries.





In the clip, the man is seen singing a Swahili love song as his elderly lover holds him tight with evident joy.





The couple's relationship has garnered attention and sparked mixed reactions on social media.





While some have expressed admiration for their bond, others have raised eyebrows, highlighting the couple's significant age difference.





However, the couple remains unfazed by opinions and has chosen to focus on their shared love.





This heartwarming display of affection serves as a reminder that love knows no boundaries and can flourish in the most unexpected places.





Watch the video.

The trending Kenyan man who has fallen in love with an elderly mzungu woman pampers her with a love song pic.twitter.com/2N7ImQjQQi  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) May 9, 2025




Revitalise, rejuvenate, redevelop, refurbish. These were some of the words in the ether in the Clanard Court hotel on Tuesday last.

The hotel was the venue for the launch, by Kildare County Council, of the Athy Building Enhancement Financial Scheme.

While I normally have an aversion to buzz words and grandiloquent project titles the county councils plans for the ongoing development and improvement of Athy are impressive and heartening.

The evening began with a three-minute montage video produced by the council focusing on the town and its attributes narrated by our own Jack L.

It was a timely reminder of the many attractions of the town and the significant development that has occurred here in the last ten to fifteen years.

There was a natural focus on the now to be named Shackleton Experience (formerly the Shackleton Museum) which I understand will be opening at the end of the summer. The projected visitors for the first year are 30,000 per year, rising to 60,000 per year over the next few years.

The video was followed by a presentation by a Simon Wall who is a senior architect with Mayo County Council. He has been to the forefront of the rejuvenation of Westport over the past 25 years and his presentation was an informative insight into the targeted, yet holistic, approach to improving the built environment in a small country town, making it more attractive for both visitors and for the community who live there. There is no doubt that the enhanced works currently taking place in Emily Square and the refurbishment of the museum are going to lift the town in both a social, cultural and economic sense.

It was heartening to see such a significant representation of local businesses at the presentations and there is a buy in from the local business community. It does, however, behove all the business owners to meet the challenges of the development of the town with purpose and innovation.

We cant rely entirely on Kildare County Council to give the town the much-needed economic fillip which these enhancements can help deliver.

A lot of the enhancements now being proposed/promoted by Kildare County Council build on the regeneration strategy that was initiated in 2015 with the support of local bodies such as the Athy Lions Club, the Leader Partnership, Athy Enterprise Centre and Kildare Chamber of Commerce.

A key part of any development strategy has to be the provision of residential properties in the heart of the town. I understand that a government grant is on the way in relation to assisting shop owners to redevelop the upper stories of their town centre properties to provide residential accommodation.

This is a much-needed addition to the depleted housing stock in the town. As recently as the 1980s many shop owners lived above their premises, and this is an under-utilised resource which needs to be accessed. All these improvements will be driven by a partnership between our local authority and the town community.

Improvements have always driven Athys development. We take for granted the provision of water in our domestic settings, but Athy only received its first piped water scheme in 1907.

Work on the scheme commenced in October 1906 and was completed in April 1907. How many modern infrastructural projects can boast such a short time frame!

Following the successful completion of Athys first water scheme the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association presented two troughs to the town in 1907, one placed in Woodstock Street opposite Higginsons Lane, the other in Leinster Street (where it remains to today).

At the same time the Duke of Leinster presented a fountain for the use of the people of Athy which was positioned at the front of Emily Square and that self-same fountain was temporarily removed from the square during the current improvement works, but as I understand it will be returning to its original position with the completion of the works in or about June of this year.

Horse troughs met a basic but very necessary need for the many horses which passed through the streets of Athy in the 19th century. The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association, the equivalent of the modern SPCA., provided water troughs at the roadsides for use by horses, cattle and other animals.

Charles Dickens Junior, in his Dickens Dictionary of London in 1879, wrote of the fountains provided by the Association in London that a single trough supplied the wants of 1,800 horses in one 24-hour period.

Horses are long gone from our streets but their replacement, the motor vehicle, has for too long dominated our public spaces and the re-ordering of Emily Square marks a welcome return to its proper purpose as a civic space and amenity to be enjoyed by all.
A BARRISTER told last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court that his client, who was exposed to mould poising from his house and car, had not taxed his car because it had been lying up for a prolonged period.

Mark Fowler, Coole, Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny was summoned before the court for having no tax, no L-plates displayed and being an unaccompanied learner driver when he was stopped by gardai on the N77 in Tonduff, Abbeyleix on 29 October last.

Garda Stephen OHanlon said that Mr Fowlers car tax had been out for 276 days when he was stopped.

Defending barrister Andrew Dunne said that his 33-year-old client back-taxed the car two days after he was stopped by Garda OHanlon.

Mr Dunne said that his clients car had been lying up for an extended period of time. When he went to get the car, it was filled with mould. He has serious medical conditions as well as mould poising that he picked up from his house and from his car.

Judge Susan Fay convicted Mr Fowler of driving without tax and fined him 150. She also imposed a 300 fine for driving unaccompanied without a full licence holder and a further 350 for non-display of L-plates.
High Court Reporters

Former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton engaged in "cart-before-the-horse" and "solo run" lending and approved millions in loans for a failed casino in the south of France and the development of a hospital site in Wales that saw "massive" losses before ever bringing them before the board for sanction, the High Court has been told.

The civil case against former INBS chief Michael Fingleton is in its third day before the High Court, where it has been alleged that he negligently mismanaged the building society (INBS) and engaged in property "gambles" with high net-worth individuals in an informal and speculative manner.

Mr Fingleton (87), who is in ill health after a stroke, ran the building lender from 1971 to 2009, as managing director and chief executive. At its height in 2007, INBS had reported assets of 16 billion but was a high-profile casualty of the financial crisis of 2008.

Liquidators for Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) have taken the case against Mr Fingleton, who denies the allegation of negligent mismanagement.

The losses, relating to property loans, had been estimated by the IBRC at 6 billion. However, only 250 million in damages is now being pursued by IBRC relating to five loans made by INBS, allegedly approved by Mr Fingleton, who the court was told was also nodding through top ups and extensions to certain clients.

At the High Court on Thursday, Lyndon MacCann SC, for IBRC, during his opening of the case, said that in 2007 a Luxembourg-registered company called Laurent Properties applied for a loan with INBS to develop two adjacent sites in the south of France to build a hotel and casino.

Mr MacCann said the borrower valued the property at 7M for the first site but then applied for a second loan to develop the second site.

Mr MacCann said loans were issued by INBS to Laurent Properties without the board having any sight of an application before the money was issued in September 2007 by authorisation of Mr Fingleton.

The court heard that a second loan of 2.1M for the second site was approved by Mr Fingleton again ahead of the board or the bank's credit committee ever seeing it.

The development never took place and by the time the bad loans were purchased by Nama for 4.5 million in 2010 it represented a loss, interest included, of 5.9 million - a discount of 57 per cent.

Mr MacCann said it was "cart-before-the-horse lending" made without security, guarantees, independent valuations or the board's approval, which "beggars belief".

In a separate loan to a UK company called Coast and Capital to buy up to 32 petrol stations a loan of 1.75 million had been approved for deposits on site to be bought from oil giant BP. in April 2006.

On this occasion the borrower had been told by Mr Fingleton that INBS would back the entirety of the project and the society indicated it was prepared to loan Coast and Capital 34.5 million again without board approval or credit analysis, said counsel.

Mr MacCann said that despite the deposit being asked for being 1.75 million, a sum of 4 million was advanced but with the approval of the board, even though Mr Fingleton had told the borrower it would be approved.

The borrower's estimation was that the value of all 32 filling stations across England and Wales would increase to 38 million with planning permissions secured, said counsel. The following December, 27.4 million is advanced by INBS for the project without any authorisation from the board and is provided in addition to the 4 million for the deposit, said counsel,

When the second, large loan was issued, the amount of sites to be purchased to be flipped had already reduced from 32 down to 23, "as they fell by the wayside", said counsel.

The debt built up on the deal was 30.5 million by the time Nama bought them in May 2011 for 11.4 million - a loss of 63 per cent.

This, counsel said, represented "a complete solo run" by Mr Fingleton.

The court heard of a third deal that incurred "massive losses", according to counsel, when money was borrowed to purchase and develop a hospital outside of Cardiff.

In May 2004, 20 million was loaned to a company referred to as Galliard (Sully) Ltd, and then topped up with a further 5 million in May 2006, counsel said.

"There was no profit generated. Instead there was a massive loss. Huge," said Mr MacCann. Counsel said fatal planning issues included the safe destruction of the hospital's incinerator which would cost 2.2 million,"more than 10 per cent of the first loan".

The loans were eventually bought by Nama at a loss of 23.8 million, representing a 78 per cent loss, which counsel described as a "huge punt" made on "hope".

The case continues at the High Court.
A significant crowd turned up at St Canices Neighbourhood Hall on Wednesday to meet representatives from Kilkennys Local Enterprise Office, KCETB, the local INTREO Office, Kilkenny Traveller Community Movement and more.

All agencies in attendance contribute to the wider Kilkenny Traveller Interagency Group with the overarching aim of improving access to services in the Traveller community in Kilkenny.

This breakfast and networking event was organised to promote awareness of further education and employment opportunities for the Traveller community in Kilkenny and encourage engagement with the services on offer through the agencies that attended, and it proved a successful and positive morning.



John Mulcahy and Aisling Carey, Local Enterprise Office, Kilkenny County Council

The event also provided a valuable opportunity to promote apprenticeship pathways and work experience in specific trades. Senior Training Adviser with KCETB Patricia Nolan was on hand to provide information and many attendees expressed an interest in particular apprenticeships. Attendees were also provided with information about the grants and supports available specifically for members of the Traveller community.

READ MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS HERE

Fergal Blanchfield from the Employment Support Service INTREO Kilkenny was in attendance to promote awareness of progression opportunities to the Traveller community in Kilkenny, and was delighted to report the high level of interest and requests for follow ups in relation to particular initiatives.

This was a hugely positive event and provided an opportunity to ensure that the services offered through the Local Enterprise Office are known and available to all our citizens in Kilkenny," said Local Enterprise Office Business Adviser John Mulcahy. "Anyone who is considering starting a business can get in contact with the Local Enterprise Office and arrange a meeting with a business adviser as a first port of call.

Adult Literacy for Life, Regional Literacy Co-ordinator with KCETB Helen Walsh added: It is great to see so many people here today of all ages, and fantastic to see so much interest in the services on offer  both further training opportunities to promote entry to the workforce, and services to assist with business start-ups to promote self-employment.

Kathleen Cash, project worker with Kilkenny Traveller Community Movement was also encouraged by the large turn out and positive atmosphere.

This was a great event and something that we will consider running again in conjunction with the other agencies in attendance," she said. "It was great to see so many young people interested in exploring opportunities like apprenticeships and getting back to education. It was a lovely morning, opening possibilities and options for many Travellers, especially young Travellers and Traveller women.

READ NEXT: County Kilkenny has one of the lowest business closure rates in Ireland, data suggests
Mr Tinubu spoke at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on Thursday when he visited Anambra State to commission some projects executed by the state Governor, Charles Soludo.

President Bola Tinubu has promised to revive a gas plant in the South-east and tackle the worsening erosion menace in Anambra State.

Mr Tinubu spoke at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on Thursday when he visited Anambra State to commission some projects executed by the state governor, Charles Soludo.

The president also promised to address Anambra's exclusion from the National Rail Master Plan in Nigeria.

Soludo's requests

At a civic reception organised in honour of Mr Tinubu, Mr Soludo appealed to the president to assist the state in addressing its developmental challenges.

The governor lamented that one-third of the state's land mass has been under persistent threat of erosion.

"The resource requirements to deal with this are far beyond the capacity of a state government.

"We are already spending tens of billions of Naira on this, but a lot more is urgently needed," he said.

He also told Mr Tinubu that the South-east, and Anambra in particular, had been bypassed by the national gas master plan despite abundant reserves of natural gas in the region.

"We are not part of the national rail system.

"The Onitsha River port, commissioned by President Shehu Shagari in 1982 remains a proposal ostensibly because the federal government has been unable to undertake the required dredging," he stated.

Mr Soludo further appealed to Mr Tinubu to revisit an abandoned federal road project that links Anambra with Kogi State.

"Upon completion, the journey between Anambra, Southeast and Abuja might be shortened to about three hours, down from the current nine hours," he argued.

Tinubu's promises

In his response, Mr Tinubu acknowledged the abandoned federal road projects in the South-east.

He stressed the importance of completing the roads linking Anambra to Kogi State to facilitate easier access to the South-south and Abuja, Nigeria's capital.

"Abandoned federal road projects that link Anambra to Kogi then can become the fastest gateway between Abuja and Anambra and South-south. I agree," he said

Mr Tinubu also promised to address the state's exclusion from the National Rail Master Plan, assuring residents that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would rectify the omission.

"I am standing before you to say that the Ministry of Transportation is aware and will include the connection in the Master Plan and give it attention," the president said.

He assured of federal support for ecological investments to tackle erosion and acknowledged the state's vast gas reserves.

Mr Tinubu further promised that the South-east's omission from the National Gas Master Plan would also be addressed.

"With our progressive ideological alliance, we will continue to partner with your state to deliver shared prosperity in Anambra and to all Nigerians," he said.

Fighting insecurity in South-east

In recent times, security has deteriorated in Nigeria's south-east with frequent attacks by armed persons.

But Mr Tinubu reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian government to collaborate with Anambra State and the South-east to fight the growing insecurity in the region.

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"I wish to assure you that the federal government will continue to partner with the (Anambra) state and the South-east to secure our people and their future," he said.

The president praised Mr Soludo's efforts in providing security in the state.

Commissioned projects

Among the projects commissioned by Mr Tinubu were the Emeka Anyaoku Institute for International Studies and Diplomacy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, an academic centre named after Mr Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth secretary-general.

The president also commissioned multiple components of the Solution Fun City in Awka, including the Anambra Country Club, Family Fun House, Water Park, and Amusement Park, which were built by the Soludo administration.

He equally commissioned the new Anambra State Government House, the Anambra Tour of Light, and the newly completed Emeka Anyaoku Boulevard.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year, as the world's youngest nation teeters on the brink of renewed conflict.

Introduced by the United States and supported by 11 other Council members, the resolution extended the mandate of UNMISS until 30 April next year.

This action follows a short nine-day "technical rollover" approved by the Council on 30 April to allow more time for negotiations.

Through the text - adopted on Thursday - the Security Council authorized the peacekeeping mission to "use all necessary means" to implement its mandate - including the protection of civilians, assisting aid delivery, supporting implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, and investigating violations of international law.

Three nations - China, Pakistan, and Russia - abstained.

Volatile situation on the ground

The renewal comes amid an increasingly volatile political and security situation in South Sudan.

Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom warned ambassadors in April that the fragile 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement - signed by historic rivals President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President Riek Machar - is unravelling.

The political standoff, including the arrest of Mr. Machar, has reportedly escalated into open military confrontation, while misinformation and hate speech are fuelling ethnic divisions and instability.

"This situation is darkly reminiscent of the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, which cost over 400,000 lives," Mr. Haysom said.

UNMISS mandate

The resolution maintains the mission's overall force ceilings at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 justice and corrections advisors.

The Council also expressed its readiness to consider adjusting force levels and capacity-building based on future conditions.

The resolution expressed "deep concern" over delays in implementing the 2018 agreement, urging South Sudan's leaders to urgently show political will and build mutual trust. It urged the parties to engage in open and constructive dialogue.

It also stressed that the "organization and funding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of the South Sudanese authorities", calling on the transitional government to adopt an appropriate legislative framework to fund national elections.

The resolution also condemned the use of sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers and interference in any humanitarian operations.

UNMISS was initially established by the Security Council in 2011, following South Sudan's independence from Sudan, to help maintain peace and stability at the time when the young nation faced significant internal conflicts and humanitarian challenges.

Broadcast of the Security Council meeting.Ditch 'ideological goals': US

Speaking before the adoption, US Acting Representative Dorothy Shea called on the international community to bring South Sudan "back from the brink."

She cited deteriorating conditions on the ground, including recent attacks against civilians and infrastructure. She also noted ongoing challenges facing UNMISS - including being asked to vacate its Tomping base - which undermine the mission's ability to carry out its mandate.

"In short, as I hope we can all agree, the goal of UNMISS should be to render itself unnecessary by ushering in a lasting peace. The day that a peacekeeping operation is no longer required in South Sudan will be a bright one," Ambassador Shea said.

She added that UN peacekeeping mandates, including UNMISS, "should not pursue ideological goals that are difficult to define and even more challenging to implement on the ground, but rather focus on core Chapter VII functions," referring to the Chapter of the UN Charter stressing action to further international peace and security.

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Unnecessarily politicised: Pakistan

Pakistan, which abstained from the resolution alongside China and Russia, explained its position.

Deputy Permanent Representative Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon said UN Peacekeeping Missons should enjoy "complete and unified support" of the Security Council.

"However, this task is complicated when mandate resolutions are unnecessarily politicised," he said, stating that mission mandates "must be tailored to the needs on the ground, not the political priorities of Council members."

The resolution contained issues "which have no direct link" with UNMISS, preventing consensus among the 15 Council member States, he added.

That said, Mr. Jadoon reiterated his country's full support for UNMISS and its leadership.

"UNMISS remains a force of stability in South Sudan. We greatly appreciate the dedication of its personnel and peacekeepers, who are performing their duties under difficult conditions."
The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) on Wednesday provided financial support to workers of Pretorious Plant Hire, who have been on strike since late March this year.

"The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union today marked a historic moment as it officially handed over salary support to workers of Pretorious Plant Hire, who have been on a legal strike since 24 March 2025, now entering 43 days," a statement issued by the union on Wednesday said.

Many of the employees have been facing financial hardship, having not received their salaries due to the application of the "no work, no pay" principle.

The union noted that it had managed to gather funds covering approximately 70 per cent of the workers' April salaries from internal sources, including contributions from its members across the country.

"Naretu mobilised internal resources, including contributions from union members across the country, to raise funds that covered approximately 70 per cent of the affected employees' April salaries."

During the handover in Windhoek, the head of Naretu, Petersen Kambinda, explained the legality of the strike and how current labour laws appear to favour employers.

"This is a legal strike that has complied with all provisions of the Labour Act. However, it has exposed how current labour laws still favour the powerful, while the working class suffers," he indicated.

Kambinda reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to its members.

"Naretu will not abandon its members; we move beyond rhetoric to action," he stressed.

Kambinda also spoke about the ongoing internal discussions within the organisation on establishing a strike fund to support workers involved in future industrial action.

"The initiative has sparked a broader discussion within Naretu about the establishment of a strike fund to provide future relief to workers engaged in industrial action," Kambinda revealed.
MOBERLY  If you've spent any time in Moberly over the last 50 years, you may have heard of Mary Chesney.

Mary Chesney, or Ms. Mary to many, was a beloved aunt, wife and friend to everyone she met.

"She was quite a lady, and everybody loved her," her niece, Shirley Manion Smith, said. "She had many, many friends throughout the years."

Chesney celebrated her 112th birthday in August  a milestone that made her the oldest living Missourian. She died Monday with Smith at her side.

"She was like a second mother to me," Smith said.

Chesney was born in 1912 and grew up on a farm in Clifton Hill, Missouri. Chesney and her husband lived in several places before settling in Kansas City for 40 years. They later retired to Moberly in the 1970s.

"Everybody knew Ms. Mary and knew her story," said Sara Tuggle, an employee at Meadow Ridge Senior Living. "...her personality just lended to her being remembered as a wonderful person, not only in her church and our community at Meadow Ridge, but in Moberly as a whole."

Tuggle said Chesney was a staple in their community and a staff favorite.

"I think everybody loved her over there," Smith said. "I even think the residents look forward to seeing her sometimes because she always had a smile on her face. She was an inspiration to them  to get to see someone that was older."

Chesney lived through the Great Depression, the two world wars and 20 different U.S. presidents. She drove until she was 102 and lived on her own until she was 104.

"It's just hard to imagine all the things she has experienced in her life," Smith said.

Some of Smith's favorite memories with Chesney include her visits to Kansas City.

"I used to go visit them quite a lot," Smith said. "I got to ride the train and got to see the sights of a big city. It was a wonderful experience, and I continued doing that all my life."

When Chesney turned 100, Smith asked her to write down her life story.

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"It's very interesting because it tells about all through the years... like how they rode in a wagon to church," Smith said.

Chesney's book includes details about her family lineage and how the world changed from her childhood throughout her adulthood. Her story begs the question: How does one live to be 112?

3:26 EmVP: Moberly woman celebrates her 110th birthday Mary Chesney was born in 1912 and celebrated her 110th birthday on Wednesday in Moberly.

"I always told her it was because she didn't have any children," Smith said. "In fact, I told her that so often that she got to the point where she was telling people that's why she lived so long, because everybody asked her that question."

While most people might take pride in living 112 years, Tuggle said Chesney treated each day like the one that came before it.

"She would say she had no idea how it happened, but the secret to a long and happy life was to help others, just take it day by day and make sure that you live life to the fullest each day," Tuggle said. "And you know, it's kind of generic, but coming from her  you really knew she meant the words that she was saying."

Despite Chesney's old age, Tuggle said she never failed to make you smile.

"She didn't have to say much, but she knew just what to say to make your day just a little bit better," Tuggle said.

Marilyn Apel, Chesney's longtime friend, met Chesney in 1996 attending Carpenter Baptist Church in Moberly. "I thought the world of that lady. She was a sweetheart," Apel said. "She believed in the good Lord and had all kinds of faith in Him."

Apel said Chesney began attending Carpenter Baptist after her husband died. The two leaned on each other after Apel's husband also passed in 2012.

"She told me when she met me it was the best thing that ever happened to her," Apel said.

Smith said she was grateful to have been part of Chesney's 112-year life.

"She had a wonderful life, and we're just so thankful we were part of it," Smith said. "I certainly am."

The end of Chesney's book reads, "I thank God for giving me each day, for my family, and my friends. Everyone should be so blessed. I love you all... Mary Clark Manion Chesney."
COLUMBIA  Socket Fiber officially sold a majority of existing shares to a group of private equity investors on March 31 to receive more money and expand its internet service.

Socket Fiber, a Missouri-based internet and telecommunications company, transferred indirect control of the company to Oak Hill Capital Management and Pamlico Capital Management, private equity funds based in the United States.

Carson Coffman, President of Socket Fiber, said the company has been trying to find additional sources of capital to continue building high-speed internet and expand to new homes.

"We hired an investment banker that helped us research opportunities to work with other companies that wanted to come in and invest," Coffman said. "On March 31, we closed this deal that allows more money to come in, and it's going to let us build 200,000 more capacities across the state."

This means 200,000 more homes will receive Socket internet.

"There's more and more people across the state of Missouri that call us every day asking if we can come bring fiber to them, and it's going to be neat to fulfill those customers' requests," Coffman said.

Along with building fiber internet for more people, this deal will improve Socket's customer service and technology.

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"It's going to allow us to bring in more technology and more software. We want to do things like text message alerts when your technician is on his way to your home and have faster installation speeds," Coffman said. "We're going to increase the resiliency of the network and just across the board, everything is going to be raised with better systems and better support."

Socket plans to hire more workers and staff in the Missouri market as part of its plan to grow.

"With this injection of capital, we're going to be able to hire additional staff that we need," Coffman said. "Our sales have really grown consistently, quarter over quarter. So we're in need of more trucks, more supervisors, more installation technicians, so we're planning on hiring quite a bit more here in the Missouri market."

Despite the change in ownership, there will be no changes in price for Socket customers. Coffman said this deal allows Socket to provide faster speeds to customers at the same price.

"The biggest changes so far have been increased speeds at the same price, so we're going to follow the same traditions that we've held, which is to try to get more for the same amount of money," Coffman said. "As speeds increase, customers need more. We want to try to get them more."

Coffman said they had a great relationship with local, Missouri-based banks, but at the end of the day, the company simply needed more money.

"The business we're in requires basically building an entire new infrastructure, and so it takes a lot of capital," Coffman said. "We were at the point where we just needed more and more money to be able to build out fiber to so many people that were asking us to come and do so. That was the driving force."

The Federal Communications Commission granted the transfer in March, and no public objections or concerns were submitted during the review process.
Rwandan needs over $1.3bn to develop advanced transport technology, infrastructure, and mobility services.

The Ministry of Infrastructure on Thursday, May 8, launched the first electric intercity bus route connecting Muhanga to Kigali, Nyanza, and Huye districts, as it looks to green public transport.

Volcano Express, a public transport company, will be the first company to operate electric buses on the new route. The company received at least 12 electric buses that were acquired from BasiGo.

The government expects the private sector to take lead in expanding electric mobility across satellite and secondary, as well as rural areas.

"We highly commend the private sector-led efforts to expand electric mobility, both buses and motorcycles, outside Kigali. This aligns with the government's policy to promote e-mobility across the country," stated Jimmy Gasore, the Minister of Infrastructure.

ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda's first full electric public buses

Rwanda aims to convert 20 per cent of its public transportation fleet to electric vehicles by 2030.

According to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), achieving this target could reduce carbon emissions by 72,000 tonnes.

This goal is based on data showing that over 40 per cent of transport sector emissions originate from buses.

Full adoption of electric vehicles and related infrastructure in Rwanda is projected to require up to $900 million.

Egide Igabe, CEO of Volcano Express, said: "We hope that in the coming years, we will convert all our buses to electric in support of the government's ambition to reduce carbon emissions. This will lower our dependence on fuel and reduce associated costs."

ALSO READ: E-mobility: Rwanda moves to convert fuel motorbikes to electric

Electric mobility timely

Given Rwanda's hilly terrain, innovative mobility solutions are essential.

More than $1.3 billion is needed to develop advanced transport technology, infrastructure, and mobility services.

A preliminary geospatial analysis by the Ministry of Infrastructure has identified over 226 potential sites for electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country.

ALSO READ: Rwanda develops master plan for EV charging stations

ALSO READ: Rwanda extends import tax exemption for electric vehicles

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Jit Bhattacharya, Co-Founder and CEO of BasiGo, stated that the firm is now expanding to intercity routes, after just 16 months of launching its operations in the country.

"Electric buses have been successfully tested in Musanze, Nyanza, Huye, Kayonza, Nyagatare, and other areas. The buses have transported 977,000 passengers, covered 353,000 kilometres and reduced 170 tonnes of carbon emissions," he noted.

In the first phase of expansion, the company's electric buses will be deployed across the Southern (Muhanga and Huye), Eastern (Nyagatare, Kayonza, and Rusumo), Western (Rubavu), and Northern (Musanze and Burera) provinces.

The firm is set to deliver 28 electric buses by May.

This delivery represents the first stage of the company's plan to deploy 100 electric buses nationwide by 2025.

He also noted that new DC fast chargers will be installed in Muhanga to support reliable intercity operations, ensuring efficient vehicle turnaround and consistent performance on long-distance routes.

Rwanda announced an ambitious climate action agenda, targeting a 38 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to business as usual by 2030, equivalent to an estimated mitigation of up to 4.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Rwanda is exploring ways to increase the number of professional public accountants by introducing professional accountancy pathways early, aligning formal education curricula with professional certification programmes, among other initiatives.

According to the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR), the country needs at least 8,441 professional accountants by 2035 to meet national demand. Currently, only 1,147 are registered, a gap that undermines financial oversight.

ALSO READ: Rwanda to bridge shortage of certified accountants in next 5 years

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, told The New Times following the opening of the Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA) at the Kigali Convention Centre on May 6--an event running until May 9 under the theme Creating Value for Africa--that various initiatives are in place to strengthen the accounting profession.

"There are secondary school students already studying accountancy, but they haven't been fully integrated into the professional framework," he said, highlighting that the government is working to introduce professional accountancy pathways early in partnership with the Ministry of Education and ICPAR.

This, the Minister added, will significantly boost numbers in the next five to ten years.

Murangwa pointed out that although many universities teach accountancy, the curricula often lack alignment with professional certification programmes, something that has begun to change but still needs improvement.

ALSO READ: Rwanda on course to address shortage of professional accountants

"For those who graduated earlier, there are ongoing programmes aimed at upgrading their skills. The number of professional public accountants we need is significant," he noted.

Role of accounting profession

During the congress, participants emphasised the critical role accountants play in national development, insisting that the profession has potential to drive transformation through knowledge transfer.

"In Rwanda, the profession continues to play a vital role in strengthening our institutions and supporting our ambition to build a knowledge-based economy driven by efficiency, trust, and innovation," Murangwa noted. "As Africa rises, we must ensure that our growth is anchored on strong systems and ethical leadership."

Obadiah Biraro, President of ICPAR, indicated the institute is working with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to grow the profession.

"Our goal is to professionalise accountancy. The institute exists, the need is clear, and initiatives like this international congress allow us to learn from others," he said. "I encourage young people to register and begin their journey as accountants."

ALSO READ: Road to ACOA 2025 begins with Rwanda welcoming over 2,000 Finance Professionals

Emmy Claude Nizeyimana, Associate Director of Professional Development Services at ICPAR, outlined key measures being implemented to increase the number of professional accountants.

He said the shortage has led to errors by non-professionals, sometimes unintentional, due to lack of training and accountability. "Professionals are registered, accountable, and mindful of their reputation, which encourages accuracy and responsibility."

To meet the growing demand, ICPAR has increased the number of examination sittings from two to four annually, providing more opportunities for candidates to qualify.

"We've also aligned our curriculum with the Rwanda Education Board (REB). A student in S4 can start the first part of the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification, continue with part two in S5, and complete part three in S6. With support from REB and MINEDUC, this integration can be fully adopted," he observed.

Nizeyimana added that the government supports top-performing, financially disadvantaged accounting graduates to pursue the CPA qualification.

Need to fix shortage of accountants

Vedaste Ndikumana, a professional accountant at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), said the shortage of accountants weakens financial oversight.

"Inadequate financial controls increase the risk of fraud, corruption, and mismanagement, especially in public institutions and NGOs. SMEs lack proper accounting support, limiting their growth, tax compliance, and investor appeal," he said.

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Ndikumana indicated that limited training capacity, high certification costs, low awareness, brain drain, and weak private sector investment in talent development, are some of key ccontributing factors to the current shortage.

He suggested that there is a need to subsidise training, strengthen partnerships with universities and global bodies, offer enhanced career guidance, support continuous development (CPD), online learning platforms and employer-backed certification, as well as creat competitive local opportunities to retain talent.

Pelagie Kayirebwa, another professional accountant at Nyanza District Hospital, maintained that the shortage results in poor financial reporting, weak planning, and increased mismanagement risks.

"Without accounting support, many businesses can't access finance, which restricts growth and undermines investor confidence," she said. "It compromises the reliability of financial statements," she noted.

Kayirebwa called for expanded access to accounting education, more scholarships, and alignment with international standards.

She also emphasised promoting the profession among youth, and encouraging public-private collaboration to bridge the gap.
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Indian PM reviews preparedness concerning national security

Xinhua) 11:06, May 09, 2025

NEW DELHI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination in New Delhi, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.

Modi described the ongoing situation as a "sensitive period" and called for continued alertness, institutional synergy and clear communication.

Modi also reviewed planning and preparations by ministries to deal with the current situation.

"A range of issues were discussed during the meeting, which included strengthening of civil defense mechanisms, efforts to counter misinformation and fake news, and ensuring the security of critical infrastructure," the statement said.

On Wednesday, India launched airstrikes on Pakistani targets to avenge last month's killing of 26 people by gunmen in Pahalgam town, about 89 km east of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The situation along the Line of Control, dividing Kashmir, has been tense as troops of India and Pakistan deployed on both sides of the ceasefire line were engaged in an exchange of fire and artillery.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
document

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales

Press Conference at U.S. Embassy

United States to Cut $50 Million in Medications & Medical Supplies Support

Following Inadequate Response to Systematic Theft



Good morning everyone and thank you for joining me here today.

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce that the United States is cutting $50 million  thats 1.4 billion kwacha  in annual aid provided to Zambia for medications and medical supplies. For more than a year the United States has requested tangible action by the Government of Zambia to respond to the country-wide, systematic theft of these products. In the face of minimal responsive action by the government, the United States is taking necessary steps to safeguard, and ensure the accountability of, American taxpayer funds.

For more than 60 years, the United States and Zambia have shared a strong friendship. Because of our commitment to Zambia and the Zambian people, in recent years the United States has invested roughly $600 million a year  thats nearly 17 billion Zambian kwacha annually  toward our shared goals of economic development and improved health and wellbeing. Roughly one in every three kwacha spent on public health in Zambia comes as assistance from the American people. As part of this, in recent years the United States has provided approximately $128 million annually  nearly 3.5 billion kwacha  to buy medications to treat HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as to provide technical and operational support for Zambias national health supply chain. These medications and supplies are intended to be provided for free to Zambian patients in need.

Today, millions of Zambians are living longer, healthier lives because of this assistance  which comes in the form of grants, not loans  provided by American taxpayers. We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Zambia to reverse the AIDS epidemic and reach epidemic control. Due to joint efforts by the United States and Zambia, 98 percent of Zambians living with HIV now know their status, 99 percent of Zambians who know they are HIV positive are now on treatment, and 98 percent of HIV positive Zambians on treatment are now virally suppressed  meaning they cannot transmit the virus. Beyond our support related to HIV, over the past ten years our joint efforts have helped reduce deaths from malaria and tuberculosis by more than 75 percent.

Our investments in Zambia are intended to benefit the Zambian people. U.S.-donated medical supplies and medicines  which include antiretrovirals, also known as ARVs; TB and anti-malarial drugs; and others  are made available to Zambians for free . Today, one in every nine Zambians is living with HIV. The majority of those 1.3 million Zambians is virally suppressed because of ARVs provided by the United States and intended for free distribution. However, I am disappointed to share publicly today that since 2021, we have uncovered systemic theft of life-saving medicines and other products that were intended for free for the Zambian public, including ARVs.

As soon as we discovered this country-wide theft in late-2021, we immediately informed the Zambian government of our findings and initiated an on-the-ground assessment of private pharmacies across Zambia to understand the extent of the issue. From 2021 to 2023, our buyers visited more than 2,000 pharmacies throughout Zambia that sell the same types of products that the United States provides for free to Zambias healthcare system. Shockingly, across these visits, 95 percent of the pharmacies that were selling the kinds of products that the United States provides were also selling stolen goods. Of those pharmacies selling stolen goods, 45 percent were selling stolen products that the United States had provided to Zambia for free to Zambians in need. Let me repeat that: in all ten provinces, nearly half of the pharmacies that were selling the kinds of products the United States provides for free for the Zambian people were selling stolen medications and medical supplies donated by the U.S. government. The rest of the pharmacies selling stolen products were selling stolen medications and supplies from stocks purchased by the Zambian government, the Global Fund, and Zambias other donor partners.

On April 3 of last year, 2024, I brought this alarming information to the attention of senior Zambian government leaders. In attendance at the meeting were high level officials from multiple ministries, law enforcement agencies, and the executive. I asked them to take meaningful action on two fronts: first, mitigate further theft and, second, enforce high-level accountability for those involved in stealing life-saving medicines from the Zambian people. Over the next 12 months through more than 33 meetings with Permanent Secretary-level officials or higher across the Zambian government, U.S. Embassy staff, senior U.S. officials from Washington, and I reiterated our request for action to stop further theft and to bring the culprits to justice. We even offered U.S. government experts in supply chain management and law enforcement to partner with Zambian counterparts to support the requested efforts.

I regret that to date, the governments actions have fallen drastically short of demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding U.S. assistance and the lives we aim to save. Instead of investigating supply sources and pursuing the masterminds behind the theft of medicines, law enforcement operations have focused on low-level actors and have led to the arrest of only a few mid-level officials. And more than six months into a forensic audit of the Zambian Medicines and Medical Supplies Agencys (ZAMMSA) mismanagement, there is still no public report, nor has a report been shared with the United States. Since October, I have alerted senior government officials of my obligation to safeguard American taxpayers resources in the face of gross theft and mismanagement. I have stressed repeatedly that the accountable safeguarding of American taxpayer funds will require the United States to significantly reduce our contribution of medicines and medical supplies if meaningful action was not taken to hold high-level culprits responsible and stop the theft.

After more than a year of little tangible action by Zambian authorities to address this systematic theft of U.S.-provided health support, the United States can no longer justify to the American taxpayer continuing to provide such massive levels of assistance when the Zambian government will not take the necessary measures to protect this American investment.

As a result, and with a very heavy heart, the U.S. government has made the difficult decision to cut $50 million of our annual support for critically needed medications and medical supplies in Zambia. Again, that is 1.4 billion kwacha of assistance being reduced. The exact parameters of the reduction are not yet finalized, and my Embassy team and I remain available to the government to discuss the matter. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. I have recommended to Washington that we continue to procure and deliver these lifesaving medicines and medical supplies to Zambia until January 2026 to provide time for the government to develop a transition plan, budget, and initiate procurements to avoid stock-outs of these medications. After that point, we will offer technical and logistics assistance to support humanitarian activities and prevent drug resistance and disease transmission, but we will cut $50 million of our annual contribution to providing malaria, HIV, and TB medicines.

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As you may know, the Trump Administration is in the process of finalizing a broader review of our foreign assistance funding around the world, including here in Zambia. That review is still underway. But I want to stress that this $50 million cut in our medicines and medical supplies budget is wholly separate from that process. This reduction is exclusively because of the lack of action by the Zambian government to respond to the country-wide, systematic theft of American-donated medications and medical supplies.

Moving forward, we remain committed to supporting Zambia and the Zambian people to realize the massive potential that this great country possesses. Zambias prosperous economic future  and a healthy population that can drive that future  is in the shared interest of both Americans and Zambians. The United States remains interested in contributing to that future. But, we are no longer willing to underwrite the personal enrichment of fraudsters or the corrupt when patients go without or have to buy life-saving medications that we have provided for free, and the Zambian government does not take action to enforce meaningful accountability or introduce systemic reforms to ensure the resources that belong to the people actually reach them.

Thank you. I welcome your questions.
Addis Abeba  The Tigray Interim Regional Administration has issued a warning against any unsanctioned engagement with foreign powers, describing such actions as "dangerous" and a threat to the war-torn region's governability.

The statement, released Thursday by the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau, comes amid renewed federal-level accusations against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) of links with Eritrea.

The interim government emphasized that while it remains committed to peace and the full implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), "clandestine foreign dealings risk undermining" that fragile progress.

"Any contact with a foreign power whose purpose and strategic approach are unknown is unacceptable," the statement released via the region's communication bureau reads, calling such dealings "a dangerous approach that will make the Tigray region ungovernable."

The bureau reiterated that the Tigrayan people are engaged in a "peaceful political struggle" aimed at safeguarding their "survival and national interests," and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes "not only with the federal government but also with any power in a peaceful and legal manner."

The statement also included a pledge from Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, President of the Interim Administration, who, upon taking power, signed a mission implementation document outlining eight core mandates. These include ending "unconstitutional and unlawful affiliations" and upholding national sovereignty.

The statement coincided with the controversial arrest and sudden release of social media activist Berhane Gebregergis by the Tigray Police Commission. Berhane was taken into custody at Ayder Police Station in Mekelle after a public outcry over his meeting with Awol Seid, a figure closely linked to Eritrean government propaganda.

The arrest sparked immediate backlash, particularly because of Eritrea's violent role in the two-year brutal war in Tigray. Though the police initially declined to comment, on Wednesday they announced they were dropping the investigation due to "external pressure that compromised [their] ability to act independently."

The statement from the region adds up to growing accusations of links between the TPLF led by its chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and the regime in Asmara.

"The decision was made due to external pressures," the Commission said, without disclosing the sources of the alleged interference.

Growing accusations

The statement from the region adds up to growing accusations of links between the TPLF led by its chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and the regime in Asmara. In a February article to Al-Jazeera, Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, the former president of Ethiopia, has accused Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki of attempting to "exploit divisions within the TPLF" to undermine the Pretoria Peace Agreement, warning that his actions could "reignite war in northern Ethiopia." Asmara dismissed the accusation calling it "audacious claim...precisely intended to conceal and rationalize a war-mongering agenda."

Similarly former Tigray Interim President Getachew Reda has repeatedly warned of efforts by Eritrea and "rogue" TPLF elements to destabilize the region.

"There are many parties who think they can benefit from turmoil that will be created in Tigray," he said in a March 13 press briefing, directly naming the Eritrean government as one of those actors. "They want to plot a path back to Addis Abeba by working with our people."

Getachew further accused unnamed former TPLF factions of operating outside legal frameworks and conspiring to trigger renewed conflict.

"Certain TPLF groups who have lost legal acceptance are hoping to profit from war," he said, warning that such forces are "taking Tigray into another phase of turmoil."

However, although Getachew has repeatedly pledged to provide evidence, he has yet to substantiate his claims.

On 3 May, a senior federal official, Suleiman Dedefo, posted a serious accusation against the TPLF, calling the party a "criminal group" that continues to "operate outside the law and endanger national security."

"From the time it launched an attack on our defense forces in the Northern Command until now, it has been committing numerous illegal acts that challenge the existence of our country," said Suleiman.

He claimed that the TPLF is attempting to revive military operations with "external support", and conducting foreign relations without legal authority.

"This mafia group, which has no legal standing, should not be allowed to engage in actions that could contradict the sovereignty of our country for any reason," he warned.

The competing accusations and internal fissures point to an increasingly fragile political environment in Tigray, as the region navigates its post-war reconstruction under federal oversight. With the Pretoria Agreement remaining an incomplete central pillar for peace, these accusations are raising the specter of a potential regional conflict.

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Recently, the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), an interdisciplinary organization dedicated to equitable and community-centered AI development, has issued a warning that social media platforms are once again disseminating violent, warmongering content that incites all-out war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. DAIR urged international and regional actors to take swift action to prevent a repeat of the devastating Tigray conflict.

Earlier in March, in what is considered by many as unusual admission, Dr. Abreham Belay, Minister of Urban Development and Infrastructure and Executive Committee Member of the ruling Prosperity Party, has called for the "full withdrawal of Eritrean forces" present in parts of Tigrayan territory "due to a lack of local security presence."

Eritrean forces are "inside Tigrayan territory, that is a fact," he said, and there "must be a one hundred percent withdrawal," Dr. Abreham in an unusual admission by the federal government of Eritrean's violent occupation of parts of Tigray.
High Court reporters

The BBC had multiple, authoritative, credible, confidential sources corroborating information provided by an anonymous contributor to a documentary at the centre of a defamation action brought by Gerry Adams, lawyers for the broadcaster have told the High Court.

The former Sinn Fein leader claims the BBC Spotlight programme and related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning the Provisional IRAs killing of British agent Denis Donaldson in 2006. The BBC denies it defamed Mr Adams.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead at his cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal on April 4th, 2006. Three years later, the dissident paramilitary group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for his death.

Evidence

Giving evidence at the civil trial hearing into the action on Friday, John OLoan, an Australian journalist who helped establish Sky News and other TV networks, said the BBC Spotlight programme relied on an uncorroborated, single anonymous source in publishing the serious, criminal allegation.

Mr OLoan, who was called to give evidence by Mr Adams legal team, said the BBC did not meet the threshold for responsible journalism in its inclusion and presentation of the allegation made by the anonymous source, dubbed Martin, against Mr Adams.

He said the segment lacked sufficient editorial veracity to be published.

Eoin McCullough SC, for the BBC, put it to Mr OLoan that the broadcaster wrote to Mr Adams solicitor after the programme aired, stating: Martin was not the only source to give the programme team this information, the programme team received the information from multiple, authoritative, credible, confidential sources.

Mr McCullough said the information was received from both republican and security sources.

Editorial guidelines

Giving his evidence in chief, Mr OLoan told Mr Adams counsel Tom Hogan SC he considered the BBCs editorial guidelines when carrying out a review of the Spotlight programme and related article ahead of the trial hearing, compiled at the behest of Mr Adams legal team.

He said he was asked to be impartial, independent, and to rely on his expertise.

He said he considered the programme, the article, and various relevant documents, including correspondence between Mr Adams and the BBCs legal teams.

Mr OLoan raised several complaints with the broadcast and related article in his report.

He said that the BBC presented no secondary source, documentation or verifying evidence to support the serious, criminal allegation made in the programme against Mr Adams.

He said that the anonymous sources motivations or credibility were not explained, and he was not asked to justify the allegation.

He said that editorial standards applied elsewhere in the programme and generally in the BBC were not applied in handling the allegations complained of.

Mr McCullough put it to Mr OLoan that correspondence sent by BBC solicitors to Mr Adams solicitors after the broadcast in October 2016 stated that information received by the Spotlight team from Martin was also received from five other sources.

Letter

Mr OLoan agreed that he received the letter to review as part of his report, but said that he could not immediately recall reading it. He later said he believed he read the letter.

Mr OLoan agreed that he left the BBCs assertion about having multiple credible sources because he believed it was irrelevant. He said that the assertion was not credible.

He said that his concern in preparing the report was what the programme conveyed.

Mr McCullough put it to Mr OLoan that he did not read the letter, to which he responded: I believe I read it.

Mr McCullough put it to Mr OLoan that if he did read it, he decided to deliberately mislead the jury by excluding the BBCs assertion.

Mr OLoan said that if he left things out of his report, it was deliberate.

Mr McCullough also put it to Mr OLoan that Martins" motivations were discussed in the programme.

Mr OLoan agreed with Mr McCullough that the protection of sources was important, and especially so in the case of a source who was in the IRA, and was an informant, like Martin.

He agreed that programme makers could not include any details that would run the risk of identifying Martin.

Clinton administration

Bruce Morrison, a former American congressman who worked on the Northern Ireland peace process during President Bill Clintons administration, gave evidence to the hearing remotely from Bethesda, Maryland.

Mr Morrison met with Mr Adams during the 1990s. He said his greatest impression of Mr Adams was his political acumen and political commitments. He spoke about the Clinton administration's contribution to the peace process, and meetings between Mr Adams and former US president.

Mr Morrison said that he believed Mr Adams reputation presently is one of an elder statesman. He said that Mr Adams is seen as someone who made an extraordinary contribution to change in Northern Ireland, from the time of the Troubles, to living under the Belfast Agreement.

Under questioning from Paul Gallagher SC, for the BBC, Mr Morrison said Mr Adams had been denied visas to the US because of the role of Sinn Fein and its relationship with the IRA.

Asked by Mr Gallagher if Mr Adams was denied visas for his perceived association with the IRA, Mr Morrison said he couldnt speak to that, adding that it takes only allegations to deny someone a visa.

Mr Gallagher put it to Mr Morrison that during the Troubles, the British and Irish governments expressed the view that Sinn Fein and the IRA were inseparable. Mr Morrison said that some members of government expressed that view.

He said that some viewed Sinn Fein as a product of the IRA.

The trial, before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

The Government has been accused of false ignorance on reports of flights carrying arms to be used in Gaza through Ireland.

Tanaiste Simon Harris was handed a folder of what he said were aircraft inventories by an opposition TD who said there was no mystery to the issue.

He said that a robust investigation was being carried out by the Department of Transport and added that any breach of Irish law cannot be consequence free.

Simon Harris said he did not believe weapons being used in Gaza were being flown through Irish skies based on the information available to him. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

News website The Ditch has reported that several flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Israel have travelled over Ireland.

Permission is needed from Irelands transport minister to carry munitions through Irish airspace.

Mr Harris, who is also the Foreign Affairs Minister, said last week that he did not believe weapons being used in Gaza were being flown through Irish skies based on the information available to him.

He admitted that it was a real challenge to know what is being carried in planes flying above Ireland.

On Thursday, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy accused the Government of false ignorance and of pretending you dont know whats going on.

He produced a green folder of what he said were waybills that show thousands of tons of weaponry have gone through Irish airspace on the way to be used in a genocide in Gaza.

This is not a mystery. The airlines admit it.

He added: You want to know my practical solution? My practical solution is that the Minister for Transport should prosecute the companies. Its the law. Theyre currently breaking the law.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy accused the Government of false ignorance and of pretending you dont know whats going on Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

Mr Harris said that the Department of Transport is examining the reports and agreed that any breach of Irish law cannot be consequence free.

Irish law matters, Im very clear in relation to that, as is the Taoiseach, as is the Minister for Transport, he told TDs.

If there have been breaches of Irish sovereign law, decisions will need to be taken on the next steps, based on clear and robust evidence.

I think we also need to be clear here, and I this is the point I was trying to make, that if you know existing legislation doesnt provide for the implementation of a system of routine and random inspections, and rather, it requires that there first be an appearance of intention or likelihood for a civil aircraft to depart from a point in the state in a manner that will contravene the legislation, for example, carry munitions, I think it is a legitimate question for government to now consider whether we need to amend our own domestic legislation and whether more needs to happen internationally.

So Im very clear any breaches of Irish law, it cannot be consequence free, I agree with you. The Department of Transport is carrying out a robust examination of all of these matters and then will advise Government on what next steps are required.

In response to questions from Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan, Mr Harris said that no one is dragging their feet and Ireland is not standing idly by on Palestine.

He said that he intends to call his EU counterparts in the hours ahead and see if they will echo Irelands call for the EU to review Israels obligation to adhere to human rights clauses in its trade association agreement, which the Netherlands had called for on Wednesday.

Mr Harris also said he had met Senator Frances Black about her bill that would ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands.

Mr Harris and Taoiseach Micheal Martin had initially committed to passing the Ms Blacks Occupied Territories Bill after it was amended to make it legally robust, but since then have suggested new legislation may be required.

Mr Harris said that there is a narrow pathway based on an advisory opinion from the International Courts of Justice, to legislate on banning trade, but Mr Harris said we have not yet been able to identify the narrow pathway on services, thats the truth.

Campaigners have criticised the move to ban the trading of goods but not services, which is estimated to represent around 70% of trade activity.

Its not a policy position. Its a legal position, he said.

There is a need to make sure any bill can withstand the inevitable challenge that this will face.

He said his hope was that if Ireland brought forward such legislation that it may encourage other countries to do the same.

If the EU refuses to act as a collective in relation to this, why dont a number of member states do what were proposing to do here in Ireland, he said.
Fiona Magennis

Former soldier Lisa Smiths conviction for membership of Islamic State is sound and should be upheld, the State has told the Court of Appeal.

Tony McGillicuddy SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said Smiths appeal against conviction suffered from a huge deficit and what was presented was a self-serving and self-pitying portrait.

Counsel pointed to the evidence in the case, much of which, he said, came from Ms Smith herself, from the text messages she sent to her own family and from her social media interactions.

In my submission the verdict was safe and sound in this case, he said. I say the court ought to be satisfied that in relation to the grounds raised on all points, that those grounds ought to be dismissed.

However, defence senior counsel Michael OHiggins said there was no evidence that Lisa Smith tried to recruit anyone to Isis, or that she tried to fundraise for them.

Theres not a screed of information that suggests she made any contribution in that regard, he said.

He asserted that simply travelling to an area where Islamic State operated did not prove she was a member.

There is nothing in this case that says Lisa Smith actively contributed to whats described as a state building project. There isnt a single activity in which the finger is pointed at her that says you contributed to state building, he said. No active participation is flagged up.

In 2022, Smith (43) became the first person to be convicted in an Irish court of an Islamic terrorist offence committed abroad when the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court (SCC) found that she joined Isis when she travelled to Syria in 2015.

Isis membership

Smith, from Dundalk, Co Louth, had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019.

She was subsequently refused an appeal against a 15-month sentence and has now lodged an appeal against her conviction.

At the Court of Appeal on Friday, on the third day of her appeal hearing, Mr McGillicuddy highlighted the evidence given during the trial by Carol Karimah Duffy who told the court Smith was at the more political and harsh end of Islam.

She said Smith spoke about jihad and wanting a husband who was a shahid  a martyr for Islam.

She said Ms Smith also spoke of spreading Islam by the Sword and never read a book but instead always followed what she saw online.

He also highlighted the evidence given by Tania Joya Choudhury, who was present with Smith for a time in Syria in 2013 and travelled over the border with her from Egypt. He said Ms Choudhury had given evidence that Smith told her she wanted to help the rebels.

She said the former soldier was determined to get to Syria and didnt want to stay in Turkey.

He said evidence had been given by Ms Choudhury that Smith was happy and optimistic to be in Syria. He noted Ms Choudhury had told the court: Lisa said she would fight because she had training.

Evidence

Mr McGillicuddy said Ms Choudhurys evidence had been bleeded out of the appellants case. Her counsels submissions, whilst lengthy, almost ignore her evidence, he said, referring to it as neutral when it was anything but.

Her evidence is important evidence; she was able to attest to what the appellant wanted to do when she entered Syria, he said.

Mr McGillicuddy also referenced transcripts of Smiths garda interviews when she spoke about getting a divorce because her husband would not come and join her in Syria, and instead tried to get her to go to Turkey.

He said this had to be looked at in the context of expert evidence from Dr Florence Gaub, who had outlined how difficult it was for women to get a divorce under normal circumstances.

He said the fact she was able to divorce her husband with relative ease was one of the benefits of being an adherent of this cult.

Counsel highlighted the fact that Smith had hidden the fact that she intended to go to Syria in 2015 and instead told friends and family she was going to Tunisia.

One would wonder why she didnt say well Ive a religious belief Im going, said Mr McGillicuddy. She took a different course by saying no Im telling everyone Im going to Tunisia where her husband was living and its only later it became apparent she was in Syria.

He added: That is relevant in terms of the presentation by the appellant of the case that was made on her behalf.

The barrister went on to explore the evidence given at trial by Dr Florence Gaub, an expert on Middle Eastern conflicts, who addressed the issue of the one finger salute, which, Mr McGillicuddy said, has been completely co-opted by Islamic State.

Photograph

He referenced a photograph of Ms Smith taken in January 2013, in which she is pictured on a horse giving a one-finger salute.

He said Dr Gaub had confirmed the salute had been misappropriated by members of Islamic State for people who associate with them.

That was at the crux of what she was saying, the Isis organisation was appropriating religious themes, symbols, language, he said.

Those who were using the salutes knew it was as part of a violent insurgency and not as part of a religious pilgrimage as such. In my submission, thats important in the context of this case, said counsel.

Imploring the court to uphold Smiths conviction, Mr McGillicuddy said the trial court had assessed the evidence carefully, not in a whip hand manner in coming to its verdict.

In response, Mr OHiggins said, in relation to the one-fingered salute, Dr Gaub had absolutely accepted that this had only come into being in mid-2014.

He said the photo in question had been taken in January 2013 in Tunisia, which was a world away from what was happening in Syria.

He said the Special Criminal Courts judgement had referred to Smiths conduct.

What conduct was it? he said. What conduct did she do that says youre a member of this terrorist organisation.

Counsel said not one single example of conduct was cited.

He said the courts view was that, to be there is enough. That is their finding.

Mr Justice John Edwards said the court would reserve judgement.
AT THE recent meeting of Laois County Council, chief executive Michael Rainey stated that among the 1,596 applicants on the housing list at the end of March, 20 single people and six families presented as homeless to the local authority. He also said that 33 single people and nine families from Laois were in emergency accommodation.

During the meeting, cllr Marie Tuohy proposed that housing minister James Brown attend a council meeting in Laois to outline plans and policies to tackle the chronic shortage of housing, the repeated failure to meet housing targets and to deal with the ongoing systemic impediments to providing new homes leading to the ongoing housing and homelessness across the country.

She said: Housing remains the biggest single issue and concern in the country today. It is the dominant issue for an entire generation and unless we come up with solutions they will soon be a lost generation.

The housing issue casts a long shadow. Its far more than bricks and mortar and it is having a profound impact on so many other aspects of peoples lives. Its not just about having a roof over your head, a safe haven, an address of your own, although these things, too, are extremely important. But its about a chance to own your own home. A chance to start a family if you want to, building communities, committing to a career and about investing in every possible way in your future.

Laois County Council, chief executive Michael Rainey said that there were 1,596 applicants on the housing list at the end of March

This is not a criticism of our housing department in Laois County Council, said cllr Tuohy.

Far from it. They are doing their best with limited resources. Its like trying to perform the miracle of the loaves and the fishes every week.

Commending Mr Rainey, she said: In his previous role in Laois as director of services for housing he was dynamic and proactive; unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the government.

This isnt meant to be cheap political point scoring, but it is safe to say that this government has gotten off to a shocking bad start and nowhere is that more obvious than in the area of housing. They are all over the shop, floundering and failing an entire generation. Many who are stuck at home in their parents homes are well into their 30s, or they are hitting the road to Australia and elsewhere. No wonder we are unable to recruit and retain our gardai, teachers, nurses and doctors. The lack of housing is at the heart of these problems.

Cllr Tuohy said: Then there is the absolute tragedy of homelessness. This week its at an all-time high with 15,418 in emergency accommodation, 4,675 of them children.

Cllr Marie Tuohy said that the present Government: "Are all over the shop, floundering and failing an entire generation."

The new minister for housing is talking about the issue as if it was a new problem. This is not a new problem. Ten years ago, Leo Varadkar said the housing situation was a national emergency. This government has been continuously in power for the last ten years.

Airbnb is not the problem, or a migrant walking down the canal with all their worldly belongings in a plastic bag. They are not the problem. The ESRI itself rubbished these suggestions in their report this week. The problem is systemic. The problem is getting worse and the problem has festered for ten years.

Now the new minister and the government, who have had more plans, targets, policies and housing strategies than they have built houses, have another plan: appoint a housing tsar. Is this just another buffer between themselves and the problem, asked the Portlaoise councillor?

The solution in my mind, said cllr Tuohy, is build more council houses. Go back to what the Labour and Fianna Fail governments did in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, when the country hadnt a penny, and stop farming out the responsibility, stop looking for approved housing bodies or the private sector to do it.

Its a simple supply and demand issue and the government is not adding any housing stock to the supply but looking for others to do it for them. And then wondering why they have repeatedly failed to meet a single housing target for a decade, while conceding that even the targets themselves are inadequate in the first instance.

Thats why, said cllr Tuohy, I want to invite the minister for housing, deputy Brown, to address this council, because I'd love to hear directly from himself what he plans to do, other than appointing a housing tsar.

"I'd love to see councils building their own houses again," said cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley

Seconding the motion, cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said the call for the minister to attend a meeting in Laois does not reflect on this council. We are one of the countries that are very good at bringing on stream our social housing stock. Obviously we dont have enough for our growing population, with Portlaoise the fastest-growing population outside of Dublin. The more houses were building, the more we need. The national picture is very poor and very sad for those waiting to get on a housing list.

She said what is needed are not just social houses but cost-rental and affordable housing schemes.

The middle of last year, a newly-built house in the Kilminchy area was priced at about 350,000. The new houses up around the Holy Family school are coming in at around 500,000. Theres absolutely no hope there for a young couple. People in their 30s, in their own homes and in good jobs, will never be able to afford their own house because of house prices like that.

It seems like the more we build, the more were feeding this monster private entity. If we look back to the old affordable housing scheme that was rolled out 20 years ago in Laois, it was absolutely brilliant. Id love to see councils building their own houses again.
The luxurious Laois based Ballyfin Demesne, one of Irelands most prestigious five-star historic country house hotel, has been recognised in the esteemed Travel + Leisures 2025 T+L 500 list.

Travel + Leisure is a top travel media brand who reach more than 16 million travellers every month, in their mission to inform and inspire providing a local eye on the best places to stay, eat, see, and explore across the globe.

Seamus Crotty, managing director at Ballyfin Demesne, commented: Were honoured to be named among Travel + Leisures 2025 T+L 500. This recognition is a true reflection of the dedication and passion shown by the entire team at Ballyfin Demesne. Its a privilege to welcome guests from across the globe to experience its charm and beauty, and to receive such international acknowledgement is deeply meaningful to us.

The T+L 500 list represents the highest-scoring hotels from Travel + Leisures World's Best Awards survey results from the previous year. Sorted by alphabet and geographic region, the list compiles the hotels and resorts that Travel + Leisure readers turn to again and again for quality, luxury, exceptional service, and outstanding amenities.

This recognition further solidifies Ballyfin Demesne as a top-tier luxury destination, affirming its exceptional standards in hospitality, among a select group of Irelands - and the worlds - most luxurious and noteworthy properties. In addition, the award will help amplify Ballyfin and its stellar global reputation among discerning travellers seeking unparalleled experiences, further increasing its appeal in the luxury travel market. Its yet another reason to immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Ballyfin Demesne, one of Ireland's most exquisite neo-classical houses.

From its stunning surroundings to its Michelin-starred cuisine, Ballyfin Demesne offers an unrivalled blend of beauty, luxury, history, and five-star service. It now joins a prestigious group of properties around the world cementing its reputation for luxury hospitality on the global stage.
On 8 May Brazils national space research institute (Inpe) released new figures showing that deforestation in the Amazon biome saw a 55% year-on-year increase in April.

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On 8 May Mexicos Presidentcalled for greater access to credit for businesses at the 88annual banking convention, organised by Mexicos association of banks (ABM).

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On 8 May President Javier Mileis far-right La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and its closest ally, the right-of-centre Propuesta Republicana (PRO) of former president Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), traded mutual recriminations over who was to blame for the senates rejection a day earlier of the anti-corruption bill Ficha Limpia.

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Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. However, the 69-year-old Cardinal, who has chosen the papal title of Leo XIV, was appointed by his Argentine predecessor, Pope Francis, and has had a strong connection with the Latino community throughout his career in the church.

Born and raised in Chicago, Prevost was assigned to the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas in northern Peru shortly after being ordained in the 1980s. There, he served as chancellor and immersed himself in community-based ministry, working alongside local clergy to address the spiritual and social needs of the region's underserved populations.

After a brief return to the United States in 1987 to serve as director of vocations and missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago, Prevost returned to Peru in 1988. In Trujillo, he took on multiple roles: community prior, director of formation for Augustinian aspirants, and professor of canon law, patristics, and moral theology at the diocesan seminary. He also served as judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Trujillo and was a member of the College of Consultors. The new pope is fluent in Italian and Spanish, as well as his native English.

In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, and he was consecrated as its bishop in 2015, as well as obtaining Peruvian citizenship.

In 2023, Francis chose Prevost for one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church, the head of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The commission vets bishop nominations from around the world, bringing him to special prominence within the church and the conclave.

Seemingly, his time in Latin America increased his sympathy for the plight of immigrants from South America, as he had shown special concern for Venezuelan migrants in Peru. His X (formerly) bio reads: "Catolico, agustino, Obispo."

You can read Pope Leo XIV's first words here:

"We still have the sound in our ears of the weak voice of Pope Francis who was blessing Rome here. Giving his blessing to the world on that day of Easter Sunday. Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. So without fear, united, hand in hand, with God in ourselves, we go forward. We are disciples of Christ ... the world needs his light. Humanity needs him. May we all build bridges with dialogue ... so that we can all be one people in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis."

Speaking to NBC News last week, Nelson Jesus Perez, the archbishop of Philadelphia, had described Provost as a "wonderful, gentle, profound man of God." He added that he was a "great gift to the church and the world."

Originally published on Latin Times
A smoke billows Friday, May 2, 2025, from a fire at the Five 10 Flats apartment building on Southside Bethlehem. Courtesy Devynn Goodspeed

Improperly discarded smoking materials sparked the Friday, May 2 fire that displaced 135 tenants at the Five 10 Flats apartment building on Southside Bethlehem, city officials said.

Bethlehem Fire Marshal/Deputy Fire Chief Craig Baer announced the cause Thursday.

We have determined that the fire originated on an outdoor patio/deck on the roof of the building, he said in a news release. The fire extended into the sixth-floor elevator lobby and consumed a large portion of the roof before it could be extinguished.

Its unclear how long it will be before the tenants can move back in, WFMZ-TV 69 reported following an update to Bethlehem City Council on Tuesday night.

Fire Investigators from the Fire Marshals Office will work with fire investigators representing the involved insurance companies as their investigation progresses, city officials said in their release. The American Red Cross and the building ownership are working with the building tenants to provide support and services as needed.

Peron Development opened the $20 million building with 95 apartments and first-floor retail in 2018 at 510 E. Third St., following up with construction of a similar building a block away called Six 10 Flats.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 20192023, an estimated annual average of 15,209 reported home structure fires were started by smoking materials in the United States, resulting in an estimated 590 civilian deaths. These fires also resulted in an estimated annual average of 1,048 civilian injuries and $674 million in direct property damage.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Fox has canceled the drama series Rescue HI-Surf after just one season, and fans are mad about it.

Rescue HI-Surf starred Robbie Magasiva (Harlan Sonny Jennings), Arielle Kebbel (Emily Em Wright), Adam Demos (Will Ready), Kekoa Scott Kekumano (Laka Hanohano), Zoe Cipres (Hina Alexander), and Alex Aiono (Kainalu Emerson).

The show, which followed a team of lifeguards in the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, made a strong impression on many viewers.

My day just got ruined because one of my new favorite shows just got canceled, one fan wrote via X, calling Fox their enemy for axing Rescue HI-Surf.

Several viewers blasted the television network for the decision, with one viewer accusing Fox of canceling everything without giving it a chance. Another person compared Rescue HI-Surfs fate to Fox canceling Firefly, which now has a cult following, before its debut season had even finished airing.

[Rescue HI-Surf has] been a breath of fresh air and you ruin it. Firefly all over [again], the fan wrote. I knew I shouldnt have watched anything new on your network.

Zoe Cipres, Alex Aiono, and Arielle Kebbel in the series finale of "Rescue HI-Surf." Zach Dugan/FOX

Other viewers are disappointed to see yet another show that filmed in Hawaii coming to an end. CBSs NCIS: Hawaii and Magnum P.I. were canceled in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

This is horrible news for the Hawaiian Film Industry, but Id just like to thank all the fans and people who tried to save the show, one person wrote via Reddit. It is a huge disappointment; this will now make it the first time that Hawaii does not have a single show in production in 25 years.

READ MORE: See which Fox shows are canceled and renewed for the 2025-2026 season

Another fan speculated that the Hawaii State Legislatures failure to pass Hawaii Senate bill 732 last month was the death knell for Rescue HI-Surf. The bill proposed measures including tax credits for qualified production companies to help resurrect Hawaiis struggling film and TV production industry.

The saddest thing about this whole situation is that there are real lives affected because this bill didnt pass, State Senator Lynn DeCoite, who introduced the bill, told Honolulu news station KHON2 in April. The film industry brings millions if not billions of dollars here to Hawaii, but most importantly, they put to work thousands of our local workers, and this means those workers are out of a job entirely. The lawmakers that are responsible for not being cooperative with this bill are literally taking food off the plates of these workers.

NJ.com has reached out to Fox for comment about Rescue HI-Surfs cancelation.

Season 1 of Rescue HI-Surf is available to stream on Hulu.

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Perhaps it is fitting that a lawsuit which languished seven years in state court would conclude with a ruling that,defendants motion to dismiss the complaint is granted in part and denied in part.

A Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit last week filed by a neighbor of a 600-acre farm that alleged his 3.6-acre property was damaged by stormwater runoff.

Alstede Farm filed a motion earlier this year to dismiss the complaint after purchasing the property from the ex-wife of the plaintiff.

The couple divorced two years ago. The lawsuit was filed in 2018.

The farm argued William Asdal, the plaintiff, no longer had standing to sue, since he no longer owned the property.

The judge agreed, but let Asdal continue his complaint as a trespass and nuisance action in the legal rather than the civil division. It would only be valid for the time before the Asdal divorce settlement.

Asdal argued the stormwater amounted to trespassing and the alleged damage was a nuisance.

The lawsuit was filed against Chester Township and Morris County in 2018 about what Asdal said was a nonconforming stormwater runoff from the farm. He said Alstede then asked to be part of the defense in the court complaint.

The appellate court concluded Asdal had been caught in a multi-year Catch-22 between agencies, and was left without an effective remedy.

That ruling came when a three judge panel reversed a lower court ruling on New Years Eve that had dismissed the suit.

The Alstede Family completed the purchase and took title to the Marcia Asdal property (the former William Asdal property that is the subject of his lawsuit against Chester Township) which adjoins our farm on March 21, 2025, said Kurt Alstede, the co-owner of the family farm, in an email to NJ Advance Media this month. Despite this, William Asdal has continued his lawsuit against the Township and our family.

A representative for Asdals attorneys did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment, but a court filing on April 1 lays out the argument.

Moreover, (Asdal) incurred other damages by entering into a divorce settlement with his former wife based on a value of the Asdal Property that accounted for: the damage to the Asdal Property from the unregulated stormwater runoff from the Alstede Property. It is the Alstede Defendants actions in purchasing the Asdal Property, not Marcia Asdals decision to sell the Asdal Property, which is at issue.

Chester Township Administrator Robin Collins declined to comment earlier this month after attorneys argued the case.

The appeals court case was initially argued in 2022.

For 36 years weve been subject to dozens of complaints from Mr. Asdal, alleging a number of different types of violations, none of which have been proven to be true, Alstede said earlier this year.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
A meeting between a community group and Gardai over the need for more garda resources in a Laois town has been described as 'very productive'.



Members of Portarlington Community Development Associations (PCDA) met with An Garda Siochana in Portlaoise this week where the issue of a lack of Gardai in Portarlington was discussed along with a range of other issues facing the town.



"A very productive meeting today with An Garda Siochana in Portlaoise where Portarlington Community Development Associations (PCDA) discussed the need for additional Gardai in Portarlington and the need for station opening hours to meet the community requirements. Also discussed was the recently announced Dept. Of Justice community safety fund that could potentially be used to increase safety at Playground. CCTV was also discussed and plans put in place," the group said in a statement.



"Laois County Council and An Garda Siochana Laois/Offaly will be establishing a community safety forum that replaced the joint policing committee and PCDA have expressed interest in being involved in the safety forum."



Portarlingtons new playground in the Peoples Park opened to the public earlier this week after delays due to repeated incidents of vandalism.



Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley recently raised the issue of Garda resources in Portarlington highlighting that the Laois-Offaly town lacks community policing and a manned Garda Station to police criminality despite a rapid growth in population.

READ MORE: Laois town with 9,000 people has two gardai for four hours a day
Users of the River Barrow have lodged a legal appeal against Laois County Council's go ahead to Waterways Ireland to dredge it and replace its banks with rocks.

Waterways Ireland was granted planning permission in March to carry out dredging and maintenance on the River Barrow in Laois over the next five years.

They also got approval in Carlow and Kildare for works along the length of the river, which has an EU protected Eco status as a Special Area of Conservation.

Members of a Carlow group who had objected to the applications, have now gone to the national planning authority asking it to review the decisions.

Rosalind Murray and Art Mooney are members of the Carlow Barrow Users Group.

They had pleaded to protect the riverbanks, listing species living there including butterflies, otters, salmons, kingfishers, bats and bees.

"It is difficult to understand how a public body can submit such a destructive application in the 21st Century. The river corridor represents a last refuge for wildlife (continuous and significant habitat and biodiversity loss in Ireland has been well documented) and the proposed works by Waterways Ireland is going to erode and destroy this last refuge. This application, if permitted will allow this public body to destroy what it is charged to protect," they had said.

"It cannot be overstated how destructive the interventions proposed will be on the natural environment. Now Waterways Ireland intends to build retaining rock armour on 6650M of the Barrow Trackway. Soft, natural interface between bank and river is effectively to be replaced by a rock armour retaining wall. Trees and back drains are to be cleared without specification. We are hugely concerned that if Waterways Ireland implements its plans, in part or in full, the damage to our waterway system and the SAC will be significant and beyond repair.

"We ask the Councils and Planning Authories to demand that Waterways Ireland develop a sustainable plan for works on the River Barrow Navigation, which meet the Qualifying Interests of the Special Area of Conservation and Natura 2000 and to protect and sustain the river habitats and historic structures of the navigation for generations to come.

"The River Barrow is much loved by the community and visitors alike. It is a place where people stop and talk and the conversation always returns to what a special and unique place it is, and how lucky we are to have it. The grassy towpath was selected by the Irish Times in 2015 as one of the top tourist attractions in the whole island," the objectors said.

Read also: Laois to be part of new European Columban Way pilgrimage route

They also said that the public notices erected had not faced a public road.

The dredging work in Laois is proposed along a three hectare stretch of the Barrow Navigation in the townlands of Clogrenan, Crossneen and Ballyhide. It was approved subject to 17 conditions.

In its application to Laois County Council, Waterways Ireland had requested permission for;

(i)Maintenance and repair works to the Barrow Navigation comprising post-flood spot dredging and maintenance dredging, (ii) A new temporary access road providing access to the Barrow trackway from Leighlin Road to facilitate the proposed works, (iii) Temporary mobile welfare units and (iv), All works ancillary and incidental to the maintenance and repair works referred to above."

An Bord Pleanala will now review all the documents and submissions in the planning application and make a decision in the coming months.
Across Laois this weekend, dozens of Laois towns and villages will take part in the annual Darkness into Light charity walk for Pieta House.

Darkness Into Light (DIL) 2025, supported by Electric Ireland, will take place as dawn breaks across the world on Saturday, May 10.

Two of the official walks will take place in Portlaoise and Portarlington, with community organised walks taking place across the county.

Laois locals are advised to bring high visibility clothing and to register online beforehand.

See the full list of Darkness into Light walks below:

PORTLAOISE

The walk is starting at 4:15am by The Irish Prison Service College, Dublin Rd, Portlaoise (just beside The Midlands Prison).

Organisers have asked participants to carpool if possible, with assistance given with parking. All are invited to take part.

PORTARLINGTON

This year's Portarlington Darkness into Light walk will take place on May 10 at Portarlington GAA Center. It is the same 5km route as previous years.

Organisers invite people to register now by logging on to www.darknessintolight.com

CASTLETOWN

Castletown Darkness into Light walk will begin at 4:15am on Saturday, with attendees asked to gather 10-15 minutes before.

It will begin at Castletown GAA club and will consist of a 5km walk. All are invited to join.

Pictured: The Darkness Into Light 2024 message of Hope, as created by Colaiste Iosagain students.

KILLENARD

Join us this Saturday, 10th May, at 4:00 AM for Darkness Into Light with the Health Club at The Heritage.

The walk will commence at 4:15 AM, starting at the entrance to our 5KM Walking Track, followed by teas, coffees, pasteries & more on the Terrace.

COURTWOOD

Courtwood GAA will be holding their Darkness into Light 5k walk from their clubhouse @ 4:15am down towards Courtwood stores via the road, and back up along the peaceful banks of the canal and finishing back at Courtwood GAA grounds.

The walk is starting at 4:15 am sharp on Saturday May 10. There will be tea and coffee afterwards in the clubhouse.

RATHDOWNEY

Participants are invited to meet up at The Gym Rathdowney at 4:15am, with the walk to begin at approximately 4:30am.

The walk will consist of a 5km loop around Bealady. Coffee to a Tea will be providing refreshments after the walk.

RATHENISKA

Participants are invited to meet at Ratheniska GAA pitch on Saturday May 10 at 4am, with the walk to begin at 4:15.

TIMAHOE

A walk will take place in Timahoe village, in line and in time with The Darkness Into Light walk for 2025 on Saturday, May 10.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to Pieta House, or alternatively you can donate online directly.

Just like last year, the group will meet at the green for 4.15am, with walk starting at 4.30am. Please ensure to bring a high vis vest & headlamp.

The Tower Inn will kindly host walkers on return to the village for tea and coffee. If anyone would like to donate some baked goods or treats it would be greatly appreciated.

EMO

Join Emo Gaa for Darkness into Light 2025. Meeting at Emo Gaa field at 4.15am.

Pictured: Michelle Doheny, Saralee Murphy, Anna Brophy and Marie Brophy at Durrow Darkness Into Light 2024

Durrow recently made the sad announcement that they will not be running their Darkness into Light Walk this year.

Entry to the walk is 22 for adults, 5 for teens, and free to under 13s (accompanied). Supporters can also help by buying their eyecatching yellow t-shirts or other items in the online shop.

Pieta is 85% funded by fundraising events like DIL. Since the first walk in 2009 in the Phoenix Park Dublin, its supporters have helped Pieta raise over 36 million, to provide services to people impacted by suicide and self-harm.

Read also: No more Durrow Scarecrow Festival but new Hollywood fundraiser in the works.

Last year DIL helped to fund nearly 51,500 hours of professional counselling, free of charge to anyone in need. They have 24 centres across Ireland, with the nearest to Laois being in Roscrea and in Leixlip.
A Laois GAA grounds will again be filled with sights, sounds, tastes and cultures of India this July, and the organisers are hoping the community will come along to sample them, in a spirit of unity.

The Midland Indian Fest UTSAV 25 will take place at Portlaoise GAA grounds in Rathleague on Saturday, July 5 from 9am to 9pm, following the first Laois gathering there in 2024.

Asha Madhavan is the Publicity and Cultural Committee Co-Ordinator for Midland Indian Fest UTSAV.

She spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"We are delighted to announce that Midland Indian Fest UTSAV 25 is returning to Portlaoise this year, largely due to the overwhelming success of last years event.

A dance troupe competing at the 2024 Midland Indian Fest in Portlaoise.

"The warm reception and enthusiastic participation from the local community made it clear that Portlaoise is the perfect place to celebrate diversity, unity, and cultural exchange.

"We are proud to bring this vibrant festival back and look forward to once again welcoming the people of Portlaoise and beyond to join us in celebrating Indian culture, music, food, and traditions."

The highlights of this years program include a live DJ performance by DJ Sanaah, an internationally acclaimed artist; a performance by Stefan J Doyle, X Factor semi-finalist; and a special appearance by their celebrity guest, Basil Joseph, a renowned film artist and director.

There will be local performers too, including Irish dancing displays by the world champion Buggie School of Irish Dancing, Stradbally and a performance by St Josephs Accordion band Portlaoise.

"We are also proud to support Laois Offaly Families for Autism (LOFFA) as our charity partner, and we hope to raise even more funds for their wonderful work this year.

The committee presenting a donation to LOFFA following their 2024 festival.

The spokesperson says that Midland Indian Fest Utsav is more than just a cultural celebration.

Read also: Young Laois Swifties to flock to Portlaoise Old Fort Festival

"It is a community event that welcomes everyone, regardless of age or background. This years festival will once again showcase performances and talents from various nationalities, reflecting the rich multicultural tapestry of our town and beyond. We look forward to uniting people through music, dance, food, and shared joy.

"We warmly invite the entire local community to join us in celebrating unity through music, dance, food, and shared traditions," the festival spokesperson said.

Read more about the festival here.
The chief executive of Irish Rail has given an update on a much needed footpath at a level crossing in Portlaoise, but it will not be coming down the tracks any time soon.

Irish Rail say they are "actively engaging" with Laois County Council to agree a design, however the council says they are not.

The footpath is wanted across the tracks on a road that Laois County Council now uses to divert N80 road traffic around Portlaoise, at the Old Knockmay Road in Clonminham.

While the road has become much busier, with walkers as well as heavy traffic, the rail line is little used.

No passenger trains go on it, it merely leads to Irish Rail's Portlaoise sleeper manufacturing depot.

There is a gated footpath on one side, only installed in 2021 after years of pressure by Portlaoise councillors.

Walkers on the other side still have to step onto the busy road to get across.

Jim Meade, Chief Executive with Irish Rail, wrote to the council in April to give an update, but he gave no green signal for a new path.

"Iarnrod Eireann are actively engaging with Laois County Council on their proposed scheme which encompasses this live level crossing with a view to progressing solutions at this location that meets the needs of all stakeholders both now and into the future.

"Details of the proposed solutions and way forward can be presented once the necessary reviews, designs and methods of undertaking have been agreed by all relevant parties," the Irish Rail chief said.

However, Mr Walton said that Irish Rail is not engaging with them, as he read out the response to the April district meeting.

"There is a walkway on the bridge at the other side. While we do have a scheme planned, they are not in active engagement with us. The wish is at the minute that the walkway would be replicated on the other side. We'll take that up with them again," he said.

Portlaoise Municipal District councillor Tommy Mulligan had asked for the path, in a motion tabled last February.

Read also: 2025 National Bike Week events in Laois

He urged Laois County Council director Simon Walton to "be firm" with the train company.

"I was of the opinion that they were engaging. This is such a serious road matter. There are all ages on that road, from bicyclies to prams to walkers. Be firm, Simon," he said.
Shockwaves have been sent across the country following the news of iconic broadcaster Joe Duffy's retirement.

Presenter of the hugely popular RTE Radio 1 show Liveline, which he helmed for over a quarter of a century, Joe made the announcement to his thousands of listeners while signing off today's programme (May 8) where he confirmed his final show will air on Friday, June 27.

Joe Duffy spoke candidly on the news, saying, After 37 wonderful years here in RTE, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners. People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories.

"I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTE has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart. And now, after many happy years, Ive decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories," he added.

The broadcaster posted his full statement on social media platform X:



Born in January 1956 in Mountjoy Square, Dublin, and raised in Ballyfermot, Joe Duffy originally pursued social work at Trinity College. Joe became one of the first from his area to go to Trinity and was actively involved in student politics and went on to serve as President of the Union of Students in Ireland.

He led protests on campus highlighting access to education and spent two weeks in Mountjoy Prison as a result. After working in the probation service, he then joined RTE originally as a radio producer in 1989 and came to prominence as a reporter on the legendary Gay Byrne Show.

Joe presented programmes like Soundbyte before taking over Liveline in 1998. In his 27 years in the Liveline hotseat, both Joe and the programme itself have become national institutions, with the show frequently attracting some 400,000 listeners.

READ MORE: Two arrested following 10m cannabis seizure during intelligence-led operation in Clare

During Joes tenure, Liveline has been a vital outlet for citizens. He has also hosted a wide range of programmes for television including Liveline Callback and The Meaning of Life, as well as several acclaimed documentaries.

Joe has been a recipient of many awards during his acclaimed career, including a Jacobs Award in 1992 for his work on The Gay Byrne Show, various IMRO Awards and he was also inducted into the PPI Hall of Fame in 2013. Joe has written his autobiography 'Just Joe' and two other award-winning history books, 'Children of the Rising' and 'Children of the Troubles' (with Freya McClements).



Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTE, said, Whether breaking stories like the first powerful moments of the 9-11 attacks in the US, or helping the nation navigate the often heart-breaking challenges of a global pandemic, Joe Duffy's Liveline doesnt just have its fingers on the pulse, it is the pulse of the nation.

"Joe navigated controversies, unearthed scandals, exposed scams, fought misinformation and shone a light on topics long ignored, from historical abuse to the menopause and healthcare reform. Joe was always the guide, never the story. His journalistic insights were perfectly in balance with his human instincts, and Liveline under Joe became both a sanctuary for those seeking justice, and a public square of which Joe was in full control.



"Joe Duffy is an icon of broadcasting, and will be hugely missed by his listeners, his colleagues, and all who picked up the phone to the nations hotline. Id like to wish Joe all our best for his retirement and extend my warmest wishes to June and to Joes family. He might be hanging up on the Liveline, but our loss is surely his familys most welcome gain," he concluded.



RTE's Director of Audio, Patricia Monahan said, Joe Duffy is a true legend of Irish broadcasting and the contribution he has made to RTE and Liveline cannot be overstated. Joe's ability to connect with listeners, to create a safe place for them to discuss both difficult and light-hearted topics and most importantly to listen to and hear them is unique. Our airwaves will be lesser without him, but we thank him for being part of our daily lives for so long and wish him and his family well for his next chapter.



Joe Duffy will be Patricks Kieltys special guest on tomorrow nights The Late Late Show, marking his 37 years in broadcasting.

He will present his last Liveline his last show airing on Friday, June 27 and RTE will run a process over the coming months to appoint Joe's successor with an announcement expected in the autumn.



RTE looks forward to Joe Duffys contribution to its 100th year commemoration in 2026.
The crucial work of midwives at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise was celebrated on International Day of the Midwife earlier this week.



The celebration at the Laois hospital on Monday, May 5 recognised the care and contribution to women and babies given by midwives in our hospital. The theme this year was Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis. The HSE Dublin and Midlands created a video to mark the occasion that focuses on frontline midwives across their services and their inspiring stories. View video here.



Eileen Whelan, Regional Director of Nursing & Midwifery HSE Dublin and Midlands said, On behalf of myself and the Regional Leadership Team of HSE Dublin and Midlands, I would like to extend to all our midwives our sincere thanks and appreciation today, the International Day of the Midwife 2025. Midwives offer compassionate care, expert guidance and unwavering support to women and their families to include family planning, throughout pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the postpartum period. International Day of the Midwife celebrates their dedication, professionalism and commitment to ensuring safe and positive childbirth experiences.

READ NEXT: Donations surge for Mountmellick charity fundraiser honouring man who died in New Zealand

Midwives provide safe births, antenatal and postnatal care, they provide contraception, abortion care and care for survivors of gender-based violence support breastfeeding, ensuring newborns receive safe, clean and reliable nutrition. They also prepare communities with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe and healthy during emergencies. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO



"Their inclusion in crisis preparation and response planning is vital. It ensures optimal outcomes for women, children and their families when facing challenging situations," added the HSE.
Support is flooding in to a Laois family's charity fundraiser appeal, as they prepare for a huge night out in memory of a young man who died in New Zealand last year.

David McDonald's family are holding a fun music filled celebration in Moloney's Bar, Mountmellick this Saturday, May 10, kicking off at 6pm in the sunshine with Portlaoise band Transmitter. There will be a barbecue from 6 to 8pm and a raffle. Billy Meehan will follow Transmitter, playing from 9 to close. The entry is a requested 5.

The family are raising money for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, an Irish charity that covered the costs of flying home David's remains without delay, in time for his funeral back home, after he passed away from a brief illness on January 10, 2024. Read more here.

They set a target of 10,000 for the night out, but before it even happens, it has passed 9,000, in support of the late David and his family.

David's sister Lizzie Kirwan told the Leinster Express / Laois Live they are "flying it" with lots of raffle tickets sold.

"We are blown away by the phenomenal support from everybody. We are delighted to be able to give back to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. We were overwhelmed by the generosity from all our sponsors for the amazing raffle prizes and more prizes are still coming in. The Rock NS and Ballyroan are holding non-uniform days this Friday, everyone is behind us wishing us well.

"The generosity of people is so overwhelming. We know Dave would be beaming with pride watching the community and beyond coming together for such a wonderful cause in his memory," Lizzie said.

The raffle prizes include a pair of weekend tickets to Forest Fest, a Sonas Ray sound bar worth 300, a 150 Dunnes Stores voucher, many more 100 vouchers and other prizes.

Buy a ticket via Revolut to Orla @orlar2fs5 1 ticket is 5, three are 10. See the Gofundme fundraiser here.
Today is Europe Day, Friday, May 9, which marks eighty years since the official end of World War II in Europe.

"That terrible war took the lives of over 60 million people. The European Peace Project have invited people all across Europe to read their Manifesto for Peace in their homes and in public places at 4pm today  creating a united voice across Europe, calling for peace on our continent," said the organisers.

Irish peace initiative, Lex Innocentium, 21 st Century, will read the Manifesto for Peace, in both Irish and English, at the GPO in OConnell Street, Dublin, at the Post Office in Newbridge, and at other venues at 4p.m.

READ MORE: Developer wants to demolish buildings and build 15 apartments in centre of Kildare town

"Please join us. We are calling for an end to war in Europe, and across the world, for the resolution of international conflicts through peaceful arbitration and negotiation (in line with Article 29 of our Constitution), and for an end to the waste of huge amounts of money and resources on war and militarization that would be better used to improve the wellbeing of humanity and the protection of our planet."

For more information and for a copy of the Irish Peace Manifesto contact lexinnocentium21@gmail.com or visit https://lexinnocentium21.ie

For more information on the European Peace Project, visit https://europeanpeaceproject.eu/
The unmistakable two-note call of the cuckoo is once again echoing through Leitrims bogs and hillsbut behind this classic sign of spring lies a story of epic travel.

According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Irish cuckoos winter in central and west Africa, travelling from places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. One bird, nicknamed Cuach KP, made headlines last year for flying from Killarney National Park to the Congo Basin and backbecoming the first Irish cuckoo known to cross the Bay of Biscay in a single, non-stop sea flight.

What makes the cuckoo so unusualsome might say cheekyis its approach to parenting. Shortly after arriving in Ireland each spring, the female cuckoo begins laying her eggsnot in her own nest, but in the nests of other birds like the meadow pipit and reed warbler. The unsuspecting foster parents raise the cuckoo chick as their own, often neglecting or losing their own young in the process.

But even as they return, cuckoos are becoming harder to hear. According to BirdWatch Ireland, there has been a 27% drop in cuckoo breeding distribution since the 1970s, with the species now mostly confined to western counties like Leitrim, Mayo, and Donegal. In Northern Ireland, some areas have seen losses of up to 50%, with cuckoos vanishing from large stretches of the midlands and east.

So, whats driving the decline? Experts point to habitat loss, climate shifts, and a drop in host bird species like the meadow pipit and reed warblerkey birds that cuckoos rely on to raise their young.

Despite these challenges, Leitrim remains a rare stronghold. Birdwatchers have reported recent calls near Glenfarne, Lough Allen, and the Arigna hills. Conservationists are urging the public to report any sightings to BirdWatch Ireland to help track numbers.

So if you hear that familiar cuck-oo echo across the valleypause and appreciate its call.

READ MORE 'They want to silence people like me': Leitrim Pride Chair speaks out on death threats
The Housing department of Leitrim County Council is currently progressing four redevelopment projects that will convert derelict properties into social housing units in Ballinamore, Mohill, Manorhamilton and Kiltyclogher.

Construction is underway in Manorhamilton for delivery in 2026.

Mary Quinn, Director of Services for Housing, told a meeting of Leitrim County Council that addressing vacancy and dereliction remains a top priority, despite the complexity of the issue.

This discussion followed a motion by Cllr Sean McGowan, who called on the Council to explore the acquisition of derelict houses in towns, villages and rural areas.

He sought for the Council to secure Government funding to restore these properties and provide housing for people on the waiting list in Leitrim.

In 2024, Leitrim recorded the highest residential vacancy rate in the country last year, with nearly 12 out of every 100 liveable houses unoccupied. Measures such as the Croi Conaithe scheme, funded by the Department of Housing, are intended to address this by offering grants to support the renovation of vacant or derelict homes.

Im asking that the Council get a register of all the buildings within our towns and villages that are vacant including rural houses, Cllr McGowan said.

I accept that the Croi Conaithe grant came in and some of the houses have been restored but theres a large number of houses in this county that would fit into the derelict category.

Cllr McGowans motion was seconded by several councillors.

However, Cllr Flynn expressed concern that the Croi Conaithe is not working, suggesting it may be contributing to rising house prices.

Since the scheme's launch in 2022, Leitrim has seen 239 applications, 178 approvals and 52 grants issued as of March 31.

Cllr Bohan and Cllr Stenson argued that the Council cannot carry out compulsory purchase orders for all vacant houses due to varied ownership circumstances, emphasising the need for voluntary participation.

Cllr Bohan also stated she believes the Croi Conaithe scheme is working well, but advocated for increasing the grant and installed payments.

We have to put some pressure on the people that have these derelict houses, Cllr Warnock commented.

A Council response noted that the Croi Conaithe scheme, initially limited to towns and villages, was expanded in November 2022 to include cities and rural areas.

From May 1,2023, it also allows one rental property per applicant, alongside a primary residence.

This expansion is intended to boost the supply of private rental housing, which could eventually support tenants under the HAP, RAS or leasing schemes.

Ms Quinn also stated that while the Council has been placing notices on derelict sites, they havent been applying the levy - though this is being considered in time.

She added that the Council is planning a promotional event to raise awareness of the Croi Conaithe scheme among property owners, aiming to increase uptake. This event is expected to take place before the summer season.

The housing issue is the biggest issue facing Ireland. We have to step up to the mark and do everything we can to bring these homes back into life, concluded Cllr McGowan.

READ MORE: Leitrim's Charlie McGettigan calls for Israel to be banned from Eurovision
Streaming platform Netflix has released its new tell-all documentary about the 2015 killing of Limerick man and father-of-two Jason Corbett today.

'A Deadly American Marriage' offers a chilling reexamination of the killing and the explosive trial that followed.

The documentary, which is one hour and 42 minutes long, was in production for over four years and features exclusive interviews with Mr Corbett's children Jack and Sarah along with Molly and Tom Martens and US law enforcement agents and court officials.

During the trailer, emotional prosecutors recall seeing the crime scene with one saying: "In 30 years of prosecuting, I've never seen photographs like these."

READ MORE: Shocking reason distracted bus driver failed to spot gardai chasing him for over 5km

Another prosecutor added: "It's one of the bloodiest crime scenes I've seen in a long time."

It offers a rare glimpse into the conflicting perspectives of those closest to the case and asks viewers to reflect on the elusive truths beneath a once seemingly fairy-tale life that ended in tragedy.

The streaming platform said the documentary "sheds a bright light on the many questions that have lingered since the shocking events of that night."

When widower and father of two young children Jason Corbett found love again with his American au pair, Molly Martens, in 2008, their relationship seemed ripped from the pages of a storybook. The couple, along with Jasons kids, Jack and Sarah, moved from Ireland to North Carolina to build a new life together.

But on August 2, 2015, their idyllic tale took a dark turn when Jason was killed in a violent altercation at home. Mr Corbett, was killed by his wife Molly Martens, and her father, Tom Martens, a former FBI agent, at his home in Lexington, North Carolina, in August 2015. The new documentary sheds a bright light on the many questions that have lingered since the shocking events of that night.

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Molly and Tom Martens were convicted of murder in 2017, two years after Jason's killing, but appealed the conviction, which was later quashed and they were released from prison in June 2024.

The father and daughter agreed a plea deal with Davidson County's District Attorney, who accepted a plea of guilty to voluntary manslaughter in return for dropping murder charges.

They were sentenced to a minimum of four years and three months in prison at a hearing in November 2023, but that sentence was to include time already served.

Produced and directed by Jessica Burgess (Rich & Shameless, American Monster) and Jenny Popplewell (What Jennifer Did, American Murder: The Family Next Door), 'A Deadly American Marriage' explores the mystery behind Mr Corbetts death.
Irish Newlyweds Shane McCrudden and Sinead Doogan were among the tens of thousands of people who were in Rome for the election of Pope Leo XIV.

The couple, from Killybegs on Donegal, got married last Saturday at St Mary of the Visitation Church, with the reception taking place afterwards at An Chuirt Hotel in Gweedore.

Then it was off to Rome, where the Conclave plans to elected a successor for the late Pope Francis, who passed away last month, were underway.

READ NEXT: New Pope Leo XIV has already visited Ireland and he could return as pontiff

The Conclave got underway on Wednesday evening and white smoke billowed from a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel just over 24 hours later. The declared to the World that the 133 cardinal electors had made their decision after two days of ballots.

Pope Leo XIV appeared on the central balcony of St Peters Basilica about an hour after the smoke went up.

Shane and Sinead, a dental nurse with the HSE based in Ballshannon, were wished well by the Killybegs Coast Guard.

Our former Officer In Charge, Shane McCrudden, will marry the love of his life, Sinead Doogan, they posted before the wedding.

Shane has held many roles in the Killybegs Coast Guard Station, but today will obtain the role of husband, one which we have no doubt that he will relish and cherish with vigour and enthusiasm as he has always done.

We would like to wish them both a lifetime of love, good health and happiness together with the love of their lives, their daughter Rosie."
Five other sources corroborated allegations about Gerry Adams that were made by an anonymous contributor to a BBC documentary, lawyers representing the broadcaster have told a libel trial.

Mr Adams is suing the BBC over what he has deemed to be a grievous smear made by a confidential source in a Spotlight documentary that alleged he had sanctioned the killing of a former Sinn Fein official who turned out to be an informant.

He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

In 2009, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing, and the Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016 while a garda investigation into the matter was ongoing.

In the programme, a man identified as Martin who says he was a former agent for Special Branch, claims that the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and said Mr Adams gives the final say.

Mr Adamss legal team says his reputation as a peacemaker had suffered an unjustified attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme, and the online article with the headline: Gerry Adams sanctioned Denis Donaldson killing.

At the High Court in Dublin on Friday, Mr Adamss barrister Tom Hogan SC brought forward a witness with knowledge of journalistic standards to provide an opinion on the contents of the programme and accompanying website report.

John Martin OLoan told the jury that it was his opinion there was no evidence in the programme or article that the BBC corroborated the allegation that Mr Adams had sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson.

He said he arrived to this conclusion after being tasked with putting together an impartial and independent report by Mr Adamss legal team, which examined discovery information for the case, correspondence between the BBC and Mr Adamss legal team before and after the broadcast, and editorial standards as well as the broadcast and article at issue in the action.

Mr OLoan has previously held roles involving senior editorial responsibility, including by establishing Sky News.

However, under cross-examination by Eoin McCullough SC for the BBC, he was told that the BBC had five other sources for claims made by Martin in the programme.

Mr McCullough said there were a total of three other sources from the security community and two republican sources, which corroborated the allegations made by Martin.

Martin was not the only source to give the programme team this information, the programme team received the information from multiple, authoritative, credible, confidential sources.

He put it to Mr OLoan that this information was contained in material that was provided to him in advance of him compiling a supplementary report, which he also relied on for his evidence in court on Thursday.

During a lengthy exchange, Mr OLoan acknowledged that there were references to additional sources in the material, which he accepted was, in all likelihood, provided to him, but initially said he could not specifically read the exact letter in question.

He said that he was primarily concerned with what was contained in the broadcast and in the article, adding that the additional sources were not mentioned or explained to the audience in the reports.

He added that he was not convinced by the BBC statement on other sources.

Asked if he was telling the court that he had decided to deliberately exclude the information because he deemed it to be irrelevant, Mr OLoan said what was in his report was about the programme and that the information about the additional sources was not credible.

If I left things out, it was deliberate. It was all a deliberate view based on my background as to the process to publication.

Earlier in Thursdays proceedings, Mr OLoan had told the court: The BBC did not meet the editorial thresholds of responsible journalism in its inclusion and presentation of the solo anonymous allegations against Mr Adams.

He said it was his view that the steps taken by the BBC to verify the claim of Mr Adamss involvement in Mr Donaldsons killing fell below the standards expected in investigative reporting in terms of fairness and legal risk mitigation.

He said the segment containing the allegation that he had sanctioned the killing lacked sufficient editorial veracity to be published.

Mr OLoan said the programme relied solely on the anonymous source for the claim, with no further documentation or verification to support the serious criminal allegation.

He said the BBC had five months prior to broadcast to back the claim up, and that broadcast should have been delayed if that was not long enough, or a justification should have been given.

He said the motivations, credibility, and background of Martin were not given beyond that he was a spy, and that the interview did not include a challenge or request to justify his claim.

Mr OLoan said the sources reliability was not clarified and viewers were offered no means to assess his credibility, which should have been required under BBC guidelines.

He said the claim was given disproportionate prominence in the programme.

Mr McCullough told Mr OLoan that the programme states Martins motivation was to prevent further outbreaks of violence.

Mr OLoan said there were legitimate concerns of inherent bias because documentation provided by the BBC said the programme was informed by the journalists pre-existing knowledge of allegations made against Mr Adams.

He said this should have required increased editorial caution rather than fewer, and triggered an even bigger response to test the assertion made by the anonymous source.

The witness later agreed with Mr McCullough when the barrister said it would be for the jury to decide if there was bias when they hear later evidence from people involved in the programme.

Mr OLoan said editorial standards were not applied to that section of the programme and guidelines on accuracy, fairness, impartiality, anonymous sourcing and responsible journalism did not appear to be adequately followed.

He said the segment aired without editorial disclaimers or qualifications to alert the audience that the claim was verified and added that an omission of on-air scrutiny could lead a viewer to reasonably infer that the BBC accepted the claim at face value and gave weight to the allegation.

Mr McCullough told Mr OLoan that the programme contains a response from Mr Adamss solicitor that the former Sinn Fein president denied involvement.

He added that the programme also contains information about the ongoing investigation and the claim of responsibility from the Real IRA.

In the online article, Mr OLoan said the headline quoted the central claim but provided no immediate context by identifying the allegation as coming from an unverified, anonymous source.

He said this could invite the reader to interpret the claim as fact and suggested institutional endorsement by the BBC.

On his knowledge of meetings and correspondence between the BBC and the solicitor representing the Donaldson family, Mr OLoan said the allegation against Mr Adams was not raised.

He said the response of the family would have been valuable to the programme and this was an opportunity for additional background that was not taken.

He said this showed a lack of journalistic robustness if deliberate, or if not deliberate, a lack of good journalistic judgement.

Mr OLoan said this indicated that the journalists werent trying very hard to back up or find additional information for the claim against Mr Adams, adding: They didnt seem to be digging very far.

He said: Despite starting cautiously in May, they seemed to have rushed it in the home stretch.

Elsewhere, former US congressman Bruce Morrison gave evidence via videolink from Maryland about his experience on dealing with the Northern Ireland peace process in the administration of President Bill Clinton.

He told the court there was no question that a label of connections to terrorism applied to Mr Adams at the time due to the links between Sinn Fein and the IRA.

However, he said Mr Adams had a reputation of seriousness and dependability as well as a commitment to the peace process.

The case continues on Tuesday.
President Joseph Boakai and Barbados President Sandra Mason will headline the 160th anniversary celebration of the Township of Crozierville this weekend.
Indias Home Minister Amit Shah pays his last respects to the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, Apr. 23 (Credit: India Today)
LIMERICK Toastmasters member Adam Cronin has made his mark on the national stage, securing an impressive second place in the Division D final of the Toastmasters Evaluation Contest.

Division D stretches from Wicklow to Kilrush taking in Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare.

Adam progressed through two qualifying rounds to reach the national final held at the Anner Hotel in Thurles on Sunday, April 13, including a standout victory at the Area Evaluation Contest in Roscrea.

At the Division level contest, he faced exceptional competition from top evaluators across Ireland.

Reflecting on his experience, Adam said: The reason I put myself out there was to see how I measure up as an evaluator at both the area and national level. What I felt afterwards is that I can mix and mingle with the best.

READ MORE: Top educators and artists meet in Limerick for annual 'highlight' of teaching calendar

At the same time, practice really does make perfect. This was my first-ever experience in a competition, and now that I know how to succeed, Im eager for more.

In a Toastmasters evaluation contest, participants listen to a test speech and then present a structured evaluation, highlighting strengths and offering constructive feedback. These contests showcase analytical and communication skills while offering valuable learning opportunities for participants and audience members alike.

Evaluation is at the heart of the Toastmasters experience. It fosters a supportive environment where members grow as speakers and leaders, helping one another refine their skills through thoughtful and actionable feedback.

Adam has been a member of Limerick Toastmasters since 2023 and regularly attends the clubs twice-monthly meetings at the Limerick Strand Hotel.

The club meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from September to June, with meetings beginning at 8pm. Meetings are held in the John B Keane Library Room on the ground floor of the Limerick Strand Hotel. Guests are always welcome, and no booking is required. Your first visit is completely free.

Limerick Toastmasters supports members in building self-confidence and developing the communication skills needed for success in interviews, meetings, presentations, negotiations, and social events such as wedding speeches.
BISHOP of Limerick Brendan Leahy has revealed a personal connection with Pope Leo XIV, recalling a meeting where the Pontiff fondly remembered visiting the Augustinian house on OConnell Street in Limerick city.

When I met him, he spoke about visiting the Augustinian house on OConnell Street in Limerick. He even remembered the name of the street. He would have visited Ireland as part of his role as the prior general of the Augustinian worldwide order. Its great to have made that connection with him," stated Bishop Brendan Leahy.

Commenting on his previous engagements with Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Leahy said he met him briefly, including at the Synod in Rome last year. "He is a very calm man, no airs or graces, a listener, very reflective. I was struck in his speech by his focus on peace, bridge-building, dialogue and justice."

He added that Pope Leo XIVs election has the potential to advance the mission of peace and hope that the world needs.

READ MORE: Higgins leads congratulations for new Pope Leo XIV in Ireland

Bishop Leahy said there was a real sense that it was a seminal moment for the Church and led to great joy locally and internationally.

He has been in the Popes company on a number of occasions and found him a humble, kind man who will bring the qualities needed for these challenging times.

There was a tangible sense of joy and excitement from St Peters Square in Rome and it was something that resonated across our own diocese here. People I met or who contacted me felt it was a moment of hope. This is largely because he will bring forward the approach of Pope Francis, an approach of journeying, of hope and peace.

Bishop Leahy said, however, that the road will be a challenging one but one that Pope Leo XIV will travel with courage and love.

Its an enormous responsibility now falling on his shoulders. In fact, its hard to imagine how one person could carry such expectation, but he is a man of great strength and calm and Ive no doubt he will follow in the footsteps of St Peter with great love, humility and humanity.

Bishop Leahy added: I felt that his announcement at St Peters Basilica was very moving. He was clearly quite emotional and humble in that moment. I also believe the charism of St Peter is at work in the Pope and Im certain that there will be great warmth for his mission.
Should children under the age of 16 years old be banned from using social media platforms?

That is the question on everyone's mind as Tanaiste Simon Harris says the movement is being 'seriously considered'.

Australia has implemented a ban on social media for children under the age of 16 under a "new law called the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 on 28 November 2024," according to Unicef Australia.

The law was made, according to Unicef, because the Australian Government believe the risks of social media, such as cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators, outweigh the positives.

Alex Cooney, CEO of Cyber Safe Kids was recently on NewsTalk to discuss this issue, and said that while this movement "sounds like the real solution", she said "I think we need to unpack it."

Alex told NewsTalk that the ban in Australia doesn't include WhatsApp, Youtube, TikTok or any gaming environments.

"Roblox at the moment is the most popular environment for children age eight to twelve," she said, "so the problem with the legislation is that it's not even going to cover all the areas that children go."

READ NEXT: Radio and sporting royalty among the guests for tonight's RTE Late Late Show season finale

Alex said that WhatsApp is "an unregulated environment" that is not included in legislation although "we know that 40% of children age eight to twelve have a WhatsApp account."

"So I think we need to look at addressing harm," Alex said, "We still leave a lot of power in the hands of these tech companies and they are making these enormous profits..so we need those profits to be invested in real, genuine measures for safe online environments for children."

"These environments weren't designed for children," Alex told NewsTalk, "They are vastly inadequate for their needs..we need children's safety to be at the centre of design consideration, alongside privacy and other key considerations."

Alex said that rather than banning children from social media platforms, companies should "actually try and address these places to make them much safer and much more plausible for children and young people to be online."

A large discussion has formed on social media around this topic as Irish parents share their take on the matter.

One user said, "The same folks who couldnt build a childrens hospital on budget or a 350,000 bike shed now think they can pull this off? Its honestly mind-blowing how out of touch they are!".

Another person said, "I think it's a good idea," and "absolutely."

Someone else commented, "Ultimately, the parents get to decide, not the gov!".
A BUSINESSMAN has revealed an updated plan for a new multi-million euro town centre / car park development in the heart of Bruff.

This 5 million proposed development incorporates the former Bank of Ireland building, which has lain idle on the main street since the branch closed over four years ago.

The man behind the initiative - local businessman James Beechinor - first revealed a plan for the town over 12 months ago. It included a new convenience store with five overhead apartments, a new car park with 35 to 40 spaces and giving the former bank back to the local community rent-free. The investment was in the region of 3m to 3.5m.

Since then Mr Beechinor says that he has looked at all avenues in which to improve and enhance the benefits of the plan for all existing businesses, residents and the wider community of Bruff.

READ MORE: Conservation bosses in talks on prime site in heart of Limerick

He said the new updated plan now includes land at the rear of Derry OMeara's bar.

Thanks to Mr O'Mearas help and support we will now have a minimum of 60 car parking spaces for the town. The town is crying out for more parking and, particularly, off-street parking.

These spaces are for the use of the whole of Bruff which will attract more people into the town and definitely benefit the existing businesses in the town and hopefully encourage new businesses to open too.

There will now also be an entrance to the rear of Derry's pub and an entrance into Niall Butler's funeral home. The residents of Sycamore Drive can also have an option of pedestrian access if they want it. It will open the whole area up, said Mr Beechinor, who adds that the whole project will now cost in the region of 5m.

He said that he has met and spoken with the majority of businesses in the town.

They are very positive about it and are publicly supporting it with some displaying the drawings to the public on their premises. They are actually asking me when it will start as it will alleviate the long-standing lack of parking in Bruff," said Mr Beechinor.

The businessman, who, with his wife Leila, owns and operates several Spar convenience shops across County Limerick, said he would purchase the former bank (pictured below) from the council.

I would then give it back to the community rent-free. However, I would be insisting on that its sole use has to be for the use and benefit of the local community of Bruff," said Mr Beechinor, who gives as examples - meeting places for the Men's Shed, ICA, AA, Boy Scouts / Girl Guides, Community Council, or a creche, playschool, tourist information office etc.

Mr Beechinor already owns the buildings on either side of the listed bank building - the former post office and a residential property. He said he is passionate about giving something back to Bruff which has lost its bank, its secondary school and its courthouse.

I went to school in Bruff and started out my working life at Meany's petrol pumps on Bruff's Main Street just down from Glynn's take away. Bruff has been very good to me all down through the years since I started out in business and it would be such a beautiful and beneficial development for the town and wider community.

It would be there for current and future generations to use and enjoy and one that we could all as a community be very proud of, said Mr Beechinor, who added he intends to progress the development as expeditiously as possible and looks forward to positive, meaningful and fruitful discussions with the community and relevant authorities.

He emphasised that he would like to see an all inclusive community approach to help to deliver this much-needed car park for the town of Bruff.

Mr and Mrs Beechinor wished to thank most sincerely all the people of Bruff who gave us their time, support and encouragement in putting this plan together.
STREAMING platform Netflix has released its new tell-all documentary about the 2015 killing of Limerick man and father-of-two Jason Corbett today.

'A Deadly American Marriage' offers a chilling reexamination of the killing and the explosive trial that followed.

The documentary was in production for over four years and features exclusive interviews with Mr Corbett's children Jack and Sarah along with Molly and Tom Martens and US law enforcement agents and court officials.

During the trailer, emotional prosecutors recall seeing the crime scene with one saying: "In 30 years of prosecuting, I've never seen photographs like these."

READ MORE: Netflix to air tell-all documentary on the killing of Limerick man Jason Corbett

Another prosecutor added: "It's one of the bloodiest crime scenes I've seen in a long time."

It offers a rare glimpse into the conflicting perspectives of those closest to the case and asks viewers to reflect on the elusive truths beneath a once seemingly fairy-tale life that ended in tragedy.

The streaming platform said the documentary "sheds a bright light on the many questions that have lingered since the shocking events of that night."

When widower and father of two young children Jason Corbett found love again with his American au pair, Molly Martens, in 2008, their relationship seemed ripped from the pages of a storybook. The couple, along with Jasons kids, Jack and Sarah, moved from Ireland to North Carolina to build a new life together.

But on August 2, 2015, their idyllic tale took a dark turn when Jason was killed in a violent altercation at home. Mr Corbett, was killed by his wife Molly Martens, and her father, Tom Martens, a former FBI agent, at his home in Lexington, North Carolina, in August 2015. The new documentary sheds a bright light on the many questions that have lingered since the shocking events of that night.

Molly and Tom Martens were convicted of murder in 2017, two years after Jason's killing, but appealed the conviction, which was later quashed and they were released from prison in June 2024.

The father and daughter agreed a plea deal with Davidson County's District Attorney, who accepted a plea of guilty to voluntary manslaughter in return for dropping murder charges.

They were sentenced to a minimum of four years and three months in prison at a hearing in November 2023, but that sentence was to include time already served.

Produced and directed by Jessica Burgess (Rich & Shameless, American Monster) and Jenny Popplewell (What Jennifer Did, American Murder: The Family Next Door), 'A Deadly American Marriage' explores the mystery behind Mr Corbetts death.
The fate of thousands of BluSmart electric cars remains in limbo as state-run lenders who financed their purchase dither over next steps.

Gensol Engineering Ltd had borrowed from Power Finance Corp. Ltd (PFC) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (Ireda) to buy 4,700 electric cars, which were then leased to BluSmart. These cars have been idling since the regulatory strictures on Anmol Singh Jaggi, who led both companies. Cars lose value, electric cars more so, and idling ones may see batteries degrade even faster.

Many big banks, asset financing firms and family offices of high net worth individuals are in the market to sell or lease the BluSmart vehicles they financed," a person aware of the matter said. PFC and Ireda have still not decided what they will do with cabs hypothecated with them." A second person confirmed that the state-run firms are yet to decide on how to proceed.

On Monday, Delhi-based Evera Cabs took over 500 BluSmart cabs from lenders, with plans to take 500 more. Banks, non-bank lenders and family offices who financed such purchases are also looking for parties who can buy or lease them.

Also read | BluSmart investors look to buy promoters stake, revive the ride-hailing company

A BluSmart investor presentation in 2023 said its fleet had 2,000 EVs leased from various lenders. The person cited above said these lenders include Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Mahindra Finances Quiklyz, Tata Motors Finance and Kotak Mahindra Bank.

We have exposure to Gensol. We are actively assessing the developments pertaining to Gensol and adopting all measures to preserve and protect banks interest following due process of law," an HDFC Bank spokesperson said.

Queries emailed to PFC, Ireda, banks and financial institutions remained unanswered.

Over 25 family offices, green financing institutions and transport offices had joined Assure, BluSmarts asset financing programme. Under the programme, they bought at least 10 cars at an average price of 13.5 lakh and leased them to BluSmart, in return for monthly rent. In December, BluSmart announced that the programme hit 100 crore.

Given the average price of cars, there could be 700-800 cabs which were bought through this programme by family offices and other financing institutions.

Read this | Ubers lifeline off the table for BluSmart as EV depreciation becomes key contention

Typically in a lease arrangement, those providing the financing, known as lessors, have the right to repossess the vehicle if the company misses payments.

Private lenders are rushing as the depreciation of EVs is higher. As this is a distress sale, the valuation of the cars in the fleet is also being discounted further," the person cited above said.

A third person aware of the matter said lessors are reaching out to EV fleet operators on their own.

In January, Gensol had agreed to sell 2,997 BluSmart EVs to Chennai-based Refex group at an average of 10.5 lakh per unit. As per the first person, the value of BluSmart cars in the market are now lower. To make it worse, Refex has decided not to proceed with the purchase.

Private lenders act swiftly to contain losses, often preferring a timely haircut over prolonged recovery uncertainty," said Srinath Sridharan, independent director and corporate advisor. In contrast, state-backed lenders move cautiously due to internal compliance and process constraints. The challenge for all lenders is the limited pool of EV fleet operators and the rapid depreciation of these vehiclesmaking the urgency of some players more understandable."

And this | CCPA cracks the whip on BluSmart to ensure wallet refunds

Credit rating agencies Care Ratings and Icra had downgraded the debt raised by Gensol to 'default' in March. After the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) passed an interim order against Gensol and its promoters, PFC and Ireda filed complaints with Delhi Polices Economic Offence Wing (EoW) in April.

BluSmart followed an asset-light model, wherein it did not own any of those vehicles and instead leased them from partners.

While Mint could not independently ascertain the composition of its fleet, there are some estimates which can be put together using public disclosures.

Its fleet comprised approximately 8,700 vehicles. About 4,700 vehicles came from Gensol who bought them using loans of 663 crore from PFC and Ireda. As per its disclosures, close to 2,000 cabs came from tie-ups with financial institutions like banks and other institutional asset financing firms.

It also worked with financing firms like Orix, Clime Finance, SMAS Auto Leasing India and Shefasteq OPC who have since sued the company. Put together, these firms had leased close to 500 vehicles to the company and have now secured orders from the Delhi High Court that BluSmart and Gensol cannot create third party rights over EVs leased to them.

And read | Gensol promoters lose over half of their ownership
A 26-year-old solar executive who jolted Japans government by making a rare public criticism of the nations climate policies is urging others to keep pressing legislators to show more ambition.

Shota Ikeda was among 20 outside experts asked to contribute to a process that saw the nations cabinet approve plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2035 from 2013 levels, a goal seen by analysts and campaigners as falling short of required action.

Ikeda had called for emissions reductions of at least 75% to be considered and sharply criticized the consultation as discouraging genuine debate in a nation that remains among the worlds largest polluters.

It's important to continue speaking up, said Ikeda, president of renewable energy firm Hachidori Solar, which provides rooftop solar panels to households. It's all over if we stop calling things out  we need to keep talking about how things should be.

Japans annual emissions fell about 4% in the 12 months through March 2024 to a record low, amid a slowdown in manufacturing and weaker energy consumption, according to government data published last month. Even so, that rate of decline is seen by climate analysts as too slow to enable the nation to meet an ambition of hitting net zero by mid-century.

Advocates for faster climate action argue Japan remains overly reliant on a potential revival of nuclear power to displace fossil fuels and reduce pollution levels. They also criticize the nation, like some other developed countries, for measuring cuts against a year during which emissions were elevated  in this case 2013, when atomic power plants remained shuttered following the 2011 Fukushima meltdown.

I was asked for my frank opinions, but Im skeptical, Ikeda told a session of the expert committee in November, addressing a group of bureaucrats and academics in a staid government conference room. He wondered if these meetings are all for show, Ikeda told his fellow participants. The panel was convened by Japans Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Japans government insists its emissions-cutting pathway is ambitious and consistent with efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. Outside experts including Ikeda debated proposals for 10 hours across three sessions and committee members agreed that next pathways had been thoroughly discussed in the meetings, the economy ministry said in a statement.

Ikeda claims his initial attempt in October to call for steeper emissions cutting was blocked because his opinion was considered out of step, and that his proposals then met a muted reaction when he finally addressed the panel. I called out that something was wrong, but looking around everyone was calm, said Ikeda. I was sad that something important about the future was being decided by these people.

Government officials said Ikeda wasnt delayed in setting out his view, and instead had been asked to present during a session with an agenda more in line with his remarks.

Japan's emissions trajectory has been influenced by expert scientific and technical panels for decades, though the practice of using consultative bodies has faced criticism as ineffective and often unrepresentative of the countrys society.

The panels haven't been a place for fruitful discussions but rather for making minor adjustments to targets proposed by government officials, said Erik Goto, a researcher with the Tokyo-based Renewable Energy Institute, a non-profit that advocates for the use of clean energy. There is this tactic of pushing through already decided, already agreed upon on numbers, he said.

A study of participants on 15 consultative bodies on Japans energy policy found the majority were aged in their 50s to 70s, that men on average accounted for 75% of the membership of each panel, and that many were associated with power-intensive industries, Climate Integrate, a think tank that advocates for decarbonization, said in an April 2024 report.

Substantive consideration was given to Japans revised climate target by stakeholders including NGOs, labor unions, industry, academics and local authorities, the government said in its Nationally Determined Contribution document lodged with the United Nations. Japan is one of only 21 of the 195 Paris Agreement signatories to have submitted an updated plan in line with the accord, UN data shows.

Ikeda said he had worried during the consultation process that bureaucrats were too willing to endorse weak climate goals, rather than fully consider alternatives. Have they imagined what 2050 might look like for their children and grandchildren, he said. I wanted to ask them if they were really thinking about the younger generations.

Japans environment ministry conceded at a December meeting that the governments proposed 2035 targets  circulated only toward the end of a previous session, and with little time left for debate  had been presented too hastily. I think its difficult to claim that there was enough discussion, Masako Konishi, an expert director at the WWF Japan and a member of the consultation committee, said at the time.

Attention was paid to the balance of expertise, age groups, and gender, and to ensure committee members included specialists in energy and finance who had familiarity with environmental issues, the environment ministry said in a statement. We had intensive discussions, received various opinions, and then took into account public comments and other factors when formulating the plan, so we believe that we have proceeded with the process while holding as careful discussions as possible.

To encourage reforms, voters should follow Ikedas lead in publicly criticizing the system of devising climate policy, said Seita Emori, a professor at the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo, and a former member of an expert committee that debated Japan's previous 2030 climate target.

It may be necessary to make politicians think that issues like these will affect votes, Emori said. What happened this time around may just be a ripple, but people will need to continue raising their voices at various opportunities so that change can take place.'

With assistance from Aaron Clark and Stephen Stapczynski.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- The former head of Brookfield Asset Managements venture capital arm accused the firm of wrongfully firing him after he refused to lie to investors.

Josh Raffaelli on Thursday sued Brookfield, which manages more than $1 trillion, in California state court, claiming his former employer offered him nearly $46 million to help sell a plan that would benefit their bottom line at the expense of their investors.

Bloomberg News reported in February that Brookfield quietly shuttered the arm led by Raffaelli and was in the process of moving some its assets and staff to an entity called Pinegrove Capital. According to the suit, Pinegrove is a joint venture between Brookfield and Sequoia Capitals wealth-management arm that acquired the VC arm of Silicon Valley Bank. Raffaelli is not suing Sequoia or Pinegrove.

This suit is absolutely without merit and these baseless claims run counter to how Brookfield manages its business, Kerrie McHugh, a spokeswoman for Brookfield, said in a statement. We will vigorously defend against this meritless suit, which was brought by a disgruntled former employee.

Neither Pinegrove nor Sequoia immediately responded to a request for comment.

In his suit, Raffaelli claimed Pinegrove inflated the amount of money it raised, and that Brookfield was also seeking to deceive prospective investors, including pension funds, about what the combination would mean for their VC funds strategy.

He said he was terminated shortly after he filed whistleblower complaints internally and with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Raffaelli, whose suit was reported earlier by the New York Times, made his name with investments in Elon Musks companies, including SpaceX and SolarCity. As a Brookfield fund manager, he provided $250 million in 2022 to help finance Musks buyout of Twitter Inc.

But Raffaelli claims that the circumstances of Pinegroves founding out of the collapse of SVB led it to enter into anticompetitive agreements with all the major Silicon Valley VC firms. Those agreements meant Pinegrove could no longer invest directly in companies, only through other funds and secondaries. Brookfield offered him tens of millions of dollars to mislead clients about the change in strategy, he says.

He refused to accept a bribe offered by the Brookfield Defendants in exchange for him lying to investors about the supposed advantages of merging their venture capital funds into one that had such an opposite trading strategy that it was sure to kill their investments, Mark Mermelstein, Raffaellis lawyer, wrote in the complaint.

Raffaelli is seeking monetary damages from Brookfield for mental anguish and loss of past and future earnings, including bonuses and unpaid wages, according to the 100-page complaint.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- A decade ago, when Microsoft Corp. was reined in by the Justice Department, a prominent Silicon Valley attorney popularized a theory about antitrust cases: The trial is the remedy.

The theory meant that forcing a monopolist to defend its conduct could open up space for other companies, particularly newcomers, to innovate in a market. And today, its happening with Alphabet Inc.s Google.

Just as Microsoft is believed to have missed the technology worlds move to mobile platforms because it was so focused on its own monopoly case with the Justice Department, testimony and internal documents suggest Google may have fallen behind in adopting AI because of its own antitrust trial, which concluded in Washington Friday.

In Googles case, that has been underscored by testimony and other evidence presented during the second phase of the Justice Departments trial on how artificial intelligence is impacting its core online search business and opening up new deals for startups.

On Wednesday, Apple Inc.s top dealmaker Eddy Cue roiled Alphabet shares with his testimony. Cue discussed why Apple had chosen OpenAIs ChatGPT over Googles Gemini product for the iPhones new AI search feature. He also said Apple is actively looking at revamping its Safari web browser to focus on AI-powered search engines.

His comments indicate that while Google has worked to protect its dominance in its core search business, AI companies have succeeded in building a viable alternative for answering questions on the internet.

Columbia University law professor Tim Wu calls it the policeman at the elbow effect: when a monopolist knows someone is watching its every move, its much more careful to avoid being seen as stifling rivals. The whole point of monopolization trials is to shake things up, said Wu, who served as President Joe Bidens competition adviser from 2021 to 2023.

The second phase of the Google trial focused on how to address what a federal judge last year found to be an illegal monopoly. After closing arguments May 29 and 30, Judge Amit Mehta will determine whether to break up the company by divesting the Chrome browser or restore competition to the market in some other way.

Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater said at a conference in Scotland Friday that the search market has been frozen for 20 years in terms of competition. How do we unfreeze that ice block? she said. Key to all of that of course is scale and data. And thats going to be something that will be very important for competition going forward.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, Googles vice president of regulatory affairs, said in a blog post after the trial wrapped that the Justice Departments proposals were extreme and would harm competition in the industry.

Over weeks of testimony, we heard from a series of well-funded companies eager to gain access to Googles technology so they dont have to innovate themselves, she said. What we didnt hear was how DOJs extreme proposals would benefit consumers.

Cues Bombshell

Apple had partnered with Google on online search since 2003, earning as much as $20 billion a year for making Googles search engine the default option on its devices. Cue was intimately involved in negotiating that deal  in fact he had testified about it in 2023 as part of the Justice Departments first phase of its antitrust case. Mehta ruled last year that Google illegally monopolized the search market through exclusive deals, citing the Apple relationship among others.

For its AI deal, though, the iPhone maker picked ChatGPT. And even though that partnership isnt exclusive, Apple still has yet to sign a deal to add Gemini to its phones. Cue barely mentioned Gemini this week when he appeared in court for the Justice Departments second phase trial about how to remedy Googles illegal conduct.

The contrast between Cue in October 2023 and in May 2025 was striking. Two years ago, Cues testimony was grudging and somewhat stilted as he was contractually bound to defend Apple and Googles deal.

On Wednesday, Cue was unleashed, practically ecstatic about the amazing power of AI, which he called the fourth technological revolution of the past 35 years. As Cue spoke, he repeatedly highlighted AI startups Perplexity and Anthropics Claude.

Cue appeared to be alluding to what Silicon Valley has described as an existential threat to search over the past two years. While AI chatbots dont  and cant  operate exactly like search engines, many see them as a challenge to the traditional way people have used the internet to find information.

Instead of receiving a list of links directing them to sources across the open web, users can now get instant AI-generated answers directly from bots, which are drawing their responses from large repositories of existing human-generated data.

In response to Cues testimony, Google said it has seen an overall increase in queries from Apple devices as users switch from just text-based searches to using voice-activated and image-based search.

Other witnesses have credited the Google trial with opening up business opportunities for other companies.

That the search market is suddenly exciting again is also not an accident but a byproduct of the Google antitrust trial itself. Perplexitys Dmitry Shevelenko was explicit that the companys recent success in partnering with Lenovo Group Ltd.s Motorola wouldnt have materialized if not for the Justice Departments antitrust suit against Google.

Its only because Google is under pressure that phonemakers carriers and browsers are OK having some of the dialogues they are having, Shevelenko, Perplexitys chief business officer, said in his own trial testimony last month.

Probe Starts

Google actually discovered the key technology for the large language models that underlies todays AI startups before the Justice Department opened its probe of the company in 2019. The government has argued that Google didnt capitalize on that innovation because of its dominance in the market. Google didnt really begin integrating it into its search engine until after OpenAIs ChatGPT took the world by storm in November 2022.

Google maintains that it spends billions on innovation each year and waited to introduce AI features so that it could do so responsibly.

For a monopolist, innovation is difficult because its terrified it might cannibalize its revenue, Wu said. He noted how Bell Laboratories, AT&Ts innovation arm, invented dozens of useful technologies, including the answering machine and the technology behind cellphones. But A&T refused to bring them to market, concerned that people might then use landline phones less.

That same paranoia about ending the model  as Wu called it  is evident in Googles internal documents about AI. In notes from an October 2024 meeting, top Google executives pressed the Gemini team about its impact on Googles search and advertising businesses and when they could start incorporating ads into the AI apps.

Vidhya Srinavasan, Googles vice president of Ads & Commerce, told the group that we arent losing Search/Ads traffic yet, but she feels like this is inevitable, and we should prepare for Geminis success. She wants to accelerate monetizing Gemini with Ads ASAP ... writing is on the wall.

Google said the company hasnt seen AI cannibalize search, with only a small slice of homework and coding queries shifting.

--With assistance from Samuel Stolton, Davey Alba and Julia Love.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has turned to some of the countrys wealthiest philanthropists to advance his agenda on homelessness while the city faces a daunting budget deficit.

The $37.5 million fundraising haul includes $10 million from Charles and Helen Schwabs foundation and another $10 million from Crankstart, the personal foundation of billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz.

Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune, has made philanthropy a key part of his tenure, saying the citys business leaders and ultrarich should play a key role in addressing the homelessness crisis. Earlier this year, San Franciscos Board of Supervisors gave the mayor permission to raise as much as $10 million from individual donors even if they have business before the city.

This work is about so much more than money alone, Lurie said in a statement. Its about breaking away from failed strategies and building more effective systems and services to break the cycles of homelessness, addiction, and government failure  and reclaim San Franciscos place as the greatest city in the world.

The money will be used to meet a key campaign promise: staffing 1,500 shelter beds to help bring people off the street and into drug and mental health treatment.

Lurie is turning to the wealthy as San Francisco faces a more than $800 million budget deficit over the next two years, which could force cuts to jobs and programs throughout the city. His homelessness fundraising also includes $11 million from Tipping Point, the anti-poverty non-profit that he founded; $6 million from prominent San Francisco philanthropists Keith and Priscilla Geeslin; and $500,000 from the New York-based Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation.

For Moritz, a former Sequoia Capital leader, the donation is part of more than $300 million in spending since 2020 in civic and political causes.

Lurie was elected in large part due to public anger over homelessness and public drug use. Dissatisfaction with the citys downtown spaces permeated San Franciscos tech and financial elite, who found common cause with small business groups and many middle-class residents. The mayor poured more than $9 million of his own money into his campaign.

This fundraising effort is an encouraging indicator of the collective will in our city to make progress on a crisis that has afflicted our communities for too long, said Bilal Mahmood, a district supervisor who unseated the boards most progressive member last year. I look forward to continued progress to address our homelessness and behavioral health crisis.

--With assistance from Biz Carson.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
A federal judge freed a Turkish graduate student on bail while she fights possible deportation over the Trump administrations claims of antisemitism in an op-ed she helped write.

The ruling Friday in favor of Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk is the latest setback for the administration, amid a crackdown on foreign students it says are engaging in antisemitic activism over Israels war with Hamas in Gaza. The judge released her on her own recognizance and declined to restrict her travel as the US requested.

Ozturks detainment chills the speech of the millions and millions of people in this country who are not citizens and who fear being whisked away to a detention center far from their home if they say something the government disagrees with, US District Judge William Sessions in Vermont said in ruling from the bench.

I would like to know immediately when shes released, the judge told lawyers for the government after he handed down the ruling.

Fight Over Jurisdiction

Ozturk, who helped write an op-ed supporting Gazans, was arrested on the street by plainclothes officers outside her Massachusetts home in March and quickly moved to an immigration facility in Basile, Louisiana. Her lawyers say it was an attempt to get her case into a jurisdiction friendlier to the administration. A federal appeals court on May 7 ordered US immigration authorities to transfer her to Vermont.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didnt directly comment on the specifics of the case but reiterated the administrations view that the courts shouldnt interfere with US foreign policy.

We absolutely believe that the president and the Department of Homeland Security are well within their legal rights to deport illegal immigrants, she told reporters on Friday. As for visa revocations, the secretary of state has the right to do that as well. It is a privilege, not a right, to come to this country on a visa.

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller went further by saying the administration is considering suspending habeas corpus, the constitutional right to challenge detention.

Suspending Habeas

Its an option were actually looking at, he told the press. But a lot of it depends on whether the court will do the right thing or not.

Ozturk testified at the hearing by Zoom from Louisiana. She said that being locked up during her immigration proceedings was undermining her research and exacerbating her asthma, and that federal immigration authorities are violating her constitutional rights.

The government has argued that her activism undermines US foreign policy. She denies that the op-ed she co-wrote is antisemitic. Tufts has said the piece met the universitys guidelines.

Friday brought another legal blow to the Trump administration, as a federal appeals court in Manhattan ruled that immigrant students facing deportation over their speech can challenge their cases in federal court.

Ruling on Mahdawi

The appeals court issued the ruling in the case of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student from Palestine who was ordered released from immigration detention by a federal judge in Vermont last month.

The US argued that the Immigration and Nationality Act stripped a federal courts jurisdiction in the case. The appellate panel said Mahdawis removal proceedings could continue while he challenges his arrest and deportation from the US on constitutional grounds.

Mahdawis unlawful-detention claims may be resolved without affecting pending removal proceedings, the appeals court said. He asserts that the government arrested him to punish speech with which it disagrees. But doing so would violate the Constitution  quite separate from the removal procedures.

The Ozturk case is Ozturk v. Hyde, 25-cv-374, US District Court, District of Vermont .

With assistance from Justin Sink.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinstein 's lawyers sought Friday to raise doubts about a former model's sexual assault allegations against him, noting that she didn't mention a key claim for years, even in her own lawsuits.

In Weinstein's ongoing sex crimes retrial, Kaja Sokola has accused the former movie studio boss of repeatedly sexually abusing her when she was a teenage fashion model. Weinstein is criminally charged with just one of those allegations, a claim of forced oral sex in 2006, which he denies.

Prosecutors added the charge to the landmark #MeToo case last year, after learning they'd have to retry the case because of an appeals court ruling.

Sokola sued Weinstein several years ago over another allegation that was beyond the legal timeframe for potential criminal charges. Her lawsuits didn't include anything about the claimed 2006 assault.

Weinstein lawyer Mike Cibella pointed that out Friday as he began questioning Sokola, suggesting she was financially motivated to make allegations against the once-powerful producer.

Sokola, who's embroiled in contentious divorce proceedings, ultimately received about $3.5 million in compensation from her lawsuits and from the Weinstein Co.'s bankruptcy. She batted back Cibella's suggestion that she sued to gain financial independence from her estranged husband.

I was working at two jobs, and I was earning more money than he was, she testified.

Sokola is the second of three accusers to testify at Weinsteins rape and sexual assault retrial, and shes the only one who wasnt part of the onetime Hollywood honchos first trial in 2020.

Weinstein is being retried because an appeals court overturned his landmark #MeToo 2020 conviction, saying the judge at the time allowed prejudicial testimony. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies ever sexually assaulting anyone.

The Polish-born Sokola, 39, is a psychotherapist who had a jet-setting modeling career as a teen. She testified earlier this week that Weinstein exploited her youthful interest in an acting career to subject her to unwanted sexual advances, starting days after they met in 2002, while she was on a modeling trip to New York.

She told jurors that four years later, when she was 19, Weinstein lured her to a hotel room by saying he had a script for her to see, then pinned her down on a bed and performed oral sex on her as she implored him not to.

She acknowledged that she hadn't told the whole story in her lawsuits.

The first encounter, when I was 16 years old, I could partly forgive myself for being in that situation. But then it was very, very hard for me to come to terms with what happened to me in 2006, she testified Thursday, under a prosecutor's questioning.

During defense questioning Friday, Cibella pointed to differences in some details of Sokola's testimony this week and what she told a grand jury last year, including the month of the alleged 2002 sexual abuse. The attorney also noted that Sokola is pursuing various legal pathways to stay in the U.S. long-term, and her involvement in the criminal case could help with one of them.
The tension between India and Pakistan worsened after Pakistan launched attacks on multiple locations across India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab. While they were neutralised successfully by the Indian Army, the incident prompted counter-measures and a total blackout.

Samay Raina's last call with father Amid this, comedian Samay Raina shared details of the last call with his father, who is a journalist from Jammu. He praised his father for staying calm even after the attack.

Samay Raina took to his Instagram Stories and shared, My prayers with everyone in Jammu. Sleep peacefully and believe in the Indian army Jai Hind (Indian flag emoji).

My father calls me one last time tonight from Jammu to say goodnight. His voice, steady and calm, urges me to sleep and not worry  the Indian armed forces have everything under control. His calmness quiets my restless thoughts," Samay shared how his father calmed him down amid the uncertain situation.

"I switch off the lights in my Mumbai home and walk to the window to draw the curtains. Outside my window, my neighbor's lights still glow. I know little about him, that's just how it is here. I wonder if he, too, has family in Jammu, perhaps in Pathankot  or if he might be the son of a brave soldier, who won't sleep tonight, waiting for a morning call from his father on the front lines. My utmost respect to the armed forces and their families for all the sacrifices they make for our safety. Goodnight. Jai Hind, the founder of India's Got Latent added who lives away from his family.

Besides Samay, several other celebrities also reacted to the drone attack by Pakistan.

Anupam Kher after the Jammu attack Among them was actor Anupam Kher. He shared the reaction of his cousin, who lives in Jammu.

Anupam shared a video from Jammu and wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "My cousin brother #SunilKher sent this video from his home in Jammu. I called immediately and asked him if he and his family are ok? He laughed a little proudly and said, Jai Mata Di! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! !    !                              !     (Brother! We are in India! We are Indians. Our safety is in the hands of the Indian Army and Mata Vaishno Devi. Dont worry. Anyway, no missile is being allowed to hit the ground here) Jai Mata Di! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!"

Pakistan's drone attack Meanwhile, in today's briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed by Pakistan across 36 locations, which were shot down by Indian forces.
Imagine traversing the 508 km distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in all of two hours, a distance that takes about nine hours in a public bus or six hours in a conventional train. High-speed trains have come to symbolise the future of travel the world over, specially to cover inter-city distances between 400-800 km and India is not going to be far behind as we expect our first high-speed rail corridor to be operational by 2026.

As India positions itself to join the coveted list of global superpowers, a transformation of the railway system, which carries over 8 billion passengers annually, is an integral part of this journey. Towards this end, 11 high speed rail corridors have been planned under the National Rail Plan. And with a planned investment of 17.4 lakh crore by 2025, Indian Railways is firmly on track to becoming a game changer in global rail infrastructure.

But, building a high-speed rail system in India brings some unique challenges, which include financing, looking at problems of diverse geographies and integrating the upcoming lines with existing rail and metro systems for multi-modal transfer. The latest episode of Mint Rail Vision by Alstom, titled High-speed Rail  Driving Economic Growth and Sustainability, powered by Alstom, saw a cross-section of experts from this domain explore how high-speed rail systems can transform intercity travel and economic growth and the challenges in this journey.

Click here to watch the full video:

High-speed rail powering growth The introduction of a high-speed rail system will fuel our countrys economic engine by boosting productivity, help meet environmental and energy challenges and also place us on the fast track to development by connecting economic hubs. It can also help us address critical challenges like urban congestion, regional economic disparities and climate goals.

There are examples in the world where high-speed trains have replaced air travel, which leaves a much larger carbon footprint. If we compare ourselves with China where 10 billion people travel every year as against about 8 billion in India, they have the largest high-speed rail network in the world today, across 45,000 kilometres, said Sudhanshu Mani, a railway expert who was part of the team behind Indias first semi high-speed train, the Vande Bharat Express.

He added that high-speed rail systems can help bring down the travel time between cities thereby boosting economic growth and elevating the standard of living for many residing in smaller towns/ cities. It is an essential part of Indias transport strategy for the future, especially when it comes to connecting key economic hubs and for transport in the future. Rail as a mode of transport is much cleaner than road and air and, therefore, it is a necessity for the future.

A high-speed rail system will also boost the local economy as it brings cities closer, creates jobs and manufacturing, and offers an avenue for infrastructure development.

Developing infrastructure is a key driver for any countrys economy. And logistics arrangements are the key for any business development or economic growth. The infrastructure sector contributes to about 3.2 per cent of our GDP in India. So, definitely it is going to make an impact, said Anil Kumar Khandelwal,former Member  Infrastructure, Railway Board, with over 35 years of experience in railway construction and infrastructure development.

Challenges and solutions Talking about challenges, Mani said: I would say land acquisition is the biggest challenge. Financing, today, I dont think is a big challenge because of this governments thrust in allotting huge capex to Indian railway  it is 2.65 lakh crore.

A development of such magnitude needs to be carried out with a strong partnership between the government and private players. One such name is Alstom, which helped India bring in the celebrated Namo Bharat in 2023. Even in high-speed rail development, private players like Alstom can help accelerate the countrys plans to develop, implement and operate high speed rail networks.

Alstom has more than 40 years of experience in the development of high-speed rail networks across countries like France, Italy, Spain, China, Morocco, etc.

Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India, shares how Alstoms advanced signalling systems and global expertise can help accelerate Indias high-speed rail ambitions.

The signalling system that we have provided in order to support the Namo Bharat project, which is a train at 160 kilometres per hour, was clearly one of the highest standards in the market today. We are talking about ETCS level 2, hybrid level 3, LTE connection with a platform screen door, said Olivier Loison, Managing Director of Alstom India.

The sheer magnitude of development has gone up manifold. Earlier, Indian Railways was adding about 4 kilometre of track each day, or 2,000 kilometres every year. Now, we are adding more than 14 kilometre per day and more than 5,000 kilometre of track every year.

Talking about the future of high-speed rail in our country, Khandelwal said: We are coming up with indigenous rolling stock for a speed up to 280 kmph to start with the high-speed rail in our country. And very soon you will be travelling from Ahmedabad to Bombay by high-speed in our country.

The discussion moved to bringing in private investments in the sector, by calling upon experts who have the technology and know-how to run these systems. Railway projects are capital intensive and the gestation period is very high. The private sector doesnt want to invest the money. The reason is that the cost of finances becomes very high owing to social issues, land acquisition, environment, long gestation periods, he added. And, finally, when the systems run, the fares are highly subsidised.

Due to all of these reasons, passenger projects, the world over, rarely run on Public Private Partnership (PPP) models and the railways are now looking at other innovative models to bring in investments. I came to know that Indian Railways are planning to make one new policy. It will be in the form of HAM (Hybrid Annuity Model) where we have to pay but along with some interest in the future as annuity, Khandelwal said.

A vision for the future Given Indias unique challenges, companies like Alstom can leverage their global expertise to ensure better implementation of high-speed projects. We have 2,900 plus orders. This worldwide experience, I think, is an asset in order to understand globally how the overall network constraints can be integrated. Alstom in India has 12,500 talents. Five engineering centres, six factories and clearly some solution which has demonstrated our integration between a global leadership but also a local understanding which will be I think a key way to leverage on this high-speed market, Olivier Loison said.

He feels that using a proven solution will help with ease of implementation of high-speed rail for a country like India, which can learn from the experience of other countries, where such systems are already running. I think global vision is the first point. Any success starts by a vision and the vision is there. The means are there as well in order to sustain the vision. Today, many countries are using high speed trains, said Olivier Loison.

Olivier Loison also spoke about how the development of a high-speed rail network will help India in its roadmap towards net zero by 2070. Rail, by nature, is a green technology because it runs on electricity. It is also a means of mass transportation, with a level of comfort, safety, passenger experience, he added.
Since at least 1865, when Congress voted to set up the Freedmens Bureau, Americans have debated how and whether to compensate former slaves. In 2020, when Donald Trump had reawoken the left and George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, was murdered by a policeman, the idea of reparationspaying money to the descendants of slavesbecame almost mainstream. Some Democratic politicians, under pressure from activists and eager to be on the right side of history, agreed to set up commissions to study the idea. A few years later, those commissions are coming back with recommendations.

Cash reparations for slavery are not popular. Only 30% of Americans support the policy. Most of those alive today played no role in Jim Crow; none can reasonably be blamed for slavery. Nor are black Americans the only disadvantaged group: try telling an unemployed Appalachian coalminer why finite tax dollars should go on reparations rather than, say, better schools or public health. Still, unpopular policies are sometimes right. Are cash reparations for African-Americans one such case?

Not long after slavery ended, the Freedmens Bureau collapsed. Few freedmen received compensation and many ended up working as sharecroppers for their former masters in something close to indentured servitude. Emancipation was followed by the creation of a two-tier version of citizenship that lasted for a century. Until the 1960s, many black Americans lived in fear of terrorism, were shut out of many neighbourhoods and could not vote. Many were also excluded from supposedly universal programmes like the GI Bill. Plenty of the people who suffered directly from this system are still alive today. And in many cases their children and grandchildren have inherited disadvantages that have their roots in state-sanctioned discrimination. How much present racial inequality is due to that inheritance is impossible to quantify. But it is not zero and it is not 100%.

The moral sentiment about reparations rests on these centuries of unfairness. Yet the cruelty of history is not the main argument. If the past were the same but there were no present-day racial gaps in income or life expectancy, the case for reparations would be weak. The main policy question, then, is how to help those who have been left behind. California shows how, in practice, it is impossible to create an actuarial table of injustice that can be consulted to determine how much cash is owed and to whom.

California outlawed slavery when it joined the union in 1850, so its commission concentrated on making amends for current racial disparities. These are considerable, as they are nationwide. African-Americans die four years earlier than white Americans on average. (Perhaps less noticed is that black Americans have enjoyed the fastest gains in life expectancy over the past 20 years.) For the purpose of its calculations, the commission assumed that a life is worth $10m and, speciously, that all racial disparities in outcomes are due to racism, current or historical. It then calculated how much African-American Californians are owed. The maximum payout per person came to $1.2m. San Francisco, naturally, created its own commission, which put the figure higher, at $5m.

The bill for the statewide scheme could exceed $800bn, though the commission deems even that sum to be merely a down payment. This comes as California faces a $32bn budget shortfall on an overall annual budget of $300bn. Then there is the difficulty of determining who is eligible for reparations. America, happily, is more racially fluid than when the Jim Crow era ended, which makes that hard. The commissions answer is to set up another body to determine individual claims, which is just to pose the question again.

If the aim of the policy is to ease disadvantage, that can be done with race-neutral anti-poverty programmes. The expanded child-tax credit, which was part of Congresss response to covid-19, cut child poverty nationwide. It did the most for African-American children, narrowing disparities, and was popular. This is a route to the same end that is achievable.
China has announced a crackdown on the smuggling of critical minerals, coming just one day before trade talks with the U.S., in which rare earth restrictions could be on the table.

Chinese authoritiesincluding ministries of commerce, public security and state security and customsconvened a meeting in the southern port city of Shenzhen on Friday. According to an official readout, the agencies pledged to step up the enforcement of export controls on strategic mineral resources.

Officials at the meeting said that since China implemented export controls on critical minerals such as gallium, germanium, antimony, tungsten and medium and heavy rare earths, some overseas entities have colluded with domestic actors and constantly updated their smuggling methods in an effort to evade enforcement. They did not specify which countries were involved.

China currently dominates global supply of many critical minerals and holds a near monopoly on the rare-earths industry, serving as the worlds leading miner, refiner and producer of rare earth magnetsessential components in a range of military and civilian technologies, including electric vehicles.

Beijing has been tightening its controls on the export of critical minerals and related technologies in recent years and has used such measures in retaliation against U.S. trade restrictions.

In December, following the Biden administrations move to restrict Chinas access to advanced memory chips vital to artificial intelligence applications, Beijing responded by banning the export of gallium, germanium, antimony and several other ultra-hard materials to the U.S. It also imposed stricter reviews on graphite exports.

In retaliation to President Trumps Liberation Day" tariffs announced in April, Beijing imposed new export controls on rare-earth metals required for advanced defense systems such as missile-defense platforms, attack submarines and F-35 jets.

While the U.S. government has taken steps to reduce reliance on Chinaincluding the construction of new rare-earth processing and magnet-making facilitiesprogress has been slow. The U.S. remains heavily dependent on Chinese rare earths. This dependence is underscored by the Trump administrations aggressive push for greater access to critical mineralsincluding nickel, lithium, cobalt, and graphitein countries like Ukraine and Greenland.

Analysts expect Beijing to leverage its dominance and export control over critical mineralsparticularly rare earthsas a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with the U.S.

With senior officials from the worlds two largest economies set to meet in Switzerland this weekend, all eyes are on whether the two sides can reach an agreement on rare-earth relief measures for the U.S., in addition to potential tariff reductions.

Write to Singapore Editors at singaporeeditors@dowjones.com
When Israel blockaded the Gaza Strip in early March, banning entry of all aid and other goods, Fady Abed, a dentist who works for a medical nonprofit there, thought it would last a few weeks at most.

Months later, he cant believe how much things have fallen apart.

In Gaza City, where he lives, community kitchens are closing because they have nothing left to cook. Each day, clinics run by his organization, MedGlobal, are visited by more malnourished children he described as skin and bones."

At night, a mix of hungry men and opportunistic gangsters roam the streets looking for places to loot. In the absence of authorities, armed vigilantes chase down and beat up suspected thieves. He worries about break-ins, because he has a bag of flour in his home.

Things cant continue like this," Abed said. We just wont survive."

Since Israel imposed the blockadenow the longest of the war set off by Hamass deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israelthe territory is descending into a state of chaos. Residents and aid workers say they have seen a breakdown of law and order amid the perfect storm of hunger, collapsed governance and intensifying conflict since March, when a two-month cease-fire fell apart.

Ive been doing this kind of work for two decades and Ive never seen anything like it," said Claire Manera, an emergency coordinator for the nonprofit Doctors Without Borders, speaking from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. At night, she hears the sounds of gunshots and men shouting outside her compound.

Israel has defended the blockade, saying Hamas reroutes aid to support its operations and that the pressure is needed to convince the militant group to release the roughly two dozen hostages it still holds. It says supplies built up in Gaza during the cease-fire and it is working on a plan to distribute aid with the help of American contractors that it says would circumvent Hamas.

The toll of the war in Gaza has been immense, with most of the population of more than two million displaced at least once, vast swaths of the enclave reduced to rubble, persistent shortages of medicine and daily necessities, and more than 52,000 killed, according to Palestinian authorities, who dont say how many were combatants.

The return to fighting has been especially hard to bear for a population that got a brief taste of relative normalcy during the cease-fire. With no clear progress in negotiations, the fighting is set to get worse.

On May 5, Israel approved plans to increase its military campaign in Gaza, piling pressure on Hamas to free the remaining hostages. Israeli officials said they plan to seize parts of the territory and stay there, laying the groundwork for a potentially long occupation that could saddle it with the responsibility for administering Gaza and providing for its population.

Israel also plans to move the population south and set up hubs where private contractors will oversee aid distribution with help from the U.S. The United Nations and some 200 aid groups said they wont take part in the humanitarian plan in its current form because it violates their principle of remaining neutral.

Meanwhile, conditions on the ground are worsening by the day. Residents said they are more hopeless than at any point in 19 months of war.

Photos and videos shared by Gaza residents showed makeshift markets with shrinking stocks of canned food, bags of pasta and root vegetables. Flour is scarce, and whats left of it is often infested with insects, said Sally Kali, a displaced woman who lives in Gaza City.

Many people grind up pasta and bake it into bread," she said, and its delicious, given the current options."

As the blockade grinds on, some restaurants and shops that had reopened during the cease-fire are shutting back down. World Central Kitchen, a charity, said Wednesday it had stopped serving meals and baking bread for Gazans after running out of supplies. Many households started cutting down on portions and eventually skipping meals altogether, with many eating just once a day.

Fights over food and water are on the rise. Three aid workers said they have seen chaotic clashes at distribution points, particularly around trucks that bring clean water to population centers. Fuel shortages are worsening the water crisis, as trucks carrying water now have to limit their trips. That, in turn, is worsening a sanitation crisis that is making people sick.

We have to make a choice," said Manera, of Doctors Without Borders. We can keep delivering water and reduce our medical activities, or we can keep a hospital open and stop supplying water."

Gazas medical facilities were already overwhelmed. After two months under siege, front-line medics say more children, pregnant women and lactating mothers are showing signs of malnutrition. At the same time, clinics are flooded with new casualties of the conflict, as Israeli airstrikes continue almost daily. Patients keep coming, but supplies cant be restocked.

Palestinian children among destroyed buildings in Gaza City.

On Wednesday, a strike near a busy restaurant in Gaza City killed more than 30 people and injured dozens more, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israels military said it was aware of the claim of casualties during what it said was a strike against two militants. It said it used intelligence findings and precise munitions to mitigate the risk to civilians.

Video footage verified by Storyful showed pools of blood next to tables and chairs knocked over by the blast.

One of the most visible signs of desperation has been a surge in crime. A man in the coastal city of Al Shati said he looked on as children joined a group of looters who ransacked a local market earlier this week.

For them, this isnt theft," he said. If they can provide something for their family, thats an accomplishment."

During the cease-fire, Hamas-controlled police maintained a degree of order, residents and aid workers said. Israel has since broken the groups grip on public order, but hasnt replaced it, rejecting alternatives such as allowing the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to oversee Gaza.

Hamas continues to try to assert its authority, including killing alleged criminals. Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of Gazas government media office, confirmed that Hamas has recently executed what it said were gang leaders after examining evidence against them.

Gazans are angry with Israel, but a number of them have also vented frustration in rare protests against Hamas for continuing to fight from their midst and drawing fire toward them.

The nighttime lawlessness is enough to keep many Gazans inside their homes after sunset, afraid of getting caught in clashes between rival gangs or accused of thievery themselves.

Ahmad Masri, a resident and activist who lives in a tent in the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahia, said conditions are worse than they have ever been.

Theres no food, no clean water, not even a decent bathroom," he said. People are begging for flour. Weve forgotten what meat tastes like."

Write to Feliz Solomon at feliz.solomon@wsj.com
President Trumps tariffs on imported steel aim to boost demand for American steel. So far, they havent stopped one of the countrys biggest steelmakers from closing plants and retreating from its strategy to dominate the industry.

Cleveland-Cliffs, the top supplier of sheet steel to automakers in the U.S., has in recent months idled plants and iron-ore mines. This summer, the company plans to close three specialty steel plants in Pennsylvania and Illinois. It is shelving expansion projects, and executives said Thursday it could sell some assets.

The Cleveland-based companys retrenchment shines a spotlight on an increasingly difficult steel market. The U.S. manufacturing sectorled by the auto industryweakened in the past year, causing steel buyers to cut back on purchases and pushing prices lower. For many steel companies, 2024 was the worst year in nearly a decade.

Steel prices climbed as buyers gobbled up steel to get ahead of Trumps duties on imported metal. That rally has stalled, though, with steel customers sitting on the steel they have and holding off on placing big orders in an uncertain U.S. economy.

We know that in the long run this will be good for the American steel industry and for Cleveland-Cliffs," Chief Executive Lourenco Goncalves told analysts on a conference call Thursday about Trumps tariff plan. However, in the short term, we need to do everything we can to make sure that we remain cost competitive."

Shares of Cliffs, the second-largest steelmaker in the U.S. by volume, have lost more than a third of their value in the past six months, a bigger decline than its rivals. The company this week reported a first-quarter net loss of $483 million, its third consecutive quarterly loss.

The production cuts and changes in operations are expected to affect about 2,000 jobs and save Cliffs $300 million a year. Goncalves said the moves will sharpen Cliffss focus on its primary business of supplying steel to the automotive industry.

Goncalves is still counting on tariffs on imported vehicles to bring more automobile assembly to the U.S. and increase demand for the companys lightweight steel used in fenders, hoods and other vehicle parts. He said Cliffs has received commitments from automotive customers to increase order volumes, a move that would boost the companys profit.

Five years ago Goncalves embarked on a bold strategy to turn Cliffsan iron-ore minerinto a steelmaker. By acquiring steel plants and companies at bargain prices, the Brazilian executive built Cliffs into a company able to convert its own iron ore into finished steel.

The plan isnt aging well. Cliffs ended up with some underperforming business lines and a lineup of mostly older plants that are expensive to operate. Some need significant investments in the years ahead.

Cliffs expects to cut spending on plants and equipment by more than 20% from last year and delayed some projects.

Three plants will be closed this summer: two in eastern Pennsylvania that produce rail for railroads and steel plate, and one near Chicago that makes specialty sheet steel. Goncalves said the plants have underperformed, especially the rail mill. He accused Japans Nippon Steel of selling rail in the U.S. at heavily discounted prices even with a U.S. tariff.

Nippon Steel has no limits," he said.

Nippon Steel didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cliffs is abandoning plans to make electric transformers at its closed plant in Weirton, W.Va, after a partner had second thoughts" about the plan, Goncalves said. Weirton had produced steel for cans but closed last year.

After an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Steeland then attempting to stop Nippon Steel from doing the sameCliffs turned its attention north, purchasing Canadian steelmaker Stelco for $2.5 billion. The deal closed just days before voters returned Trump to the presidency after he campaigned to use tariffs aggressively against U.S. trading partners.

A 25% tariff on steel from Canada took effect in March. About one-third of Stelcos annual sales had been to U.S. customers before the steel tariff, but Cliffs now restricts the companys sales to Canada.

Goncalves said he didnt anticipate broader U.S. tariffs on other Canadian products impairing steel-consuming manufacturers or the recent hostility in relations between the U.S. and Canada.

That was not part of our plan," he said. Otherwise, I would not have been so eager to buy Stelco, if I knew that Canada would not be treated like a friend."

Write to Bob Tita at robert.tita@wsj.com
A political struggle is under way in New York that seems like a throwback to another era: Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, is fighting an uphill battle to permit more so-called charter schools, which use public funds but are run independently and compete for students with conventional public schools.

This is the kind of thing, earlier in this century, that Democrats used to fight about a lot, less with Republicans than among themselves. Under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, debates raged across the country over how to close academic-achievement gaps between poor minority children and rich white ones. That ferment subsided over the past decade as polarisation and the politics of identity and culture changed the priorities of both parties, leaving them ill-equipped to respond to the toll covid-19 took on Americas future, as politicians like to call children.

Waving the banner of school reform, mayors and superintendents in the Bush and Obama years pushed not just for more spending but for more competition, data and accountability. They wanted to link teacher evaluations and pay to student outcomes, measured by new tests. These reformers advocated shutting down bad schools and creating charter schools, generally unconstrained by union contracts, to invent new ways of engaging students.

Nowhere were the changes more radical than in New Yorks system, Americas biggest with nearly 1.1m students. As mayor, Michael Bloomberg graded schools and replaced those rated as failing with hundreds of smaller schools and charters. Some charters also failed, or came under fire for excessive discipline or cherry-picking applicants. But many exploited their greater flexibility to pay teachers more, lengthen the school year and enrich the curriculum. New York Citys charter students consistently outperform those in district schools on the states standardised tests.

Bureaucratic inertia and political resistance were always strong, and the backlash after Mr Bloombergs tenure was severe. To the ascendant progressives, in New York and nationally, reformers emphasis on choice and competition stank of capitalism and their emphasis on testing of racism; charters reeked of both.

Mr Bloombergs successor, Bill de Blasio, veered away from charters and testing and focused on creating a universal pre-kindergarten programme. He shifted attention from improving the worst schools to opening up access to the best: he fought unsuccessfully to eliminate the admissions test for New Yorks eight top public high schools, where Asian and white students are overrepresented relative to their numbers in the system.

Then covid hit. The disruption in education appears to have wiped out 20 years of gains nationally in reading and maths among nine-year-olds. You might expect America to be obsessed with that, but it is not. Joe Biden has not made public education a priority. Republicans are opting for hysteria, fanning fears of indoctrination. Some are so indoctrinated themselves that Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, did not have to explain any terms when, at a recent conservative conference, he compressed the party line into a perfect if accidental haiku: All this woke, uh/Transgender athletes, uh/ CRT, 1619. The Republican panacea is vouchers, which would fragment public education by letting parents use taxpayer dollars for private schools.

Ms Hochul may be lighting a path back to a more constructive debate. Because of the resistance to charter schools, their numbers have been capped in New York City at 275. In her proposal for the state budget Ms Hochul has, in effect, urged raising that cap by 85, while also allowing operators to apply to run about two dozen other zombie charters that have closed.

The Democrat-dominated legislature, under pressure from the teachers union, is opposed. As the two sides negotiate over the budget, old arguments against charters are resurfacing. The state education commissioner, who is not appointed by the governor, wondered at one hearing why, if charters were so great, they tended to appear in mostly black and brown neighbourhoods, rather than white ones. The argument is like saying if insulin is such a great drug, why isnt everyone taking it? fumes Miriam Raccah, who leads an outfit called the Black, Latinx, Asian Charter Collaborative, a group of 21 schools. Rich white kids have options.

Right to choose As on crime and policing, some progressives seem out of step on education with the communities they care about. Charters are now rooted in New Yorks neighbourhoods. There are 275 of them, educating 15% of the studentsaround 140,000often in poorer neighbourhoods such as Harlem.

Brian Cunningham, a New York state assemblyman representing parts of Brooklyn, says more than 30% of the schools in his district are charters, and parents are happy to have options. There are so many choices we stand up for as Democrats and say are human rights, he says, predicting the legislature will come around. Our whole job here is to create options and access for people.

The school reformers came up with no magic solution. But under Mr Bloomberg, the entire system got stronger. Studies showed that poor black and Latino students in charter schools made significantly more progress, but test scores improved district-wide. Dropout rates plummeted and graduation rates rose by 40%, to historic highs. The quality of teachers, as measured by their own test scores, also improved.
Anticipating a rise in demand for defence technologies due to escalating border tensions and deepening geopolitical unrest, Indian drone manufacturers such as IdeaForge, IG Drones, and Garuda Aerospace are boosting their production of surveillance and tactical systems.

The India-Pakistan conflict has seen both sides deploy drones for warfare and surveillance. The Indian defence forces are known to have deployed Israeli-made so-called suicide drones on 8 May. But given that the tensions are far from ebbing, Indian drone makers are looking to cater to an expected rise in demand for such defence technologies.

Also Read | US Army plans massive increase in its use of drones

"Our teams are currently deployed in the valley. Many of our customers already use our technology, so we remain on standby, ready to enhance their operational capabilities," Ankit Mehta, chief executive officer (CEO) of IdeaForge said, adding that due to the sensitive nature of the situation, the company is not privy to how the Indian armed forces are using their assets on the ground.

Mehta also refused to divulge details about the kind of drones - and quantity - that were being sought, saying that the information was sensitive.

Also Read | Drone startups looking beyond defence to serve agriculture, quick commerce

Similarly, IG Drones, a Delhi-based start-up, has ramped up manufacturing efforts in response to the growing demand for defence technology. Shuvam Dash, co-founder of IG Drones said that escalating border tensions have prompted the company to boost production.

Govt procurement

Likely procurements by the armed forces could provide some much-needed relief to drone companies, which have faced a slowdown due to delays in government contracts.

On Friday, IdeaForge reported a 26 crore loss in Q4 FY25, marking its third consecutive quarter of losses. Despite these setbacks, the company's operating revenue rose 15% quarter-on-quarter, reaching 20.3 crore. Interestingly, in Q4 FY25, civil contracts accounted for a massive 96% of the companys revenue, with defence contracts contributing just 4%.

Also Read | Insurance for RE, hydro projects in border states to rise amid conflict

There is a growing emphasis on the need for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Mehta explained, We believe its crucial to have the capability to find, locate, and designate targets that are important for our national security. Thats where ISR capabilities can play a vital role."

In addition, armed drones and ISR are expected to be increasingly leveraged for retaliatory actions.

Whats very clear to us is that drones are going to be a de facto part of the infrastructure deployed for security and governance," said Mehta, emphasising the evolving role of drones in national defence.

Investors like Cornerstone Ventures are doubling down on their belief in the long-term value of drones for national security. Cornerstone Ventures has backed NewSpace Research & Technologies, a key manufacturer in Indias defence drone sector and co-developer of the indigenously built kamikaze drones, recently deployed across the border, according to media reports.

"Large corporations in the defence space typically offer a bouquet of services, and when there's a 10,000 20,000 crore defence budget, about 90% of it goes to those major players. But thats exactly where the innovation and unique strengths of startups come in," said Abhishek Prasad, managing partner at Cornerstone Ventures. These niche innovations can be crucial and often lead to partnerships with bigger players, who value the depth of expertise smaller firms bring, Prasad added.

Even so, the road to profitability remains uncertain, as procurement processes continue to evolveespecially since larger players like Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Adani Defence continue to dominate the space. Aerial platforms remain the focal point of this shift, leaving smaller and emerging firms to carve out niche advantages in a highly-competitive environment.
Mounting tensions with Pakistan have prompted Indian companies to prioritize employee safety, recommending work-from-home for those near affected areas and suspending all travel to offices near the border.

With the northern region emerging as the primary site of conflict, some firms have established task forces to track employee locations and monitor the status of their operations there.

"All our staff in Gurgaon, Delhi, Noida and Jaipur have been advised to exercise caution and they may choose to work from the office, home, or client location today, in consultation with their respective business managers. Our offices will, however, remain open to support critical business needs," said KPMG in response to an emailed query from Mint. "....in the light of the current situation resulting in disruption of flight schedules and closure of airports, especially in the northern and western part of the country, the firm is requesting its people to reschedule any travel plans till 16th May 2025, unless it is necessary," the consulting and audit firm added.

Also read: Do you feel angry at your workplace? Frustrated with your job? New report reveals disturbing trend

Mint has learnt that EY has declared work from home for employees working in Delhi, NCR, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Ahmedabad offices for Friday. EY had not responded to Mint's queries till press time.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply since the Indian armed forces launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure earlier this week in response to the deadly attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Pahalgam on 22 April that left 26 tourists dead.

India has also closed over two dozens airports to civilian traffic, anticipating possible escalations. The Indian Premier League (IPL) was also "temporarily suspended" earlier on Friday, keeping in mind the escalating tensions between the two countries.

The safety and well-being of our teams is a top priority. We are closely monitoring developments, and have advised our people to exercise caution and use their best judgment when considering travel at this time. We have asked them to prioritize their safety and work from home when necessary," a Vodafone Idea spokesperson said.

Also read: What Warren Buffett learned from his igest hitsand misses

Mint reported this week that the department of telecommunications (DoT) along with the telecom operators are evaluating measures to enhance telecom security infrastructure in border and sensitive areas. At the direction of defence ministry, operators have been directed to ensure disaster-level preparedness, and maintain uninterrupted telecom connectivity across the country, officials said.

Energy firm Vedanta Group has asked employees not to travel to its sites in Barmer (Rajasthan) and in Punjab unless essential. "We have formed a task force across the group that is reporting to the CEO so that we can look into the safety of our employees," said Praveen Purohit, deputy chief human resources officer at Vedanta Group.

Tata Communications said it too implemented precautionary measures to safeguard its employees while ensuring uninterrupted services for customers.

Employees located near border areas or sensitive zones  particularly in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and other identified high-risk regions  have been advised to work from home until further notice. All other employees are encouraged to limit non-essential travel and commute only during daylight hours for their safety," said Aman Gupta, chief human resources officer at Tata Communications.

Also read: Was in washroom: Employee shares troubles of Work From Home, manipulative Team Leader; netizens react

IT industry body Nasscom said its in touch with the government and key stakeholders. It highlighted that some of the key focus areas for the IT industry to prioritize include: Identify roles where remote working can be operationalised and where critical staff will need to work from office.

Staffing firm TeamLease Services sent out an advisory on Friday."Our employees were told to avoid travel to northern and western parts of the country," said Kartik Narayan, chief executive officer at TeamLease Services. Mint has learnt that Axis Bank has issued a travel advisory wherein the lender has informed employees to follow the directives from the government's aviation authorities and check any adjustments to the flight schedule with the airlines and the bank's travel vendor. Axis Bank has yet to respond to Mint's queries.

"In line with the government directive, we have issued travel advisory to the border states in current times and also advised the employees stationed in those states to work from home and participate in all mock drills," said Adarsh Mishra, chief human resources officer, Panasonic Life Solutions India. The advisory was issued on Wednesday.
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Indias cross-border counterstrike following the Pahalgam terror attack, government fact-checking units swung into high alert to highlight and debunk misleading information on social and mainstream media and set the record straight.

Their job multiplied as social media channels were flooded with unverified images of troop movements, doctored videos claiming to show missile launches, and misleading news about diplomatic escalations.

A barrage of coordinated disinformation has been carried out by certain social media handles in general and mainstream media in particular in Pakistan with the sole objective to instil fear among the Indian masses, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a statement. This psychological warfare has been actively debunked by the Press Information Bureau for the last few weeks. In addition, Indian media and social media users have been falling for misinformation. The fact-check unit of PIB put the record straight and debunked misinformation, disinformation and outright lies.

Also Read | Nitin Pai: Operation Sindoor sets a new normal for Indias strategy PIB said a video of a drone attack in Jalandhar was widely circulated to create panic. The PIB found that it was an unrelated video of a farm fire.

In one video circulated online, an Indian post was claimed to have been destroyed by the Pakistani army. This was shared and amplified by a number of fake and unverified accounts. PIB found the claim to be completely false and confirmed it to be staged because there was no such unit in the Indian Army.

The video aimed to mislead the public and was part of a coordinated propaganda campaign, PIB added.

Busting myths An old video was shared on social media with the claim that Pakistan had launched a missile attack on India. Upon fact-checking the video, PIB found out that the video was actually of an attack that took place in Beirut in 2020.

Also Read | Operation Sindoor: Justice is served  Social media reacts as India strikes terror camps in Pakistan Information regarding a terrorist attack on an army brigade in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir was also shared and circulated widely. Upon fact-checking, PIB confirmed that no such terrorist or suicide attack had occurred at any army cantonment. The false claims were solely intended to mislead viewers and cause confusion. The video was accordingly flagged.

Among other fake videos and pictures, an old image was circulated with false claims of multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base in India. This was, in fact, from the Kabul Airport blast in August 2021.
New Delhi: India's state-run oil retailers have assured the public of ample fuel availability nationwide amid escalating tensions with Pakistan that have triggered panic buying, particularly in border states.

Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd (HPCL) have urged calm, emphasizing that supplies of petrol, diesel, cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas) and compressed natural gas (CNG) remain robust.

Taking to social media platform X, IOCL said: Indian Oil has ample fuel stocks across the country and our supply lines are operating smoothly. There is no need for panic buyingfuel and LPG is readily available at all our outlets. Help us serve you better by staying calm and avoiding unnecessary rush. This will keep our supply lines running seamlessly and ensure uninterrupted fuel access for all."

BPCL also assured citizens that sufficient petrol, diesel, CNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are available across its nationwide network.

"All BPCL fuel stations and LPG distributorships, across its nationwide network are operating smoothly and are fully equipped to meet the energy needs of consumers. There is no cause for concern or panic buying. Our supply chain operations remain robust and efficient, ensuring uninterrupted supplies," it said in a statement, while urging customers to remain calm.

Also Read | Insurance for RE, hydro projects in border states to rise amid conflict

HPCL also took to X to urge consumers to stay calm and avoid unnecessary rush, which it said would help in ensuring uninterrupted services to everyone.

"There is absolutely no need for panic buying. Fuel and LPG are readily available at all HPCL outlets," it said. India has over 88,000 petrol pumps with these three public sector oil-marketing companies operating about 90% of these outlets.

Speaking to Mint, Monty Sehgal, spokesperson, Punjab Petrol Pump Dealers Association, said: There is as such no scarcity of fuel in Punjab including border areas and even the pumps are getting fuel at regular intervals."

In the border states, pumps have been directed by local authorities to keep adequate stocks to ensure availability for consumers.

Rajinder Singh Bhati, Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association, said: "We have been asked to keep adequate stock of petrol and diesel as a precautionary measure. In totality at the moment, the supply of fuel to pumps is on regular basis and there is no shortage."

A letter to the the petrol pumps and gas agencies in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan from the District Collector's office, seen by Mint, showed that petrol pumps have been asked to keep a reserve of 2,000 litres of diesel, 1,000 litres of petrol, while gas agencies were asked to stock at least 50 LPG cylinders.

The assurance from these fuel retailers come amid an armed conflict between India and Pakistan.

According to the ministry of defence, on the intervening night 7-8 May, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in northern and western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj and these attempts were foiled.

On Friday, in a press briefing, government officials said that Pakistan's attacks in the regions of Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and Udhampur on the intervening night of 8-9 May led to some losses and injuries to army personnel

Fuel and energy security is key to the public life and economic operations of the country. India has been witnessing a record growth in petrol and diesel consumption in the past years, and is expected to maintain the momentum this year. The petroleum product consumption for the ongoing fiscal year (FY26) is seen at a record 252.9 million tonnes, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell.
The Centre is unlikely to conduct a spectrum auction in 2025, according to two government officials as well as industry executives who are aware of the matter. Reason: Indias three telecom operators are not inclined to buy more spectrum this year after spending vast amounts in previous auctions, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

The operators are currently looking to recoup the investments gone into purchasing 1.5 trillion worth 5G spectrum in 2022 and capital expenditure for rollout of the network, analysts said.

Department of telecommunications (DoT) is targeting to auction the spectrum early next year," one of the officials cited above said. In the next few months, a reference will be sent to Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) for the same."

To bring new spectrum bands such as 6GHz for auction, the DoT would need telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to recommend its reserve price.

This official added that the plan is to bring 6GHz spectrum in the next auction, possibly in 2026. The 6GHz spectrum bandin the range of 5,925-7,125 Mhzhas a total of 1,200 MHz in quantity. The band supports faster and more reliable wireless communication for both 5G and wifi technologies.

Also read | DoT may favour waiving spectrum bank guarantees

In January, the government approved about half of the 6GHz band in the range of 6,425-7,025 MHz for telecom operators via auctions. However, since the band is used for satellite operations by the Indian Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), there is a possibility that only 300MHz quantity could be made available to get started with in the next auction, the official quoted above said.

If the government conducts an auction now, the prices for the waves will be more than what telcos can afford," a senior executive in one of the private telcos said, requesting anonymity. The government will not want that and, hence, may schedule it later."

The government auctions spectruma range of invisible radio waves that carry wireless signals, like those used for mobile phones, TV, and wifito telecom companies so they can use specific radio frequencies to provide mobile and internet services. Auctions help ensure fair competition, efficient use of spectrum, and generate revenue for the government.

In the September 2021 reforms, the Union cabinet had approved conducting spectrum auctions annually. Spectrum auctions to be normally held in the last quarter of every financial year," the government had said in a release dated 15 September 2021.

Read this | Trai, telecom companies spar over data demand

Post the policy, the spectrum auction schedule has been haywire. For example, the 5G spectrum auctions in 2022 were held in July, no auctions were held in 2023 calendar year, and in 2024 the government conducted auctions in June.

Conducting successful auctions depends on the demand from operators, who have bought spectrum worth 1.5 trillion in 2022 and 11,340 crore in 2024," another official said, adding that auctions are expected early next year but not in 2025 calendar year.

Further, this year the action will be towards allocating satellite spectrum through non-auction route, the second official said.

On 7 May, the government gave a letter of intent to Elon Musk-owned Starlink for its satellite internet services in the country. The company would also require approval from the nodal agency Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). Next step: once Trai makes its recommendations on the spectrum pricing, DoT will be able to allocate the spectrum to companies such as Starlink, Jio-SES joint venture, and Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.

Demand for spectrum is likely to remain lukewarm in the near to medium term, as telecom operators have already made significant investments in the recent 5G auctions and future demand may be limited to specific circles," said Mahesh Uppal, director at ComFirst, a telecom consultancy firm, adding that it will be challenging for the government to generate windfall gains from upcoming spectrum auctions.

Also read | Vodafone Ideas 5G rollout comes with a side of satellite internet FOMO

Queries emailed to DoT and telecom operators did not elicit any response till press time.

Spectrum on the way

Lately, telecom operators and technology companies such as Google, Meta, and wifi players were at loggerheads over the 6GHz band. Technology companies wanted the band to be delicensed and provided free to use for wifi. While the 600 MHz from the 6GHz band for telecom operators is being approved for telcos through auction, there has been no decision yet on the remaining quantity of the band, officials said.

Among the new bands, spectrum in the 37-40 GHz band worth 18,000 crore, for which Trai recently provided its recommendations, will also be brought to the next auction, whenever it happens.

There have also been discussions on whether the 3,700-4,200 MHz band as well can be brought for auction, the second official cited earlier said. The 37-40 GHz band, across 22 circles, is essential for telecom capacity expansion and high-speed connectivity in dense areas. The 3,7004,200 MHz is crucial for 5G as it offers an optimal balance between coverage and capacity, making it ideal for widespread, high-performance mobile broadband services.

Further, in January, the Union cabinet had approved the refarming of over 1,100 MHz of spectrum from various ministries and departments, including the defence ministry, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), and the information and broadcasting ministry, for reallocation to telecom operators to support 5G and future 6G services. The spectrum will be gradually released over the years as first it will be vacated from the incumbent holders and then will be cleaned to bring for auctions.

Read this | Starlink receives approval to launch satellite internet services in India

According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major telecom operators, India needs 2,000 MHz of spectrum in the mid-band range (1-6GHz) to ensure data rates of 100 Mbps (for downlink) and 50 Mbps (uplink) in densely populated areas. Currently, around 900 MHz spectrum is available for telcos in the band, COAI said in a press briefing in March.

Mid-band spectrum is crucial for 5G as it provides the best trade-off between speed and coverage, making it ideal for nationwide deployment.

To be sure, in 2021, a total of 855.6 MHz spectrum worth 77,820 crore in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, and 2,300 MHz bands was auctioned. In 2022, a total of 72,097.85 MHz spectrum worth 1.5 trillion in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands was auctioned.

Notably, Adani Data Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd had acquired 400 MHz spectrum in the 26 GHz band for 212 crore. Last month, the company transferred the rights of its spectrum to Bharti Airtel and Bharti Hexacom, on not being able to deploy the spectrum to connect its ports, airports and other facilities.

After giving auctions a miss in 2023, the government collected 11,340.78 crorethe third lowest since competitive bidding began in 2010in the 2024 auction. The government had put up 10,523.2 MHz of spectrum worth 96,320 crore on sale, but managed to find buyers for just about 1.3% of the total radio frequencies on offer.

Spectrum auction 2024 was part of a continuous allocation process that is transparent, robust and progressive. Telecom service providers have taken spectrum not only for continuity of service but for expanding their services, but the volume is limited because already a large part of the spectrum required was auctioned only last year (2022)," minister of communications Jyotiraditya Scindia had said in a statement after the auctions ended last year.

And read | Telecom Q3 review: Airtel triumphs in Arpu battle, but Jio could win the war

Last December, the standing committee on communications and information technology had asked the DoT to diversify its revenue streams from the telecom sector to increase the governments revenue. According to the committee, heavy reliance on one-time spectrum auctions for financial need could lead to revenue gaps in years when auctions are not held or when the spectrum supply decreases.

Notably, in FY26, telecom revenue for the government is projected to fall by over 33% to 82,442.84 crore from 1.2 trillion in FY25, according to budget documents. DoTs revenue stream includes licence fee from telcos, spectrum usage charges (for spectrum acquired before 2022), and spectrum auction payments.
Buy or sell stocks: The Indian stock market closed lower on Thursday, May 8, as rising tensions between India and Pakistan dampened investor confidence. The Indian stock market began the day on a strong note but experienced a steep decline in the final hour of trading after the Indian government announced that its armed forces had struck air defence radars and systems at various sites in Pakistan.

The Nifty 50 ended the session down 0.51%, slipping below the 24,300 level to finish at 24,273, while the Sensex declined by 411 points, or 0.51%, closing at 80,334.

Stock market today Vaishali Parekh, Vice PresidentTechnical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes the Indian stock market sentiment is cautiously positive. The Nifty 50 index closed around 24,250 after facing a hurdle at 24,400. The Prabhudas Lilladher expert maintained that the 50-stock index has crucial support at 24,050.

Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 today, Vaishali Parekh said, "The Nifty 50 index once again witnessing resistance 24400 zone has tanked post the lunch session amid ongoing tensions across the border to close near the 24250 zone with bias and sentiment maintained with a cautious approach awaiting further developments in the coming days. As mentioned earlier, the index is precariously placed, having the crucial support zone near the 200-period MA at 24050 levels, which needs to be sustained as of now."

"The Bank Nifty index amid high volatility found resistance near the 54900 zone, and with heavy profit booking, witnessed the end of the session below the 54400 level, with sentiment precariously placed with a cautious approach. The index would need to maintain above the near-term support of the 54000 zone to expect consolidation, failing which, the situation can turn weak with the trend turning down," Parekh said.

Parekh said that today, support for the Nifty is at 24,000, while resistance is at 24,500. The Bank Nifty would have a daily range of 53,700 to 55,000.

Vaishali Parekh's stock picks Regarding stocks to buy today, Vaishali Parekh recommended these three buy or sell stocks: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Genus Power, and CG Power.

1] Ujjivan Small Finance Bank: Buy at 42, Target 46, Stop Loss 40;

2] Genus Power: Buy at 289, Target 310, Stop Loss 278; and

3] CG Power: Buy at 624, Target 660, Stop Loss 600.
Over the past decade, the Indian stock market has witnessed a significant shift in ownership, driven by a surge in retail participation. As more investors move away from traditional bank deposits to capitalise on India's growth story, domestic institutional investors (DIIs)primarily powered by mutual funds  have emerged as dominant players.

This transformation is reflected in the sharp rise in demat account openings and the steady inflows into mutual funds. In fact, the inflows have occasionally been so strong that fund managers have had to delay deployments to manage liquidity effectively.

These domestic inflows have also helped cushion the Indian stock market from foreign investor outflows, thereby reducing the overall impact on market stability  a trend that has become more apparent in recent times.

DIIs invested 3.7 times more than FII inflows in equities The steady inflows from DIIs have surpassed FIIs in ownership for the first time in the March quarter. According to a recent report by domestic brokerage firm Motilal Oswal, DIIs have invested USD 195 billion over the past decademore than 3.7 times the FII inflows of USD 53 billion during the same period.

These inflows, the brokerage notes, have also contributed to a significant shift in institutional holdings across India Inc., with DII holdings exceeding FII holdings in Nifty-500 companies for the first time in Q4FY25.

Motilal Oswal highlights that over the past year, DII ownership rose by 160 basis points year-on-year (YoY) to an all-time high of 19.2% in March 2025, up from 17.6% in March 2024. In contrast, FII ownership fell by 40 basis points YoY to an all-time low of 18.8%, compared with 19.2% in March 2024.

The brokerage also noted a divergent trend in sector-wise holdings. On a YoY basis, DIIs increased their exposure in 18 of 24 sectorswith the highest increases seen in Banks (Private & PSU), Consumer Durables, FMCG, Insurance, Utilities, Technology, Cement, Oil & Gas, Automobiles, and Retail.

On the other hand, FIIs reduced their holdings in nearly all these sectors, except technology and consumer durables. On a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, DIIs raised their stakes in most sectors, except NBFCs (non-lending), consumers, logistics, and media. FIIs, meanwhile, trimmed their holdings in most sectors, with the exception of telecom, NBFCs, chemicals, insurance, and media, which saw an increase.

FII-DII ownership ratio continues to shrink As a proportion of the free float in the Nifty-500, FII ownership declined by 190 basis points YoY to 37.3%, while DII ownership rose by 220 basis points YoY to 38%.

The FII-DII ownership ratio in the Nifty-500 narrowed by 10 basis points YoY (flat QoQ) to 1x in March 2025. The brokerage noted that over the past year, the ratio has expanded in sectors such as NBFC (non-lending), EMS, infrastructure, telecom, and media, while contracting in 15 out of 24 sectors.

It also pointed out that FIIs reduced their holdings in 48% of Nifty-500 companies YoY, while DIIs increased their holdings in 67% of them. Within the Nifty-50, FIIs lowered their stakes in 82% of companies, whereas DIIs raised theirs in 84%.
Stock market today: Despite showcasing resilience against the India-Pakistan war buzz, the Indian stock market witnessed sell-off pressure on the last two sessions last week. After going off on Thursday, key benchmark indices of Dalal Street came under sharp selling pressure on Friday.

On Friday, the BSE Sensex tumbled 880 points, or 1.10%, marking its steepest intraday fall since April 7, to settle at 79,454. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 crashed 265 points, or 1.1%, to close slightly above the 24,000 mark at 24,008. For the week, both indices lost over 1.30%, snapping their four-week winning streak.

The mid-cap index however, stood resilient. Although it started the session with deeper cut, it swiftly recovered in the following hours of trading.

The Nifty Midcap 100 index rebounded 1,130 points to settle with just a 0.01% drop at 53,223, while its peer, the Nifty Smallcap 100 index, recovered 320 points from the day's low but concluded the session with a 0.61% drop at 16,085 points, still outperforming the benchmark indices.

In terms of individual stocks, 39 constituents of the Nifty 50 ended the session in the red, while the remaining 11led by Tata Group stocks including Titan Company and Tata Motorsfinished the session in the green despite weak market conditions.

According to stock market experts, this fall in the Indian stock market for the last two straight sessions can be attributed to five major reasons: the Indian-Pakistan conflict rising beyond an expected limit, weak global cues, rise in the US dollar rates, value buying in the crude oil prices and no concrete outcome from India-US trade deal talks.

Why Indian stock market crashed today Speaking on the reasons for the Indian stock market fall on Friday, Avinash Gorakshkar, Head of Research at Profitmart Securities, said, It's true that the Indian stock market is falling, but we can't call it a crash as the Nifty 50 index is still above 24,000 levels. However, it's for sure that the market has become highly volatile after India's drone strikes in Pakistan. The India-Pakistan conflict has gone beyond the market estimates, and hence, investors are not in the mood to take any risk when the US Dollar Index has regained the crucial 100 levels. Crude oil prices have also surged, and major Asian indices like Shanghai and Hang Seng are under pressure.

Stock market crash: Top 5 reasons Asked about the top five reasons that are dragging Indian stock market today, Gorakshkar said, There are the top 5 reasons that are dragging Dalal Street indices: Escalation in India-Pakistan conflict after drone strikes in Pakistan, weak global cues, rebound in US dollar rates, bottom fishing in crude oil, and not any concrete outcome from the India-US trade deal talks.

1] India-Pakistan war buzz: The escalation in the India-Pakistan conflict after India's drone strikes in Pakistan has raised fears of an India-Pakistan war. Earlier, the market was expecting a surgical strike-like retaliation from the Indian government, but the tension seems more prolonged than expected earlier, said Avinash Gorakshkar.

On how much correction in the Indian stock market can be expected in the backdrop of India-Pakistan war buzz, Seema Srivastava, Senior Research Analyst at SMC Global Securities, said, The escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in 2025, marked by events such as the Pahalgam terror attack and Indias Operation Sindoor, have introduced fresh volatility into the Indian stock market. However, historical trends suggest that Indian equities, particularly the Nifty 50, have demonstrated resilience during past geopolitical conflicts, with corrections typically limited to 510% and recoveries often swift.

2] No concrete outcome from the India-US trade talks: Despite soon coming breakthrough claims from both sides, there is no such concrete evidence of a fruitful outcome from the India-US trade deal talks. So, the tariff uncertainty is still persisting, and hence, investors are not in the mood to keep their money in risky assets like equity, said Gorakshkar.

3] Value buying in crude oil price: After the fall in the crude oil prices from around $75 per barrel to around $60 per barrel in the international market, some value buying is taking place in the black gold. This is also a reason for investors squaring off their positions in the Indian equity market, said Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment and Securities.

4] Rise in US dollar rates: After the 90-day pause in Trump's tariffs, the US dollar index witnessed a sharp decline and came around 98 levels. However, the American currency has once again become bulls' favourite and the US dollar index has regained the crucial 100 levels, which is also a major trigger for selling pressure on Dalal Street, said Anshul Jain.

5] Weak global market cues: Avinash Gorakshkar of Profitmart Securities said that Asian markets are also mixed as Shanghai and Heng Seng indices are trading red since morning. This could also be a reason for Dalal Street investors squaring off their positions.

Stock market outlook amid India-Pakistan war buzz

Asked about the outlook of the Indian stock market amid rising geopolitical tension, Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical Analyst, Angel One, said, Going ahead, market direction will remain highly sensitive to developments on this geopolitical front. The sharp rally from the April lows of 21700 has now lost momentum, with the index slipping towards the key moving averages like the 20DEMA and the 200DSMA. Despite this, the market has shown some resilience, as the correction has been relatively contained given the magnitude of the geopolitical risks. The previous breakout level around 23800 now becomes a key support. A breach of this level could trigger further downside, with the next major support zone seen between 23600 and 23500, a confluence of the 50DEMA, 89DEMA, and the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the recent upmove. On the upside, immediate resistance lies between 24250 and 24300. A broader recovery may only unfold once Nifty decisively surpasses the stiff hurdle at 24600, which marks the 61.8% retracement of the fall from all-time highs. Given the ongoing uncertainty, volatility is expected to remain elevated. Hence, traders are advised to focus on intraday opportunities and avoid aggressive overnight positions.

India-Pakistan news Loud explosions were heard in parts of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday, 32 airports have been shut for civilian flight operations, and a complete blackout has been imposed in Punjab's Jalandhar and in several districts of Jammu & Kashmir as tension between India and Pakistan continue to escalate.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the first review of Pakistan's economic reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), enabling a disbursement of approximately US $1 billion. India, however, firmly opposed providing funds to a country that continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism.
Dassault Aviation share price is expected to remain in focus on European stock markets, particularly the Euronext Paris, amid rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Dassault Aviation shares rose 1.75% on May 8 to close at 325.8 apiece on the Paris Stock Exchange.

Dassault Aviation is the manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jets, which were reportedly used by the Indian Air Force to conduct precision strikes on terror launchpads inside Pakistani territory.

On Wednesday, May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a high-precision cross-border mission targeting multiple terror infrastructure sites nearly 200 kilometers deep into Pakistani territory. The operation was executed without violating Pakistani airspace, showcasing India's enhanced missile and aviation capabilities.

Defense experts believe the operation leveraged the advanced capabilities of the Rafale fighter jet fleet, including Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile systems. These reportedly included the French-made MBDA Scalp cruise missiles and Indias indigenously developed Gandiva missile.

In response, Pakistan claimed its Air Force had shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets. However, Indias Press Information Bureau (PIB) has since fact-checked and debunked several such claims circulating on Pakistani social media, including the alleged loss of Indian jets.

Dassault Aviation Share Price Performance Dassault Aviation share price has delivered strong performance in recent months. The shares of Rafale maker have gained 2% over the past five trading sessions and are up 19% in the last month. On a six-month basis, Dassault Aviation stock price has surged 63%, and is up 65% year-to-date (YTD).

Dassault Aviation share price has broken out of a bullish 31-day-long cup and handle pattern on the daily chart on the London Stock Exchange, noted Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investments.

The base shows strong institutional interest with several candles displaying volume over 5x the 50-day average. The ongoing 3-day decline appears to be a healthy retest of the breakout level at 315. A decisive move above 325 will trigger fresh bullish momentum, with 355 as the immediate target. The structure remains strong as long as 315 holds, Jain said.

Over the past five years, Dassault shares have appreciated by 350%, reflecting strong investor confidence and consistent business performance.

Catch Live Updates on India-Pakistan War here
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open lower amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The trends on Gift Nifty indicate a gap-down start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,974 level, a discount of nearly 298 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

Certain military stations in India were targeted by Pakistani drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). However, the threats were swiftly neutralised, while reports said that Indian Army Air Defence Units shot down two Pakistani drones in Naushera sector of J&K.

On Thursday, the domestic equity market ended lower, dragged by fag-end selling, on rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Sensex tanked 411.97 points, or 0.51%, to close at 80,334.81, while the Nifty 50 settled 140.60 points, or 0.58%, lower at 24,273.80.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex declined by 412 points on Thursday, forming a bearish candle on daily charts, and holding a lower top formation on intraday charts, which supports temporary weakness.

We are of the view that, as long as Sensex is trading below 80,900, the weak sentiment is likely to continue. On the downside, it could retest the levels of 80,000 - 79,700. On the flip side, above 80,900, the sentiment could change. Above this level, Sensex could move up to 81,200 - 81,400. The current market texture is non-directional; hence, level-based trading would be the ideal strategy for short term traders, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head-Equity Research, Kotak Securities.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 made a sharp reversal on the downside on May 8 on the backdrop of rising geopolitical tension between India and Pakistan and closed the day lower by 140 points.

A long bear candle was formed on the daily chart beside the long bull candle of Wednesday. This market action signals sharp reversal in the market on the downside. Nifty 50 has placed at the edge of a decisive downside breakout of immediate support of 10-day EMA at 24,250 levels, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the underlying trend of Nifty 50 is weak with high volatility and the rising geopolitical tension is weighing high on the market and leading to nervousness.

Further fall below 24,200 could open the next lower support of 23,850 levels. Immediate resistance is placed at 24,450 levels, Shetti said.

Om Mehra, Technical Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities, noted that the Nifty 50 index is currently hovering near its 9 EMA support, and a move below this level could further weaken the short-term trend.

However, the index holds above the 20 and 50 day EMAs, which keeps the broader trend intact. The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains steady above 60, suggesting a neutral undertone. On the hourly chart, immediate support is seen at 24,050, followed by a stronger cushion at the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level near 23,900. On the upside, resistance is placed at 24,450, said Mehra.

Also Read | Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today

Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd. highlighted that the Nifty 50 formed a red candle on the daily chart, reflecting weakness.

Nifty 50 index continues to struggle near the crucial resistance zone of 24,590. As long as the index remains below this level, short-term upside appears capped. However, a sustained move above 24,590 could trigger an extended rally towards the 24,800  24,850 levels. On the downside, key support is seen around the 200-Day Simple Moving Average, placed near 24,050, Yedve said.

According to VLA Ambala, Co-Founder of Stock Market Today, Nifty 50 formed a dark cloud cover candlestick pattern on the daily chart during the last session, suggesting a sell-on-rise outlook driven by macro factors and price action.

Nifty 50 can find support near 24,200 and 24,050 and face resistance near 24,450 and 24,520. Similarly, Bank Nifty can find support near 54,300 and 54,000 and expect resistance near 55,100 and 55,350 in todays market session, Ambala said.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index declined 245.25 points, or 0.45%, to close at 54,365.65 on Thursday, forming a bearish candle on the daily chart.

Bank Nifty index found resistance around the 55,000 level and witnessed heavy profit booking, eventually closing on a negative note at 54,366. Technically, the Bank Nifty index on a daily chart formed a big red candle, indicating selling pressure at higher levels. Immediate resistance is placed at 55,000, followed by 56,000, while key support lies at 53,890, said Hrishikesh Yedve.

Om Mehra highlighted that the Bank Nifty index formed a bearish candle on the daily chart, while the hourly chart indicates a lower low and lower high formation. The sharp decline in the dying hours has weakened the short-term trend.

The daily RSI has turned slightly skewed to the downside, though it continues to hover below the 60 mark, suggesting a pause in momentum without a complete breakdown. Nifty Bank has slipped below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level, placed at 54,500. The next key support lies near the 38.2% retracement level, around 53,500. On the upside, resistance is expected near 54,800, Mehra said.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Bank Nifty appears poised for a healthy consolidation, which could help establish a solid support base before its next leg on the higher side, he added.

Bajaj Broking Research said that the Bank Nifty index formed a bear candle highlighting profit booking at higher levels.

Bank Nifty index has already taken 10 sessions to retrace just 38.2% of the preceding 6 sessions rally signaling a shallow retracement of the previous up move. On the downside, key support is seen between 53,000 - 53,500 levels being the previous major breakout area and previous gap up area, said the brokerage firm.
India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI), and seven other top lenders like HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, among others, are cumulatively offloading a 20% stake in YES Bank in favour of Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), the private lender informed exchanges on Friday, May 9.

SBI's divestment in YES Bank SBI announced that it will sell a 13.19% stake held in YES Bank to SMBC for a consideration of 8,889 crore. SBI will offload 4,13,44,04,897 equity shares, amounting to a 13.19% stake, of YES Bank to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation at 21.50 per equity share.

Pursuant to Regulation 30 and other applicable provisions of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we advise that the Executive Committee of the Central Board (ECCB) of the Bank, in the meeting held on 9th May, 2025, has accorded approval to divest 4,13,44,04,897 equity shares of YES Bank Limited (YBL), being equivalent to approximately 13.19% of YBLs shares, to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) at Rs. 21.50 per equity share," SBI said in a filing.

The total consideration for this transaction amounts to 8,888,97,05,285.50 (approximately 8,888.97 crores), subject to receipt of all regulatory and statutory approvals by the acquirer, it added.

SBI held a 23.97% stake in YES Bank as of the March 2024 quarter. Following the deal, its stake in the company would drop to 10.78%.

The stake sale is subject to receipt of all regulatory and statutory approvals by the acquirer, it said. The said stake sale is expected to be completed within 12 months from the date of execution, SBI added.

ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank and Life Insurance Corporation of India together hold an 11.34% stake in Yes Bank.

It was first in 2020 that these companies had acquired stakes in YES Bank, as part of RBI's bailout plan to stabilise the troubled private lender. These investments were part of a 10,000 crore infusion to recapitalise YES Bank and facilitate its restructuring under the RBI's guidance.

Mint was the first to report that Japan's SMBC has secured the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) go-ahead to acquire 51% in Yes Bank. SMBC will either buy less than 26% in YES Bank and do a merger through a share swap, or may buy up to 26% and launch an open offer, Mint had reported.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation is a Japanese multinational financial services company belonging to the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. It has a market capitalisation of nearly 7.601 lakh crore.

YES Bank shares closed the session nearly 10% higher at 20 apiece on the BSE ahead of the announcement.
Stock market strategy: Rising tensions between India and Pakistan rattled Dalal Street on May 9, triggering the worst intraday fall in the benchmark indices since April 7, with both falling over 1%.

The ongoing conflict between the neighbouring countries has dampened investor sentiment amid fears that it could escalate into a broader confrontation. Indian armed forces have been intercepting drones and missiles reportedly sent by Pakistan in attempts to breach Indian territory.

On Friday, the Indian Army reported that Pakistani forces had launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. These attacks were swiftly neutralised by Indian forces, following similar infiltration attempts at 15 locations across northern and western India.

This escalation follows Indias strike on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) a day earlier. The Pakistani military claimed that India conducted a series of drone strikes in Lahore, Karachi, and other locations.

The strike by India, coined Operation Sindoor, came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed on April 22. High-level meetings are currently underway in Delhi to determine the next course of action, with the defence minister confirming that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing.

Late Wednesday, India's Ministry of Information stated that its armed forces had targeted air defence radars and systems at several locations in Pakistan, adding that it has been reliably learned that an air defence system in Lahore has been neutralised.

Amid escalating tensions, experts advise retail investors to stay invested, as India's structural growth driverssuch as domestic consumption, digital transformation, and policy reformsare likely to sustain momentum despite the short-term geopolitical crisis.

Analysts decode 5 equity investment strategies during uncertain times Domestic brokerage firm Bajaj Broking advised that retail investors should avoid impulsive decisions based on short-term geopolitical events.

The brokerage suggested that investors with a long-term horizon may find opportunities in fundamentally strong stocks at attractive valuations. Exiting entirely may not be prudent unless specific financial goals or risk assessments warrant it.

It listed five key strategies for retail investors to follow:

1) Diversification: Spread holdings across various sectors to minimise risk.

2) Quality Stocks: Focus on large-cap, fundamentally strong companies with low debt and stable earnings.

3) Defensive Sectors: Pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and utilities often remain resilient during market volatility.

4) Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): Continuing SIPs can help average investment costs during fluctuations.

5) Cash Reserves: Holding some liquidity allows investors to capitalize on future opportunities.

Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research, Kotak Securities, said, Investors are advised to stay cautious, avoid aggressive positions, and focus on fundamentally strong stocks with limited near-term exposure to geopolitical risks. Defensive sectors and quality large caps may offer better stability in the current environment.

In uncertain times, debt funds offer stability for goal-based investors Prasanna Pathak, Managing Partner at The Wealth Company, said, "Structurally, we believe that India is relatively better placed economically amid tariff uncertainty and short-term geopolitical tensions."

He advised mutual fund investors to stay invested and continue their SIPs. However, he noted that investors who are close to achieving a financial goal should consider shifting from equity to debt funds to ensure capital protection.

"Direct equity investors should trim their exposure to high-beta stocks and avoid speculation. A disciplined and diversified approach, along with a long-term view, is the best defence against such uncertainty," he added.
British students celebrate Int'l Chinese Language Day with cultural workshops

Xinhua) 11:18, May 09, 2025

LONDON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture.

Under the theme "Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space," the event featured eight hands-on workshops highlighting various aspects of Chinese culture, including characters, calligraphy, poetry, martial arts, and opera facial masks. The activities also blended both traditional and modern elements, ranging from woodblock printing to VR experiences.

"Chinese is a challenging language to learn but also incredibly fun and exciting. It has also helped me understand the Chinese culture, which is quite different from the cultures I've experienced before," said Noah Eskinazi-Nehme, a student from City of London School who has been studying Chinese for almost two years and celebrates the Spring Festival every year.

He added that he hopes to visit China one day to further improve his language skills while exploring the country's diverse landscapes and seeing the pandas. He also expressed hope that his future career choice will keep him "connected to China" throughout his life.

Alongside the workshops, students also performed Chinese songs, posed for photos with a panda mascot, and received souvenirs.

Patrick Adamson, deputy headteacher of Calday Grange Grammar School, said that learning Chinese has enabled students to "engage with China not as a concept, but as a living, dynamic culture" and to "foster curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for global perspectives."

"We are preparing a generation not just to speak Mandarin, but to speak across borders, to listen across cultures, and to lead with understanding," he noted.

"Language serves as a means for exchanging ideas and a bridge for mutual understanding," said Zhao Fei, minister of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. He described mastering Chinese as "holding a magic key that bridges the past and present," adding that it allows students to "traverse time, explore China's 5,000 years of civilization, understand its current progress, and get a view of its future."

Established by the United Nations, International Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Stock market today: Indian stock markets began the day on a weak footing on Friday as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated along the border.

The intensifying conflict led to a surge of selling activity in the domestic markets, causing key benchmark indices to decline in the early trading session.

The Nifty 50 index fell to 24,100.10, experiencing a drop of 173.70 points or 0.72%. Similarly, the Sensex dipped by 585.95 points to close at 79,748.86, reflecting a loss of 0.73%.

Market analysts attributed the downturn to worries regarding the rising tensions between the two countries, which has negatively affected investor sentiment despite robust underlying fundamentals.

Even with this short-term decline, analysts believe that the overall outlook for Indian markets remains encouraging. They noted that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continue to invest in Indian equities, demonstrating their confidence in the economy's long-term growth potential despite the geopolitical instability.

On the technical front, Rajesh Palviya of Axis Securities believes Nifty 50 to extend towards the 24,800-25,000 levels. He recommends Nazara Technologies, CRISIL, and CEAT amid India Pakistan war. Take a look at his views on markets and stocks to buy.

Share Market Tips and Nifty 50 Outlook by Rajesh Palviya, SVP - Technical and Derivatives Research, Axis Securities Nifty 50 For the past three weeks, Nifty 50 has been consolidating within the 24,600-24,000 levels, indicating a short-term sideways trend. Nifty 50 is firmly placed above its 20,50,100, and 200-day SMA, which signals bullish sentiments on a higher time frame. On the upside, the Nifty 50 is expected to extend this momentum towards the 24,800-25,000 levels. The crucial support zone is located around the 24,000-23,800 levels; hence, any minor correction around this remains a buying opportunity for traders. The weekly strength indicator, RSI, is in positive territory, indicating rising strength.

Nazara Technologies Cmp:  1,081 On the daily chart, Nazara Technologies shares has witnessed a breakout from a "triangular" formation at the 1040 levels on a closing basis. This breakout is accompanied by huge volumes, which signifies increased participation. The stock is sustaining above its 20, 50, 100, and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMA), which reconfirms the bullish trend. The daily, weekly, and monthly strength indicators, including the Relative Strength Index (RSI), are in favorable territory, indicating rising strength. The daily and weekly "band Bollinger" buy signal suggests increased momentum.

Investors should consider buying, holding, and accumulating this stock. Its expected upside is 1,185- 1,285, and its downside support zone is the 1,050- 1,000 levels.

CRISIL Cmp:  4,997 On the daily chart, CRISIL shares has decisively surpassed its couple of months "multiple resistance zone" of 4,880 levels on a closing basis. This breakout is accompanied by huge volumes, indicating increased participation. The stock is sustaining above its 20, 50, and 100-day SMA, reconfirming the bullish trend. The daily Bollinger band buy signal suggests increased momentum. The daily and weekly strength indicators, RSI, are in favourable territory, indicating rising strength.

Investors should consider buying, holding, and accumulating this stock. Its expected upside is 5,385 - 5,520, and its downside support zone is the 4,850- 4,690 levels.

CEAT Cmp:  3,674 CEAT share price is in a strong uptrend across all time frames, forming a series of higher tops and bottoms, indicating a sustained uptrend. The stock is well positioned above its 20-, 50-, 100 and 200-day SMA'S, which reconfirms bullish sentiment. The daily, weekly, and monthly strength indicator RSI is in favourable territory, indicating rising strength. The daily and weekly "band Bollinger" buy signal suggests increased momentum.

Investors should consider buying, holding, and accumulating this stock. Its expected upside is 3,860- 4,275, and its downside support zone is the 3,400- 3,250 levels.
Indian stock market today: Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated for the second consecutive day on Thursday, as the Indian Army reported on Friday that Pakistani armed forces had launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9.

Pakistan made fresh attempts to strike military installations using drones and missilestargeting areas including Jammu and Pathankotwere swiftly neutralised by Indian forces, following similar infiltration attempts at 15 locations across northern and western India.

This comes a day after India destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Pakistani military claimed that India had conducted a series of drone strikes in Lahore, Karachi, and other locations.

The strike by India, coined Operation Sindoor, came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed on 22 April.

Late Wednesday, India's Ministry of Information stated that its armed forces had targeted air defense radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan, adding that it has been reliably learned that an air defense system in Lahore has been neutralized.

India-Pakistan standoff sparks concern over FPI continuity Amid escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries, the Indian stock market has shown limited downside. Although benchmark indices opened Fridays trading session with sharp cuts, they swiftly recovered within the first hour of trade.

In contrast, Pakistan's stock exchange has witnessed a continuous decline, prompting authorities to suspend trading activity as the indices repeatedly hit lower circuit limits. While the Indian equity market has experienced relatively limited damage, the Indian Rupee has come under significant pressure.

The local currency witnessed its worst session in over two years on Thursday, coming under intense pressure, closing 89 paise lower at 85.72 against the US dollar. This significant depreciation of over 1 per cent marks the rupee's worst day since February 6, 2023. The rupee had closed at 84.83 against the greenback on Wednesday.

Also Read | Rupee falls the most since Feb 2023 on rising India-Pak tensions

This has raised concerns among analysts that the sharp decline in the rupee could dampen foreign investor sentiment, just as overseas investors have recently turned bullish on the Indian stock market.

Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research) at Mehta Equities Ltd, said, There is a lot of caution in the markets, as investors fear that the ongoing tensionif it escalates into a major conflict between the two nuclear-powered nationscould trigger a significant sell-off in equities.

"With the local currency depreciating sharply amid the ongoing standoff, foreign investors may exit domestic equities in favour of overseas safe-haven assets," he added.

FPI sentiment holds steady so far Despite heightened geopolitical tensions, overseas investor sentiment remains resilient, as they continued their buying spree for the 16th consecutive trading session on Thursday, injecting nearly 48,533 crore into the Indian stock market.

After largely remaining sellers in the months following Indian benchmarks hitting record highs in September, foreign investors are making a comeback. Their renewed interest stems from optimism that Indias domestically driven economy will better withstand the global trade slowdown compared to its peers.

Also Read | Why are FPIs rushing back to Indian stock market despite global uncertainty?

Following October 2024, global funds had significantly pulled out from Indian equities. However, strong support from domestic investors and sustained institutional buying helped markets rebound in March, with that momentum extending into April.

Markets to remain volatile in the near term, say experts Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research, said, "Heightened border tensions and weak global cues dragged down markets and the rupee. Investors are advised to stay cautious, avoid aggressive positions, and focus on fundamentally strong stocks with limited near-term exposure to geopolitical risks. Defensive sectors and quality large caps may offer better stability in the current environment."

Trump said the US would need an enormous amount of time for deals with Japan and South Korea. He also added that a lot of work would be needed for an India pact, which proves that Indians are really tough in terms of negotiating deals.

"If the Nifty 50 breaks below 24200, we may see an increase in weakness throughout the day, potentially leading to a retest of levels 23900 or 23850, which were tested nine days ago. For a bullish market, it is essential to maintain levels above 23800 on a closing basis; otherwise, the likelihood of a drop to 23500 increases significantly," he further added.
The Royals Prince Aviraaj falls for career-minded Sophia in this clash-of-cultures series. The eclectic cast has Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter in the lead, and support from Zeenat Aman and Sakshi Tanwar. Created by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy. (Netflix)

Nonnas A man honours his late mother by opening an Italian restaurant run by actual nonnas (grandmothers) as the chefs. Starring Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco,Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello and Susan Sarandon. Directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). (Netflix)

Heavenly Ever After A couple reunite in heaven. He was bedridden for a large part of his life and she took care of him. In heaven, the tables are turned: hes in his 30s and shes in her 80s. Starring Kim Hye-ja (The Light in Your Eyes) and Son Suk-ku (The Roundup; Nothing Serious). (Netflix)

Good Bad Ugly Actor and newly minted Padma Bhushan awardee Ajith Kumar stars in this action-comedy that entered the 100-crore club within five days of its theatrical release in April. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, the film has Ajith playing a retired gangster who has to pick up the cudgels once again to help his son out. The cast also includes Trisha Krishnan and Arjun Das. (Netflix)

Gram Chikitsalay TVF isnt known for fixing what isnt broken. Their latest series is squarely in Panchayat territory, a droll comedy-drama about an idealistic young doctor (Amol Parashar) who tries to revive a village clinic. Created by Deepak Kumar Mishra. (Amazon Prime)

I Saw the Tv Glow Jane Schoenbruns 2024 film, I Saw the TV Glow, starring Justice Smith and Jack Haven, begins with dreamy unreality and ends with necessary struggle. Its a film that speaks to the trans experience, but in a complex, fractured manner. Its a shattering, haunting work, so unlike the explanation-driven American cinema of today that it seems to invent its own language. Schoenbrun instinctively arrives at a Lynchian kind of dread. Yet, I Saw the TV Glow is also achingly beautiful. Schoenbrun and cinematographer Eric K. Yue use saturated colours and shimmers of neon the way Gregg Araki, a pioneer of New Queer Cinema, did in the 1990s. (Netflix)
The world was looking at the Sistine Chapel as the Vaticans first papal conclave in over a decade began on 7 May, following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April. The conclave ended on 8 May with Leo XIV stepping on to the Vatican balcony as the 267th Pope.

In the lead-up to the conclave that elects the head of the Catholic church, global streaming platforms saw a dramatic resurgence of interest in papacy themed movies and series that offer an imagined and fictionalised glimpse of this private ecclesiastical ritual.

According to viewership tracking agency Luminate, Edward Bergers film Conclave, which was nominated for eight Oscars this year and won Best Adapted Screenplay, saw an astonishing 283% spike in global viewership in the 24 hours following Pope Franciss passing. Adapted from a Robert Harris novel, the film, which became available to subscribers of Amazon Prime Video on 7 May, stars Ralph Fiennes as a conflicted cardinal thrust into the heart of the conclave. It shows the psychological and spiritual tensions that simmer during the abstruse proceedings unfolding behind the bolted wooden doors of the Vatican. Conclave places the viewer directly within the ornate, locked halls of the Sistine Chapel as scarlet-robed cardinals lobby, vote and pray their way toward a successor.

In reality, over 100 cardinal electors were sequestered in the Vatican chapel to vote in secret, in this ancient and opaque ritual that culminated in the selection of a new pope. The process can take anything from days to months, but this year it took just one day before white smoke emanated from the chimney of the Vatican to indicate that a new pontiff had been elected. The practice, rich in symbolism and mystery, has captivated filmmakers for decades. In the Michael Anderson-directed The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), Anthony Quinn plays a Ukrainian archbishop who is unexpectedly elected pope during a global political crisis.

Another film to see a spike in viewer interest was Fernando Meirelles The Two Popes (2019, streaming on Netflix), witnessing a 417% increase in viewership. The film humanises papal figures using humour, empathy and theological depth through the unlikely friendship and ideological tensions between a conservative Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and the reformist Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), who would go on to become Pope Francis.

Traditionally, representations of the church and the Vatican have been more reverential and devotional in nature. But the tone has shifted in recent years. The early portrayals echoed the public reverence of the office but kept its internal contradictions at bay. Modern films, on the other hand, arent afraid to pull back the curtain and speak to issues that concern contemporary society, including Catholics the world over.

In Conclave, Cardinal Lawrence, in a pivotal moment, cautions against rigid dogma: There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others certainty. If there was only certainty, and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore, no need for faith." It is a line that not only encapsulates a new cinematic attitude but also speaks to a contemporary crisis and changing times which allow for doubt, fragility and internal conflict.

The Two Popes also captures this beautifully when Hopkinss Benedict admits, I cannot feel the presence of God. I do not hear His voice" His spiritual crisis is mirrored by Bergoglio, who insists, We need bridges, not walls." Here we see two men struggling with the immense weight of moral leadership.

Not all portrayals are so reverent. In Nanni Morettis Italian film We Have a Pope (2011), a reluctant cardinal suffers a panic attack after he is elected pope. He is recommended therapy sessions, conducted by a secular psychologist who employs unconventional methods such as volleyball games with other cardinals. The film paints the papacy as not only a spiritual responsibility but also a psychological burden.

Paolo Sorrentinos HBO series The Young Pope (2016) and The New Pope (2020), push the envelope further. In the dark and ironic The Young Pope, Jude Laws fictional Pope Pius XIII is enigmatic, authoritarian and glamorous, and the church is framed as a theatre of contradictions. The Vatican has survived thanks to hyperbole. So we shall generate hyperbolebut this time in reverse," says the young, conservative American pope. In The New Pope, John Malkovich takes charge as the more progressive and reformist Pope John Paul III. We are not loved for who we are. We are loved for the mask we wear," he saysa line that captures the shows themes of identity, performance, vulnerability and duty.

Not all filmmakers have genuflected to gravitas. Ron Howards Angels & Demons (2009), based on Dan Browns best-selling novel, might have been criticised for its lack of accuracy, yet it captures the audiences fascination with Vatican secrecy and power as it portrays a conclave under threat from a secret society. In Peter Richardsons The Pope Must Die (1991), a bumbling priest (Robbie Coltrane) is mistakenly elected pope and attempts to clean up corruption in the church.

At the movies, the papal conclave serves as fertile ground for storytelling, offering viewers a pew at one of the worlds most exclusive ceremonies. As the real-world cardinals made their choice under Michelangelos frescoes, one cant help but imagine what story the cameras might tell in the future.

Udita Jhunjhunwala is a writer, film critic and festival programmer. She posts @UditaJ.
In Mumbais western suburb of Andheri, a Naga restaurant has been running with packed tables on weeknights. Not far, a small eatery is popular for its modest thalis from the North-East. A few kilometres away, a cloud kitchen specialising in Manipuri food has just opened. And, an expert home chef has been familiarising Mumbaikars with the indigenous foods of Assam.

There has never been a better time for north-eastern food in Mumbai, and that too in the heart of Andheri West. Since the pandemic, a renewed spotlight on hyperlocal cuisines across the country has seen young entrepreneurs from Indias eight sister states reclaiming their distinct eating cultures through delivery kitchens and budget-friendly 10-14 seaters in the area. It helps that the suburbs booming F&B scene, backed by expanding infrastructure and popularity as a hub for the film and TV industry, draw migrants from the region, primarily seeking opportunities in the restaurant, beauty and wellness industries, and often for that one big break in showbiz.

'Amid Mech, who landed in Mumbai from Baksa in Assam in 2007, wanted to become an actor, but as things would have it, he ended up working at restaurants and spas. In 2023, he started The Taste of Northeast India. Like most of us, I missed my home food. So I decided to open a restaurant serving dishes from my region," says Mech, who travelled across Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya for research, and runs it along with his Naga wife Thunchen Beni in Versova.

Also read: Once derided as stinky, Naga food now fuels entrepreneurship

The menu is simplechicken curries with bamboo shoot and bhut jolokia chillies, banana blossom and fermented fish chutneys, zero-oil dishes and Assamese masor tenga (fish curry)and modestly priced at 400-500 for a meal for two. Earlier people were wary of the flavours, but today they ask me to cook axone (fermented soybean)."

For Lin Laishram, the Manipuri model and actor from the 2019 Netflix film Axone, starting a cloud kitchen was a way to channel her love for the food she grew up eating. Born in Imphal, she launched Akhoi last month in Versova. Laishram moved to Mumbai in 2001 and after graduating from Sophia College, she relocated to Andheri for work, as most of the production houses and casting agencies were in Lokhandwala or Versova."

The thalis ( 550-650) are best-sellers, and include ooti, a dried peas dish, eromba, a chutney traditionally made of ngari or fermented fish and mashed veggies, the classic singju, a spicy salad, and a delicious chakhao, or black rice kheer. Although most of the ingredients like wood ear mushrooms, herbs like culantro, and heiribob, a pomelo-like fruit, are sourced from back home, she is happy to find seasonal items at the local Four Bungalows market.

In nearby Juhu, Singju opened in January with its selection of Assamese, Naga and Manipuri food. Co-founder Raktim Roy, who came to Mumbai from Guwahati in 2009 to work in film production, says, There was always a vacuum of not having access to home food." The menu has a few Nepali/Tibetan and Chinese dishes too because the latter is the go-to food for Mumbaikars, and we thought they might serve as an entry point to our cuisines."

View Full Image Assamese home chef Gitika Saikia (left); Naga thali at Singju.

North-East migrants once thronged Kalina-Santa Cruz, where the University of Mumbai campus welcomed students from the region. Old-timers remember Thotrin cafe for its pork specialities, momos, snails and fermented items. Archaeologist and culinary historian Kurush Dalal, who taught on the campus from 2011-19, remembers the premises being open to students from the North-East for Sunday mass. A hearty pork curry with potatoes and sticky rice remains my favourite at Thotrin," he says.

In 2023, when the F&B industry was slowly bouncing back from the pandemic, two friends decided to open a restaurant that would serve simple, home-style food from Nagaland. Former flight attendant Watirenla Longkumer and fashion consultant Zhuvikali Assumi are from Dimapur, and moved to Mumbai for work. They had started Naga Belly from their apartment in the Oshiwara locality during the lockdown. We didnt take it seriously because we were sceptical about how people would react because our food is cooked without oil and spices, and often has a funky flavour," says Longkumer. But when orders started coming in, they had to step up. Today, Naga Belly (mains 350-500) is known for its fiery smoked pork and bamboo shoot curries and axone chicken wings, and an excellent anishi pork, a speciality of the Ao tribe. We wanted a space on the main road, and not hidden in some gully," she adds.

Andheri also works for business owners as rents are comparatively lower than the citys southern neighbourhoods, and Bandra. Gitika Saikia, who has championed the foods of her Assamese community for over a decade, says, Considering south Mumbais vegetarian population, it is tricky to own non-vegetarian kitchens there, that too for cooking pork and buff." Saikia, who runs Gitikas Pakghor out of her apartment in Andheri West, initially got flak for serving red ant eggs and silkworms that she grew up eating for festivals like Bihu. Id say the attitude has changed. People now understand there is a cuisine different from Chinese or Bengali," she adds.

In a sea of restaurants serving regional cuisines and global flavours, food from the North-East is clearly having a moment here. While Laishram says, we deserve it", Saikia believes, there is a long way to go."

Also read: Weekend food plan: Sunday brunches and gourmet food gifts for Mother's Day
Not so long ago, the wristwatch used to be a proper tool. Used by professionals in different environments, and for a wide variety of jobs, the watch wasnt just part of someones look", but also an essential item. A recreational diver (as well as a professional one) would use their dive watch, while a scientist working in a laboratory might use a watch with extra magnetic resistance.

In fact, wristwatches used to be marketed as such, e.g. chronographs with a pulsometer scale on the bezel were pitched to doctors, because they would use one to calculate the pulse rate. And once recreational sports like mountaineering, diving and spelunking took off in the 1950s and 60s, purpose-built watches like the Seiko Willard, or the Rolex Explorer II were marketed as kit essentials.

In fact, watches were important enough that when the Space Race" between the Soviet Union and the US began in the 1960s, watches became an important part of the story. So, what are the watches that went to space? Well, there are many including, in modern times, Casios and Apple Watches. But for sheer iconic status, you cant beat these five.

Also Read 8 best GMT watches for your summer holidays

Strela Chronograph

If the narrative of space exploration is too US-centric, then so is the story of watches in space. And while everyone knows that the Omega Speedmaster was the first watch on the moon in 1969, in 1965, Russian-made Strela became the first watch to be worn during a spacewalk, by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. Built by the Moscow Watch Factory (which had also supplied the first man in space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, with his Sturmanskie watch). A chronograph was an indispensable tool for the space-men, since so much of their work had to be meticulously timed, from oxygen levels to timing rocket burns.

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute

By the early 1960s, the Breitling Navitimer had been established as one of the most trusted aviation watches for pilots. The key factor that made the watch a hit with the pros was its circular slide rule, allowing pilots to make on-the-fly in-flight calculations. In 1961, US cosmonaut M. Scott Carpenter approached Breitling to make him a purpose-built Navitimer, this one with a 24-hour chronograph scale (instead of the standard 12-hour scale), because its impossible to otherwise tell morning from night in space. Breitling obliged, and in 1961, the Cosmonaute became the first Swiss chronograph in space, when Carpenter flew to space on the Aurora 7 rocket.

Omega Speedmaster Professional

NASA had been tinkering with the idea of selecting an official watcha chronograph of coursefor its astronauts, and the process speeded up once Carpenter took the Navitimer to space. The space organization invited brands to participate, and received watches from Omega, Rolex and Longines. After rigorous durability tests, NASA settled on the Omega Speedmaster, a watch released in 1959 for motorsport enthusiasts and drivers. From 1965, the Speedmaster Professional became a part of the official gear issued to astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo missions. Thus, the watch featured on the wrists of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they touched down on the moon in 1969. A new horological icon was born.

Also Read 5 horology YouTube channels you should follow

Bulova Lunar Chronograph

While the official Speedmasters issued by NASA had to be returned to the organization once astronauts returned to Earth, members of the expeditions were allowed to carry personal watches too. During the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, astronaut Dave Scotts Speedmasters crystal popped out during an EVA (extra-vehicular activity) on the Lunar Rover. He put on his personal Bulova chronograph to help him finish the mission. Thus, it became the only other known watch to be worn on the moons surface.

Seiko 6139 Pogue"

It wasnt just Swiss watches that were worn in space, but a Japanese trailblazer made it there too. In 1969, Seiko had become one of three brands to successfully release an automatic chronographthe others were Zenith and Heuerand it was thefirst of the three to come out that year. By the early 70s, automatic chronographs were the ragethe Speedmaster was a mechanical chronographand surely enough, these watches were favoured by aviators and astronauts because these didnt need to be manually wound each day.

In the 1970s, NASAs focus shifted from moon landings to space stations, and the first of these was the Skylab. Astronauts would stay in these stations and conduct scientific experiments for months on end, in a testament to new space tech and human endurance. During its final crewed mission between November 1973-February 1974, William R. Pogue wore the Seiko 6139-6005, making it the first automatic chronograph in space. This funky watch, with its cushion case, brilliant gold dial and a Pepsi" blue-and-red bezel, attained iconic status. Fittingly, fans call it the Pogue".

Once, wristwatches were more than accessoriesthey were essential tools built to withstand the harshest environments imaginable. Nowhere was this truer than in space, where extreme temperatures, zero gravity, and relentless radiation demanded unwavering precision and resilience. These timepieces werent worn for style; they were mission-critical instruments, used to measure experiments, time rocket burns, and track day and night in a place where such markers vanish. In the golden age of space exploration, watches were engineered as tools for human endeavourpurposeful, reliable, and tough. Their presence in space serves as a powerful reminder of when function, not fashion, defined what we wore on our wrists.

Handwound is a monthly column on watches and watchmaking.

Also Read From oyster to jubilee: The importance of watch bracelets
Philip A. Fishers iconic book, Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits, still remains a timeless guide for investors. First published on 30 November 1957, the book has sustained its essence for both upcoming investors and professionals alike.

With the Indian equity markets witnessing a surge in retail participation and a growing appetite for long term equity and mutual fund investing, Fishers principles are more significant than ever.

His primary focus on quality management, deep research, sensible stock selection and long term thinking offers invaluable direction to investors navigating todays rapidly evolving and volatile stock markets.

Here are seven prudent lessons from Fishers investing ideology, designed to help investors make informed and smarter investment decisions.

1. Conduct thorough research Fisher discussed the significance of in-depth analysis before investing. In his book he stated, The successful investor is usually an individual who is inherently interested in business problems. He was an advocate for understanding a companys financial position, industry legacy, competitive advantages and long-term growth prospects.

This ideology of Fisher's is aligned with the scuttlebutt method, where investors primarily gather information from various different sources, including customers, agents, suppliers and competitors. All of this information permits investors to make smart investment decisions.

2. Embrace the Scuttlebutt technique Fisher introduced the concept of scuttlebutt approach. The main objective of this approach was to encourage investors to seek insights beyond financial statements and annual accounts. Discussing with industry leaders, peer competitors and company insiders can reveal significant qualitative factors that influence a companys long term prospects. Therefore, investors should keep these points in mind while deciding on investing in a business.

3. Focus on a few outstanding investments Diversification has its merits, still Fisher believed in the idea of concentrating on a selected few stocks. All such stocks must have a moat and should be high quality businesses. This point has been elaborated by him in the book, I dont want a lot of good investments; I want a few outstanding ones. This strategy of investment permits investors to think and allocate resources efficiently and monitor investments closely.

4. Invest for the long term Patience is a virtue in investing. Fisher advised holding onto well-researched stocks, allowing them to compound over time. This principle is particularly relevant in the Indian context, where long-term investments can benefit from economic growth and market development. If the job has been correctly done when a common stock is purchased, the time to sell it isalmost never.

5. Assess management quality Understanding the vision and evaluating a companys leadership is crucial. Fisher stressed on the importance of sincerity, integrity, competence and vision in top management teams. That is why the fundamental values of promoters or leadership teams go a long way in deciding the trajectory of a company.

6. Make innovation a strategic priority All businesses that invest in research and strategic development often stay ahead of peers. Fisher highlighted the significance of innovation as a driver of long-term growth and prosperity. That is why focus should be laid on firms that demonstrate a sincere commitment to technological advancement and product development.

Also Read | 5 investing lessons from Jeremy Grantham on avoiding herd mentality

7. Avoid over-diversification Given spreading investments can immensely mitigate risk, still excessive diversification can dilute returns and can also contribute to portfolio underperformance. Fisher hence, has cautioned against holding several stocks as such a practice can result in mediocre performance. A little bit of a great many can never be more than a poor substitute for a few of the outstanding.

Conclusion Hence, Philip Fishers timeless principles from Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits offer valuable insights for navigating todays markets. By focusing on proper research, quality and long-term vision, investors can make smarter investment decisions.
There's no doubt that mutual funds sahi hai, but that doesn't mean investing in them is hassle-free. Investors still face several issues, from tiny but annoying stamp-duty cuts to unredeemable folios with fractional units.

To smooth out these and other issues, the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), on Sebi's direction, has asked asset management companies (AMCs) to suggest changes that could streamline the operations of the mutual fund industry and benefit investors.

Here are four changes that a few AMCs suggested, which they shared with Mint on the condition that they not be named.

Stamp duty headaches

Buying units of mutual funds attracts stamp duty at the rate of 0.005%. This minuscule deduction creates completely avoidable downstream complications for investors, as all allotments end up being for odd sums of money, said a fund house.

For example, a person who invests 10,000 ends up being allotted units worth 9,999.50. This applies to every single inflow transaction, including switches. As units are themselves fractional, as they are transacted at the applicable net asset value, this further complicates matters for investors.

Also read: When buying financial products, scepticism is your best defence

As stamp duty is a statutory levy, the current implementation ensures the tax is levied on the investor. However, to make the process more concenient, the fund house recommended allotting units for the full sum and adjusting the stamp duty against actuals against the total expense ratio (TER) that funds charge.

Amol Joshi, a mutual fund distributor and founder of PlanRupee, said first-time investors often ask him why the amounts invested are less than what they put in. Making this tweak will make such investors more comfortable, he added.

View Full Image Graphic: Gopakumar Warrier/Mint

View Full Image Graphic: Gopakumar Warrier/Mint

Proliferation of tiny folios

Over the past several years, the mutual fund industry has seen the proliferation of folios with tiny holdings. This is largely due to fractional units remaining in the folio if the investor redeems most but not all units.

A fund house cited the following example. If an investor holding 100.25 units places a redemption request for either 100 units or the value of these units (based on the last declared NAV), the balance units (say 0.25) remain in the folio. Given the tiny sums involved, most investors don't bother to redeem these units. The problem is further compounded by platforms not allowing redemption of holdings below a specific threshold, the AMC added.

While making its recommendations, the fund house submitted that its own analysis of investor data suggested that a sizeable proportion of redemptions that result in tiny residual balances are initiated from the exchange platforms.

Also read | EPF nightmare for NRIs: Service gaps, missing UANs, and frozen funds

The problem with these folios is that they continue to be serviced at the cost of the mutual fund schemes. This cost is disproportionately high compared to the TER charged against these units, the fund house said. The cost of these tiny holdings is thus subsidised by other unit holders, it added.

For context, the annual cost of aggregation of a folio (including those with minuscule holdings) is 3.60 per folio for NSDL e-CAS, and 24 per folio for a printed NSDL CAS. Such tiny holdings also lead to minuscule IDCW payments, posing challenges for both payouts and reinvestment.

The fund house said this issue can be solved in the following way.

While selling, apply redemption to all units in cases where the value of the balance units is less than a certain threshold, say  500.

500. For existing folios below a specific value threshold, initiate a one-time redemption to extinguish the residual units after informing the investors concerned.

The fund house said there may be several instances where the value of the holdings is less than the cost of processing and paying out the proceeds. Its recommendation in such cases is to redeem these minuscule investments and credit them to the investor education fund.

Unclaimed IDCW payouts

Investors who choose funds with IDCW payouts receive payments directly in their bank accounts. In cases where the payments are rejected, physical demand drafts (DDs) are sent to the investors. DDs that are not encashed in 90 days are transferred to the unclaimed account. Service teams must then continuously follow up with investors to get them to claim these sums, said an AMC.

An analysis by the fund house suggested that such unclaimed IDCW payments keep accumulating with the same set of investors. Multiple attempts to reach these investors and remit the sums to them have been unsuccessful," the fund house said.

Also read: ITR forms seek more disclosures this year. Here's what to expect

To solve this issue, it recommended converting IDCW payouts into reinvestments in cases where three consecutive payouts have not been claimed. This would arrest the proliferation of unclaimed sums," it said.

Joshi of PlanRupee said even if investors link a new bank account to the folio, most AMCs don't allow online redemption for unclaimed units. Investors must instead visit a physical registrar and transfer agent (RTA) or AMC branch to do so. This issue persists across all online channels, including AMC websites, RTA platforms, and Mutual Fund Utilities (MFU). Joshi said AMC should allow online redemptions for unclaimed units to make life easier for investors.

Information overload

Even mid-size mutual fund companies have lakhs of investors and folios, and the larger ones have crores of folios. That means every communication over email goes out to lakhs or crores of people. If such communications are frequent, they start to become an operational burden, said an AMC.

It said many of these emails, especially ones about minuscule changes to the TER, provide little value to investors but increase the cost of compliance and communication for fund houses.

"I believe the communication requirements related to TER changes could be revisited," said an official at the AMC. Often, these changes are tiny  for instance, from 0.6721% to 0.6722%  and may be more appropriately communicated on a quarterly basis rather than in real time." Such emails are unnecessary as AMC websites update TER values on their websites daily, he added.
Investors pumped money into debt mutual funds in April as they sought lower-risk options to ride out the market volatility and to rebalance their portfolios at the start of the financial year, taking net inflows into these funds to the highest in over two decades.

Net inflows into debt-oriented open-ended mutual fund schemes were at 2.19 trillion in Aprilthe highest since January 2005, from when this data is available. The net inflows marked a sharp reversal from March, when debt-oriented schemes witnessed outflows of 2.02 trillion.

Within debt schemes, liquid funds saw the highest inflows of 1.18 trillion, followed by money market funds 31,507 crore and ultra-short duration funds 26,733 crore, data from the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) showed.

According to Suranjana Borthakur, head of distribution and strategic alliances, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India), investors are favouring debt schemes for their stability and liquidity, especially in an environment marked by geopolitical uncertainties and market fluctuations.

The significant inflows into arbitrage funds at 11,790 crore, a 9-month high, further underscores this preference for low-risk options, as investors seek to park funds securely while awaiting clearer market signals, said Borthakur.

In the short term, investors are likely to continue favouring shorter-end debt schemes and arbitrage funds over equity schemes until the volatility triggered by the India-Pakistan conflict subsides, as these offer stability and lower risk, Borthakur added.

Also read | Mutual fund investors hit by double whammy as expense fee rises amid recent market decline

Initially, the volatility in Indias stock market was driven by concerns over US President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariff policies, which raised fears of increased capital flows to US dollar markets, experts said.

However, the phase of Trump-related tariffs may be easing soon as bilateral discussions with major countries have started, said Seemant Shukla, chief executive, Quantum AMC.

India and the US are working to finalise the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement by September-November, which could soften the potential impact of Trumps new tariffs.

On 6 May, India struck a landmark free trade agreement with the UK that promises to unlock major economic gains for India by eliminating tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to Britain, covering nearly 100% of the trade value.

The escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, however, would have an impact on volatility and markets in the short run, said Shukla.

Portfolio rebalancing also had a significant influence on investors turning to debt mutual funds.

One of the key reasons for the sharp surge in debt mutual fund inflows in April is the beginning of the financial year, a period when corporates and institutions typically reallocate their portfolios, said Gaurav Goyal, headsales and marketing, Canara Robeco AMC, and the company's spokesperson on AMFI data.

This has led to significant investments in liquid, overnight, money market, and ultra-short-term funds, he said.

Inflows in equity Net inflows into equity mutual fund schemes dropped to a one-year low of 24,269 crore in April, marking a 3.2% decline on a month-on-month basis. That was the fifth straight month of declining inflows into equity schemes.

In times of heightened market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, it is common for investors to shift toward conservative assets such as debt funds, said Feroze Azeez, joint-chief executive, Anand Rathi Wealth Ltd. However, he added that such trends are typically short-lived.

Historical patterns suggest that the impact of geopolitical tensions on equity markets tends to be temporary. Over the long term, market performance is more strongly influenced by economic fundamentals and corporate earnings, said Azeez.

As the current wave of war-led uncertainty stabilizes, said Azeez, it is likely that investors will gradually reallocate towards equity schemes.

Within equity schemes, net inflows were highest in flexicap schemes at 5,541 crore. This was followed by smallcap and midcap funds with net inflows of 3,999 crore and 3,313 crore, respectively.

Monthly inflows into mutual funds via systematic investment plans surged to an all-time high of 26,632 crore in April. This was driven by a steady increase in the number of contributing accounts, which now total 83.8 million.
India Pakistan News: In villages along the Line of Control  the de facto military boundary between India and Pakistan  ruined homes continued to smoulder as Pakistani troops unleashed heavy artillery shelling in Gulmarg, Uri, Nowgam, Kupwara, Rajouri and Poonch.

A distressed local appealed to the Indian government to construct bunkers for their safety, saying they no longer felt secure staying in their damaged home. He recounted how his entire family spent the night huddled in a single room and added that around 20 houses in the area had suffered significant damage.

Due to shelling by Pakistan, around 20 houses have suffered damage. My family spent the whole night together in one room. We want peace here, a local was quoted by the news agency ANI.

The explosions in Uri were so intense that they could be heard all the way in Baramulla. Residents said they remained awake throughout the night as relentless shelling damaged dozens of structures. The shelling and heavy blasts continued throughout the night. We could hear big blasts until morning, and everyone is in panic, said Ayaz Ahmad, a Mohura resident.

In Kashmir, officials confirmed that heavy shelling also occurred in Gulmarg, Nowgam and Tangdhar, prompting dozens of families to flee from Uri to Baramulla. The government stated that it has opened several fully-equipped buildings to accommodate families affected by the shelling.

My cousins left Mohura during [Thursday] night and came to my place amid heavy shelling along the LoC, said Javeed Ahmad, a Baramulla resident.
India-Pakistan conflict: Chandigarh has banned the hoarding of essential commodities including rice, wheat, sugar, and fuelunder the Essential Commodities Act after attempted attacks from Pakistan on Thursday, May 8, and further siren warnings in the morning.

All traders have been directed to declare their existing stock to the Department of Food and Supplies within three days.

The India-Pakistan conflict saw a major escalation on Thursday late evening after Pakistan fired missiles and drones at military sites in Jammu and other states.

Why has Chandigarh imposed the ban? A notice from the Chandigarh District Magistrate states: It has come to notice that certain individuals, traders and entities are engaged in the hoarding and unauthorisd stockpiling of essential food items and fuel including petrol, diesel and other daily necessities in the Union Territory of Chandigarh."

As a result, Chandigarh has imposed the ban on hoarding to safeguard public interest and maintain smooth availability of essential goods," in the wake of the tense situations, states the notice.

Residents of Chandigarh have further been asked to report instances of hoarding, black marketing and price manipulation.

India-Pakistan conflict Earlier today, the Indian Army reported that it successfully repelled multiple attacks by Pakistancarried out using drones and other munitionsalong the entire western border during the night between May 8 and May 9.

At least eight missiles were fired from Pakistan towards Kashmir, an Indian defence personnel said, adding that they were all intercepted and blocked by Air Defence Units. The attacks were directed at the towns of Satwari, Samba, Ranbir Singh Pura and Arnia.

On Thursday, the Indian military announced that it had successfully foiled Pakistani attempts to strike multiple military targets across 15 cities in northern and western India using drones and missiles. In response, India targeted Pakistans air defence systems at several locations, including a key site in Lahore, which was reportedly destroyed in the counter-attack.

Also Read | Pakistan targets Jammu airport, multiple sites in Rajasthan and Punjab

The escalation followed Indias precision strikes a day earliercodenamed Operation Sindooron nine terror

hotbeds located across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.
India-Pakistan conflict: In the light of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, travel agency Cox & Kings announced that it will temporarily pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country, Cox & Kings director, Karan Agarwal stated.

The India-Pakistan conflict saw a major escalation on Thursday (May 8) late evening after Pakistan fired missiles and drones at military sites in Jammu and other states. This came just a day after Operation Sindoor  in which India launched targeted strikes across nine terror beds in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Why is Cox & Kings halting offerings temporarily? Earlier, Turkey had condemned India's Operation Sindoor in Pakistan, saying that it increases risk of an all-out war. Azerbaijan also decried the strikes conducted by Indian armed forces on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Given the current geopolitical scenario, Cox and Kings temporarily paused travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey, citing the travel agency's "commitment to prioritizing traveller safety and aligning with the broader sentiments of our customers and the nation.

Cox & Kings further advised Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey, until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment.

Other companies that halted travel deals Travomint also said that the company has suspended the sale of all travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan to support Indians' call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"We have decided to support the Indians' call for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan. With immediate effect, Travomint has suspended the sale of all travel packages to these countries," Travomint Chairman and CEO Alok K Singh said in a statement.

The travel agency also added that cancellation fees will be charged on existing bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan, and emergency flight bookings will be available in case of need.

India- Pakistan relations simmer Gaping holes in houses, debris-littered streets  Pakistan's shelling on the intervening night of May 8-9, left behind a trail of destruction in the bordering areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mumbai: The finance ministry has told banks to ensure normal banking operations at all branches following the rise in tensions with Pakistan, according to bankers.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has directed the banks to make cash available at all ATMs, branches and customer service points (CSPs) to prevent any disruption in services.

DFS has told banks to ensure cash in ATMs and branches have to be maintained. Economy has to be kept going and customer service needs to be offered," said A. Manimekhalai, managing director and chief executive officer of Union Bank.

Also read: HDFC Bank cracks down on employees using 'temporary' deposits to inflate numbers

Manimekhalai added that the bank is taking all precautions with regard to cybersecurity of their digital channels. As of 31 March 2025, Union Bank has 8,621 branches and 8,901 ATMs.

A finance ministry official confirmed, Banks have been advised to prevent any disruption in services and service all the customers needs, including supporting daily transactions using bank branches or ATMs. All requisite arrangement has to be made at the branch level to ensure banking services are maintained at normal levels."

Meanwhile, the country's largest bank State Bank of India (SBI) has instructed all branches and CSPs near the border areas to continue operations, subject to any instructions from the local authorities.

Till date, we have not heard anything from the local authorities. We have informed all branches to be open until they receive any instructions," said an SBI official.

As of March 2025, SBI has 22,937 branches, 63,791 ATMs and 77,251 CSPs.

Also read: How IndusInd spotted a 600 crore error in its microfinance book

Mint is yet to receive any response to emails sent to spokespersons for SBI and the Department of Financial Services.

Based on internal discussions, state-owned Canara Bank has taken some steps in the past week to ensure adequate cash is available to customers.

Canara Bank has created an emergency response team at the head office which works 24/7. Apart from the bank's managing director and an executive director, general managers and deputy general managers in the information technology department are part of this emergency response team," said Satyanarayana Raju, managing director and chief executive, Canara Bank.

Raju said the team meets daily to take stock of the situation and is monitoring branches and ATMs to ensure that everything is live.

The bank never kept excess cash in the branches but (these) were shifted to currency chests to get optimum benefit. To ensure that branches do not face difficulty in transporting cash if something comes up all of a sudden, we are parking sufficient cash to last two-three days in the branches alongside adequate security," said Raju.

Also read: RBIs double-barreled liquidity surge in May to force down lending rates

He added that the bank is also loading ATMs to utilize the full capacity. As of 31 March, the bank had 9,579 ATMs, and 9,849 branches.

On Friday, Moneycontrol reported that the finance ministry has asked major financial institutions such as the RBI, banks and the National Payments Corporation of India to be on high alert and step up cybersecurity measures to protect the countrys financial institutions and digital payment infrastructure.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Aera) has granted approval to Adani Group-led Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), which operates the airport in the nations financial capital, to impose a higher user development fee (UDF) on international business class passengers compared to those travelling in international economy class, effective until 2028-29.

In a statement issued on Thursday as reported by Business Standard, Aera stated that MIAL may levy a UDF of 615 on each departing international economy class passenger and 695 on each departing international business class passenger, beginning 16 May. For arriving international travellers, the UDF will be 260 for economy class and 304 for business class.

Previously, a uniform UDF of 187 was charged to all international passengers, irrespective of class. This adjustment aligns with the user pays principle and reflects enhanced passenger experience and upgraded facilities available to and used by international travellers, Aera noted.

The revised UDF will be applicable from 16 May 2025 until 31 March 2029, which marks the end of the fourth control period.

In addition, Aera has authorised MIAL to commence charging a UDF from domestic passengers as well. The rate has been set at 175 for each departing domestic traveller and 158 for each arriving one.

During the previous control period, no UDF was imposed on domestic passengers. However, MIAL had been collecting a development fee of 120 from each departing domestic passenger, a practice that will continue until August 2024.

Aera mentioned that even non-major airports levy a UDF of up to 745 per passenger boarding a domestic flight. An airport is classified as non-major if it handles fewer than 3.5 million passengers annually.

Considering the scale of operation, and investment requirements at the Mumbai airport, which is the financial capital of the country, the authority finds it reasonable and consistent to recover a certain portion of the aggregate revenue requirement from the domestic UDF, Aera added.
India Pakistan Operation Sindoor Highlights: PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with EAM Jaishankar, NSA Doval Stay after Pakistan launched a fresh wave of attacks on Friday.

Jammu, Jaisalmer and Firozpur were plunged into darkness for a second consecutive day after blackouts were enforced in these regions amid soaring India-Pakistan tensions.

Loud explosions were also heard in Jammu, Srinagar and other places.

Three people were injured after a Pakistani drone hit a residential area in Firzopur on Friday night. They were rushed to a hospital for further treatment where the doctor said one one is in critical condition.

Stay tuned to LiveMint for all the latest updates

Pakistan's latest strikes come after India launched what has been described as the nation's biggest and deepest strike  Operation Sindoor  in which India targeted nine terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Explosions heard in over six areas

During the blackout, explosions were heard in over six areas including Samba, Poonch, Jammu, among others.

In Rajasthan's two drone attacks were carried out from the Pakistani side within a span of just half-an-hour, said eyewitnesses. The first attack occurred at around 8:28 PM, and the second at 9:02 PM. Similar two attacks were also reported from Barmer with one attack near the Uttarlia airbase station and another near Jassi military cantonment.

Stay tuned to LiveMint for India Pakistan Operation Sindoor LIVE Updates
In a sharp escalation in cross-border shelling, which has gone from small arms fire to heavy artillery, Pakistan on Thursday launched drone attacks in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and later, pockets of Gujarat and Punjab. A local, while speaking with news agency ANI, recalled the incident and said, "Though the retaliatory firing continued the entire night, we aren't scared."

"I live in a nearby village. At exactly 8 PM, we saw 34 drones. We kept our children inside while the firing continued almost the entire night. What Pakistan did is not right. We are not scared," he said.

Another local exuded confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Army, and exclaimed that he is proud of the country for "neutralising all the Pakistani drones."



Read | IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Spicejet issue advisory as Pakistan attacks Jammu, Rajasthan, other places

"...There was a complete blackout last night, after which drones started flying and firing continued the entire night. Our forces are giving Pakistan a befitting reply. We have trust in our Prime Minister and our Army. All drones were neutralised by our forces. We are proud of our country. There is tension near the border, but the rest of the places are safe," he said.



Read | Operation Sindoor LIVE: Pakistani shelling in Uri, Kupwara, other parts of J&K, Armed Forces respond, airports on alert

A third person again showed pride in the Indian Army and said: "As soon as we started dinner last night, we heard the sound of some explosions... Explosions were heard again at around 4:30 a.m., but they were also neutralised by our forces. There is nothing to worry about. Our forces are on alert. Bhagwati Vaishno Devi is sitting in Jammu, there is nothing to be scared of... Attacking civilians is nothing but cowardice because they (Pakistan) don't have the courage to fight our forces. This is all that they can do... Our forces are giving a befitting reply and we are proud of them..."



Amid India-Pakistan conflict, are schools, offices, airports closed or opened today? Check state-wise list

Sirens and numerous explosions were reported in Jammu and other places following a blackout.

Mobile phone videos shared by locals captured streaks of light across the night sky, suggesting that the armed forces' air defence system had intercepted the incoming missiles and drones.

After the Indian military foiled the Pakistani attempts, the Defence Ministry said India remains "fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people".

"Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir today," a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.

"The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established standard operating procedures (SOPs)," he said.
India-Pak Tensions: Indian Army said on Friday that all nefarious designs of Pakistan Army will be responded with force. The statement comes hours after Indian armed forces launched a counter-offensive and neutralised Pakistani drone and missile attacks targeting several military sites, including in Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot.

This after foiling similar bids across 15 places in northern and western regions of the country amid escalated India-Pakistan tensions after the deadly Pahalgam attack.

Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army said in a post on X with 'Operation Sindoor' tagline.

The attack from Pakistan came hours after India said it had targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan and neutralised an air defence system in Lahore.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force, the Army added on Friday.

The Ministry of Defence said late on Thursday night, in a post on X, that the threat form Pakistans attack was neautralised and there were no losses.

Pakistan targeted military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the international boundary in Jammu & Kashmir using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said.

50 drones neautralised Defence sources said on Friday morning that over 50 drones were successfully neutralised during the counter-drone operation by Indian Army Air Defence units in different areas.

Yesterday night, when Pakistan made failed attempts to send swarm drones all across various places along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Borders (IB), over 50 drones were successfully neutralized during a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted by Indian Army Air Defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot areas, the sources said.

The engagement involved extensive use of L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and other advanced counter-UAS equipment, demonstrating the Armys robust capability to counter aerial threats, according to the sources.

Sources said Pakistani drone attacks were also reported at multiple locations along the western borders and the Indian Armed Forces had managed to effectively engage them.

Eight Missiles from Pakistan intercepted At least eight missiles from Pakistan were directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia were intercepted by air defence units. The Indian Air Force activated its Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and other air defence systems, including the S400 Triumf, Barak 8 MRSAM (medium range surface-to-air missile) and the indigenous Akash, helping set up an air defence umbrella that helped thwart the attacks, according to media reports.

Complete Blackout in Srinagar, Punjab districts During the Pakistan attack, Jammu witnessed a complete blackout on Thursday evening as eyewitnesses saw drone- missile like objects on the sky being intercepted. Panic gripped the region due to loud explosions and sirens as military stations were targeted in Jammu. Reports of heavy artillery fire also came from the Pakistan side in border districts in Jammu such as Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch.

In Srinagar authorities, enforced a precautionary blackout with activated air defence system at Srinagar airport. Electricity was restored in Srinagar late night.

Also Read | India Pakistan News LIVE: Over 50 Pak drones shot down by Indian air defence

Blackouts were also imposed amid blaring sirens in several districts of Punjab and Rajasthan. In Punjab, instructions were issued in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Chandigarh. A blackout was ordered in Mohali and neighboring Panchkula of Punjab and parts of Kutch district in Gujarat.

Pakistani drones were also intercepted in Rajasthan, according to officials.

Early Friday morning, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Rajouri, Uri and Chowkibal Kupwar. A number of houses were damaged in Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, while one woman was reportedly killed in Uri.

Fridays attack by Pakistan and counter-offensive by India comes a day after India destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The strike by India, coined Operation Sindoor, came two weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed on 22 April.

Earlier in the day on Thursday, Indian armed forces successfully foiled multiple attempts by the Pakistani military to strike several strategic targets across Northern and Western India using drones and missiles last night, officials confirmed on Thursday. In aretaliatory operation, Indian forces also destroyed the Pakistani air defence system in various locations.

The Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Thursday that any further action by Pakistan is nothing but escalation and will be responded to and is being responded to appropriately. Misri repeated that the original escalation began in Pahalgam, and that India is responding in a restrained manner.
Amid India-Pakistan rising tensions and as both clash with drone-missile attacks, various districts in India observed blackout yesterday, including orders from the respective administration regarding closure of schools, non-approval of leaves of officials at some places.

Take a look at the list on what's closed and what's opened today: Punjab has closed schools, colleges, universities for three days across the state. It has cancelled police leaves in six border districts, namely Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. Delhi government has ordered cancellation of leaves for all its employees and started preparedness drills across districts. 3. Schools have been shut in five western districts in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma directed the cancellation of leaves of government employees.

4. Haryana has cancelled leaves of health department officials and police personnel, including closure of schools in Panchkula.

5. Numerous private schools in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal have announced advance summer vacation and shut down from May 9, instead of their earlier scheduled dates in light of the prevailing situation. Banks are closed in the state today due to the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

6. "All schools, colleges and universities in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed for two days on Friday and Saturday," Education Minister Sakina Itoo informed PTI.

7. Indias Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement that there is a temporary closure of 24 airports, AP reported. Delhi Airport operations remain normal. Some flights are impacted due to changing airspace conditions and increased security.

8. There is no official announcement on banks being closed today besides their scheduled routine as directed by RBI.

Also Read | BCCI yet to take decision on IPL 2025 amid India-Pakistan tensions

India strikes Air Defence System in Lahore India yesterday said it neutralised Pakistani drone and missile attacks targetting many military sites on Thursday. Today morning, Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a Ministry of Defence release yesterday.
India-Pakistan conflict: In view of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Aviation regulator DGCA on Saturday said that 32 airports will temporarily remain shut for civilian flights till May 15.

Srinagar, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jammu and Jaisalmer are among the 32 airports.

The India government's decision to shut 32 airports till May 15 comes in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, after the latter attacked India again on Friday. Just a day before Pakistan had fired missiles and 300-400 Turkish made drones on military bases in Jammu and other areas.

Which 32 airports will remain shut? The closure will be effective from "May 9 to May 14 (which corresponds to 05:29 IST on May 15), due to operational reasons," DGCA said in a release.



 Adhampur

 Ambala

 Amritsar

 Awantipur

 Bathinda

 Bhuj

 Bikaner

 Chandigarh

 Halwara

 Hindon

 Jammu

 Jaisalmer

 Jamnagar

 Jodhpur

 Kandla

 Kangra (Gaggal)

 Keshod

 Kishangarh

 Kullu Manali (Bhuntar)

 Leh

 Ludhiana

 Mundra

 Naliya

 Pathankot

 Patiala

 Porbandar

 Rajkot (Hirasar)

 Sarsawa

 Shimla

 Srinagar

 Thoise

 Uttarlai

India Pakistan tensions escalate Tensions between India and Pakistan surged on Friday evening after Pakistan launched a fresh attack. On Thursday (May 8), the Shahbaz Sharif led nation had already resorted to a missile attack targeting areas in Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan.

Also Read | Delhi government cancels all leaves for officials amid emergency preparedness

The Indian Ministry of Defence later confirmed the strike originated from Pakistan. Indian air defence systems swiftly intercepted the attack, prompting blackouts, air raid sirens across multiple cities, and the suspension of the ongoing IPL match in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

The aftermath of Pakistan's missile attacks Following Pakistan's latest strikes, videos of damage incurred on a temple, a gurudwara, and a mosque in Poonch surfaced on social media.

While one house in Jammu and Kashmir's border town was destroyed completely because of the Pakistan attacks, another building  which suffered significant damage due to the shelling  was demolished by the local administration today as a precautionary measure, visuals from ANI showed.

Airlines, airports instructed to enhance security Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Thursday instructed all airlines and airports across the country to enhance security measures.

All passengers at all airports will undergo Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC) and visitor entry to terminal buildings has been banned, according to news agency ANIs post on X.

Air India, IndiGo, others issue travel advisory IndiGo said that bookings made on or before 8 May 2025 are eligible for change/cancellation fee waiver for travel until 22 May 2025 to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Rajkot.
India Pakistan conflict: In the aftermath of the India Pakistan conflict that soared further after Pakistan launched a fresh attack on May 9, bursting of any kind of fireworks or firecrackers has been banned in Gurugram till July 7.

Seven things, including fireworks and firecrackers during marriages, religious festivals or other activities in Gurugram has been banned as India Pakistan tensions continue to simmer.

Here's the complete list:

Use of drones, Micro Light Air Craft, Glider/Power Glider, Hot Air Balloon,

Also Read | Govt extends closure of 24 airports till May 15 amid India-Pak tensions

5. Kite Flying,

6. Chinese Micro Light, and

7. Bursting of any kind of fireworks and firecrackers

Pakistan attacks again The recent list of bans in Gurugram comes after Pakistan launched a fresh wave of attack on India, prompting blackout for a second consecutive say in Jammu, Samba, among other areas.

Pakistani Drones sighted at 26 locations As per defence sources, drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Bhuj in Gujarat.

Eye-witnesses, meanwhile, said that explosions were also heard in multiple regions. One person is in critical condition after a Pakistani drone hit a residential area in Punjab's Ferozepur, injuring a total of three members from the family. The family members were immediately rushed to the hospital, reported PTI.

Firecrackers banned in Chandigarh, other places Apart from Gurugram, the use of firecrackers have also been banned in multiple places including Amritsar, Chandigarh among others. Here's the list:



Region/ Area Firecracker banned till Gujarat May 15 Faridkot July 5 Chandigarh July 7 Amritsar until further notice

Pakistan's latest strikes come after India launched what has been described as the nation's biggest and deepest strike  Operation Sindoor  in which India targeted nine terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

PM Narendra Modi holds meeting with EAM Jaishankar, NSA Doval Hours after Pakistan's fresh wave of attacks, PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with EAM Jaishankar, NSA Doval.

Also Read | How military overshadows democracy in Pakistan
Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Chandigarh administration has invited young citizens, above the age of 18 years, to join as 'Civil Defence Volunteers' and support emergency preparedness.

In a press briefing, the Deputy Commissioner of UT Chandigarh stated that the civil defence enrolment and training camp will take place on 10 May at 10.30 pm in Tagore Theatre.

Taking to X, Chandigarh admin wrote, "*APPEAL TO THE YOUTH* *Serve the Nation. Be Prepared.* Chandigarh Administration invites young citizens who are above 18 years age, to join as *Civil Defence Volunteers* and support emergency preparedness. Civil Defence Enrolment & Training Camp:

Date: 10th May 2025

Time: 10:30 AM

Venue: Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh Step up, get trained, and serve when it matters most.  Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh."

A video of the same was also released on X, where the DC was seen appealing the youth to join as 'Civil Defence Volunteers'.

Also Read | Govt extends closure of 24 airports till May 15 amid India-Pak tensions

DC issues orders: Earlier in the day, citing the ongoing tensions with Pakistan, the Chandigarh district administration on Friday has directed all the shop establishments including restaurants to be closed by 7 PM on Friday.

However, the district administration gave respite to medical shops as these orders won't be applicable to them.

The District Magistrate of UT Chandigarh on Friday also imposed a ban on hoarding and stockpiling of essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Act, 2023.

Also Read | Explosions heard in THESE Indian cities as Pakistan launches fresh attack

The order has been passed to ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential goods in the Union Territory and came into effect from zero hours on 9 May.

Under this order, all individuals, traders, wholesalers, retailers, and business entities have been barred from engaging in the hoarding of key items including rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, edible oils, vegetables, milk products, medicines, petrol, and diesel.
Amidst tensions escalating at international borders between India and Pakistan since the past two days, the Chandigarh district administration on Friday has directed all the shop establishments including restaurants to be closed by 7 PM on Friday.

However, the district administration gave respite to medical shops as these orders won't be applicable to them.

Releasing an order, the Chandigarh administration took to X and wrote, All shop establishments including restaurants in Chandigarh are required to be closed by 7:00 PM today, May 9, 2025. However these orders will not be applicable for medical shops.

Order against hoarding and stockpiling of essential commodities: The District Magistrate of UT Chandigarh on Friday also imposed a ban on hoarding and stockpiling of essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Act, 2023.

Also Read | Chandigarh bans hoarding of essential commodities amid India-Pak tensions

The order has been passed to ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential goods in the Union Territory and came into effect from zero hours on 9 May.

Under this order, all individuals, traders, wholesalers, retailers, and business entities have been barred from engaging in the hoarding of key items including rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, edible oils, vegetables, milk products, medicines, petrol, and diesel.

"In order to safeguard public interest and maintain smooth availability of essential goods, I, Nishant Kumar Yadav, I.A.S., District Magistrate, U.T., Chandigarh, exercising the powers conferred upon me... hereby order the following," the official notification states.

The order also mandates that all traders and stockists must declare their current stock to the Department of Food & Supplies within three days of the order. In case someone fails to do so, they may attract legal action under the applicable provisions of the law.

"No person, traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities shall engage in the hoarding or stockpiling of essential commodities, food items including but not limited to rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, edible oils, vegetables, milk products, medicines, fuel including petrol and diesel," mentioned the order.

"All traders and stockists shall declare their current stock to the Department of Food and Supplies, Chandigarh Administration, within three days of this order, read the order.

The administration has also invited citizens to report any instances of hoarding, black marketing, or price manipulation.
The Press Information Bureaus (PIB) fact-check unit has once again debunked a false claim, clarifying that reports suggesting a temporary suspension of services on the DelhiMumbai airline route are untrue.

In a post on X, the PIB labelled the claim as "fake" and clarified that the Airports Authority of India has extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai flight information regions owing to operational reasons.

"It is being claimed that there is a temporary closure of services on the Delhi-Mumbai airline route. This claim is fake. The Airports Authority of India has extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi & Mumbai Flight Information Regions due to operational reasons," it posted.

As specified in NOTAM G0555/25 (which replaces G0525/25), the 25 route segments shall continue to be inaccessible from ground level up to unlimited altitude until 2359 UTC on May 14, 2025 (which corresponds to 0529 IST on 15th May 2025).

Flight operators and airlines have been advised to organise alternative routes in line with existing air traffic advisories. The temporary closures are being managed in coordination with the relevant ATC units to uphold safety standards while minimising operational disruptions.

As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other aviation authorities have issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the temporary suspension of civil flight operations at 32 airports across Northern and Western India.

Background of rising hostilities The latest escalation follows Indias closure of its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30 as part of retaliatory measures after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian carriers on April 24.
In a recent development, China Daily has been called out for disseminating misleading information regarding Indian military operations. A tweet by the Chinese news outlet falsely claimed that at least three Indian jets had crashed in Kashmir, quoting The Hindu as the source. However, Indias Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check has clarified that the image accompanying the tweet is not recent but from an incident dating back to 2019.

The misleading post showed a photograph of wreckage surrounded by soldiers and civilians, which, according to PIB, was recycled to falsely portray a current event. In a statement on social media, PIB Fact Check confirmed:

A news report by @ChinaDaily falsely claims that at least three Indian jets crashed in Kashmir. The image is from an earlier incident from 2019.

PIB also highlighted that this act appears to be part of a coordinated propaganda campaign designed to incite panic and mislead the public. To substantiate their claim, PIB shared a link to a 2019 report by Al Jazeera covering the original incident.

This incident underscores the growing concerns around misinformation and the need for vigilance in verifying claims, especially those related to sensitive defence matters. India continues to actively counter such propaganda through official fact-checking channels.

In similar news on Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in Beijing criticised Chinas state-run Global Times for spreading incorrect details about Operation Sindoor, urging the publication to fact-check and verify its sources thoroughly.

Taking to X, the Indian Embassy posted: Dear @globaltimesnews, we advise you to fact-check and verify your sources before circulating such misinformation.
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, several northern Indian states have implemented complete night-time blackouts as a precautionary measure. The move aims to safeguard civilian areas in the event of any escalation along the border. This is the second day that India has enforced complete blackouts.

According to reports from ANI, cities across Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab have enforced blackouts. In Haryana, the cities of Ambala and Panchkula have confirmed the imposition of a total blackout.

Punjab has similarly enforced the measure in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Firozpur, while Rajasthan reported a blackout in Jaisalmer.

ANI also reported that three members of a family sustained injuries in a Pakistani drone attack in Ferozpur, officials confirmed. Dr. Kamal Bagi, who is overseeing their treatment.

The report added that a woman is in critical condition with severe burn injuries, while the other two family members have suffered comparatively minor burns. We have initiated immediate medical care for all the victims, Dr. Bagi stated. The injured belong to the same household, and their condition is being closely monitored.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed extensive measures, with blackouts reported in Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri, Akhnoor, Samba and Jammu. Sirens are heard blaring across these regions, signalling heightened alertness.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also confirmed on X that Jammu city is observing a blackout, with sirens sounding across the area.

Meanwhile, in Punjabs Tarn Taran district, residents of border villages have begun evacuating to safer locations amid fears of potential conflict. For our safety, we are moving to a safer place. Pakistan is just 2 km away from our village, said a local resident, recalling the 1971 war when nearby Chhina Bidhi Chand village was captured.

The heightened alert follows a sharp escalation of tensions, prompting authorities to remain vigilant and prioritise civilian safety across sensitive regions.

On May 9, 2025, Indias air defence system successfully intercepted Pakistani drones for the second night in a row during a blackout in the Samba region, according to a report by ANI. Witnesses reported seeing red streaks lighting up the night sky, accompanied by loud explosions.

Similar interceptions were also reported in Akhnoor, where residents heard blasts following drone activity. In addition to Samba and Akhnoor, drone interceptions took place in Pathankot and Pokhran, highlighting increased aerial vigilance across multiple regions.
In a sharp rebuttal to the Congress partys long-standing criticism of the country's tax regime, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday emphatically defended the Goods and Services Tax (GST), terming it as God-Sent Tax.

The Assam CM claimed that key defence procurements such as Rafale jets and S-400 missile systems were made possible due to GST, which helped in nation-building.

Also Read | How military overshadows and fails democracy in Pakistan

Taking to X on Friday, Himanta wrote, Rafale jets and S-400 systems dont just appear  they are built on the strength of our taxpayers. Thats why GST was never a Gabbar Singh Tax  its a God-Sent Tax that unites India and funds its security, growth, and resilience.

Why this remark? Himanta was responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's repeated criticism of the GST regime, in which the latter referred to GST as the "Gabbar Singh Tax".

In a tweet dated 1 July 2022, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP government had turned the Congress proposed Genuine Simple Tax into Gabbar Singh Tax.

Congress Genuine Simple Tax was turned into Gabbar Singh Tax by the BJP. Six rates, 1,000 plus changes in 1,826 days! Ease? Its a nightmare to do business, especially for MSMEs, Rahul Gandhi had said in the tweet.

Congress will revive business and jobs with GST 2.0  single, low rate, shared fairly with States, Rahul Gandhi added while using the hashtag #5YearsofGSTMess.

India-Pakistan tensions Apparently, Himanta's remarks arrived at a time when there has been a heightened escalation at the international border between India and Pakistan for the past couple of days.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian Armed Forces destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the 'Operation Sindoor'. Following this, Pakistan tried to hit India with missiles at various cities. However, all the attempts made by Pakistan were foiled as India's air defence units intercepted the projectiles and Israeli-made HARPY drones were deployed to disable Pakistani air defence systems.

In the meantime, the Indian government has heightened security measures at all points and directed the security agencies to be ready. In addition, directions were issued to the state and UT chief ministers to make proper arrangements at all levels.

Not only have educational institutions been closed in border states and UTs, but leaves of all government personnel have also been cancelled.
India-Pakistan News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the rising tensions along the border. PM Modi reviewed the condition of citizens in the state's border districts of Banaskantha, Patan, Kutch, and Jamnagar.

CM Patel, in a post on X, said that the PM also sought updates on the state's preparedness and ongoing government activities.

The Honourable Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi had a telephonic conversation with me and obtained details of Gujarat's preparedness as a border state and the advance planning undertaken by the state government in the current situation of tension on the border and provided necessary guidance in this regard, Patel wrote on X.

The Prime Minister also obtained details about the adequate steps taken by the state government for the safety and security of citizens, especially in sensitive districts like Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Jamnagar, which are bordered by Pakistan, he added.

7 hours blackout in border districts A blackout of over seven hours was enforced in several parts of the border districts of Kutch and Banaskantha on Thursday night, news agency PTI reported. Both Kutch and Banaskantha districts share a border with Pakistan.

Officials confirmed that several parts of Kutch, including Bhuj, Nalia, Nakhatrana and Gandhidham towns, were put under total blackout as a precautionary measure to deter any offensive gesture by Pakistan.

The lights went out around 10 pm on Thursday, and power was back after 5.30 am on Friday, they said.

Similarly, blackouts were declared in Suigam and 20 villages in its vicinity in the Banaskantha district, the report said.

India-Pakistan conflict The Indian Army, during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border.

"The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," an ANI report, quoting defence officials, said.

A day prior to that, the Indian Armed Forces, under Operation Sindoor, had carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke, in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam.
With the tensions escalating between India and Pakistan in the past couple of days following Indian Armed Forces destroyed the terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday under 'Operation Sindoor', several state and Union Territory governments have cancelled the leaves of government personnel.

The states, especially on the international borders with Pakistan, have taken special measures like closure of shops, schools, and even public places. Apart from this, leave of police personnel have been cancelled.

Also Read | Omar Abdullah says blackout in Jammu, blasts sounds can now be heard

Here are the list of states which cancelled leaves of its staff: Jammu and Kashmir: The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed all administrative secretaries and heads of departments not to sanction any kind of leave for employees.

Gujarat: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday cancelled the leave of all its officers and employees of all departments and offices of the state government with immediate effect.

Directions have been issued that no officers and employees have been instructed not to leave headquarters without prior approval from the head of the department.

Maharashtra: Maharashtra government on Friday cancelled the leaves of all senior government officials, particularly from the health and disaster management departments.

Also Read | Govt extends closure of 24 airports till May 14 amid India-Pak tensions

Punjab: Sharing a 532-km border with Pakistan, Punjab is on high alert. Leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled.

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Administration has cancelled leaves of the UT employees.

According to an official statement here on Friday, "The Chandigarh Administration has issued directions that the employees of all the Departments/Boards/Corporations must maintain their respective headquarter or station within Chandigarh and should not leave it, till further orders."

"Any leave sanctioned earlier is hereby cancelled unless approved afresh by the Secretary concerned and that too in exceptional circumstances," it said.

Haryana: The Haryana government has too cancelled leave for police and health department personnel. The civil surgeons across districts were instructed to ensure all officials stay at their postings and avoid leaving district headquarters.

Delhi: All government employee leave has been suspended as a precautionary measure by the UT government.

Himachal Pradesh: In this hilly state, police presence and checks have been ramped up.

Uttarakhand: The Uttarakhand government has placed the health sector on alert and cancelled the leave of all doctors.

Uttar Pradesh: The state police headquarters on Friday cancelled all leave of police personnel and those on leave have been asked to join their duties at the earliest.

Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, the use of crackers and drone flights have been banned in Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar. Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday ordered the cancellation of leaves of government employees.

Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh government has cancelled all leaves of police personnel across the state.

West Bengal: The eastern state, which shares border with Bangladesh, has also revoked all government employee leave and asked those previously granted leave must return to duty.

Bihar: The state government has cancelled leave for police, administrative, and disaster management officials.
NEW DELHI : Jassy Malik was all set to travel to Amritsar to visit the Harmandir Sahib at the Golden Temple from Delhi with her mother around noon on 7 May when tensions flared up in the aftermath of India's anti-terror strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Air India, Malik's airline of choice, sent her a message saying her onward flight had been cancelled and her return flight on 8 May deferred.

Malik and her mother have now put their plans on hold, along with their hotel booking near the gurdwara, until the situation calms down.

The post-Operation Sindoor escalation in tensions with Pakistan has cast a shadow over Indians' summer travel plans, especially for those heading to northern India or travelling overseas for the holidays.

In the wake of flight cancellations, airport closures, and cross-border firing in areas along the Line of Control (LoC), tour and travel companies are flooded with deferment and last-minute cancellation requests.

Widespread disruption

Travel businesses are bracing for a slowdown over the next week, especially with 27 airports shut, Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators and director of Uday Tours & Travel, a destination management company, told Mint.

The current geopolitical situation has caused a lot of uncertainty and will impact holiday and other travel for the next week at least across regions close to the border areas like the hills and Rajasthan, etc. There may not be any immediate impact on those travelling to the south of the country, though. As soon as the de-escalation begins, travellers will be back on with their plans," he said.

Since many airports are shut and flights are disrupted, there are a high number of cancellations and rescheduling, especially in the cities where there is a high alert, said one online travel agency spokesperson on the condition of anonymity.

Bespoke resort and leisure hotel chain Brij Hotels, which has properties in tourism destinations like Rajasthan, Varanasi, and Dharamshala, is also preparing for a slowdown.

That said, there will be resilience in the economy, and the domestic traveller will come back. While short-term sentiment may be cautious, we remain optimistic about the medium- to long-term outlook for domestic tourism and experiential travel in India," said Anant Apurv Kumar, co-founder of Brij Hotels.

While we won't reduce costs just yet, we will offer some additional services in our packages to incentivise some travellers," he added.

India recorded 2.51 billion domestic tourist visits in 2023, according to the ministry of tourism's latest available data.

Not just domestic travel

While some of those travelling internationally say their plans are on as per usual, some have chosen to wait it out.

Radhika Khanijo, founder of Delhi-based luxury travel agency Welgrow Travels, said all her clients' plans for outbound travel have been put on hold as of now, as many travellers have expressed the need to be at home with family. The company will follow up with their clients in the next two weeks.

In 2023, according to the tourism ministry, 27 million Indians travelled abroad, of which almost a tenth or 25,84,231, flew out of India in May, which is typically the strongest month for travel. Typically, more than 25% of all Indian travellers plan to fly out of India during April-June.

However, Subhash Goyal, chairperson of STIC Travel Group, said that, at present, all their clients' outbound travel plans are intact, and airlines will likely run at full capacity during the outbound tourist season.

Wait and watch

As for inbound travelthose scheduled to arrive in Indiathe conflict marks the end of the tourist season, with relatively few foreign leisure travellers currently in the country.

It is currently a wait-and-watch situation, said Dipak Deva, managing director of Travel Corporation India Ltd, one of the largest inbound travel companies in India.

Whether this will impact the forward season from October onwards remains to be seen. But so far, those of our clients who are in India right now have not panicked, and we have provided them with alternative options like cars and trains from areas where airports have been shut down," he said.

He added that some travellers have expressed the need to return from Jodhpur and other locations closer to the LoC.

Foreign tourist arrivals reached 19.25 million in 2023, showed the tourism ministry data.
New Delhi: Indias intelligence agencies have tightened security in key cities over concerns of possible disruptions by Pakistan-sponsored sleeper cells, two people aware of the development said. Central agencies are working closely with state machinery to identify potential hideouts and monitor suspicious activity, they added.

Security has been tightened in several important cities, including metros such as Delhi and Mumbai, and those in border regions. Alerts have been issued for sensitive infrastructure, transport hubs, and crowded public places.

Top-ranking Indian government officials said that they suspected sleeper cells could try to exploit the ongoing conflict to trigger unrest and carry out sabotage. In the past, such cells have been activated during periods of cross-border tension, prompting a proactive security response.

Queries emailed to the ministry of home affairs remained unanswered.

Dr Amit Singh, associate professor, Special Centre for National Security Studies at JNU, said, As Indian security agencies are on high alert and the majority of the population supports their efforts. I believe Pakistan will not risk giving India a reason to act against them by activating their sleeper cells, which they have previously used to create internal unrest in cities. Everything is on the radar of central agencies."

The enemy country may attempt to use its sleeper cells at a later stage, but that may not be possible given that state machinery is equally active, just like the central agencies," he added.

Leave cancelled

Security personnel on leave have been asked to report back to duty as the situation across the border continues to evolve," said the first of the two people mentioned above.

There is no reason to let our guard down. We have to think from all angles. Although incidents involving sleeper cells have reduced significantly, their presence cannot be ruled out," said the second person.

Security agencies have been briefed about potential hideouts and possible clusters. We are in constant touch with state machinery, and the general public has also been alerted to report any suspicious activity or presence of unknown individuals in their localities," this person added.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply since the Indian armed forces launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure across the Line of Control earlier this week in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian armed forces targeted several launchpads believed to be operated by Pakistan-backed groups.

India has also closed 24 airports to civilian traffic, anticipating possible escalations.
India-Pakistan conflict: Pakistan used around 300 to 400 drones on the night of May 7 and 8 to attack India, and attempted infiltration of 36 locations, during its latest strike along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir border areas, and pockets of Rajasthan, Punjab and other states.

Initial reports suggest that they (drones) are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi told the media on Friday.

Also Read | India Pakistan News LIVE: Pakistan resumes artillery fire along LoC in Uri

On Thursday, late in the evening, Pakistan fired missiles and around 300-400 drones at military sites into Jammu and other states. Heavy shelling was also reportedly ongoing in Uri, in Kashmir. The Pakistani strike comes a day after India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror beds across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday held a media briefing, anchored by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

MEA briefing post Pakistani missile and drone attack - 5 points to know On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. The Indian armed forces shot down many of the drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means, Colonel Qureshi told the media during the briefing.

Also Read | Delhi government cancels all leaves for officials amid emergency preparedness

The Pakistan army also fired heavy caliber weapons along the Line of Control, and used 300- 400 drones, in an attempt to infiltrate 36 locations, said Colonel Qureshi

As per the Indian Military, the motive behind Pakistan's large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence.

5. India has denounced Pakistans conduct as irresponsible, asserting that the safety of innocent passengers aboard international carriers was recklessly compromised.

Wing commander Vyomika Singh also noted that the IAF exercised "immense restraint," choosing not to retaliate immediately to avoid endangering civilian aircraft traversing Pakistani skies.
The Indian government on Friday strongly condemned Pakistan for what it described as a reckless and hazardous act of keeping its civilian airspace open while launching a drone and missile assault on multiple Indian cities on Thursday night.

At a press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) detailed the incident, stating that Pakistan initiated an unprovoked aerial attack on 7 May at approximately 8:30 pm, targeting Indian territory with a combination of drones and missiles. Notably, despite the offensive, Pakistan chose not to close its airspace to civilian traffica move India claims was a calculated attempt to use commercial aircraft as cover, potentially deterring an immediate counterstrike.

Pakistan refrained from shutting down its civil airspace despite carrying out an unprovoked and unsuccessful drone and missile attack on Indian cities, said Wing Commander Singh. This shows a clear and dangerous tactic of using civilian airliners as shields, fully aware that Indias air defence forces would respond robustly.

Singh warned of the grave risks posed to both domestic and international flights near the International Border (IB), particularly in the Punjab region, during the period of heightened tension. The IAF, during the briefing, presented radar evidence highlighting continuous civil aviation activity over Pakistan, contrasting it with Indias swift action to shut down its airspace in the affected zones to safeguard lives.

The radar data we displayed, sourced from FlightRadar24, demonstrates that while India cleared its skies to protect civilian life, Pakistani airspace between Karachi and Lahore remained busy with commercial flights, even as hostilities unfolded, Singh added.

India has denounced Pakistans conduct as irresponsible, asserting that the safety of innocent passengers aboard international carriers was recklessly compromised. Singh further noted that the IAF exercised "immense restraint," choosing not to retaliate immediately to avoid endangering civilian aircraft traversing Pakistani skies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with all three service chiefs (Army, Air Force, and Navy) regarding Operation Sindoor.

PM Modi met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the three service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff to strategise over the future course of action, a PTI report said.

The meeting comes just an hour after the government said that the Indian armed forces responded proportionately and adequately to Pakistan's attempts to target Indian military installations on Thursday night.

Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.

The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians.

India launched armed drones at four Pak sites Wing Commander Vyomika Singh on Friday said that India launched armed drones at four air defence sites in Pakistan after it attempted to attack military installations on the Western borders.

While speaking at a Ministry of External Affairs media briefing about Operation Sindoor on Friday, Singh said that an Indian drone destroyed one of Pakistan's Air Defence radar system.

Explaining the reasons behind Pakistan's intrusions on the intervening night of May 8-9, Singh said, The possible reasons for large area intrusions were to test the AD system and gather intelligence. Forensic examination of the drone debris is being undertaken.

Colonel Singh said that in response to Pakistan launching an armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in an attempt to target the military station in Bhatinda, armed drones were launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan.

The UAV was detected and neautralised. One of the drones was able to destroy an AD radar, she added.

Also Read | How military overshadows and fails democracy in Pakistan

Pakistan also carried out artileray shelling across the LoC using heavy caliber artillery guns and armed drones at Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir area which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel, Colonel Singh said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chairs meet Earlier in the day, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh carried out a comprehensive review of the national security scenario with the top military leadership.

Every aspect of the evolving security situation was discussed in the meeting, it is learnt.
Pakistan's attempts to attack Srinagar airport using drones were thwarted on Friday amid the ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Officials said that countermeasures were activated as Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drone attacks targeting 26 locations.

The development comes a day after India thwarted attempts by the Pakistan military to attack Indian military installations.

Mosque loudspeakers were used in Srinagar to convey to locals to switch off their lights as a precautionary measure.

As many parts of the Union Territory plunged into darkness, Blasts were heard and sirens sounded in Srinagar, Jammu region and south Kashmir.

Drone attacks in 26 locations "Drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and Line of Control with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones," a defence ministry spokesperson said.

"The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Awantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala," he said.

"Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in injuries to members of a local family," he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X, "Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am."

He also posted a picture of the city in darkness, captioning the post as, "Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."

He said in another post, It's my earnest appeal to everyone in and around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don't spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories and we will get through this together.

Also Read | India abstains from IMF vote, cites terror funding risks in new loan to Pakistan

Three people injured in Ferozpur Meanwhile, three people were injured in a Pakistani drone attack in Punjab's Ferozepur

"We received information about three people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army," reported ANI quoting Ferozepur police officer Bhupinder Singh Sidhu.

Also Read | Explosions heard in THESE Indian cities as Pakistan launches fresh attack

Army on May 8 attack According to the army, on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, Pakistan launched between 300 and 400 Turkish drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek in its failed attempt to target Indian military installations on Thursday night and also accused that country of using its civilian planes as a shield for its aerial attacks endangering the flights.
New Delhi: Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday reviewed key maritime projects and directed officials to ensure that business remains as usual. He also reviewed measures taken to ensure smooth movement of cargo.

Key Indian ports near the India-Pakistan maritime border include Kandla, Mundra and Hazira in Gujarat. All these ports are on high alert and have heightened security.

Organizations under the ministry, including the Shipping Corporation of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd, Indian Port Global Ltd, Directorate General of Shipping, and Mumbai Port Authority, participated in the review meeting, said an official statement.

Also read: Cargo traffic on National Waterways hits record high of 146 million tonnes in FY 2024-25

Considering the prevailing situation, the union minister took stock of key maritime projects and directed the officials to ensure that the business remains as usual. Sonowal also reviewed measures to be taken to ensure smooth and normal movement of cargo operations," the statement said.

The review comes amid the escalating aerial activity and attempted missiles attacks and shelling by Pakistan.

Sonowal also reviewed current operations, fleet augmentation and long-term expansion strategies aligned with the governments Vision 2047.

A review of the Greenfield Mega Port project at Vadhavan was held with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority chairman Unmesh Wagh and senior officials. The minister stressed the need to fast-track the development of the port.

Also read: LNG traders divert four US cargoes from Europe to Asia

The minister also met India Ports Global Ltd chairman Sunil Mukundan to assess the companys global performance. Discussions included the progress and future plans for Chabahar port in Iran and Sittwe port in Myanmar, projects that aim to expand Indias maritime footprint internationally.

On 5 May, Mint reported that the state-run India Ports Global Ltd is leading a consortium to acquire and operate 20 commercial ports across Asia, Africa and India, two people aware of the matter said. The company, which operates Iran's landmark Chabahar terminal, has set its eyes on ports in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Africa, West and East Asia, as well as in India.

A separate meeting was held with Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) chairman M.K. Semwal and senior management to assess the progress on critical rail connectivity projects, particularly those supporting Inland Waterways Authority of India operations in Assam and infrastructure across major ports. The minister urged IPRCL to prioritize the development of port-linked rail tracks in view of the rising cargo volumes.

In addition, the minister interacted with the newly constituted National Shipping Board, welcoming its chairperson and members.

Also read: Arrested Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in North Sea collision charged

All our agencies, organizations and teams are working towards the realization of this vision of PM Modi to transform our country as Viksit Bharat. We met to review our key projects and take measures towards swift realization of these maritime goals," Sonowal said.

Also present were T.K. Ramachandran, secretary (Ports, Shipping and Waterways), and R. Lakshmanan, joint secretary (Ports), who participated in the high-level deliberations. The minister also reviewed the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.
New Delhi: Insurance premiums for renewable energy and hydropower projects are likely to increase amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, raising the overall cost of these projects.

Several solar and wind projects that are not covered against war or conflict are looking at getting additional coverage, said an executive with a renewable energy company.

This hike in premium is expected against the backdrop of increased aerial activity, with attempted missile attacks and shelling in parts of Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.

Also read: Cyberattacks fresh in mind, India raises grid security after Pahalgam

The hydropower and green energy projects in the border states are already on high alert amid increased security. Rajasthan and Gujarat have large land parcels along the western border that contribute over 35% or 39 GW of India's installed solar capacity of 105.65 GW.

Similarly, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in the north have significant hydropower potential, with a combined installed capacity of nearly 15 GW, and several projects under construction.

A.K. Singh, general manager, National Thermal Power Corporation, hydro headquarters said: The premiums would rise in the current scenario given that there are several solar and wind projects in the border areas and about eight hydro projects are there in Jammu and Kashmir, which are already under high alert. Some solar and wind projects, however, do not have coverage against damages due to conflict or war. If these projects go for an additional or fresh insurance coverage now, the cost would be hefty as many of these projects are in bordering states."

Major hikes in premiums were most recently seen in 2021 post the pandemic and in 2022 during the height of the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to Vikram V, vice president and company group head, corporate ratings, Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency Ltd, given that a large number of real estate developers do not have coverage of war in their insurance policies for green power projects, going ahead lenders may seek the coverage for financing projects.

Amit Agarwal, managing director and chief executive officer, Howden Insurance Brokers India Pvt. Ltd, noted that although rate hikes have not been implemented so far, there may be changes due to the situation in the border areas.

Also read: India to fast-track hydropower plans on Pakistan-bound rivers

In the case of land-based property risk, clauses clearly exclude war risk cover and war-like situations. Running projects will not be affected, however, annual operational policies, particularly operational ones (hydro plants situated in difficult terrain like that of the Himalayas), have been the worst affected in securing a viable insurance policy structure. There may be some decline or rate hikes due to conditions in bordering areas. As of now, nothing has been imposed by reinsurers," said Agarwal, adding that the terms and conditions would be uniform in war and war-like situations, although there may be more hikes for border states when selecting risks.

Azeem Kanjiani, member, executive board, Reinsurance, Prudent Insurance Brokers, said projects currently have an annual policy in place for riots, strikes and malicious damage and there is a separate policy to cover terrorism and sabotage.

Hence, the current projects are largely indifferent. Having said that, war cover is sought by most projects and infrastructure risks will attract significant premium, if war cover is indeed available. Projects up to 200 km from the border would be uninsurable for war. Other projects might get war cover depending on occupancy and exposure. Some insured (projects) have availed war cover and they perhaps would be the ones at peace. Having said so, the war portion can be cancelled with notice of three to seven days," Kanjiani added.

Also read: Thermal power capacity addition slows 32% in FY25 due to project execution problems

With an installed renewable energy capacity of 231.81 GW, India is among the top destinations for investments in sustainability and new energy space. By 2030, India is projected to require investments of around $200 billion to establish real estate projects by 2030, according to Nomura, as it eyes to achieve a cumulative non-fossil capacity of 500 GW.
After US Vice-President JD Vance remarked that the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan is none of their business, a Washington DC-based South Asia expert Michael Kugelman has said the comment reflects a broader shift in American foreign policy. Kugelman, a prominent analyst and Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre, suggested that Vances statement aligns with the Trump administrations general stance on global affairs.

I think on the whole, the read I have of what JD Vance said is that it really reflects the Trump administration's broad view of foreign policy, Kugelman told media. That is, that the US should not be over-extending itself in international affairs.

He added that while Washington might support de-escalation in principle, it is unlikely to devote serious diplomatic resources to mediating the conflict.

Its happy to express its desire for India and Pakistan to de-escalate, but the US is not going to expand significant levels of bandwidth to try to get the two sides to de-escalate, Kugelman said. That would be a significant change from the first Trump administration.



'None Of Our Business'

Earlier in the day, US Vice-President JD Vance said that the conflict between India and Pakistan was "fundamentally none of our business," even as he and President Donald Trump encouraged both nations to de-escalate tensions.

What we could do was try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we were not going to get involved in the middle of a war that was fundamentally none of our business and had nothing to do with America's ability to control it," Vance said in an interview with Fox News.

"You know, America couldnt tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We couldnt tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so, we were going to continue to pursue this through diplomatic channels, he added.

Vance, who has long advocated for reduced US involvement in international conflicts, also said: Our hope and our expectation was that this was not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict. Right now, we didnt think that was going to happen.
India-Pakistan conflict: On Thursday, late in the evening, Pakistan fired missiles and around 300-400 drones at military sites into Jammu and other states. Heavy shelling was also reportedly ongoing in Uri, in Kashmir. The town of Uri is just over 3 kilometres from the Line of Control and over 100 kilometers from Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir.

Apart from violating Indian airspace several times over the entire western border, the Pakistani army also fired heavy caliber weapons along the Line of Control, attempting to infiltrate 36 locations. The drones used in the strike were likely Turkish Asisguard Songar drones, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi told the media during a briefing after the strikes.

Eight missiles were fired from Pakistan towards Kashmir, an Indian defense personnel said, adding that they were all intercepted and blocked by Air Defense Units. The attacks were directed at the towns of Satwari, Samba, Ranbir Singh Pura and Arnia.

The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test Air Defence systems and collect intelligence, Indian military told the media.

Officials have confirmed that Jammu Airport remains unaffected despite the Pakistan attack.

Meanwhile, Delhi is on high alert with heightened security measures across the city, night patrolling in place, and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) instructed to neutralise any suspicious activity.

Military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, located near the International Boundary in Jammu & Kashmir, were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. The Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised the threat using both kinetic and non-kinetic means, with no losses reported.

Also Read | Pakistani Army behaving like Hamas and using cheap rockets: Defence sources

In the latest of the developments that occurs from Pakistan's attack on Indian states, two Pakistani drones were shot down by Indian Army Air Defence Units in Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir, said defence sources.

These attacks by Pakistan followed Indias retaliatory missile strikes on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, targeting militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in locations such as Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Kotli.
In response to the massacre in Pahalgam, where terrorists killed tourists in cold blood on the basis of "faith," the government sent a strong message by launching Operation Sindoor on May 7 and destroying nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Hours later, New Delhi sent another message as two women officers  Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Quraishi  took the lead, sharing details of the military's precision strikes against the Islamic nation.

Soon after the operation, social media was swamped with celebratory messages applauding the Indian armed forces. Now, Amul has shared an ad which has won people's hearts.

#Amul Topical: The India-Pakistan conflict, the dairy giant wrote on X. The doodle it shared has the words, Send them pakking - an expression meaning to tell someone to leave immediately and often in a dismissive or forceful manner. It also says, Amul proudly Indian.

Quraishi from the Indian Army's Signal Corps and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot, were the two women officers who, alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefed the world on Operation Sindoor. In the illustration, the Amul girl is seen saluting the women officers standing proudly at their podiums.

Here's how social media reacted: An individual wrote, Lets do it permanently. Another called the ad Lovely. A third expressed that they love the brand Amul. A fourth conveyed their reaction through a salute emoji.



Infiltration Bid Foiled Pakistan's missile attacks on Thursday evening in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba were foiled by the Border Security Forces. Jammu, RS Pura, Samba, Hiranagar, and Arnia reported massive shelling from Islamabad.
Got fired because of a sticker: A Redditor said that he was fired from his job in Canada over a harmless April Fools' prank, which he had allegedly got approved from the Human Resources beforehand.

In the viral post, the social media user shared an image of the sticker that got in into trouble and said, I put it in our staff washroom At the top of the mirror Everyone besides the boss knew what I was doing because I had joked about doing it as an April fools joke and HR said to do it and even told me what washroom to put it in.

However, the next day, he said he realised that all his things werent where I left them and therefore, he immediately knew he was getting suspended for it.

I had full intentions of admitting it and speaking with him about it so thats what I continued to do that morning. I didnt want anyone getting blamed, he said.

But then the unexpected happened: As soon as I went in his office I explained to him that as a leader I shouldnt have done that. And said sorry. He then told me we have to let you go. Not sure why he said we, HR was not there.

The social media user then shared an incident that his boss recalled when he asked him if there was anything that he had done in the past that betrayed his trust like this had.

The Redditor said that he said okay thanks for everything and left after saying goodbye to the cleaner. He added that he wasn't even written up or suspended from his job of 10 months.

Also Read | Release Imran Khan trends on social media as Pakistan attacks Indian cities

Part of me is so sad because I spent so much time focusing on making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident so we could have a successful shift. My heart is broken because a lot of the staff believed in me as a leader, he said.

The user sought help from fellow Redditors to see if he should approach the labour board about it or not, since he didn't have a written proof.

Here how the netizen reacted: Netizens were of the opinion that this incident is unlikely to be the sole reason for firing someone and said the social media user likely offended someone.

This is wild, we have these signs at work in the employee-only areas. No one cares, a user said.

That is something insane to fire someone over, they probably just wanted you gone anyways and used this as an excuse. Get a union job and you won't have to work for little bitches who can fire you for any reason, added another user.

A user said: We had this in my bathroom at my old job, and it was my manager who put it up lol. We all thought it was hilarious. People are weird to get offended by this.
Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is facing online ridicule after giving a bizarre reason for not shooting down Indias drones. Asif claimed that Pakistan refrained from gunning down Indian drones during Operation Sindoor to avoid revealing sensitive locations.

The statement contradicts the Pakistan Army's earlier claim that it had gunned down Indian drones.

The drone attack was planned to detect our locations. Its a technical thing that I cannot properly explain. We did not intercept them because we did not want to disclose our locations, he said.

Many found it ironic, as the drone was allowed to fly freely. Indias Operation Sindoor, carried out on May 7, targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

During the operation, India also intercepted Pakistani drones and missiles with its advanced S-400 defence system. Asifs statement has raised doubts about Pakistans military strength.

I decided not to kill the mosquitos in my bedroom because I am afraid the mosquito will realize Im in the bed, quipped one social media user.

Another Indian user wrote, Comedy will never end till neighbours are there.

He is totally clueless, observed another user.

So they let their people die in the interest of military installations? Damn. How being poor changes your interests. They have turned their people into cannon fodder. Jinnah would be so proud! came another sarcastic comment.

In a separate statement, Asif was heard saying that India had sent drones to Pakistan because Indian pilots had refused to fly war planes.

Khawaja Asif admits Pakistan funds terrorists In another statement, the defence minister admitted on camera that Pakistan had been funding terrorist organisations for a long time.

While speaking to Sky News Yalda Hakim, he said, Well, weve been doing this dirty work for the United States and the West, including Britain, for about three decades now."

During a CNN interview, he was asked to provide evidence that Pakistan had shot Indian drones.

Its all over the social media, came his reply.
Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025 commemorates the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, one of Indias most revered literary figures.

Celebrated annually on the 25th day of the Bengali month of Boishakh (usually April or May), this day honours his extraordinary contributions to literature, music, art, and education.

Composer of India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, Tagore was a polymath who bridged cultures through his works.

Born in 1861, he played a leading role in Indian cultural renaissance and came to be recognized as one of the architects of modern India alongside Mahatama Gandhi.

Tagore is renowned for his contribution to the field of Bengali literature and politics. His poems, shorts stories, songs, plays, and novels are still revered and analysed in different fields of art.

Why is Rabindranath Tagore called the Bard of Bengal? Rabindranath Tagore is called the Bard of Bengal, much like William Shakespeare is called the Bard of Avon, because of his monumental influence on Bengali literature, music, and culture.

As a prolific poet, composer, and social reformer, he revolutionised Bengali literature and introduced it to the world, earning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

He was the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for his contribution to world literature.

His compositions, known as Rabindra Sangeet, remain a cornerstone of Bengali music. Tagore's works, blending traditional Bengali culture with modern ideas, also inspired the Bengali Renaissance and India's nationalist movements.

He also penned the national anthem for Bangladesh. Some of his other notable works include Gitanjali, Chokher Bali, Post Master, Kabuliwallah, Nastanirh.

Also Read | Looking back at the intertwined legacies of Tagore and Ray

Top quotes by Rabindranath Tagore: Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls...

The problem is not how to wipe out all differences, but how to unite with all differences intact.

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in you. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

You cant cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.

Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free."

The most important lesson that man can learn from life is not that there is pain in this world, but that it is possible for him to transmute it into joy.

A lamp can only light another lamp when it continues to burn in its own flame.
US President Donald Trump has urged both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions "as quickly as possible," the White House said on Friday, following a sharp spike in hostilities between the two neighbouring countries.

Long history of tensions The President has expressed he wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible, Leavitt told reporters. He understands these are two countries that have been at odds with one another for decades, long before President Trump was here in the Oval Office.

She added, This is something that the Secretary of State and, of course, now our national security advisor as well, Marco Rubio, has been very much involved in.

US in close contact with both sides Leavitt highlighted that Trump has good relationships with the leaders of both India and Pakistan, and said National Security Advisor Marco Rubio has been in constant communication with the leaders of both countries, trying to bring this conflict to an end.

Calls with Jaishankar and Sharif On Thursday, Secretary of State Rubio spoke separately with Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pressing for de-escalation while also stressing the need for Pakistan to act against terror groups.

Rubio, according to Leavitt, emphasised the need for de-escalation and reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups.

Indias firm stance During his conversation with Rubio, Jaishankar made Indias position clear, stating that India will firmly counter any attempts by Pakistan to escalate the situation.

Trump offers to mediate US President Donald Trump on the day of Operation Sindoor revealed that Washington had indications of Indias strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), expressing hope that tensions between the two countries would not spiral further.

Speaking to reporters after Indias Operation Sindoor, Trump said, We knew something was going to happen. He acknowledged the long-standing hostility between the two neighbours, adding, They have been fighting for many many decades, and centuries when you think about it. I just hope it ends very quickly.
Senior European officials are in talks with the Trump administration to finalize an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that would impose new sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin doesnt budge, said people familiar with the matter.

The plans arent yet final, and moving forward still hinges on the US, which has called for a month-long unconditional truce and for Russia and Ukraine to both be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of direct negotiations.

If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions, US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post earlier this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday said European leaders from the coalition of the willing planned to gather in Ukraine on Saturday. Speaking to a military summit in Norway via video link, Zelenskiy didnt say which countries would attend.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiys chief of staff, said in a social media post that the US and our other strategic partners like the UK, France, Germany, Nordics support a 30-days ceasefire and that they are discussing when to impose very powerful sanctions if Russia rejects the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing Friday that Europe is on board for Trumps proposal.

Diplomatic efforts to end the longest and bloodiest conflict in Europe since the World War II have intensified after several meetings between European, US and Ukrainian envoys, including in London and Paris.

Those leaders held another a series of phone calls this week, and Zelenskiy met Trump at the Vatican on April 26, when world leaders gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis.

European and US officials said privately that views on the conflict within the White House have since hardened, with Putin now seen as an impediment to peace efforts.

What I would say is, right now, the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think theyre asking for too much, US Vice President JD Vance said this week.

On Friday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine has had positive and productive communication with the US recently. Were all on the same page  there has to be a full ceasefire. And if Russia keeps dragging out the war, well need stronger sanctions  especially if they break the ceasefire when it finally happens.

Trump pledged to end the war during his first 100 days in the office  a milestone that passed on April 29  and has dispatched trusted special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for talks, but so far has failed to persuade Putin to agree to a deal.

Moscow has refused to accept US demands for a truce lasting at least a month, and Putin has maintained maximalist positions for any ceasefire, including that Russia is granted control of four eastern and southeastern Ukrainian regions it annexed illegally in 2022 but doesnt fully occupy.

Russia recently has intensified its attacks along the lengthy front line as well as on civilians. Kremlin forces launched a series of deadly drone and missile strikes on civilian areas of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskiys home town.

Meanwhile, Zelenskiy agreed to grant the US control over some future resource revenues in order to maintain Trumps support, and has backed calls for an unconditional truce.

US officials have prepared a set of options for Trump to crank up economic pressure on Russia, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The people cautioned that the US leader has made no decisions yet, as diplomatic efforts are ongoing.

Ukraine is seeking a US security backstop to prevent future Russian attacks, Zelenskiy said earlier.

There are two directions: either we have a foreign contingent in large numbers, or it is a smaller contingent that also has something like Article 5, Zelenskiy said on May 3, referring to NATOs core statute. A model like Israel has, which to a large extent is the US backstop, he added.

The US has previously floated proposals to end the war that would broadly freeze the conflict along current lines, leaving most of the territory occupied by Russia in the Moscows hands. The Trump administration is also prepared to recognize the Ukrainian region of Crimea as Russian, Bloomberg reported in April.

Ukraines NATO aspirations would be off the table, sanctions on Russia would be lifted, while Kyiv would receive strong security guarantees to ensure that any deal holds.

The Trump administration also wants Moscow to return Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe, which it seized early in the war. The facility would then come under US control to administer energy to both sides.

With assistance from Natalia Drozdiak.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Vice President JD Vance has dismissed speculation of a rivalry with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying reports of tension are unfounded despite both being viewed as potential successors to President Donald Trump in 2028.

Vance, in an interview with Fox News, laughed off suggestions that Trump was stoking competition between them. Not at all, Vance said. Marcos probably my best friend in the administration. We hang out and talk all the time. Hes doing a really good job.

Trump elevates Rubios role While Vance edged out Marco Rubio to become Trumps running mate in 2024, the president has continued to give Rubio high-profile responsibilities. Rubio, who now serves as secretary of state, was recently appointed interim national security adviser after the removal of Michael Waltz.

Trump: No successor named yet Although Trump has praised both men as potential leaders of the MAGA movements future, he has declined to endorse either one for 2028. In a May 4 NBC News interview, Trump mentioned both Vance and Rubio when discussing the partys future.

Asked about Trumps reluctance to endorse a successor, Vance told Fox News: The presidents not going to name a successor 110 days into his administration, nor should he.
Barely hours after India and the UK finalised their multi-billion-pound Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday, Hemant Raos cellphone started buzzing with calls and emails. These were mostly from whisky exporters from the UK who wanted to get a better idea of the Indian market, says Rao, founder of the Single Malt Amateurs Club (SMAC), which has about 7,500 members globally. This will come as a huge boost to Scotch, he says of the FTA.

The IndiaUK agreement aims to deepen trade ties by cutting tariffs across sectors. For whisky, its a landmark move. India is the worlds largest whisky market by volume, and Scotch its most coveted import. Under the FTA, the import duty on UK-origin whisky will drop from 150 per cent to 75 per cent immediately, and further to 40 per cent over 10 years  making premium and rare expressions as well as low-key brands such as Mortlach, Old Pulteney, and Tomatin far more accessible to Indian drinkers.

While the development has unsettled Indian distillers  particularly those in the growing premium space  it also opens up new possibilities. Lower duties reduce the cost of imported Scotch used in blends, improving margins for many Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands. But for Indian single malt makers, whove spent the last decade building a reputation, this will mean tougher competition. This development is particularly promising for Indian whisky brands that depend heavily on bulk malt imports from the UK, positioning them for greater growth. While we've already seen strong momentum in premium malts over the past five years, I anticipate this progress will significantly accelerate, leading to an even richer and more competitive premium whisky landscape in India, says Rao. And that means the whisky lover in India can now look beyond the Glenlivets and Laphroaigs and get introduced to both lesser-known but highly rated Scotch whisky brands as well as offerings from boutique and small bottlers.

Low-key brands such as Mortlach, Old Pulteney, and Tomatin will soon become more accessible to Indian drinkers.

Access to independent bottlers Independent bottlers are family-run outfits that buy barrels from distilleries and release them under their own label. Names like Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing, and Signatory Vintage rarely make it to our shores, mainly due to regulatory complexity and high duties. With the FTA lowering that barrier, one can expect these bottles to finally reach Indian shelves through specialty importers. Gordon & MacPhail have been recce-ing the Indian market for a while, and that is likely to happen now, says Rao, who also expects the likes of Port Askaig to consider India more seriously. Port Askaig was set up by Sukhinder Singh, the London-based co-founder of The Whisky Exchange, the worlds biggest online whisky retailer, and owner of Elixir Distilleries. Named after the port village on Islay's north coast, Port Askaig offers a range of expressions, including an 8-year-old, 100 Proof, and limited editions.

Rare and special stock Older Scotch has always been prohibitively expensive in India. Even 18-year-old expressions come with bloated price tags due to the duty structure. For the moneyed but cautious whisky lover, the Glenfiddich Gran Chateau 31 YO ( 2.5 lakh) will appear to be a lot less of an extravagance once the new prices kick in. The tariff reduction also makes it more viable for importers to bring in aged and rare stock, especially from distilleries like Glendronach, Ben Nevis, or Balblair, which arent mainstream but have cult appeal.

Lesser-known brands and English drams Scotch whisky isnt always about heritage, bagpipes, and pristine glens. There are some great new brands as well. Ardnamurchan Distillery, which commenced production in 2014, is one of them. Located in the Western Highlands, on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, the peaty, brine-y whisky is highly rated by aficionados such as Rao, who also expects English single malts such as those from The Lakes Distillery to find their way to India. The revised import landscape could finally make India commercially viable for smaller, boutique distilleries, notes Rao.

The Lakes single malt

Craft-blended Scotch Blended Scotch is often perceived as inferior to single malts, especially in India, but theres a rising craft movement in the UK where new-age blenders are creating excellent small-batch blends. Brands like Compass Box and Woven are leading this shift. These could find a space as the market matures.

Private cask programmes Earlier this year, Diageo hosted several dinners across India for wealthy whisky lovers in order to gauge their appetite for the companys global Casks of Distinction programme. The programme allows clients to own a fully mature cask of whisky, sourced from a range of some of Scotlands most storied distilleries. While laws in India regarding cask ownership remain complex, the FTA could lead to greater participation from Indian buyers in such models, especially if partnered with luxury importers or clubs.
India-Pakistan Conflict: Asim Munir, the Chief of the Pakistan Army, has become a focal point of discussion following the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. His provocative speech shortly before the attack, in which he referred to Kashmir as Pakistans jugular vein and reiterated two-nation theory, is widely seen as a catalyst for the violence.

Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, have linked Asim Munirs communal and militant rhetoric to the timing and nature of the Pahalgam attack, suggesting that his statements served as a dog whistle for militant groups to escalate their operations.

Also Read | Pakistan Prime Minister picks Lt Gen Asim Munir as new army chief

Further fuelling the controversy are allegations and rumours circulating on social media about Asim Munirs possible arrest or ouster within Pakistans military establishment, reflecting internal dissent or power struggles. Former Pakistani army officer Major Adil Raja has publicly accused Asim Munir of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack to consolidate personal political power, likening his ambitions to those of former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.

Asim Munirs warnings of a swift and notched-up response to any Indian military action following the Pahalgam massacre have only heightened tensions, signalling a readiness to escalate the conflict.

The situation remains volatile, with the Pahalgam attack and Asim Munirs inflammatory rhetoric contributing to a dangerous cycle of provocation and retaliation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Here are some controversies of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir

Political Interference and Suppression of PTI Asim Munir has been widely criticised for intervening in Pakistans civilian politics despite his military role. He is accused of suppressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, including using military courts to try civilians involved in the May 9, 2023 riots following Khans arrest. Imran Khan has accused Munir of conspiring against him, violating neutrality agreements, and even plotting to assassinate him.

Use of Military Courts Against Civilians After the May 9 riots, Asim Munir initiated trials of civilians in military courts under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act, a move condemned by human rights groups and later struck down by Pakistans Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Allegations of Threats and Intimidation During the May 9 unrest, Asim Munir allegedly threatened senior officers and warned families of those involved in the riots that if he "goes down he will take others down with him," according to former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, though these claims were contested by Pakistani officials.

Harsh Stance on Afghan Refugees Asim Munir has been criticised for endorsing the deportation of illegal Afghan refugees despite their difficult circumstances.

Provocative Statements on Kashmir In April 2025, Asim Munir described Kashmir as Pakistans jugular vein and emphasised religious and cultural differences between Muslims and Hindus, echoing the two-nation theory. These remarks were seen as inflammatory and aimed at rallying nationalist sentiment amid internal challenges.

Accusations of Orchestrating Terror Attacks Asim Munir was the head of Pakistans ISI during the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and is alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. His provocative speeches shortly before the Pahalgam attack have been linked to inciting terrorism in Kashmir.

Internal Military Unrest Munirs leadership has faced dissent within the Pakistan Army, including forced retirements of senior officers and calls from junior officers for his resignation, partly due to failures in security and handling of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Criticism from International Figures
Bangladeshs interim government on Friday (May 9) announced it would make a quick decision on banning the Awami League, the party of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, following mounting pressure from student-led activists and rightwing groups.

Quick decision promised The office of interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus issued a statement saying, The government considers with seriousness the recent demand raised on behalf of different political parties, organisations and the people to disband Awami League over allegations of autocratic rule and terrorist activities,

The statement confirmed that discussions with other political parties were underway and assured, We will take a quick decision in consultation with them.

Protests intensify outside Yunuss residence The move came after members of the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by students who spearheaded the protests that ousted Hasina last year, staged an overnight demonstration outside Yunuss official residence Jamuna. The activists set up a makeshift stage and offered Friday prayers at the protest site.

Our movement has started. This campaign may continue for one day or even a month. We will have to remain on the street until the announcement of banning Awami League is made, NCP leader Sarjis Alam told the rally.

Support from Islamist groups Leaders from Jamaat-e-Islam, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Hefazat-e-Islam also joined the NCP rally on Friday, bolstering the protests size and intensity.

The government urged protesters to maintain calm while deliberations continue and confirmed that it had already disbanded the Awami Leagues student wing, stating, The government has disbanded what it called terrorist Chhatra League.

Nationwide road blockades Later, NCP protesters enforced a blockade at Dhakas Shahbagh Square, chanting slogans against the Awami League. Until the government notification is issued on the ban, we will not return to our home. We will dig Awami Leagues grave at Shahbagh, Alam declared, as media reports indicated that similar blockades had spread across various parts of the country.

BNP distances itself Meanwhile, the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) distanced itself from the call for a ban, stating it opposed the banning of any political party.
Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a high alert was sounded in the national capital. Security has been reinforced with additional forces, and police are actively monitoring law and order.



Read More: Loud explosions were heard in parts of J & K early Saturday, 32 airports have been shut for civilian flight operations

Here are the top ten updates: 1. Authorities in Delhi are preparing themselves in the wake of a conflict between India and Pakistan by installing air sirens, deploying civil defence personnel and setting up control rooms to conducting mock drills. Heavy security has been deployed at vital installations, including government buildings, and areas with high footfalls in the national capital. In Central district, civil defence volunteers are being trained and 50 of them will be deployed in different areas.

The civil defence directorate carried out testing of an air raid siren installed atop the multistorey PWD building in ITO on Friday afternoon.

From Friday night, 40 to 50 sirens will be installed atop multistorey and high-rise buildings. They will be used in case of an emergency situation. There will be one command centre for controlling them and they will be rung for five minutes. We will be able to use them in situations of a blackout. These sirens will be under the control of NDMA. We will cover entire Delhi, said Delhi PWD minister Parvesh Verma.

Earlier on Thursday, visitors at India Gate, the iconic war memorial, were asked to leave and evacuate the area, PTI reported. "This is a standard practice to keep the C Hexagon traffic jam-free. There is nothing new in it. Anyone can come tomorrow and see it," New Delhi Deputy Commissioner Devesh Mahala said. "Police will stay alert and will keep active. Night vigil has been intensified. We will deploy extra force in every sensitive area," a police officer said.



Read More: Get latest updates on MEA Press Conference today

Delhi Police checking vehicles and details of drivers on Mathura Road in New Delhi on Thursday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

2. Security beefed up across New Delhi with additional forces, including paramilitary personnel, being deployed at key installations. Police sources told PTI that special commissioners of all zones are holding meetings with the deputy commissioners of all 15 districts. "All DCPs are actively monitoring law and order in their areas. They have already briefed their officers like ACPs and SHOs. DCPs are personally monitoring their area and Delhi Police is ready to deal with any kind of situation," a source told PTI.

Pak reacts 3. Pakistan on Friday rejected reports in the Indian media that it had attacked multiple places in India, saying such claims are "entirely unfounded" and part of a reckless propaganda campaign. Such actions only further endanger regional peace, the Foreign Office said in a midnight statement.

4. Meanwhile, Amritsar DPRO advised all citizens to stay indoors and away from the windows and keep lights turned off and the window curtains drawn. There is no need to panic, a siren will blow now and we will pass the message again once it is clear. Our armed forces are on the job, and we need to support them by staying indoors. There is no need to panic, Amritsar DPRO said.

Amritsar: View of a blackout at the Heritage Street near the Golden Temple premises, amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan, in Amritsar, Punjab, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (PTI Photo/Shiva Sharma)

5. "Military stations at Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir today," a defence ministry spokesperson said, as reported by PTI. Military sources told PTI that missiles from Pakistan were also directed at Jammu's Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia towns and that they were blocked by India's air defence systems.

Over 50 Pak drones neutralised 6. Yesterday night, when Pakistan made failed attempts to send swarm drones all across various places along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Borders (IB), over 50 drones were successfully neutralized during a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted by Indian Army Air Defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot areas. The engagement involved extensive use of L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and other advanced counter-UAS equipment, demonstrating the Armys robust capability to counter aerial threats, Sources told ANI.

7. Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the US has said it is not going to get involved in a war that's fundamentally none of our business. While the US cannot control India and Pakistan, it can encourage the two nuclear-armed neighbours to de-escalate, Vice President J D Vance said in a TV interview on Thursday, PTI reported.

8. A Pakistani Air Force jet was shot down by Indian air defence systems in the Pathankot sector of Punjab, multiple sources informed ANI on Friday. Official confirmation from the government is still pending, and more details are expected.

9. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting on Thursday with the Director Generals of all border guarding forces to review the current security situation along India's borders. The meeting centred on assessing the preparedness and readiness of Indian forces following a large-scale drone and missile attack by Pakistan on Indian territories, including Jammu and Rajasthan. The targeted areas comprised Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and Jaisalmer. All incoming missiles were successfully intercepted by Indian air defense systems, and no significant damage was noted, ANI reported.

Jaisalmer: City of Jaisalmer during blackout amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Rajasthan, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (PTI Photo)

Nepal stands together with all in the fight against terrorism.

There is no need to panic, our armed forces are on the job.

10. Nepal on Thursday evening voiced support with "all in the fight against terrorism", reacting to India's Operation Sindoor. "Nepal stands together with all in the fight against terrorism. In line with its principled position, Nepal shall not allow any inimical forces to use its soil against its neighbouring countries," the Nepal foreign ministry stated in a release.
India-Pakistan Highlights: In a special briefing by Defence Ministry on Operation Sindoor, Commodore Raghu R Nair said that Army rejects claim of damaging mosques. He added that India is a secular nation.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that Pakistan's claims of damaging S400 and Brahmos missile base are fake and misleading. Meanwhile, Commodore Raghu R Nair specifically mentioned that every future escalation will invite a decisive response.

In the meantime, Pakistan have announced opening of its airspace for India.

Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, India and Pakistan to stop firing and military action from 5 pm IST on land and in the air and sea, informed Foreign Secy Vikram Misri on Saturday while addressing the press. He added that the Indian DGMO and Pakistan's DGMO to talk again on 12 May at 12 pm.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police DCP operations on Saturday issued preventive orders under the Maharashtra Police Act. The police have banned the use of firecrackers from 11 May to 9 June 2025.

The Border Security Force on Saturday said it has "completely destroyed" a terrorist launchpad opposite Akhnoor in Jammu in response to unprovoked firing from the other side along the International Border.

The base was located at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot district, a BSF spokesperson said.

This came after Pakistan initiated "unprovoked" firing on BSF posts in Jammu sector from 9 pm on Friday.

In the wee hours, the Indian Army said it had successfully thwarted a Pakistani drone attack, demonstrating India's robust air defence systems in the wake of Pakistan's blatant escalation along India's western borders.

Earlier, fragments and debris of an unidentified projectile were recovered from a field in Mughlani Kot Village in Punjab's Amritsar on Saturday morning, in the wake of Pakistan's blatant drone attacks against civilians across several locations in India.

32 Indian airports closed  Is Delhi airport operational?

According to the latest directions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 32 airports will remain inoperative for civilian and commercial flights until 15 May as tensions escalate between India and Pakistan.

However, Delhi Airport's operations remain normal, although some flights may be affected, and security checkpoint processing times could be longer due to "evolving airspace conditions," Delhi Airport confirmed on X.

Patiala district issues emergency advisory

In case of any emergency, please contact the following control room numbers:

Deputy Commissioners Office, Patiala

0175-2350550

Police Control Room, Patiala

98764-32100

95929-17910

95929-12500

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The Indian armed forces successfully utilised the Made in India Akash missile system to thwart Pakistani attacks, ANI reported citing by Defence Officials.

The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border, Defence Officials told ANI.

Akash Missile System: Indias Homegrown Guardian Developed by the DRDO, the indigenous Akash missile system has emerged as a key component of Indias air defence, with a range of 45 to 70 km and the capability to counter multiple aerial threats simultaneously.

The advanced Akash-NG variant, armed with a 60 kg high-explosive warhead and equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and ECCM technologies, recently showcased a flawless 100% interception rate against low-flying drones and loitering munitions in live tests.

Its high mobility allows quick deployment to sensitive regions, effectively neutralising drone swarm threats from across the border.

MRSAM: Strategic Reach with Pinpoint Accuracy Jointly developed by India and Israel, the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system extends air defence coverage to a range of 70 to 100 km, offering a formidable shield against high-speed aerial threats.

Seamlessly integrated with the Indian Air Forces Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), this network-enabled missile system effectively tracks and intercepts threats such as cruise missiles, serving as a long-range complement to the Akash systems medium-range defence.





Zu-23: Last Line of Defence

To counter threats in the final stages of engagement, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Zu-23-2 twin-barrel anti-aircraft guns, effective at close ranges of 23 km.

Though dated, these guns offered a cost-effective and reliable terminal defence, proving lethal against low-flying drones that managed to evade outer missile defences.

The IAFs Integrated Counter-UAS Grid combined radar intelligence from the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) with coordinated deployments of Akash, MRSAM, and Zu-23 units, enabling real-time tracking and prioritisation of threats.

Electronic warfare assets, including jamming and spoofing systems, further impaired the navigational capabilities of incoming Pakistani drones, neutralising them before they could cause damage. This multi-layered defence strategy ensured Indian airspace remained uncompromised, with wreckage of downed drones recovered across Jammu, Punjab, and Gujarat.

Earlier in the day, India had also utilised the Russian-made S-400 Sudarshan Chakra to thwart initial waves of attack.
Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Chinese foreign ministry expressed concerns regarding the current developments and urged both nations to act in the larger interest of peace and stability and remain calm.

As reported by ANI citing the Chinese foreign ministry, Lin Jian emphasised Chinas willingness to collaborate with the international community to play a constructive role in reducing tensions between the two countries.

He also reiterated Chinas condemnation of all forms of terrorism.

When asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statement that Pakistan will respond to India's strikes, he said, We've shared China's position yesterday on the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan. China is concerned over the current developments. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbours.

They're both China's neighbours as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, including the UN Charter, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation. We stand ready to work with the rest of the international community to continue playing a constructive role in easing the current tensions, he added.

Earlier on May 7, China's Foreign Ministry urged restraint from India and Pakistan in the larger interest of peace and stability in the neighbourhood following Operation Sindoor.

Earlier in April, describing China as an ironclad friend and all-weather strategic partner, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had stated that China fully understands Pakistans legitimate security concerns and backs its efforts to safeguard sovereignty and security interests.

On April 27, Dar called China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, over the phone and briefed him on the situation.

In his talks with Dar, Wang said that China is closely following the developments. He said that combating terrorism is a shared responsibility of the whole world, and China supports an impartial investigation as soon as possible, as the conflict does not serve the fundamental interests of either India or Pakistan, nor does it contribute to regional peace and stability, PTI reported.

India-Pakistan conflict

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 carried out precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian forces, targeted nine terror sites, which were successfully hit.

We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation.

During the intervening night of May 8 and 9, the Indian Army has successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated.
African Parks, a charity linked to Prince Harry, has admitted that its rangers committed human rights abuses in Congo-Brazzaville, the BBC reported.

Prince Harry has been part of African Parks since 2016. After six years as president, Meghan Markle's husband joined its Board of Directors in 2023. The BBC has asked the Duke of Sussex for a comment on the current situation.

African Parks, based in Johannesburg, is a major conservation group managing 23 protected areas across 13 African countries. Its supported by powerful donors and receives over $500,000 ( 4.2 crore) in funding annually.

Allegations against rangers Baka community members earlier made serious allegations. According to them, rangers allegedly beat, waterboarded and raped locals to keep them out of their ancestral forest, now a conservation area.

African Parks did order a review. However, the full report has not been shared publicly. Instead, a brief statement confirmed that abuse had taken place in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. It gave no specific details.

UK law firm Omnia Strategy LLP led an investigation into abuse claims at Odzala-Kokoua Park. However, it shared findings only with African Parks, not the public. This raised concerns over transparency.

Omnias statement confirmed the probe had begun in December 2023 but gave no details. The BBC asked both Omnia and involved barristers for the report, but they refused to comment.

African Parks Survival International told the BBC that African Parks had promised more reports, staff and rules. Nevertheless, these steps have not stopped serious human rights abuses over the past decade.

There is no reason to believe they will do so now, it told the publication.

It said African Parks had known about these problems since 2013. African Parks said they tried to contact Survival for more details when the claims came out in 2024.

Also Read | Prince Harry shares emotional message about his children

However, Survival refused to cooperate as it wanted to protect local sources from harm. African Parks said they had improved their safety steps over the last five years, especially in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.

It added an anthropologist to support Baka communities and partnered with local human rights groups. It also promised to do an independent human rights check.

Survival has criticised African Parks for not sharing the results of their investigation. It has also informed Prince Harry about the reported abuse of the Baka people.

Also Read | Prince Harry seeks family reconciliation after losing a court case that caused a split with his dad

More trouble for Prince Harry? This adds to the list of disturbing news connected to Prince Harry in recent times. Another African charity, helmed by the Duke, has been in trouble.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said the government is engaged in daily diplomatic contacts with countries, including Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar, in efforts to de-escalate the situation in the region.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif also claimed that the recent drone attacks by India were intended for reconnaissance purposes rather than immediate strikes, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Indian drones were allowed to enter a safe limit before intercepting and neutralising them to avoid compromising sensitive locations, he claimed.

Minister for Information Atta Tarar claimed that at least 29 drones were intercepted since Wednesday until Thursday evening, with an additional 48 shot down overnight and into Friday.

Pakistan used Turkish drones India, however, on Friday said that Pakistan sent 300-400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek last night to target Indian military installations and the drones were shot down by the Indian military.

Tensions between India and Pakistan soared significantly following India's Operation Sindoor on early Wednesday in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that had cross-border linkages and Pakistan's subsequent unsuccessful attempt to attack 15 Indian cities.

Asif said that the government is engaged in daily diplomatic contacts with countries including Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar, in efforts to de-escalate the situation.

His comments came as Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir arrived in Islamabad after a visit to New Delhi.

Jubeir later visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar received him, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

The Saudi minister is expected to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief General Asim Munir, Geo News reported.

Saudi Minister of State's India visit Al-Jubeir, who travelled to New Delhi a day earlier on an unannounced visit, held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed the situation that has developed since India's military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir early Wednesday.

The Saudi minister arrived in India hours after Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi flew into New Delhi late Wednesday for a previously scheduled visit to co-chair a meeting of the bilateral joint commission with Jaishankar.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan would protect its dignity and sovereignty at all costs.

Addressing the media flanked by the officers of the Air Force and the Navy, Chaudhry alleged that the Indian government blamed Pakistan in connection with the Pahalgam incident to divert attention from internal issues, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, Health Federal Syed Mustafa Kamal said all health authorities and hospitals are on high alert. Given the current geopolitical climate, we are proactively implementing comprehensive measures to handle any emergency situations that may arise, he stated.

Lahores Allama Iqbal International Airport resumed flight operations after a brief closure. Flight operations at other airports in the country are also continuing as usual, Pakistan Airports Authority spokesperson Saifullah Khan was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan described the Indus Water Treaty as a successful water-sharing arrangement between India and Pakistan, withstanding the test of wars and standoffs, alleging that the Indian dispensation is bent on weaponising water.

This action shows Indias blatant disregard for international treaties and sets a dangerous precedent, he said, adding that the Indian decision was an attack on the people of Pakistan and its economy.
US-born Pope Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to step up efforts to combat a growing "lack of faith" during his first homily as pontiff on Friday (May 9), one day after becoming the first American to lead the 2,000-year-old institution.

In todays world, it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied, the new pope warned, standing at the altar of the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelos The Last Judgment. He added, Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed.

Leo, speaking in Italian and clad in a white papal robe edged with gold, told the assembled cardinals: "A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society."

First US Pope elected Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was elected the 267th pope by a conclave of cardinals in the Vaticans Sistine Chapel on Thursday (May 8), succeeding Argentinas Pope Francis. His election took many by surprise.

Warning against diluting Jesus image Pope Leo also cautioned against reducing Jesus to a kind of charismatic leader or superman, a message that seemed to address certain strains within evangelical Christianity. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptised Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism, he said.

Highlighting societal wounds The former missionary to Peru lamented that modern society often dismisses faith as absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent, and warned of its consequences. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society, he said.

Appeal for unity In an unscripted preamble in English, Leo addressed the gathered cardinals: I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me, emphasising the need for unity within the Church.

Global reaction The Vatican released images of Leos first moments as pope, showing him praying and receiving congratulations from fellow cardinals. Tens of thousands gathered at St Peters Square to witness his debut.

In Peru, Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera praised the new popes past work, saying, He showed his closeness and simplicity with the people a good missionary.
Vladimir Putin hosted the largest gathering of foreign leaders since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as the Russian president put on a display of military might to celebrate the Soviet Unions defeat of the Nazis in World War II.

Putin drew parallels between Moscows war in Ukraine and World War II, as he delivered a speech to assembled world leaders in Red Square, covered in celebratory red banners. He has cast the invasion of Ukraine as a special military operation" to root out Nazis therea narrative that has been widely rejected internationally as a false justification for an imperialistic war.

Truth and justice are on our side," he said. The entire country, the society, the people, support the participants in the special military operation."

Putin also acknowledged the contributions of allied countries in World War II, but put them in the shadow of the battles the Soviet Union won against invading Nazi troops.

Moscows current backers took center stage on Friday. The celebrations included a parade, with Chinese troops marching alongside Russian soldiers and Irans Shahed drones on display, along with Russian tanks and missiles. Putin shook hands with five North Korean officers at the parade, including three generals that South Koreas spy agency said were leading the thousands of troops fighting alongside Russians.

The celebrations took place in the shadow of growing violence between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv has sent waves of drones into Russia in recent days, disrupting the arrival of some international leaders to Moscow.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russia wasnt adhering to a cease-fire that Putin had called for from May 8-10, with its forces firing on civilian targets Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the purported cease-fire a theatrical performance."

The events in Red Square were an attempt at a diplomatic show of force for Putin, who has worked to defy Western efforts to isolate him. His guest list included leaders from Venezuela, Cuba and Vietnam, as well as a host of former Soviet states.

The Trump administration, which has raised the prospect of a rapprochement with Moscow as part of a peace agreement, has recently signaled frustration with Russian intransigence in the conflict. The Kremlin wants to underscore for Washington that it is still a powerful player on the world stage that could be a dangerous enemy or a potentially useful partner with ties to many countries.

Putin wants to show that Russia is an important and well-connected player in the world and that cooperating with Moscow could help Trump," said Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Moscow-based Higher School of Economics. On the other hand, having Russia as an enemy is dangerous."

Xis presence in Red Square as part of a four-day trip to Moscow was a huge show of support for Russia, whose great-power status has increasingly slipped in recent years as the Kremlins attention has narrowed to its war in Ukraine. China has provided economic and diplomatic support to Russia and has remained a crucial conduit for dual-use goods deployed on the front lines.

Attendance at the parade has become a divisive issue in the European Union. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made it to Moscow after blaming Estonia for denying his plane permission to transit to reach the parade.

This year marks the 80th anniversary the allied victory over Nazi Germany, and celebrations were staged across Russias 11 time zones and in occupied Ukraine. In the days and weeks leading up to the holiday, authorities have launched festivities with World War II trivia competitions for schoolchildren, Victory Day themed events at private shooting ranges and plays and musicals put on by theaters in Moscow and beyond.

What were still seeing is a Russian fixation on pageantry, and there are people on the hook to deliver a big party, and thats what theyre going to," said Andrew Weiss, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he oversees research on Russia and Eurasia.

In the towns and cities of Ukraines occupied Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia provinces, Russian soldiers put on celebrations, singing World War II songs and distributing flowers to residents. In Krasnodar, in southern Russia near the border with Ukraine, children dressed up in World War II era uniforms took part in a military-themed parade, while parents and onlookers looked on filming and clapping.

World War II, or the Great Patriotic War as it is known in Russia, remains a powerful event in the countrys collective memory. Many families can recite the names of forebears who died in the conflict, either on the front line or as a result of the Nazi invasion. While the Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the war, Russian historians count nearly 9 million military casualties.

While Russia takes credit for defeating the Nazis, some historians blame the Kremlin under Stalin for contributing to the outbreak of World War II by signing a nonaggression pact with Hitler in 1939.

The holiday, which had stopped and started at different times during the Soviet Union, has become a defining feature of Putins reign. The Russian leader has sought to celebrate the Kremlins own version of history, and justify the costly war in Ukraine and ramped-up military spending.

It is so awfully disconnected from the Second World War," said Sergey Radchenko, a Cold War scholar and professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Its about todays regime, Putins various conquests and the Kremlins legitimacy."

The parade on May 9 has always been a show of the Kremlins military might, but this year Russias soaring arms production allowed Putin to showcase more weapons on the streets of Moscow than at any other time during the Ukraine war. Those included tanks and Russias hypersonic missiles. Russian drones, which are playing a huge role on the battlefield, were paraded through Red Square together with their operators.

Their production is way up," said Rob Lee, a Russian military analyst and senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a foreign-policy think tank. They want to show it off."

Write to Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com
A 30-year-old Chinese diver named Zhang Xiaohan drowned while diving in Indonesia. She was on a tour near Kakaban Island with 12 guests and 3 guides.

The island also has the worlds largest jellyfish lake, attracting many visitors in recent years.

Xiaohan, who drowned while diving in Indonesia, was said to be an experienced diver with a Divemaster certificate, according to the South China Morning Post.

Also Read | Woman swept away while filming reel in Uttarakhands Bhagirathi river

A Divemaster certificate is a professional scuba diving qualification. It lets someone guide certified divers, assist instructors and supervise diving activities.

Divemasters can lead and support divers but cannot teach full diving courses without becoming an instructor.

During the dive, she lost her GoPro camera and tried to go back down to retrieve it. A guide warned her not to do so. But, she went against the suggestion, SCMP added.

The group already reached near the surface after diving 30 metres deep. Zhang didnt return, and the guides couldnt find her.

A search team later found her body at a depth of 87 metres. She is believed to have been pulled by a strong current. Her death has caused much sadness and discussion on Chinese social media.

The diver was taken to hospital for a post-mortem. Authorities are now investigating the case. Many are questioning if more safety measures should be taken by dive tour operators.

Even skilled divers can underestimate natures dangers, per online users. A relative shared that Zhangs family in Zhejiang, China, are heartbroken.

Social media reactions People online have stressed that life is more valuable than any camera and advised never diving deep alone. The dive spot near Kakaban Island is known for its stunning underwater scenery and is very popular with tourists.

One user wrote, No camera or footage is as important as your life.
US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday announced a limited bilateral trade agreement. The agreement maintains Trumps 10% tariffs on British exports, but it modestly expands agricultural access for both countries and reduces high US duties on British car exports, Reuters reported.

Reuters report said that this general terms agreement marks the first of several tariff-lowering deals that Trump anticipates finalising in the coming weeks.

It is to be further noted that these agreements come after the Trump administration implemented steep new import taxes aimed at reducing the $1.2 trillion US goods trade deficit.

Trump hailed the deal in the Oval Office with Starmer patched in on a speaker phone, as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer head to Switzerland to launch negotiations with Chinese negotiators.

He pushed back against seeing the UK deal as a template for other negotiations, saying that Britain made a good deal and that many other trading partners may end up with much higher final tariffs because of their large US trade surpluses, Reuters report noted.

In April, Trump imposed reciprocal duties of up to 50% on goods from 57 trading partners including the European Union, pausing them days later to allow time for negotiations until July 9. He has also heaped new 25% tariffs on auto imports, ended all exemptions on steel and aluminum duties, and announced new tariff probes on pharmaceuticals, copper, lumber and semiconductors.

This week Trump added movies to the list.

It opens up a tremendous market for us, Trump told reporters, noting that he had not fully understood the restrictions facing American firms doing business in Britain, Reuters reported.

This is a really fantastic, historic day, Starmer said, noting that the announcement came nearly at the same hour 80 years ago when World War Two ended in Europe. This is going to boost trade between and across our countries, it's going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.

The two leaders heralded the plan as a breakthrough deal that lowers average British tariffs on US goods to 1.8% from 5.1% but keeps in place a 10% tariff on British goods.

Disappointments?

It opens up a tremendous market for us.

The British-American Business group expressed disappointment that the deal leaves in place Trump's 10% tariffs for many products, including cars, raising costs for UK exporters, Reuters reported.

It said it hoped that the deal would be a start of deeper U.S.-UK trade integration including the digital economy. The deal will provide potential new export opportunities for American producers worth $5 billion a year, Lutnick said, while the higher tariffs would generate $6 billion in annual U.S. revenue.
Im not usually one to cheer for Meta, a purveyor of addictive applications, but its hard not to hail the seismic jolt the company just gave an even murkier world than social media: spyware. A California jury has awarded Metas WhatsApp $168 million in damages after its five-year legal battle against NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm.

The case revolved around nations that used its Pegasus software to hack the WhatsApp accounts of 1,400 people, including journalists, activists and dissidents. Court transcripts revealed that some of those governments included Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Mexico, but the full extent of NSOs clientele remains a mystery.

NSO was already struggling financially. Having once boasted a valuation of $2 billion, it was on the brink of insolvency in 2021 after being blacklisted by the US, which means this weeks huge payout could be the final straw despite its pledge to appeal. We will carefully examine the verdict's details and pursue appropriate legal remedies," a spokesman told me. He declined to comment on the companys finances.

Also Read: A spyware scandal that cant be brushed aside

If NSO hits the wall, perhaps thats for the best. On its website, the firm claims to make ethical cyber-intelligence" software to help governments investigate terror and crime."

But ethics took a back seat in practice, and the targets often werent criminals thanks to NSOs hands-off approach to doing business. Its pitch to government clients was that there was no technical way for NSO to ascertain who was being surveilled, which made it impossible to stop the product from being misused, for instance, to spy on the wife of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

We firmly believe that our technology plays a critical role in preventing serious crime and terrorism and is deployed responsibly by authorized government agencies," NSOs spokesman says.

The surveillance trade is littered with companies like NSO, often smaller and lesser known, and prone to frequent name and jurisdiction changes to evade restrictions. Its a lucrative market, according to Laurent Richard, a French journalist who authored a book on Pegasus in 2023.

This industry is resilient," he told me in an interview that year. You can be 25 years old and get paid $30,000 per month in these jobs. You have dictators, tyrants and even democracies ready to pay millions to have access to this kind of surveillance solution."

Also Read: What Pegasus says about cyber power and our national security

But Metas court win now makes the spyware business look much riskier, and its decision to pursue this case to the end (rather than settle out of court) is even more laudable.

Critically, it establishes a legal precedent. Simply using American servers now creates enough jurisdiction for the courts to hear cases from US tech giants against foreign vendors. In Metas case, NSO was specifically found liable for breaching federal and California hacking laws, as well as WhatsApps terms of service.

That could open the door to similar litigation, something from which businesses can derive some comfort. Although NSO sold exclusively to governments, the spyware industry also supports corporate espionage that costs billions in stolen research and development and intellectual property. At a minimum, it will make any government think twice about spying on US companies.

Unfortunately, Metas legal victory is more of a bruising than a death knell for this shadowy sector. Apple last year dropped its own suit against NSO, saying that pursuing a case would mean it has to share sensitive threat intelligence" information, which it didnt want to do.

Also Read: Why nobody seems very outraged by the Pegasus story

And theres evidence that the spyware industry is adapting, with smaller, less visible players moving to fill the gap left by NSO. Take the Intellexa Consortium, a web of companies that make another hacking tool called Predator, which was used to monitor United Nations officials, US lawmakers and the president of the European Parliament, according to a 2023 investigation by Amnesty International.

Americas sanctions on Intellexa, while a good start, dont solve the whack-a-mole problem that such companies pose, where they can pop up in other jurisdictions under new names or simply reprogramme their software to avoid detection.

Predator, for instance, was recently modified to better anonymize its customers and was spotted being used in Africa a year after its blacklisting, according to a September 2024 study by Recorded Future Inc, a cybersecurity company.

The WhatsApp verdictdecided by a jury in one dayis a victory, but it hasnt killed the threat. Smaller operators are evolving with fresh spyware tactics and exotic corporate structures, which means Metas $168 million blow is probably more of a warning shot. Bloomberg

The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology.
In response to last months terrorist attack on Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, India conducted Operation Sindoor in the early hours of 7 May, carefully targeting terrorist-related infrastructure not only in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but also in the heartland of Punjab province deep in its mainland territory. Pakistan claims that its forces downed five Indian Air Force aircraft on the Indian side of the boundary, though India has not confirmed any such event and no evidence has been presented. Indian strikes continued on Thursday, targeting Pakistani air defence installations in several locations. Pakistan also claims shooting down 25 drones. Again, this claim has not been verified.

Where do we go from here? The ball is in Pakistans court. After the first night, many expected Islamabad to use its unverified claims to declare victory and refrain from further escalation. Now it is not clear.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor: The IAF has struck terror camps in Pakistan

In any event, the strategic significance of Operation Sindoor is that it establishes a new normal: that India will respond to Pakistani-sponsored terrorism with military force. Uri, Balakot and Sindoor are the three dots that confirm this straight line. This is a watershed development, for it undermines the decades-old Pakistani strategy of using its nuclear weapons as a cover to undertake a proxy war of terrorism against India.

The fear that any military retaliation would result in a rapid escalation to nuclear war dissuaded Indian leadersunder pressure from Western capitalsfrom authorizing hot pursuit and punitive strikes across the boundary. It was for this reason that Indian forces were ordered not to cross the Line of Control during the Kargil War.

After Sindoor, that impunity is gone. Striking Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba strongholds in Bahawalpur and Muridke, respectively, warns such groups that their old havens are no longer safe.

This does not mean, as some analysts claim, that deterrence has been re-established." There was none to start with.

Deterrence is practically impossible because it would require promising a prohibitively high punishment, which is limited by the nuclear overhang. So, the Pakistani military-jihadist complex will not abandon terrorism as an instrument of politics.

Also Read: Pakistan must step back from the brink of worse

Rather, Operation Sindoor has raised the military, political and economic costs for the Pakistani establishment to a level that should severely discourage it from using terrorism for some period of time. Pakistanis might put on a brave face now, but this episode makes Pakistans multiple domestic crises more difficult to solve, not least because few foreign countries would want to associate with it.

As for India, as I wrote in my previous column, preventing cross-border terrorism is therefore a multi-dimensional, perennial, round-the-clock activity that India must doggedly persist in over the long term."

New Delhi did not reveal details of its evidence to prove that the Pahalgam terrorists had Pakistani origins. This departure from the absurd hope that any proof would convince the Pakistani authorities of their own complicity in terrorism also sets a new norm. Only a cursory attempt was made to persuade the international community.

This approach is indicative both of Indias greater power in world politics as well as the erosion of the rules-based global order of the decades since the end of World War II.

The new normal also commits New Delhi to the use of military force in response to a terror attack that is at least as serious as the one in Pahalgam. This can be both a good and bad thing. The military and bureaucratic establishment in New Delhi will not have to guess whether the political leadership might authorize the use of force. Such decisions will be politically easier in the future.

On the flip side, it will be politically harder not to use the military option if the situation so demands. After the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, for instance, I argued that India should not play into Rawalpindis hands by launching military strikes. Pakistan was at that time forced to deploy its troops along its western border, where it was getting hammered by Pashtun militants. A war with India would have given the Pakistani army a pretext to get out of that jam. There are times when it is wiser not to hit back and Indias leadership should be free to exercise the best option.

Military preparedness, both in India and Pakistan, will change to reflect the new normal. As they review their actions in Operation Sindoor, Indias armed forces will seek to improve effectiveness, efficiency and turnaround times for punitive cross-border operations based on the lessons learnt.

Also Read: Nitin Pai: India must stay the course in its old contest with Pakistan

Pakistan will do likewise, and in the process, deepen its dependence on Chinese and perhaps Turkish technology. This, in turn, will become a factor in New Delhis relations with Beijing and Ankara.

Indeed, Turkeys signalling during this conflict is an intrusion of an outside player into subcontinental politics, which New Delhi will have to manage both by engaging Ankara as well as deepening ties with Turkish rivals Armenia, Greece and Russia.

Let me conclude by drawing attention to the big picture: India is prevailing in the long conflict with Pakistan because of our focus on growth, development, democracy and, when required, the astute use of military force. We should stay the course.

The author is co-founder and director of The Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy
Maj. Amyr Argamakov has commanded a military unit in Chechnya, served in Syria, overseen a battalion in Ukraine, and taken part in three World War II Victory Day parades in Moscows Red Square.

Now he has been thrust into a career in Russian politics.

The 30-year-old veteran is part of a growing crop of Russian soldiers who have been tapped to fill a wave of government positions after serving in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin describes them as a battle-hardened cohort who will not back down, will not deceive, and will not betray," while his deputies enlist them to lend a veneer of valor to their own political careers.

The veterans faces adorn billboards that line city thoroughfares. They are invited to give lectures at schools, some of which have been renamed in their honor. TV hosts extol their exploits on the front lines, ushering them into television studios to rapturous applause.

Man is made not for peace, but for war," state TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov said on one such show last year, echoing a sentiment that has gained mainstream appeal despite the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Russians in Ukraine.

The war has transformed the perception of military service in Russia, which was long considered a refuge for the uneducated, unskilled and otherwise unemployable. Serving in the army now provides such a social lift that Russian celebrities travel to occupied parts of Ukraine to post photographs of themselves as evidence that they are helping the war effort, or to mend reputations tarnished by public scandal.

This elevation of Russias veterans aims to raise the prestige of military service and encourage more people to enlist. It also reflects Putins desire to head off any trouble from returning servicemen, many of whom might be traumatized by their experiences at the front. Some who have fought in Ukraine have committed violent crimes upon their return home.

Veterans are a thorn in the side for any authorities, even if you have a victorious war," said Russian political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann. But especially if you dont."

For Argamakova member of the indigenous Altai ethnic group who grew up in a tiny, remote Siberian village on Russias borders with China, Mongolia and Kazakhstanthe route to national prominence began in the North Caucasus region, where he started his military service in 2013. He later served in Syria as part of Russias military intervention to shore up the regime of Bashar al-Assad in 2018.

Last year, after commanding a combined arms battalion in Ukraine, he was awarded the Hero of Russia medal, the countrys highest military award. In a speech after his return home, he insisted hes just a normal guy."

When a close Putin ally became governor of Argamakovs native Altai region, he took Argamakov under his wing and appointed him senator for the republic. Argamakov replaced his military fatigues with a navy-colored suit, and became a regular at parliamentary sessions in Moscow, stumbling through speeches about patriotism and service to the Motherland.

Politics was never my goal," Argamakov said shortly after his appointment. But I have a sense that I must be of use to my nation."

Other veterans have been inducted into a Kremlin-managed program known as Time of Heroes" which is designed as an explicit attempt to fast-track serving soldiers and Ukraine war veterans into government positions.

Those who filled their pockets at the expense of our economy in the 1990s are definitely not the elite," Putin said at its launch, railing against oligarchs who snapped up key enterprises in the post-Soviet years and whose names are now a byword for corruption. The real, genuine elite are all those who serve Russia."

A first batch of 83 soldiers was enrolled on a masters degree in management and then on internships at government agencies. At its conclusion, they were handed jobs in local and national government.

One graduate, a former commander in east Ukraine, now serves as a presidential envoy for Putin. Another is the governor of the Tambov region south of Moscow. A third was appointed this week as labor minister in a southern Russian region, despite being accused by Kyiv of war crimes in Ukraine.

Time of Heroes" participants are paraded on state TV and lauded at banquet dinners. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, told them in November: We understand the importance of what you do."

The selection process is vigorously vetted. Only those with a higher education are chosen and any hint of disagreement with Putins leadership is snuffed out, contrasting sharply with purges in the military that followed a rebellion led by paramilitary founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, who later died in a plane crash.

Analysts say Putin has learned lessons from Russias past.

The political risk posed by returning veterans was such that after World War II, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin decided to keep many of them abroad. He extended mobilization orders for years to prevent millions from coming home. And for almost a decade, celebrations of the Soviet victory over Hitlers forces were banned, in a bid to prevent veterans from amassing a following or forging close bonds.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, returning veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan were often treated as second-class citizens. There was almost no psychological support and widespread stigma about the wounded, a trend that is showing few signs of improvement today. Some veterans ended up organizing into political factions that sought to challenge Soviet rule, and accelerated its collapse.

When soldiers start coming back, they will be earning less money and will receive none of the respect they expected from society. More likely they will be feared and distrusted by their neighbors," said Schulmann, the political scientist. To pre-emptively lessen that tension, the authorities need to create the impression that many positive things are happening."

Crucially, Putin appears to be trying to ensure that the latest crop of returning soldiers will remain loyal to the Kremlin, and prevent them from becoming a political force down the road.

Argamakov might be a good example. Despite his stratospheric rise, he has had little real influence on politics so far. But it is men like him, who come from humble beginnings and lack the charisma of the likes of Prigozhin, who are the main beneficiaries of the new mood in the countrychiefly because they openly support Putin and his moves to put Russias economy on a war footing.

Indeed, Argamakov said his goals as senator are modest. He wants to help soldiers on the front line and improve the lives of people back in Altai, much of whose population still live below the poverty line.

Last year, he visited his hometown school and praised his old teachers in an address to pupils. Not long after, a banner with his face was draped over the buildings facade. Large red letters spelled out the words: Our Compatriot."

Write to Matthew Luxmoore at matthew.luxmoore@wsj.com
Far-right populists are threatening to eclipse Europes once-powerful conservative parties, in one of the biggest political realignments since the end of World War II. The continents center-right is now searching for a survival strategy.

In Germany, after dominating politics for almost two decades, the center-right is now on the defensive, with the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, now leading in some polls for the first time since its creation in 2013. In the U.K., the Conservative Party, after losing an election to the Labour Party last year, is now in danger of being overtaken on the right.

While center-right parties remain in government in large parts of Europe, they are losing votes and popularity to more radical upstarts, a trend fueled by frustration over rising immigration and slow economic growth.

In France, the far-right National Rally is the largest single party in the Assemblee Nationale, while the center-right Republicans and their allies hold 48 of the chambers 577 seats. And in Italy, Giorgia Meloni became prime minister in 2022, backed by her populist party, Brothers of Italy.

Right-wing populists are now in government or supporting ruling coalitions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary, a marked increase from last year. They also made big gains at last years European elections.

The U.K.s Tories and Germanys Christian Democratic Union have been two of the holdouts. But they are now under siegeand oscillating between three strategies in response: imitation, opposition and collaboration.

Nothing appears to be working.

The rise of the populist right reflects a gradual erosion of confidence in democratic institutions: Parliament, the government, etc.," said Manfred Gullner, head of the German Forsa polling group. In Germany, recent political instability, including the premature collapse of the last government, was feeding this erosion of trust.

In some countries, the center-right has addressed the challenge by adopting antiestablishment policies and discoursean approach that has often backfired.

In 2016, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron held a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union to appease the Conservative Partys euroskeptic fringe, which he went on to lose. Almost a decade on and after burning through a succession of leaders, the party is facing an existential threat from Reform UK.

Polling this week by YouGov shows startup party Reform UK with 29% of the vote share and the Conservatives lingering on 17%. If that polling persists until the next general election expected in 2029, the Tories, historically one of the most electorally successful political franchises in Europe, would be almost wiped out, pollsters say.

Led by euroskeptic champion Nigel Farage, Reform is now peeling away large numbers of Tory voters with a tough line on immigration and climate policies, while courting traditionally left-wing supporters with an interventionist economic pitch that includes nationalizing the steel industry. Last week, it won against both the Tories and the center-left Labour Party in local elections.

The Tories have a difficult choice: try to outflank Reform on the right or attempt to orchestrate a merger with Farage, said Rob Ford, a politics professor at the University of Manchester.

The Conservatives new leader, Kemi Badenoch, has said she needs time to rebuild the Tory brand after it was ousted from government last year. She has ruled out going into coalition with Reform and is fleshing out anti-immigration measures instead.

Conservative strategists are wary of chasing Farage down the right. They point to Canadas Pierre Poilievre and Australias Peter Dutton, who trumpeted populist policies and not only lost elections but also their own seats.

Elsewhere, centrists of various hues have reacted to far-right surges not by stealing their message but by banding together to form moderate governments. But these cross-party alliances have at times struggled to govern given their ideological differences, with the result being increased instability and declining popularity for moderates.

For the first time in Germanys post-World War II history, it took Germanys new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, two votes in parliament to secure an endorsement from lawmakers even though his proposed coalition had a relatively comfortable majority. Merz, chairman of the center-right Christian Democratic Union, is governing in an alliance with the center-left Social Democratic Party. He now faces an ascendant AfD.

Born as a fiscally conservative protest movement opposed to the bailout of eurozone member states during the regions sovereign-debt crisis, the AfD has morphed into one of Europes most radical far-right parties. It is stridently anti-immigration, wants Germany to leave the EU, and has called for a rapprochement with Russia.

Last week, after years of investigation, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germanys domestic intelligence agency, classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist organization, giving the agency more leeway to spy on the party.

That movenow suspended pending the outcome of a legal complaint by the AfDhas irked some American conservatives, drawing public criticism from Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called it tyranny in disguise" in a social-media post.

Germanys Nazi past has made any talk of cooperation between traditional parties and the AfD highly controversial. And despite pressure from the Trump administration, the Christian Democrats under Merz have so far stuck to the firewall," an agreement between all other parties to keep the AfD out of power at the regional and national levels.

Yet the AfDs recent rise in the polls has rekindled a debate on the center-right about how best to deal with the challenge. Andreas Rodder, a historian and head of the conservative think tank Denkfabrik R21, says the CDU should ditch the firewall and replace it with red lines," a list of positions the AfD would need to abandon as the price of linking up with the CDU in government.

This, says Rodder, could bolster moderates in the AfD and offer voters a new political option after almost two decades of the country being run by left-right coalitions with similar agendas.

Others think it is too late for that. With the AfD now ahead of the CDU in polls, its leaders are in no mood to compromise.

Instead of adopting the AfDs discourse, Merz should tackle the problems behind their rising popularity, starting with high immigration, said Stefan Marschall, a professor of political science at Heinrich-Heine-University in Dusseldorf.

Merz has pledged to start turning back undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, on day one of taking office and said he would cut immigration by half in the medium term.

Politicians need to address the areas of dissatisfaction," said Marschall. If they do that, and if they succeed, there is a chance that support for the AfD might be lower this time next year."

Former Conservative Party leader William Hague agrees, saying the populist right in the U.K. is a threat not just to the Tories but to all establishment parties, whose successive governments have failed to improve living standards, control immigration or improve public services.

The Tories, he said, should admit their past mistakes and blunt Reform by pushing for tighter restrictions on asylum seekers, while promoting forms of legal migration that boost the economy. The party should also focus on making the stagnant economy more dynamic.

This is the final warning, I think, to the main political parties. They really have to reinvent themselves now," he said.

Write to Bertrand Benoit at bertrand.benoit@wsj.com and Max Colchester at Max.Colchester@wsj.com
(Bloomberg) -- Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will actively explore building on the citys green belt in what would amount to the biggest change to housing policy in the UK capital since the 1960s.

The mayor will announce a consultation on releasing parts of Londons green belt in a speech Friday, saying that some building in the protected zone around the city is necessary to meet the capitals targets and to end a housing crisis.

Khan will say the current approach to only build on previously developed so called brownfield land will not be enough to meet our needs, a notable reversal of his previous opposition to green belt development. London needs to build 88,000 new homes a year over the next decade to meet demand, according to nationally-set targets by central government, a rate of housebuilding the UK capital has never previously achieved.

Green belts in the UK were created to prevent urban sprawl around cities and towns but have more recently been blamed with strangling growth and pushing up home prices in the areas with the highest rates of job creation. Khans proposal is likely to provoke a fierce backlash from environmentalists and campaigners, despite promises to boost biodiversity and increase public access to genuinely green spaces alongside the new development which should be focused near transport links.

The perception many people have is that the green belt is all beautiful countryside, green and pleasant land, rich with wildlife. The reality is very different, Khan will say. The green belt can often be low-quality land, poorly maintained and rarely enjoyed by Londoners. Only around 13% is made up of parks and areas that the public can access.

The mayors plans come amid a push nationally from the Labour government, Khans own party, to move forward on housebuilding and infrastructure projects to spur economic growth, even in the face of local opposition. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said Khan has our backing to deliver the housing this city needs, in line with our ambition nationally to unlock the dream of a secure home for a generation.

The consultation on the London Plan, which sets out the mayors vision for how the capital will develop over the next 20 to 25 years, will be open until 22 June. Following this public consultation, the draft London Plan will be published in 2026 for another examination process, with formal adoption expected in 2028.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
New Delhi: The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK might take more than three months to take effect, with the final text now headed for legal vetting, two senior government officials said on the condition of anonymity. The UK has also set aside for now a contentious carbon tax that India has strongly opposed.

The agreement text will be publicly released only after this phase is completed," one of the officials said. Both sides will review each chapter, and the FTA will not take immediate effect due to procedural formalities."

Legal vetting or scrubbing is the final review of a trade agreements text to ensure legal clarity, consistency, and accuracy across all chapters before official release and ratification by the parties involved.

Also read: Why the India-UK FTA has spooked medical device manufacturers. Hint: China

The legal scrubbing team for FTAs typically includes officials from the department of commerces trade policy division and legal officers from the law and justice ministry. They are supported by external trade law experts, with inputs from other ministries like finance, agriculture, or environment, depending on the agreements scope.

We have announced the successful conclusion of negotiations, as agreed by both Prime Ministers," the official cited above said. The next step is to decide, in mutual agreement, how much information will be released publicly. What we are sharing now are the broad contours of the agreement."

This official added that the FTA is not just a trade agreement between the world's fifth and sixth largest economies, but a strategic economic partnership, reflecting the growing depth of their relationship beyond trade.

The negotiations were earlier delayed due to two critical issuesrelaxation of duties on spirits and automobiles.

The second official cited above said that India has agreed to reduce tariffs on both, but it will not hurt Indian industry. Instead, it will benefit consumers by giving them access to genuine Scotch whisky," the official said. This decision is backed by data. Indias total liquor imports are around $500 million, which is not a significant figure. Moreover, this move could open new doors for Indian liquor manufacturers in overseas markets."

Also read: India-UK FTA a shot in the arm for India's green energy manufacturing space

According to the final terms, the duty on Scotch whisky has been reduced from 150% to 75%, and will be brought down further to 40% over the next 10 years.

Similarly, the duty on automobiles has been cut from 100% to 10%, effective gradually over a few years after the FTA takes effect. However, vehicle imports will be allowed only under a fixed quota. The size of the quota is not immediately clear, but it is likely to be insignificant compared to the size of Indias domestic car market.

The provisions on automobile imports also say that only futuristic vehicleslikely referring to electric or advanced technology carswill be allowed to be imported into India. Entry of cheaper vehicles has been restricted to protect domestic manufacturers. Import conditions have been carefully designed to favour future-ready vehicles while discouraging low-cost car inflows," the second official cited above said.

To be sure, the UK has eliminated tariffs on 99% of its exports to India, covering nearly the entire trade value, as the two nations aim to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030.

Also read: Donald Trump to make major trade deal announcement with a BIG country, says the first of many

Post-signing, the FTA will be ratified by the UK Parliament, while in India, ratification will take place through a Union cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deal will be formally signed after the legal scrubbing is concluded and, after ratification by both sides, will come into effect.

As per procedure, in the UK, international treaties such as FTAs typically require presentation before Parliament under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act. In India, cabinet approval is generally sufficient for ratification, unless legislative changes are required.

Carbon tax deferred

Meanwhile, in a move that could ease trade tensions, the UK has deferred the implementation of its proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), popularly known as carbon tax, the first official cited above said. India had earlier raised strong objections to any unilateral carbon taxation by the UK, asserting its right to impose retaliatory trade measures if such a tax were to be implemented.

We have made it clear that if the UK goes ahead with a carbon tax, India will respond in kind," said the official, who was part of the negotiations.

The two sides have also agreed that if a company pays a carbon tax in India, it may be exempted from paying a similar levy in Europe. This framework is likely to be part of a broader mutual understanding on climate-related trade rules, and officials indicated that the carbon tax issue with the UK may be set aside for now.

Export promotion councils across sectors have welcomed the deal, calling it a landmark pact that opens new doors for Indian businesses. They expressed readiness to explore the UK market more aggressively and tap into its potential. The government expects the agreement to create more than three times the current level of employment generated by UK-related exports over the next five years.

The India-UK FTA is one of the most comprehensive trade pacts India has signed in recent years, covering goods, services, investments, and sustainability issues. A total of 26 chapters have been negotiated since January 2022. The 14th and final round of negotiations began in January 2024. The finalization of the deal was announced on 6 May after the Prime Ministers of both countries held a concluding round of talks.
Apple might surprise fans with a new technology that blends wearable convenience with advanced visual intelligence. According to a recent Bloomberg report, the tech giant is developing updated versions of the AirPods and Apple Watch that feature built-in cameras, with a potential launch expected around 2027.

The report indicates that Apple is working on a specialised chip, codenamed "Nevis," for the camera-enabled Apple Watch, along with another chip named "Glennie" for the upgraded AirPods. Both chips are expected to be ready by 2027, raising the possibility of a product release within that year if development proceeds smoothly.

Notably, the introduction of cameras could mark a significant step in Apples wearable strategy. While the devices are unlikely to support conventional photography or FaceTime, they are believed to be designed to unlock a range of AI-powered functions. For the Apple Watch, this could include embedding a camera within the screen or placing it near the Digital Crown on the next Apple Watch Ultra. These features could allow the device to interpret surroundings and offer more precise navigation and context-aware insights through a "Visual Intelligence" system.

For the AirPods, infrared cameras may enhance spatial audio performance, especially when used with the Vision Pro and future Apple products. The technology might also enable gesture controls by recognising hand movements, offering a new dimension of interaction. Bloombergs Mark Gurman notes that the cameras are expected to collect visual data for on-device AI, supporting Apples broader focus on artificial intelligence.

While the purported launch is still a few years away and details remain limited, this move could signal Apples aim to evolve its wearables into more intuitive and intelligent companions, integrating visual and audio awareness in everyday use.
California-based Google has introduced a new report, which highlights how the company is fighting online scams with the help of its artificial intelligence technology. The report, which was released on Thursday, mentions that AI is implemented in Chrome, Search and Android to combat scams.

According to the Google blog post, the tech firm has deployed the on-device Gemini Nano AI in the Chrome browser to tackle scams based on websites. There is a new Fighting Scams in Search report, which highlights how the company is enhancing its AI-powered scam detection tools and claims that it can spot 20 times more potentially harmful websites now.

The report details how website-based scams usually target fake users with fake websites to steal their personal information, money or login credentials. Although the pattern of stealing could differ, more or less, the idea is to deceive users by creating urgency or offering fake offers to lure them. Cryptocurrency scams, shopping scams, phishing sites, clone websites, and cheap subscription traps are some of the popular scam traps.

Google announced enhancements to its AI-powered scam detection within Search, revealing that it has upgraded its classifiers to better identify and demote scam-related content before it reaches users. One notable example shared was the rise in fraudulent schemes where scammers posed as airline customer service agentsa problem Google says it has curbed by over 80 per cent through these improvements.

In Chrome, the tech giant has bolstered the Enhanced Protection mode within its Safe Browsing feature. Now integrated with Gemini Nanoan on-device large language model (LLM) for desktopsthe updated system adds deeper protection by spotting potential phishing sites and alerting Google for swift action. According to the company, Gemini Nano is capable of analysing complex website behaviours and detecting scams that have not been previously flagged.

Looking ahead, Google shared its intention to roll out similar protective measures for Android devices and to broaden the range of scams it can address.
UPDATE: (AP) -- Three former Memphis were acquitted Wednesday of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after he ran away from a traffic stop in 2023.

A jury took about 8 1/2 hours over two days to find Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith not guilty on all charges after a nine-day trial in state court in Memphis.

The three defendants still face the prospect of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

PREVIOUS STORY: (AP)  Jurors deliberated for a second day on Wednesday in the trial of three former Memphis police officers charged with murder in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.

The 12-person jury began deliberating Tuesday in the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder. They already face the possibility of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, fled a Jan. 7, 2023, traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers who are also Black caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit Nichols with a police baton, struggling to handcuff him as he called out for his mother near his home.

Footage of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled. His death led to nationwide protests, calls for police reforms in the U.S., and intense scrutiny of police in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The jury for the state trial was chosen in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Defense lawyers for the officers had argued that intense publicity made seating a fair jury difficult.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Jurors can also decide to convict on lesser charges.

Prosecutors have argued that the officers used excessive force in trying to handcuff Nichols and were criminally responsible for each others actions. The officers also had a duty to intervene and stop the beating and tell medical personnel that Nichols had been struck in the head, but they failed to do so, prosecutors said.

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin also were charged in the case. They have agreed to plead guilty to the state charges and are not standing trial. They already pleaded guilty in federal court, where sentencing for all five officers is pending.

During the trial, defense attorneys refuted accusations that the officers used unnecessary force to subdue Nichols. They argued that Nichols was actively resisting arrest by running away and failing to give his hands to officers so that he could be handcuffed. They also say their use of force complied with police department policies.

Mills testified that he regrets his failure to stop the beating, which led to Nichols death three days later from blunt-force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, testified that Nichols suffered tears and bleeding in the brain.

Defense attorneys have said the officer who acted with the most violence was Martin, who kicked and punched Nichols several times in the head but is not standing trial.

Mills said Nichols was actively resisting arrest and not complying with orders to present his hands to be cuffed. But Mills also admitted Nichols never punched or kicked any officers.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that was disbanded after Nichols death. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders to amass arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people

The trial comes months after the U.S. Justice Department said in December that a 17-month investigation found that the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Jury deliberating fate of former Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death

PREVIOUS STORY: (AP) -- The fate of three former Memphis police officers charged in the beating of Tyre Nichols was in the hands of 12 people who do not live in the city as jury deliberations began Tuesday in the 29-year-old Black mans death.

The jury began deliberating after a prosecutor and defense lawyers presented closing arguments in the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder. They already face the possibility of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

Nichols fled a Jan. 7, 2023, traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers who are also Black caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit Nichols with a police baton, struggling to handcuff him as he called out for his mother near his home.

Footage of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled. His death led to nationwide protests, calls for police reforms in the U.S., and intense scrutiny of police in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The sequestered jury ended its deliberations for the day at around 5 p.m., after having the case for four hours. They will resume Wednesday.

The jury for the state trial was chosen in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Defense lawyers for the officers had argued that intense publicity made seating a fair jury difficult.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Prosecutors have argued that the officers used excessive, deadly force in trying to handcuff Nichols and were criminally responsible for each others' actions.

The officers also had a duty to intervene and stop the beating and tell medical personnel that Nichols had been struck in the head, but they failed to do so, prosecutors said.

Two of the five ex-officers have already agreed to plead guilty

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin also were charged in the case. They have agreed to plead guilty to the state charges and are not standing trial. They already pleaded guilty in federal court, where sentencing for all five officers is pending.

Defense attorneys have sought to chip away at accusations that the officers used unnecessary force to subdue Nichols. They have argued that Nichols was actively resisting arrest by running away and failing to give his hands to officers so that he could be handcuffed. They also say their use of force complied with police department policies.

Mills testified that he regrets his failure to stop the beating, which led to Nichols death three days later from blunt-force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, testified that Nichols suffered tears and bleeding in the brain.

As Nichols struggled with Bean and Smith, who were holding him on the ground, Mills tried to pepper-spray Nichols, but he ended up spraying himself, he said.

After stepping away to try to recover, Mills then walked up to Nichols and hit his arm three times with a police baton. Mills told prosecutor Paul Hagerman that he hit Nichols with the baton because he was angry over the pepper spray. Defense attorneys have said the the officer who acted with the most violence was Martin, who kicked and punched Nichols several times in the head but is not standing trial.

Defense attorneys argue that Nichols was resisting arrest

Mills acknowledged on the stand that he had a duty to intervene to stop the beating, but didnt. But Mills also said Nichols was actively resisting arrest and not complying with orders to present his hands to be cuffed.

Martin Zummach, Smiths lawyer, noted in closing arguments that credit and debit cards that did not belong to Nichols were found in his car when it was searched after the beating and said it was likely why Nichols ran from the traffic stop. Defense lawyers have argued that the fatal beating would not have taken place if Nichols had just allowed himself to be handcuffed.

This is Emmitt Martins and Tyre Nichols doing, Zummach said.

Mills acknowledged that the officers were afraid and exhausted, but said wrist locks and the baton strikes complied with police department policies.

Mills admitted Nichols never punched or kicked any officers.

Defense lawyers also claimed Bean and Smith could not see the strikes to Nichols head because they were blinded by pepper spray and they had tunnel vision as they tried to restrain Nichols.

But prosecutors sowed doubt on that claim by pointing to comments the defendants made after the beating. According to footage from the scene, Bean said Nichols was eating the blows and Smith said they hit Nichols with so many pieces, or punches. Smith also said hit him and Haley said beat that man, prosecutor Tanisha Johnson said.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that was disbanded after Nichols' death. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders to amass arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people

The trial comes months after the U.S. Justice Department said in December that a 17-month investigation found that the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Jury deliberations begin Tuesday in state trial of former Memphis officers

PREVIOUS STORY: (AP/WRCB)  Deliberations are underway on Tuesday by a jury from Hamilton County in the state trial of three former Memphis officers who are charged in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols.

Closing arguments started on Monday and ended on Tuesday afternoon.

The fate of the officers is now in the hands of a jury that was chosen in Hamilton County because Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County after the defense argued that media attention made it difficult to find a fair jury.

The former officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder.

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin also were charged in the case but they are not standing trial because of a plea deal in which they will plead guilty to the state charges.

Sentencing for all five former officers is pending in federal court.

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story.

Closing arguments delivered in trial of 3 officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death

Jurors were expected to begin deliberating Tuesday in the trial of three former Memphis police officers charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of Tyre Nichols in January 2023.

A prosecutor and a defense lawyer delivered closing arguments Monday in the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder. They already face the possibility of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

Nichols fled a Jan. 7, 2023, traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers who are also Black caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit Nichols with a police baton, struggling to handcuff him as he called out for his mother near his home.

Footage of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled. His death led to nationwide protests, calls for police reforms in the U.S., and intense scrutiny of police in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The jury for the state trial was chosen in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Defense lawyers for the officers had argued that intense publicity made seating a fair jury from Shelby County difficult.

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin also were charged in the case. They have agreed to plead guilty to the state charges and are not standing trial. They also pleaded guilty in federal court, where sentencing for all five officers is pending.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Prosecutors have argued that the officers used excessive force in trying to handcuff Nichols. The officers also had a duty to intervene and stop the beating and tell medical personnel that Nichols had been struck in the head, but they failed to do so, prosecutors said.

As Nichols struggled with Bean and Smith, who were holding him on the ground, Mills pepper-sprayed Nichols and hit Nichols three times in the arm with a police baton, he said. Martin punched and kicked Nichols in the head, and Haley also kicked Nichols, as Bean and Smith were restraining him while trying to handcuff him

In her closing argument, prosecutor Melanie Headley said the officers were criminally responsible for Nichols' death.

It's five officers acting together," Headley said.

Defense attorneys have sought to chip away at accusations that the officers used unnecessary force to subdue Nichols. They have argued that Nichols was actively resisting arrest by running away and failing to give his hands to officers so that he could be handcuffed. They also have argued that their use of force complied with police department policies.

Mills testified that he regrets his failure to stop the beating, which led to Nichols death three days later from blunt-force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, testified that Nichols suffered tears and bleeding in the brain.

John Keith Perry, Bean's lawyer, said in his closing argument that Nichols ignored commands to give officers his hands dozens of times. Bean was merely trying to handcuff Nichols and he followed his Memphis Police Department training in doing so.

Bean doesn't do anything to punish this person, Perry said.

On Tuesday, lawyers for Haley and Smith will make their closing arguments, and the prosecution will have a chance to make a rebuttal closing argument. The jury will then start deliberating.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that was disbanded after Nichols death. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders to amass arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people

The trial comes months after the U.S. Justice Department said in December that a 17-month investigation found that the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Expert testifies that repeated strikes to Tyre Nichols' head were unnecessary and excessive

(AP)  A police training expert testifying Saturday as a defense witness in the trial of three former Memphis officers charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols acknowledged that kicks and punches to Nichols' head were unnecessary and excessive.

Don Cameron took the stand in the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder. They already face the prospect of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

Cameron and a series of other witnesses testified before defense lawyers rested their case late Saturday. The three officers did not testify in their own defense. The trial resumes Monday with jury instructions and closing arguments.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, fled a January 2023 traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers who are also Black caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit Nichols with a police baton, struggling to handcuff him as he called out for his mother near his home.

Footage of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled. His death led to nationwide protests, calls for police reforms in the U.S., and intense scrutiny of police in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Prosecutors have argued that the officers used excessive force in trying to handcuff Nichols. The officers also had a duty to intervene and stop the beating and tell medical personnel that Nichols had been struck in the head, but they failed to do so, prosecutors say.

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin also were charged in the case. They have agreed to plead guilty to the state charges and are not standing trial. They also pleaded guilty in federal court, where sentencing for all five officers is pending.

Defense attorneys have sought to chip away at accusations that the officers used unnecessary force to subdue Nichols. They have argued that Nichols was actively resisting arrest by running away and failing to give his hands to officers so that he could be handcuffed. They also have argued that their use of force complied with police department policies.

Cameron was called to the stand by the defense lawyer for Haley, who was at the traffic stop and arrived at the location of the beating after Martin kicked and punched Nichols in the head as Nichols was being held by Smith and Bean.

Cameron said Nichols had not yet been handcuffed and Haley used proper force in kicking Nichols once in the arm. The veteran police trainer said Haley kicked Nichols in order to facilitate the handcuffing of Nichols by the other officers.

However, under cross-examination by prosecutor Paul Hagerman, Cameron acknowledged that the punches and kicks by Martin to Nichols' head were unnecessary, excessive and an example of deadly force. Officers who saw those head blows had a duty to intervene and stop the beating at that point, Cameron said.

The prosecutor also asked Cameron about Haley's comment to beat that man as he got out of his car and approached Nichols. Cameron said he believed Haley made the comment in order to get Nichols to comply with being handcuffed after Nichols repeatedly ignored expletive-laced orders to do so.

The defense has said that the officers vision was impaired because of the repeated deployment of pepper spray. Martin Zummach, Smiths lawyer, asked Cameron if officers have a duty intervene if they dont actually see unnecessary force being applied.

If they cant see it, they cant intervene, Cameron said.

Mills, who hit Nichols three times with a police baton, testified Tuesday that he regrets his failure to stop the beating, which led to Nichols death three days later from blunt-force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, testified Wednesday that Nichols suffered tears and bleeding in the brain.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that since has been disbanded. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders with the goal of amassing arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people

The trial comes months after the U.S. Justice Department said in December that a 17-month investigation found that the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Investigator: Ex-Memphis officer took photo of Tyre Nichols after fatal beating, shared it 11 times

PREVIOUS STORY: (AP)  A cybercrime expert with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testified Wednesday that a former Memphis police officer charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols took a cellphone photo of Nichols as he struggled with serious injuries.

TBI Special Agent Derek Miller testified in the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder. They already face the prospect of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, fled a January 2023 traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers who are also Black caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit Nichols with a police baton, struggling to handcuff him as he called out for his mother near his home.

Footage of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled. His death led to nationwide protests, calls for police reforms in the U.S., and intense scrutiny of police in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

Photo was shared 11 times

Video shows Haley taking a photo of Nichols, who was seated on the ground and leaning against a police car after the beating. Haley shared the photo 11 times and had text conversations with eight people about it, Miller said.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Prosecutors have argued that the officers had a duty to intervene and stop the beating and tell medical personnel that Nichols had been struck in the head, but they failed to do so.

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin also were charged in the case. They have agreed to plead guilty to the state charges and are not standing trial. They also pleaded guilty in federal court, where sentencing for all five officers is pending.

Ex-officer acknowledges duty to intervene

Defense attorneys have sought to chip away at accusations that the officers used unnecessary force to subdue Nichols. They've argued that Nichols was actively resisting arrest by running away and failing to give his hands to officers so that he could be handcuffed. They also have argued that their use of force complied with police department policies.

Mills testified Tuesday that he regrets his failure to stop the beating, which led to Nichols death three days later from blunt force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, testified Wednesday that Nichols suffered tears and bleeding in the brain.

As Nichols struggled with Bean and Smith, who were holding him on the ground, Mills pepper-sprayed Nichols and hit Nichols three times in the arm with a police baton, he said. Martin punched and kicked Nichols in the head, and Haley also kicked Nichols.

Defense testimony begins

Wednesday afternoon, defense attorney Martin Zummach questioned TBI Special Agent Charles Baker, who testified that Nichols' car was searched after the beating and authorities found credit cards, debit cards and identifications that did not belong to Nichols.

Meanwhile, Kelli Rogers, a resident of the Memphis suburb of Arlington, testified that her wallet containing her ID and credit cards was stolen from her car in 2022. Rogers said she was recently informed that one of her credit cards was found in the car and that she did not know Nichols.

Officers who pulled Nichols over said they did so because he was speeding and driving recklessly, but they did not know about the items found in his car.

Hagerman, the prosecutor, asked Baker if the discovery of the IDs and credit cards influenced how the TBI investigated the assault case.

Say everything in that car was stolen, it still has no bearing on the seriousness of the case I was asked to investigate, Baker said.

Zummach then asked Baker if it was reasonable to conclude that Nichols was resisting arrest and wanted to get away from the vehicle because he may have had evidence of crime in his car.

It could be, Baker said.

Baker also testified that mushrooms containing the hallucinogen psilocybin were found in the car. Ross, the medical examiner, testified Nichols did not have the hallucinogen in his system.

Former Memphis officer Preston Hemphill, who was at the traffic stop but not the location of the beating, testified that he heard Martin say let go of my gun after Nichols was forcibly removed from his car. It is not clear in the video whether Nichols actually tried to grab Martin's gun.

Hemphill said that statement increased the risk to officers as high as it could go.

Hemphill fired his Taser at Nichols during the traffic stop. After Nichols fled, Hemphill could be heard on his body camera video saying: I hope they stomp his ass.

Hemphill was fired from the police force but was not criminally charged.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Ex-officer says he regrets his failure to stop the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols

PREVIOUS STORY: (AP)  Former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. testified Tuesday that he regrets his failure to stop the beating of Tyre Nichols after Nichols ran away from a traffic stop in 2023.

Mills' testimony came in the second day of the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder in the death of Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who was beaten as he cried out for his mother just steps from his home. The three defendants already face the prospect of years behind bars after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

Footage of the beating was captured by a police pole camera and also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled. Nichols' death led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S. and directed intense scrutiny toward the police force in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

Mills pleaded guilty to federal charges last year and has entered into an agreement to plead guilty to state charges as well.

Mills says he hit Nichols out of anger after pepper-spraying himself

During his testimony Tuesday, Mills said he and Bean responded to a Jan. 7, 2023, police radio call that a man had run away from a traffic stop after he was pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Nichols saw the two officers and ran away from them, and Bean eventually caught Nichols after a foot chase, Mills testified.

When Mills arrived at Nichols location, Nichols was struggling with Bean and Smith, who were holding Nichols on the ground, Mills said. Mills then tried to pepper-spray Nichols, but he ended up spraying himself, which made him angry, Mills said.

After stepping away to try to recover, Mills then walked up to Nichols and hit him three times in the arm with a police baton as Bean and Smith were holding Nichols, Mills said.

Mills told prosecutor Paul Hagerman that he hit Nichols with the baton because he was angry. Another officer, Emmitt Martin, arrived and punched and kicked Nichols in the head.

Nichols died three days after the beating. Mills acknowledged on the stand that he had a duty to intervene to stop it, but didnt.

Do you regret that? the prosecutor said.

Yes, Mills said.

Mills also acknowledged that he did not tell paramedics that Nichols had been repeatedly hit in the head and later failed to give police supervisors details of the beating because he didnt want to get in trouble.

Under the plea agreements, Mills state sentence will be the same length as his federal term, which could reach up to life in prison, though federal prosecutors have recommended a 15-year sentence. He would serve the state sentence at the same time as his federal term in prison.

In opening statements Monday, prosecutor Paul Hagerman said Nichols was being held by his arms by two of the officers as he was punched and kicked and hit with a police baton.

Hagerman said the officers helped each other beat Nichols to death. An autopsy showed Nichols died three days after the beating of blunt force trauma.

He said the officers had a duty to stop the beating but none of them did so. They were overcome by the moment, the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney says Nichols was resisting arrest the whole time

In his opening statement, Beans attorney said the situation became high risk when Nichols continued driving for about 2 miles (3.2 km) after one of the officers turned on his vehicles blue lights in an attempt to stop Nichols for speeding. Nichols then failed to follow orders to give officers his hands so that he could be handcuffed, Perry said.

He was actually resisting arrest the whole time, Perry said, adding that the officers just wanted to do their job effectively.

Both Smith and Haley called for medical aid the night of the beating, their lawyers said.

The jury for the state trial was chosen in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Defense lawyers for the officers had argued that intense publicity made seating a fair jury difficult.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

Mills and Martin were also charged but will not stand trial with their former colleagues due to their agreements to testify. Sentencings for all five officers in the federal case is expected after the state trial.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that has since been disbanded. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders with the goal of amassing arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people.

In December, the U.S. Justice Department said a 17-month investigation showed the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Former Memphis officers were frustrated when they fatally beat Tyre Nichols, prosecutor says

PREVIOUS STORY: (AP)  Three former Memphis police officers were frustrated, angry and full of adrenaline when they fatally beat Tyre Nichols after he ran away from a traffic stop in 2023, a prosecutor said Monday during opening arguments in their trial on second-degree murder charges.

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman showed the jury video of the beating in the trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty to state charges. The three already face the prospect of years behind bars after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

A police pole camera captured the beating just steps from the home where Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, lived with his mother and stepfather. That footage led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S. and directed intense scrutiny toward the police force in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

It doesnt take monsters to kill a man,' prosecutor says

Police video showed officers pepper-spraying Nichols and hitting him with a Taser before he ran away from the traffic stop on Jan. 7, 2023. The five officers, who are all Black, chased Nichols and caught him just steps from his home, and then beat him as he called out for his mother. The video showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled.

State trial begins for former Memphis police officers charged in death of Tyre Nichols The proceedings mark a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn national scrutiny since Nichols died following a violent encounter with officers during a traffic stop in January 2023.

Hagerman said Nichols was being held by his arms by two of the officers as he was punched and kicked and hit with a police baton. After the beating, as a severely injured Nichols sat on the ground, officers failed to tell medical personnel that Nichols had been hit in the head, the prosecutor said.

Hagerman said the officers helped each other beat Nichols to death. An autopsy showed Nichols died three days after the beating of blunt force trauma.

He said the officers had a duty to stop the beating but none of them did so. They were overcome by the moment, the prosecutor said.

Nobody is going to call them monsters, Hagerman said. It doesnt take monsters to kill a man.

A defense attorney says Nichols was resisting arrest

In his opening statement, Beans attorney said the officer responded to a call that police were looking for a man who had fled a traffic stop and had been pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Bean, who was not at the initial stop, saw Nichols, turned on his body camera, and chased him down, said attorney John Keith Perry.

Perry said the situation became high risk when Nichols continued driving for about 2 miles (3.2 km) after one of the officers turned on his vehicles blue lights in an attempt to stop Nichols for speeding. Nichols then failed to follow orders to give officers his hands so that he could be handcuffed, Perry said.

He was actually resisting arrest the whole time, Perry said, adding that the officers just wanted to do their job effectively.

The jury for the state trial was chosen in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Defense lawyers for the officers had argued that intense publicity made seating a fair jury difficult.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

Two others expected to change their not guilty pleas

Two other officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., also have been charged but will not stand trial with their former colleagues. Martin and Mills are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to lawyers involved in the case. Sentencings for all five officers in the federal case is expected after the state trial.

After Nichols' death, the five officers were fired, charged in state court and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges.

Martin and Mills pleaded guilty to the federal charges under deals with prosecutors. The other three officers were convicted in October of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges of using excessive force and being indifferent to Nichols serious injuries.

Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols civil rights causing death, but he was convicted of two lesser charges of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury.

On Monday, Martin Zummach, Smiths lawyer, described Smith as a kind and gentle person who always wanted to be a police officer. He pointed blame at Emmitt Martin, who punched Nichols multiple times and crushed the brain of Nichols.

Michael Stengel, Haleys lawyer, told the jury that Haley kicked Nichols once in the upper arm, but he did not break police department policies in doing so. Haley engaged in policing that evening that was ugly and dirty, but he did not commit a crime, Stengel said.

Both Smith and Haley called for medical aid the night of the beating, their lawyers said.

In December, the U.S. Justice Department said a 17-month investigation showed the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

The department is more than 50% Black and Police Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis is Black.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that since has been disbanded. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders with the goal of amassing arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people.

Jury chosen in Hamilton Co. for state trial of former Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death

PREVIOUS STORY: MEMPHIS (AP)  Three former Tennessee police officers face an out-of-town jury as their trial in state court started Monday on second-degree murder charges in the beating death of Tyre Nichols after a 2023 traffic stop in Memphis.

Opening statements began in the trial of former Memphis Police Department officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who have pleaded not guilty and already face the prospect of years behind bars after they were convicted of federal charges last year.

The prosecution went first and then the defense began with its opening arguments.

The beating of Nichols, a Black man, was caught on police video and led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S. and directed intense scrutiny toward the police force in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The jury for the state trial was chosen in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard from people outside of Shelby County, which includes Memphis. Defense lawyers for the officers had argued intense publicity made seating a fair jury difficult.

The officers are charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

UPDATE: Jury selection process for Tyre Nichols' murder trial begins in Hamilton County A judge has ruled that a jury from outside of Memphis will be seated in the state court trial of three former police officers charged with second-degree murder in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop.

Two other officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., also have been charged but will not stand trial with their former colleagues. Martin and Mills are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to lawyers involved in the case. Sentencings for all five officers in the federal case is expected after the state trial.

Police video showed officers pepper-spraying Nichols, 29, and hitting him with a Taser before he ran away from the traffic stop on Jan. 7, 2023. The five officers, who all are Black, chased down Nichols and kicked, punched and hit him with a police baton just steps from his home as he called out for his mother. The video showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled.

Nichols died three days after the beating. The five officers were fired, charged in state court and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges.

Martin and Mills pleaded guilty to the federal charges under deals with prosecutors. The other three officers were convicted in October of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges of using excessive force and being indifferent to Nichols serious injuries.

Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols civil rights causing death, but he was convicted of two lesser charges of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury.

In December, the U.S. Justice Department said a 17-month investigation showed the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people.

The department is more than 50% Black and Police Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis is Black.

The five officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit that since has been disbanded. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders with the goal of amassing arrests, while sometimes using force against unarmed people.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Olsen says even though Ximena Arias Cristobal entered the country with her parents when she was 4 years old, this ultimately did not qualify her for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
Two students from Ballymahon Vocational School recently returned from an exciting and 'life changing' seven week Erasmus+ trip to Institut Cubelles in Spain thanks to an innovative bilateral exchange programme.

During their stay, Evita Kokorite and Niamh O'Neill were fully immersed in the Spanish language and culture.

They attended classes at Institut Cubelles, where they engaged with local students and teachers, honed their language skills and gained valuable insights into the culture and life of Spanish teenagers.

Also Read: Longford parishioners gather to express gratitude to Lay Pastor Ruth Galbraith

This exciting experience was made possible through the school's participation in the European Union's Erasmus+ program, which aims to promote cultural exchange, language skills, and educational development.

Leargas, Ireland's National Agency for Erasmus+, also played a key role in supporting this initiative.

Evita and Niamh also had the opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes and surrounding region, visit famous landmarks, discover the rich history and sample delicious local cuisine.

This exchange was the second leg of a bilateral partnership between Ballymahon Vocational School and Institut Cubelles.Earlier this year, five students from the Spanish region visited Ballymahon, where they were warmly welcomed by the school community.

One of the highlights of the exchange was the opportunity for students to experience local cuisine in both locations.

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In Spain, Evita and Niamh enjoyed traditional dishes such as paella and tortilla, while in Ireland, the visiting Spanish students sampled Irish delicacies like Irish stew and soda bread.

Students on both sides were also involved in cooking traditional dishes, providing a hands-on culinary experience that fostered cultural exchange and understanding.

Principal of Ballymahon Vocational School, Mick O'Rourke, praised the Erasmus+ program for providing "life-changing experiences" for students.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Institut Cubelles and look forward to continuing this partnership," he added.

Beyond the classroom, students from both schools participated in sporting and cultural activities that showcased their unique heritage.

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In Ireland, the Spanish students were introduced to the fast-paced sport of hurling, while in Spain, Evita and Niamh participated in traditional Catalan dances and music.

These shared experiences not only deepened their understanding of each other's cultures but also forged lasting bonds between the students.

During a weekend trip to Barcelona, Evita and Niamh had the opportunity to explore some of the city's most iconic landmarks including La Sagrada Familia: Antoni Gaudi's breathtaking cathedral and Park Guell, another iconic Gaudi landmark.

The pair also experienced Las Ramblas, a bustling pedestrian street lined with street performers, cafes, and shops, offering a glimpse into Barcelona's vibrant cultural scene.

Mr O'Rourke said the success of this exchange is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Erasmus+ coordinator Irene McGoey who is also the head of the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) department.

Mr O'Rourke insisted her 'tireless efforts' has opened up numerous opportunities for Ballymahon Vocational School students, and her passion for language learning and cultural exchange has inspired a new generation of globally-minded students.

The MFL department at Ballymahon Vocational School is a hub of linguistic and cultural activity, with a talented team of teachers who share Ms McGoey's enthusiasm for language learning.

Also Read: PICTURES | Longford revellers enjoy a super hooley at The Hill Top Festival in Aughnacliffe

The girls' Spanish teacher Noel Neary played a significant role in preparing them for their Erasmus+ adventure.

Mr O'Rourke said French teacher Jesse Leen is currently coordinating an exciting upcoming trip for 10 students to Lille, France, while Italian language teacher Emmet Arrigan is always exploring new opportunities for students to engage with the Italian language and culture.

Ballymahon Vocational School's commitment to providing opportunities for cultural exchange and language development also extends beyond the MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) department.

The school's PE and Wellbeing Department, led by Ben McCormack and James Galvin, are organising an upcoming Erasmus+ trip to Slovakia.

Mr O'Rourke praised the dedicated management team at Institut Cubelles - Director Sonia Ruiz, Head of Studies Elisenda Masgrau, Pedagogical Coordinator Montserrat Nunez, and Secretary Montserrat Casulleras Marques -for working tirelessly to provide a warm welcome and enriching experience for Evita and Niamh.
Longford photographer Michael Croghan is thrilled that his work is being exhibited locally and nationally this month.

Images from two of his new ongoing projects have been selected for two separate exhibitions.

Michael explained that a photo he captured at Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday, where he credited faith as being central to his photographic career, was on display during the Dublin Street Photo Festival 2025.

Also Read: Longford parishioners gather to express gratitude to Lay Pastor Ruth Galbraith

He added, I was among sixty finalists out of thousands in the single image category and it was a great honour to have my photo selected by Magnum photographer Martin Parr.

Michaels work was also on display during the local W.A.L Fest Print exhibition, exhibiting in the Temperance Hall, Longford on Sunday and Monday, May 4 and 5.

He outlined that his photo at W.A.L Fest was from ongoing peatland work featuring a Bord na Mona staff member planting Sphagnum Moss brought in from Scotland, to rehabilitate the local industrial harvested landscape.

Many people will remember Michaels successful A Portrait in Time exhibition from 2022 at the Providers Building.

Also Read: PICTURES | Longford revellers enjoy a super hooley at The Hill Top Festival in Aughnacliffe

A visual representation of Longford from 2012-2022, the exhibition comprised over three hundred portraits and selected works from Michaels archival collection. The works showcased aspects of Longford culture, with a focus on community.
Pat and Mike Glennon were pleased to welcome Minister Michael Healy-Rae to their flagship sawmill in Fermoy.

Minister Healy-Rae toured the facility, met members of the team, and saw the results of the latest 23 million investment in the state-of-the-art operations.

During the visit, Glennon Brothers and Minister Healy-Rae discussed the key issues in the forestry sector, including the significant decline in afforestation rates.

Also Read: Ronan Scully is looking for Longford people to join Self Help Africa Camino walk

Just 1,573 hectares were planted in Ireland in 2024 - the lowest level in 70 years - compared to a Government target of 8,000 hectares annually and a Climate Action Plan goal of 18,000 hectares per year.

The meeting also aired concerns about the financial risks of continued under-planting, highlighting that ordinary taxpayers, including farmers, could ultimately bear the burden of potential fines amounting to billions of euros from the EU if Ireland fails to meet its climate change targets.

Further discussions focused on the impact of the policy shift away from commercial forestry towards hardwood planting, and its potential consequences for carbon sequestration, timber supply to the construction sector, and the long-term sustainability of rural employment.

Also Read: Longford goes back to the 90s and 00s with the launch of Freedom FM

Minister Healy-Rae commented,I was delighted to visit Glennon Brothers impressive facility in Fermoy and to see the results of their latest 23 million investment in state-of-the-art operations. This brings the companys total investment in the plant to 80 million since 1998 - supporting not only the 135 direct employees in Fermoy, but also providing opportunities for the 65 people engaged in harvesting and haulage. This investment is a major support for rural employment and a vital boost to the local economy. I look forward to working together on common issues in the future.

Mike Glennon, Joint Managing Director, thanked Minister Healy-Rae for taking the time to visit our flagship facility, for the opportunity to engage directly, and for his continued support of rural development and the timber industry.

Pat Glennon, Joint Managing Director, concluded, Weve always believed in the strength of Irish timber and the skilled people behind it. With this upgraded facility in Fermoy, were investing not just in cutting-edge technology, but in the long-term sustainability of Irelands rural economy.

With 905 people now employed across our operations in Ireland and Scotland, were honoured to share this posi2tive story with Minister Healy-Rae - one that highlights the economic and environmental value forestry and timber can deliver for communities across the country.
Jim McCann, the founder of Long Island-based 1-800-Flowers, announced today that his is stepping down as CEO of the well-known floral and gift retail and distribution company - a position he has held for nearly 50 years - although he will continue to serve as chairman.

Adolfo Villagomez - former CEO of housing rental firm Progress Residential - has been named as McCann's successor, and his goal will be to oversee a long-needed technological update for the company, an issue that has contributed to falling business and lowered revenue in the form of missed orders.

The issues with 1-800-Flowers' order system have became so pronounced, according to reports, that it resulted in the company reporting a net loss of $178 million in the most recent quarter; over the past holiday season alone, cancelled orders led to intense customer dissatisfaction and cost the business $20 million in sales.

The best thing I can do is fire myself and hire someone whos much more skilled than I am in the areas that are important to the company going forward, McCann said of his departure.

Among the anticipated tech upgrades for 1-800-Flowers under Villagomez is the implementation of Artificial intelligence.

This run marks McCann's second tenure as CEO; he originally had stepped down in 2016, with his younger brother taking up the role. However, following health issues, the elder McCann once again took over as CEO in 2023, although only with the goal of finding an eventual replacement.

McCann originally got into the floral business by purchasing flower shops in Manhattan in the 1970s. He later came up with the idea to build a nationwide flower delivery fulfillment service and later re-branded the company "1-800-Flowers" after purchasing a nearly bankrupt Texas company that owned the eponymous phone number.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 09 2025

Dominique Jones, 24, and Jean Saint Fort, 22, were tracked down by authorities and placed under arrest.

The Port Washington Police Department reports the arrest of two Massachusetts men for an Attempted Grand Larceny that occurred on Friday, May 7, 2025 at 3:40 p.m. in Greenvale.

According to Detectives, on February 27, 2025 a female victim, 61, received a phone call from an unknown male stating he was a representative from the Chase Bank fraud department and advised the victim of suspicious transactions on her account. From February 27, 2025 through April 28th, 2025 the suspect had convinced the victim to make multiple withdrawals resulting in a total loss of $387,000.00USC.

On May 2, 2025 the Port Washington Police Department with the assistance of Nassau County Police Department conducted an investigation in front of 90 Northern Boulevard in Greenvale. Defendant Dominique Jones, 24, of 250 Vale Street Chelsea, Massachusetts attempted to flee the scene in a 2018 Jeep Compass and collided with a Port Washington Police vehicle and an unoccupied parked SUV. During the course of the arrest, defendant Jones resisted but was subdued and placed under arrest. Defendant Jean Saint Fort, 22, of 70 Lafyette Avenue Chelsea, Massachusetts who was the passenger was placed under arrest without incident. Subsequent to the investigation, a 9mm handgun was located inside of the vehicle. Multiple stolen credit cards were found in defendant Jones possession. There were no injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing.

Defendant Jones was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th degree, Resisting Arrest and Criminal Mischief. Defendant Saint Fort was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon. They were arraigned on May 8, 2025 at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.

The Nassau County Police Department urges the community to be on alert and to remind vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors about potential scams or fraud.
Major General Andriy Hnatov (left, background), chief of the Ukrainian General Staff, meeting with recently appointed corps commanders in mid-April 2025. (Ukrainian General Staff)

The Ukrainian military has recently unveiled several new army corps. The development is part of an ongoing reform in which Kyiv plans to replace problematic temporary command bodies with a host of permanent corps built around its best brigades and commanders.

The current system

Beginning in the 1990s, Ukraine gradually pared down the sizable military forces it inherited from the Soviet Union. Kyiv cut divisions down to brigades and eliminated army corps, with the last active-duty corps disbanded in 2015. The resulting force structure offered flexibility and reduced costs but was poorly suited to a major war during which the Ukrainian military has ballooned in size.

Kyiv currently uses a series of temporary bodies to exercise command and control over units in combat. Frontline brigades in eastern and southern Ukraine are subordinate to a tactical group (TGr), which is in turn subordinate to an operational-tactical group (OTU). Above the OTU is an operational or operational-strategic group of troops (OUV or OSUV). For example, OSUV Khortytsia is responsible for eastern Ukraine. It oversees several OTUs, such as OTU Donetsk, which is responsible for part of Donetsk Oblast. Under that OTU are multiple tactical groups, such as TGr Pokrovsk, responsible for the area around the city by that name.





Slides shared by General Oleksandr Syrskyi in August 2024 show the areas of responsibility of OSUV Khortytsia, OUV Tavria, and their subordinate OTUs. Tavria was previously an OSUV but was reorganized last year, with its area of responsibility altered.

On paper, Ukraine already has a handful of corps. In preparation for the 2023 counteroffensive, Ukraine established the 9th and 10th Army Corps under the Ground Forces. Kyiv later redesignated its Reserve Corps as the 11th Army Corps. In fall 2024, Ukraine formed the 12th Army Corps under the Ground Forces. Ukraine also created the 30th and 7th Corps, comprising its Marine and Air Assault units, respectively.

In practice, however, these are corps in name only. Their brigades are scattered between different groups of forces. Even where multiple units from the corps have operated alongside one another, such as during the 2023 counteroffensive, theyve lacked corps-level support elements and the training necessary to function as cohesive formations.

Problems with the current system

The current system has contributed to various problems that the Ukrainian military hopes to address through the reintroduction of corps.

One issue is poor coordination between brigades. The TGr and OTU headquarters must often manage an unwieldy number of different brigades and other units. This sometimes leads to seams that the Russians have learned to exploit. At the same time, Ukrainian servicemen say these temporary commands often micromanage decision-making at the brigade level and below, even though many group commanders and staff officers have little to no combat experience and are removed from the situation on the ground.

Another complaint is that officers seconded to temporary commands rotate continually. Consequently, they lack the thorough familiarity with subordinate commanders, the strengths and limitations of their brigades, and the local terrain that a permanent corps commander would have. And because these officers know they will soon move on to other roles, they face insufficient accountability, Ukrainian servicemen argue.

Brigades themselves are often transferred between groups of forces. More problematic, battalions and companies frequently get split off from their parent formations and attached to other brigades to reinforce threatened areas, undermining cohesion (though Ukraine has recently sought to reduce this practice).

Ukrainian servicemen also say that because the temporary commands are responsible only for combat operations, not administrative control, they tend to prioritize short-term battlefield tasks (such as retaking a particular position) at the expense of preserving units combat effectiveness.

The transition to corps

Last November, the Ukrainian military revealed plans to transition to a corps-brigade structure. Brigades will be permanently subordinate to a particular corps, with each corps assigned its own stretch of frontage. The tactical and operational-tactical groups will be disbanded, while the operational/operational-strategic groups apparently will remain.

In total, Kyiv reportedly plans to have as many as 20 corps, including the existing ones, which will be turned into real corps. Compared to their US Army counterparts, the Ukrainian corps are closer to big divisions, with five or so maneuver brigades in each.

On April 25, Ukraines Air Assault Forces announced the formation of the new 8th Corps. This followed the unveiling of the 1st Azov Corps and the 2nd Khartiia Corps within the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) in mid-April, as well as the 3rd Army Corps under the Ground Forces in March. A number of other corps are also known to be in the process of forming but have yet to be formally unveiled.

These four new corps are each based on some of Ukraines best brigades, whose commanders were tapped to lead the corps. Other personnel from those brigades will help staff the corps headquarters. When selecting corps commanders, Kyiv is generally prioritizing young, forward-thinking officers who have excelled as brigade commanders, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently noted.

Kyiv hopes the transition to corps will allow its best brigades to rub off on other units, including by scaling quality training practices. (Ukrainian troops receive the bulk of their training in their units, often after lackluster basic training at training centers.)

Having decided on the commanders and composition of the corps, Ukraine is now working on forming these corps headquarters and units. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the corps commanders have received abbreviated training at the US Armys School of Advanced Military Studies.

The corps structure

As recently noted by Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, the NGU commander, Kyiv intends to organize and equip the corps so they can conduct combat operations independently without the need for constant involvement of the high command. But exactly how the corps will be structured in terms of support elementsand when Ukraine will be able to fully man and equip all these unitsremains unclear.

The 8th Corps has confirmed it will receive an artillery brigade (the 148th). Other corps likely will get artillery brigades as well, although Ukraine may have to form more if every corps is to get one, depending on how many corps end up being created. Additional support elements will likely include anti-aircraft, logistics, drone, electronic warfare, engineer-sapper, communications, and repair-restoration units, among others.

Many of these units are a work in progress. The 3rd Army Corps, for example, has begun forming a separate unmanned systems regiment led by a deputy commander from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the main unit around which the corps is being formed. This regiment reportedly will be equipped with various types of unmanned aerial systems, including short- and long-range strike drones, as well as unmanned ground vehicles. The other corps may get similar regiments, a number of which Ukraine has recently established.

Ukraine is short on some corps-level capabilities. For example, unlike earlier Ukrainian corps, the current ones likely will not have army aviation unitsat least not anytime soonas Kyiv lacks enough helicopters. Likewise, although 3rd Corps commander Colonel Andriy Biletskyi has called for the corps to receive long-range precision-strike capabilities, it is unclear whether Kyiv will distribute its limited number of Western-supplied HIMARS and M270 multiple-launch rocket systems among the corps or keep them at the disposal of higher-echelon commanders.

Other challenges

One significant hurdle is that many of the brigades assigned to the new corps are currently fighting in completely different areas. Brigades will have to be redeployed so they can join their corps. This process will be difficult to execute, not least because Ukraine has few available reserves to replace withdrawn units. Russia has managed to exploit similar unit rotations in the past.

Another problem is a shortage of qualified officers. To function effectively, corps require both competent commanders and well-trained staff officers. A lack of qualified personnel is a key reason why Ukraine opted against adopting a corps-division-brigade structure, which it considered earlier in the war. As one officer explained to Ukrainska Pravda, the new corps have to take whomever they can get, and many of these people lack relevant experience.

A difficult reform with potential benefits

Even in peacetime, transitioning to corps would not be a quick or easy process. Doing so in the middle of a war is even harder. Time will tell whether Kyiv can pull it off before the war ends. However, if done right, this reform may better position Ukrainian forces to defend their country against current and future Russian offensives.

John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.
The Conclave on Thursday chose US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to succeed Pope Francis as the next head of the Catholic Church.

White smoke began rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City just before 18:10 on Thursday evening, indicating that cardinals locked in the Conclave had agreed on who will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion members.

Around 50,000 people had gathered in St Peters square in Rome to greet the 267th pope, who appeared around 19:20 to address waiting crowds.

Speaking in Italian, Pope Leo XIV said he wants his message of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are. He urged the faithful to move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost addressing the crowd from the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, 7 May 2025.  Photo credit: AFP

Prevost, seen as a moderate within the church, was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023. His predecessor also appointed Prevost to the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from around the world. He was a prominent member of Pope Francis entorage on the official Papal visit to Luxembourg and Belgium in September 2024. It was the ailing Pontiffs penultimate foreign trip.

Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, pictured directly to the left of Pope Francis at Luxembourg airport on 26 September 2024. Prevost is seen as a moderate, likely to follow a similar agenda to his predecessor.  Photo credit: Christophe Olinger

69-year-old Prevost is a former leader of the Augustinian order and has significant missionary experience in Peru, having served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo. He was elected pope by the 133 cardinals in the Conclave in the fourth round of voting.

Luxembourgs Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich had been listed among possible successors to Pope Francis although he himself had said he was not vying for the post. However, Hollerich - as the first cardinal from the Grand Duchy - was the first Luxembourger to ever participate in the Conclave.

A nun waits for the appearance of the newly elected Pope after white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signalling that cardinals elected a new pope during their secret conclave, at Saint Peter's Square in The Vatican, on 8 May 2025.  Photo credit: AFP

The Luxembourg Archdiocese in a statement welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV. May our prayers be with him throughout his pontificate, the church said. With trust and hope - especially in the Holy Year 2025 - we want to express our deepest respect for the new pope and assure him of the support as Christians in Luxembourg.

Church bells across the Grand Duchy on Friday will ring for ten minutes starting 12:15 in honour of the new pope.

Prime Minister Luc Frieden on X congratulated Pope XIV. He met Prevost as cardinal during Pope Francis visit to Luxembourg last year. In these times of fundamental geopolitical challenges, I express the hope that he can contribute through his work to peace and justice in the world.

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Biography The Vaticans news service on Thursday posted a biography on its website. Robert Francis Prevost was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois to parents of French, Italian and Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.

Earned a degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania in 1977.

On 1 September of the same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis. He was ordained a priest on 19 June 1982 in Rome.

In 1985, while preparing his doctoral thesis, he was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Peru. He defended his thesis in 1987.

His long-standing connection with Peru culminated in 2015 when he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo by Pope Francis.

Francis in 2023 called Prevost back to Rome to become prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, promoting him to the rank of archbishop.

Prevost is created cardinal in September 2023, a crucial step in his election as pope in May 2025.

Prevost chose Leo XIV as his papal name. It is customary for the pontiff to abandon their christened name. The last Leo - Leo XIII - was elected in 1878 and served until his death in 1903.

The choice of name gives an early indication of the type of papacy the new pope will aspire to, whether it follows in the footsteps of a conservative previous pope or breaks new ground, like Pope Francis, who picked a name that had never been used and had very specific connotations to a saint known for his humility and vow of poverty.

Leo XIII was known for his dedication to social justice, fair wages and safe working conditions. I would say that he is a social pope. Maybe he didnt chose the name Leo for nothing, said Gerard Kieffer, a spokesperson for the Catholic church in Luxembourg in an interview. I think that if he sees himself in this lineage, then he probably chose this name because these are topics that matter to him as well.

Unlike Francis - who chose to dress in simple white robes during his papacy - Leo XIV appeared dressed in the more traditional papal robes.

US President Donald Trump via Truth Social congratulated the first US pope.

Messages of congratulation also poured in from the European Union. We are confident that Pope Leo XIV will use his voice on the global stage to promote these shared values and encourage unity in the pursuit of a more just and compassionate world, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in a joint statement.

The European Union stand ready to work closely with the Holy See to confront global challenges and nurture a spirit of solidarity, respect and kindness, they said.

The mayor of Chicago - where Prevost was born - on X quipped that everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago.

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Also read: Luxembourg Grand Duke and PM hope for new pope to continue Francis legacy

(With additional reporting from Bloomberg.)
Some of the best brunch spots in the country are located in the Boston area, according to OpenTable.

The restaurant reservation booking site recently published its list of "2025s Top 100 Brunch Restaurants," featuring top eateries from 25 states.

So, whether youre planning a casual weekend with friends or need a last-minute reservation for Mothers Day, these are OpenTables picks for the best brunch spots in Massachusetts.

1653 Beacon St., Brookline; 617-906-8556

With menu items that range from Saganaki to Kontosulvi, Bar Vlaha captures the true soul of Greek cooking with rustic and nomadic traditions using charcoal and open-fire gastra techniques, the restaurants website reads. Bar Vlahas standout brunch options include Shakshouka (eggs baked in spicy tomato sauce, wild greens, peppers, onion, feta, olives and grilled sourdough) and Breakfast Hilopites (house-made pasta, poached egg, Metsovone, loukaniko, brown sugar, olive oil).

3710 Washington St., Jamaica Plain; 617-477-4519

This award-winning, neighborhood restaurant is spearheaded by James Beard nominee Chef Jeremy Jay Kean. For nearly a decade, the family-owned eatery has delighted diners with European-inspired meals and cocktails. Brassica Kitchens brunch menu includes options such as the Impossible Sausage Big Mac, Brunch Fried Rice and Tamale with Caramelized Mushroom.

611 Columbia Road, Dorchester; 617-329-6910

Nestled in Uphams Corner, Comfort Kitchen in Dorchester was named a James Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2024. The restaurants food celebrates the flavors and ingredients of the African Diaspora  global comfort food  connected from Asia to the Americas, its website reads. Comfort Kitchen serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

48 Gloucester St., Boston; 617-536-0230

Krasi, a staple Greek restaurant in Bostons Back Bay neighborhood, invites diners to come for the wine, stay for the food, including its Greek-inspired brunch menu. Diners can try the gyro Benedict  crispy fried chicken, grilled pita, spicy pickles, poached eggs, avgolemono hollandaise  or the Lalagites  fried olive oil pancakes with mint, merenda, kalathaki cheese, thyme honey, cinnamon and walnuts. Krasis brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

10 City Square, Charlestown; 617-804-7400

In addition to its lunch and dinner offerings, Primas brunch menu also has unique Italian-inspired dishes. Options include the spinach and ricotta omelet, scrambled egg carbonara and prosciutto Benedict. Primas brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

24 Tremont St., Boston; 781-203-1223

Silver Dove Afternoon Tea is an English-style tea room that offers 90-minute reservations for afternoon tea Wednesday through Sunday. A reservation, which is required, includes a set, fixed-price food menu consisting of a variety of finger sandwiches, savory canapes, scones and pastries. Everything on the menu is completely gluten free (and oat free). Silver Doves afternoon tea service starts at $48 per person.
Alan Jackson accepts the lifetime achievement award during the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Alan Jacksons legacy was cemented when the country music legend was given an incredible honor this week.

The Grand Ole Opry member received the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday night, May 8.

During his acceptance speech, the retiring musician reflected on just how much the award meant to him.

A few years ago one of my fans named their dog after me, and I thought that was something, but this is really amazing, Jackson told the crowd.

The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee then got more candid by reflecting on how he first came to Nashville with a paper sack full of songs and a crazy dream.

All these years later and Im standing here receiving such an honor like this, its just mind-blowing, Jackson said.

After thanking God and his fans, the 16-time CMA Award-winner gave one special shoutout to his family.

I do want to especially thank one person thats been my best friend since I was 17-years-old, and thats my wife Denise out there, he said. Shes loved me through the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, influenced me, given me three beautiful daughters and helped me keep my feet on the ground all these years.

I wouldnt be here if not for her, Jackson added.

The 66-year-old revealed his decision to retire last year, citing his family as a big part of that.

The 17-time ACM Award-winner also has been dealing with a rare genetic condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The chronic neuropathy condition affects a persons balance and ability to walk, and it apparently runs in his family.

Jackson, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2011, said in 2021 interview with the TODAY show that he inherited the disease from his father.

Its been affecting me for years, and its getting more and more obvious, Jackson said on the show. I know Im stumbling around on stage and now Im having a little trouble balancing even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable.

The two-time Grammy Award-winner has one final show on his Last Call Tour. Its scheduled for Saturday, May 17 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Karen Read listens as Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik testifies during her trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) AP

More than 20 witnesses have testified in the second Karen Read murder trial and the judge told jurors this week that the trial expected to last six to eight weeks remains on schedule.

Witnesses from the Canton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police testified about the investigative steps they took in the hours after John OKeefes body was found outside of 34 Fairview Road.

Jurors also heard from two people  Ryan Nagel and Heather Maxon  who arrived at 34 Fairview Road in Canton, where OKeefes unresponsive body was found, at the same time as Read and OKeefe did shortly after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022.

The time around 12:30 a.m. is crucial to the case. Prosecutors say that Read made a three-point turn around then, and fatally struck OKeefe and left him to die as a blizzard rolled in.

Nagel and Maxon, however, said they did not see OKeefe as they drove away from the home. One witness said they saw Read with her hands on the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 positions and the cars inner light on.

Here are the biggest takeaways from the third week of trial:

More testimony about Read and OKeefes arrival at 34 Fairview Road

The prosecution called Nagel to the stand on Monday, and he described what he saw shortly after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022.

He drove in his friends car with Maxon, his then-girlfriend, and they went to the Canton house to pick up his sister (she was there for a party). They arrived at the house at the same time as Read and OKeefe that night, but neither witness saw OKeefe.

Mark Bederow, a New York criminal defense attorney who has followed the case, said in an interview that their testimonies established a few things, some more readily than others. Read tried to add Bederow to her defense team, but a judge determined he couldnt effectively represent her and Aidan Kearney, the blogger Turtleboy.

Reads SUV was a car length away from a flag pole on the left side of the house, Nagel testified.

Nagels sister came outside, told her brother she wanted to stay at the house and she went back inside  all within a few minutes.

Nagel confirmed he did not see any damage to Reads taillight and that no one saw OKeefe that night.

Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan asked Nagel what time they were there, and Nagel said roughly between 12:30 a.m. and 12:35 a.m. With only a light dusting of snow on the front yard by then, he said he did not notice anyone lying by the flagpole  the area where OKeefe was later found.

Nagels testimony raises questions about what happened between 12:30 a.m. and 12:35 a.m.

Important to the timeline, both are adamant that they saw Karen sitting in the SUV in the area where this is alleged to have happened, Bederow said. They saw no accident, saw nothing suspicious, and most importantly, they did not see OKeefe in the car or anywhere outside.

Which could support a defense claim, which is if he wasnt in the car and not detected outside, might he have been inside the house? Bederow added.

Last week, an expert witness for the prosecution testified that OKeefe took 36 steps for a total of 84 feet between 12:31 a.m. and 12:32 a.m.

Another witness, Jennifer McCabe, was inside the household at that time. She testified last week about seeing Reads SUV outside the house and texting OKeefe at 12:27 a.m. She then texted him several more times, up until 12:45 a.m., and said she looked out the window at least four times, but never saw OKeefe.

With unresolved questions, they tend to favor the party without the burden of proof, meaning the defense, Bederow said.

The prosecutions witness list includes an expert witness and a state police investigator who are expected to provide more information about when exactly Read struck OKeefe with her vehicle, according to their theory of the case.

Three weeks into the trial, however, the timeline of when Read and OKeefe arrived at 34 Fairview Road and what happened immediately after includes a lot of unknowns, as Bederow put it.

Put all of this together and you can see that there are some serious issues that the prosecution will have to contend with to fit their theory in a very specific timeline with all this evidence that does not appear to help, Bederow said.

Jurors learn more about the firing of former lead investigator, Michael Proctor

Prosecutors have still not called the lead investigator in the Read case: former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor.

He was fired earlier this year, and state police officials specifically cited his handling of the Read investigation as cause for his dismissal.

On Thursday, Brennan asked Proctors supervisor, Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik, to read some of Proctors texts that eventually led to his firing. Proctor sent the text messages to some of his supervisors, where he provided an update after looking through Reads cell phone.

No nudes so far, Bukhenik read. Brennan had handed him a sheet of paper with the text messages printed. I hate that man; I truly hate that man, read one text by Proctor, referring to Reads attorney.

Bukhenik also described how he faced discipline due to Proctors text messages. Bukhenik said he gave a thumbs up to the text about no nudes, but that he did so while working a detail at Logan Airport and read the message on his Apple watch.

I acknowledged the text, he said. I did not respond with verbiage.

An internal affairs investigation resulted in two sustained findings against Bukhenik: one for failing to properly supervise Proctor and a second for inaccuracy in his performance reviews.

Bukhenik lost five days of vacation time.

Still, the state police investigator defended the handling of the case during cross-examination by Alan Jackson, one of Reads lawyers.

This investigation was conducted professionally, with integrity, and all the evidence collected, all the statements collected, pointed in one direction, Bukhenik said.

Former Canton police lieutenant explains why no search inside of 34 Fairview Road

Paul Gallagher, a former Canton police lieutenant, testified this week. He was the highest-ranking member of Canton police at the scene after OKeefe was found.

Gallagher testified about how police used a leaf blower to clear the area in the snow where OKeefes body was found. He said that a shovel could have damaged the scene.

He also described how Canton police used red Solo cups at the scene to store droplets of blood uncovered by the leaf blower. The cups were retrieved by another Canton lieutenant who lived nearby.

We had a duty and an obligation to check around where he was found to see if there was any explanation as to what caused his medical condition, Gallagher said. He said he observed pink blood.

Gallagher said Canton police initially processed the area since the Massachusetts State Police were not immediately arriving. State police wouldnt arrive until close to 5 p.m. OKeefes body was found around 6 a.m.

Blizzard conditions made processing the scene difficult, according to Gallagher. Police found a broken cocktail glass, however, and jurors were shown the evidence on Tuesday.

Jackson questioned Gallagher about why police never searched inside the house for potential evidence of a fight. Police initially believed OKeefe couldve been involved in an altercation based on the injuries to his head.

Gallagher said police did not pursue a search warrant because the house had nothing to do with the incident based on the evidence at that time.

Jackson suggested the reason Gallagher and Canton police didnt seek a warrant is that they knew the home was owned by a police officer.

Gallagher rejected the idea, telling Jackson he had executed search warrants at police officers homes before.

Brian Albert, the homeowner, got no special treatment, Gallagher said.

Defense plants seeds for 3rd party theory

At the end of the week, with Bukhenik still on the stand, Reads defense began hinting toward its theory of the case: that OKeefe was beaten up inside 34 Fairview Road.

One of the three people publicly accused  Brian Higgins, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives  exchanged a series of flirtatious text messages with Read in the weeks prior to Jan. 29, 2022.

On Friday, the jury got to hear those messages.

Jackson had Bukhenik read out the entire flirtatious text exchange between Higgins and Read in the weeks leading up to OKeefes death, in doing so revealing to the jury that Read and Higgins had kissed.

The strategy stood in contrast to Reads first trial, when the courtroom heard Higgins himself read the messages aloud for more than an hour.

Jackson sought to portray the texts as Higgins having a romantic interest in Read, but Bukhenik noted Read initiated their conversation.

In Bukheniks view, the texts showed Read trying to get revenge against OKeefe for an incident on New Years Eve and hurt John by cheating.

Jackson suggested the texts should have raised suspicions about Higgins having a motive relative to OKeefe.

Bukhenik denied that they did.

The evidence spoke for itself, he said, and pointed to the honesty and cooperation of witnesses and the corroboration of supporting facts.

Jackson suggested Higgins may have been less than truthful with Bukhenik when he described seeing a snow bank outside 34 Fairview Road when he left early on Jan. 29, 2022, but Bukhenik said he had no reason to suspect that.

The lengthy questioning is indicative of not just the defenses effort to introduce a third-party culprit, but also of the criticisms of the investigation. Bukhenik obtained the messages from Higgins but never sought to search the contents of his entire phone.

The subtext of Jacksons questioning was clear: Bukhenik and others failed to look at anyone other than Read for the crime of killing OKeefe.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death in connection with OKeefes death.

Reads lawyers contend that her SUV never struck OKeefe and that Jennifer McCabe and others conspired to frame Read.

The trial will resume at 10 a.m. on Monday.

MassLive reporter Irene Rotondo contributed to this report.
Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik testifies during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Friday, May 9, 2025. (Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle via AP, Pool) AP

Though he hasnt set foot in the Dedham courtroom, former Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor was all but physically present for Karen Reads second trial at the end of its third week as her lawyers grilled his supervisor, Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik.

Much of Bukheniks testimony was defined by Proctor, who reported directly to Bukhenik as they investigated the death of Reads boyfriend John OKeefe.

But Bukhenik appeared evasive about Proctors role on the stand, including a memorable exchange where he refused to call the former trooper the lead investigator on the case.

Bukhenik just wont admit the obvious, Mark Bederow, a New York City-based attorney whom Read had tried to add to her defense team, told MassLive on Friday. Bederow also represents the blogger Aidan Kearney, also known as Turtleboy.

Proctor was relieved of duty from the Massachusetts State Police in July 2024, the same day Reads first trial ended in a mistrial. He was suspended without pay a week later, and was recently fired in March.

Mass State Police Trooper Michael Proctor on the witness stan Wednesday afternoon. The Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Dedham Massachusetts on Wednesday June 12, 2024 Pool Photo by Greg Derr/Patriot Ledger

Bukhenik lost five vacation days for failing to supervise Proctor and for an inaccurate performance review.

During the first trial, Proctor spent hours on the stand reading degrading text messages he sent about Read.

This go-around, Bukhenik was forced to read many on direct examination  including one where Proctor joked about going through Reads phone looking for naked photos.

A state police trial board found Proctor guilty of unsatisfactory performance and violating policy on alcoholic beverages.

His testimony so far has been nothing short of a disaster for the prosecution, who called him ... to present someone they believe is professional, competent and can minimize whatever damage the defense will attempt to establish with Michael Proctor, Bederow said.

On direct examination, special prosecutor Hank Brennan appeared to try and paint Bukhenik as the driving force of the investigation into OKeefes death. He even interjected Bukhenik and told him to only detail the specific actions he took during the investigation, not what he and Proctor may have done together.

But on cross-examination from Jackson at the end of the week, Bukhenik confirmed that numerous search warrants, affidavits and reports in the case were authored or signed by Proctor.

The questions from Jackson are reflective of what appears to be a tweak in the defenses strategy: instead of blaming others for OKeefes death, they are instead attacking the investigators for not looking at anyone other than Read.

Karen Read's attorney, Alan Jackson during Read's trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Matt Stone /The Boston Herald via AP, Pool) AP

In his opening statement, Jackson called Proctor a cancer.

This case carries a malignancy ... a cancer that can not be cut out. That cancer has a name; its Michael Proctor, he said at the time. Michael Proctor is the very definition of the commonwealths case. And hes also their Achilles heel.

Bukheniks testimony, which thus far has taken two full trial days, has been defined not just by Proctor but by what legal experts described as a general lack of preparation.

The sneaker mixup

Even on direct examination from Brennan, there were curious moments from Bukhenik. When he was asked to show the jury one of OKeefes sneakers, recovered from Good Samaritan Hospital, he testified twice that the shoe was actually the one found at 34 Fairview Road, where OKeefe was found in the cold.

The previous day, another trooper, Connor Keefe, showed OKeefes left shoe, which he testified was the one recovered at Fairview.

The jury was sent for a break and Judge Beverly Cannone told a member of the defense to speak to Bukhenik about this issue.

When the jury returned, Bukhenik showed what appeared to be the same sneaker, but said it was recovered from Good Samaritan Hospital. He then showed the jury OKeefes T-shirt, which was encased in clear plastic, and his sweatshirt.

Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik holds up the the shirt John O'Keefe wore on the night of his death during the trial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) AP

Bukhenik also seems very ill-prepared, which is kind of surprising, Bederow told MassLive.

You would expect that if this was going to be the witness that was going to carry the day for the prosecution ... he would have been better prepared on the state of the evidence, in terms of the demeanor  frankly, be prepared to own the obvious fact that Michael Proctor was central to this case, he said.

Jack Lu, a mediator and adjunct law professor at Boston College who served as a Massachusetts Superior Court judge for 16 years, feels the Bukehnik simply wastes many hours of our time, and that its outrageous an experienced trooper was so poorly trained to testify.

Questionable handwriting

On Friday, Bukhenik continued to deflect even the most basic questions on Proctors role. Reads lawyer, Alan Jackson, pressed Bukhenik on the discovery of taillight fragments at 34 Fairview Road in the days after OKeefes death, and particularly on Feb. 10, 2022.

That day, Bukhenik found several pieces of red and clear plastic, which were placed in an evidence bag with Bukheniks name on it. But Bukhenik seemed to have no idea who actually documented the bagged evidence.

You didnt fill this bag out, did you? Jackson asked.

No, I did not, Bukhenik replied.

Who did? Jackson said.

I do not know, Bukhenik said.

With harsh emphasis on each word, Jackson repeated, Who did? and Bukhenik again said he didnt know.

Jackson then asked if he recognized the handwriting, and Bukhenik said no.

You dont recognize the handwriting of your partner and subordinate, Michael Proctor? Jackson asked, which was objected to by the prosecution and sustained by the judge.

Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik testifies during the trial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) AP

[Bukhenik] is evasive and unprofessional ... He appears not to understand his role as a witness on cross-examination, said Lu.

Lu feels it seems Bukhenik wasnt properly prepared by state police for his testimony in the second trial.

I do not personally believe he is super-evasive because he is perjuring himself. He just doesnt know any better, and it is the fault of Massachusetts State Police, Lu said.

To Bederow, Bukhenik is just being extraordinarily difficult for the sake of being extraordinarily difficult. But all its serving to do is make the jury suspicious, he said.

To try to convince the jury that Michael Proctor is no big deal  hes a very big deal ... and all [Bukhenik] is doing is coming off as disingenuous and evasive," Bederow said.

Most prosecutors would own it, put it out there that there is an issue with Michael Proctor, then explain why it doesnt matter. In this case, theyre leaving the defense to do it ... you burn credibility with the jury in doing it this way, he said.

Bukheniks cross-examination resumes at 10 a.m. Monday.
A former Cambridge music teacher was arrested Thursday in connection with paying minor boys and another man to produce child sexual abuse material for him, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office announced.

Cambridge resident Joshua DeWitte, 50, and Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27  a Filipino national residing in Baltimore  have been charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of minors, as well as associated attempt and conspiracy charges, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release.

At the time DeWitte is alleged to have committed these crimes, he was at the Buckingham, Browne & Nichols K-12 School, according to the U.S. Attorneys office and Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans Office. Cambridge Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.
A Gloucester police officer faces a charge in connection with child sex abuse material found on several devices in his home, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said.

Alexander Aiello, 34, of Gloucester, faces one count of possession of child pornography, Foleys office said in a statement. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Investigators identified Aiello as a user with a registered account for a dark website, which allows users to download, view, advertise and distribute child sex abuse material, Foleys office said. Following searches on his person and home on April 28, a cell phone, laptop and USB thumb drive next to his nightstand were taken.

Preliminary examinations of the devices found that a TOR browser, which allows anonymous web access and access to the dark web, was installed and running on his laptop, the statement read. The application had downloaded recently used files. The thumb drive and laptop also had encrypted folders.

MassLive reached out to the Gloucester Police Department to confirm if Aiello is on administrative leave.

On April 28, the department shared a statement on Facebook that said an officer was on administrative leave in connection with a federal investigation at the home of a Gloucester police officer.

At this time, there is no information indicating that the investigation is related to conduct performed while on duty or related to other duties as a Gloucester Police Department employee, the statement read. As this matter concerns an active federal investigation, the department will not be providing further comment at this time.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Karen Read listens as Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik testifies during her trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) AP

Karen Reads second trial in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, continued on Friday in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court before Judge Beverly Cannone.

On Thursday and Friday, the jury heard lengthy testimony from a Massachusetts State Police sergeant who investigated OKeefes death.

People to know:

Hank Brennan, special prosecutor for the Norfolk County District Attorneys office

Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik, trooper assigned to the district attorneys office

Brian Higgins, federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Alan Jackson, lawyer for Read

4 p.m. - Trial concludes for the day

With Jackson having not yet completed his cross-examination of Bukhenik, Cannone sent the jury home for the weekend.

She said the trial was still on schedule.

3:42 p.m. - Bukhenik questioned about whereabouts of Albert dog

In the wake of OKeefes death, Jackson noted that the Albert family, who owned the home at 34 Fairview Road where OKeefe was found, got rid of their dog, Chloe.

Bukhenik said he didnt know exactly when he learned the family no longer owned the dog, but confirmed he assisted with identifying the dog and investigating that animal.

He said he obtained veterinary records related to the dog, but said the records didnt list the dogs new name or new owner.

Bukhenik didnt have any records showing the dogs transfer, purchase, or rehoming.

It was during that line of questioning when Jackson established the long delay in writing some reports in the case. The longest delay was 581 days after OKeefes death, Jackson said.

Jackson introduced one report in particular, an interview Bukhenik conducted of Ricky DAntuono, who parked outside 34 Fairview Road on Jan. 29, 2022.

DAntuono, ostensibly an eyewitness to the condition of Reads SUV, wasnt interviewed until more than a year and a half later, in September 2023.

3:19 p.m. - Jackson plays Ring camera footage

Jackson played Bukhenik a snippet of Ring camera footage taken outside OKeefes home on Jan. 29, 2022.

In it, Read can be seen backing her SUV out of OKeefes garage and colliding with his car, which is parked outside in the corner of the driveway. Bukhenik conceded the right rear area of the SUV comes into contact with OKeefes car.

But he said his assessment with the totality of it all ... based on the video [was] there was no damage to either vehicle at the time.

Reads defense has suggested her taillight was damaged then, and not by hitting OKeefe. Bukhenik conceded on cross-examination that no pieces of her taillight were found at 34 Fairview Road until after state police had custody of her SUV.

2:58 p.m. - Jury sees Higgins, Brian Albert squaring off at Waterfall

Jackson showed Bukhenik surveillance video from the Waterfall bar in Canton that shows Brian Albert, who owned 34 Fairview Road at the time, squaring off with Higgins.

Bukhenik described the footage as roughhousing and a couple of buddies messing around.

The footage was taken just before midnight on Jan. 28, 2022. Bukhenik agreed it was minutes before the group left the bar to go to Fairview Road.

In another clip, Albert appears to be giving Higgins what Bukhenik said appeared to be the Heimlich maneuver. The pair can be seen continuing to play-wrestle one another as the video goes on.

As the group prepares to leave the Waterfall, the video shows Higgins gesturing toward the bar, near where OKeefe was standing.

2:37 p.m. - No suspicion of motive for Higgins

As Jackson continued his questioning, Bukhenik said he was not aware of any calls between Higgins and Albert.

While Bukhenik said an extraction of Higgins phone would have showed all his phone calls, he said he had no reason to seek the phone.

He was not looked at as an individual that we would need to get his information for any reason, he said.

Jackson asked if the texts prompted any suspicions of Higgins having a motive relative to OKeefe.

Bukhenik denied that they did.

The evidence spoke for itself, he said, pointing to the honesty and cooperation of witnesses and the corroboration of supporting facts.

Jackson suggested Higgins may have been less than truthful with Bukhenik when he described seeing a snow bank outside 34 Fairview Road when he left early on Jan. 29, 2022.

Bukhenik said he had no reason to suspect that.

2 p.m. - Bukhenik resumes testimony

After the break, Jackson asked Bukhenik to describe the text exchange he had just read.

Certain parts were flirtatious, Bukhenik said. But in his view, the texts show Read trying to get revenge against OKeefe for an incident on New Years Eve.

Read intended to hurt John by cheating, Bukhenik said.

He agreed there was no evidence OKeefe saw the messages.

Jackson sought to portray the texts as showing Higgins having a romantic interest in Read. Bukhenik noted she initiated the conversation.

So between January 23rd and January 28th, would you describe Ms. Reads side of the conversation as ghosting Mr. Higgins? Jackson asked.

One could read into it in that manner, Bukhenik said.

12:08 p.m. - Bukhenik details flirtatious texts between Read, Higgins

The conversation starts friendly, with Higgins and Read talking about their lives and Read asking about his romantic history. Read then invites Higgins over to an event and calls him Mr. Elusive.

Higgins insists he is not a hoe and tells Read she makes him laugh.

As the conversation between Higgins and Read progressed, the messages became flirtatious. Read told Higgins hes hot, and Higgins said the feeling is mutual.

Is that bad? he asked, adding, I think youre messing with me, and This is so out of left field.

Read asked Higgins if he liked her. He said, Yes, from jump.

When was jump? he asked.

Read told him hes her type and she feels like he is from her neighborhood.

Higgins told Read she is hot, smart [and] witty but he didnt think shed be interested.

Hey - were single and we dont have kids. We can do whatever we want, she texted to him. Read invited Higgins over to her home and later told him shes glad he came over.

What do you want Karen? he asked. You looked great tonight.

I think your hot, he added. Always have thought that.

She told Higgins things have deteriorated with OKeefe. It is very very complicated, she added.

Higgins asked Read if she and OKeefe planned to break up, and she told him OKeefe hooked up with another girl on vacation on a New Years trip.

As the conversation continued, Read told him shes had health issues, including colon cancer and numerous surgeries.

At one point, Read admitted to kissing Higgins, and he said he wanted the real deal. Read said it doesnt exist.

Read said the dynamic between her, OKeefe and his niece and nephew is complicated. His heart isnt in it, she told Higgins.

I try very hard but they are very spoiled, she texts.

Higgins asked Read if she planned to leave OKeefe. She said she didnt have any plans but admitted, Sometimes I go back and forth.

Let me know when you figure your shut out, Higgins told Read. What do you want from me? What do you desire?

To start I would just like to hang out, she replied.

Read continued to try and make plans with Higgins and told him she doesnt think it would be a big deal for either of them to go to the others home.

On Jan. 19, 2022, the pair met for a drink in West Roxbury.

On Jan. 28, 2022, while the pair were at the Waterfall bar, Higgins texted Read, umm, well?

The next message was from Read the next day, which simply read, John died.

The entire process to read through the messages took more than an hour and Cannone sent the jury out for a lunch break.

11:42 a.m. - Bukhenik begins reading texts between Higgins and Read

After the sidebar, Jackson had Bukhenik begin reading the texts exchanged between Higgins and Read. The texts started with an exchange about Smirnoff Ice cocktails.

Higgins asks Read how she got his number and whether she took it from OKeefes phone. She tells him she was the last person in greeter Canton to get it.

Cannone called the lawyers back to sidebar as Bukhenik read further. After the sidebar, the messages were projected on a screen in the courtroom.

Bukhenik asked if he was to start at the beginning, prompting a chuckle from the entire courtroom. Cannone told him he didnt, smiling broadly.

The text exchange is from January 2022, just weeks before OKeefes death. During Reads first trial, Higgins read the messages from the stand.

11:30 a.m. - Trial resumes, but at sidebar

After a lengthy morning recess, the trial resumed. Bukhenik authenticated that a printout Jackson handed to him appeared to be a true and accurate representation of the text messages between Brian Higgins and Read.

But when Jackson moved to have Bukhenik read the messages, Cannone stopped him and called the lawyers up to sidebar.

The messages were marked as evidence and Cannone gave the jury two instructions: first, that they must find it is more likely than not that the messages are communications between Higgins and Read, and second, that they are being offered to show that the information was provided to state police for their investigation.

Higgins is a federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who was at the Waterfall Bar in Canton with Read and OKeefe on Jan. 29, 2022. He was also inside 34 Fairview Road that night.

10:20 a.m. - Bukhenik questioned about witnesss texts with Read

Jackson shifted his questioning to Higgins.

Bukhenik said a forensic extraction was never performed of Higgins phone, but he did turn over certain text messages between himself and Read. Jackson asked if Bukhenik would describe the messages as flirtatious.

He said he couldnt, but conceded they were friendly. Brennan objected to much of the questioning and Jackson asked to be heard at sidebar.

Cannone sent the jury out for a morning break while still at sidebar. With the jury out of the room, she told Jackson he needed to give copies of the messages to Bukhenik and Brennan.

9:27 a.m. - The evidence was speaking to us

Jackson resumed his cross-examination with a line of questioning about Bukheniks investigation.

Specifically, he pressed Bukhenik about the discovery of pieces of glass and plastic on the front lawn at 34 Fairview Road on Feb. 10, 2022. That day, Bukhenik admitted, he did not photograph or plot the coordinates of the evidence he recovered.

He said they were found in a 50-square-foot area near the flagpole and fire hydrant on the lawn.

Jackson countered he was talking about a relatively broad area.

If your theory was there was an impact, the site of that impact would be important, wouldnt it? Jackson asked.

Bukhenik said it was, but rebuffed the idea he was working off an assumption about a collision.

The evidence was speaking to us, he said. The evidence pointed to an impact taking place, he added, noting the glass and plastic fragments found on the lawn were consistent with the damage to Reads taillight.

Jackson noted that those fragments were not booked into evidence on March 14. Bukhenik said he couldnt account for where they were in the month between when they were collected and when they were booked into evidence.

He told Jackson it was a ridiculous suggestion that the fragments wouldve been given to a stranger. Still, he could not testify to who he gave them to.

9:07 a.m. - Court opens for the day

As she does each morning, Cannone asked the jury if they had been able to follow her instructions about discussing the case and avoiding media coverage.

Each juror said they had.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer on Jan. 29, 2022.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorneys say her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.
Adam Rollins, right, is arraigned Jan. 3, 2023 in Attleboro District Court. At left is his attorney at the time, Damien Puller of Taunton. Rollins has pleaded not guilty to killing and attempting to sexually assault an 80-year-old woman at her Division Street home in Attleboro before setting it on fire. (Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle)

A man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday after he admitted to the brutal 2022 murder of an 80-year-old Attleboro great-grandmother  a justice that might never have been served without the womans devastated family and their relentless pursuit of truth.

Adam Rollins, 44, appeared in court the morning of May 8 for his change-of-plea hearing in connection with the killing of Judith Judy Henriques, 80. Rollins wore a black sweatshirt and Adidas sweatpants inside the Fall River Justice Center courtroom.

Rollins pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, burglary and unarmed assault, and arson, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. His plea deal included a drop of child pornography charges.

Ive seen many things happen in my career. Its one of the more unique and terrible cases that I have come across, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn told reporters outside the courthouse. A guilty plea to first-degree murder is also very rare in this state, Quinn said.

Packed in front of Rollins in the gallery on Thursday were more than a dozen of Henriques family members, including the great-grandmothers four children and multiple grandchildren.

Eric Rodden, son-in-law of Judith Henriques, surrounded by family and speaking to reporters outside the Fall River courthouse on May 8, 2025. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

With stoic faces, they listened as Rollins admitted to how he stalked, tried to rape and crushed the windpipe of their beloved family matriarch before he burned down her home of 50 years  and left the dead womans half-naked body face-up in her front doorway.

Eric Rodden, Henriques son-in-law, got up to tell the familys side of the story in a victim impact statement, highlighting their monumental role and resilience in helping solve the case.

We are broken but strong, Rodden told reporters outside the courtroom on Thursday. His brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews stood behind him on the sidewalk.

We are also more than proud and thankful for each other as a family. We remain unwavering in our commitment to uncovering the truth, pursuing every possible avenue with diligence, integrity and perseverance, Rodden said.

Rollins is related to Henriques family through marriage and is well-known to them. As a landscaper and construction worker, Rollins personally knew Henriques after he worked on her kitchen about 10 years ago, Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan said in court.

Investigators would later find pornographic content involving elderly people on Rollins phone, in addition to child sex abuse material.

A family determined to get answers

When the family first learned of Henriques death after her home on Division Street burned to the ground on Nov. 18, 2022, they were immediately suspicious why she would not have survived a fire, Rodden said in his victim impact statement.

The home had multiple escape routes and working smoke alarms, and Henriques was extremely independent and should have been able to get out, he said.

One of Henriques sons, Steven Henriques, dug through the rubble of the decimated house in the days following to find valued family belongings, but couldnt find her precious jewelry  another sign something was amiss, Rodden recalled.

However, the family felt there was no sense of urgency from the fire department, state or local police into looking at the possibility of foul play in Henriques death, Rodden said.

Eric Rodden, son-in-law of Judith Henriques, surrounded by family and speaking to reporters outside the Fall River courthouse on May 8. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive)

Like a small army behind her, Henriques family started to text in their group chat to plan out their own investigation, Rodden said.

They noted how several alcohol nip bottles of McGillicudys liquor and a pair of unidentified Adidas sneakers had been found outside Henriques home after the fire.

On Dec. 14, 2022, one of her sons visited the local liquor store and got surveillance footage of their own cousin, Rollins  in the Adidas  buying sleeves of McGillicudys nips, Rodden said.

This finding would later help investigators link the nips and the Adidas shoes in the yard to Rollins through tracking individual bottle barcodes and Rollins DNA.

Several family members also canvassed the neighborhood of Division Street, Rodden said. They found some of Henriques valuable jewelry and pictures of her grandchildren, tossed off into the grass.

Along with it was Rollins debit card, Rodden said.

When asked why the family had to take on the beginning of the investigation themselves, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said this particular case was exceptionally extraordinary, and that the familys help was a positive thing.

It can always be frustrating in these matters unless someones arrested right away, and I certainly appreciate their feelings and their response. They found the jewelry, but you have to have a team effort with these things, Quinn said.

Most crime scenes, people dont have access to them, as crimes often happen out on the street or in somebody elses home, Quinn said.

In this particular case, the investigators, first of all, have to have autopsy results of what happened, he continued.

The evidence showed she was killed before the fire ... but I think it was unique  the family found some evidence, thats a positive thing. They turned it over to investigators, investigators responded and the evidence was sent over for testing, Quinn said.

Rollins was finally arrested in January 2023 after he checked into an alcohol rehabilitation facility. Other evidence that helped lead to his arrest included a lighter and his winter hat also found in Henriques yard.

A hearing to impose Rollins sentence was scheduled for May 20, where he will appear in Fall River court for the final time before being committed to prison for life.
A Massachusetts resident is facing charges in connection with an assassination attempt at the U.S. Capitol in January.

On Jan. 27, a South Deerfield woman, Ryan Michael English, also known as Riley Jane English, was stopped at the Capitol with two homemade firebombs, a lighter and a folding knife.

English approached police at the Capitol and said she came there to kill billionaire investor Scott Bessent on the day that the Senate confirmed the South Carolina resident as President Donald Trumps treasury secretary, according to a court filing.
Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts doctoral student detained by ICE in Somerville earlier this year, will be released on bail as her immigration case is pending, a federal judge ruled Friday.

The American Civil Liberties Union confirmed the news Friday afternoon.

The decision by Judge William K. Sessions III came after a bail hearing in federal court in Vermont.

For 45 days, Rumeysa has been detained in Louisiana  over 1,300 miles from her friends, her community, and her lawyers. During that time, she has suffered regular and escalating asthma attacks. And at the same time, the government has failed to produce any justification for her detention, said Jessie Rossman, legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts. We are so relieved that Rumeysa will soon be back in Massachusetts, and wont stop fighting until she is free for good.

Ozturk, detailing her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate degree focusing on children and social media, appeared at a bail hearing remotely from the Louisiana center.

Lawyers for Ozturk, 30, said her detention violates her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process.

Ozturk was released Friday on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE.

He said he didnt think electronic monitoring would be in order, and that she would also check in with a staffer of the Burlington Community Justice Center for supervisory checks.

In a statement, Mahsa Khanbabai, one of Ozturks lawyers, said her release came 45 days too late.

She has been imprisoned all these days for simply writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine. When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for? the statement reads. I am thankful that the courts have been ruling in favor of detained political prisoners like Rumeysa.

Sessions ordered Ozturks transfer to Vermont, where she was last confined before she was taken to Louisiana.

The government requested a delay, but a federal appeals court upheld his decision Wednesday, ordering Ozturk to be transferred to ICE custody in Vermont no later than May 14.

Sessions decided not to wait for the transfer, going ahead with the bail hearing.

Ozturk waived her right to appear at the hearing in person, agreeing to participate remotely.

During the hearing, she told the judge the first of 12 asthma attacks came on at the Atlanta airport while she was waiting to be taken to Louisiana. The attack was severe, and she did not have all her medications.

I was afraid, and I was crying, she said.

The U.S. Justice Department said an immigration court in Louisiana, which is conducting separate removal proceedings regarding Ozturk, has jurisdiction over her case.

Immigration officials surrounded Ozturk in Massachusetts on March 25 and drove her to New Hampshire and Vermont before putting her on a plane to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana.

Her student visa had been revoked several days earlier, but she was not informed of that, her lawyers said.

Ozturks lawyers first filed a petition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they did not know where she was and were unable to speak to her until more than 24 hours after she was detained. A Massachusetts judge later transferred the case to Vermont.

Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an op-ed in the campus newspaper, The Tufts Daily, last year criticizing the universitys response to student activists demanding that Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Ozturk said Friday that if she is released, Tufts would offer her housing and her lawyers and friends would drive her to future court hearings.

I will follow all the rules, she said.

A State Department memo said Ozturks visa was revoked following an assessment that her actions may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization including co-authoring an op-ed that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in March, without providing evidence, that investigations found that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group.
Its not quite Marshawn Lynch thinking Buffalo was in New York City, but Will Campbells radar for Foxborough was a little off, too.

The Patriots first-rounder and Northern Louisiana native had never been to New England before visiting Foxborough in the pre-draft process. He was expecting Gillette Stadium to be in more of a concrete metropolis than Massachusetts suburbia.

I was surprised theres trees, Campbell said following rookie minicamp on Friday afternoon. I had never been anywhere up here before, so I always thought this was a little bit closer to Boston and there was a bunch of big city buildings and stuff like that.

When I got out here and they picked me up from the airport I was like, Dang, theres a lot of trees out here. I wasnt expecting that.

In Campbells defense, national TV broadcasts are often guilty of showing b-roll of Boston for Patriots home games, despite the city being more than 20 miles from Foxborough.

With temperatures hovering around 50 degrees on a rainy afternoon, the rookies practiced indoors in the bubble for the first day of their minicamp. New England weather has been an adjustment for Campbell, too, but the tackle said thats not a bad thing.

Its probably the coldest weather Ive been in awhile, so its nice, Campbell said.
China, Russia urge nuclear-weapon states to abandon Cold War mentality: joint statement

Xinhua) 14:33, May 09, 2025

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia urged nuclear-weapon states to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, according to a joint statement on global strategic stability released here on Thursday.

The two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship among major countries in addressing global strategic issues.

Noting that nuclear-weapon states bear special responsibilities for international security and global strategic stability, the statement said that they should give up taking measures that trigger strategic risks, and concerns should be addressed through equal dialogue and consultations based on mutual respect to enhance trust and avoid dangerous misjudgments.

The statement noted that not all nuclear-weapon states follow the above-mentioned position, saying the rising tensions among nuclear-weapon states have escalated, even to the point of facing direct military conflicts, adding that problems and challenges in the strategic domain keep emerging, and the risk of nuclear conflicts is rising.

According to the statement, the fact that certain nuclear-weapon states build or expand permanent military bases in sensitive areas around other nuclear-weapon states, flex military muscle to exert pressure, or carry out hostile acts that threaten the core security interests of other countries has become one of the most urgent strategic risks to be eliminated.

Meanwhile, the forward deployment of military facilities and advanced offensive and defensive weapons have been continuously strengthened, a trend that has raised serious concerns.

The recently announced "Golden Dome" plan of the United States aims to build a global, multi-level and multi-domain missile defense system that is not subject to any constraints to resist various missile threats, including those from "evenly matched" opponents, said the statement, adding that it also causes serious damage to strategic stability.

This plan completely and thoroughly negates the inseparable interrelationship between strategic offensive and strategic defensive arms, the core principle on maintaining global strategic stability. In addition, this plan also provides further support for the research and development of kinetic and non-kinetic means to strike missiles and their supporting facilities and achieve "left-of-launch."

The "Golden Dome" program openly proposed a significant increase in outer space combat means, including the development and deployment of orbital interception systems, weaponizing outer space and turning it into a large-scale armed confrontation site, which made the situation even worse, said the document.

The two countries oppose the attempts of individual countries to use outer space for armed confrontation, and reject the implementation of security policies and activities aimed at gaining military superiority and defining outer space and using it as a "war-fighting domain."

China and Russia condemned the use of commercial space systems to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states and intervene in armed conflicts of other countries.

Some individual nuclear-weapon state, supported by its allies, aims to undermine the reliability and effectiveness of the strategic deterrence of other nuclear-weapon states, revealing the attempt to seek overwhelming military superiority, and ultimately achieve "absolute strategic security." It fundamentally violates the basic logic of maintaining strategic balance and runs counter to the principle of equal and indivisible security, according to the statement.

Any military confrontation among nuclear-weapon states should be resolutely avoided, said the document, adding that political and diplomatic solutions to existing differences should be sought on the basis of mutual recognition of and mutual respect for each other's security interests and concerns.

Both sides pointed out in the statement that through a trilateral security partnership, the United States, Britain and Australia attempt to establish military facilities used by the two nuclear-weapon states to safeguard their nuclear forces within the territory of a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, undermining regional strategic stability and provoking a regional arms race.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Yitshak Kreiss, director general of Sheba Medical Center, speaks during a news conference at the State House in Boston, Mass., on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive

Health care saves lives. Yitshak Kreiss is betting it can change hearts and minds, too.

He ought to know. Hes seen it happen.

Kreiss is the director general of Sheba Medical Center, located near Tel Aviv, Israel. Its been ranked one of the worlds best hospitals. And its about to establish a footprint in Boston.

In a part of the world thats more often defined by its divisions, the hospital takes all comers. It treats Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians. No one gets turned away, he said.

Some of those patients are children, he said during a news conference at the State House earlier this week announcing the Levantine health care giants Bay State debut.

And when you save a childs life, something miraculous and altogether normal happens. Youre not Israeli. Youre not Jewish. Youre not the enemy. Youre a doctor or a nurse who just saved someones kid.

And then?

Whenever you save a childs life. His parents cannot hate you anymore. They cannot antisemitically hate you anymore, he said. They cannot argue with you. They cannot have conflicts with you.

Welcome to Boston, Mr. Kreiss. People can argue with you because its Tuesday. Especially if the Sox are playing, and the Yankees are in town.

But Kreisss underlying point is an important one. And its one worth considering more broadly.

Personal connections knock down walls. Meeting someone, understanding them, and then accepting them, is the way through  and beyond  hate.

Because, God knows, weve got enough of it already.

Recent reports by Harvard University and the Anti-Defamation League exploring antisemitic, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias on both the Cambridge campus and across New England, put human faces on a problem that can sometimes seem like an intellectual abstraction.

Until it hits home, until youre a Harvard student whos doxxed for supporting the Palestinian cause; until youre whisked off the streets by masked government agents for writing an op-Ed supporting Palestine. Until youre Jewish child, shopping with his mother, who gets an expletive hurled at him for simply being who he is.

And it extends beyond that.

The nation is still healing from its painful history of slavery and racism. Some of us allow ourselves to believe that everyone who is in the country illegally is a murderer  or worse.

We sort ourselves in other ways. We watch or read news that echoes our political beliefs and think the worst of those with whom we disagree.

We keep company with people who reinforce our views. We move into neighborhoods with people who look, think and earn like us.

Sometimes those neighborhoods have metaphoric gates; more often, theyre real ones, manned by security guards, aimed at keeping the rest of the world at bay.

Every step forward, it often seems, is a faltering one. The moral arc of the universe, we are taught, is supposed to bend toward justice.

But sometimes, well, it needs help.

Deeply embedded ideologies can make people inaccessible, Robert Leikind, the director of the New England branch of the American Jewish Committee, said.

Like Kreiss, he ought to know. His parents survived Hitlers Europe. And Leikind, a former prosecutor, began a long career in civil rights by working with Holocaust survivors.

Those personal relationships work  unless people have been dehumanized in the eyes of the other, Leikind offered.

And history has shown us, again and again, how easily that can happen.

This week, most of the world paused to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

And as Allied forces toppled Adolf Hitlers Nazi regime in 1945, they liberated the death camps at Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, and Buchenwald, places whose names are synonymous for the worst of human savagery.

Dehumanizing slaughters have taken place in the decades since, in Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia and Cambodia. And, far closer to home, with the Plains Indians of the 19th-century United States.

Common to all of them? The methodical demonization and dehumanization of the people who are led to their deaths.

Which brings us back to Kreiss and Shebas new venture in Massachusetts.

The health care executive said this week that he wants to show the beautiful face of Israel to Bay Staters, whose views might have been colored by months of war.

We believe that when the people of the commonwealth ... see the innovation coming through the company, the economic growth, the good things that we can do, the science that we can do together, thats a very effective way to cope with [antisemitism], he said. And this is part of our mission here, and globally, to show the beautiful face of the state of Israel, and the beautiful face of how things happen if we work together.

So can a shiny new health care facility put an end to one form of pernicious hate? Maybe not.

Does it have the potential to change one mind or one heart? Absolutely.

And thats a start.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in front of the West Wing of the White House, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

After throwing his fellow Republicans for a loop by suggesting they tax the richest Americans, President Donald Trump appears to have had a change of heart.

Kind of.

In a post to his Truth Social network, Trump said Republicans probably shouldnt tax the super-wealthy but Im OK if they do.

The reason: Democrats looking to retake the narrowly divided House of Representatives in 2026 would have a field day with it, Trump mused, as he contemplated the politics of the move.

The problem with even a TINY tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, Read my lips, the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election," Trump wrote. NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do!!!

Thats a reference to Republican President George H.W. Bushs campaign promise in his 1992 re-election campaign. He went on to lose to former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

Perot, a Texas billionaire, ran a spirited independent campaign for the White House that year.

Asked to clarify Trumps post, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the Republican president wants the largest tax cuts in history, CNBC reported.

As for the policy proposal youre talking about, the president has said he himself, personally, would not mind paying a little bit more to help the poor and the middle class and the working class in this country, Leavitt said, according to the cable outlet.

I think, frankly, thats a very honorable position. But again, these negotiations are ongoing on Capitol Hill, and the president will weigh in when he feels necessary, she added, according to CNBC.

Trumps post puts more pressure on Republican lawmakers who are working on a bill that meets Trumps demands for major tax reductions without alienating budget hawks who dont want to run up the deficit, CNBC reported.

During an appearance on GBH News Boston Public Radio program on Friday, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, slammed Trump for offering financial incentives to women to have more children, even as his administration has slashed key public health services.

Right now, for people who would like to have another child or a child, it is often just too expensive, and we cant continue to say to families at the same time, theyre taking away Medicaid, this unbelievable cut to the biggest insurance program, that health program that we have in our country, were going to take that away for tax cuts for the very wealthiest, Clark, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing increasing internal pressure over Medicaid cuts as Republicans try to move a key part of Trumps domestic agenda through a House committee next week, NBC News reported.

Swing-district Republicans are growing increasingly wary of significant Medicaid cuts as they face political heat, while conservative hard-liners are threatening to torpedo the bill unless it contains $2 trillion in cuts, NBC News reported.
In this image taken from security camera video, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Mass., Tuesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo) AP

A quartet of Massachusetts politicians praised a federal judges order Friday ordering Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk to be freed on bail while her immigration case moves through the courts.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III is a victory for Rumeysa, for justice, and for our democracy, Democratic U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, joined by U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District and James P. McGovern, D-2nd District, said in a joint statement.

Sessions ruling came after a bail hearing in federal court in Vermont. The Massachusetts branch of the American Civil Liberties Union confirmed the decision.

For 45 days, Rumeysa has been detained in Louisiana  over 1,300 miles from her friends, her community, and her lawyers. During that time, she has suffered regular and escalating asthma attacks. And at the same time, the government has failed to produce any justification for her detention, Jessie Rossman, the state ACLUs legal director, said. We are so relieved that Rumeysa will soon be back in Massachusetts, and wont stop fighting until she is free for good.

Ozturk, detailing her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate focusing on children and social media, appeared at a bail hearing remotely from the Louisiana center.

Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and fifth-year doctoral student studying child development, was taken from the streets of Somerville by six ICE agents while on her way to break a Ramadan fast.

In their joint statement, the Democratic pols said they were relieved that Ozturk had been released, but stressed that she never should have been detained in the first place.

Ozturk is a cherished member of her community, and we are relieved that she can finally return to Massachusetts, they said.

Last month, Markey, Pressley, McGovern and other lawmakers visited the ICE detention center in Louisiana where Ozturk is currently being held. There, they called for her release.

If anyone is tempted to marginalize who they are coming for ... to say, Thats happening to them, but not I,  it could be you tomorrow," Pressley, of Boston, said at the time.

She was whisked to New Hampshire, then to Vermont, and ultimately brought to an all-womens detention facility in Louisiana.

Ozturk was detained because of an op-ed she co-authored in the Tufts student newspaper about the war in Gaza, but has not been charged with any crimes.

Critics said the Trump administration had never presented evidence that she had committed a crime.

This is a young woman who was a Fulbright Scholar ... [who] did nothing wrong, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, said during an appearance on GBH News Boston Public Radio program on Friday.

She doesnt even have a parking ticket. And if you cannot write an op ed in a student newspaper in this country, we, none of us, have constitutional [rights], Clark, the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. House, said.

In a separate statement, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell said the order releasing Ozturk is a welcome step toward justice and more evidence that the courts are doing their job to uphold peoples rights. I am relieved and elated that Rumeysa can now return to her community here in Massachusetts.

But Fridays order is the first victory in a long legal road ahead - but the fact remains: Rumeysa detention was unjust from the start, Campbell continued. She is a law-abiding member of her community who was wrongly targeted by the federal administration because of her political views.

Ozturk was released Friday on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE.

He said he didnt think electronic monitoring would be in order, and that she would also check in with a staffer of the Burlington Community Justice Center for supervisory checks.

In a statement, Mahsa Khanbabai, one of Ozturks lawyers, said her release came 45 days too late.

She has been imprisoned all these days for simply writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine. When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for? the statement reads. I am thankful that the courts have been ruling in favor of detained political prisoners like Rumeysa.

The U.S. Justice Department said an immigration court in Louisiana, which is conducting separate removal proceedings regarding Ozturk, has jurisdiction over her case.
Heavy rain and risk of floods continue into Friday.

Moderate to heavy rain is expected across Massachusetts on Friday.

The heavy rain could bring a renewed river flooding threat to the Connecticut River, the National Weather Service warned. Minor street flooding could affect the evening commute. A flood watch in Western and Central Massachusetts lasts until Saturday morning.

Thunderstorms are expected around Springfield and Greenfield after 1 p.m. Friday, while the Berkshires might see storms around 2 p.m. In Worcester, thunderstorms are possible after 3 p.m. Rain is expected in Boston around 2 p.m., while it wont hit Cape Cod until around 5 p.m.

The rain is expected to gradually diminish Friday night into Saturday. Although some showers could linger Saturday morning.

Saturday is then expected to dry out and in the afternoon. A dry and seasonable Sunday is expected to follow with a warming trend next week that has above normal temperatures. The warmest day could be Tuesday with temperatures possibly reaching the lower 80s.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  In a bid to curb gun violence and enhance community safety, residents of Western Massachusetts can swap guns for gift cards next week.

The annual exchange, which is anonymous, is organized by the Hampden District Attorneys Office and Baystate Health.

The May 17 event at the West Springfield Town Hall, 26 Central St., runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. People should bring guns and ammo in separate bags in the trunks of their cars.
Lacrosse players Sophia Dietschler, 17, from left, Ava Moltenbrey, 17, Thea Distefano, 17, Laura Martins, 17, and Jordyn Balint, 18, sit together discussing the new pope in the parking lot of Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield. When the white smoke puffed out of the Vatican, they and other students gathered in the learning commons, prayed and held hands on Thursday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

WESTFIELD  When students at St. Marys High School in Westfield remember where they were when Pope Leo XIV made his first appearance in the Vatican, they will recall seeing him on TV screens in their classrooms.

Before the white smoke rose and signaled that the College of Cardinals had elected a pope, the 100 students at the school were celebrating teacher appreciation week.
Springfield Armory Superintendent Kelly Fellner, left, and Curator Alex MacKenzie on Wednesday talk about the history of the trapdoor rifle and one of four U.S. Springfield 1868 Model trapdoor carbines that they are in the process of refurbishing. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD  The Springfield Armory Historic Site will host an exhibition of a stolen rifle that was recently recovered after its theft from the museum decades before.

That is, after the carbine is released from FBI custody, of course.
Springfield City Hall as seen in November 2023. (Don Treeger / The Republican, File) The Republican

SPRINGFIELD  Mayor Domenic J. Sarno unveiled his proposal for next years nearly $1 billion budget, saying residents will neither be wowed by new programs nor disappointed with cuts to existing services.

This is a solid budget, and it keeps all the core services going, Sarno said, adding the budget is balanced, without using any of the citys $71.7 million in stabilization funds for the 11th year.
Hilltown Land Trust TerraCorps member Mariel Hohmann nails a wildlife habitat sign to a tree while Sally Loomis, the Trust's executive director, looks on. (Submitted photo) The Republican

GOSHEN  Mariel Hohmann learned her federal stipend was canceled late last month while she was welcoming 35 hikers to a brand-new trail network at Clary Hill in Goshen.

She had completed coordinating volunteers working a total of 700 hours to build the trails on the 132-acre property owned by Hilltown Land Trust.
A venerable publication based in Western Massachusetts, The Massachusetts Review, was among hundreds of nonprofit arts organizations across the country to lose backing from the National Endowment for the Arts.

A NEA grant of $15,000 withdrawn last week would have helped the journal publish and promote a special issue featuring incarcerated writers and their families.
Bill and Deb Gore have organized a craft fair to raise money for the upkeep of the Southwick Police Department's K-9 unit. Sgt. Michael Westcott is with General, the department K-9 unit. General is a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix. (SUBMITTED) WESTFIELD NEWS

SOUTHWICK  When Bill Gore and his sister Deb Gore began planning for a craft fair and raffle being held Saturday at Whalley Park to raise money for the care of the Police Departments K9 unit, they were hoping to surprise the department with the proceeds from the event, but the word got out.

Well, we hoped to keep it a secret, it didnt work out that way, said Bill Gore with a chuckle about the fundraiser being held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 10, rain or shine.
Worcester police officers arrest a young woman believed to be the daughter of a woman witnesses say was placed in a van by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Adam Bass

A baby that was in the arms of a minor who watched her mother taken away by federal immigration agents on Worcesters Eureka Street on Thursday is safe, according to District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj.

The minor, who was also arrested by Worcester police officers that same day, has also been released from custody, according to Dalida Rocha, executive director of the Worcester Chapter of the social services organization, Neighbor2Neighbor.

No one had any information about the woman taken into custody by ICE on Thursday.

The baby is the child of the minors sister, who was also present when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took their mother on Eureka Street, Haxhiaj told MassLive on Friday.

Haxhiaj represents the district Eureka Street is located.

Both mother and baby are currently safe with someone within the mothers network, the councilor said.

Haxhiaj added she did not know the names or whereabouts of the four family members.

The minor, the sister of the babys mother, was arrested by Worcester police officers on Thursday for reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to police.

She was provided legal counsel provided by Neighbor2Neighbor, which was also prepared to pay her bail, according to Rocha.

The familys lawyer then took over representation of the minor and she was released from custody as of Friday, the executive director said.

Rocha said that she does not know the minors name or whereabouts after she was released.

What happened that day

Eureka Street erupted into chaos Thursday morning as more than 30 people approached and shouted at ICE agents who were present. The mother of the two sisters was in a van in the middle of the street by 11 a.m that morning, according to Jill Phillips of Worcester, who was at the scene.

Worcester police officers were then called to the street for a report that an ICE agent had been surrounded by 25 people before 11:15 a.m., Worcester police said in a press release Thursday night.

As people gathered in response to the incident, the crowd became hostile, police said in the statement.

At the scene, officers saw several federal agents from various agencies attempting to leave in a car after arresting a woman, police said.

As the car was pulling away, the minor, who had the baby in her arms, stood in front of the car attempting to halt it, police said. Officers told her that she was endangering the baby and that she needed to move.

She eventually complied and gave the newborn to someone else, according to police. As the car drove off, she ran after it and kicked the passengers side.

It then appeared as if she was going to run in front of the moving car, police said. Officers ultimately arrested her.

Worcester police charged her with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, police said. The infant was not injured during the incident.

Because the individual is a minor, a spokesperson for the Worcester Police Department did not give her name to MassLive. The spokesperson added they have nothing further about the minor at this time.

Ashley R. Spring, a candidate running for the Worcester School Committee, was also arrested at the scene, according to a police report.

At 11:13 a.m.officers saw Spring push and shove other officers trying to arrest the minor, according to the police report.

Officers also observed Ashley directly point at and spray an unknown liquid in a bottle at officers that were on duty attempting to conduct their job, the report read.

Spring was arrested and appeared in Worcester District Court on Friday where she was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers.

Judge Janet McGuiggan entered a not-guilty plea on Springs behalf. Spring was released on her own personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on June 23.

A family ripped apart

Haxhiaj, who was at the scene of the arrests and the detention, said that what she saw was a family being ripped apart.

I was scared, I was frustrated, I was sad, she said. To watch the mom being taken away and her daughters and the child, I think I was going through grief.

During the arrest of the minor, Haxhiaj told Worcester Police Lt. J.L. Bossolt that police used unnecessary force to arrest her.

The minor was pushed to the ground by Worcester police officers during her arrest.

All you needed to do was to have one of us hold her and contain her, Haxhiaj told Worcester Police Lt. J.L. Bossolt. You didnt have to take her. Its use of force that is unnecessary.

After the arrests, Bossolt told MassLive that officers were not helping ICE arrest anyone, but that officers were there to keep the peace.

Following Thursdays events, Mayor Joseph Petty requested that City Manager Eric D. Batista provide a detailed review of what happened on Eureka Street, including body camera footage.

Petty also submitted an order on Friday asking Batista and Police Chief Saucier to draft a policy for how city officials interact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Members of Neighbor2Neighbor were also present on Eureka Street on Thursday to provide support for the family, Rocha said.

As a member of the Immigration Justice Network of Massachusetts (LUCE), Neighbor2Neighbor helps provide support for immigrant families and was able to be on the scene when the event took place.

Neighbor2Neighbor takes part in rapid response training, family preparedness and teaching people their rights in response to potential ICE raids or arrests, Rocha said.

We were able to bear witness to what was happening, Rocha told MassLive. We had a lot of trained advocates on scene.

During a press conference on Friday at the YWCA, Haxhiaj, Rocha, along with other local elected officials and community leaders in Worcester spoke out against what happened on Thursday, with Haxhiaj telling ICE to: Get out of our city.

What the response yesterday from the federal government and the police department was completely unacceptable, Haxhiaj said.
Worcester police officers arrest a young woman believed to be the daughter of a woman witnesses say was placed in a van by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Adam Bass

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty is asking City Manager Eric Batista and Police Chief Saucier to draft a policy for how city officials interact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Pettys order, which was filed to the City Clerk on Friday according to his office, comes one day after a chaotic scene on Eureka Street where ICE agents detained a woman and Worcester Police Officers arrested a school committee candidate and a minor believed to be the daughter of the woman apprehended by ICE.

In a press release on Friday, Petty wrote that while the City of Worcester cannot intervene in federal matters, he wants to have a protocol in place so that the city can respond to events like the one on Thursday in a way individuals are not harmed.

I am concerned that this arrest will not be the last, and I want to ensure that we have guidelines in place so that we can respond, Petty wrote.

Eureka Street turned into a bedlam on Thursday morning, with more than 30 people shouting and confronting members of ICE and Worcester police officers.

The woman who ICE apprehended was already in a van in the middle of the street by 11 a.m., according to Jill Phillips of Worcester, who was at the scene.

The name and the whereabouts of the woman detained by ICE are currently not known.

In a phone call on Friday, Petty told MassLive he does not know the identity of the woman and asked the City Managers office if they had any information regarding the individual.

The City Managers office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

On Thursday, Worcester police officers were called to the street for a report that an ICE agent had been surrounded by 25 people before 11:15 a.m., Worcester police said in a press release Thursday night.

As people gathered in response to the incident, the crowd became hostile, police said in the statement.

In his statement, Petty wrote that the city was not aware of ICEs presence in Worcester until police were called to the scene.

At the scene, officers saw several federal agents from various agencies attempting to leave in a car after arresting a woman, police said.

As the car was pulling away, a female minor with a newborn in her arms stood in front of the car attempting to halt it, police said. Officers told her that she was endangering the baby and that she needed to move.

She eventually complied and gave the newborn to someone else, according to police. As the car drove off, she ran after it and kicked the passengers side.

It then appeared as if she was going to run in front of the moving car, police said. Officers ultimately arrested her.

Worcester police charged her with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, police said. The infant was not injured during the incident.

Because the individual is a minor, a spokesperson for the Worcester Police Department did not give her name to MassLive. The spokesperson added they have nothing further about the minor at this time.

Ashley R. Spring, a candidate running for the Worcester School Committee, was also arrested at the scene, according to a police report.

At 11:13 a.m.officers saw Spring push and shove other officers trying to arrest the minor, according to the police report.

Officers also observed Ashley directly point at and spray an unknown liquid in a bottle at officers that were on duty attempting to conduct their job, the report read.

Spring was arrested and appeared in Worcester District Court on Friday where she was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers.

Judge Janet McGuiggan entered a not-guilty plea on Springs behalf. Spring was released on her own personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on June 23.

As the arrests took place, bystanders yelled at the police, saying that they were assisting ICE in their efforts.

The minor was pushed to the ground by police during her arrest.

District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, who was on the street on Thursday, told Worcester Police Lt. J.L. Bossolt police used unnecessary use of force to arrest the minor.

All you needed to do was to have one of us hold her and contain her, Haxhiaj told Bossolt. You didnt have to take her. Its use of force that is unnecessary.

After the arrests, Bossolt told MassLive that officers were not helping ICE arrest anyone, but that officers were there to keep the peace.

Petty told MassLive that he asked the City Manager for a detailed report on the incident, including footage from body cameras, to see if there was excessive use of force.

In a statement on Thursday night, Petty said he was devastated about the incident.

The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city, the statement reads. " ... Simply put, we cannot have this happen in our community."

Other notable Worcester figures, both politicians and community leaders, have spoken out on the incident at Eureka Street.

In a statement sent to MassLive, District 1 Councilor Jenny Pacillo called for a community response plan that includes collaboration between local law enforcement and community organizations, training for police officers in crisis intervention and cultural competency, involvement of social workers and mental health professionals in responding to incidents that involve families and children and transparent communication with the public.

As a city, we pride ourselves on being welcoming and inclusive, but we cant forget that these values must be actively defended, especially when our marginalized neighbors are vulnerable to oppressive and unchecked actions from the federal government, Pacillo wrote.

Fred Taylor, the president of the Worcester NAACP, wrote a statement on Friday calling for an independent investigation into the incident and demanded the creation of a civilian review board with full investigatory and subpoena power.

We should have been far better prepared and acted accordingly. Sadly, ICE is arriving in Worcester and snatching people off the street is no surprise in 2025, Taylor wrote.
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It's obviously not every day, you win a Pulitzer Price. But when Mayo native Declan Walsh found out, that he did, he wasn't in a position to share the good news.

The news came through while I was at a wedding in London with my wife, stated Declan Walsh, speaking to The Mayo News, while waiting for plane at Heathrow Airport London.

READ: 'Immense honour' - Mayo journalist wins Pulitzer Prize for civil war reporting

It was in the middle of the speeches, and I got a message from work saying that I had to get on a call with the editor of the New York Times and some of my colleagues. So I went outside, took this video call. He told us, the some good news, that we won a Pulitzer for international reporting.

Fantastic news, but unfortunately at the time, not meant for the public, as winners are usually informed before the official announcement. A bit of a pickle for Declan:

Then the hardest part was, that I had to go back into the wedding where things were still going on and I was not allowed to tell anyone what had happened. Obviously, I told my wife and then we had to sort of sit there at a table with other journalists and, make small talk about weddings and listen to the speeches and stuff. There could be worse problems, of course, but it was kind of fun.

Declan, who hails from North Mayo town Ballina, won the Pulitzer Prize, together with New York Times staff for their reporting on the civil war in Sudan. A conflict, that is still going on. Declan Walsh's work is far from over.

"Even as we were getting, news about this prize, there was a big ceremony at the New York Times on Monday at headquarters and the war in Sudan was taking another turn with drone strikes against the main civilian airport in the country and international flights being closed off and so on."

The civil war in Sudan might seem far away, but the conflict might very well have geopolitical consequences.

"Sudan is located on the Red Sea, which is a major shipping lane. On the other side of the Red Sea, the Americans are carrying out a very intensive bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. So from a sort of geostrategic lens, there's lots of reasons why it would make sense for anyone really to worry about the fate of Sudan."

Walsh states the possible implications of a huge country like Sudan going 'off the rails'. From a European Union perspective, he said, there is a focus on the migration issue.

"We should also care because of our common humanity. I mean, it's, you know, for the same reason that Irish people were so captivated and moved by what was happening in Ethiopia in the 1980s."

Walsh is a graduate from St Muredach's College Ballina. He currently works as Chief Africa correspondent for The New York Times. He lives with his wife and kids in Nairobi, Kenya.

READ: Man who died in road traffic incident on Mayo island is named
African culture, people, and art are set to take centre stage in Ballinrobe later this month, as Mayo is to celebrate World Africa Day.

On Saturday, May 17, Ballinrobe Racecourse will host an event from 1.30pm to 3.30pm to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the continents many traditions as part of the global celebration.

READ MORE: 'I was not allowed to tell anyone' - Mayo native remembers Pulitzer Prize news

The event will see the cultural celebration of music, art, and dance, with twenty performers taking to the stage from Africa, Brazil, and Jamaica, as well as Irish acts.

There will also be cuisine from around the world onsite, as well as African braiding onsite, as well as African fashion on show at the Racecourse.

An exhibition will also be available on the Irish Aid programme in Africa, with face painting available.

Admission is free, and people from all walks of life are welcome to come and celebrate.
Shellfish dredging in some of Irelands most sensitive marine habitats is destroying seagrass meadows, according to Coastwatch. These seagrass meadows are vital ecosystems that capture significant amounts of carbon and support rich biodiversity.

Coastwatch Ireland is urging the government to ban bottom dredging in sensitive coastal habitats after documenting torn-up seabeds and abandoned equipment in Elly Bay, off Belmullet in County Mayo.

READ MORE: Mayo nursing home residents experience VR tour of heritage sites

Last Sunday, Sam Moran, Coastwatch regional coordinator and free diver, investigated a site locals had reported as home to vital seagrass meadows. Using a basic underwater camera, Moran captured images of thin but healthy patches of Zostera marina seagrass, interspersed with thriving marine life such as spiny crabs.

However, he also found large areas where the seafloor had been recently disturbedstripped of vegetation, strewn with broken shells, and, most notably, a lost dredge with a trail of seabed damage leading up to it.

This area can recover if we just stop dredging, Moran said. There is huge potential for the seagrass meadows to expand, supporting more shellfish, fish, and marine life that depend on these habitats.

Elly Bay falls within a designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) an internationally protected site. Seagrass meadows are not only biodiversity hotspots but also critical carbon sinks in the fight against climate change.

This is one of our prime internationally protected sites, said Karin Dubsky, Director of Coastwatch. Yet we see boats licensed to dredge here. Licensed damage has to stop.

Coastwatch is calling on the government to act now with a three-point plan.

First of all, it wants to ban bottom dredging in all protected sites with sensitive habitats, especially seagrass beds, to safeguard their ecological and climate functions.

Secondly, it wants the transition to managed, licensed shellfish diving and gathering, prioritizing traditional fishers with local knowledge and integrating scientific expertise to ensure sustainable practices.

Finally, it is calling for strengthening of monitoring and enforcement, and the launch a public awareness campaign to support restoration and eco-tourism, while increasing the market value of sustainably harvested shellfish.
The price of good quality farmland in Mayo remains among the highest in the Connacht/Ulster region, but there is good news regarding the development in recent years.

Farmland prices across Ireland are projected to rise by an average of 6% in 2025, according to a major new report by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and Teagasc.

The Agricultural Land Market Review and Outlook Report 2025 also forecasts a 7% increase in national land rental prices, reflecting strong demand from dairy farmers and a continuing scarcity of land for sale.

The report based on a national survey of 169 auctioneers and valuers conducted earlier this year highlights the growing influence of recent policy changes, including adjustments to Irelands Nitrates Action Programme, which are pushing some farmers to acquire additional land to meet new environmental thresholds.

READ MORE: Mayo nursing home residents experience VR tour of heritage sites

Farmland in Mayo

The price of good quality farmland in Mayo remains among the highest in the Connacht/Ulster region, despite a slight year-on-year decline, according to the latest SCSI/Teagasc Agricultural Land Market Review and Outlook Report 2025.

The survey found that in 2024, the average price of an acre of good quality land on holdings under 50 acres in Mayo was 10,600. This was a small drop from 10,850 in 2023.

Despite the decrease, Mayo retains its position as the second most expensive county in the region for such land, trailing only Donegal, where the price reached 13,280 per acre.

Galway and Monaghan followed closely behind Mayo in terms of land values for similar holdings.

For poor-quality land on holdings under 50 acres, the average price in Mayo last year was 3,940 per acre.

The report also provides detailed pricing across different holding sizes. In Mayo, Good quality land on holdings of 50 to 100 acres averaged 8,080 per acre.On holdings of over 100 acres, the average dropped to 4,625 per acre. Poor quality land on holdings between 50 to 100 acres fetched an average of 3,630, while on holdings over 100 acres, it was 3,075the lowest in the country.

Projection for dairy farms

Gerard OToole of OToole & Co in Westport, who is Vice President of the SCSI, says land prices are being driven by a continued low supply of land to the market and demand across major sectors for agricultural outputs including a thriving dairy sector.

Dairy farms are projected to have a robust 2025 and will continue to significantly influence demand, says OToole. Over three-quarters of respondents identified dairy farmers as the primary buyers of agricultural land.

Teagasc economist Dr Jason Loughrey noted the continued recovery in farm incomes following a difficult 2023, citing Milk prices as climbing by 16%, Lamb prices up 18% and Cattle prices growing by 4.5%.

This strong performance is expected to continue into 2025. However, Loughrey warned of global risks including new U.S. tariffs on EU agri-food products, which could undermine export values and introduce volatility into the land market.

The imposition of 10% tariffs on Irish butter exports to the U.S. is concerning, he said. The prospect of a trade war is affecting exchange rates and could limit economic growth in key markets.

The recent weakening of the U.S. dollar has also reduced the euro value of Irish agri-food exports, although it may lower import costs for key inputs like feed and fertiliser.

This years report includes a dedicated section on generational renewal, highlighting that the average age of Irish farmers is 59, with just 4.3% under the age of 35. The low volume of farmland entering the market is attributed to cultural norms, taxation, and succession planning barriers.

Land mobility continues to be a major challenge, said Dr. Frank Harrington, Chair of the SCSI Rural Agency Committee. We need policy reform, especially around taxation, to encourage land sales and support younger farmers entering the sector.

READ: Road closure in busy Mayo town planned for next five days
A young Mayo farmer has been selected to represent the county at the inaugural Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum.

Darren McGuire, from Westport, will be amongst the attendees at the landmark event, which aims to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of young sheep farmers to lead the way in a sustainable and innovative manner.

READ MORE: Mayo girl helps launch Hospice Sunflower Days fundraiser

Last year, the average age of sheep farmers nationwide was revealed to be 56 in a survey from Teagasc.

The Young Sheep Farmer Forum aims to challenge and change that narrative.

Darren is a final-year student at Mountbellew Agricultural College and is actively involved in his 250-strong farm.

The event has been backed by Martin Heydon, the Minister for Agriculture, who was present at Damien Flynns farm in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, for the launch of the Kepak-backed event.

READ MORE: Right to work remotely in Mayo "as remote as ever"

As part of the programme, the young farmers will be hands-on with on-farm workshops and site visits.

They will also get to engage directly with Bord Bia and Kepak, as well as a visit to Paris, where they will go to Frances largest wholesale market, Rungis.

Lastly, the group will come up with a set of practical policy recommendations, which will be sent to the Department of Agriculture ahead of Budget 2026.

Minister Heydon expressed his approval of the initiative.

The future of Irish sheep farming depends on our ability to inspire and support the next generation, he stated. Kepaks Young Sheep Farmer Forum is a strong step in that direction. Its encouraging to see industry leaders investing in young talent, fostering innovation, and creating real opportunities for engagement and leadership within the sector.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 8, 2025

The industry self-regulatory organization Network Advertising Initiative plans to shut down online opt-out pages that allow consumers to reject receiving ads based on their cross-site activity, as well as ads based on data linked to their email addresses.

Continuing to operate the legacy opt-out tools does not align with the direction of NAIs self-regulatory program going forward, the organization said Wednesday in an email informing members of the move, which will take effect by September 15.

The organization added that its opt-out mechanisms were not designed with recent state privacy laws in mind, including statutes requiring online companies to honor signals that consumers send through mechanisms like the Global Privacy Control -- a browser-based tool that transmits opt-out commands to all sites consumers visit.

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The group said its opt-out landing page will continue to offer information to consumers about online privacy options, including how to change browser settings, download extensions and use opt-out mechanisms operated by the umbrella group Digital Advertising Alliance. The organization also said that even after its opt-out pages sunset, members can continue to use the Digital Advertising Alliance's opt-out tools, at no additional cost.

The Network Advertising Initiative additionally informed members it plans to offer a browser extension that will support the Global Privacy Control -- a browser-based tool that transmits a do-not-share-my-data command to all sites consumers visit.

The organization says its extension will provide a balanced point of view on opting out, and will not require "direct member integration."

Since 2018, 19 states have enacted comprehensive consumer privacy laws, according to the privacy focused nonprofit IAPP (formerly International Association of Privacy Professionals).

Currently, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Texas and Montana require companies to honor universal opt-out signals like the Global Privacy Control. Delaware and Oregon will require companies to do so next year.



News of the Network Advertising Initiative's plans comes soon after it News of the Network Advertising Initiative's plans comes soon after it replaced its former privacy code -- which imposed restrictions on the collection and use of consumers' data -- with a framework that requires members to disclose how they process consumers' data, follow applicable state and federal laws, and have procedures to determine compliance.

The prior code broadly required companies to allow consumers to opt out of receiving ads based on non-sensitive data collected across sites and apps, and to obtain express consent from consumers before using sensitive data for ad targeting. The most recent update took effect in 2020, when the organization prohibited ad-tech companies and other members from sending behaviorally targeted ads to anyone younger than 16.

The self-regulatory organization, which launched 25 years ago with just 10 members, first unveiled a cookie-based opt-out page for behavioral advertising in 2001, after negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission. For now, that page allows consumers to reject behaviorally targeted ads from more than 50 members; the group's more recent email-based opt-out page allows consumers to opt out of more than 20 ad-tech platforms' use of email addresses for marketing.

Separately, the Digital Advertising Alliance also expects to offer an extension that enables the same universal opt-out functionality as the Global Privacy Control. That extension is currently undergoing testing, and could be available by this summer.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 8, 2025

Google has reached a settlement in principle with users who brought a class-action privacy complaint over real-time bidding (RTB), according to court papers filed Wednesday.

The deal was arrived at Tuesday, and terms are expected to be finalized and disclosed in court by July 11.

If accepted by U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California, the settlement will resolve a lawsuit dating to March 2021, when Missouri resident Kimberley Woodruff and other users alleged that the company's real-time bidding ad system violates people's privacy by sharing their personal information with thousands of outside companies. Other Google users, including California and out-of-state residents, later joined in the complaint.

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Among other claims, the users said Google violated representations that it wouldn't share people's personal information.

The plaintiffs had sought to represent a class of all Google account holders whose personal information was sold or shared by Google through real-time bidding after June 28, 2016 -- the date Google revised its privacy policy in a way that allowed the company to combine data about pseudonymous web-browsing activity with personally identifiable information.

Rogers said in a ruling issued last April that the users could not proceed as a class for monetary damages, writing that claims regarding damages would require a person-by-person determination.

At the time, she also rejected the users' request to certify a class for purposes of obtaining an injunction, but without prejudice -- meaning that the plaintiffs could beef up that request and bring it again.

She also appeared to support the idea that Google should revise some real-time bidding practices.

The injunctive relief sought would be an important step toward choice, accountability, and transparency, she wrote.

There is evidence before the court which already shows that Google shares enough information that [real-time bidding] participants can discern what an account holder is reading online, even when it is on a religious or medical topic; exactly where they are reading it, including the coordinates of an account holders home or work; and their background, which allows for a detailed, demographic profile of the account holder, Rogers wrote in a 26-page ruling.

Google cannot run away from the common question of whether it promises its account holders that it would not sell their personal information and, if so, it violates that promise billions of times a day, she added.
by Colin Kirkland , May 8, 2025

When the U.S. government was readying itself to pass the still-ongoing selloff bill, TikTok tried making the case that it is an essential media channel for creators, issuing a report showcasing its positive influence on small businesses across the country.

As the selloff continues to be delayed by President Donald Trump, the ByteDance-owned business is leaning even further into its stance as a major supporter of SMBs and its 170 million users in the U.S.

Marking the start of Small Business Month, the company stated that it is home to more than 7.5 million businesses in the U.S., 74% of which have reported that the platform helped them scale operations, hire new employees, and reach wider audiences.

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Furthermore, TikTok has announced its own Small Biz Fest, a series of nationwide initiatives designed to support entrepreneurs and small businesses with ad credits, mentorship and educational resources, while highlighting some of the platforms success stories.

TikTok says it is offering $1 million in ad credits to 500 eligible U.S. SMBs in order to help boost their visibility and growth. Each SMB will receive around $2,000 in credits and one-on-one onboarding support.

Between May 27-29, TikTok Shop -- the companys ecommerce platform -- will feature standout products from small brands via an in-app banner and Small Biz Fest tab, while additional publicity will take root in a new video podcast series spotlighting TikTok SMBs, as well as a free webinar series led by experts designed to help SMBs launch, market and grow on the app.

Lastly, TikTok will also be leading in-person events at state capitols in New York and Texas, where the company will host conversations with policymakers and invite locally owned small businesses on TikTok Shop to discuss the economic impact the platform provides in their home state.
Microsoft has supported the integration of Chinese AI app DeepSeek into its products such as Azure, but the company cites data vulnerabilities and Chinese propaganda as the reason it prohibits employees from using it. The app is also banned from its app store.

During a Senate hearing on the AI race between the United States and China, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith cited risks of the "data going back to China and the app creating the kinds of content that people would say are associated with Chinese propaganda, per a media report.

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In a post published Thursday about winning the AI race, Smith did not mention banning DeepSeek to Microsoft employees, but he did provide details on strategies to outcompete with nations such as China.

The United States must accelerate strategic investments in scientific research for future technologies, Smith wrote. Experts predict China will continue to invest substantial resources in next-generation technologies such as AI, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, quantum computing, and semiconductors over the next decade.

Winning the AI race could come down to learning how to play the data game. Smith recommends that the U.S. ensure that public data remains open and accessible because data fuels powerful AI.

The quality, quantity, and accessibility of data directly determines the strength and sophistication of AI models, Smith wrote. While the internet has been a major source of training data, the federal government remains one of the largest untapped sources of high-quality and high-volume data.

Much of these datasets is either inaccessible or not usable for AI development. The exact type of data that Smith is asking to be made available was not specified, but he did suggest that the United States could significantly accelerate the advancement of AI capabilities, driving innovation and discovery, if the U.S. government opened the doors.

Opening access to these datasets would allow for the analysis of themes, patterns, and insights across broad datasets, propelling the country to the forefront of global AI development, he wrote, suggesting that accessible public data levels the playing field because it empowers companies, from large enterprises to startups, academic institutions, and nonprofits to train and refine AI models.

Smith also advocated for skilling the American workforce, encouraging AI adoption, and "urgently" called on U.S. President Trump to create a "national policy that provides the right balance of export controls and trade support for these investments."
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, May 9, 2025

For an enterprise prized for building the names -- and equity -- of some of the largest brands in the world, WPP has had an erratic history of building its own, especially where its media services are concerned. And the truth is, so have most of the other big agency holding companies.

WPP's brand legacy, need I remind you, stands for Wire and Plastic Products when it was founded in 1971, although it was quickly abbreviated to its modern day three-letter acronym shortly after Martin Sorrell acquired it in 1985, and rapidly began gobbling up some of the greatest agency brand names ever created -- J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Young & Rubicam, etc., and ultimately abbreviated them too.

So much for agency brand equity.

WPP also has been one of the most industrious branders -- and re-branders -- of its media services names, spawning Mindshare after merging the media departments of JWT and Ogilvy, as well as a litany of other media services brands through various mergers, acquisitions and consolidations.

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Ultimately, it formed the first corporate-level media services brand -- GroupM -- in 2003, placing both Mindshare and Mediaedge:CIA (which itself was formed by the merger of the media departments of N.W. Ayer & Sons and Y&R with Chris Ingram Associates.

I could go on, but the point is that WPP always has been insatiable in its attempts to brand its media services -- at least until this week, when the company confirmed to Ad Age that it was finally sunsetting GroupM and consolidating all of its media operations under something called "WPP Media."

That may be a good move, because it's the same play used by some of its biggest competitors -- Publicis, Omnicom and Havas -- whose corporately branded "Publicis Media," "Omnicom Media Group" and "Havas Media" have dominated GroupM in terms of news coverage, according to a MediaPost analysis of Google's news archives (see above).

Interestingly, the GroupM brand has been more competitive in recent news media citations in the past year, outpacing even Omnicom Media Group's coverage (see below).

Interpublic's IPG Mediabrands -- which is poised to be merged into Omnicom following the completion of their pending merger deal -- historically has been an also-ran relative to the big corporately named agency media brands.

While news indexes are not an absolute proxy for brand equity, at least it's something objective to measure the relative share of, well, mind in the media services industry in what has been a long, strange trip that began in 1988, when a pre-Publicis Saatchi & Saatchi unbundled its media department into a free-standing "Zenith Media," and the other big agency holding companies ultimately followed suit.

That trend was precipitated by the emergence of a new kind of pure-play independent media services agency -- Carat -- which had begun taking business from the holding companies thanks to its investment in proprietary research and media planning and buying tools.

Carat, ultimately was acquired by Japanese agency holding company Dentsu, which ultimately placed it under its own corporate "Dentsu Media" brand, which currently ranks worst among the news media citations indexed by Google.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 9, 2025

Jerry Dischler, president of cloud applications and former Google Ads boss, has decided to leave Google after nearly 20 years.

"Google is a remarkable company and Im proud of the incredible things weve accomplished in Commerce, Ads, and now Cloud," he wrote in a LinkedIn post on Friday. "Whats most important to me is the positive impact weve made on the lives of billions of people and millions of businesses around the world."



He pointed to the progress the Workspace and Applied AI teams have made during the past year, and how he believes the work they have done will fundamentally change in the future. He also called the teams at Google working on these projects "incredibly talented."

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Dischler joined Google in June 2005. in November 2023, he stepped down as running Google's ads business, during the height of the DOJ Google anti-trust case. In February 2024, he stepped in to run the company's Cloud Applications unit, a unit entrenched in artificial intelligence (AI).

"Thanks for everything you've done for Google!" Dan Taylor, vice president of Global Ads at Google, wrote in a LinkedIn comment. "It was an absolute pleasure working alongside you in Ads. Your depth and curiosity and desire to move quickly made us all better."

Ginny Marvin, Google Ads liaison, wrote on X, addressed the speculation that Dischler might have stepped down because of the Google trial. She wrote that this is not the case, but rather, Dischler wanted to pursue something new.
by Danielle Oster , May 9, 2025

Aruba Tourism Authority says it wants to change travelers relationship with the island.

A new campaign created in partnership with agency Deep Focus aims to redefine how travelers view Aruba tourism, moving away from a strictly consumptive mindset. When You Love Aruba, It Loves You Back reframes the relationship between visitors to the island and its local inhabitants and environment.

Encouraging responsible tourism is a global conversation. Attracting conscientious guests -- those who respect Arubas delicate ecosystem, culture, and community -- is critical now more than ever to protect this special island for generations to come, Deep Focus Head of Strategy Lindsey Allison told Marketing Daily.

The shift isnt limited to external messaging, either, according to Allison.

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This approach continues on-island through guest education. Guests are encouraged to take the Aruba Promise  a commitment to help protect the islands beauty and biodiversity by following the Guest Guidelines, she explained. These guidelines offer clear, actionable steps, such as admiring wildlife from a distance and avoiding contact with native plants and animals.

When You Love Aruba, It Loves You Back marks a continuation of The Aruba Effect brand platform.

Now in its fourth year, The Aruba Effect remains centered on the lasting, transformative impact that Aruba has on those who visit, said Allison.

In the past, our message was visitor-focused: You come here, and you receive something special from us. This year, we're evolving that story. Its no longer just about what travelers receive -- its about a meaningful give-and-take -- ar elationship built on mutual respect, where visitors not only receive but also contribute to the spirit, culture, and sustainability of the island.

The campaign centers around a 90-second anthem ad, as well as Sand and Tiny ads running in 30 and 15-second iterations, and a series of six-second vignettes. Supporting elements including nine banner ads, audio, and OOH ads. The campaign will run through the end of the year across streaming platforms, social media, podcasts, display, and out-of-home placements.

The campaign follows Aruba proposing a constitutional amendment last year to enshrine the rights of nature in its constitution.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 9, 2025

Citing the First Amendment, the tech industry group NetChoice has asked a federal judge to again prohibit Mississippi from enforcing a law that would require digital services providers to verify all users' ages and prohibit minors from creating social media accounts, without parental permission.

As this court correctly concluded before, enforcement of the act would unconstitutionally impede both adults and minors access to vast amounts of constitutionally protected speech on a broad range of websites, NetChoice wrote in papers filed Tuesday with U.S. District Court Judge Halil S. Ozerden in the Southern District of Mississippi.

Ozerden previously enjoined enforcement of the law, but the 5th Circuit vacated that order last month, ruling that questions about the scope of the law need to be resolved before it can be blocked.

The law went into effect Friday May 9, as a result of that 5th Circuit ruling.

Earlier in the week, NetChoice amended its complaint to add a claim that applying the law to its members -- including Dreamwidth, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, X, and YouTube -- would be unconstitutional, and sought a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement.

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In addition to requiring platforms to obtain parental consent for minors' accounts, the Mississippi law would obligate platforms to prevent or mitigate minors' exposure to harmful material -- defined as including material that promotes or facilitates eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual abuse, suicidal behavior and online bullying.

The law would cover some services that allow users to create profiles and socially interact -- but carves out numerous sites and services, including employment-related sites, services relating to email, and sites that primarily offer news, sports, commerce, online video games and content curated by the service provider.

When the 5th Circuit vacated the earlier injunction, the appellate court said the trial judge hadn't considered the full range of activities and companies that could might be covered by the law, and whether some applications of the law would not violate the First Amendment.

For instance, the appellate court wrote, the trial court didn't examine whether the law would apply to a host of companies, such as Uber, Google Maps or DraftKings.

NetChoice argues in its new request for an injunction that the law expressly excludes Uber, Google Maps and DraftKings, contending that all Google Maps and Uber primarily offer content that they provide, and that DraftKings additionally offers sports. But the organization adds that even if the law applied to those companies, it would still violate the First Amendment.

The tech group additionally says the mandate to avoid serving harmful material to minors unconstitutional, arguing that the requirement could stifle a host of content protected by the First Amendment -- such as the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, or Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.

Ozerden plans to hold a telephone conference on the case on Tuesday.
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The re-appointment of Ms Indra Nooyi and Ms Chua Sock Koong as members of the Supervisory Board.

The appointment of Mr Bob White as a new member of the Supervisory Board.

The re-appointment of Mr Marnix van Ginneken as member of the Board of Management.

The discharge of the members of the Board of Management, and of the members of the Supervisory Board.

A full overview of the resolutions taken at the AGM 2025 can be found below.

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Agenda item Resolution 3 Annual Report 2024 Adoption of the financial statements 2024

Adoption of a dividend of EUR 0.85 per common share, in shares or (subject to certain conditions) in cash, against retained earnings

Positive advisory vote on the approval of the Remuneration Report 2024

Discharge of the members of the Board of Management

Discharge of the members of the Supervisory Board 4 Composition of the Board of Management Appointment of Mr Van Ginneken as member of the Board of Management with effect from May 8, 2025 5 Composition of the Supervisory Board Re-appointment of Ms Chua as member of the Supervisory Board with effect from May 8, 2025

Re-appointment of Ms Nooyi as member of the Supervisory Board with effect from May 8, 2025

Appointment of Mr White as member of the Supervisory Board with effect from May 8, 2025 6 Authorization of the Board of Management to issue shares or grant rights to acquire shares and restrict or exclude pre-emption rights 7 Authorization of the Board of Management to acquire shares in the company 8 Cancellation of shares

For further information, please contact:



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Dorin Danu, Philips Investor Relations, Tel.: +31 20 59 77055, E-mail: [email protected]



About Royal Philips



Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving peoples health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2024 sales of EUR 18 billion and employs approximately 67,200 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.





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Makers have finally dropped the much-anticipated trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites, where we will see Ed and Lorraine fighting the evil spirits for one last time. About the trailer The trailer opens with Ed and Lorraine inspecting the house of the Smurl family, who were haunted by an evil spirit for over a decade.

 New Line Cinema In the trailer, we see the evils physical form, who looks like a clown. We also see glimpses of The Nun in the trailer alongside Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson. You can watch the trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites here:







The reactions While some people are excited to see the movie, a majority of them said that they are going to miss the supernatural adventures of Ed and Lorraine. Some users also said that James Wan should have directed the last movie, as he is the creator of the whole franchise. One user commented, I cant tell if this is going to be good or not. Really wish Wan wouldve just come back to direct this last one.

Another user commented, I bet it will get a 100% rating. Weve been needing another haunted house story. We didnt have enough of them.

One user reacted, The trailer looks promising, but I really wish James Wan had directed this final installment. The Conjuring series has been a staple of horror, and his vision was a big part of its success. Here's hoping it still delivers the scares!

Another user reacted, Looks thrilling! Can't believe it's the last one, gonna miss Patrick and vera, as ed and Lorraine, it's been years watching them. One user said, awesome teaser! I hope the movie remains as per the teaser's glamour! extremely excited! I feel so happy to comment on Warner Bros. India after 4 years! It was 2021 I did so for Conjuring 3!
It started when Jennifer Glick, an Army criminal investigator, was told her nearly 2-year-old daughter Evie had tripped, fallen and hit her head at the Navy's Ford Island, Hawaii, child development center in late summer 2022.

Glick and her military husband were getting ready to leave Hawaii the following year when she said the Navy Family Advocacy Program called with troubling news: Evie may have been physically abused at the CDC. But that was all they were told, Glick told Military.com in a recent interview, and when they requested details of the alleged abuse, videos and information on how and whether the incident was being investigated, they got few answers.

The case provides yet another revelation after Military.com reported over a year ago that nearly a dozen families were stonewalled by the military from getting basic information about alleged abuse of their children. The report triggered outrage from Congress and an immediate inspector general probe. That IG report, released on Monday, found that inconsistent military disclosure policies could potentially leave parents in the dark about reports of their childrens abuse or neglect.

Read Next: Tweaks to Army's Physical Fitness Test Are Relatively Modest

Evie began to show troubling signs of social withdrawal: thumb-sucking that has lingered far past when a child was supposed to stop the habit, which led to a speech issue, and aggression. She had never been a good sleeper when she was a baby, Glick said, but after day care at Ford Island, she would lie in her crib and stare listlessly, holding on to a blanket for comfort.

"Was she conditioned to do that?" Glick said. "It scares me. Was she hurt as a baby? Was she smothered? We'll never know, because no one has answered for it."

The IG report recommended that the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness revise and reissue policy requiring all military branches to uniformly identify, notify and report child-abuse allegations to parents; maintain all notification documentation of child-abuse allegations; and that each service should update its own policies in line with the Pentagon's policy.

The under secretary agreed with the recommendations, as did the services, according to the report, and the Pentagon said it will issue an updated and revised policy by Sept. 30. The IG report did not address specific information, such as videos, to be made available to parents concerned about abuse allegations at a CDC, a main point of frustration for parents.

The service members keeping our country safe shouldnt also have to worry about their kids safety, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said in a statement to Military.com on Thursday. The inspector generals report makes clear that its Secretary [Pete] Hegseths job to fix this pattern of incompetence and ensure military families have access to high-quality, affordable child care. I wont stop fighting for military families to get the answers and accountability they deserve.

It wasn't until March -- nearly three years after Evie had supposedly fallen -- when Glick and her husband Matthew, an Army senior noncommissioned officer, began to understand what had really happened at the CDC.

The mother of a child who was abused at the same facility, Kaitlin Kuykendall, had posted a video -- one she herself waited months to receive from the CDC -- on social media showing day-care workers, two of whom were convicted and jailed for assault, abusing then-15-month-old Bella Kuykendall.

And while her face was blurred, Evie was there, too, being hit, shaken and pulled around by day-care workers, Glick said, recognizable by her hair, clothing and gait.

"I've taken it really hard, because I've been able to help a lot of other people in my 20-plus years in law enforcement," Glick said, "but I couldn't help my own child."

Glick's case represents another troubling instance of opacity for the military's child development centers -- facilities at bases around the world charged with caring for children up to the age of 5 -- and parents trying to find out what happened to their children within their walls.

In an August letter from the Department of Defense in response to Warren's office, which Military.com obtained, the department said policies required child-care facilities to notify parents "either verbally or in writing" about abuse but did not specify a timeline in which those notifications should occur.

The IG report released Monday said the department issued a memorandum in December 2024 requiring child-care staff to notify parents of alleged abuse and neglect no later than 24 hours after staff were made aware of the incident.

Recently publicized policy revisions from the services following that update still require parents to request video footage of alleged child abuse through the Freedom of Information Act, a transparency law typically used by lawyers and journalists. The IG report said the DoD's current policy "does not include methods of communication, the type of information to provide to parents, how often to provide updates or the methods for tracking and managing parental notifications."

As late as February of this year, the Glicks had requested video footage of Evie's alleged abuse from the Ford Island CDC, but were told to "go through legal and not the CDC," according to emails shared with Military.com.

The Kuykendalls received the IG report with mixed feelings. In one sense, it validated the concerns they had experienced firsthand with the lack of transparency and communication from the military on its policies.

And while "this is a great first step" in recognizing those shortcomings publicly, Jeremy Kuykendall, an Army officer, told Military.com on Thursday it has not assured them that the cultural, leadership and systemic changes needed to deliver that transparency have or will be fulfilled.

They said they were never interviewed as part of the IG report, the military has not offered an acknowledgment of their plight, and the director of the CDC who oversaw the facilities when the abuse occurred is still in her job position despite the familys allegations she failed to adequately inform them of Bella's abuse. The base overseeing the facility said policies were properly followed. The Kuykendalls pursued a legal claim against the Navy last year, alleging negligence, poor oversight and mishandling.

"I have zero trust," Kaitlin said. "It just seems everyone's still left in the dark."

Kaitlin said dozens of families have reached out, including the Glicks, whose stories align with theirs after they started "Operation Mei Mei," an advocacy effort to prevent abuse at the CDCs and urge transparency from the military. Glick saw the videos of Evie at Ford Island through Operation Mei Mei's Facebook page, which posts updates on the ongoing CDC abuse issues.

Regarding the CDC director, a spokesperson for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Chuck Anthony, declined to "address questions about the performance of individual federal employees," citing the Privacy Act, but added that "every review and inspection conducted in the last several years has found CDC management has consistently acted in accordance with established guidelines, procedures and instructions."

Anthony added that mistreatment is extremely rare and if uncovered it is met with immediate corrective action. He said CDCs at the base have increased training, real time observations of trainers in action, created a position for senior teachers in the classrooms, and instituted random checks of CCTV video.

Military.com asked Anthony about the Glick case and the perception of mistrust on Thursday afternoon, but did not hear back before deadline.

In an email on Wednesday, Jennifer Glick said she agreed with and is encouraged by the recommendations outlined in the IG report, "but the harsh reality is that they come at a significant cost -- one that should have been avoidable."

"My hope is that this report serves as a catalyst for lasting cultural and procedural change within the Department of Defense," Glick said. "Safeguarding vulnerable individuals should always remain an uncompromising priority, with proactive systems and clear lines of responsibility in place to ensure such failures do not happen again."

Related: 'Betrayal': Family of Toddler Abused at Navy Day Care Launches Claim that Service Negligently Mishandled Their Case
About 1,000 service members who volunteered to leave the military after the Trump administration unveiled its transgender troops ban will now have their separations processed after the Supreme Court paved the way for the ban to take effect, the Pentagon said Thursday evening.

The Pentagon is also reopening the window to choose voluntary separation following this week's Supreme Court ruling, giving active-duty transgender troops who want to leave until June 6 and reservists until July 7 to come forward, or face involuntary separation later.

"As the president of the United States clearly stated in Executive Order 14183, 'Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,' Jan. 27, 2025, expressing a false 'gender identity' divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a Thursday memo that directed the military to resume implementing the transgender ban.

Read Next: Osprey Safety Investigation Stalls in Congress, Angering Gold Star Families

While a Thursday statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said "approximately 1,000 service members who have self-identified as being diagnosed with gender dysphoria will begin the voluntary separation process," the Pentagon on Friday said it was not able to provide a more specific number of troops being separated.

Meanwhile, two lawsuits against the ban continue. In a filing Friday, lawyers for transgender troops in one of the lawsuits pointed to Hegseth's memo as further evidence the ban is discriminatory.

"The directive restates the unsupported assertion that 'expressing a false "gender identity" divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service,' further corroborating the district court's finding that the transgender military ban was motivated by animus against transgender people as a group," Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law, wrote in a letter to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can enforce its transgender military ban while lower courts still consider lawsuits against the policy.

Two appeals courts are still weighing whether to keep in place injunctions that were issued by federal district courts, meaning the policy could still be blocked again. But the Supreme Court ruling paused the injunctions while those deliberations are ongoing, allowing the Pentagon to start separating troops in the meantime.

Under the Pentagon policy, troops with a history of gender dysphoria, who "exhibit symptoms" of gender dysphoria or who have transitioned to their gender identity are now disqualified from service.

The policy, which was issued in February to implement Trumps January order, also outlined a way for transgender troops to choose to leave the military before they are kicked out. Service members who voluntarily separate are eligible for separation pay that is twice as much as they would receive if they later get booted, according to the policy.

The original deadline for service members to elect voluntary separation was in March, but the injunctions upended that timeline.

Troops who want to self-identify as being transgender now have until June 6 -- in less than a month and during LGBTQ+ Pride Month -- to come forward if they are on active duty and July 7 if they are in the reserves.

The approximately 1,000 troops who Parnell said will immediately begin the voluntary separation process are troops who came forward in March.

The number of troops the Pentagon claims chose to separate represents about a quarter of the 4,240 active-duty and reservist service members who defense officials earlier this year said have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Gender dysphoria is the medical term for the feeling of distress caused by someone's gender identity not matching their birth sex.

Not every transgender person is diagnosed with gender dysphoria, but the Pentagon has said it does not track whether someone is transgender so a gender dysphoria diagnosis in a service member's medical record is the department's best way of determining whether they are transgender.

Defense officials at the Pentagon have not been able to say what specific processes are in place to prevent non-transgender troops from saying they are transgender as a way to leave the military. Similarly, it's not clear how officials will track down trangender troops who have not been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and choose not to come forward.

One official, however, said those answers may come when the individual services eventually release their specific policies.

After the voluntary separation window closes in June for active duty and July for reservists, the Pentagon will begin involuntary separations, Hegseth's Thursday memo said.

A defense official told Military.com those separations will be based on a review of medical records. They added those reviews have not begun yet.

Related: Ban on Transgender Troops Can Be Imposed During Lawsuits, Supreme Court Says
Posted by Dan Brown  Product Manager, Google Play

Google Play empowers you to manage and distribute your innovative and trusted apps and games to billions of users around the world across the entire breadth of Android devices, and historically, all Android devices have managed memory in 4 KB pages.

As device manufacturers equip devices with more RAM to optimize performance, many will adopt larger page sizes like 16 KB. Android 15 introduces support for the increased page size, ensuring your app can run on these evolving devices and benefit from the associated performance gains.

Starting November 1st, 2025, all new apps and updates to existing apps submitted to Google Play and targeting Android 15+ devices must support 16 KB page sizes.

This is a key technical requirement to ensure your users can benefit from the performance enhancements on newer devices and prepares your apps for the platform's future direction of improved performance on newer hardware. Without recompiling to support 16 KB pages, your app might not function correctly on these devices when they become more widely available in future Android releases.

Weve seen that 16 KB can help with:

Faster app launches: See improvements ranging from 3% to 30% for various apps.

See improvements ranging from 3% to 30% for various apps.

Improved battery usage: Experience an average gain of 4.5%.

Experience an average gain of 4.5%.

Quicker camera starts: Launch the camera 4.5% to 6.6% faster.

Launch the camera 4.5% to 6.6% faster.

Speedier system boot-ups: Boot Android devices approximately 8% faster.

We recommend checking your apps early especially for dependencies that might not yet be 16 KB compatible. Many popular SDK providers, like React Native and Flutter, already offer compatible versions. For game developers, several leading game engines, such as Unity, support 16 KB, with support for Unreal Engine coming soon.

Reaching 16 KB compatibility

A substantial number of apps are already compatible, so your app may already work seamlessly with this requirement. For most of those that need to make adjustments, we expect the changes to be minimal.

Apps with no native code should be compatible without any changes at all.



Apps using libraries or SDKs that contain native code may need to update these to a compatible version.



Apps with native code may need to recompile with a more recent toolchain and check for any code with incompatible low level memory management.

Our December blog post, Get your apps ready for 16 KB page size devices, provides a more detailed technical explanation and guidance on how to prepare your apps.

Check your app's compatibility now

It's easy to see if your app bundle already supports 16 KB memory page sizes. Visit the app bundle explorer page in Play Console to check your app's build compliance and get guidance on where your app may need updating.

Beyond the app bundle explorer, make sure to also test your app in a 16 KB environment. This will help you ensure users dont experience any issues and that your app delivers its best performance.

For more information, check out the full documentation.

Thank you for your continued support in bringing delightful, fast, and high-performance experiences to users across the breadth of devices Play supports. We look forward to seeing the enhanced experiences you'll deliver with 16 KB support.
The Fort Carson-based soldier who was present at a Colorado Springs illegal nightclub during a large-scale federal raid last month and arrested days later on suspicion of cocaine distribution could face military penalties in addition to any civilian punishment, according to a local attorney who specializes in military law.

Army Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez, 27, faces federal charges of cocaine possession and distribution. Orona-Rodriguez, who reportedly provided security at the raided nightclub, made his first federal court appearance in Denver on Tuesday.

Ryan Coward, an attorney with a practice in Colorado Springs, told The Gazette that Orona-Rodriguez could see military punishment, up to and including discharge, even if he is found innocent of the federal charges.

Its a judgment call on the part of leadership, but the military doesnt necessarily have to wait, said Coward, who is not involved in Orona-Rodriguezs case.

They could wait until the (civilian) criminal trial process runs its course, and if hes convicted, then depending on the number of years he has served in the military, they could begin a process to potentially discharge him.

Orona-Rodriguez reportedly held a leadership position with a local security company called Immortal Security, which has been placed on a list of establishments that are off-limits to military personnel. According to his arrest affidavit, he had been counseled to cease working at Immortal Security. Continuing to work with Immortal after his counseling would be a failure to comply with a direct order, a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Coward said.

For allegedly selling drugs to an undercover officer, Orona-Rodriguez could also be in violation of UCMJ Article 134, according to Coward.

Article 134 covers a lot of offenses that might not specifically be listed in the UCMJ, he said. If you do something that is prejudicial to good order and discipline, or something that brings discredit to the Armed Forces, then youve probably violated Article 134.

If Orona-Rodriguez is found guilty of the federal charges against him, he will almost certainly be discharged at some point, Coward said. If he is found innocent, he would still face military punishment, but discharge might not be automatic.

Because he has served eight years in the military, Orona-Rodriguez would be entitled to appear before an administrative separation board.

Since hes served more than six years, hes entitled to face a board of senior enlisted and officers who will consider the basis for separation, the evidence that supports that basis, and then vote on whether he should be separated, and the type of separation, Coward said.

Its like a mini-trial. He can have representation, his lawyers can call witnesses, and he would have the opportunity to try to convince the board members that he should not be separated.

Military discharges are generally separated into two categories: administrative and punitive.

Administrative discharges

A service member receives an honorable discharge if they complete their service obligation with proper military behavior and performance. This is the most desirable type of discharge.

A general discharge under honorable conditions is given when a service member is considered satisfactory, but not without problems, according to the Department of Defense.

Veterans with honorable or general discharges typically enjoy access to most veterans benefits.

An other than honorable (OTH) discharge is often issued for violations that would draw misdemeanor penalties in the civilian judicial system, but not serious enough to warrant a more punitive discharge. An OTH could limit access to certain veterans benefits.

Punitive discharges

A bad conduct discharge (BCD) is typically issued after a guilty finding in court-martial proceeding. A service member with a BCD is generally not considered a veteran for benefits purposes.

The most severe punitive discharge is a dishonorable discharge, issued for serious misconduct, and disqualifies a service member from most veterans benefits.

Orona-Rodriguez was reportedly one of several active-duty soldiers present at the nightclub, located at 296 S. Academy Blvd., during the April 27 raid.

Following his Tuesday hearing, Orona-Rodriguez was transferred to the Jefferson County jail, where he remains on a no-bond hold. His next federal court appearance is scheduled for May 15.

 2025 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Visit www.gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A day-care center at an Air Force base in the Florida panhandle will be reducing hours for families amid ongoing staffing issues, a move that comes amid the Trump administration's mandate to reduce the civilian workforce throughout the Department of Defense.

A May 7 memo shared with Military.com sent by the Eglin Air Force Base Child and Youth Services detailed to families that starting next month, child-care hours at the Florida installation would be reduced from 12 hours a day to 10 hours a day due to staffing issues, which "follows a trend" occurring across the department.

"This reduction in operating hours is necessary to address critical staffing challenges to reduce the risk of unexpected room closures and potential denial of child care," the memo says.

Read Next: Parents Still Struggle to Get Details on Abuse at Military Day Care Centers Despite Watchdog Probe

The memo, confirmed as authentic and accurate by Eglins 96th Test Wing, marks the latest move a military base has taken to slow the effects of already dire staffing levels for a crucial service provided to service members and their families. The situation has been exacerbated, in part, by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's ongoing push to cut the number of employees throughout the Defense Department.

There are currently two child development centers at Eglin Air Force Base and a third one being renovated and, depending on staffing levels, set to open later this year, Kayla Prather, a 96th Test Wing spokesperson, told Military.com. The reduction in child-care hours would allow for staff to be spread out.

"The reduction in hours aims to stabilize staffing levels and reduce the risk of unexpected room closures and potential denial of child care," Prather told Military.com in an emailed statement.

Prather said the move means no families will be disenrolled from Eglin's child development centers and that it would "eventually expand current classroom capacity, ultimately reducing the waitlist duration for families seeking child care."

The news at Eglin Air Force Base follows other issues with child development centers at other bases.

Kayla Corbitt, a military spouse and founder of the Operation Child Care Project, a nonprofit group that advocates for family care for service members, told Military.com in a statement that the trend of reducing care is alarming.

"These centers are licensed and operated by the [Defense Department] so they can adjust to mission needs," Corbitt told Military.com. "More and more, we are seeing them do the opposite."

Last month, Military.com reported Peterson Space Force Base and Fort Carson in Colorado were disenrolling some families and stopping waitlists as they struggled with staffing issues. Additionally, in late March, Hill Air Force Base in Utah had to close one of its two child development centers, which led to 31 families being disenrolled.

In mid-March, a Defense Department memo identified "child and youth programs staff" as well as "instructors or facility support staff at DoD schools or child care centers" as crucial positions that needed to be exempt from ongoing hiring freezes.

For some installations, such as Hill Air Force Base, that exemption came too late, with a base spokesperson saying "the hiring, on-boarding and training process will take time."

The Department of Defense is still aiming to cut 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs as part of the administration's effort to reduce the size of the federal government dramatically.

"As we continue to see this across the nation, I anticipate families will develop a lack of confidence in military-operated care access," Corbitt said.

Related: Pentagon Hiring Freeze Hits Army, Space Force Base Day Care Centers in Colorado
BANGKOK  India's missile and bomb strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir have spiked tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with Pakistan's leader calling the attacks an act of war.

Claims on exactly what was hit and where have differed widely, with neither India nor Pakistan releasing many specific details. Making the ongoing conflict even more confusing, the internet has been "flooded with disinformation, false claims, and manipulated photos and videos, the Soufan Center think tank said in a research note Friday.

This information warfare is compounded by both sides commitment to save face, it said.

Still, some information can be gleaned from official statements and paired with what is known to gain greater insight into the clash:

Pakistan says it shot down 5 Indian planes involved in the attack

Hours after India's attack early Wednesday, in retaliation for last month's massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Pakistan's military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif claimed that the Pakistan air force had shot down five Indian attack aircraft: three French-made Rafales, a Russian-made SU30MKI and a Russian-made MiG-29.

He said that Pakistan's air force suffered no casualties, and that all of its aircraft returned safely to base.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeated the claim, saying that the Pakistan air force had the opportunity to shoot down 10 Indian planes, but exercised restraint and downed only the five that had fired on Pakistani targets.

He told Parliament that overall 80 Indian planes had been involved in the attack.

India, meantime, has not acknowledged any losses, though debris from three aircraft came down in at least three areas.

Did it happen that way?

India does have all three types of jets among its more-than 700 combat capable fighter aircraft, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance report.

All three aircraft are fighters with the capability of carrying bombs or missiles for ground attacks.

Pakistan and India have both said that their planes did not leave their home airspace, suggesting that if Pakistan's account is accurate, rather than a dogfight in the skies over Kashmir, Pakistani pilots fired multiple air-to-air missiles over a long distance to take down Indian planes.

Presuming India fired back, even though Pakistan said none of its planes were hit, the aerial skirmish would have been quite the show. But there have been no eyewitness reports of it or video to emerge on social media.

What is known for sure is that Indian planes were in the air and attacked at least nine targets, and that debris from three has been found.

It's also plausible that Pakistan used surface to air missiles to hit Indian planes  which the war in Ukraine has shown to be very effective and would not have meant risking any of its own planes.

Pakistan has a wide range of such missiles, primarily Chinese-made.

Test of Chinese tech?

Pakistan's air force includes American-made F-16s, the French Mirage, and the new Chinese-built J-10C, as well as the Chinese JF-17, which was developed jointly with Pakistan.

In addition to American air-to-air missiles, Pakistan also has several Chinese products in its arsenal, including the PL-12 and PL-15, both of which can be used to fire at targets beyond visual range.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told lawmakers it was the J-10C that shot down the Indian aircraft, raising the likelihood that Chinese-built missiles were also employed.

It's interesting that Pakistan is saying it is using Chinese jets that it has imported from China to shoot down Indian aircraft, said Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific security program at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.

In 2019, during the rivals' previous military confrontation, it was a Pakistani F-16 provided by the United States that was used to shoot down an Indian aircraft, Curtis said in a conference call. Its interesting to see that Pakistan is relying more on its Chinese equipment than it did six years ago.

The news convinced traders with shares in AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, which builds both the J-10C and J-17, to post large gains Wednesday and Thursday on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, the stock of Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale jet, which is among those Pakistan claims to have shot down, dropped sharply on Wednesday on the Paris Stock Exchange, though had recovered by close on Thursday.

What else is known?

India hasn't talked about what assets were involved in the attacks. The Indian Defense Ministry said that the strikes targeted at least nine sites where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.

Pakistan, meantime, has said 31 civilians were killed, including women and children, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the countrys Punjab province, and that buildings hit included two mosques.

India did show video of eight of the strikes at a briefing on Wednesday. four in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and four in Pakistan.

Both sides have talked about missile strikes, but it was clear from the video that bombs were also dropped on some targets, possibly from drones. In addition to claiming the five Indian aircraft shot down, Pakistan also said it downed an unspecified number of drones on Wednesday.

Indian officials said the strikes were precision attacks, and from the videos shown, it did appear that specific areas of installations were targeted with individual missiles or bombs, rather than widespread areas.

What happened next?

India sent multiple attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, with Pakistan claiming to have shot down 29 of them.

The drones were identified as Israeli-made Harop, one of several in India's inventory.

One drone damaged a military site near the city of Lahore and wounded four soldiers, and another hit the city of Rawalpindi, which is right next to the capital Islamabad., according to the Pakistani army.

India did not deny sending drones, but the Defense Ministry said its armed forces targeted air defense radars and systems in several places in Pakistan, including Lahore. It did not comment on the claims of 29 being shot down.

India similarly did not comment on Pakistani claims to have killed 50-60 soldiers in exchanges along the Line of Control, though it did say one of its soldiers was killed by shelling on Wednesday.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, meantime, denied Indian accusations that Pakistan had fired missiles toward the Indian city of Amritsar, saying in fact an Indian drone fell in the city.

___

Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
The Pentagon dramatically expanded efforts to censor and remove books with topics such as diversity and anti-racism by ordering all military branches to scrub libraries of "divisive concepts and gender ideology" and pull those materials from shelves, according to a memo issued Friday.

The memo, signed by the acting deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, directs all military educational institutions, specifically noting war colleges and the service academies, to "promptly" identify books on about 20 topics and set them aside by May 21.

The memo also announces the creation of a temporary Academic Libraries Committee "consisting of knowledgeable leaders, educators, and library professionals" from across the Defense Department who will work to help identify books for censorship and then help decide their ultimate fate.

Read Next: About 1,000 Troops Slated for Immediate Separation Under Reinstated Transgender Ban

The expanded effort on books at military libraries comes after the Naval Academy was specifically ordered to go through its book collection last month and the Navy released a list of nearly 400 books that were removed from circulation.

The list included titles by prominent Black authors such as Maya Angelou as well as Black politicians like Bakari Sellers and Stacey Abrams. The list also included a book on female Jewish experiences in the Holocaust and a midshipman's research thesis.

In April, The New York Times reported the academy still had two copies of Adolf Hitler's manifesto, Mein Kampf, on its shelves.

An Army official told Military.com last month the Army's military academy at West Point, N.Y., also compiled a list of books that it felt ran afoul of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's orders to strip materials related to diversity and submitted it to the Pentagon. However, unlike the Navy, the Army did not make that list public.

West Point declined to comment on its methodology of how it selected its books, or who was in charge of those decisions.

On Thursday, a tenured professor of philosophy at West Point said the storied military academy was interpreting Hegseth's order "broadly" and conducting "a sweeping assault on the school's curriculum and the faculty members' research" in an op-ed for The New York Times.

The professor, Graham Parsons, said he was resigning from his post because the school was "suddenly eliminating courses, modifying syllabuses and censoring arguments to comport with the ideological tastes of the Trump administration."

The new memo appears to try to impose some rigor to the Pentagon's censorship efforts that, to date, have featured vague orders from Hegseth to remove all "news articles, photos, and videos promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including content related to critical race theory, gender ideology, and identity-based programs."

The result was the removal of books that highlighted women who fought in the U.S. Civil War; deleted websites that featured Kristen Griest, the first woman to graduate from the Army's famously grueling Ranger School; and lessons in Air Force boot camp that featured the Tuskegee Airmen, the historic Black aviators, and the Women's Airforce Service Pilots.

The removals prompted outrage after becoming public, and some of the content has been restored. However, Hegseth's office has not offered a full accounting of what has been removed to date.

Contained within the memo is a list of standardized topics used by the Library of Congress to direct military officials in their efforts. The list contains such terms as affirmative action, anti-racism, white privilege and discrimination, as well as a host of topics around gender dysphoria and transgender people, including transgender people in the military.

Hegseth and the Pentagon announced they will push forward with a ban on transgender troops, saying they are unfit for service, following a Supreme Court decision to lift a lower court's temporary injunction.

After all the books are identified and removed from access by troops, the memo says the library committee will then decide what to do with the material by no later than June.

-- Steve Beynon contributed to this report.

Related: Naval Academy Staff Removed Display on Female Jewish Graduates for Hegseth Visit
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

As this is being written on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the final end of the Vietnam War, that history is being echoed as we are bombing Yemen and using much of the same tactics we employed in the infamous and ineffectual "Rolling Thunder" campaigns of the mid- and late 1960s in Vietnam.

This got me wondering whether we have learned anything from our failed military adventures. My old man used to say that we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes. The corollary to that is something that I believe came from British field marshal William Slim: "A lesson learned is not a lesson learned unless you learn it."

Although I missed the Vietnam experience, having been commissioned as the war was winding down, I have observed or participated in a number of debacles -- starting with watching the failed Israeli intervention in Lebanon up close as a United Nations observer and ending up as a civilian field adviser in Afghanistan. Let's start with the lessons we thought we learned in Vietnam that have been repeated.

When Saigon fell, there was conventional wisdom in Washington that we should never again try nation-building. However, less than a decade later, we and the Israelis were nation-building in Lebanon.

In the aftermath of the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, President Ronald Reagan had the good sense to abandon the mission as ill-advised. Despite this, we were at it again exactly 10 years later, this time in Somalia. After the Black Hawk Down debacle, President Bill Clinton reached the same conclusion as Reagan in Lebanon and closed the door on the mission.

Being slow learners, by 2002, we were nation-building in Afghanistan. It took two decades to realize that this was folly. We compounded the disaster with the humiliating spectacle of the cut-and-run operation of 2021 in Kabul.

We are still repeating the misperception that wars can be won by airpower alone yet again in Yemen. Beginning with the post-World War II Strategic Airpower Study, the lesson that wars cannot be won solely by airpower has been repeatedly forgotten by successive generations of Air Force and naval aviation strategists. A well-disciplined and ideologically motivated population -- particularly if controlled by an authoritarian regime -- will successfully resist a non-nuclear air campaign. This is particularly true if the air campaign has limited objectives. Shock and awe is a myth that will not go away.

Every rule has exceptions. Weak authoritarian regimes that are unpopular with their citizens can be cowed by selective bombing -- as was the case with Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia during the Kosovo conflict -- but Nazi Germany, North Vietnam and the Houthis fall into the former category. They were made of sterner stuff.

On May 6, President Donald Trump announced the Houthis would stop shooting at U.S. ships transiting the Bab el-Mandab strait at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, but the Houthis denied it. This is again reminiscent of the days of Rolling Thunder.

The Johnson administration would call temporary unilateral halts to the bombing, hoping for a similar response from Hanoi. The North Vietnamese response was to use the pause to replenish their supplies of anti-aircraft missiles. Being unwilling to send ground forces north of the Demilitarized Zone, the Americans would resume bombing. The recent Houthi attack on Israel certainly doesn't look like a peace offering.

Some derisively referred to Rolling Thunder as "Colossal Blunder." Today, we no longer have the option to use ground forces to root out and destroy the mobile missile and drone launchers that the Houthis depend on. This would require a sustained amphibious operation that the U.S. is no longer capable of launching due to some unfortunate force-structuring decisions in the past five years that mean the Navy lacks the ships and the Marine Corps the offensive combat power to conduct such an operation. The geography of the Arabian Peninsula precludes the Army from launching an overland campaign without violating the sovereignty of several of Yemen's neighbors or getting permission to stage an incursion from Saudi Arabia.

How did we get to this point? Much of it can be attributed to casualty avoidance on the part of civilian leaders. Foes such as the Houthis simply can't threaten the standoff capability of our technologically superior Air Force and Navy. In addition, we have not faced a first-class opponent in a conventional war in eight decades.

Much of the problem lies with operational and strategic ignorance on the part of our generals and admirals. The greatest ones have been keen students of military history. This includes Genghis Khan; although illiterate, he hired people to tell him of the battles and campaigns fought by his adversaries. The greats all practiced "recognitional decision-making." They could say, "I remember a reading or hearing of a situation similar to this" and act accordingly.

Too many promising officers are sent to think tanks in lieu of military schools to teach them how to succeed on the Washington cocktail circuit rather than developing real warfighting skills.

This is only exacerbated by ticket punching and careerism. Those officers who see something wrong are afraid to speak up. Generals who knew that the Afghan evacuation would be awful never put their stars on the line to strenuously object. None of the revolving door of commanders in Afghanistan -- with the possible exception of Gen. David Petraeus -- had the guts to say, "This isn't working." Moral courage cannot be taught in schools, but we desperately need it.

Gary Anderson served in Lebanon and Somalia with the Marine Corps. He was a special adviser to the deputy secretary of defense, traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan in that capacity, and served as a State Department field adviser in Iraq and Afghanistan
Alternate history writing looks at "what if" scenarios; What if the Soviet Union won the Cold War? What if the Roman Empire never fell? It's not just interesting escapism; it also allows readers to look critically at the world they really live in and reflect on current events. Popular alternate history stories have even become major television shows or movies. Philip K. Dick's 1962 novel "The Man in the High Castle" is set in an alternate timeline where an assassin killed Franklin D. Roosevelt and Germany and Japan won World War II. The book was later adapted into an Amazon Prime series.

On Reddit's r/althistory subreddit, users post scenarios asking, "What if the Soviet Union intervened in Iran?" or, "What if the U.S. plan for the Middle East was implemented after World War I?" The usual posts garner a handful of likes or comments, but a new alternate history timeline is making the rounds with interactions in the thousands. This new timeline, from Redditor GeorgeSquarshington, looks at an alternate world where someone really did hack the 2024 presidential election, both sides contested the results and America fell into a dark civil war.

Some of the screenshots feel so real that it seems necessary to add a disclaimer. (Illustration by Redditor GeorgeSquarshington)

GeorgeSquarshington, who asked to be identified by his username because of harassment around the sensitive nature of his story, calls his scenario, "How would Reddit react to a modern civil war in the USA?" The story plays out in fictional screenshots from social media, Wikipedia, YouTube and more, all posted to the Reddit channel.

Read Next: 'Call of Duty: Black Ops II' Is Coming True in Weird Ways

"I saw where people were claiming that the election was stolen, like even my mom and dad talk about it sometimes, saying that the 2024 election might have been hacked," GeorgeSquarshington told Military.com. "And I just started to think, 'What would happen if it were true, or at least if an intelligence agency or people in the military thought it was true?' And the story grew out of that."

Even far-fetched story points, like Russian tanks making it to an American battlefield in just months, are well-illustrated. (Illustration by Redditor GeorgeSquarshington)

Readers learn about new developments in the "war" through simulated internet reactions to the war's events. GeorgeSquarshington, along with supporters in a special Discord channel, game out scenarios and the story continues to evolve. Then he and some of the collaborators create detailed screenshots of what it would look like as the internet responded to the news.

In the story, the first contested election results lead to recounts in key states, tipping the election from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. Protestors from both sides clash. Violently. Fires break out in Trump Tower. Harris is inaugurated in a bunker, and Trump barricades himself in Mar-a-Lago.

Again, this is not a real screenshot. But it's well-made. (Illustration by Redditor GeorgeSquarshington)

The posts illustrating the story are all based on real events, sometimes pulling directly from real internet posts.

"I'm a [web] developer, and so a lot of the posts I create by using an inspection tool on the webpage," GeorgeSquarshington said. "I find something I want to work off of, open inspector, change whatever I need to change to make it fit the story and then screenshot it."

That process makes many of the posts feel quite real, even when the subject matter is way out of left field. There are posts of users reacting to the capture of a foreign soldier. There are images of burned-out Russian tanks that feel quite similar to internet posts discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That reality is increased when the events are based in recent history, such as a botched raid of Mar-a-Lago, modeled loosely on the 2011 raid of the Bin Laden compound in Pakistan or when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the alternate timeline accidentally released plans to bomb Buffalo, New York, in a chat group.

As a Buffalo-area resident, I laughed out loud. And then I checked my Signal to make sure there was no plan to hit the suburbs. (Illustration by Redditor GeorgeSquarshington)

The final product is a series of screenshots with an evolving storyline that feels similar to some command post exercises I did with my unit in the Army. The command staff would make decisions and tell the training cadre what we were doing, and then the training staff would come back with new events, called "injects," to which we would have to respond. The training would often include fake news coverage and a few social media posts illustrating the consequences of staff decisions.

And, honestly, much of this alternate history timeline is better illustrated than what we got from paid trainers in the Army. The paid trainers never included the crappiest people on the internet, such as the 4chan users who make fun of a man panicking after he reports his parents as collaborators and then watches as they're abducted.

Honestly super believable that a 4chan user would see this in the middle of a civil war and think, "A dude did the dumbest possible thing and is now panicking. This is a good time for a spelling joke." (Illustration by Redditor GeorgeSquarshington)

The delivery through social media posts gives the story a feeling of immediacy and provides a granular look at how individual internet posters would try to navigate the chaos, and at how they might attack each other.

"One of the things I notice a lot online is how people like to act morally superior to everybody else, how quickly they dehumanize each other, even when they're doing the same things. I try to show that in my posts, too," said the creator.

GeorgeSquarshington says he steers the story according to what he actually thinks would happen next and incorporates reader feedback.

"I try to make it realistic," he said. "Like, I'm not a military expert and someone helping me said that a plan to have rebel tanks go through the forests wouldn't work, so we changed it to make it work better."

Now his biggest problem is figuring out how the story will end.

"The readers, you know, they all have one side they want to win," he said. "I want to give it all a good ending, but I don't even know what that would look like with a civil war."

The story is still playing out on r/althistory. A table of contents for the story so far is available here.

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The Royals have signed right-hander Trevor Richards to a minor league deal, according to an announcement from the Omaha Storm Chasers, Kansas Citys Triple-A affiliate. The righty has been assigned to Omaha and will give the Royals some non-roster bullpen depth.

Richards, 32 next week, hasnt been in good form lately. The Twins acquired him from the Blue Jays at last years deadline, sending minor league infielder Jay Harry the other way. Richards logged 13 innings for Minnesota but he gave out 11 walks in that time, an awful rate of 18.6% of batters faced. He also hit two opponents and threw seven wild pitches. Less than a month after being acquired, he was designated for assignment and outrighted to the minor leagues.

He had to settle for a minor league deal with the Cubs coming into 2025, which didnt pan out. He tossed 8 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa with a 7.27 earned run average in that small sample. He struck out 29.3% of batters faced but with a 17.1% walk rate. The Cubs released him earlier this week.

The Royals will surely be hoping for a bounce back, as Richards had some success prior to this rough patch. He tossed 201 big league innings over the 2021 to 2023 seasons, mostly with the Jays but also with the Rays and Brewers. His 4.61 ERA in that time wasnt amazing but he had a huge 31.3% strikeout rate. His 10.9% walk rate was still a bit high but far more acceptable than his recent work.

For the Royals, theres no harm in adding another arm on a minor league deal. Their bullpen is in good shape this year, with a collective 2.93 ERA, fifth-best in the majors. But pitcher injuries are fairly inevitable, so its nice to have some experienced non-roster depth on hand.

Photo courtesy of Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images
LANSING, MI -- Any time, any day and without notice, Michigan regulators might be able to legally spy on marijuana businesses and their customers.

Thats if one among a myriad of proposed rule changes currently being considered by Michigans Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) take effect.

Under existing rules, businesses are required to record various locations within their operations, including sales, processing, shipping and access points. They must store at least 30 days worth of footage and provide it to CRA investigators upon request.

A proposed rule would require businesses to also provide real-time access and live monitoring of the marijuana business via a secure web-based portal.

Critics say thats too intrusive and susceptible to abuse.

So, for instance, Im currently sitting in an office in a licensed facility, and I am on their camera while Im talking to you, said Cassin Coleman, a marijuana industry consultant who spoke against the rule. And theyve requested access to watch me have this conversation with you.

Coleman said the rule would effectively give the CRA the right to conduct warrantless searches without stipulating investigative reasoning.

The general public goes into these places and is always on camera, Coleman said. And now the agency will have access to that without giving any notice to anyone that theyre doing it.

The CRA has not shared details about plans for internal oversight or how video access would be utilized, should the rule be imposed.

Coleman is concerned the CRA might share video with others, such as local, state or federal law enforcement, for reasons unrelated to licensing compliance.

And whats to stop some creepy dude in an office watching the girl he has a crush on, Coleman wondered. My employees are already freaked out about the fact that everything they do here is watched by high-definition cameras.

Therere not very many other kinds of manufacturing or agricultural places that do that.

Coleman believes the CRA wants the access to assist with investigations related to illicit marijuana entering the regulated market.

The CRA regularly cites businesses that fail to provide requested video footage during investigations.

In one instance, the CRA was investigating illicit marijuana at a Shiawassee County marijuana processing and grow facility that it later shut down for violations.

The business notified the CRA that its surveillance system was malfunctioning during its harvest. Footage that could be reviewed cut to a black screen numerous times for long periods and 38 cameras were inoperable, according to CRA reports. An employee told inspectors that rats chewed through the wires.

The bad actors are intentionally sabotaging their recording systems, Coleman said, It doesnt matter if you have web access, their cameras are still not going to work.

Retired defense attorney Matthew Abel, who founded the Cannabis Counsel marijuana firm in Detroit, said allowing live video access to the CRA just seems so invasive.

Video footage should be reviewed on an as-needed basis with the knowledge of the business, he said.

Especially because its still federally illegal, Abel said. We dont really want our faces on video, live-streamed (showing) illegal transactions.

He said if identifying rule-breaking businesses is the goal, live access could be limited to businesses that have already been found in violation or that agree to provide real-time access as part of a consent agreement.

Following this weeks public hearing on the proposed rules, the CRA may make changes before submitting a final set of proposed rules to legislators on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for approval.

Based on the public backlash, the CRA may be reconsidering.

Although the CRA is just beginning to analyze the feedback from the comment period, we are seriously considering removing the proposed camera rule change in its entirety based on the feedback already received, CRA spokesman David Harns told MLive.
If left unchecked, the notorious pest has the potential to wreak economic and ecological disaster on this popular Aussie tourist hotspot.

Vehicle checks on K'gari could be one way authorities can fight back against the spread of yellow crazy ants - one of the country's worst invasive species. Source: Fraser Island Australia/ABC

Calls are growing for routine biosecurity checks on one of Australias most iconic tourist islands, as concerns mount over the spread of one of the nations most destructive invasive species.

Five colonies of yellow crazy ants (YCA) have now been detected in Maryborough in Queensland, a key access point to K'gari, following earlier detections in Booral, a Hervey Bay suburb near the airport and barge terminal used by thousands of tourists.

Despite more than 500,000 people visiting K'gari each year, there are currently no routine biosecurity checks in place. Traditional custodians fear that unchecked vehicles, including those of tourists, residents and four-wheel-drive users, could carry yellow crazy ants or other invasive pests across to the fragile island ecosystem.

Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council said if left unchecked, the notorious pests have the potential to wreak economic and ecological disaster. "YCA form super colonies, but the individual ants do not bite," Pianta told Yahoo News recently. "Instead, they spray formic acid to blind and kill their prey.

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"And although theyre tiny, they can swarm in great numbers, killing much larger animals like lizards, frogs, small mammals, turtle hatchlings and bird chicks, and reshaping entire ecosystems."

Yellow crazy ants are extremely aggressive and will out-compete other insects to dominate and destroy food resources, including agricultural crops. Source: Federal government/Supplied

What could happen if yellow crazy ants reach K'gari?

Sue Sargent, chair of the Natural Integrity Alliance for K'gari, warned that the ants growing presence on the mainland makes their arrival on the island almost inevitable without stronger biosecurity.

She said the lack of preventative measures currently poses a serious threat to both tourism and native wildlife, and that the spread of the species would be devastating for K'gari.

"It's extremely concerning," she told the ABC. "We're sort of lining up for a perfect storm in terms of tourism implications and [impacts] on [threatened] species  we've got no preventative measures in place at all, so it's really a matter of time.

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"It would be devastating for K'gari to get this species."

Now, traditional custodians say vehicle checks could be one pivotal way to fight back against the spread.

Push for vehicle checks for tourists, campers

With half a million visitors travelling to the island each year  many bringing four-wheel drives, trailers, and camping gear  the risk of inadvertently transporting ants or their eggs is significant. Vehicles, especially those carrying soil, plant matter or organic debris, can easily become carriers.

The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation suggested introducing a rinsing or wash-down process before vehicles board barges to K'gari, which would help dislodge any hidden insects or potential contaminants.

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Similar biosecurity measures are already in place in other sensitive areas across Australia, such as Tasmania and Kangaroo Island, and have proven effective in slowing the spread of pests and diseases.

Advocates argue that implementing these checks at key access points like Hervey Bay and Maryborough could dramatically reduce the risk of YCA gaining a foothold on the World Heritage-listed island.

YCA threaten regions like Queenslands Wet Tropics World Heritage Area  one of the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforests on the planet. Source: Supplied

Fraser Coast Regional Council said that while yellow crazy ant colonies in Maryborough have been treated, full eradication is unlikely for now. The council has a long-term plan to tackle the problem, but currently receives no state or federal funding to support its efforts.

Pianta, from the Invasive Species Council, is aware of the funding issue. He warned that currently, "there is no systematic eradication effort" as there is with the better known fire ants.

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"Responses are left to local authorities, who struggle to find reliable funding for control efforts. There should be more reliable funding to support local councils and environment groups," he said.

Australian pesticide expert David Priddy said if not stopped in their tracks, YCA could threaten Queensland with an economic catastrophe. "[They are] putting the states sugar cane and tourism industries at risk and threatening devastating impacts on local communities," he said.

YCA are believed to have entered Australia through international trade, most likely hitching a ride in cargo shipments. Native to Southeast Asia, they were first detected in Queensland in the early 2000s and have since become one of the countrys most invasive species.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
This file photo shows a high-voltage power transmission line that runs through public trust land in Otsego County's Hayes Township, seen on Oct. 18, 2024. (Sheri McWhirter | MLive.com) Sheri McWhirter

GAYLORD, MI  Michigan state officials said they will not lease 420 acres of public trust land near Gaylord for solar energy development following a four-month public comment period.

The state Department of Natural Resources announced on Friday, May 9, that it will not move forward with the proposed leasing after agency officials received more than 200 public comments and consulted with lawmakers and other interested groups.

The DNR said it will continue a pause on any new utility-scale solar projects on state land and may develop a transparent policy that defines clear site selection criteria. Agency officials did not immediately respond to a request for comments from MLive.

The solar company that initially inquired about the Otsego County site previously withdrew its interest.

Related: Another 1,000 acres of state forest considered suitable for solar by Michigan DNR

The DNRs decision on the Gaylord solar proposal comes after months of fierce public debate following news of the possible lease in January. Much of the acreage was previously clear-cut and replanted with red pine seedlings.

Critics of the proposal complained that deforestation of state lands for renewable energy generation would be an unacceptable loss of natural carbon sequestration from trees. Some bemoaned the loss of public access, wildlife habitat and forest regrowth, while others condemned the move as being financially motivated.

Proponents of the Gaylord solar proposal argued that such renewable energy development on public lands near high-voltage transmission lines may be the best use for those areas given the rapidly accelerating climate crisis, especially should other carbon-dioxide-gobbling forests be conserved elsewhere.

4 1 / 4 Foresters tour state land near Gaylord considered for solar panels

According to a summary report of public comments, it was nearly evenly split between support and opposition. Only a slight majority opposed utility-scale solar arrays on public lands.

The report says the public input was valuable in understanding public sentiment toward utility-scale solar development on public lands and will help inform the next steps in the decision-making process.

Recommendations from the public include the DNR creating a publicly accessible and transparent policy and procedure for locating utility-scale solar energy on public lands that defines clear site selection criteria. Also, public comments suggested public notification should be enhanced and officials should prioritize rooftops, parking lots, vacant farmland and unused or contaminated areas for solar energy.

State officials said leasing 4,000 acres of public land statewide for solar energy is part of the DNRs plan to increase revenues for the agency and accelerate Michigan toward its goal of 100% clean energy by 2040.

Related: Worries arise over whether Michigan DNR will have public hearing on solar plan

The DNR manages 4.6 million acres of public lands and leases sites for multiple industrial uses, including oil and gas wells, pipelines, mines, gravel pits, cell phone towers and more.

Only two state land leases for solar energy are already signed with developers, one near Roscommon and another in Dickinson County in the Upper Peninsula. Both those sites include brownfields, including a gravel pit and small airport near Roscommon and an open-pit iron mine in the western U.P.

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PARADISE, MI -- A new kind of paradise is thawing out up north. What is a snowmobile haven in the winter, is now a sunny outdoor patio space ready for summer at Tahquamenon Falls Brewery.

Sitting on the edge of the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, the brewery has reopened its expansive outdoor seating area and gift shop.
A 9-year-old brought a handgun onto a West Ottawa Public School bus on May 1, the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said.

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A 9-year-old student brought a handgun onto a West Ottawa Public School bus on May 1, the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said.

The elementary school student was found to have been in possession of ammunition on the school bus on May 6, but after further investigation, police found the same student had displayed a handgun on the school bus the week before on May 1.

Police believe the gun was unloaded and students and staff members were not in danger, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

The student was turned over to his family, according to police. There were not any ongoing safety concerns with the student, police said.

Police are working with the school district to complete the investigation.

The Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorneys Office will determine any potential criminal charges.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the sheriffs office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT or mosotips.com.
A 55-year-old Coldwater man was sentenced to 18 to 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting two minors, according to an announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

David Miller was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Stutesman of the 45th Circuit Court in St. Joseph County on May 2. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct in February.

The sentencing follows a separate conviction and sentencing in Branch County, according to a news release from the AGs office.

Miller was sentenced to up to 15 years in the Branch County case. His sentences will run concurrently.

Miller was accused of sexually assaulting two male victims numerous times in Branch and St. Joseph counties. He was first investigated by the Lagrange County Sheriffs Department in Indiana.

I am grateful for the collaborative efforts of the prosecutors in my office, the Branch County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, the Lagrange County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, the Lagrange County Sheriffs Department, and the Michigan State Police, who all worked together to ensure justice for the victims in this case, Nessel said in a news release. Because of their dedication, we secured significant prison time while sparing the victims from the trauma of a trial.
The advisory cites the ongoing war with Ukraine and arbitrary enforcement of local laws as reasons no to visit. Garret Ellison

The State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning Thursday advising all Americans not to visit Russia. Any Americans already in the country are urged to leave immediately.

The advisory cites a handful of safety and security concerns as reasons for the highest-level warning being issued including:

Danger associated with the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The risk of harassment or wrongful detention by Russian security officials.

The arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

The possibility of terrorism.

The U.S. embassy has limited resources to assist Americans in Russia, especially in areas outside of Moscow. The embassy has already reduced its staff and the Russian government is restricting travel for staff that remains in the country.

Should an issue arise for Americans, the U.S. cannot guarantee consular access as all U.S. consulate operations have been suspended in Russia. The advisory reminds Americans of Russias history of wrongful detainment of Americans.

Russian officials have questioned and threatened U.S. citizens without reason. Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on false charges. They have denied them fair treatment and convicted them without credible evidence, the advisory reads. Russian authorities have opened questionable investigations against U.S. citizens for their religious activities.

Related story: Michigan man accused of espionage in Russia, U.S. wants access to him

The warning goes on to say Russia is not recognizing U.S. citizenship for those who have dual citizenship with Russia and claims:

Russia has blocked U.S. consular officers from visiting detained dual U.S.-Russian citizens.

The Russian government has forced people with dual citizenship to join the military and has stopped them from leaving the country.

In 2022, Russia started drafting citizens for the war in Ukraine. The military draft is ongoing.

Along with the detainment issues, the ongoing war with Ukraine is also a major concern for Americans in Russia. Drone attacks are happening throughout the country, especially near the border and in larger cities.

While the advisory warns Americans to leave immediately, doing so may be difficult. U.S. issued debit and credit cards are no longer working in Russia and sanctions have made it "nearly impossible" for electronic money transfers to be sent from the U.S.

Air travel is also extremely difficult to secure at the moment and may not be possible on short notice.

"If you wish to leave Russia, you should make your own travel plans. The U.S. Embassy can only offer limited help to U.S. citizens trying to leave. Transportation options could become even more limited at any time," the advisory reads.

Should you decide to ignore the warning and visit Russia, the State Department recommends:

Be ready for the possibility of detention for an unknown amount of time, possibly without a clear reason, and without the ability to contact your embassy or anyone else for help.

Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries or power of attorney.

Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Review this list of documents to prepare for your trip.

Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care and custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.

Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.

Develop a communication plan with family, your employer or host organization. List how and when youll confirm youre safe (text or call). Specify how often you will do this.

For more information on the warning, visit the State Department website.
Kimberley Horen, 53, of Eastpointe has been charged with assault and battery. MLive file photo

MACOMB COUNTY, MI  A former Michigan school employee is accused of assaulting a first-grade student with a shoe.

Kimberley Horen, 53, of Eastpointe has been charged with assault and battery, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced Friday.

Horen, a paraprofessional at Forest Park Elementary in Eastpointe, allegedly took a shoe off a 6-year-old student with autism and struck him on the head with it.

As a trusted educator, the defendant had a responsibility to provide a safe and focused learning environment for students. Instead, she violated that trust, Lucido said in a statement.

This behavior is unacceptable, and we are committed to pursuing justice to ensure that such misconduct has no place in our schools.

A parent reported the alleged incident on Oct. 18, 2024, prompting an investigation by both the school and the Eastpointe Police Department.

Horen, who was allowed to resign in lieu of being fired, was officially charged on Thursday.

Assault and battery is a misdemeanor punishable up to 93 days in jail.
A jury in the Upper Peninsula has found a man guilty of murder and first-degree child abuse. MLive file photo

MARQUETTE, MI  A jury in the Upper Peninsula has found a man guilty of murder and first-degree child abuse.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Byerly Birge announced the verdict against Eugene Walter-George Rantanen, 37, of LAnse on Friday.

The conviction comes in connection to an incident that occurred on Feb. 19, 2024, when 19-month-old toddler became unresponsive while in the sole custody of Rantanen at the LAnse Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

The child, which died on Feb. 24, 2024, suffered blunt force trauma to the head, which caused significant injuries to the childs brain. Rantanen was determined to have caused the injuries at the trial.

Any time a child dies, it is a tragedy. But it is particularly tragic when a caretaker causes the death, Birge said in a statement. My office will hold individuals like Rantanen accountable for their violent crimes whenever it can.

The conviction is the latest in a long line of legal troubles for Rantanen, who was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for sexual abuse in 2010 after he had sex with a girl, 14, when he was 18.

He was released from prison in November 2013 but kept getting sent back after being accused of assault, failing to attend treatment sessions, using drugs and violating conditions of supervised release.

A federal judge banned him from returning to Baraga County in 2017, but that didnt work either.

This conviction confirms that Eugene Rantanen will no longer pose a threat to anyone, especially our children, said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police, the Village of LAnse Police, the Baraga County Sheriffs Office and the Michigan State Police assisted in the latest investigation against Rantanen.
The University of Michigan - Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso listens to a speaker at the annual budget meeting at Richard L. Postma Family Clubhouse Thursday, June 20 2019. Jenna Kieser | jkieser@mlive.com

DEARBORN, MI - Domenico Grasso, a former U.S. Army major with two Cold War deployments, brings his military attitude to academic leadership, one of his University of Michigan-Dearborn faculty members said.

I was happy to interview him about his time in the U.S. Army for one of my military history classes, Jamie Wraight, chair of the Dearborn campus lecturers union, said. It was easy to discern how his experience in the military influenced him as an academic leader.

Always forward thinking and never leading from behind, Wraight said.

Grasso, chancellor for the Dearborn campus, was selected as the universitys interim president, officials announced Thursday, May 8. The decision is pending a May 15 vote by the Board of Regents in its meeting in Dearborn.

Grasso will not pursue the permanent position, according to a UM release.

Grasso, 69, has been the Dearborn campus chancellor since August 2018. He earned his doctorate in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan, spending his career mostly in the northeast until he became provost of University of Delaware in 2013.

Wraight said Grassos priorities towards students was in the right place.

I appreciated his commitment to student success on our campus, Wraight said, ultimately wishing Grasso success in Ann Arbor.

Bruce Maxim, chair of Dearborns Faculty Senate, agreed with Wraights sentiment.

I have enjoyed working with him, Maxim said. He always has the best interests of the students, faculty and staff in mind.

Maxim pointed to Grassos accomplishments the last seven years as particularly impressive for a regional university. One included reaching R2 status as a research institution, meaning the university brings at least $5 million a year in external research funding.

The funding went from $4.8 million to a projected $13.2 million this past fiscal year, according to university data.

Achieving R2 status at UMD and maintaining the size of the campus while maintaining the quality of the student body in these times is pretty amazing, he said.

Grassos other accomplishments included his GoBLUEprint for Success plan - a tracker for university success in enrollment, graduation rates and more. The Dearborn campus set a first-year enrollment record in both 2023, continuing its growth by nearly 5% in the ensuing fall 2024 semester. The campus also boasted a 16% increase in its four-year graduation rate, according to campus data.

He also helped implement the Go Blue Guarantee, a free tuition program for families making $125,000 or less a year, to include the Dearborn campus. About 44% of students pay no tuition due to this program, Grassos need-based financial aid initiative and Michigan Achievement Scholarships, the campus said in its fall 2024 enrollment update.

The Dearborn campus has seen a number of changes during Grassos tenure. He fostered the $90 million renovation to the Engineering Lab Building and Renick University Center. He also updated the campus master plan to allow for safer bicycle transportation.

President Grasso is widely admired for his visionary work leading University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he has held the role of chancellor since 2018, the Board of Regents wrote in the May 8 message to the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses and Michigan Medicine. We have full confidence that President Grasso will provide steady leadership during this critical time of transition.

Maxim said Grasso will be missed.

The accomplishments listed in the regents announcement are real, he said.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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Washtenaw County Intermediate School District Superintendent Naomi Norman speaks to at least 1,500 protesters on Saturday, April 5 as part of Ann Arbor's "Hands off" rally. She criticized President Donald Trump's recent cuts to education programs, particularly those pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. Sophia Kalakailo

ANN ARBOR, MI  Three federally funded programs through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District have hit the chopping block amid spending reductions under President Donald Trump.

While other funds may backfill some impacted services and projects, one federal cut has led to laying off multiple health resource advocates who helped the regions schools track contagious diseases.
Jaydan Lightfoot, a participant in Ann Arbor's GIG A2 guaranteed income program, speaks about her experience as Kristin Seefeldt, acting director of University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions and lead researcher for the GIG A2 study, listens during a panel discussion at the downtown library May 8, 2025. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR, MI  Jaydan Lightfoot says being a young mother with a 3-year-old son comes with financial challenges, especially with the rising cost of living in Ann Arbor.

Yes, I live in Ann Arbor, but Im struggling living in Ann Arbor, she said.
US expat Garrett said the uncommon discovery signals a larger change taking place in China.

US expat Garrett discovered Aussie beef at a grocery store in China after Trump's tariffs effectively halted trade between the two countries. Source: TikTok/Theforeignerlife

A US expat living in China made a surprising discovery at a local supermarket, signalling a major shift in the favour of Australia amid an increasingly unstable global environment.

Garrett, who is originally from Boston but lives in Shanghai, told Yahoo News he was recently grocery shopping when he stumbled upon a packet of minced beef from Australia.

While that might not mean much to many, it comes just one month after the Trump administration sent shockwaves through the entire world when he announced reciprocal tariffs on just about every country on April 2, a day he called "Liberation Day".

Australia's beef industry was singled out with Trump declaring, "[Australia] wont take any of our beef" due to our tough biosecurity rules.

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But the announcement also caused a grinding halt to America's $2.5 billion beef trade to China  after the country copped the largest tariff of 145 per cent. China countered imposing tariffs on US imports of 125 per cent.

The price pressure on US meat exports followed China not renewing the registration of hundreds of US meat facilities. These factors have combined to halt US beef imports into China, and Australia's beef industry has benefitted significantly with it set for a record-breaking $13.9 billion in sales in 202425, a 12 per cent increase from the previous record set the year prior.

Of the discovery at a "high-end" store in a shopping mall in Shanghai, Garrett said he had been unaware of Australian beef being "commonly available" compared to meat from the US.

"On this particular visit, I was shopping for ingredients to make beef ragu and noticed a package labelled as Australian beef," he said. "It caught my attention," he said.

Garret, who shared a video about the discovery, said; "The whole idea that China is hurting because of the tariffs... theyre not because theyre buying it from other places, because theyre not as dependent on the US," he said, adding, "Theyll just go elsewhere."

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Garrett said he "trusts Australia more than America" with the quality of the minced wagyu beef, which cost 46 Chinese yuan (A$9.90).

The last time Garrett remembers seeing American beef in local grocery stores was about a month ago, around the time the tariffs were introduced.

"From what I understand, food quality standards and regulations in the US are comparatively lower, and the use of chemicals and additives in cattle feed and meat processing is a concern for me," he said.

"Overall, I trust Australias regulatory approach, which seems to prioritise quality and safety over profit," he said.

US President Donald Trump's trade announcement was intended to 'make America wealthy again'. Source: Getty

Australia 'well placed' to handle US tariff instability

Initially, Australia faced a 10 per cent tariff on goods and while it fared better than most, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described it as unwarranted at the time.

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Meanwhile, China received tariffs of up to 145 per cent and in retaliation, imposed a minimum 125 per cent tariff on US goods.

Australias other trading partners, including the European Union, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea, faced tariffs ranging from 20 to 52 per cent. These tariffs were temporarily suspended for 90 days to allow countries other than China time to negotiate with the US.

While financial markets initially responded shakily, earlier this week, big four bank Westpac's chief executive Anthony Miller said despite the uncertainty from Trump's global tariff crackdown, Australia is likely to weather the storm. "Australia is well placed to handle the instability," he said on Monday.

How did the Chinese react to Trump's tariff announcement?

Speaking of the reaction in China to the US tariffs, Garrett said his Chinese friends and colleagues responded with "raised eyebrows and a shrug".

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"The discussions I heard focused on facts and figures, particularly regarding the USs reliance on Chinese goods versus the reverse," he said.

He believes that while the tariffs have "certainly had an impact" on both sides, "most people in China haven't felt a direct impact".

"Few Chinese consumers heavily rely on American-made products, which left many of my friends puzzled by the rationale behind the tariffs," he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurrs nine-day murder trial ended with a hung jury.

Kent County Circuit Judge Christina Mims declared a mistrial Thursday, May 8.

Prosecutor Chris Becker will soon decide whether charges will be refiled in the April 4, 2022, shooting death of Black motorist Patrick Lyoya after a traffic stop.

Lyoya was a 26-year-old Congolese refugee and Schurr, 34, a white officer with seven years on the force. Lyoya backers say the case had racial overtones.

Related:Patrick Lyoya stopped for driving while Black, civil-rights attorney Ben Crump says

From police reports, the videos and interviews, we knew quite a bit heading into the trial that took place three-plus years after the deadly encounter.

Here is a look at five key things we learned during the trial:

Patrick Lyoya gained control of the officers Taser before fatal shooting, according to defense

Defense attorneys for Christopher Schurr presented video that provided a closer look at Patrick Lyoyas control of the officers Taser. Early reports said the two fought for possession but defense witnesses said video showed Lyoya moved the Taser from his left hand to right.

Schurr testified that he feared Lyoya was about to use it on him while he was on top of Lyoya, who was on all fours.

Defense attorney Matthew Borgula said trials can give the public a look at all of the evidence.

I think its great that people recognize now that its clear that Mr. Lyoya had it in his hand now, how he had it. I mean, I can make that (argument).

Related: Deadlocked jury overwhelmingly favored acquitting Christopher Schurr, attorney says

But, yeah, I think its important for the public to know what was more important is to get it before the jury and let them decide and hope that they didnt consider any prior misinformation that was out there.

Prosecution witnesses, including policing experts, countered that Schurrs actions  trying to gain control of a larger, stronger man and pursuing Lyoya on foot  led to officer-created jeopardy, which would not justify the killing.

Schurr wasnt aiming for the back of Lyoyas head when he fired his gun

The moment Schurr took the stand during the trial was the first time he publicly discussed what happened that morning.

When footage of the altercation was released three years ago, Schurrs fatal gunshot to the back of Lyoyas head generated a lot of criticism from the public and on social media.

Related: Schurr mistrial shows extremely high hurdle prosecutors face in police shooting cases, experts say

At no point during five days of testimony was the location of the gunshot brought up in court by the prosecution or defense. However, one juror questioned Schurr about the gunshots location.

I wouldnt say I was necessarily aiming (there) per se, 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.

Schurr gave investigators a written statement after watching footage of the incident

Schurr provided a three-page written statement to Michigan State Police on April 15, 2022, which came 11 days after the fatal traffic stop. On the stand, Schurr testified that he watched body-worn and dashcam video from the incident to write a statement for investigators.

The prosecution challenged Schurr on differences between his written statement and what he testified in court. Schurr wrote in his statement that Lyoya grabbed the Taser while they were standing and tried to move it away because Lyoya didnt want to get tased.

But in court, Schurr testified that he was afraid Lyoya was going to get ahold of the Taser and then Schurrs firearm.

Schurr claimed if he didnt shoot Lyoya, he was going to die

Schurr gave the world some insight on what was going through his head during the scuffle with Lyoya. He feared Lyoya, who had grabbed Schurrs Taser, would use it against him.

I believed that if I hadnt done it at that time, I wasnt going to go home.  I dont know how I made it through that struggle, Schurr testified.

Schurr believed that if he hadnt shot Lyoya, I wouldnt be here today.

Prosecution witness has history of high-profile court cases

A police expert and prosecution witness in Christopher Schurrs murder trial testified in a previous high-profile case: the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a now-former Minneapolis police officer.

Seth Stoughton, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, testified in 2021 at ex-police officer Derek Chauvins murder trial.

Chauvin kept his knee on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd pleaded, I cant breathe.

Chauvin was convicted of second- and third-degree murder and sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Stoughton testified last week in Schurrs trial in Kent County Circuit Court.

Stoughton testified that a reasonable police officer would not have used deadly force against Lyoya. The expert also said Schurr made tactical errors that put both himself and Lyoya at risk.

Schurr was not under imminent threat of death or serious harm when he shot Lyoya, Stoughton testified. The defense objected to parts of Stoughtons testimony, which was overruled, and Schurr countered by testifying that he did fear for his life.

The jury in Schurrs case  he was charged with second-degree murder in Patrick Lyoyas April 4, 2022, shooting death  was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial.

For more of MLives coverage on the case, visit here.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- More than 100 protesters marched through Grand Rapids streets Thursday, hours after a mistrial was declared in the murder trial of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr for killing Patrick Lyoya.

The protesters had a brief dustup with Grand Rapids police near the end of the march, with one person arrested.

The arrest came as protesters walked in a square at the corner of Ottawa Avenue and Lyons Street NW, blocking traffic.

RELATED: Takeaways from Day 9 of police officers murder trial for Patrick Lyoyas death

Police on bikes moved in to clear the road and some tense moments ensued. Officers used a spray against at least one person, although it wasnt immediately clear what was used.

The half-mile march started at the Kent County Courthouse and weaved past the Grand Rapids Police Station before coming back to the court. Officers on bikes at one point ordered marchers off the street and onto the sidewalk, using their bikes as a fence.

Erykai Cage, one of several event organizers, said the outcome of the Schurr trial was heartbreaking.

All I know is that, as a Black woman with a Black child, this was disheartening for the simple fact that Christopher Schurr got to go home, she said.

Schurr shot and killed the 26-year-old Congolese immigrant in April 2022, following a traffic stop in a Southeast Grand Rapids neighborhood where the two struggled over the officers Taser.

During the trial, prosecutors and defense attorneys argued over whether the shooting was justified. A cell phone video captured the shooting.

I literally today hugged Patricks mother and father. And to see the tears in their eyes...., Cage said.

Related: We are reborn of the wound, Patrick Lyoyas family says after hung jury at murder trial

Cage is hoping the case is retried.

Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack and several other speakers addressed the crowd of protesters before the march.

Womack said he wants to see changes with how police handle use of force incidents.

Youre going to tell me that, whenever (an officer) tells somebody to do something and they dont do it, you have a right to shoot them in the back of the head, he said.

Aly Bates, another rally organizer, urged the crowd to petition for policy changes with city officials.

She also said the Grand Rapids police use of force rules should be changed.

These issues are not new. They didnt start with Patrick and its unfortunately not going to end with Patrick, she said.

Like Cage, Bates is hopeful that Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker retries the case.

RELATED: Grand Rapids NAACP calls for new charges after mistrial in Christopher Schurr murder trial

But Im not going to lie, I dont have a lot of faith in the system the killed Patrick Lyoya, she said.

Thursdays march was mostly peaceful. Protesters shouted Justice for Patrick and No justice, no peace.

But a person in a wheelchair told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that he was trying to participate in the square march at the corner of Ottawa Avenue NW and Lyon Street when an officer tried to move his chair out of the way.

A friend of the person in the wheelchair then engaged with the officer and was arrested.

Police supervisors later confirmed a person was arrested, but did not have details as to why.

Legal observers wearing neon green hats with a group called National Lawyers Guild were at the march to document any scuffles or arrests.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The murder trial of ex-Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr ended with a deadlocked jury -- no conviction, no acquittal.

And so far, its unclear if Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker will retry the case.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Supporters of the Patick Lyoya family say they want Kent County prosecutors to retry a former Grand Rapids police officer accused of murdering Lyoya.

Dee Dee Grier, who marched in the protest Thursday evening, is one of those who wants to see another trial.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - After nine days, the trial of former police officer Christopher Schurr ended with a mistrial, after the jury hopelessly deadlocked on the second-degree murder charge.

The decision by Kent County Circuit Judge Christina Mims to declare a mistrial came after around 20 hours of deliberation by the jury.
Jackson will use funding from a $4 million federal grant to reconstruct several deteriorating streets on the city's east side. J. Scott Park | MLive.com

JACKSON, MI  Street construction on portions of East Washington Avenue, South Elm Avenue and Page Avenue on Jacksons east side could begin next year.

The three streets are all deteriorating, jeopardizing important access points for downtown, east side neighborhoods and drivers coming into the community off U.S. 127, city officials said in a news release.

Jackson received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the work.

Revitalizing Jacksons east side with new housing and business initiatives is a priority of City administration, officials said in the release. Rejuvenating infrastructure is often a first step toward redevelopment.

Jackson has used a similar strategy of redevelopment for West Michigan Avenue in Downtown Jackson, as well as the Martin Luther King Reimagined project currently underway on South MLK Drive, officials said.

Related: $7.5M street project to revitalize long-neglected Jackson neighborhood

East Washington between Cooper Street and South Elm Avenue will be fully reconstructed with the federal funding. The street, which cuts through an industrial area connecting east side neighborhoods to Downtown Jackson, is rapidly deteriorating with potholes and uneven pavement, officials said.

A one-block section of South Elm Avenue between East Washington and Page Avenue will also be fully reconstructed. Page Avenue between South Elm Avenue and the city limits at Ann Street will be resurfaced.

Repairing Jacksons streets is a big priority for myself and residents, so this additional funding is exciting news, Mayor Daniel Mahoney said. This construction is laying the groundwork for more good things to come for Jacksons east side. This will not only benefit east side residents and businesses, but the entire community."

The Jackson City Council will consider an engineering contract for the project on May 13, officials said.

If approved, preparatory work could begin in 2026 with lead service line replacements. Street construction would then take place in phases over the 2027 and 2028 construction seasons.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
Jackson Public Schools aims to fund districtwide building improvements and maintenance work with a $126 million bond proposal, currently planned for the November 2025 ballot. J. Scott Park | MLIve.com

JACKSON, MI - Jackson Public Schools will ask voters to approve a $126 million bond extension on the November ballot.

If approved during the Nov. 4, 2025, election, the bond would fund improvements and building upgrades at almost every school building in the district, according to information presented this week to the Jackson Public School Board.

Superintendent Jeff Beal previously said the bond would be used to complete work that wasnt addressed with the districts 2018 bond. This includes cafeteria spaces across the district and general maintenance work.

The school board signed off on the bond plan as it was presented Tuesday, May 6, in a 6-1 vote. Trustee Kesha Hamilton voted no because she wanted more time to discuss the plan.

Board Vice President Derek Dobies motioned the vote to direct Beal to begin preparing the proposal for the November election.

Beal is working with the districts legal counsel to develop the ballot language.

Kittyanne Latocki, a bond planning committee member, said her group has committed about 400 hours of planning to the bond project in the past year. The committee has hosted several student and community engagement sessions in recent months to gather input on the project.

We feel this process brought to light the needs of our school district, staff and students, and also brought the desires of our community to the forefront, a desire to support its schools and its future, Latocki said. Through collaboration and consensus-building, we believe our committees work has culminated in an exceptional bond proposal that will serve the students and the community for years to come.

A priority among the improvements would be air conditioning system upgrades across the district. The bond would also fund the addition of outdoor learning spaces and renovated cafeterias for all school sites, Latocki said.

Jackson High School would get upgrades to areas dedicated to science education and the Jackson Pathways alternative education program.

A new Innovation Center building at Jackson High would house administrative offices. The facility would promote the districts commitment to lifelong learning and life-skills preparation, Latocki said. The specific programs offered at the center are still under development.

The bond would fund renovations to the tower building at Jackson High to improve its structural integrity.

Related: 5 years and $90M later: Heres what Jackson Public Schools has done with 2018 bond funds

The bond extension would not increase the current tax levy of 5.95 mills. Beal said the rise in home values within the district since 2018 contributed to the higher sum of money that would be generated through the millage without raising the rate.

Other potential bond-funded projects could include districtwide roofing work and new HVAC and boiler systems that are due for replacement.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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The Chapin Mansion rehabilitation project in Niles, Michigan, was one of seven historic preservation projects in the state to receive a governor's award at the Thursday, May 8, 2025 awards ceremony. The City of Niles, Niles History Center and Mihm Enterprises, Inc., were each recognized for their restorative work on the historic mansion. Provided by Michigan State Historic Preservation Office

LANSING, MI  Caretakers of an 1880s mansion and a 17th century fort, both in Berrien County, were recognized for their preservation work this week.

The two Southwest Michigan landmarks were among seven historic preservation projects recognized by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the annual Governors Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 8.

Each of the awardees are helping build a stronger Michigan by preserving the places and stories that define who we are, Whitmer said.

The projects also help support jobs, grow local business and foster pride across communities, she said.

The two projects recognized from Berrien County include the Chapin Mansion rehabilitation and the collaborative Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project.

The city of Niles, Niles History Center and Mihm Enterprises, Inc. were each honored for restoring the Chapin Mansion, 508 E. Main St. in Niles.

On the National Register of Historic Places since 1981, the mansion was built by Henry and Ruby Chapin in 1884, according to the state. The family later gifted the mansion to the city in 1932 for civic purposes and it would then become Niles City Hall.

After city offices were relocated in 2012, the mansion became part of the Niles History Center. Since then, over $1.5 million has been invested into the repair and rehabilitation of the historic features of the mansion property from state, local and private sources.

RELATED: 17th century French outpost comes to life at Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project

The city of Niles and Niles History Center were also honored for their work on the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project. Also recognized was Western Michigan University and Support the Fort, Inc.

The fort, 1415 Bond St. in Niles, was established by the French in 1691 on the banks of the St. Joseph River.

For nearly 100 years, it was a hub of colonial activity that brought together settlers, soldiers, fur trappers and nearby Potawatomi and Miami settlements.

After the U.S. claimed the territory in 1781, the fort was abandoned and eventually lost to time. Starting in 1998, a partnership between WMU and the community rediscovered the forts location.

This long-term collaboration teaches aspiring archaeologists field techniques needed for future careers, while sharing whats discovered through community events and social media.

In addition to the two Southwest Michigan landmarks, there were three historic preservation projects in Detroit recognized. Those included the Harry and Lucy Gordon House, Book Tower Detroit and Michigan Central Station.

Also receiving recognition was the Rogers Theater in Rogers City as well as the Charlevoix Historical Society for its maintaining of the Harsha House, Chicago and West Railroad Depot and South Pier Lighthouse.

For details and videos of each project, click here.

This years seven awardees reflect a deep commitment to preserving places that matter, not just for their architectural significance, but for the stories they tell about the people and communities that shaped our state, said Ryan Schumaker, State Historic Preservation Officer.

These projects help ensure that Michigans history remains a source of pride, identity and opportunity for generations to come, he said.

Created by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, the awards program is held annually during National Historic Preservation Month.

Now in its 22nd year, the program celebrates achievements that preserve Michigans unique character, archaeological sites and historic places.
KALAMAZOO, MI  A man who once lived in a tent in Kalamazoo is facing prison after pleading guilty to a string of arson fires.

George Stanard, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree arson and a count of third degree arson on Friday, May 2. The four additional arson charges (third degree) against him were dismissed, court documents state.

He was charged with starting eight fires in Kalamazoo between June 11 and Sept. 4, 2024 at the following locations:

563 Portage St.

316 E. Water St.

3111 E. Kilgore St.

716 Riverview Drive

432 S. Westnedge Ave.

117 Gladys Court

515 W. Walnut St.

121 Allen Blvd.

The fires destroyed homes and damaged commercial properties. Some happened at nearby locations just moments apart.

Two of the first-degree arson counts state Stanard caused injury. Another first-degree charge states he burned a multi-unit building that included a dwelling.

Firefighters battled two blazes at homes near the central part of the city on June 12, 2024. Both fires are considered "suspicious," police said. (Courtesy | KDPS)

One firefighter was injured while fighting the fire at 515 W. Walnut St. on June 12, 2024, according to court documents.

Two firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion and needed medical intervention while fighting a fire on Aug. 24, 2024, at 716 Riverview Drive.

Stanard is being held on a $1 million bond. He will be sentenced June 2, records show.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the prosecutors office is recommending a sentence of no less than 20 years.

First-degree arson carries a possible penalty up to life in prison.

He hates fire

Police reports detail the string of fires and Stanards arrest that followed.

While being questioned about the fire at 117 Gladys Ct., Stanard admitted to using a can of Axe body spray with his lighter to make a homemade flamethrower. It caught the home on fire, an officer wrote in a police report.

I then asked George Stanard if he likes fire and he replied that he hates fire, the police report says.

Stanard told police when he was 18 years old, a fire took my 11 month old daughter.

Stanard told police a fire started at the house of the mother of his child near Sturgis, Michigan. Stanard stated he was in Kalamazoo at the time of the fire and did not start that fire, the police report states.

Police asked him about the Sept. 2, 2024, fire at 316 E. Water St., in Kalamazoo, the site of a commercial building once slated to become a bar.

Stanard initially denied lighting the fire, but then said he lit a piece of cardboard and threw it underneath the back porch, catching the building on fire.

Firefighters were called at 5:33 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, to a building on fire at 316 E. Water St. The blaze is under investigation. (Courtesy | KDPS)

He watched the fire burn and then called 911 to report it, the report states.

The string of suspicious fires brought a sense of unease around the city as homes and buildings burned one by one, sending the sound of sirens zipping around downtown.

Appearing in court after his arrest, Stanard cried out as he learned his actions caused injuries, telling the judge he didnt know.

Tent city to prison

Stanard had been homeless for some time in the years before the arsons. In 2022, MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette interviewed him as he was staying in a tent in a wooded area of the city and police cleared the encampment.

George Stanard stands outside of his tent about a half hour before Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety cleared out a homeless encampment close to the train tracks at the Urban Nature Park in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. He was 30 at the time.

Several others were there with him as police forced them to leave. Trash and leftover living items were left behind. The trees people lived beneath were cleared from the site, after.

Stanard told MLive at the time he was forced to move on as police cleared the encampment under the direction of then-Chief Vernon Coakley.

They were given an hour to leave the private property, he said.

George Stanard sits in the shade on the edge of the old Food Dance overflow parking lot as people occupying the Urban Nature Park move their belongings to the parking lot. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety was clearing out the homeless encampment Stanard was staying at close to the train tracks in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Gabi Broekema | MLive.com) Gabi Broekema | MLive.com

Stanard packed up his tent while preparing to leave on the sunny afternoon of May 17, 2022.

He spoke with a reporter and photographer while seated on the curb, wearing a camouflage WMU Broncos cap and a beard.

A woman from the encampment gave a few comments on video before leaving by order of police:

Stanard then moved to the parking lot of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where he spent a few days. He then got some help to move on, he said at the time.

I guess theyre trying to get some U-Hauls here and move us, Stanard said on May 20, 2022. He and others mentioned Mosel Avenue as a possible next location.

Stanard stayed in a hotel outreach program on the week of Christmas 2023, according to an organizer.

David Boysen is the current chief of police in Kalamazoo. His department has a team dedicated to responding to vulnerable people. including those in the houseless community.

The Community Services Team expanded earlier this year, doubling its ranks from two to four people dedicated to the work. It focuses on helping homeless people and other vulnerable citizens.

The goal is to intervene before people spiral into crisis, harming themselves or others.

Firefighters were called at 5:33 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, to a building on fire at 316 E. Water St. The blaze is under investigation. (Courtesy | KDPS)

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The $3.2 million project with MDOT will address decades-old infrastructure problems including water mains installed in 1960. Alison Zywicki | azywicki

GRAND HAVEN, MI - The city of Grand Haven approved an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the reconstruction of one of the citys major streets.

The city agreed to pay MDOT no more than $3.2 million for the complete reconstruction of Fulton Avenue, between First and Fifth streets.

Construction will begin on the first block, between First and Second, as soon as next week, said Dana Kollewehr, assistant city manager.

At that time, the road will be accessible to those who live or work in that block, but the general public will be asked to travel around it.

Signs will be posted throughout the project to direct drivers as construction changes. The first block is expected to take at least one month.

MDOT will manage and receive bids for the project, along with providing a little over $1 million to the project, Kollewehr said.

The project is also partially funded by federal dollars through the State Surface Transportation Program.

While the project was originally expected to cost more than $4 million, Kollewehr said the project total actually came to less than $3 million, so the city should expect to pay less than the agreed upon capped amount - unusual news in light of the cost of goods and services these days.

The reconstruction will include the replacement of underground utilities, the road, curb, gutter and sidewalks.

Its a rather extensive project weve had in our capital plan for some time now, Kollewehr said.

The water mains, sewers and storm drains are the primary culprits for the needed work, with one of the water mains having been installed in 1960.

Its been decades since any significant work has occurred down there, Kollewehr said.

The assistant city manager described a buildup of sediment over time, physically decreasing the size of these pipes.

It doesnt function at the same level it was when it was installed, Kollewehr said.

The project was approved unanimously by the three council members present at the April 28 meeting. Councilman Kevin McLaughlin was not in attendance.

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Investigations into the death of a kangaroo in suburban Melbourne have led to charges being laid.

Police seized a 4WD from a quiet suburban street following an investigation into the death of a kangaroo. Source: Victoria Police

Footage shows the moment a heavily-dented 4WD was hauled onto the back of a tow truck during a seizure by state authorities. The clip was released early on Friday morning after Victoria Police charged two men following an investigation into the death of a kangaroo in Melbournes southeast.

Yesterday, police executed warrants at residential homes in the eastern suburbs of Ringwood and Scoresby. Two men in their early 20s have been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and destroying protected wildlife.

Police were responding to reports a Nissan Patrol had been used to drive at a mob of kangaroos on Hallam Road in Lysterfield South. It was alleged one of the animals was deliberately hit and killed at around 10.20pm on April 23.

Are kangaroos a protected species?

The states Conservation Regulator assisted police from Endeavour Hills and Narre Warren with the execution of the warrants. Footage shows officers from both agencies leaving a residence on a quiet suburban street, carrying brown paper bags, before the vehicle was seized.

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The men will appear before Dandenong Magistrates Court on 19 August.

Eastern grey kangaroos are a protected species in Victoria, and a permit is required to kill or harm them.

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Former Bay City commissioner Chris Girard, who is now mayor, and Jesse Dockett, who is now a county commissioner, demonstrate the Bird e-scooters, in this MLive file photo. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com) Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BAY CITY, MI  An electric scooter rental company that operated in cities across mid-Michigan has begun discontinuing service and removing scooters.

After previously announcing it was discontinuing services in Midland and Saginaw, Bird has announced it will also be leaving Bay City.

All Bird scooters in the city will be removed by May 16, according to a news release.

We understand this may be disappointing news for residents who regularly relied on this service, Bay City Manager Dana Muscott said in a statement. The scooters were well-used and appreciated by many in our community. Their presence helped support more accessible, sustainable, and flexible transportation options, especially for short trips and first/last-mile connectivity.

The companys decision to pull out of Bay City was the result of internal corporate changes and is not connected to local ridership levels, City policy, or the Citys administration, Bay City officials wrote in a release.

Mayor Chris Girard compared the scooters, which could be left and rented from anywhere, to Bay City native and popular musical star Madonna.

Either they loved them or hated them, he said. For many of our residents, it was a quick and easy and fun transportation modality for them. Some residents didnt like they ended up in their front yard, however, because you could leave them anywhere.

Bay City officials said the companys decision is part of a broader realignment of its operations across multiple cities, citing information relayed to the city from Bird.

It was not a reflection of community engagement or program performance, city officials maintained, going so far as to say scooter ridership in Bay City has been strong, and the program has played a positive role in supporting short-distance travel, enhancing mobility, and offering residents a convenient alternative to car trips.

The company has expressed interest in possibly returning in the future should their corporate direction shift, according to the city. Muscotts release indicated Bay City will continue to explore other micro-mobility partnerships that benefit residents.

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Dr. David L. Stockman (upper left) appears before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens via Zoom on May 5, 2025. Cole Waterman

MARQUETTE, MI  Officials in the Upper Peninsulas Marquette County are alleging a controversial Saginaw Township doctor has left more than 20 families in the lurch as they await their loved ones autopsy results. Their boiling-over frustration is leading some to call for the state to revoke the doctors medical license.

Marquette County in 2022 contracted with Dr. David L. Stockmans Michigan Institute of Forensic Science & Medicine to provide medical examination duties such as investigating causes of death and performing autopsies.

During the county Board of Commissioners Tuesday, May 6, meeting, civil counsel Karl Numinen addressed the problems the county has endured since contracting with MIFSM.

Weve had significant difficulties with this entity, not the least of which is, right now as we speak, theyve got 22 autopsy reports that Im told they finished the services, Numinen said. They just wont release the reports for some reason. Its critical that we get those reports because thats what the county clerk needs to have in order for them to process death certificates.

The death certificates are necessary for the decedents beneficiaries to receive life insurance proceeds and other benefits theyre entitled to, Numinen continued.

Were hamstrung because the medical examiner that we contracted with wont do their job, he said. He recommended the board terminate MIFSMs contract and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against Stockman and MIFSM to get the reports theyve paid for.

Chairman Joseph Derocha said MIFSM has been causing headaches for more than a year and a half, leading the board to terminate its contract in April. They hired Dickinson County to provide medical examination duties going forward, the transition having been seamless, Derocha said.

For whatever reason, this medical examiner out of Saginaw that we were contracted with has felt the need to not complete his job and its unacceptable, Derocha said. Id like to see civil counsel go after his license with LARA (the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs). We simply cant allow this to happen and we cant take it laying down.

Vicechair Bill Nordeen made a motion for civil counsel to obtain the outstanding reports from MIFSM and take legal action against the entity if needed.

Commissioner Karen Alholm supported the motion.

Alholm asked Numinen if Stockman has given a reason for not sending the finalized reports.

Its just baffling to me, Numinen responded. He said he last spoke to Stockman about a month ago to complain about lacking communication from his staff, even on minor matters. Stockman told him he had fired some of his employees but that all of the autopsy work was finished.

Stockman can send the death certificates to Marquette County Clerk Linda Talsma electronically but has not done so, Numinen said.

Derocha has been calling Stockman on a daily basis, also getting nowhere.

Nordeen did not mince words in voicing his displeasure with MIFSM.

Dr. David Stockman appears before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens via Zoom on May 5, 2025. Cole Waterman

Its one of the worst things that Ive ever heard happen to Marquette County, he said. And I feel bad because these 22 families are contacting Linda (Talsma, clerk) or contacting us saying, What is wrong with Marquette County? Were trying to get some resolution to this and its not acceptable.

My God, these families cannot move on, he continued. Theres one out there from November of last year!

Derocha also drove home he is not amused by Stockmans delaying tactics.

Whether this company thinks theyre being cute with Marquette County, take his license, maybe itll get his attention, he said.

Stockmans licenses to practice medicine and prescribe medication expire Sept. 8.

Bankruptcy matter

Stockman has been facing a deluge of lawsuits and default judgments against him and his numerous entities. Hes filed, or at least tried to file, bankruptcy at least three times in recent months.

Stockman on March 28 was to appear before Saginaw County Business Court Judge M. Randall Jurrens for a debtor discovery examination in a lawsuit filed against him by Saginaw County Medical Examiner Dr. Russell L. Bush.

Saginaw County in 2019 entered a 10-year contract with MIFSM to provide medical examination duties such as investigating causes of death and performing autopsies. MIFSM hired Bush, the countys medical examiner since 2014, and designated him as the assigned personnel. Stockman fired Bush in November 2021 but claimed to county officials he had stepped down, according to public records.

MIFSM also issued a media release in April 2022 stating Bush was fired for incompetence and misleading/potentially false credentials.

The county terminated its contract in 2021 due to Bushs unauthorized termination and Stockman allegedly performing autopsies without proper certification. Thereafter, the county reaffirmed Bush as its medical examiner.

Bushs lawsuit went to arbitration overseen by Kenneth W. Schmidt, a former Bay County Circuit Court judge, who in late February 2025 issued an opinion finding Stockman and MIFSM owed Bush $551,800. Schmidt also found Stockman acted with intent and malice in defaming Bush.

Stockman skipped his March 28 appearance before Jurrens as he was in South Carolina to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy on behalf of another of his entities, Specialized Pathology Partners. Previous court records gave SPPs address as 4798 Wenmar Drive in Saginaw Township, though the bankruptcy filing gives its address as a Fairfield Inn & Suites in Charleston, South Carolina.

Records with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs show SPP was dissolved in May 2024. Those records show Stockman was the entitys president, director, treasurer, and secretary.

Stockman filed the bankruptcy for his corporation without an attorneys representation, something that is not permitted. Due to this, a judge dismissed the South Carolina bankruptcy filing on April 28.

Stockman on April 4 filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on MIFSMs behalf, putting an automatic stay on Jurrens signing a judgment against him in Bushs favor. Stockman was due back before Jurrens on May 5 for the judge to sign the order in Bushs favor, but he again delayed proceedings by claiming he filed individual Chapter 11 bankruptcy that morning.

A telephonic meeting of creditors is scheduled in that case for June 3.

Lawsuits & judgments

Stockman, a dermatopathologist, has been the subject of at least three default judgments against him. Judge Jurrens in August 2023 issued such a judgment against the doctor and SPP in favor of federal savings bank TIAA. TIAA in 2017 and 2019 agreed to lease Stockman and SPP ultrasound and radiology machines.

Stockman/SPP did not make payments on or return the leased equipment.

Jurrens ordered SPP to pay $122,292.42 and Stockman to pay $12,610.86. He further ordered the defendants to pay $6,792.82 to TIAA in costs and attorney fees.

Stockman has made no payments to TIAA or returned the leased equipment, confirmed an attorney representing the bank.

Jurrens in August 2024 issued a second default judgment against Stockman, his entities Michigan Health Clinics and Great Lakes Bay Staffing Inc., and MHC Administrative Director Magdalena Perez ordering them to pay $131,626.18 to Wildfire Credit Union. Jurrens issued a third default judgment against Stockman on behalf of forensic pathologist Dr. Donald Higgs for about $55,000.

Higgs moved his family from New York to Michigan to work for Stockman at MIFSM in 2023. The checks Higgs received as payment bounced, he alleged.

Higgs has been receiving payments through garnishments of several Michigan counties served by MIFSM, confirmed his attorney, Stephan M. Gaus.

Higgs also filed a police report over the matter. Saginaw County prosecutors in June 2024 contacted the Michigan Attorney Generals Office to request a special prosecutor evaluate the case. The AGs Office in September referred the matter to the Tuscola County Prosecutors Office.

Tuscola County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Mark E. Reene on May 6 confirmed the matter is still under review.

At least three physicians in other states have also sued Stockman and his entities.

Dr. Robert Odze, a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, in February 2023 filed a lawsuit against Stockman and Michigan Health Clinic in the Superior Court of Massachusetts Suffolk County. MHC is a corporation Stockman owns at 3925 Fortune Blvd. in Saginaw Township.

Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist Dr. Kishore L. Jayakumar in June 2023 filed a federal suit against Stockman and MHC, claiming they did not pay him an estimated $142,369.20 he was owed for his work.

Dr. Elizabeth Morrison, an endocrinologist based in Eugene, Oregon, worked for Stockman and his Michigan Health Clinics from June 2022 through May 31, 2023. She was contracted to provide endocrinology and internal medicine services through July 2025, for which Stockman was to pay her a yearly salary and benefits valuing $155,000, plus compensation based on performance incentives, according to her lawsuit.

However, MHC emailed Morrison a termination letter on May 8, 2023. On May 31, Morrison learned of a third-party making changes to her medical services billing codes and patient charts, resulting in overcharging. She shared her concerns with Stockman, expressing that overcharges could be considered fraud.

Morrison that evening received an email from MHC Administrative Director Perez stating her billing was inaccurate. Perez went on to give Morrison a demeaning and bad-faith offer to continue working at 60% her promised salary, Morrisons suit states. Morrison did not accept the offer.

Stockman and MHC did not pay Morrison the $14,564.58 she earned during her last month of work, her suit alleges. This prompted Morrison in July 2023 to file suit against Stockman and MHC in U.S. District Court.

The parties reached a settlement in October 2023 with MHC agreeing to pay Morrison $21,846.87 in exchange for dropping her federal lawsuit. Stockman issued a personal guarantee assuring full payment would be made.

Since then, though, Stockman has failed to pay any of what he owes Morrison. Morrisons Lansing-based attorney, Andrew G. Martin, in February 2024 emailed Stockmans counsel to demand their client adhere to his obligations. Stockmans attorneys replied that Morrison could expect payment within a few days.

Martin followed up with Stockmans counsel in the following weeks but Morrison still never received payment.

Martin in July 2024 filed another lawsuit on Morrisons behalf, this one in Saginaw County Circuit Court.

After weeks of good-faith attempts to reach a resolution and accommodate a payment plan for MHC, (Morrison) is left no other choice but to bring this action for enforcement of the Settlement Agreement and to remedy the unjust enrichment at her expense, Martin wrote in the suit.

Martin has since filed a motion seeking default judgment in Morrisons favor.

Stockman could not be reached for comment.

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Marcelis J. James sits beside defense attorney James F. Piazza during his trial on murder and child abuse charges in Saginaw County Circuit Court on May 1, 2025. Cole Waterman

SAGINAW, MI  A Holland man has been found not guilty of killing his girlfriends toddler son in a Bridgeport Township apartment more than four years ago.

Jurors in the trial of Marcelis M. James, 31, delivered their verdicts about 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, finding the defendant not guilty of felony murder and first-degree child abuse. The jury deliberated for about two hours.

The jury did the right thing, said defense attorney James F. Piazza.

James on Jan. 21, 2021, was babysitting his girlfriend Nia A. Kindreds three in her Bridgeport Township apartment, the youngest being 18-month-old Jaxxon N. Jones. Kindred and James female cousin were running errands at the time.

James called Kindred, telling her Jaxxon had fell out or fainted. Kindred told James not to call 911 as she had two open Childrens Protective Services cases against her, said Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa J. Hoover.

While Kindred was on her way home, James and two adult neighbors attempted CPR on Jaxxon. James cousin called 911 once she and Kindred arrived back at the apartment.

Paramedics tried resuscitating Jaxxon for more than an hour, to no avail.

Miss Kindred was calm, sat there with her arms folded, not giving any more information than what was asked of her, Hoover told jurors in her opening statement.

The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Jaxxons remains concluded the baby died from blunt-force trauma, having suffered a broken rib, laceration to his liver, and a dislodged heart, Hoover argued. She played an audio recording of Bridgeport Township Police Officer Larry Biniecki interviewing James a year after Jaxxons death, in which the detective asserted an adult had to have caused the toddlers fatal injuries.

James told Biniecki he was washing dishes while the three children played in a bedroom. He went into the bedroom and found Jaxxon unresponsive, he said.

Eventually, James admitted he playfully tossed Jaxxon onto a bed.

Is that what you all wanna hear? James told Biniecki. Yeah, I tossed him on the bed. I tossed him on the bed. I didnt toss him hard.

Biniecki suggested Jaxxon struck a railing around the bed.

Piazza argued there is no proof a crime even occurred. The pathologist who performed the autopsy on Jaxxons remains didnt list the manner of death as homicide for months, Piazza said.

A second pathologist evaluated Jaxxons case and ruled he died of asphyxia during horseplay with his older siblings, ages 3 and 4, Piazza continued.

The kids were playing around, something got caught in (Jaxxons) lungs, and he died as a result of an accident, Piazza said.

This second pathologist testified Jaxxons injuries could have resulted from amateurs performing CPR before professionals did so.

My argument was simple, Piazza said. You have two doctors saying two completely different things. That itself creates doubt based on reason.

Regarding James statement to Biniecki, Piazza said the investigator had his mind made up of how Jaxxon died before questioning his client.

He was trying to force my client to say certain things.

James did not testify in his own behalf.

MLive could not reach prosecutors for comment.

Kindred, 38, remains charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse. Her case is slated for a status conference on May 29. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to not testify in James trial.

Authorities issued warrants for Kindred and James in May 2023.

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BAY CITY, MI  Call it a sixth sense or maybe just intuition, but State Theatre owner Jordan Dice said he had a vision.

It was of the Mayan Chief head atop the historic State Theatre in downtown Bay City, and it was of it falling and hitting someone.

It was a windy day and, as Dice described it in a recent social media post, he went outside and, sure enough, the 17-year-old piece of art that was once recognized in an international art contest was shaking in the wind.

The bottom was rotted to the point it was ready to let loose, Dice wrote this week. My team and I immediately arranged to remove the chief head so we can restore and refasten it. Weighing in at about 300 pounds, this would have been very bad if it had fallen off at that height. Im grateful well be able to save it!

Since removing the head from the building, Dice said he had its creatorEric E. Larsenexamine it. There wasnt a problem with the design or installation of the head, but the inside of the structure had broken down over nearly two decades of use.

It is good timing to restore it as the head itself is cracked in many areas and I felt another couple winters and it would have split apart, Dice said in an email to MLive. So, we will be sealing all the cracks, cleaning it up, repainting it, will make a new steel base for it to reattach it, and plan to reinstall it as good as new sometime this summer.

So, whats the background behind the giant head, anyway?

The Mayan headwhich is either a chief or a god, depending on who you askwas revealed as part of the new State Theatre marquee in September 2008, according to Bay City Times archives.

It served as an homage to the historic theatres roots, as the building was redesigned in the 1930s to resemble a Mayan temple.

About 500 people showed up to see the marquee when it was revealed during the 2008 Taste & Theatrics event at the theater.

Larsen designed the marquee, which as a whole cost about $220,000 at the time. It was made in the likeness of what the front of the building looked like 80 years prior, albeit with what modern technology was then.

The marquee was part of larger renovations to the building that began around the turn of the century. More than $2 million was spent on a new roof, carpet, hardwood flooring and a slew of show equipment. The marquee was the finishing touch.

For his troubles, Larsen was recognized with the International Sign Associations Traditional/Historic Sign Award in April 2009. He traveled to Las Vegas to accept it.

The State Theatre marquee was selected from 49 entries. It was commended for its use of color and shape, along with its unique identity, according to Bay City Times archives.

The Mayan chief has more than 1,200 LED bulbs.

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A photo taken during the World Expo of Beer in Frankenmuth. This year's festival will feature more than 50 drink vendors as well as several food vendors and other merchants. (MLive file photo) Heather Khalifa | MLive.com

FRANKENMUTH, MI  The World Expo of Beer is returning to Frankenmuth next weekend, attracting more than 50 drink vendors from Michigan and beyond.

This years festival takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 16, and from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Frankenmuths Heritage Park, 601 Weiss St.

Tickets can be purchased on the World Expo of Beer website, www.worldexpoofbeer.com. Admission with a souvenir mug and six sample tickets costs $30, while designated driver tickets are available for $20 and include admission only.

Here is a guide to the Frankenmuth Jaycees 2025 World Expo of Beer for anyone looking to take part in this years festival:

Drinks, food, and more

As of Thursday, May 8, 41 beer vendors and 11 vendors selling cider, mead, and other similar beverages had registered for the event, according to the events website.

Some of the non-beer vendors at the festival will include Good Boy Vodka, Blakes Hard Cider and St. Ambrose Cellars.

Attendees will have the opportunity to try beers from several Michigan vendors, such as Frankenmuth Brewery, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and the Flint-based Tenacity Brewing as well as vendors from across the world, including the Canada-based Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery and Paulaner, a German brewery.

Food and Merchant vendors will also sell items during the event. Among these vendors are The Fry Guy, Cousins Main Lobster and Ales to Trails, an apparel company.

Competition and awards

Gold, silver and bronze-level awards in various categories will go to vendors with the top-rated drinks at the festival. The more than 40 award categories for the festival range from International Lager to Fruit Beer.

A list of past award winners is available on the World Expo of Beer website here.

Hotels and transportation

For out-of-town visitors, a list of area hotels can be found here. These hotels include the Marv Herzog Hotel and Frankenmuth Hotel.

A free shuttle service will also be available during the festival to provide attendees staying at any of the listed hotels with rides to Frankenmuth Heritage Park. Provided by Midnight Madness, the shuttle service will run from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday and from 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Charitable impact

The Frankenmuth Jaycees hosts the World Expo of Beer annually and all proceeds from the festival go toward charitable causes.

The festival has generated more than $1 million for these causes over the past 15 years, according to event organizers. The American Cancer Society, PAWS Animal Rescue and Eastern Food Bank of Michigan are just a few of the charities supported by the festival.

Volunteering opportunities

Anyone interested in helping to put on the festival can learn more about volunteer shifts and sign up to volunteer here.

Volunteers will receive a complimentary meal, a World Expo of Beer volunteer T-shirt and a ticket to the festival. All volunteers must be at least 21 years old.

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President Donald Trump has put the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state behind us, according to Michigans Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada. (Jake May | MLive.com)

UPDATE: The story has been updated with comment from Ambassador Pete Hoekstra.

President Donald Trump has put the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state behind us, according to Michigans Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

From my standpoint, from the presidents standpoint, 51st states not coming back, Hoekstra told Canadian newspaper the National Post. The president may bring it up every once in a while, but he recognizes its not going to happen unless the prime minister engages with the president.

Hoekstra gave remarks to the National Post on Thursday, May 8, following the meeting between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier in the week.

Related: U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra encouraged by Trump-Carney meet-up

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of the U.S. Those remarks, along with his administrations tariffs on Canada, has strained the relationship between the two countries.

During the Tuesday meeting, Carney was firm that Canada would remain sovereign, saying its not for sale, wont be for sale, ever.

While Trump replied, never say never, he acknowledged Canadian opposition to the idea, telling reporters it takes two to tango, right?

In a statement to MLive, Hoekstra said weve moved beyond the 51st state.

As President Trump clearly acknowledged during his Oval Office meeting with Prime Minister Carney, it takes two to tango. Weve moved beyond the 51st state, he said. If the issue comes back up, it will be between the president and the prime minister, but it was never a barrier to discussing other issues that are important to both of our countries, such as fair and equitable trade and combating fentanyl.

Carney was elected prime minister in April, with some analysts seeing his partys win as a rebuke of Trumps aggressive stance on Canada.

While some have seen the meeting as a reset in relations between the two countries, Hoekstra characterized it as a reaffirmation of friendship.

The foundation of our relationship is phenomenal, he said. We have been great friends for such a long period of time. Those existing relationships at the personal, economic and national security levels, arent going to change.

The relationship from my perspective, and I think from the presidents perspective, was never in jeopardy.

Hoekstra, a former West Michigan congressman, chaired the Michigan Republican Party before becoming ambassador.

Michigan and Canada, especially Ontario, are deeply connected economically.

Michigan exports more than $27.5 billion in goods annually to Canada. Michigan and the Midwest are tied to Canada through numerous industries including automotive, clean water technology, manufacturing and agriculture.

Those close economic ties deepen the impact of Trumps 25% tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada. Canada responded by issuing counter-tariffs on U.S. products..

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has repeatedly warned the tariffs will damage the states auto industry and hurt American consumers and manufacturers.

Related: U.S. consumers, manufacturing are the big loser in tariffs on Canada, Mexico, Gov. Whitmer says
Hundreds gathered in downtown Portland Thursday, May 1, 2025 for a May Day protest pushing back on federal policies and President Donald Trump. Sean Meagher | The Oregonian/OregonLive

In a May executive order, President Donald Trump announced an end to federal funding for two nationwide public news networks with dozens of member stations across Michigan.

Whether or not he has the authority to do so has been called into question, but Trump has also said he will ask Congress to rescind funding for public broadcasting as part of wide-reaching budget cuts.

The two media organizations currently in Trumps crosshairs are National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), both of which the President has described as biased and partisan.

Trump said the current media landscape means publicly funded news, especially that with what he describes as a political lean, is not necessary.

Trump is calling on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a nonprofit that funds public media with grants to over 1,000 broadcast outlets nationwide, to stop funding them.

In Michigan, there are 43 radio and TV stations affiliated with the CPB, from the tip of the Upper Peninsula to Kalamazoo.

Broadcasting leaders say these local stations, especially those in rural communities, are at risk of losing large percentages of their funding overnight.

What does Trumps executive order say?

In Trumps May 1 executive order, he instructed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS, which he described as biased.

Leaders of both agencies have pushed back against his characterization, and said Trumps action jeopardizes both the two national networks and the hundreds of local news stations they serve.

PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a news article that Trumps order threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming as we have for the past 50-plus years.

Katherine Maher, NPR President and CEO, said we will challenge this Executive Order using all means available.

RELATED: For more of MLives coverage of Trumps initiatives and how they affect Michigan, go here

In his order, Trump says the CPB, in supporting NPR and PBS, is not following principles of impartiality.

Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter, Trump wrote. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.

Trump also made the argument that unlike in 1967, the media landscape of today is filled with abundant, diverse and innovative news options, and called government funding of news media in this environment unnecessary.

At the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased and nonpartisan news coverage, he wrote.

No media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies.

Maher said Trumps order is not about balancing the federal budget or limiting wasteful spending, given that the appropriation for public broadcasting represents less than 0.0001% of the federal budget.

The Presidents order is an affront to the First Amendment rights of NPR and locally owned and operated stations throughout America to produce and air programming that meets the needs of their communities, she said.

Trumps order also directs the CPB Board to cancel existing direct funding for NPR and PBS, and to cease indirect funding for the two media agencies.

Trump said the CPB Board has until June 30, 2025 to revise the 2025 eligibility criteria for local grants so tv and radio stations that receive them do not use Federal funds for NPR and PBS.

Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the CPB, pushed back, claiming that the agency is not subject to Trumps authority. Congress authorizes and funds it, she said, to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.

What is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and how does it fund local news?

The CPB is a private nonprofit funded by the federal government. It does not produce any programming and does not own or operate any public broadcasting stations.

It does provide funding for public broadcasting, including NPR, PBS and local stations, and is the largest single source of funding for public radio, television and related online/mobile services.

Each year, it receives funds from Congress, allocated two fiscal years in advance.

According to the CPB, Congress has fully funded it through Sept 30, 2027, with a $535 million advanced appropriation.

NPR, which provides national news and radio programming, receives around 1% of its funding from the federal government. PBS, which offers television coverage, receives around 15% of its revenue from federal funds.

While NPR and PBS receive a chunk of funding for national programming, the bulk of CPB dollars - more than 70% - goes in the form of grants to more than 1,500 local radio and television stations nationwide.

The corporation also funds infrastructure that delivers public media content, like emergency alerts.

Whats the potential impact of Trumps order?

Maher said a loss of federal funding could jeopardize some national programming, like NPRs Newscast, Morning Edition and Tiny Desk Radio, and could deprive tens of millions of Americans of their regular, trusted sources of information.

It could also create large deficits unable to be filled by local news stations, she said.

Currently, local stations pay dues to PBS and NPR, which gives them access to national news. Approximately 30% of NPRs funding comes from these member organization fees, making up its second-largest source of revenue.

Maher said this coverage is essential for local stations to maintain current levels of programming.

At the same time, local stations rely more heavily on their own federal grant dollars, which could also be lost.

Michigan Public Executive Director Wendy Turner said the executive order is an attempt to dismantle the longstanding and essential partnership between local public media stations and national networks.

The Michigan Public radio network has five FM signals in southeast Michigan, Flint, Port Huron, Lansing and west Michigan. It has news bureaus in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, and Grand Rapids.

Last year, it received 6.5% (over $500,000) of its budget from the CPB.

Just as importantly, CPB support strengthens the public media network, ensuring that local stations and statewide stations like ours can work together to provide trusted news, cultural programming and lifelong learning opportunities to everyone in all communities for free, Turner said.

Maher said funding cuts and the loss of federal grants could have the biggest impact on rural stations.

Of the CPBs 544 radio and TV grantees, 245 nationwide provide programming to rural areas.

In Michigan, Delta Colleges Public Media station (WDCQ-TV) received a $976,708 grant in May 2024 to replace broadcast infrastructure used to send out public alerts.

The funds were described by CPB as helping provide for a largely rural and underserved audience in the crook of Michigans thumb.

Maher said stations in rural areas have to navigate larger and more complex geographies, and have higher costs to maintain infrastructure.

You could see some of those stations really having to cut back services or potentially going away altogether, she said, often in places where local newspapers have already been decimated.

Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters Executive Director Casey Jones told media that some of the associations more rural institutions could lose more than 34% of funding overnight.

Which Michigan communities have public broadcasters, and how much funding do they get?

In Michigan, there are 43 radio and TV stations eligible to receive CPB funds.

Fourteen local stations received grant dollars from the CPB during the 2024 fiscal year, according to online records.

They got a combined $11.8 million for radio and TV programming, system support and warning system upgrades.

The communities they serve are Ann Arbor, Detroit, East Lansing, Flint/Tri-Cities, Grand Rapids, Interlochen, Kalamazoo, Marquette, Mt. Pleasant, Muskegon, Twin Lake, Wixom and Ypsilanti.

WGVU in Grand Rapids, part of Grand Valley State Universitys (GVSU) media network, received $1.8 million in CPB grants in 2024, for example.

Federal grants were the West Michigan stations second-largest revenue source behind contributions, and accounted for more funds than the station received from GVSU.

A list of stations in Michigan that received federal grants as reported by the CPB can be found below.
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Buck Farmer throws to the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) AP

Former Detroit Tigers righty Buck Farmer has reportedly agreed to a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels after being released by the Atlanta Braves in April.

Farmer, 34, signed a minor-league deal with his hometown Braves in February but never made it to the big leagues before getting cut.

He spent the better part of eight seasons with the Tigers, who drafted Farmer out of Georgia Tech in 2013. Farmer quickly made his way up to the Detroit clubhouse, making his debut in August 2014.

During his tenure with the Tigers  which ended with a release in 2021  Farmer made 241 appearances and held a 5.33 ERA across 320 2/3 innings.

Although not a dominant performer out of the bullpen, Farmer brought some steadiness and could eat innings for a team that needed it.

Farmer briefly pitched in the Texas Rangers organization at Triple-A to finish out 2021 before catching on with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022.

He made the Opening Day roster and largely remained with the Reds through the 2024 season.

Farmer was briefly designated for assignment in May 2022, but after clearing waivers and electing free agency re-signed the following day to a minor-league deal with Cincinnati. He rejoined the major-league club in June 2022.

In five appearances for Atlantas Triple-A squad, Farmer posted a 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings leading to his release in mid-April.

Farmer now looks to get back to the big leagues with the Angels, who signed another former Tigers reliever  lefty Andrew Vasquez  on Tuesday.
China has accused Australia of "causing trouble" in the region as South China Sea tensions continue to grow.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States delivers the "Urbi et Orbi" message from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. Source: Reuters

Yahoo's live news blog for Friday, May 9 has now concluded. The first US pope has been selected by the papal conclave. White smoke from the Sistine Chapel confirmed Robert Francis Prevost had been chosen and he will adopt the name Pope Leo XIV.

Sam Kerr has welcomed a baby boy with fiancee Kristie Mewis. The Matildas captain announced the news with a picture of all three on Instagram overnight.

A NSW man is the sole division one winner overnight in the Powerball, taking home a cool $30 million.

See all of the day's updates below.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 15 updates Featured China tells Australia to stop 'stoking confrontation' China has accused Australia of "causing trouble" on its doorstep and has warned Canberra it must not endanger regional peace. The South China Sea remains a contentious regional issue, with several neighbouring countries disputing China's control over the sea as well as its territorial claims. Australia routinely conducts patrols through the sea, in a similar way we've seen Chinese warships pass along the Australian coastline. But China says the US, one of Australia's key defence allies and fellow AUKUS member, is leading a group of nations to "flex military muscle" and "stoke confrontation" in the region. It comes as Australia increased military operations with the Philippines in the South China Sea. US Marines V-22 Osprey aircraft hover above Australian landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Canberra during a joint exercise between Australian and Philippine troops at a naval base off the coast of the Philippines. Source: AFP via Getty "[These countries] are the biggest source of risks undermining the peace and stability in the South China Sea," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday evening. "We urge relevant countries to stop forming small groupings and creating trouble in the South China Sea." Tensions have increased between China and the Philippines in recent weeks, and another maritime confrontation has led Beijing to warn the nation to stop pursuing its territorial claims in the sea. "Such acts will only backfire," Lin said. New Labor frontbenchers revealed Assistant trade minister Tim Ayres and Labor backbenchers Sam Rae, Jess Walsh and Daniel Mulino are set to be promoted to cabinet in the re-elected Albanese government. The four parliamentarians were among the 30 names rubber stamped by the Labor Caucus to serve in ministry positions on Friday. Everyone in Anthony Albaneses leadership team was open to being replaced  including the Prime Minister himself  with a vicious factional fight costing Ed Husic and Mark Dreyfus their portfolios Though, Husic and Dreyfus  who served as science and industry minister and attorney-general respectively in the first Albanese government  were the only two existing ministers to be kicked off the Labor frontbench. The other two cabinet spots were left vacant by Bill Shorten and Stephen Jones. Shorten retired last year, while Jones retired earlier this year. Albanese, who does not get to determine who sits in cabinet but is responsible for assigning ministry positions, will now divvy up the portfolios. Read more from NewsWire here.

Archibald winner's blunt response to ABC host's question Renowned painter Julie Fragar has won the $100,000 Archibald Prize for her portrait of fellow artist and friend Justene Williams but she was having none of a suggestion the painting might be a gift for the subject of the artwork. ABC presenter Ros Childs asked Fragar if Williams would be keeping the artwork, named Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), which presumably is worth a hell of a lot more now its claimed the nation's most prestigious portrait prize. "No, no she doesn't get to keep the painting," Fragar responded, shutting down the idea before a brief awkward silence. "Unless she buys it maybe," the artist went on to joke, before she and Childs laughed it off. "Fair enough," Childs said. Fragar said it was "incredibly meaningful" to win the award after several previous nominations. Check out the artwork below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @archibaldprize

The year Australia is predicted to lose its ATMs 2055. That's the year business comparison site Merchant Machine believes Australia will get rid of ATMs. They found that there has been a more than 15 per cent decline in the number of cash machines in Australia per 100,000 people from 2012 to 2021. If that rate continues at its current rate, it would take 30 years before Australia has no ATMs left. Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said cash payments are expected to drop to just 4 per cent of all transactions by 2030, however supporters of cash continue to do their best to keep it circulating around the country.

Cow pulled from septic tank Well this is pretty unfortunate. Firies have come to the rescue of a cow after it fell into a septic tank. Photos shared by The Oaks Rural Fire Brigade show the cow barely visible in all the sewage southwest of Sydney. Crews said the cow was eventually removed after an overnight operation, with the cow thoroughly cleaned before being given the all-clear with regards to its health.

Pope previously critical of Trump on social media While Donald Trump appeared pleased with the US having its first ever pope elected, it seems Pope Leo XIV isn't as enthusiastic about the US president. Trump of course riled some in the Vatican after he shared an AI image of himself as the pope recently, but its his migration policies that appear to have upset Pope Leo XIV for years now. The pope's final post as Cardinal Robert Prevost was a recirculation on April 14 of a post by church chronicler Rocco Palmo about Trump's Oval Office meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. Bukele said it was preposterous for his country to bring a Maryland man who was wrongly deported there in March back to the US., despite a Supreme Court ruling calling on the administration to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcias return. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Source: AP Leo reposted Palmo's link to an article by Washington-area Bishop Evelio Menjivar  who was born in El Salvador  asking, Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet? His sharing of critiques dates back nearly a decade. As Trump's campaign ramped up in July 2015, Leo posted to X a Washington Post op-ed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, with the headline, Why Donald Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic. In the wake of Trump's first election in 2016, Leo reposted a homily in which Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez  characterizing the fear among many, including schoolchildren who think the government is going to come and deport their parents, any day now"  said that America is better than this. With AP

Man arrested over 4-week-old babys death two years ago A man has been arrested after a family was rocked by the death of their four-week-old baby boy. The incident in southwestern NSW occurred nearly two years ago. The man arrested on Friday morning was known to the child, according to police. The baby was taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital at the end of July in 2023 in a critical condition, suffering from unexplained serious physical injuries. The four-week-old was transferred to Sydney Childrens Hospital and died three days later. Extensive investigations by child abuse detectives and the NSW Crime Commission have led to police arresting a 26-year-old-man in Albury CBD at 10am on Friday. - NCA NewsWire

Outgoing leaders blast each other Well while Peter Dutton suggested he'd stick to a "graceful silence" in the aftermath of his crushing election defeat, it appears outgoing Greens Leader Adam Bandt has gotten under his skin. After Bandt finally lost his seat on Thursday, he pointed to the Trump effect and Peter Dutton as to why he was ousted. Bandt had the highest vote in the seat of Melbourne however he says a big shift from Liberal to Labor meant he suffered when it came to preferences. "People in Melbourne hate Peter Dutton, and with very good reason. They've seen his brand of toxic racism for many years... and like me, many wanted him as far away from power as possible," he said. "My initial take is some votes leaked away from us, as people saw Labor as the best option to stop Dutton." Dutton couldn't help but respond, saying he revelled in the fact Bandt lost his seat. No spin by Adam Bandt can change the reality that he, and other Green members, lost their seats because of their appalling treatment of the Jewish community, he said on X on Thursday. Australians were rightly disgusted at their behaviour. We were proud to preference the Greens last, helping to ensure Adam Bandts loss.

'I'm the right person': MP's pitch in Liberal leadership battle Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has officially announced her tilt at the leadership, confirming she will put herself forward to refresh a decimated party. The Liberals will meet in Canberra on Tuesday to choose a new leader, with shadow treasurer Angus Taylor also courting colleagues for the top job in what is, barring any big surprises, is a two-horse race after Dan Tehan pulled out of the running. "I'm determined and convinced that I am the right person to lead the party forward at this time and I think my appointment would send a strong signal to the women of Australia," Ley told Seven's Sunrise on Friday. Ley acknowledged the Liberals suffered a significant defeat and needed to "meet the Australian people where they are, because clearly we didn't do that at the last election". There has been growing calls for a woman to lead the party after a lack of female representatives in the house of parliament for the Liberals, falling far behind Labor's percentage of seats held by women. With AAP

Famous pool shut after 'significant' discovery Imagine finding one of these during your morning swim. Well that's exactly what occurred for those who take a dip in Newcastle's famous Merewether baths which has now been closed by council. Newcastle Council said several sea hares were found inside the pool, prompting its closure. While they are not a risk to humans, they can be toxic to dogs. "Were working with marine experts to understand the best way to manage this unique ecological occurrence," council said. "This is a delicate and ecologically significant moment, and were taking a precautionary approach to protect the animals and their environment."

UK and US strike 'historic' deal amid Trump's trade war Could this be a good sign for Australia? The UK has revealed it is the first country to negotiate a trade deal with Donald Trump amid his sweeping trade war. Notably it has seen its 25 per cent steel and aluminium levies scrapped, as well as a reduction in automotive tariffs. The UK said it would lower its tariff on US goods from 5.1 per cent to 1.8 per cent. Both UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump hailed the move, with Starmer calling it a "fantastic, historic day". It comes a day after Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell says Australia has "done everything we can" to try and reverse Donald Trump's tariffs on Australian goods, saying the ball was now in his court.

Albo reacts to pope's election Anthony Albanese has congratulated Pope Leo XIV after the conclave elected him the next leader of the Catholic Church. The prime minister said it was a "moment of joy and hope" for 1.4 billion or so Catholics globally. Later addressing reporters, he invited Pope Leo to Australia for the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress. My heartfelt congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election. This is a moment of joy and hope for Catholics all over the world.



May God bless Pope Leo XIV and may his papacy advance the cause of peace and justice, in the service of all humanity.  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 8, 2025

Man's relatable reaction to landing $30m Powerball jackpot 'Holy s***'. That's the very relatable reaction of one NSW man after he received a phone call last night telling him he'd just won $30 million on the Powerball. Lottery officials say the Cessnock man burst out laughing, telling them he won't be able to sleep now. I just had this ticket on the fridge. I was looking at it this afternoon and thought, Wouldnt it be lovely to win?" he told The Lott. The ticket was there with all the bills. There will be no more worrying about bills now. I dont care if I get a bill now! He said he will look to buy a new house and look after his family. The winning numbers were 33, 32, 35, 14, 15, 7 and 34, and the Powerball number was 12.

Sam Kerr announces birth of son Matildas captain Sam Kerr has announced the arrival of her baby son with fiancee Kristie Mewis. The Chelsea superstar took to Instagram overnight to reveal the news, sharing a photo of the three of them together and the name of their son. "Our little man is here, Jagger Mewis-Kerr," she wrote. There was an outpouring of congratulations as fellow teammates sent their love to Kerr after what has been a difficult period of her career following her highly-publicised court case in the UK and her lengthy stint on the sidelines with injury. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sam Kerr (@samanthakerr20)

New pope chosen by conclave Robert Francis Prevost has become the first American pope to be selected by the papal conclave and will take over as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church. The new pontiff, who has taken the name Leo XIV, was chosen on day 2 of the conclave. It came over two weeks after the death of Pope Francis at age 88. Prevost, 69, is a Chicago-born cardinal who previously served in Peru for two decades. Just after 6pm (local time) white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney in front of thousands eagerly awaiting the development, which symbolised that the conclave had reached the two-thirds majority necessary for a new pope. Read all the latest, including who Robert Francis Prevost is, at Yahoo's live blog here.

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UN hopes China-U.S. talks to move towards more normalized trade relationship: spokesperson

Xinhua) 14:47, May 09, 2025

UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations hopes that the talks between China and the United States scheduled to take place in Switzerland will help the two countries move towards a more normalized trade relationship, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday.

"We just hope that these talks will help the United States and China to move towards a more normalized relationship regarding their trade relations. As the secretary general made clear, there can be no winners in a trade war," Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a daily briefing.

The UN chief "is particularly worried about the situation in terms of how a global war could affect developing countries. So any effort to avoid that would be welcome," Haq added.

He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12. During his visit to Switzerland, He, as the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Monash experts Professor Louise Wright and Associate Professor Catherine Murphy (pictured) say Melbournes urban sprawl has come at a great cost to habitat and biodiversity. Photo: Nigel Bertram

It was once ranked the worlds most liveable city for seven years in a row, but now a darker side to Melbourne will be put under the spotlight on a global stage. As the citys population swells, so too does the need for housing, but experts are warning the urban sprawl is taking a devastating toll on the environment.

As the fastest growing city in Australia, Melbourne is on the cusp of soaring past Sydneys population, with the government promising 800,000 new homes by 2034 to deal with the surge.

But a look at the citys fringes shows extensive damage to animal habitats, ancient ecosystems and culturally significant sites, academics at Monash University have revealed.

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Professor Louise Wright, Architecture Practice Professor at Monash, told Yahoo News there are 27 new greenfield sites (bare, undeveloped parcels of land) planned for development over the next decade by the Victorian government.

"That's a lot of development," she said.

The volcanic landscape of the endangered Volcanic Plains Grasslands disturbed, stripped of its topsoil and sealed over by low-rise housing estates on the northern edge of Melbourne. Source: Still from video North by Eugene Perepletchikov

At times like this where we have a housing crisis, it seems like there's extra permission to pursue this greenfield approach because it's quicker and easier. It's obviously also politically better, but it's just such a high environmental price. And I think ultimately, it's probably not great socially.

"The fact that we don't put those two together, I think is a problem  that we don't see that how we treat the environment is completely tied to how we how we live, you know, socially and just as a community and how we do things.

Habitats of endangered animals being destroyed

In Beveridge to the north, less than one per cent of the Volcanic Plains Grasslands remains as a result of new housing developments.

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The grasslands are home to a huge array of wildlife  with more than 25 different plant species in a single square metre in some places  including the rare and endangered grassland earless dragon.

Shocking images show how construction is scraping back the topsoil and replacing it with low-rise housing in small, cookie-cutter plots. Wright says many people make the mistake of seeing empty land as just a paddock, so theres no issue with building on it.

We see this sort of grassland as just grass, but actually it's a highly diverse ecosystem that is endangered," she said. "So less than one per cent remains in Victoria. Its a pretty terrible statistic."

There is only one per cent of the grasslands remaining. Source: Still from video North by Eugene Perepletchikov

In Sunbury, in Melbournes northwest, more estates are encroaching on Aboriginal cultural sites, including sacred ceremonial bora rings  circular grounds surrounded by raised embankments that were used for initiation ceremonies.

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And in Cranbourne in the southeast, the southern brown bandicoot is under threat by even more homes and domestic animals. Wright said there were many attempts to stop development on the culturally-rich site in Sunbury, but the outcry fell on deaf ears.

"There were many, many reports done on that site and produced in support of recognising the significance of that area culturally, and not developing it so that that could stay intact. And they have been ignored," she said.

What can we do differently?

Although a difficult task, Wright says there are "absolutely" ways we can handle the housing crisis without worsening the environmental crisis.

"We can't keep losing land this way," she said. It's a complex problem because it would be better to densify the areas we have already used rather than use greenfield land. The best thing, in my opinion, would be to use buildings we already have."

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Wright says there are "tens of thousands" of buildings sitting empty across Melbourne, but turning them into housing could be complex and time consuming, which is why it's "easier" to simply "cut up a piece of land".

"We can't keep losing land this way". Source: Still from video North by Eugene Perepletchikov

The researchers believe there are better ways to balance the tension between housing expansion and environmental concerns. Source: Still from video North by Eugene Perepletchikov

"It's too much risk for people, so I suppose the solution needs to be about de-risking those sorts of projects," she said. "There're other countries that do this type of thing much better where the government is a partner in housing projects, or shares some of the risk. There are some small cases of that in Australia, but by far and away, the most common model of housing provision is private.

"We have been densifying existing areas, quite consistently for the last 15-20 years in Melbourne and that project should just keep going. It's only that it's not going quickly enough."

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She also stressed that families living in the new estates on Melbourne's fringes are not at fault.

"It shouldn't be up to an individual household to make an ethical decision about living somewhere that used to be a grassland or something. It shouldn't be a choice that they have to make. There should be other people making that choice long before the house gets there," she said.

Exhibition to showcase Australia's environmental crisis

Wright and two colleagues, Professor Catherine Murphy and Professor Nigel Bertram, are part of the only Australian team to travel to Italy for the Triennale Milano International Exhibition, a leading art, design and architecture exhibition.

With the theme Inequalities, the Monash team have prepared large-scale video works to show the environmental neglect occurring in Australia.

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The exhibition will run from May 13 to November 9, with hopes it will raise awareness about inefficient land use and the unbalanced relationship between humans and other species.

"The exhibition format is about advocacy, so it is about shining a spotlight on something to bring it to people's attention, and then obviously it creates discussion," Wright said.

We will continue this research and look at alternative ways that we could provide housing, but also maybe what needs to change in planning regulations to stop this from even being possible."

An ancient 'bora ring' sits several hundred metres away from a new housing estate in Melbourne's west. Photo: Still from video West by Eugene Perepletchikov

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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COMEDK 2025 Exam Postponed in Some Cities; Check Full List of Affected Locations Here

Archisha Yadav is a sub editor with 1.5 years of experience in writing news articles on topics like education, jobs, and politics. She specialises in crafting simple, clear, and engaging stories that are easy to understand and hold the readers interest, making complex topics accessible and relatable to a larger audience.

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IIM Raipur offers Rs 50,000 monthly stipend for new MBA in public policy under CM Fellowship

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Leh schools to remain shut on May 9 and 10 amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions

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Aly Goni thanks Indian Army for protecting his family in Jammu, says, "Thanks to IAF, my family is safe"

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Authorities are renewing warnings to be careful when visiting rivers in northern Australia.

Wildlife rangers in North Queensland were inundated with multiple reports from concerned members of the public that a crocodile was basking in a popular Australian fishing spot. Queenslands department of environment responded by sending out rangers with a trap, but what they discovered was surprising.

After placing the device close to Aplins Weir on the Ross River in Townsville, they quickly caught a 2.8-metre-long crocodile.

It was only as they were removing the animal from the water that the penny dropped  rangers werent just dealing with one animal, but two. The second one wasnt as big, but it was still a solid two metres in length.

We have reinstalled the trap to target the second crocodile for removal, Ranger Dinouk Perera said.

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The department would like to thank those community members who reported the crocodile.

Crocodile sighting reports give us important information about a crocodiles location and behaviour that allows us to assess whether it needs to be removed from the wild."

Rangers captured the 2.8-metre-long crocodile and then reset the trap to target the 2-metre-long animal. Source: DETSI

Why are crocodiles removed from rivers?

Although the saltwater crocodile was sighted in its natural habitat, Queensland has a policy of removing the species from areas where conflict with humans is likely to occur.

The captured crocodile is now being kept in a holding pond and the state environment department confirmed it will be rehomed to a farm or zoo.

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Crocodiles could be present in any waterway in areas of crocodile habitat. They can swim long distances and may turn up in places they havent been seen before, particularly after flooding, Perera said.

Thats why it is important to report all crocodile sightings to the department as soon as possible, for investigation by wildlife rangers.

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Anupam Kher shares reaction of his cousin in Jammu after drone attack by Pakistan, writes 'hamari suraksha Bharatiya sena... '

Gayatri Rani

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Aryan Khan's Ba**ds of Bollywood to have Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim's cameo, says Saif Ali Khan

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British rock band The Who announces farewell tour, says "All good things must come to an end"

Gayatri Rani

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Chiranjeevi and Sridevi starrer Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari re-released in theatres to mark its 35th anniversary

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Kamal Haasan postpones Thug Life audio launch Amid India-Pakistan tensions, says, "Art can wait, India comes first"

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Sanam Teri Kasam actress Mawra Hocane shares negative comment on Operation Sindoor, Netizens say, "shame on you, Bollywood entry ka sochna bhi math ab"

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Shreyas Talpade roots and prays for the Indian Army, writes, "Sending you strength through our prayers"

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Limited parking in urban areas across Australia continues to cause tension among EV and non-EV drivers.

A resident slammed the decision to keep precious on-street parking limited to only EV charging. Source: Facebook/C Jones

As councils race to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers across Australian suburbs to keep up with growing demand, prime parking locations are being snapped up for the new infrastructure  and some locals aren't happy about the disappearing parking options in their community as a result.

This is the case in one inner-city suburb of Sydney, where a resident claims two EV-designated parking bays are consistently vacant. Seeking the opinion of others in a local community group, he complained that he often has to park further away and walk to amenities, only to pass the parking bays which are frequently sitting empty.

"Day four of two electric vehicle-only spots not being used," the Leichhardt resident posted online.

"Two key parking and drop-off spots for residents, small businesses and most importantly right out the front of a local GP and pathology."

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After legislation was introduced in November 2022, it became a fineable offence for drivers of petrol engine vehicles to park in allocated charging bays, with a potential fine of up to $2,200. The practice is often referred to as 'ICEing'.

Council steadfast on providing more EV charging bays

With parking availability becoming increasingly more limited in urban areas, the introduction of EV-only bays is exacerbating the already existent disdain some drivers have towards the cars. Yahoo News has previously reported on the limited parking in Leichhardt, with some residents choosing to illegally reserve on-street parking in a bid to secure a spot outside their home.

However, the local council remains steadfast that it is required to provide infrastructure for EV drivers. A spokesperson for the Inner West City council told Yahoo it has "rolled out the largest number of kerbside EV charging stations of any council in the nation" and there will be "more to come".

The local council touts itself as the "EV capital of Australia" and currently has installed 102 public EV chargers, with 34 more to be rolled out by the end of June.

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The council has rolled out more than 100 new charges in recent years. But petrol powered cars must keep them free. Source: Facebook/C Jones

How is the location of EV charging bays chosen?

There are many considerations when choosing the location of an EV charging bay, including the power grid capacity of the site, safety considerations, locations of other chargers and adjacent land uses.

When the council was questioned about the perceived prioritisation of parking for EVs over non-EVs, the spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo a council review will commence to gather insight into whether their strategy has worked, and how it can be improved moving forward.

"This data is not currently available. However, a utilisation study is intended to commence six months after the final charger is operational," the spokesperson said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Sitarist Rishab Sharma postpones his Sitar event in Indore amidst rising tension between India and Pakistan

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Why Sai Pallavi refuses to hire a PR agency despite her fame?

Palak Vij

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Companies issue safety advisories, ask employees to work remotely wherever possible

B Kumar

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

Arindam Roy

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How two siblings in Jammu and Pathankot survived the night Pakistan rained hundreds of drones on India: A first-person account

Naina Sood

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Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | The drag from conflict and the lift from trade deals

Namrata Agarwal

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No cut likely in capex, social sector spending in FY26, India has fiscal buffers, say economists

Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

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Sitharaman asks banks to ensure round-the-clock firewalling, prioritise cash in ATMs in review meet on cybersecurity

Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

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Siddharth Chakravorty

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Hind Zinc's Rajasthan units in 'emergency preparedness' but no disruption despite tense border

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IMFs board meet today, India likely to seek halting of financial assistance to Pak

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India Inc steps up security near border, coastal establishments after cross-border strikes

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India-US talks for bilateral trade accord set to resume later this month

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

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This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

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Tata Motors shares extend upside for 3rd day, rises 3% as UK strikes trade deal with US

Lovisha Darad

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No shortage of food grains, reserves are sufficient, says Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan

Shubhangi Mathur

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Planning for parenthood: A financial roadmap for new mothers

Hiral Thanawala

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Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com

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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

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US says 'obviously' on aligning with India's view on Pakistan supporting terror groups

Adrija Chatterjee

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Sushant Singh Rajput didnt eat bread for five months, reveals Jim Sarbh, says, 'He broke my wrist when we were...'"

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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All about Turkeys Asisguard Songar, drone Pakistan used to target India

Tamal Nandi

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Centre extends closure of 24 airports across north India till May 15 as border tensions escalate

Yaruqhullah Khan

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Daniel Pearl's father calls out Pak Army's presence at terrorist's funeral: 'What exactly are you mourning'

Abhinav Gupta

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Abhinav Gupta

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Arindam Roy

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Delhi on high alert, India Gate area evacuated after tensions escalate between India and Pakistan

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.

Viswanath Pilla

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Christin Mathew Philip

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How Dawood Ibrahim is stuck in Pakistan as India launches Operation Sindoor

J. Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in in Mumbai who writes on crime and Maharashtra politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Armaan Bhatnagar

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How Indias 200+ missions across the world are turning up diplomatic heat on Pakistan

Manjiri Patil

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Priyanjali Ghose

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In Pics: Widespread blackouts in Punjab, Rajasthan, J&K, and Gujarat as India thwarts Pakistani attacks

Abhinav Gupta

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India at war with Pakistan? Powers and procedures to declare war explained

Priyanjali Ghose

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Ban can ang nhap e thuc hien chuc nang nay!
Sandeep Shrivastwa

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India-Pak tensions: MHA asks states, UTs to invoke emergency powers under Civil Defence Rules. Here's what it means

Sonalee Borgohain

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India-Pak tensions: Why hospitals across India are painting red crosses on their rooftops

Sandeep Shrivastwa

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India-Pakistan tensions: World Bank clarifies role in Indus Waters Treaty, says it's only a facilitator

Aishwarya Dabhade

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India Pakistan War Live: BCCI suspends IPL for one week, expresses solidarity with armed forces

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing TATA IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week. Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders, according to an official statement.

The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans ; while the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders.

At this critical juncture, the BCCI stands firmly with the nation. We express our solidarity with the Government of India, the Armed Forces and the people of our country. The Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation, as they lead a resolute response to the recent terrorist attack and the unwarranted aggression by Pakistans armed forces.
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

Ankit Saproo

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Indo-Pak tensions: Which nations would back India if war broke out with Pakistan

Chhabi Kala

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Armaan Bhatnagar

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'New low even for Pakistan': MEA slams Islamabad for targeting places of worship in India

Parimal Peeyush

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Hemant Abhishek

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Event marking Chinese Language Day held in London

Xinhua) 14:54, May 09, 2025

Students learn Chinese fan dance during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

Students attend a Chinese calligraphy workshop during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

A student attends a woodblock printing workshop during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

Noah Eskinazi-Nehme, a student from City of London School, speaks during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

Students learn opera facial mask painting during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

A student attends a Chinese calligraphy workshop during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Pakistan launched 400 small drones to target 36 Indian locations on May 8, wanted to collect intel: Army

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Tamal Nandi

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Pak drones intercepted at multiple locations in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan; blackout in several cities

Abhinav Gupta

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PM Modi meets NSA, three service chiefs at 7 LKM as tensions escalate with Pakistan

Siddharth Chakravorty

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S-400 Triumf: All about Indias advance system used to thwart Pakistans incursion

Priyansh Verma

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These Pakistani leaders slammed their own govt for stand on India amid simmering border tensions

Priyanjali Ghose

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Aditi Bhaduri is a journalist and political analyst. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Looking for something to do? We've got musicals at the Babcock, comedians at the Pub Station and mountain climbers right where you'd expect them: the YAM.

Laying all your love on me at the Babcock and Art House

It's one of the busiest weeks in a while at the finest movie theater in downtown Billings, but hey, when it's Musical May, you've got to show a lot of musicals.

First up on Friday at 7 p.m. there's a showing of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Tim Burton's 2007 adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's landmark 1979 musical stars Johnny Depp as a guy doing a whole bunch of heinous crimes, often to women. Huh.

But strap in because at 6 p.m. Saturday we've got "Little Shop of Horrors," starring Johnny Depp's exact opposite, Rick Moranis, as a guy who falls in love with a plant. It's actually even weirder than it sounds!

And hey, if you want to make it a weird double feature, catch "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" at 9 p.m. A very weird and very British film, "Dr. Phibes" of course stars the king of all things weird and British: Vincent Price. As the titular doctor, Price embarks on a mission to avenge his wife by killing everyone involved in her death in ways inspired by the Plagues of Egypt.

Has all this been too dark for you? Well at 3 p.m. Sunday they're showing "Mamma Mia!," simply one of the sunniest films ever made. Sunday is Mother's Day, and what better way to tell your ma you love here than to take her to this, which features everything mom's love: the Greek isles, Handsome Irish men, goofy Scandinavians, goofy and handsome British men, Meryl Streep and EVERY. SINGLE. ABBA. SONG. She'll be dancing all the way home.

And if you really want to see a great movie about dancing (err, at least a great movie with a dance in it) then look no further than "Another Round," which is showing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Art House. Thomas Vinterberg's 2020 black comedy has one of the most ingenious movie setups of the new millennium: Four high school teachers (led by a never better Mads Mikkelsen) who test an experiment to see whether they'll be more creative and fulfilled if they maintain a 0.05 blood alcohol content. What a picture.

Also at Art House you can still catch "Sinners" and "The Surfer," and new this week is the folky "The Ballad of Wallis Island" and "The Luckiest Man in America," which stars two of our best: Walton Goggins as "Press Your Luck" host Peter Tomarken and Paul Walter Hauser as Michael Larson, the ice cream truck driver who won $100,000 on the show.

'Das Barbecu' at NOVA

Do you feel like you've seen it all? Have you consumed so much culture at this point that everything is a retread? Are you bored of the same old same old? Well then Yellowstone Repertory Theatre has the cure. For the next three weekends, the troupe will be presenting "Das Barbecu," and uhhh just trust that you've never seen anything like this before. "Das Barbecu" is an adaptation of the "Ring" cycle, the quartet of operas that were the crowning achievement of the German composer Richard Wagner's career (except for the time Coppola used "Ride of the Valkyries"  a tune from the second "Ring" piece  to soundtrack colonial devastation in "Apocalypse Now"). Except this version is both significantly shorter than Wagner's complete saga (which is 16 hours long, so almost everything in the world is shorter than the "Ring" cycle) and moves the action from Germanic folklore history to Texas, complete with cowboy tunes and campfires. And what is Texas, if you really think about it, if not America's Germany? Yellowstone Rep is running "Das Barbecu" on May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23 and 24 at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students) and you can get them at yellowstonerep.org.

'The Art of Moving Over Land' at the Yellowstone Art Museum

Is mountain climbing an art? If your reflex is to say no, try examining it. What is art if not interacting with what's around you? And you're never more strongly interacting with your surroundings than when you're literally clinging to the side of it. That's the question at the heart of "The Art of Moving Over Land," a talk at the Yellowstone Art Museum at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 9. Three experienced climbers  Ben Hoiness, Parker Pearsall and YAM trustee Joel Anderson (who literally wrote the book on climbing in Billings with his guidebook "Super Sand Land")  will discuss their approach to art, creativity and landscapes. The talk is free and open to the public.

'Itty Bitty Fest:' 'The Alphabet Trip' at NOVA

If you're a real hipster, you know how important it is to discover talent before anyone else, so you can brag about having seen (insert famous person) way back when at every party you go to for the rest of your life. Well you've got a perfect chance to get in on the ground level this weekend at NOVA's third annual "Itty Bitty Fest," a showcase for the youngest thespians in town. They're performing "The Alphabet Trip," a musical ride through the alphabet. Janie Sutton will be directing (maintaining control), and performances are on Saturday and Sunday, both at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 at novabillings.org.

Kyle Kinane and Matt Braunger at the Pub Station

The Pub Station is turning into a comedy club this weekend, and at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, you can catch sets from Kyle Kinane and Matt Braunger. Two of the funniest guys in the world, you've seen or heard at least one of them (sometimes both) if you've watched any TV ("BoJack Horseman," "CONAN," "Fuller House," "Drunk History") or listened to any podcast ("WTF," "Comedy Bang! Bang!" "Never Not Funny") in the past 15 years. Tickets are $39.50 at thepubstation.com.

Honorable mentions

7th Avenue Band is playing the Palace Bar and Lanes in Laurel on Saturday from 8 p.m to midnight.

BSCI is having their monthly dance on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Club. $5 gets you in, and there's music from Cimarron, a 50/50 raffle and door prizes. Proceeds will support the new Senior Citizens Center.
Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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5 emergency settings to enable on your phone to receive SOS alerts from the government and more

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Aabhas Sharma

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As India-Pakistan tensions flare, IdeaForge says its drones are already in action

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Microsoft employees are not allowed to use DeepSeek: Heres why

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Worlds richest man has been involved in the deaths of the worlds poorest children: Bill Gates slams Elon Musk for cutting USAID budget

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Ankita Chakravarti

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It looks like deja vu all over again with President Donald Trump and the Job Corps.

Trump is once again proposing to eliminate the federal Job Corps program, according to a budget document submitted to Congress last week.

The Job Corps runs two large job training centers in Montana: The Anaconda Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in Anaconda and the Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in Darby.

It also appears that the application system for admitting new students is on pause, which means many students in Montana currently have no way of getting acceptance for the job training programs.

Started in the 1960s, the centers provide free job training and housing for young adults to learn everything from wildland firefighting to mechanics to welding to construction.

The Job Corps centers are big employers and economic drivers for the two small towns. As of 2019, the Anaconda center employed 250 people and had an enrollment of between 130-170 students. As of last year, the Trapper Creek Job Corps center had about 130 students and a similar number of employees.

This is not the first time the Job Corps centers have been on the chopping block. In 2019, under Trump's first term, the federal government also announced it would be closing both the Anaconda and Darby centers. Then, after public outcry and strong words from then-Sen. Jon Tester and current Sen. Steve Daines and others, the government reversed those decisions.

Daines even traveled to the Trapper Creek Job Corps center to take pictures and celebrate the announcement that it wasn't going to close. Daines sent out a press release saying he had saved the Anaconda center from closing after speaking with Trump. Over the years, Daines has voiced his support numerous times for the Job Corps programs in Montana.

Daines is still closely aligned with Trump. It's not clear if this latest situation will be a re-run of 2019, with a lot of hand-wringing over the closure of the two centers followed by a jubilant celebration if they're not closed, but that's of course possible.

When reached by the Missoulian for comment regarding Trump's latest proposal to cut the program, Daines' office sent a statement.

Montanas Job Corps play an important role in providing career technical training, especially for Montanas wildland firefighters," a spokesperson for Daines wrote. "Senator Daines is in close contact with the Trump administration to ensure critical services and jobs for Montanans are uninterrupted as President Trump works to reduce wasteful spending in the federal government.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican who represents the western half of Montana in the U.S. House, traveled to the Trapper Creek Job Corps earlier this spring. He later posted a photo on Instagram with himself and several students.

"Awesome lunch and tour at Trapper Creek Job Corp in the Bitterroot," Zinke wrote. "I stopped budget cuts to Job Corps the last two years because this program changes and saves lives. Students come from all over to train in a variety of skilled trades that are essential to our country. Job Corps has my backing in Congress and the students here have my support as they enter the workforce. Big thank you to the culinary arts students who cooked and showed us around the facility!"

Zinke's statement this week to the Missoulian about Trump's proposal was not quite as effusive in its praise for the Job Corps as his Instagram post, however.

The Congressman is a really big supporter of Job Corps and is an advocate for the program, however, is not afraid to admit there is a lot of waste with the programs that have a graduation rate below 40%," a spokesperson for Zinke wrote. "He and other congressional supporters are trying to work through some solutions to support higher performing centers and improve outcomes for more kids. That will benefit the youths that need to turn their lives around and provide skilled workers in some of the trades we need the most.

Ryan Zinke's Instagram post Rep. Zinke's post on Instagram about his visit to the Trapper Creek Job Corps center.

Congress ultimately has the power to approve or amend the president's budget, and often makes significant changes. Trump, a Republican, must convince the Republican-led House and Senate of his priorities.

Concern in the Bitterroot

In a presentation overshadowed by federal funding cuts, representatives from the Trapper Creek Job Corps spoke with Hamilton City Council on May 6 about their recent involvement in community projects, forest fire prevention and their positive impact on the employment of young adults.

Trapper Creek Job Corps Center Director Sal Ochoa told the council that on May 2 he was informed the Trump administration had eliminated all Job Corps programs from the 2026 federal budget.

That was an interesting piece for us to find out, Ochoa told council members. For the fiscal year of 2026 there is an elimination of the Job Corps program in its entirety, not just the CCCs but all 122 of us.

The budget request, released by the White House on May 2, described Job Corps programs as a failed experiment to help Americas youthand, in some cases, has harmed them. The program has been plagued by a culture of violence, assault, sex crimes, drug infractions, and death.

Ochoa and Job Corps liaison specialist Gary Mitchell gave council members a debriefing on the Trapper Creek Job Corps and its relationship with Ravalli County, citing a multitude of volunteer work, support of the Bitterroot Forest Service and the employment opportunities provided for its students.

We had 13,950 hours in Forest Service projects in the Bitterroot, Lolo, Salmon, Challis and Flathead forest, just to name a few, Mitchell told council members. Trapper students also participated in over 4,000 hours of assisting our local community and our local nonprofit organizations.

Trapper Creek Job Corps students have done a substantial amount of work in Ravalli County, including paving sidewalks, hanging street lights and putting up banners in downtown Hamilton, building park benches at Kiwanis Park and laying cement at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Theyve completed numerous projects for the Bitterroot Performing Arts, Daly Mansion, Bitterroot Celtic Games, Bitterroot Special Olympics and the Council on Aging. Theyve also assisted with various community projects in Stevensville, Darby and other county municipalities.

On Wednesday, May 7, Job Corps students laid cement at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds for a new pergola. Job Corps student of nine months, 18-year-old Sam Valov, said the program had really helped his search for employment, explaining he had a job interview later that afternoon.

Im probably gonna talk about getting a job today, Valov said. Theyve been really, really helpful. I said one thing and the next day it was already happening.

Another student, 19-year-old Brooks Jones, said joining the Job Corps was extremely crucial to his career path.

I was really interested in fire and I was told that Trapper Creek had one of the best so I came up to Montana, said Jones, who moved to Ravalli County from Colorado in January to pursue firefighting. The amount of connections youll make here, whether its with students or staff, is extremely crucial.

Ravalli County Fairgrounds Foundation President Joy McClure said the Trapper Creek Job Corps has played an integral part in maintaining the fairgrounds over the years.

They come out every year, usually at the end of July or first part of August, and its usually the whole school and they go through the fairgrounds and do all the jobs that didnt get done because we dont have enough maintenance on staff, McClure said. They are an integral part of this community and they are very helpful and as you can see the students come out and they work.

At their May 6 meeting, Hamilton city officials echoed similar sentiments about the Job Corps and its importance in Ravalli County. Council member Darwin Ernst said their involvement was imperative to events like the Bitterroot Special Olympics.

I dont know if we could do it without them, Ernst said. Theyre the first ones there in the morning with me and the last ones there at night when I lock upI want to thank you publicly because its such a beautiful relationship that we have.

Hamilton City Attorney Karen Mahar invited council members to discuss drafting a letter to policy makers, similar to their response to DOGE layoffs at Rocky Mountain Labs, expressing concern over the loss.

Job Corps has a special place in my heart, Mahar said. Its really heartbreaking so I dont know if you (city council) want to put on a committee of the whole meeting and possibly draft something to make that knownI think the language was its a failed experiment and it might seem that way to someone in Washington D.C., but for our community its the opposite.

Concern for applicants

Another big issue is that the federal application system for new students to apply to Job Corps appears to be not working due to a Department of Government Efficiency halt on a federal background check system.

Becky Margolis, a western Montana resident, told the Missoulian the pause is putting the futures of kids on hold as well.

"This pause means that no new applicants can move forward, leaving students stuck in limbo," Margolis explained. "One of those students is my son, who was planning to enroll this spring. Traditional education hasnt worked well for him, and Job Corps offered a rare and valuable opportunity to complete his high school education and pursue a career. Without it, he and many others have nowhere to turn."

The Kicking Horse Job Corps Center on the Flathead Indian Reservation closed in 2019 after the U.S. Department of Labor cited "operational and safety" reasons. More than 45 employees lost their jobs.

The director of the Anaconda Job Corps center declined to comment for this story.
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.

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Ankita Chakravarti

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1/11 India, a land brimming with history, culture, and legends, is also home to some of the most fascinating and mysterious destinations that continue to intrigue travelers and scientists alike. These places, steeped in enigma and supernatural tales, offer not just adventure, but an immersion into the unknown. If youre a thrill-seeker or a lover of the unexplained, these 10 mysterious places in India should be on your travel radar. (Image: Canva)

2/11 1. Roopkund Lake, Uttarakhand  The Skeleton Lake

High in the Himalayas, at an altitude of over 16,000 feet, lies Roopkund Lake  also known as the Skeleton Lake. The site earned its chilling nickname after hundreds of human skeletons were discovered along its shores in 1942. These remains, dating back to the 9th century, have sparked a variety of theories, from ancient armies to victims of a catastrophic hailstorm. The true origin of these skeletons remains a mystery, making it one of Indias most intriguing unsolved puzzles. (Image: Canva)

3/11 2. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan  The Most Haunted Fort

In the heart of Rajasthan lies Bhangarh Fort, often considered the most haunted fort in India. Built in the 16th century, this imposing structure is surrounded by eerie legends of curses, spirits, and ghostly apparitions. Local folklore tells the tale of a wizards ill-fated romance with a princess, which allegedly led to the curse that doomed the fort. With its abandoned appearance and eerie atmosphere, Bhangarh remains a favorite for thrill-seekers and ghost hunters looking to experience its chilling aura. (Image: Canva)

4/11 3. Jatinga, Assam  The Bird Suicide Phenomenon

Jatinga, a quaint village in Assam, is famous for a bizarre and unexplained phenomenon  migratory birds seemingly committing mass suicide. During specific months, especially on moonless nights, these birds fly into the village and drop to their deaths. Despite numerous theories, including magnetic anomalies and environmental changes, the phenomenon remains a mystery. Jatingas hauntingly beautiful landscape makes it a must-visit for those curious about natures inexplicable secrets. (Image: Kaziranga National Park)

5/11 4. Magnetic Hill, Ladakh  The Gravity Hill

On the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar highway, travelers can experience a strange optical illusion at Magnetic Hill. Here, vehicles left in neutral gear appear to roll uphill against the force of gravity. While some believe magnetic forces are at play, others argue its simply a trick of the landscape. Whatever the cause, Magnetic Hill continues to be one of Indias most mind-boggling natural phenomena, drawing visitors from around the world to witness this seemingly impossible sight. (Image: Canva)

6/11 5. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan  The Abandoned Village

Kuldhara, located near the historic city of Jaisalmer, is an eerie, abandoned village with a fascinating backstory. Legend has it that the village was deserted overnight by its inhabitants, who fled to avoid the wrath of a tyrannical ruler. Today, the ruins of Kuldhara stand as a haunting reminder of a bygone era, with visitors often reporting feelings of unease and dread. Its one of Indias most famous haunted locations, shrouded in mystery and intrigue. (Image: Canva)

7/11 6. Kodinhi, Kerala  The Village of Twins

Kodinhi, a quiet village in Kerala, is known for its astonishingly high rate of twin births. With over 200 pairs of twins living in the village, this phenomenon has perplexed scientists for years. While genetic factors are often cited as a possible cause, the exact reason behind this high occurrence remains a mystery. Kodinhi is a unique and intriguing stop for those interested in the mysteries of human biology. (Representative Image: Canva)

8/11 7. Khooni Nadi, Delhi  The Bloody River

Khooni Nadi, or "Bloody River," in Rohini, Delhi, is infamous for its eerie reputation. Locals believe it's a cursed waterway, with tales of ghostly apparitions, strange occurrences, and unsettling sounds like screams and crying after dark. Despite the lack of concrete proof, the river remains a source of fear and fascination, making it one of Delhi's most mysterious and haunted spots. (Representative Image)

9/11 8. Aleya Ghost Lights, West Bengal  The Will-o'-the-Wisps

In the marshes of West Bengal, mysterious lights known as the Aleya Ghost Lights appear at night. Fishermen who have encountered these lights claim they lead them astray, sometimes causing them to lose their way or even drown. Some believe the lights are caused by bioluminescent organisms, while others insist they are supernatural in origin. Whether a natural phenomenon or a supernatural occurrence, these strange lights remain an unexplained marvel of the region. (Image: Visit Sunderbans)

10/11 9. Kongka La Pass, India-China Border  UFO Sightings

Kongka La Pass, located on the remote India-China border, is a well-known hotspot for UFO sightings. Both Indian and Chinese soldiers have reported strange flying objects in the sky, adding an air of mystery to the region. The isolation of the pass, combined with its extraterrestrial sightings, makes Kongka La one of the most intriguing and unexplained places in India, drawing UFO enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike. (Representative Image)
Maryam Farooqui is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol covering media and entertainment, travel and hospitality. She has 11 years of experience in reporting.

Maryam Farooqui

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Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.

Priyanka Roshan

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80% tariff on China seems right: Trump ahead of crucial US-China trade talks in Geneva

101Reporters

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Diplomatic fault lines: As tensions rise, who's supporting India and who's backing Pakistan, and why?

Abhinav Gupta

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From HQ-9 air defence to PL-15 missiles: The Chinese weapons Pakistan is dependent on

Pragya Trivedi

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Law enforcement in Billings arrested two men in the past week accused of sexually abusing children in separate cases.

At least five children were allegedly abused by the two men, according charging documents filed in Yellowstone County District Court. Seth Ackerman Jackson has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting a child, while Brandon Lee Loomis is facing seven felonies, including multiple accusations of plying children with drugs and alcohol to coerce them into sex activity.

Loomis raped four underage girls, according to charging documents. Jackson allegedly raped an underage boy, and investigators located a collection of photos of other children in his home.

In March, an officer with the Billings Police Department spoke with a local family. A boys parents told police that Jackson, a 43-year-old man, had sexually abused their son, court documents said. During subsequent talks with the boy, including an interview at Yellowstone Valley Child Advocacy Center, police learned that Jackson had groped and raped him multiple times at Jacksons home, according to charging documents.

That same month, an officer met with Jackson at his residence. He allegedly appeared nervous and opted to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions from the police.

Weeks later, investigators were granted a warrant to search Jacksons home. The layout of the residence matched the description the boy had previously given to law enforcement. In their search, a BPD detective found four folders with four different childrens names, court documents said. Although photos of kids also found in Jacksons home were not described in court documents as sexually explicit, Yellowstone County prosecutors noted that Jackson was not married and did not have any children.

Prosecutors filed criminal charges against Jackson on April 7, and a $500,000 warrant was signed for his arrest. Jackson is facing two counts of child rape and one count of sexually assaulting a child. He was booked into Yellowstone County Detention Facility on May 7.

The investigation into Loomis started in February, when BPD received a report of possible sexual abuse from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. A mandatory reporter was told that Loomis had allegedly supplied several teenage girls with money, gifts, drugs and alcohol in exchange for sexually graphic photos and sexual contact. In Montana, mandatory reporters include people like teachers and physicians, who are required by law to notify authorities of any signs of sexual trauma,

Over the next four months, BPD investigators allegedly confirmed that Loomis had coerced four girls into sexual abuse. In three of those cases, court documents said he used social media apps SnapChat and Whisper to connect with the girls. A detective was granted a warrant to search Loomis SnapChat records, uncovering roughly 47,000 messages dating back to 2016. Within those messages, according to charging documents, the detective found several instances of Loomis reaching out to girls and women offering money for sexual favors.

When police visited Loomis to discuss the accusations, he allegedly declined to talk without a lawyer present.

Criminal charges were filed against Loomis on Thursday, and he was arrested the same day. He has been charged with four counts of prostitution of child and three counts of child rape.

In the past decade, SnapChat, TikTok and Instagram have become three of the most common social media platforms utilized by predators to connect with and exploit children. In Montana, the states Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes law enforcement across local and federal jurisdictions, received nearly 3,000 tips of child sex abuse material last year.

Most of those came through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to data from the Montana Department of Justice. Taskforce members searched 460 devices during their 869 investigations in 2024 and combed through over 182 terabytes of data.

A bill passed during the most recent State Legislature will direct resources to educating children on the realities of sex trafficking. To accomplish that, the bill will require the Montana Office of Public Instruction to build a curriculum for students and their parents to recognize the signs of child sex trafficking, and how to prevent it. The bill is slated to go into effect July 1.

In April, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill that specifically criminalized the act of grooming. Per that same law, computer-generated child sex abuse material, including images created through artificial intelligence, have been added to state's definition of the crime of sexual abuse of children.

Over the past month, federal law enforcement and their local partners across the country completed Operation Restore Justice, a massive effort to apprehend predators and rescue survivors. A total of 205 people were apprehended by the close of the operation, including a woman from Hardin accused of trafficking an underage girl.

In Montana, those convicted of raping a child can be sentenced up to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole during the first 25 years. A conviction of prostitution of a child comes with similar consequences.
From sacred to satirical: How the papal conclave became the internets favourite spectacle

Pragya Trivedi

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'Let me correct you': India's ambassador to US rebukes CNNs Wolf Blitzer over Jammu and Kashmir comment

Pragya Trivedi

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'Look who's behind him': Indian envoy exposes Pakistan with photo of Pak army officials at terrorists' funeral

Pragya Trivedi

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New Delhi, Islamabad have had contact at national security level, says Pakistan's US ambassador

101Reporters

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Aishwarya Dabhade

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US distances itself from India-Pakistan conflict, JD Vance says 'none of our business'

Abhinav Gupta

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Watch: Pakistan MP calls PM Shehbaz Sharif 'buzdil', says he can't even take Modi's name

Armaan Bhatnagar

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What is Baloch Liberation Army? Separatist group launches major attack on Pakistan army, cuts off Quetta-Karachi highway

Hemant Abhishek

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Xis new trade czar He Lifeng steps into US-China talks with a tougher line amid Trump tariffs

Pragya Trivedi

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'You're in a hole, stop digging': Ex-Pentagon official demands state sponsor of terror tag for Pakistan

Abhinav Gupta

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By Dr. Kate He | May 9, 2025

Pictured from left to right: Executive Director of Murray Art Guild Debi Danielson; Assistant Professor Cintia Segovia Figueroa from Murray States Department of Art & Design, Honorable Mention Award winners Piper Von Almen from Murray, Kentucky; Paul Grumley from Paducah, Kentucky; and Basil Drossos from Paducah, Kentucky; Third Place Award winner Dr. Dena Weinberger from Murray, Kentucky; Second Place Award winner Zack Benz from St. Louis, Missouri; Best Overall Award winner Susan Krieb from Murray, Kentucky; and Drs. Kate He and Howard Whiteman from Murray States Department of Biological Sciences.

MURRAY, Ky.  In celebration of the 2025 Earth Day and to raise awareness of biological conservation through art, the Murray State University and local communities exhibited their works at the Biology Atrium during the month of April.

Sponsors of this event included the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Watershed Studies Institute (WSI), Departments of Biological Sciences and Art & Design and the Murray Art Guild.

This year, more than 80 artworks were submitted, and 30 of them were selected for exhibition by the judging panel. The judging panel included Executive Director of Murray Art Guild Debi Danielson, Assistant Professor Cintia Segovia Figueroa from Murray States Department of Art & Design and Drs. Kate He and Howard Whiteman from Murray States Department of Biological Sciences.

Participants of this years exhibition included students, staff and faculty from various departments, as well as professional artists and nature lovers from the region. Segovia announced the competition winners at the reception, which was held in the Murray State Biological Science Building Atrium on April 24.

The Best Overall Award winner was Susan Krieb from Murray, Kentucky, for her work entitled Interflow, reliquary triptych.

Krieb describes her artwork: Interflow, a reliquary triptych, transports viewers into a sacred space where the natural world and human experience converge. The title is inspired by Welsh poet John O'Donohues notion of interflowa state of mutual awareness and connection that transcends boundaries between beings and the earth. Interflow serves as a visual bridge to the interconnectedness of all living things, urging viewers to pause and reflect on the wondrous world around them.

The Second Place Award winner was Zack Benz from St. Louis, Missouri. His artwork title was Good Ash. Benz shows the audiences how easily natural ecosystems can be destroyed and removed from earth, and the importance of conserving natural habitats in a healthy state so species can thrive.

Benz summarizes his artwork: The art title Good Ash references the famous essay Good Oak by Aldo Leopold, in which he describes cutting down an oak tree and each annual ring represents a different event in environmental history. Good Ash serves as a modern visualization of this ideaa collage of tree rings each representing a different event in modern environmental history. The tree has changed from an oak to an ash as a call to the emerald ash borer; instead of an axe merely chopping through our history as it was for Leopold, it is now an invasive species eating it away from the inside.

The Third Place Award winner was Dr. Dena Weinberger from Murray, Kentucky. Her work titled Endangered in MN: Pallid Shiner with Dwarf Trout Lily.

This pen and ink work is reminiscent of Scandinavian folk art that is common in Minnesota and features two species that are endangered in that state, said Weinberger. Much of the pallid shiner's habitat is represented, preferring quiet waters over sandy or silty bottoms that are threatened by human activity.

Honorable Mention Award winners were Piper Von Almen from Murray, Kentucky, for Bug Box, Paul Grumley from Paducah, Kentucky, for Nature Wins, and Basil Drossos from Paducah, Kentucky, for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug on Moth Orchid.

Exhibition organizer Dr. Kate He believes that this collaborative project provides a great opportunity for students, professional and amateur artists and nature lovers to showcase their talents, and at the same time to communicate with the public about the importance of keeping a healthy Earth for all.

He would like to thank all individuals involved in the project, especially Dana Vinson from biology and Barbara Like and Gerry Harris from WSI, who provided tremendous support to make this event successful.
Miss California Janae Wallace, 2025 Queen Bailey Stepp, 2024 Queen Delaney Grace and 2025 runner up Addison Rose View Photo

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Tuolumne, CA  16-year-old Bailey Stepp, who has grown up in Oakdale and La Grange, was crowned the Mother Lode Queen on Thursday evening.

The coronation was held at the Black Oak Casino Resort Hotel.

Click on the video box to see the announcement.

Stepp attended the Mother Lode Roundup for the first time in 2023 while participating as the La Grange Rodeo Junior Queen. It was one of the highlights of her duties, and she knew she wanted to come back and compete in the queen competition. She enjoyed the connection among the queens and the relationship with the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Posse. She loves the western lifestyle, is a first-generation rodeo competitor in high school, and takes pride in being a well-rounded horsewoman.

The runner-up was Tuolumne County native Addison Rose.

Both will have a busy weekend ahead serving as ambassadors for the 2025 Roundup.

Also on hand last night were Miss California Rodeo, Janae Wallace, and last years Queen, Delaney Grace.
I read the Cp.1114 of book The Good Earth written by Pearl.S. Buck.

1) (A) Cp.11.

Wang Lang bought from a vendor four small loaves of bread and a bowl of soft rice for the girl. There were men and women in the fire wagon who had been south in other years, First you must buy six mats, said one Then you bind these together into a hut and then you go out to beg. Each morning you may go to a public kitchen and for a penny hold as much as you can in your belly of the white rice gruel. Then you can beg comfortably. Wang Lung disliked the notion of begging.  Is there no work for a mans hand? he asked. Work! said the man, You can pull a rich man in a yellow ricksha.

When the fire wagon had turned them out upon the ground, Wang Lung set the old man and the children against a wall, and he went off to buy the mats. When he returned, they stood there waiting, the old man murmured at Wang Lung, You see how fat these southerners all are. The eat pork every day. But none who passed looked at Wang Lung, each gave him a scornful and haughty look.

There were already other huts clinging to the wall behind them. Wang Lung observed the huts and he began to shape his own, suddenly O-lan said.  That I can do. When it was finished they went within and were sheltered.

Then the general feeling of plenty in the rich land, where no one seemed even hungered. Along the street many people walked carrying bowl to the kitchens for the poor. Wang Lung and his family mingled with those others. and when he was swept to the great cauldron he held out his bowl.

Then when they had come to the street again and stood eating their rice. A man stood near who was some guard of the place. Wang Lung said, Why should any give this to poor and who is it that gives? The man answered,  It is the rich and the gentry of the town who do it, some do it for a good deed for the future, and some do it for righteousness. The children tugged at Wang Lung, and Wang Lung led them all back to the hut they had made, it was the first time since summer they had been filled with food.

The next morning it is necessary that there be more money. Wang Lung looked at O-Lan, O-Lan answered,  I and the children can beg and the old man also.

As for Wang Lung, he went into the street and found a place where jinrickshas were for hire, and hired one for the day for price of half a round of silver. An old man, spectacled and garbed as teacher, hailed him. When reached the old teacher drew out a small silver coin and gave it to Wang Lung. He had one more passenger during the morning and in the afternoon two more called him. But at night, he had only a penny above the rent of the ricksha, and he went back to his hut in great bitterness. When he entered there he found that O-lan had for her days begging received less than five pence. But the old man had received nothing, said:  I have ploughed and thus filled my rice bowl, and begotten a son and sons son.

(B) Cp. 12

Now Wang Lung began to feel what this city was. He learned that in the morning the people he drew, if they were women, went to the market, and if they were men,they went to schools or to the houses of business . And at night he knew that he drew men to big tea houses and to places of pleasure.

He lived in the rich city as alien. Once when Wang Lung heard a young man haranguing a crowd said that China must have a revolution and must rise against the hated foreigners, feeling that he was the foreigner.And when on another day he heard another young man speaking that the people of China must unite, it did not occur to Wang Lung that anyone was speaking to him. One day, a creature the like of whom he had never seen before, motioned to him sharply to lower the shafts and he did so. He began to run. and he called to another puller,  What is this I pull? And the man shouted, A foreigner- a female from America. When he reached, this female left him with two silver pieces in his palm, which was double the usual fare. Then Wang Lung knew that this was indeed a foreigner and more foreign yet than he in the city.

Here in the city there was food everywhere. Yes, one would say that in the city there could be none who starved. This life in the shadow of the great wall was not the life Wang Lung loved. There was his land waiting for him. One night he came late and there was in the stew of cabbage a good round piece of pork. Wang Lungs eyes widened. Then the young boy said, I took it this meat. When the butcher looked the other way, I seized it. Wang Lung was angry and afraid in his heart because his sons were growing into thieves here in this city. He said to himself, We must get back to the land.

(C) Cp.13

Spring seethed in the village of huts, now could go to dig the small green weeds,dandelions. A swarm of ragged women and children searched the countrysides for the food. But men must work on. When the twilight lingered they gather out of their huts and talked together. Wang Lung stood diffidently and listened to the talk. They talked always of money. Every day the talk ended with this:  If I had the gold..... Wang Lung heard only of how much they would eat, Wang Lung cried out, If I had gold, I would buy land with it.

There was the paper that men gave out here and there, and sometimes even to Wang Lung. He had never in his youth learned the meaning of letters. The first time it was given by a foreigner, a picture of a man who hung upon a crosspiece of wood. The next time one handed a paper freely to Wang Lung it was a man of the city. Who talked loudly as he distributed sheets.This paper bore also a picture of blood and death. Upon the dead figure a fat one stood with a knife . The dead man is yourselves, proclaimed the man, and the murderous one who stabs you are the rich and the capitalists. You are poor because the rich seize everything. Wang Lung had blamed it only a heaven because that would not rain in its season. Wang Lung asked:  Sir, is there any way the rich can make it rain? The young man replied, No one can make it rain. But if the rich would share with us what they have, we would all have money and food. Wang Lung turned away unsatisfied. Yes, but there was the land, if there is not sun and rain in proportion, there is again hunger. But the men in the huts who heard eagerly. the more eagerly because they knew that over the wall there dwelt a rich man. They thought day after day on all theses matters.

Wang Lung saw one day when he pulled his ricksha, a man , seized as he stood by a small band of armed soldiers, and another was seized. Wang Lung thrust his ricksha into a side alley and he darted into the door of a hot water shop until the soldiers passed. And then he asked the keeper of the shop, who was old, the old man answered, These soldiers are going to battle somewhere and they need carriers for their bedding. Wang Lung darted out and seizing his ricksha he run to the hut. Then to O-Lan, he said, Now am I truly tempted to sell the little slave and go north to the land. But she said, Wait a few days. There is strange talk about.

Nevertheless, he went out no more in the daylight and he waited until the night came, he went to the houses of merchandise he pulled all night the great wagonloads of boxes. What battles there were Wang Long did not know.

But the city became filled with unrest of fear. All during the days carriages drawn by horses pulled rich men and their possessions. His son cried, we have seen such boxes and when I asked what was in them one said,  There is gold and silver in them, but the rich cannot take all away, and some day it will all be ours. O-lan said in her flat plain voice, we shall see a thing. There is talk everywhere now.

The city was shaken with fear and each man did quickly what he had to do and went into his house and shut the door. The market places were now empty. It was whispered everywhere that the enemy approached. The public kitchens closed their doors and there was no food.

(D) Cp.14

Spring seethed in the village of huts, now could go to dig the small green weeds,dandelions. A swarm of ragged women and children searched the countrysides for the food. But men must work on. When the twilight lingered they gather out of their huts and talked together. Wang Lung stood diffidently and listened to the talk. They talked always of money. Every day the talk ended with this:  If I had the gold..... Wang Lung heard only of how much they would eat, Wang Lung cried out, If I had gold, I would buy land with it.

There was the paper that men gave out here and there, and sometimes even to Wang Lung. He had never in his youth learned the meaning of letters. The first time it was given by a foreigner, a picture of a man who hung upon a crosspiece of wood. The next time one handed a paper freely to Wang Lung it was a man of the city. Who talked loudly as he distributed sheets.This paper bore also a picture of blood and death. Upon the dead figure a fat one stood with a knife . The dead man is yourselves, proclaimed the man, and the murderous one who stabs you are the rich and the capitalists. You are poor because the rich seize everything. Wang Lung had blamed it only a heaven because that would not rain in its season. Wang Lung asked:  Sir, is there any way the rich can make it rain? The young man replied, No one can make it rain. But if the rich would share with us what they have, we would all have money and food. Wang Lung turned away unsatisfied. Yes, but there was the land, if there is not sun and rain in proportion, there is again hunger. But the men in the huts who heard eagerly. the more eagerly because they knew that over the wall there dwelt a rich man. They thought day after day on all theses matters.

Wang Lung saw one day when he pulled his ricksha, a man , seized as he stood by a small band of armed soldiers, and another was seized. Wang Lung thrust his ricksha into a side alley and he darted into the door of a hot water shop until the soldiers passed. And then he asked the keeper of the shop, who was old, the old man answered, These soldiers are going to battle somewhere and they need carriers for their bedding. Wang Lung darted out and seizing his ricksha he run to the hut. Then to O-Lan, he said, Now am I truly tempted to sell the little slave and go north to the land. But she said, Wait a few days. There is strange talk about.

Nevertheless, he went out no more in the daylight and he waited until the night came, he went to the houses of merchandise he pulled all night the great wagonloads of boxes. What battles there were Wang Long did not know.

But the city became filled with unrest of fear. All during the days carriages drawn by horses pulled rich men and their possessions. His son cried, we have seen such boxes and when I asked what was in them one said,  There is gold and silver in them, but the rich cannot take all away, and some day it will all be ours. O-lan said in her flat plain voice, we shall see a thing. There is talk everywhere now.

The city was shaken with fear and each man did quickly what he had to do and went into his house and shut the door. The market places were now empty. It was whispered everywhere that the enemy approached. The public kitchens closed their doors and there was no food.

Then suddenly there came a noise like the cracking of heaven, O-Lan said,  The enemy has broken in the gate of the city. And there was a shout over the city. Then they heard the sound of a great door creaking upon its hinges, and suddenly the man who had talked to Wang Lung cried out,  The hour has come the gates of the rich man are open to us! And O-LAN was gone.

Then Wang Lung went out. And the great gates were ajar and the people pressed forward. Others hurrying from the back caught Wang Long and forced him into the crowd. Through court after court he was swept, into the very inner courts, and of those men and women who had lived in the house he saw no one. Well this crowd knew the courts of the rich. And upon these treasures the crowd fell. Only Wang Lung in the confusion took nothing. He had never taken what belonged to another.

He pushed with perseverance toward the edge and found himself on the fringe of the multitude. He was at the back of the innermost court where the ladies of the rich dwell, and the back gate was ajar. Through this gate doubtless they had all escaped. But one man had failed to escape, Wang Lung came upon suddenly in an empty inner room from whence the mob had swept in and out again, so that the man, who had been hidden in a secret place and not been found, now crept out, thinking he was alone, to escape. When he saw Wang Lung he cried out, Save a life do not kill me. I have money for youmuch money. It was this word money which suddenly brought to Wang Lungs mind a piercing clarity. Money! Aye, he needed that! He cried out, Gave me the money then! And the man brought forth his hands dripping with gold and Wang Lung received it. Wang Lung cried out with the loathing surging up in him,  Out of my sight, lest I kill you! And the man ran past him and was gone. Then Wang Lung thrust the gold into his bosom and went out of the open gate to his hut. And to himself he said, We go back to the land tomorrow!

2) I think: China has long been a feudal country, mainly engaged in agricultural production. Farmers rely on the weather for their livelihood. In years of disaster, they have nothing to eat. The government cared nothing about the hardships of the people, and warlords were engaged in separatism and chaos. The experiences of Wang Lung and the people around him demonstrated all this.

The main issue that people consider in terms of ideological understanding is how to survive and live better. Wang Lung was thinking of buying more land and improving his life through labor. Some people consider how to rob the rich of their wealth to improve their lives.

China should develop industry and education, and should have scientific and technological innovation. China should establish a truly democratic country. Government departments should be elected by the people and serve the people. Only in this way can the Chinese people live a happy life.

But at present, most Chinese people only think about improving their own lives or are content with having some improvements. They don't care about politics, have no sense of ownership, and fail to consider that China should build a truly democratic country.
After some time off, I quote Thomas Jefferson in the musical Hamilton: Whatd I Miss?

The answers are a prestigious award for a Western New Yorker, a political debate, a retirement of a radio legend and a new Spanish channel offered by Spectrum.

Lets have an upbeat start with the award:

Buffalo native Tom Fontana (St. Elsewhere, Homicide, Oz) and Scott Frank were honored by the Mystery Writers of America with the Edgar Award for Best Television Episode Teleplay for episode one of Monsieur Spade (AMC) at a recent ceremony in New York City.

Their script is set 20 years after The Maltese Falcon, when Detective Sam Spade (Clive Owen) is pulled out of his tranquil retirement in France to investigate a series of brutal murders.

Tom Fontana's complex series 'Monsieur Spade' is about the characters more than the plot The six-episode series, which premiered Sunday on AMC, AMC+ and Acorn and continues with weekly episodes through Feb. 11, imagines a world where Dashiell Hammetts iconic character, detective Sam Spade, has retired and moved from San Francisco to France.

A second season of Monsieur Spade seems very unlikely  unless Fontana throws in some zombie characters. (Thats a joke aimed at AMCs programming.)

The award adds to Fontanas collection of three Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, three Writers Guild Awards, four Television Critics Association Awards, the Cable Ace Award, the Humanitas Prize, a Special Edgar and the first prize at Genevas Cinema Tout Ecran Festival.

Frank has written the screenplays for such films as Little Man Tate, Dead Again, Get Shorty, Out of Sight and Minority Report. His next project is as executive producer, co-creator and director of Dept Q, which premieres May 29 on Netflix.

WBEN-AM radio host Joe Beamer seems to enjoy provoking Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

Poloncarz recently retweeted a Batavia Daily News editorial asking Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of the 24th District to hold town halls. Poloncarz partially quoted the editorial.

Bellavia and Bauerle's schedules change to fill Limbaugh's time slot at WBEN-AM The elimination of a national syndicated talk show host means the station will go with local talent daily from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Great Batavia Daily news editorial about how Im holding town halls but Claudia Tenney wont, wrote Poloncarz.

Tenneys district includes Wayne County, Oswego County, Seneca County, Yates County, Ontario County, Livingston County, Orleans County, Wyoming County, Genesee County, almost all of Niagara County, the western half of Jefferson County, the northern half of Steuben County, Schuyler County and Cayuga County.

According to Tenneys website, her district is among the largest agriculture districts in the Northeast, producing dairy, beef, crops, wine, apples, and much more.

The Batavia News editorial concluded: So come on, Claudia, stop dodging the questions. You and your ilk owe the real people that elected you real answers to their very real questions and concerns.

Beamer replied to Poloncarz on X, formerly known as Twitter: She was on Hardline (on WBEN) which is listened to by more people than attend your own halls and read the Batavia Daily combined.

Even if that is true, Beamer, who took one of my Medaille College courses, missed the point.

Beamers listeners arent necessarily Tenneys constituents. And the potential defunding of CPB is widely viewed as most damaging to rural areas such as the ones Tenney represents because they dont have as much access to the media.

You would think that Buffalo Toronto Public Media head Tom Calderone might jump at the chance to be interviewed about the potential defunding of CPB, since it provides 14 to 15 percent of BTPMs total revenue each year.

A spokesperson responded to an interview request by writing that Calderone isnt available to comment but he passed along this statement for you:

Heres his statement: We are unsure of the impact of this executive order at this moment, but we continue to advocate to keep the federal funding allocated by Congress for public media. These funds allow public media to serve  for free  over 99 percent of Americans, including all of Western New York. PBS and NPR are invaluable partners in serving our communities. Locally, we provide fact-based journalism on our NPR station, free educational resources to teachers, free monthly music performances in our studios, and many digital series like Compact Civics, which aims to help our community better understand government and their role in it. Right now, we are asking for the publics support. Contact your members of Congress to let them know you rely on public media and ask for their support in ensuring that funding for this important service continues.

The last broadcast of radio host Greg Chwojdaks almost 50 years promoting Buffalos vibrant polka and Polish-American music scene will air from noon to 2 p.m. today on WXRL Radio (1300 AM and 95.5 FM). The host of Polkamotion has announced his retirement.

This decision wasnt easy  it came after many deeply personal conversations with my family and close friends, Chwojdak said in a station release. Sunday afternoons have been a cherished part of my life for decades, and I know theyll feel very different  not just for me, but for so many loyal listeners whove become like family. But the time has come for me to focus on my health and to spend more precious moments with the people I love most.

He brought polka music to International Cable, WWOL-AM and WECK-AM before succeeding the legendary Stan Jasinskis Polish American Program on WXRL.

He infused traditional ethnic programming with the lively energy of Top 40 radio, distinguishing himself from the slower-paced programs of his predecessors by conducting his shows in English rather than Polish, Buffalo broadcasting historian Marty Biniasz, said in the same release. Greg is second only to Broadcasting Hall of Fame member Stan Jasinski as the longest performing, Polish American broadcaster in Western New York radio history.

Spectrum News has announced the launch of Spectrum Noticias, a new national Spanish-language news network. The network, which features 24 hours of continuous Spanish-language news, is available in WNY on Spectrum Channel 799.

According to a release, the network brings viewers continuous updates and live reporting on major events, comprehensive analysis of critical issues, weather forecasts, and reporting on stories that celebrate and explore Hispanic culture and heritage.

Objective journalism is a key pillar of a democratic society and Spectrum News is at the forefront, said Mike Bair, executive vice president, Spectrum Networks. The launch of Spectrum Noticias underscores our dedication by expanding access to high-quality news programming and providing a trusted option to our Spanish-speaking viewers.
Harare is grappling with a disturbing case involving allegations of rape against social media personality Mai Jeremaya, and the subsequent release on bail of the two men accused of the crime. The case has cast a spotlight on Paradise Guest Lodge, a discreet establishment in Eastlea, Harare, where the alleged assault is said to have taken place.

The lodge, located at number 15 Frank Johnson Avenue, Eastlea, now finds itself at the centre of a storm following Mai Jeremayas explosive allegations. The establishments name, Paradise Guest Lodge, stands in stark contrast to the horrifying events she claims to have endured within its walls.

Mai Jeremaya, in a move that defied convention, waived her right to anonymity, typically afforded to victims of such crimes. She bravely recounted her ordeal in a video shared on social media, detailing how she was allegedly lured and subsequently raped.

As a result of her allegations, Thabo Blessing Dube, 27, and Martin Charlie, 25, were apprehended and brought before the courts. This week, a Harare magistrate granted them bail, a decision that has raised eyebrows and sparked debate within legal circles.

The State chose not to oppose the application for bail, citing what it considered mitigating factors.

A visit to Paradise Guest Lodge by H-Metro revealed the establishments nature as a lodge, one of two situated along Frank Johnson Avenue, within close proximity to each other.

Paradise Guest Lodge markets itself on its Facebook page as Harares premier destination for intimate, private escapes, designed with discretion and comfort in mind, it offers exclusive accommodation. The lodge boasts amenities such as unlimited WiFi, luxurious beds, and secure parking, its location readily accessible via Google Maps.

Intriguingly, the lodge offers varying rates for its services. Guests can secure a room for a daytime stay, between 9am and 5:30pm, for US$20. An overnight stay, commencing from 4pm, costs between US$25 and US$30. All rooms have hot showers, the lodge advertises in its Facebook posts.

During H-Metros visit, the electric gate opened automatically upon sensing the crews presence. Posing as prospective guests, the crew inquired about accommodation costs, receiving a response that hinted at the lodges clientele.

Our charges vary with the time you want to take with your loved one, the receptionist stated. We charge US$10 for two hours, US$20 for the whole day, and US$25 for a night that starts from 4pm, thank you. This pricing structure suggests a business model catering to short-term encounters.

As the H-Metro crew departed, they observed a man in a kombi leaving the lodge, subsequently dropping off a woman, who had been in his company, along Josiah Chinamano Avenue.

Meanwhile, the rape case against Dube and Charlie has taken an unexpected turn. Despite the gravity of the charges, the State consented to bail for the two accused men, with the Harare Magistrates Court remanding them out of custody to June 5, 2025.

In Zimbabwe, rape is classified as a Third Schedule offence, which typically mandates that accused persons appearing before a magistrates court are automatically referred to the High Court for bail consideration. This process often results in suspects spending weeks in remand prison, with the onus on the accused to demonstrate why they should be granted bail. However, in this instance, the magistrates court deviated from this norm and granted bail.

The State defended its decision not to oppose bail, arguing that Dube and Charlie have fixed addresses, possess no criminal records, and presented a low flight risk.

It is the States view that such forceful and convincing reasons, which will make the court feel very strongly that the accused should not be released on bail, do not exist, prosecutors submitted. They do not have any known previous convictions or pending cases and they did not exhibit any conduct from which any inclination to abscond can be inferred.

The State further indicated its willingness to impose conditions, such as the surrender of passports, to ensure compliance.

Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa had previously raised concerns regarding the scope of the charges, questioning why the pair were not also charged with aggravated indecent assault, given allegations they forced the complainant to perform oral sex.

The State acknowledged the point, submitting: It is submitted that considering that the acts constituting aggravated indecent assault appear to have taken place in a single transaction with those acts constituting rape. It also appears that the dominant intention was rape. It is also worth noting that the same evidence will be used to prove the acts constituting rape and those constituting aggravated indecent assault. In the result, charging the accused with both rape and aggravated indecent assault may be an unnecessary splitting of charges.

Mai Jeremaya, known for her substantial online following, appeared to have waived her right to anonymity by publicly posting a video detailing the alleged assault.

The State had initially consented to bail, but Magistrate Gofa demanded further justification.

In court documents, prosecutors also disclosed the mens version of events, which was presented during initial vetting. The accused deny any wrongdoing, asserting that the encounter was consensual and arranged in advance.

They allege that Charlie met Mai Jeremaya at Joina City mall, after which the pair went to the lodge in Eastlea, where she willingly engaged in sexual activity. Dube, they claim, merely facilitated the arrangement and did not have sex with her. According to papers filed with the State, the two claimed they had met at Joina City in the Harare CBD and agreed to engage in sexual intercourse for a fee of US$20.

They then went to a lodge in Eastlea, where Charlie had consensual sexual intercourse with Mai Jeremaya. The situation allegedly soured when Mai Jeremaya demanded US$500, instead of the agreed-upon US$20.

She wanted US$500 but we had agreed on US$20, the accused told the court. She knew she was at a lodge for sex, they added.

Mai Jeremaya would later engage a private investigator, Detective Kedha, to recover the money she felt she was owed.

She later sent a private investigator, Detective Kedha, to try and get the money. When we refused, a rape report was then made, the statement read.

Despite the seriousness of the case, the State maintained that there were no compelling reasons to deny the duo bail.

It is the States view that such forceful and convincing reasons, which will make the court feel very strongly that the accused should not be released on bail, do not exist, the State argued.

The State does not have any well-founded fears that if released on bail, the two will abscond and not attend their trial, they are of fixed abode shown by their residential addresses on the face of the Request for Remand form.

They do not have any known previous convictions or pending cases before the criminal courts and they did not exhibit any conduct from which any inclination to abscond can be inferred.

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Yves here. Tom Neuburger looks at how Americans are being indoctrinated to accept even more state spyingbecause, of course, baddies. It is striking that the Newspeak is so advanced that Them seems to do just fine, as supposed to what one would think are more evocative formulations: Enemies. Dissidents. Criminals. Agitators. Aliens. Threats.

By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies



Masked national guardsmen fire barrage of tear gas into crowd of demonstrators on campus of Kent State University, May 4th, 1970. When the gas dissipated, four students lay dead and several others injured. (Getty Images)

They need to wake up scared and go to bed scared.

Alex Karp, Palantir co-founder. They means our enemies, whoever they are.

I want to look at a theme weve explored recently, and put a very fine point on it. The theme: Us vs. Them.

Whos Us in Us vs. Them?

If you see the world in an Us vs. Them way, us is Americans, or more broadly, citizens of the West, and them is the non-Western world: the brown, the global south, the technologically less advanced; the tribal, in many cases; the less city-fied.

Thus  and this has been true since the so-called Age of Exploration, if not millennia before  us in the Us vs. Them frame is the greatly superior.

That frame puts us in good odor. Alex Karps admonition  to make sure our enemies wake up scared and go to bed scared  puts Americans, us in the more advanced West, inside facing out  secure and protected, not just from our enemies, but from the evils we deliver to them. To put it in cruder terms, were also safe because were pissing, not pissed upon.

And this is how were supposed to regard the muscular state, the heavily armed, punishing state, as guardians of us, as outward-facing armies guarding the gates. The state can mistreat them because they are not us.

But Karp is a billionaire, as is Trump, whom he serves, as are all of the wealthy class, the overly rich. Karp imagines he speaks for a larger us, for his class and also Americans generalized. He says so explicitly. From the same speech:

Americans are the most loving God-fearing, fair, least discriminatory people on the planet. And they want to know that if youre waking up and thinking about harming American citizens, or if American citizens are taken hostage and kept in dungeons, or if youre a foreign power sending fentanyl to poison our people, something really bad is going to happen to you  and your friends and your cousins and your bank account and your mistress and whoever was involved.

Note the emphasis on foreign; the emphasis on wide retribution  your friends, your cousins, your lovers, your fiscal well-being; the intentionally great disproportion between offense and response



and the threat of punishment for uncommitted crimes: if youre waking up and thinking about harming American citizens.

As I said earlier, this is a crazy man. If he were your neighbor, hed get himself put away, to a home, an asylum, a cell. But because hes rich, American, and pretends to aim his guns outward, hes praised, rewarded and cheered.

Friends of the Very Rich Are Not Our Friends

But lets stand back. Whos them for a man like this? That can be answered in more than one way. One is Americas enemies. Muslims, yes. But these were Americas enemies in 1963:

Bill Hudson/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The dead in Kent State were our enemies in 1970:

John Filo/Getty Images

And as recently as now, Americas enemies include anyone displeased with the state or unhappy with Musk:

The arson attack on Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiros home has unified the national security state around a broader threat it sees in the American people. Inside the government, sources tell us, officials are scrambling to define the moment. Theyre exploring if theres any connection between the attempts on Donald Trumps life; Luigi Mangione and his sympathizers; Tesla vandalism; and even earlier attacks, like the one on Nancy Pelosis husband. The Trump Justice Department and the domestic terrorism fighters think they have an answer: Nihilistic Violent Extremists.

So whos really them? The rich have only one enemy: those who threaten their rule.

The Growing Muscular State

Be sure to remember the state when you read stories like this:

The Next US President Will Have Troubling New Surveillance Powers Over the weekend, President Joe Biden signed legislation not only reauthorizing a major FISA spy program but expanding it in ways that could have major implications for privacy rights in the US. The ability of the United States to intercept and store Americans text messages, calls, and emails in pursuit of foreign intelligence was not only extended but enhanced over the weekend in ways likely to remain enigmatic to the public for years to come.  At the urging of the agencies and with the help of powerful bipartisan allies on Capitol Hill, the program has also been extended to cover a wide range of new businesses, including US data centers, according to recent analysis by legal experts and civil liberties organizations that were vocally opposed to its passage.

Or this, which first quotes the New York Times

Over the past 100 days, DOGE teams have grabbed personal data about U.S. residents from dozens of federal databases and are reportedly merging it all into a master database at the Department of Homeland Security. This month, House Democratic lawmakers reported that a whistle-blower had come forward to reveal that the master database will combine data from federal agencies including the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Health and Human Services. The whistle-blower also alleged that DOGE workers are filling backpacks with multiple laptops, each one loaded with purloined agency data.

then goes on to say:

[Julia] Angwin, author [of the Times piece, is also author] of Dragnet Nation: A Quest for Privacy, Security, and Freedom in a World of Relentless Surveillance, obviously knows the Homeland Security Department was created with the specific aim of taking siloed information and merging it into a single database. Shes almost certainly familiar with the initial proposal for the DHS, which read, The Department would fuse and analyze intelligence and other information pertaining to threats to the homeland from multiple sources, including the CIA, NSA, FBI, INS, DEA, DOE, Customs, DOT and data gleaned from other organizations. She also knows that list is far from complete: Dragnet Nation is full of examples of the DHS and NSA culling info not just from databases like the Census Bureau but state auto vehicle records, foreclosure records, and private data from giant companies such as Google, Yahoo!, Verizon and Microsoft. She mentions the DHS sending $50 million to state law enforcement agencies to purchase automated license plate readers that allow them to keep tabs on citizens movements in ways never before possible, and even finds a DHS mailer about youth cyber activity that makes anodyne lines like Know What Your Kids Are Doing feel creeptastic (theres even a suggestion about installing monitoring tools that can be used with or without a kids knowledge).

Or this, a warning about how smart home devices are universal spies:

The spies in your home: How WiFi companies monitor your private life In the case of Plume, its devices can scrape together detailed information from every internet-connected device, no matter the make or purpose. Even household chores can be monetized by companies you may not even be aware of. This raises important legal and ethical questions about consent, data security, and the extent to which your data can be passed to third parties.

All this is to say, it was never about foreign surveillance and foreign deterrence, not since Bush-Cheneys spy shop created total surveillance and PRISM, not since the Palmer raids birth of the FBI. Theres only one them in the mind of Alex Karps class: those who would threaten the rich.
Yves here. The US is sensibly trying to cut trade deals first with countries that it perceives to be in a weak position so as to try to set benchmarks that can use to try to pressure others. So it should come as no surprise that the UK was head of the pack.

We pointed out during and after Brexit that the UK would be, erm, very eager to enter into a trade agreement with the US but it should be careful what it wished for. Smaller countries that enter into trade pacts with the US are terms takers, with only some negotiation at the margin for the purpose of face-saving. Its not clear that even that nicety was observed here. Not only does this Administration relish dominance displays, but Keir Starmer is in a weak position generally and even more so after the Reform party romp in local council elections.

Richard Murphy provides the White House summary of the deal, and at least by comparing his take to a much longer write-up in the Financial Times, Murphy appears to have exaggerated some of the downside of the agreement (which I generally agree is pretty thin gruel for the UK). Specifically:

Murphy: The protection of British agriculture and the quality of our food has been undermined.

Financial Times: UK negotiators avoided.making changes to UK food standards rules to allow products such as chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef.

Now that does not mean US cattle farmers have not gotten advantage compared to their UK counterparts, but it does not appear that food safety, as defined by the UK, has been compromised. However, the devil is in the details, and a lax enforcement/labeling regime could wind up permitting some non-compliant products to get through. And the Financial Times suggests that the break on US ethanol would most assuredly hurt UK producers.

But the main points still stand out:

The US looks is trying to stick to a baseline of 10% tariffs. For instance that the ballyhooed break for up to 100,000 UK cars (just a smidge below the US export total last year) took the tariffs from 27.5% to 10%. That translates into a lot of hurt for US consumers and businesses, particularly small businesses. The fact that the 100,000 UK cars is the flagship for this agreements also shows the UK gave great priority to preserving jobs at its luxury carmakers (who also make other goods for US buyers like aircraft engine parts) Some parts of the UK deal seem peculiar. Getting a waiver for aluminum? When aluminum is so energy-intensive that it is often called solid electricity and the UK and Europe have sanctioned themselves into high energy costs? But it appears that the waiver on steel and aluminum it to prevent double-tariffing on the afore-mentioned aircraft parts.

The pink paper concurs with Murphys downbeat assessment:

Mattia Di Ubaldo, principal research fellow in international trade at the University of Sussex, said the deal left the UK in a significantly worse position in its bilateral trade terms with the US than a year ago  but now with a competitive advantage against some other countries. Economists said the deal would bring relief to the industries at greatest risk from tariffs, but would make no difference to the overall economic outlook in either the US or the UK. They suggested the US would also struggle to strike meaningful deals with other countries. The limited relief from auto and steel and aluminium tariffs would nibble away at the US effective tariff rate, but the average tariff was still set to remain in double digits, hitting American consumers hard, said Michael Pearce at the consultancy Oxford Economics Paul Dales, UK economist at Capital Economics, said the effective US import tariff rate on the UK would stand at about 11 per cent as a result of the arrangement, far higher than the 1 per cent that existed last year. That was an improvement on the 13 per cent that preceded Thursdays agreement, but much depended on future US measures on critical sectors such as pharmaceuticals.

The results are underwhelming from a US vantage too:

My guess: The US-UK almost-a-deal may have reduced the average tariff rate Britain charges on American exports from 1% to 0.8%. And the UK is only 3% of US trade. "So if this sounds like small potatoes to you, that's because these aren't potatoes. These are tiny little peas." pic.twitter.com/dbA0LYkkjQ  Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) May 8, 2025

So, Trump's brilliant strategy was to strike a deal with the UKa country with which the US already has a trade surplusthat makes UK goods more expensive for Americans while making American goods cheaper for the UK. Truly, a masterstroke of 2000D chess. pic.twitter.com/9H3g7gWG9L  Joshua Reed Eakle  (@JoshEakle) May 8, 2025



By Richard Murphy, Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School and a director of the Corporate Accountability Network. Originally published at Funding the Future

This statement was issued by the White House yesterday on the UK/US trade deal, about which a great deal of uncertainty remains:

President Trump: The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers. The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products. This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries.

Prime Minister Starmer: This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. Its going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.

This trade deal will significantly expand U.S. market access in the UK, creating a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers. This includes more than $700 million in ethanol exports and $250 million in other agricultural products, like beef. It commits the countries to work together to enhance industrial and agricultural market access. It closes loopholes and increases U.S. firms competitiveness in the UKs procurement market. It ensures streamlined customs procedures for U.S. exports. It establishes high standard commitments in the areas of intellectual property, labor, and environment. It maximizes the competitiveness and secures the supply chain of U.S. aerospace manufacturers through preferential access to high-quality UK aerospace components. It creates a secure supply chain for pharmaceutical products.

The reciprocal tariff rate of 10%, as originally announced on Liberation Day, is in effect.

The United States will agree to an alternative arrangement for the Section 232 tariffs on UK autos. Under the deal, the first 100,000 vehicles imported into the U.S. by UK car manufacturers each year are subject to the reciprocal rate of 10% and any additional vehicles each year are subject to 25% rates.

The United States also recognizes the economic security measures taken by the UK to combat global steel excess capacity and will negotiate an alternative arrangement to the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum. This deal creates a new trading union for steel and aluminum.

This U.S.-UK trade deal will usher in a golden age of new opportunity for U.S. exporters and level the playing fields for American producers.

What does all this mean? The honest answer is, who knows?

What we do know is:

The 10 per cent tariff Trump imposed in April remains in place

Tariffs are reduced on steel, aluminium and cars.

The UK has to accept US beef, ethanol and other products.

We may have increased US access to the NHS and other public services.

So, we can conclude:

The UK gave away a lot to avoid a threat of tariffs on British-made luxury cars.

So far, we have avoided giving away Digital Services Tax revenues, but it seems likely that is still on the table.

It is likely that the competitive position of UK-based suppliers to the UK government has been harmed.

The protection of British agriculture and the quality of our food has been undermined.

And all that to leave us in a worse position than we were in on 1 April.

If this is what a good deal looks like, I suggest someone should tell Starmer that sometimes (by which I mean, usually, or even always) no deal is better than a bad deal, because that is what hes got.

Last July, my most basic hope was that Starmer might arrest the decline in the quality of British Prime Ministers. I now realise my hope was misplaced. Starmer now ranks alongside Johnson for incompetence. He may not have challenged Truss as yet. But, give him time. Things are definitely getting worse.
The Antioch High School gunman had been on probation for previous violent behaviors at the time of the Jan. 22 fatal shooting at the school, according to juvenile court records recently released to the public.

The teen had signed probation paperwork the morning of the shooting, prohibiting him from possessing guns, ammunition and other weapons.

+8 Two Dead in Antioch High Shooting Gunman shot two students before turning the gun on himself; reunification efforts underway

The juvenile court records recently became publicly available due to bipartisan legislation passed in the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year. The new law allows courts to unseal records of a juvenile who is dead after committing homicide on school grounds.

The records show that 17-year-old Solomon Henderson threatened another student with a box cutter in October 2024. He was charged with carrying a weapon on school property and reckless endangerment. Following the incident, Henderson was required to stay away from the student he threatened, and his mother reported that he would be homeschooled under her supervision.

On Jan. 8  two weeks before Henderson killed 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante and then himself  the Davidson County Juvenile Court had ordered him to judicial diversion, a program that allows juvenile offenders to have certain charges dismissed if they successfully complete probation.

Hendersons records also show that, in 2023, he was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor for downloading child pornography and posting it to Discord. Following the incident, Henderson was released and ordered to not have access to social media, internet, cellphones or computers.

The January shooting at Antioch High occurred just after 11 a.m., when Henderson fired multiple shots in the school cafeteria, injuring two students and killing Escalante and himself.

Safety measures have been heightened at Antioch High since the shooting. Earlier this year, Metro Nashville Public Schools approved the $1.25 million expansion of an AI-powered weapon detection system in all area high schools. The weapon detection system at Antioch High School failed to detect the gun involved in the shooting.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
House Committee advances sweeping energy expansion to unleash U.S. oil and gas production

The House Natural Resources Committee is advancing legislation to mandate new oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the National Petroleum Reserve, while streamlining permitting for oil shale development in Western states.

Proponents argue the bill will boost domestic energy production, lower fuel costs and generate $15 billion in federal revenue. Critics claim it prioritizes corporate interests over environmental concerns.

The bill requires 30 offshore lease sales in the Gulf, six in Alaskas Cook Inlet and four in ANWR, along with reduced royalty rates (12.5%) to incentivize drilling. It also reinstates quarterly onshore lease sales.

While industry groups praise the move as long overdue, environmentalists warn of ecological risks, particularly in ANWR. Legal challenges are expected, mirroring past disputes over Arctic drilling.

The bill is poised to bypass Democratic opposition via budget reconciliation, signaling a shift toward aggressive energy expansion under Trumps "energy dominance" agenda. Public sentiment on gas prices may influence its Senate passage.

In a decisive move to bolster domestic energy production, the House Natural Resources Committee is advancing legislation to dramatically expand oil and gas drilling on federal lands and waters. The proposed changes, set to be included in a budget reconciliation bill, would mandate dozens of new lease sales in the Gulf of America, Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the National Petroleum Reserve, while also streamlining permitting for oil shale development in Western states. With Republicans controlling the Senate, the bill is poised to bypass Democratic opposition, marking a significant victory for the Trump administrations energy agenda.

The legislation, unveiled ahead of a key committee hearing on May 6, aims to reverse years of restrictive policies under the Biden administration, which industry groups argue stifled investment and contributed to higher energy prices. Proponents say the bill will enhance U.S. energy security, lower fuel costs and generate billions in federal revenue  while critics warn it prioritizes corporate interests over environmental concerns.

Unlocking Americas energy reserves

At the heart of the proposal is a requirement for 30 offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America over the next 15 years, along with six in Alaskas Cook Inlet and four in ANWR  a region long contested for its vast untapped oil reserves. The bill also mandates biennial lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve and reduces royalty rates for drillers to 12.5%, a move intended to incentivize development.

These provisions will increase domestic energy production, allowing for affordable and reliable energy for all Americans, said the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) in a letter to House leadership. The group praised the reinstatement of quarterly onshore lease sales, calling it a long-overdue step after years of bureaucratic delays.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in particular, has been a flashpoint in energy debates for decades. Estimates suggest ANWR holds up to 10.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil, making it one of the most accessible untapped reserves in the U.S. Past efforts to open the region to drilling have faced fierce opposition from environmentalists, but proponents argue technological advancements minimize ecological risks.

Economic and political stakes

The committee estimates the bill will generate $15 billion in federal revenue, primarily from expanded leasing. Additionally, it includes provisions to share offshore royalties with coastal states  a model already used in Alaska, where residents receive annual dividends from oil revenues.

The House Committee on Natural Resources is answering President Trumps call to unleash American energy dominance through commonsense, science-based and economically sound provisions, read a committee memo obtained by Reuters.

However, environmental advocates warn the bill prioritizes short-term gains over long-term sustainability. This would upend the use of our public lands as we know it, putting President Trumps oil and mining industry donors in the drivers seat, said Jenny Rowland-Shea of the Center for American Progress. Legal challenges are expected, particularly over ANWR drilling, where past lawsuits have delayed development.

A new era for U.S. energy policy?

If passed, the legislation could mark a turning point in U.S. energy strategy, shifting from regulatory constraints to aggressive expansion. The reconciliation process ensures it will avoid a Democratic filibuster, increasing its chances of becoming law.

For decades, federal energy policy has swung between expansion and restraint, often dictated by shifting political winds. The Trump administrations push for energy dominance contrasts sharply with Biden-era restrictions, reflecting broader debates over climate change, economic growth and national security.

As the bill moves to the Senate, its success could hinge on public sentiment. With gas prices remaining a key concern for voters, Republicans are betting that energy affordability will outweigh environmental objections.

The road ahead for American energy

The House Natural Resources Committees proposal represents one of the most ambitious efforts in years to reshape U.S. energy production. By unlocking federal lands and waters, streamlining permitting and incentivizing development, supporters argue it will reduce reliance on foreign oil, strengthen the economy and secure Americas energy future.

Yet the battle is far from over. Legal hurdles, environmental opposition and market fluctuations could still influence the outcome. What remains clear is that the debate over Americas energy policy  balancing prosperity against preservation  will continue long after this bills fate is decided. For now, the momentum favors those pushing to drill, dig and dominate.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Reuters.com

X.com
Major airlines suspend flights to Tel Aviv amid Yemeni aerial blockade and rising tensions

Major carriers like Lufthansa, British Airways and Delta canceled flights after Yemen's Armed Forces launched a hypersonic missile near Ben-Gurion Airport, bypassing multiple air defense systems.

The Houthis declared an air blockade on Israeli airports, urging airlines to avoid Tel Aviv for passenger safety. The strike injured six people and caused damage near the airport.

United, Delta, Air France and others suspended flights, while Ethiopian Airlines and flydubai continued operations. El Al offered discounted fares to help stranded Israelis return.

The Iran-backed Houthis have targeted Israel and shipping routes since November 2023 in solidarity with Hamas. Former U.S. President Trump and Israeli PM Netanyahu blamed Iran for the attacks.

The strike follows Israels assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, raising fears of wider conflict, including potential Iranian retaliation.

Several major international airlines have abruptly canceled flights to Tel Aviv after the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) launched a hypersonic ballistic missile strike inside Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday, May 4.

According to several reports, YAF imposed an aerial blockade on the airport on Sunday in retaliation for the Israeli military escalation in Gaza. The hypersonic missile, which injured six people, bypassed four layers of air defense  including the U.S.-made terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) and Israeli Arrow systems.

"In response to the Israeli escalation with the decision to expand aggressive operations on Gaza, the YAF announce that they will work to impose a comprehensive air blockade on the Israeli enemy by repeatedly targeting airports, most notably Lod Airport, known in Israel as Ben-Gurion Airport," YAF spokesman Yahya Saree said that same day.

"The YAF call on all international airlines to take into consideration what is stated in this statement from the moment it was announced and published, and to cancel all flights to the airports of the criminal enemy to preserve the safety of their aircraft and customers."

The Lufthansa Group  which includes SWISS International Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines  announced it would suspend all flights to Tel Aviv until at least May 6. Affected passengers are being rebooked on alternative flights. (Related: Western nations cancel flights to Lebanon amid rising Israeli threats.)

Other carriers taking similar measures include Wizz Air, Air France, Air Europa, TUS Airways, Air India, British Airways, ITA Airways, Ryanair and LOT Polish Airlines.

U.S. carriers have also taken precautionary measures. For instance, United Airlines extended its suspension of New York-Tel Aviv flights through May 8, stating it is "assessing the situation, while Delta Air Lines canceled its Sunday, May 5 JFK-Tel Aviv flight, emphasizing that passenger and crew safety is its "No. 1 priority."

Despite the cancellations, a few carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, flydubai, Iberia and Blue Bird Airways, continued flights as scheduled. Meanwhile, El Al announced discounted one-way fares from Larnaca ($99) and Athens ($149) to help stranded Israelis return home.

Iranian-backed Houthis attacking Israel and international maritime traffic since November

The Houthis, a militant group whose slogan is "Death to America, Death to Israel, a Curse on the Jews," launched attacks against Israel and international maritime traffic in November 2023.

These assaults came in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages to the Gaza Strip. The invasion by Hamas triggered Israel's military campaign in Gaza, prompting the Houthis to escalate hostilities as an act of solidarity with Palestinians.

However, in a post on Truth Social in March, President Donald Trump urged the public to not be fooled by the Houthis attacks.

Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, Iran," Trump said in his March post. "Any further attack or retaliation by the 'Houthis' will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared this post on Sunday on X, echoing a similar statement. He added that Israel is now taking action in coordination with Washington.

"President Trump is absolutely right. The Houthi attacks emanate from Iran," Netanyahu wrote. "Israel will respond to the attack on Ben-Gurion Airport, and, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters as well."

Follow Chaos.news for more news about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Watch the video below about Israel preparing for war with Hezbollah and an invasion of Lebanon.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Over 14,000 "ghost flights" flew out of UK airports following suspension of a rule preventing such flights.

Australia slashes flights from India after single-day caseload high of more than 310,000... remember when Trump blocking flights was "racist?"

Thousands of flights canceled and delayed as massive winter storm engulfs America.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

TimesofIsrael.com

NationalPost.com

Brighteon.com
Macao SAR, France sign agreement to boost scientific research cooperation

Xinhua) 15:11, May 09, 2025

MACAO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and the French government signed an agreement on Thursday to strengthen cooperation in scientific research and promote innovation and talent development.

The agreement was signed by Macao's Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip and Consul General of France in Hong Kong Christile Drulhe.

According to Macao's Science and Technology Development Fund, the agreement sets out a plan to collaborate on scientific research projects, organize seminars and workshops, and facilitate exchanges between researchers and technical experts of mutual interest.

At the signing ceremony, Tai said the Macao SAR government is committed to developing innovation-driven industries and expanding international cooperation.

He noted that this partnership with France offers a valuable opportunity for both sides to benefit from each other's strengths, and the agreement would boost Macao's role in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao science and technology innovation corridor and support the city's push for a more diversified economy.

In her remarks, Drulhe said that the cooperation would serve as a bridge for communication between researchers from both sides. Through joint research projects and talent exchange initiatives, she believes the partnership will not only elevate the level of scientific research but also deepen the friendship between the people of France and China.

Around 40 guests attended the event, including representatives from the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR, local universities, tech companies, and French and European chambers of commerce.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Prince Andrews lies exposed: Royal insider confesses on tape about Andrews underage sex crimes with Epstein and media blackout

In a damning undercover recording obtained by OKeefe Media Group (OMG), John Bryan, a longtime royal insider and confidant to Prince Andrew, admitted that the Duke of York lied about his involvement with Jeffrey Epsteins underage sex trafficking ring. Bryan, who once publicly defended Andrew, now states:

I did a big thing in The Daily Mail saying that I believed Andrew. And then I found out he was lying. I was so pissed. That he was f**ing underage girls. Thats not cool.*

Bryan, who worked closely with Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Sarah Ferguson, initially crafted a five-page PR strategy titled House of Kroy to help Andrew navigate the scandal. However, he now claims the prince deceived him about the extent of his relationship with Epstein. Watch:

Background on Epsteins Criminal Activities:

Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender who ran a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls.

Ghislaine Maxwell, his associate, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role.

Epstein died in jail in 2019 (officially ruled a suicide, though conspiracy theories persist).

Prince Andrews Disastrous BBC Interview & Secret Crisis Meeting

Prince Andrews BBC Interview (2019):

Andrew did give a widely criticized interview to the BBCs Newsnight in which he denied all allegations of sexual misconduct with Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts).

His demeanor (including excessive blinking and lack of empathy for Epsteins victims) was widely mocked and contributed to his public downfall.

The interview led to him stepping back from royal duties.

Andrews 2019 BBC interview was a public relations catastrophe, where he denied all allegations, including Virginia Giuffres claim that he sexually abused her at 17 years old on Epsteins private island. Bryan was later brought in for crisis management at Royal Lodge, Andrews private residence, where he observed the princes erratic behavior:

Andrew was so distressed, he wasnt able to focus for more than 40 minutes.

This suggests that Andrew was deeply affected by the fallout, yet Bryans new admissions indicate that the princes denials were deliberate falsehoods.

Virginia Giuffres Suspicious Death & Media Suppression

Virginia Giuffres Lawsuit & Photograph:

A photo exists of Prince Andrew with his arm around Giuffre (then 17) alongside Ghislaine Maxwell.

Giuffre has long accused Andrew of sexual abuse, which he denies.

In 2022, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre for an undisclosed sum (reportedly 12 million) without admitting guilt.

Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins most vocal accusers, died by suicide just weeks before new court documents were unsealed  raising concerns about the timing.

Additionally, Project Veritas exposed that ABC News had evidence of Andrews crimes years ago but buried the story to maintain access to other royals:

We had this story years ago, but we didnt run it because it would have cost us access to Prince Harry and Prince William.

This confirms a deliberate media blackout to protect the royal familys image.

The Royal Familys Active Cover-Up

The British monarchy has systematically shielded Andrew, stripping him of official duties but not his titles, wealth, or connections. Bryans revelations suggest that even those within the royal circle were misled:

He lied to me that he was such a close friend [of Epstein].

The unsealed Epstein files further implicate high-profile figures, including Bill Clinton (John Doe 36), but Andrew remains protected by institutional power.

A System Designed to Protect the Elite

Despite overwhelming evidence, Prince Andrew has faced no legal consequences, while Epsteins victims continue seeking justice. As James OKeefe stated:

If this report shines a light into darkness and exposes evil, then we are willing to take the risks.

Yet, with corruption entrenched in power structures, the question remains: Will the truth ever prevail, or will the elite continue to evade accountability?

Sources include:

X.com

OKeefeMediaGroup.com

Youtube.com
Shocking study reveals cell phone radiation causes BLOOD CLUMPING in minutes

A peer-reviewed study found that even an idle cellphone (iPhone XR) caused abnormal red blood cell clumping (rouleaux formation) within five minutes of exposure, raising concerns about long-term health risks.

This stacking of blood cells increases viscosity, impairs oxygen delivery and may contribute to chronic conditions like diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease, especially in younger populations.

Current FCC safety standards only address thermal effects (heat from devices), ignoring non-thermal biological harm, as demonstrated by this study. Experts argue for updated regulations.

The subjects blood was already clumped before the experiment due to routine phone storage in her pocket, suggesting persistent exposure could lead to lasting abnormalities.

The study's lead researcher Dr. Robert Brown urges the medical community to investigate wireless radiations effects and advocates for keeping phones away from the body as a precautionary measure.

A groundbreaking peer-reviewed study has uncovered alarming evidence that cellphone radiation  even from an idle device  can cause abnormal blood clotting in just five minutes.

In a paper published in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, researchers observed that a healthy woman's red blood cells clumped together in a dangerous formation known as rouleaux, The study led by Dr. Robert Brown, a diagnostic radiologist with over 30 years of experience, used ultrasound imaging to monitor blood flow in a 62-year-old woman with no prior health issues.

After placing an idle Apple iPhone XR (connected to AT&T's network with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth active) on her knee for five minutes, her blood cells rapidly formed rouleaux  a stacking pattern resembling piles of coins. The same effect occurred when the phone was held just an inch away from her skin. (Related: Teens rising aggression, hallucinations linked to early cellphone use, study finds.)

Rouleaux formation disrupts normal blood flow, increasing viscosity and impairing oxygen delivery. While transient clumping can occur naturally in certain conditions (like inflammation), repeated exposure  such as carrying a phone in a pocket  could contribute to chronic health issues. Brown warns this may explain rising rates of diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease, particularly in younger demographics.

Cell phone radiation is changing your biology  and regulators ignore it

The Federal Communications Commission's current safety limits for wireless radiation are based solely on thermal effects  i.e., whether devices heat tissue. However, this study proves biological harm occurs without heating, a fact long dismissed by regulators.

In one chilling moment, researchers discovered the woman's blood was already clumped before the experiment began  because her phone had been in her pocket. This suggests routine exposure may trigger persistent abnormalities.

With 97 percent of Americans owning cellphones  often carried in bras, pants or hands  the implications are staggering. Could chronic rouleaux formation be silently fueling metabolic dysfunction and vascular disease?

Brown argues that the medical establishment must confront wireless radiation's impact: "If we want to see changes in regulations, doctors need to understand these effects." Toxicologist Devra Davis, founder and president emeritus of the Environmental Health Trust (EHT), emphasized the findings should "give pause to all who keep phones close to their bodies."

The radiologist expressed confidence that their subject is "not a unicorn," adding that his team plans larger studies to determine how widespread this phenomenon is. With chronic diseases skyrocketing especially among younger populations, this study challenges the safety assumptions behind government regulations and everyday cellphone use. It also cracks open a long-ignored debate: Wireless radiation does alter human biology at non-thermal levels.

As 5G networks expand and devices become ubiquitous, the burden of proof must shift from skeptics to the tech industry. For now, the simplest solution is distance. Keeping phones away from the body may be the best defense against an invisible threat with visible consequences.

Watch this video about how to protect your blood from the harms of EMF and 5G radiation.

This video is from the Essential Energy (EMF SAFETY) channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Cellphone radiation hurts men's ability to conceive, study confirms.

BAD CONNECTION: Study links cellphone radiation to brain cancer.

After years of secrecy, cellphone radiation risks are finally being revealed.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

TAndFOnline.com

TheHighwire.com

BasedUnderground.com

Brighteon.com
Biden admins $230M Gaza pier project collapsed in storm of failure, costly blunders: Pentagon report

The Biden administrations $230 million Gaza aid pier project operated for only 20 days in June 2024 before collapsing, with $31 million in equipment damaged and 62 U.S. service members injured, including one fatality.

The pier suffered from incompatible Army-Navy equipment, poor planning and communication failures. Rough seas and storms further damaged the structure, forcing repeated dismantling and causing a fatal accident.

The mission delivered just 19.4 million pounds of food  far below Gazas needs  and fell drastically short of its planned three-month duration.

Systemic issues included underinvestment in joint logistics (JLOTS) capabilities, lack of interoperability training and insufficient personnel due to prior budget cuts in Army and Navy assets.

Republicans criticized the project as a "political stunt," while the Pentagon admitted failures but resisted oversight reforms. The debacle highlights risks of prioritizing political goals over military readiness.

A $230 million humanitarian aid project spearheaded by the Biden administration to deliver supplies to Gaza ended in catastrophic failure after operating for just 20 days in June 2024, according to a scathing Pentagon Inspector General (IG) report released May 7. The Joint Logistics Over?the?Shore (JLOTS) floating pier, dubbed Operation Neptune Solace, was designed to bypass Israeli land routes and deliver aid to Gaza via a 1,200?foot floating dock. However, the mission was hobbled by interoperability failures between U.S. Army and Navy equipment, incompatible systems, insufficient training and poor planning. The chaos left 62 U.S. service members injured, one soldier dead and $31 million worth of equipment damaged  a disaster that has ignited fierce criticism from lawmakers and amplified doubts about the Pentagons readiness for large-scale operations.

Operational failures plague the mission

The JLOTS operation, which required 1,000 U.S. personnel, unraveled almost as soon as it began. The Pentagon IG report revealed that the piers components were incompatible: Army watercraft and the Navys Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) dock foundations differed in height, warping ramps and tearing holes into equipment. A photo included in the report shows an Army vessel labeled total loss after colliding with Navy docks. Furthermore, incompatible communication systems left troops without secure channels during critical moments.

Environmental factors worsened the crisis. Planners failed to account for Gazas fickle sea conditions, forcing crews to dismantle and reposition the unstable pier multiple times. A May 2024 storm capsized four Army vessels, beaching them near Gaza and critically injuring Army Sgt. Quandarius Stanley, who later died from his injuries. The Pentagon confirmed another person died from non-combat injuries tied to the mission but did not clarify causes.

The projects logistical shortcomings crippled its humanitarian goals. Despite an announced mission duration of three months, the pier operated for fewer than three weeks. What aid it managed to deliver  19.4 million pounds of foodamounted to a single months supply for 500,000 people, far short of Gazas needs.

Interoperability gaps and historical underinvestment

The report blamed systemic military underpreparedness for the collapse. The Army and Navy had divested critical assets since 2018: the Army sold half its watercraft, reducing its fleet from 134 to 70, while the Navy decommissioned its East Coast JLOTS unit in 2023. These cuts left forces scrambling to assemble equipment and manpower, with Navy Beach Group One officials admitting they had to pull together every person they could to crew vessels.

Past JLOTS training exercises had already flagged interoperability issues between Army and Navy systems, but reforms were not implemented. The IG found U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) had failed to enforce joint standards or adequately plan for the mission. Organizational readiness shortfalls include insufficient mission planning, interoperability challenges and inadequate training, the report said.

Political firestorm erupts over Bidens Gaza boondoggle

Republicans have seized on the disaster as emblematic of administration incompetence. House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) called it a textbook example of a political stunt, accusing Biden of prioritizing campaign optics over strategic priorities during the 2024 election. The reports disclosure of $31 million in equipment losses and the fatal injuries has intensified calls for accountability.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged the shortcomings in a statement, pledging reforms to equipment interoperability and joint training. However, TRANSCOM resisted the IGs recommendations to establish oversight for JLOTS missions, leaving four critical proposals unresolved.

A cautionary tale for future missions

The Gaza pier debacle underscores the risks of ignoring systemic military preparedness in favor of fleeting political goals. As Congress debates Pentagon budgets, the IGs findings highlight urgent needs: restoring JLOTS capabilities, improving service coordination and investing in modern equipment. For now, the collapsed pier remains a costly testament to what happens when under-resourced forces are thrown into complex missions  leaving taxpayers footing the bill and service members paying the price.

Sources for this article include:

AMgreatness.com

YourNews.com

AirForceTimes.com
Border invasion drops to near zero as Trump administration cracks down, says former military operative

Illegal crossings at the Texas-Mexico border fell from ~10,000/day under Biden to 20-30/day under Trumps policies, attributed to stricter enforcement, self-deportations, and cartel disruption.

Trumps measuresTitle 10 military deployments, a $1,000 voluntary departure incentive, and a military-controlled border zonehave crippled cartel smuggling revenue and reduced migrant inflows.

Logistical hurdles persist due to limited processing capacity, sanctuary cities, and judicial blockades, with calls to hold officials like Mayorkas accountable for past border failures.

Experts warn of future smuggling via AI-powered drones or robots (e.g., fentanyl-delivery drones), urging countermeasures like jamming systems and thermal detection upgrades.

The crisis is framed as a moral battle against cartel brutality (e.g., fentanyl, trafficking), with calls for spiritual renewal and proactive tech-driven border security to sustain progress.

In a recent interview on Brighteon.com, border security expert and former military operative Doc Pete Chambers revealed a staggering decline in illegal crossings along the Texas-Mexico borderfrom an estimated 10,000 per day under the Biden administration to as few as 20-30 per day under President Trumps renewed enforcement policies.

Chambers, who has extensive on-the-ground experience monitoring border operations, attributed the sharp drop to stricter enforcement, self-deportations, and targeted actions against cartel operations. However, he warned that logistical challenges in mass deportations remain, and cartels may soon adapt with advanced smuggling tactics, including robotic drones and land-crawling bots.

From Chaos to Control

During the interview with host Mike Adams, Chambers described how the border crisis has shifted dramatically since Trump took office. Under Biden, he witnessed days with 12,500 illegal crossings in just 48 hours, particularly during surges like the Venezuelan "Tren de Aragua" gang influx. Now, with Title 10 military deployments, enhanced surveillance, and cooperation from Mexican authorities, crossings have plummeted.

Key Factors Behind the Drop:

Self-Deportations : Many migrants are leaving voluntarily, spurred by Trumps policies, including a reported $1,000 incentive for voluntary departure.

: Many migrants are leaving voluntarily, spurred by Trumps policies, including a reported $1,000 incentive for voluntary departure. Cartel Disruption : Chambers noted that cartels have lost hundreds of millions per month in human smuggling revenue due to tightened security.

: Chambers noted that cartels have lost hundreds of millions per month in human smuggling revenue due to tightened security. Military Zone Designation: Trumps declaration of a military-controlled border zone (similar to historic operations under General Pershing) has enabled active-duty troops to assist in interdictions.

The Deportation Dilemma

Despite the progress, Chambers expressed concerns about the logistical hurdles of mass deportations. While ICE, Border Patrol, and local law enforcement are coordinating removals, the system lacks the capacity to process millions swiftly. He emphasized that sanctuary cities and left-wing judges blocking deportations remain obstacles.

"If we cant prosecute traitors like Mayorkas for enabling this invasion, what message does that send?" Chambers questioned, referencing the former DHS secretarys role in the border crisis.

Cartels Next Move: Robot Smugglers?

Looking ahead, Chambers and Adams discussed the rising threat of cartels using AI-powered robotics to bypass traditional border defenses. Adams speculated about robot "raccoons" or bird-like drones carrying fentanyl payloads, while Chambers warned that current military planning may not be prepared for such tactics.

"If cartels deploy one-way smuggling bots, tracking them will be a nightmare," Adams noted. Chambers agreed, stressing the need for adaptive countermeasures like drone-jamming systems and thermal detection upgrades.

Spiritual Warfare and the Border Battle

Beyond logistics, Chambers framed the border crisis as part of a larger spiritual and cultural war. He linked Americas drug epidemic to moral decay and the erosion of faith, urging a return to biblical principles to combat cartel influence.

"The cartels are satanic in their brutalityrape trees, child trafficking, and now chemical warfare via fentanyl," he said. "We need a Secretary of Spiritual Warfare in the White House."

Whats Next?

While the border appears more secure, Chambers cautioned that cartels will pivot to new smuggling methods, and the U.S. must stay ahead with technology, intelligence, and unwavering enforcement.

"This isnt over," he said. "But for now, weve shown that strong leadership can turn the tide."

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Doc Pete Chambers as they discuss the update on border invasion, US military vs. drug cartels and how to bring America closer to God.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump administration declares war on Mexican drug cartels: Military operations and border security take center stage

Trump administration secures historic U.S.-Mexico military border patrol agreement

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Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Theremnantministrytx.org
DOGE slashes 500,000 federal credit cards in sweeping anti-fraud crackdown

DOGE, led by Elon Musk, deactivated over 500,000 federal credit cards in a major anti-fraud effort targeting wasteful spending across 32 agencies.

The crackdown addresses long-standing abuse, with $39.7 billion in annual card spending under scrutiny and AI tools detecting misuse.

Federal credit cards far outnumber government employees, revealing systemic mismanagement and lack of oversight in the SmartPay system.

The audit is part of Trumps broader push to cut waste, with $165 billion in savings claimed so far from agency reforms.

More deactivations are expected as DOGE works toward a leaner, more transparent federal financial system.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has deactivated more than 500,000 federal credit cards as part of a sweeping anti-fraud initiative. The decision, announced this week, targets dormant or unnecessary accounts across 32 federal agencies, marking a significant step in President Donald Trumps broader campaign to eliminate waste and corruption in government operations. With $39.7 billion in annual charge card spending under scrutiny, the crackdown signals a new era of fiscal accountability that many argue is long overdue.

A systemic problem of waste and abuse

Federal credit cards, managed under the General Services Administrations SmartPay system, have long been a source of controversy. Reports indicate that the government currently holds approximately 4.6 million active cards, a staggering number given the size of the federal workforce. Musk, appointed by Trump to spearhead efficiency reforms, has described the system as a "decades-old ecosystem of waste, fraud, and mismanagement." The sheer volume of unused or misused cards, many of which remained active despite serving no operational purpose, highlights the lack of oversight that has plagued federal spending for years.

The deactivation of 500,000 cards is just the first phase of DOGEs audit efforts. According to agency statements, hundreds of thousands more accounts are under review, with AI-driven monitoring tools and whistleblower channels being implemented to detect irregularities. The move has been praised by fiscal conservatives who argue that lax enforcement allowed unchecked spending to flourish, often at taxpayers expense.

The scale of the problem

The numbers speak for themselves. In the most recent fiscal year, federal credit cards were used for over 90 million transactions, totaling $39.7 billion, which is a sharp increase from previous years. Musk has pointed out that the number of active cards far exceeds the total number of government employees, raising serious questions about how these accounts were being managed. "Twice as many credit cards are issued and active than the total number of government employees," Musk noted in a recent statement.

The audit has already uncovered troubling patterns, including dormant cards that remained open despite years of inactivity. Agencies affected by the deactivations span the federal government, including the Departments of Defense, State, Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency. While some officials have downplayed the impact, others acknowledge that the crackdown is necessary to restore fiscal discipline.

The credit card crackdown is just one facet of Trumps larger effort to streamline the federal government. Since taking office, his administration has dismantled entire agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. DOGE, established by executive order in January, has been at the forefront of these efforts, claiming $165 billion in savings.

Musk, whose tenure as a special government employee is set to conclude soon, has framed the initiative as a necessary reset. "A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days," he said at a recent Cabinet meeting.

What comes next?

With the audit ongoing, DOGE has made it clear that the work is far from over, signaling that additional deactivations and policy changes are on the horizon. The ultimate goal, according to officials, is to create a leaner, more accountable federal financial system where every dollar spent is tracked and justified.

For taxpayers weary of government waste, the move is a welcome step toward transparency. Yet, as the administration presses forward, the debate over how to balance fiscal responsibility with operational efficiency will undoubtedly continue.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Newsweek.com
EU takes Trump to WTO over tariffs, targets U.S. goods with 95 billion countermeasures

The EU is challenging U.S. tariffs at the WTO, accusing the U.S. of violating trade rules and preparing 95 billion in retaliatory measures.

The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on foreign vehicles, harming European automakers, while Trump threatens a 20% tariff on all EU imports.

The EUs countermeasures target key U.S. industries, including spirits, aerospace, and auto parts, potentially forcing manufacturers to move production overseas.

Negotiations remain stalled, with the EU pausing some retaliatory tariffs but warning they could be reinstated if no deal is reached.

A full-blown trade war looms as both sides refuse to back down, risking economic fallout for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The European Union is gearing up for a high-stakes trade battle with the United States, launching a formal dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over President Donald Trumps controversial reciprocal tariffs while preparing retaliatory measures worth 95 billion ($107.4 billion) on American imports.

The move comes as the U.S. has already imposed a 25% tariff on foreign vehicles in a policy that has hit European automakers hard. With negotiations stalled, the EU is signaling it wont back down, even as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insists the bloc remains open to a negotiated solution.

EU takes legal action against U.S. tariffs

The European Commission has accused the U.S. of violating WTO rules by unilaterally imposing tariffs without proper justification. The EUs objective is thus to reaffirm that internationally agreed rules matter, and these cannot be unilaterally disregarded by any WTO member, including the US, the Commission stated. The dispute will begin with formal consultations, a required step before the WTO can rule on the legality of the U.S. measures.

At the heart of the conflict is Trumps threat to impose a 20% tariff on all EU imports, a move that would escalate an already tense trade relationship. The U.S. has already levied a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, a policy that has drawn sharp criticism from European leaders. European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic emphasized that while the EU prefers negotiation, it is preparing for all scenarios.

Retaliatory tariffs target key U.S. industries

The EUs proposed countermeasures include a sweeping list of American goods, from agricultural products to aerospace components. Among the most notable targets are bourbon, tequila, and other spirits in what is a direct response to Trumps earlier threat of a 200% tariff on EU alcohol imports. The list also includes $10.5 billion in aircraft, $10.3 billion in vehicle parts, and $2 billion in vehicles, potentially impacting major U.S. manufacturers like Boeing.

John Plueger, CEO of Air Lease Corp., warned that prolonged tariffs could force U.S. aerospace companies to shift production overseas. If tariffs were to remain long term, it could ultimately serve as an incentive for U.S. aerospace manufacturers to look outside the U.S. to start additional production lines for product delivery outside the U.S., he said.

The EU has temporarily paused an earlier set of retaliatory tariffs on $24.1 billion worth of U.S. goods, including steel and aluminum, to allow for further negotiations. However, if no resolution is reached, these measures could be reinstated alongside the new 95 billion list.

A transatlantic trade war looms

The escalating tensions come as the U.S. and EU struggle to find common ground on trade policy. While the UK recently secured a trade deal with the U.S., the EU has taken a more confrontational approach, insisting that Trumps tariffs violate global trade rules. We believe there are good deals to be made for the benefit of consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, von der Leyen said.

Trump, meanwhile, has doubled down on his aggressive trade stance, claiming the EU has treated the U.S. unfairly. They very much want to make a deal. Well be dealing with them, he said during the announcement of the UK agreement.

With both sides digging in, the risk of a full-blown trade war grows. The EUs public consultation on countermeasures will remain open until June 10, after which the Commission will decide its next steps. If negotiations fail, the economic fallout could be severe, affecting industries from aviation to agriculture and raising costs for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

As the EU and U.S. brace for a prolonged trade dispute, the EUs decision to challenge Trumps tariffs at the WTO underscores its commitment to a rules-based global trading system, even as it prepares for the possibility of economic retaliation. With billions in trade at risk and no clear resolution in sight, the coming months will test whether diplomacy can prevail or if the transatlantic alliance will fracture further under the weight of escalating tariffs.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

CNBC.com

APNews.com
Pharma stocks tumble after appointment of Dr. Vinay Prasad to key FDA post

Pharmaceutical stocks, including Moderna (-13 percent), Novavax (-7.2 percent) and Sarepta Therapeutics (-27 percent), dropped sharply following Dr. Vinay Prasad's appointment as director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

A hematologist-oncologist and vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccines, Prasad has opposed vaccine mandates for children, criticized "COVID-19 alarmism" and questioned the FDAs accelerated approval process under his predecessor, Dr. Peter Marks.

Prasad's appointment follows Marks' resignation in March and aligns with the Trump administration's push for regulatory reform, including skepticism of mainstream vaccine policies.

Analysts warn Prasad's "anti-industry" reputation could slow expedited drug approvals, particularly for gene therapies, raising uncertainty for biotech innovation and investor confidence.

The leadership change signals a move toward greater scrutiny of pharmaceutical practices, testing the FDA's credibility amid allegations of corporate favoritism and potential polarization over public health policy.

Stocks of pharmaceutical companies nosedived following the appointment of Dr. Vinay Prasad to a key position at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced Prasad's appointment as director of the agency's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) Tuesday, May 6, in an internal email later quoted by media outlets. Prasad took over the post vacated by his predecessor, Dr. Peter Marks, who stepped down in March following disagreements with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy.

The new CBER head  a hematologist-oncologist and professor at the University of California, San Francisco  has authored over 500 academic papers and two books critical of medical reversals and flawed research. He is also a staunch critic of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, noting that children don't need the injections and they shouldn't be required in schools. Prasad has also denounced the media for stoking "COVID-19 alarmism" and overstating the threat of SARS-CoV-2. (Related: Study: 1 in 100 teens developed heart inflammation after second Pfizer mRNA injection.)

Prasad also criticized the FDA's accelerated approval process under Marks, who was a staunch advocate for rapid vaccine authorization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even Emily Kopp of the Daily Caller couldn't help but point out that "Marks' No. 1 critic just took his job."

Makary's announcement sent shockwaves throughout the stock market, triggered a sharp sell-off in vaccine and biotech stocks. Shares of mRNA vaccine maker Moderna dropped as much as 13 percent on Tuesday, while that of Novavax dropped by 7.2 percent. Sarepta Therapeutics, a company specializing in gene therapies, saw its stocks nosedive by as much as 27 percent.

From Kennedy to Prasad: How Trump's health policy shakeup is crushing Big Pharma stocks

This wasn't the first time pharmaceutical industry stocks plunged following a shakeup in the FDA, as Marks' abrupt resignation on March 28 triggered a similar downturn. Moderna stocks plunged by 12 percent, while Novavax stocks dropped by 10 percent. Shares of BioNTech  Pfizer's partner in developing its COVID-19 injection  dropped by 5.8 percent that day.

Prasad's skepticism aligns with the second Trump administration's push for regulatory reform, including proposed cuts to global health initiatives and a reduction in the federal workforce. The new CBRE head's appointment underscores the growing influence of critics within federal health agencies  a trend that began with Kennedy's controversial nomination and subsequent confirmation to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The market reaction was immediate, with analysts warning of broader implications for the industry. Jared Holz of Mizuho Securities noted Prasad's "anti-industry" stance as a key concern, particularly for companies reliant on expedited approvals.

Historically, the FDA has balanced industry collaboration with public health oversight, but recent leadership changes signal a shift toward skepticism of mainstream vaccine policy. Analysts warn that uncertainty around drug approvals could stifle innovation, particularly in gene and cell therapy.

As the FDA enters a new era under Prasad's leadership, the pharmaceutical industry faces heightened scrutiny  and investors are bracing for further turbulence. The agency's credibility, already strained by allegations of corporate favoritism, may now be tested by a director who has built his career challenging conventional medical wisdom. Whether this shift leads to greater transparency or deeper polarization remains to be seen.

Watch Dr. Pam Popper sharing some common sense commentary from Dr. Vinay Prasad in this clip.

This video is from the Wellness Forum Health channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Vaccine stocks plummet after RFK Jr. nominated as HHS secretary.

Heads of vaccine makers Moderna, BioNTech included in list of COVID-19 billionaires.

Pharmaceutical CEOs panicking over Trump victory as RFK Jr. prepares to overhaul corrupt FDA.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com 1

Bloomberg.com

ZeroHedge.com 2

Brighteon.com
Trump proposes cutting China tariff to 80% ahead of high-stakes trade talks

Trump proposes an 80% tariff on Chinese goods, reversing earlier reports of a cut to 50-54%, escalating trade tensions ahead of critical negotiations.

Markets briefly plunged before stabilizing as investors reacted to Trumps surprise announcement, signaling uncertainty over trade war de-escalation.

U.S. businesses face severe financial strain, with tariffs inflating costs and disrupting supply chains, forcing some companies to consider selling assets.

White House officials temper expectations, stating negotiations are preliminary and full trade normalization could take years despite ongoing talks.

The U.S.-UK trade deal (10% tariffs) offers a potential model, but China talks are more complex due to retaliatory tariffs and deep economic friction.

As U.S. and Chinese officials prepare for critical trade negotiations this weekend, President Trump has thrown a curveball by suggesting an 80% tariff on Chinese goods, which is far higher than the reduction to 50-54% that was previously reported.

The announcement, made via Truth Social on Friday, sent markets into brief turmoil before stabilizing, as investors weighed the implications of a potential de-escalation or further escalation in the ongoing trade war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Switzerland on Saturday, with the outcome likely to shape global trade dynamics for years to come.

A shifting tariff landscape

Just days after reports indicated the Trump administration was considering slashing tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 50-54%, Trumps latest post upended expectations. "80% Tariff on China seems right!" he wrote, adding that the final decision rests with Bessent. The president also demanded greater market access for U.S. goods, declaring, "CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA  WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DONT WORK ANYMORE!!!"

The mixed signals reflect the administrations balancing act: reducing punitive tariffs to ease economic strain while maintaining leverage in negotiations. Earlier this week, Goldman Sachs economists predicted tariffs would drop to around 60%, while industry insiders cited by the New York Post claimed a 50-54% range was under discussion. Trumps 80% proposal, though still a significant cut, suggests a harder line than anticipated.

Markets wobble, businesses brace for impact

S&P 500 futures initially dipped on Trumps comments before paring losses, highlighting investor uncertainty. The stakes are high: U.S. imports of Chinese goods have already plummeted by 60% due to existing tariffs, according to logistics firm Flexport. Even an 80% rate may not fully revive trade, with economists noting that tariffs must fall below 50% to restore normal business flows.

The damage is already visible. Chinas April exports to the U.S. dropped 21% year-over-year, while U.S. GDP contracted for the first time since 2022 in a downturn partly blamed on tariff-driven stockpiling. Retailers and manufacturers are caught in the crossfire. Cassie Abel, CEO of outdoor apparel company Wild Rye, told the BBC, "We have a purchase order that's incoming, which is around $700,000 [of goods] that's now costing 1.2m in levies up from 200,000." She said the situation is forcing her to consider selling parts of her business.

The long road to resolution

Despite Trumps post, White House officials downplayed expectations for a swift resolution. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNN, "Everything will happen while the talks are happening, not before," emphasizing that negotiations are preliminary. Bessent has framed the meeting as a step toward "de-escalation," not a final deal, warning that full normalization could take years.

Analysts agree. "The systemic frictions between the U.S. and China will not be resolved any time soon," said former trade negotiator Stephen Olson. Eswar Prasad, ex-IMF China division head, added that even reduced tariffs would leave "high tariff barriers and various other restrictions" in place.

A template for the future?

The recent U.S.-UK trade deal, which lowered tariffs to 10% on key goods, offers a potential model. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called it a "template" for future agreements, but China talks are far more complex. While Trumps 80% proposal signals flexibility, it remains well above the UK benchmark; Chinas retaliatory 125% tariff on U.S. goods complicates the calculus.

For now, businesses and markets are left guessing. As Bessent and He Lifeng meet in Switzerland, the world watches to see whether the two economic giants can chart a path toward compromise or if the trade war will intensify. Trumps 80% tariff suggestion, though a concession, underscores the gulf between the two sides. For American businesses and consumers, the outcome will determine whether relief is on the horizon or if higher costs and shortages will persist.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NYPost.com

CNN.com

BBC.com
Trump and UK strike historic trade deal, setting stage for global tariff negotiations

President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a major trade deal on Victory Days 80th anniversary, marking the first breakthrough since U.S. tariffs were imposed in April.

The agreement grants U.S. farmers and manufacturers expanded UK market access, including $5 billion in new export opportunities, while maintaining a 10% baseline tariff on British imports.

Key concessions include reduced tariffs for luxury British cars (Rolls-Royce, Bentley) and zero tariffs on UK steel, benefiting British manufacturers while protecting U.S. industries.

Experts caution the deal may not be easily replicated with larger trade partners like China, where Trump signaled tougher negotiations and higher tariffs could follow.

Markets reacted cautiously, with initial stock gains fading as details revealed a U.S.-favorable deal, while the UK faces ongoing 10% tariffs on many exports.

In a landmark move aimed at reshaping global trade dynamics, President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a sweeping trade agreement on the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, marking the first major deal since the U.S. imposed sweeping tariffs in April.

The agreement, hailed as a "great deal for America," grants U.S. farmers and manufacturers unprecedented access to UK markets while maintaining a 10% baseline tariff on British imports. With negotiations still ongoing, the deal offers a blueprint for future agreements but also signals that Trumps aggressive trade policies are here to stay.

A win for American farmers and manufacturers

The deal promises to unlock $5 billion in new export opportunities for U.S. producers, including $700 million in ethanol and $250 million in beef sales. The UK "will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products," Trump declared from the Oval Office. British tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods, which previously reached as high as 125%, will now be slashed, leveling the playing field for American ranchers and farmers.

Prime Minister Starmer, joining via speakerphone, emphasized the mutual benefits: "This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. Its going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access." The agreement also streamlines customs procedures and strengthens intellectual property protections, ensuring U.S. firms remain competitive in the UKs procurement market.

Carveouts for luxury cars and steel

One of the most notable concessions involves British automakers. Under the deal, the first 100,000 UK-made vehicles imported annually, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Jaguar models, will face a reduced 10% tariff, down from 25%. Additional vehicles will still be subject to the higher rate. "Rolls-Royce is not going to be built here. I wouldnt even ask them to do that," Trump quipped, defending the exemption for ultra-luxury brands.

Meanwhile, the UK secured relief from U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, which will drop to zero as part of a new "trading union" for the metals. British steel exports to the U.S., valued at $492 million last year, will now flow tariff-free in a major win for UK manufacturers.

A template for future deals... or a warning?

While the agreement offers a framework for negotiations with other nations, experts warn that its terms may not be easily replicated. "The UK is a relatively small trading partner ... and one where the U.S. runs a merchandise surplus, making it a relatively easy case to strike a deal," noted Sarah Bianchi of Evercore ISI. The 10% baseline tariff remains intact, suggesting that countries with larger trade surpluses, like China, could face steeper demands.

Trump made it clear that tougher negotiations lie ahead and that tariffs for some countries could be "much higher" because they have massive trade surpluses and, in many cases, they didnt treat us right. The administration is already eyeing deals with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.

Markets react cautiously

Investors initially cheered the news, with the Dow surging over 250 points, but enthusiasm waned as details emerged. The British pound dipped slightly, reflecting concerns that the deal favors the U.S. "10% tariffs are staying in place for great swathes of British exporters, but American companies selling into the UK will benefit from new cuts to duties," noted Susannah Streeter of Hargreaves Lansdown.

Whats next?

With the 90-day tariff pause set to expire in July, the pressure is on for the Trump administration to secure more agreements. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to meet Chinese officials this weekend, though Trump downplayed expectations: "China very much wants to make a deal. Well see how that works out."

For now, the UK deal stands as a symbolic victory that may ease tensions but leaves many questions unanswered. As Starmer put it, "The question you should be asking is: Is it better than where we were yesterday?"

Sources for this article include:

WhiteHouse.gov

CNN.com

CNBC.com
U.K. asylum costs will triple to 15.3B over the next decade amid surge in small boat migrants, NAO reports

The U.K. governments asylum housing costs are projected to triple to 15.3 billion over the next decade, far exceeding initial estimates, due to increased small boat arrivals and reliance on expensive accommodations like hotels.

Private firms (Serco, Clearsprings, Mears) profit from lucrative contracts, with hotels accounting for 76% of recent spendingcosting taxpayers 4.56 million daily, equivalent to building a small hospital monthly.

The report fuels public anger, with Reform UK gaining traction by demanding deportations, while Conservatives accuse Labour of failing to control costs or borders despite processing more asylum claims.

The crisis stems from years of weak border enforcement and policy delays, with the NAO warning costs could quadruple without urgent action, straining public services like health and education.

The U.K. faces a clash between humanitarian obligations and fiscal responsibility, with growing pressure to end asylum hotels and tighten borders amid rising migration-driven debt and polarization.

A damning National Audit Office (NAO) report reveals that the U.K. governments costs for housing asylum seekers will triple to a projected 15.3 billion ($20.3 billion) over the next decade, driven by an influx of small boat migrants and inflated costs tied to luxury accommodations. The startling estimate, a 240% increase from the Home Offices original 4.5 billion ($6 billion) projection in 2019, has sparked outrage as critics accuse ministers of failing to secure borders and rein in migratory pressures. With over 11,500 migrants arriving by boat in 2024 alone and nearly 110,000 asylum seekers now under state care, the data paints a picture of systemic mismanagement at a time when the Labour government vows to end the chaos.

Financial escalation: Billions wasted on luxury contracts

The NAOs analysis, published this week, pinpoints soaring costs linked to overcrowded asylum hotels and inadequate dispersed housing. While the Home Office initially outsourced accommodation to three companiesClearsprings Ready Homes, Mears Group and Sercoon 10-year contracts aimed at providing self-catering housing, migration surges have forced reliance on high-cost hotels. These accommodations accounted for 76% of the 1.67 billion ($2.2 billion) spent in 2024/25 alone, with profits for private contractors averaging 7% annually.

The model is broken, said William Yarwood, Media Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers Alliance. Taxpayers are footing the bill for what amounts to spiraling tourism subsidies for smugglers clients. The Labour government must act  now.

Serco stands to earn 5.5 billion ($7.3 billion) over the decade, Clearsprings over 7 billion ($9.3 billion) and Mears 2.5 billion ($3.3 billion). Despite a reported 383 million ($507 million) profit across 2019-2024, the NAO flagged hotels as potentially more lucrative for firms than other housing. Meanwhile, the daily cost  4.56 million ($ 6 million)  mirrors the price of building a small hospital every month.

Political fallout: Reform UK rides wave of public anger

The NAOs findings have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmers government, which inherited a backlog in chaos, as a Home Office spokesperson admitted. Opponents pounced on the data, with Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin vowing to deport all illegal entrants if elected. Nigel Farages party, now leading in polls, has capitalized on public fury over unchecked arrivals, which rose 45% in early 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Labour apologists claim theyre fixing the system while costs skyrocket, said Chris Philp, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary. Well end asylum welfare benefits for unfounded claims and revoke residency rights for those endangering public safety.

The Conservatives, previously advocates for Rwanda-style deportation deals, had frozen asylum processing during their tenure  a policy Starmers team reversed. While Labour has boosted decision-making rates by 52% and deported 24,000 migrants since October, critics argue its approach remains adrift.

A decade of unchecked migratory pressures

The NAOs revised estimates trace back to private contracts signed in 2019, long before Labour entered Downing Street. However, Starmers government faces direct scrutiny for failing to curb crossings, which hit a record pace in 2024. The rising costs mirror a broader trend: forced migration has become a geopolitical lightning rod, with border tensions straining infrastructure and fueling polarization.

Todays crisis stems from decades of weak enforcement, said NAO head Gareth Davies. Without decisive action, costs could soon surpass the original estimate by fourfold.

The report arrives amid debates over whether Britains welfare state can sustain open-door policies. With state spending on health, education and transport for migrants adding billions annually, some analysts warn of a national security risk exacerbated by fiscal pressures.

A nation divided: Can Labour balance compassion with fiscal realism?

As small boats continue to churn across the Channel, the U.K. faces an existential reckoning. The 15.3 billion price tag underscores a system buckling under competing priorities: humanitarian obligations vs. taxpayer burdens, border security vs. asylum rights.

The publics patience is exhausted, Yarwood warned. The government must choose  lock down the border, or prepare for more migration-driven debt.

With Reform UK polling near 40%, and Tories sharpening their pro-immigration crackdown rhetoric, the next general election could hinge on who offers a viable path forward  a path, critics say, must begin with ending the era of asylum hotels.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

GBnews.com

Bloomberg.com

EuropeanConservative.com
Benderson Development Co. and its car-wash affiliate Delta Sonic are seeking more than $1.4 million in tax breaks for its $26 million project to relocate its respective corporate operations from Buffalo and the City of Tonawanda to one of Bendersons business complexes in Amherst.

The two companies, which together employ 380 workers, want over $1.1 million in sales tax relief and $342,000 in property tax breaks to move to the Amherst Development Park, an office and warehouse complex owned by Benderson at 6000-6040 North Bailey Ave.

That would allow them to modernize their space and centralize their operations in a single location. Bendersons offices would also be on one floor, instead of spread across multiple levels. The complex would include Delta Sonics soap-blending facility, warehouse and fabrication shop in one building rather than three.

Benderson and Delta Sonic currently maintain their administrative offices in an aging office building at 570 Delaware Ave. in Allentown.

For Benderson, which years ago moved its corporate headquarters to Sarasota, Fla., its the developers regional headquarters. Delta Sonic has corporate operations at 1192 Main St. in Buffalo, as well as at 670 Youngs St. in Tonawanda, but they are not big enough.

Both companies wanted to renovate their existing locations, but the Delaware Avenue building does not provide the necessary space or infrastructure to achieve this, while it would be cost-prohibitive for Delta Sonic to complete the renovations needed to accommodate their growth requirements, according to a letter from Amherst IDA Executive Director David Mingoia to government leaders in Buffalo, Tonawanda and Amherst.

This project is instrumental in driving the development of our company and creating a synergy between BDC and its sister company, Delta Sonic, Benderson wrote in its own application. Amherst Development Park has all the key factors.

The companies explored other options in Buffalo, including the Benderson-owned Hertel Commerce Park at 699 Hertel Ave., but that wasnt big enough and didnt have enough parking.

So officials turned to Bendersons extensive holdings in Amherst, rather than consider alternatives outside Erie County  including Florida, which has no state income tax, and where Benderson also has extensive holdings.

The consolidation of Delta Sonics operations is vital for our future growth and sustainability, and the Agencys financial assistance is the key to realizing this project, the company wrote. Without this support, Delta Sonic would be compelled to explore relocation options outside of Erie County.

Plans call for Benderson to spend $13.15 million to renovate 199,146 square feet of space on North Bailey and to construct a 10,069-square-foot warehouse addition. The company would retain 231 jobs and add another 10 full-time jobs, paying an average of $62,000 but ranging from $45,760 to $150,000.

Meanwhile, Delta Sonic will invest $12.8 million to construct and renovate 115,215 square feet of space at 6010, 6030 and 6040 N. Bailey. It would retain 149 full-time and two part-time jobs, while creating 12 new full-time positions paying from $45,000 to $165,000. And it would continue research and development efforts focused on new formulas for proprietary soaps and car-wash equipment to reduce energy consumption.

The projects have been approved by the town. Construction would begin in July, with completion by the end of July 2027. Benderson says it would sell or lease the space it would be vacating in Buffalo and Tonawanda.

The proposed projects projected costs do not justify proceeding without factoring in the IDA incentives, Benderson wrote. There are significant risks and costs involved in completing the project and applicant would not be able to proceed without factoring in Amherst IDA benefits.

Because the applications involve tax support for a relocation from two municipalities within Erie County to a third, the Amherst IDA first had to notify Buffalo and Tonawanda officials. Acting Mayor Christopher Scanlon of Buffalo and Tonawanda Mayor John L. White both signed off on the move, saying that Benderson and Delta Sonic officials had met with them in advance.

Both mayors noted in identical letters on April 16 and April 24 that they dont usually support any business moving their operations, but this move is important to the continued success of both applicants and significant contributions to the region. They also said company officials stressed their commitment to continued investment, even though they are moving to a neighboring municipality.

The dual projects will be the subject of a joint public hearing on May 16, with the IDA board expected to take up the applications at an upcoming meeting. My discussions with the companies included ensuring that possible solutions in Buffalo and Tonawanda were exhausted before AIDA considered assisting in the expansion of operations in Amherst, Mingoia wrote in his letter.
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Nutanix (Nasdaq:NTNX) has finally made its big move to take on VMware and take advantage of uncertainty and dissatisfaction with the new course that Broadcom has set out for the virtualization leader. At its .NEXT 2025 conference, Nutanix unveiled a slew of partnerships in storage, cloud and AI with players Nvidia, Pure Storage, Google Cloud and Canonical.

First the vendor revised Nutanix Enterprise AI, its platform developed to simplify and accelerate the deployment of AI workloads in enterprise environments. It supports AI models like machine learning and generative AI at scale, both on-premises and in hybrid/multi-cloud environments.

This new version adds deeper integrations with Nvidia AI Enterprise, Nvidia NIM microservices and its Nvidia NeMo framework. The goal of this release is to simplify the process of building, deploying, running, and managing models and inferencing services, from the data center to the edge to the cloud on a certified Kubernetes environment.
As city leadership works to tame a deficit that was at one time pegged at $70 million, some in City Hall are wondering whether the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority will once again become a hard control board.

The control board, as the Fiscal Stability Authority is known, was established by state law in 2003 during the citys last major fiscal crisis. It has been operating in an advisory capacity since 2012. But with no easy answers for new revenues, a structural deficit and the citys reserve funds depleted, some members of the Common Council are concerned the control board will once again take the reins of the city budget and other fiscal decisions.

During the Councils Finance Committee meeting this week, committee chair Mitchell Nowakowski asked control board secretary Fred Floss if the board would enter back into a control period, the term in the state law that is often referred to as a hard control board.

Floss said the control board will work with the Council and Mayors Office to understand the choices before them and avoid that scenario.

Our hopes are that we dont have to go into a control period, and then were willing to work with the Mayors Office, the Council and the community to make sure that we do everything possible not to go into a control period, Floss said.

In order to re-enter a hard control board period, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority board of directors would need a simple majority vote. Currently only six of the nine board seats are filled, with State Commissioner of Civil Service Timothy Hogues appointed to the board last month by Gov. Kathy Hochul. In recent years, with only five members, the bare minimum for a quorum seated, the board has often had to cancel meetings because of absences.

Mayor Christopher Scanlon, an ex-officio board member, has said he opposes moving back into a control period, meaning all other seated members would need to vote in favor to move back into a hard control board.

During a control period, the board of directors must approve city spending plans, can institute hiring and wage freezes and must approve new contracts negotiated with labor unions, among other things.

Scanlon, who is running for mayor this year, has been working with department heads to tighten belts and find additional savings through a soft hiring freeze  leaving nonessential positions and those that do not generate revenue vacant  and other measures, including a suspension of all nonessential travel and tighter controls on the use of overtime.

Scanlons administration says it has achieved nearly $30 million in savings through those moves.

In addition, the administration has included $30 million in revenue from two plans expected to be in the state budget  the sale of city parking ramps to a newly created authority and a 3% hotel occupancy tax  in its spending plan for the coming fiscal year. Scanlons proposed budget raises the tax levy by 8%, but contains no layoffs.

In its analysis of Scanlons proposed budget, the control board listed those revenues and others reliant on action from the state, totaling nearly $40 million, as uncertain or unreliable. The control board asked city officials to provide an alternate budget known as a gap plan.

Buffalo control board asks Scanlon for alternate plan included in his budget Buffalo's financial control board wants Mayor Christopher Scanlon to submit an alternate city budget proposal, in case some of the current budget's revenue assumptions don't pan out.

Some Council members worry that these plans are a continuation of practices that have led the city to deplete its reserve funds and rely on windfalls, in particular the use of $130 million in American Rescue Plan funds, to balance budgets since the control board moved to an advisory role.

Former Mayor Byron Brown, who resigned in October making Scanlon, the Council president, acting mayor, proposed, and the Council adopted, imbalanced budgets with inflated revenues and underestimated expenses throughout Browns time in office.

Since the control board shifted back to an advisory role in 2012, the city has used more than $109 million in reserve funds, built up during the hard control board, to plug end-of-year budget gaps, in addition to the $130 million in American Rescue Plan funds.

During the committee meeting, Floss told the Council that many of the issues the city now faces were not the fault of the Council, Scanlon or Brown.

City lawmakers move budget forward after measures included in state budget The state budget hasn't yet passed, but lawmakers have said a package of bills related to the city of Buffalo's budget plans would be in the final version.

Just for the record, were here, but most of the issues that were dealing with are not the Councils making, or not the mayors making or the former mayors making, but theyre coming from the outside, Floss said. Theyre coming from economics, and we have to react to that. And the question is, whats the best way for us to react to whats going on in the economy and in our community?

Several of the Council members pushed back on that point.

University District Council Member Rasheed Wyatt, who is also running for mayor, bristled at the idea that no one was at fault for the deficit now in place, and said he has been raising concerns over imbalance in the budget for years.

I want to say this, its not this persons fault, he said, pointing to himself.

Meanwhile, other members of the Council also contradicted Floss, but by taking blame for the situation the city is in for signing off on bad budgets.

Niagara District Council Member David Rivera, who came onto the Council in 2007, thanked Floss for excusing him from the budgets he voted for. But he, and others on the Council, said they were partly responsible in voting in favor of imbalanced budgets.

Even though you excuse me, I take responsibility for the votes that Ive taken and the actions that I have taken in regards to those budgets, in regards to those priorities, Rivera said. So yes, the economy is what it is, and we have no control over the economy, but I take responsibility for it, for those bad budgets.

Rivera said the Council has seen expenditures rising for years while revenues remained flat, with the previous administration reluctant to raise taxes. Now, they are stuck in a place where very hard decisions need to be made and many of the plans before them, including Scanlons parking authority plan, continue to kick the can down the road on bringing revenues and expenditures in line.

You may see some sun out today, but its dark days ahead, Rivera said. And I think we have to deal with it now versus just keep pushing it down the road.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been particularly noisy about this issue, telling CNBC earlier this month that the market for AI chips in China could reach $50 billion in the next couple of years, and it was important for U.S. firms to have access to that market.

And Nvidia has a dog in this fight. Biden banned Nvidia from selling its H20 chip in China, a move that cost the company $5.5 billion in writedowns. Nvidias most powerful chips, including the A100, H100, and B1100, are already banned from export to China, also from Biden-era restrictions.

[Related: Potential Nvidia chip shortage looms as Chinese customers rush to beat US sales ban ]

In a posting on X, Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, said not to pop the champagne corks yet. Im not saying that some of the diffusion rules could be favorable for NVIDIA as I think a number of the rules from the Biden admin did not accomplish what they were intended to. But reading into this, it seems rules will be replaced and I doubt China will be opened up quickly as we navigate some type of trade deal, he wrote.

Bloomberg has reported that President Trump is interested in easing restrictions for the UAE, and the UAE has been pushing pretty hard for such new deal, and has promised to invest as much as $1.4 trillion over the next decade in U.S. technology.

President Trumps Middle East trip runs from May 13 to May 16.
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"Our mothers taught us  and we aimed to impart the same to our children  to be kind and respectful, not to fight, bully and pick on others who are weaker or poorer. Yet that is exactly how Donald Trump operates," write Helene Kacich and Ruth Mytty.
Opinion / Columnist

People who believe in the dignity of mankind are happy today: Blessed Mhlanga is out of a notorious prison. Seeing him coming out of prison reminded me of Comrade Mandela, when he left Robbin Island for the first time after 27 years of incarceration. It is not the length of time one spent in prison: who spent more time than the other; Nelson Mandela or Blessed Mhlanga. There is another of measure the two giants: Mandela's prison cells conditions were human than the Zimbabwean remand prisons. Mhlanga was subjected to hard-core criminals who deserved imprisonment. Robbin Island was exclusively a prison for political motivated people deemed by an apartheid regime as criminals. All occupants in Robbin Island shared a common goal, to free Black people from oppression. Mhlanga is a journalist by profession whose rights are enshrined in the country's constitution; he should never have been subjected to jail conditions.Blessed Mhlanga is a victim of a dictatorship government of Zanu PF and equally a victim of a geo-political situation. Previously before the war in Ukraine broke out, third-world countries were human-rights checked by the USA and Europe. They criticized third world countries for their human rights atrocities and put sanctions on whoever violented them. This time around, western countries are embroiled in a blanket support of Ukraine whose human rights abuses are deeply horrifying. In Ukraine prison, activist Gonzalo Lira was murdered, although he was an American citizen. There was no condemnation of his death on social media: it was dead silence. His family cried his death alone and several other alternative social media outlets. In Ukraine prisons, there are opposition leaders, Orthodox Catholic priests and the closing of churches that critiqued Zelensky's government openly, young men who tried to escape conscription, the list is long, are languishing in Ukraine prisons. Western countries have never directly criticized President Zelensky, and the lack of transparency in dealing with dissenting voices, thereby exposing double standards in their human rights approach.The African Union was silent about the fate of Blessed Mhlanga. South Africa and SADC too, remained silent about Blessed Mhlanga's incarceration. Again in South Africa, a young man, Nyokayemabhunu is currently in prison whose charges constantly shift every day to mean different. He could face extradition to face Zanu PF notorious jail or death. The nation must expect the worst about what could happen to him. Our son Itai Dzamara disappeared without a trace: Its 8 years of total silence about what happened to him. I lived in Zambia in the 1970s, I know stories about how members in Zanu were executed and eliminated if there were differences in executing the war; Dare re Chimurenga. Advocate Chitepo's car was bombed, Dr. Edgar Madekurozva was told to dig his grave: then after he was hit by the same pick he used. General Tongogara was gunned down on his way to Zimbabwe. Perceived sellouts were burnt to death: people were frog-marched to come and witness the burning of whoever was a sellout. Petty thieves were beaten until they passed out. Women were used as sex mules. There was no decency whatsoever in the treatment of women during the struggle.Curiously there is a general mood, rekindling events that transpired during the struggle for independence. These young people on social media are glorifying what they don't know. Language use is the same: anyone who differs from the general thinking is a sellout. A lady called Chimhama has been selected from the rest to be the sellout. This framing will not wash anytime soon. It is the same modus operandi that was used during the struggle for independence. Whoever does not agree with the majority; anyone who dared to challenge the common sentiment is a sellout. I sympathize with Lady Chimhama deeply. This binary thinking: it's either black or white; you are bad or good, you are a sellout and not a sellout! It happens in a nation that never healed from its past. There was never a time the nation reflected about national historicity's carrying a collective pain - a pain silently packaged to the next generation.I have been following Lady Chimhama and her eloquent social media input. Zimbabweans cannot cope with her intellect and a photogenic face. She has done a lot of groundwork to assist with the change we all want to see. But this Chunu Chedu is deeply ingrained in our societies. She is outsmarting many in the struggle for change; the same fate that Chitepo and several of them perished for. A Zimbabwean can create a story for you to permanently sink you into political oblivion. We all want to be Presidents at the same time, and to be at the top of a larger scheme of things. To cross that platitude, you become a sellout overnight. This template of thinking is cancerous in a society manifesting itself to total self-destruction. Whoever disagrees gets a name tag to discredit and crush the person, it did not matter how innocent Chimhama is: she is Murakashi, period! I bet with my last penny, Chimhama is innocent: a pure victim of time and space.We must never stop praying: 95 activists are still languishing in prison. Mnangagwa knows deep down in his heart that they are innocent. But these 95 young activists continue to be punished because he wants to send a message of what happens if we demonstrate against him. Mnangagwa is a cold-blooded, murderer, evidently has no feeling for the other human being. It becomes impossible to appeal to his humanity to release baseless accusations of crimes labelled against activists. These 95 activists are not criminals, but followed wrong instructions of a pseudo revolution, unprepared, unmanaged, its leaders were not on the ground but hidden somewhere to watch demonstrations unfolding on air-ventilated posh rooms of South Africa.It pains me to realize that many people are still blinded by the Geza revolution that has so far not realized anything on the ground, a joke of the century. Even the envisaged impeachment processes did not take place. Geza's face is getting to be an object of pity on social media. In retrospect, Geza must be told in no uncertain terms whatsoever, that he is playing with the lives of the people for his narrow-thought purposes. He has no cards left for him to play. What next? Slowly, people are going back to their day-to-day struggles to survive. Much as I want change in Zimbabwe, we don't have leadership that can stand with the people against a regime so cruel as Mnangagwa regime. We would rather wait for a genuine leader than Chiwenga and Chamisa as alternatives to leadership. Chamisa has lost all credibility to take over from Mnangagwa. He has lost his charm he once had. Zimbabwe currently needs some young female leader to lead this nation. That leader is Fadzai Mahere!We hope Blessed recovers from his imprisonment soon. We hope he will continue his journalism profession he loves best without fear or favour. He should never compromise his values to suite the Mnangagwa government. All prayers must go to Nyokayemabhunu. We want our son alive. We want this young man free. We differed with his ideas; however, we do not want him harmed. Nyokayemabhunu is a very capable man, intelligent; there is lot he can give to our nation to thrive for the betterment of all. Disagreeing with him does not mean he must be murdered. We are celebrating the fall of a nasty dictatorship of Adolf Hitler' WW2 tomorrow, the 9th of May. We hope Mnangagwa will fall soon. Only then can the nation start the process of healing.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children aged 1 to 4 in Florida, and children with autism face even greater danger  many times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. One key factor behind this alarming statistic is wandering, also known as elopement. Nearly 50% of children with autism will wander from a safe environment at some point. These incidents can happen in a split second and often lead to children being drawn to nearby water sources such as pools, ponds or canals  many of which are unprotected.

Children with autism are often naturally drawn to water because of its calming sensory qualities  its movement, sound and reflection can be soothing. Unfortunately, this attraction, combined with limited danger awareness or swimming ability, significantly increases their risk of drowning.

To provide a vital resource for parents, families and caregivers everywhere, Florida Atlantic University's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (FAU CARD) within the College of Education, has released a free, comprehensive manual, titled "Autism Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Resources," to protect children with autism from drowning.

Drowning is preventable, and awareness is the first step toward safety. Children with autism face unique and serious challenges that make them more vulnerable around water. At FAU CARD, we believe that with the right knowledge, planning and training, families can reduce this risk dramatically. Our new manual is designed to help parents and others take immediate, practical steps to keep their children safe. This is part of the invaluable work we do every day  to provide families not only with resources, but with peace of mind." Jack Scott, Ph.D., executive director of FAU CARD

The new FAU CARD water safety manual includes crucial safety guidance such as:

Creating an emergency plan: Step-by-step guide for parents and caregivers if a child wanders, including when to contact law enforcement.

Home pool safety: Tips on barriers, alarms, drain covers and professionally installed pool fencing.

Active supervision: Designating a responsible, distraction-free "water watcher" during all water activities.

Swimming lessons: Encouraging adaptive swimming instruction; swimming should be the first sport a child with autism learns.

CPR training: How to get trained and why it's essential to survival during a drowning emergency.

Using the right safety equipment: The importance of United States Coast Guard-approved life jackets over recreational floatation toys.

Removing temptations: Keeping toys and attractive objects out of the pool when not in use.

"Wandering can occur in any setting  at home, school, the park or a friend's house  and is often unprovoked and unpredictable," said Scott. "Children who elope may not respond to their names and often have little to no awareness of danger, making water especially perilous."

FAU CARD urges parents to report any wandering behaviors to their clinical support specialist and to implement prevention strategies such as alarms, locks and community alert systems. The manual outlines specific steps for preparing emergency plans, including keeping a current photo, identifying likely destinations and always calling 911 immediately if a child goes missing.

"Children with autism often don't perceive danger the same way, and many are naturally drawn to water," said Scott. "That combination makes drowning a real and persistent threat  but one we can fight with awareness, education and planning. CARD's mission is to stand beside families, provide expertise and help them feel confident in their child's safety."

FAU CARD is a free resource available to all individuals with autism and their families in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast region. When a family registers, they are paired with a clinical support specialist who works collaboratively with them to build a personalized plan addressing development, safety, education and overall well-being. The center also provides families with tools such as water watcher lanyards, American Red Cross water safety class recommendations and access to local adaptive swimming programs.

FAU CARD is one of seven state-funded CARD centers across Florida. FAU CARD provides no-cost support, training and consultation to individuals with autism and related disabilities, their families, caregivers, educators, employers and community agencies. The center serves Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.

If you have a child with autism  or suspect your child may have autism  contact FAU CARD at [email protected] or 561-213-5751 to discuss your concerns. Together, you and a clinical support specialist can build a personalized plan that supports your child's development and safety.
The host

Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner

Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition.

After narrowly passing a budget resolution this spring foreshadowing major Medicaid cuts, Republicans in Congress are having trouble agreeing on specific ways to save billions of dollars from a pool of funding that pays for the program without cutting benefits on which millions of Americans rely. Moderates resist changes they say would harm their constituents, while fiscal conservatives say they won't vote for smaller cuts than those called for in the budget resolution. The fate of President Donald Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" containing renewed tax cuts and boosted immigration enforcement could hang on a Medicaid deal.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration surprised those on both sides of the abortion debate by agreeing with the Biden administration that a Texas case challenging the FDA's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone should be dropped. It's clear the administration's request is purely technical, though, and has no bearing on whether officials plan to protect the abortion pill's availability.

This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.

Panelists

Anna Edney Bloomberg News @annaedney

Maya Goldman Axios @mayagoldman_

Sandhya Raman CQ Roll Call @SandhyaWrites

Among the takeaways from this week's episode:

Congressional Republicans are making halting progress on negotiations over government spending cuts. As hard-line House conservatives push for deeper cuts to the Medicaid program, their GOP colleagues representing districts that heavily depend on Medicaid coverage are pushing back. House Republican leaders are eying a Memorial Day deadline, and key committees are scheduled to review the legislation next week  but first, Republicans need to agree on what that legislation says.

Trump withdrew his nomination of Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. surgeon general amid accusations she misrepresented her academic credentials and criticism from the far right. In her place, he nominated Casey Means, a physician who is an ally of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s and a prominent advocate of the "Make America Healthy Again" movement.

The pharmaceutical industry is on alert as Trump prepares to sign an executive order directing agencies to look into "most-favored-nation" pricing, a policy that would set U.S. drug prices to the lowest level paid by similar countries. The president explored that policy during his first administration, and the drug industry sued to stop it. Drugmakers are already on edge over Trump's plan to impose tariffs on drugs and their ingredients.

And Kennedy is scheduled to appear before the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee next week. The hearing would be the first time the secretary of Health and Human Services has appeared before the HELP Committee since his confirmation hearings  and all eyes are on the committee's GOP chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who expressed deep concerns at the time, including about Kennedy's stances on vaccines.

Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Lauren Sausser, who co-reported and co-wrote the latest KFF Health News' "Bill of the Month" installment, about an unexpected bill for what seemed like preventive care. If you have an outrageous, baffling, or infuriating medical bill you'd like to share with us, you can do that here.

Plus, for "extra credit" the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:

Julie Rovner: NPR's "Fired, Rehired, and Fired Again: Some Federal Workers Find They're Suddenly Uninsured," by Andrea Hsu.

Maya Goldman: STAT's "Europe Unveils $565 Million Package To Retain Scientists, and Attract New Ones," by Andrew Joseph.

Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' "A Former TV Writer Found a Health-Care Loophole That Threatens To Blow Up Obamacare," by Zachary R. Mider and Zeke Faux.

Sandhya Raman: The Louisiana Illuminator's "In the Deep South, Health Care Fights Echo Civil Rights Battles," by Anna Claire Vollers.

Also mentioned in this week's podcast:

Credits

Francis Ying Audio producer

Emmarie Huetteman Editor
In the hunt for a remedy, when the baton is passed from dedicated academic scientists to an innovative company to trusted community advocates, outcomes for society can be especially powerful.

Today, thanks to that sequence of contributions, the first HIV drug to offer long-lasting protection from infection - eliminating the need for people to take a daily pill - exists. For their role in ensuring that drug, lenacapavir, came to life and to market, the AAAS Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award is being awarded to Wesley Sundquist, chair of the University of Utah Department of Biochemistry; Moupali Das, vice president, Clinical Development, HIV Prevention & Pediatrics at Gilead Sciences; and Yvette Raphael, co-founder and executive director of Advocacy for Prevention of HIV in Africa .

"These individuals represent the three arms of what is necessary to create new science and then translate it for the world in a way that is really able to make a difference," said Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health and part of the committee - convened by Science journals' Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp - that selected the winners.

"I was excited about how these three tell the story of the journey required to bring a drug into existence," said committee member William Powderly, co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine. "It takes multiple people, skillsets and partners."

As of 2023, 39.9 million people globally were living with HIV, newly infecting more than 1 million people a year.

Even after decades of research, there is no cure for the disease HIV causes, AIDS. But lenacapavir, born out of research on HIV's cone-shaped capsid protein, gets close, almost completely preventing new HIV infections from occurring. The drug protects people for six months with each shot.

"This drug is extraordinary - the closest thing to a vaccine that we have," said Ranney. She explained that she and many of her peers in the public health community entered the field at the height of the AIDS pandemic, in the 1980s and 1990s. "This medication is beyond the wildest dreams of what many of us could have imagined."

Recognizing the people behind such significant scientific developments is a central philosophy for donor Mani L. Bhaumik, Ph.D. - a physicist with myriad contributions to the development of high-powered lasers - as well as for AAAS and the Science family of journals.

"Studying intractable parts of the physical world, like a virus capsid, is critical to scientific innovation," said Bhaumik. "And persisting to ensure that insights from basic research insight can be applied and that they are trusted by those who they will serve is critical - now more than ever. I'm delighted to see this year's recognition go to people across sectors whose thorough approach made such a valuable contribution."

The Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award was established in 2022 with a $11.4 million pledge from Bhaumik: the largest in the organization's history. The award supports a $250,000 cash prize annually for up to three scientists or researchers whose work best underpins the Science Breakthrough of the Year, the journal's choice of the top research advance of the year. In 2024, Science named lenacapavir the latest Breakthrough.

Mapping HIV's capsid

Sundquist, who moved to the University of Utah as an assistant professor in 1992, played a key role in the development of the drug, though his work was not immediately recognized. "Sundquist spent countless hours in the lab, made a critical discovery, and then watched it sit on the shelf for a while, which can happen in basic science," said Ranney.

His contribution - which he embarked upon as he started his Utah-based lab - was elucidating the structure and functions of the HIV virus's capsid protein. Sundquist focused on the capsid because he was aware that HIV deaths were increasing globally and that most scientists studying HIV treatments were looking at the virus's enzymes. "We wanted to work on an aspect of the problem that was unique," he said, "and we were drawn to the unusual cone-shape of the capsid."

Until Sundquist's work, scientists thought the capsid, which encloses the virus's genetic material, was largely a structural element. They did not see it as a particularly "druggable" target, especially compared to enzymes, in part because it was thought to be highly stable.

In 1996, working with a team, Sundquist published a paper in Science that defined the capsid's architecture. That laid the groundwork for a study in 2003 in the Journal of Virology, in which he and colleagues showed that if the HIV capsid was disrupted, even in minor ways, viral replication was disrupted too.

"That was unexpected," said Sundquist.

Clinical trials purposefully designed

Even as these critical discoveries were made, however, it wasn't obvious that the capsid would be easily turned into a drug target. For his part, though, Sundquist didn't feel it was very long after he and his colleagues published their 2003 results that Gilead Sciences contacted them.

Tomas Cihlar, a virologist at the company, visited Sundquist's labs. Impressed with his discoveries, Cihlar took them back to his colleagues. The Gilead team wanted to see if they could use Sundquist's insights about how to hinder viral replication to design HIV drugs with longer acting power for people living with HIV; while the standard of care treatment - combination antiretroviral therapy - worked well, it required daily medication.

A dedicated group of scientists at Gilead Sciences showed perseverance as it took more than a decade (beginning around 2006) to develop a drug based on Sundquist's findings. To do so, John Link, then-vice president of Medicinal Chemistry at Gilead, and his colleagues screened thousands of molecules to identify an effective capsid inhibitor.

"We sometimes think about industry as not having staying power," said Ranney. "But it was something like 15 years here - fits and starts - and Gilead as an institution kept supporting capsid inhibitors."

The molecule's properties meant its effects could be extended over six months, a promising option for patients who struggled with daily medications.

Gilead ran the first trial for people with HIV involving an injectable version of lenacapavir in 2018. "I was a medical monitor for the first Phase 1 trial," said Das, a winner of this year's Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Prize on behalf of the many Gilead Sciences team members working on lenacapavir. This meant Das, a trained physician, provided expert guidance to confirm the safety of trial participants.

At that time, Gilead was focused on evaluating lenacapavir for treatment of HIV. But the reality was there were already effective treatments, like antiretrovirals. Meanwhile, there were still many people in the world at high risk of acquiring HIV.

"I remember seeing results from the first lenacapavir treatment study and thinking this drug - because of its molecular properties - might be very good for prevention, too." Das said, "I was immediately thinking: how could we use this for prevention?"

The next step forward was figuring out the best way to evaluate this drug for preventing HIV.

"Gilead had already established the company as leaders in the use of oral antiretroviral agents as pre-exposure prophylaxis" said Myron Cohen, director of the Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and who also sat on the committee who selected the winners. "But many people found it difficult to maintain usage of daily oral pills. Development of long-acting agents, especially injectable agents, became an important goal."

When Gilead Sciences made this decision, Das played a crucial role. "She was the pivotal person who created studies to garner proof that it worked for prevention, too," said Powderly.

Her leadership was essential in designing the clinical trials, known as PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2, which began in 2021 and are among the most comprehensive HIV prevention trial programs ever conducted. The trials were carefully shaped to include people most in need of preventative care - and people most underserved by past trials. This involved establishing trial sites in locations where infections were happening most.

"There were lots of times where we had to change hearts and minds in designing this trial program because we did a lot differently," she said. Much of this related to the novel design and lenacapavir itself, but also to who was included. Das recalled a story of a young African adolescent woman who was pregnant and who came to a stakeholder meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. That meeting, organized by Gilead, included community advocates, government officials, regulators, ethicists, site staff and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis clinical trial investigators whom Gilead had convened to discuss how best to design and implement PrEP trials in cisgender women. "'Make sure people like me have a chance in the trials,' this woman had said to us. I'll never forget her."

Das firmly believes better science happens when everyone is included. "It's not charity," she said. "It's good science."

The PURPOSE 1 trial evaluated lenacapavir in cisgender women and in adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, where stigma means some women have challenges using daily oral PrEP products. Some of the women in the trial became pregnant. Results from PURPOSE 1, published in July 2024, showed that twice-yearly lenacapavir led to 100% efficacy in preventing infections, a tremendous result. "It was so exciting to have the first results for lenacapavir for HIV prevention be in women," said Das.

For PURPOSE 2, Das and her team recruited participants from places disproportionately affected by HIV and underrepresented in past HIV clinical trials, including parts of the United States, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, Peru, Argentina, and Mexico. The trial evaluated lenacapavir for prevention of HIV in a diverse range of cisgender men and gender-diverse people. Results, published in November 2024, showed the drug reduced new infections by 96%.

Powderly said years-long work from researchers at Gilead Sciences leading up to Das's efforts was critical, "and without her enthusiasm and drive, that final hurdle - the studies and trials for prevention - would have been much harder."

'The human voice matters'

Keeping the people most in need of HIV drugs at the center of the PURPOSE trials, as Das did, was possible because of a key partner - another winner of this year's Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award: Yvette Raphael.

Das and Raphael met in Kigali, Rwanda in 2019, two years before the PURPOSE trials started, at the same stakeholder meeting where Das and the group convened by Gilead heard from the young pregnant African woman about including people like her in the trials. "Yvette really wanted to know what we were going to do differently," said Das.

Raphael, an HIV prevention advocate and community leader living with HIV, had previously engaged in trials of HIV drugs. "We knew past trials had made mistakes," she said.

"Raphael was well-recognized as a tireless and thoughtful advocate for the development of HIV prevention strategies for women," said Cohen. "Her involvement in the development of lenacapavir  in trusted communication with Gilead and trial participants and their communities  was a critical requirement for the success of these studies."

Raphael fought to make sure people affected by HIV had access to information about new treatment options, including long-acting treatments that could improve quality of life. In Africa, especially among African women, problems with HIV preventative strategies - largely in the form of daily pills - were ongoing. Drugs that worked in men were not working in women in part because it was harder, for social reasons, for women to take a pill every day.

"An injection would have been better for women," said Powderly. "But community trust and involvement were critical."

Raphael, who served as Chair of the PURPOSE 1 Advisory Board from 2019 to 2024, told Gilead about the major challenges in the African community.

"For lenacapavir trials, we wanted young people to be part so that the drug could be approved for them from the start," said Raphael. Since young people need parental consent, she helped advise parents considering whether their adolescent children could participate.

"It was also very important for pregnant women to be included," said Raphael. "We wanted to be sure that once this drug was approved, pregnant women could get it, too."

Their efforts paid off, and the PURPOSE 1 trial came together, including women, pregnant women and adolescents.

"The clinical trials would never have been as successful as they were had it not been for Raphael," said Thorp.

"The human voice matters as much as the science to get to translation in the real world," said Ranney. "Yvette's leadership is a gorgeous exemplar of how great science is done."

For her part, Raphael said her collaboration with Das, where they both learned from and pushed each other, was critical.

"I'd like to recognize Moupali's fearlessness for creating greater participation from the community," said Raphael. "We called her the 'Das-rupter'  I've been participating in HIV prevention trials for 25 years, and every time, we said we'd do better. I think with Moupali, this is the best we have done."

Ensuring that the people most impacted by a drug are part of trials provides another benefit that comes later. "We can discover drugs and see they are successful in trials," said Raphael, "but the next outcomes won't be as good if there's nobody to 'own' these innovations, and to advocate for them to be affordable and accessible. We did not want this drug to sit on a shelf."

For Raphael, the outcome of the trials has been nothing short of a miracle. "It's amazing that you need injections just twice a year." She said the biggest surprise to her was the 100% efficacy in PURPOSE 1. "It was also surprising that it was such a short trial." In 2024, the trial was stopped early because of success it had already shown, which meant the drug could become available sooner. "When that news broke," she said, "Africa stood still."

"The PURPOSE 1 and 2 trials are exemplars for how to do a better job making sure people who will one day want to use the medication have a voice," said Ranney. "This will speed the implementation of the drug on the other side."

Raphael knows the research that made this life-changing drug a reality started decades ago, in Sundquist's lab, with studies of a viral capsid.

"This work changed how people think about viral capsids," said Sundquist. "It meant that other people could think about capsids as drug targets."

The future of life-changing basic research

Today, however, as funding cuts to basic research are happening across the U.S., there is growing concern. "If there's a weakness in the pipeline and people don't know what to target," said Sundquist, "then drugs don't get developed."

"My worry as we watch funding to science get cut," said Ranney, "is we won't fully feel the ripple effects for 10 or 20 years because it can take that long for discoveries to make their way into lives of families and individuals."

Raphael is concerned that cuts mean "life-saving drugs will fall out the window." While lenacapavir is likened to a vaccine for HIV, it is not one. "This is not the last breakthrough for HIV prevention. Without continuous funding for prevention and advocacy, we won't have tomorrow's breakthroughs," she said.

Programs like the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR - which has been a key component of global health since it was founded by President George W. Bush in 2003 - are critical to supporting HIV prevention. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine in February of this year reported that eliminating PEPFAR would lead to 601,000 HIV-related deaths and 565,000 new HIV infections in South Africa alone over 10 years.

As of April 30, 2025, PEPFAR's current short-term authorization has expired. "The logical funding for distributing lenacapavir in the developing world would come from PEPFAR, a program that has been very successful, saving so many lives, but is now basically on life support," said Sundquist. "This means lenacapavir is really at risk of not being broadly distributed in the places that need it the most."

Ranney said her hope is that the selection of winners for this year's prize serves to remind science funders of the importance of all stages of scientific innovation and of giving freedom to science to pursue great ideas. "It's important to fund basic research as we never know what is going to be the next world-changing discovery."
Children born to mothers with obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy have higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than children born to mothers without these risk factors, according to a new USC study. Among children whose mothers had at least one risk factor, blood pressure also rose more quickly between ages 2 and 18 compared to their peers. The findings, which suggest that blood pressure interventions could start as early as pregnancy, were just published in JAMA Network Open.

Across the country, heart health is declining, with hypertension affecting more people-and showing up earlier in life. Growing evidence indicates that blood pressure levels may be shaped by early development, even before birth. But most research on maternal and child heart health has looked at risk factors individually, rather than exploring their combined role.

A new study from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has examined links and interactions between a mother's cardiometabolic health during pregnancy and her child's blood pressure up to age 18. The study included nearly 30 years of data from 12, 480 mother-child pairs across the United States.

We still have so much to learn about how we can prevent the development of cardiovascular disease. Finding factors that we can address during pregnancy and childhood-and implementing early interventions-may be key to changing the trajectories of health for future generations." Shohreh Farzan, PhD, associate professor of population and public health sciences, Keck School of Medicine and study's senior author

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, Farzan and her colleagues found that children born to mothers with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor had a systolic blood pressure (SBP) that averaged 4.88 percentile points higher than children whose mothers had no risk factors. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) averaged 1.90 percentile points higher. Children born to mothers with one or more risk factors also had a faster increase in blood pressure between ages 2 and 18.

The findings can help shape prevention efforts on both ends of the equation, including lifestyle changes for women of childbearing age and earlier blood pressure screenings for at-risk children, said Zhongzheng (Jason) Niu, PhD, the study's first author, a Presidential Sustainability Solutions Fellow at USC and assistant professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the University at Buffalo.

Blood pressure percentiles

Researchers used data collected between January 1994 and March 2023 through the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. The data include demographic and health information on 12,480 mother-child pairs from across the country, about half of whom identified as non-white.

Nearly half of the mothers in the study (5,537, or 44.4%) had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor. Obesity was the most common, affecting 3,072 mothers (24.6%), followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which include gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and other conditions (1,693 mothers, or 13.6%) and gestational diabetes mellitus (805 mothers, or 6.5%).

For children, researchers used blood pressure readings to calculate SBP and DBP percentiles, which estimate how a child's blood pressure compares to that of peers who are the same age, sex and height.

The researchers then conducted a statistical analysis to examine how maternal risk factors related to blood pressure in their offspring down the line. They accounted for other variables that could influence the results, including maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, income, number of previous pregnancies and smoking during pregnancy.

Elevated blood pressure

At their first blood pressure reading, children born to mothers with any cardiometabolic risk factor ranked in a higher SBP percentile (4.88 points higher, on average) and DBP percentile (1.09 points higher, on average) than their peers born to mothers with no risk factors.

Children born to mothers with two risk factors faced even higher blood pressure. For example, when mothers had both obesity and a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, their children had SBP that averaged 7.31 points higher and DBP that averaged 4.04 points higher than children whose mothers had no risk factors.

The effects were more pronounced in female compared to male offspring and in Black children compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Among the children in the study, 6,015 had at least two blood pressure readings, which allowed researchers to assess how maternal risks related to changes in a child's blood pressure over time. They found that SBP (0.5 points/year) and DBP (0.7 points/year) rose more quickly between ages 2 and 18 in children whose mother had at least one risk factor, compared to children whose mother had no risk factors.

Screening and prevention

The findings show that on top of directly benefiting women, better cardiovascular health during the childbearing years can also support health in the next generation, Niu said. A 2025 statement from the American Heart Association highlights strategies for boosting heart health in young adults, including improving social connectedness and reducing substance use.

Earlier blood pressure screenings for children-even those who are healthy by other measures-could also help identify candidates for intervention before problems arise.

"Currently, most clinical guidelines do not suggest blood pressure screenings for children who seem healthy overall," Niu said. "But our evidence is clear, showing that even a small blood pressure difference in early life can magnify over a longer period."

Farzan, Niu and their colleagues are also studying how various combinations of environmental and social factors, such as air pollution and stress, may influence cardiometabolic health in children.
Real-world data from Madrid hospitals show dramatic declines in infant ICU stays, hospital days, and RSV-related admissions after nirsevimab immunization campaign.

Study: Impact of Nirsevimab on RSV and Non-RSV Severe Respiratory Infections in Hospitalized Infants. Image Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com

A recent Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses study compares the clinical and virological characteristics of respiratory infections in hospitalized infants before and after nirsevimab treatment.

Respiratory infections in infants

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), one of the most common seasonal pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, is a leading cause of infant hospitalization worldwide. RSV infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in children two years of age and younger.

Approximately 1.8% of infants in Europe require hospitalization due to RSV infection within the first year of life. Many children, particularly those three months of age and younger, will develop acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) due to RSV.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved palivizumab (Synagis) as a preventive treatment against secondary severe LRTI-linked RSV for highly susceptible pediatric patients. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of palivizumab as prophylaxis for infants with congenital lung disease due to premature birth or those born prematurely at 29 weeks of gestation or less who are entering their first RSV season. Despite these indications, over 90% of infants hospitalized for RSV-LRTI are otherwise healthy and do not meet the criteria to receive palivizumab prophylaxis.

In July 2023, the FDA approved the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus) for RSV prophylaxis. Soon thereafter, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and AAP unanimously recommended that all infants at high risk for severe RSV during their second year of life, as well as infants eight months of age and younger who are entering their first RSV season, receive nirsevimab.

In addition to the U.S., nirsevimab was also administered in maternity wards in Spain between October 2023 and March 2024, with an overall immunization coverage of 87% in Madrid at the end of the campaign.

About the study

Data for the current study were obtained during the ongoing Spanish prospective investigation associated with respiratory tract infections in children. All children 12 months of age and younger who were hospitalized for an LRTI in Severo Ochoa and La Paz Hospital in Madrid, Spain, were considered for the analysis.

These infants were hospitalized between October 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023 (S1) and between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024 (S2). S2 patients were significantly older, with fewer infants younger than one month of age than in S1.

All clinical and epidemiological data were assessed based on whether a patient received nirsevimab and whether hospitalization occurred before or after receiving nirsevimab.

Nasopharyngeal samples were assessed for the presence of RSV, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), adenovirus (AdV), rhinovirus (HRV), influenza virus, human bocavirus (HBoV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), and human coronaviruses (HCOV), including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Study findings

The current study included 669 infants, 480 and 189 of whom were hospitalized during the S1 and S2 periods, respectively.

A significant reduction of 62.5% in hospitalization for LRTIs was observed between October 2023 and March 2024 compared to data from the same period of the previous year. Infant hospital admissions due to RSV infection similarly decreased by 78%.

In S2, of the 33.3% of infants who received nirsevimab, 17.4% tested positive for RSV at admission. The mean age of these patients during nirsevimab administration was 36.6 days, whereas the mean time interval between nirsevimab administration and hospital admission was 60.8 days.

Bronchiolitis was less frequently diagnosed in S2 than in S1. During S2, the mean length of hospital stay significantly reduced, with few patients requiring hospitalization for more than five days.

Compared to S1, hospitalization for five days or more in S2 decreased by 64.6% and 47.7% in infants younger than three and six months of age, respectively. Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions also declined by 74.5%, from 118 cases in S1 to 30 cases in S2.

Infants who received nirsevimab were typically younger at admission. Nirsevimab treatment was associated with fewer fevers that were shorter in duration, reduced high-flow oxygen requirements, less antibiotic prescriptions, and lower viral titers. Although not statistically significant, these infants were also less likely to be admitted to the ICU.

Among non-nirsevimab patients, the peak incidence of RSV admissions occurred in November, with a surge primarily observed between October and December. RSV infections in nirsevimab-treated infants were more evenly distributed between October and March; however, both groups exhibited similar frequency of RSV coinfections with other respiratory viruses.

Conclusions

The study findings confirm the protective effects of nirsevimab treatment in infants against severe outcomes associated with RSV infection. Nirsevimab treatment also significantly reduced hospitalization frequency and duration due to infections caused by HMPV and AdV.
Suzlon Shares Trade Lower Despite BPCL Order Win; Should You Buy, Sell Or Hold?

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 09:27 IST

Shares of Suzlon Energy Ltd are expected to be in the spotlight on Friday after the company secured a wind energy project from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd

Suzlon Energy Shares

Shares of Suzlon Energy Ltd were trading 2.65% lower on Friday, even as the company secured a wind energy project from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), which is pushing forward with its renewable energy transition strategy to cut reliance on imported fossil fuels.

BPCL announced that it has awarded contracts for 100 MW of wind power projects50 MW each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Suzlon will execute the Madhya Pradesh project, while Integrum Energy Infrastructure will handle the Maharashtra installation. Both projects are slated for commissioning within two years.

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These wind farms will cater to the captive power needs of BPCLs Mumbai and Bina refineries, replacing fossil-based energy with clean wind power. This is a significant step in BPCLs plan to build a 10 GW renewable energy portfolio by 2040," BPCL said in a statement.

On Thursday, Suzlon Energy shares closed 2.6% lower at Rs 53.22, valuing the company at over Rs 72,500 crore. The stock is currently down 38% from its 52-week high of Rs 86.04 (touched in September 2024), and has declined 20% on a year-to-date basis.

Suzlon has yet to disclose this order to the stock exchanges and has not announced a date for its March 2025 quarter results.

As of March 31, 2025, promoters held a 13.25% stake in Suzlon, while public shareholders owned 86.75%. Mutual funds held 4.17%, and retail investors (with holdings up to Rs 2 lakh) collectively owned a 25.12% stake across over 56 lakh investor accounts.

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According to JM Financial, Suzlons Q4FY25 revenue is expected to grow 56% year-on-year to Rs 3,421.1 crore, driven by higher dispatch volumes. The brokerage sees Ebitda rising 52% to Rs 542.4 crore, with net profit likely surging 75% to Rs 444.7 crore. JM Financial maintains a Buy rating with a target price of Rs 71. Motilal Oswal also has a Buy call on Suzlon, with a target price of Rs 75.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 09:04 IST
All Schools To Remain Shut In Leh Until May 10

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:25 IST

Leh administration announced closure of all schools on May 9 and 10 due to tensions between India and Pakistan. India neutralized Pakistan's attempt to hit military stations.

Leh administration closes all schools on May 9-10 due to India-Pakistan tensions. (Representational Image/File)

The Leh administration on Friday announced that all schools in the district will remain closed on May 9 and 10 in view of the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, according to officials.

India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan militarys attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.

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"All government and private schools in Leh district shall remain closed for the next two days," said Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Santosh Sukhdeva.

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This step has been taken in view of the prevailing situation, he said.

All are requested to remain vigilant and contact 112 in case of any emergency, the DC said.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 10:25 IST
Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 16:04 IST

Kerala SSLC 10th Result 2025 Live: The Kerala Board of Public Examination (KBPE) has declared the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 board exam results 2025 today, May 9, 2025. Students who appeared for the Kerala SSLC board exams can now check and download their scorecards on the official websites at result.kite.kerala.gov.in, and result.kerala.gov.in.

Of the 4,27,020 students who appeared for the Kerala SSLC 2025 exams, 4,24,583 passed, marking a pass percentage of 99.5%. Kannur topped with 99.87%, while Thiruvananthapuram had the lowest at 98.59%.

As many as 4,27,021 students took the SSLC exams, which were conducted from March 3 to 26. The exams were held at 2,964 centres across Kerala, along with nine centres in Lakshadweep and seven in Gulf countries. In order to pass the Kerala SSLC Class 10 examinations, students must achieve a minimum of 33 per cent marks in each subject as well as in the overall aggregate.
Schools, Colleges Shut In These States Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions | Check List

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 05:04 IST

Several states were forced to adopt heightened security measures after Pakistan attempted to attack key military installations on Thursday.

Schools have been closed in several states due to India-Pakistan tensions. (Representative image/File)

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply after the Pakistani Army engaged in unprovoked cross-border firing in several areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan, which was met with a befitting response from the Indian armed forces.

Several states were forced to adopt heightened security measures after Pakistan attempted to attack three military bases in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, along with other key installations in J&K, Punjab and Rajasthan. The Indian Army managed to thwart the attack and launched retaliatory strikes at cities like Islamabad and Lahore.

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India struck Pakistans capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Sialkot late on Thursday after thwarting multiple attacks and also shot down an F-16 fighter jet in Rajasthan.

Several state administrations have shut down schools, enforced blackouts and cancelled leaves of all police personnel as districts near the border went on high alert. The Delhi government has also scrapped leave for all government employees.

Where Are Schools Shut Today?

Jammu and Kashmir: All schools, colleges and universities in the Union Territory will remain closed for the next two days as a precautionary measure as tensions escalate, said J&K Education Minister Sakina Itoo. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said another decision in this regard will be taken on Monday.

Punjab: The government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and universities for the next three days in view of the escalating tensions. The Panjab University in Chandigarh has postponed exams scheduled on May 9, 10 and 12. The leaves of all police personnel in border districts were cancelled.

Haryana: All educational institutions in Panchkula will remain closed on Friday and Saturday, officials said. The leaves of state police personnel and those working in the health department have been cancelled till further orders.

Rajasthan: The Rajasthan government has also cancelled leave of administrative and police personnel deployed near the International Border and closed schools in five bordering districts  Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer  which are under high alert.

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Security has been stepped up along the Gujarat coast, while the leaves of all state government employees have been cancelled in West Bengal and Bihar.

(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 09, 2025, 05:03 IST
Has India-Pakistan Drone War Started? Here Are The Details Of The Drones Deployed

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 12:50 IST

HAROP drones, a loitering munition, were reportedly used by Indian armed forces to carry out precision strikes on air defence systems in Pakistan

HAROP, a loitering munition, can search for targets over a span of nine hours. It flies within a set area, detects and identifies targets, plots an approach, and executes a strike.(Photo: IAI)

In a dramatic escalation late Thursday evening, Pakistan attempted to attack 15 cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, the 50 drones launched by Pakistan were neutralised by the Indian Armys Air Defence units late Thursday.

In a comprehensive counter-drone operation, the Army Air Defence units deployed advanced weaponry including L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and specialised counter-UAS equipment across multiple sectors including Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota and Pathankot.

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The armed forces used the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra defence missile system to take down Pakistani drones and missiles fired towards the 15 Indian cities.

Let us look at the drones used by the two countries.

Drones Used By India

HARPY: The drones are designed to target enemy air defence systems in Pakistan. They are optimised for the suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) role. It carries a high-explosive warhead. Equipped with an Anti-Radiation (AR) seeker, HARPY can autonomously seek and strike emitting, high-value targets. It operates in deep strike missions lasting up to 9 hours, day and night, in all weather conditions, and in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-denied or contested battlefields. It is equipped to hunt, seek targets in a designated area, locate and identify their frequency, and autonomously pursue a strike from any direction, at shallow or steep dive profiles.

HAROP: The Ministry of Defence in a statement had said that the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised." It is understood that the latest Israeli HAROPs, a type of unmanned combat aerial vehicle, were used. HAROP is an attack drone developed by the MBT Missiles Division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is a loitering munition designed to hover over a battlefield and strike on command. The drone is capable of autonomous operation or remote control and can return to base if a target is not engaged. HAROP can search for targets over a span of nine hours. It flies within a set area, detects and identifies targets, plots an approach, and executes a strike from different angles. It does not require advance intelligence to carry out the operation. The drone also has resistance to GNSS jamming, which allows it to maintain communications in hostile environments. HAROP drones are launched from outside the battlefield and can fly up to 200 kilometres. As loitering munitions, they hover above hostile zones, wait for a target, and then dive into it.

Heron: India inducted the Heron Mark-2 drones in 2023, with which it has significantly expanded its high-altitude surveillance and strike capability. The drones are capable of monitoring both China and Pakistan frontiers in a single sortie. An upgrade to the long-serving Heron Mark-1, the Mark-2 features a 3,000-km range and 24-hour endurance. It is outfitted with synthetic aperture radar, EO/IR cameras, and a laser designatorallowing for around-the-clock reconnaissance and precision target marking.

Drones Used By Pakistan

The Indian Army successfully shot down 50 swarm drones deployed by Pakistan to breach the LoC and International borders on Thursday evening.

Swarm Drones: SWARM stands for Smart War-Fighting Array of Reconfigured Modules." A Swarm drone typically consists of multiple drones working in coordination, communicating with one another, and sharing information to achieve a common objective. These drones can range from small quadcopters to larger fixed-wing drones. The swarms strength lies in its ability to function as a collective unit, leveraging swarm intelligence algorithms and advanced software to operate seamlessly and efficiently. These drones are equipped with AI and can communicate with each other as well as with the control station.

Which India Cities Did Pakistan Target?

Pakistan attempted to engage military targets in 15 cities Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. However, the planned attacks were averted by the Indian Army.

The attack comes after India launched missile strikes on May 7 against nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, marking the latest phase of Operation Sindoor.

The strikes targeted key terrorist strongholds, including Jaish-e-Mohammads Bahawalpur base and Lashkar-e-Taibas Muridke facility, and were a direct response to the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

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In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces on May 8 struck Pakistani Air Defence Radars and systems. India stressed that its response mirrored the scale and intensity of the Pakistani strikes but remained within the bounds of proportionality.

The statement further said Pakistan had intensified its unprovoked artillery fire across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Mortars and heavy-calibre artillery were fired in the Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors.

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 09, 2025, 12:50 IST
How Taj Mahal Was Camouflaged During India-Pak War Of 1971

Curated By :

Trending Desk Edited By: Anurag Verma



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:04 IST

During India-Pakistan War of 1971, also known as the Bangladesh Liberation War, there were serious concerns about the neighbouring country targeting cultural landmarks in India.

Taj Mahal was camouflaged during the India-Pakistan war of 1971. Here's how the wonder of the world was covered. (Representative image / PTI)

Fifty-four years after the devastating 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, echoes of similar tension are resurfacing across the region. The recent Pahalgam terror attack has triggered a wave of fierce confrontations between India and Pakistan, beginning with the Indian Armed Forces launching strikes on terror camps across the border. This has been followed by escalating tensions along the International Border and the Line of Control, with Pakistan reportedly engaging in continuous cross-border firing over several nights.

In response, the Indian government has ramped up military activity, tightened security nationwide, placed border towns on high alert, and intensified security drills across the country.

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However, this isnt the first time India has responded with heightened security measures. A similar approach was taken back in 1971 during the war with Pakistan. In one of the most remarkable steps to safeguard national heritage, the iconic Taj Mahal was camouflaged to protect it from potential aerial bombings. But what exactly went into hiding one of the worlds most recognisable monuments?

Also Read: What Pakistanis Are Searching For On Google After India Executes Operation Sindoor

Taj Mahal Hidden In 1971

During the India-Pakistan War of 1971, also known as the Bangladesh Liberation War, there were serious concerns about the neighbouring country targeting cultural landmarks in India. It was on December 3, 1971, when Pakistan launched a surprise aerial attack on Indian military installations, striking several Indian Air Force bases in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Among the targeted bases was also the Kheria Airbase in Agra, significantly close to the iconic Taj Mahal. It triggered fears that Pakistan might also attack landmarks in India, including the Taj Mahal, to instill fear among the people and also locate the Kheria airbase. However, the government wasnt ready to give it away so easily.

The very next day, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) decided to camouflage the monument, and the shining white marble, which was visible for miles, was hidden under massive jute tarps dyed green to blend with the surroundings. Lights around the monument were also switched off, while security around it was intensified.

Also Read: Are India-Pakistan At War? If Yes, Who Will Declare It? | Explained

How Taj Mahal Was Covered

Over 598 kg of nails and 63 sewing needles were used to hold the cover in place. While foliage-like branches and brush covered the minarets, sand was spread over the marble floor to minimise the reflective surface. Additionally, lights around the monuments were turned off, security was beefed up, and tourists were asked to stay away for a while.

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The cover was kept in place for the next few weeks. Similar initiatives were reportedly also taken at other heritage sites like the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and the Jaisalmer Fort.

Fast forward to today, and India is once again at the same phase, preparing for a war that could get even bigger than 1971.

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 09, 2025, 10:03 IST
How Akash Foils Pak Attacks, Keeps Skies Clear: The Made In India Missile Defence System Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 12:55 IST

Operation Sindoor: The Akash air defence missile system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system that provides area air defence against multiple air threats

Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system along the Pakistan border. (Website)

A day after India conducted strikes against terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Pakistan on Thursday launched a barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations.

But each time, the Indian armed forces managed to thwart it, thanks to the effective use of the Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system.

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WHAT IS AKASH?

The Akash air defence missile system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system that provides area air defence against multiple air threats to mobile, semi-mobile and static vulnerable forces and areas, states the Bharat Electronics website.

ALSO READ | After Sindoor Attack On Pakistan, How Equipped Is Indias Defence? Explained

According to defence officials, both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system deployed along the Pakistan border.

Each Akash battery comprises four 3D passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars and four self-propelled launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interconnected. It also has a battery-level radar known as Rajendra, as well as a battery control centre. It can track and attack multiple targets simultaneously. A self-destructive device is also integrated into the missile.

HOW IT WORKS

It can engage multiple targets and eliminate maneuvering threats, including uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), fighter jets, cruise missiles, and missiles launched from helicopters.

The system features advanced cross-country mobility.

Real-time multi-sensor data processing and threat evaluation allow it to simultaneously engage multiple targets from any direction. The system is flexible, scalable, and can operate in both group and autonomous modes.

HOW IT FOILS ATTACKS

The missile can destroy aircraft within a range of 30km to 35km and at altitudes up to 18,000m. It provides multidirectional and multi-target area defence and can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 60kg.

With a nuclear warhead, the missile can destroy aircraft and warheads released from ballistic missiles. It operates effectively in all weather conditions.

A welcome development, which will boost self-reliance and particularly help the MSME sector. https://t.co/9rQU2tg0qP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 31, 2023

HOW IT TRACKS TARGETS

The air force version of the Rajendra radar is capable of tracking 64 targets within a range of 60km in range, azimuth and height.

The army variation of the Akash uses the Rajendra radar, which can track 40 targets in range and azimuth with a tracking range of up to 100km.

The 3D central acquisition radar (CAR) is a long-range surveillance radar that warns the GCC by tracking 200 targets in track while scan (TWS) mode from a tracking range of 150km. It measures the azimuth, range and height of targets, and transmits to the GCC via communication links.

The GCC sends the target position information to the battery level radar (Rajendra).

The Akash is powered by a Ramjet-rocket propulsion system, which renders thrust for the missile to intercept the target at supersonic speed without any retardation.

Akash can fly at supersonic speeds ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5 and engage aerial targets up to a range of approximately 25km.

The kill probability of the missile is 88% and can be increased to 98.5% by launching the second missile after five seconds of launching the first.

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OTHER FEATURES

High jamming immunity in severe ECM environment

High missile maneuverability

Automatic checkout, launch and abort facility for missile

Open architecture of system enables wider operational network connectivity to any other digital networks

Point to multi-point communication

About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 12:22 IST
Kosmos 482: A Soviet-era Spacecraft To Crash Back To Earth. All You Need To Know

Curated By :

Trending Desk Edited By: Anurag Verma



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 13:44 IST

It is currently anticipated that a spacecraft from the Soviet Union that was launched in the 1970s would crash back to Earth.

Kosmos 482 is anticipated to re-enter Earths atmosphere between May 7 and May 13, according to NASA. (Image generated by AI / News18)

A spacecraft from the Soviet Union that was launched in the 1970s and was initially supposed to land on Venus is now predicted to crash back to Earth later this month. Kosmos 482, a Russian spacecraft, was launched around 53 years ago. It never made it to its final destination. As it continues to tumble in low Earth orbit, recent satellite data suggests that its parachutes may already have been deployed.

Below, we have provided information regarding the Kosmos 482 mission, including when the spacecraft might crash and the potential consequences.

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Kosmos 482: Expected Crash

Kosmos 482 is anticipated to re-enter Earths atmosphere between May 7 and May 13, according to NASA. As per the space agency, the probe may survive re-entry without burning up because it was designed to withstand Venus severe atmosphere.

Also Read: How Taj Mahal Was Camouflaged During India-Pak War Of 1971

Marco Langbroek, a Dutch scientist, reportedly thinks the spacecraft might land on May 10. The main section might reach the ground at around 150 mph (242 kph), he predicts, if it survives. Meanwhile, Astronomer Jonathan McDowell of Harvard & Smithsonians Centre for Astrophysics told National Public Radio (NPR) that the probe is currently in its final death plunge."

Theres a not-trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property, and theres a small chance  but its like one in thousands  that it could hurt someone," he told NPR.

Kosmos 482: Who Is Impacted?

According to CNN, scientists think the entry capsule," which is designed to resist the extreme heat and pressure of Venus atmosphere, which is 90 times denser than Earths, may be the part of the spacecraft that will return to Earth.

The spacecraft might land anywhere in the latitude range of 51.7 degrees north to south. Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America is one example, as are places as far north as London and Edmonton in Canada.

However, it would be unknown exactly where the impact would occur until it did. Dutch scientist Langbroek told the Associated Press that chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean" because water makes up the majority of the Earths surface.

Also Read: Has India-Pakistan Drone War Started? Here Are The Details Of The Drones Deployed

Kosmos 482: Should We be Worried?

While there are risks, we should not be overly concerned," Langbroek told the Associated Press. The spaceship is extremely small, and even if it remains in one piece, the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime," he added. He went on to say that there is little probability that the spacecraft will hit someone or something.

According to space debris expert Marlon Sorge, the Aerospace Corporation, a research organisation funded by the US government, has calculated that the likelihood of the spacecraft inflicting significant damage is roughly 1 in 25,000.

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Kosmos 482: What Should People Do?

Sorge told CNN that people should avoid any debris if Kosmos 482 ends up striking dry land. Hazardous fuel or other risks that could endanger people and property may still be present in the outdated spaceship.

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 09, 2025, 13:42 IST
32 Airports In India Shut Till May 14 Amid India-Pakistan Tensions | Full List Here

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 01:46 IST

The airports in Northern India were shut as a precautionary measure following Pakistan's unprovoked strikes on Thursday night.

24 airports are closed for civil flight operations as of Thursday evening amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. (Representative Image)

As tensions escalated between India and Pakistan following Islamabads hostilities, the Civil Aviation Ministry informed that at least 32 airports across northern and western India have suspended civilian operations till May 14.

The development came in view of Operation Sindoor, under which armed forces carried out strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday morning. The strikes on terror camps were launched to avenge the horrendous Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people  25 tourists and one local  on April 22.

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The Aviation Ministrys notification was issued after Pakistan launched a series of drone and missile attacks on India, targeting multiple locations across Jammu, as well as parts of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Full list of airports shut in India following Pakistans unprovoked strikes:

Adhampur Ambala Amritsar Awantipur Bathinda Bhuj Bikaner Chandigarh Halwara Hindon Jaisalmer Jammu Jamnagar Jodhpur Kandla Kangra (Gaggal) Keshod Kishangarh Kullu Manali (Bhuntar) Leh Ludhiana Mundra Naliya Pathankot Patiala Porbandar Rajkot (Hirasar) Sarsawa Shimla Srinagar Thoise Uttarlai

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The situation between India and Pakistan escalated sharply on Thursday evening after Pakistan attempted to attack several areas in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan through drone and missile attacks.

The attempted strike, however, was intercepted by Indian air defence systems and was successfully thwarted. Notably, the attacks triggered blackouts, air raid sirens in several cities across northern India. Additionally, an IPL match between PBKS and DC was also suspended in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh on Thursday.

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 09, 2025, 09:34 IST
Air Raid Sirens Sounded In Ambala After IAF Station Warns Of Possible Attack By Pakistan

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 11:37 IST

An Air raid siren was sounded in Ambala after receiving a warning from the Indian Air Force Station of a possible attack".

Sirens were sounded in Ambala after IAF station warns of possible attack by Pakistan. (Image: Representative)

An Air raid siren was sounded in Ambala after receiving a warning from the Indian Air Force Station of a possible attack", prompting the district administration to advise the residents to remain indoors and away from balconies.

According to the sources, the alert was issued at around 10:20 am on Friday.

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The sirens in Ambala came after Chandigarh witnessed air raid sirens earlier in the morning after receiving a warning from the Indian Air Force Station of a possible attack". The administration later said that the alert was over.

The development came after India successfully retaliated to Pakistans escalated hostilities as it opened air strikes and drone attacks in several border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan on Thursday evening, marking a significant escalation a day after India struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

There was a blackout situation in Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Baramulla, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Barmer, and Jaisalmer on Thursday night after Pakistan attempted to target several areas in India.

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According to sources, Pakistan on Thursday made failed attempts to send swarm drones across various places along the Line of Control and international borders. Reportedly, over 45-50 drones were successfully neutralised during a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted by Indian Army air defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot areas.

Pakistan once again early Friday morning resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Several houses were damaged in Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, while one woman was reportedly killed in Uri.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Ambala, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 10:43 IST
As India-Pak Tensions Rise, Centre Asks States To Activate Emergency Powers: What Does It Mean?

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 15:58 IST

In a new directive, the MHA has asked States and Union Territories to invoke civil defence powers, citing a current hostile attack scenario following recent cross-border tensions

Union Home Minister Amit Shah (File Photo)

Amid heightened security concerns, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an urgent directive to all states and Union Territories. The Centre has asked them to invoke emergency powers under the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, which allows authorities to take fast decisions and make emergency purchasesespecially in situations where there may be a threat of attacks or disruptions.

Heres what this move means, and why it matters:

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WHAT HAS THE CENTRE ASKED STATES TO DO?

The MHA has written to Chief Secretaries and Administrators across India asking them to activate Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968. This section allows state governments to:

Take any urgent measures needed to protect people and property

Ensure that essential services like power, water, hospitals, and communication continue to run smoothly in case of any emergency

Bypass routine red tape and directly buy equipment or services needed for civil defence, without waiting for long approvals

Simply put, the Centre wants states to be ready to act fast if theres any kind of threatwhether its a military attack, terror strike, or anything else that can disrupt normal life.

WHAT IS CIVIL DEFENCE?

Civil defence is about preparing for and responding to emergenciesespecially large-scale ones like natural disasters, war-like situations, or major attacks. Civil defence volunteers and officials help in rescue, first aid, emergency communication, and public safety during such events.

It was more commonly discussed during war times in the past, but has regained importance in recent years due to modern threats like:

Cross-border terror strikes

Drone attacks

Cyberattacks on vital infrastructure

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?

The MHAs letter explicitly mentions the current hostile attack scenario" as the reason for invoking these emergency powers. While it doesnt name a specific incident, the timing is significant.

Just two days ago, India launched Operation Sindoor, a major military response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 Hindu pilgrims. The precision strikes targeted terror launchpads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Since then, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply. Pakistan attempted to retaliate, triggering concerns of further strikes, cross-border shelling, or proxy attacks. India remains on high alert, with security agencies bolstering preparedness across statesespecially those near the border.

In this high-alert environment, the government wants to make sure states and Union Territories can respond without delaywhether its setting up defences, rushing supplies, or protecting key infrastructure.

WHAT KIND OF EMERGENCY PURCHASES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

With these powers, officials can immediately buy:

Emergency lighting and generators

Protective equipment for first responders

Communication devices

Water purification units

Rescue gear and first aid materials

Barricades or shelters, if needed

Normally, buying such items would require lengthy tenders and clearances. But in an emergency, delays can cost lives. The MHA is making sure states are not held back by paperwork.

WHO WILL HANDLE THESE POWERS?

The Director of Civil Defence in each state or UT will be given these powers. The local authorities will also be allowed to use their funds specifically for these emergency measures, even before other regular tasks. The directive also makes it clear that these emergency measures should take priority over all other civic spending and responsibilities.

States have also been asked to send a copy of their invocation order to the Directorate General of Civil Defence for official reference.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THESE POWERS ARE INVOKED?

Once emergency powers are triggered, states and Union Territories typically follow standard civil defence protocols to prepare for any escalation. These may include:

Rapid assessments of vulnerable areas such as border zones, public transport hubs, and essential infrastructure

Immediate checks of available emergency supplies and equipment

Activation of civil defence volunteers, who support local authorities with rescue, first aid, public messaging, and evacuation if needed

Coordination with police, disaster response teams, and health departments to ensure swift deployment

Setting up temporary control rooms or shelters in sensitive districts

These steps are meant to ensure that administrations can act within hoursnot daysif the situation worsens.

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BOTTOM LINE

The Centres message is clear: In times of heightened security concerns, quick action matters. By activating special powers under the Civil Defence Rules, Indias states can respond faster, protect vital services, and keep citizens safewithout getting stuck in red tape.

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 09, 2025, 15:29 IST
CM Fadnavis Reviews Maharashtra Security Amid Indo-Pak Tensions, Orders Blackout Readiness, Cyber Vigilance

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 16:39 IST

A key outcome of the meeting was the directive to establish dedicated 'war rooms' in every district

In the same meeting, Fadnavis also took a decision to cancel all leaves of all officials of the state government who are holding crucial positions. File pic/PTI

With tensions escalating along the India-Pakistan border, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday chaired a high-level security review meeting in Mumbai, focusing on the states preparedness for any potential emergency scenario. The meeting brought together top brass from the states police, intelligence, disaster management, and civic departments. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde was also present during the deliberations. In a comprehensive and strategic move, CM Fadnavis laid down detailed guidelines for proactive action, ensuring that the state remains fully alert and responsive to any security threats.

A key outcome of the meeting was the directive to establish dedicated war rooms" in every district. These war rooms are expected to function as real-time command centres for coordination and crisis response. The chief minister ordered full-scale mock drills across all districts to simulate emergency situations, with a particular focus on blackout protocols. In the event of a blackouttypically carried out to minimise visibility to enemy aircraft during a potential attackFadnavis stressed the importance of coordination with hospitals. He instructed that all hospitals must have uninterrupted power through alternative electricity systems and that blackout-friendly infrastructure, such as dark-tinted windows and curtains, should be immediately deployed to prevent light leaks.

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Fadnavis also emphasised the need for massive public awareness campaigns. Informational videos explaining blackout situations and citizen conduct during emergencies will soon be circulated to students and the general public. The government will also disseminate key sections from the Centres Union War Book"a crucial guidebook for wartime administrative functioningto ensure uniform understanding and preparedness among government departments. Additionally, municipal bodies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have been asked to conduct meetings with cooperative housing societies to spread awareness and build a ground-level resilience mechanism.

Cybersecurity received special attention in the CMs address. Police cyber cells across Maharashtra have been instructed to increase monitoring of social media platforms. The goal: to detect and take action against social media handles that are either sympathetic to or collaborating with hostile forces. Fadnavis warned against the circulation of misinformation or anti-national content, directing swift legal action against such offenders. A statewide cyber audit of critical infrastructureincluding electricity generation and distribution networkshas also been ordered in anticipation of potential cyberattacks.

To facilitate quick responses, the chief minister announced the immediate release of emergency funds to all district collectors. These funds will be used for the urgent procurement of essential materials and services. In addition, he assured that any significant proposal related to state security and readiness would be reviewed and approved within an hour, removing bureaucratic delays. Fadnavis also issued a strict warning against capturing or sharing military preparedness videos or photos on social media, stating that such acts would be treated as criminal offences.

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On the coastal security front, the state has approved the temporary hiring of fishing trawlers, if necessary, to assist in surveillance. The government will also establish a communication mechanism to keep citizens informed with real-time, verified updates during any developing situation. As part of the states broader coordination strategy, the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard stationed in Mumbai will be invited to the next security review meeting through video conferencing to ensure greater synergy between civilian and military efforts.

In the same meeting, Fadnavis also took a decision to cancel all leaves of all officials of the state government who are holding crucial positions. All such officers have been instructed to join back their duty with immediate effect.

About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 16:39 IST
Former LeT Operative Recounts His Training By Hafiz Saeed, Exiting Group: Want To See His End

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 17:25 IST

Noor Dahri said that he was swayed away from university education towards joining LeT by the influence of Hafiz Saeed

Noor Dahri recounted being tasked with guarding Hafiz Saeed at his permanent residence and head office in Muridkay.

A former member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group has shared a personal account of his recruitment into the organisation, his experiences there, and his eventual disillusionment, in a long post on X (formerly Twitter). Noor Dahri, founder and executive director of UK-based think tank Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism-ITCT, stated that despite his late mothers wish for him to become a doctor, he was swayed away from university education towards joining LeT by the influence of Hafiz Saeed, the founder of the banned group.

Noor Dahri recounted being tasked with guarding Hafiz Saeed at his permanent residence and head office in Muridkay. He described Hafiz Saeeds vehicle at the time as a modified blue Toyota Vigo pickup Datsun, equipped with a sleeping area in the rear.

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Hafiz Saeeds speeches served as a powerful motivator, leading numerous young individuals to join LeT and subsequently travel to Afghanistan and Indian Kashmir, Noor Dahri shared.

He noted with regret that the majority did not return" as he detailed that approximately 500 individuals would travel from across Pakistan to a training camp named Maaskar Tayyba in Afghanistans Kunar Province every Thursday.

I aspired to become a doctor in accordance with my late mothers wish, but I was unable to fulfil this ambition. Rather than pursuing a university education, I chose to join LeT, influenced by a man (Hafiz Saeed) who adversely impacted my promising future.I recall being pic.twitter.com/pkE2bcN0bN  Noor Dahri      (@dahrinoor2) May 9, 2025

Noor Dahri said that his decision to leave LeT was triggered by the stark realities he witnessed in Afghanistan and Pakistani Kashmir, revealing the groups true face." He recalled being labeled a coward" by LeT commanders upon expressing his desire to depart.

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Noor Dahri alleged that LeT currently possesses a force of approximately one million trained militants, establishing it as a significant entity within Pakistan. Accusing Hafiz Saeed of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of Pakistanis by deploying them in what he termed a war of ashes" to achieve the states political objectives, Noor Dahri said, I wish to see his disgraceful end in my life. In Shaa Allah."

Concluding his post, Noor Dahri affirmed that he is now in a better place than Hafiz Saeed envisioned for him, believing that Allah has chosen me to expose the dark faces of Islamists. Alhamdulillah."

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 16:34 IST
Over 100 Flights Cancelled At Delhi Airport: Here's What We Know

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 16:41 IST

Delhi Airport Flights Cancellation: Delhi Airport issued an advisory urging passengers to strictly adhere to baggage regulations and cooperate fully with security personnel.

Delhi Airport

Over 100 flights to and from Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) were cancelled on Friday as tensions escalated along the India-Pakistan border. Airport authorities issued an advisory urging passengers to strictly adhere to baggage regulations and cooperate fully with security personnel.

As per real-time flight tracking website Flightradar24, at least 34 arriving and 70 departing flights had been cancelled at IGI airport by 10:30am today.

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What Delhi Airport Said On Flight Cancellations

In a post on X, Delhi Airport authorities stated that while overall airport operations remain normal, flight schedules may experience disruptions. The advisory cautioned passengers against spreading or relying on unverified information.

Earlier, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued a directive for enhanced security protocols at all civilian airports across India in the wake of Operation Sindhoor. The BCAS mandated comprehensive secondary ladder point checks, random inspections of passenger baggage, and increased physical screening of cargo. Moreover, the entry of visitors into terminal buildings has been temporarily prohibited until at least May 18th, and marshals are being deployed within terminals to bolster security presence.

India has already suspended commercial flight operations at approximately 25 airports, primarily those situated near the India-Pakistan border or located at significant Indian Air Force bases. This measure was taken after Indian armed forces conducted strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of Operation Sindoor.

How To Check Flight Status At Delhi Airport?

You can check the flight status at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) through the official Delhi Airport website (https://www.newdelhiairport.in/) which offers a dedicated Live Flight Information" or Flight Status" section where you can search for arrivals and departures by flight number, airline, origin/destination, and date.

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Alternatively, you can utilize the official websites or mobile applications of the specific airline you are flying with.

For immediate assistance, you can contact the airline directly or the Delhi Airports information desk at +91 124 4797300.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 14:00 IST
Have Pakistani Terrorists Infiltrated Kashmir? Exclusive From Defence Sources

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 18:36 IST

Pakistan launched missiles, drones and artillery fire on Jammu, Rajasthan and Punjab around 8.45 pm. Around 11 pm, the BSF foiled a major infiltration bid in Samba district

The Pakistani post destroyed by the BSF on Friday. (PTI/Video grab)

Were Pakistans drone and missile attacks on Thursday night, which were repelled by India, meant to create a distraction to facilitate the entry of terrorists.

Defence sources think so. Lets take a look at the sequence of events.

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Pakistan launched missiles, drones and artillery fire on Jammu, Rajasthan and Punjab around 8.45 pm. India foiled the attempts to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, and retaliated with attacks in Islamabad, Sialkot and Lahore.

#WATCH | Around 500 drones were launched towards Indian positions by the Pakistan Army last night, which were sighted at 24 locations from Siachen base camp in Ladakh to Kutch area in Gujarat. Around 50 of these drones were destroyed by air defence guns, while around 20 were pic.twitter.com/w5Cwaniei5 ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Around 11 pm, the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration bid in Samba district.

Around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, the BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K," the BSF said on X.

#WATCH | On 8-9 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K by killing at least seven terrorists and causing extensive damage to the Pakistan Post Dhandhar, says BSF.(Source: BSF) pic.twitter.com/c2MWOUuvQs  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Their statement said that an infiltration attempt by a big group of terrorists has been tried which was detected by surveillance grid. This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pak Rangers post Dhandhar. Alert troops of BSF, neutralised the infiltration bid, killing at least 7 terrorists and caused extensive damage to the Pak Post Dhandhar".

Defence sources said there was a possibility that terrorists may have infiltrated North Kashmir and Rajouri-Poonch. There is a possibility that they may target a highway in the region or other spots," said sources.

News18 has already reported that Pakistan had sent weak ammunitions on Thursday evening, in what sources called a probing action". At least 40 or more places were targeted with weak ammunition. It could be mainly to probe where they would be caught and where they would get a free run. In a probing action, if a missile or drone returns, they figure that there is no detection system there. So when they actually plan something major, they can target the spots with no detection systems," sources said.

J&K: SITUATION ON GROUND

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On early Friday morning, Pakistan once again resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Rajouri, Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, to which India promptly responded. Several houses were damaged in Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, while one woman was reportedly killed in Uri.

Sources said, A 500-km area in Jammu and Kashmir is seeing cross-firing. Their firing is localised, for which they have enough ammunition. As the scope is small, Pakistan is able to provide the resources. A large-scale attack will put Pakistan in trouble. They are aware that the Indian government wont spare them."

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 09, 2025, 18:25 IST
How Indias 200+ Missions Across The World Are Turning Up Diplomatic Heat On Pakistan

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 13:37 IST

Over 200 Indian missions across the world have been active since India and Pakistan locked horns, with envoys in major countries giving on-record interviews for maximum impact

Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK (left) and Indian ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra (right), have been pushing Indias narrative abroad. (News18)

Diplomacythe quiet force behind treaties and the glue that holds global order togetheroften works behind the scenes to keep the world from unravelling. While military wars command headlines with their optics and immediate impact, diplomatic wars are equally critical, waged in conference rooms, through strategic negotiations, and behind closed doors where the balance of power is subtly shaped.

It is this diplomatic acumen that India has showcased as it engages once again with its old rival, Pakistan, in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 peoplemostly touristswere shot dead by cross-border terrorists as they vacationed in the serene Baisaran Valley.

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Just as generals lead armies on the battlefield, Indias diplomats have been manoeuvring through complex political landscapes since the country launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK to avenge Pahalgam. A stunned Pakistan retaliated by launching unprovoked attacks on Indias border cities, though the attempts were thwarted by Indias robust air defence systems and alert forces.

In an effort to win global support as well as expose Pakistans duplicity on the war against terror, Indian envoys across the world have been reaching out to local governments as well as media outlets.

Over 200 Indian missions across the world have been super active since India and Pakistan locked horns, with envoys in major countries giving on-record interviews, especially in UK and United States, to ensure maximum impact.

Other diplomats in missions are also meeting their counterparts at mission and government levels for individual briefings. The aim is to counter any false narrative in newspapers and TV media immediately so that the upper hand that India has vis-a-vis Pakistan is maintained.

This was witnessed recently when Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, called out the Pakistan Army for giving state funerals to proscribed terrorists, adding that India will respond proportionally and in exactly the same light" if the neighbour escalates hostilities.

India's HC to UK @VDoraiswami exposing Pakistan on UK TV Networks  UN Proscribed Terrorist standing next to Pakistani Army Official to give stage funeral to the 'Terrorists Killed'  #WATCH pic.twitter.com/lXYJu7xmlJ Siddhant Mishra (@siddhantvm) May 9, 2025

Speaking to Sky News Yalda Hakim, Doraiswami help up a photograph of US-sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf leading the funeral prayers for terrorists killed in Indias Operation Sindoor as uniformed Pakistan Army men joined in. If you are going to give terrorists state funerals, what does that make of your system? Everybody knows that for the last 30 years, Pakistan has used this as a means of sub-critical warfare against India. If the international community really wants to be able to look at it and worry about it, the simple solution is to tell Pakistan it has an opportunity for an off-ramp," he said.

The Indian envoy said it was Pakistan-sponsored terror groups that originally escalated tensions by killing innocents in Pahalgam on April 22 while Indias strikes in Pakistan were precise, targeted, reasonable and moderate". We made it abundantly clear that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation," he said. A fact that was actually acknowledged  in a left-handed way of course  by the Pakistani side in terms of their own statements, which said the airspace hadnt been violated."

Doraiswamis views were echoed by Indian ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra who, in an interview with CNN, said India is at war with terrorism and terrorists backed by Pakistan. We took out terror factories at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). We were very cautious and careful to target only those who were responsible for the killings. The original escalation was on April 22, when they killed 26 innocent civilians, including a Nepali national," Kwatra said.

Western Journalists : Is this a war between Pakistani Muslims & Indian Hindus ? .@AmbVMKwatra : It is Indian Action against the Terrorists https://t.co/jr0xbXYhIl pic.twitter.com/F88JwOnFvo  Siddhant Mishra (@siddhantvm) May 9, 2025

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He added: The strikes were intended to hold the terrorists accountable and deliver justice to the victims. Pakistans subsequent military action is them saying that they stand with the terrorists."

The timing of the envoys actions is also crucial, as it comes ahead of a critical International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting to decide on further funding to Pakistan. The Narendra Modi government is preparing to present a fresh dossier of actionable" evidence to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ahead of the upcoming IMF board meeting, pushing for Pakistans re-entry into the grey list, which could severely restrict Islamabads access to international aid and other forms of financial packages, including the one scheduled from IMF.

About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. M... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 12:24 IST
How Modi Resisted Pressure To Get S-400 And Rafale, Indias Ace Weapons Against Pakistan

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 08:44 IST

The US, three years ago, had publicly said it was discouraging India from going ahead with acquiring S-400 from Russia.

Called Sudarshan Chakra by the Indian military, the S-400 is made in Russia and can track targets up to 600 km and intercept them at distances of up to 400 km. (Photo: Reuters)

The Russian S-400 system and the Rafale Jets with SCALP Missiles  these twin weapons have proved to be the aces for India in Operation Sindoor and in the ongoing conflict with Pakistan. The Narendra Modi government got them into Indias arsenal a few years ago, resisting and fighting pressure from outside and inside.

As India successfully thwarted a massive attack by the Pakistan armed forces using drones and other munitions on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, the importance of the S-400 air defence system was yet again proved. Not a single projectile fired by Pakistan could land on target as the S-400 defence system along with the Akash defence system effectively repulsed each attack. The munitions were fired at multiple locations, from Srinagar, Jammu City to Jaisalmer.

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The Modi government had to fight a lot of pressure exerted by the US when India decided to procure the S-400 defence system since 2018 in a $5 billion deal with Russia. The US, three years ago, had publicly said it was discouraging" India from going ahead with acquiring S-400 from Russia. Both the previous Donald Trump administration as well as the Joe Biden administration were against India getting the S-400. The former Trump administration had even threatened sanctions.

But India under Modi knew how crucial the S-400 was to strengthen our air defence systems against Pakistan as well as China. Three squadrons of the S-400 have arrived and been deployed since, with more expected to be delivered this year. It is the worlds premier long-range air defence weapon, capable of tracking and engaging multiple aerial targets within a range of up to 600 kilometre. Inside the Indian Air Force, it is termed as the Sudarshan Chakra which can detect, track, and destroy a wide variety of airborne threats  from fighter aircraft, to UAVs and ballistic missiles.

Modi resisted Political Pressure on Rafale purchase

India procured 36 Rafale fighter jets since 2020 from France in a government-to-government deal, which significantly enhanced the air prowess of India, giving it an edge over the the US made F-16 fighter jets with Pakistan. India is said to have used the Rafale jets fitted with SCALP missiles to target Bahawalpur, almost 100 km deep inside Pakistan territory. And, this was without Rafale even having to cross the border, given its long-range strike capability.

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But the Congress party had mounted a huge political offensive against the Modi government for going ahead with the Rafale purchase in the manner it did, with Rahul Gandhi even terming it a scam during the 2019 general elections. However, Modi government did not budge citing national security. The Supreme Court threw out the legal challenges made to the deal, finding no irregularities in the decision-making process or the pricing of the Rafale fighter jets. It was a big thumbs-up.

The strike by Rafale at Bahawalpur, the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammand (JeM), led to almost the entire family of most-wanted terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar being wiped out. Among the dead is also the most wanted and the de-facto head of the Jaish, Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, and the mastermind of the IC-814 hijacking.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 08:44 IST
India Strikes Three Pakistan Air Force Bases In Retaliation; Blasts In Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 08:49 IST

Three Pakistan Air Force bases-- Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, Rafiqi Airbase in Punjab's Shorkot, and Murid Airbase in Punjab's Chakwal-- were targeted in the strikes

The Pakistan government said there have been no casualties or material losses in the attack.

India launched retaliatory strikes against Pakistan in the wee hours of Saturday, hitting the cities of Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi and three Air Force bases, defence sources told CNN-News18.

Multiple blasts were heard in cities of Pakistan two in Rawalpindi, one each in Lahore and Islamabad. Three Air Force bases Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, Rafiqi Airbase in Punjabs Shorkot, and Murid Airbase in Punjabs Chakwal were also targeted in the strikes.

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Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry confirmed Indias attack on Nur Khan Airbase, Rafiqi Airbase but claimed all Pakistani Air Force (PAF) assets are safe.

The Pakistan government said there have been no casualties or material losses in the attack.

#BreakingNews | India attacks Shorkot Rafiqi Air Base in Pakistanin custom match attack#Exclusive inputs: @manojkumarguptaDefence Expert Maj Gen (R) KK Sinha & Group Capt (R) MJA Vinod, Fmr fighter pilot, with their views#India #Pakistan | @akankshaswarups @JamwalNews18 pic.twitter.com/yqgzbEcDwI  News18 (@CNNnews18) May 9, 2025

According to sources, India used air-to-surface missiles and drones in the strikes. Pakistan lost major air assets in the attack and they could not start their machines, they added.

The Indian strikes came hours after Pakistan launched a fresh drone strike at 26 locations in India on Friday amid escalating tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Indian forces also intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Pakistan, sources said.

Drone Attacks, Heavy Shelling, Blackouts On 3rd Day Of Pakistan Aggression: What We Know So Far

Top government sources said India launched retaliatory strikes after Pakistan made multiple attempts to attack Indian Army bases and civilian areas.

Terror dens were attacked for the crime done by terror groups by killing innocent Indians. We didnt attack Pakistan military installations or civilian areas. Pakistans attempts since yesterday were criminal acts. They tried multiple attacks on Indian army bases. They also attacked Indian civilian areas. Their crime list is very big. India is making only custom match attacks," sources added.

Earlier on Thursday night, India shot down around 300-400 drones launched by Pakistan at 36 locations in the northern and western parts of the country. Some members of a family were injured in the attack in Ferozpur, Punjab, the only known injuries in the attacks carried out after darkness fell. All the states that border Pakistan were under a blackout.

The defence ministry said the situation was under close and constant watch", and that there was no cause for panic. It said the Indian armed forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems.

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Drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and LoC with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2025

Tension between the two neighbours soared after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday conducted precision strikes targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 10, 2025, 02:54 IST
These Are The World's Easiest And Most Difficult Fighter Jets. Where Does Rafale Sit?

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 11:19 IST

From the deadly grace of the Sukhoi-30MKI to the sleek, user-friendly F-16 Fighting Falcon, modern air forces operate a range of machines, each with its own flight temperament

Indias own Tejas, born from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, was envisioned to replace aging MiG-21 fighters. (PTI Photo)

The Indian Air Forces air superiority display during Operation Sindoor has reignited interest in the fighter pilots inside the cockpits  and the aircraft they command. As Sukhoi-30MKIs roared across the skies and Rafales executed precision strikes, many observers were left wondering: how difficult is it to fly these powerful machines?

The answer isnt straightforward. From nimble trainers to brute-force warhorses, modern fighter jets span a wide range of complexity, and their ease, or difficulty, of flight often depends on factors like design architecture, flight control systems, mission loadouts, and the skill of the pilot.

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Indias fighter fleet, which includes indigenous platforms like the Tejas alongside imports like the French Rafale and Russian Sukhoi, offers a striking contrast between cutting-edge ease-of-operation and old-school muscle. Globally, the picture is just as diverse: some jets are practically intuitive, built to train rookies; others are demanding, requiring pilots to navigate layers of avionics while enduring punishing G-forces.

From the deadly grace of the Sukhoi-30MKI to the sleek, user-friendly F-16 Fighting Falcon, modern air forces operate a range of machines, each with its own flight temperament. Among the elite league of modern fighter jets, a few stand out for their forgiving flight characteristics  often thanks to advanced digital systems and ergonomic design.

Easiest Fighter Jets To Fly

F-16 Fighting Falcon (USA)

Frequently described as one of the most pilot-friendly jets in service, the American-made F-16 has been a favourite among NATO and allied forces for decades. Pakistan also operates this jet. With a sophisticated fly-by-wire (FBW) system that keeps the aircraft inherently stable, and an intuitively designed cockpit, the F-16 allows even new pilots to quickly master basic fighter manoeuvres. Its single-engine configuration makes it simpler to maintain and operate, making it a staple in fighter pilot training programs.

JAS 39 Gripen (Sweden)

Swedens Gripen, developed by Saab, exemplifies efficiency in the skies. Compact and lightweight, the single-engine aircraft combines multirole functionality with pilot comfort. Its automated flight controls minimise the pilots workload, and its low-maintenance design allows operators to spend more time flying than fixing. Its no surprise that several countries have added the Gripen to their air fleets.

Tejas Mk1 (India)

Indias own Tejas, born from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, was envisioned to replace aging MiG-21 fighters. It delivers on ease of flight with a quadruplex digital FBW system that stabilises the aircraft during complex manoeuvres. Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots consistently report it as significantly easier to fly than its Soviet-era predecessor, with a design optimised for agility and control. Tejas isnt just homegrown  its pilot-friendly.

Most Difficult Fighter Jets To Fly

However, not all fighter jets are created equal. Some are raw, demanding machines that test even the most seasoned pilots. High speeds, intense G-forces, and outdated avionics can make flying a daily trial of nerve and skill.

MiG-21 Bison (Russia/India)

An aging warhorse still in limited service with the IAF, the MiG-21 Bison is notorious for its difficulty. Bereft of a fly-by-wire system and packed with legacy systems, the pilot must manually control every aspect of the flight. Its high landing speeds  over 300 km/h  and cramped cockpit increase the risk of error. The jet earned the grim nickname flying coffin" in India, despite safety upgrades under the Bison modernisation program.

F-14 Tomcat (USA)

Now retired from US service but still remembered as a complex beast, the F-14s variable-sweep wings and heavy twin-engine body made it formidable but tricky. Pilots needed deep experience, especially during aircraft carrier landings and while managing the radar-guided AIM-54 Phoenix missile system.

Sukhoi-30MKI (Russia/India)

A cornerstone of Indias air dominance strategy, the Sukhoi-30MKI is immensely powerful but far from easy. Thrust-vectoring engines give it extreme agility, but that also means pilots must manage intense G-forces and sophisticated avionics. Multitasking is crucial  pilots must juggle radar tracking, electronic warfare systems, and mission planning, all while maintaining flight stability on long-duration missions. Its a juggernaut, but it demands constant attention.

Eurofighter Typhoon (Europe)

Designed for instability to maximise manoeuvrability, the Typhoon is inherently difficult to control without its advanced digital FBW system. Mastery of its systems requires months of rigourous training, and the aircrafts complex cockpit environment leaves little room for error.

Where Does Rafale Sit?

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Indias Rafale jets, supplied by French defense giant Dassault Aviation, sit in the middle of the spectrum. For new pilots, the learning curve can be steep, especially when handling the aircrafts high-speed manoeuvres and managing multiple threats. But for experienced aviators, the Rafale is a dream machine. Its Spectra electronic warfare system automates threat detection and response, and the aircraft can seamlessly transition between air-to-air and air-to-ground roles in a single mission. Hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls enable rapid response, though mastering them takes time.

Despite its complexity, the Rafales FBW system makes basic flying tasks relatively smooth. The aircrafts omnirole capability  spanning air dominance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes  means the pilot is always in the thick of mission management, but rarely overwhelmed.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 11:19 IST
India-Pakistan War: What Are Loitering Munitions Or 'Suicide Drones'? | Explained

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:59 IST

A Bengaluru-based firm, with an Israeli partner, has built these stealthy, autonomous drones capable of surveillance, target tracking and precision strikes with high accuracy

India carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in PoK and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor', in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. (AP)

The indigenous Nagastra-1 suicide drone took centre stage during Operation Sindoor, as India showcased its growing military prowess through a series of precision strikes. In a bold display of advanced drone capabilities, the Indian armed forces extensively deployed loitering munitions to target terrorist bases across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), sending a clear message to the world about the countrys technological edge in modern warfare.

Loitering munitions, often referred to as suicide drones, were used by Indian forces on the night of May 6-7 to strike nine terrorist bases. These drones were also employed to counter any provocative actions by the Pakistani Army, penetrating deep into Pakistani territory to destroy numerous terrorist bases. Equipped with explosive warheads, these drones can find, track and precisely attack their targets.

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These state-of-the-art drones were developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru. A private company based in Bengaluru, in collaboration with an Israeli military technology firm, has built these fully autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS). They excel in surveillance, target tracking, and precision strikes and feature a low radar cross-section, making them difficult for enemy air defence systems to detect.

The Indian Army utilised these drones to obliterate the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) hideout in Muridke.

Additionally, the Skystriker loitering munitions, developed by Alpha Design Technologies (India) and Elbit Systems (Israel), played a crucial role in the anti-terrorism operation.

With a range of 100 km and the capability to carry 5 to 10 kg of explosives, the Skystriker was used for the first time in an attack against terrorists, marking a significant milestone in Indias counter-terrorism efforts.

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On Thursday, India thwarted Pakistans attempts to target military sites using drones and missiles in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and other critical locations. According to the Defence Ministry, Pakistan aimed at military installations in 15 cities across northern and western India, including Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj.

These failed attempts by Pakistani forces came in response to the bold counter-terror operation on Wednesday, which involved precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in PoK and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian government described the action as a pre-emptive measure to safeguard national security and deter further cross-border aggression.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 10:59 IST
India Repels Pakistans Attacks: Decoding Islamabads Strategy | Exclusive From Defence Sources

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 18:02 IST

Pakistans missiles targeting Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan were successfully intercepted by Indias S-400 air defence system. Defence sources decode their strategy

Pakistani drone sighted and neutralised by the Indian forces (elft) in Bathinda, the unidentified debris found on Friday. (PTI)

Pakistan on Thursday night launched Hamas-style artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in India, including a key airstrip in Jammu, a day after Indias precision strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the Pahalgam massacre.

According to security agencies, Pakistans missiles targeting Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan were successfully intercepted by Indias S-400 air defence system. In response, India swarmed Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi with drones.

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Defence sources decode Pakistans strategy.

THE SEQUENCE

India launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The strikes killed at least 10 family members of JeM chief Masood Azhar and four close aides.

In retaliation, Pakistan first shelled J&Ks Poonch, killing 16 and injuring over 50. It later attempted to target military installations at 15 locations in India, but its attempts were foiled.

On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems, The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks," the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday afternoon.

Pakistans Air Defence units of HQ-9 and air defence missile launchers suffered heavy damage and the Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised.

ON THURSDAY NIGHT

Around 8.45 pm, Pakistan launched missiles, drones and artillery fire on Jammu, which were intercepted by Indias air defence systems. The prime targets, according to reports, were Jammu airport and army camps in the city. Within minutes, Pakistan attacked other cities too, including Kupwara, Rajouri and Baramulla in J&K; Pathankot in Punjab; and Jaisalmer and Ganganagar in Rajasthan. Loud explosions were reportedly heard in Jaisalmer as India intercepted Pakistani drones.

The Defence Ministry said the Pakistani military attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. Sources say over 45-50 drones were successfully neutralised during a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted by Indian Army air defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot areas.

India retaliated with attacks in Islamabad, Sialkot and Lahore.

On early Friday morning, Pakistan once again resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Rajouri, Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, to which India promptly responded. Several houses were damaged in Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, while one woman was reportedly killed in Uri.

WHAT IS PAKISTANS STRATEGY?

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India hit Pakistan badly last night. We sent 14 loiter ammunitions and hit their 12 air defence systems last night in Sialkot, Lahore and Karachi," said top defence sources.

What they sent were very weak ammunitions. They were either for testing or checks because in most of them, no ammunition was found. This test was possibly to check our preparedness and assessment of air defence systems," they said.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 09, 2025, 15:22 IST
Pakistan Used Turkish Drones, Launched 300400 UAVs In Brazen Attack On India: Centre

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 19:53 IST

The Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure last night, using 300-400 drones.

The Ministry of External Affairs addressing a press conference. (MEA)

In a big disclosure, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed that Pakistan had used Turkish drones in its unprovoked attack on Indian military installations last night and that the Indian Air Force had shown considerable restraint in its response and protected its civil airspace.

In the MEAs briefing for the third consecutive day, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh revealed that around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations, which the Indian armed forces shot down using kinetic and non-kinetic means.

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The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones," they said.

Operation Sindoor: Follow Live Updates Here

Later, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of Pakistan attempted to target the Bhatinda military station, which was detected and neutralised. In response, India launched armed drone strikes at four air defence sites in Pakistan, and one of them was able to neutralise an air defence radar (ADR).

Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the Line of Control (LoC), using heavy caliber artillery guns and armed drones at Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel. Pakistan Army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory firing," the woman officers said at the briefing.

The MEA also said that Pakistan used its civil airspace as a shield, while the Indian Air Force showed considerable restraint and protected international civil carriers.

ALSO READ: Did Pakistan Probe Indias Air Defence Systems Last Night? Exclusive Details

Pakistans barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat came a day after India conducted strikes against terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian air defence systems took out almost all the drones that could have caused damage to infrastructure.

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The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) came after India targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities with one in Lahore being neutralised" earlier in the morning.

India on Wednesday launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the killing of 26 in Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Pakistans Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had claimed responsibility for the killings.

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 09, 2025, 17:46 IST
Attack To Defence: How PM Modi Strengthened Indias Suraksha Kavach Over 10 Years

Published By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 13:17 IST

Operation Sindoor: This level of preparedness didnt materialise overnight. Since 2014, the Modi government has systematically upgraded Indias air defence architecture

The Modi governments approach to defence has been about building a resilient, multi-layered ecosystem. (File)

In the wake of the Operation Sindoor that destroyed nine terrorist camps across Pakistan, Pakistan attempted to escalate tensions by launching missile strikes at Indian military installations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

Every single one of those missiles was intercepted or neutralised. None reached its intended target.

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Indias rapid, coordinated response showcased the strength of its air defence ecosystembuilt painstakingly over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also exposed the hollowness of Pakistani Air defence system.

The Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumf systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDOs antidrone technologies came together seamlessly to create an aerial shield that held firm.

ALSO READ | After Sindoor Attack On Pakistan, How Equipped Is Indias Defence? Explained

A DECADE OF STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS

This level of preparedness didnt materialise overnight. Since 2014, the Modi government has systematically upgraded Indias air defence architecture.

Key acquisitions and developments include:

The Rs 35,000-crore deal for five S-400 Triumf squadrons, signed in 2018, with three squadrons now operational along the borders with China and Pakistan.

Deployment of Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MR-SAM), $2.5-billion deal signed in 2017 with Israel, now actively guarding frontline bases like Bhatinda.

Indigenous Akash missile batteries and DRDO-developed counter-drone systems.

Man Portable Counter Drone Systems (MPCDS) to jam and disable hostile UAVs installed in 2024.

#IndiaPakistamWar | When we launched Operation Sindoor, we checked upon all the contingencies. In all scenarios, we did not want to rush: @TinyDhillon, the Former GOC, 15 Corps of Northern Command, Indian Army#IndianArmy | @RShivshankar pic.twitter.com/Xo5KvU06kT News18 (@CNNnews18) May 9, 2025

THE RISE OF INDIAN TECH IN MODERN WARFARE

Operation Sindoor also marked the combat debut of loitering munitions suicidal drones ordered in 2021 and manufactured in India. These drones executed simultaneous, precision strikes across sectors, taking Pakistans defences by complete surprise.

Additionally, Israeli-origin Harop dronesnow locally builtwere deployed to target and destroy air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore. These platforms, combined with the strategic deployment of Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER missiles, demonstrated Indias capability to project power with surgical precision.

ALSO READ | How Akash Foils Pak Attacks, Keeps Skies Clear: The Made In India Missile Defence System Explained

AIRSPACE, SECURED. REPUTATION, REINFORCED

The Modi governments approach to defence has not been about flashy one-offsit has been about building a resilient, multi-layered ecosystem.

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India today operates a tech-driven airspace defence network capable of detecting, jamming, and eliminating threats before they breach.

Operation Sindoor sent a clear message: India is not just capable of defending its skiesit now controls them.

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 09, 2025, 13:14 IST
Infiltration Bid Foiled In J&K's Samba, 7 Terrorists Killed Amid Surging India-Pakistan Tensions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 11:53 IST

The infiltration bid was being carried out amid the escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.

BSF foils infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba. (Image: News18)

The Border Security Force foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmirs Samba on Thursday night. According to sources, at least seven terrorists were shot by BSF while they were attempting to cross the international border.

This infiltration bid was supported by fire from the Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar, sources informed. The BSF troops neutralised the infiltration bid, killing terrorists and caused extensive damage to the Pakistan Post Dhandhar.

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In Samba Sector of Jammu Frontier BSF, in the intervening night of 8th and 9th of May 2025, an infiltration attempt by a big group of terrorists has been tried, which was detected by surveillance grid.This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pak Rangers post Dhandhar. pic.twitter.com/L9FqSPJIyj  DD News (@DDNewslive) May 9, 2025

The infiltration bid was carried out after India neutralised Pakistans militarys attempt to hit several locations, including Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan, with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan on Friday morning again resorted to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, to which Indian forces responded swiftly, ensuring civilian safety and maintaining control.

The Army further stated that the troops launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the Western Border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 10:11 IST
No 'Thanksgiving' For Operation Dost As Turkey's Drones Join Pakistan's Flock Against India

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 20:41 IST

On Friday, New Delhi found that it was Turkish-made drones, nearly 300-400 in number, that were fired by Pakistan at 36 locations in India across the western border

A complete blackout was being maintained in areas where Pakistan continued shelling. (PTI)

When Turkey was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2023, India started Operation Dost to become the first country to come to Ankaras assistance. Along with NDRF and aid, India sent Garuda Aerospace drones to help those trapped in the rubble and modified Kisan drones to carry medication and food.

But in a rude discovery on Friday, New Delhi found that it was Turkish-made drones, nearly 300-400 in number, that were fired by Pakistan at 36 locations in India across the western border, from Leh to Sir Creek. Officials said the debris recovered by India showed that these were SONGAR ASISGUARD drones of Turkey. This is the first national armed drone that has been used by the Turkish Armed Forces.

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This now raises the speculation that it was these drones that were supplied by Turkey to Pakistan when the C-130E Hercules plane had landed in Karachi on April 28, less than a week after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. On April 30, a high-ranking Turkish military and intelligence delegation, headed by Lt Gen Yasar Kadioglu, visited the Pakistan Air Force headquarters in Islamabad and met the Pakistani air chief.

Government sources say all these developments show that it is time for India to corner Turkey diplomatically, strategically, and globally, given it is now clear which camp Ankara stands in. Even in its stance and statements after the Pahalgam terror strike, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a full pro-Pakistan line, officials point out. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Erdogan have rarely met, last on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in 2023.

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Incidentally, Turkeys tourism industry depends in a big way on Indian visitors. In 2023, nearly 2.75 lakh Indian tourists visited Turkey, and the number rose by over 20% to 3.25 lakh in 2024. Indian carriers like IndiGo have been running direct flights to Istanbul. In that spirit, India also sent a C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Turkey with personnel and aid in 2023 after the devastating earthquake.

But it seems India, and Indians, will now have to change their approach to Turkey, which stands clearly in the Pakistan camp.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 19:58 IST
500 Drones, 210 Minutes, 4 Indian States, 24 Cities: Defence Sources Map Pakistan's Brazen Attack

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 17:28 IST

Pakistan launched drones into the Indian territory on May 8 night, which were shot down by India's air defence system.

Pakistan's drones were shot down by India (Photo: IAI)

Daring to set out on a brazen misadventure on May 8 night, Pakistan launched 500 small drones in a span of a little above 200 minutes with a nefarious aim to target 24 Indian cities, defence sources said on Friday.

The states Pakistan targeted yesterday included Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Around 50 of these drones were destroyed by air defence guns, while around 20 were brought down through soft kills.

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Pakistan launched the drone attacks between 8 pm and 11:30 pm on Thursday, getting a befitting response from the Indian armed forces.

The Indian air defence system, powered by Russia-made S-400 and domestically made Akash, countered the drone threats and shot them down before even a single of them could touch the Indian soil and create mayhem. Merely one drone managed to hit Jammu Civil Airport last evening.

Most of the drone sources were unarmed, according to defence sources. They were fitted with cameras and possibly relaying footage to their ground stations. Indian air defence systems took out almost all the drones which could have caused damage to infrastructure during last nights attack.

#WATCH | Around 500 drones were launched towards Indian positions by the Pakistan Army last night, which were sighted at 24 locations from Siachen base camp in Ladakh to Kutch area in Gujarat. Around 50 of these drones were destroyed by air defence guns, while around 20 were pic.twitter.com/w5Cwaniei5 ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Meanwhile, the Indian military retaliated with strong force and dispatched its drones into the heart of Pakistan  its capital city of Islamabad, Punjab provinces largest city of Lahore, and Sialkot.

Thursdays confrontation comes after the Indian government said earlier in the day that it launched drone strikes into Pakistan in response to Pakistans attempts to engage Indian military targets in northern and western India on the night of May 7-8.

These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks," the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.

Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," it added.

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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a press briefing yesterday that Indias May 7 response to the Pahalgam terror attack was not the escalation, as dubbed by Pakistan, but rather the April 22 attack in Kashmir was the original escalation".

As far as we are concerned, the individuals eliminated at these facilities were terrorists," he had said.

About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 16:18 IST
Delhi Tests Air Siren Day After India Strikes Islamabad, Lahore

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 17:25 IST

Mock drill was conducted in Delhi today in the wake of heightened tensions with Pakistan on the borders.

Operation Sindoor: Delhi tests air siren (PTI File Image)

Operation Sindoor: An emergency siren testing was conducted as part of a mock drill in the national capital on Friday in the wake of military tensions with Pakistan, officials said.

Ahead of the testing, the Delhi government had issued a notice stating that the Directorate of Civil Defence would test air raid sirens that are installed at the Public Works Department Headquarters at ITO, and said that there is no need to panic.

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#WATCH | Delhi: Testing of air raid sirens installed at PWD headquarters in ITO is underway; Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma is also present at the spot pic.twitter.com/sId2tFZflW ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

The testing will commence at 3.00 PM and be carried out for a period of 15-20 minutes. Accordingly, it is requested that adequate publicity may be made through social and electronic media so that general public are advised to stay calm and not to panic during the said exercise," the statement said.

The drill began at 3 pm and was conducted for around 10 minutes. Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma was also present on the spot.

Verma informed that around 50 sirens will be installed in the high-rise buildings in the city, which can be run from a single command centre.

The work of installing sirens in Delhi has started. Sirens will be installed on all the high-rise buildings in Delhi. Its range is 8 kilometres. Starting tonight, 40-50 more sirens will be installed in high-rise buildings in Delhi. We will run it in case of any emergency. We can run it from a single command centre," he said.

District Magistrate (Central) G Sudhakar had also urged residents not to panic and stay calm as the sirens are sounded.

The mock drill was conducted a day after the Indian military struck deep inside Pakistan in its capital city, Islamabad, Punjab provinces largest city, Lahore, and Sialkot. Indias action came in retaliation for the barrage of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan into Indian territory late last evening. All their projectiles were successfully shot down by Indian air defence systems  S-400 and Akash  except for one drone, which managed to hit the Jammu Civil Airport.

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Pakistan targeted their attacks in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan, leading to the local authorities adhering to the standard SOPs and executing a complete blackout in the border districts.

The government has indicated that the Operation Sindoor against Pakistans terrorists is ongoing".

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 09, 2025, 15:37 IST
Op Sindoor: India Downs Over 50 Pakistani Drones Using Russian And Domestic Air Defence Systems

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 07:49 IST

Pakistan escalated the situation last evening as it launched a number of projectile attacks on India, which were thwarted by the Indian military.

Operation Sindoor: Indian air defence system shoots down over 50 Pak drones (Reuters Image, used for representational purposes)

Operation Sindoor: As Pakistan launched unprovoked drone and missile attacks in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan on Thursday night, the Indian military shot them down before they could hit their targets using weapons made in Russia and domestically produced systems.

Last night, the Pakistani military targeted the Indian Army and Indian Air Force bases, among other civilian sites in a major escalation, which was responded to with equal force by India.

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According to the officials, last night, Pakistan made failed attempts to send Swarm Drones all across various places along the Line of Control and International Borders. The Indian Army Air Defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot neutralised over 45-50 drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation.

The military engagement involved the extensive use of L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and other advanced counter-UAS equipment.

Pakistan escalated the situation and carried out attacks in two rounds  the first took place on the intervening night of May 7-8, and the second on May 8 evening.

In the first round, they targeted 15 cities in the northern and western parts of India, while in the second round, Pakistan concentrated its attack on Jammu and Kashmir and the border areas in Punjab and Rajasthan.

Responding to the first wave, India had struck military sites in Pakistan, including in Lahore. Last night, in response to the second wave, India struck Islamabad, Lahore and Sialkot.

What Weapons Did India Use To Foil Pakistans Attack?

The Indian armed forces used the Russia-made S-400 Triumf air defence system, domestically-made Akash surface-to-air missiles, various kinds of anti-drone systems and other measures to thwart the incoming projectiles from Pakistan. The projectiles were detected and tracked by an integrated network of radars and control systems working together.

Earlier, India used loitering munitions, including Israeli-made Harop, to neutralise air defence systems in Pakistan. Harop is a suicide drone.

India had signed a deal with Russia in October 2018 to procure five S-400 missile systems for Rs 39,000 crore. The S-400 is capable of shooting down a number of aerial threats such as enemy fighter jets, missiles and drones from as far as 400 km away. India has so far received three units of S-400, while the delivery of the remaining two units has been delayed due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

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The air defence system is a big boost in the arsenal of the Indian armed forces, combining radars, a control centre and missiles, that allow them to spot, track and strike targets at any height and distance.

The Akash surface-to-air missile system was also deployed, which is capable of intercepting fast-moving and hard-to-detect aerial targets.

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 09, 2025, 07:43 IST
Operation Sindoor: Kolkata Port Enhances Security Amid National Alert

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 20:02 IST

Chaired by Rathendra Raman, Chairman of SMPK, the meeting included key officials, including CISF and departmental heads

Enhanced protocols have been put in place.

Amid the India-Pakistan tension, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W), has escalated its security protocols following a high-level virtual meeting chaired by TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPS&W.

Chaired by Rathendra Raman, Chairman of SMPK, the meeting included key officials, including CISF and departmental heads.

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The key measures announced include:

Security Level Raised to 2: Increased vigilance across port premises and waterways, with strict reporting of any suspicious activity.

Staff Availability: Leave for all employees, including contractual staff, stands cancelled from May 10-14, 2025. All must remain at headquarters, including on weekly offs.

Cybersecurity Reinforcement: Enhanced protocols under CISOs guidance, with detailed instructions to follow.

Emergency Preparedness: Regular drills to be conducted; port operations will cease during blackouts.

Access Control: Only valid permit or ID holders will be allowed entry, with strict enforcement by CISF and PSO.

Chairman Raman emphasised SMPKs commitment to safety and operational continuity, aligning with directives from MoPS&W and DG Shipping. SMPK remains dedicated to maintaining secure port operations during this heightened alert, he said.

Amid the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, New Delhi has banned Pakistan-flag merchant vessels at Indian ports. The order also mentions that Indian ships too will not be allowed to go to any port in the neighbouring country.

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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, adding that the order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force till further order.

The ministry of ports, shipping and waterways stated that the impositions have been placed under Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 20:02 IST
Our War Preparedness Much Better: India Asks Pakistan To Hand Over Terror Group Heads | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 14:32 IST

Top government sources said Pakistan should stop the proxy war and go back as the country is already facing economic crises, with 90 per cent public standing against the Army

Late on Thursday, India struck Islamabad, Lahore, and Sialkot after thwarting unprovoked attacks on its cities.

India wants Pakistan to de-escalate as soon as possible or it will have to pay a heavy price", top government sources told CNN-News18 as India continued to repulse Pakistans unprovoked drone and missile attacks targeting Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab with its robust defence infrastructure.

Pakistan should focus on the root-cause of the problem, which is eliminating terror from their country. India has attacked its enemies in Pakistan and not hit any military target or civilian," the sources said.

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They added: Our war preparedness is much better and technology is indigenous. Their ministers are creating hysteria and panic because they are desperate to save their domestic constituency. Our demand is also to hand over these terror groups headsMasood Azhar, Rauf Azgar and Hafiz Saeed."

The sources said Pakistan should stop the proxy war and go back" as the country is already facing economic crises and domestic problems, with 90 per cent of the public standing against the Army".

Late on Thursday, India struck Islamabad, Lahore, and Sialkot after thwarting unprovoked attacks on its cities such as Jammu, Jaisalmer and Pathankot. Indian forces also responded swiftly to Pakistans ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir.

According to a defence spokesperson, military establishments in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur were the focus of drone and missile attacks originating from Pakistan along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. The spokesperson added that the threats were neutralised promptly in accordance with standard operating procedures. No casualties or damage were reported.

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Earlier on Thursday, the defence ministry reported that Pakistan had attempted to strike military installations in 15 cities across northern and western India using similar means. Targets included Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

To bolster Indias defence, the Territorial Army has been asked to lend a hand to Indian forces. In an order notified on May 8, the Centre said it has empowered Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to exercise the powers under the Rule  33 of the Territorial Army Rule 1948, to call out every officer and every enrolled person of the Territorial Army to provide for essential guard or to be embodied for the purpose of supporting or supplementing the regular army".

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 09, 2025, 14:32 IST
Owaisi's Question May Put Pakistan's 'Brother' Turkey In Tight Spot: 'They Bomb...'

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Sumedha Kirti



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 12:22 IST

The AIMIM chief is perhaps correct. Turkey Minister Hakan Fidan in December had said that his country will do "whatever it takes" to ensure its security.

Owaisi said that Turkey is the only nation in the world that bombs terrorist organisations on its own land and also neighbouring countries. (PTI file photo)

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who has been garnering applause for his tough stand against Pakistan, has come out with another befitting reply to the neighbouring country. And this time it includes Turkey, Pakistans brotherly nation" giving it unwavering support".

Pakistan has flatly denied that the terrorists who killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22 had links to the neighbouring country. This despite India saying it has clear evidence linking Pakistan-based terrorists to the attack.

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Not only Pakistan has failed to take demonstrable steps" against terrorist infrastructure on its territory or territory under its control", it escalated tensions by resorting to unprovoked, heavy shelling at LoC and launching missiles and drones from across the border against Indian military bases and civilian areas.

Owaisi, who was earlier seen using expletives against Pakistan, has now questioned Turkey. He claims that Turkey on one hand acts tough against terrorism on its ground, and on the other hand is backing Pakistan that is known to be a global hub of terrorism.

ALSO READ: You Give Funerals To Terrorists: Indian Envoy Shows How Pakistan Army Backs Terror

We need to make Turkey understand. Its the only nation in the world that bombs terrorist organisation, the Kurdish groups, on its own land. Till the time they had not struck a deal with Iraq, it used to bomb terrorist organisations there too. And now its also bombing such camps in Syria. So they need to be asked that when they can kill terrorists on foreign land, how can they question India," Owaisi said.

       ,         ?pic.twitter.com/1HryO6vanI Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 8, 2025

Turkeys Tough Stand Against Terrorism On Its Land

The AIMIM chief is perhaps correct. Turkey Minister Hakan Fidan in December had said that his country will do whatever it takes" to ensure its security if the new Syrian administration cannot address Ankaras concerns about Kurdish groups it views as terrorist groups.

Turkey regards the YPG, the militant group spearheading the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought an insurgency against the Turkish state for 40 years and are deemed terrorists by Ankara, Washington, and the European Union.

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In an interview with France 24, Fidan had said Ankaras preferred option was for the Syrian administration to address the problem in line with its territorial unity, sovereignty, and integrity, adding that the YPG should be disbanded immediately.

If it doesnt happen, we have to protect our own national security," he said. When asked if that included military action, Fidan said: whatever it takes."

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 09, 2025, 10:34 IST
US Firm Saw Demand Surge For Pahalgam Satellite Images Weeks Before Terror Attack: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 00:14 IST

The demand for Pahalgam satellite images began appearing on their portal in June 2024, shortly after Maxar partnered with a Pakistan-based geo-spatial company

Maxar's clients include government and defence agencies worldwide. (Reuters File Image)

Eight weeks before terrorists killed 26 people in Kashmir, a US-based space technology company noticed an unusual increase in orders for high-resolution satellite images of Pahalgam and its surrounding areas.

Recommended Stories Between 2 and 22 February 2025, Maxar Technologies received at least 12 orders  twice the usual number, raising suspicions about the people or companies who made the request. Maxars clients include government and defence agencies worldwide. The demand for Pahalgam satellite images began appearing on their portal in June 2024, shortly after Maxar partnered with a Pakistan-based geo-spatial company linked to federal crimes in the US, The Print reported. However, there is no proof yet to show the Pakistani firm, Business Systems International Pvt Ltd (BSI) placed the orders for these images. But, defence analysts, experts, and scientists consulted by ThePrint believe the coincidence is significant given the history of the companys founder, Obaidullah Syed. The Pakistani-American businessman was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison by a US federal court for illegally exporting high-performance computer equipment and software application solutions from the US to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC)  the agency responsible for designing and testing high explosives and nuclear weapon parts and developing solid-fuelled ballistic missiles.

In February 2025, orders for different satellite frequency ranges for Pahalgam peaked, with purchases made on the 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 22nd. There were no orders in March. According to The Prints report, an order was placed on 12 Aprilten days before the terror attack.

Following the attack, two requests for satellite images of the region were made  on April 24 and 29. Since then, no orders have been placed.

The starting price for each satellite image is Rs 3 lakh, increasing with higher resolution. Maxar Technologies is renowned for its satellites that deliver high-definition images with pixel resolutions ranging from 15 cm to 30 cm. Smaller pixel sizes result in clearer images. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In India, government agencies such as the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are among the clients of various Maxar services. Additionally, at least 11 Indian space tech start-ups and companies are customers and partners of Maxar Technologies.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: May 10, 2025, 00:03 IST
Drones, Missiles And Shelling: India Defends, Then Attacks After Pakistan Does 'Hamas-Style' Strike

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 11:24 IST

Amid the ongoing conflict, Indian forces on Thursday night neutralised drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan -- a day after Operation Sindoor.

India successfully retaliated to Pakistan's escalated hostilities on Thursday evening. (PTI/Representative Image)

India successfully retaliated to Pakistans escalated hostilities as it opened air strikes and drone attacks in several border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan on Thursday evening, marking a significant escalation a day after India struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to sources, Pakistan made failed attempts to send swarm drones across various places along the Line of Control and international borders. Reportedly, over 45-50 drones were successfully neutralised during a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted by Indian Army air defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot areas.

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On early Friday morning, Pakistan once again resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Rajouri, Uri and Chowkibal Kupwar. Several houses were damaged in Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, while one woman was reportedly killed in Uri.

The Pakistan Army has been shelling along the LoC in several sectors of Jammu and Kashmir since the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22.

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Heres what we know so far about the India-Pakistan conflict:

Loud explosions of bombing, shelling and missile strikes were suspected from several border areas  Jammu, Kupwara, Rajouri and Baramulla in J&K, Pathankot in Punjab; and Jaisalmer and Ganganagar in Rajasthan  late on Thursday evening. The development came a day after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

India successfully foiled these attacks, shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet and two JF-17 jets. In addition to this, Indias S-400 air defence system successfully intercepted other projectiles.

The drone attack lasted for nearly 35 minutes  from 8.45 pm to around 9.15-9.20 pm.

The intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the LoC and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan came after India on Thursday morning targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan, including Lahore.

Sound of massive explosions were also heard in Jaisalmer. A blackout was enforced in western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasising the need for de-escalation. Rubio asked Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups. Meanwhile, Jaishankar conveyed to Rubio that India will firmly counter any attempts by Pakistan to escalate the situation.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah is likely to visit Poonch and Rajouri in J&K. He will take stock of the situation arising due to continuous Pakistani shelling.

The Defence Ministry said the Pakistani military attempted last night to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

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 09, 2025, 08:05 IST
Drone Attacks, Heavy Shelling, Blackouts On 3rd Day Of Pakistan Aggression: What We Know So Far

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 00:28 IST

Heavy artillery and mortar shelling by Pakistan on the LoC following Operation Sindoor claimed three lives while an armed Pakistani drone left three of a family injured in Punjab

View of a blackout in the city, in light of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, in Jammu on May 9. (Image: PTI)

Pakistani drone sightings at 26 locations and heavy shelling continued on Friday along the Indo-Pakistan border amid a military standoff between the two neighbouring countries.

The relentless heavy artillery and mortar shelling by Pakistan on the volatile Jammu and Kashmir border following Operation Sindoor, claimed three lives even as the BSF thwarted a major infiltration attempt killing seven terrorists. An armed drone, meanwhile, reportedly targeted a civilian area in Punjabs Ferozepur, leaving three members of a family injured of whom one is critical.

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Follow Operation Sindoor LIVE Updates Here

Complete blackouts in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan continued for the second consecutive day. The Indian armed forces intercepted enemy drones at 26 locations along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC)  from Baramulla in J&K to Bhuj in Gujarat.

This comes a day after India thwarted Pakistans fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu and Pathankot after foiling similar bids at 15 places in northern and western regions.

Tension between the two neighbours soared after the Indian armed forces on May 7 conducted precision strikes targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

ALSO READ | Pakistan Using Civilian Flights As Cover After Drone Attacks On India, This Photo Is A Proof

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with the top defence establishment to take stock of the security situation. He met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the three service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff to strategise over the future course of action.

Here is all you need to know:

DRONES INTERCEPTED AT 26 LOCATIONS

The Indian armed forces intercepted Pakistani drones at multiple locations including Baramulla, Srinagar, Awantipora, Nagrota, and Jammu in J&K; Ferozepur, Pathankot, and Fazilka in Punjab; Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, and Barmer in Rajasthan; Bhuj and Kuar Bet in Gujarat.

Drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and LoC with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2025

According to information available, three members of a family were left injured after an armed drone targeted a civilian area at Khai village in Ferozepur. One member is critical while the other two were provided medical aid. The security forces have sanitised the area.

The military is on high alert in these three states, which are close to the border, while aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. Citizens, especially in border areas, have been advised to stay indoors, limit non-essential movement, and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.

Drone attacks on Srinagar airport and Awantipora air base were thwarted, while blasts were heard in Jammu and parts of the south Kashmir region.

According to officials, the sky was lit up in Baramulla district as the Indian military shot down Pakistani drones. Blasts were heard and sirens sounded in the Jammu region and south Kashmir as many parts of the Union Territory plunged into darkness, they said.

The officials said drones were also sighted in Jammu, Samba and neighbouring Pathankot district in Punjab, and they were being engaged. They were also engaged in Udhampur and Nagrota of Jammu and Punjab, they said. The aerial objects attempted to strike the strategic Jammu airport and its surrounding areas, which house the army, air force, and paramilitary installations.

Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X, also putting up a picture of the city in darkness, captioning it as, Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."

Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city. pic.twitter.com/TE0X2LYzQ8 Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 9, 2025

Its my earnest appeal to everyone in and around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, dont spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories and we will get through this together," he said in another post.

Multiple aerial threats were intercepted in Jaisalmer as well. The threat prompted forces to issue a red alert and blackouts in several border districts, creating panic among residents. Sources said the drones, suspected to have been launched from Pakistan, were destroyed mid-air by Indias air defence systems.

3 KILLED IN SHELLING, BSF THWARTS MAJOR INFILTRATION BID

Three persons were killed in heavy artillery and mortar shelling by Pakistan while the BSF thwarted a major infiltration attempt, killing seven terrorists.

Officials said Pakistani shelling claimed the life of civilian Mohd Abrar and injured three others, including his wife, when their homes were hit. A soldier, sepoy M Murali Naik from Andhra Pradesh, was also killed in the cross-border shelling in Poonch. In Baramullas Uri sector, intense overnight cross-border shelling resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to several others, including a soldier, the officials said.

The BSF, meanwhile, successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt across the International Border in the Samba district, where drones were sighted in the evening. The BSFs surveillance grid detected a large group of terrorists around 11 pm on Thursday (May 8), leading to an engagement that resulted in the death of at least seven infiltrators and the destruction of the Pakistan Rangers Dhandhar post, which had provided support fire.

Shelling was also reported from different sectors of Rajouri, Akhnoor in Jammu and Kupwara districts, resulting in damage to dozens of residential houses and leading to fresh evacuation of civilians from the vulnerable areas.

After almost a day-long lull, firing and shelling from across the border resumed in the Poonch, Rajouri and the Uri sectors. The Pakistan Army also suffered heavy losses in retaliatory action by the Indian Army.

COMPLETE BLACKOUTS IN BORDER AREAS

For the second consecutive day, Jammu was plunged into darkness following two loud explosions, likely resulting from the interception of the intruding drones. Immediately after, sirens were blared throughout the city, alerting residents to seek shelter.

In Jaisalmer, soon after the attacks, sirens rang out in Pokaran and a complete blackout was imposed in the region. Following the attack, the blackout in Jodhpur, originally scheduled to begin at midnight, was implemented immediately. Blackouts were enforced in Barmer, Sriganganagar, and Phalodi also.

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Sounds resembling blasts were also heard in Pathankot and Ferozepur, prompting the authorities to clamp a blackout there and several other districts. Air raid sirens wailed in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur districts sending people into tizzy. Officials said the blackout was enforced in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Muktsar and Sangrur.

(With PTI inputs)

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First Published: May 09, 2025, 23:40 IST
Pakistan To Free Hafiz Saeed Amid War With India? Petition Filed In Lahore High Court

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:40 IST

Hafiz Saeed and several other JuD leaders have reportedly filed petitions in the Lahore High Court requesting the annulment of their multiple-year sentences

Hafiz Saeed filed a petition at Lahore HC, seeking to overturn his terror financing conviction. (PTI/File)

In a deeply troubling move amid war-like conditions between India and Pakistan, the Lahore High Court has received a petition from Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, seeking to overturn his conviction in terror financing cases. The development signals what many in India view as a dangerous pivot by Pakistan, which appears to be leaning openly toward appeasing terrorists at a time of conflict.

Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), has been lodged at Lahores Kot Lakhpat Jail since his arrest in July 2019. However, multiple unconfirmed reports suggest he may not have been incarcerated in the true sense, and may have been living in a safe place" all along.

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According to reports, Saeed and several other JuD leaders have filed petitions in the Lahore High Court requesting the annulment of their multiple-year sentences. The case has been taken up by a two-judge bench comprising Justices Shahbaz Rizvi and Tariq Mahmood Bajwa, although a hearing date has not yet been announced.

This legal manoeuvre comes at a time when India and Pakistan are on the brink of war, with Indian forces thwarting Pakistani attempts late on Thursday to strike military installations in J&K and Punjab. In retaliation, India struck Pakistani capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Sialkot. Earlier, on Wednesday, India conducted airstrikes under Operation Sindoor to dismantle several terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The airstrikes came two weeks after Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 Indians, mostly tourists, in J&Ks Pahalgam.

Reports suggest Pakistans move to rehabilitate Saeed and others is aimed at rallying the remnants of its proxy network.

Having long attempted to escape the label of a state sponsor of terror, Pakistan had initially jailed Saeed under immense international pressure, particularly from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the United States, which had placed a $10 million bounty on him. His arrest was seen as a gesture to avoid blacklisting and economic sanctions.

However, Hafiz Saeeds petition amidst escalating cross-border tensions and a nationalist fervour sweeping both nations has not gone unnoticed. If granted, Saeeds release would be interpreted as Pakistans overt endorsement of anti-India terrorism at the highest level.

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Security experts warn that the petition is not merely a legal exercise but part of a broader psychological operation. Its meant to restore confidence among the terror cadres, said a retired Indian intelligence official, adding that releasing Hafiz Saeed would send a loud message that Pakistan still shields and nurtures terrorists.

With war clouds darkening Pakistan and missiles already exchanged across the border, the potential return of Hafiz Saeed to public life could further inflame tensions. For India, his release would not just be an insult to the memory of the 166 victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, but a sign that Pakistan is prepared to abandon all pretences in its long-standing proxy war.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 10:40 IST
Pakistan Used Civilian Flights As Cover, Kept Airspace Open Even After Attacking India: Govt

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 18:35 IST

The Indian armed forces said Pakistan sent 300 to 400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek last night to target military installations

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri speaks during a special briefing on 'Operation Sindoor' amid the ongoing India-Pakistan military conflict, in New Delhi on May 9. (Image: MEA/PTI)

India on Friday said Pakistan used civilian flights as cover as it launched a series of attacks on military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan the night before. It said the neighbouring country kept its airspace open even after attacking India.

On Thursday night (May 8), India swiftly thwarted Pakistans fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu and Pathankot after foiling similar bids at 15 places in northern and western regions, as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider conflict.

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According to the Indian military, Pakistan sent 300 to 400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target military installations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means, the military said.

The military said one Pakistani armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was sent to target Bhatinda military station, but the attempt was foiled. Responding to Pakistans attack, India launched armed drones at four air defence sites in the country, and one drone destroyed an AD (air defence) radar system, it said.

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Blackouts from several cities and towns in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan were enforced as drones were sighted from across the border.

Military stations at Jammu and Pathankot and Udhampur were targeted by Pakistani-origin drones and missiles along the International Border in J and K today. The threats were swiftly neutralised using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities," as per a late-night statement by the ministry of defence (MoD).

Indian air defence units successfully intercepted at least eight missiles fired by Pakistan towards the border areas of Jammu, including the strategically important Jammu Airport at Satwari in the evening, defence sources said. The missiles were aimed at key locations, including Satwari (Jammu Airport), Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia, they said.

The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) came after India targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities with one in Lahore being neutralised" earlier in the morning.

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On May 7, the Indian armed forces carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. As the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reiterated that any attack on military sites in India will invite a suitable response", Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan only can decide if it wants to de-escalate tensions with India as New Delhi responded to the original escalation" triggered by the Pahalgam massacre.

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 17:44 IST
Pakistan Violated Ceasefire Again Along LoC, 'Befitting Reply Given': Indian Army

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 07:54 IST

Pakistan launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the Western Border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, with India effectively repulsing the attack.

Indian security forces guarding border areas. (File Image/Representative)

Operation Sindoor: The Indian Army on Friday said that Pakistan resumed firing and continued with ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), including Kupwara and Uri, in Jammu and Kashmir early Friday morning, to which Indian forces responded swiftly, ensuring civilian safety and maintaining control.

The Army further said that the troops launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the Western Border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. The drone and missile attacks by the neighbouring country were reported in Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, prompting authorities to activate the defence systems, sirens and enforce a complete blackout in most areas.

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The army said that it effectively repulsed the attacks and a befitting reply" was given to the ceasefire violations.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Indian Army said.

OPERATION SINDOORPakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/9YcW2hSwi5  ADG PI  INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

India struck Pakistans capital Islamabad as well as Lahore and Sialkot late on Thursday after thwarting multiple brazen attacks on Indian cities, including Jammu, Jaisalmer and Pathankot.

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Earlier on Thursday, India said it foiled Pakistan militarys attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country using missiles and drones as tensions between the two neighbours mounted amid fears of a wider conflict.

India launched precision strikes" under Operation Sindoor on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The strikes killed at least 10 family members of JeM chief Masood Azhar and four close aides.

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 09, 2025, 07:54 IST
Pakistani Drone Attack Injures Three Family Members In Punjabs Ferozepur, One Critical

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 00:02 IST

The injured have been identified as Lakhwinder Singh, his wife, and his brother Monu Singh

Commuters on a road during blackout in view of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, in Jalandhar, Punjab, on May 9. (PTI photo)

Three members of a family were injured on Friday night when debris from a Pakistani drone, reportedly destroyed by Indian air defences, fell on their home in Punjabs Ferozepur district. One of the victims is said to be in critical condition.

According to police, the incident took place in Village Khai Pheme Ke after a Pakistani drone was shot down by the armys air defence system. The wreckage of the drone crashed onto a house, sparking a fire that injured the residents.

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We received information about 3 people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army," Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh told the media.

The injured have been identified as Lakhwinder Singh, his wife, and his brother Monu Singh. All three were rushed to a private hospital in Ferozepur for treatment. Lakhwinder remains in critical condition, the police said.

Dr Kamal Bagi, who is treating Lakhwinder, told ANI, Due to drone-bomb, three people got injured. Out of these, the condition of a woman is critical, she has suffered severe burns. The other two have lesser burns. We have immediately started their treatment. They are from the same family."

#WATCH | Ferozepur, Punjab: On a family who got injured in Pakistani drone attack, Dr Kamal Bagi says, Due to drone-bomb, three people got injured. Out of these, the condition of a woman is critical, she has suffered severe burns. The other two have lesser burns. We have pic.twitter.com/s7ELhm6ihH ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

The incident came amid a tense evening in Punjab, where air raid sirens sounded in multiple districts including Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar, and Hoshiarpur. A blackout was enforced across seven districtsFerozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Muktsar, and Sangruras a precaution.

ALSO READ: India Intercepts Pakistani Drones In Multiple J&K Locations, Pathankot; Blackout In Jaisalmer

This attack comes against the backdrop of an escalating military conflict between India and Pakistan following Indias Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

On Thursday night, India thwarted an attempt by Pakistan to strike 36 military installations across Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and other locations using a combination of drones and missiles. Indian forces successfully neutralised the threat, preventing any major damage.

Even on Friday, Pakistani drone sightings were reported at 26 locations and heavy shelling continued along the Indo-Pakistan border, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, where three civilians lost their lives due to mortar and artillery fire from across the border.

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ALSO READ: Drone Attacks, Heavy Shelling, Blackouts On 3rd Day Of Pakistan Aggression: What We Know So Far

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Location : Punjab, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 23:22 IST
India Intercepts Pakistani Drones In Multiple J&K Locations, Pathankot; Blackout In Jaisalmer

Curated By :

Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 21:36 IST

This comes a day after Pakistan made similar attempts to attack military installations close to the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan

Indian Army neutralises an enemy target as Pakistan armed forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire western border on the intervening night of May 8 and May 9. (Image: PTI)

The Indian military on Friday intercepted Pakistani drones at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjabs Pathankot, a day after India thwarted similar attempts by the neighbouring country to target military installations close to the border.

The Indian Army said drones were sighted in Jammu, Samba, Rajouri, Udhampur, Nagrota, Reasi, Awantipora, Poonch, Akhnoor as well as Pathankot and Amritsar in Punjab. According to officials, blasts were heard and sirens sounded in the Jammu region as the city plunged into darkness for a second consecutive night. Loud explosions were heard in Pathankot and Ferozepur districts, but there was no official confirmation on what caused the sounds, they said.

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The blasts came amid a military standoff between India and Pakistan while shelling by Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC) continued following Indias strike on terror hideouts in the country earlier this week as part of Operation Sindoor.

Officials said blackouts were enforced in Rajasthans Jaisalmer and Barmer, as well as in several areas of Punjab, including in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Bathinda, and Jalandhar. Air raid sirens were also sounded in these areas, they said. In Srinagar, mosque loudspeakers were used to convey to local residents to switch off their lights as a precautionary measure, they added.

Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X, also putting up a picture of the city in darkness, captioning it as, Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."

Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city. pic.twitter.com/TE0X2LYzQ8 Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 9, 2025

Its my earnest appeal to everyone in and around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, dont spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories and we will get through this together," he said in another post.

Earlier, during a press briefing, the military said India swiftly thwarted Pakistans fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles on Thursday night (May 8). They foiled such bids at 15 places in northern and western regions, as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider conflict.

It said Pakistan sent 300 to 400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target military installations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means, it added.

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The military said one Pakistani armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was sent to target Bathinda military station, but the attempt was foiled. Responding to Pakistans attack, India launched armed drones at four air defence sites in the country, and one drone destroyed an AD (air defence) radar system, it said.

(With PTI inputs)

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Location : Jammu, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 20:51 IST
PM Modi Meets Rajnath Singh, Military Brass, NSA Doval In Key Security Meet

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 22:43 IST

PM Modi also interacted with a group of armed forces veterans, discussing various issues related to the current situation

This meeting is part of several high-level discussions following heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a high-level meeting with the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force at his official residence against the backdrop of the ongoing Operation Sindoor.

The meeting, which lasted for almost two hours, was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

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The discussion focused on the future course of action as tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate.

PM @narendramodi chaired a meeting, which was attended by Defence Minister @rajnathsingh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS General Anil Chauhan, Chiefs of the armed forces and senior officials. pic.twitter.com/ciFWz8osRK PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 9, 2025

Meanwhile, a separate meeting is underway between NSA Ajit Doval, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Ravi Sinha and Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Deka.

Earlier, Prime Minister also interacted with a group of armed forces veterans and discussed various issues related to the current situation. The veterans included former Chiefs of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, along with other retired officers who have served the country.

The meetings are part of several discussions following heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

India-Pakistan Tensions Escalates

The tensions escalated after Indias targeted military action on May 7 against nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in response for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

The conflict with Pakistan further intensified when the Indian armed forces responded proportionately to Pakistani attempts to target Indian installations during the intervening night of May 8 and 9.

Pakistan violated Indian airspace to target military installations, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said at a briefing earlier today.

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Singh revealed that Pakistan deployed 300-400 drones across 36 locations, stretching from Leh to Sir Creek, in an attempt to target Indian military sites on Thursday night. However, the drones were successfully intercepted and shot down by the Indian military.

(With inputs from PTI)

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First Published: May 09, 2025, 19:25 IST
Tripura Reviews Indo-Bangladesh Border Security Amid Tension With Pakistan

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 19:34 IST

Senior representatives from the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and various paramilitary and intelligence units participated in the session

The high-level discussion involved top officials from several security and intelligence agencies. (X)

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha held a security review meeting on Friday, focusing on enhancing vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border.

The high-level discussion, conducted behind closed doors for over an hour, involved top officials from several security and intelligence agencies.

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Senior representatives from the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and various paramilitary and intelligence units participated in the session. The primary agenda was to reinforce security arrangements and improve surveillance to counter increasing cross-border threats and infiltration attempts.

According to sources, emphasis was placed on strengthening inter-agency coordination and formulating advanced monitoring strategies for the sensitive border zone. The deliberations are expected to result in stronger and more integrated security efforts to safeguard the regions stability.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya, another northeastern state which shares a border with Bangladesh, declared a night curfew on Thursday.

INDIA-PAKISTAN TENSION

India launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. In retaliation, Pakistan first shelled J&Ks Poonch, killing 16 and injuring over 50. It later attempted to target military installations at 15 locations in India, but its attempts were foiled.

In response, India attacked Pakistans Air Defence units of HQ-9 and air defence missile launchers at Lahore.

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On Thursday night, Pakistan launched missiles, drones and artillery fire on different spots in Jammu, Rajasthan and Punjab, all of which were foiled. India retaliated with attacks in Islamabad, Sialkot and Lahore.

On early Friday morning, Pakistan once again resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Rajouri, Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, and Poonch, to which India promptly responded. Several houses were damaged in Uri and Chowkibal Kupwara, while one woman was reportedly killed in Uri.

Location : Tripura, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 19:34 IST
What Is The Policy Of India And Pakistan On Nuclear Weapons?

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 15:11 IST

India officially adheres to a "no first use" (NFU) policy, pledging never to initiate a nuclear strike and to only retaliate if attacked with nuclear weapons

Both India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed rivals, each possessing formidable stockpiles developed over decades. (AP)

The world has its eyed firmly trained on South Asia as India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbours, launch into what seem to be the early days of their fourth war.

The latest trigger was the brutal attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists in J&Ks Pahalgam last month in which 26 Indians, mostly tourists, were killed. Two weeks later, India launched Operation Sindoor, bombing nine terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

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While India targeted terrorists across the border, Pakistan responded late on Thursday by attempting to strike Indian military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones. The Indian military swiftly foiled the Pakistani attempts, and in response launched kamikaze drones and destroyed a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore.

The Other N-Word

Both India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed rivals, each possessing formidable stockpiles developed over decades. As of early 2024, the Arms Control Association estimated that India holds approximately 172 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan possessed a comparable arsenal of around 170, though some assessments suggest it may have as many as 200.

Neither India nor Pakistan is a signatory to the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), although they have a longstanding bilateral agreement  the Non-Nuclear Aggression Agreement signed in 1988  that prohibits attacks on each others nuclear installations.

India officially adheres to a no first use" (NFU) policy, pledging never to initiate a nuclear strike and to only retaliate if attacked with nuclear weapons. Pakistan, however, has deliberately kept its nuclear doctrine ambiguous.

Both India and Pakistan are among the nine nuclear-armed nations globally. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the total global nuclear stockpile stands at approximately 12,331 warheads as of early 2025. The United States and Russia control a staggering 88% of this arsenal.

If Past Is Prologue

The world does not need to imagine the devastation of a nuclear involvement  it has already witnessed it. On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, respectively, instantly killing more than 2 lakh people. Those who survived the initial blast endured agonising injuries, radiation sickness, and long-term health complications that persisted for generations. Photographs of charred bodies, flattened buildings, and the haunting image of the Hiroshima Dome still stand as enduring reminders of what nuclear weapons are capable of.

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In Hiroshima, temperatures at the blasts epicentre reached an estimated 4000 degrees Celsius, melting steel and vaporising human bodies. The fireball created a shockwave that levelled buildings within a 2-kilometre radius. Survivors reported searing blindness from the initial flash, while others suffocated as oxygen was sucked from the air. Thousands more died slow deaths in the days and weeks that followed, with hospitals overwhelmed and entire neighbourhoods reduced to radioactive ash.

The long-term environmental and genetic effects of those bombings are still being studied today. Leukaemia rates soared, congenital birth defects rose sharply, and psychological trauma haunted survivors  known in Japan as hibakusha  for the rest of their lives.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 15:11 IST
Where Did Pakistan Get Its JF17s And F16s From? How Much Do They Cost?

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 16:28 IST

The JF-17 gives Pakistan a cost-effective strike option with local production advantages, while the F-16 remains its most sophisticated platform

Pakistans aerial assets include the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine multirole fighter developed by the American aerospace firm General Dynamics. (AP)

India on Thursday night effectively neutralised Pakistans attempt to hit military stations in Jammu and Punjab as well as target Rajasthan and some other locations with missiles and drones in unprecedented escalation of hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals.

While Indias missile strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK a day earlier had raised questions over the failure of Islamabads China-made defence systems in detecting the Indian action, Thursday nights attempts by Pakistan have generated curiosity over its fighter jets  primarily its fleet of Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder jets and American-made F-16 Fighting Falcons.

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The JF-17 Thunder

The JF-17 Thunder, a lightweight, multi-role fighter jet, is the result of a joint venture between Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chinas Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). Developed as an affordable alternative to Western fighter jets, the aircraft is capable of both air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions.

The JF-17s development traces back to the early 1990s, when the United States halted the sale of F-16s to Pakistan under the Pressler Amendment, following revelations about Islamabads nuclear program. Seeking alternatives, Pakistan entered into an agreement with China in 1992 to co-develop what was initially dubbed the Super-7" project, later renamed JF-17 Thunder.

A formal Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 1995, with both countries agreeing to split the $500 million development cost. The first prototype flew in August 2003, and by 2007, flight tests involving five prototypes were completed. Pakistan officially inducted its first JF-17s into service in 2010, and today operates a fleet of approximately 156 jets across multiple variants, including the latest Block III model.

Each JF-17 Block I fighter costs around $15 million (roughly Rs 120 crore), while the advanced Block III variant  with improved avionics and radar  can command prices as high as $30 million.

The JF-17 measures 14.3 metres in length with a wingspan of 9.4 metres, and can carry a maximum takeoff weight of 13,500 kg. About 58% of its airframe, including the wings and fuselage, is produced domestically at PAC Kamra in Pakistan, while the remaining components  chiefly engines and avionics  are imported from China.

The jet is designed for versatility: it can fire a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and is equipped with modern radar systems and digital flight controls. Its agility and relatively low operational cost make it central to Pakistans air strategy.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon

Pakistans other aerial asset in the current conflict is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a battle-tested, single-engine multirole fighter developed by the American aerospace firm General Dynamics. Pakistan first procured these jets under the Peace Gate program in the 1980s, receiving 40 aircraft between 1983 and 1987.

A subsequent deal for 11 more F-16s was halted in 1990 after US sanctions came into force. Deliveries resumed in 2005 after Washington lifted restrictions, and Pakistan eventually acquired 18 new F-16s. In 2014, the fleet was bolstered by the purchase of 13 second-hand jets from Jordan.

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Today, Pakistans F-16 arsenal includes approximately 75 to 85 jets in various configurations (A/B/C/D variants). These aircraft serve as the backbone of Pakistans high-end aerial fleet. Depending on configuration, each F-16 can cost anywhere from $40 million to over $70 million (Rs 300-Rs 500 crore).

The JF-17 gives Pakistan a cost-effective strike option with local production advantages, while the F-16 remains its most sophisticated platform, often perceived as a deterrent due to its combat-proven design and advanced systems.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 16:28 IST
'You Give Funerals To Terrorists...': Indian Envoy Shows How Pakistan Army Backs Terror

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 05:57 IST

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said Pakistan chose to escalate the matter and India would respond "proportionally" if Islamabad retaliates.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami. (PTI/File)

Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, came down heavily on Pakistans Army for giving state funerals to proscribed terrorists, adding that India will respond in kind if Pakistan chooses to retaliate.

While speaking to Sky News Yalda Hakim, Doraiswami pulled out a photograph of US-sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf, who was accompanied by uniformed Pakistani Army personnel during a funeral for terrorists killed in Indias Operation Sindoor strikes.

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If you are going to give terrorists state funerals, what does that make of your system? Everybody knows that for the last 30 years, Pakistan has used this as a means of sub-critical warfare against India. If the international community really wants to be able to look at it and worry about it, the simple solution is to tell Pakistan it has an opportunity for an off-ramp," he said.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri used the same photograph of Pakistani officials attending funerals of terrorists, saying it contradicts the claim that those killed were civilians. He remarked that giving state funerals to terrorists may be a practice in Pakistan, but it was not something that made sense to India.

India Will Respond If Pakistan Retaliates

Doraiswami said that in the last 30 years, the world should have compelled Pakistan to take down terror infrastructure on its soil, which it promised to do so but never did. He said the matter ends if Pakistan chooses to stop attacking Indias military installations.

The Indian envoy said the original escalation of tensions was done by Pakistan-sponsored terror groups on civilians in Pahalgam on April 22. He said Indias strikes in Pakistan were precise, targeted, reasonable and moderate".

We made it abundantly clear that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation," he said. A fact that was actually acknowledged  in a left-handed way of course  by the Pakistani side in terms of their own statements, which said the airspace hadnt been violated."

He also said that despite having an opportunity to cool down tensions, Pakistan chose to escalate the matter. Were not looking for an escalation, but if Pakistan responds, as we have done, we will respond proportionally and in exactly the same light," he said.

India-Pakistan Border Clashes

Hostilities between India and Pakistan intensified on Thursday after Pakistans military attempted to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones, all of which were neutralised by Indian armed forces.

Sirens blared and multiple blasts were reported in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla, Kupwara, and several other areas as the Indian military conducted an extensive overnight aerial surveillance operation along the border to deal with Pakistans unprovoked attack.

India unleashed retaliatory strikes at Pakistans capital, Islamabad, as well as Lahore and Sialkot, late on Thursday after thwarting multiple attacks on Indian cities, while also downing a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in Rajasthan.

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Earlier in the day, India targeted air defence radars and systems at several locations in Pakistan, including Lahore and Rawalpindi. India destroyed the air defence system in Lahore, dealing a crippling blow to the Pakistan Army.

India on Wednesday launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the killing of 26 in Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Pakistans Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had claimed responsibility for the killings.

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 : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: May 09, 2025, 05:57 IST
Char Dham Yatra: Why Is Rishikesh Always The First Stop?

Curated By :

Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 14:44 IST

Starting the Char Dham Yatra from Rishikesh is more than tradition; it symbolises purity, is historically linked to saints, and serves as the perfect gateway to the sacred journey

Rishikesh is not just a city, but a symbol of spiritual purification and the beginning of the path of devotion. (Local18)

The Char Dham Yatra in India is considered one of the most sacred and spiritually transformative pilgrimages. It includes four holy shrines nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand  Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

Undertaking this journey is believed to wash away sins and lead one closer to moksha (liberation). But have you ever wondered why this sacred journey always begins from Rishikesh? What is it about this city that makes it the first stop of the spiritual path? The answer lies in three key perspectives  religious, historical, and geographical.

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Rishikesh is not just a city, but a symbol of spiritual purification and the beginning of the path of devotion.

In a conversation with Local18, Mahant Rameshwar Giri of Someshwar Mahadev Temple in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, explained that Rishikesh is regarded as the abode of sages. Starting the Char Dham Yatra from Rishikesh is not merely a tradition, but a thoughtful and meaningful practice. Religiously, it symbolises purity; historically, it is the land of saints; and geographically, it serves as the perfect gateway to the Char Dham Yatra.

How Rishikesh Got Its Name

It is believed that Lord Vishnu appeared before a devotee here, and since then, the place came to be known as Rishikesh. This region has been a site of penance for sages, saints, and yogis since time immemorial.

The land is considered sacred because the river Ganga, after descending from the Himalayas, enters the plains here for the first time. At this point, its flow is exceptionally clean and serene. There is a widespread belief that bathing in the Ganga at Rishikesh washes away ones sins and purifies the soul for the spiritual journey. Hence, beginning the Char Dham Yatra from here is considered auspicious.

A Rich Spiritual Legacy

Rishikesh has a spiritual history that spans thousands of years. It has long been a place for ascetics and sages to practise sadhana. Pilgrimage sites like Lakshman Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, and Parmarth Niketan continue to keep these traditions alive. Adi Shankaracharya also began his journeys from this region. His teachings and the spread of Sanatan Dharma helped establish Rishikesh as a major religious centre. Over time, it evolved into a well-organised pilgrimage hub, institutionalising the start of the Char Dham Yatra.

A Convenient Entry and Transit Hub

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Geographically, Rishikesh is the ideal starting point. It lies at the intersection of the plains and the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand. From here, the mountain routes to the four Dhams begin.

It is well connected by trains and buses and linked to major railway stations and airports such as Haridwar and Dehradun. This makes it accessible to pilgrims from across the country. Moreover, Rishikesh offers a range of facilities, from hotels and dharamshalas to guides and travel agencies, all of which make the spiritual journey more comfortable and organised.

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 : Rishikesh, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 14:44 IST
Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Date, History, Significance, Wishes And Quotes

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 07:30 IST

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Maharana Pratap earned a tremendous deal of respect and admiration for his bravery, even though he was eventually forced to retire.

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Rajasthan celebrates the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap with great fanfare and opulence.(File Pic)

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary: Maharana Pratap was a renowned Rajput ruler whose name is synonymous with bravery. His defiance of Akbar, as well as the bravery of his loyal horse, Chetak, are well known. He was born on May 9, 1540. When others recognised Akbars supremacy, Maharana Pratap stood firm against the Mughal Empire. Every year, Rajasthan celebrates the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap with great fanfare and opulence.

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Date

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Under the Julian calendar, Maharana Pratap was born on May 9, 1540. However, the Gregorian calendar eventually replaced the Julian calendar, and it has Maharana Prataps birth date as May 19, 1540.

Today, the Hindu calendar is used to celebrate Maharana Pratap Jayanti. Maharana Pratap Jayanti will be observed on May 29 this year, according to Drik Panchang.

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: History

Rajasthan is where Maharana Pratap was born. Maharana Udai Singh II, the Mewar king at the time, was his father. As the oldest of 25 siblings, Pratap was referred to as the Crown Prince. He became the heir apparent to the Mewar throne after his fathers death.

Mewar King Maharana Pratap and Akbars army, under the command of Rajput ruler Raja Mansingh, engaged in combat at the Battle of Haldighati. Maharana Pratap earned a tremendous deal of respect and admiration for his bravery, even though he was eventually forced to retire.

His birth anniversary is therefore celebrated annually on the third day of the Jyeshtha Shukla phase, the third month in the Hindu calendar, as Maharana Pratap Jayanti. He suffered severe injuries following a hunting accident in January 1597, and died on January 29 of that year at the age of 56.

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Significance and Celebration

Maharana Pratap Jayanti is more than just a commemoration of the birth of a historical person; it is a celebration of his pride, bravery, and the will to fight against oppression. A motivation that endures is Maharana Prataps unshakeable dedication to his beliefs and his realm.

In Rajasthan in particular, Maharana Pratap Jayanti is a vibrant celebration. People honour the king by visiting sculptures and memorials. His bravery and sacrifices are recited in grand processions, folk performances, and storytelling sessions. Cultural events are organised by schools and colleges to teach the next generation about his legacy.

Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Wishes

On the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, may his tales of courage and tenacity serve as an inspiration to you.

We are blessed to have been born in the same region as Maharana Pratap and other heroes.

Let us draw inspiration from Maharana Pratap Singhs valour and determination to always defend our nations honour.

Draw strength from Maharana Prataps valiant tale of standing up to the Mughals and defending his and his peoples rights.

Future generations will be inspired by Maharana Prataps courage and strength. He will also always be a part of our hearts.

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Maharana Pratap Birth Anniversary 2025: Quotes

Every human being has to eradicate injustice and dishonesty from the world.

A strong and courageous person leaves a legacy over time, so keep moving forward.

Because of his unrelenting commitment to his principles, Maharana Pratap became a hero and a symbol of resistance.

Serving the country is more important than wasting this life comfortably and modestly.

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 09, 2025, 07:30 IST
Priyanka Chopra Nails The Off-Duty Model Aesthetic In A Printed Co-Ord Set

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 13:32 IST

Priyanka Chopra opted for a pair of printed black and white co-ord set from Jamie for her outing in New York City. She was seen cheering for Nick Jonas at a softball game.

Priyanka Chopra opted for a co-ord set from Jamie.

Following her spectacular appearance on the blue carpet at the Met Gala 2025 in New York, Priyanka Chopra stepped out to support her husband  Nick Jonas  at his Broadway League Softball Game. For her appearance at the sporting event, Priyanka kept it casual yet stylish. The actor turned heads in a black and white printed co-ord set.

Viral pictures show Priyanka Chopra taking a stroll in Central Park, New York City. She supported Nick Jonas and spent time with the other players in the dugout. For her OOTD, she opted for a co-ord set. Lately, the actor has been sporting co-ord sets quite a lot when she is out and about in the city.

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Take a closer look at Priyankas OOTD here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patty Cardona (@jerryxmimi)

Crafted from breathable cotton fabric, the co-ord set worn by Priyanka makes for a perfect pick for the summer. The Jamie ensemble came with a classic collared neckline, full sleeves, and a buttoned bodice. The shirt was adorned with striking black geometric print scattered all across its length. She paired this shirt with a contrasting black round neck tank top. She left a few buttons of her shirt open and let her tank top peek through for a chic look. She paired this shirt with a pair of matching shorts.

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For the accessories, she sported a pair of black rectangular sunglasses, silver hoop earrings, a dainty pendant necklace, black shoes, and a black tote bag. For the glam, she kept it minimal. She went with a subtle glam look and added a mauve shade to her lips. She tied her hair in a loose half-updo and nailed the off-duty model aesthetic.

On the work front, Priyanka Chopra will be next seen in Heads of State, The Bluff, and Citadel Season 2. She is also working on an upcoming film with director SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu.

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 09, 2025, 13:32 IST
Rabindranath Tagore Birth Anniversary: Nobel Laureate's Childhood And Timeless Quotes

Published By :



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:09 IST

Rabindranath Tagore Birth Anniversary: He wrote his first poem when he was eight and, by his teens, was creating art under the pen name Bhanusimha.

Rabindranath Tagore Birth Anniversary: His first collection of poems, Sandhya Sangit, were published when he was 23. (File Pic)

Rabindranath Tagore Birth Anniversary: India will celebrate the 164th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on May 9. His birth anniversary is usually celebrated, according to the Bengali calendar, on the 25th day of the month of Boishak. This year the day falls on May 9.

Rabindranath Tagore is Indias first Nobel laureate and one of the great poets of all time. Born on May 7, 1861 in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), Tagore is remembered as one of the chief architects of modern India.

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His literary legacy includes composing the national anthems of India and Bangladesh. Tagores Nobels prize for India also made him the first non-European literature laureate.

To mark his birth anniversary, West Bengal observes a public holiday, honouring his rich legacy and profound cultural influence in India and beyond.

Rabindranath Tagores Younger Years

Exceptionally talented in multifaceted areas, he was youngest of the 13 sons of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. From a young age, he dedicated his life to poetry, art and music, creating timeless works that resonate with every age.

He wrote his first poem when he was eight and, by his teens, was creating art under the pen name Bhanusimha. At the age of 16, he is known to have written his first short story Bhikharini. His first collection of poems, Sandhya Sangit, were published when he was 23.

His collection of poems named Gitanjali is one of the most popular literary works of all time.

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Rabindranath Tagores 10 Timeless Quotes

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storms, but to add color to my sunset sky." Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them." You cant cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water." The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough." Dont limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in another time." A minds logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it." Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live. " The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life." Not hammer-strokes, but dance of the water, sings the pebbles into perfection."

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 : West Bengal, India, India

First Published: May 09, 2025, 07:40 IST
5 Underrated National Parks That Are Not In The United States

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:53 IST

Check out some lesser known national parks outside of the USA that offer a perfect blend of breathtaking scenes and an adrenaline rush.

The dunes in Brazil's Lencois Maranhenses turn into freshwater pools.

The United States of America has some of the most popular national parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. These amazing parks usually hog space in the list of best national parks and enjoy spectacular turnout as well as online presence due to pictures posted on Twitter and Instagram. While these parks are regularly in the limelight, lesser-known national parks outside the USA are often missed in the discussions and deserve a space in conversations of their own. Here are the five underrated national parks outside America that truly deserve your attention.

Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, China

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Chinas Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is host to some enthralling views, providing visitors a Narnia-like experience due to its turquoise lakes and waterfalls that leap from cliffs. It also has forests that apparently change colours. As for wildlife, the national park contains pandas moving about at their own pace. These pandas are hardly dangerous but they prefer not to be disturbed by those visiting.

Tatra National Park, Poland/Slovakia

One of the rare national parks that spans across two countries, the Tatra National Park straddling Poland and Slovakia, offers a dream experience for mountain lovers. Full of rugged peaks and glacier lakes as well as strenuous hiking trails, the Tatra National Park is a perfect place to take memorable pictures and videos with your friends and family.

Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Brazils Lencois Maranhenses National Park is another unique place with an amazing experience. Renowned for appearing like the most beautiful painting to visitors, the park witnesses the dunes of Lencois Maranhenses transform into freshwater pools nestled in golden sand. The views of the split water borderlined by the golden sand will take your breath away.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica

The Rincon de la Vieja National Park in Costa Rica is a geothermal park with a distinct feature. Travellers visiting the place can hike around an active volcano and boiling mud pots present inside the park. This national park also has natural waterfalls and offers a glimpse of spotting sloths, howler monkeys while you trek around it.

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Royal National Park, Australia

Australias Royal National Park, the second oldest active national park in the world, was established in 1879. Filled with ocean cliffs, eucalyptus forests and hidden beaches, this national park provides you a perfect coastal escape from daily life. It is situated an hours drive from Sydney and deserves more popularity among the tourists.

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 09, 2025, 10:53 IST
When Is Mothers Day 2025? Date, Meaning, Gift Ideas, Wishes And Quotes

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 09:10 IST

Mothers Day honours mothers and caregivers for their love, dedication, and role in shaping families.

Mothers Day will be celebrated on May 11.

Mothers Day 2025 Date, History, Wishes, Quotes And Gift Ideas: A mother holds one of the most cherished roles in our lives. She gives us life, love, guidance, and unwavering support. Her care shapes our values and character, making her influence irreplaceable. Mothers Day is a heartfelt tribute to mothers, grandmothers, and all those who step into nurturing roles, appreciating their dedication and devotion to family and society. This year, Mothers Day will be celebrated on Sunday, May 11.

Mothers Day History

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The origins of Mothers Day can be traced back to ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome, where people celebrated mother goddesses such as Rhea and Cybele.

In modern times, Anna Jarvis is credited with founding Mothers Day in the United States in 1908.

Inspired by her own mothers life of serviceespecially her work with Mothers Day Work Clubs" during the Civil WarAnna championed the idea of a day to honour mothers. The tradition was formalised on the second Sunday of May, the day Annas mother passed away.

Mothers Day 2025 Significance

This day is an opportunity to express love, gratitude, and respect for the women who shape our lives. Beyond biological mothers, it acknowledges grandmothers, aunts, caregivers, and all maternal figures for their selfless roles in nurturing families and communities. It reminds us to pause and celebrate the countless sacrifices and unconditional affection that mothers give so freely.

Why We Celebrate Mothers Day

The celebration is a global tribute to the boundless love, strength, and guidance of mothers. It brings families together in appreciation of a mothers role in their lives. Whether through gestures big or small, the day allows us to acknowledge the heart of the home.

How Mothers Day Is Celebrated Around The World

Mothers Day traditions vary from country to country but share a common goalexpressing love and appreciation:

Japan: Known as Haha-no-hi, its marked by gifting red carnations, a symbol of love and admiration. Australia: Families often give chrysanthemums (mums") and celebrate with heartfelt gifts and family gatherings. Italy: Mothers are treated to a break from daily chores, enjoying rest and family pampering. Mexico: Celebrated on May 10, children serenade mothers with the song Las Mananitas," followed by festive meals. Ethiopia: Celebrated after the rainy season, this three-day celebration includes singing, dancing, and traditional feasting.

Mothers Day Gift Ideas

While commercial gifts are common, the most meaningful gestures come from the heart. Here are some thoughtful ideas:

Treat her to a spa day, theatre show, or a hobby class she would enjoy. Create something personal like a handmade card, painting, or memory scrapbook. Choose comfort gifts like a soft blanket, luxury bath products, or a favourite candle scent. Listen closelygive something shes hinted at or has long wished for. At the core, its about making mothers feel seen, loved, and appreciated.

Mothers Day Quotes

Mother is the heartbeat in the home; and without her, there seems to be no heartthrob." Leroy Brownlow

Mothers are like glue. Even when you cant see them, theyre still holding the family together." Susan Gale

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children." William Makepeace Thackeray

Only mothers can think of the future because they give birth to it in their children." Maxim Grosky

Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. Its huge and scary  its an act of infinite optimism." Gilda Radner

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Mothers Day Wishes To Share

Though miles apart, you remain close to my heart. I love you deeplyHappy Mothers Day!

Sending heartfelt thanks to the woman whos been my light, strength, and constant comfort.

Youve shaped my world with your loveHappy Mothers Day to the most incredible mom.

Celebrating your strength, warmth, and endless love today and always.

May your day be filled with joy, love, and appreciationHappy Mothers Day!

About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More

fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture  with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: May 09, 2025, 09:10 IST
Ananya Lauds Indian Armed Forces, Says 'We Were Pushed To Act'; Yash, Tamannaah Join In

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 22:44 IST

In a powerful message shared on social media, Ananya praised the Indian Armed Forces and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ananya Panday praises Operation Sindoor, joined by Yash and Tamannaah in saluting the Army.

Bollywood actress Ananya Panday is the latest celebrity to voice her support for Indias Operation Sindoor, which was carried out in response to the tragic Pahalgam terror attack. In a powerful message shared on social media, Ananya praised the Indian Armed Forces and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

There are moments in history when silence is no longer an option. What happened in Pahalgam was one of those moments  painful, terrifying, and unforgettable. Watching the tragedy unfold left a hollow in our hearts and a fire in our conscience. Operation Sindoor has been a reminder that India stands tall  not as an aggressor, but as a nation that will always defend its people with dignity and strength," wrote the Kho Gaye Hum Kahan actress.

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Calling the attack a deeply painful moment for the nation, Ananya added, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and with the unwavering courage of our Armed Forces, weve shown that we are not indifferent  we are decisive."

While hailing the Armed Forces for their precision and bravery, Ananya also made a heartfelt appeal for peace, saying, India has never been about vengeance. We are built on the values of peace, compassion, and unity  and that is our greatest strength. We responded, because we were pushed to. We acted, because we had to. But even now, we hold space in our hearts for empathy. My deepest respect to the Indian Armed Forces for protecting us, and to the government for showing strength with clarity. And my hope  always  is for a future where this strength is only needed in spirit, not in combat. Jai Hind."

Joining Ananya in support of the Armed Forces, Kannada superstar Yash shared his message on X, saluting the Indian Armys strength and discipline. Salute to the unwavering strength and precision of our Indian Armed Forces  our impenetrable shield!" he wrote.

Yash also urged people to act responsibly online during sensitive times. With gratitude for their service, let us also ensure we stand united and act responsibly. Pause, verify everything before sharing or reacting, especially online. Our collective fight against misinformation strengthens India. Thoughts with fellow Indians in vulnerable areas; be strong, be resilient. Jai Hind!"

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia also expressed her respect and gratitude, writing, Honouring each individual and their families who are risking everything for our safety and peace. We stand united with you for defending our nation against terror forever indebted forever and support. Thank you."

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 22:44 IST
Kangana Ranaut Says Pakistan Should Be 'Wiped Out' Of World Map: 'Bloody Cockroaches'

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 02:27 IST

Kangana Ranaut slammed Pakistan amid drone attacks on India, calling it a "nasty nation" and saying it should be "wiped out from the world map."

Kangana Ranaut was last seen in Emergency movie. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Kangana Ranaut has once again made headlines with her fierce political stance, this time targeting Pakistan following the recent escalation in cross-border tensions. The actress and BJP leader shared a strong reaction on her Instagram Stories, calling Pakistan a nasty nation full of terrorists" and declaring that it should be wiped out from the world map."

Kanganas remarks came after Pakistan launched missiles and drones into multiple parts of India on May 8. The drone attacks targeted regions in Jammu, Samba, Satwari and Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir, Amritsar and Jalandhar in Punjab, and Bikaner and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

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She reposted a WION news report about Pakistan being questioned at the UN Security Council for its role in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives of innocent tourists. Alongside the report, Kangana wrote, Bloody Cockroaches creepy, nasty nation full of terrorists should be wiped out from the world Map only."

This isnt the first time Kangana has voiced support for Indias military response. She previously shared a video from near Amritsar, commending the Indian S-400 missile defence system. In another post, she urged the people of Jammu to stay resilient amid threats. Jammu On Target! Indian Air Defence Neutralises Pakistan Drone in #Jammu. Stay strong #Jammu," she posted.

Pakistans drone and missile attacks came just a day after India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting multiple terror launch pads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The mission was Indias direct response to the deadly Pahalgam attack.

On the work front, Kangana was last seen in Emergency, which hit theatres on January 17 after several delays. The political drama also featured Anupam Kher, the late Satish Kaushik, Mahima Chaudhry, Milind Soman, Vishak Nair, and Shreyas Talpade. Directed by Kangana herself, the film later premiered on Netflix following its theatrical run.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 10, 2025, 02:23 IST
Kusha Kapila Shocks All With Her Sudden Transformation, Netizens Ask 'Ozempic?'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 09:01 IST

Kusha Kapila has not reacted to the rumours about her physical transformation as of now.

Kusha Kapila is a popular Indian content creator and actress. (Photos: Instant Bollywood and Instagram)

Kusha Kapila left everyone surprised on Thursday night when she was snapped by the paparazzi in Mumbai. In a video that surfaced on social media, the actress was seen smiling as he posed for the cameras. She sported a blue shirt with matching denim.

However, her weight loss transformation shocked everyone with netizens wondering if she has undergone some surgery. While some expressed that Kusha looked very different, others mentioned that she was unrecognisable". Some even questioned if she had work done on her teeth or used Ozempic.

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Wonder what made her change all her features? Achchi not achchi but why would someone change their whole face  seems slightly shady to me," one of the users wrote. Shes khusha??? Cant believe ," added another. She is looking so dry and old!" a third comment read. Ozempic + face surgery," claimed another.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood)

Kusha Kapila has not reacted to the rumours about her transformation as of now.

Kusha Kapila is a popular Indian content creator, actress, and social media influencer known for her humorous sketches and relatable characters. She gained widespread recognition through her work on Instagram and YouTube, where her comedic videos and witty dialogues resonated with millions. She is now also an actress and has been a part of projects like Thank You For Coming, Adulting and Life Hill Gayi, among others.

Recently, Kusha Kapila also dipped her toes in entrepreneurship. The social media personality launched her shapewear brand  UnderNeat. It is offering shapewear, bodysuits, underwear, bras, and other related accessories targeting young women. While the brand has limited sizes available now, it plans to be more inclusive and introduce more sizes and colours. Reports mentioned that the brand has secured funding from Fireside Ventures, with Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh also joining in as an investor.

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 09, 2025, 09:01 IST
Kushal Tandon REVEALS His Mother Cancelled Turkey Trip After Nation Backed Pakistan

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 15:57 IST

Television actor Kushal Tandon revealed that his mother cancelled a planned trip to Turkey after the country backed Pakistan in the wake of Indias Operation Sindoor.

Kushal Tandon reveals his mother cancelled Turkey trip after the country backed Pakistan post-Indias Operation Sindoor, sparking backlash and travel boycotts.

Television actor Kushal Tandon has revealed that his mother, Sandhya Tandon, cancelled a planned trip to Turkey following the countrys public show of support for Pakistan in the aftermath of Indias Operation Sindoor. The operation, carried out on May 7, saw Indian forces target nine terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.

Taking to social media on Friday, Kushal shared that his mother and her friends had been planning a vacation to Turkey next month, but decided to scrap the trip entirelyeven at the cost of losing non-refundable hotel and flight bookings.

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My mom and her friends were planning to go next month, and now they have cancelled their whole trip, even with no refunds getting back from the hotels and airlines. Remember, do your bits," the actor wrote.

Kushals post comes after Turkey and Azerbaijan issued official statements on May 8 expressing solidarity with Pakistan and condemning Indias airstrikes on terror bases. Turkeys Ministry of Foreign Affairs labelled Indias military action a provocative move," while Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry offered condolences to the families of those allegedly killed in the strikesdrawing criticism from Indian citizens across social media.

The diplomatic fallout is also having ripple effects in the travel and tourism sector. Mumbai-based company Go Homestays announced on Thursday that it has severed ties with Turkish Airlines, citing the airlines silence and the Turkish governments unsupportive stance towards India during a critical time.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines continues to face backlash from Indian users online, with many calling for a boycott of the airline and reconsideration of future travel plans to the country.

As Operation Sindoor marks one of Indias most significant counter-terror offensives in recent years, public sentiment is growing sharpernot just towards adversarial nations, but also towards those seen as aligning against Indias national interest.

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 09, 2025, 15:57 IST
Military parade to mark Victory Day held in Vladivostok, Russia

Xinhua) 16:40, May 09, 2025

Servicemen moving in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Servicewomen marching in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Servicemen standing in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Armored vehicles are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Servicemen marching in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Servicemen standing in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Servicemen marching in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Servicemen standing in formation are pictured during a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Operation Sindoor Film Announced; First Poster Out Amid Ongoing India-Pakistan Tensions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 22:01 IST

The poster for Operation Sindoor features a powerful image of a female soldier standing with her back to the viewer, dressed in uniform as she applies sindoor to her hair.

A film on India's Operation Sindoor has been announced.

Nicky Vicky Bhagnani Films and The Content Engineer have officially announced a new film titled Operation Sindoor, inspired by Indias swift and strategic response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The film is based on the Indian Armed Forces operation under the same name, which targeted nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, neutralising several terrorists.

The operations title, Sindoor," holds deep significance. In Hindu tradition, sindoor (vermilion) is a sacred symbol of marriage, often applied by women along the hair parting or as a tilak by warriors heading into battle. The title draws attention to the chilling details of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where terrorists targeted men, some newly married, based on their religious identity.

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The poster for Operation Sindoor features a powerful image of a female soldier standing with her back to the viewer, dressed in uniform and holding a rifle, as she applies sindoor (vermillion) to her hair, a symbolic act that blends feminine identity with patriotic duty. Set against a fiery, war-torn backdrop with tanks, barbed wire and fighter jets soaring above, the poster evokes themes of courage, sacrifice and patriotism. The title Operation Sindoor" appears boldly, with the second O" replaced by a sindoor smear, and the phrase Bharat Mata Ki Jai" in tricolour adds to the patriotic tone.

The cast of the film has not been revealed yet. However, the film will be directed by Uttam Maheshwari and promises to be a gripping narrative.

Nicky and Vicky Bhagnani have previously produced Nikita Roy, a psychological thriller starring Sonakshi Sinha, which is scheduled to release worldwide on May 30. Directed by Kussh S Sinha, the film explores mysticism and psychological tension. It also features Arjun Rampal, Paresh Rawal, and Suhail Nayyar.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 22:01 IST
Ranbir Kapoor's Sister Riddhima Sahni Calls For 'Peace And Love' Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 09:59 IST

While she did not mention the two countries, Riddhima shared these Instagram Stories on Thursday evening as tensions rose between India and Pakistan.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is Ranbir Kapoor's older sister.

Ranbir Kapoors sister, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, is championing love and peace amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Riddhima took to her Instagram to share a message about spreading peace in the world. While she did not mention the two countries, the timing of the posts hints at her desire for peace amid the tensions.

In one Instagram Story, Riddhima wrote, Peace and love." In another Story, she shared a quote that read, I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world." Riddhima shared these Instagram Stories on Thursday evening as tensions rose between India and Pakistan.

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Later, on Thursday night, Pakistan launched aerial attacks on India, targeting locations including the Jammu civil airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia and military stations in the Jammu region. However, all incoming threats were successfully intercepted by Indias S-400 air defence system. Indian air defence systems also intercepted multiple Pakistani drones over Rajasthans Jaisalmer late Thursday night, with loud explosions heard and flashes seen in the sky.

In Punjab, a blackout was enforced in the Pathankot and Amritsar districts following reports of a loud noise heard near the Pathankot airbase. Additionally, reports had emerged of artillery shelling in Kupwara and Udhampur, as well as shelling aimed at the airbase in Pathankot. Several nearby areas were also targeted in the attack.

The attacks came just a day after India carried out precision strikes on terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. As India rallied behind its Armed Forces, influential Bollywood celebrities took to social media to laud the military efforts and urge citizens to beware of misinformation. Riddhimas sister-in-law, Alia Bhatt, was among the Indian actors who extended their support to the Indian Armed Forces via their massively followed Instagram accounts.

About the Author Kashvi Raj Singh Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-... Read More Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 09:59 IST
Seo Yea Ji To Make A Return On Big Screen 3 Years After Kim Soo Hyuns Scandal

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 12:25 IST

Seo Yea Ji is reportedly in talks to play the lead in the upcoming thriller K-drama Forest of Humans.

Seo Yea Ji was last seen on-screen in Eve. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Seems like South Korean actress Seo Yea Ji is soon returning on-screen. She is reportedly in talks to lead the upcoming thriller K-drama, Forest of Humans. If all goes well, this would mark her return to the small screen after a hiatus of more than three years. The actress was last seen on-screen in the K-drama Eve, which aired between June and July 2022.

On Thursday, May 8, SPOTV News reported that Seo Yea Ji had been approached to play the lead in Forest of Humans, a dark thriller show based on a popular horror webtoon. Reportedly, the webtoon has received high ratings despite its mature content, and the makers are currently in discussions about getting its OTT release sorted.

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Seo Yea Ji, who has maintained a relatively low profile in recent years, signed an exclusive contract with the management agency Sublime and is slowly re-entering showbiz after her massive controversies. The news of Seo Yea Jis return to the small screen has caused a frenzy among her fans, who are excited to watch what more she brings to her new role if she decides to star in it.

Taking to an X post, many of her fans expressed their excitement, with one of them saying, MOTHER HAS RETURNED TO RECLAIM HER CROWN." Another commented, My heart is filled with so much happiness and joy. I know my girl will devour this role, and I cannot wait to see her on my screen again." Someone else wrote, We will all be seated for the comeback of this thriller queen."

#SeoYeaJi reportedly to lead a new OTT drama <#ForestOfHumans> which is based on a popular horror webtoon, depicts a story about what unfolds after a containment facility, built to hold psychopathic murderers for experimental purposes, becomes paralyzed and descends into chaos. pic.twitter.com/Q4PrtmoJ3B K-Drama Casting (@kdramacasting) May 8, 2025

Speaking of Forest of Humans, the thriller drama centres around violence and death that unfolds when the system of a secret containment facility designed to imprison psychopathic murderers for experimental observation fails. This unleashes dangerous criminals into the world and ignites a fight for survival.

As for Seo Yea Ji, she took a hiatus from acting after accusations of school violence and bullying against her surfaced in the media. She was also alleged to have gaslighted her then-boyfriend, actor Kim Jung Hyun. She received immense backlash after reports claimed that she controlled and manipulated his drama script in 2018, including a romantic scene with his co-star Seohyun in the K-drama Time.

Back then, Seo Yea Ji was represented by Kim Soo Hyuns agency Gold Medalist. She had worked with the actor in the popular K-drama Its Okay to Not Be Okay. After Kim Soo Hyuns dating controversy unfolded, a former employee of Gold Medalist came forward to allege that Seo Yea Ji was used as a scapegoat back then to cover up the agencys internal issue. When the revelations surfaced in the media, a frustrated Seo Yea Ji clarified that she has no association with the actor or his agency anymore and urged people to stop associating her with Kim Soo Hyun.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 12:25 IST
Shraddha Kapoor, Sobhita Hail Indian Army For Operation Sindoor: Proud Of Our Protectors

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 15:03 IST

Shradhha Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vikrant Massey, Shreyas Talpade saluted Indian Armed Forces, praising their commitment to protecting the nation.

Shraddha Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vikrant Massey, Shreyas Talpade laud Indian Armed Forces

Bollywood actors Shradhha Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vikrant Massey, Shreyas Talpade and many others have lauded the Indian Armed Forces for carrying out Operation Sindoor. Shraddha Kapoor hailed our protectors, while Sobhita Dhulipala wrote that Operation Sindoor is a befitting reply to the terrorists. Vikrant Massey saluted the India Army for their commitment to ensuring the nations safety, while Shreyas Talpade also applauded their bravery and dedication.

Shraddha Kapoor took to her Instagram stories, and wrote, Proud of our protectors. Jai Hind." Meanwhile, Vikrant Massey shared a post on Instagram and wrote, Operation Sindoor is a brutal reminder that strength wears a uniform. Mera Bharat Mahan Salute to our warriors #OperationSindoor #IndiaFightsPropaganda." Shreyas Talpade shared a note that read, Todayas alwaysI pray for the brave hearts fighting for us- so that we can sleep peacefully at night, go to work as usual, and be with our families. My heart goes out to all those affected in our country. To our army- we are with you, rooting for you, and sending you strength through our prayers. Jai Hind."

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vikrant Massey (@vikrantmassey)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shreyas Talpade (@shreyastalpade27)

Sobhita Dhulipala hailed Operation Sindoor and wrote, In these tough times, we stand united with our armed forces. The operation shows our collective strength as a nation and is a befitting reply to the terrorists. Jai Hind. #OperationSindoor #IndiaFightsPropaganda."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sobhita Dhulipala (@sobhitad)

Operation Sindoor was carried out in response to the terror attacks in Pahalgam in April that claimed 26 lives. The Indian Armed Forces launched missile strikes early Wednesday targeting nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. These locations were believed to be used for planning and directing attacks on India. According to sources, it has resulted in the deaths of at least 17 terrorists and injuries to 60 others. Describing the operation, the army emphasized that the strikes were carefully calibrated to avoid escalation and did not target any Pakistani military facilities.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 15:03 IST
SS Rajamouli Salutes Indian Armed Forces, Warns Against Sharing Army Clips: 'Victory Is Ours'

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 21:11 IST

The Defence Ministry had earlier issued a public notice warning against live or real-time coverage of defence operations.

SS Rajamouli urges citizens not to post videos of army activity during tense times.

SS Rajamouli has extended his respect and support to the Indian Armed Forces in the wake of the escalating India-Pakistan tensions. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the acclaimed RRR and Baahubali filmmaker lauded the military for its bravery while issuing a serious reminder to the public about digital responsibility during such times.

Saluting our Brave Indian Armed Forces for their unwavering courage in protecting our nation from terrorism. Lets stand together as a nation, inspired by their valor, to build a future of peace and unity. Jai Hind!" he posted, in light of Indias response to Pakistans attack that unfolded between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

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Saluting our Brave Indian Armed Forces for their unwavering courage in protecting our nation from terrorism. Lets stand together as a nation, inspired by their valor, to build a future of peace and unity. Jai Hind!   rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) May 9, 2025

Rajamoulis message was not just one of pride and unity but also of caution. Echoing the directive issued by the Ministry of Defence, he urged citizens to refrain from sharing any videos or photos related to army movement online. If you see any movement of the Indian Army, dont take pictures or videos. Dont share them as you might be helping the enemy. Stop forwarding unverified news or claims. Youll only create noise, which the enemy wants. Stay calm, alert and positive. Victory is ours," he wrote.

If you see any movement of the Indian Army, dont take pictures or videos.Dont share them as you might be helping the enemy. Stop forwarding unverified news or claims. Youll only create noise, which the enemy wants. Stay calm, alert and positive.Victory is ours.   rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) May 9, 2025

The Defence Ministry had earlier issued a public notice warning against live or real-time coverage of defence operations. Their post on X emphasised that disclosure of such sensitive details could compromise operational success and potentially endanger lives.

They added, Past incidents like the #KargilWar, 26/11 attacks, and the #Kandahar hijacking underscore the risks of premature reporting."

Citing Clause 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the ministry stated that only official briefings by designated personnel are permitted during anti-terror operations. All media outlets, platforms, and individuals were urged to exercise restraint, sensitivity and responsibility in their content.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 21:11 IST
The Royals Review: Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar Rom-Com Rides High On Hot Mess, Haute Couture, Feminism

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 18:13 IST

The Royals is as much about substance as style. Its self-indulgent, screams maximalism and will hopefully herald the beginning of our very own Bridgerton and Emily In Paris era.

The Royals is now streaming on Netflix.

The Royals A 4/5 9 May 2025|Hindi 8 Episodes | Romantic Comedy Starring: Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter, Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Chunky Panday, Dino Morea, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Lisa Mishra, Sumukhi Suresh and Udit Arora Director: Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana Platform: Netflix Watch Trailer

The Royals Web Series Review: That Netflix decided to sanction, back and release a romantic-comedy series feels like a victory in itself. In a world where gloom, gore and gunpowder are being packed and tied with a bow and brought to us every other week religiously, The Royals feels like long-awaited joy. Its self-indulgent, screams maximalism and is absolutely delightful. Lets face it, times are tough, life is tough, and sometimes, its blissful to just be able to let your hair down and blow some steam. And anyway, weve been starved for a feel-good rom-com. So, hopefully, The Royals will herald the beginning of our own Bridgerton and Emily In Paris era.

The Royals opens with a meet-cute moment between Sophia Kanmani Shekhar and Aviraaj Singh and you immediately know that this is going to be a tale as old as time where opposites attract and turn from rivals to lovers. Sophia, the CEO of Indias best hospitality start-up called WorkPotato, is in Sri Lanka to accept the Best Entrepreneur award. While on her morning run on Bentota beach, she bumps into VIP Aviraaj whos being filmed for a magazine cover. This brief encounter filled with silences is too hard to miss as the moment drips with sexual tension between them.

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Later that night, they again bump at a bar. Following a quick exchange of repartees, sparks fly and they decide to spend the night together. However, it soon turns into a war of words where Sophia throws words like privileged and spoilt brat at him and he hurls foolish and arrogant at her. Eventually, we learn that Sophia is on a mission to turn her dream IP called The Royal B&B into reality and she looks for palaces in Rajasthan that would give her the permission to revamp them into heritage stays.

During this mission, she chances upon Motibag Palace in Morpur. Thrown into this mix is Kunal, the co-founder of WorkPotato, who also happens to be Sophias ex-boyfriend; Niki, the chief designer; and Keertana, Sophias assistant. The Royal B&B is a make-or-break for the team as their chief investor, Zubin Daruvala, throws a gauntlet that if they arent able to successfully complete their project in the next six months, Sophia will have to quit as according to him, the board is running losses.

During their visit to Morpur, Sophia learns that Aviraaj is the prince of Motibag Palace. On the other hand, Maharani Padmaja, fondly known as Paddy, immediately agrees to this revamp project as its revealed that the family is on the brink of bankruptcy after the death of her husband, Maharaja Yuvanath Singh. This also means that the baton will now be passed on to Aviraaj aka Fizzy to become the next king, a feat he isnt too pleased about. But what shocks them is that the late Maharaja has left his monetary assets to someone called Maurice.

Were also introduced to Fizzys siblings  Digvijay Singh aka Diggy and Divyaranjani Singh aka Jinnie. Their grandmother is Rajmata Bhagyashri aka Maaji played by the timeless Zeenat Aman. And this is the one bone to pick with the makers of The Royals. She has the most under-cooked character, is absent from the scene most of the times and doesnt get to render anything substantial to the narrative. Shes introduced as a Gen-Z-esque, cool granny who explains the meaning of a situationship to Paddy, urges her to smoke a joint and roots for her romantic escapades.

But she couldve been so much more. Instead, she gets relegated to the background and it almost feels her absence from the overall plot wouldnt have made much of a difference. However, whats striking and noteworthy is that this is a series made by a team of women. The Royals is directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, developed by Neha Sharma and produced by Ishita Pritish Nandy and Rangita Pritish Nandy. So, needless to say, the series boasts of a bunch of strong and empowered women characters, whose vulnerabilities arent their weaknesses, and thankfully, not conceived through a lens of judgement.

Most of the male characters are fine too. Aviraaj may be a Casanova but disrespecting women isnt a part of his deal. Hes chivalrous and so is the Nawab of Alsipur, Salaluddin Khan aka Salad. Even Diggy doesnt wear his royalty with arrogance. His biggest ambition is to not let his royal lineage define him and find an individual identity for himself as a chef. So, even when a commoner shows him his place at a cooking competition, he doesnt take it to heart. In a way, the makers of The Royals beautifully and sensitively bust the myths surrounding royal families.

They also treat queerness with a lot of nuance as opposed to incorporating it as a theme or a trope in the series. Here, a persons identity is rarely defined by the gender they belong to and thats refreshing to say the least. Paddy, despite being the Maharani, isnt afraid to embrace her libido or look for love as a widow in a Bollywood superstar named Ranjit Shroff. And yet when the time comes, she chooses self-love before getting into a new romantic relationship.

The Royals also capture the messiness and chaotic nature of relationships with aplomb. Aviraajs complicated bond with his late father, his unwillingness to be a part of the raaj tilak ceremony as it will tie him up in metaphorical fetters that will not let him pursue his own desires, not feeling threatened by women with agency and standing up for Sophia  the aam kumari hes in love with  before princess Ayesha Dhondi, are delicately portrayed. At the same time, he isnt robbed of humane qualities. Hes flawed and pulls away from Sophia every time something goes wrong in his family life, but that doesnt make him a red flag.

Sophias confusion between Kunal and Aviraaj is also portrayed through a lens of modernity, never once making the viewer judgmental of her choices and sexual instincts. To top that, the background score and the music perfectly amp up the drama in the screenplay. Its modern, vibrant, new-age. The recreation of Tu Tu Hai Wahi deserves a special mention. The makers present to us a Romeo & Juliet ball and indulge in a fashion-show auction where each character carries off regal, traditional attire with modern flamboyance with pizzazz and panache. And thats exactly what The Royals can be summed up as.

The series is flashy, visually stunning and has a melodramatic flair that has an aspirational, desirable and envious quality to it. And yet, its not all about style, hourglass physiques and washboard abs and no substance. If you scratch the surface, youll find a story of a family where everything that glitters isnt gold and where ambitions to break free from norms still thrive. But all of that doesnt dim Sophias struggles either. Heres an enterprising woman who lost her parents and is trying to make a name for herself in a world that doesnt believe in women.

The screenplay is further elevated by some strong performances by Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter, Sakshi Tanwar, Chunky Panday, Dino Morea, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Lisa Mishra, Sumukhi Suresh and Udit Arora. Nora Fatehi as Ayesha Dhondi is a revelation. As an ambitious princess who believes that she can nudge Ishaans Aviraaj to join her hospitality business and make him shift base to New York City, she aces the part. Theres so much more to Nora underneath the dancing star that she is. The Royals is a fitting take on legacy, power and family, and we cant wait for the second season!

About the Author Titas Chowdhury Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break... Read More Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break... Read More

First Published: May 09, 2025, 12:54 IST
Vir Das Claps Back at Troll Over India-Pakistan War Post: GTA Khel Na Chup Chap

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 21:13 IST

Vir Das urged citizens to avoid war-related misinformation on social media and news channels, prompting a troll to attack him.

Vir Das shuts down troll after warning against war misinformation, saying, GTA khel na chup chap.

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, comedian and actor Vir Das took to social media on Friday morning to urge citizens to remain calm and avoid falling for misinformation circulating on TV channels and Twitter (X). But when a troll attempted to mock his stance, Vir fired back with a pointed response thats now going viral.

In his initial post, Vir highlighted the importance of relying on official briefings from the government and armed forces rather than sensationalist coverage. We have a Foreign Secretary and armed forces that give us timely accurate briefings with facts, restraint and evidence. It could not be more impressive and civilised. Please stop listening to, and sharing, people screaming their lungs off on TV and twitter experts," he tweeted.

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My admittedly tiny brain is following EXACTLY what my govt is asking us to do to protect real men and women who are at real risk. So with all due respect to conveniently anonymous, self-declared keyboard heroes.Youre not on the front-lines, youre on a sofa. GTA khel na chup https://t.co/OAVHwXV17t Vir Das (@thevirdas) May 9, 2025

Shortly after, a netizen tried to belittle him by commenting, Info wars is also a key part of warfare.. But I dont expect you to understand that.. Its too much for that little brain of yours to comprehend.. Go back to doing your crappy stand-up."

Vir Das, known for his wit and unapologetic comebacks, didnt hold back. He replied:

My admittedly tiny brain is following EXACTLY what my govt is asking us to do to protect real men and women who are at real risk. So with all due respect to conveniently anonymous, self-declared keyboard heroes Youre not on the front-lines, youre on a sofa. GTA khel na chup chap."

His response quickly garnered support from fans and fellow public figures. Ashneer Grover, former Shark Tank India judge, chimed in with his own commentary on the current state of news media, writing, The only power blackout needed is of news channel studios in Noida."

The only power blackout needed is of new channel studios in Noida. Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) May 9, 2025

Vir Das isnt the only celebrity calling out the media for their war coverage. Actress Sonakshi Sinha recently posted on Instagram, slamming news channels for their over-dramatized and panic-inducing reporting. Our news channels are a joke! Im so done with these over dramatised visuals and sound effects, the screaming and shouting! What are youll doing? Just do your job, report facts as they are," she wrote.

As social media continues to overflow with unverified updates and emotionally charged content, voices like Vir Das and Sonakshi Sinha are urging the public to exercise restraint, stay informed through official channels, and avoid amplifying fear during a time of national sensitivity.

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 09, 2025, 21:13 IST
Will Never Apologise: Celina Jaitly Shuts Down Trolls After Operation Sindoor Post

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 17:59 IST

Celina Jaitly asked trolls on social media to unfollow her if her voice against terrorism threatens them.

Celina Jaitly lauded Indian Armed Forces for their bravery

Actress Celina Jaitly, who is currently in Austria, lauded the Indian Armed Forces and hailed Operation Sindoor. She wrote that her heart is restless, caught between time zones and headlines, amid tensions between India and Pakistan. She also expressed her support for the Indian Armed Forces and lauded their commitment to protecting the nation. In another post, she also strongly responded to online trolls who threatened to unfollow her for praising Indias Operation Sindoor. Defending her patriotic stance, she asked trolls to unfollow her if her voice against terrorism threatens them.

On Friday, Celina Jaitly took to her Instagram stories and wrote, To those unfollowing me or threatening me because I speak for my country  read this carefully. I will never apologise for standing with my nation. I will never be silent when innocent lives are taken in the name of terror."

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She continued, I mourn every innocent life lost-regardless of borders. But I will never stand with those who justify or glorify violence. If my love for India offends you, if my voice against terrorism threatens you, then unfollow me proudly. You were never meant to walk this path with me. I speak for peace. I stand for truth. And I stand with my soldiers always. They protect without asking your name or religion."

She further added, So I will speak without fear or permission. To the trolls and threats: I see you. I forgive you. I rise above you. Jai Hind. Kumaon Regiments Daughter."

Meanwhile, earlier, Celina shared an Instagram post, lauding the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces. She wrote, In Austria, but wide awake. Sleep feels like a luxury tonight because peace is under attack back home. My heart is restless, caught between time zones and headlines. I may be far, but my spirit stands with India. To our brave Indian Armed Forces: Thank you for being the shield between us and chaos. Your courage isnt just in combat its in every silent sacrifice, every cold night, every unwavering step you take to protect our nation. We are here, safe and breathing, because you stand unshaken."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Celina Jaitly (@celinajaitlyofficial)

Operation Sindoor was carried out in response to the terror attacks in Pahalgam in April that claimed 26 lives. The Indian Armed Forces launched missile strikes early Wednesday targeting nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Describing the operation, the army emphasized that the strikes were carefully calibrated to avoid escalation and did not target any Pakistani military facilities.

First Published: May 09, 2025, 16:09 IST
Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 16:23 IST

The Pahalgam Terror Attack, which killed 26 civilians on April 22, 2025, has led to a serious deterioration in Indo-Pakistan ties. Operation Sindoor is currently underway, which has further escalated the tension. India and Pakistan have been involved in several wars and conflicts since gaining Independence in 1947. Scroll on to know more.

1 / 9 India and Pakistan have primarily fought four wars since 1947. (Image: AP)

2 / 9 First Indo-Pakistani War (1947-48): Also called the First Kashmir War, it started in October 1947. It was fought right after Independence over the Kashmir region. A formal ceasefire was declared at 23:59 on the night of January 1, 1949. It led to the establishment of the Line of Control (LoC). (Image: PTI File)

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3 / 9 Indo-Pakistani War of 1965: The 17-day war started following Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar, designed to infiltrate its forces into the Kashmir region. It ended in a ceasefire, with the Tashkent Agreement in 1966 that was mediated by the Soviet Union and US. (Image: News18 Hindi)

4 / 9 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: This was not fought over Kashmir but sparked by the Bangladesh independence movement, which ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh. It was a decisive victory for India. (Image: Punjab Press/AFP)

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5 / 9 Kargil War of 1999: A major defeat for the Pakistani Army, the war took place after Pakistani troops infiltrated across the LoC, and occupied major parts of Kargil district. Two months into the conflict, India regained control of the territories. (Image: Firstpost)

6 / 9 Apart from these, there have been numerous other conflicts and standoffs. The most notable and long-standing one being the Siachen Conflict (1984-2003). Despite the ceasefire, both sides maintain heavy military presence in the area. (File Photo)

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7 / 9 Following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, a stand-off between the two nations was defused by diplomatic efforts. (File Photo)

8 / 9 India launched retaliatory surgical strikes throughout the LoC in response to a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri, Kashmir, in 2016. (Image: News18 Hindi)

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Revealed! BJPs 3 Communication Plans After Operation Sindoor, Lahore Strike, Rauf Azhar Killed

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 08, 2025, 20:30 IST

BJP has two crucial elections coming up soonBihar and Tamil Nadu

Sources told News18 the three-fold communication strategy will be led by the BJPsor, to be precise, PM Modis political will, which the party will hammer on, contrasting with past instances suggesting 'it would not have been possible under Congress rule'. (Representational image)

Even as Operation Sindoor is ongoing and former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane posted, Abhi picture baki hai" on social media site X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be preparing for a long haul. On Thursday morning, he chaired a crucial meeting with secretaries of key ministries like defence, home affairs, external affairs, information & broadcasting, power, health, and telecommunications, along with the cabinet secretary and senior officials from the prime ministers office, to discuss a range of issues, including civil defence mechanisms, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and countering fake news, among others, in view of Indo-Pak tensions. However, its not the government that is planning alone; the ruling party  BJP  too has its hands full with customised communication strategies and plans, using the current standoff between India and Pakistan to make its political points.

News18 has reliably learnt that the BJP is working on a three-fold communication strategy. We just dont plan; we wait for government confirmation of news and execute our communication strategy immediately," said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

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Sources told News18 the three-fold communication strategy will be led by the BJPsor, to be precise, PM Modis political will, which the party will hammer on, contrasting with past instances suggesting it would not have been possible under Congress rule". The second message will be, the BJP source suggests, India doesnt forgive and forget". There are reports of India in last nights airstrike in Pakistan killing Rauf Azhar, the operation head of Jaish-e-Mohammed and mastermind of the IC 814 hijacking that forced India to release Maulana Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Zargar, and Omar Sheikh from jail to secure the passengers. The BJP source says, once the Government of India confirms this, the second strategy will be put in motion.

Meanwhile, there is a third combination strategy BJP is working on over the Indo-Pak tensions, where the messaging will be loud and clear  India is the first country after the United States and Israel that has gone deep into another countrys territory to take out targets, showing Indias military prowess and political spine.

In its most bold pursuit, India has not just targeted Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or tribal areas like Balakot. This time India has hit Pakistans main cities like Lahore and Karachi with drones while targeting terror dens in cities like Jaish-e-Mohammed stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taibas base Muridke.

The Modi Sarkar made it clear in 2016 that it wont be playing by the rule book of Dr Manmohan Singhs UPA when it directed a surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Uri attack and later made airstrikes in Balakot in 2019 in response to the Pulwama attack. But a sizeable section of the Indian opposition sought evidence. No wonder, soon after Operation Sindoor this time, which was a missile strike at nine targets that the Indian ministry of defence called terror camps", the BJP released audio-visuals of 1 minute 50 seconds highlighting the impact those strikes caused, calling them 9 evidences", almost taunting the Indian opposition parties that raised questions on the surgical strikes earlier. The video on X alone has been watched 2 million times in the last 24 hours. In an unusual move, the Russian state media RT published the BJPs dramatic video, calling it a blockbuster".

You know, India has been restrained for way too long. But did we get justice? We had to transform to the next league of what the US or Israel can do. India has not just demonstrated that it can carry out cross-border strikes to root out threats to its citizens, but it can put them to use. When you think of demonstrating Ghar me ghus ke marenge next time, the world will count Modis India along with very few world powers like the US and Israel," Amit Malviya, BJPs head of IT cell and the brains behind the 9 evidences" video, told News18.

BJP has two crucial elections coming up soon Bihar and Tamil Nadu. While some in the BJP officially maintain that the governments stands are not viewed from an electoral winnability prism, some do agree that when PM Modi eventually starts campaigning, the effect may start being visible.

Guruprakash Paswan, BJPs national spokesperson, who hails from Bihar, told News18, I dont see any direct correlation between Operation Sindoor and the Bihar election, which is scheduled in October. Some other issues may come up in between. Public memory is usually short-lived." However, the mood on the ground has swung decisively in favour of BJP, both riding high on the announcement of the caste census and now Indias action on Pakistan. BJPs allies, like Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan, who has critiqued the Bharatiya Janata Party on many issues recently, hailed the armed forces and thanked the Prime Minister and home minister for the bold decision". In Patna, BJP Yuva Morcha workers celebrated the success of Operation Sindoor with vibrant displays of support and chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai".

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In poll-bound Tamil Nadu, even before Indias strike, the state BJP took to the roads after the Pahalgam massacre. The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a demonstration in Chennai urging the DMK government to identify and deport illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh living in Tamil Nadu. State BJP president Nainar Nagendran and former governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan were part of it. As India hit nine targets, Nagendran said, Our Indian Army has acted with clinical precision, targeting and neutralising nine terrorist training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This strike is a testament to Indias unwavering commitment to combat terrorism with courage and clarity."

It was 2019, and the city was Ahmedabad. PM Modi was addressing a crowd in his home state when he floated the ghar me ghus ke marunga" promise, which we see today in its myriad manifestations. It is my nature to give a befitting reply Now I will enter their house and kill them Even if they are hiding under the earth, I will drag them out and kill them."

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More

First Published: May 08, 2025, 18:41 IST
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Launch Date Confirmed: Price In India, Specs And More

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 08, 2025, 12:47 IST

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launch is finally confirmed for May 2025 and the company is going to show its sleek device on this date.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launch is confirmed for May 2025

The Slim era is about to start with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge finally getting a launch date this month. The new Slim design phone has been part of multiple events where the company has teased its external body and nothing linked to its features.

Now, we dont have to wait that long to see the product in full glory and all the other details and specifications of the Galaxy S25 Edge announced.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Launch Date, Timings And More

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge launch date is confirmed for Tuesday, May 13 and the global event will be hosted in South Korea at 9:00AM or 5:30 AM IST if you are watching in India. Samsung is hosting a virtual event for the new phone launch which you can live stream via the official Samsung YouTube page next week.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Price In India And Features Expected

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S25 Edge will come with a 200MP main sensor which could be part of a dual-rear camera system with a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens expected to be part of the duo.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is rumoured to sport a 6.6-inch AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. But the biggest highlight of the device is its ultra-slim and lightweight design, measuring under 162 grams and a mere 5.84 mm in thickness. The display is also expected to offer an impressive peak brightness of 2,600 nits.

It is likely to sit between the Galaxy S25+ and the top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra in the lineup for the company.

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Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Edge is anticipated to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. However, the slim design of the Galaxy S25 Edge could become a problem, as the device will reportedly house a 3,900 mAh battery with 25W charging support to maintain its slender profile. Similar to the rest of the Galaxy S25 line up, the phone is said to feature an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

As for the Galaxy S25 Edge launch price, European e-commerce platform Zenetti Shop had earlier revealed the starting price could be around EUR 1,361 (Rs 1,27,900 approx) for the 256 GB variant. However, the Galaxy S25 Edge price in India should be close to Rs 1,10,000 to give it the right means and value in the market among other premium flagship devices.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More

News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 08, 2025, 12:47 IST
12-Year-Old Climate Activist Licypriya Kangujam Is Proud Of PM Modi's Leadership

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 19:23 IST

In a post on Friday, May 9, Licypriya Kangujam expressed regret for her earlier criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Licypriya Kangujam had earlier posted a message supporting the Indian army. (Photo Credit: X)

Climate activist Licypriya Kangujam has posted a message supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On X (formerly Twitter), the teenage activist said she was proud of PM Modis leadership. Her message comes amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. Licypriya Kangujam also expressed regret for criticising the PM a few years ago and called her earlier comments misguided.

Her post read, I used to criticise PM Modi a few years back because I felt he was not listening to my voice, but I was misguided. But today, I fully support him. Im so proud of the leadership of our Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. May God give him more power & long life."

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I used to criticise PM Modi few years back because I felt he was not listening my voice but I was misguided. But today, I fully support him. I'm so proud of the leadership of our Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. May God give him more power & long life.  Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) May 8, 2025

Licypriya Kangujam had earlier posted a message supporting the Indian army amid increasing hostilities between the country and Pakistan. Bharatiya Sena Zindabad," her post read.

    Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) May 8, 2025

Earlier, Licypriya had said that some of her European friends were trying to silence her due to her stance against Pakistan. Talking about the Pahalgam attack, the climate activist slammed the double standard" of Western nations.

Few European friends are trying hard to silence my voice against Pakistani-sponsored terrorism. Where did you lose when they killed 26 civilians on 22 April by attacking India? We dont need Europe to advise us. Stop being the double standard of the West. Not Pakistan. Its Terroristan," Licypriya posted on May 7.

Few European friends trying hard to silence my voice against Pakistani sponsored terrorism. Where did you lost when they killed 26 civilian on 22 April by attacking India? We don't need Europe to advise us. Stop being double standard of the west.Not Pakistan. It's Terroristan. Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) May 7, 2025

On May 9, the Indian Army said that Pakistan had launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions on the night of Thursday and early Friday along the entire western border. The army stated that the attacks had been effectively repulsed." The attacks followed the launch of Operation Sindoor by the Indian armed forces on May 7 to target sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated on Friday that Pakistan used 300-400 drones to target India, NDTV reported. The drones were reportedly Turkish-made. The debris of the drones is being analysed by the security agencies.

In recent developments, India has suspended the Kartarpur Corridor until further notice. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the country will approach the International Monetary Fund against Pakistan as well.

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 09, 2025, 19:23 IST
How Many Indian Restaurants Globally Are Run By Pakistanis? Fresh Discussion Amid Tensions

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 14:37 IST

The conversation gained traction following recent protests in Hyderabad targeting Karachi Bakery, a beloved city institution.

Social media users are now asking how many of Indian restaurants are actually run by Pakistanis posing as Indians. (AI-generated)

As diplomatic tensions simmer between India and Pakistan, a parallel controversy is heating up online  this time over the true identity of Indian" restaurants abroad. Social media users are now asking: how many of them are actually run by Pakistanis posing as Indians?

The conversation gained traction following recent protests in Hyderabad targeting Karachi Bakery, a beloved city institution. Despite its name referencing Pakistans financial capital, the bakery is Indian in origin. Owner Rajesh Ramnani clarified that it was founded in 1953 by his grandfather Khanchand Ramnani, a Sindhi Hindu migrant who fled Karachi during the 1947 Partition, according to a PTI report.

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VIDEO | Protests erupt in Hyderabad against a bakery named after Karachi. The owner clarifies and says, Karachi Bakery was founded here in Hyderabad in 1953 by Khanchand Ramnani, who migrated to India during the Partition. It has been 73 years. Our grandfather named it after pic.twitter.com/i6dAkwxDIR Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2025

The bakery controversy triggered a wider online discussion, with one user questioning, How many Indian restaurants in the UK are actually run by Pakistanis pretending to be Indian. Now why might that be?" he asked.

How many Indian" restaurants in the UK are actually run by Pakistanis pretending to be Indian. Now why might that be? David Vance (@DVATW) May 8, 2025

The Internet jumped into the debate. Some were concerned about the lack of transparency in ethnic restaurant ownership abroad.

A user commented, Wait, what? That makes sense. How does one find out which ones are genuine Indian restaurants?"

Wait what. That makes sense. How does one find out which ones are genuine Indian restaurants? Joulespersecond (@jsambowen) May 8, 2025

Another said, Every Indian restaurant should compulsorily display its owners NRI / OCI certificate from their Indian Embassy as a Certificate of Authenticity. 

Every Indian restaurant should compulsorily display its owner's NRI / OCI certificate from their Indian Embassy as a Certificate of Authenticity. Someone demanded official intervention. The Indian Embassy should give certification," he said. Indian Embassy should give certification.  Raj Some framed it as a reputational issue. No one will be interested to go and dine at a Pakistani restaurant. Not only in the UK, but they also do business in Germany the same way," a user said. No one will be interested to go and dine at a pakistani restaurant. Not only in the UK they do business in Germany too in the same way.  Balaji Balram Singh (@balaji_bal59667) May 9, 2025

A podcast clip being widely shared featured a speaker alleging, Pakistanis in London pretend to be Indians to escape humiliation." Another Indian in the same clip claimed that every Pakistani restaurant that opens abroad writes we are an Indian restaurant".

For those saying this post is not true, watch this. pic.twitter.com/2zjhAH8Axg Jyothish N Pillai (@JyothishNPillai) May 9, 2025

This sentiment resonated with many diaspora Indians and travellers, who began sharing their experiences.

An Indian user in the US said, We found a few Indian restaurants here in the US run by Pakistanis."

We found few Indian  restaurants here in US run by Pakistanis. Pooja (@Poojas_art) May 9, 2025

Another in Japan shared, I went to an Indian restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. It had an Indian map and showed Kashmir without PoK. I instantly recognised that it was being run by a Pakistani. I did not eat there. I had nothing against this owner, but I do not like people who are defrauding other people."

I went to an Indian restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. It had Indian map and showed Kashmir without PoK. I instantly recognised that it was being run by a Pakistani. I did not eat there.I had nothing personally against this owner but I do not like people who are defrauding other  Saurabh Jain (@skjsaurabh) May 9, 2025

Same in France, most Indian restaurants are run by Pakistanis", another user shared.

same in France, most Indian restaurants are run by Pakistanis Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) May 9, 2025

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There is no official global registry differentiating Indian versus Pakistani ownership of restaurants abroad.

In her essay for Bittman, Maryam Jillani says that restaurant owners in the US and other countries often label their eateries as Indian" to attract customers, leading to menus filled with Indian staples like butter chicken and chana masala, while authentic Pakistani dishes such as haleem, Lahori fried fish, or kabuli pulao remain underrepresented.

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 09, 2025, 14:19 IST
War On May 25? This Spiritual Leader's Prediction On Ranveer Allahbadia Show Resurfaces Amid India-Pak Tensions

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 08, 2025, 18:04 IST

Swami Yogeshwarananda Giri has claimed that a great war would break out on May 25.

Swami Yo predicted a great war last year. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Nine months ago, few could have predicted the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Yet, one individual did  Swami Yogeshwarananda Giri, better known as Swami Yo. A spiritual and astrological figure, Swami Yo has gained attention for his insights into spirituality, astrology, and the future of the nation.

Last year, in a podcast appearance on The Ranveer Show by Ranveer Allahbadia, Swami Yo made a striking prediction. He claimed that a great war would break out on May 25, 2025.

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His words have resurfaced following Indias May 7 military offensive, Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing at least 100 terrorists. This tri-services operation, which involved the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people were killed.

On Wednesday, Ranveer Allahbadia posted a short clip from Swami Yos podcast appearance on Instagram. In the video, the spiritual leader shares his astrological forecast, There will be an alignment of planets around May 30. Astrologically, this alignment, involving six planets positioning themselves, mirrors the configurations seen during significant historical events like the Mahabharata and other major wars. This alignment indicates a grand moment for India, and I can confidently say that it marks the beginning of its golden era."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Ranveer Show (@theranveershowpodcast)

The clip went viral in no time.

A user commented, And the thing is, he predicted it last year."

Bhavishya malika said it," a comment read.

A sceptical user wrote, Also, show the times, these things have proven wrong too. I am sure there wont be any scarcity of content. Btw 2012 world was supposed to end, right? Time to grow up and live in the present."

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Defence experts have described Indias Operation Sindoor as a calibrated preemptive response" to dismantle terror infrastructure before it could become operational. Hours after Indias offensive, the Pakistani military launched strikes aimed at military installations in 15 cities across northern and western India using drones and missiles. Indias armed forces successfully intercepted these attacks, also destroying a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore, as confirmed by the Defence Ministry.

Pakistan has also initiated heavy artillery shelling in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district. At least 13 people, including women and children, have been killed.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 08, 2025, 17:55 IST
'Shehbaz Sharif Can't Even Utter Modi's Name': Pakistani MP Dubs His PM 'Coward'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 14:19 IST

Pakistan escalated tensions on the border as it launched over 50 drones into India, which successfully took down every single drone.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif slammed by Pak MP (Photo: X, Reuters)

In a massive embarrassment for Shehbaz Sharif amid border tensions with India, a Pakistani MP dubbed his own prime minister a coward" who is afraid to utter" the name of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Not even one statement came against India. Pakistani soldiers standing on the border expect that the government will fight bravely. When your leader is a coward who cannot even utter the name of Modi, what message are you giving to the soldier fighting on the border?" the MP said on the floor of the Pakistani Parliament.

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This comes after Pakistan escalated the situation on the border, firing drones into India, only to be shot down before hitting their targets in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir.

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On Thursday evening, Pakistan escalated tensions by launching drones and missiles into parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Indias air defence systems  the S-400 and Akash  shot down all of them in midair before they could hit their targets, except for one drone that crashed near Jammu Civil Airport.

In response, India carried out counter-strikes, sending its drones into Islamabad, Lahore, and Sialkot. Pakistan also fired artillery at villages in Jammu and Kashmir, violating the ceasefire. The Indian Army quickly responded to the attacks, 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

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 09, 2025, 13:07 IST
'Heavy Losses': Pakistan Govt X Account Posts Loan Plea To Fight India; Officials Blame Hackers

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 10:59 IST

Pakistan launched drone, missile strikes into India last night, unprovoked. India foiled its attempts to cause damages and loss of lives in country and shot down the projectiles.

Pakistan seeks monetary help from international community (Reuters Image)

As India retaliated swiftly to the steep military escalation by Pakistan on Thursday night, Islamabad on Friday begged the international community for more loans", citing heavy losses inflicted by enemy".

Pakistan also urged international partners to help de-escalate" the situation.

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Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflected by enemy. Amid escalating war and stocks crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast," the Economic Affairs Division of the Pakistani government said on X.

Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflected by enemy. Amid escalating war and stocks crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast. @WorldBank #IndiaPakistanWar #PakistanZindabad Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan (@eadgop) May 9, 2025

Later, the Pakistani government backtracked from its post and claimed that their X handle was hacked".

Reuters reported that Pakistans Ministry of Economic Affairs said it did not tweet" the post on X and claimed that their X account has been hacked".

The Press Information Bureau of the Indian government trolled the Pakistani governments X post and shared a meme from the famous Hindi comedy movie Golmaal. The dialogue in the movie said, Yeh Koi Tarika Hai Bheek Mangne Ka (is this the manner to beg?)"

The sequence of events comes hours after India struck Islamabad, Lahore, and Sialkot last night as Pakistan resorted to unprovoked escalation on the International Borders and along the Line of Control.

Pakistan fired over 50 drones into the Indian territory, such as in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan; however, each one of them was shot down by the Indian air defence systems, such as S-400 and Akash, except for one drone which managed to hit the Jammu Civil Airport last evening.

Pakistani army also violated the ceasefire along the LoC and resorted to shelling in the civilian areas, causing damage to the buildings and cattle. The Indian Army responded with equal force.

On the economic front, Pakistan has incurred heavy losses as a sharp decline was witnessed in the Pakistan stock market on May 7.

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The Pakistan Stock Exchange halted trading for an hour yesterday after the benchmark index fell 7.2%. That occurred after India struck military targets in Lahore.

As Pakistan continues to escalate the situation, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said yesterday at a joint press briefing with the armed forces, Pakistan escalated the situation, we merely responded. The choice to de-escalate rests with Pakistan".

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 09, 2025, 10:00 IST
If No Talks Then Guns, Warns Pakistan Defence Minister, India Calls Out Sign Of Desperation

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 08:44 IST

Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Khawaja Asif is afraid that he will lose his constituency in Sialkot if war breaks out and is hence resorting to empty threats

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (IMAGE: X)

Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif has once again threatened India after Indian forces gave a befitting reply to the neighbours unprovoked attacks in border cities.

If India does not talk at the diplomatic and political table and [through diplomatic] channels, we will talk and respond with guns. Pakistan does not have time to wait and show patience. We have to stop India here," Asif said.

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This is not the first time the minister has threatened India. Earlier, amid boiling tensions between the two countries, Asif had said if India dared to attack Pakistan, no one would survive. If India dares to attack Pakistan and Pakistans existence comes under threat, nobody will survive in this world."

Asif has repeatedly been called out by international media outlets for his foot-in-mouth comments since hostilities between India and Pakistan reached a new high in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. India, in retaliation, pounded nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, showing considerable restraint by avoiding civilian areas and military installations.

Caught napping, Pakistan resorted to unprovoked attacks on 15 border cities of India but the latters robust air defence systems thwarted its machinations.

Asif was caught on the back foot once again as he claimed in an interview with CNN that Pakistan had shot down five Indian fighter planes. When asked for proof, he said: Its all over social media, on Indian social media, not on our social media. The debris of these jets fell in Kashmir."

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The anchor interrupted the Pakistani minister and said, The reason to talk to you today is not to talk about content on social media. Im asking specifically for the evidence, details. For example, was any Chinese equipment used to down these Rafale jets, as I understand you are alleging to be?" Dodging the question, he responded with if India can buy planes from France, Pakistan can buy from China".

Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Asifs comments are a sign of desperation". He is afraid of his constituency in Sialkot where he will lose if war breaks out. He doesnt want to lose in any case. This threat will not work. They have to understand and control terror groups first and give justice to the families of those killed."

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 09, 2025, 08:44 IST
IMF Approves Disbursement Of $1 Billion Loan To Pakistan Despite India's Protests

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 00:09 IST

India had objected to an IMF bailout package for Pakistan on Friday, raising concerns that the country misuses funds on state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Reuters/File)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday approved the immediate disbursement of about $1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility, according to the Pakistan PMO, despite Indias conveying its strong dissent over these funds being misused for cross-border terrorism.

The global moneylender had reviewed the extended fund facility (EFF) lending programme ($1 billion) and also considered a fresh resilience and sustainability facility (RSF) lending programme ($1.3 billion) for Pakistan.

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According to a statement by the Pakistan PMO, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the approval of a $1 billion installment, asserting that Pakistans economic situation had improved and the country is moving towards development.

India had earlier raised concerns over the efficacy of IMF programmes in the case of Pakistan, given its poor track record, and also on the possibility of misuse of debt financing funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

India registered its protest during a board meeting of the IMF and abstained from voting on the bailout package to Pakistan, because IMF rules do not permit a formal no" vote. The IMF took note of the Indias remarks and its abstention from the vote.

What Did India Say On IMF Aid To Pakistan?

India told the IMF that Pakistan has been a prolonged" borrower with a poor track record of implementation and adherence to programme conditions. Out of the last 35 years since 1989, the IMF has disbursed funds to Pakistan for 28 years, including four programmes in just the last five years without significant reform, it said.

India also highlighted that if these programmes had succeeded, Pakistan would not have approached for another bailout package, adding that the Pakistani militarys deeply entrenched interference poses significant risks to policy making and reforms.

India also pointed out that rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message to the global community, exposes funding agencies and donors to reputational risks, and makes a mockery of global values, according to the Indian finance ministry.

Pakistan and the IMF had reached a three-year, $7 billion aid package deal in July last year with the new programme set to allow the country to cement macroeconomic stability and create conditions for stronger, more inclusive and resilient growth.

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This comes amid a military standoff between the two neighbours, following Indias missile strikes on terror targets" in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These were carried out as a retaliation to cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, on April 22.

Following Indias strikes in Pakistan, Islamabad has resorted to unprovoked missile, artillery and drone attacks along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting military installations in J&K, Punjab and Rajasthan. These brazen attacks have escalated tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 09, 2025, 23:30 IST
India At War With Pakistan-Backed Terrorists, Says Indian Envoy To US Vinay Kwatra | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 05:19 IST

Vinay Kwatra told US broadcaster CNN that Indias Operation Sindoor was intended to hold the terrorists accountable for Pahalgam carnage.

Indian envoy to the US Vinay Kwatra speaks to CNN journalists Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown. (IMAGE: X)

Indian ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra said that India is at war with terrorism and terrorists backed by Pakistan. Kwatra was speaking to US broadcaster CNN where he made the comments during a news segment with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown.

We took out terror factories at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). We were very cautious and careful to target only those who were responsible for the killings. The original escalation was on April 22, when they killed 26 innocent civilians, including a Nepali national," Kwatra said.

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.@CNN had @IndianEmbassyUS Ambassador @AmbVMKwatra on their show today. He pointed out how India is at War with Terrorists supported by Pakistan. Reminded Americans on how these same terrorists killed innocent Americans on 26/11 Mumbai attacks and executed @WSJ reporter Daniel pic.twitter.com/eFqFaGO9wn Rohit Sharma  (@DcWalaDesi) May 8, 2025

He said the terrorists took headshots" of innocent tourists in front of their families and pointed out that the terrorists trained and backed by Pakistan asked the victims about their religion before killing them.

They killed them in front of their innocent wives and children. What we did was our response to terror, our response to these sub-human killings," he further added.

In retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces carried out the missile and drone strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early Wednesday.

India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan militarys attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict. India also downed a Pakistan Air Forces (PAF) F-16 jet.

The strikes were intended to hold the terrorists accountable and deliver justice to the victims. Pakistans subsequent military action is them saying that they stand with the terrorists," Kwatra further added.

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Sirens and numerous explosions were reported in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla and Kupwara and several other places as the Indian military carried out a massive night aerial vigil along the border with Pakistan.

After the Indian military foiled the Pakistani attempts, the defence ministry said India remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people".

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 09, 2025, 05:19 IST
This Is Not The First Time May 9 Has Been Unlucky For Pakistan

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 16:09 IST

Pakistan is not new to the mayhem of May 9. Exactly two years ago, unprecedented violence erupted in the country after former prime minister Imran Khans arrest

The riots of May 9, 2023 caused damage worth billions and saw more than 40 government buildings, including sensitive military sites, vandalised in Pakistan. (AP/File)

May 9 seems to be an unlucky date for Pakistan. The start of May 9, 2025 could not have gone more wrong for Pakistan as India decisively thwarted its attempt to attack military installations in Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan with missiles and drones while successfully launching kamikaze drones at Islamabad, Lahore and Sialkot. Pakistans failed attempts to strike Indian cities came 24 hours after India bombed terrorist camps in nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 Indians were killed.

May 9, 2023

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Pakistan, however, is not new to the mayhem of May 9. Exactly two years ago, unprecedented violence erupted in the country after former prime minister Imran Khans arrest. The riots caused damage worth billions and saw more than 40 government buildings, including sensitive military sites, vandalised.

Key sites including the Army Corps Commanders residence in Rawalpindi, the General Headquarters, the Pakistan Air Forces Alam Airbase, the ISI office in Faisalabad, and the Frontier Corps fort in Chakra were attacked. These incidents resulted in losses of approximately 2 billion Pakistani rupees and recorded 62 violent events, underscoring Pakistans internal vulnerabilities and instability.

On May 9, 2023, following Imran Khans arrest, protesters breached the gates of the Pakistani Armys General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, torched the Lahore Corps Commanders residence, and set fire to security posts and police vehicles across the country.

The Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi and an army convoy in Lahore were also targeted. Protesters blocked roads in major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Multan, Quetta, and Faisalabad.

In an unexpected eruption of anger that caught the armed forces off guard, monuments dedicated to military generals were reportedly vandalised or desecrated. On the same day, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers set fire to police vans and check posts in Karachi, prompting police to respond with tear gas and baton charges.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demonstrators reportedly torched a replica of Chaghi Mountain, the site of Pakistans 1998 nuclear bomb test. Clashes also broke out between PTI supporters and police in Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan, the report stated.

According to Human Rights Watch, over 4,000 people were arrested in connection with the May 9 violence, including senior PTI leaders. However, PTI claimed that more than 10,000 party members were detained under what it describes as false and politically motivated charges.

Redux On The Cards?

Amid its cross-border misadventures, trouble might be brewing for politically and financially volatile Pakistan at home with supporters of Imran Khan seen carrying out massive bike rallies towards Rawalpindi, where the former prime minister is jailed.

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Imran Khans party on Friday also filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking his release from jail, claiming a threat to his life due to the impact of the prolonged detention on his health and in view of the current situation with India.

Khans Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party, in a WhatsApp message, said that the partys Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur approached the Islamabad High Court for the release of the party founder. Khan, 72, has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi, the garrison city, since mid-2023 in connection with multiple cases.

Location : Pakistan

First Published: May 09, 2025, 16:09 IST
One-Minute Silence Observed For Pahalgam Victims At Shanghai Book Launch Event

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 21:43 IST

Terrorists opened fire in Jammu-Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, killing 26, including 25 tourists and one local.

A minute of silence was observed at a book launch event for 'Hardware to Code' (Credits: X)

A minute of silence was observed at a book launch event for Hardware to Code" hosted by the Consulate General of India in Shanghai on Friday in memory of the victims killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

The launch was followed by a high-powered strategic dialogue and fireside chat, attended by consuls general from over 10 countries and key business leaders, making it a rare fusion of diplomacy, technology, and visionary industrial dialoguea testament to how innovation and strategic thinking are now central to Indias global outreach, according to an official statement.

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Hardware to Code is more than a bookits a roadmap to the future of mobility. As next-gen vehicles evolve into software on wheels, Indias deep software talent base places it in a unique position to lead the global automotive value chain," said Pratik Mathur, Consul General of India in Shanghai and the host of the event.

In an event organized by Consulate General of India in Shanghai to launch the book Hardware to Code", a minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims of #PahalgamTerroristAttackThe event was attended by members of Diplomatic Corps, members of Indian diaspora and pic.twitter.com/Up8FMHofXO India In Shanghai (@IndiaInShanghai) May 9, 2025

The book-Hardware to Code: How Software is Transforming the Automotive Industry- is authored by Mukesh Sharma.

Speaking about his book, Sharma said, This book was born out of a realization that there is a growing disconnect between traditional automotive thinking and the software revolution happening under the hood. I wanted to create a guide that anyonewhether a senior executive or a passionate learnercould read to truly understand whats changing and why it matters so deeply."

Pahalgam Terrorist Attack

Terrorists opened fire in Jammu-Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22, killing 26, including 25 tourists and one local. Following the attack, India took several strong measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

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India also conducted strikes against terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). A day later, Pakistan launched a barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in Jammu, including a key airstrip.

In response to Pakistans unprovoked attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan, India carried out multiple drone strikes targeting Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. During the operation, Indian forces also shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in Rajasthan, delivering a strong and effective reply.

Location : China

First Published: May 09, 2025, 21:41 IST
Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's Power 'Strengthened' Amid Standoff With India

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 15:09 IST

Pakistan's Supreme Court has empowered Asim Munir by upholding the trials of civilians in the military courts in the country, a move that significantly strengthens the army chief.

Pakistan army chief Asim Munir (AFP Image)

In a move that worsens the worst in Pakistan, their Supreme Court empowered army chief General Asim Munir by endorsing the trials of civilians in the military courts.

The countrys top courts landmark judgment will most likely make the situation sink further in Pakistan, where the army has already crushed democracy multiple times and continues to do so.

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The position of Asim Munir  whose provocative statements against Hindus are linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, as per the Indian government  has in a way been strengthened by the Supreme Courts verdict which overturned a previous judgment that ruled the trials of civilians in military courts as unconstitutional".

A constitutional bench of the countrys top court has given a go-ahead to the military trials for those involved in the anti-army protests on May 9, 2023, according to a report by news agency PTI.

Lakhs of Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters had stormed the military sites after their party chief was arrested, something they believed was executed on Munirs orders.

Nearly 1,000 PTI supporters were held behind bars. They had alleged that several of the party workers were arrested without any evidence.

A seven-judge constitutional bench of Pakistans top court gave its ruling on May 7 after hearing several appeals against an earlier Supreme Court decision from October 2023. That earlier ruling had barred the military from trying civilians.

However, multiple petitioners  including law enforcement agencies  asked the court to reverse that decision and allow military trials for civilians under military law.

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In a 5-2 split verdict, Pakistans Supreme Court upheld these appeals, allowing civilians involved in the May 9, 2023, anti-army attacks to be tried in military courts.

According to Dawn, the court also reinstated three parts of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, which had been struck down in 2023.

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 09, 2025, 14:39 IST
Pakistan Hides Behind Civilian Flights After Launching Drone Attacks On India, Here's The Proof

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 04:28 IST

Air traffic data showed Pakistan operating civilian flights amid drone attacks against India, proving the Indian government's claims that it was using civilian airspace as cover.

Pakistan did not close its civilian airspace while launching failed attacks against India.

The Indian government said Pakistan of using civilian flights as cover as it continues to provoke India by launching a series of drone, missile and artillery attacks on military installations in several states.

The Indian military highlighted Pakistans irresponsible behaviour, as it did not close its airspace despite launching an unprovoked attack, posing a grave threat to international carriers, while India has already diverted flights away from the International Border in J&K. That was the case even today, as Pakistan once again launched a brazen attack on India.

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At least four flights were seen in the areas of Lahore and Multan close to the Indian border at 10:52 pm, as per the live air traffic data provided by Flightradar24, while Pakistan again launched drones at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, which were thwarted by Indian air defence systems. This came hours after India showed proof of Pakistan using its civilian flights as cover. Reports indicate that Pakistan flew over 100 civilian aircrafts between May 7 and 8 despite intense hostilities.

Although India did not deploy any drones over Pakistani territory on Friday, it has previously made it clear that any provocation would be met with a response. In this context, Pakistans actions appear highly reckless and seem to support Indias assertion that Pakistan is using civilian aircraft as a cover for military operations. Follow Operation Sindoor Live Updates Here On Friday, Pakistan once again launched a brazen attack on India, with drones spotted at 26 locations from Baramulla (North) to Bhuj (South) along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets. The relentless heavy artillery and mortar shelling by Pakistan on the volatile J&K border following Operation Sindoor, claimed three lives even as the BSF thwarted a major infiltration attempt killing seven terrorists. Complete blackouts in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan continued for the second consecutive day. This comes a day after the military thwarted India swiftly thwarted Pakistans fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu and Pathankot after foiling similar bids at 15 places in northern and western regions, as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider conflict. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

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 : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 09, 2025, 23:17 IST
'No Option Other Than Full-Blown War,' Says Pakistan's Defence Minister

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 22:40 IST

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said chances of de-escalation were minimal as tensions soared with India following Islamabad's unprovoked attack on Indian military sites.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (IMAGE: X)

As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate amid cross-border skirmishes across the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has seemingly declared that there is no option left for Islamabad other than a full-blown war with its neighbour.

Speaking to a Pakistani media outlet, Asif said, We dont see any other available means other than this option (war) due to the aggressive actions adopted by India in the last four days. We have tried to de-escalate the situation, but the chances of that seem minimal. We have to pay them back in the same coin."

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The minister said people should have no doubts that war was at their doors, although he did not share details on how Pakistans military would carry out their operations.

 Pak Def Min Khawaja Asif says no option left other than full blown warNews Anchor ; Are we staring at a full blown war ? Khawaja Asif ; We dont have any other options other than this . We have to pay them back in the same qui#tes Anchor ; So the war is at our door pic.twitter.com/392XduqUth  OsintTV  (@OsintTV) May 9, 2025

In another interview, Khawaja Asif asserted that Pakistan was ready to respond to Indian strikes with equal force in a tit-for-tat retaliation.

Earlier in the day, Khawaja Asif made a bizarre remark, claiming that the Pakistani Army purposely did not intercept the Indian drones as their retaliation would have given away the defence positions to the Indian forces. He was relentlessly trolled on social media once again for these remarks.

Follow Live Updates of India Pakistan Tensions

Pakistan Will Not De-Escalate With India

Meanwhile, Pakistans military spokesperson on Friday said it would not de-escalate tensions with India after consecutive days of missile, artillery and drone attacks, according to Al Arabiya.

We will not de-escalate  with the damages India did on our side, they should take a hit," said Pakistan Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. So far we have been protecting ourselves but they will get an answer in our own timing."

This came after Pakistan launched a brazen and unprovoked attack on India last night, targeting various locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat. It tried to attack several military installations in India but the Indian armed forces took out almost all the drones that could have caused damage to the infrastructure. India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan by targeting air defence systems.

Indias Befitting Reply To Pakistani Attack

According to the Indian military, Pakistan sent 300 to 400 Turkish SONGAR drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target military installations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means.

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Pakistans barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat came a day after India conducted strikes against terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). An air defence system in Lahore was neutralised during the strike.

On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the killing of 26 in Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Pakistans Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had claimed responsibility for the killings.

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 : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 09, 2025, 20:12 IST
President Trump Wants India-Pakistan Tensions To De-escalate As Early As Possible: White House

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 00:16 IST

White House press secretary Karoline Claire Leavitt said Rubio has been "very much involved" in the India-Pakistan issue and is in constant contact with leaders from both countries

US President Donald Trump. (Image: X)

US President Donald Trump wants India-Pakistan tensions to de-escalate as early as possible, the White House said on Friday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday and emphasized the need for an immediate de-escalation.

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White House press secretary Karoline Claire Leavitt said Rubio has been very much involved" in the India-Pakistan issue and is in constant contact with leaders from both countries.

The President wants it to de-escalate as early as possible. Rubio is trying to bring this conflict to an end," she said.

#WATCH | Washington, DC | On US efforts to mediate in the India-Pakistan conflict, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, This is something that the Secretary of State and now our NSA as well, Marco Rubio, has been involved in. The President has expressed that he pic.twitter.com/NL55jSFyIM ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

In his phone call with Sharif, Rubio reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups.

After Indias Operation Sindoor targeted terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Islamabad has been launching drone attacks, targeting cities in the northern and western parts of India. However, the Indian air defence system shot down all of them in mid-air, preventing any damage to infrastructure or loss of lives.

On the night of 89 May 2025, Pakistan carried out large-scale violations of Indian airspace, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek. Indian forces neutralized many using kinetic and non-kinetic means. An armed pic.twitter.com/LCOAwcMNjh Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2025

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Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance said that America would not involved in the India-Pakistan issue and it would only encourage both nations to de-escalate the situation a little bit.

What we can do is try to encourage these folks to deescalate a little bit, but were not going to get involved in the middle of war thats fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with Americas ability to control it. You know, America cant tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We cant tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so, were going to continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels. Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict. We are worried about these things. The job of the cooler heads in India and Pakistan is to make sure that this doesnt become a nuclear war and if it happens, it will be disastrous but right now we dont think it is going to happen," Vance said in an interview to Fox News.

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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 09, 2025, 23:03 IST
'We Didn't Intercept Indian Drones Because...': Pakistan Defence Minister Comes Up With Bizarre Excuse

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday again stroked a controversy after he claimed that the Pakistani Army purposely did not intercept the Indian drones.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif again strokes controversy with his bizarre remark. (Reuters Image)

In another offbeat remark, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday again stroked a controversy after he claimed that the Pakistani Army purposely did not intercept the Indian drones as their retaliation would have given away the defence positions to the Indian forces.

The ministers comments came in reference to Pakistans Thursday defeat, following Indias remarkable response. New Delhi, on May 8, successfully neutralised the 35-minute-long hostilities launched by Islamabad to avenge New Delhis attack on nine terror camps.

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I cant go into the details. But we didnt intercept Indian drones during yesterdays attack as we didnt want to give away our defence positions," the Pakistani Defence Minister said while addressing the countrys Parliament.

 We didnt intercept Indian Drones because we didnt want to leak our locations": Pakistan Defence MinisterOhh My God #khwajaasif #IndiaPakistanWar pic.twitter.com/vYDrDIKYl8  Rishabhh Jain (@Rishabhh856) May 9, 2025

Notably, Khawaja Asif, earlier in the morning, threatened India after Indian forces gave a befitting reply to Pakistans unprovoked attacks in border cities.

If India does not talk at the diplomatic and political table and [through diplomatic] channels, we will talk and respond with guns. Pakistan does not have time to wait and show patience. We have to stop India here," he said.

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However, it is important to note that this is not the first time that Khwaja Asif has given such a bizarre explanation to conceal Pakistans failure. The minister was recently left egg-faced after he was humiliated in the international media for making references to social media content" to prove his claim of downing Indian fighter jets" during Operation Sindoor.

India on Wednesday morning avenged the Pahalgam terror attack and killed several terrorists by launching strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in precision strikes.

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : Pakistan

First Published: May 09, 2025, 15:24 IST
What Exactly Are You Mourning? Daniel Pearls Father Slams Pakistani Officials Attending Terrorists' Funeral

Curated By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 09, 2025, 23:39 IST

They attended the funeral of three persons killed in the military strikes by Indian armed forces on terror camps in Muridke

Pearls brutal execution in 2002 shocked the conscience of the world. (File image)

Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist, was seen conducting prayers in the presence of uniformed Pakistan army personnel and members of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) of Hafiz Saeed on Wednesday, May 6. They attended the funeral of three persons killed in the military strikes by Indian armed forces on terror camps in Muridke.

Judea Pearl, father of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl, expressed outrage after photos of the event emerged.

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I wish these dignitaries could tell us: What exactly are you mourning? What role models you wish your children to revere? What have you learned from this man? https://t.co/Z6DRQFJvkR Judea Pearl (@yudapearl) May 9, 2025

Indias Operation Sindoor and reports of the killing of senior Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Abdul Rauf Azhar have brought the name of slain journalist Daniel Pearl back into public conversation.

Pearl, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter, was kidnapped and later beheaded by al-Qaeda leader Omar Saeed Sheikh in 2002 in Karachi. Azhar was his then-aide as part of JeM, and brought Pearl to him.

India did precision strikes under Operation Sindoor in Bahawalpur and Muridke, Pakistan  the terror headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), respectively.

Among those reported to be eliminated was Azhar  operational head of JeM, mastermind of the IC-814 hijacking, and a central figure in international jihadist networks. He was among those accused of the most heinous acts of global terror.

I want to thank all of you who reached out to me today in response to the news that Indias military forces have eliminated Abdul Rauf Azhara man described as responsible for the kidnapping and murder of my son, Daniel," Judea Pearl, who is an Israeli-American computer scientist and philosopher, wrote on X. I want to clarify: Azhar was a Pakistani extremist and leader of the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad. While his group was not directly involved in the plot to abduct Danny, it was indirectly responsible. Azhar orchestrated the hijacking that led to the release of Omar Sheikhthe man who lured Danny into captivity."

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He also highlighted the post and work of Asra Nomani, a former WSJ colleague and friend of Daniel Pearl, who added layers of personal and investigative context in a widely shared post.

Nomani told CNN-News18, Bahawalpur has been on my map for 23 years. Danny went to Bahawalpur and knocked on the door of JeM, and he saw that it was open for business. Pakistan has been fermenting the terrorism industryIbrahim, the brother of Masood Azhar, the hijacker of the planehe was the mastermindIt will be wonderful if the Indian government contact Dannys father."

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 09, 2025, 23:39 IST
'Who Called Whom First': US, China Each Claim Other Initiated Tariff Talks In Switzerland

Published By :

Associated Press

Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 00:32 IST

The United States and China are both insisting that the other country invited them to the upcoming talks in Switzerland to discuss sky-high tariffs they imposed on each other.

US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Who called first? Its the question that has put Beijing and Washington in a verbal sparring match even as the two countries are heading into a weekend meeting in Switzerland to discuss lowering sky-high tariffs that they slapped on each other in heated moments that have shaken financial markets and stirred worries about the global economy.

The meeting is being held at the request of the US side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday.

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President Donald Trump disagreed. They said we initiated it? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files," Trump said Wednesday when swearing in David Perdue as the new US ambassador to China. That followed weeks of each side suggesting the other side had reached out first, including Trump implying Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him, only to be refuted by Beijing.

When it comes to the worlds two largest economies readying themselves for what is expected to be tough trade talks, the public back-and-forth is no trivial matter.

The obsession with who reached out first is a proxy fight over leverage," said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. For Washington, signaling that Beijing initiated the meeting reinforces the narrative that the tariffs are working. For Beijing, denying outreach preserves the illusion of parity and avoids domestic perception of weakness."

Daniel Russel, a former US diplomat who oversaw East Asian and Pacific affairs, called the exchange part diplomatic stalemate and part dominance display worthy of a nature documentary."

In his decades-long career as a diplomat, Russel said he is unaware of a single instance where a Chinese leader initiated a call with a US president. It may be pride, it may be protocol, but for Beijing, being the demandeur is to show weakness  and thats something the Chinese system is hardwired to avoid," said Russel, now vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

The Trumps administration is less accommodating. Their position is: If Xi wants the tariffs lifted, he knows how to reach us," Russel said.

Not long after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% and Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs on US goods, Trump suggested that China, like many other countries, was in talks with his administration. On April 22, he apparently directed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to say were doing very well" regarding a potential trade deal with China.

I think its a process thats going to go pretty quickly with China," Trump said on the same day. I think were going to live together very happily and ideally work together."

Yet China quickly denied any talk towards a deal. When asked about such negotiations, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded: All is fake news." The next day, Guo asked the US to stop creating confusion" on tariff talks.

Then came a TIME magazine interview when Trump claimed Xi had called him. Details? None provided. When? Trump didnt say. Hes called. And I dont think thats a sign of weakness on his behalf," Trump said in the interview published on April 25. Beijing dismissed it, saying there was no recent leadership phone call.

Yet soon the word started to spread on Chinas social media that the Trump administration was contacting Beijing, and it was confirmed a few days later by the Chinese Commerce Ministry.

The US had repeatedly" and proactively" conveyed messages to China recently to express the hope to engage in negotiations with China, the ministry said on May 2. In this regard, the Chinese side is assessing it," the ministry said, in an apparent off-ramp move climbdown that prepared the public opinion for the announcement a few days later that Vice Premier He Lifeng would meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Switzerland this weekend.

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Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said the reality is more complicated when the two governments have been in regular contact and each side may have its own understanding what constitutes reaching out" for tariff talks. Technically," Sun said, both sides are correct."

By Thursday, Trump appeared ready to move on. We can all play games  who made the first call, who didnt make them. Doesnt matter," Trump said. Referring to the upcoming tariff talk this weekend in Switzerland, Trump said: It only matters what happens in that room."

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 10, 2025, 00:32 IST
Pope Leo XIV 's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice which is very much in line with the late Pope Francis ' global ministry, Catholic scholars say. "I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV," Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. "It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XIII."

Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age, the AP reports. He criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching.

Papal Leos tend to be reformers "at the progressive end of Catholicism," Catherine Pepinster, former editor of the Tablet, writes at the Guardian. "If Pope Francis was the People's Pope, then Leo XIV is all set to be the Workers' Pope."
President Trump praised the election of the first American pope on Thursdaybut Pope Leo XIV might not have been thrilled when Trump was elected in November. When Leo was Cardinal Robert Prevost, he shared numerous posts on X criticizing the policies and statements of Trump and Vice President JD Vance, though he mainly reposted articles and headlines instead of using his own words, CNN reports.

"JD Vance is wrong." The most recent post on the account, from April 14, shared an article by DC Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar condemning "the abuse inflicted upon migrants and refugees by the government." In February, Prevost shared an article titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."
The India-Pakistan conflict continues to bubble, amid fears of an eventual military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations. Don't expect the United States to get involved, however, according to Vice President JD Vance. "Fundamentally none of our business," Vance said in a Fox News interview on Thursday, per the AP and Reuters . "We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though."

Instead, Vance said, the US will "continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels," per the Guardian, which notes that Vance's stance "[matches] Donald Trump's 'America first' foreign policy of calling for a retreat from the US role as a mediator in foreign conflicts"similar to his stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The latest strife between the countries began in late April, when Islamist militants massacred more than two dozen people in India-controlled Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, which that country denies. "Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict," Vance said Thursday.
A judge on Thursday ordered a Mississippi man who authorities say crashed his car through the front gate of Jennifer Aniston's home to go through mental-health court to determine whether he's competent to face felony stalking and vandalism charges. Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, appeared shirtless and wrapped in a blanket when he appeared behind glass in a custody area of a Los Angeles courtroom and didn't speak during the proceedings, as his attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, reports the AP .

Authorities say that on Monday, Carwyle slammed his PT Cruiser into the gate outside Aniston's home in Bel Air, California, causing ample damage. Prosecutors allege that Carwyle has harassed Aniston for more than two years, via a slew of emails, voicemails, and social media messages. Per a release from the LA County District Attorney's Office, he was hit with felony stalking and vandalism charges, which could put him behind bars for up to three years.

CBS News notes that Carwyle's case was suspended until a mental health court assesses his status. He's now in custody on $150,000 bail, with his next court date set for May 22. Longtime friend Marty Merritt tells the New York Times that things seemed to deteriorate mentally for Carwyle sometime after the pandemic waned, leading to Carwyle proclaiming that he wanted to marry the 56-year-old Friends actor. The Times notes that's also around the time Carwyle "started sending [Merritt] outrageous messagesincluding claims of being God and the Antichristand posting 'creepy' things online." "I am so sorry, Ms. Aniston, that this happened to you," Merritt said in a video accompanying a Facebook post, in which he said drugs helped hasten his friend's decline.
Earlier this week, the US struck a deal with the UK on tariffs. Now, President Trump appears ready to strike another with China. "80% Tariff on China seems right!" Trump wrote Friday morning on Truth Social. He added that it would be up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who plans to meet this weekend with Chinese officials in Switzerland, reports the Wall Street Journal. The figure of 80% would mark a pullback from the current 145% levy on Chinese goods, but it's still higher than analysts hopedand it would "still pose serious hurdles to trade between the world's two largest economies," per the Journal.
UPDATE

May 10, 2025 1:30 PM CDT

After orbiting Earth for more than five decadesduring which the nation that launched it was dissolveda Soviet spacecraft returned to Earth on Saturday. Although it failed to reach Venus in 1972, the lander entered the atmosphere right about when it was expected, at 2:24am Eastern, over the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia, Space.com reports. "The Kosmos-482 spacecraft ceased to exist, deorbiting and falling into the Indian Ocean," Russian space agency Roscosmos posted on Telegram, per Live Science. No injuries were reported, and there was no indication of whether the craft was still in one piece when it hit the water. An astronomer posted an image of the spacecraft he said was taken on one of its final orbits as it passed over Rome early Saturday here.

May 9, 2025 11:08 AM CDT

A Soviet spacecraft is on course to hit the wrong planet 53 years late. Kosmos 482, a half-ton spacecraft that never made it to Venus in 1972, is expected to fall back to Earth this weekend, the AP reports. The European Space Agency said Friday that the probe is expected to reenter the atmosphere at 2:26am Easterngive or take 4.35 hours. Built to land on the solar system's hottest planet, the titanium-covered spacecraft may survive its fiery, uncontrolled plunge through Earth's atmosphere. Space debris trackers said it could come down anywhere between 52 degrees north latitude and 52 degrees south, an area that covers most of the Earth's surface, reports Space.com.
Another troubling incident occurred early Friday at the air traffic control facility that covers Newark airport, where old copper phone lines were blamed for a breakdown in communications last week. Authorities say radar screens went black for around 90 seconds, starting at 3:55am, NBC News reports. "There was a telecommunications outage that impacted communications and radar display at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace," the FAA said. ABC News reports that controllers could be heard telling a FedEx plane that the screen had gone darkand asking for help getting the issue fixed.

"FedEx 1989, I'm going to hand you off here, our scopes just went black again," a controller said, per the New York Times. "If you care about this, contact your airline and try to get some pressure for them to fix this stuff." The pilot replied: "Sorry to hear about that." Several controllers went on medical leave after the April 28 outage, in which they were unable to communicate with pilots for up to 90 seconds. The communications breakdown and staffing shortages led to days of major delays at the airport, one of the nation's busiest. According to an internal report seen by CNN, FAA experts put the odds of a communication failure at 11 million to 1 before controllers were shifted to the Philadelphia facility last year.

According to FlightAware, around 25% of flights departing and arriving at Newark were delayed Monday, with another 10% canceled. At a news conference Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, joined by airline CEOs, said the administration could modernize air traffic control facilities across the nation in three or four years if Congress approves "lots of billions" in funding upfront, the Wall Street Journal reports. Duffy said some of the equipment in use today looks like it should be in the Smithsonian or the set of Apollo 13. "If we don't actually accomplish the mission that we're announcing today  you'll see Newarks in other parts of the country," he warned.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, center, leaves after concelebrating Mass with the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Friday, May 9, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP)
A FedEx board member and former CEO of Waste Management is in line to become the next postmaster general after the rocky tenure of Louis DeJoy . David Steiner will take over in July after he clears standard ethics and security checks, reports the AP . The announcement came Friday from Amber McReynolds, chairperson of the USPS Board of Governors, but Steiner has the strong backing of President Trump, the Washington Post reported earlier this week. The move comes as the USPS faces both financial challenges and a debate over privatization.

In fact, Steiner's appointment already has drawn sharp criticism from postal unions, who cite his FedEx ties as evidence of creeping privatization. National Association of Letter Carriers president Brian Renfroe called the selection "an aggressive step toward handing America's mail system over to corporate interests," citing FedEx as a top USPS competitor. Mark Dimondstein, head of the American Postal Workers Union, described the choice as akin to "a fox guarding a hen house," arguing it puts the future of the public postal system at risk.

Steiner, who will exit his board position at FedEx, said in a statement that "I believe strongly in maintaining its role as an independent establishment of the executive branch." The Wall Street Journal has more on Steiner's background, including his stint as CEO of Waste Management from 2004 through October 2016. "He streamlined operations, improved the company's financial performance and safety record, and worked to improve employee morale," per the story.

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The USPS, with almost 167 million delivery points and an annual budget of around $78 billion, is midway through a 10-year modernization plan aimed at staunching financial losses, per NPR. The "Deliver for America" initiative has seen mixed reviews, including criticism over rising postage costs, mail delays, and service cuts.
The Stockholm City Council has rejected the US Embassy's demands that it comply with the Trump administration's rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. In an email to the city's planning office, dated April 29, the embassy in Sweden's capital asked that Stockholm officials sign a certification that their contractors do not operate any programs promoting DEI that would violate US anti-discrimination laws. The city council said Friday that it will not comply with the embassy's demands or respond officially. "We were really surprised, of course," Jan Valeskog, vice mayor for city planning, tells the AP . "We will not sign this document at all, of course not."

Valeskog says that while the city wants to continue its good relationship with the embassy, it will follow Swedish law and city policies to include DEI practices. "It's so bizarre," Valeskog, tells the Guardian. "It's our political priorities that count, not the ones from this embassy or any other embassies." Diversity, equity, and inclusion are "values that we strive for and stand up for in Stockholm," he says. "It's very important for us."

It's the latest in President Trump's efforts to terminate such programs within the federal governmentand beyondin what he described in his inauguration speech as a move to end efforts to "socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life," the AP reports. Countries and cities across Europe have received similar outreach from US embassies, including France, Belgium, and the city of Barcelona, all of which lashed out at the US efforts to expand its anti-DEI policies to the continent. "American interference in the inclusion policies of French companiesalong with threats of unjustified tariffsis unacceptable,' France's trade ministry said in March, per the Guardian.
A federal judge on Friday released a Tufts University student on bail more than six weeks after she was arrested while walking along a street in a Boston suburb, per the AP . US District Judge William Sessions of Vermont ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk from a Louisiana immigration center as she awaits a final decision on her claim that she's been illegally detained. Ozturk, a native of Turkey, told the judge of asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate degree focusing on children and social media.

Sessions found that Ozturk did little more than write an op-ed for her school newspaper in which she criticized Israel, reports Politico. "That literally is the case. There is no evidence here  absent consideration of the op-ed," the judge said. "Her continued detention cannot stand." Ozturk, 30, appeared at the bail hearing remotely from the Louisiana facility. She was to be released Friday on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said that she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE.
A man who broke into Eminem's Michigan homeagainhas been convicted of first-degree home invasion and aggravated stalking, reports the Guardian . Matthew David Hughes, 32, was arrested in August after being seen on the rapper's property in Clinton Township, a suburb of Detroit. Hughes has remained in custody since his arrest and is set for sentencing on June 17. The Detroit Free Press points out this is the 25th anniversary of the release of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP, which features a song ("Stan") about an obsessed fan.

As for Hughes, this is not the first time he has targeted Eminem. In 2020, he entered the same residence while Eminem was home, leading to a confrontation in which Hughes allegedly told the rapper he was there to kill him. Hughes received five years' probation as part of a plea deal but returned to prison later that year for violating probation in a separate assault case. He was released on parole in May 2024, then arrested at Eminem's residence a few months later.

The pattern of incidents actually goes back further: In 2019, Hughes broke into a former residence of Eminem's in the Detroit area, first speaking with the new homeowner before breaking into a guest house on the property. He served a 90-day sentence for that break-in.
The week's main event for financial markets is likely coming on Saturday, the AP reports. That's when high-level US and Chinese officials will meet in Switzerland for their first talks since President Trump launched an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies. The fear among investors and economists is that a recession could hit if the US doesn't reach trade deals that lower its tariffs by enough and quickly enough. Trump on Friday floated the idea of bringing tariffs on Chinese imports down to 80% from their current 145% rate. Trump's posting on social media caused a brief jolt in financial markets. Futures for US stocks sank immediately. But markets quickly calmed as the wait continued for what US and Chinese officials will say after their meeting.

In the meantime, the flow of earnings reports for the start of the year from companies is slowing but still moving the market. Expedia sank 7.3% even though the travel website reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The owner of Vrbo and Hotels.com said demand was weaker than it expected during the quarter. And Sweetgreen wilted by 16.2% after the salad seller reported a slightly larger loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. All that helped work against a 28.1% rally for Lyft, which delivered a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Insulet jumped 20.9% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the medical device company reported stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
NAHA, May 10 (News On Japan) - An exhibition highlighting the achievements of Kaoru Omine, who dedicated himself to reviving Okinawan culture in the postwar period, is being held at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum.

Omine, a native of Ogimi Village, gathered cultural assets such as dragon pillars and temple bells from the ruins of Shuri Castle and other war-damaged sites following the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. He later served as the first director of the Higashi Onna Museum, established in what is now Ishikawa, Uruma City.

Among the items on display is a transom once housed at Engakuji Temple, the royal familys family temple, which had also been exhibited at the Higashi Onna Museum. Near the lower jaw of the dragon carving, a bullet hole from the war remains visible. The central flaming jewel motif from the piece was used as a valuable reference during the reconstruction of Shuri Castle.

Also exhibited are detailed ledger books of Omine's collected artifacts, along with intricately carved Buddhist altar decorations made by renowned Ryukyuan sculptor Sokei Tana and a variety of ceramics.

Takuro Irei from the Okinawa Prefectural Museum commented, "These materials could easily have been lost to war-related chaos or the elements, but they were preserved thanks to efforts to gather them into a museum collection. That, I believe, is one of Omines great accomplishments."

Omines collection efforts were supported by U.S. Army Major Hannah, and the Higashi Onna Museum, which attracted many visitors, became the foundation for todays Okinawa Prefectural Museum.

Kaoru Omine was born in the village of Ogimi, a remote and mountainous area in northern Okinawa known for its traditional lifestyle and longevity. Growing up in this rural setting, Omine was deeply immersed in Okinawan customs, folklore, and spiritual practices from an early age. The rhythms of village life, local craftsmanship, and the regions distinct cultural expressions likely shaped his appreciation for Ryukyuan heritage.

Although detailed records of his early education are limited, it is believed that Omine developed a strong interest in history and artifacts even before the war. This interest, combined with a deep-rooted sense of cultural pride, would later form the foundation of his life's work. Living through a period of increasing militarization in the 1930s and witnessing the rising tensions leading up to World War II, Omine experienced firsthand the fragility of cultural identity under occupation and conflict.

After the war, rather than returning to a quiet village life, Omine responded to the widespread devastation of Okinawan historical sites by committing himself to their recovery and preservation. His early life in Ogimi, surrounded by traditional values and natural beauty, was instrumental in nurturing the cultural sensitivity and perseverance that would define his legacy as a guardian of Okinawas past.

The exhibition showcasing Omines collection and his postwar contributions to cultural preservation will run at the Prefectural Museum and Art Museum through May 11th.

Source: OTV
Kitakyushu, May 10 (News On Japan) - Nissan announced on May 9th that it has withdrawn its plan to build a new electric vehicle battery plant in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Executives from the company visited the Fukuoka Prefectural Government to deliver the news directly.

"We had high hopes, which makes this all the more disappointing," said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida and other senior officials as they informed Governor Hattori and Mayor Takeuchi that the planned construction in the Hibikinada district would no longer go ahead.

The project, which had only just secured a location agreement in January, involved a total investment of around 150 billion yen and was expected to create 500 new jobs. However, facing an extremely tough business environmentincluding the recent forecast of a record net loss of 750 billion yen for the fiscal yearNissan has decided to scrap the plan.

Despite the setback, Nissan stated that its key domestic facilities, including Nissan Motor Kyushu and Nissan Shatai, remain among its highest priority global production bases. The company said it will continue making maximum efforts to maintain production at those sites.

Nissan is currently undergoing one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history, marked by severe financial setbacks and sweeping restructuring efforts. For the fiscal year ending March 2025, the company has forecast a record net loss of between 700 billion and 750 billion yen (approximately 4.9 to 5.3 billion dollars). This sharp downturn is largely due to a global impairment charge of 2.6 billion pounds (about 470 billion yen) linked to underperforming assets and factories, especially in overseas markets such as China and Europe, as well as substantial restructuring costs.

In the first half of fiscal 2024, Nissans consolidated sales revenue stood at 5.98 trillion yen, down 79.1 billion yen from the previous year. Operating profit dropped sharply by 303.8 billion yen to just 32.9 billion yen, leaving the company with a razor-thin operating profit margin of 0.5%. This margin reflects worsening profitability across core business segments, as well as rising material costs, foreign exchange impacts, and declining vehicle sales in several major markets.

In response to this deteriorating outlook, Nissan has initiated an aggressive corporate restructuring plan. The measures include a 20% reduction in global production capacity and the elimination of approximately 9,000 jobs, primarily at overseas plants. The company is also taking steps to consolidate production lines, shift investment away from low-margin vehicles, and withdraw from certain unprofitable markets. The suspension of its interim dividend underscores the seriousness of the financial pressure. Additionally, Nissan revised its full-year revenue forecast downward by 1.3 trillion yen, from 14 trillion yen to 12.7 trillion yen.

The challenges have triggered a leadership change at the top of the company. On April 1, 2025, Nissan appointed Ivan Espinosa as its new CEO, replacing Makoto Uchida. Espinosa, who previously served as Chief Planning Officer, has been closely involved in Nissans electrification and global product strategy. His appointment is seen as an attempt to inject fresh momentum into the companys struggling performance, especially as it tries to catch up with rivals in the fast-growing EV sector.

Nissan has also reiterated its commitment to strengthening key production hubs such as its plants in Kyushu and Tochigi, calling them vital to its global supply network. These facilities are expected to remain central to future production and innovation efforts, even as the company trims operations elsewhere.

Source: FBS
HOKKAIDO, May 10 (News On Japan) - A mother duck and her eight ducklings were safely guided across a busy street in Obihiro, Hokkaido on Thursday, thanks to the quick response of local police.

The ducks were first spotted by a passerby in a parking lot, where they appeared to be targeted by crows. The observer noticed that the duck family was attempting to cross a busy road and promptly contacted the police.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene and began directing traffic to ensure the ducks could cross safely. Over the course of 40 minutes, the mother duck and her ducklings waddled approximately 500 meters, eventually reaching a nearby river without incident.

In cities across Japan, it is not uncommon to see traffic come to a gentle haltnot for construction or human pedestrians, but for wildlife in need of a helping hand. A series of recent events has highlighted Japans quiet but enduring commitment to peaceful coexistence with animals, even amid its densely populated urban environments.

In one instance, captured on video in July 2022, a mother duck and her ducklings were spotted attempting to cross a rain-slicked road in Kyoto. As cars slowed to a stop, nearby pedestrians took swift and gentle action. Several people opened umbrellas and formed a human barrier to shield the duck family from traffic, carefully guiding them across the pavement and onto a safer path toward a nearby stream. The spontaneous effort drew praise online, with many noting the grace and calmness with which bystanders prioritized the safety of the animals despite the drizzle and lunchtime foot traffic.

A similar scene had unfolded three years earlier, also in Kyoto. In June 2019, a group of riot police officers was unexpectedly called into actionnot for crowd control, but for escorting a family of ducks. A mother duck and her ten ducklings had wandered into a busy street in the city center, appearing disoriented as they tried to reach water. Officers paused their patrol to form a protective circle around the duck family, using gloved hands and soft verbal cues to keep the group moving in the right direction. They patiently ushered the ducklings across the road and into a safe canal, an act that sparked admiration both locally and overseas when a video of the moment circulated online. The scene contrasted strikingly with the officers usual duties, offering a rare, tender glimpse into the human side of policing in Japan.

Not all animal crossings are as light-hearted. In July 2014, residents in Kyoto witnessed a surreal encounter when a Japanese giant salamander, an elusive and endangered species native to the regions rivers, was spotted crawling out of the Kamo River and onto a busy riverside walkway in broad daylight. The creature, known for its prehistoric appearance and nocturnal habits, caused alarm among pedestrians unfamiliar with its presence. Several people alerted the authorities, prompting local police to respond. Officers cordoned off the area and stood guard to ensure the animal would not be harmed or disturbed. After a few hours of resting and aimless shuffling, the salamander eventually retreated into the river. Experts later said the sighting was rare, as the species typically avoids contact with humans and only surfaces during specific environmental conditions. The police response was lauded by conservationists, who viewed the act as a small but meaningful gesture of respect toward Japans native wildlife.

Source: HBC 
May 10 (News On Japan) - A renowned love suspense drama reaches its conclusion on May 15th with a shocking final episode, centering on a chilling tale of a serial killer and the woman who loved him unconditionally.

Actor Narimiya Hiroki returns to the screen for the first time in eight years, taking on a challenging new role as a killer. The drama, based on an original story by Seimaru Amagicreator of the hit manga series 'The Kindaichi Case Files', which boasts over 100 million copies in circulationblends psychological suspense and twisted romance into a compelling narrative.

The story follows Masato Kamishiro, an ideal husband devoted to his wife Mio, who works at a local patisserie. Their peaceful married life is upended when a female journalist, Yuuhi Minamisawa, is found murdered in the neighborhood. As investigations unfold, their once-ordinary life begins to unravel.

Detective Tomizawa relentlessly pursues the case, while suspicious behavior from Kamishiros co-workersJoji Oyamada and Iroha Koizumiadds further intrigue. Meanwhile, a mysterious man lurks around the couple, and Kamishiros hidden past slowly comes to light, including rumors of multiple women and a connection to investor Masumi Nagano.

Despite growing anxiety, Mio becomes increasingly dependent on her husband, ignoring the concerns of her old classmate and psychiatrist Mizuki Segawa. The couple plans a getaway to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, but more secrets threaten to shatter everything.

The final episode promises to reveal the ultimate fate of a woman consumed by love for a charming yet deadly man. As the line between affection and madness blurs, viewers are left to wonder: where will this ultimate love lead?

Source: ABEMA
OTTAWA, ON, May 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Today the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) announced the recipients of the Governor General's Innovation Awards (GGIA). These awards recognize and celebrate exceptional Canadian individuals, teams and organizations for their excellence in innovation and their contributions in helping to shape our future and positively impact our quality of life.

This year, the Governor General's Innovation Awards are celebrating 10 years of recognizing Canada's most transformative innovators. Throughout the years, these awards have not only honoured exceptional Canadian innovations, but have also inspired innovators of all ages to drive progress in diverse fields, from science and technology to the arts and social innovation.

The recipients of the 2025 Governor General's Innovation Awards are:

GHGSat Vanguard (C-10)

(Mr. Stephane Germain)

GHGSat's pioneering emissions-monitoring capabilities empower decision-makers to tackle emissions, driving industrial efficiency with positive impact. Harnessing the power of satellites and aircraft, GHGSat traces emissions directly to their source at an unmatched speed, delivering the data and insights required to take action and accelerate the decarbonization of the planet.

Nominated by: Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

Heart-on-a-chip for drug discovery and disease modelling

(Dr. Milica Rasidic)

Biowire heart-on-a-chip revolutionizes drug testing by modeling human heart disease with patient-specific stem cells. Unlike animal models, it captures human genetic diversity and sex differences. Dr. Radisic's method uses electrical stimulation and microfabricated polymers to grow contractile tissues, aiding disease research and drug discovery for Canadian patients and pharma.

Nominated by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Student Energy

(Helen Watts, Angela Paley, Shakti Ramkumar, Abdullah Khair, Claris Canta)

Founded in 2009, Student Energy empowers youth to lead a just, equitable, and sustainable energy transition through education, skills-building, and global collaboration. With 50,000 members in 120+ countries and 60+ university chapters, it's Canada's largest youth-led energy organization, driving innovation through partnerships with governments, companies, and communities.

Nominated by: PrairiesCan

NORS - National Overdose Response Service

(Dr. Sumantra Monty Gosh and Lisa Morris-Miller)

The NORS program is Canada's only national service supporting people who use drugs alone, addressing a key cause of overdose deaths. It has answered 16,000+ calls, prevented nearly 150 deaths, and become a vital lifelinegaining international recognition.

Nominated by: Universities Canada

Dispersa -Decarbonizing surfactants through food waste

(Nivatha Balendra)

Dispersa has developed the world's first proprietary process to produce waste-derived biosurfactants. These biosurfactants are affordable, non-toxic alternatives to petroleum-based and synthetic surfactants in consumer products. On a scale, their first biosurfactant, PuraSurf will eliminate nearly 1 million tons of CO2 equivalents.

Nominated by: Ingenium

ODARA  The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment

(Dr. N. Zoe Hilton accepting for Angela Eke, Elke Ham, Kate Lines)

ODARA is the world's first data-driven tool for assessing future intimate partner violence risk. Developed through a 25-year police-academic collaboration, it helps responders identify high-risk cases, improve safety planning, and allocate resources. Widely used in Canada and the U.S., it has shaped global approaches to violence risk assessment.

Nominated by: Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

2025 GGIA Selection and Assessment Committees

The GGIA Selection and Assessment Committees are composed of distinguished individuals chosen for their expertise in and breadth of understanding of the Canadian innovation ecosystem.

2025 GGIA Assessment Committee:

David Brown (Committee Chair), Co-Founder and COO of Chinova Bioworks, Founder of MYCODEV Group and GGIA Laureate 2017

(Committee Chair), Co-Founder and COO of Chinova Bioworks, Founder of MYCODEV Group and GGIA Laureate 2017 Jennifer Altenberg , Coordinator of Learning Services for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools

, Coordinator of Learning Services for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Marcia Nozick , Founder EMBERS (the Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society)

, Founder EMBERS (the Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society) Melissa Allen , Founder Capital M Ventures

2025 GGIA Selection Committee:

Dr. Robert Luke (Committee Chair), Chief Executive Officer, eCampusOntario

(Committee Chair), Chief Executive Officer, eCampusOntario Julie L'Heureux, Director, Philanthropy and Community Relations, at Power Corporation of Canada

Aatifd Baskendri, Chief Executive Officer, The Northpine Foundation

An event celebrating the 2025 GGIA Laureates will take place on May 29, 2025 at Rideau Hall during Canadian Innovation Week (May 26 to 30).

About the Governor General's Innovation Awards

Launched in 2016, the Governor General's Innovation Awards inspire Canadians to embrace innovation and to emulate innovative, entrepreneurial risk-takers who have developed new or better ways of creating value and who are having a meaningful impact on our quality of life.

The Awards are given to individuals, teams and/or organizations whose innovations are:

truly exceptional;

transformative; and,

positive in their impact on quality of life in Canada .

Each year, up to six award winners are identified through a two-stage, merit-based selection process. For more information on the awards visit innovation.gg.ca .

About the Rideau Hall Foundation

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is a non-political national charity that brings together ideas, people and resources to celebrate what is best about Canada. The RHF works closely with many partners, including the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, to meaningfully improve lives and foster the conditions for more Canadians to succeed and thrive. The RHF manages all aspects of the Governor General's Innovation Awards.

Learn more about the RHF at www.rhf-frh.ca , and follow us on social media:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Bluesky

SOURCE Rideau Hall Foundation

For media inquiries, contact: Jill Clark, Rideau Hall Foundation, [email protected], 613-809-1480
BURNABY, BC, May 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is raising serious concerns about the sale of one of British Columbia's last remaining oil refineries to American energy giant Sunoco. The refinery is part of a larger list of assets across Canada being sold from Parkland to Sunoco.

"This is not the time to hand over control of critical energy infrastructure to a foreign multinational, especially in the middle of a trade war," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Unifor is sounding the alarm because energy security is national security, and we cannot afford to gamble with it."

The Burnaby refinery, which employs approximately 150 workers represented by Unifor Local 601, is a vital piece of B.C.'s energy supply chain. Unifor is calling on federal and provincial regulators to ensure binding commitments are in place to protect jobs and preserve the refinery's operations as a strategic asset. Nearly one-third of the region's domestically supplied gasoline and jet fuel comes from the refinery.

"The refinery is essential for the region's fuel supply and provides good union jobs," said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. "British Columbians deserve solid, enforceable commitments that this refinery will be sustained through continued investment."

Parkland's proposed sale comes at a time when Canada's economy is under increasing strain from America's trade war. For Canada to secure refining capacity and reduce dependence on foreign-controlled infrastructure, Unifor is urging the federal and B.C. governments to review the sale and to secure binding commitments from foreign buyers of critical assets.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

For media inquiries please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at [email protected] or 778-903-6549 (cell).
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.
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, is drawing the line on potential cuts to federal spending on Medicaid, calling proposals to reduce the federal match rate or impose a per-capita cap on spending an absolute no-go and a non-starter.

The Virginia Republican said in an interview that he has expressed his concerns about the proposals to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both Louisiana Republicans. Johnson and Scalise are courting moderate Republicans in political swing districts to back those options in order to meet an $880 billion target for cuts in federal spending under the jurisdiction of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

He said he would not support cuts that would trigger the kill switch in Virginia law to roll back expansion of Medicaid health care benefits to more than 641,000 Virginians. The trigger would reverse Medicaid expansion if the federal share of the costs fell by 1% or more beneath the current 90% threshold provided under the Affordable Care Act.

Ive told the speaker and the majority leader thats an absolute no-go, he said. Ive told the speaker and the leadership that thats a non-starter.

Theres no misunderstanding about where I stand on these things, he said.

Johnson was to meet with Wittman and other moderate Republicans on Tuesday afternoon about their concern over deep cuts in federal support of Medicaid. Scalise said publicly last week that he was confident that moderate Republicans would accept a proposed reduction in the federal match rate and a per-capita spending cap for people covered by Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

Weve been meeting with all our members but especially our most vulnerable members, the majority leader said in a social media post by Punchbowl News on Thursday.

Wittman, whose district is based in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties, and U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, represent Virginia districts that Democrats are targeting in congressional midterm elections next year.

They were among 12 Republicans who signed a letter to House GOP leadership on April 14 expressing their concern about potential cuts to the safety net health care program for low-income, elderly and disabled Americans.

The letter said they would support reforms to the program to improve its integrity, reduce improper payments and modernize delivery of care, but added, However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.

Wittman said Monday that Scalise appeared to have misspoken after talking to some concerned members of the Republican conference.

He had conversations with some members, but certainly not all members, he said.

Wittmans comments came after the House Committee on Energy & Commerce delayed for a week its planned markup of budget cuts to support the $880 billion reduction over 10 years that is part of the budget reconciliation framework that he and Kiggans supported last month.

The Congressional Budget Office said that achieving that level of reduced spending would require cuts to Medicaid, which is an obligation shared by federal and state governments.

Virginia pays 49% of the costs for health care services for people under the states traditional Medicaid program, primarily children, low-income parents, people with disabilities and seniors receiving long-term care.

The federal government pays 90% of the costs for people under Medicaid expansion, primarily low-income adults, while health care providers pay the remaining 10% under a budget agreement that the General Assembly adopted in 2018, effective on Jan. 1, 2019.

Last week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he was hopeful that Congress would be able to reduce Medicaid spending without triggering a rollback in care for Virginians.

There is a trigger law in Virginia, and my current understanding is that is not something that is advancing, but were paying close attention, Youngkin said after announcing actions on the state budget on Friday.

U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, who serves on the committee, welcomed Wittmans position on the proposed spending cuts.

I hope he stands firm, both on the federal match and the per-capita cap, she said Tuesday.

McClellan also expressed concern about proposals to reduce federal reimbursements to health care providers, especially the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, which runs the states largest safety net hospital.

The VCU hospital system would be hit very, very hard, she said.

Sean Connaughton, president and CEO of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, said Tuesday that the potential cuts would hurt hospitals and providers statewide.

From large places to rural communities, Medicaid is a critical lifeline for people young and old across all racial groups, Connaughton said in a statement. Without Medicaid, millions of people who now have coverage would face limited access to care. 

It is imperative for policymakers to understand that cuts to Medicaid would jeopardize public health, access to essential care for millions of Americans and the availability of medical services in communities across the nation, he said. That would also have devastating economic impacts by eroding the health care workforce and the viability of providers who deliver lifesaving care to patients and families.

McClellan also called on Congress to provide an exemption for caregivers from the proposed work requirement for Medicaid recipients. A work requirement was part of the 2018 budget agreement to expand Medicaid, but then-Gov. Ralph Northam did not implement it.

The only able-bodied people not working are caregivers, she said.

U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, also serves on the Energy & Commerce Committee, but he could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

McClellan said she has not talked about the potential cuts directly with Wittman and Kiggans.

I am monitoring what theyre saying and what theyre doing, she said. I know theyre very concerned, and Im encouraged by their concern.

Wittman emphasized that he supports efforts to reduce Medicaid spending by targeting improper payments for people who arent lawfully eligible, such as undocumented immigrants and people who earn too much to qualify, and other forms of waste and abuse.

But, as someone who was adopted at a young age, he said he thinks of my birth mother in protecting benefits for those most in need.

This is about making sure we live up to our obligation to help the most vulnerable and make sure the system is sustainable, Wittman said.
Shared memories: Marking 80 years since the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War

16:49, May 09, 2025 By Yuan Meng, Elena Davydova, Zhang Wenjie, Cui Yue ( People's Daily Online

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War.

During that pivotal struggle between justice and evil, China and Russia served as the main battlefields in Asia and Europe, respectively. The Chinese and Russian peoples were two of the strongest forces in the fight against fascism and militarism.

The Chinese and Russian peoples have made indelible historic contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Their great and unbreakable friendship, forged in blood, has laid a solid foundation for the high-level development of bilateral relations.

Journalists from People's Daily Online, reporting from Beijing and Moscow, visited several key landmarks commemorating victory in the Anti-Fascist War, reflecting on the past while looking ahead to a future of peace and development for both nations.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
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As a Black queer scholar and feminist, Dr. Kaila Story is hyper aware of the violence targeting the trans community.

Keeping up with the numbers can be daunting. As of mid-April, more than 850 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have coursed through state legislatures across the country, which is more than eight times the amount of bills filed in 2020 and the most ever filed in United States history. The majority of the proposed legislation nitpicks the lives of trans adults and youth from their healthcare access to where they can use the restroom in public spaces to how they present themselves on IDs.

LGBTQ+ advocates have been calling out the misinformation and bigotry fueling anti-trans laws. While that work is necessary, Story also stresses the need for the LGBTQ+ community to address its own racial and transphobia contributing to the violence Black trans women. This is one of the issues, Story addresses in her book The Rainbow Aint Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity, which hits bookshelves on May 13. The book examines how racism, white supremacy, transphobia and homophobia presents itself in the LGBTQ+ community. Story, an associate professor at the University of Louisville who serves as the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality Studies, didnt write this book to cause shame. By pointing out the different fissures of discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community, she hopes to strengthen the collective resistance thats necessary at a time when queer rights are being stripped away.

How do we address these problems when were being attacked outside of our community, but also within our community were being met with racism and misogyny as well, Story said. We cant really fight political repression and we cant really get to our liberation without being in community with one another, and we cant be in community with one another when theres bigotry and bias.

The title of Storys book references the rainbow, which has been a symbol of unity for LGBTQ+ people for over 50 years, but Story dives into multiple complexities challenging the solidarity. Some of the topics addressed in her book include the commodification of pride celebrations, the appropriation of Black and Latinx ballroom culture and the whitewashing of Black and Brown queer history. Story made space in the book to honor the Black and Brown queer activists who were on the forefront of LGBTQ+ resistance and provided multiple forms of mutual aid for their communities. She commended these activists for creating joy in the midst of terror.

Black joy as a social, cultural and political endeavor has tons of power in it because what Black joy to me represents is  regardless of the misogyny, white supremacy, sexism, transphobia  we have a community that is powerful, that loves one another, and that will support one another. We got us, Story said. So its a direct slap to communities that seek to dominate, malign and erase us.

But Black trans women, who have been the forebears of justice in their community, are facing an epidemic of violence. In 2013, Story mentions in the book that at least 33 transgender and gender nonconforming people were killed. That total remained steady in 2024. The majority of the deaths were Black trans women. While both the absence and inaccurate portrayals of transgender people in media stigmatizes the community, Story said the transphobic language from some white, gay cisgender individuals also contributes to the violence. An example she used was gay, far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos who has mocked the trans community and referred to them as mentally ill in his speeches. Story said some LGBTQ+ people feel empowered by white supremacy.

While white cis gay men experience oppression based on their sexuality, they are still able to weaponize their whiteness, gender, and cisness, both consciously and unconsciously, to oppress others within queer communities, Story wrote. And because they possess privilege and power, both racially and through their gender identity, white cis gay men are able to take up space, remain silent, and cause harm to other LGBTQ+ people.

This language also thrives within LGBTQ+ dating culture. Before social media, Story witnessed the dehumanizing ways people described their love interests. For example, white cisgendered gay men who preferred to date and have sex with Asian men were referred to as a Rice Queen. The disturbing trend continued with LGBTQ+ dating apps, like Grindr. Fatphobia, racism and transphobia ran rampant on the platforms where many users would express their displeasure in dating anyone who was fat, Black, trans or presented as feminine. When Grindr created a campaign and new community guidelines to crackdown on such bigotry, the change was met with mixed reactions, Story said. Some users felt as if the app was forcing them to be inclusive.

Whatever varied problems Grindr users voiced about the apps changes, one thing became expressly clear through the backlash. Many LGBTQ+ folks simply did not want to own the fact that what they saw as their personal desires had political consequences for the vulnerable groups in their communities, Story wrote.

Story used the assault on trans prison abolitionist CeCe McDonald to show how rhetoric violence towards Black trans women escalates to physical violence. In 2011, a white man and woman hurled racists and transphobic slurs at McDonald while she was walking to a Minneapolis store with friends. McDonalds attempts to ignore the harassment enraged the white woman who then decided to attack McDonald. The initial brawl ended with McDonald stabbed in the jaw and the white woman laid out on the ground. McDonlad was trying to walk away when the white man lunged at her. With only moments to react, McDonald took out her sewing scissors from her purse. When their bodies collided, the white man was stabbed and died at the scene.

McDonald was arrested and charged with second-degree murder despite multiple witnesses corroborating her innocence  that she was acting in self defense and wasnt intending to kill anyone. She took a plea deal for second-degree manslaughter for which she received a 41-month prison sentence. Thanks to the activism within her community, McDonald was released early after being imprisoned for 19 months. McDonalds desire to become an abolitionist was directly related to the carceral violence she experienced, which mirrors the realities of many incarcerated trans women across the country. A judge not only ignored McDonalds gender identity by placing her in a mens prison, but she was also placed in solitary confinement during her trial for her protection.

McDonalds case shows how transphobic talk can influence violence both on the streets and within the criminal justice system. Story said McDonalds innocence was questioned during the trial.

Verbal abuse or rhetorical violence, which is rooted in the dehumanization of others based on their identities, can often lead to physical violence due to the resulting cognitive objectification  the perception that particular people or groups are not in fact human beings but rather objects that exist only for the approval or disapproval of others, Story wrote. Doing harm or bringing harm to said group or person becomes that much easier because those doing the harm dont associate themselves or ones they love with the people whom they bring harm against.

Solitary confinement took a toll on McDonalds emotional wellbeing, but her determination to survive and push back against other injustices in criminal justice spaces makes her a hero in the LGBTQ+ community. Story said many Black activists like McDonald are counteracting the harm that has been placed on their community. Trans activist and author Janet Mock and actress Laverne Cox created the #GirlsLikeUS social media campaign which challenged the distorted perceptions of trans women by uplifting their stories and sharing resources. The late trans writer and advocate Monica Roberts, founder of the award-winning blog TransGriot, spent her journalistic career calling out reporters for misgendering or dead naming trans victims of violence. Roberts pioneered a media space that both respectfully honored those who were killed and celebrated the ways trans people thrived.

Black cisgender women also play a role in addressing the rhetorical and physical violence towards Black trans women. Story pointed to two studies to show how both cisgender and transgender Black women are enduring similar circumstances. In 2017, the U.S. Transgender Survey revealed that 58 percent of Black trans women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence. The same year, the Centers of Disease Control and Preventions Morbidity and Mortality Report found that Black cis women experienced the highest rates of homicides, with over half of those cases involving an intimate partner.

Just as transphobic myths accuse Black trans women of tricking their love interests, misogynistic views often place the blame of domestic violence on cisgender Black women. During the 2009 assault of Rihanna by Chris Brown, Story recalled that there was more sympathy for Brown while Rihanna faced scrutiny. Rihanna was accused of either starting a fight or doing something to have caused the beating. While trans and cis women share the same plights of harm, the issues often go unaddressed and unresolved, Story said.

Intimate-partner violence, domestic violence, and violence against vulnerable racialized and gendered groups continues to be a crisis due to our cultures institutional and systemic neglect when it comes to addressing the various harms that affect the lives of Black trans and cis women, Story wrote. Such community plagues continue to go unaddressed and unresolved at the structural level. As a result, the burden of eradicating these social ills falls on the shoulders of those who happen to survive such atrocities: Black trans and cis women.

And so they fight together. Story has witnessed a sisterhood of Black cisgender and transgender Black women unite on social media by using the hashtags #BlackTransLivesMatter, #SayHerName and #BelieveBlackWomen. She encouraged more Black cisgender women to join the fight.

When Black trans womens voices, experiences, and causes are lifted communally, everyone wins, Story wrote. If Black cis women collaborate not only with organizations and initiatives that support Black trans women but also with Black trans women personally, we as a culture have nowhere to go but up.

Story stressed that Black trans activists and feminists shouldnt be doing the bulk of the work. She said what the Black LGBTQ+ community needs right now is less allies who passively let problematic issues slide and more accomplices who shut down transphobic, racists, misogynistic or homophobic comments and actions.

Our freedom and liberation is tied to one another, not just historically, but presently and in the future, Story said. There really isnt a black community without queer and trans people. Theres really not an LGBTQ+ community without Latinx, Black and Asian people. We have to start thinking of ourselves as a justice community. So when homophobia and transphobia are on the table, advocate for us in a way that moves us closer to freedom and community with one another.
An Ocean County school district that recently decided to merge two high schools into one building has picked a new name for the combined school.

The Jackson Liberty High School building will become Jackson Township High School starting in September.

The newly-named school will include students currently attending Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial High School. It will be the districts only high school.

Our goal is to move forward together as One Jackson. We are definitely on the path to do that, Jackson Schools Superintendent Nicole Pormilli said at a recent school board meeting.

The combined high school will have 2,300 students, which the building can accommodate without new construction because it is well under capacity, district officials said.

The Jackson Memorial building will be turned into a middle school as part of a district-wide restructuring.

The Christa McAuliffe Middle School, named for the high school teacher and astronaut from New Hampshire killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, will permanently close when classes end in June.

The soon-to-be-former Jackson Memorial High Schools mascot, the jaguar, will serve as the new mascot for Jackson Township High School, under a plan adopted by the school board April 30.

Jackson Liberty High Schools mascot is the lion.

The districts other outgoing middle school, the Carl W. Goetz Middle School, will enroll grades 5 and 6 starting in September. It will be renamed the Jackson Township 5-6 School.

Local officials surveyed students and staff at both high schools. Of the 1,253 respondents, 70% endorsed either Jackson Township High School or Jackson High School as new names, according to results presented at a school board meeting.

The remainder supported keeping the Jackson Liberty High School name.

Jacksons restructuring follows the shutdown of the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School last June. The school district is in the process of closing on a $13.1 million offer from Bais Yaakov of Jackson to buy the building. Bais Yaakov is affiliated with the all-girls Bais Faiga School, an Orthodox Jewish school in neighboring Lakewood.

Officials have not said what might happen with the McAuliffe school building.

District officials said they needed to close schools and sell property because of state aid cuts over the past decade amid declining enrollment. The districts enrollment dropped from 8,189 in 2017-18 to 6,914 in 2024-25, a 15.6% decrease, officials said.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
Andrew Durand has been nominated for a Tony for playing Elmer McCurdy in the Tony-nominated musical "Dead Outlaw." Matthew Murphy

The creators and cast of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Dead Outlaw were all set to visit the Library of Congress.

They planned to be there in Washington, D.C. Monday to mark the show being added in the librarys collections.

The production had announced it would be donating items from the development of the musical to the librarys permanent collection and actors were going to perform. Dead Outlaw composers David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna and Itamar Moses, who wrote the show, were also planning to be there for a talk at the librarys Coolidge Auditorium.

Now they say they will not attend due to Donald Trumps decision to fire Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Thursday.

New Jersey's Julia Knitel stars alongside Andrew Durand in "Dead Outlaw." She received her first Tony nomination for her performance in the show. Matthew Murphy

The production issued a statement Friday:

Regretfully, the Broadway production of 'Dead Outlaw has decided to cancel Mondays planned appearance at the Library of Congress upon learning of the termination of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden has been a fierce advocate for preserving Americas cultural memory and a great champion of the Broadway community."

Dead Outlaw, which opened April 27 on Broadway, is nominated for best musical at the Tonys.

READ MORE: N.J.s Julia Knitel on Broadways Dead Outlaw, the true story of a body with many lives

The show, based on a real-life story, stars Andrew Durand as Elmer McCurdy. The titular dead outlaw died in 1911, but his preserved corpse embarked upon a second life that saw him become a curiosity displayed at a funeral home, a sideshow, a B-movie star, and finally, a prop at an amusement park in the 1970s.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was fired Thursday. Taylor Hill | WireImage

New Jerseys Julia Knitel stars alongside Durand as eight different characters in the Broadway show, including Maggie, a love interest for McCurdy, and Millicent, a young girl who finds his corpse in her house and proceeds to make it her go-to therapist.

Knitel, who hails from Fair Lawn, is nominated for her first Tony for best featured actress in a musical, and Durand is nominated for best lead actor in a musical.

READ MORE: N.J. nominees at 2025 Tonys: Dead Outlaw, Romeo + Juliet, Maybe Happy Ending, John Proctor and more

Jeb Brown, the shows bandleader and narrator, is up for best featured actor in a musical, and Moses is nominated for best book. Yazbek and Della Penna are nominated for best score (music and lyrics), and director David Cromer is nominated for best direction of a musical.

Dead Outlaw had a successful run off-Broadway in 2024, winning best musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards and Off-Broadway Alliance Awards before coming to Broadways Longacre Theatre last month.

Julia Knitel as Millicent with Andrew Durand as the corpse of Elmer McCurdy in "Dead Outlaw." AP

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka addressed reporters outside the Delaney Hall privately owned and operated immigrant detention center in Newark on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, as uniformed ICE officers stood nearby. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security official sharply criticized Newarks mayor on Thursday over his opposition to an immigrant detention center in his city, accusing him of political antics that the official said endanger ICE officers and detainees.

The sanctuary mayor of Newark and his political antics are endangering ICE personnel, the security of the facility, and ultimately the detainees housed there, DHS Assistant Secretary for Communications Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to NJ Advance Media on Thursday.

McLaughlin was referring to Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, who is among six Democrats running in the June 10 primary for governor.

The mayor appeared at the gate of the facility on Tuesday and Wednesday. Civilian security guards had been stationed at the gate on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, Baraka was met by half a dozen armed ICE officers dressed in combat fatigues.

The scene remained peaceful and cooperative, but Baraka said the officers presence was a show of federal might meant to intimidate city inspectors.

McLaughlin said assaults on ICE officers were up by more than 400% since this time last year, and that we will not tolerate any activity that compromises the safety of our officers and employees.

The Mayor has been informed that he is more than welcome to enter the facility, as long as he follows security protocols like everyone else, McLaughlin added. He keeps refusing to do so, presumably in an effort to stage press opportunities to help him in his bid for governor.

McLaughlin did not specify what protocols she was referring to or explain how the mayors appearances this week at the facility, Delaney Hall, posed a danger.

Baraka responded to McLaughlins criticism in a statement Thursday night, insisting that his appearance never put the ICE officers or anyone else in danger.

The mayor said accusing him of political grandstanding ignored his history as a peace activist and community organizer, who goes out into the streets to engage with parties in conflict and to correct misperceptions and disagreements that threaten the peace in Newark.

I assume Sanctuary Mayor is intended as an insult, Baraka said. But the City of Newark is a city of immigrants, a port city practically in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, and a multicultural community proud of its diversity and spirit of generosity, tolerance and welcome. As mayor, it is my honor to preserve and uphold that standard.

McLaughlins remarks were in response to a request for comment from NJAM on Wednesday, when Baraka and other city officials went to the detention facility, known as Delaney Hall, to serve summonses on its private owner-operator, the GEO Group of Boca Raton, Florida.

The summonses assert that GEO has refused to grant fire and code officials access to Delaney Hall and has placed a padlock on the gate, violating state law.

City officials had tried to serve the summonses on the GEO Group on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when a company representative refused to accept them each time, forcing city officials to leave them on the gate, a retractable chain link fence topped with razor wire.

Baraka was at the gate on Tuesday and Wednesday seeking access to the facility, but was also turned away.

The GEO Groups unarmed civilian security guards were joined at the gate by the armed ICE officers on Wednesday and Thursday.

Immigrant rights groups have staged daily protests outside the facility.

In a lawsuit against the GEO Group, the city has asserted that the company must obtain a new certificate of occupancy, or CO, for Delaney Halls reopening as an immigrant detention center.

The GEO Group has insisted that a CO previously issued by the city remains valid, an assertion backed by McLaughlin on Thursday, when she also dismissed the citys arguments that the contractor had endangered Delaney Hall workers and detainees.

We have valid permits, McLaughlin stated. And there are no safety issues.

In its lawsuit against the GEO Group, which does not name ICE as a defendant, the city is asking a judge to order the company to comply with its demands. Lawyers for the parties held a telephone status conference Wednesday afternoon with U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre in Newark, who did not issue an order, said Newark Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart, the citys top lawyer.

Opposition to Delaney Halls reopening as a detention center began mounting in April 2024 among immigrant rights groups and elected officials, notably U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a former Newark mayor.

It was just after ICE announced, under then-President Joe Biden, that it was negotiating with the GEO Group for a deal to house undocumented immigrants awaiting deportation hearings and possible flights out of the country.

Newark Liberty International Airport is less than two miles south of Delaney Hall. The only other immigrant detention center in New Jersey is less than a mile from the airport in Elizabeth.

Opposition to Delaney Halls reopening intensified in February when ICE and the GEO Group announced they had reached a deal for the company to operate the facility under a 15-year contract worth $1 billion to the GEO Group.

Though negotiations began under the Biden Administration, ICE noted that Delaney Hall would be the first new immigrant detention center to open under President Donald Trump following his January swearing-in.

ICE and GEO never announced an opening date. But on Monday, Baraka called a press conference to say city officials had learned from the husband of a detainee that Delaney Hall had begun holding her and others there last week.

ICE then acknowledged that the facility began holding detainees on May 1.

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
18 1 / 18 ICE officers arrest N.J. mayor outside immigrant detention center

UPDATE: ICE releases N.J. mayor after dramatic arrest at immigration detention facility protest

ICE officers arrested the mayor of New Jerseys largest city and a current gubernatorial candidate Friday afternoon in a violent struggle just outside the gates of a privately operated immigrant detention facility in Newark that he had opposed.

About 2:40 p.m., ICE officers in combat fatigues forcibly arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention facility as a crowd of city officials and immigrant rights advocates tried to encircle him to prevent his arrest.

After a struggle, ICE agents physically dragged Baraka through the gate and placed him in handcuffs before leading him toward the entrance to a building at the facility.

ICE officers arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, shown handcuffed at center, Friday afternoon in a violent struggle just outside the gates of a privately operated immigrant detention facility that he had opposed in the city. Baraka is also a running for governor of New Jersey in the Democratic primary. Photo provided by U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

As agents tried to handcuff Baraka, he could be heard, calmly, saying, My hands are right there. My hands are right there.

It was unclear why he was arrested. An ICE spokesperson declined to comment.

Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said Baraka was trespassing and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to leave the property.

He has willingly chosen to disregard the law, Habba, whom President Donald Trump appointed as the states interim top federal prosecutor, said on X. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

Gov. Phil Murphy called the arrest unjust and demanded Barakas immediate release by federal law enforcement.

Baraka, whos running for governor as a Democrat in the states June primary, was outside the gates of Delaney Hall with three Democratic members of New Jerseys congressional delegation  U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman  who had come to inspect the facility.

The representatives had been allowed into a building at the facility. However, Baraka was allowed to enter the gates to the facility but wasnt allowed into the building with the other elected representatives.

When the representatives left the building and walked toward the gate opening, where Baraka was standing, Baraka was told he had to go outside the gate. Then, an aide to one of the congresspeople informed Baraka that ICE had talked of arresting him.

Moments later, that is what happened. The congressional aide yelled to a crowd of about 40 protesters to surround the mayor to try and prevent his arrest. And they did.

Pushing and pulling ensued with congresspeople in the middle. Coleman, a short, elderly woman, found herself in the middle of it all.

The citys top lawyer, Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart, was by the mayors side during much of the incident. But Stewart, who was not arrested, said he did not know why the mayor was taken into custody.

Advocates had already been pressed against the front gate, yelling, ICE out of Jersey!

Before the mayors arrest, protesters and elected officials told an unidentified ICE supervisor he should treat the mayor with respect.

Amiri Baraka Jr., the mayors brother and chief of staff, shook his head in disbelief at the arrest, stating, It doesnt make any sense. It doesnt make any sense.

Word spread among the crowd that the mayor was moved from Delaney Hall to U.S. Custom Services at 620 Frelinghuysen Ave. in another section of Newark, where the three members of Congress and a large crowd of supporters went.

The crowd swelled to more than 200.

What we need at this moment, in this instance, at a minimum, is a bail hearing to get the mayor out so that he doesnt have to spend the weekend here, Coleman said.

Baraka and other city officials went to Delaney Hall to serve summonses on its private owner-operator, the GEO Group of Boca Raton, Florida.

The summonses assert that GEO has refused to grant fire and code officials access to Delaney Hall and has placed a padlock on the gate, violating state law.

City officials had tried to serve the summonses on the GEO Group on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when a company representative refused to accept them each time, forcing city officials to leave them on the gate, a retractable chain link fence topped with razor wire.

Baraka was at the gate on Tuesday and Wednesday seeking access to the facility, but was also turned away.

The GEO Groups unarmed civilian security guards were joined at the gate by the armed ICE officers on Wednesday and Thursday.

Immigrant rights groups have staged daily protests outside the facility.

In a lawsuit against the GEO Group, the city has asserted that the company must obtain a new certificate of occupancy, or CO, for Delaney Halls reopening as an immigrant detention center.

The GEO Group has insisted that a CO previously issued by the city remains valid, an assertion backed by McLaughlin on Thursday, when she also dismissed the citys arguments that the contractor had endangered Delaney Hall workers and detainees.

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
Torna Pizzeria, a Hoboken pizza shop known for slinging saucy Sicilian pies, is closing this summer after more than 60 years of business.

The pizzeria, which opened back in 1960, recently posted signs on their storefront and throughout the shop announcing the closure. Torna Pizzerias last day of business will be July 24.

With a heavy heart, we announce that Tornas Pizza will be closing doors on July 24th, the statement on the sign said. Since 1960, weve had the honor of serving you our familys homemade pizza, made with love and tradition. Your laughter, loyalty, and stories have filled our space with warmth beyond words. This is not just a goodbye to a business  its a celebration of the community we built together.

Closing announcement at Torna's Pizzeria in Hoboken, NJ (Jeremy Schneider|NJ Advance Media) Jeremy Schneider

NJ Advance Media reached out to Tornas Pizzeria on Thursday morning, but they declined to comment.

According to Patch, the pizzeria is closing so owner Tony Percontino can retire  he began working at his familys shop when he was 14.

Tornas Pizzeria is one of many pizzerias in a city filled with them  the Mile Square City has dozens of pizzeria, three of which made NJ.coms list of the 101 best pizzas in the state.

Related coverage:

 Elite N.J. pizzeria expanding to Jersey Shore town, quickly becoming foodie destination

 N.J.s best new pizzeria serves incredible New York square pies. Well allow it. | Review

 Inside the unlikely pizza capital of N.J., teeming with terrific pies

 Beloved N.J. Italian deli and bakery to close after nearly 50 years

 Connecticut put The Pizza State on license plates. This country is broken. | Opinion

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Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Elijah Rodriguez, 10, died of a gunshot wound at his home on Tuesday. Two fundraisers have been created to help the child's family. (GoFundMe)

Two fundraisers have been created to help the family of a 10-year-old Gloucester County boy who died of a gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday.

The boy  identified in a GoFundMe fundraiser as Elijah Rodriguez  was alone in his familys home when he was shot and no one is being sought in connection with the incident, a law enforcement source said earlier this week.

The boys death remains under investigation and police have not said if the shooting was accidental.

Elijah is survived by his parents and two sisters, the fundraiser said.

Police responded to the home on the 400 block of Westminster Boulevard in Washington Township around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday after a report of a child with a gunshot wound, according to Washington Township Police.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Elijah was a student at Birches Elementary School in Washington Township, which is located on the same street where the shooting occurred.

We are heartbroken to share the loss of our sweet Elijah, who passed away at just 10 years old, the organizer of the GoFundMe drive wrote. He brought light, laughter, and love to everyone around him, and our lives will never be the same.

The GoFundMe fundraiser had raised more than $27,000 as of Friday morning, far surpassing a $5,000 goal.

The Birches School Parent Teacher Organization has also set up a Venmo fundraiser to help the Rodriguez family.

With our heavy hearts, we will be collecting monetary donations to help one of our own families through this devastating tragedy, the PTO said. We know as a community we can pull together and rally around this grieving family.

Donations can be made through Venmo using @BirchesHelps, organizers said.

The school district said the local fundraisers were created as a way for the community to express their support for the family.

Birches Elementary School and the Washington Township School District are communicating with the family based on that outpouring of support both from the community and the district. At this time we are respecting the familys wishes for privacy, district officials said in a statement.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Washington Township Police Department at 856-589-0330.

Elijah Rodriguez, 10, died Tuesday of a gunshot wound to the head. Two fundraisers have been launched to help the family of the Gloucester County child. (GoFundMe)

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
An undercover operation by the Hoboken Police Department led to charges for six liquor stores accused of selling alcohol to a 20-year-old without verifying identification, police said.

The investigation, conducted on two days within two weeks, targeted 21 liquor stores across the city following community complaints about underage alcohol sales, police said Wednesday.

Six stores sold alcoholic beverages to an undercover Hoboken officer posing as a customer, police said. The stores are: Hoboken Vine, Wine Station, Delite Supermarket, ACME, Cheese & Wine Hoboken, and Cork Wine & Spirits.

Representatives of the five of the businesses declined to comment or did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

A man who said he is a manager at Cork Wine & Spirits told NJ Advance Media he holds meetings and trainings on how to spot an underage buyer, and blamed the underage sale on an inexperienced employee who had been left alone.

This slipped by us. Big mistake, the manager said.

The operation was led by investigators with the police departments Alcoholic Beverage Control Unit.

The liquor license holders at each store face administrative charges and will be scheduled for hearings before the Hoboken Alcohol Beverage Control Board. Penalties may include fines, license suspension or revocation.

Cashiers who completed the sales were also charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21, a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Supporters of Andrew Washington held a rally on 5/8/25 a week after a grand jury declined to indict the Jersey City police officer responsible for his death. Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com

The family of Andrew Washington vowed Thursday to keep fighting to change the way police respond to calls involving the mentally ill, after a grand jury declined to indict the Jersey City officer who fatally shot the man who was having a mental health crisis.

Andrew was not a threat to the public, his aunt, Doris Toni Ervin, told the civil rights activists gathered in front of the City Hall Annex. He was a 52-year-old Black man experiencing a psychiatric emergency due to a bipolar disorder  a condition he had been courageously managing since 1996.
Students at North Star Academys Washington Park High School are learning how to use AI as a partner rather than a replacement for their work. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Editors note: This story was shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and Chalkbeat. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X).

On a recent Thursday morning, Michael Taubman asked his class of seniors at North Star Academys Washington Park High School: What do you think AIs role should be in your future career?

Amirah Falana, a 17-year-old interested in a career in real estate law, responded.

In school, like how we use AI as a tool and we dont use it to cheat on our work  thats how it should be, like an assistant, she said.

Fernando Infante, an aspiring software developer, agreed that AI should be a tool to provide suggestions and inform the work.

Its like having AI as a partner rather than it doing the work, said Infante during class.

Falana and Infante are students in Taubmans class called The Summit, a yearlong program offered to 93 seniors this year and expanding to juniors next year that includes a 10-week AI course developed by Taubman and Stanford University.

As part of the course, students use artificial intelligence tools  often viewed in a negative light due to privacy and other technical concerns  to explore their career interests and better understand how technology could shape the workforce. The class is also timely, as 92% of companies plan to invest in more AI over the next three years, according to a report by global consulting firm McKinsey and Company.

The lessons provide students with hands-on exercises to better understand how AI works and how they can use it in their daily lives. They are also designed so teachers across subject areas can include them as part of their courses and help high school students earn a Google Career Certificate for AI Essentials, which introduces AI and teaches the basics of using AI tools.

Students like Infante have used the AI and coding skills they learned in class to create their own apps, while others have used them to create school surveys and spark new thoughts about their future careers. Taubman says the goal is to also give students agency over AI so they can embrace technological changes and remain competitive in the workfield.

One of the key things for young people right now is to make sure they understand that this technology is not inevitable, Taubman told Chalkbeat last month. People made this, people are making decisions about it, and there are pros and cons like with everything people make, and we should be talking about this.

Knowing the basics of AI

As Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, graduate high school and enter a workforce where AI is new, many are wondering how the technology will be used and to what extent.

Nearly half of Gen Z students polled by The Walton Family Foundation and Gallup said they use AI weekly, according to the newly released survey exploring how youth view AI. (The Walton Family Foundation is a supporter of Chalkbeat. See our funders list here.) The same poll found that over 4 in 10 Gen Z students believe they will need to know AI in their future careers, and over half believe schools should be required to teach them how to use it.

This school year, Newark Public Schools students began using Khan Academys AI chatbot tutor called Khanmigo, which the district launched as a pilot program last year. Some Newark teachers reported that the tutoring tool was helpful in the classroom, but the district has not released data on whether it helped raise student performance and test scores. The district, in 2024, also launched a multimillion-dollar project to install AI cameras across school buildings to keep students safe.

But more than just using AI in school, students want to feel prepared to use it after graduating from high school. Nearly 3 in 4 college students said their colleges or universities should be preparing them for AI in the workplace, according to a survey from Inside Higher Ed and College Pulses Student Voice series.

Many of the challenges of using AI in education center on the learning approach, accuracy, and building trust with the technology, said Nhon Ma, CEO of Numerade. The online learning assistant uses AI and educators to help students learn STEM concepts. But thats why its important to immerse students in AI to help them understand how it could be used and when to spot issues, Ma added.

We want to prepare our youth for this competitive world stage, especially on the technological front, so they can build their competence and confidence in their future paths. That could potentially lead towards higher earnings for them, too, Ma said.

For Infante, the senior in Taubmans class, AI has helped spark a love for computer science and deepened his understanding of coding. He used it to create an app that tracks personal milestones and goals and awards users with badges once they reach them. As an aspiring software developer, he feels he has an advantage over other students because hes learning about AI in high school.

Taubman also says its especially important for students to understand how quickly the technology is advancing, especially for students like Infante looking towards a career in technology.

I think its really important to help young people grapple with how this is new, but unlike other big new things, the pace is very fast, and the implications for career are almost immediate in a lot of cases, Taubman added.

Human connection to AI

Its also important to remember the limitations of AI, noting that students need the basic understanding of how AI works to question it, identify any mistakes, and use it accordingly in their careers.

I dont want students to lose out on an internship or job because someone else knows how to use AI better than they do, but what I really want is for students to get the internship or the job because theyre skillful with AI, Taubman said.

Through Taubmans class, students also identify how AI increases the demand for skills that require human emotion, such as empathy and ethics.

Daniel Akinyele, a 17-year-old senior, said he was interested in a career in industrial and organizational psychology, which focuses on human behavior in the workplace.

During Taubmans class, he used a custom AI tool on his laptop to explore scenarios where he could use AI in his career. Many involved talking to someone about their feelings or listening to vocal cues that might indicate a person is sad or angry. Ultimately, psychology is a career about human connection, and thats where I come into play, Akinyele said.

Im human, so I would understand how people are feeling, like the emotion that AI doesnt see in peoples faces, I would see it and understand it, Akinyele added.

Falana, the aspiring real estate attorney, also used the custom AI tool to consider how much she should rely on AI when writing legal documents. Similar to writing essays in schools, Falana said professionals should use their original writing in their work, but AI could serve as a launching pad.

I feel like the legal field should definitely put regulations on AI use, like we shouldnt be able to draw up our entire case using AI, Falana said.

During Taubmans class, students also discussed fake images and videos created by AI. Infante, who wants to be a software developer, added that he plans to use AI regularly on the job but believes it should also be regulated to limit disinformation online.

Taubman says its important for students to have a healthy level of skepticism when it comes to new technologies. He encourages students to think about how AI generates images, the larger questions around copyright infringement, and their training processes.

We really want them to feel like they have agency in this world, both their capacity to use these systems, Taubman said, but also to ask these broader questions about how they were designed.

Jessie Gomez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

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My grain bowl, left, and salad from The Salad House, photographed in Westfield, New Jersey, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, were tasty and healthy. Karim Shamsi-Basha

Salad House founder Joey Cioffi grew up working at his fathers deli in Springfield, Cioffis Deli.

My father came to the United States from Italy with $20 in his pocket and with the hopes of achieving the American Dream. Joey Cioffi said. As a kid, I can remember doing everything at our deli, from washing dishes, working the cash register, cooking food, and fulfilling large catering orders. The concept for The Salad House was born from my passion of providing high-quality food to our community.

The Salad House, with 16 locations across New Jersey, serves up a plethora of healthy dishes in a timely fashion. And since we are nearing the hot summer months, whats better than a cool salad or a grain bowl as the temperature outside gets toasty?

Here goes the taste test!

The Salad House had lovely salad options on the menu, but I opted to create my own ($12). My salad included spinach, romaine lettuce, beets, olives, tomatoes, avocados, mozzarella, cucumber, chickpeas, black beans, edamame, grilled shrimp and pickled onions. I took the first bite, and I was sold! It was fresh and cool. The lovely veggies were fresh and crisp, the grilled shrimp was tasty, and the pickled onions provided a nice acidity that balanced the dish.

Next, I tried the harvest grain bowl ($12.99), with brown rice, arugula, brussels sprouts, chickpeas, crispy chickpeas, almonds, butternut squash, red onions and craisins or dried cranberries. This bowl was super delicious with crunchy veggies and a deep, earthy flavor from the crispy chickpeas and almonds. The craisins added sweetness that brightened up the bowl.

Lastly, I tried the sweet potato fries ($5.49). You hear all about the health benefits of sweet potatoes, and these did not disappoint. They were crisp and flavorful.

The Salad House in Westfield, New Jersey, photographed above, Thursday, May 8, 2025, prepares food in a timely fashion. Karim Shamsi-Basha

Also popular on the menu are a few sides ($5 to $11) like the zucchini sticks coated with Italian cheeses and lightly seasoned breadcrumbs, breaded cauliflower bites tossed in a Thai chili sauce, falafel served with tzatziki dipping sauce, and the white cheddar mac and cheese. Hey, why not calorie-splurge on a side when youre having a salad for the main course?

In a hurry? The Salad House serves up smoothies ($6.25), like the peanut butter cup with chocolate protein, cocoa powder, peanut butter, banana and almond milk; the green giant with spinach, kale, pineapple, banana and coconut milk; and the very berry with strawberry, blueberry, banana and almond milk.

As the temps rise and we pay more attention to our health, The Salad House may be just what you need.

Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.

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NJ transit riders head to the train at Penn Station in New York, NY on Wednesday October 16, 2024 Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

What happens if NJ Transits engineers go on strike next week?

Some New Jersey towns arent willing to wait to find out.

Metuchen is trying to gather enough support from commuters to launch a commuter bus route with charter bus company Boxcar.

Were working with Boxcar to launch a direct commuter bus route from Metuchen to NYC giving our residents a reliable backup option before chaos hits, borough officials wrote in a post to the Metuchens Facebook page. Its one way were trying to stay a step ahead and support our commuters.

Additionally, Boxcar is expanding its Bergen Bullet route. The passage features stops in Waldwick, Ho Ho Kus and Ridgewood.

Boxcar said it will add three morning and four evening trips beginning Monday. The trips are scheduled to last until the end of May; however, the company said its mulling making the times permanent depending on ridership.

The added times and possible direct route from Metuchen add to an already planned expansion the company announced earlier this month. Boxcar last Friday began trips to NY Waterway ferry terminals and to Jersey City from Convent Station, Madison, and Chatham.

Boxcar did not immediately return a request by NJ Advance Media for comment on Thursday.

Engineers, who are represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, are at odds with NJ Transit over wage increases. Both sides have been called down to Washington, D.C. on Monday to negotiate with the help of the National Mediation Board. If they cant come to an agreement before March 16, engineers said they plan to strike.

NJ Transit said its contingency plan to move commuters is to use buses, but officials cautioned that only 20% or 20,000 of the 100,000 daily rail riders will be accommodated.

Others should work from home if they can, said Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit CEO.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A 25-year-old New Jersey man and his mother have been charged with dumping a body over a bridge on Route 80 in Pennsylvania in October 2023.

Rahsaan A. Goines is charged with hindering apprehension, abuse of corpse and tampering with evidence, according to online court records.

Davere Andre McClain, 52, is charged with killing Kevin Cagle, 19 in Williamsport on Oct. 11, 2023. McClain was dating Goines mother, Chata Harris, 49, according to the SunGazette.com. The Williamsport woman faces the same charges as her son, court records state. Both were charged last month.

Goines, of Newark, helped McClain dispose of the body, according to local reports. The body was wrapped in garbage bags and tossed over the side of a bridge in East Chillisquaque Township in Northumberland County. It was found two days on a grassy hill on Oct. 13, 2023, the Sun Gazette reported.

McClain shot Cagle twice and stabbed him because the teen planned to testify against someone associated with McClain, according to an affidavit obtained by the Sun Gazette.

Goines, of Newark, is being held at the Lycoming County Prison in Williamsport, according to court records. His next scheduled court date is May 19. His bail is set for $50,000.

Goines attorney, Williamsport-based Donald Martino, declined to comment when NJ Advance Media reached him by phone on Friday.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Corvallis nonprofit Unity Shelter, which serves the homeless community in Benton County, will be suspending operations of its shelter programs and reducing its staff by 80% as a result of funding uncertainty.

Effective July 1, operations at the Mens Shelter, Room at the Inn (the womens shelter) and the Emergency Hotel Shelter program will be suspended.

On average, the Mens Shelter and Room at the Inn serve a combined 80 people each night. Room at the Inn launched in 2013 and operated as a seasonal shelter until 2020, while the Mens Shelter has been in its current location since 2017.

Services provided at the Hygiene Center and Unitys SafePlace program that houses individuals in microshelters will continue. The nonprofit is exploring other ways to continue offering limited shelter with a largely volunteer staff.

Unity Shelter was founded in January 2020 as an umbrella organization for Room at the Inn, SafePlace and Corvallis Mens Shelter. Its growth was fueled largely by federal pandemic relief programs.

Much of that money has dried up in recent months  at about the same time that the federal government announced massive cutbacks in spending on domestic programs, a statement from Unity Shelter reads.

This has subsequently cast doubt on continued state funding for Unity Shelter, which it relies on for about 90% of its operational budget. The state budget for the next biennium will not be complete until the state legislature adjourns in mid-June, and even if state funding for Unity Shelter is approved, it probably wont be accessible to the nonprofit until much later in the year, the statement continues.

Unity Shelter board members made the decision to cut back in late April.

According to executive director Shawn Collins, as the board meeting approached, he wasnt receiving any clarity from the state about how funding might shake out and was watching the pattern of cuts coming down from the federal level.

It occurred to me, theres not really an option here, he said.

The nonprofit told their staff about cuts in May. The final number of layoffs is still to be determined, but about 80% of the nonprofits paid workforce, or 40 people, are anticipated to lose their jobs.

While its strange to talk about layoffs six weeks out, Collins said, he wanted to give employees as much runway as possible.

Breaking the news to the individuals served by Unity Shelter has also been hard, Collins said. Some are understanding of the challenges nonprofits are facing, some are angry and scared and some want to know where to direct their protests.

I hesitate to brag on what we do, but I think we run pretty good shelters, and people feel safe in them, Collins said. The idea of losing access to that is pretty stressful for them.

And theres not a lot of shelter capacity in the surrounding region, especially once Unity Shelter cuts back. Community Outreach Inc. in Corvallis has a handful of beds available, but its traditionally a high-barrier shelter and not an option for most that Unity Shelter serves, Collins said.

Albany has maybe a five-bed capacity, he continued, and he hasnt reached out to the coast, Salem or Eugene yet, though hes doubtful theyll have much available, either.

For community members who want to do something, Collins recommends advocacy at the state level. House Bill 5011, which includes funding for shelters, is currently in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Not only is it important that the bill passes, Collins says, but its imperative that Oregon Housing and Community Services distributes it quickly once it is.

Volunteering for and donating to Unity Shelter are also appreciated, Collins said.

Nonprofits and shelter services nationwide are struggling, he said, and trying to figure out how to survive in the face of cuts. According to Unity Shelters statement, changes in the funding picture may allow Unity Shelter to revisit some of its decisions, but regardless, it will be necessary for the organization to ensure that services can be sustained at the local level.

If people want these services to exist, theyre going to have to figure out how to do it with local support, Collins said. Its going to be our community thats going to make a difference here and decide whether or not were going to have shelter in our community.
A Paramus Catholic High School graduate was killed in a crash in upstate New York earlier this week, officials said.

Samantha Lezin, 26, died Tuesday after her car was struck head-on by a pickup truck that crossed the double yellow line on Route 6 in Woodbury, Orange County, according to New York State Police.

The driver of the pickup truck was traveling east when he veered across the road and struck Lezins westbound vehicle, police said.
Some Democrats are not happy about former President Joe Bidens re-entry into the public sphere.

Biden has reentered the national stage with his first high-profile interviews since leaving office in January. He sat down with the BBC earlier this week and made a joint appearance with his wife Jill Biden on ABCs The View on Thursday.

Now, some Democrats and Biden critics are sounding the alarm on Bidens media appearances. The Hill reported on Friday that a number of Democratic strategists are concerned that his recent interviews could only hurt the Democratic Party.

Elections are about the future. Every time Joe Biden emerges, we fight an old war, Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, who worked for the Biden administration, told The Hill.

Every interview he does provides a contrast to Trump thats just not helpful for the Democratic brand, which needs trusted messengers and fighters who can reach independents and moderates and inspire the base. Joe Biden aint that, he added.

Elections are about the future. Every time Joe Biden emerges, we fight an old war, said Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, who worked in the Biden administration. https://t.co/OlOeQX9bW8  Amie Parnes (@amieparnes) May 9, 2025

Another Democratic strategist told The Hill that Biden needs to take responsibility for his actions and own up to the fact that he caused Democrats to lose. During his appearance on The View on Thursday, Biden did take responsibility for President Donald Trumps win in November.

I do, because, look, I was in charge and he won. So, you know, I take responsibility, Biden said.

Steve Schale, a longtime Biden ally, told The Hill that Biden should stay away from doing high-profile interviews.

There is a way for President Biden to build his postpresidency, but this isnt it, Schale said . I really wish hed embrace the thing thats been his calling card for 50 years: his humanity.

Former GOP Rep. Joe Walsh, a top Trump critic, also blasted Biden for his latest media blitz.

By selfishly putting his own interests b4 the countrys interests, Joe Biden put Trump back in the White House. Biden is doing the same thing now. Hes putting himself & his ego first, and it will only help Trump. Please Joe Biden, stop speaking publicly, Walsh wrote on social media platform X.

Andrew Yang, a Democratic presidential contender in 2020, criticized Biden over his lasting legacy.

I voted for Joe Biden in 2020. That said I now feel his primary legacy is enabling Trump to get re-elected by mistakenly running for re-election himself and not getting out of the way until too late, he wrote on X.

Biden has largely stepped away from national politics since leaving the White House. Hes not expected to play a central role in Democratic affairs as the party turns to a new generation of leadership, although he acknowledged on Thursday that he has maintained regular contact with Harris and has offered his guidance on her political future.

Shes got a difficult decision to make about what shes going to do. I hope she stays engaged, Biden said, declining to share his specific advice.

Biden rejected concerns about his cognitive decline prompted by a disastrous debate performance last June. He also declined to criticize the Democratic leaders who privately pressed him to abandon his campaign.

The only reason I got out of the race was because I didnt want to have a divided Democratic Party, he said, adding that the broader party didnt buy into concerns about his age following the terrible debate performance but the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the Autism report by the CDC at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is under fire for his latest plan to track data from autistic enrollees in Medicaid and Medicare.

Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, has promoted false claims that vaccines are to blame for increasing rates of autism in the United States. He announced that there would be a data sharing agreement between the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service to analyze the data.

However, his proposal was met with swift backlash from critics asking why Kennedy wants to track those with autism. Professor Peter Hotez said in a post on social media platform X that he was concerned that Kennedy wants to create a registry of those with autism.

From my many discussions 8 years ago with Mr. Kennedy it was clear that he had no interest in autism/helping families like mine. He had another agenda. Maybe hes changed, but Im concerned about his zeal to pursue a registry. I believe its something very dark, deeply disturbed, he wrote on X.

I will do everything humanly possible to protect my daughter from a Dept HHS committed only to a corrupt wellness influencer movement pushing ivermectin, [budesonide], and anything else they can purchase in bulk and repackage, and their profound disgust for those with disabilities, he added.

From my many discussions 8 years ago with Mr. Kennedy it was clear that he had no interest in autism/helping families like mine. He had another agenda. Maybe hes changed, but Im concerned about his zeal to pursue a registry. I believe its something very dark, deeply disturbed https://t.co/jzsIuoXFWo  Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) May 9, 2025

Kennedy doubled down on his support of a database for those with autism in an interview with Fox News Laura Ingraham on Thursday.

This is an existential disease. Every other disease like this has a registry so that-and its voluntary-the public health officials can monitor the numbers. Its not private information. Its not information that is going to go out to other agencies. Its a voluntary system, privacy is protected. Just a system for keeping track of a disease that is now becoming debilitating, he said.

His research directive comes as autism rates in the U.S. are rising, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releasing a report that an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020. Scientists and researchers who study autism have said that increase in diagnoses is the result of increased awareness about the disorder, especially among people who exhibit milder symptoms of autism.

Kennedy has rejected that explanation in public appearances, instead describing autism as a preventable disease that is caused by environmental factors.

Autism is not considered a disease but a complex brain disorder. Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause, although genetic factors are associated with it. In addition to genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a childs father, the mothers weight and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.

Kennedys comments have sparked alarm among autism researchers and advocates, who fear he will use the study to support a discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic, has pushed that theory before, although decades of research has found no link between vaccines and autism. President Donald Trump has also suggested that vaccines could be to blame for autism rates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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As prisoners stand looking out from a cell, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

This much is clear: If Democrats are going to be limited to just two dolls at Christmas, theyd prefer that ICE Barbie isnt one of them.

Kristi Noem, Donald Trumps Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, has turned her job of keeping Americans safe into a cosplaying gig of globe-hopping, rotating uniforms, full makeup, hair extensions and Fox News appearances with adoring anchors.

Thats how she got the nickname  well, two nicknames, actually: Noem also has been called Cosplay Kristi  and a scolding from Donnie Two Dolls (who has a nickname of his own) to tone down the glam.

And on Thursday, as she appeared at Congressional hearings on appropriations, Noem was blasted by Democrats on the subcommittees.

Turns out, ICE Barbie is burning through taxpayer cash like shes partying in her Malibu Dreamhouse.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, ran through a litany of grievances while telling Noem that what shes doing is wildly illegal.

I say this with seriousness and respect, but your department is out of control, Murphy scolded. You are spending like you dont have a budget. Youre on the verge of running out of money for the fiscal year. You are illegally refusing to spend funds that have been authorized by this Congress and appropriated by this committee.

You are ignoring the immigration laws of this nation, implementing a brand new immigration system that you have invented instead of obeying the statutes that you are commanded to follow as spelled out in your oath of office. You are routinely violating the rights of immigrants who may not be citizens, but whether you like it or not, they have constitutional and statutory rights when they reside in the United States. ... You act as if your disagreement with the law, or even the publics disagreement with the law is relevant and gives you the ability to create your own law. It does not give you that ability.

As Noem sat stunned, Murphy continued.

Lets start with your spending. ... You are going to spend more money than you have been allocated by Congress, he said. This is a rare occurrence, and it is wildly illegal. Your agency will be broke by July ...

Murphy told Noem that her obsession with the southern border has left the country unprotected elsewhere and gutted spending for cybersecurity to protect against Russian and Chinese hackers who are having a field day attacking our nation. He added that slashed funding for FEMA is going to kill more people in this country.

Murphy castigated Noem and Trump for denying asylum to immigrants who apply legally.

You dont get to choose [who gets asylum], he said. ... Why? Because our asylum law is a bipartisan commitment created to correct our nations unconscionable decision to deny entry to Jews to this country who are being hunted and killed by the Nazis. Our nation, Republicans and Democrats wrote it into law hat we would not repeat that horror ever again.

Noem also was attacked by Illinois Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood, who rattled her with funding questions.

Do you believe the administration has the authority to subvert appropriations law to freeze and terminate Congressional funding? Underwood asked.

When Noem tried to sidestep the question, Underwood repeated the question and demanded an answer. Noem said that DHS has evaluated grants to make sure theyre being spent appropriately.

Underwood reminded Noem that Congress retains the power of the purse and that the Trump administration was ignoring the courts on this matter.

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Got a beach day planned? Going to an outdoor concert? Festival? Youre going to need a seat, and YETI just dropped the perfect chair for any summer event.

YETI has brought back its fan-favorite Hondo Beach Chair in a new launch for 2025. The chair retails for $300 and comes in Navy and Seafoam.

YETI Hondo Beach Chair Price: $300 Buy Now

First released in 2018, the Hondo Beach Chair is back by popular demand, and this pick is ideal for all your summer outings. Its constructed of breathable, UV-resistant FlexGrid fabric with a lightweight design and LongHaul shoulder strap thats easy to carry, store and pack in the Hondo Carry Tote ($50).

The new Hondo Beach Chair folds into a flat footprint and sets up quickly. YETI has also made this handy chair durable with a 350-pound weight capacity that doesnt lose its elasticity, no matter how many times you sit in it. Plus, it reclines and has a waterfall headrest  perfect for a mid-day nap.

Best of all, this updated Hondo Beach Chair features added touches everyone needs, like a cupholder for your YETI Rambler Water Bottle, a rear bar to hold a Hondo Gear Bag and multiple hooks to add a SideKick Gear Case or two. Youll also appreciate the chairs quick-drying mesh, just in case a pool splash comes your way.

You can be one of the first to get the new Hondo Beach Chair if you log into your YETI account or sign up for a free YETI account online now. YETI is also offering a five-year warranty on the chair, as well as free shipping on orders of $35 or more for YETI account holders.

Get the new YETI Hondo Beach Chair before it sells out here.

You can also check out more YETI gear to pair with your new Hondo Beach Chair below:

Shop for even more YETI drinkware gear here.

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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/.
Rescuers worked for four hours on Wednesday to free a man trapped from the waist down in an eight-foot deep trench in Bridgewater, authorities said.

Emergency responders installed trench shoring to stabilize the three-foot wide hole and prevent further collapse after being called to Cushing Drive at about 11:45 a.m. Bridgewater police said

Due to the confined space and risk of additional entrapment, rescuers employed hand tools to carefully dig around the victim - a time consuming and delicate process, police said.

The 33-year-old New Brunswick resident was flown to a hospital for treatment.

Police couldnt immediately be reached for information on the mans condition and for whom he works.

Firefighters from Martinsville and the Finderne section of Bridgewater, along with the Somerville Rescue Squad & Technical Rescue Unit, East Franklin Fire Department, Community Fire Department, and Somerset Fire Company all assisted in the rescue effort.

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Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV, was named the first American pope of the Catholic Church on Thursday  and his lineage traces back to New
Residents from Benton County and beyond descended upon county headquarters this week to speak out against the proposed expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill just north of Corvallis.

A flock of people rallied outside in advance of the May 6 hearing, protesting the expansion and gathering energy before public testimony began at the third session of the Benton County Planning Commissions public hearing to consider the proposal. Though it was the third session, it was the communitys first opportunity to speak.

Rally participants held signs with Stop the Landfill Expansion typed in big letters, as well as other homemade signs, including one with the words The Peoples Hearing painted across it in big white lettering.

More than 70 people signed up to testify at the public hearing. Three spoke in support of the expansion, which would expand existing operations to a 59-acre tax lot south of Coffin Butte Road, along with other additions, to extend the landfill's life.

Proponents pointed out that when Coffin Butte closes  an expansion adds six years of life, and it currently has 10 to 11  the waste will simply have to be carted elsewhere, which is not a solution.

The planet does not care if the landfill is in Benton County, Polk County, Marion County or Timbuktu, said Jason Clifford, a Corvallis resident and electrical engineer.

These individuals referred to the idea of just moving trash somewhere else as a kind of NIMBY-ism  NIMBY stands for Not In My Backyard  and said that hauling trash long distances in trucks was not eco-friendly, either.

One proponent said he views the landfill as an asset, pointing out that Benton County will lose income when the landfill closes.

When it came time for the deluge of opponents of the expansion to speak, many focused their testimony on concerns about odor and potential health impacts from PFAs, a group of forever chemicals found in landfills runoff and emissions.

Mason Leavitt, who testified on behalf of environmental justice nonprofit Beyond Toxics, said that Republic Services odor study, which found that odor from the expansion would not seriously interfere with the character of the area, was neither comprehensive nor objective, failing to incorporate any real-time air-monitoring technology despite its availability.

The applicants model is serving a purpose to cast doubt on hundreds of peoples lived experiences, he said. The applicant has offered no explanation for the discrepancy between the results of their odor study results and the experience of residents.

Some Benton County residents who live near the landfill described dump days, or days when the odor is so strong they cannot leave their homes.

Ive heard acrid, chemical, vomit, feces, bad fart, rotten cabbage, sulfur, ammonia, nail polish remover, amongst other descriptors, Faye Yoshihara, a Corvallis resident, said.

Bruce Cowger, who has lived five miles southwest of the landfill since 1985, said the odor only began in the 2000s and has increased over the last 20 years. Any expansion, he said, will further worsen the odor, as well as health risks of toxins and PFAs from the landfill.

Granting Republics request for the expansion errs on the side of their bottom line, he said. Please err on the side of our health.

Shelley Su, a former EPA employee and longtime cancer researcher, said that Coffin Butte Landfill is a super emitter of methane  in her days at the EPA, words used to describe only the worst of the worst heavy industrial polluters.

Hydrogen sulfide gas, which emits from the landfill, is linked to lung cancer, and leachate chemicals are endocrine disruptors and carcinogens, she continued.

The landfills nearing the end of its lifetime, she said. Granting Republic Services an extension, it just provides a temporary band-aid on the myriad of environmental problems we already have out there that have not been addressed.

In addition to these themes, concerns expressed in oral testimony ran the gamut from fire danger to wildlife disturbances to Republic Services history and practices at the landfill. Emotions also ran the gamut, from frustration to exasperation and even to tears.

The testimony took two evenings to complete, as by the end of the hearing on May 6, planning commissioners had worked through just over half of the signups for testimony. They opted to offer an additional session on May 8, rather than continue on into the wee hours of the night.

At the end of oral testimony on May 8, Republic Services legal counsel Jeff Condit and vice president for the Northwest area Brian Rupe said that it would be frankly impossible to verbally rebut all that had been said in oral testimony, and that most of their response would be deferred to written rebuttal.

Rupe requested a 14-day extension of the public hearing to grant time for a response, and planning commissioners unanimously extended the public hearing until 6 p.m. June 17.

During the continued public hearing, the countys planning staff, which have recommended denial of the application, will present a supplemental staff report. Oral and written testimony will be limited to only new evidence. And Republic Services will be allowed at least seven days after the record is closed to all other parties to submit final written arguments in support of the application.

Though scope for these parties will be limited to new evidence, the planning commission will be allowed to ask comprehensive questions, including questions about the publics testimony from May 6 and May 8.

Related stories:

Recap: First week of Coffin Butte Landfill hearing concludes, here's what was said County staff and Republic Services had their say, and the Planning Commission had these questions for them. Next up: the public.

Residents deluge Benton County with opinions about Coffin Butte Landfill Read what these residents had to say in written testimony. Oral testimony will begin next week. Pro or con, there's still time to weigh in.

As I See It: The not-so-free revenues from Coffin Butte Here's the math when you compare the landfill's costs with its revenues, which in many ways, ends up being costs.
A picturesque Mississippi Coast island is for sale. You might have to sign an NDA to buy it.
I've been to Canada. More than once. I wasn't there long whenever I went. Once I left Detroit to cross the border, see what I could see within
At Ochsner, nurses focus on what really matters -- caring for patients. For Tiffany Murdock, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, giving nurses what they need to succeed is personal and the purpose that shapes her professional journey. Learn more at ochsner.org/nursing.
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Todd Di Carlo is not only a veteran law enforcement specialist in financial crimes, but he also has family members who have been victimized by scam artists and criminal fraudsters.

It can happen to anybody, said Di Carlo, assistant to the special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Services Chicago field office.

His older relatives got swindled for thousands of dollars through an investment scheme, but, like many financial abuse victims, they were too embarrassed to immediately reveal what had happened.

What we're seeing thats trending now are similar crimes against seniors, Di Carlo said.

The 34-year law enforcement veteran will be the lead presenter at a financial safety summit Saturday in Valparaiso. The event  from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at GracePoint Church, 2590 Morthland Drive  is hosted by the Valparaiso Police Department, Porter County Sheriffs office and Porter County prosecutors office.

Because these crimes are so difficult to solve, our next line of defense is public awareness and education, said Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann.

Romance scams. Bank fraud. Wrong number text scams. Financial abuse. Cryptocurrency scams. These crimes target anyone who falls for them regardless of age, race, location or income level. Like vultures circling their prey, predatory criminals are swarming around potential victims who confuse facts with fiction and bad actors with good investments.

These fraudsters do their homework, Di Carlo said. Especially if someone has recently become a widower or widow.

Scammers continue to use tried and true tactics, though theyre also now using cryptocurrency to expand their reach and confuse victims by impersonating businesses, government agencies or a love interest, among other tactics. According to the Federal Trade Commission, only scammers demand payment in cryptocurrency or guarantee profits or big returns.

Never mix online dating and investment advice, the FTC states.

And yet, romance scams prey on lonely people who have time on their hands, funds in their bank accounts and desperation in their hearts. Also known as catfishing, these scams involve criminals using fake online identities to build romantic relationships, gain trust and then manipulate victims into sending money or sharing sensitive information.

Pick up the phone, call your bank, confirm if things are true and accurate, Di Carlo suggested.

Scammers do their homework. We need to do our homework too. Not only for financial fraud but also for social media fraud, misinformation campaigns and news that is not factual. Its all about critical thinking, a skill that has been gradually eroded by the constant barrage of lies, half-truths and disinformation in our lives. Wave after wave continually crashes against the beachfront of our mental stability and inherent trust.

Its like playing a game of whack-a-mole. You smack down one mistruth with the gavel of facts, yet another one pops up. This must be how law enforcement views the landscape of never-ending scams targeting anyone, of any age, who can be duped for serious money.

As much as $30,000 or more in some cases in our Region, Germann said.

Di Carlo will touch on the 2024 film The Beekeeper and its troubling theme about a kind-hearted older landlady who commits suicide after falling victim to a phishing scam.

Unfortunately, seniors are targeted because they actually care about people, he said. Seniors are also at an age where they feel embarrassed, even shamed, by being victimized in a scam they may not have fallen for earlier in life.

And then theres the stigma of, 'Oh my God, I got duped. My kids are going to think that I can't handle my own money to be my own independent person anymore,' Di Carlo said. When he hosts these financial abuse summits, too many guests dont raise their hands to ask questions or share their experiences because they dont want others to think less of them. So they will wait to tell me after the program, Di Carlo said.

Ive written dozens of columns about scam victims who didnt realize the sophistication of techniques used by criminals. Artificial intelligence is outpacing human intelligence, and this comes with a steep cost if youre not aware of its potential.

For example, a Griffith man who fell for the "grandchild scam"  the use of artificial intelligence to replicate or mimic the voice of a younger family member in distress. It has added a very disturbing twist to this prolific type of fraud.

What should concern everyone about the misuse of this type of artificial intelligence is how readily available these programs and applications are, former Griffith Police Chief Greg Mance told me for a previous column. And how easily a voice can be replicated and used by anyone to commit frauds and other crimes, most often portrayed to the target victim as being in some sort of legal trouble. (Read this column at NWI.com.)

Late last year, the Portage Exchange Club was defrauded for nearly $20,000, stolen through an automated clearing house transfer from the clubs bank account to a nationally known brokerage firm.

This month alone, Ive received two text notifications claiming I owe money to the Illinois Tollway for overdue charges to an account I dont have.

If youre someone who doesnt know what's going on in the world, you might think you owe all this money. But it turns out it's just nonsense, Di Carlo said. The summit on Saturday will touch on many of these scams."
Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Sixty years before he became Pope Leo XIV and the global leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, Robert Francis Prevost was a quiet schoolboy and dutiful parishioner who always held his hands in the proper position to pray.

I can still recall him doing this, said Noelle Neis, 69, who attended grade school and church with him at the old St. Mary of the Assumption in Dolton, Illinois. He didnt clasp his hands the wrong way like so many other kids. Even then, he just knew.

Nies, a former Portage, Indiana, resident who lives in Monee, Illinois, vividly recalls the earliest days of Prevosts path of faith that would lead him to the Vatican.

He was a pious boy, she said, carefully choosing her words. Its not like he was one of the goofballs in class. He was reserved. And his whole family was more on the serious side. They were just an ordinary family. A very good and nice family. But  ordinary.

Prevosts mother, Mildred, had a sparkling personality and a wonderful singing voice, Nies said.

She was in the plays at St Mary's with my mom. I remember her singing on stage, she said.

In one play, Prevosts mother sang Lydia, the Tattooed Lady, a 1939 song that first appeared in the Marx Brothers film At the Circus.

Its funny to look back at that now, knowing that Robert would someday become pope, Nies said. We never would have suspected that he was going to be a priest, let alone a bishop or cardinal or the pope. Not in a million years would you think somebody you knew could become the pope. It's like somebody you knew becoming a saint.

This week, her phone has been blowing up with texts, calls and messages from media outlets across the country and around the world. When then-Cardinal Robert Prevost was part of the conclave to choose the next pope, Nies shared a story about him on a Facebook page for her former school and church, St. Mary, which closed permanently years ago.

When I heard that Robert could be in the running to become pope, I posted an article on the St. Mary's page, Nies said. I thought it was a private page, but somehow a Chicago newspaper reporter found my name and messaged me.

That opened the floodgates for media requests from The New York Times, the BBC, Fox News and other international outlets, including ones from China and New Zealand. Nies, a close friend of my wife, spoke with me late Thursday night after a very busy and strange day.

All of these numbers kept popping up on my phone. I had to stop answering them, Nies said.

During our phone conversation, she received a text from her daughter.

Somebody from the show Inside Edition wants to talk to me, Nies said. Its been like this all day.

Prevost, 69, was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, catching the attention of his former friends, classmates and church members at St. Marys.

We still keep in touch with each other on that Facebook page, Nies said. We also have been keeping up with Robert and his life as leader of the Augustinian Order.

Pope Leo XIV is not only the first American-born pope. Hes the first pope to be a member of the Order of St. Augustine, a Catholic religious order with a global presence in about 50 countries.

Most recently, he served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at the Vatican, a position where he assisted Pope Francis in assigning bishops to dioceses around the world.

When he became cardinal, we knew he had a chance to be pope, but no one actually thought it would happen, said Nies, a practicing Catholic who has renewed hope for the Catholic Church.

American Catholics have been falling away through the decades. But maybe they will feel closer to the church again, she said. Im curious to see how our new American pope affects Catholics in this country.

Many of Prevosts former schoolmates have renewed hope that their former church in Dolton, located on the southern edge of Chicago, will now be resurrected as a shrine to the new pope.

Its really in disrepair, but if anything could bring it back, this would be it, Nies said. I remember attending Mass there as a girl. Roberts family always sat behind us at 9:15 a.m. Mass.

Back then, as a young altar boy, Pope Leo XIV went by the name Robert, not Bob or Bobby, Nies said.

I remember him always sort of walking a straight line, with his faith and in his life, she said. Its remarkable that the line eventually led to the Vatican.
The Trump administration fired the librarian of Congress, Carla D. Hayden, on Thursday, drawing swift outcry from Democrats. Dr. Hayden was the first African American and first woman to serve as the head of the institution.

Dr. Hayden, appointed as the 14th librarian of Congress by President Barack Obama in 2016, had overseen the library through President Trumps first term. The library, the oldest government-run cultural institution in the United States, only rarely gets a new leader. Dr. Hayden was its first since 1987.

She was fired in a two-sentence email from Trent Morse, the deputy director of White House personnel, according to a screenshot released by Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.

On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately, the email said, without citing a cause. Thank you for your service.
A 22-year-old Australian man has been suffering from a mysterious illness that causes his body to feel hot when he experiences cold, and cold when he touches anything hot.

Aidan McManus troubles began at the age of 17, when he was in his final year of high school. At first, he lost feeling in his feet, telling his mother that they felt tingly and numbish. When his feet started swelling, he went to the hospital, where doctors gave him some medicine for fluid retention, but that didnt help his condition at all. Things only got worse from there, as the simple act of walking felt like stepping on sharp tacks, and he was diagnosed with post-viral irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which complicated his condition even more. Despite his failing health, Aidan managed to graduate from high school, but then he began experiencing a bizarre sensation in his hands as well. When he touched something cold, his hands felt like they were burning, and when he touched something hot, it felt extremely cold.

Photo: Unsplash

We were told it will eventually go to Aidans hands, the young mans mother, Angela McManus, told 9News. We were thinking that might happen 10-15 years down the track, but one night, Aidan came to me and said, Mum, I picked up my can of Coke and my hands felt like they were on fire. If he holds something cold, it feels like his hands are burning. And if he picks up something hot, its like its freezing.

Neurologists have been trying to figure out Aidans bizarre condition for years; they have run dozens of tests, put him through a lumbar puncture procedure, and even cut a part of a nerve in his foot for a biopsy, but they couldnt come up with an answer. Eventually, a doctor diagnosed the 22-year-old with a generalised nerve disorder  axonal peripheral neuropathy  which affects how nerve cells transmit signals throughout the body.

For obvious reasons, he cant cook. Hes got to be very careful. When I do give him meals, Ive got to say, Its really hot, or its really cold, Aidans mother said.

Unfortunately for Aidan and his family, Australias National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has rejected his request for support, claiming that he had not examined all possible treatment options. However, the young mans neurologist has clarified that he suffered from a progressive neurological condition for which there is no known treatment.

I would strongly support him being eligible for inclusion in the NDIS as I believe that he has an incurable disability and will continue to worsen, the doctors letter to the agency read.
A Greek woman decided to divorce her husband of 12 years after ChatGPT told her he was having an affair, simply by reading the coffee grounds in his coffee cup.

OpenAIs ChatGPT chatbot is great for a lot of things, but it can ruin your life if you blindly put your trust in it. One Greek man recently appeared on the Greek TV morning show To Proino to complain about ChatGPT destroying his marriage by painting him as an adulterer simply by interpreting the coffee grounds in a cup of coffee he had posed with for his wife. Allegedly following a social media trend, the mans wife thought it would be fun to have the worlds most popular chatbot read their coffee cups in a sort of modern twist on the art of tasseography. She made coffee for both of them and then uploaded photos of the grounds in their cups for ChatGPT to read. The chatbot claimed that the womans husband was having an affair with another woman, which made his wife furious enough to file for divorce without even asking him if it was true.

Photo: Emre/Unsplash

I laughed it off as nonsense, the husband said on the show. But she took it seriously. She asked me to leave, told our kids we were getting divorced, and then I got a call from a lawyer. Thats when I realized this wasnt just a phase.

According to ChatGPT, the man was fantasizing about a mysterious woman whose name started with the initial E, and with whom he was destined to begin a relationship. To make matters worse, the chatbots interpretation of the wifes coffee cup revealed that her spouse was already cheating and that this mystery woman was hell-bent on destroying their family.

After he refused to agree to a separation, the poor husband was served divorce papers just three days later. However, his lawyer warned that they would contest the divorce actions because the claims made by an AI chatbot have no legal standing, and his client was innocent until proven guilty.

Photo: Levart/Unsplash

Apparently, the woman is very sensitive to divinatory practices. The husband said that a few years ago, she visited an astrologer and became obsessed with astrology. It took a whole year for her to accept that none of it was real, the man said.

After the bizarre divorce case went viral in Greece, seasoned tasseography practitioners explained that reading into a cup of coffee involves more than the grounds. Masters of the trade also analyze the foam and the saucer, and ChatGPT is definitely not a master.
A UK woman whose co-workers compared her to Darth Vader after taking an online personality test on her behalf has been awarded 30,000 in damages.

Darth Vader is an iconic villain, and being compared to him by workmates is apparently insulting and traumatic enough to warrant compensation. At least that was the decision of a UK court in the case of an NHS blood donation worker who claimed that the association with the Star Wars character caused her to feel unpopular at work and ultimately quit her job. The judge concluded that being told she has the same personality type as the infamous sci-fi villain was a workplace detriment,(a negative experience) that required compensation.

Photo: Tommy Van Kessel/Unsplash

The incident that sparked this unusual legal battle took place in August 2021, when Lorna Rooke and her colleagues at a blood donation center took a Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs personality questionnaire as part of a team-building exercise. Lorna herself did not take the test because she had to step out to take a personal phone call, but when she returned, another colleague had filled out the questionnaire on her behalf and informed her that her personality was associated with Darth Vader.

The experience allegedly had such a big impact on the woman that she started feeling unpopular at work and ended up quitting the very next month. In her lawsuit, Rooke claimed that being compared to Darth Vader was one of the main reasons for her resignation and demanded compensation for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments.

Darth Vader may be a ruthless villain in the Star Wars universe, but in the Myers-Briggs questionnaire, his category was described as a very focused individual who could bring teams together. Still, the judge ruled that being associated with him was insulting.

Photo: Dmitry Schemelev/Unsplash

Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the Star Wars series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting, the employment judge Kathryn Ramsden said.

Lorna Rooke was awarded 28,989.61 in compensation for detriment, but her claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments were rejected.
Victoria Salinas

Teneo has appointed Victoria Salinas, who was deputy administrator for resilience at FEMA in charge of 3K employees, as a senior advisor.

At FEMA, she managed almost $10B annually to strengthen resilience across the US. Salinas oversaw the National Flood Insurance Program and launched initiatives to make climate adaptation easier for households, businesses and governments.

Prior to FEMA, Salinas was Oaklands first chief resilience officer, and handled projects at the World Bank and United Nations to help countries reduce risk and rebuild following natural disasters.

Dan Gabaldon, Teneo vice chair and head of energy, said business and communities face challenges from wildfires, droughts and super storms; antiquated infrastructure; and sophisticated physical and cybersecurity threats.

He said clients will benefit from Salinas extensive career in public service and exceptional hands-on expertise in resilience.
Pope Leo XIV

President Trumps crackerjack PR team should have scheduled a different day to announce what the White House calls a historic trade deal with the UK.

Slating the Oval Office photo-op during the Vatican conclave to pick a Pope was a risky move.

The PR team should have known that since 1900, five conclaves unveiled the new pontiff on Day 2 of deliberations, which is today.

Adding to the Team Trumps distress, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen to succeed the late Pope Francis.

He is the first American to head the 1.4B-member Catholic Church, which guaranteed more media coverage in the US.

Trumps treaty news played second fiddle to the new Pope Leo XIV.

Of course, the deal could be much ado about nothing. The pact is closer to a protection payment to a mob boss than a liberalizing agreement between sovereign countries, wrote Alan Beattie in the Financial Times.

Trump even took time off from hyping the UK deal to congratulate Pope Leo.

He posted on Truth Social: It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment! Would it be a meaningful moment for Trump or the pope?

Prevost shared Francis views on the environment and immigration, which are diametrically opposite to the policies of the US president.

They are bound to make odd bedfellows.

Just go, Joe With all due respect to former president Joe Biden, we all know that Trumps first 100 days in office are among the worst of any commander-in-chief.

The country doesnt need the 82-year-old to emerge from his bunker to take shots at the president. The attacks supply juicy grist for Team Trump.

Right on cue, White House communications director Steven Cheung teed Biden up as a disgrace to this country and the office he occupied.

He has clearly lost all mental faculties and his handlers thought itd be a good idea for him to do an interview and incoherently mumble his way through every answer. Sadly, this feels like abuse, he said.

In Bidens first interview since his presidential defeat, he told the BBC that it was difficult to walk away from the 2024 presidential election less than four months before Election Day. He should have run away.

Biden claims that Kamala Harris had enough time to mount an effective and wining campaign. That may have been true for Harris, but four months wasnt enough time for other Democrats to run for office.

Biden should have stuck to his promise of being a transitional president by ruling out a run for re-election.

Its ironic that Sleepy Joe isnt flat out endorsing Harris, if she decides to run for president in 2028.

I think shes first rate, but we have a lot of really good candidates as well, Biden told The View.

That is so rich. Those same candidates were itching to run in 2024, but were blocked by Biden until it was too late.

Biden needs to go back to Delaware and enjoy his retirement in blissful silence.

He should follow the example of his predecessor George W. Bush, who focuses on painting rather than commenting on national politics.
5WPR signs on as agency of record for everbowl, a quick-serve superfood chain. 5W will lead both public relations and digital marketing efforts for the brand, with a focus on national brand awareness and franchise development support. The agency will leverage its understanding of consumer trends and brand-building across earned media, influencer marketing, social media, paid digital and franchise marketing initiatives. Everbowl has nearly 100 locations nationwide, with rapid expansion underway. Partnering with 5WPR allows us to amplify our mission and reach new audiences in meaningful ways. Their strategic approach and deep expertise in both franchising and the better-for-you space make them the ideal partner to help us write our next chapter," said everbowl founder and CEO Jeff Fenster.

McLean Media, a Michigan-based firm, is named PR agency of record in the US for DriveShare, a platform that offers a curated selection of classic, luxury and unique vehicles for rent. McLean Media will lead strategic public relations initiatives, brand positioning and media outreach for the company. DriveShare focuses on events such as weddings and photo shoots, with each rental including an in-person key handoff and flexible coverage options. "Public relations is critical to DriveShares next chapter, said CEO Kent Mosbech. McLean Media stood out as the right partner to help us amplify our story, connect with new audiences, and accelerate our growth.

Hopscotch USA is hired to increase visibility and presence for Olyn, a tech solution that lets filmmakers, studios and producers distribute their films direct-to-consumer. Instead of films being sold to platforms like Netflix, the model leans on the marketing budget of the filmmakers themselves combined with influencers, film critics and content creators acting as distribution partners. The partnership comes on the back of Hopscotch USAs recent campaign for the Olyn-hosted movie Midas Man, which featured a launch event in LA and a PR and influencer campaign across the US, Mexico and Canada. Hopscotch USA is part of the global communications group Hopscotch, headquartered in Paris, and with global presence across 60 countries and five continents.
Its like a living eulogy - thats how one listener described the reaction on RTEs textline to Joe Duffys RTE retirement announcement on Thursday. It came as quite the shock after 37 years at the broadcaster, 27 of those spent at the helm of the ever-popular Liveline where Duffy became the nations agony uncle; a proverbial master of misery.

Loyal listeners almost mourned Joes departure from RTE which will take effect on June 27 when he will sign off from Liveline for the last time. I want to preface what I say next by saying I often enjoyed listening to Liveline; it was a window to ordinary Ireland where people could vent and air their issues, big and small. That said, good riddance to Joe Duffys huge wages at RTE - his salary has been a burden on the Irish taxpayer for decades.

Joe Duffy was paid 3,806,739 in the ten years from 2014 to 2023, an average of 380,000 per year, according to figures released by RTE themselves. The figures for 2024 have not yet been released. Joe Duffy was consistently in the top two or three earners at RTE in those ten years, joined mostly at the top by Ryan Tubridy and Ray DArcy. The average worker in Ireland earned around 440,000 in the same ten-year period. Thats hard to stomach, lets be honest.

RTE earnings have long been a bugbear for people in this country and that feeling was certainly amplified in 2023 amid the payments scandal. The saga unearthed many financial failings at the broadcaster funded by the State, and therefore us as taxpayers. Kevin Bakhurst took the reins from Dee Forbes, who still hasnt answered for the RTE scandal by the way, and set about making some changes. That said, people in ordinary Ireland who Joe spoke to daily remain unconvinced to say the least. Was anyone really held accountable?

READ NEXT: 'I will explain a bit more on the Late Late' - Joe Duffy announces shock RTE retirement

Fast-forward to the summer of 2024 and a new headline about the failing broadcaster - RTE bailout: Households to stump up 725m over three years for broadcaster - pull the other one, lads. You couldnt really make it up. Just a year after we found out RTE was paying for advertising clients to attend the Champions League final, and shelling out 5,000 on flip-flops, we were handing them even more money. In the year previous, Joe Duffy was the top earner on 351,000. The top five presenters alone pocketed 1.4m in 2023. RTE has promised reform and cutbacks, but salaries are only now being capped at 250,000. That talent pool will eat into quite a bit of that bailout.

The first star signing of the Bakhurst era at RTE was Patrick Kielty who came right in at that ceiling - 250,000 to present 30 or so Late Late Shows every year. Public service media is very important but there are heads of State earning less than some of our national treasure presenters. I often listen to regional or local radio instead of RTE or the big commercial broadcasters, and the talent there is often just as good. They might be getting some Government funding too, but I can guarantee you none of their presenters earn 250,000 a year.

It is an organisations prerogative to pay big wages, but when it comes to public money, the question has to be asked: was Joe Duffy ever value for 400,000 a year? I mean no offence to Joe Duffy and his listeners loved him, tuning in day in, day out. He said it himself in his own retirement statement; people trusted him and that is very important when people are sharing personal stories of utter hardship at times, from hospital waiting lists to serious health battles. I would still argue that the person taking those calls is not worth a wage that could pay ten Special Needs Assistants in schools, for example.

People will shout apples and oranges and say the Government funds a lot of things seemingly less important than SNAs or healthcare facilities, but we always have to ask if were getting value. Why shouldnt we ask the question? Ireland has lost the run of itself before and still does regularly. Lets not mention the housing tsar saga. Would Liveline be diminished that much if Joes replacement was someone from one of the local or regional radio stations earning maybe 80,000 a year - I dont think so.
A man facing a summons for dangerous driving could have his offence reduced to one of careless driving after the judge at Tullamore district court indicated on Wednesday that a significant charitable donation could influence his decision.

Before the court was Mohammed Shirin, (29) of 28, Stillorgan Grove, Sillorgan, Dublin.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns said on August 11, 2024, a static speed detection check recorded a vehicle travelling at speeds of 184 kilometres in a 100 kilometre zone on the M5, Moyally, Moate, Westmeath.

Barrister David Nugent said his client was travelling to an emergency. Judge Andrew Cody noted that Mr Shirin was a dentist. Mr Nugent said he was a dental surgeon who operates. ''On a Sunday morning?'' asked Judge Cody. ''He is an implant surgeon,'' said Mr Nugent. Judge Cody said he needed evidence that he was attending an emergency.

Mr Shirin was sworn in. On the witness stand he said he was a dentist that deals with trauma such as bleeding and if the situation is life threatening, he does triage over the phone.

He said he takes weekend calls on Saturdays and Sundays, as no one else wants to do it.

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He said bleeds can occur if a tooth is taken out and the A & E can't deal with it.

He accepted his speed was excessive. Mr Shirin works at Dame Street Dental Hospital, Dublin, which he said was his primary place of work. But on weekends he takes calls. He was travelling to Main Street, Moate to 'Truly Dental' which he said is a group of dentists. He said he is self-employed but is paid by Dame Street Dental hospital.

Judge Cody asked if he was paid for the Moate visit, he said he was. ''Have you an invoice?'' he asked. Mr Shirin said he had one for the month which includes the payment for this particular call.

Mr Nugent said his client was very sorry and has expressed remorse.

Judge Cody said he had his doubts,'' there are very few footprints left in the snow.'' he commented.

Mr Nugent said his client had brought 5,000 with him to court.

Judge Cody adjourned the case to June 4 for Mr Shirin to make a donation of 10,000 to the Jack and Jill Foundation. He said if he does this he will reduce the offence to one of careless driving.

READ NEXT: Proposed site for Offaly Hospice 'illogical and contrary to best medical practice' says submission
A woman has been instructed to stay away from the Kildare Village designer retail outlet, near Kildare Town.

Mary McDonagh, 50, whose address was given as 69 New Cabra Road, Phibsborough, Dublin, is being prosecuted in relation to the theft of items from five stores - Polo Ralph Lauren, Columbia, Clarks, North Face and New Balance - on May 5.

Its being alleged that items worth a cumulative 800 were taken including items valued at 254 and 250 respectively at Polo Ralph Lauren and Columbia.

Garda Conor McKeown told Naas District Court that when charged the defendant replied: Im sorry I did it; I dont remember doing it.

Gda McKeown also told the court he feared the defendant is a flight risk.

The court heard that the defendant has a number of health issues and had to be brought to hospital while in custody after she had taken a number of tablets for back pain.

It was stated on the womans behalf that if she is placed in custody it is likely she will have to return to hospital.

The defendant gave undertakings to stay out of Kildare Village, sign on twice a week at a Dublin garda station and reside at her address. She must also notify the gardai of any change of address and be available to take phone calls at short notice.

The matter was adjourned to October 7.
A famous Midlands boarding school is set to open the historic building's doors to girls in 2026 for the first time in its 120 year history.

Cistercian College in Roscrea has been a boys-only school since it opened its doors in 1905, but next September, the school famous for their education standards and sporting heritage will open its doors to girls.

The famed school, located on the stunning grounds of the Mount St. Joseph campus close to Roscrea on the border of North Tipperary and Offaly, has several well known past pupils including, Brian Cowen Former Taoiseach, Dick Spring  Former international rugby player and Tanaiste, Donal Spring  Former Rugby International and Solicitor, David Andrews  Barrister and former Minister for Foreign Affairs and many more.

Speaking to Pat Kenny on his weekday morning show on Newstalk FM on Friday, the President of Cistercian College Colm Moloney, said the decision to change direction is a historic moment for the school.

"We want to cater for entire families, for boys and girls - for sisters to attend the same, as their brothers. Its a hugely historic decision, as Cistercian College has been a boys only school for 120 years," he told the Irish Independent.

"The Cistercian Order and school as a whole, feel we should extend to girls and the whole family. This reflects society and workplaces. We want to make sure were part of the future.

"It can only have a positive effect on gender equality. What were doing is mirroring a societal shift in Ireland, under way for a number of years. Its great to see the Cisterccian Order, our patrons, are fully behind the move as well," Mr Moloney added.

READ NEXT: Roscrea student honoured with Municipal District Award for excellence in sport

The private school offers seven-day boarding, five-day boarding, and day fees.

The seven-day boarding fee currently stands at 19,368, fees for five-day boarding are 18,368, while day fees are 8,845.
AN Offaly mother of seven was told that unless she pays rent arrears she is at risk of losing her home.

Judge Susan Fay issued the advice at Tullamore District Court when Offaly County Council sought an order for possession against a tenant.

The court heard that by March of this year arrears stood at some 9,000 but they had not increased since 2021.

Emily Mahon, solicitor for the County Council told the court that the woman had spoken to the council and was willing to engage with MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service).

So there is some hope that she'll be able to make some progress, said Ms Mahon.

Judge Fay told the woman she was in the last chance saloon and said that the court could make the order sought by the council.

Do you know how hard it would be for you to seek accommodation for you and your seven kids? asked the judge.

Judge Fay also said the matter before her was not a victimless case and if the woman lost her home her children would be the victims because they may have to move schools and lose their friends.

The mother, who said her children were aged from 17 years of age down, agreed that she would have nowhere else to go and said she was paying rent and was going to put 20 extra a week towards the arrears.

She also said she could get a loan or go to St Vincent de Paul. She had not yet been to MABS.

Ms Mahon indicated that the application from the council for a possession order could be adjourned but said: This is the 14th adjournment since 2021 so they're really at the end of their tether.

Judge Fay said the fact that the tenant had turned up in court was a huge positive but she again cautioned the woman about what could happen if she lost her house.

READ NEXT: 'I hope we get him back' says mother of missing Offaly man

You won't get accommodation full stop. There'll be a huge ripple effect. She advised her to consider applying for legal aid and getting a payment plan through MABS.

The judge was told by the council's solicitor that the woman was on her third or fourth payment plan.

Judge Fay advised the mother to save money regularly.

When you get money every week pay yourself, pay yourself and put money aside for the arrears.

She asked the woman how she would mind her kids and keep them safe if she had no home for them.

This could be a very small price to pay to keep your family together.

The woman said she would pay 40 per week towards the arrears and Judge Fay adjourned the matter to May 27 next for mention, and it will be due in court again on June 13.

I am going to keep an eye on this, said the judge.

When the tenant thanked the judge, Judge Fay replied: You're not doing this for me. You're doing this for your children.
Residents of Cloughjordan and surrounding areas turned out in force on Friday evening last to take part in a protest against the placement of a 5G telecommunications mast at a controversial location in the village.

The event, held in beautiful sunshine on May 2, saw a large crowd assemble outside St. Michaels National School in the heart of Cloughjordan and local people express their emphatic rejection of the decision to grant planning permission for the communications mast adjacent to the National School, which is surrounded by homes, businesses and a creche.

An Bord Pleanala approved the mast despite unified opposition from the villagers and local politicians. This application was previously refused because of its proximity to local houses, but for a reason local peop-le find inexplicable, this time was permitted.

Local people told this newspaper they are concerned that the 15 metre "shrouded pole" will be only three metres from the walkway into the school where 137 pupils, 15 staff, parents and guardians live their lives every weekday.

The mast will also be sited seven metres from the gable-end of the school building, more than twice the height of the school, which people fear will create a shadow over the school, as well as possibly causing a danger to all patrons.

"The impact on the local houses for which the precious application was refused was also emphasised, Tipperary Labour Deputy, Alan Kelly said, when he visited the site earlier this year.

Currently St. Michaels NS Board of Management are working with FP Logue Solicitors in Dublin to request a judicial review of the case and An Bord Pleanalas controversial decision, but parents and staff say they remain in disbelief that their local elected representatives have approved locating the mast next to the local national school.

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Tipperarys Development Plan also specifically states that it will not place masts near schools or homes unless as a last resort, the group organising the demonstration have pointed out.

The organisers of the Move the Mast protest are hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, May 14th at 8pm in St. Kieran's Hall in Cloughjordan and are inviting all local people and support from neighbouring areas to attend.
Ireland AM presenter Siomha Ni Ruairc has shared a heartfelt tribute following the sudden death of her sister Una, who passed away unexpectedly last month.

The Virgin Media star, who also hosts the hit How to Gael podcast and fronts TG4's Gra ar an Tra, said she was "heartbroken" by the loss of her "beautiful, wildly intelligent and annoyingly driven" sister, who died on April 20 at her home in London.

Siomha confirmed the news in an emotional Instagram post on Thursday evening, sharing a series of family photos and memories alongside a message describing her sister's impact on her life.

"My sister Una passed away two weeks ago. My beautiful, wildly intelligent and annoyingly driven sister died and I'm heartbroken," the post began.

"Growing up, we were never without each other. In our teenage years, we absolutely killed each other - as sisters do.

"As adults, we accepted each other for exactly who we are and I'm so proud of everything she achieved in her too-short life," she wrote.

Thanking friends, neighbours and colleagues for their kindness in recent weeks, she added: "My family and I can't thank everyone enough for the support we've received since. The sandwiches, lasagnas, cakes. The chats, hugs, stories, touches of hands. We have the most amazing network of friends, neighbours, colleagues and of course family. Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

"We've been blown away and so sincerely touched by the kindness of people. It reminds me of white blood cells, rushing to fight off infection. Community, rushing to help ease the pain."

Now, she said, the family must adjust to a "new normal" without Una. "But she'll be with me - like a handprint on my heart. It'll never not be; Una agus Siomha."

Messages of support poured in from well-known figures and fellow presenters.

Doireann Garrihy wrote, "So incredibly sorry for your loss Siomha," while Una Healy added, "I am so sorry for your loss. Sending you and your family so much love."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Siomha Ni Ruairc (@siomhaniruairc)

Una's funeral took place earlier this week in St Patrick's Church, Lucan, followed by burial in Esker Lawn Cemetery. Her RIP.ie death notice described her as a beloved daughter to Damhnait and Dermot and a cherished sister to Siomha and Aedin.

"The funeral mass was beautiful and you did her proud," one mourner wrote. "Thinking of you all at this saddest of times May Una rest in peace."

Another tribute remembered Una as a "clever and funny" person, adding: "I think I always felt like I couldn't keep up with her. She always had an even funnier comment whenever I thought I might have made a good comeback. I will miss her deeply."

READ MORE | GAA GUIDE: Full list of the weekend's 12 live games available on RTE, TG4, Clubber and GAA+
President Michael D Higgins has led congratulations in Ireland following the election of the new Pope Leo XIV.

Mr Higgins said Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American, becoming Pope was an immensely significant moment for all those of faith and goodwill around the world.

Irish premier Micheal Martin said the new Pope has the best wishes of all Irish people, while Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill said it was a day of profound significance.

The new Chicago-born pontiff addressed crowds of thousands at St Peters Square at the Vatican shortly after white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday evening.

Mr Higgins said: This is an immensely significant moment for all those of faith and goodwill around the world who look to the papacy for spiritual guidance, moral clarity and global leadership at a time described by his predecessor Pope Francis as needing the vocation of diplomacy.

Pope Leo XIV assumes this important role at a time of great challenges for the world.

I send Pope Leo my very best wishes as he begins his pontificate, and I welcome his statement that he is prepared to lead with compassion, wisdom and an enduring commitment to the values of peace, justice and human dignity.

The president added: Ireland enjoys a long-standing and deeply rooted connection with the Holy See.

It is founded on shared values of interdependence, and the responsibility that goes with it, as well as historical ties.

We in Ireland very much look forward to maintaining and deepening that relationship with Pope Leo, as we continue to share the project of fostering dialogue and understanding between peoples and nations.

Irish premier Mr Martin said: The scenes of great joy and celebrations in St Peters Square are a reflection of the hopes and goodwill felt by people of the Catholic faith from all around the world towards the new Pope.

I hope that this groundswell of best wishes towards Pope Leo XIV will give him strength and support as he takes on the immense responsibility of his pontificate.

I know that he has the best wishes of all Irish people, of all traditions.

The Taoiseach added: I also send my congratulations to the people of the United States, a country with which Ireland enjoys such a deep and strong relationship.

To have a Pope from their country is a source of great pride and an honour for their nation.

I wish Pope Leo XIV every strength, good health, and the required spiritual guidance as he begins his mission of leading the Catholic Church at a time of challenge, building on the pastoral direction and achievements of Pope Francis.

I look forward to working with Pope Leo XIV as an important and influential partner in addressing the many and interlinked challenges facing our world, as we work for peace, justice and sustainable development for all.

This is a day of profound significance for Catholics in Ireland and worldwide, as Pope Leo XIV assumes his role of spiritual leader. I hope he will use his influence to stand up for the marginalised and oppressed, champion peace, and lead with courage and compassion  just as pic.twitter.com/zfPZw4Ludw  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) May 8, 2025

Northern Irelands First Minister, MS ONeill, has described the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as a day of profound significance, urging the American Pope to stand with Gaza.

In a post on X, she wrote: This is a day of profound significance for Catholics in Ireland and worldwide, as Pope Leo XIV assumes his role of spiritual leader.

I hope he will use his influence to stand up for the marginalised and oppressed, champion peace and lead with courage and compassion, just as his predecessor, Pope Francis, did.

As the genocide in Gaza continues and a devastating famine looms, I encourage the Pope to stand unwaveringly for the rights of the Palestinian people to life, dignity and freedom, and to urgently use his influence to help bring an end to this barbaric genocide.

Irelands deputy premier Simon Harris said it was a momentous occasion for millions of Catholics around the world.

He said: The election of a new Pope is always a significant moment, not only for the Catholic Church but for the broader global community.

As Tanaiste and on behalf of the Government of Ireland, I extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish him every success for his pontificate.

I have no doubt he will continue to build on the extraordinary legacy left behind by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who taught us all the importance of kindness and humanity.

The Tanaiste added: Ireland shares a long and enduring relationship with the Holy See, rooted in deep historical, cultural and spiritual ties.

We in Ireland value this connection, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening our close engagement with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIVs leadership.

In a time marked by complex global challenges, from poverty and conflict to climate change, the role of moral and spiritual leadership is more vital than ever.

We hope to work together with His Holiness in the pursuit of peace, justice, and solidarity amongst people.

Catholic Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin said he welcomed the new Pope with great joy.

He added: At the end of February I and the other Irish archbishops  Dermot Farrell, Kieran OReilly, Francis Duffy  met with him, and he came across as a humble and respectful listener, wanting to learn as much as possible about the Church in Ireland.

He is a calm, affable and approachable person. He is a friend of Ireland and no doubt the Augustinian communities at home will be delighted with the news.

Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian said: Addressing the crowds gathered in Rome earlier this evening, Pope Leo XIV reminded everyone of the universality of the Church and that God loves us, all of us.

In a world torn apart by conflict, war and confusion, he encourages us to be heralds of peace and unity.

The Church of Irelands Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, John McDowell, said his church rejoiced with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.

He said: I wish to pass on the good wishes of the Church of Ireland not only to Pope Leo but also to the bishops, priests and Catholic people of Ireland as they enter in closer communion and closer knowledge of their new Chief Shepherd.
Students from Tullamore College embarked on a memorable journey to Hamburg, Germany, where they explored the city's rich cultural and historical sites while putting their German language skills into practice. Over four exciting days, they visited top attractions, engaged in language-based challenges, and gained insights into German life.

Day 1: A grand welcome to Hamburg

The adventure began early on Thursday, March 20, with a 6.15am flight from Dublin to Hamburg. Upon arrival, students checked into their accommodation before heading into the city centre for lunch.

After lunch, students participated in a language quiz, navigating the city while using their German skills to communicate and locate key landmarks. This was followed by a two-hour walking tour, providing fascinating insights into Hamburgs history, from its medieval roots to its modern status as Germanys second-largest city.

A highlight of the evening was the visit to Elbphilharmonie Plaza, one of Hamburg's most famous landmarks. Situated 37 metres above ground, the viewing platform offers a breath taking 360 panorama of the city and harbour.

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Day 2: Exploring miniature worlds and a submarine spy vessel

Friday was packed with unique experiences, starting with a trip to Miniatur Wunderland, the worlds largest model railway system. The attraction, located in Hamburgs historic Speicherstadt district, features meticulously detailed miniature landscapes, nearly half a million tiny lights, and a computer-controlled system that operates the railways, cities, and even day-to-night transitions every 15 minutes!

Next, students visited the Automuseum, where they saw a collection of classic and rare cars, including models from Volkswagen and Porsche. Some even tested their driving skills in an original Porsche 356 driving simulator!

A particularly thrilling part of the day was the guided tour of U-434, a former Soviet spy submarine. This submarine was once used for covert espionage missions off the east coast of the USA. The tight corridors and authentic control rooms gave students a real feel for life onboard a Cold War-era vessel.

That evening, students sampled traditional German specialities like Schnitzel and Currywurst, before going to the Hamburger Dom, Northern Germanys largest funfair. With attractions ranging from vintage carousels to high-speed roller coasters, there was something for everyone. The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display, lighting up the Hamburg skyline.

Day 3: Chocolate, wildlife, and a German cinema experience

Saturday started with at Chocoversum, Hamburgs famous chocolate museum. Here, students learned about the chocolate-making process, sampled fresh cocoa, and even created their own chocolate bars with custom ingredients.

The next stop was Hagenbeck Zoo, where students had the amazing opportunity to feed elephants and observe rare species up close. The zoo, known for its open enclosures, gave students a unique, interactive experience with wildlife.

The afternoon was spent shopping at Europa Passage, one of Hamburgs most popular shopping centres, before heading to a German cinema. The movie of choice was a new adaptation of the classic German fairytale "Snow White", allowing students to immerse themselves in the German language through film.

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Day 4: A scenic farewell to Hamburg

On the final day, students set off for a scenic boat tour along the Alster River. This tour provided spectacular views of Hamburgs skyline, historic towers, and beautiful Alsterpark, all while listening to fascinating stories from the boat captains.

After lunch, the final stop was the Hamburg Police Museum, where students explored 200 years of law enforcement history. The museum offers an interactive experience where visitors can test forensic techniques, solve cases, and even take part in a simulated police chase in a helicopter. Some of the most intriguing exhibits include original crime scene evidence and weapons used in Hamburgs most notorious cases.

A trip to remember

This journey to Hamburg was not just about sightseeingit was a true educational experience. From using German in real-life situations to uncovering the citys history and modern innovations, students gained valuable skills, cultural awareness, and unforgettable memories.

A huge thank you to Ms McEvoy who organised the trip, and to Mr McEvoy and Mr Moran for accompanying the students.
Congratulations are extended to three very talented Killina Secondary School students on achieving 1st, 3rd and 4th place out of the 22,230 students that completed the Junior Cycle Materials Technology Wood exam in 2024.

School Principal Mr John Cotter received the wonderful news last week from the State Examinations Commission. He acknowledged the hard work and commitment of the three students and praised the dedicated staff.

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Aoife Murphy was 1st place. Her teacher Mr Patrick Concannon praised her unique talent and attention to detail in all aspects of the curriculum. Aoifes project displayed creativity and exceptional technical skill. Her talent was noted at an early stage when she won woodworker of the year in her first year in Killina in 2021. Aoife is now a 5th year student, and continues to study Construction Studies with passion and enthusiasm. She has expressed a strong interest in pursuing a career as a Wood Technology Teacher.

Fionn Corcoran placed 3rd and John Buggy placed 4th. Their teacher Mr Eoin Carton complemented and praised the boys on unfailing hard work, and precision in their pursuit of excellence.

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The two boys are now in Transition Year in Killina Presentation Secondary School, and the boys' talent continues to grow and is nurtured by the Wood Technology Department.

All in Killina are very proud of this exceptional achievement.
Two trucks, two buses, or two cars will all pass each other comfortably on the newly upgraded Kilbeggan Bridge in Tullamore  that was the clear assurance from Offaly County Councils Senior Executive Engineer, Joe Dooley, at this months Municipal District meeting.

Mr Dooley told councillors that the bridge has a 6.5-metre road width which is identical to other roads throughout Tullamore  and is fully compliant with the national Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS).

Concerns had been raised by councillors following a wave of public queries about whether the bridge could safely accommodate two trucks passing each other. Mr Dooley addressed those fears head-on.

Two standard, road-legal trucks will pass each other with ease on this bridge, he said. The only scenario where two trucks might struggle is if they were both monster American-style trucks'', he said.

He further noted that the bridge exceeds the Irish minimum standard of 5.5 metres for a two-way carriageway, adding that 6.5 metres is not just sufficient  it's generous.

In terms of traffic movement, he acknowledged that a large truck turning from Convent View may need to cross the central white line due to the 6.4-metre kerb radius, but this is fully in line with modern urban road design.

This is intentional. It slows traffic and improves safety, which is exactly the aim of the project he said. I stood on the bridge for half an hour observing  and traffic is clearly slowing down. It's doing exactly what it was designed to do.

Mr Dooley also praised Tower Civils for their high-quality work. He confirmed that the pedestrian crossing at Convent Road is now complete, and work is progressing on the Convent View crossing. Belisha beacons will be installed at the Kilbeggan Bridge crossing next week, with illuminated columns enhancing visibility and safety.

The final phase which is resurfacing will begin the week of May 19. This will involve milling the top 100 millimetres of the existing road surface, with most of the work taking place in the evenings (6pm11pm) under a temporary one-way system.

Councillors praised the works and urged the public to be patient. Councillor Neil Feighery noted the wider footpaths were designed to encourage safe pedestrian use. Keep up the good work, he said.

Councillor Declan Harvey added: Its a great job. The boys are working hard. People just need to wait until its finished.

Councillor Sean OBrien pointed out there are traffic alternatives, including two by-passes: If people are that worried about large trucks, weve got plenty of options, he added.

And Councillor Aoife Masterson said that while she wasnt part of the original planning, she believes the design logic  slowing traffic and enhancing safety is clear.

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Conflicts and crises intensify the need for gender equality and health equity

SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS



Gender equality is a fundamental human right and critical to deliver on SDGs

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Conflicts and humanitarian crises significantly exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities for women, girls and gender diverse populations, leading to increased vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence, reproductive health complications, and mental health challenges, alongside reduced access to basic needs like healthcare and shelter and livelihoods.

Wars and conflicts, extreme climate events (like floods and famine), religious fundamentalism and other extremism, and other forms of humanitarian crises put gender diverse individuals, women and girls to heightened risks of human rights violations.

Sinister link of patriarchy with religious fundamentalism, militarisation and gender inequality

The human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan threatens everyone there, but lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and other gender diverse peoples face an acute threat of violence and even death from the Taliban authorities.

The situation for Afghan women is deplorable with respect to the commitments made by governments to advance gender equality and human rights. The dominant Islamic law has no tolerance for LGBTQI+ persons. They face constant persecution and risk, said Parwen, a lesbian person from Afghanistan, while narrating her horror story in SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) session on "Impact of conflicts and other humanitarian crises on gender justice and health."

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What we know about Pope Leo XIV Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected Pope, becoming the first American to hold the title. The new leader of the ...

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Last evening, I was present just outside St. Peter's Square for the first blessing of Pope Leo XIV, the former Augustinian Cardinal, Robert Prevost. Providentially, my wife Peggy and I just happen to be in Rome visiting my eldest son's family now located here.

Around 7:00 Peggy had phoned me with news of seeing white smoke from the Vatican chimney. That traditional signal indicated the successful completion of Papal Conclave deliberations. Earlier in the day, the two of us had been together in St. Peter's Square when black smoke revealed an inconclusive result of that morning's process.

So, I raced off walking as fast as I could toward the Via Conciliazione, the long wide avenue extending from the papal basilica. My five years living and studying in Rome (1967-1972) told me that a huge overflow crowd would gather there spilling over from St. Peter's Square and awaiting the introduction of the new pope.

Forty minutes later, I arrived just in time to hear and (barely) see him.

I could hardly believe my ears.

Imagine: a second consecutive American pope! And this one from the United States as successor to the first American pope, Argentina's Pope Francis! Not only that, but the new man also turns out to be a fellow Chicagoan. Like me as well, he entered the seminary as a 14-year-old intent already at that tender age on becoming a priest. I felt I knew him. (I also found myself wondering, could he also be a Cub fan? Probably not though. Prevost is a South-Sider which probably aligns him with the White Sox.)

More seriously, I wondered what could the cardinal electors have been thinking in selecting someone like Prevost - a dual citizen of the U.S. and Peru? And what could Prevost himself be signaling in choosing Leo XIV as his papal name? I also wondered what Leo's election might portend for the Catholic Church and the world.

Along those lines, let me share some initial impressions.

The Significance of Prevost's Election

Regardless of the Cardinal electors' intentions, I find it noteworthy that the last two papal elections have shifted church focus from Europe to the Americas. They have directed attention away from the colonizers to the colonized in the case of Francis, and from the oppressed to the oppressors with Leo.

Could the cardinals' appointment of Prevost be making a forceful statement about such dynamic?

I mean Francis was a product of United States' oppression. Argentina's U.S.-supported "dirty war," led to the deaths and forced disappearances of more than 30,000 Argentinians. Whether by specific intention or by direction of the Holy Spirit, Francis' election called attention to such tyranny over the Global South by an imperialistic United States.

Yes, Argentina's Guerra Sucia (1974-'83) was the bloody expression of what Noam Chomsky and others identify as a more general U.S. war against the Catholic Church in Latin America. The conflict was sparked by implementation there of Catholic Church teachings on social justice and by the emergence of liberation theology, which Washington long considered and treated as a threat to national security.

With that in mind, the college of cardinals might be suggesting that new pope's trajectory embodies the response Catholics should take to the United States' cruel history of violence in what it has long considered its "backyard."

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MSME Business Forum India, in partnership with Zoho and consulting partner Nart&Co, successfully organized a Mini Conference at Lemon Tree Hotel, Rajarhat. The event brought together over 60+ MSME participants to explore the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the enduring value of the human handshake in the digital transformation journey of small and medium businesses. The conference featured thought-provoking sessions led by distinguished speakers, including Mr. Ravi Sinha, Director, 
Dubai, UAE - 8.5.2025. - SupportRoom, the global leader in all-in-one workplace holistic wellness, has officially launched its first office in the GCC. This strategic expansion marks a new chapter for the UK-headquartered platform, which has rapidly gained recognition across Europe, for transforming how companies support their people. Following widespread success and adoption by global organisations such as McDonald's, Marriott, Adecco, and Delivery Hero, SupportRoom now brings its full-service, tech-powered wellbeing 
Malaysia is back in the data centre news again. Hard on the heels of news that Equinix has completed the second phase of a new data centre in Cyberjaya, Selangor, has come the announcement of an award by Google related to the building of a hyperscale data centre in the country.

Google has in fact awarded leading infrastructure and real estate company Gamuda its second contract in almost exactly a year. This one is worth MYR1 billion (US$233.7 million). A Gamuda division called Gamuda DC Infrastructure apparently signed the agreement with Googles Pearl Computing Malaysia.

According to Forbes, referring to a stock exchange filing, the plan is to construct a hyperscale data center in Port Dickson, about 90 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur.

Gamuda DC is also contracted to build a water treatment plant to supply 65 million litres of water per day needed to cool the data centre. In addition, Gamuda DC has also agreed to sell 157 hectares of land to Pearl Computing as the site of the data centre project. This will cost MYR455 million (US$106.3 million).

In May 2024, Google awarded Gamuda a MYR1.7 billion (US$397.2 million) deal to handle the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works for Pearl Computings data centre project at Elmina Business Park in Selangor, northwest of Kuala Lumpur.

Around the same time we reported that Google had announced plans to invest US$2 billion in Malaysia. It said that it aimed to develop its first data centre in the country, along with a Google Cloud hub.
Switzerland: A Dreamland Full of Wonders ALT TEXT: EUROPEAN TREASURE SWITZERLAND How does the term "Switzerland" make you feel? Snowy mountains, serene landscapes, and delicious chocolates, right? This European gem is renowned worldwide for its order, cleanliness, beauty, and seductive atmosphere. Because it looks like there is oil everywhere, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Top 6 Must-Visit Places in Switzerland ALT TEXT: TOP 6 BEST 
London, UK May 2025 | 3 min read Projectsdeal.co.uk has once again been honoured as the Best Assignment Writing Service in the UK for 2025, awarded at the prestigious Scholars' Conference in London. This recognition marks another milestone for the academic support leader, which has been serving students with distinction since 2001. With over two decades of experience, Projectsdeal has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, plagiarism-free academic assistance to undergraduate, postgraduate, 
Alaska Airlines next, new nonstop route from Seattle will be to Europe in 2026, CEO Ben Minicucci confirmed this week in an interview where he laid out his vision for the next few years at Alaska.

Minicucci, a 20-year Alaska Air veteran who was named CEO in 2021, said the recent merger with Hawaiian Airlines is a step change for the airline, one that will allow it to expand its reach from the West Coast to other trans-Pacific hubs. Seattle will be at the center of that expansion, with plans to add 12 nonstop global routes with long-haul widebody airplanes by 2030.

Alaska has already announced two of those routes: one to Seoul, South Korea, starting in September and another to Tokyo Narita starting Monday. Hawaiian Airlines was already flying to those destinations, so Alaska was able to capitalize on the infrastructure and expertise it inherited through the $1.9 billion merger that closed in September.

The undisclosed European destination coming next could be a bigger lift. Neither Alaska nor Hawaiian has a presence there.

But Minicucci isnt worried about the risks. For one thing, he said, Alaska knows what Seattle travelers want and believes the airline could stimulate demand with the new offering. For another, he encourages daring moves at the company, Minicucci said in a recent interview with The Seattle Times, striking a tone reminiscent of Big Tech CEOs out to disrupt industries.

I want to give our people the ability not to be afraid. I want you to be bold, aggressive, try things. Because nobody ever does great things if youre always safe, Minicucci said. Sometimes you have to put yourself out there and take a little bit of a chance, and feel a little bit that nervousness in your stomach and say Wow, is this going to work? 

Minicucci matches the demeanor of his edict to be fearless. Seated in a nook off the hallway on the upper floor of Alaskas SeaTac headquarters, he was relaxed as he spoke about the airlines future. Minicucci said hello to colleagues that walked by, giving off the air of a CEO who is often present in the office overlooking Sea-Tac Airport.

Originally from Montreal, Minicucci joined Alaska in 2004. He worked as vice president of maintenance, vice president of Seattle operations and president of Alaska Airlines, overseeing Alaskas 2016 acquisition of Virgin America. He took over as CEO from Brad Tilden in 2021. On Thursday, Alaska shareholders approved a compensation package worth $8.6 million for Minicucci in 2024, a dip from the $10.3 million awarded a year earlier.

Nearly five years into his tenure as CEO and nine months into Alaskas merger with Hawaiian Airlines, Minicucci said hes moving with more conviction than before.

With the Virgin acquisition, Alaska went slowly, spent a lot of time analyzing decisions and often said were not sure, Minicucci said. This time, We made a lot of the decisions out of the gate.

Betting on new routes

The calculation that goes into picking a new route is a mix of science and art, said Kirsten Amrine, who is in charge of planning Alaskas network of flights.

The science comes from numbers: Alaska can use industry data to see where and how frequently people are flying, and how much they are willing to pay.

The art is the reason Amrine and her team have jobs, Amrine joked in a recent interview. That side of the equation comes with knowing travelers and anticipating where Alaskas customers may want to go.

As an example, Amrine pointed to Alaskas decision to add a direct flight from Seattle to Belize in 2021.

The science didnt necessarily support that decision, Amrine said. But Alaskas network planning team knew Seattleites liked adventure and destinations that allowed them to get off the grid. Flights to Costa Rica performed well, so Alaska was willing to bet Belize would be the same.

Amrine considers that decision a success. The number of people flying from Seattle to Belize tripled.

Those types of route calculations are happening all the time. Amrine starts every Saturday morning looking at what changes Alaskas competitors have made to their network.

Alaska makes weekly changes as well. Those decisions are finalized by Wednesday morning, Amrine said.

But the airlines plans have a long tail. Alaska books out 331 days in advance, so the decisions made this Wednesday will affect flights in April 2026.

If Alaska is wrong on the science and the art of a destination, the biggest risk is opportunity cost, Amrine said. Every destination the airline picks means it cant take a chance on a different destination, so you want to think long-term, Amrine said.

Minicucci holds a similar view. Unlike construction, which can be hard to reverse, airplanes are meant to move, he said.

He pointed to a recent attempt to start nonstop routes from Seattle to the Bahamas in 2023. Alaska ended that Nassau flight this year, determining that the market wasnt there.

It didnt work, Minicucci said. Were going to flip that and put that airplane somewhere else.

Seattle is somewhat of a testing ground for Alaska, Minicucci said. When the airline expanded routes to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., for example, it started offering flights from Seattle, then Portland, then San Francisco and Los Angeles, and now San Diego.

Alaskas international expansion similarly is focused on Seattle now because we know thats going to work, Minicucci said. But in 10 years, in 20 years, as our airline continues to grow and do better, who knows where well fly (out of) internationally?

No longer all Boeing

The Hawaiian acquisition will put Alaska at odds with the tagline displayed on the nose of many of its planes: Proudly all Boeing.

As it integrates the two fleets, Alaska will inherit 24 widebody planes from Boeings European rival Airbus.

Its not the first time Alaska has inherited Airbus planes  it added 60 Airbus aircraft when it acquired Virgin America in a 2016 deal. But it spent the next few years retiring those Airbus planes, hoping to capitalize on the efficiency of operating just one type of plane. That can make it easier and less expensive to train pilots and keep up with maintenance. Alaska was finally proudly all Boeing in September 2023.

This time around, Alaska will keep the Airbus planes, Minicucci said, and is relying on them to prop up its trans-Pacific expansion.

The Airbus A319 and A320 narrowbody planes Alaska inherited when it acquired Virgin were too similar to the Boeing 737 planes it was already flying, Minicucci said. Comparatively, the A330 widebodies Alaska inherited from Hawaiian will add new capabilities to Alaskas fleet, allowing it to reach markets it couldnt access with the 737.

Alaska also expects to receive 12 of Boeings widebody equivalent, the 787 Dreamliner, by 2028.

We have all the arrows in our quiver, Minicucci said. That gives us the possibility of reaching pretty much wherever we want to go out of Seattle.

Because both Boeing and Airbus have such a large backlog of orders, it would have taken years for Alaska to receive the same Airbus widebody planes it is now gearing up to integrate into its fleet.

Moving away from proudly all Boeing, will add some complexities, Minicucci said, adding that he was confident his team could handle it smoothly. Pilots will go through additional training and simulations. Maintenance will require new facilities and tools. Even loading baggage on widebodies requires different equipment than that for the 737.

The Airbus A330s will be housed in Honolulu, using Hawaiians existing infrastructure. Alaska will build a new hangar to accommodate the Boeing 787 planes on the West Coast, though Minicucci couldnt yet say where.

Finalizing the merger

Alaska laid out four milestones on its path to integrate the two airlines.

First, it will combine frequent flyer programs. Then, it must receive a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, meaning the safety regulator has signed off that one set of management is in charge of both airlines and the combined carrier is operating safely.

Alaska plans to cross both those milestones by the end of the year.

After that, it will bring both airlines under one reservation system by mid-2026.

Lastly, it will combine the two unionized workforces and settle joint collective bargaining agreements. Those negotiations have already started and Alaska hopes to finalize agreements by 2027.

While Alaska is integrating Hawaiian into its operations, it wants to keep both brands distinct. So, even though customers will be able to use the same reservation system to book a flight on Alaska or Hawaiian, the onboard experience will be different. Flights to, from and within Hawaii will keep the Pualani logo on the planes tail.

Operating two distinct brands isnt something airlines usually do after a merger and Minicucci said he faced some skepticism about the decision. But hes totally convicted on doing so.

That brand is just too special. It has a lot of equity and value, especially in the state of Hawaii, he said. I am convicted and resolute that brand is there forever.

The concerns dont phase him, Minicucci continued. Just because its never been done, doesnt mean it cant be done.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
"Its always shocking when you can send that huge of a message to an entity like REI," said Joe Mizrahi, the secretary-treasurer for UFCW 3000. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

Three candidates for REIs board of directors were rejected by voting members, a win for a union that launched a campaign against the picks two months ago.

Two of the candidates were up for reelection, with their terms expiring this year. The other open spot was a point of contention for the REI union, which represents workers at 11 stores. Before the two-month election opened in early March, the union claimed REI had blocked candidates endorsed by the union and favored more corporate picks.

The unions message to members was to vote withhold. If the candidates didnt receive a simple majority of votes in their favor, the spots would remain vacant.

REIs biggest goal last year was to reach a neutral cash flow. It achieved that, but financial results show revenue ticking down.

These nominees will not be appointed to the open seats, the co-ops board Chair Chris Carr said in a statement. Per our bylaws, these three seats will remain vacant until filled by the board of directors.

Carr called the results disappointing. On Thursday, when REI announced the results of the election along with the co-ops financial results from 2024, CEO Mary Beth Laughton said the results are a big opportunity to listen to employees and members.

The two incumbent candidates were Liz Huebner, a former chief financial officer for Getty Images, and Michael McAfee, the CEO of PolicyLink, a national research institute.

The candidate for the open seat was Monica Schwartz, an executive vice president and chief digital officer of BJs Wholesale Club.

The remaining board members are Carr, a former chief operations officer of salad chain Sweetgreen; Edward Philip, a member of the United Airlines board; Karen Glover, a corporate lawyer and member of the United Way Worldwide board; Patricia Lopez, former CEO of Highridge Brands; Doug Mack, former CEO of Fanatics; and Sharon Philpott, who works in public accounting.

Laughton is also on the board because of her role in the company.

The union backed two candidates, Tefere Gebre and Shemona Moreno. Gebre is a chief program officer of Greenpeace USA and Moreno is the executive director of climate group 350 Seattle.

Even though REI kept my name off this years ballot, todays results are what my candidacy was all about, Gebre said in a statement. I ran for the Board because I wanted to advocate for greater transparency and democracy.

Joe Mizrahi, the secretary-treasurer for UFCW 3000, the union representing REI employees in Bellingham, said the results felt like a full-throated rebuke of the board and a show of solidarity with the fledgling union.

I was simultaneously shocked and unsurprised, he said. Not surprised the sentiment was there, but its always shocking when you can send that huge of a message to an entity like REI.

Somewhat echoing Laughtons statement, Mizrahi said he hopes REI views this as a positive as well and a way to reset the relationship between the co-op and its employees.

Laughton took over the top role from former CEO Eric Artz REI on March 31.

Shes leading REI at something of a crossroads. The companys financial results were red in 2022, posting $164 million in net loss even with a record $3.85 billion in revenue for the year. The red got worse in 2023 with $311 million in net loss.

For the third straight year, REI posted a loss in 2024. With $3.5 billion in revenue, the co-op reported a loss of $156 million

But the company says its in a good position for a profitable future. Laughton said in an interview with The Seattle Times that REIs cash flow is near a break-even point.

I think we have this foundation now to build off of, she said. What Im going to be focused on is ensuring were making smart choices for the long-term health of the co-op and of the business, because we do need to drive growth and profits so so that we can invest back into our employees and members.

REI faces the same headwinds affecting the broader outdoor retail industry.

Consumer demand has waned from the early pandemic years when shoppers pumped money into outdoor apparel companies. Fickle winters can hurt winter shopping seasons. A new looming threat is President Donald Trumps tariffs announced in April, which could put a strain on an industry dependent on goods sourced from other countries.

Laughton also acknowledged theres been a disconnect between the co-op and its members. Her plan to return to REIs roots has so far been focused on seeking out and listening to member feedback.

The co-op also recently received backlash for signing on to a letter that endorsed Trumps pick for secretary of the interior, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

The letter, from a roundtable of recreational companies and organizations, said Burgums support for outdoor recreation, the outdoor recreation economy, and the protection of public lands and waters, was in the roundtables best interest.

Burgum quickly became controversial after he took office on Feb. 1. Hes called for restoring the coal industry, ramping up natural resource extraction on untouched land in Alaska and building housing on federal lands.

In April, REI and Laughton addressed the letter, retracted the endorsement and apologized. She also noted that it had been signed before she took the CEO job.

Laughton told The Times that Trump administration aspirations to sell public lands sparked the apology.

The endorsement was at odds with our values, she said. We had to do the right thing to stay true to who we are.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Federal pandemic aid helped schools like Durham Elementary in Tigard pay for high-dose one-on-one tutoring to help students catch up after the pademic. The Trump administration tried to cut off the last of that money, but a federal judge said no. Julia Silverman | The Oregonian/OregonLive

A federal judge ordered the U.S. Department of Education this week to unfreeze the last of the pandemic relief money given to schools to help their students recover academically.

Oregon is among the 16 states that will benefit.

This is a win for Oregon students, Oregon Attorney General Day Rayfield said in a statement. These funds were supposed to help kids whove had it the hardest  students from low-income families and kids without stable housing."

He was among the attorneys general who had sued to get the funds released.

Trying to hold that support hostage over a political fight was just wrong, he said. We stepped in to stop it, and the court backed us up.

The federal government provided $189 billion in aid for schools during the COVID crisis and in its wake, giving them broad latitude in how to spend it.

Nearly all that money had been spent by this spring, but some school districts received deadline extensions that gave them additional time to use it. Districts spent it on things like after-school tutoring, summer school, social workers, college counselors, library books and renovations to make school buildings safer.

On March 28, Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a letter to school officials saying she had moved the deadline up  to that very day. She said the department would consider releasing some funds, but only on a project-by-project basis.

Extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Departments priorities, McMahon said.

The order unfreezing the money was issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos in New York City.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has unilaterally cut education funding and downsized the Education Department, leading to numerous legal challenges. The Trump administration also cut teacher-training programs that helped rural schools combat educator shortages and has threatened to withhold funding from schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

-- Moriah Balingit, AP education reporter

Oregonian/Oregonlive education editor Betsy Hammond education contributed to this report.

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
A shattered window is seen inside the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building on University of Washington's campus after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the building, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Nick Wagner/The Seattle Times via AP) AP

The University of Washington campus group that was behind the occupation of a building on Monday returned to campus Thursday afternoon to protest the suspension of 21 students.

About 100 people gathered outside of Gerberding Hall, site of the office of the president, to demand that UW reverse the students suspensions and ask the King County prosecutors office to drop criminal charges.

These suspensions and charges must be understood as a collaboration between the federal government, between Trumps regime, and this university, said Noah Weight, a member of Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return UW, or SUPER UW.

Protesters said Thursday that some of the 21 students who were in university housing have been evicted, and others with jobs on campus have been prohibited from going to work.

At least 31 people were arrested Monday evening after occupying the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building to protest the schools ties to Boeing. About 75 people dressed in black, faces covered, blockaded the building and caused damage, according to court documents. The university said the group started fires in two dumpsters on a street outside.

The protesters were arrested for investigation of first-degree criminal trespass, a gross misdemeanor. On Wednesday, the UW announced it suspended 21 students who were involved in the protest. Those students, and the other people who were arrested, are banned from campus.

This week, the Trump administration announced a review of Anti-Semitic Activity at the University of Washington to be conducted by the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration.

The federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism applauded the universitys strong statement condemning last nights violence and quick action by law enforcement officers to remove violent criminals from the university campus.

While these are good first steps, the university must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment, a news release said. The Task Force expects the institution to follow up with enforcement actions and policy changes that are clearly necessary to prevent these uprisings moving forward.

In a statement, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said no institution that tolerates violence, harassment, or the open intimidation of Jewish students should expect to receive billions in taxpayer support. The department did not answer a question about whether the administration intended to cut federal funding for UW.

The governments statement came as other U.S. institutions of higher learning face pressure from the White House. Columbia and Harvard universities have had funds suspended, and the Department of Education is investigating 60 colleges and universities nationwide for antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

At the rally, Weight contended the only people put in danger Monday night were the students inside the building, some of whom were Jewish.

They were put in danger because of the cops that the administration called ... to brutalize and beat their students, he said.

Thursday afternoon, a couple of bike police officers monitored the protest from afar, but the event ended with no arrests.

In a statement, UW spokesperson Victor Balta said Mondays actions involved immediate threats to safety for those inside and around the building. ... The UW takes safety and security seriously, and the response demonstrated that.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
From left, Xzavier Beacham, Bobby Bermea, Lester Purry, Ramona Lisa Alexander, Tessa May, and Ellis-Blake Hale in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." A grant for Portland Playhouse's production of the play was among many rescinded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Julia Varga

Its been the most tumultuous week ever, Brian Weaver said recently, days after being notified that the National Endowment for the Arts was withdrawing a $25,000 grant intended to support the Portland Playhouse production of August Wilsons Joe Turners Come and Gone, one of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights series of works that explore Black life in America.

Weaver, Portland Playhouses producing artistic director, isnt alone in being caught off-guard by the National Endowment of the Arts canceling and withdrawing grants, decisions that multiple arts and cultural groups learned about in emails sent out on May 2.
Oregon State University has acquired 3,110 acres of timber land near Forest Park which it plans to manage as research forest for logging, education and recreation. Trust for Public Land/Nick Grier

Oregon State University has acquired 3,110 acres of industrial timberland just outside Portland on the north edge of Forest Park and plans to run it as a working research forest for logging, education and recreation, the university announced Friday.

The Tualatin Mountain Forest, five miles northwest of Forest Park, will become the 10th research forest operated by OSUs College of Forestry and the only one near Portland and in a major urban area.
A sign in front of the entrance of the Security Administration's main campus on March 19, 2025, in Woodlawn, Maryland. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images/TNS) TNS

Rennie Glasgow, who has served 15 years at the Social Security Administration, is seeing something new on the job: dead people.

Theyre not really dead, of course. In four instances over the past few weeks, he told KFF Health News, his Schenectady, New York, office has seen people come in for whom there is no information on the record, just that they are dead. So employees have to resurrect them  affirm that theyre living, so they can receive their benefits.

Revivals were sporadic before, and theres been an uptick in such cases across upstate New York, said Glasgow. He is also an official with the American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represented 42,000 Social Security employees just before the start of President Donald Trumps second term.

Martin OMalley, who led the Social Security Administration toward the end of the Joe Biden administration, said in an interview that he had heard similar stories during a recent town hall in Racine, Wisconsin. In that room of 200 people, two people raised their hands and said they each had a friend who was wrongly marked as deceased when theyre very much alive, he said.

Its more than just an inconvenience, because other institutions rely on Social Security numbers to do business, Glasgow said. Being declared dead impacts their bank account. This impacts their insurance. This impacts their ability to work. This impacts their ability to get anything done in society.

They are terminating peoples financial lives, OMalley said.

Though its just one of the things advocates and lawyers worry about, these erroneous deaths come after a pair of initiatives from new leadership at the SSA to alter or update its databases of the living and the dead.

Holders of millions of Social Security numbers have been marked as deceased. Separately, according to The Washington Post and The New York Times, thousands of numbers belonging to immigrants have been purged, cutting them off from banks and commerce, in an effort to encourage these people to self-deport.

Glasgow said SSA employees received an agency email in April about the purge, instructing them how to resurrect beneficiaries wrongly marked dead. Why dont you just do due diligence to make sure what youre doing in the first place is correct? he said.

The incorrectly marked deaths are just a piece of the Trump administrations crash program purporting to root out fraud, modernize technology and secure the programs future.

But KFF Health News interviews with more than a dozen beneficiaries, advocates, lawyers, current and former employees, and lawmakers suggest the overhaul is making the agency worse at its primary job: sending checks to seniors, orphans, widows and those with disabilities.

Philadelphian Lisa Seda, who has cancer, has been struggling for weeks to sort out her 24-year-old nieces difficulties with Social Securitys disability insurance program. There are two problems: first, trying to change her nieces address; second, trying to figure out why the program is deducting roughly $400 a month for Medicare premiums, when her disability lawyer  whose firm has a policy against speaking on the record  believes they could be zero.

Since March, sometimes Social Security has direct-deposited payments to her nieces bank account and other times mailed checks to her old address. Attempting to sort that out has been a morass of long phone calls on hold and in-person trips seeking an appointment.

Before 2025, getting the agency to process changes was usually straightforward, her lawyer said. Not anymore.

The need is dire. If the agency halts the nieces disability payments, then she will be homeless, Seda recalled telling an agency employee. I dont know if Im going to survive this cancer or not, but there is nobody else to help her.

Some of the problems are technological. According to whistleblower information provided to Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, the agencys efforts to process certain data have been failing more frequently. When that happens, it can delay or even stop payments to Social Security recipients, the committee recently told the agencys inspector general.

While tech experts and former Social Security officials warn about the potential for a complete system crash, day-to-day decay can be an insidious and serious problem, said Kathleen Romig, formerly of the Social Security Administration and its advisory board and currently the director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Beneficiaries could struggle to get appointments or the money theyre owed, she said.

For its more than 70 million beneficiaries nationwide, Social Security is crucial. More than a third of recipients said they wouldnt be able to afford necessities if the checks stopped coming, according to National Academy of Social Insurance survey results published in January.

Advocates and lawyers say lately Social Security is failing to deliver, to a degree thats nearly unprecedented in their experience.

Carolyn Villers, executive director of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, said two of her members March payments were several days late. For one member that meant not being able to pay rent on time, she said. The delayed payment is not something Ive heard in the last 20 years.

When KFF Health News presented the agency with questions, Social Security officials passed them off to the White House. White House spokesperson Elizabeth Huston referred to Trumps resounding mandate to make government more efficient.

He has promised to protect social security, and every recipient will continue to receive their benefits, Huston said in an email. She did not provide specific, on-the-record responses to questions.

Complaints about missed payments are mushrooming. The Arizona attorney generals office had received approximately 40 complaints related to delayed or disrupted payments by early April, spokesperson Richie Taylor told KFF Health News.

A Connecticut agency assisting people on Medicare said complaints related to Social Security  which often helps administer payments and enroll patients in the government insurance program primarily for those over age 65  had nearly doubled in March compared with last year.

Lawyers representing beneficiaries say that, while the historically underfunded agency has always had its share of errors and inefficiencies, its getting worse as experienced employees have been let go.

Were seeing more mistakes being made, said James Ratchford, a lawyer in West Virginia with 17 years experience representing Social Security beneficiaries. Were seeing more things get dropped.

What gets dropped, sometimes, are records of basic transactions. Kim Beavers of Independence, Missouri, tried to complete a periodic ritual in February: filling out a disability update form saying she remains unable to work. But her scheduled payments in March and April didnt show.

She got an in-person appointment to untangle the problem  only to be told there was no record of her submission, despite her showing printouts of the relevant documents to the agency representative. Beavers has a new appointment scheduled for May, she said.

Social Security employees frequently cite missing records to explain their inability to solve problems when they meet with lawyers and beneficiaries. A disability lawyer whose firms policy does not allow them to be named had a particularly puzzling case: One client, a longtime Social Security disability recipient, had her benefits reassessed. After winning on appeal, the lawyer went back to the agency to have the payments restored  the recipient had been going without since February. But there was nothing there.

To be told theyve never been paid benefits before is just chaos, right? Unconditional chaos, the lawyer said.

Researchers and lawyers say they have a suspicion about whats behind the problems at Social Security: the Elon Musk-led effort to revamp the agency.

Some 7,000 SSA employees have reportedly been let go; OMalley has estimated that 3,000 more would leave the agency. As the workloads go up, the demoralization becomes deeper, and people burn out and leave, he predicted in an April hearing held by House Democrats. Its going to mean that if you go to a field office, youre going to see a heck of a lot more empty, closed windows.

The departures have hit the agencys regional payment centers hard. These centers help process and adjudicate some cases. Its the type of behind-the-scenes work in which the problems surface first, Romig said. But if the staff doesnt have enough time, those things languish.

Languishing can mean, in some cases, getting dropped by important programs like Medicare. Social Security often automatically deducts premiums, or otherwise administers payments, for the health program.

Lately, Melanie Lambert, a senior advocate at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, has seen an increasing number of cases in which the agency determines beneficiaries owe money to Medicare. The cash is sent to the payment centers, she said. And the checks just sit there.

Beneficiaries lose Medicare, and those terminations also tend to happen sooner than they should, based on Social Securitys own rules, putting people into a bureaucratic maze, Lambert said.

Employees technology is more often on the fritz. Theres issues every single day with our system. Every day, at a certain time, our system would go down automatically, said Glasgow, of Social Securitys Schenectady office. Those problems began in mid-March, he said.

The new problems leave Glasgow suspecting the worst. Its more work for less bodies, which will eventually hype up the inefficiency of our job and make us, make the agency, look as though its underperforming, and then a closer step to the privatization of the agency, he said.

-- Jodie Fleischer of Cox Media Group contributed to this report.

-- Darius Tahir KFF Health News (TNS)
The aliens will be back in McMinnville for the 25th time.

Well, 26th if you count the original sighting 75 years ago that started it all.

The McMenamins UFO Festival takes place May 16-17, with a lineup that offers presentations by ufologists for the true believers and costumed silliness to entertain even the skeptics.

The roots of the UFO Festival trace back to May 11, 1950, when Evelyn Trent went out to feed the chickens on her familys farm outside McMinnville and saw a large, metallic, disc-shaped object in the sky.

She called for her husband, Paul Trent, who snapped two photos of the object hovering above the fields before it vanished.

Seventy-five years ago this week, a McMinnville area farmer took two photos of what appeared to be UFOs. Those photos are still held up as some of the best evidence that flying saucers are real. Here is one of the two photos taken by the late Paul Trent. LC- Paul Trent

Paul showed the photos to a friend, who alerted the local Telephone Register newspaper.

From there, the photos were published in The Oregonian and Life magazine, and they drew international attention.

They also prompted an investigation by the U.S. Air Force, which in 1967 published an exhaustive study that concluded Trents photos were difficult to explain in a conventional way.

Paul Trent's 1950 photographs spawned an annual UFO Festival in McMinnville. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian) LC- Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The Trent incident would have remained a quirky piece of forgotten history had Tim Hills not discovered a news story about the photos at the Yamhill County Historical Society.

Hills was a historian working for the McMenamins hotel and restaurant chain, which had recently purchased the Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. Hill was researching the history of the hotel and McMinnville itself when he found the Trents story and saw an opportunity for the hotel to host an event.

The first UFO Festival was held in 2000. It was intended to be a one-time celebration, but the UFO Festival was a hit. The next year, the downtown association put on a parade, and the festival has only grown over the years.

No festival was held in 2020, making this the 25th annual event.

Scenes from the 2022 UFO Festival in McMinnville.

The Trent Photos, a 20-minute documentary on the Trent UFO sighting, will be screened at noon May 16 in Matties Room at Hotel Oregon. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.) A vendors fair, also free to attend, is open in downtown McMinnville from 3 to 8 p.m. May 16 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 17.

The signature event is the UFO Festival parade, which begins at noon Saturday, May 17, with a route through downtown. Costume contests  one for humans and one for pets  take place at 2 p.m. May 17.

This years speaker series, at the McMinnville Community Center, includes presentations by Brit Elders, Stanley Milford Jr., George Knapp with Jeremy Corbell, and Luis Elizondo. Some speaker events are sold out, but tickets for others are $28 and can be purchased online.

Find a full schedule of events and ticket options at ufofest.com.

 Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com.

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Phase3 and Sonatel have activated a new terrestrial fibre route stretching 3,500km from Lagos, Nigeria, to Dakar, Senegal.

The route will provide scalable, low-latency connectivity, boosting cloud and content capacity across West Africa.

This collaboration marks the next phase of Phase3s East-West fibre expansion, extending its Lagos-Accra corridor to reach Dakar, one of West Africas key digital hubs. This will provide a high-performance, land-based alternative to subsea systems, achieving latency as low as 32ms, and a much-needed layer of resilience for a region heavily impacted by the 2024 cable disruptions.

This isnt just a route, its a digital spine for West Africa, said Stanley Jegede, Executive Chairman of Phase 3. Weve created a secure, high-capacity terrestrial path linking Dakar to Lagos while interconnecting our major platforms.

By bridging networks through Benin, Togo, Ghana, and now through to Senegal, the new terrestrial path provides critical redundancy for hyperscalers, content networks, financial institutions, governments, and cloud providers. It also expands the Djoliba network from Ghana into Nigeria, while laying groundwork for Ikasira, Sonatels next-generation regional platform.

Weve designed this network for hyperscalers, CDNs, and operators that cant afford downtime, said Craig Lowe, Chief Growth Officer at Phase 3. This is about data sovereignty, application performance, and cloud transformation. And most importantly, its about building an internet that doesnt fail when the cables do.

The route is engineered for financial services, enterprise cloud workloads, public sector digitisation, and media streaming, ensuring cross-border interoperability and local access to cloud zones like AWS Wavelength, hosted by Sonatel in Dakar. It also helps reduce exposure to future subsea outages, supporting national digital strategies across the region.

El Hadji Maty Sene, Managing Director of Sonatel Wholesale and International, added: Dakar is emerging as a strategic connectivity hub for West Africa. With this route, clients benefit from diversified infrastructure, lower latency, and reliable access to global content.
A passenger jet flies past the FAA control tower at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport, Thursday, March 24, 2011. A control tower supervisor who was unavailable to aid two airliners that landed at the airport this week has been suspended from his operational duties pending an investigation, the top U.S. aviation official said Thursday. (AP (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Trump administration on Thursday proposed a multibillion-dollar overhaul of a U.S. air traffic control system that it said still relies on floppy disks and replacement parts found on eBay and has come under renewed scrutiny in the wake of recent deadly plane crashes and technical failures.

The plan calls for six new air traffic control centers, along with an array of technology and communications upgrades at all of the nations air traffic facilities over the next three or four years, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

We use radar from the 1970s, said Duffy, who compared the proposal with upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone. This technology is 50 years old that our controllers use to scan the skies and keep airplanes separated from one another.

How much it will all cost wasnt immediately revealed. Duffy said hell work with Congress on the details.

Its going to be billions, lots of billions, he said.

The plan has an aggressive timeline, calling on everything to be finished by 2028  although Duffy said it may take another year.

Demands to fix the aging system that handles more than 45,000 daily flights have increased since the midair collision in January between an Army helicopter and a commercial airliner that killed 67 people over Washington, D.C.

That crash  and a string of other crashes and mishaps  showed the immediate need for these upgrades, Duffy said in front of airline officials, union leaders and family members of those who died in the crash near Reagan National Airport.

The proposal sets out to add fiber, wireless or satellite technology at more than 4,600 locations, replace 618 radars and more than quadruple the number of airports with systems designed to reduce near misses on runways.

Six new air traffic control centers also would be built under the plan, and new hardware and software would be standardized across all air traffic facilities.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week budgeted $12.5 billion to overhaul the system, but that estimate came out before the Transportation Department revealed its plan. Duffy said the final price tag will be higher.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, who heads the House transportation committee, called the amount only a down payment.

To build the system quickly, as planned, Duffy said Congress must give the Federal Aviation Administration all the money up front and streamline the permitting process.

The system we have here? Its not worth saving. I dont need to preserve any of this. Its too old, Duffy said.

Trump said Thursday that the plan will revolutionize flying. The new equipment is unbelievable what it does, he said from the Oval Office. He began to say it may even alleviate the need for pilots before adding, In my opinion, you always need pilots. But you wouldnt even have to have pilots.

The newly revealed proposal appears to have wide support across the aviation industry  from airline CEOs to the unions representing controllers and pilots  but this is just the beginning and many details havent been revealed.

Duffy quickly said the plan will not involve privatizing the air traffic control system, as Trump had supported in his first term.

Following the midair crash near Washington, Trump promised to fix what he called an old, broken system and to tackle the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers while blaming the previous Biden administration for both problems.

But the weaknesses within the air traffic control system have been highlighted for years in hearings before Congress and government reports. The struggles to keep up with increasing air traffic has been recognized since the 1990s  long before either Trump or Biden took office.

The Trump administrations overhaul plan will need enough funding to be more effective than previous reform efforts during the last three decades. Already more than $14 billion has been invested in upgrades since 2003 but none have dramatically changed how the system works.

The FAA has been working since the mid-2000s to make upgrades through its NextGen program.

One of the biggest challenges with a massive upgrade is that the FAA must keep the current system operating while developing a new system and then find a way to seamlessly switch over. Thats partly why the agency has pursued more gradual improvements in the past.

The shortage of controllers and technical breakdowns came to the forefront in the last two weeks when a radar system briefly failed at the Newark, New Jersey, airport, leading to a wave of flight cancellations and delays.

Without the planned upgrades, those breakdowns will be repeated around the nation, Duffy said. Newark has been a prime example of what happens when this old equipment goes down, he said.

-- By JOSH FUNK and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

Associated Press reporter Will Weissert in Washington contributed.
Lincoln County Sheriff Adam Shanks and Deputy Abby Dorsey arrested Heide Lambert in Waldport City Council chambers on April 10, 2025, after she took a seat at the council table and declined to leave. Quinton Smith / Lincoln Chronicle

A Lincoln County Circuit Court judge ordered Waldport Mayor Heide Lambert temporarily reinstated to her post on Thursday, after the City Council voted to expel Lambert from office last month and she was arrested for taking her seat at the council table a week after that.

Lambert filed a lawsuit against the city Wednesday, claiming her ouster was unconstitutional. Just 24 hours later, Judge Sheryl Bachart acted by invalidating the councils April 3 vote to remove her from office while the judge listens to a recording of those proceedings, reviews the city charter and hears arguments from lawyers for Lambert and the city in coming weeks or months.

Its been a civic rollercoaster the past few days in the small Oregon coast town, where personalities and governing styles of the city manager and City Council have clashed with Lamberts. She took office in January, after winning 57% of the vote.

On Tuesday, Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace issued a memo saying she wouldnt prosecute Lambert for disorderly conduct after the sheriff arrested her for taking her seat at the council table at an April 10 City Council meeting.

On Thursday morning, the city responded by canceling its City Council meeting scheduled for that afternoon, stating that because the district attorney wont prosecute Lambert, the safety and security of the meeting cannot be ensured.

Also on Thursday, Bachart, the judge, paused an exclusionary notice that the city had given Lambert and that barred her from City Hall in any role other than a general citizen. The notice warned her that she might face further legal action, such as trespassing charges, if she violated it.

Lambert was pleased with the judges action.

I have a renewed faith in our democratic system today, she said. And it feels really great to get due process.

City Manager Dann Cutter on Thursday acknowledged the firestorm that has erupted on community Facebook sites over the mayors removal.

The city is relieved that this is finally in front of the courts where it should be, Cutter said in an email, instead of being played out in social media.

 Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky.

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Shemia Fagan appeared before the Oregon Government Ethics Commission on Friday, May 9, 2025. "I know that my actions were indefensible. Embarrassing mistakes. Bad judgment. And Im sorry," she said. (Aimee Green/The Oregonian)

Oregons ethics commission on Friday rejected a staff-proposed penalty of $1,600 for former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and instead levied $3,600 in fines for ethical lapses that led to her resignation from office in 2023.

In rejecting the proposed $1,600 penalty, several commissioners on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission said the states second highest elected official should be held to loftier standards and her actions amounted to a significant violation of public trust.

But commissioners also said they appreciated an apology Fagan made just before their vote.

For most of 2023, I have imagined the chance to sit here and defend myself, Fagan told commissioners. And then I spent the last two years in bittersweet reflection on my time in politics and now Im sitting here. And I know that my actions were indefensible. Embarrassing mistakes. Bad judgment. And Im sorry.

She continued: And so whatever fine you decide to impose on me today, I will accept it.

Daniel Mason, a Hillsboro Republican who has worked as a property management executive and run three times for the state representative, pushed hardest for its members to vote down the original amount.

I am sympathetic for what the former secretary has gone through, Mason said. Im sure its been a very challenging time for her. I also believe she has been a maker of her own misery.

During a second vote, to approve $3,600 in penalties, Mason was the sole commissioner to reject that amount, as well. Mason didnt specify what he thought an appropriate monetary punishment would be.

A political freefall

Fagan, a lawyer and former state lawmaker, was a rising star in the Democratic party and in 2021 won election to the states second highest office, one step below the governor. But she resigned in May 2023 while an ethics investigation was underway into whether she used her public office for private gain by taking a $10,000-a-month consulting job with a marijuana company while her office was auditing the industry.

That side gig paid more than the $77,000 a year she made as secretary of state, a salary that she said wasnt enough to make ends meet.

A federal investigation into whether Fagan committed any crimes concluded last December without any charges filed.

In levying its penalties, the ethics commission found that Fagan had overstepped state ethics rules by obtaining the side contract with Veriede, an associated company with cannabis store operator La Mota. The commission also found that she sought and received $1,089 in reimbursed travel expenses that she wasnt entitled to while traveling the state with her family and dog. The state paid for more expensive hotel rooms and a larger rental car to accommodate them, as first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The original, proposed penalty called for $1,100 of it to roughly cover the extra taxpayer dollars that paid for Fagans family and dog to travel with her. An additional $500 was meant to punish her for taking the cannabis consulting side job.

Several commissioners reasoned that Fagan should face a greater financial consequence for the side job. After leaving the room for about 10 minutes and negotiating with staff, Fagan and her attorney agreed to $2,500 for that lapse  five times the original amount.

Fagans total penalty then rose to $3,600.

Her attorney, David Elkanich, said Fagan was ready to accept accountability for her actions.

She understands that she broke the public trust and regrets her prior conduct, Elkanich said.

Not all commissioners thought Fagans actions warranted a stiffer penalty. Shenoa Payne, a Portland Democrat and vice chair of the commission, said she didnt believe Fagan should be fined anything for taking the cannabis consulting job.

I feel like there has to be more there, said Payne, who also works as an appellate lawyer.

Richard Burke, a West Linn Republican who runs a nonprofit that teaches people how to run for local office, was among commissioners who thought the original penalty let Fagan off too easy.

This is an elected statewide official, Burke said. And I think we need to do a little more here to send the appropriate signal  that these sorts of violations will be taken seriously.

Fagan previously disputed any wrongdoing

The ethics commission, in its stipulated final order last week, stated that Fagan did not make any decisions or recommendations related to the audit of the states cannabis program that would have constituted an ethics violation.

However, according to the order, employing a secretary of state as a consultant could appear as an endorsement. Commission investigators also found no evidence that Veriede, the company Fagan had agreed to work for, had conducted a competitive process for filling the position or had a history of offering similar consulting positions to others.

It noted, too, that Fagan, an attorney and former lawmaker, lacked significant experience in cannabis regulation.

The order said Rosa Cazares, a Veriede owner, was friends with Fagan and the opportunity to serve as a temporary consultant and an eventual board member arose during a personal social outing between the women.

The order states that the commission weighed those factors, and others, in concluding that Fagan used her position to gain private employment.

Fagan took issue with the commissions inquiry, arguing that it failed to produce evidence of wrongdoing.

On the contrary, Shemia Fagan contends that there is substantial evidence that she was offered her position with Veriede for reasons other than being secretary of state and further, that she expressly guarded against her or Veriede using her public position for any private gain, the order states.

After Fridays meeting, Fagan and her attorney declined to answer questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Those questions included what Fagan plans to do for a living now. Her law license was reinstated in April, though the Oregon State Bar is investigating her for alleged ethical violations to its code of conduct.

 Aimee Green covers the Oregon Legislature. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.

 Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com.
Oregon will soon have a new senator: Courtney Neron of Wilsonville. County commissioners now must select a Democrat to finish her term in the House. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

State Rep. Courtney Neron, a Wilsonville Democrat, will move to the Senate after county commissioners tapped her to finish the remainder of Sen. Aaron Woods term.

Nerons appointment, at the end of a nearly two-hour meeting with Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill county commissioners Wednesday evening, comes after Woods April death from cancer. It will trigger another appointment process to select a Democrat to finish her House term.

Both Neron and whoever replaces her in the state House will serve until January of 2027, with the ability to run for a full term in 2026.

Neron was local Democratic officials top choice for the appointment and beat out energy consultant Dave Backen and Tigard City Councilor Jeanette Shaw. Backen threw his support behind Neron while speaking to commissioners, saying she was the best person for the position.

Neron is in her fourth term in the House and chairs the House Education Committee. She grew up in Metzger and Tigard, attended and taught at Tigard High School and lives with her family in Wilsonville.

-- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
The majority of justices found that such magazines arent arms, instead viewing them as a modifier or an attachment to a weapon.

The Washington state Supreme Court has upheld a state law that bans the sale or transfer of gun ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

In a 7-2 ruling issued Thursday, the court found that the law does not violate the state or federal constitutional right to bear arms. The court found that the magazines are not classified as arms, and that the right to purchase the magazines is not an ancillary right necessary to the realization of the core right to possess a firearm in self-defense.

The law does not prohibit the possession of high-capacity magazines possessed at the time of its passage, but instead prevents the sale, transfer or import of new magazines.

By restricting only magazines of a capacity greater than 10, the statute effectively regulates the maximum capacity of magazines, leaving the weapon fully functional for its intended purpose. Thus, we are not convinced that the restriction here renders the right to bear arms in self-defense meaningless, Justice Charles Johnson wrote in the opinion. Indeed, we can safely say that individuals are still able to exercise the core right to bear arms when they are limited to purchasing magazines with a capacity of 10 or fewer.

In a dissent, Gordon McCloud wrote, Millions of law-abiding people have chosen semiautomatic firearms as the primary tool for lawful purposes such as self-defense in the home.

Millions of people have chosen to feed ammunition into those commonly used firearms with magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, McCloud wrote. It necessarily follows that the Second Amendment protects the arms-bearing conduct at issue here, that is, keeping and bearing operable semiautomatic firearms with commonly used magazines for self-defense and other lawful purposes  including in the home.

Adopted by the Washington legislature in 2022, the law was challenged by Gators Custom Guns, a Kelso-based gun store that contended the law was unconstitutional. A Cowlitz County Superior Court judge ruled in the stores favor last June, a ruling that then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson appealed to the state Supreme Court.

But in Thursdays ruling, the majority of justices found that such magazines arent arms, instead viewing them as a modifier or an attachment to a weapon. They argued that high-capacity magazines arent typically used for self-defense.

Gators attorneys had contended that such magazines popularity demonstrates that they align with a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that protects firearms that are in common use and generally owned by law-abiding citizens for legal reasons.

They also claimed such ammunition magazines are used for self-defense, an argument with which the majority of justices disagreed.

The states ban, passed in 2022, is similar to restrictions in at least 13 other states across the U.S. Such laws have also led to legal challenges.

In Oregon, the voter-approved Measure 114 would limit gun magazine capacity to 10 or fewer rounds, but it has not been allowed to take effect since it passed in November 2022 with 50.7% of the vote. Gun owners challenging the measure have petitioned the Oregon Supreme Court to overturn a lower appellate court ruling declaring the measure constitutional.

Washington state leaders applauded  and decried  the state Supreme Courts ruling on Thursday.

Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh said in an interview that he was disappointed but not surprised by the news. He described the argument that a firearm mechanism isnt part of the arm as nonsense.

Our state Supreme Court just keeps making a fool out of itself, said Walsh, whos also a Republican state representative from Aberdeen.

He added: This will end up in federal court, by hook or by crook.

But state Attorney General Nick Brown cheered on the decision, saying that it will save lives.

Large capacity magazines are used in the overwhelming majority of mass shootings, and reducing the toll of these senseless killings is vitally important, Brown said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Im proud of my Offices work defending our state law banning the sale of these dangerous items.

--The Tacoma News Tribune and Spokesman Review of Spokane contributed
Em Konz recalled scanning her phone in an out-of-the-way spot on the grounds of the da Vinci Arts Middle School when a boy walked up and chatted with her before cornering her, ordering her to be quiet and raping her.

She was 12.
Its never a bad time to cuddle up (or, on a sunny day, sprawl out) with a good book  and now, youll know just where to find your next great read.

Last week, The Oregonians Readers Choice Awards asked readers to chime in with their favorite local bookstores. Hundreds of votes later, the results are in. Here are the five best bookstores in the Portland area, according to you.
The former Lightbox diamond factory in Gresham, owned by De Beers. It is now known as Element Six. Element Six photo

De Beers Group is getting out of the business for lab-made diamond jewelry, shutting down its Lightbox brand and refocusing on naturally occurring gems after a steep decline in the price of manufactured diamonds.

Lightbox diamonds come from a $100 million factory in Gresham that opened five years ago. The Oregon site will continue operating, De Beers said this week, but will now make diamonds for semiconductor manufacturers and other industrial customers.

The planned closure of Lightbox reflects our commitment to natural diamonds. We are also excited at the growing commercial potential for synthetic diamonds in the technology and industrial space, Al Cook, De Beers CEO, said in a written statement Thursday.

Lab-grown diamonds have upended the jewelry market. Its far less expensive to make a high-quality diamond in a factory than it is to mine a comparable diamond from the earth.

With Lightbox, De Beers sought to have it both ways  continuing to offer natural diamonds at a premium price while selling lab-made diamonds for far less.

It didnt work. De Beers said Thursday that the wholesale price of lab-made diamonds has plunged 90%.

Engagement rings featuring large, lab-grown diamonds are now available from mass retailers like Walmart for just a few hundred dollars  a tiny fraction of what a comparable ring would cost with natural diamonds.

In the US, supermarkets are driving down lab-grown diamond jewelry prices. Overall, we expect both the cost and price of lab-grown diamonds to fall further in the jewelry sector, Cook said.

De Beers said the chemical process it uses to manufacture diamonds still has value because it can be applied to industrial products. Element Six, De Beers manufacturing subsidiary, will centralize its production at the Gresham site.

Manufacturing diamonds is a technical, energy-intensive process. De Beers said it picked Gresham for its diamond factory because Northwest electricity is relatively inexpensive and because the region has an established base of advanced manufacturing workers.

The Oregon factory received $4.5 million in property tax exemptions and a $300,000 state subsidy.

De Beers Gresham factory employed 60 people when it opened in 2020. The company didnt respond Friday to inquiries about how many people work there now and whether staffing levels will change.

Update, May 12: De Beers says 50 people now work at the site.

-- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
The head of Washington Countys sewer district tendered her resignation this week in the aftermath of an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive that uncovered lavish spending at the public agency.

Clean Water Services CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis told the sewer board that she is stepping down from the position shes held since 2018, the agency announced Thursday. Her final day will be June 6.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported in March that executives from Clean Water Services, the states second-largest sewer agency, stayed in luxury resorts during annual business trips to Hawaii that cost tens of thousands of dollars and that the agency paid $440,000 on local and travel meals over five years  four times more than its two metro area counterparts spent on food during that time combined.

A noteworthy amount of that questionable spending was by Taniguchi-Dennis, who as recently as last week appeared to be fighting to keep her job as board members expressed skepticism over her plan to restore public trust in the agency.

Washington County Commissioner Pam Treece, who serves on the Clean Water Services board alongside her fellow commissioners, said in a phone call Thursday that she appreciated Taniguchi-Dennis decision to resign. She declined to comment on the circumstances that led to the resignation.

Its a difficult time, Treece said. Weve been through a difficult process and I want to make sure we are supportive of our customers, employees and partners in this process. Its not easy.

Taniguchi-Dennis is among several sewer executives who traveled to Hawaii for business trips that cost at least $91,000. She and others stayed at a rotating cast of five-star resorts that hosted annual insurance conferences, but Taniguchi-Denniss trips typically cost more than others. Her combined premium lodging and first-class airfare for a 2023 insurance conference on the Big Island, for example, cost nearly $8,400. The agency said the trip was booked as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Oregon law even though that hotel advertises accessible rooms at all price points, not just in Gold rooms or suites.

Meanwhile, Taniguchi-Dennis also regularly dined out locally during the time period reviewed by the newsroom, spending at least $5,100 in under two years on meals she shared with some of her top executives.

To date, Taniguchi-Dennis has not provided an explanation for the spending or agreed to be interviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive. She said in a statement released nearly three weeks after the newsrooms report that she took the investigation seriously.

Acknowledging the need for more oversight, Washington Countys sewer board last month adopted new measures for the agency and required Taniguchi-Dennis to work with it on a plan to restore the trust of the community, local government partners, employees, and the board.

But when Taniguchi-Dennis presented the agencys progress implementing that plan three weeks later, on April 30, the board was not impressed. Officials chided her for failing to provide sufficient details or outline bold action during a presentation where she read from prepared slides that included only vague descriptions and lacked timelines.

Your actions and your communication with this board has fallen off since early last fall and you need to take ownership for that and turn that ship around, Kathryn Harrington, who serves as both Washington County chair and the chair of the sewer board, said during the meeting.

Harrington did not respond to a request for comment from The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday.

During the April 30 meeting, Taniguchi-Dennis, an engineer by trade who first joined the agency as deputy general manager in 2011, reiterated that she believed she was the right person to lead Clean Water Services. She told the board she planned to step down in the next couple years and recommended that the agency begin a search for her replacement in the summer of 2026.

But in an email to colleagues sent Thursday, Taniguchi-Dennis said she decided to resign.

This was an extremely difficult decision, wrote Taniguchi-Dennis, who did not respond to a request for comment from the newsroom. Ultimately, it became clear to me that stepping down was the right thing to do for both the organization and my health. I am hopeful that my decision will create space for individual and organizational healing and renewal.

Ratepayer Mike McDonnell said Taniguchi-Dennis resignation is an important first step in helping restore his trust in the agency. He questioned why it took reporting from a newspaper for the sewer board to provide strong oversight but praised it for asking tough questions of Taniguchi-Dennis.

It certainly builds some trust with our county commissioners, McDonnell said. We still have to see what happens within the agency, if behaviors change.

It was not immediately clear whether Taniguchi-Dennis will receive any sort of severance package. A spokesperson for Clean Water Services did not respond to questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday seeking Taniguchi-Dennis resignation letter and the financial terms of her resignation. Taniguchi-Dennis submitted her resignation Wednesday.

The board is not required to provide severance to Taniguchi-Dennis if she resigns, according to her most recent contract, which the board approved two weeks before publication of the newsrooms investigation. However, the board can decide to provide severance pay of up to 1,040 hours of base salary if Taniguchi-Dennis provides the district with written advance notice of her decision to resign from employment, the contract states.

Taniguchi-Dennis now makes a base salary of $357,000, according to the agency, but she earned a total salary of nearly $400,000 last year. Separately, Taniguchi-Dennis filed retirement paperwork in 2023, enabling her to earn what is now an annual benefit of $147,119 from the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System on top of her regular salary.

Clean Water Services has yet to disclose performance evaluations for Taniguchi-Dennis requested by the newsroom on April 11, among other records.

In a press release Thursday, the sewer board expressed its gratitude for Taniguchi-Dennis and said it was committed to supporting the operational success of Clean Water Services and its employees without interruption. The board said it would announce an interim executive director and launch a national search for a replacement in the coming weeks.

Clean Water Services provides wastewater treatment, stormwater management and watershed enhancement to about 610,000 people in Washington County. It is largely supported by funds collected from ratepayers. Officials expect to receive nearly $187 million in service charges this fiscal year from businesses and homeowners, whose rates rose 4% this year.

The agencys budget committee is meeting Friday and on May 23 to review its proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which includes another 4% rate increase. The agency announced this week that the rate adjustment will be further reviewed in a June 3 board meeting in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances.

 Jamie Goldberg oversees The Oregonian/OregonLives politics, education and homelessness coverage. She can be reached at jgoldberg@oregonian.com or 503-221-8228. You can find her on X at @jamiebgoldberg or Bluesky at @jamiebgoldberg.bsky.social.
A road that has been cleared by a firefighting dozer in the Lookout Mountain region in eastern Oregon near Durkee, OR on Sun., July 28, 2024. The Thompson wildfire has burned through much of the area in recent days. Dave Killen / The Oregonian

SEATTLE  Trump administration funding cuts and a loss of federal workers who help support wildland firefighting continues to make planning for the upcoming wildfire season a challenge, according to forest and fire officials in Washington state and Oregon.

The biggest issue theyre facing is a lack of communication from the federal government as the West faces a pretty significant wildland fire season, Washington State Forester George Geissler said Thursday during a press conference hosted by Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Jeff Merkley of Oregon.

This is the time when we make certain that we have the aviation we need, when we have the personnel we need and that all of our systems check out and are ready to go when the alarm bell rings, he said. Without knowing what our partners are doing or not having a clear understanding of what actions are being taken, we struggle with missing the third leg of the stool that we have.

The Forest Service workforce was cut in February during Elon Musks push to reduce federal spending, and at least 1,000 National Park Service workers were let go. A court order to rehire fired workers, along with a public outcry brought many workers back to their jobs, but Murray and fire officials say it wasnt enough. Plus, the loss of experienced, trained workers set the process back.

Were hearing that, Dont worry, we are going to hire frontline people, Murray said. You just let a whole bunch of frontline people go.

A spokesperson with the Department of Interior, which oversees National Parks and other public lands, said funding is not in jeopardy. Theyre supporting firefighting efforts by increasing pay for federal and tribal wildland firefighters across the U.S.

The administration has refused to release the exact number of fired and rehired workers, but numbers are coming in from individual forests, Murray said.

Ive heard of at least 35 people at Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, 46 at Okanagan-Wenatchee, 21 at Colville, 15 at Gifford-Pinchot, and more at the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Olympic National Forest and Methow Valley, she said. Heres the thing, nearly every single Forest Service employee supports fire operations in some capacity.

Fire Chief Leonard Johnson, with the McLane Black Fire Department in Washington state, said they may line up aviation support and heavy equipment, but it takes trained firefighters to put the fires out.

We have a high reliance on that workforce out there, he said. Not only at the local level, at the state level, but at the federal level to make our wildfire season successful to deal with those large fires. People are the critical component in all of this.

Oregon saw a record wildfire season last year. The U.S. government owns 32 million acres of land in Oregon  more than half the land in the state  which is primarily managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Last summer the two agencies saw 1.6 million acres of that property go up in smoke.

Merkley said Trumps budget proposal cuts forest and watershed management programs that improve forest conditions, eliminates a collaborative forest landscape restoration program and slashes 2,000 National Forest positions, on top of the thousands who left through early retirement, buyouts and layoffs.

Most of those workers may not have the title firefighter but they all hold Red Cards - which shows they have special training to provide essential frontline support to firefighting crews, Murray said.

In fact, around three quarters of forest service workers are trained in wild land firefighting, she said. They provide crucial surge capacity when a crisis strikes.

Trail maintenance crews ensure the paths are clear for firefighting personnel and equipment, Murray said. Biologists conduct testing to make decisions about prescribed burns and fuel reduction planning.

We are here today to pull the fire alarm, and were gonna set off some sirens, she said. Were going to keep focused on this, and we are gonna keep pushing back. There is just too much at stake to do anything less.

-- The Associated Press
You need to have an edge over your competitors and clearly know what it is. Im lucky to have a unique product that is patent-pending. But it doesnt have to be a unique product, it could be the community, the location, the service, or anything else that makes you different.

Fiona Raphael, an Aussie mum and lawyer, never imagined starting a business. But on maternity leave, a simple experiment of storing veggies in a damp cotton and PUL bag sparked The Produce Pod.

Sales trickled for nine months, but in 2023, an influencer image led to orders blasting off, selling out within days. From $50,000 to almost $250,000 in one year, Fionas innovation now helps families across Australia save and avoid waste. Her story is this Founder Friday, a mothers passion turning a fridge hack into a thriving, sustainable business.

The birth of The Produce Pod

Fionas decision to launch her business stemmed from a common problem: keeping vegetables fresh. Ive struggled with veggie storage, probably like most people, she shared. She tried various methods, but nothing seemed to work. Her turning point came unexpectedly when she wasnt focused on solving storage problems but reducing plastic waste. I loved the idea of using PUL bags instead of plastic ones because theyre reusable and machine washable, Fiona explained. She envisioned a world free of plastic bags.

It was during her quest to cut down on plastic that Fiona had an epiphany. She wondered how her veggies might last if stored in a PUL bag instead of a plastic one. I decided to try a damp cotton layer surrounded by PUL, Fiona recounted. The results amazed her. Condensation, which normally leads to rotting, seemed to escape from the bag, and veggies lasted much longer. She shared her discovery with her sister, but didnt think of turning it into a business just yet.

I had never envisioned myself starting a business, but I felt that this was an opportunity too good to pass up and I just had to give it a go.

It wasnt until a chance encounter with a bunch of mint from Woolworths in early 2022 that Fiona began to consider the potential of her idea. After forgetting about the mint for three weeks, she was astonished to find it in pristine condition. I expected to find a wilted mess, but I was totally shocked to find the mint in pristine condition, Fiona recalled. She continued to test the storage method, eventually keeping the mint fresh for over six weeks. At six weeks, ninety percent of the bunch was still fresh and green. I was shocked, and I started to think I had discovered something amazing, she said.

Although Fiona never envisioned herself starting a business, she felt compelled to pursue this unexpected opportunity. I had never envisioned myself starting a business, but I felt that this was an opportunity too good to pass up, she explained. And thus, The Produce Pod was born.

Fiona Raphael attributed much of The Produce Pods growth to her strategic use of social media, which she decided to leverage from the very beginning. I knew from the start that I would be leveraging social media as much as possible because I didnt have the budget or the confidence to spend big on marketing, Fiona explained. Instagram was her platform of choice, and she realized that video would be the perfect way to showcase the effectiveness of her product. Video was the perfect medium to demonstrate the difference in longevity between veggies kept in a container or plastic bag versus veggies kept in a Produce Pod, she noted. Even before she had a fully developed prototype, Fiona began creating and sharing videos to build awareness.

Though the organic strategy took time to gain momentum, Fiona was patient. The downside to the organic strategy was that growth was slow to start off with. However, the upside was that it wasnt costing me money, and I was content to take it slow, she reflected. For months, the sales came in slowly, but everything changed when a caravanning influencer shared her positive experience with the Produce Pods. It was a genuine recommendation, which is something that money cant buy! Fiona said, noting how the endorsement led to hundreds of sales and a complete sell-out in just a few days.

Standing out in a crowded market

Fionas strategy evolved as the business grew. She continued to collaborate with influencers and affiliates while also integrating meta ads into her approach. They work well together because UGC style ads are the best performing creative, she shared. This combination of organic content and targeted advertising has played a key role in The Produce Pods success.

The Produce Pod stands out in a crowded market by addressing the specific challenges that Fiona Raphael once faced herself. The Produce Pod has a combination of features that you dont find in other veggie storage options, she said. Many customers, like Fiona, struggle with the environmental and practical downsides of traditional storage methods. Plastic bags are a disaster for the environment, and they promote rotting, Fiona explained. On the other hand, containers tend to be bulky, trap condensation, and are particularly inconvenient for storing whole vegetables.

The Produce Pod offers a solution to all of these problems. Its reusable and machine washable, which is fantastic from an environmental perspective, Fiona pointed out. The product is designed to be compact and adaptable, able to squish down to fit into tight spaces. Its useful for anyone whos short on space, but essential for people with small fridges such as those in caravans, she said. The convenience doesnt stop there: theres no need to separate different veggies into different bags, making it a practical solution for busy people. And most importantly, it works incredibly well to extend the longevity of vegetables, Fiona emphasized.

In addition to its functionality, the Produce Pod also features eye-catching artwork, making it a standout item both on the shelf and as a gift. We also have really eye-catching artwork on the Pods, which makes it stand out on the shelf and its a beautiful gift, Fiona noted.

At its core, The Produce Pod appeals to customers who are passionate about reducing plastic and food waste but need a practical solution that fits their busy lives and often overstuffed fridges. Our customers are people like myself who are sick of plastic waste and food waste, but who need a convenient solution that fits into their busy life and their over-full fridge, Fiona explained.

One of the biggest challenges Fiona faced in growing The Produce Pod was managing the rapid increase in demand. The rapid growth of the business was an enormous challenge, she admitted. The systems that worked when she was handling just a few orders a week were quickly overwhelmed when the business scaled up. The systems I was relying on to manage a handful of orders each week were inadequate when it became a few hundred orders in a week, Fiona explained.

Lessons in delegation

When the time came to outsource and set up some systems I found it hard to let go of the personal oversight, as well as committing to the cost associated with having other people take on certain tasks

At the start, Fiona had been intentional about keeping costs low by managing everything herself. Its a difficult balance because I was quite intentional about keeping costs low at the beginning by doing everything myself, she said. However, as the business grew, she realized she had to let go of some tasks and outsource certain aspects of the business. When the time came to outsource and set up some systems, I found it hard to let go of the personal oversight, as well as committing to the cost associated with having other people take on certain tasks, she reflected.

Ultimately, Fiona recognized that scaling required better systems and delegation. If you want to grow and scale, even if youre talking relatively small scale, you do need efficient systems that wont break when you get an influx of orders, she noted. Additionally, outsourcing certain tasks allowed her to focus on long-term growth. Its also essential if you want to free up your time for strategic growth. Its been said a thousand times, but you cant be working on your business if youre working in your business, Fiona added. Once she outsourced functions like packaging, order fulfillment, and running ads, she was able to dedicate her time to thinking about how to expand her business.

Through her experiences with The Produce Pod, Fiona has learned some important lessons that have shaped her journey. It took me a while to realise how much knowledge is already out there and how much I could learn from others who have already done what Im doing, she shared. In the early days, Fiona was navigating the business on her own, learning as she went. For the first year or so I was really winging it with very little guidance, she admitted.

It wasnt until the business grew and became harder to manage that she began reaching out to others in the ecommerce industry. It was only when the business started growing and getting unmanageable for me that I started reaching out and making friends in the ecommerce industry, she explained. Learning from the successes and failures of others has been invaluable to Fiona. Learning from their successes and failures has been invaluable.

Another lesson Fiona emphasizes is the importance of understanding the financial side of the business, even if its not her natural strength. Ive also found that its essential to know your numbers, she said. Although she doesnt consider herself a numbers person, Fiona quickly realized how crucial it is to keep track of cash flow in the unpredictable world of ecommerce. Cash-flow is all over the place in ecommerce, and you really need to know where you stand, she pointed out.

As a successful entrepreneur, Fiona Raphael has some valuable advice for anyone looking to start their own business. First and foremost, she stresses the importance of having a clear edge over your competitors. You need to have an edge over your competitors and clearly know what it is, she emphasized. The ecommerce space is highly competitive, with many brands vying for the same customers. Fiona considers herself fortunate to have a unique product that is patent-pending, but she believes that innovation can take many forms. It doesnt have to be a unique product; it could be the community, the location, the service, or anything else that makes you different, she said.

Another key lesson Fiona shares is the need for patience and persistence. Patience and persistence are essential, she stressed. Entrepreneurship often comes with its fair share of disappointments, slow sales periods, and logistical hurdles. You are signing up for lots of disappointments, slow sales periods, self-doubt, and logistical challenges, Fiona acknowledged. However, she reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that building a brand takes time and resilience. But building a brand takes time, and you need to be able to weather the storm, she concluded.

You can find the Produce Pods at www.producepod.com.au

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Republican lawmakers have suggested rejecting a controversial proposal to have Oklahoma public schools ask for proof of U.S. citizenship during enrollment.

The rule has drawn opposition from Gov. Kevin Stitt, advocates within Oklahomas Latino community and residents who spoke up against requiring schools to check students immigration status. If the rule passes, schools would have to report to the state the number of students they enroll who couldnt verify their U.S. citizenship or legal residency.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters said he suggested the rule to better account for school resources needed to serve immigrant students, like English learner programs. He said his administration would turn over the collected information to federal authorities, if asked, and would support immigration raids in schools.

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Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, filed Senate Joint Resolution 22 on Thursday to make several line-item disapprovals of Walters proposed administrative rules from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, including a rejection of the entire immigration measure.

Bergstrom leads the Senate Administrative Rules Committee, and his House counterpart, Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, is a co-author of the resolution.

During a committee meeting Monday, Kendrix said he and Bergstrom worked together to draft the language. He said SJR 22 is one of three Senate resolutions that should reach the House committee in short order, I hope.

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Each would have to pass a vote by the Senate committee and the full Senate before migrating to the House.

The Senate Administrative Rules Committee is scheduled to meet at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Bergstrom could not be reached for comment.

Bergstrom and Kendrixs resolution also would reject a rule that would require all public school teachers to pass a written version of the U.S. Naturalization Test. Both Republicans and Democrats in the House expressed concerns about the rule potentially driving away qualified teachers.

Walters office did not return a request for comment.

Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a nation 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations focused on delivering state government news. The Voice maintains full editorial independence. For more stories by Oklahoma Voice go to oklahomavoice.com.
Newly posted on the blog of the perpetually unchanging, completely comatose website of the Interpreter Foundation:

My Favorite Chiasm in the Book of Mormon, written by Mark Skousen

The Temple: Plates, Patterns, & Patriarchs: Jacobs Temple Journey to Haran and Back, written by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw and Matthew L. Bowen

Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in The Temple: Plates, Patterns, & Patriarchs, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-plates-patterns-patriarchs/. For video and audio recording of this conference talk, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2022-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/videos/bradshaw/. Members of the Church sometimes approach learning about the temple in a piecemeal fashion. For example, in attempting to grasp the scope and richness of the ordinances, they may focus their initial attention on understanding the meaning of specific symbols used in scripture and temple worship one by one. While there is much that can be learned from this kind of study, most of us not only struggle with the meaning of individual concepts and symbols but alsoand more cruciallyin understanding how these concepts and symbols fit together as a whole system. The symbols and concepts of the temple are best understood not in isolation but within the full context of the plan of salvation to which they belong.

And dont forget the Interpreter Foundation conference that will be held on the campus of Brigham Young University this coming Saturday, devoted to the topic of Abraham and His Family in Scripture, History, and Tradition.

As a small constituent part of a long-term project that Im working on, Ill be extracting notes over the next several weeks or (more likely) months from John W. Welch, ed., Reexploring the Book of Mormon: A Decade of New Research (Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book, 1992), and intermittently sharing them here. They represent the state of the questions as of the early 1990s and, in many cases, they will need to be fleshed out with whatever developments may have occurred over the past thirty-three years. (Its also possible that, in a few cases, subsequent developments will have negated them altogether.) But that is a task for another time (or times). These are notes  sometimes including bibliographical hints for future reading  that Im compiling for my own use, but I hope that some of you will find them of interest.

John W. Welch, Textual Consistency (21-23)

The general mode of translation used by Joseph Smith in bringing forth the Book of Mormon is well known. He dictated the text to a scribe as he translated the record, going through the text only a single time. People do not often stop to think, however, about the implications and challenges of this unusual and formidable manner of writing. For one thing, dictating a nal copy of a letter, let alone a book, the rst time through is extremely difcult. Yet the Original Manuscript of the Book of Mormon is remarkably clean. There are few strikeovers, and only minor changes were made as the book went to publication. The vast majority of those changes involved spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Even more remarkable are the extensive, intricate consistencies within the Book of Mormon. Passages tie together precisely and accurately though separated from each other by hundreds of pages of text and dictated weeks apart. (21) Professor Welch offers four very specific examples: Alma 36:22 quotes twenty-one words verbatim from 1 Nephi 1:18. Helaman 14:12 quotes twenty words verbatim from Mosiah 3:8  the only difference between them being the insertion of an of in the later passage. At 1 Nephi 19:11-12, a prophecy given by Zenos foretells a very specific list of catastrophic events, including thunderings and lightnings, tempests, fire and smoke, a vapor of darkness, the earth opening, mountains being carried up, rocks rending, and the earth groaning. Hundreds of pages (and hundreds of years) later, 3 Nephi 8:6-23 records the fulfillment of Zenoss prophecy, describing exactly that list of destructive phenomena. Early in Book of Mormon history, King Benjamin set forth a five-part legal series prohibiting (1) murder, (2) plunder, (3) theft, (4) adultery, and (5) any manner of wickedness. This ve-part list, which rst appears in Mosiah 2:13, uniformly reappears seven other times in the Book of Mormon (see Mosiah 29:36; Alma 23:3; 30:10; Helaman 3:14; 6:23; 7:21; and Ether 8:16). Apparently the Nephites viewed Benjamins set of laws as setting a formulaic precedent. (23) There is no evidence that Joseph Smith ever asked Oliver Cowdery or any of the other scribes to read back to him any of the already-translated manuscript. In fact, Emma Smith expressly denies that he ever did so, at least in her experience. With that in mind, I share Jack Welchs concluding paragraph: Other cases and kinds of extensive internal textual consistency occur within the Book of Mormon. In these and in many other ways, the Book of Mormon manifests a high degree of precisionboth as to its underlying ancient texts and in Joseph Smiths translation. Given the fact that Joseph dictated as he went, the records consistency points to an inspired source for the translations accuracy. After all, can you quote the twenty-one words of Lehi or the twenty words of Benjamin without looking? (23)

As several others around the world also did, I watched the announcement of a new pope today. Its a very dramatic event, and an important piece of history  whether one is or isnt Catholic.

Leo XIV. Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, a native of Chicago and a former bishop in Peru. Unexpectedly, the first American pope. We now have a new American world leader of strong spiritual and moral character, well educated and highly intelligent, multilingual, with a global worldview and an evident concern for every nation and people. In this regard, certainly, I like the statement that has been made with his selection very, very much.

From the Wall Street Journal (which, I realize, many wont be able to access): The Vatican Financial Mess Pope Francis Couldnt Fix: The next pope will inherit a soaring deficit and culture of financial malpractice that Francis tried and failed to solve even through his final weeks The economic situation that the newly-announced Pope Leo XIV faces is considerably worse than I had realized. I wish him well.

Theists are absolutely determined to continue to bother those around them. Do you really need more evidence of their wicked intentions? Seriously? Alright, then. Read this, from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File: Bishop Causse Highlights the Power of Service to World Leaders: The Presiding Bishop speaks at the Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit

And, alas, theres also this abomination: El Alto Municipal Government Receives Donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

And this one: It makes you feel grounded: Nate Bargatze talks getting sober and going to church: Bargatze gave up alcohol to prioritize his rapidly-growing comedy career

And this one, which I found lying on the ground alongside the the subsection of the Hitchens File thats known among the Inner Circle as Utah is Hell on Earth, Thanks to the Mormons: Were No. 1: Utah tops national rankings in high school financial literacy: Beehive State receives kudos for requiring all high school graduates to pass financial literacy course
By Ellie Rushing, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

A Philadelphia police officer was critically wounded Wednesday afternoon after he was shot in the stomach while attempting to break up a fight outside Overbrook High School, police said.

Shortly after school dismissed around 2:30 p.m., Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said, multiple fights erupted and spilled onto the sidewalk across the street, near 59th and West Oxford streets. Officers stationed outside the school called for backup as the conflict grew, he said.

As students clashed, he said, a 30-year-old man arrived, armed with a Ruger-57 pistol. Officers were attempting to break up one of the fights, he said, when a single shot  a rifle round  was fired from the gun. The bullet ricocheted off the ground and into the officers abdomen, beneath his bulletproof vest, and striking him in the stomach, the commissioner said.

The officer, a 26-year-old who had been on the force for a year, did not immediately realize he had been shot, Bethel said. Within minutes, fellow officers rushed him to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was conscious but remained in critical condition, the commissioner said.

Bethel said the 30-year-old who they believe fired the gun was in custody, and a weapon was recovered. Police did not release the mans name.

For an adult to come with a weapon that could kill  easily kill  my officers, I mean, it makes absolutely no sense, Bethel said with frustration.

In a letter to Overbrook High families, the School District of Philadelphia said that the fight involved multiple students and members of the community, and that the officer was wounded after a community member fired a gun. No students were injured, the district said.
Sean Kinney of Alice in Chains performs at Rock on the Range on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP Photo) Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP

Alice in Chains was slated to start its United States tour on Thursday, but the show at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut was abruptly cancelled just before doors were set to open.

The band took to social media to explain what happened.

After our soundcheck this evening at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Sean (Kinney) experienced a non-life-threatening medical emergency, a post on the bands Instagram stories read. We unfortunately have to cancel tonights show. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

A fan at the show reportedly said that an announcement was made over the intercom at the Mohegan Sun at 7:45 p.m. letting fans know the show was cancelled. The event was slated to begin at 8 p.m.

No further details about Kinneys status were made available.

Ultimate Classic Rock said that Kinney, the bands drummer, co-founded Alice in Chains in 1987. The site said he has been one of two continuous members of the band, along with guitarist Jerry Cantrell, since.
Jackie Chan is going to continue doing "stunts" and more, even at 71. In this photo, Jackie Chan presents the award for best foreign language film during the 30th Critics' Choice Awards on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Jackie Chan is continuing to prove just how much of an iconic performer he is.

The Karate Kid: Legends actor, 71, revealed he still does his own stunts and continues to prove he can star in the action-packed movies hes known for.
Jeanette Cruz has been secretary at Foose Elementary School in Harrisburg for eight years. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com) Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

You gonna be on the news, Mrs. Cruz? a student shouted in the halls of Foose Elementary to its beloved office secretary, Jeanette Cruz.

Maybe.
On May 8, the 80th anniversary of Victory Day for World War II, President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a historic trade deal, providing American companies unprecedented access to the United Kingdom markets while bolstering U.S. national security.



The Economic Prosperity Deal with the UK is beneficial to America, said President Trump from the Oval Office:



The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers. . . .The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products.



This trade deal will significantly expand U.S. market access in the UK, creating a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers, according to the White House. This includes more than $700 million in ethanol exports and $250 million in other agricultural products, like beef.



The trade deal with the UK will ensure streamlined customs procedures for U.S. exports, said President Trump:

Theyll also be fast-tracking American goods through their customs process. So, our exports go to a very, very quick form of approval, and there wont be any red tape. Things are going to move very quickly both ways.



Furthermore, the deal includes plans that will bring the UK into an economic security alignment with the United States, explained President Trump:



Both countries have agreed that the economic security is national security, and well be working together as allies to ensure that we have a strong industrial base, appropriate export controls, and protections for key technologies and industries like steel. Steel is a big factor. Both countries will become stronger with steel and things necessary for military.



This U.S.-UK trade deal will usher in a golden age of new opportunity for U.S. exporters and level the playing fields for American producers, noted the White House. This deal also sets the tone for other trading partners to promote reciprocal trade with the United States.



The Economic Prosperity Deal with the United Kingdom is a critical step forward in a special relationship to promote reciprocal trade with a key ally and partner.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, left, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, appears with, from left, Master of Ceremonies Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, and former Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican shortly after his election, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) AP

By NICOLE WINFIELD, The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Leo XIV, historys first North American pope, celebrated his first Mass as pontiff on Friday, presiding in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals who elected him to succeed Pope Francis and follow in his social justice-minded footsteps.

Wearing white vestments, Leo processed into the Sistine Chapel and blessed the cardinals as he approached the altar and Michelangelos The Last Judgment behind it. He delivered the opening prayers and hymns in Latin, and women read the initial Scripture readings.

Addressing the cardinals in English, he said you have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed and asked for their help to spread the Catholic faith. It was the first time Leo made public remarks in English, after he spoke in Italian and Spanish only in his first comments from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica on Thursday.

Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, was elected Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope, overcoming the traditional prohibition against a pope from the United States.

In his first appearance to the world Thursday evening, the 69-year-old wore the traditional red cape of the papacy  which Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013  suggesting a return to some degree of rule-following after Francis unorthodox pontificate.

But in naming himself Leo, after the 19th-century social justice reformer pope and referring to some of Francis priorities, the new pope could also have wanted to signal a strong line of continuity: Another Leo in church history was Brother Leo, the 13th-century friar who was a great companion to St. Francis of Assisi, the late popes namesake.

Together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue, thats always open to receive  like on this piazza with open arms  to be able to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love, Leo said in near-perfect Italian in his first comments to the world.

Francis had his eye on the new pope

Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014.

Francis then brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head of the Vaticans powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world and is one of the most important jobs in church governance.

Earlier this year, Francis elevated Prevost into the senior ranks of cardinals, giving him prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had.

There had long been a taboo on a U.S. pope, given Americas superpower status in the secular world. But Prevost prevailed, perhaps because hes also a Peruvian citizen and had lived for two decades in Peru, first as a missionary and then as bishop.

Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had kept a low public profile but was well-known to the men who count, and respected by those who worked with him. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope.

In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, the then-cardinal said the women had enriched the process and reaffirmed the need for the laity to have a greater role in the church.

Even the bishops of Peru called him the saint, the Saint of the North, and he had time for everyone, said the Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who knows the new pope.

Reactions to a North American

The crowd in St. Peters Square erupted in cheers Thursday when white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 6 p.m. on the second day of the conclave. Waving flags from around the world, tens of thousands of people were surprised an hour later when the senior cardinal deacon announced the winner was Prevost.

U.S. President Donald Trump said it was such an honor for our country for the new pope to be American. The president added that were a little bit surprised and were happy.

Prevost has shared criticism of the Trump administrations migration policies: In past social media posts, Prevost shared articles criticizing Vice President JD Vances justification of the administrations mass deportation plans.

Looking ahead

In his first hours as pope, Leo went back to his old apartment in the SantUffizio Palace to see colleagues, according to selfies posted to social media. Vatican Media also showed him in the moments after his election praying at a kneeler in the Pauline Chapel before emerging on the loggia.

On Sunday, he is to deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peters and attend an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Beyond that, he has a possible first foreign trip at the end of May: Francis had been invited to travel to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history and an important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations.

The new pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, which was formed in the 13th century as a community of mendicant friars  dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization. Vatican News said Leo is the first Augustinian pope.

In Peru, he is known as the saintly missionary who waded through mud after torrential rains flooded the region, bringing help to needy people, and as the bishop who spearheaded the lifesaving purchase of oxygen production plants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has no problem fixing a broken-down truck until it runs, said Janinna Sesa, who met Prevost while she worked for the churchs Caritas charity.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a darling of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died. He was 85.

Souter died Thursday at his home in New Hampshire, the court said in a statement Friday.

He retired from the court in June 2009, giving President Barack Obama his first Supreme Court vacancy to fill. Obama, a Democrat, chose Sonia Sotomayor, the courts first Latina justice.

Souter was appointed by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990. He was a reliably liberal vote on abortion, church-state relations, freedom of expression and the accessibility of federal courts.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, left, and Associated Justice Stephen Breyer, right, walk together during a procession, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, at Harvard Law School. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, file) AP

In retirement, Souter warned that ignorance of how government works could undermine American democracy.

What I worry about is that when problems are not addressed, people will not know who is responsible. And when the problems get bad enough ... some one person will come forward and say, Give me total power and I will solve this problem. That is how the Roman republic fell, Souter said in a 2012 interview.

His lifestyle was spare  yogurt and an apple, consumed at his desk, was a typical lunch  and he shunned Washingtons social scene. He couldnt wait to leave town in early summer. As soon as the court finished its work in late June, he climbed into his Volkswagen Jetta for the drive back to the worn farmhouse where his family moved when he was 11.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is escorted to her place on stage by her friend, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, before Ginsburg participated in an interview during a luncheon at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard Friday, May 29, 2015, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, file) AP

Yet for all his reserve, Souter was beloved by colleagues, court employees and friends. He was a noted storyteller and generous with his time.

Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service, Chief Justice John Roberts said.

Souter continued hearing cases on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for more than a decade after he left the high court, Roberts said.
Cardinal Robert Prevost appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, choosing the name of Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino | AP Photo) Alessandra Tarantino | AP Photo

The Most Rev. Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, released the following message on the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, as the Holy Father.

On behalf of the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Harrisburg, I join with our Universal Church in celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV.

We give thanks to God the Holy Spirit for guiding the Cardinal Electors in the Conclave.

I am confident that Pope Leo XIV will lead the Church in a way which continues the work started by the late Pope Francis in making our Church one that is welcome to all, committed to peace and justice, and one that forms all the faithful as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.

To Pope Leo XIV, I pledge in my own name, and on behalf of the faithful of the Diocese of Harrisburg, our respect, obedience, and prayerful support as he begins his new ministry.

Bishop Senior will celebrate a Mass for Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, May 11, at 9:30 a.m. at Saint Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, the release noted.

Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vaticans powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

A Chicago native, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977 at Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia, the same year he joined the Order of St. Augustine. he earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982 and was ordained a priest the same year.

Villanova awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, in 2014, per a backgrounder on the schools website.

The Diocese of Harrisburg, with its 88 parishes, is home to approximately 201,000 registered Catholics throughout its 15 counties.
A 56-year-old motorcyclist was killed Sunday in a single-vehicle crash in the Slate Belt, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police in Belfast said the crash happened just after 6 a.m. in the 4800 block of Ott Drive in Lower Mount Bethel Township. Luis A. Fernandes of Williams, Arizona, was operating a 2025 Honda NX500 bike southwest when he came upon low-hanging communication wires, state police said.

The wires caused Fernandes to be thrown from the motorcycle, according to state police.

He landed on the southeastern side of the road, and the motorcycle continued before stopping in a yard, state police said.

Fernandes was taken to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson campus in Bethlehem Township, where he was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m. Sunday by the Northampton County coroners office.

Fernandes died from blunt force trauma as a result of the crash, and the manner was ruled accidental by Coroner Zachary Lysek.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. AP

President Donald Trump congratulated Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday shortly after the American was selected as the first U.S.-born pope.

The president called it a Great Honor for our Country.

I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV, he wrote on Truth Social. It will be a very meaningful moment!

The president might not want to take a look back at Prevosts social media activity, though, because according to USA Today the new pope has shared posts critical of both Trump and Vice President JD Vance and their stance on immigration.

On Feb. 3, Prevost shared a story to his X account with the headline: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

That came after, per USA Today, Vance cited medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the United States new immigration policy under Trump.

USA Today wrote that back in 2015, Prevost shared on X a Washington Post opinion piece titled Cardinal Dolan: Why Donald Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.

USA Today said the White House did not respond for comment on Prevosts posts.

Earlie this year, Trump demanded an apology from Rev. Mariann Budde after she asked him to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers in the United States during a prayer service he attended.

You have felt the providential hand of a loving God, she said. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.

She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way, Trump wrote on Truth Social. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.

Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one, he added. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!
WASHINGTON (AP)  A majority of U.S. adults disapprove of President Donald Trumps handling of issues related to colleges and universities, according to a new poll, as his administration ramps up threats to cut federal funding unless schools comply with his political agenda.

More than half of Americans, 56%, disapprove of the Republican presidents approach on higher education, the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds, while about 4 in 10 approve, in line with his overall job approval.

Since taking office in January, Trump has tried to force change at universities he says have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. The spotlight most recently has been on Harvard University, where Trumps administration has frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants, threatened to strip the schools tax-exempt status, and demanded broad policy changes.

The Trump administration also has cut off money to other elite colleges, including Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, over issues including the handling of pro-Palestinian activism and transgender athletes participation in womens sports. Harvard has framed the governments demands as a threat to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities.

The poll shows a disconnect between the Trump administrations targeting of universities and an American public that sees them as key to scientific research, new ideas and innovative technology. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say colleges and universities make more of a positive contribution to medical and scientific research than a negative one, and a similar share favors maintaining federal funding for scientific research.

Lets talk about Harvard for a minute, said Freddy Ortega, 66, a Democrat and a retired military veteran in Columbus, Georgia. The way he took away all that money in funding, impacting things that Harvard has been working on for the betterment of the world.

One man should not have that much power, Ortega continued. This is something for Congress to deal with.

Ortega, whos Hispanic, also said hes concerned about Trumps attempts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs across U.S. society. I came up in the military. I know the good that those programs do, he said. It changes the direction that peoples lives are going to take.

Republicans are divided on cuts to colleges federal funding

Trumps stance on higher education resonates more strongly with Republicans, most of whom see college campuses as places where conservatives are silenced and liberal ideas run unchecked. About 8 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling issues related to colleges and universities  which, notably, is higher than the share of Republicans, 70%, who approve of his handling of the economy  and about 6 in 10 say theyre extremely or very concerned about liberal bias on campus.

Republicans are more divided, however, on withholding federal funding from schools unless they bow to Trumps demands. About half are in favor, while about one-quarter are opposed and a similar share are neutral.

Im all for it, said Republican voter Hengameh Abraham, 38, a mother of two in Roseville, California. She supports cutting federal funds and opposes DEI programs, saying she emigrated to America from Iran as a teenager and worked hard to get ahead in school without the help of affirmative action programs.

Your racial identity, nationality and background should not be a factor in getting accepted to college or getting a job, said Abraham. She supports Trumps focus on campus antisemitism. When pro-Palestinian protests swept U.S. colleges last year, some of the demonstrators messaging was anti-U.S., she said.

I do not think if you have any kind of anti-American agenda or slogan that you should be allowed on a university campus in the United States, she said.

In Harvards case, Trump has threatened to remove its tax-exempt status, and his administration has implemented funding cuts. Those measures are divisive among the general public: Nearly half oppose withholding federal funding as a punitive action, while about one-quarter favor it. About one-quarter are neutral.

Charles Jolivette, 43, a college career counselor who lives in New Orleans, sees Trumps education policies as an attack on free speech and people of color.

Not only is the president going after anyone he feels is an opponent and anyone who is not compliant, but hes attacking some of the most important elements of our society, said Jolivette, a Democrat. Its rampant bullying from the president of the United States, who is supposed to be crossing the aisle.

The cost of tuition far outweighs other concerns

A top concern of most Americans is the cost of a college degree. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults are extremely or very concerned about the cost of tuition. That concern is shared by majorities of Democrats and Republicans and far outweighs concerns about antisemitism and liberal bias on campuses among the general public.

College costs a lot more than it needs to. To get an education, you should not have to break your pocketbook, said Eunice Cortez, 68, a Republican near Houston.

Cortez, whos originally from Mexico, did not go to college, but she made sure her U.S.-born children did and is proud that her grandchildren are getting college degrees. She supports Trump but is concerned that some of his policies, including funding cuts, will make it harder for people who need tuition aid to get an education. She sees it as the government getting in the way of an educated society.

The poll shows a divide between college-educated Americans and those without college degrees, highlighting a possible cultural rift that Trump has seized on in the past.

Most Americans with a college degree, 62%, are opposed to withholding funding from universities that dont comply with the presidents requirements, while those without a college degree are split, with about 3 in 10 in favor, a similar share opposed, and about 4 in 10 saying they dont have an opinion.

Kara Hansen, 40, a registered independent in Seminole, Oklahoma, is a few credits shy of a college degree. She supports the idea of dismantling the Education Department to shake things up. But she said shes concerned by what she calls Trumps authoritarian tendencies and a growing fear on college campuses to speak up and voice opinions.

It feels like everybody has a muzzle on, Hansen said. They cant fully express themselves because theyre afraid of getting in trouble, and afraid of Trump.

About 3 in 10 U.S. adults say students or professors can freely speak their minds a lot on college and university campuses. About 4 in 10 say they can do this to some extent. Republicans feel their views are stifled: About 8 in 10 say liberals can speak their minds a lot or some on campus, but fewer than half say the same about conservatives.

___

Gecker reported from San Francisco.

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,175 adults was conducted May 1-5, using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
By Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nations capital after abandoning his first pick for the job.

Pirro, who joined Fox News in 2006, co-hosts the networks show The Five on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New Yorks Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the countys elected district attorney.

Trump tapped Pirro to at least temporarily lead the nations largest U.S. Attorneys office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the position earlier on Thursday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was naming Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., but didnt indicate whether he would nominate her for the Senate-confirmed position on a more permanent basis.

Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself, Trump wrote.

Trump withdrew Martin from consideration after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Hes a terrific person, and he wasnt getting the support from people that I thought, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. He later added, But we have somebody else that will be great.

Pirro is the latest in a string of Trump appointments coming from Fox News  a list that includes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend.

Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trumps first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background. Martin had never served as a prosecutor or tried a case before taking office in January.

Martin has stirred up a chorus of critics during his brief but tumultuous tenure in office. He fired and demoted subordinates who worked on politically sensitive cases. He posted on social media about potential targets of investigations. And he forced the chief of the offices criminal division to resign after directing her to scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during Democratic President Joe Bidens administration.

Martins temporary appointment is due to expire on May 20.

Pirro, a 1975 graduate of Albany Law School, has significantly more courtroom experience than Martin. She led one of the nations first domestic violence units in a prosecutors office.

After her elected terms as a judge and district attorney, Pirro briefly campaigned in 2005 as a Republican to unseat then-Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton before announcing that she would would run for New York attorney general instead. She lost that race to Andrew Cuomo, son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Pirro became an ubiquitous television pundit during O.J. Simpsons murder trial, often appearing on CNNs Larry King Live. During her time on Fox News, she has frequently interviewed Trump.

In the final minutes of his first term as president, Trump issued a pardon to Pirros ex-husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted in 2000 on conspiracy and tax evasion charges.

In 2021, voting technology company Smartmatic USA sued Fox News, Pirro and others for spreading false claims that the company helped steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump. The companys libel suit, filed in a New York state court, sought $2.7 billion from the defendants.
Alan Jackson accepts the lifetime achievement award during the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. Jackson's last concert on his farewell tour is on Saturday, May 17, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

This is it.

Country music icon Alan Jackson has just one more concert on his farewell tour.

Jackson, who received the first-ever Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award during the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8, will perform on his Last Call: One For the Road tour on Saturday, May 17, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

If his performance at the ACM Awards is any indication, this will be a show that fans do not want to miss. At the ACM Awards, Jackson sang Remember When, with tears in his eyes and a montage of photos from his life playing in the background.

The cheapest tickets available today are $356 on StubHub. Ticket prices start at $380 on Vivid Seats and at $381 on SeatGeek.

New Vivid Seats customers can receive $20 off of a $200 order by using the code PENNLIVE20 at checkout.

Jackson, 66, announced in May 2024 that he would be retiring after the tour. He has sold more than 75 million records, 50 Top 10 songs, 35 No. 1 songs, 16 Country Music Association awards, two Grammy Awards and 17 Academy of Country Music awards. In 2021, he revealed that he has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition. The disease affects his ability to walk and perform, he said at the time.

Jacksons many hits have included Chasin That Neon Rainbow, Dont Rock the Jukebox, Little Bitty, Remember When, Here in The Real World, Midnight in Montgomery and Chattahoochee. And who can forget, Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).

Jackson and his wife, Denise, have three daughters and two grandchildren.
Aiken Standard reporter

Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts.

Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

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North Augusta reporter

Elizabeth Hustad is a reporter with The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers government, growth and development, and business.

Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly. Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost.

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Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. High 83F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Tropical storm conditions possible. Windy with rain showers. High near 85F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Tropical storm conditions possible. Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Reporter

Spencer Donovan covers Greenville for The Post and Courier. He's an Atlanta native and graduate of the University of Georgia. You can find him on walks around town, eating at local restaurants and hiking in the mountains.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers, with winds diminishing for the afternoon. High 83F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers early with isolated thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
SPRING CREEK  Firefighters need to be clear, be concise and be calm when they communicate, Elko County Fire Suppression Capt. Floyd Davey told students in a Spring Creek High School classroom one recent day.

When it comes to clarity, common language is important, he explained. Spouting out numerical jargon wont work for a first responder en route to a hospital with an emergency patient.

Clarifying locations is also important, he added. If I tell you, like, Hey, Im on my way to Goose Creek, youre gonna be like, Which one? Davey said. If youre coming from another area, that can be very difficult.

Or this hypothetical.

What if you got sent to Montana and they sent you to a random ranchers ranch, like, Hey, its the Smith Ranch. Youre like, Thats neat. What am I going to do with that? So, we use common language. And, most importantly, we use street addresses or we use GPS grids or map pages, Davey told the students.

The street addresses are probably the most important thing that we deal with, Davey said. Going to the right street and then to the right house is important, he noted.

Davey teaches Fire Science Career and Technical Education at Spring Creek High School. The class is supported by a $100,000 CTE competitive grant, which the Nevada Department of Education first issued to the program in 2024.

According to Heather Steel, CTE facilitator for the Elko County School District, the grant allows the program to share the cost of equipment, instructor hours, textbooks and more.

This was kind of something that was thought up between Heather Steel and my chief, Matt Petersen, Davey said. We sat down and we looked at, whats the pathway where we would train a brand new firefighter off the street to come work with us?

Spring Creek High School Health Science teacher Brenna Merrill also played a part in making it happen, Davey added.

When we did it last year through spring break, with some cohorts, it was the exact same training that we would give a wildland firefighter coming off the street, he explained. So, when they finished the cohort, they were qualified and certified wildland firefighters.

And then Steel helped move things forward.

Then, with the help of Heather Steel, we talked about doing something a little bit larger. In this case, it gets them not only all those wildland certs but it gets them all their required Federal Emergency Management Agency certifications. And on top of that, it gets them a basic understanding of Emergency Medical Services, so they all come out with like, Stop the Bleed, Basic Life Support, CPR and first aid, support structural firefighting  and then they get qualified and certified in the Community Emergency Response Team program, Davey said.

So, these students can walk off the street and go start with any wildland agency, they can go to a structural agency and have all the foundations and the entry-level certifications to get in with that, Davey said. And not only that, if they choose not to get with a fire service, they can participate in any community emergency response team.

He said the grant allowed an instructor to come in and assist.

So it doesnt put a burden on the fire district and doesnt put a burden on the school district. It allows me to come in one hour a day to assist with this, as well as bringing in other firefighters and EMS personnel to help teach, he said.

Heather Steel did a tremendous amount of work to secure the grant going forward for next year, which allows us to purchase more books and offset the cost of having instructors in the classroom and getting to use equipment.

The training includes drills such as wielding hoses, using hand tools and deploying shelters.

Students from the program have ended up with firefighting careers, Davey said.

With the cohort program that we had last year, we had about 50% who came not just to Elko County Fire Protection District, but theyre working with either Nevada Division of Forestry or BLM  and we had one student go to the Forest Service.

The program hes now teaching is similar, Davey said. We see them going to our agency and then other emergency response agencies. Two students in his class are working to get an advanced EMT certification.

These kids are amazing, theyre the ones who have put in all the work, he said. If it wasnt for Heather Steel and Brenna Merrill, this wouldnt exist. They were supportive throughout the entire process. The students are very engaged. They ask a tremendous amount of questions. Theyre not just making the fire service better but they have a culture thats being developed of service in general, so, doing other stuff in the community.

Davey has also seen several students make it to nationals in the Future Health Professionals competition. This June, there are a bunch of students heading off to Nashville to compete nationally, to not just support but represent a state.
Myrtle Beach, SC (29577)

Today

Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 80F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Tropical storm conditions possible. A steady, heavy rain this evening. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing overnight. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Charleston, SC (29532)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers this afternoon. High 89F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then thundershowers developing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 72F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Spartanburg, SC (29301)

Today

Mostly sunny. Hot. High 91F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low around 70F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Reporter

Lamaur Stancil writes about government, business, schools and entertainment in York County. He can be reached at 803-687-3436 or at X at @LamaurStancil
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MIAMI, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Barry University will celebrate its 2025 Commencement with two days of ceremonies honoring distinguished leaders and graduates across a range of disciplines. Events begin on Friday, May 9, on Barry's Miami Shores campus and continue on Saturday, May 10, at the Broward County Convention Center.On Friday, May 9, the Doctoral Commencement Ceremony will take place on Barry's campus, where the university will bestow an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters upon Honorable Billy Joel in recognition of his lifelong dedication to community service. A respected philanthropist and civic leader, Billy Joel has spent decades uplifting underserved communities across Florida, New York, and Israel."This honor belongs equally to the children who have risen above their challenges," Joel said. "I hope it will encourage even greater efforts from others to create positive change." On Saturday, May 10, Barry's undergraduate and graduate ceremonies will be held at the Broward County Convention Center, where the university will present an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Benjamin Leon Jr., a healthcare innovator and longtime community champion. As Founder and Chairman of the Board of Leon Medical Centers and Leon Health HMO, Leon has dedicated over five decades to improving access to care for seniors and underserved populations in South Florida."It is a privilege to receive this recognition from Barry University," Leon said. "Education and healthcare are cornerstones of a thriving society, and it has been my life's mission to contribute to both through service to our community." The May 10 morning ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business and Public Administration will feature keynote remarks from Dr. Marjorie Lozama (DNP '24) and Jeff Lozama (MBA '24), distinguished alumni and Haitian-American leaders in mental health, humanitarian outreach, and business development. Speaking at the undergraduate and graduate ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business and Public Administration, the Lozamas embody Barry University's mission of service, scholarship, and social justice through their professional achievements and community leadership."As we celebrate the Class of 2025, we also honor the values that define the Barry community-resilience, service, and the power of education to transform lives," said Dr. Mike Allen, President of Barry University. "Our graduates inspire us, and we are proud to share in their achievements and the legacies they continue to build." Contact InformationKatherine DobleeOffice of Communicationskdoble@ barry.edu 305-318-0837SOURCE: Barry University
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 8, 2025 / Condor Resources Inc. ("Condor" or the "Company") (TSXV:CN) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). The Offering received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on April 15, 2025.On May 8, 2025, under the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 8,758,333 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.12 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,051,000, of which 4,165,499 Units were issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption").Pursuant to the Offering, each Unit consisted of (i) one common share of the Company (a "Share") and (ii) one-half of one Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). A total of 4,379,166 Warrants will be issued and exercisable for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance (the "Closing Date") and will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (a "Warrant Share"): (i) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share if duly exercised on or before the date that is 24 months following the Closing Date; or (ii) thereafter at an exercise price of $0.20 per Warrant Share.The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Offering for exploration at the Huinac Punta Project and the Pucamayo Project, and for general corporate purposes. The offering document required under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption may be accessed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile and on the Company's website at https://condorresources.com Certain insiders of the Company, including Crescat Portfolio Management LLC ("Crescat") and certain directors of the Company (collectively, the "Related Parties") subscribed for an aggregate of 4,592,834 Units for aggregate proceeds of $551,140 under the Offering. As a result, the Offering constituted a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSXV and Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on the exemptions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements in respect of the Related Parties' participation in the Offering, as neither the fair market value of the Units issued in connection with the Offering, nor the fair market value of the consideration received by the Company therefor, insofar as it involved the Related Parties, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101). The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the closing of the Offering as details of the Related Parties' participation in the Offering had not been determined and the Company wished to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner.Securities issued pursuant to the Offering under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption are not subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. All other securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period following the Closing Date pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws and, with respect to securities issued under the Offering to the Related Parties, pursuant to applicable policies of the TSXV.Finder's fees in connection with the Offering, include two components, namely cash finder's fees (the "Cash Finder's Fees") and finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"). The Cash Finder's Fee shall be equal to eight percent (8%) of the amount provided to the Company pursuant to a financing or investment agreement entered into between the Company and a Designated Investor for financing or an investment in exchange for securities or other equity in the Company (the "Investment Agreement"). The Finder's Warrants shall be equal to eight percent (8%) of the number of securities received by the Designated Investor. Each non-transferable Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share (a "Share") of the Company for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance at a price of CAD$0.12 per Share. In connection with the closing of the financing, the Company paid $16,496.00 in cash and issued 137,466 Finder's Warrants.In connection with Crescat's investment in the private placement of Condor shares, the Company and Crescat have entered into a Right of Participation Agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, Crescat shall have the right, but not the obligation, to participate in any future equity financings conducted by the Company, on a pro rata basis consistent with its ownership percentage immediately prior to the public announcement of such financing. This participation right shall remain in effect for so long as Crescat maintains ownership of not less than five percent (5%) of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on a basic basis.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.About Condor Resources Inc.Condor Resources is a precious and base metals exploration company focused on its portfolio of projects in Peru. The Company's flagship project, Pucamayo, is an 85 km2 property containing a high sulfidation epithermal system with disseminated precious metals mineralization with a large lithocap alteration visible at surface. The Huinac Punta project, a 7,200 Ha property in Huanuco, Peru, has the potential to host a large carbonate replacement style (CRD) silver-dominant polymetallic mineralized body with the potential for discovery of a bulk tonnage silver and base metals deposit. The Company has optioned several large projects to partners who continue to advance these projects. The Company's award-winning exploration team in Peru has a long history of success in discovering and advancing high quality exploration projects and managing the soci
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Make a difference. Open your home and your heart-host an exchange student today!WAYZATA, MINNESOTA / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Families across the U.S. have a unique opportunity to experience a new culture right in their own homes. ASSE International Student Exchange Programs, a non-profit public benefit organization, is currently seeking warm and welcoming host families to open their homes to international exchange students for the upcoming school year. Exchange Student With Host Sister Exchange Student With Host SisterHosting an exchange student is a life-changing experience for families that fosters cultural understanding, builds lifelong friendships, while enriching local communities.Students , aged 15-18 years , come from over 60 countries around the world, including France, Japan, Italy, Denmark, Australia, Spain and many more. The students are carefully selected based on their academic performance, English proficiency, and personal character, and they are eager to become part of an American family, attend a local high school, and share their own traditions.During their stay, ASSE exchange students immerse themselves in American culture by living with andbecoming part of a volunteer host familywhile attending a local high school. This experience allows them to improve their English skills, form lifelong friendships, and gain a deeper understanding of American life and values. In return, host families and communities benefit from the unique perspectives and cultural exchange that these students bring."Being a host family isn't just about providing a place to stay; it's about making a student from another country part of the family," says Saphia Lesch, ASSE Regional Director. "Many host families find that the experience is just as rewarding for them as it is for the student. The bonds formed often last a lifetime." "Exchange students bring energy, curiosity, and fresh perspectives to their host families and communities. They attend local schools, participate in activities, and become a real family member." Host families provide a safe and supportive home, meals, and encouragement, while students come with their own spending money and health insurance, ensuring that hosting is a rewarding and enriching experience without financial burden. Anyone with a warm and welcoming home can host an exchange student! Host families come in many forms, including married couples (with or without children), single parents, young professionals, empty-nesters, same-sex couples, and retirees.ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to learn another language and culture by spending a school year, semester or a summer with a host family in another country.Families interested in hosting an exchange student or exploring study abroad opportunities are encouraged to learn more and apply by visitingwww.host.asse.comor contacting Saphia Lesch at (800) 736-1760 / host@ asse.com Founded in the USA in 1976, ASSE International Student Exchange Programs, a non-profit, public benefit organization, is a trusted name in Cultural Exchange. Through its mission to promote global understanding and goodwill, ASSE creates life-changing opportunities for young people and their host families to experience different cultures, learn new perspectives, and develop lifelong friendships.Contact Information Bodil DenckerDirector of Operationsbodil@ asse.com 949.494.4100SOURCE: ASSE International, Inc.
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THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF ENGLISH LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. ON PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.Genflow Secures 500,000 via a Subscription of Shares,Director's Dealing and Clinical Progress of Canine Longevity TrialLONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Genflow Biosciences Plc (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF) ("Genflow" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce that it has raised gross proceeds of 500,000 (before expenses) via an allotment to Eric Leire of 62,500,000 new ordinary shares of 0.0003 each ("New Ordinary Shares") at an issue price of 0.8 pence (being the bid price as at close of business on 8 May 2025) (the "Issue Price").The net proceeds of this fundraise will be used to advance a proof-of-concept trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of our therapeutic candidate in aged dogs, potentially being also a key translational model for age-related conditions in humans.Issuance of the New Ordinary SharesThe Company is currently unable to issue and admit the New Ordinary Shares without either the publication of a prospectus approved by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") or relying upon an exemption to the requirement to issue a prospectus.Consequentially, this fundraise involves a subscription by Eric Leire, CEO and director of the Company, for the New Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price pursuant to the employee offer exemption under Article 1(4)(i) and 1(5) (h) of the UK Prospectus Regulation.Following allotment of the New Ordinary Shares, Eric Leire has agreed to direct their issue to an institution, who will immediately sell these New Ordinary Shares at the same Issue Price to a purchaser identified by it (the "Purchaser").WarrantsConcurrent with the purchase of the New Ordinary Shares, the Purchaser will receive warrants from the Company on a one-for-one basis. These warrants will be exercisable for a period of 36 months at an exercise price of 1.5 pence ("Exercise Price"), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as set out in the warrant instrument including a reset of the Exercise Price if the Company completes a share issuance (or other transaction granting rights to subscribe for equity securities) during the Exercise Period at a price lower than the Exercise Price.Total Voting RightsApplication will be made for the 62,500,000 New Ordinary Shares, which will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares of the Company, to be admitted to the FCA official list and to trading on the equity shares (transition) category of the Official List maintained by the FCA and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the LSE, which is expected to occur on or around 8.00 a.m. on 15 May 2025 (the "Admission").Upon Admission, the total number of issued shares and the total number of voting rights in the Company will be 453,547,942.The above figure of 453,547,942 should be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.Clinical Progress of Canine Longevity TrialCoinciding with the fundraise, Genflow reached a key milestone with the randomization of 24 senior dogs enrolled in its ongoing proof-of-concept clinical trial.Delivered via intravenous injection, the therapy targets cellular energy metabolism and longevity pathways. Genflow and its partners are conducting the study in accordance with the rigorous scientific protocols, leading animal welfare practices, and a committement to innovation.The study is designed to evaluate the potential of Genflow's SIRT6 gene therapy to improve muscle function, reduce biological markers of aging, and support overall vitality in senior dogs, potentially uncovering insights that could help extend the quality of life for humans. An overview can be seen below:Participants: 24 senior dogs (male and female), aged 10+ yearsDesign: Randomized, controlled, dose-escalation trialEndpoints: Safety of the gene therapy, Muscle strength and mass, biological age estimation (via pan-mammelian methylation clocks), and overall health indicatorsThe Company will keep the market informed of future developments as trials proceed.Eric Leire, CEO of Genflow, commented:"This investment, without applying any discount, is a strong vote of confidence in our science and our mission to improve aging through innovative biotechnology. With this support, we are well-positioned to accelerate our research and bring us closer to delivering impactful solutions to patients." UK Market Abuse Regulation (UK MAR) Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement would have been inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation No 596/2014 (as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) until the release of this announcement. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of Genflow Biosciences is Eric Leire, Chief Executive Officer.Notification of transactions of directors, persons discharging managerial responsibilities or connected persons1.Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associateda)NameEric Leire2.Reason for the Notificationa)Position/statusPDMRb)Initial notification / AmendmentInitial notification3.Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitora)NameGenflow Biosciences plcb)LEI213800HVOFXRXVEGDN624.Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducteda)Description of the Financial instrument, type of instrumentOrdinary Shares of 0.0003Identification CodeGB00BP2C3V08b)Nature of the transactionOff Market Allotmentc)Price(s) and volume(s)Price(s)Volume(s)0.8 pence per Ordinary Share62,500,000 Ordinary Sharesd)Aggregated information:Aggregated volumePrice62,500,000 Ordinary Shares0.8 pence per Ordinary Sharee)Dates of the transaction8 May 2025f)Place of the transactionsLondonContactsGenflow BiosciencesHarbor AccessDr Eric Leire, CEOJonathan
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / I-ON Digital Corp. (OTCQB:IONI), a leading innovator in digital asset banking and real-world asset tokenization, is proud to announce that its Chairman and CEO, Carlos X. Montoya, was chosen to deliver the 2025 Commencement Address for Loyola University Chicago on May 7, 2025, at the University's Lake Shore Campus in Chicago, IL.A Loyola University Chicago alumnus and Damen Award honoree, Montoya's journey from a hard-working South Side student to CEO of a publicly traded fintech firm is a powerful testament to perseverance, purpose, and innovation. In his address to the graduating class, Montoya reflected on his early experiences working in junkyards and repossession lots while attending Loyola night classes, his rise through the banking industry to become CEO of Republic Bank of Chicago, and his eventual role as a pioneer in digital asset finance."It was by grace - and maybe a little mechanical failure - that I ended up at Loyola," said Montoya. "This institution didn't just open a door for me. It shaped the course of my life and gave me the foundation to lead with faith, purpose, and innovation. My hope is that today's graduates will not only remember this moment - but remain part of the living Loyola community in the years to come." Montoya's remarks touched on themes of resilience, faith-driven leadership, and the importance of staying connected to Loyola's Jesuit mission long after the cap and gown are put away.As CEO of I-ON Digital Corp., Montoya now leads one of the most forward-thinking companies in the digital asset and fintech space - helping transform in-situ gold and other real-world assets into regulated, blockchain-secured financial instruments for institutional markets worldwide.As a past Trustee of Loyola University Chicago, and former Chairman of the Capital Assets and Real Estate Committee, Montoya played a key role in major institutional initiatives, including the development of the Quinlan School of Business, the Gentile Arena, and the Rome Center campus. He and his wife were married in Loyola's Madonna della Strada Chapel, by then Loyola University President, Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J."Loyola has never stopped being part of my story," Montoya added. "And for the Class of 2025, I truly hope it never stops being part of theirs." The commencement address was streamed live via Loyola University Chicago's website and social platforms.About I-ON Digital Corp:I-ON Digital Corp. is a financial technology firm specializing in the compliant digitization of real-world assets into blockchain-secured, institutional-grade digital securities. Its flagship offering, ION.au , transforms in-situ gold into regulated digital assets, backed by verified reserves and priced to LBMA standards. I-ON is redefining digital asset banking by bridging traditional finance with Web3 innovation through its advanced tokenization platform.Learn more at www.iondigitalcorp.com For further information, please contact:Investor Relations I-ON Digital Corp. investorrelations@ iondigital.com (866) 440-2278 https://iondigitalcorp.com Forward-Looking StatementsStatements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the expected ability of the Company to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals and objectives. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of developing and commercializing its products. These and other risks concerning the Company and its financial position are described in additional detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.SOURCE: I-ON Digital Corp
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 /Star Copper Corp. (the "Company" or "Star Copper") (CSE:STCU) and Alpha Copper Corp. ("Alpha Copper") are pleased to announce that they have completed the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which the Company spun out to the Company's shareholders of record as at the close of business on May 8, 2025 (the "Shareholders") its 100% interest in the Okeover copper-molybdenum project (the "Okeover Project"), which consists of a property encompassing 4,613 hectares (11,399 acres) located immediately north of the coastal City of Powell River, British Columbia (collectively, the "Spin-Out"), through the distribution of common shares ("Spinco Shares") in the authorized capital of Alpha Copper.Darryl Jones, President, CEO and a Director of Star Copper, and CEO and a Director of Alpha Copper, commented:"We are pleased with the completion of this exciting opportunity for Star Copper, Alpha Copper and the shareholders. Creating a standalone company focused on holding and advancing Star Copper's flagship asset, the Star Project, and a standalone company focused on advancing the Okeover Project will diversify our shareholder's investments and allow each respective company, Star Copper and Alpha Copper, to focus on advancing their respective assets." The Arrangement was completed pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and became effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 9, 2025 (the "Effective Time"). Under the Arrangement, the Shareholders are entitled to receive, in exchange for each Star Copper common share held immediately prior to the Effective Time: (i) one new common share in the authorized capital of Star Copper (each, a "New Star Copper Share"); and (ii) one-third of one Spinco Share, provided that no fractional Spinco Shares will be distributed under the Arrangement and any fractional Spinco Share that results from the Arrangement will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without any compensation paid in lieu to applicable Shareholders. The Shareholders own 100% of the issued and outstanding Spinco Shares.The New Star Copper Shares (ISIN: CA85512H1047; CUSIP: 85512H104) will be trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") in Canada (CSE:STCU), on the OTC Market in the United States (OTC: STCUF), and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany (FWB: PP00). Alpha Copper is not currently listed on any stock exchange and there are no current plans to list the Spinco Shares on any stock exchange. As a result of the Arrangement, Alpha Copper now operates as a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, and will comply with its continuous disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws.Computershare Investor Services Inc. is the depositary for the Arrangement, and caused letters of transmittal to be mailed to certain registered holders of common shares of the Company to exchange outstanding share certificates representing common shares of the Company for share certificates representing the New Star Copper Shares and the Spinco Shares to which such shareholders are entitled.Further information regarding the Arrangement and Alpha Copper is set out in Company's information circular dated April 1, 2025, which is filed under Star Copper's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca About Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTC PINK:STCUF)(FWB:PP00)Star Copper is focused on contributing to the green economy by finding and developing copper resource assets in stable jurisdictions. The Company is positioned to earn a 60-per-cent interest in the Indata copper-gold project located in north-central British Columbia. After the acquisition of Cavu Energy Metals, the Company has acquired 100% of the Star copper-gold porphyry project in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, as well as the 100% owned Quesnel project in the middle of the Quesnel Trough, host to a number of alkalic copper-gold porphyry deposits running northwest across western British Columbia.For more information visit https://starcopper.com/ About Alpha Copper Corp.On May 9, 2025, Alpha Copper completed a plan of arrangement with Star Copper Corp., pursuant to which it acquired a 100% legal and beneficial interest in the Okeover Project.On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Star Copper Corp. and Alpha Copper Corp.~Darryl Jones~Darryl Jones,President, CEO & Director of Star Copper Corp.CEO & Director of Alpha Copper Corp.Contact Star CopperInvictus Investor Relations+1 (604) 788-9533 walter@ invictusir.com Contact Alpha CopperDarryl Jones Director604 788 933Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis message contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company and Alpha Copper within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "indicates," "opportunity," "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company and Alpha Copper believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, including: the anticipated benefits of the Spin-Out; the advancement of the Okeover Project by Alpha Copper and the advancement of the Star Project by Star Copper, including the unlocking of value for the Company's shareholders; the listing status of the Spinco Shares; and, the listing or trading of New Star Copper Shares on the CSE, the OTC Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, are all forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Star Copper and Alpha Copper, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingenci
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SOUTH BEND, IN / ACCESS Newswire / May 9, 2025 / Strawberry Fields REIT, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN:STRW) (the "Company") reported today its operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS100% of contractual rents collected.On January 2, 2025, the Company closed the acquisition for the purchase of six healthcare facilities located in Kansas. The purchase price for the facilities was $24.0 million, payable at the closing. The facilities are leased under a new 10-year master lease agreement to a group of third-party tenants. Under the master lease, (i) the tenants are on a triple net basis, and (ii) the tenants have 2 five-year options to extend the lease. The tenants operate the facilities as five skilled nursing facilities and one assisted living facility. The six facilities are comprised of 354 licensed beds.On March 31, 2025, the Company completed the acquisition for a skilled nursing facility with 100 licensed beds near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The acquisition was for $5.0 million. The Company funded the acquisition utilizing cash from the balance sheet. The facility is leased to an existing third-party operator who entered into a Master Lease for this facility as well as for the other facility acquired in December of 2024. The lease includes annual base rents of $0.5 million dollars with 3% annual rent increases and an initial term of 10 years with two options of 5-year extensions.For the quarters ended March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2024:FFO was $18.3 million and $14.1 million, respectively.AFFO was $16.8 million and $13.1 million, respectively.Net income was $7.0 million and $6.0 million, respectively.Rental income received was $37.3 million and $27.8 million, respectively.Moishe Gubin, the Company's Chairman & CEO, noted: "As I commented at the Annual Shareholder Meeting, collectively across our financials metrics; we have shown nice growth when comparing Q1 2025 to Q1 2024. This growth proves that our disciplined approach is paying off and we're not changing. We've demonstrated that we can deliver steady, if not strong, earnings for many years now and there is no reason we should not maintain similar earnings well into the future." Mr. Gubin continued "We are very disciplined and methodical in how we buy assets and the same three metrics apply for whenever we vet a new tenant: operational capabilities, financial strength and their integrity." Q1 2025 Quarterly Results of Operations:Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024: Rental revenues: The increase in rental revenues of $9.5 million or 34.1% is primarily due to rental income received from the new Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas master leases. These increases were offset by lower revenue from the Landmark master lease.Depreciation and Amortization: The increase in depreciation of $1.5 million or 20.7% is related to depreciation on the 23 properties purchased in 2024 and Q1 2025. The increase was offset by assets that fully depreciated in 2024. Amortization increase of $1.6 million or 186.3% is due to additional intangible assets purchased in 2024 and rent receivable related to the Kentucky Master Lease.General and administrative: Q1 2025 expenses increased by $657K or 42.6% compared to Q1-2024. The increase is driven by higher Q1 2025 professional fees, corporate salaries and other operating expensesInterest expense, net: The increase in interest expense of $4.9 million or 63.4% is primarily related to additional interest paid on higher bond balances, an additional note payable starting in Q1 2025 and a new third commercial bank loan facility obtained in connection with the December 2024 acquisition of the Missouri facilities.Net Income: The increase in net income from $5.9 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to $6.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 is primarily due to increases in rental revenue offset by higher depreciation and interest expense.Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding our intent, belief or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: future financing plans, business strategies, growth prospects and operating and financial performance; expectations regarding the making of distributions and the payment of dividends; and compliance with and changes in governmental regulations.Words such as "anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "intend(s)," "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s)" and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to prevent its spread and the related impact on our business or the businesses of our tenants; (ii) the ability and willingness of our tenants to meet and/or perform their obligations under the triple-net leases we have entered into with them, including, without limitation, their respective obligations to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities; (iii) the ability of our tenants to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations in the operation of the properties we lease to them; (iv) the ability and willingness of our tenants to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant, as well as any obligations, including indemnification obligations, we may incur in connection with the replacement of an existing tenant; (v) the availability of and the ability to identify (a) tenants who meet our credit and operating standards, and (b) suitable acquisition opportunities, and the ability to acquire and lease the respective properties to such
Popular activist Martin VeryDarkMan (VDM) Otse has broken his silence two days after his release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the anti-graft agency arrested and detained VDM for six days over alleged financial crimes.

Since his release, the activist has remained silent until Friday, when he posted a video on his Instagram page revealing that his mobile phone is still with the EFCC.

He further alleged that the EFCC logged him out of his iCloud account and threatened legal action against the Commission if it published his mugshot alongside an alleged money laundering charge.

This newspaper also gathered that on the day of his release, VDM claimed he was arrested and detained on allegations of money laundering.

He questioned how someone as poor as himself could be involved in such an offence.

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He said: EFCC, now that were trying to become friends, let me be honest: what could ruin this new friendship is what Im about to say. If you (EFCC) release the picture you took of me (the mugshot), and I see money laundering written on it, thats where the problem will start. If were going to be friends, where I can help report scammers and other issues, and you arrest and prosecute them, then lets keep it that way. But if you (EFCC) release my mugshot with money laundering on it, youll have to prove that charge to Nigerians.

That might be the first open case well do with every detail posted online. Well go to court repeatedly. The EFCC is powerful because its the government, but Ill stress that it damages its reputation and integrity. It will show that many things they post online about people are untrue. They will prove the money laundering; otherwise, it will cast doubt on all the people theyve arrested and prosecuted for similar charges. If this friendship is genuine, that label, money laundering, has to go. I saw it in detention and told you I would discuss it.

Money laundering

Meanwhile, the activist said the anti-graft agency can release his mugshot alongside any charges, but gave conditions.

If the charge is tax evasion, I wont argue. But if its money laundering, if they dont prove it, then as far as Im concerned, every charge they post against anyone is questionable. Ill consider it false, just like what theyve done to me.

Now that the EFCC has logged me out of my iCloud, they control everything on that phone, which contains a lot of evidence. That phone is gone, and I suspect they dont want me to publish anything from it, said VDM.

Enter GTBank

Additionally, VDM vowed to reveal what transpired at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, and some of his supporters alleged he was arrested at GTBank, an allegation the bank debunked in a video that showed when VDM left the premises.

This newspaper learnt that before his arrest last Friday, VDM posted on his Instagram page that he was at GTBank with his mother to complain about continuous deductions from her account.

Speaking about his intention to expose what happened at the bank, he said: As for GTBank, Im coming for you too. I will expose to the world what you people did. Its wild. I saw the videos you posted online and thought, What the hell are they doing? Did they think I would die in EFCC custody?

The only thing that can save GTBank now is if the EFCC deleted the video. If the videos are still on my phone, GTBank is in trouble. And if the EFCC deleted the video, thats another problem for the EFCC. 

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Across Nigeria, many tourism landmarks have struggled with a common dilemma: modernising without erasing a places natural and cultural identity.

From the over-commercialisation of Erin Ijesha Waterfalls, Osun State, to the near-abandonment of colonial relics in Calabar, development projects often arrive at the cost of identity, ecology, and heritage.

With this in mind, operators of the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ekiti State say they are approaching development with a focus on preserving cultural identity and the natural environment.

Sharafa Balogun, general Manager of Glocient Hospitality (the hospitality arm of Cavista Holdings, which manages the resort), says that when he and his team arrived in Ikogosi years ago, they were met not by promise but by ruins.

When we started, it was challenging, he told PREMIUM TIMES. There was no technical assistance, no architectural or electrical drawings, nothing to work with. The entire place was rundown. We had to sit down and study everything from scratch, from the power systems, infrastructure, and terrain.

Retaining identity, ecology, and heritage

But despite the hurdles, he adds that one principle remained non-negotiable: preserving the land and honouring the culture of the indigenous people.

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That principle now defines every structure at Ikogosi. From the design of the Tree-House, built around standing trees without cutting a single one, to the careful bamboo trimming instead of indiscriminate clearing, nature is not displaced; it is respected. You will be arrested if you cut down a tree here.

The Ikogosi warm spring, the heart of the site, was not rerouted or altered during the upgrade. Instead, it was reinforced with protective lining to prevent erosion and maintain its natural flow. In the evenings, monkeys still roam freely, a sign that, unlike in many other locations, wildlife continues to feel at home here, he says.

Ikogosis approach to agrotourism is also redefining sustainability in Nigerian resorts.

The team grows its yams, watermelons, and pumpkin leaves (ugwu), which are all consumed fresh on-site. We dont buy what we eat here, Mr Balogun affirms. Its part of our model to live off the land, responsibly. This is a lesson or model from which other resort operators can learn; the natural ecosystem doesnt have to suffer at the expense of modernisation.

Plans are underway for eco-trails, wildlife interaction zones, and even a mini-zoo, which will serve as tourist attractions and educational spaces for children and adults to experience the ecosystem in its purest form.

Under his leadership, he says Ikogosi has added and upgraded multiple facilities. These include a Presidential Villa, recently commissioned by the Culture Minister, Hannatu Musawa. A new reception area is slated for completion by mid-2026. Camp A is being renovated and expanded, adding 32 new rooms to complement the existing 60 rooms in Camps B and C.

Public-private partnership

What were doing at Ikogosi is a model for public-private partnership, he said. This is still a government-owned asset, but the transformation is fully privately funded. Under Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, the government has provided an enabling environment, with no interference, bureaucracy, or support.

The resort is also involved in the Destination 2030 Data Platform, a collaboration with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy to catalogue and promote Nigerias tourism assets digitally.

Mr Balogun said that during the planning stages, he was surprised to discover little-known sites like Yobe dunes and bird sanctuaries attracting species worldwide. This initiative will boost domestic tourism and position Nigeria competitively on the global map.

While the resort has a significant advantage, it also has a drawback.

We are fortunate to be in Ekiti, one of the safest states in Nigeria. Weve never had a single security incident. Thats a big part of our brand. If you could drive from Lagos or Ibadan to Ikogosi in under three hours, this place would explode with traffic. The roads need to be fixed. Thats the only thing slowing us down, Mr Balogun said.

He stressed that the call for government investment in road infrastructure is urgent to boost domestic tourism appreciation in the country.

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The Trump administration has shut down a key advisory committee at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that is responsible for setting infection control standards in hospitals nationwide.

The committee, known as the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), was terminated on 31 March, but members were only informed weeks later.

The CDC is the national public health agency of the United States, responsible for protecting public health and safety by promoting disease control, prevention, and preparedness.

The infection control committee was instrumental in developing guidelines followed by hospitals and healthcare providers to prevent infections, including practices for hand hygiene, masking, and isolating sick patients.

According to NBC News, the termination of the committee was confirmed in a letter sent to members after a virtual meeting last Friday. The move aligns with President Donald Trumps executive order aimed at reducing the size of the federal workforce.

Notably, shortly after his inauguration in January, President Trump signed an executive order that also paused all foreign aid assistance. This order affected several global health programmes, including some in Nigeria.

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Global impact

Infection control standards set by the CDC, including those created by HICPAC, are frequently referenced worldwide.

For instance, many healthcare institutions in Nigeria look to the CDC and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to build and update local infection control policies.

The loss of timely updates from HICPAC may create uncertainty, especially in managing infections and emerging diseases.

According to the CDC letter, HICPAC has made 540 recommendations to the agency since its inception, more than three decades ago, 90 per cent of which were fully implemented.

Concerns for infection control

Experts who spoke with NBC News raised concerns that the termination of the committee will leave healthcare facilities without essential tools to address emerging threats, such as drug-resistant bacteria and new infectious diseases.

At some point, when things need to change, the guidelines likely wont change, and then people will be sort of flying by the seat of their pants, Connie Steed, a HICPAC member since 2023 and former president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, was quoted.

Anurag Malani, a fellow at the Infectious Diseases Society of America who joined HICPAC in January, said the committee was close to finalising new guidelines for airborne pathogens before the termination.

The guidelines, which had not been updated since 2007, included a controversial recommendation that would allow surgical masks instead of N95 respirators to prevent the spread of certain pathogens, NBC reports.

Jane Thomason, the lead hygienist at National Nurses United, also criticised the decision.

Ms Thomason also stated that without HICPACs public meetings, there is no longer any public access to the process for drafting CDC infection control guidance. This further undermines safety for patients, nurses, and other health care workers.

The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News.

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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, and two other Nigerian health experts have been recognised on TIMEs 2025 TIME100 Health list, a global ranking of the most influential individuals shaping the future of health.

The TIME100 Health list, assembled by the American news magazine TIME, highlights global leaders, advocates, and innovators who are transforming healthcare systems and advancing public health.

Information on the TIME website showed that the Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, was also recognised for her role in advancing national nutrition policy and driving food and nutrition reforms.

Abasi Ene-Obong, founder and CEO of global genomics company Syndicate Bio, and husband of Nollywood actress Ini Dima-Okojie, was also listed for expanding the frontiers of genetic research and personalised medicine.

Also featured on the 2025 TIME100 Health list are Princess of Wales Kate Middleton; Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus; philanthropist Melinda Gates, and CEO of Novartis, Vas Narasimhan.

Ministry reacts

Announcing the selection of Mr Pate and Mrs Bako-Aiyegbusi, the ministry, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, noted that the ministers selection acknowledges his decades-long commitment to health equity, system reform, and primary healthcare advancement.

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Under his leadership and aligned with President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is undergoing a historic transformation in its health sector focused on improved governance, better health outcomes, unlocking healthcare value chains, and bolstering health security, it noted

It added that a cornerstone of this reform is the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, anchored by a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that promotes strategic coordination among government institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to ensure impactful and accountable investments.

The ministry highlighted that Mr Pate has been leading efforts to revitalise primary healthcare by strengthening frontline health facilities and expanding the community health workforce.

He is also focused on scaling up maternal, newborn, and child health services to reduce preventable mortality, accelerating malaria elimination efforts, including the introduction of the malaria vaccine, promoting local production of health commodities, and strengthening the health workforce for national resilience.

On Mrs Bako-Aiyegbusis recognition, the ministry said she was honoured for her pioneering leadership in advancing national nutrition policy and driving systemic food and nutrition reforms.

Her work has been instrumental in improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes and reducing malnutrition across vulnerable populations through multi-sectoral, evidence-based strategies.

The statement cited her leadership in implementing the National Nutrition Policy aimed at improving nutrition outcomes for all Nigerians, as well as the rollout of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) programme, which provides pregnant women with 15 essential vitamins and minerals to combat anaemia and support healthier pregnancies.

She also spearheaded the expansion of large-scale food fortification programmes and championed nutrition-sensitive, gender-responsive social protection policies to address the root causes of malnutrition.

This dual recognition not only honours the individual achievements of Mr Pate and Mrs Bako-Aiyegbusi but also celebrates Nigerias bold strides in health reform, nutrition policy, and global leadership in advancing public health, the statement added.

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The Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology has launched a new manual to guide food safety officers in overseeing and enforcing hygiene standards, particularly among street vendors and in local markets across the country.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Thursday, Veronica Eze, Chief Executive Officer of the council, said the manual will assist in regulating and monitoring food safety practices in Nigerian markets.

Ms Eze said these also includes street vendors, restaurants, bakeries, and other establishments selling food to the public.

She explained that life-threatening conditions such as kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, cancers, and diabetes are increasingly linked to lifestyle choices and the consumption of unsafe food.

While exact figures on these illnesses and related deaths are unclear, she said, the connection between unsafe food practices and the rise of kidney and liver diseases in Nigeria is evident.

She added that poisoning consumers with contaminated food is more harmful than armed robbery, as it results in slow deaths from various health conditions.

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These practices are criminal, unethical and represent a complete breakdown of food handling standards, to which only licensed food professionals can expectedly be held bound to, she said.

The unsafe practices era must stop.

Ms Eze urged local councils to employ licensed food professionals to monitor and enforce food safety in their communities.

Implications

Across Nigeria, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, street food is a major source of daily feeding for millions.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2024, approximately 600 million people, nearly one in 10 globally, fall ill each year after consuming contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 deaths.

Children under five years old bear 40 per cent of this burden, with 125,000 deaths annually.

These illnesses are often linked to unsafe food handling and preparation practices, which are prevalent in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.

Importance of Food Safety

Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, food safety lapses go far beyond individual cases of illness.

Mr Pate, who was represented by Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf from the Ministrys Food and Drug Department, warned that unsafe food undermines not only public health but also economic progress.

He said unsafe food impacts families, communities, and the nations economic development.

Recent studies by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition have revealed that approximately 20 per cent of hospital admissions in urban areas can be attributed to foodborne diseases, he said.

This figure exemplifies our fight against foodborne illness and the importance of food scientists, innovations, and researchers to support this public health priority.

He added that training for food scientists and safety officers would equip them with the technical and scientific skills needed to strengthen food monitoring systems across Nigeria.

As efforts to combat the issue intensify, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, said the manual marks a crucial step towards addressing the countrys challenges, particularly within the informal food sector.

Mr Nnaji, who was represented by Samson Duna of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, described the manual as a bold move to put an end to unsafe food handling and ensure lasting change.

He noted that the ministry is supporting capacity-building and continuous training for food safety professionals, while promoting digital platforms to reach informal vendors with food safety education.

He said the initiative aligns with global standards, including those from the WHO, FAO, and Codex.

He also urged local councils to engage licensed food professionals and called on partners to support grassroots efforts, stressing that the manual must be actively used, not shelved.

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In promulgating decree 24 on May 5, 1999 as the 1999 Constitution, the then Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Abdusalam Alhaji Abubakar (GCFR), made an addendum to the decree. The addendum was not part of the decree it was just an explanation on the constitution. General Abdusalam declared in the addendum WHEREAS the Federal Military Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in compliance with the Transition to Civil Rule (Political Programme) Decree 1998 has, through the Independent National Electoral Commission, conducted elections to the office of President and Vice-President, Governors and Deputy-Governors, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, the National Assembly, the Houses of Assembly and the local government councils;

AND WHEREAS the Federal Military Government In furtherance of its commitment to hand over to a democratically elected civilian administration on 29th May 1999. inaugurated on 11th November 1998, the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee charged with responsibility to, among other things, pilot the debate on the new Constitution for Nigeria, co-ordinate and collate views and recommendations canvassed by individuals and groups for a new Constitution for Nigeria;

AND WHEREAS the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee benefitted from the receipt of large volumes of memoranda from Nigerians at home and abroad and oral presentations at the public hearings at the debate centres throughout the country and the conclusions arrived thereat and also at various seminars, workshops and conferences organised and was convinced that the general consensus of opinion of Nigerians is the desire to retain the provisions of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with some amendments;

AND WHEREAS the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee has presented the report of its deliberations to the Provisional Ruling Council;

AND WHEREAS the Provisional Ruling Council has approved the report subject to such amendments as are deemed necessary in the public interest and for the purpose of promoting the security, welfare and good governance and fostering the unity and progress of the people of Nigeria with a view to achieving its objective of handing over an enduring Constitution to the people of Nigeria;

AND WHEREAS, it is necessary in accordance with the programme on transition to civil rule for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979 after necessary amendments and approval by the Provisional Ruling Council to be promulgated into a new Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in order to give the same force of law with effect from 29th May 1999: NOW THEREFORE, THE FEDERAL MILITARY GOVERNMENT hereby decrees as follows:- (1) There shall be for Nigeria a Constitution which shall be as set out in the Schedule to this Decree. (2) The Constitution set out in the Schedule to this Decree shall come into force on 29th May 1999. (3) Whenever it may hereafter be necessary for the Constitution to be printed it shall be lawful for the Federal Government Printer to omit all parts of this Decree apart from the Schedule and the Constitution as so printed shall have the force of law notwithstanding the omission, 2. This Decree may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree 1999.

You are free to form an opinion on the addendum. One thing is however clear, by the time we held the gubernatorial elections in the country on 20 February, 1999 and the Presidential election on February 29, 1999, the new Constitution was not ready. By 1999, the 1979 Constitution suspended by Brigadier General Sani Abachas announcement on December 31, 1983, was still suspended. Likewise, the 1988 Constitution prepared by the Constituent Assembly headed by Justice Anthony Aniagolu(1922-2011) was not available. Also, the 1995 Constitution prepared by the Constituent Assembly headed by Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte (1932-2020) was also not ready. At the time the elections were held in February 1999, the 1999 Constitution being prepared by Justice Niki Tobi (July 14, 1940  June 19, 2016) was also not ready. In his wisdom, General Abdusalam Abubakar did not constitute a Constituent Assembly to give the country a new Constitution; he only relied on the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee headed by Justice Niki Tobi.

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Justice Niki Tobi was born in Esanma, Bomadi LGA, in what is now Delta State. Prior to his career at the bench, he was the dean of Faculty of Law and deputy vice-chancellor (academic services), University of Maiduguri. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2002.

He was known for his legal erudition and wide knowledge of legal principles.

Justice Tobi made attempts before and after the elections to have an audience with General Abubakar through the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Gidado Idris, GCON. He succeeded in seeing him twice.

Only General Abdusalam Abubakar GCFR (82) can explain better why he jettisoned the idea of a Constituent Assembly to give the country a new constitution. My understanding is that General Abubakar wanted to leave power at a short notice. He must have been jolted by the death of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, GCFR, (24 August 1937  7 July 1998), acclaimed winner of the 1993 Presidential Election and the sudden death of the man he succeeded, General Sani Abacha, GCFR (20 September 1943- 8 June 1998) on 8 June, 1998.

In short, he wanted to retire to Minna in good health. Were he to be alive today, Justice Niki Tobi will be surprised that the 1999 constitution which his team prepared as draft is still in existence today although with some amendments. In my discussion with him at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, where I was posted from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as a member of the adhoc staff of the Constitutional Debate Co-ordinating Committee, he said several times that the draft will be subjected to many amendments by the Provisional Ruling Council.

Realising the numerous lapses in the Constitution, one of the first things President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR did was to review the 1999 constitution by setting up a committee headed by Ambassador Yusuf Mamman. The Committee was inaugurated on 19th October, 1999 by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi with the following terms of Reference: To co-ordinate and collate the views and recommendations from individuals and groups for a review of the Constitution, having regard to the need to maintain the corporate existence and unity of the nation; to identify and specify all anomalies, irregularities and defects inherent in the existing Constitution and make appropriate recommendations to correct such anomalies, irregularities; to make proposals for the review of the Constitution to ensure that it reflects the true experiences, wishes and aspirations of the people and suggest ways and means of making the Constitution an expression of the will of the people; and to address the lingering problems of power sharing between the Federal and State Governments and between States and Local Governments.

Other members of the committee were Mr Clement Ebri (deputy chairman), Mr Iro Abubakar Dan-Musa, Mr Shettima Mustapha, Mr Yohanna Madaki, Mr Alani Bankole, Mr Ayo Adebanjo, Mrs Iyabode Pam, Mr Bernard Banfa, Mrs Ayoka Lawani, Ms Basirat A Nahibi, Mr Isiaku Mohammed, Mr AK Horsfall, Mr Ayo Opadokun, Dr JC Odunna, Mr Mika Anache, Mr Amos Adepoju, Mr Silva Opusunju, Mr Barnabas Gemade, Mr Gambo Saleh, Mr Arthur Nwankwo, Mr Maxwell M Gidado and Mrs MVI Mbu. Shortly after inauguration, Mr Barnabas Gemade was replaced by Mr Edward Ashiekaa.

Later, an adjustment to the Committees composition was made when Mr Yusuf Mamman, Mr Ayo Adebanjo, Mr AK Horsfall, Mr Ayo Opadokun, Mrs Ayoka Lawani, Mr Arthur Nwankwo and Mr Solomon Asemota (SAN) were replaced by Mrs Stella O Dorgu, Mr Valentine Ahams, Mr Mohammed Babangida Umar, Mr Abdulhamid Hassan, Mr Adeniyi Akintola, Mr Sunday Kuku Iyakwo and Mr Olu Agunloye.

Accordingly, the Committee undertook a 23-day nationwide visitation programme to hold public hearings on the Constitution Review Exercise in all State Capitals. In order to effectively but less strenuously cover the entire country within three weeks, the Committee broke into three (3) Tour Teams, with each team assigned to cover two geo-political zones, one in the North and one in the South. Team A was led by Mr Yusuf Mamman with other members as follows: Mr Bernand Banfa, Mr Ayo Opadokun, Mr Shettima Mustapha, Mrs Iyabode Pam, Mr JC Odunna, Mr Silva Opusunju, Mr Yohanna Madaki, Mr Maxwell Gidado (Secretary), Mr Johnson Ebokpo (Rapporteur) and Mr Sajo Dahiru Bobo (Legal Assistant). Team B was led by Mr Clement Ebri.

The other members being the following: Alhaji Iro Dan Musa, Chief Albert Horsfall, Dr Arthur Nwankwo, Dr Amos Adepoju, Barrister Mika Anache, Hajiya Basirat A. Nahibi, Alhaji Gambo Mohammed Saleh, Dr Maxwell Nduaguibe (Rapporteur) and Mr Abdulmumuni Umar (Legal Assistant). Team C the third of the three Teams was led by Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke and with him were the following members:Barrister Edward Ashiekaa, Chief Alani Bankole, Alhaji Umaru Ahmed, Alhaji Isiaku Mohammed, Barrister (Mrs) Ayoka Lawani, Barrister (Mrs) MVI Mbu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Barrister Samuel Dusu (Rapporteur) and Felix Olelewe (Legal Assistant).

The Tour commenced on Sunday 16th January, 2000 and ended on Wednesday 9th February, 2000, when the visitation programme for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was completed.

On completion of its nation-wide visitation programme, a delegation of the Committee travelled to the United States of America to attend a seminar on the Threat to Democracy in Nigeria at Colin Powell Centre, New York, under the sponsorship of Ford Foundation. The lessons drawn at the seminar were revealing as they pointed out fresh approaches that would not only render the Committees work more thorough, but would also make the outcome of the Constitution Review Exercise more nationally and internationally acceptable. A new dimension therefore emerged with the offer of US$2 million technical/financial assistance from Ford Foundation to enable the Committee widen the scope and levels of consultations on its assignment thereby making it more participatory. Such an expansion in the Constitution Review process inevitably went far beyond the initial conception and financial projections of government when Mr. President constituted the Committee. The Ford Foundation support facility was therefore very timely.

As part of this financial assistance, the Ford Foundation also attached Consultant to the Committee at the Foundations expense but with the Committee providing him with only accommodation and local transportation. The Consultant, Professor Bereket Selassie, a professor of Law and Politics at North Carolina University, USA, and one-time Chairman of the Eritrean Constitution Commission arrived soon after in Nigeria and assisted the Committee during some critical aspects of the Constitution Review Exercise.

I am happy that Chief Emeka Anyaokus committee of Patriots has resolved to give the country a better Constitution. They should be encouraged in all ways. We cannot deceive ourselves. This 1999 Constitution will lead us nowhere. Something must be done urgently. No matter how long we are implementing the provisions of the Constitution.

It was made in a hurry and it was made in error.

Eric Teniola, a former director at the Presidency wrote from Lagos.

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President Bola Tinubu has asked Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to provide him with a plot of land in the state to build a retirement home.

Mr Tinubu spoke on Thursday during a reception organised in his honour when he visited the South-eastern state to commission some legacy projects.

Many of my friends are from Anambra State, and I have seen many of them today, he began, shortly after receiving a chieftaincy title.

Continuing, the president said: Going forward, we are not just friends. I am now a bona-fide son of the soil  one of you, your own son.

Maybe my friend and your governor, Charles Soludo, should find me a plot of land for my retirement home after service.

When the audience began clapping for the request, Mr Tinubu further said he would not appreciate being accommodated for a short time such as one week.

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You dont have to move me (away) from the (Presidential) Villa for only one week. Give me a permanent abode, the president joked.

Chieftaincy title

Mr Tinubu was earlier honoured with the chieftaincy title of Dike si Mba by the traditional rulers in Anambra State.

The title was conferred on the president by the Chairperson of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Chidubem Iweka, at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka.

During the conferment, Mr Iweka, the traditional ruler of Obosi Community, explained that the title was presented in recognition of Mr Tinubus contributions to the countrys development.

This is a title from all the royal fathers in the 179 communities of Anambra State. It is called Dike Si Mba Anambra, meaning warrior from the Diaspora, and it acknowledges your good works across the country, the traditional ruler said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Tinubu expressed his gratitude for the honour, recalling that a traditional ruler in the state had given him a chieftaincy title in 2005.

I feel deeply honoured by the conferment of the chieftaincy title by all the traditional rulers of Anambra State on behalf of the state.

To have all the traditional rulers of Anambra confer another title on me is not only historic but one which I will greatly treasure for the rest of my life, he stated.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals have pledged to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigerias energy security and advancing shared prosperity.

Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd, in a statement on Friday said this commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Aliko Dangote, founder and president/chief executive of the Dangote Group, to the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, and members of the companys senior management team at the NNPC Towers, on Thursday.

As part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) have pledged to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigerias energy security and advancing shared prosperity for Nigerians, the statement said.

Mr Soneye said during the visit, Mr Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPC management to ensure energy security for Nigeria.

There is no competition between us, we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of co-operation between the two organisations, Mr Dangote was quoted as saying.

While congratulating Mr Ojulari and the senior management team on their well-deserved appointments, according to the statement, Mr Dangote acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility ahead, noting that Mr Ojulari is shouldering a monumental task, adding that with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.

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In his remarks, Mr Ojulari assured Mr Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership anchored on healthy competition and productive collaboration.

The NNPC GCEO highlighted the exceptional caliber of talent he met in NNPC Ltd, describing the workforce as dedicated, highly skilled and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.

Expressing the companys readiness to build a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, Mr Ojulari said NNPC will sustain its collaboration with the Dangote group especially where there is commercial advantage for Nigeria.

According to the statement, both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organisations.

The Thursday meeting between both parties is the first official engagement since the previous GCEO of the company was removed.

Last month, President Bola Tinubu sacked the board of the NNPC Ltd, including its GCEO, Mele Kyari, and board chairperson Pius Akinyelure.

The president also approved the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO of the NNPC and Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman.

NNPC also announced the appointment of a new 8-member senior management team.

Dangote Refinery-NNPC Tango

In recent years, the Dangote Group has been at loggerheads with the NNPC Ltd over the control of the petroleum downstream market.

One of the key issues that has also strained the relationship between the two parties in recent time, is the Naira to crude deal.

In July last year, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) directed NNPC Ltd to engage Dangote Refinery and other local refineries to resolve the dispute over the sale of crude oil to them.

The FEC, presided over by President Tinubu, also directed that crude oil sales to the refineries be made in naira and that the refineries, located in Nigeria, sell their refined products to the Nigerian market in naira.

Last October, the Nigerian government said it officially commenced selling crude oil and refined petroleum products in Naira.

On 10 March, the NNPC Ltd said the contract for the sale of crude oil in Naira was structured as a six-month agreement, subject to availability, and expires at the end of March 2025. At the time, the NNPC said discussions were currently ongoing towards emplacing a new contract.

Reacting to reports alleging unilateral termination of the crude oil sale agreement between NNPC and Dangote Refinery, the Nigerian government on 11 March said the policy framework enabling the sale of crude oil in naira for domestic refining remains in force.

On 19 March, the Dangote refinery announced the temporary suspension of sales of petroleum products in Naira.

The refinery said the decision is necessary to avoid a mismatch between its sales proceeds and its crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in dollars.

In April, a meeting between a presidential delegation and officials of the Dangote refinery, the NNPC Ltd and other parties agreed to extend the policy of selling Nigerian crude to local refineries in naira.

The meeting also resolved that the policy, including the sale of the products obtained from such crude in naira, will not have a terminal date.

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The election of an American cardinal, Robert Prevost, as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church dominated the headlines today.

This Nigeria reported, Leo XIV becomes first American to head Catholic Church.

Leadership newspapers reported the news under the headline, The Pope Is American!.



According to the Tribune, Pope Leo XIVs era begins.



Vanguard wrote that, Prevost emerges new pope.

It also reported that, Tinubu, Trump, Obi hail Prevost on emergence as Pope.



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Meanwhile, Punch reported that, Newly acquired presidential jet flown to South Africa.

Tribune also reported that, Foreign herders behind attacks on communities -DHQ.

In its cover page, News Direct wrote that, Nigerians should exercise more patience, we are getting stronger daily  Tinubu.

Daily Times wrote, State visit: Tinubu hails Anambras progress, pledges deeper fed. support.



Alleged sexual harassment: I wont step down, Akpabio replies critics, Daily Independent reported.

READ ALSO: Inside Nigerian newspaper headlines today  Tuesday, 6 May, 2025 Anambra APGA, Obis kinsmen endorse Tinubu for second term, The Guardian reported

We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages.

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The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has formally flagged off the inaugural flight from Nigeria for the 2025 Hajj.

The flight took off in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

At the event, Mr Shettima called for excellence, discipline, and a sense of national responsibility from all stakeholders involved in organising the pilgrimage.

Mr Shettima, who was the special guest of honour, arrived in the company of Abubakar Bello, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Jafaru Alli, chairman of the House Committee on Hajj Affairs.

The entourage was received by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, Hajj officials and traditional rulers.

Speaking at the event, monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, the vice president called for a standing ovation for Mr Uzodinma for hosting the event and described him as Nigerias hope.

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The Hajj is not just a spiritual journey but a national assignment that unites faith, duty, and dignity, which binds us by a solemn duty to guarantee the welfare of our people wherever they may be, he said.

Addressing officials and service providers, the vice president emphasised the importance of diligence and accountability as a trust from God, warning that there should be no room for negligence where lives, hopes, and sacred obligations converge.

He reminded intending pilgrims of the honour they carry as representatives of Nigeria, urging them to uphold the values of good conduct, unity, and national pride.

He also conveyed President Bola Tinubus goodwill, noting that the president has made available all necessary resources to ensure the success of the 2025 Hajj.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Usman, expressed gratitude for the vice presidents leadership and support. He announced that 64,188 pilgrims are registered for the 2025 Hajj. A total of 315 people were on the inaugural flight, the first of its kind in south-east Nigeria.

He also applauded the federal governments intervention in resolving issues related to Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) via credit card. He praised Mr Uzodimma for fostering religious harmony.

Pilgrims boarded the Air Peace aircraft immediately after the ceremony.

After the flight from Imo, scores of pilgrims also departed Bauchi State for Saudi Arabia via Max Air.

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One of the worlds wealthiest persons, Bill Gates, says he will give away virtually all his wealth in the next 20 years.

In an article he authored and published on his website, gatesnotes, Mr Gates said he will give the money away through his Gates Foundation.

I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world, he wrote.

The American billionaire, worth about $113 billion according to Forbes, said his foundation would be shut down after he gave away his wealth.

And on December 31, 2045, the foundation will close its doors permanently, he wrote.

Mr Gates stated that his money will mostly be spent on improving public health and productivity and supporting vulnerable groups.

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There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people, he added.

The billionaire is known for his philanthropic work through the Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health, education, and poverty reduction. Nigeria has always been a beneficiary of his philanthropy, with his foundations commitment to the country now totalling over $2.8 billion, the highest in Africa.

The foundation has supported efforts to eradicate polio, improve maternal and child health, fight malaria, and reduce malnutrition in the country, often in partnership with local groups.

For instance, in the last quarter of 2024, the foundation donated $5.6 million to Nigeria for flood relief, health and agricultural reforms. In 2022, it committed $7 billion to supporting Nigeria and some other African countries. In 2020, the Gates Foundation donated $1 million to the country to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It also awarded a $2 million grant to the Nigerian Governors Forum.

Mr Gates once attributed his support for Nigeria to the huge humanitarian needs of thousands of vulnerable people in the country.

READ ALSO: Nigerian govt partners Bill Gates to tackle new polio strain

That makes sense because of the population and the incredible needs that are here. That means that Ive literally spent billions in Nigeria. Im glad that things like the child mortality rate have come down, but we could do a lot better, he had said.

In his Thursday post, he noted that the foundations top priorities are reducing global health inequality and eradicating measles, malaria, and polio.

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The Senate, on Thursday, passed the remaining two of the four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.

The two remaining bills passed were the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

The bills were considered after the senators debated them at the Committee of the Whole.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced passage of the bill after a majority of the senators supported it through voice vote.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that on Wednesday, the Senate debated and passed two of the tax bills: the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Tax Administration Bill.

With the passage of the two remaining bills, the Senate has successfully passed the four tax reform bills proposed by President Tinubu.

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Recommendations and adoptions

Initially, Section 146 of the Nigeria Tax Bill proposed a gradual increase of Value-Added Tax (VAT) from the current 7.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent through 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029, while by 2030, the VAT will be raised to 15 per cent.

However, stakeholders including Trade Union Congress (TUC) raised objections to the proposal during public hearings. The committee, thereafter, reviewed the section and recommended that VAT should be charged at a rate of 7.5 per cent.

The bill also proposed a gradual reduction in statutory funding for agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

TETFund is primarily funded through a 2 per cent education tax on the assessable profits of registered companies in Nigeria. This funding supports the development of tertiary education by providing financial assistance to institutions for infrastructure, research, and faculty training.

NASENI, on the other hand, plays a vital role in scientific research, technological advancements and driving innovation across sectors.

Similarly, NITDA is central to Nigerias digital transformation, supporting ICT growth, capacity building, and technological infrastructure development.

Because of their significance, unions like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) opposed the reduction of their funding during public hearings.

The committee reviewed the bills proposal and recommended that the statutory funding of the agencies should be retained as demanded by the stakeholders. The committee also recommended that there should be statutory funding for agencies like the National Cybersecurity and Defence Security.

All the agencies are now to share the 2 per cent profits of companies that used to be for TETFUND. The committee recommended 50 per cent of the statutory funding for TETFUND, 15 per cent for NELFUND, 10 per cent for NITDA, 10 per cent for NASENI, 5 per cent for cyber security and 10 per cent for defence security.

The committee also amended Clause 25 of the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill to address funding mechanisms for oversight and regulatory bodies of the Nigerian Tax system.

Specifically, the amendment states that the Tax Appeal Tribunal and the Tax Ombudsmans Office will now be funded from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, subject to appropriations by the National Assembly.

Approvals

After deliberating the bills clause-by-clause, Mr Akpabio put the passage to a vote, and the majority of the senators supported it through voice votes.

Mr Akpabio subsequently approved the committees recommendations on the bills and the third reading of the bills was passed.

Thereafter, he constituted a 15-member committee to harmonise the Senates decision on the bills with the version passed by the House. Once harmonised, the unified bills will be transmitted to President Tinubu for assent.

The committee members are minority leader Abba Moro, Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi), Sani Musa (Niger), Adetokubo Abiru (Lagos), Joel-Thomas Onowakpo (Delta), Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross-Rivers), Jimi Kuta (Taraba), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Osita Izunaso (Imo), Solomon Adeola (Ogun), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Hussaini Babangida (Jigawa), and Tahir Monguno (Borno).

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Some members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a bloc in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have appealed to other members not to abandon the party.

They called for internal dialogue, patience and perseverance as the best methods for resolving grievances.

A leader of the CPC bloc, Umaru Al-Makura, made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

Mr Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State, urged aggrieved members to remain committed to the APC and work through the partys internal mechanisms to address any issues.

To our brothers and sisters who may feel aggrieved, we urge them to explore options within the party to resolve their grievances through dialogue, patience and perseverance.

True loyalty is tested not in times of comfort but in times of travail. We urge all to use the structures and constitutional avenues available within our great party to seek redress and to avoid actions that could weaken the very house we built, he said.

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The CPC, founded by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was one of the key opposition parties that merged in 2013 to form the APC, alongside the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the new-PDP bloc of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The merger was a historic move that succeeded in ending the PDPs 16-year rule, bringing Mr Buhari to power in 2015. It marked the first time an opposition party unseated an incumbent government in the Nigerian federal government.

There are speculations that some aggrieved members of the CPC bloc in the APC are threatening to leave the ruling party over alleged marginalisation. Some of the members, including ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, have already defected from the APC to other parties, while others are said to be considering joining the coalition movement spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Within the APC, the CPC bloc produced ex-President Buhari while the ACN bloc produced ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

In the current dispensation, President Tinubu is a member of the ACN bloc while Speaker Abbas Tajudeen is a member of the CPC bloc.

Loyalty to APC

Mr Al-Makura reassured that the majority of CPC-aligned stakeholders will remain committed to the APC and its leadership under President Bola Tinubu.

Let it be clearly understood that we, the majority stakeholders of the former CPC, are not abandoning the APC. We are here, standing tall, committed to the ideals that brought us together. We remain loyal to our party, the APC and are firmly supportive of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our commitment is unshaken, our faith is renewed, and our hope for a better Nigeria under this administration remains high, he added.

Support for Tinubus economic reforms

Mr Al-Makura declared support for the Tinubu administrations economic and governance reforms.

He urged Nigerians to remain patient amid current economic challenges.

Today, under President Tinubus renewed hope agenda, Nigeria faces challenging but necessary reforms. As responsible citizens and co-founders of this political party, we believe that now more than ever, we must remain steadfast, patient and supportive.

We commend the bold steps taken by President Tinubu, and we urge Nigerians to trust the process, knowing that the foundation being laid today will lead to a more prosperous and secure future.

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The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, says President Bola Tinubus hitch-free visit to Anambra State has confirmed that the South-eastern state is now safe.

Mr Orutugu spoke on Thursday evening while commending security operatives for ensuring improved security during the presidential visit to Anambra State.

Details of the commissioners speech were contained in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES by the police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga.

This newspaper earlier reported that Mr Tinubu visited the state on Thursday to commission some projects executed by the state governor, Charles Soludo.

Anambra is now safe

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the commissioner also hailed residents of Anambra State for cooperating with security operatives to ensure safety during the presidential visit.

The spokesperson said the police chief also affirmed that the (Anambra) state is safe, having witnessed a hitch-free, well-attended dignitaries and stakeholders weddings in Ihiala and hosting Mr Tinubu in the state.

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He said the state police command believes that prioritising security coordination and collaboration was a proactive approach to addressing security concerns and promoting a safer, more secure environment for all.

Background

Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons in recent times.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

Hundreds of people have been killed or abducted, and several others injured in some of such attacks in the region.

Ihiala is among the communities that have witnessed some of the deadly attacks in the state.

To check the growing insecurity, Governor Soludo, in January, signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law, establishing the Agunechemba as a vigilante group in the state.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused the outlawed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the South-east.

But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.

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The suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to reject a motion seeking to compel her to delete a satirical apology she posted on social media.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan made her request in a counter-affidavit responding to a motion by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who argued that her Facebook post violated a court order in the ongoing case she filed to challenge her suspension from the Senate.

On 4 April, Justice Binta Nyako, who took over the case after another judge stepped down, issued an order barring both parties from making public statements related to the case, especially concerning the sexual harassment allegations.

The judge ruled that: There shall be no press interviews by all parties and counsels as regard the subject matter of this suit. There shall be no streaming or social media post as regards this case. There shall be no television analysis of this subject matter while the case is subjudice.

Despite this order, on 27 April, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan posted a satirical apology on her official Facebook page. In the post, she mocked the leadership style of the senate president and his alleged misconduct in the upper chamber.

In a motion filed on 5 May, the senate presidents legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, argued that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans post violated the courts order. It, therefore, asked the court to mandate her to delete the satirical post from all her social media platforms.

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Mr Akpabios legal team also asked the court to direct the suspended senator to issue a written apology, to be published in at least two national newspapers and an affidavit of compliance confirming her adherence to these directives.

However, in the counter-affidavit, the suspended senators legal team, led by Jubril Okutepa, argued that her post did not violate the court order and was instead a way to protest her alleged unfair suspension from the senate.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans legal team also alleged that Mr Akpabios motion was an attempt to harass and intimidate her for expressing herself.

That the instant motion is borne of malice and intended to harass, intimidate, and scandalise me for exercising my constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing and to free expression.

The case filed by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to challenge her suspension from the Senate was adjourned to 12 May for hearing. The court is expected to address Mr Akpabios motion and the suspended senators counter-affidavit when it reconvenes.

What is the satirical apology?

In the satirical post, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan apologised for her crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect, and suggested that success in the Senate under Mr Akpabios leadership was based not on competence or merit, but on conformity to personal expectations.

The statement went viral and generated several comments and reactions on social media. While some commentators saw the post as a form of protest by the suspended senator, others argued it was a disregard for the court order and advised the suspended senator to issue a straightforward apology if she had any regrets.

Legal battles

The dispute between the senate president and the suspended kogi senator dates back to a heated argument over sitting arrangements in February, which led to Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension in March.

The Kogi senator, minutes before her controversial suspension, accused Mr Akpabio of sexual harassment.

Since then, both parties have filed different lawsuits against one another, demanding billions of naira from each other.

In one such suit still pending in court, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan sued Mr Akpabio and his legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, for defamation. She is seeking 100 billion in general damages and 300 million for litigation costs. This was due to a social media post allegedly authored by Mr Patrick that stated that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan lacked legislative understanding and was more focused on her appearance than parliamentary duties.

Also, Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the senate president, filed two separate defamation suits against the suspended kogi senator, demanding 350 billion in damages for reputational harm allegedly inflicted upon her husband.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed a separate suit to contest her suspension from the Senate, a case that, like the others, is still awaiting resolution.

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Security agencies have killed a suspected member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who attacked and murdered many travellers in Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo State, announced this in a statement on Friday.

The attack

PREMIUM TIMES reported how some gunmen, on Thursday, blocked a highway and murdered a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people, including travellers along Okigwe-Owerri Road between Umuna and Amuro communities.

Umuna and Amuro are separate communities in Onuimo and Okigwe Local Government Areas of the state respectively.

The gunmen also razed over 20 vehicles, mainly tippers and trucks, during the attack believed to have been carried out by suspected IPOB members.

How the security agencies killed one suspect

Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said a joint security team launched an intelligence-led operation on Friday to track down the gunmen who attacked the motorists on Thursday.

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The police spokesperson said the joint security team comprised personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

He said, during the operation, the joint team raided the suspects hideout in Abor-Umulolo, a community in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.

The hoodlums on sighting the operatives, opened fire but were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the operative. In the ensuing gun duel, one of the hoodlums was neutralised, while others fled with varying degrees of bullet wounds, he said.

A Toyota Corolla with registration number ENU 283 CN believed to have been snatched and one HP laptop were recovered from the hoodlums during the operation, according to the police.

The body of the neutralised suspect has been deposited at the morgue, while the recovered items are in police custody for further investigation, Mr Okoye added.

The police spokesperson reiterated that an intensive manhunt was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

He said the state police command has urged residents of Imo State to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities to the police for action.

Further updates will be provided as investigations continue, he assured.

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A Zimbabwean woman sells leather products at a trade fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

HARARE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's leather sector is seeking partnerships with Chinese firms to build a competitive leather value chain and further tap into the Chinese market.

Fungai Zvinondiramba, a councillor at the Zimbabwe Leather Development Council, an organization that promotes the country's leather industry, said China's advanced manufacturing capabilities and efficient supply chains can help local players become globally competitive.

"We are looking to China as a partner in developing our leather sector. We are also focusing on the entire value and supply chains, from chemicals for our tanneries to components for our shoes and leather boots. China produces all of these, and we want strong trade relations to develop our leather value chain," he told Xinhua recently.

The Chinese market has a strong appetite for leather crafts such as belts, said Zvinondiramba, also secretary of the Bulawayo Leather Cluster (BLC), a group of businesses and individuals promoting the leather industry in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city.

Zimbabwe has a long-standing tradition of leather craft. The sector benefits from the country's rich livestock and diverse wildlife resources.

Local producers use a mix of handcrafting techniques and modern machinery to make products such as bags, shoes, belts and wallets. Unlike mass-produced leather goods made with industrial machinery and standardized designs, crafted leather products feature personalized designs, often made with hand-held tools.

"We have the best hides, the best animals. And we also have a strong historical background in leather crafting. The skill set and infrastructure are already in place. We have those trained in manufacturing, as well as those with natural talent for crafting," Zvinondiramba said.

He added that other products in the leather value chain, such as raw hides, can also be exported to China.

"We are also looking at promoting our abattoirs in China. With the world's largest population, China presents a lucrative market for our meat products, especially beef, which is also part of our value chain," he said.

Once a major regional producer of leather goods, especially shoes, Zimbabwe's leather sector is now undergoing a revival.

Joseph Mukondo, a marketing representative for BLC, said that while small-scale producers are playing a vital role in reviving the industry, they face stiff competition from imported second-hand and synthetic footwear.

"So far, the leather industry is struggling due to the influx of cheap synthetic leather imports and second-hand shoes. We are trying to win back customers by promoting genuine leather, but with the current economic hardships, people tend to buy two or three pairs of shoes for 10 U.S. dollars instead of a single genuine leather pair for 20," he said.

"We used to have large foreign companies making shoes in Zimbabwe. Today, most activities are carried out by local start-ups. That is why we are turning to China to help our start-ups grow into major players in the leather sector," Zvinondiramba said.

A Zimbabwean man shows a leather bag at a trade fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

A Zimbabwean man sells leather products at a trade fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

A Zimbabwean man sells leather products at a trade fair in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

Editor: WXY
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought on Friday the permission of the Federal High Court in Abuja to re-examine a prosecution witness in the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

EFCC, which is prosecuting Mr Bello on 19 counts of money laundering, sought to re-examine the witness to clarify issues regarding Exhibit 19 admitted by the court during the defences cross-examination of the witness.

The document in question, a judgement of the FCT High Court in Abuja, touches on a controversial advance payment of several hundred dollars for Mr Bellos childrens tuition fees at the American International School Abuja (AISA).

Nicholas Ojehomon, who started testifying on 6 March as the third prosecution witness, ended his evidence with the defence team closing his cross-examination on Friday.

Mr Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the AISA was brought to court by the prosecution to testify to give evidence on the over $800,000 paid to the elite school for Mr Bellos childrens school fees.

EFCC alleged that the payments were from proceeds of unlawful activities of Mr Bello, who faces prosecution on 19 counts of money laundering.

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The agency accused Mr Bello in the 19 charges of diverting over N80 billion in Kogi State funds through a money laundering scheme he perpetrated during his time as governor.

It alleged Mr Bellos childrens school fees and some houses in choice areas of Abuja linked to the former governor were paid with funds diverted from the Kogi State Governments coffers.

Mr Ojehomon completed his testimony that unfolded in court for four consecutive hearing days since March.

The defence led by Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), took advantage of the cross-examination opportunity to tender through the prosecution witness an FCT High Court judgment in suit between filed by Mr Bellos nephew, Ali Bello, against the AISA, apparently to contradict EFCCs case. The suit

EFCC objected to the admissibility of the document but was overruled by trial judge Emeka Nwite, who admitted it as Exhibit 19 in a ruling on Thursday.

When the defence finished cross-examining the prosecution witness on Friday, EFCCs prosecuting lawyer, Olukayode Eniola, called for a turn to re-examine him on the document that featured during the cross-examination, and not in his evidence-in-chief when the prosecution first examined him.

I am not examining the witness afresh, but re-examining him based on areas deliberately left untouched by the defence. This document came from the witness but was tampered with by the defence. They spent over two hours cross-examining him on it. I also have the right to draw his attention to relevant portions. What we seek to do is to re-examine this witness on matters that arose for the first time during cross-examination, specifically in relation to Exhibit 19, Mr Eniola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said.

Citing Section 32 of the Nigerian constitution, the prosecution counsel argued that fair hearing demanded that the prosecution be allowed equal opportunity to address issues raised during cross-examination.

But defence lawyer Mr Daudu opposed the request, maintaining that granting it would be a waste of time and unfair, the prosecution having earlier examined the witness.

The prosecution maintained its request was in accordance with Section 215(3) of the Evidence Act. He cited a Supreme Court precedent to argue that disallowing such re-examination of such exhibits could amount to a miscarriage of justice.

Mr Nwite adjourned the matter till 26 June for ruling on the application and further hearing.

He also fixed 27 June, as well as 3 and 4 July for continuation of trial.

Mr Bello, who served as Governor of Kogi State from January 2016 to January 2024, is facing trial over an alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges.

He also faces related charges in a fraud case before the FCT High Court in Abuja.

The EFCC is also prosecuting his nephew, Ali Bello, said to have related closely with him while he was governor, in separate corruption cases before two judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ali is the Chief of Staff to the incumbent Governor Usman Ododo.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two Chinese nationals and six Nigerians over alleged illegal mining activities in the Ogere area of Ogun State, the anti-graft agency said in a press statement on Friday.

It said it arrested the Chinese suspects  Zhang Hang Lin and Gao Pei Hai  and their alleged Nigerian conspirators  Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo, Wasiu Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen, Ibrahim Yinusa and Saidu Shuaibu  during a sting operation.

The agency said it arrested them on Friday following credible intelligence and surveillance.

It also saidit recovered from the suspects three trucks loaded with sacks of substances suspected to be ground lithium powder, other yet-to-be-identified solid minerals, a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, samples of low grade lithium, Automated Teller Machine ( ATM) cards, the suspects international passports, four pieces of LED Flashlight and other documents.

According to the EFCC, the suspects will be charged in court after investigations.

Mining activity undertaken without state permission poses a major drain on Nigerias economy.

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Chinese involvement in illegal mining

There has been a trend of the involvement of Chinese nationals in illegal mining in Nigeria. In September 2024, EFCC arrested five Chinese nationals accused of illegal mining activities in Akwa Ibom State.

In March, the EFCC secured the conviction of two Chinese nationals. The convicts, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, were sentenced to years imprisonment for illegal mining but offered them an option of fine.

The trial judge also ordered the convicts to remit N14 million in royalties to the federal government.

Despite the efforts of the EFCC and the conviction of illegal miners, their activities persist.

The activities of illegal miners not only threaten the economy but have also resulted in fatalities and life-threatening injuries.

An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES highlighted how the activities of unregulated miners have claimed lives and shattered hopes in Benue State.

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The Supreme Court has revoked the bail earlier granted to former Lagos socialite Fred Ajudua, who has been facing about three decades old fraud charges.

The court, in a unanimous judgement of its panel of justices on Friday in Abuja, ordered Mr Ajuduas immediate return to prison while his trial continues.

It allowed two separate appeals filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), challenging a 2018 decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which granted bail to Mr Ajudua and transferred his case to a new judge for a fresh trial.

The suits were marked SC/912C/2018 and SC/ 51C/ 2019 respectively.

The EFCCs Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale in a statement confirmed the ruling, saying that Mr Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly obtaining over $1 million ($1,043,000) from a Palestinian, Zad Abu Zalaf, under false pretences in 1993.

Mr Ajudua faces a 12 amended counts conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, forgery, and uttering forged documents before trial judge Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

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Delivering judgment on the appeals on Friday, the Supreme Court allowed the EFCCs appeals and revoked Ajuduas bail granted to him by the Court of Appeal, Lagos and reinstated the ruling of Justice Dada which declined to grant him bail.

The Supreme Court also ordered that Fred Ajudua be remanded in the Correctional Centre). The court further directed that the Chief Judge of Lagos State should reassign the case to Justice Dada to continue the trial, Mr Oyewale stated.

He noted that the Supreme Court restored the ruling of Ms Dada, who had previously refused Mr Ajudua bail due to what she described as a history of frustrating judicial proceedings.

Case timeline

The fraud case, which has spanned about decades, was first assigned to M.O. Obadina in 2005.

Mr Ajudua failed to appear in court on at least 24 occasions between 2005 and 2009, stalling his arraignment.

The case was eventually struck out in 2009 and only reinstated in 2017 following EFCCs application to re-list the matter.

In June 2018, Mr Ajudua was finally arraigned before Ms Dada after the case had passed through multiple judges.

However, the Court of Appeal later granted him bail and ordered that the case be transferred to a new judge to start afresh.

But the EFCC was dissatisfied with the appellate courts decisions, and approached the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court agreed with the commission and reversed both rulings.

The Supreme Court ordered Mr Ajuduas remand in a correctional facility and directed that the case continue before Ms Dada.

Key witness testimony

At the heart of the allegations is the testimony of German businessman Michael Kreamer, who claimed he was introduced to Mr Ajudua through Mr Zalaf.

Mr Kreamer, a luxury car dealer, testified that he gave Mr Zalaf $550,000 in cash in 1993 to support a purported business deal with Ajudua in Nigeria.

Testifying before Ms Dada, Mr Kreamer recounted how he was convinced of Mr Ajuduas credibility after visiting an office filled with exotic cars and men in uniform.

He said he handed over the money after receiving what he thought was a legitimate receipt signed by Mr Ajudua.

However, upon returning to Germany, he received no communication from Mr Zalaf and eventually discovered he had been defrauded.

According to the EFCC, Mr Ajudua and his alleged accomplice, Joseph Ochunor (still at large), forged documents purportedly issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to give the scam credibility.

The prosecution said they fraudulently obtained $268,000 from Mr Zalaf on 2 April 1993, and an additional $225,000 on 12 May 1993.

Medical bail controversy

Mr Ajudua, who previously claimed to suffer from serious health conditions including a single functional kidney, had secured bail on medical grounds in a similar case before another judge, Josephine Oyefeso.

The defences lawyer, Norrison Quakers who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued for similar leniency in the current case.

But the EFCC opposed the application, citing Mr Ajuduas history of absconding and failing to meet court dates.

Mr Dada denied him bail, ruling that the health-related adjournments had already delayed the trial for over 13 years and that further delays were unjustifiable.

Judgement

In its ruling, the Supreme Court held that the appeal challenging the transfer of the case to another judge for a new trial had become academic, since it had also reversed the bail decision.

It directed the Chief Judge of Lagos State to ensure the matter resumes promptly before Ms Dada.

Mr Ajudua was remanded in custody immediately after the judgement.

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I now know that Africa has been in search for a progressive hero since the passage of the great ones  Nkrumah, Lumumba, Nasser, Nyerere, Mandela, Sankara, etc. I know because of the thoughtless and uninformed speed with which young Africans are going in support of Captain Ibrahim Traore as the new hero based mainly on the success of a Russian propaganda video company producing tons of messages about this greet African who came into power through a coup detat in September 2022. The propaganda that people are falling for is cheap, unprofessional and poorly made.

The videos all portray him as a hero combatting Western imperialism and accelerating the development of his country and people. Take the example of a recent video showing a massive low-cost high-rise residential block allegedly constructed under Traores leadership. The claim is false. The construction site seen in the videos is a national building project in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. The new roads, agricultural and industrial revolution videos are virtually all the same. The Viral Video about Captain Ibrahim Traore rejecting a US state visit is fiction as there was no invitation for such. The Burkinabe leader was also said to have rejected loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank since he took over leadership. All these stories, and there are hundreds of them are simply fabricated to create the image of a progressive African hero and a lot of my progressive friends are falling for it.

As Ebenezer Obadare has pointed out recently, Traore is deliberately always described in quasi-mythical terms with words such a liberator, transformative, visionary, exceptional, courageous, and saviour. This makes people both fond of him and the fondness is mixed with an unmistakable adulation. His propaganda team from day one has presented him as the second coming of Thomas Sankara, the countrys one-time charismatic leader who was assassinated in 1987 by a French-led plot.

In the videos, Burkina Faso is engaged on an unprecedented path of economic and social development thanks to the achievements of the great leader. That is the reality in the social media. The reality is that Burkina Faso has become caught in a spiral of violence that has spilled over from neighbouring Mali and Niger. Since 2015, regular attacks by armed jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have claimed tens of thousands of lives in the country and terrorists control a significant part of the territory. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, Burkina Faso is the country most impacted by terrorism in the world  topping the chart for the second consecutive year. That story is not being told as the mass media and civil society in the country have been terrorised into keeping quiet. Those who have tried to talk have been sent to the war front and placed on the frontline to be killed by terrorists.

It is important to note that the disinformation we are witnessing is not new and there are strong reasons why progressive Africans want to support Traore. The return of the military to power in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger have been accompanied by an orchestrated campaign against France as the architect of the underdevelopment of the Sahelian countries and a saboteur of the battle against violent extremism. France is guilty as charged. Since 1990, a striking 78 per cent of the 27 coups in sub-Saharan Africa have occurred in Francophone states with the hands of France visible in most of them. This history laid the justification for the recent coups. Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, who was named prime minister by the military junta in Mali in September 2022, launched an attack against France criticising their neo-colonialist, condescending, paternalist and vengeful policies. That made the junta popular and the others learned the narrative. Anti-French vitriol have flourished in the three Sahelian countries  Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where the military governments ended a long-standing accord that allowed French troops to operate in their countries.

French colonial rule established a political systems designed to extract valuable resources while using repressive strategies to retain control. The British did the same. The difference was that while the United Kingdom learnt to give up on maintaining the colonial system after independence, France persisted in nurturing and sustaining it. The French were very elaborate in retaining neo-colonial institutions. Seven of the nine Francophone states in West Africa still use the CFA franc, which is pegged to the euro and guaranteed by France, as their currency. Their foreign reserves are kept by France under terms that favour the French economy. France also forged defence agreements that saw it regularly intervene militarily on behalf of unpopular pro-French leaders to keep them in power. In many cases, this behaviour strengthened the hand of corrupt and abusive figures such as Chads former President Idriss Deby, President Paul Biya of Cameroon and former Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, creating additional challenges for the struggle for democracy. Africa did need heroes to uproot the French systems and the junta leaders realised that and used it.

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They received help from the Russians, in particular, the controversial Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in August 2023 when his plane was blown off the sky. He had built bridges into Francophone Africa. Indeed, one of his greatest talents was developing elaborate and sophisticated ways of weaponizing the genuine and deep history of Francafrique terrible maintenance of its colonial grip on the governments and resources of Francophone Africa for its interest while pretending to propose liberation. The purpose has been to introduce in its stead Russian neo-colonial control of the said territories through the instrumentality of installing military dictatorships. His method has been through deliberate and sustained manipulation through the social media.

The methodology and practice in this field have been developed by certain companies and States such as Russia to impact on social and political processes to obtain predetermined outcomes despite the fact that their actions are toxic and anti-democratic. One of the most infamous practitioners has been the firm Cambridge Analytica which acquired and maintained complex databases on the likes, dislikes, pressure points, and political positions of millions of social media users in order to deliver tailored ads and polemics. The technique is based on the idea of informational dominance, which is the idea that if you can capture every channel of information around a person and then inject content around them, you can change their perception of whats actually happening. While the internet was assumed to have broken information monopoly by appearing to offer users numerous and diverse sources of information, what it often does today is to lock people into this information cocoon where they essentially have only one source which is not only biased but also manipulative.

On Francafrique, the Wagner approach was to devote years of bombarding Francophone Africa with images through Facebook, WhatsApp, Tic Tok, Twitter and other outlets that France was actively providing arms to jihadists to keep terrorism active. Prigozhin used his Internet Research Agency (IRA), an online troll farm, and the Association for Free Research and International Cooperation (AFRIC) for the work. Today, there is informational dominance in Francophone Africa that terrorism remains because of France and the solution is to bring in the Russians. For the past fifteen years, thousands of video images appearing to show French helicopters delivering arms to terrorists however have been shown to be fake. The videos and associated propaganda created a wave of very strong antipathy to France in the affected countres. Wagner therefore succeeded in weaponization these narratives, much of which were false, to turn the tide of public opinion against France. They succeeded.

A number of sophisticated social media influencers emerged, some of whom are on Wagner payroll, to lead the advocacy for Russia as the solution. They include Nathalie Yanm (@Nath_Yamb), Kemi Seba (@KemiSeba) French citizen originally from Benin Republic and a French lecturer @FranklinNyamsi with Cameroonian roots. They lead the social media campaign and have also been active in the Russia-Africa summits. Over the past five years, they have succeeded in making the strong association between the idea that France must be thrown out, which most Africans support and that Russia is the way forward. Africans must rise to the imperative that the objective of combating neo-colonialism must be for autonomy not for a replacement a neo-colonial power. The most insidious aspect of this weaponisation is the presentation of military vanguardism as the pathway to salvation. They do so with the knowledge that the current generation of African youth have no experience or knowledge of military rule and the negative consequences of dictatorship.

I like the fact that the three juntas threw out the French from the control of their countries. I however refuse to categorise Captain Ibrahim as my hero, my heroes dont tell lies about their achievements and they do not terrorise their people.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

Dear brothers and sisters! Hajj is an Arabic term which literally means to leave for a place. Islamically, it refers to the sacred pilgrimage and the fifth pillar of Islam.

Every year, over two million Muslims visit the noble city of Makkah to perform the rituals of Hajj during the last month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar.

Some Muslims do not know that the rites of Hajj were ordained by the Almighty Allah during the time of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), to whom Allah Almighty entrusted the construction of the Kaabah.

Allah the Most High says:

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And remember when We showed Ibrahim the site of the [sacred] House [saying]: Do not associate anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who bypass it [i.e. say, perform tawaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who prostrate and prostrate [in prayer, etc.]. [Quran, 22:26]

However, the very first Hajj was performed by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his beloved companions in 10 AH.

Prophet Ibrahim (AS), a Messenger of Allah Almighty who lived 4000 years ago, is not only revered by Muslims but also by Christians and Jews. He was the father of Prophet Ismail (AS), the architect of the noble Kaabah, and one of the most devoted Prophets of Allah Almighty.

The life story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is not only mentioned in the Quran but also in the Bible. From being thrown into the household by his own father at a very young age, to being ordered to abandon his wife and son in the middle of nowhere in the desert of Makkah and sacrificing his only son to the name of Allah Almighty, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) life was filled with tribulations.

However, no matter how difficult the Almightys ordeal, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) handled every situation with bravery and faith. He trusted in Allah and dedicated his entire life to preaching the message of the Almighty Allah.

According to Islamic scriptures, Allah Almighty asked Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to build the Kaabah, a place of worship near the source of Zamzam water. Prophet Ibrahim (AS), along with his son Prophet Ismail (AS), worked day and night to build it to be a gathering place for Muslims.

Allah Almighty says:

And [mention] when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ismail, [saying], Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearer, the All-Knower. Our Lord, and make us Muslims [submitted] to You and our descendants a Muslim nation [submitted] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the acceptor of repentance, the Merciful. Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Powerful, the Wise. [Quran, 2:127-129]

And He the Most High says:

Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that of Makkah  blessed and guide to the worlds. Where are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Ibrahim; and whoever enters it will be safe. And [owed] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House  for anyone who is able to find a way to reach it. But whoever disbelieves, then indeed Allah is freed from the need of the worlds. [Quran, 3:96-7]

The origin of Hajj dates back to 2000 BC, when Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son, Prophet Ismail (AS), built the Kaabah as ordered by Allah Almighty.

However, the first official pilgrimage (Hajj) took place after the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companions migrated to Madinah and successfully conquered Makkah in 10 AH (632 CE). It is also known as Farewell Hajj, the last pilgrimage and Hajjatul-Wada.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and therefore Allah Almighty has asked all financially and physically capable Muslims to fulfill the obligations of this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj gives Muslims a chance to erase their past sins and have a clean slate.

This gives Muslims a chance to revive their faith and start fresh and live a better and more just life. While performing the rituals of Hajj, Muslims retrace the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Hajar (RA) and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), commemorating their sacrifices and seeking ways to deepen their devotion to Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran states:

And proclaim to mankind Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant (broad) mountain road (do Hajj ). [Quran, 22: 27]

Located in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the Kaabah is the holiest site in Islam. Elegantly draped in a black cotton and silk veil, the Kaabah is the house of Allah Almighty. It is also known as Qiblah  the direction of prayer for Muslims.

With the intention of performing the pilgrimage (Hajj or Umrah), every year millions of Muslims circumambulate the Kaabah while performing Tawaf.

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

When a believer returns home after performing Hajj, he is as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him. [Bukhari]

Each Hajj ritual offers pilgrims inner purity, tranquility of heart and fullness in understanding the creations of Allah Almighty. Every step the pilgrim takes strengthens his belief in the ultimate authority of Allah.

Every individual performing a pilgrimage learns to honour the symbol of Allah.

The first house established for humanity was that of Bakkah, blessed and guide to the worlds. In it are clear signs: the standing place of Ibrahim. Anyone who enters will be safe. [Quran, 3:96-97]

By witnessing these signs, you are reminded of the history of Islam and the struggle for faith, as found in the story of Prophet Ibrahim. Allah Almighty says:

Whoever honours the symbols of Allah, it is truly out of piety of heart. [Quran, 22:32]

Despite the barriers of race, colour, nationality and language, when gathered in one place, Muslims learn the value of compassion and unity in the eyes of Allah Almighty.

We made the House a place of return for the people and a refuge. [Quran, 2:125]

This unites them as a community and strengthens their faith while softening their hearts for one another. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are as one body. When one of the organs suffers, the whole body responds with alertness and fever. [Muslim]

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) also said:

The Muslims; their lives are equal, they are united against those who oppose them, the protection offered by the humblest among them is inviolable, and they share with those who are not with them. [Ibn Majah]

However, the reason that highlights the importance of Hajj in Islam is that the Talbiyyah declares Islamic monotheism to the world:

I answer Your call, O Allah, I answer Your call! I answer Your call, You have no partner with You, I answer Your call. All praise, blessings and dominions belong to you, you have no partner.

Throughout all the rituals and actions of Hajj, one confirms the oneness of Allah and performs each with the sole intention of obeying Allah Almighty and following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

Restoring the traditions of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), the first Hajj of Islam was performed by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) with 1400 companions in 10AH (632 CE).

The obligation of Hajj involves a series of rituals that take place in Makkah over a period of five to six days. Muslims from all over the world start coming to Makkah, Saudi Arabia from the 1st of Dhul-Hijjah to the 7th of Dhul-Hijjah.

However, the main Hajj rituals take place between the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah and the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Allah Almighty says:

Where there are clear memorials (of Allahs guidance); the place where Ibrahim stood up to pray; and whoever enters it is safe. And the pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah for humanity, for the one who can find a way to get there. As for him who disbelieves, (let him know)! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures. [Quran, 3:97]

And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] safety. [Quran, 2:125]

Perform the pilgrimage and visit (to Makkah) for Allah. [Quran, 2:196]

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

O people! Allah Almighty had ordered the worship of Hajj. Hurry up and perform Hajj. [Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported:

The Messenger of Allah was asked: What is the best action? He replied: Believe in Allah and His Messenger. The questioner then asked, Who is next (in goodness)? He replied, To participate in jihad in the cause of Allah. The questioner asked again: What is next (in kindness)? He replied: To perform Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) Mabrur, (which is accepted by Allah and is performed with the intention of seeking Allahs pleasure only and not showing off and without committing sin and in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet). [Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah]

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

Whoever performs Hajj to this house (Kaabah) and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commit sins (all by performing Hajj), he will emerge without sin. like a newborn child (just given birth by his mother). [Bukhari]

The mother of the believers, Aisha (RA), reported:

I said: O Messenger of Allah! Should we not participate in battles and jihad with you? He replied, The best and most superior jihad (for women) is Hajj which is accepted by Allah. Aisha (RA) added: Since I heard this from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), I decided not to miss the Hajj. [Bukhari]

Here are the three types of Hajj:

 Hajj Tamattu: Performed during the days of pilgrimage (1 to 10 Dhul-Hijjah). Hajj Tamattu is accompanied by Umrah, for which one must perform sacrifice of a sheep separately. After completing Sayi and Tawaf for Umrah, the pilgrim is freed from all restrictions of Ihram until the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, when they again enter the state of Ihram with the intention of Hajj.

 Hajj Qiran: It is Umrah followed by Hajj. Hajj Qiran requires the sacrifice of sheep. During Hajj Qiran, the pilgrim wears an Ihram to perform both Hajj and Umrah and remains there until the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.

 Hajj Ifrad: This does not require the sacrifice of a sheep. During Hajj Ifrad, the pilgrim performs Sayi for Hajj and Tawaf al-Qudum, and they must remain in the state of Ihram until the Hajj is completed.

Despite the constant revolt of the pagans and idolaters, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) succeeded in abolishing the ignorance of the house of Allah Almighty, making Hajj the model of purity, austerity, simplicity, piety and fear of Allah.

Today, as pilgrims visit the Kaabah, every action, from performing Tawaf to Sayi through sacrifice, Halq and Taqsir, and drinking Zamzam is a reminder of the greatness of Allah Almighty and the devotion and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

Remember, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing less than paradise.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation; may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and securityand his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761.

This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Zul Qadah 11, 1446 AH (May 09, 2025).

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Zamfara State Government has reiterated its commitment to returning all rustled animals recovered by security forces to their rightful owners in the state. So far, over 3,000 animals have been returned.

The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada made the pledge on Thursday in Gusau, the state capital while receiving members of a committee assigned to manage recovered rustled animals and return them to their actual owners under the chairmanship of Sheikh Saidu Aliyu Maikwano.

The 20-man committee established by Governor Dauda Lawal about 15 months ago, has so far returned over 3000 animals to their rightful owners and remitted about 120 million Naira into the coffers of the Zakkat Board as auctioning proceeds of the overstayed animals, in line with the established guidelines.

The meeting was aimed at strategizing more effective and efficient ways for the success of the committees assignment, especially now that the security forces are recording successes courtesy of intensified offensive clearance operations across the state.

The SSG who supervises the activities of the committee emphasised their critical role to the restitution efforts of Governor Lawals administration, aimed at fostering community resilience and promoting social justice for amicable conflict resolution.

Your assignment is very special and critical as it strives to give hope to the hopeless victims who lost their wealth to the heartless cattle rustlers, by returning their legitimate belongings back to them.

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The state government under the able leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal is committed to giving you all the necessary support you may require to function effectively, he said.

Mr Nakwada also on behalf of Governor Dauda Lawal, commended the efforts of security agencieswho have adequate representation in the committeefor their unrelenting efforts in the fight against banditry and all forms of criminalities in the state, stressing that the results of their tireless efforts are gradually manifesting.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Sheikh Saidu Maikwano commended the SSG for effective supervision of their work and appreciated the state government for giving them all necessary support to succeed.

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The Chief Justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Husseini Baba-Yusuf, has discharged 30 inmates awaiting trial across the two custodial centres in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Mr Baba-Yusuf discharged the inmates during a visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that out of the 30 inmates discharged, 24 were from Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre while six, all females were from the Keffi Old Medium Security Custodial Centre

Speaking to journalists after the visit, Mr Baba-Yusuf said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that those who do not deserve to be behind bars are allowed to go free.

We have decided to give hope to the hopeless. There are a lot of people who shouldnt be here in the first place.

This visit is to ensure that people who have no business being here are not kept behind doors, not even for one day. That is what we have done, he said.

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He said the exercise will be a continuous one with visits also scheduled for the Kuje and Suleja custodial centres to ensure that those who shouldnt be detained in the correctional centres are set free.

Mr Baba-Yusuf blamed the congestion in the custodial centres and incarceration of those inmates who ought to be on different factors.

The predicament of these type of inmates have been caused by the laxity of the deciding magistrates, the police and probably the challenges of the correctional centres who are not properly equipped with a lot of logistics support that they need to bring inmates to court regularly.

It is good that they are encouraged with facilities to enable them deliver on their mandate. By that we will quicken the dispensation of justice and eradicate this incident of people been kept in custody when they out to be walking freely and breathing free air, he said.

Also speaking, Lucy Abagi, the Chief Executive Officer, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) a non-governmental organisation told journalists her organisation was determined and committed to ensuring the decongestion of custodial centres across the country.

She commended the FCT Chief Judge for visiting Keffi to discharge inmates who she said should not have been incarcerated in the first place.

We saw people that have been here and granted bail but could not afford as low as N20,000. We saw people that have been here due to Gender Based Violence.

Women have been here because theyve been abused and they said no to the abuse but the complainants wanted to punish them for saying no to them and they have been here for weeks, months and years which is against the law.

Our goal here is to ensure that people who dont deserve to be here are out and the fact the FCT Chief Judge came himself means we are moving in the right direction, she said.

She called for decongestion of custodial centres.

Only convicts who commit grave crimes should be incarcerated while civil cases should be resolved out of court, out of the correctional centres.

Like the chief judge mentioned today, there are some cases the magistrate should just strike out without having to prolong the issues, she added.

Also speaking, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, chairperson of Federacion Internationale De Abogados translated as International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja Branch, said the organisation would intensify enlightenment to women on their rights.

One of the things I saw concerning those womens cases was a seeming abuse of power by persons who had the influence and think they have the wherewithal to unleash the law ferociously and even wrongly against those women.

READ ALSO: Court dismisses MultiChoice suit against FCCPC over price hike investigation

You could see that many of them have not been convicted for anything. They were awaiting trial.

This is why we try to enlighten women on their rights. When they know what their rights are, some of them will be able to brief a lawyer when those things are happening. They can come to FIDA and make a complaint, she said.

In his welcome remarks earlier, Yau Ibrahim, Controller of the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre, appreciated the FCT Chief Judge and his entourage for the visit.

He noted that the visit was in line with the desire of the correctional officers to see that the correction centres are decongested.

(NAN)

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Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has urged Nigerians working within the extractive industry to pay attention to energy transition in the exploration of mineral resources in the country.

Mr Otti spoke on Wednesday in Umuahia during a two-day National Stakeholders Retreat and Board Meeting of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), according to a statement by his spokesperson, Ukoha Njoku.

The governor said NEITI needed to set up systems that are pro-Nigeria in terms of reporting industrial accountability.

He suggested that attention should be paid to the unfolding dynamics of the old and new energy orders within the industry.

NEITI would do well to pay close attention to the evolution of this new ecosystem with respect to the business of exploration of mineral resources.

It should set up systems that are pro-Nigeria in terms of reporting and industrial accountability to avoid a repeat of the costly mistakes of the past, he said.

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Mr Otti contended that paying attention to the unfolding dynamics of the old and new energy order would enable the development of appropriate paradigms for optimising operations and stopping sharp practices within the extractive industry.

Whatever happens, the best path for us will be to embrace the new opportunities that are bound to come with the transition to low and non-carbon energy sources, he stated.

Abia preparing for the future

Mr Otti said Abia was preparing itself for the future and has installed thousands of solar-powered street lights across the state to improve security and public safety.

The governor explained that the initiative had brought about massive savings in energy costs, improved service delivery, and given the state a sense of how to evolve a more holistic energy policy.

He added that the state was partnering with agencies of the federal government to explore and develop the states rich deposits of natural resources and turn them into productive revenue-earning assets

Mr Otti said hundreds of young people were being trained to drive the installation and management of the new energy infrastructure.

The governor added that he has set up an investment vehicle called APTAN Energy Limited, a joint venture that has the Abia State Government, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, and a consortium of private investors as partners.

He hinted that he was committed to working with the federal government to deliver the needed dividends of democracy.

Mr Otti lauded the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, for upholding the ideals of the institution.

He expressed the hope that the resolutions at the end of the retreat and meeting will further consolidate the gains that have been made in optimising the reporting and accountability framework in Nigerias extractive industry.

Reforms in the extractive sector

In his keynote, the Chairman of the National Stakeholder Working Group of NEITI, George Akume, said the retreat served as a strategic platform to reflect on, review and adjust efforts towards reforms in the extractive sector, particularly regarding the global energy transition.

Mr Akume, a former governor of Benue State and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the federal government was taking deliberate steps to ensure that Nigerias energy transition was just, inclusive, and beneficial to all Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.

He praised Mr Otti for providing the enabling environment conducive enough to host the national retreat.

Governor Ottis transformative development agenda and people-oriented governance model are highly commendable.

We at the federal level have followed with keen interest the broad and coordinated steps his administration is taking to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen governance, improve social services, and enhance security, the NEITI chairman stated.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary and CEO of NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji, said the agency commissioned a detailed study on the impact of the energy transition, which he said has made commendable progress.

Mr Orji said he expects the retreat to deliver actionable guidelines for the institution and called on all participants to support the open debates.

He applauded Governor Otti for hosting the retreat in the South-eastern state.

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President Bola Tinubu has promised to revive a gas plant in the South-east and tackle the worsening erosion menace in Anambra State.

Mr Tinubu spoke at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on Thursday when he visited Anambra State to commission some projects executed by the state governor, Charles Soludo.

The president also promised to address Anambras exclusion from the National Rail Master Plan in Nigeria.

Soludos requests

At a civic reception organised in honour of Mr Tinubu, Mr Soludo appealed to the president to assist the state in addressing its developmental challenges.

The governor lamented that one-third of the states land mass has been under persistent threat of erosion.

The resource requirements to deal with this are far beyond the capacity of a state government.

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We are already spending tens of billions of Naira on this, but a lot more is urgently needed, he said.

He also told Mr Tinubu that the South-east, and Anambra in particular, had been bypassed by the national gas master plan despite abundant reserves of natural gas in the region.

We are not part of the national rail system.

The Onitsha River port, commissioned by President Shehu Shagari in 1982 remains a proposal ostensibly because the federal government has been unable to undertake the required dredging, he stated.

Mr Soludo further appealed to Mr Tinubu to revisit an abandoned federal road project that links Anambra with Kogi State.

Upon completion, the journey between Anambra, Southeast and Abuja might be shortened to about three hours, down from the current nine hours, he argued.

Tinubus promises

In his response, Mr Tinubu acknowledged the abandoned federal road projects in the South-east.

He stressed the importance of completing the roads linking Anambra to Kogi State to facilitate easier access to the South-south and Abuja, Nigerias capital.

Abandoned federal road projects that link Anambra to Kogi then can become the fastest gateway between Abuja and Anambra and South-south. I agree, he said

Mr Tinubu also promised to address the states exclusion from the National Rail Master Plan, assuring residents that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would rectify the omission.

I am standing before you to say that the Ministry of Transportation is aware and will include the connection in the Master Plan and give it attention, the president said.

He assured of federal support for ecological investments to tackle erosion and acknowledged the states vast gas reserves.

Mr Tinubu further promised that the South-easts omission from the National Gas Master Plan would also be addressed.

With our progressive ideological alliance, we will continue to partner with your state to deliver shared prosperity in Anambra and to all Nigerians, he said.

Fighting insecurity in South-east

In recent times, security has deteriorated in Nigerias south-east with frequent attacks by armed persons.

But Mr Tinubu reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian government to collaborate with Anambra State and the South-east to fight the growing insecurity in the region.

I wish to assure you that the federal government will continue to partner with the (Anambra) state and the South-east to secure our people and their future, he said.

The president praised Mr Soludos efforts in providing security in the state.

Commissioned projects

Among the projects commissioned by Mr Tinubu were the Emeka Anyaoku Institute for International Studies and Diplomacy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, an academic centre named after Mr Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth secretary-general.

The president also commissioned multiple components of the Solution Fun City in Awka, including the Anambra Country Club, Family Fun House, Water Park, and Amusement Park, which were built by the Soludo administration.

He equally commissioned the new Anambra State Government House, the Anambra Tour of Light, and the newly completed Emeka Anyaoku Boulevard.

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Many people were killed on Thursday morning when gunmen blocked a highway in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, south-east Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the gunmen flagged down and razed several vehicles along Okigwe-Owerri Road between Umuna and Amuro communities.

While Umuna is a community in Onuimo Local Government Area, Amuro is in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.

Multiple sources told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the hoodlums killed many residents, especially when security operatives engaged the assailants in a shootout.

A resident of the area, Augustine Mbanusi, told this newspaper that over 20 vehicles, mainly tippers and trucks, were set ablaze by the attackers.

Some soldiers and police operatives really confrontedthem. But up to 30 people were killed, Mr Mbanusi said in Igbo language, pointing out that the exact casualty figure was yet to be ascertained.

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The resident stressed that the majority of the slain victims were those whose vehicles were razed by the hoodlums.

Meanwhile, a video clip circulating on Facebook shows several trucks in flames along the road.

Voices of sympathisers in the background of the clip suggested that some travellers were still trapped in the vehicles while the fire raged.

People are still trapped there (in the vehicles). If we had water, we would have poured them on the vehicles (to rescue the trapped travellers), one male voice was heard saying in Igbo language in the background of the clip.

One of them is even dead already, another unidentified resident observed.

Police speak

The police in Imo State have confirmed the attack and killings.

In a statement on Thursday evening, the police spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, said the hoodlums who were operating in three separate groups blocked the highway and attacked the travellers.

They shot sporadically, causing panic and chaos, and set vehicles  including trucks and motorcycles  ablaze.

Tragically, reports of human casualties have also been confirmed as a result of the ambush, said Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police.

He did not mention the number of the victims killed in the attack.

The police spokesperson said the hoodlums were suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous of Biafra (IPOB).

He said the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has led a joint tactical team of security operatives to the scene of the attack following receipt of information about the incident.

The joint security team, according to him, comprised personnel of the Nigerian Army, the police and the State Security Service.

The team provided immediate support to victims and initiated a comprehensive operation to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects responsible for this heinous attack, he said.

Manhunt

Mr Okoye said the security team has launched a manhunt for the hoodlums.

A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding, he said.

He said Mr Danjuma has assured residents of Imo State that the operation will continue until all perpetrators are tracked down.

The commissioner condemned the attack and described it as a cowardly act of terror.

The police chief urged the residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and security conscious and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to aid ongoing operations.

Increased attacks

Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

Hundreds of people have been killed or abducted and several others injured in some of such attacks in the region.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.

But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria.

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This photo taken on May 7, 2025 shows a view of ceramic poppies displayed at the Tower of London in London, Britain. An installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies is on display from May 6 to Nov. 11 at the Tower of London, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

European Council President Antonio Costa underlined: "Peace is a heritage, but also a responsibility."

BRUSSELS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Europe celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War this week, with parades and wreath-laying ceremonies unfolding across the continent. The defeat of Fascism and Nazism in 1945 is celebrated on Victory in Europe (VE) Day and throughout the week, European leaders underscored the enduring value of peace and unity.

In Poland, nationwide observances on Thursday culminated in Warsaw's Wesola district, home to the Polish Army's Tadeusz Kosciuszko Armored Brigade. During an address to the army, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed to strengthen Poland's defense capability and safeguard the country.

Meanwhile, on the social media platform X, Polish President Andrzej Duda posted a strong plea: "No more war! This appeal must resound today." He called for a world grounded in "the force of law" rather than "the law of force," and called the memories of World War II a solemn reminder of the need to be "responsible stewards of peace."

A ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known as Victory in Europe Day, is held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, on May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday reflected on Germany's responsibility for the wars and called for the protection of unity, citing challenges including growing extremist forces in the country. He also reaffirmed Germany's commitment to the principles of the post-war international order.

In addition, the CEOs of 48 major German companies, including BASF, Evonik, Siemens, Bayer, and Deutsche Bank, issued a joint statement acknowledging their companies' historical responsibility in the Nazi era and calling for efforts against hatred, exclusion and antisemitism.

On the eve of the anniversary of VE Day on Wednesday, a meeting between newly-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris bore a special significance. The two leaders, representing nations once bitter enemies, emphasized the significance of German-French reconciliation.

"German-French friendship is a gift, a gift of forgiveness and reconciliation, especially for us Germans," Merz said during his first trip abroad since being elected.

People attend a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu)

Earlier this week in Britain, nearly 30,000 ceramic red poppies cascaded down the walls of the Tower of London, representing the loss of lives during the war. British King Charles and Queen Camilla reviewed a military parade in front of Buckingham Palace, as part of four days of commemorations beginning on Monday.

In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico laid a wreath on Tuesday at the Red Army Military Cemetery in Michalovce, a city liberated by the Russian Red Army. Paying tribute to young soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the liberation of Slovakia, Fico emphasized that victory over fascism is a celebration of peace and life.

In the Netherlands, flags were flown at half-mast across the country for the national day of remembrance. Thousands gathered in Amsterdam on Monday, where Dutch King Willem-Alexander laid a wreath at a war memorial, and the nation held a two-minute silence to honor the fallen.

Italy's commemorations began earlier, on April 25, with Liberation Day parades in Rome, Milan, Florence and other cities. National museums and parks offered free admission to the public as part of the celebrations. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Altar of the Fatherland.

"Defending the freedom of the European peoples is a shared task," President Mattarella declared. "Now, equality, the affirmation of the rule of law, cooperation, the same freedom and democracy, have become common goods of the European peoples to be protected by all the parties to the European Union pact."

This photo taken on May 7, 2025 shows a view of ceramic poppies displayed at the Tower of London in London, Britain. An installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies is on display from May 6 to Nov. 11 at the Tower of London, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

At the EU level, the European Parliament marked the occasion in a plenary session that featured three Second World War veterans on Wednesday. Parliamentary President Roberta Metsola stressed that the best tribute to those who gave their lives is the resolve to "never again" repeat such wars.

European Council President Antonio Costa underlined: "Peace is a heritage, but also a responsibility."

Editor: GSY
FORNEBU, Norway, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, Kristian Rkke, Chairman of Aker Horizons ASA (the "Company"), participated in a share-based investment program in which the Company sold shares in its subsidiary Aker Horizons Holding AS for NOK 25 million. NOK 10 million were paid in cash by Kristian, and NOK 15 million were financed through a loan from the Company. The share program was settled in 2024 with a total loss for Kristian of NOK 23.8 million.

As part of the settlement, the shares were transferred back to the Company. The Company retained the NOK 10 million in cash contribution, while the portion of the loan not covered by the proceeds from the sale of the shares upon settlement was cancelled in accordance with the agreement. The amount of the loan cancellation in favor of Kristian was NOK 13.8 million, reducing his loss on the investment correspondingly. The debt cancellation mechanism was part of the original terms for the share program.

Kristian today paid NOK 13.8 million to the Company and gave the following comment:

"I recognize the concerns raised by stakeholders and have listened. To reinforce alignment, I have chosen to repay the loan amount that was otherwise cancelled under the agreed terms."

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Jonas Gamre, Investor Relations, tel: +47 97 11 82 92, email: [email protected]

Mats Ektvedt, Media, tel: +47 41 42 33 28, email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-horizons/r/information-regarding-share-based-investment-program,c4147916

SOURCE Aker Horizons
SEATTLE, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alaska Air Group board of directors has placed two veteran executives in key oversight roles to enhance safety and internal audit functions at Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. These appointments support safety as the Company's top priority and Alaska and Hawaiian's continued international growth.

The reorganized leadership structure involves:

Brooke Vatheuer Allie Wittenberger

Brooke Vatheuer , who has been promoted to senior vice president of safety and audit programs for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines;

, who has been promoted to senior vice president of safety and audit programs for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines; Max Tidwell , who remains vice president of safety and security for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines; and

, who remains vice president of safety and security for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines; and Allie Wittenberger , who has been elected vice president of audit programs for Alaska Airlines

"This is a transformational time for Alaska Air Group, and I'm grateful to our team who is leveling up across the organization as we emerge a stronger airline with more global presence," said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci. "Brooke and Allie are trusted leaders who reflect our Alaska values and continue to lend valuable safety and audit oversight as we grow and introduce ourselves to even more of the world."

Brooke Vatheuer  AAG Senior Vice President of Safety and Audit Programs

As the senior vice president of safety and audit programs for Alaska Air Group, Brooke Vatheuer will oversee both the safety and aviation security programs across Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air and McGee Air Services, as well as the internal audit function that examines, evaluates and reports on Alaska Air Group's business and operational processes. The safety and audit teams will remain directly accountable to committees of the Board of Directors and Vatheuer will lead both teams' strategies to ensure the strongest focus on safety and accountability.

Max Tidwell will continue his role as vice president of safety and security, where he oversees all safety functions at Air Group companies and drives development of long-term safety and security strategies.

Vatheuer joined Alaska Airlines in 2007 as an internal auditor and quickly took on leadership roles including Horizon Air's vice president of finance and planning and senior vice president of operations and planning. In 2020, Vatheuer transitioned to vice president of strategic performance for Alaska Airlines, overseeing performance for all operational groups in the daily Seattle operation and most recently served as the vice president of audit programs. She has a master's degree in professional accounting and bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Washington.

Allie Wittenberger  Alaska Airlines Vice President of Audit Programs

Allie Wittenberger, in her new role as vice president of audit programs, will set the strategic vision and lead enterprise-level audit and assurance programs. Wittenberger will lead a team whose mission is to continuously improve Alaska's systems of financial, safety, operational, organizational and technological controls.

Wittenberger joined Alaska in 2010 as a senior internal auditor. She has held numerous leadership positions in the audit program, financial planning and analysis and ethics and compliance. Wittenberger most recently served as Alaska Air Group's managing director of corporate affairs and compliance where she supported Board of Director functions, corporate governance and compliance programs. She received a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Washington State University and is a certified public accountant.

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, with McGee Air Services a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. With hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, we deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance with Hawaiian scheduled to join in 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem miles for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK."

SOURCE Alaska Air Group
IRVINE, Calif., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (the "Company," "we," "our," "management," or "us") (NYSE: AHR) announced today its first quarter 2025 results and is increasing full year 2025 guidance.

Key Highlights:

Reported GAAP net loss attributable to controlling interest of $(6.8) million and GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders of $(0.04) per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2025 .

and GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders of per diluted share for the three months ended . Reported Normalized Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders ("NFFO") of $0.38 per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2025 .

per diluted share for the three months ended . Achieved total portfolio Same-Store Net Operating Income ("NOI") growth of 15.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 , compared to the same period in 2024.

, compared to the same period in 2024. Achieved 30.7% and 19.8% Same-Store NOI growth during the three months ended March 31, 2025 , from its senior housing operating properties ("SHOP") and integrated senior health campuses ("ISHC"), respectively, compared to the same period in 2024.

, from its senior housing operating properties ("SHOP") and integrated senior health campuses ("ISHC"), respectively, compared to the same period in 2024. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 , the Company completed a lease buyout in its ISHC segment for approximately $16.1 million .

, the Company completed a lease buyout in its ISHC segment for approximately . During the three months ended March 31, 2025 , the Company issued 1,577,113 shares of common stock through its at-the-market equity offering program ("ATM program") for gross proceeds of approximately $47.7 million .

, the Company issued 1,577,113 shares of common stock through its at-the-market equity offering program ("ATM program") for gross proceeds of approximately . Increasing total portfolio Same-Store NOI growth guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025 , by 250 basis points at the midpoint from a range of 7.0% to 10.0% to a revised range of 9.0% to 13.0%, primarily due to strong operating results in its ISHC and SHOP segments during the three months ended March 31, 2025 .

, by 250 basis points at the midpoint from a range of 7.0% to 10.0% to a revised range of 9.0% to 13.0%, primarily due to strong operating results in its ISHC and SHOP segments during the three months ended . Increasing NFFO guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025 , by $0.03 at the midpoint from a range of $1.56 to $1.60 to a revised range of $1.58 to $1.64 , due to increased expectations for full year 2025 NOI growth for its Same-Store portfolio and accretive capital markets activity completed during the first quarter of 2025.

, by at the midpoint from a range of to to a revised range of to , due to increased expectations for full year 2025 NOI growth for its Same-Store portfolio and accretive capital markets activity completed during the first quarter of 2025. Reported Net Debt-to-Annualized Adjusted EBITDA of 4.5x as of March 31, 2025 .

"The year is progressing as planned, and we have successfully raised capital at attractive prices to support our anticipated external investments and development initiatives, all while preserving ample capacity to pursue opportunistic growth," said Danny Prosky, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite a challenging winter season, strong demand for long-term care led to great performance for our diversified healthcare portfolio, as demand helped mitigate any previously anticipated occupancy losses during the quarter. Our regional operating partners played a critical role in delivering high-quality care during this period, particularly within our higher-acuity long-term care settings. For the balance of 2025, we expect demand to continue strengthening as we enter the warmer spring and summer selling seasons."

First Quarter 2025 Results

The Company's Same-Store NOI growth results for the three months ended March 31, 2025, are detailed below. Same-Store NOI growth results from its operating portfolio, comprised of ISHC and SHOP segments, led the Company's growth in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, supported by proactive expense management, incremental occupancy gains, and mid-single-digit RevPOR growth.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 Relative to Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Segment Same-Store NOI Growth ISHC 19.8 % Outpatient Medical 2.0 % SHOP 30.7 % Triple-Net Leased Properties (1.4) % Total Portfolio 15.1 %

"Our operating portfolio segments performed well to start the year, and the benefits of Trilogy catering to various levels of long-term care proved to benefit our first quarter performance, which is usually a period of lower growth," said Gabe Willhite, the Company's Chief Operating Officer. "Demand across our campuses and properties for post-acute care skilled nursing beds helped offset the impacts from the colder winter months that we contemplated during the first quarter. As we continue to execute our strategy throughout the remainder of the year, we remain focused on capturing the growing demand for long-term care and leveraging Trilogy's platform to drive additional efficiencies across our operating portfolio."

Transactional Activity

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company:

Completed a previously announced lease buyout within its ISHC segment for approximately $16.1 million .

. Sold a Non-Core SHOP asset for gross proceeds of approximately $3.3 million , as previously announced.

, as previously announced. Sold an additional ISHC asset for gross proceeds of approximately $6.7 million .

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company:

Closed on a SHOP acquisition that was previously under contract for approximately $65.0 million . Upon closing, the Company transitioned operations to one of its regional operating partners, Heritage Senior Living.

. Upon closing, the Company transitioned operations to one of its regional operating partners, Heritage Senior Living. Sold three Non-Core Properties for gross proceeds of approximately $29.0 million . Proceeds from these sales will be used to fund future SHOP acquisitions with better risk-adjusted returns and fund ISHC development projects that are currently in process.

The Company remains active in pursing new external growth opportunities through various channels. As of May 8, 2025, the Company has developed a pipeline of over $300 million in new potential acquisitions that it has been awarded. These potential acquisitions are in various stages of the transaction process, so the Company cannot guarantee that it will close on all or any of such acquisitions, or provide certainty regarding timing of closing. As such, the Company is not factoring in any awarded acquisitions in its current full year 2025 guidance.

Development Activity

The Company started two new development projects during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The Company's total in-process development pipeline is expected to cost approximately $60.0 million, of which $19.7 million has been spent as of March 31, 2025.

Capital Markets and Balance Sheet Activity

As of March 31, 2025, the Company's total consolidated indebtedness was $1.67 billion, and it had approximately $634.5 million of total liquidity, comprised of cash, restricted cash and undrawn capacity on its line of credit. The Company's Net-Debt-to-Annualized Adjusted EBITDA as of March 31, 2025, was 4.5x.

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company issued 1,577,113 shares of common stock through its ATM program for gross proceeds of approximately $47.7 million, at an average price of $30.22 per share. As of March 31, 2025, the remaining amount available under the ATM program for future sales of common stock was approximately $332.1 million.

"During the first quarter, we took advantage of a favorable cost of capital by continuing to enhance our balance sheet to support our external growth plans," said Brian Peay, the Company's Chief Financial Officer. "In addition, demand within our ISHC segment exceeded the growth expectations we previously contemplated in the first quarter, coupled with the strong foundation we've built in our SHOP segment to capture demand in the busier spring and summer selling seasons, are enabling us to raise our full-year 2025 NOI growth and earnings guidance. These updates reflect both Trilogy's strong operating performance and the accretive capital markets activity we executed early in the year."

Full Year 2025 Guidance

The Company is increasing guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025 to reflect its improved outlook on operations, capital markets activity and capital allocation activity executed during the first quarter of 2025, as well as activity completed subsequent to quarter end. Guidance does not assume additional transaction or capital markets activity beyond the items previously disclosed or items disclosed in this earnings release. Updated guidance ranges are detailed below:



Full Year 2025 Guidance Metric Midpoint Current FY 2025 Range Prior FY 2025 Range Net income per diluted share $0.32 $0.29 to $0.35 $0.26 to $0.30 NAREIT FFO per diluted share $1.52 $1.49 to $1.55 $1.49 to $1.53 NFFO per diluted share $1.61 $1.58 to $1.64 $1.56 to $1.60 Total Portfolio SS NOI Growth 11.0 % 9.0% to 13.0% 7.0% to 10.0% Segment-Level SS NOI





Growth / (Decline):





ISHC 14.0 % 12.0% to 16.0% 10.0% to 12.0% Outpatient Medical 0.0 % (1.0%) to 1.0% (1.0%) to 1.0% SHOP 22.0 % 20.0% to 24.0% 18.0% to 22.0% Triple-Net Leased Properties (1.0 %) (1.5%) to (0.5%) (1.5%) to (0.5%)

Certain of the assumptions underlying the Company's 2025 guidance can be found within the Non-GAAP reconciliations in this earnings release and in the appendix of the Company's First Quarter 2025 Supplemental Financial Information ("Supplemental"). A reconciliation of net income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP to NAREIT FFO and NFFO can be found within the Non-GAAP reconciliations in this earnings release. Non-GAAP financial measures and other terms, as used in this earnings release, are also defined and further explained in the Supplemental. The Company is unable to provide without reasonable effort guidance for the most comparable GAAP financial measures of total revenues and property operating and maintenance expenses. Additionally, a reconciliation of the forward-looking Non-GAAP financial measures of Same-Store NOI growth to the comparable GAAP financial measures cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because the Company is unable to reasonably predict certain items contained in the GAAP measures, including non-recurring and infrequent items that are not indicative of the Company's ongoing operations. Such items include, but are not limited to, impairment on depreciated real estate assets, net gain or loss on sale of real estate assets, stock-based compensation, casualty loss, non-Same-Store revenue and non-Same-Store operating expenses. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors and could have a material impact on the Company's GAAP results for the guidance period.

Distributions

As previously announced, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 of $0.25 per share of its common stock. The first quarter distribution was paid in cash on or about April 17, 2025, to stockholders of record as of March 31, 2025.

Supplemental Information

The Company has disclosed supplemental information regarding its portfolio, financial position and results of operations as of, and for the three months ended, March 31, 2025, and certain other information, which is available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.americanhealthcarereit.com .

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will host a webcast and conference call at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 9, 2025. During the conference call, Company executives will review first quarter 2025 results, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer period.

To join via webcast, investors may use the following link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/236503465 .

To join the live telephone conference call, please dial one of the following numbers at least five minutes prior to the start time:

North America - Toll-Free: (800) 715-9871

International Toll: +1 (646) 307-1963

Conference ID: 2930459

A digital replay of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.americanhealthcarereit.com shortly after the conclusion of the call.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements relating to the Company's expectations regarding its performance, interest expense savings, balance sheet, net income or loss per diluted share, NAREIT FFO per diluted share, NFFO per diluted share, total portfolio Same-Store NOI growth, segment-level Same-Store NOI growth or decline, occupancy, NOI growth, revenue growth, margin expansion, purchases and sales of assets, development plans, and plans for Trilogy may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the applicable safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in those acts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "can," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "possible," "initiatives," "focus," "seek," "objective," "goal," "strategy," "plan," "potential," "potentially," "preparing," "projected," "future," "long-term," "once," "should," "could," "would," "might," "uncertainty" or other similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Any such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates, and beliefs of, and assumptions made by, the Company's management and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied therein, including, without limitation, risks disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on February 28, 2025, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company's reported results are presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company also discloses the following non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt-to-Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, NAREIT FFO, NFFO, NOI and Same-Store NOI. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful supplemental measures of its operating performance and used by investors and analysts to compare the operating performance of the Company between periods and to other REITs or companies on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated and/or incalculable items. Definitions of the non-GAAP financial measures used herein and reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP can be found at the end of this earnings release. See below and "Definitions" for further information regarding the Company's non-GAAP financial measures.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

Management uses earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate internal and external comparisons to our historical operating results and in making operating decisions. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are widely used by investors, lenders, credit and equity analysts in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of companies. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are utilized by our Board of Directors to evaluate management. Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) or cash flows provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as alternative measures of profitability or liquidity. Finally, the EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly entitled items reported by other REITs or other companies. In addition, management uses Net Debt-to-Annualized Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of our ability to service our debt.

NAREIT Funds from Operations (FFO) and Normalized Funds from Operations (NFFO)

We believe that the use of FFO, which excludes the impact of real estate-related depreciation and amortization and impairments, provides a further understanding of our operating performance to investors, industry analysts and our management, and when compared year over year, reflects the impact on our operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, general and administrative expenses and interest costs, which may not be immediately apparent from net income (loss) as determined in accordance with GAAP. However, FFO and NFFO should not be construed to be (i) more relevant or accurate than the current GAAP methodology in calculating net income (loss) as an indicator of our operating performance, (ii) more relevant or accurate than GAAP cash flows from operations as an indicator of our liquidity or (iii) indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. The method utilized to evaluate the value and performance of real estate under GAAP should be construed as a more relevant measure of operational performance and considered more prominently than the Non-GAAP FFO and NFFO measures and the adjustments to GAAP in calculating FFO and NFFO. Presentation of this information is intended to provide useful information to investors, industry analysts and management as they compare the operating performance metrics used by the REIT industry, although it should be noted that some REITs may use different methods of calculating funds from operations and normalized funds from operations, so comparisons with such REITs may not be meaningful.

Net Operating Income

We believe that NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI are appropriate supplemental performance measures to reflect the performance of our operating assets because NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI exclude certain items that are not associated with the operations of the properties. We believe that NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI are widely accepted measures of comparative operating performance in the real estate community and is useful to investors in understanding the profitability and operating performance of our property portfolio. However, our use of the terms NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as they may have different methodologies for computing these amounts.

NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI are not equivalent to our net income (loss) as determined under GAAP and may not be a useful measure in measuring operational income or cash flows. Furthermore, NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) as an indication of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows from operations as an indication of our liquidity. NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI should not be construed to be more relevant or accurate than the GAAP methodology in calculating net income (loss). NOI, Cash NOI, Pro-Rata Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI should be reviewed in conjunction with other measurements as an indication of our performance.

About American Healthcare REIT, Inc.

American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE: AHR) is a real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of clinical healthcare real estate, focusing primarily on senior housing communities, skilled nursing, and outpatient medical buildings across the United States, and in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)



March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024 ASSETS Real estate investments, net $ 3,337,008

$ 3,366,648 Debt security investment, net 91,698

91,264 Cash and cash equivalents 86,064

76,702 Restricted cash 41,389

46,599 Accounts and other receivables, net 222,657

211,104 Identified intangible assets, net 156,426

161,473 Goodwill 234,942

234,942 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 153,349

163,987 Other assets, net 140,518

135,338 Total assets $ 4,464,051

$ 4,488,057







LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY Liabilities:





Mortgage loans payable, net $ 1,000,489

$ 982,071 Lines of credit and term loan, net 642,567

688,534 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 272,274

258,324 Identified intangible liabilities, net 2,810

3,001 Financing obligations 34,599

34,870 Operating lease liabilities 153,585

165,239 Security deposits, prepaid rent and other liabilities 53,019

51,856 Total liabilities 2,159,343

2,183,895







Commitments and contingencies













Redeemable noncontrolling interests 220

220







Equity:





Stockholders' equity:





Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and

outstanding 

 Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share; 700,000,000 shares authorized; 159,065,005 and

157,446,697 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024,

respectively 1,583

1,564 Additional paid-in capital 3,768,030

3,720,268 Accumulated deficit (1,504,861)

(1,458,089) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,336)

(2,512) Total stockholders' equity 2,262,416

2,261,231 Noncontrolling interests 42,072

42,711 Total equity 2,304,488

2,303,942 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity $ 4,464,051

$ 4,488,057

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 Revenues:





Resident fees and services $ 497,176

$ 452,118 Real estate revenue 43,427

47,415 Total revenues 540,603

499,533 Expenses:





Property operating expenses 432,423

403,629 Rental expenses 13,643

13,727 General and administrative 13,155

11,828 Business acquisition expenses 1,837

2,782 Depreciation and amortization 41,114

42,767 Total expenses 502,172

474,733 Other income (expense):





Interest expense:





Interest expense (22,945)

(36,438) (Loss) gain in fair value of derivative financial instruments (750)

6,417 (Loss) gain on dispositions of real estate investments, net (359)

2,263 Impairment of real estate investment (21,706)

 Loss from unconsolidated entities (1,848)

(1,205) Foreign currency gain (loss) 1,416

(426) Other income, net 1,525

1,863 Total net other expense (44,667)

(27,526) Loss before income taxes (6,236)

(2,726) Income tax expense (604)

(278) Net loss (6,840)

(3,004) Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 36

(888) Net loss attributable to controlling interest $ (6,804)

$ (3,892) Net loss per share of Common Stock, Class T common stock and Class I common stock attributable to

controlling interest:





Basic $ (0.04)

$ (0.04) Diluted $ (0.04)

$ (0.04) Weighted average number of shares of Common Stock, Class T common stock and Class I common

stock outstanding:





Basic 156,922,819

104,295,142 Diluted 156,922,819

104,295,142







Net loss $ (6,840)

$ (3,004) Other comprehensive income (loss):





Foreign currency translation adjustments 176

(43) Total other comprehensive income (loss) 176

(43) Comprehensive loss (6,664)

(3,047) Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 36

(888) Comprehensive loss attributable to controlling interest $ (6,628)

$ (3,935)

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. NAREIT FFO and Normalized FFO Reconciliation For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 Net loss $ (6,840)

$ (3,004) Depreciation and amortization related to real estate  consolidated properties 41,015

42,729 Depreciation and amortization related to real estate  unconsolidated entities 497

186 Impairment of real estate investment  consolidated properties 21,706

 Loss (gain) on dispositions of real estate investments, net  consolidated properties 359

(2,263) Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 36

(888) Depreciation, amortization, impairment and net gain/loss on dispositions  noncontrolling interests (892)

(5,462) NAREIT FFO attributable to controlling interest $ 55,881

$ 31,298







Business acquisition expenses $ 1,837

$ 2,782 Amortization of above- and below-market leases 413

426 Amortization of closing costs  debt security investment 37

76 Change in deferred rent (672)

(589) Non-cash impact of changes to equity instruments 2,551

1,935 Capitalized interest (97)

(134) Loss on debt extinguishments 508

1,280 Loss (gain) in fair value of derivative financial instruments 750

(6,417) Foreign currency (gain) loss (1,416)

426 Adjustments for unconsolidated entities 

(110) Adjustments for noncontrolling interests (50)

125 Normalized FFO attributable to controlling interest $ 59,742

$ 31,098 NAREIT FFO and Normalized FFO weighted average common shares outstanding  diluted 157,428,446

104,295,142 NAREIT FFO per common share attributable to controlling interest  diluted $ 0.35

$ 0.30 Normalized FFO per common share attributable to controlling interest  diluted $ 0.38

$ 0.30

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 (In thousands) (Unaudited)





Net loss

$ (6,840) Interest expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs, debt

discount/premium and loss on debt extinguishments)

22,945 Income tax expense

604 Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of leased assets

and accretion of lease liabilities)

41,558





EBITDA

$ 58,267





Loss from unconsolidated entities

1,848 Straight line rent and amortization of above/below market leases

(703) Non-cash impact of changes to equity instruments

2,551 Business acquisition expenses

1,837 Loss on dispositions of real estate investments

359 Amortization of closing costs  debt security investment

37 Foreign currency gain

(1,416) Loss in fair value of derivative financial instruments

750 Impairment of real estate investment

21,706 Non-recurring one-time items

(153)





Adjusted EBITDA

$ 85,083

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. NOI and Cash NOI Reconciliation For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 Net loss $ (6,840)

$ (3,004) General and administrative 13,155

11,828 Business acquisition expenses 1,837

2,782 Depreciation and amortization 41,114

42,767 Interest expense 22,945

36,438 Loss (gain) in fair value of derivative financial instruments 750

(6,417) Loss (gain) on dispositions of real estate investments, net 359

(2,263) Impairment of real estate investment 21,706

 Loss from unconsolidated entities 1,848

1,205 Foreign currency (gain) loss (1,416)

426 Other income, net (1,525)

(1,863) Income tax expense 604

278 Net operating income $ 94,537

$ 82,177







Straight line rent (735)

(1,132) Facility rental expense 7,499

8,840 Other non-cash adjustments 202

391 Cash NOI from dispositions (221)

 Cash NOI attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) (256)

(230) Cash NOI $ 101,026

$ 90,046









(1) All periods are based upon current quarter's ownership percentage.

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. Same-Store NOI Reconciliation For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 ISHC





NOI $ 52,717

$ 41,980 Facility rental expense 7,499

8,840 Cash NOI from dispositions (274)

 Cash NOI (1) $ 59,942

$ 50,820 New acquisitions/dispositions/other (1) (559)

(1,281) Non-Core Properties (1) (563)

(453) Same-Store NOI (1) $ 58,820

$ 49,086







Outpatient Medical





NOI $ 20,509

$ 20,978 Straight line rent (173)

(158) Other non-cash adjustments (41)

164 Cash NOI from dispositions (2)

 Cash NOI (2) $ 20,293

$ 20,984 New acquisitions/dispositions 

(762) Non-Core Properties (2,066)

(2,352) Same-Store NOI (2) $ 18,227

$ 17,870







SHOP





NOI $ 12,036

$ 6,509 Cash NOI from dispositions 55

 Cash NOI attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) (67)

(46) Cash NOI $ 12,024

$ 6,463 New acquisitions/dispositions (2,139)

26 Development conversion 360

540 Non-Core Properties (82)

 Other normalizing adjustments 123

838 Same-Store NOI $ 10,286

$ 7,867







Triple-Net Leased Properties





NOI $ 9,275

$ 12,710 Straight line rent (562)

(974) Other non-cash adjustments 243

227 Cash NOI attributable to noncontrolling interest (2) (189)

(184) Cash NOI $ 8,767

$ 11,779 Debt security investment (1,481)

(2,081) New acquisitions/dispositions 

(2,164) Non-Core Properties (143)

(290) Same-Store NOI $ 7,143

$ 7,244

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. Same-Store NOI Reconciliation - (Continued) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 Total Portfolio





NOI $ 94,537

$ 82,177 Straight line rent (735)

(1,132) Facility rental expense 7,499

8,840 Other non-cash adjustments 202

391 Cash NOI from dispositions (221)

 Cash NOI attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) (256)

(230) Cash NOI (1)(2) $ 101,026

$ 90,046 Debt security investment (1,481)

(2,081) New acquisitions/dispositions/other (1) (2,698)

(4,181) Development conversion 360

540 Non-Core Properties (2,854)

(3,095) Other normalizing adjustments (1) 123

838 Same-Store NOI (1)(2) $ 94,476

$ 82,067





















(1) Prior periods' information is presented to reflect the increase in ownership to 100% in the Company's ISHC segment effective September 2024. (2) All periods are based upon current quarter's ownership percentage.

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. Same-Store Revenue Reconciliation For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 ISHC





GAAP revenue $ 423,364

$ 393,122 Cash revenue from dispositions (1,480)

 Cash revenue (1) $ 421,884

$ 393,122 Revenue attributable to new acquisitions/dispositions/other (1) (98,572)

(97,948) Revenue attributable to Non-Core Properties (1) (3,855)

(3,400) Same-Store revenue (1) $ 319,457

$ 291,774







Outpatient Medical





GAAP revenue $ 33,194

$ 34,067 Straight line rent (173)

(158) Other non-cash adjustments (324)

(185) Cash revenue (2) $ 32,697

$ 33,724 Revenue attributable to new acquisitions/dispositions 

(1,162) Revenue attributable to Non-Core Properties (3,891)

(4,204) Same-Store revenue (2) $ 28,806

$ 28,358







SHOP





GAAP revenue $ 73,812

$ 58,996 Cash revenue from dispositions (166)

 Cash revenue attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) (303)

(276) Cash revenue $ 73,343

$ 58,720 Revenue attributable to new acquisitions/dispositions (17,927)

(8,321) Revenue attributable to development conversion (638)

(270) Revenue attributable to Non-Core Properties (589)

(482) Other normalizing revenue adjustments 

174 Same-Store revenue $ 54,189

$ 49,821







Triple-Net Leased Properties





GAAP revenue $ 10,233

$ 13,348 Straight line rent (562)

(974) Other non-cash adjustments 225

210 Cash revenue attributable to noncontrolling interest (2) (190)

(186) Cash revenue $ 9,706

$ 12,398 Debt security investment (1,481)

(2,081) Revenue attributable to new acquisitions/dispositions 

(2,169) Revenue attributable to Non-Core Properties (182)

(314) Other normalizing revenue adjustments (261)

$  Same-Store revenue $ 7,782

$ 7,834

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. Same-Store Revenue Reconciliation - (Continued) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (In thousands) (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2025

2024 Total Portfolio





GAAP revenue $ 540,603

$ 499,533 Straight line rent (735)

(1,132) Other non-cash adjustments (99)

25 Cash revenue from dispositions (1,646)

 Cash revenue attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) (493)

(462) Cash revenue (1) $ 537,630

$ 497,964 Debt security investment (1,481)

(2,081) Revenue attributable to new acquisitions/dispositions/other (1) (116,499)

(109,600) Revenue attributable to development conversion (638)

(270) Revenue attributable to Non-Core Properties (1) (8,517)

(8,400) Other normalizing revenue adjustments (1) (261)

174 Same-Store revenue (1)(2) $ 410,234

$ 377,787













(1) Prior periods' information is presented to reflect the increase in ownership to 100% in the Company's ISHC segment effective September 2024. (2) All periods are based upon current quarter's ownership percentage.

AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REIT, INC. Earnings Guidance Reconciliation For the Year Ending December 31, 2025 (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)



Current Full Year

2025 Guidance

Prior Full Year

2025 Guidance

Low

High

Low

High Net income attributable to common stockholders $ 46.70

$ 56.10

$ 40.59

$ 46.71 Depreciation and amortization(1) 167.60

167.60

192.49

192.49 Impairment and gains/losses from dispositions 22.10

22.10



 NAREIT FFO attributable to common stockholders $ 236.40

$ 245.80

$ 233.08

$ 239.20















Amortization of other intangible assets/liabilities(1) $ 1.80

$ 1.80

$ 1.89

$ 1.89 Change in deferred rent(1) (2.70)

(2.70)

(1.00)

(1.00) Non-cash impact of changes to equity plan(1)(2) 12.10

12.10

8.96

8.96 Other adjustments(3) 3.00

3.00

1.26

1.26 Normalized FFO attributable to common stockholders $ 250.60

$ 260.00

$ 244.19

$ 250.31















Net income per common share  diluted $ 0.29

$ 0.35

$ 0.26

$ 0.30















NAREIT FFO per common share  diluted $ 1.49

$ 1.55

$ 1.49

$ 1.53















Normalized FFO per common share  diluted $ 1.58

$ 1.64

$ 1.56

$ 1.60















NAREIT FFO and Normalized FFO weighted average shares  diluted 158.5

158.5

156.4

156.4















Total Portfolio Same-Store NOI growth 9.0 %

13.0 %

7.0 %

10.0 %















Segment-Level Same-Store NOI growth / (decline):













ISHC 12.0 %

16.0 %

10.0 %

12.0 % Outpatient Medical (1.0 %)

1.0 %

(1.0 %)

1.0 % SHOP 20.0 %

24.0 %

18.0 %

22.0 % Triple-Net Leased Properties (1.5 %)

(0.5 %)

(1.5 %)

(0.5 %)































































(1) Amounts presented net of noncontrolling interests' share and AHR's share of unconsolidated entities. (2) Amounts represent amortization of equity compensation and fair value adjustments to performance-based equity compensation. (3) Includes adjustments for capitalized interest, business acquisition expenses and additional items as noted in the Company's definition of NFFO.

Definitions

Adjusted EBITDA: EBITDA excluding the impact of gain or loss from unconsolidated entities, straight line rent and amortization of above/below market leases, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, business acquisition expenses, gain or loss on sales of real estate investments, unrealized foreign currency gain or loss, change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, impairments of real estate investments, impairments of intangible assets and goodwill, and non-recurring one-time items.

Annualized Adjusted EBITDA: Current period (shown as quarterly) EBITDA multiplied by 4.

Cash NOI: NOI excluding the impact of, without duplication, (1) non-cash items such as straight-line rent and the amortization of lease intangibles, (2) third-party facility rent payments and (3) other items set forth in the Cash NOI reconciliation included herein. Both Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI include Pro-Rata ownership and other adjustments.

EBITDA: A Non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

GAAP revenue: Revenue recognized in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), which includes straight line rent and other non-cash adjustments.

ISHC: Integrated senior health campuses include a range of senior care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing services and certain ancillary businesses. Integrated senior health campuses are operated utilizing a RIDEA structure.

NAREIT FFO or FFO: Funds from operations attributable to controlling interest; a Non-GAAP financial measure, consistent with the standards established by the White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of NAREIT (the "White Paper"). The White Paper defines FFO as net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sales of certain real estate assets, gains or losses upon consolidation of a previously held equity interest, and impairment write-downs of certain real estate assets and investments, plus depreciation and amortization related to real estate, after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. While impairment charges are excluded from the calculation of FFO as described above, investors are cautioned that impairments are based on estimated future undiscounted cash flows. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures are calculated to reflect FFO.

Net Debt: Total long-term debt, excluding operating lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash related to debt.

NOI: Net operating income; a Non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as net income (loss), computed in accordance with GAAP, generated from properties before general and administrative expenses, business acquisition expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, gain or loss in fair value of derivative financial instruments, gain or loss on dispositions, impairments of real estate investments, impairments of intangible assets and goodwill, income or loss from unconsolidated entities, gain on re-measurement of previously held equity interest, foreign currency gain or loss, other income or expense and income tax benefit or expense.

Non-Core Properties: Assets that have been deemed not essential to generating future economic benefit or value to our day-to-day operations and/or are projected to be sold.

Normalized FFO attributable to controlling interest or NFFO: FFO further adjusted for the following items included in the determination of GAAP net income (loss): expensed acquisition fees and costs, which we refer to as business acquisition expenses; amounts relating to changes in deferred rent and amortization of above and below-market leases (which are adjusted in order to reflect such payments from a GAAP accrual basis); the non-cash impact of changes to our equity instruments; non-cash or non-recurring income or expense; the noncash effect of income tax benefits or expenses; capitalized interest; impairments of intangible assets and goodwill; amortization of closing costs on debt investments; mark-to-market adjustments included in net income (loss); gains or losses included in net income (loss) from the extinguishment or sale of debt, hedges, foreign exchange, derivatives or securities holdings where trading of such holdings is not a fundamental attribute of the business plan; and after adjustments for consolidated and unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures, with such adjustments calculated to reflect Normalized FFO on the same basis.

Occupancy: With respect to OM, the percentage of total rentable square feet leased and occupied, including month-to-month leases, as of the date reported. With respect to all other property types, occupancy represents average quarterly operating occupancy based on the most recent quarter of available data. The Company uses unaudited, periodic financial information provided solely by tenants to calculate occupancy and has not independently verified the information. Occupancy metrics are reflected at our Pro-Rata share.

Outpatient Medical or OM: Outpatient Medical buildings.

Pro-Rata: As of March 31, 2025, we owned and/or operated eight buildings through entities of which we owned between 90.0% and 98.0% of the ownership interests. Because we have a controlling interest in these entities, these entities and the properties these entities own are consolidated in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, while such properties are presented in our financial statements on a consolidated basis, we are only entitled to our Pro-Rata share of the net cash flows generated by such properties. As a result, we have presented certain property information herein based on our Pro-Rata ownership interest in these entities and the properties these entities own, as of the applicable date, and not on a consolidated basis. In such instances, information is noted as being presented on a "Pro-Rata share" basis.

RevPOR: Revenue per occupied room. RevPOR is calculated as total revenue generated by occupied rooms divided by the number of occupied rooms.

RIDEA: Used to describe properties within the portfolio that utilize the RIDEA structure as described in "RIDEA structure".

RIDEA structure: A structure permitted by the REIT Investment Diversification and Empowerment Act of 2007, pursuant to which we lease certain healthcare real estate properties to a wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary ("TRS"), which in turn contracts with an eligible independent contractor ("EIK") to operate such properties for a fee. Under this structure, the EIK receives management fees, and the TRS receives revenue from the operation of the healthcare real estate properties and retains, as profit, any revenue remaining after payment of expenses (including intercompany rent paid to us and any taxes at the TRS level) necessary to operate the property. Through the RIDEA structure, in addition to receiving rental revenue from the TRS, we retain any after-tax profit from the operation of the healthcare real estate properties and benefit from any improved operational performance while bearing the risk of any decline in operating performance at the properties.

Same-Store or SS: Properties owned or consolidated the full year in both comparison years and that are not otherwise excluded. Properties are excluded from Same-Store if they are: (1) sold, classified as held for sale or properties whose operations were classified as discontinued operations in accordance with GAAP; (2) impacted by materially disruptive events, such as flood or fire for an extensive period of time; or (3) scheduled to undergo or currently undergoing major expansions/renovations or business model transitions or have transitioned business models after the start of the prior comparison period.

Same-Store NOI or SS NOI: Cash NOI for our Same-Store properties. Same-Store NOI is used to evaluate the operating performance of our properties using a consistent population which controls for changes in the composition of our portfolio. Both Cash NOI and Same-Store NOI include ownership and other adjustments.

SHOP: Senior housing operating properties.

Square Feet or Sq. Ft.: Net rentable square feet calculated utilizing Building Owners and Managers Association measurement standards.

Total Debt: The principal balances of the Company's revolving credit facility, term loan and secured indebtedness as reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Trilogy: Trilogy Investors, LLC; one of our consolidated subsidiaries, in which we indirectly owned a 100% interest as of March 31, 2025.

Triple-net leased: A lease where the tenant is responsible for making rent payments, maintaining the leased property, and paying property taxes and other expenses.

Contact: Alan Peterson

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Healthcare REIT, Inc.
TROY, Mich., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriStaff Nursing Services and its family of companies proudly partnered with Oakland University School of Nursing to sponsor the 37th annual Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence. This prestigious event brings Michigan's leading healthcare and academic figures together to celebrate the dedication, compassion, and exceptional skill of the state's most outstanding nurses.

Members of the AmeriStaff Nursing Services Team at Oakland University School of Nursing's 37th Annual Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence.

Greg Jamian, President of AmeriCare Medical and a board member of Oakland University School of Nursing in Rochester, MI, presented this year's award for Post-Acute Care and Specialty Nursing. This honor is reserved for a nurse working in a specialized care setting who not only provides high-quality care but also demonstrates leadership in advancing nursing practices. As a statewide leader in post-acute care services, AmeriCare Medical was proud to present the award to this year's recipient, Michaelene West, BSN, RN, of Corewell Health.

"The Nightingale Awards are like the Oscars of the nursing world," said Jamian. "They celebrate the nurses whose extraordinary dedication and compassion have made a lasting impact on the lives of others and the future of healthcare."

AmeriCare Medical was well represented at the awards gala, with several staff members in attendance. Among them were nurses Rachel Carlson and Kristine Buero, who were honored as AmeriCare Medical's 2025 "Nightingale Nurses" for their outstanding service, academic advancement, and dedication to patient care.

With a legacy spanning over four decades, AmeriCare Medical remains a trusted employer for the nursing profession. Today, the organization employs over 250 healthcare professionals across a range of care environments.

Oakland University School of Nursing continues to earn recognition on both a regional and national scale for its excellence in nursing education. Ranked among the top programs by U.S. News & World Report, the school remains a hub for innovation, research, and the development of future nurse leaders.

About AmeriStaff Nursing Services

For more than four decades, AmeriStaff Nursing Services has provided integrated healthcare services to hospitals, assisted care facilities, and private homes throughout Michigan. AmeriStaff Nursing Services is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) for high standards of excellence in medical staffing, private duty nursing, durable medical equipment, and specialized pharmacy services. AmeriCare Medical, Inc. is the parent company of AmeriStaff Nursing Services, Sun Medical Equipment Company, Rx iV Infusion Pharmacy, and QCN Home Health Care.

SOURCE AmeriCare Medical, Inc.
A roundup of the most newsworthy healthcare press releases from PR Newswire, including Eli Lilly's GLP-1 medication study results and business updates from Crunch Fitness and Regulus Therapeutics.

NEW YORK, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each month, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help healthcare journalists and consumers stay on top of the month's most popular releases and newsworthy trends, here's a recap of some of the past month's most read- and engaged-with stories.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Monthly Health Press Release Roundup, April 2025. Photos provided by Ro, Garmin International, Inc. and Visit Myrtle Beach.

For more news like this, check out all of the latest health-related releases from PR Newswire .

Trending Topics

Among the health news that was distributed in April, the PR Newswire team was able to spot several larger stories that highlight the trends shaping the industry.

Looking ahead: PR Newswire anticipates significant wire activity in May around Mental Health Awareness Month, National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Early May announcements are expected to recognize National Women's Health Month, likely with maternal health innovations around Mother's Day. Aging and caregiving themes will also likely dominate coverage as organizations prepare for Older Americans Month with activities and resources.

Do you have a health press release to distribute? Sign up with PR Newswire to share your story with the audiences who matter most.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

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Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story.

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Journalists will have access to , a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines , features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

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SOURCE PR Newswire
Archer doubles down on investment in its hometown, adding a new facility and more than 200 jobs this summer

LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Archer, one of the fastest-growing meat snack brands in the U.S., today announced plans to open a second manufacturing facility in Los Angeles, a major expansion designed to fuel continued growth and create local jobs. Located in Vernon, the dedicated facility underscores Archer's long-term commitment to Los Angeles while positioning the company to scale rapidly amid surging demand.

Archer, one of the fastest-growing meat snack brands in the U.S., is opening a second manufacturing facility in Los Angeles to fuel continued growth and create more than 200 local jobs.

"The explosive growth of our meat stick products made increasing our production capabilities essential, and doing this in Los Angeles was an intentional choice," said Eugene Kang, founder and CEO of Archer. "Our founding principle has always been that supply chain ownership is crucial for maximizing margins and ensuring quality control, as evidenced by our jerky business. This expansion represents our next strategic step to vertically integrate our fastest growing product line."

The need for additional production capacity comes as Archer's 90% year-over-year sales increase outpaced the category's 5.8% growthi, demonstrating the company's strong market performance. As consumer demand grows for clean-ingredient, protein-rich and convenient snacks, Archer has positioned itself at the forefront of this expanding segment. The company has seen explosive performance across its product portfolio, particularly in meat sticks. Archer's meat stick sales grew by 187.4%, making the company one of the primary drivers of the overall meat stick category's growth ii.

The new facility will nearly double Archer's overall manufacturing capacity and will be primarily focused on producing Archer's extensive lineup of meat sticks. This will improve the company's flexibility and speed to market as well as provide synergies for training and development with Archer's existing facility located in San Bernardino, CA. The Vernon plant will exclusively produce meat sticks while the San Bernardino plant will continue to produce both jerky and meat sticks.

Purpose-built for meat processing and previously operated by Farmer John for 90 years, the Vernon facility is nearly 140,000 square feet and capable of both processing and packaging. It is slated to be fully operational in early September 2025.

Committed to supporting Los Angeles, Archer already employs over 150 Californians in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in San Bernardino and expects to add more than 200 jobs at the Vernon facility, with initial hiring and onboarding to begin this summer. In April, Archer announced its sponsorship of the Los Angeles Dodgers, further evidence of its commitment to the local community.

For more information about Archer, visit www.archerjerky.com.

About Archer

Archer is one of America's leading clean ingredient meat snack brands crafted with only all-natural and grass-fed proteins and real, premium ingredients for extraordinary taste  never any fillers or junk. Because no-brainer, no-compromise, deliciously satisfying protein snacks are for anyone, and any moment, Archer offers a robust line of convenient meat snacks, including grass-fed Beef Jerky, all-natural Turkey Jerky, Zero-Sugar Jerky, Meat Sticks in 1oz and mini sizes, Smoked Sausages, and more, in savory and culinary-inspired flavors.

Archer meat snacks are available at more than 30,000 natural, traditional, and convenience stores nationwide, including Costco, Sam's Club, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Walmart, Target, Albertsons, Safeway, Kroger, 7-Eleven, Circle K, Hudson News and many more. To learn more about Archer, visit archerjerky.com, or follow the brand on Instagram (@ArcherJerky), Facebook, or LinkedIn. Long live real meat.

i SPINS, Total U.S., latest 24 weeks ending 12/19/24

ii SPINS, MULO & Natural, Latest 24 weeks ending 12/29/24

SOURCE Archer
This year's Best Casino Award goes to

Players have spoken. The Player's Choice Award

The most popular slot of the year is

BELGRADE, Serbia, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yes, this is it. The AskGamblers Awards. Each year, the best of the best gather in Belgrade, Serbia, to receive trophies in various categories. And each year, the event gets bigger.

For the people in the online gambling industry, this is a familiar event. Those who had the chance to be the guests and even win awards were amazed by the organisation and the attention to detail of the Awards and Charity Night.

And now, for the first time ever, they're taking you behind the scenes to show you what it takes to organise one of the biggest iGaming award ceremonies.

History of AskGamblers Awards

Before we walk behind the curtains, we must understand how AskGamblers Awards came to be and what their story is. Reviewing online casinos has always been one of the key parts of their business. Each year, they log into many casinos, test different functionalities, play games, check different payment methods, and talk to customer service.

After they gather all the information, they write a comprehensive review, so that you know whether to sign up to a casino at all and what to expect if you do. No fluff. No polishing. Just the truth.

Although there are some amazing online casinos, it's hard to determine where to play and which the best of the best. But at some point, they knew they wanted to reward the casinos that were the best. The main idea was to show the players:

"Hey, this is one of the best casinos you can play in."

So, it was all for the players from the very beginning.

Organising The First Ever AskGamblers Awards

In 2018, a part of the AskGamblers team warmed up for the idea of having some sort of awards in the iGaming industry that resemble Oscars. When they talked about it with the management, the team didn't receive the green light they'd hoped to get.

So, the team took initiative, despite the hesitance of the management, which didn't prevent them, but wasn't overly supportive either.

At the time, no such event existed among gambling affiliates. Even though nowadays, there are multiple award shows organised by different affiliate websites, AskGamblers Awards was the first of its kind.

The first AskGamblers Awards was organised with just a few thousand euros, which went into renting a green-screen studio and paying the host.

Did you know that the first event was filmed with a web camera and that there were no nomination and voting stages? They were added with the second AskGamblers Awards to clarify the process fully and encourage player participation.

Despite the humble beginnings and the team improvising on the spot, the post-award excitement lasted for weeks. Everyone who participated in any shape or form was amazed, but most importantly, their team at AskGamblers knew that for the following year, we had to take the event to the next level. So, they formed a special team just a few weeks after the first AskGamblers Awards to start organising the following year's event.

AskGamblers Awards During COVID-19

Because the AskGamblers Awards took place in January and the lockdowns weren't in place, 2020 went smoothly. However, 2021 was the unicorn year, and everything participants were used to, and they were used to from the organisational standpoint, had changed.

At first, hoping the lockdown would end, they postponed the event, but at no point did they think about canceling it. They really wanted to hold the event in Belgrade, just like they've been used to doing it. Month after month and they reached June without the policies changing too much.

This is when they decided that it would be in everyone's best interest to hold the virtual event. And even though it was virtual, the show turned out to be spectacular:

They booked a studio, hired hosts to lead the show, and they had live streaming for everyone who wanted to tune in. Charity also took place with online casinos bidding for the positions on the website.

Once 2021 passed, things started to open up, and everything was much easier to organise. Each year, they've added new awards, or mixed things up a bit, followed new trends, but they stayed true to what AskGamblers was intentionally invented for - to show their players the best of the industry.

Nominations and Voting Explained

The AskGamblers Awards are divided into two main phases, which last until the Charity Night and the gala ceremony, taking place in June.

Everyone Participates in the Nomination Phase

Each year, the AskGamblers Awards start with nominations, usually in February or March. Players with an account on their website can nominate their favourites in several different categories:

Best Casino

Best New Casino

Best New Slot

Best Sportsbook

The rules for nominations are fairly simple. For Best Casino and Best Sportsbook, players can nominate any active operator. As for Best New Casino and Best New Slot, players can nominate any casino or slot published on AskGamblers between March 1 of the previous year and the current year. Also, there aren't any restrictions on how many operators or games one player can nominate.

Their team tracks every nomination, and there are a few things they take into consideration. It's important for the people who nominate operators and games to have real AskGamblers accounts. Additionally, they're tracking bot traffic, and bot votes are cancelled. At the end of the nomination phase, they come up with the finalists in each respective category, and then the voting begins.

Finalists Enter the Voting Phase

The voting phase is next in line, and players have a chance to vote for their favourite online casino, new online casino, new online slot, sportsbook, and software provider.

The Best Provider is the category that is available in the voting phase only and is based on the top 10 slots that make it to the finals. The rules during voting change slightly.

Each player can cast only one vote in each category. Additionally, the 20 finalists in the Best Casino and Best New Casino categories are up for the Player's Choice Award. As the name suggests, the winner is the casino that gets the most votes from players.

The winners in other categories are determined together by their AskGamblers team, players, and Forum members. How does this work, exactly? Who's the AskGamblers team?

AskGamblers employees from different departments create three random teams, which then organise meetings to decide how to split the votes. We take into consideration every aspect of each casino, new casino, sportsbook, and slot. Once each team has made the final decision, they share the information. Later, votes from the AskGamblers teams are grouped together with votes from the players and forum members.

Inviting Forum Members to Vote

Up until the 8th AskGamblers Awards, Forum members could only vote as players. Because they have a thriving community, they've decided to change things up and grant the most active members the right to vote as Forum representatives.

Keep in mind that there are some awards assigned by their AskGamblers team solely. These are the Best Crypto Casino, Best Partner, and Best Manager. In 2025, the Superstar Award winner will be announced for the first time ever. It is the casino that best represents the values of AskGamblers and it's also decided solely by their team.

Players can have a few months to nominate and vote for their favourites and the winners are announced at the gala ceremony in June.

Making a Real Difference at Charity Night

AskGamblers Awards rules have always been straightforward and communicated clearly to their players and partners. But let's now dive deeper into the organisation of the two most important nights of the entire cycle.

First up: Charity Night!

Charity Night takes place the evening before the Awards. Each year, they carefully select the location for the Charity Night, which is usually somewhere along the Danube or Sava River overlooking Belgrade.

During the Charity Night, they're selling several positions on the website to online casinos and partners through a live auction. The total amount of money collected is announced as the night ends, while later on, it's party time.



Here are some interesting facts about Charity Night:

Money is donated to organisations working with children (HISBAS, UNICEF, etc.).

They do a background check before the donation is placed.

They decide on an organisation based on their needs, not the location.

Every September is the charity month. Operators who paid for the positions are featured on the website throughout the entire month. This is also the month when they forward the money to the selected charity.

Let's Get Ready for AskGamblers Awards

To participate in the AskGamblers Awards gala ceremony, you either have to work at AskGamblers or be one of the finalists. However,they've decided to do something special in 2025. In collaboration with Next.io, AskGamblers organised a raffle at one of the Next.io Summit events.

Anyone from the industry was able to apply, and two people were randomly selected to join us for the Awards ceremony in June, all expenses paid!

Although the ceremony is scheduled for June, the organisation begins in December. One of the biggest challenges each year is to find a venue suitable for a large number of people. They're looking at reputable venues in Belgrade, weighing the offers and settling for one space.

Once the finalists are confirmed, they're purchasing airplane tickets and booking hotels. Usually, they leave gifts to their guests in their hotel rooms, and the gifts for finalists are different each year. Even though the day before the gala ceremony is Charity Night, it's also one of the busiest days of the year for their team.

They visit the venue to check everything, from the seating area, lights, sounds, and music, etc. Every detail must work perfectly before the gala ceremony. During the AskGamblers Awards Night, the winners are announced in a show that lasts a few hours, interwoven with singing and dancing performances.

If there are three things you must know about AskGamblers Awards, they would be these:

Nobody can buy awards (they declined all offers without a second thought)

There are no sponsors (AskGamblers pays for everything)

It's an exclusive event (only the finalists are invited)

As the lights die down and winners walk home with their well-earned trophies, they only have one thing left to do

and that's to start planning for the next year's Awards!

About AskGamblers

AskGamblers.com strives to provide current, objective, and accurate information and guide its users towards a safe gaming experience. The way we deliver our services, from the online casino, sportsbook, slot, and bonus reviews to our trusted Complaint Service, is best described by our motto: "Get the truth. Then play."

For more information about AskGamblers and AskGamblers Awards, please contact [email protected].

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/askgamblers/r/askgamblers-awards---behind-the-scenes,c4148274

The following files are available for download:
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth year in a row, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts (Escoffier), the largest culinary school brand in the U.S.* announced today it was certified as a great workplace by independent analysts at the Great Place To Work research firm.

Great Place To Work Certification is recognized worldwide as the leading benchmark for identifying outstanding employee experiences and is based entirely on employee feedback.

The independent research and consulting firm and authority on workplace culture has surveyed more than 100 million employees globally since 1992. Surveys assess employee experiences using over 60 statements and open-ended questions.

Escoffier's employee survey revealed that 90% of employees feel welcome when they join the company, 87% feel they make a difference, and 84% report being given the tools and resources to do their jobs. These indicators reflect the school's commitment to creating a workplace culture rooted in trust and opportunity.

Survey results revealed Escoffier's employee experience is marked by collaboration, responsibility, and growth. The company fosters a strong sense of community and employee engagement, which are key to supporting the school's mission to provide quality culinary education.

"Earning this recognition six years in a row demonstrates the commitment of our team and our focus on maintaining a workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered," said Jack Larson, Escoffier's CEO. "The passion and dedication of our employees are the foundation of Escoffier's success, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with them."

"Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. "By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Escoffier stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees."

Escoffier's commitment to its employees is reflected in the school's offerings and its continued recognition as one of the best places to work in the education sector. With campuses in Austin, Texas, and Boulder, Colorado, and a support center in Schaumburg, Illinois, Escoffier employs more than 565 educators, culinary professionals, chef instructors and support staff from across the United States. The school is consistently recognized as a top culinary institution, offering programs on campus and online.

For more information about Escoffier's Great Place to Work Certification, visit .

About Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S.* (based on comparable student population data currently reported in IPEDS). Escoffier's programs blend a classic and contemporary approach to culinary education, emphasizing sustainability and business skills. Escoffier is ranked No. 1 and 2 on Niche's 2025 Best Colleges for Culinary Arts list. Both the Boulder and Austin campuses are Great Place to Work-Certified institutions and have been designated as Military Friendly Schools.

About Great Place to Work Certification

Great Place To Work Certification is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience  specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply for Great Place To Work Certification.

SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products.

However, details of the agreement still need to be finalized, and the 10 percent "reciprocal tariff" previously imposed by the United States remains in place.

"The final details are being written up in the coming weeks," Trump told reporters at the White House Oval Office.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not attend the event in person but delivered a speech remotely via phone.

Under the deal, the first 100,000 vehicles imported into the United States from Britain each year are subject to the "reciprocal rate" of 10 percent and any additional vehicles each year are subject to 25 percent rates, according to a White House fact sheet.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said at the White House event that 100,000 vehicles only accounted 0.6 percent of U.S. auto market. But according to a statement from the British government, a quota of 100,000 cars is "almost the total" the Britain exported last year.

According to the agreement, Britain will reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers and expand market access for U.S. products such as beef, ethanol and some industrial goods, the White House fact sheet showed.

Lutnick also noted that Rolls-Royce engines and aircraft components from Britain will enter the U.S. tariff-free, while Britain will purchase 10 billion U.S. dollars worth of Boeing aircraft. The British government didn't mention this part in its statement.

The White House also announced that this deal creates "a new trading union" for steel and aluminum. The statement from the British government said that tariffs on British steel exports to the United States will be removed.

"In a win for both nations, we have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef," the statement read. "We will also remove the tariff on ethanol -- which is widely used in our manufacturing sector -- coming into the UK from the U.S., down to zero." 

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration of military mothers at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 8, 2025. Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
MUNICH, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At Intersolar Europe 2025, Beibei Zheng, Vice President of CHINT Global, emphasized CHINT's commitment to advancing ESG-aligned, full-lifecycle low-carbon solutions. CHINT will continue investing in these innovations to empower clients for a sustainable growth while driving the industry toward a smarter and greener future.

As Intersolar Europe is the "wind vane" of the global new energy industry, when talking about what is the core goal of CHINT's participation in this exhibition and what is the uniqueness of the European market, Beibei Zheng, Vice President of CHINT Global said, "Intersolar Europe is a key platform to link global energy innovators. CHINT's core objectives for this exhibition are threefold: Through this exhibition, we will demonstrate our hard technical strength, deepen local cooperation and deliver sustainable commitments. The European market is highly dynamic and technology-oriented."

"CHINT's strategy, specialized in full chain service capabilities developing, covered from power generation to power distribution, ensured one stop leading from production to service site, integrated technical solutions across diversified business scenarios. Every product of CHINT is accompanied by life-cycle carbon footprint tracking, in line with the compliance requirements of European Union Carbon Tariff (CBAM). We believe that Europe is not only a market, but also an 'innovation laboratory' for global energy transformation."

At present, the European energy industry is facing challenges such as electricity price fluctuation and supply chain reorganization. How can CHINT establish differentiated competitiveness? When discussing this topic, Zheng continued, "we understand that differentiated competitiveness stems from addressing customer priorities. In today's VUCA market environment, operational efficiency and energy management efficiency have become key customer concerns."

CHINT as:

A one-stop solution provider with comprehensive product portfolios to enhance enterprise management efficiency

A single-source supplier offering integrated products and services, eliminating interface conflicts and potential disputes

A strategic partner delivering flexible, customized solutions with budget optimization and shortened lead times

About technical value, CHINT has made breakthroughs in smart grid and digitalization. CHINT's breakthrough in smart grid and digital technology has been upgraded from "single-point innovation" to "system-level empowerment". Through the triple leverage of "AI+ data+localization" ecology, it not only solves the real pain points such as grid toughness and green electricity consumption, but also provides a technical path for carbon neutrality. This mode of "deep compliance+value symbiosis" is the key for China enterprises to establish sustainable competitiveness in the global energy transformation.

As for the positive significance of ESG development in enterprises, Zheng believes the true value of a company lies in its ability to contribute to a better future for humanity. At CHINT, sustainable development is part of our corporate DNA. CHINT integrates ESG concepts into our business to promote the ecological environment, cultivate multicultural environments, enhance corporate governance capabilities. From her perspective, ESG serves not just as a compliance framework, but as a value-driven forceguiding both corporate growth and societal progress. It is through innovation, collaboration, and a shared win-win mindset that we can create a more sustainable and beautiful future.

When talking about how CHINT cope with cultural differences and localization challenges in overseas market expansion, Zheng said, "Our strategy is to think globally and act locally. For example, in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, we have established sales and service networks with local partners. In mature markets such as Europe, we attract local talents through mergers and acquisitions and set up R&D centers to deeply understand regulations and user needs. At the same time, we pay attention to social responsibility, such as participating in the 'lighting the countryside' photovoltaic project in Africa and promoting the household photovoltaic universal program in Latin America to integrate into the community through action."

When asked about her predictions about the key trends of the new energy industry in the next 3-5 years and how CHINT will proceed to lay out, Zheng pointed out that two key trends are emerging as the renewable energy market continues to grow.

First, the energy mix is rapidly diversifying. The large-scale integration of wind, solar, energy storage, and electric vehicles is expanding application scenarios while placing higher demands on grid resilience, harmonic control, and dynamic response capabilities. In response, distribution and transmission operators are accelerating the development of new power systems characterized by deep integration of generation, grid, load, and storage, driving the grid toward greater efficiency, flexibility, and stability.

Second, technological innovation is becoming the core engine of industry advancement. From breakthroughs in battery technology to grid-forming and distributed storage solutions, the intelligence and responsiveness of energy systems are improving significantly. Meanwhile, leading industry players are increasingly focused on the green transformation of industrial parks, with renewable energy playing a key role in carbon reduction. Green power technologies, such as SF-free switchgear, are rapidly replacing traditional systems, contributing to emissions reduction while enabling safer and more sustainable grid operations.

CHINT remains committed to innovation-driven development, working closely with leading customers to co-develop globally competitive solutions. With a focus on energy storage, green power distribution, and other strategic sectors, we continue to invest in ESG-aligned, full-lifecycle low-carbon solutionsempowering our clients to achieve sustainable growth and driving the industry toward a smarter, greener future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2683131/Beibei_Zheng_Vice_President_of_CHINT_Global.jpg
Industry experts offer tips and strategies to succeed in an evolving talent market

CHICAGO, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Built In, the AI-powered recruiting platform for tech professionals, today announced the release of two key resources to support talent acquisition teams in adapting to a rapidly shifting hiring landscape: the 2025 Talent Trend Report and an expert panel discussion titled Hiring Redefined: Key Trends and Winning Strategies .

Recruiting tech talent today requires a multi-channel approach. Post this Job seekers today act like consumers, they now research and shop for career opportunities in the same way they shop for brands.

The 2025 Talent Trend Report, which compiles insights from over 350 HR and talent leaders, highlights key trends and challenges shaping recruitment in the year ahead. Notable trends include employing a diverse mix of recruitment channels, growth of AI and specialized-tech roles, expanded global hiring strategies, and increased investment in employer brand.

The trends also reflect the changing candidate journey. Job seekers today act like consumers, they now research and shop for career opportunities in the same way they shop for brands and because of this, hiring teams need to think like marketers. This requires an "always on" employer brand and an understanding of where, when, and how it reaches candidates.

"In light of these trends and the evolving global hiring landscape, talent leaders are navigating a new set of priorities," said Maria Christopoulos Katris , Founder and CEO of Built In. "To succeed, companies are investing across multiple channelsnot just to recruit, but to build employer brands that resonate at every stage of the candidate journey. Measuring success isn't easy, especially with complex attribution requirements, but the best teams are finding ways to use technology to track impact and optimize what works."

In addition, Built In has launched Hiring Redefined: Key Trends and Winning Strategies, an expert panel discussion that brings the data to life through real-world examples and actionable strategies for talent teams.

Hiring Redefined features expert insights from senior talent attraction and employer branding professionals from Built In, Shaker Recruitment Marketing, Lowe's, and GitLab. In addition to reacting to evolving industry trends, they share strategies for attracting and retaining talent in high-demand fields like AI, utilizing employer branding to access new talent pools locally and globally, and enabling both hiring managers and recruiters to create a unified and consistent employer brand.

"Talent teams are under increasing pressure to do more with less, and we want to provide actionable strategies to meet this challenge head-on," said Katris. "The most successful teams are aligning talent goals with business strategy, investing in employer brand as a key performance driver, and measuring what matters across the entire candidate journey."

The report is available for download here and the panel discussion can be streamed here .

Methodology

The survey, conducted in January 2025 involved 353 leaders in the talent industry across the U.S. Respondents predominantly represented middle and senior management in large and mid-sized businesses, but span the entire spectrum of company sizes.

About Built In

Built In is the AI-powered recruiting platform that connects tech professionals with companies across the globe. With over 5 million monthly users, Built In is where tech professionals go to discover innovative companies, sharpen their skills, and find their next opportunity. Thousands of companies  from startups to industry leaders  use Built In to find, hire, and retain top tech talent. www.builtin.com

Contact

Lyndsay Deckert

[email protected]

SOURCE Built In
KINGSEY FALLS, QC, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS) (the ''Company'' or ''Cascades''), a leader in eco-friendly recovery, packaging, and hygiene products, held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 8, 2025. The eleven (11) candidates proposed as directors were duly elected directors of the Company by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders by proxy and by electronic ballot, as follows:

Name of Nominee Votes FOR % Votes WITHHELD % Alain Lemaire 69,643,629 94.37 4,157,707 5.63 Sylvie Lemaire 68,884,558 93.34 4,916,778 6.66 Sylvie Vachon 68,258,391 92.49 5,542,945 7.51 Hugues Simon 70,449,825 95.46 3,351,510 4.54 Michelle Cormier 69,733,853 94.49 4,067,483 5.51 Patrick Lemaire 68,140,548 92.33 5,660,787 7.67 Hubert T. Lacroix 69,079,056 93.60 4,722,280 6.40 Melanie Dunn 72,206,158 97.84 1,595,178 2.16 Nelson Gentiletti 70,286,309 95.24 3,515,026 4.76 Elif Levesque 72,199,026 97.83 1,602,310 2.17 Alex N. Blanco 70,575,094 95.63 3,226,242 4.37

Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 8, will be filed with the Canadian Securities Regulators.

Founded in 1964, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added solutions for packaging, hygiene and recovery needs. The company employs 10,000 talents, who work in a network of nearly 70 production units in North America. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on, while contributing to the well-being of people, communities and the planet. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS.

SOURCE Cascades Inc.
Cherokee Federal receives recognition from SourceAmerica for its work supporting the AbilityOne Program with GCE. Post this

Nominated by long-time partner Global Connections to Employment (GCE), Cherokee Federal was selected for its pivotal role at Fort Carson in advancing the government's AbilityOne Program  one of the largest sources of employment in the United States for individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities, including veterans and wounded warriors. The program uses the power of federal contracting to create jobs in every state, enabling employees to earn competitive wages, participate in their communities, and gain skills that serve as a springboard to public- and private-sector careers.

"This honor is a reflection of the powerful work being done every day by our team members and partners like GCE," said Art Spring, Cherokee Federal's Defense Health Account Executive and a board member of Alliance for Expanding America's Workforce, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities by modernizing the federal government's procurement process.

Spring, alongside retired U.S. Army Major General Ken Dowd, accepted the award on behalf of Cherokee Federal, saying, "Our work with GCE makes an inspiring difference in people's lives and supports the critical missions of our federal customers."

The SourceAmerica Achievement Awards recognize nonprofits, employees and business partners for their exceptional work ethic, success and leadership in advancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the workforce and enabling federal mission success. These awards highlight successes in disability employment at a crucial time when the unemployment rate among people with disabilities is nearly double that of people without a disability.

"We are thankful and humbled to receive this recognition from SourceAmerica. Cherokee Federal has an unbelievable working relationship with GCE that is making an impact for our wounded warrior heroes as well as nonprofits across the country, and we look forward to continuing this important work," said Dowd, a Senior Account Executive at Cherokee Federal.

GCE is one of the country's largest private employers of persons with disabilities, matching individuals with fulfilling careers in custodial services, food service, IT and other business lines. Their work supports federal, state, and local government customers as well as commercial and military partners. The impact of its partnership with Cherokee Federal changes lives while strengthening mission delivery.

Cherokee Federal is proud to support federal missions through a team of tribally owned, small disadvantaged business entities  many of which are 8(a) and/or HUBZone certified. These companies offer a range of flexible contract vehicles and responsive, mission-focused solutions to help agencies meet their objectives. With a strong foundation in program management and a broad portfolio of capabilities, Cherokee Federal works hard to be a reliable, knowledgeable partner to government customers.

To learn more about the annual Achievement Awards and view a full list of the 2025 winners, visit SourceAmerica.org.

For more information about Cherokee Federal, visit cherokee-federal.com.

About Cherokee Federal

Cherokee Federal is the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses  the economic engine of Cherokee Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. The mission of Cherokee Federal is to build a talented team that provides innovative solutions that solve America's greatest challenges and serves the Cherokee Nation with strong conviction and heart. For more information, please visit cherokee-federal.com or follow Cherokee Federal on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.

About SourceAmerica

SourceAmerica connects government customers and other organizations to a national network of AbilityOne authorized providers that hire a talented segment of the workforcepeople with disabilities. Established in 1974, SourceAmerica is committed to increasing economic inclusion and advocating for a more accessible future of work for people with disabilities. SourceAmerica, an AbilityOne authorized enterprise, harnesses the momentum and boosts the capability of its network and customers as a leading job connector for the disability community. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow @SourceAmerica on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Cherokee Federal
SAN DIEGO, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is investigating potential violations of U.S. federal securities laws involving Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE: CODI) focused on whether Compass Diversified and certain of its top executives made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material information to investors.

If you have information that could assist in the Compass Diversified investigation or if you are a Compass Diversified investor who suffered a loss and would like to learn more, you can provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-compass-diversified-holdings-investigation-codi.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

THE COMPANY: Compass Diversified is an owner of middle market branded consumer and industrial businesses, including Lugano Holding, Inc.  a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of high-end jewelry.

THE REVELATION: On May 7, 2025, Compass Diversified issued a press release entitled "Compass Diversified Discloses Non-Reliance on Financial Statements for Fiscal 2024 Amid an Ongoing Internal Investigation into its Subsidiary, Lugano Holding, Inc." Compass Diversified further disclosed that "[t]he Audit Committee of CODI's Board of Directors promptly launched an investigation after CODI's senior leadership was made aware of concerns about how Lugano was potentially financing inventory" and that "[t]he investigation . . . is ongoing but has preliminarily identified irregularities in Lugano's non-CODI financing, accounting, and inventory practices." Moreover, Compass Diversified also revealed that "the Audit Committee of CODI's Board has concluded that the previously issued financial statements for 2024 require restatement and should no longer be relied upon" and that "[e]ffective May 7, 2025, Lugano's founder and CEO, Moti Ferder, resigned from all of his positions at Lugano and will not receive any severance compensation." Following this news, the price of Compass Diversified stock fell approximately 62%.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
HUIZHOU, China, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Desay Battery, a global leading energy storage solution provider, showcased its innovations at The Smarter E Europe 2025 exhibition in Germany, Europe's largest energy industry exhibition alliance, which took place from May 7 to 9 in Munich.

During the event, Desay Battery launched its new UPS 2.0 battery. This innovative solution is tailored for data center operators, IT departments of large enterprises, network and communications service providers, and more. Compatibility with existing systems and adherence to stringent safety and environmental protection standards highlight its versatility. The UPS 2.0 features a single lithium-ion cabinet that supports 300kVA and is designed for a lifespan of up to 15 years, effectively reducing project costs. Additionally, the intelligent monitoring system enables real-time tracking of battery status and predictive maintenance, while active safety management is enhanced through optional early fire detection and access to a cloud-based security network management platform.

Following the UPS 2.0 launch, Desay Battery signed a strategic agreement with TUV Rheinland to accelerate European market expansion, covering EU certification for UPS 2.0 (49kWh, 8C) and its 5MWh energy storage container. The company also established a 2GW partnership framework with DOS Primarenergie Sonne GmbH (DOS), enhancing renewable energy collaboration across Middle Eastern and Latin American markets. These collaborations strengthen Desay's global energy storage supply chain position while creating a replicable model for Gulf countries' energy transition. The strategic moves underscore Desay's commitment to international market development and sustainable energy solutions through technological innovation and cross-border partnerships.

Moreover, Desay Battery features a range of standout products at smarter E Europe 2025, including high-performance lithium-ion cells (DLP-100, DLP-280, DLP-314), the DSP-60 sodium-ion battery, and modular energy storage systems with 100Ah and 280Ah lithium modules. More highlights are the Lumos 215kWh and 344kWh C38I DC ESS energy storage cabinets, 10-25kWh LV Residential ESS, 21kWh HV DCDC Residential ESS (280Ah), and the Vita 5MWh Utility ESS liquid-cooled container storage system along with UPS battery cabinets.

Recently, Desay Battery was included in the BloombergNEF Energy Storage Tier 1 List for Q2 2025. Looking ahead, Desay Battery plans to further expand its presence in the global energy storage market and continue to invest in R&D to meet the growing demand for clean energy.

For more information, please visit http://www.desayest.com.

SOURCE HUIZHOU DESAY BATTERY CO.,LTD.
Total ECW funding in the Federal Republic of Somalia now tops US$64.2 million. The Multi-Year Resilience Programme will be delivered by a consortium of international and local civil society organizations, reaching 43,000 children with life-saving education.

NEW YORK, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For over 25 years, Somalia has faced persistent conflict, insecurity and climate change-related crises, severely impacting the lives and lifelong trajectories of the nation's children.

In response to the ongoing situation, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic partners announced today a new US$17.1 million grant that will reach over 43,000 children with safe, quality education opportunities. Total ECW funding in Somalia now tops US$64.2 million.

The children and adolescents of Somalia have suffered far too long. Yet, they have so much to give  provided they are empowered with a quality education. We will not allow Somalia to be another forgotten crises. - ECW Director Yasmine Sherif.

The humanitarian needs far outpace the resources available in Somalia and other forgotten crises worldwide. Somalia's Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 remains severely underfunded, according to OCHA's Financing Tracking Service. Prior to the new tranche of ECW funding, only 29% of the overall US$68.6 million humanitarian appeal for education was funded.

"The children and adolescents of Somalia have suffered far too long. Yet, they have so much to give  provided they are empowered with a quality education. We will not allow Somalia to be another 'forgotten crises,'" said ECW's Director Yasmine Sherif. "More than half of Somalia's school-aged children  4.5 million  are out of school today. ECW is a pooled funding mechanism advancing joint programming. Our additional financial investment will thus enable all our partners in Somalia to jointly deliver continued quality education. Clearly, education is the best investment to empower crisis-affected communities to take the reins, steer their own destiny and end dependency on aid."

The United Kingdom is ECW's second-largest donor, with US$277 million in total contributions to date. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the donor group in Somalia and was instrumental in developing the expanded programme.

"The UK is absolutely committed to working with the Federal Government of Somalia and partners like Education Cannot Wait for a more secure and stable future for all Somali children," said British Ambassador to Somalia Mike Nithavrianakis. "Today's programme launch is unique because it provides predictable, long-term funding for some of the most vulnerable, crisis-affected children in Somalia. It will also support the Federal Government of Somalia's efforts to strengthen the education system. Education gives children normality, protection and hope. Educating children is the best way to ensure a better future for Somalia, which is why we're proud to partner with Education Cannot Wait."

The programme builds on ECW's US$47.1 million in total investments in Somalia, which have already reached more than 300,000 children and adolescents with a quality education. The programme will be delivered by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in coordination with the Federal Republic of Somalia. Consortium partners include Save the Children, Concern Worldwide and the Formal Education Network for Private Schools (FENPS).

"Education is the foundation of opportunity and progress, and ensuring that every child in Somalia has access to quality learning is a priority for our ministry. The partnership with Education Cannot Wait represents a vital commitment to expanding educational access for children affected by the crisis, enabling them to continue their studies and build a brighter future. Through this collaboration, we reaffirm our dedication to providing safe and inclusive learning environments, and empowering the next generation with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive," said Farah Sheikh Abdulakdir, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Federal Republic of Somalia.

"This Multi-Year Resilience Programme is more than a programme  it is a lifeline for thousands of children across Somalia who have been denied their right to education due to conflict, climate shocks and displacement. ADRA is proud to lead this transformative effort alongside our partners Save the Children, Concern Worldwide and FENPS  organizations deeply rooted in the communities we serve and experienced in delivering education in emergency contexts," said Jorge Silva, Country Director, ADRA Somalia. "Together, we will work hand-in-hand with government, ECW, local organizations, Somalia's education cluster and communities to ensure that children not only access school, but thrive in safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments. This is how we build resilience. This is how we build the future."

Political, social and economic instability, compounded by climate change-induced disasters, has led to widespread displacement, acute food insecurity and limited access to essential services including education in Somalia.

Progress is being made, but it is uneven. Seven out of ten Somalis still live below the poverty line. The number of people requiring humanitarian assistance in Somalia peaked in 2023 at 8.25 million. That number is projected to decrease to approximately 6 million in 2025. Nevertheless, protracted conflict, political and economic instability, climate change, and other social and cultural barriers have created wide and systemic fragility in Somalia's education system.

The new programme will be delivered in six locations within the Federal Republic of Somalia. Programme interventions focus on ensuring access to safe and protective learning environments for vulnerable girls and boys, including refugees, returnees and other at-risk groups such as children with disabilities. It also seeks to improve holistic learning outcomes such as basic numeracy, literacy and social-emotional learning, and strengthen the resilience of the education system.

Note to Editors

About Education Cannot Wait (ECW):

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations. We support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected girls and boys, so no one is left behind. ECW works through the multilateral system to both increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year programming. ECW works in close partnership with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to increase efficiencies and end siloed responses. ECW urgently appeals to public and private sector donors for expanded support to reach even more vulnerable children and youth.

On X/Twitter, please follow: @EduCannotWait @YasmineSherif1 @KentPage

Additional information available at: www.educationcannotwait.org

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
As one of Europe's leading agrifood accelerators, EIT FAN orchestrates an ecosystem where innovators, experts, investors, and corporates collaborate to transform the future of food. At the heart of the programme lies a powerful idea: true change happens when you connect those who need innovation with those creating it, and those who can fund and scale it.

"To truly shape our food system, we need more than innovation  we need bold collaboration. EIT FAN creates a launchpad where game-changing ideas evolve into real-world impact," said Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation at EIT Food.

A Diverse and Visionary 2025 Cohort

The 2025 cohort is pushing the boundaries of food innovation, aligned with EIT FAN's six strategic hubs:

Circular food solutions  Helsinki Hub

New ingredients and bioprocessing  Paris Hub

Sustainable food packaging  Bilbao Hub

Future-resilient agriculture  Warsaw Hub - co-funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Resilient supply chains & Scope 3 emissions  Munich Hub

Food as Medicine  Haifa Hub

Each startup addresses critical challenges in health, sustainability, transparency, and resilience, demonstrating the depth and ambition of Europe's agrifood innovation ecosystem.

An Ecosystem Powered by Leading Industry Partners

Participants gain access to mentorship, tech validation, and direct connections with the EIT FAN Corporate Programme Partners among which are AAK, Anadolu Efes, Avril, Barry Callebaut Group, Bayer AG, Carbery Group, Cargill, Corporacion Hijos de Rivera S.L., Corteva Catalyst, Delta Cafes, Deutsche Tiernahrung Cremer GmbH & Co. KG, Hochland, ICL Group, Kerry Group, Lantmannen, Mars Petcare, Martin Braun-Gruppe, Mondelez International, Pascual Innoventures, Pinc Paulig Incubator (Paulig Group), Peter Cremer Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Raisio Group, Unilever Foundry, and Valio.

"The programme is designed not just to accelerate growth, but to embed startups in a purpose-driven ecosystem that drives sustainable, long-term change," added Marie Russier, Head of Entrepreneurship Programmes at EIT Food.

A Proven Model with Growing Impact

Since 2018, EIT FAN has supported 348 startups across Europe, building a strong track record in helping ventures achieve growth, investment readiness, and commercial traction. Participants benefit from a hands-on curriculum, expert-led workshops, and exclusive access to major industry events.

"We're thrilled to welcome these outstanding startups. Each brings a spark of transformation, and our role is to help turn it into a lasting flame by providing the tools, mentorship, and community to ignite real impact and achieve long-term success," said Yulia Bodnar, Programme Manager, EIT Food Accelerator Network.

For more information, visit https://www.eitfood.eu/entrepreneurship/accelerate-food-accelerator-network or follow EIT Food Accelerator Network on LinkedIn.

EIT Food

EIT Food is the world's largest and most dynamic food innovation community, accelerating innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all.

Supported by the EU, EIT Food invests in projects, organisations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system.

Find out more at www.eitfood.eu or follow us via social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

For more information, please contact our EIT Food Accelerator Network team at [email protected].

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2683530/2025_Cohort_Announcements.mp4

PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2683531/EIT_Food_Accelerator_Network_2025_Cohort_Announcement_PDF.pdf

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2682800/5310452/EIT_Food_Logo.jpg
HONOLULU, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire Steak House, the iconic fine dining brand with roots in New York City, is making a bold statement in the Pacific with its Honolulu location, quickly becoming Waikiki's premier destination for upscale surf & turf cuisine.

Located on the sky floor of the Ilikai Hotel, Empire Steak House Hawaii offers sweeping ocean views, a direct view of the sunset every evening, and a front-row seat to the spectacular weekly fireworks show over Waikiki Beach every Friday night. With its breathtaking setting, high-end cuisine, and warm hospitality, the restaurant delivers a truly unforgettable experience for guests from around the world.

The menu blends Empire's signature offerings, USDA Prime dry-aged steaks flown in from the mainland, with Hawaii's freshest local seafood, including Kona lobster, ahi tuna, and Hawaiian fresh catch of the day. Among the most popular dishes is the filet mignon paired with either a lobster tail or grilled jumbo shrimps, an elevated interpretation of classic surf & turf that reflects both indulgence and island flavor.

Beyond its renowned menu, Empire Steak House Hawaii is also a destination for private dining, honeymoon celebrations, and special events. The location proudly features its own exclusive "Chapel in the Sky", the only venue of its kind in Hawaii located within a restaurant, making it an ideal setting for destination weddings with panoramic views and refined service.

"We wanted to bring the Empire Steak House experience to the islands while honoring Hawaii's incredible natural bounty," said Jack Sinanaj, co-founder of Empire Steak House. "It's about creating unforgettable moments, whether you're celebrating a milestone or simply enjoying the best food and hospitality."

As Waikiki continues to welcome travelers from across the globe, Empire Steak House Hawaii stands out as a culinary highlight for those seeking luxury, romance, and elevated cuisine with a view.

Empire Steak House continues to serve guests at its flagship locations in New York City and Tokyo, offering the same commitment to premium dining and heartfelt hospitality that defines the brand.

Reservations are strongly encouraged for our Hawaiian location. Please visit www.empiresteakhousehawaii.com or call (808) 777-3100.

For private events email [email protected].

SOURCE Empire Steak House
The Runway Show Featured FIT's Award-Winning Fashion Design BFA Graduates

Runway Show Video, Download Images

NEW YORK, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) showcased the exceptional creativity of its students at the annual Future of Fashion runway show presented by Macy's, held on the college's campus in New York City. The event featured visionary and innovative looks made by a select group of graduating students from FIT's Fashion Design BFA program.

The 2025 Future of Fashion runway showfeaturing 82 designscelebrated the work of 67 students. The looks were inspired by personal stories and anecdotes that addressed themes such as sustainability, technology, cultural heritage, and more. The five concentrations include knitwear, sportswear, intimate apparel, children's wear, and special occasion.

"For four years, our graduating designers have honed their skills and refined the tools they needed to best channel their creativity  and we are able to witness first hand, the results of those efforts," said FIT President Joyce F. Brown. "At FIT, our graduating BFA students do not just turn in final exams, they craft beautiful designs that come to life on the runway, right before our eyes. Each year, the Future of Fashion show gives budding designers a unique opportunity to demonstrate for the world what they can achieve when their passion and training are synchronized and jointly applied."

The runway looks were selected by a group of distinguished judges, including FIT alumnus Joe Ando-Hirsh, fashion designer and actor; Kevin Bass, senior associate of programs and Fashion Calendar at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA); Edmundo Castillo, fashion accessories designer; Hollis L'Estrange Daniels, design director, Macy's; Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic, The New York Times; Kelly Geib, account executive, Avalon Apparel; Phillip Lim, fashion designer and creative director; FIT alumna Rebecca Moses, international fashion designer and author; and Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT (MFIT).

For the fourth consecutive year, Macy's was the lead sponsor of the show. Through Macy's social purpose platform, Mission Every One, the brand recognized the outstanding skills of graduates with two awards, uplifting and empowering the next generation of designers, trendsetters, and retailers through its Future of Style Fund (FoSF). The Macy's Capsule Collection winner, Khoboso Nale, will gain real-world experience by working alongside Macy's executive mentors at retail and manufacturing locations. The collaboration will culminate in the production and sale of Nate's collection under Macy's private label BAR III, available at the Macy's Herald Square flagship and select stores nationwide.

The Macy's Empowered Design Award, which honors a student who powerfully conveys their inspiration through a final design, was awarded to Allison Margaret Smith.

"This spring, Macy's is proud to partner with FIT and the Future of Fashion runway show to empower young designers through Mission Every One," said Emily Erusha-Hilleque, senior vice president of Private Brands for Macy's. "The creativity and dedication on display at last night's runway show illustrate our commitment to empower the next generation of designers."

"The continued support from Macy's exemplifies the industry influence on and investment in new talent," said Dean of FIT's School of Art and Design Troy Richards. "Our students benefit from the mentorship and opportunities that Macy's provides, enriching the Fashion Design curriculum at FIT."

In preparation for the runway show, students collaborated with leading designers who served as critics throughout the spring semester, offering expert insight across the five areas of concentration. The distinguished critics included Frederick Anderson, fashion designer, founder of Frederick Anderson (sportswear); Ese Azenabor, owner and creative director for Ese Azenabor (special occasion); Ronnie Golden Engle, fashion stylist (sportswear); Sally LaPointe, fashion designer (sportswear); FIT alumnus B Michael, fashion designer (special occasion); Dushane Noble, head of design, women's, Theory (knitwear); Albino Riganello, creative director, HERA (sportswear); Judi Rosen, owner and designer for Judi Rosen New York (sportswear); Bridget Stapleton, design director, G&W Industries (children's wear); Celina Szado, multidisciplinary designer and creative director (sportswear); Felicia Lynch, knitwear designer, KHAITE (knitwear); Tina Wilson, intimate apparel designer (intimate apparel); and Bonnie Young, ready-to-wear fashion designer, founder, BY. Bonnie Young (sportswear).

Thirteen students were honored as Critic Award winners and recognized with distinction during the runway show. The 2025 recipients are Alexandra Dayton (sportswear), Evelyn Hernandez (sportswear), Leyi Huang (special occasion), Lauryn Ilasco (knitwear), Hannah Kisilevich (intimate apparel), Paris Liu (knitwear), Leah Robinson (children's wear), Allison Margaret-Smith (sportswear), Yuval Sorotzkin (special occasion), Burak Turp (sportswear), Yuxiang (Peter) Xiong (sportswear), Xiangyu Yang (sportswear), and Geonhyung Yu (sportswear).

A special website dedicated to the Future of Fashion features the student portfolios, including stylized images of each look from the show, as well as details about the judges, critics and FIT's Fashion Design program.

About FIT

A part of the State University of New York, FIT has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology throughout its history. Providing almost 9,000 students with an uncommon blend of hands-on, practical experience, theory, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, the college offers a wide range of affordable programs that foster innovation and collaboration. Its distinctive curriculum is geared to today's rapidly growing creative economy, including fields such as computer animation, toy design, production management, film and media, and cosmetics and fragrance marketing. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the new creative economy. Among notable alumni in fashion are Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Norma Kamali, Reem Acra, Brian Atwood, Stephen Burrows, Dennis Basso, Francisco Costa, Nanette Lepore, Bibhu Mohapatra, Ralph Rucci, John Bartlett, Peter Do, and Michelle Smith. Other prominent graduates include Leslie Blodgett, creator of bareMinerals; international restaurant designer Tony Chi; and Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief of ELLE.

About Macy's

Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., serves as the style source for generations of customers. With one of the nation's largest e-commerce platforms powered by macys.com and mobile app, paired with a nationwide network of stores, Macy's delivers the most convenient and seamless shopping experience, offering great values in apparel, home, beauty, accessories, and more. Macy's gives customers even more ways to shop and own their style through an off-price assortment at Macy's Backstage and at our highly curated Macy's small format stores. Each year, Macy's provides millions with unforgettable experiences through Macy's 4th of July Fireworks  and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade  and helps our customers celebrate special moments, big and small. We're guided by our purposeto create a brighter future with bold representation that empowers more voice, choice, and ownership for our colleagues, customers, and communities.

CONTACT: Steven Bibb, [email protected]

SOURCE Fashion Institute of Technology
MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia vowed to strengthen cooperation to safeguard the authority of the international law, according to a joint statement released here on Thursday.

The two countries pledged to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and defend the central role of the UN in international affairs, said the joint statement.

The codification and progressive development of international law must take into account the reality of the UN-led multipolar world. China and Russia support the broadest possible participation of all countries in UN treaties and their uniform interpretation and application.

The two countries reiterate their full commitment to the UN Charter, the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the integral and interdependent nature of the fundamental principles of international law explicit in the declaration.

The principles of international law are the cornerstone for a multipolar world system, just and equitable international relations featuring win-win cooperation, the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and establishing common space of equal and indivisible security and economic cooperation.

The two countries reaffirm that states must not violate the principle of the UN Charter that prohibits the threat or use of force, and accordingly condemn unilateral military intervention that is not based on individual or collective self-defense or not carried out by resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter.

Both sides jointly believe that all countries have the right to independently choose their development models and political, economic, cultural and social systems based on their national conditions and the will of their people. No country's development model should be regarded as special or superior to others. They condemn any act of interfering in the internal affairs of another country to forcibly changing its legitimate government, reiterating peaceful settlement of disputes.

China and Russia also strongly oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. They oppose and condemn unilateral sanctions that violate international law, especially those sanctions that violate the principles of sovereign equality, state immunity and non-interference in internal affairs of states and are not authorized by the Security Council, as well as drawing lines along ideological differences. They emphasize that states have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation.

China and Russia oppose the practice of double standards or imposition by some states of their will on other states, and reject any attempt to undermine, in the name of "rule of law" or "rules-based order," other countries' legitimate rights and interests as well as peace and stability. The adoption of unilateral compulsory measures by some countries aside from measures adopted by the UN Security Council would obstruct the objects and purposes of measures imposed by the Security Council and undermine their integrity and effectiveness.

Both countries agree that domestic and multilateral criminal justice mechanisms must not be abused out of narrow political purposes to undermine international relations and the rights enjoyed by states under international law.

China and Russia also call for concerted efforts to strengthen arms control and disarmament, prevent the placement of weapons in outer space, and address such global challenges as climate change, plastic pollution and communication technology crimes. 

Editor: Zhang Zhou
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Fatty Amines Market by Type (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary), End Use (Agrochemicals, Oilfield Chemicals, Chemical Processing, Water Treatment, Asphalt Additives, Personal Care), Function, Carbon Chain Length, and Region - Global Forecast to 2030", fatty amines market is projected to grow from USD 3.60 billion in 2025 to USD 4.97 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Syntactic Foam Market"

160  Tables

50  Figures

180  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=724

The global fatty amines market is experiencing strong growth, fueled by the rising demand across various industries and sectors. As the global shift toward eco-friendly and biodegradable ingredients intensifies, fatty aminesderived from natural fats and oilsare gaining significant traction due to their low toxicity and superior surface-active properties. In agriculture, fatty amines are widely used as emulsifiers and adjuvants in pesticide formulations, improving both the efficacy and environmental compliance of crop protection products. Simultaneously, the water treatment industry is emerging as a major growth area, with increasing utilization of fatty amines as flocculants, corrosion inhibitors, and antiscalants in municipal and industrial water treatment systems. The global push for cleaner water and stricter environmental regulations is accelerating this trend. In the personal and home care sectors, fatty amines function as conditioning agents and emulsifiers, aligning with the growing consumer demand for naturally derived ingredients. The oil & gas industry also continues to rely on fatty amines for demulsification and corrosion control in upstream operations. Ongoing technological advancements, coupled with regulatory momentum favouring green chemistry, are driving innovation in the development of high-performance, application-specific fatty amine derivatives. These trends collectively highlight fatty amines' strategic importance in enabling sustainable industrial transformation on a global scale.

By type, primary segment to account for largest share of fatty amines market during forecast period, in terms of volume

By type, the primary fatty amines segment is projected to hold the largest market share by volume, driven by its broad functionality and critical role in the production of various downstream derivatives. Their growing adoption across multiple high-impact industries serves as a key growth driver. Primary fatty amines are essential in agricultural applications, functioning as emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersants that enhance the effectiveness of pesticides and fertilizersvital for improving global crop yields. In the personal care industry, these amines are increasingly incorporated into shampoos, conditioners, and skin creams, reflecting high consumer interest in personal grooming and demand for specialized formulations.

In addition, primary fatty amines play a significant role in water treatment applications, serving as corrosion inhibitors and flocculants. As global demand for clean water and efficient wastewater management continues to rise, their use in the water treatment industry is expanding rapidly. This growing cross-sectoral demand is reinforcing the dominance of primary fatty amines, solidifying their position as a high-growth segment in the global market.

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By end use, agrochemicals segment to account for largest market share in terms of volume during forecast period

Based on end use, the agrochemicals segment is projected to account for the largest share of the fatty amines market during the forecast period. This segment represents the most significant growth driver in terms of volume, primarily due to the urgent need to enhance agricultural productivity to support a growing global population amid limited arable land. Fatty amines are critical components in the formulation of various agrochemical products, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. They play a vital role in ensuring the effective distribution and adhesion of active ingredients to crops, maximizing the efficacy of pest and disease control as well as nutrient uptake.

The rising demand for high-quality, nutrient-rich foodcombined with increasing pressures from climate change and pest proliferationunderscores the need for more advanced and efficient crop protection solutions. This, in turn, is driving the increased consumption of fatty amines within the agrochemical sector, firmly positioning it as a dominant force in the expansion of the global fatty amines market.

By function, emulsifiers segment to account for largest market share in terms of volume during forecast period

The emulsifiers segment is projected to hold the largest share of the fatty amines market during the forecast period. Emulsification represents a major and expanding area, driven by the unique ability of fatty amines to facilitate the dispersion of one immiscible liquid within another, forming stable emulsions that are critical across various industrial applications.

In the agrochemicals industry, fatty amines serve as essential emulsifiers, ensuring uniform distribution and optimal performance of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In the rapidly growing personal care industry, they are key ingredients in the formulation of stable emulsions for creams, lotions, and hair care products, enabling effective blending of oil- and water-based components to achieve the desired texture and functionality. Additionally, fatty amines play an important role in asphalt production, where they contribute to the formation of stable asphalt emulsions used in road construction and maintenance. The rising global demand for high-performance emulsification in these and other end-use industries is a primary driver of growth in the fatty amines market, solidifying emulsifiers as a dominant functional segment.

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Asia Pacific to hold largest market share during forecast period.

Asia Pacific is projected to lead the global fatty amines market during the forecast period, driven by robust industrialization, significant agricultural progress, and rising consumer spending across the region. It represents the largest and fastest-growing market in terms of volume, supported by a diverse range of high-demand end-use industries.

China and India are the primary growth engines, driven by extensive agricultural activity that requires large volumes of agrochemicalswhere fatty amines are essential componentsas well as significant investments in infrastructure, particularly in wastewater treatment. Japan and South Korea contribute through their advanced personal care and cosmetics industries, where fatty amines are used in high-performance formulations. Additionally, implementing stringent environmental regulations in these countries is increasing the demand for fatty amine-based water treatment solutions. The region also benefits from a strong base in palm oil-derived oleochemicals, which supports local production and cost-efficient sourcing. The rapid expansion of the personal care and agrochemical industries strengthens the region's position in the market. The rising demand across key industriesincluding agrochemicals, personal care, water treatment, and asphalt additivesreflects the dynamic nature of the region's economies and reinforces its status as the dominant region for volumetric growth in the global fatty amines market.

Leading players in this market include Arkema (France), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Kao Corporation (Japan), Procter & Gamble (US), BASF (Germany), and Nouryon (Netherlands).

Get access to the latest updates on Fatty Amines Companies and Fatty Amines Market Size

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HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FLEX LNG LTD. (the "Company") advises that the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company was held on 8 May 2025 at 14:00 hrs, at Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, 76 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton HMCX, Bermuda. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024 were presented to the Meeting.

In addition, the following resolutions were passed:

To set the maximum number of Directors to be not more than eight. To resolve that vacancies in the number of Directors be designated as casual vacancies and that the Board of Directors be authorised to fill such vacancies as and when it deems fit. To re-elect Ola Lorentzon as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Nikolai Grigoriev as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Steen Jakobsen as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Susan Sakmar as a Director of the Company. To elect Mikkel Storm Weum as a Director of the Company. To re-appoint Ernst & Young AS of Oslo, Norway , as auditor and to authorize the Directors to determine their remuneration. To approve remuneration of the Company's Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$500,000 for the year ended December 31, 2025 . Reduction of share premium account. To approve the delisting of the Company's common shares from the Oslo Stock Exchange and to authorize the Board of Directors to take steps to implement the delisting including filing an application to the Oslo Stock Exchange on behalf of the Company.

8 May 2025

The Board of Directors

FLEX LNG LTD.

Hamilton, Bermuda

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Knut Traaholt, Chief Financial Officer of Flex LNG Management AS

Telephone: +47 23 11 40 00

Email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/flex-lng/r/flex---2025-agm-results-notification,c4147885

SOURCE Flex LNG
DENVER, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

A Vision Sparked by Experience

Nate Gilbert began his career as a CPA, but found himself drawn to the world of software. Along the way, he became convinced of the power and speed of emerging enterprise platformsespecially no-code development technology. Seeing how these tools could be used to build sophisticated, purpose-built solutions faster and more cost-effectively than traditional methods gave him the confidence to co-found his own company: Fireproof Tech.

A legacy of service

Gilbert's inspiration for Fireproof Tech was deeply personal. His grandfather worked as a firefighter, and Gilbert grew up with a profound respect for the fire service community. Carrying on that legacy, he saw an opportunity to create something that could truly help fire departments fulfill their mission.

"Fire departments exist to protect communities and save lives. Fireproof exists to support them in that mission," said Gilbert, Co-Founder and CEO of Fireproof Tech.

Identifying a critical market need

Gilbert recognized an urgent gap in the marketfire departments across the country were struggling with outdated, inefficient record-keeping systems. With a major industry shift from the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to a new National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) on the horizon, fire departments needed a modern, user-friendly solution to ensure compliance and streamline operations. Seeing an opportunity to apply modern platform technology to solve this challenge, he took the leap and founded Fireproof.

Gilbert chose the Nextworld platform because he'd seen it in action. Other industry-specific software solutions had been successfully built and deployed on the platform, proving its flexibility, scalability, and speed. That track record gave him confidence that Nextworld could support the unique demands of fire departments while allowing his team to move quickly and innovate continuously.

Deploying a purpose-built solutionfaster and smarter

Leveraging no-code development tools, Fireproof's focused team rapidly built a records management solution from the ground up. Instead of spending years developing custom software through traditional coding methods, they built, tested, and launched a minimum viable product in just three months. From there, the team looked to fine-tune features specifically tailored to fire department needslike intuitive workflows, automated reporting, and seamless data managementall while maintaining enterprise-grade security and scalability.

What began as a solution to help fire departments prepare their incident data to the emerging NERIS framework quickly became Fireproof's Records Management System (RMS). The AI-powered RMS platform gives fire departments everything they need to step into the future of fire response: customization options, automated data entry, mobility, predictive analytics, and intuitive insights.

"Developing with a modern platform like Nextworld meant we could go from idea to implementation in months instead of years," Gilbert said. "We didn't have to worry about outdated code, maintenance, or integrationswe could just focus on building the best possible solution for fire departments."

Delivering value in record time

With Nextworld, Fireproof Tech was able to:

Build, test, and iterate a fully functional records management solution in months instead of years.

Reduce development costs significantly, allowing for competitive pricing.

Deploy rapidly to be first to market with a NERIS-certified integration, setting them apart from the competition.

Provide an intuitive, purpose-built platform that quickly attracted early adopters and gained traction in the fire safety industry.

Transforming fire department operations

Today, Fireproof is empowering fire departments to take control of their records management with a streamlined, future-ready solution. By proactively addressing the NERIS transition and leveraging the Nextworld platform for continuous innovation, Fireproof is positioned as a trusted partner in the industry.

Gilbert's journey from CPA to software vendor and industry disruptor is a testament to the power of Nextworld's enterprise platform and the transformative potential it holds for visionaries looking to solve real-world challenges.

Are you ready to turn your industry insights into a game-changing solution? Learn how Nextworld can help bring your vision to life.

SOURCE Nextworld
CHARLESTON, S.C., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GiGi's Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest location in Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday, May 17. GiGi's Playhouse Charleston marks the organization's 62nd location and the first in South Carolina.

The journey to bring a GiGi's Playhouse to Charleston began in August 2021, when Co-founder Lynze Sikes, a local mom, visited GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh with her young daughter, Carly. Inspired by the love, acceptance, and possibility she experienced, Lynze shared her visit in a local Facebook group. That post connected her with Marie Myers, who would become the Charleston Playhouse's Co-founder. What began as a conversation grew into the formation of a passionate group of parents and community leaders who believed in the power of GiGi's mission and knew Charleston needed a place where individuals with Down syndrome could be celebrated and supported.

Over several years, their effortsfueled by community events, local fundraising, and generous support from partners like City Wide Facility Solutionsculminated in a vibrant, 4,200-square-foot Playhouse that will serve individuals with Down syndrome and their families across South Carolina.

"I'm thrilled to welcome GiGi's Playhouse Charleston into our growing network," said Nancy Gianni, Founder and Chief Belief Officer of GiGi's Playhouse. "This Playhouse represents another step forward in our mission to ensure that every person with Down syndrome has access to free, purposeful programming and a community that sees their potential."

Nancy and her daughter, GiGi Gianni, the namesake and inspiration behind the organization, will be in Charleston to celebrate the grand opening. Since Nancy Gianni founded the organization in 2003, GiGi's Playhouse has grown into a global movement of acceptance and achievement, opening 62 brick-and-mortar locations. Offering free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood, GiGi's Playhouse is sustained entirely by donations, grants, and community support.

About GiGi's Playhouse

GiGi's Playhouse is the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers dedicated to providing free educational and therapeutic programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. GiGi's Playhouse has opened 62 locations across the United States and Mexico, and GiGi's Virtual programming serves families in more than 93 countries. GiGi's Playhouse offers a lifetime commitmentfrom prenatal diagnosis through career skillsto empower families with all the tools their child needs to succeed. For more information, visit here.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE GiGis Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers
The Bradford Exchange Mint celebrates an historic event with a 24K Gold plated commemorative coin celebrating Pope Leo XIV  The First Ever American Pope!

NILES, Ill., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of an unprecedented and historic moment for the global Catholic community, The Bradford Exchange Mint is proud to announce the release of a commemorative coin honoring, Cardinal Robert Provest, the first American elected to become the 267th Pope. This striking collector's item is a tribute to an event of monumental spiritual and cultural significancethe election of a Chicago-born pontiff to the highest office in the Catholic Church.

24K Gold Plated Pope Leo XIV Commemorative Coin

Crafted with exceptional attention to detail and 24K Gold plated, this non-monetary coin marks the election of our new Pope, a leader committed to global peace, unity, and spiritual guidance, and continuity of Pope Francis' legacy.

The front of the coin features a full-color image of Pope Leo XIV, adorned in traditional papal regalia, as he made his first appearance as the Successor of Peter from the Central Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica stating, "May peace be with all of you." Within the design are the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara, symbolizing the enduring legacy of the Holy See. The reverse showcases a sculpted image of St. Peter's Basilica along with the inscription, "HABEMUS PAPAM MMXXV" which translates to "We have a Pope 2025".

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Catholic Charities serving those in need in honor of the new Pope. Each coin is minted with a full Proof finish, creating a stunning representation for an historic moment that will be cherished for generations.

"This is more than a coin," said Walter J. Kole, the Chief Numismatist for The Bradford Exchange Mint. "It's a symbol of hope, inclusion, and global unity. The election of Pope Leo XIV represents a new era - not only for the Catholic Church, but for people of faith around the world. We are honored to commemorate this historic event in a way that blends art, tradition, and devotion."

The Pope Leo XIV Commemorative Proof Coin is exclusively through The Bradford Exchange. Given the global importance of this event, demand is expected to be exceptionally high.

For more information or to place an order, visit https://bit.ly/43cfgQ9

SOURCE The Bradford Exchange Mint
ATHENS, Ga., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With Mother's Day right around the corner, the Georgia Maternal Health Task Force has announced its first ever "Top 10 Maternal Health Websites: Spring 2025" awards, recognizing trusted, local, high-quality resources for expecting and new parents, healthcare providers and health educators. The Georgia Maternal Health Task Force is a coalition of healthcare providers, public health experts, patient advocates and community leaders. It operates within HOPE for Georgia Moms, a federally funded initiative dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes within the state.

More than 40% of Georgia's counties lack maternity care facilities, and more than half of the state's counties do not have a practicing obstetrician. While not a substitute for clinical care, access to high-quality patient education resources on the internet can help improve overall health in communities where care is limited. According to one study, for example, the internet is an important source of information for 8 out of 10 pregnant women in their first trimester because it is easy to access and because women can learn from the experiences of others. Other studies suggest that expecting moms can use the internet to reduce anxiety or fear around unknown situations as well as improve informed decision-making.

"Georgia's new and expecting mothers deserve easy-to-access, high-quality information on how to promote their well-being," said project director Dr. Heidi Ehrenreich, Ph.D., M.P.H., MCHES. "Our first cohort of website awardees do an excellent job educating expecting parents, families and providers."

To support these and other positive outcomes in maternal health, the Task Force reviewed dozens of local sites and evaluated them based on factors such as whether the site was relevant to the Georgia context, had evidence-based content and was user-friendly.

The Spring 2025 awards recognize the following websites for their outstanding maternal health resources (listed in alphabetical order):

These recognized websites will receive an official HOPE for Georgia Moms "Top 10 Maternal Health Website" badge to display on their websites and social media platformsgiving families extra confidence this Mother's Day and beyond that the resources they rely on have been vetted by experts.

"We are honored that the Center for Black Women's Wellness has been recognized for outstanding maternal health education," said Tosi Adeniyi-Miller, Senior Analyst and Maternal Child Health Advocate. "Accessible, trustworthy health information is vitalespecially for communities that have historically faced barriers to care. This recognition affirms our commitment to equipping families with the knowledge they need to thrive."

Later this year, the Task Force will share information on how other organizations can submit their websites for consideration for the Fall 2025 awards.

About HOPE for Georgia Moms

HOPE (Healthy Outcomes and Positive Experiences) for Georgia Moms is Georgia's statewide maternal health initiative, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the State Maternal Health Innovation and Data Capacity Program. Launched in 2022, the program brings together mothers, clinicians, advocates and community leaders to improve maternal health outcomes across the state. By amplifying lived experiences and connecting families with trusted resources, HOPE for Georgia Moms works to ensure every parent in Georgia survives and thrives.

This initiative is supported by HRSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under an award totaling $5,170,233. No funding is provided by non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

For more information, visit hopeforgeorgiamoms.org/

SOURCE HOPE For Georgia Moms
Dr. Tony Lee Kar-yun, Operations and Innovation Director at MTR, believed that the integration of digital resources and innovative AI applications can enhance operational efficiency and passenger experience, and pointed out that this integration will serve as the foundation for more efficient urban transportation and more convenient community life.

Mr. Xi Xiaodong, Chief Engineer of Shanghai Rail Transit Maintenance Support Co., Ltd., emphasized the need for metro operators to integrate external resources and enhance internal core capabilities if they are to achieve high-quality development.

Nelson Huang, Rail Business Director of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU, stated that Huawei integrates innovative ICTs, such as the cloud, big data, 5G, AI, and IoT based on the digital and intelligent foundation for urban rail.

Mr. Xiong Xinbin, Rotating CEO and Senior Vice President of Beijing Railway Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering (BRI) noted that they have deployed Pangu models to empower rail transportation, utilized Ascend and Kunpeng to lay a solid data foundation, and integrated AI to develop a comprehensive intelligent O&M platform.

During the follow-up roundtable salon, Mr. Ji Kun, Overseas Rail Solution Director of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU; Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, Chairman of the Malaysian Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC); Chan Hing-keung, Chief of Operations Engineering Service & Innovation at MTR; Mr. Xi Xiaodong, Chief Engineer of Shanghai Metro Maintenance and Support; Mr. Xiong Xinbin, Rotating CEO and Senior Vice President of BRI; and David Xu, Vice President of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU and Director of the BU's Solution Development I&V Dept  delved into technology enablement scenarios, transformation pain points, data value mining, and user experience upgrade.

Huawei has served more than 300 urban rail lines in over 70 cities around the world. Moving forward, Huawei will deepen its cooperation with industry partners by consistently adhering to the principle of "openness, cooperation, and shared success". The company is determined to realize convenient travel and smooth logistics, alongside digital and intelligent transportation.

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SHANGHAI, NANJING, China and SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IASO Biotherapeutics ("IASO Bio"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative cell therapies and biologics, today announced that its self-developed BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy product, Equecabtagene Autoleucel (FUCASO), has been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

The ODD is a special regulatory incentive established by the Saudi SFDA to encourage the development of therapies for rare diseases. Drugs receiving this designation are eligible for expedited regulatory review and assistance with product development. With the ODD approval, Equecabtagene Autoleucel can now directly submit a New Drug Application (NDA) in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to shorten the approval process and enable earlier access for patients in the Middle East region.

Ms. Jinhua Zhang, Founder, Chairperson, and CEO of IASO Biotherapeutics, stated: "We are delighted that equecabtagene autoleucel has been grated the Orphan Drug Designation by the SFDA. This once again demonstrates international regulatory recognition of the clinical value of this innovative therapy. Saudi Arabia serves not only as a crucial starting point for our extension into the Middle East market, but also represents a significant step in our steady strategy of "Go Global". We will work closely with local regulatory authorities, medical institutions and partners to advance the approval processes of Equecabtagene Autoleucel in Saudi Arabia, with the goal of delivering clinical benefits to patients in these regions."

About Multiple MyelomaMM)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy globally. According to Globocan data, the global incidence of multiple myeloma in 2022 was 1.8 per 100,000 people, with a 5-year prevalence of 6.8 per 100,000. Despite progress in current anti-myeloma treatments, MM remains largely incurable with multiple relapses and tendency to develop refractoriness to several drug classes, presenting a major therapeutic challenge. Thus, there is an unmet need for new treatment options beyond these current anti-myeloma therapies for the treatment of relapsed or refractory MM, capable of achieving deep and durable responses.

About Equecabtagene Autoleucel

Equecabtagene Autoleucel is an innovative fully human anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy which uses lentivirus as a gene vector to transfect autologous T cells. The CAR contains a fully human scFv, CD8a hinge and transmembrane domain, and 4-1BB co-stimulatory molecule and CD3activation domains. Based on rigorous molecular structure screening and comprehensive in vitro and in vivo functional evaluations, FUCASO demonstrates rapid and potent efficacy, accompanied by exceptional long-term persistence in vivo, enabling patients to achieve deep and durable remission,providing continuous protection and care for patients with multiple myeloma.

About IASO Bio

IASO Bio is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative cell therapies and biologics for oncology and autoimmune diseases. IASO Bio possesses comprehensive capabilities spanning the entire drug development process, from early discovery to clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization.

Its pipeline includes a diversified portfolio of over 10 novel products, including Equecabtagene Autoleucel (a fully human BCMA CAR-T injection). Equecabtagene Autoleucel received Biologics License Application (BLA) approval from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in June 2023and U.S. FDA IND approval for the treatment of R/RMM in December 2022.

Leveraging its strong management team, innovative product pipeline, as well as integrated and high quality manufactural and clinical capabilities, IASO aims to deliver transformative, curable, and affordable therapies that fulfil unmet medical needs to patients in China and around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.iasobio.com or www.linkedin.com/company/iasobiotherapeutics.

SOURCE IASO Bio
HONG KONG, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming concluded a seven-day duty visit to three member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), i.e., Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Indonesia in early May. The trip further strengthened diverse anti-corruption collaboration between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries which would contribute to the integrity development in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia as well as enhance the anti-corruption capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region in a long run.

ICAC Commissioner concludes mission to three ASEAN member countries with fruitful results

Mr Woo, also serving as President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), commenced the duty visit in Brunei Darussalam and held a bilateral meeting with Datin Paduka Hajah Anifa Rafiza binti Haji Abdul Ghani, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Brunei Darussalam (ACB) and IAACA Executive Committee member, to exchange insights on anti-graft efforts in both regions. Earlier in January, the ICAC co-hosted a training programme with ACB to share experience in engaging young people in anti-corruption work, which was well received. This bilateral meeting further established collaboration in officers' training and other initiatives, including the participation of ACB officials in a webinar on forensic accounting to be co-hosted by ICAC and IAACA in June.

"The meeting not only fortified the partnership between the two organisations, but also demonstrated and affirmed the outstanding achievements of IAACA's efforts to foster international graft fighting cooperation." Mr Woo said.

After Brunei Darussalam, the ICAC delegation flew to Singapore where Mr Woo met with Mr Sam Tee, Director of Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). During the meeting, the delegation and CPIB established multifaceted collaborations, including mutual attachment of officers of ICAC and CPIB for exchanging practical experience and enhancing anti-corruption capabilities.

The delegation also met with the Commissioner of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) Mr Hoong Wee-teck to share views on law enforcement practices. The delegation also visited the Home Team School of Criminal Investigation, the SPF's dedicated training unit, to learn about the latest application of technology and investigation skills.

"Hong Kong and Singapore are both Asia's leading financial centres. As cross-boundary corruption crime has become increasingly sophisticated, timely exchanges on anti-corruption enforcement work between both places are particularly important for effectively maintaining economic stability and a clean investment environment in the region." Mr Woo said.

The delegation then travelled to Indonesia where they met with Mr Setyo Budiyanto, Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission of Indonesia (KPK). The KPK had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICAC in September last year, establishing a framework for anti-corruption collaboration. KPK is also the incumbent rotating Chair of the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption. At the meeting, Mr Woo proposed to strengthen collaboration on law enforcement and preventive education.

During the duty visit, the delegation also invited the three ASEAN countries to join a regional training programme in Thailand on engaging youth in anti-corruption work, which will be held jointly by the ICAC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), IAACA, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand in July this year.

The ICAC also took the opportunity to successfully invite the three ASEAN countries to join the "Coding4Integrity" Asian Youth Anti-Corruption Hackathon to be held in Hong Kong this September. The Hackathon, jointly hosted by the ICAC, IAACA and UNODC, aims to assemble outstanding youngsters from various countries to participate in Asia's first-ever large-scale anti-corruption coding competition, and to enhance youngsters' integrity awareness and their engagement in anti-graft work.

Summarizing the duty trip, Mr Woo said the delegation had managed to visit four law enforcement agencies in the three countries within a short period of time with significant outcomes. Amid the current complex geopolitical situation, fostering practical anti-corruption collaborations with ASEAN members remains the Commission's top priority for strengthening international partnership.

During the trip, the delegation also met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN Ms Hou Yanqi; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam Mr Xiao Jianguo; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Singapore Mr Cao Zhongming; and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Indonesia Mr Wang Lutong respectively, to learn about local social developments, as well as the cooperation between China and ASEAN member countries.

SOURCE Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption
VANCOUVER, BC, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (the "Company") - (TSX: ITH) (NYSE American: THM) today announced that it has filed its unaudited first quarter Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025.

Shareholders can obtain copies of the Company's unaudited first quarter Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Form 10-Q on SEDAR+ at: www.sedarplus.ca, EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at: www.ithmines.com. The Company will also provide hard copies of these documents, free of charge, to shareholders who request a copy directly from the Company.

About International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has a 100% interest in its Livengood Gold Project located along the paved Elliott Highway, 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska.

On behalf of

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.

(signed) Karl L. Hanneman

Chief Executive Officer

This news release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.

SOURCE International Tower Hill Mines Ltd.
The British Prime Minister will announce the largest ever sanctions package against the shadow fleet in order to increase pressure on Russia, the government of this country reported in a press release on Friday.

Russias shadow fleet will be hit with the largest ever sanctions package today, ramping up pressure on Putin and protecting UK and European critical national infrastructure, the report notes.

New action, which will be announced by the Prime Minister at the Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Oslo today, will turn up the pressure on Russias economy, which is reeling thanks to lower oil prices and the high costs of the war, the press release notes.

The main package of sanctions will target an outdated and dangerous shadow fleet that transports Russian oil and poses costly threat to UK and Euro-Atlantic critical national infrastructure and the environment.

The Government will today sanction up to 100 oil tankers that form a core part of Putins shadow fleet operation and are responsible for carrying more than $24 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024, the British government reports.
MOSCOW, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Chinese President Xi Jinping is about to pay a state visit to Russia and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, a photo exhibition titled Unforgettable Commemoration: Sino-Russian (Soviet Union) Photo Exhibition - Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, co-hosted by Shandong Radio and Television Station, Shandong International Communication Center, and CICG Communication Center for Central and Eastern Europe and Central and South Asia, is currently underway in Moscow.

Ms. Galina Kulikova, First Vice President of the Russia-China Friendship Association and recipient of the Friendship Medal of the Peoples Republic of China

Ms. Galina Kulikova, First Vice President of the Russia-China Friendship Association and recipient of the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China, delivered a speech at the exhibition and agreed to an interview with Shandian News and Shandong International Communication Center.

01/The Photo Exhibition: Drawing Lessons from History to Illuminate the Future

Galina Kulikova was born in February 1935. In 1957, she participated in the founding of the Soviet-Chinese Friendship Association, the predecessor of today's Russia-China Friendship Association. In 1960, she began her professional career at the Soviet Union's Committee for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Since 2003, she has served as the First Vice President of the Russia-China Friendship Association. Over the decades, she has committed herself to cultivating Sino-Russian friendship and fostering people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. In 2019, President Xi Jinping personally awarded her China's Friendship Medal. She became the second Russian citizen, after President Vladimir Putin, to receive this prestigious honor.

An hour before the opening of the Sino-Russian (Soviet Union) Photo Exhibition, Galina Kulikova arrived at the venue to make final preparations.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War. Kulikova remarked that this photo exhibition offers a unique perspective, showcasing the heroic chapters of China's battlefields and the stirring scenes from the Russian front. "China's War of Resistance began in 1931, a full decade before the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in 1941. The fierce battles fought on the Eastern and Western fronts together forged this monumental victory. The exhibition presents iconic historical moments from both countries' wartime experiences, using parallel narrative to vividly demonstrate the immense value of cooperation between alliances in the fight against fascism."

History is the best textbook. In Kulikova's view, the precious images reaffirm that China and the Soviet Union (now Russia), during those harrowing years of resistance against fascist aggression, stood together as a community of shared future.

The youth represent the future of a nation, the future of Sino-Russian friendship, and the future of the world. Kulikova was heartened to see students from institutions such as the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration take part in the exhibition. She stated that "people-to-people bonds" are the cornerstone of "Sino-Russian friendship for generations to come," and it is crucial to help young people understand that the friendship between the two countries was forged in the flames of war. "We must resolutely safeguard historical truth and oppose any attempts to deny, distort, or falsify history, so that this friendship tempered in the crucible of war may be passed on from generation to generation."

02/Shandong: An Epitome of China's High-Quality Development

At the event, a series of historical photographs transported people back to the period of intense warfare.

Shandong Anti-Japanese Base Area was one of the four major base areas of the Communist Party of China and armies under its leadership in Northern China during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It was also the only base area mainly based on a single province, playing an important role and making significant contributions to the world anti-fascist war. As a major economic and cultural province in eastern coastal China, Shandong has always been an active participant in Sino-Russian friendship and a firm proponent of pragmatic cooperation.

Galina Kulikova said that she had visited Shandong before and was deeply impressed. "Shandong boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, a large population, and rich resources, and is home to countless outstanding individuals. From the Confucius to Pu Songling, the author of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, to Li Qingzhao, a leading Ci poet of the romanticist (Wan Yue) style, their works have been widely translated and introduced in Russia."

Galina Kulikova frankly stated that she has many good friends from Shandong and always follows the development of Shandong through various ways. The miracles created on this land are an epitome of China's high-quality development.

"I have been with China all my life." This is a sentence Galina Kulikova often utters. She not only says it but also lives by it. Galina Kulikova's lifelong career has been closely linked to China, and she has traveled extensively throughout the country. She mentioned that the unforgettable experiences included not only the coastal scenery of Shandong but also the cherished memories from the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei province and the Tongzhou District of Beijing.

Galina Kulikova told the reporter of Shandian News and Shandong International Communication Center that she had visited Hebei in 2024, and the achievement of the Xiong'an New Area left her with a deep impression. "This rising city will become a 'new model' for China's future and witness the realization of China's second centenary goal. When I saw the planning blueprint and architectural models, I was even more convinced that this would be a century-defining project that would go down in history."

Galina Kulikova said that whether it is "the Belt and Road Initiative", "the Global Development Initiative", "the Global Security Initiative", or "the Global Civilization Initiative", they have all gathered extensive consensus in the international community. "China's development and achievements today also inspire the Russian people. I firmly believe that China will achieve its great goals, just as Russia is also forging ahead bravely."

03/People-to-People Exchanges Ensure Enduring Sino-Russian Friendship

Culture serves as a bridge for communication. In recent years, exchanges between China and Russia in the fields of culture, education, and technology have become increasingly active.

"Intimate relations between nations are built on the closeness of their people, and the closeness of their people is built on their hearts." Galina Kulikova mentioned that non-governmental forces, represented by the Russia-China Friendship Association, have always supported deepening bilateral relations through activities such as the "Sino-Russian Culture Year." She expressed that in addition to launching film festivals and art troupe performances, the Russia-China Friendship Association will also hold a cultural festival in Tambov, Russia this year to promote people-to-people exchange through folk art and further consolidate the social and public foundation of Sino-Russian relations.

Data show that the "Chinese Fever" in Russia continues to rise, with more than 60,000 Chinese students studying in Russia. Galina Kulikova said that many inter-university alliances were established between the two countries, and they jointly developed cooperative projects. For example, Peking University and Moscow State University have achieved fruitful results in the fields of people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as scientific and technological cooperation, and Shenzhen MSU-BIT University has created a new platform for science popularization education with Chinese and Russian characteristics and open cooperation.

Against the backdrop of accelerating changes of the world unseen in a century and the transformation and instability of the international situation, China and Russia have always moved forward hand in hand and worked together to promote the sustained and stable development of bilateral relations. "The people of China and the people of Russia are eternal good friends. No force can shake the great friendship forged in our common struggle against fascism," Galina Kulikova said.

Exuding elegance and gentleness in her demeanor and emitting friendship and confidence in her speech, Galina Kulikova, who is 90 years old this year, introduced herself as a member of the "post-90s generation" - she has the energy and ability to continue working for the mutual understanding and affinity of the two peoples and the passing of the torch of Sino-Russian friendship. When she readily agreed to this interview with our reporter, she insisted on standing, as a sign of respect to the heroes who made sacrifices and contributions to the cause of peace

SOURCE Shandian News
More than 21,000 to earn degrees, including 3,000+ international students

TEMPE, Ariz., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid concerns that universities are becoming too elite and exclusive, Arizona State University offers a powerful counternarrative. On Monday, May 12, ASU will graduate more than 21,000 students  the largest class in its history  signaling that accessible, job-ready education is not only possible but thriving.

The graduates also will be among the world's most job-ready, with ASU ranked as the No. 2 public university in the United States .

ASU undergraduate commencement on May 6, 2024 at the Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. (Photo by Chris Goulet/Arizona State University) (PRNewsfoto/Arizona State University  Media Relations)

As the nation's largest public university, ASU's commitment to excellence is equipping students to lead in fields such as engineering, artificial intelligence, business, and technology  all critical for solving today's evolving challenges. One sign of this momentum is a nearly 80% increase in students earning a Bachelor of Science in computer science, pointing to a shift toward future careers.

ASU supports learners of all ages and backgrounds. Among this year's graduates are a 14-year-old heading to law school and a 77-year-old Vietnam War veteran who never gave up on his educational goals.

Of the more than 21,000 students applying to graduate, over 14,000 are undergraduates  a 6% increase from last spring.

Other highlights from this spring's graduating class:

More than 3,000 are international students, reinforcing ASU's global appeal and commitment to supporting learners from around the world.





reinforcing ASU's global appeal and commitment to supporting learners from around the world. Over 150 earned their degrees through ASU's Earned Admission program , which offers flexible pathways for students to gain university admission.





, which offers flexible pathways for students to gain university admission. The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering has the largest number of graduates at 4,700, followed by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with 4,100, and the W. P. Carey School of Business with nearly 4,000.

ASU's expanding impact shows that a university can be both inclusive and excellent  preparing graduates not just to enter the workforce, but to lead it.

SOURCE Arizona State University - Media Relations
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- It seems counterintuitive to launch a new product when many consumers are likely watching their spending. But according to new research published in MIT Sloan Management Review, economic downturns could be a strategic time to bring new offerings to market.

According to the research shared in "When Launching a Product During a Recession Pays Off," "On average, new products launched during a recession have higher sales and market share and remain on the market longer than those launches during boom times (19% longer for automotive and 14% longer for fast-moving consumer goods)."

"There are underlying dynamics in recessions that companies can use to their advantage in product launches," states coauthor Steven H. Seggie Post this

"There are underlying dynamics in recessions that companies can use to their advantage in product launches," states coauthor Steven H. Seggie, an associate professor of marketing at ESSEC Business School in Paris.

Because so many businesses are pulling back on spending, particularly advertising, the market is less cluttered and less noisy. That means companies that introduce new products benefit from reduced competition and greater visibility. These companies also have stronger bargaining power with both their upstream and downstream supply chain partners. Companies can secure better deals on materials, access more favorable advertising, and even obtain cheaper shelf space from retailers.

"Skillfully navigating these opportunities requires leaders to pay close attention to customers, competitors, and their own company," adds coauthor Koen Pauwels, associate dean and a distinguished professor of marketing at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.

"Of course, timing is important," adds coauthor Berk Talay, professor of marketing at the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. "Launching later in a recession is better than earlier. Use helpful economic indicators, track financial expert forecasts, and create KPIs to watch key variables to assist in timing."

Launching products during a recession can send a powerful signal to stakeholders that the company is resilient. That enhances a company's reputation, showcasing it as a strong, well-positioned player in the market, and further boosts confidence and trust in the business's long-term prospects.

Read the full article with data and statistics in the MIT Sloan Management Review article "When Launching a Product During a Recession Pays Off," which publishes at 1 p.m. ET on April 29, 2025.

About the Authors

Steven H. Seggie is an associate professor of marketing at ESSEC Business School in Paris and the academic director of its Weekend Executive MBA and Hybrid Executive MBA programs. Berk Talay is a professor of marketing at the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Koen Pauwels is the associate dean of research and a distinguished professor of marketing at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.

About MIT Sloan Management Review

MIT Sloan Management Review is an independent, research-based magazine and digital platform for business leaders published at the MIT Sloan School of Management. MIT SMR explores how leadership and management are transforming in a disruptive world. We help thoughtful leaders capture the exciting opportunities  and face down the challenges  created as technological, societal, and environmental forces reshape how organizations operate, compete, and create value.

Connect with MIT Sloan Management Review on:

Tess Woods

[email protected]

617-942-0336

SOURCE MIT Sloan Management Review
BALTIMORE, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With new amendments to the Maryland Child Victims Act (CVA) set to take effect on June 1, attorneys at nationally recognized law firm Levy Konigsberg announced today that it has filed more than 800 lawsuits on behalf of survivors who suffered sexual abuse while confined as children in the state's juvenile detention system. The total includes a complaint filed today on behalf of over 100 survivors, continuing a wave of legal action that has revealed widespread, systemic abuse spanning decades.

These lawsuits come amid growing concerns over legislative changes that threaten to restrict the rights of survivors. Although the CVA, passed in 2023, eliminated the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, recent amendments are poised to limit compensation and impose new procedural barriersa move that survivors and advocates have criticized as a betrayal of justice.

Specifically, in cases filed on June 1 or later, these new changes in the law cap the amount of damages in child sexual abuse cases filed against governmental entities from a maximum of $890,000 to $400,000, a reduction of more than 50%. Survivors of child sexual abuse in Maryland are urged to file their cases prior to June 1 and to contact the Levy Konigsberg legal team as soon as possible.

Attorney Jerome Block, Partner at Levy Konigsberg, responded strongly to the State's approach and is urging survivors to come forward now:

"The State of Maryland's attempt to evade responsibility for decades of horrific sexual abuse is shameful and appalling. The State has callously forced survivors to either file their lawsuits before June 1 or have their maximum award of damages cut by more than 50%. We urge anyone who has suffered sexual abuse at Maryland juvenile facilities to come forward now to avoid these unjust and unconstitutional damages caps."

The cases, brought by Levy Konigsberg attorneys Jerome Block and Clark Binkley, center on allegations of abuse at over a dozen state-run juvenile detention centers, including the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School, Cheltenham Youth Detention Center, and Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center.

According to the complaints, survivors were subjected to sexual abuse by correctional officers, counselors, educators, and other staff in positions of authority. Investigations have revealed a disturbing pattern: a long history of misconduct that was ignored by state officials and enabled by a lack of oversight and accountability within the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

Spanning from the 1970s through the 2020s, the abuse detailed in these lawsuits reflects not isolated incidents, but a deeply entrenched institutional failure. Despite repeated public warnings, internal investigations, and damning reports, meaningful reform was routinely delayed. Survivors were left vulnerable in facilities where abuse, neglect, and violence were allowed to flourish unchecked.

Many of the plaintiffs only recently gained the ability to come forward under the Maryland CVA. The law opened a long-awaited path to justicebut the upcoming amendments could drastically curtail those rights, raising alarms about who will still be able to seek meaningful compensation in the future.

Levy Konigsberg, a nationally recognized leader in childhood sexual abuse litigation, was among the first firms to file claims under the Maryland CVA specifically tied to abuse in juvenile facilities. The firm has represented hundreds of survivors nationwide and continues to serve as a leading voice in the fight for systemic change and accountability.

The firm's Maryland cases have received extensive coverage by The Baltimore Sun, The Associated Press, and major local outlets, helping shed light on a crisis that remained buried for too long.

As the June 1 amendments approach, Levy Konigsberg remains committed to ensuring that survivors' voices are heard, and that justice is not redefined by legislative compromise.

Media Inquiries & Contact Information:

Reporters and journalists seeking interviews or additional information are encouraged to contact Attorney Jerome Block via the firm's contact page:

https://www.levylaw.com/contact-us/ or email [email protected].

SOURCE Levy Konigsberg
Keynote speaker Luisa Herrera-Garcia, Chief Officer of Development and Production

Sourcing at Alexander Wang, advises graduates to lead with empathy

NEW YORK, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LIM College held its 86th annual Commencement exercises at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, on May 9 at 9 a.m. Nearly 500 students received master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees at the event, which included a keynote address from Luisa Herrera-Garcia, Chief Officer of Development and Production Sourcing at Alexander Wang.

Herrera-Garcia, who is a member of the LIM College Class of 1988, received a Distinguished Achievement Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree.

LIM College held its 86th annual Commencement Ceremony on May 9. Pictured left to right: Jade Black, graduate Class of 2025 speaker, keynote speaker Luisa Herrera-Garcia, LIM President Ron Marshall, and Emaan Choudry, undergraduate Class of 2025 speaker. Photo courtesy of Thornton Studios.

Herrera-Garcia told the graduates, "Greatness comes with a great deal of humility and hard work. Remember the importance of working as a team and always lead with empathy. Being humble can be your greatest asset. If you spend most of your time being passionate about what you do, respect and admiration will follow."

She continued, "Never measure your success by someone else's progress. We all have different paths and journeys in this business and just because you don't get there fast, it does not mean you are not on your way."

Recalling her own career journey in the business of fashion, Herrera-Garcia noted that, "There were countless dues paid, many sleepless nights, working relentlessly with my teams to meet deadlines and having my collections ready for runway, market weeks, and European market presentations. One of the milestones of my career was helping John Varvatos launch his brand and seeing it become a household name and reach the highest level of success. John became a mentor and a friend for many years, and I am forever grateful to him."

In his address to the Class of 2025, LIM College President Ron Marshall talked about the importance of having "grit," defined as the combination of passion and perseverance, saying, "Throughout the year, I meet students and families and hear about the incredible circumstances that bring students to LIM, the obstacles that had to be overcome, and the sacrifices made to get you to our college. Some of you, like me, are the first in your families to pursue a college degree. Some of you came halfway across the world. Some of you worked jobsmaybe more than onewhile you earned your degree."

Marshall continued, "As opposed to other more traditional colleges, students come to LIM knowing that their purpose and their passion is fashion. We may never know the depth of challenges you have faced, but we do know that you have persevered through it all. Grit is going to set you apart from others who have not discovered their passion, let alone had that passion fuel their every action day after day."

Velissa Vaughn, who earned a Master of Professional Studies degree from LIM in 2016 received the Shining Star Alumni Award. Vaughn is the Owner and Founder of JXV Collective, as well as the founder of H.E.R. Tunnel, formerly known as @WNBATunnel. Brandon Smithwrick from the Class of 2018 received the Rising Star Alumni Award. Smithwrick is Director of Content at Kickstarter.

Emaan Choudry of Portland, Oregon was the undergraduate Class of 2025 student speaker and Jade Black of Montreal, Canada was the graduate Class of 2025 speaker.

Dr. O'Rita Johnson was posthumously awarded the Adrian G. Marcuse Award for Teaching Excellence. Named in honor of LIM College's president from 1972-2002, this award is given to a faculty member who performs in exemplary fashion in the classroom and consistently embodies the College's core values. The much-beloved Dr. Johnson, who passed away earlier this year, was the Assistant Director of LIM's Math Center and a faculty member in the Arts & Sciences department. Dr. Johnson's son was present on stage to accept the award.

LIM College's 2025 Commencement ceremony will be available for on-demand viewing at: https://www.limcollege.edu/commencement

About LIM College

Founded in 1939 and located in midtown Manhattan, LIM College focuses on the global business of fashion and lifestyle. Offering master's, bachelor's, and associate degree programs, LIM prepares students for career success via an immersive approach grounded in real-world experience and "learning by doing" through required internships. LIM College's commitment to excellence in business education ensures graduates are sought after by a wide range of employers, as evidenced by a Career Outcomes Rate of 97% for the Class of 2023. Alumni excel throughout all areas of fashion and lifestyle and have gone on to work for companies such as Chanel, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Ross Stores, Michael Kors, Ulta Beauty, Microsoft, Spotify, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nike.

Contact:

Anne Roman

[email protected]

419.708.5171

Meredith Finnin

[email protected]

646.218.2156

SOURCE LIM College
MORGAN COUNTY, W.Va. and FORT WAYNE, Ind., May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan County has selected INdigital as its Next Generation Core Services (NGCS) provider for 911 service delivery, marking a key advancement in modernizing local emergency response capabilities.

INdigital's NGCS solution will provide reliable, resilient, and advanced emergency communications, enabling first responders to quickly and accurately address community needs. This partnership highlights Morgan County's commitment to adopting innovative technologies that enhance public safety.

Marshall Younker, Director at Morgan County Emergency Communication Center, stated, "We look forward to working with INdigital. The enhanced GIS addressing accuracy and availability of the MEVO phone system were significant factors in our decision. Additionally, INdigital's capability for text-to-911, including translations for over 100 languages, greatly expands our community's accessibility to emergency services."

MEVO is an independent backup and disaster recovery solution for 911 call handling, providing continuity and reliability during service interruptions or emergencies. Unlike legacy 911 systems, which are limited in handling modern digital communications, NG911 leverages advanced IP-based technology to support multimedia, text, and enhanced location services, significantly improving emergency response capabilities.

"We are honored to support Morgan County in upgrading their emergency response infrastructure," said Eric Hartman, Executive Vice President at INdigital. "Our robust NG911 solutions are tailored specifically to ensure communities like Morgan County are prepared to handle emergencies with greater reliability and effectiveness."

The implementation of INdigital's NGCS will facilitate improved call routing accuracy, multimedia emergency communications capabilities, and enhanced interoperability among local public safety agencies.

For more information about INdigital and their Next Generation 911 services, visit indigital.net .

About INdigital

INdigital provides Next Generation 9-1-1 solutions with a focus on reliability, security, and innovation. With a nationwide footprint, INdigital delivers mission-critical technology to support PSAPs, first responders, and emergency communications centers.

SOURCE INdigital
CLEVELAND and BOSTON, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MPE Partners ("MPE" or "Morgenthaler Private Equity"), a Cleveland- and Boston-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Joshua Liebow to Partner. Josh joined MPE's Boston office as a Principal after more than 20 years at Manulife Investment Management (and its predecessor entity Hancock Capital Management), serving as Co-Head of the Junior Credit Platform since 2021. Josh's promotion augments MPE's existing leadership team.

Joshua Liebow

MPE Partner, Matt Yohe said, "We have known Josh for many years, and we are thrilled to welcome him into the partnership. Since joining MPE, Josh has made an immediate positive impact within our team and across our portfolio companies."

MPE Partner, Joe Machado added, "We congratulate Josh on his promotion. He has the skills and experience to help drive results for our investors. Importantly, Josh embraces MPE's investment processes, and he has been a significant culture carrier within the firm."

Josh currently holds board seats at Webster Industries, Mid-States Bolt & Screw, and Inkcups, all of which are current MPE portfolio investments. He has also worked as an integral MPE deal team member on several potential new investment opportunities. While at Manulife, Josh was primarily focused on leading junior capital financings and equity co-investments in middle market companies across many of the same sectors as MPE. Prior to joining the firm, Josh worked closely with the MPE team for over a decade evaluating numerous transaction opportunities, including leading mezzanine financings and equity co-investments in MPE portfolio companies, dlhBOWLES, 80/20, and Mid-States Bolt & Screw. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Babson College.

About MPE Partners

MPE Partners ("MPE" or "Morgenthaler Private Equity") seeks to be the preferred partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Based in Cleveland, OH, and Boston, MA, MPE invests in profitable, lower middle market companies with EBITDA between $8 million and $40 million. MPE has two primary target investment areas: high-value manufacturing and commercial & industrial services. For more information, please visit www.mpepartners.com.

SOURCE MPE Partners
DONGGUAN, China, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- QCY, a globally renowned brand in wireless audio technology, is proud to announce that its QCY H3 Pro Adaptive Noise Cancelling Headphones have received the Red Dot Design Award 2025, one of the most prestigious honors in the global design community.

This new award joins the H3 Pro's increasing number of international awards, including the VGP Design Award and the IDEA Award, thereby further reinforcing its reputation for sophisticated aesthetic, user-centric design, and innovative forward thinking.

QCY H3 Pro Wins Red Dot Design Award 2025

Red Dot: The Universal Standard for Design Excellence

The Red Dot Design Award has been one of the most renowned design awards in the world since its establishment in 1954. An international jury of design professionals evaluates products based on design quality, innovation, usability, and functionality. The H3 Pro was distinguished because it features a premium industrial design, a user-friendly interface, and outstanding sound quality.

QCY H3 Pro: A Design and Sound Award-Winning Leap

The QCY H3 Pro is a premium over-ear headphone for immersive, high-resolution sound. Featuring adaptive noise cancellation by up to 50dB and a dual-chip architecturea main audio chip and a dedicated amplifier chipit delivers deeper, more powerful bass with better clarity.

The product's ergonomic shape ensures long-lasting comfort throughout extended listening periods. With support for the LDAC codec and being Hi-Res Audio certified, the H3 Pro delivers detailed sound over a wide frequency band. In addition, the implementation of spatial audio technology allows for a multi-dimensional, cinema-like soundstage, while individual EQ settings through the QCY App allow users to tailor their hearing experience based on their personal needs.

A Commitment to the Future of Design.

This recognition mirrors QCY's unwavering commitment to design excellence and empowering users. QCY aims to make high-quality audio accessible by merging intelligent technology, eco-friendly values, and considerate design that enriches everyday life.

Regarding QCY as a top global audio brand owned by Dongguan Hele Electronics, it is committed to expanding the possibilities of wireless audio through technology and intelligent design. With more than 16 years of experience in the field and millions of users across the globe, QCY is still venturing into the future of consumer electronics. Stop by qcy.com to learn about the newest products.

PR Contact

Tracy, Senior PR Manager, QCY

[email protected]

Rice, Marketing Director, QCY

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2682332/H3_PRO_win_reddot_design_award.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2415696/QCY_LOGO_Logo.jpg
Valmet Oyj's press release on May 9, 2025 at 10:45 a.m. EEST

HELSINKI, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Valmet invites analysts, institutional investors and other capital market representatives to its Capital Markets Day on Thursday, June 5, 2025. In the Capital Markets Day, we will present Valmet's renewed strategy.

The event will take place at Valmet's site in Tampere, Finland (address: Lentokentankatu 11).

The program will run from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. EEST.

The day will include presentations led by (roles according to the proposed organization as of July 1, 2025):

Thomas Hinnerskov , President and CEO

, President and CEO Katri Hokkanen , CFO

, CFO Emilia Torttila-Miettinen , EVP Automation Solutions

, EVP Automation Solutions Simo Saaskilahti , EVP Flow Control

, EVP Flow Control Sami Riekkola , EVP Pulp, Energy and Circularity

, EVP Pulp, Energy and Circularity Petri Rasinmaki , EVP Packaging and Paper, and interim EVP Tissue

, EVP Packaging and Paper, and interim EVP Tissue Aki Niemi , EVP Global Supply

The program will also include:

a unique opportunity to familiarize oneself with Valmet DNAe, the next generation automation system (DCS), in an interactive showroom;

a demonstration on Valmet Mill-Wide Optimization by Automation Solutions, and

opportunities to discuss with Valmet's management in the Q&As and during the breaks.

The event can also be followed via a live webcast at https://valmet.videosync.fi/cmd-2025. The webcast will run from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. EEST. A recording will be available at the same address shortly after the event.

Presentation materials will be available on Valmet's website at www.valmet.com/cmd2025/ by the beginning of the event.

The language of the event and materials is English.

Registration and more information

To attend the event in Tampere, please register at https://valmet.videosync.fi/cmd-2025 by May 21 at the latest. The number of seats is limited, so we recommend registering early. Please also register if you will attend the event via webcast.

In Tampere, the doors will open at 11:00 and there will be lunch served before the program starts.

More information on the event can be found at www.valmet.com/cmd2025/. If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact VP, IR Pekka Rouhiainen, +358 10 672 0020, or [email protected].

Travel logistics

Valmet will organize bus transportation from Helsinki to Tampere. The bus will depart near Helsinki train station at 8:45 a.m. and stop at Helsinki airport if needed.

Participants arriving to Tampere by train will need to take a taxi to the CMD venue. The taxi ride from the railway station will take approximately 1020 minutes.

There is parking available for participants arriving by car.

Valmet will also organize bus travel to Helsinki airport continuing to Helsinki city after the event. Preliminary flight times by Finnair are as follows:

Paris , departure at 8:25 p.m.

, departure at Stockholm , departure at 8:35 p.m.

, departure at London , departure at 9:05 p.m.

For further information, please contact:

Pekka Rouhiainen, Vice President, Investor Relations, Valmet, tel. +358 10 672 0020

VALMET

Katri Hokkanen

CFO

Pekka Rouhiainen

Vice President, Investor Relations

Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries. We are a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries. With our automation and flow control solutions, we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward  every day.

The company has more than 225 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement, sustainability, and renewal. Valmet's net sales in 2024 were approximately EUR 5.4 billion.

Valmet's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki, and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.

Follow us on valmet.com | X | X (IR) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

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https://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/reminder--invitation-to-valmet-s-capital-markets-day-on-june-5--2025,c4148006
1280 Financial Partners, with offices in Florida, Ohio and South Carolina, is the latest wirehouse team to choose Sanctuary's Partnered Independence model to accelerate its growth and better serve clients

Sanctuary makes minority investment in 1280 Financial Partners

MIAMI, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanctuary Wealth (Sanctuary), providing elite financial advisors the freedom, flexibility, control and choice to thrive in an evolving industry, welcomes 1280 Financial Partners (1280 Financial) to its growing network of Partner Firms. The Forbes-recognized veteran team came together in 2021 to serve institutional and private clients. The former UBS-affiliated firm is tapping into Sanctuary's Strategic Capital Partnership program as they launch their new independent firm, which currently manages approximately $2 billion in total client assets.

1280 Financials' team, each with deep industry experience, is based in Fort Myers, Florida; Sandusky, Ohio; Augusta, South Carolina; and Miami, Florida. The impressive team includes:

Tom Burt CIMA  , CPM  , CFP  , CEPA  , ChFC  , CLU  , AIF  , Managing Partner, Sr Portfolio Manager

Duane Ohly CRPS, Managing Partner, & Sr Portfolio Manager

Charlie Todd CIMA  , CFP  , Managing Partner & Sr Portfolio Manager

John McGee CPM  , COO, Managing Partner & Sr Portfolio Manager

Brett Kinzel , Sr VP, & Sr Portfolio Manager

John Petracco , Sr VP & Sr Portfolio Manager

Carol Powell , Sr VP & Sr Portfolio Manager

Richard Allen Flippo CRPS, VP & Wealth Advisor

Critical support staff, including Registered Wealth Associates Jennifer Woods, Rebecca Elder, Becky Pyburn and Melanie Woods, round out the 1280 Financial team.

"1280 Financial conducted deep due diligence over several years before selecting Sanctuary as their strategic partner," said Vince Fertitta, President of Sanctuary Wealth. "They wanted a proven and vested partner with deep experience in transitioning top-performing wirehouse teams to independence. They required the most cutting-edge technology available and a partner with both the will and the wherewithal to address complex client opportunities. Having solved for the needs of over 120 teams transitioning to independence, Sanctuary has built the most expansive platform in the industry without giving up our exclusive and dynamic culture. We're honored to have 1280 Financials' trust and confidence as they unlock the asset that they've built over their storied careers."

Private client, institutional and insurance expertise

The two teams that originally formed 1280 Financial are based in Fort Myers, Florida, and Sandusky, Ohio. The 1,280 miles between the office locations gave the firm its name.

The firm has amassed a proven record of accomplishment by providing tailored advice and solutions through a value proposition focusing on service, performance and a unique investment philosophy that builds portfolios for wealthy clients from the ground up. Private clients include HNW and UHNW individuals, families, athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs and corporate executives.

The Institutional Consulting Division of 1280 Financial provides asset management for insurance, corporate, government, non-profit and endowment clients.

"As a fast-growing, multi-generational team with complex platform needs and a passion for delivering a superior client experience, my partners and I were extremely thorough and deliberate when making the decision to launch our own firm," said Mr. Burt. "Each of our advisors had a broad set of opportunities in front of them and their own personal criteria to make this move together. Finding a partner who could satisfy our collective requirements was not easy. We explored the gamut and kept returning to Sanctuary."

"A mature, stable and proven firm, that is creative, flexible and nimble, Sanctuary is the ideal partner," he added. "They understand our goals and offer tools, resources and talent to help us achieve them. Like us, Sanctuary is not one size fits all and has different affiliation options available. In contrast to the wirehouse environment we left, we are no longer employees trying to fight for our clients while competing against shareholder interests. Sanctuary has proven to be just as relentless in their commitment to serve us as we are in serving our clients and it's great to have a partner who is as focused on growing our enterprise value as we are."

1280 Financial is recognized for its Insurance, Captive and Reinsurance expertise. The team offers customized asset allocations for Captive insurance companies' operating pledge and trust accounts, utilizing institutional-quality investments. With deep experience in insurance company investments, the 1280 Financial team is well-positioned to provide highly specialized guidance and easy and efficient execution solutions and will work with Sanctuary to offer these services to others within the network of partner firms.

"Elite practices are drawn to our approach because it rewards those with the confidence to bet on themselvesbuilding equity and autonomy without interference or competing agendasand with 1280 Financial, we didn't just admire their conviction, we matched it with our own capital, taking a minority stake in the firm," added Adam Malamed, CEO of Sanctuary Wealth. "We've established a reputation as innovative problem solvers. As part of the 1280 Financial launch, Sanctuary can now formally offer captive insurance solutions rarely available in the independent space. Our platform was built one Partner Firm at a time to capitalize on complex client opportunities. When we expand our offering for one Partner Firm, the others benefit as well, whether they choose to engage directly or partner with a subject matter expert in the network."

About Sanctuary Wealth

Sanctuary Wealth (sanctuarywealth.com) is the advanced platform for elite advisors with the entrepreneurial spirit to build, own and create lasting equity in their practices while delivering clients the tailored service they deserve. It is committed to providing partner firms with unequaled freedom, flexibility, control and choice through an ecosystem of partnered independence that offers a complete technology and operations infrastructure, support from a community of like-minded advisors, the resources of invaluable affiliated businesses and a robust solutions platform. Sanctuary Wealth expanded its affiliation options by acquiring tru Independence (tru) in 2024, offering partner firms multiple models to best serve their unique needs.

Currently, the Sanctuary Wealth network includes more than 120 partner firms in 30 states nationwide, with approximately $50 billion in assets on platform. Sanctuary Wealth consists of the wholly owned subsidiaries: Sanctuary Advisors LLC, SEC-registered investment advisers, Sanctuary Securities, Inc., a FINRA member broker-dealer, as well as Sanctuary Alternative Holdings, Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, Sanctuary Global Family Office and tru.

Media Contacts

Donald Cutler or Joseph Kuo

Haven Tower Group

424-317-4864 or 424 317 4851

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Sanctuary Wealth
Photo: Reuters

The United States is calling for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and will impose sanctions together with partners if the ceasefire is violated, US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social social network on Thursday, shortly after the end of a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions, Trump wrote.

As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moments notice if my services are needed, the U.S. president added.
The Company unveiled the fruits of its collaboratively innovated photovoltaic and hydrogen energy along with energy storage solutions in Munich, accelerating Europe's move towards carbon neutrality

MUNICH, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Electric (SEHK:2727, SSE:601727) once again impresses visitors at this year's Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry, held in Munich from May 7-9. The Company showcases solutions in multiple fields, including solar and hydrogen energy, and energy storage. Utilizing its solution that adapts and localizes with cutting-edge technology, it presents an efficient path for Europe's green energy transformation and collaborates with global industry leaders to forge a blueprint for a zero-carbon future.

Carbon neutrality is a major strategic goal and a mission that will take concerted action from the whole world. Shanghai Electric is committed to connecting the world with innovative technologies, promoting the large-scale application of green energy, and making Chinese expertise a key force for global sustainable development.

Marking a major advance in green hydrogen technology, Shanghai Bright-H Technology, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, launches its new generation Bristack series electrolyzers. Certified by TUV Rheinland, the line includes 100-3000Nm/h alkaline and 10-400Nm/h PEM models. Featuring efficient gas-liquid transmission technology, the electrolyzers offer high current density, low energy consumption, wide load regulation and rapid response, achieving industry-leading hydrogen production efficiency. With annual production capacities of 1 gigawatt for alkaline electrolyzers and 200 megawatts for PEM electrolyzers, large-scale green hydrogen deployment is now more feasible.

Shanghai Electric's latest photovoltaic offerings include the Creator 210R series heterojunction modules, delivering 640W of power with 90% bifaciality. The Company's TOPCon cost-effective modules and colored building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) modules meet a range of market demands. Its modular sustainable construction site solutions boost low-carbon energy supply, increase installation efficiency by 50%, and suit fast turnover scenarios. Comprising five modules, including a single bracket and a BIPV roof, the system assembles quickly with bolts or self-tapping screws and allows flexible expansion.

At Intersolar Europe 2025, Shanghai Electric highlights its advancements in collaborative innovation across photovoltaics, hydrogen and energy storage, along with the integration of high-end equipment with smart energy. The Company's multi-energy system, combining solar and hydrogen storage solutions, is designed to optimize investment and operating costs. Shanghai Electric's flexible bracket and tracking system also unlocks the value of unused land, while its full life cycle services help ensure long-term project benefits and improved energy efficiency.

Leveraging its expertise and adapting to local conditions, Shanghai Electric proved its capability to push Europe's green energy transition toward net-zero emissions by 2050. In the United Kingdom, the Company has independently developed, built, and operated eight photovoltaic projects, featuring 220MWh of energy storage, with 100MWh already operational. These efforts are expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 112,000 tons annually.

Elsewhere, the photovoltaic project in Romania, constructed and operated with the participation of Shanghai Electric, is capable of supplying green electricity to over 120,000 households upon completion. The Pancevo Thermal Power Plant in Serbia, designed in full compliance with European standards and developed by Shanghai Electric, has generated a cumulative total exceeding 950 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since its commissioning, effectively alleviating local power supply constraints.

For more information about Shanghai Electric, please visit https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.

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"We believe in the power of play, because when kids are playing, cancer is the last thing on their minds," says Eric Newman, founder and CEO of Roc Solid Foundation. "We are so appreciative of the support of StarKist; we simply couldn't do what we do without organizations like theirs rallying around these families with support."

Fallon was surprised with a custom-built backyard playset through Roc Solid's "Play It Forward" initiative, which brings the healing power of play to children fighting cancer. For families whose routines are filled with treatments and isolation, where public play isn't always safe due to weakened immune systems, a backyard playset offers more than fun. It creates a safe, germ-free escape and a chance to make joyful memories together.

Volunteers, including a group of StarKist employees, spent the morning constructing Fallon's playset from the ground up. The experience culminated in a powerful "What Hope Looks Like" moment as Charlie The Tuna helped unveil the finished playset to Fallon and her family for the first time, turning an ordinary backyard into a place of joy, comfort, and hope.

"As a socially responsible company, StarKist is thrilled to partner with Roc Solid Foundation for multiple initiatives this year to help bring hope and joy to kids fighting childhood cancer," says Mike Merritt Jr., Head of Marketing at StarKist. "Our team was honored to play a part in creating a space where Fallon can just be a kid again and where cancer isn't front and center."

StarKist Cares is the company's commitment to making a lasting impact through charitable initiatives that fight hunger and uplift communities. In addition to its work with Roc Solid Foundation to support children facing pediatric cancer, StarKist has spent more than 15 years addressing food insecurity by donating millions of tuna and chicken products nationwide. The company also partners with Feed the Children to provide vital disaster and emergency relief, supports Cornerstones in assisting vulnerable families in Northern Virginia, and honors Korean War veterans through its continued support of The Chosin Few.

About StarKist Co.

StarKist Co. is a socially responsible company that empowers people to live a healthy lifestyle by providing convenient nutritious proteins. An industry innovator, StarKist was the first brand to introduce convenient single-serve pouch products, which include StarKist Tuna Creations, Salmon Creations, and Chicken Creations in over 40 varieties. As America's favorite tuna, StarKist represents a tradition of quality, consumer trust and a commitment to sustainability. StarKist's charismatic brand icon, Charlie The Tuna, swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. StarKist Co. is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Dongwon Industries Co., Ltd.

About Roc Solid Foundation

Roc Solid Foundation builds hope for kids fighting cancer nationwide through the power of play. The organization distributes hospital Ready Bags to families just after they hear the devastating news that their child has cancer, and then provides backyard playsets so kids have a safe place to play during treatment. Roc Solid currently partners with over 180 children's hospitals to distribute Ready Bags, and playsets have been provided to thousands of kids fighting cancer in almost every state across the U.S. For more info, visit rocsolidfoundation.org.

Media Contacts

Michelle Faist

[email protected]

571-441-8096

Tori Schettino

[email protected]

973-588-2381

SOURCE StarKist Co.

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CHICAGO, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS] is webcasting its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 9:00 a.m. Central time on May 22, 2025.

To listen to the meeting, please visit the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com. The meeting will be webcast both live and on-demand. It is recommended that you register at least 15 minutes before the beginning of the meeting to register, download and install any necessary multimedia streaming software.

About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) provides wireless, broadband, video and voice to approximately 5.5 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular and TDS Telecom. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 7,800 associates as of March 31, 2025.

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
North America's Largest Dairy Co-op Could Face Work Stoppages at Any Time

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters across the country took action to demand fair contracts and better working conditions at Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) this week. Teamsters in Rochester, Minn., and Southern California conducted practice pickets, Teamsters Local 20 members in Toledo, Ohio, held a rally, and Teamsters Local 554 members in Le Mars, Iowa, submitted a petition to their managers demanding that their employer address safety concerns.

"There are 2,000 workers at this employer who are fighting for fair contracts right now, and they have the backing of 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide," said Lou Villalvazo, Teamsters Local 630 Secretary-Treasurer and Chairman of the National DFA Negotiating Committee. "Our members have been there for DFA, we made them the largest dairy producer and manufacturer in the country. We want better compensation and working conditions at every DFA location, and we want it now."

The union is demanding higher wages, improved health care and retirement benefits, protection from automation, and a common expiration date for contracts. Teamsters are working under 19 different expired collective bargaining agreements with DFA, meaning the union can immediately call for a work stoppage at any one of the 35 locations still in bargaining.

"DFA can afford to give us what we're asking for  if they have money to give raises to the upper management, they have money for us," said Leondre Hawkins, a Local 20 member at DFA in Toledo. "I'm willing to go on strike to get what I need. I love my brothers and sisters out there on the shop floor, and I know they're willing to fight with me as well."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Matt McQuaid, (771) 241-0015

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Near Southside Welcomes a New Modern Hotel and Restaurant Built Around a Historic Fire Station

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nobleman Fort Worth, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and the hotel's chef-driven restaurant, Duchess, announces their opening in the Near Southside and Magnolia Avenue-area of Fort Worth. The hotel and restaurant are anchored by the historic facade of the original No. 5 Fire Station  a landmark building from 1911 that was home to many noble Fort Worth firefighters, and the inspiration behind the hotel name. Located at 503 Bryan Avenue, The Nobleman and Duchess will provide an unmatched blend of hospitality and dining in Fort Worth's most eclectic and progressive district.

Image by Jonathan Zizzo

Developed by Jeff Blackman of Bedford Lodging, the property wraps a collection of 153 guest rooms and suites  a compilation of 121 guest rooms and 32 extended stay suites with kitchenettes  around the restored fire station structure that functions as the heart of the hotel, housing guest check-in, communal areas, game spaces, and Duchess.

"The Nobleman Hotel and our Duchess restaurant will be stylish and approachable additions to the Near Southside neighborhood," says Blackman. "We want to be a destination for the weekend traveler, for those visiting our renowned medical district, for business purposes, and to serve as a new, consistent dining spot for our local residents  we want to be the go-to neighborhood place."

Hotel amenities include a pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and 2,000 square feet of meeting and outdoor event spaces, along with terraces. Further enhancing the guest experience, the culinary concept Duchess is found in the historic fire station building at street level, setting the tone of the property with an energetic and lively atmosphere.

Owner Blackman enlisted consultant chef Casey Thompson  known for her career at The Mansion Restaurant in Dallas that eventually led to multiple appearances on Top Chef  to concept Duchess' breakfast and dinner menus and to source an executive chef (to be named at a later date). Duchess will feature approachable New American cuisine with a Texas influence and driven by seasonal ingredients. From starters such as fried Texas burrata and crispy chicken parm burgers to mains like ricotta gnudi and the lucky pig, Duchess will become a desired culinary addition to Fort Worth's growing epicurean scene.

In partnership with Lucchese Bootmaker, the Duchess bar program will feature a tequila-based specialty cocktail, Lucchese Craftsman. The iconic bootmaker is also elevating the bar dining experience with their signature branded leather coasters and a Lucchese boot display.

The Nobleman's spacious communal areas, rooms, bar and restaurant are designed by Kathy Moran-Clarson, owner of KMC&A Design. The hotel's arrival experience in the 1911 building is enhanced with the revitalized staircase  including the actual fireman's pole  and a lobby with restored white tiled walls and brass accents. Public gathering areas offer a welcoming atmosphere with a focus on local materials and craftsmanship, while luxury outdoor spaces are outfitted with fireplaces, greenery, heaters, misters and leisure activity spaces.

The Nobleman Hotel and the Duchess identities were created and brought to life by Ashlar Projects' co-owners Brooke Hollis Hortenstine and Missy Wyszynski  the hotel and restaurant logos, messaging, menus, social media, visuals and more. Kansas-based Crossland Construction provided construction services, and the national hospitality management company, Crestline Hotels and Resorts, will manage the property.

The Nobleman Hotel is located at 503 Bryan Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104. For more information, please visit https://thenoblemanhotel.com/.

SOURCE Bedford Lodging
Lenny Kravitz joined the VIP audience to honor student essay winners and celebrate launch of landmark public art installation.

NEW YORK, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Soloviev Foundation welcomed guests on May 8 for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US, a landmark art installation opening to the public May 15. Set on Manhattan's East Side from 38th to 41st Street along First Avenue, the 6-acre installation transforms remarkable personal stories of WWII heroes and today's changemakers into a vivid exploration of liberty and equality through larger-than-life visuals and interactive storytelling.

The evening featured an appearance by multiple GRAMMY-winning artist Lenny Kravitz, who served on the panel for the Future Generations Essay Contest and joined Stefan Soloviev, Principal of The Soloviev Foundation and Chairman of the Soloviev Group, in recognizing Janet C. and Jonathan D., two extraordinary student writers whose essays captured the enduring relevance of liberty in contemporary life.

"The energy and emotion present at the ribbon-cutting reaffirmed what this installation is all about," said Stefan Soloviev. "The voices of the students and those photographed are a powerful reminder of where we've been and where we're going together."

"Seeing this vision come to life and witnessing the community engaged in these stories is incredibly meaningful," said Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group. "Path of Liberty is a living conversation where people of all ages and backgrounds can see themselves in the American story and find connection in our shared pursuit of freedom and unity."

In his remarks, Kravitz emphasized the importance of youth perspectives in shaping the national conversation, saying, "Freedom is a vital, underlying right that anchors all others. The fact that the students have exercised their freedom in such thoughtful, poignant ways should serve as an inspiration and model for all of us."

"One moment I felt especially proud to be American was when I saw my parents become U.S. citizens. The look of pride on their faces, after years of struggle, reminded me why this country is so special," shared Brooklyn 10th grader Jonathan. "America is not just a placeit is a promise. A promise that no matter where you come from, you have the chance to build something greater."

Janet, a 10th-grade student from Queens, shared an essay set against the backdrop of the Olympics, honoring the resilience of her grandparents who immigrated from China in the early 1900s.

"Although they didn't grow up here, every time they see an American athlete standing on the world podium with our flag waving above, they light up like they've won too. And in a way, they have. That's what makes America so special. It's not where you start, but how we come together," she read.

Several of the subjects featured in the photographs and audio stories were in attendance, further amplifying the installation's mission to explore and elevate the human stories behind America's founding ideals.

Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US has been designed by multi-specialty creative studio C&G Partners and directed by award-winning filmmaker, director, and producer Daniella Vale. The installation, which stands as a prequel to the 2026 United States Quarter Millennial, also features a short film by Donna Lawrence Productions that helps ground the exhibit in a deeper historical context. The adjacent film was produced in collaboration with the Museum of the American Revolution.

Beginning May 15, 2025, guests can experience Path of Liberty free of charge every Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with reservations available at pathoflibertynyc.com . Walk-ups are welcome, and the installation is also illuminated Sunday through Wednesday for public viewing from the perimeter.

Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US expands on the Soloviev Foundation's commitment to bringing the community together through art that encourages contemplation, nurtures connection, and inspires hope.

ABOUT PATH OF LIBERTY: THAT WHICH UNITES US

Encompassing more than six-acres on Manhattan's East Side from 38th to 41st Street on First Avenue, the large-scale exhibition provides a visual and narrative journey of the founding principles of the United States, framed by stunning portraits and immersive landscapes. Made possible by the Soloviev Foundation, Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US will welcome guests and present an exploration of both the achievements and ongoing challenges of American democracy. Through powerful, large-scale environmental portraits and interactive elements, visitors will leave with a deeper understanding of the country's past, present, and future. Please visit pathoflibertynyc.com and follow @pathoflibertynyc on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

ABOUT THE SOLOVIEV FOUNDATION

The Soloviev Foundation is the charitable giving arm of the Soloviev Group, dedicated to supporting the efforts of those working across humanitarian, environmental, and educational causes. The Foundation's gifts go to both large, long-established institutions addressing global crises and concerns, and smaller, hyperlocal organizations serving the populations in need within their communities. For more information, visit solovievfoundation.org.

A complete selection of high-resolution images are available here.

SOURCE The Soloviev Group
PHOENIX, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VertexOne, a leading provider of cloud software designed to revolutionize the customer experience within the energy and utility industry, is pleased to be wrapping up this year's 49th annual IUCX (formally CS Week) Conference on a celebratory note after its client, the City of Round Rock, Texas, took home top honors in two categories at this year's IUCX's Expanding Excellence Awards.

These awards spotlight what's possible when utilities have both a strong vision and the right tools to bring it to life Post this Innovation in Digital Engagement | Level 2 | City of Round Rock, TX

The city was honored for its leadership in digital engagement and project innovation, including a multi-phase customer portal initiative that helps residents gain greater control over their water usage and avoid high-bill surprises. The recognition capped off a high-visibility week for VertexOne, which launched its new customer engagement engine, VXconnect, on the first day of the conference.

Built on the foundation of proven value and functionality, VXconnect, was reimagined from the ground up as a single, unified SaaS system designed to help energy and utility providers evolve engagement, drive efficiency, and scale for what's next.

A panel of IUCX judges selected winners in six categories  including four company, and two individual awards  with two of the four company categories featuring two winners based on company size: Level I for utilities grossing more than $1 billion in revenue, and Level II for those with an annual gross below $1 billion.

Innovation in Digital Engagement  Winner, City of Round Rock, Texas

The City of Round Rock, Texas taking home IUCX's Innovation in Digital Engagement award, which salutes utilities that showcase technologically complex projects that improved services in the meter-to-cash CX lifecycle through digital engagement.

Round Rock awarded for their two-phased customer payment portal project which they undertook to empower customers with real-time usage information and customizable alerts for leaks and consumption thresholds to make informed decisions and avoid high bills.

IUCX Rising Star Award  Winner, Debbie Seman, City of Round Rock, Texas

Additionally, the City of Round Rock's Utility Billing & Revenue Supervisor, Debbie Seman, was individually bestowed one of two distinguished 2025 Rising Star Awards for spearheading the utility's consumption portal project, where she collaborated with IT, various departments and vendors as its project manager.

Seman, heralded specifically for her, "remarkable talent for implementing creative problem-solving techniques, approaching challenges collaboratively and refining processes with an unwavering can-do attitude," according to her nominator. Adding that her excellence in "streamlining processes, introducing innovations, and fostering a positive work environment" as other accolades typical of Seman's work ethic.

"Watching Round Rock succeed on this stage is incredibly meaningful," said Keith Ahonen, SVP of Partners and Channels at VertexOne and former COO of Accelerated Innovations, acquired by VertexOne in December 2024.

"It's gratifying to see the evolution  not just of the technology, but of the outcomes," Ahonen added. "This kind of recognition shows how collaboration and innovation can come together to create real results."

"These awards spotlight what's possible when utilities have both a strong vision and the right tools to bring it to life," said VertexOne Chief Operating Officer Tina Santizo. "Round Rock's success reflects exactly why we built VXconnect; to empower forward-thinking teams with a unified, modern solution that moves beyond engagement into impact."

Earlier in the week VertexOne leaders contributed to three high-impact IUCX sessions addressing key customer experience challenges and future-facing strategies:

Reaching vulnerable customers through proactive, personalized engagement

Advancing water conservation with data-driven personalization

Transforming passive customers into active participants through behavior-based incentives.

IUCX is the premier educational and networking conference serving electric, gas and water/wastewater utility professionals across North America and around the world. It provides learning and connection opportunities in support of the utility CX lifecycle: Billing & Payments, Contact Center, Credit & Collections, Digital Engagement, Disruptors, Field Services, and Strategies & Analytics.

Click here for more information and a full list of this year's slate of IUCX's 2025 Expanding Excellence Award (EEA) winners and finalists.

About VertexOne

VertexOne is the leading provider of cloud-based SaaS solutions, powering the next generation of customer experience for utilities, energy retailers and energy transition providers. With more than 30 years of experience and 400 customers in the cloud, we capitalize on our deep expertise to provide a wide range of innovative solutions for digital transformation, revenue optimization and data-driven efficiency operations surrounding the customer. We empower our clients to deliver a compelling customer experience, reduce costs to serve, increase operational efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. For more information on how VertexOne allows you to enhance the digital customer experience, improve revenue management and leverage data analytics, visit vertexone.ai

MEDIA

Lynn Steinberg

VertexOne

[email protected]

SOURCE VertexOne
The 2025 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit featured free, educational workshops and panels focused on issues facing small business owners.

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit brought together more than 20,000 registrants and 7,000 attendees for two days of expert insights and networking with industry leaders. Held May 6-7, the event was co-hosted by SCORE  the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors  and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Recordings of the sessions are available on-demand at no cost on SCORE's website .

Speakers at the Virtual Summit included business leaders, industry experts and small business owners.

Throughout the summit, entrepreneurs connected with like-minded business owners, received real-time guidance from industry mentors, and gathered resources specifically designed for small business success. Sixty entrepreneurs received free, one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions from SCORE mentors during the event, gaining instant answers from experts on critical business issues.

Insights from experts

Sessions covered topics such as AI, e-commerce, cybersecurity, finance and more. At the AI sessions, experts shared best practices for how entrepreneurs can take advantage of new tools. John Lawson, president of ColderIce Media, shared his insights in The Small Business AI Advantage: Practical Tools to Grow Your Business . John suggested that entrepreneurs start small to test how AI works for your business. "Commit to a two-week trial period of implementation on different things, and then measure the results," advised John. "Track both the time and the stress that was saved by implementing these AI tactics."

Real-life examples

Alongside industry experts, successful small business owners shared what they've learned from their own experiences. Natasha McCray, owner of 1818 Farms in Mooresville, Ala., described her experience with e-commerce and how her business has benefitted from user-generated content, saying, "Customer reviews are one of the most important things you can have on your website." Hear more from Natasha and other small business owners in Expanding Your Business Through E-Commerce , available on-demand.

Brice Sokolowski, inventor and founder of Vaucluse Gear LLC, spoke about the challenges of managing retail payment options during Money Matters: Mastering Payment Methods for Small Business Success : "As an entrepreneur, you can think you're doing things alone, but you've got SCORE on your side, you've got financial institutions helping youall of these resources are here."

Mentoring makes a difference

SCORE mentor Mark Dobson led a session about how to develop a quality business plan . Mark encouraged small business owners to invest in this foundational work and partner with a mentor to improve the odds of your business succeeding. "Owning a business is empowering," said Mark. "You now control your own destiny."

To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit SCORE.org .

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories.

Funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

CONTACT:

SCORE

202-968-6428

[email protected]

Visit SCORE's media resources to connect with expert small business interview sources and news updates.

SOURCE SCORE
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) for the first time in the history of Ukraine has exposed the Hungarian military intelligence agent network, which was carrying out espionage activities to the detriment of the Ukrainian state, the SBU reported on Friday.

The task of this cell was to collect information about the military security of Zakarpattia region, search for vulnerabilities in the region's ground and air defense, as well as study the socio-political views of local residents: in particular, scenarios of their behavior if Hungarian troops enter the region, the message on the Telegram channel says.

As a result of comprehensive measures in Zakarpattia, the SBU detained two agents from the Hungarian special service network.

As the investigation established, the curator of both suspects was a career officer of the Hungarian military intelligence, whose identity has already been identified by the Security Service.

One of his agents was a 40-year-old former military man from the Berehove district, who was recruited by foreigners and put into "standby mode" back in 2021.

According to counterintelligence and SBU investigators, the curator "activated" this agent in September 2024.

Then the traitor received the task: to study the mood of the local population and obtain the following information: what will be the reaction of the military and civilian population of Zakarpattia if a peacekeeping contingent, in particular the Hungarian military, enters the region; what military equipment and weapons can be purchased on the black market of Zakarpattia; what is the situation with the migration of the Hungarian population in the region; what military forces are located in Zakarpattia, how much transport and combat vehicles are there; how well equipped are the law enforcement agencies and what is their number, etc.

It is documented that after that the agent personally scouted the location of the Defense Forces and the coordinates of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems in the region.

After collecting intelligence, he left for Hungary to report to the curator. To cross the border, the traitor issued a certificate of care for his sick father, who requires treatment in foreign institutions.

According to the case materials, during the meeting, the Hungarian intelligence officer handed over cash to the agent, which was intended for the performance of the assigned tasks. In addition, the traitor was looking for a network of informants. The SBU established that the resident tried to recruit at least two people.

By forming an agent network, foreign intelligence hoped to expand the range of information collection, including obtaining data from front-line and front-line regions.

In March of this year, the SBU counterintelligence documented the agent's second meeting with the curator. This time, he received a phone with special software for covert communication.

Among the traitor's new tasks was to identify official cars belonging to representatives of the Security and Defense Forces in Zakarpattia region. In addition, the resident was to find and transfer data on the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the war and current events from the front line to the Hungarian special service, and had already selected the appropriate contact in the Defense Forces.

Another detainee is a former servicewoman of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, who resigned from the unit in 2025. According to available information, her tasks included informing the Hungarian special services about the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zaakarpattia region, as well as about the defense systems of the military unit where she served.

The SBU counterintelligence documented every step of the Hungarian agents and detained the suspects at their places of residence. During the search, phones and other material evidence of subversive activities were seized from them.

Investigators of the Security Service informed the suspects of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed under martial law). The perpetrators are in custody. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Comprehensive measures are currently underway to bring all participants in the Hungarian intelligence agent network to justice.
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New Delhi, May 9 : Billionaire Elon Musk-led social media platform X on Thursday said the Indian government has asked it to block more than 8,000 accounts in the country for violating laws, and it will comply with the law of the land.

While the platform did not specify names of the accounts, it includes "international news organisations and prominent X users", the media platform shared in a statement.

The move comes amid the India-Pakistan conflict, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, which has seen an increase in misinformation.

"X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the companyas local employees," the statement said.

The statement said that the government did not specify which posts have violated laws.

"For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts," X said, noting that it will comply with the order and "withhold" the accounts only in India.

Calling the decision "not easy", X said it has initiated process and sent the affected users "notice of the actions".

It also expressed disagreement with the Indian governmentas demands over blocking entire accounts.

"It amounts to censorship of existing and future content and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech," the statement said.

X said the platform is vital to Indiansa ability to access information.

"We believe that making these executive orders public is essential for transparency -- lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision making. However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time," the statement said.

The Musk led company said it is exploring all possible legal avenues available to the company.

It also encouraged the impacted users "to seek appropriate relief from the courts".
Washington and Kyiv are demonstrating a new level of strategic cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy and defense, and the recently signed minerals agreement between the two countries marks a significant step in solidifying that partnership, according to William Taylor, a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2006-2009 and 2019-2020).

Speaking at the 17th Annual Kyiv Security Forum titled "UA: Unite Again to Defeat the Global Aggressor," organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation "Open Ukraine," Taylor highlighted that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has prepared a sanctions package which, if approved, would impose tariffs of up to 500% on importers of Russian oil.

"Oil is now $56 a barrel, $49 a barrel. The Russians are having a real hard time with $49 a barrel," Taylor said, commenting on Russia's economic situation.

He also noted that the U.S. Department of State has announced the preparation of a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes F-16 fighter jets. According to the former ambassador, this too signals a shift in the strategic outlook of the Trump administration.

"Is this an evolution in Washington? It might be, we are watching a shift, we will see," he added.
United Nations, May 9 : There have been no requests for a Security Council meeting on the situation between India and Pakistan, according to UN Mission of Greece, which holds the presidency this month.

"Since the closed consultations on Monday, no request has been received for a new meeting yet," the mission said on Wednesday night.

Neither Pakistan nor the other 14 members of the Council had requested a meeting.

Asked if Pakistan was seeking a UN Security Council meeting, the country's Permanent Representative to UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said cryptically, "We are watching the situation."

On Monday, the Council held a closed-door consultation on the situation in South Asia with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari.

India, in principle, is opposed to the Council getting involved with what it considers is a bilateral matter under the terms of the 1972 Simla Agreement between the leaders of the two countries.

While there has been a universal call for de-escalation, any Council session will be just a talking shop as any substantive, implementable resolution will not be possible to be adopted as of now as the unanimity of permanent members is not there.

Earlier on May 6, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pulled up Pakistan and asked tough questions concerning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam at its closed session amid the escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The members slammed Islamabad and questioned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba's involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people.

Though Pakistan claimed that the meeting largely served and achieved the objectives of the UNSC's meeting, reports showed that it flopped miserably.

In the meeting, which was called at the request of Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, he claimed that his country was not involved in the terror attack.

Though the session was a closed consultation and had no official records, the UNSC members called for dialogue and restraint to resolve the issues.

After the meeting on Monday, UNSC President Evangelos Sekeris told reporters, "The Security Council is always helpful in such efforts" to de-escalate. It is the responsibility of the Council. It was a productive and helpful meeting. Since the meeting was a closed consultation, its proceedings are secret without official records."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the situation was at a "boiling point" and asked the two countries to "step back from the brink".

"It is also essential -- especially at this critical hour -- to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control," he said.

Condemning "strongly" the terrorist massacre of 26 people in Pahalgam last month, he said, "I understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack".

Notably, The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack, in which 25 Indians and one Nepalese national were killed.
Washington, May 9 : The US on Thursday said its message to India and Pakistan amid the current tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack has been two fold: de-escalate and keep talking.

Referring to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's calls to India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at the daily briefing that US has been focussed on "two things".

"That it should not escalate, and communication was fundamentally key, that there should be talks, that there should not be silence, and that America, obviously was at the centre of this, in speaking with a variety of leaders of both countries over the last two days," Bruce said.

She also said: "The message from the Secretary, and, I think, from the US as a whole in general, is that the violence should stop that military action, war, as we've seen in that region, certainly in the Middle East, has clearly, for generation, proven that it is not a solution, because it never ends. There has to be a change in that regard. So obviously, when it comes to solving a problem, this administration has made itself clear that war, the military, more violence is not a solution. Diplomacy is a solution."

Asked if Secretary Rubio has offered to mediate, Bruce said the situation is "very delicate and dangerous" and "where there's negotiations happening, we are not going to be speaking about the details".

She went on to say that "it's important to not put details in the middle of the media, the worldwide media, when the work is being done privately between leaders, and we need to really try to keep it that way".

When asked if a statement in the readout of Secretary Rubio's call with Prime Minister Sharif -- that called Pakistan to end any support for terrorism -- was an endorsement of Indian position that Pakistan has been a supporter of terrorism, Bruce said, "Well, you know, obviously in today's world, that's a call that we've been making for decades. It is the dynamic that we've seen in the Middle East disrupting lives. And clearly what happened in Kashmir is awful, and we've all of course, we send our condolences. The world has rejected the nature of that kind of violence overall, of course, and certainly the President has and continues to but at this moment in time, there is, like one thing that has to stop, which is a back and forth and a continuation of this. And that is what we're focused on right now."

"The Secretary expressed sorrow for the reported loss of civilian lives in the current conflict. He reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups," Bruce had said earlier in a statement on Rubio's call with Sharif.

The US has not hesitated to call out Pakistan on its support for terrorism.

"The US has foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools," President Donald Trump had written in a post on X, in his first term in 2018, "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"
Jammu, May 9 : After its drones and low range missiles fired to target defence installations were neutralised by the alert troops in Jammu, Samba, R.S. Pura and other places, terrorists aided by Pakistan troops made an unsuccessful infiltration attempt in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on the International Border.

A BSF Spokesman said that a major infiltration bid from across the International Border was foiled around 11 p.m. on Thursday evening.

The intruding terrorists were forced to withdraw back into the Pakistan side of the border, the Spokesman added.

A woman was killed and another injured in Pakistan's heavy mortar shelling on civilian areas in Uri sector of Baramulla district late Thursday evening.

Officials said a vehicle travelling from Razerwani to Baramulla was hit by a shell fired from across the Line Of Control (LoC) near Mohura.

In this incident, a woman identified as Nargis Begum was killed while another woman, Hafeeza Begum was injured.

Pakistan Army continued resorting to heavy mortar shelling in Uri, Tangdhar, Poonch and Rajouri on the LoC and in Samba on the International Border.

Drones and low-range missiles fired at Jammu airport as well as other defence installations in Jammu city failed as these were neutralised in the air by efficient air defence system put in place by the Armed Forces.

Complete blackout was observed in Jammu and Srinagar city immediately after sirens started warning the people of an impending attack by the enemy.

Electricity has been partially restored in Jammu and Srinagar cities.

Amid the prevailing situation, authorities on Wednesday said that schools, colleges and universities will remain closed across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and Saturday.

Sakina Itoo, Jammu and Kashmir's Education Minister, said that Keeping in view the safety of students, all the private and government schools, colleges and universities will remain closed on Friday and Saturday.

Naseer Iqbal, Registrar of Kashmir University, also said that classes will remain suspended at the university on Friday.
Washington, May 9 : US Vice-President J.D. Vance has said that the conflict between India and Pakistan is "fundamentally none of our business," though he and President Donald Trump are encouraging both the countries to de-escalate.

"What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it. You know, America can't tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We can't tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so, we're going to continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels," Vance, who has been a proponent of US disengagement from international conflicts, said in an interview with Fox News.

"Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict," Vance added.

"Right now, we don't think that's going to happen."

The remarks by Vance came as Pakistan made a failed attempt to attack military establishment in Jammu, Pathankot and several other cities.

India's air defence system intercepted and neutralised at least eight missiles launched by Islamabad.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said he wants India and Pakistan to "stop" what he described as "tit for tat" actions, saying if he can do anything to "help", he will be there.

"Oh it's so terrible. My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now. They have gone tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now. I know both, we get along with both the countries very well."

"Good relationships with both and I want to see it stop. And If I can do anything to help, I will be there," Trump said in response to a question on the "war" between India and Pakistan.

Trump's remarks came after the Indian military carried out strikes against terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan's Punjab province on Wednesday.

Pakistan army carried out artillery and mortar shelling targeting forward villages along the Line Of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province of Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
New Delhi, May 9 : Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Armed Forces have successfully foiled a large-scale drone and missile attack launched by Pakistan to target multiple military stations in Northern and Western India, including Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said.

In a post on X, the HQ IDS said: "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means."

The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan came after India on Thursday morning targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities with one in Lahore being "neutralised".

The Indian military responded swiftly and decisively, neutralising the threat using both kinetic and non-kinetic means in accordance with standard operating procedures (SoP).

As the Ministry of Defence reiterated that any attack on military sites in India will invite a "suitable response", Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan only can decide if it wants to de-escalate tensions with India as New Delhi responded to the "original escalation" triggered by the Pahalgam massacre.

Blackouts from several cities and towns in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan were enforced as drones were sighted from across the border.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, speaking at a Ministry of External Affairs press briefing, confirmed that India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems had successfully countered the attacks.

"This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. The Indian response has been in the same domain and with the same intensity as Pakistan's. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system in Lahore has been neutralised," Colonel Qureshi said.

She also detailed that during the night of May 7 to May 8, Pakistan attempted to strike military targets at several locations, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

However, India's robust air defence systems neutralised all attempted incursions, and debris from intercepted drones and missiles is being recovered from multiple sites, confirming the attacks.

The missiles were aimed at key locations, including Satwari (Jammu Airport), Samba, R.S. Pura, and Arnia, defence sources said.

A sudden power outage plunged Jammu city into darkness following two loud explosions, likely resulting from the interception of intruding drones. Immediately after, sirens echoed throughout the city, alerting panic stricken residents to seek shelter.

Sound of massive explosions were heard in Jaisalmer and a blackout was enforced in western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan, plunging the whole stretch into darkness, police said.

The escalation followed India's launch of Operation Sindoor -- a series of focused and precise strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) a" in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

"Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution," the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

At Thursday's media briefing, Colonel Qureshi reiterated that on May 7, India had clearly said that any attack on Indian military assets would invite a "suitable response".

Following Operation Sindoor, the Union government convened an all-party meeting on Thursday at the Parliament Annexe to brief political leaders on the security situation and India's calibrated military action.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the briefing, which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, among others.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh also addressed the press conference following the all-party meeting.
Los Angeles, May 9 : Actress Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma's relationship raised the eyebrows between their own folks.

Their relationship wasn't always looked at in a positive light by their families.

During an appearance on SiriusXM Hits1's show Ben +1, the 'Juliet & Romeo' actress admitted that while her "family was very accepting of the relationship," when it came to now-wife Agruma, "at first her family wasn't," reports 'People' magazine.

That was brief, however, since "all of (Agruma's) beautiful family came" to their wedding in Italy last fall, "and it's almost like there wasn't any drama," said 45-year-old Wilson.

"It just took them a little bit of time," the 'Pitch Perfect' star added.

"I think some people from some cultures -- because it was the same-sex wedding, I guess. They just needed a little bit of time, and now you wouldn't even notice that anything had happened previously."

As per 'People', Wilson and Agruma, 41, wed in September 2024.

The actress is also mom to two-year-old daughter Royce, whom she welcomed via surrogate in November 2022.

Of their extended family dynamic now, Wilson said on Ben +1, "It is a really happy ending, and we've just had both Ramona's parents come and stay with us at our new house and stuff, so yeah. It was never feuding."

"It took them time, which is fair enough," she added.

"They're from a different culture, but all worked out in the end, which I think is a good message."

Wilson and Agruma, the founder of a sustainable clothing brand, went public with their romance in June 2022, with the 'Senior Year' star posting a cozy selfie of the couple on Instagram.

"I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince a but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess #loveislove," she wrote in the caption.

Recently chatted with Wilson and her 'Pitch Perfect' costar Anna Kendrick on the set of their commercials for Splash Refresher, where Kendrick, 39, told her friend, "It's very punk rock that you have a wife."

"But then I'm like, 'You're a wife. What the f---?'" she joked in addition.

"Yeah, I know, itas crazy," agreed Wilson.

"My life has definitely changed a lot in the last three years. It just went (in) a totally different direction, which I feel very grateful for. I'm very lucky."
New Delhi, May 9 : India will put forward the country's position at a board meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington on Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in response to a query on New Delhi asking for a review of loans to Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Misri said on Thursday that India's executive director at the IMF will put forward the country's position during the meeting of the board of the global financial body.

"I'm sure that our executive director will put forward India's position," he added at a media briefing.

"The decisions of the board are a different matter... But I think the case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those people who generously open their pockets to bail out this country," he said.

Foreign Secretary Misri noted that many of the 24 bailout packages sanctioned by the IMF for Pakistan had not reached a successful conclusion.

Parameswaran Iyer, Executive Director at the World Bank, is currently handling this responsibility after the government removed K.V. Subramanian as the IMF Executive Director.

Pakistan has received several bailout packages from the IMF over the past 10 years. For instance, the Fund approved a $7 billion loan in September 2024 to be disbursed over the years. Of this $7 billion, $1 billion has already been disbursed.

Besides, a $1.3 billion climate change-related loan to Pakistan was approved by the IMF in March 2025.

IMF loans are conditional and require loanee countries to structurally reform their economies.

Foreign Secretary Misri did not hold back in his criticism of Pakistan's use of IMF funds, alleging that the financial support is indirectly enabling Pakistan to fund its military intelligence operations, including groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

"Pakistan's reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances... I don't need to remind where Osama Bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr," he said.

He also pointed to the large number of terrorists, including those sanctioned by the UN, who continue to operate within Pakistan's borders.

Foreign Secretary Misri's statement follows mounting concerns that financial support to Pakistan might be used to fuel its ongoing cross-border terrorism activities, particularly against India.

Pakistan, currently facing a severe economic crisis, is highly reliant on IMF support through its Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

The IMF's review on May 9 will determine whether Pakistan meets the necessary conditions to unlock the next tranche of funding. However, the timing of the review is particularly sensitive, coming just days after India's "Operation Sindoor," which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

This development has added weight to India's calls for a reassessment of Pakistan's financial assistance.

The recent escalation between India and Pakistan was sparked by the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir on April 22.

Foreign Secretary Misri noted that this attack marked the beginning of rising tensions between the two nations.

Despite Pakistan's denial, Foreign Secretary Misri said that the terror group responsible, The Resistance Front (TRF), had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.

He also highlighted that Pakistan had objected to the mention of TRF in a UN Security Council statement on the attack, underscoring the ongoing cover-up by Pakistan's authorities regarding their support for terror groups.

"Our approach is not to escalate the situation; we only responded to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack," Foreign Secretary Misri asserted.

Pakistan's longstanding support for terrorist organisations like LeT and JeM remains a significant point of contention between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Misri reiterated that Pakistan's actions have destabilised the region, contributing to global terrorism.

He also reminded the international community of Pakistan's role in harbouring terrorists who have been responsible for high-profile attacks across the globe.

In his remarks, Foreign Secretary Misri mentioned that both Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and former Foreign Minister had recently admitted to their country's involvement with terrorist groups, further confirming India's position on the matter.

Military tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, with both nations continuing to target each other's military sites.

During a joint press briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and security forces, Colonel Sofia Qureshi of the Indian Army confirmed that Pakistan had targeted multiple military sites in northern and western India on the night of May 7 and May 8.

The Foreign Secretary's comments came amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan since New Delhi's military strikes on Wednesday against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Civil Aviation Ministry has said that 24 airports across the country have been temporarily closed for civil flight operations as of Thursday evening amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which soared further after a Pakistani drone and missile attack on Indian cities in Jammu, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

In response to the elevated threat level, several Indian airlines have issued travel advisories, urging passengers to plan accordingly and cooperate with the enhanced security checks.

The Ministry did not specify the duration of the closures or the reasons behind the move.

The closures are part of a broader security protocol, with several of the affected airports located close to the international border or in strategically significant areas.

The grounding of civil flights is expected to impact connectivity in northern and western India, and travellers have been urged to check with airlines before heading to the airport.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has advised all airlines and airports in the country to strengthen security measures.

All passengers will go through a Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC), often known as pre-boarding inspections, at all airports.

Vehicles will be carefully examined at all airport terminals, IDs will be checked before admittance, and passenger luggage will be scrutinised at random. Visitor entry to terminal buildings has been prohibited. Air Marshals will be deployed accordingly.

"In view of the recent attack in Pahalgam and subsequent surcharged security scenario, it is necessary to enhance security measures at all the civil aviation installations like airports, airstrips, airfields, air force stations, helipads, flying schools, and aviation training institutes so that no untoward incident takes place in the country. Accordingly, utmost precautions need to be taken by all the stakeholders," BCAS said in its order.

Air India said, "Due to an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security regarding enhanced security measures at airports, passengers across the country are encouraged to allow extra time for check-in and boarding. Check-in will close 75 minutes before departure."

Akasa Air posted a similar notice on X, saying, "Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, passengers are advised to arrive at least three hours prior to their departure. This is to ensure a smooth check-in and boarding process."

"Passengers must carry valid government-approved photo ID for airport entry. In addition to checked baggage, only one handbag weighing up to 7 kg will be permitted. All passengers will be required to undergo secondary security checks before boarding."

IndiGo, India's largest airline, also issued a statement, "During these extraordinary times, heightened security measures are being implemented at all airports. Travellers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys to accommodate security checks and formalities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation."

With the current geopolitical climate remaining unpredictable, aviation officials and airline staff are working in coordination with national security agencies to manage operations and keep passengers safe.

Due to increased tensions with Pakistan, Indian airlines suspended aircraft operations at more than two dozen airports in the country's northern and western regions this week.

Many states have also imposed school closures, border district blackouts, and a suspension of leave for police officers and administrators.

"Pakistan pushed the situation, and we just retaliated. The choice is with Pakistan. Our approach is not to escalate the situation; we only responded to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a briefing on Thursday evening.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 9 : Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, India has shot down Pakistan Air Force's F-16 as well as two JF-17 aircraft after Pakistan tried to attack multiple locations in Jammu and Punjab, government sources said.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan made attempts to target several locations in India; however, Indian air defence guns shot down the intruding drones.

India also shot down Pakistan's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) inside its Punjab province, sources said, adding that it fell on their side.

Meanwhile, drone attacks have also been foiled in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur and Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, and a drone was shot down in Akhnoor.

Two Kamikaze drones were also shot down in Poonch.

According to sources, the Indian SAM (Surface-to-air missile) shot down the F-16 fighter jet near the Sargodha air base.

Notably, F-16 is one of Pakistan's main fighter jets that it procured from the US. Along with it, the JF-17 is another crucial fighter aircraft. The F-16 fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, were given to Pakistan in the late 1980s. These jets were also used by the Pakistan Air Force after India's Balakot air strikes in 2019.

Earlier, Pakistan also attempted a missile strike in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer region late on Thursday, prompting a swift response from India's air defence systems.

The air defence systems in the region have been fully activated to intercept and neutralise incoming threats. More than 70 missiles have been destroyed mid-air, preventing any damage to ground targets, sources said.

In a major escalation, Pakistan simultaneously attacked several locations in Jammu, including the airport. Rockets were fired at Jammu from across the International Border on Thursday night.

One of the drones hit the Jammu Civil Airport, prompting fighter jets to scramble in response. India activated its air defence systems, which successfully intercepted the incoming rockets.

Pakistani troops have also resorted to unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Samba, and Uri districts of Jammu and Kashmir late on Thursday evening.

Eight Pakistani missiles were intercepted by the S-400 air defence system over Jammu airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and nearby areas. Two Pakistani drones were downed near Jammu University.

The Integrated Defence Staff in a statement said, "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu and Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per standard operating procedure with kinetic and non-kinetic means."

The escalation by Pakistan followed less than 48 hours after India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
New Delhi, May 9 : Several videos being circulated on the social media platform X claiming to show attacks by Pakistani forces have been debunked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). In the latest, videos claiming to show Pakistani attacks on Hazira Port in Gujarat and a drone attack in Jalandhar have been termed fraudulent.

PIB said the video is an unrelated video "confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion".

The video is dated July 7, 2021, said PIB on its Fact Check handle on X.

The footage actually captures an oil tanker explosion that occurred on July 7, 2021, and Pakistan is falsely propagating it as its attack on the port.

PIB fact-checkers confirmed that the video in question is not related to the ongoing military situation.

The video gained traction on social media, being reposted by several unauthenticated accounts, and claimed to show an explosion and destruction allegedly caused by a Pakistani strike. But the misleading content was promptly flagged by PIB's fact-checking team, which is actively monitoring online narratives surrounding the conflict.

The PIB's fact-checking unit, early Friday morning, swiftly debunked another widely circulating video on social media claiming to show the aftermath of a drone attack in Jalandhar. In a post on X, PIB fact-check clarified that the video is unrelated and depicts a farm fire.

PIB's tweet stated, "Drone Attack in Jalandhar. This drone strike video from #Jalandhar is widely circulating on social media#PIBFactCheck This is an unrelated video of a farm fire. The video has the time 7:39 PM, while the drone attack began later."

After India launched its most expansive cross-border strikes on terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan, a flood of misinformation and false propaganda is being peddled from across the border by its influencers, media, as well as government-sponsored social media handles.

Several such videos have already been exposed by the team of the PIB since India's military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir began on May 7.

PIB has urged citizens to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it online.

"In times of heightened national security, misinformation can lead to unnecessary panic and confusion. Always rely on official sources for updates," a PIB spokesperson stated.

The government has reiterated that disinformation campaigns, especially those involving doctored or unrelated media, pose a threat not only to public understanding but also to national morale.

The government officials have repeatedly told social media users that spreading false information, knowingly or unknowingly, may invite legal consequences under India's cyber laws.

As 'Operation Sindoor' continues to unfold further with Indian Air Force strikes against Pakistan's air defence system, the PIB and the Indian Armed Forces continue to stress the importance of verified information.
#KSFU.S. support is crucial not only for Ukraine but also to ensure that its neighboring countries remain free from foreign interference and aggression, Congressman Mike Lawler stated.

In a video message delivered during the 17th Annual Kyiv Security Forum, "UA: Unite Again to Defeat the Global Aggressor," hosted by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation "Open Ukraine," Lawler emphasized that the United States must continue to stand firmly for regional security.

"When we stand with Ukraine, we are not only defending Ukraine but we're also safeguarding Moldova and other frontline democracies from foreign aggressors. Moldova much like Ukraine has faced significant pressure from bad actors trying to destabilize its sovereignty and progress. Our support is crucial to ensure that these nations remain free from foreign interference and aggression," he said.

The congressman stressed that strengthening the transatlantic partnership is more than a diplomatic gesture  it entails concrete action to deepen cooperation in security, expand economic ties, and push back against aggressors whose goal is to undermine democracies in Eastern Europe.

He believes that strategic investments in energy infrastructure, cybersecurity, and rare earth minerals not only help deter foreign influence but also enhance American security and global supply chains resilience.

Lawler added that the U.S. must be at a forefront of holding these resources developed and protected.

"For example, the recently signed U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement is a critical step in securing access to vital resources that strengthen global supply chains, create jobs, and reinforce regional stability. This agreement is part of a broader effort to ensure that foreign advisory do not gain a foothold in this vital region. Our commitment to the region is not just about assistance it is about securing American interests, protecting sovereignty, and fostering long-term stability, with our European allies," Lawler concluded.
New Delhi, May 9 : In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Mohibbullah Nadvi on Friday lauded the Indian Armed Forces for their strong and decisive response to Pakistan's aggression following Operation Sindoor.

The Indian forces responded to unprovoked attacks from Pakistan firmly, gaining widespread support and admiration from across the nation. Terming the response as a "moment of pride for the entire nation", Nadvi emphasised the bravery and unity of the Indian people.

Speaking to IANS, Nadvi said, "It is a moment of pride for the whole country. We are all proud of our military, which is courageously giving a befitting reply to the enemy. Today, the entire nation stands united. Clearly, such action should have been taken a long time ago in response to Pakistan's shameful behaviour. Though delayed, this step was necessary."

He strongly remarked that India would not rest until Pakistan's terror infrastructure is dismantled completely.

"Until the terror factories in Pakistan are completely shut down, and until our armed forces achieve their objectives, we must remain firm. Today, we are proud that all political parties, all religions, and every Indian citizen are standing together. We salute the bravery of our soldiers," he added.

Nadvias remarks come at a time when international concern is mounting over the possibility of an escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Addressing comments made by US Vice President J.D. Vance, who expressed hope that a nuclear war would be avoided, Nadvi responded firmly.

"Of course, no one wants a nuclear war. But for over 50 years, India has endured pain in Kashmir that no one else, not even the US, Russia, or any global power, can truly understand. We have warned Pakistan many times to abandon its path of terrorism. They did not listen, and now they are facing the consequences of their actions," Nadvi stated.

As tensions continue to rise, calls for international intervention to pressure Pakistan into dismantling terror networks have intensified.
Chhatarpur/Mandsaur, May 9 : In the heartlands of Madhya Pradesh, where life often flows with quiet resilience, a government scheme is silently scripting stories of hope, security, and survival. The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) -- a life insurance initiative launched by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ten years ago (May 9, 2015) -- has emerged as a safety net for thousands of families in districts like Chhatarpur and Mandsaur.

An annual premium of just Rs 436 is required to be paid for this scheme. With the modest amount annually, PMJJBY offers a life cover of Rs 2 lakh to beneficiaries between the ages of 18 and 50. The amount is small at a time when private insurance companies charge high premiums. However, the scheme with a modest amount can mean the difference between despair and dignity after a tragedy for families in rural India.

Chhatarpur: Insurance with impact

For the people of Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, PMJJBY isn't just a policy -- it's a promise. Across several districts, 234 death claim cases were settled under this scheme in the financial year 2024-25. A total amount of Rs 4.68 crore was disbursed to grieving families.

The State Bank of India (SBI) topped the list, handling 135 claims and disbursing Rs 2.70 crore, followed by Madhyanchal Gramin Bank with 73 claims and Rs 1.46 crore.

Other banks like Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sindh Bank, and Union Bank also played their roles in honouring claims, each contributing to a larger tapestry of support.

For beneficiaries like Nir Ahirwar, Wali Mohammad, and Sitaram Sahu, this scheme was not just about financial aid -- it was about dignity in death and support in sorrow.

"We never imagined something so small could turn into something so meaningful," said one beneficiary talking to IANS, tears welling up with a mix of grief and gratitude.

They explained how the scheme provided timely support during their darkest hours. Nir Ahirwar, who lost his wife and was left with young children to care for, received Rs 2 lakh through the PMJJBY claim without any hassle. Similarly, Sitaram Sahu, mourning the loss of his mother, was informed by officials that he was eligible for the Rs 2 lakh insurance payout under the scheme -- a relief that came when it was most needed. Wali Mohammad, still grieving the heartbreaking loss of his son, shared that Rs 2 lakh received under the PMJJBY scheme brought some financial relief during an emotionally and economically difficult time.

Mandsaur: A shield in the agricultural heartland

Hundreds of kilometres away in Mandsaur, another tale unfolds. Known for its agrarian roots and modest livelihoods, this district found in PMJJBY an unlikely hero.

"Earlier, if someone in the family passed away suddenly, arranging for last rites felt like a mountain. We had to borrow money just to get through those tough days," recalls Nirmala Gupta, a local resident. "Now, we have a sense of security. It's not just Rs 2 lakh -- it's peace of mind."

Residents like Aarti Dave, Santosh Parsai, Mukta Mehta, and Anil Gupta have taken this plan. They see it not just as a policy, but as a "Modi Guarantee" -- a phrase now fondly used in many rural households to describe impactful government schemes.

Ashish Srivastava, who is the postmaster at Mandsaur Head Post Office, stressed the importance of the scheme, saying: "It's one of the most effective and inclusive plans for the poor and middle-class families. I urge everyone to opt in. It's not just insurance -- it's a shield."

What sets PMJJBY apart isn't just its affordability, but its accessibility and reliability. Any citizen with a savings account -- whether in a nationalised bank or a humble post office -- can enrol. The yearly premium is automatically debited, often going unnoticed, until a moment of crisis arrives -- and with it, the quiet comfort of support.

As India continues its journey towards financial inclusion and social security, stories from Chhatarpur and Mandsaur serve as powerful reminders: sometimes the simplest policies carry the deepest impact.
Mumbai, May 9 : Actress Celina Jaitly, who is based in Austria, said that her heart is restless, caught between time zones and headlines. She honours the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces and stands in solidarity with civilians affected, reaffirming faith in the strength and soul of India.

Celina took to Instagram, where she posted a note, which read: "In Austria, but wide awake. Sleep feels like a luxury tonight because peace is under attack back home. My heart is restless, caught between time zones and headlines."

"I may be far, but my spirit stands with India."

The actress, who is the daughter of a late war veteran, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Armed Forces for their silent sacrifices and steadfast courage.

She wrote: "To our brave Indian Armed Forces: Thank you for being the shield between us and chaos. Your courage isn't just in combat it's in every silent sacrifice, every cold night, every unwavering step you take to protect our nation. We are here, safe and breathing, because you stand unshaken."

Celina said she stands in solidarity with affected civilians, acknowledging their pain and honouring their resilience.

"To every civilian affected: Your pain is not invisible. Your strength is not forgotten. In the face of fear and loss, you are showing the world what unity, dignity, and resilience truly mean. We mourn with you, we stand with you, and we will rise with you. Peace is not just a word, it's our right. And no attack can break the soul of Bharat. Jai Hind," she added.

Tensions between Indian and Pakistan have escalated after India's launch of Operation Sindoor -- a series of focused and precise strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)  in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
New Delhi, May 9 : India and Chile have signed the terms of reference (ToR) for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), marking a significant advancement in their bilateral trade relations, the government said on Friday.

The mutually-agreed ToR were signed by Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile in India and Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary in Department of Commerce, who is also the Chief Negotiator for India-Chile CEPA from the Indian side.

Both sides reiterated their shared vision for strengthening bilateral relations and look forward to fruitful discussion during the first round scheduled in the national capital from May 26-30.

According to the Commerce Ministry, the CEPA aims to build upon the existing PTA (preferential trade agreement) between the two nations and seeks to encompass a broader range of sectors, including digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, MSME and critical minerals, etc. thereby enhancing economic integration and cooperation.

India and Chile are strategic partners and close allies, sharing warm and cordial relations.

Bilateral ties have steadily strengthened over the years with the exchange of high-level visits. A Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation was signed between the two countries in January, 2005, followed by PTA in March, 2006.

Since then, economic and commercial relations between India and Chile have remained robust and continue to grow.

According to the ministry, an expanded PTA was subsequently signed in September 2016 and became effective from May 16, 2017.

In April 2019, both countries agreed to pursue a further expansion of the PTA with three rounds of negotiations between the years during 2019-2021. To deepen their economic engagement, both sides expressed their intention to negotiate a CEPA to unlock the full potential of their trade and commercial relationship, boosting employment, facilitating investment promotion, and cooperation and exports, as suggested by the Joint Study Group established under the Framework Agreement.

The JSG report was finalised and signed on April 30, 2024.

a"IANS

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Guwahati, May 9 : Amid tensions between India and Pakistan, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday appealed for the cancellation of Bihu festival celebrations in the state

"Over the past month, we have joyfully celebrated Bihu across Assam through numerous cultural events. I sincerely thank everyone for their enthusiastic participation and contributions. However, the time has now come to conclude this festive season. I humbly appeal that all remaining Bihu functions scheduled from 10th May onwards be kindly cancelled. Let us bring this vibrant celebration to a graceful close, with the same unity and spirit in which it was celebrated," CM Sarma said.

Rongali Bihu is celebrated with music, dance, and community gatherings across the state as it marks the Assamese New Year.

This is the first time that a Chief Minister in Assam has made such an appeal.

Meanwhile, on the western border of the country, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions on the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, which were successfully thwarted by the Indian Armed Forces.

Pakistani troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVS, the Indian Army said in a statement.

Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force, the Indian Army added.

India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan military's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations. New Delhi's retaliation not only destroyed drones and missiles but also shot down Islamabad's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, marking a significant blow to Pakistan's air surveillance and battlefield coordination capabilities.

In a post on X, the HQ IDS said: "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per standard operating procedure with kinetic and non-kinetic means."
Chennai, May 9 : In the wake of tensions escalating between India and Pakistan, Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan has pointed out that questions must be asked to the nation that was sending terror across borders and not to the nation that was only retaliating.

Taking to his Instagram timeline, the actor posted a story in which he said, "A nation's right to defend itself against terror should not be misunderstood as a thirst for war. Those who support a strong response are not warmongers, they are citizens who value security & justice."

The actor pointed out, "There is a profound moral difference between unprovoked aggression and necessary defence. When innocent lives are lost in a deliberate act of terror, a measured response becomes a responsibility, not a choice.

"Seeking peace does not mean accepting harm in silence. Don't question the nation that retaliates. Question the one that sends terror across borders."

The actor's observations came even as the conflict between India and Pakistan escalated with Pakistani forces launching multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border of India on the intervening night of May 8 and May 9. Pakistan's troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed by the Indian Armed Forces, which gave a befitting reply to the enemy.

On the work front, Unni Mukundan, who is basking in the success of a string of superhits including the Malayalam action entertainer 'Marco' and the Tamil action drama 'Garudan', recently announced that he was to turn a director soon and that his first film would be a superhero film.

The actor also disclosed that the film was to be produced by Sree Gokulam Movies' Gokulam Gopalan and that it would be co-produced by V C Praveen and Baiju Gopalan, Unni said the film's script will be by Maverick Midhun Manuel Thomas. Moreover, it will have Krishnettan as its executive producer.

Stating that he would start working on this superhero film of his after he finishes his commitments in Telugu, Unni Mukundan has said that pre-production work for the film was currently on and that shooting would begin next year.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bhopal, May 9 : Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, the Madhya Pradesh government has cancelled all leaves of police personnel across the state.

A notification issued by the Madhya Pradesh Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Friday morning stated: "All leaves for police personnel in the state have been cancelled."

The PHQ has also alerted all district Superintendents of Police (SPs), instructing them to ensure readiness for any emergency situation.

Director General of Police Kailash Makwana is scheduled to hold a video conference with all SPs later on Friday to review internal security and establish specific guidelines.

District-level patrolling has been intensified, and police personnel have been directed to conduct awareness drives in villages.

Cyber police are actively monitoring online platforms to curb misinformation and false narratives.

In Indore, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain law and order.

Indore Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh has prohibited all public gatherings -- including religious, political, and social events -- without prior permission from the competent authority.

Possession of arms, ammunition, or explosive materials is banned in public and private spaces, including during events such as processions, protests, religious ceremonies, and weddings. The order also forbids keeping any item that may pose a threat to public safety.

Violators will face action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The prohibitory order will remain in effect until July 4.

Following a mock drill on Wednesday, the police are fully prepared in Madhya Pradesh for any eventuality.

Leaves of police personnel have also been cancelled in other states, including Punjab and Haryana. Border states have been specifically asked to be on heightened alert given the escalating tension with Pakistan.
Mumbai, May 9 : India's warehousing sector recorded leasing of 16.7 million square feet in the January-March quarter, marking a significant 50 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase, a report showed on Friday.

There was a strong performance in warehousing leasing across the top eight markets during Q1 2025, primarily driven by the manufacturing sector, which recorded a remarkable 94 per cent surge in leasing volumes, reaching 8 million sq ft in the first quarter, said the report by Knight Frank India.

Manufacturing companies accounted for 48 per cent of total warehousing demand, underscoring the sector's continued momentum and long-term investment outlook.

E-commerce players also registered a notable resurgence, with a 151 per cent increase in space uptake  albeit from a lower base  indicating renewed expansion activity.

While third-party logistics (3PL) players saw a 12 per cent increase in leasing volumes, their overall share declined to 23 per cent, reflecting a shift in sectoral dynamics.

Mumbai led with 27 per cent of total transacted volumes at 4.4 mn sq ft, followed by Pune, Chennai, and NCR, each contributing approximately 1617 per cent of the same.

The manufacturing sector was the primary driver in Pune and Chennai while 3PL companies spurred market volumes in the NCR. The Chennai and Hyderabad markets saw the most volume growth at 154 per cent and 137 per cent, respectively, the report mentioned.

"The Indian warehousing market has demonstrated sustained momentum in Q1 2025, despite global supply chains being impacted by the new tariff environment. The China+1 strategy increasingly adopted by global businesses along with the government's focus on 'Make in India' continues to propel the country's manufacturing sector," said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.

The e-commerce sector is also showing promising signs of recovery, and its trajectory in 2025 will be a key trend to watch.

"As infrastructure and policy support continue to grow, India is poised to strengthen its position as a logistics and industrial powerhouse," he added.

Demand for Grade A warehousing facilities remained firm in Q1 2025, accounting for 59 per cent of all transactions.

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 : In the view of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, especially in the northern parts of the country, the Kerala government has opened two control rooms for the benefit of a large number of Malayalees in those areas and for those who wish to know any information about their near and dear ones.

In a statement issued from the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday, it said all those who are presently in and around the areas of the escalating tensions, if they need any help they can feel free to contact any of the control rooms that have started functioning.

One of the control rooms is functioning at the State Secretariat complex, and the contact numbers include 0471-2517500/2517600. Fax 0471 -2322600, email: cdmkerala@kerala.gov.in

The other one that has been opened is at the Norka Global Contact Centre in the state capital city- 00918802012345 (to give a missed call from outside India and a toll-free number 18004253939.

Incidentally, there are a large number of Kerala students presently studying, besides numerous Keralaites who work in these areas.

Anyone desirous of knowing any information can contact these numbers, it said.

The statement from CM Vijayan's office said there is no need to panic, and all those in such areas need to follow the government's directions from time to time.

In Kerala, security has increased in certain areas, as the state has a huge coastline besides numerous organisations of national importance.

Kerala is the headquarters of the Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram and the Southern Naval Command at Kochi.

State Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak is in constant touch with New Delhi, which is relaying all the necessary information and on the way forward at a time when the tension between India and Pakistan is increasing.
Mumbai, May 9 : Actress Ayesha Jhulka, who was raised in an Army family, has said that she is proud of her father, Wing Commander Inder Kumar Jhulka, and expressed her gratitude to the unwavering courage of the Indian Armed Forces.

Ayesha took to Instagram, where she shared a monochrome picture of her father on duty and wrote: "Proud of my Dad Our Armed Forces - Brave at heart, they stand so tall, Guarding borders, answering the call. In every storm, they never sway, Our heroes in olive, night and day."

Escalation followed India's launch of Operation Sindoor -- a series of focused and precise strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)  in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

Born in Srinagar, Ayesha, she is the daughter of Wing Commander Inder Kumar, is a retired Air Force officer. Her mother Sneh Jhulka, is a costume designer who has worked in films such as Dalaal and Vishwavidhata.

In a career spanning over three decades, Ayesha she has worked in over 60 films, which includes films such as "Kurbaan", "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar", "Khiladi", "Dalaal", "Balmaa", "Waqt Hamara Hai", "Rang", Sangram, Jai Kishen, Masoom and Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya.

After a hiatus, she went onto work in films like - Socha Na Tha, Umrao Jaan, Ada... A Way of Life and Genius. In 2022, she made her web debut with Hush Hush and has since appeared in Happy Family: Conditions Apply.

Her latest work includes "Celebrity MasterChef" , a spin-off of the series MasterChef India  Hindi, featuring celebrity contestants. Ranveer Brar and Vikas Khanna reprised their roles as judges from the original series, while Farah Khan joined as the first ever host on the MasterChef India  Hindi, also being the co-judge.

The first season was won by Gaurav Khanna, with Nikki Tamboli finishing second, and Tejasswi Prakash placing third. Ayesha was eliminated on the fourth week of the show.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, foreign ministers of the European Union countries, European commissioners and diplomats arrived in Lviv, where they took part in a ceremony honoring the memory of defenders who fell for Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war on Friday, said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, who also took part in the event.

"Today, together with foreign friends and partners in Lviv. On the Field of Mars, we honored the memory of the defenders who fell for Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Ukraine and Europe are eternally indebted to those who gave their lives for peace and security throughout the continent. Eternal glory to the Heroes!" Shmyhal wrote on Telegram on Friday, illustrating the message with photos of the event.

On May 9, Ukraine and EU countries celebrate Europe Day as a sign of peace and unity in this part of the world.
Seoul, May 9 : A group of experts in South Korea on Friday proposed gradually raising to 70 from the current 65 the age threshold for senior citizens, a move aimed at focusing resources to support those who need the most in a country that has already become a "super-aged" society.

The experts also advised the government to consider extending the retirement age after raising the age limit for senior citizens to 70 by 2035, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The age of 65 as the definition of a senior citizen has remained unchanged for 44 years since 1981, despite significant societal shifts," the experts said in a joint statement.

"South Korea is expected to face accelerating demographic challenges, including low birth rates and rapid aging," they added.

"To prevent income disruption, opportunities for older adults to participate in the labour market should be expanded based on their capabilities and needs."

The number of people aged 65 years or older had reached over 10.24 million, or 20 per cent of the country's total population of 51.22 million, as of late 2024, making South Korea a rare "super-aged" society, government data showed earlier.

The UN classifies countries where more than 7 per cent of the population aged 65 or older as an ageing society, those with over 14 per cent as an aged society, and those with more than 20 per cent as a super-aged society.

The steady rise in the number of senior citizens, coupled with a sharp decline in the country's birth rate over the years to one of the world's lowest, has placed an increasing financial burden on the country.

In March, the National Assembly approved a government-proposed reform of the country's national pension system to require young and new subscribers to pay more but receive less, possibly pushing back the depletion date for the pension program by up to nine years from the earlier expected 2055.
Kolkata, May 9 : Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the Security Control Organisation (SCO) has identified four members of a family residing in Kolkata who were found to have both Indian and Bangladeshi passports.

According to sources familiar with the development, FIRs have been registered against all four individuals at a Kolkata police station, and they have been detained for questioning.

The four have been identified as Vijay Modi, his wife Kasaulya Modi, and their sons, Dilip Modi and Asish Modi.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the family initially entered India on valid Bangladeshi visas and settled in the Palm Avenue area of South Kolkata. However, they continued to stay on even after their visas expired.

During this period, they allegedly acquired forged Indian identity documents -- starting with Aadhaar and voter ID cards -- and subsequently obtained Indian passports using those credentials.

The SCO began probing the matter after noticing that the family had not returned to Bangladesh despite their visas expiring. The investigation revealed that they had continued to live in Kolkata, falsely claiming Indian citizenship based on forged documentation.

In a related development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently arrested Azad Mullick, a Pakistani national who had also been living in Kolkata using forged Indian documents.

He is accused of running a hawala racket and being involved in a network that facilitates the procurement of fake Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Investigators say that Azad, originally named Azad Husain in Pakistan, first obtained Bangladeshi citizenship using forged papers, after which he illegally entered India and obtained Indian identity documents under the name Azad Mullick. His Bangladeshi identity was established under the name Ahammed Husain Azad.

During his arrest, officials seized two fake voter ID cards, multiple forged driving licenses, and four fabricated birth certificates. The ED has also frozen a bank account in his name, which held a balance of Rs 2.62 crore.
New Delhi, May 9 : India ODI captain Rohit Sharma praised the armed forces for standing tall at the frontline and urged the citizens to refrain from spreading or believing any fake news amid the escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan.

On Thursday, Pakistan launched aerial attacks on Jammu as well as several military stations near the western border but those were successfully foiled by Indiaas air defence systems.

Several sportspersons took to social media to express support for the Indian armed forces for thwarting the attacks and Rohit is the latest to join the nationwide tribute to the Indian armed forces.

Taking to X, Rohit wrote, "With every passing moment, with every decision taken, I feel extremely proud of our Indian Army, Indian Airforce & Indian Navy. Our warriors are standing tall for our nationas pride. Itas important for every Indian to be responsible and refrain from spreading or believing any fake news. Stay safe, everyone!"

The attempted strike, involving drones and missiles, triggered blackouts and sirens across several areas in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. The attacks seem to be in retaliation for 'Operation Sindoor' by Indian armed forces on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, from where the attack on tourists in Pahalgam was planned which killed 26 tourists -- 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala was also called off as a precautionary measure due to blackouts in many areas of the country.

A special train has been arranged to evacuate both team players and support staff members, match officials, commentators, broadcast crew members and other key personnel associated with the match to get them to a safe place.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, May 9 : The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents 90 million traders, on Friday said the country's entire trading community stands firmly with the government and the armed forces under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid the ongoing tensions with Pakistan.

Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT Secretary General and Member of Parliament from Delhi's Chandni Chowk, said, "Just as our brave soldiers are guarding the borders, the traders of the nation are determined to act as soldiers on the economic front, ensuring that the country's supply chain remains uninterrupted under all circumstances."

Khandelwal said the Indian armed forces have responded to Pakistan's nefarious actions with exemplary courage and strength, which is a matter of immense pride for the nation. The current situation is akin to a state of war, and every citizen is standing in full solidarity with the government to ensure that Pakistan is taught a strong and lasting lesson.

He further clarified that there is no shortage of foodgrains or other essential items in the country. All commodities are abundantly available in the markets, and the government has adequate reserves. Therefore, no citizen needs to hoard or stockpile goods. Just like during the COVID period, traders will not only maintain the supply chain but, if needed, also ensure delivery of essentials to people's doorsteps.

Khandelwal assured that CAIT traders will strictly follow all government advisories and will not allow any room for panic, rumours, or unrest under any circumstances.

Appealing to the traders, he said that patriotism is not only about emotions but also about discipline, patience, and faith in the government and armed forces. The authorities are vigilantly monitoring the situation and taking all necessary actions. At such a time, the trading community must act in an organised and responsible manner in the national interest.

CAIT has urged all traders to refrain from taking any market-related decisions independently and instead wait for official government guidance. This is the time to demonstrate unity, prudence, and patriotic commitment in service to the nation.

"Devotion to the motherland is not just an emotion -- it is a responsibility. And this responsibility will be fulfilled with full discipline and dedication by over 90 million traders across the country," Khandelwal added.
Mumbai, May 9 : Actress Mohak Matkar described her debut show "Saru" as a powerful reflection of resilience and conviction.

Mumbai, May 9 (IANS) Actress Mohak Matkar described her debut show "Saru" as a powerful reflection of resilience and conviction.

In Zee TV's new fiction show, Mohak plays the titular role of Sarua meticulous, confident, and independent young woman deeply rooted in her values. Speaking about her role, Matkar shared, "Mohak Matkar said, "Saru holds a special place in my heart as it is my first lead role and I must highlight that the very first day when I read the script of the show, I knew that this was a story I wanted to be part of! Saru is not just a show or a charactershe's a symbol of resilience and conviction. I am beyond grateful to Zee TV for trusting me with such a powerful role and I feel incredibly proud to bring her story to life. I now hope I can inspire others to find their voice too through Saru and her testing journey."

The upcoming show also stars Shagun Pandey and Anushka Merchande.

Shagun, who essays the male lead role of Ved Birla, a lecturer in college, shared, "Saru is a show that speaks volumes about chasing dreams despite resistance, and I hope the audiences love the story as much as we do. It is a show that truly defines me as a person too, and I am glad to be a part of it. My character of Ved will be a refreshing surprise for audiences as it is unlike any character I've played and it truly helps me showcase my acting abilities like never before. I was drawn to his unwavering commitment to doing what is right and I am looking forward to sharing his story with the audience."

Mangesh Kulkarni, Chief Channel Officer, Zee TV, stated, "This show delves into the emotional journey of stepping beyond one's comfort zone and explores complex character dynamics. Collaborating with the visionary duo, Shashi and Sumeet Mittal, we aim to deliver a story that reflects the diverse tapestry of our content and connects with audiences across generations."

"Saru" unfolds the inspiring tale of a spirited young woman from Khares village in Rajasthan who dares to dream beyond the boundaries set by her surroundings. At the heart of the narrative is Saru's unwavering determination to pursue higher educationan ambition not easily embraced in her conservative community. Faced with limited resources and a cautious mother reluctant to let her leave home, Saru makes the life-changing decision to move to Mumbai for college.

Produced by Shashi Sumeet Productions Pvt. Ltd, "Saru" will premiere on May 12, 2025, and will air daily on Zee TV.
Bengaluru, May 9 : Ramesh N. R., senior BJP leader and former President of the BJP Bengaluru South District Unit, has urged Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara and Director General of Police Alok Mohan to take immediate action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants allegedly residing in Bengaluru and other areas of the state using fake documents.

Ramesh claimed that for over 13 years, more than 50,000 Bangladeshi nationals have been illegally staying in areas under the Mahadevapura, K.R. Puram, and Bengaluru South Assembly constituencies, including localities such as Marathahalli Junction, K.R. Puram Lake, Jakkasandra Junction, Kundalahalli Gate, Munnekolalu, Kadubeesanahalli, Devarabeesanahalli, Hulimavu, and Chikka Begur.

He alleged that these individuals have acquired ration cards, voter ID cards, and Aadhaar cards through illegal means, aided by local agents and corrupt officials.

Ramesh referred to previous complaints filed in 2013-14 and 2015-16 with documentary evidence, and claimed a recent sting operation revealed how infiltrators entered the country and secured forged documents.

According to Ramesh, many of these individuals work as ragpickers and security guards in malls, multiplexes, and residential complexes in eastern Bengaluru.

He further alleged that they are also employed in coffee estates in Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, often at wages lower than the legal minimum, which he said encourages "anti-national" actors to exploit them for profit.

He accused certain revenue officers, assistant revenue officers, revenue inspectors, and tax inspectors in these areas of issuing voter ID cards without proper verification in exchange for bribes. He also alleged that private agencies issuing Aadhaar cards were complicit.

Ramesh warned that the scale of illegal immigration could even influence BBMP elections, stating, "It would not be surprising if one or two infiltrators are elected as corporators."

He demanded strict legal action against both the infiltrators and those who facilitated the issuance of documents, stating that "granting Indian identity to foreign nationals for money is a grave threat to national security and an act of treason."

Ramesh urged the government to examine the documents and video evidence he has submitted and to ensure the immediate deportation of those residing illegally.
New Delhi, May 9 : Amid the escalating military conflict between India and Pakistan, the BCCI has decided to suspend the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season indefinitely in an emergency meeting on Friday, sources told IANS.

After Thursdayas IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was called off after 10.1 overs of play at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala following the air and drone strikes from Pakistan which resulted in blackouts in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, all of which are in close proximity to Dharamshala, the future of the tournament looked uncertain and BCCI convened emergency meeting to decide the way forward.

"IPL to be suspended, BCCI will issue detailed information anytime soon, the BCCI sources told IANS on Friday. "Yes, the meeting just got over. After discussing with all the concerned authorities, this decision was made. Further details will be shared by the BCCI, " it added.

"BCCI wants to stand with the nation at this time and thus suspends IPL 2025 with immediate effect. Itas indefinite at the moment (on a window to resume IPL 2025 in future). It will only happen if there will be time later in the year. But for now nothing," said IPL sources to IANS.

Following the abandonment of the Dharamshala match, several Australian players involved in the league reportedly expressed anxiety over their safety.

A special train has been arranged to evacuate both Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals players and support staff members, match officials, commentators, broadcast crew members and other key personnel associated with IPL 2025 to get them to a safe place.

After India launched precision strikes targeting nine high-value terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok), in response to the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Pakistan attempted to engage in number of military targets in Northern and Western India on May 7-8.

India on Thursday morning targeted the Air Defence Radars and systems at several locations in Pakistan, during which the one at Lahore has been neutralised.

Later, Pakistan launched aerial attacks on Jammu as well as several military stations near the western border, but those were successfully foiled by Indiaas air defence systems.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Brasilia, May 9 : The Government of Brazil, reiterating its stance on denouncing all forms of terrorism, expressed grave concern about the military actions in the Kashmir region following escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The remarks came after the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine high-value terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the dastardly April 22 terror attack, which left 26 innocent civilians dead.

"As expressed in the statement of April 23 regarding the attack in Kashmir on the previous day, the Government of Brazil reiterates its repudiation of all acts of terrorism. Brazil calls on the parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint in order to prevent an escalation of tensions," Foreign Ministry of Brazil said in a statement on Thursday.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Brazilian nationals to refrain from non-essential travel to Kashmir and adjacent regions. Itamaraty is monitoring the situation of Brazilians in the area. There are no reports of Brazilian victims," the statement added.

On Thursday, President Lula de Silva of Brazil called Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing support and solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism and conveying condolences at the loss of lives in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India.

"PM Modi thanked President Lula for his condolences. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthen India- Brazil bilateral strategic partnership. PM conveyed his best wishes for Brazil's successful Presidency of BRICS this year,"Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs posted on X.

Earlier condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack Brazil extended its support to India.

"The Government of Brazil has learned with consternation of the attack that occurred in Pahalgam, in the Kashmir region, on April 22, which caused a large number of fatalities and injuries. The Government of Brazil reiterates its repudiation of all acts of terrorism, offers its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, wishes the injured a full and swift recovery, and expresses its solidarity with the Government and the people of India," the Foreign Ministry of Brazil said in a statement.

Hostilities between India and Pakistan intensified on Thursday after Pakistan's military attempted to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and some other locations with missiles and drones, all of which were neutralised by Indian armed forces.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, and the tri-services operation was conducted jointly by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. The operation targeted infrastructure linked to terror groups responsible for the April 22 terror attack.

The Indian government said that it has exercised its right to respond to dastardly acts of terror emanating from the neighbouring nation. Operation Sindoor marks one of India's most assertive cross-border military responses since the Balakot airstrikes in 2019.
New Delhi, May 9 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, while addressing a gathering in Lucknow on the occasion of Maharana Pratap Jayanti on Friday, delivered a strong message of national unity amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Yogi Adityanath praised the armed forces and remarked that India is always a winner.

"With full integrity and responsibility, we all must boost the morale of our armed forces. We must stand firmly with our security forces. At the same time, any mischievous act that threatens our security must be exposed," CM Yogi said.

Referring to misinformation being circulated, particularly through social media, the Chief Minister warned citizens to stay vigilant.

"There will be various mischiefs, especially through social media, and attempts will be made to spread rumours. But without worrying about any of that, the entire nation must follow the guidance provided by the central leadership, especially our respected Prime Minister Modi," he stated.

Reaffirming India's strength and resolve, CM Yogi declared, "India is a winner and it will stay a winner; there's no doubt in it."

His remarks come in the wake of mounting tension at the India-Pakistan border following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

In retaliation, India launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terrorist base camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK).

The situation escalated further as Pakistan reportedly launched multiple drone and artillery attacks along the Western Border and engaged in ceasefire violations.

In response, the Indian Army released a strong statement asserting its preparedness and resolve: "Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force."

Earlier in the day, CM Yogi paid floral tributes to Maharana Pratap in Lucknow and posted on X: "On the occasion of the sacred birth anniversary of 'Hindu Surya', the great son of Mother India, national hero, Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap, paid homage to him by offering floral tribute to his statue in Lucknow today. His sacrifice and self-denial for his country and religion will always remain an inspiration for the present and future generations. Millions of salutations to his holy feet!"

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 9 : Congress leader Pawan Khera has strongly called on the Indian government to oppose any fresh financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Pakistan, citing its continued support to terrorism.

Speaking to IANS on Friday, Khera said, "We had already made this demand ten days ago, urging the Government of India to take a tough stand. A country that openly shelters terrorists should not receive funding from the IMF."

His remarks come as the IMF Executive Board prepares to review Islamabad's request for funding under a climate resilience programme, in addition to the first review of an ongoing $7 billion bailout package.

Khera added that the Congress party is demonstrating its unwavering support for India's armed forces through the 'Jai Hind Yatra', which is being held at state headquarters across the country.

"Today, on behalf of the Congress party, the 'Jai Hind Yatra' is being carried out across the country at every state headquarters. We stand firmly with our Army and armed forces. We want to demonstrate and express our full political will in support of our armed forces," he said.

India is staunchly opposed to extending financial assistance to Pakistan because of serious concerns over the neighbouring country's role in financing terrorism.

The IMF meeting comes within days of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-based terrorists, in which 26 people, mainly tourists and a Kashmiri pony operator were killed.

India will oppose Pakistan's case for availing a fresh $1.3 billion IMF loan at an Executive Board meeting of the multilateral institution to be held on Friday.

Foreign Secretary Misri confirmed that India's nominee Director on the IMF Board, Parameswaran Iyer, will participate in the upcoming IMF meeting to highlight concerns related to Pakistan as a country that funds and actively promotes terrorism as a state policy.

He said, "The case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those who generously open their pockets to bail out this country."

He urged IMF Board members to "look within and study the facts before extending further assistance."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he spoke on the phone with US President Donald Trump, both insist on a 30-day ceasefire, which should start peace talks, otherwise even tougher sanctions await Russia.

He said this on Friday in Brussels at a joint press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa.

"I had a phone conversation with the American president yesterday evening, who informed me of his plan for a 30-day ceasefire. I expressed support for that idea. The German government also believes that a ceasefire is right, is the right way to go. And Russia will now also be forced to agree to a longer ceasefire that will create the space that is needed for a real peace plan," the German Chancellor said.

According to him, both senior officials "call upon Russia to now engage in a path towards a lasting peace, and if that does not happen, we will not hesitate to increase the pressure of sanctions with our European partner and the United States."

When asked by journalists to elaborate on the conversation with Trump regarding Russia's war against Ukraine, the Chancellor pointed to "a draft communique between the member states of the European Union. It's very much identical with the proposal for the 30-day ceasefire." "It really is now up to Russia, not just today and over the weekend, but certainly in light of the ceasefire that's been announced in the context of the 9th of May. It's up to them, and I think now is the time to move on and turn the ceasefire into the start of peace negotiations," he said.

"When it comes to the number of soldiers lost on both sides, that was something that Trump was very, very aware of. He's very aware of the price, the human price being paid in terms of casualties of the armed forces and others. And so I think he needs to increase the pressure on Russia so that after this weekend, we move on to a phase where there can be serious negotiations," Merz said.

Speaking about the support of Ukraine from the European Union, he said that Europeans not only need to do more for Ukraine, but also in this aspect they must increase and organize defense capabilities.

"And we're in close contact with France, the UK, Poland, and other European partners on this as well. And the president of the European Council and I exchanged on this this morning as well. We will be working in very close cooperation with our European partners to further support Ukraine, to support Ukraine in being able to effectively defend itself and to continue exerting pressure on Russia," Merz said.
Chennai, May 9 : Keeping in view the recent developments at the country's borders, the unit of director Mani Ratnam's 'Thug Life', featuring Kamal Haasan in the lead, on Friday decided to postpone the audio launch function of the film which was originally scheduled to be held on May 16 this year.

Actor Kamal Haasan issued a statement, which he shared on his X timeline.

The eminent actor said, "Art can wait. India comes first. In view of the developments at our nation's border and the current state of heightened alert, we have decided to reschedule the audio launch of 'Thug Life', originally planned for the 16th of May."

The actor further said, "As our soldiers stand firm on the frontlines with unflinching courage in defence of our motherland, I believe it is a time for quiet solidarity, not celebration. A new date will be announced at a later, more appropriate time."

Stating that at this time, our thoughts are with the brave men and women of our armed forces who stand vigilant, safeguarding our nation, the actor said, "As citizens, it is our duty to respond with restraint and solidarity. Celebration must make way for reflection."

Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, features Kamal Haasan in the lead. The film will also feature actors Silambarasan, Trisha, Joju George, Ashok Selvan and Abhirami in pivotal roles.

The film's full-fledged audio launch was to take place on May 16. This apart, a musical event was also scheduled to take place in Australia and the entire 'Thug Life' team was expected to participate in it. However, with the team now announcing the postponement of the audio launch event, it is not clear if the musical event in Australia too will take place as planned or if whether it will get postponed.

Kamal Haasan plays a character called Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickan in this film, which director Mani Ratnam's production house Madras Talkies had described as "an epic tale of power, rebellion, and triumph."

The film has music by A R Rahman and cinematography by Ravi K Chandran. It has editing by Mani Ratnam's trusted editor Sreekar Prasad and stunts by the stuntmasters, Anbariv.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, May 9 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held a high-level meeting at the Defence Ministry to review 'Operation Sindoor' and assess the current security situation along the border with Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, and Defence Secretary R.K. Singh.

During the meeting, the Defence Minister was briefed on the progress of 'Operation Sindoor' -- a major military operation launched in response to terrorist attack in Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives.

The top brass also reviewed the latest developments following the operation and evaluated the situation along the border with Pakistan.

Sources said that strategic planning and military preparedness were key areas of discussion.

The military leadership informed the Defence Minister of Pakistan's multiple attempts to target Indian military and civilian installations, all of which were effectively countered by Indian forces.

India's armed forces have successfully retaliated, inflicting significant losses on Pakistan. Three Pakistani fighter jets were shot down in an air combat. Drone incursions and missile attacks by Pakistan were also thwarted, with several drones intercepted and destroyed.

In particular, Pakistanas missile attacks targeting Jammu and Kashmir were neutralised mid-air by Indiaas S-400 air defence system, which shot down eight incoming missiles.

The service chiefs also briefed the Defence Minister on coordinated Pakistani attacks across a wide stretch -- from Jammu and Kashmir to Rajasthan -- including attempted strikes on military bases in Pathankot, Ferozepur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Jaisalmer. These attacks involved the use of fighter aircraft, drones, rockets, and missiles.

India responded with strong retaliatory measures, including the downing of enemy aircraft.

The Defence Minister was given a detailed overview of the Indian militaryas deployment, weapons used in counterattacks, and the effectiveness of Indiaas multi-layered air defence system.

Pakistan targeted Indian military bases last night, which was once again foiled by India's advanced defence systems.

The Defence Minister appreciated the preparedness and swift action of the armed forces in neutralising the threats.
New Delhi, May 9 : As the Indian Armed Forces pounded Pakistani posts and also shot down its fighter jets, retaliating to its act of aggression on Thursday night, the political class has welcomed the military's action, whole-heartedly.

"We are proud of our armed forces. Pakistan will be made to pay for its ugly war tactics," is the common message from leaders across the political spectrum.

From the Congress to Samajwadi Party to Shiv Sena, all Opposition parties justified the Indian military's action and said that it is Pakistan which must de-escalate the tension.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, speaking to IANS said, "Pakistan has provoked us repeatedly, but our response is always balanced and controlled. We only respond to what they say, as they say, 'Nehle pe Dehla.' But the fact is, we are giving them 'Dehla on Dehla,' because if we consider our military strength, our economic power, the construction of our nation, and our unity, we are thousands of times stronger than them. But we are not escalating it thousands of times, we are only responding proportionately."

He also said, "Pakistan was being stubborn, even after taking so many blows, but I think this is their last attempt."

Samajwadi Party MP, Awadhesh Prasad said, "Within 48 hours, Pakistan's security forces will have no capability left to retaliate. Our brave Indian Army, with its glorious history, deserves all our respect and salute. We proudly honour our soldiers for their courage. The terrorist bases where terrorism originated will be completely uprooted by our forces. This will mark the end of terrorism and terror attacks once and for all."

He also appealed to the public to support and boost the morale of the armed forces.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Sanjay Raut said, "In a war situation, the government should receive support. The Indian military should receive full support. Because in the battlefield, it's not us or the Prime Minister, it's our Army, Air Force and Navy..."

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said, "All 1.4 billion Indians take immense pride in the extraordinary bravery and valour of India's armed forces. If anyone looks at India with evil intentions or harms its innocent people, they will not be spared and will receive a strong response."

"The world has seen India's military power and strength, and terrorism will not be tolerated," he added.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Centre's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified the expansion of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) which increases the ceiling on guarantee cover per borrower from Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore.

The extent of guarantee cover provided has also been increased to 85 per cent of the amount in default for loan amounts up to Rs 10 crore and 75 per cent of the amount in default for loan amounts exceeding Rs 10 crore, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

Further, the Annual Guarantee Fee (AGF) for startups in 27 Champion Sectors has been reduced to 1 per cent p.a. from 2 per cent p.a. The Champion Sectors have been identified by the Government under 'Make in India' to provide a thrust to India's manufacturing and service capabilities. The reduction in AGF for Champion Sectors will make funding more attractive for the identified sectors and boost innovation in domestic manufacturing and self-reliance.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for transforming India into an innovation-driven self-reliant economy, the notified expansions aim to address the financing needs of innovation-driven startups. As a result of the increased guarantee support and coverage, the number of financial institutions coming forward to provide credit support to startups will increase, thereby increasing overall fund flow for startups.

The expanded scheme will further reduce the perceived risks associated with lending to startups in established financial institutions, enabling greater financial flow and runway for startups to undertake research and development (R&D), experimentation, and create cutting-edge innovation and technologies.

Several operational reforms and other enabling measures identified through consultations with the startup ecosystem have also been included in the expanded CGSS to make the scheme attractive for lenders and startups seeking funding support.

The expansions and modifications are expected to give thrust to the Scheme and enable a wider range of startups to benefit to propel the country towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat'.

Prime Minister Modi launched the Startup India initiative along with an Action Plan for Startups on January 16, 2016, to create a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country.

In line with the Action Plan for startups, the Government approved and notified the 'Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)' on October 6, 2022, to provide guarantee up to a specified limit against credit instruments extended to startups by scheduled commercial banks, All India Financial Institutions (AIFI), Non-Banking Financial Companies and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

The broad objective of CGSS is to finance eligible startups by enabling collateral-free debt funding to startups through avenues such as working capital, term loans, and venture debt.

To further catalyse entrepreneurship by providing enhanced credit support to innovators and encouraging financial institutions in the ecosystem to provide early-stage debt funds to startups, the Union Budget 2025-26 proposed the enhancement of credit availability with guarantee cover for startups.
Tirupati, May 9 : Authorities have tightened security at Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala hills near here in the wake of tension on the India-Pakistan border.

Police and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the hill shrine, have stepped up security as a precautionary measure.

Tirupati district Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Raju held a meeting with the district officials.

The Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS), an elite anti-terror commando unit responsible for providing security at Tirumala, along with other security personnel, will conduct checks around the temple later in the day. Officials said a tight vigil was being maintained in the temple premises.

Police were making additional security arrangements in coordination with the security and vigilance wings of the TTD.

Security has also been tightened in Tirupati town and on the ghat roads leading to the temple. Security personnel were thoroughly checking all vehicles and devotees travelling from Tirupati to the hill shrine.

All vehicles, including Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses, were being checked at the Alipiri checkpoint in Tirupati. The security personnel were also examining the luggage of devotees.

Authorities were also closely monitoring pedestrian paths to the temple.

Devotees using Alipiri Mettu and Srivari Mettu footpaths were being frisked and their luggage was being checked by police and other security personnel.

Police and the TTD had stepped up vigil after the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir. Following the security development over the last couple of days in the border areas, they have enforced additional security measures.

On May 2, OCTOPUS, police, TTD Vigilance and others conducted a mock drill on the security measures to be taken in case of any infiltration of terrorists into the Sri Kapila Theertham Temple in Tirupati. It is one of the temples managed by the TTD.

The TTD Vigilance and Security, Civil Police, Bomb Squad, Reserve personnel, Medical, Fire personnel, Revenue and Traffic personnel were thoroughly briefed on how to deal with a terrorist attack.

Sri Venkateswara Temple is considered the richest Hindu temple in the world. Every day, 70,000 to 80,000 pilgrims visit the temple, and the crowd swells to more than a lakh on special occasions.

According to TTD, 71,000 devotees had 'darshan' on Thursday (May 8).

In March, the TTD Board of Trustees approved the budget for Rs 5,258.68 crore for the financial year 2025-26.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 : Upcoming actress Aishwarya Raj experienced the effects of war on Thursday night. After returning to her hotel in Jaisalmer following a day of shooting for her latest film 'Half', directed by Samjad, she witnessed the sounds and fireballs appearing in the skies.

Speaking to the media over phone from Jaisalmer on Friday she said "At first felt it was some sort of a mock drill of the Indian Armed Forces. Later only I realized that the sound heard and the lights in the sky were shells flying around."

She further continued "It was really scary after realizing that it was not a drill but the real fight. It was after switching on the TV set in the hotel room , did I realize that things are scary," said Raj.

A two hundred member Malayalam film crew of 'Half' has been shooting in and around Jaisalmer in Rajasthan since the past 10 days.

"Following the increasing tensions, the shooting of our film has been called off and we have decided to pack up and return," added Aishwarya Raj.

She further elaborated " We have no other way but to return as things have escalated and it was scary to see what we saw last night in the sky. Moreover the film shoot was planned to areas closer to the border and now that's not possible, We are now all waiting for the vehicle to arrive as we are being told we will move from here by road to Ahmadabad and from there fly to Kochi," said Raj, who had a significant role in the recently released Malayalam film " Officer on Duty'. '

'Half'  the Malayalam film directed by Samjad is a vampire action thriller and tells the tale of two half-vampires ( half human and half vampire).

As per various reports Pakistani drones were spotted in Jaisalmer on May 8th and 9th which was neutralised by Indian Armed Forces.

--IANS

sg/Ayk/
Mumbai, May 9 : Television actor Aly Goni has expressed deep concern after learning that his family in Jammu was directly impacted by recent drone attacks amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan.

As cross-border unrest intensifies, Goni took to social media to share his distress, shedding light on the fear and uncertainty faced by civilians in conflict-affected regions. In his post, the 'Bigg Boss' actor, who is currently out of the country, expressed his anguish, calling out the glorification of war on social platforms while innocent civilians bear the brunt of the conflict.

On Friday, Goni shared a couple of his photos with his family members and wrote, "Sleepless and shattered, stuck out of India as my family in Jammu endures last night's attack. My whole family, children, and parents face the terror of drones and unrest, yet some people glorify this war from the comfort of their homes, posting on social media. It's not that easy for those near the border. Thanks to our IAF And Indian Army praying for safety and peace."

Aly Goni, who hails from Jammu, also extended heartfelt thanks to the Indian Air Force following the recent spate of drone and missile strikes by Pakistan targeting Jammu. He shared that he has been extremely anxious about the safety of his loved ones back home. Despite his concern, Aly expressed immense relief after receiving confirmation that his family is safe, crediting the alertness and swift action of the Indian Armed Forces amid the mounting cross-border tensions.

He wrote on his X handle, "I am out of India shooting, and My family is in Jammu I was so mind F**Cked here.. thank god everyone is safe.. Thanks to our IAF."(sic)

On May 8, Pakistan launched a series of aerial strikes targeting over a dozen locations, including the Jammu civil airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and multiple military installations in the region. These strikes followed India's precision strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, part of Operation Sindoor, which was a response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attacks. Despite the escalation in hostilities, India's S-400 air defense system effectively intercepted and neutralized the incoming threats.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bhubaneswar, May 9 : Security has been intensified in and around the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri amid the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.

Heavy deployment of security personnel has been made to ensure the safety of devotees and the temple premises.

The heightened security comes in the wake of the recent security audit conducted by the National Security Guard (NSG) team. Several precautionary measures have been put in place to strengthen surveillance and response systems around the temple.

Officials confirmed that round-the-clock monitoring, increased patrolling, and deployment of special forces have been implemented to prevent any untoward incident.

Entry protocols have also been tightened as part of the new security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the security arrangements at the Hirakud Dam, the longest earthen dam in the world, located in Sambalpur district, have also been intensified.

The district administration has reportedly restricted tourists' entry to the dam premises until further notice.

Security arrangements have also been heightened at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and the Paradip Port in Jagatsinghpur.

On the other hand, a high-level meeting is likely to be held in Balasore district on Friday afternoon to discuss steps to tighten security arrangements at sensitive defence installations of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur in Balasore.

DIG of Police (Eastern Range) Satyajit Naik had earlier convened an emergency meeting to hold discussions on enhancing security measures at defence installations at Chandipur.

"In view of the prevailing war-like situation in the country, it is proposed to hold an emergency meeting on 09.05.2025 at 02:00 p.m. to review the security arrangements of the critical defence installations, including the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, and Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur," wrote Naik.

The Indian Army, in a statement, said that Pakistan launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9 and resorted to numerous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, which were effectively repulsed.
New Delhi, May 9 : The cumulative enrolments under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMBSY), -- an accident insurance scheme -- has surged by 443 per cent, since 2016, said the Union government on Friday, as the scheme marks a decade of launch.

The scheme provides financial stability and affordable security in case of accidents and loss of lives at just Rs 20 per year.

"Ensure financial stability for your loved ones with PM Suraksha Bima Yojana! Cumulative enrolments under PMSBY have risen by 443 per cent, from 9.40 Cr in March 2016 to 51.06 Cr in April 2025. Affordable security at just Rs 20 per year!" the Ministry of Finance said in a post on social media platform X.

Launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana has become a cornerstone of the government's efforts to provide financial safety to the public.

The scheme was officially launched on May 9, 2015, in Kolkata. It covers all Indian residents and non-resident Indians (NRIs) between the ages of 18 and 70, provided they have a valid bank account.

In the unfortunate event of partial disability due to an accident, the scheme offers Rs 1 lakh directly to the individual's account.

In the tragic case of death caused by a road accident or any other unfortunate incident, the family or heirs of the deceased are entitled to a financial support of Rs 2 lakh.

The scheme requires an annual premium of just Rs 20, which is automatically deducted from the account of the policyholder. It offers a one-year coverage period, running from June 1 to May 31. The policy is administered through public sector insurance companies, making it accessible to the masses.

In the event of death or full disability, the nominee is entitled to Rs 2 lakh. Full disability is defined as the complete loss of use of both eyes, hands, or feet. Partial permanent disability, such as the loss of one eye, hand, or foot, is eligible for a payout of Rs 1 lakh.

However, claims are not accepted in cases of death caused by suicide, alcohol, or drug abuse. In addition, a person must be enrolled in the scheme for at least 45 days before being eligible to make a claim.
Mumbai, May 9 : As tension between India and Pakistan escalates, actress Ananya Panday took a moment to show her gratitude towards the Indian Armed Forces for their unmatched contribution to the safety of our country.

"Saluting the heroes of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Forces", the 'CTRL' actress wrote on her Instagram stories.

Ananya also thanked the families of the Indian forces for their unmatched sacrifice, "Heartfelt gratitude to you and your families for your unmatched sacrifice and strength. We owe you everything. #JaiHind."

Additionally, actor R. Madhavan used social media to share his concern and solidarity with the innocent amidst the escalating India-Pakistan conflict.

The aKesari Chapter 2a actor took to social media and penned a note offering heartfelt prayers for the safety and protection of civilians caught in the crossfire.

aSalute to our armed forces. Jai HindaMay god protect them and all those that are innocent." Madhavan wrote on the photo-sharing app.

Several other members from the film fraternity including Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Chiranjeevi, Rohit Shetty, Mahesh Babu, Nimrat Kaur, Kangana Ranaut, Riteish Deshmukh, Sonu Sood, Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, and Vidya Balan applouded the courage of the Indiaas defence during the fight against terrorism.

During the wee hours of May 7, the Indian Armed Forces attacked nine identified militant locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which they called Operation Sindoor.

The Indian forces carried Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people on April 22.

After this, on May 8, Indian air defence forces successfully intercepted a series of at least eight missiles fired by Pakistan, which were reportedly aimed at critical border locations in Jammu.

Moreover, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 13 civilians were killed and 44 others wounded in the ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Poonch area of LoC.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Nova Poshta, Ukraine's leading express delivery company, has shut down its last remaining branch in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, citing security concerns.

"Today, May 9, we are forced to close our Branch No. 2  the last one still operating in Kostiantynivka," the company's press service said Friday.

At one point, there were four Nova Poshta branches in the city. In February, when a special access regime was introduced due to security threats, two branches were relocated to other parts of Donetsk region. Branches No. 2 and No. 7 continued operating within the city for some time, the company noted.

Branch No. 2 also served as a help station, providing essential services to local residents daily from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during hours permitted by curfew. Residents could charge their phones, use Starlink internet, warm up, cook food, and withdraw cash.

"This was made possible thanks to our two brave colleagues  Branch Manager Kateryna (32) and Operator Diana (18). Despite heavy Russian attacks involving guided aerial bombs, artillery, and FPV drones, Diana and Kateryna stayed behind because they wanted to help their community," Nova Poshta stated.

Staff from Branch No. 7 had remained in Kostiantynivka in hopes of resuming operations, but worsening conditions ultimately made that impossible, the company added.

Nova Poshta expressed gratitude to its employees for their dedication and promised to return to serve customers in Kostiantynivka as soon as conditions allow.
Moscow, May 9 : Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, representing India at Russia's 80th Victory Day celebrations marking the end of World War 2 in Moscow, also met Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit.

Seth expressed India's gratitude for Russiaas continued support in the global fight against terrorism.

Taking to social media, the Indian minister shared photos of his interaction with President Putin and other moments from the Victory Day event.

aI am honoured to meet President Vladimir Putin during my visit to Russia. Represented India at the banquet organized on the occasion of the 80th Victory Day anniversary. Expressed gratitude for Russia's support in India's fight against terrorism led by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji", he said on his X handle.

Seth, who is the BJP MP from Ranchi, arrived in Moscow on Thursday. He was welcomed by Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar and Major General Oleg Moiseyev of the Russian Defence Ministry.

During the visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin.

According to information shared by the minister, the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral military and military-technical cooperation.

"We had a productive discussion on further enhancing defence ties through existing institutional frameworks. India and Russia agreed to continue regular consultations and expand cooperation in view of the evolving global security landscape," Seth said.

Earlier in the day, the minister also paid homage to the fallen soldiers of World War II at a memorial ceremony in Moscow.

Originally, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was expected to lead the Indian delegation at the Victory Day celebrations. However, sources suggest that his visit was cancelled in light of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor.
May 09 : As tensions continue to rise amidst the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, superstar Yash has stepped forward with a message of unity, caution, and deep respect for the Indian Armed Forces. Taking to social media, the KGF actor shared a heartfelt post that both salutes the courage of the military and calls on citizens to act responsibly, especially in the digital space.

Salute to the unwavering strength and precision of our Indian Armed Forces  our impenetrable shield! Yash wrote. With gratitude for their service, let us also ensure we stand united and act responsibly. Pause, verify everything before sharing or reacting, especially online. In an era where misinformation spreads faster than facts, Yashs message hits an important note. His call for digital responsibility comes at a time when government agencies are already working to curb the circulation of false information and maintain public order.

The actor also extended his thoughts to civilians in high-alert zones, encouraging strength and resilience during these uncertain times. Our collective fight against misinformation strengthens India. Thoughts with fellow Indians in vulnerable areas; be strong, be resilient. Jai Hind! he added.

Yash joins a growing list of Indian public figures using their influence to bolster national morale, promote unity, and urge calm in the face of crisis. His message is a timely reminder that patriotism also means staying informed, supportive, and mindful of the impact our actions have  both on and offline.
New Delhi, May 9 : As India decided to treat the Pahalgam massacre as the last straw and made up its mind to hit back hard on terror, the cynics and naysayers were worried about the diplomatic fallout and also expressed fears of India's 'isolation' for stepping up the heat at the border.

However, the reality is directly opposite to what they anticipated  India has aced the diplomatic battle and is clearly ahead in the battle of narratives, too.

India's military strikes on terror factories in Pakistan have garnered global support as governments and leaders across the world have backed New Delhi's right to defend its citizens and do whatever possible to wipe out terror from the region.

From United States (US) to the European Union (EU) to a few Arabic nations, all have justified India's air strikes and some even asked Pakistan to refrain from escalation.

The global support for India comes on the back of its measured, calibrated and non-escalatory strike on terror spots across the border.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, soon after Indian strikes, shared details of the operation and also explained how any collateral damage was avoided.

However, Pakistan didn't take the strikes lying down and launched air attacks on Indian military installations for two consecutive nights, though all its bids were thwarted.

India was firm and resolute in its response. It not only repulsed every attack by the Pakistani side but also launched a diplomatic offensive to brief the friendly as well as global bodies about Pakistan's brazen audacity despite nurturing terror on its soil.

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, spoke to his US and EU counterparts, soon after the missile and drone attack by Pakistan last night and told them that India will respond firmly if there was any act of escalation by the other side.

India's actions and diplomatic outreach have cut ice with the world and this is evident in the global support building towards it, with many nations issuing a statement in New Delhi's favour, and some others endorsing its fight against terror.

United Kingdom's (UK) Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, supporting Bharat's actions said that India had every reason to be outraged.

Former UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said, "No country should tolerate cross-border terror."

Though Russia expressed concern over military escalation, however it condemned terrorism in all forms.

Israel supported India's right to self-defence, saying, "Terrorists have no sanctuary."

European Union + all 27 Member States issued a unified statement in India's favour while nations like France, Netherlands and Japan echoed support for India's right to self-defence.

US President Trump backed India's sovereignty and right to respond to terror while Vice-President J.D. Vance urged for de-escalation, emphasising that "it is a regional issue."

A couple of Islamic nations also stood with India, though they refrained from explicitly calling out Pakistan for its terror acts.

Saudi Arabia said it was concerned about rising tension and emphasised on avoiding civilian harm.

UAE and Qatar called for calm and reaffirmed opposition to terrorism. Iran urged peace and said "targeting civilians or using terror is unjustifiable."

Bangladesh however backed India's right to self-defence.

The message from the world community, therefore, largely remains in favour of India.

It widely believes that the Indian military establishment acted with restraint and resolve, avoiding wider conflict and it is Pakistan which is behind the escalating row.
Mumbai, May 9 : India's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), announced on Friday that it will sell a 13.19 per cent stake in private lender Yes Bank to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for Rs 8,889 crore.

Mumbai, May 9 (IANS) Indiaas largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), announced on Friday that it will sell a 13.19 per cent stake in private lender Yes Bank to Japanas Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for Rs 8,889 crore.

The move is part of a strategic shift as SBI trims its holding in Yes Bank, which it had acquired during the latteras financial crisis in 2020. SBI will offload over 413 crore shares of Yes Bank at Rs 21.50 per share.

aPursuant to Regulation 30 and other applicable provisions of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we advise that the Executive Committee of the Central Board (ECCB) of the Bank, in the meeting held on May 9, has accorded approval to divest 4,13,44,04,897 equity shares of Yes Bank Limited (YBL), being equivalent to approximately 13.19 per cent of YBLas shares, to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) at Rs 21.50 per equity share," SBI said in its stock exchange filing.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from bodies such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and is expected to be completed within a year.

SBI currently holds a 23.97 per cent stake in Yes Bank as of March 2024. After the deal with SMBC goes through, its stake will reduce to 10.78 per cent.

The bank disclosed the development in a stock exchange filing, stating that its executive committee approved the sale in a meeting held on May 9.

Federal Bank also announced a separate deal to sell a 0.5 per cent stake in Yes Bank at the same price of Rs 21.50 per share, amounting to a total value of Rs 357.5 crore.

Shares of Yes Bank reacted positively to the news, ending 10 per cent higher on Friday at Rs 20.05.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, media reports suggested that SMBC had received RBIas approval to acquire up to 51 per cent stake in Yes Bank.

The reports said SMBC could either opt for a direct purchase of up to 26 per cent or pursue a share swap through a merger.

Yes Bank responded to these reports by saying that while it is on a growth trajectory and routinely explores options with various stakeholders, the talks with SMBC were still at a preliminary stage.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 : With tensions increasing on the India-Pakistan border, the proposed visit of President Droupadi Murmu to pray at the famed Sabarimala temple has been postponed, a top temple official said on Friday.

Speaking to IANS, the Travancore Devaswom Board chief P.S. Prasanth said the President's visit was planned for May 19, but now with the increased tensions, it has been postponed.

"The visit has not been cancelled but only postponed to a later date on account of the present situation our country is going through," he said.

"Now that this high-profile visit has been postponed, we have reopened the virtual Q booking for May 18 and 19, which we had blocked early this month after the visit of the President was initially contemplated. So pilgrims desiring to visit the temple on May 18 and 19 can do the pre-booking," Prasanth added.

As and when President Murmu visits the famed temple, it will be the first time that any President would have done so.

Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level, the famed Sabarimala temple is a four km uphill trek from Pampa in the Pathanamthitta district, which is around 100 km from the Kerala capital.

Currently, girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed entry into the hilltop shrine.

The temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is accessible only on foot from the Pampa River.

As per practice, before setting off to the holy shrine, a pilgrim normally undertakes an intense 41-day penance where he/she does not wear footwear, dons a black dhoti/black top and sticks to strict vegetarian food.

Every pilgrim carries alrumudia on his/her head, which is a prayer kit that contains coconuts which are broken just before climbing the 18 steps to the shrine.

Without it, no one is allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the aSannidhanama.

Over the years, some traditions at the famed temple have changed.

While for many years, this temple used to open only in the second half of November and close around the middle of January, it is now open for a few days at the beginning of every Malayalam month.
New Delhi, May 9 : A Special NIA Court on Friday sent 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana to judicial custody till June 6, marking a temporary break in questioning by the federal probe agency.

On May 3, the NIA had collected voice and handwriting samples of Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, in court as a precursor to match them with recordings of his telephonic discussions with 26/11 co-accused David Coleman Headley, an official said.

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 also had plans to take Rana to Mumbai and other cities to reconstruct the chain of events preceding the terror attack that left 166 people dead.

Last month, 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 needed more time to uncover Ranaas role in the Mumbai attack of 2008.

Rana was presented in court for an extension of his NIA custody after his 18-day remand ended on April 28.

During the court proceedings, the Special Judge was informed by the NIA about the alleged evasive technique adopted by Rana during questioning.

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 NIA 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 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 stand trial in the Mumbai attack case.
Jaipur, May 9 : Amid heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border, the police in Rajasthan's Churu district have arrested a 22-year-old youth for allegedly sharing provocative and anti-national posts on social media, an official said on Friday.

The arrested individual has been identified as Asif Khan, son of Umed Khan, a resident of Bajragsar under the jurisdiction of Sardarshahar Police Station.

He was detained for allegedly liking, sharing, and posting inflammatory content amid the ongoing tension on the India-Pakistan border.

Superintendent of Police Jai Yadav said that the district's Cyber Desk team is actively conducting technical monitoring of all major social media platforms in the light of the current India-Pakistan tension.

During this surveillance, the team flagged suspicious activity from an account belonging to a local youth. The account was found to be circulating provocative videos, photos, and posts that could incite unrest and disrupt public order.

Acting promptly, a police team led by SHO Madanlal Bishnoi, and supervised by Additional Superintendent of Police Lokendra Dadarwal and Circle Officer Rohit Sankhla traced and arrested the accused, Asif Khan.

The Churu Police issued an advisory to all citizens, urging responsible social media behavior during sensitive times.

aIn light of the current tense situation on the India-Pakistan border, we appeal to all citizens to refrain from liking, sharing, or posting any misleading, provocative, anti-national, or communally sensitive content related to army operations or movements. Strict legal action will be taken against violators," it read.

Sharing content that promotes communal disharmony, anti-national sentiments, or misinformation related to national security is a serious offence under the Indian cyber and penal laws. Authorities have emphasised zero tolerance towards such acts during national security alerts.

Tensions between India and neighbouring nation of Pakistan escalated following the armed forces' 'Operation Sindoor' which targetted terror facilities in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well as Pakistan.

Responding to that, Pakistan tried to target several Indian locations mainly along the bordering areas. The threats were, however, negated by the Indian armed forces.
Mumbai, May 9 : A meeting convened by the Mumbai Suburban District Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar on Friday revealed a staggering 40 per cent discrepancy was detected during the AI-driven analysis of Mumbai's drain cleaning operations by the BMC.

Shelar issued a strong directive to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, demanding an immediate, thorough data analysis and ensuring that contractors meet 100 per cent of the expected cleaning standards. He also instructed the civic body chief to personally inspect the work on the ground to ensure accountability.

He launched a sweeping inspection drive across Mumbai's suburbs on Thursday to monitor the progress of drain cleaning works.

On Friday, the inspection began at the Laxmi Nagar nullah near Ghatkopar Bus Depot and continued with visits to the A.P.I. nullah, Usha Nagar nullah, Mahul nullah, Mahul Creek and Kharu Creek. Shelar, which has been advocating the use of technology to accurately measure the volume of silt removed during desilting operations, reviewed the AI analysis in this regard.

When questioned about the methodology, officials presented videos showcasing how AI scans the sites where silt is dumped after each trip.

Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that over 40,000 trips had been recorded, with discrepancies found in around 17,000 of them. These inconsistencies included exaggerated reports of silt volumes, under-reported amounts, and, in some cases, the transportation of debris or soil instead of actual silt.

Alarmingly, in many instances, the silt still remains in the drains. Minister Shelar stressed the need for a comprehensive analysis of the silt billing and discrepancies, vowing to follow up with the BMC Commissioner to hold contractors accountable and ensure the work is completed to the required standards, said the release issued by the minister's office.

"During the inspection, the API nullah and Usha Nagar nullah in Bhandup were also thoroughly reviewed. The Usha Nagar nullah, which runs beneath a railway bridge, was scheduled for demolition and deepening in 2020. However, the demolition has only just started, with only 15 days remaining before the monsoon season. This raises critical concerns: When will the bridge be fully demolished, and when will the drain be rebuilt? If not addressed promptly, waterlogging between Kanjurmarg and Bhandup railway tracks is unavoidable," said the release.

Shelar emphasised the urgent need to clear silt from this drain to ensure smooth rail operations during the monsoon and assured that he would closely follow up with the BMC on this matter.

Furthermore, he pointed out that only 10-15 per cent of the cleaning work has been completed at Mahul nullah, while no work has yet begun at Kharu Creek. Large piles of silt and plastic waste were visible, and the absence of retaining walls along the nullah was also noted. He issued immediate instructions for work to begin without further delay at both sites to avoid potential disasters during the monsoon.
Chennai, May 9 : Stating that her husband actor Ravi Mohan had not just walked away from her but from the very responsibilities he once promised to honour, Aarti Ravi, the wife of actor Ravi Mohan, on Friday penned an emotional post in which she made it clear that she was not going to back down for the sake of her children.

Taking to her Instagram page, Aarti Ravi posted a statement in which she said that she, for a year, had carried silence like an armour, not because she was weak, but because her sons needed peace more than she needed to be heard.

"I absorbed every accusation, every allegation, every cruel whisper thrown my way. I said nothing-not because I didn't have the truth, but because I didn't want my children to carry the burden of choosing between parents," she said.

Pointing out that their divorce was still ongoing, Aarti said, "...but the man I once stood beside for 18 yearsa"in love, loyalty, and belief-has not just walked away from me, but from the very responsibilities he once promised to honour."

Aarti then spoke about how she was single-handedly looking after their children. She wrote, "For months, the weight of their world has rested on my shoulders alone. Every book, every meal, every quiet tear at night-held, healed, and carried by me. Not a whisper of emotional or financial support has followed from the one who once called them his pride. And now, we face home eviction-from the bank, on the instructions of the man who once built that very home with me."

She further said, "I am accused of being a gold digger. If that were ever true, I would've protected my personal interests long ago. But I chose love over calculation. Trust over transaction. And this is where it has brought me."

Stating that her children, who are aged 10 and 14 respectively, deserve security and stability, Aarti Ravi said, "They are too young to understand legal clauses, but old enough to feel abandonment. Every unanswered call, every cancelled meeting, every cold message meant for me but read by them-these are not just oversights. They are wounds."

Saying that she was speaking as a mother whose sole focus was the well-being of her children, Aarti Ravi said, "A father is not just a title. It is a responsibility."

She concluded saying, "This is a mother stepping into the fire-not to fight, but to protect....I stand tall, because I must. For the two boys who still call you Appa. And for them, I will never back down."
New Delhi, May 9 : India on Friday yet again slammed Pakistan for continuously pedalling blatant lies, asserting that the Pakistani state machinery is sinking to new depths in its quest for disinformation.

Addressing a special media briefing on Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri cited Pakistan Army's heavy mortar shelling in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch that targeted a Gurdwara and resulted in the death of many people from the Sikh community while exposing Islamabad's false claims of not targetting any religious places.

"Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claim that it was the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Air Force that were targeting cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan. This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression, and it is consistent with their pattern of deceiving and misleading the world," said Misri.

"It will not succeed. The Gurdwara in Poonch, in particular, was attacked by Pakistan, and some local members of the Sikh community, including a Ragi of the Gurdwara, lost their lives in this incident," he added.

Highlighting the "provocative and escalatory actions" taken by Pakistan on Thursday night which were targetted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military targets, the Foreign Secretary also deflated Pakistan's false propaganda of accusing India of attacking the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara.

"This is yet another blatant lie and part of Pakistan's disinformation campaign. As we saw in the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan is again desperately trying to give a communal hue to the situation with the intention to create discord," the top diplomat stated.

"What I want to underline is that the official and blatantly farcical denial of these attacks carried out by Pakistan, made by the Pakistani state machinery, is yet another example of their duplicity and the new depths they are sinking to in their quest for disinformation," he mentioned.

As the Indian Armed Forces continue to respond "proportionately, adequately, and responsibly" to the repeated escalatory attempts being made by Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the Kartarpur Corridor will remain shut "till further orders" in view of the existing security situation.

"I think you are all aware of the situation along the entire India-Pakistan border and the areas along the Line of Control. In view of the existing security situation, the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended until further notice. We will update you as and when there is a change in the situation," said Misri.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed the situation on the front and defense needs with High Representative of the European Union Kaja Kallas.

"We discussed a wide range of issues, including the situation on the front and defense needs. We are grateful for the initiative to allocate EUR 1 billion for the Ukrainian defense industry, as well as for the initiative to increase military support for Ukraine in 2025," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel following the meeting in Lviv.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Ukraine expects that the provisions on the new SAFE instrument will be approved in the near future.

"This will allow Ukraine to participate in joint purchases of necessary defense products together with EU member states both on the European market and directly from Ukrainian manufacturers," he added.

Separately, the parties touched upon the topic of sanctions against Russia, in particular, Shmyhal noted that he expects that the 17th package will be agreed and approved by European countries as soon as possible.

"It is necessary to increase pressure on the aggressor in order to force him to make peace. We also expect further work on the issue of confiscating frozen Russian assets and directing them to the needs of Ukraine," the report says.
Giridih : , May 9 (IANS) In a heart-wrenching incident in Jharkhand's Giridih district, a woman allegedly attempted suicide by jumping into a well with her three young children, leading to the death of all three minors, officials said.

Giridih (Jharkhand), May 9 (IANS) In a heart-wrenching incident in Jharkhandas Giridih district, a woman allegedly attempted suicide by jumping into a well with her three young children, leading to the death of all three minors, officials said.

The woman, identified as Aarti Devi, survived the incident but is in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The tragic event occurred in Khaslodih village under the Deori police station limits.

According to initial reports, Aarti Devi, wife of Sonu Chaudhary, left her home on Friday morning with her children -- Avinash Kumar (6), Rani Kumari (3), and Phool Kumari (2).

She reportedly threw the children into a nearby well located in an agricultural field before jumping in herself.

Locals working in the fields spotted her in the act and immediately raised an alarm. Family members and villagers rushed to the scene and managed to pull all four out of the well after about 30 minutes of effort.

They were taken to the Deori Government Health Sub-Centre, where doctors declared the three children dead. Aarti Devi was referred for further treatment and remains in a critical condition.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a family dispute may have prompted the womanas drastic step, although no official confirmation has been made as yet.

Aartias husband, Sonu Chaudhary, works as a labourer in Hyderabad and had recently returned to the village to attend a family wedding. He was not present at home when the incident occurred. On being informed, he rushed to the spot and is inconsolable.

The womanas mother-in-law, Sushma Devi, has denied any domestic discord.

Following the incident, Deori Police Inspector Pascal Toppo and Station Incharge Rishi Sinha reached the village with a police team. The bodies of the children were sent for post-mortem, and an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause and circumstances leading to the tragedy.

Authorities are also planning to record Aarti Devias statement once her condition stabilises.
New Delhi, May 9 : Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday assured the nation that there are sufficient food stocks and that the country is well-prepared to handle any emergencies.

His statement came in the wake of escalating tensions with neighbouring Pakistan.

Minister Chouhan emphasised that both the nation's defence forces and farmers are ready to ensure the country's security and food security.

He highlighted the significant increase in food grain production, with total output rising from 3,322.98 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24 to 3,474.42 lakh metric tonnes in the current year.

"Notably, rice production increased from 1,378.25 lakh metric tonnes to 1,464.02 lakh metric tonnes, and wheat production rose from 1,132 lakh metric tonnes to 1,154 lakh metric tonnes," the Union Minister stated.

He also reported growth in pulses and oilseeds production, with pulses increasing from 242 lakh metric tonnes to 250.97 lakh metric tonnes, and oilseeds from 296.69 lakh metric tonnes to 428.98 lakh metric tonnes.

"Additionally, horticultural crops such as potatoes, onions, and tomatoes showed positive growth," he said.

"As of May 8, the government had procured 539.88 lakh metric tonnes of rice and 267.02 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, ensuring that buffer stocks are well-maintained," he added.

Minister Chouhan reassured citizens that in case of any emergency, the government is fully prepared to manage the situation effectively.

Meanwhile, Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan took to the social media platform X to inform the public about a review meeting he held with senior ministry officials in the national capital.

The meeting was focused on ensuring the availability of food products across the country.

"Today, I held a review meeting with senior ministry officials in New Delhi to ensure the availability of food products in the country. Jai Hind," he wrote on X.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Centre, briefing the nation over Pakistan's repeated airspace aggression after the dismantling of terror infrastructure on its soil, said on Friday that the neighbouring nation was using civilian flights as 'cover' and it didn't even close the civilian airspace despite launching an attack on India.

"Pakistan's irresponsible behaviour has again come to the fore. It did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 8.30 hours in the evening," Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told the press, during a special briefing on Operation Sindoor.

"Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response," she said.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi also held up a printout of the screenshot of flight-tracking data from the time of the drone attack.

She said that the airspace on the Indian side was absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, civil airlines kept flying on the air route between Karachi and Lahore.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added: "Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response thus ensuring the safety of international civil carriers."

She also informed that the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure and one Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was also directed towards Bhatinda military station, but that was foiled.

Responding to Pakistan's brazen attack, India launched armed drones at four air defence sites and one drone also destroyed an AD (air defence) radar system there.

Sharing details about last night's provocation by Pakistan, the officers said that more than 300-400 drones were directed across the border at about 36 locations, but all that were successfully negated and neutralised by the forces.
Ranchi, May 9 : The Jharkhand Pradesh Congress on Friday organised a 'Jai Hind Tiranga Yatra' in Ranchi in support of the Indian Army's decisive action under 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terrorist hideouts in Pakistan.

The 'Jai Hind Tiranga Yatra' was aimed at boosting the morale of the armed forces and demonstrating solidarity with their efforts.

The rally began from the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress headquarters at Shraddhanand Road in Ranchi and culminated at Albert Ekka Chowk. It was led by state Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, with a large turnout of party leaders and workers.

Prominent participants included Jharkhand government ministers Dr Irfan Ansari and Deepika Pandey Singh, former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, and Metropolitan Congress President Kumar Raja.

Participants marched with the national flag, raising slogans like "Hindustan Zindabad" and "Indian Army Zindabad".

Speaking on the occasion, Keshav Mahto Kamlesh said, "The Tricolour is the pride of our country. We are ready to make every sacrifice to defend it. At a time when Pakistan has become a breeding ground for terrorism, our armed forces are giving a befitting response. The Congress party salutes the valour of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. We are confident of victory in the fight against terrorism."

Minister Deepika Pandey Singh added, "The Indian Army is entering enemy territory and holding Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds. Through this 'Jai Hind Tiranga Yatra', we salute the bravery of our soldiers and send a clear message -- the Congress stands united with the armed forces. Our leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have already said that when it comes to national interest, we are with the Army and the government unconditionally."

Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari shared the same sentiment, saying, "This yatra is a tribute to the unmatched courage, patriotism, and sacrifice of our brave soldiers. Every Congress worker stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Indian Army, and we have full faith in their capability and valour."
New Delhi, May 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS General Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs in the backdrop of the ongoing 'Operation Sindoor'.

Apart from discussing the future course, PM Modi is believed to have discussed the continuous violation of the ceasefire by Pakistan in the sectors along the Line of Control and the border.

The PM's engagement with military commanders and strategists also involved an extensive interaction with veterans. Those who took part in the discussions included former Air Force Chiefs, Army Chiefs, and Navy Chiefs, sources said.

Earlier, the Indian Armed Forces briefed media persons about the violation of airspace by Pakistan on Thursday night and the forceful response given by the Indian side.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said Pakistan's army fired around 300-400 drones on the intervening nights of May 8 and May 9 at about 36 locations along the Western border. The drones are apparently Turkey-made. However, evidence to this effect is awaited.

"The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusion was to attempt infiltration and test India's air defence system and collect intelligence," said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, during a special press briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on 'Operation Sindoor'.

On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted multiple cities, including military installations, with a volley of drones and missile attacks, however, all were repulsed by India's robust air defence system, and this left the Pakistani Army flustered and panicky.

The women officers of the Indian Armed Forces informed that the forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done; however, "initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones".

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said: "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. It also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. However, all their attempts were neutralised by us via kinetic and non-kinetic means."

India launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terrorist base camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), to avenge the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.
New Delhi: The proposed 'Rakhine Corridor' has emerged as another contentious issue in Bangladesh. Some sources confirmed that it is already operational and supplies in sealed containers have reached Rakhine State in a clandestine manner.

On May 8, the "advance" United States Air Force (USAF) team reportedly arrived in Dhaka signalling the imminent landing of "a large and sensitive cargo" by air with four US Air Force officers. Sources confirmed that the United States military will play a very critical role in any future military operations in the Rakhine State and the team has landed in Dhaka in this connection.

The US officers before they cross-over to Rakhine State will be holding meetings with Bangladeshi officials. Recently elevated Bangladesh National Security Advisor (NSA) and High Representative on Rohingya issue, Khalilur Rahman had a closed-door meeting with Lt Gen Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer in the Armed Forces Division, before meeting the Army chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman on Thursday.

Rahman reportedly claimed that the UN-supported Humanitarian Aid Corridor would help to stabilise Rakhine State and create conditions for the return of refugees.

It may be mentioned that on a visit to Bangladesh in March this year, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres proposed to establish humanitarian or UN Aid corridor in Myanmar's Rakhine State wherein Bangladesh would provide logistics support. Guterres visited Cox's Bazaar on March 14 and met Rohingya refugees and appreciated Bangladeshi people who have hosted them. He urged the international community to step up support and to resolve the Rohingya refugees crisis. Guterres had also visited Cox's Bazar in July 2018. UNSG stated that UN and the international community have failed to stop the conflict in Myanmar. In September this year, the UNGA would organise a conference on the plight of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.

However, Tarique Rahman, BNP's Acting Chairman publicly opposed this proposal on May 1, citing security and sovereignty issues. According to local media, while addressing the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP, Rahman had stated that the decision by the interim government to allow Bangladesh to be used as a Humanitarian Corridor to send humanitarian aid to Rakhine State in Myanmar, currently embroiled in internal politics, is a sensitive issue related directly to Bangladesh's independence & sovereignty. The interim government did not inform the people and, moreover, did not even felt the need to hold discussions with the political parties.

There are divergent views within the Bangladeshi army on the issue of Humanitarian Corridor.

According to Northeast News, while one section primarily led by DGFI gives it a "priority in managing, controlling and ensuring stability at the border", the present Army Chief and other GoCs understand that the US would like to play through the Bangladesh army in backing the Arakan Army (AA) and other People's Defence Forces (PDFs) in Myanmar, challenging the Junta. A policy paper has been circulated led by the AFD & DGFI "to reduce the burden on the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by declaring the Bangladesh-Myanmar border a Military Operations Zone".

In this US plan, the Bangladesh Army's Ramu-based 10th Infantry Division has emerged as a key strategic hub. The 17th and 24th Infantry Divisions of the Bangladesh Army are also expected to play critical roles in Myanmaras Rakhine State, aimed at providing Western-backed logistical and supply support to the Arakan Army.

On April 18, Khalilur Rahman held a meeting with senior officers of the 10th Infantry Division in Ramu. It is through this Division and the proposed logistics support base in Silkhali near Teknaf, that Bangladesh is playing an indirect but significant role. Senior Bangladeshi army officials of Directorate of Military Operations are involved in plans to expand strategic influence of Bangladesh. Plans are underway to include armed Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in this process. A Sector Commander of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), in a specific area under Army's 10 Division, would be the main coordinator for providing supplies to the Arakan Army.

The Arakan Army controls the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Sources confirm that Myanmaras military Junta currently maintains control over only three townships in Rakhine State a" Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manang. The remaining areas have either fallen under Arakan Army's control or are on the verge of doing so. Under these circumstances, a West-backed proxy war is poised to begin, with Bangladesh becoming a strategically significant partner in supporting the Arakan Army militarily against Junta. Last month, NSI chief Major General Abu Mohammad Sarwar Farid, along with two other officers, had a crucial meeting with British external intelligence officers MI6/Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in a bid to brief the foreign interlocutors on this Humanitarian Corridor. DG-DGFI Major General Jahangir Alam and Brigadier General Syed Anwar Mahmud had met CIA officers in April during their visit to the US.

It may mentioned that Lieutenant General Joel "JB" Vowell, Deputy Commanding General for US Army Pacific (USARPAC) had visited Dhaka from March 24-25 March, 2025. His visit was the first by a senior US General in the Muhammad Yunus-led interim Administration since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, 2024.

In this context, a high-level US State Department delegation arrived in Dhaka on April 16, 2025. The delegation, accompanied by 12-13 additional staff members, quietly visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and Cox's Bazar to assess the ground realities and reviewed geographic and logistical conditions in preparation for future operations. It could, however, not be confirmed whether they visited Silkhali (approximately 30 km north of Teknaf) where the Bangladesh Army is constructing a major logistics support base. This site is expected to serve as the main conduit for the delivery of non-lethal supplies and other resources to the Arakan Army and Chin National Front (CNF).

As per Pressenza, the USARPAC is supposed to provide logistics and security for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rakhine State, which faces acute famine according to the UNDP report of November 2024. The report stated that Rakhine is on the verge of an unprecedented disaster due to combination of interlinked issues, its economy is dysfunctional with essential services and social safety net almost non-existent. With the near total trade halt, over two million people are at risk of starvation.

Behind the guise of a Humanitarian Corridor, a larger political project of 'Arakan Federation' is emerging, which is likely to impact Bangladesh's southeastern areas of Teknaf and Bandarban in Chittagong division. While this collaboration may shift the regional security balance, it could also generate new tensions in Bangladesh-India and Bangladesh-Myanmar bilateral relations. Referring to the "so called Humanitarian Corridor", China's Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen stated in Dhaka on May 8 that Beijing was not involved in it and respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country.

As to the question of what Bangladesh aims to achieve through this Humanitarian Corridor, the answer is simple: It would get Western aid; military equipment, dollars; surveillance base in its own territory besides intelligence gathering by the western countries.

The world has noticed the total failure of Humanitarian Corridors in the cases of Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Ukraine. There are no specific laws for governing Humanitarian Corridors or Safe Zones. Voluntary agreements result in disrespect by those who are fighting, thereby harming the lives of civilians and humanitarian workers.

The key question therefore is if Yunus is the main player in the larger and complex gameplan of the West in Bangladesh and South Asia? The US too is keen to establish a base in the region. Looking at the nine months of interim government's administration, the true motives are emerging. Yunus is becoming a puppet of the West with hidden agenda straining international reputation of Bangladesh and destroying the secular fabric of the country. Bangladesh Army is under duress from the US military and intelligence agency to complete this Humanitarian Corridor and many doubt it will be ever fully functional as establishing these corridors is usually not an easy task. If Bangladesh builds the corridor with the US furtively playing a role, it would be a direct interference in Myanmar's internal affairs and an escalation of the armed conflict.

(The writer is an expert on South Asia and Eurasia. He was formerly with Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views expressed are personal)
Beijing, May 9 : Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin had in-depth exchanges of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues and reached many new and important common understandings during Xi's visit to Russia, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Friday.

Lin Jian told a daily news briefing that the two heads of state signed the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era on the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the Founding of the United Nations. They witnessed the exchange of over 20 bilateral cooperation documents, injecting new impetus into the development of China-Russia relations.

Noting that the two sides are good neighbours that cannot be moved away, true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners for mutual success, Xi said that the relationship between China and Russia is characterised by a distinct historical logic, strong endogenous driving force and rich civilizations, and does not target any third party and it is not subject to restrictions from any third party, according to Lin.

Xi also noted that the two sides have successfully found the right way for the two neighboring major countries to get along with each other and forged a spirit of strategic coordination for a new era with permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation at its core.

The two countries need to nourish everlasting friendship and deepen political mutual trust, and increase strategic coordination, as well as pursue mutual benefit, and continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

The two countries need to uphold fairness and justice, and firmly defend the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, Xi said, adding that the two countries need to enhance solidarity, safeguard true multilateralism and steer global governance towards the right direction.

President Xi stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War. Facing unilateralism, power politics and bullying acts in the world, China and Russia, as two major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will shoulder responsibilities to uphold the correct historical perspective on WWII, safeguard the authority and standing of the UN, firmly defend the victorious outcome of WWII, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and the vast number of developing countries, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

During the visit, China and Russia issued a joint statement on global strategic stability, reiterating that the two sides will endeavor to practice true multilateralism and support the central role of the UN and relevant multilateral mechanism, Lin said.

The spokesperson said that the two sides stressed that nuclear-weapon states, which bear special responsibility for international security and global strategic stability, should reject Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, address concerns via dialogue and consultations on an equal footing, and build confidence to avoid dangerous miscalculations, Xinhua news agency reported. This demonstrates China and Russia's sense of responsibility as major countries for upholding and enhancing global strategic stability.

The two sides also issued a joint declaration on further strengthening cooperation to uphold the authority of international law, reiterating the two countries' full commitment to the principles of international law including the United Nations Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and opposition to the abuse of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, Lin said.

He said the declaration emphasized that states have the right to conduct normal economic and trade cooperation, elaborated on the two sides' shared stance on important matters concerning international law and sent a strong message of resolutely upholding the international order based on international law to the international community.
London/New Delhi, May 9 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday held a telephonic conversation with the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy as both leaders discussed combatting terrorism with a zero tolerance approach.

"Had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy this afternoon. Our discussions centered around countering terrorism, for which there must be zero-tolerance," the EAM posted on X.

The discussions followed as hostilities between India and Pakistan escalated on Thursday after Pakistan's military attempted to hit civilian infrastructure and military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and some other locations with missiles and drones, all of which were neutralised by the Indian armed forces.

"Tensions between India and Pakistan remain a serious concern. Speaking to both Dr S Jaishankar and Ishaq Dar today, I've continued to push for a path forward through diplomacy, not conflict. I have been clear to all sides that if this escalates further, nobody wins," Lammy posted on X Friday evening.

Recently, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had raised serious concerns about escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

"Rising tensions between India and Pakistan will be of serious concern for many across Britain. We are engaging urgently with both countries as well as other international partners, encouraging dialogue, de-escalation and the protection of civilians," said Starmer while addressing the House of Commons of the British Parliament.

Speaking on the same issue, UK Conservative Party MP Priti Patel extended support to India, saying that it has the right to take reasonable and proportionate steps to defend itself to dismantle the vile terrorist infrastructure that has caused death and continues to threaten it. She slammed Pakistan for threatening India and Western interests by fostering terrorism.

Patel, who is UK's Shadow Foreign Secretary, also extended her condolences to the victims of "murderous, violent terrorism" in Pahalgam on April 22.

"It was an act of terrorism, and we must reflect on the fact that Pahalgam has joined Mumbai, New Delhi and other places in India in being forever scarred by an act of terror," she said.

"Terrorists based in Pakistan threaten India and Western interests. It was the country that Osama bin Laden was hiding in -- and because of the long history of violence being inflicted by terrorists on India, the UK has in place long-standing security co-operation agreements with India," she added.

Following India's actions against terror infrastructure in Pakistan, UK's Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman also questioned the British government whether it will call on Pakistan to remove terrorist bases "once and for all".

"It was made clear at the time by India that either Pakistan removes the terrorist spaces along the Line of Control, or India would remove them. Last night, nine sites were hit. Those were terrorist bases where terrorists were being trained to commit further atrocities in India. Will the Minister call on Pakistan to ensure that those terrorist bases are removed once and for all?" asked Blackman while speaking in the House of Commons.

Earlier, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak justified the strikes conducted by Indian defence forces on the terror camps operating in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying that there can be no impunity for terrorists.

"India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists," Sunak posted on X.
Mumbai, May 9 : Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal conducted extensive review meetings with officials here on Friday in the backdrop of rising tensions with Pakistan.

The minister took stock of key maritime projects and directed the officials to ensure that the business remains normal, and reviewed measures to be taken to ensure smooth and regular movement of cargo operations.

Major organisations under the Ministry, including the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL), Indian Port Global Ltd (IPGL), Directorate General of Shipping, and Mumbai Port Authority, participated in the day-long meeting.

The Union Minister also reviewed the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, one of the Ministry's flagship initiatives.

In a detailed interaction with the CMD and directors of SCI, the Union Minister reviewed current operations, fleet augmentation, and long-term expansion strategies aligned with the government's Vision 2047. SCI, as India's strategic national shipping line, plays a pivotal role in advancing maritime self-reliance and capacity enhancement.

An in-depth review of the Greenfield Mega Port project at Vadhavan was held with JNPA Chairman Unmesh Wagh and senior officials. The Minister stressed the need to fast-track the development of the port, citing the Prime Minister's vision of making India a global maritime leader.

The Union Minister also met, IPGL Chairman Sunil Mukundan to assess the company's global performance. The discussions included the progress and future plans for Chabahar Port in Iran and Sittwe Port in Myanmar, key projects that aim to expand India's maritime footprint internationally.

A separate meeting was held with IPRCL Chairman M.K. Semwal and senior management to assess progress on critical rail connectivity projects, particularly those supporting IWAI operations in Assam and infrastructure across major ports. The Minister urged IPRCL to prioritise the development of port-linked rail tracks in view of rising cargo volumes.

In addition, the Union Minister interacted with the newly constituted National Shipping Board (NSB), welcoming its Chairperson and members. Sonowal emphasised the board's strategic role in policy guidance and expressed confidence in its contribution to shaping India's maritime future.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are working towards unearthing opportunities of the blue economy and enabling our maritime sector to step up to become a major force in the world. All our agencies, organisations and teams are working towards the realisation of this vision of PM Modi to transform our country into a Viksit Bharat. We met to review our key projects and take measures towards swift realisation of these maritime goals," Sonowal said.

Secretary (Ports, Shipping and Waterways), T.K. Ramachandran and Joint Secretary (Ports), R. Lakshmanan, also participated in the high-level deliberations.
Bhubaneswar, May 9 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said the state government is taking all necessary measures to safeguard the key installations and locations across the state.

Majhi also stated that the Marine police of Odisha have been put on high alert to thwart any threat from the long coastline of the state.

"In Odisha, we have identified specific strategic locations including strategic defence installations at Chandipur, Jagannath Temple at Puri, Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur, Rourkela Steel Plant, etc. that need protection. We are taking necessary measures to secure them from any potential threat. Special attention is being given to the coastal region along the Bay of Bengal, which we are ensuring remains safeguarded from any intrusion. Coastal security has been put on high alert, and a high-level meeting was held today to review the situation," CM Majhi told IANS.

Majhi further added that there are 80 to 85 students from Odisha currently residing in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The state government has issued instructions to bring them back safely. Accordingly, Our Resident Commissioner is ensuring the return of students to Delhi by bus and later they will be brought to Odisha by train. A dedicated helpline has also been launched. The state government is fully prepared to assist any Odia resident who needs support in this regard," the Odisha CM said.

Chief Minister Majhi also stated that India has given a befitting response to Pakistan through Operation Sindoor.

He asserted that the Pakistani side has been unable to counter the Indian Armed Forces' attack.

"The strategy we are deploying and the bravery shown by our forces clearly indicate that India will win this war," stated Majhi.

Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari while speaking to media persons here on Friday stated that the state government is fully prepared for any potential threat from Pakistan.

Amid the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, security has been intensified in and around the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri following a nationwide alert.

Heavy deployment of security personnel has been made to ensure the safety of devotees and the temple premises.

Similarly, a high-level meeting was held at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) office in Balasore district on Friday afternoon to discuss steps to tighten security arrangements at sensitive defence installations of DRDO at Chandipur.

The DIG of Police (Eastern Range) Dr. Satyajit Naik had earlier convened the emergency meeting to hold discussions on enhancing security measures at defence installations at Chandipur.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to partner countries to create a tribunal on the crime of aggression committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

And today, right in front of you, is a decision  a decision to create a mechanism that can help prevent future wars  through accountability. A decision to create a tribunal. And I urge you to give this decision your political support, Zelenskyy said in an address to foreign ministers of other countries, European commissioners, and diplomats who gathered in Lviv on Friday to celebrate Europe Day.
Jaipur, May 9 : Amid ongoing tensions along the India-Pakistan border, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma held an emergency meeting of the State Council of Ministers at the Chief Minister's Office on Friday. The meeting focused on disaster relief readiness, administrative coordination, and public safety in the state's border districts.

Jaipur, May 9 (IANS) Amid ongoing tensions along the India-Pakistan border, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma held an emergency meeting of the State Council of Ministers at the Chief Ministeras Office on Friday. The meeting focused on disaster relief readiness, administrative coordination, and public safety in the state's border districts.

The Chief Minister directed in-charge ministers, local public representatives, and administrative secretaries to maintain continuous contact in their respective regions and ensure the availability of all essential resources. Emphasising the stateas long international border, he urged residents to act responsibly, avoid circulating rumors, and rely only on verified information issued by government authorities.

CM Sharma instructed the police and administration to remain on 24-hour alert and ensure all necessary arrangements for public safety are in place. He also called for strict enforcement of advisories in coordination with district administrations and emergency services.

Following the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel addressed a press conference. They confirmed that the cabinet reviewed preparedness for any emergency scenario and issued detailed instructions to the local administration for immediate action.

Bairwa announced that recruitment has begun to fill vacant posts in border districts. This includes positions such as Sub-Divisional Officers, Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, and key roles in the electricity, drinking water, and health departments.

To expedite relief and response efforts, the government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore each for the districts of Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Sri Ganganagar, and Rs 2.5 crore each for Jodhpur, Hanumangarh, and Phalodi, under relaxed provisions of the Chief Ministeras Relief Fund.

Additionally, Rs 19 crore has been allocated from the State Disaster Management Fund for procuring necessary equipment. Deployment of additional personnel from RAC, SDRF, and the Border Home Guard has also been initiated. Fire brigades and ambulance services are being reinforced in vulnerable regions.

Minister Patel shared that the Chief Minister has ordered restrictions on large public gatherings in border districts. He also directed agencies to ensure adequate lighting at night, regulate road and railway movements, and implement blackout protocols if required. Blood donation organizations have been mobilised to secure medical preparedness.

The public has been urged to remain calm, follow official advisories, and assist in maintaining law and order. Public representatives have been tasked with countering misinformation and monitoring local developments closely.
Quetta, May 9 : Several prominent Baloch leaders and writers, including Mir Yar Baloch, have slammed Pakistan for operating terror factories and unleashing mayhem on neighbouring countries, especially India.

In a message to the international community on Friday, Mir Yar Baloch asserted that the Pakistani army has opened many terror franchises which have bled India by attacking the country's Parliament, hotels, passenger airplanes and tourist destinations like Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

"India being a civilized and peaceful country and guardian of human dignity, human rights reserves the right to defend her people. In a retaliation to Pakistan's barbaric Pahalgam terror attacks, India is carrying out targetted attacks inside Pakistan where the ISI's national assets of extremist groups are dwelling, receiving training, operating under the supervision and full support of its military and deep states," Mir Yar Baloch stated.

"Today it is the moral obligation of the entire world to firmly stand with India and acknowledge the courageous decision of the Indian government which has the full mandate of its 1.4 billion Indian and overwhelming endorsement and backing of two of the houses," Mir further added.

Emphasising that India is doing absolutely what is appropriate for a durable peace and tranquility, Mir called on the global community to join India's Operation Sindoor to give justice to those widows and innocent people who lost their loved ones.

"Dear world, India is not alone, the Baloch, Pashtun, Sindh and Kashmiri people who are also the prime victims of Pakistan's fundamentalist army for last more than seven decades, are appreciating India's precise air and drone strikes against Pakistan's terror infrastructure and facilitators of terror groups," he stated.

Tara Chand, former Cabinet Minister in the Government of Balochistan and the President of Baloch American Congress, also extended his support to India in its retaliatory actions against terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

"Dear Prime Minister Modi Narendra Modi, I want to express my support for the recent actions taken against terrorism by entering Pakistan. However, it is important to acknowledge that Pakistan has harboured many such terrorists. Until the situation in Balochistan, which is crucial to Pakistan's stability, is addressed, Pakistan will continue to pose challenges for India," Chand posted on X.

"It is time to consider a strategic approach to the freedom of Balochistan, similar to how Indira Gandhi played a pivotal role in the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Currently, the people of Balochistan stand in solidarity with the people of India," he added.

The remarks came after the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine high-value terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the dastardly April 22 terror attack, which left 26 innocent civilians dead.

Hostilities between India and Pakistan have intensified after Pakistan's military attempted to hit civilian infrastructure and military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and some other locations with missiles and drones, all of which were neutralised by Indian armed forces.

Highlighting the hypocrisy of Pakistan, Baloch activists also exposed how Pakistan demands human rights for terrorists while denying the same to Baloch, Pashtuns, and Sindhis.

"The image of a state grieving for dead terrorists while Baloch mothers search for missing sons is a painful contradiction. It exposes a brutal truth  this nation values the lives of terrorists over its own oppressed people. A nation that sheds tears for dead terrorists but stays silent on the innocent lives lost in Balochistan is a nation that has lost its humanity," said a Baloch activist.
Kathmandu, May 9 : Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, on Friday met Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli in Kathmandu, briefing him about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians, including a Nepali national named Sudeep Neupane, were killed.

"Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on the PM KP Sharma Oli today. During the call on, Ambassador Srivastava apprised the PM of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, PM Oli reiterated Nepal's unwavering commitment to global peace," office of the Prime Minister of Nepal posted on X.

The meeting followed after hostilities between India and Pakistan intensified on Thursday as Pakistan's military attempted to hit civilian infrastructure and military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and some other locations with missiles and drones, all of which were neutralised by Indian armed forces.

Nepal on Thursday expressed deep concerns about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam.

The reaction came after the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine high-value terror locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the dastardly April 22 terror attack.

"During this tragic period, Nepal and India stood in solidarity, united in shared grief and suffering. It may be recalled that Nepal had immediately and unequivocally condemned the barbaric terrorist attack, consistent with its resolute stance against all forms of terrorism," Nepal's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Nepal stands together with all in the fight against terrorism. In line with its principled position, Nepal shall not allow any inimical forces to use its soil against its neighbouring countries. Nepal hopes for de-escalation of tension and affirms its commitment to lasting peace and stability in the region," the statement added.

Earlier, massive protests were held in Nepal, including outside the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu, condemning the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India following the heinous Pahalgam terror attack.

Several Nepali civil society organisations and party representatives, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party leaders, participated in the march against the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which was carried out by four terrorists, two of them from Pakistan.

The protestors carried several banners that read "Justice for Sudeep Neupane", raising slogans against Pakistan and beating Pakistani Army General Asim Munir's photo with shoes and slippers.

In the aftermath of the attack, Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli also called PM Narendra Modi to strongly condemn the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district and extend his condolences on the loss of precious lives.

Oli then termed the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir as "heinous" and spoke in detail with Prime Minister Modi on the issue.
Kolkata, May 9 : Security measures have been enhanced at the West Bengal Assembly premises in central Kolkata amid the heightened tension between India and Pakistan, and the leave of all the staff has been cancelled for an indefinite period amid the current situation.

Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay told media persons on Friday that although it is unlikely that the impact of the heightened tension between India and Pakistan will reach as far as West Bengal, all precautions are being undertaken within the Assembly premises for any eventuality.

He also announced that the existing security arrangements within and around the Assembly premises are being reviewed, and any lapses identified in the process will be addressed immediately.

"I do not think that there is much reason to panic. So my request to everyone is that no one should panic unnecessarily. It is unlikely the impact of the retaliations from the Indian side will reach as far as West Bengal, but we want to ensure that there are no lapses in the security arrangement. So all necessary preparations are being taken," the Speaker said.

On Thursday, the West Bengal government announced the cancellation of all leaves for all state government employees, except those on medical grounds, and a similar announcement was made by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for their officials and staff.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday also directed the police to be specially alert to prevent people from other states from entering West Bengal with arms and ammunition. She also directed the members of the task force constituted by the state government to keep prices of essential commodities in the retail markets under control, and to monitor the market to prevent attempts by a section of traders to artificially jack up prices of food items by resorting to hoarding.
Jammu, May 9 : Jammu city plunged into darkness late Friday evening after a series of blasts were heard across the region, prompting authorities to sound emergency alarms and urge citizens to stay indoors. The incident has occurred amid escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, following India's targeted drone strikes under Operation Sindoor earlier this week, which destroyed multiple terror hideouts across Pakistan and PoK.

Officials confirmed that the blasts were likely the result of cross-border shelling by Pakistan, a retaliatory move that has raised tensions along the border and sent shockwaves through civilian areas in Jammu.

As panic spread, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to the social media platform X to confirm the situation and issue an urgent advisory to residents.

"Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am," Abdullah posted on X.

He also shared a haunting image of Jammu city engulfed in darkness, with a caption that quickly went viral:

"Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city."

In a direct appeal to the public, the Chief Minister called for calm and vigilance:

"It's my earnest appeal to everyone in and around Jammu, please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don't spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories, and we will get through this together."

On Friday, CM Omar Abdullah drove to Jammu city after Thursday's failed missile and drone strikes by Pakistan.

He enquired about the well-being of the injured being treated at the government medical college hospital.

The CM also went to the camps to find out about the relief being provided to people moved out of the vulnerable areas. Pakistan troops have also started heavy mortar shelling in the Jammu and Samba area of the border in Jammu.

It is still being ascertained whether the loud blasts heard in Jammu city are due to the enemy's artillery fire or due to drones sent from across the border.

The Army said drones have been sighted in Jammu, Samba and in Pathankot in Punjab. The army also said the air defence operation has been started, and the drones are now being engaged.

Warming sirens were also heard in Srinagar city.

Meanwhile, security forces have been deployed across Jammu, and multiple checkpoints have been reinforced. The district administration has activated emergency protocols, and drone surveillance is reportedly underway to assess threats and damage.

While no casualties have been reported so far, the psychological impact of the blackout and repeated explosions has been significant. Markets shut early, and public transport came to a halt as fear and uncertainty gripped the city.

Officials continue to monitor the situation closely and are expected to hold a press briefing later tonight.

Earlier in the day, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha interacted with soldiers at Baramulla. He paid a visit to frontline soldiers in the Baramulla and Uri sectors.

The Lieutenant Governor, who addressed and interacted with the soldiers stationed near the LoC, asked them: "How is the Josh?" His question met with an energetic "High, Saheb!" from the troops, echoing the mood of soldiers' readiness to destroy the enemy.

The Lieutenant Governor said that our Soldiers have just one dream and one resolve-- to destroy the enemy Pakistan and its capability and to safeguard our citizens and Bharat's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"I am seeing determination in your eyes, and I want to tell the people across the country that they are in safe hands. The entire nation is drawing inspiration from your valour. May Prabhu Shri Ram give you the strength to decimate the enemy," the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that the nation, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has vowed to neutralise terrorists, and my message is clear -- if you inflict injury on any Indian citizen, we will hunt you down.

"I want to tell the people of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that peace is the foundation of prosperity and our men in uniform will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir and Bharat are peaceful and prosperous," the Lieutenant Governor said.

He said the nation has always been proud of the armed forces, and whenever the country faced any crisis, our soldiers have boosted the pride of Mother India by making the supreme sacrifice.

"Your history is full of valour and courage. India always advocated for peace. After a brutal massacre of our citizens at Pahalgam, the main objective was to destroy the terrorist hideouts. Operation Sindoor avenged the Pahalgam terror attack by destroying terror factories inside Pakistan. But the enemy is targeting our military establishment and our citizens. We are giving them a befitting reply," the Lieutenant Governor told the soldiers.

He said that due to the courage and determination of our soldiers, Jammu and Kashmir and the country sleep peacefully.

"If someone tries to disturb our peace again and again, then they will be taught such a lesson that their next 10 generations will remember it. The entire 140 crore Indians are standing strong with our soldiers. I pray to God to give you strength so that you can once again write the saga of India's bravery," the Lieutenant Governor said.
Bengaluru, May 9 : The Congress-led Karnataka government has congratulated the Indian armed forces for effectively countering Pakistan's aggression and misadventures through Operation Sindoor during a Cabinet meeting held on Friday.

Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil said: "In today's Cabinet meeting, we discussed the dastardly act committed by Pakistan. Appropriate measures have been taken against them, and the Indian armed forces have responded effectively and successfully. In this regard, our cabinet has extended its congratulations to the Indian Army."

"All 140 crore people of the country have unitedly hailed the armed forces for punishing Pakistan, which created this war-like situation. The cabinet has expressed gratitude to our soldiers," he said.

The Cabinet has also decided to take up the caste census report for discussion next week.

"The State Backward Classes Commission report, known as the socio-educational (caste census) survey, was submitted on February 29, 2024. The cabinet continued discussion on the report. Several opinions have been submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and more are expected," Patil said.

He added that the Backward Classes Welfare Minister had provided additional information to the Chief Minister, and a decision has been made to discuss the caste census report matter in detail next week.

The Cabinet also decided to dismiss Dr. G.S. Balakrishna, a gynaecologist, from government service following the confirmation of corruption charges against him.

Earlier, he had been placed on compulsory leave. In the incident, which occurred on March 14, 2023, in Chikkamagaluru, a pregnant woman named Kalpana gave birth, and Dr. Balakrishna illegally sold the new-born to a woman named Premalatha.

He also created fake documents to show that the baby was born to Premalatha, Patil stated.

"The charges against Dr. Balakrishna have been proven, and the Cabinet has decided to dismiss him from the government service," Patil stated.

Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Cabinet also decided to provide 4 per cent reservation in promotions in Group 'B' and Group 'A' junior grade government jobs to individuals with evident physical disabilities.

As per the direction of the National Green Tribunal, the government has decided to fund 75 per cent of the Rs 75.67 crore required for the comprehensive development of Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru. The remaining 25 per cent will be raised from independent sources, Patil said.

Additionally, the Cabinet granted administrative approval for a project to lift water from the Arkavathy River near Ganalu village to fill 46 tanks in Ramanagar district. The project will cost Rs 110 crore.

The cabinet also decided to release 45 prison inmates serving life sentences ahead of their term, and to release three other convicts after obtaining consent from the Union Home Ministry, Patil announced.
Ahmedabad, May 9 : Tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising in recent days, leading to heightened security measures along the border areas, particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

In response to the tense situation, several trains operating in key regions have been cancelled to ensure public safety. The Western Railway, via a post on the social media platform X, informed the public about the cancellation of five trains on the Bhuj, Rajkot, and Gandhidham routes.

The trains affected include the Superfast Express and special trains scheduled for May 9 and 10, 2025.

The cancelled trains are -- Ahmedabada"Bhuj Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (Train No. 94801) on May 9, 2025, and its return service, Bhuja"Ahmedabad Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (Train No. 94802), on May 10, 2025.

Additionally, the Jodhpura"Gandhidham Superfast Express (Train No. 22483) on May 9, 2025, and its return service, Gandhidhama"Jodhpur Superfast Express (Train No. 22484) on May 10, 2025, have also been cancelled.

The Bhuja"Rajkota"Bhuj Special Train (Train No. 09446/09445) scheduled for May 10, 2025, has also been cancelled. In addition to the train cancellations, the Gujarat government has imposed a ban on flying drones and bursting firecrackers at any public or private events across the state until May 15, 2025.

The government has appealed to the public to adhere to these guidelines and avoid paying attention to rumors that may spread in such volatile times.

A key meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Gujarat has been held to assess the situation and reinforce the importance of public cooperation. Further, in Rajasthan, similar security measures have been put in place.

In border areas such as Jaisalmer, the flying of drones and bursting of firecrackers has been banned during events, including weddings, until May 15.

Additionally, a two-day blackout has been declared in Mount Abu on May 9 and 10, 2025, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tourists from other states, including Gujarat, have been asked to return to their hotels before 7 p.m. and ensure all lights are off during the blackout period.
Jaipur, May 9 : In recognition of the Indian Armed Forces' successful execution of Operation Sindoor which targeted terror facilities in Pakistan as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) on Friday organised a 'Jai Hind Yatra' from Congress Headquarters, Indira Gandhi Bhawan, to the Shaheed Smarak, here.

The march was held to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces personnel and to boost their morale amid the current situation.

A large number of Congress leaders and workers participated in the yatra, including Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully , Congress MLAs, state office bearers, former Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Boards and Corporations, and leaders of frontal organisations.

At the Shaheed Smarak, Congress leaders paid floral tributes to the martyrs and offered a solemn salute to the nationas armed forces. The Congress Seva Dal presented a formal guard of honour to the martyrs as a mark of respect.

"This yatra is a tribute to the courage and commitment of our armed forces who continue to protect our nation with unmatched dedication. The Congress Party stands united with the Army and the people of India in these testing times," said Swarnim Chaturvedi, General Secretary and Media In-Charge, RPCC.

The Yatra was taken out under the leadership of Govind Singh Dotasra, President of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee to honor the valor and bravery of the Indian Army and to encourage the morale of the armed forces of the country, said Chaturvedi, adding that the Armed Forces has successfully taken action under Operation Sindoor against the terrorists involved in the killing of innocent citizens of the country.

In honour of the valor and bravery displayed by the Armed Forces against the enemies of the country and to boost their morale, the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee took out this yatra from the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Headquarters Jaipur to Shaheed Smarak under the leadership of State President Govind Singh Dotasra.

A large number of Congress leaders and workers including party officials and public representatives participated in the Tiranga Yatra.

The Indian Armed Forces launched aOperation Sindoora, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India were planned and directed. These steps came in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed.
Mumbai, May 9 : The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday appealed to the party workers from the country especially from border states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pardesh and Gujarat to work for strengthening the unity of the country amid escalating conflict between India and Pakistan.

In an appeal, the party national general secretary Brijmohan Shrivastav said: "Let us encourage our soldiers and work to keep courage, peace and faith in the citizens of our area so that our role as political workers can be meaningful. Our national president Ajit Pawar and working president Praful Patel are keeping an eye on every activity. In such a situation, we must remain active in our respective areas as per their wishes and stay in touch with as many people as possible."

He said: "In this crucial phase of the war our Indian Army is facing the challenges of the enemies with courage and determination. It is our duty to work unitedly, vigilantly and courageously and with even more activism in our respective areas.

"In such a situation, as a responsible NCP workers and India, the need of the hour is that we prove that we are dedicated to the country while being vigilant and understanding our responsibility for the interests of India. During this time, it is also our responsibility to discourage rumours, fake news and fear mongering in discussions and social media and strongly refute them at every level."

Earlier, party working president Praful Patel, who attended the all party meeting convened by the Centre on Thursday, said: "The NCP, as part of the NDA government, fully supports the government's efforts in this crucial time. At the all-party meeting, we conveyed our commitment to stand by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and uphold national interest above all else."

He further added: "Stay strong, India. This is the time for unity -- to stand together and uplift the morale of our brave Indian Army. Let us pray for their strength and safety. Now is the moment to show the world the power of a united India. Jai Hind!"

Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar remarked: "The strength of the armed forces, political will and unity of the countrymen is 'Operation Sindoor'. I heartily congratulate the leadership of the Indian Air Force, Navy, Army and the soldiers who participated in 'Operation Sindoor' for India's strong stand against terrorism.The country has full faith in the capabilities of Indian soldiers and the entire country stands behind them in unity."
New Delhi, May 9 : India's Operation Sindoor has struck a decisive blow against the terrorist infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Bahawalpur, Pakistan -- a group long believed to have played a role in one of the darkest episodes in the post-9/11 world: the brutal killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

The operation, launched in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, was reportedly aimed at dismantling Pakistan and PoK-based terror sites, including that of a JeM facility deeply tied to multiple cross-border terror activities.

But for many, this was more than just strategic retaliation. It was a thread in a web woven two decades ago -- one that ties terror attacks, state complicity, and personal grief across generations and borders.

On X, Judea Pearl, father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, posted a pointed critique, accompanied by a photograph of a funeral procession for the JeM terrorists killed in the Bahawalpur strike. Pakistani Army officers and other Muslim leaders are seen standing in front of coffins.

"I wish these dignitaries could tell us: 'What exactly are you mourning? What role models you wish your children to revere? What have you learned from this man'?" Pearl wrote.

Pearl's anguish is not abstract. His son, Daniel, began working at The Wall Street Journal in 1990, eventually taking assignments that led him deep into the nexus of terrorism and intelligence in South Asia. In 2002, while investigating links between extremist groups and Pakistan's ISI, he was kidnapped and later beheaded by terrorists linked to JeM.

At the centre of Pearl's murder was Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British Pakistani militant with a chilling history. Once jailed in India for kidnapping Western tourists, Sheikh was released in 2000 in exchange for hostages during the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking. Within two years of his release, he lured Daniel Pearl to his death.

On Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the press: "Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was directly or indirectly responsible for the killing of Daniel Pearl."

"The real connection is through Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Pakistani jihadi who was held in India but was finally released in 2000. And he was the one who lured Daniel Pearl to his eventual murder. So, these are all connected figures, connected individuals, connected institutions. The attack on Bahawalpur, on that facility of JeM in Bahawalpur, is, I would say, a fitting part of this unfortunate incident," Misri said.

Operation Sindoor may go down in the books as another effective counter-terror victory, but for the Pearl family, and indeed for much of the world, it resonates on a far deeper level.

As images of the slain JeM operatives' funerals circulate, the question posed by Judea Pearl hangs heavily in the air: What exactly are you mourning?
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha gave details of the visit of EU foreign ministers to Lviv to participate in the meeting of EU foreign ministers and the meeting of the Core Group on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

"I am pleased to welcome High Representative Kaja Kallas and European foreign ministers in Lviv on Europe Day. Welcome, friends. This is a historical gathering at a historical time. It reflects Ukraines key role in defending European freedom and values," he wrote on the social network X.

The minister noted that he and his colleagues honored the memory of Ukrainian heroes who sacrificed their lives defending Ukraine from Russian aggression. Also, during the meeting of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with Kaja Kallas, they discussed further joint efforts to strengthen Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia, and promote Ukraine's accession to the EU.

"Two important events ahead: EU foreign ministers meeting and the Core Group on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine," Sybiha wrote.
Jaipur, May 9 : After the recent drone attacks in Pokhran in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, Pakistan has now targeted Barmer with drone strikes, an official said.

Within just half an hour, Pakistan carried out two separate drone attacks in Pokhran.

Indian air defence systems promptly responded, successfully shooting down the drones mid-air, the official added.

This escalation follows a series of missile and drone attacks by Pakistan on five Indian military bases across Rajasthan during the intervening night of May 7 and May 8 and again on the night of May 8.

These aerial threats were intercepted and neutralised by Indian defence forces.

In response to the latest drone threats, a red alert has been declared in Barmer and Sriganganagar.

A complete blackout has been enforced in the border districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sriganganagar, Phalodi, and Jodhpur.

In Jodhpur, the scheduled blackout at Friday midnight was advanced to 9 p.m., indicating the seriousness of the threat.

Sirens were sounded by the Air Force to alert the population in affected areas.

In Alwar, a ban has been imposed on flying drones during weddings and public events.

The District Collector has prohibited large gatherings and public functions involving large crowds.

In Pokhran, local markets were ordered to shut down by 4 p.m. on Friday.

Residents were advised to stay indoors after 6 p.m. on Friday.

By Friday evening, public announcements were made via loudspeakers by the administration, police and municipal authorities urging people to remain inside in their homes during the blackout.

After 5 p.m. on Friday, the town saw widespread closure of shops, deserted roads and widespread compliance with the blackout instructions.

The rapid succession of drone strikes and the imposition of blackouts reflect heightened tension along the India-Pakistan border.

With escalating threats, local administrations are taking proactive measures to ensure civilian safety and maintain order.

Vigilance remains high, and further security alerts may follow depending on the evolving situation, said officials.
Gandhinagar, May 10 : Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel conducted a comprehensive review of the state's healthcare preparedness, particularly in border districts, through a video conference held in Gandhinagar.

Gandhinagar, May 10 (IANS) Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel conducted a comprehensive review of the stateas healthcare preparedness, particularly in border districts, through a video conference held in Gandhinagar.

As a border state connected to Pakistan by land, sea, and air, Gujarat has taken proactive steps to ensure full readiness of its healthcare infrastructure.

The Health Minister directed officials to assess and strengthen all critical medical services in districts along the border, with a special focus on emergency response systems.

He emphasised the importance of having advance arrangements in place, including adequate supplies of medicines, availability of hospital beds, functional ICUs, and an uninterrupted blood supply.

Patel instructed senior health department officials to collect detailed, ground-level information on all existing medical facilities -- from Primary Health Centers to district hospitals and medical college-affiliated institutions --to ensure they are fully equipped to handle any crisis.

The session saw participation from Health Secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi and other senior officials.

Together, they discussed the stateas preparedness to tackle any emergency scenario, ensuring all systems are alert, coordinated, and capable of delivering essential healthcare services without delay.

Patel further stressed that all border and interior districts must maintain a heightened level of alertness and operational efficiency to respond swiftly in case of any escalation in tensions.

Meanwhile, Pakistan launched between 300 and 400 drones in coordinated overnight attacks targeting Indian military installations across nearly 36 locations.

The strikes, which occurred between the night of May 7 and 8, marked one of the most extensive drone offensives witnessed in the region.

Addressing a joint press conference on Friday evening, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi confirmed the violation of Indian airspace and a series of coordinated intrusions by Pakistani drones. "The Pakistani army attempted to infiltrate Indian airspace multiple times across the entire western sector with the clear intent of targeting military infrastructure," she said.

"In total, 300 to 400 drones were deployed to strike or infiltrate 36 locations, ranging from the northern region of Leh to the southernmost stretch at Sir Creek," Colonel Qureshi added.
Kavaratti : , May 10 (IANS) In a swift emergency medical evacuation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) have airlifted a child from the Lakshadweep braving challenging weather conditions on Friday night.

The 13-year-old girl, suffering from sepsis, septic shock, severe anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia, was airlifted from Agatti Island in Lakshadweep to Kochi, Kerala, in ICG Dornier aircraft.

The patient along with medical escorts have been evacuated to Kochi for further medical treatment.

The successful evacuation is a testimony of the ICG's commitment towards ensuring safety of citizens, even in farther islands, under all weather conditions.

The Indian Coast Guard maintains active presence in the Lakshadweep Islands and has always been prepared to extend support to the Union Territory administration and islanders in emergencies.

In the year 2025, ICG has conducted two similar medical evacuations, on February 8 and February 25, there by living up to its motto 'We Protect'.

ICG is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.

It was started on February 1, 1977, and formally established on August 18, 1978, by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India. It operates under the Ministry of Defence.

The ICG works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs), and the Coastal Police of the State Police Forces, and the Central Armed Police Forces.

The ICG has the Western and Eastern Seaboard, both commanded by three-star officers designated Coast Guard Commander Western Seaboard and Coast Guard Commander Eastern Seaboard.

The seaboards are in turn divided into four regions. A fifth region, Andaman and Nicobar Region reports directly to the DGICG. Each region is headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector-General. Each of the regions is further divided into multiple districts, typically covering a coastal state or a union territory.
Agartala/Imphal, May 10 : As part of their nationwide programme, opposition Congress on Friday organised a 'Jai Hind Tiranga Yatra' in northeastern states in support of the Indian Army's determined action under 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terror hideouts in Pakistan.

The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee organised the ''Jai Hind Tiranga Yatra'' in Agartala as part of the party's countrywide campaign to express unwavering support for the Indian Armed Forces.

The rally, held across major parts of the capital city, witnessed a large turnout of Congress leaders, workers, and supporters marching with the national flag, raising spirited slogans like "Hindustan Zindabad" and displaying Tricolour banners in a show of patriotism and unity.

It also seeks to rally citizens behind the government and military in the wake of cross-border retaliatory strikes carried out by Indian forces in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Congress leaders lauded the bravery of the Armed forces and called for national solidarity during this critical time, as political parties across the spectrum continue to express support for India's military actions against terror threats.

In Manipur, hundreds of Congress workers led by state President Keisham Meghachandra Singh and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh took out a rally, 'Jai Hind Yatra', to express harmony with the Indian Armed forces who carried out the 'Operation Sindoor'.

The rally was also held to honour and boost the morale of the armed forces. Congress workers holding the Indian flag covered several kilometers in Imphal city during the rally, which started and culminated at the Congress state headquarters at BT Road.

"Today's rally with the National flag was organised under the directives of the central leaders to show the party's solidarity with the Indian armed forces," Ibobi Singh told the media. Congress wholeheartedly supports the Central government's action against the terrorists, he added.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the state Congress organised a 'Tiranga Yatra' in the state capital Itanagar to express solidarity with the Indian armed forces that carried out 'Operation Sindoor' to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

Arunachal state Congress vice-president Toko Mina, senior party leaders and members of the party's frontal wings joined in the rally which started from Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan and ended at Indira Gandhi Park.

Hundreds of Congress leaders and workers joined the rally, chanting slogans against Pakistan and lauding the armed forces for their significant action following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Mina said that the Congress party stands with the government in its fight against terrorism.

Mina said that the Indian Armed forces delivered a befitting reply by striking nine terrorist strongholds in Pakistan and dismantling their terror launch pads.

Under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the party has extended full support to the government's actions against terrorism, the Congress leader stated.

The Congress held similar 'Jai Hind Tiranga Yatra' in other northeastern states.
Chandigarh, May 10 : The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, gave his approval to include war and terrorist-affected victims under the Farishtey scheme, a government spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said that in order to provide immediate hassle-free medical treatment to victims of war and terrorist activities in government-empanelled private hospitals and to encourage the public to bring the victims to the nearest hospitals, coverage under the Farishtey Scheme of 2024 has been expanded.

This will provide coverage for victims of war and terrorist activities, ensuring comprehensive support and relief to affected individuals.

This expansion reinforces the state government's commitment to help those facing extraordinary hardships due to such events.

The primary objective of this decision is to lower the mortality and morbidity rates resulting from injuries sustained in war and terrorist activities.

The government aims to provide immediate, hassle-free treatment in the available government and its empanelled private hospitals.

Additionally, to encourage the people to come forth and help such victims so that timely treatment may save the lives.

This scheme will be incentivised with cash rewards, commendation certificates describing them as 'Farishtey' (angel) and providing immunity from legal complications and police inquiries.

For the Farishtey scheme, the state government has mapped government hospitals on all major roads within 25-km radius.

In view of the current tensions between India and Pakistan, the state government has issued directives, cancelling all leaves of Fire Brigade staff and ordering round-the-clock deployment at sensitive locations.

An official statement quoting Local Government Minister Ravjot Singh instructed officials to conduct mock drills, ensure all equipment is fully functional and maintain constant communication with the Army authorities for swift response in case of any emergency.

Officials have been directed to remain on high alert with their mobile phones active at all times.

He also instructed officials to study the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) manuals to ensure timely and effective relief operations.

Additionally, local vehicle repair workshops will be engaged to provide emergency maintenance services, even during nighttime, if required.

--IANS

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New Delhi, May 10 : The Ministry of Defence said on Saturday in a press statement that drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, which also includes suspected armed drones.

The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala, it said in the press statement.

A Ministry Spokesperson said: "Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in injuries to members of a local family. The injured have been provided medical assistance and the area has been sanitised by security forces."

"The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. The situation is under close and constant watch & prompt action is being taken wherever necessary."

The Ministry of Defence also urged citizens, especially in the border areas, to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities, adding that while there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential.

Earlier on Friday, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistan's "farcical denials" on its attempts to target military installations in India were an example of its "duplicity".

He also added that India had responded "proportionately" and "adequately" to Pakistan's attempts.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army said that Pakistan had sent 300-400 drones in 36 locations during the intervening night of May 8 to May 9, adding that preliminary probe showed that Turkey's SONGAR drones had been used in the strikes.

Colonel Qureshi said that kinetic and non-kinetic methods had been used to "neutralise" the drones, adding that a Pakistani UAV had also tried to attack a military station in Bathinda, but the attempt was thwarted by the Indian Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval and Chiefs of all Armed Forces.

One woman was killed and four other civilians were left injured on Thursday night as Pakistan intensified its artillery fire across the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Patna, May 10 : On the occasion of Maharana Pratap's birth anniversary, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised a grand 'Rana Bhamashah Sammelan' at the Bapu Auditorium in Patna to honour the legendary Rajput warrior and inspire patriotic unity during a period of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

Though Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to inaugurate the event via video conference, he could not attend due to pressing national security meetings.

However, he sent a message expressing his support and regard for the attendees at the event.

Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu, Bihar's Public Health and Engineering Department Minister recalled Maharana Pratap's resistance against Mughal rule, praising his love for people of all communities and animals alike.

He stressed the importance of unity and democracy, saying, "This is not lathi-tantra; everyone must be taken along."

He said that India's Armed forces have dealt a severe blow to Pakistan, adding, "Pakistan is crying for help -- soon, it will not find anyone to even give it water."

Vijay Kumar Sinha, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister emphasised Maharana Pratap's sacrifice and his symbolic resistance by eating grass roti during adversity.

He warned against societal divisions and called for unity across castes and religions.

He urged the public to rise against threats to India's integrity with the same spirit Maharana Pratap displayed.

Dilip Jaiswal, Bihar BJP President, linked 'Operation Sindoor' and India's military response in Pahalgam and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to Maharana Pratap's valour.

He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming they are carrying forward Maharana Pratap's legacy.

BJP leader Jaiswal said, "Even today, we are in a state of war. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are fighting for the nation just as Maharana Pratap did centuries ago."

Samrat Choudhary, Bihar's Deputy CM, described the occasion as both a celebration and a lesson for Pakistan.

He compared the historical duo of Maharana Pratap and Bhamashah to PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the nation is moving forward under their leadership.

He declared, "The day war is announced, Pakistan's name and trace will be erased within 48 hours."

He called on the youth to balance valour with education, urging public support for the Indian Armed Forces.

The event served as a rallying call for unity, courage, and unwavering support for the Indian government and Armed Forces amid ongoing cross-border tensions.

BJP leaders repeatedly evoked Maharana Pratap's legacy to instill patriotic fervour and national pride.
Dharamsala, May 10 : Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, wrote to Pope Leo XIV, extending his warmest greetings to him on his election to leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

"I am very happy to have met several of your predecessors and enjoyed friendly conversations with them," he wrote on Friday.

"Over more than four decades, I have also participated in meaningful exchanges with representatives of different religious traditions, my Christian brothers and sisters among them."

"With a firm belief in the oneness of humanity, I consider promoting inter-religious harmony to be one of the principal commitments of my own life. Indeed, I was very moved to have taken part in the major inter-faith meeting organised by Pope John Paul II in Assisi in 1986."

"In a period when the world is witnessing so many challenges, your election brings new hope not just to the Catholic community, but to people everywhere who are seeking a happier life in a more compassionate, peaceful world."

The Dalai Lama concluded his letter with his prayers and good wishes.

The Dalai Lama has met the heads of the Vatican over the decades; he first met Pope Paul VI in 1973.

He went on to meet Pope John Paul II on multiple occasions, with at least five meetings taking place between 1980 and 1990.

The Buddhist leader also met Pope Benedict XVI (2005a"2013) in a "low key meeting" in October 2006 with the Vatican cautious of its interaction with the Dalai Lama against China's ire.

His successor Pope Francis never met the Dalai Lama, despite the latter expressing desire to meet him during a 2014 visit to Rome.

The Vatican said that a private meeting could not take place due to the "delicate situation" with China, despite the two leaders sharing common values on compassion, peace, and environmental stewardship.
Patna, May 10 : In light of the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, a high-level review meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of Pratyaya Amrit, Additional Chief Secretary of Bihar's Disaster Management Department, to assess and enhance civil defence preparedness across the state, officials said.

The meeting, held on Friday with Director General of Civil Defence Directorate Paresh Saxena, focused on improving citizen safety measures, especially in border and vulnerable districts during emergencies.

During the meeting, officials emphasised the civil defence volunteer strength and advocated for the enhancement of their numbers in border districts, including East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj, as well as in districts already designated for civil defence by the Central government -- Purnia, Katihar, Begusarai, Patna, and the international tourism hub Gaya and Rajgir.

The training will focus on equipping volunteers for rapid response, relief, rescue operations, public awareness and community capacity building in coordination with district administrations.

Youth from organisations such as the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra, and Scout and Guide will be recruited and trained under the Disaster Mitra initiative.

A proposal was made to increase the honorarium for civil defence volunteers from Rs 400 to Rs 750 per day, reflecting the increased responsibility and demand during this tense period.

Additional youth across Bihar interested in volunteering for civil defence can contact their district civil defence offices or district magistrates.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Joint Secretary Nadeemul Gaffar Siddiqui, Special Officers Sandeep Kumar and Avinash Kumar, and representatives of associated youth and defence organisations.

The tension between India and Pakistan escalated since the Pahalgam attack on April 22 this year.

In response, all three wings of Indian defence forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' on Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7 and destroyed nine terrorist camps.
Kolkata, May 10 : The West Bengal Police have said that two suspected members from Bangladesh-based fundamentalist group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been arrested from Nalhati in Birbhum district.

The two persons arrested in this connection on Friday have been identified as Aazmal Hossain (28) and Saheb Ali Khan (27).

While Hossain is a resident of Nalhati and Saheb Ali Khan is a resident of Murarai, both in Birbhum district.

District police sources said that they were mainly operating from Nalhati with the intention and brainwashing Muslim youths from the district to join the different sleeper cells of JMB.

"They did that by silently and selectively distributing jihadi messages among the youths and they used to spread these messages through encrypted messages on social media."

Both the accused were presented at a district court in Birbhum on Friday and were remanded to 14 days of police custody.

District police sources said that initial investigation revealed that these arrested youths also had plans to create communal tensions in different pockets of the state using these brainwashed youths.

Different digital and paper documents have been seized from their possession which had proved their involvement behind the anti-national activities as well as their association with JMB.

The policemen have also seized Islamic literature published in Bangladesh from the possession of the accused duo.

However, their arrests have made their neighbours quite surprised since both were known in the locality as extremely well-mannered and not involved in any kind of local troubles.

Recently, after the Union Home Ministry received information from intelligence agencies about the alleged role of illegal Bangladeshi intruders behind the violence and vandalism at minority-dominated Murshidabad district over violent protests against the newly-promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The names of three Bangladesh-based fundamentalist groups are possible since all these groups had been quite active for some time in this district that shares international borders with Bangladesh.

These three groups are JMB, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT), and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).
Finding suitable premises to establish pharmaceutical warehouses in frontline areas remains one of the major challenges in ensuring access to medications for residents of these territories, said Iryna Gab, pharmacy coordinator for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Ukraine.

"One of the main difficulties we face is securing warehouse spaces that meet the necessary safety standards and allow for proper storage of medications. Many medicines require refrigeration, so power outages and attacks on the energy infrastructure pose additional complications," she told Interfax-Ukraine.

Gab noted that MSF operates along the entire front line  across Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions  where mobile clinics and emergency response teams are deployed. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists from MSF constantly monitor the medical supply situation in these areas.

"When we visit frontline communities, we often find that many medical facilities and pharmacies have been partially or completely destroyed by shelling. Access to essential healthcare services and medications for those who remain is extremely limited. That's why, after a doctor's consultation, we prescribe and provide necessary medications free of charge to those in need. These are usually treatments for chronic conditions, pain relief, and similar therapies," she said.

Gab stressed that "elderly residents in particular face extreme hardship, as many are unwilling to evacuate, not wanting to leave behind their homes and land, where they have lived for decades."

"They are forced to survive under constant shelling, without the ability to reach a pharmacy or clinic in time. Our mobile clinics travel to these settlements near the front line, and after a medical examination, provide the necessary medications. We've encountered difficult cases  people with epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, or diabetes who need continuous medication but can't get it due to the shelling," she added.

In 2024, MSF provided nearly EUR 0.5 million worth of medications to Ukrainians through mobile clinics, emergency services, and donations to hospitals, according to Gab.

In the early days of the war, she said, it was critically important to help the Ministry of Health restore medicine supply chains. Many routes were blocked due to intense fighting, so MSF organized deliveries from Brussels  home to one of its operational centers  and transported ambulances and mobile clinics from Brussels and another center in Geneva, Switzerland.

She emphasized that currently "there are virtually no completely safe zones in Ukraine  missile and drone attacks occur across the entire country."

"That's why we try to distribute medication stockpiles across multiple locations, rather than keeping everything in one place, to reduce the risk of complete loss. At the moment, we mostly work with foreign-made medicines sourced from reliable suppliers that meet strict European quality standards. It is critically important to us that all medications provided to patients are safe and effective," Gab said.
In the latest blow to professional research and the literary and arts community, the Trump administration fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on May 8. She was succeeded in the position on an interim basis by Robert Newlen, who'd been serving as the interim director of the Congressional Research Service, over the weekend, before he in turn was replaced by new acting Librarian of Congress Todd Blanche, President Donald Trumps personal attorney and current deputy attorney general of the United States.

Tonight, the White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position, a Library of Congress spokesperson confirmed in an email to PW. No reason for Hayden's removal was provided, and no further information has been announced regarding the librarys staffing or budget.

Hayden has led the Library of Congress since 2016, when she was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed and sworn in by the U.S. Senate. She was the first woman and first Black person to head the nations library, a federal resource whose vast on-site and online collections are the research arm of the U.S. Congress and an information hub for organizations and individuals worldwide. Hayden is a past CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, and from 2003 to 2004 served as president of the American Library Association.

With the dismissal of Hayden, the Library of Congress's programming with publishers and authors, as well as the future of the agency itself, are cast into uncertainty. The firing comes amid an unprecedented gutting of federal arts and culture institutions at the direction of President Donald Trump, including the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. That latter institution, which is responsible for statutory Grants to States and competitive grant funding for libraries, archives, and museums of all sizes, has been drastically curtailed by an executive order, and its fate currently rests with the courts following two federal lawsuits.

Ranking Democratic members of the Senate and House appropriations committees weighed in almost immediately with statements condemning Hayden's termination. Senator Martin Heinrich (DN.M.) shared a screenshot of the email dismissal, timestamped 6:56 p.m. and signed by Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel. No rationale is given in the email, which reads in its entirety: Carla, On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.

Hayden brought the Library of Congress to the people, with initiatives that reached into rural communities and made the Library accessible to all Americans, in person and online, Heinrich wrote in his statement. He contrasted Haydens service with the assault on libraries by the Trump administration. While President Trump wants to ban books and tell Americans what to reador not to read at all, Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone, Heinrich wrote.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.), the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, issued a statement calling the removal "unjust" and "a disgrace" that represents the president's "ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history, and turn back the clock." Calling the Library of Congress is "the People's Library," Jeffries added: "There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later."

House Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) likewise expressed shock at what she called the abrupt termination. DeLauro referred to Hayden as a guardian of our nations truth and intellectual legacy whose tenure has been marked by a steadfast commitment to accessibility, modernization, and the democratization of knowledge. Her dismissal is not just an affront to her historic service but a direct attack on the independence of one of our most revered institutions.

On Friday morning, leaders in the library world and publishing business also weighed in on the dismissal. Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association, wrote in a statement that the dismissal is "an insult to the scope and breadth of work Dr. Hayden has undertaken in her role leading the Library of Congress." Hohl added the reminder that Hayden was confirmed to lead the agency "with overwhelming bipartisan support"; the Republican-led Senate confirmed Hayden by a vote of 7418, with eight not voting, in 2016.

"By throwing open the doors of the venerable Library of Congress to welcome everyone, Dr. Hayden has revealed what the highest library in the land, and what every library, is: a bastion of knowledge and a beacon of opportunity," Hohl wrote. She urged ALA members and the public to contact their representatives about continued federal funding for libraries, which is slated to be cut in the FY26 White House budget proposal.

John Chrastka, executive director of the library advocacy organization EveryLibrary, called Haydens dismissal a direct attack on the independence of the Library of Congress and against Congress itself. He added, Dr. Hayden has served Congress and the public with integrity. President Trumps action is purely political, and Congress must respond not just to defend Dr. Haydens legacy but to preserve its own authority. These are sad days and difficult days for people like us who believe in what libraries do and who librarians are.

The Library of Congress offers services to publishers including copublishing projects; hosts a national book festival with prominent guest authors; and awards prizes in fiction, poetry, and literacy each year. It advocates for community education in its Center for the Book program, with 56 affiliate locations across the U.S., and provides free accessibility services including braille and audiobooks through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. The Librarian of Congress also has the duty to name both the U.S. poet laureate and the national ambassador for young peoples literature.

Hayden appointed Ada Limon the 24th poet laureate in July 2022, and Limon has served a historic two terms in the role, visiting national parks as part of a poetry project conducted in cooperation with the National Park Service and sending one of her own poems into space on NASAs Europa Clipper mission. Limon concluded her service in April, and gave a final lecture on May 2. No new poet laureate has been announced.

Dr. Carla Hayden is the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation," Limon told PW. She promoted books, libraries, and curiosity while dedicating herself to serving both sides of the aisle with genuine grace. I am heartbroken as the cruelty of this administration continues with seemingly no end in sight." Limon said that Hayden "is the best of us and deserves the utmost respect. I hope people are paying attention. What we once feared is already happening.

In partnership with the nonprofit literacy organization Every Child a Reader, Hayden also appointed Mac Barnett the national ambassador of young peoples literature in February. Barnett, who took over the role from Meg Medina, is scheduled to serve through 2026. Describing herself in an email to PW as white hot with rage, Medina said that the removal of Dr. Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress is a grave mistake. She added: Dr. Hayden is utterly beloved by her staff and by librarians across this country. Her brilliance, her energy and her vision have made the Library more vibrant and inviting for all Americans. Having had the honor to work with her, I can honestly say that she is nothing short of a national treasure. Her firing is a disgraceful act and one that should concern everyone.

This article has been updated with further information.
Photos by Kenda Lenseigne

I first met Tom in 2011 at the MGM Ironman 3-gun match, a legendary, high round count blast fest in the Idaho desert. We bullsh*tted between stages, hit it off, and the bromance continues to this day. At the time, hed just returned from a deployment, and was 230 pounds of tattoos and hate, the archetypal Special Forces senior NCO whod been blown up twice and shot once, recovering and returning to duty each time.

Evidently, the only thing that could kill Tom  was Tom.

Fast-forward a couple of years and we ran into each other at some firearms industry event or other. Hed lost 60 pounds and was moving like a 90-year-old-man. Whats wrong with you, dude? I asked. Thats the trouble, he replied. No one knows.

If youve ever seen someone waste away in front of your eyes, you know what a punch to the gut it can be, and I was pretty sure I was going to be shopping for a new dark suit and black tie in the next couple of months.

Fortunately, at that same Idaho 3-gun match was EJ Redding, who became part of the Tom circle. EJ is a force of nature, a grizzly bear of a man whos a Montana potato farmer for most of the year and a state lobbyist in the offseason. Knowing people who have the ear of politicians is occasionally a good thing, and EJ interceded on Toms behalf, getting a tame senator to lean on the VA, who wound up sending him to the Mayo Clinic in Cleveland.

It turned out that Tom was dying of heavy metal poisoning. Whether it was through years of running suppressed Mk18s in shoot houses or through exposure on target sites in sandy places, his levels of lead and other heavy metals were off the charts.

It turns out, among shooters, its not as uncommon as youd think.

Getting sweaty and dirty is all part of the fun of training hard. But if youre covered in powder residue at the end of the day, take the time to remove as much of it as possible, as soon as possible. Dont take this crap home to your kids.

ITS SEEMINGLY EVERYWHERE

Lead is used in many industries, and while levels of lead contamination in the United States have come way down in the past 50 years, theres still a risk of encountering contamination outside of the range. Since its use as an anti-knock agent in gasoline was discontinued in 1996, the biggest source of lead compounds in the environment has been removed.

And one upside to being one of the most widely distributed and longest-used poisons is that we have a pretty good handle on symptoms and treatments. Or at least we used to. Because the average citizen nowadays has such limited lead exposure, testing for heavy metals is usually not included in annual physicals  and the medical community has lost the tribal knowledge we used to have regarding heavy metal poisoning.

Once lead gets into your system, it takes some serious doctor-assisted effort to get it out.

Unfortunately, symptoms can be varied, diverse, and shared with many other causes, which can make diagnosis more difficult, especially if a physician lacks experience in dealing with heavy metals. Chronic lead exposure can lead to fatigue, problems with sleep, headaches, and anemia, as well as a lack of concentration, depression, nausea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, loss of coordination, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

Lead concentration is measured in micrograms per deciliter of blood. An ideal concentration would be zero, but the CDC has set the bar for a concerning blood lead level at 10ug/dl  above this and you should get treatment. Most symptoms usually start at around 40ug/dl, and things get worse from there.

HEAVY METAL SOURCES IN AMMO

In its solid, metallic form, the risk posed by lead is negligible, unless youre dumb enough to swallow it. Its only when it reacts with other elements to form soluble lead salts that it becomes a problem, as these can then enter the bloodstream.

Hydrochloric acid in your stomach will react with metallic lead to produce lead hydrochloride, so make sure you take the usual precautions to minimize exposure when visiting the range.

Dont eat or smoke until youve thoroughly washed your hands, and if youve spent all day on an indoor range, at least change your outer clothes before returning home. Lead dust will be present on your clothing, and youll be exposing your family to it when you walk in the door.

Thirty-five to 40 percent of inhaled lead dust will be deposited in the tiny air sacs of your lungs, with the remainder being exhaled. Of that amount, 95 percent will be absorbed into the bloodstream, and 15 percent of that will be deposited in your bones and organs.

Lead salts are commonly used as priming compounds and hence are present in the propellant gases created every time you press the trigger. If you shoot suppressed, youre going to be exposed to more gas than uncivilized heathens, so if your eyes are watering after sending a few rounds downrange from your favorite AR, it might be time to think about a better charging handle and an adjustable gas block. Or switching to a piston gun.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

So, what do you do if you think you might have been exposed to heavy metals? Get tested, right?

Not so fast.

If you go to your primary care provider and ask them to refer you to be tested, its almost a certainty that theyll sign you up for a regular workplace-type testing protocol, which measures the levels of toxins in your bloodstream.

Normal blood level testing for chronic exposure to heavy metals is next to useless, explained Dr. Yu-Ree Hyun, a naturopathic doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona. Because your body cant process and excrete heavy metals very well, they end up being stored in bone, organs, and fat tissues. In order to test with any degree of accuracy, you have to knock them out of the tissues and into the bloodstream  we use the same procedure for treatment.

Chelation therapy is a process whereby chemicals are introduced to the body that bind to lead and other heavy metals to form stable compounds, which can then be processed and excreted through either urine or feces.

As this graph indicates, the authors lead levels are off the charts, due in large part to a lifetime of shooting.

Usually administered through a series of intravenous infusions, its similar to chemotherapy in cancer patients and can take the same amount of time, with comparable side effects. In milder cases, oral chelators can be taken. Yes, youre going to feel like sh!t for the duration of treatment, but its better than long-term illness or death.

Tom wound up undergoing chelation therapy for almost two years, after testing showed blood lead levels of 3300ug, as well as concentrations of barium, antimony, mercury, thallium and tin, which should have killed a normal human. He has follow-up treatments every six months but is back to picking up 500 pounds off the floor and spends the best part of his retirement with his two young kids, teaching them outdoor and survival skills, taking them to wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes, and, yes, shooting.

In case you were wondering about the meaning of the headline of this article, its the IDC-10 Diagnosis Code for the heavy metal challenge test. Your physician is probably unaware of it; share it with them and ask to be tested. Unless you take agency for your own health, youre not going to find out if youre being poisoned by the activity you love.
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University of Georgia veterinary medicine student Maddy Murray received a competitive scholarship from Aurora Pharmaceutical, a veterinary pharmaceutical company that manufactures and distributes high-quality animal products to veterinarians, livestock producers and pet owners. The fifth annual DVM Student Scholarship Program allocates $90,000 to 28 of the best third-year veterinary students from across the U.S.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, announced the adoption of the 17th package of sanctions against Russia within a month.

Kallas said at a briefing in Lviv on Friday that Russia showed no interest in peace, while Ukraine had already declared and agreed to an unconditional ceasefire more than two months earlier. She stated that there could only be one response: to truly make Russia want peace as well. This, she explained, means that pressure on Russia needs to be increased and Ukraine needs to be strengthened so it can defend itself. She added that they had proposed the 17th package of sanctions that week and hoped to adopt it at the Foreign Affairs Council that month.
As the semester draws to a close, The Red & Black's newsroom leaders  Editor in Chief Allison Mawn, Managing Editor Jesse Wood and Deputy Editor of Standards and Practices Ellis Goud  reflect on the defining moments, personal growth and enduring impact of their time in student journalism. Their heartfelt goodbyes offer gratitude, encouragement and a glimpse into the legacy they leave behind.
'India enjoys conventional superiority, but nuclear deterrence imposes clear boundaries.'

IMAGE: Army personnel examine the remains of a projectile discovered in Makhanwindi village near Amritsar on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo

As India-Pakistan tensions escalate to dangerous levels, the crisis is unfolding within a far more complex and volatile geopolitical environment than in previous decades.

In the concluding part of his interview with Rediff's Utkarsh Mishra, Dr Walter C Ladwig III, associate professor of international relations at King's College London, says that while the United States remains aligned with India, its diminished diplomatic capacity in South Asia has raised questions about its ability to meaningfully influence events.

China, on the other hand, continues to deepen ties with Islamabad, even as its own interests are threatened by instability in the region.

Another recent development in the region is the deterioration of ties between Bangladesh and India. Some provocative statements have emerged from Dhaka, even suggesting Chinese involvement in India's northeast. Does this limit India's strategic room for manoeuvre on its western front?

Tensions with Bangladesh introduce friction, but they are unlikely to constrain India's western posture in a meaningful way.

The military balance in the east remains comfortably in India's favour. However, inflammatory rhetoric from Dhaka -- especially if amplified by Chinese messaging -- creates a risk of distraction or grey-zone pressure in the northeast.

This does not limit India's capacity, but it does require political attention and intelligence resources that might otherwise be focused westward.

The bigger constraint on India is the need to maintain sufficient forces on the Chinese frontier.

In the context of ongoing US-China rivalry -- with Washington more aligned with India and Beijing with Pakistan -- what roles do you see these powers playing in the current crisis?

This crisis unfolds at a time when both the United States and China are strategically invested in South Asia -- but neither is well-positioned to shape its trajectory meaningfully.

Washington remains diplomatically aligned with India, and will likely continue to shield New Delhi from multilateral censure to a degree.

Yet unlike in 2019, when the US quietly backed India's right to retaliate, the current administration has issued standard calls for restraint from both sides.

This reflects concern over escalation, yes -- but also a deeper problem: The US lacks both the personnel and policy bandwidth to exert meaningful influence in the region.

At present, there is no confirmed American ambassador in either Delhi or Islamabad. Senior South Asia posts at the State Department remain unfilled. The regional bureau is depleted.

And years of institutional expertise -- particularly in South Asia strategy -- have been hollowed out by funding cuts, disillusionment, and attrition.

To make matters worse, what remains of this expertise is being gutted by Elon Musk's ludicrous DOGE program -- a vanity project masquerading as a digital innovation agenda, but in practice an exercise in institutional vandalism undertaken by someone who doesn't even understand how the US government works.

The loss of career diplomats and regional experts to shrink the size of the government has come at the expense of real-world crisis management.

It is hard to overstate the absurdity of it: At a moment of real geopolitical danger, South Asia desks are being cleared to accommodate an erratic billionaire's ignorant fixation.

In short, while Washington may have opinions, it presently lacks a coherent interagency response team for South Asia.

China, for all its strategic flaws, at least has a working foreign policy bureaucracy.

While Pakistan has faced terrorism targeting Chinese interests, many observers don't distinguish this from anti-India terrorism. But isn't there a fundamental difference -- especially since Pakistan has a strong incentive to curb anti-China militancy, but arguably less so in the case of anti-India groups? Do you agree?

Absolutely -- and it's both strategic and operational.

Attacks on Chinese personnel and infrastructure in Pakistan represent a direct threat to core economic and diplomatic interests.

China is not only Pakistan's largest strategic investor but a guarantor of essential economic lifelines through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

As such, Pakistan has a strong incentive to act swiftly against anti-China militancy, often deploying elite units, conducting kinetic raids, and establishing dedicated security corridors.

In contrast, anti-India terrorist groups have historically operated in a more permissive environment.

Despite rhetorical shifts in Islamabad and some pressure on groups by previous army chiefs, under General Munir the underlying calculus is back to the bad old days: Groups targeting India are still seen, in some quarters, as retaining strategic utility, particularly with regard to Kashmir.

Even when proscribed, enforcement against these networks has remained inconsistent-- reflecting both political ambiguity and selective prioritisation.

That said, it is important not to overstate Pakistan's ability to suppress anti-China violence either.

Attacks on Chinese nationals and assets continue to occur -- not because of political indulgence, but because of limitations in the reach, training, and coordination of Pakistani security forces.

Militants in Balochistan and elsewhere have proven adept at exploiting gaps in the state's counterinsurgency posture.

So while the intent to protect Chinese interests exists at the highest levels, the capacity to do so consistently remains uneven.

In short, the distinction between how Pakistan treats anti-China versus anti-India terrorism is real -- but it is shaped not only by political will, but by the limits of State capacity. Where Islamabad cannot -- or chooses not to -- act decisively, the result is persistent instability and asymmetric risk for its neighbours and partners alike.

If this crisis were to escalate into a full-scale war, what would that entail for both India and Pakistan? Could we witness a repeat of 1971 -- that is, the possibility of Pakistan breaking apart again?

Full-scale war would be catastrophic.

India enjoys conventional superiority, but nuclear deterrence imposes clear boundaries.

While Pakistan faces serious internal strains -- economic, political, and social -- a replay of 1971 is improbable.

Unlike East Pakistan in 1971, there is no secessionist movement with the same degree of international isolation or geographic separation.

A war might unify Pakistan in the short term. That said, prolonged conflict or decisive military defeat could deepen regional fragmentation over time.
'The way our President was greeted, that itself shows how far India has come.'

'People were aware of who she is, people know who our prime minister is.'

'Everybody knows India now and everybody respects India.'

IMAGE: Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

As white smoke bellowed out of the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, May 8, 2025, marked a historic day for Catholics the world over.

Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost was revealed as the new Pope, making him the first American pontiff. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

The 69 year old's ascendency to the head of the Vatican came after two-day voting at the papal conclave, where 135 members of the College of Cardinals assembled.

Nearly three weeks earlier, the Catholic community fell into mourning with the most revered Pope Francis' passing.

The Argentinian, called 'The People's Pope', passed away, aged 88, on Easter Monday, April 21, after a stroke, followed by a cardiac arrest.

He was accorded a State funeral on April 26, and laid to rest as 250,000 people, including world leaders and global dignitaries, descended on the Vatican to pay their final respects to the late pontiff.

President Droupadi Murmu led the Indian delegation to the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral, Among the Rashtrapati's delegation was Goa Assembly Deputy Speaker Joshua Peter De Souza.

"Considering the kind of Pope he was, the way he connected with people, the way his nature was so simple, and to see the energy that was there at the Vatican, and to be able to go in and just be there and be part of it, it goes to show the kind of love and affection that he had from all over the Catholic community, " the 36-year-old Mapusa MLA tells Rediff's Norma Astrid Godinho hours before Cardinal Prevost was elected as Pope Francis' successor.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu, flanked by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, right, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju pays homage to Pope Francis before his funeral. Photographs: Kind courtesy President of India

What was your reaction on being selected as a member of the Indian delegation to the Vatican for the pope's funeral?

I was quite surprised that my name had made it to that list of where only three people from across India were to be part of the delegation that was going for the funeral.

I got very emotional considering what an honour it was to not only represent the Catholic community, but my state of Goa, my constituency and all the people we represent, not only in Goa but the entire country as a whole.

To be part of Her Excellency The President's delegation, to be able to fly with her in her personal aircraft and be part of such a big, big solemn event at the Vatican, it was quite emotional.

I felt like there was a huge weight on me. The love, prayers and emotions of all the people of Goa that I had to carry with me to make this journey all the way to Italy.

IMAGE: President Murmu and Joshua de Souza, right, pay their respects to Pope Francis. Photograph: Kind courtesy Joshua de Souza/Facebook

What was it like to be present at the Vatican during Pope Francis' funeral?

I have been to the Vatican before. I have been there for a happy occasion, for a celebration, when the cardinals (Archbishop of Goa Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao and Archbishop Anthony Poola of Hyderabad) were inducted in 2022.

But to be there for the passing of His Holiness and to see him in a casket was extremely emotional.

It was a once in a lifetime experience to be there physically and to understand how much love and respect Pope Francis had from the global community.

What memorable moments from the ceremony have stayed with you?

The fact that they included so many languages during the service. The service was primarily in Latin but each reading was done in a different language. The inclusion of various languages was extremely touching.

Considering that the audience watching the funeral was global, they made sure that everybody could understand some part of it.

The Vatican is not a very big space and to organise the ins and outs, the movement of the public, that was handled brilliantly. I don't know how they managed to do that in a week.

How they managed all the dignitaries, that was amazing, considering that everybody is extremely high profile, and how do you deal with the security protocols of every nation.

All of that truly amazed me.

IMAGE: Joshua de Souza, left, with Cardinal Oswald Gracias, second from left, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and George Kurian. Photograph: Kind courtesy Joshua de Souza/Facebook

Did you interact with religious or political leaders from other countries?

No. We didn't get a chance. Smile at a few people and nod heads. Everybody was busy either trying to get in or trying to get out.

We were surrounded by top leaders of the world. A few people from Saudi Arabia were in front of us. We had Joe Biden not too far from us. The president of Hungary, he was in front of us.

And, of course the crowds, which were over 200,000. They spent their own money just to pay their respects to His Holiness. That an experience in itself.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu leads the Indian delegation. Joshua de Souza, is at the back, left. On the Rashtrapati's right is Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran, India's envoy to the Holy See. Photograph: Kind courtesy Joshua de Souza/Facebook

In what ways did India's presence at the funeral contribute to strengthening India's diplomatic and cultural ties with the Vatican and the global Catholic community?

India has of late shared a strong relationship with global leaders across the world. You can see the narrative that India has set for itself, that it has turned out to be quite a superpower over the last decade.

His Holiness Pope Francis and our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a very special, special relationship. And, of course, the relationship is not only with Pope Francis, I am sure that the good relations will continue with the new Pontiff -- Pope Leo XIV.

Goa is the centre of the Catholic faith on this side of the world. We have a lot of cardinals that have been of Goan origin (Valerian Gracias, the late archbishop of Bombay; Ivan Dias, the archbishop of Bombay; Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Agra and Mumbai; Joseph Anthony Cordeiro, the bishop of Karachi, and Joseph Coutts, the archbishop of Karachi), a lot of presence in the Indian subcontinent, with regards to religious leaders.

India is strongly represented at the Vatican on its own, leaving aside the political relationship.

So considering India being the largest in terms of population and growing number of people in the faith, I'm sure that it is a long and continuous growing relationship.

IMAGE: President Murmu at the Vatican. Photograph: Kind courtesy President Droupadi Murmu/X

We could see what a difference India has made in the last decade or so and how it continues to grow at this level.

You can see the way we are respected as citizens of India when we are received by foreign dignitaries. The way our President was greeted at the event, that itself shows how far India has come.

People were aware of who she is, people know who our prime minister is. Everybody knows India now and everybody respects India.

IMAGE: Joshua de Souza with Kiren Rijiju and George Kurian. Photograph: Kind courtesy Joshua de Souza/Facebook

As a representative of Goa, a state with a rich Catholic heritage, what significance did this experience hold for you personally and politically?

Personally, it was quite surprising to a lot of people just as it was surprising to me.

As soon as I got back, there were a lot of phone calls, a lot people wanted to know what the experience was, just like this interview, everybody wanted to know what it was like.

And what a honour each and everyone felt, that a boy they knew just a couple of years ago was chosen from our Goa and our Mapusa to be part of this delegation.

I happened to visit a few homes unintentionally after my return and everybody seemed to be interested in how the visit went and how the entire thing unfolded, right from the time I got the call to when I landed there. How the journey was, how the funeral went.

I consider it as a sign from God to do more than what I'm already doing. With God's blessings, and whatever He has planned for me and my future, I have taken it as a sign from above for the betterment of our society.

IMAGE: Pope Leo XIV greets the crowds gathered at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. Photograph: Vatican Media via Reuters

How do you plan to share and reflect on this experience with your constituents in Mapusa and the wider Goan community?

It all happened (being elected an MLA) during Pope Francis' tenure. So the most important thing is to work the way he worked for our community.

The way he was able to cross multiple religious lines and be that kind of person who was welcoming towards all.

He was against war and he was more for peace. He worked to lift the downtrodden and the people that didn't have all the necessary facilities to make something or be someone.

As a Catholic that is something that has been instilled in us right from birth.

And just continuing his good work, being a good Catholic and to be able to reach out to everybody, irrespective of religion, or their social standing. Just to be a good human being, that is why Pope Francis had such a successful reign.

I am sure that any person who lives like this in today's society will definitely have success and blessings from God.
'India won't take anything from Pakistan lying down.'

IMAGE: A Lashkar-e-Tayiba terror facility in Muridke near Lahore after it was struck by an Indian missile, May 7, 2025. Photograph: Gibran Peshimam/Reuters

India's cross-border missile strikes on multiple terror hubs in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and in Pakistan marks a significant escalation in India's response to cross-border terrorism.

In this incisive interview with Rediff's Prasanna D Zore, Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, argues that India's message -- that terrorism will now invite steep costs -- is finally being delivered with clarity.

How do you assess India's choice of precision missile strikes in Operation Sindoor? Was it a calibrated escalation and a necessary message after Pahalgam?

The message should have been taken by Pakistan in 2016 with the (Uri) surgical strikes, and should have sunk home in 2019 with the Balakot attacks. But it didn't filter down to the Pakistani mind that this terrorism game was over, that India's patience has ended.

For their domestic political reasons and given the Pakistani army's mindset, they always return to their default position -- attempting terror attacks, highlighting Kashmir internationally, and increasing tension with India so the army can buttress its position. It's an old template.

They should have realised that trying something now would bring consequences worse than 2019. They thought India would show outrage but ultimately do nothing.

From India's side, they needed to deliver a stronger message than Balakot, so they attacked multiple terror headquarters simultaneously. The Indian statement made clear this wasn't about starting a conflict but sending a strong message that Pakistan's use of these (terrorist) groups against India is unacceptable, with costs attached.

Beyond a point, we don't care about the consequences.

It was necessary and showed Indian resoluteness that this terrorism game must end. It's 40 years old -- way past its sell-by date. Pakistanis need to understand this.

What was the piece India missed in the surgical strikes and Balakot air strike that Operation Sindoor might fill in dealing definitively with cross-border terrorism?

India has steadily climbed the response ladder. Uri was a shallow strike. Balakot was 80 kilometres inside Pakistan using air power, which is considered escalatory.

What we missed at Balakot was that Pakistan responded, and we didn't go further up the escalation ladder. We didn't respond to their response. It became a tit-for-tat that provided an off-ramp for both sides.

India's message was 'don't try this again,' but Pakistan thought they could square accounts by hitting back.

By not escalating last time, we gave Pakistan one last chance, allowing them to think they could equalise by retaliating. They mistook it as India's weakness.

This time, after our operation, Pakistan tried to square accounts (on the intervening night of May 7 and 8) while staying below the threshold -- not targeting major installations but military sites, radar and air defence systems.

Their attack was foiled, and India decided not to leave it unanswered. With minimal damage done, India's response was proportionate but more effective, causing damage on Pakistan's side.

Now the ball is in Pakistan's court on further escalation. The message from the night of the 7th-8th is that we (India) don't want escalation, but we'll hit back if provoked.

If they cause serious damage, our response won't be proportionate -- everything will be in the crosshairs.

IMAGE: A damaged portion of an administration block at the Government Health and Education complex after it was hit by an Indian missile in Muridke near Lahore, May 7, 2025. Photograph: Gibran Peshimam/Reuters

Do you think Operation Sindoor will alter Pakistan's cost-benefit calculus regarding cross-border terrorism?

It depends on how obtuse the Pakistani mind is. If they were rational, they'd understand the terrorism game has run its course. India is willing to turn its back on Pakistan, pretend it doesn't exist, and not engage. We'll do our own thing, you do yours -- just don't mess with us.

Pakistan seems unable to move past this fixation. If they calculated that terrorism hurts them too and that continuous conflict with India is an expensive proposition serving no purpose, they might stop.

What strategic aim does this serve? They provoke India, but India no longer tolerates it -- India hits back.

If they recognise this reality, perhaps their behaviour changes. If not -- if they think 'the Indians did what they wanted, we'll bide our time and strike when they don't expect it' -- we'll spiral into another cycle again.

Given Pakistan's internal challenges in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, how do you think the army headquarters in Rawalpindi will respond politically and militarily to India's escalation?

That's the million dollar question. Do they want to escalate further? Can they afford conflict with their weak economy and an already hot second front? They have serious commitments and no political unity internally. They are not in a happy situation.

For regime survival, not responding creates enormous political pressure and questions their raison d'etre. But escalating puts them in very risky territory. A major setback would devastate their economy, as war is extremely expensive.

India would suffer too, of course, but Pakistan's capacity to absorb that wound is seriously suspect. Their calculation comes down to: What matters more -- Pakistan's survival or the regime's survival? That's the choice.

Would India's military and intelligence establishment give even a 10% chance of Balochistan seceding from Pakistan, similar to 1971?

I don't give it even a 10% chance. It could happen if conflict weakens the Pakistani State to where it can't address internal problems. Then the Balochistan question erupts openly, as does the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) question.

If Pakistan manages to back off, the Baloch can't easily secede now. Their opportunity comes only if they grow strong enough to challenge the Pakistani State -- which is currently difficult -- or if Pakistan weakens to where they can break away. I see no third possibility.

What role might Beijing play? Will they restrain Pakistan or encourage brinkmanship?

There are two perspectives. One is that China wouldn't want major conflict because their investments would be lost, and openly helping Pakistan would seriously damage their India relationship.

The other view is that China might use Pakistan as a cat's paw to hurt India and derail planned investments by creating a conflict situation. They'd kill two birds with one stone.

I don't know their exact intentions, but their statement after Operation Sindoor called the situation 'distressing' or 'disturbing,' while suggesting both sides avoid escalation -- which we can live with.

The question is whether Pakistan will heed this. Indian planners must have surely considered this factor before launching Operation Sindoor. As someone in the current hierarchy reportedly said -- if you account for everything, you can never act.

Sometimes you just say, 'We'll see when we cross that bridge.'

There's speculation that targets in Operation Sindoor were linked to Pakistan's army, not just terror camps. If true, what message was India sending?

All terrorists are linked to Pakistan's army. They aren't independent or non-State actors -- they are State actors under different labels. They can't operate without Pakistani State complicity and concurrence.

If we wanted to hit the Pakistan army directly, we would have. There was a conscious decision to attack only terror camps, headquarters, and bases -- not military targets. That was on the (intervening night of May) 6th and 7th.

What happened on the (intervening night of May) 7th and 8th was different -- they hit military targets, so we targeted military targets in response. We need to make that distinction.

What should India's strategic planners focus on now? Sustained military pressure, covert operations, or deterrent stability?

A bit of all three: There will be sustained military pressure as we continue building our military capabilities -- that's a no-brainer. We'll maintain pressure on Pakistan. All three elements will come into play.

But India isn't gunning for war -- far from it. However, India won't take anything from Pakistan lying down. That's the message in a nutshell.

I don't claim to speak for anyone else. I'm not privy to government decisions. This is simply my interpretation.
'The Pakistani State has to realise that the pigeons have come home to roost.'

IMAGE: The Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, the Jaish e Mohammad's operational headquarters in Bahawalpur, which was struck by Indian missiles during Operation Sindoor. Photograph: Reuters Video/ANI

Pakistan's attempt to target military installations in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat was foiled by India's air defence systems.

In response, the Indian Air Force destroyed Pakistan's air defence systems, particularly in Lahore.

"Our air defence systems are on high alert," says retired Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani, director general, Centre for Airpower Studies.

A fighter pilot who has flown the Jaguar and Ajeet jets, AVM Golani has commanded an air defence detection centre and an operational base. He has served in high appointments in joint services commands and is a well-known writer on air power and national security.

"The Indian Air Force dominates the skies 24x7x365. The entire Indian airspace is monitored and controlled," he tells Rediff's Archana Masih.

Pakistan has retaliated after India struck terror infrastructure. What should we be prepared for?

India struck 9 terror sites in PoK and Punjab as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

India's response was measured, focused and non-escalatory as stated in the press briefing by the foreign secretary.

The onus on escalation lies on Pakistan. They will target military or civilian establishments because there is no terror infrastructure in India to target.

We are prepared for an appropriate response. The retaliation will invite further retribution from India. [This interview was conducted before Pakistan struck Jammu and other border areas on the night of May 8]

At present, international opinion is in India's favour.

India's army, navy and air force are on high alert to counter any Pakistani misadventure.

In this situation, how is the security and domination of the Indian skies achieved?

The Indian Air Force dominates the skies 24x7x365. The entire Indian airspace is monitored and controlled around the year.

Our air defence systems are on alert. Domination of the skies is not only done when tensions flare up or when a situation escalates like it has presently.

We are presently in a heightened state of alert, but as far as air defence is concerned, the Indian Air Force does it irrespective of heightened alert or tension.

IMAGE: A view of Jammu during the blackout amid a suspected Pakistan attack, May 8, 2025. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The Balakot strikes deterred Pakistan from executing a large scale terror attack for six years till the attack in Pahalgam on April 22. How long do you think these missile strikes will keep Pakistan at bay?

The Pakistani State has to realise that the pigeons have come home to roost and that it does not pay to sponsor terror.

Ultimately, the Pakistani nation needs to realise that their army leadership is pulling wool over the eyes of its own people.

What the Pakistan army is doing is not good for the country in the long term.

India has an army. The Pakistan army has a nation.

IMAGE: The Markaz Taiba, the Lashkar-e-Taiba's training centre in Muridke near Lahore, damaged by India's precision missile strikes. Photograph: Reuters Video/ANI

How does the Pakistan air force compare to the Indian Air Force?

It is competent and professional. We must not underplay or underestimate the adversary.

What are your thoughts about Operation Sindoor reportedly carried out largely by missiles fired from Rafale and Mirage 2000 jets?

IAF officers train for such action all their professional lives. The air force has done well striking the assigned targets simultaneously without collateral damage to civil property or life.

They struck the terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, May 7, 2025. Photograph: Reuters Video/ANI

What is the importance of executing these strikes deep inside Pakistan something we haven't done since the 1971 War?

In Balakot, we went across the Line of Control. This time our weapons have been fired from our side of the LoC.

The government's message is clear that such acts will not be tolerated and there will be a cost to Pakistani misadventure.

It was the correct decision to strike after two weeks and exemplifies India's measured and mature response.

What kind of assistance is China likely to provide Pakistan at this time?

China will not actively get involved in a conflict, but will continue to assist Pakistan with aircraft and ammunitions.

China also has to realise that it loses its own standing by siding with a nation which harbours terrorists. Moreover, China would be concerned about the safety of the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) that passes through Balochistan if the situation escalates further.

IMAGE: A house in a border village at Uri in Baramulla, May 8, 2025, damaged by shelling from Pakistan. Photograph: ANI Photo

What can we expect in the next few days?

The escalatory matrix at the moment is dependent on Pakistan's response.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The Chandigarh administration on Friday sounded a fresh air raid siren, appealing to people to remain indoors.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

"An air warning has been received from the air force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and stay away from balconies," an official statement issued by the Chandigarh administration said.

About an hour later, it said the siren for the alert was over.

Chandigarh is the common capital of Punjab and Haryana.

The development came amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

The district administration in neighbouring Panchkula too sounded a similar siren and appealed to people to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, the Mohali district administration in Punjab has advised people living in the areas bordering Chandigarh to remain indoors.

"There is an alert in some areas of Chandigarh. We are advising Mohali residents in the bordering sectors to remain indoors and away from windows and glass panes," a message shared by the Mohali administration said.

The district administration in Patiala also issued an advisory urging people to stay indoors and remain calm.

"Please avoid stepping out unless it is absolutely necessary. All educational institutions in the district are closed until further notice. Residents are strongly advised to stay indoors and away from balconies, rooftops, and open areas," the advisory said, as it urged people to contact the control room in case of an emergency.

A similar air siren was sounded in Chandigarh on Thursday night as India swiftly thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, after foiling its attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country.

According to the defence ministry, the Pakistani military on Thursday night attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.

The renewed attempts by the Pakistani forces came after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
From installing air sirens to deploying civil defence personnel, setting up control rooms to conducting mock drills, authorities in Delhi are preparing themselves in the wake of a military conflict between India and Pakistan.

IMAGE: Sirens being installed in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI on X

Heavy security has been deployed at vital installations, including government buildings, and areas with high footfalls in the national capital.

Police have also strengthened vigil in areas with high footfalls, including markets, railway stations, malls, parks and metro stations.

At the administrative level, the 11 revenue districts are making preparations to deal with any eventuality.

According to a senior official from the revenue department, air-raid sirens are being installed across Delhi.

"Locations have been identified and air-raid sirens are being installed. The Civil Defence Directorate carried out the testing of an air-raid siren installed atop the multi-storey PWD building at ITO on Friday afternoon. Similar testing exercises will be carried out in other areas also in the coming days," the official said.

Another official said 10 sirens are being installed in each of the 11 revenue districts.

"Each air raid siren is designed to be heard within a particular radius. For instance, some sirens can be heard within a radius of two kilometres, some within four kilometres and some within 16 kilometres. We are installing these sirens so that there are no dark patches," he added.

An official from East district said the administration is installing air-raid sirens and has deployed civil defence personnel at the office of the district magistrate. He said the district control room has also been activated.

In Central district, civil defence volunteers are being trained and 50 of them will be deployed in different areas.

"Alongside the upcoming mock drills, awareness campaigns will also be conducted to educate people on how to respond to emergency situations like air raids. Control rooms are being further strengthened and meetings will be held to ensure better coordination," an official said.

In an order issued on Thursday, the Delhi government's services department has barred employees from going on leave until further orders.
The Border Security Force on Friday said it has foiled an infiltration bid from across the India-Pakistan International Border in Jammu, killing at least seven terrorists and destroying a Rangers post.

IMAGE: A BSF personnel puts up 'Parade is closed' posters on barricades as the Retreat Ceremony and parade have been closed for spectators, at Attari Wagah border near Amritsar. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo

The terrorists were engaged around 11 pm on Thursday in Samba district after a 'big group' of terrorists was detected by the 'surveillance grid'.

This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar, a BSF spokesperson said.

He said the troops neutralised the infiltration bid, killing 'at least' seven terrorists and caused 'extensive' damage to the Dhandhar post.

Officials said there could be more terrorists, who could have been neutralised.

The BSF also shared a thermal imager clip of the firing and 'destruction' of a bunker of the said post where a heavy machine gun of the Rangers was mounted.

The force is on high alert in the wake of the current hostilities between the two countries following the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 22 and India's strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation.
Amid the military conflict between India and Pakistan, debris resembling parts of a missile was found in a field in Hoshiarpur, while metal parts of some unidentified objects were discovered at two locations in Bathinda, officials said on Friday.

IMAGE: Remains of a projectile were discovered in Makhanwindi village near Amritsar on Thursday. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo

Some villagers in Bathinda also claimed they heard loud explosions and saw lights flashing in the sky on Thursday night, triggering panic in the area.

In Hoshiarpur, metal debris resembling parts of a missile was found on Thursday evening, SP (Investigation) Mukesh Kumar said.

Acting promptly, police informed the Indian Air Force (IAF) after cordoning off the area. A team from the IAF soon reached at the site and conducted a preliminary inspection, the SP said.

In Bathinda, debris of an unidentified object was found in a field in Tungwali village on Friday.

"Some objects fell on the field (on Thursday night) followed by a loud explosion, which damaged the windows, doors and a cattle shed of a nearby house," a villager said.

Another villager said a three-foot deep crater was created after the objects fell on the field.

Police said the Army will be the right authority to give information about the exact nature of the objects.

The area has been cordoned off, a police officer said, adding that no one was hurt in the incident.

Police have cautioned the local people not to touch any metal debris lying on the ground.

Metal parts were also found in a field at Burj Mahima village in Bathinda.

A metal object resembling a shell was also found in Pathankot district, officials said.

The developments followed after India on Thursday thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, after foiling its attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country.

According to the defence ministry, the Pakistani military attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.

The renewed attempts by the Pakistani forces came after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The father of Murali Naik, a soldier from Andhra Pradesh who laid down his life during the cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch, on Friday said his son joined the Army despite his opposition as he wanted to serve the nation.

IMAGE: People pay their respect to 23-year-old Army soldier Murali Naik, who was martyred in Pakistani Shelling along LoC, at Ghatkopar in Mumbai, May 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

He said his 23-year-old son wanted to don the army uniform for at least a year.

Murali, who was selected in the army as an Agniveer in 2022, died in the line of duty in the early hours of Friday.

Talking to reporters at his residence in Kamraj Nagar locality in Mumbai's Ghatkopar, Murali's father Shriram Naik said his son had undergone military training at Deolali in Nashik.

Murali was their only son, he said.

"Murali's aim was to serve the country. He joined the army despite my opposition. He just wanted to wear the army uniform for at least a year," said Naik, who could not hold back his emotions.

Although Murali was posted in Jammu and Kashmir as part of 'Operation Sindoor', he had told his parents that he was stationed in Punjab so that they do not panic in view of the prevailing Indo-Pak conflict, he added.

"We got this terrible news at 9 am when army officials called us. My wife broke down when she heard it was our Murali who had been killed in the morning firing...Just yesterday at 8 am, he had videocalled us and enquired about us. He said he was going to rest that day. And now we've lost him. I still cannot believe it," he said.

Murali had completed his training at Deolali in Nashik. He was first posted in Sikkim and was later sent to Kashmir, he added.

He was the primary breadwinner for the family as his father works as a daily wage worker while his mother is a domestic help. The family has been living in Kamraj Nagar for the last 32 years, a resident said.

Shridhar Naik, who lives in the same locality in Ghatkopar, remembered Murali as someone who was always passionate about joining the army.

"He wanted to join the army but his parents resisted the move. So he quietly went for the recruitment drive. It was only after he was selected that he told his parents who had accepted his decision unwillingly," he said.

He was born in Kamgar Nagar in Ghatkopar East, where he also grew up. He later went to his native village to pursue education, Shridhar said.

The family had gone to their native village in Kallitanda in Sri Sathyasai district of Andhra Pradesh just a week ago to attend a village fair, according to him.

"His father received a call about his death in the morning and the news soon spread like a wildfire," Shridhar said.

He said Murali's mortal remains are likely to be brought to his native village and many people in the area will also be reaching there to pay their last respect.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid his respects to the martyred jawan.

The chief minister noted that Naik hailed from Gorantla mandal in Sri Satyasai district.

"My homage to martyr Murali Naik who sacrificed his life for the country. I extend my deep sympathies to his family members," Naidu said in a post on 'X'.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered condolences to him.

"Though his native place is in Andhra Pradesh, his family has long been settled in Mumbai. We extend our deepest condolences and share their sorrow," he said.

Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar working president Supriya Sule said Naik's supreme sacrifice will be remembered by the nation forever. "My condolences are with his family in this difficult time. Heartfelt tribute to Murli Naik," she said in a post on X.

Parag Shah, MLA representing the Ghatkopar East assembly segment, also paid tributes to Naik and said he made the supreme sacrifice for the protection of Mother India.

"I and all the people of Ghatkopar share the grief of the Naik family and may the Naik family find strength to bear this immense grief. Om Shanti. The nation will always remember the sacrifice of martyred late Murali Naik," Shah said in a post on X.
Kallas on Tribunal for Crime of Russian Aggression: Every inch of war documented, there is no room for impunity

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/kallaskaja/

Russias aggression against Ukraine will not remain unpunished, therefore the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression is extremely important, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas says.

At a briefing in Lviv on Friday, Kallas said that every inch of Russia's war was documented, emphasizing that we live in an information space where everything is recorded and there is no room for impunity.
The government on Friday said the country has ample food stocks to meet domestic demand but warned traders and wholesalers against hoarding of essential food items creating artificial shortage.

IMAGE: File image of labourers unloading wheat grains from a trolley at the grain market in Amritsar, Punjab. Photograph: ANI Photo

The warning came as the conflict between India and Pakistan widened with Pakistan resorting to unprovoked shelling and drone attacks in border towns.

In a social media post, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also urged citizens not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase foodgrains.

"Don't believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. DONT PAY HEED TO SUCH MESSAGES".

"Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of essential commodities are directed to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling, shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act," Joshi said.

Later, in an official statement, Joshi asserted there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country.

"I want to assure everyone that we currently have stocks many times higher than the normal requirement-whether it is rice, wheat, or pulses such as chana, tur, masoor, or moong. There is absolutely no shortage, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains, he said.

Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday reviewed the food stock situation in the country as well as preparedness for ensuing kharif sowing season which starts with the onset of monsoon rains.

The agriculture minister directed officials to be prepared to assist farmers in bordering states with sowing operations to ensure that they do not face difficulties due to the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.

Chouhan said he would speak with chief ministers of bordering states/UT like Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab regarding requirements in case villages need evacuation.

Elaborating on the food supply situation, the food ministry said the current rice stock stands at 356.42 lakh tonne against a buffer norm of 135 lakh tonne. Similarly, wheat stock is 383.32 lakh tonne against a buffer norm of 276 lakh tonne.

"Thus, demonstrating a strong surplus over the required buffer norms, ensuring nationwide food security," the statement said.

In addition, India currently holds about 17 lakh tonne of edible oil stocks.

"Domestically, the availability of mustard oil is ample during the ongoing peak production season, further supplementing edible oil supply," it said.

The ongoing sugar season started with a carry-over stock of 79 lakh tonne. Production is estimated at 262 lakh tonne, after accounting for the diversion of 34 lakh tonne for ethanol production.

Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.

As of now, around 257 lakh tonne of sugar has already been produced.

Considering the domestic consumption of 280 lakh tonne and exports of 10 lakh tonne in 2024-25 marketing year, the closing stock is expected to be around 50 lakh tonne which is more than the consumption of two months.

The production outlook for the 2025-26 sugar season is also promising due to favourable climatic conditions, the ministry said.
India on Friday night repelled fresh drone attacks from Pakistan at 26 locations in the country's north and west including Srinagar airport, as it accused Islamabad of using its civilian planes as a 'shield' for its aerial strikes endangering their flights.

IMAGE: A family sits in an open restaurant just before a Pakistani drone attack in Jammu, May 8, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

As Pakistan targeted several cities for the third consecutive night, this time from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Bhuj in Gujarat, the government said Islamabad had launched between 300 and 400 Turkish drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek in its failed attempt to target Indian military installations on Thursday night.

"Drones have been sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan," military officials said. The drone strikes in locations that included airports and airbases have been successfully thwarted, they added..

Besides Baramulla, Srinagar and Bhuj, the locations included Awantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala."

An armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in severe injuries to members of a local family, officials said.

Drone attacks on Srinagar airport and Awantipora air base were thwarted late on Friday, while blasts were heard in Jammu and parts of the south Kashmir region, defence officials said in Srinagar.

It was a second straight night of darkness and fear for locals of several border districts as sirens wailed upon spotting of aerial threats from Pakistan that were effectively engaged by the armed forces.

From Srinagar and Jammu to Punjab's multiple districts and Jaisalmer and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, a vast stretch of the border areas plunged into darkness with public announcements made, urging people to switch off their lights as a precautionary measure.

Heavy cross-border shelling was also underway along the International Border in Suchetgarh and Ramgarh sectors of Jammu and Samba districts.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan's strike on places of worship and its "preposterous" attempts to put the blame on Indian armed forces is reflective of Islamabad's evil design and efforts to deceive and mislead the world.

Citing Pakistan's attack on a gurdwara in Amritsar and its subsequent attempt to blame it on Indian armed forces, Misri said Islamabad's thinking that India would attack its own cities is the kind of "deranged fantasy" that only the Pakistani state can come up with.

The Border Security Force, meanwhile, said it has foiled an infiltration bid from across the Indo-Pak International Border in Jammu on Thursday night, killing at least seven terrorists and destroying a Rangers post.

This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar, a BSF spokesperson said.

Two more people were killed after Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling in areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in J and K, officials said. With this, the death toll due to shelling from across the LoC in the recent days rose to 18.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with the top defence establishment to take stock of the security situation.

Modi met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the three service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff to strategise over the future course of action. Earlier in the day, he held interactions with veterans, including former chiefs of the three services, taking their feedback on the current situation.

At a media briefing, Misri slammed Pakistan's provocative and escalatory actions to try and target Indian cities and civilian infrastructure using drones last night.

Most drones were downed using kinetic and non-kinetic means, said Col Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force at the briefing.

The remarks came amid intensified military action between India and Pakistan following India's strike on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under 'Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday in a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre on April 22. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in the carnage.

The two military officials said Pakistan used its civilian airliners as a "shield" as it did not close its civil airspace during its attempts to attack Indian installations with drones and missiles on May 7, knowing fully well that the strikes would elicit a swift response from India.

"On the night of May 8-9, Pakistan carried out large-scale violations of Indian airspace, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300-400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek," said Singh.

"Indian forces neutralised many drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. An armed UAV strike on Bhatinda was also thwarted," she said.

Singh said the "possible" purpose of the large-scale Pakistani intrusions were to test the air defence systems and gather intelligence.

"Forensic examination of the drone debris is being undertaken. Preliminary reports suggest them to be Asisguard Songar drone of Turkey," she said.

"Pakistan escalated with artillery and drone attacks across the Line of Control, causing casualties. Alarmingly, Pakistan kept its civil airspace open during the assault, endangering civilian flights," she added.

In response to the Pakistani attack, Indian military launched armed drones launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan.

"One of the drones was able to destroy an air defence radar," Singh said.

She said Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the LoC using heavy calibre artillery guns and armed drones at Kandhan, Uri, Poonch, Mender, Rajouri, Akur and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir area which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel.

"Pakistan Army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory firing.

"Additionally, Pakistan's irresponsible behaviour again came to the fore as Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7," said Qureshi.

"Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners, including the international flights which were flying near the international border between India and Pakistan," she said.

The official also showed screenshots of flight movement on the website flightradar24.

"In the high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore," she said.

India deployed Barak-8 missiles, S-400 Triumph air defence systems, Akash surface-to-air missiles and indigenously developed anti-drone equipment in thwarting Pakistan's attempts to hit 15 Indian cities on Wednesday night, official sources said.

As states in northern and western India kept a tight vigil in the wake of the military conflict with Pakistan, Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the prevailing situation along India's border with Pakistan and airports in the country.

In a communication to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards Vivek Srivastava said preparing the civil administration and adopting precautionary measures against hostile attacks in the states and Union territories are governed by the Civil Defence Act and Rules, 1968

The Centre also empowered the Army Chief to call out "every officer and every enrolled person" of the Territorial Army (TA) to provide for essential guard or to be embodied to support or supplement the regular Army.
India deployed Barak-8 missiles, S-400 Triumph air defence systems, Akash surface-to-air missiles and indigenously developed anti-drone equipment in thwarting Pakistan's attempts to hit 15 Indian cities on Wednesday night, official sources said on Friday.

IMAGE: S-400 Triumph air defence system. Photograph: Reuters

Pakistani military attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj using missiles and drones.

Every single one of those missiles was intercepted or neutralised and none reached its intended target, the sources said.

The Pakistani military attempted to target the Indian cities in response to India's Operation Sindoor under which nine terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir were smashed early Wednesday.

"The Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO's anti-drone technologies came together seamlessly to create an aerial shield that held firm," said a source.

"India didn't stop at defending. It retaliated with speed and precision. Operation Sindoor saw the Indian Armed Forces strike deep into Pakistani territory, destroying an HQ-9 air defence unit in Lahore and damaging key radar infrastructure," the source said.

India's rapid, coordinated response showcased the strength of its air defence ecosystem, built over the past 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "exposed the hollowness" of the Pakistani air defence system, the sources said.

Operation Sindoor also marked the combat debut of loitering munitions -- the "suicidal drones" ordered in 2021 and manufactured in India.

"These drones executed simultaneous, precision strikes across sectors, taking Pakistan's defences by complete surprise," the source said.

Additionally, Israeli-origin Harop drones - ?now locally built - ?were deployed to target and destroy air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore, the sources said.

These platforms, combined with the strategic deployment of Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP and HAMMER missiles, demonstrated India's capability to project power with surgical precision, they said.
Pakistan's attack on places of worship and its "preposterous" attempts to put the blame on Indian armed forces are reflective of Islamabad's evil design and efforts to deceive and mislead the world, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday.

IMAGE: A view the blackout amid a Pakistani drone attack in Jammu, May 8, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Citing Pakistan's attack on a gurdwara in Amritsar and its subsequent attempt to blame it on Indian armed forces, Misri said Islamabad's thinking that India would attack its own cities is the kind of "deranged fantasy" that only the Pakistani state can come up with.

At a media briefing, the foreign secretary blasted Pakistan's provocative and escalatory actions to try and target Indian cities and civilian infrastructure using drones last night.

Misri especially hit out at Pakistan for its "blatantly farcical denial" of these attacks saying it is yet another example of Islamabad's duplicity and the "new depths" that it is plumbing to in its "quest for disinformation".

The foreign secretary's remarks came as tensions between the two countries soared significantly following India's strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir under Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday.

Misri was severely critical of Pakistan for targeting religious places with an aim to give a communal colour to the current situation, and pointed to an incident of Pakistan attacking a gurdwara in Poonch and another religious place in Amritsar.

"Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claim that it was the Indian armed forces and the Indian Air Force that was targeting cities like Amritsar and trying to put the blame on Pakistan," he said.

"This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression; but it is also true to its efforts to deceive and mislead the world. It will not succeed," Misri said.

He said that "we would attack our own cities" is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with.

Perhaps they do it because they are well versed in such action as their history would show, he said.

Misri described it as a "blatant lie" Pakistan's allegations of India targeting the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara using a drone.

"This is again yet another blatant lie and part of Pakistan's disinformation campaign. As we saw in the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan is again trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create discord," he said.

"Again, we are not surprised. India's steadfast unity in itself is a challenge to Pakistan," he said.

Misri said in view of the existing security scenario, the Kartarpur Sahib corridor has been suspended.

On India's strikes on Bahawalpur's Markaz Subhan Allah -? the nerve centre of Jaish-e-Mohammed linked to the killing of Daniel Pearl, a journalist with The Wall Street Journal, Misri said the terror outfit was "directly or indirectly" responsible for his death.

"Bahawalpur is the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group that is proscribed by the UN. Its leader Masood Azhar, is a proscribed individual," he said, responding to a question.

"You brought up the connection with the tragic death or killing of Daniel Pearl of the Wall Street Journal. The JeM was in some way directly or indirectly responsible for the death of Daniel Pearl," he said.

"But the real connection is through Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Pakistani jihadi who was held in India but was finally released in 2000 and he was the person who lured Daniel Pearl to his...murder," Misri said.
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the United States has said it is not going to get involved in a war that's 'fundamentally none of our business'.

IMAGE: A boy collects papers from the debris of a residential house damaged by a cross-border shelling in Gingal village near the Line of Control (LoC), in Kashmir's Baramulla district, on May 9, 2025. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

While the US cannot control India and Pakistan, it can encourage the two nuclear-armed neighbours to de-escalate, Vice President J D Vance said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday.

"Look, we're concerned about any time nuclear powers collide and have a major conflict," Vance said when asked how concerned the Trump administration is about a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

Vance quoted US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio who have said that Washington wants the tensions to 'de-escalate' as quickly as possible.

"We can't control these countries though. Fundamentally, India has its gripes with Pakistan. Pakistan has responded to India. What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit. But we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it," the vice president said.

"America can't tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We can't tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so we're going to continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels. Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict, but sure, we're worried about these things.

"But I think the job of diplomacy, but also the job of cooler heads in India and Pakistan is to make sure this doesn't become a nuclear war. If it happened of course it would be disastrous. Right now we don't think that's going to happen," he said.

Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their three children were on their first official visit to India when terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

Two weeks after the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

On Thursday night, India neutralised Pakistan military's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.

After the Indian military foiled the Pakistani attempts, the defence ministry said India remains 'fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people'.

Earlier on Thursday, Secretary of State Rubio spoke separately with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasising the need for immediate de-escalation.

In his call with Jaishankar, Rubio expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications.

He reiterated his condolences for the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed the US' commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism.

In his conversation with Sharif, Rubio reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups.

In a press briefing on Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Rubio underlined the need for de-escalation in his conversations with Jaishankar and Sharif.

"...at this moment in time, there is like one thing that has to stop, which is a back-and-forth and a continuation of this, and that is what we're focused on right now," she said.

The message from the Secretary of State and from the United States "is that the violence should stop, that military action, war, as we've seen in that region, certainly in the Middle East, has clearly for generations proven that it is not a solution because it never ends.

"There has to be a change in that regard. So obviously, when it comes to solving a problem, this administration has made itself clear, that war, the military, more violence is not a solution. Diplomacy is a solution, new ideas to stop generational violence and problems."

Asked if Rubio offered to mediate between the two countries, Bruce said, "We are not going to be speaking about the details. That is certainly our policy."

The US continues to urge India and Pakistan to work towards a responsible solution. Washington remains engaged with both governments at multiple levels, she said.

The US wants the perpetrators to be held accountable and are supportive of any efforts to that end, she added.

Bruce told reporters that Rubio underlined that the conflict should not escalate.

"Clearly this has been an issue for decades and... with what we saw over the last few weeks after the terrorist attack, it was not surprising but very, very disappointing. But... it should not escalate.

"And communication was fundamentally key, that there should be talks, that there should not be silence and that America obviously was in the centre of this in speaking with a variety of leaders of both countries over the last two days," Bruce said.
A bomb-like object was found in the Kishanghat area of Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district on Friday morning, prompting swift action by the local police and air force.

IMAGE: A projectile-like object found in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. Photograph: ANI on X

According to the police, the object was found near a nursery in the colony of the Jogis, located in front of Kishanghat under Kotwali police station area.

The area has been cordoned off as a precautionary measure.

Kotwali SHO Prem Daan said it seems to be a bomb-like object. Experts from the army are on their way Kishanghat to defuse it. "It it currently not known if it is live or damaged."

Arjun Nath, a local, spotted the object and immediately informed Kishanghat Sarpanch representative Kalyan Ram, who then alerted authorities. Following this, teams from the local police and the Indian Air Force arrived at the scene, they said.

The object resembled parts of a drone that was launched by Pakistan on Jaisalmer on Thursday night around 10.30 pm.

However, official confirmation is awaited.

On Thursday evening, the sound of massive explosions rocked Jaisalmer and a blackout was enforced in western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan, plunging the whole stretch into darkness, police said.

A top official confirmed a massive sound was heard in Jaisalmer. After a brief lull, the sound of explosions continued for nearly an hour.

"We did not see anything... just heard sounds due to which we were afraid," a resident of Jaisalmer's Ranau village said.

Amar Singh Solanki, a resident of the same village, told PTI Videos, "We already live close to the border and are always on alert because any kind of infiltration can happen at any time on the border."

"....we are very happy with the strike that happened and are ready to support the army, we are on alert... we are fully prepared," Solanki said.

Recounting a night of fear and uncertainty following loud explosions and a complete blackout, another Ranau village resident said, "After blackout, we could not realise what was happening. Later, we got to know that it was an attack from Pakistan."

While locals in Jaisalmer reported seeing fireballs in the sky after defence units intercepted a drone. Similar activity was reported in Bikaner, where Pakistani drones were also reportedly shot down by the Indian forces.

A resident of 40 KYD village, located in the Khajuwala block of Bikaner district, said, "I didn't hear anything myself, but my grandchildren me there was bombing here last night. Later, I checked my phone and saw that there had indeed been an attack."

Ex-serviceman Rajvir Singh told PTI Videos from 40 KYD village that 'When the attack happened, we heard the sound of explosions and all of us immediately woke up. We all clearly heard the sounds, and saw bright lights in front of us.'

"At first, people were a bit frightened, but later as we learnt that the Indian Army had responded to Pakistan under its 'Right to Respond', we all felt very happy," Singh said.

The 40 KYD village residents say that they are happy that India carried out the military strikes and that they will always stand by the Army, come what may.

"All of us, who are living at the border, we do not feel any fear and there is no confusion in our minds. In fact, everyone here believes that if the army needs any kind of help, we will stand with them as the second line of defence," said Rajendra Acharya, a resident of the village.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and follow safety instructions as security measures have been intensified in the region.
The government on Friday dismissed claims of a suicide attack on an Army brigade in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and a drone attack in Punjab's Jalandhar by certain social media handles as "fake news".

IMAGE: Blackout in Jammu on the night of May 8, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Press Information Bureau's (PIB) Fact Check Unit found that there was no "fidayeen" or suicide attack on any Army cantonment in Jammu and Kashmir, while the video claiming to be that of a drone attack in Jalandhar pertained to a farm fire.

The district collector of Jalandhar has confirmed it to be disinformation, the PIB said.

"A total of seven videos were fact-checked between 22:00 hours on May 8, 2025, and 06:30 hours on May 9. A list of the fact-checked videos, along with their links, has been compiled," the PIB said.

It found that an old video shared on social media claiming to be of Pakistan's missile attack on India was actually of an explosive attack that took place in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2020.

In another case, a video claiming the destruction of an Indian Army post by Pakistani forces was found to be fabricated. The Fact Check Unit verified that there was no such unit as the "20 Raj Battalion" in the Indian Army, as claimed in the video.

"A barrage of coordinated disinformation has been carried out by certain social media handles in general and mainstream media in particular in Pakistan with the sole objective to instill fear among the Indian masses," a PIB statement said.

The Fact Check Unit also said that a video of an explosion on an oil tanker dating back to July 7, 2021, was passed off as an attack on the Hazira Port in Gujarat.

A fake letter attributed to a non-existent "Chief of Army Staff, Gen V K Narayan" also surfaced, which the PIB confirmed to be fabricated.

Another viral video claimed that the Indian military used its airbase in Ambala to launch attacks, which the PIB dismissed as false and referred to a detailed Ministry of Defence press release to clarify the facts.

Reiterating its commitment to countering disinformation and safeguarding national integrity, the PIB urged citizens to rely only on verified sources and refrain from sharing any unverified content.

The claims on social media about attacks on certain Indian targets peaked as India on Thursday thwarted Pakistan's attempts to target its military sites, including in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, Uttarlai and Bhuj, with drones and missiles as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.
India on Friday said Pakistan launched between 300 and 400 Turkish drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek in its failed attempt to target Indian military installations on Thursday night and also accused that country of using its civilian planes as a shield for its aerial attacks endangering the flights.

IMAGE: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (right) address a press conference as foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh (left), in New Delhi, May 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X

As Pakistan launched multiple drone attacks again on Friday night, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan's strike on places of worship and its "preposterous" attempts to put the blame on Indian armed forces is reflective of Islamabad's evil design and efforts to deceive and mislead the world.

Citing Pakistan's attack on a gurdwara in Amritsar and its subsequent attempt to blame it on Indian armed forces, Misri said Islamabad's thinking that India would attack its own cities is the kind of "deranged fantasy" that only the Pakistani state can come up with.

The Border Security Force, meanwhile, said it has foiled an infiltration bid from across the Indo-Pak International Border in Jammu, killing at least seven terrorists and destroying a Rangers post.

The terrorists were engaged around 11 pm on Thursday in Samba district after a "big group" of terrorists was detected by the "surveillance grid".

This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar, a BSF spokesperson said.

Two more people were killed after Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling in areas near the Line of Control in J and K, officials said. With this, the death toll due to shelling from across the LoC in the recent days rose to 18.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with the top defence establishment to take stock of the security situation.

Modi met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the three service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff to strategise over the future course of action. Earlier in the day, he held interactions with veterans, including former chiefs of the three services, taking their feedback on the current situation.

At a media briefing, Misri slammed Pakistan's provocative and escalatory actions to try and target Indian cities and civilian infrastructure using drones last night.

Most drones were downed using kinetic and non-kinetic means, said Col Sofiya Qureshi of the Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force at the briefing.

The remarks came amid intensified military action between India and Pakistan following India's strike on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday in a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre on April 22. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in the carnage.

The two military officials said Pakistan used its civilian airliners as a "shield" as it did not close its civil airspace during its attempts to attack Indian installations with drones and missiles on May 7, knowing fully well that the strikes would elicit a swift response from India.

"On the night of May 8-9, Pakistan carried out large-scale violations of Indian airspace, attempting to target military infrastructure with 300-?400 drones across 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek," said Singh.

"Indian forces neutralised many drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. An armed UAV strike on Bhatinda was also thwarted," she said.

India responded by launching drone strikes on four Pakistani air defence sites, destroying a radar, the Wing Commander added.

Singh said the "possible" purpose of the large-scale Pakistani intrusions were to test the air defence systems and gather intelligence.

"Forensic examination of the drone debris is being undertaken. Preliminary reports suggest them to be Asisguard Songar drone of Turkey," she said.

"Pakistan escalated with artillery and drone attacks across the Line of Control, causing casualties. Alarmingly, Pakistan kept its civil airspace open during the assault, endangering civilian flights," she said.

In response to the Pakistani attack, Indian military launched armed drones launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan.

"One of the drones was able to destroy an air defence radar," Singh said.

She said Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the LoC using heavy calibre artillery guns and armed drones at Kandhan, Uri, Poonch, Mender, Rajouri, Akur and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir area which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel.

"Pakistan Army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory firing.

"Additionally, Pakistan's irresponsible behaviour again came to the fore as Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7," said Qureshi.

"Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners, including the international flights which were flying near the international border between India and Pakistan," she said.

The official also showed screenshots of flight movement on the website flightradar24.

"In the high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore," she said.

The IAF demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring safety of international flights, she added.

India deployed Barak-8 missiles, S-400 Triumph air defence systems, Akash surface-to-air missiles and indigenously developed anti-drone equipment in thwarting Pakistan's attempts to hit 15 Indian cities on Wednesday night, official sources said.

As states in northern and western India kept a tight vigil in the wake of the military conflict with Pakistan, Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the prevailing situation along India's border with Pakistan and airports in the country.

In a communication to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards Vivek Srivastava said preparing the civil administration and adopting precautionary measures against hostile attacks in the states and Union territories are governed by the Civil Defence Act and Rules, 1968

The Centre also empowered the Army Chief to call out "every officer and every enrolled person" of the Territorial Army (TA) to provide for essential guard or to be embodied to support or supplement the regular Army.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone conversation with his British counterpart David Lammy and conveyed to him that there must be "zero-tolerance" to terrorism.

India also ramped up diplomatic offensive against Pakistan following the military conflict, with its Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra saying the country is at war with the terrorists and will bring justice to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack by holding the lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable.

Separately, Indian envoy to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said India's response to Pakistan's original conflict escalation with the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam was precise, targeted" and focussed solely on terror infrastructure but Islamabad has chosen to continue to escalate the matter instead of taking an "off-ramp" to end the crisis.

The two envoys were speaking to multiple foreign media outlets.
The Delhi high court on Friday closed a case after Yoga guru Ramdev pledged not to pass any further disparaging remarks against Hamdard's Rooh Afza.

IMAGE: Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev speaks during the inauguration of Patanjali Mega Food and Herbal Park, at MIHAN in Nagpur, March 9.2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Justice Amit Bansal said the averments of Ramdev and Patanjali Foods Ltd in their affidavits were binding on them and decreed the suit in favour of Hamdard National Foundation India.

The court had previously ordered removal of the controversial online content and asked Ramdev and Patanjali to file their undertaking.

The court passed the order while dealing with a lawsuit by Hamdard National Foundation India against Ramdev and his Patanjali Foods Ltd over the controversial remarks.

Hamdard claimed while promoting Patanjali's "gulab sharbat", Ramdev alleged the money earned from Hamdard's Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques.

On April 22, the court sought an affidavit from Ramdev and Patanjali assuring to "not issue any statements, social media posts or disparaging videos/advertisements in future similar to those which are subject matter of the present suit in respect of products of the competitors".

Ramdev's remark of "sharbat jihad" on Hamdard's Rooh Afza, the court said, was indefensible and shook its conscience, prompting the Yoga guru to assure he would immediately take down the related videos and social media posts.

Hamdard's counsel had said instead of taking down the objectionable YouTube video in terms of an earlier order, the defendant had only made it private.

Ramdev's counsel, on the other hand, said he had "great respect for the court" and its directions would be complied with.

On May 1, after the court warned of initiating contempt action against Ramdev, his lawyer assured that certain objectionable content which was subsequently published would also be deleted within 24 hours.
People in several districts of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat spent an anxious night as authorities enforced blackouts amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan.

IMAGE: People are seen through the windshield of a bus damaged by a cross-border shelling in Poonch near the Line of Control (LoC), on May 8, 2025. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

In Punjab, blackouts were enforced in border areas of Amritsar, Pathankot and Ferozepur, as well as in the districts of Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur.

The authorities also snapped power in Chandigarh, the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, for about two hours until midnight.

In Jammu city, sounds of blasts triggered an immediate blackout early Friday morning, hours after India thwarted Pakistan military's attempts to target military installations in border areas.

Activity of loitering munitions was witnessed in the skies.

The blast sounds were heard between 3:50 am and 4:45 am following sounding of sirens.

Security forces neutralised the threat, officials said.

A total blackout for more than 7 hours was also enforced in several parts of the border districts of Kutch and Banaskantha in Gujarat on Thursday night.

India on Thursday night swiftly thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, after foiling its attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country using missiles and drones.

According to the defence ministry, the Pakistani military on Thursday night attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.

The renewed attempts by the Pakistani forces came after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

In Pathankot, where some locals claimed they heard explosion-like sounds on Thursday night, though there was no official confirmation, calm prevailed on Friday morning.

Air raid warning sirens were activated in the border town where the blackout was enforced around 8:30 pm on Thursday.

Some locals said on Friday that though they were anxious over the developments, they were confident as India's armed forces were swiftly thwarting Pakistan's attempts.

In the key border districts of Amritsar and Ferozepur, too, calm prevailed on Friday morning.

In Chandigarh, Baldev Chand, an elderly man who stuck to his routine morning walk on Friday, said while there were some anxious moments the previous night, there was nothing to worry given the way the Indian armed forces thwarted Pakistan's attempts.

On Thursday night, the authorities in several Punjab districts appealed to people to switch off the lights and stay at home, insisting that there was no need to panic.

Pathankot Deputy Commissioner Aditya Uppal asked citizens to remain inside their homes and follow the blackout protocols.

The blackout was also enforced in Rupnagar, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Bathinda, Patiala and Haryana's Panchkula, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the citizens.

The Punjab government has ordered the closure of all educational institutions for the next three days in view of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

In Chandigarh, too, the authorities have shut all schools till Saturday.

Videos from Jammu city also showed flying objects in the skies and blasts taking place as the threats were neutralised.

Overnight ceasefire violations were also reported as Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts and Indian troops retaliated.

In a post on X, the Jammu deputy commissioner urged residents to stay calm.

All schools, colleges and universities have been closed in the region in the wake of the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

In Gujarat, officials confirmed that several parts of Kutch, including Bhuj, Nalia, Nakhatrana and Gandhidham towns, were put under total blackout as a precautionary measure to deter any offensive gesture by Pakistan.

The lights went out around 10 pm on Thursday, and power was back after 5.30 am on Friday, they said.

Similarly, blackouts were declared in Suigam and 20 villages in its vicinity in the Banaskantha district, they said.

In the neighbouring Patan district, the authorities enforced a blackout in 8-10 villages in Santalpur taluka, said officials.

Earlier on Thursday, wreckage of a 'drone-like' object was found at a remote place near Khavda village of Gujarat's Kutch district, close to India's border with Pakistan.

However, there was no clarity about the origin of the drone and whether it was shot down or got damaged and fell down after hitting the power line during the early hours of Thursday.

The place where the wreckage was found is nearly 20 km away from the Indo-Pak border.
The ratified agreement on minerals looks like a standardized investment agreement without discriminatory and disadvantageous provisions, believes the deputy chairperson of the committee of the Ukrainian Bar Association on international law, legal manager of Alter Domus (Luxembourg) Anna Bukvych.

"Almost all the conditions unfavorable for Ukraine regarding the return of the assistance provided were not included in the agreement and currently it looks like the agreement is a more standardized investment agreement without discriminatory or disadvantageous provisions. That is, this is an agreement on investments in Ukraine, in which the United States has priority, but how this right of the United States will be ensured is also not yet known," she told the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Bukvych called it important that the agreement contains a clearly defined list of minerals and that it cannot be changed unilaterally.

"That is, the US cannot do this without Ukraine's consent. No less important is the fact that the agreement only deals with income from new deposits, which is a matter of principle. Any income from deposits that have already received licenses is not the subject of the agreements. That is, there is no risk of redistribution of funds that are currently being received by the budget," she said.

At the same time, Bukvych believes that currently there are no risks regarding subjectivity in the existing texts of the agreement, and the current version of the agreement is an investment agreement with fairly favorable conditions for Ukraine. The agreement does not provide for additional restrictions on rights or mechanisms for influencing Ukraine. At the same time, the assistance that the US may provide will affect the amount of Ukraine's contribution to the joint investment fund, "but this is more a matter of economic benefit for the US than an impact on subjectivity."

She also drew attention to the fact that "most of the important issues of managing the common fund and investing the income are resolved by the parties (Ukraine and the United States) jointly, income from previous licenses is not included in the common fund."

"I do not exclude that the relevant risks could potentially have been embedded in previous versions of the agreement, but as we know, the text has been significantly changed. Despite the lack of technical documents on cooperation, it is unlikely that they will contain significant deviations from what was signed," she said.

Bukvych assumes that, since the resolution of disputes under investment agreements is regulated by a separate investment arbitration mechanism, "this mechanism will probably be used in the case of disputes arising from the agreement."

At the same time, commenting on the risks of restrictions on sovereign affairs, the expert noted that currently in the current version of the agreement, we cannot speak of any violation of sovereign rights, but we are only talking about joint management of the investment fund with certain preferences for US access to investment.

"It is worth emphasizing and refuting myths: the ownership of the subsoil remains with Ukraine. Moreover, the United States will not have the decisive right to manage the fund and issue licenses. All these issues, as well as the replenishment of the fund, will be carried out jointly. Moreover, the list of deposits cannot be changed unilaterally without the consent of Ukraine. It is important that in the context of replenishing the fund, we are talking only about income from new deposits, which is important for Ukraine, since these payments are currently replenishing the budget," she said.

At the same time, the lawyer noted that "the technical details of the fund's functioning are important, but at this time we are definitely not talking about restricting Ukraine's sovereign rights."

"As part of the agreement, a number of technical documents will be developed and concluded, which will regulate the terms of cooperation in detail. It is in these technical documents that certain risks may be embedded, which are associated with the practical implementation of the agreement and they will occupy many more pages than the text of the main agreement itself. Creating such an investment fund is an extremely long and complex job, and in this case, everything will be decided by the technical details of managing such a fund," Bukvych summarized.
Schools were closed, most people stayed indoors and the occasional siren rang out as people in many border districts woke up to a tense Friday morning, calm but anxious about what the day would bring.

IMAGE: People who were evacuated from an area near the Line of Control (LoC) following cross-border shelling stand in queues to receive food at a college that was turned into a temporary shelter on the outskirts of Jammu, on May 8, 2025. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The night that was had been nerve-wracking with blackouts, loud blasts piercing through the quiet and the fear that their homes would be the frontier of war between India and its fractious neighbour Pakistan.

It passed off without further incident, much to the relief of those living in the border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab.

While Punjab shares a 532-km border with Pakistan, in Rajasthan, the border stretches about 1,070 km.

People in several border districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur, spent an anxious night as authorities enforced a complete blackout amid the heightened tensions.

In Pathankot, where some locals claimed they heard explosion-like sounds on Thursday night, calm prevailed on Friday morning.

Some locals said though they were anxious over the developments, they were confident as India's armed forces were swiftly thwarting Pakistan's attempts.

In the key border districts of Amritsar and Ferozepur, too, calm prevailed on Friday morning.

A few residents in Ferozepur told PTI Videos that while the atmosphere remained by and large calm on Friday morning, they were more apprehensive of the rumours doing the the rounds.

In Bathinda, a local told PTI Videos, There was a lot sound of firing till midnight amid a complete blackout. We spent the night in fear, but things were calm today morning."

Special prayers for peace were also held at some gurdwaras in the state, including in Mohali and Rupnagar, amid the soaring tensions.

Baldev Chand, an elderly man in Chandigarh who stuck to his routine morning walk on Friday, said while there were some anxious moments the previous night, there was nothing to worry given the way the Indian armed forces thwarted Pakistan's attempts.

However, the UT administration later sounded a fresh air raid siren, appealing to people to remain indoors.

"An air warning has been received from the air force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and stay away from balconies," an official statement said.

About an hour later, the administration said the siren for the alert was over.

Similar sirens were sounded in Haryana's Panchkula and Ambala for a brief while, appealing to people to stay indoors.

The district administration in Patiala too issued an advisory, urging people to stay indoors and remain calm.

People in Rajasthan's border districts also recounted a night of fear and uncertainty amid sounds of loud explosions and a complete blackout.

"While we couldn't see anything, we heard loud sounds that were scary," said a resident of Jaisalmer bordering Pakistan.

Another resident said, "After the blackout, we could not realise what was happening. Later, we found out that it was an attack by Pakistan that our armed forces thwarted."

Amid the escalating tensions, the authorities extended the blackout in Jaisalmer till 6 am on Friday though the situation remained largely calm in the morning.

Meanwhile, a bomb-like object was found in the Kishanghat area of Jaisalmer district on Friday morning, prompting swift action by the local police and air force.

According to police, the object was found near a nursery in front of Kishanghat.

Kotwali SHO Prem Daan said it seemed to be a bomb-like object.

"It is currently not known if it is live or destroyed," the SHO said, adding that experts from the army were on their way to 'defuse' it.

The area has been cordoned off as a precautionary measure, he said.

In Himachal Pradesh, the district administration in Bilaspur, which shares border with Punjab, issued an advisory on Friday prioritising the safety and security of citizens.

The advisory appealed to the residents to ensure a complete blackout in their respective areas to minimise risks in the event of a potential aerial attack.

On Thursday night, India thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, after foiling its attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country.

The renewed attempts by the Pakistani forces came after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stepped in to advise his brother, current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the need for a diplomatic approach to ease the growing crisis, The Express Tribune reported.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar being received by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his arrival at the venue of the 23rd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of Government meeting, in Islamabad, October 16, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Following India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London to help his brother the Prime Minister.

After his arrival, The Express Tribune reported that Sharif had advised PM Shehbaz Sharif to ease tension diplomatically after he briefed the PML-N supremo on the decisions taken by the National Security Committee meeting in the wake of the suspension of the IWT by India.

It was said that Sharif wanted the PML-N-led coalition government to utilise all available diplomatic resources to restore peace between the two nuclear-armed states, saying he was not keen on taking an aggressive position, The Express Tribune reported.

Earlier in 2023, Nawaz Sharif had underlined the importance of having good relations with India and said that his government was ousted in 1999 because he opposed the Kargil war.

According to The News International, Nawaz had said that PML-N always performed well but was always ousted from power.

"I want to know why my governments were overthrown in 1993 and 1999. Was it because we opposed the Kargil war," Nawaz had said.

Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister of Pakistan when his government was overthrown in a coup d'etat on October 12, 1999.

Last year, Nawaz also admitted that Pakistan had 'violated' an agreement with India in 1999.

"On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement...it was our fault," the former PM had said.

The agreement mentioned by Sharif was the "Lahore Declaration," which he and then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed on February 21, 1999, with the goal of fostering peace and stability between India and Pakistan.

However, shortly after the signing, Pakistani troops infiltrated the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the Kargil War.
India is at war with the terrorists and will bring justice to victims of the Pahalgam attack by holding the 'lowlifes, subhuman monsters' accountable, Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra has said, underscoring that in no world would these terrorists be allowed a free pass.

IMAGE: A complete blackout is seen in Amritsar on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo

"The frame and the template in which we look at is the terror template. April 22 was the most heinous terrorist act," Kwatra said in an interview to CNN on Thursday.

The interview comes as India ramps up its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan following the military confrontation triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that had cross border linkages.

"It is nobody's case to say that these terrorists should be given a free pass, and that's precisely what we did the day before yesterday, held them accountable," Kwatra said and described India's action as 'a very precise, calibrated, measured response to these terrorists'.

"We are at war with the terrorists, and we will, as I said, bring justice to the victims and hold them accountable," he said answering a question if India is at war with Pakistan.

"Our foremost objective in this was (to) hold these lowlifes, subhuman monsters accountable and bring justice to the victims."

India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, striking terror factories at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians and for which The Resistance Front (TRF), a front for the UN-proscribed Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility.

Underscoring the fact that four terrorists backed by Pakistan killed 26 civilians, Kwatra said 'in no world would you allow such terrorists to be given a free pass. And that is precisely what we did the day before yesterday'.

"We carried out a very precise, calibrated, measured response to these terrorists, to their factories, to their integrated facilities, which they run out of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir . (We) took them out where they train them, they equip them, organise them, those are the facilities we took out."

"It is nobody's case to say that such terrorists should be given a free pass, wherever they are located."

He added that from a large number of Congressmen, Senators to the whole world, they all appreciate that India should respond and bring accountability for these terrorists and justice for the victims.

Kwatra asserted that the original escalation and the original breakout of tension happened on April 22, when four terrorists backed by Pakistan carried out 'brutal, subhuman, monstrous kind of killings' of 26 civilians, including a Nepali national.

He said the terrorists killed the civilians on the basis of religion, identifying and killing 'all non-Muslims'.

"So what we did the day before yesterday was essentially our response to terror," Kwatra said, adding that India's response has been very measured, calibrated and proportionate.

Responding to a question on explosions being heard in Kashmir, Kwatra said Pakistan has again decided to stand with the terrorists.

"Rather than take action against them, they are essentially lending them support," he said.

"We wouldn't be surprised if they are themselves involved in this, but that's what is the message," which Pakistan is telling the world that it is with terrorists, it is not with the rest of the civilised world, the rest of humanity.

"Pakistan's belief lies in perpetrating these proxies of terror killings, brutal killings of innocent civilians," he said.

To a comment that Pakistan has denied involvement in the attacks, Kwatra said that 'denial and obfuscation' has always been the first part of Pakistan's strategy.

"They have this unique characteristic where they assume responsibility of their past actions in future, not in the present moment," he said as he asked where was Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who plotted the September 11 attacks in the US, found... the killer of American journalist Daniel Pearl or perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks found?

Responding to a question, Kwatra said that with Operation Sindoor, 'we, from our perspective, had brought a certain finality to it, but it was, of course, subject to whether Pakistan has brought finality to it. Pakistan chose to escalate it further. Now it's duty-bound for us to respond to that.'

When asked how concerned should the world be that the tensions between India and Pakistan could escalate into a nuclear war, the Indian envoy said, "I think the world should be concerned about the fact that Pakistan's support to terrorism and terrorist activities continues."

"I think that's what the world should be concerned about. And I think that's what the world should tell Pakistan - to stop supporting terrorism. I think that's the crux of the question," he asserted.

When asked if he thinks it could get to the point of nuclear weapons, he said: "That's for you to ask Pakistan for that."

He also drew attention to what he called was 'Pakistan's old habit of misinformation campaign'.

.
What is the S-400?

It is a Russian long range air defence system. It tracks multiple aerial targets like missiles and drones up to a range of 600 km and destroys them in air, thus keeping the people on land safe.

IMAGE: The S-400 air defence missile system. Photograph: Reuters

What can the S-400 intercept and destroy?

It can tackle a variety of aerial threats like drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and even stealth aircraft.

How do we know the S-400 in India?

India refers to it as the Sudarshan Chakra, the powerful weapon wielded by Lord Krishna in the Mahabharat to defeat enemies.

Who manufactures the S-400?

It is produced by a Russian company, Almaz-Antey.

The S-400 entered the Russian defence service in 2007. It replaced the S-300, which was developed by the erstwhile Soviet Union. By 2020, the S-400 became the backbone of Russian surface to air missile capabilities.

When did India buy the S-400?

India signed a Rs 35,000 crore (Rs 350 billion) deal with Russia in 2018 to procure five S-400 systems. Three of them are currently operational while the remaining two are expected to be delivered by 2026.

The US wasn't mighty pleased with the defence deal, was it?

No, the US did not like the Modi government going ahead with the S-400 deal with Russia. The US government wanted India to buy the Patriot and THAAD missile defence systems as an alternative.

The US also issued a veiled threat to the Modi government that it would impose economic sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) but Modi did not budge.

How many countries have the S-400?

Only five countries possess the S-400 -- Russia, China, India, Turkey and Belarus.

How did the S-400 help India on Thursday night during the Pakistani bombardment?

None of the Pakistani projectiles could land on target. They were all destroyed midair by the S-400.

Pakistan fired multiple projectiles against Jammu, Jaisalmer and other cities, but none of them could make it past the Sudarshan Chakra.
Cutbacks in funding and low ridership are forcing Southeast Vermont Transit (the Moover) to cut back on some of its routes.
GUIYANG, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland recorded a total volume of 428,100 tonnes for tea import and export in 2024, up 5.3 percent year on year, according to the Tea Industry Committee of China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation.

Wei You, secretary general of the committee, shared these figures while releasing an annual report on the mainland's tea trade at a tea industry conference held on Thursday in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

During 2024, the mainland's tea import volume reached 54,000 tonnes, an increase of 38.34 percent year on year, while its tea export volume totaled 374,100 tonnes, a rise of 1.79 percent year on year.

The report noted that black tea was the dominant import tea product, making up 77.63 percent of total tea imports. Green tea led exports, accounting for 86.57 percent of the mainland's total export volume last year.

Notably, tea exports to Belt and Road partner countries in 2024 had reached 322,300 tonnes -- up 2.22 percent year on year.
The State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine and the Ministry of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of critical infrastructure protection, the press service of the State Special Communications Service reports.

"The government of this country and its people have supported Ukraine in its struggle from the very beginning. In particular, in the defense issue. We are very grateful for this support. The signing of the memorandum further deepens and strengthens our cooperation, but in new directions. This is the start of cooperation between our bodies in the areas of cyber defense, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure," head of the State Special Communications Service Oleksandr Potiy is quoted in the message on the Telegram channel.

In turn, the National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism and Security of the Ministry of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, also emphasized the importance of cooperation.

"We are ready to share our experience with Ukraine, as well as learn from its experience. Together we are stronger," he said.

It is noted that the Memorandum of Understanding was signed within the implementation of the Agreement on Security Cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands, concluded in March 2024.
Aimee Parnell has been on the job at the Waypoint Center for about a month, and her enthusiasm as the new executive director of the Great Fall
Nextgen Connect has signed a distribution agreement with service software vendor Freshworks in Australia and New Zealand.

Nextgen will leverage its channel services model which combines its three core offerings: oSpace for pipeline generation, Elastic Digital for brand awareness, and its AWS practice for cloud marketplace to bring Freshworks products to mid-market and enterprise companies in the region.

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for our partners to deliver full-service customer lifecycle support to joint customers, and our recent partner program updates empower our partners to do just that, Freshworks senior vice president of channels and alliances Laura Padilla, said.

The aim of the partnership is to help companies in Australia and New Zealand realise the value of AI for their business, employees and customers.

Our partnership with Freshworks has come together to help build, develop and scale the partner landscape in Australia and New Zealand, Nextgen Connect managing director Wendy OKeeffe said.

We aim to do this by offering our channel services, and proactive partner engagement with a dedicated partner development manager.

Freshworks A/NZ head of partners and alliances Neels Du Plooy added the partnership was a key step in helping businesses get a return on their AI investment more quickly.

Freshworks is committed to making AI more accessible to the businesses whove historically been underserved and overcharged by legacy software providers, Du Plooy said.
The rapid growth of channel partners across Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ), especially with new customers, is creating support demand that outpaces the growth of Nutanixs channel team  a challenge the vendors global channel chief, David Gwyn, said hes facing as well.

I like what were doing in APJ right now, he said to ARN at Nutanixs .Next 25 conference. Were growing my team and were not just growing the service provider team, were also growing our focus on distributors.

Gwyn said partners in the region are dispersed across different places, have different languages and different currencies.

A focus on distributors will help us more than anything in APJ, especially as these Broadcom partners are hitting us [up], he said.

Were seeing more partners coming [to] Nutanix and signing seller agreements. I cant grow my channel managers at the same rate that were getting partners.

Gwyn explained that means most of these partners can be covered by its distributors, like Dicker Data and Ingram in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ).

Weve got to make sure that our distributors are strong and that theyre great at enablement and  training our partners without needing us to be involved, he said.

The move to Nutanix has largely been attributed to the way Broadcom changed VMwares licensing model following its acquisition.
This could have been a momentous week in Ukraines long-term wish of joining the European Union and NATO. In the end, it wasn't.

As leaders of the two institutions met for key summits in Brussels and The Hague respectively, Kyivs eventual membership of both should have been a centerpiece.

Instead, Ukraine is no closer to joining either  and the many obstacles in the war-torn country's path to the Euro-Atlantic community were on full display.

Rewind one year to NATOs Washington summit.

Just like in Vilnius a year ago, Ukraine was frustrated that it didnt get an invitation, but the final declaration gushed about the country.

We fully support Ukraines right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference. Ukraines future is in NATO, the text reaffirmed before adding as Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.

Joe Biden, the US president at the time, was reluctant to go further, with Kyiv engaged in direct conflict with Russia.

Germany was quietly backing Washingtons stance but the warm language and the guest of honor treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit was indicative of an aspirant country that soon would transform to a full-fledged ally.

At this years NATO summit in The Hague, the scenes could not have been much starker.

Biden is no longer president. In his place is Donald Trump, who has openly dismissed Ukraines chances of joining for years.

And the new reality was on display everywhere.

There was no NATO-Ukraine Council on leaders level. No one talked openly about Ukraines eventual membership and there were no words about it in the final declaration.

Instead, there was just a line that allies can count financial support to Kyiv as part of the military alliances new defense spending target.

Granted, Zelenskyy was present at the summit dinner. He met all relevant leaders, including a bilateral with Donald Trump that according to all read-outs went well. Trump even said he was nice, opened up for potential Patriot deliveries to Ukraine, and seemed to show willingness to press the Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the table.

But in reality, Ukraine got nothing concrete, niceties aside.

Washington is still reluctant to sanction Russia, the Europeans are shying away from their signature proposal to lower the Russian oil price cap, and when it comes to NATO membership, Kyiv is further away now than it was a year ago.

The fact that officials said it was a success that Trump didnt treat Zelenskyy badly and that the Ukrainian didnt complain about the lack of outcomes shows how low expectations were.

"I don't consider the summit a failure for Ukraine. On the contrary, we got the maximum of what is realistically possible for today," Volodymyr Fesenko, a Ukrainian political scientist told Current Time.

"The fact is, even in the highly condensed NATO communique, theres a dedicated point about continued support for Ukraine under current conditions -- and thats exactly what we need. Not some abstract statement or vague promise that well join NATO at some undefined point in the future."

At an EU summit in Brussels a day later, the story of dashed hopes was eerily similar.

At the same June summit in 2022, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status and exactly a year ago the same gathering decided to formally start accession talks.

This year, the stated goal from both Kyiv and Brussels was to officially open several of the six negotiation clusters needed to become a member.

Both the European Commission and 26 of the 27 EU member states believe that Ukraine is ready for this, but there is a need for unanimity to make it happen.

And so far, Hungary has not played ball. Quite the opposite.

In the run-up to the summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban presented the results of a consultative referendum in the Central European country in which over 2 million people, or 95 percent of those who cast ballots, had voted against Ukrainian EU membership.

Going into the meeting he said that the problem is the war, if we integrate Ukraine, we integrate the war. When pressed by RFE/RL if he would change his mind if there is a cease-fire, he simply retorted that there isnt one.

The fact that draft summit conclusions of just EU-26 had been drawn up in advance shows that the Budapest blockage is taken for granted.

The text notes member states invite "the Council to take the next steps in the accession process in line with the merit-based approach, with clusters being opened when the conditions are met. It takes good note of the assessment of the Commission that the fundamentals cluster is ready to be opened. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting.

It's symbolic support of Kyivs EU integration, but practically it means nothing.

It was also indicative that Zelenskyy didnt show up in person in Brussels, addressing the leaders via videolink instead.

EU officials cited logistical reasons for his absence, which is curious considering that he managed to be in both The Hague and that he addressed the Council of Europe in Strasbourg the day before.

While there are hopes that Hungary might give in soon, perhaps even later this summer, most European officials concede that the veto might last all the way up to the Hungarian parliamentary election slated for April 2026 as the issue of Ukrainian EU integration now has crept into the national debate.

It is also telling that no more EU countries have put bigger pressure on Hungary to give the green light.

But there are other things that are more important right now.

Take the need to get the country onboard when it comes to agreeing on new Russia sanctions and to roll over those imposed in the last three years, something that happened at the summit.

But then there is a sense in European capitals that some countries secretly are quite comfortable with slowing down Ukraines EU accession.

And this goes beyond Hungary and Slovakia, which has expressed reservations on moving forward too quickly.

Poland recently elected a new president, Karol Nawrocki, who didnt shy away from criticizing Ukrainian agricultural imports to the EU or raise thorny historical issues between Warsaw and Kyiv. Czechia might elect a government in the autumn that would be decidedly less enthusiastic about Ukraine in general.

Ukraines most immediate neighbors clearly see that Ukraine will fight for the same EU funds that they are counting on in the coming years. And even further West, there are reservations about being too quick in taking in a big and poor country locked in a bloody conflict with a nuclear superpower.

The club itself must undergo reforms for such an addition to the family and those reforms are both politically and financially painful.

Unlike its NATO bid, Ukraines EU membership is not off the table.

But this week has shown that the ambitious goal of getting Kyiv in by 2030 might have to be revised. Lets just say that the 2030s sounds more feasible now, as one diplomat put it.
Fiona Hill is an author, Russia analyst, and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who previously served in intelligence and security roles under three US administrations. In a wide-ranging interview, she spoke to RFE/RL correspondent Todd Prince about what President Donald Trump's second term could mean for NATO, the emergence of a Trump foreign policy doctrine, and how European governments could help end the war in Ukraine.
With the ink still drying on the European Union's freshly printed 17th sanctions package on Russia, work is already under way on a next step that European leaders say will be "massive."

But some analysts warn that, in many ways, the EU has already played its best cards and doesn't have many left, especially at a time when Washington seems reluctant to join in as it pushes peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

"The cards that we still have to play largely include measures for which we would need the United States," Benjamin Hilgenstock, senior economist at the Kyiv-based KSE Institute, a think tank, told RFE/RL.

"Specifically, this would be about removing Russian oil and gas from global markets in volume," he said, adding that counties such as India, China, and Turkey would not stop buying Russian fossil fuels without the weight of secondary US sanctions.

European leaders threatened Russia with "massive" sanctions on May 10 if Moscow did not agree to a 30-day cease-fire proposed by Washington. They said they were making their demand after coordinating it with US President Donald Trump.

It was meant to appear as a game-changing moment, but the apparent transatlantic concord quickly went awry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not commit to a cease-fire during a phone call with Trump on May 19, yet Trump praised the call and did not appear ready to announce new US sanctions saying imposing them now could imperil talks and make the situation "much worse."

To be clear: The "massive" sanction threat had nothing to do with the 17th package of EU measures announced on May 20, as this had already been some time in the works.

An Empty Threat?

European leaders may need to deliver something big by themselves, without US involvement -- or appear to have made an empty threat.

Can they deliver?

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys thinks so. He told RFE/RL that the EU could redouble its efforts on Russia's energy exports.

"We should stop the major income to Russia's budget and major income to their war machine. This is the exports of gas, oil, LNG. We have to stop those," he said.

But in practice, countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium are actually importing more LNG, or liquified natural gas, now than they were a year ago. Budrys argued there were plenty of alternatives on the global market.

"There are voices that say, 'Oh, they're too expensive and it will cost us too much, we can't afford this.' Look, we (Lithuania) already did this," he added.

But the arguments about price illustrate that the self-harming impacts of sanctions have held the EU back in the past, and may do in the future, too.

Sanctions will be "massive, only when we are willing to go further than we would like to go," Tom Keatinge of the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) told RFE/RL.

"By that I mean only when we're willing to inflict sanctions that have a degree of blowback on our own economies," he added.

Hitting Energy Exports

Hilgenstock makes a distinction between countries using Russian LNG for economic reasons and countries such as Hungary and Slovakia that would oppose an import ban due to their close political relationship with Moscow.

Even if economic objections can be overcome, political considerations can also delay or complicate a significant tightening of sanctions in this area.

European leaders have suggested that the next sanctions package will include the energy sector, but that's a broad term. Some have also suggested financial measures.

"It's relatively unclear what they are actually talking about," said Hilgenstock, who is also an Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

"Are they overselling what they can deliver? I think they are."

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen did provide some indication of what might come next in remarks on May 16.

"It will include working on listing more vessels of the Russian shadow fleet," she said, referring to ships without clear ownership used to evade restrictions on Russian oil and oil products.

The 17th sanctions package, along with British measures announced the same day, already added dozens of ships, following the pattern of previous packages. As such, adding new ships would appear like further cumulative action rather than something bold and new.

'All Talk And No Trousers'

Von der Leyen also mentioned reducing the oil price cap for Russian oil, another punitive measure imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But this too would require US agreement for global enforcement.

Three years of sanctions have had a big impact on the Russian economy but have not stopped Moscow's aggression.

Still, announcing the latest measures, European politicians were resolute.

UK Foreign Minister David Lammy called Putin a "warmonger" while urging him to agree to the 30-day cease-fire, adding that "delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin's war machine."

EU Foreign Affairs chief Kaja Kallas wrote on social media that "more sanctions on Russia are in the works."

Keatinge warns that not following through with genuinely impactful sanctions risks undermining credibility.

"It gives plenty of ammunition to [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov and others to basically saythe Europeans are all talk and no trousers."

Hilgenstock shares the concern.

"We're seeing Vladimir Putin's response, or rather non-response to this ultimatum," he says, referring to the May 10 statement on "massive" sanctions.

"That makes clear what the Russian side thinks."
Eighty years after the surrender of Nazi Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin had plenty to say about it and the unparalleled destruction that the Soviet Union suffered during World War II.

Not so much about that other war, the largest in Europe since World War II: Russia's invasion of Ukraine.





In fact, except for a passing mention of what Putin calls the "special military operation," there was none at all.

It might be a coping mechanism. Or it might be a split-screen visual. Or simply a reflection of the Gordian Knot that the Kremlin has tied for itself in a conflict that has devastated Ukraine but also inflicted more casualties on Russia than all the wars it has fought since 1945.

The war on Ukraine is tangled up in what the Kremlin calls "root causes." That's largely a euphemism for Moscow's version of 20th-century history, in which the Soviet Union helped lead the Allies to liberate Europe and then impose four decades of authoritarian, Communist rule over much of it.

The variables of the Kremlin's twisted calculus include the false claim that Ukraine is now controlled by neo-Nazis who helped engineer a coup 11 years ago, driving out a president with Russian sympathies and persecuting Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine.

No less important a variable: the assertion that United States and NATO betrayed Moscow when the alliance embraced former members of the Warsaw Pact -- the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and others -- in the subsequent years.

"We remember the lessons of World War II, and we will never agree with distortion of its events, with attempts to justify the executioners and slander the real winner," Putin said during the May 9 speech. "Truth and justice on our side. The entire country, all of society, the people support the participants of the special military operation."

In the speech, which at 10 minutes was one of the shortest Victory Day speeches in the 26 years he has been Russia's dominant political leader, Putin offered a corrective, or a retort, to US President Donald Trump.

Two days earlier, Trump asserted that "victory was mostly accomplished because of [the United States], like it or not. We came into that war. We won that war."

That's heresy in Moscow, where the memories of the 20-plus million Soviet war dead remain in sharp focus, as does the Battle of Stalingrad, the cataclysmic clash that most historians consider to be a major turning point in the war.

"We will always remember that the opening of the second front in Europe -- after the decisive battles on the territory of the Soviet Union -- brought victory closer," Putin said, a reference to the Allied invasion of Normandy, 16 months after Stalingrad.

In contrast to past speeches, Putin was restrained in his bashing of the West. For example, in 2007, he likened the United States to the Third Reich. In 2022, months after launching the Ukraine invasion, he accused the United States of "humiliating the whole world."

So What About Ukraine?

The Ukraine invasion has been trending favorably for Russia as its forces grind down outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian troops on the battlefield.

Diplomatically, Trump's efforts to prioritize a resolution of the conflict broke the isolation of Putin, imposed by Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, with support of Western allies.

The Trump administration has signed onto several core demands for the Kremlin, some of which Putin used to justify going to war in the first place. That includes recognizing Russia's claim to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and blocking Ukraine from future membership in NATO.

More recently, there's been a shift in the Trump administration tone. Trump's vice president, JD Vance, this week said Russia was "asking too much" in the peace talks.



Putin announced a three-day cease-fire to coincide with Victory Day celebrations. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected that, calling it a theatrical show, and countered with a proposal for a 30-day halt in fighting. Kyiv has also accused Russia of massive violations of its own truce, and Russia has leveled similar accusations.



For weeks, Kyiv and Moscow have cudgeled each other using drones and missiles with increasing intensity. On May 7, Ukraine reportedly launched more than 500 drones and 11 missiles and glide bombs on Russian targets, the Defense Ministry claimed.



On May 8, the eve of Russia's celebrations, Trump endorsed the 30-day proposal and threatened sanctions "if a cease-fire is not respected" by either country.



The endorsement followed a phone call with Zelenskyy, who has a fraught history with Trump. Ukrainian lawmakers also blessed a major deal giving US companies privileged access to Ukraine's valuable minerals, something on which Trump had conditioned US support.



Cudgeling Ukraine with accusations of "Nazism" draws from the Kremlin's selective reading of the 20th century, too, in particular Stepan Bandera, the Ukrainian nationalist who is revered as a hero by many Ukrainians for leadership in the anti-Soviet independence movement. Others regard him as a traitor whose forces collaborated with Nazi Germany and conducted murderous campaigns against Poles and Jews.

In Putin's 2022 speech, he mentioned both "Western-backed neo-Nazis" in Ukraine as well as "Banderites"-- a Kremlin-favorite epithet used against Ukrainian nationalists.

That rhetoric was absent this year.

But also absent was any indication that he was contemplating ending the Russian invasion.

"Putin does not intend to end the war. He is not changing the goals he started with," Igor Yakovenko, a former Russian journalist and lawmaker who is now an exiled sociologist, told Current Time ahead of the speech.

"The aim of the war is obvious. It has been couched in two euphemisms: 'de-Nazification' and 'de-militarization.' Translated into plain language, this means stripping Ukraine of its military and destroying the Ukrainian state," he said.
Head of NATO Delegation: We to see new promises, further deliveries of aid to Ukraine in near future

Senior Representative and Head of NATO Delegation to Ukraine Patrick Turner assured of continued support for Ukrainians from NATO.

This year, over the first three month, the Allies pledged yet another 20 billion euros in security assistance. Soon enough, new pledges will be made and respective assistance disbursed. Massive volumes of assistance and support will be needed in the coming years. And we have every reason to be confident that this assistance will be delivered, the Head of the NATO Representation in Ukraine emphasized at the 17th Annual Kyiv Security Forum UA: UNITE AGAIN TO DEFEAT THE GLOBAL AGGRESSOR, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation Open Ukraine.

Turner recalled that last year NATOs security assistance to Ukraine amounted to more than EUR 50 billion. It was on the par with the funds Ukraine itself spent on its security in 2024.

According to him, this is in the interests of NATO member states and Ukraine itself.

NATO clearly supports Ukraine and will continue to do so for many years to come. And relationships between NATO and Ukraine are stronger today than ever before. We want to work together to strengthen further our relationship. Today, Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, he said.

Turner also stressed that NATO priorities, including those to be discussed at the Alliance summit in the Hague next month, include defense spending, defense industrial capabilities and Ukraine.
WASHINGTON -- The international security and financial system built and led by the United States after World War II has weathered the Cold War, regional wars, economic crises, and even a global pandemic. But according to one of President Donald Trump's former advisers -- now one of his most prominent critics -- it may not survive his four-year term.

"This is the end of the international system as we know it," said Fiona Hill, Trump's former Russia adviser and now an expert at the Brookings Institution, in a recent interview with RFE/RL as part of a three-part series called America's Foreign Policy Shifts. "Frankly, it's been crumbling for quite a long time."





"President Trump no longer wants to either pay for this [international order] or support it, even in terms of political leadership, and that goes for domestic institutions that are also related to that projection of US influence and power on the outside," she said.

America's Foreign Policy Shift: A 3-Part Interview Series This is a three-part series of interviews RFE/RL is conducting with global thinkers offering different perspectives on what we have learned from the first 100 days of Trump's second term. The aim is to provide insight into how the administration of US President Donald Trump is approaching some of the most challenging issues for Europe and the wider region since the end of World War II: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a heightened confrontation between Russia and the West, and rising tides of disinformation.





The so-called rules-based international order -- Washington's term for the postwar global framework -- rests on principles such as territorial integrity, collective security, human rights, and free trade. Institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the International Criminal Court, of which the United States is not a member, were established to uphold and enforce those values.

But since returning to the White House, Trump says the system is no longer working for the United States and the American worker, pointing in particular to the loss of manufacturing jobs to China and other emerging market countries that he says has hollowed out cities and towns around the United States and led to a massive trade deficit.

For all its faults, some experts argue the current US-led international system has ushered in an unprecedented period of global peace and prosperity. If that is to survive in some form, it will be up to Europe and Asia, Hill said.

"This is a moment of truth" for the countries in those regions, including China, she said. "What do they really value? How much do they value these institutions? If they do, by necessity, they're going to have to be the countries that step up to support them."

Hill is a leading scholar on Russia and a biographer of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She has observed the Kremlin leader in international engagements firsthand and accompanied Trump to his 2018 summit in Helsinki with Putin, a meeting that featured a news conference that Hill later described as "mortifying and humiliating" for the United States.

Hill also testified before Congress during Trump's first impeachment hearing in 2019. She has been a vocal and prominent critic of Trump since leaving government, and the Trump administration revoked Hill's security clearances and access to classified information in March.

In conversation with RFE/RL, Hill said the United States appears to be following the trajectory of Russia under Putin and Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban as Trump tries to sideline institutions like Congress and the courts that have provided checks and balances to executive power -- a charge leveled by other prominent critics of Trump.

"I never thought that I would see the United States converge with Russia in quite the way that it has. There's quite a lot of convergence, but it's not the direction that people thought it might be after 1989," she said, referring to the democratic revolutions that overthrew authoritarian leaders in Communist Eastern Europe.

While Hill said the grievances over inequality in the United States that helped propel Trump to power twice are real and legitimate, she said most Americans didn't vote for a hyper-personalized presidency and erosion of institutions.

Fortress USA And Ukraine Peace

As Trump pushes a multilayered missile and air defense initiative dubbed the "Golden Dome" and moves to re-shore American manufacturing, Hill sees a broader strategic shift: a retreat from global engagement behind a "fortress United States."

Central to that vision is resolving the war in Ukraine as part of a broader deal with nuclear-armed Russia, a great power rival that is also seeking to change the US-led international order. Since returning to office, Trump has made ending the conflict -- now in its fourth year -- a top priority, calling in March for an immediate 30-day cease-fire.

Kyiv has agreed to the US-brokered proposal. But Putin has stalled, with his troops maintaining the upper hand on the battlefield.

The delay, Hill said, is putting Trump in a difficult position.

"He's going to look for someone to blame. He won't want to blame Putin," she said.

Trump, she added, regards only Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping as true peers and has little tolerance for what he sees as disrespect or disinterest from leaders he considers equals.

"It could well be as he gets more and more angry with Putin that he gets more and more interested in lashing out against Ukraine because he doesn't want to appear weak," she said.

That tension was on full display during a February meeting at the White House, where Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of lacking a genuine interest in peace.

Hill said the war is unlikely to end unless Putin comes to believe further battlefield gains are out of reach. That, she argued, will require sustained Western support -- military, financial, and politicalfor Ukraine, regardless of US involvement.

In the long term, she said, Ukraine must be integrated into whatever European security architecture emerges after the war. What role the United States will play in that future, however, remains uncertain as Trump continues his policy of strategic retrenchment.

In the meantime, Hill warned, Trump's escalating attacks on global institutions and domestic checks and balances are fraying alliances and eroding the image of Washington on the world stage.

"The United States has lost its credibility globally," she said. "A lot of this is irrevocable. It'll take a very long time for the US to rebuild what it has lost."

The lesson, she added, is stark: "What you build over a century can be dismantled in 100 days."

This is the first in a three-part series on Americas foreign policy shift. Next interview on Friday, May 16: A conversation with Clifford D. May, the founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
KYIV -- Ukraine's main security agency said it uncovered a Hungarian-run spy network that was seeking sensitive information about military defenses and public opinion in the western Zakarpattya region, which borders Hungary and has a substantial ethnic-Hungarian population.

Hungary responded by expelling two Ukrainian diplomats it said were considered spies, prompting Ukraine to expel two Hungarian diplomats in return and increasing tensions between the neighboring countries whose governments are at odds over Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on May 9 that it had arrested two suspected agents in Zakarpattya -- often known in English as Transcarpathia -- and claimed it had identified their handler as an employee of Hungarian military intelligence. This is the first time Ukraine has found a Hungarian spy network working to undermine the country's security, the SBU said.

The SBU posted video footage showing camouflage-clad officers muscling a man out of a building and into a vehicle, his hands cuffed behind his back.

The announcement comes amid tension between Ukraine and Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban has maintained warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and opposed sanctions against the Kremlin imposed by the European Union in response to Moscow's war on Ukraine. Hungary has been far less supportive of Kyiv's defensive efforts than most other European Union and NATO nations, and Orban opposes EU membership for Ukraine.

The development also plays into a complex situation in Zakarpattya, where Kremlin critics say Russia has sought to spark tension between ethnic Hungarians and the Ukrainian authorities.

Hours after the SBU announcement, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary expelled two diplomats from the Ukrainian Embassy in Budapest who were considered to be undercover spies. In a video posted on Facebook, he said a notification about the expulsions was handed to the Ukrainian ambassador at the Foreign Ministry.

Asked earlier in the day about the Ukrainian statement, Szijjarto told ATV television that Hungary had received no official notice about the case from Ukraine and that for now, "this should be classified as propaganda that should be treated with caution."

"[In] addition to the physical war [in Ukraine], there is also a propaganda war taking place," Szijjarto said. "It is clear that anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used in Ukraine, anti-Hungarian propaganda that in many cases has turned out to have no basis whatsoever."

The Hungarian prime minister's office and Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to RFE/RL's requests for comment.

Later in the day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Ukraine is also expelling two Hungarian diplomats, who now have 48 hours to leave the country.

"We are acting in response to Hungary's actions, based on the principle of reciprocity and our national interests," Sybiha added on his X.

The alleged network's goals were "the collection of information about the military defenses of the Zakarpattya Oblast, a search for vulnerable spots in the ground and air defenses of the region, and also the study of the sociopolitical views of local residents," including how they might react "if Hungarian forces enter the region," the SBU said in a statement.

The SBU said one of the suspects was a 40-year-old former soldier from Zakarpattya's Berehove district -- the population hub for Ukraine's ethnic Hungarian minority of roughly 100,000 people -- whom it said was recruited and placed in a "sleeper" mode in 2021, then "activated" by the alleged handler in September 2024.

The SBU claimed it has documentary evidence that the suspect was gathering information about the location of Ukrainian air-defense systems and other military capabilities.

The other detained suspect, a woman, is a former member of Ukraine's Security and Defense Forces who resigned from her unit earlier this year, it said.

The suspects have not been named.

Viktor Yahun, a former SBU deputy head who left the agency in 2015, said the accusations were a grave matter in wartime.

"The presence of agents had been recorded before, they were simply left alone because there was no directive to expose them," Yahun told RFE/RL. "But now the situation has critically changed. We're dealing with military intelligence. This is a serious matter, and the information this structure gathers can be of strategic importance to us. It can be used to make certain strategic decisions."

Vitaliy Dyachuk, an analyst at the Institute for Central European Strategy in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattya's capital, suggested the situation should be handled with care and that heightened tension could play into Russia's hands.

"The tense relationship between Ukraine and Hungary is an ideal [touchstone]for the activation of forces seeking to further destabilize the situation. This is especially true when it comes to sensitive topics like alleged preconditions for another military incursion, the presence of armed forces, and ethnic communities in a region like Zakarpattya," Dyachuk told RFE/RL.

"Before taking any concrete steps, I believe it is worth waiting for a full analysis of the situation. There have already been incidents in Zakarpattya involving arson attacks on Hungarian institutions and other provocations. However, in the end, the trail led to the aggressor state -- Russia. Russia is, in fact, the only major beneficiary of instability in Europe."

After centuries under the control of Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Zakarpattya became part of Czechoslovakia after World War I before Hungary, allied with Nazi Germany, attempted to reclaim it in 1939. Following Germany's defeat in World War II, Czechoslovakia ceded the territory to the Soviet Union, which made it part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Between 2011 and 2020, the Hungarian government provided at least 115 million euros to Zakarpattya, a 2021 investigation by RFE/RL's Ukrainian investigative unit, Schemes, and a group of Central European journalists established. That amount was roughly 1 1/2 times the size of Zakarpattya's annual budget.

(RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent Iryna Breza reported from Uzhhorod, Ukraine)
Shmyhal on EU's intention to allocate almost EUR1.9 bln for military support for Ukraine: This is historic decision

The European Union has officially announced its intention to allocate almost EUR1.9 billion for military support for Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

"This is a historic decision, because weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of profits from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Facility," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

According to him, EUR1 billion of this amount will be directed to the purchase of weapons according to the so-called Danish model - directly from Ukrainian manufacturers.

"Thus, we are not just strengthening our defense capability, but also stimulating the economy and innovation in our defense-industrial complex," the prime minister stated.

He also said that more than EUR600 million will be spent on artillery and ammunition and more than EUR200 million on strengthening Ukrainian air defense.

"We sincerely thank the European Union for this far-sighted decision, leadership and support. Special gratitude to Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Italy, which will implement the purchase of Ukrainian weapons worth EUR1 billion," Shmyhal wrote.
High Court reporters

There are "black holes after black holes" in the 250 million damages case against former head of Irish Nationwide Building Society boss Michael Fingleton, his lawyer has told the High Court.

The civil case against the former INBS chief is in its fourth day before the High Court, where it is alleged that he negligently mismanaged the building society and engaged in property "gambles" in the mid-2000s with high net-worth individuals in an informal and speculative manner.

Mr Fingleton (87), who is in ill health and incapacitated, preventing him from giving evidence, ran the building lender from 1971 to 2009, as managing director and chief executive. At its height in 2007, INBS had reported assets of 16 billion but was a high-profile casualty of the financial crisis of 2008.

Liquidators for Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) have taken the case against Mr Fingleton, who denies the allegation of negligent mismanagement.

The losses, relating to five specific property loans between 2006 and 2008, had been estimated by the IBRC at 6 billion.

However, only 250 million in damages is now being pursued by IBRC, relating to the five loans, allegedly approved by Mr Fingleton, who the court has been told was also nodding through top ups and extensions to certain clients without the knowledge of the society's board.

At the High Court on Friday, solicitor Niall Clerkin, for Mr Fingleton, said there were "black holes" in the case in terms of documents and witness evidence against his client.

Mr Clerkin said there were "large substantial tracts of documents missing" in the case, according to a former senior staff member at INBS.

Mr Clerkin said that a former UK branch manager based in the Belfast office of INBS, Gary McCollum, had told a court in Northern Ireland that documents before the courts were incomplete. Mr Clerkin said that, in addition to the incomplete paperwork in the case, none of INBS' borrowers had been called by IBRC in the case currently before the High Court.

"It is an enormous black hole," said the solicitor, who said there was no other witness in the case who could give evidence to the level of Mr McCollum regarding the integrity of the five loan files subject to proceedings.

Mr Clerkin said that the court could search the Common Law world and "barely find a case like this".

The solicitor said that it is the plaintiff's case that this type of action could only be heard on "purely objective grounds".

However, said Mr Clerkin, Mr McCollum had previously evidenced he was unable to answer certain questions regarding diligence on loans because there is incomplete information available regarding the relevant time period at the society.

Mr Clerkin said that it is IBRC's case that there was a "critical triangle" at the top of INBS during the 2006 and 2009 period, namely: Mr Fingleton, Mr McCollum and Tom McMenamin, who the court heard was the head of commercial lending in INBS' Dublin office from 2002.

Mr Clerkin said that Mr Fingleton was "incapacitated" and could not give evidence, that Mr McCollum had given evidence that "there were substantial tracts of paperwork missing from our files" and that no reason had been put forward by the plaintiff regarding Mr McMenamin not being a witness in the case.

Mr Clerkin said there were "black holes after black holes" in the case against Mr Fingleton.

"This leaves us with one person [Mr McCollum] left in the critical triangle, and he is too confused by the absence of documents to give certain evidence," said Mr Clerkin.

The solicitor said the court was being asked to make a determination in the civil case without a "settled" set of "binary, factual documents" available.

He said the court could not now decide on what "alarm bells" did or did not go off for Mr Fingleton regarding caution and due diligence during the period of the issuing of the five loans, which was now a question that simply cannot be answered and that it was "too easy to portray him [Mr Fingleton] as a man out of control".
Bishop Kevin Doran, who is Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin, has welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV.

69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago becomes the first ever American to become Pontiff and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

He replaces Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, April 21st.

Following the announcement in the Vatican yesterday, Bishop Doran said:

God bless Pope Leo XIV and give him the wisdom and courage he needs for his new mission as Vicar of Christ.

The fact that the election was completed as quickly as it was tells me that there was significant unity among the Cardinals about what the Church needs.

Quoting Saint Augustine, Pope Leo said: 'With you I am a Christian and for you I am a bishop'.

In that way he seems to signal his commitment to a synodal Church in which we walk together, listen to one another, and listen to the Word of God, but also a Church is which recognises the particular pastoral and teaching mission of the Bishop of Rome.

Born in Chicago, a missionary from Peru, living and working in Rome, Pope Leo communicates well in many languages, he outlined.

Bishop Doran said the new Popes episcopal motto is One in the One, meaning that, as Christians, we find our unity in the person of Jesus. With the help of God, he will be a Shepherd who gathers together the scattered children of God.

Pope Leos focus on peace and on dialogue gives me great hope. His choice of the name Leo is significant, because the previous Pope Leo (Leo XIII) is the Pope who, in very troubled times, initiated the Social Teaching of the Church, which focuses on the dignity of human work, on rights and responsibilities associated with property, justice and peace, integral development and care of the earth.

I encourage all our Catholic people to pray for him and, in whatever way possible, to work with him, said the Bishop.
Samay Raina's Emotional Tribute Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Raina's words capture the fear and uncertainty experienced by families with members close to the conflict areas.

Samay Raina's Emotional Tribute Amid India-Pakistan Tensions latest news: Social media influencer and stand-up comedian Samay Raina has posted an emotional message in the midst of rising tensions between India and Pakistan after recent military operations. In his message, Raina shares a touching phone call with his father, who is presently in Jammu, assuring him that the Indian Armed Forcesare in control.

Raina's words capture the fear and uncertainty experienced by families with members close to the conflict areas. He speaks of turning off lights in his Mumbai home, staring at his neighbor's lit-up windows, and questioning if they too have family in Jammu or Pathankot, expecting a call from a soldier on the front.

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Showing utmost reverence towards the military personnel and their families, Raina's message rings loud among many who are eagerly tracking the happenings of the war. His message ends with a salute to the sacrifices of the military men, signing off with a patriotic "Jai Hind."

The conflict between India and Pakistan has escalated after Operation Sindoor, with Pakistan inflicting drone and missile attacks on Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. But India's S-400 air defense system managed to intercept the threats while keeping civilians safe.

Raina's post has received widespread admiration, with people showing support for the Indian Army and the emotional distress undergone by families victimized by the conflict.
Blackout Alert in Panchkula latest news

Citizens and business operators are admonished to adhere to the directive seriously.

Blackout Alert in Panchkula latest news latest news: Panchkula officials have issued a daily blackout from 7:00 PM until further notice. All the lights on the outsideon markets, hotels, religious sites, and streetlightsshould be turned off. Lights inside should turn off after the siren.

The order was issued by Panchkula District Magistrate with a view to practicing stringent enforcement in the interest of public safety and regulation. Citizens and business operators are admonished to adhere to the directive seriously.

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(For More News Apart Blackout Alert in Panchkula stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Air Force station receives air warning of possible drone attack in Chandigarh

It came hours after India gave befitting reply to Pakistan's attempt to attack Punjab, Jammu, Rajasthan.

Chandigarh Air Force Station Drone Attack Warning Sirens Latest News Today: In a major development, the Chandigarh Air Force Station has received an air warning of a possible drone attack. In the meantime, sirens have been heard across Chandigarh.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with officials citing credible intelligence about a possible drone incursion targeting the strategic airbase. The Chandigarh Air Force Station, a key military installation, has ramped up security measures, with additional personnel deployed and air defense systems activated.

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Local administration officials have urged residents to stay calm but vigilant, advising them to avoid unnecessary travel and seek shelter in secure locations. Schools, offices, and public spaces have been temporarily closed, and traffic has been restricted in areas near the airbase to facilitate military operations.

The Indian Air Force has not released specific details about the threat, but sources indicate that the warning is linked to recent regional security developments. Authorities are coordinating with central agencies to monitor the situation and neutralize any potential threat.

(For more news apart from Chandigarh Air Force Station Drone Attack Warning Sirens Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Urges Public Cooperation & Civil Defence Participation

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of following the directions issued by the Chandigarh Administration

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Urges Public Cooperation & Civil Defence Participation latest news: Sh. Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, U.T., Chandigarh, convened a comprehensive review meeting today with key stakeholders, including Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Welfare Associations (MWAs), Industrial Associations and other civic bodies.

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of following the directions issued by the Chandigarh Administration from time to time and urged citizens to fully cooperate during siren alerts and blackouts. He specifically requested all Market Welfare Associations to ensure that all commercial establishments close by 7:00 PM today.

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He also appealed to the youth aged 18 years and above to participate in the Civil Defence enrolment and training camp, scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30 AM at Tagore Theatre.

The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the public to remain calm, avoid panic, and refrain from spreading or believing in rumours related to ongoing activities.

aResidents are strongly advised to rely exclusively on official communication channels for authentic and timely information:

a@chandigarh_admn

a@dc_chd

a@ssputchandigarh

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aFor any emergency assistance or clarification, please contact the helpline at 112.
Indian Akash Missile System Thwarts Pakistani Attacks, Bolsters Border Defense

The Akash system has performed exceptionally, demonstrating Indias self-reliance in defense technology,

Indian Akash Missile System Thwarts Pakistani Attacks, Bolsters Border Defense latest news: The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile system has proven its mettle in neutralizing Pakistani attacks on Indian targets, defense officials confirmed today. Deployed extensively by both the Indian Army and Air Force along the Pakistan border, the Akash system has emerged as a critical asset in safeguarding Indian airspace amid escalating regional tensions.

According to defense sources, the Akash missile system was effectively used in recent operations to intercept and destroy hostile targets, thwarting Pakistans attempts to breach Indian defenses. The systems precision and rapid response capabilities have been lauded for their role in maintaining air superiority and protecting strategic installations.

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The Akash system has performed exceptionally, demonstrating Indias self-reliance in defense technology, a senior defense official said. Its deployment along the border has significantly strengthened our ability to counter aerial threats.

The Akash missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited, is designed to engage multiple targets, including fighter jets, drones, and missiles, at ranges up to 25 kilometers. Its integration into Indias layered air defense network has bolstered the countrys preparedness in the volatile border region.

Both the Indian Army and Air Force have stationed Akash units at key locations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border, ensuring round-the-clock vigilance. The systems mobility and ability to operate in diverse terrains have made it a versatile tool in countering cross-border aggression.

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The successful use of Akash comes at a time of heightened military activity, with India and Pakistan engaged in a tense standoff. Defense officials emphasized that the missile systems performance underscores Indias growing prowess in indigenous defense manufacturing and its commitment to national security.

While specific details of the engagements remain classified, the DRDO and armed forces have hailed the Akash system as a game-changer in modern warfare. As tensions persist, the missile system continues to stand guard, reinforcing Indias resolve to protect its sovereignty.
Pakistan Attacks Punjab, Jammu, Rajasthan: India's Air Defence system Foils Pak's Attempt

Explosions Reported in Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Amritsar

Pakistan Attacks Punjab, Jammu, Rajasthan: India's Air Defence system Foils Pak's Attempt latest news:

Attack in Balochistan in Pakistan, police vehicles set on fire

Many attacks on Pakistan army too. Baloch Army makes big claim, Attacks carried out in four cities of Pakistan

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More than 100 explosions in Ferozepur echoes with continuous explosions, Drone crashes in residential area

Drones Spotted in Kutch, Gujarat Amid Ongoing Attacks Across Multiple States

Recently Update has came One Pakistani drone has hit a residential area in Firozpur and injured a family, Rushed to hospital for further treatment

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Explosion Reported in Srinagar Amid Ongoing Tensions

Explosion heard near Kartarpur Corridor Dera Baba Nanak

After all this now explosion heard in Jaipur Airport

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Pakisthan engaged in diplomatic contacts with Iran, Saudi and others to de-escalate situation: Pak's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

Now Explosion Reported in Gurdaspur Cantt Following Earlier Blasts Across Punjab

Explosions Reported in Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Amritsar , Tarn Taran Amid Rising Tensions

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Multiple loud blasts were reported in Jammu, Samba, Pokhran, Naushera late Thursday evening, triggering panic among residents.

Pakistani soldiers resorted to fierce shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing a woman and wounding two members of her family, officials said on Friday.

The Indian Army retaliated in proportion to the aggression of the Pakistani army.


Photo: president.gov.ua

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the productivity of recent cooperation with the United States towards a ceasefire for at least 30 days.

Recently we have had so much communication with the United States  and not just a lot, but really positive and productive. Were working together to get to a ceasefire, one thats solid and lasting, at least 30 days. Ukraine is ready, Zelenskyy said in a video address to the leaders of the member countries of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) on Thursday, the text of which was published on the head of state's website on Friday.

He said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Were all in touch, and our teams are working together  and thats how it should be. Were all on the same page  there has to be a full ceasefire. And if Russia keeps dragging out the war, well need stronger sanctions  especially if they break the ceasefire when it finally happens, the President of Ukraine said.

The U.S. and all of you in Europe know what hurts Russia the most  what really puts pressure on Moscow to think about peace and stopping this war. Moscow should accept the ceasefire, because thats the only way real peace can start. Diplomacy needs silence. Thanks for backing us in this  and lets keep coordinating closely with the United States, Zelenskyy added.

As reported, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, following a dinner of leaders of JEF member states and telephone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, said that work on a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine is progressing.
Pakistan targeted 36 places in India with 300-400 Turkish drones last night: MEA

Pakistani troops also indulged in heavy shelling at 36 points along the Line of Control (LoC), from Leh to Sarkrik.

Pakistan targeted 36 places in India with 300-400 Turkish drones last night: MEA latest news: Over the past two days, intense military confrontations have unfolded along the India-Pakistan border, with Pakistan reportedly deploying hundreds of drones and heavy artillery to target Indian military installations.

Indian authorities have strongly condemned these provocations, highlighting their swift countermeasures and unwavering resilience.

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During a press conference, Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri, along with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, elaborated on the situation. The authorities disclosed that on May 8 and 9, Pakistan had made an attempt to target military installations in India with around 300-400 drones, including Songar armed drones made in Turkey.

Pakistani troops also indulged in heavy shelling at 36 points along the Line of Control (LoC), from Leh to Sarkrik.

The Indian Military responded quickly, utilizing both kinetic and non-kinetic assets to neutralize the air threats. Certain Pakistani drones were apparently utilized to gather intelligence regarding Indian defence capabilities. The Bathinda Army Station was a target of one such drone but was successfully brought down before it could inflict damage.

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In retaliation for Pakistan's aggression, India carried out armed drone attacks on four air defence facilities in Pakistan and destroyed an air defence radar successfully. But in retaliation, Pakistan increased artillery and drone fire in areas such as Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and Udhampur, causing injuries to Indian army soldiers. Indian return fire also caused heavy casualties to Pakistani forces.

There have been growing worries about the reported use by Pakistan of civilian airliners as a shield. India has shut its airspace to civilian flights with the increased security alert, while Pakistani civilian airlines are still flying close to Lahore. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has shown restraint, keeping international civil carriers safe with the rising tensions.

Pakistan's allegations that India is plotting drone attacks on Amritsar and Nankana Sahib have been termed as rumors by Indian officials to evoke fear and confusion. India asserts that its strength in unity and resilience continues to be its best defence. Moreover, the Kartarpur Sahib corridor to be used by Sikh pilgrims will continue to remain suspended for the time being.

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With the situation still tense, both countries' military strategies keep changing. The Indian military is doing forensic examination of the crashed Pakistani drones to extract intelligence, with preliminary reports confirming Turkish-produced UAVs were involved.

With diplomatic action under doubt, India's defense establishment has reassured citizens of being ready to defend national security from any further escalations.

(For More News Apart Pakistan targeted 36 places in India with 300-400 Turkish drones last night: MEA stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Special Trains Deployed As India-Pakistan Tensions Rise

One of these trains, which just arrived in Delhi, carried IPL players and their teams, who boarded from Jalandhar.

Special Trains Deployed As India-Pakistan Tensions Rise latest news: With 24 airports closed as tensions rose, Indian Railways has come to the rescue of stranded passengers. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordered running special trains from Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra to Delhi, providing safe passage to affected people.

One of these trains, which just arrived in Delhi, carried IPL players and their teams, who boarded from Jalandhar. The government continues to monitor the situation, prioritizing passenger safety and smooth travel arrangements.

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(For More News Apart Special Trains Deployed As India-Pakistan Tensions Rise stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Three Injured as Pakistani Drone Debris Crashes into House in Punjabs Ferozepur

Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh confirmed that the projectile, part of a destroyed Pakistani drone

Three Injured as Pakistani Drone Debris Crashes into House in Punjabs Ferozepur: Three members of a family were injured on Friday when debris from a Pakistani drone, shot down by the Indian Armys air defence system, crashed into a house in Village Khai Pheme Ke, Ferozepur district, sparking a fire, police said.

Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh confirmed that the projectile, part of a destroyed Pakistani drone, struck the residence of Lakhwinder Singh, causing significant damage and igniting a blaze. The injuredLakhwinder Singh, his wife, and his brother Monu Singhwere rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Lakhwinders condition remains critical, according to hospital sources.

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The incident, which occurred amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan due to ongoing cross-border skirmishes, has raised alarm in the border district. The Armys air defence unit detected and neutralized the drone, suspected to be on a surveillance or smuggling mission, but falling debris posed an unintended hazard to civilians.

The drone was intercepted successfully, but unfortunately, its debris caused harm to a civilian home, SSP Singh told reporters. We are investigating the incident, and security forces are on high alert in the area.

The incident comes against the backdrop of escalating military activity along the Line of Control (LoC), with both nations reporting increased drone incursions in recent weeks. Punjabs border districts, including Ferozepur, have frequently reported drone sightings, often linked to the smuggling of narcotics or weapons.
Punjab Cabinet's Major Decisions: A Progressive Move In The Face Of Troubled Times

Land under the housing department that is not used because of building restrictions will now be handed over to the industry department.

Punjab Cabinet's Major Decisions: A Progressive Move In The Face Of Troubled Times latest news: Following a charged geopolitical environment, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann organized an important cabinet meeting to resolve critical issues and introduce decisive governance steps. The session led to 15 major decisions, covering security, infrastructure, agriculture, welfare, and administrative reformseach designed to make Punjab stronger and more prosperous in the future.

Realizing the increasing danger from air intrusions, the Punjab government has also opted to impose an advanced anti-drone system. It will protect sensitive areas, especially border areas, from illegal drone use that is dangerous to security.

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Land under the housing department that is not used because of building restrictions will now be handed over to the industry department. This will be done to enhance commercial development and generate more economic opportunities.

A significant development is the introduction of the Rangla Punjab Fund, an initiative allowing the public to financially contribute to Punjabs progress. Transparency will be a cornerstone, as contributors will receive detailed reports on fund allocation. The government is also seeking tax exemptions from the central authority to encourage participation.

A revolutionary change has been declared to cut down on water-guzzling paddy dependence. Maize will be bought by the government at MSP (Minimum Support Price). Ethanol manufacturers are also allowed to purchase maize at this rate, promoting diversification in farm production. Farmers who change over from paddy to maize will be compensated with a10,000 per acre.

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The government will use IIT Ropar's mining technology to monitor and stop illicit mining activities. This move will help secure natural resources while promoting legal and sustainable mining.

A new land pooling scheme shall be implemented in different cities. Here, landowners shall be provided with commercial and residential plots, facilitating orderly urban growth.

A much-awaited respite for government workers2,500 employees who joined prior to 2014 will now be entitled to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which guarantees a secure post-retirement life.

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Ministers and MLAs will stay posted in border districts to provide security and avoid illegal activities. The government has assured the locals that security personnel are working hard to protect their interests.

Out of 900 applicants from the forest department, 72 candidates who could not apply previously will be accommodated now. Also, changes in educational qualifications and age limits will be done to provide space for 306 candidates while following High Court guidelines.

A path-breaking welfare schemePunjab will pay for the medical treatment of victims of terrorism, war victims, and survivors of accidents in any hospital in the state.

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Punjab will deploy jammers in 13 prisons across the state, including Patiala and Sangrur, to prevent unauthorized communication and provide improved prison security.

(For More News Apart Punjab Cabinet's Major Decisions: A Progressive Move In The Face Of Troubled Times stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
May 9, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 09.05.2025, 13:55

EUROPE DAY  Romania is part of the European project and we must continue on this path, said interim president Ilie Bolojan, in a message on Europe Day. He stressed that the EU also means values such as democracy, the rule of law, freedom and solidarity. Europe Day is marked at the Cotroceni Palace (headquarters of the Romanian presidential administration), through the debate Together with the EU, we #share the future. The event is dedicated to reflecting on Romanias European path and the common values shared within the EU and brings together numerous guests, including 150 university and high-school students, ambassadors of EU member states in Romania, as well as representatives of European institutions, such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank. Also today, in Bucharest, a public gathering is being organized with the Europe Day theme  One path  Europe May 9. On Europe Day, we gather in University Square, the symbolic place of freedom won with sacrifice, and we set off on a peaceful march towards Victory Square, because we want a Romania that moves forward, not backward. A Romania that preserves its moral compass and the European path, the organizers say.

INVESTORS  The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania  AmCham Romania  calls for responsibility and dialogue to prevent the irreversible depreciation of investor confidence in Romania, in the context of the economic turbulence accumulated and accentuated to the point of breakdown by the extended electoral period. According to AmCham Romania, Romanias zero priority is economic recovery and macro-budgetary balancing. Romania, according to AmCham representatives, has been facing overlapping crises for several years, which have generated huge budgetary pressure and a highly deteriorated investment climate, while the prospect of being downgraded to the category of countries not recommended for investment (junk) is closer than ever. Business people argue that real reforms can no longer be postponed, that Romania cannot afford to lose European funds and that financing the economy and exiting the crisis depend on the capacity to attract and use funds received under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. AmCham brings together 600 American, international and Romanian companies with cumulative investments of over 30 billion US dollars in Romania.

POPE  The new Pope, Leo XIV, the first leader of the Catholic Church from the United States, has led a religious ceremony for cardinals today, after being elected Thursday night. The new Pontiff is seen by many as continuing the agenda of his predecessor, Pope Francis, reaching out to people on the margins of society, on the fringes of the Catholic world and outside the faith. On social media, he has been critical of Donald Trumps immigration policies and about racism, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and sexual abuse within the Church. On Thursday night, Pope Leo XIVs first speech to the crowd gathered in St. Peters Square focused on the importance of world peace, the need to build bridges of communication and on the unity of the church. Messages of congratulations for the new Pontiff came from political and religious leaders around the world, including from Romania, a mostly Orthodox country.

FINANCE  The Romanian government passed on Thursday, in the first meeting chaired by interim Prime Minister Catalin Predoiu, a document regarding the renegotiation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) with representatives of the European Commission. The authorities are trying to replace certain investment objectives that have not progressed sufficiently, with ones that correspond to the objectives of the NRRP and which were financed from the state budget. According to the Minister of European Projects, Marcel Bolos, the main goal is to avoid losing any money from the 13.1 billion euro grant that Romania is to receive. The second goal of the NRRP renegotiation is to advance 55 targets and milestones from payment request number 4 and to increase their value to over 5 billion euros.

ELECTIONS  The Constitutional Court of Romania has today the result of the first round of the presidential elections, held on May 4. Also today, the Constitutional Court rejected, as ungrounded, the request of a former candidate in the presidential elections to cancel the first round of the elections on May 4. The Constitutional Court has also announced the organization of the second round of the election for the president of Romania on May 18. The election campaign for the second round kicks off today, pitting the ultranationalist populist George Simion, leader of AUR, who obtained 41% of the votes in the first round, against the pro-Western independent Nicusor Dan, the current mayor of Bucharest, who got 21% of the votes. In Romania, the vote will take place on May 18, but Romanian citizens abroad will be able to vote for three days  Friday, Saturday and Sunday  just like in the first round. (EE)
May 9, 2025 UPDATE

The latest news from RRI

Newsflash

Newsroom, 09.05.2025, 20:00

Meeting  Romanias interim President Ilie Bolojan met on Friday in Bucharest with Roxana Minzatu, EC Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness. According to the Presidential Administration, the discussions focused on topics of major interest for Romania and the EU: the Black Sea strategy and strengthening defense on the Eastern Flank, accelerating access to European funds and recovering delays in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), as well as preparing defense industry projects for financing through the European ReArm / Readiness 2030 program and job creation. The importance of improving inter-institutional collaboration was also emphasized, for a more efficient representation of Romania within the EU and an active contribution to European construction. The meeting reflected the commitment of both sides to work together to advance files of strategic importance, the Presidential Administration also specified.

Elections  The Constitutional Court of Romania on Friday validated the result of the first round of the presidential election held on May 4. Also on Friday, the Constitutional Court rejected, as ungrounded, the request of a former candidate in the presidential election to cancel the first round of May 4. The Constitutional Court has also announced the organization of the second round of the presidential election for May 18. The election campaign for the second round started on Friday, pitting the ultranationalist populist George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), who obtained 41% of the votes in the first round, against the pro-Western independent Nicusor Dan, the current mayor of Bucharest, who got 21% of the votes. In Romania, the vote will take place on May 18, but Romanian citizens abroad will be able to vote for three days  Friday, Saturday and Sunday  just like in the first round. The Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) reports that 3.6 million ballots are to be sent for the second round of the presidential election, the same as for the first round. At the same time, the MAE assures that Romanians abroad will vote in good conditions and recalls that political parties have designated members or observers in polling stations abroad.

Investors  The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania, AmCham Romania, calls for responsibility and dialogue to prevent the irreversible depreciation of investor confidence in Romania, in the context of the economic turbulence accumulated and accentuated to the point of breakdown by the extended electoral period. According to AmCham Romania, Romanias zero priority is economic recovery and macro-budgetary balancing. Romania, according to AmCham representatives, has been facing overlapping crises for several years, which have generated huge budgetary pressure and a highly deteriorated investment climate, while the prospect of being downgraded to the category of countries not recommended for investment (junk) is closer than ever. Business people argue that real reforms can no longer be postponed, that Romania cannot afford to lose European funds and that financing the economy and exiting the crisis depend on the capacity to attract and use funds received under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. AmCham brings together 600 American, international and Romanian companies with cumulative investments of over 30 billion US dollars in Romania.

Pope  The new Pope, Leo XIV, the first leader of the Catholic Church from the United States, led a religious ceremony for cardinals on Friday, after being elected Thursday night. The new Pontiff is seen by many as continuing the agenda of his predecessor, Pope Francis, reaching out to people on the margins of society, on the fringes of the Catholic world and outside the faith. On social media, he has been critical of Donald Trumps immigration policies, of racism, of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and sexual abuse within the Church. On Thursday night, the first speech to the crowd gathered in St. Peters Square of Pope Leo XIV focused on the importance of world peace, the need to build bridges of communication and on the unity of the church. Messages of congratulations for the new Pontiff came from political and religious leaders around the world, including from Romania, a mostly Orthodox country.

Europe Day  Romania is part of the European project and we must continue on this path, said interim president Ilie Bolojan, in a message sent on Europe Day. He stressed that the EU also meant values such as democracy, the rule of law, freedom, solidarity. Europe Day was marked at the Cotroceni Palace (the headquarters of the Romanian presidential administration), through the debate Together we #share the future. The event was dedicated to reflecting on Romanias European path and the common values shared within the EU and brought together numerous guests, including 150 students and pupils in the last year of high school, ambassadors of EU member states accredited in Romania, as well as representatives of European institutions: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank. Also on Friday, in Bucharest, a public gathering was organized with the theme of Europe Day  One path  Europe May 9. On Europe Day, we gather in University Square (Piata Universitatii), the symbolic place of freedom won with sacrifice, and we set off on a peaceful march towards Victory Square (Piata Victoriei), because we want a Romania that moves forward, not backward. A Romania that preserves its moral compass and the European path, the organizers say. (LS)
Renegotiation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan

The interim government in Bucharest is making efforts to avoid losing huge sums of European funds.

Marcel Bolos (foto: gov.ro)

Daniela Budu, 09.05.2025, 14:00

The Romanian government adopted, on Thursday, in the first meeting chaired by the interim Prime Minister Catalin Predoiu, the memorandum that allows for the renegotiation with the European Executive of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR). The Minister of European Projects, Marcel Bolos, now has the legislative framework to renegotiate amendments to the PNRR. The main goal is to not lose any money from the grant of over 13 billion euros that Bucharest is to receive. To achieve this, the Romanian executive must ensure that it has the necessary time for all the investment targets it has committed to to be implemented by August 31 next year. The Minister of European Projects, Marcel Bolos:

Why is it important to continue amending the National Recovery and Resilience Plan? In order to have the physical time necessary until August 31, 2026, to complete the amendments that will be negotiated and approved by the European Commission. And within these amendments, the main objective that we are pursuing is to absorb the grant worth 13.1 billion euros in its entirety, without penalties. This means making sure that the investment targets are achieved and implemented by August 31, 2026.

According to the minister, the second goal of the renegotiation of the PNRR is to advance 55 targets and milestones from payment request number 4 and to increase its value. Marcel Bolos:

To increase the value of the payment request, which, as we know, was initially 2.7 billion euros, so to increase it by three billion euros, so that in the end its value reaches around 5.7 billion euros.

At the same time, the minister explained, we know that certain investment objectives have had quite low physical and financial progress. We are trying to replace them with investment objectives that correspond to the objectives of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and were financed from state budget sources, he added. In the coming period, Marcel Bolos also announced, Romania is going to access important European funds, namely 1.3 billion euros from payment request number 3, which it should receive by the end of this month.

Marcel Bolos stated that the renegotiation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan with the European Executive is extremely complex, but voiced hope that there will be a final decision on this subject by the ECOFIN Council in July. According to the European Commission, so far, the milestones in the PNRR that Romania has not fulfilled concern special pensions, investments for the modernization of the railway infrastructure and the development of the underground transport network in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca (north-west), as well as reforms for performance-based management in the field of transport, improving the corporate governance of state-owned energy companies and the operationalization of corporate governance policies for state-owned enterprises. (MI)
Nine more children have been returned to government-controlled territory of Ukraine, said Daria Zarivna, adviser to the head of the Presidents Office.

"As part of the Ukrainian President's initiative Bring Kids Back UA, we managed to return nine more Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories," she wrote on Telegram on Friday.

Zarivna told short stories of three of them. In particular, about 14-year-old Dmytro. His house was next to a Russian firing position, and the family lived under the constant sounds of gunfire. At school, the boy was forced to sing war songs and throw grenades, and some of his classmates were sent to military camps, where they were trained by Wagner fighters.

"We also returned little Kateryna, whose mother was forced to obtain a Russian passport, otherwise she would have been denied medical care during a difficult birth. Another boy, 9-year-old Stas, despite threats and persecution from teachers and the FSB, refused to sing the Russian anthem and participate in militarized events," Zarivna wrote.
China will on Friday release April figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Imports are expected to sink 6.0 percent on year after falling 4.3 percent in March. Exports are called higher by an annual 2.5 percent, moderating from 12.4 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $94.30 billion, easing from $102.64 billion a month earlier.

Japan will provide March numbers for household spending and its leading and coincident indexes. Spending is expected to slip 0.5 percent on month and rise 0.2 percent on year after climbing 3.5 percent on month and easing 0.5 percent on year in February. The leading index was down 0.3 percent on month in February and the coincident rose 0.9 percent.

South Korea will see March data for its current account; in February, the current account surplus was $7.18 billion.

Malaysia will release March numbers for unemployment; in February, the jobless rate was 3.1 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
The Netherlands' industrial output expanded for the third straight month in March, figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday.

Industrial production climbed 1.3 percent year-over-year in March, faster than the 0.4 percent rise in February.

Of the eight largest sectors, the repair and installation of machinery saw the largest increase of 11.9 percent, followed by the electrical and electrical equipment division with 9.2 percent growth. Meanwhile, the transport equipment industry again recorded the largest decline of 7.1 percent.

On a monthly basis, industrial production contracted 0.6 percent in March.

Producers in industry were more negative in April than in March, as manufacturers were less positive about expected production.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
European stocks were modestly higher on Friday as investors looked ahead to discussions between the U.S. and China scheduled for this weekend.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the meetings with China on trade and economic issues could be "very substantive" and lead to tariff reductions.

Elsewhere, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC that dozens of trade deals will be rolled over the next month, but a 10 percent tariff imposed on most countries will likely stay.

Meanwhile, a day after the U.K. announced a historic deal with the U.S., BoE Governor Andrew Bailey told the BBC that Britain needs to rebuild its trading relationship with the European Union.

The pan European STOXX 600 was up 0.4 percent at 537.85 after rising 0.4 percent on Thursday.

The German DAX and France's CAC 40 both climbed around 0.6 percent while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.4 percent.

British Airways owner IAG rallied 2.2 percent after announcing it has ordered up to 76 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Aker ASA, Norwegian industrial investment firm, gained 1 percent after saying NAV rose to NOK 61.9 billion as of March 31 from NOK 58.2 billion at the end of 2024.

German lender Commerzbank added nearly 2 percent on reporting record quarterly earnings.

Packaging manufacturer Krones AG rose more than 2 percent after reporting a 15 percent jump in Q1 profit.

Swiss hearing aids maker Sonova surged almost 5 percent after it forecast higher sales and profitability for its 2025/26 fiscal year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Despite a couple of mild setbacks that briefly pushed it into negative territory, the Switzerland market ended on a positive note on Friday.

Easing concerns about trade tensions following the announcement of a trade deal between the U.S. and U.K., and upcoming talks between U.S. and China helped keep the mood positive.

Meanwhile, According to Bloomberg News, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said the nation could soon finalize a trade deal with the US following "constructive" talks in Geneva with senior US officials.

The benchmark SMI ended with a gain of 25.60 points or 0.21% at 12,087.32, after moving in a tight range between 12,054.42 and 12,123.04.

Sonova climbed 3.4%. Lonza Group and Sandoz Group gained about 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively. Logitech International ended 1.71%, SIG Group closed 1.43% up, and Partners Group gained 1.41%.

Lindt & Spruengli, Swisscom, UBS Group, Givaudan, Nestle, Julius Baer and SGS posted moderate gains.

Kuehne + Nagel closed 3.2% down. Roche Holding drifted lower by 0.88%, while Zurich Insurance, Novartis and VAT Group ended modestly lower.

Data from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs showed Switzerland's consumer confidence index stood at -42 in April 2025, the lowest in fourteen months, falling four points from the same month last year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Crude oil futures moved sharply higher during trading on Friday, extending the strong upward move seen in the previous session.

After surging $1.84 or 3.2 percent to $59.91 a barrel during Thursday's session, crude for June delivery crude for June delivery jumped $1.11 or 1.9 percent to $61.02 a barrel.

With the spike seen over the past two days, the price of crude oil soared by 4.7 percent for the week.

The extended surge by crude oil came amid optimism about a potential U.S.-China trade deal ahead of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's talks with Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend.

A Bloomberg report citing people familiar said the U.S. is hoping to slash its China tariffs to below 60 percent from the current level of at least 145 percent during the weekend talks.

However, President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that a higher "80% Tariff on China seems right," partly offsetting the positive sentiment.

Trump also said many trade deals are "in the hopper," although traders remain cautious even after yesterday's announcement of the framework of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Canadian stocks moved modestly higher over the course of the trading session on Friday, extending the upward trend seen over the past few sessions.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index climbed 103.68 points or 0.4 percent to 25,357.74, closing higher for the fourth straight day and reaching its best closing level in well over two months.

The continued strength on Bay Street came amid optimism about a potential U.S.-China trade deal ahead of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's talks with Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend.

A Bloomberg report citing people familiar said the U.S. is hoping to slash its China tariffs to below 60 percent from the current level of at least 145 percent during the weekend talks.

However, President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that a higher "80% Tariff on China seems right," partly offsetting the positive sentiment.

Trump also said many trade deals are "in the hopper," although traders remain cautious even after yesterday's announcement of the framework of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

Gold stocks turned in some of the market's best performances on the day amid a sharp increase by the price of the precious metal, resulting in a 3.3 percent spike by the S&P/TSX Global Gold Index.

An extended surge by the price of crude oil also contributed to significant strength among energy stocks, as reflected by the 2.0 percent jump by the S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index.

Telecom stocks also saw considerable strength on the day, while stocks showed a notable move to the downside.

In economic news, Statistics Canada released a report showing employment crept up by 7,400 jobs in April after falling by 33,000 jobs in March, while the unemployment rose to 6.9 percent in April from 6.7 percent in March.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Logan Wort, Executive Secretary of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)

By Lalelisile Mncwabe

As the opening to Rhodes University's Africa Month celebrations, coordinated by the Global Engagement Division (GED), Logan Wort, Executive Secretary of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), delivered a compelling public keynote address, urging African nations to strengthen their fiscal sovereignty by mobilising domestic resources and reducing reliance on foreign aid.

Driven by Mr Shepi Mati, a senior lecturer at the School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS), the collaboration between GED, JMS, the Rhodes Business School, the Faculty of Commerce and the Department of Political and International Studies, ensured that Wort addressed a full auditorium of staff and students at the universitys Bioscience lecture hall. Wort highlighted the troubling extent of financial leakage from the continent. He noted that Africa loses an estimated $88 billion (around R1.67 trillion) annually through illicit financial flows, nearly double the $42 billion (approximately R798 billion) it receives in official development assistance. Strongly making the urgent call for Africas economic self-determination, Wort declared that we are net exporters of cash to the first world. It's time for us to take control of our own destiny and shape our own future.

This alarming disparity underscores a broader argument: by tightening financial regulations, curbing illicit capital outflows, and improving domestic revenue collection, African countries could unlock substantial funds for development without turning to external lenders or donors. The need for strong tax systems has never been more pressing, especially in a global climate where some traditional aid sources, such as the United States, are scaling back their financial support to the continent.

The ATAF, which Wort has led since its establishment in 2008, plays a pivotal role in advancing this agenda. ATAF is a pan-African body that supports member states in strengthening tax policy, administration, and legislation. Over the past 15 years, the organisation has trained more than 13,000 tax professionals, facilitated peer learning, and helped assess upwards of $5.1 billion (roughly R96.9 billion) in tax revenue.

Wort emphasised that the future of African development depends on the continents ability to sustain itself financially. The ATAF's work is a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of improving tax administration and policy across Africa, he said.

A major part of ATAFs strategy includes developing legislative guidelines and model tax treaties designed specifically for African contexts. These instruments assist countries in enacting effective tax laws that close loopholes, reduce base erosion, and prevent aggressive tax avoidance. Its model tax treaty is especially significant in empowering African nations to assert taxing rights over multinational enterprises that operate within their jurisdictions.

ATAFs impact extends beyond the technical sphere. The organisation champions transparency and accountability in tax matters. Initiatives such as its tax transparency framework and guide on beneficial ownership aim to create a more equitable tax environment by exposing opaque financial structures often used to hide wealth and evade tax obligations.

Wort also highlighted ATAFs growing influence in shaping the international tax landscape. The organisation is actively involved in negotiations such as the OECDs Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), ensuring African perspectives are included in the formulation of global tax rules. By so doing, ATAF helps prevent African countries from being sidelined in decisions that directly affect their revenue streams.

Journalism lecturer Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki, who emceed the event, expressed appreciation for Worts thought-provoking address, noting that the ATAFs work is critical in helping African countries to improve their tax systems and promote sustainable development.

Worts call to action serves as a reminder that the path to Africas prosperity lies within the continents own hands. Through improved tax systems, reduced financial leakage, and strategic collaboration, African nations can build resilient economies that serve their people first.

Ending the event with a vote of thanks to the guest speaker and all involved in making it a success, Orla Quinlan, Director of Global Engagement, advised that the keynote formed part of Rhodes Universitys Africa Month programme, which aims to inspire dialogue and critical reflection on African issues. It followed an earlier lunch-time seminar, hosted by Professor Tshidi Mohapeoloa, who is also Director of the Rhodes University Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (RU-CFERI), during which Wort engaged with staff and postgraduates on a wide range of African issues, trends and developments, including the digital economy, ideology and active citizenry.

The African Union (AU) theme for 2025 is Year of Reparations: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations". The initiative focuses on addressing the legacy of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide through a variety of measures, including financial compensation, cultural restitution, and institutional reforms. The Africa month programme will also offer opportunities to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the continent.
[L-R] Professor 'Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela (DVC: Academic & Student Affairs), Professor Tshidi Mohapeloa, Professor Sizwe Mabizela (VC)

By Ephreeda Banda

On Tuesday, 6 May, Rhodes University hosted the inaugural lecture of Professor Matshidiso 'Tshidi' Mohapeloa at Eden Grove Blue, formally marking her promotion to full professor. The event drew colleagues, students, family, and friends who came to acknowledge her academic contributions and leadership.

The evening began with an academic procession led by senior academics in traditional regalia, setting the formal tone for the occasion and reflecting the universitys long-standing academic traditions.

Prof. Mohapeloas lecture, titled Social Value Creators: Changemakers That Use Entrepreneurship as a Conduit for Societal Transformation, offered more than a presentation of research. It combined academic analysis with personal reflection and highlighted the role of entrepreneurship in driving ethical, sustainable societal development.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela opened the evening by outlining the importance of inaugural lectures. Promotion to the rank of full professor marks the pinnacle of an academics professional and intellectual journey, he said. An inaugural lecture is a time-honoured tradition, rooted in the history of the medieval university, which allows a new professor to share their scholarly work while we as a community celebrate their achievements.

These lectures provide an opportunity for professors to share their research, teaching philosophy, and public engagement, while symbolically joining the senior ranks of academia.

Prof. Mohapeloa is the Director of the Rhodes University Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (RU-CFERI) and Coordinator of the Postgraduate Diploma in Enterprise Management. Her academic background bridges social work and business administration, shaping an interdisciplinary approach.

Social work taught me how to engage with complex community challenges using a strengths-based perspective, she said in a post-lecture interview. Business administration helped me understand strategy and apply it in non-traditional contexts. Thats why I use entrepreneurship to address real societal issues.

Her work is grounded in practical application, aiming to ensure academic research responds to real-world needs. She teaches, supervises, and leads collaborative projects that link the university to communities in Makhanda and beyond.

Since RU-CFERIs establishment less than a year ago, Prof. Mohapeloa has launched programmes involving students in fields such as Entomology, Chemistry, Journalism, and Biotechnology. Were building an entrepreneurial mindset in our students and in the community, she said. Its about equipping people to approach problem-solving and leadership differently.

At the national level, she serves as Chair of the Learning and Teaching Community of Practice under the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme. Her efforts focus on connecting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and the Economy) through entrepreneurship education. Rhodes is not traditionally an entrepreneurial university, but we are known for our commitment to social justice, she noted. Social entrepreneurship aligns closely with that mission.

The lecture also carried broader significance as a recognition of womens leadership in academia. Following the lecture, attendees sang songs in support of womens empowerment, acknowledging both Prof. Mohapeloas accomplishment and the ongoing challenges women face in higher education.

Reflecting on her achievement, she said: This is a journey I would never have completed without the support of others. I truly believe in the African proverbif you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others.

She dedicated the lecture to the mentors, colleagues, students, and community partners who supported her and shared advice for young academics, especially women: This path is not easy, but its meaningful. Know your strengths and partner with people who complement you. Dont let structural barriers deter yoube consistent, be intentional, and surround yourself with mentors whove overcome similar challenges.

Looking ahead, she expressed hope that Rhodes students would lead in societal transformation. I want to see our students use entrepreneurship to make an impactstarting in Makhanda and extending to the world. Thats how we build a just, sustainable, and globally engaged society.

As the event concluded, guests gathered in the Eden Grove corridor to celebrate Prof. Mohapeloas achievement with conversation and reflectiona fitting end to an academic milestone and a tribute to her contribution to scholarship and community engagement.
A special tribunal for the crime of aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine will be launched in Luxembourg next week, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said.

"The tribunal will be launched next week in Luxembourg, where a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe will take place, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will put forward official demands," he said during a conversation with journalists in Lviv.

In response to a question from journalists about how the United States' retreat from supporting the tribunal could be explained, the minister noted that the tribunal is an initiative of the Council of Europe. However, the United States is not a member of this organization and Bettel believes that this would be "geographically more difficult."

"I hope that this will be decided in Luxembourg next week, where we will have a meeting of ministers with the president, and Andriy Sybiha has been invited to be there. There will also be an official presentation of the documents for the creation of this tribunal," Bettel added.

When asked by journalists whether this would in any way affect the peace talks, the minister noted that Putin is not listening to anyone now.

"And even if he is caught, he continues to receive congratulations in some countries that are members of international organizations that we support. They do not implement what they signed, but whether this will exert pressure is still a question. It is important that there are more forces on the Ukrainian side, and this will help Ukraine. Together we will continue to work on this initiative, and I hope that progress will be made in Luxembourg next week," he noted.

As sources told the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the future special tribunal will be able to investigate cases against the so-called "troika" - Putin-Lavrov-Mishustin - up to the stage of the prosecutor issuing an indictment. That is, the tribunal prosecutor will formulate the charges, make a public statement that the "troika" is guilty of committing a crime of aggression, the indictment will be sent to the pretrial judge and the process will be suspended - while the "troika" are in their positions. And as soon as they leave their positions, the trial will automatically resume. If these people do not physically appear in the dock, the trial will be in absentia.

Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un will also be in the tribunal's sights, but not the Iranian authorities. There is no legal component of the crime of aggression on the part of Iran as such, because aggression is not about the supply of drones and missiles.

The "twenty" highest military-political leaders of the Russian Federation - Medvedev, Shoigu, Naryshkin, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, etc. - will not have any immunities: both the investigation and sentencing for them will be entirely possible.
Work of Coalition of the Willing will help strengthen entire existing security architecture of Europe - Zelenskyy to leaders of JEF member states

Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua

Europe will benefit from the Coalition of the Willing and will be able to strengthen its existing security architecture with its help, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address to the leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) member countries on Thursday.

Were also getting ready in Ukraine for a meeting with the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing  serious work ahead. We need this Coalition  and we need it to be strong enough to guarantee security the way we all agree on. Im sure Europe will only benefit from this kind of teamwork  itll help strengthen the whole security setup we already have, Zelenskyy said.

The text of the video address was published on the head of states website on Friday.

As reported, the Coalition of the Willing met on March 27 and April 10, with more than 30 countries taking part. On April 15, the Coalition of the Willing met on Black Sea security. The United States has privately signaled its willingness to support Western forces under the initiative, which is being championed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/kallaskaja/

The United States contributed to the creation of the Special Tribunal and may join it sooner or later, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas.

She said at a press conference in Lviv on Friday that the United States had been promoting the creation of this tribunal for two and a half years now, so they were part of this initiative and called on groups to further develop this process.They are not part of it now, she said, but assumed that sooner or later they will join again.
Effective vaccines dramatically changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing illness, reducing disease severity, and saving millions of lives.

However, five years later, SARS-CoV-2 is still circulating, and in the process, evolving into new variants that require updated vaccines to protect against them.

But it takes time to design, manufacture, and distribute a new vaccine, which raises an important question: How can scientists create vaccines for versions of the virus that haven't happened yet?

One solution comes from a predictive AI model called EVE-Vax built by a team of scientists at Harvard Medical School, the HMS-led Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MassCPR), and other institutions.

The new model, described May 8 in Immunity, uses evolutionary, biological, and structural information about a virus to predict and design surface proteins likely to occur as the pathogen mutates. The researchers successfully applied EVE-Vax to SARS-CoV-2, designing viral proteins that elicited similar immune responses as the actual proteins that evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research, which was supported in part by federal funding, suggests that the model provides valuable information about the future evolution of a virus and can be used to create panels of "designer" proteins to evaluate the future protection of vaccines. The researchers hope that the model will eventually help scientists develop better vaccines to combat viral outbreaks and pandemics caused by rapidly mutating viruses.

"We show that if you can see where a virus is evolving ahead of time, you can begin to make future-proof vaccines," said first author Noor Youssef, a scientific lead for the Predictive Modeling for Vaccine Design group in the Marks lab at HMS.

The evolution of EVE

Over a decade ago, study co-senior author Debora Marks, professor of systems biology in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS, and her lab began exploring whether they could use millions of years of evolutionary genetic information to make predictions about the structure and function of proteins.

In a 2021 paper, the researchers described an AI model they created based on this idea. The model, called EVE (evolutionary model of variant effect), uses large-scale evolutionary data across species to predict whether proteins will be functional. When applied to humans, EVE was able to interpret gene variants as benign or disease-causing.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Marks and her team adapted their model to predict viral behavior.

They built EVEscape, which applied EVE's powers of protein prediction to viral proteins. In a 2023paper, the scientists showed that had EVEscape existed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would have predicted the most frequent SARS-CoV-2 mutations and spotted the variants of greatest concern that were most likely to cause a spike in human infections.

The success of EVEscape led the researchers to wonder whether their model could also forecast the future evolution of rapidly evolving viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.

Vaccines for such viruses are updated annually, which requires scientists to make an educated guess up to a year in advance about how viral proteins will evolve. This can lead to a mismatch between the predicted version of a virus used to design the vaccine and the actual version that ends up circulating. The gap between prediction and reality can cause vaccines to be less effective than they would have been if the versions matched more closely.

To solve this problem, the researchers developed EVE-Vax, a model that predicts and designs viral proteins that can be used to inform vaccine development ahead of time.

"We wanted to see if we could use our methods to create brand-new proteins that would be functional and would have the same immune response that we see with real viruses," Youssef said.

Predicting SARS-CoV-2's future maneuvers

In their latest research, the scientists used EVE-Vax to design 83 brand-new versions of the "spike" protein on SARS-CoV-2, which is the main surface protein the virus uses to infect human cells. Each new version of the spike protein had a different combination of up to ten mutations.

To test the effect of the AI-designed proteins, researchers teamed up with experimental colleagues and co-senior authors Jeremy Luban, professor of molecular medicine at UMass Chan Medical School; Jacob Lemieux, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital; and Michael Seaman, HMS associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The scientists performed experiments in lab dishes using safe, nonreplicating versions of SARS-CoV-2 engineered for the research. The experiments confirmed that viruses harboring the "designer" spike proteins infected human cells and elicited immune responses that largely matched the real-life immune responses to the virus at five different timepoints during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The fundamental insight here is that evolution tells you what's possible for the virus and its proteins to do and what might happen in the future," Marks said.

Finally, the researchers showed that they could easily and cheaply engineer hundreds of new spike proteins that could be readily incorporated into vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2.

"Traditional vaccine design uses all sorts of different methods, but nobody's used this approach before," Marks said. "EVE-Vax opens a new field of potential application and design for vaccines."

For example, the researchers showed that with EVE-Vax, they could have predicted that there would be considerable immune escape from the COVID-19 booster vaccine targeting the Omicron variant -- knowledge that would have clued in scientists to build the booster differently.

"With EVE-Vax, we can predict the immune response, instead of just what the mutations on a virus will be, which is more useful in real-world situations," Marks said.

The team is now broadening EVE-Vax to other viruses, including avian influenza, a growing problem in the United States and worldwide.

One key advantage of the model, the researchers noted, is that it can work with limited information, which opens it up for understudied viruses such as Lassa and Nipah, as well as newly emerging viruses.

Ultimately, the team hopes that EVE-Vax will give scientists critical information about the various ways in which a virus is likely to evolve, enabling them to design vaccines that protect against future versions of the pathogen.

Authorship, funding, disclosures

Additional authors on the paper include Sarah Gurev, Fadi Ghantous, Kelly Brock, Javier Jaimes, Nicole Thadani, Ann Dauphin, Amy Sherman, Leonid Yurkovetskiy, Daria Soto, Ralph Estanboulieh, Ben Kotzen, Pascal Notin, Aaron Kollasch, Alexander Cohen, Sandra Dross, Jesse Erasmus, Deborah Fuller, and Pamela Bjorkman.

Funding for the work was provided by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), MassCPR, and the National Institutes of Health (R37 AI147868).

Marks is an advisor for Dyno Therapeutics, Octant, Jura Bio, Tectonic Therapeutic, and Genentech and is a cofounder of Seismic Therapeutic.
How well our brain functions depends heavily on the performance of our nerve cells. That is why they are regularly checked for their proper function -- defective cell components are marked, disposed of and recycled. This includes the mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. Impaired quality control of mitochondria plays a central role in Parkinson's disease. The research group led by Malte Gersch at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology in Dortmund (MPI) has now been able to elucidate the mode of action of a promising inhibitor of the Parkinson's-associated mitochondrial protein USP30 by designing chimeric proteins. These findings form an important basis for the development of innovative therapeutics against Parkinson's and other diseases.

"Involuntary tremulous movements, combined with reduced muscle strength." This is how the British physician James Parkinson first described the condition known as "shaking palsy." Parkinson's disease, named after him, is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. To date, there is no causal treatment for Parkinson's syndrome -- only symptoms can be treated. The disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain stem and an associated deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Currently, there is great hope for the development of novel drugs that could regenerate defective nerve cells and thus counteract the loss of nerve cells in Parkinson's disease.

Faulty quality control of the cellular powerhouses

The exact cause of nerve cell death remains unclear. However, there are indications that defects in their mitochondria could be responsible. Nerve cells in particular are highly dependent on these organelles, as they require high amounts of energy. In healthy cells, the mitochondria are subject to constant quality control. If they fail, they are marked with the protein ubiquitin for cellular degradation by mitophagy. However, it has recently been shown that faulty marking of damaged mitochondria prevents their degradation. This is caused by certain key enzymes of mitophagy, which are pathologically altered in the hereditary form of Parkinson's disease.

Protein engineering reveals the mechanism of action

An important enzyme in mitophagy is the deubiquitinase (DUB) USP30. It removes ubiquitin marks from defective mitochondria that are destined for degradation. An inhibitor of this enzyme, which could promote mitophagy and thus improve nerve function, is currently being investigated in clinical trials: it is considered a promising candidate drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and chronic kidney disease. However, inhibitors actually work on USP30 was not yet known on the molecular level. "One problem with the human protein USP30 is that it is difficult to "photograph" -- its molecular structure is difficult to elucidate. But if you want to see how the inhibitor binds to the protein, you can use X-rays to produce a so-called "diffraction pattern" of the two partners in a crystal. However, because USP30 is very flexible -- you could say it wriggles around in front of the camera -- it is difficult to crystallise, and its highly mobile structure thereby does not allow for a sharp image," explains Malte Gersch, research group leader at the MPI. Using innovative protein engineering, Gersch and his team have now been able to obtain a detailed picture of how an inhibitor binds to USP30 and specifically switches off its activity. To do this, Nafizul Kazi, PhD student in the research group and first author of the study, created a chimeric protein hybrid similar to the legendary Minotaur: he incorporated related elements from other human deubiquitinase proteins into USP30, thus producing a 'photogenic' USP30 variant. The diffraction images obtained show that the inhibitor interacts with USP30 in two ways: it binds to a previously unknown region that only opens up through the interaction of the inhibitor with the protein, and at the same time to a hotspot that is also accessible to other inhibitors.

Innovative active substances against neurodegenerative diseases

"Elucidating the mechanism of action of this potential Parkinson's drug will not only help to further develop it, but also lay the foundation for designing new drug molecules against USP30,' says Gersch. Mitophagy and enzymes from the DUB family also play an important role in other diseases and are associated with a weakened immune system and tumour growth. "Our new strategy of chimeric proteins could be a real game changer for the development of new inhibitors against DUBs. It will enable us to decipher the structure of other disease-relevant DUB proteins in complex with molecules, opening up the possibility of developing new specific binding inhibitors for a wide range of diseases,' says Malte Gersch, looking to the future.
Scientists have launched an interactive global map to show the migratory patterns of more than 100 marine species in an effort to protect at-risk wildlife.

New models were developed by The University of Queensland and Duke University scientists to be part of the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) database which aims to bridge information gaps for policymakers and conservationists.

Dr Lily Bentley from UQ's Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science said the online tool was the first freely accessible global view of marine migratory connectivity.

"Covering 109 species including birds, mammals, turtles, and fish, MiCO brings together thousands of records from over 1,300 sources to map how marine animals traverse the world's oceans," Dr Bentley said.

"The tool connects almost 2,000 crucial habitats and spotlights the importance of cross-boundary cooperation.

"MiCO enables scientists, governments, and international organisations to understand how migratory marine species link regions and jurisdictions."

Researchers found many animals moved through national waters and the high seas during their life cycles, exposing them to various threats across countries.

Dr Bentley said the models highlight critical areas and connections that transcend political boundaries, showing that no country can fully protect migratory species on its own.

"To protect these species effectively, nations must work together," she said.

Centre director Associate Professor Daniel Dunn said the intricate connectivity described in the system underscores the need for globally-aligned conservation efforts such as the recent High Seas Treaty, which seeks to safeguard biodiversity beyond national waters.

"MiCO's freely available models have already been identified as a valuable asset to inform the implementation of this treaty, helping policymakers understand how their countries and the biodiversity they are responsible for are connected to the high seas," Dr Dunn said.

"The system also aligns with the Convention on Migratory Species' goal of developing a global atlas of animal migration, an effort to which MiCO seeks to be a key contributor."

Researchers say more than two-thirds of marine migratory species are still unassessed and future expansions of MiCO are planned.

"Our goal is to provide the most comprehensive global baseline of connectivity generated by marine migratory species possible, so that conservation strategies are based on robust data," Dr Dunn said.

This research is published in Nature Communications.

Interactive global marine migration map
Fishing pots fitted with LED lights catch significantly more shrimp and fish, new research shows.

In the new study, by the University of Exeter and Fishtek Marine, pots fitted with LEDs caught up to 19 times more northern shrimp than unlit pots.

Importantly, illuminated pots also attracted fish -- raising hopes for new low-impact fishing.

"We think that the light attracts zooplankton -- like moths around a flame -- which in turn attracts shrimp (which eat zooplankton), and that entices larger fish predators into the pots to gobble up the shrimp," said Dr Robert Enever, from Fishtek Marine.

This "attraction cascade" effectively creates a self-baiting pot.

The study is published as Sir David Attenborough's new film, Ocean, sheds fresh light on the challenges facing life beneath the waves.

Sustainable fisheries

While the trial -- carried out off Scotland's west coast -- didn't catch enough shrimp to be commercially viable, the authors suggest that this could change in places with more shrimp.

Furthermore, whilst the mesh size of the pots wasn't designed to catch large fish, high catch rates of fish in this study suggest that light in combination with a modified trap design (designed for larger fish) could lead to the development of new, low-impact trap fisheries for fish.

"Shrimp and cod are often fished by trawling, which can result in high bycatch (accidental catching of other species), and habitat disturbance," said Dr Tom Horton, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

"Finding lower-impact alternatives -- including static gear such as pots -- is essential for more sustainable fisheries."

Illuminated pots caught 50% fewer Norway lobsters (also known as langoustines) and 88% more juvenile poor cod -- a smaller cousin of the infamous cod.

This highlights both potential, as cod may also be a candidate species for low-impact trap fishing, and caution, as pots not carefully tailored to their target species may still yield high bycatch.

The study was funded by the UK Seafood Innovation Fund and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners.

The paper, published in the journal Ocean and Coastal Management, is entitled: "Effects of illumination and pot design on catch and bycatch when targeting northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) using white LED PotLights."
From smoking bans to new speed limits -- many people soon stop resisting policy changes that restrict their personal freedom once the new rules come into force. This conclusion was reached in a study conducted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Vienna. The researchers also identified the underlying psychological mechanism to gain important insights for possible communication strategies when introducing such measures.

Policy measures that ban or restrict an activity frequently meet with resistance. In psychology, the resistance to restrictions on personal freedom is known as reactance. The resulting emotional debates can make politicians hesitant to make decisions that they actually consider necessary for achieving important goals such as climate targets or public health objectives.

In many cases, however, reactance appeared to decline significantly after measures are implemented. This phenomenon has not yet been adequately studied. Armin Granulo (Technical University of Munich), and Christoph Fuchs and Robert Bohm (both at the University of Vienna) have now conducted seven individual studies to investigate whether this observation is true and also to identify the underlying psychological mechanism.

The researchers began by conducting representative surveys on the introduction of workplace smoking bans in several European countries, seatbelt laws in the USA and stricter speed limits in the Netherlands. They then conducted several experiments to test reactance to regulatory policies. Respondents in the UK and Germany were asked about their attitudes to a vaccine mandate, a speed limit, new taxes on alcohol and meat and other measures. Half of the participants were asked for their view on measures about to be implemented, while the other half were told that the new regulations had already been in place for a year.

Resistance is often less robust than feared by policymakers

Both the real surveys and the experiments show that reactance to restrictive measures is much stronger prior to their introduction than afterwards. This is true regardless of test subjects' attitudes to the specific issue, for example to vaccines. "Reactance is often only temporary and declines substantially after the introduction of restrictive measures," says study leader Dr. Armin Granulo. "Resistance is less robust than many politicians fear."

What causes this effect? The researchers suspected that a known mechanism of our perception was involved: When confronted by change, people focus more on the change itself than on the prevailing state before and after the change. But once the transitional process is complete, they can view the new condition more impartially.

Psychologist Prof. Robert Bohm explains: "When a new rule is announced, people initially focus on what they will lose: freedom, habitual behavior, comfort. After the introduction, these personal losses recede into the background. We are then much more conscious of the societal gains, for example for public health or climate protection."

With their experiments the researchers were able to confirm that this mechanism is an important cause of reactance. Among other questions, they asked the test subjects how much they felt the measures would restrict their personal freedom and whether they were more focused on the personal or societal consequences. The test subjects who were told that measures were already in place showed attitudes that were dominated less by individual concerns and more by the societal situation as compared to the subjects in the experiment based on an impending measure.

Emphasizing societal benefits

The study also points to ways of communicating new measures more effectively. Prof. Christoph Fuchs says: "In one experiment we stressed the societal benefits of a systemic measure before it was introduced. The study participants who learned about the benefits at the beginning were much less inclined to reject a measure prior to its introduction."

The researchers see these insights as an important basis for societal debates and for policy makers and recommend research into further psychological factors that might influence reactance. "Regulatory measures are not the only way of overcoming societal challenges. But they are an important component," says Armin Granulo. "Those who are aware of the psychological mechanisms will have a better understanding of how people react, the course of public debate and the prospects of new laws succeeding. They can then be guided by these insights."
Kallas on creation of tribunal for Russian crimes of aggression: Every inch of war documented, no room for impunity left

Russia's aggression against Ukraine will not go unpunished, so the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression is extremely important, notes the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas.

Every inch of Russias war has been documented. It leaves no room for doubt in Russias manifest violation of the UN Charter. It leaves no room for impunity. Russias aggression will not go unpunished, Kallas said at a briefing in Lviv on Friday.

According to her, final political support for the creation of a special tribunal for crimes of aggression will be provided immediately after the meeting in Lviv on Friday. The Special Tribunal will ensure that those most responsible for the aggression against Ukraine are held accountable, the EU High Representative said.

Kallas noted that Lviv was the birthplace of lawyers Raphael Lemkin, who authored the Genocide Convention, and Hersch Lauterpacht, who developed the concept of crimes against humanity. She also distinguished Professor Philippe Sands, whose proposal to create a tribunal for crimes of aggression laid the foundation for current efforts to hold Russia accountable.

As reported with reference to sources of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the tribunal will be created when Ukraine signs an agreement with the Council of Europe and ratifies it. Cooperation agreements are also needed for the tribunal to function fully. The Netherlands will separately sign an agreement on the establishment of headquarters (host state agreement), since the tribunal will be physically located in The Hague - the world capital of international law.

It will be based on the territorial jurisdiction of Ukraine, because Ukraine is the only possible source of jurisdiction (the Council of Europe does not have its own criminal jurisdiction) - as a state-victim of aggression, on whose territory the crime of aggression is committed. The tribunal will not act on behalf of the entire international community as a whole, but its applicable law is international, which makes the tribunal itself international.

The new international judicial body will not be dependent on Ukraine, the Netherlands or the Council of Europe and will be able to independently enter into all legal relations with states and private entities. Thus, the special tribunal for aggression is definitely not part of the Ukrainian judicial system.

The essence of the tribunal will be full-fledged proceedings in absentia and sentences of an independent judicial institution. This will confirm the fact of aggression in the legal field and provide an opportunity to demand compensation for the years of war. Thus, the words about the inevitability of punishment of the enemy for the crime of aggression will be legally supported.

The proceedings in the International Criminal Court and the Tribunal for Aggression will proceed in parallel, and these two international judicial bodies will cooperate. At the same time, the ICC will have priority over the Special Tribunal: proceedings in the Special Tribunal will be stopped if the person whose case is being considered by the Tribunal is physically transferred to the ICC detention centre.

The tribunal is expected to begin functioning organizationally in The Hague in 2026 and will begin investigating cases of aggression by the end of that year.
Global emissions of carbon dioxide from industry can be reduced by five per cent. But that requires companies and policy makers to take a holistic approach to energy efficiency and energy management and not solely focus on technological development. This is the conclusion of researchers, including from Linkoping University, in the journal Nature Communications.

"We have a far too narrow view of energy efficiency. Many people think that investments in new energy-efficient equipment are enough. But then you can't fulfil the full potential of energy efficiency," says Patrik Thollander, Professor in Energy Systems at Linkoping University.

Together with colleagues at the University of Gavle, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Lund University, Uppsala University and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, he has analysed what would be required for industries to be able to minimise their energy use.

The concept of energy efficiency emerged as a necessity in the oil crisis of the early 1970s. Then, energy prices skyrocketed, and energy efficiency measures were taken to reduce the cost to companies. Now, with an accelerating climate crisis, this is necessary to reduce emissions of fossil carbon dioxide. Both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Commission think that energy efficiency is the first measure to take and a cornerstone for achieving climate neutrality. However, according to the researchers, there is considerable potential in energy efficiency that remains untapped.

Energy efficiency has long been associated primarily with technological innovations, but Patrik Thollander and his colleagues think that more than that is required. To substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the way organisations work and think about energy use needs to change.

The researchers highlight the importance of system-wide processes, increased knowledge dissemination and a corporate culture that promotes change. They call these factors social constructions, and they have identified nine that would help companies design their energy efficiency and energy management processes in a better way.

"We estimate that this could lead to a 5% reduction in CO 2 emissions from industry globally. And that's a rather conservative estimate, it could even be more," says Patrik Thollander.

According to the IEA, in 2022 the world's industries emitted 9.2 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide. A five per cent reduction corresponds to the carbon dioxide emissions of ten countries the size of Sweden.

Patrik Thollander thinks that one of the most important factors for success is collaboration between people with different experiences and backgrounds within companies.

"As an engineer, I think of technology solutions first. But potential can be developed if you have worked with whole systems and in collaboration with other expertise that has a different mindset. We need to work in an interdisciplinary way to succeed," says Patrik Thollander.

He thinks companies need to work actively to build interdisciplinary collaborations between engineering, social science and behavioural science disciplines. Therefore, the researchers urge industrial companies to create a corporate culture that supports knowledge sharing and continuous learning. The challenge to policymakers is to design different types of programmes that stress the social dimensions of energy efficiency.
In space, energetic neutrinos are usually paired with energetic gamma rays. Galaxy NGC 1068, however, emits strong neutrinos and weak gamma rays, which presents a puzzle for scientists to solve. A new paper posits that helium nuclei collide with ultraviolet photons emitted by the galaxy's central region and fragment, releasing neutrons that subsequently decay into neutrinos without producing gamma rays.

The finding offers insight into the extreme environment around the supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies like NGC 1068 and our own and enhances our understanding of the relationships between radiation and elementary particles that could lead to technological advances we haven't yet imagined.

Buried deep in the ice in the Antarctic are "eyes" that can see elementary particles called neutrinos, and what they've observed is puzzling scientists: a remarkably strong neutrino signal accompanied by a surprisingly weak gamma-ray emission in the galaxy NGC 1068, also known as the Squid Galaxy.

The "eyes" are a collection of detectors buried in a cubic kilometer of ice called the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Theoretical physicists from UCLA, the University of Osaka, and the University of Tokyo Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI) are using their observations of NGC 1068 to propose a completely new route by which neutrinos can be produced.

Neutrinos are subatomic particles that interact only very weakly with gravity and can pass through matter. This makes them even harder to detect than other particles, such as electrons. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory consists of 5,160 sensors buried in clear, compressed Antarctic ice that look for events that could be produced by neutrinos when they pass through the ice, interact with it and create charged particles.

"We have telescopes that use light to look at stars, but many of these astrophysical systems also emit neutrinos," said Alexander Kusenko, professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA and a senior fellow at Kavli IPMU. "To see neutrinos, we need a different type of telescope, and that's the telescope we have at the South Pole."

The IceCube neutrino telescope detected very energetic neutrinos coming from NGC 1068 accompanied by a weak gamma-ray flux, hinting that these neutrinos may have been produced in a different way than previously thought. The NGC 1068 data is perplexing because, typically, energetic neutrinos from active galactic centers are thought to originate from interactions between protons and photons, producing gamma rays of comparable intensity. Thus, energetic neutrinos are usually paired with energetic gamma rays.

NGC 1068's gamma-ray emission is significantly lower than expected and shows a distinctly different spectral shape. Traditional models, including those based on proton-photon collisions and emission from the galaxy's hot plasma region known as the "corona," have been widely used to explain such neutrino signals, but they have faced theoretical limitations, prompting the search for a new explanation.

In a new paper published in Physical Review Letters, Kusenko and colleagues suggest that the high-energy neutrinos from NGC 1068 primarily result from the decay of neutrons when helium nuclei in the galaxy's jet break apart under intense ultraviolet radiation. When these helium nuclei collide with ultraviolet photons emitted by the galaxy's central region, they fragment, releasing neutrons that subsequently decay into neutrinos. The energies of the resulting neutrinos match the observations.

Additionally, electrons generated by these nuclear decays interact with surrounding radiation fields, creating gamma rays consistent with the observed lower intensity. This scenario elegantly explains why the neutrino signal dramatically outshines the gamma-ray emission and accounts for the distinct energy spectrum observed in both neutrinos and gamma rays.

The breakthrough helps scientists understand how cosmic jets in active galaxies can emit powerful neutrinos without a corresponding gamma-ray glow, shedding new light on the extreme, complex conditions surrounding supermassive black holes, including the one at the center of our own galaxy.

"We don't know very much about the central, extreme region near the galactic center of NGC1068," said Kusenko. "If our scenario is confirmed, it tells us something about the environment near the supermassive black hole at the center of that galaxy."

The new paper proposes that if a helium nucleus accelerates in the jet of a supermassive black hole, it crashes into photons and breaks apart, spilling its two protons and two neutrons into space. The protons can fly away, but the neutrons are unstable and fall apart, or decay, into neutrinos without producing gamma rays.

"Hydrogen and helium are the two most common elements in space," said first author and UCLA doctoral student Koichiro Yasuda. "But hydrogen only has a proton, and if that proton runs into photons, it will produce both neutrinos and strong gamma rays. But neutrons have an additional way of forming neutrinos that don't produce gamma rays. So helium is the most likely origin of the neutrinos we observe from NGC 1068."

The work reveals the existence of hidden astrophysical neutrino sources, whose signals may previously have gone unnoticed due to their faint gamma-ray signatures.

"This idea offers a new perspective beyond traditional corona models. NGC 1068 is just one of many similar galaxies in the universe, and future neutrino detections from them will help test our theory and uncover the origin of these mysterious particles," said co-author and the University of Osaka professor of astrophysics Yoshiyuki Inoue.

Like NGC 1068, our galaxy also has a supermassive black hole at its center, where unfathomably immense gravity and energy literally tear atoms apart, and the neutrino discovery holds for our galaxy, too. Although there's not necessarily a straight line from understanding the galactic center to improvements in human welfare, knowledge gained through the study of particles like neutrinos and radiation like gamma rays has a tendency to lead technology down surprising and transformative paths.

"When J.J. Thompson received the 1906 Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery of electrons, he famously gave a toast at a dinner after the ceremony, saying that this was probably the most useless discovery in history," said Kusenko. "And, of course, every smartphone, every electronic device today, uses the discovery that Thompson made nearly 125 years ago."

Kusenko also said that particle physics gave birth to the World Wide Web, which originated as a network developed by physicists who needed to move large amounts of data between labs. He pointed out that the discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance seemed obscure at the time but led to the development of magnetic resonance imaging technology, which is now used routinely in medicine.

"We stand at the very beginning of the new field of neutrino astronomy, and the mysterious neutrinos from NGC 1068 are one of the puzzles we have to solve along the way," said Kusenko. "Investment in science is going to produce something that you may not be able to appreciate now but could produce something big decades later. It's a long-term investment, and private companies are reluctant to invest in the kind of research we're doing. That's why government funding for science is so important, and that's why universities are so important."

The research was funded by the Department of Energy, the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Carbyne, a one-dimensional chain of carbon atoms, is incredibly strong for being so thin, making it an intriguing possibility for use in next-generation electronics, but its extreme instability causing it to bend and snap on itself made it nearly impossible to produce at all, let alone produce enough of it for advanced studies. Now, an international team of researchers, including from Penn State, may have a solution.

The research team has enclosed carbyne in single-walled carbon nanotubes -- tiny, tube-shaped structures made entirely of carbon that are thousands of times thinner than a human hair. Doing this at low temperatures makes carbyne more stable and easier to produce, potentially leading to new advancements in materials science and technology, the researchers said. They called the development "promising news," as scientists have struggled for decades to create a stable form of carbyne in large enough quantities for deeper investigation.

"The history of carbyne's discovery is like a detective story," said Slava V. Rotkin, professor of engineering science and mechanics and co-author of the study published ACS Nano. "It was predicted theoretically, but for many years, attempts to synthesize it were unsuccessful because the chains would either bend or form unintended bonds."

This instability made it difficult to study and even harder to imagine using in real-world applications. However, like graphene, the atomically thin two-dimensional carbon material already applied in some electronics, carbyne's extreme strength and electronic properties continued to entice researchers with its potential to revolutionize electronics, Rotkin said. The pull is even greater with carbyne, though, as it has a built-in advantage over graphene.

"Like graphene, carbyne can allow electrons to move very quickly," Rotkin said. "However, carbyne also has something called a 'semiconductor gap,' which makes it useful for building transistors, the tiny switches that power electronics. Graphene, on the other hand, doesn't have this gap, so it can't be used in the same way."

A semiconductor gap is a small energy gap that allows a material to act as a switch for electrical current. Graphene, in its pure form, cannot be a transistor in of itself because electrons can always flow through it since it doesn't have this gap. Graphene can be engineered to have a gap through various additions and manipulations, but carbyne has the gap naturally. This means that in the future, carbyne-based electronics could more easily offer faster, more efficient performance compared to today's silicon-based technology.

Along with potentially solving the instability issue, the researchers' new synthesis approach could also solve another roadblock in the path to carbyne meeting its great potential. One of the biggest challenges in carbyne research has been producing it in significant quantities. In the past, only tiny amounts of carbyne could be made, often under extreme conditions such as high temperatures, intense pressures or in chemically reactive environments. These are factors that made it difficult for scientists to fully explore its properties. However, the new synthesis method changes that.

What makes this new method stand out is how much easier and more effective it is compared to older techniques, the researchers said. First, the team used a special precursor, which acts as gentle starting material, called ammonium cholate to grow carbyne at much lower temperatures. Second, they used single-walled carbon nanotubes as a kind of protective shell around the carbyne, which works much better than the thicker, multi-layered tubes used in the past. This shell helps keep the fragile carbyne stable. Finally, the new method produces a lot more carbyne than before, which means scientists can now study it in greater detail and explore how it might be used in real-world applications.

"Two major advancements of this technique are its low cost and high yield," Rotkin said. "This opens the door for broader studies, both in fundamental science and moving toward real applications."

By encapsulating carbyne inside carbon nanotubes, researchers have also found a way to preserve its unique properties. The nanotubes act as protective shells, preventing the carbyne from breaking down while still allowing scientists to study it in its nearly pure form.

"Importantly, single-wall nanotubes don't disturb the carbyne chain much," Rotkin noted. "There are only gentle van der Waals interactions -- weak forces that allow the carbyne to stay in place without bonding to the nanotube walls."

While real-world applications are still in the early stages, carbyne's potential is vast, Rotkin said. Because it is a strongly correlated material, its properties extend beyond classical physics, meaning it could have applications in next-generation computing and nanotechnology.

"Materials like this have complex behaviors, both when they're in their normal state and when they're excited," Rotkin said. "This means we're dealing with quantum materials, which could lead to entirely new technologies."

The research team also made an unexpected discovery during the study. They found that a common solvent -- cholate, a salt of cholic acid that the human body uses to dissolve organic compounds -- could transform into carbyne chains without additional complex steps.

"It was a complete surprise that a common solvent like cholate can transform into the carbyne chain without any further issue," Rotkin said. "It showed how even familiar materials can take on new roles in advanced chemistry."

Although many questions about carbyne remain unanswered, Rotkin said he believes this is a significant step forward. With a stable way to produce carbyne in larger quantities, researchers can now explore its potential more deeply.

"In the past, the amount of material available for study was barely enough for one or two groups to confirm its existence," Rotkin said. "Now, we have the opportunity to truly understand its properties and applications."

Along with Rotkin, Bo-Wen Zhang, Xi-Yang Qiu, Qingmei Hu, Ikuma Kohata, Shohei Chiashi, Keigo Otsuka and Shigeo Maruyama of the University of Tokyo; Yicheng Ma, Yongjia Zheng and Rong Xiang of Zhejiang University; Aina Fito-Parera, Dmitry I. Levshov, Sofie Cambre and Wim Wenseleers of the University of Antwerp; Ya Feng of Dalian University; Yutaka Matsuo of Nagoya University; and YuHuang Wang and Chiyu Zhang of the University of Maryland also contributed to this research. Maruyama led the research team and was the corresponding author of the paper.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science supported this research.
Photo: https://ksf.openukraine.org/

The Russian people, who support the Kremlin's aggression, must share responsibility for the war against Ukraine, said Arseniy Yatsenyuk, founder and chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-16.

"We must know that this war is not just about Putin. It is about the Russian people and the deep root causes that prompted the Kremlin to invade. The Russians have always tried to eradicate the Ukrainian nation. Putin is only reflecting the feelings of a large part of Russian society, so they must also bear responsibility," Yatsenyuk said during the 17th annual Kyiv Security Forum, entitled "UA: Unite Again to Overcome the Global Aggressor", organised by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

The founder of the Kyiv Security Forum stressed that the Russian army and its citizens are directly involved in crimes in the occupied territories.

"Who is killing Ukrainians? Ordinary Russians," he said.

According to him, Putin has managed to impose his rules on a large part of the world by enlisting the support of totalitarian regimes, including China.

"President Xi came to Red Square today, 9 May, on purpose to send a signal to the Oval Office. But if Putin is not stopped, if the axis of evil gets stronger, the world will lose the balance of power," Yatsenyuk concluded.
PRAGUE, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The manager of a leading Czech developer has voiced strong enthusiasm for deepening business ties with Chinese companies, citing the success of existing partnerships and the potential for future collaboration. "We've seen a proven track record of success with Chinese and other Asian companies establishing factories, logistics hubs, or even RMB centers in Central Europe, including the Czech Republic. These ventures continue to grow," Jakub Kodr told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday following a meeting on Czech-China cooperation hosted by his company, CTP - a leading European developer of industrial and logistics parks. The event was attended by representatives from the Association of Chinese-Invested Enterprises in the Czech Republic and the Chinese Embassy, aiming to boost bilateral economic relations. As the CIP managing director in the Czech Republic, Kodr said: "I'm very pleased we're here to discuss ways to grow and attract more Chinese investment to Europe, especially to the Czech Republic." He emphasized the importance of deepening ties with Chinese businesses and expanding both the scale and scope of cooperation. According to Liu Haiyan, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic, who also attended the meeting, the two countries share a strong foundation for economic and trade cooperation. Chinese enterprises have significantly expanded their investment in the Czech Republic in recent years, with more than half active in the manufacturing sector, he said. Kodr praised Chinese firms for their professionalism and operational strength, describing them as "focused, detail-oriented, and well-prepared." He said CTP has already established notable partnerships with Chinese companies in Slovakia and Hungary. "They are technologically skilled and operate with large, well-organized teams," Kodr noted. "We are proud to partner with Chinese companies and look forward to furthering our cooperation." Kodr also expressed a keen interest in visiting China this year, drawn by its market scale, trade expos, and innovation potential. "I've heard many positive things about China - its business environment, its ambition, and especially its advancements in research and development and automotive production," he said. Gabriela Bauerova, a representative of CzechInvest - the Czech Republic's investment and business development agency, also attended the event and echoed Kodr's view. She highlighted the country's investment appeal in areas such as health tech, mobility, artificial intelligence, and advanced industrial technologies. "China is now producing state-of-the-art cars. As a car enthusiast, I closely follow these developments online. It's truly impressive," Kodr said.
Photo: https://mod.gov.ua

At a meeting at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with a delegation from the United States think tank Atlantic Council, the current security situation, priority areas of work and critical needs of Ukraine were discussed, the Ukrainian defense ministry said on Friday.

"Russia's goals remain unchanged  a weak, controlled Ukraine and its occupation. Therefore, we must continue to strengthen  develop the defense industry, train military personnel and protect critical infrastructure. Support from partners is very important in this aspect," First Deputy Defense Minister Serhiy Boiev said.

He thanked the U.S. diplomats and former ambassadors for the support and assistance provided by the United States and the American people. Boiev said Ukraine, like no one else, seeks peace, but Russia is not ready for it.

"Russia continues to draw people into the war thanks to its propaganda, on which it spends over $4 billion annually. Ukraine continues to fight, but the support of partners remains critically important," he said.

Boiev said Russia is not ready for direct negotiations, and uses any truce to strengthen its positions.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna announces an agreement with the member states of the European Union and the European Commission that all negotiating areas on Ukraine's accession to the European Union will be opened simultaneously.

"All our negotiations are taking place simultaneously. And the agreement with the member states, with the European Commission today is that we will open all negotiating areas simultaneously. This decision is not prohibited by any European norms, but such a possibility never occurred to us. We opened it primarily because we are strong as a state," Stefanishyna said on the national telethon on Friday.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that there is currently one EU member state that does not want to conduct any negotiations regarding decisions on Ukraines further advancement towards EU membership, but the government is in dialogue with Hungary, and it may be possible to achieve a result.

As reported, Stefanishyna announced the negotiations between the Ukrainian and Hungarian delegations planned for May 12 in Uzhgorod, based on the results of which she will be able to say whether further dialogue with Hungary is possible or whether this is an imitation.
The 10 northern European countries that make up the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) have agreed to strengthen their security cooperation and invite Ukraine to form an enhanced partnership with the JEF.

According to a statement on the Norwegian government website, the heads of state and government of the JEF nations convened at the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders Summit in Oslo to discuss shared regional security challenges and the need for closer cooperation to respond to these challenges. After the Summit, the countries issued a joint statement.

Europe must shoulder greater responsibility for its own security, and that is what we are doing now. The meeting today reaffirmed our close security policy ties, and we agreed to strengthen our collaborative efforts to promote security and stability in northern Europe. The JEF can provide effective, rapid response in crisis situations and serves to strengthen NATOs defence capabilities, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre.

Further support to Ukraine was one of the main items on the Summit agenda. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated digitally in parts of the meeting, which was held at Oslo City Hall.

We agreed to invite Ukraine to form an enhanced partnership with the Joint Expeditionary Force. Russias war against Ukraine has created the most serious security situation in Europe since the Second World War. We stand firm in our support to Ukraine. We also have a great deal to learn from the experience Ukraine has gained during the war. A closer partnership between Ukraine and the JEF will be important for promoting security and stability in our corner of Europe, said Stre.

The JEF member countries also agreed to strengthen efforts to ensure optimal coordination and harmonisation with NATO activities.The JEF is a security coalition comprising the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.

JEFs can also provide forces to assist in international operations led by NATO, the UN or other organisations. The purpose of JEFs is to complement NATO cooperation, enhance collective security in our region and strengthen our overall defence capabilities.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/kallaskaja/

The investigations of the Special Tribunal into the crime of aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine are to begin in 2026, said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas.

"I would not name any specific dates. Although I read in the materials that everything should be ready by 2026. Therefore, we hope that the investigations will also begin then, I mean, the processes, because the investigation itself is already underway," she said at a press conference in Lviv on Friday.

Kallas noted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian side has been recording crimes with photo and video materials. Europe has provided technical assistance for this. The High Representative emphasized that war crimes are already being investigated, but the crime of aggression, for which the Special Tribunal is being created, is a crime of leadership.

"This means that those people who made the decision to start the war... Without this crime of leadership, there would be no war crimes. Therefore, it is extremely important that this tribunal deals specifically with the crime of aggression," she said.

According to Kallas, lawyers have been working on this, but while these people are in office, there are certain restrictions.

"But I think the important signal is that everything can be done, and that no one is above the law. Because that is important. Without justice there can be no real peace. I think that this is a very important signal for the Ukrainian people as well," the High Representative noted.
Michigan West Coast Chamber Volunteers at the West Coast Michigan Chamber's Community Impact Day.

West Coast Chamber Jodi Owczarski
Deputy Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Pavlo Palisa has held a meeting with the delegation of the European Union headed by the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and informed about the general situation in Ukraine and specifically at the front, the website of the head of state reported on Friday.

During the meeting, the sides discussed in detail the strengthening of Ukraines defense capabilities as a foundation for the security of the entire European continent, as well as the impact of modern technological developments on the conduct of warfare, the message reads.

Kubilius assured of further assistance to Ukraine in achieving a dignified and lasting peace, and also noted the importance and uniqueness of the experience that Ukraine has acquired in conducting military operations. According to the Commissioner, partner countries are carefully studying it, because it is important for the development of the EU's military capabilities.

The parties agreed to continue active dialogue and cooperation on security matters.
Chinas trade surplus was much higher than expected in April despite the introduction of trade tariffs, as export levels surged to countries outside of the US while imports fell less than anticipated.

In dollar terms, the trade balance stood at $96.18bn last month, down from $102.64bn but up from $72.04bn a year earlier, according to the General Administration of Customs on Friday.

This was well ahead of the consensus forecast of $89bn.

Export growth did indeed slow to 8.1% year-on-year from a massive 12.4% in March when exporters rushed to ship products to the US ahead of launch of the Trump administrations trade tariffs in early April.

Compared with a year earlier, exports to the US sank by 21% in April after growing by 4.5% in March, but shipments to other markets rose strongly, including South East Asian nations (20.8%), Taiwan (15.5%), the EU (8.3%), Japan (7.8%) and Australia (5.8%).

Imports, meanwhile, declined by just 0.2%, easing from the 4.3% fall seen in March; surprising economists who had pencilled in a 5.9% drop compared with last year.
US President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that US tariffs on Chinese goods should be cut from 145% to 80%.

Ahead of talks with China in Geneva, Switzerland this weekend, Trump wrote on his Truth Social site: "80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B."

He also said that China should "open up its market" to the USA. "Would be so good for them!!!," he wrote, adding: "closed markets dont work anymore!!!"

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said this weekends trade talks "could be make or break for the Chinese economy".

"New data shows that Chinas exports went bananas in April as overseas manufacturers raced to stockpile materials from the Asian superpower for fear of tariffs getting out of control," he said.

"Failure to convince Trump to ease back on tariffs would mean China has to lean even harder on domestic consumption to prop up its lofty economic growth goals, and thats already proved to be a challenge even before Trump returned to the White House."

Danske Bank said: "Tariffs far above 100%, as they currently have against each other, are clearly going to have a seriously negative effect on both countries' economies as supply chains are disrupted and there is a risk of empty shelves in US stores.

"Hence, there is a strong incentive to reach a deal to lower the tariffs. In our interpretation, markets are expecting tariffs to land around 60%, and there are possibilities for both positive and negative surprises relative to that."
London stocks were set to gain at the open on Friday following a solid session on Wall Street, as investors mulled the trade deal struck between the US and the UK and looked to US-China talks over the weekend.

The FTSE 100 was called to open around 30 points higher.

China and the US are due to hold talks on tariffs in Switzerland at the weekend.

Danske Bank said: "The main goal of the talks will be to agree on lowering tariffs from the current prohibitively high rates, which are a de facto trade embargo on most goods.

"We believe they will agree on getting tariffs down to around 60% soon, as the economic pain is growing on both sides."

In UK corporate news, British Airways owner IAG held annual guidance after a surge in first-quarter operating profits, adding that second quarter revenue was ahead of last year.

Operating profit before exceptional items increased by 130m to 198m as strong revenue growth and a lower fuel price offset expected cost increases, IAG said.

Rightmove reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting 8% to 10% revenue growth and a 70% underlying operating profit margin, supported by continued ARPA growth and rising membership across its Core business.

The FTSE 100 property marketing portal highlighted strong innovation across its platform in a trading update, including new AI-driven features and expanded tools for partners and consumers in areas such as mortgages, rentals, and commercial property.

It said its market data showed improving sentiment in the resale and new homes sectors, while the rental market remained undersupplied despite easing demand pressures.

Elsewhere, AstraZeneca reported positive results from a Phase III trial of its treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Over a one-year period, Imfinzi, otherwise known as durvalumab, demonstrated "statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement" in the disease-free survival of patients suffering from high-risk NMIBC.

Cristian Massacesi, AstraZenecas chief medical officer and oncology chief development officer, said the trial results represent a "significant advance that will potentially allow more patients with early-stage bladder cancer to benefit from this important immunotherapy".
The owner of British Gas has suffered a shareholder rebellion after handing its chief executive a multimillion pound pay packet while energy bill payers struggle with record levels of debt. Nearly 40% of Centricas shareholders voted against the boards pay plans at the energy companys annual investor meeting in Manchester on Thursday, after rising criticism of boss Chris OSheas pay during the energy crisis.  Guardian

The average household water bill in England and Wales is likely to reach 2,000 a year by 2050 if supplies are to be maintained, the industry regulator has said. In its submission to the government-commissioned water inquiry, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, Ofwat said significant investment was needed to secure enough water and avoid the country running out, and that this would cause costs to be piled on to water bills in coming years.  Guardian

Donald Trump will slash US tariffs on Range Rovers and other UK-made cars to 10pc as part of a trade deal that also cuts levies on American beef to zero. The Telegraph revealed details of the trade deal on Thursday that will see British carmakers given a quota of 100,000 cars they will be able to send to American shores at lower tariffs.  Telegraph

The countryside on Londons outskirts could soon be concreted over to make way for tower blocks as Sir Sadiq Khan throws his support behind building on the green belt. The Mayor of London will on Friday announce plans to release more of the capitals green spaces for housing as he launches a consultation on the citys development strategy for the next two decades.  Telegraph

The worlds biggest investment firm has ordered its senior managers back into the office five days a week, in the latest sign that companies are tightening up their rules on working from home. BlackRock has told its 1,000 or so managing directors around the world, including those in London, that they will be expected to work from the office full-time in future.  The Times
photo: Julia Gravette

Katy Hays is the bestselling author of The Cloisters. In addition to writing, Hays works as an adjunct art history professor, teaching rural students from Truckee to Tecopa. She holds an M.A. in Art History from Williams College and pursued her Ph.D. in Art History at UC Berkeley. Her academic writing has been published by Ashgate, an imprint of Routledge. Her new novel, Saltwater (Ballantine Books), is an electrifying thriller about an opulent family and their mysterious assistant whose annual retreat to Italy is shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old murder.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

The perfect novel to cure your White Lotus hangover; in Saltwater, three women will stop at nothing to escape a family that has everything.

On your nightstand now:

Dominick Dunne's People Like Us. I have a rule that when I'm drafting or actively revising, I'm not allowed to read books published after 2005 because if I do, and the book is really good, I despair that my work in progress will never be as good. So, to circumvent the comparison game (it's bad for everyone involved!), I only read older fiction. Someone, somewhere, mentioned Dunne and I squirreled away the recommendation and have become obsessed. It also scratches my itch for literary gossip: *whispers* he was Joan Didion's brother-in-law!

Favorite book when you were a child:

A tie between The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper. Both books were published in the late 1960s and I read them in the late 1980s or early '90s, but they were absolutely formative and the first books that taught me what a story could really be, what it was capable of doing. Also, talk about atmosphere!

Your top five authors:

My three north stars are Patricia Highsmith, Daphne du Maurier, and Shirley Jackson, but I'm also a huge fan of contemporary writers Christopher Bollen and Calla Henkel. If I were only allowed to read novels by these five writers for the rest of my life, I think I'd be just fine.

Book you've faked reading:

A Visit from the Goon Squad. I'm a huge, huge fan of The Keep by Jennifer Egan, but it's her only book I've ever read. Every time someone mentions A Visit from the Goon Squad, I nod along like I know what they're talking about, but the truth is, I've never so much as read the first page. Criminal, I know. Especially because I adore The Keep.

Book you're an evangelist for:

I really don't think enough people are reading Christopher Bollen. I'm a broken record--talk to me for three minutes about books, and it's likely I'll try to push a Bollen novel on you before you walk away--but in my opinion, he's the most compelling literary suspense writer working today. My favorite novel of his is The Destroyers, but I also think A Beautiful Crime and Havoc are wonderful. He's the kind of writer to whom I will happily give an extra 100 pages run time just because I want to exist longer in his worlds, and really, isn't that the best endorsement?

Book you've bought for the cover:

I've never bought a book for its cover! But for a long time I avoided Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic because I didn't like the cover. Then I picked it up several years after it came out, loved it, and instantly acquired all her backlist and am now a diehard fan.

Book you hid from your parents:

Anything Baby-Sitters Club! My mom thought those books were trash! What she didn't realize was that a well-rounded reading diet necessarily includes some junk food, too! Justice for the Baby-Sitters!

Book that changed your life:

Victoria Holt's On the Night of the Seventh Moon. I still don't know how I first came across Holt. I think it's possible there was a copy of one of her novels in the free bin at our local thrift when I was younger, but in any case, she found me, and my life was never the same. The queen of gothic romance, Holt's novels were the first "sexy" books I ever read (pretty tame by contemporary romance standards!) and I've been a lifelong reader of romance ever since. (Like I said above: everyone needs a well-rounded literary diet!)

Favorite line from a book:

Not from a book. My favorite line is from a response Shirley Jackson wrote to an angry letter about "The Lottery." "Dear Mrs. White. If you don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree."

Five books you'll never part with:

Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby

Daphne du Maurier's The Scapegoat

Jilly Cooper's Riders

Sarah Waters's The Little Stranger

Joan Didion's Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani. I found this novel so shocking, so compulsive that it left me literally breathless. I've since re-read it (it's still shocking!) and find it the perfect psychological thriller. I wish more writers were willing to take extraordinarily dark swings like Slimani does in Chanson Douce (the original French title translates as "lullaby"). What an achievement. If only I could recapture the original horror I felt on the first read!
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/MerzCDU

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that a 30-day ceasefire will be a test for Russian leader Vladimir Putin's readiness to negotiate a long-term peace.

He expressed this opinion on Friday in Brussels at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Merz recalled that the 30-day ceasefire is an initiative of US President Donald Trump, with whom the German Chancellor had a telephone conversation on Thursday. "This is another big initiative of the president, which calls for a 30-day ceasefire, which will begin today. This will be a test of how seriously Putin takes such agreements. Of course, not only today, when Moscow celebrates Victory Day, but also in the future - we will see whether it is possible to turn a 30-day ceasefire into real peace talks," he said.

The German Chancellor stressed that now "the ball is completely in Moscow's court, nowhere else." "We agree here in Europe to support Ukraine, the United States also supports Ukraine. Now the ball is in Moscow's court, and only there (in the Russian Federation) do they need to show that the Russian government is serious about peace in Ukraine," Merz added.
photo: Amy Drake Photography

Danielle Teller is a Canadian who moved to the U.S. for medical training and never left. She worked in academic medicine for many years, but when the necessities of family blending landed her in California, she returned to her first love, writing. Teller is the author of a work of nonfiction, Sacred Cows, and a novel about Cinderella's stepmother, All the Ever Afters. Her latest novel, Forged (Pegasus Books, May 6, 2025), is a gripping and immersive tale about a Gilded Age con artist.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

In the Gilded Age, a poor, mistreated girl becomes a wildly successful con artist, but like the famed Jay Gatsby, real happiness eludes her.

On your nightstand now:

My husband and I both started reading Sum by David Eagleman and were so delighted with it that we decided to read the sections to one another at bedtime; it's become a joke that we're always too sleepy and have still not finished the book. It's not just still on my nightstand, but it has traveled to several other cities to enjoy nightstands abroad. I'm also currently reading The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth, which is wonderfully witty and informative, catnip for anyone who loves language. James by Percival Everett is our book club selection for this month, and I recently picked up Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee.

Favorite book when you were a child:

It feels impossible to choose, but I'll say The Once and Future King by T.H. White. I read it over a summer when I was close to the end of elementary school; I identified with Wart as a child being taught by Merlin, and I loved the tales of Camelot, but perhaps just as importantly, I was proud of myself for reading a tome that seemed very grown up to me at the time. It felt like a whole new world of literature was opening up for me.

Your top five authors:

I tend to have favorite books rather than favorite authors; I'm not a completist when it comes to authors' oeuvres. That said, Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro are favorite authors from my formative years whose work I still love today, though my heart may be poisoned by what has been revealed about Munro since her death. It seems a bit silly to name Shakespeare as a favorite writer, but what can I say, he is the GOAT. I will read anything written by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz or Kathy Wang, both authors I know personally and adore; when you have some insight into the lives and the thoughts of authors, it is such a privilege to delve into their creative work.

Book you've faked reading:

When I met my now husband, Astro Teller, I learned that while in grad school, he had published an epistolary novel called Exegesis; it tells the story of a young computer scientist whose AI develops self-awareness. Despite what I wrote above about the beauty of knowing authors personally, the subject of his novel didn't appeal to me, and I didn't read it. As Astro and I became good friends, it got too embarrassing to admit that I hadn't bothered to read it, especially as it's very short, so I just kind of pretended I had. (I did finally read it, and it's quite fun!)

Book you're an evangelist for:

I recommend Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey to anyone who will listen. It is imaginative, funny, gorgeously written, and deeply moving. Each short chapter is a polished gem that makes my heart sing. I never get tired of rereading it.

Book you've bought for the cover:

Whoever came up with the cover for The Idiot by Elif Batuman is a genius.

Book you hid from your parents:

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel was a tattered paperback handed among sweaty-handed girls at my Catholic middle school, making us all blush.

Book that changed your life:

As a budding adult, I read The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, and for the first time a novel caused me to think deeply about life, about romance, love, sex, youth, beauty, happiness. It was exciting as a young person to have epiphanies and to develop philosophies, and it was a revelation that a book, especially a book of fiction, could have such an effect on me.

Favorite line from a book:

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral." --Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

Five books you'll never part with:

My most precious book is my mother's girlhood copy of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, with Mom's wedding bouquet flowers pressed between the pages. The Golden Pine Cone by Catherine Anthony Clark is an out-of-print children's book that my parents read to my brothers and me, and which I loved reading to my children. We also have a very worn illustrated copy of the collected Narnia books by C.S. Lewis that I read over and over to my kids, and I get misty-eyed every time I see it. My older brother, who is not much of a reader, waited in a very long line at a book signing to get me an autographed copy of Warlight by Michael Ondaatje, knowing that Ondaatje is an author I really like. Warlight isn't my favorite of his books, but I was really touched by the gift. Finally, while it wasn't published, I treasure my copy of my grandfather's memoir. He translated his father's journals from Low German to English, and then he added his own memories of immigrating to Canada from Russia and making his way in a new country.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Hours by Michael Cunningham is a novel that I have read more than once, but the first time was one of the most transporting and awe-inspiring reads I have ever had.
India and Chile signed the Terms of Reference on 8 May 2025 to begin negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The CEPA will build upon the existing Preferential Trade Agreement, expanding cooperation into sectors like digital services, investment, MSMEs, and critical minerals. India and Chile signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 08 May 2025, marking a significant advancement in their bilateral trade relations.

The mutually agreed ToR were duly signed by H.E. Mr. Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile in India and Shri Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, also the Chief Negotiator for India-Chile CEPA from the Indian side.

Both sides reiterated their shared vision for strengthening bilateral relations and look forward to fruitful discussion during the first round scheduled for 26-30th May, 2025 in New Delhi.

The CEPA aims to build upon the existing PTA between the two nations and seeks to encompass a broader range of sectors, including digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, MSME, critical minerals etc. thereby enhancing economic integration and cooperation.

India and Chile are strategic partners and close allies, sharing warm and cordial relations. Bilateral ties have steadily strengthened over the years with the exchange of high-level visits. A Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation was signed between the two countries in January, 2005, followed by Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in March, 2006. Since then economic and commercial relations between India and Chile have remained robust and continue to grow.

An expanded PTA was subsequently signed in September, 2016 and became effective from 16th May, 2017. In April, 2019 both countries agreed to pursue a further expansion of the PTA with three rounds of negotiations between the years during 2019-2021. To deepen their economic engagement, both sides expressed their intention to negotiate a CEPA to unlock the full potential of their trade and commercial relationship, boosting employment, facilitating investment promotion, and cooperation and exports, as suggested by the Joint Study Group established under the Framework Agreement. The JSG report was finalized and signed on 30th April, 2024.
In the evening of Thursday, Indian air defence units successfully shot down at least eight missiles fired by Pakistan, hitting sensitive border areas in Jammu, including strategically crucial Jammu Airport at Satwari, as defence sources confirmed.

All the incoming missiles, which officials have referred to as "low-cost rockets" like those used by the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas, were neutralised in mid-air by India's sophisticated air defence systems. The missiles were targeted towards high-value areas like Satwari (Jammu Airport), Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia.

Sources cited an alarming parallel with the behavior of the Pakistani Army and terrorists, pointing to a recent summit between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Hamas operatives in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Apart from the missile strikes, a number of Pakistani drones were spotted trying to cross Indian airspace along the western border. The drones were quickly intercepted and eliminated by the Indian Air Defence System. Witnesses saw that one of the drones crashed outside the Jammu Airport perimeter.

After disabling the threat, a power cut fell suddenly over Jammu city, and two massive explosions shook itpossibly as a result of the interceptions by drones. Air raid warning sirens started blaring across the city, compelling people to stay indoors while aerial operations still went on. Flares lit up the sky, with civilians peeping from their balconies as activities on defence continued.

These, along with other military establishments in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, were also attacked by Pakistani drones and missiles close to the International Border, as per Defence Jammu's Public Relations Officer (PRO).

The threats were effectively neutralised by exercising both kinetic and non-kinetic capacities, according to defined Standard Operating Procedures. No casualty or material loss was experienced. India is fully geared up to protect its sovereignty and secure the safety of its citizens," said the PRO in a message on X (formerly Twitter).

This episode is an important escalation after India's recent precision attacks against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor. The Indian Armed Forces are on high alert as tensions across the border continue to rise.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A newly proposed bill in the New York State Assembly looks to hold the owners of aggressive and violent dogs accountable.

Pennys Law, proposed by Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar of Queens, would establish new crimes of animal cruelty through negligent dog handling and leaving the scene of an animal attack. Additionally, the bill looks to establish penalties for individuals who repeatedly allow their dogs to wander off a leash.

Pennys Law is named after Penny, a Chihuahua from the Upper West Side that was recently hospitalized after she was viciously attacked by pit bulls. As claimed by Rajkumars office, the owner of the pit bulls is believed to have also allowed their dogs to kill another dog in Central Park earlier in the year while the canines were off their leashes.

Anyone who has known the love of a dog knows they are much more than property. They are family, Rajkumar, a Democrat, said. The fact that it is not a crime for someone to let their dog kill or injure your family member is a glaring injustice that needs fixing now. Pennys tragedy and numerous others are 100% preventable if negligent dog owners know they cannot get away with it. When Pennys Law passes, we will end these tragedies for good, showing that we are a society that values and cherishes our canine family.

I was horrified to learn Penny the chihuahua was hospitalized when a couple let their pitbulls attack her on the UWS. The same owners are believed to have let the dogs kill another dog. That this is not a crime is a wakeup call to update our laws ASAP. I am introducing a bill now pic.twitter.com/nxWcdAnGpz  Jenifer Rajkumar (@JeniferRajkumar) May 4, 2025

In both instances Rajkumar alleges the pit bull owners left the scene.

Lauren Claus, Pennys owner, reportedly gave her blessing for the bill name and expressed her gratitude to Rajkumar on X, saying the following:

This is my baby girl. She is a fighter. I need these people to be brought to account.

As it stands, an owner allowing their dog to attack and even kill another dog is not considered a criminal offense unless the owner themselves personally attacks the dog, or a person suffers injuries.

Under current law, dogs are classified as property and those whose dogs are victimized in attacks are often told by police that nothing can be done by law enforcement.

Rajkumar contends that the lack of accountability has permitted numerous dog owners to get away with allowing such attacks under the guise of dogs simply playing.

Moreover, she argues, owners allowing their dogs to roam about without leashes contributes to the crisis. In 2025 there have been 1,300 reports to 311 of off-leash dogs, according to Rajkumars office.

In addition to the attack on Penny, Rajkumar also cites a Riverside Park attack on May 1 in which a dog and person were injured by a dog allegedly off its leash.

Perhaps no other borough has felt the impact of the laid-back nature of current laws pertaining to dog assaults more than Staten Island.

A problem plaguing Staten Island

For years, Staten Island has had the highest rate of dog bites in NYC, according to data tracked by the city. Thats still the case, with the data from 2022-2023 showing that Staten Island saw 124 dog bites per 100,000 residents, compared to 82 for the rest of the city.

Although Rajkumar is making advances in protecting pets, there is no real recourse for those individuals randomly bitten by a dog.

Wounds from Staten Island dog bites. Often, the owners are protecting their own dogs from attack. Advance/SILive.com file photo Advance/SILive.com file photo

As previously reported, in the state of New York, dogs essentially get one free bite, Jon Ryan DAgostino, an associate with the law firm of DAgostino & Associates told the Advance/SILive.com back in December 2023. The victim of the bite is then left with the burden of proving that a dog had vicious propensity.

If the dog doesnt have a record, meaning that the dog never bit anybody before, theres no record of any prior issue with the dog, violent issue, then ... youre left with having to show from a legal standpoint is that there was prior vicious propensity, DAgostino said.

In many cases handled by the DAgostino firm, research on a dog reveals that the canines have no prior record.

So, what we then need to show, through other circumstances, is that, for example, other people on the block were scared of this dog, any time someone came near this dog it would growl at them or snare its teeth, DAgostino said. It would show more than typical canine behavior; not just barking or jumping up on the window, something to show that it could be a vicious animal, and it probably will bite somebody if you come close to it.

But in cases where an individual is bitten and the owner flees the scene, gathering information is nearly impossible.

In a situation where a dog bite victim has literally no information on the dog owner or anything, theyre kind of out of luck, unfortunately, added DAgostino.
District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said the parents of teens damaging fences on Staten Island should be "ashamed." (Advance/SILive.com, submitted)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Marty and Rita Eisenberg returned to their Eltingville home from a trip to Europe to find a rectangular section of their fence knocked out and loose boards strewn throughout their yard.

In whats become a frustrating situation on Staten Island, the Eisenbergs, whove lived at the residence in the vicinity of Lyndale Avenue and King Street for two years, are the latest victims of what could be considered another case of the Kool-Aid Man challenge.

It was upsetting, because we dont know who did it, Marty Eisenberg said. Hopefully well be able to fix it and they wont come back.

The fence of a home in Eltingville was damaged during an incident believed to be related to the Kool-Aid Man challenge on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott Axelrod)

It was only after a photo of the couples property appeared as part a story published by the Advance/SILive.com on the trend that Eisenberg became familiarized with the social media-based prank thats inspired young people to hurl themselves into the backyards of residents across the borough.

In this instance, the alleged culprits were spotted by Assemblymember Michael Reilly, who was returning to his own home in the area when he saw five teens loitering near the Eisenbergs house.

A former NYPD officer who represents the South Shore, Reilly asked what they were up to as they took off running.

I didnt see them run through the fence, but I did see them run from the area, he said. With my police experience, I know what happened.

Suspecting their involvement in the incident, he caught up with the teens and explained that not only were they risking serious injury, but the prank could escalate into a violent situation should they be caught in the act by an enraged homeowner.

Its been several weeks, and as the Eisenbergs await an estimate on what are typically costly repairs, Marty Eisenberg said he wonders why some parents are not more aware of what their children are doing. He also said there should be more places on the Island for youngsters to socialize instead of roaming the streets and vandalizing property.

Residents angry and anxious

Others could sympathize with the Eisenbergs, as the Advance/SILive.com has reported on several other incidents of fence destruction on the Island.

At around 1:25 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, four kids recorded themselves as they sprinted through the fence of another home in Eltingville.

Homeowner Ben Helwa appeared on local and national news programs reiterating how he doesnt find his busted fence funny and explaining how hell have to pay for costly repairs in time for a summer event hes hosting in his backyard.

Several youngsters were captured on surveillance video busting through the fence of a Staten Island home on Saturday, April 5, 20245. (Advance/SILive.com)

On April 14, at approximately 4:30 a.m., a group of five was captured on security camera careening through the fence of Princes Bay resident Vera Naccaratos home.

Im angry and disappointed, to be honest, Naccarato said. I felt violated because its our home and someone was in a part of our home and destroyed our property  were supposed to be living in such a nice area.

Five youngsters were captured on home security camera footage running through the backyard fence of a residence on Ashland Avenue on Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

Elayne, a Huguenot resident who requested her last name not be published, awoke to a neighbor telling her that he witnessed a group of teens busting through her fence on Saturday, April 5, at around 2 a.m.

There are some members of the community who really need to see what their kids are doing, Elayne said. They have no respect for other peoples property, and I just dont understand it.

The fence was temporarily mended while it cost Elayne $100 to replace 20 slats. Thats on top of what shell be shelling out for the repair work.

The fence of a home in Huguenot was damaged during a incident believed to be related to the Kool-Aid Man challenge on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Courtesy of Elayne)

Elected officials speak out

This behavior is stupid, arrogant and reprehensible, and the parents of these children should be ashamed, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon told the Advance/SILive.com.

At the same time, if those pulling off these jackass-style stunts were to be arrested, there is little that can be done to punish them as New York state treats those younger than 18 years old as children in all but the most serious of crimes, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the situation explained.

We must do all we can to make Staten Island residents feel safe and secure in their own homes, Borough President Vito Fossella said when asked about the trend. Equally important is to prevent random acts of property damage that are not only destructive and expensive, but also an invasion of privacy.

The message must get out to tell these kids to not drink the Kool-Aid, he said. If they do, we encourage the NYPD to take swift action. I applaud District Attorney Michael McMahon for taking these pointless crimes seriously.

Councilmember-elect Frank Morano, the Republican who claimed victory last week during a special election to replace Joseph Borelli, and whose South Shore district has been affected most frequently by the issue, told the Advance/SiLive.com that he considers the situation incredibly disconcerting.

This isnt just a prank; its vandalism, plain and simple, he said. If youre crashing through someones fence in the middle of the night; filming it and running away; youre not being funny  youre committing a crime and making people feel unsafe in their own homes.

Referring back to how the state currently deals with juvenile offenders, Morano said consequences for criminal behavior need to be restored, especially in instances that cause damage and distress to families.

Parents need to know where their kids are and what theyre doing, he said. Especially at 2 or 3 in the morning. If your child is involved in this nonsense, its your responsibility to step in before someone gets hurt or arrested.

Respect for your neighbors and their property has to mean something again.

If your fence has been damaged in this manner, please email Scott R. Axelrod at saxelrod@siadvance.com. Put Kool-Aid Man in the subject line and include your name, neighborhood and phone number.

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Russia is systematically violating the norms of international humanitarian law by forcibly displacing the civilian population. These are Ukrainians who were taken out of Ukrainian territories by the occupiers since the beginning of 2022, as well as citizens who were deprived of their freedom since 2014, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said.

"Women, men, children, the elderly and people with disabilities are being forcibly 'evacuated' from their homes at gunpoint, depriving them of choice and hope of returning! Such 'evacuations' are accompanied by the systematic isolation of people from the outside world: in many cases, means of communication are taken away, access to information is restricted, and contact with relatives is deliberately made impossible," Lubinets said in a Telegram channel.

He said people in the Ukrainian temporary occupied territories are being illegally persecuted for their pro-Ukrainian position.

"Numerous cases of torture, physical and psychological violence have been documented. The occupiers are fabricating criminal cases against Ukrainians. All this is part of a repressive policy aimed at suppressing resistance and is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention directly prohibits the forcible transfer of civilians, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," the ombudsman said.

Separately, Lubinets said Ukraine has identified almost 16,000 civilians who have become victims of illegal detention by the aggressor state. For more than 1,800 people, there is confirmed data on detention on the territory of Russia, of which 880 have been confirmed by the ICRC, including since 2014. At the same time, the real number of illegally detained civilians may be significantly higher due to limited access to information.

"That is why, in connection with the systematic violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Russian Federation, I appeal to the international community. I call for increased pressure on Russia  political, legal, sanctions. Join the process of returning home all evacuated, deported Ukrainian civilians, including children, as well as prisoners of war. Strengthen observation and monitoring missions so that every crime is recorded. Contribute to bringing the perpetrators to justice," Lubinets said.

"I emphasize that violations of IHL norms against civilians are systemic. These are coordinated crimes and are part of the targeted policy of the aggressor state! The world must understand: Russia is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and Ukrainian identity," he said.
Dr. Anthony Olivieri, a podiatrist, has an office in a medical building at 3371 Richmond Ave. in Eltingville. (Advance/SILive.com)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 67-year-old podiatrist on Staten Island is accused of sexually abusing a woman last year.

Dr. Anthony Olivieri was 66 years old when the alleged incident took place on the South Shore in October, according to the criminal complaint, which was based on an investigation by the NYPDs Special Victims Unit.
Chloe Fineman plays an exotic dancer in "Summer of 69," American High's latest film shot in the Syracuse area including at the Diamond Dolls strip club. The movie premieres May 9 on Hulu. (Disney/Brett Roedel) Disney

A Saturday Night Live star worked hard to bring her latest character to life.

Chloe Fineman, who plays an exotic dancer in American Highs new movie Summer of 69, told Seth Meyers that she learned Mikey Madison prepared for her Oscar-winning role in Anora by visiting actual strip clubs. So Fineman sought out to do the same.

I was like, OK, well, were working at Diamond Dolls in Syracuse. Like, Ill hang out with these gals, Fineman said in a new interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Monday.

Fineman said she met a stripper named Khaos (pronounced chaos) at Diamond Dolls.

She is the head chef and best dancer at the club, Fineman said of Khaos. Jack of all trades. Oftentimes, she would be doing a dance on the pole and be like, Oh, man, and a smoke alarm would go off, or vice versa, flipping a burger and be like, Oh, thats my song, and go out.

Its very different in Syracuse. The strip club is, like, literally next to a metal sheet yard.

Summer of 69, co-written and directed by Jillian Bell, follows an awkward high school senior (That 90s Show star Sam Morelos) who hires a stripper (Fineman) to help teach how to seduce a crush who has a certain preferred sexual position. Charlie Day (Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia) plays a sleazy misogynist who threatens to take over Diamond Dolls, the gentlemens club where Finemans character works.

Scenes were filmed at the real Diamond Dolls, the Syracuse club confirmed. The movie was shot around the Syracuse area last year and is set locally.

Chloe Fineman stars in "Summer of 69," a new American High movie filmed in Syracuse. (Disney/Brett Roedel) Disney

Khaos, whose real name is Bailey Kocik, told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that she and four other dancers have little parts in the movie, too. She did a lot of dancing on stage and even showed Fineman a couple tricks. She also saw Day on set, but did not get to interact with him.

Kocik said the production used Diamond Dolls for about two weeks. From what she saw, the cast and crew cared a lot about making scenes look accurate.

Were one of the best clubs in Syracuse, Kocik said. We hold ourselves very highly as an establishment and being able to be in the movie, it was a very great experience.

Fineman and Morelos told Deadline last month the scenes at Diamond Dolls were especially fun thanks to a loaded cast. Former SNL writer Paula Pell plays Betty Spaghetti, the owner of the strip club; Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Liza Koshy (A Family Affair) play exotic dancers; and former SNL star Alex Moffat is the club DJ.

Fineman and Koshy also trained for their roles at Studio 360 Pole & Dance, a pole fitness studio in Syracuse. Owner Liz Cox said they worked with choreographer Travis Wall (of So You Think You Can Dance fame) and their own trainer.

They were all absolutely sweethearts and even came and took class after they were done filming with some other friends, Cox said.

Fineman even posted a video of herself on the studios pole and Koshy posed for a photo.

"Summer of 69," the latest film from American High, features (L-R) Paula Pell, Nicole Byer and Liza Koshy working at a strip club in Syracuse. (Disney/Brett Roedel) Disney

Alicia Flinn, a co-owner of Aeriform Studio in Solvay, told syracuse.com she saw them practicing in high-heeled shoes at Studio 360 and was impressed by their upbeat energy.

They looked great, Flinn told syracuse.com. They looked like they were having a really good time. I think that theyll look awesome for the movie because they were working for hours in there.

Fineman, an SNL cast member since 2019, told Meyers that she had experience doing competitive dance at a young age. She said she wasnt very good at it, which is partly why she went into comedy.

Anora walked so Chloe Fineman, in heels, could dance kind of OK, she joked.

Summer of 69 premieres Friday, May 9, on Hulu. Its part of American Highs first-look deal with the Disney-owned streaming service.

Its the 20th movie shot in the Syracuse area by Liverpool-based production company American High. Headquartered at Syracuse Studios (the former A.V. Zogg Middle School and Liverpool high school), the studio also makes American High Shorts and other movies shot in Central New York like Prom Dates, Miguel Wants to Fight, Sid is Dead, Its a Wonderful Binge, I Love My Dad, Crush, Sex Appeal, Plan B, The Binge, Big Time Adolescence, Looks That Kill, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, Holly Slept Over, Banana Split, Empire Waist, and upcoming films starring Kevin James and comedian Matt Rife.

Sam Morelos, left, and Chloe Fineman star in "Summer of '69," a new American High movie about an awkward high school senior who hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance, and adulthood. (Disney/Brett Roedel) Disney
Cars drive on the recently reopened Silver Lake Park Road on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Silver Lake Park. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The controversial reopening of a road through Silver Lake Park has been the topic of discussion for many over the last few weeks.

While there are many who profusely denounce the reopening of Silver Lake Park Road to vehicular traffic, there are those who adamantly support the decision to allow vehicles to drive along the road.

A Change.org petition titled Keep Silver Lake Park Roadway Open: A Vital Lifeline for Staten Island Traffic Relief was created on Sunday.

As of Friday morning, the petition had collected 65 signatures.

Originally closed in 2020 as a temporary pandemic measure to create more open space, this road has now rightfully reopened, the petition reads in part. Its return is not only practical, but essential. This roadway is a critical connector between two major arteries in a heavily congested part of Staten Island. Its reopening has already provided visible relief by reducing traffic buildup, cutting commute times, and improving the overall flow of movement across the borough.

The petition also reinforces the sentiment of public officials who advocated for the opening of the road and argue that the reopening enhances public safety by encouraging a public presence and increasing visibility.

While we respect the concerns of those who use the park for jogging and recreation, it is important to recognize that Silver Lake Park remains expansive, with abundant green space, trails, and pedestrian paths, the petition noted. The park serves many, and it must strike a balance that reflects the needs of the broader community  not just a vocal few. A small number of opponents should not override the voices of the many who rely on this thoroughfare for daily travel, emergency access, and safe, efficient mobility."

Those who support the petition contend that the reopening serves the thousands who use the road regularly, which outnumbers those who oppose the decision. They share the belief that the reopening was the right decision and encourage the officials responsible to hold their ground and not reverse the reopening.

The reopening of Silver Lake Park Road

Silver Lake Park Road reopened to vehicle traffic on April 24, less than a week after nearly 100 Staten Island residents voiced their opposition to the decision.

The roadway had previously been closed to vehicles since March 2020; the closure was an attempt to offer more space to the public at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision to reopen the road was announced back on April 9 by borough officials less than a week after a 53-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while out jogging in the park on the night of April 3.

Officials argued that more traffic would make the park safer.

Ever since then, there has been a debate as to whether or not the decision was the right move to make.

Recently, in a letter to Alessandro Olivieri, general counsel of the Parks Department, Christopher Greene of Vaccaro Law in Manhattan said the firm is advising the Alliance to Save Silver Lake Park and is prepared to potentially file a lawsuit if the decision to reopen Silver Lake Park Road is not reversed.

Greene cited Article 78 of the New York Civil Practice Laws and Rules in his letter and explains that it permits citizen challenges to arbitrary and capricious agency determinations. He contends that the decision to reopen the road to vehicles is exactly that.

Nearly 100 protesters rallied together at the intersection of Silver Lake Park Road and Forest Avenue to protest the opening of Silver Lake Park Road as seen on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)

On Wednesday, another letter signed by the Alliance to Save Silver Park was sent to Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeffrey Roth, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Donoghue and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, urging the officials to quickly renounce the reintroduction of motor vehicles.

The letter argues that the decision was made without public consultation and that vehicles pose a much more likely threat than sexual assaults in public parks.

Opening Silver Lake to cars will do nothing to prevent crime, but it will create grave danger for the thousands of Staten Islanders who rely on the park for daily exercise and recreation, the letter reads in part.

Instead of keeping the road open to vehicles, the letter offers the suggestions of regular patrols from law enforcement, improved lighting and cameras to help deter criminal behavior.
American-born Pope Leo XIV is having his voting record dug into.

The new pontiff, the first in history to be born in the United States, was an active voter in Republican primaries and in general elections while living in his native Illinois, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

The former Robert Prevost, who lived in Chicago, voted in Republican primaries during the 2012, 2014, and 2016 election cycles, according to records from conservative polling firm Pulse Decision Science and quoted by the Washington Free Beacon.

The new pontifex also voted in general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024.

While he voted in presidential elections in 2012 and 2024, the records indicate that the pope did not vote in the presidential elections of 2016 and 2020, when Trump led the GOP ballot. Trump was also the Republican candidate in 2024, when the pope did vote.

Matt Knee, Pulse Decision Sciences chief data officer, told the Free Beacon that the popes voting history and public pronouncements lead him to believe that Leo XIV is a former Republican.

The fact that he hasnt voted in a Republican primary since 2016 and, in fact, didnt vote in the general in 16  and his public statements.  if I had to guess, he certainly would fit the profile of a former or Never Trump-type ex-Republican, Knee said.

Voters are prohibited from registering with a political party in Illinois, so Leo XIVs voting record doesnt mean that he was registered with the GOP. The records do however show that he only voted in primaries on the GOP side.

Illinois records indicate that the pope did not donate to any political campaigns.

A popes potential voting-booth support for an American president has never been an issue because a U.S.-born pope has never been elected before.

Leo XIV on his X account has also shard criticisms of Trump, and in February, the future pontiff shared a National Catholic Reporter article that was critical of Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic.

Following the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Leo XIV reposted calls for gun control from Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
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XPONs share price screamed up 400 per cent on Monday from a Friday close of 0.6 cents to an intraday high of 3c. Punters piled in, with trading volumes lighting up the ASX boards as investors bet big on this AI-meets-marketing mashup. XPON says Alpha isnt just a bolt-on, like-for-like addition, its a turbo boost for XPONs journey to positive cash flow and profitability. Management says Alpha Digitals expertise in performance marketing, SEO and analytics meshes well with XPONs AI-powered solutions. The combo promises juicy revenue synergies, offering clients a one-stop shop for integrated technologies and marketing wizardry. The deal will see Alpha Digital keep its branding and operate independently, ensuring its market mojo stays intact while it taps into XPONs tech muscle. XPONs share price went ballistic on Monday to scream up 400 per cent from a Friday close of 0.6 cents to an intraday high of 3c. Punters piled in, with trading volumes lighting up the ASX boards as investors bet big on this AI-meets-marketing mashup.

With digital marketing hotter than a summer barbie and AI driving the next wave of innovation, XPONs move positions it to gobble up market share. If the company can harness those synergies and keep the cash flowing, this acquisition could be the spark that lights its fire for years to come. LOCKSLEY RESOURCES LTD (ASX: LKY) up 160% (2.2c  5.7c) Taking home the Runners silver medal this week is critical minerals explorer Locksley Resources, which saw its share price erupt on Thursday after the company dropped a strategic update on its Mojave project in California. Locksleys Mojave project is in prime real estate for critical minerals, as it sits just 1.4 kilometres northeast of Mountain Pass - the globally significant and only US rare earths mine.

Locksleys share price went ballistic on the news to skyrocket 159 per cent to a high of 5.7c on Thursday from a close of 2.2c last week. A jaw-dropping 187 million shares traded hands - more than the companys entire 147 million shares on issue - making it the ASXs wildest ride this week. The company has formally lodged drilling permits with the US Bureau of Land Management. Trumps executive order pushing for home-grown critical minerals seems to have positioned Lockyers project to become a serious domestic lithium supplier. A critical minerals boom is well underway in the US, as the nation attempts to quickly counter Chinas rare earths stranglehold, and the markets can smell blood. Rock chips from Mojaves Desert antimony mine are already screaming with grades up to 46 per cent antimony and 1022 grams per tonne (g/t) silver. Its nearby El Campo prospect is dishing out 12.1 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO), including 3.19 per cent all-important neodymium-praseodymium elements. Locksleys timing couldnt be better. The bureau has also given a thumbs-up to ASX-listed Dateline Resources nearby Colosseum project to explore and extract gold and rare earth elements  which Trump then touted in a weekly update on his Truth Social network. The developments signal that Mojave is open for business.

With the US government desperate to secure a supply of rare earths and antimony, Locksleys Mojave project is like a shiny new toy in a critical minerals candy store. If the drill rigs hit the jackpot, this could be the kind of project that gives investors a fabled black swan event. Locksley Resources has applied for drilling permits at its Mojave critical metals project in the United States, near Dateline Resources Colosseum project and the USs only rare earths mine, the globally renowned Mountain Pass. DY6 METALS LTD (ASX: DY6) up 109% (6.7c  14c) Stepping up to the Runners podium for the second time in as many weeks is rare earth elements and heavy minerals exploration company DY6 Metals.

This weeks feeding frenzy continued following the companys earlier bombshell revelation that historical drilling at its Tundulu rare earths project in Malawi had uncovered some seriously spicy gallium grades. Gallium is now a red-hot critical mineral. The share price volatility, however, was not for the faint hearted, dropping almost 65 per cent from last weeks highs of 18.5 cent at one point before regaining its composure. The headline numbers included 74 metres grading 93.3g/t gallium oxide with 1.56 per cent TREO from 72m, and 53m at 72.8g/t gallium with 1.02 per cent TREO. The results pushed the stocks price up 340 per cent to a peak of 18.5c in a single hour last week, before the fun police at the ASX stepped in with a screeching halt to demand more paperwork. The gallium find is especially timely. China, which controls 94 per cent of global supply, is tightening its export controls while global demand is soaring for the semiconductor-critical metal.

Intriguingly, DY6s gallium mineralisation shows up in surface saprolite and deeper fresh rock, with the system still open at depth. Only 40 per cent of the 91.5 square kilometre project has been drill-tested. Following the juicy findings, the company will shortly kick off metallurgical test work on a bulk sample to determine the prospects economic viability. With fresh gallium in the mix, Tundulus rare earth basket could now deliver a whole lot more bang for buck. Arizona Lithium (ASX: AZL) up 85% (0.07c  1.3c) Taking out the final spot and prize for the most curious share price run this week is Arizona Lithium. Extreme volumes of nearly 205 million shares were traded across the week, while equally big licks were being mopped up on the US-based OTC market.
Future proofing our assets is a key focus for MWOF, and these works begin the electrification journey for 55 Collins Street, Georgeos said. Suburban office Former agent turned investment manager Mark Wizel is making a play for the unloved suburban office market, paying $16.45 million for a mostly vacant Glen Iris office held by the late Nathan Werdigers Juilliard Group. More recent valuations, before high vacancies cruelled the market, were reportedly around $31 million. The deal was done with Wizels long-time investment partner, the Mai Group and his new joint venture, Clover Property Partners, set up with former Quintessential operatives Xavier Everett and Rob Buchanan.

1601 Malvern Road, Glen Iris. The 3800 sq m property at 1601 Malvern Road was mostly vacant when the transaction settled in March and Wizel has set up an in-house leasing team to find new tenants. The current tenant is workwear retailer RSEA. It once housed the headquarters of Swiss watch retailer Swatch and was bought by the Werdiger family in 2004 for $6.5 million on a 10.15 per cent yield. Its on a large 2700 sq m corner block near Glen Iris station. There is little doubt there is significant risk associated with the asset due to the high level of vacancy, but we have a plan to reposition it beyond traditional offices, Wizel said. Colliers Scott Orchard acted for the vendor while Gorman Commercials Peter Bremner acted for the Wizel team in the off-market deal.

I estimated the land value itself to be worth more than what we paid for the overall asset, Wizel said, indicating there is the potential for redevelopment. Over the river in East Hawthorn, a brand new four-storey office at 26-28 Hall Street is up for sale at more than $18 million. The recently completed Hall St Hub is 80 per cent leased to a range of tenants, including NYSE-listed insurance company Assurant (formerly Fortis). Colliers Orchard, Ben Baines, and Alex Browne are handling the listing. 26 Hall Street, East Hawthorn.

Puma leaves German sportswear retailer and manufacturer Puma has offloaded the Moorabbin warehouse and popular outlet store where it has sold runners and other gear for the last 45 years. Records show Puma bought the 9940 sq m site at 111 Keys Road in 1979, paying $800,000. Developer Wingspan Capital put a caveat over the property at the end of March and is expected to redevelop the property after Puma moves out in 2026. Its understood the property sold in the high teens, a little shy of the $20 million asking price.

Loading CBREs David Aiello, Sasan Misaghian, Patrick Noone, and Andrew Bell ran the expressions of interest campaign but declined to comment on the price. The deal indicates a shift in the market with developers increasingly moving on infill sites and beating owner occupiers and investors. In East Bentleigh, Moose Toys original headquarters, where the Shopkins and other whacky toys got their start, settled last month for $7.15 million. The developer buyers have renovated the 3537 sq m office-warehouse ahead of re-leasing. The 7-13 Adena Court property was on a 4051 sq m site off East Boundary Road.

Camerons David Johnson and Michael Brennan and Teska Carsons Michael Taylor and Matthew Feld did the deal. Barwon River The second Barwon River development site to hit the market in a month is up for sale. Zoned mixed-use, the former dairy at 30 Bloomsbury Street is on 2.79 hectares with its 1950s-era industrial buildings still leased to tenants. Colliers Ben Young and Chris Nanni have the listing.

30 Bloomsbury Street, Newtown. Local property sources suggest the property, which has 210 metres of river frontage could be worth around $15 million. Thats about half of what its neighbour at 403 Pakington Street is expected to fetch but it has planning approval for 314 apartments and 29 townhouses. Its busy on the Barwon. Glengarry Developments Wayne Jennings has received planning approval for his $90 million development at the old Collins Woollen Mills at 510A LaTrobe Boulevard. Petrol stations

Developers Peter Spargo and John Gibson have sold a 7-Eleven at 181 OHerns Road in Epping for $13.1 million on a sharp yield of 5.63 per cent. Loading The petrol station, on a 5624 sq m corner of Edgars Road, has long 12 and 13-year leases to 7-Eleven, Starbucks and Oporto, pulling in $737,618 a year. The deal was negotiated by Jones Real Estates Tim Spargo and Paul Jones, and Stonebridges Rorey James and Kevin Tong. Spargo said the campaign attracted seven bids from a mix of local and offshore investors.

The 1948 sq m lot next door sold for $2.5 million to an Adelaide buyer planning to build a car and truck wash facility. In an off-market deal struck in Mambourin, near Werribee, the Oreana Group has sold a 7-Eleven on a 2026 sq m parcel of land at 2 Rail Circuit for $6 million, reflecting a yield of 6 per cent. Allard Sheltons Bill Makris handled the transaction. OTR at 181-187 Pascoe Vale Road, Moonee Ponds. Next week, an OTR servo at 181-187 Pascoe Vale Road, Moonee Ponds, will go to auction as part of the Burgess Rawson portfolio auction. Raoul Holderhead is taking enquiries.
Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/9414

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed with British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Lammy the development of bilateral strategic partnership and the situation at the front.

"We discussed the development of the bilateral strategic partnership envisaged by the centennial agreement signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. We are grateful to Britain for its strong support in all areas," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel following the meeting in Lviv.

It is noted that the parties also touched upon the situation at the front and sanctions against Russia.

"Despite loud statements, Russia does not adhere to any ceasefire. The enemy carries out assault operations and shells peaceful cities. We call on partners to increase pressure on Russia to force it to a 30-day ceasefire," Shmyhal said.

The Prime Minister also thanked for the announcement of the largest sanctions package against the Russian shadow fleet.
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I stole from my family to write my debut novel, I Want Everything, or at least I thought I did. I told the dim myths of my relatives in broad strokes, their terrible deeds and those done to them, though I didnt probe for the particulars. This was not to protect the memories of ghosts Id never met, rather I was worried real life would prove disappointing. But the truth was much stranger than I could have anticipated. It turned out I was not a thief but a liar.

I Want Everything is about a literary parasite, a feckless writer who attaches himself to an ailing cult author, Brenda Shales, who reveals the secrets of how her sensational novels came to be. As one does in fiction, I grafted my familys stories onto Brenda and the characters in her orbit, hoping some of them would take, a way to better inhabit a time I knew little about, the political now personal.

A few years ago, when Id just begun the novel, my wife and I visited my paternal grandfather, Vincent, at his hospital bed. He was well over 90, and his heart was slowly giving out, though he was sharp enough to complete The Age crossword every day. He was sweet with my wife, talked with alacrity about his boyhood in St Kilda, an unruly place back then, his fathers imprisonment at the Tatura prison camps during World War II, a story Id never heard. Like many Italian immigrants, my great-grandfather was suspected as a fascist sympathiser, though hed already naturalised as a White Australian, renouncing his motherland along with my chances of ever obtaining a European Union passport.

Dominic Amerenas paternal grandfather, Vincent (right), and great-grandparents Pasquale and Annie. Credit:

As he talked about those war years in which hed eaten city pigeons and kelp washed up on Elwood beach, I felt the sick inkling familiar to every writer when a story begins to present itself. My grandfather died not long after our visit, cremated in a coffin draped in the St Kilda flag. Alongside the usual sadness and regret, my writers self rubbed its hairy paws in anticipation, itching to draft my version of my relatives imprisonment.

The Tatura internment camp in 1943. Credit: Courtesy Australian War Memorial

More than 15,000 people were held captive at the Tatura camps, one of whom was a stand-in for my ancestor. In my novel, I created a communist whod fled Italy when Mussolinis Blackshirts swept to power. He braved the harsh camp conditions before I shaved his head and sent him home, to become a symbol of Australias suspicion of difference. I had no idea how much he resembled Pasquale, my great-grandfather, nor did I much care.
When Stowe shows the Herald the old postmasters home, Froma Court, built in 1908, a warning blast tells us it is a restricted area, and Please move away. On Lurline Street, the main road leading to Echo Point, some of the once-fabulous 1920s guest houses are restored. Others are falling apart. Froma Court, which sits behind the Paragon. Credit: Rhett Wyman Further on, one of the areas oldest guesthouses, The Clarendon, is looking its age despite colourful awnings. It is the subject of an interim heritage order by the Blue Mountains City Council after unauthorised works. For Aaron White, a residential house painter, news of what happened to the Paragon was the last straw. Hes offered to paint Katoombas buildings free, if someone donates materials  to lift the mood and look of the town.

Tourists bypass the town, and head to the scenery, and the businesses are missing out millions of dollars in revenue, said White. Loading Resident Michael Hart said when something as significant as the Paragon closed, it had a ripple effect. When the Carrington closed in the late 1980s, other shops shut soon after. That stuff adds up. It affects a lot of people. Some say Katoomba has always had booms and busts. Harriet McCready, the cofounder of Mountain Culture Beer Co.  operating in a restored heritage building  says the streetscape hasnt affected its business.

Katoomba remained vibrant even if the buildings looked derelict, she said. More life in the shops would be a plus, but the town was such a gem and the landscape so special that it drew visitors interested in bush walks, rock climbing, the art and their beer. Who to blame depends on who you ask. Locals say the council is too slow to approve projects; others say absentee landlords and developers dont engage with the community; congestion on the main bridge into town, say many, while others point to heritage rules, COVID, and the economy. Many of the storefronts and heritage buildings in Katoomba are falling into disrepair. Aaron White, a house painter, wants to give the main street a free paint job. They provide materials, he does the work for free. Credit: Rhett Wyman As a former regulator and head of NSWs Fair Trading, Stowe advocates an inquiry to separate facts from conjecture He also says enforcement action is the most effective way to achieve compliance with heritage laws. According to Destination NSW, the Blue Mountains is the most popular destination outside Sydney, attracting three million visitors a year.

Katoomba was once the top place to stay, as much for its ornate architecture as for its natural attractions. It has more historic homes and properties identified as historic or heritage by local, state, federal government and the National Trust, than the rest of the Blue Mountains. Stowe said: It was where tourism, in many ways, started in NSW. It was a place where people got away from the humdrum, the smelly city and into the mountain air. Lurline Street in Katoomba. Credit: Rhett Wyman With its relatively intact shops and old guest houses, Stowe says it could be the Australian version of NZs Napier, famous for its vibrant Art Deco architecture. Michael Brischetto, a co-owner with Jarvis of Katoombas heritage-listed Carrington Hotel, said the state of the towns heritage was an embarrassment that reflected poorly on all levels of government.

Empty shops opposite the station, bought by Carrington, are scheduled for restoration but are facing delays in approval from the council and Heritage NSW. Every time one of these absentee owners wants to sell one of their buildings, the community or local business people should be buying them, said Brischetto. Because we live here. Were the ones who are embarrassed. Lets start doing something about it, right? Brischetto attributes some of the decline in state heritage listed properties to understaffing of Heritage NSW, saying it failed to inspect and identify projects at risk before they fail. His hotel has been visited only twice in 21 years. The decline of the historic properties deterred investors or businesses. They see the hoardings up around places like the Paragon and ours and ask, Why arent people renting these shops?  The NSW auditor-general 2023 report on Heritage NSW found almost 90 per cent of items (1583) on the register did not include a physical condition rating. It noted improvements in turnaround on applications for works on listed assets. But it found about 35 per cent (625) of items lacked detailed physical descriptions, which made it hard for officers to pursue breaches.

The state heritage people are very well-meaning, and I know theyre under-resourced, Brischetto said. For a laugh, he likes to read an old email from Heritage NSW sent a decade ago after he waited months for a response. It said: Applicants applying pressure on Ministers to get more resourcing to process their applications would have more effect than anything else.  Brischetto said, The heritage system is broken. Its only when youre trying to do something, when youre trying to preserve or conserve or restore, that [Heritage] get involved. Mayor Mark Greenhill said Katoomba remained an outstanding tourist destination, and visitor numbers were increasing, not falling. The council was committed to Katoomba thriving as a welcoming destination, but could only operate within its jurisdiction. Greenhill said the council had secured $7 million for improvements, including new street furniture, upgraded lighting and paving, outdoor dining areas and public art. Stowe showed what could be done when the community came together. The Treeline Lurline project is aiming to restore the grand boulevard of trees that once led to Echo Point. Some new trees have been planted and powerlines moved underground.
A man who admitted many lies while hiding his flatmates body for months in a tool box has told a jury he was also being dishonest when he confessed to killing her.

Yang Zhao, 30, on Friday finished his third and last day on the witness stand testifying in his own defence in Queenslands Supreme Court while on trial accused of murder.

Zhao allegedly murdered Qiong Yan, 29, by striking her on the head with a metal bottle then strangling her, crown prosecutor Chris Cook told the jury.

Yang Zhao, left, is accused of killing his flatmate Qiong Yan at their Hamilton apartment and leaving her body in a toolbox on the balcony for 10 months.

The jury heard Zhao claim his detailed accounts of killing Yan in a violent and bloody manner, given to police after his arrest in July 2021, were based on thoughts he had while intoxicated that he combined with movies and TV dramas.
A trial date has been set for a former Channel 7 reality television contestant accused of historical assault offences.

Anthony Mu, who appeared on the popular cooking reality show My Kitchen Rules in 2023 alongside his wife Claudean Uamaki-Mu, is facing several assault charges.

The identities of the Queensland couple, who were promoted by the Channel 7 network as a fiery Italian and a super-chill Samoan with hearts of gold, were suppressed by a non-publication order as it progressed through the courts.

Husband and wife Claudean Uamaki-Mu and Anthony Mu were contestants on Channel Sevens My Kitchen Rules.

Mus case remains before a local Brisbane court. He remains on bail, and was not present for a brief hearing on Friday morning.
An underground network for moving goods and waste on conveyor belts, transforming empty shops into free spaces for artists and a car-free Hoddle Grid are among the 50 big ideas to emerge from a major summit discussing what Melbourne might look like in 2050.

Business and community leaders  including Governor Margaret Gardner, Lucas Group Restaurants owner Chris Lucas, comedy festival director Susan Provan, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief Natalie OBrien  were among about 700 people who converged on Melbourne Town Hall on Friday for the M2050 forum.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece at the Melbourne 2050 summit on Friday. Credit: Penny Stephens

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he wanted to focus on Melbourne in 25 years time, as great cities were not built overnight, they were built over generations.

In Melbourne, we find ourselves at a historic juncture, he said. A few years back, we had a once-in-a-century crisis, but we are a city that does come back well. In fact, I think we do that better than any city in the world.
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 Three weeks out from the federal election, Melissa McIntosh revved up the crowd for the Liberal Partys campaign launch. On the far reaches of suburban Sydney, she made her welcome to Menzies forgotten people, Howards battlers, Morrisons quiet Australians, and, with Peter Dutton, the heartland of our Australian Liberal Party, the forgotten people, the backbone of our nation. This was a rallying cry to the aspirational workers, small businesses and tradies who had moved from city centres to outer suburbs, searching for their slice of the Australian dream and a better life. The Liberal Party, at this point, had all but abandoned appeals to inner-city voters lost to independents in former blue ribbon seats. These suburban battlers  in western Sydney and around the country  were to become its base. Those voters had other ideas. McIntosh is one of few Liberal members to survive the scrubbing of more than two dozen blue seats from metropolitan electoral maps over two elections. Instead of flocking to the Liberals, outer suburban voters handed the party of Robert Menzies  Australias longest serving PM  its worst ever defeat. So did women, young people and multicultural communities across Australian cities, leaving the Liberal Party without a heartland. Melissa McIntosh is one of few remaining Liberal MPs in the nations major cities. Credit: Janie Barrett The MPs returning to depleted opposition benches now face an existential reckoning: what is the purpose of the modern Liberal Party, and who does it represent? The new leader will decide. A decade-long fight over whether the party veers right or claims the political centre will reach a crescendo next week, when MPs choose either shadow treasurer Angus Taylor or deputy leader Sussan Ley to set the course for recovery. They have both committed to bringing more women into the party and expanding its appeal, but numerous reviews and previous leaders have said the same thing without substantial change.

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Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Prices defection from the Nationals to the Liberals intensifies the contest, damaging relations with the junior Coalition partner and promising to bring more culture wars even as moderates plead to ditch them. The fight for the partys future is not just between members. The Liberals are bleeding votes to minor parties and independents on both their left and right. Labor faces the same challenge. With structural declines in support for major parties, election swings have become more volatile. It makes it harder to gauge whether this is a one-off result or spells a long-term wipeout. Loading Predictions of either major partys demise  such as after a 2012 state election rout took Labor down to just seven seats in Queensland  have often failed to eventuate. State Labor was back in government just one election later. But either way, theres no sugar-coating the position the party now finds itself in, retiring senator Linda Reynolds said this week. You can see through successive reviews in federal and state in terms of where we have taken the wrong turn, but we havent comprehensively understood those lessons  I dont think we went into this election, or the last election, with a really clear idea of who we are as Liberals. Historian Paul Strangio sees this as the biggest watershed moment since the 2001 election, which John Howard won in the shadow of the September 11 attacks on the US and the Tampa affair. He says it defined the next two decades. The Liberal Party side has been entranced by Howards legacy, and the Labor Party to some extent has been bullied by [it], he says.

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Howard in that election very much transmogrified into the strong leader, particularly on issues such as border protection, with a degree of xenophobic underpinning ... Its a politics that trades in anxiety and fear, and the Liberal Party in so much of its rhetoric since then has played to those same emotions. John Howard and his ministers ensured border security and anti-terrorism policies consumed the debate in 2001. Credit: Mike Bowers This isnt Trumpism. Its an Australian-made conservative populism that Howard was a master at. What the Liberal Party has gone to, particularly under [Tony] Abbott and Dutton, is a doubled down, more aggressive version of Howardism, Strangio says. The problem is that his proteges have been no good at it. Howard could straddle constituencies, and people saw him as strong on the economy, which helped him ... He funnelled his message in a much more clever way, to speak to mainstream Australia. He wasnt tribal in his media communications. But this era could be ending, Strangio says. There was a sense, on Saturday, that there was finally a repudiation of that [direction]. Whether the Liberal Party wakes up to it, and can step away, is the big question. A resounding rejection came from the suburbs Liberals thought theyd win over with a 25 fuel discount and promise of lowering immigration to boost housing supply. Dutton made a strategic shift to target outer-city mortgage-belt suburbs at the expense of inner-city voters. He came away with neither. The western Sydney seat of Werriwa, which hosted the Liberal campaign launch, remained comfortably with the government while the neighbouring Liberal seats of Banks and Hughes fell to Labor. In the Melbourne growth corridor seat of Hawke, where Dutton held his final rally of the campaign, Labor increased its margin. On the other side of the city, the Liberals lost the mortgage-belt seats of Menzies and Deakin.

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Howards battlers did not heed his cry. They may no longer exist as the Liberals imagine them. Duttons pitch to end tax breaks for electric vehicles, for example, would have hit hardest in the outer suburbs, rather than the inner city, according to a postcode analysis. The outer suburbs are places of enormous growth and vast demographic change. Theyre a kaleidoscope of ethnicities and cultures. I think the Dutton formula for those, which spoke to them with a strain of xenophobia based on division, missed the mark. It condescended them, says Strangio. More broadly, there are long-term problems in how the Coalition is trying to pitch itself. Clearly, it has drifted towards conservative populism, and thats losing women, its losing young voters, and now its losing the cities as a whole. Theyve driven into an electoral dead end. Demographic trends compound the Liberal Partys predicament. Ian McAllister, who has been tracking elections for decades, says women, young people and the university educated have tracked away for at least four elections, regardless of the party in power. These are underlying structural changes in the composition of society. All of these are working to the disadvantage of the Coalition, he says. Much of this is organic. Higher education correlates with more left-of-centre political views, and the portion of Australians with a university degree has soared from 4 per cent in the 1970s to more than 30 per cent today. The gender gap in voting patterns widened around 2010. This was kick-started under Julia Gillard and continued ever since, McAllister says. He links womens lean left to higher rates of university education, more labour force participation, a growing number of single-parent households and decline in religion. Loading Even if the Liberal Party hasnt driven this dynamic, there is a potent question about its response. The review of its 2022 election loss identified that the Liberal Party performed particularly poorly with female voters, continuing a trend that has been present since the election of 1996. It said voters sensed the Liberals were failing to adequately represent values and priorities of women in modern Australia and noted gender representation in parliamentary ranks was its lowest since 1993. Then it went into this years election without directing any policies at women, besides domestic violence. It ran twice as many men as women. Ten years ago I was part of a review into gender  and we recommended targets and how to get there without quotas, Reynolds said this week. Thats been the Liberal Party policy for 10 years, but its just sat on a shelf.

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Women will be found at the political centre, moderates say. The same with professionals and city voters. This was the argument being pushed by former premiers Nick Greiner and Barry OFarrell this week. I think that in the future the party needs to be liberal, sticking to its values, and it needs to be sensible, and it needs to be in the centre, Greiner told this masthead. The notion that you can get anywhere by not being sensible and centric is, I think, pretty bizarre. Retiring Liberal MP Warren Entsch has watched the Liberals move to the right unfold. He has sat in the lower house every year since Howard became prime minister in 1996, aside from 2007-10, and praises the long-serving prime minister, particularly for economic performance. But he agrees the party has been slowly, slowly drifting away from the centre. I think we lost an opportunity when we didnt elect Julie Bishop as leader [in 2018], he says. Entsch has identified changes in how policy is made. With Howard, when there were contentious policies being discussed, he would invite backbenchers he thought were interested, share it with them, take opinions, and where necessary make adjustments, he says. From a backbenchers perspective [in this election], most didnt know the policies until they were announced. Warren Entsch says the Coalition has lost its way, particularly regarding individual members being able to speak freely. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Another is the dominance of regional interests. Entsch cites the Liberal and Nationals partnership as a troubling force for the moderates, particularly since the parties merged in Queensland in 2008. Nobody had any problem with me when I was campaigning for gay rights, when we had the Liberal Party separate. But when there was an amalgamation, and I was campaigning on gay rights, I was summoned to Brisbane to show cause why I shouldnt be disendorsed, he says. The partnership muddies the waters for voters, Entsch says. The Nationals appeal to their regional constituents, as they should. But when LNP senator Matt Canavan stands in front of banners with I choose coal, its the likes of Jenny Ware in suburban Sydney who lose their seat. Ditto when Price is pictured in a MAGA cap. [People] assume her voice is the voice of the leadership of the party. This is why moderates are punished, Entsch says. A Coalition split has been raised in the election aftermath, including by Canavan himself, as the Nationals influence in the joint party room grows proportionately. The Nationals party has been able to hold seats, he said. The way the Liberal Party is being pulled and pushed in different directions, theres an opportunity ... for the Nationals party to run in more seats. If that leads to us breaking up, great, fine.

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Lebanese Australian community leader Dr Jamal Rifi, who campaigned for Labor in the election, went public with his concern about losing Husic from the ministry. For Ed Husic to pay the price of this thumping majority is very hard to take, Rifi said on the ABC. Rifi said Albanese should make a captains call to save Husic after members of the Muslim community voted for Labor in western Sydney electorates, despite attempts by some in the Muslim community to shift votes to other candidates. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus at the Labor caucus meeting. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Dreyfus made no statement on Friday and attended the caucus meeting in Canberra that voted for his removal, without displaying his views on the events.

Husic, who did not attend caucus, told Nine News he would keep putting one foot in front of the other after losing his ministry. Loading Youve got to keep moving onwards, he said. I am used to politics having its ups and downs, and you cant be bitter about these things. Ive got a lot of fuel in the tank. Labor caucus members gathered in Parliament House on Friday morning to celebrate the election outcome and hold a formal vote on the new ministry after faction meetings on Thursday sealed the fate of the two sacked ministers. Albanese used his address to urge MPs to show unity and focus after their victory, saying they should not be turning inward.

I repeated the message a number of times in this room, of the importance of unity, of not getting ahead of ourselves, of being focused not on ourselves, because Ive seen that happen, too, he said. We know where that ends. Focus out on the Australian people, on the people who voted for us. Thats got to be our focus, each and every day. The caucus meeting ended with 15 members of the Right faction and 15 from the Left being named to the ministry, increasing the Lefts numbers by a single position to reflect its success in winning seats at the election. This forced the Right to sacrifice one of its places in the 30 positions in the ministry, while Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and his supporters argued successfully for their state group within the Right should gain more ministerial posts.

The caucus chose Victorian Right members Sam Rae and Daniel Mulino as the new members of the ministry, while the Left faction chose Victorian senator Jess Walsh as an incoming minister. While the caucus elects the candidates for the ministry, Albanese allocates their portfolios and chooses most of those who enter cabinet. One caucus member countered the criticism from Keating by noting the former prime minister had wielded the numbers of the Right faction in his time in power and knew the way faction agreements decided the ministry. Some Labor caucus members criticised Marles for insisting on the changes, at the cost of two cabinet ministers, but his supporters argued that he was right to restore the quota of Victorian ministers to reflect the states numbers in the caucus. The case against Dreyfus, said those who were loyal to Marles, was that the party needed to promote new ministers.

The Victorians said the NSW Right should take responsibility for the removal of Husic because the numbers in caucus made it clear one of their number would have to step down. If it was not Husic, they said, it would have to be other members of the NSW Right such as Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Energy Minister Chris Bowen or Education Minister Jason Clare. There was no suggestion that the two prominent women from the state faction, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland or Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain, should be removed. Loading One Victorian said it was cowardly of the NSW Right to blame Marles and his state colleagues for the removal of Husic when they had to accept the way the numbers in the caucus determined the share of positions in the ministry. MPs are speculating that Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt, a former solicitor, could replace Dreyfus as attorney-general. Other lawyers in the ministry include Resources Minister Madeleine King, Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.


Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi are firming as frontrunners for the Greens leadership, as the party debates whether to shift in a more moderate direction or maintain Adam Bandts confrontational approach for the next term of parliament.

Greens insiders said the party was bracing for its first genuinely competitive leadership ballot after the shock loss of Bandts seat of Melbourne left the party unprepared for a leadership transition.

Larissa Waters, Mehreen Faruqi and Sarah Hanson-Young. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

None of the Greens MPs have declared their candidacy for the vacant leadership position, but allies of Faruqi and Hanson-Young are canvassing colleagues to gauge levels of support.

Queensland senator Larissa Waters is also being urged by many grassroots members to run for the leadership, but it is unclear if she is willing to contest a ballot because of family commitments.
Chaney, a minister in the Fraser government and uncle of the teal independent Kate Chaney, joined the Liberals in 1959 and was an active member until 1995: It was genuinely a broad church and accommodated a broad range of views. But for a long time the moderates in the party have been spineless. The tragedy is that the National Party has become the tail that wags the dog. Kate Chaney with her uncle and former Liberal Party deputy leader Fred Chaney, in 2022. Credit: Bohdan Warchomij He says that he knows families, like his, that were multi-generational Liberal bastions, but today would not even consider voting for the party. The problem is that the Liberals dont like Australia as it is. Australia is not the problem, its the Liberals themselves. The party didnt win a majority of women in any age group, nor a majority of any age cohort under the age of 60. So the Liberals did poorly; Labor did well. Extraordinarily well. Every first-term government since World War II has suffered a net loss of lower house seats when re-elected to a second term. Including Bob Hawkes and John Howards. Albanese gained. Notably, Labor took the opposition leaders seat, another first. Taken together with Albaneses 2023 feat of leading the first government in a century to win a seat from the opposition at a byelection, it must be time to reevaluate the man.

Politically, in manner plebeian, he is royalty. Whatever you say about Albanese, says the political historian Paul Rodin, hes done some important things historically. In only three years. Tony Barry agrees: Winners write history, and hes writing it, and hes got quite a good entry in the history books already. Loading Another of Labors extraordinary accomplishments at the election is that it cut into political territory to its right and left, unseating not only the Liberal leader but also Greens leader Adam Bandt. Its evidence of how firmly Labor conquered the centre. The Greens bragged that their share of the vote was a record high for the party, but in the electorates where they actually held seats  all four of them  voters rejected the Greens MPs in at least three, with the result in the fourth still pending. The seats lost by the Greens all were taken by Labor. Seeking to diminish Albaneses achievement, the Greens acting leader, Nick McKim, says: The prime minister needs to recognise that this was a strong result for Labor in terms of seats, not votes.

Only around one-third of Australians voted for his party, his national primary vote is lower than Mark Latham achieved in 2004, and in many seats Labor only won thanks to Greens preferences. This is all true, but how so? Labors primary vote was 34.7 per cent on the count so far. Thats an increase of 2.1 per cent since the last election. But it used to be orthodoxy that Labor needed a primary vote of 38 to 40 per cent to win a majority. How can such a modest primary produce such a big majority of seats? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressing Labor caucus on Friday morning. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Its a kind of electoral alchemy. In this election, Labor won a primary vote 11 percentage points lower than Bob Hawkes when he was re-elected in 1987. Yet Albanese won a bigger share of the two-party preferred vote and more seats than Hawke did. How? A Labor strategist points to a campaign conducted on two levels. At the national level, Labor had a clear and consistent set of overarching themes, positive and negative. At the local level, Labor ran dozens of distinct campaigns tailored to meet the community where they are. This was six years in the planning, led jointly by Albanese and Labors national secretary, Paul Erickson.

We won seats in inner-city Melbourne and the north-west coast of Tasmania  they couldnt be further apart, says the strategist. Labor took some seats, like Bandts seat of Melbourne, from the Greens and others, like north-west Tasmanias Braddon, from the Liberals, with quite different local campaigns. Apart from the bifurcated structure of the campaign, what were the main strengths of the Labor effort? Its architects nominate its theme of the future, whereas the Coalitions campaign constantly referenced the past. Dutton wanted to know whether you were better off than you were three years ago, while Albanese offered a brighter prospect for the three years ahead. Under the future rubric came all its policy offerings. Loading A Liberal strategist, asked to nominate the reasons for the partys failure, named its feeble, ill-aimed and chaotic effort at policy offerings first and foremost. Everything was left to the last moment. The Liberal next nominated its polling. This misled the campaign. For example, the partys pollsters twice surveyed Duttons seat of Dickson and both times reported that he was ahead by 55 per cent to Labors 45. But when Labor polled the same seat in the campaigns first week, it found that it was effectively at parity with 49.5 per cent and knew it could be won.

Third, the Liberal pointed to Duttons poor image, which contrasted with Albaneses. Fourth came Donald Trump. The impression that Dutton was a Temu Trump hurt the Liberal vote as the US president upturned the global order and sent the sharemarket into downturn. Indeed, the Labor strategist highlighted three moments where Albaneses leadership boosted the partys support. First was his performance during Tropical Cyclone Alfred, contrasting with Duttons flight to a Sydney fundraiser at the time. The other two were times when Trump imposed tariffs on Australian exports. Albaneses responses reassured the country. Albanese and Peter Dutton in one of the leaders debates during the election campaign. Credit: News Corp Australia As the campaign progressed, Albaneses confidence gained. When some of his advisers recommended that he agree to three debates with Dutton, Albanese insisted on doing a fourth. When some around him told him not to risk his lead by appearing at the National Press Club, he did it anyway. The Liberal strategist counted Albaneses confident campaign performances as the fourth decisive factor. And the Greens poor showing? Tony Barry says that they were seen as obstructionist and extremist: Older Labor voters who sometimes vote Greens just went back into Labors arms.
The result of a council election in Melbournes north has been declared void due to ballot-paper rigging, which will send voters to a byelection.

Veteran Labor-aligned councillor Stevan Kozmevski has lost his position on Whittlesea City Council after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) nullified the result in the councils Lalor ward due to attempted and actual interference with the election.

City of Whittlesea councillor Stevan Kozmevski has had his election to the council voided due to vote fraud. It is not alleged he was involved. Credit: Fairfax Media

Kozmevski was successful in Octobers council election with a margin of just 39 votes, but electoral officers later discovered 81 suspicious returned ballots. The interference might have affected the result, VCAT found in its judgment, handed down on Thursday.

Neither VCAT nor the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) have suggested Kozmevski was involved. The perpetrators of the vote-rigging scheme have not been found, despite a police investigation.
The United States has become less trusting of the Russians after the meetings between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, according to Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel.

"You know, this may sound strange, but I think that after the meeting in Rome, perhaps the first posthumous miracle of Pope Francis, the States trust the Russians less, and I think that this is an important step. Also, President Trump, I think, has realized that the Russian parole, parole [words, words] is not what is happening on the ground, and this is an important step, because for three years this has not happened, you know, and there were all these questions and so on, and now there are some final steps," he said during a conversation with journalists in Lviv.

As reported, on April 26, before the funeral of the Pope in Rome, a meeting took place between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.
Hastie was one of the few metropolitan-adjacent Liberals in the country to record a swing towards him on both a primary and two-party basis, at 1.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent, respectively. If the Liberals Matt Moran doesnt win Bullwinkel, Hastie will be the only Liberal presence in metropolitan Perth after the shock loss in Moore to Labors Tom French  making the brands 2028 rebuild in Perth a difficult prospect. The campaign One WA Liberal strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Hasties success came from his prolific doorknocking. Andrew does it consistently over the course of a parliamentary term, so he had a two-year head start on any newly endorsed candidate, they said.

But the former SAS soldier made calculated campaign decisions to ensure those interactions with voters didnt go south while Dutton was on the nose. In the face of Duttons issues and an increasingly bad campaign, Hastie jettisoned mentions of nuclear power, the Liberal leader  and the Liberal Party itself  from much of his campaigning. Hasties opinion was that the moratorium on nuclear power should end, and the free market could decide whether reactors were viable in Australia  not have the government build them. I focused on what mattered in a bad national campaign: my local community. Andrew Hastie The decision to remove Liberal branding from his shirts and billboards along the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway drew interest from WA Labor MPs and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who regularly pointed out Hasties federal campaign absence.

Hasties signage included the slogan: Putting you first. Most people saw the Aussie flag in my signage. Im all about delivering for regular Australians. I wanted them to know our country comes first, Hastie said. We had some Liberal branding elsewhere, but people are rightly sceptical of the major parties. Hastie was only thrust into the national campaign spotlight in the final fortnight, when he announced alongside Dutton that the Coalition would increase defence funding to 3 per cent of GDP. He conceded his presence was light nationally, but maintained he was active in Canning.

I focused on what mattered in a bad national campaign: my local community, he said. Politics is fundamentally a 24/7 contest. We are always trying to out-compete Labor. We made the contest in Canning about local representation, not the national framing that Labor wanted. We campaigned on leadership, competence and delivery because thats what people expect from their elected representatives. And if you dont bring those things, people will sack you. Andrew Hasties Nambeelup smell forum complete with non-Liberal signage. Credit: Facebook/Andrew Hastie Hastie decided to talk about local issues, including the state of WA Healths Peel Health Campus, the housing shortage and road issues.

He even hosted a forum about the smell coming from a piggery and waste disposal centre in Nambeelup, which was attended by about 500 people. The smell in the northern suburbs is a big issue. I couldnt talk national policy on the doors when people were worried about the smell in their noses, he said. This process will continue as I care about the welfare of my constituents. Its simple stuff but easily forgotten in the digital age. The rebuild Hastie also inserted himself into the state Liberal campaigns within his electorate.

It is a decision he said paid off, pointing to huge swings to the Liberals in his area, including new Murray-Wellington MP David Bolt, who rode an 18.9 per cent swing into WA parliament. Hastie said this was about improving the Liberal brand in the state, which has been at rock bottom since the 2021 wipeout that resulted in just two Liberal MPs elected to the lower house. We cant rely on ex-staffers as its such a narrow pool of people. Staffing doesnt teach you to be bold and courageous, either. Andrew Hastie We have to rebuild the Liberal Party at the state and federal levels. Our brand is one. We got smashed in 2021 at the state level, and people saw the Liberals as the losing team, he said. Thats why I worked so hard locally to win back Dawesville and Murray-Wellington, I wanted to prove that we had the will to fight.

The future Loading Hastie praised Labors nurturing of talent and was critical of his partys reliance on ex-staffers to run for office. Labor is very good at growing and holding political talent. They have many Labor people across local government, who learn the skills of public service and build local standing, he said. We cant rely on ex-staffers as its such a narrow pool of people. Staffing doesnt teach you to be bold and courageous, either.

We need regular, common-sense Australians with real-world experience in leadership and problem-solving who are rooted in their local communities. Hastie was considered in the running for Coalition leadership after Saturday, but did not put his name in the hat. I have a young family and a long commute across the country, he said. My youngest daughter, Jemimah, is only three years old. My wife, Ruth, has my back and supports me in politics, as she did when I was in the SAS. Were in this together and have plenty more to give. Plus, Im only 42.
Denny made his fortune selling cars in Europe, before selling up his dealership AAA Autos to Polish private equity firm Abris Capital Partners for $320 million in 2014. He later turned into a property developer as the founder and chief executive of Central Real Capital. His wealth was estimated at $790 million, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year, according to The Australian Financial Review s Rich List.

The 62-year-old has since become a qualified horticulturist, a major backer of ASX-listed crop nutrient play RLF Agtech, and is based in the Central Coast where he is spending more time on his farm.

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My house in Point Piper, which I truly love, is simply too big for my wife and me and we are looking at downsizing to an apartment in Double Bay, hopefully and eventually to one of the future newly built apartments on top of the Intercontinental, Denny told The Sydney Morning Herald. Up until that moment we will purchase an apartment near the water in Double Bay. I am only in Sydney one night a week, and my wife one night a month. Life on the farm in Killcare Heights is simply awesome!

If the property sells, Denny could double his money for it given he only purchased the residence some four years ago for $19.5 million from dentist Le Tran, after reading about the home up for sale in this very column.

The property has a history of well-known owners, including Sevens then-commercial director Bruce McWilliam, who sold it to Dr Tran for $16.1 million. McWilliam purchased it two years prior from investment financier Greg Woolley for $13.65 million.
That was the main thing, while Ive still got a claim, coming to the metropolitan ranks and still being able to use it here. It was always on my mind, whether it was here or Melbourne, to match it with the top jockeys in Australia. And if not, well, Ill take a lot of advice and learning from them, and if I go back up there, Ill be a lot better. McMurray has impressed as an apprentice to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton. Credit: Racing Queensland Im on loan for three months. Then its if I like it, or how its going at the end of those three months, and how Michael thinks were progressing. But obviously, Id love to see a future here. McMurray had his first rides since the move south this week at Kembla (Tuesday), Warwick Farm (Wednesday) and Wyong (Thursday) without a win, and he heads to Gosfords standalone The Coast program on Saturday for two chances.

He partners consistent performer Ritzsun, a $7.50 Sportsbet chance, for Scone trainer Scott Singleton in the third race, a class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m), then Last Command ($12) for his new boss in the next, a benchmark 72 handicap (1600m). Loading From gate six, Last Command is a last start-winner at Kembla and carries just 53.5kg with McMurrays claim. Obviously, theres big support from Mr Freedman, and Ive been very grateful for the horses hes been putting me on and giving me this opportunity here, McMurray said. I actually had a feel of [Last Command] the other day, and he feels well going into it. They both look like nice horses in those races.

McMurray has had an early taste of what its like riding in the elite Sydney ranks, and he said it was definitely a step up and a thrill. All the jockeys know where they are going to be and where youre going to be in the run, he said. Definitely a lot more knowledge here. Theyve been pretty good. They were all very respectful and pretty nice to me. They come up and introduced themselves. Its definitely a big thrill. Even sitting next to Nash [Rawiller] and talking to him, its pretty cool. J-Mac [James McDonald], you obviously look up to him, and a few of them. I watched them on TV even before I started race riding and I loved watching them ride. Pride hoping to be proved wrong

Joe Pride is not expecting Accredited to emulate the feats of his former star Think About It by winning the Takeover Target Stakes and the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap this campaign. But hed be happy if the stellar summer performer proves him wrong. Sydney trainer Joe Pride. Credit: Getty Images The Warwick Farm trainer does believe the five-year-old gelding can strike first-up in the listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Gosford after performing well in two trials. Accredited, which strung together three city wins in the summer, was a $5.50 Sportsbet favourite for the $250,000 sprint, a race Pride has won five times.

With a first-up record of two wins and two placings in four attempts, Accredited has drawn well in gate four and has Alysha Collett to ride at just 53 kilograms. Prides only concern was the Gosford track, which was a Soft 7 on Friday and more showers possible. Accredited will run for Joe Pride on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images Im really happy with him, hes trialled up good, Pride said. He just doesnt like a wet track, so well keep an eye on that, but as long as we dont get any rain into Saturday, we should be right. Pride, who had a winning treble at last Saturdays Hawkesbury standalone meeting, said Accredited was a good chance of going to Queensland to chase more stakes races.
As much as many might wish remote bastions of ancient culture like Mustang to remain untouched, developments such as The Dzong, says Bista, can help preserve local architecture. They also funnel tourist dollars into the region and provide opportunities for youths who over the past several years have been leaving Mustang en masse to chase their fortunes in Kathmandu, India, Japan and the United States. We may like to change our lifestyle these days, says Bista, but religion and culture we have to save. Early next morning we continue our journey through the rugged landscape, passing fields dotted with shaggy pashmina goats and the occasional cluster of blue sheep, curved horns sprouting from their heads like pigtails. Our Jeep swerves around switchbacks, each revealing another craggy cliff face of unfathomable scale reaching into the stark blue sky as vultures circle above. Many of the cliffs have sky caves bored into them, which have been used as burial grounds, meditation caves for monks and monasteries, some since Neolithic times. At the end of an isolated canyon we follow a saffron-robed Buddhist nun up a steep, rickety staircase to one of these. Bowing our heads, we enter the 14th-century Luree cave monastery. Sherpa points her head torch up to the ceiling, illuminating intricate paintings of black, white and ochre flowers, and depictions of Buddhist deities. These were said to have been painted by levitating monks, she whispers. The cliffs and their sky caves. Credit: Later, as we walk through the Kali Gandaki riverbed over hundreds of glittering ammonite fossils, Sherpa tells us how locals believe Mustang became a holy land after the Indian mystic Guru Rinpoche slayed a demoness here. Perhaps its the altitude  were at 3800 metres, after all  but as I stop to listen to the wind slip over the mountains I cant help thinking that floating monks and demonesses really might have played a hand in creating a place as extraordinary as this.

Its late afternoon when we finally arrive in the 600-year-old walled capital of Lo Manthang, which stands like a sturdy but withered elder just 16 kilometres from the Chinese border. Circumambulating the ramparts at sunset, we pass rows of mud-brick homes with roofs stacked with firewood, and age-old monasteries washed red with ochre. Wind-worn, faded prayer flags cast lengthening shadows across the rammed-earth paths as groups of old local women wearing hand-woven striped pangden aprons methodically finger strings of prayer beads. Less romantic sights signal the encroachment of modernity: Coca-Cola in store windows, plastic rubbish scattered in street corners, kids with their heads buried in mobile phones. Its hard to see these and not consider the poignant dilemma inhabitants face in Upper Mustang, like locals in remote regions everywhere, now that access to the region is changing. How to balance progress with preservation? How to cater to the demands of youths who wish to advance their education and career prospects without seeing Mustangs culture and ecology become extinct? Camping in the kingdom. Credit: This question flits through my mind the following dawn as we visit the nomadic camp of a fourth-generation yak-herding family. Pema, age 24, is using a yak wool slingshot to gather the 150-strong herd, while his mother is expertly milking some of the female yaks. Were soon ushered inside the familys yak wool tent to drink Tibetan butter tea. Gathered around the pot-belly stove, they share their difficulties in finding enough grass for the yaks now the climate is changing drastically.

They also talk about their 24-year-old sons desire to leave the pastoral life behind and chase what he sees as progress and opportunity, perhaps by driving Jeeps for Mustangs growing number of tourists. Its Jeep tourists like us, however, that the current prince of Mustang, Jigme Singhi Palbar Bista (the king and prince share the same name), sees as one of the regions biggest issues. We meet him after polishing off lunchtime yak burgers and chai at his luxurious Royal Mustang Resort, set on the edge of town. Softly spoken and impeccably dressed in a white Tibetan tohlay silk shirt, he says that for people dependent on tourism, the new road has meant a total loss of trekkers. He explains that, once, trekkers supported villages along the trail. Its all Jeep safaris now, he says. People have lost business. Still, he hopes the new road will create chances for young people. Because without people I dont think anyone will be interested in visiting empty towns. We spend our final day in Lo Manthang exploring ancient monasteries that house what are said to be the worlds most exquisite Tibetan Buddhist paintings. Inside Thubchen monastery, dating back to 1448, we marvel at fierce images of Mara, the Buddhist deity of desire and death, and gilded figurines that have watched over the monastery since antiquity. At the 16th-century Jampa monastery we find 47 tantric yoga mandalas and a three-floor-high statue of Maitreya, the Buddha to come. Earthquakes, invasions, harsh winters  these monasteries have survived all this, says Sherpa as we make our way back out into the sunlight.

Mustang has certainly endured much over the centuries. Whether it will survive the new road remains to be seen. For now, though, this last bastion of Tibetan culture is less scarred by modern interference than almost any other region on Earth Ive visited. Perhaps now, then, is the time for thoughtful travellers to visit, stay longer and funnel their travel dollars into helping preserve the culture before it all changes too much. Loading THE DETAILS VISIT

Beyul Experiences offers bespoke itineraries for individuals, families and groups to Mustang and throughout Nepal. See beyulexperiences.com

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Singapore Airlines flies daily from Sydney and Melbourne to Kathmandus Tribhuvan airport via Singapore. From there its a 25-minute flight to Pokhara with Yeti Airlines, then an eight-hour drive to Jomsom. See singaporeair.com
What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Rome: There I was, sitting in a quiet corner of Rome, the Vaticans chimney stack just visible in the distance, waiting for the puff of white smoke that would declare a new pope.

It was a moment wrapped in tradition, symbolism and centuries of history  the kind of global story I could have only imagined reporting on. The kind that once lived only in the margins of a high school history textbook, brought to life by a woman named Ms Needham.

A street musician plays a violin outside the SantAngelo castle as the sun sets in Rome on Sunday. Credit: AP

Three and a bit years ago, I left Australia with a suitcase, a passport and a quiet sense of disbelief. I was to cover Europes biggest stories  the politics, the protests, the wars and the wonders. Ive since stood inside a centuries-old chapel as Elizabeth II was laid to rest, and witnessed the pomp of a kings coronation. Ive watched firelit protests engulf Parisian streets, heard air raid sirens in Kyiv and wandered the cobbled corners of Berlin, imagining the wall still looming above.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) which falls under the Fire Department (Ministry of General Affairs) headed by Fire Chief/Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson, is appealing to all residents and businesses to start to prepare for the hurricane season. Do not wait until June 1st or for the last minute to make such preparations.

You have the time now to prepare in a timely manner for what has been described to be an active hurricane season.

The 2025 storm names are: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart.

Listen to the Government Radio station  SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/

Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Be prepared!
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel Brug, proudly extends his full support to the Labor Symposium, taking place from May 13 to 15, 2025, at Port St. Maarten. The Windward Islands Civil Servants Union  Private Sector Union (WICSU-PSU) organized the symposium in collaboration with the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU).

Minister Brug applauds the joint efforts of WICSU-PSU and WITU for hosting this timely initiative, which brings together participants from all sectors of the labor market, including the public sector, private enterprises, semi-public bodies, labor unions, employers, and government agencies.

This symposium is a testament to the importance of constructive dialogue and shared learning across all layers of the labor force. I encourage everyoneworkers and employers aliketo take part in this vital exchange of knowledge and perspectives, said Minister Brug.

The three-day event will feature presentations from legal experts, labor leaders, regional delegates, and institutional representatives. Topics will include labor laws, workers' rights, responsible employment, and building a just future of work.

Space is limited, and Minister Brug strongly encourages those interested in attending, in particular civil servants of the Ministry of VSA to register as soon as possible.

Register by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Ministry of Labor looks forward to the active participation of all stakeholders and congratulates WICSU-PSU and WITU for spearheading this important platform for labor empowerment.
For the first time, Dutch marines are training together with Colombian colleagues on Colombian soil.

The joint military exercise in Turbo lasts three weeks and focuses on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging operational knowledge and experience.

Various scenarios are trained during the exercise, including river operations, amphibious operations and coastal operations.

These are crucial skills within the Marine domain. By training together in the challenging training areas of Colombia, the units increase their deployability under various circumstances. In addition to the Marines, support ship HNLMS Pelikaan also participates in the exercise. For example, she participates in maritime exercises at sea and provides transport for the equipment and the units.

This training offers a unique opportunity to learn from each other, says Major Rik, commander of the Marine Squadron Carib.

We combine our knowledge, improve each others skills and build mutual trust.

The Colombian side is also positive about the cooperation and the exercise.

The exercise is a concrete step in the military partnership between the Netherlands and Colombia. A valuable step in the cooperation in the field of security, training and operational readiness. This ensures the delivery of peace and security in the Caribbean Region.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says that the launch of the legal procedure for establishing the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine will be made in the near future.

"The Putin regime killed 616 and injured over 1,800 children. It deported over 19,000 more children to Russian territory. Mass executions of civilians and inhuman treatment of prisoners of war are also a common trait of the Nazis and racists. Ukraine has recorded over 167,000 crimes of aggression and war crimes committed by Russia. Each of them has its own name. And it is important that these people answer for criminal orders and for their execution. Ukraine is already doing this work," Shmyhal said at a meeting of the Coalition of States to Create a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine on Friday in Lviv.

According to him, to date, 735 people have been suspected of war crimes, 471 cases have been transferred to court, there are 241 verdicts, and suspicions have also been announced against 40 high-ranking Russian officials.

"Thus, 40 countries have joined together in a coalition to create a special tribunal for this purpose within the framework of the Council of Europe. A new Nuremberg for the Kremlin. The main task of the Special Tribunal is to investigate, prosecute and try cases against persons who bear primary responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine," Shmyhal said.

The Prime Minister said a political decision is being made today to approve the work of the legal teams of the coalition member states, and the next step is to launch the legal procedure for creating the tribunal, which will be done in the near future.

"I thank the Dutch government for its willingness to place it in The Hague," he said.

As sources told Interfax-Ukraine, the future special tribunal will be able to investigate cases against the so-called "triple" - Putin-Lavrov-Mishustin  up to the stage of issuing an indictment by the prosecutor. That is, the prosecutor of the tribunal will form an indictment, make a public statement that the " triple" is guilty of committing the crime of aggression, the indictment will be sent to the pre-trial judge and the process will be suspended while the "triple" is in their positions. But as soon as they leave their positions, the trial process will automatically resume. If these people do not physically appear in the dock, the trial will be in absentia.

Alexander Lukashenko and Kim Jong-un will also be in the field of view of the tribunal, but not the Iranian authorities: there is no legal component of the crime of aggression by Iran as such, because aggression is not about the supply of drones and missiles.

The "Twenty" of the top military-political leadership of the Russian Federation - Medvedev, Shoigu, Naryshkin, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, and others  will have no immunities: both investigation and sentencing will be entirely possible.
Taiwan's TSMC reports revenue surge in April



Taipei, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC said Friday that revenue soared in April, after US President Donald Trump's global tariff blitz spurred companies to stock up in case higher levies were in the pipeline.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world's largest contract maker of chips that have become the lifeblood of the global economy, powering everything from smartphones to missiles.

The chipmaker of choice for tech giants Nvidia and Apple reported sales of NT$349.6 billion (US$11.6 billion) for April, up 48.1 percent from a year earlier and 22.2 percent from March.

Trump announced hefty tariffs against America's trade partners on April 2 before pausing them for 90 days, prompting companies in the United States to ramp up imports.

TSMC's sales in March had risen 10 percent on the previous month, Bloomberg News reported.

Revenue in the first four months of the year rose 43.5 percent on-year to NT$1.2 trillion, the company said.

The firm has been in the crosshairs of Trump, who has accused Taiwan of stealing the US chip industry.

There had been hopes TSMC's plan to invest an additional US$100 billion in the United States would shield Taiwan from new tariffs.

Trump still imposed a 32 percent duty on Taiwanese imports as part of his sweeping tariffs, but excluded semiconductors.

Washington has launched "national security" probes into the sector, which could pave the way for levies on semiconductors and chipmaking equipment.

The recent surge of the Taiwan dollar could also pressure TSMC's margins as most of its business is done in US dollars.
US envoy reassures Panamanians about contentious military deal



Panama City, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



The new US ambassador to Panama on Thursday reassured its citizens that an agreement signed by the two countries last month does not permit the return of American military bases.

US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to "take back" control of the Panama Canal from what he calls excessive Chinese influence has caused alarm in the Central American nation.

The agreement signed by Trump's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and President Jose Raul Mulino's administration allows US military personnel to deploy to Panamanian-controlled bases along the canal for training, exercises and "other activities."

"Nowhere" does the agreement "talk about opening military bases," Trump's ambassador, Kevin Cabrera, told a news conference.

This agreement "will strengthen our cooperation against drug trafficking and protect the canal," which the United States built and controlled until 1999, he added.

The recent deal has sparked protests from Panamanians who oppose any perceived infringement of their country's sovereignty after a 1989 US invasion to depose then-leader General Manuel Noriega.

Cabrera said that "false" information was being spread about the agreement "for political reasons."

Mulino on Thursday ruled out canceling the pact, which he said did not allow "any form" of US military base in his country.

"There is no cession of territory here," he told a news conference.
North Korea leader oversees missile test simulating nuclear counterstrikes



Seoul, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversaw drills that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against Seoul and Washington, state media said Friday, a day after South Korea's military flagged missile tests by Pyongyang that violated sanctions.

Seoul's military said Thursday's tests, which involved "various types" of short-range ballistic missiles, could be linked to the nuclear-armed North's weapons exports to Moscow.

The drills involved a 600-millimetre multilayer rocket system and a tactical ballistic missile, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said.

Detailed trainings on "procedures and processes for rapidly switching over to the nuclear counterattack posture" took place, according to KCNA.

"The goal of the drill was achieved and the reliability of the command and mobilisation system capable of quickly reacting to any nuclear crisis was verified," the news agency added.

Kim earlier this week inspected shell manufacturing at munitions factories, with state media claiming the country's shell output had increased dramatically in recent months.

Pyongyang also recently unveiled a 5,000-ton destroyer-class vessel named Choe Hyon, that analysts say could carry both ship-to-surface and ship-to-air missiles.

Seoul's military said the warship could have involved Russian help, such as technology or funds, possibly in exchange for sending troops to help Moscow in its war in Ukraine.

North Korea confirmed last week for the first time it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war.

Pyongyang and Moscow also recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two neighbours.

Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine, in the region to deter the North.

South Korea's military said in early March that the North fired "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles", the same day Seoul and Washington began a major annual joint military drill known as Freedom Shield.

Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion.
On patrol for jihadists with Mauritania's camel cavalry



Achemime, Mauritania, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



A posse of turban-clad soldiers perched on "ships of the desert" may conjure images of the past but Mauritania's camelback cavalry play a vital role in the fight against jihadism today.

They are the Meharists, heirs to the camel-riding army units founded back in the time when imperialist France ruled the west African nation, who AFP accompanied on patrol for two days.

Kalashnikovs lay slung over the soldiers' shoulders, while a brand new drone sliced through the burning Saharan air in the southeast of the country.

To the east over a porous and at points ill-defined 2,200-kilometre-long (1,370-mile-long) border lies Mali, which along with its Sahel region neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger is riven by violence from jihadist groups.

To tame the immense, mainly desert territory, Mauritania has turned to the dromedary camel -- a handy navigator of sandy terrain which would defeat offroad vehicles.

"The nomadic group can be deployed in very remote or hard-to-reach areas to ensure the state has a presence there," explained National Guard unit commander Colonel Moulaye al-Bashir.

The strategy seems to be bearing some fruit. Mauritania has not suffered a jihadist attack since 2011.



- Saharan 'sedan' -



Until a few years ago the desert riders' unit was in decline, numbering barely 50 men.

Since 2019 it has enjoyed a renaissance. Today, the "Nomad Group" boasts some 150 riders, as well as a herd of 400 camels.

The Meharists have been buoyed by a grant of several million euros from the European Union -- which has an interest in maintaining Mauritania's stability in an otherwise unstable region, one European diplomat told AFP.

On this particular morning, some 15 camelback troops out on exercise made their way between thorny bushes and the dunes.

Guided by instructions bawled into a crackling walkie-talkie, the drill of the day was in how to use their drone to help them spot and arrest a cattle thief.

The riders owe much to the one-humped dromedary, or Arabian camel.

Indefatigable and able to go for several weeks without either eating or drinking, the dromedaries are essentially a Sahara "sedan", joked Lieutenant Colonel Ekar Sidi, who commands the group, which forms part of the National Guard.

From atop his mount, Colonel al-Bashir hailed the "impression of freedom" the dromedaries afford the group of riders.

"For us men of the desert it really is just indispensable -- we use it as a mount, for its milk, its meat."



- 'Bond of trust' -



More than 1,000 kilometres from the capital Nouakchott, in the landlocked region of Hodh Ech Chargui near the Malian border, the Meharists have the task of gathering intelligence.

Hodh Ech Chargui has seen waves of people cross over from Mali, with the Mbera camp currently home to around 140,000 Malian refugees, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

Many more are thought to live beyond the camp perimeter, fleeing both jihadist fighters and the threat of abuse by the Malian army or their Russian mercenary allies.

Much of the region's inhabitants are from nomadic tribes, who crisscross borders towards potential breeding grounds for jihadist recruitment with their herds in tow.

The Meharists' presence is just one way the Mauritanian authorities are hoping to show the nomads that the state is there.

In order to blend in, the mounted group were recruited from among the Bedouin tribes, while the riders attempt to build bridges with the desert's hardy inhabitants.

"By taking care of livestock, tracking down cattle thieves, finding lost animals which are returned to their owners -- this is how the bond of trust was established," explained Colonel al-Bashir.

Brigadier Mbeurik Massoud and his four men had meanwhile just set up camp for the night. Tea was served and a fire lit as the relative nighttime cool settled over the Sahara.

Massoud has been patrolling the region since joining the guard in 1989.

"We have come to inform the population of what is happening at the level of the state. We give them treatment and provide medicine," said Colonel al-Bashir.



- Control water, control the desert -



Those wishing to cross the desert must do so along a series of wells built by the Mauritanian government at key points along the Meharists' patrol routes.

"Whoever controls the water points controls the desert," mused Colonel al-Bashir.

Besides making it easier for the state and locals to track those attempting to make their way into Mauritania from Mali, the wells have also encouraged nomadic populations to settle down.

During the inspection of one desert water tower, project engineer Adama Diallo proudly noted that "in 2017, there was not even a hut".

"Today, there are 50 to 60 families. That's an achievement," he said.

Three months ago the government built a small medical facility, saving its inhabitants the several-hundred-kilometre trek to the nearest town.

For life can be tough for the Bedouin who call these sandstorm-battered plateaux home, where temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

"Here, it is a long way from the main roads -- we have no network, no cars, no shops," lamented one local, Boddeh Woul Cheikd, a woman in her 50s, her face veiled.

With Mauritania maintaining an ever-watchful eye on its citizens, the country's success in fighting jihadism cannot be attributed to the dromedary riders' presence alone, nor to development projects in its desert regions.

Yet other Sahel countries, including unrest-hit Chad and Niger, appear to have taken a keen interest in the Mauritanian approach.

Colonel al-Bashir said he hopes to soon train other Meharist units in the area and spread the joy of the "Mauritanian experience" in the camel's saddle.
UAE denies supplying Chinese weapons to Sudan paramilitaries



Dubai, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



The United Arab Emirates on Friday denied an Amnesty International report accusing it of providing Chinese-made weapons to Sudanese paramilitary forces at war with the regular army.

"The UAE strongly rejects the suggestion that it is supplying weaponry to any party involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan," said Salem Aljaberi, the UAE's assistant minister for security and military affairs.

"These claims are baseless and lack substantiated evidence," he said in a statement posted on the foreign ministry's X account.

On Thursday, Amnesty said it identified "Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers" through analysis of footage of attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Khartoum and Darfur.

The London-based human rights group said the UAE was the only country to import howitzers from China, in a deal in 2019.

It relied on data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute for its report.

"The howitzer referenced in the report is a system manufactured outside the UAE and has been available on the international market for nearly a decade," Aljaberi said, labelling the Amnesty report as "misleading".

"The assertion that only one country has procured or transferred this system is invalid," he added.

Amnesty's report came as the RSF pressed its long-range drone attacks on army-held cities in Sudan.

Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied arming the RSF, despite reports from UN experts, US politicians and international organisations.

On Tuesday, the army-aligned government severed ties with the UAE, accusing it of supplying the RSF with the advanced weapons systems it has used to strike Port Sudan.

The UAE denied the allegation, saying the internationally recognised administration "does not represent the legitimate government of Sudan".

aya/dv
US, Iran to hold new nuclear talks Sunday in Oman



Washington, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear talks Sunday in Oman, officials said, just ahead of a visit to the region by President Donald Trump.

Trump, who will visit three other Gulf Arab monarchies, has voiced hope for reaching a deal with Tehran to avert an Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear program that could ignite a wider war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Oman, which has been mediating, had proposed Sunday as the date and both sides had accepted.

"Negotiations are moving ahead and naturally, the more we advance, the more consultations we have, and the more time the delegations need to examine the issues," he said in a video carried by Iranian media.

"But what's important is that we are moving forward so that we gradually get into the details," Araghchi said.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's friend who has served as his globe-trotting negotiator, will take part in the talks, the fourth since Trump returned to the White House, according to a source familiar with arrangements.

"As in the past, we expect both direct and indirect discussions," the person said on condition of anonymity.

The two sides had voiced optimism after the previous talks, which they said took place in a friendly atmosphere, but they are not believed to have gone into technical detail, and basic questions remain.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Iran give up all uranium enrichment, even for civilian purposes. Witkoff initially voiced more flexibility before backtracking.

The Trump administration has also kept piling on sanctions despite the talks, angering Iran.

Trump in his first term withdrew from a nuclear agreement with Tehran negotiated by president Barack Obama.

Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran including trying to stop all other countries from buying Iranian oil.
Israel vows forceful response after Yemen missile intercepted



Jerusalem, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



Israel's defence minister vowed a forceful response after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted on Friday, in an attack claimed by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

"The Huthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As we promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X.

Earlier, Israel's military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, and AFP journalists reported explosions heard in the Jerusalem area.

In a statement, the Huthis, who control vast swathes of Yemen including the capital Sanaa, claimed responsibility for the missile launch.

They said they had targeted Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

Friday's launch comes after attacks by the Huthis including a strike near Israel's main airport on Sunday, in a rare missile attack that penetrated the country's air defences.

The Israeli military said Friday that "a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted" after air raid sirens sounded in several areas.

As a result, a flight from Larnaca in Cyprus had to delay its landing at Ben Gurion, airport authorities said.

"Everything is back to normal," an airport spokeswoman told AFP.

Yemen's Huthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians, have launched repeated attacks on Israel and on Red Sea shipping since shortly after the October 2023 war began between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Last Sunday's missile struck in the area of the airport, gouging a large crater near the main terminal building and injuring several people.

Israel retaliated by attacking the airport in Sanaa on Tuesday, and also hit three nearby power stations.

The Israeli strikes, which disabled the airport, followed a US bombing campaign in response to Huthi threats to renew their attacks on shipping in the region.

The United States and the Huthis reached a ceasefire agreement later on Tuesday, with mediator Oman announcing the deal to ensure "freedom of navigation" in the Red Sea.

But the Huthis vowed to continue targeting Israel and Israeli ships in the key waterway, saying that their deal with Washington does not include Israel.
US, Iran to hold new nuclear talks on eve of Trump travel



Washington, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear talks Sunday in Oman, officials said, just ahead of a visit to the region by President Donald Trump.

Trump, who will visit three other Gulf Arab monarchies next week, has voiced hope for reaching a deal with Tehran to avert an Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear program that could ignite a wider war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Oman, which has been mediating, had proposed Sunday as the date and both sides had accepted.

"Negotiations are moving ahead and naturally, the more we advance, the more consultations we have, and the more time the delegations need to examine the issues," he said in a video carried by Iranian media.

"But what's important is that we are moving forward so that we gradually get into the details," Araghchi said.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's friend who has served as his globe-trotting negotiator, will take part in the talks, the fourth since Trump returned to the White House, according to a source familiar with arrangements.

"As in the past, we expect both direct and indirect discussions," the person said on condition of anonymity.

Iranian and US representatives voiced optimism after the previous talks that took place in Oman and Rome, saying there was a friendly atmosphere despite the two countries' four decades of enmity.

But the two sides are not believed to have gone into technical detail, and basic questions remain.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Iran give up all uranium enrichment, even for civilian purposes. He has instead raised the possibility of Iran importing enriched uranium for any civilian energy.

Witkoff initially voiced more flexibility before backtracking.



- 'Blow 'em up nicely' -



Trump himself has acknowledged tensions in his policy on Iran, saying at the start of his second term that hawkish advisors were pushing him to step up pressure reluctantly.

In an interview Thursday, Trump said he wanted "total verification" that Iran's contested nuclear work is shut down but through diplomacy.

"I'd much rather make a deal" than see military action, Trump told the conservative radio Hugh Hewitt.

"There are only two alternatives -- blow 'em up nicely or blow 'em up viciously," Trump said.

Trump in his first term withdrew from a nuclear agreement with Tehran negotiated by former president Barack Obama that allowed Iran to enrich uranium at low levels that could be used only for civilian purposes.

Many Iran watchers doubted that Iran would ever voluntarily dismantle its entire nuclear program and give up all enrichment.

But Iran has found itself in a weaker place over the past year. Israel has decimated Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia backed by Iran that could launch a counter-attack in any war, and Iran's main ally in the Arab world, Syria's Bashar al-Assad, was toppled in December.

Israel also struck Iranian air defenses as the two countries came openly to blows in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, which is also supported by Iran's clerical state.

The Trump administration has kept piling on sanctions despite the talks, angering Iran. On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on another refinery in China, the main market for Iranian oil.

Since Trump's withdrawal from the Obama-era deal, the United States has used its power to try to stop all other countries from buying Iranian oil.
Russian soldiers in Equatorial Guinea mark WWII victory



Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



Russian military personnel stationed in Equatorial Guinea took part in demonstrations on Friday in Malabo to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.

Their presence in the small Spanish-speaking central African nation stems from military agreements passed last year to deploy Russian "instructors" for training purposes.

But no training sessions have yet been organised since the first contingent arrived in August 2024, according to military sources.

In front of dignitaries on the seafront of Equatorial Guinea's capital, the Russian soldiers performed "a series of military exercises with blank ammunition and an exhibition of military equipment", Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue wrote on X.

Soldiers from both countries also paid tribute to Russian soldiers who died during World War II by laying wreaths of flowers.

"We are very pleased with the excellent services provided by the Russian military personnel in our country," said Candido Nkogo Engono, Equatorial Guinea's deputy defence minister, at a ceremony where senior local troops who were trained in Russia were decorated.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea with an iron fist for 45 years, was among leaders invited to a military parade in Moscow by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Security sources contacted by AFP said that foreign paramilitaries, estimated at around 300, were still bringing in material, weapons and vehicles to Equatorial Guinea.

At the end of April, the country's vice president denied that Russian mercenaries were in Equatorial Guinea, or that local troops had been deployed to Russia to fight in Ukraine.
Young people return to hometowns to boost rural development

People's Daily Online) 16:27, May 08, 2025

Full revitalization of rural areas is not only the responsibility of youth but also an opportunity for them.

Through promoting agricultural products via short videos, preserving traditional craftsmanship, and advancing modern agricultural techniques, young people are demonstrating deep affection for rural development and acquiring the skills to contribute to it. They are becoming a vital force in driving rural progress.

Li Qiang checks fungus-growing bags in a black fungus greenhouse in Jiandong village, Funing town, Suifenhe city, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Photo/Zhang Chao)

Li Qiang is a 33-year-old black fungus (wood ear mushroom) farmer in Jiandong village, Funing town, Suifenhe city, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. His cultivation base is equipped with temperature and humidity sensors, and monitors that receive meteorological data, all of which can be monitored via his smartphone.

When Li graduated from college eight years ago, he gave up urban career opportunities and returned to his hometown to grow black fungi. During the day, he learned techniques from experienced farmers, while at night, he acquired agricultural knowledge through short videos. One day, a video about Internet of Things-assisted farming inspired him to embrace the digital transformation of black fungus cultivation.

Li visited the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Northeast Forestry University to seek expert guidance and invested his own funds in buying sensors for experiments.

During a late spring cold snap, the sensor-based intelligent technology he installed detected low temperatures, automatically activating the heating system of his smart greenhouses and saving all his fungus-growing bags there, while traditional greenhouses suffered a 30 percent loss.

In 2022, Li introduced and promoted the cultivation of selenium-enriched black fungi. At harvest time, his selenium-enriched black fungi contained three times the selenium of ordinary varieties, leading to a 20 percent price premium.

Today, his cultivation base helps 33 neighboring households increase their annual income by an average of 42,000 yuan ($5,819.55).

Photo shows Shen Zhidan (C) peeling lotus seeds with villagers in Wuyishan city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (File photo)

Shen Zhidan, a vlogger born after 1985 from Wuyishan city in southeast China's Fujian Province, has promoted specialty products from her hometown via videos.

In early 2018, Shen returned to her hometown in Yangzhuang township and began sharing rural life on short video platforms.

"Initially, I just wanted to capture local food, scenery, and document daily life," Shen said. Surprisingly, her authentic portrayal of rural living attracted wide attention, bringing visibility to her hometown's specialty products.

"I never expected that making videos would help sell our local goods," Shen said. She then purchased sweet potato chips, fermented bean curd, chili sauce, tea, and other products from nearby farmers, showcasing the complete production process in her videos.

After forming a professional team in late 2020 and establishing tea and food brands in 2021, Shen invested in building a standardized agricultural product processing facility, and actively collaborated with rural cooperatives, which manage planting, breeding, procurement, and processing according to specific requirements.

"Recently, we signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a research institute of the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences to strengthen quality control throughout the production process and ensure product quality," Shen said.

Currently, Shen and her team have launched more than 50 specialty agricultural products. This year, she began distributing sweet potato seedlings and goose chicks to surrounding farmers free of charge, while committing to purchase their products at above-market prices.

"Our newly built goose processing factory is about to start production, with an expected annual output of 200,000 geese," Shen said.

Over the past three years, Shen's team has achieved a 300 percent increase in brand sales, while helping more villagers boost their incomes.

Shen has also been invited to conduct public welfare training for rural livestreamers across various regions, having trained approximately 1,000 individuals.

Photo shows Yukangkan showcasing a piece of handmade Dai paper in Manzhao village, Menghai county, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (File photo)

At an educational tour base in Manzhao village, Menghai county, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, more than 10 primary school students gathered around Yukangkan, a post-90s inheritor of the Dai papermaking craft, to observe the process with curiosity.

The Dai papermaking art has a history spanning over 800 years in the village. Her father is a provincial-level inheritor of the traditional craft.

In 2020, Yukangkan returned to Manzhao village and established a company, aiming to revitalize the traditional craftsmanship.

"We bought equipment not to replace manual work, but to overcome the limitations of traditional techniques. Previously, Dai paper had limited colors, but now we can create intricate patterns on the paper by adding natural dyes and fresh flower petals and using laser marking and gold stamping technologies," she said.

Under Yukangkan's leadership, the village has developed over 60 products, including packaging paper, handbags, gift boxes, fans, lighting fixtures, and decorative paintings, opening a new chapter for the traditional Dai papermaking craft.

In recent two years, the village's annual Dai paper production has exceeded 10 million sheets, with the village's annual income surpassing 10 million yuan.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
LONDON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. Under the theme "Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space," the event featured eight hands-on workshops highlighting various aspects of Chinese culture, including characters, calligraphy, poetry, martial arts, and opera facial masks. The activities also blended both traditional and modern elements, ranging from woodblock printing to VR experiences. "Chinese is a challenging language to learn but also incredibly fun and exciting. It has also helped me understand the Chinese culture, which is quite different from the cultures I've experienced before," said Noah Eskinazi-Nehme, a student from City of London School who has been studying Chinese for almost two years and celebrates the Spring Festival every year. He added that he hopes to visit China one day to further improve his language skills while exploring the country's diverse landscapes and seeing the pandas. He also expressed hope that his future career choice will keep him "connected to China" throughout his life. Alongside the workshops, students also performed Chinese songs, posed for photos with a panda mascot, and received souvenirs. Patrick Adamson, deputy headteacher of Calday Grange Grammar School, said that learning Chinese has enabled students to "engage with China not as a concept, but as a living, dynamic culture" and to "foster curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for global perspectives." "We are preparing a generation not just to speak Mandarin, but to speak across borders, to listen across cultures, and to lead with understanding," he noted. "Language serves as a means for exchanging ideas and a bridge for mutual understanding," said Zhao Fei, minister of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. He described mastering Chinese as "holding a magic key that bridges the past and present," adding that it allows students to "traverse time, explore China's 5,000 years of civilization, understand its current progress, and get a view of its future." Established by the United Nations, International Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity.
Macron expects 30-day ceasefire from Russia after talks with Trump, warns of firm response if this does not happen

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelMacron

French President Emmanuel Macron reported several conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump on the evening of May 8, during which he welcomed his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as did his British and northern partners on the morning of Friday, May 9.

"Ukraine has already expressed its support for such a ceasefire nearly two months ago. I now expect Russia to do the same," Macron said on the X social network.

He said all partners must work to achieve this goal without delays, false pretexts or delaying tactics.

"Failing to do so [by Russia], we are ready to respond firmly, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States," the French president said.

The call on the evening of May 8 with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding a 30-day ceasefire were also previously reported by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who held them during a dinner for the leaders of the member countries of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

"We discussed the situation in Ukraine and the prospects for a 30-day ceasefire. Things are moving," Stubb said on the Xsocial network.

The JEF is a coalition led by the United Kingdom, consisting of ten countries: Great Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.

In addition, the conversation with the U.S. President was also held by the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to its results, he reported that both insist on a 30-day ceasefire, which should initiate peace talks, otherwise even tougher sanctions await Russia.

As reported, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced a meeting with the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on Saturday, May 10.




Spoilers ahead!





Wow!





Just wow!





9-1-1 is just unpredictable quality-wise. After last weeks episode left a sour taste in my mouth, I was prepared to see tonights episode continue the trainwreck. This didnt happen, Im happy to say. Dont Drink the Water is so good that I almost believe this show can find a new way again. Im still mad about Bobby, though  I still dont like their recent poor choices, not only in the way he died but also how his funeral (and his sendoff) were a secondary thing in the episode supposed to deal with the aftermath of it all. Anyway, I still hope hes returning  the thing about his body being held for weeks, the way a last-minute twist in the finale about Bobby being alive could set up new storylines for the next season without undoing all the changes proposed here I digress. But if I think theres still hope for 9-1-1, Dont Drink the Water is the one to blame.





Theres so much happening here, and everythings interesting, and everyone is involved. And when I say everyone, it is literally everyone  the ensemble is finally showing up for the ensemble show. We see Hen and Karen talking to Eddie, which is great  Ive waited for an interaction between them for years, a scene thats been long overdue, not only between Hen and Eddie, but also between Karen and Eddie, so seeing the three of them together having a conversation was so special.





Don't Drink the Water  9-1-1. Pictured: Tracie Thoms as Karen, Angela Bassett as Athena. Photo: Christopher Willard /ABC  2025 Disney. All rights reserved.







Speaking of Karen, she also has a solo scene with Athena  and its a great one, as it showcases how this story has been about a found family from the beginning, now that Athena is resentful of Chimney and can barely stay in the same room as him. Its a great conflict, because Athena and Chim are Hens best friends, and with them at odds, Hen is in this awful place  thus Karen's intervention. I love Karen, and I love Tracie Thoms  it was great to see her in such interesting scenes with Aisha, Ryan, and Angela.





Buck and Eddie are also dealing with their grief in their own ways  while Buck is trying to be there for everyone, he also tries to find comfort in religion, maybe looking for a sign from Bobby. Meanwhile, Eddie feels guilty because he was not there for Bobbys last emergency  we see a quick flashback from when Eddie took the call about Bobbys death, and its heartbreaking. Amid their pains, theres something else between Buck and Eddie, and its a job offer Eddie received from the Texas firehouse. Eddie hides this news from Buck, but Buck discovers it anyway, and they fight in the middle of their kitchen in a breathtaking scene.





This leads to a beautiful reconciliation later, with Eddie bringing Christopher and Aunt Pepa to lift Bucks spirit. Watching Chris and Bucks reunion was one of the things I was most excited to see this season, and it was just lovely to have them finally reunited, especially with Pepa by their side, having a nice heart-to-heart with Buck later.





Don't Drink the Water  9-1-1. Pictured: Ryan Guzman as Eddie. Photo: Christopher Willard /ABC  2025 Disney. All rights reserved.





Finally, Hen thinks about the possibility of becoming the new Captain of the 118 (and thats something she discusses with both Athena and Chim), Chimney and Maddie are getting ready to have their second child, and Athena, Harry, and May discuss some things about the house Athenas finishing. Have I mentioned this episode also has some emergencies, and it also has Athena returning to work on a silly case that quickly becomes something much darker?





Im amazed  there are great episodes in these more recent seasons, but this episode reminds a lot of the great good times during seasons 2 and 3, when they could write episodes that had everything, multiple characters from the main cast being greatly developed at the same time, crazy emergencies, whimsy, comedy, drama This is almost like a return to form, and putting this right after whatever 816 was is mind-blowing. It feels like a different show. Kudos to writers Molly Green and James Leffler, they did great! Important plus: this episode features only a few moments of Bobby onscreen, but everything here is about him. Gone, but not forgotten; this time, we get to see the multiple ways grief can manifest for different people, and its actually great.





Anyway, this episode also deals with an earthquake that makes water become fire (to put it real simple), and everything ends with an explosion in the building Athena had just left after dealing with her case of the week, setting up a big emergency for the finale. I will keep my thoughts to my post-finale review, but Ill leave some of my initial theories regarding how everything can go.





I think theyre teasing two captain possibilities at the moment, Hen, whos been explicitly considered (but she doesnt want it), and maybe Buck, because of how hes the one who received the mission to take care of the others from Bobby. Yet, I think Chimney is a strong possibility too, perhaps the strongest, especially with how this episode sets the conflict between Athena and him. They could make amends, and maybe Athena could give him her blessing. I could see it happening.





I still havent given up on Bobby being alive, Im waiting until the last scene of the finale, just to be sure. I wouldnt be like this for any other show, but after all these years we all know that this firefighter show could definitely stage a fake death for some episodes, then set up some sort of Bobby Lives Again for the next season opening. I might be wrong, and depending on how everything goes in the finale, Im still unsure about coming back for season 9, but I cant lie, tonight gave me hope that everything will be okay despite whatever happened a few weeks ago.




I know people along the way were urging me to walk away, to descend in a different kind of relationship. We didnt. We did the hard yards. We stayed in the room. Im really pleased to say to the workforce here and through them to the country, how important I think this deal is, Sir Keir said following the deal.
With films glitziest event of the year fast-approaching and the official selection now confirmed, film buffs and industry insiders have already started to speculate on this years big hitters and talking points. For 2025, iconic French actor Juliette Binoche is assuming the head of the jury and will lead the panel of experts as they decide which of the 19 films in competition will take home awards.
Chuck McGee, sales agent at Savills French Riviera, says: Roc Fleuri is undoubtedly the most desirable property in Nice right now and always has been  the sheer size and proportions of the villa, its rich history and the location just above the waterline puts it in a category of its own.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RossForNorthCarolina

The vast majority of the US Congress believes in Ukraine's fight, despite what you see in the media, said US Congresswoman Deborah Ross.

She said during the 17th annual Kyiv forum dubbed "UA: Unite Again to Defeat the Global Aggressor," organized by Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Open Ukraine Foundation, that she joins with a very clear message: despite what you may read in the news, despite what you may hear from our president, a clear, decisive majority in Congress believes in your fight. She promised that the USA will stand with Ukraine from now until the day Ukraine declares victory.

Ross stressed that if aggression is not combated, Putin's ambitions will not stop in Ukraine, because his goal is the return of the hegemony of the former USSR. Ross also recalled the large-scale disinformation campaign spread across Europe.

Ross is convinced that the future of Europe is now under threat and the West cannot allow Russia to change the borders of Ukraine. According to her, they must create the strongest shield to protect the independence of Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, and the Baltic states.

She stressed that appeasing the aggressor does not work and that it compromises the security of the entire world and costs many lives.
Criminal damage carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment depending on the value of the damage, but may be greater if the offence is found to be aggravated.
The agency said the charges follow an investigation into attempts to smuggle millions of pounds out of the UK in lorries. On June 21 last year, Border Force agents seized 950,000 from a vehicle at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone.
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An inner London restaurant owner, speaking anonymously, told the Standard: Look, what do you do? There is a shortage of [British] people who want to take these jobs. Your costs for rent, business rates and taxes are all going up. You have some people come along who want to work, and work hard, who are grateful for the job and you can save a bit on the labour costs. Its not something I would ever do, but I can see why some choose to take the risk.
And the lesson today that needs to be fully understood, and is accepted by all of us I think, or many of us, that if we want peace in our time and in the future we can never again take our eye off the importance of deterrents, particularly as potential adversaries arm themselves to the teeth.
"My local authority has not labeled the fathers who are MPs in my borough in the same way, but it argues that it must retain this data by use of Section 47 of the Children's Act regarding children who might reasonably be at risk of harm from an individual.
The vast majority of the US Congress believes in Ukraine's fight, despite what you see in the media, said US Congresswoman Deborah Ross.

She said during the 17th annual Kyiv forum dubbed "UA: Unite Again to Defeat the Global Aggressor," organized by Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Open Ukraine Foundation, that she joins with a very clear message: despite what you may read in the news, despite what you may hear from our president, a clear, decisive majority in Congress believes in your fight. She promised that the USA will stand with Ukraine from now until the day Ukraine declares victory.

Ross stressed that if aggression is not combated, Putin's ambitions will not stop in Ukraine, because his goal is the return of the hegemony of the former USSR. Ross also recalled the large-scale disinformation campaign spread across Europe.

Ross is convinced that the future of Europe is now under threat and the West cannot allow Russia to change the borders of Ukraine. According to her, they must create the strongest shield to protect the independence of Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, and the Baltic states.

She stressed that appeasing the aggressor does not work and that it compromises the security of the entire world and costs many lives.
The Prime Minister and newly appointed German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul discussed strengthening economic and defense cooperation, investment prospects and Ukraine's European integration aspirations, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine reported.

On May 9, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with newly appointed German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Lviv to discuss economic and defense cooperation, says a message posted on the government website on Friday.

It is reported that the meeting focused on the current situation on the front. Shmyhal stressed the importance of increasing sanctions pressure on Russia to force it to cease fire and expressed hope for the speedy adoption of the 17th EU sanctions package.

The meeting also focused on the prospects for investment in Ukraine, which offers significant business opportunities. Denys Shmyhal expressed hope that German companies would actively participate in the process of restoring and developing our country after the war. He also thanked German businesses that continue to operate in Ukraine, supporting our economy.

The two sides also touched upon Ukraine's European integration aspirations and reforms on the path to full EU membership, the prime minister stressed.

Separately, Shmyhal thanked the German people for their solidarity with Ukraine and for their military, financial and humanitarian assistance.
Interfax-Ukraine to host discussion Ukraine in coordinate system of new world order

On Monday, May 12, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion on the topic "Ukraine in coordinate system of new world order."

Participants: political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; political scientist, co-founder of the National Platform of Resilience and Cohesion Oleh Sahakian; political observer Leonid Shvets (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards.
Online platforms and online search engines can be used to create Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated content by providing users with the interface to the standard tool, once they are used, if they are used. generated by aviation technology, said in a press release to the National Communications Administration and Regulatory Authority (ANCOM), broadcast on Friday AGERPRES.

"First before imposing an online content generated and manipulated with artificial intelligence (AI), which is not clearly labeled, this report would be reported on the online platform where it was published. A deepfake would be used to generate AI-generated material. if the distinct parts that were created were artificially manipulated, first labeled as a result of the AI-generated results would disclose the origin of the artificial salt, you can report me without using this platform directly. (...) In this limited attenuation legacy of generative artificial intelligence, online platforms and online search engines at the service center could be used to create their own AI-generated user interface offerings with standard tools. and the time of use, which would allow you to label the AI-generated connection, adjust the term and the condition of use and ensure that you apply this or high measurement before evaluating it. artificial generative,' the institute notes.

As mentioned earlier, the European Regulation to prevent artificial intelligence defines deepfake as an image or audio content of a video generated by AI manipulation that presents or resembles a person, object, intellectual property or entity. persons false impression is not authentic enough"

"Within the framework of the suppliers of strong online platforms and motorcycles in the risk management associated with the electoral processor, the European Commission has published a riscurilor system the Oriental electoral processor address preventing mitigation riscurilor system the electoral processor address recommends adopting measures to mitigate risk and good practice of marine marine online platforms. In the meantime, the European Commission's Article 5 of the Convention on the Protection of AI, recommends that the online platform apply the Regulation on the Protection of Artificial Intelligence. mentioned in a statement.

In order to inform users of intermediary services, ANCOM has published detailed information after reporting which online platform aspects violate the regulatory general conditions of use.

Last week, the DNSC published a guide on how to identify a deepfake, while the Permanent Electoral Authority (PEA) issued a guide to prevent and fight against disinformation.

ANCOM specifies that the online platform is located under the supervisory authority of the European Commission as the coordinator of the digital service of the country to be established.
Romania is part of the European project and must continue on this path, said interim President Ilie Bolojan on Friday in a message delivered for Europe Day.

"The European Union also stands for values: democracy, the rule of law, freedom, solidarity. Values that give us a stable framework to develop. Without them, we would be much more vulnerable and isolated. Romania is part of this European project, and we must stay on this path. Europe is not something abstract. Europe is us. And our future is directly tied to our ability to stay engaged, informed and responsible," said Bolojan.

He brought to mind the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the founding act of the European Project, "a project of peace, unity and a shared future."

This year also marks 18 years since Romania became a member of the European Union.

"It was one of the most important decisions we made as a country, because since then, Romania has taken real steps toward development, stability, and modernisation. We gained access to investments, to projects that have transformed our communities, to funds that made it possible to modernise hospitals, schools, roads and infrastructure," the interim president said.

He also addressed the younger generations.

"For young people, Europe means much more than the freedom to travel. It means access to quality education anywhere in the Union. It means programmes like Erasmus+, which offer real opportunities for personal and professional growth. It means equal opportunities and the possibility to build your future, here or anywhere in Europe, with respect, safety and guaranteed rights," Bolojan pointed out

The interim president encouraged them to take action

"Dear young people, your voice matters. Through ideas, through involvement, through voting. Not just on Europe Day, but every day. Europe is built every day, and you are the ones who will carry this project forward," concluded Ilie Bolojan.
The Ministry of Energy is insisting on renegotiating the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and postponing the deadline for closing coal-fired power plants, otherwise, this would further increase pressure on prices, Minister Sebastian Burduja wrote Friday on his Facebook page.

"Romania's energy security is non-negotiable. Since the beginning of my term, I have refused to accept the closure of coal-fired units in the absence of equivalent new baseload production capacities. And I have not shut down a single megawatt. On the contrary, we brought Unit 5 of Rovinari, which runs on lignite, back into operation after years of delays. Under the PNRR, by January 1, 2026, we are supposed to close an additional 1,755 MW of coal-fired capacity. For over a year, I have explained to the European Commission that we cannot do this for objective reasons. The gas-fired units meant to replace the coal plants are still in the bidding process, after multiple failed attempts, because gas turbine prices have exploded over the past two years. That's why the Ministry of Energy insists on renegotiating the PNRR and postponing the deadline for closing the coal power plants. With the same PNRR funds, we will actually far exceed the 'green' targets - solar parks, wind farms, and battery storage. As for emissions, we will still meet our goals. Moreover, closing the coal plants would put even more pressure on prices," Burduja noted.

According to the same source, between 2009 and 2022, Romania shut down over 7,000 MW of coal and gas baseload capacity - "the equivalent of ten Cernavoda nuclear reactors."

"That's how we ended up importing during peak consumption times. We import expensively, and ironically, from countries that still produce using coal (Serbia, Bulgaria). What's the logic in that?! EU integration is the best thing Romania has accomplished in recent decades. It put us on the path to development (we have long surpassed Hungary and are catching up to Poland, unthinkable in 1990). We must stay on this path," Sebastian Burduja pointed out.

In the Energy minister's view, it is time for a Smart Deal, and the European Union must listen to the voices of its member states and their citizens, because "it is the voice of reason and logic, beyond the ideology of a 'shock therapy' style Green Deal."
The Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) sent a message on Friday on the occasion of the celebration of Europe Day, in which it reaffirms its commitment to actively contribute to the consolidation of an independent and efficient justice system.

According to a press release of the CSM sent to AGERPRES on Friday, the institution joins the celebration of Europe Day, celebrated annually on May 9, an occasion on which it reaffirms the commitment of the Romanian judicial system to the fundamental European values: democracy, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and respect for human rights and freedoms.

"Europe Day marks an essential moment in the history of our continent, symbolizing the beginning of a period of cooperation, peace and solidarity between nations, fundamental principles for the guarantee of which justice has an essential role," the same source mentions.

The CSM underlines the importance of continuing to strengthen the rule of law and European justice, within a framework of institutional cooperation and professionalism, in which the independence and integrity of magistrates constitute essential guarantees for the protection of citizens' rights and for the proper functioning of the Romanian democratic society.

"On this anniversary day, the Supreme Council of Magistracy sends a message of solidarity with European values and reaffirms its commitment to actively contribute to the strengthening of an independent and efficient justice system, which offers citizens equal and efficient protection of their rights," the CSM said.
The 3rd edition of SpaceFEST, to be attended by world-famous astronauts, will take place between May 9 and 11 on the campus of the National University of Science and Technology of the Politehnica polytechnics university of Bucharest.

The event is organised by Politehnica, through the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, in collaboration with the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA).

At SpaceFEST 2025, the public will have a chance to meet Yi So-yeon, the first person from South Korea to fly to space, and Daniel Michio Tani, a NASA astronaut. These world-renowned professionals will also share their experiences and answer questions from the audience about life in space and challenges of extraterrestrial missions.

Astronaut and biotechnologist Yi So-yeon became a lead astronaut in March 2008. On April 8, 2008, she flew aboard Soyuz TMA-12 and spent about 11 days on the International Space Station, where she conducted a series of scientific experiments.

She is quoted as saying that as a woman in science, she knows how important it is to have role models who inspire young people to follow their dreams, even when the road seems unusual.

Daniel Michio Tani coordinated the 100th mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceFest will feature technology and innovation exhibitions, where attendees will be able to explore the latest aerospace discoveries and inventions, from rockets and satellites to VR and AR technology that transforms the way space is experienced, interactive workshops and flight simulators, rocket launches and robotics demonstrations, and activities for children.

On May 12, a SpaceFEST Gala will take place, as well as a summit at Parliament Palace.
Thursday night's televised debate between George Simion and Nicusor Dan took place in a tense political climate, characterized by a deep polarization of Romanian society, defined as a political struggle between "progressives and sovereignists". In the first round of the May 4 presidential elections, AUR leader Simion won 41% of the vote while Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, got 21%, setting the stage for a decisive round on May 18.

In the debate, the two candidates clashed on key issues such as foreign policy, European integration, the rule of law, administrative reforms and more. Political analyst Bogdan Chirieac, in an intervention on Romania TV, declared the clear winner of the debate, arguing that the latter demonstrated a more coherent and convincing vision for Romania's future

At one point in the debate, George Simion, the AUR candidate, said: "Of course Vladimir Putin should be arrested for war crimes, but I part company with my opponent when he says that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and has no place in Romania".

Nicusor Dan, on the other hand, equalizes Vladimir Putin and the Israeli Prime Minister, making the same mistake as Elena Lasconi before the first round: "It will never happen that President Putin comes to Romania while there is an arrest warrant. We must have a normal relationship with Israel and if the question is about Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Criminal Court decision, no, the answer is the same. It will never happen while there is this decision that Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to Romania".

"This is where we can dot the foreign policy question..."

"If in the first confrontation, in my opinion, the one at BNS, was won by Nicusor Dan, this time I think that George Simion was far, in terms of vision, above Nicusor Dan.

Here we can point out the foreign policy question regarding the possible invitation of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to Romania. Nicusor Dan said that he will not come because he is being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, which has committed an unimaginable abuse against the Israeli Prime Minister and Israel.

George Simion said that if Donald Trump received him, I certainly will. So, this proves more depth in foreign policy now surrounding Romania. This is obvious.

Now, of course, the discussions about infrastructure, about attracting European funds, as we all know - but we can't assimilate this - the president has no direct role in the matter.

He can have a role of influence, as Victor Ponta said. In other words, every morning he should also visit the government. That's a yes. Otherwise, no. The Romanian Government is in charge of these things. It's true that our governments haven't really attracted much in the way of European funds or to develop infrastructure.

George Simion has mellowed since the first meeting. Nicusor Dan, who, in my opinion, seems more thorough in his explanations, has now more played Simion's game. Simion is more frothy, more open, closer to popular language.

The issue of foreign policy, which is strictly a presidential prerogative, was obviously won by George Simion," explained Bogdan Chirieac.


On 8 May, Zhovten Cinema hosted a pre-premiere screening of Artem Shevchenko's documentary "Sea Battle. The Age of Drones". The film reveals new aspects of modern naval warfare, demonstrating the role of unmanned technologies in gaining Ukraine's advantage over the Russian fleet.

The audience saw exclusive footage of Magura combat naval drones in action for the first time, destroying Russian ships, helicopters and aircraft. Participants in the covert operations of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine's Group 13 shared unique details of missions that had previously remained secret.

The film also highlights the development of Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicle fleet and the technological features of Magura drones, in particular the V5 and V7 models, highlighting their contribution to Ukraine's victory.

The documentary is part of the series "Military Intelligence of Ukraine" and was created with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.
King Charles III's cottage in the Saxon village of Viscri is hosting until August 10 the largest exhibition in Romania dedicated to American photographer Lee Miller, a release informs on Friday.

"An exhibition-event dedicated to photographer and war correspondent Lee Miller opened at the King Charles III's House in the Transylvanian village of Viscri, Brasov County. Titled 'Lee Miller's Romania', the exhibition is the most extensive presentation of her work ever organized in Romania and can be visited until August 10, in the property's exhibition barn," the release states.

The photo display organized with the support of Profi Romania brings together 46 images captured during Miller's travels through Romania, from 1938 to 1946. Also showcased are several portraits of personalities such as Queen Mother Elena, along with the young King Mihai I, or iconic statesmen Iuliu Maniu and Dinu Bratianu.

Legendary photographer and surrealists' muse Lee Miller traveled through Romania in 1938 and again in 1946, documenting rural life, forgotten rituals and historical figures captured at key moments for the country's national history. On the first visit she was accompanied by surrealist artist Roland Penrose, folklorist Harry Brauner and artist Lena Constante, and on the second by Life magazine photographer John Phillips.

"We are extremely pleased to host this photographic itinerary through Romania of the 1940s, captured by the exceptional photographer Lee Miller. The exhibition resonates and enriches on multiple levels: from the emotion of rediscovering an authentic, extremely varied and surprising Romania, x-rayed at a historical moment that was key for its subsequent evolution, to the fascination and inspiration sparked by the destiny of this remarkable woman. Lee Miller was a fighter, a woman who broke taboos, lived intensely and who invites us through each frame to look at the world with courage, openness and sincerity," said the exhibition curator Raluca Grigore.

Miller debuted as a model, then moved to the other side of the camera. During WW II she was a war correspondent, documenting the advance of the American army in Europe after the Normandy landings, including the liberation of Paris and the horrors of the Buchenwald and Dachau camps.

"Most of her photos, however, remained unknown until after her death, when her son Antony Penrose and his wife discovered a treasure trove of images and manuscripts hidden in the attic of their house. The images put on show in Viscri are part of these rediscovered works, the subjects being identified with the support of Romanian researchers such as Dr. Adrian-Silvan Ionescu (Institute of Art History), Ioana Popescu (Museum of the Romanian Peasant) and Paula Popoiu ('Dimitrie Gusti' National Village Museum), at the request of Lee Miller Archives," the release states.

Lee Miller's life story recently reached cinema theaters through the biographical film "Lee" released last year, in which she is portrayed by Kate Winslet.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emil Hurezeanu, participated on Friday, in Lviv, at the high-level meeting of the participating states within the core group for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for War Crimes against Ukraine.

According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) sent to AGERPRES, the meeting marked the announcement of the initiation of the process of establishing the Special Tribunal, with the participation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, as well as other European and Ukrainian officials.

On this occasion, the MAE said, Romania's full support for international initiatives aimed at holding accountable all those responsible for the aggression against Ukraine and compensating Ukraine and its citizens for the damages suffered as a result of this war was reconfirmed.

These include participation in the core group for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the War Crimes against Ukraine, the referral of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to the investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by the Russian Federation in the context of the war launched against Ukraine, participation in the Register of Damage Caused by the Russian Federation's Aggression against Ukraine and the negotiation of an international treaty on the establishment of an International Commission for Compensation for Ukraine.

Emil Hurezeanu also participated in the informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States in Lviv, at the invitation of his Ukrainian counterpart.

The Romanian minister drew attention to the fact that "Russia is not really interested in achieving peace, and the EU must continue its efforts to support Ukraine and to keep the US engaged in the peace process in Ukraine".

As to concrete support at the EU level for Ukraine, the head of Romanian diplomacy stressed the importance of implementing the initiative proposed by Kaja Kallas for military support, the need to unlock assistance for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility/EPF and the extension of the mandates of the two EU missions regarding Ukraine: the Assistance Mission (EUAM) and the Military Assistance Mission (EU MAM).

Emil Hurezeanu supported the adoption of the 17th package of restrictive measures against Russia and reiterated the importance of advancing the EU accession negotiations of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
LYNX Festival, Romania's only event dedicated exclusively to nature photography and documentary movies, returns to Brasov between June 4 - 9 with a broad selection of screenings, presentations, photo exhibitions, children's workshops and meetings with international guests, local artists and representatives of environmental NGOs.

A special guest of the 3rd edition of the festival initiated by the Wild Romania Association and the Forona Association is multiple award-winning British cameraman Gavin Thurston who specializes in wildlife and who has worked with Sir David Attenborough for 20 documentaries, including Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II, Our Planet and Human Planet.

Gavin is the winner of five Emmys and two BAFTAs, and has traveled the world for more than 30 years, to the most hidden and inaccessible corners of the planet - including the North and South Poles. He is behind hundreds of stunning images of some of the most valuable and rare animal species, and also penned the book "Journeys into the Wild", where he recounts his experience.

Described as "a collection of enlightening glimpses behind the lens" (Times Literary Supplement) or "a captivating story of a fascinating career", "Journeys into the Wild" has a dedicated slot at the LYNX Festival for the presentation by the author himself.

It is a great honor to be invited to a festival that celebrates wildlife, the art of storytelling and the power of nature to inspire and connect us, so I am looking forward to June to attend the LYNX Festival. As someone who has spent his entire life filming wildlife from around the world, I am delighted to be in a place where wilderness still thrives, and to meet other people who share a deep respect for it. I am looking forward to bringing stories from the field, hearing from nature lovers, fellow filmmakers and environmental NGO professionals, and taking part in what I know will be a passionate and insightful celebration of the natural world, said Thurston.

The program of the 3rd edition of LYNX Festival is a journey around the world, giving viewers the chance to explore the wildlife of Europe, Africa and Asia through documentary films that will be screened for the first time in Romania, including Lions of the Skeleton Coast, a truly amazing story about three orphaned lion cubs who must survive on the deadly Skeleton Coast of Namibia. The documentary directed by Will and Lianne Steenkamp (winners of two Emmy awards) has already collected 13 international awards last year at prestigious festivals (Jackson Wild FF, Wildscreen FF, Nature Namur FF, Cannes Corporate & Media Awards) and earned many other nominations.

From Africa, the audiences will be taken to Asia, more precisely to India, as they are invited to watch an authentic and creative documentary that revives the well-known stories of Rudyard Kipling's characters - Bagheera, Baloo, Kaa and Shere Khan, capturing the real behavior of these animals in the lush landscape of the Indian jungle. The images and stories brought to the screen in The Real Jungle Book (d. Jeremy Hogarth) were filmed for 4 years by a team made up exclusively of local cameramen.

From Europe, filmmaker Asgeir Helgestad pays a magnificent and intimate tribute to the endangered nature of Norway, in A Call From the Wild. From the life of bees on his farm to mountaintop wild reindeer and ocean shore puffins, he presents the beauty of endangered nature and traces the human actions responsible for its decline.

Preceding the LYNX Festival in Brasov will be a special event in Bucharest taking place on May 21 at the "I. L. Caragiale" National University of Theater and Cinematography - specifically a masterclass delivered by the festival's artistic director Dan Dinu for the students of the Image Department, on the making of a nature documentary film.

The moment will be followed by the screening of the documentary Cactus Hotel (dir. Yann Sochaczewski), winner of the 2024 LYNX Festival Trophy, the presentation of this year's full program, the release of the trailer of the festival's current edition, as well as free discussions with the festival organizers.

The Wild Romania Association was founded in 2022 and aims to promote nature conservation and biodiversity through photography and documentary film, with the goal of educating and raising public awareness about nature protection. The association's best-known project is the documentary "Wild Romania", awarded 8 times at national and international festivals, distributed in over 30 countries and watched by 400,000 people in cinema theaters or in special screenings.

FORONA (Organization of Nature Photographers from Romania) was founded in 2015 with the aim of developing and promoting nature photography and supporting the conservation of natural areas by involving members in projects aimed at photographic art and environmental protection. The association includes some of the most well-known and appreciated local photographers, and its over 130 members are involved in various nature conservation projects. The association has so far held 6 national outdoor traveling exhibitions.
The Romanian authorities were not prepared for last year's hybrid war, the independent presidential candidate, Nicusor Dan, stated on Thursday evening, during the debate with his opponent in the race, George Simion, at the Euronews television channel.

The two candidates in the second round of the presidential elections, Nicusor Dan and George Simion (AUR - Alliance for the Union of Romanians), were asked what measures they would take regarding the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns carried out including during the canceled elections in November.

"It is obvious that the Romanian authorities were not prepared for the hybrid war that we saw manifested in the November elections and here there are two important things to do - both on hybrid war and on cybersecurity - 1. the collaboration of the Romanian state with the Romanian companies that are world leaders in the field of cybersecurity, because, as in many other fields, the Romanian state has not turned to specialists and everything follows a routine of the state, which state is not capable of defending itself," said Nicusor Dan.

At the same time, secondly, he evoked the need to appeal to the experience of those from the Republic of Moldova in this regard, but also to collaborate with the EU and NATO.

"We must appeal to the experience of our brothers in the Republic of Moldova, because they were subjected to a hybrid attack in the previous presidential elections and managed to cope, while Romania failed and (...) we also need a collaboration within the European Union and NATO on this issue of hybrid warfare, which concerns both NATO and the European Union," Nicusor Dan also stated.
Romanian entrepreneurs will not remain silent in the face of slippages, and any attempt to move away from European values and Romania's European path will be met with firm opposition from the business community, Romanian Business Leaders said on Friday on the occasion of Europe Day.

"On Europe Day, Romanian entrepreneurs staunchly affirm: We will tolerate no deviation from our European Union membership! (...) In the context of the presidential election when electoral pressure may fuel messages contrary to Romania's European allegiance, we stress that the entrepreneurs will not remain silent in the face of slippages. Romania's future is in a united, free and prosperous Europe. We will tolerate no step back and any attempt to move away from the European values and Romania's European path will be met with firm opposition from the business environment," the cited document states.

The business community reaffirms that Romania's path must remain clearly and irreversibly bound for the EU, for NATO and the OECD, which are all landmarks that define the present and future of a democratic and prosperous Romania.

"The business environment does not fall for the mirage of tax breaks or preferential treatments. What we demand is a solid economy, a balanced state budget, a predictable fiscal climate, but also rule of law, an independent judiciary and institutions that work professionally and transparently. At the same time, all rhetoric that invokes nationalization deals, forced interventions in shareholderships or discriminatory tax measures against multinationals and foreign investors is contrary to Romania's economic interest. Such approaches undermine economic performance, affect investor confidence and will not bring real benefits to Romanian society. Investments follow trust, and trust is not gained through declarations, but through deeds: through real reforms, by combating waste and corruption, by digitalization and by rendering public administration professional," the RBL release emphasizes.

The recent RBL Summit 2025 brought together over 400 entrepreneurs and top leaders from the Romanian business community, and also saw a foundational face-off between presidential candidates Nicusor Dan and George Simion.
Even the Clydesdales enjoy a home with stained glass.

Their stable at the brewery includes colorful windows (out of hoof range), an 1885 amenity that was common in homes, churches and businesses in south St. Louis before World War II.

Its a hallmark of south St. Louis homes, says Aaron Frei, calling the area an unrecognized epicenter of Midwest stained glass.

Frei is president of Emil Frei & Associates, a glass studio based in St. Louis since 1898. He estimates the company has designed stained glass for more than 8,000 churches around the country.

Places of worship are the natural home for stained glass because the pieces deliver messages and stories, he says. In addition, the windows were designed as part of the original architecture of historic churches and some synagogues.

The effect of stained glass cannot be considered aside from the architectural context, he says. The most compelling projects are  typically  those that occupy a beautiful architectural setting.

Secular glass has a more decorative quality, Frei says, admitting his strong preference for sacred windows. Stained glass is entirely dependent on transmitted light, requiring an opening in the shell of the building, he says.

St. Louis history of stained glass counts multiple companies during the late Victorian era and the arts and crafts movement in the early 20th century. The Great Depression and war affected production, but interest seemed to rebound in the midcentury.

Part of the windows early popularity was a feeling that heavy curtains carried germs. The Missouri History Museums historian Andrew Wanko said in a KDHX report: St. Louisans needed an affordable product that let them rip down the dusty curtains, while keeping both their privacy and their hip sense of style. Bathing your home in light filtered through fashionable artwork, stained glass windows were the perfect solution.

And there were plenty of glass makers, he said: They were mass produced by the thousands in block-long factories like Wendling Art Glass Company, Kerwin Ornamental Glass Company, and the Huttig Sash and Door Company. Mail order catalogs full of designs let homeowners custom build their own windows. You could pick the patterns, complexity and all the colors. Some catalogs even advertised that homeowners could send in wallpaper samples for the window makers to color-match.

But one can hardly drop into private homes asking for a tour of their pretty windows. So where to go to admire some of the best? In addition to hundreds of sacred spaces, stained glass can be viewed in other public venues.

With suggestions from Frei; Andrew Weil, president of Landmarks Association; Jacob Preston, owner of Preston Art Glass; Michael Allen, architecture historian; and Andrew Hahn, director of the Campbell House, we offer 10 of the best public examples of stained glass in St. Louis.

There were plenty of other contenders, and these picks are subjective. But really, one can hardly go wrong in a city spoiled for choice.

Here, in no particular order, are 10 favorite works of stained glass that are available for viewing by the public. Do check hours on specific websites for access and to make an appointment if necessary.

Union Station

Almost all suggestions for great stained glass include the graceful window above the staircase in Union Stations Grand Hall. The worlds busiest station when it opened in 1894, its 40-foot window centers on a female figure of St. Louis in the center, as two women face her (San Francisco and New York) in deference. The beautiful glass, attributed to designer Sylvester Annan for the Davis & Chambers Co., reinforces the citys prominence as an important transportation center. The space is now a place to get drinks and food in the evening.

St. Francis de Sales Oratory

Most stained glass aficionados recommend St. Francis de Sales Oratory, nicknamed the Cathedral of South St. Louis. Although the saint Francis de Sales was French, the church was founded by Germans and modeled in the German Gothic style with dramatic arches, carved wood and decorative details. The windows were created by Emil Frei Sr., an immigrant who studied at the Munich School of Arts and Crafts. Some of the words on the windows are in German. The present church was dedicated in 1908, replacing an earlier building destroyed by the tornado of 1896. The church is at Gravois, Ohio and Lynch streets. Several other Catholic sites are worth a look, says Aaron Frei, including St. Cecilia, St. Anthony of Padua and St. John Nepomuck, as well as Epiphany Lutheran.

Cupples House

Zodiac figures, Roman gods and the four seasons are all part of one of the most unusual windows in St. Louis. The Cupples House is a historic house and museum on the campus of St. Louis University and it is worth visiting for many reasons. But its zodiac windows, along with other geometric and fleur-de-lis patterns in stained glass, are worthy alone. Official descriptions say the zodiac windows were based on a design by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones and made by the Reed and Annan firm. At the bottom is a poem by St. Louis poet Eugene Fields written for the house and dated 1889, when the windows were installed. The house is free to enter, but check its website for hours. The Cupples House, 3673 West Pine Mall, is also within walking distance of St. Francis Xavier College Church, known for its superb windows by Emil Frei Jr.

Second Presbyterian Church

Thirteen of the churchs stained-glass windows were made by the Tiffany Co. The church says the style is representative of Louis Comfort Tiffany by using nature, layers of glass and drapery glass for robes that evoke folds with a mix of thick and thin textures. Second Presbyterian, 4501 Westminster Street, even offers tours of the windows by appointment. There are additional works by Cincinnati Church Window Co. and St. Louis Emil Frei studio. All of the windows near the sanctuary date from the early 1900s. Like Union Station and the Cupples House, the building is in the Romanesque Revival style. See also the much admired First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood.

Central Library

Two great windows can be seen in the St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive Street. One honors artes and littera (or arts and literature) and the other poesis and musica (poetry and music). The windows, created by Gorham and Co. of New York, a Tiffany competitor, featured the Tree of Knowledge in one window and Springs of Pegasus in another. They are only part of the glamour of this 1912 Beaux Arts building: Check out frescoes, marble and woodwork, too. To see some of the original windows in another library, the Lewis and Clark branch of the St. Louis County Library, go to the new building in Moline Acres. Images of the explorers and Sacagawea were hung in the space at 9909 Lewis and Clark Boulevard.

More info: slpl.org and slcl.org

Kol Rinah

Jacob Preston says one of his favorite glass creations is in a synagogue, Kol Rinah. Artist Rodney Winfield designed the windows in the 1950s with symbols related to the Ten Commandments for a different space, Shaare Zedek. But the windows, which are 3-D, not flat, are now installed in the Kol Rinah Guller Chapel. The synagogue, interestingly enough, also adapted a former church building, keeping some of its original Frei windows. Their look is not specifically Christian, but all include an image of an open book; the synagogue adapted them by having an artist add Hebrew words referring to Jewish law. Visitors must make an appointment to see the glass, 7701 Maryland Avenue. Another synagogue with notable stained glass is Shaare Emeths contemporary panels by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.

Magnolia Hotel St. Louis (formerly Mayfair Hotel)

Wine, women and song seems to be the theme of the windows in the Magnolia Hotel, 421 North Eighth Street. Oh, and beer. Lots of beer. Figures in glass sit at tables raising their steins, or in other scenes, a men court women with music and goblets. The windows were installed in the historic Mayfair Hotels restaurant in 1933, at the end of prohibition. The Carondelet Historical Society says the glass maker was Jacoby Art Glass Studios, which also did presumably more sober work for churches. Windows are in a room at the front of the hotel and in the hotels rear restaurant (which is closed in between meal times; it is open for dinner from 4-10 p.m.).

St. Marks Episcopal Church

A designated City Landmark, the church in St. Louis Hills is considered the first modern church building in St. Louis. Dedicated in 1939, it includes modern art glass that has Christian symbols along with those of social injustice. Made by the Frei studio, the windows were designed by Robert Harmon. The church is at 4714 Clifton Avenue. Even more contemporary art glass was commission in 2022 by the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City. Artist Cbabi Bayoc shows Jesus as a person of color and Mary Magdalene with a raised fist.

Kraus House/Ebsworth Park

A stained glass artist made his own works for this midcentury home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. One of only five homes in Missouri designed by Wright, it was completed in 1956 after Russell and Ruth Kraus sought the help of the famous American architect. The glass, with its relatively simple, geometric style, complements the architecture of the house and seems to reference Wrights own designs. Ticketed, one-hour tours of the Kirkwood property, 120 North Ballas Road, are available.

Sheldon Concert Hall

Five windows in the Concert Hall were designed by Rodney Winfield and installed by Frei in 2001. Access is often limited to concertgoers, however (although the spaces art galleries are free and have open hours). When they were installed, it was reported in the Post-Dispatch that the title was Theme and Variation, with most of the variation coming from colors. The windows took nine years of planning and cost about $100,000. In addition to St. Louis windows, Winfield is known for the Space Window in the National Cathedral.
Take a drive and visit an area thats new to you, explore and eat, then hop in your car and head back home. We found seven of our favorite nearby destinations, perfect for a daytrip or even a weekend getaway.

Pickle Springs

Less than 10 miles outside of Farmington, theres a natural wonderland called Pickle Springs. This National Natural Landmark is a geological and biological treasure.

On the nearly 2-mile loop Trail Through Time visitors can experience the diverse spectacle of the states geology  rock outcroppings, a double arch, box canyons and waterfalls. Hughes Mountain is a large igneous knob that provides a scenic overview of the surrounding countryside. The moderate level trail, which can take more than an hour to complete, has a few steep sections to reach the Devils Honeycomb rock at the highest point.

Its taken millions of years to create this topography  sandy beaches of an ancient sea turned into Lamotte Sandstone, which was buried under deposits. Over time, erosion carved the tunnels, arches and hoodoos. Plant fossils dating to the Ice Age inhabit the area, along with 250 vascular plant species. Glacial relict species at Pickle Springs include the four-toed salamander, hay-scented fern, large whorled pogonia and ground cedar, all species of conservation concern, as well as rattlesnake plantain and shining clubmoss, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Pickle Springs is adjacent to southwest corner of Hawn State Park, one of the most stunning parks in Missouri and filled with miles of trails worth exploring.

Where: Just south of Highway 32 east of Farmington or west of Interstate 55. Take Highway 67 south to Highway 32 east to Missouri Highway AA and watch for the sign at the gravel road leading to Pickle Springs Natural Area. Its about a 1-hour 15-minute drive from Arnold. Detailed directions at alturl.com/dzdab.

More information: 573-290-5730, Missouri Department of Conservation southeast regional office.

 Aisha Sultan

Springfield, Illinois

Illinois is the Land of Lincoln  it says so right on the license plates. And in Illinois there is nowhere more Lincolny than Springfield.

You can tour the house the Great Emancipator lived in for 16 years  its the only house he owned  and learn more about his life before he became president, and also during his presidency, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. You can see the pew where he and his family worshipped and the tomb that is his final resting place.

If youve had your fill of Lincolniana, Springfield offers plenty more to do. The Dana-Thomas House is a terrific example of Frank Lloyd Wrights Prairie School architecture, and it is filled with the original Wright-designed furniture and light fixtures. The Old State Capitol is being renovated, but the current state Capitol is open for tours. And for a frothy bit of fun, the Ace Sign Co. has its own sign museum with more than 85 signs on display, a significant number of which are neon.

And if you are very, very hungry, try the signature local dish, available at a number of restaurants. The Horseshoe Sandwich is Texas toast covered with meat, cheese sauce, eggs and French fries.

Where: Take Interstate 55 north to Springfield; follow I-55 Business Route into downtown. The Visitors Center is at 1 Old State Capitol Plaza

More info: Springfield Visitors Center, 217-789-2360

 Daniel Neman

Hermann, Missouri

Fresh off the release of A Christmas Vintage (now available on Prime Video, Peacock, Roku and Xumo streaming services), which was filmed in Hermann, the small Missouri town is ready for its closeup.

Hermann is known for wine and its German heritage, and its easy to get a dose of both on a short day trip. Beverage tastings are the biggest draw to the area. Adam Puchta Winery, featured in the movie and a longtime favorite of mine, offers six tastings for $10 and you keep the glass. You may even catch a glimpse of a shop cat or two. Hermanhoff and Stone Hill are two of the biggest wineries in the area and offer beautiful patios on nice days. At Stone Hill, take the tour, which takes you underground to the largest series of arched underground cellars in the U.S. If you are not a wine drinker, the Tin Mill Brewery is in the middle of town, and Copper Mule Distillery and Pickney Bend are just outside of town.

For that taste of Germany, dont miss the Hermann Wurst House, a market and restaurant where you will want to try the bratwurst or grab some to take home. Explore historic German homes at the Deutschheim State Historic Site.

Finish your trip with a fun visit to Doxie Slush, which has an abundant menu of frozen cocktails as well as inventive seafood dishes. Dance the night away with live music at 1837 Cellar Bar, but then at that point you may want to just spend the night.

Where: Hermann is about an hour and half west of downtown St. Louis.

 Amy Bertrand

Murphysboro-Ava

If you visited 17th Street BBQ when it boasted an outpost in the metro east, you know the baby-back ribs rubbed with Magic Dust are worth the two-hour drive south to the original Murphysboro, Illinois, location. Call it a barbecue pilgrimage  and a tribute to 17th Streets late, great pitmaster Mike Mills. Mills daughter Amy now stokes the 17th Street legacy and has expanded its reach, opening the cafe Faye nearby.

Make a day of it in southern Illinois with lunch at 17th Street followed by a visit to Scratch Brewing Co. in Ava, Illinois, about a 20-minute drive from 17th Street. A nationally renowned brewery in a lovely woodsy setting, Scratch brews its beers with locally sourced  sometimes even foraged  ingredients. Dont fill up on too much barbecue at 17th Street. Scratch also bakes pizza and bread in its wood-fired oven. (Hit the ATM before you head to Scratch; the brewery is cash-only.)

Where: 17th Street BBQ, 32 North 17th Street, Murphysboro, Illinois

Where: Scratch Brewing Co., 264 Thompson Road, Ava

 Ian Froeb

Hannibal, Missouri

The folks of Hannibal know why youre there: to see Mark Twain stuff. And they deliver.

Mark Twain is of course the famous humorist who wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, both of which are set in St. Petersburg, Missouri, a thinly veiled Hannibal, Mark Twains birthplace.

The two boys, Tom and Huck, were best friends and visited grave yards, explored caves, painted fences (or got their friends to), and famously drifted down the river on a raft with a runaway slave. You can follow in their footsteps (not drift down the Mississippi on a raft, but the other stuff) in Hannibal.

The first stop should obviously be the Tom and Huck statue. Theyre at the base of the somewhat massive staircase that leads up to the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, which offers a great view of the Mississippi River, where Twain worked for several years as a steamboat captain. (Mark Twain is actually a riverboat term and it indicates the depth of the water (12 feet). Twains real name was Samuel Clemens.)

Make your way down from the Lighthouse to North Street and head to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum Properties. With just one ticket, you can tour Mark Twains boyhood home, the Becky Thatcher House, the Huckleberry Finn House, and the J.M. Clemens Justice of the Peace Office. Theres also an interpretive center and museum gallery.

Now, not all of those people are real, so they couldnt have possibly had houses in Hannibal, but the exhibits explain a lot about the characters and that the houses are based on the fictional homes from St. Petersburg.

Right across from Becky Thatchers house is a fence with a bucket and a brush so you can get a photo of yourself painting a mock up of the famous fence from Tom Sawyer.

When you get tired of Mark Twain, you can hop on a steamboat and tour the Mississippi River or head up to the home and museum for the Unsinkable Molly Brown, a famous Titanic survivor. (Yes, surprisingly, Hannibal has two famous former citizens.) But we also urge you to head to the Mark Twain Cave, a pivotal location in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Where: Take Interstate 64/Highway 40 west to Highway 61 north. The Tom and Huck statue is on North Street near Main Street.

More info: Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau, visithannibal.com, 573-221-2477

 Rosalind Early

Elephant Rocks State Park

Elephant Rocks State Park is usually an add-on when people visit Johnson Shut-Ins, which is about 20 minutes away. But Elephant Rocks is a great destination in its own right and, unlike the Shut-Ins, which typically require some camping trip to explore properly, is great for a day trip.

Nowadays, you can get food (hot dogs, nachos, etc.) at the park itself from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but we recommend a quick stop at Moms, Volpi or Gioias (or another favorite deli) to pick up some sandwiches and drinks for the cooler before heading out.

The park is about 90 minutes away from St. Louis, and what it contains is pretty much in the name, Elephant Rocks. The giant rocks look like the landscape of Mars and offer plenty of Instagram friendly photos and fun spots to climb, play and sit to take in the view.

Even if youre not outdoorsy, Elephant Rocks has an easy, informative trail (theres even an electric seated scooter for people with mobility issues) that will loop you back to the parking lot so youre guaranteed not to get lost. If you have the time and energy, definitely take the extended Engine House Ruins trail to see, well, the ruins of an old railroad engine house and to enjoy more time in the park.

Remember that lunch we told you to pack? If the weather is nice, the park has a ton of picnic tables for you to eat at.

Where: Take Interstate 55 south to Highway 32 west to State Highway N. (Printing out directions as a safeguard is a good idea.)

 Rosalind Early

Ste. Genevieve

You dont have to be a lover of history to be swayed by the charms of Ste. Genevieve, the oldest permanent European settlement west of the Mississippi River.

But if you do enjoy history, that is a definite plus: The city of 5,000 is home to an array of fabulous old buildings dating back as far as 1790 (note the unusual vertical log walls), a few of which are open to the public. And dont miss the Centre for French Colonial Life, which vividly depicts what life was like for the areas original French settlers.

Aside from the history, Ste. Gen is a lively small town, its enchanting streets dotted with shops, restaurants and the occasional bar that service residents and tourists alike. For visitors, there are plenty of gift shops, art galleries and antiques stores.

And the Mississippi River is never far away; a short walk brings you to the Ste. Gen-Modoc River Ferry, which is fun to watch even if you arent crossing into Illinois.

The local restaurants offer plenty of options (seriously, dont miss the onion rings at the Anvil Saloon  its been in business since 1855), but for more elegant surroundings, be sure to head to Chaumette Winery. When the weather is nice, you can dine on the porch with stunning views of vineyards spaced across gently rolling hills.

If it is still light when you head back from the town, and if youre going north, do yourself a favor and head up Route 61 instead of the interstate. Youll be wowed by the sudden pastoral vistas that add an exclamation point of beauty to a wonderful day.

Where: Take Interstate 55 south to Exit 150 (Mo. Routes A, B and 32). Follow Route 32 east into Ste. Genevieve, where it will become Center Drive, which will curve into 4th Street. Follow 4th Street to the center of the town.

 Daniel Neman

Originally published January 2024.
CLAYTON  One of the creators of a St. Louis-based version of a popular dating show is accusing his co-producers of icing him out of production and show profits.

Cameron Harral filed suit this week against Kimberly Strong of St. Charles, Terry Bams Jr. of Madison County, and Bams company, Cinematic Bams.

The three began filming a St. Louis-based version of the dating show, Pop the Balloon, last year. It is posted on several social media sites and is averaging more than 100,000 views of its episodes, the suit says. One of its more popular clips has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.

The show features a speed-dating format where singles are judged and rejected in real-time. A line of single people each hold a balloon while judging the featured single person. Contestants pop their balloon if they are not interested, and a host then interviews the participants about their impressions of the featured person.

The concept of the show is based on an Arizona version that gained national popularity on YouTube in December 2023. Now there is a live version on Netflix.

But Harrals suit said Strong and Bams locked him out of his role as owner and producer when he disagreed with Bams decision to post the show on social media pages that belonged solely to Bams.

Bams declined to comment on the suit when reached by phone Friday. Strong could not be reached for comment.

Harrals lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment.

The trio got together in July to create Pop the Balloon STL, the suit says.

They agreed to share equal ownership of the show, according to the suit. Harral and Strong would serve as executive producers and Bams would handle filming and post-production editing.

They filmed their first episode Aug. 1 and created a YouTube channel, Facebook page and Instagram page.

But on Aug. 2, the suit says Bams suggested they publish the first episode on his Cinematic Bams YouTube page.

The Cinematic Bams page featured videography content affiliated with other parties and Bams contended that the parties would begin receiving revenue sooner if they did not have to go through the initial monetization process, the suit says.

Bams promised to create a separate YouTube channel for the show once its Facebook page grew to 1,000 subscribers, the suit says.

The account gained a large following quickly, the suit says, but in September Bams convinced Harral and Strong not to use the page they created and instead post content on the Cinematic Bams Instagram page, which he said had many followers.

Bams said if the two agreed, hed delete all previous Cinematic Bams content, give Harral and Strong the password and administrator access to the account, and the three would share equal ownership of the converted Cinematic Bams Instagram account, the suit says.

But by late November, the suit says Harral and Strong began to suspect that Bams was working to steal the show. He wanted to replace the host of the show and by early December, Bams began posting the show on the Cinematic Bams TikTok page.

Strong initially agreed they should stop producing the show until they could resolve the conflicts the suit said, but Bams continued to publish the show and refused to distribute the proceeds from the monetization payments equally among the parties, the suit says.

Strong eventually cooperated with Bams when he offered her a larger share of the profits, effectively locking Harral out of his role as owner and executive producer. Harral argues that since then, the shows quality has dropped and its viewership has decreased.

Harrals suit is asking the court to halt production and posting until the court makes a ruling on ownership.
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ST. LOUIS  A black robe hanging next to a conference room on the 15th floor of the Peabody Plaza threads together a generational story about the Gateway City.

The robe belonged to former Missouri Supreme Court Judge Richard B. Teitelman. The blind jurist who cared deeply about the most vulnerable populations in Missouri, and the laws responsibility to protect their rights, died in 2016 at the age of 69. He had served for 18 years as a judge. Before that, he spent 18 years as executive director of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, a nonprofit law firm that helps poor people in 21 counties.

Dan Glazier finds meaning in the fact that Teitelman served the same number of years in the last two jobs of his career. That number  18  is strongly associated with the Hebrew word chai, which means life. Teitelman was Glaziers mentor.

Nobody breathed more life into the legal profession than Teitelman, Glazier says. Both men connected their Jewish faith to a pursuit of using the law to help poor people. For 20 years, Glazier has been serving in the Legal Services role that Teitelman held before becoming a judge.

Hes the reason that robe is in the downtown building where Legal Services of Eastern Missouri moved two years ago. Some time back, Missouri Supreme Court Judge W. Brent Powell, who replaced Teitelman on the bench, ran into St. Louis Rabbi Randy Fleisher and mentioned that he had Teitelmans old robe. Fleisher mentioned it to Glazier, who was in the process of moving Legal Services downtown.

One of the owners of the Peabody Plaza, it turns out, is Seth Berkowitz, who was a former intern at Legal Services. Berkowitzs father, Stuart, used to work at Legal Services and was good friends with Teitelman. It was a moment of what Glazier calls Bshert, a Hebrew word meaning meant to be.

Thats also how you could describe Glaziers 44-year career helping poor people avoid eviction, obtain health care or seek protection from domestic abuse. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to a dentist and social worker, Glazier knew early on he wanted to live a life of service. He enrolled in a Washington University program that earned him a social work degree followed by law school.

Hes been at Legal Services since he graduated. And hes practiced the holistic advocacy that defines the organization. When people come to Legal Services, they dont just get a lawyer. They get social workers, and access to other services, because people who live in poverty and end up in the justice system often have many unmet needs. In recent years, the organization has expanded to neighborhood advocacy, helping to weed out bad landlords in St. Louis and breathe life into areas rooted in poverty.

That seven-year-old program, headed by managing attorney Peter Hoffman, helps people keep homes in their family by cleaning up old title problems. It also works to revive neighborhoods one property at a time.

In St. Louis, unfortunately, there is enough poverty to keep Legal Services busy, but pressures from the state and federal governments arent helping.

The resources are not matching the need, Glazier says. I fear that its getting worse.

In the past few years, for example, Legal Services has pressed major impact cases against the state of Missouri for its failure to adequately get food stamps to people who qualify for them, and to properly ensure the expansion of Medicaid services that voters approved.

But now, Congress is considering cuts to Medicaid that could lead to thousands of poor people losing access to health care. And it comes as federal funding that helped avoid an eviction crisis during the COVID pandemic is drying up. Glaziers attorneys, and others who do this work, are already seeing an increase in eviction cases.

Thats why its so important for poor people to have access to legal services. One traffic ticket or an attempt to protect a childs rights during a school suspension battle can be so much more difficult for a poor person than a person with financial means who can take a day off work, find transportation and afford legal help.

When youre a low-income person, Glazier says, what many of us would consider a molehill can quickly become a mountain.

Its why Glazier comes to work each day focused on filling what he calls the justice gap. There are 300,000 people in the footprint of Legal Services that qualify for legal aid, and there arent enough resources to serve them all. So it was four decades ago, when a young lawyer drew inspiration from Teitelman, and still today, as Americas safety net shows signs of fraying, like an old robe that has seen better days.

In some ways, Glazier says of poverty in Missouri, the need is greater than ever.
ST. LOUIS  Police found three people dead at a north city house Friday morning, and killed a man they said was a suspect in their shootings.

Police did not identify the dead. No officers were injured, police said.

So we have three people murdered and one suspect dead at the scene, St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy said in a briefing with reporters a few blocks away.

The standoff started early Friday.

Police said the department was alerted to a shooting by its ShotSpotter system, which detects and locates gunfire across the city.

Officers arrived at the house around 4:20 a.m. in the 5100 block of Wells Avenue, near Sherman Park and Kingshighway.

They found a man shot on the front porch, police said. He died there. Police estimated he was 45 to 55 years old but said they didnt know his name.

Police then sought a search warrant, and surrounded the house as they waited.

At around 7 a.m., a 61-year-old man inside the house came out, talked to cops, and went back inside, police said.

Moments later, he came out of the house again, this time armed with a rifle, police said.

He fired at officers, police said. One St. Louis police officer and one federal agent, from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, fired back at the man. No officers were hit by gunfire.

The suspect went back inside the house. Police called in a negotiator to help with the standoff.

Before 9 a.m., SWAT officers entered the house.

Inside, they found the suspect dead near the front door, a woman dead in the living room and man dead in the basement, police said.

They described the conditions as deplorable.

The woman appears to be in her 30s or 40s, police said. Authorities dont have an age estimate for the man in the basement.

Police are investigating the sequence of what happened, and didnt on Friday indicate a possible motive for the killings.

Tracy said he didnt know how long the woman in the living room and man in the basement had been dead.

But Tracy suggested they hadnt been shot while police waited for the search warrant  the house was surrounded and nobody heard any gunshots, he said.

ShotSpotter, he added, does not detect the sound of gunfire inside a residence.

Police cordoned off several blocks because they feared the suspect with a rifle could send bullets far.

For hours on Friday, residents gathered just beyond the yellow crime-scene tape. Police brought out five guns, including three rifles, along with other evidence, then technicians carried the bodies out. Police said the man they killed was a felon, and wasnt allowed to own any guns.

Residents said they had known the man for years. Some called him grimey and thought he was using his home to sell and use drugs.

One neighbor stood in an alley littered with broken toys and childrens shoes. Through an overgrown field, she had a good vantage point of the home on Wells. She watched as officers gathered at the front door. She used her cell phone to zoom in to get a closer view.

She said the crime worries her.

It makes me concerned for the kids who have to witness this when they go to the bus stop, she said.

The Safe Streets Safe Neighborhoods initiative in St. Louis focuses on reducing gun violence and de-escalation techniques. Two members of the initiative came to the block shortly after the first body was found. The group couldnt intervene, though, once police were in a standoff with the man.

The community called me down there because they thought there was a chance we could get him out by talking to him, said Lisa LaGrone, the chief executive officer of Safe Streets. Those people down there, they knew his behavior.

The St. Louis police officer who shot at the man is 28 with three years of service. No details were released on the federal agent.

There are many questions related to a relationship and who knows who and how in the situation, said Mitch McCoy, a police spokesman, so there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
Yiwu responds to U.S. tariff hikes with resilience, confidence

People's Daily Online) 17:06, May 08, 2025

From announcing the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on April 2 to admitting that its high tariffs on Chinese goods are excessive and unsustainable, the tariff drama initiated by the U.S. has now dragged on for a month.

Home to over 70,000 merchants, the Yiwu International Trade Market, nicknamed the "world's supermarket," is a bustling hub of global trade in east China's Zhejiang Province. Over 3,000 companies are engaged in trade with the U.S., with varying degrees of dependence. Now, a month into the ongoing U.S. tariff hikes, how is this global marketplace weathering the storm? With the Christmas goods procurement season in full swing, People's Daily Online traveled to Yiwu to find out.

"Orders from the U.S. make up only about 3 percent of our total orders, so they've had almost no impact," said Jiang Jiangping, who runs a Christmas costume shop with his wife. Their primary market is Europe, and production is already booked through the end of July. During the reporter's visit, two groups of buyers visited the store within an hour, one of them a first-time customer from Italy.

For Wang Xiaoli, who specializes in Christmas decorations, the impact has been significant. "April is the peak season for Christmas orders. Since the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods jumped to 145 percent, nearly half of our orders have been affected," she said. Whether goods can be shipped from Yiwu by the end of May will directly determine if U.S. store shelves are stocked in time for the winter season.

"If the tariff hikes drag on, U.S. consumers may end up paying much more for Christmas goods, or not be able to buy them at all," she noted.

Despite heavy reliance on the U.S. market, Wang remains unfazed. Fewer U.S. orders simply mean less overtime. In recent years, her company has steadily grown its presence in South America and Europe. Now, she has more time to refine products and improve quality to better serve global clients.

Argentine buyer Ariel Maldjian confirmed this. "There's not much time left to source Christmas goods. Five minutes ago, we were talking about this booth, how to buy, because it's (almost) time to buy for Christmas," he said. Yiwu's appeal lies not only in its wide variety of products, but also in their quality, according to Maldjian.

People's Daily Online found that, in the face of unreasonable tariffs, Yiwu businesses are actively expanding into new markets while boosting their competitiveness through proactive planning, innovation, and lengthening their supply chains.

Lyu Xulian, who operates a 3D-printed toy shop, said his company has been prioritizing research and development (R&D) and production of printing materials from the outset, giving them a competitive edge in both color and quality.

During the tariff hikes, many U.S. buyers hesitated for a week, but returned when they couldn't find suppliers offering similar value. Some even proposed ways to offset the extra costs through negotiation, Lyu said.

Lyu said the company's overall business growth has far outpaced that of the U.S. market, with the share of business from the U.S. dropping from around 80 percent to about 30 percent. This has greatly mitigated the impact of the tariffs.

"We used to run 1,000 to 2,000 machines, and now we have 5,000 to 6,000, and the extra output is sold to other countries," she said.

Yiwu's merchants aren't the only ones adapting; local policies are also lending support. On April 29, Yiwu rolled out 10 new measures to promote high-quality growth of the private economy. These include support for tech innovation, smart upgrades, and talent development. The city also announced that it will allocate 100 million yuan (about $13.82 million) in special funds to help over 3,000 U.S.-focused merchants expand overseas and win new orders.

With vast market potential, a robust industrial chain, and timely policy support, Yiwu entrepreneurs are confident in their ability to take bold risks and foster innovation. Amid global uncertainty, this foreign trade hub continues to demonstrate resilience. Through every negotiation and signed contract, the city remains open for business, linking over 230 countries and regions with more than 2.1 million Chinese manufacturers.

Just like today's China, which chooses to extend hands rather than clench fists, to tear down walls rather than build them, and to stay connected rather than decouple, Yiwu continues to grow through openness, benefiting the world through openness. The next "China" is still China.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu)
ST. LOUIS  The man who controlled the citys response to public record requests for the last four years, riling lawyers and journalists with delays and denials, is no longer the citys Sunshine Law coordinator.

Joseph Sims requested to be moved to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as a records retention supervisor last month, around the time Mayor Cara Spencer took office. It appears he will still have some involvement in police record requests, though he will be working under the police departments own Sunshine Law administrator.

Sims had been at the center of many complaints about the citys response to requests for public records under the administration of former Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and City Counselor Sheena Hamilton. Despite Jones pledges of transparency during her 2021 campaign for mayor, transparency advocates complained that the city had become an outlier among governments due to delays providing records.

The difficulty obtaining public records under Sims likely had a chilling effect on those who might request records, some attorneys say.

At least twice, Sims claimed records requested by the Post-Dispatch didnt exist, when in fact they did. And he instructed the custodians of records in various departments  under state law, the point of contact for members of the public who request access to public documents  not to communicate with the public so that all requests and communication went through him.

In March, lawyer Al Johnson, who runs a nonprofit that helps tenants hold problem landlords accountable, complained about the runaround Sims gave him when Johnson tried to get building records for a case against notorious landlords known for mistreating their tenants and who are facing criminal indictment.

Sims delays responding to requests under the Missouri Sunshine Law helped draw at least one lawsuit over records where he was named as a defendant. In that case, Sims, who is not a lawyer, testified that he made the decision, not the citys record custodians, on how long it would take to respond to individual requests.

Im happy to see some changes being made and I hope it continues, said attorney Elad Gross, who sued the city, Hamilton and Sims over access to records on inmate treatment at the downtown city jail.

Much of Sims time running Sunshine Law responses was while Hamilton, who resigned shortly before Spencer took office, was the citys top lawyer. Hamilton herself irked open-government types by keeping secret her opinions on routine city business  such as Board of Aldermen bills  a reversal of longstanding practice. She also barred city attorneys from speaking to the press.

Sims and a city spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Camesha McFowland is listed as the new Sunshine Law coordinator for most city record requests.
ST. LOUIS  Hours after losing his bid to stay on as U.S. attorney in Washington, ex-St. Louisan Ed Martin was named Thursday night to another Justice Department post by President Donald Trump.

Trump said Martin would become director of the departments Weaponization Working Group and be an associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney.

The Associated Press said the pardon role will put him in the position of recommending pardons for some defendants involved in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump pardoned most of the more than 1,500 riot defendants on the day he was inaugurated for his second term.

Trump announced Martins new appointment on his familys Truth Social social media site.

Earlier Thursday, Trump said he would pull his nomination of Martin to be the top federal prosecutor for the nations capital following bipartisan concerns about his modest legal experience and divisive politics.

Martins temporary appointment as interim U.S. attorney was set to expire May 20.

A key blow to Martins chances of winning Senate confirmation for that job came on Tuesday when Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said he wouldnt support the nomination.

Tillis, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his opposition was due to Martins defense of rioters at the U.S. Capitol.

Martin during his brief tenure in the U.S. attorneys office also stirred other criticism.

He fired and demoted subordinates who worked on politically sensitive cases and forced the chief of the offices criminal division to resign after directing her to scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during former Democratic President Joe Bidens administration.

Trump, in his Truth Social post Thursday night, said Martin in his new role will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed justice for its victims.

Trumps transition team in December had announced that Martin would be chief of staff for the Office of Management and Budget. Instead, a few weeks later, he became interim U.S. attorney.

Trump also announced Thursday that Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former county prosecutor and elected judge, would replace Martin as interim U.S. attorney.

Martin is a former Missouri Republican Party chairman, ex-chief of staff to then-Gov. Matt Blunt and a former St. Louis Election Board chairman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri lawmakers approved a $52 billion budget Friday, setting the stage for one final week of action under the Capitol dome before the House and Senate end their annual legislative session.

But, in piecing the budget puzzle together, House Republicans opted against approving more than $513 million in pet projects, saying the Senate had zeroed out too much House spending in the final version.

The impasse appears to mean millions of dollars in brick-and-mortar spending will go by the wayside when the new fiscal year kicks in July 1.

Im disappointed were not getting that done, said Rep. Betsy Fogle, D-Springfield, who is the ranking minority member of the House Budget Committee.

Up against Fridays 6 p.m. deadline to finish the budget, the House and Senate worked quickly to sign off a plan giving Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe some wins but leaving him with decisions on whether to use his veto pen on other parts of the sprawling package.

Tops among his victories was a hard-fought agreement to earmark $50 million to expand the states private school voucher program, which is currently funded via donations.

But, the first-year chief executive also will face a $300 million increase for school funding over what he had requested, putting the issue in his crosshairs heading into the summer.

Kehoe also will have to determine if the state can afford a cut in the states capital gains tax projected to reduce general revenue by more than $400 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

With the budget completed, lawmakers have one more week to push their remaining priorities across the finish line, including a bid to try and overturn a new minimum wage and sick leave law and giving voters another chance to weigh in on the legality of abortion in the state.

A proposal to subsidize the conversion of empty downtown St. Louis office buildings into residential apartments also is in the mix.

The issue of vouchers was the focal point of this years spending plan as a bipartisan bloc in the Senate argued taxpayer money shouldnt be used for tuition at private schools.

The four-year-old voucher program currently provides $6,760 scholarships to qualified students for the current school year.

Using public funds for private religious schools is currently barred by the Missouri Constitution, though the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down a similar restriction in Maine, placing Missouris ban in doubt.

As a workaround, supporters say the money will not go directly to private schools because the program will be administered by the state treasurers office.

Republicans said expanding school choice will give an estimated 7,500 additional students more educational options.

The systems we currently have in place are broken, said Rep. Bishop Davidson, R-Republic.

Its an exciting time to be in this chamber, giving all the families, regardless of where you live, what you look like, the ability to get your kid a quality education that fits their needs (instead of) the one size fits all model, said Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance.

Democrats said the move put the state on a slippery slope toward the privatization of education.

Its a big shift in what weve done in our state, said Rep. Stephanie Hein, D-Springfield. I am concerned about the precedent we are setting by funding private schools with taxpayer dollars.

Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, called the money a slush fund.

There is no oversight. No accountability. And no way for taxpayers to object to what is a historic, and dangerous shift in how Missouri spends its money, Nurrenbern said.

Currently, about 2,600 students are covered by the program.

The total amount heading to public schools in Missouri tops $8 billion.

We are providing a record amount of funding for public education, said House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca.

It includes up to 10% pay raises for long-time state employees, a $107 million expansion of child care funding and a 3% increase to the states universities and community colleges. All are priorities of the governor.

State park rangers and highway patrol employees also will receive 6.8% pay raises to keep pace with salary rates for public safety personnel in other states.

A Senate change cut 25 positions from Secretary of State Denny Hoskins budget, which he says could affect future operations. It was inserted by fellow Republicans after Hoskins spent eight years in the Senate advocating for similar headcount reductions in state government.

The package includes $20 million to continue a program put in place by former Gov. Mike Parson to upgrade and maintain Missouris expansive network of rural roads. Kehoe had sought $60 million.

The largest of the budget bills is a $17 billion outlay for the Department of Social Services, which pays for the states Medicaid health insurance system and other benefits for low-income Missourians.

The House decision to forgo the construction spending bill will leave big ticket projects in limbo.

Included in the proposed spending is $20 million to continue a program designed to make railroad crossings safer in the wake of a deadly 2022 Amtrak crash in Mendon, Missouri.

The decisions also scuttle nearly $16 million for renovations at the Jefferson Barracks National Guard center in south St. Louis County and $9 million for flood plain issues in west suburban Maryland Heights.

The House move also sidelined a $20 million earmark to help Cape Girardeau redevelop the historic Haarig Commercial District.

The legislation is House Bills 2-20, except for House Bill 19.
UNIVERSITY CITY  Victims of the severe flooding that swamped homes and businesses last summer demanded answers from the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and elected officials at a public meeting this week, asking what they have done to prevent future rainfall from causing such devastation.

Big answers  or actions  remain elusive. But some small changes have been made in the past few weeks, in the wake of public complaints: MSD cleared a massive log from underneath the small Groby Road bridge that has long been blamed for impeding floodwater and worsening damages in the surrounding neighborhood. And the utility flew a drone partway into an underground tunnel that is cluttered with huge piles of concrete, some 5 feet high and 30 feet long, an inspection critics say is long overdue.

More than 100 people  the vast majority of whom were flood victims  streamed into the University City High School auditorium for the Wednesday event to commemorate the destructive floods one-year anniversary and weigh how the area can chart a better course forward and avoid similar devastation, even as downpours intensify and flood risks escalate.

We need to be as ready as possible for intense rain events and to ruggedize our environment to withstand terrible storms, said Peter Burgis, one of the dozens of residents who raised questions and comments through the event, both in writing or in person.

MSD insists that it does not bear responsibility for the flood-prone River Des Peres, and says the debris would not have a meaningful impact on nearby flooding. Local municipalities and the Army Corps of Engineers say theyre not in charge of debris in the channel, either.

Meanwhile, some elected leaders are pushing for further action, with Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, telling Wednesdays crowd that hed pursue state-level legislation to formally assign and clarify channel maintenance responsibilities, if key entities dont swiftly resolve the stalemate that, for years, has left oversight of the waterway as an unclaimed hot potato  all while floods become increasingly severe.

University City is bisected by the upper River Des Peres and was among the areas most severely affected by last years flooding. Many residents offered ideas of potential solutions or actions that should be pursued in the near- and long-term future  many of which echoed recommendations that experts have voiced for years.

The stream of ideas and proposed solutions went far beyond the relatively easy and inexpensive matter of clearing debris from the River Des Peres channel  a small issue in the grand scope of regional flood problems. Plenty of the conversation hinged on the need and desire for bigger, bolder actions to reduce danger and thoughtfully adapt the area for wetter extremes wrought by climate change, and a hotter atmosphere than can unleash greater volumes of water.

Experts, MSD, and many residents all seem to agree that buyouts aimed at removing people and property from harms way represent a top priority, and perhaps the best and most cost-effective way to reduce risk.

We need to just get people out of flood plains, where theyre going to continue flooding, said Brian Hoelscher, MSDs executive director and CEO, ahead of the event.

Creating additional capacity for water storage along the river was another suggestion  perhaps by digging out cavities and basins that can hold water when storms pass through, and by restoring some of the natural features and curvature to the highly altered River Des Peres. Others called for insurance reform to shield residents from skyrocketing costs.

Residents who spoke at the event also recounted  and demanded answers about  their own struggles navigating the aftermath of the flood. Some described an exhausting year of seemingly endless and fruitless phone calls with insurance companies and different agencies, trying to piece their lives back together.

MSD, meanwhile, publicly pitched its plan to try to take on a role in tackling flooding issues  first by securing ratepayer funding for the work. The utility is preparing a ballot measure for next spring that would extend its work and customer charges to encompass flood problems, despite seeing similar proposals rejected by voters in the past.

The current draft proposal would charge a typical residential property owner about $2 per month, while commercial properties with large parking lots and impervious surfaces would face a different billing format, intended to skew more costs and responsibility their way.

One point of consensus was obvious: Everyone expects that the next severe flood is only a matter of time, creating mounting urgency to act.

The clock to the next massive rain event is ticking, said Burgis.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS  Patricia Howard sat on her fireplace and looked around at her house, stripped of mold and asbestos and still gutted bare.

It took Howard months to get her flood insurance to pay for cleanup and repairs. She negotiated with contractor after contractor. Then, in March, when she filed for building permits, a new hurdle hit: The city said she couldnt move back in  she couldnt really even repair the damage  unless she first lifted her house by about 6 inches, to get it 1 foot above flood level. It could cost her six figures.

Im taking it day by day, said Howard, 74, a retiree and caretaker to two grandkids. And Im doing the best I can.

One year after record rainfall triggered flash floods across the St. Louis region, hundreds of residents are still struggling to rebuild houses and apartments, many of which sit vacant. They lost their belongings and appliances, navigated insurance and disaster aid claims and faced repairs costing tens of thousands of dollars.

The damaged properties are scattered across the region, often near creeks or low-lying areas. In some cases, condemned signs are stuck to doorways. Yards are wildly overgrown. Walls are marked with water stains and mud. Dumpsters sit in driveways. Entire apartment complexes are ghost towns. Other homes look undisturbed from the outside  but are being rebuilt inside.

At least 325 homes, including several apartment complexes, remain condemned or vacant out of more than 900 St. Louis-area Missouri residences that the Federal Emergency Management Agency said had major damage after the disaster.

In University City, 225 have yet to pass inspection for repairs to water-logged electrical wiring, disabled furnaces and water heaters, and moldy walls and floors. Hazelwood, Florissant and Webster Groves still have anywhere from a handful to several dozen homes or apartments formally declared uninhabitable. Others hard-hit by flooding, like St. Peters, Ferguson and Ladue, didnt condemn any properties and didnt track flood-damage vacancies.

That doesnt even count St. Louis, which didnt respond to requests for information for this story, or the hundreds of residents in the Metro East who also sought federal help after the flood.

In Hazelwood, Norvel Coen is close to finishing repairs of his split-level home on Elm Grove Court, near Coldwater Creek. Insurance didnt cover much, he said, but FEMA disaster aid helped a lot with replacing or repairing the furnace, the hot water heater, outdoor siding, drywall and flooring, Coen said.

But after living on Elm Grove for 50 years, the Coens wont be coming back. They were flooded in 2008 by storm remnants of Hurricane Ike. The risk of another, third major flood is too great, said Coen, 87. Theyre moving to Farmington.

Im too old to go through all this again, he said.

In University City, Alex Poynter is ready to repair his house on Drexel Avenue so he and his 2-year-old daughter can move back in. Hes paying to rent an apartment on top of his mortgage and bills. But his insurance company, which approved his claim for structural repairs in March, has been slow to send checks. And Poynter cant get someone on the phone to answer why.

You have to keep going back and back to more calls and emails, Poynter said. But I dont have all the time in the world. I have to work my job and take care of a child and deal with what I can.

Cost to lift a house: $100,000

Starting in 1968, the federal government began mapping flood risk and established the National Flood Insurance Program. People living in a flood plain were largely required to get flood insurance, and new building projects had to meet certain codes designed to lessen future flood damages.

After last years floods, the NFIP paid out millions in claims. And because a federal disaster was declared, FEMA delivered millions in aid to property owners, including many outside the flood plain. The U.S. Small Business Administration also provided loans. And FEMA offered grant funding to help local governments with projects meant to lessen flood risk, mostly by buying properties that had repeatedly flooded and turning them into green space.

But funding for such projects is limited and can take years to process. Local governments are responsible for responding to property flood damages, regulating flood plains and applying for federal grants to help buy properties or fund public flood-proofing projects.

That means results can vary based on how much experience, resources and capacity a local community has in dealing with flood disasters.

Theres pressing deadlines and a lot of requirements and local governments are often figuring it out as they go along, and that can lead to some really tough situations, said Ana Weber, a policy analyst for the environmental advocacy group the Natural Resources Defense Council. Folks were all exposed to the same flooding event, but their experience could be really different based on how the program is administered at the local level.

And flood victims can fall through the cracks in the system. Homeowners often get minimal coverage because theyre unaware of the exact flood risk, said NRDC attorney Joel Scata. Missouri doesnt require sellers to inform home buyers of previous floods.

Moreover, many homeowners dont know the rules following a flood.

For instance, if repairs are worth 50% of a structures market value, homeowners in flood plains have limited options. They can move the house, or they can demolish it. But if they want to keep it on site, they have to elevate the first floor above the federally designated flood level for their area.

Those with NFIP flood insurance can get up to $30,000 to help pay for such costs. But lifting a house can run as much as $100,000, or more, depending on its size.

Mike Zeek, director of community development in Maryland Heights and the citys local flood plain manager, said the city could risk becoming ineligible for flood insurance if it doesnt enforce the regulations.

At the end of the day, its to ensure the property is safe to inhabit, Zeek said. But, just as a local flood plain manager speaking, the lack of discretion can be frustrating and I feel for people like Mrs. Howard who are put in this situation.

Experts expect the problems to get nothing but worse.

Flood plain maps already arent capturing the full risk of flooding, which scientists say is becoming more frequent as the world gets hotter and wetter.

There is a lack of information about the risks that people face now, and are going to face, when it comes to climate change, Scata said.

I just throw my hands up

In Florissant, Evelyn Grandys four-unit apartment on Bruce Drive flooded from the basement up to 3 feet on the first floor. She lost everything except for some clothes hanging in her closet.

Grandy, 63 and a retired USDA chemist, bought the apartment building in 2012 to downsize from her North County home, which she started renting out. After renovating the building, she lived in one of the two first floor units and rented out the other three. Her mortgage required her to get flood insurance, but she only insured the building, not its contents, because she was told the risk of an actual flood was low. July was the first time it flooded more than an inch or two in the basement, she said.

Grandy wanted to let her second-floor tenants return while she started repairing the bottom floors with money from her flood insurance. But Florissant condemned the building. And when she went to get a building permit in August, the city said she had to lift the structure or relocate it.

Her building was one of 14 there required to elevate. She could have appealed the ruling, but she couldnt afford the time or costs. She could have gotten an SBA loan but didnt want to commit her properties as collateral.

Now shes hoping for a buyout. Florissant has applied for FEMA funding for seven properties, including hers, all on Bruce Drive. Grandy said its her only hope of getting anything out of her loss.

At this point I just throw my hands up, she said. Im just going to wait until they buy me out, whenever that may be.

But she doesnt know when or even if shell get an offer. In the meantime, her empty apartments are being vandalized, she said.

In Webster Groves, the basement of Bill Dahms home on East Pacific Avenue is still caked with mud, after 7 feet of water flooded the house last year. Dahm lost his furnace, hot water heater, all of the belongings in his basement and some in his garage. He hasnt lived there since.

He bought the house in 2005 and got minimal flood insurance from a private seller because he was told the street had never flooded seriously before. Three years later, remnants of Hurricane Ike hit the region and inundated the home with water. Dahm and others hoped that it was a rare occurrence. Insurance didnt pay for much and was more expensive than it was worth, Dahm said, so he dropped it.

After last years flood, FEMA emergency aid helped him navigate the aftermath. But Dahm, a retired computer programmer who now works at a bowling alley, was still left with a house he couldnt afford to repair.

At my age, said Dahm, 69, why would I put tens of thousands into a property thats just going to flood again?

He, too, hoped for a buyout. But the city of Webster Groves, which like other local governments has to fund 25% the cost, decided to limit its federal application to six houses, all damaged worse than Dahms.

I attended council meeting after meeting and tried to make my point politely and straightforwardly, but they made their decision, he said.

Webster Groves, in a letter to residents, estimated it would cost the city $300,000 to buy the six homes. It would cost more than $900,000, the city said, to buy out all dozen homeowners, including Dahm, who had hoped for a buyout.

Unfortunately, this is not financially feasible, the city said, and difficult decisions had to be made.

After the flood, Dahm bought a smaller house in St. Louis. He says hes luckier than other flood victims that he could afford to make the move.

Now hes hoping to sell his old home. He thinks it will flood again.

But he doesnt feel like he has another option.

Piles still stacked along the walls

Back in Maryland Heights, Howards home on Doddridge Avenue was one of three near Fee Fee Creek wrecked by last years flood.

The water outside rose up to their mailbox, and filled the basement and a half-foot on the first floor. They lost their furnace, water heater, washer and dryer. Walls and flooring on the first floor were damaged. Their electrical wiring was swamped. Her adult daughter, who lived in the basement, lost everything. It took two weeks to pump it all out.

Howard and her late husband moved there in 2018 and sold their house in University City to make way for the commercial development anchored by Costco. The Maryland Heights home was affordable and spacious and surrounded by grass and trees.

Their lender required them to get flood insurance; they insured the structure but not their belongings.

But after the flood, Howard had to fight to get the insurance money  the house was in both her and her husbands name. She paid for the cleanup, which she had to do twice because the first contractor didnt get all the mold.

Then the city told her she had to raise the house, and fill in the basement.

Around the corner, another home was so badly damaged the owner had to demolish it. The city applied for federal funding to buy the third and turn it into green space  it was the third time it had been damaged in a flood in recent years.

But Howards home didnt qualify, the city said. Last years flood was, for it, the first.

Since the flood, Howard and her family  two grandkids, daughter Dinita and dog Ratatouille  have rented a two-bedroom house just down the block. Belongings they salvaged from the flood are stacked in piles along the walls. Howard visits her old house each day to pick up the mail.

Last month, Howard paid to have her house surveyed, the first step toward raising it. Even with the $30,000 elevation grant, shed still have a long way to go to rebuild, she said.

Relocating the house would be more expensive. And demolition would mean shed pay to lose her home.

If I have to raise it, I have to raise it, she said.
JEFFERSON CITY  The state of Missouri may be taking over St. Louis police department, but its only taking on a portion of the legal costs city police will face in the future.

The new law ushering in state control limits the amount the state is allowed to pay for liability claims at $2 million per fiscal year between Kansas City and St. Louis  the only two departments under state control.

But $1 million per year might only go so far in St. Louis, which has been on the hook for multiple large payouts in recent years while local officials controlled the police department.

For example, a St. Louis judge last year awarded a former undercover St. Louis police officer $23.5 million after his colleagues beat him up during a protest in 2017. Officials reached a $4.9 million settlement with 84 people after kettling arrests at the same protest.

The lack of state funding has generated attention recently as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas publicly called this week for the state to contribute more to help cover millions in legal settlements.

Without more Missouri support, Kansas Citians will be paying more for less policing service at a time of ongoing public safety crises, Lucas said.

Earlier this week, the Kansas City mayor told KCTV, Kansas Citys CBS affiliate, the $1 million cap is woefully inadequate and that the Kansas City departments $343 million police budget doesnt include millions needed for payouts.

Lucas called the recent $14 million settlement with Ricky Kidd, who was wrongfully convicted of a double murder and served decades in prison, the largest in city history, according to KCTV.

Lucas said the KCPD should seek additional financial support in Jefferson City.

Sen. Steven Roberts Jr., D-St. Louis, opposed the state takeover of the city police department but helped negotiate changes to the final product earlier this year.

He noted Thursday the $2 million limit is double the $1 million cap on state legal payouts previously in state law. But he said its still not enough.

If the state wants to control local police departments, the state needs to pay the tab when those departments have problems, Roberts said Thursday.

A spokesperson for St. Louis Board of Alderwoman President Megan Green also said the state should take more responsibility.

Local taxes shouldnt pay for mistakes made under the states watch, spokesperson Yusuf Daneshyar said.

Fights over whether the state should cover St. Louis police board legal costs arent new.

The city police department was under state control from 1861 until 2013, following a statewide vote in 2012 to turn the department over to local officials.

In 1999, the police board and officers sued the state alleging the attorney general had refused to represent them after they had been sued in their official capacities.

In 2005, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the state Legal Expense Fund covered the Board of Police Commissioners and its officers, and that the attorney general had to defend them when they are sued in their official capacities.

But the legal victory for the city of St. Louis was short-lived.

After the ruling, that same year, legislators voted to limit state funds for police board legal reimbursement to $1 million per year.
ST. LOUIS  The regions sewers, creeks and storm drains were no match for last weeks record-shattering rainfall  a downpour remarkable not just for its unprecedented total, but also for its intensity. Pouring water sprawled over creek banks, across roads, and into homes and vehicles, stranding hundreds and killing two.

Levees overtopped in St. Peters and the Metro East. Sewers backed up across the region.

But unlike the frequent floods along the areas major rivers in recent years, water from within was a primary danger this time, as many low-lying neighborhoods filled with rain far faster than it could drain off.

Theres something almost very primally frightening to see floodwater come up, said Eric Stein, a University City resident whose home was overrun Tuesday by the River Des Peres. You realize its going to get you.

Experts and officials said the ordeal offers a stark warning that the areas storm systems and water managers must confront: The warming climate is making major downpours more common. And the expansion of homes, parking lots and subdivisions fuels more runoff than ever before.

Yet its unclear who, exactly, is responsible for the regions stormwater.

There is no one clear authority that you can blame or hold responsible, said Stein, who also serves on University Citys Commission on Storm Water Issues. Its very complicated.

Tuesday, St. Louis was slammed by an astounding 9.07 inches of rain  crushing the areas previous record for daily rainfall by more than two inches. And the bulk of that rain fell in only about a three-hour span.

Thats about a quarter of the regions average annual precipitation compressed into a few early-morning hours.

It was simply too much water, too fast. Even two inches of rain in an hour can trigger problematic flash flooding, according to experts on the stormwater commission in hard-hit University City.

(The region saw that again Thursday afternoon, when a second round of violent rain dumped 2 to 4 inches of water, sparking additional flash floods.)

Different forces have combined to crank up the risks.

On one hand, increasingly severe downpours are a well-established consequence of climate change. Warm air can hold  and unleash  more moisture. For every 1 degree Fahrenheit of warming, air can hold 4% more water, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit focused on climate science and data.

That raises the chances for extreme storms that were once exceptionally rare.

The Metropolitan St. Louis sewer district, for instance, estimated Tuesdays rain as an event that occurs less than once every 500 years. But such comparisons are becoming almost meaningless, as the climate of the present becomes increasingly different than the climate of the past.

Were seeing these mind-blowing occurrences happen more often, said Lauren Casey, a meteorologist with Climate Central.

Indeed, rainfall intensity in St. Louis has grown markedly over the past several decades, as has the number of days during which the city is hit by more than one inch of rain, according to an analysis from Climate Central.

Water had nowhere to go in University City

Experts say the flood-prone upper River Des Peres, which wanders through communities like University City before getting tunneled underground, offers a prime example of the bad fit between prevailing water management trends and a more volatile climate.

When the watershed was hit with Tuesdays torrential rain, levels on the upper river soared well above the threshold that has spelled flood problems in the past. The river spilled out of its banks. It pushed water up the storm drains, into the streets. And when the main current hit the 20-foot openings to the tubes that direct the river underground, northwest of Forest Park, all of that volume simply didnt fit, University City stormwater commission members estimated.

That left streets filled, cars covered, basements full, and residents reporting worse flooding than ever before  even in areas that arent next to the river.

Four feet filled University City councilman Tim Cusicks house near the river.

There have been so many floods in recent years, so many close shaves, he had the sense that flood damage was just inevitable.

Ive always known that this is going to happen, he said.

The river jumped its banks in Ellendale

In a section of western St. Louis alongside Maplewood, where homes sit within the official River Des Peres floodplain, residents were hit twice last week by the heavy rains. Some have lost count of the number of times their basements have taken on water.

People say, Why dont you move? said Ellendale resident Debbie Boshans, whose basement has flooded four times before these storms.

How do you sell a house thats flooded that many times? her husband, Jeff Boshans, chimed in.

The neighborhood is now pocked by empty lots, the product of sewer district buyouts of years past.

But not this time, said district spokesman Sean Hadley. This time, the issue wasnt the sewers, it was the incredible amount of water itself.

The system worked like it was supposed to, Hadley said. The River Des Peres jumped its banks. Thats an act of nature.

The sewer district doesnt have money to buyout homes for overland flooding, he said. Voters in St. Louis and St. Louis County, the districts service territory, rejected an extra fee in 2019.

Members of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones office, asked Wednesday during an event in the neighborhood about buyouts, said MSD handled that.

MSD pointed back at the city and said theres nothing stopping it from buying out flood-prone properties.

A spokesman for Jones said Friday it was focusing on getting emergency supplies to residents impacted by flooding and would examine long-term solutions later.

A levee failed in St. Peters

St. Peters had two problems on Tuesday. One: So much water fell, the pumps meant to pull water out of the citys interior and dump it over the Dardenne Creek levee just couldnt keep up. Two: The creek rose so quickly, the levee overtopped.

Janice Finch Sheppard, who has owned and operated Allure Salon for 23 years on Church Street, doesnt think her building is salvageable. She dropped her flood insurance years ago after the levee system was improved and officials told her she didnt need it anymore.

She and the self-employed stylists who use her building were busy trying to clean what they could Wednesday. But mold was already setting in. Styling chairs were ruined. Clients wouldnt want to come. Sheppard wasnt sure what shed do next.

God has a plan, she said. Im just hoping this is the right one.

Some say now that the levee systems pumps didnt start when they should have. The city said the pumps are automatic and were working just fine.

Still, even naysayers arent sure it would have mattered altogether.

Dont get me wrong, it wouldnt have kept all the water out of here, said 22-year resident Gary Jones, who now plans to sell.

Jones knows the problem is bigger than just the pumps. More concrete is added to fast-growing St. Charles County every year. Interstate 70 behind his house has been widened. The Missouri Department of Transportation doesnt come out to mow and clear the runoff ditch until he calls to complain.

Theres nowhere for the water to go, Jones said.

Can you out-engineer a flood?

No engineered system would have been a match for Tuesdays rainfall, experts said.

How do you compete with that? said Matt Jones, a project manager with the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its really hard to plan for those kinds of scenarios.

But some strategies could reduce flood risk.

Curb greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change, experts note.

Better floodproof homes, others said.

And charge fees for laying concrete or asphalt or other impervious services. The sewer district proposed such a move to voters as recently as 2019, but it was shot down.

Big engineering projects are on the table, as well.

The Army Corps is examining the potential installation of a local, eight-acre detention basin to hold water, detailed in an April report commissioned by University City. The project is still probably years from completion, at best.

But even if it were already in service, it wouldnt have been enough to save University City from the scale of this weeks deluge, experts said.

It was so much water this time, I dont think any engineering modification wouldve done it, said Bob Criss, a professor emeritus at Washington University who has studied flood issues in the region for years and has long-held concerns about the River Des Peres.

More storage in the system will help, he said. But it wont stop flooding.

Weve hit a point where the problem is so large, experts said, its hard to out-engineer, for a feasible cost.

Several said whats ultimately needed is the buyout of repeatedly flooded properties  simply removing those at highest risk.

I think its the only answer, said Criss.

And buyouts may be gaining steam among residents, too.

The Boshans, in Ellendale, thought they were in the clear. Buyouts had opened up land around them. They thought the giant new sewer district tunnel would help.

So they finished their basement. A month ago, they installed a brand new $9,000 HVAC system.

We thought we were safe, Jeff Boshans said last week.

They need to buy us out, said Debbie Boshans.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador  International human rights organizations on Friday filed a lawsuit with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asking that the commission order El Salvadors government to release Venezuelans deported from the United States and held in a maximum-security prison.

In March, the U.S. government deported more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants alleged to have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador, paying the Salvadoran government to imprison them.

Since then, they have had no access to lawyers or ability to communicate with their families. Neither the U.S. nor Salvadoran governments have said how the men could eventually regain their freedom.

These individuals have been stripped from their families and subject to a state-sponsored enforced disappearance regime, effectively, completely against the law, said Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, which helped bring the suit. Were hoping that this case might help put pressure on El Salvador to put basic guardrails in place.

El Salvador has been living under a state of emergency for more than three years, which has suspended some fundamental rights and given the administration of President Nayib Bukele extraordinary powers. More than 85,000 Salvadorans have been arrested over the period for alleged ties to the countrys once-powerful street gangs.

The improvement in El Salvadors security has won Bukele widespread domestic support and some admirers in the region who seek to imitate his success. But the lack of due process and numerous arbitrary arrests have drawn international condemnation. Bukele has dismissed those critics as defenders of criminals.

A spokesperson for Bukeles office declined to comment Friday.

With the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump taking a hard line on immigration and portraying migrants broadly as criminals, neither government has been swayed by legal maneuvers in their own country to seek the mens release or return to the U.S.

A judge in Washington this week said he would order the U.S. government to provide more information about its prison deal with El Salvador as he moved closer to requiring the government to return the men to the U.S.

The human rights organizations hope that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will accept this emergency petition. The commission is an arm of the regional Organization of American States. The groups presented the case on behalf of the families of 18 of the men sent to El Salvador, who provided sworn statements about their cases.

Some of the men had pending asylum applications in the U.S., while others had been vetted and approved for refugee resettlement by the U.S. government, still others had temporary protected status allowing them to work in the U.S., according to the lawsuit.

Bukele has said he has the room to hold the men and the payments from the U.S. will help cover the costs of his new prison.

While both the Venezuelan government and nongovernmental organizations have filed habeas corpus petitions  essentially compelling the government to prove someones detention was justified  in El Salvadors courts, none have advanced.

The groups are asking the human right commission to order precautionary measures, basically an emergency action to prevent irreparable harm. Among them are the ability to communicate with their families, access to legal counsel and return to the United States. The commission would seek a response from El Salvadors government before making a decision, but is expected to move quickly.

The other organizations involved in the lawsuit are the Boston University School of Law International Human Rights Clinic, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

AP journalist Christopher Sherman contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump is planning a military parade on June 14 to celebrate Flag Day. That's also Trumps birthday. Surely that has nothing to do with the timing of the parade?

As Trumps administration is desperately trying to cut government expenditures, the parade is going to cost $45 million. In an interview, Trump said that expenditure is peanuts compared to the value of doing it because it will enable America to show off its military hardware.

In fact, Trumps parade isnt celebrating anything other than himself being in charge of the military. Its the best retribution he can enjoy.

Bryan Kasten

Piedmont
As a small business owner, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the mandatory sick time requirement included in Proposition A, which was passed by Missouris voters in the November. ("Missouri House GOP blocking Senate Democrats bills to get changes to sick leave law," May 6.)

My husband and I run a small manufacturing plant making our product which we invented, No-Mar Enterprises, LLC. After years of sacrifice and reinvestment, we finally reached a point where we could offer our employees paid vacation  a milestone that meant a great deal to us and to our team. Now, were being told by the government that we must also provide mandatory sick time.

Let me be blunt: We cannot afford to provide both vacation and mandated sick time. Not without cutting into our ability to grow, hire, or even stay open. We already face a combined tax burden of about 41%, and every new mandate  however well-intentioned  feels like one more weight were being forced to carry uphill.

Weve built this company from the ground up with the dream of contributing to our community and creating jobs. But this kind of overreach makes us feel like were being punished for trying to do the right thing. If the goal of these policies is to support workers, shouldnt the government also support the businesses that employ them?

As Missouri legislators consider whether to roll back parts of the new law, I urge them to consider the unintended consequences of Prop A on small businesses like ours. Were not asking for a free pass  were asking for realistic, scalable solutions that dont crush the very businesses that drive local economies.

Susan Lakebrink-Nemish

Crestwood
Xi calls on China, Russia to maintain strategic resolve, coordination

Xinhua) 08:07, May 09, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have a chat over tea at the president's office of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China and Russia should maintain strategic resolve and coordination as the world is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation.

Xi made the remarks during a chat over tea with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the president's office of the Kremlin in Moscow.

As long as China and Russia maintain strategic resolve and coordination, no force can stop the two countries from achieving their respective development and revitalization, no force can shake the strong foundation of long-standing friendship between the two peoples, and no force can hold back the prevailing trend toward a multipolar world and economic globalization, said Xi.

Xi also voiced readiness to stay in close communication with Putin to chart the course for China-Russia relations and make contributions to advancing global governance.

For his part, Putin said that Russia and China have always stood together in solidarity and supported each other, forging an unbreakable friendship.

The Russian president said he is willing to maintain close strategic communication with Xi, provide strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations, jointly respond to the challenges of a complex international landscape, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination, safeguard common interests of the two countries and promote the development of a more equitable, democratic and multipolar world.

The two heads of state exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues. Xi said that China advocates for and remains committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security at the global level, and believes it is important to take seriously the legitimate security concerns of all countries and eliminate the root causes of the Ukraine crisis.

China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace and looks forward to reaching a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement on the Ukraine crisis that is accepted by all relevant parties through dialogue, Xi noted.

Putin highly commended China's objective and impartial position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, saying that Russia is ready to engage in peace talks without preconditions and hopes to reach a fair and lasting peace agreement.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Missouri legislators have an opportunity to pass important legislation in the current session to curb frivolous lawsuits and protect Missouri farmers access to American-made crop protection tools. ("Nine Missouri Republicans declare Bayer legal shield dead on arrival in Senate," Feb. 24.)

Specifically, HB 544 would bring state law in line with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) labeling guidelines, affirming that pesticides registered with the EPA and sold under an EPA-approved label are sufficient to meet health and safety warning requirements.

Without such common sense legislation, the future of American-made glyphosate, a heavily studied and widely used pesticide, could be pulled from the market, threatening food security by forcing farmers to rely on adversarial nations like China for critical crop protection tools.

Contrary to the arguments of opportunistic plaintiffs lawyers seeking big paydays and their activist allies who wish to litigate modern crop protection tools out of existence, HB 544 would not create broad immunity for manufacturers. It simply would ensure that compliance with strict EPA-approved labeling requirements is recognized as legally sufficient.

In this time of economic uncertainty, Missouris farmers and taxpayers are counting on their legislators to put them and common sense first. HB 544 does just that.

Jeff Mazzella

President, Center for Individual Freedom

Alexandria, Virginia
Paratroopers assigned to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division make a jump in North Carolina in 2024. About 600 soldiers from the divisions 3rd Brigade will parachute into Norway next week as part of the Swift Response exercise, service officials said. (Vincent Levelev/U.S. Army)



STUTTGART, Germany  Paratroopers from the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division are headed to Europe, where large combat drills stretching from Nordic lands to NATOs eastern flank are getting underway.

About 600 soldiers from the divisions 3rd Brigade will parachute into Norway next week in a forcible entry operation aimed at testing the units ability to fight through resistance, the Army said.

The Swift Response exercise will showcase the 82nds ability to respond to any mission, anywhere, and anytime, Maj. Gen. Pat Work, division commander, said in a statement ahead of the training, which kicks off Tuesday.

Army paratroopers representing various brigades in the 82nd Airborne Division Best Squad Competition fire M240 machine guns at Fort Bragg, N.C., Feb. 21, 2025. About 600 soldiers from the 82nds 3rd Brigade will parachute into Norway next week as part of the Swift Response exercise, the Army said. ( Matthew Keegan/U.S. Army)



The Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 82nd Airborne, a part of the militarys global response force, has factored into Army efforts to quickly mobilize troops into Europe. The division was key in Pentagon efforts to reinforce NATO around the time of Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

While Swift Response will involve some 4,100 U.S. troops and 1,900 multinational forces carrying out simultaneous airborne assault operations in the High North and across the Baltics, other drills are unfolding elsewhere in Europe.

On Sunday, more than 300 U.S. and allied service members are participating in exercise Arcane Thunder, which involves integration of land, sea, air, cyber and space capabilities, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.

The drills in Germany, the U.S. and Poland, featuring the Wiesbaden-based 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, incorporate emerging technology capabilities, which are becoming central to how the Army fights, the statement said.

Meanwhile, NATOs largest multinational live-fire air and missile defense exercise, known as Formidable Shield 25, started May 1.

Taking place in Norway and the United Kingdom, the drills involve nine allies and will run throughout May, the alliance said Wednesday.
Construction vessels float on Oura Bay at the site of a future U.S. Marine Corps airfield at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, April 16, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)



A construction vessel spilled fuel oil Thursday morning at the site of a future U.S. Marine Corps airfield in northern Okinawa, marking the fourth such incident this year, according to Japans coast guard.

The spill occurred at 8:15 a.m. while the vessel was transferring oil from its fuel tank to a gravity tank, the coast guard said in a news release. Oil overflowed onto the ships deck, and about 28 fluid ounces leaked into the sea.

The vessel was operating less than a half-mile north-northwest of Cape Henoko in Nago city at the time, according to the release.

A crew member reported the incident at 8:25 a.m., and workers used absorbent mats and other materials to contain the spill, which was under control by about 2:30 p.m., the coast guard said.

No injuries or environmental damage were reported, and the cause remains under investigation, according to the release.

Thursdays incident follows two oil spills in January and another in March from vessels working on the same project. Also in March, a separate construction vessel caught fire while towing materials after oil leaked from its engine.

The airfield is being built on reclaimed land in Oura Bay to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the densely populated city of Ginowan. The relocation was agreed to by the U.S. and Japanese governments in 1996, but construction has faced repeated legal challenges from the Okinawa prefectural government.

The construction zone is split into two zones: 279 acres north of Camp Schwab and 91 acres to the south, according to the prefectural governments website.
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Olsen and his wife, Jessica Olsen, pose together in this undated photo. (Arguinzoni family)



A U.S. Navy officer could face a court-martial on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of his wife at a Japanese hotel last year, the service said Thursday.

Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Olsen was also charged with obstruction of justice following a preliminary hearing Wednesday at Naval Base San Diego, according to an email from Cmdr. Paul Macapagal, a spokesman for Naval Forces Japan.

The charges stem from the October death of Jessica Jesse Arguinzoni Olsen, who was found dead in a hotel room in Fukuoka, about 80 miles northeast of Sasebo Naval Base.

We are unable to comment further at this time due to the ongoing litigation, Macapagal wrote. The Navy is committed to ensuring the military justice system is fair and impartial, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A preliminary hearing  known as an Article 32 hearing under the Uniform Code of Military Justice  determines whether there is probable cause to believe the accused committed the alleged offenses. The hearing officer makes a recommendation to the Navys Office of Special Trial Counsel, which decides whether to refer the case to trial.

A spokesperson for Olsen could not be reached Thursday.

U.S. Navy spouse Jessica Olsen poses in this undated photo. (Arguinzoni family)



Fukuoka Prefectural Police discovered Jesse Olsen, 37, on the morning of Oct. 28 inside a hotel room in the citys Chuo district after receiving a report from the hotel, a police spokesman said at the time. The location matches the address of Hotel SOL.

Police said she was found lying and bleeding and indicated she may have been involved in a crime, Kyodo News reported Oct. 29.

Jesse Olsens body was returned to her family on Nov. 16, her sister, Dominque Arguinzoni, told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday. She said the family was informed Jesse had suffered injuries to her head, including her face, and that her jaw and hyoid bones were broken.

A funeral was held Nov. 25 in Monroe, N.Y.

Christopher Olsen enlisted in the Navy in April 2014 and became a surface warfare officer that July, according to his service record. He was stationed at Sasebo from November 2022 until December 2023, serving on the USS Chief and later the USS New Orleans. He is now assigned to Naval Surface Group Southwest in San Diego.

The couple met at the State University of New York at Oswego and were married in August 2009, Arguinzoni said.

She said her sister worked as a substitute teacher at Ernest J. King Middle High School, a Department of Defense Education Activity facility on Sasebo.

We had no idea they ever had issues, Arguinzoni said. None of her friends, even best friend, had an inkling. However, thinking back, my parents and I realized that she pulled away from us by reducing communications from every week to every other month or so.

The Navy notified Jesse Olsens parents of her death by phone shortly after midnight on Oct. 28, Arguinzoni said during an April 22 phone interview.

There was no in-person visit, no support team, no effort to ensure they were physically or emotionally able to process the news, she wrote in a statement emailed on April 12. We were simply told that Jesse was dead  and that her husband, LCDR Christopher Olsen, was a person of interest.

The family has not yet received Jesses personal belongings, Arguinzoni added.

We want to grieve, she said in the phone interview. We cant even wrap up her stuff, and its been very frustrating because the little bit of information we get, it throws us back into when they first called us and told us she was gone.
Dixie Denise Villa, 46, was found guilty of manslaughter in the February 2019 death of a 7-month-old at the unlicensed home day care she ran at Aliamanu Military Reservation in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Honolulu Police Department)



HONOLULU (Tribune News Service)  The babysitter who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2019 death of a 7-month-old girl at the unlicensed day care she operated out of her home in military housing was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison.

Judge Fa auuga To oto o sentenced Dixie Denise Villa this morning in First Circuit Court after a jury found her guilty as charged on Nov. 15 for the manslaughter of Abigail Lobisch, who died on Feb. 23, 2019, of an overdose of the active ingredient in Benadryl. The baby died while staying overnight at Villas home at Aliamanu Military Reservation in Honolulu.

Seven-month-old Abigail Lobisch died Feb. 24, 2019, in an unlicensed day care at a Hawaii military housing complex. (Anna Lobisch)



The former Navy spouse, who appeared for sentencing in a white prison jumpsuit, did not address the court at the advice of counsel because she plans to appeal the case. Villa remained stoic as the judge sentenced her.

Megan Kau, Villas attorney, asked the court for 10 years probation since she has no recent convictions and has two minor children.

But the judge said he has no choice but 20 years of imprisonment based on the medical records in the case, including the amount of Benadryl found in the babys blood.

Anna Lobisch, the babys mother, tearfully told the judge that her child was only 7 months old when she was cruelly taken from this world.

 2025 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Visit www.staradvertiser.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Mayka and Kao Xiong stand in front of General Vang Paos old house in Long Tieng. The general was airlifted from Long Tieng on May 14, 1975 after Communists seized control of Laos, forcing thousands of Hmong people to flee for their lives. (Maya Rao/The Minnesota Star Tribune via TNS)



LONG TIENG, LAOS (Tribune News Service)  We met in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, not far from the spot on the Mekong River where the Xiong family fled to Thailand one night in May 1975. At the time of their escape, it seemed unlikely that they would ever again see their old home of Long Tieng far away in the highlands.

But one morning in November 2023, a Hmong driver came to pick us up and set out on a journey from the capital to the former CIA-run airbase. Long Tieng was so secret when the Xiongs lived there that it did not appear on maps; now, anyone can find the location and directions on Google. Traveling east and north, the van passed rubber trees and strained and rumbled over an increasingly rocky route as Chinese mining trucks loaded with gold and gravel hurtled by.

I pity your car, Mayka Xiong told the driver.

Fifty years have passed since the clandestine military base fell to Communist soldiers, forcing tens of thousands of Hmong people to run from persecution for their alliance with Americans in the Secret War. Long Tieng closed to outsiders for decades after the Pathet Lao seized control of Laos, living on in Hmong refugees memories and the stories shared with younger generations. After Long Tieng reopened to the public in recent years, some Hmong Americans have finally been finding their way back.

As the Xiongs learned, it is no easy journey.

The drive had taken the better part of the day when we came upon a line of eight trucks stopped on the hillside, blocking the road. The driver shut off the engine. Soon came word: A truck had fallen over a little way ahead. Tonight, well be sleeping here, fretted Maykas husband Kao.

Mayka, born in 1952, grew up as one of 10 children in east-central Laos, where they carried water from the well every day after school and foraged for vegetables and bamboo shoots to help their parents. Kao was born in 1943 and raised in a village north of Long Tieng, where his parents were prosperous from farming corn, opium and rice.

Their families fled to the Xayaboury province as Royal Lao Army leader Kong Le swept through at the end of 1960. The country fell into civil war as the North Vietnamese Army invaded Laos with the help of the Pathet Lao and occupied the eastern region for its Ho Chi Minh Trail to send supplies and troops to carry out the war against South Vietnam. As the U.S. fought in Vietnam, it trained Hmong fighters to disrupt North Vietnamese operations and battle Communists in Laos.

Major General Vang Pao led their Secret Army, and the U.S. established the almost uninhabited Long Tieng as his headquarters in 1962. Kao moved there as a schoolteacher; Mayka married him and came to Long Tieng in 1966, living there with her husbands parents as Kao traveled back and forth to teach in various villages and advanced to principal, then superintendent. Forty-thousand people resided in Long Tieng at its peak.

The Hmong lived in small villages with nothing, Mayka recalled. And to go to Long Tieng, thats a city  its drama going on, its exciting to live there.

I met Mayka and Kao Xiong of Des Moines after interviewing University of Minnesota Professor Mai Na Lee about the prospect of stopping in Laos during a trip around Southeast Asia. She knew of people visiting Long Tieng over the last decade  even some Hmong Secret War veterans  but noted that the numbers were not high due to concerns about safety and accessibility. Lee introduced me to a Brooklyn Park relative of Maykas who invited me to accompany their family to Long Tieng during their travels across Laos.

Lee explained that the Chinese are looking for minerals and metals and cutting down the same forests that used to provide cover for the anti-Communist resistance. Its so sad when you see that, but theyre exploring all over for silver or gold and tin and any kind of metal they can extract, and its doing massive environmental damage on the highlands, said Lee, an associate professor of history and Asian American studies.

Its an invasion, she added, that I think Laos will regret.

After nearly an hour, the traffic ahead began to move as the sun was setting. We arrived in Long Tieng after dark and went to the home of the Xiongs family friend named Beer Lor. The father of four welcomed us inside, where dinner awaited: boiled chicken, chicken soup, sweet rice and a duck salad called larb ped filled with mint, onion and cilantro. He was from Phonsovan, near the Plain of Jars a few hours east. His late father, a colonel in the Communist army after the takeover, had moved here in 2000 and Lor followed suit.

Lor found a job working for the city of Long Tieng, but he said the government never paid him. His family had an orange grove and rice farm on the other side of the mountain, and he made a little money repairing refrigerators, electronics and other items for the townsfolk. His aunt recently moved to the Twin Cities, and he wished he could join her. Its hard to live like this, said Lor.

The Xiongs had an uncomfortable night down the road at a lodge where the mattresses were hard, the rooms were cold and the price was $4. After rising to the incessant cries of roosters, the family saw that the building had been transformed from what Kao remembered was Vang Paos radio station.

The landscape outside was lush and brilliant: Ducks and chickens roamed, and cows lounged on the main road as motorcycles roared by. Hills thick with trees loomed all around. While a number of houses had fallen into disrepair, some were grandly maintained. Driving around, the Xiongs stopped at a Hmong village. Kao joined a group of children playing tuj lub, a traditional top-spinning game. He and Mayka encouraged the children to study hard, but the young people said sometimes the teachers dont come to school because the government doesnt pay them.

Kao was excited to see that some old school buildings remained. We tried to educate [children] in case there is no war, they can have a good future, Kao said. The school grounds in his day as a superintendent had been well maintained, but he was disappointed to see the grass was overgrown and strewn with trash.

This was Hmong driver Cha Ger Muas second time in Long Tieng, having taken one group of Hmong tourists from Minnesota there the year before. When the Communists gained control, his parents fled the base and hid in the jungle, believing in vain that Vang Pao would return. They emerged four years later, forced to accept the new regime. The family landed in a Thai refugee camp in the late 1980s, and a man there took $2,000 from them with false promises that he could get them to the United States. Muas family resigned themselves to life back in Laos. He remarked that the economy was very bad.

The empty home of General Vang Pao was still standing. A pile of enormous artillery shells rested against a wall. Weathered chairs and a table were still arranged on the second-floor balcony, overlooking an array of smaller houses amid the greenery. Vang Pao was airlifted from Long Tieng on May 14, 1975. A cement square out front marked the site of a small building where Maykas brother lived while serving as an interpreter for the general.

The Xiongs former house, however, was gone. Mayka excitedly walked through a field and pointed to an opening in the fence, describing how it was on the right side by the pink flowers. Many houses used to sit close to one another on this now vacant land, and Mayka recalled that everybody knew one anothers business from their close proximity.

They saw the ruins of a CIA building and a hospital where Kaos doctor friend treated many of the injured, marked by stones crumbling in the grass, walls with no ceilings. Most poignant of all was returning to the mile-long runway that transformed Long Tieng into one of the busiest air hubs in the world in the 1960s.

What Mayka remembered most was the wailing women. She often saw helicopters returning from the battlefields carrying slain Hmong soldiers, and felt the anguish of watching young widows kiss their husbands one last time.

Now the outpost was sparsely populated and the cries of sorrow and roar of military aircraft had given way to a haunting silence in the valley. Fog still shrouded the skies, just as it did when Kaos twin brother died upon crashing his T-28 Trojan into the mountainside during the war.

Kao had stood in this spot every day as he flew back and forth to villages as a school superintendent. He was thinking about all the people he once knew, and still missed, when a van pulled up carrying four Hmong couples living in Madison, Wis. Passenger Welcum Lee enthusiastically greeted Kao. He was a student when Kao was a principal, and this was his first time back in Long Tieng since his family left in 1972.

Lee had kept in touch with Kao after they moved to the Midwest. He remembered how sometimes they didnt go to school because of the fighting, how it was very scary to observe as a boy. His three soldier brothers survived, but many classmates lost their fathers. Its exciting, Lee said of returning. Its [bringing] memories of when we were young.

U.S. forces withdrew from Laos in 1973 in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords that also mandated the pullout of American troops in Vietnam. After the fall of Saigon in April 1975, the Pathet Lao took over and the U.S. military evacuated 2,000 people out of Long Tieng. But most of the Hmong were abandoned by Americans  150,000 in all escaped Laos on their own, walking through the jungle and swimming across the Mekong, suffering starvation and enduring the deaths of loved ones.

Kaos friend, Vang Paos bodyguard, urged him to leave right away. He, Mayka and their five children escaped in a car procured by an uncle. Their youngest child was a mere eight months old, sick with fever and diarrhea. They spent the night at a village along the way, and woke up to find the baby girl cold and stiff. The Xiongs had no choice but to hastily weave a casket and bury her, then carry on their journey.

After spending one year in a Thai refugee camp, they resettled in Iowa. Kao spent many years as a government social worker; Mayka started out as a maid in a hotel and went on to alter clothes for a living. Kao felt that the state suited him because he was fond of hunting and fishing. Mayka, too, appreciated her new home: I have a better place, as she put it. She said she told her four children, one of whom died of COVID in 2021, everything about Laos. Yet she felt they didnt seem very interested.

Maykas late brother, the interpreter for Vang Pao, never considered it safe to return to Laos after he resettled in the Midwest. The closest he came, decades later, was going to Thailand, cupping his hands in the Mekong and dousing his head with the water. Then he looked across the waterway proudly toward his old homeland.

2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Visit startribune.com.

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Plaintiffs attorney Kristina Baehr speaks with reporters outside U.S. District Court in Honolulu, May 13, 2024, following the conclusion of the trial phase of Feindt vs. United States. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes)



A federal judge in Hawaii on Wednesday awarded nearly $600,000 to 17 plaintiffs who sued the U.S. government after being sickened by jet fuel-contaminated water on Oahu in late 2021  a fraction of the $7 million they had sought.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi comes a year after the two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Honolulu ended in May 2024.

The award more closely aligns with a post-trial brief from government attorneys, who recommended no more than $458,792 in total compensation.

The 17 bellwether plaintiffs in the civil case Feindt vs. United States represent the first of thousands to sue the government after the fuel spill, which tainted drinking water in military housing on and near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The decision is expected to serve as a benchmark for future claims.

The spill originated from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, a World War II-era underground complex that is now being prepared for permanent closure.

Kobayashi awarded general damages for pain and suffering ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 per plaintiff. Each was also awarded $1,000 for loss of enjoyment of life, according to the decision.

Four plaintiffs received a combined $38,489 in special damages for future medical expenses.

The lead plaintiff, Patrick Feindt, was the only one to receive compensation for economic loss, totaling $2,144. Kobayashi wrote there was no credible evidence supporting a claim for economic injury or wage loss for any other plaintiff.

Feindt and his two children were awarded just over $61,000. His wife, Army officer Amanda Feindt, has filed a separate lawsuit on behalf of active-duty service members.

The decision was a rejection of the governments assertions that the contaminated water did not cause harm, according to Just Well Law, one of the firms representing the plaintiffs.

In the ruling, Judge Kobayashi found for the families on important legal issues in the case, including that the contamination reached all neighborhoods on the Navy water line and that the families health claims were not just psychosomatic, as the Government had claimed, the firm said in a statement Thursday.

Amanda Feindt said in a text message Thursday that her family of four had undergone more than 750 medical appointments, including multiple surgeries and ongoing specialty care, since being exposed.

No dollar amount will ever change the lasting harm and institutional betrayal felt by my family, my brothers & sisters in arms, and thousands of innocent civilians who were treated like collateral damage after the Navy knowingly poisoned them and contaminated Hawaiis most precious resource  its water, she wrote.

Feindt said the real win is that Kobayashis ruling holds the Navy accountable.

This is something DOD officials have refused to do since the start of this crisis, she wrote.

The government admitted liability for the spill before trial, but its attorneys argued that plaintiffs were not exposed to enough contamination to cause harm.

Plaintiffs testified that they suffered from gastrointestinal and neurological conditions, as well as rashes, throat and mouth sores, and anxiety.
North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, in this photo issued by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on May 9, 2025. (KCNA)



North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles Thursday during a nuclear counterstrike drill overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, in what state media said was a response to recent nuclear exercises by the United States and South Korea.

The drill, held at an unspecified location, included 600 mm multiple rocket launchers and a Hwasongpho-11-Ka tactical ballistic missile, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Pyongyang claims both systems can carry tactical nuclear warheads.

Kim, who was present for the drill, said it is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force, KCNA reported. The military should continue to direct efforts to steadily improve the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons system, he added.

South Koreas military confirmed the launches, reporting Thursday that several short-range ballistic missiles were fired eastward from Wonsan, a coastal city 90 miles from Pyongyang. They flew approximately 500 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Though North Korea labels its 600 mm weapons as super large rocket launchers, South Korean officials and independent experts classify them as ballistic missiles, citing their range, size and guidance systems.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees short-range ballistic missile launches, in this photo issued by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on May 9, 2025. (KCNA)

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, in this photo issued by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on May 9, 2025. (KCNA)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees short-range ballistic missile launches, in this photo issued by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on May 9, 2025. (KCNA)

North Korea launches a short-range ballistic missile off its eastern coast, in this photo issued by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on May 9, 2025. (KCNA)



Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Seoul-based Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said such launches are kind of an ordinary thing for the communist regime, but noted the timing  a day ahead of Russias annual Victory Day holiday  may be significant.

Yang, speaking to Stars and Stripes by phone Friday, noted how North Korea has deepened ties with Russia by covertly supplying troops, weapons and ammunition for Moscows three-year invasion of Ukraine. In June, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged mutual military aid if either country is attacked.

We speculate that Russia is paying North Korea with resources, budget and high-tech military technology for Pyongyangs troops and supplies, Yang said.

South Koreas defense ministry suggested Thursdays launches may have been used to demonstrate the missiles readiness for potential export.

U.S. and South Korean forces have conducted several nuclear-threat response drills this year.

In April, the Armys Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Agency held its first two-day training course to prepare military officers from South Koreas Strategic Command to respond to a nuclear attack, according to U.S. Forces Korea.

In March, two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew alongside U.S. and South Korean aircraft in an air interdiction drill over the Souths airspace, part of ongoing efforts to counter the Norths nuclear and missile threats.
U.S. Army Col. Jin W. Park, chief of U.S. Forces Japans Okinawa Area Field Office, greets Masahito Tamari, director general of the Okinawa governors office, during the first community partnership forum at Camp Foster, Okinawa, May 9, 2025. (Jesse Davis/U.S. Marine Corps)



CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  About 35 Okinawa civilian and U.S. military leaders met Friday in a promised forum at this Marine Corps base to discuss cooperative measures to stem criminal behavior by U.S. service members on the island.

The Okinawa Community Partnership Forum was proposed last summer in response to a series of sexual assault allegations against American service members.

During the meeting, U.S. officials reviewed liberty restrictions on service members and sought opinions on improving the briefing given service members new to Okinawa, according to an unsigned statement from U.S. Forces Japan.

Prefectural police said they plan to provide lectures for service members on crime prevention, according to USFJ.

Masahito Tamari, right, director of the Okinawa governors executive office, and other prefectural and police officials arrive for the community partnership forum at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, May 9, 2025. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)



The forum also discussed expanding joint patrols by U.S. military and Okinawa authorities to Naha city, the prefectural capital, and elsewhere as requested by the U.S. military, according to USFJ. The first joint patrol was held April 18-19 in Okinawa city.

Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on trust and respect, and future meetings are planned, according to the statement.

The forum included representatives from the U.S. military on Okinawa, the Okinawa Prefectural Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Liaison Office, U.S. Consulate General Naha, Okinawa Defense Bureau, Okinawa Prefectural Police and Okinawa City, according to USFJ.

Authorities with the prefecture, prefectural police and Okinawa Defense Bureau, including Masahito Tamari, director of Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamakis executive office, arrived at the Ocean Breeze, the consolidated club at Camp Foster, shortly before 10 a.m.

The 2-hour-long session started at 10 a.m. with 30-40 participants, Tamari told reporters later at the prefectural office. More meetings are anticipated, he said.

Photos from the forum posted online by USFJ showed Tamari, Army Col. Jin W. Park, chief of USFJs Okinawa office; Army Lt. Col. Rachel Bowers, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa; and Masaru Shinzato, director of the prefectural polices Community Safety Planning Division.

U.S. Army Col. Jin W. Park, chief of U.S. Forces Japans Okinawa Area Field Office, gives opening remarks at the first community partnership forum at Camp Foster, Okinawa, May 9, 2025. (Jesse Davis/U.S. Marine Corps)



Then-USFJ commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp in July proposed the forum following a rash of sexual assault allegations against U.S. service members since December 2023.

One case resulted in a conviction and three are still pending in Naha District Court. Some cases were dismissed.

Pfc. Austin R. Wedington, 27, of California, was charged April 30 with sexually assaulting a Japanese woman and injuring another woman at Camp Foster in March.

Two Marines  Lance Cpls. Jamel Clayton and Michael Hofmaster  face trial in separate sexual assault cases from last year. Clayton is scheduled for trial June 2. Hofmasters trial has not been scheduled.

In December, Air Force Senior Airman Brennon R.E. Washington was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December 2023. He has appealed his sentence of five years in prison with labor.

Okinawas Prefectural Assembly on Friday approved letters to U.S. and Japanese officials regarding Wedingtons indictment.

The letters call for regular forum meetings to prevent future incidents involving U.S. service members. They also called for revisions to the U.S. status of forces agreement governing the U.S. troop presence in Japan, new preventative measures and apologies and compensation to the victim.
A Ukrainian rescuer works to extinguish a fire at the site of a drone attack in Kharkiv on April 29, 2025. (Sergey Bobok, AFP/Getty Images/TNS)



WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  President Donald Trump called for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to pave the way for talks on a lasting peace agreement, and threatened to impose further sanctions if a truce is violated.

Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations, Trump said in a social media post. If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions.

Trumps comments underscored how he remains focused on halting the fighting immediately and contradicted Vice President JD Vance, who said Wednesday that the U.S. has tried to move beyond the obsession with a 30-day ceasefire and more on what would the long-term settlement look like.

Trump also appeared to contradict Vance and other members of the administration who have repeatedly threatened to walk away from the discussions unless an agreement is reached soon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to enter direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has continued to insist on maximalist demands as a condition to stop fighting, including taking control of four regions in Ukraine it does not fully occupy.

As president, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! Trump wrote in the post.

The U.S. has previously floated proposals to end the war that would broadly freeze the conflict along current lines, leaving most of the territory occupied by Russia in Moscows hands after more than three years of fighting. The Trump administration is also prepared to recognize the Ukrainian region of Crimea as Russian, Bloomberg reported in April.

Ukraine and its allies have been urging the U.S. to increase pressure on Moscow, including through more restrictions on energy exports and oil revenues, to force it into a ceasefire on terms proposed by Trump.

The U.S. and European Union have already imposed an unprecedented level of sanctions on Moscow since its February 2022 invasion but have been unable to force Putin to stop the fighting.

Vance said last month that both sides would have to make territorial concessions to bring an end to the conflict that was ignited in 2022 when Putins forces launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

2025 Bloomberg LP

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Record-breaking Canton Fair highlights China's trade resilience

Xinhua) 08:19, May 09, 2025

This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a scene at the venue of the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

GUANGZHOU, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Defying global trade headwinds, the just-concluded 137th China Import and Export Fair set multiple records, demonstrating great vitality in foreign trade and injecting fresh momentum into global trade development.

Also known as the Canton Fair, the event, which concluded on Monday in south China's Guangdong Province, attracted over 288,000 overseas buyers, a 17.3 percent increase from the session of the same period last year and a new high, according to the China Foreign Trade Centre (CFTC), the organizer of the fair.

Another record high was set by the number of leading multinational purchasing enterprises participating in the fair -- reaching 376.

"The fair's phenomenal turnout demonstrates international buyers' strong endorsement of high-quality 'Made in China' products and underscores China's pivotal role in global supply chains," said Mao Yanhua, director of the Institute of Regional Openness and Cooperation at Sun Yat-sen University.

WIDESPREAD OPTIMISM

"I'm continually impressed by China's technology and unmatched manufacturing excellence. This inspires our great optimism about the economic prospects of China," said Osama Alrefaei, China general manager of Alrefaei trading company from Saudi Arabia, who attended the session.

At the 136th Canton Fair last year, Alrefaei inked a collaboration agreement with a Chinese baby products supplier. They are currently finalizing the terms of cooperation to jointly create a new baby product brand, which will be sold in Saudi Arabia.

Among the record-breaking participation of over 288,000 overseas buyers at the 137th Canton Fair, there were over 170,000 first-time attendees, up 14.6 percent year on year.

"This is our first time participating in the fair, and our focus is on processing machinery and equipment," said a purchasing manager with DF import and export company from Vietnam. "With China's 'technology toolbox,' more and more Southeast Asian countries are accelerating their transformation from assembly workshops to manufacturing hubs."

Despite the current complex international situation, overseas buyers demonstrated strong confidence in China and Chinese products, with many emphasizing their visit was more than just symbolic -- the 137th Canton Fair has recorded 25.44 billion U.S. dollars in on-site intended export deals.

According to the organizer, the international buyers come from 219 countries and regions. Purchasers from countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation totaled 187,450, up 17.4 percent year on year and representing 64.9 percent of all overseas buyers.

"The fair holds an irreplaceable position in our business ecosystem," said Davut Taser, general manager of Hometraz Trading Company from Turkiye, which has been participating in the Canton Fair for 25 years.

Taser noted that many of the company's core components come from China, calling such complementary cooperation "a vivid reflection of global industrial chains."

PRODUCT UPGRADE

According to Chinese exhibitors at the 137th Canton Fair, products with exceptional quality, innovative features, and strong brand recognition have gained particular favor among international buyers, further boosting their confidence in pursuing diversified market expansion.

After ordering 100 mobile smart panels manufactured by Shenzhen KTC Commercial Display Technology Co., Ltd. at the fair, a thrilled international purchaser even wanted to take away the company's exhibition samples as well.

"The market has voted -- our innovative products are worth the price," said Liu Feng, general manager of the commercial sales department of the Guangdong-based company. "We have completed our technology reserves and will deploy them when market conditions mature, aiming to attract more clients from emerging markets such as Central Asia, the Middle East, and South America."

As buyers arrive with higher expectations, Chinese companies are responding with more diverse and higher-quality products and services. Zhang Sihong, deputy director of the CFTC, noted that this edition of the Canton Fair has seen a surge in new technologies, innovative designs, advanced materials, and cutting-edge manufacturing processes.

A total of 4.55 million exhibits were showcased, including 1.02 million new products, 880,000 green and low-carbon products, and 320,000 smart products.

Deevesh Khatri, business development manager of Emerald Appliances from Dubai, has been visiting the Canton Fair with his father for over a decade, and now 99 percent of the firm's suppliers are sourced from the event.

"It's like a one-stop supermarket and an industry think tank," he said. "Here, we spot trends, expand our network, and even reinvent our business models."

Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong. It is the longest-running of several international trade events in China and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.

According to the General Administration of Customs, China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks at the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Friday March 7, 2025. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)



Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a treaty he is set to sign with President Emmanuel Macron on Friday will open the way toward potentially sharing the protection from French nuclear missiles.

The pact due to be sealed in the eastern French city of Nancy will include a pledge of mutual military assistance in an event of an armed conflict and extend into defense industry cooperation, Tusk told reporters in Warsaw. He described the provisions in the treaty as groundbreaking from the point of view of our security.

The move to forge the economic and military cooperation between both countries comes amid uncertainty over the extent of the future US military support for Ukraine and growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on European allies to take responsibility for their own defense.

Tusk said earlier this year that Poland is in serious talks with France over Macrons proposal to use his countrys nuclear capabilities to defend European allies. The prime minister also warned the continent could face war with Russia in the next few years.

The treaty of course opens up the possibility which we will describe later in technical and financial details, Tusk said on Friday.

Successive Polish governments have staked the countrys security on forging close relations with Washington. Warsaw has spent billions of dollars on contracts with U.S. defense contractors and picked US-based Westinghouse Electric Co. reactors for its first atomic energy plant.

Poland also succeeded to convince the U.S. to station about 10,000 troops on its soil, a long-sought security goal. But the attempts to lobby the previous U.S. administration to get Warsaw involved in its nuclear-sharing program yielded no results.

Strengthened military cooperation with European powers is something that is expected by our American ally, Tusk told reporters. The treaty doesnt present an alternative to transatlantic relations, but will complement them, the prime minister said, adding that Poland is working on a similar security pact with the U.K.

Rearmament

The nuclear push adds to Warsaws already ambitious rearmament program spurred by Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbor Ukraine more than three years ago. Poland has been ramping up military investment by purchasing weapons from the U.S. and South Korea, in part to replace military equipment donated to Kyiv.

Warsaw plans to spend a record $46 billion for defense this year, or 4.7% of economic output, up from around 4% last year.

But the embrace of Macrons proposal could face a number of obstacles. Frances nuclear shield is independent of the NATO security guarantees which extend to Poland. Warsaw is also committed not to acquire atomic weapons itself as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Tusk said that the agreement is set to forge closer ties between Warsaw and Paris as Poland and France seek a stronger voice in the European Union. The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Warsaw on Wednesday, the same day he also met Macron for his first foreign trip.

The latest diplomatic push comes little more than a week before Poles vote in a crucial presidential election on May 18 with national security emerging as one of the key topics in the campaign.

This gives an idea of not only how Polands position is growing, but also how much of a safer country we are becoming, said Tusk.

With assistance from Agnieszka Barteczko.
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders attend the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2025. Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)



(Tribune News Service)  President Vladimir Putin said Russia would achieve its strategic objectives in Ukraine as he insisted the country was united behind his war.

That strength of spirit has always brought us only victory, Putin said Friday at the May 9 military parade on Moscows Red Square marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Russia will always rely on our unity in military and peaceful affairs, in achieving strategic goals.

Putin spoke after U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called for a 30-day ceasefire in Russias war on Ukraine to allow for talks on a lasting peace deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said hes willing to abide by a 30-day truce. Putin has so far resisted a halt to fighting while insisting on Russias maximalist demands in return for a settlement to the war he started thats now in its fourth year.

Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, Trump said in a social media post. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.

Putin made no reference to Trumps call for a ceasefire during his speech. The Russian leader announced a three-day truce from May 8-10 for the 80th anniversary commemorations. Zelenskyy, who didnt commit to that pause, called Thursday for Russia to accept a lasting and reliable truce after the Ukrainian president held a phone call with Trump.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sat next to Putin on Red Square for the parade that included 11,500 troops as well as tanks, missiles and other military hardware. Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi were also among leaders from more than 20 countries including Venezuela, Cuba, Vietnam and former Soviet republics such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan who attended.

Putins February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has put Russia in confrontation with the U.S. and Europe and challenged the post-WWII order by attempting to redraw state borders by force.

He offered a gesture of conciliation in his speech, saying Russia highly valued the contribution of U.S. and European allies in their common fight against Nazi Germany.

Xi told Putin during a chat over tea in Moscow on Thursday that China hopes a fair, lasting and binding peace deal could be reached through dialogue to end the war in Ukraine, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Xi didnt elaborate on what a possible deal should look like.

The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress for a deal after Trump sought unsuccessfully to bring an end to the war within the first 100 days of his return to the presidency in January. While top U.S. officials previously threatened to walk away from negotiations unless an agreement is reached soon, Trump said Thursday hed stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans.

Russia has demanded full control of four regions of Ukraine that it only partly controls and international recognition of its sovereignty over the territories. It wants a halt to Western arms supplies to Kyiv and says it wont accept any NATO forces in Ukraine.

The U.S. has proposed freezing the conflict broadly along current front lines, handing Russia effective control of the territory it occupies. The Trump administration is also willing to recognize Crimea, which Putin seized in 2014, as Russian, Bloomberg reported in April, and has accepted Russian calls for Ukraine to abandon its goal of joining NATO.

A meeting between Putin and Trump is getting closer, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state television Thursday. Trump said later that he doesnt expect to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia during his trip to the Middle East next week.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was the only European Union leader to attend the military parade. He was forced to take a longer route to reach Moscow when the Baltic states refused overflight permission for his government plane to travel to Moscow.

Chinese troops marched alongside Russian soldiers on Red Square on Friday, the latest demonstration of the no limits friendship that Xi and Putin declared shortly before Russias invasion of Ukraine began. Armies from 13 countries were taking part in the parade, according to Ushakov.

Putin later chatted with several North Korean military officers whod watched the parade, a rare sighting abroad of top army officials from the secretive state. He last month thanked North Koreas army for sending soldiers to help Russian troops oust Ukrainian forces occupying part of Russias Kursk border region.

The Soviet Unions victory at the cost of 27 million lives in whats known as the Great Patriotic War from 1941 to 1945 is a shared memory of families across the former Communist superpower, including in Ukraine and Russia. The Kremlin has increasingly sought to co-opt that common history to rally public support for Putins war on Ukraine, by falsely casting the government in Kyiv as dominated by fascists and presenting Russian soldiers as descendants of the troops who fought the Nazis.

Thats even as it was Russia that sparked Europes worst conflict since WWII by invading Ukraine and occupying part of its territory.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signs the restoring good order and discipline through balance of accountability memorandum at the Pentagon on April 23, 2025. (Madelyn Keech, U.S. Air Force/Defense Department)



WASHINGTON  The Pentagon issued a new deadline for transgender troops to voluntarily separate from military service following a Supreme Court ruling earlier this week.

Active-duty transgender troops have until June 6 to begin the process of separating from the armed forces or risk being booted out, according to a memo signed Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Reserve troops have until July 7. After those dates, the services will begin involuntarily booting out transgender troops.

This is the presidents agenda. This is what the American people voted for and were going to continue to relentlessly pursue it, Hegseth said in a recorded video shared Thursday on X.

After a SCOTUS victory for @POTUS, TRANS is out at the DOD. pic.twitter.com/4WkEhSS3dL  Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 8, 2025

The Defense Departments Rapid Response X account commented in response to the video: No more pronouns. No more drag shows. No more dudes in dresses. NO MORE TRANS AT THE DOD.

Approximately 1,000 troops across the services have already self-identified as having been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman. The services will begin processing those troops for voluntary separation.

The announcement follows a Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that allows President Donald Trumps administration to enforce a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges to the policy proceed.

Lawsuits and the courts ruling were sparked by an executive order signed Jan. 27 by Trump that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service and could lead to the expulsion of experienced, decorated officers. Trumps order claims the sexual identity of transgender service members conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in ones personal life.

Hegseth then issued a policy in February that gave the military services 30 days to figure out how they would seek out and identify transgender service members to remove them from the military. The order included troops with a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria, which is the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity dont match. The medical condition has been linked to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Service by individuals with a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibiting symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is not in the best interest of the military services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security, according to the memo signed by Hegseth.

In February, the Army shared on social media that it would halt processing new recruit candidates with a history of gender dysphoria.

Two transgender airmen in March filed a suit in federal court in New Jersey to try to block the Air Force from firing them. The judge blocked their impending dismissal for 14 days, keeping the men in service as the broader challenge to the Trump administrations policy proceeded.

The Navy, also in March, said sailors and Marines who are no longer eligible for military service, as well as potential new recruits, might be considered for a retention or recruitment waiver on a case-by-case basis provided there is a compelling government interest in that individuals ability to support warfighting capabilities directly. It is unclear whether that policy still stands.

Roughly 2,000 transgender people serve in the military, representing less than 1% of active-duty service members. There are about 4,200 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria serving in the active-duty, National Guard and Reserve forces, a senior defense official said in February.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Members of the U.S. Armys 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and NATO partner forces clear a trench at night during training at an undisclosed location in Poland on April 14, 2025. (Liseth Espinel Cuervo/U.S. Army)



The Pentagon is overhauling its special operations doctrine to sharpen key skills and align with the White Houses Indo-Pacific focus, a senior defense official said this week.

Colby Jenkins, the acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, outlined the changes Thursday in his keynote address at the Special Operations Forces Week convention in Tampa, Fla., according to a Defense Department statement the same day.

This is our moment to forge the future of special operations, said Jenkins, a former member of Army Special Forces. He added that its a future where resilience, adaptability and speed win the day.

The annual convention draws upward of 20,000 people, including influential defense officials and world leaders. Sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command and the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation, it began in its current format in 2023.

Colby Jenkins, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, addresses the audience during the Special Operations Forces Week convention in Tampa, Fla., on May 8, 2025. (Cutler Brice/U.S. Marine Corps)



Among the priorities Jenkins listed were a shift from stationary counterterrorism and crisis response formations toward more flexible teams able to operate by land, sea, air and in the cyber realm.

The future of SOF is relentless, smaller teams, faster decisions, smarter systems (and) harder targets, he said. We cannot afford to simply maintain the old standards. We must sharpen them, modernize them and expand them without losing the warrior ethos that (defines) our special operations.

The Pentagon also will focus on resilience, improving training and readiness, aligning development to priorities and strengthening the oversight of resources and accountability, Jenkins said.

During his speech, he vowed to harness artificial intelligence and invited the special operations community to contribute ideas regarding its future.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was in attendance, also thanked the special operators for maintaining physical standards, noting that standards must be high throughout the armed services.

The comments came as the Pentagon conducts a global review of the militarys force posture, including special operations.

Lawmakers also must consider the role of special operators in such White House priorities as securing the southern border and fighting foreign drug cartels, the Congressional Research Service said in a March report.

The U.S. Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., includes about 70,000 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel, the report said.
The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders to pull and review all library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, 2025. (Katharine Winchell/U.S. Air Force)



WASHINGTON  The Pentagon has ordered senior leaders to pull and review all library books at military educational institutions that address diversity, critical race theory or gender ideology by May 21.

The sole focus of the [Defense] Departments military educational institutions  is to train and educate the worlds finest military leaders in support of that core mission, Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defense undersecretary for personnel, wrote in a memorandum signed Friday.

In a separate memo Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced there will be no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex in admissions to military service academies. The focus will be exclusively on merit.

The memo ordered the service academies to rank candidates, starting with the 2026 admissions cycle, by using merit-based scores within each nomination category. Hegseth wrote the goal is to accept the highest-ranking candidates in each category.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provides a keynote speech on May 6, 2025, during the kickoff of Special Operations Forces Week 2025 in Tampa Bay, Fla. (Marleah Miller/U.S. Air Force)



The orders issued Friday are the latest efforts in a campaign that began in January by the Trump administration to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials.

Educational materials at institutions such as war colleges and military service academies promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the departments core mission, Dill wrote.

Additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and determine an appropriate ultimate disposition for those materials. The memo does not say what will happen to the books.

A temporary Academic Libraries Committee, or ALC, set up by the Pentagon will provide information on the review and decisions about the books.

The ALC provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. Some of the search terms include affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege.

Last month, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., removed nearly 400 books from the Nimitz Library because their subject matter was seen as being related to diversity, equity and inclusion topics.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January that banned DEI materials in kindergarten through 12th grade education. Hegseths office, however, informed the Naval Academy on March 28 that the defense secretary intended the order to apply to the academy as well, The New York Times reported.

The Naval Academys purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelous autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Weeks later, the libraries at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., were told to go through their stacks to find books related to DEI content.

Students in schools run by the Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA, have staged walkouts to protest the Pentagons decision to pull books based on DEI content.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a motion Wednesday for a preliminary injunction on behalf of six families with students enrolled in DODEA schools. They have a lawsuit pending against DODEA that accuses the Trump administration of system-wide censorship in violation of their First Amendment rights.

The new motion contains a list of 233 books that the families contend have been removed from circulation.
Chinese vice premier meets Saudi Aramco's chairman

Xinhua) 08:26, May 09, 2025

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of the board of directors of Saudi Aramco, in Beijing, capital of China, May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of the board of directors of Saudi Aramco, in Beijing on Thursday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership had developed rapidly with deepened cooperation in various fields.

Noting that Saudi Aramco has long been an active player in China's reform and opening up as well as modernization drive, Ding said it is hoped that both sides will continue to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as energy and chemical engineering, actively carry out cooperation on sci-tech innovation and green transformation, work together to maintain the stability of the global industrial and supply chains and the multilateral trading system, and make greater contributions to China-Saudi Arabia relations and the world economy.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan said that Saudi Aramco had always been optimistic about China's development prospects and is willing to further expand investment and trade cooperation with China, making contributions to the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
He used apps including Whizz, Snapchat and Instagram to befriend and exploit victims

Online predator Max Hollingsbee who groomed and abused at least 14 girls receives five-year sentence

A 21-year-old County Armagh man has been sentenced to five years and two months for a litany of online sexual offences against teenage girls.

Earlier today, Max Hollingsbee, from Lurgan, was sentenced for his crimes against 14 girls.

His crimes fall into the broader field of online catfishing  where someone uses a false identity to gain the trust of someone before exploiting them, also often referred to as "sextortion".

Hollingsbee had previously pleaded guilty to 42 charges across two indictments, which prosecutors believe represents all of his offending.

The offences included causing children under 16 to engage in sexual activity, blackmail, possessing indecent photographs, attempted intimidation, unauthorised access to computer material, sexual communications with a child and the distribution of indecent images of a child.

Half of his sentence will be served in prison and half on licence.

Two arrested after teenager seriously assaulted in Waterford

At Craigavon Crown Court on Friday morning, Judge Donna McColgan said Hollingsbee's offending had taken place between 2021 and 2023 when he was 17-19.

He used apps including Whizz, Snapchat and Instagram to befriend and exploit victims, blackmailing them into providing him with explicit images.

The court heard that Hollingsbee had an IQ in the top 4 percent of the population with a particular expertise in technology which he used for nefarious purposes. He also hacked some of the girls accounts to obtain further images.

The court also heard Hollingsbee had low self esteem and had been bullied from a young age but had exhibited an addiction to power, control and sexual satisfaction.

According to Public Prosecution Service assistant director Catherine Kierans, Hollingsbee was 17 when he began abusing girls online.

"He pretended to be a younger male and on occasions a female to gain the trust of other younger people," she said.

"He then proceeded to threaten and extort these children to provide him with naked images of themselves."

Ms Kierans said 14 young women across the UK were now dealing with the fallout of the case which, like others of its kind, began on social media.
Joseph O'Connor (63) called gardai c***s and repeatedly told them to f**k off.

A drunken man who verbally abused gardai was having a blow-out with friends before a major operation that only had a 50 percent chance of success, a court heard.

Joseph O'Connor (63) called gardai c***s and repeatedly told them to f**k off.

He apologised to gardai for his behaviour, and was ordered to donate 400 to the Laura Lynn Hospice to avoid a conviction.

The defendant, with an address at Oak Court Avenue in Palmerstown, Dublin 20, admitted public intoxication and threatening and abusive behaviour.

Garda Eva Mahedy told Blanchardstown District Court that gardai were called to the Castleknock Hotel shortly after 4am on February 9, last year.

Gda Mahedy said O'Connor was intoxicated, and repeatedly shouted f**k off to gardai. He also called officers c***s.

She said O'Connor was arrested for a breach of the peace, and again told gardai to f**k off. He continued to be verbally abusive to gardai in the station.

Stock image

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

The court heard O'Connor had never been in trouble before.

Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin said O'Connor was highly intoxicated on the night in question.

Mr MacLoughlin said O'Connor had a blowout with friends as four days later he was due to have an operation on a carotid artery. He'd been told the operation only had a 50pc chance of success.

Mr MacLoughlin said O'Connor had been in the hotel bar, and had gone into reception to ask them to call him a taxi, as he had no credit on his mobile phone.

The defendant wished to sincerely apologise to the garda for his behaviour, Mr MacLoughlin added.
MMA fighter Charlie Ward appeared at Dublin District Court following an investigation by the Garda anti-corruption unit.

MMA fighter Charlie Ward is to stand trial accused of corruption offences involving bribes for confidential information from a Garda and helping to pervert the course of justice.

The mixed martial artist, 44, of Acragar, Mountmellick and co-accused Noel Carroll, 57, of Ballyfinn Road, Portlaoise, both Co Laois, appeared at Dublin District Court following an investigation by the Garda anti-corruption unit.

Detective Sergeant Paul Dowling and Kieran Kilcoyne said the two men made no reply when charged.

Judge Treasa Kelly noted the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that they face trial on indictment.

Charlie Ward.

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

She remanded them on bail to appear again on July 25 to be served with books of evidence and sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.

They have yet to indicate pleas.

Charlie Ward.

Following applications by defence solicitors Michael Kelleher and Oscar Banahan, who provided statements of their clients means, Judge Kelly granted them legal aid.

The pair face charges contrary to section 5 of the 2018 Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act about requests for information concerning three men.

According to the court documents, on March 2, 2022, at an unknown location in the state, both men corruptly requested a gift, consideration or advantage on account of a named garda requesting that confidential information relating to another named person be obtained and disclosed. Mr Ward is accused of the same type of offence on February 28, 2022, about Garda information on a second male.

Another charge states that on the previous day, Mr Ward corruptly offered the same officer an inducement for doing an act in relation to his employment as a member of An Garda Siochana.

Mr Ward is also accused of an offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law Act 1997.

That alleges that between October 15 -17, 2019, both dates inclusive, when another person committed an arrestable offence, namely, perverting the course of justice, that he did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence.

It is alleged that on January 26, 2022, at an unknown location, Mr Carroll corruptly requested a gift consideration or advantage on account of the garda seeking confidential information about a search operation at the home of a third named man.
Mohak Sharma (31) was stopped by gardai after he drove around a corner on the wrong side of the road.

An IT worker dangerously drove his car home from a party after he was racially abused at a bus stop, a court heard.

Mohak Sharma (31) was stopped by gardai after he drove around a corner on the wrong side of the road.

Sharma had planned to take the bus home, but he was afraid for his safety after he was racially abused while waiting for the bus. Judge David McHugh fined Sharma 500 and disqualified him from driving for two years.

The defendant, with an address at Lohunda Drive in Clonsilla, Dublin 15 admitted dangerous driving and drink driving.

Garda Damien Greene told Blanchardstown District Court he was on mobile patrol at Blakestown Road in Blanchardstown on October 14 last year when he came across Sharma, whose vehicle was wandering across the road.

Blanchardstown District Court

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

Sharma failed the roadside breath test, Gda Greene said, and later provided a blood sample which was above the legal driving limit.

Sharma had planned to leave his car at his friends house and get the bus home.

However, he was afraid and made the decision to get into his car. It wasnt an excuse, but an explanation for Sharmas behaviour, his solicitor said.
GUANGZHOU, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Defying global trade headwinds, the just-concluded 137th China Import and Export Fair set multiple records, demonstrating great vitality in foreign trade and injecting fresh momentum into global trade development. Also known as the Canton Fair, the event, which concluded on Monday in south China's Guangdong Province, attracted over 288,000 overseas buyers, a 17.3 percent increase from the session of the same period last year and a new high, according to the China Foreign Trade Centre (CFTC), the organizer of the fair. Another record high was set by the number of leading multinational purchasing enterprises participating in the fair -- reaching 376. "The fair's phenomenal turnout demonstrates international buyers' strong endorsement of high-quality 'Made in China' products and underscores China's pivotal role in global supply chains," said Mao Yanhua, director of the Institute of Regional Openness and Cooperation at Sun Yat-sen University. WIDESPREAD OPTIMISM "I'm continually impressed by China's technology and unmatched manufacturing excellence. This inspires our great optimism about the economic prospects of China," said Osama Alrefaei, China general manager of Alrefaei trading company from Saudi Arabia, who attended the session. At the 136th Canton Fair last year, Alrefaei inked a collaboration agreement with a Chinese baby products supplier. They are currently finalizing the terms of cooperation to jointly create a new baby product brand, which will be sold in Saudi Arabia. Among the record-breaking participation of over 288,000 overseas buyers at the 137th Canton Fair, there were over 170,000 first-time attendees, up 14.6 percent year on year. "This is our first time participating in the fair, and our focus is on processing machinery and equipment," said a purchasing manager with DF import and export company from Vietnam. "With China's 'technology toolbox,' more and more Southeast Asian countries are accelerating their transformation from assembly workshops to manufacturing hubs." Despite the current complex international situation, overseas buyers demonstrated strong confidence in China and Chinese products, with many emphasizing their visit was more than just symbolic -- the 137th Canton Fair has recorded 25.44 billion U.S. dollars in on-site intended export deals. According to the organizer, the international buyers come from 219 countries and regions. Purchasers from countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation totaled 187,450, up 17.4 percent year on year and representing 64.9 percent of all overseas buyers. "The fair holds an irreplaceable position in our business ecosystem," said Davut Taser, general manager of Hometraz Trading Company from Turkiye, which has been participating in the Canton Fair for 25 years. Taser noted that many of the company's core components come from China, calling such complementary cooperation "a vivid reflection of global industrial chains." PRODUCT UPGRADE According to Chinese exhibitors at the 137th Canton Fair, products with exceptional quality, innovative features, and strong brand recognition have gained particular favor among international buyers, further boosting their confidence in pursuing diversified market expansion. After ordering 100 mobile smart panels manufactured by Shenzhen KTC Commercial Display Technology Co., Ltd. at the fair, a thrilled international purchaser even wanted to take away the company's exhibition samples as well. "The market has voted -- our innovative products are worth the price," said Liu Feng, general manager of the commercial sales department of the Guangdong-based company. "We have completed our technology reserves and will deploy them when market conditions mature, aiming to attract more clients from emerging markets such as Central Asia, the Middle East, and South America." As buyers arrive with higher expectations, Chinese companies are responding with more diverse and higher-quality products and services. Zhang Sihong, deputy director of the CFTC, noted that this edition of the Canton Fair has seen a surge in new technologies, innovative designs, advanced materials, and cutting-edge manufacturing processes. A total of 4.55 million exhibits were showcased, including 1.02 million new products, 880,000 green and low-carbon products, and 320,000 smart products. Deevesh Khatri, business development manager of Emerald Appliances from Dubai, has been visiting the Canton Fair with his father for over a decade, and now 99 percent of the firm's suppliers are sourced from the event. "It's like a one-stop supermarket and an industry think tank," he said. "Here, we spot trends, expand our network, and even reinvent our business models." Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong. It is the longest-running of several international trade events in China and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade. According to the General Administration of Customs, China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025.
Transcending time, space to safeguard common historical memory

11:01, May 09, 2025 By Chu Mengqi, Elena Davydova, Deng Jie, Li Mingqi, Yuan Meng, Cui Yue, Jin Yumeng ( People's Daily Online

During the World Anti-Fascist War, the Chinese and Russian peoples fought shoulder to shoulder and supported each other. In the darkest hours of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Volunteer Group, which was part of the Soviet Air Force, came to Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing to fight alongside the Chinese people, bravely engaging Japanese invaders in aerial combat-many sacrificing their precious lives. At the critical juncture of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, Yan Baohang, a legendary intelligence agent of the Communist Party of China (CPC) who was hailed as the "Richard Sorge of the East," provided the Soviet Union with primary-source intelligence.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War. As the two main battlefields in Asia and Europe, China and Russia fought side by side, supporting each other in the fight against fascism and militarism. The strong camaraderie between the two nations, forged in blood and sacrifice, surges onward unceasingly, mighty as the Yellow River and the Volga. It is an eternal wellspring nourishing their everlasting friendship.

Today, the pines and cypresses in the Soviet Martyrs' Cemetery of the War of Resistance in Wuhan Liberation Park remain evergreen, and the younger generation pay homage with respect and admiration. Follow People's Daily Online reporter Elena as she revisits this heroic story and bears witness to this friendship across borders.

(Han Yukun and Jiao Huiting, as interns, also contributed to this video.)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chengliang)
Earlier, the court heard that a phone linked to Mr Satchwell, who told gardai that he kept the body of his wife Tina in a freezer before burying her beneath their home

Richard Satchwell was "flogging" his wife Tina's clothes at a car boot sale just weeks after her alleged murder and claimed she had gone to her sister's in the UK after contracting a "terrible infection", witnesses have told his trial.

Earlier, the court heard that a phone linked to Mr Satchwell, who told gardai that he kept the body of his wife Tina in a freezer before burying her beneath their home, posted an ad on Done Deal reading "Large chest freezer free to take away, working perfect just needs a clean" days after her alleged murder.

The trial has heard that on March 24, 2017, Mr Satchwell told gardai that his wife Tina had left their home four days earlier but that he had no concerns over her welfare, feeling she had left due to a deterioration in their relationship. The accused reported that Tina had taken approximately 26,000 from their savings from a box in the attic. The accused formally reported his wife missing the following May but her body was not discovered for over six years, when gardai in October 2023 conducting "an invasive search" of the Satchwell's home found her decomposed remains in a grave that had been dug underneath the stairs.

FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT

Forensic accountant Tadhg Twomey told Gerardine Small SC, prosecuting, today that he was aware Mr Satchwell had told gardai that his wife had taken 26K, which had been raised over a four to five-year period. Mr Twomey said the accused had stated publicly that the 26K was from the sale of the couple's property in Youghal and that they could make up to 200 a week from selling items at car boot sales.

The witness said that, while looking through the couple's finances, he was made aware that Tina Satchwell had an account with 'Littlewoods Ireland' with a credit line for a maximum of 4,500. He said that from mid-2016 to February/March 2017, this line of credit was 90 per cent used and by the end of 2017 it was fully breached. He said there were significant arrears building up on the account at the time.

Richard Satchwell leaves the District Court in Cashel, Co Tipperary, after being charged in connection with the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Twomey said the sale of a house in Fermoy was for 120K, which was used to pay off fees for the purchase of the house on Grattan Street in Youghal. He said at the end of that process 372 in remaining funds was left to the Satchwells. The witness testified that there was "no sign" the Satchwells had received "a significant cash windfall" to provide them with 26k in savings.

Under cross-examination, the witness agreed with Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that Tina had no recorded employment.

'DONE DEAL'

Sergeant Ciaran Crowley told Ms Small that he had conducted enquiries with the website 'DoneDeal' about the activities of Richard and Tina Satchwell.

The Sgt said he received a response from 'DoneDeal' on August 10 2017 stating that an advert associated with Mr Satchwell's phone had been published at 9.49am on March 31, 2017 which read: "Large chest freezer free to take away, working perfect just needs a clean only, giving away because I need the space".

CAR BOOT SALE ENTHUSIASTS Mary Crowley told Ms Small that she attended a car boot sale on April 17, 2017 in Blarney and she saw Mr Satchwell with his stall selling 'Dr Martens' boots. Ms Crowley said Mr Satchwell told her that he and his wife had moved into a house which had been unoccupied for 12 years and had mould or fungus. He said Tina had gotten a "very serious respiratory illness" and was in the UK. The witness added: "I must have said what will she [Tina] say when she comes back and you're flogging her stuff. He said 'she told me to sell them as we need money to make repairs to the house'." She said the accused told her that Tina was immunocompromised. The daughter of the previous witness, Julie Crowley, said Mr Satchwell told her and her mother that his wife had developed a serious respiratory infection when they moved into a house. The accused told them the house needed serious structural work and approval from the health board. She said Mr Satchwell said he and his wife were raising money for work that had to be done on the house.

Richard Satchwell at Youghal Harbour near his home on Grattan Street

The next witness, Ger Carey, said he got to know Tina Satchwell through car boot sales in Cork. Mr Carey said he met the accused at his stall at the Blarney car boot sale. "I said 'has Tina gone walkabout', he said 'no she is not here today'. He said she had gotten very ill and was with her sister in England who was looking after her". Mr Carey said the accused told him that Tina was so ill she wouldn't be at car boot sales anymore. Under cross-examination, Mr Carey agreed with the defence he had said in his statement that Mr Satchwell told him Tina wouldn't be the same again, and not that he wouldn't see her at car boot sales anymore. Linda Hennessy said she was at the Rathcormac car boot sale in late March/early April 2017 and met Richard Satchwell. She asked Richard whether Tina was "running around buying stuff" but said he had put his head down.

Richard Satchwell pictured holding a photo of his wife Tina. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

News in 90 seconds - 8th May 2025

"I waited until the people went. I went over and said 'is Tina alright'. 'No' he said, 'she is not, she is very sick and in hospital'," said the witness. The witness asked Richard what hospital and whether she could go to see her. "He said to me you can't, she's gone over now to the UK to her sister". She said Richard told her that Tina had got a "terrible infection" through "dry rot" from the walls in their house. "I said right, how come you didn't get it. He looked down. I said are you in contact with her on the phone, please send my regards to her," said the witness. When Ms Hennessy asked the accused whether he was going to the UK, Mr Satchwell said he had to get passports for the dogs. Under cross-examination, the witness agreed with the defence that it was normal for the couple to sell Tina's "stuff'.

ACCUSED'S FIRST ARREST IN 2023

Detective Garda David Kelleher said he went with a search warrant to Grattan Street in Youghal at 5pm on October 10 2023, where he arrested Mr Satchwell for the murder of Tina Satchwell on or about March 19 2017 and brought him to Cobh Garda Station.

In his interview with gardai at 8.05pm that night, Mr Satchwell said his wife asked him to go to Dungarvan on the morning of March 20 2017 and when he arrived back a couple of hours later Tina's keys were on the floor and her phone was in the kitchen. He spotted that two suitcases were missing as well as 26K, which he said didn't surprise him. He said he went to bed that night and the next few days were "a blur".

He said he was "nervy", pacing around the house and hadn't slept that week. "My companion I had walked around with for 30 years was not walking beside me so I was lonely. I was 100 percent convinced she was in Fermoy. I kept the same routine going until the Friday". He told gardai he had measured up plasterboard for the ceilings of the house in the shed and busied himself around the house that week.

The accused said he reported his wife missing to gardai on March 24 when he went to Tina's relatives in Fermoy and she wasn't there. "It's like having 20 tons of brick having fallen on you when realise she wasn't where thought she was". He said he went home and was "an emotional wreck".

Tina Satchwell

Mr Satchwell told detectives he drove around looking at places she had been and went to a couple of car boots sales that week. He said he told everyone except one person that Tina wasn't feeling well and "tried to keep it that she had dignity if she came back".

Asked about March 19 2017, the accused told gardai that when Tina got out of the bath that night he would have two towels on the bed and then rubbed baby oil into her. She put on her nightie and got into bed. He said he then got into the same bath water and went to bed. He said he would rub baby oil on his wife's face every morning.

Mr Satchwell said Tina would hit him, fling a plate at him and bite him. "Then she'd calm down and there would be tears and she'd apologise for it". He said he didn't hit her back. He said they didn't need an argument for her to hit him.

He said the last time they argued was the previous December/January, when she threw a lamp at him, adding: "You never admit being hit by your partner....you are talking over 30 years".

Tina Satchwell (Family Handout/PA)

He said there had been a few hundred fights between them over 30 years; "times I'd hide in the attic when my family visited, times I had to take off work as I couldn't turn up looking the way I did. She had black bruises on her hands from repeatedly hitting me....someone said to her your arms are black and she said she wouldn't hit me again".

The accused said Tina would get off a chair, be on top of him and be "belting into" him; "don't ask me the dates". "I don't know the incident that preceded it because there were so many". He said he was beaten so badly in 1994/1995 he took an overdose.....Tina is a beautiful looking woman, heart of gold, yes she hurt me physically and mentally". He said the violence began before they were married.

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women. In her opening address, Ms Small told the jury that after the body was recovered, Mr Satchwell told gardai that he lost his footing and fell to the ground when his wife tried to stab him with a chisel. He told detectives that he held her weight off with a belt but that in a matter of seconds, she was dead in his arms. Mr Satchwell (58), with an address at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork has pleaded not guilty to murdering his 45-year-old wife Tina Satchwell - nee Dingivan - at that address between March 19 and March 20, 2017, both dates inclusive.
The then 16-year-old girl was helping her mother with the weekly grocery shop in a Dublin supermarket when she was sexually assaulted by Jasmin Nasic

A young woman who was groped by a man in a supermarket when she was a teenager has told a court how degrading it was that her counselling notes were given to his defence team for his trial.

The then 16-year-old girl was helping her mother with the weekly grocery shop in a Dublin supermarket when she was sexually assaulted by Jasmin Nasic, who put his hand on her buttocks as he was walking by her.

Nasic (36), of Hillcrest Grove, Lucan, Co Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of one count of sexual assault and one count of engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last month. They are offences that carry a maximum sentence of 14 years and two years respectively.

Giving her victim impact sentence at Nasic's sentence hearing today, the young woman said that it took three years and nine months from the date of the offence to the date of his conviction.

That is 1,375 days I have had to live with the consequences of this assault, she told the court. She said prior to the assault, she was an innocent young girl. It didn't even cross my mind that someone would do this to me, she said.

Jasmin Nasic (36). Photo: Collins Courts

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

She said Nasic's decision to plead not guilty meant going through a trial which caused her stress, anxiety and sleepless nights.

She said the trauma of having to hand over her counselling notes in advance of the trial was degrading.

Judge Martina Baxter commended the complainant after she had finished her statement, tell her she was a great example for other young women.

Garda Jennifer Desmond told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the girl and her mother were grocery shopping on the day in question when the girl noticed a man coming towards her in one of the aisles. She didn't think too much of it until he then deliberately groped her buttock as he walked by her.

The young woman was shocked and called out to the man before finding her mother and telling her what happened. They came across Nasic in another aisle and the girl's mother confronted him, but he denied touching the girl.

He agreed to accompany them to the security station to look at CCTV footage but when the mother turned around, the man had left. They called 999 and Nasic was later identified from the CCTV footage.

He is originally from Croatia, has been living in Ireland since 2016 and has no previous convictions, the court heard.

Oisin Clarke BL, defending, said his client now accepts the verdicts of the jury and is remorseful for his actions. He handed in some testimonials from colleagues of the defendant. Nasic has worked consistently since coming to Ireland, including in admin in Trinity College and as a kitchen porter.

Mr Clarke said that the defence wished to let the complainant know that Nasic never had sight of her medical notes, and these were only reviewed by the legal team. They were not used in the trial, he said.

He said Nasic was a hardworking man who lived to work and send money home to his family in Croatia. He left his home country as a result of a violent dispute involving his father and brother.

Nasic will now be a registered sex offender which will impact his employment and future travel prospects, the court heard.

Judge Baxter said Nasic needs to be assessed by the Probation Services in relation to possible recidivism.

This was a young girl, a teenager, she said, noting the young woman's bravery.

The Probation Service needs to be engaged to make sure this doesn't happen again.

She adjourned the matter to October 10 to allow a report to be prepared.
Kirsty Travers (28) has been ordered to stay out of two estates in Blanchardstown for the duration of the case.

Kirsty Travers (28) tried to conceal drugs during a search

A Dublin woman facing drug-dealing and money-laundering charges allegedly threw drugs around a room as detectives searched her home.

Kirsty Travers (28) has been ordered to stay out of two estates in Blanchardstown for the duration of the case.

Ms Travers has also been ordered to have no contact with a 26-year-old woman who is before the courts facing a proceeds of crime offence.

Judge David McHugh remanded Ms Travers on bail and adjourned the case for six months for the preparation of a Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) certificate.

The accused, with an address at Edgewood Lawns in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 appeared before Blanchardstown District Court charged with possession of cocaine, heroin and alprazolam as well as having the drugs for the purposes of sale or supply at her home on April 29, 2025.

Kirsty Travers (28) tried to conceal drugs during a search

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

Ms Travers is further charged with obstruction under the misuse of drugs act.

It is alleged Garda Niall Ring entered the accuseds home in possession of a search warrant and that Ms Travers picked up controlled drugs and tried to conceal them on her person.

It is alleged she then threw the drugs around a room in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Ms Travers is further charged with possession of 1,500 in cash, which was the alleged proceeds of crime.

Sergeant Conor Mohan said gardai had no objection to bail, subject to conditions. Ms Travers was remanded on bail in her own bond of 100.

As part of her bail conditions, she must surrender her passport and provide a mobile phone number to gardai.

She must also stay out of the Sheephill and Corduff estates in Blanchardstown, and sign on at her local garda station three times a week.

Ms Travers must also have no interaction with a named woman. Sgt Mohan said the State would require time for an FSI certificate.

Judge McHugh adjourned the case to October.

The court heard Ms Travers was not working and defence solicitor Simon Fleming was assigned on free legal aid.

Ms Travers has not yet indicated a plea to the charges.
Long (76), with an address at Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork had pleaded not guilty to murdering 54-year-old Nora Sheehan

Cold case killer Noel Long, who was jailed for life for the murder and sexual assault of vulnerable Cork woman Nora Sheehan 42 years ago, has had his legal aid extended to cover a second barrister for his upcoming appeal against his conviction.

Long's case was the oldest prosecution for murder ever brought in Ireland and saw the jury weigh evidence that was silent on a cause of death and did not include any evidence from the accused himself or his interactions with gardai.

He was convicted on August 4, 2023 by a unanimous jury verdict.

Long (76), with an address at Maulbawn, Passage West, Co Cork had pleaded not guilty to murdering 54-year-old Mrs Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981 at an unknown place within the State.

Her naked and bruised body was found by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods in Cork six days after she went missing.

The matter was listed for mention at the Court of Appeal today where Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, asked for more time to file submissions and asked that the State be given until the first week in October to file replying papers in the appeal. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, granted counsel the further time he was seeking.

Mahon Corkery BL, representing Long, asked that legal aid be extended to cover a second legal counsel for the appeal and the judge also acceded to this request.

Mr Corkery said his client was an elderly man and this was an appeal against a conviction for murder in circumstances where the trial took place 40 years after the killing. So were very anxious it is dealt with this year, he said.

Mr Justice Edwards said he would list the matter for mention on October 17.

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

A sentencing hearing was told that Long became a suspect and was arrested in relation to another matter on June 16, 1981 and questioned over several days.

As a result of the directions of the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Eamonn Barnes, Long was charged with the murder of Mrs Sheehan and brought before the District Court in Cork on July 7, 1981. He was admitted on bail two weeks later.

However, the pathologist who carried out the postmortem on the body of Mrs Sheehan died on August 5, 1981. The DPP decided this was an "insurmountable obstacle" and withdrew the murder charge on November 10, 1981.

The court heard that due to a change in the science of DNA, Long was charged again with the murder of Mrs Sheehan on June 28, 2022 and was granted bail by the High Court on July 7 of that year.

The trial heard evidence that a partial DNA profile generated from semen found in the body of Nora Sheehan and preserved for decades had matched DNA found on clothing taken from Long in 2021.

There was also evidence that Long had been in the same area as Mrs Sheehan when she went missing, that fibres recovered from the victim matched those taken from the carpeting of Long's car and that paint fragments removed from the victim's clothing matched paint taken from the same vehicle.
Damon Greenslade flashed gold jewellery and wads of cash in the ads he posted online selling cocaine and cannabis.

A cocky drug kingpin who showed off his diamond teeth in online cocaine adverts has been jailed.

Damon Greenslade flashed gold jewellery and wads of cash in the ads he posted online selling cocaine and cannabis.

In one picture, his sparkly gnashers are on show as he smiled down the camera with wad of cash pressed against his face

The 33-year-old operated the DMO line that supplied drugs on the streets of Cheshire in England.

The crime group operated like a business and had opening hours of 10 am-10 pm each day.

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

They also had bespoke branded items, including lighters, and employed a marketing strategy offering special discounts and complementary drugs with a purchase.

The DMO gang also used social media and sent flare messages to buyers to advertise their wares.

In June 2023, coordinated raids at addresses in Cheshire and Greater Manchester led to the seizure of 81,008 of cannabis, cocaine, and other illicit drugs an investigation into the group titled Operation Chekov.

41,433.73 in cash, in addition to other high-value items such as jewellery, vehicles and designer goods were also lifted by cops.

The gang as a whole are believed to have supplied their customers with 333kg of cannabis and between 8 and 9kg of cocaine.

The investigation found that Damon was supplied with drugs in bulk by Patrick Bruce (41) and Daniel Greenslade (34), who sourced them from beyond county lines.

Damon Greenslade

Daniel Greenslade

Jed Sutton (26) supplied drugs and acted as a middleman between Bruce and Damon Greenslade.

The gang used juveniles to act as street dealers, and gophers to collect the drugs by using threats and violence to control them.

Once the drugs were sourced, Damon was then responsible for the supply and distribution of coke, MDMA, cannabis and THC edibles in the Congleton area of Cheshire and surrounding towns.

Lewis Charlesworth (20), Reece Evans (23) and Jason Acton (23) were next in command, controlling street-level dealers including Kane Smith (22), Nathan Edge (21), Bradley Dale (20) and Ethan Taylor (20).

Dillion Sweeney (29) was a courier who delivered and collected drugs and cash, while Tyler Meadows (23) was also involved in the logistics, storing and exchanging drugs and cash.

The gang began to fall when Damon Greenslades home was searched in January 2021  while their drug operation continued, he became increasingly paranoid about police activity.

The court heard he changed address and was obsessively reporting on the movements of drones and cop cars.

The following year, during a raid at his home, investigators seized the mobile phone he was using to control the operation.

Suspects were identified and arrested after a forensic search of the device.

During a three-day sentence hearing at Chester Crown Court, the gang were handed down a total of 46 years behind bars.

Damon Greenslade and Lewis Charlesworth were both convicted of conspiracy to supply both class A and B drugs and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, and given sentences of 16 years and four months, and four and a half years respectively.

Daniel Greenslade, Reece Evans, and Jed Sutton were also jailed for a total of 23 years and three months for conspiracy to supply both class A and B drugs

Four other gang members were convicted for conspiracy to supply both class A and B drugs; two got suspended sentences while the other two were given a two year community order.

Patrick Bruce was handed down three years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply class B drugs.

Dillon Sweeney was given an 18-month suspended sentence for the same charge, while two others received 12-month community orders.
NCA investigators established that a tracker found in the drugs haul was linked to a user in South America

Packages are seized and examined on board the Lily Lola

Four drug smugglers who were caught with more than a ton of high purity cocaine on board their fishing boat off the coast of Cornwall have been jailed in the UK.

Michael Kelly (45), Jake Marchant (27), Jon Williams (46) and Patrick Godfrey (31) were convicted after a trial in March for their roles in attempting to smuggle the 100m haul on board the Lily Lola, in September of last year.

The men were caught after the Border Force cutter HMC Valiant was on patrol off the north coast of Cornwall shortly after 2pm on September 13 and deployed a RHIB (rigid hulled inflatable boat) to intercept the Lily Lola.

Williams, the captain who was at the helm, had bought the boat for around 140,000 two months earlier.

Michael Kelly, Patrick Godfrey, Jon Williams and Jake Marchant. Photo: NCA

Marchant, of no fixed abode, was next to him while Kelly, of Portway, Manchester, was in the accommodation area.

Godfrey, of Danygraig Road, Port Tennant, Swansea, was asleep in a deck chair.

After the Lily Lola was taken into a secure port, the seized substances on board were divided into bales and removed from the vessel.

Testing proved that it was high purity cocaine.

An electronic device that had been on board was downloaded and some messages were recovered showed the boat had been receiving instructions and co-ordinates from a third party.

Godfreys phone also revealed a message he had sent reading: Delete everything u see and not show anybody.

His phone also showed there was an internet search of, how long does it take a ship to leave Peru to UK.

NCA investigators established that a tracker found in the drugs haul was linked to a user in South America

Williams, Godfrey and Marchant made no comment when interviewed and Kelly claimed he was on a fishing trip.

However, Kelly and Marchant pleaded guilty before trial at Truro Crown Court on October 15 and were sentences to 21 years and 18 respectively this week.

Packages are seized and examined on board the Lily Lola

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

Williams was sentenced to 26 years while Godfrey was handed down a 25 year sentence

NCA branch commander Derek Evans said the agency works around the clock to fight the threat of Class A drugs which wreck peoples lives and devastate our communities.

He said: Working with Border Force and the Joint Maritime Security Centre, we prevented a huge haul of cocaine from hitting the streets of the UK and wider Europe and ensured organised criminals are deprived of the significant profits they would have gained had these drugs made it into the country.
Each of you have literally helped to save Cliona's life

The family of Irish woman Cliona Ward, who had been detained by US immigration, have said they do to know what lasting traumatic effects there will be following her release.

Her sister, Orla Holladay, said Ms Ward is at home, and for now, is in this place of absolute grace.

She keeps saying, I'm like a new baby in this world, everything just feels so surreal, Orla wrote in an update to a GoFundMe page that had been set up after Ms Ward was detained on April 21.

While the family was completely humbled and grateful for your support and donations , Ms Holladay said, its hard to know right now what the lasting traumatic effects this will have.

Cliona is finally in her own bed and we are all ready for some quiet and reflection, she said in an earlier update. I will leave the GoFundMe open because Cliona wants to be able to say something to you all on an update.

Cliona Ward

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

But at this point you can consider it an absolute and beautiful success - each of you have literally helped to save Cliona's life as she knows it and we love you for your humanity and kindness.

Ms Ward, an Irish-born green card holder and long-time resident of California, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco Airport after returning from Ireland to see her father.

She was detained in relation to decades old convictions that she understood had been expunged, despite travelling abroad many times over the years without issue.

Her lawyer confirmed that these convictions, which it was revealed had been expunged on a state level and not a federal level, have now been vacated as Ms Ward had not been made aware of their impact on her immigration status.

California Congressman Jimmy Panetta said the case was an example of the Trump administrations overreaching deportation policies that can sweep up people like Cliona.

Ms Ward, who was detained for more than two weeks days in a US immigration detention centre in Seattle, is thrilled to be released and she is mortified that she had been detained over decades-old, expunged convictions, said her immigration lawyer, Michael Mehr.

Speaking to RTEs Morning Ireland, Mr Mehr said deportation proceedings had been initiated against Ms Ward upon her return to the US from Ireland, despite her providing documentation that showed her convictions has been expunged.

He said these convictions have now been vacated in the state of California as Ms Ward had not been aware that their expungement had not been recognised at a federal level and she had not been advised of the consequences to her immigration status.

Mr Mehr said she was given no idea that after an expungement and dismissal that they would still be recognised for immigration purposes.

He added that the case is unusual as prior to US President Donald Trumps inauguration such an issue might have led to removal proceedings but definitely, it would not have led to her detention.

He said the current administration has taken a zero tolerance policy, that people should be detained and not released even if they are not a security risk.
The couple met in 1999 and began dating four years later

Kian Egan and his wife Jodi Albert have paid tribute to their fairytale life on their wedding anniversary.

The couple wed in May 2009 on the tropical island of Barbados.

Taking to Instagram, Jodi shared a carousel of snaps showing the couple posing together happily on their wedding day.

You played me this song in my lil apartment in Liverpool 22 years ago to ask me to be your girlfriend..after a couple of years of being friends, she captioned the post which included the song Im Ready by Bryan Adams.

Image: Instagram

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

We got married 16 years ago on the island where we had our first holiday together.

"We went swimming in the ocean, a lil tropical rain came down on us and you said I love you' for the first time.

You always told me to settle for nothing than the fairytale and thats what we have, she continued.

We have shared family heartbreak together, made the most beautiful babies together and continue to support each other in our dreams.

Im so excited for the rest of our story. I love you so much @kianegan Happy Anniversary my darling.

Kian also marked the occasion and confessed that it was love at first sight.

This day 16 years ago I married the love of my life.

The day we first meet back in 1999 I knew she was the one for me. After being together for 22 years we are more in love now than we ever were.

The family we have made together, the dreams we make together it just never ends. I love you so much @jodialbert and I am so lucky to have found you all those years ago and I will never let you go, he gushed.

Happy Anniversary I cant wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

Kian previously shared that they were only dating for eight weeks when they exchanged I love yous on their whirlwind trip to the Caribbean.

In 2003, I took Jodi to Barbados. We had only been together for eight weeks.

As soon as you arrive in Barbados, you know youre on holiday as everyones friendly and laid-back. Its a bit like Ireland.

We enjoyed the place so much we decided to have our wedding there.

The couple have three sons together, Koa (13), Zekey (9) and Cobi (7).

Kian and Jodi met backstage at a music festival when Albert was in pop group Girl Thing.

The Westlife star asked music mogul Simon Cowell to introduce them, but was warned off as Jodi was just 15.

I was standing with Simon Cowell and was like: 'Who's that?.' Simon said: 'No, no, no kiddo, he previously told Fabulous Magazine.

He was very protective because Jodi was just 15, but we flirted for the rest of the day.

We didn't get together for another four years. Jodi was only 15 after all, he added.
The veteran broadcaster announced this week that he is leaving RTE at the end of June.

Ryan Tubridy has said that there is a whole other world waiting for recently retired radio star Joe Duffy.

The veteran presenter announced yesterday that he is set to leave RTE Radio1 in June.

Working at the broadcaster for 37 years, he presented the flagship lunchtime show Liveline for 27.

Former colleague Ryan Tubridy reacted to the news on Instagram, sharing a black and white photo of them posing together with the caption: "I love to talk to Joe.

Joe Duffy, photographed for The Irish Independent's Weekend Magazine in 2018. (Photograph:  Fran Veale)

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

Good man! One of our greatest broadcasters and thoughtful with it, he continued.

Theres a whole other world waiting for Joe Duffy, heres to the next chapter.

Duffy announced the news at the end of his show on Thursday.

"After 37 wonderful years here in RTE, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners, he said.

"People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories.

"I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTE has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart, he continued.

"And now, after many happy years, Ive decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.

Tubridy left the national broadcaster in July 2023 when he stepped down from his role presenting The Late Late Show.

His departure came in the wake of a payments scandal, which saw RTE face huge public scrutiny after it was revealed that they had underdeclared payments to him.

The presenter, his agent Noel Kelly and several senior RTE executives and board members were called before an Oireachtas committee

Following his departure from the broadcaster, Tubridy joined Virgin Radio UK, where he hosts The Ryan Tubridy Show from London on weekdays and Sundays.

The show is also syndicated, broadcasting on Dublins Q102 at the same time.

He also hosts The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy podcast.
Siomha Ni Ruairc shared the tragic news of her sister Unas unexpected death on Instagram.

Virgin Media star Siomha Ni Ruairc has paid tribute to her beloved sister following her sudden death.

The gaeilgeoir, who presents popular podcast How To Gael is also one of the weekend presenters on Ireland AM.

Taking to Instagram, she shared the tragic news of her sister Unas unexpected death.

My sister Una passed away two weeks ago. My beautiful, wildly intelligent and annoyingly driven sister died, and Im heartbroken, she captioned a carousel of pictures shared to Instagram.

Ni chreidim e fos. Growing up, we were never without each other. In our teenage years, we absolutely killed eachother  as sisters do.

As adults, we accepted eachother for exactly who we are and Im so proud of everything she achieved in her too-short life."

My family and I cant thank everyone enough for the support weve received since. The sandwiches, lasagnas, cakes. The chats, hugs, stories, touches of hands, she continued.

We have the most amazing network of friends, neighbours, colleagues and of course family.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh. Weve been blown away and so sincerely touched by the kindness of people.

It reminds me of white blood cells, rushing to fight off infection. Community, rushing to help ease the pain, she added.

Now, we face a new normal without her. But shell be with me  like a handprint on my heart. Itll never not be; Una agus Siomha.

Una passed away unexpectedly at her home in London on April 20th.

News in 90 Seconds - May 9th

A beloved daughter of Damhnait and Dermot and dear sister to Siomha, Aedin and her brother-in-law Cathal, her death notice reads.

Unas passing is a huge loss to the family. Deeply regretted by her wider family; aunts, uncles, cousins and her good friends in both the UK and Ireland.

Her funeral was held at St. Patricks Church, in Esker, Lucan on Tuesday morning, followed by burial in Esker Lawn Cemetery, Lucan.

Tributes poured in, remembering her as bright, clever and funny.

What a beautiful tribute to Una, one of the most intelligent and talented people I have ever been fortunate enough to know, one school friend shared.

When I remember her, I remember us singing songs from Wicked and Hairspray in the hallways of Colaiste Cois Life. She was never without a song. My utmost sympathies to her family and love from Germany.

Another mourner added: Deepest condolences to you Damhnait, Dermot, Siomha, Aedin & Cathal on the sudden and heartbreaking loss of Una. The funeral mass was beautiful and you did her proud.

Thinking of you all at this saddest of times and sending strength your way. Always remember to never forget all the countless happy times & memories and let them carry you through.

Another shared: Deepest sympathies on the passing of beautiful Una. I was so saddened to hear the news, and I am thinking of you all during this incredibly sad time.

I have very happy memories of Una during our time studying physics and maths at Maynooth University. One of the smartest and brightest people I have ever met. She will be really missed.
China's foreign trade up 5.6% in April despite US tariffs

14:12, May 09, 2025 By Wang Keju ( Chinadaily.com.cn

This photo taken on April 30, 2025 shows trucks at a cargo dock of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. (Photo/Xinhua)

Despite the hefty tariffs that Washington slapped against Beijing, China's total goods imports and exports climbed 2.4 percent year-on-year to 14.14 trillion yuan ($1.95 trillion) in the first four months of the year, customs data showed on Friday.

In the January-April period, exports surged 7.5 percent year-on-year to 8.39 trillion yuan, though imports declined 4.2 percent from a year earlier to 5.75 trillion yuan, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

In April alone, the country's total foreign trade witnessed a year-on-year increase of 5.6 percent and came in at 3.84 trillion yuan. In particular, exports grew 9.3 percent from a year ago to 2.27 trillion yuan and imports edged up 0.8 percent to 1.57 trillion yuan, according to the data.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained China's biggest trading partner in the first four months, with the two sides' trade in goods rising 9.2 percent year-on-year to 2.38 trillion yuan. The figure accounted for 16.8 percent of China's total foreign trade value during this period, the data showed.

During the same period, China's trade with the European Union grew 1.1 percent from a year earlier, while the country's trade with the United States declined 2.1 percent year-on-year, the data showed.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Wharekura applied to the Court of Appeal on March 31 for more time to appeal his conviction for the 2002 murder.

Details about why John Michael Wharekura killed Burr  including that she was the same height as his stepfather, whom he wanted to kill  are contained in a Court of Appeal decision released today.

A murder victims mother is shocked the killer has tried to appeal his conviction more than 20 years later  and relieved he failed.

The appeal has been thrown out on several grounds, including doubts over his claims about his mental health state at the time and the fact his then lawyer, Harry Edward from Rotorua, had since died and all documents relating to the case had been destroyed.

Burrs mother, Val Burr, said she was relieved Wharekuras appeal attempt failed.

I was shocked that the attempt was made in the first place.

She said she was also shocked she was not made aware of the decision, learning about it through NZME.

Wharekura was 16 when he killed Burr at her Hilda St flat after knocking on her door and asking for a piece of paper and pen, supposedly to write a note for a friend in a neighbouring flat.

When the 21-year-old turned to get it, Wharekura went inside and stabbed her repeatedly.

John Wharekura, then aged 17, in court in 2003. Photo / NZME

He was arrested two days later, eventually pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with 14 years without parole in 2003.

At the time, he was one of New Zealands youngest convicted killers.

It was revealed years later he had an undiagnosed psychosis.

He has since been in and out of prison, the community and secure mental health facility the Mason Clinic, where he was last ordered to be admitted in December 2023.

The appeal decision said that in 2002 and 2003 interviews to assess his mental health, Wharekura told a medical expert that at the time of the killing, he was angry with his stepfather.

The decision said the account matched what he told police two days after the killing  that he had urges to kill his stepfather.

Wharekura had said Burr was the same height as his stepfather and, when he saw her, he snapped.

Tanya Burr was 12 weeks pregnant with a baby boy when she was murdered by a teenage stranger. Photo / Supplied

The decision said that in the police interview, Wharekura broke down in tears and displayed significant remorse when relaying this information.

Wharekuras explanation for why his appeal had come so late was that he was not aware the voices in his head were relevant to his conviction.

The decision said Wharekuras appeal affidavit said he was very young when he started hearing voices and only told his mother, who told him it was part of his Maori culture.

Wharekuras affidavit said the voices continued throughout his teenage years and, after he killed Burr, he said he was instructed by the voices not to speak about them.

It was only when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in later years that he started talking about the voices.

Wharekura said he did not know his mental health was relevant and he had not previously received legal advice on the issue. He also did not know until recently that appealing his conviction was an option.

Wharekuras new lawyer, Anoushka Bloem, told the Court of Appeal there were exceptional circumstances in Wharekuras case and his decision to plead guilty was impaired by his mental illness at the time.

She argued that Wharekura later told a medical expert the voices in his head were telling him he should go to prison and should therefore plead guilty and not tell others about the voices. She said his mental illness was causing him to conceal his illness.

But the Court of Appeal found the evidence was inconsistent with Wharekura being insane at the time of the killing.

It is true that the murder was irrational and senseless. Many murders are. But Mr Wharekuras actions on the evening otherwise appear rational.

The decision said Wharekura stole items of use to him, including Burrs car, and there was evidence he interacted with people after the murder and appeared rational.

He appeared calm and relaxed in his police interview, detailing a coherent account of his actions and showing remorse.

The decision said Wharekuras mental health was explored by experienced counsel Edward at the time, including in two reports from psychiatrists who found no evidence of psychosis.

Rotorua lawyer Harry Edward died in 2019. Photo / File

Edward died in 2019 and Wharekuras case file had since been destroyed.

The decision said evidence of Edwards observations of Wharekura, their communications, the advice he provided and the instructions Wharekura received were now unavailable  all matters that would prejudice the Crown if an appeal were allowed.

The decision was signed by Justices Campbell, Dunningham and Harvey.
A heavy rain warning is now in place for the region through to Saturday morning.

MetService issued the orange warning for Bay of Plenty east of Maketu, including Rotorua until 6am Saturday.

The agency said the area could expect 100 to 140mm of rain, mainly about the ranges with downpours possible.

A severe thunderstorm watch is also in place from 5pm to 11pm Friday.

An active trough is expected to bring a period of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms to Bay of Plenty this late afternoon and this evening.

There is a moderate risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h with this trough.

Watch Update

In addition to our other warnings and watches, the Thunderstorm Watch areas have been extended to include, Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty.



These watches include the risk of localised Downpours, short bursts of intense pic.twitter.com/tkvUdjKfey  MetService (@MetService) May 8, 2025

Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips, MetService said.

Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.

A heavy rain watch remains in place for areas west of Maketu and the Coromandel until 10pm Friday.

Things set to clear for Mothers Day weekend

Despite the unsettled end to the week, conditions are forecast to improve over the weekend with fine and mild weather expected across most of the country.

MetService forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said this bad weather is looking fairly relatively short-lived, so by Saturday morning all this weather looks like its cleared off the country and the weekend is looking pretty good.

MetService said Mothers Day is shaping up to be settled and sunny for most, though some regions may experience morning cloud or fog.
Tauranga people furious about the Governments sudden changes to the Equal Pay Act held a rainy protest in Red Square on Friday.

It was one of a series of Labour- and union-led protests nationwide against the changes, which were announced on Tuesday and passed under urgency in Parliament on Wednesday.

The reforms retrospectively overhaul a 2020 law establishing a regime to allow people in sectors with a large female workforce to argue they were underpaid relative to similar work done in male-dominated sectors.

All 33 current claims, representing thousands of workers, will cease. Claimants will need to reapply under the new regime, which will have a higher threshold for success.

It will save the Government billions of dollars in wages, with the savings going into the Budget, to be published on May 22.

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden said the urgency was to allow all claims to be considered under the same thresholds.

In Red Square, Tauranga care and support worker and E Tu union member Tanya Oomen said, Weve had enough.



Labour Party list member Jan Tinetti led the protest in Tauranga. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

She said the Government was cutting womens pay without any warning, without consultation.

National has forced through a law change that will take money directly out of womens pockets across New Zealand.

She said National was doing it to make their Budget add up and was turning its back on the thousands of women who fought for equal pay, all to fund tax breaks for tobacco companies and landlords.



Local care and support worker of the E Tu union, Tanya Oomen (left), with Labour list MP Jan Tinetti, at Tauranga's protest against the Equal Pay Act changes. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Oomen described herself as a care and support worker in the disability sector, working in a house with six adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

She said she did 24-hour shifts, only half of those hours double-staffed.

She was expected to sleep on-site, care for her charges, cook, clean, take them to activities and appointments, keep them connected to family and friends, and check their finances.

Im more than an arse-wiper. Much more.

We have been fighting so hard and for so long, and all we want is a decent wage for the hard work that we do.



The 33 current pay equity claims will be stopped and will have to be restarted under the new changes. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) member Conor Fraser said it was gutting to see how quickly changes can be made to an Equal Pay Act that has been fought for for decades.

Fraser said he was part of a pay equity settlement last March.



NZEI member Conor Fraser speaking at the Tauranga protest against the changes made to the Equal Pay Act. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Ive been part of a team that went through the process of understanding what the legislation is and how you enforce it and how you correct inequities that have existed for a long period of time.

For others to not have that opportunity, its wild.

Mount Maunganui Labour Party member Heidi Tidmarsh organised the protest, led by Labour Party list MP Jan Tinetti.



Mount Maunganui Labour Party member Heidi Tidmarsh. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

NZEI staff member Kirsty McCully said the change had added barriers to women being able to achieve pay justice.

It takes us back to before 1972 when the Equal Pay Act was first brought into force.

I think what it really does is negates a whole lot of amazing work [by] campaigners like Kristine Bartlett.



Participants at Tauranga's "Stand Up Fight Back" protest for pay equity after the coalition Government's announcement of the changes to the Equal Pay legislation on May 6. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

McCully works with early childhood teachers and as a result of this change, 93,000 teachers have had their pay equity claim set back.

Its devastating, and it really is a kick in the guts.

It makes the idea that we can achieve wage justice almost impossible.

McCully said many women were already struggling in the cost-of-living crisis and trying to hold their families together.

She said the Government was saying $3 billion a year for landlords was affordable but $1.7b in wage justice for women is not.

The Governments making decisions that impact on a small number of the wealthy to privilege their interests over the interests of the vast workers who have had wage injustice for generations, and now thats going to be entrenched.



Men and women of Tauranga gathered today to protest against the changes made to the Equal Pay Act by the Coalition Government. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

On a visit to Tauranga today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his Government is very, very committed to pay equity, and avoiding and eliminating sex-based discrimination.

But we also need to make sure we have one system that is robust, thats workable, thats sustainable and actually focused on the core purpose of the legislation, that is about eliminating sex-based discrimination, rather than bringing in broader labour market conditions you often see in a bargaining round.

Luxon said individuals and unions could still apply to have pay equity claims processed and the Government had put money aside to deal with these in future.

He said the changes aimed to encourage more specific pay-equity claims.

Weve seen claims that have up to 90 different occupations, when we see comparisons between fisheries officers and librarians.

What we need to have is a hierarchy of comparators to make sure the system is more workable and gives people more certainty.

He described the Opposition framing of the review as a little bit disingenuous and said saving money was not the primary reason for the change.
Prevost, in the centre of the picture, with members of the Augustinian community of Malaga in 2007 in the chapel of Colegio Los Olivos.

Antonio M. Romero Malaga Friday, 9 May 2025, 10:40 | Updated 11:20h. Compartir

The American Robert Prevost was elected Pope Francis' successor and head of the Catholic Church yesterday. The new Pope Leo XIV was in Malaga 18 years ago, when he visited the Colegio de Los Olivos and the Augustinian community of Malaga in April 2007 as part of his tour of the five continents in his capacity as prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA).

It was a "brief but substantial" visit, immortalised in the above photograph, which was taken in the chapel of Los Olivos and then published in the report for the academic 2006-2007 year. "He spoke to us about the Augustinians around the world and encouraged us to continue, with enthusiasm and joy, pursuing our activities within the school and in collaboration with the Church in Malaga, inviting us to always improve in those aspects proper to our condition as members of the order."

The prior of the Augustinian community in Malaga, Agustin Herrero, who said that he has met the new Pope on several occasions when Prevost was at the head of the order.

"He is a magnificent pastor. Above all, he is a pastor who, throughout his career, has always been by the side of people and especially those in need. He is a true successor of Pope Francis," Herrero said.

"Above all, he is a pastor who, throughout his career, has always been by the side of people and especially those in need," said Father Agustin Herrero

Father Agustin Herrero also commented that the Pope is "a good manager" and a person who "knows how to listen to people". "I foresee a magnificent pontificate," he said.

Agustin Herrero expressed his "joy and pride" at the fact that, for the first time in history, a Pope belonging to the Order of St Augustine has been elected.
Susana Zamora Malaga Friday, 9 May 2025, 10:27 | Updated 11:21h. Compartir

Just a month before he was elected as the new Pope Leo XIV yesterday, the then Cardinal Prevost met with two couples from Malaga during their visit to Rome.

Pablo Pastor - the technical architect of the Diocese of Malaga - and his wife Mercedes Sanchez, both stongly associated with the religious community in the city, were with two friends when they decided to use their trip to visit the general headquarters of the Augustine order and reunite with old friend Javier Perez Barba. Barba is currently the assistant general of the order for Southern Europe, but was once the director of Malaga's Colegio de Los Olivos.

Zoom Mercedes Sanchez and Pablo Pastor with the new Pope Leo XIV, accompanied by a couple of friends. SUR

As Pastor said, "there are three Augustinian friars who serve as sacristans for the Pope". It was during that visit that they met Cardinal Prevost, who Pastor has known for 18 years. The newly chosen Pope was in Malaga almost two decades ago, visiting the Colegio de Los Olivos, at the time when Barba was the director.

"He came, greeted us and we chatted for a while. We brought him a little bit of Iberian ham and Iberian pork loin and we ate it together. He loved it," said Pastor. "During the conversation, we talked about things related to the order. I told him that the Augustinians are a big family and that, although there are differences, we are well-connected."

Pastor spoke affectionately of Pope Leo XIV. "He is very approachable, affable, always smiling. I was very happy, because he is going to be a great Pope," he said.

The same impression was shared by the couple who accompanied him - Emilio Domingo and his wife Natalia Rivas. Also a technical architect, Domingo did not hide his "emotion and joy" for having met him in person and for having attended a meeting that will forever stay in his memory. "He speaks perfect Spanish and seems to be a very simple and affectionate person," he said, a few minutes after learning that the "charming" person he met on 5 April is now the new Pontiff. "That day was my saint's day and I could not have had a better gift. We have been blessed by God."

Although the conversation was brief and informal, Domingo said that they commented on the Spanish origin of the then Cardinal's surname - Martinez - and joked about the possibility of him being elected Pope. "He smiled kindly at us, but did not pronounce himself on the matter."

As practising Catholics, the two couples hold the meeting dearly, hoping that, one day, it will be repeated and be as enjoyable as it was when Leo XIV was only Robert Francis Prevost.
The Spanish veterinary business confederation (Ceve), headed in Andalucia by Jesus Gutierrez Aragon, periodically prepares a macro socio-economic study that reflects the indicators of this sector.

The latest available such report (from 2023) sheds some light on the size of this activity and its importance: the turnover has increased by 116.32% since 2012; 178.05% in the field of pets.

As far as personnel expenses are concerned, they have risen by 231.22%. In the absence of a new detailed analysis, the trend remains the same, says the head of Ceve.

Juan Antonio de Luque, head of the Malaga's veterinary association - the largest in the region, with 1,200 members - supports this perception. He comments on the two factors that favour this profession: greater respect for animals, not just pets, and an increase in the acquisition of the latter, as companions in many homes.

But it's not all good news. Veterinarians are not quite happy with the regulatory framework in which they operate - the Animal Welfare Act, which has been in force since September 2023.

At the moment, the effects of the legal change are not yet visible in the books, as the law is still in its initial stage, but its impact is being felt within the profession. In other words, in the long run, if some of its aspects are not specified, the regulation could be a setback for these businesses.

"It has been legislated with dogs, cats and ferrets in mind, in line with the EU, but it is very open for the rest of the species, which are all considered exotic," says Gutierrez Aragon.

Half a million dogs and cats registered in the province of Malaga In Malaga, on 1 January 2024, there were 499,172 registered dogs and cats, according to data from the Andalusian veterinary associations and the Andalusian institute of statistics and cartography. According to the latest figures available, the province has 510,941 small animals - 415,980 dogs, of which 18,406 are potentially dangerous; 91,756 felines; 1,931 ferrets and 1,274 other animals.

"It is not the same to think of those who dedicate their free time to animals as a hobby as it is to think of us, who look after their health," says Gutierrez Aragon.

In short, there are gaps that need to be filled with the implementation of about half a dozen regulations. For example, a "positive list" still has to be created in which animals that can be domesticated will be included. In the meantime, a golden eagle and a hamster are in the same category.

"These doubts are brought to us by our clients," says Gutierrez Aragon, calling on legislators to act quickly, because of the risk of "illicit trade" and a drop in income for vets who specialise in the treatment of animals that are not cats and dogs.

Another unknown concerns future examinations of the capacity to care for an animal a person has and the criteria that will be applied to those who already have one at home.

These are uncertainties in a sector, which consists of self-employed workers or companies with four or five workers, which implies another risk: the arrival of large investment groups better able to circumvent a possible crisis, which creates competition.

Support to municipalities

The college of veterinarians emphasises that the entry into force of the law "has meant that many local councils that were not up to date with their obligations to register pets are now up to date" - a responsibility that was already established more than 20 years ago.

However, the president of the association believes that the legislation does not have funding to support this work which, in practice, means that local administrations have to take responsibility for any species. As a solution to this problem, the college has signed agreements with many local governments for the creation and development of pet censuses.

In many cases, this collaboration also provides support in the management of cat colonies. This is the case in Torremolinos, where the college of veterinarians guarantees compliance with all the protocols for the care of stray cats and assumes costs such as microchips for their identification, rabies vaccinations or deworming against echinococcosis. As for the distribution of clinical or medical care, it is handled by the veterinary centres participating in these agreements.

Agreements

Besides Torremolinos, there are agreements to manage the pet registers with Frigiliana, Alfarnatejo, Fuengirola, Rincon de la Victoria, Moclinejo, Marbella, Benalmadena, Ronda, Antequera, Malaga, El Borge, Cartama, Nerja, El Burgo, Almachar, Periana, Fuente de Piedra, Benamargosa, Casabermeja, Mijas, La Vinuela, Jimera de Libar, Sayalonga, Torrox and Monda.

The different sizes of these municipalities give an idea of the need for experts to assume the new obligations. From the perspective of the professionals, if the matter is difficult for a public administration, it can be even more difficult for private individuals who do not know exactly to what extent they have to comply with new legislative measures.

"We must not forget that the health of animals is the health of people, because of the risk of zoonosis," says the veterinary president.
Jose Antonio Guerrero Madrid Friday, 9 May 2025, 15:43 Compartir

Without a bar, a village dies. "Where are you supposed to spend your time if theres no bar nearby? says Juan Jose Oliva, 73, who has been mayor of Bayubas de Abajo, a village with just 150 residents, for three decades. Many parts of rural Spain are grappling with isolation and emptiness - local bars are far more than just a place to serve coffee or a bottle of Mahou. They are the beating heart of the community, the place where everything happens.

The local bar is where neighbours catch up, laugh, chat and sometimes gossip. It's where messages, medicines, letters and even the latest Amazon parcels are passed on. It's where people notice if someone hasnt turned up and raise the alarm if needed. Its where locals come together for a card game to stay connected. In short, the bar isnt just a place to drink - its a true social network, a real life version of Facebook, and the communitys central gathering point.

For the small, scattered villages that make up rural Spain, such as this one in the northern region of Castilla y Leon, the local bar is the life and soul of the community, the glue that holds its few residents together.

In small villages, there has to be a bar so that people can come together and socialise, chat while playing mus [a card game], or gossip and criticise the mayor; nothing surprises me anymore, jokes Oliva.

Zoom Residents of Bayubas chat outside the bar O.C.

Like many other local mayors, Oliva, who has spent his life working in agriculture, welcomed an initiative brought in last year by the Junta de Castilla y Leon to offer grants of up to 3,000 euros to village bars. The funding helps to cover running costs, such as water, electricity, gas, internet and TV subscriptions, ensuring that these vital community hubs keep going. The scheme supports bars in villages with fewer than 200 residents, recognising their crucial role as social centres and providers of essential services, as well as their ability to combat loneliness.

This point was emphasised by a regional minister of Castilla y Leon when launching the initiative last year in Santa Espina, a small village in Valladolid with just 74 residents. Its mayor, Luis Miguel Puerta, describes the bar as the epicentre of village life.

In our bar, we sell bread. If the pharmacist delivers medicine and the resident isnt home, its left at the bar. If the podiatrist visits, we organise the appointments at the bar. And if the instructor for local arts cant make it, the session is held at the bar instead. If you need help, you know there will always be someone at the bar who can lend a hand. Its these everyday services that people in small villages value the most, Puerta explains.

Castilla y Leon 3,260 villages with a population of fewer than 200 Castilla y Leon is one of Spain's regions most affected by rural depopulation. More than 3,200 of its municipalities have fewer than 200 inhabitants. In Soria, one of the least populated territories, there are 147 villages with less than 200 residents - that's 76 per cent of the province.

Yolanda, 61, has run the pub in San Cebrian de Mazote, a village in Valladolid with 100 residents, for the past 22 years. She echoes Puerta's sentiment: There arent many of us here, but we love the bar, she says. In the bar, there is no such thing as loneliness. We keep each other company, especially in winter when there are just a few of us about.

Zoom Yolanda, in her bar in San Cebrian O.C.

The 3,000-euro grant, as expected, brought a big smile to Yolandas face, as well as to Jairos, the 40-year-old Colombian who runs the only bar in Bayubas de Abajo. Oliva, as mayor, lets him use the presmises rent-free, on the condition that it stays open every day of the year from 11.30am to 11pm, except in the winter when it closes a bit earlier. At that time of year, the temperature often drops to minus ten degrees and darkness sweeps over the streets like a black hole. Both the mayor and his villagers prefer to retreat to the warmth of their homes during the winter.

Long Sorian winters

Jairo is one of the 25 Colombians who have arrived in Bayubas over the past four years to work as resin harvesters in the vast pine forests surrounding the village. He took over the bar by chance. His sister, who had been running it, decided to return to Colombia to look after their sick mother. Oliva offered the premises to Jairo, who agreed to take on the role of managing the bar, though he didnt give up resin tapping, which remains his main source of income.

He says, The bar on its own doesnt bring in enough money for me to send back to Colombia, to support his wife and three daughters, who still live there. When hes not behind the bar, his friend Leidi, also Colombian, covers for him.

In summer, its busier, but the winter is long and hard, with only about 40 euros in sales a day, he explains. In winter, its all about getting by, and I know Ill spend many hours bored behind the bar. But this place is more than just a business - its a social hub.

The bar is in a prime location, right opposite the town hall. Its spacious, clean and well-organised, with bottles of Soberano, Anis del Mondo and Johnnie Walker neatly lined up next to a television and a little Spanish flag. Inside, there are six tables, plus another half dozen on the terrace.

Free wifi is available for those who ask and several radiators are heated by a wood-fired boiler thats lit from October to May. There is no food menu, except during the Santa Agueda festival in August. The snacks are limited to a plate of olives or crisps and peanuts, with an extra treat of torreznos (pork scratchings) at weekends, which Jairo prepares with a Latin twist.

Without the bar, Bayubas would be even more isolated. I think it keeps the village alive, says the Colombian, while Dani, the local secretary nods in agreement. The winters here are brutal, and if it wasnt for the bar, the villagers, most of whom are elderly, wouldnt leave their homes. At least they have place to meet up and spend the afternoon playing cards, adds the secretary.

Jairo also mentions the 'Ill leave it at the bar' service, where the bar becomes a drop-off point for parcels and post. We end up acting as delivery drivers without even realising, laughs the resin harvester, who appreciates the peace and security he found in Bayubas. Here, you can leave the bar open and nothing will happen. Do that in Colombia, everything will be gone in five minutes.

"It lifts your spirits"

By 2pm, the pub begins to fill up with more customers. The 'vermouth hour' (pre-lunch) and 'sobremesa' (post-lunch) are the liveliest times of day. In one corner, a group settle down - Jairo knows nearly all of them and their usual orders. The personal touch is assured - another advantage of the bar.

The bar quickly becomes a hub of voices, discussing everything from the low price of resin this year, to praising the work of the local doctor or gossiping a little about a neighbour. If youre not there, theyll soon have something to say about you, jokes Adela, 63, who adds that in November, when the cold and darkness take over the streets of Bayubas, its comforting to spot the "warm glow" of Jairos bar. On those dark nights, that light is a real comfort. You know there is somewhere to go, and just knowing there is someone inside is reassuring, she explains.

The bar lifts you out of the winter blues. A village without a bar is a cemetery, says Santiago, an 81-year-old who was born in Bayubas. The bar also provides protection to the community. If someones been missing for a couple of days, you worry, go to their house and ask about them, he explains.

Afternoon coffee time is when the card games begin. The women head out for a walk (there are fantastic trails that wind through the pine forests and lead down to the Duero River), and on their return, they stop at the bar for a cafecito and a game of 'brisca'. Afterwards, the men usually take over, sipping 'chatos', bottles of beer and nibbling on bowls of nuts as they stretch the hours until each one returns home, and Jairo turns off the light. See you tomorrow. Well meet at the bar.

Invest in bars, not festivals

The bar in Santa Espina, a village in Valladolid, was where the Junta chose to announce its incentive for these businesses. For Luis Miguel Puerta, mayor of Santa Espina, it is complicated to keep these local spots open when they aren't bringing in enough money. Therefore, the mayor was glad to receive the grant, which could keep these bars open - maintaining social hubs which are vital for small villages.

"This money is better spent on bars than on festivals, which only come around in the summer," says Puerta.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. A delegation consisting of leadership and listeners of the National Security and War Course of the National Defense University of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan visited the National Defense University of Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense.

During the visit, the delegation was informed in detail about the university's activities, ongoing reforms and upcoming goals, and presentations were made. A broad exchange of views on current cooperation relations between the military educational institutions of the two countries and prospects for their development was held.

Deputy Rector of the National Defense University for Science - Rector of the Military Scientific Research Institute Major General Arif Hasanov welcomed the Pakistani delegation and highlighted the strong friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Major General A.Hasanov stressed the importance of deepening these ties in the field of military education.

Then negotiations were held on new educational institutions, which are planned to be established in the near future at the National Defense University.

At the end of the visit, the sides exchanged presents and a photo was taken.
Editors note: We think Abby is answering the same question from the same writer who wrote to Asking Eric just a few weeks ago.

DEAR ABBY: My cousin (more like a sister) has made some extremely rash and concerning choices over the last year. After she had her second baby, she left her husband and started seeing a series of borderline-abusive men. Shes now in the process of signing full custody of the children over to her ex-husband and impulsively buying a house out of state.

What Im finding challenging is, she will accept nothing less than full support from her family and friends. She has cut off her sister, to the point of not attending her wedding, because she expressed that maybe it was time for her to talk to a professional about her mental health. She hasnt spoken to her mother in months either.

I dont want to cut her off, because I think she genuinely needs help and is experiencing something very challenging. But shes trying to manipulate her ex-husband into giving her more alimony money, while she runs around with a man who verbally abuses her in public.

I think shes a danger to herself, but if I say as much, shell cut me off too. Should I stay in her life so I can help when she inevitably needs it? Or should I take a harsher stance? -- CONCERNED COUSIN IN OREGON

DEAR COUSIN: Tell your cousin (who is more like a sister) you love her dearly, but shes making some serious mistakes, and you are afraid for her future. Its the truth. Let her know that watching her estrange herself from her family has been painful for you, and if things dont turn out as she hopes, you will be there for her. Then back away until the dust settles.

** ** **

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.** ** **

To order How to Write Letters for All Occasions, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

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Robert Simpson, president and CEO of Centerstate CEO, is taking a three-month leave from the organization.

Syracuse, N.Y.  Citing exhaustion and struggles with his mental health, the longtime head of Central New Yorks top economic development and business leadership group said Friday he is stepping aside for three months to restore my emotional well-being.

As leaders, we are programmed to put the needs of our staff, our clients and our companies first, Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in an email to members of the organization.

These needs, as well as the opportunities and challenges we manage are constant. They rarely adhere to business hours. Solving complex situations is in part what makes these roles exciting and rewarding, but it also comes at a real personal and human toll.

The past several years have brought immense professional pressures borne of so many exciting opportunities for our region, he said.

The intensity of that work is visible to everyone, he said. And easy to talk about. What is harder to vocalize, and far less comfortable to show, are the personal impacts including exhaustion and struggles with my own mental health.

After thoughtful consideration, he said he will step away from work beginning June 30 and return Sept. 29.

This wasnt an easy decision, he wrote.

I love this job, this organization and the people and partners that make up this amazing regional community. This is, however, something that I need. This sabbatical is about hitting reset and restoring my emotional well-being and creative energy so that I can return with the perspective needed to continue leading through a time of tremendous growth and opportunity for Upstate New York.

Ben Sio, chief of staff and senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning, will serve as acting CEO of the nonprofit membership organization during Simpsons break.

Simpson, 48, said he has the full support of the leadership at CenterState for the break.

Eleanor Hanna, a spokesperson for CenterState, said the three-month sabbatical will also permit Simpson to spend time with his family, including his aging parents.

She said his leave was not related to the sudden resignation of CenterState Senior Vice President Dominic Robinson in September while Robinson was the subject of an internal investigation. A woman who worked under Robinson is suing him and CenterState alleging he sexually harassed her and then retaliated against her by firing her after she rejected his advances.

Hanna said she did not know whether Simpson would be paid during the three-month break.

Simpson did not respond Friday to a request from syracuse.com | The Post-Standard for comment.

Stephen Fournier, KeyBank market president-Central New York and chairman of CenterStates board of directors, said in a statement Friday that he was proud and grateful that Rob has advocated for himself and requested this sabbatical.

All who know Rob understand that he cares deeply about this work and the people who are impacted by it. His selfless passion comes with a serious downside, however, in that he is prone to giving too much of himself at times, something that exacts a physical and emotional toll that is sometimes obvious to those who work with him closely. Many of us have recognized this for years and privately encouraged him to put himself first.

Simpsons leave comes at a momentous time for Central New Yorks economic development efforts.

Micron Technology Inc. announced in 2022 that it has selected a site in the Syracuse suburb of Clay for a massive semiconductor fabrication plant. The company says the facility will cost up to $100 billion to build over 20 years and create thousands of jobs. Construction is expected to start this year.

CenterState has been playing a leading role in developing workforce training programs so the area will have enough workers to fill the jobs created by Micron and the supply chain companies it is expected to bring to the county.

The organization is funded primarily by membership dues and government grants, much of them from the state of New York.

It reported $16.5 million in revenues in 2023, including $10.7 million in government grants. Simpsons 2023 compensation was $399,163.

Simpson joined CenterStates predecessor organization, the Metropolitan Development Association, in 2003. He was named president and CEO of its successor organization, CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity, after the MDA merged with the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce in 2010.

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | X | Facebook | 315-470-3148
The car sales industry is a major economic force in New York. A 2023 Ford F-150 is seen, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Kennesaw, Georgia. (Mike Stewart | AP Photo) Mike Stewart | AP Photo

Syracuse, N.Y.  Car dealers are a major economic force in the Syracuse area and the rest of New York, according to census data.

Used and new dealers employ thousands of people and generate billions of dollars in sales across the state. The total dealer payroll statewide is also measured in billions.

All that activity is facing uncertainty after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imported cars and parts.

The new taxes will affect U.S. companies in addition to foreign car makers. Thats because even American manufacturers use at least some parts from other countries to build their vehicles, even those assembled in the United States.

U.S. car companies also have manufacturing plants overseas.

Ford and General Motors are both forecasting weaker profits this year.

The situation could end up hurting business for local dealers too. Car prices are expected to rise by thousands.

Heres a look at whats at stake:

The 73 used and new car dealer locations in Onondaga County alone generated over $2 billion in revenue in 2022, according to the Census Bureaus most recent Economic Census.

Thats one of the biggest revenue totals of any sector in the county.

Onondaga County car dealers employed over 2,000 people as of 2022 and had a payroll of over $150 million.

The payroll figure also is among the highest of any sector in the local economy, according to the census.

Statewide, car dealers employed more than 55,000 people at more than 2,000 dealership locations in 2022.

The industry generated sales that year of over $60 billion and payroll of over $4.2 billion.

All imported vehicles in the U.S. are now subject to a 25% tariff. An additional 25% tariff on imported parts took effect May 3, although the administration has taken some steps to ease the hit companies will take.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom also agreed to a trade deal that will reduce tariffs on British cars.

Trump has said his goal is to boost American car companies and return manufacturing to the U.S.

Trumps handling of the economy and his tariff policies in particular have led to poor numbers in recent polls. Retailers have been warning the administration that Trumps tariffs on an array of countries could lead to product shortages and price spikes.

You can see numbers on car dealers for counties across New York in the table below. If you see N/A in the table, it means the Census Bureau did not have data for that county in that category.

If you cant see the table, click here to open it in a new tab.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
The Onondaga County District Attorneys office released a list of 63 indictments for April.

The bulk of the charges were for firearms/weapons possession, followed by felony drunk/drugged driving and drug possession.

Five people were indicted for murder and seven for rape/attempted rape. One person was indicted for vehicular manslaughter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Azerbaijan Army servicemen and aviation vehicles have departed for the fraternal Republic of Turkiye to participate in the "Anatolian Phoenix - 2025" International Search and Rescue Exercise to be held in the city of Konya, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense.

A group of Azerbaijan Air Force personnel, along with Su-25 attack aircraft, will represent the country in the international exercise, which brings together military participants from multiple nations.
Canisteo, N.Y.  A police chief in Steuben County resigned and pleaded guilty Thursday following a year-long investigation into misconduct, troopers said.

Canisteo Police Chief Kyle C. Amidon was being investigated for allegations of misconduct, financial impropriety and timekeeping fraud, troopers said in a news release. Canisteo is a village of about 2,000 people in the Southern Tier.

The investigation into Amidon started after an anonymous letter was sent to the Canisteo mayor and board of trustees in April 2024, troopers said.

It was determined that there was potential misconduct involving falsified time sheets, troopers said. There were also irregularities tied to the Canisteo Police Club, a non-profit organization which the police chief founded and managed.

Schuyler County District Attorney Joseph G. Fazzary was the special prosecutor over the case due to possible conflicts of interest with the Steuben County District Attorneys Office, troopers said.

Amidon pleaded guilty Thursday to offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

He was sentenced to one-year conditional discharge and has paid $13,378 in restitution to the village.

Amidon made $76,779 in 2024 as chief, according to an online database for public employee salaries.

Syracuse.com staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in front of the West Wing of the White House, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nations capital after abandoning his first pick for the job.

Pirro, who joined Fox News in 2006, cohosts the networks show The Five on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New Yorks Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the countys elected district attorney.

Trump tapped Pirro to at least temporarily lead the nations largest U.S. Attorneys office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the position earlier Thursday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was naming Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., but didnt indicate whether he would nominate her for the Senate-confirmed position on a more permanent basis.

Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself, Trump wrote.

FILE - Jeanine Pirro arrives at Fox Nation's Patriot Awards, Nov. 16, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File) AP

Trump withdrew Martin from consideration after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Hes a terrific person, and he wasnt getting the support from people that I thought, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. He later added, But we have somebody else that will be great.

Martins leading role in Trumps Stop the Steal movement was demoralizing for subordinates who spent four years prosecuting over 1,500 riot defendants only to see the president pardon them en masse. Pirro has her own connection to the baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud.

In 2021, voting technology company Smartmatic USA sued Fox News, Pirro and others for spreading false claims that the company helped steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump. The companys libel suit, filed in a New York state court, sought $2.7 billion from the defendants.

Pirro is the latest in a string of Trump appointments coming from Fox News  a list that includes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend.

Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington, a Fox News Media spokesperson said in a statement.

Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trumps first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background. Martin had never served as a prosecutor or tried a case before taking office in January.

Martin has stirred up a chorus of critics during his brief but tumultuous tenure in office. He fired and demoted subordinates who worked on politically sensitive cases. He posted on social media about potential targets of investigations. And he forced the chief of the offices criminal division to resign after directing her to scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during Democratic President Joe Bidens administration.

Martins temporary appointment is due to expire May 20.

Pirro, a 1975 graduate of Albany Law School, has significantly more courtroom experience than Martin. She led one of the nations first domestic violence units in a prosecutors office.

After her elected terms as a judge and district attorney, Pirro briefly campaigned in 2005 as a Republican to unseat then-Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton before announcing that she would would run for New York attorney general instead. She lost that race to Andrew Cuomo, son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Pirro became an ubiquitous television pundit during O.J. Simpsons murder trial, often appearing on CNNs Larry King Live. During her time on Fox News, she has frequently interviewed Trump.

In the final minutes of his first term as president, Trump issued a pardon to Pirros ex-husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted in 2000 on conspiracy and tax evasion charges.
Cortland, N.Y.  One of New York states oldest newspapers that closed in March is being revived after it was bought out of bankruptcy court.

The Cortland Standard, a 157-year-old publication, shut its doors on March 13 and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. AP

To the Editor:

I have been a Catholic since birth 60 years ago. I lost my connection during the Pope Benedict years for many reasons, including the sexual abuse scandal but also due to the lack of inclusivity. I am a proud parent of a trans child!

Pope Francis was a significant figure in bringing many people back to the Catholic Church due to his emphasis on mercy, inclusivity and pastoral approach. Here are some reasons why his leadership inspired my return and now I am left to ponder the future.

Emphasis on Gods mercy Pope Francis has consistently preached about Gods boundless mercy, echoing the message of The Name of God is Mercy. His declaration of the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy reinforced the idea that the church is a place of forgiveness, not condemnation. This may have helped you feel welcomed, regardless of past struggles or time away. Pastoral approach to real-life issues. Unlike a rigid, legalistic view of faith, Francis focuses on accompaniment  meeting people where they are. His famous words, Who am I to judge? regarding LGBTQ+ individuals signaled a more compassionate stance. His encyclical Amoris Laetitia encouraged pastoral sensitivity toward divorced and remarried Catholics. Humility and simplicity. His choice of a simple lifestyle (e.g., living in Casa Santa Marta instead of the papal apartments) resonates with many. He washed the feet of prisoners, embraced the poor, and spoke openly about his own struggles  making the faith feel more relatable. Focus on social justice. His encyclicals Laudato Si (on care for Creation) and Fratelli Tutti (on human fraternity) address real-world issues like climate change, poverty and inequality. This may have helped me see the church as a force for good in the world. Encouragement for the peripheries. Francis often spoke about reaching out to those on the marginsthe poor, refugees, and those alienated from the Church. Dialogue over dogma (without rejecting doctrine) While upholding church teaching, he prioritized dialogue over harsh condemnation. His openness to discussion on topics like synodality (greater lay participation) made the church feel more dynamic. Personal testimony of faith. His warmth, humor, and evident love for Christ made Catholicism feel alive and inviting.

I am praying we may move to an even more merciful inclusion in the Catholic Church with Pope Leo XIV!

Bill Kirchoff

Minoa
Chris Channels and his son, Zachary, of Camillus, recently caught two walleye off the dock at Campbells Point in Henderson Bay: one was 22 inches and weighed 4 lbs; the other was 21 inches and 3.75 lbs. Chris Channels

Chris Channels and his son, Zachary, of Camillus, recently did a little night fishing for walleye off the dock at Campbells Point in Henderson Bay.

Within the first 20 minutes, both men caught a nice walleye. Zachs measured 22 inches and weighed 4 lbs.; Chriss fish was slightly smaller, coming in at 21 inches weighing 3.75 lbs.

Both eyes swallowed a Rapala X rap.

Chris said the fish were smaller than what they were used to catching, but hes not complaining.

The rest of the night was quiet but getting two on opening weekend was a success, he said.

Trevor Simiensyk, of Baldwinsville, was kayak fishing in the Seneca River near Coopers Marina when he landed this feisty 38-inch northern pike. Marc Simiensyk

Trevor Simiensyk, of Baldwinsville, was kayak fishing in the Seneca River near Coopers Marina last weekend when something grabbed his blue green spinner. After a 15-minute battle, Trevor hauled in a feisty 38-inch northern pike.

Michael Allgaier landed this beautiful 38-inch tiger muskie on Otisco Lake, using a Rapala Husky Jerk 12 in Helsinki pattern, tied with 8-lb mono, no leader, on a bass rod. Michael Allgaier

Avid angler Michael Allgaier fishes all around upstate NY, in all seasons. His latest catch is a beautiful 38-inch tiger muskie that he landed in April on Otisco Lake, using a Rapala Husky Jerk 12 in Helsinki pattern, tied with 8-lb. mono, no leader, on a bass rod.

James Carsten, 10, of Camillus, landed his first northern pike at Onondaga Lake boat launch. The pike measured approximately 30 inches long and weighed 5 lbs. Nicole Farr

James Carsten, 10, of Camillus, landed his first northern pike in early May at Onondaga Lake boat launch, using a Rapala BX Minnow lure purchased from Mickeys Bait Shop that same day. The pike measured approximately 30 inches long and weighed 5 lbs.

Ted Kush, of Skaneateles, recently caught two nice rainbow trout on Skaneateles Lake using a gold spoon; but he only landed this 24-inch specimen. Ted Kush

Ted Kush, of Skaneateles, recently caught two rainbow trout on Skaneateles Lake using a gold spoon. One spit the spoon before Kush could land it, and wouldnt you know, it was the bigger of the two. The other bow measured 24-inches.

Send us your fish pics!

Show us your pike and pickerel, walleye and troutwe dont care! Dont forget to tell us (1) names of anyone in the photo (2) their hometowns (3) fish species (4) where caught (5) length and weight if possible (6) bait used. Throw in some colorful details, we all like a good fish story. Tight lines, yall.



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Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.comand NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing a federal criminal investigation. James delivers remarks at a ceremony at the New York State Fair in a file photo. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

The FBI and the Justice Department have launched a criminal investigation into real estate transactions involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Its the first known criminal probe of a law enforcement official who took action against President Donald Trump, according to The Washington Post.

One of the transactions involves the 2023 purchase of a home in Virginia that James said in transaction documents would be her primary residence, according to the Times Union in Albany. As a statewide elected official, James is required by law to have her main home in New York.

A defense attorney representing James said the home in Virginia was to be used by James niece as her primary residence, the Times Union said. James has called allegations that she was planning to live in Virginia baseless and her attorney said other documents make it clear the home was for her niece.

The allegations involving the home in Virginia have been circulating online among Trump allies, but the existence of a criminal probe involving federal law enforcement agencies is a major escalation against James, according to The Guardian.

A Trump administration official previously sent a criminal referral letter about the matter to the Justice Department.

The probe appears to be multipronged with involvement from the FBI in both New York and Virginia, the Guardian said.

This is being handled at this time by main (Department of) Justice and the Albany FBI field office, said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, who oversees the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Yorks Northern District, according to the Times Union. We stand prepared to act in the capacity that we need to when and if we are informed theres a charge to be made. Unlike Letitia James, who unethically ran around the state campaigning on getting Donald Trump my office conducts itself in a manner that is proper and professional.

Trump allies also have alleged that James lied on the paperwork to get a first-time homebuyer benefit, according to the Post.

James has been a significant political opponent of Trump. She previously brought a lawsuit against him before his reelection that accused him of inflating his net worth to secure financial benefits, according to the Guardian.

The case ended with an order requiring Trump to pay $450 million in penalties.

James has also joined with other Democratic attorneys general to file multiple lawsuits against Trump and his administration during both his terms, according to the Post.

James has dismissed the allegations against her as politically motivated retribution, the Guardian said.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
A $35 million food distribution warehouse and food processing plant are shown in this artist's rendering. The new building is part of a larger plan to revitalize the Central New York Regional Market in Syracuse. Provided

This years New York state budget wont include $35 million initially set aside by lawmakers to begin rebuilding the Central New York Regional Market in Syracuse.

The final budget agreement reached between Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers left out funding for the first phase of the project, said Assembly member Bill Magnarelli.

The state Assembly and Senate had included money in their budget proposals to start a massive makeover of the historic market at 2100 Park St. on Syracuses North Side.

The full project, expected to cost $75 million to $100 million, is aimed at attracting more visitors to the market and providing better service for local farmers and food wholesalers.

Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, said he tried up until the last minute to convince legislative leaders and the governor that funding for the project should be a priority in this years budget.

Unfortunately, theres no money in the budget for the Regional Market, Magnarelli told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Well have to come up with another plan.

He said that fresh food wholesalers at the market cant operate much longer out of crumbling buildings that date to the 1930s.

I cant tell you how disappointed I am, Magnarelli said of the budget loss. I thought this money would be very well spent. I thought this was something that would benefit the entire region. It was one of the few projects I really couldnt see any downside on.

The market says it faces large-scale failure of its buildings and facilities that provide year-round space to wholesale food vendors, seasonal stalls to farm-and-retail vendors and rental space for other businesses.

The local landmark is operated by the states Central New York Regional Market Authority and governed by a board of directors representing seven counties.

Bill Fisher, the markets CEO, said he views the loss of funding as a temporary setback in its mission to support local agriculture while also meeting consumer demand for local food and produce.

He said the market will renew its request for funding in next years state budget.

This market has been operating since 1938, Fisher said. Whether it comes one year or the next year, it doesnt matter in the long run. But of course, its disappointing that it wasnt in this years budget.

He said the market will move forward with a smaller renovation program. Earlier this year, Onondaga County agreed to spend $4 million on market improvements that include a ghost kitchen for food entrepreneurs, a new entrance from Park Street and renovations to the markets historic C-Shed.

The $35 million from the state would have paid for a new 40,000-square-foot building for fresh produce wholesalers, and a wing that would house a 19,000-square-foot food processing plant.

The old commission houses now used by the fresh food wholesalers would be renovated and leased to restaurants, bakeries and other food vendors.

As part of the larger plan to revitalize the 50-acre market, officials want to bring back a series of concerts to the markets F-Shed, boosting revenue and highlighting the markets versatility.

Overall, Central New Yorks delegation to the state legislature received most of its funding requests in this years budget.

The final agreement included $450 million for a new emergency department and annex at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

The spending plan also includes more than $100 million to help Onondaga County expand its water supply to serve Micron Technology.

Hochul included $35 million in the final budget to upgrade the New York State Fairs two existing concert venues and improve the acoustics at the sprawling Expo Center.

A separate $20 million funding request from the operators of Syracuse Hancock International Airport failed to gain enough support to make it into the budget, Magnarelli said.

Airport officials had asked for state aid to support a $1.1 billion plan for an expansion and modernization project.

The ambitious plan includes a terminal expansion and a new parking garage to handle increases in passenger traffic driven by Microns arrival in Central New York.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
- With more than 4,400 square feet, Eric Stevens calls his home at 545 County Route 54 near Pennellville a "ranch on steroids." It sits on 295 feet of shoreline on Fish Creek. He credits his wife Sara for his favorite room, this man cave on the walk-out lower level. Courtesy of Real3DMedia Courtesy of Real3DMedia

PENNELLVILLE, NY  Eric Stevens calls his five-bedroom ranch at 545 County Route 54, near Pennellville, over just over line in Oswego County, a nice escape.

It is one that he and his wife, Sara, often have found refuge in.

They both work as nurses at Syracuse hospitals, they met while both were employed at St. Josephs, and are raising an active two-year old.

The stresses of their long shifts can be relieved on three decks where they enjoy beautiful sunsets, kayaking on Fish Creek, and inside their 4,456 square foot home, which Stevens calls, a ranch on steroids.

Everything being on one level makes life easier with a toddler. Stevens said that all the rooms are spacious.

Built in 1994, the ranch was the first home for the couple. It was a perfect compromise for them.

63 1 / 63 Oswego County waterfront ranch has had significant upgrades

He grew up near Fair Haven, on the south shore of Lake Ontario, loving nature and privacy. Sara was raised on Long Island in a more urban setting.

He loves his 2.6-acre property, with 295 feet of waterfront on Fish Creek. The water is great for fishing and kayaking. Ducks, geese, deer, turkeys, and eagles are frequent visitors.

Stevens calls the 19-acre creek, called locally the Pennellville Pond, a hidden jewel for outdoor recreation and peaceful relaxation.

I wanted this place, he said in 2017. Being on the water is an added bonus.

His wife, used to being close to civilization, agreed. The property is just 12 minutes from Clay and 20 from downtown Syracuse.

The couple had done a lot of hard work to make it their own.

Every year, they have taken on a new project to enhance the house. Stevens uses knowledge he picked up while helping his father and learning new skills on YouTube.

It is very much updated, he said.

He put on a new metal roof in 2020, another one on the detached six-car 40-foot-by-52-foot garage and screened in the fabulous front porch.

Inside, Stevens updated nearly everything.

One bedroom is the only thing that did not receive any attention. That was going to be next, he said.

The kitchen has new appliances, a tiered Corian island, and a spacious dining area which opens onto the homes biggest deck. It offers a birds-eye view of the water.

There is new hardwood flooring throughout, including the primary suite which also has new double sinks and a walk-in shower in the bathroom.

The spacious bedroom has hers and hers closets, he jokes. His closet is down the hallway a bit.

Marriage is all about compromise, and Stevens makes up for the lack of closet space with a fantastic man cave in the walkout basement.

That is my favorite room, he said. It is my space, and I thank my wife for that.

A huge fan of the New York Yankees and the Buffalo Bills, he watches games down there from a comfortable living area. There is a wet bar and a billiards table which is staying with the house.

The walkout basement was another factor which sold him on the property. As either an in-law or teen suite, or as a guest apartment, the space has a lot of potential.

About the only thing missing on the lower level is a full kitchen, There is currently only a kitchenette but all the hookups are there for a full second kitchen.

All outdoor furniture, including the benches on the deck by the shoreline, will remain there for the next owners to use.

So too will be the neat vintage sleds which are found on the front porch and around the house. The homes original owner collected them and displayed them. Stevens left 16 out and there are more in the garage.

Its been great, Stevens said of his familys almost eight years there.

His family will be moving west, closer to Fair Haven, where his brother has a daughter about the same age as their own.

It breaks our hearts to leave, he said. It is so nice and peaceful here. If I could take it with us

An open house is scheduled for Sunday, May 11, from 1-3 p.m.

For more information about this property, please contact Realtors Andrea Price and Matt Mastrangelo of the Elysium Estates Real Estate Team at Acropolis Realty Group. Their contact info is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 545 County Route 54, Pennellville, NY 13132

Price: $499,000

Size: 4,456 square feet

Acreage: 2.6 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $2,592 (based on the national average rate of 6.76%, according to Freddie Mac on May 1, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20% down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $10,911 (Based on assessed value of $192,000)

Built: 1994

School District: Phoenix

Kitchen: The bright and open kitchen is very functional and offers a lot of counter and cabinet space. The tiered island and counters are made from a blue Corian. Seller Eric Stevens updated the stainless appliances within the past few years, part of the DIY projects he has done throughout the home. The kitchen features a coffee nook, desk, and a spacious dining area. Glass sliders open out onto the homes largest of three decks which provides a birds-eye view of Fish Creek.

Living areas: Stevens calls his home a ranch on steroids. It has 4,456 square feet of living space, combining all the convenience of a ranch with a layout great for relaxing and entertaining. The home has great flow between the kitchen and the spacious living room and dining room. There is a convenient laundry room on the main floor, featuring a folding table he made of barn wood. The walk-out lower level has potential to be an in-law, guest, or teen apartment. It has a bedroom, bathroom, an area for an office, storage, and a great man cave. That is Stevens favorite room. It has a wet bar and billiards table which is staying.

Bedrooms: There are five bedrooms. The private suite has a pair of closets along one wall and then another a bit down the hall. All have received new hardwood flooring, except one.

Bathrooms: The three-and-half bathrooms have all been updated. The primary bathroom has a new walk-in shower and double sinks.

Outdoors: Eric Stevens calls his 2.6-acre property, with 295 feet of shoreline on Fish Creek, a nice escape, offering gorgeous sunsets, relaxing views, and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. Fish Creek, which Stevens calls a hidden jewel, is great for boating, kayaking, and fishing for bass, pike, and bullhead. Deer, ducks, geese, and turkeys are frequent visitors. Views can be enjoyed from three decks. All the lawn furniture is staying with the home. There is an attached two-car garage, and the six-car 40-foot-by-52-foot detached one which has a second-floor workshop. The front porch is screened in. Stevens installed a new metal roof of the house and garage over the last five years or so. Close to Clay and downtown Syracuse, the property is just south of the snow belt so winters are not too bad.

Agents: Andrea Price and Matt Mastrangelo

Acropolis Realty Group, Elysium Estates Real Estate Team

Address: 115 East Jefferson Street, Suite 300, Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 459-3234 (Price) and (856) 506-2722 (Mastrangelo)

Email: andreapricerealtor@gmail.com and mfmastrangelo@gmail.com

Website: Andrea Price and Elysium Estates

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.
Electric school buses at New York Bus Sales Inc, based in Chittenango but expanding into Syracuse. New York School Buses Inc.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- School districts in New York can get up to four extra years to buy all-electric buses, according to legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul today.

Previously, state law required districts to stop buying combustion engine buses in 2027. By 2035, all school buses in New York must run on a battery.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 8. Zabil Safarov, a victim who was taken hostage during the occupation of Azerbaijan's Kalbajar district, has testified in the trial at the Baku Military Court on May 8, Trend reports.

Zabil Safarov recounted that on April 4, 1993, Armenian armed forces entered Kalbajar and surrounded the area.

When the Armenians placed me in a tank and took me away, my grandmother pleaded with them not to separate us. She begged them not to take me away from her. But they ignored her. After that, they killed my grandmother because she said, Someday Azerbaijani army will liberate these lands. After killing her, they took me to the village of Vang in Kalbajar. There, we were tortured and later transferred to another location in the district, he said.

Safarov recalled that Armenian soldiers mistreated minors, women, and young girls taken hostage. He testified that they tortured everyoneincluding the elderly and childrenand killed many of them.

The Armenians heated a skewer and burned the body of an Azerbaijani soldier. While I was in Shusha "prison", I witnessed them burning the body of one of them. I saw the Armenians killing several Azerbaijanis by beating.

They also buried 23 people alive in front of my eyes, only their heads were left outside.

The Armenians tortured the Azerbaijanis so much that they could not stand it and killed themselves.

The soldiers of the Armenian army looted Azerbaijani cemeteries, pulled the bodies from the graves, robbed them, and insulted them.

Due to the tortures I was subjected to, my right ear is not hearing well, and my eyesight is weak. They broke my teeth," Safarov added.

The trial continues for Armenian nationals accused of crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, acts of terrorism, waging and preparing for aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, forcible seizure and retention of power, and financing terrorism, among other offenses linked to Armenias military aggression.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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x-o-b BHPian



Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Gangtok Posts: 82 Thanked: 90 Times

Re: Thar CRDe: Improving its low-end torque



I will try to cover as much ground as possible whilst keeping this post as concise as possible.



To refresh our memory, I had the following carried out on my 2017 F/L Thar CRDe:- Stage 1 ECU remap EGR Delete using a blanking plate at the intake manifold PCV System cleaning Air Mass Sensor cleaning In addition, I had the brake cylinders changed to the correct 25.4 mm bore sized ones (the existing ones were of smaller bore size). I also had the LSPV replaced with a brand new one and the whole brake system flushed by fresh new DOT 3 oil (Had initially decided to use DOT 4 which, although has a higher boiling point, is more hygroscopic and has borate that may damage "some" rubber seals - hence fell back to DOT 3).



There has been "very noticeable" performance improvements after the remap and egr delete:- The engine cranks in less than a second, even when cold and when the measured battery voltage is just about 12.2 Volts (yes, my battery needs maintenance, and I will get to that in a few days) The throttle response is very nice, and the turbo kicks in at around 1800 RPM with a great blip. The vehicle now yearns to simply wade through thick and thin tracks with ease. At places, on 2nd gear in particular, the vehicle simply pulled away without any throttle action. The low end torque has definitely improved (it is so very noticeable) by a significant margin. Overtaking felt effortless now, and was actually scary at times. I realize why a brake upgrade is "sold" after the remap. This is due to the fact that the vehicle sometimes gives you the feeling that perhaps it may have become "unstoppable". The stock brakes, however, felt adequate for me. Overall, I am glad that I bit the bullet and did the remap. It definitely justifies the premium pricing attached to it. Next up, I strive to improve the ride quality on this beast so that it becomes - sort of - a complete vehicle for me. I seek that last satisfaction.



Some homework on the subject made me think about installing "comfort shackles" aka "G-Shackles" aka "double shackles" aka "Janniah Leaf Springs". Neither custom/composite leaf springs nor custom shock absorbers impressed me much.



The "physics" of the comfort shackles appeased me. Check out the following video to see it in action, and it made sense to me. However, I request you all to point out the "cons" which I may have missed about these. Thanks so very much for reading this far.



https://youtu.be/t4hqp0XO0CQ?t=8 Last evening, I took my Thar out for an unforgiving drive of about 100 kilometers. The trip included short bursts of metalled road, narrow single lane switchbacks mostly, fraught with potholes. The max speed was about 80 kmph in the whole trip. The average speed could be around 35 kmph. It included about 500 meters (both ways) of extreme off road track with a hairpin bend of more than 50 degrees slope at one section of about 60 meters length. Another short (10 meters) was total slushy red mud swamp-like road where the wheel sunk until the leaf spring U-Bolts. Driving past this section was the most perilous, since the slushy red mud provided zero traction to my brand new AT tyres and the section was very narrow with about 3 feet margin for error - spinning the wheels recklessly here meant I could easily slip off the edge and fall down into the gorge several feet deep to be discovered only next morning, if lucky, by a local shepherd. I wish I should have taken pictures but it was dark and I was driving alone. The rest was the usual hilly track - which is to say - it was like all other roads here - skeletal remains of a bullock-cart path left to rot after leeching and sucking off at the bone-marrow level by our honorable and highly admirable politicians.I will try to cover as much ground as possible whilst keeping this post as concise as possible.To refresh our memory, I had the following carried out on my 2017 F/L Thar CRDe:-In addition, I had the brake cylinders changed to the correctd ones (the existing ones were of smaller bore size). I also had the LSPV replaced with a brand new one and the whole brake system flushed by fresh new DOT 3 oil (Had initially decided to use DOT 4 which, although has a higher boiling point, is more hygroscopic and has borate that may damage "some" rubber seals - hence fell back to DOT 3).There has been "very noticeable" performance improvements after the remap and egr delete:-Next up, I strive to improve the ride quality on this beast so that it becomes - sort of - a complete vehicle for me. I seek that last satisfaction.Some homework on the subject made me think about installing "comfort shackles" aka "G-Shackles" aka "double shackles" aka ". Neither custom/composite leaf springs nor custom shock absorbers impressed me much.The "physics" of the comfort shackles appeased me. Check out the following video to see it in action, and it made sense to me. However, I request you all to point out the "cons" which I may have missed about these. Thanks so very much for reading this far. Last edited by x-o-b : 7th May 2025 at 21:18 .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 10. Today, Azerbaijan commemorates the 102nd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Heydar Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan. After graduating from the Nakhchivan Pedagogical College in 1939, he enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture at the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute (now the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University), but his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.

He began his public service career in 1941, holding key positions in the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs and the Council of People's Commissars in the Nakhchivan ASSR. In 1944, he joined the state security agencies, receiving specialized training in Leningrad and Moscow. In 1957, he graduated from the Faculty of History at Baku State University. Over a 25-year career in the security services, he rose through the ranks to become Chairman of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1967, with the rank of Major General.

In July 1969, Heydar Aliyev was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, becoming the republics leader. He joined the Soviet Unions top leadership in 1982 as a member of the Politburo and First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, overseeing major areas of economic, social, and cultural policy.

He served as a deputy in both the USSR and the Azerbaijani Supreme Soviets for two decades. In October 1987, he resigned in protest against the political course of the Soviet leadership.

On January 21, 1990, the day after the Soviet armys violent crackdown in Baku, Heydar Aliyev publicly condemned the massacre, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. In July 1991, he left the Communist Party in protest against the central governments policies, particularly its handling of the escalating Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Returning to Azerbaijan in 1990, Aliyev initially settled in Baku, then moved to Nakhchivan, where he was elected to the Supreme Soviet. Between 1991 and 1993, he served as Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament. In 1992, he was elected Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party at its founding congress in Nakhchivan.

In mid-1993, as Azerbaijan faced political turmoil and the threat of civil war, the people turned to Heydar Aliyev to restore stability. The countrys leadership invited him to Baku, and on June 15, 1993, he was elected Chairman of the National Assembly. A month later, he assumed the powers of the President.

On October 3, 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected President of Azerbaijan. He was re-elected in 1998. Though he initially agreed to run in the 2003 election, he later withdrew due to health concerns.

Heydar Aliyev passed away on December 12, 2003, at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. He was laid to rest at the Alley of Honor in Baku on December 15.

His legacy lives on in an independent and sovereign Azerbaijan. The countrys Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War is widely seen as the result of the foundations laid under Heydar Aliyevs leadership - from strengthening the military to building a resilient state. Under President Ilham Aliyev, the liberation of Azerbaijani lands became a proud chapter in the nation's history and a powerful affirmation of Heydar Aliyevs vision for a strong, united, and independent Azerbaijan.
Samba Distinguished - BHPian



Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kolkata Posts: 2,322 Thanked: 30,023 Times

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Re: 2024 Force Gurkha 5-Door Review Got a chance to drive the Force Gurkha 5 door in city traffic.



A friend of mine, Dr. Subhankar Mukherjee, was interested in taking a test drive of the Force Gurkha 5-door. He had a Thar and a Bolero before, so his love for butch SUVs is understandable.



So Dr. Mukherjee, his daughter, my wife & I decided to check the Gurkha out.



My take on the Gurkha is, as of now, purely based on city driving. I can't comment on its off-road prowess until I take the car off-road. And I believe off-road is the place where the actual mettle of this vehicle can be recognized.



My take on this car -



The Pros -



1) Undeniable road presence and a head-turner.



2) Respect from other road users! Even the buses were not cutting into its lane, let alone the cabs or auto rickshaws!



3) Acres of space. 7 people can sit comfortably.



4) The front two seats are very comfortable with good support and armrests.



5) The ride comfort is good on bad roads.



6) This car dismisses the bad roads or potholes or small humps with ease. This car can go over anything with its homogeneous ground clearance.



7) The low-end torque is adequate. Even in 2nd gear, the car pulls ahead without pressing the accelerator. The in-city drivability is good.



8) Despite being such a huge car, this car is very easy to drive. Blind spots are negligible. The turning radius of the Gurkha is less than the Jimny!



9) Huge glass area gives the cabin a very roomy feel.



10) The car comes well-equipped from the factory itself. Like the OEM snorkel, plus other important accessories, can be bought from Force itself. One does not have to go the aftermarket way. Even the tires provided do not need an immediate upgrade.



The neutral part -



1) NVH at city speed seems to be okay. Without driving on the highway, it's not possible to comment on the wind noise or engine noise at higher RPMs. I felt the body roll while taking turns. On curvy roads or hills, it will be more prominent. But nothing to complain about, as this is a natural phenomenon for most of the body-on-frame SUVs.



2) The steering is not very precise. It has a vagueness. After a 'U' turn, the steering centers on its own, but the steering lacks the feel.



3) The height is not very practical for parking the vehicle anywhere.



4) The 2nd row bench seat looks basic but offers very good support and is comfortable.



5) The 3rd row bucket seats are comfortable, but the leg room will be good for a person of a height of 5 feet 9/10 inches max.



6) The AC cooled the cabin well, but it's not a chiller.



7) The boot space with the 3rd row seats is compromised. Either one needs to remove the 3rd row bucket seats or use the roof carrier for long trips.



8) Elderly people might face difficulty in climbing up and down this vehicle. Though the grab handles are placed strategically, still, older people might find it a bit difficult.



9) The dealer network of Force Motors is still not at par with Mahindra, Maruti, or Toyota. Kolkata has only one dealer.



10) Though on paper the power figures are more than the Thar 3 door, the Thar is still much faster and smoother.



The cons-



1) Though much improved over its previous version, the engine still lacks outright acceleration. Turbo lag can be felt, too.



2) The gear shift vibrates on starting the car, and the gear lever is placed a bit too far from the driver.



3) The gear shift felt rubbery.



4) The brakes felt spongy. Late braking is not recommended.



5) The interiors are very basic.



6) Hard plastic parts have been used everywhere. The interior lacks a sophisticated touch.



7) The Android Auto felt basic, the AC lacked climate control, though it has rear AC vents and manages to do its job well.



8) Our test drive car was pulling to its left if we left the steering wheel straight on straight roads.



9) Few uneven panel gaps.



10) Opening the bonnet when the engine is hot is a task. The latches and all are not well insulated and get very hot. It required two of us to open and close the bonnet!



Who should buy this car?



1) People who want to stand out from the crowd.



2) People who needs a butch comfortable 7 seater SUV which is capable off the road.



3) People who are not much bothered about the lack of sophistication this vehicle has. People who will accept this car, knowing its shortcomings.



4) Do you have a pet at your home? The pet will love the space this Gurkha offers!



5) People who go for solo adventure trips can have a few nifty features which can come in handy, like the Diff locks or the heated DPF line, while in places having sub-zero temperatures!



Few pics-



The team! Bhpian DogNDamsel12, yours's truly, Dr. Subhankar Mukherjee & his daughter







Hello Gurkha!



























Feels like I own the road!







The interiors look slightly basic.







The boot space is less. Getting into the 3rd row is not difficult. It can be difficult for elderly people.







Hydraulic jack







3rd row leg space. I am 5 feet 9 inches.











The glove box is fairly spacious







12V and USB ports







Enough space in the footwell. The dead pedal is present, too.







Quite a lot of storage space. The diff lock levers look tempting for off-road enthusiasts. I hate this 4WD dial instead of a proper 2nd gear lever! Plus, the power window switches in the center console are not very convenient to use.







I loved the comfort and the support the front seats offered.







Rear seats look basic. but they were comfy.







3rd row seats offer great support but lack leg space for tall people.







It took us some time to figure out where the latch is to open the bonnet!







The ground clearance is huge. An underbelly cover is not present. But it won't be easy to damage the underbelly parts unless the driver is too careless.











The hood insulator looks to be an afterthought. The bonnet heats up heavily after a drive. So please be careful while opening the bonnet when the engine is hot.







The engine bay looks busy.







Thanks to USG Force, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata, for providing us with a long test drive. The staff were very cooperative and friendly. A friend of mine, Dr. Subhankar Mukherjee, was interested in taking a test drive of the Force Gurkha 5-door. He had a Thar and a Bolero before, so his love for butch SUVs is understandable.So Dr. Mukherjee, his daughter, my wife & I decided to check the Gurkha out.My take on the Gurkha is, as of now, purely based on city driving. I can't comment on its off-road prowess until I take the car off-road. And I believe off-road is the place where the actual mettle of this vehicle can be recognized.1) Undeniable road presence and a head-turner.2) Respect from other road users! Even the buses were not cutting into its lane, let alone the cabs or auto rickshaws!3) Acres of space. 7 people can sit comfortably.4) The front two seats are very comfortable with good support and armrests.5) The ride comfort is good on bad roads.6) This car dismisses the bad roads or potholes or small humps with ease. This car can go over anything with its homogeneous ground clearance.7) The low-end torque is adequate. Even in 2nd gear, the car pulls ahead without pressing the accelerator. The in-city drivability is good.8) Despite being such a huge car, this car is very easy to drive. Blind spots are negligible. The turning radius of the Gurkha is less than the Jimny!9) Huge glass area gives the cabin a very roomy feel.10) The car comes well-equipped from the factory itself. Like the OEM snorkel, plus other important accessories, can be bought from Force itself. One does not have to go the aftermarket way. Even the tires provided do not need an immediate upgrade.1) NVH at city speed seems to be okay. Without driving on the highway, it's not possible to comment on the wind noise or engine noise at higher RPMs. I felt the body roll while taking turns. On curvy roads or hills, it will be more prominent. But nothing to complain about, as this is a natural phenomenon for most of the body-on-frame SUVs.2) The steering is not very precise. It has a vagueness. After a 'U' turn, the steering centers on its own, but the steering lacks the feel.3) The height is not very practical for parking the vehicle anywhere.4) The 2nd row bench seat looks basic but offers very good support and is comfortable.5) The 3rd row bucket seats are comfortable, but the leg room will be good for a person of a height of 5 feet 9/10 inches max.6) The AC cooled the cabin well, but it's not a chiller.7) The boot space with the 3rd row seats is compromised. Either one needs to remove the 3rd row bucket seats or use the roof carrier for long trips.8) Elderly people might face difficulty in climbing up and down this vehicle. Though the grab handles are placed strategically, still, older people might find it a bit difficult.9) The dealer network of Force Motors is still not at par with Mahindra, Maruti, or Toyota. Kolkata has only one dealer.10) Though on paper the power figures are more than the Thar 3 door, the Thar is still much faster and smoother.1) Though much improved over its previous version, the engine still lacks outright acceleration. Turbo lag can be felt, too.2) The gear shift vibrates on starting the car, and the gear lever is placed a bit too far from the driver.3) The gear shift felt rubbery.4) The brakes felt spongy. Late braking is not recommended.5) The interiors are very basic.6) Hard plastic parts have been used everywhere. The interior lacks a sophisticated touch.7) The Android Auto felt basic, the AC lacked climate control, though it has rear AC vents and manages to do its job well.8) Our test drive car was pulling to its left if we left the steering wheel straight on straight roads.9) Few uneven panel gaps.10) Opening the bonnet when the engine is hot is a task. The latches and all are not well insulated and get very hot. It required two of us to open and close the bonnet!1) People who want to stand out from the crowd.2) People who needs a butch comfortable 7 seater SUV which is capable off the road.3) People who are not much bothered about the lack of sophistication this vehicle has. People who will accept this car, knowing its shortcomings.4) Do you have a pet at your home? The pet will love the space this Gurkha offers!5) People who go for solo adventure trips can have a few nifty features which can come in handy, like the Diff locks or the heated DPF line, while in places having sub-zero temperatures!The team! Bhpian DogNDamsel12, yours's truly, Dr. Subhankar Mukherjee & his daughterHello Gurkha!Feels like I own the road!The interiors look slightly basic.The boot space is less. Getting into the 3rd row is not difficult. It can be difficult for elderly people.Hydraulic jack3rd row leg space. I am 5 feet 9 inches.The glove box is fairly spacious12V and USB portsEnough space in the footwell. The dead pedal is present, too.Quite a lot of storage space. The diff lock levers look tempting for off-road enthusiasts. I hate this 4WD dial instead of a proper 2nd gear lever! Plus, the power window switches in the center console are not very convenient to use.I loved the comfort and the support the front seats offered.Rear seats look basic. but they were comfy.3rd row seats offer great support but lack leg space for tall people.It took us some time to figure out where the latch is to open the bonnet!The ground clearance is huge. An underbelly cover is not present. But it won't be easy to damage the underbelly parts unless the driver is too careless.The hood insulator looks to be an afterthought. The bonnet heats up heavily after a drive. So please be careful while opening the bonnet when the engine is hot.The engine bay looks busy.Thanks to USG Force, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata, for providing us with a long test drive. The staff were very cooperative and friendly. Last edited by Aditya : 29th May 2025 at 05:30 . Reason: As requested
hondaxadv750 Newbie

Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8 Thanked: 32 Times

Test Riding the Honda X-ADV 750 My journey to own this mutant took me to a different level of research, one where I never expected to get the warmest welcome and the detailed explanation that I was looking for; Bern, Switzerland.

I had initially emailed them before my trip to Europe, and was quite sceptical to even get a reply!

However, the very next day I received an email asking me to get in touch with them a day prior before I wanted the test ride, so that they could arrange a vehicle for me!

I am attaching a screenshot of the email.

The day I arrived in Bern, it was a Sunday. And all establishments in the EU are shut on Sunday. And to make matters worse, they open on Monday only after 13:30. But since I was determined to test ride the X-ADV, I waited till 13:30. And now comes the best part.



I met Nicholas, the sales head at Fegbli Honda, Bern. He just verified a few details about our conversation on the mail and asked me for my Drivers Licence and my International Drivers Permit. He took copies of both documents and then informed me that I will be given only the 35kW model for test ride. It really didnt matter as I wanted to get a feel of the scooter. Then, he gave me a detailed run of the mill about all the features that the scooter has to offer. Finally, he asked me how long I would like to test ride the scooter. I told him, about 45 minutes to an hour, since I had other things lined up for the day.



When I got to see the scooter that was given to me, it was a 2023 December X-ADV. I still took the vehicle for the ride. It was as if a child was put into a toy store. The feeling and excitement, the joy and pleasure, all culminating into one huge bundle of ecstasy, just sitting on the saddle and feeling that engine below is something I cannot pen down. From the moment you twist the throttle, its sheer fun and joy. I must emphasise, comfort is excellent. Seating position is perfect (I am 510) and I can flat foot at any point. Yes, the scooter is heavy, and this is without any accessories. So, if you do add accessories, you could add another 10-15 kilograms to its overall weight which is 236 kilograms.



Gear shifts are quick in the standard and rain mode. Sport mode lets you max out the RPM for each gear before the shifts, the pad shifts are just wonderful, especially in standard mode if you want to suddenly want to down shift and overtake. I really didnt take the time to fiddle with the 2 user modes which are customisable. Gravel mode gives you the option of switching off traction control, manipulate ABS and other settings. The engine does have an amazing engine braking which is controlled automatically to prevent excessive wear and tear of the brake pads.



Seating takes a while to get used to if you have been riding a bike. There is a 745cc engine between your legs, and to add to that there is a foot board like a scooter. So, it is quite wide when you put your legs down. You dont feel the vibrations of the engine even at 120kmph and its effortless to reach that speed in standard mode.

The controls on the handlebar also takes some time to get used to if you are a person who has been using a bike without much tech. (I have been riding a Kawasaki Z800).



The X-ADV 750 offers a smooth and stable ride, thanks to its soft suspension and generous 150mm wheel travel on both ends. This setup ensures a comfortable journey over smooth roads. However, on uneven surfaces, riders might experience some vibrations and jolts, which I did, particularly due to the feet-forward riding position.



Handling is akin to that of a motorcycle, with stable steering in long corners and a steady roll into tighter turns. The low center of gravity aids in manoeuvrability, although the bike's size can make navigating through tight urban traffic a bit challenging.



Equipped with Nissin four-pot radial callipers on 296mm discs and linked ABS, the X-ADV 750 ensures efficient and drama-free braking. The scooter-style rear brake on the left handlebar may require a brief adjustment period for traditional motorcyclists.



The X-ADV 750 comes with a 5-inch TFT screen compatible with the Honda RoadSync app, allowing for turn-by-turn navigation and music controls. However, it lacks Apple CarPlay integration, which is available on some other Honda models.



In summary, the Honda X-ADV 750 is a versatile and innovative crossover scooter that combines the ease of a scooter with the performance of a motorcycle. It's well-suited for riders looking for a comfortable and capable machine for both urban commuting and weekend adventures.



After a 45-minute test ride, I went back to the showroom and requested Nicholas if he could get me the 2025 model for a test ride. He made a few calls and I was informed that the 2025 model is not available for test ride for the whole week. Even making a booking for purchase was difficult as the Matte Deep Mud Grey is not available.



All in all, my experience in the Honda Fegbli, Bern, Switzerland, was a great one.



I hope this review helps.



Happy riding! Attached Thumbnails




























jonesanto BHPian



Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Bangalore Posts: 155 Thanked: 1,774 Times

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Tata's after-sales service remains a hit or miss





2017 model Hexa AT gone for 90k service on March 24th, normal service was done. They mentioned it is time to change timing belt and pulley, but items are not in stock and we will be informed once it arrives. Windshield washer was not working and diagnosed it as pump failure. Ordered that part. Its very important to note that after the normal oil change service we got the car back and used it for weeks and there were no issues with the car. There was low brake fluid light popped up twice before giving for normal service and they could not find anything wrong, also ABS light came on once and never came back after restarting the car. These were mentioned to service and I have no clue if anything was done to address this issue. This was not a recurring waring.





Things started to go bad when the car went back for timing belt change. We were told after timing belt change when they did test drive, some errors threw up on cluster and they did a scan, found one injector was misfiring. Now what was this new error throwing up in cluster, we have no clue. Were there any symptoms? Well, the car ran absolutely fine, at any given point I did not feel like it was not delivering power like it used to, but car will only start after few cranks and due to less usage, we attributed it to battery not charging sufficiently. Since the error showed up at scan report we wanted to fix it, service center said, they will service it and see if that fixed the issue. They kept the car for a week or something and informed us, everything is FIXED! They also mentioned they took the time because they wanted to give the car back in PERFECT condition. I went to check the car, test drove it, checked all the replaced items and I could not find anything amiss.

























After this car has gone to Trivandrum for family run, I was not in station, in two days I got a call saying there is oil leak from the car. Puddle of oil found under the car. Family was stranded due to this. Since I was not using, cant tell if any waring showed up at cluster. We called up Tata service and they topped up the oil, took the car from Trivandrum to Kollam service station. They said the leak was from behind the engine and they fixed it, because I was not in station, I have no option left but to believe whatever they are informing me. Apparently, the leak is fixed and they delivered the car at home. This is a single owner car, not a single service is missed, before giving it for timing belt change there were no major issues in the car. In a weeks time, the car has injector trouble and an oil leak. Maybe its just bad luck all the problems started popping up at once, to me it doesnt make any sense. Earlier we fixed the infamous silencer rusting issue, passenger side window winding mechanism. Still have problems like, left side electric mirror adjuster not working, at times turn indicator cut off does not work etc.





Dealing with Tata service has been a pain, it took more than a month to sort out all the issues, there is no proper communication and only after we escalated the matters to higher officials, we started getting proper updates.





Hexa is one heck of a car, in my opinion, it is the only car which gave Innova a run for its money. Typical Tata style, they failed to back up this car with good service. Last year we tried to sell it, guess what the offers were? 7 lakh, why sell it at that price? Decided to keep it.





I have a Crysta AT of the same vintage, sure, there were issues with Crysta too, how swiftly and professionally it is addressed makes all the difference between these T badges. This is not a TATA bashing thread, when things are bad, you need to say it is bad and vice versa. There is no need to sugar coat things. I really wish Tata would improve its service. A car is only good if the service quality matches with it. My experience with Hexa, this car is not aging well, even Maruti is doing a far better job when it comes to service and reliability.







Though discontinued, these are one among the best BOF ATs available in India. Tata has come a long way from their old Indica and Indigo days, there is no doubt about it. They make world class products now. Let it be safety, features, luxury, engine/transmission options etc, they excel at everything. But there is one thing mostly still stays at Indica and Indigo days is their service. Take any review from Team BHP, there will be one point in What you won't section: Tata's after-sales service remains a hit or miss.2017 model Hexa AT gone for 90k service on March 24th, normal service was done. They mentioned it is time to change timing belt and pulley, but items are not in stock and we will be informed once it arrives. Windshield washer was not working and diagnosed it as pump failure. Ordered that part. Its very important to note that after the normal oil change service we got the car back and used it for weeks and there were no issues with the car. There was low brake fluid light popped up twice before giving for normal service and they could not find anything wrong, also ABS light came on once and never came back after restarting the car. These were mentioned to service and I have no clue if anything was done to address this issue. This was not a recurring waring.Things started to go bad when the car went back for timing belt change. We were told after timing belt change when they did test drive, some errors threw up on cluster and they did a scan, found one injector was misfiring. Now what was this new error throwing up in cluster, we have no clue. Were there any symptoms? Well, the car ran absolutely fine, at any given point I did not feel like it was not delivering power like it used to, but car will only start after few cranks and due to less usage, we attributed it to battery not charging sufficiently. Since the error showed up at scan report we wanted to fix it, service center said, they will service it and see if that fixed the issue. They kept the car for a week or something and informed us, everything is FIXED! They also mentioned they took the time because they wanted to give the car back in PERFECT condition. I went to check the car, test drove it, checked all the replaced items and I could not find anything amiss.After this car has gone to Trivandrum for family run, I was not in station, in two days I got a call saying there is oil leak from the car. Puddle of oil found under the car. Family was stranded due to this. Since I was not using, cant tell if any waring showed up at cluster. We called up Tata service and they topped up the oil, took the car from Trivandrum to Kollam service station. They said the leak was from behind the engine and they fixed it, because I was not in station, I have no option left but to believe whatever they are informing me. Apparently, the leak is fixed and they delivered the car at home. This is a single owner car, not a single service is missed, before giving it for timing belt change there were no major issues in the car. In a weeks time, the car has injector trouble and an oil leak. Maybe its just bad luck all the problems started popping up at once, to me it doesnt make any sense. Earlier we fixed the infamous silencer rusting issue, passenger side window winding mechanism. Still have problems like, left side electric mirror adjuster not working, at times turn indicator cut off does not work etc.Dealing with Tata service has been a pain, it took more than a month to sort out all the issues, there is no proper communication and only after we escalated the matters to higher officials, we started getting proper updates.Hexa is one heck of a car, in my opinion, it is the only car which gave Innova a run for its money. Typical Tata style, they failed to back up this car with good service. Last year we tried to sell it, guess what the offers were? 7 lakh, why sell it at that price? Decided to keep it.I have a Crysta AT of the same vintage, sure, there were issues with Crysta too, how swiftly and professionally it is addressed makes all the difference between these T badges. This is not a TATA bashing thread, when things are bad, you need to say it is bad and vice versa. There is no need to sugar coat things. I really wish Tata would improve its service. A car is only good if the service quality matches with it. My experience with Hexa, this car is not aging well, even Maruti is doing a far better job when it comes to service and reliability.Though discontinued, these are one among the best BOF ATs available in India. Last edited by jonesanto : 5th May 2025 at 12:44 .
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The cybersecurity company that became a household name after causing a massive global IT outage last year has announced it will cut 5% of its workforce in part due to AI efficiency. In a note to staff earlier this week, released in stock market filings in the US, CrowdStrikes chief executive, George Kurtz, announced that 500 positions, or 5% of its workforce, would be cut globally, citing AI efficiencies created in the business. Were operating in a market and technology inflection point, with AI reshaping every industry, accelerating threats, and evolving customer needs, he said. Guardian

Bill Gates is speeding up his plans to give away nearly all of his money. People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that he died rich will not be one of them, the billionaire wrote on Thursday. The Gates Foundation was originally intended to close twenty years after Mr Gates died, giving away around $200bn (150bn) in that time. But now the timeline has been brought forward to 2045. There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people, Mr Gates wrote in a post on his website. Sky News



UK retailers are likely to face steeper rises for their cyber insurance after damaging attacks on Marks and Spencer, Harrods and the Co-op, adding further pain to a sector that is already seeing premiums rise. Retailers could face 10 per cent rate increases following the recent hacking incidents, said Dan Leahy, head of cyber at broker BMS. We expect this will drive underwriters to increase scrutiny on cyber security controls, raise rates and, for some insurers, reconsider whether to write cyber insurance for retail business, Leahy said. FT.com

About 1.2m people in the UK were affected by banking outages that happened on what was pay day for many earlier this year. The details have emerged in letters, external from Lloyds, TSB, Nationwide and HSBC to Dame Meg Hillier, the chair of the Commons Treasury Committee, which is looking into the incident that occurred on Friday, 28 February. HSBC also revealed that customers had to wait two hours on average that day to reach its online customer service team. Its standard target wait time is five minutes. BBC

When Apple releases the next iPhone operating software, iOS 18.5 (and its imminent: read this for exactly when it will land), it will have a feature nobody was expecting: satellite connectivity for the iPhone 13 series. This is something previously restricted to iPhone 14 series phones and later. In the next few days, Apple will add a highly useful (and potentially life-saving) feature. The software update that makes this possible is free though the carrier may or may not charge for the service. Forbes



The next installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise might be pushed until 2026, but gamers are eating up every morsel of detail that developer Rockstar Games is releasing to the public. Case in point: Rockstar released the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI on Tuesday, and the company tells The Hollywood Reporter that it has received over 475 million views across platforms. Hollywood Reporter

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In context: AI and zero-click searches are killing the business model of the web that has sustained content creators for the last 15+ years. It's an opinion that is shared by many, including Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, who recently warned that "search drives everything that happens online."

It's been known for some time that the web is changing into the Zero-Click Internet, the name for when users no longer need to click on links to find whatever content they want.

Social media sites stopped promoting posts with links years ago, posting content directly on the platforms so users don't have to leave them. With the advent of generative AI, people are having their queries answered directly on Google's search page  no need to click on a website to find an answer.

Must read: The Zero Click Internet

Prince, boss of the CDN/security giant Cloudflare, spoke about the impact of a zero-click Internet during a recent interview with the Council on Foreign Relations. "AI is going to fundamentally change the business model of the web. The business model of the web for the last 15 years has been search. Search drives everything that happens online," he said.

Prince also talked about how the value exchange between Google and those who create web content is disappearing. He noted that almost a decade ago, every two pages that Google scraped meant it would send websites a visitor. Today, it takes six scraped pages to get one visitor, despite the crawl rate not changing.

"Today, 75 percent of the queries get answered without you leaving Google," the CEO revealed.

The rise of large language models and the AI companies behind them has sent the crisis into overdrive, pushing the scraping-to-visitor ratio far above Google's six to one. As such, creators see lower returns  and with so much AI scraping of content without permission, they often get nothing at all for their work.

"And so the business model of the web can't survive unless there's some change, because more and more the answers to the questions that you ask won't lead you to the original source, it will be some derivative of that source."

New: How AI Overviews Shift Traffic From Publishers to Google



It's not enough that Google's AI Overviews reduce clicks to publisher websites 



Google designed these so that what few clicks remain lead to walls of irrelevant ads and/or bad search results



Link in  pic.twitter.com/usrycPvTNS  Cyrus (@CyrusShepard) May 8, 2025

While some will argue that being able to find an answer quickly and from multiple sources without clicking through several sites is easier and more convenient, there are obvious problems.

The main issue is that nobody is going to want to create new content when they get paid nothing or almost nothing for doing so. This is especially true when it comes to smaller, independent, impartial sites that AI companies might not partner with. And let's not forget how often AI gets things completely wrong.

"Sam Altman at OpenAI and others get that. But he can't be the only one paying for content when everyone else gets it for free."

Prince said that 80 percent of AI companies use Cloudflare, and 20 to 30 percent of the web uses its services. He added that as his company is at the center of the problem, it is thinking about ways to address the situation, hopefully before it is too late.

The executive also talked about the billions of dollars being invested in generative AI and the lack of returns.

"In terms of, is AI a fad, is it overhyped? I think the answer is probably yes and no. I would guess that 99 percent of the money that people are spending on these projects today is just getting lit on fire. But 1 percent is going to be incredibly valuable. And I can't tell you what 1 percent of that is. And so maybe we've all got a light, you know, $100 on fire to find that one dollar that matters."
It may be safe to say that Bill Gates is no fan of Elon Musk.

The Microsoft co-founder spoke critically of Musk in separate interviews, particularly his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Gates is particularly critical of how Musk's work with DOGE has affected the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), particularly the budget cuts that have severely affected the work that the agency does.

Bill Gates Blasts Elon Musk Over DOGE

In his interview with the Financial Items (via Engadget), Gates said that "The picture of the world's richest man killing the world's poorest children is not a pretty one."

In a separate interview with The New York Times, he made a similar statement, saying "In the meantime, the world's richest man has been involved in the deaths of the world's poorest children."

Gates went on to say that he only expected a 20% budget cut for USAID. Instead, it ended up being around 80%, according to the Microsoft co-founder, and he put the blame on Elon Musk.

"He's the one who cut the U.S.A.I.D. budget," said Gates. "He put it in the wood chipper."

Elon Musk Said He'll Step Back From DOGE

Days before April came to a close, Musk made a promise to cut back on his work with DOGE to focus on Tesla.

His declaration came after his electric car company reported a decrease in both sales and profit, according to the BBC.

Musk went on to say that he will only give one or two days a week for DOGE.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. On May 9, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the tomb of National Leader Heydar Aliyev at the Alley of Honors, as May 10 marks the 102nd anniversary of the birth of the architect and founder of the modern and independent Azerbaijani state, the great son of the Azerbaijani people and the National Leader, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the tomb of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and paid tribute to the National Leader.

First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva also paid tribute to the National Leader.

The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

The head of state and the First Lady then placed flowers at the grave of the National Leaders wife, an outstanding ophthalmologist and academician, Zarifa Aliyeva.

They also paid tribute to prominent statesman Aziz Aliyev and professor Tamerlan Aliyev.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The delegation of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan has left for Tirana to observe the parliamentary election to be held in Albania on May 11, 2025, a source in the CEC Secretariat told Trend.

Based on the invitation of the Chairman of the Albanian CEC (KQZ), Ilirjan Celibashi, to the CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov, Deputy Chairman of the CEC Rovzat Gasimov, and Head of the CEC Secretariat Department Ramin Nuraliyev are participating in the observation of the parliamentary elections in Albania.

The visit schedules meetings of representatives of the CEC with the leadership of the KQZ and other officials, and discussions on the possibilities of deepening relations between the supreme election bodies and the exchange of experience in various fields related to elections.

In addition to reviewing the overall preparatory processes for the parliamentary elections prior to election day, the delegation will also observe voting procedures at polling stations on election day.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Five dead, two missing in Colombia landslide



Bogota, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



At least five people were killed and two are missing after a landslide near Colombia's second-largest city Medellin on Thursday, local authorities said.

Rescue teams were deployed to Sabaneta municipality, south of Medellin, where heavy rains caused landslides and flooding, Antioquia department governor Andres Julian Rendon said on X.

Videos shared on social media appeared to show several homes buried in the region.

The mayor's office said it had set up shelters for victims while rescue efforts are ongoing.

"Geologists, engineers, social professionals are on site, and (heavy) machinery has been activated to remove material," said the department's disaster relief agency.

Antioquia is often affected by landslides during the rainy season.

als/das/dhw
Two men found guilty of chopping down iconic UK tree



London, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2025



Two men were on Friday found guilty of the "deliberate and mindless" felling of one of the UK's most iconic trees in a case that sparked national outrage.

The jury at Newcastle Crown Court found former friends Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, guilty of criminal damage after the 2023 felling of the tree at Sycamore Gap, which had stood for nearly 200 years next to Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern England.

Groundworker Graham and mechanic Carruthers were each found guilty after around five hours of deliberation of two counts of criminal damage -- one to the sycamore and one to the Roman wall, which was damaged when the tree fell on it.

Prosecutors told court the two men cut down the tree with a chainsaw "in an act of deliberate and mindless criminal damage," which they filmed on Graham's phone and then shared with others.

Prosecutor Richard Wright said the pair drove to the site near Hexham in Graham's Range Rover and felled the tree on the night of September 27, 2023, slicing through the trunk in "a matter of minutes".

"Having completed their moronic mission, the pair got back into the Range Rover and travelled back towards Carlisle" where they lived, he said.

He said a video of the act recovered from Graham's phone was shared by the two men with "the unmistakable sound of a chainsaw, and a tree falling".

The next day, in a voice message from Graham to Carruthers, Graham said "it's gone viral. It is worldwide. It will be on ITV news tonight," Wright said.

"They are loving it, they're revelling in it. This is the reaction of the people that did it. They still think it's funny, or clever, or big," he added.

The pair were jointly charged with causing pound622,191 ($832, 821) of criminal damage to the tree and pound1,144 of damage to Hadrian's Wall, an ancient Roman fortification stretching from northwest to northeast England.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Pope Leo XIV, Trend reports.

"Your Holiness.

I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, personally and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, on your election as Pope.

The current level of relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, marked by sincere dialogue and mutual understanding, serves as a model. We attach special importance to the development of our ties with the Holy See.

In Azerbaijan, a country with centuries-old rich traditions of tolerance and multicultural values, the preservation of religious, spiritual, and ethno-cultural diversity remains one of the main priorities of state policy.

I am confident that our fruitful cooperation with the Holy See will continue to develop successfully through our joint efforts in promoting universal values and creating the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust among civilizations.

I wish you strong health, a long life, and every success in your supreme mission for the sake of humanity and sacred ideals," the letter reads.
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Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson has said something is seriously wrong after being left unable to walk.

The actor played Jim McDonald for 11 years on the long-running ITV soap, which has been hit with a wave of cast departures this year.

Earlier this week, Lawson, 65, was sent to hospital in Macclesfield by a physiotherapist after receiving test results following several falls at home.

He announced the news on his social media page, telling his fans that hed had an MRI scan, as well as other examinations.

In a new update, Lawson said that he was waiting to see an osteopath who would hopefully transfer him to the spinal unit in Salford Royal hospital.

The Northern Irish actor said that he had been waiting all day on Wednesday (7 May)  and was sent home and instructed to return the following day.

Here I am again in special day care in Macclesfield hospital waiting to see an osteopath, he said in a video shared on Thursday (8 May).

Lawson insisted he is fine and comfortable, but said he simply cant walk properly.

The actor told his fans: Im in great pain, and I cant stand on my tiptoes now... but if I stand up, I just fall over so theres something seriously wrong. So, Ill keep you posted. Cheerio now.

open image in gallery Coronation Street Charlie Lawson is waiting for surgery after being sent to hospital ( X/@charlie_lawson1 )

In a reply to a fan wishing him well, the actor confirmed that he is up in a ward now for a transfer to Salford Royal for surgery, which will take place on Friday (9 May).

Corrie viewers have been wishing the actor a speedy recovery, after Lawson said on social media earlier this week: Its not going awfully well at the moment, dear folks.

One fan wrote: Hope they get you sorted quickly and get the help you need.

Another replied: If youve been falling over, youre in the right place. Theyll have you up and about in no time. Be well soon.

The actor first appeared in Coronation Street as Jim in 1989, remaining a full-time cast member until 2000.

He has returned for sporadic appearances over the past 25 years, including for the shows 50th anniversary in 2010 after which he remained on the cobbles for a further four months, and returned three years later for another three months.

Lawson, whose character Jim was married to Liz (Beverley Callard), was next seen on the soap in September 2018.

open image in gallery Jim McDonald (Charlie Lawson) in Coronation Street ( ITV )

Fans of the ITV soap have recently been left shocked by a series of departures, including Rovers Return barmaid Daisy Midgeley who is played by Charlotte Jordan.

Daisy had become a fan favourite since her debut in 2020, but Jordan asked to leave the soap in April 2024, which gave writers time to prepare a storyline for her exit.

Speaking about her decision to leave in January, Jordan said: My time at Coronation Street is something Ill always cherish. After a brilliant four years for Daisy, its time for me to start a new chapter and explore other opportunities.
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Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has suggested Giovanni Pernice might return to the BBC show.

Italian dancer Pernice, 34, was subject to scrutiny after Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, 51, accused him of being abusive to her during rehearsals in 2023. Abbington quit the show early and revealed she had endured PTSD as a result of the experience.

After an internal nine-month investigation, Pernice was cleared of the more serious allegations levied against him, but Abbingtons complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld. The corporation issued an apology to the actor following the outcome.

In January 2025, Pernice, reflecting on whether he would return to the show, said he would love to go back to Strictly as it changed his life.

He suggested, however, that the BBC, with whom he cleared the air during a meeting late last year, might not want him back.

I think they have closed the book on that and everyone has moved on. It is a massive show, but I dont think theyre going to have me back. Theyre not, he said.

Ballas, 64, has now waded in on the subject, suggesting that the decision might be down to Pernice after all.

Acknowledging the fact that many viewers of the dancing competition would love to see him return, she told The Times: Im sure they know. People write letters but hes got to decide whether he wants to go back.

The judge said she is hopefully going to see Giovanni soon, adding that he is doing well in everything.

open image in gallery Strictly contestant Amanda Abbington clashed with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice ( BBC )

Pernice previously said that returning to the show was out of his hands, but expressed the hope that he might be able to come back in a few years like fellow professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, who returned for the 2024 run after stepping away in 2022.

I think this is the path we take, Pernice told MailOnline.

In December 2024, the professional dancer won the Italian version of Strictly, called Ballando con le Stelle, alongside his celebrity partner, the actor Bianca Guaccero. He is now in a relationship with Guaccero.

Ballas originally said of the allegations against Pernice: I dont believe gossip because things are blown way out of all proportion and it can turn into a great big snowball.

So my feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation and the truth will come out. So we dont judge anybody until I know absolutely, 100 percent.

open image in gallery Strictly judge Shirley Ballas is friends with Giovanni Pernice ( BBC )

Meanwhile, Abbington maintains that she wasnt treated fairly in the rehearsal room.

The star has also claimed she was unfairly vilified for expressing valid concerns, saying her intention in voicing them was to establish a safe space.

Abbington told The Times: The fallout from it wasnt something I was anticipating, but Im glad I did it. I am. Im glad that I stood up for myself because its the first time Ive ever really done that.
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Is there a doctor in the house?

A hush falls across the restaurant as people stare aghast at the prostrate body lying on the floor, audibly struggling for breath.

Please  is there a doctor? This woman needs a doctor! The waiter asks again, more plaintive, more desperate this time. Someone steps forward; tentatively, yes, but with a brisk, confident nod. Hes ushered towards the patient, kneels down beside her and says, in a calm, clear voice: Would you like me to tell you about my thesis on depictions of mental health in 19th-century poetry?

Some variation of this joke  the PhD-holder who thinks that being a doctor of philosophy is the equivalent of being a doctor of medicine  has been turned into a million memes across the internet. The setup is intended to bluntly underscore the fact that attaining an advanced degree, however intriguing the subject, really isnt all that practically useful compared to undergoing six years of medical training.

I was musing on this recently after seeing the news that civil servants are instructed not to use the Dr honorific, either on their name badges or the employee directory, over concerns that the title might exclude other staff. Passes should only contain a workers name, with no academic or gender-based (such as Miss or Mr) titles, reports The Telegraph.

The reasoning behind the move was inclusivity. In a 2020 submission to LGBT+ rights charity Stonewall from the governments Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for inclusion in the formers Workplace Equality Index, the policy was highlighted as being the most inclusive approach.

Going name-only avoids needlessly highlighting gender, marital status, or other hierarchical identifiers to other members of staff. The use of Dr is an unnecessary hierarchical identifier, in this case.

open image in gallery Doctor Who? There's no need to immediately inform people that you have a PhD ( Getty )

I can only applaud the civil service, in all honesty. No one needs to know your qualifications  not unless youre an academic, and even then, not outside the confines of the university or other academic institution in which you work. And insisting that civilians or co-workers address you as Doctor  unless you happen to be roaming through time and space in a Tardis  is, lets face it, the height of obnoxiousness.

Theres a reason the topic is such a rich source of piss-taking in Friends, with Rosss academic credentials the butt of countless jokes throughout the American sitcoms 10-season run.

Im here to see my father. My name is Rachel Green, says Jennifer Anistons character, in one scene after her dad has suffered a heart attack.

And Im Doctor Ross Geller, chips in Ross (David Schwimmer).

Ross, please, this is a hospital, OK? That actually means something here, Rachel hisses back.

We all know someone who needlessly brings up the fact that they have a PhD at every opportunity

I mean, a PhD is just as good as an MD! Ross proclaims during another exchange.

To which Rachel gives the perfect rejoinder: Oh sure, Ross, yeah! If I have a heart attack at a restaurant, I want you there with your fossil brush!

And finally, the iconic take down from Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow): Is this like that time you tried to convince us that you were a doctor?

The irony of this repeated punchline is that having a PhD does, technically, make you more of a real doctor than being an MD. As a friend who used to practise medicine was quick to inform me, in the UK at least, the doctorates awarded to doctors of medicine are honorary.

But regardless, the best humour always contains at least a grain of truth. And we all know someone who needlessly brings up the fact that they have a PhD at every opportunity, oblivious to the eye-rolls it causes; the person who absolutely revels in being given a form to fill in with a dropdown title menu, practically tripping over themselves to click those two letters that (they believe) confer superiority.

open image in gallery Doctor Ross Geller never failed to shoehorn in his PhD in the US sitcom Friends ( Warner Bros )

Please dont think Im anti-academia. Some of my best friends have PhDs! Its obviously a huge achievement: all those years of painstaking work, dedication and passion, poured into a hundred-thousand-word thesis that is nothing if not the ultimate labour of research love. I am so far from having the focus, stamina or brains to accomplish such a feat that I can only look on in awe. And the topics genuinely can make for fascinating conversation, the more niche the better. Just look at the staggering interest in Dr Ally Loukss research on smells in literature, after her Cambridge PhDs thesis on Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose became a surprising viral sensation on social media last year.

But the Venn diagram of PhDs who would voluntarily introduce themselves as Dr [insert name here] at a party, or insist on using the honorific on their civil service name badge, and people who turn out to be egotistical bores, is pretty much a circle at this point. It feels the equivalent of adding BA (Hons) after the name on your email signature, or going around bragging about your GCSE results decades after the fact. Well done and everything, but please dont be offended if absolutely no one cares.

Take comfort in the fact that having a doctorate is probably one of the least interesting things about you  and maybe save the big reveal until someone collapses in a restaurant, just waiting for you to revive them with your paper on the emergence of agrarian capitalism in early modern England
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Liev Schreiber has recalled the profound moment that his trans daughter Kai came out to him.

The Ray Donovan actor, 57, shares his 16-year-old daughter and her brother Sasha, 17, with Naomi Watts, 56, who he dated from 2005 to 2016.

Schreiber said that Kai coming out as trans hadnt felt like that big of a deal as she had already been so feminine for a significant amount of time.

Speaking to Variety, the actor said: Kai was always who Kai is. But I suppose the most profound moment was her asking us to change her pronouns. To be honest with you, it didn't feel like that big of a deal to me only because Kai had been so feminine for so long.

Schreiber announced that Kai, who will join him at an Ali Forney Center fundraiser for homeless LGBTQ youth on Friday night (9 May), is embracing her space in the trans community like never before.

Kai is such a fighter, he said. Its important that she goes, Hey, I am trans, and, Look at me.

The actor admitted he has no advice for other parents whose children have come out as trans, stating: I dont know the answer for your kid.

open image in gallery Liev Schreiber has shared his reaction to his daughter Kai coming out as transgender ( Getty Images )

I dont know what its like for you to be a trans dad. I dont know how you were brought up. I dont know what religion you encountered or what your spirituality is. And for me to tell you what I think about my kid feels like an overstep.

He continued: I guess if I would say anything to someone whos having trouble with their trans teen or their adolescent trans kid its, teenagers are a headache. Theyre hard. It doesnt matter whether theyre trans or not because youll come out of this. But a trans teen is going to be a teen. Theyre such a pain so much of the time, and Kai is as feisty and outspoken as they come.

open image in gallery Kai made her Paris Fashion Week debut this March and faced nepo baby allegations ( Getty Images )

Schreibers comments come after he rebuked claims that Kai, who made her runway debut during Paris Fashion Week in March, was a nepo baby.

I don't have many thoughts for the haters. What if you were a professional actor and your child decided they wanted to do something in this world? he told TMZ.

Do they have a choice? It doesn't matter. That's her life and she does what she wants with her life.

As well as his lead role in the TV crime drama Ray Donovan, Schreiber is a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson, working with the acclaimed director on Isle of Dogs (2018), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).

In 2005, he earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his role as Richard Roma in the David Mamet play Glengarry Glen Ross.

He received three further Tony nominations for the Eric Bogosian play Talk Radio (2007), the Arthur Miller revival A View from the Bridge (2010), and the John Patrick Shanley revival Doubt (2024).
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Russell Tovey has said he is envious of young queer people because they do not associate sex with death as previous generations had done.

The actor, 43, found fame in Alan Bennetts 2004 hit play The History Boys, reprising his role in the film adaptation two years later. He came out as gay in the Nineties as the AIDS pandemic drew to a close.

In 1988 Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government introduced its highly controversial Section 28 legislation, which banned discussion of same-sex relationships in schools and stopped councils from stocking libraries with literature or films featuring gay or lesbian themes.

Speaking to The i Paper in a recent interview, Tovey spoke about how lucky queer people are today.

How lucky they are! How wonderful that is! Section 28 f****d me up, he said.

Tovey continued: Coming of age, realising that I liked men at the same time as Aids, I would constantly mix sex and death. To have a generation that doesnt even consider death around sex blows my mind.

Elsewhere in the interview, Tovey acknowledged that prejudice in the UK has evolved as opposed to vanished, and condemned the countrys horrific transphobia.

Last month, the UKs Supreme Court ruled that trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act  a decision Amnesty International UK has called disappointing and concerning.

open image in gallery Russell Tovey has admitted he envies younger queer people who dont associate sex with death ( Getty Images )

Tovey told the publication: Derek Jarman said in the late Eighties that if you wait long enough the world moves in circles. There was blatant homophobia in the red-tops and the government. It was horrific. Then we had this great moment of openness. Now the transphobia is horrific.

No feeling is finite. The world keeps spinning. You have to hope that it will turn around again, he said. Its f*****g horrible at the minute. Its just horrible.

The actors comments come after remarks made by screenwriter Russell T Davies, with whom Tovey worked in 2019 on the dystopian drama Years and Years.

open image in gallery Russell Tovey and Maxim Baldry in Years and Years' ( BBC/Red Productions/Matt Squire )

Speaking at the Gaydio Pride awards in March, Davies said that gay society is in the greatest danger he has ever seen following the election of Donald Trump as the 47th US president last year.

As a gay man, I feel like a wave of anger and violence and resentment is heading towards us on a vast scale, he said. Im not being alarmist. Im 61. I know gay society very, very well, and I think were in the greatest danger I have ever seen.

I think times are darkening beyond all measure and beyond anything I have seen in my lifetime.
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Shirley Ballas has discussed the sentencing of her stalker, Kyle Shaw, for the first time since the 37-year-old was handed a 20-month suspended prison sentence last month.

Shaw sent relentless messages and threats to the Strictly Come Dancing judge, her friends, family and colleagues over a six year-period as he falsely believed her late brother, David Rich, was his father.

Ballas older brother died by suicide, aged 44, in 2003. Shaw blamed the dancer, 64, who grew up alongside Rich in Wallasey, Merseyside, for his death.

Speaking to The Times in a new interview, Ballas revealed: It was message after message. He died because of you. It made you feel like you committed murder.

The dancer said the ordeal took a terrible toll on her mother, Audrey, 88, who moved into Ballass home in London in 2021 as a safety precaution.

I didnt want her being followed around the supermarket, Ballas said. It makes you more vigilant. Weve got extra security everywhere we go now.

You dont even put your trash outside your front door unless youre looking left and right. Id never go down the street with earpods blocking out sound. Ive stopped using public transport, she added.

open image in gallery Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has opened about her terrible stalker ordeal ( BBC )

Shaw received a lifetime restraining order, which prevents him from contacting Ballas, her niece, Mary, her mother and her former partner, Danny Taylor, 51, whom she separated from in November 2024.

I hope he realises the psychological effect hes had but I just hope he finds peace, Ballas said of her stalker. I dont wish anyone ill will, he apologised for the stress he caused. Thats good enough for me.

Elsewhere in the interview, Ballas shed further light on how Shaws actions have impacted her daily life. I feel nervous in everything that I do  going on television, giving lessons, she admitted.

open image in gallery Kyle Shaw was handed a 20-month suspended prison sentence and lifetime restraining order in April ( PA Wire )

But nobody wants to be around someone whos miserable, so you learn to hang up your issues at the door and pick them up on the way out. Irregardless of whats going on, press a red button and its lights, camera, action.

When Im on my own and have my thoughts running through my head then its more difficult. Im better when Im busy. Just keep moving.

A professional dancer known as the Queen of Latin, Ballas and her second husband, Corky Ballas, were crowned US International Latin Champions seven times in the Nineties.

Ballas was appointed head judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, replacing the late Len Goodman. She currently serves on the judging panel alongside Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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A grisly discovery has been made in a California cold case involving a teacher who disappeared in 1987.

On August 3, 1987, a man from Trinity County named Nikolas Medin came home from work to find that his wife, 48-year-old Kay Adams, was missing. Her purse, glasses, and car were still at the residence, but she was nowhere to be found, according to SFGATE.

When investigators spoke to Adams' boss, they said she was in good spirits and good health when they had last spoken.

Adams' disappearance resulted in a massive volunteer effort to locate her in the difficult terrain near the couple's home in the Trinity Mountains, but no trace of her was found.

In November of the same year, someone sent the sheriff's department in neighboring Humboldt County a disturbing package. It contained an anonymous letter and some of Adams' skeletal remains.

The letter told investigators where they could find more of Adams' remains, which investigators used to locate them near a road approximately 45 miles from her home. The remains were positively identified as Adams' through dental records, but no cause of death could be determined, and the discovery led to no arrests.

Kay Adams, a 48-year-old teacher who went missing in 1987 and whose partial skeletal remains were sent to police in November the same year. DNA analysis determined a skull found in 1993  approximately 100 miles from where other portions of the teacher's remains were found along the California coast  is Adams'. ( Othram )

In February 1993, a skull was found approximately 100 miles away from where Adams' remains were found. A man walking his dog stumbled onto the skull on a beach at Trinidad Head. Police at the time took a DNA profile but could not match it to anyone in the Combined DNA Index System.

That skull, thanks to advances in DNA technology and the work of Othram DNA analysts, has now been identified as Adams'.

Othram used a DNA sample from Adams' daughter to confirm the match, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.

It is unclear how the majority of her remains were found 45 miles from her home or how her skull was found almost 100 miles away, the DNA analysis group said in a statement.

Adams' husband, Medin, died in 2018 and police do not consider him a suspect in her death.

Despite the discovery, police are still no closer to an arrest. They have asked that anyone with information regarding Adams' disappearance and death to call the Humboldt County investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of congratulations to Daniel Noboa Azin on his re-election as President of Ecuador, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

I extend my sincere congratulations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Ecuador.

I believe that we will continue our joint efforts in a consistent manner to further develop the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Ecuador and to expand our mutually beneficial cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

I wish you robust health, happiness, and continued success in your presidential duties for the well-being of the friendly people of Ecuador," the letter reads.
 Close Diddy trial day 2: Jury selection continues

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The final round of jury selection will begin Monday in the trial of Sean Diddy Combs.

The court must seat a panel of 18 New Yorkers  12 jurors and six alternates  before opening statements are set to begin on May 12.

On Monday, lawyers will use peremptory challenges to strike off some of the remaining 43 potential jurors they do not want at trial to narrow that number down to 18. Opening statements will start after.

The music mogul is facing a five-count indictment accusing him of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy.

The rapper was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged Combs and his associates threatened, abused, and coerced victims to fulfill his sexual desires. This included Freak Offs, recorded sex performances that prosecutors say Diddy arranged and forced victims to participate in. During searches of his homes, authorities seized narcotics and 1,000 bottles of lubricant and baby oil.

Two superseding indictments against the music mogul were added. In March, fresh allegations of forced labor, and in April, an additional charge of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Diddy has denied any accusations of wrongdoing and has rejected the governments plea deal offer.
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A Florida nurse has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault of a disabled teenager, according to police.

Nia Ayers, 24, has been accused of assaulting an 18-year-old quadriplegic, non-verbal woman who has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Fox 35 Orlando reports. Her alleged assault was caught on surveillance video.

On May 3, the victim's mother noticed red cuts and scrapes on her daughter's face, according to the broadcaster. She checked surveillance footage and saw who she described as Ayes assaulting her daughter.

After police issued an arrest warrant for Ayes, the nurse turned herself in to the St Cloud Police Department on Wednesday night.

St Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke told Fox 35 Orlando that Ayers worked for two healthcare companies, and both have been alerted to her arrest. She has reportedly worked as a licensed practical nurse since 2021 and has no previously documented complaints or disciplinary actions.

Nia Ayers, 24, a nurse in Florida, has been accused of aggravated assault of a person with disabilities. ( St Cloud Police Department )

According to the arrest warrant, an officer who viewed the surveillance video described Ayers' alleged actions as "acts of torture."

The video reportedly shows Ayers repeatedly taping the victim's mouth shut and ripping the tape off, as well as shaking the victim's head and body, pinching the woman, and shaking her breathing machine with such force that the woman's nose began to bleed.

The arrest warrant also says that Ayers can be seen holding a washcloth over the victim's mouth for 10 seconds, and again for another seven seconds. The paralyzed woman appears to be trying to move her head away as she's being suffocated.

The victim's mother said Ayers had been working in her home for more than a year, and she is worried there may have been other instances of abuse she has not discovered.

Police are still examining the surveillance footage collected from the home.

"Its just absolutely shocking; its unimaginable that somebody could do something like this," Goerke told the broadcaster. "If we do find something else, there will be additional charges coming. We will drop charge after charge after charge on this person to ensure either she never sees the light of day, or she doesnt ever do this again."

Ayers is currently being held at the Osceola County Jail without bond. Her next court date has not been determined. It is unclear if she has retained an attorney or is using a state defender.
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A security guard at a Jewish preschool shot a man who threatened and assaulted him  leaving the alleged assailant hospitalized with injuries.

Police found the man injured with a gunshot wound in the parking lot of a medical clinic next door to the Gan Jewish Preschool Thursday, KATU reported.

It was not immediately clear what precipitated the shooting, but the preschool said the guard had been threatened and assaulted by an individual in an area immediately adjacent to the school.

During this interaction, the individual presented a direct threat to the guard. In response, the guard was forced to take protective action, using his licensed weapon to defend himself," the school said in a statement.

While the Oregon school said it did not believe they had been targeted over any religious bias, they noted they had hired private security officers over threats to the Jewish community.

open image in gallery A security guard at the Gan Jewish Preschool in Portland, Oregon, shot a man who allegedly attacked him outside the school. ( Google Earth )

"For the past several years, Jewish schools have accepted the responsibility of protecting their students and spaces, and it is considered standard practice to have security guards, the school said.

Jews are only 2 percent of the U.S. population, yet are subject to approximately 65 percent of religious bias crime, and the need to protect our most vulnerable populations is paramount, the statement added.

No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed, though they may be in the future, according to Portland police.

Neither man has been publicly identified, but the security guard is cooperating, authorities added.

Were trying to determine whether the person was armed or whether there was some kind of threat to the life of anyone else or the security guard, police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen said.

Authorities said Thursday afternoon that the man who was shot was out of surgery and recovering in the intensive care unit.

No children at the preschool saw or heard what happened, and there is no ongoing danger to the public, police said.
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A Texas jail guard is accused of helping four jail inmates kill another prisoner over an unpaid $40 debt.

Bexar County Detention Center officer Clemente Lopez Jr., 20, helped facilitate the deadly assault by allowing inmates into 46-year-old Francisco Bazans cell, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. He now faces a murder charge.

The four inmates  Rudy Bueno, Gilbert Suarez, Rodrigo Martinez III, and Gabriel Benjamin Garcia  have also been charged with first-degree murder and remain in custody on $500,000 bond.

According to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, Bazan was found unresponsive in his cell on April 30, two days after the alleged premeditated attack.

The alleged event took place in a unit designated for inmates affiliated with criminal gangs.

An unnamed inmate told authorities that Martinez ordered Bazan into his cell where he initially fought Bueno before Garcia and Suarez joined in.

Lopez allegedly laughed from outside Bazans deadly beating and told the attackers, Dont make it bad. He later admitted that he opened cell doors to allow the attack and had done so at least three other times in recent months, authorities said.

Investigators found drug paraphernalia near Bazans bunk, including a plastic bag and rolled paper beside a Bible. His cellmate, Rudy Bueno, said Bazan had snorted suboxone the night before, later becoming unsteady and vomiting.

open image in gallery Texas jail guard Clemente Lopez (left) is accused of allowing other inmates to beat Francisco Bazan (right) to death. ( Bexar County Sheriff's Office )

Lopez, employed with the sheriffs office since August 2023, was taken into custody immediately after submitting his resignation, officials said. He was released on a $500,000 bond on May 3, online court records show.

I wanted to look [Lopez] in the eye and tell him exactly how disgusted I was with the behavior, and I did so, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told KSAT on Thursday.

He was apologetic, of course, but unfortunately, to me, that was very little consolation for what he put this agency through and this family that has been put through this horrible, unimaginable tragedy of losing a loved one, he added.

More arrests could come as the alleged incident remains under investigation.
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The father of the 15-year-old accused of fatally shooting a student and a teacher at the Abundant Life School in Wisconsin last December has been arrested.

Madison prosecutors have brought criminal charges against Jeffrey Rupnow, the 42-year-old father of school shooter Natalie Rupnow, who died by suicide after the shooting. He faces two felony counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor causing death and one felony count of contributing to the delinquency of a child, records show.

The 15-year-old opened fire using a handgun in the private Christian K-12 schools halls on the morning of December 16, 2024, killing two and injuring six others. Five months after the tragedy, her father was arrested.

When investigators searched the home, they found a manifesto titled War Against Humanity, a cardboard model of the school and plans for the shooting in the teens bedroom.

The items recovered were disturbing, Acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson said at a Thursday press conference. They were alarming and they would have led any average person to the concern of violence.

Jeffrey Rupnow, the father of teen who reportedly opened fire at Wisconsin's Abundant Life School last December, was criminally charged. ( Dane County Jail )

Investigators recovered 20 shell casings as well as two guns  a 9mm and a .22 caliber firearm  at the school. Both guns were purchased legally in stores in Dane County, Wisconsin, the police chief said. Only one was used in the deadly shooting and the other was found in the girls bag.

Rupnow told detectives he purchased both for his daughter, one for Christmas in 2023 and the other the following summer, the complaint says. She paid for some of the second gun with her own money, but it was registered in his name, the filing states.

Upon a search of his home, authorities found three rifles and six handguns in the house. Eight of the firearms were found locked in a safe and one other was found in a bedframe drawer.

They were all purchased legally, Patterson said. There was a gun safe in the home. Based on our investigation, it did not stop the teen from having regular access to the firearms.

Police questioned the teens mother about whether her daughter was allowed to use her fathers weapons when he wasnt around. According to the a police complaint, her mother replied: No, hes supposed to keep them locked up.

After the deadly shooting, Facebook photos surfaced capturing the teen at a firing range pointing a gun and wearing a t-shirt similar to one worn by the Columbine killer Eric Harris.

Going to the [shooting] range was like a therapy for him, the complaint says of Rupnow, who also said going to the range was a way to bond with his daughter.

He also noted, according to the complaint, that she had been in therapy until the spring before the shooting and admitted she made some troubling outbursts, saying things like: I hate my life, Im going to kill myself.

In her six-page manifesto, she wrote: I got the weapons by lies and manipulation, and my fathers stupidity.

She also discussed being afraid of other kids and how shes grown to hate people, the filing says. The teen also mentioned the names of mass killers, including one whom she described as An Ultimate saint.

Hes being held in Dane County Jail and set to appear in court on Friday.
This much is true: the machines are coming. The machines are coming, and theyre probably after your job. Artificial intelligence is now barrelling its way into boardrooms, its wild capabilities harder and harder to ignore. AI can manufacture, enter data and analyse it. It can write (very good) copy, drive vehicles, and tend to vexed customers on automated company chat boxes. Already, AI is replacing translators, creating ad campaigns, drafting contracts and making dents in basic graphic design with chilling ease.

Under the weight of progress, theres no doubt that the desk economy is teetering. If the apocalyptic predictions are correct, as many as 300 million full-time jobs will be lost or degraded by artificial intelligence in the coming years; 10-30 per cent of jobs in the UK are considered highly automatable.

Its nothing new  since the early 19th century, when the Luddites made their name raging against the machine during the industrial revolution, fear has closely followed technological progress. But this time, another kind of work is standing firm against the tide. And, some argue, it could signal the beginning of a different kind of revolution altogether.

White, middle-class professionals have usually presumed themselves safe in the face of technological advances that, in the past, have largely appeared to threaten those in skilled labour. Over the years, traditionally working-class roles in production lines and clerical work have been steadily taken over by machines; think self-service tills or AI-powered robots running factories. But now, as AI takes hold this time, its the middle classes who are facing the threat  or actually losing jobs to technology.

The thing is, I cant see AI learning how to rewire a plug any time soon, Tadhg OMahony, a 30-year-old electrician from West Cork, says. You cant train an algorithm to install solar panels; ChatGPT cant care for your mum. A chatbot cant fix a boiler, and there is no app for plumbing. As the rest of the economy speeds up, theres a quiet and important recognition lingering: someone still needs to lay the bricks.

Could the age of artificial intelligence also spark a new era for the working classes? Perhaps  its about time. I think trades are probably going to be affected much less than other kind of white collar jobs, continues OMahony. He had the foresight to learn a trade from an early age, and has relied on the stable work alongside completing a degree in chemistry and forensic science and, most recently, studying for a Masters degree in sustainability and energy provision. I know a lot of solicitors and people within the creative arts, like graphic designers, who have already become obsolete to some degree.

So relatively, being an electrician  or tradesman of any sort  quite a safe place to be in. Even the servers that need to be built to run AI is, I guess, going to be gainful employment for electricians, because AI takes a huge amounts of energy and software to actually run. Its not going to be good for the environment, but it will be good in the short term, at least for the electrical industry.

The UK has long had a complicated relationship with the labouring class who, all too often, are romanticised in gritty films, while being used as bait in Westminster. For a long time, the traditional industries inhabited by the working classes were dismantled in the name of progress  mines shuttered, factories sold off, entire communities told to retrain, aspire to be middle class, move on.

Arguably, the Covid pandemic began to reframe some of that. When everything was boiled down to basics  shelter, food, survival  essential workers, like caregivers, delivery drivers, shelf stackers and the like, were seen in an altogether different light. Lockdown disrupted our definitions of value, not just economically but culturally. Similarly, now, as more digital roles become vulnerable to automation, the jobs long dismissed as low-status  physical, manual, skilled trades  suddenly seem less replaceable, and more essential. Socially, they gained value.

open image in gallery Traditionally working-class roles in production lines have been steadily taken over by machines ( AFP/Getty )

Somewhere along the line, being necessary and useful became less valuable than simply having a degree, no matter what the subject or grade. Might that all be about to change? Maybe, but that might be only part of the point, says Guy Standing, a British economist and author of several books, including The Politics of Time: Gaining Control in the Age of Uncertainty.

A lot of the commentary on AI at the moment is simplistic in the sense that it talks about replacing humans with robots, things like that, he explains. Whereas, personally, I think that, as with all technological changes throughout history, it will create as many jobs as it destroys, if not more. More importantly, what it will be doing is changing the nature of our labour process. What we need to do is have a complete reimagining of what being in the precariat means.

Over a decade ago, Standing coined the term precariat to describe a new social class characterised by both job and social insecurity after decades of economic crisis and austerity. And, right now, this social class is a hot topic around the globe.

The welfare state was built on insecurity that was predictable  becoming unemployed or ill or pregnant or having an accident  But you cant design an insurance system for uncertainty Guy Standing, economist

So far, the precariat have often (but by no means exclusively) been the people who, disenfranchised and ignored by mainstream politics  particularly the left  are driving populism; voting for Trump, cheering Farage. AI and the new industrial revolution, Standing says, will drive inequality, which is why this must be seen in a broader political and economic context. By now, were all too aware of how populist movements valorise the working classes over cosmopolitan elites  but (Elon Musk aside, of course) they also generally put an emphasis on anti-technology, home-grown-industry policies that prioritise traditional work.

Right now youve got a combination of a plutocracy, globalisation and AI technology, which is making labour relations far more insecure and unstable, Standing explains. And that produces a phenomenon which is that people are facing chronic uncertainty. The welfare state was built on insecurity that was predictable  becoming unemployed or ill or pregnant or having an accident  But you cant design an insurance system for uncertainty.

Basically, we might be at a bit of a crossroads. Handled badly by the government  a lack of investment in skills training, lack of apprenticeships, inadequate education on technology and work  that directionless uncertainty could entrench a new form of digital classism, even fuel the kind of hazardous politics already wreaking havoc on both sides of the Atlantic. However, if we listen, AI wont just change how we work, but how we see valuable work.

open image in gallery ChatGPT was only launched in 2022  now its hard to imagine a world without it ( AFP/Getty )

OMahony says that change is already in action. Promises of traditional social mobility  essentially that, if you go to university, you naturally climb the class system  have proven to be pretty empty to many in the last few decades; the impact of AI on those generations following this path is only going to further solidify that. I've always thought it was ridiculous, the push for everyone to go to third level education, even if its not useful, says OMahony, who believes everyone should learn a trade while theyre deciding what to do with their life and career.

And it led to this massive dearth of tradesmen. Whats interesting now is that the guy I work can charge anything, because there are no electricians around. And he's earning a lot more money than a lot of people working traditionally middle class jobs. His standing in society has morphed over the last 15 years, from being a builder to someone who, now drives an Audi  it's not, it's not just the increase in money ... thats where there is social mobility ... I think AI will will feed into that as well.

Whatever does happen is likely to happen quickly  it seems almost unfathomable that ChatGPT was only released to the public in November 2022, considering how integrated it now is with many of our lives. So now is the time to look not only at what jobs have value but why were doing them, says Standing  in the dogged pursuit of economic growth, he says weve lost a sense of what that means in community.

Im a professor of economics and I think the idea of growth is madness and something we should mock, he says. For almost a century, since the GDP was started in the 1930s, it has set a precedent for what we value in work. It was a measure of resources mobilised for war. So, for example, women doing care work were not mobilisable for war, so their work was given a value of zero.

It was sexist and stupid, but it was a key presumption they made when they were designing the concept. And we should be demanding it should be changed, we really should, he adds.

Much of what used to be community work is now paid, low-value working-class labour  jobs that are underpaid and under-regarded. The AI revolution will undoubtedly disrupt our ways of working. It will also raise big questions about what kind of work our society values. Now is a precedent time.
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A claim today makes Apple pay.

The July 2 deadline to file a claim in Apples $95 million Siri settlement is approaching, offering compensation to users who claim their devices secretly listened to conversations without their permission.

The settlement resolves a five-year-old class action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of allowing its Siri virtual assistant to eavesdrop through various Apple devices over the past decade. The lawsuit claims that Siri-enabled devices, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, HomePods, iPod touches and Apple TVs, were prone to unintentional activation, potentially capturing confidential conversations without the users consent.

Voice recordings were then shared with advertisers, claimants allege.

open image in gallery Apple is settling a class action lawsuit in which claimants accuse Siri of eavesdropping for over a decade. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Apple denies any wrongdoing despite agreeing to pay the $95 million settlement. The company said theyre settling to avoid further litigation and move forward from Siri concerns.

To be eligible for a payday, users must have owned one or more of these devices that experienced unintended Siri activation between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024.

Eligible consumers may have also been notified by mail or email. Siri users can still submit a claim even without receiving a notification.

open image in gallery Siri-enabled devices, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, HomePods, iPod touches and Apple TVs owned between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, may be eligible for compensation. ( AFP via Getty Images )

Those who qualify can submit a claim by visiting the Lopez v. Apple Inc. website.

Potential payouts could be up to $20 per Siri device, though the final amount may vary depending on the total number of valid claims filed.
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Scientists have broken through a battery world record and could be on their way to entirely new kinds of batteries.

The breakthrough could finally allow for the production and widespread use of solid-state batteries. The technology is seen as a key technology of the future  since they have more capacity than existing lithium-ion batteries, which are also flammable  and could one day be used to power electric cars and other technologies.

But solid-state batteries yet to receive widespread adoption and production because of a range of difficulties with manufacturing and using the batteries.

Now researchers say that a new material could help solve some of those problems and could be a move towards actually introducing the batteries.

The researchers built a new material out of lithium that is 30 per cent faster than all previously known substances. The material  made of lithium, antimony and scandium  not only set the record but could lead to the development of other practical applications.

We believe that our discovery could have broader implications for enhancing conductivity in a wide range of other materials, said Jingwen Jiang, an author on the paper describing the findings. The same principles that led to the development of the new batteries could also be applied to other breakthroughs, the researchers suggest.

By incorporating small amounts of scandium, we have uncovered a new principle that could prove to be a blueprint for other elemental combinations, said Hubert Gasteiger, from the Technical University of Munich. While many tests are still needed before the material can be used in battery cells, we are optimistic.

The breakthrough is reported in a new paper, Scandium Induced Structural Disorder and Vacancy Engineering in Li3Sb  Superior Ionic Conductivity in Li33xScxSbv, published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.
On May 7th, an exhibition themed around photovoltaic and clean energy industry in Anhui was held in Munich, Germany. Organized by the Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce, over 30 local photovoltaic and clean energy enterprises made a collective appearance, showcasing the prowess of Anhui on an international stage. International exhibitions serve as pivotal platforms for enterprises to explore overseas markets. This year, leveraging renowned global exhibition stages, the Provincial Department of Commerce has, for the first time, employed a unified visual identity system to organize a series of 15 "sub-exhibitions" dedicated to Anhui's export-oriented industries worldwide, with four specifically focused on the photovoltaic and clean energy sector. The smarter E Europe, being a premier event in the global photovoltaic and clean energy domain, marks the inaugural European stop for Anhui's export-oriented industry themed exhibition this year.

In recent years, Anhui has focused on the photovoltaic and clean energy industries, nurturing a powerful export force. After years of cultivation, Anhui has developed a complete industrial chain cluster for photovoltaics and clean energy, ranging from silicon wafers, solar cells, modules and accessories, to inverters and system integration. In 2024, Anhui's exports of photovoltaic and energy storage products exceeded $7 billion, with SUNGROW emerging as the domestic company with the highest market value in the photovoltaic sector and boasting the world's largest cumulative installed capacity of energy storage systems. The exhibition booths of Anhui enterprises were bustling with activity and enthusiasm, drawing interest from photovoltaic power station operators and energy companies across the globe. Customers from European countries such as Germany, France, and Italy flocked to inquire and discuss cooperation opportunities, with some enterprises sealing preliminary agreements on the spot.

Source: anhuinews.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Trend reports.

'' I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election as Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. I wish you every success in your responsible work for the prosperity of the friendly people of Germany.

Azerbaijan-Germany relations are characterized by a broad agenda. We attach great importance to the development of friendly and cooperative ties between our countries in all areasparticularly in the fields of economy, trade, energy, including alternative and renewable energy, as well as in the humanitarian and other sectors.

I am confident that, through our joint efforts and in accordance with the interests of our peoples, we will continue to strengthen relations between Azerbaijan and Germany, expand our cooperation of mutual interest both bilaterally and multilaterally, and enrich it with new content.

Once again, I convey my sincere congratulations to you, and wish well-being to the friendly people of Germany," the letter reads.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the birth of the honorary head of the Azerbaijani security agencies, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the Chief of the State Security Service (SSS), Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev, and the employees of the Service deeply commemorated the dear memory of the great personality in the Alley of Honor, laying wreaths and bouquets of flowers at his grave, a source in the service told Trend.

The memory of the prominent ophthalmologist-scientist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva was also honoured and bouquets of flowers were laid at her grave.

Later, at the event held in the assembly hall of SSS, the dear memory of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, and our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, was first commemorated with a minute of silence, and the National Anthem was played later.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of SSS, Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev, first spoke in detail about the 25-year long honorable activity of the Great Leader in the security agencies, the exceptional services of the Great Leader in the development of this institution, as well as the decisive steps taken towards the nationalization of the security organization, noting that the idea of loyalty to the people and the state laid by Heydar Aliyev in these agencies is always taken as a basis by the personnel of the Service.

Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev stated that the period when the National Leader Heydar Aliyev led Azerbaijan was written in golden letters in the history of the country, accompanied by the comprehensive development of all areas in the Republic, the continuous progress and rise of Azerbaijan, as well as the formation of a statehood strategy, the strengthening of the national idea and the consolidation of independence.

Emphasizing that under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continues the policy line of the Great Leader, Azerbaijan is confidently stepping towards new heights and significant achievements have been gained in all areas, the Chief of the Service said that the activities of the security agencies have also risen to a qualitatively new level with the attention and care of the head of the state and that the duties assigned to the employees of SSS shall continue to be performed with dignity.

Then the event continued with other speeches, and awards were presented to employees who distinguished themselves in the service.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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 Matt Day jokes that hes part of the furniture. His early start came as a teenager on TV classic A Country Practice, where he clocked up more than 200 episodes, before he was cast in the iconic film Muriels Wedding and the romcom Love and Other Catastrophes. Then there is a solid list of roles in series such as Tangle, Rake and The Unusual Suspects, plus a scene-stealing turn as the villain in last years family film Runt. Being part of the furniture is no bad thing. Many actors struggle for years to be recognised  and Im not talking celebrity here  more like, Oh, hes always good, Ill watch anything he is in. Day has long been at the level  not around a lot but just enough that, when he does pop up, its always a pleasure to see him. Ive been making a living out of it pretty much since I was 14 years old, he says. There are quiet times but Ive always worked, Ive always made a living, which is something that Im proud of, I suppose: to get to my age and to still be at it. I still have this very strong memory of when I was doing A Country Practice when I was a teenager, and I left that and I remember a lot of people saying, Youre crazy. This is a proper job. And Im like, Well, thats exactly why Im leaving  because its become a proper job. Matt Day as Jon Jones and Asher Keddie as Evelyn Jones in season two of Strife, which is loosely based on Mia Freedmans memoir. Credit: And on the final day I was running around with a video camera and I videoed this assistant director, Eddie, and he goes, Youre gonna be OK, kid. Do you know why? Because youre a survivor. Do you know how I know? Because Im a survivor and I know one when I see one. And I wear that mantle quite proudly. Day  who is now 53, with wild, greying hair and clear-framed spectacles  puts his survival down to having no plan B. I dont really have anything to fall back on, I never really did, so I just had to stick at it.

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He jokes he has PTSD as a surviving child actor. Was that from being bitten by Fatso the wombat on A Country Practice? Thats kind of how you knew you were welcome on the show, he says, laughing. Fatso bites your leg under the table. Day is now back in season two of Strife, the Asher Keddie vehicle loosely based on journalist Mia Freedmans book about her early days starting up the website Mamamia. He plays Jon, the ex-husband of Keddies character Evelyn, an even-keeled yin to her neurotic yang. Luke (Matt Day) questions his friend Tony (Noah Taylor) about the smart pills he is always taking in a 1990 episode of A Country Practice. Credit: The couple, who separated in season one, are birdnesting  splitting their time between the family home, where their two teenagers live permanently, and Evelyns mothers house. Theres a reconnection, of sorts, but otherwise they hum along in their supportive yet slightly dysfunctional way. Loading It was a real gift for both of us, for Asher and myself, he says. There are more levels to him in this season than maybe there was in season one. Youre always finding your legs in the first season. No ones sure exactly who everyone is and where they fit in but were laying down some really great groundwork in this second season. There is also a joy, says Day, in working on something thats grown-up. Jon and Evelyn have an adult relationship and teenage children. Yes, they also have an impossibly large and lovely TV house, but their life and worries feel real.

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Sarah [Scheller] wrote something that feels really lived in, he says. And this relationship between these two characters feels very genuine. And I think that is because its from a writer whos of a similar age  you can bring a lot of experience to it. And it does go beyond a lot of the cliches that we might see on screen. Theres this idea that [Evelyn has that] her breaking out of this relationship was the only thing she had to do to grow, where theres a possibility that being within this relationship actually is more empowering. Justine Clarke, Matt Day and Kat Stewart in Tangle. Credit: Day was about 10 when he started in amateur theatre in Melbournes Moonee Ponds, but he reckons there are only a few times in his career hes really got it right, most recently in the Melbourne Theatre Companys production of Sunday. He still finds it difficult to watch himself on screen and has only just started revisiting some of his old performances. Loading There are some downfalls to early success, he says. You feel like, Oh, well, this is it. This is how it works. You have found this thing that you do, and you think that will get you through, but I probably work a lot harder now than what I did when I was younger. Im less ambitious but Im more ambitious about the work. Opportunities and great bits of writing that fall into your lap are actually very rare, so when they do turn up I want to wring the most out of them. Every job is an opportunity to get it right. I used to say that as a joke but Ive realised its actually very true.

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That early success, of course, was Muriels Wedding, in which he played Brice, Muriels soft-hearted first boyfriend (they met at the video store where they worked). Released in 1994, it turned a then-unknown Toni Collette into a star and gave Day an international profile. In honour of the film turning 30 last year, Collette made a surprise appearance at a screening at the Glasgow Film Festival in March and ended up dancing on stage. Has Day watched it back? I havent watched it for a very long time, he says. I probably will. I watched Love and Other Catastrophes a couple years ago because they had a screening at the Melbourne Film Festival, and that was quite confronting. I was watching it, going, Why am I doing that? Why did I do this? Loading He did, however, go and see Muriels Wedding: The Musical, after much hesitation. I found it really, really confronting, hard to deal with, but also kind of beautiful as well, to have been a part of something that obviously means so much to people. He still regards the day he landed the role as the best in his career. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, when Australian film was really prominent in the world and had a very distinctive brand, he says. We had the new wave of filmmakers and I wanted to be like Barry Otto, Jack Thompson and Bryan Brown and Sam Neill.

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And the only way you could do that was to be in a film. Television was still looked down upon  thats why I left A Country Practice, because I desperately wanted to get into film. The only guys who were getting cast in films were Noah Taylor and Aden Young, so to have actually cracked a film was, its still one of the best days of my life. When [director] P. J. [Hogan] told me I got the part  Id come in to audition three times, and then I came in and did the beanbag scene with Toni  I was still sitting in the beanbag and he said, Its yours. It did open a lot of doors. Its nice now, at this age, to know that Im still part of the furniture in Australia, and a lot of it is down to that film. Loading Day still has big-screen ambitions  hes about to direct his first feature-length film, the thriller Killer Breed, which he also wrote  but he acknowledges its hard in the Australian film industry to attain success these days, especially at the blockbuster level of Muriels Wedding. Instead, hes looking to the young mavericks, such as Danny and Michael Philippou, the Adelaide twins who started with a YouTube channel and are now about to release their second horror film with the uber-cool distributor A24. Day met them while he was working on the TV series Wolf Creek and theyd show him their videos. I was like, Good luck with that, he says. They just went out and shot all this crazy stuff and built their own audience and made the film that they wanted to make. Thats quite inspiring. But thats no different from Bruce Beresford saying, I want to do Breaker Morant, and optioning the book and then going out and shooting it for $200,000 in South Australia. The sensibilities are probably different, but the step is still that drive and that desire to get it made and to tell a story.

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Eating outFood Legit NYC-style pizza arrives in Teneriffe A couple of Canberra imports are turning heads in a winsome heritage woolstore tenancy  and they had input from one of the UKs top pizza chefs. Matt Shea May 9, 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

As featured in Brisbanes most exciting restaurant openings of 2025 so far. See all stories .

Its fun to watch the evolution of a particular cuisine. Or more specifically, diners evolving relationship with a cuisine. Take ramen. When the Japanese noodle soup first broke in Australia, it was on the back of tonkotsu, the creamy pork-bone broth that fast became a soul-warming favourite around the country. But tonkotsu was just a beach head, and soon ramen heads were tarting it up with shoyu, shio or miso variations, or experimenting with tsukemen and chicken paitan ramen. Donnies opened in Teneriffe in late April. Markus Ravik Whenever this happens, there will be diehards who swear by whatever came first, but you cant stand in the way of a diners curiosity often fuelled by international travel and social media. Pizza is no different. Post the fast-food heyday of your Pizza Huts and Dominos, 400-degree, 60-second woodfired Neapolitan pizza became king in Brisbane, and indeed around Australia. And it still is, but now you can easily find pizza al taglio  tray-baked pizza sold by the slice  and flatbread-based pinsa, both popular in Rome; Chicago-style deep dish pizza; and Detroit-style pan pizza.

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Related Article Star chef Shannon Kellam proves theres life after Montrachet Its odd, then, that its taken so long for New York-style pizza  with its thin but firm base and crisped crust  to take off in this city. You can find it at Mr Badgers in Woolloongabba (alongside Chicago deep-dish) and Manhattan Pizza in Kangaroo Point, but (other than your more late night grab-and-go spots like New York Slice) not so much elsewhere. Perhaps thats why Donnies seems so precisely pitched. Jackson McLoughlin and Nickolas Kruckels tidy little restaurant opened on Vernon Terrace in Teneriffe late last month and has been doing buzzy trade ever since, locals drawn by the promise of NYC-style pizza as well as snacks and charcuterie. Donnies deals in legit NYC-style pizza, although in a smaller size than you might find in the iconic city. Markus Ravik Ive been to Italy and have been a big fan of Neapolitan style pizza, McLoughlin says. But I dont like that you feel like you have to eat it with a knife and fork sometimes. I like that structure of a New York-style pizza. It lets the ingredients shine and is more satisfying to eat.

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McLoughlin and Kruckel are Canberra imports and while McLoughlin has a lengthy background working in food and beverage, neither are chefs. So they hired Alim Nayil as a consultant. Nayil operates Patio Pizza, which was recently rated by UK pizza chefs as one of the 50 best pizza restaurants in that country. Donnies pepporoni pizza. Markus Ravik Nayil wound up spending four days in Brisbane helping McLoughlin and Kruckel perfect their dough and cooking techniques. I picked him up at the airport at 10pm and we came straight to the shop and put a load of dough on, McLoughlin says. Theres a lot of advice out there about pizza dough but there was no agenda with Alim and he took all the guesswork out of it. In the kitchen is a PizzaMaster oven, used by many top pizza restaurants in the United States. Markus Ravik

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With Nayils help, McLoughlin and Kruckel developed a menu of eight pizzas, roughly between 11 and 12 inches in diameter (so, note: dont expect to purchase by the slice from the more traditional 20-inch size youd find in NYC), all baked in the same PizzaMaster deck oven thats popular in US pizza shops. You might order the Gabagool (tomato meatball ragu, capicola, mozzarella, whipped ricotta and basil), the Nduja (tomato, nduja, hot honey, fior di latte, mozzarella, whipped ricotta, basil) or the Vodka (vodka sauce, burrata, mozzarella, parmesan and basil). Donnies also has a menu of small plates that includes smoked mozzarella sticks and pork and beef meatballs with sugo, parmesan and arugula pesto. Markus Ravik The pizzas are complemented by snacks such as lamb backstrap skewers with agrodolce, salsa verde and caramelised yoghurt; pork and beef meatballs with tomato sugo, parmesan, arugula pesto and focaccia; and Philly cheesesteak spring rolls filled with wagyu beef, capsicum, provolone and American cheese. I didnt want it to be just a takeaway pizza shop, McLoughlin says. The snacks are meant to be elevated and tie in with the wine and the cocktails.

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Donnies has proved a hit with Teneriffe locals. Markus Ravik Talking wines and cocktails, the former are represented on a super tight 17-bottle list that skews towards Australian indie growers, with a few heavy hitting reds thrown in; while cocktails tend to twist the classics, with a Negroni made with mandarin-infused gin, a spicy Margarita that shakes in hot honey, and a Sour that mixes gin, melon, coconut and matcha syrup all present and correct. There are also three beers on tap. Its been surprising to me how well the wine has been doing, McLoughlin says. Theres a real mixed demographic living in this area and everything has been selling, so I guess we have that balance right. But I think well add to the list over time. Donnies occupies the Vernon Terrace premises previously home to Siffredis. Markus Ravik The restaurants fitout in one of the heritage woolstore buildings is relatively straightforward but a nice switch-up from former tenants Siffredis. McLoughlins carpenter father travelled from Canberra to help produce a fetching little venue of timber counter tops, and brick and tile features. Like its popular neighbours, Zero Fox and Aji Spice House, much of the seating is outside  in Donnies case on tile-topped high tables, the restaurants slick branding accounting for the rest of its charm.

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Its only been two weeks, but it seems like everyone has responded well, McLoughlin says. Its not about a race to the top, but just making sure people are happy and making sure the venue becomes part of the local community. Open Wed-Thu 3pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe donnies.bitebusiness.com

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Eating outJust open Your guide to 13 of Melbournes hottest new bakeries (plus what to order at each) This years bakery openings have come so thick and fast that it can be hard to keep track. Heres a bakers dozen to add to your hit list, from suburban gems to those in the inner-citys emerging pastry hub. Tomas Telegramma May 10, 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

As featured in the June 2025 hitlist. See all stories .

Bakeries are too timeless to be trending, but theres an undeniable bakery boom in Melbourne right now. Successful operators are expanding; sandwich shops and coffee roasters are getting into the dough game; and a new bakery hub is rising in Richmond and Cremorne that could eventually rival the pastry paradise that is the inner north. Among them is the first designated bakery for sanger specialist Hectors Deli, where the team bakes their own bread for the brands crowd-favourite sandwiches and has introduced a brand new viennoiserie (pastry) program. Coffee and baked goods at Hectors Bakery, including the cinnamon bun with Cinnabon vibes(right). Alex Coppel Hectors co-founder Dom Wilton says affordability plays a big part in what pulls punters to bakeries. People dont have a lot of money right now. The level of attention to detail and consideration at sandwich shops and bakeries is allowing [diners] to fill the void that maybe fine dining used to ... with something that might cost them $15 or $20.

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Heres a bakers dozen of new  and soon-to-open  bakeries to put on your radar. Iconic sandwich shop Hectors Deli has opened its first bakery in Richmond. Alex Coppel Hectors Bakery, Richmond Eight years on, Hectors Delis commitment to quality control has resulted in a bakery that not only services its sandwich shops, but is a destination in its own right. Pastry and sandwich artistry are on full display in a warmly lit chapel of carbs, decorated with pops of pink. The bake to buy: Cinnamon bun. Its got Cinnabon vibes, according to Wilton, but uses laminated croissant dough.

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33 Stewart Street, Richmond, hectorsdeli.com.au Dua Bakehouse sells pandan princess cake, a riff on the Swedish sponge. Dua Bakehouse, Collingwood From Rayas Raymond Tan, this new Scandinasian bakery located in arts precinct Collingwood Yards is in a league of its own. Where else can you get a mash-up of Swedish semla (cream-filled buns) and Japanese melonpan, the soft buns with a crisp cookie-like crust? The bake to buy: Picture-perfect pandan princess cake, a riff on the Swedish sponge.

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1/35 Johnston Street, Collingwood, instagram.com/duabakehouse Suburbia, Fairfield This lofty warehouse bakery by coffee roaster Seven Seeds is a reprieve from the busy industrial street it sits on. A baby-blue tiled counter displays the days bakes, from pastries channelling shakshuka and spanakopita to unsurprisingly excellent coffee scrolls. The bake to buy: Sea-salt choc-chip cookie. Its one of the chewiest in town. 177 Grange Road, Fairfield, instagram.com/suburbiabakery

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Baker Bleus Cremorne location is its biggest yet. Baker Bleu, Cremorne Finding a car park? Hard. Choosing what to order? Harder. The sourdough stars biggest location has it all, in sleek stainless-steel surrounds: loaves great and small, readymade sangers, and winter warmers like sausage rolls and miso-apple hand pies. The bake to buy: Slabs of sourdough pizza, perfect for a solo lunch, available from 10.30am. 65 Dover Street, Cremorne, bakerbleu.com.au/cremorne

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Baker of Things, Richmond Funfetti white-choc-chonk cookies. Vegemite-butterscotch cheesecake. Heart-shaped blueberry Yo-Yos. Playfulness reigns at Maker Coffees new bakery (which also provides goods to its coffee shops), thanks to former Beatrix baker Zoe Pearce. Visit mid-morning when the backstreet space is flooded with sun. The bake to buy: Citrus layer cake, a stack of zingy goodness. 17 Burnley Street, Richmond, bakerofthings.com.au You can now get Airport West bakery Backhaus slow-fermented sourdough loaves in Essendon.

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Backhaus Foodstore, Essendon Born in Airport West as a wholesale bakery with a simple retail shop, Backhaus is now front and centre on a small north-west eat street. Crusty, slow-fermented sourdough loaves are the breadwinner, but theres also fancy cheese and condiments, and flowers. The bake to buy: Salty sumac-sprinkled fougasse, sold warm from 10am. 35 Rose Street, Essendon, backhaus.com.au At Croix Croissants new Richmond store, find classic croissants plus vegan alternatives and Asian-fusion specials.

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Croix Croissant, Richmond This Flemington croissanterie created by Audi Krisnandika and Rizka Puspita has had a warm welcome to the inner east. Croissants come in myriad forms, from classic almond and pain au chocolat to vegan alternatives and Asian-fusion specials such as mi goreng brulee. The bake to buy: Flaky French butter croissant, a bestseller. 462-464 Bridge Road, Richmond, instagram.com/croixssant.au Related Article Seven great bakeries have opened and (gasp!) theyre not in the inner north

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Bellarine Peninsula bakery Ket Baker has opened a new store in Belmont, Geelong. Ket Baker, Belmont Its original shed bakery is a Bellarine Peninsula gem, but Ket Baker is edging closer to Melbourne with a Geelong shopfront thats just as serious about sourdough bread and pastries  some of the latter take five days to make. The bake to buy: Stripy sourdough croissant, filled with house-made raspberry jam. 1/174A High Street, Belmont, ketbaker.com.au

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Coming soon May is shaping up to be another big month for bakeries, with a trio of newcomers to open. The team behind Malvern Easts Riserva (plus South Melbournes hatted Lucia, and Sandringhams Baia Di Vino) is unveiling modern market Breadcetera two doors down on Wattletree Road. Tarts Anon is relocating its Cremorne flagship to a new location on Church Street in Richmond, as well as running a CBD pop-up at Liminal cafe. And Collingwoods loyally followed To Be Frank is about to hit East Brunswick Village. Then, in early winter, two bakeries that are so popular they regularly have lines out the door will become a little more accessible when they open second venues. Niagara Lane bakery Toris is doubling down in the CBD with an Exhibition Street location, while Rathdowne Streets Calle Bakery is taking over the former Kolya site in Northcote. Related Article Good Food ranked Melbournes best croissants, and a surprise suburban bakery took top spot

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At age 66, Ive finally succumbed to face cream. I bought it at the chemist at the ridiculous price of $27.95 for a tiny jar. Its imported from Switzerland and promises to remove wrinkles. Inspired by time-honoured male wisdom, I quickly decided that since a tiny amount is said to benefit the skin, giant handfuls of the stuff will be even more advantageous.

Which is why I now start every morning looking like Marcel Marceau.

Why has vanity suddenly overtaken me? I have never previously taken any trouble over my appearance. Up to now, Ive been influenced by that lovely chunk of wisdom from Anthony Powells A Dance to the Music of Time, warning against the awful fate of the man who always knows the right clothes to wear and the right shop to buy them at.

Now I start every morning looking like Marcel Marceau. Credit: Getty Images

Ive worn torn jeans, rock T-shirts from before Midnight Oil was famous, and assorted shirts from that well-known businessmans accoutre-rer, Harris Scarfe Ulladulla. I have jumpers with built-in air-conditioning, my name for the holes that decorate both front and back, and shorts that could easily lead to a charge of public indecency.
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 Mia* was out for drinks with her colleagues in Brisbanes Fortitude Valley three years ago when her drink was spiked. She had switched to water about 10pm, not wanting to drink too much at the work event at a Brunswick Street Mall bar. But half an hour later, the then 24-year-old started feeling super nauseous. Everyone was asking me if I was OK, if I had drunk too much. I was confused because I had stopped drinking, Mia recalls. She left the bar and returned to her office, where she collapsed at her desk. My body felt really heavy. I could move, but my movements werent very controlled. I dont think I could have stood up properly and walked unassisted without falling over.

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She called her partner to come pick her up, and made it home safe. A few days later, Mia decided to see a GP and ask for a drug test. It returned positive for benzodiazepines, a depressant drug with a sedative effect used to treat anxiety and insomnia. I suspected I was spiked because Ive been given benzodiazepines and reacted poorly to them in the past, she says. They make me mentally foggy for a few days afterwards, which is how I was feeling. Loading Its uncommon for drink-spiking victims to have their experience validated by a toxicology test. A lot of people usually start piecing it together but then by the time they go [to get tested], its too late for anything to realistically show up, she says. Health professionals say there is a narrow window to test for drugs. For most substances associated with drink spiking, the ideal timeframe is between 12 and 72 hours, though some drugs leave the body in as little as three hours. Some who believe they have been spiked will head to an emergency department, but Queensland Health says hospitals will not routinely facilitate testing for drink spiking due to impact on treatment times.

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Our emergency departments treat patients based on their symptoms to ensure they receive the best care possible, and toxicology tests are generally not required to guide treatment, a spokesperson said. They can, however, refer patients to police for forensic testing. Queensland Police says that once a complaint is received, an investigation will commence and testing will be organised if needed. In Queensland, emergency departments do not routinely test for drink spiking. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief executive Dr Erin Lalor AM says drink spiking has always been under-reported in Australia, with victims often fearful theyll be blamed for what happened, especially if they were already drinking or taking other drugs. But what if there was a faster way to determine if a drink has been spiked, even before the victim or the perpetrator leaves a venue? Troy Stewart is the managing director of SureScreen Diagnostics Australia, the company behind a new rapid drink-spiking test. He believes these devices are the missing component to address the issue. The device is designed to detect drugs commonly associated with drink spiking, including GHB, ketamine and 22 types of benzodiazepines, within minutes, not hours.

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While no single test can guarantee a drink is safe, Stewart says SureScreen Diagnostics technology has performed significantly better than other products, particularly with variables such as milk products and fruit juices. Stewart has spent the last 12 months lobbying governments and other stakeholders to help stock the tests in venues across the country. In high-risk precincts, such as Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, he wants the government to fund a pilot trial that could see them distributed to every bar. Loading If venues have these devices on hand, it means that anyone who suspects their drink has been tampered with can approach a staff member to have their beverage tested immediately, he says. In the New South Wales city of Albury, a trial of the devices in the areas clubs and pubs has recorded early signs of success. Nine days after the trial began in February, patrons saw something being added to a womans drink. They reported that to security and security then very swiftly checked video footage and validated what they had seen, Albury Liquor Accord chair Craig Kidd says.

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They approached the victim and took their drink to get tested. It returned a positive result  twice. Kidd says the victim was taken to a hospital in Albury with the tests, where police were also called. NSW police used the security footage to identify the perpetrator, who was found and charged with possessing illicit substances. The Multi-Lined Rapid Beverage Test (MRBT) can detect more than 20 substances commonly associated with drink spiking. Credit: Markus Ravik Were hoping by having the drink spiking devices available during this trial, we can normalise that you should report it, Kidd says. Stewart has presented to Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Chinchilla liquor accords, and contacted Queenslands chief police, health, justice and youth ministers. He says theyve been receptive, but as yet, no Queensland cities have signed up for a trial like the one in NSW. Kidd says Alburys trial began in response to reports, largely spread across social media, about incidents of suspected drink spiking.

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Its frustrating because we want to fit everyone in. They think, Why do I have to take my referral and pay a gap fee for a scan I should have been able to access at my local public hospital? Many people choose to have a diagnostic scan at a private radiology clinic or private hospital and pay a gap fee, but the majority of scans are free in public hospitals. Bulk billing is often not a widely available option at private clinics. While many patients are waiting in the community, in some cases, patients are occupying a hospital bed until scanning equipment becomes available. In March, nurse Simranjit Kaur spent almost a week in a bed at Box Hill Hospital waiting for an MRI. She arrived at the emergency department with excruciating pain in her lower back that made it difficult to walk. They had limited resources and had to prioritise more critical cases, she said.

Kaur asked her treating team if she might leave the hospital to seek out a more timely MRI in a private facility but was told she was not well enough to be discharged. I had to wait in agony, confined to a hospital bed with only pain relief medication to sustain me. Kaur has multiple sclerosis, and doctors suspected that her pain might be linked to a flare-up of the condition or a pre-existing back injury. Following the lengthy wait for the MRI scan, Kaur said she then had to wait in hospital for another three days for a CT scan.

Information from this scan was used to determine the ideal location for a steroid injection in her back, which provided immediate relief and enabled her to be discharged. Loading While she cant fault the care she received from nurses and doctors at the hospitals, Kaur said the ordeal took a toll on her health while placing pressure on the healthcare system, her young family and her colleagues. The financial burden of lost work hours and wasted taxpayer money is undeniable  resources that could have been used more efficiently had diagnostic services been promptly available, she said. A spokeswoman for Eastern Health, which runs Box Hill Hospital, said while the health service was unable to comment on individual patients, there is substantial demand for MRI across the state.

She said the health service operated two MRI scanners and priority access was based on clinical urgency. Our staff are working incredibly hard to meet this growing demand, and we are currently reviewing opportunities for expansion, including through both state and Commonwealth government[s] to increase availability of Medicare-funded services. A shortage of radiologists and an increasing workload means there are also lengthy delays in producing written reports for radiology scans that have already been done. One hospital source, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said there was a backlog of more than 15,000 X-ray reports and other tests at the Royal Childrens Hospital due to a shortage of radiologists. The situation prompted hospital executives to commission a report by Ernst and Young and alert the states medical watchdog, Safer Care Victoria.

A Safer Care Victoria spokesperson said it was aware of the reporting backlog and was supporting the Royal Childrens Hospital. A Royal Childrens Hospital spokeswoman said while there was a backlog in producing written reports for radiology scans, there was no backlog in performing the scans themselves. Demand for non-urgent MRI scans is leaving many people with little choice but to bear the expense in private clinics. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The RCH acted quickly to review operations and has since directed additional staffing and resources to address the written reporting backlog, she said. Imaging continues without delay, and all scans are immediately uploaded into patients electronic medical records. Treating clinicians can access and review these scans in real time to make timely clinical decisions based on urgency.

Australian Medical Association Victorian president Jill Tomlinson said delays in accessing scans and receiving imaging reports could erode trust in the health system and cause considerable anxiety. Loading If we want people to get the right care, in the right place, at the right time we need to make sure there is timely access to diagnostic tests, including radiology and pathology, she said. She said many Victorians were unable to afford these scans in the private system due to the low indexation of Medicare rebates. We really do need to see the federal government increase Medicare rebates for patients if they are not going to be available in a timely manner in or public health services, she said.

Opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier called on the state government to urgently investigate the issue so that patients could be treated in a timely manner. This is having a significant impact on the management and care of very vulnerable and sick people, she said, adding that the delays were imposing additional costs on the healthcare system. A Victorian government spokesperson said more than 40,000 healthcare workers had been recruited to Victorias health system and the government was making sure hospitals had the equipment and infrastructure they needed. Every Victorian deserves access to world-class health services, no matter where they live, the spokesperson said. The state government funds a $315 million medical equipment replacement program, which helps hospitals purchase new equipment including diagnostic tools such as MRI machines. A spokesman for the federal health department said there were 108 Medicare-eligible MRI machines in Victoria and this number was set to increase, with all MRIs in metropolitan areas to be made fully Medicare-eligible from July 1, 2027.
An entity led by Nicheliving boss Ronnie Michel-Elhaj has been hit with a lawsuit at the hands of an investor over claims they were left high and dry after a $1.3 million share sale deal soured.

But Michel-Elhajs company appears set to defend the action.

Nicheliving managing director Ronnie Michel-Elhaj. Credit: Ross Swanborough

According to the writ lodged in the WA Supreme Court this week, South Perth-based Narbot Holdings claims the stoush with Diamond Development Alliance  an entity led by Michel-Elhaj  stems back to October 2023, when the two parties inked a million-dollar share sale agreement.

Under the deal, Narbot Holdings claims Diamond Development agreed to hand over $1.3 million worth of shares in Perth builder Nichelivings ultimate parent company.
Turning to more crime news now, and a 26-year-old man from Baldivis will appear in court today over his alleged involvement in an illicit tobacco smuggling syndicate.

The Australian Federal Police charged the man after looking into an organised crime group based in the eastern states.

He allegedly co-ordinated the trafficking of illicit tobacco products from interstate, before selling them at three tobacco stores in Perth and then sending the profits back to members of the criminal syndicate.

The Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant at a post office in Marrickville South in Sydney and found $470,000 concealed in eight packages.

Further investigation into the money allegedly exposed that the crime group was concealing cash in packaged microwave ovens, using unsuspecting courier companies to move shipments interstate.

Police then searched the 26-year-olds home, a courier company in Perths southern suburbs, and various storage facilities across Perth.

They found $1.2 million concealed in microwave ovens waiting to be shipped to Melbourne at the courier company, and 645,000 cigarettes, 19,000 vapes, and 200 pouches of loose-leaf tobacco from the other locations.

AFP Acting Inspector Gabby Adam said criminal networks were driven by greed.

Criminals also have no regard for the significant health issues these products present for the Australian community and the burden they place on our health systems, she said.

The 26-year-old will face a string of charges in court including dealing with money believed to be the proceeds of crime and possessing more than 100 kilograms of tobacco.
At a second appearance at 11pm, the observant might have noticed the colour of Bandts face. It was grey. His message, however, remained upbeat. We may not come out of tonight with all three of our Brisbane seats, but we are within reach of other seats right across the country, including here! Hooray! the crowd cheered. Plus, the Greens would have the balance of power in the Senate. Adam Bandt on Thursday in a final press conference after 15 years as the MP for Melbourne. Credit: Wayne Taylor A week later, the Greens have one lower house seat left  Ryan, in Queensland  the last remaining from the Greenslide of 2022. They suffered a swing against them in the Senate vote nationally, and in Victoria. And on Thursday, Bandt finally conceded his seat of Melbourne.

Loading Fifteen years after he stormed to victory over Labor, winning his partys first ever lower house seat at a general election, the Greens national leader fell 4000 votes short on a two-party-preferred count. Party elder Bob Brown blamed a relentless and despicable negative campaign by the main parties. Bandt referenced a Labor-Liberal preference swap, describing electorates where this had happened as purple seats (a mix of red and blue). Perhaps he had forgotten that his first victory, too, had come on the back of Liberal preferences. Live by the sword, die by the sword, gloated one Labor hardhead, who did not want to be quoted because he has left the political fray.

Picking and sticking After Bandts victory in 2010, the commentary was all about the Greens ascendancy. Sure, Melbourne was the most progressive electorate in the most progressive state, but the Greens could win Grayndler, in Sydney, next  Anthony Albaneses seat. Tanya Pliberseks seat of Sydney would be the next to fall. Then might come Victorian Liberal seats such as Kooyong, Goldstein and their equivalents in Sydney. Bandt in 2010, when he was first elected to parliament. Credit: Erin Jonasson Driving it, said the partys strategists in 2010, would be the young.

Getting people in their 40s and 50s to vote for us the first time is much harder than getting 18-year-olds, the partys electoral analyst, Stephen Luntz, told The Australian at the time. But once we pick up the 18-year-olds, it is much easier to keep them. Following Saturdays election, the Greens national primary vote will end at somewhere around 11.74 per cent, just shy of the 11.76 per cent of 2010. Its been up and down over the years, but as the two main parties votes have continued to fracture, and other independents and third parties have risen around them, the Greens are apparently in stasis. Redbridge Consultings Kos Samaras said its those 18-year-olds of 2010  now Millennials in their 30s  who have drifted away.

There are still healthy levels of support [for the Greens] in Gen Z, but Millennials are becoming Labor voters, Samaras said. His tracking poll of key seats (not specifically Greens seats) suggests people now in their 30s have become pragmatic and centrist and that the perpetually over-optimistic Greens over-egged it last term. Kos Samaras from Redbridge Consulting, a political consultancy firm. Credit: Wayne Taylor They pushed too hard on Gaza, on the CFMEU and by holding up Labors housing policies in the Senate. There was a perception the Greens built that they were in the business of opposing Labor and of helping [then opposition leader Peter] Dutton, Samaras said. Green voters arent green activists, he added.

A perfect storm Psephologist Kevin Bonham says that in Melbourne, Bandt confronted several problems in 2025. A redistribution took some of the Greens safest booths and deposited them to the north, in the neighbouring seat of Wills. The redistribution also brought other booths from what had been Higgins  a formerly safe Liberal seat that Labor flipped when the Morrison government was defeated in 2022. (Higgins was abolished as a seat before the election.) The Brunswick South booth, for example, voted 63.3 per cent for the Greens at the 2022 election but is now part of Wills. It was replaced in the south by Hawksburn, on Toorak Road, with a 30 per cent Greens primary. In addition, said Bonham, Liberal preferences in Melbourne at this election flowed even more strongly than they had in the past to Labor. About 80 per cent of conservative voters preferenced Albaneses party over the Greens, compared with 70 per cent in 2022.

Not since Bandts 2010 win has the Liberal Party recommended to its voters that they preference the Greens above Labor. But, until this election, Bandt has won sufficient votes on his own and collected enough preferences from other small parties to get over the line, even before the main party votes were counted. Samantha Ratnam, the Greens candidate for Wills, campaigning during the election. Credit: Gus McCubbing But this time, said Bonham, an almost 5 per cent swing against Bandt on primary votes meant this was not enough. It was a perfect storm. A redistribution, the swing in primary votes and bad preference flow all went wrong for the Greens, Bonham said.

Purple seats In Wills, the beneficiary of those pro-Greens southern booths, another quite remarkable thing happened. This is an electorate where young, left-leaning educated types vie for housing and cafe space with an old working-class left and a large cohort of migrants. Young Greens supporters cheer at campaign HQ in Melbourne on election night. Their joy was short-lived. Credit: Paul Jeffers Its long been divided by Bell Street  variously labelled the Quinoa Curtain, the Latte Line and the Hipster-Proof Fence. North of this line votes Labor, and to the south, Greens.

Loading This election, though, the Greens did better than usual in the north. Labor MP Peter Khalil lost a fifth of his primary vote at one of his strongest booths, at John Fawkner College, and it went straight to the Greens Samantha Ratnam. It was not the only one. The Greens campaign on Gaza might have swayed the large Muslim populations in the north to abandon Labor. These were places where pro-Palestinian group Muslim Votes Matter campaigned hardest. We had an impact on the day, said Ghaith Krayem, the groups national spokesman. In the south, conversely, in the old Greens areas, young, educated Greens voters turned more strongly to Labor.

Loading How voters cast their ballots at Princes Hill Primary School tells the story. In 2022, when this booth sat in the seat of Melbourne, the Greens won 55 per cent of primary votes to Labors 24 per cent. Three years later, and now part of Wills, the booth returned 43 per cent for the Greens  a swing of 12 percentage points against the minor party. Labors figure climbed to 37 per cent  a shift mirrored across the south as affluent voters came back to Labor. Overall, in Wills, the Greens vote lifted by 2 per cent on primaries, but it was not enough to win Ratnam the seat. (She predicted on election night it would be 10 per cent.) Carlo Carli, the former Labor MP for the state seat of Brunswick, said that while the Greens and Ratnam worked extraordinarily hard, Khalil had turned this into a poll on the importance of having a local member that could oppose Dutton. In the other seat in metropolitan Melbourne targeted by the Greens  bayside Macnamara  they fell hopelessly short. The swing against them was 3 per cent, and their candidate, Sonya Semmens, came third to Liberal and Labor.

Nobody spoken to for this article thinks this result marks the terminal decline of the Greens. Of course they can come back, Samaras said. This election tells us that the other vote is now very strategic. Four-something million votes are strategic and tactical. If the Greens are smart, theyll find a way to win them back. Bandt saved his final words as MP for Melbourne for ABC Radio. He would take a rest, he said. His party would elect a new leader and wield the balance of power in the Senate. Not conceding any fault with his partys approach in the last term, Bandt said the government would be forced to listen to them. I hope [the government] ... understands it would be a lot better to listen to what the Greens put forward, he maintained.
Units in a handful of Melbourne suburbs have recorded strong price growth over the past year, bucking the trend of a slump in apartment prices citywide.

Buyers say increased competition and unrealistic expectations from vendors in these suburbs have made purchasing a home more difficult, and agents say a return of investors has fuelled demand.

Domain data shows unit prices shot up a huge 31.9 per cent in Caulfield South in the 12 months to March, to a median of $789,000. The next highest growth was in Springvale, where unit prices grew 23.1 per cent to $600,000; it was followed by Preston, up 20.6 per cent to $600,500.

Melbournes median unit price fell 3.6 per cent to $550,000 over the same period. Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said double-digit growth in unit prices was not the norm.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Baku-Moscow-Baku flights have been resumed and are operated in normal mode, the statement of the press service of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC said, Trend reports.

Due to the removal of restrictions on the airspace over the Russian city of Moscow, flights of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) on the Baku-Moscow-Baku route have been resumed since yesterday evening and are carried out in a normal mode according to the schedule, the statement of AZAL says.

Meanwhile, yesterday flights J2-181 (Domodedovo Airport) and J2-807 (Vnukovo Airport) of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) from Baku to Moscow (Russia) were postponed due to the fact that some parts of the route are still restricted.

Moreover, it was stated that AZAL continues to monitor the situation closely, guided by flight safety, and will inform passengers of any updates.
Clause and effect I loved Rob McFarlands story on Swedish Lapland (Traveller, April 26). It reminded me of when we took our daughter to Finnish Lapland to see Santa. Its highly recommended for anyone who can afford it and has young children. We also stayed in Lulea, a magnificent small town, that would definitely be worth checking out in summer, for their forest walks alone.

David Jeffery, East Geelong, Vic System failure My partner and I have booked flights to Europe for September 2025. We booked with Finnair, but as Finnair doesnt fly to Australia, we are going on a Cathay Pacific flight from Sydney to Hong Kong and then getting the Finnair flight to Helsinki. We have paid for seat selection on the Finnair leg, but cannot select a seat on the Cathay Pacific flight. After contacting Cathay directly, we were told that we cant access the system because its a codeshare flight. This is quite common, according to our travel agent. Its frustrating because we will have to wait until check in to be assigned a seat, and we may not be seated together. We are willing to pay extra for our choice of seat, but the system wont let us.

Christine Bentley, Goulburn, NSW Borobudur adored

A Buddha statue at Borobudur. Credit: iStock Borobudur, Indonesia, didnt feature in your cover story on must-visit sacred sites from around the world (Traveller, April 19). I have been there but sadly without a guide who could explain its bas-reliefs which Buddhist pilgrims walk past. It is deservedly a World Heritage Site in Java.

Ainslie Morris, South Durras, NSW Please fasten your seat I smiled after reading the airline review on China Airlines (Traveller, April 26). My first flight in China was in 1994, from Beijing to Xian. The plane was an old Russian aircraft. I sat by the window in a row of two and the seat actually tipped up, as the end was not bolted to the floor.

Judy Nicholas, Kamba, ACT Paradise found

I highly recommend visiting Raja Ampat, a series of Indonesian islands close to those mentioned in Brian Johnstons recent article, Island time (Traveller, April 17). You can fly to Sorong via Bali or Jakarta then take a ferry and/or private boat to home-stays or eco-resorts on islands within the archipelago. Snorkelling is fantastic, especially on the house reef a few metres off the beaches at most accommodation. Boat trips for snorkellers, as well as for divers, are available to other locations including the Fam Islands where the colours are stunning and exactly as pictured on promotional material for the region. We were delighted with our eight-day stay at Biodiversity Resort on Waiego Island where the friendly local villagers make up the majority of employees for up to 30 guests. Meals are convivial at group tables where one can share lots of did you see? stories with other guests, mainly from Europe and the Americas.

Gwen Higgins, Rozelle, NSW Going public In response to the question posed by Shaney Hudson (Traveller, May 3), based on my own Swiss rail adventures last year, Im unequivocally on the side of taking regular public trains in Switzerland. This enables an infinitely more flexible itinerary as regular trains, unlike the tourist-orientated variety, are frequent and dont require advance bookings. Theyre also cost-effective (all are included with the excellent value Swiss Travel Pass), and crucially for traversing such stunning landscapes, the windows open wide for that perfect photo without those annoying reflections.

Kin-Yat Lo, Croydon, NSW Stinging advice

Travellers story on Central America which featured Belize (Traveller, April 11) makes no mention of the dangers of mosquito-borne viruses there. Mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus and Chikungunya virus are active during the day as well as night. They can cause joint pain and flu-like symptoms, but eventually victims get better. However, if people are unlucky enough to be bitten by a kissing bug they may get Chagas disease. This initially also causes flu-like symptoms which go away after a few weeks. However, if left untreated, the results can be catastrophic as major organs become affected. Its much easier to wear long sleeves and keep applying tropical strength repellent. Watch out for the water too. Despite taking great care, I was unlucky enough to pick up a water-borne bacterial parasite, Blastocystis hominis. This parasite is present in almost 95 per cent of the population but usually doesnt affect them. It took three lots of compounded antibiotics over almost two years for me to get rid of it.

Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights, NSW A cape too far Brian Johnston (Traveller, May 5) looks to have stopped a little short of his intended target, Cape York. I am sure many of your readers recognised the photograph as a shot of the Barrenjoey Lighthouse at North Palm Beach rather than the lighthouseless Cape York. Only 3430 kilometres short as the crow flies.

Graham Willis, Wollstonecraft, NSW

Editors note: Thanks to the readers who pointed out this production error in our print edition. The correct photo ran in the online version of the story. Tip of the week: Streets apart Riga and its art nouveau district. Credit: Alamy

Michael Gebicki, your Ask the Tripologist columnist (Traveller, April 25) featured a letter from A. Morris of Victoria, asking about art nouveau architecture and Riga, Latvia. Im a belle epoque-era tragic who took a month self-organised tour in February last year across Milan, Turin, Budapest, Vienna, Helsinki and Riga. Riga has two main art nouveau streets, Alberta and Elizabetes, full of buildings from the era and with extravagant features (start at the western end of Alberta, with the museum). Stay at the 56-room Grand Palace Hotel in the Old Town and taxi to the art nouveau streets with a casual walk back to your accommodation.

Geoff Borton, Willoughby, NSW On water matters With family living in Cambodia we have been regular visitors over the past 15 years and have never had any problems with visas (Traveller Letters, April 27). The e-visa system can be used if arriving by plane or via certain land entry points and is quick and efficient. Use the official Kingdom of Cambodia website for the online application rather than one of the third-party sites. Arriving by water is a different process. If passengers have not purchased their visa from the Cambodian embassy before departure from Australia, they should be able to apply for the visa on arrival. Your cruise operator should be able to advise about the latest requirements, but it always pays to do your own double-checking. All countries expect to see the details in the visa application. Try getting into any country requiring a visa with incorrect dates.

Frances Baker, Beechworth, Vic Easter bunny I have just completed David Whitleys bumper Easter quiz (Traveller, April 18) and sadly only 23 (46 per cent) of my answers were correct. I would have been one better off had it not been for the answer to question 37: Which of these four Australia Islands is farthest east: Lord Howe Island, Rottnest Island, Phillip Island or Kgari? Having just been to Norfolk Island and looked over Kingston towards it, I excitedly answered Phillip Island. Wrong. Yes, Lord Howe island is 159.06633E, but Phillip Island is 167.94813E. Shades of a 2019 Traveller quiz when I answered Mount Kosciuszko only to be informed by the quiz mistress that the highest mountain in Australia was Mount McClintock which is in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook NSW

Mind your pees and queues A long wait to clear the terminal. Credit: Alamy My husband and I visited New York over the extended Easter and ANZAC Day holiday period in Australia. While I was concerned about entering the US and the potential for the much-publicised enhanced vetting, we encountered a different problem. We arrived at New Yorks JFK Airport late in the afternoon and joined long queues to clear passport control. There were only three staff members working the windows for international visitors. It took two and a half hours. My husband was travelling on a new passport so was photographed and fingerprinted. I had previously travelled into the US on my passport so after a cursory glance of it we were on our way. However, I would suggest visiting the bathroom on your plane before disembarking, rather than using the facilities in the terminal.

Natalie Balatti, Primbee, NSW Memory lane I was interested in Brian Johnstons comments in his Spotlight on in Kaifeng, China (Traveller Newsletter, April 23 - subscribe here). One of the most interesting aspects of the city is that several hundred descendants of its early Jewish settlers still live there today. Originally, these Jewish traders came to Kaifeng along the Silk Road. I was able to view the only remnant of the ancient Kaifeng Synagogue, in one of the hospitals when I visited. It was in the boiler room, looking forlorn and marked by a nondescript square concrete slab. One other interesting aspect was Torah Lane and a building denoting the headquarters for the Jews of Kaifeng.

Frances McKay, Kensington, Vic
It could be said that Leos first appearance on the balcony meant: I am not Francis, but Francis vision will continue. Kurt Martens, who teaches at The Catholic University of America in Washington, said references in Leos speech to embracing the whole world as well as synodality were signs the new Pope would continue to focus on the poor and those on the margins of societies. Read: Pope Leos full speech The clothes

Unlike his predecessor, who spurned many of the trappings of the papacy from the day he was elected, Leo wore the mozzetta, an elbow-length red cape, over his white cassock, suggesting a return to some degree of tradition and rule-following after Francis unorthodox pontificate. Leo also wore an ornate red and gold stole with illustrations of the four gospels in the New Testament over his shoulders, the gold pectoral cross that is traditionally offered to a pope when he accepts the office, and a white skullcap, known as a zuchetto or pileolus. Loading Francis wore all white vestments and a simple cross when he first appeared on the balcony in 2013, signalling his desire for simplicity, before later adding the stole. The new name

For most of the Catholic Churchs first millennium, popes used their given names. The practice of adopting a new name became ingrained during the 11th century, and from the mid-20th century, new popes began to choose names signalling the aim of their papacy, according to Reverend Roberto Regoli, a historian at Romes Pontifical Gregorian University. Loading The last pope to take the name was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903. That Leo softened the churchs confrontational stance towards modernity, especially science and politics, and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. His most famous encyclical, Rerum Novarum of 1891, addressed workers rights and capitalism at the beginning of the industrial revolution. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni told reporters the new Popes decision to be called Leo XIV was a deliberate reference to the previous Leo. Some academics speculated he could also have wanted to signal a strong line of continuity: Brother Leo, a 13th-century friar, was a great companion to St Francis of Assisi, the late popes namesake. The name is a deep sign of commitment to social issues, said Manhattan Universitys chair of religious studies, Natalia Imperatori-Lee.

Read: The history and meaning behind the new Popes name Where does he stand on key issues? Loading Having kept a low media profile, Leo is seen as ideologically aligned with Francis, particularly in prioritising outreach to the poor, care for migrants and a less hierarchical vision of church leadership. He told the Vaticans official news website last year that the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom. On women in the church, Leos views appear aligned with those of Francis, who opened more leadership roles to them than any previous pontiff, while affirming the churchs teaching barring the ordination of women as priests, The Washington Post reports.

However, Leos record also contains more conservative elements. In a 2012 address, he criticised Western media for promoting sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel, referencing same-sex families and what he called the homosexual lifestyle. He supported Francis pastoral move to allow Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, but showed only reserved backing for blessings of same-sex couples. There had a taboo against electing a pontiff from a country whose geopolitical power loomed so large in the secular sphere. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone His handling of clerical abuse cases during his time in Peru is expected to come under closer scrutiny now that he has ascended to the papacy. Still, within the Vatican, Leo is regarded as a unifying figure. His international experience and quiet diplomacy allowed him to navigate the ideological and regional divides among the cardinals. His election may mark a stylistic shift from Francis more outspoken leadership, but not necessarily a reversal of his reforms. The new Popes brother, John Prevost, described him as being very concerned for the poor and those who dont have a voice, saying he expects him to be a second Pope Francis.

Hes not going to be real far left, and hes not going to be real far right, he said. Kind of right down the middle. What is the Augustinian order? The new Pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a community of mendicant friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelisation. The orders requirements and ethos are traced to the 5th century St Augustine of Hippo, one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity. It works in about 50 countries, promoting a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others. Nuns among the crowd that gathered in celebration as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapels chimney. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

A core value of the order is to live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God. Heir apparent In many ways, Francis saw Prevost as his heir apparent. Francis sent Prevost to take over a complicated diocese in Peru, then brought him to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. In January, Francis elevated him into the senior ranks of cardinals, giving him prominence going into the conclave that few others had. But there had long been a taboo against electing a pontiff from a country whose geopolitical power loomed so large in the secular sphere. Prevost, a Chicago native, was seemingly eligible because hes also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
Azerbaijan tightens its belt on natural honey imports from Russia in early 2025

Photo: Azertaj

Azerbaijan's natural honey imports from Russia saw a notable decline in the first two months of 2024, both in volume and value, according to official statistics. While Russia remained one of the key suppliers, overall imports were largely dominated by Ukraine and Turkiye.

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If I can do anything to help, I will be there





By Yoshita Singh

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON,

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has said he wants India and Pakistan to stop what he described as tit for tat actions, saying if he can do anything to help, he will be there. Trumps remarks came after the Indian military carried out strikes against terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistans Punjab province on Wednesday. Pakistan army carried out one of the most intense artillery and mortar shelling in years targeting forward villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Oh its so terrible. My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now.

They have gone tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now. I know both, we get along with both the countries very well. Good relationships with both and I want to see it stop. And If I can do anything to help, I will be there, Trump said in response to a question on the war between India and Pakistan. He was speaking on Wednesday in the Oval Office after the swearing-in ceremony of David Perdue as US Ambassador to China. Earlier, hours after the Indian strikes, Trump had said that India and Pakistan have been fighting for a long time and people knew something was going to happen. Its a shame, we just heard about it just as we were walking in the doors of the Oval (Office). Just heard about it. I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. Theyve been fighting for a long time. Theyve been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you really think about it, Trump said when asked about the attacks between India and Pakistan.

When asked if he has any message for the two countries, he said, No, I just hope it ends very quickly. Meanwhile, a top American military commander has said that the US is watching the situation very closely after Indian military strikes. Its right now too early to opine on any of that. Were watching the situation very closely. Were nested with our higher headquarters and USINDOPACOM as the information about these strikes becomes more clear, US Army Pacific Commanding General, General Ronald Clark said during a digital press briefing Wednesday. India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province of Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said 31 people were killed and 57 others injured in the Indian missile strikes launched shortly after midnight. Separately, at least 13 people, including four children and a soldier, were killed and 57 injured as the Pakistan army carried out one of the most intense artillery and mortar shelling in years targeting forward villages along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after the Indian missile strikes.
Great confidence





EVEN as the nation rejoices the assertion of its pride through Operation Sindoor, nobody discounts possibilities of escalation of hostilities from the Pakistani side. Of course, each and every Indian is fully confident that the countrys famed Armed Forces are fully ready to face any eventuality -- after having been given a green signal to make their decision of how to meet the ensuing challenge. In other words, the nation wants certain escalation of hostilities so that Pakistan could be taught a tougher lesson. May be, as many dream of, Pakistan could be sliced into a couple of smaller geographies if it shows the temerity and thoughtless courage to keep daring the mighty Indian Armed Forces. That is one thought that galvanises the countrys 1.4 billion people.

his confidence stems from the astute leadership offered to the nation by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and his team of close associates and the whole organism of the Government. Over the past eleven years of his Prime Ministership, Mr. Narendra Modi has built a carefully crafted model of leadership whose writ runs well in all domains with equal elan -- economy, strategy, security, diplomacy, education ... ! As the Pahalgam crisis raised its ugly head, the Prime Minister swung into a well-thought action and led the nation to believe in its own capabilities. Operation Sindoor came in the wake of all that preparation, in the process shocking the world. The question now is, what next? In other words, what will happen from now onwards ? How will Pakistan behave ? Will it escalate hostilities as its Prime Minister Mr. Shahbaz Sharif said in Parliament, or what its Defence Minister Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Asif said -- that Pakistan may leave things as those are if India did not come back attacking again ? It is this issue that is uppermost in everybodys mind. However, even as the world considered what happened in the Indian missile strike, Pakistan started hitting civilian targets on the Indian side of the border -- killing 12 Indians.

This can be interpreted as Pakistans eagerness to hit back, indicating that hostilities may continue. There, of course, is pressure building from many countries of the world that India and Pakistan must not stretch things too much. However, National Security Advisor Mr. Ajit Doval has communicated to his counterparts in a few major countries that the onus of peace should be on Pakistan and not on India. India has been wronged time and again. India has suffered terrorist onslaught time and again. This time, it has exercised its right to respond, Mr. Doval has reportedly said. The same sentiment has been expressed by the Union Cabinet as well as Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh. Defence experts also suggest that Pakistan does not have the ability to stretch a conflict beyond a point, and would capitulate sooner than anybody may expect -- if conflict becomes grimmer.

They do not rule out the possibility of a limited help to Pakistan by some countries in case the conflict gets intense. But that help, too, would not add much strength to Pakistans already weakened preparedness. In sum and substance, India has made its position very strong on all counts, and has the ability to indulge in a sustained conflict without much dent in its resources. Pakistans condition is exactly the opposite -- with its shrunken foreign exchange reserves, oil reserves and military hardware reserves. If the hostilities escalate into a full conflict, India will have a stronger resource base than the enemy. This confidence has percolated down to the last man in the country, thanks to the manner in which the leadership has taken the country on the growth path over the past one plus decade. The whole country looks at Operation Sindoor from that angle.
Illinois Institute of Technology, first US university to set up in India





NEW DELHI ;

CHICAGOS Illinois Institute of Technology has become the first US university to get a nod from University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up its campus in India, officials said on Thursday. Opening in fall 2026, Illinois India campus will be set up in Mumbai and offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programmes in high-demand fields such as computer science, engineering and business. Illinois Tech was founded to democratise access to technology and innovation to all. Our new campus in India represents a profound opportunity to continue that noble mission in service of the millions of talented young people across India, empowering them to become global leaders ready to make a difference.

We are honoured to bring Illinois rigorous, immersive experiential learning pedagogy designed for relevance to new students and to cultivate global leaders prepared to navigate the complexities of todays world, said Raj Echambadi, president of Illinois Institute of Technology. Echambadi explained that Illinois Techs Mumbai campus will provide the same academically rigorous, experiential and industry-aligned curriculum as the universitys Chicago campuses. This will include offering Illinois renowned Elevate programme, which guarantees all students access to real-world experiences such as internships, research, competitions, and other opportunities that are proven to uniquely prepare graduates for successful careers in global markets.

Courses will be delivered by an internationally recruited faculty, including visiting professors from Illinois Techs US campuses and faculty with global academic credentials. Indian students will gain access to career-accelerating opportunities without the need to relocate abroadwhile also benefiting from cross-campus study options and global classroom experiences, he added. Llinois Tech was created in 1940 by the merger of Armour Institute and Lewis Institute. Lewis Institute, established in 1895 by Allen C. Lewis, offered liberal arts as well as science and engineering courses for both men and women.

Over the past five years, US FDI in India rose from USD 4.1 billion to more than US 10.5 billion, with thousands of American companies contributing to Indias investment landscape. In the last five years, we have seen more than a 73 per cent increase in graduate students from India choosing Illinois Tech, said Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Illinois Tech. Our new campus responds to this extraordinary demand by delivering globally recognised Illinois Tech degrees in India, in a highly accessible, affordable, and locally contextualised format. By establishing a presence in Mumbai, Illinois Tech is embracing the opportunity to meet learners in their local contexts while maintaining the high standards that define our institution, he added. The UGC had, in 2023, announced setting up and operation of campuses under the Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India Regulations. While the UKs Southampton University is in the process of setting up its campus in India this year, two Australian universities -- Deakin and Wollongong -- already have campuses in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). The Queens University Belfast and the Coventry University have also received approval for setting up campuses in the GIFT City. So far, no US university had received the nod to set up offshore campus in India.
India foils 15 Pak missile/drone attacks Destroys air defence system in Lahore





Projectile debris found in an open field at Makhanwindi village, in Amritsar on Thursday. (ANI)

NEW DELHI :

INDIA on Thursday said, it foiled Pakistan militarys attempts to attack 15 places in Northern and Western India using missiles and drones, and destroyed a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore as tensions between the two sides mounted amid fears of a wider conflict. The Defence Ministry said, the Pakistani military attempted late on Wednesday night to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. These attempts were neutralised by the Integrated Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (Grid and Air Defence systems), it said.

According to sources, Indian Air Force S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence missile systems were fired last night against targets moving towards India. The Pakistani attempt came after Indian Armed Forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. The Defence Ministry said, India called its anti-terror response as focused, measured and non-escalatory and that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response, it said. Today morning Indian armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan, the Ministry said in a readout.

It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system at Lahore has been neutralised, it said. The Ministry said Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using mortars and heavy calibre artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing, the Ministry said. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt, it said. Indian Armed Forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is respected by the Pakistani military, the ministry said. In retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian Armed Forces early Wednesday carried out the missile strikes on the terror targets including Bahawalpur, a stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Wednesday that India decided to carry out the proportionate strikes to bring the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to justice as there was no demonstrable step from Pakistan to act against terrorist infrastructure on territories under its control.
Innovative approach: 20 farmers from various villages begin cultivating corn





Officials of Agriculture Department inspect the corn cultivation at a field.

Staff Reporter :

To bring further prosperity in the field of agriculture, constant innovations are being done in the district. Following the same, around 20 farmers have started corn cultivation in 60 acres in Bhuwara, Tikri, Luhari and Garha villages of Patan tehsil, Oriya and Madna villages of Panagar tehsil and Natwara village of Shahpura tehsil as contract farming in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Vindhya Organic and Herbal Foundation. This is the first occasion in the district when farmers are cultivating popcorn variety of corn.

According to the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Jabalpur district, Dr. S.K. Nigam, the farmers have sown corn as a summer crop in the month of March. Dr. Nigam said that he, along with Madhya Pradesh Vindhya Organic and Herbal Foundation Director Dr. R.N. Shukla and Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Patan, inspected the crop in Bhuwara village of Patan tehsil and Natwara village of Shahpura tehsil and also had discussion with the farmers. While discussion, the farmers told that they have a contract with Madhya Pradesh Vindhya Organic and Herbal Foundation for purchasing corn at the rate of 3 thousand per quintal and they are expected to get 20-25 quintals of corn per acre. According to Dr. Nigam, Vindhya Organic and Herbal Foundation is providing seeds and technical guidance to the farmers. For this, separate agricultural experts have been appointed by this institution.

These agricultural experts regularly visit the fields of the farmers who grow corn and provide them required advises and suggestions. He told that Vindhya Organic and Herbal Foundation will purchase all the popcorn produced by the farmers. This institution has also set a target to cultivate different varieties of corn including popcorn, baby corn and sweet corn on contract basis in 500 to 1000 acres in Jabalpur district in the upcoming Kharif season. During inspection, Deputy Director Agriculture Dr. Nigam praised the farmers for cultivating corn as an innovation.
Azerbaijan ramps up sturgeon roe imports from China in early 2025

Azerbaijan imported 1.14 tons of sturgeon roe from China in the first two months of 2025, totaling $343,320. This represents a 26.7% increase in volume and a 27.4% rise in expenditure compared to the same period in 2024. The average import price per kilogram remained stable at $301.1, reflecting a slight 0.6% increase year-on-year.

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Kerala student arrested in city on charges of waging war against GoI





Staff Reporter :

Lakadganj Police, on Wednesday, arrested a student activist on charges of attempting war against the Government of India (GoI). The arrested person is identified as Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek (26), a resident of Edapally in Kerala, his girlfriend, Isha Kumari, who resides in city was also picked-up by cops. Sydeen has been booked under Section 149 (preparing to wage war against the (Government of India), 192 (Giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 351 (Criminal intimidation) and 353 (Statements conducing to public mischief) of the BNS among other provisions. Sydeek, as per reports, works as a freelance journalist and is affiliated to Democratic Students Association. He was visiting the city to meet a friend on way back to Kerala from Delhi when cops arrested him.
Leaves cancelled, schools shut as Punjab, Raj go on high alert post Op Sindoor





CHANDIGARH/JAIPUR :

RAJASTHAN and Punjab are in full alert mode with schools closed in border districts and leave of all police personnel and administration officials cancelled, officials said on Thursday, a day after India struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Both States are getting ready for a possible escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India, the officials said. While Punjab shares a 532-km border with Pakistan, in Rajasthan, the border stretches about 1,070 km. Punjab Police has cancelled leaves of all its personnel while the State Government has shut schools in six border districts, officials said on Thursday.

The Rajasthan Government too has cancelled leaves of all administrative officials and police personnel deployed in the border areas, sources said. Leaves of police personnel cancelled, security upped in coastal areas neighbouring Pakistan in Guj: SECURITY has been stepped up along the Gujarat coast, and authorities have cancelled the leaves of police personnel due to unforeseen situation, asking them to return to duty immediately, officials said on Thursday. The move follows Operation Sindoor, during which Indian armed forces struck terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the early hours of Wednesday, following the killing of 25 tourists and a local near Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22. Gujarat shares land and sea borders with Pakistan.

The office of the State Director General of Police, Vikas Sahay, on Wednesday night issued an order cancelling the leaves of all police officers of cities and districts due to unforeseen situation and asked them to return to duty with immediate effect. Ashok Kumar Yadav, Inspector General of Rajkot Range, said police along the coast have been put on alert mode after Indias anti-terror strikes in Pakistan. Of the five districts under the Rajkot Range, Jamnagar, Morbi, and Devbhumi Dwarka have a coastline, said Yadav. We have already heightened the security along the coastal belt of Gujarat in the last two days, and a maximum police force has been deployed in that region. Police have been put on alert mode and leaves of all police officials have also been cancelled, Yadav told PTI. He added that policemen have been visiting coastal villages and boat landing points and urging villagers and sarpanchs to inform police if they spot any suspicious activity. Personnel from the State Reserve Police (SRP) and Gram Rakshak Dal are working with local police for round-the-clock patrolling and vehicle checking in the coastal belt, said Yadav.

The official added that security has also been beefed up at various vital installations in the districts under his jurisdiction. Police have been patrolling the area round the clock. Vehicles are being checked at key exit and entry points, while marine police and the Marine Task Force are patrolling the sea near the coast to keep a check on suspicious movements. They are also checking ID cards and other documents of fishermen going in and out of the harbour in their boats, said Yadav. On Wednesday, civil defence mock drills and blackouts were conducted in 18 districts of Gujarat to make people aware of how to react in hostile situations, officials said. While mock drills simulating emergencies like air strike and fire were organised at different vital installations in each of these 18 districts, citizens participated in blackout exercises by switching off lights for half an hour between 7.30 pm and 9.00 pm, said an official release. In Gujarat, drills were conducted in Vadodara, Surat, Tapi, Patan, Banaskantha, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Mehsana, Narmada, Navsari, Dang, Kutch, Bharuch, Gandhinagar and Bhavnagar, said the release.
MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT Forest Deptt captures 36 problem carnivores, reveals RTI reply





Staff Reporter :

To curb the increasing trend of man-animal conflict in Maharashtra, the Forest Department captured 36 problem carnivores, including tiger, leopard and sloth bear in last six years and released only three such wild animals in the wild, revealed a Right To Information (RTI) reply given by Maharashtra Forest Department recently. As per the RTI reply, From March 2019 to April 2025, the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) of Maharashtra, issued 69 capture orders in which 36 problem animals were captured in various forest ranges in the State. The highest 26 number of orders were issued for Chandrapur district itself followed by Nagpur (11 orders), Gadchiroli (7), Dhule (6), Pune (5), Solapur (2), Yavatmal (2), Thane (2), Nashik (2) and Amravati (1). The Forest Department captured two tigresses in 2019, 4 tigers and one leopard in 2020, 3 leopards and 1 sloth bear in 2021, 11 tigers and 2 leopards in 2022, 9 tigers in 2023, 1 tiger and 3 leopards in 2024 and only 1 tiger in 2025 so far. In 2025, the CWW issued nine orders for capturing, in which, only one tiger (T-3) has been captured by the department. The Forest team captured the tiger from Brahmapuri on April 17 and is currently in Gorewada Rescue Centre in Nagpur.

Out of nine orders, the Forest Department failed to trace three tigers and three leopards in different forest circles in the State. Whereas, the department is still working on to capturing two tigers, which are both in Solapur district. Like Chandrapur district, Nagpur is also suffering with increasing cases of man-animal conflict in last few years and as a result, villagers started protesting against such attacks by the wild animals.

Keeping the increasing cases in mind, the Forest Minister of Maharashtra Ganesh Naik ordered many measures to reduce man-animal conflict in Nagpur district. As per the RTI reply, in 2025, there were three capture orders released by CWW in Nagpur district in which one order was to capture Parseonis T-132 tiger and remaining two are in Bhandara district whereas all the three tigers are still elusive. As per the information shared in the document, all the captured tigers in the State were sent to Gorewada Rescue Centre (GRC) in Nagpur and Transit Treatment Centre (TTC), Seminary Hills. The GRC is facing space crunch for captive animals as the management is constructing more cages and enclosures in the next few months.
MG Windsor EV PRO launched at Nangia Cars





Business Reporter :

JSW MG Motor India, on Thursday launched MG Windsor PRO Nangia Cars that will elevate the business class travel experience with the inclusion of new tech and safety features, along with a new 52.9 kWh battery pack. The MG Windsor has witnessed phenomenal customer response since its launch and the addition of the PRO series will further strengthen its market performance. Launched at an attractive introductory BaaS price of Rs 12.49L + Rs 4.5/km and ex-showroom price of Rs 17,49,800 (valid for first 8,000 bookings), the MG Windsor PRO promises to accelerate the rapid transition to EVs. The MG WINDSOR EV PRO was unveiled by Akshit Nangia and Abhimanyu Nangia from Nangia cars.

The company will offer lifetime battery warranty to the first owner of MG Windsor PRO. In addition, JSW MG Motor India will offer its 3-60 assured buyback plan*** for the MG Windsor PRO which ensures that it will retain 60% of its value after 3 years. The Windsor PRO, now comes with a larger 52.9 kWh battery pack, offering an extended certified range of 449 km** (MIDC P1 + P2), while delivering 136 PS of power and 200 Nm of instant torque. In addition, the Windsor PRO will offer three new and vibrant colour options, Celadon Blue, Aurora Silver and Glaze Red, along with a new 18 dual tone machined alloys, enhancing its style quotient.

The new dual-tone Ivory and Black interiors will entail an all-new cabin experience. The Windsor PRO also comes equipped with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), offering 12 major features with 3 levels of warnings (audio, visual and haptic), always ensuring the safety of occupants. For details, visit Nangia Cars showroom in Nagpur, Amravati and Chandrapur. For more detail contact MG Nagpur (Nangia Cars), Plot no. 33B, Opp Nangia Speciality Hospital, Nagpur (Mob. : 7775022000).
Only Allah can save us now: Pak MP breaks down in Parlt





NEW DELHI :

THE tremors of Indias Operation Sindoor are now echoing inside the halls of Pakistans Parliament. In an extraordinary and emotional moment, Retired Major and current MP Tahir Iqbal, a former officer of the Pakistan Army, broke down in Parliament, delivering a passionate plea in Urdu, begging Allah to protect Pakistan. This emotional outburst came just a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealed to the world for help in shielding his country. Now, even Pakistani lawmakers are publicly expressing fear and helplessness in the face of Indias strong response to the terror attack in Pahalgam. That response  Operation Sindoor destroyed nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK, with nearly 100 terrorists reportedly eliminated. In Parliament, Tahir Iqbal admitted Pakistans weakness and called for divine intervention.

With a trembling voice and tearful eyes, he said, Our nation is weak. Thats why I say  come together and pray to our Lord. Oh Lord of the Kaaba, we beg you to protect this country you entrusted to us. He went on to say, This is a country born from prayers. Allah appeared in dreams to our leaders and told them Pakistan would be created. Now, only He will protect it. As he broke down, he added, Allah, please forgive us. We bow before you, we ask for mercy, because we are great sinners. This public display of fear and desperation inside Pakistans Parliament highlights the psychological impact of Indias response.

In retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, India launched precise strikes deep into terrorist hubs, showcasing a new doctrine of rapid and firm military retaliation. Pakistan, reeling from the strikes, resorted to firing across the LoC, causing Indian casualties. It also attempted to launch drone and missile attacks on Indian cities on Wednesday night, all of which were intercepted and neutralised by Indian air defence systems. As the situation escalates, one thing is clear  India has shifted from restraint to resolve. And inside Pakistan, that message has hit hard  so hard that their own parliamentarians are left turning not to strategy, but to prayer.
Pak stock markets continue to bleed





NEW DELHI :

THE stock markets in Pakistan further tanked on Thursday, as trading was halted at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) amid rising geopolitical tensions. Karachi Stock Exchange fell more than 6 per cent on Thursday before the trading was halted. The stock exchange has been witnessing a continuous decline since the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack. The main index, Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index (KSE-100), has slipped by more than 13 per cent since April 22 when the terror attack happened, killing 26 people, most of them tourists.

On April 22, the KSE-100 index was at 1,18,430, which has now dropped to 1,03,060. Apart from this, another Pakistani stock index, KSE-30, has also fallen more than 14 per cent since April 22. Amid the grim state of the stock markets, Pakistan has only $15 billion of foreign exchange reserves left and is on the verge of economic collapse. The country is seeking a fresh loan worth $1.3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to run its economy. Pakistans economy, in the initial years after independence, grew at the same pace as Indias, backed by US aid and donations from the oil-rich Islamic nations.

However, while democratic India kept its focus on economic development and lifting its masses out of poverty, Pakistan has been rocked by bloody coups and military dictatorships, with the army Generals still calling the shots and fuelling hostility against its more prosperous neighbour. Pakistan was on the brink of sovereign default in 2023 and had to be bailed out by a $3 billion IMF loan. The country is still critically dependent on this financial lifeline and is desperately trying to raise another $1.3 billion climate resilience loan. Overall, the neighbouring nation now faces an economic freefall - crippled by political chaos and the long-term cost of harbouring terrorism.
RDU decides to cancel question on Rani Durgawati, to give full marks to students





Staff Reporter :

Also the concerned teacher should be kept away from examination work, question paper design and evaluation for 3 years

Investigation conducted after uproar over a question Where is Rani Durgavatis tomb built asked in the B.Sc./B.Com. second year exam conducted by Rani Durgavati University (RDU) has taken a new turn. In fact, when the university administration inquired about the question from the exam paper center, it was found that in the book published by Thakur Publication Private Limited, Bhopal, the Samadhi of Veerangana Rani Durgavati has been written as Tomb. The university administration took cognizance of the question asked outside the syllabus in 2025 examination and decided that in the students interest, question number 42 should be cancelled and full marks of the said question should be given to all the students.

Shockingly, the same book of Thakur Publication is being taught in other academic institutions of Madhya Pradesh as well. Are the academic experts concerned with the publication are not familiar about the different between a Samadhi and a Tomb? Meanwhile, a meeting of the permanent committee of Vidya Parishad was held in RDU under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Kumar Verma in presence of Registrar Dr R K Baghel and heads of departments. In which it was decided that a letter will be written to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Higher Education Department for action on the book published by Thakur Publication Private Limited, Bhopal. Simultaneously, the concerned teacher should be kept away from exam work, question paper design and evaluation for 3 years. During exam of Women Empowerment of Foundation Course, B.Sc./B.Com. Second Year 2025 examination, Where is the tomb of Rani Durgavati built was asked. The word Samadhi should have been used instead of tomb. The meeting was attended by department heads Professor Bharat Kumar Tigri, Professor S S Sandhu, Professor Rakesh Bajpai, Professor Vivek Mishra, Professor Mamta Rao, Professor J K Maitra, Dr Neena Bajpai, Dr Nandini Bharill and In-charge Sunita Devdi.
Operation Sindoor Still ongoing: Rajnath At least 100 terrorists killed All parties support Govt





Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and J P Nadda, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Raya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and leaders of other political parties during an all-party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI :

DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told an all-party meeting that at least 100 terrorists were killed when India struck terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the still ongoing Operation Sindoor, sources said. The Defence Minister also informed the leaders, who fully endorsed the Governments military action and complimented the Armed Forces, that India will hit back if Pakistan attacks, they said. Political leaders from parties, including the Congress, AIMIM, Trinamool Congress and the DMK, extended full cooperation to the Government on the issue of national security. In the moment of crisis, we are with the Government, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said after the meeting. The Defence Minister said this is a sensitive time and in the interest of the country, detailed questions are not to be asked, he said.

Operation Sindoor claimed the lives of at least 100 terrorists. It is difficult to give an exact estimate as the operation is still ongoing and we are still collating the details. India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan attacks, a source at the meeting quoted Singh as saying in a suo motu statement. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said leaders showed maturity and did not indulge in bickering at the meeting, presided over by Singh and convened to evolve a broad political consensus on the issue. The discussions were conducted in a constructive and serious manner given the gravity of the issue at hand. The Defence Minister briefed all leaders in detail about Operation Sindoor. Each leader expressed their views with responsibility and maturity, recognising the major challenge the country is currently facing, Rijiju said.

Across party lines, political leaders said there is no place for politics in such critical times. All leaders unanimously congratulated our Armed Forces on the success of Operation Sindoor and assured their full support to the government, with no dissent whatsoever, he added. Several valuable suggestions were also put forward during the meeting, held a day after Operation Sindoor, Rijiju said. The leaders shared their concerns on the issue of national security and the safety of all Indians, especially in border areas, but extended all support. The message is that the entire nation is united with the government and the Armed Forces. We dont do politics just for forming governments but also to build the nation, Rijiju quoted Singh as saying. The raksha mantri told the meeting that it was an ongoing operation and that is why he cannot share the technical details of Operation Sindoor that was launched by Indian Armed Forces, Rijiju said. And that is why no Armed Forces officials were present at the all-party meeting.

They were busy with operations. Political leaders also congratulated the Armed Forces for the action taken under Operation Sindoor, he said. We gave full support and what Kharge ji said is right - there are certain things that shouldnt be discussed. Everyone simply gave their support, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he complimented the Armed Forces and the Government for conducting Operation Sindoor. I also said that we should run an international campaign against TRF and the UN Security Council should designate it as terror organisation. We also need to ask the United States to designate TRF as foreign terrorist organisation in the country, he said. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, has emerged mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed and also claimed responsibility for it. BJD wholeheartedly commends the extraordinary courage, clinical precision and gallant professionalism of our Armed Forces in carrying out Operation Sindoor. We salute every officer, soldier, unit involved in this mission, said party leader Sasmit Patra.

We are united against the fight on terrorism from Pakistan. This is the need of the hour. We should fight shoulder to shoulder. There should be no division between us, said Trinamool Congress Sudip Bandyopadhyay. HM Amit Shah, FM Nirmala Sitharaman and EAM S Jaishankar and BJP president J P Nadda attended the meeting. Among the Opposition leaders present were T R Baalu (DMK), Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT, Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) and John Brittas (CPI-M). Besides, JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha and Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan were also part of the meeting.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 9. Uzeltechsanoat Association hosted a key meeting dedicated to the development of cooperation between L&T Construction and local cable manufacturers involved in solar energy projects, Trend reports.

The meeting brought together Rajan Bansal, head of L&T Constructionthe main contractor for Uzbekistans renewable energy initiatives funded by Saudi Arabias ACWA Poweralong with the companys supply director Ravikiran Ransubhe. They were joined by representatives from leading domestic cable and wire producers, including Uzkabel, TCG, Prokab, and Artikul Aziya Kabel.

Participants discussed price proposals and partnership terms for the supply of cable and wire products required for the construction of solar power plants in Uzbekistan. The parties expressed interest in developing long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation and agreed to further examine forthcoming commercial offers.

Such engagements are considered vital for boosting the share of locally manufactured products in the energy sector, reducing reliance on imports, enhancing the export potential of domestic producers, and strengthening industrial cooperation.

The meeting followed a recent visit by a high-level delegation from ACWA Power, L&T Construction, and Uzbekistans Ministry of Energy to Enter Steel and Technopark, aimed at exploring opportunities to localize the supply of electrical equipment for solar projects in the country.
Photo: The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 9. Representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan's State Budget Policy Department met with experts from the World Bank and leading academic institutions, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.

The meeting focused on strategies to further enhance the participatory budgeting process and integrate international best practices.

The meeting aimed to exchange ideas on developing the participatory budget system, improving its effectiveness, and increasing its transparency.

Experts also reviewed the implementation of citizen-voted projects in the districts of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Fergana regions.
Kazakhstan rolls out massive road revamp to strengthen national connectivity

Photo: Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is launching a large-scale effort to modernize its road network, focusing on major and medium repairs across key highways and regional routes. With work underway in multiple areas and new sections added this year, the initiative aims to improve transport links, ease traffic flow, and support regional development.

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Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan forge new partnership for agricultural innovation

Photo: Akimat (local government) of the Kazakhstans Turkestan region

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are deepening their regional cooperation with a new investment initiative aimed at boosting agricultural innovation and economic development in the Turkistan region. During a recent meeting, Deputy Akim of Turkistan Region Talgat Kozbekov and Director of Samarkand Irrigation System LLP Sanzhar Abilov discussed the launch of a $3 million plant for the production of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems in the Sauran industrial park.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing up to 9.9 million euros in financing to support the expansion of KFC and Taco Bell restaurants in Southeast Europe, Trend reports.

The funding will go to Aptha Global and Tastra, two Bosnia and Herzegovina-based companies, for projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Western Balkans, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Of the total amount, 8.1 million euros will be financed by the EBRD, while 1.8 million euros will come from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the Circular Economy Regional Initiative (CERI). This is the first CERI project in the Western Balkans and aims to promote green and inclusive growth.

The investment will support the opening of around 30 new fast food restaurants by the end of 2027. The project is expected to generate new jobs with a focus on women and people with disabilities, while also integrating circular economy principles and environmental standards in its operations.

The EBRD noted that this financing addresses a gap in unsecured cross-border funding and supports local companies in expanding globally recognized franchises in an underserved regional market.

Aptha Global and Tastra are franchise holders for Taco Bell and KFC, respectively. Both companies are incorporated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aptha Global also operates the Mango clothing franchise and is planning further projects in line with sustainability and innovation goals.

The EBRD has invested over 3.3 billion euros in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996 across 244 projects.
BARCELONA, Spain, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Santana Motors, the Spanish 4x4 automaker that once made the legendary Land Rover Santana and Suzuki Santana models, has a new lease of life thanks to an alliance with Chinese-owned firms Zhengzhou Nissan and Anhui Coronet. The joint venture officially made public in a ceremony in China last week will produce off-road vehicles at the historic Santana Factory in Linares in the south of Spain, which closed in 2011 after the company ran into financial difficulties. The technical teams of the three companies have jointly developed a new all-terrain model, which offers a choice of diesel and advanced plug-in hybrid powertrains that is based on Santana Motors' traditional values of robustness, performance, and off-road capability. "This agreement represents a firm step toward smart reindustrialization in Europe, and especially in Spain. The legendary Santana brand, which has meant so much to the country's industrial development, is reborn with even greater strength to face the challenges of the future. We will soon see vehicles rolling out of the Santana Factory in Linares," Valentine Rouss, board member and CMO of Santana Motors, told Xinhua on Thursday. No date has yet been given for the official launch of the new 4x4 model, but Santana Motors says that in the coming months it will unveil an "innovative range of vehicles" designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. The mayor of Linares, Auxi del Olmo, expressed her satisfaction over the agreement, which will increase business activity at the Santana Science and Technology Park: "This international agreement will bring more industrial and technological activity to this space, which is already generating employment and a future for Linares." The Linares City Council said that the project to adapt the facilities the company will occupy has been completed in the Santana Science and Technology Park and that the joint venture will create some 200 jobs.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 9. Turkmenistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Afghanistans Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held online talks to discuss the progress of regional infrastructure projects, with a focus on accelerating the TAPI pipeline construction, Trend reports, citing Afghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The sides discussed ways to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries. The discussions also covered diplomatic cooperation and the advancement of joint initiatives, notably the TAPI pipeline.

Muttaqi characterized the relationship between the two countries as stronger than ever and expressed confidence that the current regional environment was favorable for expanding bilateral cooperation.

The foreign ministers agreed to continue high-level consultations aimed at accelerating the implementation of the TAPI pipeline project, expanding railway connections, improving electricity transmission, and deepening overall economic cooperation.

The TAPI pipeline is a large-scale project that envisions the transportation of natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. Construction on the project, with an annual delivery capacity of 33 billion cubic meters, began in Turkmenistan on December 13, 2015. Turkmenistan is the primary supplier of gas and plays a key role in the development of the pipeline, aiming to diversify energy export routes and strengthen regional economic ties.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. During the first quarter of 2025, Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) delivered an average of around 11 million cubic metres per day of ACG associated gas to the state of Azerbaijan (0.9 billion cubic metres in total), primarily at the Sangachal terminal but also to SOCARs Oil Rocks facility, Trend reports via bp.

The remainder of the associated gas produced was re-injected for reservoir pressure maintenance.

This is while in Q1 2024, this figure stood at 7.4 million cubic metres per day.

As such, associated gas deliveries rose by 48.6 percent year-on-year.

ACG participating interests are: bp (30.37%), SOCAR (31.65%), MOL (9.57%), INPEX (9.31%), ExxonMobil (6.79%), TPAO (5.73%), ITOCHU (3.65%), ONGC Videsh (2.92%).

BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited is the operator on behalf of the Contractor Parties to the ACG Production Sharing Agreement.
With crimes steadily on the rise in Malda district, a sensitive region close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, law enforcement agencies, including the police and Special Task Force (STF), continue to tighten the net around illegal networks operating in the area.

In two major back-to-back operations on Wednesday night, authorities seized nearly Rs 4 lakh in counterfeit currency and apprehended an arms trafficker carrying a cache of illegal firearms.

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In the first operation, police in Baishnabnagar arrested a 19-year-old suspected currency trafficker and recovered counterfeit notes amounting to Rs 3,92,500  all in Rs 500 denominations. The accused, identified as Sintu Sheikh alias Sahud Sheikh, is a resident of Babupara in Par Dewanapur area. He was detained after police received a tip-off and found him moving suspiciously in an area.

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Police are now investigating the source of the fake notes and the intended destination for trafficking. A wider probe is underway to identify others linked to the racket. Sintu Sheikh was produced before the Malda District Court on Thursday, where police sought custody for further questioning.

In a separate but nearly simultaneous operation, the STF intercepted Sanjit Kumar, a suspected arms trafficker from Bihars Bhagalpur district, in the PTS More area under the same Baishnabnagar police jurisdiction. A search of his belongings led to the recovery of eight illegal firearms  all pipe guns.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Kumar had smuggled the weapons from Bihar for delivery in Malda. However, the operation was foiled before the handover could occur. The STF later handed him over to Baishnabnagar police for further investigation. On Thursday, he was presented in court, where police requested 10 days of custody to pursue leads on the broader arms smuggling network.

Authorities say these coordinated actions are part of ongoing efforts to crack down on the criminal networks thriving along the international border.
With artificial intelligence (AI) adoption surging across sectors, the need for reliable, scalable and sustainable AI infrastructure in India has never been more urgent, NITI Aayog said on Thursday.

Recognising the critical role of AI infrastructure in shaping Indias economic future, the NITI Aayog Frontier Tech Hub hosted a high-level workshop here, focused on accelerating investments in AI-ready datacentres across Indian states.

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India has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a global AI datacentre hub. With our clean energy leadership, unmatched tech talent, and strong policy momentum, we are well-positioned to deliver the worlds greenest and most cost-effective AI compute, said B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog.

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But the competition is global. States must stop thinking only in terms of land and start thinking in terms of AI ecosystems  anchored in energy, innovation, and execution, he added.

The workshop brought together senior officials from key state governments, central ministries and industry leaders to chart a strategic roadmap for positioning India as a global hub for AI infrastructure.

The deliberations spotlighted the widening gap between Indias digital ambitions and its current compute capabilities.

Although India generates nearly 20 per cent of the worlds data, it accounts for just 3 per cent of global datacentre capacity.

With AI adoption surging across sectors, the need for reliable, scalable, and sustainable AI infrastructure has never been more urgent.

The workshop urged states to move beyond land- and real estate-centric models and embrace a new paradigm anchored in access to clean energy, high-performance computing, and streamlined policy environments.

Key themes included the projected doubling of global electricity demand from datacentres and AI by 2026; Indias unique advantages in renewable energy, deep engineering talent, and rapidly growing digital economy; the need for coordinated reforms in power, policy, and regulation to attract hyperscale and sovereign AI investments.

Participants discussed the six critical pillars essential for AI datacentre readiness  land, power, network, compute, talent, and enabling policies.

The conversation highlighted the urgency for states to think not just competitively within India, but globally, as countries like Vietnam, UAE, and Indonesia aggressively pursue AI investments.
In the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the inflow in equity mutual funds dipped 3.24 per cent to Rs 24,269 crore in April amid continued market volatility, data by the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) said.

Notably, this was the fourth consecutive month of decline in inflow in equity funds.

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The latest fund infusion by investors marks the 50th consecutive month of net inflows into the segment.

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Apart from equity, debt funds registered an inflow of Rs 2.19 lakh crore in the month under review after seeing a withdrawal of Rs 2.02 lakh crore in March, data from the AMFI added.

Overall, the mutual fund industry experienced an infusion of Rs 2.77 lakh crore in April as compared to an outflow of Rs 1.64 lakh crore in the preceding month.

Equity-oriented mutual funds saw an inflow of Rs 24,269 crore in April, lower than Rs 25,082 crore in March. In February, such funds witnessed an inflow of Rs 29,303 crore, Rs 39,688 crore in January, and Rs 41,156 crore in December.

Net inflows into Midcap funds inched lower by 3.6 per cent to Rs 3,313.98 crore, while smallcap funds saw a drop of 2.3 per cent in net investments to Rs 3,999.95 crore. While the relatively safer large-cap funds saw a 7.8 per cent rise in inflows to Rs 2,671.46 crore.

The biggest jump in inflows came in Sectoral/Thematic Funds, which saw a 1,076.4 per cent rise in inflows to Rs 2,000.95 crore.

Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a modest net outflow of Rs 5.82 crore in April 2025. However, this was significantly better than March, when the category witnessed a net outflow of Rs 77.21 crore.
Three illegal migrants from Bangladesh, who were staying in the national capital disguised as transgenders to avoid detection, were arrested from north west Delhis Azadpur New Sabzi Mandi, police said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhisham Singh said intel was received regarding the presence of illegal Bangladeshi nationals who were impersonating transgender people and begging at the traffic signal to evade suspicion.

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Acting upon the information received, the team laid a trap on Thursday morning near Azadpur New Sabzi Mandi, and all three accused individuals were held by the police team, the senior officer said.

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Furthermore, while conducting an inquiry into this case, four smartphones were confiscated from their possession that had banned IMO applications installed in them, which were being used by them to communicate with their families in Bangladesh.

During interrogation with the apprehended, they disclosed that they had entered India illegally through porous borders with the assistance of agents and then traveled to Delhi via trains.

They continued by saying that they were all males and had put on some puffies to enhance their appearance to attract customers, whom they lured at night with the feminine looks. The accused had undergone surgeries to change their sex and appearance in order to avoid detection.

Moreover, stating about the police action, Singh further stated that, The detained will be produced before the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office), R K Puram, Delhi, for their deportation process.

However, a case has been registered against the accused individuals and investigation into this matter is underway by the Delhi Police, the DCP stated.
Elaborate security measures have been put in place around vital installations in Delhi on Friday in the wake of escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan with several border areas, including Jammu, coming under cross border shelling on Thursday night, a police officer said.

Government buildings, sewage treatment plants, water treatment plants, courts, and foreign embassies are being guarded by additional forces, including paramilitary personnel, said an official. Leaves of all Delhi Police personnel were cancelled on Thursday night.

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Meanwhile, as part of a mock drill, the Civil Defence Directorate carried out a trial of the air raid siren at the PWD Headquarters building in the ITO area at 3 pm.

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In North West District, senior officers held a night briefing on anti-terror measures wherein the staff was directed to intensify night patrolling, conduct strict picket checks and maintain high alert across the district.

Similarly, in the East District, as part of enhanced anti-terror measures, the Trilokpuri Sanjay Jheel Metro Station was scanned in coordination with the CISF, station guards, contract staff, and the Security Controller, for a comprehensive security review.

On similar lines, anti-terror measures were ramped up in North District as well with security personnel conducting checks across key areas as a precaution against security threats and to maintain heightened vigil and reinforce efforts to safeguard the community.

Additionally, police officials carried out intensive checks while patrolling at IGI Airport to ensure passenger safety.

Moreover, bomb disposal squads carried out anti-sabotage checks at several locations and all the vehicles entering the capital were being checked, the official added.

These measures have been undertaken after Indian armed forces thwarted fresh attempts by Pakistan to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur after foiling attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country.

According to the Defence Ministry, the Pakistani military attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.
The much-awaited romantic drama Abir Gulaal was all set for a grand theatrical release on May 9, 2025, which is today.

Fans were eagerly counting down the days to witness the fiery chemistry between Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, but the films release has now become embroiled in political controversy that no one could have predicted.

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Initially, the film was poised to captivate audiences with its charming premise. Gulaal Bajaj (Vaani Kapoor) is a young woman looking to break free from the oppressive grip of her father. She wins a prestigious food contest, which leads to an exciting opportunity as a chef in London. There, she crosses paths with Abir Singh (Fawad Khan), the dashing owner of a restaurant called The Rasoe.

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But things take a hilarious and heartwarming turn when her father assigns Abir the role of Gulaals babysitter, keeping her out of trouble and, unbeknownst to her, becoming a pivotal part of her life.

Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Economic Affairs Division  Government of Pakistan.#Pakistan #IndiaPakistanTensions #OperationSindoor2 #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/mWPMpfRwNC  The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) May 9, 2025

What starts as playful banter and rivalry between the two slowly transforms into an unexpected love story.

However, as the films romance blooms, secrets from the past surface, testing the bond between Gulaal and Abir. In a self-sacrificial act, Gulaal chooses to let go of her love for Abir in an attempt to heal old wounds.

Ironically, this very sacrifice draws them closer than ever, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats, wondering if love can conquer all.

The film boasts an ensemble cast, with Kapoor and Khan in the lead roles, supported by a stellar lineup of actors including Riddhi Dogra, Lisa Haydon, Farida Jalal, Soni Razdan, Parmeet Sethi, and Rahul Vohra, among others. The chemistry between the leads and the engaging storyline promised a delightful escape for moviegoers.

However, just as excitement built around its release, the tragic Pahalgam attack in April 2025 shook the nation, casting a long shadow over the films debut.

The attack, which claimed many lives, resulted in an escalation of political tensions between India and Pakistan. In the midst of this, Indian authorities confirmed that Abir Gulaal would not be permitted to release in India.

This decision has large influence from growing calls to ban Pakistani artists in Indian cinema, adding fuel to the already volatile political climate.

The drama didnt end there. In response to Indias move, Pakistani officials also decided to ban the film, citing the involvement of Indian actress Vaani Kapoor. Both countries now find themselves caught in a web of political decisions, leaving Abir Gulaal in limbo.

As of now, the film remains unreleased, with its future distribution uncertain amid the ongoing diplomatic strains.
The red carpet at Cannes 2025 is about to glow a little brighter with the magic of Satyajit Ray. The legendary filmmakers 1970 classic Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest) is set to be screened at the prestigious festival in a brand-new avatar  a 4K restored version  bringing back the brilliance of Rays storytelling to an international stage.

And whats more, the iconic Sharmila Tagore, who starred in the film, will be present to witness this cinematic homecoming.

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The announcement was made by the Film Heritage Foundation, which shared the exciting news on Instagram.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Film Heritage Foundation (@filmheritagefoundation)

The post revealed that the restoration was a global collaborative effort led by The Film Foundations World Cinema Project, done at LImmagine Ritrovata in partnership with Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection.

Back to the forest, but sharper than ever

Originally released in 1970, Aranyer Din Ratri is a tale of four city men escaping to the tribal forests of Palamau for a brief retreat  a trip that turns into a journey of introspection, subtle drama, and unexpected encounters.

With a cast led by Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, and Rabi Ghosh, the film captured the complex interplay of urban arrogance, tribal innocence, class differences, and emotional vulnerability  all with Rays trademark subtlety.

The new restoration, nearly 55 years after its release, allows the world to see the film in its original glory. Seeing the films beauty and artistry revitalized  from its haunting score and the captivating chemistry of its cast, to the unforgettable grace of Sharmila Tagore and Rays sensitive portrayal of the Santhal tribals  has been a true privilege, said Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation, in a statement.

The screening is a tribute to timeless cinema and a reminder of how Rays narratives continue to feel strikingly modern. Dungarpur, speaking about the emotional journey behind restoring not just Aranyer Din Ratri, but also Sri Lankan filmmaker Sumitra Peries Gehenu Lamai, said that preserving such works felt like a race against time.

It was a painstaking process, he shared, adding that these films were on the brink of being lost forever.

Although Peries wont be around to witness the rebirth of her poetic drama, her legacy, like Rays, is set to reach new audiences through this initiative  aided in part by support from the French Government under the FISCH (French Institute of Cinema Heritage) programme.

Alongside Sharmila Tagore, the event will see director Wes Anderson, who is a board member of The Film Foundation, as well as Simi Garewal, producer Purnima Dutta, Margaret Bodde of The Film Foundation, and representatives from Janus Films and The Criterion Collection.

Wes Anderson, known for his own visually rich and character-driven films, had high praise for Ray. Anything signed by Satyajit Ray must be cherished and preserved, he said, calling Days and Nights in the Forest a special gem that was modern and novelistic.

He described the film as a clash between castes and sexes, urbans and rurals with women who see through mens hopes, cruelties, and spectacular lack of wisdom.

For Sharmila Tagore, the trip to Cannes is more than just a formal visit. Its a personal milestone. Its wonderful that Manik Das Aranyer Din Ratri has been restored and will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year, she said, referring to Ray with deep affection. She recalled how she was working on Aradhana when Ray invited her to shoot for a month in the middle of a scorching summer.

We could only shoot in the mornings and late afternoons because of the heat, she remembered. I have wonderful memories of the time spent with my co-actors and Manikdas precision, especially in the way he shot the memory game sequence. It was incredible.

Tagore expressed her excitement to see how the restored film resonates with a new generation. Aranyer Din Ratri is such a contemporary film that I know it will resonate with audiences across the world even today.

The Cannes Film Festival, scheduled for May 1324, 2025, is not just about glitz and glamour  its also a platform for celebrating the enduring power of cinema.
Bollywood actress and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kangana Ranaut praised Indias S-400 air defence system, calling it a game-changer in the countrys security landscape.

Her remarks followed the Indian Air Forces recent successful interception of a large-scale drone and missile attack launched from across the border.

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On May 7, the skies near Amritsar lit up as Indias S-400 Sudarshan Chakra system sprang into action, intercepting and neutralizing a barrage of incoming threats from Pakistan.

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The attack was reportedly a retaliatory move against Indias Operation Sindoor, which had earlier targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Kangana Ranaut, known for her outspoken political views, shared dramatic visuals of the S-400 systems on Instagram, applauding their effectiveness.

Our Sudarshan Chakrathe S-400 Air Defence Systemdemolished the Pakistani air attack! she wrote, referring to the defence shield as one of the most powerful technologies in the world.

#BreakingNews |A Pakistani Air Force jet has been shot down in the Pathankot sector by Indian air defense, according to ANI. More details are awaited. Official government confirmation awaited.#IndiaPakistanWar #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/yvVZKjX7XI  The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) May 8, 2025

She attributed the systems induction to the Modi governments 2018 agreement with Russia, which secured Indias access to the state-of-the-art platform.

In another post, she shared a video clip purportedly showing the S-400 in action near Amritsar, highlighting its real-time role in defending Indian territory.

The S-400 is widely regarded as one of the most advanced air defence systems globally, capable of detecting threats up to 600 km away and engaging targets within a 400 km radius.

India has already deployed four squadrons of the system, with strategic placements in regions like Pathankot, Rajasthan, and Gujaratkey areas vulnerable to aerial threats.

This weeks coordinated assault by Pakistan involved multiple waves of drones and missiles aimed at crucial Indian defence and civilian installations in areas such as Srinagar, Jammu, Awantipora, Pathankot, Ludhiana, and Bhuj. However, because of the quick response of the Indian Air Force and the S-400 batteries, all threats had successful interception.

The Indian Ministry of Defence also confirmed increased ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. Pakistani forces reportedly fired mortars and artillery into several sectors, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri, raising tensions once again in the volatile region.
In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Nawazuddin Siddiqui opened up about the lack of recognition and appreciation for some of Indias finest actors during their lifetimes, specifically paying tribute to the late Irrfan Khan and Om Puri.

According to the actor, both these legendary figures never received the kind of acknowledgment they truly deserved from audiences and filmmakerspraise that, unfortunately, only came after their passing.

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Siddiqui, who himself is known for his powerful performances, expressed his sadness over how the industry failed to give such monumental talents the platform they deserved.

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He mentioned names like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Bajpayee, and Irrfan Khan, all of whom he regards as some of the greatest actors India has ever produced.

However, he noted that despite their immense skill and following, these actors were never offered the chance to star in big-budget films, which could have brought their remarkable abilities to a wider audience.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui)

He explained, We often hear that there are two kinds of actors; one is for the public and one is for the industry. But in this case, the publics actor is not reaching them, and the industrys actor is seen everywhere.

When the conversation shifted to Nawazuddins own legacy, the actor, as humble as ever, brushed aside any talk of how he would be remembered. 

It doesnt matter what happens once I am gone, he remarked, before reiterating the importance of respecting actors while they are still alive.

In an industry where posthumous praise is all too common, Nawazuddin emphasized the need for honoring actors in their prime.

Reflecting further on the careers of Irrfan Khan and Om Puri, Nawazuddin pointed out the undeniable brilliance these actors displayed in every role they took on. He gave a particular mention to Om Puris unforgettable performance in The Wolf, where he shared a scene with Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson.

Nawaz said that in that moment, Puris presence made Nicholsons performance almost invisible, showcasing the sheer mastery of his craft.

The way we treat our actors is harsh, Nawazuddin concluded, voicing his disappointment in how the industry failed to properly appreciate the likes of Om Puri and Irrfan Khan while they were alive.

People are finally talking about Irrfan Bhai today, but did anyone make a Rs 25 crore film with him when he was here? he asked, challenging the industrys tendency to elevate stars only after theyve passed.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Wednesday issued an advisory to all OTT platforms, media streaming services, and online intermediaries operating in India, directing them to immediately discontinue content originating from Pakistan.

The advisory, issued under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, urges platforms to exercise due caution and discretion while publishing or streaming any content, especially if it threatens national sovereignty, integrity, or public order.

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The move comes in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of multiple Indian civilians, a Nepali national, and left many injured. As per Indian authorities, initial investigations have indicated cross-border links involving Pakistan-based state and non-state actors.

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In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or pic.twitter.com/8yjP6ULNEU  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025

In its advisory, the Ministry underscored that online content publishers must adhere strictly to the Code of Ethics outlined in the IT Rules, 2021. Specifically, the Code mandates that publishers avoid content that could endanger Indias security, threaten its sovereignty, damage relations with foreign nations, or incite violence.

Citing Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, the government reminded intermediaries of their responsibility to not host or share any content that threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order.

While the advisory does not impose a legal ban, it strongly advises compliance in the interest of national security.

It explicitly calls for the discontinuation of Pakistani-origin content in any form  including web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other streaming media  whether freely accessible or behind a paywall.

The move is expected to impact a small but noticeable segment of online content that includes Pakistani dramas, cross-border musical collaborations, and independent documentaries.

In recent years, some Indian platforms had started hosting Pakistani shows or films either directly or through user-uploaded content.

This is not the first time cultural or content exchange with Pakistan has paused due to geopolitical tensions. Similar measures took place following the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, and bans on Pakistani artists and collaborations have been in intermittent enforcement by industry bodies over the years.
Kyrgyzstans potato exports surge, driven by strong demand from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

Photo: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan really hit the ground running with its potato exports in the first two months of 2025, thanks to a surge in shipments to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.

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Amid the highly public controversy of Kim Soo Hyun involving late actress Kim Sae Ron, new allegations recently emerged. Previously, Sae Rons family accused him of dating her when she was just a minor. Subsequently, Soo Hyun organised a press conference addressing the claims. While admitting to dating her, he stated that they were not in a relationship when Sae Ron was a minor. However, in a recent press conference, Sae Rons family revealed a shocking voice recording of the late actress.

A voice recording released by Garo Sero accused Soo Hyun of having a physical relationship with Sae Ron when she was just 14. The voice recording was an alleged conversation between Mr A and Kim Sae Ron. Following this, Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, GOLD MEDALIST, slammed them in a counter press conference. Now, a whistleblower has confessed that the alleged voice recording was fabricated.

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In an unexpected turn of events, Mr A, who is based in New Jersey, admitted that his previous statements were due to a misunderstanding with his wife. Earlier, he claimed that he had been stabbed nine times in the neck for possessing sensitive information about Kim Soo Hyuns dating controversy. However, now, he accepts that the injuries were limited to his arms. This has raised concerns about the credibility of his previous statements.

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Moreover, making the allegations, Mr A even sent a video of himself from the hospital. In the clip, he claimed to be filming with his right hand as he could not move his left arm. He revealed sustaining nerve damage, bleeding and other injuries. However, the medical report only confirmed a single deep cut on his right shoulder. Subsequently, word emerged that the wound photos shown at the press conference were from the internet.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  Kim Soo Hyun  (@soohyun_k216)



After receiving questions about the inconsistencies, Mr A blamed his wife. He said, My white wife caused some misunderstandings. There was a lot of tension between us. Further, he shared that amidst this, he also sent a voice message to the producer of Garo Sero. At the time of the incident, I couldnt contact my family directly. So, I just sent a voice message to the (Garosero) producer explaining that the photos were from the hospital to show what the injuries looked like.

Additionally, Mr. A admitted to manipulating the audio file where Kim Sae Ron allegedly claimed a physical relationship with Kim Soo Hyun at the age of 14. He admitted he sent a fake recording to Kim Soo Hyuns agency. I sent it to them on purpose. If I didnt, they wouldve thought I was a spy. So, I sent them something absurd on purpose.

Meanwhile, following the explosive allegations, Kim Soo Hyuns legal representation announced further legal action against Sae Rons family and Garoseros Kim Sae Ui.

For context, read: Kim Sae Rons family accuse Kim Soo Hyun of being physical with her when she was 14; Actor responds
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah left Srinagar for Jammu on Friday to take stock of the situation after a failed Pakistani drone attack there.

The CM said on his X handle, Driving to Jammu now to take stock of the situation after last nights failed Pakistani drone attack directed at Jammu city & other parts of the division.

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The Pakistani drones and low-range missiles were neutralised by the alert troops in Jammu, Samba, R.S. Pura and other places. Terrorists aided by Pakistan troops made an unsuccessful infiltration attempt in J&Ks Samba district on the international border.

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A BSF spokesman said that a major infiltration bid from across the international border was foiled around 11 pm last evening.

The intruding terrorists were forced to withdraw back into the Pakistan side of the border, the spokesman added.

A woman was killed and another injured in Pakistans heavy mortar shelling on civilian areas in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. Officials said a vehicle travelling from Razerwani to Baramulla was hit by a shell fired from across the LoC near Mohura.

In this incident, a woman identified as Nargis Begum was killed while another woman, Hafeeza Begum, was injured.

The Pakistan Army continued resorting to heavy mortar shelling in Uri, Tangdhar, Poonch, Rajouri on the LoC and in Samba on the international border.

Drones and low-range missiles fired at the Jammu airport, defence installations in Jammu city failed as these were neutralised in the air by an efficient air defence system in place by the Indian armed forces.

A complete blackout was observed in Jammu and Srinagar cities immediately after sirens started warning the people of an impending attack by the enemy. Electricity has been partially restored in Jammu and Srinagar cities.

Amid the prevailing situation, authorities on Wednesday said that schools, colleges and universities shall remain closed across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and Saturday.

Sakina Itoo, the education minister, said that keeping in view the safety of students, all the private and government schools, colleges and universities shall remain closed on Friday and Saturday.

Registrar of Kashmir University also said that classwork will remain suspended at the university for the day.
As part of the mock drills, the civil defence directorate will be testing the air raid siren at PWD Headquarters building in the ITO area on Friday at 3 pm, an official statement said.

The testing will begin at 3 pm and will last for about 15- 20 minutes.

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The district administration has advised the general public not to panic amid the exercise and to remain calm.

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On Thursday night, Pakistan attempted to engage military targets in northern and western parts of the country, however, the bids were foiled by the prompt response from the countrys defence systems.

On Wednesday, the administration in Delhi had conducted civil defence mock drills and blackouts across several places in the city amid tensions between India and Pakistan following the response given by the country after the Pahalgam terror attack.

India inflicted damage to the terror launch pads with precision attacks as part of Operation Sindoor as a step to deliver justice to those killed in the Pahalgam attack.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the Army Intelligence and Jharkhand Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted a joint raid at Ganesh Army Store near Booty More in Ranchi, seizing restricted military uniform materials that were reportedly being sold without proper authorisation.

The joint action was initiated following specific inputs from the Lucknow-based Military Intelligence unit, suggesting that unauthorised Indian Army combat uniforms were being manufactured and sold to civilians from the store, which is situated opposite the Deepatoli Cantonment. Sources confirmed that items resembling official military attire were recovered during the raid and that two individuals have been taken into custody for further interrogation.

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While officials remained tight-lipped about the exact nature and volume of the seized items, citing operational security, it is understood that the store had been under surveillance following reports of it tailoring and selling garments resembling official Army combat wear.

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With heightened security concerns along the Indo-Pak border and a state of alert prevailing, security agencies are particularly wary of the potential misuse of such uniforms by anti-national elements. Senior officials noted that the circulation of counterfeit military attire poses a direct threat to national security, enabling infiltration and sabotage under the guise of armed forces personnel.

This action was based on credible intelligence from Military Intelligence, Lucknow. Ganesh Army Store was allegedly selling combat uniforms to civilians. Certain restricted fabric items were seized during the operation. Two people have been detained and handed over to the Sadar police for questioning, said Rishabh Jha, Superintendent of Police, ATS, Jharkhand.

Ganesh Army Store, located near two prominent military camps in Booty More, is known for selling military-related goods and providing tailoring services for uniforms. The stores proximity to sensitive military establishments has further raised red flags for investigators.

Officials confirmed that the operation involved personnel from the Military Intelligence, Jharkhand ATS, and the Sadar police. While the agencies have not disclosed all findings from the raid, it is believed that the investigation is now focusing on uncovering the source of the fabric, the scale of distribution, and possible links to broader networks.

The matter is under detailed investigation, and central intelligence agencies are expected to be briefed on developments. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies continue to examine all possible anglesincluding motives, networks, and potential threatsassociated with the unauthorised sale of military-grade clothing.
Murali Naik, an Indian Army jawan from Andhra Pradesh (AP), was killed during cross-border firing by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir Thursday night. He was a resident of Kalli Thanda village under Gorantla mandal in Sri Sathya Sai district of AP.

Announcing the death on his X handle, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, It is saddening to hear about the loss of life of a soldier named Murali Nayak from Gorantla Mandal, Penukonda Assembly Constituency, Sri Sathya Sai district in the defence of the country. Tributes to the martyr Murali Nayak, who laid down his life for the country. I express my deepest condolences to his family members.

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The chief minister later spoke with the parents, Jyotibai and Sriram Naik, who hail from a tribal hamlet. Expressing his heartfelt condolences, Naidu said the nation would forever remember the 25-year-old soldier who laid down his life. He assured the bereaved family that the state government would stand firmly by them. He spoke about the young soldiers sacrifice at Anantapur and urged the gathering to observe two minutes of silence to pay their homage to the fallen soldier.

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The body of the slain soldier is expected to reach his native village tomorrow morning. AP IT minister Nara Lokesh stated, We will perform the last rites of Murali Nayak with full state government honours. We will support his family in every way.

AP governor S Abdul Nazeer and Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed their condolences.
The central government on Friday reviewed border securities, health and cybersecurity preparedness as tensions with Pakistan along the international border and LoC escalted to the highest time in decades.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda held a meeting with senior officials to review health infrastructure preparedness in hospitals across the country. He was briefed by health department officials about their preparedness in case of any emergency.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level meeting with the three chiefs of armed forces to review the security situation along the western border.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today chaired a high-level meeting at South Block, New Delhi to review the security situation along the western border and operational preparedness of the Indian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

In other related development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting with the the Director Generals of paramilitary forces this afternoon.

Amid threats of cyber attacks from Pakistani hackers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also set to chair a review meeting on cybersecurity preparedness with banks and other financial institutions in the evening.

Experts have raised concerns that Pakistan hackers could target the countrys critical infrastructure amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

These review meetings come in the wake of simmering tensions between India and Pakistan following last months brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed terrorists and Indias Operation Sindoor in retaliation.

As part of the military operation, India struck nine terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistani-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). While India choose non-escalatory reponse by solely aiming at terror bases, Pakistan responsed with intense shelling and drone attacks at Indian military establishments and civilian areas.

However, the Pakistan attacks  first on the night of Wednesday and another on late Thursday evening  were foiled by Indias strong air defence systems.
Congress, on Friday, took out Jai Hind Yatra from Jantar Manter to Raisina Road to hail the bravehearts of the Indian Army for the execution of Operation Sindoor destroying nine terrorist camps to avenge the gruesome terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Kashmir that left 26 dead.

Thousands of party workers, along with senior leaders, including Delhi chief Devender Yadav, AICC treasurer Ajay Maken, organization Secretary K C Venugopal former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot, Pawan Khera, AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot, and Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin, took part in the yatra.

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They shouted slogans like Jai Hind and Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan during the Yatra while carrying Tricolour in their hands extending in support to the Armed forces who have eliminated terrorist camps operational from the Pakistan soil.

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During the Yatra, Yadav said every worker of Congress is standing with our countrys armed forces in this difficult time to protect the honour of the Tricolour, and the Jai Hind Yatra is in support of our brave warriors who are not only fighting to save the honour of the country but also to crush the terrorists operating from across the borders aided and abetted by Pakistan on which the Indian forces have already inflicted deadly blows.

He added that history has witnessed that whenever someone tests the patience of India, the country has replied to it with force.
Debris of Pakistani drones and other parts that fell from the striking equipment from across the border were recovered from different places in Jaisalmer Friday morning.

The strikes from the neighbouring country began around 2030 hrs on Thursday with a bang of blasts. There were sightings of approaching, flashing, diminishing and descending bright spots in the skies of the Golden City, where a blackout was declared.

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The approaching bright spots were the Pakistani drones/missiles which were neutralised mid-air with total precision by the Indian Air Defence System.

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These scenes and sounds gave the sky-grazing locals a sleepless night despite the full

confidence and faith in the might and capability of the Indian armed forces, besides the unbound faith in the principal deity of the city, Tanot Mata.

The strikes continued for a considerable period, and more than 50 drones (and maybe some missiles) were used in the attack.

The armed forces personnel launched a search operation to recover the debris of the Pakistani equipment. The security personnel have recovered debris of a fallen drone in the Suli Dungar area and a bomb in the Gajroop Sagar area. Army personnel have reached out to check out an object which fell in the residential locality (Kishangarh Ghat). The search for fallen debris was still on around the Jaisalmer town.

Similar activities were also reported from Pokaran- the key army base and historic town of Jaisalmer district.

Some locations in the Sriganganagar district were also targeted, though without success. A fallen drone was recovered and seized by police in Ghadsana town of this bordering district.

The Defence Spokesman confirmed the attacks from across the border. Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman informed in a Twitter post on Friday morning.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVS, the spokesman said

Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force, the spokesman asserted.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has constantly been keeping in touch with the entire bureaucracy, particularly the district administration officials in bordering districts. On Thursday too, the CM held late late-night review meeting at the state secretariat with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other concerned, and held video conferencing with district officials in bordering districts.

He has also been mobilising local MLAs and key BJP leaders to remain in contact with people in their respective areas to keep their morale high. On Wednesday, the Chief Minister made a special grant of RS 37.5 crore to collectors in the five border districts, providing them all the needful help and assistance. On Thursday, he sent additional fire brigades to Bikaner and other needy districts.

The state government has also cancelled leaves of all the state employees and asked them to stay at their headquarters in a standby mode.

The Chief Minister also directed officials concerned to ensure enhanced security arrangements across Rajasthan, especially in border districts.
Rattled by the strikes carried out by the Indian Armed Forces under Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan army launched 300-400 drones and missiles on Thursday night in a bid to test Indias Air Defence systems and gather intelligence.

This was revealed by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh while addressing a media briefing organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, here today.

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Detailing the provocative violations caused by Pakistan army on the intervening night of May 8-9, the officer said that the Pakistan military carried out multiple violations of Indian air space along the entire western border with an intent to target military infrastructure. Pakistan military also resorted to firing of heavy caliber weapons along the line of control. Along the International Border and Line of Control, drone intrusions, with approximately 300-400 drones, were attempted from Leh to Sir Creek at 36 locations, she said.

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Adding that the Indian armed forces brought down a number of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means, the IAF officer stated that the possible purpose of this large-scale aerial intrusions were to test the AD systems and gather intelligence of the Indian side.

Stating that the forensic examination of the drone debris was underway, the Wing Commander said that the preliminary reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones, a low-altitude, quadrotor, unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UAEV).

Attempts were also made by the Pakistan arm to target the Bathinda Military station in Punjab. In the night an armed UAV of Pak attempted to target Bathinda military station which was detected and neutralised, she said.

Responding swiftly, the Indian side launched a series of armed drones targeting four Air defence sites in Pakistan, resulting in the destruction of one AD radar.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who was also present in the briefing along with the Indian Foreign secretary Vikram Misri, said that Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the LoC using heavy calibre artillery guns and drones at Tangdhar, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, Rajouri, Akhnoor and Udhampur areas in Jammu and Kashmir. It resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian army personnel.

The Pakistan army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory fire, the officer added.

Accusing Pakistan of using civil airliners as a shield in wake of the heightened tensions between the two countries, Col Qureshi said Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed and provocative drone and missile attack in the evening.

Stating that Pakistans actions were not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners, the officer said, Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift Air defence response from India. The international flights were flying near IB between India and Pakistan. There are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore. The IAF has demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, thus ensuring safety of the international civil carrier.

Condemning Pakistan for targeting the civil infrastructures including religious places and schools in its attack on India, Misri said that its intentional shelling on gurdwaras, churches, and temples along the Line of Control (LoC), is a new low even for Pakistan.

During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of May 7 , a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students of the school, who unfortunately lost their lives and their parents sustained injuries, Misri revealed.

Several school staff and locals took refuge in an underground hall of the school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school was fortunately closed, otherwise, more losses would have occurred. Pakistan is targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan, he went on to add.

These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly The official and blatantly farcical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths they are plumbing to, Misri said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday had telephonic conversations with his counterparts from some nations during which he said India has been measured in its actions against Pakistan but made it clear that any escalation will get a firm response.

He spoke to United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani and EU Vice President Kaja Kallas, among others.

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In a social media post on X after talks with his UK counterpart, Mr Jaishankar said, Had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy this afternoon. Our discussions centered around countering terrorism, for which there must be zero tolerance.

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After talking to the Italian minister, he wrote, Had a telecon with DPM & FM @Antonio_Tajani of Italy. Discussed Indias targeted and measured response to firmly counter terrorism. Any escalation will see a strong response.

In another tweet, he wrote, Discussed ongoing developments with EU HRVP @kajakallas.India has been measured in its actions. However, any escalation will get a firm response.

Late last night, Mr Jaishankar had a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during which the ongoing India-Pakistan confrontation figured prominently.

Spoke with US @SecRubio this evening. Deeply appreciate the US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism. Underlined Indias targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation, he wrote on X later.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 10. Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan, Meder Mashiev, met with representatives of the railway company China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and discussed the implementation of the international railway project, Trend reports via the ministry.

In the course of the meeting, Mashiev outlined the ministrys efforts to support the project, including expedited environmental assessments and enhanced interagency coordination.

He reaffirmed the ministrys full commitment to facilitating the railways development and instructed relevant departments to maintain regular contact with company representatives and swiftly resolve any arising issues.

In turn, the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan Railway Company confirmed its readiness for open and constructive cooperation and provided updates on the current progress of construction activities.

Meanwhile, the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway will span over 532 kilometers, with over 300 kilometers crossing Kyrgyz territory. The project envisions the construction of 20 railway stations, including two prospective, two border, one transfer, four intermediate stations, and 13 sidings. Construction of a key tunnel segment officially began on April 29 in Kyrgyzstans Jalal-Abad region.
India-Pakistan News LIVE Updates: Pakistani drones were sighted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the North to Bhuj in the South, along the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan on Friday night. These drones included suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets, according to Army sources.

The locations where drones were sighted include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. The situation is under close and constant watch, and prompt action is being taken wherever necessary.

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Citizens, especially in border areas, have been advised to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential.

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Meanwhile, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in severe burn injuries to members of a local family. The injured were rushed to a medical facility for treatment. Three members of a family were injured in a drone bomb attack. One of them, a woman, is in critical condition with serious burn injuries, while the other two have sustained minor burns. Their treatment was started immediately, said Kamal Bagi, Managing Director of a private hospital.

Below are India-Pakistan News LIVE Updates:
Debris from Pakistani drones and other equipment, intercepted by Indian Defence Systems, was recovered from different places in Jaisalmer on Friday morning.

Drone strikes were carried out in Pokhran (Jaisalmer), Sriganganagar, and Bikaner districts in Rajasthan on Thursday night. In Bajju (Bikaner) and Suratgarh (Sriganganagar), Pakistan even used micro drones to target Indian locations.

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However, neither the drones nor other munitions, including micro drones, breached the Indian Air Defence System and were neutralised by Indias swift response.

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In view of Thursday nights increased attacks, district authorities extended the blackout period from dusk to dawn in bordering districts.

The strikes from the neighbouring country began around 2030 hrs on Thursday with a series of blasts. There were sightings of approaching, flashing, diminishing, and descending bright spots in the skies of the Golden City, which remained under blackout.

The approaching bright spots were identified as Pakistani drones and munitions, which were neutralised mid-air with complete precision by India.

Such scenes and sounds gave sky-grazing locals a sleepless night, despite their full confidence in the might and capability of the Indian Armed Forces, as well as their unshakable faith in the citys principal deity, Tanot Mata.

The strikes continued for a considerable period, with more than 50 drones and possibly some missiles used in the attack.

The Indian Army launched a search operation on Friday morning to recover debris from the Pakistani equipment. Security personnel recovered the debris of a fallen drone in the Suli Dungar area and a bomb in the Gajroop Sagar area. Army personnel also investigated an object that fell in the residential locality of Kishangarh Ghat. The search for fallen debris continued around Jaisalmer town.

**Similar activities were also reported from Pokhran, the key army base and historic town in Jaisalmer district, where a bomb was recovered.

Some locations in the Sriganganagar district were also targeted, though the attacks were unsuccessful. A fallen drone was recovered and seized by police in Ghadsana town, located in this bordering district.

A defence spokesperson confirmed the attacks from across the border. Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. Pakistani troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson stated in a post on X on Friday morning.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a fitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations (CFVs), the spokesperson stated.

The Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation. All nefarious designs will be met with force, he asserted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has been in constant touch with the entire bureaucracy, particularly district administration officials in bordering districts. On Thursday, the CM held a late-night review meeting at the state secretariat with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other concerned officials. He also held a video conference with district officials from the bordering areas. A cabinet meeting was held later on Friday afternoon.

He has also been mobilising local MLAs and key BJP leaders to stay in contact with people in their respective areas to boost morale. On Wednesday, the Chief Minister sanctioned a special grant of Rs 37.5 crore to collectors in the five border districts to provide them with the necessary assistance. On Thursday, he deployed additional fire brigades to Bikaner and other districts in need.

The state government has cancelled the leave of all state employees and instructed them to remain at their headquarters on standby.

The Chief Minister also directed concerned officials to ensure enhanced security measures across Rajasthan, especially in the border districts.
Noted Malayalam actor Hareesh Peradi has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping his word on retaliating against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

I and my 150 crore brothers and sisters are sleeping soundly in the lap of our foster mother today because this steadfast man, who sees the country of his birth as his mother and stepmother, and considers the country to be his heart, is standing guard without sleep, Hareesh Peradi wrote in a Facebook post.

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The groups of hypocritical intellectuals, who justify all types of murders  including murders with 51 stab wounds, rotten political murders, and extreme inhuman mass murders by Hamas  without any hesitation, the neighbouring kings who are not Swarajs, the fake currencies, and the slogans of the great men who say No to war will have a sleepless night on their bed mats today, he wrote in the post. Hareesh ended the note by writing, Jai Modiji Jai Hind.

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Meghalaya has imposed night curfews along the Indo-Bangladesh border in East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts to prevent cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and militant activity.

The measures come amid heightened concerns over the vulnerability of unfenced stretches of the international boundary.

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In East Khasi Hills, District Magistrate R M Kurbah issued an order enforcing a curfew from 8 PM to 6 AM within a one-kilometre belt from the international border.

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The directive, passed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), cites increased risks posed by members of banned militant groups, smugglers, and other anti-national elements.

The order notes that these individuals may attempt to assemble under the cover of darkness to carry out unlawful activities.

The curfew prohibits unauthorised movement near the border during night hours, bans the gathering of five or more persons carrying potential weapons like sticks or stones, and outlaws the transportation or smuggling of cattle, betel nut, dry fish, cigarettes, and other contraband goods. The order is effective immediately and will remain in force for two months unless withdrawn earlier.

A similar order has been issued in West Jaintia Hills district, where District Magistrate Abhinav Kumar Singh has declared a nightly curfew along a 200-metre belt from the Zero Line of the Indo-Bangladesh border.

This order, also in effect from 8 PM to 6 AM, is aimed at preventing illegal cross-border movement and thwarting the activities of armed groups and organised crime syndicates that may exploit the regions porous terrain.

Both curfew orders have been issued ex parte, without prior public consultation, due to the urgency of the security situation.

Meghalaya shares a 443-kilometre-long international boundary with Bangladesh, nearly 70 per cent of which remains unfenced.

The rugged topography, dense forests, and scattered settlements along the border have long posed challenges to surveillance and patrolling.

Security agencies, including the Border Security Force (BSF), local police, and intelligence units, have been directed to step up patrols and enforcement in the curfew-affected areas.

Residents of border villages have been urged to cooperate with the authorities and report any suspicious movement or unusual activity.

The government has emphasised that these measures are temporary and necessary to maintain peace and national security in sensitive areas.

The focus, officials say, is on preventing infiltration, disrupting smuggling routes, and deterring potential threats to law and order.
The National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Friday wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urging him to immediately postpone CUET-UG exam for the students appearing at the centres near the border areas amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

In the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, security concerns have increased across several border districts, including Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, Samba, Amritsar, and Jaisalmer, however, the NTA decided to proceed with the exam in such conditions, the letter read.

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The Congress affiliated student organization highlighted key issues such as clarification from the Education and NTA regarding the status of CUET-UG in affected regions and postponement of the exam in conflict-hit districts until normalcy is restored.

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Moreover, temporary exam centers should be established within Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, and other affected border zones once the situation improves and issue a round the clock student helpline number for the students and their families.

Speaking on the issue, NSUI National President Varun Choudhary said, The government expects students from these border areas to travel over 400 kilometersoften to other statesdespite ongoing cross-border shelling and travel restrictions. This is not just unreasonable; it puts student lives at risk.

The NSUI stands in solidarity with students from the border areas and the government must act with urgency, compassion, and accountability, Choudhary added.
Key Army base and historic town of the Jaisalmer district and Uttarlai air base in Barmer Friday night were yet again targeted by Pakistani drones.

While Pokaran and the Golden City, the district headquarters of Jaisalmer, faced the Pakistani strikes for the second successive night, Uttarlai in the adjoining Barmer district also braved a second air strike tonight. All attacks attempted so far did not succeed as the Indian Air Defence System neutralised every attempt made since May 7 night.

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Contrary to this, at least two drones were shot down in Myazlar and Pochida villages in the Jaisalmer district tonight while one drone was destroyed in Jalipa village of Barmer.

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Meanwhile, debris of Pakistani drones and other parts fell from the striking equipment from across the border were recovered from different places in Jaisalmer Friday morning.

Drone strikes were made in Pokaran (Jaisalmer), Sriganganagar and Bikaner district Thursday night. In Bajju (Bikaner) and Suratgarh (Ganganagar) Pakistan even used micro drones for targeting locations. However, neither the drones or other munitions nor micro drones got through the Indian Air Defence System and were neutralised by our response.

In view of last nights increased attacks, the district authorities have extended the black- out period from dusk to dawn in bordering districts.

The strikes from the neighbouring country began around 8:30 pm on Thursday with bang of blasts. There were sightings of approaching, flashing-diminishing and descending bright spots in the skies of the Golden City, which was under blackout.

The approaching bright spots were Pakistani drones/munitions which were neutralised mid-air with total precision by India.

Such were the scenes and sounds that gave sky-grazing locals a sleepless night despite their full confidence and faith in might and capability of the Indian armed forces, besides the unbound faith in the citys principal deity  Tanot Mata.

The strikes continued for a considerable period as more than 50 drones and maybe some missiles) were used in the attack.

The Army launched a search operation to recover the debris of the Pakistani equipment Friday morning. The security personnel have recovered debris of a fallen drone in the Suli Dungar area and a bomb in the Gajroop Sagar area. Army personnel have reached out to check out an object which fell in the residential locality of Kishangarh Ghat. The search for fallen debris was still on, around the Jaisalmer town.

Similar activities were reported from Pokaran  the key Army base and historic town in the Jaisalmer district. A bomb was recovered there.

Some locations in the Sriganganagar district were also targeted, though without success. A fallen drone was recovered and seized by police in Ghadsana town of this bordering district.

The Defence Spokesman confirmed the attacks from across the border. Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman informed in a Twitter post on Friday morning.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVS, the spokesman said. Indian Army remains committed to safe- guarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force, he asserted

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has constantly been keeping in touch with the entire bureaucracy, particularly the district administration officials in bordering districts. On Thursday too, the CM held a late-night review meeting at the state secretariat with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other concerned, and held video conferencing with district officials in bordering districts. A cabinet meeting was also held here this afternoon.

He has also been mobilising local MLAs and key BJP leaders to remain in contact with people in their respective areas to keep their morale high. On Wednesday, the Chief Minister made a special grant of Rs 37.5 crore to collectors in the five border districts, providing them all the needful help and assistance. On Thursday, he sent additional fire brigades to Bikaner and other needy districts.

The state government has cancelled leaves of all the state employees and asked them to stay at their headquarters in a standby mode.

The chief minister also directed concerned officials to ensure enhanced security arrangements across Rajasthan, especially in border districts.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday lauded the Indian armed forces for swiftly repelling last nights cross-border air attacks by Pakistan at multiple locations across the Union territory, even as he warned that Pakistan will harm itself by further escalating the situation.

Thursdays air strikes on Jammu were one of the most serious assaults on the city after the 1971 war, he said.

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The Chief Minister asserted that India reserves the right to defend its people and territory with full strength.

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Our security mechanisms responded with commendable speed and precision, ensuring the defence of all targeted areas, the Chief Minister said. If our innocent people are harmed, the nation reserves every right to defend itself in any way. It is Pakistan which must stop aggression for peace to prevail. If they keep on taking the offensive, they are sure to suffer. Our forces are fully capable of giving a proportionate response.

Omar was talking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to the relief camps where people from the border areas have migrated after continued indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan. He also visited the hospital where the people injured due to the shelling were being treated.

He said that Pakistan should focus on de-escalation amid the ongoing military conflict in the wake of the Operation Sindoor.

He said that multiple locations in Jammu, and even an ammunition depot in Anantnag, were among the targets, but all attempts failed.

He strongly condemned the recent wave of cross-border strikes through drones, missiles and shelling in the Jammu and Poonch districts. We did not create this situation. Our people were attacked in Pahalgam, and innocent civilians were killed. We had to respond, he said.

This escalation from Pakistans side benefits no one. Pakistan gains nothing from this, nor will they succeed. They should silence their guns and help normalise the situation, he said.

Referring to the back-to-back attacks the previous night, he said What happened last nightfirst around 9 pm, then again at 4:30 amclearly shows an attempt to escalate. But they will be the ones to suffer the most.

The chief minister described the situation in Poonch as the most critical. There was heavy damage in Poonch city. Most of the casualties and injuries are from there, he said.

I visited the hospital in Jammu, and all the admitted patients are from Poonch. One critically injured person was shifted today to PGI Chandigarh for surgery, he added.
In the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will visit the Seemanchal region on 10 May and hold a high-level meeting with senior officials of the border districts in Purnia. He will also review monitoring of the border areas of the state.

On 11 May, the chief minister will visit East Champaran districts Raxaul, another important town sharing a border with Nepal.

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Security has been beefed up across the state, especially in seven districts of Bihar that share a porous border with Nepal stretching up to 729 kilometre. The border of Bangladesh is also close to Bihar through West Bengal.

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Earlier, Nitish Kumar held a high-level meeting in Patna with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police and gave instructions to increase security measures and strictly monitor the border areas of the state.

The district police teams have been working closely with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which has cancelled leaves for its jawans, and they are now working round-the-clock to monitor key border regions. Security of all important institutions in the border districts has been increased.

Four Chinese nationals were arrested while attempting to enter Indian territory from Nepal without a valid visa near this border town on 8 May. Two Nepalese women, who were part of the group, were also detained by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for interrogation.

Additional Chief Secretary of Disaster Management Department Pratyaya Amrit also held a meeting to review the preparations to deal with the emergency situation. He said that mock drills of blackout will be organised across the state.

He said the current strength of 2000 civil defense volunteers will be increased by including NCC, NSS, Scout-Guide and Aapda Mitra. Common people can also join if they wish.
The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed a public interest plea (PIL) seeking directions to the governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal to implement the three-language formula as proposed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Declining to entertain the PIL by a BJP-aligned lawyer G S Mani, a bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said the court cannot compel states to adopt a national policy unless a fundamental right is demonstrably violated. It (the court) cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020. The court may, however, intervene if a states action or inaction related to the National Education Policy violates any fundamental rights. We do not propose to examine this issue in this writ petition, the bench said in its order dismissing the PIL.

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The top court also questioned the bona fides of the petitioner, noting that although he hails from Tamil Nadu, he resides in New Delhi and appears to have no direct interest in the matter. We believe that the petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse. Although he may be from the state of Tamil Nadu, yet on his own admission, he is residing in New Delhi. In such circumstances, this petition stands dismissed, the bench stated.

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The PIL by the BJP-aligned lawyer G S Mani, had argued that non-implementation of NEP 2020 by the three states infringes upon citizens fundamental rights, particularly the right to education. The petitioner had sought directions for these states to implement the NEP and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central government for its enforcement.

He had contended that the three-language policy is crucial for inclusive and equitable education, especially for children from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and economically backward sections. He alleged that political motives were preventing the implementation of the policy, particularly by the Tamil Nadu government, which has persistently opposed what it terms as Hindi imposition.

The Central government, defending the NEP, maintained that the policy promotes multilingualism and offers flexibility to states and learners. The Tamil Nadu government, however, reiterated its objection, arguing that the three-language formula unfairly pressures non-Hindi-speaking states and undermines linguistic federalism.

In its response to the petition by Mani, Tamil Nadu cited historical opposition to similar policies dating back to the anti-Hindi agitations and reiterated its firm stance against any indirect attempt to impose Hindi through educational frameworks.

The bench, while refusing to intervene, observed that policymaking and adoption fall within the executive and legislative domains of states, and judicial intervention is limited to cases where constitutional rights are demonstrably affected.

The three-language policy proposed in the NEP 2020 encourages students to learn three languages, with at least two of them being native to India, promoting both national unity and linguistic diversity. Tamil Nadu, which follows a two-language formula, has remained vocal in rejecting any deviation.
A case was booked against a student pursuing BBA in a private degree college in Champapet in Hyderabad for posting pro-Pakistan posts on social media and criticizing Operation Sindoor launched against terror camps across the border. The college authorities have put the girl under suspension.

A complaint with the police was registered by the college principal A Srikanth Reddy, after the girls classmates informed the management about her WhatsApp posts as well as the inciting content on her Instagram page.

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The student had written Pakistan Zindabad and raised doubts about the Pahalgam terror attack in the WhatsApp group with her classmates. She was charged under sections 196 and 353 (2) of BNS at the IS Sadan police station for provocative posts aimed at promoting enmity and disharmony.

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Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have set up separate control rooms in Delhi to assist residents currently residing or travelling to border states. The government of Telangana has set up a 24/7 control room at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi, to assist residents in border states.

For assistance, residents were asked to call 011-23380556. AP government also urged Andhra-origin people residing or travelling to states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh to reach out to the resident commissioners office at 011-23387089. Many people travelling in these areas have been stranded. There are also students from Telugu states studying in institutions in these border states.

After a video conference with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Arvind Kumar, disaster management secretary of Telangana, stated that there was no need to hoard fuel or food stock and to avoid spreading fake news on social media.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 9. Representatives from the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers and the World Bank (WB) have discussed the preparation and implementation of a new budget support program worth $101.5 million under the Development Policy Operation (DPO), Trend reports via the Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan.

The negotiations focused on key policy reform areas supported by the WB, including measures to strengthen macroeconomic stability, develop the private sector, improve public governance, and promote social inclusivity.

The Kyrgyz side expressed deep appreciation for the WB's support in challenging economic conditions, emphasizing the importance of the budget support in implementing government priorities and achieving the goals outlined in the Government Program.

The WB representatives, in turn, confirmed their commitment to continued close cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the progress made by Kyrgyzstan in carrying out reforms.

The new DPO operation is expected to strengthen the country's fiscal stability, support efforts to digitalize the economy, and create the foundation for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and strained relations with Pakistan, India is proactively addressing its strategic and defence requirements.

Uttar Pradesh is set to play a pivotal role in this national mission through the ambitious UP Defence Industrial Corridor, a visionary initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This project is not only propelling India toward self-reliance in defence production, but is also laying a robust foundation for large-scale employment generation within the state.

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Officials here on Friday said so far, the corridor has attracted investment commitments worth approximately Rs 30,000 crore through 170 MoUs, potentially creating around 50,000 employment opportunities. Land has been leased to 57 investors at various stages of setting up production units, with actual investments totalling Rs 9,462.8 crore. These units are expected to create 13,736 direct jobs. Since the first lease in June 2021, the Defence Industrial Corridor has witnessed rapid industrial growth over the past four years.

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The UP Defence Corridor is boosting the states economy and playing a critical role in reducing Indias dependence on defence imports. The industries being established will manufacture cutting-edge military equipment to meet the needs of the Indian Armed Forces.

The UP government is committed to further expanding investment and job creation across all six designated nodes of the corridor. Efforts to accelerate land allocation and industrial development are underway, particularly in the Agra and Chitrakoot nodes.

This corridor is helping Uttar Pradesh emerge as a significant industrial and defence manufacturing hub, opening up new career avenues for thousands of youth. It also marks a concrete step towards realising the national visions of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The UP Defence Industrial Corridor spans six nodes  Lucknow, Aligarh, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, and Chitrakoot  each explicitly developed for strategic defence production.
US Vice-President J.D. Vance has said that the conflict between India and Pakistan is fundamentally none of our business, though he and President Donald Trump are encouraging both the countries to de-escalate.

What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but were not going to get involved in the middle of war thats fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with Americas ability to control it. You know, America cant tell the Indians to lay down their arms. We cant tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so, were going to continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels, Vance, who has been a proponent of US disengagement from international conflicts, said in an interview with Fox News.

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Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict, Vance added.

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Right now, we dont think thats going to happen.

The remarks by Vance came as Pakistan made a failed attempt to attack military establishment in Jammu, Pathankot and several other cities.

Indias air defence system intercepted and neutralised at least eight missiles launched by Islamabad.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said he wants India and Pakistan to stop what he described as tit for tat actions, saying if he can do anything to help, he will be there.

Oh its so terrible. My position is I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop and hopefully they can stop now. They have gone tit for tat, so hopefully they can stop now. I know both, we get along with both the countries very well.

Good relationships with both and I want to see it stop. And If I can do anything to help, I will be there, Trump said in response to a question on the war between India and Pakistan.

Trumps remarks came after the Indian military carried out strikes against terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistans Punjab province on Wednesday.

Pakistan army carried out artillery and mortar shelling targeting forward villages along the Line Of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province of Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam.
There have been no requests for a Security Council meeting on the situation between India and Pakistan, according to UN Mission of Greece, which holds the presidency this month.

Since the closed consultations on Monday, no request has been received for a new meeting yet, the mission said on Wednesday night.

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Neither Pakistan nor the other 14 members of the Council had requested a meeting.

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Asked if Pakistan was seeking a UN Security Council meeting, the countrys Permanent Representative to UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said cryptically, We are watching the situation.

On Monday, the Council held a closed-door consultation on the situation in South Asia with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari.

India, in principle, is opposed to the Council getting involved with what it considers is a bilateral matter under the terms of the 1972 Simla Agreement between the leaders of the two countries.

While there has been a universal call for de-escalation, any Council session will be just a talking shop as any substantive, implementable resolution will not be possible to be adopted as of now as the unanimity of permanent members is not there.

Earlier on May 6, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pulled up Pakistan and asked tough questions concerning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam at its closed session amid the escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The members slammed Islamabad and questioned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toibas involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people.

Though Pakistan claimed that the meeting largely served and achieved the objectives of the UNSCs meeting, reports showed that it flopped miserably.

In the meeting, which was called at the request of Pakistans Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, he claimed that his country was not involved in the terror attack.

Though the session was a closed consultation and had no official records, the UNSC members called for dialogue and restraint to resolve the issues.

After the meeting on Monday, UNSC President Evangelos Sekeris told reporters, The Security Council is always helpful in such efforts to de-escalate. It is the responsibility of the Council. It was a productive and helpful meeting. Since the meeting was a closed consultation, its proceedings are secret without official records.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the situation was at a boiling point and asked the two countries to step back from the brink.

It is also essential  especially at this critical hour  to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control, he said.

Condemning strongly the terrorist massacre of 26 people in Pahalgam last month, he said, I understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack.

Notably, The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack, in which 25 Indians and one Nepalese national were killed.
Pakistan Friday issued an appeal to its international partners for money amid heightened tensions with India.

In a post on social media platform X, the Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan has appealed to its allies for more loans, while claiming that heavy losses have been inflicted by neighbour India.

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Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflicted by enemy. Amid escalating war and stocks crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast, an appeal posted on the social media platform of Pakistans Economic Affairs Division said.

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As the post went viral, Pakistans ministry concerned; however, later denied having posted the appeal, claiming its account had been hacked.

As a consequence of escalating tension, the Pakistan Stock Exchange had also plunged by over 6 per cent on Thursday, with trading halted for an hour after rumours of an escalation in military action by India near Karachi.

The volatility in Pakistans financial system is seen as a cascading outcome of Thursdays retaliation by India against Pakistans airstrikes.

India Thursday said it neutralised Pakistans air defence system in Lahore as Pakistan had violated the ceasefire and began shelling in Poonch, killing 13 civilians and injuring over 40.
Rattled by Indian military strikes on terror bases inside its territory, the Pakistan government and its army have gone into overdrive to save face, first, by launching drones and UAVs on Indian territory and then, activating its propaganda machinery to spread fake and fabricated impression that it got an edge over Indian forces in the military face-off.

In a bid to project it as the superior force, Pakistan is only exposing its duplicity. The contrasting claims by the Pakistan Army and its Defence Minister Khwaja Muhammed Asif regarding Indian drone strikes has caught the attention of netizens, and this has only made them a laughing stock.

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DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif claimed that Pakistan Army shot down at least 12 loitering munitions sent by India.

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However, the Defence Minister is heard claiming in a video that they didnt shoot Indian drones to avoid leaking the strategic positions of their military assets.

On May 8, Pakistan Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that as many as 9 different places in Pakistan were targeted by Indian drones. He claimed that Pakistani forces shot down 12 Harop drones, adding that they didnt cause much damage. He also claimed to have images of debris of drones shot by Pakistani forces.

On May 9, the Pakistani Defence Minister reportedly claimed that India used stealth technology to enter Pakistani airspace and Pakistan didnt intercept it knowingly.

The vial video on social media, shows him stating: We didnt intercept Indian drones because we didnt want to reveal our locations.

A day ago, Khwaja Asif faced an embarrassing situation as a US journalist (working with a leading media outlet) questioned him about Pakistans claims of shooting down Indian jets.

When asked whether he had proof to back the claims, he pointed to social media posts.

Youre the defence minister, sir. The reason to talk to you today, is not to talk about content all over social media, the journalist quipped.

That video also went viral, prompting people to poke fun at him.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is holding a high-level meeting with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in South Block on Friday morning amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan.

The meeting is underway, during which the Chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces are expected to brief Rajnath Singh on the latest developments and strategy.

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Earlier on Thursday, the Defence Minister addressed an all-party meeting convened by the Central government to brief Opposition leaders about the military action taken under Operation Sindoor, which he described as one of the most expansive counter-terrorism operations in recent years.

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According to Rajnath Singh, over 100 terrorists have been neutralised in targeted strikes on terror camps and infrastructure across the border.

He emphasised that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing and that the Indian military remains on high alert, prepared to respond to any further provocation or escalation from Pakistan.

There is no intention to escalate, but if enemy forces strike again, we will not hesitate to retaliate, Union Minister Singh said during the briefing.

His remarks came amid unconfirmed reports suggesting that Pakistan is considering a military response of its own.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, among others, attended the all-party meeting.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters that the meeting reflected a rare moment of unity in Indian politics, with leaders across the spectrum lauding the armed forces and expressing unwavering support for the governments actions.

All parties showed solidarity with the government. Everyone agreed that national security must rise above politics. They praised the Armed Forces and extended full support to the governments efforts to eliminate terrorism from foreign soil, Rijiju stated.
The United States and United Kingdom on Thursday announced a trade deal that is the first under President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs on nearly all of Americas trading partners in April.

President Trump previewed the deal in posts on Truth Social and was joined by Prime Minister Keir Stammer of the UK on phone at the formal announcement in the Oval Office of the White House.

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Today is an incredible day for America as we deliver our first Fair, Open, and Reciprocal Trade Deal  Something our past Presidents never cared about. Together with our strong Ally, the United Kingdom, we have reached the first, historic Trade Deal since Liberation Day, President Trump said in a post on Truth Social, referring to April 2, when the tariffs were announced.

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They are opening up the country, he said at the Oval Office event. Their country is a little closed, and we appreciate that. Theyll also be fast tracking American goods through their customs process, so our exports go to a very, very quick form of approval, and there wont be any red tape. Things are going to move very quickly both ways.

Although details of the deal are still being hammered out, President Trump gave out some in his social media post. As part of this Deal, America will raise $6 BILLION DOLLARS in External Revenue from 10% Tariffs, $5 BILLION DOLLARS in new Export Opportunities for our Great Ranchers, Farmers, and Producers, and enhance the National Security of both the U.S. and the UK through the creation of an Aluminum and Steel Trading Zone, and a secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. This Deal shows that if you respect America, and bring serious proposals to the table, America is OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Joining in on phone, Stammer said, This is a really fantastic, historic day in which we can announce this deal between our two great countries. And I think its a real tribute to the history that we have of working so closely together.

The US has been in consecutive trade negotiations with multiple countries, including India, and officials here had expressed confidence of wrapping up a deal with India at the earliest, with one or two of them saying it could be the first of the lot.

American officials are set to hold their first trade talks with Americas largest trading partner China on Saturday in Switzerland.
Iran-Tajikistan trade thrives with rising imports in several sectors

Iran's imports from Tajikistan saw a significant rise in the last Iranian year, growing by 17.8% in value and 34.5% in weight. The country imported around 39,900 tons of goods from Tajikistan, worth approximately $90.2 million, compared to 29,600 tons valued at $76.6 million the previous year.

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Defence sources, on Friday, said India successfully neutralised over 50 drones during the counter-drone operation, conducted by Indian Army Air Defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot areas along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Borders (IB).

News agency ANI quoted defence sources as saying that Indian armed forces extensively used L-70 guns, Zu-23mm Schilka systems, and other advanced counter-UAS equipment, "demonstrating the Armys robust capability to counter aerial threats."

The L-70 gun, a 40mm anti-aircraft artillery piece originally manufactured by Bofors AB in the 1950s, was introduced into the Indian Army in the 1960s.

These guns have undergone significant upgrades as India realised the need to counter emerging and evolving aerial threats. State-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was responsible for the modernisation drive, upgrading them with daylight television camera, thermal imaging camera, and an eye-safe laser range finder.

ALSO READ: How Pakistan reacted to reports of India shooting down its F-16, JF-17 fighter jets

Besides, the hydraulic drives were replaced with electric drives and a Muzzle Velocity Radar was installed to improve firing accuracy.

"The guns can bring down all unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and modern aircraft. The gun has enhanced target acquisition and automatic target tracking capability under all weather conditions with high-resolution electro-optical sensors comprising a daylight television camera, a thermal imaging camera and a laser-range finder," news agency PTI had quoted Capt Sariya Abbasi of the Army Air Defence in 2021.

Developed to offer mobile, close-range protection for ground forces against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and, in recent times drones and UAVs, the Soviet-rigin Shilka is a self-propelled, radar-guided anti-aircraft weapon system (SPAAG).

It was inducted into the Indian Army in the 1970s. In order to address the evolving challenges in aerial warfare, particularly drones and precision-guided munitions, a wide range of upgrades were carried out.

As part of the upgrades, the original RPK-2 radar was replaced with a 3D active phased-array solid-state radar, and electro-optical systems to enable all-weather, day-and-night operation.

The other upgrades include air conditioning, a new high-power engine, improved communications, CBRN protection, adoption of proximity-fuse shells, and a fire detection and suppression system.






Several drones have been sighted in Jammu Kashmir, Samba and Pathankot (Punjab) areas on Friday evening. Indian Army sources said that they are being engaged as multiple explosions were heard in the region for the second day in a row.

#WATCH | J&K | Red streaks seen and explosions can be heard as India's air defence intercepts Pakistani drones amid blackout in Rajouri



(Visuals deferred by an unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/rSTkTKY0IV  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Once again the border areas were in blackout following the sirens in the region.

"Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am," said Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah in a post on X.

Explosions were heard in areas surrounding the Awantipora air base in south Kashmir. The drones were also engaged in Udhampur and Nagrota of Jammu and Punjab. Drones were also sighted in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said, adding that countermeasures had been initiated. Reportedly, drones were intercepted near Srinagar airport as well.

Its my earnest appeal to everyone in & around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, dont spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories & we will get through this together.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 9, 2025

Reportedly, three people were injured in the drone attack in the residential area of Firozpur. The injured were rushed to the nearby hospital and the health condition of one among them is critical.

Abdullah also appealed to the residents in the Jammu region to stay off the streets.

Blasts were reported along the Line of Control as part of the continued cross-border shelling by Pakistan. Reportedly, in Srinagar, mosque loudspeakers urged residents to turn off their lights as a safety precaution.

Amid heightened tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Chief of Defence Staff and other defence officials.

The meeting was held to strategise the future course of action amid Pakistan's ceasefire violation and drone attack.

Around 300 to 400 Pakistan-deployed drones were intercepted by the Indian armed forces on May 8 night. In a press conference, Army's Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that Pakistani army fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control aiming for the military infrastructure.

The India-Pakistan tensions escalated after Pahalagam terror attack in Jammu Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
The India-Pakistan conflict is unfolding almost like a textbook case. A terrorist attack, which killed 26 tourists in Kashmir, was planned and executed by terrorists under the direct supervision of the Pakistani Army. After a few days of waiting, India launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting nine locations in Pakistan, including two in Punjab. The strikes were precise and deadly, hitting the terrorist nerve centres hard.

The Pakistani Army, predominantly controlled by the Punjabi Muslim elite, were incensed by the assaults on Bahawalpur and Muridke, in their home state. These locations serve as the headquarters for Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The Pakistani response on the night of May 7-8 was rapid, as they sent drones and missiles at 15 sites along the Indian border, specifically targeting Indian defence installations. The Indian air defence with the S-400 units as its mainstay responded well and thwarted the Pakistani onslaught. Nonetheless, approximately 16 Indian civilians were casualties due to this Pakistani operation.

The unsuccessful Pakistani retort was promptly succeeded by Indian strikes on the Pakistani air defence installations within hours. This is a basic operation conducted by any military force prior to a significant engagement, referred to as the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD). The air defence systems in Lahore were incapacitated during this operation.

Indias upper hand in the conflict

The whole of Thursday (May 8) was spent in anticipation, with everyone hoping that the situation would de-escalate. Ideally, Pakistan should have taken this opportunity to seek diplomatic alternatives. The hopes were, however, belied as Pakistan launched vicious drone and artillery attacks late in the evening. It targeted the entire border along Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu city and other surrounding areas faced swarms of Pakistani drones which were engaged by the Indian air defence guns. Fortunately, there was no worthwhile damage or casualties as a result of this onslaught.

The intent of this Pakistani provocation is not understood because in military operations, meaningless actions are only taken by incompetent and confused commanders. Regrettably, there is no shortage of this creed in Pakistan, often dragging the two neighbours to war. This failed and unorganised attack from Pakistan unleashed the might of the entire Indian defence forces in Pakistan. Major cities of Pakistan like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Muzaffarabad have been assaulted by combat aircraft and missiles. The scale of casualties is yet to be established.

At this point in time, India appears to have a clear edge, as it has struck Pakistan at will, paralysing its defences and downing its fighter aircraft. Meanwhile, India has effectively defended itself against all Pakistani counterattacks. Nevertheless, at this juncture, forecasting the future dynamics of the ongoing war remains challenging. The duration of this confrontation remains uncertain, as does the possibility of it escalating into a ground war.

Validation of Indian armament, strategy and diplomacy

The recent developments have highlighted a vital strategic lesson: the essential importance of durable military capability. India's sustained investments in sophisticated platforms, including Rafale fighter jets, the S-400 air defence system, precision-guided bombs, and other state-of-the-art technologies, have produced substantial benefits, augmenting both offensive and defensive operational efficacy. This experience also underscores the pressing necessity to expedite the indigenisation of defence production.

The outcomes observed thus far reflect the clarity, coherence, and growing effectiveness of Indias higher defence management as well as its calibrated diplomatic initiatives. While a fuller picture will emerge as more details become available, the current trajectory suggests a maturing strategic culture and improved institutional coordination in responding to the evolving India-Pakistan dynamic. Nonetheless, there exists an urgent necessity for more profound and extensive military reforms to guarantee sustained strategic preparedness and operational coherence throughout all tiers of the national security framework.

Execute the mission to its full conclusion

At this moment, India's leadership confronts a pivotal decisionde-escalate for immediate peace or maintain pressure for long-term strategic change. The inclination to engage diplomaticallyoffering an olive branch, so to speakwill definitely be compelling. However, such gestures have always produced little more than temporary pauses preceding the subsequent provocation, like Uri or Pahalgam.

The primary source of instability in the region is not the Pakistani state itself but rather its military establishmentan extra-constitutional entity that has always functioned as a state within a state. It bolsters extremist factions, undermines civilian governance, and capitalises on ongoing animosity with India to legitimise its supremacy. For India, to attain permanent outcomes from 'Operation Sindoor', it must fully reveal and disgrace this military apparatus as a destabilising force, detrimental not only to India but also to Pakistan.

The developments of the last two days, which have unfolded at an unusual pace, offer a rare strategic opening. India must maintain the momentum and continue applying calibrated military pressure. A weakened and discredited Pakistani Army could open the door to structural change within Pakistan and, eventually, a more stable subcontinent.

Peace cannot be built on deceit. It must be rooted in the demolition of the systems that sustain conflict. The responsibility of that mission, albeit difficult, now rests firmly with India.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
In a joint press conference with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that around 300 to 400 drones were deployed by Pakistan in attempts to infiltrate 36 locations. The Indian armed forces successfully shot down the drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods, she added.

According to the Army, forensic analysis of the drone wreckage is underway and the initial findings suggest they were "Turkish Asisguard Songar drones".

#WATCH | Delhi: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi says, "..Around 300 to 400 drones were used (by Pakistan) to attempt infiltration at 36 locations...Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." https://t.co/JndIIgFNYh pic.twitter.com/J1wc4gYPDQ  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Pakistan continuously violated Indian airspace multiple times along the entire western border on the night of May 7 and 8 aiming for military infrastructure. "The Pakistani army fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control," said Qureshi.

Pakistan used civil airliners as shields

Along with Qureshi, IAF's Wing Commander Vyomika Singh also briefed about India's swift air defence response. India criticised Pakistan for using civil airliners as shields amid the escalating tensions.

"Pakistan is using civil airliners as shields, fully aware that its attack on India would provoke a swift air defence response," said Singh. She also added that Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed, unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7 at 8:30 pm.

"This poses a danger to unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights flying near the IB between India and Pakistan," said Singh.

#WATCH | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "... Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that is targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan... They are pic.twitter.com/vGWUukxbqe  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

A screenshot of the data from the Flight Radar 24 application during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector was shared during the conference revealing the airspace on the Indian side is completely devoid of civil air traffic due the declared closure.

Civil airlines continued to fly the route between Karachi and Lahore. "The Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, ensuring the safety of international civil carriers."

#WATCH | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "... IMF meeting is going on today, we will present our side in the meeting. Our perspective on these things will be shared with the fellow members. It is on the board to decide further... India has responsibly and adequately pic.twitter.com/dyEevy8wfa  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan's action of deliberately targeting places of worship, calling it a new low for the country. " Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces are targeting its own cities like Amritsar...Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie," said Misri.

The India-Pakistan tensions escalated after Pahalagam terror attack in Jammu Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has a bizarre explanation after India intercepted his country's missiles directed at Punjab's Hoshiarpur region. Not only did he blatantly lie about lobbing missiles at civilians in Punjab, Dar also peddled the outlandish idea that the missiles were fired by India itself.

The remnants of a missile fired by Pakistan were in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. Visuals of the missiles, suspected to be Chinese-made PL-15E air-to-air missile, an advanced beyond-visual-range weapon with a range of approximately 145 kilometres, went viral on social media.

#WATCH | Remnants of a missile fired by Pakistan found in Punjab's Hoshiarpur pic.twitter.com/20tCMwVdXA  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

However, Dar, in a bid to chuck responsibility, said India deliberately fired 'projectiles' in its Punjab province to blame Pakistan so that it can retaliate. He then bizarrely claimed that India fired four projectiles, three of them inside Indian territory and the fourth one inside Pakistan. Dar claimed that the fourth missile was shot down by the Pakistani air defence system in Pakistan's Gujrat region, which is about 87 km from the nearest point on the India-Pakistan border.

Dar, despite holding a responsible position as the deputy Prime Minister, went on to bizarrely claim that firing the projectile was India's strategy to "falsely implicate Pakistan for inciting Indian Sikhs." Dar was flanked by the country's armed forces spokesperson also accused India of launching a false flag operation.

ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry went on to contribute to Dar's theory that the four projectiles from Adampur, a town in Jalandhar district of Indian Punjab and three projectiles were "intently targeted" at Amritsar, while one was taken down over Dinga.

Meanwhile, Indian sources claimed that every missile fired by Pakistan was intercepted by the defence system. Besides Jammu, missiles were fired at Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Pakistan may have tried to take a leaf out of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict by prying more than 500 inexpensive and crude drones in several waves on the intervening night of May 8-9 across 36 locations in India, extending from Ladakhs Leh in the north to Sir Creek in Gujarat in the south.

Russia has been employing cheap Iranian drones like the Shahed in salvos to attack Ukrainian locations with the aim of draining out the West-supplied expensive air defence systems and missiles. This has huge cost-benefit implications that pinched Ukraine economically.

There may be many other reasons too why Pakistan resorted to the use of these crude drones.

Besides the effort to pinch economically by forcing India to expend expensive missiles and air defence ammunition at these cheap drone swarms, the Pakistani military may have wanted the Indian military to reveal its plans for countering air-space intrusions.

It could also have been a demonstrative show that Indian air space can be intruded upon or there could have been a surveillance plan also, an Indian military establishment source told THE WEEK.

Other locations where the Pakistani drones flew in to included Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.

In a counterattack, the Indian military targeted Pakistans air defence radars on Thursday at a number of locations and destroyed the system in Lahore.

The source also said that the extensive drone attack was effectively thwarted by an alert Indian air defence system that combined soft and hard kills using DRDOs homemade anti-drone electronic warfare capabilities to take out about 20 drones while L70, Zu23 and the Schilka air defence guns downed at least 50 of these drones.

Addressing a briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said: These attacks were aimed at Indian military infrastructure and were supported by heavy-calibre shelling along the LoC, Many of the drones were successfully neutralised using advanced kinetic and non-kinetic technologies, including anti-drone systems, she added.

The rest of the drones, guided by mother drones, moved out of range of these guns and flew back to Pakistan.

The firing of the guns on these drones left streaks of light in the night sky leading to widespread panic among the people in a sweep of locations extending from north to west India.

While about 1% of these drones would have been carrying explosive payloads, the rest were unarmed. The small-sized drones were very crude and can be bought off the shelf in local markets, a military official said.

Forensic examination revealed that these drones were Songar drones manufactured by Turkeys Asisguard.

India-Pakistani hostilities especially after the April 22 brutal gunning down of 26 men, mainly tourists, in Kashmirs Pahalgam resulted in India launching Operation Sindoor on May 7 where 9 locations in Pakistan that acted as training centres and bases for Pakistan-backed terrorists belonging to various terror networks like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Jaoish-e-Muhammad and the Hizbul Mujaheedin.

Pakistans May 8-9 drone attacks were part of the retaliation by Islamabad.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Iran has agreed to hold the previously postponed fourth round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, Trend reports.

The fourth round of talks between Iranian and US delegations, dedicated to resolving disagreements over Tehran's nuclear program, will take place on May 11 in Muscat, Oman.
Pakistan violated Indian airspace to target military installations on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said on Friday while briefing the media amidst the ongoing tensions between the neighbouring nuclear powers. Speaking to reporters alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the IAF Wing Commander said Pakistan sent 300-400 Songar drones targeting 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target Indian military installations. However, the effort didn't succeed as the majority of these drones were shot down.

ALSO READ | Pakistan emulated Ukraine tactics? Why over 500 cheap, crude drones were used for attack

Elaborating further, Singh said that Islamabad used civilian airliners as a shield to deter Indian counterattacks after using the Turkish-origin "Asisguard Songar" drones.

 @asisguard SONGAR Silahl Dron Sistemi Endonezya Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanlg personelinde goruntulendi.



Platformda 5,56mm tambural makinal tufek ve gimbal bulunuyor.



SONGAR' Turkiye dahil 6 ulke kullanyor. Hatta EGM lazer silahl varyantna da (EREN) sahip. pic.twitter.com/ng1rWUVz6D  Turan Oguz (@TyrannosurusRex) December 21, 2024

TCG Buyukada a warship of the Turkish Navy had arrived at the Karachi port on Sunday amidst the tensions. A known ally of Pakistan, Turkey is one of Islamabad's notable defence suppliers, reportedly contributing 4% of Pakistan's total arms imports between 2016 and 2022.

Asisguard Songar drones are Turkish state-of-the-art war equipment that is being used by Indonesia and Nigeria apart from Pakistan. The advanced varieties of these UAVs are capable of executing direct impact on targets through controlled free-fall deployment and can fire upto eight grenades. Some models are equipped with machine gun systems that can fire NATO class 5.56x45mm rounds with a maximum ammunition load capacity of 200 rounds. Here are five facts that you need to know about the Ankara-made drones that were fired against India by Pakistan:

ALSO READ | Airborne early warning explained: Why PAF fighter jets become sitting ducks if AWACS is downed by India

1. 'SONGAR' drones are designed and manufactured by ASISGUARD, a subsidiary of Asia Electronics and Information Systems in Ankara. Introduced in 2019, Asisguard Songar is the first domestic armed drone system to be operated by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). It is also Turkey's first drone with an integrated machine gun and grenade launcher, the company website claimed.

2. The drones can reportedly be used to accomplish a variety of tasks including locating targets, aerial offence to take out threats, transferring real-time images and carrying out post-operation damage assessment. Asisguard had earlier claimed that its prestigious product is one of the finest in asymmetric warfare as a result of its firing accuracy.

3. Each Songar drone reportedly has a width of 145cm from rotor to rotor and height of 70cm. It has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 45kg. Songar drones are also equipped with advanced features such as return-home on link-loss, in-flight mission change, and autonomous and remote-control modes. It also has the capability to perform visual battle damage assessments.

Bir dronla baslad, takm oyunuyla daha da buyudu:

 @asisguard silahl dron SONGAR ile Nijerya'ya ihracat yapt, ardndan ikinci siparis geldi

 Bunlarn ardndan ulkedeki ihtiyaclar, kullanclarla yaplan degerlendirmelerle 14 sirketin urunlerinin kullanldg entegre pic.twitter.com/0hWC9XrhdA  Goksel Yldrm (@gooksel) January 13, 2024

4. Songar drones are equipped with night sensors that make it possible for them to strike during nocturnal hours within a range of 10km. They also have two cameras including a pilot camera with 10x zoom and a gun-mounted camera. These cameras are capable of transmitting video and real-time images, a report said.

ALSO READ | What is the JF-17? The Chinese-made fighter jet used by Pakistan to attack India?

5. In 2020, it was said that these drones can ascend to an altitude of up to 2,800m at mean sea level and 400m above ground level. The company has said that "Songar is undergoing continuous improvement through intensive efforts". Thus it is possible that improved and better-equipped varieties of the UAV is now available.

According to the Asisguard website, Songar comes in five variants:

SONGAR 3X81 MM MORTAR GRIPPER (Able to perform 35 minutes of duty without payload)





(Able to perform 35 minutes of duty without payload) SONGAR 5.56 X 45 MM ASSAULT RIFLE (Compatible with 5.56 caliber 45 mm NATO standard firearms)





(Compatible with 5.56 caliber 45 mm NATO standard firearms) SONGAR 2X40 MM GRENADE LAUNCHER (400-450 meters of effective range; firing up to 2 grenades)





(400-450 meters of effective range; firing up to 2 grenades) SONGAR 6X40 MM DRUM TYPE GRENADE LAUNCHER (Firing up to 6 grenades)





(Firing up to 6 grenades) SONGAR 8 X TEAR / SMOKE GRENADE LAUNCHER (Executes direct impact on target through controlled free-fall deployment; firing up to 8 grenades)

Related searches: songar drone, uav, turkish drones, turkish asisguard songar drones, songar drone
While media outlets are attributing the attack on Karachi to the Indian Navy, the force itself is tight-lipped about the events that happened on the night of May 8 and the early hours of May 9. While it is clear from multiple reports that explosions were heard in Karachi, the origin is unclear.

If current reports can be confirmed, this will be the Indian Navys first attack on the Pakistan coast after 1971. While the initial parts of Operation Sindoor saw the Indian Air Force hitting targets in Pakistan, followed by the Indian Army returning fire all along the border, the Indian Navy had been waiting and watching.

The office of the Chief of Navy Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, too, has said nothing about the nights events.

The area of action falls under the jurisdiction of the Western Naval Command, which is led by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh. The command headquarters is INS Kunjali in Mumbai.

The sword arm of the Western Naval Command is the Western Fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale. The fleets flagship is the Russia-built aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The indigenous aircraft carrier, the Kochi-built INS Vikrant, is also part of the fleets carrier battle group. In 1971, the man in this hot seat was the legendary Rear Admiral E.C. Kuruvila.

The legendary Killer Squadron of missile boats, formally the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron, which attacked Karachi in 1971 and set the port on fire, fall under the Maharashtra Naval Area led by Flag Officer Commanding Rear Admiral Anil Jaggi. The rear admiral keeps watch from INS Angre in Mumbais Fort area.

During the Kargil War in 1999, the Indian Navy had launched Operation Talwar, and the guardians of the west had increased surveillance and patrolling in the north Arabian Sea. This flotilla was bolstered by vessels from the Eastern Fleet. The joint fleets were all set to cut Pakistans shipping lanes and repeat 1971, if asked to. Reports then had quoted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as saying that the country had only six days of fuel left by the time the operation wound down.
As India-Pakistan tensions escalate, cyber experts warn of an increased threat from malicious actors targeting Indian cyberspace, including the personal devices of civilians.

Personal devices of civilians are often targeted during geopolitical conflicts for reasons ranging from psychological warfare and misinformation campaigns to espionage and surveillance.

Hackers also use these infected devices to build botnetslarge networks of compromised devicesto launch broader attacks without detection. Experts say that hackers might use WhatsApp and similar messaging platforms to gain access to your device.

India has the most WhatsApp users, around 535.8 million. The India Cyber Threat Report 2025jointly issued by Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and cybersecurity firm Seqritesays that one of the sneakiest threats in Indian cyberspace is the distribution of APK malware via WhatsApp. APK malware is malicious software disguised within a legitimate-looking Android Package (APK) file.

The report says that Android users are most vulnerable, and the number of incidents in India is critically high. According to cyber experts, malicious actors pose as trusted agencies such as government departments, public sector banks, and electricity boards to create a false sense of urgency and manipulate users into installing APK malware. The malicious app will then be used to steal personal information, financial data, access SMS information, and even commit billing fraud.

In late April, Pakistan-linked hackers deployed Pahalgam Terror Attack themed documents to target Indian officials and defence personnel. The hackers employed credential phishing and deployment of malicious payloads while impersonating the Jammu & Kashmir Police and the Indian Air Force. The link embedded within the document was used as the primary gateway for the attack.

Fake apps posing as ChatGPT applications are also a rising threat. When users click on the app, they will be redirected to a page where they are prompted to provide permissions to the fake app.

Experts warn that Indian cyberspace is being targeted through a widespread, coordinated disinformation campaign. Many of these campaigns exploit psychological triggerssuch as fear of war or communal unrestencouraging users to unknowingly share false content. Experts note that cybercriminals could also use compromised phones to craft hyper-targeted disinformation campaignstailoring messages based on a users location or political leanings.

Notably, dozens of websitesincluding government portals, educational institutions, and private businesseswere defaced with anti-India slogans by Pakistani cybercriminals. The defaced sites often displayed Pakistani flags, military imagery, and messages aligned with the broader disinformation campaign. The Press Information Bureau has urged the public and media houses to carefully verify all information before dissemination.

Notably, following the Pahalgam attack, there has been a concerted effort to spread narratives suggesting that India orchestrated the incident to justify military escalation or that Indian authorities are targeting minorities. Bots, fake accounts, and hashtags such as #IndiaFalseFlag have been used to amplify misleading stories as part of this information war.
Malayalam actor Vinayakan, widely recognised for his antagonist role in Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer, was apprehended by authorities for creating a ruckus in a Kollam hotel while under the influence of alcohol.

According to news agency PTI, the Anchalummoodu police station reported that the actor had been residing in the hotel since May 2 for a nearby movie shoot and created a nuisance at checkout on Thursday night while intoxicated. A medical check-up was conducted on his arrest, after which a case under section 118 (a) (found in a public place, in an intoxicated manner) of the Kerala Police Act was registered against the actor. "He was over-alcoholic and was shouting at everyone, even the police," an officer said.

Vinayakan was later released on station bail, following one of his associates standing as surety for him. This is not the first time that the actor has been arrested for improper conduct under the influence of alcohol in public. Last September, he was detained at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Police in Hyderabad. The actor, who had arrived on an Indigo flight from Kochi and was to travel to Goa, caused a disturbance at the airport gate in a visibly inebriated state.

Beginning his creative arts stint as a dancer, Vinayakan kicked off his acting career in 1995 in the Mohanlal-starrer Maanthrikam. He has appeared in numerous films since, including a wide career in Kollywood. He won Best Actor at the Kerala State Film Award for his role in Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Kammattippaadam. His other well-known flicks include AaduOru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu, Aadu 2, and Ee.Ma.Yau.
Film reels and cameras have sparked an interest among the younger generation, with photographers and cinematographers welcoming the revival with open arms. Photographic film market revenue was valued at $ 1.5 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach $1.2 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of -2.2% from 2026 to 2033.

For Gen Z, it is more than a trend. In a world where photos are taken mindlessly and occupy space in our gallery, the art of analogue photography and developing them is nostalgic and a way of seeking a connection with the past. It also works as a medium to create the perfect aesthetic photos for their Instagram feed and Pinterest boards.

In conversation with Hellmuth Conz, a German analogue film photographer based in Bengaluru, he says, Every good thing makes a comeback.

The demand for analogue photography has opened film labs in metropolitan cities for the printing and processing of film. These businesses had suffered a loss during the launch of digital photography, but are now making a profit by staying in touch with the past.

Despite the costs, there are shops and sites online in India selling and repairing film cameras and developing film rolls, like Film Foto Store in Bengaluru, Chennai Photo Biennale in Chennai, Kerala Film Store in Kochi, and Zhenwei Film Lab in Mumbai. There are even film festivals like the Harkat 16mm film festival. It is a photochemical-only event that brings the analogue film community together annually.

The material is expensive, and the resources are limited, which is a key reason why analogue was taken over by digital in the first place. When asked about the affordability and accessibility of analogue film resources in India, Conz notes, Demand in Europe is much higher, better, and cheaper in comparison to India. He adds that he buys a 100 ISO roll for Rs 800 at wholesale price in Chennai or Delhi and sells it for the same price without profit because the markup seems unfair to him.

Film photographs have a way of making special moments come to life with grain and soft, ethereal light, which is hard to recreate digitally. I think awareness of how to take a shot is 50 to 70% higher in analogue photography, Conz shares. It takes patience and discipline to wait for the film to develop. Digital has the option to edit it on a software

When asked about the time-consuming nature of film photography, he replies, People have become lazy and do not have the patience to wait for the film to develop. He implies that great art takes time, and waiting is part of the wonder.

Even in cinema, film is making a comeback. Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Sinners were shot on large-format film, while Euphoria Season 2 was shot on 35 mm film. Film has always been larger than life, says Marcell Rev, Euphorias cinematographer, in an interview with Kodak. It also adds a structure to the filmmaking process that forces you to move with intention.

Whether this trend stays or not will depend on the craftsmen behind the camera and their passion to keep the film rolling.
The Jammu and Kashmir police issued a strong statement rejecting false and misleading news that was shared by some media channels and social media users about the death of Maulana Qari Mohammad Iqbal, a resident of Poonch in Jammu.

Iqbal, 46, was the son of Peer Baksh and lived in Village Baila, Tehsil Mandi. He was killed during cross-border shelling by Pakistan while he was at Madrasa (seminary) Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch - a town close to the Line of Control and has often been at the receiving end of shelling and firing from across the LoC.

A private TV channel had wrongly reported that Iqbal was killed in an Indian strike on a terror camp in Kotli, in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and that he was a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist.

Refuting the channels description of Iqbal, the police said that Iqbal had no connection with any terrorist group.

Qari Iqbal Mohammad's family demands action against 'Godi media' for falsely labelling him a Pakistani terrorist.



Fact: He was killed in Pakistani shelling in Poonch.pic.twitter.com/6u79x7wDhY https://t.co/CIW97nRfqo  Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 8, 2025

In an official statement, police described him as a respected religious leader in his community. They said the false reports being spread not only cause unnecessary fear but also hurt the feelings of his grieving family and damage the reputation of an innocent man.

The police warned that strict legal action would be taken against any media outlet, journalist, or individual who spreads fake news against public order and national security laws.

All journalists and media platforms are urged to check facts with official sources before sharing any information related to security matters, the statement said.

The police urged the media not to report incidents without proper verification and desist from spread false news.

His family and fellow villagers have demanded strict action against the news channels for circulating fake and misleading information.
In the backdrop of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after drone attacks in various parts of the border states, New Delhi has also been placed on alert.

The attacks have led to the cancellation of leaves for all government officials and the urgent installation of air raid sirens across the national capital. The Delhi Airport remains on alert.

Around 3 pm on Friday, sirens were heard in central Delhi in order to ensure people are aware as to what they need to do in the event of any casualty of any sort. District Magistrates across the city have been tasked with installing both electrical and manual air raid sirens by Friday, with 500 sirens planned to enhance the capitals warning systems.

On Thursday, the Delhi government issued an order through its Services Department, stating that no leaves would be granted to any officer or official until further notice. This directive, aimed at ensuring full preparedness for any emergency, extends to doctors and staff in Delhis government hospitals, as well as Delhi Police personnel.

In Delhi, the government has also conducted civil defence mock drills across 55 locations, simulating scenarios like air raids, urban fires, and casualty evacuations. These drills, part of a nationwide initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs, aim to prepare citizens and officials for potential hostilities. Schools, markets, and residential complexes participated, with students and civilians trained on safety protocols.

Checks are ongoing at malls, markets, metro stations, hotels, colonies, and transport hubs. Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) also carried out anti-sabotage checks at vulnerable locations across the capital. Authorities temporarily restricted public access to India Gate, with announcements instructing strollers to leave. Police clarified the move was routine.

Police have increased night patrolling and are deploying extra force in sensitive areas. Every district in the capital has been asked to stay prepared for emergencies. District magistrates are holding internal reviews on health systems and disaster response readiness.

The current crisis stems from the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people and prompted Indias retaliatory strikes codenamed 'Operation Sindoor'.
On the occasion of 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, veteran CPI(M) leaders Biman Bose and Mohammed Salim on Friday delivered a message of peace amidst military tension between India and Pakistan.

Bose and Salim visited Jorasanko, the Tagore residence in Kolkata, to pay their respects to the 'Kaviguru.' Later, they spoke out against an outright war, invoking Tagores ideas of peace and humanitarianism. The Indian Armys initial response to the militant attack in Kashmir was appropriate. However, instead of escalating to war, it is now time for negotiation and diplomacy, Bose, the former Left Front chairman and CPI(M)s politburo member told the media. He added, "Even Rabindranath Tagore was against war, as he saw it as a symbol of destruction. Thats why he always advocated for peace over conflict.

Mohammed Salim, the West Bengal secretary of the CPI(M), urged both the Indian and Pakistani governments to prioritise de-escalation, emphasising that it is the ordinary people along the borders who bear the brunt of armed clashes, with their lives becoming increasingly difficult and unstable.

Mentioning Tagore, he said, Rabindranath is timeless. Through his poems, writings, teachings and philosophy, he has told us that humanity is invincible. Today, there is terrorism, warmongering and jingoism and with Indian and Pakistani mainstream media treating war like a video game. But war is not a video game.

The CPI(ML) Liberations student wing, the All India Students Association (AISA), also organised a demonstration in Kolkata on Friday, urging de-escalation. The protesters stressed the need to pursue diplomatic, non-military solutions to address terrorism.

Meanwhile, the call for peace by Left leaders was strongly criticised by West Bengal BJP president and union minister Dr. Sukanta Majumdar. He accused the Leftists of duality and claimed that some Left leaders were trying to follow the footsteps of jailed student activist Umar Khalid.

On one hand, the Leftists claimed at the all-party meeting that they were with the country, the Prime Minister, the Indian Army and they support the Army in the war which it is winning, Dr. Majumdar said during a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Kolkata.

Then there are some Umar Khalid-type new Left leaders who are opposing the Indian Army and trying to act like revolutionaries. West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari also attacked the Left, which he claimed mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media instead of condemning the attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam.

They are quick to organise protests after a bomb is dropped on Palestine, he alleged. If the BJP is voted to power in West Bengal in 2026, we will take them out of Jadavpur [University] and throw them in Pakistan.
Fresh air raid sirens were sounded in Chandigarh and Patiala on Friday morning amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Taking stock of the situation, the Punjab government has deputed ministers to border districts to review emergency services.

The Chandigarh administration urged the public to stay indoors. "An air warning has been received from the Air Force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies," an official statement issued by the Chandigarh administration said. The Mohali district administration also advised people living in the areas bordering Chandigarh to remain indoors. The residents were advised to stay away from windows and glass panes.

#WATCH | Chandigarh Police advises citizens to move indoors when sirens are sounded in the city pic.twitter.com/YKzQMUyBqy  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

The development comes as India thwarted Pakistan's bid to target military bases in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night. India successfully struck down a swarm of drones and projectiles launched by Pakistan in retaliation for Operation Sindoor. India thwarted Pakistan's attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country.

According to the defence ministry, the Pakistani military on Thursday night attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.

Meanwhile, a cabinet meeting of the Punjab government was held on Friday morning to assess the situation. A statement from the Punjab chief minister's office said ministers will head to border districts to review emergency services. The ministers will inspect hospitals, fire stations, and the availability of ration and other emergency services. As many as 10 ministers will be visiting the border areas.
Indian states are on high alert, and measures are being taken to maintain vigil against Pakistan's retaliation for Operation Sindoor. Border states have shut educational institutions and heightened security in the wake of Pakistan's drone strike on Thursday night.

States are assessing the situation and reviewing relief and other aid measures. Security drills are also being conducted to counter Pakistan's attacks.

The Kerala government has set up a control room to provide assistance to students and Keralites living in the areas bordering Pakistan. The government asked the Keralites in the state bordering Pakistan to follow the instructions given by the authorities and stay safe. The control room set up Kerala secretariat can be reached through 0471-2517500/2517600, 0471-2322600 (fax) and cdmdkerala@kerala.gov.in.

The Andhra Pradesh government has also initiated measures to assist students from the state stranded in Jammu and Kashmir. Andhra Pradesh Human Resources Minister Nara Lokesh tweeted, "Amid Pakistan's provocations, the coalition govt (government) is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of students from Andhra Pradesh stranded in Jammu & Kashmir."

Border states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat, West Bengal and various others reviewed security situation in the state and advised officials to maintain vigil.

A cabinet meeting of the Punjab government was held on Friday to assess the situation in the state. In the wake of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control, the Punjab government reviewed the situation in border areas. The government also deputed ministers to border districts to review emergency facilities in the region.

Odisha has tightened security at key installations in the state. Security has been beefed up at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore district, at the Army Air Defence College near Gopalpur, ordnance factory in Balangir, INS Chilka and the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IERL) near Chhatrapur.

In Delhi, heavy security was deployed at the vital installations. The Directorate of Civil Defence will be conducting a trial of air raid sirens installed at PWD headquarters, ITO later today.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced it would take out a rally supporting the armed forces on Saturday. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said he would lead a rally supporting armed forces in Chennai on Saturday.

Recently, reviewing the security situation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah advised states to stay alert and stock up essential goods. He asked border states to prepare for "any situation".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 8. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the UN chief said in a statement, Trend reports.

Guterres expressed hope for continued cooperation between the UN and the Holy See to build a sustainable and just peace.

"I look forward to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See  nurtured most recently by Pope Francis  to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all," he said.
Security has been heightened in border states as Indian troops successfully thwarted Pakistan's attempts to target military establishments in India on Thursday night. Various states have cancelled leave for personnel in emergency services and have intensified security measures.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is en route to Jammu to assess the situation after Indian forces intercepted several drones and missiles that were fired by Pakistan along the International Border and thwarted its attempts to target military stations at Jammu, Pathankot & Udhampur. "Driving to Jammu now to take stock of the situation after last nights failed Pakistani drone attack directed at Jammu city & other parts of the division," Abdullah tweeted.

#WATCH | Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir: Explosions heard near Line of Control (LoC)



(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/vk346SUPxQ  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025

Meanwhile, the Amritsar administration advised the public to stay indoors on Friday. "All citizens are requested to stay indoors and away from the windows and keep lights turned off and the window curtains drawn. There is no need to panic, a siren will blow now and we will pass the message again once it is clear. Our armed forces are on the job, and we need to support them by staying indoors. There is no need to panic," the Amritsar DPRO said.

The situation in border areas worsened after Pakistan launched several missiles and drones targeting India's military establishments on Thursday night. Pakistan's move comes a day after India thwarted a similar move by the neighbouring nation in the intervening night of May 7-8. Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. They were neutralised by air defence systems, the Centre said on Thursday.
The Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday night shot down all missiles and drones fired by Pakistan at military bases in Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot.

Reports from Jammu say the attack was stopped using a mix of S-400 missile defence systems, Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMS), and the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (ICM).

OPERATION SINDOOR



Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/WTdg1ahIZp  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

This was Pakistans first big air-borne attack on Jammu. The missiles and drones were aimed at Satwari (near Jammu Airport), Samba, RS Pura and Arnia in Jammu district and military stations in Udhampur and Pathankot. The attack started around 8pm and went on for about 30 minutes. During this time, sirens were heard, and blackouts were sounded in many areas to keep people safe.

Since India had already carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the armed forces were already on high alert. The air defence systems were ready and stopped all incoming threats in mid-air.

There were no casualties or damage. At least eight missiles were destroyed, and although the number of drones is not yet known, all were successfully brought down. Pieces of the missiles and drones fell in places like Kakryal in Katra, Garhi in Udhampur and other parts of Jammu.

The defence ministry said the threats were dealt with quickly using both physical weapons and technology-based systems. People in Jammu city said they saw bright flares in the sky and heard loud blasts as Indian forces acted. Many watched from their rooftops and shared videos on social media.

There was a feeling of relief and pride in Jammu once it became clear that the attack had failed. Soon after the missile strike, Pakistan also started shelling areas near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border, especially in Rajouri and Poonch. Indian soldiers gave a strong reply to the shelling.

Tensions have escalated on the LOC and IB, and 13 people have died in the shelling in Poonch. Poonch has borne the brunt of cross-border shelling. Many resident from Poonch have been evacuated by the authorities to safer places, while some have also shifted to homes of their relatives. Those injured in the shelling are being treated in different hospitals in Jammu.
On Friday morning, the fact check wing of the Press Information Bureau, Government of India, debunked a photo widely shared on social media platforms claiming that it was footage of multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base in India.

According to PIB Fact Check, the image is from the Kabul Airport blast in August 2021. A ground report from UAE-based Al Ain News carried the same photo back then.

An investigation was later ordered by the US Department of Defense to assess whether the Islamic State or the Taliban had conducted a perceived IED test run on August 21.

That day, Marine snipers who were posted at the airport observed three individuals with accompanying bags that they deemed to be suspicious, read a US DoD report from 2024 on the same. The US had also identified the Kabul airport attacker as Abdul Rahman al-Logari, an Islamic State member since 2016.

Recently, the PIB also debunked more misinformation, including a video of a farm fire being widely circulated as a drone attack in Jalandhar. DC of Jalandhar put out an official statement stating the video to be a false claim.

Another staged video was shared as an Indian post under 20 Raj Battalion claimed to be destroyed by the Pakistani army. Moreover, the Indian Army does not have a unit called 20 Raj Battalion.

A doctored 2020 video from Lebanon was also shared with the claim that Pakistan launched a missile attack on India in retaliation.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister led a 'Tiranga Yatra'a March in Bengaluru on Friday morning to express solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces.

The march led by the ruling Congress leaders gave a call to the citizens and political parties to stand united and express support to the "Operation Sindoor" being carried out by the Indian Armed forces in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian (and tourist) lives on April 22.

The rallygoers chanted "Namma Sainya Namma Hemme" (Our Army, our pride) and "Jai Hind" along the route of the March.

The participants including government officials, celebrities and citizens, had turned up in white attires and waved the Indian national flag during the Tiranga Yatra that began at KR Circle in the state capital and would culminate at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"We welcome every citizen and political party to join us in boosting the morale of our armed forces even as they are fighting along the LOC following Pakistan's attack on India," said D.K. Shivakumar, the deputy CM.

In a circular dated May 7, 2025, the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments department had instructed all the 35,000 odd temples under its jurisdiction to conduct special pujas in recognition of the successful execution of "Operation Sindoor" by the Indian armed forces.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders led by state chief B.Y. Vijayendra performed a special puja at Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Bengaluru seeking strength for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead the country through the looming crisis.

The state reported special pujas and chantings being performed by civil society groups for the safety of our armed forces.
Operation Sindoor and the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict dominate the headlines. Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the country, rapid developments are unfolding in another battle zone located in the interiors of Telangana and Chattisgarh. 'Operation Kagar' of the central and state forces -- launched to neutralise banned Maoists in the region -- seems to be yielding results for the government.

On Friday, 38 Maoist cadres laid down arms and surrendered before the Bhadradri Kothagudem district police in Telangana, citing their desire to leave the path of extremism and join mainstream life. Among those who surrendered were members of various internal divisions including platoons and revolutionary wings. Officials attributed the move to the growing appeal of the Telangana governments 'Operation Cheyutha', a rehabilitation programme that promises cash rewards, welfare benefits and reintegration support.

With this latest batch, hundreds of Maoists have now surrendered before the Telangana police in the last few months including mid-level commanders and 'Dalam' members. Police say the exodus is not just due to incentives but also because Maoist ideology is increasingly losing traction among tribal communities.

However, peace remains fragile. Just a day earlier, on May 8, tragedy struck in Mulugu districts Venkatapuram forest belt where a combing operation turned deadly. A patrol team comprising of anti-Naxal Greyhounds Batallion and local police walked into a trap laid by Maoists near Pedda Gutta. Landmines were triggered from a distance which was followed by a hail of gunfire at the search party by 3540 armed Maoists which included women cadre. Three Greyhounds commandos -- Sridhar, Pavan Kalyan and Sandeep -- lost their lives, while another officer is undergoing treatment.

While the Telangana police paid tributes to their fallen colleagues, the banned CPI (Maoist) Telangana state committee offered a six-month ceasefire in a statement. Once again, the Maoists invited the government for peace talks.

The readiness to engage in peace talks has been put forward by the Maoists multiple times in the recent past. This could be a result of Operation Kagar and heightened concentration on their activities by forces which is in line with the centres objective of wiping out Left extremism from the country by 2026. Civil society activists too have been pressurising the Centre to hold discussions with Maoists.

The central security forces along with the Chattisgarh Police are continuing Operation Kagar, an intensified combing mission targeting the Karregutta Hills bordering the Telangana-Chattisgarh border. In the hills long considered a Maoist bastion, the security forces have already hoisted the tricolour, installed communication towers and set up a base camp.

The offensive has pushed Maoist squads into survival mode who have been hailing politicians like former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao, who are resonating with their demand for peace talks.
As cross-border tensions intensify between India and Pakistan, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has launched a digital campaign, titled 'Vande Mataram', in a bid to show solidarity to the country and its armed forces during a critical time.

TDP General Secretary and AP IT Minister, N. Lokesh, who tweeted about the campaign with the hashtag '#MyDPVandeMataram', said:

When forces outside try to weaken Indias unity, its time for all of us to rise above differences and come together as one. Lets echo Vande Mataram and show the world that India stands strong, united in spirit and purpose.

Over the last few days, Indian border areas witnessed heavy shelling along with drone attacks from Pakistan post the launch of Operation Sindoor which targeted terrorist hideouts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the Pakistani mainland.

ALSO READ | Hyderabad-based Karachi Bakery takes the bullet again as India-Pakistan tensions rise

The campaign is also intended to bolster the confidence of the armed forces. The idea of the TDP is to encourage its party leaders, members and citizens to change the display images of their social media handles to extend support to the country.

A digital poster accompanies the campaign. A saffron, white and green ribbon unfurling across the base with the Ashoka Chakra at its center. Above it in bold letters are the words VANDE MATARAM, with VANDE in saffron and MATARAM in green. Behind it is the faint imprint of the Ashoka Chakra. The subtle yet powerful image is meant to evoke a collective national spirit.

Apart from Lokesh, some examples of those who embraced the template and changed their display pictures across platforms like X and Instagram are Union Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, MoS for Rural Development and Communications, P. Chandra Sekhar, AP Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha and Urban Development Minister, P Narayana.

ALSO READ | Operation Sindoor: Kerala sets up control room, Punjab deputes mins to border areas | How Indian states are gearing up against Pak

The party has called upon every citizen to join in by updating their display pictures on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram as a symbolic gesture.

Meanwhile Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu paid tributes to martyred soldier Murali Naik who lost his life at the LoC as a result of firing from Pakistan. 25-year-old Naik is a native of AP's Anantapur district. The CM expressed deep sorrow and spoke to his parents, assuring them of all support from the government.
The Indian Army has released fresh visuals of taking down drones and other projectiles fired by Pakistan targeting military establishments in the country on Thursday night. The Border Security Force has also foiled an infiltration bid along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian armed forces thwarted a major bid by Pakistan to target India's military establishments in Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur on Thursday night. A swarm of drones and other munitions launched by Pakistani troops were taken down by India's air defence systems. Earlier in the day, India negated Pakistan's attempts to escalate the situation and neutralised the air defence system of Pakistan in Lahore.

OPERATION SINDOOR



Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/WTdg1ahIZp  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

Releasing a video of India's "befitting reply" to Pakistan, the Indian Army, in a post on X, said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir."

"The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. #IndianArmy remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," it added.

Meanwhile, the BSF thwarted a major infiltration bid allegedly by terrorists along the International Border in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night.

"At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K," the BSF tweeted.

It was not immediately clear whether any terrorist was hit by the firing. Things will become clear after a thorough search in the area in the morning, officials said.


Social media platform X has suspended over 8,000 accounts in India following orders from the Union government. The move comes amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

Announcing the decision in a post on X, it said, "X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the companys local employees. The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users. In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws."

X said it has withheld these accounts in India alone to comply with the orders. Stressing it disagrees with government's orders, it said, "Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech. This is not an easy decision, however, keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians ability to access information."

The platform added that they are unable to share the orders in public domain due to legal restrictions and are exploring all legal remedies available.

The Centre's latest action comes as India thwarted Pakistan's bid to attack Indian military establishments in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night. India is also taking down a misinformation campaign related to Pakistan's military actions in India online. India on Thursday ordered streaming platforms to cease airing content from Pakistan. In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect, Union boradcasting ministry said in an order.
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, said that since he had last visited Uttar Pradesh 12 years ago, there had been appreciable development in the state and praised the determination and energy of the states chief minister.

Banga met Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Friday.

He said that UP had a big role to play in India becoming a developed nation and that a developed UP was the building block of a developed India. He praised three areas specifically- basic infrastructure, strong law and order and powerful connectivity. Banga said that Yogi Adityanaths vision had catapulted UP to new heights.

Better infrastructure and improved law and order had made the state an ideal investment destination.

He also said that farmers could not become rich by selling off their lands but must be encouraged to practice profitable agriculture through modern agricultural practices and innovations. He labelled agriculture the backbone of the states economy and noted the positive changes that had been brought about in the sector.

Banga also spoke about the tourism possibilities in the state- specifically mentioning religious, cultural and eco-tourism. These, he said, could place the state on the global map of tourism. He also mentioned that the cuisine and handicrafts of the state was popular not just in the country but the world over.

He labelled as a game changer the state governments initiatives to develop skills among the young. He was also full of praise for a government programme which provides ready-made, nutritious meals to expectant mothers- much like the mid-day meal programme.

In the meeting, which was also attended by senior ministers such as Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Agriculture Minister, Surya Pratap Shahi and Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Banga also voiced his appreciation for the governments initiatives in the health and education sectors.

For all of these, he said, the CMs clear vision was to be commended.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi has lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling out his "utter desperation" after Fox News released satellite images of an alleged secret Iranian nuclear weapons facility.

US-based Fox News on Thursday released the images of a secret nuclear weapons site in Iran's Semnan Province. The 'Rainbow Site' has reportedly been in operation for a decade under the guise of a chemical company called Diba Energy Siba. It covers over 2,500 acres. The site engages in the extraction of tritium, a radioactive isotope used to enhance nuclear weapons.

According to Fox News, tritium has no application in civilian or energy applications, which casts doubt on Irans longstanding claims that its nuclear ambitions are solely for energy or civilian use.

The photos angered Iran's Araghchi, who said Netanyahu was behind the "secret images".

Like clockwork, more Very Scary Satellite Images are being circulated as Iran-US indirect nuclear talks are set to resume, Araghchi wrote on X.

Araghchi accused Netanyahu of trying to influence US policy through proxies. "With his credibility in tatters and exposed as a saboteur, Netanyahu... is turning to both old and new sock puppets. This time, he is using Saddams Iranian henchmen. They may come cheap, but hiring a literal cult only conveys utter desperation," he added.

Like clockwork, more Very Scary Satellite Images are being circulated as Iran-U.S. indirect nuclear talks are set to resume.



With his credibility in tatters and exposed as a saboteur, Netanyahuunder his "Determining What @realdonaldtrump Can & Cannot Do"-policyis turning to https://t.co/8ruC4nSMtg  Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 8, 2025

Earlier, Irans mission to the United Nations rejected the Fox News report, calling it fabricated and accusing the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) of spreading false information. "This fabricated report follows the usual pattern of the NCRI terrorist group, which produces fake reports in the form of so-called intelligence and delivers them to Western services, including in the United States," the Iranian mission said in a statement carried by state news agency IRNA. "When these services realise the reports are baseless, the group then turns to Western media to amplify them," it added.
Leo XIV arrives to the papacy with controversy in tow. In recent months, and more explicitly in the hours leading up to the conclave, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been the subject of a campaign orchestrated by ultraconservative sectors of the Church.

The accusation centers around his alleged cover-up of several sexual abuse cases committed by a Peruvian priest in 2004. According to this version, Prevost was aware of the cases and failed to investigate them in 2022, when he was serving as the bishop of Sufar and apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, located on the northern coast of Peru. The Vatican has firmly denied these accusations.

Official sources confirm that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, aware that such claims against Prevost were circulating, conducted a thorough investigation into the cases and concluded that the newly elected Popes conduct was impeccable.

The dossier against Prevost  released by some unreliable digital outlets  claims that in April 2022, three sisters met with the bishop to report that two priests from his diocese had abused them in 2004 when they were between the ages of nine and 14. According to the accusers, Prevost told them that the Church had no means to investigate the matter, although he encouraged them to report it to civil authorities, assuring them that an investigation would be initiated within the Church once the case was reported.

The sisters claimed that Prevost referred them to the Listening Center, an institution created by the bishop just weeks earlier to help abuse victims. According to the dossier, the sisters then approached the police to file a report but were told that the case had already expired due to the statute of limitations.

The 18-page report also accuses Prevost of covering up another sexual abuse case involving a priest in Chicago, when the now Pontiff was the provincial superior of the Augustinians. The Vatican states that it has investigated these allegations as well and found no evidence to support them. The same sources suggest it is suspicious that this attack on Prevost came just before the conclave, when his name was already being considered as a potential papal candidate.

Prevost was appointed by Pope Francis to oversee the Diocese of Chiclayo between 2014 and 2023, and during that time, several civil organizations accused him of covering up the abuse committed by the two priests. As the Vatican has done now, the diocese firmly denied these allegations at that time as well.

On Thursday afternoon, one hour after Prevost appeared on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica already vested as Leo XIV, Peruvian journalist Pedro Salinas, who has extensively investigated the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae movement  an organization recently dissolved by Pope Francis due to sexual abuse accusations and cult-like traits  stated that the allegations against Prevost were absolutely false: There is no documentary evidence or solid testimonies pointing to Prevost.

In Peru, Prevost clearly sided with the victims in the Sodalitium scandal. Reporters Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz, who uncovered the case with a book in 2015, faced media and judicial harassment for years without action from the Peruvian Church. However, they claim that they found a strong ally in Prevost, who played a decisive role in facilitating their direct access to Pope Francis at the Vatican. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, after receiving firsthand information from the journalists, decided to open a major investigation that concluded in January 2025 with the dissolution of Sodalicio.

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The United States has reached a truce with Yemens Houthi rebels, agreeing to suspend airstrikes in exchange for a halt to attacks on American vessels in the Red Sea. President Donald Trump revealed the deal unexpectedly during an Oval Office meeting with the Canadian prime minister on May 13, catching even senior Pentagon officials off guard.

The announcement came after a costly seven-week American bombing campaign aimed at deterring Houthi attacks on international shipping. However, it remains unclear whether Washington has achieved that goal. Although Trump declared the arrangement a success, critics note that Houthi activity in shipping lanes had already declined prior to the deal.

Israel, meanwhile, has been left sidelined and blindsided. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed frustration, declaring that Israel would "defend ourselves alone" against the Iran-backed group. Just hours before the deal was made public, Israeli forces launched a major aerial assault on Yemens international airport and other Houthi-linked infrastructure in retaliation for a ballistic missile strike on Israels Ben Gurion Airport.

An Israeli official told CNN that Jerusalem had not been informed in advance of the US-Houthi truce. If others join usour American friendsall the better. If they dont, we will still defend ourselves on our own, Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media.

Trump said the US would suspend its operations against the Houthis in exchange for a guarantee from the group not to target American military or commercial vessels. The agreement, however, does not extend to Israel. In fact, a drone from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli air defence within a couple of hours after the agreement with the US.

While Trump hailed the Houthis willingness to negotiate, he made no mention of their attacks on Israel, despite a recent missile strike that caused serious damage and prompted airlines to suspend flights to and from the country. The omission has fuelled concerns in Israel that its security interests are being overlooked by Washington.

The US campaign against the Houthis has cost over $1 billion till now. It saw the Americans losing seven MQ-9 Reaper drones and two F/A-18 Super Hornet jets. Meanwhile, critics say the American strikes in Yemen have not achieved much in changing Houthi behaviour. Interestingly, the last verified Houthi attack on a commercial ship took place last November, casting doubt on the effectiveness and the timing of the latest American move.

Analysts suggest the truce may have been brokered by Tehran. Two Iranian officials told The New York Times that Iran had persuaded the Houthis to cease attacks on US interests as a gesture of goodwill amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with Washington. Publicly, Iranian leaders continue to deny direct control over the group, insisting the Houthis operate independently.

The Houthis have indicated they will continue to target Israel. Senior Houthi figure Mohammed Ali al-Houthi hailed the US deal as a victory that separates American interests from those of Israel. He described it as a blow to Netanyahu and a sign of growing regional isolation for the Israeli government.

Israels Defence Minister, Israel Katz, reaffirmed the countrys resolve: Israel must be able to defend itself by itself against any threat and any enemy.

Though Israel has proven its capacity for precision strikes deep into Yemen, analysts warn the Houthis are well-versed in guerrilla warfare, having adapted to years of aerial bombardment. Yemens rugged terrain, coupled with widespread support for Houthi attacks on foreign powers, will complicate Israels ability to neutralise the threat.

While Trump declared the deal a sign of Houthi capitulation, he struck a different tone on May 14, describing the rebels as brave for withstanding intense bombardment. It was amazing what they took, he said.

Whether the ceasefire holdsand whether Israel remains a targetremains to be seen.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch RISAT-1B, also known as EOS-09, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on May 18. This radar imaging satellite, set to soar aboard the PSLV-C61 at 6:59 am IST, marks a significant step in strengthening Indias border surveillance and national security. Coming just days after Operation Sindoor, a bold military response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, RISAT-1Bs launch is both timely and critical. Equipped with advanced technology, this satellite promises to be a game-changer in Indias fight against cross-border threats, offering hope and resilience in turbulent times.

RISAT-1B, a vital tool in Indias defence arsenal

The satellite RISAT-1B is no ordinary satellite and carries a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which allows it to capture high-resolution images of the earths surface in all weather conditions, day or night. Unlike optical satellites that struggle with clouds or darkness, RISAT-1Bs radar can penetrate these barriers, making it ideal for monitoring sensitive border areas like Jammu and Kashmir. This capability is vital for detecting infiltrations, tracking suspicious movements, and supporting anti-terrorist operations. With tensions along Indias borders remaining high, the satellites ability to provide continuous, reliable intelligence is a strategic asset to the security forces.

RISAT-1B, with its advanced imaging, will enhance Indias ability to monitor terrorist activities and ensure swift responses to potential threats. It builds on the legacy of earlier RISAT satellites, which played key roles in operations like the 2016 surgical strikes, proving their worth in safeguarding the nation. Indias RISAT series has long been a cornerstone of its security strategy. Launched after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the series was designed to bolster border surveillance and deter infiltration. Satellites like RISAT-2BR1, launched in 2019, offered resolutions as fine as 0.35 meters, enabling security forces to identify objects with remarkable clarity, explained space expert Girish Linganna.

Experts point out that though specific details about RISAT-1Bs resolution are not public, it is expected to match or surpass its predecessors, ensuring even sharper imagery. This precision is crucial for planning operations and maintaining vigilance in areas prone to insurgent activity, making RISAT-1B a vital tool in Indias defence arsenal.

Unlike traditional optical cameras that rely on visible light, SAR cameras on RISAT-like satellites can penetrate dense cloud cover and operate in any lighting conditions.

This capability is a game-changer for border areas where surveillance is often hindered by fog, rain, or darkness. High-resolution radar images can detect even minor changes such as fresh soil disturbances, new encampments, or vehicular movement providing actionable intelligence that ground patrols or conventional surveillance tools might miss. This ensures round-the-clock vigilance in remote and inaccessible areas and significantly enhances Indias border control capabilities, remarked Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India.

What are RISAT-1Bs features?

RISAT-1B features five distinct imaging modes, offering the flexibility to switch between ultra-high-resolution imaging of up to 1 meter for detecting small objects and broader scans for large-area observation. This adaptability allows it to serve both military and civilian purposes.

In the defence domain, it can identify unauthorised border activities, track infiltration routes, and detect hidden structures like tunnels and bunkers. Civilian applications include flood mapping, cyclone monitoring, soil moisture analysis, and crop health assessmentcritical for disaster response and agricultural planning, added Kesan.

The radars hybrid polarimetry adds further advantage by distinguishing between natural terrain and man-made objects, improving detection accuracy in areas where camouflage and terrain blending are common tactics.

Beyond security, RISAT-1B reflects Indias growing prowess in space technology. The satellites indigenous SAR technology reduces reliance on foreign systems, ensuring that our surveillance capabilities remain sovereign and secure. ISROs ability to deliver such advanced systems highlights Indias scientific achievements and its commitment to self-reliance.

However, experts note that continuous border monitoring requires multiple satellites in orbit. At least four RISAT satellites are needed for daily coverage of critical areas, and RISAT-1Bs addition brings India closer to this goal, strengthening its strategic posture, added Linganna.
When the College of Cardinals gathers in the Sistine Chapel for the third conclave in 20 years, they will face a complex question: should they choose a successor who will continue Pope Franciss vision, or chart a different course?

Franciss leadership style was evident early in his papacy. In contrast to his predecessors, he urged bishops to shed hierarchical airs and embrace pastoral humilitybecoming shepherds who live among their flock. While his appeals to mercy, love and hope were directed at the faithful, he also raised the Churchs global moral voice on issues such as migration, climate change, capitalism and LGBTQ rights. He consistently challenged world leaders on the senselessness of war and widening inequality.

Francis also sought to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, promoting greater accountability and inclusion, particularly about gender. Reactions to his leadership variedsome labelled him a Marxist, others a liberal, a revolutionary or simply a reformer who could read the signs of the times. His papacy was thus defined by a commitment to social justice and inclusion, but also by controversy and resistance, especially from conservative factions.

In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, French nun Nathalie Becquartappointed by Francis as undersecretary to the synod of bishopssaid that Francis was elected with a clear mandate to reform the Church and the Vatican. As the first woman with voting rights in the synod, she emphasised his efforts to empower women, ensure synodality, decentralise authority and challenge Eurocentrism. She expressed hope that his legacy would be carried forward. Excerpts:

Q: What are the key takeaways from the Francis papacy?

A: There are many, and I think we are still processing and realising the depth of his immense legacy. When he was elected and first appeared here at Saint Peters, the crowd in the Piazza immediately connected with him. He asked the people to bless him, to pray for him, establishing a relationship from the start. Until the end, he remained very close to the people, not only to Catholics but to people from all walks of life and different religions. For me, he was truly the Pope of the people. He showed us how to exercise leadership not from above, but from within the community one serves. It was a deeply human way. He met so many people during his travels, and yet each time he engaged with someone, he was fully present, as if that person was the only one in the room. He embodied a very human way of being Pope and of being Christian. He reminded us that the Churchs vocation is to be close to everyone, to be a Church that serves the people. He was not only a deeply human person but also a man of great faith and prayer. He helped many people to look to God, to see Jesus as a friend, and to understand that loving God is inseparable from loving others.

You can see his legacy in the response to his death, so many people coming to pay their respects at the Basilica. The diversity was striking: families with small children, elderly people, those with disabilities, Muslims, people from every background. That speaks volumes about his message and his manner of being Pope: as a human being and as a man of faith.

I was there for Easter Mass the last time we saw him among the people. He could never see himself as a Pope disconnected from the people. His message helped us to recognise each other as brothers and sisters, part of one human family. Of course, there is diversitydifferent cultures, different perspectivesbut we are called to unity. His funeral was a powerful witness to that, with the whole world in attendance.

Another important part of his legacy was his special attention to the poor and those without a voice. He cared deeply about them. He wanted to pay attention to everyone. He also had a special connection with young people. I remember the first time I met him, in July 2013, just a few months after his election, when he went to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day. Young people from all over the world were there. I still remember his words, the joy he shared, and the way he related to them. Although he was old, his mind and spirit were youthful in the way he understood and engaged with young people.

If I had to pick some keywords to describe his legacy, I would say: closeness, fraternity, dialogue, encounter and listening. Among his lasting contributions is what we are doing here nowwhat he initiatedthis focus on synodality. He wanted a more participatory and missionary Church. We cannot understand Pope Francis without recognising his constant outward gaze, towards the people, towards service. His vision was of a missionary Church, one that spreads the joy of the Gospel. This did not mean trying to convert everyone, but rather sharing the treasure we have received as believers. As Christians, we believe that God loves us and that Jesus came to save us and call us to serve. Pope Francis often repeated one phrase: I am a mission on this Earth. That means we were not created to do nothing or simply existwe were created to love and to serve others, to make an impact.

Q: Everything you have mentioned reflects what people expect from a Pope. So how does Franciss legacy stand out?

A: Yes, that's truethese are things expected of any Christian leader. But every Pope brings his own style and emphasis. In Pope Franciss case, it wasnt just about speaking the message; it was about his concrete choices and actions. From the beginning, he made distinctive decisions. He chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace, but instead in a simple guest house. He kept his old black shoes. His first trip was to Lampedusa to meet refugees and migrants. On Holy Thursday, he visited a prison to wash the feet of inmatesincluding women. These gestures were powerful, visible shifts in how papal authority is expressed.

So while the core Christian message remains the same, each Pope highlights different aspects. And today, as the cardinals prepare to choose the next Pope, they are considering where the world is now, what the Church faces, and what kind of leader is needed. The world has changed significantly even in the last 20 or 30 years.

Pope Francis repeatedly said that we are not just living in an era of change, but in a changing worldmarked by crisis, conflict, and instability. The Church must be the same Church but in a new context. He was very aware of this and responded accordingly. For example, he focused strongly on care for migrants. Migration is not new, of course, but the scale and urgency have increased. He saw this as a key sign of our times. And he responded pastorally, not politicallyjust as the Bible calls us to care for the poor and the stranger.

Our roadmap as a Church is still the Second Vatican Council. But it takes time to implement its vision. Pope Francis worked to move us forward, with a dynamic, people-centred vision of the Church. He saw the Church not just as an institution, but as the people of Godnot only for its members, but for all. Thats why he placed great emphasis on interreligious dialogue. This was not entirely new, but he advanced it significantly. One of his most important documents is the Document on Human Fraternity, which he co-signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. His predecessor, Pope Benedict, was a theologian who approached things more academically. Pope Francis, on the other hand, focused on building personal relationshipsfriendships and encounters. That is what led to such collaborative work.

Q: So Francis was more of an outward-looking Pope than one focused on theological depth?

A: He was still a theologian, but his theological approach was less academic and more pastoral. That, too, is a valid and meaningful way of doing theology. And he was shaped by his Jesuit spirituality, which emphasises discernment, mission and closeness to everyday life. He worked hard to communicate the core message of the Gospel in simple, accessible language. Thats why so many people felt touched by him. He spoke in images. For example, during the Angelus, instead of a formal greeting, he might say something like, Enjoy your lunch. That was his way of connecting with daily life and with ordinary people.

It is not that he rejected theologyfar from it. It is just that each Pope brings a different emphasis, and a different style for a different moment in history. Among his other major legacies is Laudato si, his encyclical on integral ecology. That document had a profound impactoften even more outside the Church than within it. I am French, and I remember how many political leaders, even non-Catholics, were moved by it. It had a global resonance.

He also introduced meaningful changes within the Vatican. For instance, he appointed more women to leadership roles. There were a few before, but he took significant stepsnow, for the first time, there are women heading major Vatican departments. That was unprecedented.

So yes, he gave a great deal to the Churchhelping it respond to todays realities. He was also among the first to speak of a third world war fought piecemeal, recognising the fragmented conflicts of our time. In such a turbulent world, he tried, like his predecessors, to offer roots for peace and dialogue.

Q: In your assessment, how difficult was it for Pope Francis to carry out his mission?

A: Of course, the mission of a Pope is never easy. He emphasised the need for changenot merely based on his vision but on the vision of the Second Vatican Council, which had already stressed that the Church is, above all, a divine-human mystery rooted in God. Before being an institution or a hierarchy, the Church is the people of God, the baptised community. For many years before the Second Vatican Council, the Church saw itself more as a pyramida hierarchical, institutional and juridical body. Pope Francis attempted to invert that pyramid. He often used this metaphor to describe his approach: turning the pyramid upside down to ensure listening, inclusivity and servant leadership. He believed leadership should be exercised through discernment and collaboration. That was truly what he did. He was elected by the Cardinals with a clear mandate: to advance reform in the Church.

Q: There was a purpose.

A: Yes, that was the purpose. The last Conclave carried out an assessment, and the Cardinals recognised a pressing need to reform the Church, particularly the Vatican. But the Vatican is not the entirety of the Churchthe Church is global. Francis, as the first Pope from outside Europe, helped the Church see itself as truly universal and multipolar, reflecting the realities of a multipolar world. I often cite this statistic: at the start of the 20th century, two-thirds of all Catholics were in Europe. Now, only about 20 per cent are in Europe.

As Europeans, we must learn to decentralise ourselves. Pope Francis helped the Church recognise that while our history has been shaped by Mediterranean, Greco-Roman and European culture, today the Church is everywhere. India, for instance, despite Catholics being a small minority, is now home to the largest number of religious sisters.

Pope Francis also helped the Church to understand that unity does not mean uniformity. True unity embraces diversity and plurality. He came at a time when the world was becoming more aware of such pluralityculturally, religiously and socially. Even countries like Italy, once almost exclusively Catholic, are now far more diverse. Francis encouraged the Church to be more welcoming of that diversity: caring for the poor, women, young people and all who have felt marginalised.

Q: You havent answered my question: how difficult was it for him to carry out this mission?

A: It was, indeed, difficult. As with any attempt to bring about change, resistance and fear are inevitable. That is a very human response, and it happens in every organisation. Pope Francis spoke often about the need to overcome what he called clericalisma way of exercising authority in an authoritarian, top-down manner. Clericalism does not affect only priests and bishops. Many lay people also, over the years, have taken a passive role, believing their job was only to receive instruction while clergy led the Church.

Francis called for the participation of everyone. He often repeated the phrase todos, todos, todos (everyone, everyone, everyone). The Church is for all, and he called everyone not just to sit passively in pews, but to get out, take initiative and participate actively in the Churchs mission. He knew that in todays world, the Churchs mission cannot be carried out by priests alone. It has to be a collective effort. While the role of bishops and priests remains crucial, the Pope understood he could achieve nothing alone. No leader, be it Pope, President or CEOcan enact meaningful change in isolation. He emphasised this vision of shared mission and collective leadership, including the collegial role of the bishops. Perhaps his Latin American background also influenced himthere is a stronger communal ethos there than in many Western countries, where individualism can dominate.

One powerful moment was during the pandemic. Do you remember when he prayed alone in St Peters Square, for the whole world? That moment captured his message perfectlywe are all in the same boat, interdependent. His leadership style was about involving everyone and staying connected with the people.

Q: The people who elected him as Pope in 2013 knew well what kind of person they were electing. But were they themselves shocked by the way he handled things and took positions on various issues?

A: Yes, but as I mentioned, I don't want to go too deep into that. However, I think it is fair to say that everyone, in some way, was shaken by Pope Francis. That is part of his impact. For example, a friend of mine, a nun living in a monastery, told me how much Pope Francis changed the way she sees people. Through him, she learned to be closer to others and to look without prejudice. That is just one examplebut I think many people, myself included, have been changed by his papacy.

Pope Francis constantly called us to self-reflection and conversion. He reminded us that all of usregardless of statusare human, fallible, and in need of transformation. His papal motto emphasised the mercy of God, and he lived by it. Just three days before his death, his final visit outside the Vatican was to a prison. He told the inmates, Coming here, I might as well be someone like you. That speaks volumes about his humility and his belief in human dignity. He called all of us to look inward, to change what needed changing. And thats never easy. Transformation is difficult and people respond differently.

One of his most important theological contributions was his emphasis on listening to the people. From the Second Vatican Council, we have the idea that the whole Church possesses a sensus fideia sense of faith. This means that the Holy Spirit does not only guide the Pope and bishops but also speaks through ordinary people, even children. Francis knew that God gave gifts to all people. He helped the Church recognise that truth doesnt reside only in the hierarchy, but can emerge from the whole community. This was a deep expression of his theology of the people, which he lived out every day.

Q: Did he try to create a new grammar of the Church or reinterpret it with his heart?

A: Yes, that is something I have tried to highlight, that he was very human and took into account all the dimensions of the human being. So of course, the mind, the spirit, the earth and the emotions. There is a story told about the last three Popes: people came to see John Paul II, they came to listen to Pope Benedict and they came to touch Pope Francis. It is a lovely anecdote. A cardinal shared it with me, having heard it from another cardinal who has since passed away. Each Pope has emphasised different aspects of the human and spiritual experience. That is the beauty of humanity: we are all human and yet we each bring a unique perspective. Travelling widely, I have felt this commonality among people, whether in India, Brazil or elsewhere. And yet, of course, there is great diversityin cultures, languages, ways of thinking and living.

Q: Was Francis, in a way, challenging the Eurocentric nature of the Church?

A: Yes, I believe so. Coming from a different culture and life experience, he naturally brought another perspective. And when you encounter people who are very different from you, that inevitably presents a challenge. That may explain why some people felt unsettled  they were used to a different way of expressing and relating.

Q: Could that be one reason why he faced such resistance, especially from cardinals who wrote letters and encyclicals criticising him, mostly from the English-speaking world?

A: Possibly. I prefer not to speak too much about that, but I often quote the Church historian John OMalley, a well-known Jesuit scholar in the United States. He wrote extensively on councils, synods and Church reform. He said that throughout the history of Church reform, wherever the Holy Spirit is working to bring about something significant, resistance inevitably follows. This was evident during the Second Vatican Council, for example. One of its key insights was that the Pope is not isolated, but part of the College of Bishops, what we call "collegiality. That concept faced substantial debate and resistance, yet it was vital.

This is part of the spiritual experience: where there is change, there is often fear. But Francis was also someone who listened, even to those who resisted him. He believed you could learn from them. If one emphasis becomes too strong, resistance can help rebalance things. That is how he worked, though I prefer not to go into too much detail on the criticism.

Q: The Church has always been male-dominated and largely remains so. What is your assessment of Pope Francis approach to gender equality?

A: I think he was deeply convinced, as is central to the Christian message, that all people have equal dignity. He had personal experiences, with his grandmother and other women in his life, that affirmed the importance of women. His approach was always about valuing everyone, including women. He took significant steps in that direction. Until the end, he strongly believed that more women needed to be involved in the Church, particularly in leadership roles. And not just in the Church, but also in broader society. He often repeated that involving women is key to peacebuilding.

Research has shown that women's involvement is a crucial element in achieving peace. We see the same in the corporate world. Leadership decisions tend to improve with greater gender diversity. Pope Francis also spoke out forcefully against discrimination. This issue is not confined to the Church, it is societal. Most societies have been shaped by patriarchal structures. I remember a very meaningful meeting at the Vatican with women from 12 different religions: Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and others. All of us acknowledged that while our scriptures affirm equality, our lived realities often do not reflect that. Francis sought to shift that. He took real steps to include women, including instituting ministries open to women for the first time and appointing them to leadership positions in the Vatican. He did his part.

Q: What did he say when he identified you and brought you into the Synod?

A: As I have said, for him it was very important to involve women. He understood that change would not be easy, so he was encouraging. He was grateful to the women already serving in the Vatican and gave us support, telling us to take heart.

Q: Did he advise you on how prepared you needed to be when you came to the Vatican?

A: No, not in that way. He expressed himself more through his actions. When he appoints someone, he entrusts them with responsibility. He did not tell me how to do thingsyou are just one among many, and you are trusted to do your part. It was experimental in some ways, but not entirely new. There were already women in other dicasteries and departments. But step by step, he wanted more women involved. By the end, there were 54 women in the Synodall with voting rights. That was unprecedented.

Q: With voting rights, that is historic.

A: Yes, absolutely. It was the first time women were given voting rights in the Synod. For Pope Francis, action spoke louder than words. He did not just talk about inclusion, he made decisions that made it real.

Q: How was your experience as a woman with voting rights in the Synod and as part of the Vatican structure?

A: I think it was a very positive experience, not only for me but for all the women involved. The Synod followed a method that genuinely gave space for everyones voice.

There was a maturation process  the first assembly in October 2023, and the second in October 2024. You could see it was a learning-by-doing process. Thats how Pope Francis approaches things: put people together and let them grow together.

We learned to listen to one another. As women, we were truly at the same tables as the cardinals. And I saw with my own eyes how different bishops had different levels of experience working with women  some were used to it, others not at all.

I remember sitting at a table discussing the role of bishops  I was the only woman. Ive worked closely with bishops for years, including ten years at the French Episcopal Conference. I brought my experience to the discussion, respectfully, of course.

At the end, one bishop told me, "Thank you for what you brought  it really helped us." At first, he couldnt imagine such a collaboration, but once he experienced it, his perspective changed. Thats the key  it has to be experiential. Thats Pope Francis great gift: he opened up new experiences, for women and for others.

Q: Did you face any discrimination in the Vatican?

A: It depends. Yes, Ive faced difficulties  whether Id call it discrimination is more complicated. But definitely, there were challenges.

Much depends on cultural context. In France, I never experienced certain difficulties I encountered here in Italy. I also spent time in the United States, so I can say this experience has been unique.

Many of these challenges are unconscious. Biases are often not intentional  theyre ingrained. For instance, Ive experienced being the only woman in a meeting, saying something that wasnt really acknowledged, only for a male priest to say the same thing and have it accepted.

Thats happened many times. And its not unique to the Vatican  women in finance, politics, and many other sectors tell similar stories.

Of course, not all men are like that, and I dont want to generalise. Ive also had very positive experiences and good collaborations. It varies.

Ultimately, this is about a shift in mindset  and that takes time. Pope Francis helped move us forward, but theres still a long road ahead.

Q: How did you overcome all these difficulties within a structure that is so male-dominated and centuries-old?

A: I am always thinking of so many women all around the world. What I experience here, and what I try to do, is like what many women in your countries are doingwe try simply to persevere. For me, its about enduring, being patient, and coping with the difficulties, because ultimately its about following Christ and serving the Church where you are. Even before, I faced different kinds of challengesthats part of life. You can also cope with that if you find mutual support and spaces where you can take some distance. In the end, its about being truly rooted in your faith. For me, I could only deal with it spiritually, I would say.

Q: Can we call Pope Francis a feminist Pope?

A: That depends on what you mean by feminist. But yes, we can say he was a Pope who was close to women and who wanted to work with women and support them. At the heart of it, its about mutual support. I don't know if we can use the term feminist because of its political connotations, but he was certainly close to many women and really wanted to dismantle patterns of dominationthat was his vision. I often refer to Laudato Sihis vision is that everything is interconnected. In that sense, its about shifting from a model of domination to one of cooperation. Pope Francis understood that men and women need to work together in partnership for the sake of the mission. As I often say, we are always better together as men and women.

If he did so much for women, it was also because he listened to the people. During the synodal process, voices from all over the world called urgently for greater space, participation, and leadership for women. People are crying out for thatand not only women. Increasingly, men also want a better way of respecting one another. Pope Francis listened to all of them, to women and to people from every continent urging the Church and society to be inclusive. And that, of course, includes women. When you look at the statistics, women are often the first victims of conflict, violence, unemployment, and poverty. Pope Francis was deeply connected to the poor, and he knew that women were among the most affected. But he also recognised the resilience and the gifts of womenand that those gifts are meant to benefit everyone.

Q: But he couldn't do anything when it came to the priesthood for women?

A: Yes, because his vision focused on what he saw as most importantand the road he chose to follow was to empower women in governance and leadership. He emphasised that one does not need to be ordained in order to lead. For example, he appointed a layman as head of a dicastery at the Vatican for the first time, and now women have also been appointed. For him, de-clericalising the Church was key. He believed that involving women in leadership was the real path forward. He repeatedly stressed that many leadership positions do not require ordination. Perhaps also because

Q: Was that a convincing argument?

A: What I can say is that its a key issue. When I listennot only to myself, but to otherslike women priests and bishops in other churches, such as the Anglican Church, even they say that, despite being ordained, they still feel unheard. Recently, the Bishop of London said during the General Synod that womeneven bishopsstill experience microaggressions. So she made it clear that ordination alone does not resolve everything. Its ultimately about a change of mindset.

Q: Are you really convinced that women can't be priests? Whether they are considered equal even after ordination is a different issue.

A: I am here to serve the Church and to support a process. What matters most is not my personal opinion. At the moment, within the Catholic Church, this is not an open question, so I wont express myself on it. But what I am convinced oflike Pope Francisis that the most urgent and important need today is a change of mindset. Yes, its cultural before anything else. Its about transforming mentalities.

Pope Francis truly wanted to give people hope in a very desperate world. I often say he was the Pope of joy. He helped people understand that, even in dark and difficult times, we can still find hopeespecially when we are together and when we receive life from God. That is why his work was so necessary. The greatest need we saw during the synodal process was this: people everywhere want to be heard, to feel welcome. Pope Francis understood that profoundly. People are yearning for hopeand thats a message to women too.

When I was appointed, it wasnt just about me. The symbolic importance of appointing a woman to this positionand to others where previously only men had servedwas a source of joy and hope for so many people. Thats what matters.

Q: Now that Pope Francis is no more, how do you see the future of women in the Catholic Church?

A: Im very, very confident. What Pope Francis did was guided, we believe, by the Holy Spirit. The Church is in God's hands. Every Pope since the Second Vatican Council has contributed to advancing the role of women, and that journey will continue. Its a path that keeps unfolding. Pope Francis made significant strides, and I believe we live in a world where we cannot go backwards. I am confident about the Churchs future.

Q: Do you think Pope Franciss legacy will be carried forward in the right spirit?

A: I think everyone here, since Pope Franciss death, has been recognising the importance of his legacyand that it will be continued. So yes, Im confident.

Q: Are you hopeful or confident that the Church will get a successor to Pope Francis who will continue his policies and approach?

A: Im very confident. As I said from the beginning, the Church is in Gods handsand that is my faith. I feel a deep peace. Here, in this moment, there is a strong sense of peacefulness. I also believe the Holy Spirit acts with coherence. Each Pope has his own style and emphasis, but the question of women is now so importantand its not only coming from women. Young people especially are raising these concerns. I dont see how this issue can be ignored. And its not just about women.

Q: Pope Francis also highlighted more political issues, such as concern for the environment, the poor, and migrants. Do you expect the Church to continue to prioritise those concerns?

A: I believe the Churchs priorities are based on what it sees as essential for the world today. Yes, the Church helps people connect with Godbut God is with us, in our human reality. When we look at todays challengesmigration, environmental degradation, conflict, warwhat Pope Francis offered was a profound response to all of this. His efforts were recognised by so many. The presence of global leaders at his funeral demonstrated how deeply people are yearning for ways to live peacefully together and face these shared challenges. The Church will continue because these problems are not going away overnight.

Thats why the Cardinals, in their discernment, are asking: What is the state of the world? And what does the Church need to be in this worldnot the world of fifty years ago? Everyone, including the people, is emphasising the same message: we must continue the work that has already been done.
There are moments in history that catch the world off guardnot because they are wholly unexpected, but because they signify a deeper, almost primal longing for change. The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is one of those moments. As the white smoke billowed above the Sistine Chapel, signalling the conclaves decision, it wasnt just a choice of leadership; it was a resounding call back to the essence of faithunadorned, raw, and deeply human.

Pope Leo XIV is a man who bridges worlds. Born in Chicago to a French father and an Italian mother, and later a missionary in Peru where he earned citizenship, he embodies a mosaic of cultures. But its not just his passport stamps that matter; its his lifes worka tireless devotion to the margins of society, the very places where Christ himself walked and healed. Perus President Dina Boluarte called it a historic moment for Peru and the world, acknowledging that he is a Peruvian citizen by choice and heart. When he spoke in Spanish to his former diocese during his first address, there was an authenticity that resonatednot a gesture of political convenience but of genuine connection.

The Underdogs Day and the Legacy of Leo XIII

Make no mistake, this is a victory for the underdog. Pope Leo XIVs election is a torch carried forward from the windswept hills of Assisi to the barrios of Lima. His predecessor, Pope Francis, shattered conventions with his humility and his insistence that the Church serve the least among us. He took on the curia, challenged political norms, and knelt to wash the feet of prisoners and refugees. Pope Leo XIVs rise signals not a departure but a resurrection of that very spirita commitment to serve, to build bridges, and to remind the Church of its original mission: to heal, to love, and to serve without judgment.

It is no coincidence that Cardinal Prevost chose the name Leo. Historically, the name Leo is a clarion call to social justice and radical compassion. Pope Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903, is widely regarded as the father of Catholic social teaching. His encyclical Rerum Novarum was a thunderous declaration that the Church stood with workers, the poor, and the marginaliseda manifesto that echoed the teachings of Christ himself. Leo XIII redefined the Churchs role in the modern world, dragging it from its aristocratic isolation into the grime and struggle of industrial life. Pope Leo XIV is poised to do the same, but this time in a fractured, digitised, and deeply divided world.

The Great Reformers: Echoes of John XXIII and Gregory the Great

To understand the magnitude of Pope Leo XIVs election, its worth stepping back into Church history. In 1958, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church elected a man they assumed would be a gentle caretaker of tradition: Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who took the name John XXIII. What the world did not anticipate was the Second Vatican Councila seismic shift in the Churchs relationship with the modern world. John XXIII threw open the windows of the Vatican, letting fresh air into its ancient halls. He called for aggiornamentoa bringing up to dateallowing the Church to engage with contemporary society in a language it could understand.

Pope Leo XIVs mission hints at a similar spirit. His global perspective, his experience in the slums of Peru, and his insistence on unity echo John XXIIIs bold outreach. Like the Second Vatican Councils sweeping changes, Leo XIVs papacy could well be a new aggiornamentonot just for the Churchs politics but for its soul. His seamless switching between Italian and Spanish during his first speech signalled more than linguistic fluency; it was a statement of inclusivity, a sign that this papacy would speak to all corners of the globe, especially the forgotten ones.

Then, there is the legacy of Gregory the Great, a sixth-century pope who reshaped the papacy itself. Gregory understood that to lead spiritually, the Church had to lead socially. He reformed the Churchs structures, sent missionaries to pagan England, and brokered peace with invading Lombards. Gregorys papacy marked the beginning of the Church as a stabilising force in the chaos of medieval Europe. Pope Leo XIVs election whispers of this same stabilising potential in our fractured worldan anchor in the storm, a beacon for the marginalised.

The Jesus Line: A Direct Connection

Both Francis and Leo XIV seem to have tapped into a line of communication that bypasses the bureaucratic entanglements of Vatican protocol. Their messages are blunt, clear, and disarmingly honest. For Pope Francis, it was his call for humility and his challenge to the entrenched power of the Church. For Pope Leo XIV, its the continuation of that legacy with an eye toward unity and healing. During his speech, he made it plain: We can all walk together towards that homeland God has prepared for us. It was an echo of Franciss own wordsan invitation, not a command.

When he addressed the crowd in St. Peters Square, he didnt speak of grandeur or legacy. He spoke of peace. May peace be with you, he said, and you could almost feel the collective exhale. Ave Maria followed, and as the crowds joined in, a deep hum resonated across the squarea spiritual vibration that felt like a heartbeat. It was a stark reminder of Christianity stripped of its gilded edges, returning to its simplest, most profound form.

Trumps Dilemma and the Navel of Leo

There is a poetic irony in the reactions from world leaders. Donald Trump called it a great honour to have an American pope, but the reality is far from his understanding of nationalism. Leo XIV may be American by birth, but his soul is global. His formative years were spent in Peru, living among the poor, the indigenous, and the displaced. This is no America First pope. His vision is profoundly universal, echoing the Jesuit calling of his predecessor. In Leo XIV, you can almost see the resurrection of Pope Francisnot as a mere legacy but as a spiritual continuum. Argentina and Peru are kindred spirits for Francis and Leo, a reminder that Catholicisms heart often beats strongest far from the marble halls of Rome.

Back to Basics: The Lubricant of Ritual

Heres the real revolution: Pope Leo XIV, like Francis, seems intent on stripping the faith back to its bare essentials. The Vaticans rituals and splendour, its vast institutions and political sway, are to be seen not as ends in themselves but as mere lubricants for the true engine of the Churchfaith and service. His message is clear: the gold and marble are not the message. They are the vehicle.

It is a return to Christs own methodswalking among the poor, embracing the sick, and confronting the powerful. In Leo XIIIs time, it was the rise of industrialism and labour oppression. Today, it is climate collapse, mass migration, and social fragmentation. Leo XIVs mission appears to be the same: confront power with compassion, heal with humility, and remind the world that Christianity, at its core, is radical, subversive love.

The Underdogs Hallelujah

So, yes, it is a good day for the underdog. Pope Leo XIVs ascension is a call back to the basics: humility, service, and unity. It is a reminder that the essence of Christianity is neither pomp nor politics but the simple act of reaching outbuilding bridges across divides that have long seemed insurmountable. And perhaps most importantly, its a reminder that the Church, at its best, is a reflection of Christs love, not just in gilded cathedrals but in the dirt and dust of everyday life.

The spirit of St. Francis lives in Leo XIV. The voice of Leo XIII echoes in his choice of name. The heart of Pope Francis beats on, now through the navel of Leo. Watch the underdog rise. Hallelujah.
Sai Pallavi, an actress who primarily works in Tamil and Telugu cinema, turns 33 today! From Premam to Thandel, she has won the hearts of many with her captivating performances and mesmerising dance skills. Take a look at a few of her best
Even if the end of World War II in Europe spawned one of the most joyous days the continent ever lived, Thursdays 80th anniversary of V-E Day is haunted as much by the specter of current-day conflict as it celebrates the defeat of ultimate evil.

Hitlers Nazi Germany had finally surrendered after a half-decade of invading other European powers and propagating racial hatred that led to genocide, the Holocaust and the murdering of millions.

That surrender and the explosion of hope for a better life is being celebrated with parades in London and Paris and towns across Europe while even the leaders of erstwhile mortal enemies are bonding again.

Germany itself again expressed gratitude for the change that May 8, 1945 brought  to the world and to itself.

It was Germans who unleashed this criminal war and dragged all of Europe with them into the abyss, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told parliament. Today, 80 years later, our profound thanks still go to the Allied soldiers and the European resistance movements who mustered all their strength and endured great losses in order to defeat the Nazi regime.

Gloomy outlook

His comments underscore that former European enemies may thrive  to the extent that the 27-nation European Union even won the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize  but that the outlook has turned gloomy over the past year.

Bodies continue to pile up in Ukraine, where Russias 2022 full-scale invasion started the worst war on the continent since 1945. The rise of the hard right in several EU member states is putting the founding democratic principles of the bloc under increasing pressure.

We are not celebrating this 8 May today in a spirit of calm self-assurance. Because we can see that freedom is not the grand finale of history, Steinmeier warned. We therefore no longer need to ask: Did 8 May free us? But we ask: How can we stay free?

Such warnings made the continuation of the unlikely stretch of peace in most of Europe anything but a given.

And even NATO, the trans-Atlantic military alliance that assured peace in Europe under the U.S. nuclear umbrella and its military clout, is under internal strain rarely seen since its inception.

There too, the German president, who has a largely ceremonial role but embodies the moral resolve of the nation, also took a not-so-veiled swipe at the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump, saying the way the United States is turning away from the international order is a shock on an entirely new scale.

U.S. contributions to the war effort

The United States was instrumental in turning the tide of the war in Europe, invading along with Allies the D-Day beaches in Frances Normandy on June 6, 1944 in what proved to be the tipping point of the war in Europe that inexorably led to the invasion of Germany and the defeat of Hitler.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed Thursday as a day for the United States to celebrate victory in World War II, insisting the country should better recognize its essential role in the war.

We are going to start celebrating our victories again! he said.

The war did drag on beyond Europe especially in the Pacific against Japan, but even Taiwan joined in marking the day for the first time  and highlighting current-day threats. Instead of Russia, it was centering on China, its immediate rival. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

Military aggression against another country is an unjust crime that is bound to fail, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said.

He added that both Taiwan and Europe were now facing the threat of a new authoritarian bloc.

European celebrations

Commemorations have been going all week through Europe, and Britain has taken a lead. Here too, the current-day plight of Ukraine in its fight against Russia took center stage.

The idea that this was all just history and it doesnt matter now somehow, is completely wrong, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. Those values of freedom and democracy matter today.

In London, a service was held at Westminster Abbey, where the royal family took time to chat with the veterans, bending over to hear the older veterans in wheelchairs, many of whom the royals have now met at previous services.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to oversee a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe.

And in Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz will again highlight how Germany has remodeled itself into a beacon of European democracy by laying a wreath at the central memorial for the victims of war and tyranny.

And, symbolically, Russia and President Vladimir Putin will be totally out of lockstep with the rest of Europe, celebrating its Victory Day one day later with a huge military parade on Red Square in central Moscow to mark the massive Soviet contribution to defeat Nazi Germany.

(AP)
A Manhattan man with alleged ties to anti-Israel terror groups has been indicted on federal hate crime charges after authorities say he violently assaulted three visibly Jewish victims at pro-Israel demonstrations over a nine-month span.

Tarek Bazrouk, 20, was arrested Wednesday morning and now faces three counts of hate crimes, each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. The indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of New York, with Bazrouk set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron later today.

According to prosecutors, Bazrouk carried out a campaign of targeted violence between April 2024 and January 2025, repeatedly attacking Jewish individuals at public protests related to the Israel-Gaza war. Authorities say each assault was premeditated and motivated by a virulent hatred of Jews.

In a chilling series of attacks laid out in the indictment, Bazrouk is accused of kicking a Jewish college student in the stomach near the New York Stock Exchange while wearing a green headband associated with Hamas; punching another student in the face at a protest near a Manhattan university; and, just weeks later, deliberately tripping and then punching a third victimwho was draped in an Israeli flagin the nose on East 18th Street.

Despite being arrested after the first two attacks, Bazrouk allegedly returned to the streets undeterred.

This was not random violenceit was targeted, ideological, and deeply hateful, said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. The defendant allegedly assaulted these individuals solely because they were Jewish. We will not allow our city to become a place where religious identity puts people at risk.

The FBI, NYPD, and federal prosecutors described a disturbing portrait of the accused. A forensic search of Bazrouks cellphone revealed messages in which he referred to himself as a Jew hater, praised Hamas, referred to Jews as worthless, and celebrated having family members involved in Hamas. His phone was reportedly filled with pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah propaganda.

These attacks were not only assaults on individuals, but on the fundamental right of all New Yorkers to express their faith without fear, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in this citynot in word, and certainly not in violent action.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Back in November, Yeshiva World News published a controversial mailbag article titled Why Im Voting For Kamala Harris Over Donald Trump, And Why You Should Too. Many of you will remember itnot necessarily for its content, but for the uproar it caused.

The writer made a compelling, if unpopular, case: that Kamala Harris represents a steadier and more principled approach to foreign policy, while Donald Trumps decisions are more impulsive, more ego-driven, and more transactional than ideological. He warned that Trumps alliance with Israel wasnt based on shared values, mutual respect, or any enduring strategybut rather on whether leaders like him or not. And he concluded, quite boldly, that this type of relationship was risky and unsustainable.

The backlash was instant and brutal.

The comments flooded in: What did you smoke before writing this article?  Utter fool  Trash  I cant believe YWN published this. The outrage was deafening. The reaction wasnt just disagreementit was dismissal. Condescension. Derision. As if the very possibility of Trump being anything other than Israels best friend was laughable.

And yet, here we are.

Today, Yeshiva World News reported that Trumps relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu has reached a low point. Trump has reportedly run out of patience, and is moving ahead with his Middle East agenda without Israel. The shocker? Hes now pushing a deal with Saudi Arabiaeven if it means leaving Israel out of the picture entirely.

Let that sink in.

Trump, the supposed best friend Israel ever had, is now ready to cut a nuclear deal with Riyadheven if it doesnt include normalization with Israel. Under Biden, those nuclear talks were tied to a broader package that required Saudi recognition of Israel. Trump? Hes done waiting. He wants the deal, Israel or no Israel.

Now lets be honest: this should not be shocking. Its exactly what that November mailbag writer predicted. His warning was never that Trump was anti-Israelit was that Trump is pro-Trump, and that our communitys trust in him is built more on emotion and campaign slogans than any stable, ethical framework.

That writer was mocked for saying Trumps foreign policy was based on personal loyalty rather than democratic values or long-term vision. Todays news proves his point.

And it forces us to ask hard questions: Did we put our trust in someone who saw our support as a tool to be used and discarded? Were we seduced by slogans and photo ops, while ignoring the real risks of hitching ourselves to a man with no consistent principles?

Its time we recognize that short-sighted loyalty can be dangerous. Trump knew how to speak our language. He gave us embassy moves and peace deals that felt good. But now, when the politics shift, he walks awayand expects us to follow anyway.

This isnt about Kamala Harris anymore. Its not even about left or right. Its about learning to distinguish between performative friendship and real strategic alliance.

In hindsight, that ridiculous mailbag article mightve been one of the most prescient pieces published on this site in a long time. Maybe we owe that anonymous writer an apology.

Or at least a second read.

Signed,

Shlomo Zalman Rabinowitz

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
Russia on Friday celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, as President Vladimir Putin presided over a massive parade of tanks, missiles and troops through Red Square and welcomed over two dozen world leaders  the most since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

Victory Day, which Russia marks on May 9, is the countrys most important secular holiday. The parade and other festivities underline Moscows efforts to project its global power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West amid the conflict in Ukraine that is grinding through a fourth year.

Fridays parade was the largest since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 and drew the most global leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests like Chinese President Xi Jinping, who sat next to Putin, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Their attendance underscored how Putin has tried to emphasize the failure of the West to turn Russia into a global pariah.

Its again showing that Russia is not isolated, that Russia is seen as a very legitimate victorious nation that is among victors in World War II, said Alexander Gabuev, director of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

Russia is standing tall among the so-called global majority, Gabuev said, adding that the attendance of Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico showed that Russia has allies even within the Western camp and marked a major public relations victory for Putin.

World War II is a rare event in the nations divisive history under Communist rule that is revered by all political groups, and the Kremlin has used that sentiment to encourage national pride and underline Russias position as a global power.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar in the national psyche.

Addressing the crowd in Red Square, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.

Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 years, has turned Victory Day into a key pillar of his tenure and has tried to use it to justify his action in Ukraine.

For Putin, Victory Day celebrations have become a civic religion that boosts patriotism, nationalism, nostalgia, and justifies both his repressive regime at home and Russias increasingly expansionist foreign policy abroad, particularly including towards its neighbors, Gabuev said.

The parade featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, huge Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square.

Fighter jets of Russian air forces aerobatic teams flew by in close formation, followed by jets that trailed smoke in the colors of the national flag.

Afterward, Putin shook hands with Russian generals who led the troops onto Red Square and spoke to medal-bedecked senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them.

Last month, Putin thanked North Korea for fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces and hailed their sacrifices as Pyongyang confirmed its deployment for the first time.

The Russian and North Korean statements emphasized their expanding military partnership, especially after Russia said its troops have fully reclaimed the Kursk region that Ukrainian forces seized in a surprise incursion last year. Ukraine denied the claim.

Victory Day festivities this year were overshadowed by Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capitals airports. Aeroflot on Wednesday canceled more than 100 flights to and from Moscow, and delayed over 140 others as the military repelled Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital.

Russian authorities tightened security ahead of the parade and cellphone internet outages were reported amid electronic countermeasures aimed at foiling more potential drone attacks.

Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting May 7 to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations, but warned that Russian troops would retaliate to any attacks. Moscow has been reluctant to accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day truce that Ukraine has accepted, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies to Ukraine and Kyivs mobilization effort, conditions Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected.

Ukrainian authorities reported scores of Russian strikes Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings. A Russian drone also struck a civilian vehicle in Zaporizhzhia, critically injuring a man and also wounding his wife.

As the parade and other festivities unfolded in Moscow, dozens of European officials met in Lviv, in western Ukraine, to endorse the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes.

Russia needs to feel our common and, most importantly, growing strength, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, addressing the Lviv meeting. He emphasized the need for Russia to be held accountable, adding that this is the moral duty of Europe and of everyone in the world who values human life.

Im sure that this tribunal will allow for the fight against impunity against all war crimes that have been committed during this war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

Russian authorities have fiercely denied allegations of war crimes.

Barrot also said European allies have agreed on another package of sanctions against Russia.

Standing alongside top Ukrainian government officials in Lviv, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the tribunals launch will mean that nobody can be left unpunished for the crimes committed.

Most of Europe marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II on May 8.

(AP)
The information gap surrounding the departure from Venezuela of Maria Corina Machados five associates, who had been taking refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas for more than 400 days, continues to be filled by the main opposition leader and her allies. The precision operation, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it, to extricate the opposition members is now known as Operation Guacamaya. It had been in the works for some time and, according to Machado herself in an interview with an online television channel Thursday night, is proof  in her opinion  of the vulnerability of Nicolas Maduros government.

They think theyre unbeatable because they have the weapons, the money, and the control, Machado said. The second most-heavily guarded facility in Venezuela, after Miraflores (the presidential residence), was the Argentine Embassy, surrounded by elite forces, and they couldnt detect what was coming and what happened. Machado insists that the Maduro government was caught unawares and dismissed the versions provided by Minister of the Interior and Justice Diosdado Cabello  the only ones that have emerged from within the Chavista regime  about a supposed negotiation.

Who do Venezuelans believe? Diosdado Cabello, or Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Argentine government, and the Brazilian Foreign Ministry? While saying this, he sent his troops to (political activist and Machados campaign leader) Magalli Medas house to raid it. This contradictory and erratic attitude shows that they continue to make mistakes, the opposition leader said.

On Thursday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson also denied that the politicians release was the result of negotiations and assured that when new details regarding the extraction of the opposition members become available, they will be shared through U.S. spokespersons. What I do know is that these people are now out of danger while we continue working to rescue more people, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a press conference.

Machado avoided providing details of how the extraction of Meda, Claudia Macero, Pedro Urruchurtu, Omar Gonzalez, and Hector Villalobos was orchestrated, arguing that she needed to protect those involved. Operation Guacamaya was complex and carried out with such precision and perfection. We must protect everyone involved, including the freed hostages. The entire country understands that we must act with secrecy and confidentiality. This fight has new stages, she asserted.

This is part of this entire journey that began when we managed to hold the primaries, went to the July 28 elections, and managed to demonstrate [Chavismos] defeat. Now we have managed to demonstrate that we were also able to penetrate that security ring, that last remaining line, which is their repressive system, Machado insisted.

The opposition leader also confirmed that her mother, Corina Parisca, had left Venezueal. Cabello had claimed that Parisca left via Maiquetia Airport on a flight to Colombia, providing alleged photographs and images of her passport and boarding pass. Machado did not say where Parisca is now, but assured that she is fine. She didnt want to leave. Weve been asking her to leave for months because they cut off her water and electricity and placed surveillance on her home. Her children and grandchildren persuaded her.

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It did not come timely or easily, but New York Governor Kathy Hochul just signed the states 2025-26 budget, and the good news is that it contains several bright spots for the Orthodox community.

The budget contains a significantly enhanced Empire State Child Credit for parents; security and universal school food for yeshivas and nonpublic schools; and groundbreaking legislation for yeshiva autonomy. Agudath Israel is thankful to see many of its critical legislative priorities come to fruition.

Yeshiva Autonomy

Perhaps the most foundational legislation for the community this session is the bill newly defining safe harbors that nonpublic schools may avail themselves of to demonstrate substantial equivalency. The autonomy and right for our schools to operate according to our mesorah (tradition) is of paramount importance, said Avrohom Weinstock, Chief of Staff of Agudath Israel. Agudath Israel played a significant role in this legislation, following its engagement in this effort for nearly a decade. This bill was a contentious, multi-year, uphill battle, and it is sure to have a lasting positive impact on many of our schools. We are especially appreciative of the government leaders who helped make this bill a reality: Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblymembers Michael Benedetto and Simcha Eichenstein. We are also proud of the work that was done by a coalition of activists who worked tirelessly together with all of our champions in the Legislature to get this law enacted.

Helping Families

Agudah hails the expansion of the Empire State Child Credit to a $1,000 tax credit per child for children under four and $500 for children ages four to seventeen for middle income families. The Empire State Child Credit has been a long-time priority of Agudath Israel, and its expansion is especially meaningful to communities like ours which tend to have large numbers of children. We are grateful that Governor Hochul shared this vision and made this expansion a priority, describing it in her State of the State address in January and inserting it into the executive budget. Agudath Israel also thanks State Senator Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi for introducing and championing this legislation.

Antisemitism

The budget increases penalties for criminals convicted of harassing or menacing while wearing a mask. Although the Agudah supported a more expansive version of this initiative introduced by Senator James Skoufis and Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz, this legislation represents a substantive step toward combating the spate of masked intimidation we have witnessed targeting Jews.

Funding to Nonpublic Schools

On the fiscal side, the budget allocates over $400 million for nonpublic schools. Among the highlights are:

Security: With antisemitic hate crimes at record levels, the budget once again allocates to the NPSE (Nonpublic School Safety Equipment Grant) Program $70 million, a considerable increase over previous years. The budget also allocates $35 million for the Securing Communities against Hate Crimes Program which provides capital funding for security enhancements at schools, community centers, summer camps and other at-risk facilities.

Mandated Services: MSA (Mandated Services Aid) and CAP (Comprehensive Attendance Policy), a concept pioneered by the late president of Agudath Israel, Rabbi Moshe Sherer, zl, is the primary funding vehicle for NY yeshivas and nonpublic schools. It reimburses schools for services they provide at the behest of the state such as attendance taking, pupil data, testing, and other items. After years of shortfalls, the budget allocates over $230 million. While we applaud the significant increase, it will still be insufficient to cover the full projected costs and prior year shortfalls. Agudah will continue to advocate for increased funding to fully compensate schools for the mandated services they perform.

In addition, STEM reimbursement, which has been a focus of Teach NYS, was increased to $85.5 million this year.

Universal School Lunch: School meals are one of the farthest-reaching anti-hunger programs for school-aged children, yet the free and reduced-price payment structure had left many students behind. This year, for the first time, New York State will be fully funding school lunch, so every child will be eligible for healthy, nutritious meals. Agudah was proud to be an active member of a statewide coalition advocating for universal free meals for the past three years. Credit goes to Governor Hochul as well as to Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who were the legislative sponsors of this initiative.

This years legislative achievements are also a testament to the efforts of the many grassroots supporters who trekked to Albany with us during our advocacy days, met with legislators in the district, responded to our action alerts, and sent emails to their elected officials. Agudah is also privileged to work with other nonpublic school advocates such as Teach NYS and the NYS Catholic Conference.

We are incredibly grateful for this budget, said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director of New York Government Relations, who led the Agudah advocacy efforts. These legislative and fiscal gains will benefit families, yeshiva autonomy, and individuals across the state. Credit goes to Governor Hochul, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for listening to the concerns of our community when passing this budget.
Judge Menachem Mizrachi, the President of the Rishon LTzion Magistrates court, slammed the police on Thursday for their conduct in the Qatargate affair, including their overnight arrest of Yonatan Urich, a former advisor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who is a suspect in the affair.

The police re-arrested Urich only minutes before he was due to be released from house arrest. The police summoned him for questioning on Wednesday evening and his wife was told to pick him up at 8:00 p.m. However, after she arrived, along with her baby, she was forced to wait outside the building until 12:30 a.m., when she was informed that the interrogation was over and her husband had been re-arrested.

Mizrachi rapped the police, saying that Urichs arrest was unlawful. What happened that he was arrested? he asked. He came to the investigation, said things that you thought were contradictory, and you decided to arrest him? Did he obstruct something? Did he try to flee the country?

The police representative replied: Additional people were arrested, and as a result, the suspicion against him has strengthened.

Mizrachi then demanded an explanation for why the decision to arrest Urich was made by a police officer rather than appealing to the court. What is the source of the legal authority of the officer who ordered his arrest? You cant arrest people like that. Hes not a robber who emerged from a bank with a gun.

The investigator claimed that the new information arrived only in the late evening hours, but the judge remarked in response: It is incomprehensible why the investigative unit did not rush to the court to request a new order as it has done in the past! The court is available 24 hours.

The police representative could not provide a clear answer and replied: I have nothing to answer to His Honor.

Mizrachi expressed astonishment regarding the nature of the investigation, saying: Regarding the extension of detention, the feeling creeps in that the investigation is racing ahead without anyone stopping and asking themselves what crime has been committed here?

Mizrachi also asked why other suspects were not under house arrest, and why house arrest was requested for some suspects but not for others. I have never seen anything like this, he said.

Mizrachi added that he will not agree to the request to extend Urichs arrest, and no court that is concerned for human liberty would allow it.

The judge also criticized the fact that the suspects have been under house arrest for over 30 days, and no information has been provided about their alleged obstruction of investigative procedures.

The decision to re-arrest Urich was made with the approval of the State Attorney and the Attorney General.

Strategic consultant Shlomo Filber responded to the dramatic development: Not a single legal reporter! Not even one! pondered or questioned for a moment the trampling of the rights of those interrogated in Israel. There is not even one tzaddik in Sodom. Busha, busha, busha!

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has confirmed that American military action against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels will hinge not on attacks against Israel, but on whether American citizens are harmed.

Speaking to Israels Channel 12 News, Huckabee defended the recent surprise ceasefire agreement between the United States and the Houthisbrokered without Israeli inputjust days after a Houthi ballistic missile struck the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six and prompting international flight suspensions. The United States isnt required to get permission from Israel to make arrangements to stop Houthi fire on our ships, he said, brushing aside concerns of coordination with Americas key Middle East ally.

Ambassador Huckabee emphasized that U.S. retaliation would only come into play if they hurt an American. With approximately 700,000 U.S. citizens living in Israel, the ambassador acknowledged the risk but drew a stark line: attacks on Israel alone do not automatically warrant American military response.

The ceasefire, announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week, caught Israeli officials off guard and drew fierce criticism in Jerusalem. The Houthis, undeterred, declared their campaign against Israel would continuean assertion Trump dismissed with indifference: Ill discuss that if something happens.

The developments come amid a fresh wave of Houthi hostilities, including a drone attack intercepted over Israel and a missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport. In response, Israel launched a punishing series of airstrikes against Houthi assets in Yemen, culminating in what the IDF called the complete disabling of Sanaa International Airport.

The Houthis, whose slogan includes Death to America, Death to Israel, have vowed to escalate retaliation for the Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, their continued aggressionpaired with Americas calculated detachmenthas sparked alarm among Israeli defense officials who fear a dangerous new chapter of strategic divergence between the longtime allies.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Israeli government confirmed there are no signs of life from three of the 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas, sparking a new wave of grief and frustration among families. Two of the captives are foreign nationalsBipin Joshi of Nepal and Pinta Nattapong of Thailandand one is an Israeli soldier, Tamir Nimrodi.

An Israeli official speaking Thursday said, No signs of life have been received from them since shortly after the outbreak of the war. The confirmation came just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that, while 21 hostages are definitively alive, the status of three others is now in serious doubt.

The statement, following remarks by both Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, shattered the fragile hope held by many families. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office earlier this week, remarked that three hostages had diedappearing to contradict Israels official count.

At a press briefing Thursday, the Prime Ministers Office reiterated that Israel will never give up on retrieving all its citizens. Yet families say the governments rhetoric does not match its priorities. A leaked IDF document ranking the return of the hostages last among six military goals in Gaza has only intensified public outcry.

For Cherut Nimrodi, mother of captive IDF soldier Tamir Nimrodi, the silence has been unbearable. Theres no new information, she said. But now, after Sara Netanyahu and Trump both raised the issue, the fear is back in full force. Im very worried. I cant even describe what that means to me.

Hostage families have called on Netanyahu to pause the military offensive until all hostages are released, labeling their return as Israels most urgent national mission. But the IDF is pressing ahead with a large-scale ground campaign in Gaza, having received cabinet approval to fully conquer and hold the Strip.

Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain active. Arab nations, including Jordan, are reportedly pressuring Hamas to accept a deal, and Israeli officials hope U.S. President Trumps upcoming visit to the region will tip the balance. We are saying: take this deal now, an official told The Times of Israel. Because if war resumes, the terms will be far worse.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A political firestorm is engulfing Israels security and political elite as two former Mossad operatives are now under investigation for allegedly working with Qatari intelligence, dramatically escalating the so-called Qatargate scandal that has already ensnared close advisers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The suspectsboth once senior figures in Israels vaunted intelligence communityare believed to have maintained ties with Qatari officials and engaged in business dealings that may have compromised national security, Channel 12 reported Thursday. One of the former agents, known by the codename Shin, reportedly cooperated with Qatari intelligence while still serving in the Mossad and now operates in Qatars business sector. The other is David Saig, a longtime associate and former subordinate of Shin in the Mossad.

The revelation adds a new layer to the already explosive investigation, which centers on Netanyahu aides Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein. Both are suspected of secretly working for a pro-Qatar lobbying firm while simultaneously serving as media consultants to the prime ministerallegedly helping Doha improve its image in Israel, particularly in the context of hostage negotiations with Hamas.

Reports indicate retired IDF General Yoav Mordechaiformerly the Defense Ministrys top liaison to Palestinian territoriesmay have connected key Qatargate figures to Doha. The company he co-owns with Shin is reportedly tied to German-Israeli businessman Gil Birger, who allegedly funneled funds from Qatar-linked lobbyist Jay Footlik to Feldstein.

Judge Menachem Mizrahi initially struck down police efforts to extend Urichs detention, blasting investigators for acting unlawfully and accusing them of arresting suspects without clear evidence. But the Lod District Court overturned the decision and ordered Urich held until Monday.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
'The URL in the image you sent me is not part of the official Royal Mail Website, meaning it's likely a scam.'

This is the response from AI scam-detection tool Ask Silver, when it was sent a screenshot of a message received from an unknown number on WhatsApp.

The text claims to be from Royal Mail, and is trying to convince the recipient to follow a link and update their address, under the pretence that it has a parcel for them with a damaged label.

Click on that link, and up will come a fake website. The victim will be prompted to enter personal information and bank details to pay for a rescheduled parcel delivery.

The fact the text has been sent from a +44 07 UK mobile number - that of an individual, not a company - should be a giveaway, but hundreds of people fall victim to this type of scam every year.

Parcel delivery scams were the fastest growing scam of 2024, according to NatWest, accounting for one in three scam reports made by its customers.

Ask Silver is a free scam checker that anyone can use to help judge whether a text, website, letter or email is likely to be fake. It operates via WhatsApp and was launched in May last year.

Scam alert: Ask Silver detected red flags within a text from an unknown number

How does Ask Silver work?

Ask Silver was invented by 34-year old tech entrepreneur Alex Somervell, who is the chief executive and co-founder, along with long-term business partner Jonny Pryn.

You can sign up on its website, ask-silver.com, using your phone number and email address. You will then automatically receive a message on WhatsApp from Ask Silver, which has its own number.

You can then run unlimited checks for free on anything you suspect of being a scam - from text messages to suspicious numbers.

To do so, you need to send a photo or screenshot of any email, website or leaflet you suspect might be a scam to Ask Silver on WhatsApp.

Using AI, it is then able to check whether links lead to official websites or not, so you know whether they are safe to click on.

After sending a screenshot or image, you will receive one of three replies almost instantly.

A red flag means there has been a match on the system with a known scam and you should under no circumstances engage with the website or email.

An amber flag is sent where there isn't a match on the database, but there are very suspicious elements that suggest the email, text, letter or website is a scam.

Users will rarely receive a yellow flag, which suggests the image appears to be legitimate, but you should still be cautious.

Fraud costs banks hundreds of millions in customer reimbursements every year.

Ask Silver is the type of tech that many banks have wanted to offer their customers, but have not been able to - until now.

Mission: Alex Somervell, CEO and founder of Ask Silver, says he wants to stem the tide of online fraud by reporting as many cases as possible to the authorities

Last month, Metro Bank became the first UK bank to partner with Ask Silver, suggesting it to its customers as a way they can get a 'second opinion' when deciding if something is a scam.

Metro Bank's fraud boss, Baz Thompson, tells This is Money: 'We wanted to give customers a tool they could have at their fingertips to fight fraud.'

Work is now underway to integrate Ask Silver within Metro Bank's app so that customers don't have to leave their banking app to report a scam text or website link, Alex Somervell tells this is Money.

And it's not just Metro Bank - Ask Silver will soon be adopted by other banks to help fight fraud.

'We are going through onboarding with two big banks and a number of other banks are interested in our tech,' says Somervell.

Metro's fraud chief Thompson has called the partnership with Ask Silver a 'game changer' in protecting customers from fraud and helping to stop crime.

'Being able to offer a service where customers can know in minutes whether something is fraudulent provides an essential barrier to staying one step ahead of fraudsters,' Thompson says.

But as well as helping customers avoid scams - and saving banks money - the founders of the app also think they can stem the tide of fraud more generally.

'The goal is to stop fraud within the system, not just the banks,' says Somervell.

This is why, when Ask Silver detects a scam, it not only reports back to the customer but also alerts the relevant authorities. For this to happen, the user needs to select this option when prompted in Whatsapp.

Data compliled by You Gov for Ask Silver reveals 47 per cent of people don't know where to report scams.

'AI categorises the fradulent texts, emails and calls and reports them to the relevant authorities - it's a volume game,' says Somervell.

Once scam attempts are reported, the correct authorities can then shut down fraudulent email addresses or websites very quickly.

The reports also help to banks to gather data on how scammers are duping them, which is why reporting scam attempts is so crucial - even if the target hasn't been persuaded to click the link.

KNOW WHERE TO REPORT A SCAM

Scam attempt via email or text: This should be reported to report@phishing.gov.uk. Scam attempt via telephone: This should be reported by messaging 7726 with the phone number of the scam caller. Scam attempt through the mail e.g. a letter or leaflet: This should be reported through the Royal Mail.
British Airways' parent company has ordered 53 new aircraft to meet demand after profits almost trebled at the start of 2025.

International Airlines Group (IAG) said the new airplanes for its medium-term long-haul fleet comprise 21 Airbus A330-900neo and 32 Boeing 787-10 jets.

The Airbus aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines and flown by IAG's Iberia, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL brands, while the Boeing planes will be for British Airways and use General Electric engines.

IAG said about one-third of the 53 aircraft are for growth in its core markets - the North Atlantic, Latin America and intra-Europe.

The airplanes are due for delivery between 2028 and 2033, although IAG did not mention on Friday how much it paid for them.

US Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Thursday that an unnamed British airline had agreed to purchase $10billion of Boeing planes as part of a new UK-US trade deal.

New delivery: British Airways' parent company, IAG, has ordered 53 new aircraft

Luis Gallego, chief executive of IAG, said: 'Looking ahead to the next decade, these new aircraft will enable us to strengthen our core markets and further improve our customer experience, while continuing to drive long-term value for our shareholders.'

The British-Spanish business further revealed its operating profit nearly tripled to 198million in the three months ending March, compared to 68million over the same period last year and analyst estimates of 158million.

Earnings benefited from lower fuel prices and total turnover expanding by 9.6 per cent to more than 7billion.

Passenger revenue increased by 6.5 per cent to 6billion, helped by bumper leisure demand, higher capacity, and a 143 million foreign exchange boost.

Trading was somewhat impacted by the Easter weekend occurring in April, having fallen in late March last year.

Turnover was additionally boosted by third-party revenues from Iberia's maintenance, repair, and overhaul business and increased sales at BA's package holidays arm.

IAG noted demand has stayed strong since then, with revenue ahead of 2025 levels and around 80 per cent of bookings in the second quarter taken.

Gallego told investors: 'We continue to see resilient demand for air travel across all our markets, particularly in the premium cabins and despite the macroeconomic uncertainty.'

Mark Crouch, market analyst for eToro, said: 'As the summer holiday season approaches, typically IAG's busiest period, earnings are likely to be further boosted.

'The key question now is whether IAG can continue to navigate geopolitical headwinds and stay on its current flight path of cash generation and sustainable growth.'

IAG shares were 1.1 per cent higher at 293.5p on Friday morning and have risen by around 58 per cent over the past year.
MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia expressed support on Thursday for the United Nations to play a central role in the governance of artificial intelligence (AI).

In a joint statement on further deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era that was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the two sides emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty and adhering to the laws of each country as well as the UN Charter during the process.

They reiterated their commitment to jointly promoting the good, universal and beneficial development of AI, believing that machine learning is conducive to promoting the economic and social development of all countries and should not become a geopolitical tool for certain countries to maintain hegemony.

Both sides opposed the politicization of science and technology issues and the negative practice of maliciously disrupting the stability of the international AI industrial chain and supply chain.

In the statement, Russia expressed appreciation for China's efforts in promoting the UN General Assembly's unanimous adoption of the resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence, and welcomed China's proposal of the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All.

The Russian side also expressed willingness to actively engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on platforms such as the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building and the China-BRICS AI Development and Cooperation Center.

Both sides pledged to support each other in hosting the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and the Global Digital Forum.
The breakout took place on the night of Sunday, May 4. Saul Francisco Hernandezs absence from the Hermosillo Social Reintegration Center (Cereso) 1, where he was being held, was noticed the following day during roll call, according to the Sonora Prosecutors Office. However, it wasnt reported until the night of Tuesday, May 6, that El Ponchis, leader of the Mexican cartel Los Salazar and the main generator of violence in Sonora state, had escaped from the prison, just 39 days after his capture.

His arrest on March 25 was loudly announced by Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo, who boasted of a decisive blow against organized crime. He shared the news through a press release on his administrations website, his own account on the social network X, and the governors official Facebook page. Even the Secretariat of Citizen Security, headed by Omar Garcia Harfuch, who referred to Ponchis as one of the United States 10 most-wanted targets, retweeted the achievement. Today, the link redirecting to the statement is unavailable, nor is there any trace of the tweet and the posts that praised an important achievement for security in Sonora.

It was the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that broke the news to Telemundo two days ago, according to local media outlets in Hermosillo, which were unable to obtain a statement or confirmation from the Sonora governors office regarding Pochis escape until Tuesday night, via a brief announcement by the then-secretary of public security in Sonora, Victor Hugo Enriquez.

Hernandezs escape highlights the irregularities within Hermosillos Cereso 1 prison, which has been ranked among the top 10 penitentiary centers in the country, with a rating of 7.46 in the 2019 National Penitentiary Supervision Assessment. According to the Prosecutors Office, Hernandez received three visitors on the night of May 4.

He was having a night out and guests arrived, says journalist Hector Mauleon, according to a line of investigation by authorities. It has not been determined whether he managed to escape the prison hidden among his guests or aboard an ambulance, but four people left the prison. The Public Ministry has issued arrest warrants against Hernandez for the murder of Chief Prosecutor Jose Saul Martinez, which occurred in 2021, as well as for the crimes of criminal association and drug trafficking.

Saul Francisco Hernandez "El Ponchis," after his arrest last March. FGJ Sonora

The Ponchis escape comes amid the resignation of Enriquez, who stood down weeks before the incident. However, according to local media, the former officials departure is due to his tense relationship with prosecutor Gustavo Salas and Secretary of State Security Adolfo Salazar Razo, who did not facilitate Enriquezs security work.

At the same time, the internal affairs unit of this ministry has opened an investigation to determine the responsibilities of the personnel involved. If irregularities are found, those involved will be brought before the Board of Honor and Justice, and the corresponding administrative and criminal sanctions will be imposed, Enriquez said in his final statement as head of State Security.

In the first phase of the investigation, four guards have been arrested, allegedly for aiding Ponchis escape. They are charged with aggravated prison evasion, aggravated criminal conspiracy, abuse of authority, and breach of legal duty. They are now in the custody of a judge. The Rewards Committee, part of the Public Prosecutors Office, has doubled the bounty for El Ponchis that was in place prior to his arrest. They are now offering one million pesos (around $51,000) to anyone who provides useful, effective, and truthful information that leads to his recapture.

Jorge Morales, a Sonora-based journalist for Radio Formula, announced that the whereabouts of the prison system coordinator, Gerardo Chavero Bernal, who had been in the position for just under a year, are unknown. According to sources from the Ministry of Security, he has not been located and has not reported to work. There is still no evidence that he was involved in the Ponchis escape.

The Cereso 1 prison in Hermosillo, Sonora, from which El Ponchis escaped. Mario Alberto Gonzalez de la Rosa

Who is El Ponchis?

Saul Francisco Hernandez, alias El Ponchis or El Fantasma (The Ghost), has been identified as one of the highest-ranking members of Los Salazar  a criminal organization affiliated with the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel  which operates in the municipalities of Saric, Santa Anta, Altar, and Magadalena in Sonora. According to Morales, he was not a priority target for the United States, but he did have a pending arrest warrant for an assault against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Sasabe region a few months ago.

El Ponchis operated a network that trafficked immigrants, or exotics as they are known in the region  people from countries like China and Saudi Arabia  as well as methamphetamine, primarily.

He was captured on March 25 in Hermosillo during an operation involving several security agencies. The DEA has classified him as one of the Sinaloa Cartels main operatives north of the Arizona-Sonora border, where violence has been on the rise for several years. Hes a bloody figure and responsible for many deaths in Mexico. Hes a lieutenant of Los Chapitos, Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the DEA, told Telemundo.

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President Donald Trump is no longer the only American with the most power or influence in the world. From now on, he shares that honor with Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago and elected this Thursday as the new Pope, Leo XIV. The relationship between the two  seemingly completely different in personality and opinion  will be crucial at a time when populism is on the rise, and isolationist and anti-immigration policies are growing worldwide.

The U.S. president was quick to celebrate Prevosts election. Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement and what a Great Honor for our Country, he posted on his platform Truth Social, immediately after Prevost appeared on the balcony before the faithful cheering him on in St. Peters Square at the Vatican. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment! Trump added.

In later comments to the press, the Republican reiterated: To have the Pope from the United States of America thats a great honor, thats a great honor.

Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and is the highest-ranking U.S. politician practicing the faith, wrote on social media: Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!

How the future relationship between Trump and Prevost will pan out remains a mystery. Leo XIV has spent most of his ecclesiastical career in Peru, of which he is a citizen, and in Rome. His profile within the U.S. Catholic Church is almost nonexistent.

Aligned with Francis

Ideologically, Prevost is aligned with the views of his predecessor, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, who appointed him prefect of the influential Dicastery for Bishops in Rome. This suggests that relations between Washington and the Vatican could be just as complicated as they were during the previous papacy. Francis had been highly critical of the hardline immigration policies of the current Republican administration.

The selection of his papal name already offers a clue about his priorities. Leo XIII was the first pope to sign an encyclical defending workers rights, while distancing himself from communism. He was a pontiff concerned with the living conditions of the poor, peasants, and workers. The choice of the name Leo XIV seems to indicate that he intends to continue down that path.

After the death of Francis and before the conclave began, the U.S. president had expressed his support for the Archbishop of New York, the conservative Timothy Dolan.

The U.S. president had also angered Catholics worldwide and drawn criticism from New York bishops when, last weekend, he posted an AI-generated image of himself on Truth Social, dressed in a white papal mitre and zucchetto. Trump had also joked to the press that he saw himself as a good papal candidate.

On an X (formerly Twitter) account under the name Robert Prevost, created in 2011, posts were made defending a range of ideas that are anathema to Trump. The posts from that account, apparently managed by Prevost, express support for reforming gun laws in the United States. Like Francis, the Prevost portrayed in that X account is an advocate of climate action and a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. In contrast, Trump prioritizes dismantling equality and diversity policies across all U.S. institutions, starting with the federal government itself.

Leo XIV also appears firmly opposed to the Trump administrations immigration policies focused on mass deportations. The most recent post on the mentioned X account, from April 14, is a retweet of a message criticizing a meeting in the Oval Office between the U.S. president and his Salvadoran counterpart, Nayib Bukele, in which both refused to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was deported by mistake despite a court order prohibiting it.

A 2018 post from the same account strongly condemns the family separation policy implemented during Trumps first term: There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.

The newly elected Pope has also been very critical of Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the Republican administration. Trumps number two had cited the ordo amoris, a medieval concept that he claimed meant Catholic doctrine prioritizes bonds with close family and friends. A notion that Pope Francis quickly dismissed. On February 3, the account attributed to Prevost wrote: J.D. Vance is wrong. Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

These positions dont sit well with the more hardline Trumpist circles. Far-right activist and blogger Laura Loomer, a staunch ally of the president, wrote on X that the new pope is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open borders, and a total Marxist, like Pope Francis. She added: Catholics dont have anything good to look forward to. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.

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Lots to catch up on during this week when worsening local crime made GLOBAL news . . .

And so, we check continued problems, police action, ALLEGED misdeeds and support for crime victims from COMMUNITY.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Concern grows as woman is hit by dirt-biker popping a wheelie on Southwest Blvd Video from a surveillance camera shows a pedestrian being hit by the driver of a dirt bike. The video comes from a weekend Cinco De Mayo celebration in the busy restaurant district along Southwest ...

Kansas City vandals damage power pole while trying to steal cables, police say Police said they believe someone tried to steal the wiring but ran away before police arrived.

KC-area artist loses 30K of her artwork to thieves. She's fighting to get it back Kansas City area artist Beth Houts's trailer and $30,000 worth of artwork were stolen. Here's how she's fighting to recover her cherished pieces.

Arrest made after weapon pointed at children at Kansas City daycare A Kansas City man faces several charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on adults and children at a metro area daycare.

Man sentenced to prison for 2023 road rage shooting in Clay County A man has been sentenced in connection with a 2023 road rage shooting in Liberty, Missouri that left one person hurt near I-35 and MO 152.

Guns shot in backyard of Kansas City home lead to charges for 2 Several firearms found to have been shot in the backyard of a Kansas City home have led to multiple charges levied against two people from the area.

Man convicted in 2024 Roeland Park killing, sentenced to prison Kerry Malone pleaded no contest and was sentenced in 2024 Roeland Park, Kansas, homicide case. David Stark died of blunt force injuries.

Registered sex offender arrested in Independence, charged with child sex crimes again An Independence man has been charged with a trio of felonies related to child sex crimes.

Man who reported false threat at IRS campus in Kansas City sentenced A lockdown at the IRS campus on Pershing Road was set off after a man falsely reported a woman threatened to shoot up the building, officials said.

Inside Vernon County jail, vacant-looking Kansas City inmates walk around in circles | Opinion Kansas City inmates in Vernon County jail face limited resources, mental health issues and poor conditions as Sheriff Buehler aims to improve the facility.

'He had so many goals and dreams': No arrests yet in killing of Northland teenager The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said they are still tracking down leads and identifying possible suspects in the killing of 17-year-old Charles Sanders.

205 child sex offenders, including 6 from Kansas, Missouri, arrested in 55 days Hundreds of alleged child sex offenders, including 2 from Kansas and 4 from Missouri, were arrested over the course of just over a month.

T-shirt sales have raised nearly $380,000 for Graham Hoffman's family, worries surface about possible scams T-shirt sales have raised nearly $380,000 for the family of fallen Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman, but concerns grow about others profiting from his death.

Developing . . .
Another sign that the rising danger inside the loop is much more important than the Mayor's tarnished political image . . . Check-it:



One man is dead, according to police. They said the homicide happened near 10th and Wyandotte. Police were called to the scene around 2:30 a.m. According to KCPD, a man was found in a stairwell of a parking garage at 11th and Wyandotte with "obvious bodily trauma." KCPD said a security guard discovered the body while conducting rounds.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Man found dead in parking garage in downtown Kansas City Kansas City police are investigating an overnight homicide near 10th and Wyandotte, where a man was found dead in a parking garage
This week the topic of crime in Kansas City has garnered international attention this tragic fact of life has sparked important questions from one of our local members of congress.

Accordingly . . .

CHECK CONGRESSMAN MARK ALFORD'S LINE OF QUESTIONING THIS WEEK AND NEWS OF MORE FEDS COMING TO KANSAS CITY!!!

FBI Director Kash Patel shared this info . . .

"Approximately 37 to Missouri, 33 to Kansas City. One each to Topeka, Wichita, Jefferson City & Springfield . . . Because of the proportion of violent crime per capita in those regions needs to be covered down on . . . That's not to say, and I don't want to say Kansas City has an explosion in violent crime but Kansas City covers down on a large area in Missouri and its surrounding states that have an explosion in violent crime and that's why we're sending them there."



Take a look via www.TonysKansasCity.com embed to a recent social media share from the Congressman . . .
In the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, the popular Roman saying was relentlessly repeated: He who enters as pope leaves as cardinal. Sometimes this hasnt been the case, as with Pius XII in 1939 or Benedict XVI in 2005, when the clear favorites were selected in very quick conclaves, with three and four votes respectively. This conclave was also swift, with four ballots. But the chosen candidate wasnt the favorite, Pietro Parolin, but rather the dark horse: Robert Francis Prevost.

What happens in the conclave is secret, although everything eventually comes to light, but the most plausible hypothesis, supported by all analysts, is that a scenario similar to 2013 occurred, when Pope Francis was elected. At that time, the election of an Italian, Angelo Scola, was seen as certain, but there was a surprise. It turned out he didnt have as much support and it quickly collapsed in favor of an alternative candidate who had been working behind the scenes, the future Argentine pope. It only took five votes, one more than this time.

Parolin also entered the conclave in a weakened position. There were rumors about his fragile health, which the Vatican denied; his handling of the case of Cardinal Angelo Becciu was questioned when  at the last minute  he brought out two documents from Francis that ratified the veto against Beccius entry, and the conservative sector couldnt forgive him for being responsible for the controversial agreement between the Holy See and China.

Its likely that the first vote was fatal for Parolin, who had been expected to receive between 40 and 50 votes at the very least in the days leading up to the conclave. If he received fewer, the drop in support would have had the same effect as it did with Scola. And most probably, among the many papabili that were considered as alternatives, it was Prevost who stood out with a solid initial vote count. In reality, he was the strongest candidate, the one with the least objections, and with support from a broad spectrum of the Church, not just the progressive wing.

The most plausible scenario is that Prevost received backing from the United States and all of Latin America, as his figure unites the entire continent. That accounts for 36 votes. Additionally, its likely that he was supported by many European cardinals, who number 53, as well as parts of the curia, which he is a part of. And in general, he would have been well regarded by many cardinals from the Global South and all those who wanted a pontiff in the same spirit as Pope Francis.

The day before the conclave, there was speculation in Rome about an alliance between Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, in which they would later divide power, with Tagle possibly assuming the position of Secretary of State. In theory, such agreements are prohibited, but its no secret that they happen. It is also said in Rome, echoing the popular saying, that many enter the conclave with the ambition of becoming pope but would settle for a Secretary of State position. In any case, if such an operation existed, it failed. Tagle, too, arrived in a weakened position at the conclave: his management of Caritas International had been heavily criticized, giving him the image of a disastrous administrator.

What is certain is that by the first and second votes on Thursday, the situation became clear, and by lunchtime, once again, the final vote would be determined by the last and decisive conversations to convince the undecided. The only question is whether Parolin decided to step back, aware that he would not be able to attract more support, in order to transfer his votes to Prevost, or if such a move wasnt necessary.

The final twist in the exchange of roles is that it was Parolin, precisely, as the highest authority of the College of Cardinals in the conclave, who had to ask Prevost if he accepted the nomination. And he said yes. Later, Leo XIV had him by his side as he appeared on the St. Peters balcony.

2005 campaign to elect an Italian pope

This time, with Parolin emerging as a frontrunner in the days leading up to the conclave, a trend from 2005 has repeated itself. That year, after the election of the first non-Italian pope in centuries, John Paul II, Italy launched a strong campaign to return to tradition and elect an Italian pope. The Italian press favored several Italian candidates, most notably Dionigi Tettamanzi, but in reality, the favorite was Joseph Ratzinger.

In the conclave, according to later reconstructions, the truth is that Tettamanzi had no chance and received only two votes. Meanwhile, Ratzinger faced two competitors, the Jesuits Carlo Maria Martini and Jorge Mario Bergoglio. But they decided to step aside for the good and unity of the Church and not to prolong the conclave with a blocking minority. Something similar may have occurred this time, with Parolin, upon realizing that he wasnt gaining traction, deciding to step back and transfer his votes to his rival. The speed of the conclave, which ended on Thursday, makes it possible that such a situation took place, as no blocking maneuver seems to have happened.

In fact, in 2005, those competing with Ratzinger withdrew because they realized that if they blocked him without gaining support themselves, all of them would ultimately be eliminated, and a third, perhaps worse, candidate could emerge. They considered that the German cardinal was, after all, the best pope possible.

Versions diverge on whether Bergoglio stepped aside voluntarily or was pushed out, as some historians argue that it was Martini, who did not have a good relationship with the Argentine cardinal, who went around the tables during mealtime to move his votes to the future Benedict XVI. For his part, Francis later recounted that he asked not to be voted for because he suspected he was only being used to block Ratzingers path, and that a shadow candidate would emerge afterward.

2013 campaign for another Italian candidate

In 2013, the Italian press once again pushed hard for another Italian cardinal, Angelo Scola, the Patriarch of Venice, a disciple of Ratzinger. who was close to the Communion and Liberation movement. The media bombardment was intense, though it was mostly an Italian phenomenon  outside the country, the idea of returning to an Italian pope seemed outdated. Still, the sense of certainty was so strong that after the white smoke, the Italian Bishops Conference mistakenly issued a statement congratulating Scola. During the live broadcast of Italys state-run station RAI, when Bergoglio appeared on the balcony, there was a minute of silence  the script had been thrown off.

According to later accounts, in the first vote, Scola received only 25 votes, compared to Bergoglios 12  despite reports in the days prior that he had secured at least 50. His candidacy quickly collapsed; it became clear that his support had been overstated and wouldnt grow. From the second round onward, Bergoglio began to gain momentum. Once again, the lunch break proved decisive in cementing his support. In fact, his name had been quietly circulating in the days before, though he was considered a long shot.

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The Trump administrations latest attempt to expand its controversial deportation program has provoked a strong response after it emerged that migrants in U.S. custody were being prepared for deportation to Libya, a North African country with a history of human rights abuses. Immigrant advocates, a federal judge and even Libyan authorities have warned that such transfers would violate both legal and ethical standards.

Deportations to Libya?

According to several U.S. officials who spoke under condition of anonymity with Reuters and the Associated Press, the Trump Administration planned to deport non-Libyan immigrants on a U.S. military flight possibly a C-17 to Libya on May 7. The nationalities of those affected reportedly included people from Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines and Mexico.

Reports mention the case of the family of Valentin Yah, a Mexican national held in a Texas detention center. His family claims that he was pressured to sign documents consenting to his deportation to Libya, although he asked to be returned to Mexico.

The administration has not clarified how many people might be affected or what the legal basis is for deporting people to countries of which they are not citizens. When asked about the Libya reports, President Donald Trump simply deflected attention and told reporters, Youll have to ask Homeland Security.

Judicial intervention

The legal basis for the move soon came into question. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, who had already ruled in March that migrants must be allowed a meaningful opportunity to challenge deportation to non-native countries, reaffirmed that any removal to Libya would clearly violate this Courts Order. He rejected arguments that the Pentagon, not the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), could carry out such removals, arguing that the administration could not circumvent court orders by alternating responsibilities between departments.

Murphy also ordered the administration to submit information on who might be affected and the legal justifications for the deportation plans. He further stated that such removals would violate court orders protecting migrants from being sent to countries where they could face persecution or torture.

Lawyers representing detained migrants filed emergency motions to block the removals, arguing that some detainees were subjected to coercive tactics, such as solitary confinement, to force them to sign deportation waivers. According to the lawyers, at least six detainees in Texas were told their destination was Libya, despite the fact that none had Libyan nationality.

Migrants from Asia and the Middle East deported from the US to Panama raise their arms inside a hotel room in Ciudad de Panama, on February 18, 2025. Enea Lebrun (REUTERS)

Libya responds

The move provoked a swift diplomatic reaction in Libya itself. The countrys two rival administrations  the U.N.-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar, which controls the east  denied any agreement with the United States to accept deportees.

There will be no acceptance or reception of them on the territories secured by the Libyan Armed Forces, whatever the reasons and justifications, the Libyan Army said in a statement.

Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibahs government in Tripoli stressed that there had been no deal or coordination and warned that any attempt to use Libya as a destination for migrants under U.S. arrest would be rejected.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment on diplomatic arrangements, while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she cant confirm media reports of deportations in Libya.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli in February 2022. Yousef Murad (AP)

Human rights in Libya

Sending migrants to Libya represents an escalation in the Trump administrations approach to deportations to third countries, which have already involved controversial removals to El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica. In those cases, hundreds of migrants were sent to countries where they had no citizenship, family or legal protection.

However, Libya stands out for its record of human rights violations. Various reports by Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department, and UN researchers have documented widespread abuses in Libyas migrant detention centers, including sexual violence, torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced labor. In 2021, Amnesty described conditions there as horrific.

Despite this, the Trump administration has framed deportations to countries like Libya as a way to deter migrants seeking to enter U.S. territory. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated, The further away from America, the better, while advocating for new deportation agreements with countries willing to detain migrants on behalf of the United States.

For now, the court ruling halts any immediate removal, but it remains unclear how far the administration is willing to take its deportation policies, or whether it will continue to seek informal agreements with unstable or abusive regimes.

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Kerala Education Department (DHSE), also called as Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan, is declaring today i.e. Friday May 09, 2025 the result of Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 board examination 2025 on its official website keralaresults.nic.in and results.kite.kerala.gov.in.

Friday May 9, 2025 4:53 PM , Education Desk

[Grok 3 image for representation]

Kerala SSLC Result 2025: The Kerala Education Department (DHSE), also called as Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan, has announced the SSLC 2025 result.

The state has registered a pass percentage of 99.50% - this is over 0.1% less than 2024 when the pass percentage was 99.69%.

Kerala SSLC Result Highlights

Overall Pass Percentage 99.5%

A total of 4,26,697 students from different districts of India and Gulf countries had appeared in the examination held at 2,964 centres. Out of them 4,24,583 have been declared passed.

As many as 2,331 schools have secured a perfect 100% pass percentage.

A total of 61,449 students have secured full A+ in all subjects



Out of the 7 examination centres in Gulf nations, 4 have obtained a pass percentage of 100%.

Kannur highest performing district with a pass percentage of 99.87%.

Thiruvananthapuram, with a pass rate of 98.59%, has emerged as the lowest performing district.

11:30 AM: The Kerala Education Department (DHSE), also called as Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan, is declaring today i.e. Friday May 09, 2025 the result of Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 board examination 2025 on its official website keralaresults.nic.in and results.kite.kerala.gov.in.

Kerala SSLC Result Date, Time

Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan had conducted the SSLC or Class 10 exams from March 3 to March 26, 2025.

The Kerala Education Ministry has officially confirmed that the SSLC (Class 10) examinations will be declared today at 03:00 PM.

Class 10 or SSLC exam result of the year 2025 will be announced on Friday May 09, 2025 at 03:00 PM, the Ministry said.

The Kerala board will host SSLC 2025 result on a number of websites including results.kite.kerala.gov.in, keralaresults.nic.in, keralapareekshabhavan.in, results.itschool.gov.in, cdit.org, prd.kerala.gov.in, results.nic.in, pareekshabhavan.kerala.gov.in, prd.kerala.gov.in, sslcexam.kerala.gov.in, digilocker.gov.in and educationkerala.gov.in in order to ease traffic.



Direct Link to Check Kerala SSLC Exam Results 2025

Go to Kerala Education Department website: keralaresults.nic.in or results.kite.kerala.gov.in.

Click on the link markd with 'SSLC Exam Results 2025'.

Enter Register Number and Date of Birth.

Click 'Get Result' button to view Kerala Board 10th Result 2025.

Download and Save your result for future reference

The hard copies of the Kerala SSLC result 2025 will be made available to the schools later.

Kerala SSLC result via Saphalam 2025 app

Students can also access the results via mobile application Saphalam 2025. SSLC 2025 result can also be checked on the Android app PRD Live which is run by the public relations department, the official mentioned.

Kerala SSCL result can also be checked using SMS. To check your result via SMS type - KERALA10<space>REGISTRATION NUMBER abd Send the message to 56263.

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Should Bangladesh take side in the India-Pakistan latest conflict?

After the Indian air strikes in Pakistan, when a full-scale conflict erupts between Pakistan and India, what should be the official stance of Bangladesh?

Friday May 9, 2025 5:20 PM , Saleem Samad

After the Indian air strikes in Pakistan, when a full-scale conflict erupts between Pakistan and India, what should be the official stance of Bangladesh?

In 53 years, Bangladesh has not waged any war with its neighbors, Myanmar and India. Other South Asian countries are hundreds of kilometers away. Therefore, there has not been any issue with these countries.

No denying, Bangladesh-India, Bangladesh-Myanmar had engaged in border skirmishes and were quickly resolved at the border guards force level.

Bangladeshs military is not a fighting force. Accordingly, they are trained as a defensive force. The military is being prepared for peace-keeping missions under the United Nations deployment in countries troubled by militancy and rogue warlords.

Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are significant troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, with Bangladesh and India consistently ranking among the top three globally.

Bangladesh has a strong history of contributing to UN peacekeeping, with 6,772 peacekeepers deployed in 58 missions across 40 countries since 1988. They are currently among the top troop-contributing nations.

A few days ago, The Economic Times, an Indian publication, picked up an irrelevant content, from a social media post by a former Bangladesh military officer and close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus who suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy Indias northeastern states if it attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Moments later, the Interim Government distanced itself from Major General (R) ALM Fazlur Rahman's remarks on his social media account.

Distancing itself from the former army officers remarks, Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a media release 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.

By the way, China has never fought a war except for border clashes with 14 neighbors that it shares a border with, including India. China has border disputes with Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan in South Asia.

Abhijeet Sen wrote for Godi Media, india.com, that in the case of a conflict, it will be interesting to see how the neighboring countries of India, such as China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, will react and choose sides.

Sen believe that Bangladesh would fish in murky water during the Indo-Pak conflict and will take an opportunity to invade North East India with the military support of mighty China. He is forgetting that the Seven Sisters have recently ended their decades-old separatist insurgency by several ethnic groups.

Bangladesh is literally a homogeneous nation having language nationalism as a binding factor. They possess a unique culture, tradition, heritage, and history. Most importantly, the majoritarian are Muslims.

The North East Indian states have hundreds of languages spoken by ethnic communities and are divided among Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, animist identity and a negligible Muslim population.

Bangladesh military adventurism in the Northeast would be suicidal in an unknown hill-forest terrain, which would jeopardize the geopolitical landscape of the region.

Nevertheless, the former ethnic combatants trained in military-grade weapons would violently resist the occupation.

The nation has witnessed brutality during the 9 month independence war in 1971. An estimated 3 million people were martyred, one million became war refugees, 500,000 were victims of rape as weapon of war and another 3.5 million were internally displaced.

The social media are flooded with nationalistic rhetoric, which goes against the spirit of the liberation war of 1971. The post reminds the audience that Bangladesh is a pacifist nation and pursues a no war policy.

Afroja Shoma, a teacher of Media Studies at a private university, posted on Facebook: We are tomatoes, not India/Pakistan lovers or haters.

Political activist Hasnat Quaiyum, a member of Rastra Songskar Andolon (Movement for Reforms of the Country), urged that Bangladesh, under any excuse, should not get involved in the Indo-Pak war.

Nevertheless, the Bangladesh constitution outlines specific provisions regarding war and peace, emphasizing the renunciation of force in international relations and prioritizing peaceful resolutions.

Article 63 states that war cannot be declared or the country participate in a war without the Parliaments assent.

Furthermore, Article 25 mandates that the states foreign policy be based on the principles of renouncing force, supporting the right of self-determination, and upholding the right of oppressed people to struggle against imperialism and colonialism.

However, Article 25 also supports international solidarity with oppressed peoples in their struggle against imperialism and colonialism.

Finally, the constitution implicitly prioritizes peaceful resolutions to conflicts, as evidenced by the renunciation of force and the emphasis on international solidarity and support for self-determination.

Bangladesh must prepare carefully for all possible scenarios while remaining steadfastly neutral and committed to peace.

At the same time, it is in the collective interest of the region that India and Pakistan recognize the futility of further escalation and work toward resolving their differences through peaceful means. The future prosperity and stability of South Asia depend on it, writes Mir Mostafizur Rahaman in the Financial Express, published from Dhaka.

Bangladesh authorities, before speaking their mind, are feeling the pinch in their shoes. The Dhaka stock market witnessed a major decline this morning (7 May) due to the India-Pakistan war. The main index fell by more than 70 points in the first 10 minutes of trading. The index fell by more than 50 points in the first five minutes. The downward trend continues.

Ramisa Rob, Geopolitical Insights Editor at The Daily Star, writes: Needless to say, both nations must urgently engage in de-escalation. But the political reality of de-escalating the current volatile situation between India and Pakistan is much easier said than done. Theres little precedent that the nuclear-armed nations would spike a hot war. However, the short- and long-term stability in South Asia after the deadly Pahalgam attacks appears bleaker than ever before.

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TOKYO - The government on Friday urged caution after a small Japanese civilian plane was spotted near uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, around the same time a Chinese helicopter violated Japanese airspace in the vicinity last week.

While Japanese aircraft operating in the country's airspace pose no legal issue, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said contingencies stemming from such flights should be avoided amid tensions with China over the Senkaku Islands.

The Senkakus are administered by Japan but claimed by China. Tokyo has already lodged a protest with Beijing over Saturday's airspace intrusion by a helicopter that took off from one of four Chinese coast guard vessels sailing in Japanese territorial waters around the islets. China has rejected Japan's claim.

"Given that the purpose of the flight by the small aircraft in question was leisure, we have conveyed to the operator that it should ensure safety and avoid unexpected consequences," Hayashi said at a press conference.

As China continues to send patrol ships to waters around the Senkaku Islands, the latest incident marked the fourth airspace intrusion by Beijing, according to Japan.

Related coverage:

China rebuts Japan's assertion of airspace intrusion near Senkakus

China Coast Guard helicopter enters Japan airspace off Senkakus

Japan territory museum reopens hoping to attract younger visitors
PHILADELPHIA  The U.S. Department of Education's Office of the General Counsel has launched a formal investigation into the University of Pennsylvania, citing inaccurate and untimely disclosures of foreign gifts and contracts. The probe, announced Thursday, follows a review of the university's foreign funding reports, which revealed noncompliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Section 117 mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid report foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more annually. The law, enacted to safeguard national security and academic integrity, requires semiannual disclosures by January 31 and July 31. Noncompliance can lead to Department of Justice enforcement actions or loss of federal funding eligibility.

"UPenn has a troubling Section 117 compliance history, having failed to disclose any foreign funding until February of 2019 despite a decades-long statutory obligation to do so," said Acting General Counsel Tom Wheeler. "Although the previous Administration degraded the Department's enforcement of universities' legal obligations to disclose foreign gifts and contracts, the Trump Administration will vigorously uphold the law and ensure universities are transparent with their foreign gifts and investments."

The Education Department has requested extensive records from UPenn, due within 30 days, to verify compliance. These include tax records, written agreements with foreign entities, and details of international research collaborations since January 1, 2017. The department also seeks information on university personnel overseeing foreign student visas, talent recruitment programs, and export control regulations.

UPenn's history of nondisclosure has raised concerns about foreign influence on U.S. campuses. Wheeler emphasized the investigation's broader implications, stating, "OGC will investigate this matter thoroughly, ensuring that universities cannot conceal the infiltration of our nation's campuses by foreign governments and other foreign interests. The American people and Congress have a right to know the impact of foreign funding on our universities, including some of our critically important research universities."

The investigation follows similar actions against Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley, where reviews uncovered incomplete foreign funding reports. The Education Department's renewed focus on Section 117 enforcement signals a broader push to monitor foreign influence in higher education.

UPenn officials have not publicly commented on the investigation. The university is expected to cooperate fully, as Wheeler noted, "We hope the University of Pennsylvania will be cooperative and forthcoming in response to this investigation."

The probe underscores growing federal scrutiny of foreign funding in U.S. universities, particularly at research institutions like UPenn. As the investigation unfolds, it may prompt other institutions to reassess their compliance with federal disclosure requirements.
CULLOWHEE, N.C.  The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights announced Thursday a Title IX investigation into Western Carolina University, citing allegations of noncompliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. The probe centers on claims that WCU failed to ensure sex-separated intimate spaces and retaliated against female students raising concerns.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The investigation follows reports that WCU allowed a male student to share a dormitory room with a female and opened a Title IX investigation against a female student who asked a male to leave a women's locker room.

"WCU's reported contempt for federal anti-discrimination laws and indifference to, and retaliation against, girls who have spoken up about males invading their intimate spaces is simply unacceptable," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. "After fighting for years to secure Title IX protections, women must again fight hostile institutions to ensure their right to equal protection and opportunity in sports, living spaces, and intimate facilities is respected. The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will continue to deploy every lawful means to eradicate this wholly unnecessary and egregious violation of women and girls' civil rights."

Payton McNabb, a former WCU student and Independent Women's Forum Ambassador, spoke out about the university's policies. "Western Carolina University has perpetrated a policy that is not in full compliance with Title IX. The violation has impacted not only me but many other female students at the university that deserve our rights to single-sex spaces," McNabb said. "In addition to my experience discovering a male in the women's restroom on campus, men who self-identify as transgender are entering other women's intimate spaces like restrooms, dorm rooms and locker rooms. Female college students will not sit idly by as men take over our spaces. I'm thankful to have an administration that will stand up for us."

McNabb, who suffered brain damage in 2017 after a male opponent spiked a volleyball in her face during a high school match, faced a WCU Title IX investigation in 2024. She had recorded herself politely asking a male to leave a women's bathroom. The university dropped the investigation but maintained its policies, prompting federal scrutiny.

Another female student reportedly left a WCU dormitory after being assigned a male roommate who identified as female. Emails from WCU administrators, cited in credible reports, indicate the university refused to adjust policies following President Trump's executive order, asserting it would continue analyzing sex discrimination based on gender identity rather than biological sex, as required by Title IX.

The investigation highlights tensions over Title IX compliance and women's rights in education. WCU's stance has drawn criticism for prioritizing gender identity over federal anti-discrimination laws protecting sex-separated spaces. The Department of Education's action signals a broader effort to enforce Title IX and address female student retaliation.

WCU officials have not publicly responded to the investigation. The outcome could influence how universities nationwide handle Title IX compliance and sex-separated facilities.
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OSAKA - Panasonic Holdings Corp. said Friday it will lay off 10,000 domestic and overseas employees, or just under 5 percent of its total workforce, as part of restructuring its business.

The firm said the job cuts will target 5,000 workers in Japan and 5,000 overseas, with some employees to be offered early retirement. As of March, Panasonic had a workforce of 207,548 people.

After recording a 130 billion yen ($895 million) restructuring charge, the electronics maker is seeking to streamline its workforce.

"Responsibility for management lies with me," President Yuki Kusumi said in an online press conference. "I feel very ashamed."

Kusumi added that he would strive to "build an organization in which every employee is highly productive," while also revealing that he would return approximately 40 percent of his compensation.

According to earnings results for the fiscal year ended March, net profit fell 17.5 percent to 366.21 billion yen on sales of 8.46 trillion yen, down 0.5 percent.

Panasonic said it expects net profit to drop 15.3 percent in the year ending next March and sales to decrease 7.8 percent.

Through the reforms, it aims to improve earnings by more than 300 billion yen in fiscal 2028.

Panasonic first carried out layoffs in 2001, when it was still named Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., offering early retirement to around 13,000 employees in response to a worsening business performance following the bursting of the information technology bubble.

Subsequent restructuring efforts helped the firm turn around its business.

Related coverage:

Toyota expects 34.9% drop in FY 2025 net profit amid U.S. tariff woes

Japan's jobless rate in FY 2024 falls to 2.5% amid labor shortage
 Ukraines unelected president Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel on May 3, 2025: "An unconditional ceasefire is a model proposed by the Americans. We are following it. From this date or another - preferably earlier. Yes, lets try for 30 days. Why a ceasefire for 30 days? Because it is impossible to agree on anything in three, five, seven days."

"This is more of a theatrical production on his [Putin] part. Because it is impossible to build any plan for the next steps to end the war in two or three days. And therefore, it simply does not look very serious or very unserious. Playing in order to give Putin a soft atmosphere of coming out of isolation on May 9, and so that everyone is comfortable, safe - those leaders, or friends, or partners of Putin who will come to Kremlin Square for one reason or another on May 9 - no one will help Putin. We are simply either at war, or Putin is showing that he is ready for a ceasefire, for the first part of ending the war. We are ready to start from the 1st, from the 3rd, from the 5th. If he needs the date of the 7th - we dont care. From the 7th - 30 days."

 During the same press conference, also in the presence of Cech President Petr Pavel, Volodymyr Zelensky said: "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 dont 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."

 Calling the remarks "verbal provocations," deputy chairman of Russias Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said the same evening that no one could guarantee that the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, would survive on May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow during the May 9 victory celebration.

 As a precaution, Moscow cancelled the Victory Parade that was to take place in Sevastopol, Crimea, which the Zelensky administration considers to be Ukrainian.

 Washington did not respond to this controversy, and only Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that he was going to Moscow despite the EUs position. He commented: "I reject these threats for security reasons. I fully respect the fact that the safety of participants is an internal matter of the Russian Federation. But if Zelensky believes that his statements will force foreign delegations not to come, then he is profoundly mistaken. Its a great disrespect when someone accuses a country that made the greatest contribution to the victory over fascism and suffered the greatest absolute sacrifices we can imagine: Well, lets celebrate [the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II], but "we could drop a drone or something like that on you." For me, this type of remark is unacceptable."

 Robert Fico was the victim of an assassination attempt in his country on May 15, 2024. He had to be hospitalized for several months, but has not changed his position vis-a-vis the EU.

 Warsaw has granted a flight permit to Robert Ficos plane to cross Poland and go to Moscow. On the other hand, Vilnius and Riga have refused to allow the plane carrying Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic to cross their airspace.

 29 world leaders are expected on Red Square where troops from 12 countries will march.

 The Kremlin has announced that Chinese president Xi Jinping will hold long talks with his host, Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the victory parade. The two heads of state are expected to discuss the common response to Ukraines thinly veiled threats.
Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world.

Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense.

Whats more, 10 times a year, subscribers are invited to Zoom virtual meetings with publications director Thierry Meyssan.

Contents of issue N132

EDITORIAL

 3419 Volodymyr Zelensky threatens his allies to start World War III

AMERICAS

 3420 Trump administration authorizes Ukraine to buy $50 million worth of weapons

 3421 Stephen Miller Probable National Security Advisor

 3422 JD Vance says Russia is asking too much of Ukraine

 3423 Pete Hegseth reduces the number of officers in the U.S. "Mexican Army"

 3424 Trump administration reinstates whistleblowers

 3425 Discovery of a police plot against Peter Navarro

 3426 Illegal migrants now prosecuted for violating military base

 3427 Tennessee and Florida ban chemtrails

 3428 Pfizer falsified the clinical trials of its alleged anti-Covid "vaccines"

 3429 Treasury Department takes on the Jalisco New Generation Cartel

EUROPE

 3430 British voters turn away from traditional parties for Reform UK

 3431 Possible breaking of the "Five Eyes" alliance

 3432 The United Kingdom prepares for war against Russia

 3433 Reporters Without Borders cuisine

 3434 Negotiations between France and Daesh

 3435 General Frederik Vansina calls on Belgium to declare a crisis situation

 3436 Friedrich Merz elected German Chancellor with difficulty

 3437 Washington spies on Greenland and Denmark

 3438 Vadim Krasnosselski responds to Ukrainian leaders remarks

AFRICA

 3439 Mali suspends political parties and organizations

ASIA

 3440 Press freedom has never existed so little in Israel as it does today

 3441 Natan Sharansky praises Volodymyr Zelensky

 3442 Bezalel Smotrich confirms that Israel will occupy Gaza, regardless of the release of the hostages

 3443 Walid Jumblatt in Damascus

 3444 IDF resumes bombing in Syria

 3445 Emiratis can travel to Lebanon again

 3446 Washington reaches Separate Agreement with Ansar Allah

 3447 Turkiye fails to have the independence of Northern Cyprus recognized by the Turkic States

 3448 Bharat bombs terrorist group facilities in Pakistan

 3449 Bangladesh prepares to support Pakistan against India

 3450 Confusion in South Korea on the eve of the early presidential election

 3451 Construction of a road bridge between North Korea and Russia

 3452 Xi Jinpings Vision of World War II

 3453 Japan plans to use its ability to sell US Treasuries to negotiate with the United States

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 3454 The UN General Assembly is divided on the interpretation of World War II

 3455 UN Security Council Discusses Explosive Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
TOKYO - A hawkish lawmaker of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Friday he will "correct and delete" his controversial remarks that exhibits at a war memorial in Okinawa rewrote the history of one of the fiercest ground battles of World War II.

Shoji Nishida, a member of the House of Councillors, apologized to the people of Okinawa, saying his comments at a recent symposium were "extremely inappropriate."

During the symposium in Okinawa on Saturday, Nishida took issue with how wartime history is explained at the Himeyuri Peace Museum, which includes a cenotaph built in memory of over 200 female students and teachers who died during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

"I want to apologize to the people of Okinawa and correct and delete my remarks," Nishida told reporters in Tokyo.

Nishida's apology came after he initially resisted calls from people in Okinawa and lawmakers of his own party to retract the remarks.

Nishida said at the symposium that the exhibits at the museum in Itoman, Okinawa, seem to imply that "Japanese soldiers swarmed (into the area), leading the Himeyuri corps to die. Then, the U.S. troops came to set Okinawa free," prompting the museum to state that there were no such descriptions on its premises.

The fate of the Himeyuri student corps is remembered as one of the tragedies of the Battle of Okinawa, in which over 200,000 people, from both the Japanese and U.S. sides, died.

Of the corps, 123 girls and 13 teachers died, either in the crossfire between Japanese and U.S. troops or by suicide.

Related coverage:

Japan imperial couple, Princess Aiko to visit Okinawa WWII sites
BEIJING - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday guided a missile test to boost the military's nuclear counterattack capability, according to state-run media, a report that came after South Korea and Japan detected the launch of multiple ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan the same day.

The drill was to train units in the operation of a 600-millimeter multilayer rocket system and the Hwasongpho-11-Ka tactical ballistic missile, the official Korean Central News Agency said Friday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday the missiles were fired from the Wonsan area in the eastern part of North Korea, adding it detected launches of various types of short-range ballistic missiles from the area. Japan, South Korea and the United States view the large multiple rocket launcher as a short-range ballistic missile system.

Stressing the need to enhance "the pivotal role" of the country's nuclear forces in all aspects of strategies to deter and fight a war, Kim called for steadily boosting the normal combat readiness of the force, KCNA said.

He also said it is the consistent policy of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea to "preferentially intensify the qualitative superiority of the artillery force" and sought a further increase in the combat reliability of tactical nuclear weapon systems. Kim guided a similar missile test in April last year.

KCNA accused the United States and its "vassal states" of staging a series of nuclear operation drills on the Korean Peninsula and in its vicinity and making a nuclear war against North Korea "a fait accompli."

The news agency said this "reckless act of aggravating the situation" requires the North Korean armed forces to prepare for "a rapid reaction capability and a thoroughgoing war posture."

Related coverage:

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles, no damage reported

North Korea test-fires new destroyer's weapons system

Military spending in 2024 rises unprecedented 9.4% to $2.72 trillion
A section of the N72 is closed due to a road traffic accident.

Cllr Niamh O'Donovan posted on social media that the crash is at Ballylemon Cross between Dungarvan and Cappoquin.

Waterford City and County Council ask drivers to "proceed with extreme caution."

Waterford Local Link is advising passengers that some services may be impacted as drivers use alternative routes.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) are hosting a whale watching event in Waterford.

Whale Watch Ireland 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 17, between 5pm and 7pm, at Helvick Head.

Those interested in taking part can meet at the High car park at 5pm.

WHALE WATCH 2025

Whale Watch is in its 23rd year and coincides with National Biodiversity Week, which runs from May 16 to 25.

There will be events like the Waterford one at local headlands across the country.

IWDG Sightings Officer Padraig Whooley gives some advice for those hoping to get involved.

"While there are, of course, no guarantees of sightings, given reasonable weather, you have a good chance of seeing some of the species that can be seen locally.

"We advise participants to dress appropriately for the weather conditions on the day. Please note, there are no boats involved and no bookings necessary. As some sites will require a short walk, sensible footwear is recommended.

"You should bring binoculars, your sense of humour and refreshments," said Mr Whooley.

Whale Watch 2025 Waterford event details

The event is suitable for all age groups, but the public is asked to leave pets at home.

If the weather is poor, the event may be cancelled, so check with the watch leader if in doubt.

The Watch Leader for the Waterford event is Andrew Malcolm, and he can be contacted at 087 7952061 or oxomoron@gmail.com.
Gardai are investigating an assault involving male teenagers that took place on Thursday evening, May 8, in the Beech Park area of Tramore.

They attended the scene shortly before 7pm. It is understood that a knife-type implement was used during the course of the assault.

A male youth, aged in his late teens, sustained an injury during the course of the incident and was taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment. It is understood that his injuries are not life threatening.

An adult male, aged in his late teens, who was arrested in relation to the incident, has since been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A male youth, aged in his late teens, who was also arrested in relation to the incident, has since been released pending referral to the Youth Diversion Programme.

Investigations are ongoing.
The issue of Waterford Airport was once again a pertinent one at a recent plenary meeting of Waterford Council.

Councillors enquired about a recent letter sent to the Minister for Transport, and if there's a 'Plan B' for the airport should government not allocate funding for the runway extension.

Being fobbed off

Cllr Joeanne Bailey asked whether a letter sent to Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien from Mayor Jason Murphy on behalf of the Council had been responded to.

Waterford Council Chief Executive Officer Sean McKeown confirmed that no response had been received.

Reacting, Cllr Mary Roche said: The fact that the Minister hasnt even acknowledged a receipt of the letter from the Mayor of this council on behalf of the members is really astonishing and not good enough.

This is an urgent issue and if the job is not done this summer well lose another year. Were literally just being fobbed off. We have to do everything we possibly can and to be just ignored is really not good enough.

Meanwhile, Independent Councillor Donal Barry raised that the ongoing delay in making a decision on funding Waterford Airport was compounded last week by the news of a 200 million investment in Cork Airport.

The people of Waterford are angry about this, Cllr Barry said.

Plan B

At the recent meeting, Sinn Feins Cllr Jim Griffin asked Council executives whether a "plan B" was being considered for the airport due to the lack of government support to date.

Cllr Griffin said: Unfortunately weve been trying to get the government on board for several years now and we havent got answers and it's not looking like an answer is coming.

"I just wanted to ask have we got plan B and will we look at plan B?"

Cllr Griffin suggested approaching multinational companies based locally in Waterford, such as Sanofi and Bausch & Lomb, to see if they are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel".
A woman is facing eviction from an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) centre in Waterford and transfer to Donegal, despite setting down roots in the Deise.

Matilda came to Ireland in July 2024 from Nigeria, and was granted refugee status in September the same year. In the time since she's been in the Deise, she has been integrating with the local community, studying and preparing to work.

On Friday morning, May 9, a taxi was sent to Birchwood House on Ballytruckle Road to take her nearly 400km up north of the country.

Since arriving in Ireland, Matilda has only ever lived in Waterford. She said: "I've started a life here. I did a training course here. I was already working on getting a job here before my accident happened." (Matilda broke her ankle a number of weeks ago.)

Members of Community Action Tenancy Union (CATU) Waterford branch came to support Matilda and to prevent her eviction.

Birchwood House, Ballytruckle Road.

Community

Matilda told Waterford News and Star: "When I first came [to Waterford], I wasn't familiar with the area so some of the people from the house really helped me, took me around places and then I was able to blend in."

Through a friend, Matilda joined a volunteer group at Waterford New Communities Network, which helped her get to meet new people and form friendships. She said: "I became a part of the Women's Shed where we learned sewing and stitching. It's been really interesting, we meet every Wednesday."

Matilda has just been elected as the design manager of the group's yearly design project. She also attends Sunday Mass in The Folly every week.

Last September, she enjoyed the multi-cultural festival held in the city. She said: "I really found it interesting, blending with people from different walks of life, different cultures. We had Pakistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Syria, it's really made it easier for me to blend in with the environment."

Injury

Earlier this year, Matilda sustained an injury in Birchwood House that left her with a broken ankle. She was treated at University Hospital Waterford and had two metal rods inserted into her ankle.

She now needs crutches to walk while she heals from her injury. However, with the looming threat of eviction over her head, she fears that she will have to start the entire process all over again and in a new, remote environment away from her friends, GP and support system.

She said: "I'll have to start all that afresh again in a new county where I know absolutely nobody.

"How do I build relationships again? That isn't integration anymore, that's more like punishment."

Matilda has been looking tirelessly for new accommodation and has HAP approval, but she, like so many thousands of people, is caught in the mire of the housing crisis, where landlords regularly overlook HAP tenants.

'Outrageous'

Metropolitan Mayor Cllr Joe Kelly came by Birchwood House to support Matilda. He told the Waterford News & Star: "This is just a symptom of the overall housing crisis. I can't understand it, it seems very vindictive to me. Matilda is very well integrated in Waterford, she is well-respected among her peers, she helps out when she can.

"To move this lady, indeed any individual like that, from Waterford to the proposed venue in Donegal by taxi at a cost of 600 is outrageous."

Matilda was told that she was being moved from Birchwood to 'make room' for new arrivals.

Mayor Kelly said: "As I understand it, as of this morning there are two, three spare rooms at this facility here, yet this woman by herself has to be moved out. I don't understand it."

After a long back and forth with management today (Friday), it was announced that Matilda would not be removed from the premises until Monday, May 12.

CATU Communications Officer Killian Mangan told the Waterford News & Star that the attempt was a "scare tactic" to compel people like Matilda to find their own accommodation.

He said: "We have a housing crisis. There are no homes. Matilda has had medical issues. She's on a crutch from a bad injury that she's recovering from. She has a doctor's note telling the IPAS that she has to stay for a few more months because of recovery and she can't move in her condition.

"IPAS up until today have ignored any attempts (at communication), with the collective action we put on today we showed that the community is standing up for Matilda and we won't allow our community to be divided and sent off to the other side of the country."
Former Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Damien Geoghegan has recalled on X (Twitter) a Waterford connection with newly elected Pope Leo XIV.

American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost presided over his first Holy Mass as Pope Leo XIV with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday at the conclusion of the Conclave on May 9 in Vatican City.

White smoke was seen over the Vatican early yesterday evening (Thursday, May 8) as the Conclave elected the American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pontiff.

The moderate from Chicago and a close friend of Pope Francis will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

Cllr Damien Geoghegan

Cllr Geoghegan, elected for Fine Gael in the Dungarvan-Lismore District of Waterford City and County Council, said in a post on X that Pope Leo XIV previously visited Waterford while Prior General of The Order of the Augustinians.

At the time, while he was in Ireland, Pope Leo XIV visited St Augustine's College in Abbeyside, Dungarvan.

St Augustine's College is a co-educational secondary school, with nearly 900 students, founded and now conducted by the Irish Augustinians.

The school has been located at its Duckspool campus in Abbeyside since 1972.

This follows a long history of providing education at the former campus, which was located at Main Street and Friary Street in Dungarvan town.

At this time it was a boarding school for boys and continued as such at the new campus until 1990 when the decision was taken to become a co-educational facility.

In time the boarding section was scaled down until it became a day school in the mid-1990s.
Today, Friday, May 9, marks Europe Day and the theme is United in Diversity, celebrating how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages.

In celebrating respect for diversity and openness to other cultures, Europe Direct Waterford in conjunction with Waterford Integration Services and Waterford Libraries, ran a schools competition earlier in the year, which comprised of a poetry competition for second level students to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and World Poetry Day on March 21 and an art competition for primary schools.

Today on Europe Day, Europe Direct Waterford is pleased to announce that the award ceremony and exhibition launch of the creative works produced as part of a competition for Waterfords third Anti-Racism month will take place on Tuesday, June 3, in Waterford Central Library, Lady Lane.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Jason Murphy will present the winning entrants with their prizes and launch the exhibition on the day. All are welcome to attend on this special morning, which recognises the extraordinary talent amongst Waterfords school community.

Anti-Racism Month is an initiative of Waterford Integration Services and Waterford City and County Council to extend the marking of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and includes activities coinciding with International Women's Day, St. Patrick's Festival, Seachtain na nGaeilge, French Language Day and other days and festivals of note, as well as compiling a public calendar of theatre performances, film screenings and cultural events that mark the theme.

Europe Day, which takes place each year on May 9 marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman declaration, the proposal considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.

Ireland joined the then European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973.

The Anti-Racism award ceremony and exhibition launch takes place at 11.30am, Tuesday, June 3, in Waterford Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford. All are welcome to attend.
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Japan sticks to full removal of Trump tariffs after U.S.-Britain deal

TOKYO - Japan will continue to demand the full removal of new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the top government negotiator said Friday, after a U.S.-Britain trade agreement left some levies in place.

Tokyo has set the full removal of "reciprocal" tariffs, an additional 25 percent levy for cars and a 25 percent duty for steel and aluminum as the condition for reaching an agreement with Washington. The government plans to hold a third round of talks in mid-May or later.

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Japan gov't rules out consumption tax cut as inflation, tariff relief

TOKYO - Japan's government on Friday dismissed the idea of reducing the consumption tax rate to help soften the blow from inflation and U.S. tariffs, brushing aside growing calls from the opposition and even some ruling party lawmakers for tax relief measures.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reiterated that cutting the consumption tax, a key revenue source for debt-ridden Japan, would not be "appropriate." His comment came as senior government officials said the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are moving to rule out a tax cut as an option.

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Gov't urges caution over Japan pleasure flights near Senkaku Islands

TOKYO - The government on Friday urged caution after a small Japanese civilian plane was spotted near uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, around the same time a Chinese helicopter violated Japanese airspace in the vicinity last week.

While Japanese aircraft operating in the country's airspace pose no legal issue, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said contingencies stemming from such flights should be avoided amid tensions with China over the Senkaku Islands.

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Nissan abandons plan to build EV battery plant in southwestern Japan

FUKUOKA - Nissan Motor Co. said Friday it has abandoned a plan to build an electric vehicle battery plant in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Fukuoka.

Given rising prices, "we cannot help but forgo this investment to stabilize our management," said Teiji Hirata, Nissan executive officer, after meeting with Fukuoka Gov. Seitaro Hattori at the prefectural office.

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Panasonic to lay off 10,000 employees globally amid structural reform

OSAKA - Panasonic Holdings Corp. said Friday it will lay off 10,000 domestic and overseas employees as part of its structural reform.

The electronics maker, which has a workforce of nearly 230,000, said the job cuts will target 5,000 workers in Japan and 5,000 overseas, with some employees to be offered early retirement.

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Baseball: Ohtani could have landed 15-year deal with Dodgers: report

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani could have pursued a 15-year contract through age 44, The Associated Press reported, quoting agent Nez Balelo.

"Shohei wanted to always kind of keep the integrity of where he's at as a player," Balelo was quoted by the AP as saying Thursday at a conference in a suburb of Los Angeles.

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Nippon Steel expects FY 2025 net profit to sink 43% on tariff woes

TOKYO - Nippon Steel Corp. said Friday it expects its net profit for fiscal 2025 to sink 42.9 percent to 200 billion yen ($1.38 billion) as uncertainty grows over tariffs imposed by the United States.

The Japanese steelmaker, which has been facing hurdles in its plan to acquire U.S. Steel Corp., said its net profit for fiscal 2024, which ended this March, fell 36.2 percent to 350.23 billion yen as inflation dampened demand for its products and the Chinese economy slowed down.

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Japan lawmaker "corrects" controversial war memorial remarks

TOKYO - A hawkish lawmaker of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Friday he will "correct and delete" his controversial remarks that exhibits at a war memorial in Okinawa rewrote the history of one of the fiercest ground battles of World War II.

Shoji Nishida, a member of the House of Councillors, apologized to the people of Okinawa, saying his comments at a recent symposium were "extremely inappropriate."

Video: Model and celebrity Izumi Mori wins "Best Mother" award
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Eating outFood Star chef Shannon Kellam proves theres life after Montrachet In a new role seemingly custom-made for the former restaurant owner, he talks about finding happiness and purpose after the tribulations of 2024. Matt Shea May 8, 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

Shannon Kellam is smiling. Its a relief. The celebrated chef has been through more than most these past 12 months. Yet, standing at the pass at Herves Restaurant, dressed in a crisp blue RM Williams shirt, hand outstretched, he looks fresh and relaxed. Shannon Kellam and Herves head chef Marco Valcarcel Alonso. Herve's Restaurant It was just 10 months ago that Kellam relinquished control of Montrachet, which he took from Brisbane favourite to one of Australias best-regarded French restaurants. Little more than a month before that, his mini-fiefdom of food businesses that operated under the BCN Events Group  including King Street Bakery in Bowen Hills, and Mica Brasserie and The Kneadery production kitchen in Newstead  had gone into liquidation. It was harrowing both for Kellam and the Brisbane food and drink industry, with one of the citys best chefs removed from the board. A combination of Covid and the 2022 floods had ultimately made the odds insurmountable for Kellams venues. Still, if it could happen to him, the local thinking went, it could happen to anyone.

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Kellam is an old school hard nut, a Strathpine kid who in the 1990s caught the train into the city every day to cut his teeth working 16-hour shifts at Dennisons atop the Sheraton (now Sofitel) hotel. But you get the feeling hes mellowed with age, and hes thoughtful and upfront when you ask how he got from Montrachet to here, a culinary ambassador (read, consultancy) gig to rejig and refine Herves Restaurant. Related Article Star exec chef made redundant from Fortitude Valley steakhouse Herves opened in Albion with a flourish in 2022 but has endured numerous personnel changes since, pulling the restaurant this way and that. Its never really settled into a consistent groove. David and Eloise Lyons, and David Fraser: theyre the owners of Herves but theyre not from the industry. They have other professions, Kellam says. David [Lyons] was a great supporter of Montrachet for many years, and he reached out to me in January and said, Look, would you consider coming along, having a look, and giving us some advice and a hand. At the time, Kellam wasnt really interested in stepping back into restaurants. Hed been working with aged care operators to help improve their kitchen operations, an experience he found rewarding (sitting at the table having a meal at that stage of your life is a very important part of the day, so that was a cool way for me to contribute). But he agreed to come and take a look.

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Herves French bistro menu crosses the Pyrenees to draw inspiration from Basque Country Spain. Herve's Restaurant I could see things that were missing to bring the restaurant to fruition, he says, and that there was a fair lack of the kind of skills development that leaves a legacy for when you do have those changes in people and helps keep the ship steady. Walk into Herves and at first all will feel familiar. Theres still the same light-filled space of terrazzo countertops, textured walls, timber floors and banquette seating. But Kellam has a laser-focused eye for detail, and thats where youll find the changes. Most significantly, the restaurants kitchen has been completely rearranged with an oven, extra stoves and a salamander added to the open front line, along with shelving for equipment to give the chefs more room underneath the bench to rest their proteins. Rocky point cobia pancetta at Herves Restaurant. Herve's Restaurant

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French bistro-style cooking has got to be quick out of the gates, and once the food order is taken its coming, Kellam says. Its efficient. If diners want to slow down, thats the waiters job to judge that. But you get that pace going, which gets the vibe in the dining room, and makes people want to come back more, spend more. The way the kitchen was designed prohibited that. There was a little charcoal cooker [out front] and how many steak frites can you cook on that when youre doing two sittings? There was no pasta cooker  no oven, so the sections of the kitchen are running out to the back, and then running back out the front. Hes also replaced the standard Gastronorm fridges with drawer numbers to improve mis en place. Its about keeping everything organised and clean and efficient so you can achieve those 100 covers. The people you meet. Guests and clients become life-long friends. Thats what a restaurant does. Thats the way it is. Shannon Kellam

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Running the kitchen day-to-day is Spanish-born Marco Valcarcel Alonso, he and French-trained Kellam having written a menu thats Gallic at its heart, but crosses the Pyrenees into Basque Country Spain. Think dishes such as Rocky Point cobia pancetta with a celeriac remoulade, Spanish olive oil and charcoal lemon; sand crab souffle with comte cheese and a pastis-seasoned bisque; and confit duck leg thats been brined with juniper and clove, and served with braised vegetables and lentils. Beyond Kellam and Alonso, there have been key additions to the front-of-house team, such as restaurant manager Anthony Folio, who has arrived from Tama Dining, and bar manager Brett Walsh, who local diners will recognise from previous roles at Baja Modern Mexican and Greca. For Kellam, it feels like the perfect project at the perfect time. Ask him how he reflects now on losing Montrachet, and he pauses for a moment. Shannon Kellam says hes happy and revitalised in his new role with Herves. Herve's Restaurant Its a hard one to answer clearly, he says. Because I dont know, mate. I dont know  I think its probably too fresh for me to answer it openly. This thing that was such a big part of your life. Your family revolves around it. Your whole life revolves around this restaurant.

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And the people you meet. Guests and clients become life-long friends. Thats what a restaurant does. Thats the way it is. I have memories of all that, but how I actually feel about it all, I dont know. Its just all locked away. You wonder, then with all thats happened these past 12 months, is Shannon Kellam happy? Because, sitting here, listening to him talk about Herves, with typically vivid tangents into Montrachet or his two Bocuse dOr finals appearances, he seems happy. I am happy, 100 per cent, he says. I think just getting some rest in that first month [after Montrachet], stepping outside that bubble that you were in every day, being on that train. Its nonstop and if it stops, then it all stops  thats how it felt. So I definitely feel refreshed and have a different focus on things.
Watching the interview, I study him. His frustrated smiles, his helpless shrugs, his tense jaw. What I see isnt a 40-year-old man who has been pilloried by commentators and called, among other things, a spoiled, entitled narcissist. I see a terrified little boy.

Throughout the globally broadcast conversation, he says hes really, really sad to be sitting there. Hes uncovered [his] worst fears after losing a legal battle concerning the security he receives in the UK. I thought  the one thing I could rely on was my family keeping me safe, he says. Im devastated.

One of the most famous men in the world sits on a white sofa in a warmly lit private home in California. It isnt far from where he lives with his wife and two children, in the exclusive suburb of Montecito. He speaks for almost half an hour, despite only being scheduled to speak for 10 minutes. The journalist asking the questions, Nada Tawfik, says later that he arrived with no entourage, that he was down-to-earth, softly spoken and easy to talk to.

Since then, he has insisted that while he is no longer a working royal, he inherited a lifelong security risk at birth, which should therefore entitle him and his family to a certain level of protection. He says that immediately after his decision to step aside, his security score was downgraded from the highest level to the lowest without any risk assessment and despite well-documented threats against him and his family. He argues that private security can only do so much in the UK and that without police protection, his family isnt safe to return to the country he called home for 35 years.

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The response to the ruling, and the interview, has been brutal. Hes been called delusional and out of touch with reality. Hes had his fears called a conspiracy theory, been told to count his blessings, and to just shut up. In other words, he needs to stop playing the victim.

In this criticism is an interesting sticking point: the idea of privilege and our inability to see its complexity. How financial privilege is not the only kind of privilege, and how, no matter who you are, its not particularly good fortune to lose your mum when youre 12 or to have her death broadcast around the world as one of the defining moments of modern history. To grow up in what sounds like an emotionally underprivileged environment, where you were born into a rigid role you never felt at home in.

Perhaps Prince Harry is a litmus test for the limits of our empathy. We like to think that decades of research, an increased general understanding of wellbeing and an expanded psychological vernacular, weve come a long way when it comes to understanding of mental health and specifically, trauma. Were more compassionate than the generations before us, we say. Were more patient. We know that what weve been through becomes a part of us, and it informs our fears and our biases and our choices.
Erin Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty over a fatal mushroom lunch that killed Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson.

The son of alleged mushroom lunch killer Erin Patterson described the relationship between his parents as very negative and told police his father does a lot of things to try and hurt his mother.

Pattersons parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gails sister, Heather Wilkinson, died from mushroom poisoning after eating a lunch of beef Wellington at the accused womans Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, Heathers husband, survived after weeks in hospital.

Alleged killer Erin Patterson. Credit: Jason South

Video evidence of Pattersons two children, recorded in August 2023, was played to the jury on Friday, the ninth day of the murder trial in the Supreme Court in Morwell. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Pattersons son, then 14, was asked by a police interviewer in his recorded evidence about his parents relationship. He said he knew they were still married, but theyd had a couple of arguments before his mother moved out about seven years earlier.
Leo XIV said its members must now focus on dialogue and love and said charity should be extended to all, especially [those] who are suffering. The announcement is expected to trigger celebration and scrutiny, particularly given the geopolitical complexities surrounding the Vaticans evolving relationship with the US and the broader global south. Within minutes, US President Donald Trump posted congratulations on his Truth Social platform, calling the elevation of an American pope such an honour. Prevost, 69, was elected by a record 133 cardinals, most of whom had been appointed by Francis. Though widely seen as an outsider due to his American nationality, his deep ties to Latin America  where he served as a bishop in Peru for over two decades  made him a viable consensus candidate.

He is the youngest pope to be elected since Polands John Paul II, who assumed the role after the second papal conclave of 1978, when his predecessor John Paul I died after just 33 days in the role. Until Francis death two weeks ago, Prevost served as head of the Vaticans Dicastery for Bishops, one of the churchs most powerful administrative roles. In that position, he oversaw the global appointment and evaluation of bishops, giving him significant influence within the church hierarchy. White smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, indicating a new pope has been elected. Credit: Getty Images Archbishop Tim Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said his appointment was a sign of the wisdom behind the Italian saying that those who enter the conclave as a pope inevitably emerge from the conclave as a cardinal. Cardinal Prevost brought to his most recent role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops an approachability and willingness to listen which were no doubt developed throughout his many years as an Augustinian missionary in Peru, he said.

He will be warmly welcomed by the church in Latin America, as Pope Francis was, by the church in the United States from where he comes, from the English-speaking world as a native English speaker, and from the whole church as a man of God steeped in the rich spirituality of his Augustinian religious order. Born in Chicago and ordained in 1982, Prevost entered the Order of St. Augustine and earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His career included work as a missionary, educator, and eventually a bishop in Peru, where he became a naturalised citizen and fluent Spanish speaker. Though he has kept a low media profile, Prevost is seen as ideologically aligned with Francis, particularly in prioritising outreach to the poor, care for migrants, and a less hierarchical vision of church leadership. The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, he said in a Vatican interview last year  a remark that echoed Francis critique of clericalism.

Loading However, Leo XIVs record also contains more conservative elements. In a 2012 address, he criticised Western media for promoting sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel, referencing same-sex families and what he called the homosexual lifestyle. While he supported Franciss pastoral move to allow Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, he showed only reserved backing for blessings of same-sex couples. His handling of clerical abuse cases during his time in Peru is expected to come under closer scrutiny now that he has ascended to the papacy. Still, within the Vatican, Leo XIV is regarded as a unifying figure. His international experience and quiet diplomacy allowed him to navigate the ideological and regional divides among the cardinals. His election may mark a stylistic shift from Franciss more outspoken leadership, but not necessarily a reversal of his reforms. The view from St Peters Square as Pope Leo XIV is presented for the first time. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
Francis, historys first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost to take over a complicated diocese in Peru, then brought him to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Prevost appears on the central loggia of St Peters Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, choosing the name Pope Leo XIV. Credit: AP And in January, Francis elevated Prevost into the senior ranks of cardinals, giving him prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had. Since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile but was well-known to the men who count.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. Loading Vatican watchers said Prevosts decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant, given the previous Leos legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis chief concerns. During his 12-year papacy, Francis sought to remake the US hierarchy and, with Prevosts help starting in 2023, named more pastorally minded bishops to replace culture warriors favoured by Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II. The new Pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St Augustine, which was formed in the 13th century as a community of mendicant friars  dedicated to poverty, service and evangelisation. There have been six previous Augustinian popes.

Francis moved Prevost from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo. The Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who knows the new pope, said he was beloved in Peru for his closeness to his people, especially poor people. He said he was a champion of social justice issues and environmental stewardship. Cardinal Robert Prevost leads the recitation of the Holy Rosary for Pope Francis health in St Peters Square at the Vatican in March. Credit: AP Even the bishops of Peru called him the saint, the Saint of the North, and he had time for everyone, Lam said in an interview with The Associated Press in Rome. He was the person who would find you along the way. He was this kind of bishop. Lam said that when Francis travelled to Peru in 2018, Prevost camped out with his flock on the ground during the vigil before Francis Mass. Roberto has that style, that closeness. Maybe they are not great institutional gestures, but are in human gestures.

Prevost remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume both the bishops dossier and the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Loading In that job, he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics. Counting North, Central and South America, the region had 37 cardinal electors going into the conclave. In Rome, at the Augustinian headquarters just off St. Peters Square, the mood was festive. The Rev. Franz Klein, treasurer general of the Augustinian order, said he was shocked by the news.

For us, the Augustinian order, this is one of the biggest moments in history, he said. Im surprised and very happy. Loading The New York Times reported that Prevost has often been described as reserved and discreet and that his supporters believed he would as pope continue the consultative process started by Francis to invite laypeople to meet with bishops. It also wrote that it was unclear whether he would be as open to LGBTQ Catholics as Francis was. In 2012 comments, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel, citing the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children. However, he has pushed back militant vision of Christian power that the Trump administration has elevated, the Times wrote. Before he became pope, a social media account under his name shared criticisms of the Trump administrations positions on immigration.

The Washington Post reported that Prevost voted in the state of Illinois Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016, citing voter registration records. He has also voted in general elections, most recently via an absentee ballot in November. Like many other leaders of the Catholic Church leaders, he has also drawn criticism over his dealings with priests accused of sexual abuse, the Times reported. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, in 2023. Credit: AP The Post also reported that Prevosts views on women in the church appeared aligned with Francis, who opened more leadership roles to women than any previous pontiff, while affirming the churchs teaching barring the ordination of women as priests. In 2023, Prevost said women can add a great deal to the life of the church on many different levels, The Post reported. But the National Catholic Register reported him at the time saying that clericalising women doesnt necessarily solve a problem, it might make a new problem.

The Post also reported that he has championed action to address the climate crisis. Leo was expected to celebrate Mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, planned to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St Peters and lined up an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. Beyond that, he has a possible first foreign trip at the end of May: Francis had been invited to travel to Turkey to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history and an important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the worlds Orthodox Christians, welcomed Leos election and said he hoped he would join the anniversary celebration. AP
I grew up in Minto Heights in south-west Sydney, the youngest of four kids raised by two wonderful parents. Our home sat on a bush block, the kind of place where childhood felt expansive and full of freedom. We spent our afternoons riding bikes through the neighbourhood, swimming in the backyard pool, and camping out under the stars  not because we had to, but because it was fun. The rhythm of life was school, sport and sunshine. We complained about chores and violin lessons. We pushed our vegetables around our plates. That was the extent of our hardship.

Layan Ibrahim Sahloul, 4, at Nasser hospital on Sunday with second-degree burns from an Israeli army strike on her home in Khan Yunis that killed her pregnant mother and two siblings. Credit: AP

Ive worked in Gaza  and the contrast between my childhood and the lives of the children I see here is impossible to ignore. In Gaza, children are camping out not for fun, but for survival. Their homes are gone, destroyed by relentless bombing. Walking down the street is a risk that could cost them their lives. Food is scarce, water even scarcer. A trip to fetch either could mean a mother never comes back.

This week Israeli air strikes across Gaza killed at least 92 people, including women, children and two journalists, officials said, as Israel prepared to again ramp up its campaign in the strip.

Some children sell black-market cigarettes on the side of the road to help support their families. Others scavenge through garbage to find bits of aluminium to sell. Many are suffering from malnutrition. Some have watched their parents, siblings or best friends die in front of them. They are small, exhausted, and traumatised  but they are still just children.
MAPUTO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- As the morning sun glows over the banks of the Limpopo River in Gaza Province, Mozambique, golden rice ears sway gently in the breeze. Among the bending stalks heavy with grain, Gerson Joao, a farmer, is busy working. "Without this land, I could not afford to send my two children to college," he said. Gerson is one of 353 smallholders partnering with Wanbao, a Chinese-invested modern rice farm in southern Mozambique. His 2.7-hectare field brought in nearly 100,000 meticais (around 1,565 U.S. dollars) this season, enough to cover his children's tuition and support the household. Launched in 2011 in Xai-Xai, the provincial capital of Gaza, Wanbao was later supported by the China-Africa Development Fund. With around 20,000 hectares of land, including about 3,333 hectares of rice paddies, it is one of the largest modern rice-growing operations in Africa, producing 16,000 tons of rice annually. Through years of experimentation, the farm has established a mature cooperation model. Local households receive land, seeds, fertilizers, technical training, and financial support, with the company purchasing their harvests under pre-agreed contracts. As a result, average yields have risen from one to two tons per hectare to five to seven tons, and land-use efficiency has grown tenfold. Angelica Mavuie, a single mother who joined the project in 2018, started with just one hectare. Her first harvest earned her over 60,000 meticais (around 940 U.S. dollars). "After my husband passed, I had no way to support my family," she recalled. Thanks to her earnings, she connected electricity and water to her home and completed a long-stalled construction project. Last year, she earned nearly 130,000 meticais (around 2,034 U.S. dollars), enough to buy cement, furniture, and new clothes for her children. "Now, my home looks just like my husband dreamed," she said with pride. Community elders also speak highly of the Chinese team's dedication. "They taught us how to plant, how to manage land, and how to increase yields," said Fabiao Matsolo, a village chief. During last year's floods, he recalled, the Chinese staff worked day and night to repair irrigation channels and protect the fields. "Even when we did not understand their words, they used gestures to explain everything with patience," he said. According to Armando M. Ussivane, manager of the Lower Limpopo Irrigation Company, Wanbao has introduced high-yield Chinese rice varieties and modern farming inputs while partnering with local technicians on field guidance. Some farmers have now developed the capacity to manage production and sales independently. According to Wanbao's General Manager Shao Jiayun, the farm employs 156 full-time local staff and over 1,000 seasonal workers during peak periods. The company has also trained more than 2,000 farmers and agricultural workers since the project began. With an annual local rice supply of 12,000 to 15,000 tons, representing about six percent of Mozambique's domestic rice output, the farm contributes meaningfully to national food security in a country that still imports more than double its domestic production. Looking out over the rippling fields, Matsolo said simply, "With Wanbao here, we won't go hungry."
NAHA, Japan - Representatives of U.S. forces in Japan and Okinawa authorities held their first meeting Friday under a new forum to discuss joint safety measures, following alleged sexual assault cases involving American service members in the southern island prefecture.

In closed-door talks at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Foster, the U.S. military outlined its existing preventive measures, while both sides agreed to work toward holding a regular joint community patrol, like the one conducted in April in the city of Okinawa, and expanding it to other parts of the prefecture, according to a local government official.

The launch of the new dialogue venue, named "Okinawa Community Partnership Forum," was announced in July last year by U.S. Forces Japan, after revelations of alleged sexual assault cases in June sparked renewed safety concerns among locals.

Okinawa Prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan, and anti-base sentiment runs deep due to aircraft noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members.

The participants of the first meeting of the new forum included representatives from the Okinawa prefectural government, the city of Okinawa, local police, the U.S. forces on Okinawa and the U.S. Consulate General Naha. Officials from Japan's foreign and defense ministries also took part.

The meeting is expected to be held about once a year going forward.

Specific assault cases were not discussed in the meeting, according to the local government official.

"Establishing an avenue for each organization to propose measures to prevent incidents involving U.S. military is of great significance," Masahito Tamari, director general of the Okinawa governor's office, told reporters after the meeting.

The U.S. military said in its statement that the talks "highlighted the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration between USFJ and the Okinawa community."

"Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship based on trust and respect," it added.

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WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday a trade agreement that would increase market access for American farm exports has been reached with Britain, hailing it as a "tremendous" deal and the first of many to come after his wave of steep tariffs rattled countries around the world.

In return, the Trump administration has agreed to arrangements such as allowing Britain to export 100,000 cars per year into the U.S. market with only a 10 percent tariff, offering a partial exemption from his new 25 percent auto levies.

The annual quota is a boon for Jaguar Land Rover and the United Kingdom as cars are its biggest export to the United States. The amount covers nearly the total it exported to the United States in 2024.

The agreement left in place a 10 percent baseline tariff that Trump imposed in April on almost all countries. But, according to the British government, the United States will remove its additional tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum.

A White House official, meanwhile, said the two countries have not yet decided on the specifics of a separate alternate agreement on steel and aluminum.

"With this deal, the U.K. joins the United States in affirming that reciprocity and fairness is an essential and vital principle of international trade," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The White House said the agreement "sets the tone for other trading partners to promote reciprocal trade with the United States."

Under the deal, Britain will expand market access for American farm products in particular, such as beef and bioethanol, and reduce nontariff barriers.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the agreement will result in a $5 billion opportunity for new exports by American farmers, ranchers and producers.

The British government said beef market access is a win for both sides, noting that U.K. farmers has been given a tariff-free quota of 13,000 tons.

Still, many details have not been worked out and officials from the two countries need to meet in the coming weeks or perhaps months to finalize the deal's provisions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who joined Trump's announcement via speakerphone, said, "This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. It's going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access."

The deal with Britain is one of 17 that the Trump administration has been trying to strike with major trading partners since the president hastily backtracked from his steep "reciprocal" tariffs, which sparked a panicked sell-off of U.S. bonds after being unveiled on April 2.

The trading partners include India, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Trump has paused the country-specific tariffs for 90 days until early July, with the aim of negotiating new bilateral trade deals in the meantime.

Britain's case may be exceptional as it is one of the few major economies that the United States has a trade surplus with. The Trump administration is imposing only a 10 percent universal levy and no extra country-specific duties on Britain, unlike Japan that is subject to a 24 percent tariff rate, under his reciprocal scheme.

But the deal provides some hints for other countries on where the Trump administration stands on its tariff approach.

It has become even clearer that Trump does not intend to scrap or grant exemptions from the 10 percent universal tariff, with only the country-specific part of his so-called reciprocal tariffs being negotiable.

For Japan, eliminating the new tariffs for cars and auto parts is especially important. But the Trump administration's deal with Britain signals that restoring the previous rate of 2.5 percent for imported cars by removing all the new levies may be difficult.

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WASHINGTON - Over 150 years ago, in 1867, the United States acquired Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Since then, it has not expanded its national territory in the Arctic, or for that matter very much elsewhere in the world.

Yet, since 2019, and especially since early this year, President Donald Trump has often stressed a serious desire to acquire Greenland.

The sprawling but sparsely populated Danish territory is almost one quarter the size of the continental United States, but home to less than 60,000 people, and located in close proximity to the North Pole.

Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., as well as Vice President J.D. Vance have made high-profile visits to Greenland in the past two months, and Trump has not precluded the possibility of military action to acquire the territory from North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally Denmark. What is going on?

Greenland's geographic location is one rational consideration for American policymakers. Greenland lies across the most direct routes -- by sea, air, or hypersonic missile -- from Russia to the populous east coast of the United States, and is indeed the closest territory in the Arctic to both the Russian and the European heartlands as well.

These considerations have become especially important in the nuclear age, intensified as the speed of international transport increases.

Not surprisingly, the United States occupied Greenland during World War II, and operated 17 military bases there. President Harry Truman also tried to buy Greenland from Denmark in 1946, even as the Danes quietly refused.

Although a substantial U.S. military presence continued during the Cold War, it declined following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Today the United States maintains only a single military facility in Greenland, the Pituffik Space Base, with just 200 soldiers. And the Danish presence remains likewise minimal, although Denmark in January 2025 announced a $2.1 billion budget for Greenland-related defense expansion, including two new Arctic vessels, together with an expansion of drone and satellite reconnaissance.

The interplay of climate and geopolitical considerations makes a revival of U.S. strategic interest and involvement in Greenland unsurprising.

The Arctic is warming four times as fast as any other part of the world, with prospects strong that warming there could even accelerate, as the ice pack there is relatively thin, compared to the Antarctic, with water rather than solid land beneath.

The opening of the Arctic Sea to the broader world will give Russia, for the first time in its modern history, unimpeded access to open blue waters. This contrasts with the hemmed-in situation it faces in places like the Russian Far East.

Russia occupies two-thirds of the Arctic coastline, and its portion shows prospects of being ice-free much earlier than the Canadian or the American portion of the Arctic Sea.

Russia has been quick to exploit its geo-economic advantages in the Arctic. In 2007, it planted the Russian flag on the ocean seabed at the North Pole itself, and has been quick to claim close-by still frozen seas harboring substantial energy, critical mineral and fishery resources.

Even now, the Arctic generates 10 percent of Russian GDP, including 80 percent of the country's natural gas, one-third of fishery production and 17 percent of Russian oil.

To back up its extensive interests and claims, Russia has established over 32 military bases in the Arctic and had 57 icebreakers and ice-capable patrol ships in 2022. This was more than any other single country at the time, and compared to only five operational in the United States.

Russia's assertiveness in the Arctic has arguably intensified since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, with China ignoring international sanctions to expand economic cooperation with Russia there.

In 2024, trade from the Russian Arctic to the broader world reached its highest levels in history. Over half of that trade involved Russian oil exports to China.

The geo-economics of the Arctic, which is believed to harbor a quarter of the unexploited energy reserves on earth, have changed significantly over the past three years.

Russia has intensified economic cooperation with China on the Yamal Peninsula and its environs. Both Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, meaning that seven of the eight Arctic states -- all but Russia -- are now members of that Western security organization. Three NATO members --the United States, Finland and Canada -- also resolved in 2024 to cooperate actively on polar icebreaker development.

The Trump administration so far seems to be stressing unilateralism in Greenland more than NATO cooperation as a primary vehicle for asserting U.S. Arctic interests.

Certainly, its designs on Greenland do not sit well with Denmark, nor arguably with the neighboring Scandinavian Arctic states.

And should U.S.-Russian cooperation in the Arctic intensify in the wake of a Ukraine deal favorable to Russia, as Moscow seems to be quietly proposing, that would likely be greeted with Scandinavian ambivalence -- and intensified tensions within NATO -- as well.

There is one resolution to the building geo-economic tensions within NATO over Greenland that may both further natural U.S. interests in that strategic island, while moderating concerns among America's trans-Atlantic and other international partners about divisions among the Western democratic allies.

And that resolution lies, of all places, in the Pacific. Between 1986 and 1994 the United States concluded "Compact of Free Association" agreements with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau -- three small island nations, and former Japanese League of Nations mandates -- in strategic areas of the Pacific west of Hawaii and southeast of Japan.

These compacts allow the United States extensive and exclusive military basing rights, in return for economic assistance, market access, and open employment access in the United States for the citizens of these small and relatively impoverished nations.

Should the United States, Denmark, and Greenland apply this mid-Pacific model in the Arctic, they could avoid a counter-productive conflict over sovereignty, while assuring NATO security interests and reinforcing international stability as well.

(Kent E. Calder is the director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.)

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ROME - Cardinal Robert Prevost became the first American-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday upon his election by the papal conclave, taking the name Leo XIV.

The new pope addressed the crowd from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen as the successor of Pope Francis, who died last month, calling on people to help "build bridges" through dialogues and encounters for peace.

Pope Leo XIV, 69, was selected on the second day of the conclave that began on Wednesday to determine the 267th pope.

The Chicago native was sent to Peru as a missionary in 1985 and obtained citizenship in the South American country in 2015. He became a cardinal in 2023.

In total, 133 cardinal electors from 70 countries including in Asia and Africa took part in the vote, which was seen as a choice about whether to continue Francis's reformist trajectory.

The pope's selection was announced to the public with the release of white smoke from a chimney at the Sistine Chapel.

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest branch of Christianity globally, with around 1.4 billion believers worldwide as of 2023, according to the Vatican.

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the election of a U.S. pope, saying on social media, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American pope."

Related coverage:

Japan's emperor conveys condolences over death of Pope Francis

2 Japanese cardinals to attend conclave to elect new pope

Pope Francis, known for promoting peace, helping refugees, dies at 88
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Darren McGuire, a young farmer from Mayo, has been chosen to take part in the new Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum  a dynamic new initiative designed to empower the next generation of Irish sheep farmers through innovation, sustainability, and leadership.

From Westport, Darren is a final-year student at Mountbellew Agricultural College and is actively involved in the family farm, which manages 250 crossbred and hill ewes. He has gained valuable experience through a work placement with a Teagasc advisor, working alongside hill farmers.

The Forum was officially launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, at an event hosted on one of Kepaks supplier farms, owned by Damien Flynn in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath.

Set against the backdrop of Teagascs 2024 National Farm Survey  which found the average age of Irish sheep farmers to be 56  the Forum aims to inject fresh thinking and renewed energy into the sector.

Developed in collaboration with Bord Bia and Mountbellew Agricultural College, it brings together 15 young farmers from diverse educational and sheep farming enterprise backgrounds (including part-time and full-time farmers) to address the key challenges facing Irish sheep farming. By actively engaging young people in the future of farming, the Forum supports Irelands wider goals around generational renewal; a critical priority for the long-term sustainability of rural communities and agricultural production. In 2023, Less than half (46.5%) of farm holders had a succession plan in place, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO, 2023).

The initiatives core mission is to make sheep farming more attractive and viable for young people, while promoting sustainable and profitable practices. Through youth-led dialogue, hands-on experience, and access to industry networks, Kepak aims to support the next generation in shaping a future-focused and resilient sheep sector.
We have not much time left!

The Greek MEP was on her feet, waving her arms with the kind of fervour usually reserved for Eurovision voting scandals. She let loose a rapid-fire burst of Greek that, through the miracle of Brussels translation, emerged in my headphones as a breathless monotone.

"Or our far-right friends will capitalise on these communities as they are doing now, thank you, chairperson.

And with that, like a laptop on a dodgy battery, she powered down and sat abruptly.

The committee chair, Dragos Benea, a poker-faced Romanian politician, barely looked up as he called the next speaker. Business as usual.

A Belgian MEP then began the obligatory one-minute statement - not so much addressed to us in the room, but clearly aimed at his local evening news or perhaps his Facebook followers back home. Then, mid-flow, he glanced up at the podium and caught me off guard as I was seated beside the chairman and my fellow experts, who at that moment were collectively using one pencil and two and a half sheets of paper to note the series of potential questions from grandstanding politicians

My question is for Dr Heffron - why was there no public meeting to do something when the village infrastructure of Moy-Gow-Nagh closed?

As per the strange etiquette of these EU hearings, I had a few minutes' grace before having to reply. Plenty of time to stage an internal debate with myself, which was repeatedly interrupted every few seconds by giddy potatoes jumping up and down on a sizzling medium-rare steak (to be fair I had skipped breakfast). How to explain how defeated the community feels?

Seated somewhere in this European maze was Ciaran Mullooly - one of the Parliaments hardest-working new recruits. The former RTE reporter had been frozen out by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, so now he was making allies in Europe, resulting in Mullooly being elected to the Committee on Regional Development of the European Parliament (better known as REGI). It is here, at the beginning of the year, that the Midlands-based MEP quoted my article in a rousing speech on the lack of Irish government action on depopulation. This saw the committee chairman Benea invite myself and three other experts to the European Parliament in Brussels on March 9th to speak at a hearing on 'Depopulation Challenges in European Regions'.

On the surface, the REGI committee is a kind of syrupy bureaucracy, thick with votes and endless speeches. But under the treacle, theres an urgency. Many of Europes regions are losing their productive populations. To address this complex issue, the Parliament is developing a coordinated European approach to examine how cohesion policy and other EU tools can help reverse population decline, focusing on regional development, infrastructure investment and job creation in order to make these areas more attractive for residents and businesses. Otherwise, it is leading to increased support for right-wing extremism from disaffected communities with growing disenchantment that the Greek MEP had flagged with such (brief) energy.

A theme began to emerge from many MEPs speeches: national governments, they complained, were the bottleneck. EU money and support could save struggling regions - if only the member states didnt block the pipes. No government likes to be told what to do with their regions by supra-national institutions - or anyone really.

On my far right was Isabel Blanco Llamas from Spains Castilla y Leon region. Affable, quick-talking, and very good at the political art of making demographic catastrophe sound like an opportunity, she called for permanent EU-backing for depopulated regions, exhibiting the kind of practiced urgency that indicated this was clearly not her first rodeo.

Beside me was Profesor Tiziana Laureti from Italy, sitting nervously before launching into detailed maps of Europes demographic black holes. Her statistics were sobering: places losing people lose their economic muscle, their creativity, their future. She mapped out vast swathes of eastern and southern Europe suffering in a critical situation. When I pointed out that rural Ireland was bleeding people too, her brow furrowed, Ireland looked fine.

I just cant see it, she said.

That, I explained, was the magic gerrymandering trick pulled off by successive Irish governments: lump together Dublins roaring suburbs with the dying west in a vast Border, Midlands and West region to get more money from Brussels. The issue wasnt her research but how the population losses of rural Ireland are subverted by the massive demographic growth in the growing eastern urbanisation. Never mind that any per-capita statistic, which relies on the fiction which is the Irish Gross Domestic Product, will always produce results as real as low-taxed leprechauns.

Then, via Zoom, came Professor Irena Baclija Brajnik from Slovenia, juggling a sick child at home but still managing to deliver the plain truth: you can't fix depopulation from Brussels or indeed Dublin alone. Demographic losses can only be reversed by tailor-made policies depending on the particular characteristics of the affected regions, coupled with genuine dialogue with local communities.

She emphasised the importance of local autonomy where local government units have an important role in the economy and political system, have discretion and independence in determining what they will do and have the means or capacity to do so. In her list of OECD countries, investigated for local autonomy over 2015-2020, Ireland ranked eighth from bottom, being the worst-ranked EU country aside from the democratic paradise that is Orbans Hungary and five above Putins Russia.

All of this dovetailed with my own case study on North Mayo. I painted a blunt picture: local democracy in rural Ireland is completely on the floor (according to senior Fianna Fail councillor in Mayo, Damian Ryan). Mayo County Council itself isnt fit for purpose and communities are being stripped of their native youth, culture and solidarity, being left emasculated, frustrated and vulnerable - unfit to welcome new arrivals while ripe for the kind of political exploitation posed by certain reality TV stars and former UFC fighters. I even scored a round of applause (though, to be fair, that's an old actor's trick which I am not divulging).

When my turn came to answer the Belgian inquisitor, I managed to quieten the dancing spuds in my head and suggested: Rather than speculate on why there was no local meeting, Id offer that if you had a democratically elected local council, funded and empowered to act - and veto - on matters affecting its own future, youd not only get a response, youd have had a plan in place before the crisis ever hit.

I tossed in the example of Ballinas now-abolished urban council, which in the hungry 1930s had pulled off one of the state's biggest housing developments - a unique feat in todays terms also. That got a few raised eyebrows and nods of heads.

One MEP bristled at my mention of local veto power for communities.

What if they said no to immigration?

I didnt blink.

If you respect democracy, then communities must be able to say no, as well as yes. But I believe most people are, in their hearts, good and kind. Given real empowerment, theyll welcome newcomers and then take ownership of it - unlike now, where faceless bureaucrats enforce diktats onto powerless communities which breeds resentments - with the result as expressed by your Greek colleague of extremist demagogues harnessing their support."

That seemed to land. Later, a formal thank-you arrived from the REGI committee, praising my insights on the demographic evolution of Moygownagh, and the lessons learnt about the importance of preserving local cultural traditions and heritage, and the importance of promoting participatory local democracy to enable local communities to build their own future were both enlightening and impactful".

But honestly? Aside from the steak and fries that Ciaran Mullooly bought me, I was both proud and glad in the small satisfaction of putting Mayos communities on the map - if only for a day - in the EUs labyrinth of gleaming corridors, endless votes and grandstanding speeches.

Is it enough? Clearly not. But with the likes of Ciaran Mullooly doing his best in Brussels and with like-minded politicians and officials, we may have a chance because there seems to be next-to-nothing being done in Dublin about it.
Bus Eireann 'considering' expanded service

Bus Eireann is considering expanding the bus service connecting Ballyhaunis to Galway, according to the company.

In response to a query submitted by Minister Dara Calleary, after coverage of the service in this column, the company said: [Our] Expressway team [is] actively considering Ballyhaunis for enhanced services beyond what is currently available on Route 64, but it is still being reviewed by our operations planning team.

The last bus for Ballyhaunis leaves Galway at 4pm on weekdays, making it difficult for college students to commute if theyre in class till evening time. One local man studying at the Atlantic Technological University detailed how hes forced to ride a motorbike even in winter weather because accommodation in Galway remains prohibitively expensive and classes some days run to 5pm, after the last bus has departed.

Fr Stephens tribute to Pope Francis

Pope Francis did a lot to heal the divisions between science and religion in his care for the environment, said Ballyhaunis parish priest Fr Stephen Farragher who learned of the death of Pope Francis after landing at Bordeaux Airport with a Faith and Light pilgrimage.

Fr Stephen pointed to Francis outstanding encyclical Laudato Si.

He challenged political leaders to heed the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. His encyclical Fratelli Tutti, written during Covid, reminds us that every element of creation, not just human beings, are interlinked and interdependent. He was an outstanding spokesperson for the plight of migrants, reminding populist politicians that they are human beings, created in the image and likeness of God.

Fr Stephen recalled how in April 2013, shortly after Pope Francis appointment, he walked a 200-mile pilgrim trail from Siena to Rome called the Via Francigena.

I was one of the thousands of pilgrims who were in St Peters Square for the Wednesday audience.

When Pope Francis visited Knock I was part of the Press Corps, so I didnt get to see him.

On Easter Sunday, he could only imagine what the resurrection could mean. Today, he is experiencing it in his heavenly home.

"We still recall his first words when he appeared on the balcony is St Peters, following his election in 2013. Instead of giving the usual blessing, he simply said I ask you to bless me.

"He has preached and practiced compassion. Everywhere he travelled he reached out to people of every religion and none. Ironically, some of his greatest admirers were outside the Church and some of his fiercest critics were within the ranks of the Church.

New 'Annagh' committee named

At its annual general meeting on April 29th, the Annagh Magazine Society elected Tommy Caulfield as chairman while Seamus Mulrennan was selected as vice chair.

Jim Lundon and John Halpin were elected president and vice president respectively while the role of secretary and assistant secretary went to Noreen Ruane-Dalton and Paul Waldron.

Eddie Mulhern and John Kilduff were elected treasurer and assistant treasurer respectively. Nell Rochford was named public relations officer and Mike Griffin is patrons officer. Noreen Ruane-Dalton and Gabriel Smyth were appointed I.T. personnel.

Volunteers who were involved in the recent Good Friday cleanup organised by Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns.

350,000 sought for town centre site

An 8.3-acre site adjacent to Aldi and St Patricks Church in Ballyhaunis is being offered for sale at 350,000, according to the estate agent Cushman Wakefield, which is handling the sale.

The price tag for the site appears modest given another site in a less central location was offered last year for 1 million.

Local auctioneer and estate agent Kevin Kirrane sees the 8.3-acre site, which was earmarked for a hotel development during the Celtic Tiger era, as ideal for housing but believes increased intervention by the state to get houses built at all costs is actually making the housing market less competitive for developers at a time of high building costs.

Its a great site but build cost is a big issue in Ballyhaunis and as you can see everything going on is through charities or housing associations with big government funding involved so its not a genuine market.

Mr Kirrane sees an investor potentially buying the site and sitting on it.

Buyers will buy it for development later Im sure but Im not sure when that might be.

Citizen scientists to monitor Dalgan water

The citizen science team under Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns will be monitoring the water quality of the local Dalgan River on May 17th, starting at 10am in the stretch of the river passing through the Friary grounds.

The group welcomes anyone whod like to join the monitoring to meet in the Friary carpark at 10am after which theyll be taught how to take samples in the river  an effective method which judges the water by the presence or absence of pollution tolerant species like slugs and species less tolerant to pollution, such as the Mayfly.

A recent report on the health of the Dalgan River, compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), notes previous improvements to water quality have not been maintained, according to data collected at two EPA monitoring stations (the bridge in Ballyhaunis town and a bridge in Culnaclecha) in the Dalgan River in 2024. These two points in the river are therefore once again classified as moderately polluted.

In slightly better news, the longstanding bad and poor quality of the seriously polluted station  two kilometres southwest of Ballyhaunis in the direction of Irishtown - has improved to moderate condition for the first time since monitoring commenced there in 1979.

The water quality in the Dalgan had improved over the past two decades but is in decline again, noted Dr William OConnor, an environmental consultant focused on rivers and a frequent past visitor to the Dalgan and the Clare River into which it flows before entering the Corrib and then the sea at Galway.

Speaking to this column, Mr OConnor also pointed out that the Ballyhaunis wastewater treatment plant, operated by Uisce Eireann, is not compliant with its discharge licence. A report on the plant published by Uisce Eireann for the year 2023 (the most recent year for which such a report is available) noted that discharges of ammonia from the plant were above the levels allowed for in its license.

Trumps actions may push more migrants to Ireland

US President Donald Trumps savage cuts to American aid budgets are set to drive more migrants and asylum seekers to Ireland, according to residents of the IPAS centre in Ballyhaunis.

A south Asian and an African resident at the centre told this column that drastic cuts by the American government to USAID (Americas now-closed official aid agency) programmes in their respective countries meant that attempts to improve local economies and services have been abandoned.

People lose hope of improvements at home and they go to Europe, said the African asylum seeker, who stressed that his leaving of his homeland was prompted by political persecution.

The population of most African countries are increasing quickly but there are few jobs and now the aid for improving the economies and creating jobs is being taken away so more people will try to go to Europe and some will seek asylum if they cant get a work visa which is really hard to get if youre an African with few formal skills or certificates.

Asylum seekers are more likely to go to Europe rather than America, noted the South Asian asylum seeker.

We have all seen the images of asylum seekers and migrants being arrested and deported in chains, said the Ballyhaunis-based asylum seeker.

Vocal support for Trump among Irish-America  and a columnist in another Mayo newspaper  has often centred on his vows to tighten borders and deport illegal immigrants. As a result, would-be asylum seekers and migrants have looked to other western economies like Ireland. The effects are set to become apparent as funding dries up later this year, prompting an exodus from poorer nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Pakistan, Somalia and Nigeria rank among the leading sources for asylum seekers seeking protection in Ireland.
BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The latest heavy rains have hit coastal and southern China since Wednesday, bringing widespread downpours and severe convective weather, including thunderstorms, short-term heavy precipitation and gales.

Local governments have implemented swift measures to safeguard urban operations and public safety.

In central China's Hubei Province, rainfall intensified from Wednesday night to Thursday, prompting the provincial meteorological bureau to activate an emergency response.

Over the last two days, eastern parts of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China experienced moderate to heavy rains, with some areas reporting torrential rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters.

To address the dual challenges of drought and flooding, Guangxi has stockpiled more than 7.9 million emergency supplies and equipped disaster-prone regions with over 4,900 satellite phones and navigation devices.

The region has also mobilized 22,000 emergency responders, as well as 16,000 community-based teams totaling 320,000 members.

In central China's Hunan Province, heavy rainfall has disrupted rail services, prompting the suspension or rerouting of some trains for passenger safety.

Meanwhile, Jiangxi Province in east China has deployed over 2,500 monitoring devices and 300 drones for the remote inspection of power infrastructure.

China's central meteorological observatory renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms at 6 p.m. on Thursday, forecasting heavy to torrential rains across multiple provinces, with risks of lightning, hail and strong winds. Authorities have urged the public to stay updated on weather warnings, and to exercise caution during travel and outdoor activities. 
Market value in U.S. dollars: $99.7 billion

What can brown do for its customers? A whole lot actually, as the United Parcel Service, better known by its acronym UPS, is amongst the largest package delivery and supply chain management companies in the entire world. Regardless of where one is reading this, they've probably received a UPS package at one point or another, as UPS delivers products to all 50 states and hundreds of nations.
ULAN BATOR, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia hosted on Thursday a reception to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Chinese aid workers arriving in Mongolia.

Present at the event were over 100 distinguished guests, including Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Lkhanaajav Munkhtushig, former Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar and other Chinese and Mongolian officials who have witnessed the history of construction aid in Mongolia.

On this day 70 years ago, on May 8, 1955, the first batch of Chinese construction workers arrived in Ulan Bator to help Mongolia. Since then, more than 27,000 Chinese aid workers have crossed the Gobi desert and came to Mongolia and worked side by side with the local people. More than 120 of them have died here. They have built not only buildings and roads, but also bridges of spiritual connections between the Chinese and Mongolian people, Shen said at the reception.

"At this special historical moment of the 70th anniversary, we have reached a consensus with the Mongolian side to build a cemetery memorial for aid workers in Mongolia in the Nalaikh district of Ulan Bator," Shen said.

"This is a profound tribute to the most revered historical monuments and contributors. Moreover, it means of inheriting the friendship between China and Mongolia," she added.

Munkhtushig expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and Chinese aid workers for helping the Mongolian people build major livelihood projects.

He said that since the 1950s, with the help of China's aid and preferential loans, and with the hard work and dedication of Chinese aid workers, Mongolia has completed a large number of projects that have played an important role in the country's social and economic development and people's lives. 
BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin had in-depth exchanges of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues and reached many new and important common understandings during Xi's visit to Russia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Friday.

Lin Jian told a daily news briefing that the two heads of state signed the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era on the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the Founding of the United Nations. They witnessed the exchange of over 20 bilateral cooperation documents, injecting new impetus into the development of China-Russia relations.

Noting that the two sides are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners for mutual success, Xi said that the relationship between China and Russia is characterized by a distinct historical logic, strong endogenous driving force and rich civilizations, and does not target any third party and it is not subject to restrictions from any third party, according to Lin.

Xi also noted that the two sides have successfully found the right way for the two neighboring major countries to get along with each other and forged a spirit of strategic coordination for a new era with permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation at its core.

The two countries need to nourish everlasting friendship and deepen political mutual trust, and increase strategic coordination, as well as pursue mutual benefit, and continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

The two countries need to uphold fairness and justice, and firmly defend the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, Xi said, adding that the two countries need to enhance solidarity, safeguard true multilateralism and steer global governance towards the right direction.

President Xi stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War. Facing unilateralism, power politics and bullying acts in the world, China and Russia, as two major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will shoulder responsibilities to uphold the correct historical perspective on WWII, safeguard the authority and standing of the UN, firmly defend the victorious outcome of WWII, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and the vast number of developing countries, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

During the visit, China and Russia issued a joint statement on global strategic stability, reiterating that the two sides will endeavor to practice true multilateralism and support the central role of the UN and relevant multilateral mechanism, Lin said.

The spokesperson said that the two sides stressed that nuclear-weapon states, which bear special responsibility for international security and global strategic stability, should reject Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, address concerns via dialogue and consultations on an equal footing, and build confidence to avoid dangerous miscalculations. This demonstrates China and Russia's sense of responsibility as major countries for upholding and enhancing global strategic stability.

The two sides also issued a joint declaration on further strengthening cooperation to uphold the authority of international law, reiterating the two countries' full commitment to the principles of international law including the United Nations Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and opposition to the abuse of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, Lin said.

He said the declaration emphasized that states have the right to conduct normal economic and trade cooperation, elaborated on the two sides' shared stance on important matters concerning international law and sent a strong message of resolutely upholding the international order based on international law to the international community. 
First fossil pangolin tracks discovered in South Africa

No fossilised pangolin tracks had been recorded anywhere in the world until a track was found in South Africa, dated to between 90,000 and 140,000 years ago.

A team of scientists who study vertebrate fossil tracks and traces on South Africas southern Cape coast have identified the worlds first fossil pangolin trackway, with the help of Indigenous Master Trackers from Namibia. Ichnologists Charles Helm, Clive Thompson and Jan De Vynck tell the story.

What did you find?

A fossil trackway east of Still Bay in South Africas Western Cape province was found in 2018 by a colleague and was brought to our attention. It was found on the surface of a loose block of aeolianite rock (formed from hardened sand) that had come to rest near the high-tide mark in a private nature reserve.

We studied it but our cautious approach required that we could not confidently pin down what had made the track. It remained enigmatic.

How did you eventually identify it?

In 2023, we were working with two Ju/hoansi San colleagues from north-eastern Namibia, #oma Daqm and /uce Namce, who have been interpreting tracks in the Kalahari all their lives. They are certified as Indigenous Master Trackers and we consider them to be among the finest trackers in the world today. Wed called on their expertise to help us understand more about the fossil tracks on the Cape south coast. One example of the insights they provided was of hyena tracks, and we have published on this together.

We showed them the intriguing trackway, which consisted of eight tracks and two scuff marks made, apparently, by the animals tail. They examined the track-bearing surface at length, conversed with one another for some time, and then made their pronouncement: the trackway had been registered by a pangolin.

This was an astonishing claim, as no fossilised pangolin tracks had previously been recorded anywhere in the world.

It also confirms that pangolins were once distributed across a larger range than they are now.

We then created three-dimensional digital models of the trackway, using a technique called photogrammetry.

We shared these images with other tracking and pangolin experts in southern Africa (like CyberTracker, Tracker Academy, the African Pangolin Working Group, wildlife guides and a pangolin researcher at the Tswalu Foundation). There were no dissenting voices: not surprisingly, it was agreed that our San colleagues were highly likely correct in their interpretation.

There is something really special about a fossil trackway, compared with fossil bones  it seems alive, as if the animal could have registered the tracks yesterday, rather than so long ago.

What are the characteristics of pangolin tracks?

Pangolins are mostly bipedal (walking on two legs), with a distinctive, relatively ponderous gait. Track size and shape, the distance between the tracks, and the width of the trackway all provide useful clues, as do the tail scuff marks and the absence of obvious digit impressions. A pangolin hindfoot track, in the words of our Master Tracker colleagues, looks as if a round stick had been poked into the ground. And being slightly wider at the front end, it has a slightly triangular shape.

Our Master Tracker colleagues are familiar with the tracks of Temmincks pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) in the Kalahari, which was the probable species that registered the tracks that are now evident in stone on the Cape coast. Other trackmaker candidates, such as a serval with its slim straddle, were considered, but could be excluded or regarded as far less likely.

How old is the fossil track and how do you know?

The surface would have consisted of loose dune sand when the pangolin walked on it. Now its cemented into rock. We work with a colleague, Andrew Carr, at the University of Leicester in the UK. He uses a technique known as optically stimulated luminescence to obtain the age of rocks in the area.

The results he provided for the region suggest that these tracks were made between 90,000 and 140,000 years ago, during the Ice Ages. For much of this time the coastline might have been as much as 100km south of its present location.

Whats important about this find?

Firstly, this demonstrates what you can uncover when you bring together different kinds of knowledge: our western scientific approach combined with the remarkable skill sets of the Master Trackers, which have been inculcated in them from a very young age.

Without them, the trackway would have remained enigmatic, and would have deteriorated in quality due to erosion without the trackmaker ever being identified.

Secondly, we hope it brings attention to the plight of the pangolin in modern times. There are eight extant pangolin species in the world today, and all are considered to be threatened with extinction. Pangolin meat is regarded as a delicacy, pangolin scales are used in traditional medicines, and pangolins are among the most trafficked wild animals on earth. Large numbers in Africa are hunted for their meat every year.

What does the future hold?

Our San Indigenous Master Tracker colleagues have just completed their third visit to the southern Cape coast, thanks to funding from the Discovery Wilderness Trust.

The results have once again been both unexpected and stupendous, and their tracking skills have again been demonstrated to be unparalleled. Many more publications will undoubtedly ensue, bringing their expertise to the attention of the wider scientific community and anyone interested in our fossil heritage or in ancient hunter-gatherer traditions.

We hope that our partnership continues to lead to our mutual benefit as we probe the secrets of the Pleistocene epoch by following the spoor of ancient animals.

Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University; Clive Thompson, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, and Jan Carlo De Vynck, Honorary researcher, Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Understanding intellectual property can supercharge innovation

Producing knowledge is a daily pursuit at universities  knowing how best to protect and draw value from it is crucial.

The Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) and Wits Libraries recently provided helpful tips on how to do this.

The entities celebrated World Intellectual Property Day, held on 26 April, and World Book and Copyright Day (23 April) by bringing together experts to share how ordinary members of the Wits community should be thinking about these issues. Since World IP Days theme of the year is Feel the beat of IP, there was a particular focus on creative and musical creations.

Letlotlo Phohole, the Director of the WIC, says copyright is not just about a current creation, but the knowledge systems and cultural progress linked to this. Music and literature are not just products, but entities of history and of hope, he says.

Professor Lynn Morris, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at Wits, emphasises that intellectual property is valuable property. She points out that at Wits, intellectual property support is provided by entities like the WIC and Wits Libraries.

The key safeguards

As an introduction into understanding the options, Advocate Thato Moloto, who specialises in intellectual property and copyright, explains that if art is your child, intellectual property is how you raise it.

Moloto broke down the three main types of intellectual property that can protect creations:

Trademarks are for names, logos, and shapes, and are registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) in South Africa. Patents are the registration of new technical solutions to problems, and are also filed with the CIPC. Copyright covers an original creation that exists in a practical way by giving the creator the rights to authorise who can reproduce, adapt, perform, distribute and sell the creation. It does not require registration, making it particularly tricky to regulate. Copyright, Moloto jokes, is like having a child without a birth certificate.

This is critical to understand, not only because of the need to protect creations and possibly collect royalties, but also because of the sheer size of the industry. Moloto quotes statistics like the around 120,000 songs released daily on streaming platforms, and that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that around 2.2 million books are published yearly.

There are some key identifiers or ways to protect copyright that are administered by various national and international bodies. For instance, books have ISBN numbers issued by national libraries, DOI numbers are for academic texts and the like, and ISWC numbers are for musical compositions.

Other ways to protect various forms of work and to track where it has been used, such as a song used in a video, include:

Youtube content ID

Blockchain immutable ownership records (eg. Audius, Verisart)

Collective Management Organisation partnerships like SAMRO, DALRO, and CAPASSO

Using trademarks for stage names, etc

Using take-down measures on websites

Notices to opt in or opt out of AI training

IP in an AI world

An understanding of intellectual property is crucial, particularly in the rapidly changing climate thanks to the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Rachel Sikwane, a commercial lawyer focusing on academic publishing at RNMS, explains that institutions and creators are still learning how to respond.

As a result of AI and platforms like ChatGPT, a lot of the fundamental IP principles have been challenged and tested, she says. This includes who counts as the author or inventor of material generated or developed with the help of such tools.



Another issue is whether copyrighted materials that have been used to train AI have been done so with permission and compensation. This also brings up whether there is a need for updated guidelines on AI generated content in being used in the academic sphere.

Sikwane says that one way to approach this is that large academic publishers like Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis Group, and Wiley Publishers have stepped into large financial licensing deals with AI companies. Also, legal actions in countries like the US, France, and Ireland, are pushing for clarity on these issues.

Finding a way through the complexity

As numerous as the challenges around intellectual property currently are, this has long been an area of contention and tensions. Lazarus Matizirofa, the Associate Director of Research, Scholarly Communication, Digital Services & Systems at Wits Libraries, points to a number of famous songs that have faced copyright controversy, such as Shakiras Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

Thankfully, there are various services available to the Wits community when considering possible intellectual property. Matizirofa says Wits Libraries offer various copyright services and consult around using copyright materials. This extends not only to individuals, but Faculties themselves, for instance, around course materials.

Matizirofa also warns that researchers should be aware of copyright policies that may be linked to their research grants. Wits Libraries can assist with understanding and fulfilling this. He also advises that there are various AI tools available that may be particularly reliable to use in the University setting, such as SCOPUS.

For patents and other intellectual property concerns around innovation and possible commercialisation, the WICs Innovation Support office is the recommended point of contact.

As Morris concluded in her closing comments to the event: Our job as a university is obviously to encourage creativity, but it is to safeguard it, so that our ideas, inventions, and music arent stolen or disappear, but that they thrive and will benefit the people that created them.
NEW DELHI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- All schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chandigarh were shut for two days till Saturday, following escalating tensions with Pakistan, Indian media reported on Friday.

Tensions between the two nations had escalated after the April 22 killings of 26 tourists by unidentified attackers in the Pahalgam area of the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India blamed the killings on the alleged role of Pakistan, which was denied by Islamabad.

Security measures at all airports had been tightened, and passengers were advised to reach their respective airports at least three hours prior to their scheduled departure. 
Civil rights leaders say acquittals in Tyre Nichols' death highlight the need for police reform
A Russian drama team visited Jimei University in China's Fujian Province on Wednesday, where the artists shared creative insights with local students and teachers, deepening ties between Chinese and Russian theater arts. #GLOBALink




Verdi's sell-out of the BVG workforce: Build up the transport workers' action committee!

An appeal by the BVG Action Committee:

On April 28, the Verdi bargaining committee announced its acceptance of the arbitration proposal and the end of our wage dispute at the Berlin Transport Company (BVG). This is exactly what the action committee warned against from the start: the public service union Verdi is on the side of the BVG management and is seeking to impose the latters demands upon us.

The only conclusion to be drawn is that the Transport Workers Action Committee must now be established so we can represent our interests. Verdis termination of the contract dispute underlines that nothing can be achieved under the union leadership. New forms of organisation are needed: action committees.

As we have previously explained, Verdis agreement to convene the arbitration commission was a bureaucratic manoeuvre to prepare another sell-out. In the ballot held until April 4, 95.4 percent of us voted in favour of an indefinite strike. But far from implementing our mandate to prepare a full strike, the Verdi bargaining committee used the arbitration procedure with the sole aim of preventing this indefinite strike.

According to Verdi, 65.1 percent of its members surveyed at the BVG voted in favour of the arbitration result, with 34.9 percent against.

The union speaks of a high turnout, but does not provide any concrete figures. Negotiator Jeremy Arndt claims it was an honest result because almost as many votes were cast as in the strike ballot.

Of the approximately 16,500 BVG employees, around 7,200 are Verdi members. Even under the unrealistic assumption that they all voted, the 65.1 percent approval would correspond to just under 4,700 respondents, i.e., far less than a third of the workforce.

In contrast to the feedback Verdi has provided in the course of this wage dispute, there have been no concrete statements so far about the distribution among the individual occupational groups in the vote on the arbitration result.

The well-paid Verdi bureaucrats have merely stated that there had been intensive talks between the Verdi leadership and the workforce.

In reality, none of the leading bigwigs showed up at depotsa point colleagues criticised on social media. On the other hand, they were happy to pose for photos with the vice president of the Bundestag and Verdi mediator Bodo Ramelow from the Left Party: The union: Thats us!

The Verdi officials deployed so-called yard managers, who were given the unpleasant task of glossing over the arbitration result and promoting it. Some colleagues from the driver pool told us that they had great difficulty casting their votes during their shifts because the yard managers who had the ballot boxes with them were not always available. They also complained that there was no fixed location for ballot boxes at every depot and at all times, as had been the case in previous contract negotiations.

Furthermore, it can be assumed that many agreed grudgingly to the final offer because they know that nothing more could be achieved with Verdi. They know that Verdi will not fight, regardless of the outcome of the vote.

Arndt confirmed this: We know that the approval was not met with great jubilation.

In reality, the anger over the lousy result is enormous. The agreement negotiated by mediators Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) for Verdi and Matthias Platzeck (Social Democratic Party, SPD) for the employers is a sham that barely differs hardly from the previous employer offerwhich we rejected by an overwhelming majority in the strike ballot.

The Verdi leadership has once again proven that it, and its bureaucratic apparatus, unreservedly support the economic interests of BVG management and the political agenda of the Berlin state and federal governments.

Arndt himself openly admitted this. In an official statement, he justified his rejection of the full strike and his support for the arbitration result by saying that a strike was fraught with great uncertainty. This was in view of a situation where it is clear, also because of the new coalition agreement, that the state has less money available.

It is false to claim that the federal and state governments do not have less money. There is enough money, just not for us. The incoming federal government of the conservative CDU/CSU [the Union] and SPD [Social Democrats], led by former BlackRock boss and millionaire Friedrich Merz, plans to spend a trillion euros on rearming the Bundeswehr, switching to a war economy and militarising society.

In Berlin, the CDU/SPD state government under Kai Wegner (CDU) passed a drastic austerity budget with massive social cuts shortly before our contract negotiations, while at the same time expanding the police apparatus.

Arndt is therefore telling us that we have to pay for rearmament, war and a police state by foregoing adequate wages and salaries. Arndt is not alone in this respect. All the trade union apparatuses support the course of the new federal government. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has expressly praised the governments coalition agreement, although this agreement marks the beginning of a comprehensive attack on our social standards, the likes of which have not been seen since the end of the Second World War. It includes a tougher law-and-order policy to enforce these cuts, as well as attacks on immigrants in the style of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), based on stirring up nationalism and setting workers against one another.

The financing of trade war measures and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs, with which the Merz government and the economic elite plan to respond to the growing economic crisis and the Trump administrations trade war, also threaten us and our families with unemployment and impoverishment.

The trade unions see their task in the coming struggles is to keep workers under control and burden us with the costs of rearmament and war. They are trying to suppress any effective measures of struggle against this.

With the help of the trade unions, railway workers were forced to accept a three-year peace obligation and a drastic reduction in real wages, followed shortly afterwards by our colleagues at Deutsche Post. In the public sector, a three-year industrial peace obligation with drastic real wage cuts is also to be imposed on 2.5 million employees based on the ongoing arbitration vote.

And now we have been presented with a result at the BVG that takes us even further down the road of previous real wage cuts. For us, the term of the agreement includes a two-year forfeit of any industrial action.

But the current contract deal is not the end, but only the beginning of the necessary struggle against the union straitjacket and the subordination of our interests to the profit and war interests of the ruling elite!

The central lesson from this collective bargaining struggle is therefore to strengthen and build up the independent Transport Workers Action Committee now.

We in the Action Committee stand for these two principles:

Our needs as workers come before the profit interests of company management and their political backers, which means reviving the socialist principles of the labour movement. We are the ones who keep public transport running under extremely difficult working conditions.

We oppose the division of our colleagues according to companies, industries and nations. Our allies are our colleagues at the S-Bahn and Deutsche Bahn, in public service and in industry. That is why we organised a joint meeting with the action committees of the postal service and the public service during our wage dispute.

Like us, our colleagues throughout Europe, in the United States and worldwide are confronted with the same dangers of poverty, war and fascism. That is why we are counting on our close political cooperation with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.

We must prepare ourselves for fierce battles with the federal government, the Berlin Senate and the Verdi apparatus.

The first step is our participation as a Transport Workers Action Committee in the repeat staff council elections. In the staff council election campaign in November, we wrote: We are standing in these PR elections to build new structures of struggle that will enable us workers to intervene directly in workplace conflicts. This is now more urgent than ever.

Dont waste any time, get in touch with us. Call +491748402566 and register using the following form to help build the action committee!
Workers on the line at GM Oshawa Assembly [Photo: GM Canada]

General Motors Canada announced last Friday that it will idle the third shift at its Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant this coming September. About 700 production workers will be laid off at that time. Another 1,500 supply chain jobs will also be affected.

While studiously omitting a more direct reference to the trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump, which he has repeatedly declared is aimed at collapsing Canadas economy and taking it over as the 51st state, the company nonetheless could not avoid attributing the cutback to forecasted demand and the evolving trade environment.

As the Detroit Three auto companies respond to Trumps program to use punitive tariffs to reshore auto assembly and parts production back to the United States, a GM spokesperson explained, These changes will help support a sustainable manufacturing footprint as GM reorients the Oshawa plant to build more trucks in Canada for Canadian customers.

GM has already briefly idled several Oshawa shifts, citing parts shortages that last month began to roil the supply chains in the North American auto industry. Trumps multiple tariff announcements have brought on uncertainties in short and long-term capital investment projections in auto production that has quickened the reshoring moves by the auto companies.

The GM announcement follows closely on the heels of its statement that 1,200 workers at its CAMI Ingersoll plant will be laid off at least until October to align its electric van production schedules with current demand. When production does restart, only 700 workers will return to their jobs.

At the Stellantis Windsor, Ontario, assembly plant, more than 4,000 workers began another week-long pause in production on Monday. The downtime follows closely on from a two-week pause last month. On Tuesday, Stellantis revealed that the plant will rotate between periods of full production, reduced activity and full shutdown over the next 12 weeks.

The Stellantis shutdowns have already caused the temporary layoff of 900 workers in two supporting transmission plants in Kokomo, Indiana, and at Warren and Sterling Heights stamping plants in Michigan, plus a month-long idling of its Toluca, Mexico, assembly operation.

The Oshawa assembly plant currently employs some 3,000 workers in three shifts. Chevrolet Silverado light and heavy duty trucks are the only vehicles assembled. Production of these pickups in Oshawa only began at the end of 2021 after the plant was initially shuttered in 2019. At that time, 98 percent of the workforce was either laid off or took early retirement. With Silverado sales spiking across the continent and absenteeism still high due to the pandemic, GM began to slowly re-open the Oshawa facility with over-run orders that could not be filled at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, facility.

With virtually all veteran employees consigned to the scrap heap and the Unifor-recommended contract with institutionalized two-tier wage and benefits systems already in place and nearly every worker hired in 2021 or later at vastly inferior compensation, management was further enticed to ramp up Silverado production.

But now GM management sees matters differently. General Motors CEO Mary Barra recently warned that the tariffs could cost the company up to $5 billion. Shortly after Trump began his tariff announcements, GM began to hire additional low-wage temporary workers in Indiana to prepare for reshoring production of the percentage of Silverados that previously had been shipped from Oshawa to the American market.

In response to GMs Oshawa announcement, Unifor President Lana Payne has called on the newly elected government of Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney to deepen his strategic tariff retaliation response and increase penalties on companies relocating production to the United States. Carney, the former investment banker and Governor of the Banks of Canada and England, after offering his sympathies to the Oshawa workers facing layoff, noted that unless companies act in a true partnership, there will be consequences. On Tuesday, Carney met Trump in Washington to pursue a trade deal that will safeguard corporate interests on both sides of the border at the expense of the working class.

Payne and Carney are not opposed to trade wars in principle. They merely object to Trumps decision to impose tariffs on Canada. Both agree with the entire Canadian political establishment that Trump should focus on waging economic war on, and preparing for military conflict with China. They are eager for Ottawa to participate in a Trump-led Fortress North America, so long as Canadian imperialisms prerogatives as Washingtons junior partner are duly recognized.

For governments on both sides of the 49th parallel, the imposition of punishing tariffs on China are necessary, as are significant increases in military budgets to prepare for future armed confrontation with Beijing.

Paynes foul Canadian nationalism is a mirror image of United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fains American nationalism and pro-Trump propaganda. While Fain has applauded Trump, lyingly asserting that his tariffs on auto, steel and aluminium imports are helping American workers, Payne and other leading Canadian union bureaucrats are urging workers to line up with the ruthless representatives of Canadian capital.

Both the UAW and Unifor have a decades-long record of pumping out reactionary nationalist programs that seek to pit autoworkers against each other in a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions. They are working with the auto bosses and, respectively the Canadian and American governments to off-load as many job losses as possible onto the backs of workers outside of their own national borders.

Fain promotes Trumps Made in America policies as the way forward to create a new Arsenal of Democracy for future shooting wars. With an eye towards China, he told reporters, You know, people forget this lesson in World War II. The way that we formed the Arsenal of Democracy that won the war was, they took the excess capacity of all the automotive manufacturing plants in the country, and produced tanks and planes and bombs and engines and all those things.

Paynes position is equally as pro-war and nationalist. In a recent interview with Toronto Life magazine, she said that if she could speak with Trump, she would appeal to our similarities. His job as president is to protect American workers. I get that. The US imports 3.5 million vehicles every year from companies [mostly in Europe and Asia] that have no footprint in their country, so perhaps they need to build assembly plants in the US. Its the same way in Canada. I would remind him that we have more in common than we dont.

Workers will be rather astonished to hear that, after Trump has conducted a 100-day rampage, slashing public sector jobs and services, massively hiking military expenditures and viciously attacking what remains of democratic rights in the US, Payne gets that Trumps job is to protect American workers. The fact of the matter is that Trump embodies the criminal financial oligarchy from which he draws his support, a section of society that is viciously hostile to the interests of the working class.

Workers, whether across North America or internationally, cannot defend their jobs and livelihoods amid an unfolding global trade warone moreover that is part of a developing imperialist world warby lining up with their own ruling class. But this is precisely what they are being told to do by the union bureaucracies and government officials, who have sought to outdo each other in nationalist slogan-mongering since the threat of tariffs was first raised.

As the Socialist Equality Party explained in its statement released ahead of the recent Canadian federal election:

The SEP fights for workers in every workplace to build rank-and-file committees, completely independent of the union apparatuses and controlled by workers themselves. Through such committees, workers can share information, counter the sabotage of the union bureaucrats, and link up their struggles across workplaces, industries and national borders so as to mobilize workers immense social power. The SEP supports the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), which has been created as the means to unite workers around the world and coordinate their struggles in opposition to the poisonous nationalism of the trade union bureaucracy. With hundreds of thousands of jobs on the chopping block as the trade war intensifies, the IWA-RFC provides the means for workers in every country to defend all jobs, wages and working conditions.
The Daily Blog, which supports New Zealands opposition Labour and Green Parties, published an article on May 5 enthusiastically endorsing right-wing New Zealand Herald columnist Matthew Hootons proposal for compulsory military training.

New Zealand Army troops in 2023. [Photo: New Zealand Army/Facebook]

Writing that universal military service isnt such a stupid idea, the blogs editor Martyn Bradbury suggested that it be for a period of 10 months and apply to all people aged 16 to 18 not in education or training. Participants could choose to do charity or environmental work, such as planting trees, in addition to military training.

Such a scheme, Bradbury declared, is incredibly important for the fabric of our society: it would instill strong civic values and a sense of self identity and nationhood. This echoes Hootons statement that military service would help with nation-building and social cohesion.

Bradbury concluded his article with the patriotic slogan: Dont ask what Aotearoa New Zealand can do for you, ask what can you do for Aotearoa New Zealand!

The Daily Blog is silent about the real purpose of military service: funnelling young people into the armed forces so they can be used as cannon fodder in the service of imperialism. The armed forces have experienced significant levels of attrition in recent years, which the right-wing National Party-led government is determined to turn around.

The government, supported by the Labour Party, has committed to doubling military spending. The ruling class aims to integrate New Zealand more fully into the US imperialist build-up to war against China, as well as the NATO war against Russia and efforts to carve up the Middle East.

Across the world, the ruling class is responding to the breakdown of capitalism by militarising society and preparing young people to fight. Conscription is now being openly discussed in Germany, Britain and other European countries, as the imperialist powers seek to violently redivide the world and reduce large parts of it to colonial slavery.

While advertising itself as liberal and left wing, the Daily Blog promotes the same nationalist and militarist agenda as the entire parliamentary establishment, the union bureaucracy and the corporate media.

This is not the first time that the blog has called for military training for unemployed youth. In 2016, it backed a similar proposal by the right-wing nationalist New Zealand First Party, which is part of the present coalition government.

Bradbury has friendly relations with Hooton, who was a regular guest last year on The Working Group, a political podcast co-hosted by Bradbury. Hooton is a former advisor to both the National Party and its far-right coalition partner, the ACT Party.

Both Hooton and Bradbury said military service should be funded as part of the plan to double military spending from 1 to 2 percent of gross domestic product, with an additional $12 billion over the next four years. This will be funded with deep cuts to healthcare, education and other public services.

The Daily Blog has attacked the government from the right, demanding an even bigger increase in military spending to 3 percent of GDP.

We cant pretend we are in a benign environment any longer, Bradbury wrote on March 3, echoing the governments mantra. He supported moves to create a New Zealand-based drone manufacturing industry and to improve surveillance and combat capabilities, to push back against what he called our Chinese Economic Overlords and to act independently of the United States.

This vast military build-up is not about defending New Zealand or establishing its independence. The country has not come under foreign attack since British colonisation in the 19th century. Rather, the aim is to maintain New Zealands status as a minor imperialist power in the Pacific region, in an alliance with the US. This is why New Zealand has sent troops to successive criminal US-led warsincluding against Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraqand is contributing personnel to the bombing of Yemen and training Ukrainian troops to fight against Russia.

Bradbury says New Zealands navy and air force must be capable of patrolling the Realm of New Zealand, which includes far-flung Pacific island coloniesthe Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelauand parts of Antarctica. In February, Bradbury published an article supporting Hootons inflammatory call for New Zealand to invade the Cook Islands in order to overturn its economic agreements with China.

In an article on May 4, Bradbury ranted that China has managed to gain enormous power in NZ by economically owning us, having a huge diaspora living here and gaining access to bottling our water. He demanded that proven collaborators of the Chinese Communist Party be expelled from the country immediately. This closely resembles the anti-Chinese demagogy of the NZ First Party.

The Daily Blog has repeatedly echoed the war propaganda of the CIA and the Trump administration, including the fascist lie that COVID-19 originated in a laboratory in Wuhan. Bradbury has hysterically attacked the Socialist Equality Group as Chinese enablers and demanded that it be investigated by the New Zealand intelligence agencies for possible treason, because of the SEGs opposition to its warmongering.

None of Bradburys middle class left collaborators has opposed his pro-war positions. These include the Labour-aligned BHN podcast (where Bradbury is a regular guest) and John Minto, the leading spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

Mintos futile appeals to the government to sanction Israel for its genocide in Gaza are published on the Daily Blog alongside Bradburys demands for greater military spending and conscription, and his unhinged attacks on the SEG and on Chinese people.

The Daily Blog was founded in 2013 with financial support from three trade unions: Unite, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union and the New Zealand Dairy Workers Union.

The union bureaucracy is supporting New Zealands military build-up, while suppressing opposition to the governments austerity measures. The Public Service Association, the largest union, which has helped to impose thousands of redundancies across multiple government agencies, has demanded more funding for the Defence Force to ensure that our military is combat ready.

There is widespread opposition to war, as seen in the anti-genocide protests. But a real movement against imperialist war can only be built in opposition to the entire middle class nationalist milieu represented by the Daily Blog, which seeks to chain workers to the capitalist parties, including Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Maori, and the trade union apparatus.

What is required is the mobilisation of the working class against capitalism, the root cause of war and the attacks on living standards and public services. To unite workers of all nationalities and backgrounds, workers must defend the rights of immigrants and reject the Daily Blogs anti-Chinese xenophobia and its threats against Pacific island countries.
Ryan Hinton was shot in the back and killed by a Cincinnati police officer on May 1, 2025.

On Thursday, a grand jury in Ohios Hamilton County indicted Rodney Hinton Jr., a 38-year-old father, on all five charges related to the death of Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy Larry Henderson. Hinton is accused of deliberately running down and killing Henderson with his vehicle. At the time of the incident on May 2, Henderson was performing traffic duties at the University of Cincinnati.

Hinton Jr. is alleged to have struck the Ohio deputy just hours after viewing body camera footage from the previous day, May 1, which showed his son, Ryan Hinton, being shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer while fleeing. Deputy Henderson was not involved in that attack.

Hinton Jr. is facing five charges in connection with Hendersons death, including two counts of aggravated murder, which under Ohio law carry the possibility of the death penalty. He is also charged with two counts of felonious assault and one count of murder.

In an interview Thursday with WKRC, the Cincinnati CBS affiliate, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich made clear the state is pursuing the death penalty against Hinton Jr.

This case is absolutely one of the more tragic I have seen in my short tenure. The facts of this case meet the law as it is written in Ohio, that does include the death penalty. And thats why we are seeking it, apparently the grand jury agrees.

The World Socialist Web Site denounces the frenzied political campaign for the execution of Rodney Hinton, who is being denied bail. This grieving father should be granted bail and provided the medical and mental healthcare he needs.

While the state is moving might and main to prosecute Hinton Jr., the Cincinnati police officer who shot and killed his son has yet to be publicly identifiedlet alone charged with a crimemore than a week later.

Unlike the ongoing criminal proceedings against Hinton Jr., Pillich told WKRC the state has no timeline for completing its investigation into the police killing of Ryan Hinton. This is despite video evidence released by police appearing to show that the 18-year-old posed no threat to police when he was shot multiple times in the side and back.

In the May 1 police body camera footage, the young man later identified as Hinton is seen running between two dumpsters and away from officers after exiting a vehicle in a parking lot near a wooded area. He briefly stumbles and is shot as he enters the woods. Just six seconds pass between the officers initial interaction with Hinton and the moment they shoot and kill him.

Police claim they recovered two pistols from the sceneone inside a Kia that Hinton and three others were allegedly involved in stealing, and the other found outside in the wooded area, reportedly after falling from Hintons grasp when he was shot by officers.

Justifying the shooting of a fleeing suspect, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge stated during a May 2 press conference, Let me be very direct. We cannot allow individuals to flee from officers with a loaded firearm aimed at them. When this happens, the outcome is almost always tragic.

In the blurry, edited footage released by police, it is unclear whether Hinton was even armed. When asked by a reporter at the press conference if there was any additional footage or evidence to corroborate the claim, Chief Theetge responded, based on the officers interviews, the officer who did discharge his firearm said that 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 felt threatened for his life and thats why he discharged his firearm.

Theetge confirmed there was no indication that any of the firearms recovered had been fired. But I would like to add a caveat, she said. We do not expect the officers to wait until they are fired upon before they feel the necessity to fire.

After viewing the body camera footage on May 2, Hinton Jr.s lawyers say he was distraught for several hours before crashing his vehicle into Henderson.

More than a week after one of her officers shot and killed Hinton, Theetge has refused to identify the officer, citing Ohios Marsys Law. Passed in 2017 as a constitutional amendment, the law was promoted as a set of protections for crime victims. Since its adoption, Ohio police departments have routinely claimed that officers who shoot civilians are victims, allowing them to withhold the officers identities.

Technically under Marsys Law, theres no provision that allows us to release it at all, Theetge told radio host Lincoln Ware in a Monday interview.

While not corroborated at this time, social media users have provided evidence that the policeman who killed Hinton is Cincinnati cop Cian McGrath.

In February 2023, the Cincinnati Police Department released findings from an internal investigation that accused Officer McGrath and several others of excessive force, improper search and discourtesy. The allegation that McGrath was discourteous, during an incident in which he and other officers assaulted a man with a prosthetic eye while serving a search warrant, was sustained.

After arresting the man, who was staying in an apartment with his daughter and grandchildren, McGrath threatened the remaining family members: Well work on getting you put out on the street, alright? Next time, answer the door for the fucking police.

The report noted that, Officer McGrath did not need to add to the trauma and stress of the situation by using profane language, especially in the presence of children who were already in tears over the incident.

So far this year, there have already been six officer-involved shootings in the greater-Cincinnati area.

The police shooting of young Ryan Hinton, followed by the killing of Deputy Henderson by Hintons father, is a tragic situationand a damning indictment of the entire capitalist system.

The policean instrument of class ruleare virtually untouchable and unaccountable in capitalist America.

According to Mapping Police Violence, over the past decade more than 98 percent of officers involved in shootings have not been charged with a crime. Just this week, three officers involved in the brutal police murder of Tyre Nichols were found not guilty in a state trial, despite video evidence clearly showing them beating Nichols to death and refusing to provide aid for over 20 minutes.

While one can sympathize with Hinton Jr.s desire for justice, vigilante violence will not resolve the crisis of unaccountable police brutalitya product of the capitalist system. His response personalizes a systemic problem that can only be addressed through mass social struggle. The killing of Deputy Henderson does nothing to alleviate police violence, and now Hinton Jr. faces the possibility of a death sentence.

The fight against police violence requires a struggle against the capitalist system they defend, along with the parties and social forces that uphold it.



Under Democratic Mayors John Cranley (20132022) and Aftab Pureval (2022present), the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) has seen a steady increase in yearly budget allocations. In 2020, CPD received $151.7 millionover 36 percent of the citys operating budget. Five years later, the current budget stands at $183.5 million.

The defense and enrichment of the police in defense of capitalist property rights is bipartisan. On April 28 fascist President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled: Strengthening and Unleashing Americas Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens.

The order called for state and local officials to unleash high-impact police forces; protect and defend law enforcement officers wrongly accused and abused by State or local officials; and surge resources to officers in need.



As police budgets grow in Cincinnati, so does inequality. As of 2025, nearly a quarter of Cincinnatis residents live in poverty. In 2023, this included over 40 percent of the citys Black residents.

Furthermore, a 2023 study from the Cincinnati Futures Commission found the city had the highest level of income inequality among similarly sized cities. It found that households in the top quintile earn 29 times more than those in the bottom quintile. Additionally, Cincinnati has the largest gap between the top 20% and bottom 20% of income earners

To fight back against this system requires more than individual actions. The fight to end inequality and police violence demands a turn to the working class and the building of a revolutionary movement based on socialist principles. Not individual revenge, but international revolution.
NANJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca broke ground Thursday on a new small molecule factory in the city of Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, aiming to advance its biopharmaceutical capabilities in the country.

With a total investment of 475 million U.S. dollars, the plant is located in the city's high-tech zone and spans around 30,000 square meters. Scheduled for completion in 2028, it will be equipped with Continuous Direct Compression and Sustainable Packaging facility, with digital and intelligent technologies applied throughout the entire process.

AstraZeneca said it has invested over 1 billion dollars in Wuxi, which now serves as its Chinese headquarters for production, distribution, sales and innovation.

Since entering the Chinese market in 1993, AstraZeneca has invested more than 5 billion dollars in the country and introduced more than 40 innovative medicines. China is now the company's second-largest market globally.

"Wuxi's strategic location, robust infrastructure and talented workforce make it an ideal and competitive hub for the biopharma industry. The investment underscores our confidence in China's role as a key player in our global supply network and landscape," said Tony Pusic, senior vice-president of global operations at AstraZeneca.

The company is accelerating its expansion in China. In March, AstraZeneca signed a landmark agreement to invest 2.5 billion dollars in Beijing over the next five years.

Under the agreement, it will establish a global strategic R&D center in Beijing, its sixth worldwide and second in China after one in Shanghai. The new center, equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development. 
Striking Minnesota nurses and supporters in Duluth [Photo: Minnesota Nurses Association]

On March 27, hospital supply chain manager Aditya Harsono was arrested in the basement of the facility where he works in Marshall, Minnesota after his student visa was secretly revoked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to a report by the Guardian, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had shown up dressed in plain clothes and instructed staff to stage a fake meeting in the basement so they could apprehend him.

Harsono told the ICE agents that his F-1 student visa was valid through June 2026, and that he had a pending green-card application based on his marriage to a US citizen. His attorney, Sarah Gad, said that Harsonos F-1 visa was still active the day after his arrest and was revoked by DHS without giving him notice. They then claimed he had overstayed his visa.

Secretly revoking a visa is a sinister tactic of immigration authorities under the Trump administrations fascistic mass deportation operation. Even more sinister is the backdating of his visa to March 23, allegedly for a 2022 misdemeanor conviction for graffitiing a semi-truck trailer and an arrest for unlawful assembly during a demonstration against the police murder of George Floyd, which was later dropped. The misdemeanor is not a deportable offense under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and Harsono had traveled internationally and returned multiple times to Indonesia since the conviction without incident, said Gad.

Harsonos spouse, Peyton Harsono, believes that her husband was detained due to his political activism and support for Palestine. According to his attorney, he operates a small non-profit, which sells art and merchandise with proceeds going to organizations aiding Gaza. He frequently posts on social media in support of humanitarian relief for Gaza.

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) released a toothless statement on April 16, nearly three weeks after the incident, condemning the arrest of Harsono at Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center. The MNA covers 22,000 registered nurses in Minnesota as well as in Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota, but has done nothing to mobilize its membership in defense of Harsono.

This is not surprising, given the MNAs own record. In October 2023, MNA fired union staffer Tania Singh after she made social media statements supporting the right of the people of Gaza to defend themselves. The firing of Singh made clear that the MNA supports the genocide and rejects any expression of opposition. This flows from the bureaucracys support for American capitalism, which also is expressed in their enforcement of sellout contracts.

In a Reddit post on r/nursing, nurses expressed their anger and disgust over the arrest of Harsono. In one comment, an ER nurse said, So basically  he was here legally, the government didnt like his political/religious views, so they made him an illegal immigrant so they could deport him. Yeah, nothing to see here everyone, this is totally normal.

In another comment, a Med/Surg nurse said, I used to wonder how the Nazis were able to do all the things they did. I dont wonder anymore.

Nurses want to fight but their struggle against the attacks on their working conditions, living standards, healthcare and on public health are being suffocated by the MNA bureaucracy. MNA is affiliated to National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States. NNU has yet to put out a statement on the arrest of Harsono and has done nothing to mobilize its 225,000 members to defend immigrants, students and democratic rights. Instead, NNU is working with Bernie Sanders and other Democrats, including Debbie Dingell and Pramila Jayapal to defuse working class anger behind Trumps Democratic Party enablers.

While posturing as a democratic socialist, Sanders stated his support for Trumps border crackdown and has long backed trade measures against China. At a recent rally, Sanders stood by while police dragged out protesters who unfurled a Palestinian banner behind the speakers platform.

To mobilize the power of the working class in defense of democratic rights, nurses must organize independently of Democratic Party and the union bureaucracy, whose overriding goal is to secure its place within the capitalist system and preserve the status quo.

Workers must build independent rank-and-file defense committees in every workplace, factory, school and neighborhood to defend immigrants, students and democratic rights.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits German troops in Lithuania (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Germanychastened by the memory of its historical crimesmust rearm militarily in order to defend freedom and democracy against Russia (and also the US). This, in summary, was the core message in the speech given by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on May 8 to mark the 80th anniversary of the surrender of Hitlers Wehrmacht.

In one passage of his speech, Steinmeier referred to Victor Klemperer, a linguist of Jewish descent who survived the Nazi dictatorship in Dresden and whose diaries are among the best accounts of life in the Third Reich. He should also have mentioned the book The Language of the Third Reich: A Philologists Notebook, in which Klemperer carefully analyses the language of the Third Reich (Lingua Tertii Imperii) and demonstrates how the Nazis turned terms into their opposite and repeated them stereotypically in order to manipulate public opinion. Steinmeier employed the same technique.

The Federal President spoke in the Reichstag building in front of the leaders of state and society, the members of the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) and the diplomatic corps. However, two diplomatic representatives were not invited: The ambassador of the Russian Federation, the successor state of the Soviet Unionwhich made the greatest sacrifices for the defeat of the Nazi regime with 13 million fallen soldiers and at least 15 million civilians killedand the ambassador of Belarus.

Steinmeier justified this with Putins war of aggression against Ukraine and the historical lie that the war against Ukraine was a continuation of the fight against fascism, with which the Kremlin was concealing imperial madness, grave injustice and the most serious crimes. He promised to continue to support Ukraine militarily against Russia. Leaving Ukraine without protection and defenceless would mean abandoning the lessons of 8 May! he asserted.

Steinmeier knows better. As the then German Foreign Minister in 2014, he was personally involved in the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who had refused to sign an unfavourable agreement with the European Union. Steinmeier met with the leader of the far-right Svoboda Party, which is based on the traditions of Nazi collaborators during the Second World War, as well as other political representatives of Ukrainian oligarchs, to agree on the removal of the president and the transfer of power. The following day, armed fascist gangs forced Yanukovych to flee and NATO began to systematically rearm the collapsed Ukrainian army.

Putins attack on Ukraine was a reactionary response to this military encirclement by NATO. As a representative of the Russian oligarchs, who fear the international working class as much as the Russian working class, Putin could not appeal to the masses and had no progressive response to NATOs advance. Presenting their war against Russia, which Germany has so far supported with 13 billion alone, as the lessons of May 8 is the height of historical falsification.

The war aims to bring Ukraine with its rich natural resources under Europeanor Americancontrol and to eliminate and split up Russia as a geostrategic rival in order to gain unhindered access to its raw materials.

But Steinmeier went even further in his speech. He made it clear that after two failed attempts, Germany is planning nothing less than a third grab for world power. 80 years after the end of the war, the long 20th century has finally come to an end, he said. The lessons of two dictatorships and two world wars are fading. The liberators of Auschwitz have become new aggressors.

The United States, which played a key role in shaping the post-war order, is also turning its back, he continued. It is nothing less than a double epochal breakRussias war of aggression and Americas break with its valuesit marks the end of the long 20th century, said Steinmeier. With our history and experience, Germany is particularly well equipped for the challenges of this period. It must not freeze in fear and must demonstrate self-confidence.

We must become stronger militarily, Steinmeier demanded. He added: Not to wage war, but to prevent wars. But this is another stereotypical formula that turns reality on its head. Germany is already waging warnot only in Ukraine, where it is the second largest arms supplier after the US. It is also supporting the genocide in Gaza and sending warships to the Pacific to back the US preparations for war against China.

It is significant that the words Gaza, Palestinians and China did not appear in Steinmeiers speech, while he explicitly praised the miracle of reconciliation that the state of Israel has given us.

He condemned antiSemitism in Germanyanother term that he turned into its opposite, following the pattern of the language of the Third Reich. Anyone who denounces the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza is now considered an antiSemite. The images from the Gaza Strip are now worse than those from the destruction of Berlin on May 8, 1945. Numerous international institutions and courts have condemned the Israeli genocide as such.

Steinmeier, who is trying to reach a liberal, educated audience, does not go so far as to deny the criminal nature of the Nazi war of extermination. He leaves that task to others.

Bundestag President Julia Klockner (Christian Democratic Union), who spoke before Steinmeier, also began her speech by acknowledging the monstrous extent of German crimes. However, she then turned her attention to the women and girls who had to endure sexual assault during the war and while fleeing. The greatly exaggerated figures of rape by the Red Army are a favourite topic of revanchist historians.

While their ambassadors applauded Steinmeier in the Bundestag, the foreign ministers of the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Moldova and Ukraine published a joint article in the New York Times that openly states the real aims of the NATO war offensive.

The foreign ministers deny that the Red Army liberated Europe from fascism by equating the states that emerged after the war in Eastern Europe and East Germany with the Nazi dictatorship.

We remember our fallen parents, grandparents and other relatives who defended our freedom from two tyrannies of the last century, they write. In addition to the victims of the Nazis, they commemorate the millions of victims of Soviet repressions that continued unabated on the other side of the Iron Curtain at a time when Europe was reuniting and rebuilding itself after the war.

In fact, numerous Nazi criminals were punished under Stalinist rule, while in West Germany even mass murderers made a career for themselves. The large landowners who provided many officers for the Wehrmacht and the capitalists who financed Hitler were expropriated, while in Germany they kept their fortunes earned over the bones of millions of forced labourers.

The Stalinist rulers suppressed their political opponents in the interests of a privileged bureaucracy. But they neither set up mass extermination camps nor waged wars of extermination. Todays governments in these countries embody the criminal oligarchs who became rich by plundering socialised property during capitalist restoration and are eager to plunder Russia as junior partners of the great powers.

As lessons from World War II, the foreign ministers insist on the continuation of the war against Russia. They demand the complete return of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Appeasing the aggressor leads to more aggression, not peace, they write. Concessions on unlawful territorial claims are a disastrous mistake.

They demand a proper evaluation of both totalitarian ideologiesNazism and Soviet, the condemnation of all crimes by the Soviet regime before and after the Second World War, Russian compensation for the occupational damage, as well as accountability for Russias current crimes, including after the future fall of Mr. Putins regime.

These are the real goals that Steinmeier, the Merz government and their capitalist backers are also pursuing. They are dragging Europe into a third world war.
Pro-Palestinian students occupying Columbia University's Butler Library on Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Columbia University administrators called in the New York Police Department (NYPD) on Wednesday evening to violently suppress and shut down a pro-Palestinian student occupation of the campus Butler Library. Approximately 78 protesters were arrested just over a year after the police-state crackdown at Columbia last April, when the NYPD swarmed the campus to arrest over 100 students and break up the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of around 100 anti-genocide student protesters took over Butlers main reading room and renamed it the Basel Al-Araj Popular University, after the Palestinian activist and writer killed by Israeli forces in 2017.

The students demands include Columbias financial divestment from Zionist organizations, an academic boycott of complicit institutions, cops and ICE off campus and amnesty for all university members unfairly targeted and disciplined for pro-Palestinian actions.

Columbias Public Safety officers immediately responded and violently barred protesters from leaving unless they showed identification, which created a prolonged standoff. The Popular University released a statement on social media during the standoff which stated:

Public Safety officers have choked and beaten us. But we have not wavered. We refuse to show our IDs under militarized arrest. We refuse to go down quietly.

A New York Times article entitled, A Year Ago, Columbia Security Was Hands-Off at a Protest. Not This Time, commented:

The roughly four-hour occupation of Butler Library showed how much has changed about the way Columbia, and schools across the nation, are dealing with disruptive pro-Palestinian protests. This time, unlike during the occupation a year earlier, Columbias public safety officers intervened aggressively, pushing some demonstrators to the ground, as they worked to keep the occupation under control and end it, video posted on social media showed. The officers blocked dozens of protesters from leaving one room at the library and locked the front doors of the imposing building with handcuffs to keep others from shoving their way in. Using powers newly granted to them, they arrested several demonstrators before the New York police arrived to finish the arrests.

Columbia officials summoned the NYPDs Strategic Response Group (SRG), which was formed in 2015 initially as a counterterrorism unit and is notorious for its use of excessive force against protesters.

A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the library, as officers clad in riot gear broke up, arrested and escorted zip-tied protesters out of the building and loaded them into police buses.

Multiple students were carried out on stretchers after sustaining injuries from the police. One Columbia Palestinian student wrote on X:

I was choked and going in and out of consciousness after the arrest. One of them kept trying to gouge my eyes. They slammed my head into the floor multiple times. It literally felt like I was getting jumped.

All those who were arrested were released Thursday morning.

As the Trump administration is aggressively trying to impose government control over top American universities in the false name of combatting antisemitism, leading Democrats are endorsing and facilitating this repression, which began under the Biden administration.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that NYPD officers were called to the university to remove so-called trespassers. In a statement on social media, Adams said:

To our Jewish New Yorkers, especially the students at Columbia who feel threatened or unsafe attending class because of these events: know that your mayor stands with you and will always work to keep you safe.

Similarly, Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated her support of the crackdown, saying that she was grateful to public safety officials for keeping students safe.

Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman posted a 5-minute video slandering the library student protest as antisemitic and unacceptable, while praising the professionalism of both the NYPD and Public Safety. Shipman is a pillar of the mainstream corporate media world and the Democratic Party establishment, having worked at ABC News, NBC News and CNN. She was married to Jay Carney, White House press secretary under Obama (2011-14) who has senior positions at Amazon and Airbnb.

Trumps antisemitism task force, which cut $400 million in Columbias research funding, issued a statement on Thursday commending Shipmans strong and resolute action:

We concur with Acting President Shipman that what happened was utterly unacceptable, which is precisely why the American people are demanding that the Administration act to implement meaningful and enforceable commitments to enforce civil rights laws with institutions that receive taxpayer dollars. The Task Force is confident that Columbia will take the appropriate disciplinary actions for those involved in this act.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to social media to threaten international students at Columbia, posting that his office would be reviewing the visa status of any trespassers and vandals. Rubio has already targeted students for the thought crime of opposing the Gaza genocide, including Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk. Both Khalil and Ozturk, who have not been charged with any crimes, remain in detention as they fight deportation.

Despite these attacks, student-led anti-genocide protest actions are growing, as Israel announces a plan for the full military occupation and ethnic cleansing of Gaza. Thursday, the day after the Columbia library occupation, a group of students at Brooklyn College set up a Hassan Ayyad Liberation Zone outside the colleges main gates. Within hours, a large mob of NYPD officers descended onto the campus to violently break up the protest and arrest students.

As the World Socialist Web Site wrote earlier this week on the effort by the New York University School of Law into blackmailing students to halt their protests:

The repressive, reactionary policies being implemented on the university campuses reflect the broader assault by the ruling class in the US and internationally on all basic democratic, social and economic rights of the working class. Driven by an ever-intensifying economic crisis, significant sections of the corporate and financial oligarchy have turned to the most right-wing political forces to escalate imperialist war abroad, strip all obstacles to the accumulation of vast private wealth and crush any resistance to war, inequality, exploitation and destruction of democratic rights. The escalating attacks on basic democratic rights are continuing to provoke mass opposition among students, youth and workers.  Mass protests that took place last month, involving millions of people across the US and internationally, revealed the tremendous opposition to the Trump administration that is developing across the globe. Strikes and protest actions among critical sections of workers are growing internationally. The working class is the only force capable of putting an end to war, genocide and the destruction of democratic rights. Students and youth seeking to build a mass movement against conditions that exist must educate themselves in the history of the class struggle and of the socialist, Trotskyist movement and work to mobilize this revolutionary social force in a socialist and internationalist movement of the working class against capitalism.

All students and youth who agree with this perspective should join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE).
A Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train waits at the Forest Park, Illinois, train station for the eastern journey to downtown Chicago on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. [AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast]

The dire warning from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) about impending doomsday cuts to Chicagos public transit system has ignited a firestorm of anger and fear among riders, workers and advocates. Initial reports revealed a staggering $730 million budget shortfall threatening to dismantle the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace systems, which serve hundreds of thousands of passengers daily.

But shortly afterwards, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Illinois Representative Kam Buckner said an infusion of $1.5 billion would be needed.

Public concerns have reverberated across social media, community forums, and in public meetings, exposing the deep-seated frustrations of a region on the brink of a transportation catastrophe.

CBS News reported that if the state legislature fails to make funding available by the end of its spring session this month, massive cuts to service will begin in early 2026.

A system on the edge

The RTAs projections paint a grim picture: Without immediate state or federal intervention, the Chicago metropolitan area could lose 40 percent of its transit services by 2026. Rail lines would be suspended, bus routes slashed, and wait times balloon to untenable lengths.

The proposed cuts represent nothing short of a death knell for urban mobility. The fallout would be catastrophic. Over 500,000 riders could lose access to nearby bus routes, while entire neighborhoods would be severed from rail service. Fifty L stations would close, according to local CBS affiliate. Axios reports 20 percent of the city would lose access to transit for their daily commute. The jobs of thousands of CTA workers are also at stake.

Commuters relying on Metras suburban rail network would be able to access just one hourly train on weekdays with nearly nonexistent weekend options. The systems paratransit services for disabled riders, a lifeline for many, would be gutted by 66 percent on weekends. Pace suburban buses would end service at 8:00 p.m.

The economic ripple effects, as estimated by the RTA, include $2.6 billion in lost GDP annually and millions in vanished wages.

As the WSWS reported last month, the crisis was not unforeseen. It is the result of decades of austerity, corporate tax breaks, and a funding model that shackles transit agencies to unsustainable fare-recovery ratios. Temporary federal relief funds delayed the reckoning, but with those now exhausted and Trump slashing federal funding, the region faces a dire situation.

Public outcry

The WSWSs initial coverage sparked a flood of discussion from riders, workers and activists, many of whom took to social media platforms like Reddit to voice their concerns. On threads in r/cta and r/chicago, the sentiment was varied but had some notable comments.

One rider captured the stakes succinctly:

If the CTA collapses, Chicago will not be far behind. When employees cant commute, when people cant easily get around the city for fun or other things, the convenience of the city vanishes.

Another commenter highlighted the deliberate stalling behind the crisis:

This is the exact same budget crisis that were talking about now. The RTA was screaming about it back in 2020 because theyre not dumb and could see that the market was permanently shifting for when the federal dollars went away. The feds delayed the crisis while the state did [nothing] to figure out a solution over the last 5 years.

These reactions underscore a broader truth: the sudden budget shortfall is anything but. It is the culmination of a calculated abandonment of public infrastructure, masked by temporary fixes and now unmasked by the withdrawal of federal aid.

The WSWS spoke with CTA workers and riders and received messages from readers in the days following the original report. Their stories reveal the human toll of the impending cuts and the simmering rage at a system that prioritizes profits over people.

One worker wrote:

I care about this issue because we need our Public Transit! A lot of people (like me) who dont drive depend on it. It may be problematic at times but then again what system isnt. We need our Buses and Trains and the whole point of Public Transit is less cars on the street and by our service in danger of being cut could mean a big hit for the economy.

A local rider echoed the sentiment:

I use transit for everything. All of my friends use transit for everything. The CTA is the biggest reason we chose Chicago over other cities. We are all actively involved in local politics, earn and spend a lot of money locally, and to cut the CTA means to lose people like us. The country should not head this direction. There should be some places in the US where you dont need a car. Keep Chicago one of those options.

Independent action is needed

Chicagos transit crisis is not an isolated incident. From Philadelphia to San Francisco, agencies are slashing services, hiking fares and laying off workers as federal aid dries up. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) recently proposed a 45 percent service reduction and a 9:00 p.m. rail curfew to address its own deficit. Meanwhile, the Trump administrations threats to gut federal transit grants have left cities scrambling to fill the gaps.

Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnsons response has been to propose austerity. He spoke of a crossroads and has floated layoffs and doing more with lessin other words, austerity. His budget working group is stacked with corporate and union officials. No challenge will come from any wing of the Democratic Party.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) bureaucracy is opposed to any collective action by CTA workers. Some workers speaking with the WSWS received no communication from the union on the cuts.

Transit workers should be aware of the recent experiences of Chicagos teachers. In the latest contract agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the real state of the district budget, substantially worsened by Trumps federal funding cuts, was hidden from teachers. Instead, they were told the contract could Trump-proof schools and protect students.

Days after the contract was ratified by teachers, Mayor Johnson announced a budget crisis, stating the situation had changed. In forcing through an agreement the city worked with the CTU to block any serious struggle against budget cuts which the Democratic mayor, a former CTU lobbyist, is now in charge of imposing.

The CTU bureaucracy, well aware of the looming crisis, prevented a strike, which had the potential of becoming the spearhead for a nationwide counter-offensive by educators and other public sector workers against Trumps war on public education and the social and democratic rights of the working class.

By blocking a strike, the CTU bureaucracy has allowed Johnson and the corporate and financial powers he serves to pick off one section of city workers after another, to prevent facing a citywide movement of the working class.

But that is exactly what is needed. This means building rank-and-file committees, independent of all the bureaucracies, that will bring together the most militant and class-conscious workers to organize collective action. Transit workers must unite with teachers, firefighters, US Postal Service, UPS and industrial workers to fight budget cuts, mass firings, privatization and the looting of society by the oligarchs.

The working class must organize independently to fight for:

No layoffs, service cuts, or fare hikes!

Tax the billionaires and corporations!

Expropriate the fortunes of oligarchs like Musk and Pritzker to fund public transit!

The fight to save Chicagos transit system is a fight for the citys public infrastructure. Without it, the regions economy will wither, inequality will deepen, and the working class will bear the brunt of the crisis.

The time to act is now. Riders, workers and young people must unite across city and state lines, break from the two-party system, and build a socialist movement that puts human needs above corporate greed.
A Southwest Airlines jet takes off from Midway Airport in Chicago. [AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast]

Last week, air traffic controllers responsible for Newark airspace at Philadelphia TRACON experienced the unthinkable. The equipment that controllers rely upon for making split-second decisions every minute of the day to keep air travelers safe suddenly died. Radar screens went dark and radios suddenly were silent.

For about 90 seconds, airliners and other aircraft hurtled through the airspace of one of the busiest airports in the US with no one watching the big picture or controlling the operation. Controllers sat helplessly, electronically blind and deaf, sitting in a windowless and dark control room. They did not know when or if their equipment would turn on again.

The pilots in the airspace have their own onboard tools, but were left to make their own decisions individually after several moments of confusion and unanswered questions to ATC on the radio frequency. In the absence of air traffic control in a busy airspace like Newark, the normal flow of instruction/query then response on the working frequency quickly devolves into pilots issuing statements about what they plan to do for other pilots to hear and respond to. Frequency congestion increases and many transmissions are stepped on by other transmissions so that neither are heard by anyone.

This equipment failure did not have a fatal result this time, but it illustrates the crumbling nature of the National Airspace System (NAS) in the United States. The NAS has been neglected by Congress and the FAA for decades. Small, mostly meaningless equipment upgrades came in the form of expensive contracts to companies like Raytheon and Orion Systems and have been mostly obsolete even before implementation.

In the largest facilities, the Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), the upgrade to ERAM from HOST, removed the old system as an important backup, leaving controllers with the unwieldy DARC/EBUS system from the 80s and 90s as an unsafe backup if the new system were to fail during a busy period.

Philadelphia TRACON controllers were already dealing with chronic short-staffing, like the entire US air traffic system has for decades. A few of the workers controlling Newark on the day of the equipment failure took trauma leave after being helpless in such a high stress job, with hundreds of lives on the line at any one point in time.

Impact of DOGE

Chronic air traffic controller (ATC) staffing shortages are continuing amid mass job cuts at the Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversees the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

The Trump Administration has deputized oligarch and ignoramus Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash government spending to the bone. This has led to wrecking critical federal agencies that the American public relies upon daily.

After the mid-air collision of a passenger jet and a helicopter over the Potomac River in early 2025, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that DOGE would intervene with the FAA to upgrade our aviation system. Musk claimed his department would make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system. DOGE began by firing hundreds of FAA safety workers on February 17.

Musks staff set up shop in the FAAs Air Traffic System Command Center on February 17. Many of them are not old enough to rent a car and none of them have any expertise in the complexity, safeguards or history of the NAS. Duffy confirmed that Trump had put Musks personal staff in charge of Americas air traffic control systems.

Overworked and underpaid air traffic controllers in the US began having to weekly justify their jobs by sending an email to Musks staff with a list of tasks they performed during the last week. This added an insulting and useless job task to the already exhausted workforce.

The legacy of PATCO

Staffing and other critical problems in the US ATC system date back over 45 years, to the time when an older generation of controllers were struggling with the same problems. The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) union was fighting for a substantial pay increase, reduced work hours, improved benefits and improved working conditions.

The spirited PATCO contingent at Labor Day in Detroit, 1981

Controllers then were demanding a 32-hour work week with a four-day week and eight-hour days. Workers felt overwhelmed by their workload and lack of support from management, complaints that modern controllers will easily recognize as echoes of their own.

When PATCO went on strike in 1981, the Reagan administration decided to make an example of them. All 11,000 striking controllers were fired. This attack on air traffic workers opened a new stage of attacks on workers and the wholesale rollback of workers rights won from decades of struggle.

When PATCO controllers were fired and the union decertified, a mass wave of strikebreakers were hired to take their jobs. These strikebreakers formed the National Air Traffic Controller Association (NATCA) eight years later, in 1989. The new union promised to collaborate with the FAA in their mission and never again so much as threaten to strike.

The mass hiring also set into motion a new cycle of mass hiring and mass retirements that continues to this day, with many controllers retiring at the same time due to mandatory safety age requirements. The FAA has repeatedly failed to hire enough controllers with each wave, keeping staffing at critical lows for decades.

Today, most US air traffic controllers are being forced into mandatory overtime, six-day work weeks or holdover overtime which can make 10-hour work days. Where PATCO went on strike to decrease hours and increase pay, NATCA has successfully prevented any meaningful work action from taking place to prevent conditions from getting even worse.

PATCO was a turning point because it signaled the end of the period of relative class compromise following World War II. Faced with a ruling class determined to claw back everything it ever gave up to workers, the union bureaucracy proved incapable of combining their nationalist, pro-capitalist policies with even a limited defense of workers living standards. This outmoded program, which reflected the material interests of union bureaucrats, led them to decades of open collaboration in layoffs, wage stagnation and overwork, which continue to this day.

Indeed, Reagan was only able to get away with firing PATCO strikers because of assurances from the AFL-CIO bureaucrats that they would do nothing to defend them. Meanwhile, workers across the country demanded a general strike to force Reagan to back down, and hundreds of thousands flooded to Washington D.C. for a Solidarity Day protest.

September 19, 1981"Solidarity Day"in Washington DC, where a half million workers demonstrated in support of the PATCO strike

This divergence of interests between the bureaucrats and the rank and file has only grown since. Today, this finds its outcome in the open support of top union officials for Trump and his trade war policies, including the Teamsters, the United Auto Workers and the dockworker unions. Others combine purely verbal opposition to the would-be dictator while focusing all their efforts at suppressing all organized opposition from below.

NATCA officials would do nothing to jeopardize the status of the union and their cushy positions in Washington D.C., where they rub shoulders with congresspeople and airline CEOs on Capitol Hill. Collaboration with FAA management, Congress and CEOs is a much better path to satisfy the interests of the union bureaucrats, but it does not help the rank-and-file controllers.

NATCA union collaborates as conditions reach the breaking point

In 1981, there were approximately 17,000 air traffic controllers in the US who worked around 14,000 flights every day. Today there are about 10,600 certified professional controllers (CPCs) who work about 44,000 flights per day. The number of controllers today has decreased by a staggering 38 percent since the PATCO strike, while daily air traffic has increased 214 percent.

Air traffic controllers in the US are today fighting for the same demands that controllers did 45 years ago, only under even worse conditions than in 1981. The framework that federal workers labor under, particularly air traffic controllers, is designed to block resistance to sellout contracts which have brought conditions to this breaking point.

One controller told the WSWS: I am being required to perform my duties with only two five-minute bathroom breaks. No lunch and no time to refresh to better move aircraft for safety. We are contractually required to have at least 15 minutes, with medical research and training urging a minimum of 40 minutes between times of continuously separating airplanes that do not exceed two hours. Doing less was shown to be cognitively worse than being drunk.

The controller concluded: The public deserves us being able to focus on their safety at the best of our ability.

Conditions have worsened without even the fig leaf of contract talks. In 2006, George W. Bush imposed work rules on controllers in lieu of a legitimate contract. This White Book severely cut wages, especially for new controllers, and imposed things like a dress code and more control over the operation by management, among other things. When Obama was elected, a new contract with NATCA was approved in 2009. This Crimson Book never reached the level of pay and benefits that the earlier Green Book had in its provisions before the White Book.

Yet NATCA praised this overall loss as a win, though the membership had been split into three pay tiers under the new contract.

More recently, NATCA national leadership unilaterally extended the current contract twice without approval from the membership, angering many workers. The so-called Slate Book was extended under the outgoing leadership of president Paul Rinaldi, although it was supported by the incoming president Rich Santa in the email announcement to the membership. The next extension occurred under current NATCA president Nick Daniels.

At a recent Washington lobby week, NATCA did not even bother to formally request pay increases. In another conference, Special Counsel to the President Eugene Freedman said controllers already make enough. Disgusted, many controllers have left the union, retired, resigned, or left to work air traffic in other countries in Europe or in Australia.

Workers want to fight back

Controllers are looking for a way to fight for the respect and compensation due to their profession.

This has gotten out of control, another controller told the WSWS. NATCA is actively working against us at this point and has failed the controllers in a way that may be unrepairable. While ATC is a small group, we prop up a massive portion of the US economy. What other profession would cause such a disruption if we just decided not to show up for work for a day, hell, even a few hours would send the country into a tailspin (pun intended).

Another controller said that he had refused to fund the people actively taking down a once proud profession. I am not alone in these thoughts. This is the temperature of nearly the entire work force.

The struggle of rank-and-file air traffic controllers is therefore a struggle for public safety in the United States. The disruptions and delays caused by incidents like last week in Newark will only get worse unless a fight is waged by and for air traffic control workers. Summer weather patterns and increased air travel will only exacerbate staffing and equipment issues.

In order to wage an effective struggle against low wages, overwork and the low staffing that results, air traffic controllers need to form rank-and-file committees outside of the control of NATCA bureaucrats. They must appeal for support among fellow workers in the airline industry, federal workers and workers across the country and the world.

In a statement published in February, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees called for mass meetings and demonstrations  to prepare emergency strike action to stop the firings and the gutting of essential programs.

Rank-and-file committees, the statement explained, will be the means through which federal workers can communicate between workplaces, exchange information and coordinate joint action. Through the expansion of rank-and-file committees in every workplace, workers can build support and prepare strike action to oppose mass firings, the destruction of social programs and the privatization of public services.
Palestinian children struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Monday, May 5, 2025 [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana]

Dozens of community kitchens in Gaza were forced to shut down on Thursday due to lack of food, amidst Israels ongoing blockade aimed at starving the Palestinian population and annexing their land.

Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, told Reuters on Thursday that most of Gazas 170 community kitchens had shut down. Al-Shawa said:

Everyone in Gaza today is hungry. ... The remaining kitchens will be closing soon. The hunger catastrophe is beyond words. People are losing their only source of food.

He continued:

I am afraid that we may begin to witness deaths among the elderly, vulnerable children, pregnant women and the ill.

Also on Thursday, the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity announced that it had run out of food and was forced to shut down its community kitchens in Gaza. WCK founder Jose Andres said:

Our trucksloaded with food and suppliesare waiting in Egypt, Jordan and Israel, ready to enter Gaza. ... But they cannot move without permission. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow.

Huda Abu Diyya, sheltering in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, told Reuters:

If it werent for the community kitchen, we would have died. For the sake of our children, what shall we do?  What should I feed them tomorrow? ... Nothing is available here. The situation is below zero. A bit more like this, and we will die of hunger.

Israel began the total blockade of food, water and electricity in the Gaza Strip on March 2, when it unilaterally abrogated a ceasefire with Hamas. According to the UN, over 2 million people are facing severe food shortages. The price of flour has risen 100-fold since the start of the blockade.

One-third of UN-run community kitchens in Gaza have closed within the past 10 days due to lack of food and fuel, with the UN warning that more closures are imminent. The hot meals provided by these kitchens constitute one of the last remaining lifelines for Palestinians, the UNs humanitarian office stated.

According to the Palestinian Water Authority, most people in Gaza are surviving on just 3 to 5 liters of water per day, only one-third to one-fifth of the minimum daily amount that humanitarian experts say is necessary for survival.

More than 10,000 children in Gaza have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization. The number of new cases surged to 3,600 in March, up from 2,000 the previous month.

In a statement this week, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor wrote:

These outcomes are not incidental. They reflect a deliberate policy aimed at disrupting the natural development of individuals and society, and dismantling the biological and social foundations of the Palestinian community. This reveals a clear intent to destroyone of the defining hallmarks of the crime of genocide under international law, especially when executed through slow, cumulative tools such as siege and systematic, sustained starvation.

Lima Bastami, director of the Legal Department at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, stated that Israels use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza is committed in broad daylight, citing the total closure of border crossings and the open acknowledgment by Israeli officials. Gaza, she said, is filled with irrefutable evidence of the crimes horror: the emaciated bodies of people and children, tens of thousands lining up daily at charity kitchens, and the escalating death toll from hunger, malnutrition, and associated diseases.

The deepening starvation in Gaza is unfolding alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to fully occupy the territory and place the distribution of all remaining humanitarian aid under the exclusive control of the Israeli military.

On Thursday, US and international newspapers reported a proposal to have a group of American security contractors and ex-military officers, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, take over the provision of food. The plan would bring the US more directly into the occupation of Gaza, following the declaration by US President Donald Trump earlier this year that the US would own Gaza.

The Washington Post reported that under the plan, the remaining population would be transferred to what are effectively concentration camps under armed guard. The Post wrote:

Once inside the enclave, they would travel to Israel-designated distribution hubs in the south under the protection of U.S. security contractors. The contractors would also provide security in and around the hubs. ... Facial recognition technology is to be used to identify visitors to the hubs.

On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called for the displacement of Palestinians into camps to protect Israeli forces against all types of threats. He added:

The entire Gazan population will be evacuated to areas in southern Gaza, while creating a distinction between them and Hamas terrorists.  Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any territory that is conquered, to prevent the return of terrorism and to purge and thwart any threat.

The Trump administration has embraced the Netanyahu governments plan, with State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce declaring of a campaign of genocide: This is a new approach with one focus: Get help to people. Right now.

The plan has been condemned by the United Nations, which said it would weaponize aid by only providing food to certain civilians.

Tamara Alrifai, communications director for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, told the Washington Post that it would set a a very dangerous precedent for using full siege as a tactic of war to compel existing aid structures and the entire international system that exists and is recognized and start creating a new system.

Earlier this week, the Humanitarian Country Team, an umbrella group for humanitarian organizations in Gaza, condemned the proposal, saying:

The design of the plan presented to us will mean large parts of Gaza, including the less mobile and most vulnerable people, will continue to go without supplies.

It would have the effect of driving civilians into militarized zones to collect rations, threatening lives, including those of humanitarian workers, while further entrenching forced displacement, the group said.

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor added:

This move reintroduces starvation, only under a humanitarian facade this time, legitimizing its continued use as a weapon within the context of an ongoing genocide that has lasted more than 19 months.

Israeli bombardments continued across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. One airstrike on a group of young people using the internet killed 33, while another strike on a home in Beit Lahiya killed nine. According to Gazas Health Ministry, 106 people were killed and 367 wounded by Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours alone.

Since the start of the genocide on October 7, 2023, tens of thousands have been killed or injured in Gaza, with the humanitarian crisis deepening under the ongoing blockade and military assault.
On May 8, co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee, the Provincial Education Work Committee, the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Provincial Youth League Committee, the province-wide Cultural Masters Enter Universities and Intangible Heritage Enters Campus activities came to Anhui University of Arts, offering teachers and students a rich cultural feast. Jieshou painted pottery, Shexian inkstone, Huizhou ink, paper-making and processing techniques, Xuancheng writing-brushes, Fuyang paper-cutting, Jieshou woodblock New Year paintings, Linhuai clay sculpture, Jingxian County oiled-paper umbrellas that afternoon, twelve representative inheritors of national and provincial intangible cultural heritage projects were invited to bring their unique skills to the university and set up display booths on campus. Students gathered around them to hear the stories behind each heritage craft, learn about their production techniques, and participate in hands-on experiences, feeling the distinctive charm of intangible heritage through direct interaction. In the evening, a cultural performance co-staged by renowned artists of traditional Chinese opera, song and dance, folk music, acrobatics, and Quyi, together with the academys teachers and students, was held in the lecture hall. Highlights included an excerpt from the Huangmei opera The Female Prince Consort, the acrobatic act Blue and White Porcelain: Rolling Cups, and the Chaohu folk song The Newly Launched Boat Shines Bright. Famous performers of traditional Chinese opera, dance, folk music, and acrobatics took the stage to present a comprehensive cultural feast for the universitys community. Being able to watch the performance live and interact closely with some inheritors of intangible heritage and masters in the theater industry has been immensely rewarding, said a student attendee, noting that having such masters visit the school was a rare learning opportunity. The interaction between students and recipients of the Plum Performance Award is truly a rare chance, said Zhou Lei, stage director of the performance and Director of the Performance Management Center at Anhui Provincial Opera and Dance Drama Theater. He explained that bringing students into close contact with award-winning artists not only aids their professional studies but also lets them see firsthand what it means to excel both morally and artistically.

Source: Anhuinews.com
WUHAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Aquatic biodiversity in the Yangtze River basin in China has been recovering following the launch of a 10-year fishing ban several years ago.

From 2021 to 2024, 344 native fish species were monitored in the basin, an increase of 36 species compared with the 2017 to 2020 period which preceded the fishing ban, according to a meeting held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in central China's Hubei Province on Friday.

Notably, authorities have been cracking down on illegal fishing and achieving positive results. In 2024, administrative cases related to fishing dropped by 24.7 percent compared to the previous year, with a further decrease of 3.3 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2025, said Zhang Zhili, vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs.

Zhang stressed efforts to accelerate flagship species conservation, enhance the restoration of critical habitats, implement scientific breeding and release programs, strengthen the protection of aquatic organisms, and promote comprehensive ecological restoration of water bodies.

To improve biodiversity along the Yangtze, China imposed a full fishing ban in 332 conservation areas of the river basin in January 2020.

Protection measures were later expanded to a 10-year moratorium along the river's main streams and major tributaries, a ban which took effect on Jan. 1, 2021. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly meet the press after their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 8, 2025. Xi held talks here on Thursday with Putin. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China and Russia should take a clear stand and coordinate comprehensively to make new and greater contributions to promoting the development and rejuvenation of the two countries and safeguarding international fairness and justice.

Xi made the remarks when he and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly met the press after their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow.

In the face of the changes of the world, of the times and of historical significance, China and Russia should keep a firm grasp on the development direction of bilateral ties and the general trend of the development of human society, Xi said.

Noting that his talks with Putin were in-depth, cordial and fruitful, Xi said he and Putin reached many important new consensus, signed a joint statement on further deepening China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era and witnessed the exchange of multiple bilateral cooperation documents, which injected new impetus into the development of China-Russia relations.

Xi said this is his 11th visit to Russia, the country he has visited the most since becoming the president of the People's Republic of China. On Friday, he will attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, his second time attending the grand commemoration event in ten years.

Xi said the past decade has witnessed major turbulence and transformation in the international situation, as well as great leapfrog in China-Russia ties. The two countries have jointly witnessed the continuous consolidation and deepening of political mutual trust, and the continuous improvement of cooperation in various fields.

Xi said that China and Russia must uphold long-standing friendship from generation to generation and remain true friends forged through trials and tribulations. Eighty years ago, in the face of brutal aggression of militarism and Nazism, the Chinese and Russian peoples stood united, fighting side by side against a common enemy and writing a remarkable and heroic chapter in history, he said.

The great friendship forged between the two peoples through the trials of war and bloodshed has laid a solid foundation for the high-level development of bilateral relations, Xi said, adding that the two countries should deepen political mutual trust, enhance strategic coordination and advance bilateral ties toward a more mature and resilient future.

Xi said that the two countries should uphold mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and be good partners who help each other prosper.

From overcoming hardships to deliver urgently needed supplies to each other during World War II, to the current record-breaking bilateral trade volumes, the "high-speed train" of China-Russia mutually beneficial cooperation has taken an extraordinary journey through mountains and valleys, overcoming challenges and obstacles, he said.

China and Russia should continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields and solidify the material foundation for their comprehensive strategic coordination, bring more benefits to the people of both countries and give stronger momentum to global development, he said.

Xi noted that the two countries should uphold fairness and justice and defend the international order. China and Russia, as main theaters of Asia and Europe in WWII, have made decisive contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and laid a solid foundation for the establishment of the post-war international order, he said.

As forces for stability, progress, and development in the international community, China and Russia should continue to firmly stand together, resolutely safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and continuously promote an equal and orderly multipolar world, said Xi.

China and Russia must uphold solidarity and mutual assistance and act as leading forces in global governance, Xi noted, stressing that the future of the world should be decided by all countries together, and the fruits of global development should be shared by all.

As major countries and key emerging market economies, China and Russia both shoulder the lofty mission of advancing global governance toward greater equity and justice, and the two sides should enhance coordination within multilateral platforms such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, remain committed to true multilateralism, guide global governance in the right direction, and promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, he said.

Xi emphasized that in the face of a turbulent and complex international situation, China and Russia must firmly uphold the spirit of lasting bilateral good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two countries should stand together to overcome challenges, comprehensively elevate the level, scope and resilience of China-Russia relations, inject greater stability into world peace and security, and provide stronger momentum for global development and prosperity, said Xi. 
TIANJIN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- New digital technologies are giving rise to a kaleidoscope of novel job positions across China, unlocking fresh economic growth opportunities while easing concerns that AI advancements might lead to job losses.

On Thursday, China's human resources authorities unveiled their latest list of newly recognized professions, including drone swarm flight planner and electronic circuit designer.

Additionally, 42 newly classified job types, such as generative AI systems testing and intelligent warehouse operations and maintenance, have been added to its roster.

This came less than a year after a range of new professions spawned by the digital economy were incorporated into the list last July. In the previous addition, new occupations included intelligent manufacturing maintenance engineer, live streamer, and user-growth operation specialist.

The surge in new occupations mirrors the accelerating transformation and upgrading of China's economy.

"Over 70 percent of these new occupations serve the field of new-quality productive forces, covering cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green energy and intelligent manufacturing," said Wang Linlin from Nankai University Business School.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

In a testing facility in the northern city of Tianjin, Intelligent Connected Vehicle (ICV) tester Yao Zhonghua was deep in concentration, setting up a test scenario to evaluate an autonomous vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system.

His tasks include installing steering and brake/throttle robots, connecting test cameras and controllers to the computer, and launching debugging software.

The role of an ICV tester was officially recognized as a new occupation last July, underscoring China's swift progress in smart mobility.

"I'm tasked with testing the effectiveness and reliability of these vehicles, and recording test images and data in real time," said 33-year-old Yao Zhonghua.

Yao, who studied vehicle engineering, joined this automotive testing facility six years ago. "I used to work on developing car window and door controllers, which was more traditional," said Yao.

As China's autonomous driving systems grow increasingly sophisticated, Yao has embraced the need to master new digital skills.

In the AEB test, Yao used a robot to accelerate the vehicle to 60 km/h and maintain a steady trajectory. The car's sensors detected the test dummy, activating the AEB system to prevent a collision, while all scenario data was recorded.

"I evaluate the driving assistance system in diverse scenarios and weather conditions, with each function undergoing hundreds of validations," said Yao, who saw his workload surge alongside China's rapid adoption of intelligent driving technology.

Also, the digital economy is driving the creation of higher-paying jobs in emerging sectors.

Like Yao, Zhang Fan was a regular vehicle engineer a decade ago. Recognizing the vast potential of smart mobility, he independently mastered autonomous driving and IoT technologies -- a move that earned him a 30 percent salary increase upon joining an ICV team.

TALENT SHORTAGES

Amidst China's push for low-altitude economy, drone performance has become a booming business, generating a huge demand for more sophisticated piloting jobs like the drone swarm flight planner.

China's drone market is forecast to experience continuous growth from 2024 to 2029, surpassing 600 billion yuan (82.8 billion U.S. dollars) by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 25.6 percent.

An April report from China's National Data Administration reveals that core digital economy industries now contribute approximately 10 percent of GDP, while innovative forms of digital consumption continue to flourish.

McKinsey & Company forecasts that China will require six million AI professionals by 2030, but could face a shortfall of four million. The country's current digital talent gap, estimated at 25 to 30 million workers, continues to widen.

China has launched AI programs in over 500 universities to close the gap, which is one of the fastest expansions of academic disciplines in its history.

A 2024 statistic has shown that about 350 vocational colleges nationwide now provide a three-year program in drone application technology, aiming to train more specialized professionals.

"The emergence of new occupations is driving the workforce to shift from low-value industries to high-skill areas, enhancing overall employment quality," said Wang. 
Adela Issachar Aru, chairperson of the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), speaks at the China-Pacific Island Countries Tourism Exchange Session in Nadi, Fiji, May 9, 2025.

The two-day exchange meeting opened in Nadi, the third largest city in Fiji on Friday, highlighting cross-border tourism cooperation and in-depth cultural experiences. (Photo by Zhou Saili/Xinhua)

NADI, Fiji, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The two-day China-Pacific Island Countries Tourism Exchange Session opened in Nadi, the third largest city in Fiji on Friday, highlighting cross-border tourism cooperation and in-depth cultural experiences.

The event brought together government officials and tourism professionals from China and 10 Pacific Island countries and regions including Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.

During Friday's meeting, representatives from China's tourism industry introduced to the participants the development trends of China's outbound tourism market and China's experience in building tourist destinations, providing strategic suggestions for attracting Chinese tourists to visit the island nations.

Representatives from Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Niue, the Solomon Islands and Fiji also respectively introduced their own tourism facilitation policies and resources.

Xu Yue, an official of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism who attended the meeting, said that there is huge potential for tourism cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries.

The Chairperson of the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) Adela Issachar Aru said that as a member of the SPTO, China has always been an important source market for the Pacific region.

"We deeply value the growing interest of Chinese travelers in the Pacific Islands," Aru said.

Bo Lin, a senior manager of the China International Travel Service Head Office, told Xinhua that the unique culture of the Pacific region has considerable appeal to Chinese tourists, especially the younger generation.

Through this exchange meeting, Chinese tourism merchants will explore more local reception resources in the island countries, and design more tailored tourism routes and products for the Pacific Island countries to meet the needs of Chinese tourists, Bo said. 

Xu Yue, an official of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, speaks at the China-Pacific Island Countries Tourism Exchange Session in Nadi, Fiji, May 9, 2025.

The two-day exchange meeting opened in Nadi, the third largest city in Fiji on Friday, highlighting cross-border tourism cooperation and in-depth cultural experiences. (Photo by Zhou Saili/Xinhua)
EXCLUSIVE: Set to begin filming in June, Indonesia-Singapore-UK co-production The Ghost and the Gun will star Malaysian actors Gambit Saifullah (Alter-Naratif) and Fabian Loo (One Cent Thief), Indonesian actress Asmara Abigail (Stone Turtle) and American actor Brett Tutor (Black Doves).

The film is set in 1948 and follows a pair of soldiers abandoned by the British in Malaysia after the war. Both soldiers soon find themselves having to defend a village from rebel warlords.

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Filming will commence in Bali, Indonesia at the newly-built Viking Sunset Studios.

The Malay-and English- language film will be the third feature film from Anshul Tiwari (Netflixs Before Life After Death).

The Ghost and the Gun producers include Debasmita Dasgupta (Films Positive), Mikail Mahmud Chowdhury (LDNO Productions) and Tim Willrich (Limbo Pictures).

Misfit Productions co-founder Jessie White will serve as the films executive producer, with The Ghost and the Gun marking the companys first narrative feature film involvement.

Rarely have we seen the aftermath of WWII in Asia, said director Tiwari. Thats what drew me to this project, a chance to show a period in history that is often forgotten. The backdrop is the British withdrawal from Southeast Asia, but the heart of the film is these characters suffering from trauma and guilt. External scars of war may heal but the emotional damage never goes away.

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Dasgupta added: To make a film with such complex characters and emotions requires a remarkable calibre of cast, and we are fortunate to have that calibre onboard.

Bo Holmgreen, founder of Viking Sunset Studios, said: We are thrilled to bring this magnificent movie to Bali. We combine state of the art facilities and the largest enclosed soundstage right on the beach alongside a huge range of locations with jungle, rivers and palm trees next to our backlots so we can concentrate sets close to the studio with minimal crew movement.

White said: Ghost and the Gun is exactly the kind of story Misfit was built for  fierce, untold, and deeply human. These are the films that matter. Stories that push into overlooked histories and show us new sides of conflict and connection. We couldnt be more excited to help bring this urgent and powerful story to life.

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Need To Know

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy released 1,204 frosted flatwoods salamanders into the wetlands of Florida's panhandle in late April

Frosted flatwoods salamanders are endangered due to habitat destruction and climate change

Biologists released the amphibians to improve Florida's ecosystems







Florida is gaining more amphibian residents!

According to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC), biologists released 1,204 frosted flatwoods salamanders in the wetlands of the Florida panhandle in late April.

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Frosted flatwoods salamanders are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The April release was an effort to help bolster the amphibian population and save the salamanders from extinction.

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy is committed to helping salamander species through releases and habitat restoration.

"Along with our incredible partners here, we're carrying out a multi-faceted strategy for frosted flatwoods salamanders. We're not only releasing more salamanders onto the land; we're building better habitats and making sure the ecosystem contains what these amphibians need, all to give them a fighting chance against the big threats they face," JJ Apodaca, the executive director of ARC, shared.

The salamanders released into Florida are part of a process called head-starting. Biologists collected the animals as unhatched eggs in the wild, hatched them, and raised them in protected environments. Then, the biologists released the salamanders back into the wild once they reached a size more suitable for surviving in the wild.

Kevin Hutchenson/ Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy Young frosted flatwoods salamanders before their release Young frosted flatwoods salamanders before their release

ARC is also working on a captive breeding program for frosted flatwoods salamanders and plans to release the salamanders that result from the initiative.

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"This is a species persisting in the face of a lot of adversity, and there's a committed team of people mirroring that persistence by working hard to help them in many ways," ARC project coordinator Nicole Dahrouge said.

While the salamanders have numerous supporters at ARC and the organization's partners, the amphibians still face mounting hazards.

"The looming climate threats are pretty worrisome; with storm surges and flooding, the coastal populations are increasingly at risk," Dahrouge added.

Nicole Dahrouge/ Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy Frosted flatwoods salamanders during their release Frosted flatwoods salamanders during their release

Still, Dahrouge remains optimistic about the frosted flatwoods salamander's future and the "positive changes" ARC is making for them.

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"These animals matter, even if most people never see them or might not even notice their absence if they were lost," she said. "They're part of a system that's been in place long before we arrived, and the tragedy of their loss would be an avoidable one."

The release of the over 1,200 salamanders comes days after a large snake release. On April 25, The Nature Conservancy and its partners released 42 young eastern indigo snakes, 22 females and 20 males, at the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP) in Florida.

Kevin Hutchenson/ Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy A frosted flatwoods salamander A frosted flatwoods salamander

Indigo snakes are non-venomous apex predators that bring balance to the longleaf pine ecosystems they are native to. The species is also the longest snake native to the U.S.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"In restoring ecosystems, each species plays a part in bringing back natural balance," the ABRP preserve manager, Catherine Ricketts, said in a statement. "In our longleaf pine-wiregrass savannas, we want the complete suite of species here, including birds, mammals, insects, and an apex predator: the eastern indigo snake. These snakes are a key component of restoring north Florida's longleaf pine forests."

Read the original article on People
DES MOINES, Iowa  A shooting in the Indianola Hills Neighborhood sent one person to the hospital.

1 killed in single-vehicle crash on Des Moines southside

At around 7:31 p.m. Thursday, officers with the Des Moines Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 2100 block of SE 3rd Street. When first responders arrived, they found an adult male with a gunshot wound to the leg, the DMPD said. Personnel from the Des Moines Fire Department transported the victim to a hospital with what police say is a non-life-threatening injury.

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According to police, the suspected shooter arrived in a stolen vehicle and then abandoned the vehicle after the shooting. Police said theres no indication of any ongoing danger to the community.

No additional information has been released.

Metro News:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
DES MOINES, Iowa  One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the citys southside Thursday afternoon.

At around 2:31 p.m. the Des Moines Police Department and Des Moines Fire Department responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash in the 6500 block of Bloomfield Road. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found a vehicle had left the roadway and crashed into a utility pole.

Police warn about flashing cash on social media after home invasion arrest

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The DMPD said the driver of the vehicle was the sole occupant and died at the scene.

As of 3:40 p.m. Bloomfield Road east of SE 14th Street was still closed as first responders worked to investigate and clear the scene.

No additional information has been released.

Metro News:

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A meeting on a new round of enforcement inspection of the Food Safety Law launched by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) is held in Beijing, capital of China, May 9, 2025. Vice chairmen of the NPC Standing Committee Cai Dafeng, Tie Ning and Losang Jamcan attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Friday launched a new round of enforcement inspection of the Food Safety Law. This effort aims to strengthen food safety supervision and further enhance overall food safety efforts.

The Food Safety Law was promulgated in 2009 and underwent a comprehensive revision in 2015. Prior enforcement inspections were conducted by the NPC Standing Committee in 2009, 2011, and 2016.

In this latest round of inspections, the team will carry out on-site evaluations in provincial-level regions such as Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangxi, Henan, Guangxi, and Gansu.

Additionally, the standing committees of the people's congresses of Tianjin, Liaoning, Anhui, Hubei, Guizhou, and Qinghai will be entrusted to inspect the implementation of the law within their respective administrative regions.

The inspection teams will focus on eight key areas, including the construction of the food safety risk monitoring and assessment system, the supervision of food safety in schools, and the supervision of food imports and exports.

Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, emphasized the importance of firmly upholding the baseline of food safety, enhancing the effectiveness of food safety supervision, further promoting the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Food Safety Law to provide a strong legal guarantee to safeguard the health and safety of the people. 
1 seriously injured after fall while rappelling at Zion National Park

Update:

ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah (ABC4)  New details have been released regarding the individual who was seriously injured in a fall at Zion National Park on Thursday.

The victim has been identified as a 26-year-old woman.

The incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. on May 8. Zion dispatch received a report of a visitor falling around 100 feet on rope while rappelling Spry Canyon, officials said. First responders arrived on scene shortly after 6 p.m. and rendered medical care to the patient.

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Just before 6:45 p.m., the woman was hoisted via a Utah Dept. of Public Safety helicopter to Zions Watchman helispot and transferred to an ambulance from Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue. The patient was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Zion National Park would like to thank the Utah Department of Public Safety and Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue for their assistance throughout yesterdays incident, a statement from the national park reads.

Sorina Trauntvein contributed to this report.

Original Post:

ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah (ABC4)  One person was seriously injured in a fall at Zion National Park on Thursday, according to Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue.

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Yesterday, our station 49 crew responded to the Watchman Helispot within Zion National Park at the request of park rangers, Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue posted on social media Friday. The response was in support of a patient who had sustained serious injuries from a fall.

Courtesy of Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue

A Utah Dept. of Public Safety helicopter team was able to safely transfer the patient to Hurricane rescue crews, who then took the individual to the St. George Regional Hospital for further care.

Details surrounding the incident are forthcoming.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new 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 ABC4 Utah.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) 10,000 women concerned about the Trump Administration are organizing to let citizens speak out about their concerns.

Two grassroots organizations, Indivisible North La and 10,000 Women Louisiana, will host a nonpartisan and nondenominational congressional town hall on Thursday, May 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Grace Community Methodist Church at 9400 Ellerbe Road in Shreveport.

They will discuss concerns about the Trump Administrations actions, the influence of DOGE, questions surrounding Medicaid and Social Security, and federal issues affecting seniors and veterans.

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They have invited public officials and members of Congress.

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We are hearing a lot of concerns and questions from an array of Louisiana citizens, including seniors, Medicaid patients, Social Security recipients, veterans and educators, said Kathy Ragsdale, a local volunteer for Indivisible North LA. And were not hearing much substance from our Congressional representatives, so we wanted to host a Town Hall to let people ask questions. If our local Members of Congress cant attend, were going to proceed anyway with an empty chair approach  people are anxious for information.

These will be real people sharing real concerns and stories, said Melissa Flournoy, Board Chair of the events co-sponsor 10,000 Women Louisiana. Weve been hearing false claims that town halls are being staged by paid actors or activists, but that is just an excuse for some Members of Congress to avoid being held accountable for the extreme actions of the Trump Administration. We are inviting real people to tell their stories and share their concerns, and they deserve to be heard by our Congressional representatives.

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Check in is 6:00-6:30 p.m., the town hall is 6:30-7:30 p.m. , and networking is 7:30-8:00 p.m. This event was originally planned for Tuesday, May 6, but was postponed due to inclement weather.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (WFLA)  The Manatee County Sheriffs Office escorted Sgt. John Skeen to the Elks Lodge in Lakewood Ranch on Thursday, where he was set to receive a special honor.

A room packed with people welcomed him with applause on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

Mother and son achieve milestone together over Mothers Day weekend

Members of the French Consulate were in town to present the 106-year-old World War II veteran with the Knight of the Legion of Honor for his contribution to the liberation of France. It is the highest decoration of the French Republic.

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I never expected anything like this. Im finding out that life is full of surprises and this is one of them to be honored in such a fashion, said Sgt. Skeen.

Skeen said as the program was ongoing on Thursday, he couldnt help but think of all of his platoon members no longer here, who were worthy of this recognition.

Those who know the platoon sergeant said the highly decorated veteran is incredibly humble about his service and is well-deserving of all of the accolades.

It is an honor for a brother veteran, a brother in arms/soldier; what he did, taught us what we did in our military, that we are what we are today, said Captain Thomas J. Carter.

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The 106-year-old is one of less than 5,000 living WWII veterans in Florida.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
11 Investigates discovered that the City of Pittsburgh is owed nearly $2 million in unpaid invoices dating back several years.

The city claims they sent the bills.

So, where is the money, and why havent the invoices been paid?

Chief Investigator Rick Earle uncovered all of this after filing a right to know request with the city and obtaining a spreadsheet of all of the unpaid invoices.

And Earle said this involves the same pot of money that landed a former Pittsburgh Police Chief in federal prison.

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Earle sat down with Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt to talk about the money.

Earle: It shows invoices dating back to 2022. Why have those invoices not been collected?

Schmidt: I think we had to look at the current collection process.

Schmidt acknowledged problems with hundreds of unpaid invoices by companies that hired Pittsburgh police officers for secondary employment.

Some of the invoices are three years old.

Earle: How did it get so bad?

Schmidt: Again, I think it was a lot of the staff changes.

11 Investigates obtained the list of all 576 outstanding bills, totaling $1.8 million.

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Of the bills, 460 are older than four months and more than 100 were due in 2022.

I know $2 million is a significant amount of money, but were confident well be able to recover a majority of that, said Schmidt.

Schmidt blamed it on several factors, including the sale of the company that handled secondary employment to a new company in 2022. The transition, he said, caused some accounting issues.

And he said only one city employee has been responsible for collections.

Im disappointed that those problems havent been addressed, City Controller Rachael Heisler said.

Three years ago, the controllers office audited the Secondary Police Employment Trust Fund and found that the internal controls for reviewing and collecting balances are insufficient.

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The report also indicated that the bureau should devise a formal process for the review and collection of balances.

Folks need to be notified. Are they notified that they owe 90, 75, 100 thousand dollars to the police fund? My big concern is just making sure that were getting those accounts to current, Heisler said.

Schmidt said hes made some changes after former Chief Chris Ragland brought it to his attention.

Schmidts assistant public safety director is now overseeing all collections.

And he said theyve already recouped a couple hundred thousand dollars.

He also said clerical errors, unfortunately, led to some companies being listed as delinquent.

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They show proof of payment, and then we confirmed with finance to make sure they did receive it and just didnt get marked in the system as paid, said Schmidt.

Secondary employment funds have come under scrutiny for more than a decade after Police Chief Nate Harper went to federal prison for using it as a personal slush fund.

And just last year, an officer facing criminal charges resigned after allegedly getting paid for details he never worked.

None of us want to go back to the issues that occurred in the past around how secondary employment works, Schimdt said.

The current secondary employment contract is up in June. Schmidt said hes looking for a company that, in addition to scheduling and tracking officers hours, will use geo-fencing to make sure officers are working and take over all collection duties.

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We want to make sure were being efficient and effective with taxpayer dollars, Schmidt said.

In yet another effort to clean up the accounting mess, the city stopped accepting checks this month. They will now only take electronic payments online.

The city hopes to have an improved process for collecting money and tracking officers in place sometime this summer.

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Times Square in New York is one of the worlds most popular tourist locations. Folks from all over the globe descend upon the tourist attraction all year-round, so it serves as the perfect place to make a statement. Thats exactly whats happening after a stoic, 12-foot tall bronze statue of a Black woman popped up seemingly out of nowhere smack dab in the middle of Times Square. And MAGA is losing their ever-loving minds.

The piece was created by artist Thomas J. Price, a relentless legal adversary of President Donald Trump who has sued his administration over immigration and environmental policies. His artwork is part of a series called Grounded in the Stars, which organizers say confronts preconceived notions about identity and representation. The statue is of a woman wearing a plain T-shirt, pants, braided hair, an expressionless face and her hands resting on her hips.

Times Square Arts Director Jean Cooney explained how the artwork is making a statement, potentially asking questions, about what we value as a city, as a society, and hopefully its a tribute to our shared humanity. Per Prices website, the statue was created to disrupt traditional ideas about what a triumphant figure ought to look like.

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But MAGA online dont quite see it that way and well, we cant say were exactly surprised.

Author and ex-investment banker John LeFevre took to X with a photoshopped image of the statue with Attorney General Letitia James real head edited in place.

My favorite thing about Letitia James is that she says "statue of limitations" instead of "statute." pic.twitter.com/6HBklPJckW  John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) May 7, 2025

He wrote: My favorite thing about Letitia James is that she says statue of limitations instead of statute. SMH.

One conservative wrote on X: BREAKING: New York puts up a 25 foot bronze statue of Letitia James in Time Square.

BREAKING: New York puts up a 25 foot bronze statue of Letitia James in Time Square. pic.twitter.com/WCAC6RG4D3  Jack (@jackunheard) May 7, 2025

Another X user took disrespect to a whole nother level with a photoshopped image of their own.

Th appropriate statue from an opinion. pic.twitter.com/LX5f6bDTMk  PepperJack (@mmullins001) May 7, 2025

Other comments from MAGA included comparisons to Lizzo, their confusion that the statue was made in the image of a gorilla, and even calling the statue Tyquisha who looks horrendous.

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The racist and downright sad remarks continued on X: And it will be taken down once she goes to prison, That statue wants to know what gratuity means, and You cannot convince me thats not Fat Albert. Another Trump-lover asked wheres the statue of a white dude? calling out how woke the statue, and what is represents, is.

But despite the online hatred, not everyone feels that way.

Me being a plus-size Black woman, I was kind of looking at it like, I wonder what me as a small child wouldve thought looking at something like that, representation, said Blessing Obieze of Dallas, per CBS News. Kansas resident Bryan Woodson called the statue powerful as a plus-size man. Im African American, its an African American woman statue. So just seeing another piece for me to stop and have a moment with was very powerful to me.

Coming from a person of color background, its really nice to see something come across as this everyday person, Ruby Chirackal of Greenwich Village said. It looks a little bit out of place, but I also think thats because of where we are standing. It might not look out of place if everything in our surrounding reflected everyday life more to us.

The piece will be on display until June 17.

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Davids view

Back in November, when DC started processing the fact that Donald Trump would return to the presidency, I heard one note of optimism from some liberals. They said it very quietly, and without much confidence. But they figured that Trump, at least, would appoint a US attorney who prosecuted more criminal cases than Matthew Graves. Crime was falling when his term ended, but the low conviction rate in his first years was a disaster for the citys life and politics. When Republicans took the House, they cited the citys car-jacking wave to blow up a criminal code reform that took years to write.

DC did not get an Eliot Ness prosecutor. It got Ed Martin, a conservative movement lawyer and activist whose 120-day appointment will end this month, because he didnt have the Republican support to get confirmed. Other reporters have told the Martin story, but a quick summary: He represented Jan. 6 defendants before getting the job, punished and demoted their prosecutors when he got it, and launched a series of ideological investigations (wokeness in medical journals, a five-year old Chuck Schumer gaffe) that went nowhere.

It took too long for MAGA to realize that Martin might not get confirmed to a full term. Martin tapped a sherpa, a strategist who might help him through the nominating process, just three weeks ago. This was after a heap of reporting on Martins pro-Trump commentary  much of it not disclosed to the Senate  and some elementary mistakes hed made that threatened cases. Before Thursday afternoon, when Trump pulled the nomination, his supporters tried to reframe the confirmation as a fight for DCs safety. It ought to be the best place to visit in our country, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley told Steve Bannon on Tuesday.

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DCs anti-Trump citizens (hard to find another kind) dont disagree with that. Martin arrived in a city that was winding back some of the reforms of the post-Ferguson, post-George Floyd era, from the light touch on juvenile car-jacking and gun crimes to the decriminalization of fare evasion. A less political DA wouldnt have converted the electorate into MAGA voters. But thats what DC gets; Trumps replacement for Martin will be former New York judge and district attorney Jeanine Pirro, who has far more relevant experience, but got the job because she defends the president on Fox News.

If criminal justice reformers like Larry Krasner are right, the post-2020 crime spike in cities was due to COVID and closures of public spaces, not prosecutorial discretion. That would set up Trump and his justice system for four years of success, as Martin was ready to do. Instead, he acted for a national audience of MAGA conservatives who wanted Jan. 6 prosecutors punished and liberals humiliated, while not restoring $1 billion of DC funding that was basically cut by accident. Its a good way to anger people who hate Trump, but a strange way to prove that they were wrong about him.

Notable
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Nearly 15 years since a young boy disappeared from outside a Portland elementary school, local law enforcement have announced that they are re-examining the case with help from the FBI.

Kyron Horman was seven years old when he vanished the morning of June 4, 2010, from Skyline Elementary School after his schools science fair. He was last seen with his stepmother, known then as Terri Horman, who has continually denied her involvement.

Man caught on camera yelling slurs, punching Portland homeowner facing assault charges, investigators say

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What began as a missing persons case eventually expanded into one of the largest investigations in Oregon history. To this day, there have been no signs of Horman and no arrests made in the case.

But on Friday, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said that, along with Gresham police, they have been working to digitize the case files for the past year.

This means scanning and documenting thousands of pages of reports, photos and evidence, MCSO said.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released this age-progressed photo of Kyron Horman, estimating his physical appearance at 19. (Courtesy/NCMEC)

They add when that process is complete, the file will be re-examined by the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). According to MCSO, the BAU uses behavior and psychological analysis to go over statements and other evidence. They will then offer recommendations to local law enforcement on how to proceed in the case based on patterns from similar historic and current cases nationwide.

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MCSO noted they will also meet with Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez to assess next steps.

Former Waldport mayor wont face charges after arrest at council meeting

As we approach the 15th anniversary of Kyron Hormans disappearance, I want to reaffirm my continued commitment to this case, said DA Vasquez. My office has begun a thorough and methodical review of the case with fresh eyes, and we look forward to receiving further analysis from the Sheriffs Office and the FBI. Our focus remains where it has always belonged  on Kyron and his family.

Officials hope these advancements in software, digital forensics and technology will help them better examine new and existing leads.

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As this remains an active and ongoing case, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the resolution of Hormans disappearance, according to officials. People can call the MCSO TipLine at 503-988-0560, email MCSOTipLine@mcso.us or contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children TipLine at 1-800-THE-LOST or provide an online tip at the organizations CyberTipLine.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 8Video take from phone recovered in February shooting shows Owyn Bellikka firing weapon

One of two men from separate cases charged with a felony weapons count, who was revealed through a February homicide investigation, is going to prison.

Eighteen-year-old Owyn Enrique Raul Bellikka, of Austin, was sentenced to five years in prison in Mower County District Court Thursday for felony possession of ammo/any firearm after being convicted or adjudicated for a crime of violence.

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He was given credit for 63 days in jail.

Bellikka was adjudicated in July of 2023 for second degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Video evidence recovered from a phone found in the backseat of a vehicle in which Opoka James Bot Lob Nathanael, 27, and another individual were allegedly shot by a 16-year-old on Feb. 15 provided the connection.

Nathanael died from his wounds at the scene.

Bellikka was arrested on March 6, in the 700 block of Ninth Avenue SW, but declined to speak to law enforcement. According to the complaint, Bellikka was previously adjudicated delinquent for second degree assault with a dangerous weapon in July of 2023.

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Photos and video taken from the recovered phone allegedly show the juvenile charged in the February shooting brandishing a .45 handgun.

A text conversation on Feb. 10, just days before the fatal shooting to a "Crowyn" included three photos of the gun handled by the juvenile as well as the juvenile asking "U had got the bullets."

Responding texts show Crowyn responding by saying he was pulling up and "let me come in." Two days later, on Feb. 12, Crowyn sent the juvenile a video in which the video taker appears to be the juvenile who is sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle. The video was focused on the gun that appears to be the same weapon from days previous before the juvenile steps out and fires five rounds on the side of the road.

Then, turning to the vehicle, the juvenile hands the gun to Bellikka, who reaches out across the interior of the car and shoots the gun three more times out of the open door of the passenger side.

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The detective and an officer went to the location the phone was tracked to near 31st Street NW north of 12th Avenue NW and south of 20th Avenue NW in Austin and discovered six .45 bullet casings.

A second man, 18-year-old Gavin Skattebo, was arrested just days after Bellikka due to the same homicide investigation and has also been charged with felony firearm possession while being convicted or adjudicated delinquent for a crime of violence.

Skattebo was previously adjudicated as a delinquent for terroristic threats in 2019.

Video obtained during the murder investigation and dated to around 12:22 p.m. the day of the shooting allegedly shows Skattebo holding a Glock 9/19 handgun with an extended magazine.

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The complaint states that in the video Skattebo's face is clearly visible and the gun appears consistent with the gun held by a juvenile in another video. The complaint goes on to say that the juvenile previously told police that the Glock was a gun Nathanael suspected of being stolen from him on Feb. 15.

Skattebo is scheduled for an omnibus hearing on Friday afternoon in Mower County District Court.
Costco will soon open its largest store in Texas, along with two more overseas. A 180,000-square-foot store in Midland will welcome customers this summer.

Known for its wide selection of bulk items and unbeatable deals, Costco is a crowd favorite not just for shopping but also for its iconic food court offerings, including its famous pizza and $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combo that has stood the test of time. The addition of the retail giant is expected to draw excitement from Midland residents and beyond, bringing in customers from across the Permian Basin and West Texas.

Currently, the largest Costco in proximity is about 117 miles north in Lubbock. Outside of Lubbock, West Texans would have to travel to El Paso or Fort Worth for the second-closest store, both of which are at least four hours away.

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Costco and Midland officials gathered to break ground on Dec. 10 of last year. Midland Mayor Lori Blong praised the company's efficiency in fast-tracking the permitting process and construction timeline. Although the incentives to bring Costco to Midland required the store to open no later than August 2026, the retail giant is now on track to welcome customers this July.

"Back in 2019-2020, we were in talks with Costco, but the pandemic and economic shifts put those plans on hold. We thought it was a lost opportunity," Blong said at the event. "But through perseverance and collaboration, weve made it happen."

Where is Costco opening stores?

Costco lists three locations with future opening dates on its "Coming Soon" page.

The company's website says warehouses will open in:

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Pyeongtaek, South Korea in June 2025

Malmo, Sweeden in July 2025

Midland, Texas in July of 2025

Where have Costco stores opened in 2025?

Costco opened a spate of stores in March, including:

The company followed that by opening the following locations in April:

CEO Ron Vachris said prior to the California openings that the company has "big plans for the rest of the fiscal year," which ends Aug. 31.

How many Costco stores are in Texas, US?

Costco operates more than 800 stores around the world, with 627 in the U.S. and 42 in Texas.

Costco has 606 locations across the United States, including 38 in Texas.

 USA TODAY's James Powel contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Costco opening in Midland this summer will be the largest in Texas
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have a chat over tea at the president's office of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China and Russia should maintain strategic resolve and coordination as the world is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation.

Xi made the remarks during a chat over tea with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the president's office of the Kremlin in Moscow.

As long as China and Russia maintain strategic resolve and coordination, no force can stop the two countries from achieving their respective development and revitalization, no force can shake the strong foundation of long-standing friendship between the two peoples, and no force can hold back the prevailing trend toward a multipolar world and economic globalization, said Xi.

Xi also voiced readiness to stay in close communication with Putin to chart the course for China-Russia relations and make contributions to advancing global governance.

For his part, Putin said that Russia and China have always stood together in solidarity and supported each other, forging an unbreakable friendship.

The Russian president said he is willing to maintain close strategic communication with Xi, provide strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations, jointly respond to the challenges of a complex international landscape, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination, safeguard common interests of the two countries and promote the development of a more equitable, democratic and multipolar world.

The two heads of state exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues. Xi said that China advocates for and remains committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security at the global level, and believes it is important to take seriously the legitimate security concerns of all countries and eliminate the root causes of the Ukraine crisis.

China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace and looks forward to reaching a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement on the Ukraine crisis that is accepted by all relevant parties through dialogue, Xi noted.

Putin highly commended China's objective and impartial position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, saying that Russia is ready to engage in peace talks without preconditions and hopes to reach a fair and lasting peace agreement. 
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

About 180 Williston-area students are isolating at home after three schools were notified by public health officials of measles exposure on their campuses.

Unvaccinated students at Missouri Ridge Elementary, Williston Middle School and Williston High School were told they need to isolate for 21 days to ensure they were not infected, said Paula Lankford, spokesperson for Williston Basin School District 7. The precaution is to prevent students from unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

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Health officials on Tuesday confirmed nine cases of measles in Williams County in northwest North Dakota. Daphne Clark, spokesperson for the Upper Missouri District Health Unit, said the measles cases are considered part of an outbreak because health officials believe community spread is occurring without direct contact with known carriers of the illness.

Four people diagnosed with measles were in Williston schools while infectious, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services said.

The entire campuses of the affected schools were considered exposed, Lankford said.

The quarantine requirement affects some unvaccinated fourth grade students who were touring Williston Middle School on the day of the exposure, Lankford said. It also affects a few other students who dont attend the affected schools but shared a bus ride with an exposed student, she said.

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Each of the schools is going to work with those families that are excluded to ensure that they have educational opportunities for their kids and connections with teachers through digital means, Lankford said.

The Williston school district has a total enrollment of about 5,300 students.

Lankford encouraged parents, students or community members to contact their school or health care provider if they have questions.

Whats obviously on our side is that there is not that much school left, Lankford said. We are done here on May 23rd.

If Williston High School seniors under quarantine do not show any symptoms after their 21-day isolation, they will be allowed to participate in graduation commencement at the end of May, she said.

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Of the confirmed cases, two are children under 10; five are between ages 10 and 19; one is between 30 and 39 and one is between 40 and 49, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The first case reported Friday was a Williams County child who is believed to have contracted measles from an out-of-state visitor. All are people who were not vaccinated, health officials say.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate for Williams County kindergarten students is 81% for the 2024-25 school year, down from 87% two years ago, according to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. The rate is 95% for seventh graders and 97% for 11th graders. Public health officials say 95% is needed to prevent community spread.

The Upper Missouri District Health Unit, which serves Williams County as well as Divide, McKenzie and Mountrail counties, is holding walk-in vaccination clinics at 110 W. Broadway, Williston, from 1-7 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 to 6 p.m. Friday.

I feel like we maybe will be busy, Clark said. Were fielding some phone calls today with people with questions, but you never know what thatll look like when it actually becomes time.

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Clark said anyone experiencing cold symptoms or anyone who has been in contact with a carrier of the illness should not attend the vaccination clinic. Clark said those people should quarantine themselves for 21 days to prevent further spread of the disease.

I think the biggest thing is, if they are a case contact or they are sick, dont come to the clinic, she said.

The vaccinations are not free of charge, she said, so clinic attendees will want to bring their private health insurance cards with them. Depending on their ages, those without health insurance could be eligible for reduced pricing through a state-funded vaccination program.

I think theres a lot of concern and I just recommend people go to trusted sites to get their information, Clark said of community members who may be vaccine hesitant. She added the North Dakota Health and Human Services website is a good source for those looking for more information on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

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Those planning on attending the walk-in MMR vaccine clinic in Williston can fill out the organizations immunization consent form ahead of time to speed up the process once they arrive. The form can be found on the Upper Missouri District Health Unit website.

CHI St. Alexius Health medical center in Williston also urged people with symptoms to stay home and call a health care provider prior to coming to the clinic. CHI needed to temporarily close its Williston walk-in clinic on Wednesday after a possible measles exposure was reported, according to a social media post by the health care provider.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, eye irritation followed by a body-wide rash. For information about measles, vaccines or local clinic availability, contact the HHS Immunization Unit at 701-328-2378 or visit hhs.nd.gov/measles.

Health officials also urged anyone who visited the Williston Walmart between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on April 29 to monitor for symptoms and contact a health care provider if symptoms develop.

This story was originally produced by the North Dakota Monitor which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A sizeable gift is opening new doors at Sanford Childrens Hospital.

In the past year at Sanford Childrens Hospital, more than 5,500 patient encounters have involved a behavioral health diagnosis or concern, ranging from anxiety and ADHD to self-harm and suicidal ideations. That number makes Thursdays announcement all the more significant.

State overcharged owners of 11,000 heavy vehicles

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Were excited to announce that Marsh McLennan is donating $1 million over a ten-year period to pediatric behavioral health in the inpatient setting, Sanford Childrens Specialty Clinic Director of Operations Shane Hamilton said.

Hamilton says the $1 million gift will help Sanford Childrens Hospital provide enhanced care for its patients.

Noting just how important it is to address behavioral health needs for our pediatric patients and being proactive and helping to meet all of their needs and treating the whole child, Hamilton said.

Were trying to create an opportunity that allows more access to mental health care, Marsh McLennan Agency CEO Steve Vlk said.

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Were an insurance, consulting, brokerage firm, Vlk said of Marsh McLennan.

He says theres a deep need for mental health services but its a topic thats never discussed.

By giving a gift like this were hoping that were going to bring more attention to it, more access to care, and help our young youth get the care they need so they become healthy adults, Vlk said.

The partnership will allow Sanford Childrens Hospital to expand its pediatric behavioral health team, adding full-time therapists and social workers, and the benefits dont end there.

A zen room, a childs therapy room, additional services really for our providers to have new training and safety features, Sanford Health Foundation Senior Philanthropy Officer Stacy Hackett said.

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Whenever a child is coming in, admitted on the inpatient side of things, being able to screen them and then determine what level of need do they have and then getting them connected to the correct services within that, Hamilton said.

And its in the works thanks to a million dollar gift.

The Zen Zone will be a place for kids to hang out when theyre feeling overwhelmed. The $1 million gift will also enhance internship programs for staff and follow-up services for patients.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
The world watched in rapt anticipation on Thursday as newly appointed Pope Leo XIV stepped up to the velvet-draped ledge of the St. Peters Basilica balcony, raising his hand to greet a sea of Catholics who believe he had been appointed by the grace of God.

But back in Villanova, Pennsylvania, Rev. Robert Hagan recognized the face of his old friend, Bob Prevost.

When he emerged from the balcony, we were all just overjoyed. It was like somebody from your family standing up there, said Hagan, who has known Prevost for 25 years. Were proud of him, but also grateful and really understanding that he is a humble, unassuming man who was asked to do this, ultimately, by God.

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Prevost, the 69-year-old Chicago native and Peruvian cardinal, is the new leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics  the first US-born pope in history who is now stepping onto the international stage to confront tough decisions on the church and on political issues with ramifications well beyond its walls. How he chooses to tackle critical topics from same-sex marriage to women in the church remains to be seen, but those who know him say hell likely continue his predecessors path in his own image.

His public statements, voting records in Illinois and posts made on an X account under his name also paint a clearer picture of the man beneath the robes and the ideologies that will inform how he leans the church forward.

Though Prevost spent much of his life outside the United States  particularly in Peru, where he also holds a passport  his selection nonetheless upended the longstanding belief that the church would not add the papacy to the United States already enormous global influence.

That break from conventional wisdom was made possible by a crisis of international order, Dr. Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University, the new popes alma mater, told CNNs Jake Tapper on The Lead. The Catholic church, he said, is reading the global map and in responding in a very creative way.

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While he was seen as a moderate choice as pope, some of his positions  particularly on migrants  could put Leo XIVs Rome at odds with President Donald Trumps Washington, at times of turbulence in both the church and the nation.

If President Trump and Vice President Vance wanted an American pope, Robert Prevost is not the one they wanted, Faggioli said.

In this photo released by the Cruz de Motupe Brotherhood, Bishop Robert Prevost blesses a woman during a Mass in Motupe, Peru, in September 2020. - Cruz de Motupe Brotherhood/AP

The least American American cardinal

Prevost is American, but inside the Vatican, he was widely seen as the least American of the cardinals from the United States. He worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, where he served from 2014 to 2023. He then moved to the Vatican, where he led a powerful office for bishop appointments.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance both congratulated the new pope on Thursday. But his stances on a number of issues  a list that includes climate change, immigration and the war in Ukraine  raise the possibility of friction between a White House bent on shrinking the United States obligations on the global stage and a pontiff calling for a united church, always seeking peace and justice.

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For the last decade, a social media feed in the name of Robert Prevost reposted articles and posts critical of Vance and Trumps anti-immigration positions.

The X account listed under Prevosts name did not appear to personally write any of the critical posts, but reposted articles and headlines from others. CNN has reached out to the Vatican, X and friends of Prevost, but has not been able to independently confirm the X account is connected to the newly elected pope.

The posts took aim at past comments from Vance accusing the far left of caring more for migrants than American citizens, and the account shared an article about the Trump administrations wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who was residing in Maryland before he was sent to a Salvadoran prison. In the piece, a bishop writes: Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?

The X account in 2020 also shared a post offering prayers for George Floyd, the Minnesota man whose police killing triggered nationwide protests, and his family. The account also shared a post describing protests as helpful and saying protesting shows we demand change, while at the same time cautioning against violence and physical altercations.

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That feed has also shared a statement in which Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, called Trumps 2017 move to ban refugees a dark moment in U.S. history.

He sees the United States headed in the wrong direction in terms of immigration, John Prevost, Pope Leos brother, told CNN affiliate WBBM.

Father Mark Francis  a friend of Pope Leo who attended the same seminary in the 1970s  said the new pope is a prudent person who will weigh in on political matters when appropriate, but hes not a political activist.

Pope Leos speech Thursday, he said, might be an example of that. He emphasized bridge-building. In a certain sense, that is a way of subtly criticizing President Trumps emphasis on building walls, he said. This is something that Pope Francis emphasized as well.

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Voting records show that Prevost is registered to vote in the Chicago suburb of New Lenox and has regularly cast ballots there. He voted in the general election in 2024, 2018, 2014, and 2012, according to records provided to CNN by the Will County Clerks office.

Prevost voted in the Republican primary in 2016, 2014 and 2012, the records show. The countys records only date back to 2012. However, two sources with access to political parties more sophisticated voter databases said those reflected that Prevost voted in the 2008 and 2010 Democratic primaries.

Pope Francis, right, embraces Robert F. Prevost during a meeting with Augustinian priests at SantAgostino Church in Rome, on August 28, 2013. - CPP/Polaris/Newscom

A mirror image of Francis

Pope Leo will likely be a mirror image of Francis  a different man but a continuation of his predecessors focus on serving the poor, missionary work and encouraging dialogue within the church, said John Lydon, an Augustinian friar who lived and worked with Prevost in Peru in the 1990s.

Prevost appeared Thursday wearing a bright red shoulder cover and an ornate stole  in keeping with Catholic tradition but departing from the simplistic white that Francis wore onto the same balcony 12 years earlier.

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He was a great pastor in Peru, a great person that went out to the people, Lydon said. People really loved him, because he treated the poor with great dignity.

Prevost likely chose the name Leo to continue the tradition of Pope Leo XIII, the man who truly began Catholic social thought in the modern period, said Rev. Art Purcaro, who has worked with Prevost for more than two decades in Peru and Rome and is now assistant vice president of mission and ministry at Villanova University. He said Leo XIII proclaimed the dignity of the worker and the importance of social organizing for a common good, both values Prevost believed and lived and promoted.

Prevosts missionary experience in Peru, where he ventured into village communities to serve impoverished populations, will fundamentally inform how he leads the church, Lydon said.

Purcaro said he believes Pope Leo will live humbly as Francis did, shirking the pomp and grandeur that sometimes accompany the position.

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It would be natural for Pope Leo, as (he did as) Bob Prevost, to live humbly, simply, genuinely, authentically, Purcaro said.

He will also likely carry on his predecessors mission of calling for peace, his friends say.

In a 2023 interview with a Peruvian news outlet, Prevost was critical of Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying that there are crimes against humanity that are being committed in Ukraine.

His comments came as some Republicans pushed to curb the United States support for Ukraine in its war effort.

We must pray a lot to God for peace, but I believe that we must also be clearer ourselves, even some politicians in our country do not want to acknowledge the horrors of this war and the evil that Russia is carrying out in all its actions there in Ukraine, he said in Spanish. It is a situation that cries out to the heavens, that is seeking a solution.

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Climate change will likely be another one of Pope Leos top priorities, continuing Francis vocal calls for environmental preservation, those close to him said.

Leo XIV will continue to encourage all of us to be aware of and to do what we can to make this a better world for everybody, which means caring for the things that we have and have been given to us and for us, been given to us to share, said Purcaro.

Lydon said the new pontiff is very conscious of the of the environment and the damage to the environment and the need to change our economic models to take better care of what Pope Francis called our common home.

Children hold a rainbow flag as Pope Francis speaks to the crowd during his Angelus prayer from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square, Vatican, on March 27, 2022. - Antoine Mekary/Godong/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Standing steadfast on women, LGBTQ issues

Some Catholics have shared hopes that Pope Leo will adopt the more take progressive stances of his predecessor on women in the clergy and LGBTQ people, but Prevosts past statements suggest he may adhere more closely to traditional Catholic doctrine.

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Sister Barbara Reid, the president of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, expressed optimism that Pope Leo will continue Pope Franciss efforts to include women in ordained ministries and to encourage more acceptance of LGBTQ people in the church.

I was so delighted, as many of us were, when Pope Francis famously said, Who am I to judge? and it opened a door for acceptance, she said. I think Pope Francis was so clear that everybody belongs, everybody needs to have full respect and dignity, everybody needs to know they are welcome as they are in the church, and I am quite confident that our new pope will share that perspective and help us take the next steps forward.

But in 2023, while leading the Vatican bishops office, Prevost said at a Vatican news conference that the church had increasingly given women high-ranking jobs in the Vatican  but there was no changing the tradition that confers priestly ordination only on men.

Its not a given just because in society  a woman can be president, or women can have many different kinds of roles of leadership in the world, he said, according to The Associated Press. Its not like theres an immediate parallel to say In the church, therefore.

Prevosts public comments on LGBTQ people have been scant but suggest he may take a more restrained stance than Francis, who never condoned same-sex marriage in the church but encouraged congregations to treat LGBTQ people with compassion.

In a 2012 address to bishops, Prevost expressed concern that Western media promotes sympathy for beliefs and practices that contradict the gospel, including the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families made up of same-sex partners and their adopted children, the New York Times reported.

Lydon emphasized that Prevosts thinking on such issues could adapt over time but emphasized that as pope, Prevost must now contend with the beliefs of more than a billion Catholics spread across the globe.

We have to understand hes now the pope  of the universal church. He has to listen to all the voices, the voices of Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America. And a lot of those voices have different perspectives on some of the social issues, Lydon said.

Prevost indicated as much last year in a discussion of the Fiducia Supplicans, a 2023 Vatican declaration which allows for blessings of same-sex couples. Prevost argued that bishops should have the authority to consider the cultural contexts of their diocese, pointing out that some global communities have a vastly different cultural reality.

You have to remember there are still places in Africa that apply the death penalty, for example, for people who are living in a homosexual relationship.  So, were in very different worlds, Prevost said in October.

Then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost celebrates Mass at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, Illinois, in 2024. - Courtesy of the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel

Hell unite the Catholic people

In grade school, Prevost was known as Bobby, a quiet but popular student who made straight-As.

He was just really always a good guy and everybody knew he was going to be a priest. It was just set in stone, said Tim Scanlon, who attended grades 1-8 with Prevost at St. Mary of the Assumption in the Chicago area from 1961 to 1969.

In later years, his former classmates casually but respectfully referred to him as Father Bobby as they tracked his career, said Scanlon, 69.

Scanlon said Prevost has a giving soul and will be a unifier as pope.

I think Father Bobby will be a bridge, said Scanlon. Hell unite the Catholic people, which I think is needed.

Father Francis, whos now Provincial of the Viatorians in the US, said Pope Leos roots in the Midwest played a large role in shaping him as a religious leader. Francis describes Pope Leo as serious, focused and dependable, with a good sense of humor. Hes not a showboat kind of person, he said.

Bob, as Francis has called him for the past several decades, never mentioned wanting to become pope, he said, or any of the leadership positions he went on to assume. He is a calm person who is not a careerist, is not just seeking a promotion  but someone whos there to serve.

Several friends close to Prevost believe he will continue Francis philosophy of synodality, which advocated for a church that journeys together instead of the traditional image of a church that is led from the top. The late pope encouraged local diocese to open up dialogues with their parishes  including those who had left or felt excluded by the church  in an effort to unite church leaders and everyday parishioners.

Hes going to promote a church of dialog with people with different perspectives and different traditions, trying to build bridges, rather than to build walls, Lydon said.

CNNs Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Casey Tolan, Caroll Alvarado, Whitney Wild, Ashley Killough, Andi Babineau, Stephanie Becker, Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck contributed to this report.

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BAMAKO, Mali (AP)  At least two Malian pro-democracy activists, including a prominent political party leader, were taken away in Bamako by armed men after criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order and elections, their families and colleagues said.

Mali s military government this week suspended political party activities, days after the first pro-democracy rally since soldiers took power by force almost four years ago.

The son of Alassane Abba, secretary-general of the Codem party, said three armed, hooded men dressed in military fatigues entered their house on Thursday evening and took the politician away in a car with black tinted windows and no license plate. Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane told The Associated Press that the armed men did not look like bandits."

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On the same day, in Kati, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Bamako, a Yelema party activist, El Bachir Thiam, was forced by armed men into their car before being driven to an unknown destination.

We learned today of the arrest of our activist El Bachir Thiam and I call on the Malian authorities to release him. I call on those who arrested him to release him. A country is not built on gag orders, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, honorary president of the Yelema party, said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

Both El Bachir Thiam and Alassane Abba have made media appearances criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order.

Mamadou Traore, president of the Alternative for Mali party, was arrested last month after he criticized the military and the use of Russian mercenaries by Malis transitional authorities.

Military leader Gen. Assimi Goita seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021. Last week, a national political conference said he should be installed as president for a renewable five-year term.
Two suspects were arrested for attempted murder after a man was shot in Riverside County.

On May 4, Riverside County sheriffs deputies responded to the 3900 block of South Temescal Street in Corona at 5:20 a.m.

The male victim had been shot and assaulted by two suspects who fled the scene before deputies arrived. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities canvassed the area and found evidence of the shooting, but no suspects were nearby. Following an investigation, detectives identified Corona residents Juan Manuel Lopez Jr., 42, and Alexandro Lopez, 38, as the primary suspects.

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A search warrant was served at the home the men shared, where deputies found a firearm, ammunition, and other evidence in connection with the shooting.

The next day, Alexandro Lopez was located in the 100 Block of North McKinley Street in Corona, where he was taken into custody.

From left: Juan Manuel Lopez Jr., 42, and Alexandro Lopez, 38, both Corona residents, are seen in booking photos from the Riverside County Sheriffs Office.

On May 7, Juan Manuel Lopez Jr. turned himself in to deputies at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Both men were arrested for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

No further details, including a motive behind the assault and shooting, were released. Investigators did not provide details on how the victim was known to the suspects.

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Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call Investigator Juarez at the Lake Mathews Sheriffs Station at 951-272-5600.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Superior Court judge on Thursday dismissed felony embezzlement and conflict of interest charges against Palmer Moland, former president of the Fairfax School District Board of Trustees.

Deputy Public Defender Ajaib Gill,, Molands attorney, said in a news release those charges were based on complaints made by politically motivated parties.

The court granted Gills motion seeking the dismissal.

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Mr. Moland is happy to be vindicated as to the most serious charges in this case, he said. We look forward to further clearing his name at jury trial.

Moland still faces felony charges related to voter fraud and perjury. His trial is scheduled to begin next week.

BPD awards Moms Against Drunk Driving $2,500

When charging Moland in 2022, prosecutors said he ignored bylaws that restrict using public funds when hiring a law firm that was set to investigate him. Prosecutors said he should have abstained from voting to hire the firm because it posed a conflict of interest.

In the release, Gill said Moland helped unseat the previous school board president  becoming the first Black president of the board. A majority of trustees then voted to retain the private firm, Gill said, to help move on from all of the well-documented drama and turmoil surrounding the school district.

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The court correctly found there was no personal financial motive for Mr. Moland in voting to retain the firm, Gill said.

In a separate case, Moland is accused of exaggerating his health issues to fraudulently obtain in-home care services for people with disabilities. A preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Two people are dead after a motorcycle pursuit ended with a crash in Harrison County.

According to 1st Sergeant Henderson with the West Virginia State Police, a pursuit involving Wetzel County Sheriffs Department deputies began in the Pine Grove area on Thursday, May 8. Sgt. Henderson told 12 News that the pursuit reached a very high rate of speed, but could not provide an exact number.

2 people charged with allegedly sexually abusing young child in Fairmont

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The pursuit came to an end a short time later on West Virginia Route 20, just after crossing into Harrison County, when the crash occurred, killing 37-year-old Nicholas Littleton of Monongah and 29-year-old Michaela Collins of Pine Grove.

State Police also told 12 News that they were contacted after the crash to assist. No other information was immediately available.

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SAN JUAN COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  Two people are dead after two separate fatal crashes in San Juan County on Thursday, according to the San Juan County Sheriffs Office.

The first crash occurred at around 2:10 p.m. on May 8. The sheriffs office received reports of a motorcycle accident on County Road 143 near the entrance of Canyonlands National Park.

Park rangers were first on scene, officials said, and performed life-saving measures on the individual. However, the motorcycle rider  whose identity has not yet been released  died on scene. Authorities are still trying to make contact with next of kin at this time.

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The second crash occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on May 8. The sheriffs office received reports of a rollover crash on County Road 313 near the Lisbon Valley Mine. An EMT from the mine was reportedly first on scene and performed life-saving measures on the individual. However, the victim was pronounced dead on scene.

The sheriffs office is currently trying to notify next of kin in this case as well.

The San Juan County Sheriffs Office would like to offer our condolences to the families involved and thank everyone that assisted in both these incidents on 05/08/25 from the Utah Highway Patrol, National Park Service, EMT from Libson Valley Mine, LaSal Fire, LaSal EMS, Monticello EMS and our Deputies, a press release from the sheriffs office states.

The San Juan County Sheriffs Office would also like to remind everyone that is driving around in our county to PLEASE drive carefully, with the warmer weather there is an increased number of people on our roads going from point A to point B. We would also like to remind everyone not to drink and drive, wear your seatbelts and obey the speed limits. Most crashes we respond to and serious injuries could be avoided if people followed those three simple rules.

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No further information is available at this time.

Latest headlines:

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Two people were injured after a semi-truck crashed into a Starbucks in Oceanside, Calif., on Wednesday, May 7.

According to a press release obtained by PEOPLE from the Oceanside Fire Department, firefighters responded to reports of a semi-truck colliding with the Starbucks at 801 N Coast Highway at approximately 4:44 a.m.

Upon arrival, fire crews found that a semi-truck had "veered off the roadway and crashed into the building, breaching the structure and causing significant damage."

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NBC affiliate KNSD and The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, citing an initial investigation by the Oceanside Police Department, that the semi-truck driver crashed after running a red light following a medical emergency.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Oceanside Police Department for comment.

Oceanside fire department Photo of incident Photo of incident

Photos provided by the Oceanside Fire Department show a side of the building in shambles after the semi-truck slammed into it.

Firefighters quickly assessed the scene and discovered the trucks driver was trapped inside his vehicle, the fire department said.

While Starbucks staff and surrounding occupants were safely evacuated, the driver's removal from his semi-truck was delayed due to an "active electrical hazard."

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San Diego Gas & Electric shut down the building's power, allowing firefighters to extricate the driver from the vehicle. The building was deemed temporarily unsafe and is pending a complete structural evaluation.

The driver, as well as one Starbucks employee, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by paramedics to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif.

According to the Oceanside Fire Department, San Diego Fire-Rescues hazardous materials team was consulted as a precaution "due to the potential rupture of the trucks diesel fuel tanks." However, no hazardous material spill has been reported.

Oceanside Fire department Photo of incident Photo of incident

The Oceanside Police Department is actively investigating the cause of the crash, per the Oceanside Fire Department. PEOPLE has reached out to Starbucks for comment.

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We are grateful that no serious injuries occurred, considering the scale of the incident," said the Oceanside Fire Department in a press statement. "The coordinated efforts of our crews, the Oceanside Police Department, and SDG&E ensured a rapid and safe response."



Read the original article on People
CHARLES CITY, Iowa  Two people were injured Friday after a pickup truck collided with a tractor on Highway 218 outside Charles City.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred Friday just after 8 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Highway 218, near mile marker 227. A John Deere tractor with a planter was northbound on Highway 218 when a Ford pickup truck, also traveling northbound on Highway 218, struck the planter.

DMPD releases name of man killed in southside crash

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The tractor spun and entered the ditch, where it flipped. The driver, 54-year-old William Ruzicka, was ejected from the tractor. The pickup truck came to rest upright in the ditch, according to the report.

The driver of the pickup truck, 37-year-old Trevor Winfrey, and the driver of the tractor were transported to the hospital with injuries.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Charles City Fire Department and American Medical Response. The Iowa State Patrol had opened an investigation into the accident.

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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, leads an inspection team to learn about enforcement of the country's Forest Law in Nanping City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 7, 2025. Zhao conducted an inspection and research tour in Fujian from Wednesday to Friday this week. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

FUZHOU, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji has urged people's congresses to fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and to play an active role in boosting the country's high-quality development.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while conducting an inspection and research tour in east China's Fujian Province from Wednesday to Friday this week.

During the tour, Zhao interacted with local lawmakers and members of the public, listening to their suggestions on improving the work of people's congresses and promoting rule of law.

Zhao stressed the important role of people's congresses in ensuring sound enforcement of the Constitution and the law, in carrying out legislative work, and in conducting supervision tasks that constitute an essential part of the Party and state oversight system.

Zhao also led an inspection team to learn about enforcement of the country's Forest Law in Fujian.

He called for efforts to bolster the protection and cultivation of forest resources, advance reform and development of the forestry sector under rule of law, and ensure sound implementation of forest management and operation provisions contained in the Forest Law. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, interacts with local lawmakers and members of the public in Gulou District of Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 8, 2025. Zhao conducted an inspection and research tour in Fujian from Wednesday to Friday this week. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conducts an inspection and research tour in Nanping City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 8, 2025. Zhao conducted an inspection and research tour in Fujian from Wednesday to Friday this week. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, leads an inspection team to learn about enforcement of the country's Forest Law in Nanping City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 8, 2025. Zhao conducted an inspection and research tour in Fujian from Wednesday to Friday this week. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
At least two people were killed and 12 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional officials reported on May 9, despite Moscow's announced Victory Day truce.

Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.

In Kharkiv Oblast, five people were injured in attacks involving FPV drones and artillery, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

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Russian attacks in Kherson Oblast killed one person and wounded another, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The attacks damaged a residential apartment building and three houses in the region's settlements.

A woman was killed in a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, while two others were injured in a separate strike involving a first-person-view (FPV) drone, the regional military administration reported.

In Donetsk Oblast, three residents were injured  two in Pokrovsk and one in Kostyantynivka  according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.

An 83-year-old man was wounded in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. Two houses, an outbuilding, and power lines were damaged in the strike.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly dismissed Moscow's unilateral "humanitarian" truce as a ploy to create favorable conditions for Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9.

It followed Russia's now nearly two-month-long refusal to accept a U.S.-proposed full, 30-day ceasefire to which Ukraine agreed back on March 11.

Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
LONDON (AP)  In late September 2023, as the first big storm of the fall was kicking up in the U.K., a malicious plan was hatched to take down one of Englands favorite trees.

Daniel Graham sent a message to his buddy, Adam Carruthers, telling him to get the saws warmed up, suggesting they might get some work clearing fallen trees.

But it wasnt high winds that brought down the famous Sycamore Gap tree that night, jurors determined Friday. It was Graham and Carruthers  not cleaning up damage from the storm, but creating a mess of their own.

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The pair were convicted of two counts each of criminal damage by a jury in Newcastle Crown Court after little more than five hours of deliberations over two days.

Even without the smoking chainsaw, prosecutors were able to prove the case through a trove of digital evidence that either put the men near the tree at the time it was felled or showed them excitedly discussing it the next day as the story of the trees demise went viral.

Crime caught in the act

The prime piece of evidence was a grainy video on Grahams phone of the crime being committed on the dark and stormy night.

Footage of the tree's last stand showed a solitary figure silhouetted beneath the towering canopy in a struggle with the trunk as the unmistakable sound of the chainsaw whined above the wind. With a single crack, the buzz of the saw died down, the person stepped back and the tree that had stood about 150 years crashed to earth.

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Metadata pinpointed the location of the video at the trees location in Northumberland National Park. Other data showed Grahams Range Rover had traveled there.

The Sycamore Gap tree was not Britains biggest or oldest sycamore, but it was prized for its picturesque setting, symmetrically planted between two hills along the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire, and had attracted generations of followers.

The tree had long been known to locals but received international attention in Kevin Costners 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and even those who spread the ashes of loved ones.

For over a century, Sycamore Gap has been an iconic natural landmark in the northeast of England, bringing immeasurable joy to those visiting the area," Gale Gilchrist, chief prosecutor for the region, said in a statement after the verdict. In just under three minutes, Graham and Carruthers ended its historic legacy in a deliberate and mindless act of destruction.

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Convicts could face lengthy sentences

Neither Graham, who had a small construction business, nor Carruthers, a mechanic who sometimes worked with him, showed any visible reaction as the verdicts were read.

Justice Christina Lambert ordered both men held in custody until sentencing on July 15 and said they could face a lengthy period in custody. The maximum sentence for criminal damage is 10 years in prison.

The defendants, once close friends, both testified that they were at their respective homes that night and had nothing to do with the crime.

Graham pointed the finger at Carruthers, saying he was obsessed with the tree. Graham said his friend and another man had taken his Range Rover and phone to the site to frame him.

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Carruthers said he didn't understand why people were so upset about just a tree, saying it was almost as if someone had been murdered. His lawyer suggested Graham told a desperate lie after being caught.

Prosecutor Richard Wright said the two men were in on it together from the start, with evidence showing Carruthers had gone far out of his way earlier in the day to go near the tree on a reconnaissance mission.

Wright said he couldnt say who cut the tree and who held the phone, but the two men were the only people in the world with the video on their devices.

As Grahams vehicle was tracked on its way back toward his home in Carlisle  about 40 minutes away  Carruthers received a video from his partner of their infant and replied, Ive got a better video than that, Wright said.

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At the time of that text conversation, the only people in the world who knew the tree had been felled were the men who had had cut it down, Wright said. And the only people in the world who had access to the video were the men who had filmed themselves in the act of cutting down the tree: the defendants Graham and Carruthers.

Missing: one chainsaw and a trophy wedge of wood

The next day, the two feverishly exchanged messages after the tree was discovered.

Its gone viral. It is worldwide, Graham said.

Carruthers forwarded a Facebook comment by a man who criticized the disgusting behavior of the weak vandals.

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Carruthers said hed like to see the man launch an operation like we did last night.

Wright said police never located the chainsaw used to fell the tree, but each man had access to plenty of saws  a fact they both tried to downplay. Investigators also couldn't find a wedge of wood cut from the trunk to drop the tree in the right direction.

But images on Grahams phone showed a slice of wood and a chainsaw in the back of his vehicle at his home. A forensic botanist said there was very strong evidence it was the missing wedge that Wright suggested had been taken as a trophy.

Prosecutors offered no evidence of a motive for the crime other than calling it senseless vandalism. But Wright suggested to jurors in his closing argument that the men cut the tree down for a bit of a laugh but had failed to realize the anger they would spark in the arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery.

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The tree was originally valued at more than 620,000 pounds (around $830,000) and damage to the wall was estimated at 1,100 pounds (nearly $1,500).

But on Friday prosecutor Rebecca Brown said those figures are in dispute and are likely lower, but would still easily fit in the top category of harm for sentencing purposes.
LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WGN)  A man was accused of causing a four-vehicle crash that left several student athletes and their coaches injured in northwest Indiana on Thursday afternoon is now facing a felony charge.

In a joint statement shared by the New Prairie United School Corporation and the La Porte County Sheriffs Office, deputies said they were first called to the scene just after 3 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of US-20 and North Fail Road, in Kankakee Township, following a report of a multi-vehicle crash.

When crews arrived, they found four vehicles, a single axle box truck, a commercial vehicle and two mini-buses operated by the New Prairie United School Corporation.

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In an update shared just before 8 a.m. on Friday morning, deputies said a man had been taken into custody and is now facing a felony charge in connection with the crash.

According to deputies, 41-year-old Shawn Wesly Russell Akison, a Romeoville resident, has been charged with one felony count of criminal recklessness. The charge was handed down shortly after the crash.

Photo provided by the La Porte County Sheriffs Office shows 41-year-old Shawn Wesly Russell Akison, who is accused of causing a crash that left 9 injured in La Porte County on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Deputies said just before the crash, officers from the St. Joseph County Police Department were notified about a box truck that was allegedly spotted driving recklessly as it traveled northbound along State Road 2.

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After locating the truck, which was allegedly being driven by Akison, in an area near State Road 2 and Timothy Road, a St. Joseph County deputy attempted to pull him over, but he allegedly failed to stop and continued driving.

The deputy eventually terminated the pursuit near State Road 2 and County Road 900 East.

Later in the day, just after 3 p.m., a La Porte County deputy was called to investigate a box truck that was allegedly spotted driving recklessly near State Road 2 and US-20. Less than five minutes later, deputies received a call about the multi-vehicle crash near US-20 and North Fail Road.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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Authorities arrived on the scene and were able to confirm that the box truck that was allegedly being driven by Akison had been involved in a crash in the area.

According to deputies, as Akison approached the intersection, he allegedly crashed the truck into a commercial motor vehicle and two mini-buses operated by the New Prairie United School Corporation.

Officials said the buses were carrying members of the New Prairie High School baseball team and their coaches, who were headed to a game at the time of the crash.

In total, two coaches and seven student-athletes suffered injuries in the crash. Some were treated at the scene while several others were taken to the hospital.

One of the injured students was taken to the hospital via helicopter.

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Authorteis have not provided updates on the conditions of anyone involved and it is unclear what led to the crash.

Deputies said following the crash, Akison was taken into custody at the scene. He was initially taken to the hospital for evaluation, but after he was cleared for release, he was taken to the La Porte County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $15,005.00 cash-only bond.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Toxicology test results for Akison are currently pending and an investigation into the crash is ongoing.

We are asking for your thoughts and prayers for all of the injured, their families and friends, and the entire school corporation, Cpt. Derek Allen from the La Porte County Sheriffs Office said. Please do not speculate on the circumstances of the crash and respect the privacy of those impacted by this tragic incident.

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Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed or who may have dash cam video of the box truck being operated on State Road 2 or US-20 to contact the La Porte County Chief of Detectives  Captain Andy Hynek at ahynek@lcso.in.gov.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  Two men were sentenced in connection to an attempted robbery and shooting that took place outside of Clevelands St. Malachi Parish last summer.

Amish man arrested for murder of beloved Ohio woman

Rahmean Ponzie, 37, and Randall Russell, 30, had pleaded guilty to the following charges last month:

1 count of discharging firearms in a prohibited place

1 count felonious assault

1 count criminal damaging

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Thursday, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Emily Hagan sentenced the two to five-six years in prison.

Rahmean Ponzie

Randall Russell

Another man involved in the shooting, 31-year-old Richo Samuels Jr., is reportedly undergoing a competency evaluation and is expected for a pretrial in June. Charges were dropped against Jermaine George, 53, who was indicted with the other three men in August in connection to the incident.

WJW photo

According to prosecutors last year, Ponzie and Russell were in the area of St. Malachi Parish when they spotted people who had previously tried to rob them. They opened fire and three people ended up hurt. Police said no bystanders were shot.

Bay Village lacrosse player dies after critical injury during game

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These idiots engaged in a gun battle outside of St. Malachi Parish, firing over 45 shots, Prosecutor Michael C. OMalley said in a press release last year.

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Two teen girls, who were later identified as sisters, died in an early morning crash in Billings, Mont. on May 7

The other two occupants of the vehicle were transported to a local hospital, police said

Their family is "devastated," the girls' cousin said







Two sisters have died in an early morning crash in Montana that left two others injured.

Alexia Half, 18, and Alicia Half, 16  who were later identified by a family member  were in a vehicle with two others when the accident occurred.

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Police officers arrived at approximately 2:37 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 7, at the single-vehicle crash on Airport Road in Billings, where three people had been "ejected" during the crash, according to the Billings Police Department.

The two teen girls were pronounced dead at the scene. The two others were transported to a local hospital.

Officers have determined the vehicle was east bound when the driver lost control and left the roadway causing the vehicle to roll, police said. The initial investigation indicates speed is a contributing factor for the crash.

Officials did not reveal who was driving the vehicle. An investigation is ongoing.

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The Billings Police Department and Yellowstone Countys Coroners Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment.

Speaking with the Billings Gazette, the girls cousin, Dustin Little Owl, said the two "were like my little sisters." He has organized a GoFundMe to support Alicia and Alexias parents.

The older sister attended school in Pryor, while Alicia went to school in Hardin, Little Owl told the outlet. Their whole family is devastated and still in shock, he wrote in the fundraiser's description.

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My aunt is currently a stay-at-home mom, so finances are extremely tight for her, wrote Little Owl, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Funerals are expensive, so I am hoping to help alleviate the financial burden in this time of grief.

He added, We are all so heartbroken over the loss of Alexia and Alicia.



Read the original article on People
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  Two women from Nebraska, wanted for shooting a man over the weekend, were found and arrested in St. Petersburg, according to police.

Elyssia Ochoa, 32, and Malorie Rogers, 36, were wanted for shooting and injuring a man in Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 4.

AI-generated video of victim shown in courtroom at killers road-rage sentencing

St. Pete police and the U.S. Marshals executed a search warrant at 773 42nd Avenue South on Thursday and took both women into custody. A detective said the women were temporarily staying at the St. Pete home when they arrived from Nebraska.

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Court records show that Ochoa is facing charges of burglary and assault, discharging a firearm near a vehicle or building and using a firearm to commit a felony, while Rogers faces a third-degree aggravated assault charge.

According to officers, in addition to the shooting charges, Ochoa facing a local charge of trafficking in 45.4 grams of meth.

Rogers affidavit revealed she had crushed crystal meth in a $1 bill in one of the bedrooms. She faces a possession of a controlled substance charge.

A spokesperson with SPPD told WFLA.com that the woman knew some friends who were in town for work, which could explain why they were in the area following the shooting.

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May 8BEMIDJI  Two suspects in a recent Scott County attempted homicide have been arrested after being located in Bemidji on Thursday.

According to a release from Bemidji Police Captain David LaZella, on May 8, Bemidji police officers received information from the Jordan Police Department, south of the Twin Cities, that David Scott and Chauncey Oothoutdt, suspects in a recent Scott County attempted homicide, were in the Bemidji area.

Officers met with investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and began to survey different addresses in the city of Bemidji. Officers identified Scott at a residence in the 1300 block of Bemidji Avenue, where a search warrant was executed.

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Scott was located there and apprehended without incident, the release said.

A short time later, investigators identified a residence in the 800 block of 26th Street NW, where a second search warrant was executed.

Oothoutdt was located and also arrested without incident, the release said.

The Bemidji Police Department was assisted by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Headwaters Safe Trails Violent Crimes Task Force, Cass County Sheriff's Office, Scott County Sheriff's Office, Jordan Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Those with information about this or any crime can report it and stay anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at

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CrimeStoppersMn.org,

by calling the toll-free phone number

(800) 222-8477

or by using the P3 Tip Submit app.

All contact with Crime Stoppers is anonymous and you may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.

"The Bemidji Police Department encourages you to submit information to Crime Stoppers so you are free of retribution and remain safe while 'doing the right thing,'" the release said.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  More than 20 years after the fatal stabbing of a University of Tennessee student in West Knoxville, an episode of ABCs 20/20 will be focusing on the years-long murder investigation and a mothers determination to find justice.

In December 2004, Johnia Berry was 21 years old. She had just moved to Knoxville to pursue a masters degree at the University of Tennessee and was about to receive an honors degree from East Tennessee State University. In the early morning hours of December 6, 2004, that would all change.

Around 4 a.m. that Saturday, Berry and her roommate were attacked. Berry was fatally stabbed. Her roommate was wounded but able to get away. Although she knocked on doors and tried to get help, Berry ultimately died. 6 News covered the case, learning that Berry had just moved to Knoxville from the Tri-Cities area about six weeks before.

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In the aftermath of the stabbing, Berrys family looked for answers and encouraged anyone who knew anything to speak with police. By May 2005, the family had a billboard installed with the suspects description and a sketch of what he was believed to look like. Investigators were searching for a 58 tall man who weighed around 150 pounds.

DNA technology could help identify remains found in Knoxville after nearly 40 years

As a year passed since the murder, the Knox County Sheriffs Office began looking at new steps that could be taken in the investigation and asked Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to double the reward being offered. At that point, investigators had conducted more than 300 interviews and submitted 80 DNA samples for testing, but a motive had not been discovered. By December 28 of 2005, the reward had been increased to $60,000.

The following spring, Berrys mother, Joan Berry, began to push for the investigation to be featured on Americas Most Wanted, a national television show, in hopes of spreading awareness for the case as a suspect had not been arrested.

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In May 2006, however, the investigation hit a roadblock that no one could have anticipated. The lead investigator, Assistant Chief Keith Lyon was killed while on duty when a car crashed into his SUV. Lyons brother told 6 News that Lyon was very passionate about finding her killer, and her family shared that they spoke with Lyon nearly every day. After Lyons death, Berrys parents told 6 News it became much more difficult to get updates from the sheriffs office on the case.

As the Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchinson refused to appear in and allow Americas Most Wanted to cover Johnia Berrys case, her family collected more than 2,000 signatures on a petition to seek him to reconsider, but Hutchinson reportedly said there was no reason to take the case to the national level until all local leads dried up.

That summer, Johnia Berrys parents and the community supporting them persisted, protesting outside the City County building on July 14, 2006. The group of more than 50 people were seeking two things: For Hutchinson to reconsider his refusal to go on Americas Most Wanted, and for District Attorney General Randy Nichols to reconsider his denial of the familys request to ask for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations assistance in the case.

What is NamUs? How a federal database helps solve East TN missing persons cases

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In August 2006, the case began to gain some interstate traction with the Berry family finding help spreading the word about their daughters case from an unexpected source. Food City president and CEO Steve Smith, a longtime family friend of the Berry family, watched Johnia Berry grow up. On 50 of its semi-trucks, Food City added four-foot-tall posters with Johnias photo, the sketch of the suspect, and contact information to report tips.

For the next year, Berrys family did not get the answers they hoped for. They continued to hold events on the days that would have been her birthdays, and Joan Berry spoke out asking for anyone who knew anything to speak up. On October 3, 2006 Joan Berry quite literally took the search into her own hands by handing out putting up fliers with information about the case. For Johnias 24th birthday in August of 2007, the family and community members passed out flyers and pictures.

Roughly a month later, the break in the case finally came. The Knox County Sheriffs Office announced on September 24, 2007, that a man, identified as Taylor Olson, 21, had been arrested in connection to Johnia Berrys murder. Although Olson was 63 tall, compared to the suspect description of 58 tall, Berrys father told 6 News he saw a resemblance between Olson and the sketch and noted that the description was given by someone that was getting stabbed at 4 oclock in the morning.

During the course of the investigation, more than 600 interviews were conducted and samples from more than 240 DNA samples were tested.

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Knox County Sheriff JJ Jones released that Olson had become a person of interest about four to five months before his arrest. Olson had voluntarily submitted DNA when he was arrested in a separate case in July 2007. In connection to Johnia Berrys death, Olson was arrested at West Town Mall on September 21, 2007.

Olson was indicted on seven counts including first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated burglary. His trial was scheduled to begin in March of 2008 but was delayed. Although Berrys parents were surprised to learn the trial could take between four and six weeks, the first day of the trial never came. On March 24, 2008, Olson was found dead by apparent suicide in his jail cell. Officials said Olson showed no signs of suicidal tendencies, and he was checked on every hour as he was alone in he cell.

Although Olson was not convicted in Berrys death, there are two impactful laws and an annual event that honor her memory.

Her parents worked with state lawmakers to develop the Johnia Berry Act of 2007, which required any person charged with a violent crime to submit a DNA sample. Previously, only those convicted of felonies were required to submit DNA samples. On May 23 of that year, the bill passed the Tennessee General Assembly unanimously.

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Lonely Bones: Stories of the Forgotten Dead

2007 also marked the first year of the Johnia Berry Memorial Toy Drive, which collected unwrapped toys for children at the Knoxville Area Resource Mission during the inaugural event. In 2024, the annual toy drive marked its 20th year collecting toys for children in need.

Joan Berry also founded a nonprofit organization, Hope for Victims, which provides help for families and victims of violent crimes. The group lobbied for the Victim Photo Life Bill in 2015, which sought to allow a photo of the victim to be admissible as evidence during a trial to show the general appearance and condition of the victim while they were alive. The Tennessee General Assemblys website states that the bill passed, and the law went into effect on July 1, 2015.

ABCs 20/20 will highlight Berrys case in the episode called Blood on the Door.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
If you weren't obsessively watching the Vatican's chimney these past couple of days, you might have missed when the smoke turned white and a new pope was elected this week. His name? Pope Leo XIV, who is the first American pope to ever be elected.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images

Yes, you heard right. He's from Chicago, people.

But how are people feeling about this new American pope? Well, -Appleaday- asked: "The first ever American pope was just chosen, Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost). What do you think about the new pope?" and a lot of people answered. Here's what they said below.

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1."First ever American and good friends with Francis. Hope this is a good continuation of the Francis years."

Franco Origlia / Getty Images

Cunt_Puffin

"Thats honestly my hope. Francis was a revitalizing figure for many young people in the Catholic Church. They need someone to capitalize on that momentum."

concerned-koala

"Even I liked him, and I'm an atheist. He was a good guy."

Fyrrys

2."The Vatican is making a strategic move. Whatever happens next for the world is going to depend a lot on what the US does. The US has a Catholic vice president and a predominantly Catholic Supreme Court right now. An American pope will be able to speak more directly to an American people who are going to be at the center of a lot of important things in the coming years. This isn't a pope who will just lie down and do whatever Trump demands, either. This is a pope with close ties to Francis and a history of opposition to Trump."

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"I suspect that their hope is that he will act as a moral counterweight to the atrocities of the Trump administration. It's also worth noting that popes tend to choose a name that ties them to the previous pope who used that name. He chose Leo XIV.

Leo XIII was known for being extremely supportive of workers' rights. The Vatican made a fascinating move here. I think they see the writing on the wall for what's to come in the US and for the world. People will want to suggest that this is some corrupt bargain or something, but I don't believe it is."

xGray3

3."Very good chance hes done a shot of Malort."

Chicago Tribune / TNS

ralphy1010

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"New communion wine just dropped!"

danielstover

4."I grew up Catholic in the U.S.: Catholic high school, Sunday Mass with my religious dad and grandparents, parties for family baptisms and First Communions, the whole thing. Even though I now consider myself a lapsed Catholic, I still pay attention when moments like this happen."

"The election of Leo is surreal. It feels monumental, especially coming from a very Catholic state like Massachusetts (lots of the Irish and Portuguese diaspora there are influenced by Catholicism). I was genuinely impressed by Pope Francis papacy. He managed to try and modernize the church in a meaningful way while staying grounded in its institutional roots. A tough balance, especially as much of the world swings toward populism and rigid conservatism. I hope Leo continues that trajectory, especially with Trump and JD Vance likely to meet with him soon.

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The name Leo is significant, too. Popes whove chosen that name have often been reformers and fighters. Leo XIII, for example, was the architect of Rerum Novarum, the Churchs foundational document on social justice during the Industrial Revolution. That legacy hints that Leo XIV may share Francis vision.

That said, Im concerned about reports of criticism around Leos handling of clergy abuse allegations. That issue remains a moral stain the Church still hasnt fully reckoned with. I really hope Leo doesnt waver from accountability or transparency.

If he follows the path Francis set, this could be another defining era for the Church. But well have to see. The symbolism is powerful. The substance has to follow."

bawlhie62a2

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5."Let's celebrate by getting Popeyes tonight. Pope Yes."

NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Deep_Two_2341

"You are missing the bigger picture. He's from Chicago. Who does he root for, Cubs or the White Sox?"

yep-MyFault_Again

6."Too soon to tell. There isnt a lot he has said publicly. His less-than-tolerant LGBTQ comments are from 13 years ago. So maybe hes evolved? People can and do often change. He did call JD Vance out a couple of months ago publicly. His record on the poor and the underserved is pretty damn solid. The sex abuse stuff is Im not sure. So far, Ive seen very little evidence that he had a whole lot of power to do much at the time. We will see what his stances are in the coming months. I hope he continues to drive the church into modern times, but who knows? Cautiously optimistic is how I am."

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Wayward_Whines

Related: Justin Trudeau's Shady Comment Toward Donald Trump Is Going Super Viral

7."I think that it's going to be fun watching 47 try to pretend like he's best friends with the Pope just because he's American."

Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

bjackson12345

"We have different ideas of fun... but you may be right."

Pika256

8."Someone high up in the American church once said that there wouldn't be an American pope until the US was in political decline. I agree with him that this is a further sign that the world no longer sees the US as the world's superpower. He's a naturalized citizen of Peru and left the US in his 20s, so I'm not overly worried about him being influenced by American political currents. As for my hopes/thoughts about him as pope, no opinion, I'm a former Catholic who doesn't care what the church says for the most part; I just hope he takes the church more in the direction Francis was moving it (e.g., more liberal/open/accepting)."

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jtexnl

9."I like that he is a mathematician."

Franco Origlia / Getty Images

HRDBMW

10."John Paul II (Polish) was elected and helped rid Poland of communism during the Cold War. This is the most recent example of a pope being a major political figure without being a political figure, if that makes sense. We are about to watch right-wingers have a crisis of faith and politics like weve never seen before. Should be interesting."

unabnormalday

Related: Republican Voters Are Finally Tearing Into Trump Over One Issue, But It's Not The Issue You'd Expect

11."My Catholic family members seem happy, and they're not the kind to use religion to be holier-than-thou, so I'll take that as a good sign."

Europa Press News / Europa Press via Getty Images

Pearson94

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12."Hopefully, he's as nice a guy as Francis. I know he's an Augustinian, and a lot of friars who are Augustinians do a lot of charitable work with poor people, at least here in Brazil."

malu_saadi

13."I'm not so sure this isn't the Catholic Church taking a shot at Trump. Trump has usurped Christianity in this country for his own political purposes. It's wild to see people treating him as some sort of Jesus figure despite him quite obviously not caring about religion at all. Having an American pope with ties to Latin America who is seen as liberal and critical of Trump would really go a long way to undermine his support. I don't personally have that positive of an impression of the Catholic Church, or religion in general, but I'll take any ally I can get right now. All these guys cover for predators in their ranks. They'll call it Christian forgiveness."

Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

diito_ditto

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14."Imma call him Pope Bob. Go bears."

Legitimate_Glove_807

"Daaaaa Pope!"

gangreen424

15."They picked the right guy for this moment. Aligned with the popular Francis, strong background in Latin America (which means he will have no patience with shipping innocent Latinos to El Salvador), still traditional enough not to send the right wing of the church into a tizzy. Theyll retain the lapsed Catholics who came back because of Francis, at least."

Franco Origlia / Getty Images

Brilliant_Tourist400

16."We got Bob Pope before GTA6."

Optimal_scientists

17."Im incredibly happy as an American Catholic. Never in a million years did I think wed see a pope from the States. I always envied the celebration that happened in Argentina when Francis was elected. Now, I understand how they felt."

Antonio Masiello / Getty Images

JackC1126

18."Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and now: Chicago Pope. This television universe is getting wild."

Romnonaldao

19."MAGA will hate him. The fact that he has criticized Trump and Vance, and didnt address the world in English, will make him a MAGA target once they realize what just happened. Hes going to say be good to immigrants and LGBTQ+, and they will lose their minds (whatever mind they have left)."

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Indiana-Irishman

20."Hes from Chicago. Ketchup on hot dogs is now a mortal sin."

JMFR

21.And finally, "Please don't accept a visit from JD Vance."

Vatican Pool / Getty Images

rdldr1

Do you have an opinion on the newly elected pope? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or anonymously in the Google Form below:

Also in In the News: "We Went From 'Lower The Price Of Eggs' To 'Lower Your Standard Of Living'": 39 Of The Best, Most Brutal, And Very Relatable Political Tweets Of The Month

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SANTIAGO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A small ambulance plane carrying six people that lost contact on Wednesday en route from central to northern Chile has been found crashed with no survivors, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.

"We extend our condolences to the families, friends and all those mourning the loss of these six compatriots," Gonzalo Duran, presidential delegate for the Metropolitan Region, told the press.

The Chilean Air Force (FACH) reported that the wreckage was located in the town of Curacavi, on the outskirts of Santiago.

FACH announced that it had deployed personnel and resources immediately after the plane was reported missing and had coordinated closely with other agencies involved in the search effort.

According to the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, the aircraft was traveling from Santiago to the northern city of Arica when it disappeared from radar on Wednesday afternoon.

The public prosecutor's office, along with emergency response teams, is investigating the cause of the crash. 
(KRON)  The Vallejo Police Department said its officers discovered 220 grams of marijuana and an unlicensed firearm after pulling over a driver for an illegally tinted front window and a temporary license plate.

Police chase halts morning traffic at Bay Bridge Toll Plaza

The incident happened on Monday in the area of Marin and Indiana streets.

VPD said when they approached the driver in a white Infiniti, they spotted a firearm with an extended magazine in plain view on the rear floorboard of the vehicle.

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While officers were about to tow the car, another search of the vehicle uncovered more than 220 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and several small plastic baggies.

Photo courtesy of Vallejo Police Department. Photo courtesy of Vallejo Police Department.

Vallejo police said the driver was arrested for multiple felony charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana for sale.

The Vallejo Police Department said the Infiniti was towed from the scene, and the driver was booked into the Solano County Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
BANJUL, Gambia (AP)  Protests in Gambia over the sale of a former dictator's assets led to the arrests of at least 27 demonstrators and two journalists, who were later released, police said Monday.

The protests in the West African country's capital of Banjul began after an investigative report by local media that accused the government of selling former dictator Yahya Jammeh s assets at below market value. A group called the Gambians Against Looted Assets, or GALA, led the protest.

According to a government statement Monday, the sale went through a legally grounded process.

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At all times, the government acted within the confines of the law and in the public interest, the Ministry of Justice said.

We condemn the (Inspector General of the Police) denial of our rights to protest and we will take none of it. We call on all Gambians to stand in opposition to this unlawful behavior of the police and come out in the thousands to take to the streets, GALA spokesperson Omar Saibo Camara said at a news conference earlier this week. Camara was responding to the government's announcement that it had denied their request to protest.

A government commission was created in 2017 with the goal of looking into the financial dealings of former President Jammeh and his advisers. The commission concluded on Sept. 13, 2019 with a report indicating that the former president had stolen up to $362 million from the country.

His two-decade-long rule was marked by arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, according to rights activists. Along with political opponents, Jammeh also targeted journalists and members of the gay community.

Jammeh now resides in Equatorial Guinea.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Three people from Baton Rouge pleaded guilty to charges in health care fraud schemes involving getting drugs from pharmacies using fake prescriptions with stolen identities and fraudulent applications for federal benefits.

Kevan Andre Hills, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Devin Tyrone Stampley Jr., 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and burglary of a pharmacy.

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Asia Deshan Guess, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and theft of government funds.

The Department of Justice said all three admitted that they caused the submission of fake prescriptions for controlled substances to Medicaid and used Drug Enforcement Administration registration numbers and other information of several doctors and medical providers for the fake prescriptions.

Officials said numerous fraudulent applications for funds from federal benefits programs seeking at least $293,498 were submitted by Hills, Stampley and co-conspirators. Pandemic assistance programs were defrauded of at least $87,663.

According to the DOJ, Guess illegally sought at least $125,978 in federal benefits after submitting fraudulent applications and claims for unemployment benefits to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Maine Department of Labor and other state workforce agencies. She obtained at least $15,859 in unemployment insurance benefits.

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Louisiana twin brothers found guilty in money laundering scheme sentenced

Latest News

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
LONG GROVE, Ill. (WGN)  Felony charges have been filed against three Chicago men accused of ambushing another man and stealing his truck in Long Grove on Wednesday afternoon.

23-year-old Anthony Long, 31-year-old Brence Dancy and 37-year-old Christopher Lewis have each been charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking. Long is facing an additional felony charge of aggravated battery.

The charges stem from the trios alleged role in an ambush carjacking that unfolded along Route 53 on Wednesday.

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According to the Lake County Sheriffs office, the incident unfolded around 1 p.m. near Route 53 and Long Grove Road in Long Grove.

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Deputies said they were called to the scene following a report of a disturbance in the area, but as the dispatcher gathered more information from the caller, authorities began to realize that the caller was likely the victim of a carjacking.

Deputies arrived on the scene and confirmed that carjacking had allegedly unfolded in the area.

Following further investigation, deputies determined that the victim, a 36-year-old man, was driving northbound along Route 53 in a box truck that was full of electronics when his truck was allegedly rear-ended by a U-Haul truck.

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Following the crash, the victim got out of his vehicle to speak with the driver of the U-Haul, but after exiting his truck, a minivan pulled up to the scene and two additional suspects got out.

The trio of suspects, working in coordination, then allegedly pepper-sprayed the victim and stole his box truck. Each of the suspects then fled the scene in a different vehicle, officers said.

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Deputies said they believe the ambush was the product of an organized plan to steal the truck, knowing it was full of electronics.

With the help of CPD, deputies were able to track down the stolen truck in the 1500 block of West Pershing Road in McKinley Park and all three suspects were taken into custody by CPD and are currently being held in Cook County. Deputies then obtained arrest warrants for the three suspects on Thursday.

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The three suspects are expected to be transported from Cook County to Lake County next week.

Authorities did not provide booking photos for any of the suspects.

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BELLA VISTA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Three Northwest Arkansas teenage boys have been charged as adults in connection with the rape of two girls.

Landon Rhine, 17, and Elijah Jurgens, 15, both of Bella Vista, along with Bryson McLaughlin, 14, of Gravette, each face two counts of rape.

Prosecutors formally charged all three as adults on May 5.

Initial accusations

A girl reported to Bella Vista police that she was allegedly raped in a truck by three individuals identified in a probable cause affidavit as Jurgens, Rhine and McLaughlin while returning from swimming at Lake Avalon on April 22.

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The alleged victim was interviewed at the Childrens Advocacy Center of Benton County, where she gave an account of the alleged assault. She also described Jurgens as the main offender but stated Rhine and McLaughlin were also involved, according to court documents.

She also accused Jurgens of previously raping one of her friends, an incident that reportedly came to light after a video of the assault began circulating at their school.

Former Arkansas Arts Academy teacher pleads not guilty to child sex crimes in Benton County

Further allegations

The second alleged victim was reportedly raped at McLaughlins residence, with McLaughlin, Rhine and Jurgens present, according to court documents.

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According to the affidavit, the girl claimed there was a video showing the trio taking turns assaulting another girl. She also alleged that Jurgens, Rhine and McLaughlin each had the video on their cellphones and that it had been distributed among students at school.

This girls parents reported the incident to Gravette police after learning about the video circulating at school. The alleged victim stated she had been drinking with the boys and did not remember anything after waking up the next morning.

McLaughlin stated in the investigation that the girl did not appear to be conscious in the video, which allegedly showed McLaughlin, Jurgens and Rhine.

Jurgens placed in custody

Police went to Jurgens home, where they notified his father about the situation. Jurgens acknowledged a rumor about him sexually assaulting a girl and was informed that his cellphone would be seized as evidence.

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Jurgens reportedly became upset, punched a door and started destroying the inside of the house. A neighbor later called police to report that Jurgens was making threats against himself.

Officers later took him to a local hospital, but he ran away from the hospital. Jurgens returned home, then cut off his ankle monitor and left it on a counter.

DNA match leads to Greenwood mans arrest in 2022 child rape, court docs say

Court documents do not indicate why the ankle monitor was placed on Jurgens. He was later found in Bentonville and transported to the Bella Vista Police Department.

Jurgens claimed his acts with the second girl were consensual and said the girl had only three shots of alcohol. Jurgens said he, Rhine and McLaughlin engaged in sex acts with the girl, according to an affidavit.

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Rhine and McLaughlin went to the Gravette Police Department to turn themselves in on sexual assault allegations, according to court documents.

Court documents say the three will be arraigned at 8 a.m. June 16.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas filed 316 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases during the first week of May throughout central and western areas of Texas, including the El Paso region.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement on Friday, May 9, in a news release.

Among the new cases, the following took place in the Borderland, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office:

Case 1

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Cirilo Delgado-Alderete, Dilan Karim Valenzuela-Baca, and Antelmo Eligio Ramirez-Bernardo were arrested at an alleged stash house in Anthony, New Mexico.

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According to an affidavit, U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations agents observed three vehicles that had been identified as being used to smuggle undocumented migrants to Albuquerque parked at the residence.

When agents questioned Ramirez-Bernardo, a Guatemalan national, they allegedly discovered he possessed a key to the residence on his keychain. Agents then located 25 individuals inside the residence who admitted to being citizens of Mexico, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Pakistan without documentation to be in the country, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Delgado-Alderete and Valenzuela-Baca were identified as alleged stash house caretakers and drivers to harbor and transport the undocumented migrants.

Delgado-Alderete, Valenzuela-Baca, and Ramirez-Bernardo are charged with one count of conspiracy to transport undocumented migrants and one count of conspiracy to harbor undocumented migrants. The drivers allegedly picked up migrants in El Paso before transporting them to New Mexico.

Case 2

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Mexican national Erasmo Soto-Aguilar and Cesar Jared Garcia-Raucho, a U.S. citizen, were charged with statutes related to harboring undocumented migrants after agents arrested them outside an alleged stash house in El Paso.

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A criminal complaint alleges that Soto-Aguilar had been involved in multiple smuggling schemes in which he coordinated pick-up drivers to meet and exchange migrants. The complaint also alleges that Garcia-Raucho admitted to working as a migrant caretaker, the U.S. Attorneys Office added.

Case 3

Leonel Sotelo-Santillan, a Mexican national, was arrested after allegedly entering a National Defense Area near El Paso illegally on Friday, May 2, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Sotelo-Santillan is a convicted felon with two 2015 convictions for domestic abuse battery and theft in Louisiana, as well as a felony conviction in June of last year for illegal re-entry. He has two prior removals, the last one being December of last year, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said other arrests took place in San Antonio, Guadalupe County, Bracketville, Georgetown, Midland, among other locations.

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The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas San Antonio, Austin and El Paso  and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico, read the news release.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  This weekend marks the 33rd anniversary of the largest one-day food drive in the nation  the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Caring for mom, playing big role in Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony

WakeUp2Days Chris Latronic went live in Pearl City with all the details. He met up with Letter Carrier & Media Coordinator for USPS, Adele Yoshikawa to learn more about this crucial food drive.

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Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from our customers. Last year, Hawaii letter carriers collected more than 879,000 pounds of food from throughout the state.

These donations go directly to local food pantries to provide food to people who need our help.

Over the course of its more than 30-year history, the drive has collected well over 1.9 billion pounds of food, thanks to a Postal Service universal delivery network that spans the entire nation, including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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The need is great, but you can help. Currently, more than 44 million Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from.

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More than 14 million are children who feel hungers impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. Nearly 5.5 million seniors over age 60 are food insecure, with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.

Their food drives timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive most of their donations during the winter holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.

Participating in this years Letter Carriers` Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave non-perishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox Saturday, May 10, 2025, and your letter carrier will do the rest.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

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With your help, letter carriers and the U.S. Postal Service have collected over 1.9 billion pounds of food in the United States over the 30 plus years as a national food drive. Please help us in our fight to Stamp Out Hunger.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One woman is dead after she was hit by a pickup truck in Olathe Thursday night.

According to the Olathe Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of Santa Fe and Blake following reports of a crash involving a pickup truck and a pedestrian around 9:10 p.m.

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When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive woman. Officers, the Olathe Fire Department and EMS tried to save the womans life at the scene. The female victim was later pronounced dead.

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The victim was identified as Jill E. Turner, a 37-year-old from Indiana.

Police said they are in contact with the driver of the pickup truck, and the driver is cooperating with the investigation.

OPD is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the Olathe Police Department at (913) 971-6363 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

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BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Burke County Sheriffs Office executed an operation near Drexel Road and Summers Road in response to numerous citizen complaints regarding suspected drug trafficking and other criminal activity in the area.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, investigators observed a suspicious vehicle leaving a location known for illegal narcotics activity.

A traffic stop was initiated, during which a North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections K-9 conducted an open-air sniff and alerted to the presence of potential contraband inside the vehicle.

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The driver, identified as Melanie Marie Mitchell, became combative and refused to comply with commands to exit the vehicle. Officers removed both Mitchell and the passenger, identified as Beverly Denise Freeman, and conducted a search of the vehicle.

During the search, law enforcement allegedly discovered a fully functional, 3D-printed firearm in Mitchells possession. The firearm had no serial number, rendering it untraceable.

Officers also located a small cosmetics case with a digital scale, a clear plastic bag containing a crystalline substance, and a white powdery substance. Field testing confirmed the presence of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Mitchell, a convicted felon, was taken into custody on multiple charges, including possession of a firearm by a felon and various drug-related offenses.

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Freeman was found in possession of a pill bottle containing a clear plastic bag with a grayish powder and multiple prescription medications, including Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. Field testing confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the substance.

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CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

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LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Lincoln County Animal Services has confirmed the countys third rabies case of 2025.

On Monday, May 5, dogs killed a raccoon at a residence off Fairview Church Road, Cherryville. No one else was injured.

The raccoon was submitted to the North Carolina State Laboratory for rabies testing

The Lincoln County Health Department received confirmation of a positive rabies test for the raccoon.

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Lincoln County Animal Services recommends all pet owners ensure their indoor and outdoor animals are kept current on their rabies vaccine.

Lincoln County residents may schedule an appointment with Lincoln County Animal Services to receive a 1-year rabies vaccination for $7 per pet.

Signs of rabies in wild animals can include abnormal amounts of aggression or friendliness, disorientation, wobbliness, circling, and excessive salivation.

If you see or encounter a wild animal that may be sick or is exhibiting signs of abnormal behavior, call Animal Services at 704-736-4125 to report it.

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Photo taken on May 8, 2025 shows a construction site in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye. Facing the persistent threat of seismic activity and seeking to modernize its economy, Turkiye is asking global financial institutions for 41 billion U.S. dollars over the next three years to enhance disaster resilience, upgrade infrastructure, and promote green development. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Facing the persistent threat of seismic activity and seeking to modernize its economy, Turkiye is asking global financial institutions for 41 billion U.S. dollars over the next three years to enhance disaster resilience, upgrade infrastructure, and promote green development.

The request comes as experts emphasize the urgent need for safer urban environments, underscored by a recent earthquake near Istanbul.

Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek announced the funding target last month, following meetings with international monetary bodies in Washington. The financing, expected from institutions including the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is aimed at addressing critical challenges facing the Turkish economy and its urban centers, Simsek said, describing it as long-term support for investments aligned with Turkiye's goals for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The minister's announcement came just days after a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near Istanbul on April 23. While structural damage in the country's largest city and economic engine was largely minimal, the tremor, the most significant to hit the area in years, caused widespread panic and resulted in dozens of injuries as residents rushed to evacuate buildings.

The incident served as a stark reminder, officials and experts say, that bolstering disaster resilience is now a paramount funding priority.

"The Istanbul quake reminded us that the resilience of our cities cannot be delayed," said Zeki Ulkenli, an assistant professor of city planning and urban design at Cappadocia University in central Nevsehir province.

But the scope of the financing extends beyond earthquake preparedness, Ulkenli noted. "We must think beyond earthquakes. This funding is also key to reducing carbon emissions, modernizing transport and digital infrastructure, and improving public health outcomes," he added, suggesting that Turkish governmental bodies should enhance cooperation and strategic planning for a holistic approach to urban resilience, drawing on "good practices in urban sustainability in countries such as China or Japan."

Home to more than 15 million people and generating nearly a third of Turkiye's economic output, Istanbul remains particularly vulnerable. The megacity is situated close to the North Anatolian Fault, one of Turkiye's most active seismic zones, and despite past efforts, many buildings do not meet modern safety standards.

The multi-billion-dollar initiative also signals a broader push by Turkish economic authorities to deepen engagement with multilateral institutions. This follows an economic policy shift initiated in mid-2023 under Simsek, which has seen Ankara adopt more market-friendly policies to regain investor confidence amid economic difficulties.

"While Turkiye already benefits from international development funding, the planned multi-year initiative would significantly scale up access," said Senol Babuscu, a professor of finance at Baskent University in Ankara.

Turkiye has already begun receiving targeted international support in related areas. In early April, the EBRD provided a 28-million-dollar loan to the private lender Denizbank to help small and medium-sized businesses boost their digital capabilities. The government also anticipates funding from the European Union to support sustainable transport projects nationwide.

These funds are expected to be directed toward initiatives aimed at reducing disaster risk, fostering green innovation, and improving long-term economic productivity.

"Turkiye's infrastructure deficit and environmental vulnerabilities require financing at a scale only global partnerships can provide," Babuscu stressed. "These investments are essential if the country is to compete globally and protect its cities against future shocks, whether they are natural or economic."

Experts highlight that with many buildings still non-compliant with modern safety or efficiency standards, the funding presents a significant opportunity to align disaster preparedness with green transformation. The goal, Ulkenli emphasized, is not only to retrofit existing structures for earthquakes but also to ensure they are more energy-efficient, manage water resources effectively, and emit less carbon.

Both Ulkenli and Babuscu pointed to the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Turkiye's southeast in February 2023, which killed over 53,000 people in the country and thousands more in neighboring Syria. The disaster, the worst in Turkiye's recent history, caused damage estimated at up to 100 billion dollars, according to government figures, leaving the country with a substantial reconstruction and recovery bill. Babuscu suggested that the new funding, if fully secured, could significantly aid in renewing Turkiye's infrastructure in the wake of that catastrophe. 

Photo taken on May 8, 2025 shows a construction site in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye. Facing the persistent threat of seismic activity and seeking to modernize its economy, Turkiye is asking global financial institutions for 41 billion U.S. dollars over the next three years to enhance disaster resilience, upgrade infrastructure, and promote green development. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Photo taken on May 8, 2025 shows a construction site in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye. Facing the persistent threat of seismic activity and seeking to modernize its economy, Turkiye is asking global financial institutions for 41 billion U.S. dollars over the next three years to enhance disaster resilience, upgrade infrastructure, and promote green development. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Before March 25, Alireza Doroudi was a doctoral student at the University of Alabama, just finishing his degree in mechanical engineering and soon to be married.

Now, the man who came to the United States over two years ago to chase his version of the American Dream will soon be going back to Iran, a choice he made after being detained by immigration officers for 42 days.

During a master hearing Thursday afternoon, Doroudi asked an immigration court in Jena, Louisiana to allow him to deport himself back to Iran, which Judge Maithe Gonzalez granted.

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As Alireza Doroudi faces deportation, his soon-to-be-wife clings to their life together, with or without the American Dream

Doroudis decision to go leave the country comes after he was detained by officers with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the early morning hours of March 25 at the apartment he and his fiancee shared in Tuscaloosa to pick him up on a revoked visa. Within a couple of days, he was taken to Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, where he has remained ever since.

Despite the U.S. Department of Homeland Security labelling Doroudi as posing significant security concerns, no evidence was ever brought up to suggest he was a threat. In fact, with the exception of a speeding ticket in Greene County, Doroudi has not criminal record.

David Rozas, Doroudis attorney, said that during the hearing, he looked at him and said I love this country, but they dont want me here so I will go home.

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In the face of this legal uncertainty and prolonged detention, Mr. Doroudi chose to leave voluntarily. This is not only a loss for him personally, but a setback for our system. When due process is delayed or denied, when charges are sustained without standing, and when individuals are forced to choose between uncertain length of detention in a country they feel no longer wants them, or leaving voluntarily, we must ask what kind of precedent we are setting not just for foreign students, but for fairness and justice in America.

In January 2023, Doroudi came to America through a student visa he acquired from the U.S. Embassy in Oman. Within a few months, his visa had been inexplicably revoked, but his lawyers and student group assured him his SEVIS status was sound and he could remain in the country as long as he was a student. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly applying for permanent residency in the U.S.

The only charges brought against Mr. Doroudi were the revocation of his F-1 student visa and an allegation of not being in status. However, the documentation submitted regarding the visa revocation made it clear that the revocation would only take effect upon his departure from the United States, not while he remained here, Rozas said. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledged this and indicated during the master hearing their intention to drop the charge. This acknowledges that the initial reason for arrest 45 days ago was an error.

Homeland Security provides insight into ICE, HSI arrest protocols following Alireza Doroudi arrest

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Rozas said Doroudi made the decision to self-deport after Gonzalez required DHS to submit their claims in writing and refused to grant bond until it had been put in writing.

As of Thursday night, Doroudi remains in Jena and no date has been set for his release.

Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani, Doroudis fiancee, previously told CBS 42 about how difficult the whole ordeal had been on both of them and how they were not keen on remaining in the U.S. anymore.

Even if they let us stay, we wouldve completed our degrees and we wouldve left in the earliest time, she said. This is not a place to live. This is not a place to live the happy life and dream. This is not the freedom and American dream that they always talk about. Its just something that is just for a group of people, not for everyone.

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Doroudi was set to complete his degree at UA next year.

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MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma (KNWA/KFTA)  Five Arkansas residents were sentenced in Oklahoma for federal drug crimes.

According to a press release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the leader of the drug trafficking organization, Rito Alvarado Gomez, 37, was sentenced May 8 to more than 15 years in prison for drug conspiracy.

Gomezs co-defendants were sentenced at hearings held between March 25 and May 6. Three were sentenced for distribution of methamphetamine:

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Ricardo Villeda, 26, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison;

Jose Alberto Alvarado Gomez, 34, was sentenced to more than 4 years in prison; and

Iris Yosellin Luna-Herrera, 27, was sentenced to more than 3 years in prison.

Another co-defendant, Ana Isabel Frayere Barboza, 38, was sentenced to more than 1 year in prison for one count of misprision of felony.

Bella Vista man arrested for alleged child sexual abuse material on phone

The release says in 2018 and continuing until March 2024, defendants traveled from Arkansas to the Eastern District of Oklahoma to distribute meth and collect money owed for meth. The five sold more than 9 kilograms of meth.

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The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration-McAlester Resident Office, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Texarkana Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations-Texarkana, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the 8th North Drug Task Force out of Hope, Arkansas, and the 9th West Drug Task Force out of Nashville, Arkansas.

Several law enforcement agencies also contributed to the investigation, including the Arkansas State Police, the Hope Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriffs Office.

Rito Alvarado Gomez, Jose Alvarado Gomez, Villeda and Luna-Herrera are in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a prison to serve nonparoleable sentences.

Barboza was ordered to report to the R.S. Marshals on June 2 when she will begin serving her nonparoleable sentence.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Four National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to the University of Arkansas and 1 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock were terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in April.

The NSF is a U.S. government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering.

Data from the DOGE website shows that over $1.2 million of the awarded $1.49 million (82%) had been expended the across five research projects prior to each of their terminations.

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We continue to actively monitor the federal research funding landscape, which varies by agency, University of Arkansas Director of Media Relations and Core Communications John Thomas said in a statement. We also continue to encourage our researchers to pursue funding opportunities from all sources while we assess our ability to adapt to the new federal agency priorities.

The five grant recipients initiatives span topics including freight planning, hate crime victimization, political policymaking, bodily inflammations impact on social prejudice and promoting diversity in geosciences through a STEM conference.

12 Department of Health and Human Services grants terminated in Arkansas

On April 21, NSF Director Panchanathan said the agency still supports research on broadening participation, but that this support should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups, the Associated Press reported. Less than a week later, he resigned.

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While the NSF did not disclose to the Associated Press how many grants were cut, DOGE claimed 402 DEI-related grants worth $233 million were canceled.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  A 5-year-old was killed Tuesday, and a Citronelle woman was arrested after a crash occurred in Mobile County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Orange Beach man faces DUI manslaughter charge after Escambia County crash: FHP

According to an ALEA spokesperson, the single-vehicle crash occurred on Tuesday, May 6, just after 9:15 p.m. on U.S. 45 near the 22-mile marker, about three miles south of Chunchula in Mobile County.

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ALEA officials said the Honda Accord the child was riding in as a passenger left the roadway and hit a tree. The 5-year-old was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash happened and died on the scene.

A 7-year-old and a 1-year-old were also riding as passengers in the vehicle. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to ALEA.

The crash resulted in the arrest of Cheryl Denise Lynn, 30, who was driving the car, an ALEA spokesperson said. She was injured in and taken to USA Hospital in Mobile for treatment before being arrested on Wednesday, May 7.

Cheryl Denise Lynn. (Mobile County Sheriffs Office Jail Management System)

Lynn is accused of reckless manslaughter, and her bond has been set at $100,000.

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K-9 finds fugitive in Santa Rosa County

ALEAs Highway Patrol Division is still investigating.

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Positioned at the southern tip of Lake Vanern, an hour's drive north of Gothenberg, the towns of Trollhattan and Vanersborg offer ample opportunity for adventure. With easy access to forested hiking trails steeped in legend and freshwater swimming coves tucked into bare cliff faces, these neighbouring towns showcase the pure beauty of West Swedens rural landscape. To immerse yourself in the region's natural splendour, here are five unforgettable adventures to have during your visit.

1. Hike the table mountains

Just east of Vanersborg, the table mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg offer dramatic hiking terrain with steep-sided ravines, tumbling waterfalls and rocky gorges. A total of 15 hiking trails weave through Halle-Hunneberg Ecopark, allowing for the chance to explore stacked, sharp-edged boulders, towering oak trees and the mirror-like waters of Hallsjon  the only lake on the Halleberg Plateau. Overlooking Lake Vanern, Halleberg is said to be the site of Valhalla, the mythical home of the Nordic gods. Rising over 500ft above the landscape, its also home to Scandinavias largest hill fort, with numerous archaeological sites  filled with hidden remnants of walls and fortifications  spread across its dolerite slopes. Such is the power of this ancient, legendary landscape that by the end of your hike, you may just believe in the Nordic gods, monsters and trolls yourself.

The plateau mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg make up West Sweden's only ecopark. Photograph by Visit Trollhattan Vanersborg

Halle-Hunneberg Ecopark is renowned for its moose, often found roaming at the foot of the mountains. Photograph by Joachim Nywall

2. Cycle the Vanerleden

The Vanerleden bike trail is one of Swedens National Cycle Routes, winding around the banks of Lake Vanern for 398 miles. Divided into four stages, the route is backdropped by lush, ever-changing landscapes, from the shallow bathing spots of Vanersborgs Skrackle Park to the wetland walking trails of Segerstad Nature Reserve. Rent a bike from local providers  such as Velostore  before joining the circular route, with each stage taking between three to four days. There are plenty of accommodation options with bike storage facilities along the trail, as well as bicycle repair shops for mending punctures, borrowing equipment or storing items while on the move.

3. Swim in Lake Vanern

Packing a swimsuit and towel is always a good idea when visiting Sweden. Lake Vanern, Europes third-largest lake, is a freshwater paradise. With 10 miles of coastline, there are plenty of inviting spots to dip your toe into. Near Vanersborg alone, youll find five public swimming areas  from the sandy shores of Park Skracklan, featuring an outdoor trampoline and stalls hawking prawn sandwiches, to Gardesanna, a shallow bathing area complete with waterfront cottages and a boat harbour. Choose to camp at Ursand, just over a mile north of Vanersborg, to take advantage of the campsites spa and sauna.

Positioned at the foot of Halleberg, Gardesanna beach is one of Lake Vanern's most popular bathing spots. Photograph by Visit Trollhattan Vanersborg

4. Fish for salmon and trout

The clear waters of Lake Vanern appeal to more than just swimmers. Home to 38 fish species, including salmon, its shores are often populated with avid anglers. While theres no license required to fish here, anglers must adhere to the rules dictating fish size and type. Beyond the lake, the Gota River is renowned for its giant salmon and trout, and there's opportunity to catch some pike and perch as well. Just make sure to acquire a permit from the local tourist office first.

Flowing through the neighbouring towns of Trollhattan and Vanersborg in West Sweden, the Gota River offers fishing and scenic boat cruises. Photograph by Joachim Nywall

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5. Cruise along the Gota River

To admire Trollhattan and Vanersborg from the water, take a boat cruise along the Gota River, stretching 58 miles from Lake Vanern to the Kattegat Sea. During the summer, board the M/S Elfekungen in Trollhattan for the two-and-a-half-hour Trollhattan Tour, where you can take in views of waterfalls and a neo-gothic church before stopping for refreshments at Slusscafeet, housed in a former bridge guards cottage. To explore the towns waterways on foot, follow the final two stages of The Pilgrim Trail Gota River, winding through the Akersstrom and Akersberg nature reserves, the Trollhattan locks and central Vanersborg.

This is paid content for Visit Trollhattan Vanersborg. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial staffs.



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President Trump announced a trade agreement with the U.K. on Thursday, the first country-specific deal since the April 2 Liberation Day import taxes that raised the overall U.S. tariff rate to the highest level in more than a century.

The U.K. deal is meant to be the first of many for Trump, and comes as Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent heads to Switzerland for high-stakes trade talks with China. Top trading partners the U.S. and China have imposed triple-digit tariffs on each other as rapidly diminishing trade volumes and potentially higher prices loom on the horizon.

Heres a look at whats in  and not in  the U.S.-U.K. trade deal, and what it means for Trumps reset of global trade relations.

Trump boosts British car industry with looser auto, dropped steel tariffs

The U.K. is allowed to export 100,000 cars to the U.S. at a 10-percent tariff rate, as opposed to the 25-percent rate announced March 26, marking a win for the British car industry.

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The U.S. will also redesignate the auto tariffs for the U.K away from Section 232 tariffs, which are a national security tariff.

The British auto industry responded positively to news of the deal.

The agreement announced today to reduce tariffs on UK car exports into the US is great news for the industry and consumers, Mike Hawes, chief executive of British industry group SMMT, said in a statement.

He described the tariffs as a severe and immediate threat to UK automotive exporters and said the Thursday deal would provide much needed relief.

The deal also creates a new trading union for steel and aluminum components, which will also be moved away from Section 232 tariffs.

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Trumps metals tariffs were a headache for the British producers, delivering a shock to the global economy, according to the British Council for Aluminum in Building.

The president said he was inclined to ease tariffs on British autos and steel given the relatively small percentage of U.S. auto imports that come from the U.K.  many of which are of iconic luxury brands.

We took it from 25 to 10 on Rolls-Royce, because Rolls-Royce is not going to be built here. I wouldnt even ask them to do that, Trump said. Its a very special car, and its a very limited number, too. Its not one of the monster car companies that makes millions of cars. They make a very small number of cars that are superluxury, and that includes Bentley and Jaguar.

Major questions about pharma tariffs, digital service taxes left unaddressed

The deal creates what the administration called a secure supply chain for pharmaceutical products, but did not specify what that entails.

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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as hugely important for the U.K. pharmaceutical companies ahead of Trumps likely imposition of import taxes on foreign drugs.

Obviously we dont have tariffs yet [on pharmaceutical products], but weve got within the deal significantly preferential treatment whatever happens in the future, he said, according to the Financial Times. So this is hugely important for our pharmaceutical sector as well.

The issue of digital services taxes, which are taxes on U.S. tech giants operating in foreign countries and a major international tax issue, are also not a part of the trade deal.

The British government told news agency Reuters that the Digital Services Tax remains unchanged as part of todays deal.

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Instead, the two nations have agreed to work on a digital trade deal that will strip back paperwork for British firms trying to export to the US, they said.

Trump sets up challenge to UK food rules with beef imports

Thursdays agreement opened up the U.K. market for ethanol as well as beef produced in the U.S. without hormones, while allowing the U.K. to sell some beef in the American market.

The White House said the deal will create $5 billion in new market access for American farmers, including $700 million in ethanol exports and $250 million in other agricultural products, like beef.

Economists took note of U.K. market access for beef and what it means for U.S. ranchers, who will have to produce it to British specifications.

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The market opening for U.S. beef that meets U.K. standards  is the most interesting concession, as historically U.S. big [agriculture] has insisted that any trade deal force American trading partners to accept U.S. standards, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Brad Setser observed.

He added that if the U.S. wants to make its exports great again, it needs to be willing to produce to some foreign standards [and] tastes.

Deal was in the works long before Liberation Day

U.S. officials acknowledged the deal was not a direct result of the country-specific Liberation Day tariffs that sent shockwaves through the world of international trade and even surprised the Federal Reserve.

Weve been trying for years, and theyve been trying for years to make a deal, including when I was in the first term, Trump said.

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Progress toward a U.S.-U.K. stalled out during the first Trump administration due in part to concerns from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) about the treatment of the border between the U.K. and Ireland.

The U.K. ranks 11th in total trade volumes with the United States. Trade experts describe the agreement as modest and much smaller in scope than traditional free trade agreements.

This is a very small deal, Setser said.

Trumps 10-percent general tariff remains in place for the U.K., as do most of the limits on U.S. exports to the U.K.

An easier deal for Trump to strike due to a trade surplus

The U.K. is one of the few countries in the list of top U.S. trading partners with which the U.S. maintains a trade surplus, as opposed to a deficit. Only 2-3 percent of U.S. goods imports come from the U.K.

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Experts see the deal as significant for its political messaging as much as its commercial effects.

The importance of todays announcement will be more about what it signals about the administrations willingness to take down tariff rates on other countries substantially and quickly  because doing so remains the only clear path at this point to avoiding a recession, Daniel Hornung, deputy director of the National Economic Council during the Biden administration, said in a commentary.

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Amid much pomp, military machinery, and the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered his annual speech to mark his country's Victory Day parade.

The Kremlin's celebrations, which mark the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, are one of the country's biggest public events of the year.

The annual event is also a key part of Putin's propaganda efforts to justify aggression against what the Kremlin falsely portrays as "Nazis" in Ukraine.

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"Putin needs this victory cult that he has created," Andrej Lushnycky, author, historian, and president of the Ukrainian Society of Switzerland, told the Kyiv Independent.

"He needs this in order for his own people to accept the terrible conditions that they're still living under in this authoritarian state."

The Kyiv Independent spoke to Lushnycky to get his thoughts on what Putin said during his Victory Day speech  and what he conveniently forgot to mention.

1) 'Russian soldiers'

"Our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers saved the Fatherland Our duty is to defend the honor of the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army, the great feat of representatives of different nationalities, who will forever remain in world history as Russian soldiers."

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Putin's attempt to conflate Russian and Soviet soldiers, and his brief nod to "different nationalities," belies one major historical fact  at least six million Ukrainians fought in the Soviet army.

"The truth is that hundreds of thousands of their own troops were killed by the Soviets because they defected, or they didn't have uniforms, they were turning back, or they were just shot in the back of the head."

Though exact numbers are unknown, it's estimated that around 1.65 million of the Ukrainians who fought were killed, the highest number from any of the Soviet republics after Russia itself.

Then there is the stark difference between Putin's veneration of Soviet soldiers and the treatment they faced during the war.

A Russian soldier attempts to steal a bicycle from a German woman, in Berlin, Germany, in 1945. (Keystone / Getty Images)

Children carry Soviet flags and portraits of relatives who participated in World War II during the Immortal Regiment rally in Leningradsky Garden in Moscow, Russia, on May 5, 2022. (Contributor / Getty Images)

"The truth is that hundreds of thousands of their own troops were killed by the Soviets because they defected, or they didn't have uniforms, they were turning back, or they were just shot in the back of the head," Lushnycky said.

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"Human life really doesn't have any value in Russia today, nor can you really say it had value during the Soviet times. Look at the history  whether it was Chornobyl, whether it was the Holodomor, whether it was the way the soldiers were treated that fought in the Second World War."

"Nazis' plan" involved the Soviet Union collaborating with the Nazis in order to carve up Europe between them.

2) The Nazi's plan

"The Nazis' plans to seize the Soviet Union were shattered by the country's truly iron unity."

Soviet and Russian histories like to start the history of World War II in 1941 when the Soviet Union was attacked by Nazi Germany.

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There's a good reason they gloss over the preceding years  quite a significant part of the "Nazis' plan" involved the Soviet Union collaborating with the Nazis in order to carve up Europe between them.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop in Moscow, Soviet Union, on Aug. 23, 1939, the day the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed. (Fine Art Images / Heritage Images via Getty Images)

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed days before World War II in 1939, paved the way for Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to invade Poland 17 days apart.

The Soviet Union also fought a brutal war against Finland and occupied Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as parts of Poland and Romania in 1939-1940.

"Western armies were armies of liberation, whereas the Soviet army was just an army of occupation," Lushnycky said.

3) Nazism

"Russia has been and will be an indestructible barrier to Nazism."

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The Nazis went down in history for launching the most destructive and devastating war of genocidal aggression of all time.

Russia is currently waging the most destructive and devastating genocidal war of aggression in Europe since the Nazis.

Civilians leave the site after a Russian ballistic missile strike in the city center of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 20, 2024. (Vlada Liberova / Libkos / Getty Images)

According to Lushnycky, this perverse twisting of what it means to be a Nazi is a necessary tool for Putin in order to distract the Russian people from the reality in their own country.

"It's just conjuring up these old images that the regime in Moscow needs in order to bring people together, and to have them overlook the hardships that they're enduring because of his foolhardy stewardship," Lushnycky said.

4) The role of allies

"Today, we are all united by feelings of joy and sorrow, pride and gratitude, and admiration for the generation that crushed Nazism and, at the cost of millions of lives, won freedom and peace for all of humanity."

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While Putin did give a nod to the "contribution" of the "allied armies" in the defeat of Nazi Germany, his Victory Day speeches always play up the role of the Soviet Army while downplaying the size of those "contributions" from the allies.

Soviet troops armed with light machine guns attack German forces near the Red October plant in Stalingrad, Soviet Union, on Nov. 26, 1942. (Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

The biggest elephant in the room is the U.S. lend-lease program, which, from 1941-45, saw Washington ship the Soviets the modern-day equivalent of $180 billion worth of arms, equipment, and food.

"Without the lend-lease of the United States  and both (Soviet leaders Josef) Stalin and later (Nikita) Khrushchev even agreed to this  that without this material assistance, the Soviets would have lost the war," Lushnycky said

5) 'Distortion of events'

"We remember the lessons of the Second World War and will never agree with the distortion of its events, with attempts to justify the executioners and slander the true victors."

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See points 1-4.

Read also: I dont think Putin will agree to a peace agreement ever  Volker on peace talks between Ukraine, Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 54-year-old woman was killed in a crash early Thursday morning near Holden, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported around 6:30 a.m. on Missouri O highway, about a mile and a half south of Missouri 58 highway in Johnson County.

Man found dead in parking garage in downtown Kansas City

According to a crash log from the highway patrol, the woman was driving south on the highway in a 2010 Buick Enclave when she went off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected, causing the SUV to flip over.

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The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not been released.

The Johnson County Sheriffs Office assisted with the crash investigation.

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A woman and her 6-year-old child were struck by a hit-and-run driver in a Walmart parking lot on Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred as Christiane Souza de Oliveira and her child, Aylla Rodrigues, were exiting the Walmart at 2677 Roosevelt Blvd. The driver who hit them also struck multiple vehicles in the parking lot before leaving the scene, Largo police said in a news release.

The child was taken to a hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries, the news release states, while the mother was hospitalized in serious condition, police said.

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Police later arrested Lauren Howells, 32, in connection with the crash.

The arrest was made after Clearwater police found the suspected hit-and-run vehicle at a Days Inn on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. Howells was not there, but police learned that she had returned to the hotel with the vehicle, which had damage consistent with the crash, the news release states.

Howells was later taken into custody at a different location. Police said she admitted to driving the vehicle, hitting something and leaving the scene.

She faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

Howells has an arrest history in Pinellas County dating to 2011 that includes multiple charges of possessing drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, records show.
UPDATE (5/9, 9:05 p.m.): After weeks without any arrests, a celebration came from community activist John Young, a co-founder of Men United Against Violence.

After he called on the community for help to find those responsible.

Hurray Mobile, Young said. This is a victory for all of us. It took all of us working together to support the police. Im sure people came forward with information that led to this. It is a victory for Mobile.

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Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood pushed for no bond because of the severity of the charges.

These dangerous people do not need to be out in our community wreaking havoc on the good citizens of Mobile County, Blackwood said.

Blackwood also pointed out a previous case for one of the suspects.

MPD arrested Jaquentin Brantley in January of last year. In that case, hes accused of firing shots inside The Shoppes At Bel Air.

He was due in court yesterday for a hearing in that case.

Thats after the court denied his request for youthful offender status.

UPDATE (5/9, 3:30 p.m.): Four of the six people charged in the deadly Sage Park shooting are being held without bond after their first court appearances Friday.

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20-year-old Ladarius Moore, 19-year-old Jaquentin Brantley, 20-year-old Mykael Kimbrough and 18-year-old Roderiquez Holifield were all in court on May 9.

Prosecutors are pushing for Aniahs Law to be used against all four. The law allows judges more discretion to deny bond for people accused of violent crimes.

A fifth suspect, Quinterios Parker, 23, who was arrested in Ohio, is being extradited to Mobile. His bond hearing is expected to be soon.

Prosecutors will also ask that he be held without bond.

The sixth suspect, a juvenile, is also in custody.

UPDATE (4:30 p.m.): Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson has released a statement after six people were arrested in connection with a deadly shooting that happened at Sage Park.

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I want to commend the hard work and dedication of the Mobile Police Department, which has been relentless in its investigation of the shooting that occurred at Sage Park on April 17, Stimpson said in a Facebook post.

The shooting resulted in the death of Frenicka Craig, 28.

Last month, I stood with our law enforcement partners at every level of government to say that this kind of reckless violence will not be tolerated. We meant it, Stimpson said. We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to hold these kinds of violent offenders accountable.

While I am grateful that those responsible for the Sage Park shooting will face justice, these arrests cannot erase the pain and loss that Ms. Craigs family and friends continue to endure.

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Please keep them in your prayers, along with everyone else impacted by this senseless tragedy.

PREVIOUS REPORTING

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Mobile Police Department officers have arrested four adults, one juvenile, and another person is in custody in Ohio in connection with the Sage Park homicide.

Mobile Animal Services takes in 34 abused dogs, now far over capacity

The six people arrested include:

19-year-old Jaquentin Brantley

18-year-old Roderiquez Holifield

20-year-old Mykael Kimbrough

20-year-old Ladarius Moore

Juvenile (being charged as an adult)

23-year-old Quinterios Parker (taken into custody in Ohio by US Marshals)

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This senseless violence will not be tolerated, Mobile Police Chief William Jackson said. And we will bring justice.

According to previous reporting, 28-year-old Frenicka Craig died after being transported to a local hospital.

Mobile police have not determined who the shooter was and said more arrests are possible as the investigation continues.

Officials said Craig and a man were shot around 9:15 p.m. on April 17.

All six people were arrested on May 8 and will be charged with murder and first-degree assault.

Mardi Gras throws could be impacted by tariffs

This is a very lengthy investigation, Jackson said. Numerous interviews have been done, so this just takes time. Its one of those things that takes time. Thats why we ask for patience.

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A helicopter flies to Polonnaruwa to take part in rescue operations after a helicopter crash in Sri Lanka, April 9, 2025. Six military personnel succumbed to their injuries after a Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir in the country's North Central Province on Friday morning, said a spokesperson. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Six military personnel succumbed to their injuries after a Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir in the country's North Central Province on Friday morning, said a spokesperson.

Air force spokesperson Eranda Geeganage said 12 people, including two pilots, were on board at the time of the crash, and six of them have succumbed to their injuries, after being sent to regional hospitals.

The other six are still in the hospital, Geeganage said.

Earlier, Geeganage said that all the 12 on board were safe and had been sent to hospitals for treatment.

The incident took place during a demonstration held as part of a passing-out ceremony for the Sri Lanka Air Force. 

An ambulance carrying injured people runs to a hospital after a helicopter crash near Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, April 9, 2025. Six military personnel succumbed to their injuries after a Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir in the country's North Central Province on Friday morning, said a spokesperson. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
MIDWOOD, Brooklyn (PIX11)  At least seven protesters were taken into custody during a pro-Palestinian rally at Brooklyn College on Thursday, according to the NYPD.

Police said seven others were given summonses. Officials at Brooklyn College called the NYPD around 5 p.m. on Thursday, saying that protesters were setting up an encampment on school grounds.

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Video showed pro-Palestinian protesters unfurling banners, chanting and marching on the Midwood camps. Police officers were later seen zip-tying protesters and taking them away on buses.

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The protest follows one held at Columbia University, where protesters took over the main library during finals week. The NYPD said 80 protesters at Columbia were taken into custody.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) speaks at a news conference Thursday in Baltimore about $80,000 raised to support AmeriCorps programs cut by the Trump administration. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters)

Private donors have chipped in $80,000 to help AmeriCorps programs in Maryland that were slashed by the Trump administration, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Thursday at a news conference in Baltimore.

That money is just a fraction of the millions in federal funds that Maryland lost when the cuts were announced last month, leading to the elimination of at least 550 positions at organizations around the state. But state officials are also issuing a broader call to action, urging the public to donate time and money to organizations rocked by the abrupt cancellation of AmeriCorps programs.

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The initial donations, from organizations including Baltimore Gas & Electric and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, will support two city organizations that had been getting AmeriCorps funding: the Digital Harbor Foundation and Elev8 Baltimore. Ferguson said the funding will let the organizations, one of which is in his district, weather the storm while litigation to restore the AmeriCorps funding proceeds.

For them, services were interrupted immediately, and this funding will help them to restore some of those services immediately, said Ferguson, an AmeriCorps alum himself. The courts are the bulwark of our democracy. Unfortunately, the courts cannot keep pace with the actions that we know are coming from Washington, D.C.

Officials said its hard to pinpoint an exact number of cuts and job losses, since AmeriCorps funnels some of its funding through states, while other funding is distributed in other ways. But they now say at least 550 jobs were lost in Maryland as a result of the cuts, more than twice the initial figure they shared.

In addition to nonprofits, such as CASA and Habitat for Humanity, the list of agencies affected includes Frostburg and Salisbury universities and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, all of which hosted AmeriCorps members for programs such as food pantries and mentorship initiatives. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources was hosting 41 AmeriCorps workers in state parks, who were all dismissed while preparing for the peak summer season.

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In defending the cuts, President Donald Trumps (R) administration has cited consecutive financial audits failed by AmeriCorps. President Trump is restoring accountability to the entire Executive Branch, a White House spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week.

But Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, who is leading a court challenge to the cuts with 24 other states and the District of Columbia, said the president cannot make those cuts without congressional approval. When asked about the audits, Brown said his suit is not focused on the validity of Trumps arguments for cutting AmeriCorps, but on the procedural violations.

Hes exceeding his authority, and hes violating the processes that he would need to undergo in order to roll back or curtail AmeriCorps, Brown said.

The Justice Department agreed to an expedited timeline for the Maryland lawsuit, Brown said, with briefs filed by the end of next week, and hopes to receive a ruling on its preliminary injunction shortly thereafter.

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If granted in full, the injunction would temporarily reverse the cancellation of more than 1,000 AmeriCorps programs nationwide, as well as the termination of about 85% of AmeriCorps staff and the cancellation of the National Civilian Community Corps.

Eight AmeriCorps workers had been serving at the Digital Harbor Foundation, said Jade Burnham, the foundations director of AmeriCorps services. She said all of them have since been dismissed, and that if the AmeriCorps program is not revived she is likely to lose her job at Digital Harbor as well.

After learning about the initial donation of funds, Burnham said she is hoping that she can bring back at least some of the workers.

A sign on display at Thursdays news conference highlights organizations that lost AmeriCorps workers. (Photo by Christine Condon/ Maryland Matters)

The foundation provides digital education, and focuses on expanding technology and internet access, Burnham said. Thursdays news conference was held at Digital Harbors tech lab on Federal Hill, in Fergusons district, which hosts 3D printers, computers and work spaces for students.

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These programs are not a waste of taxpayer dollars, but an investment in our communities, Burnham said. In the wake of its abrupt termination, we are hearing from those very communities. They are reaching out to us: Where did the support go?'

Marylanders can donate directly to impacted organizations, officials said, or use a fund established by Americas Service Commissions to provide emergency financial assistance to dismissed AmeriCorps workers, many of whom have lost access to stipends, housing, health insurance and other benefits. The fundraising campaign is national, but donors can funnel their donation to Maryland by selecting the state from a dropdown menu on the website.

At Elev8 Baltimore, the donations announced Thursday will allow the organization to go back to business as usual, said Executive Director Alexandria Warrick Adams. The nonprofit provides mentoring services to vulnerable middle- and high schoolers, she said.

Were talking about young people that have the most need to have trusted adults in their lives, Warrick Adams said.

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Warrick Adams said Thursdays news should only be the beginning, for organizations struck by the loss of expected AmeriCorps funds.

I cannot express our gratitude enough for this opportunity, but there is more. This is a call to action. This is not a one-and-done, she said. Weve got a lot of years ahead of us to commit to young people, to commit to Baltimore, to commit to the community.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Following Japans surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States was thrust into a global conflict. Germany declared war on the U.S. just days later, and by January 1942, launched U-boat attacks along the coastal waters of Virginia and North Carolina. Operation Drumbeat was a devastating wake-up call.

You could actually see ships burning against the night sky in Virginia Beach during that time, said Military Aviation Museum CEO Keegan Chetwynd.

The U-boat offensive sank nearly 500 Allied vessels and killed roughly 5,000 merchant seamen and U.S. Navy sailors. Nazi Germany brought the war to our shores and we needed help fighting them off our coast. Thankfully, our neighbors across the pond were no strangers to the U-boat menace.

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Their help would come at a cost. Several ships, including the HMS Kingston Ceylonite, were sunk off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina.

Her majestys trawler the Kingston Ceylonite was one of several ships that were converted from fishing vessels that were crewed by Royal Navy sailors who traveled over here to try and help the situation, Chetwynd said.

On June 15, 1942, the HMS Kingston Ceylonite struck a German mine and sunk, killing 18 of the 32 men on board. Leading Seaman Charles R. J. Grimmer was one of the soldiers killed.

So this man had come over here as a part of a group of sailors who were here to help us drive the Germans back off shore to buy us the time to get it together, Chetwynd said, which was time that was well used because after the first six months of 1942, this really stopped happening.

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Grimmer is buried in Oaks Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, nearly 4,000 miles away from his home country. Unlike American soldiers, British soldiers killed during conflict are buried where they died. But Cheywynd and countless volunteers across the U.S. have spent the last couple months working to get a piece of these soldiers back home.

The project is to basically get gravestone rubbings from British personnel that were killed either off the coast of the United States or in the United States during World War II, said Zack Baughman, volunteer coordinator at the Military Aviation Museum.

Project Bring the Boys Back Home sent volunteers to 12 cemeteries across Hampton Roads and North Carolina. The rubbings are all collected by hand, and three copies of each grave are needed for the project. One copy goes to a museum in England, another to a genealogical project, and the final copy to any surviving family member of the soldier. Volunteers collected rubbings from 42 gravestones.

The Commemorative Air Force out of Dallas, Texas began the nationwide effort, and altogether, they will be flying more than 400 rubbings back to England. Last month, the Military Aviation Museum welcomed a Douglas R4D aircraft, sent by the Commemorative Air Force, to collect the rubbings and fly them 4,000 miles back home.

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When we heard that there was a group of people mustering to do this and to offer thanks in this way, Chetwynd said, it seemed a really appropriate way to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Cedar Parks fire chief will now to get to help enforce statewide fire services after he was appointed to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection by Gov. Greg Abbott, the city of Cedar Park said in a news release Thursday.

Cedar Park Fire Chief James Mallinger is part of the commission that will help shape and uphold statewide fire service standards while offering guidance and support to fire departments across Texas, reinforcing his longstanding dedication to advancing fire safety and professional excellence, the city said in the release. The term is set to expire Feb. 1, 2029.

Chief James Mallinger began his fire service career as a volunteer in 1989, joining the Cedar Park Fire Department in 1996. Over nearly three decades, he has risen through the ranksfrom Firefighter to Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, and ultimately Fire Chief in 2012, following two interim appointments. He also served six years as the Citys Emergency Management Coordinator, the city said.

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Mallinger currently leads a department with 92 firefighters and four civilian staff members. He also oversees a $16.8 million annual budget, according to the city. He was also nationally recognized as a certified Fire Service Chief Executive Officer, Executive Fire Officer, and Chief Fire Officer.

Mallinger has degrees from Texas State University, as well as credentials from Austin Community College and Texas A&Ms Recruit Fire School, the release said.

Active in professional leadership, he serves as Vice President of the Capital Area Fire Chiefs Association, a past president and member of the Williamson County and Texas Fire Chiefs Associations, and sits on advisory boards for fire programs at Austin Community College and Texas State University, the city said.

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Editors Note: The following interview was originally conducted in Spanish and has been translated into English.

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been appointed as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, adopting the name Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peters Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)



The election of the new pontiff has sparked celebration among Catholic churches in Abilene, particularly at Holy Family Parish on Buffalo Gap Road. Faviola Corral, a leader in the Catholic Church, discussed the significance of this event and its impact on the citys Hispanic community.

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Well, since we have a Pope to guide us, to enlighten us, and to lead us to our faith. To live it, to confirm our faith throughout the world, said Corral.

Remembering Pope Francis: Abilene reflects on his legacy

Corral also shared what it means to her that the Pope is not only an American who served as a bishop in Peru, but also speaks Spanish.

It was quite something, our first pope from the United States who speaks Spanish, so it was very exciting for all Spanish-speaking people, Corral said.

The name of the cardinal-elect wasnt one of the most mentioned before the new popes revelation.

We were quite surprised; we didnt expect it, but the Holy Spirit guides, and whatever we need, its there, Corral said.

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Corral also spoke about what the Church in Abilene expects from this new papacy.

There are many expectations, many expectations spoken about, and God is healthy for us here, too. In Texas, we are implementing the new vision of how to work, how to continue, and increasing our faith, which is growing every day, Corral said.

Abilene woman marks Jubilee Year at the Vatican, sees Pope Francis in his final days

Regarding continuity with Pope Franciss leadership, we asked Corral how he sees the new Pope Leo XIV.

Well, I think right now, the way hes giving Always taking care of the nationalities, the culture, and implementing all of this while respecting and reaching out little by little, seeing what he means to foster our faith, Corral shared.

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On the topic of immigration, Corral mentioned that the Pope previously served in Peru as an Augustinian:

We need to recognize and try to give dignity to people who dont have a better future and who come to live abroad, Corral said.

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  On Thursday, law enforcement agencies from across Acadiana honored fallen officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

A police memorial motorcade held a procession from the Lafayette Police Department to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church for a special service.

A total of 24 officers killed in the line of duty were honored. The men bravely gave their lives for the communities they swore to protect.

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From Senior Corporal Segus Jolivette, killed in the line of duty last year, to Corporal Michael Middlebrook killed in 2017, all the way back to officers like Simon Chaisson whose end of watch dates back to 1926, their fellow brothers and sisters in blue honored their memories.

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Senior Corporal Segus Jolivette honored at Broussard Sports Complex

These officers were more than law enforcement professionals. They were heroes who selflessly placed their safety in others above their own lives, Lafayette Police Chief Paul Trouard said at the ceremony.

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In a special service, the names of the 24 men were read aloud. A candle was then lit and a rose placed in front of it in their memory.

Unlike most professions, the brave men and women who choose a life in law enforcement understand the inherent risk that one day, they may be called upon to lay their life down for another person in the line of duty, the chief added.

Sr. Cpl. Segus Jolivettes son placed the flower for his father.

Officer Rodney Trahan was killed in the line of duty on April 4, 1969. My father died from vehicle injuries sustained while pursuing a suspects vehicle. He was 23 years old, a U.S. Army veteran, and is survived by his wife, Gloria, who was expecting their first child, myself. End of watch, April 4, 1969, Rodney Trahans daughter said.

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Loved ones of officers from Abbeville, New Iberia, St. Mary Parish, St. Landry, Chitimacha, and everywhere in between lit the candles, as a message that their light will forever shine in their hearts.

Sorry, I take after my dad, Chief David Richard, one woman spoke. Chief David Richard was a law enforcement officer for over 30 years.

At the ceremony, the Lafayette Mayor-Presidents office announced Lafayette will celebrate May 15 as Peace Officer Memorial Day. That week will also be known as Police Week.

We will ensure that every person who walks through the halls understand the impact that these heroes and what impact they had on our city, the police chief added in the ceremony. Thats why were here today. To rejoice, to celebrate.

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The ceremony ended with a 21-gun salute.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Another Oregon courthouse has joined the list of federal buildings that officials will offload in an attempt to save money.

The James A. Redden Courthouse was added to the General Services Administrations roundup of assets identified for accelerated disposition on May 1. The Medford site is now one of two Oregon properties that could soon shutter, with Portlands Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse being publicly identified back on Apr. 17.

Beer has staying power: Oregon beer generated nearly $9B in economic output last year

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GSAs move to dispose of these properties comes as federal leaders are focused on rightsizing the federal real estate portfolio to reduce the burden on the American taxpayer while also delivering space that enables its agency customers to achieve their missions, the administration said.

This initiative aims to engage the market, attract interested parties, and inform strategies that will expedite the disposition of federal assets, consistent with all applicable laws, the agency added.

The James A. Redden Courthouse will free up 29,834 square feet of space. It was previously identified as one of GSAs 320 non-core properties, but federal leaders have since scrapped the list in favor of a more incremental approach that focuses on buildings that have already been assessed on factors like operating costs and utilization.

According to GSA, the Medford site first opened as a courthouse and post office in 1916  but it began solely operating as a courthouse when the post office relocated in 1963. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the end of the following decade.

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U.S. Education Department cuts an intentional spiral downward

But as the U.S. prepares for the sale of this property and others alike, other officials have opposed the act.

In a letter sent to GSA in March, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said the closures would negatively impact the businesses and communities surrounding the identified buildings.

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The Pentagon in Arlington. (Photo By USAf/Getty Images)

The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday asked a federal judge in Virginia to immediately halt what it calls a sweeping campaign of classroom censorship in military-run schools  including at Crossroads Elementary in Quantico  stemming from executive orders issued by former President Donald J. Trump earlier this year.

The motion for preliminary injunction, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, follows a lawsuit brought last month on behalf of 12 students enrolled in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.

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The students, from pre-K to 11th grade, are children of active-duty service members stationed in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy and Japan.

The ACLUs new filing alleges that books and curriculum touching on race, gender and civil rights have been systematically scrubbed under the guise of enforcing executive orders 14168, 14185 and 14190, which instruct federal agencies to purge references to gender ideology, divisive concepts and diversity programming.

In Virginia, that has included removing materials from the library at Crossroads Elementary School in Quantico and canceling student events.

The Trump administration cannot violate the First Amendment by removing books and curricula it doesnt like, said Matt Callahan, senior supervising attorney at the ACLU of Virginia. Students have a right to see themselves reflected in their libraries and classrooms, and they also have a right to learn from the perspectives of people who arent like them. Thats no less true for military families than for anyone else.

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Among the 233 books listed as removed or quarantined in the latest motion are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Looking for Alaska by John Green and Cant Stop Wont Stop: A Hip-Hop History by Jeff Chang. The plaintiffs say the materials most frequently targeted are by or about women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals.

Jessica Henninger, a Virginia-based military parent and one of the lead plaintiffs, said her family had remained silent for months out of fear. But after watching DoDEA schools cancel Juneteenth and Holocaust Remembrance Day events and take down posters of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistan education activist shot by the Taliban and winner of the Nobel Peace Price age 17, and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, she decided speaking out was no longer optional.

We make sacrifices as a military family so that my husband can defend the Constitution and the rights and freedoms of all Americans, Henninger said. If our own rights and the rights of our children are at risk, we have a responsibility to speak out.

In court filings, the ACLU argues that the censorship campaign has disrupted students academic progress  particularly those preparing for Advanced Placement exams  and created a chilling effect in classrooms. Some students now hesitate to ask questions about race or gender, worried that even inquiry could trigger administrative pushback.

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These are American students in American schools, and they have the same First Amendment rights as their peers, said Emerson Sykes, senior staff attorney with the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. Families in DoDEA schools have the right to access books about race and gender and the right to learn about the vibrantly diverse world around them.

Virginia plays a central role in the case. Not only are some of the plaintiffs based in the state, but the case is being heard in the Eastern District of Virginia  a jurisdiction with a history of high-profile First Amendment rulings. Attorneys believe the court could set a national precedent on how far federal agencies, including the military, can go in shaping the content of public education.

While DoDEA officials have said the policy is about safeguarding children, critics say its political overreach, forcing public servants children to bear the brunt of ideological battles.

The ACLU says the orders violate the Supreme Courts 1982 decision in Island Trees School District v. Pico, which barred school officials from removing library books simply because they dislike the ideas within.

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This kind of political meddling is antithetical to the First Amendment, said Corey Shapiro, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky. And in DoDEA schools, which are some of the most diverse and high-performing schools in the nation, the impact is magnified.

If successful, the injunction could compel DoDEA to immediately restore books and classroom materials removed this year  including at Virginia installations  and affirm the rights of military families who, attorneys say, have been sidelined in a fight over what their children are allowed to read and learn.

Our children are not political pawns, Henninger said. They deserve to learn the truth  and we intend to make sure they can.

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An Act of Generosity: Energy industry helps feed hundreds in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  In Baton Rouge, a powerful act of generosity is bringing comfort and nourishment to those who need it most.

On Thursday, the St. Vincent de Paul dining roomlong known for serving meals to the hungryreceived a donation that would allow them to feed hundreds, thanks to the Grow Louisiana Coalition.

Serving it with lots of love and tender care, said Denise Terrance, Dining Room Director at St. Vincent de Paul, describing the heart behind their daily mission.

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The donation came from an unexpected turn of events. The Grow Louisiana Coalition had originally ordered the food for a large event that was ultimately canceled. Rather than letting it go to waste, they saw an opportunity to make a difference.

In the spirit of Louisiana energy companies and the generosity they always show their communities, they are always trying to be a good neighbor, said Heather Sessa, a spokesperson for the coalition.

Sessa explained the decision was simple. We reached out to St. Vincent de Paul to see if they could use the meals from Industry Day to serve hot meals to the nearly five hundred people that come here every day for lunch.

For St. Vincent de Paul, the donation was more than welcomeit was transformative.

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We didnt have to cook for today, and we can do more prep for the rest of the week, Terrance said. Were here 365 days, so any prep that we can get ahead of time is truly a blessing to my cooks and my staff.

While Grow Louisiana is no stranger to community support, Thursdays act of kindness stood out as a reminder of how industry and charity can work hand in hand.

Organizers hope this donation will inspire others to look for their own ways to give back.

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HONG KONG, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Fourth 6G Global Summit opened here on Thursday, bringing together industry representatives from around the world to explore the potential of the sixth-generation (6G) mobile communications technology in shaping a better future.

Held for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region, the summit was organized by the Communications Authority in a hybrid format of both online and offline.

The event attracted over 600 participants from around the world, including representatives from policymakers, regulatory bodies, international organizations, telecommunications operators and corporations, as well as industry experts and scholars.

Algernon Yau, secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said that the HKSAR government is fully committed to fostering a conducive environment that drives technological advancement and prepares Hong Kong for the 6G era.

Yau said that relevant measures included releasing suitable spectrum through auctions to support the development of advanced mobile communication services, exploring further facilitation measures from telecommunications perspectives to support the development of the low-altitude economy, and conducting a review on streamlining the licensing procedures of Low Earth Orbit satellites to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in satellite development.

The two-day summit will focus on key priorities shaping 6G developments, including standardization, technological innovations, sustainability and potential applications, as well as the strategic role of the Asia-Pacific region and opportunities presented by a more connected and intelligent global network.
OSLO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the acting U.S. ambassador for a meeting on Thursday over media reports suggesting an escalation of American intelligence operations in Greenland.

The meeting with U.S. Acting Ambassador to Denmark Jennifer Hall Godfrey was held in Copenhagen and included a representative from Greenland's government.

"The focus of the meeting was the article in the Wall Street Journal: U.S. Orders Intelligence Agencies to Step Up Spying on Greenland," the ministry said in a statement.

The report, published on Tuesday, said that U.S. intelligence agencies have been directed to identify individuals in Greenland and Denmark who align with American strategic interests concerning the Arctic island, citing unnamed sources.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stressed that Denmark had expressed its concerns clearly to the United States (U.S.).

"The purpose of the meeting was to make the Kingdom's position completely clear. It is our impression that the acting ambassador took that seriously," Rasmussen told the media after the meeting. He added, however, that the meeting did not verify the article's claims.

"I cannot disclose what was said during the conversation. The purpose of the meeting was to convey to the U.S. that we take what we read in the paper very seriously. I have not had the accuracy of it confirmed," he said.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen strongly condemned the reported espionage activities.

"Spying in Nuuk (the capital of Greenland) by the U.S. is completely unacceptable. It's disrespectful to an ally and entirely abnormal," Nielsen told Danish broadcaster DR.

Greenland, once a Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, although Denmark retains control over foreign affairs and defense. 
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD)  The CEO of Adelaide Pointe in Muskegon has stepped down after a letter he sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was made public.

Adelaide Pointe, Michigans first new marina in almost three decades, has been opening in stages over the last year. The $250 million waterfront project at 1204 Western Ave. along Muskegon Lake includes wet and dry marinas, a restaurant, an event center, condos and bike paths.

In March, owner and developer Ryan Leestma sent a letter to Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the EPA, about an ongoing dispute the development had with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. EGLEs Water Resource Division had issued violation notices and enforcement notices four times between September of 2023 and October of 2024, according to a consent agreement that EGLE and Adelaide Pointe from last month.

FILE  Adelaide Pointe marina in Muskegon. (Courtesy Adelaide Pointe)

EGLE said Adelaide Pointe had failed to maintain sedimentation barriers properly. The state also said the development had discharged sediment into the lake, violated conditions of its permit, conducted unauthorized activities within a conservation easement, and caused unnatural cloudiness and coloration in surface water. About 2.2 acres of wetlands and bottomlands were impacted, EGLE said.

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State approves $160M in incentives to redevelop Shaw-Walker factory in Muskegon

Leestma in a phone interview with News 8 said the issues stemmed from mistakes by himself or his contractors.

There were some mistakes, which are prone to happen in any construction project, he said. Could I have done better? Sure. I mean, we all can do better, right? But when that happened, (EGLE) got involved and it became necessary to work it out.

Leestma said he was concerned EGLE would file a lawsuit against the project, leading to his decision to write the letter to the EPA.

My wife and I own and have poured our hearts into Adelaide Pointe, the State of Michigans largest Trump Opportunity Zone, the letter, dated March 7, says. This investment was sorely needed as the Muskegon community is similar to Flint and Detroit; it has half the education and half the median income of the rest of the State. Without the Trump Opportunity Zone designation none of this would have happened and so the entire Muskegon community has President Trump to thank.

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Adelaide Pointe marina celebrates grand opening

The letter goes on to ask both the EPA and President Donald Trump to get involved.

Threatening this project is Governor Whitmers over-zealous, radical environmental and anti-capitalist policies. The State of Michigans environmental department has targeted us and has threatened the viability of our project. Despite all of the progress my wife and I have made nothing is good enough. We are distraught and in fear for our livelihood and the projects success, the letter says. We are begging for the assistance of yourself and President Trump to step-in, override the authority of EGLE and work with us to continue this important transformational work. With President Trumps and your assistance we can Make Muskegon Great Again so Muskegon can do its part to Make America Great Again.

The violations have since been cleared with the consent agreement, Leestma said, which lays out what steps the development has to take the resolve the issues.

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Earlier this month, the letter Leestma wrote was shared online, drawing criticism from some users on social media. Leestmas wife Emily Leestma addressed the letter Monday in a message posted to Adelaide Pointes Facebook page.

It was written in a moment of urgency, in an attempt to resolve a specific issue, she wrote. To be transparent: I did not know the letter was being written or sent. It doesnt reflect my personal values or political beliefs  and truly, it doesnt reflect Ryans either.

Ryan Leestma posted to his personal Facebook page, shared that he had stepped down from his role as Adelaide Pointes CEO for personal reasons. He told News 8 hell still be involved with Adelaide Pointe, but wont be working on the day-to-day operations.

Adelaide Pointe, contractor resolve dispute over $1M

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When asked about his wifes message, he said the community shouldnt make assumptions about his politics because he wrote to the Trump administration.

The fact that I wrote the Trump organization is very, very polarizing for people, because Trump is very polarizing figure, he said. It would not be accurate to say that me writing a letter to the federal government is an indicator of what my political beliefs are  I would have written the same letter to Biden.

The words were kind of twisted, he later added. Some of the narrative was, He thinks were dumb and poor, and thats just not true at all.  There are education issues in Muskegon, there are income issues in Muskegon and there are poverty issues in Muskegon. Those are all just statistical facts.  But somebody bringing up a fact doesnt mean that theyre projecting it on everybody around them, because theres a ton of smart people in Muskegon.

According to the U.S. Census, the city of Muskegon has a median household income of $46,342, while the state of Michigan has a median household income of $71,149. About 15.8% of Muskegons population has a bachelors degree or higher, compared to Michigans 31.8%; 87.4% of Muskegons population is a high school graduate, compared to Michigans 91.9%.

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Inside WOODTV.com: Building West Michigan

When reached with questions from News 8, EGLE pointed to the consent agreement signed by it and Leestma. The agreement includes site restoration, reporting and monitoring and approval requirements that Adelaide Pointe must follow.

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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WFLA)  If youre looking to get a Big Mac or some salty fries from a McDonalds in Fairfax County, Virginia, youd better bring your ID.

According to NBC affiliate WRC, one McDonalds location is only allowing customers over the age of 21 inside. They must ring a doorbell to be let inside.

AI-generated video of victim shown in courtroom at killers road-rage sentencing

The new policy comes after repeated fights from teenagers, coming from a nearby school, Thomas Edison High School. Located just outside of Washington, D.C., students were fighting, cursing and standing on the restaurant tables, management said.

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Now, a sign is posted on the fast food chains front door, reading, Due to repeated incidents of student violence, the location is temporarily closed for dine-in service to anyone under 21 years of age.

This decision was made to protect our staff, our guests, and our community, the sign said at the bottom.

One Fairfax County customer said she is OK with the rule, as she has experienced a group of young people inside this restaurant disturbing other customers dining inside.

Florida Lotto ticket worth $8.75 million sold at convenience store

She told WRC that the students had no respect and no discipline, saying they were smoking and drinking side. They were off the chain, she added.

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In a statement to WFLA.com, McDonalds said:

We love being part of the Edison community and we value each and every customer, the statement reads. Weve enhanced our Franconia Road McDonalds security measures in an effort to promote a safe environment for our customers and staff. This policy was developed in partnership with local school officials with oversight from local law enforcement. This serves as a temporary fix as we work towards a long-term solution for all. We thank our community for its support, understanding and patience.

WRC reported that the policy is only in effect Monday through Friday. Kids under 21 are only to be accompanied by adult chaperones. Groups are limited to up to four children per adult.

McDonalds told WFLA.com that all Fairfax County customers are still welcome to place orders via their mobile app.

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The new pope, Leo XIV, has this in common with many of his peers in the Catholic hierarchy: He's been in positions of authority when accusations of sexual abuse have arisen against priests under his supervision.

Now some advocates for victims say there needs to be an accounting of how Leo  the name taken by Cardinal Robert Prevost upon his election Thursday  handled such cases when he held positions of church authority in Chicago and Peru. And they hope that as pope, he will crack down on other bishops who they say are mishandling similar cases.

Some might advise giving the new pontiff the benefit of the doubt. We disagree. It is on Pope Leo XIV to win the trust of victims and their families, Anne Barrett Doyle of the advocacy group BishopAccountability.org said in a statement.

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In its statement, BishopAccountability.org contended that unlike many dioceses and religious orders, Prevost never published a list of accused abusers under his supervision.

The group also contended that under his most recent Vatican post, Prevost maintained secrecy in the disciplinary process for bishops. Under his watch, no complicit bishop was stripped of his title, it said.

Some advocates, however, credit Prevost with supporting survivors of an abusive, Peru-based Catholic movement that was eventually dissolved by the late Pope Francis.

Prevost stood with us when others didnt. Thats why his election matters, said abuse survivor and journalist Predo Salinas, who helped found the group Ending Clergy Abuse.

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No one has accused the pope of any act of abuse himself. Nor is he accused of what many Catholic bishops worldwide have done  knowingly keeping confirmed abusers in public ministry  in what has been the defining scandal of the Catholic Church in recent decades.

Rather, hes been accused of falling short in his responses to cases in Chicago and Peru.

Survivors network filed complaint in March

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests filed a formal complaint on March 25 against then-Cardinal Prevost with the Vatican secretary of state, alleging he abused ecclesiastical power in his handling of two cases. The filing amounted to a formal call for an investigation under rules established by Pope Francis in 2023 for dealing with the hierarchy's handling of abuse cases.

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One case involves the time when Prevost was based in Chicago as the Midwest regional leader of the Order of St. Augustine.

The case involved James Ray, then a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The archdiocese placed him on restricted ministry in 1990 due to abuse allegations, according to a later report by the Illinois attorney general's office.

Bishops often imposed such restrictions  with varying levels of enforcement and typically without warning the public  until the explosive sex-abuse scandal exposed by the Boston Globe in 2002 in the Boston Archdiocese led to a nationwide policy of automatic removal from ministry.

According to the complaint, Ray  who was not an Augustinian  was allowed to live at an Augustinian friary in Chicago from 2000 to 2002.

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The archdiocese, not the Augustinians, had ultimate responsibility for Ray as one of its priests, and theres no indication that anyone had a legal duty to inform neighbors that an accused abuser lived among them. But the complaint alleges that Prevost was aware of the arrangement, citing a 2000 internal archdiocesan memo, and should have informed the school.

By doing so, Cardinal Prevost endangered the safety of the children, the complaint said.

Ray was moved out of the friary in 2002 and eventually left the priesthood. Prevost became worldwide leader of the Augustinians later that year.

Second case arose during Prevost's time in Peru

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The other case involves Prevost's tenure as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.

In April 2022, three women came forward to accuse two priests  Eleuterio Vasquez Gonzales and Ricardo Yesquen  of sexually abusing them beginning in 2007, when they were minors, according to the complaint. The diocese, led by Prevost, forwarded information about the case to the Vatican office overseeing such complaints. It closed the case without a finding, though the diocese later reopened the investigation in 2023 after Prevost left for a Vatican post.

The complaint says the diocese suspended Gonzales from ministry pending investigation but that later photos allegedly showed him continuing to celebrate Mass publicly. It said the diocese reported that Yesquen was no longer in ministry due to his age and health.

According to the complaint, Prevost fell short because the diocese did not interview the women  depriving the Vatican investigators of potentially vital information  and failed to offer support to the accusers or to report the priests to civil authorities.

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Bishop Edinson Farfan, Prevosts successor in Chiclayo, defended his predecessors handling of the case, saying its important to be sensitive to the alleged victims while also respecting the investigative process.

The Vatican investigation said Prevost acted correctly in imposing preliminary restrictions on Gonzales while Peruvian authorities conducted their own civil investigation, the typical way the church handles allegations that are also being investigated by secular authorities.

Nine days after Peruvian authorities closed the case because the statute of limitations expired, Prevost was publicly named to take over the Vaticans office for bishops, leaving the diocese. The Vaticans dicastery for the doctrine of the faith ultimately shelved the case, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with a canonical trial against Gonzales.

His role in confronting abuse in Catholic movement

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Some hoped Prevost's intervention in a scandal involving the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic movement in Peru, was a sign of reforms to come. Salinas said in a statement that the new pope, then in his role as bishop of Chiclayo, played a pivotal role in confronting the case, which is considered one of the most egregious sex-abuse scandals in Latin America.

In a remarkable move, Pope Francis dissolved Sodalitium Christianae Vitae in January over alleged sexual and spiritual abuses and financial mismanagement.

The world is waiting, said Gemma Hickey, president of Ending Clergy Abuse. Let this pope be remembered not for the global abuse crisis he inherits, but for how he ends it.

In 2023, when he took the Vatican job of overseeing the selection of bishops, Prevost told Vatican News that there has been progress in how some bishops have handled abuse but that more work is needed with bishops who have not received the necessary preparation to deal with it.

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He added: Silence is not the solution. We must be transparent and honest, we must accompany and assist the victims, because otherwise their wounds will never heal."

Francis had a mixed record on responding to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Most notably in 2018, he bungled a major case in Chile before reversing course, ordering an investigation and apologizing to the victims. Ultimately, it became a turning point for how he handled cases of priests sexually abusing children for the rest of his papacy.

___ Associated Press reporters Holly Meyer and Nicole Winfield contributed.

___

This version corrects the summary of a BishopAccountability.org statement.

___

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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Pflugerville Independent School District employee was arrested, according to the district, after she was accused of committing online solicitation of a minor and child grooming, according to arrest warrant affidavits from the Pflugerville Police Department.

The employee was identified as 27-year-old Marissa Juarez, court records said.

Attorney information was not available for Juarez, as of Thursday. We will update this if that changes.

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KXAN reached out to Pflugerville ISD for a statement, and a spokesperson for the district said in part, As soon as the allegation was reported to the District, the employee was placed on administrative leave, and the matter was promptly referred to law enforcement for investigation. The individual is no longer employed by Pflugerville ISD.

It began to unfold on April 22 around 4 p.m. when an employee with Pflugerville High School saw Juarez sharing a hug and a kiss with a student, referred to as Juvenile One in an affidavit, on the school security cameras, according to the court document.

Around 4:15 p.m., an officer with PPD was at the high school and met with the juvenile. The officer told the juvenile about the kiss observed between them and Juarez. The juvenile went on to explain that they and Juarez talked nearly every day in person since around October or November 2024 to April, court records said.

The juvenile also told police they were friends with Juarez on a social media app. When Juarez was asked if she was friends with the juvenile on that app, she denied it, according to the affidavit.

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As the investigation went on, a parent of the juvenile provided police with 55 screenshots of sexually explicit Snapchat messages between Juvenile One and Juarez on April 23. In those messages, Juarez discussed a plan to kiss at school, court records said. Furthermore, the affidavit states there were several other messages between Juvenile One and Juarez that were sexual in nature.

According to court records, Juarez told the juvenile not to tell anyone they kissed. She also told the juvenile she was scared she may get fired and they cannot kiss at school anymore due to the cameras.

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Osman spent years fighting alongside international forces against the Taliban before fleeing to Pakistan when the Islamist group returned to power in Afghanistan.

Last month, however, after being driven to despair by the threat of being forced back into the hands of the insurgents he once fought, he hanged himself in a small room in Rawalpindi.

The former major-general was among the three million Afghan refugees whom Pakistan wants to send back across the border and into the clutches of the Taliban.

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Pakistani authorities have ramped up arrests and deportations since the beginning of April and expelled over 100,000 Afghans in the month alone.

While some Afghans in Pakistan have documentation  about 1.3 million hold proof of registration cards and around 800,000 have Afghan citizen cards  an estimated one million are in the country without any paperwork.

Different deadlines apply to different categories, creating confusion and fear among families with mixed documentation status.

Afghan refugees queue at a registration centre in Kandahar, after arriving from Pakistan - SANAULLAH SEIAM/AFP/Getty Images

Tens of thousands fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 and were approved for US resettlement owing to their work with the US government and NGOs.

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But after Donald Trump paused refugee programmes in January, about 20,000 Afghans are now stuck in uncertainty. Osman was one of them.

We are facing the same amount of pressure, Jamileh Akbari, a former Afghan member of the armed forces, told The Telegraph from Islamabad.

The pressure has caused me mental issues because Id be killed in Afghanistan, she said. For me, going back to Afghanistan is like buying death.

The nationwide crackdown, which began in October 2023, has already led to 845,000 Afghans leaving Pakistan over the past 18 months. The campaign has drawn criticism from human rights groups, the United Nations, and even the Taliban government.

Pakistan wants to send back three million Afghan refugees - ABDUL MAJEED/AFP/Getty Images

In Peshawar, 42-year-old Shahnaz also faces deportation to Afghanistan where she escaped death once before by fleeing to Pakistan.

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Before 2021, she worked as a human rights activist in remote Afghan villages and also helped girls marry for love, not for dowry or duty. This made her a quiet revolutionary in a society where marriage is often dictated by family arrangements rather than personal choice.

But her work as a womens rights activist also made her a target for the Taliban, which has systematically curbed womens rights in Afghanistan. A womans right to choose their own husband directly contradicts the Talibans regressive policies.

As a result, returning to Afghanistan isnt just difficult  its potentially fatal.

My family and I have no sleep these nights, she said, her voice heavy with worry. When I was in my city, I used to get lots of threats from the Taliban due to my work, because I was doing women rights activities, she said.

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The threats soon turned into violence. Before fleeing Afghanistan, my car was ambushed and some people started shooting at us  my husband was injured, they were not happy, she said.

Three months after Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, Shahnaz and her family made the desperate decision to flee. Now, she is being forced to go back under the massive deportation campaign.

We are now told to leave within two months, she said.

Experts say the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan would have been unlikely without Pakistans support - Murteza Khaliqi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Pakistan said it will make sure that Afghans do not return once deported.

Many in Afghanistan believe Pakistan played a key role in the countrys current crisis and the Talibans return to power.

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Pakistan has long had close ties with the Taliban, with many of the groups leaders and fighters having studied in Pakistan madrasas during the two decades of war.

Experts say the Talibans takeover would have been unlikely without Pakistans support and the safe haven it provided. But the relationship has deteriorated over the past three years, with several cross-border clashes erupting.

This has not stopped the mechanisms for deportation from being established. Two transit stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will process deportees, including one in Peshawars suburbs and another near the Torkham border crossing.

The human cost of this policy affects multiple generations.

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Some deportees say they were born in Pakistan after their families fled war. The forced returns are straining Afghanistans already struggling economy and infrastructure, with a population close to 45 million.

Returning feels like exile

They tell us Afghanistan is safe now, but what should we do with safety? Can we eat or wear safety? said Sana Gul Ahmadzai, 45, who was born in Pakistan and considers the country home.

They told us to leave within two months, he told The Telegraph. We have work and people have properties, how can we leave everything behind?

For those who have never known Afghanistan, the prospect of returning feels like exile to a foreign land.

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I was born here and lived here for 45 years, I have nothing in Afghanistan, what can I do there? says Ahmadzai. You cannot just leave your home and go to another place and start from zero.

Pakistani authorities have ramped up arrests and deportations since the beginning of April - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images

In January, the office of Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, released a two-page plan to deport Afghans in three phases. Despite appeals from the UNHCR and rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the government says it wont change its policy.

The Taliban says it is setting up towns for returning Afghans, but in places like Torkham, the sites are little more than cleared land.

The International Organisation for Migration says there needs to be more clarity and infrastructure  such as healthcare and schools  to make these towns liveable and they say that returns must be voluntary.

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For many, the consequences of the political moves and statements would be deadly.

I cannot return to Afghanistan, Shahnaz says. Death would be waiting for me and my family.

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African Parks, a charity where Prince Harry serves on the board of directors, confirmed that an investigation found its rangers committed human rights abuses against indigenous communities.

"We deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims," African Parks said in their statement

The Duke of Sussex has been involved with the organization since 2016, serving as president before joining the board of directors







An African conservation charity backed by Prince Harry is facing intense scrutiny after acknowledging that its rangers committed human rights abuses against indigenous communities in the Republic of Congo.

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African Parks, which currently manages 23 national parks and protected areas in 13 countries across the continent, had an independent investigation conducted into the allegations that their rangers raped, beat and tortured indigenous people. On May 8, the organization released a statement confirming that the investigation had concluded and found "that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred." However, African Parks did not publicly release the full details of the findings by Omnia Strategy LLP, a London-based human rights law firm.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Duke of Sussex for comment. He has not publicly commented on the investigation or its findings.

"We deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims," African Parks said in their statement. "Omnias process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of [Odzala-Kokoua National Park]."

Dominic Lipinski - Pool /Getty Prince Harry visits Malawi on Sept. 30, 2019 Prince Harry visits Malawi on Sept. 30, 2019

African Parks continued, "We are committed to addressing the shortcomings that have been identified. Further, where sufficient evidence is available, we will take action against staff members implicated in incidents not yet known about, or that had not been adequately dealt with. The Board is confident that the institutional improvements implemented over the past five years, along with those planned for the coming months  incorporating valuable recommendations from Omnia  will mitigate risks in the future."

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Survival International, which was among the groups to raise the abuse concerns, reacted to African Parks' statement, criticizing them for not releasing details of the investigation.

Director Caroline Pearce said, "Baka men and women have been beaten, tortured and raped in Odzala-Kokoua National Park by rangers who are managed and paid for by African Parks. The charity has known this for many years, but it was only after Survival complained to Prince Harry, and the ensuing global media story, that the charity finally commissioned this 'independent investigation.' "

We still dont know the details of what they found, because African Parks has refused to allow the findings to be made public," Pearce continued. "It has committed to more reports, more staff and more guidelines  but such approaches have not prevented horrific abuses and violations of international human rights law in the decade or more that African Parks has known of these atrocities, and there is no reason to believe they will do so now."

Dominic Lipinski - Pool /Getty Prince Harry visits Malawi on Sept. 30, 2019 Prince Harry visits Malawi on Sept. 30, 2019

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Prince Harry, 40, first partnered with African Parks in 2016 and became president of the non-profit conservation group that manages national parks across the continent the following year. In 2023, he was appointed to an elevated role as a member of the board of directors.

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In 2022, the Duke of Sussex co-hosted U.S. officials, conservationists and philanthropists on a tour of protected wildlife and nature preserves under the management of African Parks in Zambia, Mozambique and Rwanda.

Africa is a place close to Prince Harry's heart  he's even called it his "second home"  and he has visited the continent on many occasions since childhood. The prince has made many public and private trips to Africa through the years, also co-founding Sentebale in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to support young people in Southern Africa.

However, Harry recently resigned from Sentebale amid what has been characterized as a financial crisis and internal turmoil. On March 26, the Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso announced their "devastating" decision to step down as patrons of the charity, backing the trustees who also resigned over a fallout with chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka. After the trustees asked Chandauka to resign due to financial strain under her leadership, she brought a lawsuit against the organization.

The Charity Commission, based in the U.K., confirmed they are investigating.



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New York state Attorney General Letitia James was heckled by a President Trump supporter at a community hearing, where she claimed the freshly opened federal criminal probe into her alleged mortgage fraud is baseless.

James was interrupted at a community impact hearing in Westchester on Thursday night, just hours after the Trump administration opened a formal criminal probe into James over the alleged mortgage fraud involving her Brooklyn and Virginia properties.

Apologize to Donald Trump for wasting millions of dollars in the state of New York, the MAGA booster shouted from the audience.

A Trump supporter called for Letitia James to apologize to President Trump at a community event Thursday. Stephen Yang

The interruption was met with a chorus of boos from the New York crowd as the demonstrator was escorted from the meeting.

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Everyone knows those allegations are baseless, James said in response.

We want to thank him for coming, we respect all opinions, the AG added.

Despite James cool display, she is feeling the heat from the Trump Department of Justice, which opened a criminal investigation into the AG after receiving a complaint from the Federal Housing Finance Agency last month.

New York state Attorney General Letitia James is the target of an open criminal probe from the Department of Justice. Stephen Yang

The government alleges that James falsified records to meet certain lending requirements to receive favorable loan terms.

Feds claim James misrepresented the number of units in her Brooklyn home and falsely stated that a home in Norfolk, Virginia, was her principal residence.

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The alleged infractions could amount to criminal charges involving wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to a financial institution.

New York state taxpayers may also be on the hook for her legal fees that stem from any probe or prosecution, according to a new item in the state budget.

Alongside James at the Westchester meeting Thursday were California AG Rob Bonta, Illinois AG Kwame Raoul, Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, and New Jersey AG Matt Platkin.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has filed a lawsuit against a Pittsburgh-area interior designer accused of not finishing projects.

Sunday announced the lawsuit against Lauren Piasecki, owner of Black Cherry Design, on Friday. He says it comes after several complaints were filed by people who hired her to oversee home renovation projects.

Channel 11 previously reported on accusations that Piasecki scammed clients by getting paid upfront but never completing the work she was hired to do. Sunday says she put clients out of more than $190,000.

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Our reporting in March found the total to be around $440,000.

The AGs lawsuit seeks restitution for impacted consumers and to prevent Black Cherry Design from accepting prepayments for goods.

Consumers paid this company large, upfront sums for home design jobs that were never completed, Attorney General Sunday said. Black Cherry Design not only failed to deliver the products ordered  in some cases, they never even ordered the goods paid for in full by the customer.

Anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Black Cherry Designs or Lauren Piasecki is urged to file a complaint online or call the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A New Orleans restaurant owner and executive chef accused of Medicaid fraud was arrested amid an investigation.

Melissa Araujo, 46, of Chalmette, was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Wednesday on a charge of government benefits fraud. Araujo runs the award-winning Honduran restaurant Alma in the Bywater of New Orleans.

An investigation by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation started on Sept. 23, 2024, regarding allegations of Medicaid fraud. An affidavit states an anonymous complaint was submitted on Feb. 19, 2024, alleging Araujo misrepresented her income to qualify for benefits.

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An investigation found that $55,024.90 of benefits were disbursed to Araujo by the Louisiana Department of Health and Managed Care Organizations, and 13 businesses registered in her name in the Louisiana Secretary of States business registry. Agents also discovered over 1,000 deposits totaling over $3.1 million between August 2020 and September 2022.

Inconsistencies were found between her statements to the health department and her social media activity regarding her claims of unemployment. An affidavit shows that multiple contradictions were found during the investigation.

Throughout 2022, Melissa Araujo acquired three properties worth $785,000 while declaring an income below the poverty threshold for Medicaid eligibility. This raised significant questions about her financial disclosures and compliance, the affidavit states.

The Louisiana Attorney Generals Office said an investigation is ongoing.

Read a statement from Araujo shared with Louisiana First News by a public relations firm:

Following the news that broke yesterday, I want to acknowledge the situation and make it clear that I am fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. I believe in transparency and I trust that the process will ultimately bring the truth to light and I will be cleared of these charges. My attorney has been, and will remain, in communication with the Louisiana Attorney Generals office. At this time, I ask for patience and privacy as the facts are thoroughly examined. Melissa Araujo

Founder of crypto platform Celsius Network is sentenced to 12 years in prison

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Vehicles illegally stopped in designated bus lanes across Los Angeles are being ticketed at historic rates thanks to LA Metros new camera pilot program, according to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Earlier this year, LA Metro began utilizing AI-powered cameras to detect vehicles parked in bus lanes and automatically issue tickets of nearly $300.

The pilot program was developed first with a series of warnings before being officially launched in select parts of the city in February.

Footage provided by Hayden AI shows a live scan of the roadway from a bus-mounted camera.

Now, data released by LADOT shows that the cameras have been ticketing thousands of vehicles per month, including nearly 10,000 in the first two months, according to LAist.

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The program has been deployed along select Metro bus routes, including the 212, which serves La Brea Avenue between Hawthorne and Hollywood, and the 720, which serves Wilshire Boulevard from downtown L.A. to Santa Monica.

LAist reports that the number of tickets issued during that particular time frame is 77% higher than the period before the program was launched, when parking enforcement employees would issue tickets.

LA Metro highlights bus system improvements in wake of study on delays

The AI-enable camera system is part of a 5-year pilot program between LA Metro and tech company Hayden AI. The initial rollout features 100 camera systems on buses, which scan the license plates of parking offenders and sends that information to LADOT, which in turn uses a human to verify the information and issue a ticket via the mail.

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Fines range from $293 for a first-time offender to $406 for second-timers; fines also come with possible additional fees for late payments.

An AI-enabled camera is seen installed in an LA Metro bus in this promotional image from Hayden AI.

The system was developed in an effort to improve reliability of Metro buses and reduce delays. Dedicated bus lanes are among the traffic solutions to crowded traffic corridors, but the benefits are significantly hampered when the lanes are blocked by vehicles.

When the city first announced plans for the program, officials said they believed it would pay for itself and generate millions annually for Metro and LADOT, which have agreed to a 75/25 split of revenue.

With thousands of citations already issued within the first two months of launch, that prediction seems to be ringing true.

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Metro has officially launched the system on three other lines, the 910 and 950 on the J Line Bus Rapid Transit line, and the 70, which services Olive Street and Grand Avenue.

Citation totals from those lines have yet to be released.

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KIEV, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.

"We discussed the need for continued efforts to achieve peace, including concrete steps that could be taken," Zelensky wrote in a post on a social media platform X.

He said he informed Trump that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire "starting even today" and is awaiting Russia's response to the proposal.

Ukraine also remains open for talks in any format if Russia demonstrates "the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire," Zelensky added.

According to him, Trump expressed his readiness to help achieve peace and voiced support for a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Both parties also welcomed the Ukrainian parliament's ratification of the U.S.-Ukraine agreement on economic partnership. 
The News

The Trump administration plans to overhaul a Biden-era restriction on how many chips Gulf countries can buy from the US, as American lawmakers grapple with how to balance China risks with staying ahead in the AI race.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both buyers of US chipmaker Nvidias most advanced semiconductors, are dangling $2 trillion worth of US investments when President Donald Trump visits next week, with discussions on advanced technology high on the agenda. Both countries are facing caps on US chip exports under the proposed restrictions, set to go into effect May 15, when Trump is in the region.

Tech executives support their cause: Senators heard testimony on Capitol Hill this week from OpenAIs Sam Altman and Microsofts Brad Smith on the importance of exporting American technology. The number-one factor that will define whether the US or China wins this race is whose technology is most broadly adopted in the rest of the world, said Smith, who also sits on the board of Abu Dhabi AI firm G42.

Despite industry efforts, tight export controls  albeit ones that look different from the Biden administrations  are still expected, The Wall Street Journal reported.
One of the only things Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on in Washington these days is the importance of AI. Immediately after taking office, Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at solidifying Americas position as the global leader in AI so as to secure a brighter future for all Americans, after which he announced White House support for a $500 billion partnership between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build data centers and other infrastructure meant to expand the capabilities of large language models like ChatGPT. Democratic pundits and politicians have been enthusiastic too, emphasizing the need for U.S. leadership. If America falls behind China on AI, Chuck Schumer warned, earlier this year, we will fall behind everywhere: economically, militarily, scientifically, educationally, everywhere.

On Thursday morning, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hosted a hearing on Winning the AI Race. Featuring some of that industrys biggest names, like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith, the panel explored regulatory barriers on the AI supply chain so that the U.S. can secure U.S. dominance in the 21st century global industrial revolution over China, specifically. Like most D.C. chatter about the importance of AI, though, the hearing was light on answers to a few seemingly basic questions: What exactly is artificial general intelligence, or AGI, as the experts kept referring to it? What value are these companies products providing, and what will they do in the future that makes them so essential to U.S. national security?

Senators didnt ask those kinds of questions. And the executives theyd invited to Capitol Hill didnt volunteer answers, preferring the sorts of quasi-religious generalizations that have become a hallmark for the industry. Altman conceded in his prepared testimony that AGI is weakly defined but suggested that it was enough to describe it as a system that can tackle increasingly complex problems, at human level, in many fields. It will be, he argued, the most powerful tool ever created, enabling people to build incredible things for each other and improve their quality of life. It can usher in a future that can be almost unimaginably bright, but only if we take concrete steps to ensure that an American-led version of AI, built on democratic values like freedom and transparency, prevails over an authoritarian one. Smith vowed that AI has the potential to become the most useful tool for people ever invented.

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Altmans prepared testimony listed out a few similarly broad-strokes examples of how its currently being used. U.S. National Laboratories are employing OpenAI products to accelerate breakthroughs in areas like energy, while ChatGPT is helping state employees in Pennsylvania do administrative tasks more quickly. In his opening remarks, however, Altman mostly focused on how much he liked having a computer when he was a kid.

The ways people use these products in real life, meanwhile, are plain. Social media platforms are clogged with AI-generated slop and photos made to resemble Studio Ghibli productions. Email platforms push users to generate AI summaries of one-line emails. As the Harvard Business Review notes, the top usage of AI technology is for therapy and companionship. People rely on large language models for life advice, and for help crafting texts to their friends and crushes. A recent New York magazine feature catalogs the widespread use of OpenAIs ChatGPT by college students, who call on it to write essays and even respond to professors prompts asking them to introduce themselves. Massive numbers of students are going to emerge from university with degrees, and into the workforce, who are essentially illiterate, said a Cal State Chico ethics professor who has spent the the better part of the past two years grading AI-generated papers. The tool makes practically every academic task easier with no obvious downside. It is, as the article points out, impossible for growing numbers of students to resist.

If Altman and Smith are vague about the soaring potential of AI, theyve been comparatively specific about how theyd like policymakers to help them. Winning the AI innovation race, Smith argued on Thursday, will require massive data centers and AI infrastructure that need federal support to expand and modernize the electrical grid on which they depend. Last year, OpenAI spent $1.76 million lobbying the federal government, up from just $260,000 the year before. Its demands have been precise. In a 15-page comment on Trumps second executive order on the subject of artificial intelligence, OpenAI requested that the federal government override state attempts to regulate the company or limit infrastructure development; implement export controls so as to keep their products out of China, preventing additional competition there; and loosen intellectual property protections so as to allow the companys large language models to train on more material. It called for a National Transmission Highway Act to expand the construction of transmission lines, fiber connectivity, and gas pipelines, and asked to use the Defense Production Act to shorten timelines for data center power infrastructure projects. OpenAI also argued that AI developers should be granted access to massive amounts of government data. In exchange for that access, the authors of the comment wrote, developers using this data could work with governments to unlock new insights that help it develop better public policies.

At Thursdays hearings, Republicans and Democrats alike appeared credulous about the virtues of AI. They certainly didnt inquire about why the companies gathered before them seem to be so bad at making money off it. OpenAI, for instance, lost $5 billion last year. And although Microsoft has demanded that governments roll out the red carpets for new data centers, over the last six months its walked back plans for two gigawatts worth of data center projects in the U.S. and Europe, thanks to an oversupply relative to its current demand forecast. Given AI developers allegedly urgent and expanding needs for land, electricity, and control over local governments, however, theres been relatively little public debate about the already mounting harms being posed by these technologies: the degradation of future generations abilities to read, write, and think critically; the filling up of our digital lives with ugly garbage; the impairment of our capacity to form and maintain relationships with other human beings. If artificial intelligence is so important to the United States, in other words, then why does it also seem to be making so many parts of life here so shitty?
Radar and telecommunications systems for Newark Airports air traffic controllers failed Friday morning  the second time the two critical systems went down at the same time in less than two weeks  as delays at the critical hub continue to vex travelers.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, both the radar display and some portion of the communication systems that allow controllers to reach pilots and local airport control towers failed for approximately 90 seconds around 3:55 a.m.

The outage affected systems at the Philadelphia facility known as Philadelphia TRACON  an acronym for Terminal Radar Approach Control  specifically those used by controllers responsible for guiding planes into and out of airports in northern New Jersey.

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It was unclear Friday evening to what degree ground-to-plane communications were affected.

But during the radar outage, air traffic controllers could be heard telling a FedEx plane that their screens had gone dark, ABC News reported.

In another transmission, a controller informed the crew of a private jet about the radar outage and instructed the pilot to remain at or above 3,000 feet in case the controllers were unable to make contact during the aircrafts descent, ABC said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.  who has called on the DOTs inspector general to look into New York and Philly TRACONs short staffing and infrastructural issues  expressed his skepticism.

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This is an air travel safety emergency that requires immediate and decisive action, not a promise of a big, beautiful unfunded overhaul that will take years to begin to implement, he said in a statement.

Enough is enough. The connection between New York air space and the Philadelphia air traffic control center must be fixed now, he added. The skies over New York City are some of the busiest in the world.

This cannot happen again.

The meltdown came on the heels of an April 28 outage at Philly TRACON, in which radar coverage of North Jersey airspace and telecommunications lines between controllers and local airport towers failed.

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That outage effectively shut down one of the nations busiest airports for approximately two hours, and led to days of cancellations, delays and headaches for travelers.

As previously reported by the Daily News, radar feeds for the North Jersey airspace go to New York TRACON on Long Island  which managed the airspace above Newark until last summer.

Currently, the feeds are then relayed from Long Island down to Philly, a setup that leads to frequent latency and outage issues.

Following the April 28 outage, five of the 25 air traffic controllers certified to manage the airspace over North Jersey took 45-day trauma leave, according to a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

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That 20% reduction in staffing caused its own set of delays at Newark, which have continued for nearly two weeks.

The delays and cancellations at Newark continued on Friday, exacerbated by maintenance work and poor weather.

The FAA issued a seemingly unrelated ground stop late Friday morning due to taxiway construction, which lasted roughly an hour.

By 5 p.m., 140 flights had been canceled at Newark Liberty, and more than 400 had been delayed, according to data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The miserable travel conditions in the nations busiest airspace  where more than 100 planes a day have been canceled for nearly two weeks  has put a spotlight on chronic understaffing of the nations air traffic control systems as well as the aging infrastructure upon which they rely.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Thursday that his department would be working to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system that will be the envy of the world.

Those efforts are supposed to include a total overhaul of the telecommunications system, the replacement of 618 radar facilities, and hardware and software upgrades at TRACON and air traffic control center facilities nationwide.

Late Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the glitch in the system at Newark, but said it had nothing to do with the delays.

That glitch was caused by the same telecoms and software issues that were raised last week, she said. Everything went back online after the brief outage, and there was no operational impact.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  In an effort to turn around low performing schools in Austin Independent School District, it is launching a campaign to hire the best teachers they can get.

The district is looking for teachers who have track records of improving students grades, and they want them in schools that are not meeting standards.

The move comes after Dobie, Webb and Burnet middle schools are all facing a critical school year ahead where they must show signs of improvement or face a state intervention from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

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We are going to be launching a campaign to recruit transformative teachers, said Brandi Hosack, chief of talent strategy for AISD. We are looking for folks that have more than three years experience in the classroom, are certified and have proven highly effective.

The district said some teachers and staff could be removed from these failing schools, but some parents at Dobie worry about stability in a school that has seen turnover.

When you bring strangers here to this community, what kind of teachers are we going to have? That is very concerning to us, said Yessyka Velasquez, a parent from Dobie Middle School.

Hosack said she knows stability is important, but tough decisions have to be made.

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Austin ISD receives C rating in 2023 A-F ratings

When you take away certain supports that students have become accustomed to, and feel very safe in their campus, and those are the adults and the trusted individuals  that is very, very hard, she said.

The teachers AISD chooses to remove from their positions could then be placed in other AISD schools around the district.

It is not about you are not doing your job and we are removing you, Hosack said. The folks that have been at Dobie, Webb and Burnet have worked incredibly hard to support these students. This is simply a function of needing to ensure that we are, within the turnaround plan, have seasoned experts.

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KXAN asked the district if the teachers who are removed from Dobie, Webb and Burnet will be fit to teach in other schools in AISD.

There is a difference between highly effective, and you not being highly effective does not mean that you are ineffective, it simply means that you have not yet met those qualifications, said Hosack.

Hosack said a lot of teachers have left the profession and now there are a lot of novice teachers that need training.

Keeping Dobie Middle School open could cost teachers their jobs

There are incredible amount of novice teachers on these campuses because across the state, across the nation, campuses that have been historically undeserved they to tend to have a harder time hiring which means that they have a tendency to hire novice teachers, Hosack said.

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The district will host a job fair for transformative teachers May 14 and 15 at AISD headquarters.

These positions are eligible for up to $20,000 in stipends to support one of the three District-led Restart campuses.

The district is hoping to hire about 100 transformative teachers before the start of the school year.

In addition, certified core teachers are eligible to be designated under the Teacher Incentive Allotment and certified special education and certified bilingual teachers are eligible for $7,000 in stipends for support in those classrooms.

Check how your school is doing here.

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Gadsden Public Library Director Craig Scott speaks to the APLS Board during the Thursday, May 8, 2025 meeting. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama Public Library Service board Thursday adopted a definition of the term sexually explicit after advocates and local library officials throughout the state said that the term  the center of controversies over book content around the state  was vague and hard to comply with.

The new definition is taken from the states criminal code defining adult bookstores and adult movie houses. It includes material containing sexual intercourse between people of the same gender or opposite gender, sexual excitement and nudity.

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I think that is an easy thing for us to figure out, said APLS Chair John Wahl, who introduced the motion on Thursday.

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The move follows the boards move in May of last year requiring libraries to restrict library materials from the minors or risk forfeiting state funding.

To qualify for state aid, libraries must adopt policies for selecting library materials that prohibit minors from having materials that are sexually explicit or inappropriate for children, specify the physical location of books and materials deemed sexually explicit or inappropriate materials for children, and obtain advance approval for materials that are marketed or promoted to children.

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Libraries must also establish policies that approve written guidelines that ensure library sections designated for minors under the age of 18 remain free of material containing obscenity, sexually explicit, or other material deemed inappropriate for children or youth,

Wahls motion comes amid continued unrest at the state board that oversees local library funding. In March, members of the APLS voted to suspend funding to the Fairhope Public Library after several patrons complained that books that allegedly violated the APLS administrative code have yet to be moved to the adult section.

In that same meeting, because of another motion from Minton, APLS terminated Nancy Pack, the former director who led the agency since 2012.

The Fairhope Library has yet to have its funding restored. Supporters have started a fundraiser to help offset some of the funding that could be lost by the library.

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Wahl said he had cordial communication with Fairhope Public Library Director Robert Gourlay and chair of the Fairhope Public Library, Randal Wright.

They are still in their review process, he said. The APLS board is waiting until they finish their review process.

Both Gourlay and Wright attended the meeting to address the APLS board during the public comment period.

We have gotten a lot of reconsideration forms submitted since the beginning of 2023, and we have about 20,000 plus cardholders in Fairhope. Six or seven individuals are responsible for those requests for reconsideration, Gourlay said.

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He said staff have taken the requests seriously and have moved six books from the juvenile and teen section to the adult section.

Wright said that the Fairhope Public Library is not attempting to defy the updated APLS administrative code and recommended that the state agency establish a procedure for libraries to follow who may not be complying and give libraries an opportunity to respond before threatening funding.

I have witnessed the standards of the majority of the citizens of Fairhope who have spoken out in support of our library, Wright said. And I believe we are adhering to the APLS guidelines while also listening to the community standards of Fairhope.

Fights over book content began erupting in 2023 when a parent complained that the Autauga-Prattville Public Library had a book with inclusive pronouns.

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The issue went all the way up to Gov. Kay Ivey, who pushed the board to adopt administrative code changes. Critics said the campaign was about removing books with LGBTQ characters.

The fight continued at Thursdays meeting.

Let me be blunt, said Craig Scott, director of the Gadsden Public Library. Libraries are not political playgrounds. They are not here to serve an agenda. They are here to serve people, all people. And yes, sometimes providing materials that have been challenged, discomfort, or even provoke thought.

Wahl said he found Scotts comments offensive.

I personally, went to the state Legislature, and found guaranteed funding, so that local libraries would not have to risk losing federal grants, Wahl said. There was not a single thank you there. To say that this board does not stand up for local libraries, and does not fight for them, is offensive.

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Board member Amy Minton, who moved to revoke Fairhopes funding last month, put forward a draft of a motion for the APLS Board to consider at the next meeting that invoked Alabamas What is a Woman Act and the executive order from President Donald Trump that affirmed only two genders.

In alignment with these clear positions of both state and federal government, it is the opinion of the APLS Board that any library material that encourages, promotes or contains positive portrayals of transgender procedures, gender ideology, or the concept of more than two genders shall be deemed inappropriate for children and youth under APLS Code, Mintons proposed motion states.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A former Alabama police officer who shot an armed Black man is trying to win back his claim to self-defense before his upcoming murder trial, and appealed a judge's pretrial decision as a gross abuse of discretion.

The appeal hinges on Alabamas  stand your ground  law, which grants immunity from prosecution to anyone who uses deadly force as long as they reasonably believe they're in danger and are somewhere they're rightfully allowed to be.

Mac Marquette, 25, is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins shortly before 2 a.m. in September 2023. Marquette and two other officers were accompanying a tow-truck driver to repossess Perkins pickup truck at his home in Decatur. When Perkins emerged from his house with a gun, Marquette fired 18 bullets less than two seconds after identifying himself as law enforcement, according to body camera footage.

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Court documents filed on Thursday said the judge erroneously ruled against Marquette based on his assessment that Marquette didnt sufficiently prove he had a right to be on Perkins property. Alabama allows judges to determine if someone acted in self defense before a case goes to trial.

The judge said Alabama law requires a court order for law enforcement to be involved in a vehicle repossession  which the officers didnt have.

Marquette's lawyers say the judge should have given more weight to the fact that Perkins pointed his gun at the officer before he was shot. They say Marquette reasonably felt that running away from Perkins would've put him in more danger than standing his ground.

The defense also says the officers had a legitimate reason to be there, based on the custom, pattern, and practice of the Decatur Police Department" and because their supervisor authorized it.

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Both officers who were with Marquette testified they weren't there to assist in the repossession, but were instead there to keep the peace and to investigate Perkins for pulling a gun on the tow-truck driver in an earlier repossession attempt.

The state agent who investigated Perkins death testified in March that the way that the officers set up wasnt standard for either of those tasks, but also said that Marquette had a reason to fear for his life.

All parties in the case are prohibited from speaking to the media.

The hearing comes on the heels of two years of intense protest about Perkins death in the northern Alabama city of approximately 60,000 people. A Black man experiencing a mental health crisis died in Decatur Police Department custody in April. Body camera footage showing police officers punching and tasing him repeatedly reignited debate over police misconduct in the area.

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Marquette's attorneys requested a postponement of the trial originally set for June, and a chance to present oral arguments in front of the Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals.

___

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.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  Next Wednesday, lawmakers will convene for the 30th and final day of the legislative session.

Tensions are mounting between the House and the Senate, as both have different priorities.

Im gonna be like Moses on 40 days, 40 nights, said Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro). And, thats where well be. If thats what game they want to play, then Im willing to play.

Sen. Singleton said that game has to do with getting his local bill passed. It would allow for historical horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at two locations in Greene County, something made legal by a constitutional amendment years ago in the legislature.

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Singleton said he will filibuster the 50 remaining local bills from the House. Thats until they agree to vote on his own. That bill has been sitting there. They wont put it on the calendar, said Singleton. So, some of those same House members, who are willing to vote against my bill so, why should I allow them to carry something home, when I cant carry something home?

On the other side, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said he wants to carry home bills related to law enforcement and immigration. That includes expanding civil and criminal immunity for police officers. Ledbetter said hell meet with Senate leadership to discuss their final docket.

Sneak preview at newest concert venue in the Magic City

Before we come in the last day, sit down and go over what we think we can accomplish and what we can get done, the speaker said. You know, weve got three or four bills I think is major for us and theyve probably got that many, so our goal is to try and finish those up.

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On finishing up Sen. Singletons gambling bill, Ledbetter said definitively it will not be on the docket. Unfortunately, our rules and the rules in the Senate arent the same. And, anything thats got to do with gaming in the House has got to be general, and go to the House floor. Thats just the way it is.

Until then, Sen. Singleton said representatives can expect some of their bills to die in the Senate. Mr. Speaker, hear me, Singleton said into the camera. I dont want to do this. You understand what this bill is. You understand it. If yall dont want to do it, just be man enough to tell me. Because, thats all they have to do.

Sen. Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) said it will be a long final day. He doesnt know what statewide bills will be on the docket, including the police immunity bill. Theres probably going to be some talk about that, he said. Were trying to figure out if thats gonna be on there. Plus, we have some confirmations that we have to do. Thats our duty in the Senate, that, were gonna have to focus on too were gonna get in at one oclock, just so yall know. And, well probably be here till we get through with everything weve got.

The House and Senate will convene at 1 p.m. next Wednesday for the last day of the session. Stay with us as well cover lawmakers and their race to get bills across the finish line.

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State Superintendent Eric Mackey speaking to board members at the May 8 work session in the Gordon Pearsons Building in Montgomery, Alabama. Mackey and the board discussed rules for a paid parental leave policy, which passed the Alabama Legislature in April.(Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama State Board of Education will adopt temporary rules for paid parental leave for public education employees at its June meeting, State Superintendent Eric Mackey said Thursday.

The move comes a few weeks after Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law extending the benefit to the workers. SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, goes into effect on July 1.

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Mackey said the board will have to adopt an emergency rule in order to approve temporary rules on the paid leave because of the turnaround for the effective date of the benefit. Once the board adopts temporary rules, there will be a 35-day public comment period before the permanent rules are adopted in July.

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All thats to say there could be changes between the two, so during the public comment period, obviously, Mackey said Thursday during the boards work session.

The law allows women who give birth; have a stillbirth or experience a miscarriage after 12 weeks to receive eight weeks of paid leave. It also allows the father to take two weeks of paid leave under those circumstances. If a couple adopts a child under three years old, either parent may have eight weeks of leave if they are both eligible employees.

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The benefit can be taken within a year of the event. Mackey said, though, that a parent that gives birth or any other related event on June 30 will not be eligible for the benefit. Also, employees must be employed for one year before they are eligible for paid leave.

Lets say somebody has a baby July 1 this year. They qualify if they have been employed the last year, he said.

Mackey also said that the benefit can only apply once every 12 months. However, the benefit can be taken at any time within those 12 months after the event. A teacher who gives birth during the summer while she is not working can take eight weeks off when school starts in August, Mackey said.

They could say, start their leave (when) their first day back to school is August 8. They can wait and start their leave on August 8 and then take their leave, you know, for eight weeks, he said.

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The program did not receive supplemental funding for fiscal year 2025, so Mackey said the individual school districts would have to pay employees that take the leave between July 1 and Sept. 30. Once the FY 2026 Education Trust Fund budget takes effect on Oct. 1, the state will reimburse the districts at $120 per day.

He said the Legislature likely underestimated the number of related events that happen in a year. The line item for the benefit received $9.6 million, but Mackey said it is likely closer to a $12 million expense.

So $9.6 (million) covered what was originally written, but it got changed, when they put in the fathers leave for fathers two weeks, which was not in the calculation, Mackey said..

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Ed White

Associated Press

President Donald Trump wants to convert Alcatraz back into a federal prison, decades after the California island fortress was converted into a U.S. tourist destination because it had become too costly to house America's worst criminals.

The prison off the coast of San Francisco is where the government sent notorious gangsters Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly as well as lesser-known men who were considered too dangerous to lock up elsewhere.

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Circled by herons and gulls and often shrouded in fog, Alcatraz has been the setting for movies featuring Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Clint Eastwood.

Trump says Alcatraz, now part of the National Park Service, suddenly is needed to house America's "most ruthless and violent" criminals.

"When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That's the way it's supposed to be," Trump said Sunday on his Truth Social site.

California Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener criticized Trump, saying he wants to create a "domestic gulag right in the middle of San Francisco Bay."

What is Alcatraz?

Alcatraz is in the bay and visible from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. It is best known for its years as a federal prison, from 1934-63, but its history is much longer.

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President Millard Fillmore in 1850 declared the island for public purposes, according to the park service, and it soon became a military site. Confederates were housed there during the Civil War.

By the 1930s, the government decided that it needed a place to hold the worst criminals, and Alcatraz became the choice for a prison.

"A remote site was sought, one that would prohibit constant communication with the outside world by those confined within its walls," the park service said. "Although land in Alaska was being considered, the availability of Alcatraz Island conveniently coincided with the government's perceived need for a high security prison."

Why did it close?

The remoteness eventually made it impractical. Everything from food to fuel had to arrive by boat.

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"The island had no source of fresh water," according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, "so nearly one million gallons of water had to be barged to the island each week."

The cost to house someone there in 1959 was $10.10 a day compared with $3 at a federal prison in Atlanta, the government said. It was cheaper to build a new prison from scratch.

Why is Alcatraz notorious?

Despite the location, many prisoners tried to get out: 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes into the bay, according to the FBI. Nearly all were caught or didn't survive the cold water and swift current.

"Escape from Alcatraz," a 1979 movie starring Eastwood, told the story of John Anglin, his brother Clarence and Frank Morris, who all escaped in 1962, leaving behind handmade plaster heads with real hair in their beds to fool guards.

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"For the 17 years we worked on the case, no credible evidence emerged to suggest the men were still alive, either in the U.S. or overseas," the FBI said.

"The Rock," a 1996 fictional thriller with Connery and Cage, centers on an effort to rescue hostages from rogue Marines on Alcatraz.

A national park

Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and was opened to the public in 1973, a decade after it was closed as a prison.

The park service says the island gets more than 1 million visitors a year who arrive by ferry. A ticket for an adult costs $47.95, and visitors can see the cells where prisoners were held.

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Rob Frank, 55, of Springfield, Missouri, said he toured Alcatraz about a decade ago. He said it's hard to imagine the millions of dollars that would be needed to reopen the prison.

"It didn't seem very humane to me," Frank said. "They had the cells stacked on top of each other. Small cells. Everything's concrete. It was kind of a dark place."

In 1969, a group of Native Americans, mostly college students, claimed to have a historical right to Alcatraz and began an occupation that lasted for 19 months until federal authorities intervened in 1971.

"The underlying goals of the Indians on Alcatraz were to awaken the American public to the reality of the plight of the first Americans and to assert the need for Indian self-determination," late historian Troy Johnson wrote.
MACAO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has welcomed 10 million inbound and outbound passengers since January, official data showed on Friday.

As of 3 a.m. on Friday, the number surpassed 10 million, according to the data from the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s Public Security Police Force (CPSP).

The average daily cross-border passenger volume at the port in the period this year reached 78,000, an increase of 11.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

This year's 10-million mark was reached 13 days earlier than in 2024. According to the CPSP, the growing passenger flow reflects increasingly frequent cross-border movement and highlights the bridge's role in promoting integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Regarding distribution, 50.5 percent of travelers passed through the Hong Kong-Macao hall, 15 percent through the Zhuhai-Macao hall, and 34.5 percent used vehicle channels.

As the greater bay area develops, the bridge has solidified its position as a vital transportation hub. 
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Businesswoman and owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Gayle Benson, will have a school named in her honor.

Officials with the Algiers Charter Board of trustees voted on April 24 to rename Martin Behrman Charter School as Gayle Benson Academy.

Celebrating Goodwill Week with good work being done

Benson, who was born and raised in Old Algiers, graduated from Martin Behrman in 1966 and has since gone on to become a business leader and philanthropist. The honor will highlight her contributions to the City of New Orleans.

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This is a moment of pride and purpose for our entire organization, said Tammi Griffin-Major, the CEO of Algiers Charter. Mrs. Bensons extraordinary commitment to our city and its future aligns beautifully with our mission to empower students through education. We are honored to carry her name into the next generation of leadership and learning.

School board officials said the school has served as a hub for educational achievement and student development on the West Bank.

Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know

I am deeply humbled by this recognition. Education is the foundation of a strong community, and I firmly believe in investing in the success of young people. As a Martin Behrman graduate, this recognition holds special meaning for me. I am proud to support a school that is transforming lives and shaping the future of New Orleans. Mrs. Gayle Benson

Officials stated that this new chapter will reaffirm the schools commitment to quality education, equity and opportunity.

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Her late husband and former owner of the Saints also has a school named in his honor in Kenner, Tom Benson School.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
The new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told staffers Friday morning that he will personally make all decisions at the agency, including those related to disaster payments, according to a former FEMA official who listened to the virtual meeting.

I dont know if that will last for hours, days or weeks, but I need to get a handle on whats going on in the agency, FEMA acting Administrator David Richardson said at an all-staff meeting, according to the former official, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal communications.

Richardson succeeded Cameron Hamilton, who was fired Thursday after leading the disaster agency for 3 months. Richardson's focus on making every decision threatens to drastically slow down FEMA operations, including the payment of disaster aid and grants to states, the former official said. Agency leaders have typically delegated such decisions.

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Itll slow down everything. How can everything funnel through one person? He will have to figure out who he can trust and delegate some authority, the former official told POLITICO's E&E News.

Richardson also said Friday he would approve all news releases and added, I and I alone will speak on behalf of FEMA." At one point, he told staff, Im not going to start out by saying Im honored to serve. Im here to do a job."

Elements of the Friday staff meeting and some of his remarks were first reported by Reuters.

Department of Homeland Security officials had planned to fire Hamilton on Wednesday morning, hours before he was to testify before the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, according to a person with knowledge of the events. When Hamilton arrived at FEMA headquarters that morning, his computer was not working, another person with knowledge of the events said.

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He then went to Capitol Hill, where at one point during his testimony he seemed to contradict President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, both of whom had previously indicated that FEMA might be disbanded.

I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hamilton told the House panel.



The remark was widely interpreted as the catalyst for his firing the next day at DHS headquarters. But the plan to fire Hamilton on Wednesday morning appears to confirm a report by NBC News in which DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said his termination was not in response to his statements to the subcommittee.

Before he testified, he knew his time was ticking, one of the people with knowledge of the events told E&E News.

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However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday that Hamilton was fired because of his testimony.

"My understanding is that this individual testified saying something that was contrary to what the president believes and the goals of this administration in regards to FEMA policy. So, of course, we want to make sure that people in every position are advancing the administrations goals," Leavitt said.

Corey Lewandowski, a longtime adviser to Trump, played a key role in the decision to fire Hamilton and approved the move before it was sent to Noem, according to both people with knowledge of the events.

"I just dont think he was strong enough," one of the people said. "Because he was continuing to try to nurse FEMA along and wasnt taking hard action, Lewandowski didnt see him as the strong voice and the disruptor."

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Richardson, the new FEMA chief, is a former Marine artillery officer who had been assistant secretary in the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

Neither FEMA nor DHS immediately returned messages seeking comment.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  A Rockford manufacturer that recently celebrated a major milestone is focused on the future.

J.L. Clark has been in business in Rockford for 121 years. It was founded by John Lewis Clark in 1904. The company makes packaging for very popular brands like Altoids which you see at virtually every store you walk into.

Company president Bob Morris took us inside their facility for a look at how their products are made in the Stateline.

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Its fantastic, Morris said about what he gets to do each day.  Its all about the packaging, and thats what we do.

The company employees about 200 team members. They work with many popular brands to make packaging for more than 25 different products.

Morris said the process begins with very large and heavy metal coils loaded onto a especially strong forklift.

This literally lifts the load up, this massive hydraulic lift, loads it on the spindle, and now we start feeding, he said while pointing to the machinery used at the beginning of the process.

The metal is trimmed into sheets.

All the sheets are trimmed and to order, ready for printing, coating, and fabrication, he said.

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The next room is where things start to take shape.

C is for coaters. P is for printers. Heres where everything starts, he stated.

So we saw our sheets cut on the other side. Theyre loaded on the front of the line here. They get coated, and then printed, and what were seeing today is Altoids is running here. See the white coated piece. Now theyre printed first pass. Then the second printing head is right here. Now you can see the two prints, and then its going to head into the oven so that it bakes on so that we can form it.

Each of the ovens has exhaust vents for fumes from the printing and the coating. We capture all of those in a RCO unit, he said. This is really important because were working with volatile compounds printing and coating that release fumes into the air. We want to capture all of those so that nothing goes and negatively impacts the environment.

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Next is waxing.

We finished printing and coating our sheets. We bring them here to these waxers. Waxing acts as a lubricant. Were about to bend the metal into a package, he explained.

The facility has an Altoids room where their famous containers are put together.

Everything is automated, Morris demonstrated. You saw the tops being punched and the bottoms being punched. Theyre married in the line to put the top and the bottom together. Then you see we have an automated closer.

The Altoids packaging is then checked and cleared. Once thats done its boxed with the help of a robotic machine.

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The entire process youve seen of making Altoids, it culminates here in a shrink-wrapped pallet and we put it on a truck, goes to the warehouse, ready for shipping, he said. Everything goes to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Thats where the containers are filled with the actual Altoids.

With that, its all done. Its a process for a popular product Morris says many people dont know is made in the Stateline.

People dont know, Morris said. Its fun to share. Were kind of in that hidden spot in a huge building that nobodys aware.

Morris said J.L. Clark has identified many machines that have been in operation for 70-80 years that will need to be replaced. Theyve made room for newer machines to take their place. He said this is an effort to plan for another 100 years in operation, at least.

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PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD)  If youve thought about putting in a new fence, or maybe even a new birdfeeder, you have to call before you dig.

After an amendment to the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act, a law requiring a call to 811 before digging, now requires property owners to pre-mark their dig site.

Still, calling someone to come out and pre-mark your dig site, while required by law, is easy on your pocketbook.

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Even though its the law, its the cheapest insurance you can buy, said Jake Dukett, supervisor of gas public awareness for Ameren Illinois. Its free. It doesnt cost anything. It just takes a little bit of pre-planning.

Ameren Illinois Employees volunteer at Dream Center Peoria

According to Ameren, someone makes contact with an underground utility every six minutes because they didnt call 811 before their shovel went int the ground.

This next step allows for even more safety precaution, as the groundwork can be laid out easier.

It can be as simple as just drawing an X If youre planting a bush, painting a white line of where youre going to extend your fence, or if were going to add a mailbox, anything like that, said Dukett. It doesnt take very much time at all.

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Another change because of the amendment requires three days of preparation when a dig ticket is called in, not including the day the call is made.

To learn more about the safety precautions when it comes to digging, click here.

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A dream more than 30 years in the making, and carrying nearly three centuries of Floridian, American and African American history, is now a reality.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning at Americas First Site of Freedom  Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine  officially completed the parks 1738 Fort Mose reconstruction project.

The full-scale, life-sized fort structure welcomed its first visitors Friday afternoon as part of the annual St. Augustine History Festival.

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Fort Mose, on the northern end of St. Augustine, was originally established by the Spanish as the first legally sanctioned free Black community in what would become the United States. Historians estimate that approximately 100 formerly enslaved men, women, and children made their homes there after fleeing the British Carolinas.

Fort Mose was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994.

Fort Mose is so much more than the walls, the roo,f and the landscaping we see here today, said Fort Mose Historical Society President Charles Ellis, who performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting. These things are all wonderful, and the finished fort has surpassed everything we dreamed it could be when we embarked on this project 30 years ago. But what matters today is the tribute and testament to the people who risked their lives to come here in the 1700s. Having this new fort in place means their stories will be told forever.

The reconstructed fort stands more than 39 feet tall and is surrounded by a historically accurate moat and landscaping. The final cost for the project was $3.2 million and was funded from public and private sources.

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During Friday mornings ceremony, visitors were greeted by an array of 1700s-era Spanish flags lining new walkways that led to the fort structure. Banners and signage reading Viva Mose, a common refrain among Fort Moses inhabitants, surrounded the park grounds.

After the program, several members of the Fort Mose Historical Society, in full militia attire, performed a ceremonial muster and cannon firing.

Guests then participated in a ribbon-cutting photo opportunity and enjoyed a ranger-led tour of the new fort.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- A campaign to exclude candy and soft drinks from the list of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible products in Indiana has a supporter.

Entering the homestretch preparing for BBQ and Barrels 2025

The American Heart Association says it agrees with the Indiana policy proposal, which was issued through an executive order by Governor Mike Braun last month. The American Heart Association is committed to removing sugary drinks from SNAP, and we are proud to stand in support of Indianas effort to do so over the soda industrys unconscionable opposition, says Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. According to IN.gov, soda is the number one commodity purchased with SNAP.

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The American Heart Association says they have submitted a letter in support to the United States Department of Agriculture to approve the prohibition of sugary beverage purchases within the SNAP program.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  An unprecedented reveal: Chicago-born Robert Prevost, 69, became the first American Pope to the Catholic Church on May 8- surprising many across the U.S., including local historians.

Ive never had conversations with people anticipating that there would be an American Pope, David Burrow, associate professor of history and chair of the department of History for the University of South Dakota (USD), said.

Prevost took the name Pope Leo XIV, signifying the start to his journey in global leadership. But what does the popes historic election mean for America as a global superpower?

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Bishop Kettler pleased with Pope Leo XIVs first message

I think it depends on whether you think that the present American leadership- which seems to be taking the U.S. out of its the global role that its held since 1945, since the end of World War II- whether [Pope Leos] in alignment or opposition to that, Burrow said.

According to Burrow, the U.S. support for Pope Leo could be broken down in two ways: Whether he leads the church to embrace refugees and immigration, or if he stays in alignment with the Trump administrations view of immigration.

Burrow said recent circulations of social media posts from Prevost before he was named pope could suggest that he will continue in the steps of his predecessor, Pope Francis, in favor of supporting refugees and immigrants across the world.

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An X account under the name Robert Prevost created tweets criticizing the Trump administration for justifying its crackdown on illegal immigration on the basis of faith. Even further, the Prevost account reposted content against the administration for deportations in the U.S.

He is a Pope who is going to continue to stand against some of the anti-immigrant, anti-refugee, and against the kind of nativist vision of Catholicism that some of those people articulate, Burrow said.

Pope Leos first words mentioned a church that builds bridges, open dialogue, and open arms for everyone. Burrow said this mimics the teachings of Pope Francis, whom Pope Leo mentioned several times in his speech. Pope Francis made Prevost a cardinal back in 2023.

Injured Nobles County deputy recovering in rehab center

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When Prevost emerged as the new pope in 2025, he didnt speak English, but rather Italian, Spanish, and Latin- which Burrow called conspicuous. Prevost knows five different languages.

Its interesting to see how in the long-term, Catholics in the U.S. are going to respond to this Pope, Burrow said.

During the two-day election, Burrow believes Prevost was seen as more than just an American, crediting Prevosts missionary work and dual citizenship in Peru.

I think within the church, hes viewed as a more global figure- someone associated not coming from the United States, but also associated with the global South, the way that Pope Francis was associated with Argentina, Burrow said.

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Despite his excitement for an American Pope, Burrow said Prevost should be recognized more for his career and missionary work in Peru, which started in 1988. Before his career, Prevost graduated from the Villanova University in Pennsylvania with a degree in mathematics in 1977.

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A few weeks ago, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay junior Jasmine Puls was at her AmeriCorps job at the Girl Scout Reaching Out program, preparing for a trip to a local elementary school, when she got an email marked URGENT.

"Out of nowhere, we just got an email that we were being shut down, and that they tried to appeal it but that it was non-appealable, and that there was nothing they could do," Puls said. "We were literally given no warning."

Seven staff members lost their jobs within 10 minutes, including Puls. They werent alone: Statewide, about 430 AmeriCorps workers found themselves out of work after the federal Department of Government Efficiency made cuts to their programs.

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Reaching Out focused on connecting students in underserved communities  often due to financial or language barriers  with outdoor education and life skills, according to assistant program and inclusion director Brittany Pyatt. Many other AmeriCorps programs offered similar services, providing students in need with tutoring and engagement services.

On April 29, Wisconsin joined a multistate lawsuit alleging the AmeriCorps cuts will inflict immediate and irreparable harms to people nationwide. With many of those cuts made to programs interwoven with the education system in Wisconsin, and the state budget for next year not yet set, it's not clear what the future holds for these programs.

Programs for students both inside and outside the classroom are facing an uncertain future. Here's a look at a couple Wisconsin programs that will be affected:

Tutoring for Madison-area students among programs experiencing cuts

Volunteer tutoring program Schools of Hope, organized through United Way of Dane County, has existed for decades. It provides one-on-one and small group reading tutors to elementary students in need, among other tutoring sessions and support. In annual surveys, staff in Madison-area schools said they've seen student attendance and literacy rates increase through the program's work.

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This academic year, over 1,000 students worked with over 175 tutors.

The program relies on AmeriCorps workers in every step of the process: tutor coordinators bring in volunteers, train them, match them with students and evaluate them, UWDC president Renee Moe said.

Or at least they did, until they found out that AmeriCorps funding had been abruptly cut.

"Not only do you disrupt a program for kids to build their confidence, but if someone shows up for you regularly and you have that disrupted, there's a sense of loss there," Moe said.

After-school program may see total shutdown

Another Dane County program, Partners for After School Success, is in a similar situation. PASS provided academic and social-emotional support to students in low-income communities. Now, unless the federal decision on AmeriCorps cuts is reversed, the PASS program will be essentially shut down.

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Without the program, providing these services  which are so critical and already under-resourced  just became more difficult, Ariana Vruwink said in an email. Vruwink is the communications coordinator for the Dane County Department of Human Services. PASS alumni often go on to careers in education, youth work, and community service; the loss of this program will have a negative impact on the human service workforce in Dane County for years to come.

What happens next?

Reaching Out, the Girl Scout program, is trying to prepare its schools for what will come next. AmeriCorps members led 70 programs in 56 locations in northwestern Wisconsin, said Brittany Pyatt, assistant program and inclusion director for the Girl Scouts of the Northwest Great Lakes. In the Green Bay School District alone, the program served nine elementary schools.

Schools of Hope is able to finish out this year through support from volunteers and the host schools, but next year directors will have to rework the program. The program worked, Moe said, and effective programs dont usually see such sudden, dramatic cuts.

"To have a program that's very efficient and very effective in delivering the results that it's intended to achieve, to have that completely go away," Moe said, "It's just really unsettling."

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Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@gannett.com or on X at @nadiaascharf.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: How will AmeriCorps cuts affect Wisconsin students?
ISTANBUL, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Police in Istanbul detained 982 people during a large-scale security operation aimed at maintaining public order and identifying criminal suspects, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

Officers conducted checks at 215 locations across the city on Thursday, inspecting more than 320,000 individuals. Among those detained were 539 people wanted by the police for various crimes.

Police seized 40 unlicensed pistols, five rifles, 13 other firearms, and 46 cartridges during the operation. A total of 254 public venues were also inspected.

The Istanbul Police Department said the security inspections would continue. 
Pine Ridge is located in southwestern South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The town has a population just under 3,000 and is the headquarters of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

The Trump administrations decision to abruptly cut AmeriCorps funding has had a devastating impact on a nonprofit school for Native American children in South Dakota, according to a lawsuit.

Red Cloud Indian School Inc., which operates schools under the Lakota name Mahpiya Luta, is one of more than a dozen plaintiffs that jointly filed a lawsuit this week challenging the funding cut.

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Red Cloud schools, their programs, and the prospects of their students and of Lakota youth who participate in AmeriCorps are at serious risk, the lawsuit says.

AmeriCorps is a federal agency dedicated to community service and volunteerism, which works in close partnership with states. Its the latest victim of President Donald Trumps campaign to dismantle programs and slash the federal workforce.

The agency abruptly cut $400 million, or 41% of its budget, and placed 85% of its staff on administrative leave last month, according to court records. AmeriCorps had provided $960 million to fund 3,100 projects across the United States each year, according to general undated figures available on the agencys website.

Red Cloud Indian School Inc. operates two elementary schools, one middle school, a high school and a Lakota language immersion program on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. For 26 years, according to the lawsuit, the nonprofit has received AmeriCorps awards. The awards have enabled the training of over 400 Lakota AmeriCorps participants as teaching assistants and paraprofessional educators, offering career and job training opportunities in one of the nations poorest regions.

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AmeriCorps told Red Cloud via email on April 25 that its grant was terminated, that all grant activities should cease, and that the action was not administratively appealable, the lawsuit says.

In the past three years, the nonprofit received approximately $400,000 a year in AmeriCorps funding. The money enabled Red Cloud to recruit local Lakota AmeriCorps participants to serve as teaching assistants for a duration of one to three years. The participants joined in groups of four to five to assist a staff teacher with classes of approximately 20 students.

The participants provided students with individualized support in math, literacy and social-emotional development, while also gaining teaching skills. Students benefited from one-on-one attention with participants they viewed as role models.

Many AmeriCorps participants pursued college degrees concurrently. Ten of Red Clouds current teachers began as AmeriCorps participants.

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The programs success is evident in its improved student outcomes and strengthened community empowerment through a career pipeline into education, the lawsuit says.

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As of last month, Red Cloud had 11 AmeriCorps participants serving in its teaching assistant program. The organization felt a moral obligation to retain the participants through the end of the school year on May 16, the lawsuit says, which has placed an unexpected financial strain on the nonprofit. The school is not in a position to retain the participants through July 31, when the AmeriCorps grant was set to expire, the lawsuit says.

Fourteen organizations, the union representing AmeriCorps staffers and three individual plaintiffs who were AmeriCorps members filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

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Besides Red Cloud in South Dakota, the other nonprofits bringing the lawsuit are based in California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

On April 29, attorneys general from nearly two dozen states and the District of Columbia also sued alleging the cuts were illegal. South Dakotas attorney general is not included in that group.

In a statement provided Thursday to States Newsroom, the White House defended the cuts.

AmeriCorps has failed eight consecutive audits and identified over $45 million in unaccounted for payments in 2024 alone. President Trump is restoring accountability to the entire Executive Branch, said spokesperson Anna Kelly.

States Newsrooms D.C. Bureau contributed to this report.

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AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB)  Amherst Central High School administration sent a letter this week to parents after it learned that a student used artificial intelligence to create and share content that included the names of several students and faculty.

The letter by Amherst principal Gregory Pigeon was sent out Wednesday to let parents know about a recent incident involving a high school students misuse of an internet-based AI tool called Flow GPT.

That AI software was used by the student to create fictional chat bots that included the names of several students, parents and faculty, as well as some images taken from publicly available sources like social media, according to a new letter that was sent out Thursday by Amherst School District Superintendent Anthony Panella.

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On Friday, Panella said it is being treated as a student disciplinary matter because there is no evidence of deep fake pornography, AI generated pornography or other criminal activity.

While we still dont know the specifics of what happened, what we do know is this type of thing is being seen all across the country, varying in its degree, where inappropriate photos of students are being used to create artificial images and videos  often times for nefarious purposes.

WIVB News 4 sat down with Barry Covert, a local criminal defense attorney, to find out what this could mean for the student responsible.

Where you take a minors head and use that face, or identifying information from them, and create deep-fake porn, and AI generated porn, that can be a federal offense, Covert said. That can be under child exploitation, under child porn, possessing it would be a federal crime, distributing it even more serious, and producing it is very serious.

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While the courts may be different, if the culprit is a minor, Covert says the charges would likely still be the same.

It looks very differently when a minor is charged in federal court, Covert said. Then theres different rights that are guaranteed to them in the state court as well  youve got family court, youve got juvenile court, but yeah, plausibly, they could be charged.

WIVB News 4 also sat down with a local psychiatrist, Dr. Wendy Weinstein, to find out how children who fall victim to this could be affected.

Your social life can suffer tremendously, your self-esteem and identity can just be destroyed, you can become anxious, you can become depressed, you can self-isolate, Dr. Weinstein said. You can even do things like, one of my colleagues was talking about, the possibility of self-harm  in the worst case scenario.

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Dr. Weinstein went on to discuss the importance of how parents react and the type of support they provide to their child if this happens to them.

Listen to the child or adolescent with open ears, Dr. Weinstein said. If we judge, the child or adolescent is going to pick up on this and its going to make them feel worse, and its going to create a downward drift.

In the letter sent out to parents, Pigeon wrote that they take online safety and student well-being very seriously. Please be assured that appropriate steps are being taken to address the situation and support those involved.

Latest Local News

Rob Petree is an anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of his work by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
On the first day after the selection of Pope Leo XIV, about three dozen people gathered for a celebration Mass at Marquette University during one of the most hectic times in the school calendar, the last day of spring semester exams.

With students criss-crossing the campus, many of them intent on moving out for the summer, most of those gathered in the Chapel of the Holy Family in the Alumni Memorial Union were university staff members.

But among them was Gabrielle Chun, a graduate student in business administration set to receive her master's degree the following day. She and her family wore clothes made from a fabric she designed to reflect her Hawaiian heritage.

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It was Chun's second day at a noon Mass in a row. When she heard on May 8 that white smoke was rising from the chimney at the Vatican, indicating a pope had been chosen, she rushed to Marquette's Church of the Gesu for worship.

"I just hope that he can use the Holy Spirit to really guide him on the path of where the Catholic Church should go," Chun said.

More: Milwaukee Catholics surprised by fast decision, optimistic in Leo's call to build bridges

More: What the name Leo likely says about the pope's mission for his papacy and the Catholic Church

Celebration Masses for Leo will be held in coming days at churches across the country and around the world. In Milwaukee, Archbishop Jeffrey Grob will celebrate a Mass for Leo at 6 p.m. on May 13 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson St.

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But it seemed fitting that Marquette, run by the Jesuit Order that produced Pope Francis, would be among the first to offer Mass for Leo, who comes from the Augustinian Order. Both orders have their own mission, or charism, and yet Leo emphasized in his introductory address at the Vatican on May 8 his admiration for his predecessor, and seemed to indicate a continuation of Francis' vision for listening, inclusiveness and bridge-building.

The Rev. John Thiede, vice president for mission and ministry, was among the worshipers May 9. He said Leo's administrative experience at the Vatican may prompt him to formally implement some of Pope Francis' ideas for the church.

The Rev. Rajesh Somepalli, a Jesuit and doctoral student who presided over the Mass, spoke of Leo's roots as a missionary in remote Peruvian villages. He also reflected on Leo's comment last year that a bishop should not be a "little prince" in a kingdom, but instead should walk and suffer with the people he serves.

"Let us pray for him, knowing that he's not stepping into glory, but he's walking into sacrifice," Somepalli said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: On hectic day at Marquette, faithful gather at Mass to celebrate pope
After days of simultaneously damp and drizzly weather, Frieze New York opened its doors to a warm, bright, and energetic morning on Wednesday. Compared to last years spring art week, this years is especially jam-packed, with Frieze and TEFAFs US edition separated by just 24 hours instead of a week. And so, the sales floor was animated throughout the VIP day.

On top of the bevy of fairs, there are a multitude of gallery shows, museum exhibitions, and art fairs opening or already on view this week. In a market where collectors are choosing to take things more slowly when it comes to spending their timeand their moneythan in previous years, that is seemingly a good thing.

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But theres more in the air than talk about the market. The aisles buzzed with conversations of the financial and political state of the world.

This week will set the tone for how the global market will behave in the coming months, London-based adviser Arianne Piper told ARTnews. The unfortunate truth is that the political situation has disrupted that. Its not so much the current economic situation but the fear of the economic consequences of that situation. That said, Piper added that the people who made it out to the Frieze on Wednesday are buying. Its not about the money. Its about the bandwidth.

Jeff Koons Hulk (Tubas) reportedly sold for $3 million.

Notably, Gagosian had a solo presentation of three sculptures by Jeff Koons, the artists first collaboration since departing the mega-gallerys roster in 2021. This trio Hulk worksHulk (Organ), Hulk (Tubas), and Hulk (Dragon and Turtle)came from Koonss personal collection and were installed in front of a custom vinyl backdrop, derived from his 2007 painting Triple Hulk Elvis III.

The fair is off to a great start and the response to our booth has been phenomenal, Gagosian senior director Millicent Wilner said in a statement, which noted that Hulk (Tubas) had already sold. When ARTnews asked about the price of each of the three mixed-media works, the gallery declined to comment, but well-places sources tell ARTnews that Hulk (Tubas) sold for $3 million.

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Thaddaeus Ropac, which currently has spaces in three European cities and Seoul, reported a strong start at Frieze New York, with a slower but more deliberate pace of sales despite strong attendance. People are taking their time and being really considered, he said, adding that the gallery remains cautiously optimistic about overall results.

Early sales include Liza Lous Zeugma (2024) for $225,000; Joan Snyders mixed-media Float (2015) for $210,000; David Salles Bow Tie (2024) for $130,000 to a US-based collector; a Martha Jungwirth painting for 85,000; and a Robert Longo drawing for $65,000. Two small works by Megan Rooney sold for 18,000 each, with a larger painting, priced at 75,000, currently on hold. Georg Baselitzs Motto: sexuelle Niete sagt Heidegger sagt Celan is also on reserve for 1 million.

Pace Gallery kept things sharp at Frieze New York with a two-artist presentation pairing Adam Pendleton and Lynda Benglis. Pendleton himself curated the booth, which features four Black Dada paintings from 2024 and two Movement paintings from 2025. For her part, Benglis has six bronze sculptures, completed between 2021 and 2024, that play off Pendletons canvases, showcasing their different approaches to abstraction. All six of Pendletons paintings found buyers within the first couple of hours of the fair for between $165,000 and $425,000, while multiple works by Benglis sold for between $275,000 and $300,000.

Lynda Benglis, Heart Of The Matter, 2024.

New York dealer Andrew Kreps described the first day of the fair as going really well with great energy for Jes Fans 2023 sculpture Cross Section (Right Leg Muscle II) selling for $26,000; Harold Stevensons 1967 painting Untitled (Hand sign language) going for $70,000; and Hadi Falapishis Professional Painter in a Dream (2025) for $25,000.

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The gallery also sold four editions of Roe Ethridges UV-cured pigment print, Ranunculus in Copper Pot at Hermes, 24 rue Faubourg Saint-Honore Rooftop (2023), for $16,000 each, and Ernie Barness 1995 Study II for The Dream Unfolds was also on hold. Interest came across the board, Kreps said, primarily from collectors in New York and Miami.

When ARTnews asked if he was concerned about sales at Frieze during what many consider a cooling interest in contemporary art, Kreps replied that it helped that his prices were in the low-to-mid range. Today, I felt there would be a lot of enthusiasm, and I think people are wanting to get out there and think about art, he told ARTnews

Four prints of Roe Ethridges Ranunculus in Copper Pot at Hermes, 24 rue Faubourg Saint-Honore Rooftop (2023) sold for $16,000.

For its booth, Casey Kaplan Gallery had a solo presentation of glass and stainless steel sculptures by Hannah Levy, with several works, priced between $45,000 and $80,000, selling to US-based collectors during the first day.

Its been good energy, senior director Emily Epelbaum-Bush told ARTnews, noting new collectors and curators dropping by the booth. Weve seen people we havent seen in some time. Were really excited about the beginning of the fair.

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Goodman Gallery, which has locations in Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as New York and London, had a group display highlighting artists who have had important international spotlights over the past year. A large-scale painting by Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, fresh from her solo exhibition last year at the Barbican in London, sold for $90,000 to a seminal New York collection, the gallery said. Additionally, a work by Carrie Mae Weems, from her 2021 series Painting the Town, sold for $100,000 to a Dutch collector. Both works were sold with the promise that they would be donated to institutions in the future, according to the gallery. Their presentation also includes works by William Kentridge, Shirin Neshat, and Ravelle Pillay, alongside new pieces by Yinka Shonibare and Kapwani Kiwanga.

Obviously, you know, its an intriguing time to be in the United Statesif not the world, said Anthony Dawson, director of the gallerys Cape Town location. Its wonderful to see that people are still so committed to the production of contemporary art.

Carrie Mae Weems, Painting the Town #3, 2021.

Karma also reported a successful first day at Frieze New York, led by the $350,000 sale of Owl for Emil (1958), a modestly sized painting by Gertrude Abercrombie, who is currently the subject of a major retrospective at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Other noteworthy sales include Richard Mayhews Mountain Mindscape (1969) for $350,000, Manoucher Yektais Blue Table (1960) for $275,000, and Reggie Burrows Hodgess Referees: To The House (2021) for $175,000.

Tina Kim, who brought to the fair a range of works from the women artists in their program, sold works by Lee ShinJa, Ghada Amer, Pacita Abad, and Suki Seokyeong Kang for between $80,000 and $200,000.

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Its not surprising that there was a great deal of interest in the future of Frieze, which as of last week has a new owner (if only tangentially). Earlier this month, Endeavor Group Holdings sold Frieze, along with its magazine and global portfolio of fairs, to its Ari Emmanuel, Endeavors former CEO, and a consortium of investors for a reported $200 million. That sale was the spark of speculation among more than a handful of VIP day attendees, though few were willing to speculate or give Friezes new owners advice.

Theres an opportunity here, to really increase the revenue stream and come up with a new, innovative business model, author and art market observer Magnus Resch told ARTnews. The simple business model of real estate arbitrage isnt working anymore. You cant just open new locations.

For Resch, the future of art fairs would involve variable pricing models for the galleries that participate and an expanded offering: watches and collectibles, something Resch admits might alienate existing patrons. He added, Frieze has a chance to become the leading player in the art world. They just have to stop living in the past.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)Amistad will honor community humanitarians at its annual Lucy G. Humanitarian Awards on Friday to raise funds for those in need.

This year, and in partnership with Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., Circle K, and El Paso Electric, Amistad will host a nautical-themed fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at the Starlight Event Center, 6650 Continental Dr.

Amistad said this event, which its named after the agencys founder, celebrates 2025 honorees and raises awareness for vulnerable populations.

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The theme is to honor leaders who anchor our mission and help steer us toward a better future, Andrea Ramirez, CEO of Amistad, said. Our 2025 honorees are individuals who we believe are navigators of hope and light.

The 2025 honorees include the following, according to Amistad:

Judge Patrick Bramblett

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas

Retired County Commissioner Carlos Leon

County Judge Ricardo Samaniego

Community Advocate Wayne Thornton

The event is a night to celebrate individuals and agencies who live Mrs. Acostas legacy of respect, honesty, integrity, service and excellence, read the news release by Amistad.

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In addition to the award ceremony, GECU Foundation will match up to $12,000 of the proceeds made from the fundraiser to assist individuals seeking access to social services, Amistad said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Dona Ana County Fire Rescue has a new deputy chief.

The County announced that Cody Haver will serve as the new deputy chief for Dona Ana County Fire Rescue.

He will lead the Fire Prevention Division and will serve as the countys fire marshal, a new position for the department, the County said.

Haver brings nearly two decades of fire and emergency medical service experience. He began his career with the Las Cruces Fire Department in 2004, serving in many roles including, serving as a firefighter, driver operator, lieutenant and most recently as a battalion chief. Haver helped lead the research, creation and growth for the Mobile Integrated Health Program and the Mobile Crisis Response programs at LCFD. He also wrote several state and federal grant proposals to procure personal protective equipment and advanced training opportunities for firefighters, the County said in its announcement.

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As a fire marshal at LCFD, Haver coordinated assistance to local restaurants during the COVID-19 public health restrictions to ensure fire safety compliance, the County said.

Deputy Chief Haver comes to us highly recommended from the Las Cruces Fire Department. He has a wealth of knowledge, experience and proven leadership in the fire service, Interim Chief Andew Bowen said. We are confident his expertise will significantly benefit our department and the community we serve.

Haver earned his bachelors degree in business administration and masters degree in public administration from New Mexico State University. He is a licensed paramedic through the State of New Mexico and certified paramedic through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 9 (UPI) -- South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun flew to the Czech Republic Tuesday to attend a contract signing ceremony for a new nuclear power plant.

Czech utility firm CEZ was slated to ink the deal, worth at least $18 billion, on Wednesday under which South Korea's state-run KHNP would build two nuclear reactors in the East European country.

However, the event was abruptly canceled after a Czech court issued an injunction, blocking CEZ from closing the deal until the complaint from the losing bidder, France's EDF, is resolved.

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The court's rationale was that if the deal were concluded now with KHNP, EDF would not have the chance to win the contract even if the court later ruled in its favor. Despite the legal challenge, observers in South Korea project that the Czech Republic will ultimately opt for KHNP to ensure its long-term energy security.

"EDF seems desperate because it is losing a nearby market," Kyung Hee University professor Chung Bum-jin told UPI. "Korea won the race on technological merit. Hence, the contract is highly likely to go forward."

"The success in South Korea's flagship export project in the United Arab Emirates demonstrated its capability to finish nuclear construction on time and within budget. That's exactly what the Czech government wants," he said.

Last year, KHNP and its mother company KEPCO completed the construction of four nuclear reactors in UAE's Barakah region. The overall project faced only minor delays, compared to multi-year setbacks seen in some EDF projects.

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KAIST professor Choi Sung-min agreed.

"KHNP is competitive in both pricing and construction speed. That's why the Czech government is eager to wrap this up," he said in a phone interview. "I don't expect the legal process to take very long."

Indeed, following the court decision, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated on the social platform X that the bidding process had been fair and legal.

"The key factor in selecting the supplier was ensuring a sufficient supply of affordable electricity for citizens and businesses, along with the best guarantees," he wrote. "I believe the court understands the full contexts and risks and will decide quickly."

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Earlier this week, state-backed CEZ insisted that the tender was fully transparent in all phases, vowing to seek damages if EDF loses in the legal battle.

"KHNP submitted the most outstanding proposal in all aspects," CEZ CEO Daniel Benes told a press conference in Prague on Wednesday.

The Czech antitrust watchdog UOHS has also backed CEZ's selection of KHNP.

Last July, CEZ named KHNP as the preferred bidder to construct two 1,000-megawatt units at the Dukovany nuclear complex. It marked KHNP's first project in Europe.

Westinghouse originally took part in the competition, but the U.S. company withdrew early, leaving KHNP and EDF in a head-to-head battle.

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Against this backdrop, Daishin Securities analyst Heo Min-ho predicted that the litigation would come to an end in the not-so-distant future.

"If the court lifts the injunction, the project may face a delay of a few weeks or months. But KHNP is still predicted to close the deal later this year," he said. "It seems unlikely that EDF will win the case."

Construction on the Dukovany project is scheduled to begin in 2029 and finish by 2037. In addition to KHNP, many other companies like Daewoo E&C and Doosan Enerbility joined the Korean consortium.

When contacted, KHNP officials declined to comment.
By Greg Torode

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir offers a potentially rich intelligence harvest for China in its own rivalry with India as it gleans data from its fighter jets and other weapons used in action by Pakistan.

Security analysts and diplomats say China's military modernisation has reached a point where it has the ability to deeply scrutinise Indian actions in real time from its border installations and Indian Ocean fleets as well as from space.

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"From an intelligence perspective, this is a rare target of opportunity right on China's borders involving a key potential adversary," said Singapore-based security analyst Alexander Neill.

Two U.S. officials said a Chinese-made J-10 Pakistani jet fighter shot down at least two Indian military planes - one of them a French-made Rafale fighter. India has not acknowledged the loss of any of its planes while Pakistan's defence and foreign ministers have confirmed the use of J-10 aircraft but not commented on which missiles or other weapons were used.

The aerial clash is a rare opportunity for militaries around the world to study the performance of pilots, fighter jets and air-to-air missiles in active combat, and use that knowledge to prepare their own air forces for battle.

Competing regional giants and nuclear powers, India and China are widely seen as long-term strategic rivals, sharing a 3,800 (2,400 mile) Himalayan border that has been disputed since the 1950s and sparked a brief war in 1962.

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The most recent standoff - that started in 2020 - thawed in October as the two sides struck a patrolling agreement.

Security analysts say both sides have taken steps to strengthen their military facilities and capabilities along the border, but it is also from above that China packs an intelligence gathering punch.

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) notes that China now fields 267 satellites - including 115 devoted to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and a further 81 that monitor military electronic and signals information. It is a network that dwarfs its regional rivals, including India, and is second only to the U.S..

"Both in terms of space and missile tracking capabilities, China is much better off now in terms of being able to monitor things as they happen," said Neill, who is an adjunct fellow at Hawaii's Pacific Forum think-tank.

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China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' questions about the deployment of its military satellites and other questions about its intelligence gathering.

Pakistan's military media wing and information minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment on any information sharing with China.

Pakistan has previously said it has an "all-weather strategic, cooperative partnership" with China.

India has not commented on the issue, but its top diplomat in Britain, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, told Sky News on Thursday that China's relationship with Pakistan was not a concern for India.

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"China requires a relationship with all of its neighbours, that includes us," he said.

MISSILE DEPLOYMENTS

Chinese military intelligence teams would be eager to garner information on any Indian use of air defences and launches of cruise and ballistic missiles - not just in terms of flight paths and accuracy but command and control information, analysts and diplomats say.

Any deployment of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile - a weapon it developed jointly with Russia - would be of particular interest, some analysts say, given they do not believe it has been used in combat.

China has also beefed up its intelligence gathering at sea. It has been increasingly active in the Indian Ocean in recent years, with China deploying space tracking ships as well as oceanographic research and fishing vessels on extended deployments, open source intelligence trackers say.

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Regional diplomats say that while the Chinese navy has been relatively cautious about extensive warship deployments into the Indian Ocean, still lacking a broad network of bases, it actively seeks intelligence with these other vessels.

Over the last week, some trackers noted unusually large fleets of Chinese fishing vessels moving apparently in unison to within 120 nautical miles of Indian naval drills in the Arabian Sea as tensions rose with Pakistan.

Pentagon reports on China's military modernisation and analysts note that China's fishing fleets routinely perform a coordinated militia function that plays an important intelligence gathering role.

"These vessels may double up as listening posts, tracking development rhythms and response patterns, feeding early warning, naval intel to their sponsors," wrote open source tracker Damien Symon in an X post that highlighted the deployment of 224 Chinese vessels near Indian naval exercises on May 1.

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Chinese officials do not usually acknowledge the existence of fishing militia or intelligence work carried out by other nominally-civilian vessels.

Given its deep and broad strategic relationship with Pakistan, Beijing can also be expected to fully exploit its network of envoys and military teams there for key nuggets.

"The presence of Chinese military advisers and other personnel in Pakistan is well-known given how Pakistan's Ministry of Defence has been importing some of its most advanced military hardware from China, so we can be certain the PLA would be able to access relevant data," said James Char, a Chinese security scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

(Reporting by Greg Torode; additional reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing, Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad and Krishna Das in New Delhi; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Theres a springtime tradition in the Valley thats been going strong for nearly half a century.

The 48th Annual Angels of Easter Seals fashion show and luncheon returned to Mr. Anthonys in Boardman Thursday.

The event drew nearly 400 people to see local celebrities, including First News anchors Stan Boney and Lindsey Watson, as well as reporter Hanna Erdmann, escorting some of the children who receive services through Easter Seals.

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Organizers admit that with so many charities looking for help, fundraising is never easy.

But this one, we always get a large amount of people. They appreciate our children will be on stage with celebrities from the TV stations, and its always appreciated to see them, said event co-chair Geri Kosar.

Organizers say last years event raised more than $50,000, and they hope to beat that mark.

In its 48 years, the luncheon and fashion show has brought in more than $4 million to pay for services for disabled children and adults in the area.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A man walking in San Franciscos Portola neighborhood in 2020 was shot and killed during an attempted robbery of his cell phone. An anonymous tip sent to police on the following day led to the murder convictions of two people responsible for the senseless tragedy, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office announced Friday.

Zion Young and Fagamalama Pasene were each convicted by a San Francisco jury on Wednesday for first-degree murder and attempted robbery in the May 7, 2020, killing. The victim was identified by the medical examiners office as 19-year-old Kelvin Chew, according to the Chronicle.

Pasene and Young, who were 26 and 19 years old at the time of the murder, were driving in a Honda CR-V on Felton Street before Pasene slowed and partially turned onto Colby Street. Young, prosecutors said, jumped out of the vehicle and confronted Chew on the sidewalk with a firearm. Young demanded Chews cell phone, and when Chew rebuffed and took a swipe at the gun, Young fired two shots.

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Young fled back into the Honda before the vehicle sped away from the scene.

SFPD offers $100K reward in 22-year-old carjacking homicide case

San Francisco Police Department officers found Chews lifeless body near the intersection around 8 p.m.

On the following day, an anonymous tipster informed SFPD that the shooter was Young, according to the DAs office. Investigators found that Young had a previous firearm arrest while he was in the company of Pasene.

[Surveillance video] from the address associated with Mr. Pasene showed him leave in the vehicle used in the murder approximately an hour before the killing, return after, and methodically wipe down the shooters side of the car, prosecutors wrote. Video from the area of Mr. Youngs residence showed him wearing the same distinctive clothing as the shooter walking down the block from the direction of his house and then getting into the black Honda CR-V twenty minutes before the murder.

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A blue semi-automatic Smith and Wesson firearm that matched ballistics testing for two bullet casings found at the scene was recovered during Youngs arrest, the DAs office said.

The victims murder was a senseless tragedy, said SF Assistant District Attorney Dane Reinstedt. The jurys verdict  on the fifth anniversary of his murder  hopefully brings some sense of closure and justice to his still grieving family. My thoughts are with them. I want to thank the jury for their service, attention, and care in this case.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 2025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
OTTAWA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Canada's second-largest airline, WestJet, is pausing nine routes between the United States and Canada as demand dampens for travel between the two countries, local media reported Thursday.

According to CBC News, flights from Canadian cities to U.S. cities of Austin, Los Angeles and Chicago are among those impacted.

"WestJet continuously evaluates and adjusts its schedule to meet demand, and we remain committed to reviewing opportunities for direct service on these routes in the future," a spokesperson was quoted as saying.

WestJet announced in April that it would add new domestic routes within Canada and make it easier to connect with flights to Europe.

The changes came as fewer Canadians travel south amid trade-related tensions, and as U.S. President Donald Trump continues using annexationist rhetoric toward Canada, which he has repeatedly said should be the 51st state of the United States, said the report.

According to Statistics Canada, in March 2025, Canadian residents flew back from 719,500 trips to the United States, which represented a 13.5 percent decline from the same month in 2024.

Amid the tariff war with the United States, the Canadian government is encouraging Canadian consumers to shop and travel within Canada. 
The anonymous donor who has given the Washington County Library system $525,000 over the past 20 years has sent another check.

The Washington County Board accepted the $30,000 gift on Tuesday.

Library officials plan to use the money to upgrade projectors and projector screens at the library branches, create community outreach kits and improve the display areas and accessibility of library material in the different branches, said Jacquie Kramer, library director.

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It is a wonderful donation that really helps us augment our services to the county, Kramer said. Were very appreciative.

The donor first gave a check for $5,000 to the Washington County Library system in 2005. The following year, another check for $5,000 arrived. In 2007, a $20,000 check arrived. Then came checks for $25,000 in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Since 2011, checks for $30,000 have arrived every year like clockwork, Kramer said.

Each check is mailed to Washington County via the U.S. Postal Service with a return address listing a trust company in Sioux Falls, S.D. The only stipulation: Library officials must respect the donors anonymity.

We dont even know if its a man or a woman, Kramer said. Its completely anonymous.

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The Washington County Library system receives about $5,250 in other donations from 15 to 20 donors per year, Kramer said. Many of the donations come as In Memoriam gifts.

The money is a boost to the Washington County Library system, which circulated more than 2.7 million items in 2024 and operates seven public libraries, three library locker locations and the Washington County Law Library, said Kramer, who oversees an $9.8 million budget and a staff of 100 employees.

For locations, hours and other details on the Washington County Library system, go online to www.washcolib.org.

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WARREN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Anthony E. Mays, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, after a very sudden decline in his health, Tony was only 64 years of age.

Tony was born on April 15, 1961, in Ashland, Kentucky, to Anthony C. Mays and Mary (Roar) Mays.

Find obituaries from your high school

Later in life, Tony met Kim, his soul mate and partner in life. They have been together for 26 years. Tony was Kims rock and his personality perfectly complemented Kims.

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Tony lived his life the best he knew and left this earth loved by more people than he knew. While our hearts mourn the loss, we take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering. His departure comes as a great shock and deep wound and it is gravely felt by his entire family and countless others who loved him deeply.

Tony was strong willed and stubborn at times but he also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. He was generous, loyal and brave. His mother always said he was tender-hearted.

He loved Elton John, Nickelback and Creed. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and was also a great athlete when he was younger.

He will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them and if you knew him, you knew it. He will be deeply missed.

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He is survived by his companion, Kim Eckert; Kims children, Robbie (Stephanie) Eckert, Shannon Ritter and Eleanor Eckert; grandchildren, Dwayne, Christopher, Hailie, Alannah, Alexandria, Lowgan, Lindsey and Lelan; father, Anthony C. Mays; brother, Michael (Barbara) Mays; brother, Joseph (Michelle) Mays; sister, Carla (Pat) Mays-Candelmo; nephew, Jacob Mays; niece, Madison Nalbach and close friend, Josh Grossbeck.

Tony was preceded in death by his mother, Mary (Roar) Mays, who died September 19, 2019 and a granddaughter, Emily.

Friends may call from 2:00  4:00 p.m., on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Carl W. Hall Funeral Home.

Tony, everyone you left in this world hates that you are gone but we are happy that you are home free and painless. We will always love and miss you until we meet again.

A television tribute will air Sunday, May 11 at the following approximate times: 6:27 p.m. on WYTV and 6:58 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Along party lines, the House of Representatives approved a combination bill that would ban anti-sanctuary city policies and make local officials honor cooperative agreements their county jail warden or local police chiefs made with federal immigration authorities.

House Majority Floor Leader Joseph Sweeney, R-Salem, was the architect of the new proposal that combines two bills that the Senate and House had separately passed into one proposal (SB 62 amended).

If you are in New Hampshire illegally, you are not welcome in the State of New Hampshire, Sweeney said.

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Rep. David Meuse, D-Portsmouth, said this could lead to higher local property taxes since the state and federal governments arent going to cover any of the community costs to enter into a so-called Section 287 G Task Force Agreement.

This not only seeks to reduce local control to a point where it can be drowned in a bathtub, but it forces us to find cities and counties that refuse to knuckle under, Meuse said. This is far from a trivial agreement in terms of time and dollars.

State Police, sheriffs in three counties and police in six towns have already applied or received approval from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the cooperative agreements with Gov. Kelly Ayottes blessing.

The final vote of 202-160 was highly partisan.

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Rep. Dale Girard, D-Claremont, was the only House Democrat to support it and Rep. Brian Taylor, R-Freedom, was the only House Republican to oppose it.

Last February, the House had endorsed a different but related anti-sanctuary city bill (HB 511) by a 351-6 roll call vote.

Since then, at the behest of President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with DHS has staged raids across the country to round up suspected illegal migrants and move to deport them.

Trump has spoken to officials from several countries about housing the deported individuals and endorsed placing the most serious criminals at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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House Democrats drop support

In response, House Democratic leaders declared the state should not cooperate at all with Trump officials in this manner.

Last month, a test vote on the issue reverted to the usual partisanship as it passed 201-161.

New Hampshire has no sanctuary cities, but Sweeney said as written his bill applies to the welcoming ordinances that officials in Hanover and Lebanon have adopted.

This is a solution in search of a problem, said Rep. Alissandra Murray, D-Manchester.

Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, R-Winchester, stressed that it doesnt force all law enforcement and prison wardens to enter into the cooperative agreements.

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Rep. Buzz Scherr, D-Portsmouth, tried to amend the bill to require that local law enforcement cooperating with ICE must identify themselves in public, give their badge numbers and the agency they represent.

When ICE goes to detain someone they go in masks, their faces are covered, they dont tell people who they are, Scherr said. If New Hampshire law enforcement officials are going to participate under an act of ICE, New Hampshire doesnt want those people being incognito, Scherr said.

We shouldnt have something that feels like a kidnapping situation for those who are watching it.

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Chairman Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, said hed agree with Scherr on most occasions, but sometimes local police could be asked to help federal officials take down violent criminals who could threaten to harm their loved ones.

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We want to give them the safety for themselves and their families so they can continue to do the job.

The House rejected Scherrs amendment, 199-161.

Whats Next: The bill heads to the State Senate and if it agrees with the two-bill, combination platter, the package goes to Ayottes desk.

Prospects: The Republican-led Legislature has never been closer to making an anti-sanctuary city bill become a reality. The only thing that could stop this is an unrelated dispute between House and Senate leaders on something serious enough to put all kinds of other bills at risk.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his new nominee for surgeon general would be Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer with an inactive medical license who dropped out of her residency program.

Casey has impeccable MAHA credentials, Trump wrote in the announcement, referencing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedys Make America Healthy Again slogan. The president promised that Means will ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.

Trumps announcement comes a day before confirmation hearings were set to begin with his first surgeon general nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a family medicine physician and former Fox News contributor. Shell work with Kennedy in another capacity at HHS, Trump said.

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Heres what you should know about Means.

Trump says he doesnt even know her.

When Trump took a reporters question about Means from the Oval Office on Thursday morning, he confessed he doesnt know her.

Bobby really thought she was great, he said, referring to Kennedy. I dont know her. I listened to the recommendation of Bobby. I met her yesterday and once before.

Dr. Casey Means, left, and right-wing personality Megan Kelly attend a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in January. via Associated Press

Trump also boasted that Means graduated first in her class at Stanford  though HuffPost could not find any instances of Means claiming this. Stanford does not publicize its highest academic achievers from each class, and when asked to verify Trumps claims, the university would only confirm that Means finished Stanford undergrad with honors in 2009 and graduated from its medical school in 2014.

Shes a residency dropout without a medical license.

After finishing medical school, Means dropped out of her residency  the multiyear post-graduate medical training program most doctors need to complete to get their medical license.

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There was something inside of me that was whispering and then speaking a little louder, and then finally was a deafening call to me that something is not right, she said on Joe Rogans show last fall.

When you pop up for just a second and look around at what is happening to American health ... its a disaster, its literally a disaster, she continued, explaining her decision to discontinue residency in head and neck surgery and begin practicing so-called functional medicine  a holistic approach to health care focused on finding the root causes of disease.

Means Oregon medical license is listed as inactive as of January 2024.

Kennedy is already defending Means background.

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The attacks that Casey is unqualified because she left the medical system completely miss the point of what we are trying to accomplish with MAHA, he wrote on social media.

Currently, Means runs her company Levels, a wearable glucose monitor startup, and promotes her self-help wellness book, Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.

Shes echoed Kennedys vaccine conspiracy theories and autism claims.

Means far more closely aligns with Kennedys anti-vaccine views than Nesheiwat, whos praised the COVID-19 shot as a gift from God, though she has pushed back against vaccine mandates.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. watches as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters on May 5. via Associated Press

In an appearance on Megyn Kellys podcast last year, Means accused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of jamming a vaccine schedule down our throat and claimed the Food and Drug Administration couldnt be trusted to regulate vaccines because some of its top employees now work in the pharmaceutical industry.

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We cant question it or else were shamed for being terrible, anti-vaxx people, she continued.

Means also linked autism and vaccines when she appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, saying, Its like, yeah, I bet that one vaccine probably isnt causing autism. But what about the 20 that theyre getting before 18 months?

In an Instagram post last year railing against sugar cereals, Means claimed that autism and other conditions are caused by artificially colored, toxin infused, pesticide covered Frankenfood thats poisoning their poor little bodies.

Shes called birth control a threat to womens life-giving nature.

Means heavily leaned into some of the anti-reproductive rights movements rhetoric around birth control, calling its use a disrespect of life during an appearance on Tucker Carlsons show.

Youve got these medications that are literally shutting down the hormones in the female body that create this cyclical, life-giving nature of women, she said. We basically told women, These hormones dont matter. Your ability to create the most miracle of any miracles, which is create life, just shut it down, theres no impacts.

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Means is sounding a dog whistle for the conspiracy theory that hormonal birth control use has a long-term impact on womens future fertility, something the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has called a myth.

Means claims could help normalize the Republican partys attacks on birth control access. Project 2025 laid out a pathway to make it easier for employers to refuse contraceptive coverage in their employees health plans, and during Trumps first three months in office, one report found, 11.7 million women and girls around the world were denied birth control due to his dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Kennedys running mate isnt happy with this nomination.

Nicole Shanahan, the billionaire Kennedy tapped as his running mate when he was a presidential candidate, has spoken out against Means nomination, saying she made Kennedy promise her hed never give her or her brother, entrepreneur Calley Means, a job.

I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be), she wrote on X. I dont know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on.

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She described the siblings as having something very artificial and aggressive about them.

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Antony Blinkens stepfather was held in a Nazi death camp for two years during World War II. He escaped with a friend during a forced march in Bavaria, and as they ran for their lives they came upon a tank, Blinken said.

The tank had a five-pointed star on it, and as the men approached an American G.I. poked his head out of the top. Blinkens stepfather then said the three English words he knew, God bless America.

Blinken, the first Jewish U.S. secretary of state, told the story during a conversation in Salt Lake City on Thursday with former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake, who is now chairman of the board at World Trade Center Utah.

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After serving for four years during the Biden administration, Blinken said he is now retired, which means hes primarily spending time with his two young children, who are 6 and 5 years old.

During his remarks to Utahs political and business leaders at the Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, a two-day, invitation-only event sponsored by Zions Bank and World Trade Center Utah, Blinken called for the U.S. to remain the last, best hope of the world by continuing to assert global leadership.

He also spoke about why he felt it was important for the U.S. to back Ukraine after Russia invaded in 2022, and the war in Gaza, following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks.

The world comes to Utah

Blinken was among the many global leaders who were in Salt Lake City on Wednesday and Thursday to speak at the summit.

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Earlier on Thursday, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke with Harris Simmons, chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation. Her remarks were off the record.

Simmons told the Deseret News that tariffs and supply chain issues are top of mind for people at the summit.

Secretary Rice made the observation that were not going back to a China where we have the kind of supply chain that has existed for the last two to three decades  thats a thing of the past," he said.

Thats different, he said, than what was expected after China joined the World Trade Organization, and will lead businesses to review their supply chains.

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We all hope that President (Donald) Trump is successful in negotiating trade deals that are in the mutual interest of the U.S. and our trading partners, Simmons said. It is going to cause some disruption.

In addition to Blinken and Rice, Thursdays summit attendees also heard from former U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Flake gets to grill his old boss

At the beginning of their conversation, Flake joked about getting to question a tough boss.

As secretary of state, Blinken oversaw Flake during his time as ambassador to Turkey.

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Flake served during a tenuous time in the region, including during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan  which did not come up during his conversation with Blinken  and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which they did discuss.

Blinken had high praise for Flake and his service as ambassador. He called Flake the right person in the right place at the right time.

Blinkens 2 concerns about American global leadership

President Trump is taking a very different approach to foreign policy than the Biden administration did, asserting an America first policy on the global stage that includes tariffs, a reduction in foreign aid and criticism of even close allies.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and he and special envoy Steven Witkoff are also trying to stop the fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

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Blinken said he hopes the U.S. will maintain its position as a leader in the world.

The world doesnt organize itself, he said. The lack of American leadership could lead to a vacuum that is filled by others looking to take its place.

His second concern is related to the Trump administrations decision to cut funds for USAID and other foreign aid organizations. The return on that investment is extraordinary, he said.

Without those tools of soft power, the U.S. will need to find other ways to communicate and cooperate with others, he said.

Blinken on why the U.S. supported Ukraine

In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine for the second time in a decade, Blinken said the Biden administration believed strongly they had to help them.

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This was an aggression not just against Ukraine, but against the very principles that had been at the heart of the international system since the end of World War II, he said.

Blinken said if they had let that aggression go forward, others would think they could also get away with it, pointing specifically to Chinas ambitions with Taiwan.

He said he believes if the ceasefire and peace deal the Trump administration is trying to negotiate moves forward, it will just give Russian President Vladimir Putin time to retrench and rebuild his forces.

To stop that, he said, the U.S. should support Europes aims to put troops along the demarcation line, or the U.S. should welcome Ukraine into NATO.

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The Trump administration says they want to stop the killing of troops and civilians on both sides of the border. While its tough to be sure, estimates are that more than half a million soldiers and civilians have been killed in the war.

Trump is also staunchly opposed to inviting Ukraine to join NATO, and instead has signed a critical minerals agreement with Kyiv to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

Blinken asked about Trump tariffs, China

Flake asked Blinken whether Trumps decisions to put additional tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. from China was a good decision.

Blinken said he agreed with the tariffs Trump levied during his first four years in office, which were continued during the Biden administration, but said instead of additional tariffs President Joe Biden took a different approach with China.

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In order to counter some of Chinas trade practices, Biden wanted to invest in ourselves, by spending money on infrastructure and to boost chip manufacturing. The administration also tried to align with European and other allies to counter Chinas dominance in manufacturing.

China manufactures one-third of the goods consumed across the world, he said.

Blinken said decoupling U.S. and Chinese markets is a fantasy, and said instead the U.S. should engage in derisking.

On Trumps decision to levy 10% across the board tariffs, Blinken said the industrial tax increase will be a sea change for the global economy. He said he hopes the tariffs will eventually be much more narrowly focused.

Blinken on war in Gaza

Blinken called the Hamas attacks one of the most horrific events in my lifetime. The worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

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The deepest poison in the world is dehumanization, Blinken said. When that sets in, everything bad is so much easier, and everything good is so much harder, he said.

Nowhere is that more clear, evident, powerful than in the Middle East, he said.

Blinken said the Biden administration felt strongly they had to defend Israel after Hamas attacked, while also trying to contain the fighting so it didnt become a regional conflict. He also expressed concerns about the Palestinians and how they have suffered because of Hamas.

A final agreement, Blinken said, should include a state for Palestinians  something Trump has said he doesnt support.

At the end of his remarks, Blinken circled back to the anecdote he told about his stepfather at the beginning.

He said he hopes the U.S. will maintain the trust of its allies so it can remain the worlds last, best hope.
LONDON (AP)  A decade after his death, Lemmy, the frontman of the legendary British heavy metal band Motorhead, will stand tall and proud in his hometown in the north of England.

Well, his statue will.

Inside the statue though will be some of Lemmys ashes, so it will no doubt become a shrine for Motorhead's legion of fans around the world.

And indeed it was on Friday, as the statue to the hard-living Lemmy  real name Ian Kilmister  was unveiled in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

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Black leather and denim jackets emblazoned with Lemmy's image were the norm for the day on a bright and sunny day in the northern English town. No wonder, many fans opted for a thirst-quencher at the local pub. There were even some Lemmy lookalikes.

Lemmy was the only continuous member of Motorhead, which he co-founded in 1975 after he was fired from another legendary rock band, Hawkwind, following a drug possession arrest at the Canadian border.

So he decided to go his own way and Motorhead helped pioneer heavy metal music in Britain  and around the world  with a string of high-octane albums, perhaps most memorably with 1980s Ace Of Spades.

The statue was crafted by acclaimed local sculptor and lifelong Motorhead fan Andy Edwards  who is best-known for his statue of the Beatles on Liverpools Pier Head. It captures Lemmy, who died from cancer in December 2015 at the age of 70, in his iconic pose with his bass guitar.

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In December, following his will's instructions, another batch of Lemmys ashes were installed in an urn shaped like his trademark cavalry hat at the Stringfellows gentlemens club in London where he was a regular.

That and Fridays ceremony are part of the Lemmy Forever! movement, which sees the rocker enshrined in many of his favorite spots around the world.

Lemmys legendary status was evident at his funeral, which saw rock heavyweights including The Foo Fighters Dave Grohl, Guns N Roses guitarist Slash and Metallica members Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo pay tribute.
May 2-8, 2025

Congregants attended an Indigenous blessing ceremony for Communion wafers in Chiapas state, Mexico. Fans packed the shore of Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro to attend a free Lady Gaga concert. Mexican bullfighter Diego Silveti smiled at fans after a bullfight in Aguascalientes, Mexico. People searched for recyclable items in trash bins in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean.

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The selection was curated by AP photographer Ariana Cubillos, based in Caracas, Venezuela.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Crime rates are moving in the right direction, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. APD Chief Harold Medina said its due in part to hiring civilian professionals who free up officers to patrol the streets. When we civilianized the department, have done an amazing job, whether its going through electronic evidence, finding social media evidence, bringing it to our detectives, they have been extremely successful, said Chief Medina.

Student accused of bringing gun to Albuquerque school will not be held

Earlier this year, APD reported that 2024 was a good year for the city with a significant drop in violent crime and a dip in property crime, thanks in part to new crime-fighting technologies. On Thursday, the chief said those trends are continuing, with homicides and shootings down by about 50% compared to the first quarter of last year. Auto theft was also down by nearly 50%, along with drops in the rates of burglary and shoplifting. Meanwhile, officers were bringing more suspects in, with the number of felony arrests up by 12%.

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Now, the goal is to keep the trend going. We can get people to mental health resources, and that we ensure that repeat offenders who are a danger to the community stay in jail, said Chief Medina.

APD said the citys numbers outpace the trend nationwide, which is also seeing drops in crime.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Theres an increased security presence on the campus of Appalachian State University Friday, one day after a campus-wide alert about an alleged rape inside a freshman dorm.

The school told Channel 9 that theres an increased police presence around all of the residence halls, and theyre actively reviewing surveillance video from the dorm where it allegedly happened.

RELATED: Rape reported at App State dorm

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It was a bit scary, definitely alarming -- put everyone on edge, I would say, said Camryn Stanley, a student outside of Frank Hall.

For freshmen at the school, this isnt how they wanted to finish their first year at college.

Obviously, it was horrific ... its scary knowing the call is coming from within your house, said Jacqueline Fuellhart.

According to a police report, the university was alerted shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. App State says students can only access the dorms with a key card, and those cards only work at the dorms where the student resides.

Anybody could have let them in, said Carson Hedson. If you knock on the door, someones going to open the door, probably.

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We checked the most recent data from 2021 through 2023, which says there were 31 reported sexual assaults on campus. About 87% of those cases were reported at residential housing.

[It] tells us to be aware of who were letting into the dorms and who is going into our rooms with us, and who we trust, said Gracie Sheaff.

At this point, police dont have a description of the suspect.

The university says its offering resources for anyone who needs it.

(VIDEO: Samaritans Purse helps App State students with flood cleanup)
Director of the Newark Earthworks Center

The Ohio State University

Newark, OH

Department:

Newark | General



The Ohio State University at Newark invites applications for Director of the Newark Earthworks Center at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure. We seek a scholar whose research employs Native American and Indigenous Studies methodologies, foregrounding Indigenous peoples intellectual traditions, histories, aesthetics, geographies, and other ways of knowing. We welcome applications from publicly engaged scholars with leadership and administrative experience whose research and teaching demonstrates accountability to Indigenous communities.



The Newark Earthworks Center is an academic research center at The Ohio State University, housed on the Newark campus. The mission of the Newark Earthworks Center is to promote and support research, teaching and engagement by faculty, students, scholars, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders with an interest in the ancestral and contemporary Indigenous places, peoples, cultures and experiences within and around Ohio.



In addition to serving in the leadership role, the director will also be a dedicated teacher and productive scholar. The departmental home of the position is open. Possibilities include, but are not limited to, Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art. At The Ohio State University, while faculty teach primarily on their home campus, all faculty members Tenure-Initiating Units are based in Columbus.



This hire follows a concentrated emphasis of hiring faculty in Indigenous studies at Ohio State's Columbus campus over the past several years. The director will have the opportunity to collaborate with the American Indian Studies program in the Center for Ethnic Studies in developing programming.



The director will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the efforts of World Heritage Ohio to celebrate Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Site.



The new director will be expected to develop a clear research focus, based on the NEC mission and the recognition of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as a serial World Heritage Site (2023); to collaborate across disciplines, universities, and other Indigenous World Heritage sites; and to communicate the NEC mission effectively with media and constituencies.

Performance Objectives

 Lead the Newark Earthworks Center, building its profile as an academic research center and its profile on campus and across Licking County, connecting with stakeholders beyond the campus, and bringing attention to the Midwest Indigenous cultures who created the earthworks at the core of the Centers mission;

 Expand meaningful research and outreach opportunities for students on the campus;

 Develop impactful, productive scholarship consistent with the ongoing missing of the Newark Earthworks Center;

 Cultivate productive relationships with tribal governments;

 Collaborate with scholars across departments and engage diverse constituencies (including Indigenous communities) inside and outside of the university;

 Teach and advise graduate and undergraduate students; and

 Seek out external funding that emphasizes the strengths of the NECs research and outreach efforts (as directed by the Office Academic Affairs).

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Tenure faculty (regardless of rank) - persons with the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor who serve on appointments totaling 50% or more service to the university and who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. Duties and responsibilities are assigned in accordance with the workload guidelines laid out in the pattern of administration of each faculty members tenure initiation unit (TIU) and, as appropriate, regional campus; obligations will include research, service and/or teaching or clinical practice. These faculty will have earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study or possession of equivalent experience.

Additional Information:

Qualifications

Required

 A PhD in Indigenous Studies or American Indian Studies or PhD in an allied field (including but not limited to Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art), with a research specialization in Indigenous or American Indian Studies;

 Prior academic experience at a research-intensive university;

 Demonstrated track record of academic leadership, management and collaboration;

 A record of teaching excellence.

Desired

 Demonstrated ability to facilitate, articulate, execute and/or steward a strategic vision;

 Familiarity working with campus administrators and leaders;

 A commitment to cultivating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students;

 Demonstrated experience working with external stakeholders to establish and maintain collaborations;

 Experience collaborating with alumni, campus leadership, and external stakeholders to expand financial resources.

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Application materials must include the following required documents:

Cover letter

Curriculum Vita (CV)

Statement of Research

Statement of Teaching and Mentoring

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https://osujoblinks.com/m7f3

The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success.



The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of Americas leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.



The Ohio State Universitys Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.



Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.



The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University.



In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).



The Campus

The Ohio State University at Newark offered its first classes in 1957 with a mission to provide affordable, open access to Ohio State for all Ohioans. The Newark campus sits on 188 acres and shares the campus with Central Ohio Technical College. The two institutions have a strong partnership whereby they share all buildings and general-purpose classrooms, approximately 100 staff, operating expenses, and a number of capital equipment investments. Shared departments include Advancement; Business and Finance; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Facilities, Planning and Operations; Library; Marketing and Public Relations; Purchasing and Auxiliary Services; Student Financial Services; and Student Life.

Ohio State Newark currently enrolls more than 2,200 students who are taught and mentored by 45 tenure-track faculty who are members of their university-level academic department. Students can complete eight bachelors degree programs at the Newark Campus and start any of Ohio States 200+ majors. In addition to excellent academic offerings, students can participate in the Honors program, service learning, education abroad, and a wide variety of student clubs and organizations.



Ohio State Newark is situated near the Ohio State University Columbus campus, presenting great opportunities for new and innovative partnerships to benefit students, faculty, and staff. The future of the campus will be impacted by the significant growth and development in Licking County, including a new Intel facility, expansion of Meta and Google facilities, and more. Students are creating innovative pathways to their degree completion due to the proximity to multiple campuses.



The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans/disability.
KABUL, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A total of 9,113 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Wednesday and Thursday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems said Friday.

In April, more than 250,000 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland from Pakistan and Iran, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Nearly 7 million Afghan refugees, most of them undocumented migrants, are currently living abroad, with most living in Iran and Pakistan. 
There were tears, desperation and panic in every step April Garcia's family took to get answers.

Family members approached neighbors inside the County Club Apartments complex on the city's south side near Garfield Park with flyers with a photo and information about Garcia, who has been missing for a month.

"Please, have you seen this person? Her name is April Garcia, and she lives here," Alexis Ibarra says to a group of people in the 400 block of Sandra Lane. Garcia, 42, is her mother, and Ibarra flew over 2,200 miles from California to Indiana to search for her.

A photo of April Marie Garcia. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the public's help to find Garcia, who has been declared missing.

Ibarra's grandmother, Sandra Gomez, sister Jessica Garcia, uncle Jesse Pacheco, and 12-year-old sister Khloee Garcia, along with two family friends, were scouring the complex for clues on May 7. Her brother, Jose Garcia Jr., was on his own hunt to find information about a mile away at Garfield Park.

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Meanwhile, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were searching the park with a cadaver dog. There was no indication that Garcia had died, but investigators wanted to cover all bases. Detective Nicole Bockting, covered in pollen, told the family they didn't find anything.

That's when a next-door neighbor of April Garcia pulled up and told the family they had ring camera footage. The timestamp for the video was after 11:53 p.m. April 1 and shows her walking out of her apartment. It's a clue they didn't have before and adds to a timeline of Garcia's disappearance.

April Garcia, 42, missing since April 1, 2025

Garcia was seen leaving her home on April 1, and on April 12, she called a family member saying she wouldn't be returning. The family says the call was unusual. While she's disconnected from them in the past, she'd always at least let people know she was OK. The most she'd ever be gone was a week.

"She was saying that no one loves her, but that's so unlike her," Ibarra said. "We do love her, and we want her home, but at the very least let us know she's OK, like she usually does."

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The family reported her missing on April 16.

On May 1, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police put out a call for help finding her.

Since the callout, the family has received numerous tips about potential sightings. They're hoping to weed through legit tips vs people seeking financial reward.

April Garcia, 42, with her daughters Alexis Ibarra and Khloee Garcia. The mother was last seen on April 1 in the 400 block of Sandra Lane before being reported missing.

'We love you.' Police, family asks for public's help locating April Garcia

"She lived here with me," Sandra Gomez, Garcia's mother, told IndyStar. "She would go out with her friends, but she'd be coming back. Even if we got into our little arguments, that would not stop her from coming home. I called her phone the next day, and it was off. She wasn't active on her Facebook either."

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The family said she suffered from PTSD and had run-ins with the law, but through it all, she always had family support. She was living in California with her daughter, Ibarra, before moving to Indiana to stay with her mother.

Numerous tips came in from people who claimed to have spotted her since he was missing, and each tip suggests that she seemed to be running from something or someone. The family is afraid drugs might be a factor, and they hope to find her before something terrible happens.

Here's how to help with missing persons

Anyone with information about Garcia's whereabouts can call 911, the IMPD Missing Persons Unit at (317) 327-6160, or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS). You can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip or go to www.CrimeTips.org to submit a web tip.

#VIDEO: New ring camera footage from a neighbor showing April Garcia, 42, leaving her home before her family last seen her April 1, 2025 & she was reported missing.



They believe she was picked up by a vehicle right outside her apartment. Timestamped after 11:53 p.m. pic.twitter.com/4osyttYjAf  Jade Jackson, MBA Candidate (@IAMJADEJACKSON) May 8, 2025

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said cooperation from family and friends of a missing person is crucial. A case begins with the understanding that loved ones often know more than anyone else. Sharing clothing descriptions, routines, vehicle information, and future plans helps. Most investigations rely heavily on strong collaboration with families and assistance from our community.

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"I'm out here every day looking for her," Gomez said. "Some people tell me her face is swollen or she looks different and I just want her to be OK. I don't know what she's eating or where she's going to sleep and I worry."

The family went up and down Shelby Street, collecting any information they could from areas Garcia has been known to frequent. They asked a lot of people at homeless camps where she'd been spotted, posted and passed around flyers with her information.

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: April Garcia: The search for woman missing in Indianapolis
A group of Northeast Pennsylvania residents witnessed history.

A group of 48 people from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties traveling with Scranton agency TravelWorld arrived in Vatican City when the papal conclave began Wednesday and were in Rome on Thursday when the conclave elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope.

Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, is the first American pope to lead the church.

The group had already left the Vatican and were at dinner in another part of Rome when white smoke billowed from a chimney near the Sistine Chapel, said Matt Kizis, owner of TravelWorld. The group erupted in cheers.

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Everybody was smiling because everybody feels it, he said.

As the group celebrated the new pontiff, local religious leaders reacted to the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Both the Most Rev. Joseph Bambera, bishop of Scranton, and the Rev. Thomas Looney, president of Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, noted the historic ending to the conclave Thursday afternoon.

Looney noted the popes chosen name, Leo, and the connection to Kings College, which is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross.

It is a wonderful surprise to have a pope born, raised, and ordained in the United States. And it is a special joy for us at Kings College that Cardinal Prevost chose the name Leo, he said in a statement. The coat of arms of Leo XIII, who taught about the dignity of human labor and advocated for justice, is part of the Colleges official seal. Pope Leo XIV will be an advocate for the poor and the marginalized as a means to peace.

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In a statement, Bambera called on the faithful in the Diocese of Scranton to pray for the new pope and said his experience working with the poor will be beneficial to him.

While the election of Pope Leo XIV is historic as the first North American to be elected Pope, his vast missionary experience of walking among the poor and serving those on the margins with humility, will serve him well as he echoes Christs call of going forth and making disciples of all nations to all people, he said. With this selection, I believe the Cardinals have recognized the vibrancy, faithfulness, and strength of the Church in the United States. For generations, American Catholics have sought to embrace the Gospel with compassion  and having a shepherd chosen from among us is both humbling and affirming. It also speaks to the goodness that has grown in the church of North America  a goodness bearing fruit in service and evangelization.

While Prevost didnt come up on most media lists of potential popes, University of Scranton Vice President for Mission and Ministry Daniel Cosacchi had Prevost on his short list for the role because of his alliance with Pope Francis. Under Francis papacy, Prevost was named bishop of Peru in 2013 and head of the office of the Dicastery for Bishops a few years ago, he said.

Cosacchi, an expert in the papal conclave, said Prevost struck people as a moderate, carrying on the main points of Pope Francis legacy and his pontificate, and that as a missionary in Peru he has experience in the global church.

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He said Prevosts historic appointment was remarkable to him from on a professional and personal level.

I am joining people all around the world in praying for Pope Leo the XIV and Im very excited and hopeful to see how hell lead the church, he said.

The tour group arrived in Venice last Thursday before arriving in Rome earlier this week.

While in Rome, they visited the Colosseum and several spots in Vatican City, including St. Peters Basilica, the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Vatican Museum. Kizis said the visits to the sites were planned before the conclave, allowing the group to visit them.

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While at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Pittston resident Tom Harfman, an escort with Travel World, was able to see the tomb where the late Pope Francis was buried.

It was overwhelming because everybody loved him so much, he said.

One site they were unable to visit was the Sistine Chapel, which was closed to the public during the conclave. They were able to see the entrances to the chapel, which were guarded.

While in the Vatican, they had a view of the smokestack affixed to the top of the chapel but werent able to see the black and eventually white smoke that emitted from it. However, being in the city, they quickly learned when the white smoke came from it.

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Those on the tour said the city was busy because this year marks a jubilee year in the church, but the conclave made it even busier. Kizis, who traveled with the Travel World group for the first time and holds dual American and Italian citizenship, estimated the group was among 250,000 people who came to Vatican City to see the new pope.

On the streets, he heard people reciting prayers in multiple languages, talking about the future pope and expressing awe at the tradition of electing a pope.

It was interesting because theres people from every corner of the world that are out there here at Rome, the Vatican specifically, and its one of those things that it reminded me that no matter how defined the world may seem, faith brings everybody together, he said. It was a very unique experience.

Mark Rowan of Pittston and Wilkes-Barre resident Bob Reilly are among the group. Reilly said the enthusiasm he experienced in the crowds around him is something he will never forget. He also said the security is immense and makes them feel safe.

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Rowan, who is in Italy for the first time, said seeing so many people from around the world makes him and his fellow travelers feel like they are part of something big.

The little towns of Wilkes-Barre and Pittston are represented over here but its a small grain of salt on a big beach over here, he said.

Kizis said as a lifelong Catholic who graduated from the former Bishop OReilly High School in Kingston, being in Rome as a new pope was elected was special.

John Madden, sales manager for the travel company that has offices in Kingston and Scranton, helped plan the trip and regularly heard from his colleagues during the trip.

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While he said Thursday morning he wished he was with the group as they experience the conclave, he will be able to see the new pope in August, when a group of 100 pilgrims from the Diocese of Scranton travels to Italy for a Jubilee pilgrimage.

That trip will include a papal audience.

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A group of people from Luzerne and Lackawanna County travelled to Italy this month and were in Rome during the papal conclave, which selected Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV as the new pope. (Submitted)

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A group of people from Luzerne and Lackawanna County travelled to Italy this month and were in Rome during the papal conclave, which selected Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV as the new pope. (Submitted)

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A group of tourists from the region happen to be in Rome at a historic time, as the as the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church begin deliberations for a new Pope. The group from TravelWorld gathered in St. Peters Square. (TravelWorld)

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A group of people from Luzerne and Lackawanna County travelled to Italy this month and were in Rome during the papal conclave, which selected Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV as the new pope. (Submitted)

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WWEUX)  As representatives in Washington look to push through a budget plan that includes cuts to Medicaid, some area lawmakers held a roundtable discussion over those cuts. State Senator Jeff Smith from Brunswick said more than 1 million Wisconsinites rely on Medicaid, including nearly 150,000 seniors, nearly half a million children, and 187,000 people with disabilities.

He added that if federal funding gets cut, the state must either foot the bill or cut certain benefits. This is not welfare. This is something that has been earned and (is) part of our fabric in America for a long time. It reflects how we believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and we shouldnt turn it into a privilege.

Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden said that he has introduced a resolution that would prohibit funding cuts to Medicaid or SNAP for seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

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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 FOX2548 & WIProud.
This is an adapted excerpt from the May 8 episode of The Beat with Ari Melber.

Donald Trumps erratic and unpredictable trade war is upending markets, stoking recession fears and alienating a growing number of Americans. A new Economist/YouGov poll found that 75% of Americans are concerned that tariffs will increase prices, while 61% want businesses to display how much the tariffs increased the price of the product.

You may recall thats exactly what Trump feared. Late last month, the president angrily called Jeff Bezos to complain about a report that Amazon was considering displaying tariff costs on its product listings.

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But Trumps rage cant change reality. Ford has now increased its prices on three car models. According to company estimates, Trumps trade war will reduce profits by $1.5 billion. Toyota is forecasting a 21% decline in profits due to tariffs.

Its apparent that no one wants these tariffs: American businesses dont, foreign businesses dont, governments dont and American consumers definitely dont. Well, almost everyone. As Fox News Laura Ingraham noted, No one wants what Trump is doing except, you know, the MAGA crowd, the reset crowd.

Trump is trying to sell an austerity message completely at odds with his campaign promises of wealth and prosperity. Trumps treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said that while kids might have fewer dolls, theyll have economic freedom.

MAGA figures have tried to explain Trumps tariffs by citing large trade deficits between the U.S. and other countries, like China, Mexico and Vietnam. But, to be clear, mainstream economists say Trumps understanding of trade deficits is way off base, and that there are many occasions when it is a good thing to run trade deficits. But Trump believes its a bad thing.

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With that in mind, on Thursday, Trump announced that the U.S. has reached an initial agreement with the United Kingdom on trade. Its worth noting that in 2024, the U.S. had a trade surplus with the U.K. of nearly $12 billion.

Its also worth noting that this is not a finalized trade deal. As Bloomberg News reported, Trumps framework lacks detail: At this point, the presidents debut trade agreement is more about the hype than the substance.

Nobel-winning economist Paul Krugman suggested Trump is pretending to fix what he broke with a trade deal that may or may not happen sometime in the future. Krugman also called it the tariff equivalent of concepts of a plan for health care.

While tariffs would be reduced for cars and steel in Trumps new framework, 10% tariffs on many, and perhaps most, U.K. products still remain.

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The bottom line here is, despite what Trump says, theres no final trade deal with the U.K.  and there's not even the concept of a plan for a deal with China, where Trumps 145% tariffs are still in place.

Experts are warning that without a deal, Trumps tariffs on China could lead to barren shelves in a matter of weeks. No amount of headlines about partial deals with the U.K. can change that reality barreling toward American consumers.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- In a historic moment for both the Catholic Church and the world, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been elected the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

His selection marks the first time an American has held the papacy following the passing of Pope Francis.

I think its really a cool thing for our country, said Patrick Miller, reflecting on the significance of this milestone in Catholic history.

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Robert Prevost elected the first American pope in history, will take the name Leo XIV

Thousands gathered in St. Peters Square erupted in applause as the new Pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, a sight that signaled the beginning of a new chapter for the Church.

In his inaugural address, Pope Leo XIV expressed a strong commitment to continuing the legacy of Pope Francis, emphasizing themes of peace, unity, and compassion.

The new Popes message resonated deeply with many, including Jeremy Quinn, who expressed hope for continuity in the policies that Pope Francis established.

I thought his policies did a lot of good for the world, Quinn said. So my hope is the new pope will continue on with those policies.

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Pope Leo XIVs address was notable not only for its content but also for its delivery.

Central Arkansas Catholics excited for first American pope

The new pontiff spoke in multiple languages, and Noah Simpson noted that it reflects his background in international ministry and his desire to lead a truly global Church.

If youre going to be a global leader, you need to be able to speak multiple languages, said Simpson. I think its absolutely amazing.

Pope Leo XIVs address was a powerful call to action for Catholics and all people of faith.

That is what Catholicism and Christianity is all abouttaking care of the people who cant take care of themselves, being open, supportive, and loving to everyone, Simpson added. That is what we need in this world.

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Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys reflects as church awaits new pope

From Rome to Arkansas, the voice of Pope Leo XIV is already resonating far and wide. As the global Catholic community embraces the new Pope, people worldwide unite in prayer and hope for his leadership to be marked by peace and unity.

I dont think that theres any better time than to try to bring more unity into the world, Quinn said, underscoring the hope for a new era of global harmony.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  On Thursday, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced that the state received a $100,000 grant to combat human trafficking in Arkansas.

Griffin said that while at a conference in Rome and Vatican City he was able to secure the grant to help the state address these horrible crimes.

I recently attended a bipartisan attorney general conference in Rome and Vatican City (at no cost to taxpayers) organized by the Attorney General Alliance focused on fighting human trafficking around the world, Griffin said. While there I was able to secure a $100,000 grant to help the State address these horrible crimes, and I met a number of experts who specialize in combating illicit massage parlors and one with extensive knowledge of the Andrew Tate case.

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FBI-led child sex abuse operation leads to Arkansas arrests

Griffin said that he has invited some of these experts to conduct training and share their insights with officials in the state.

We are the most effective in our fight against international human trafficking right here in Arkansas when we are maximizing relationships, sharing information, and learning best practices.

On Wednesday a national FBI-led operation to identify, track and arrest child predators resulted in the arrest of three in Arkansas.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A Thursday ruling from the Arkansas Supreme Court will allow a felon to apply for parole sooner than assigned in his sentencing agreement.

The court upheld an earlier ruling by Pulaski County Circuit Court that Jodeci K. Norvel is able to apply for parole for his 2018 sentence due to a law passed by the legislature in 2023. Norvel had been assigned an 18-year sentence with a notation on his sentencing form that he should serve the entire sentence.

Arkansas Supreme Court issues initial decision in Chief Justice Baker case

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Norvel pleaded guilty in 2018 to first-degree battery and possession of firearms by certain persons after shooting a woman, who survived, in Little Rock. At the time, he had two prior violent felony convictions, leading to a sentencing enhancement for being a habitual violent felony offender.

The additional info section on the bottom of his sentencing order states: Defendant has two prior residential burglaries and should serve flat time, meaning he would be imprisoned until 2035 after credit for time served while awaiting sentencing.

Arkansas Supreme Court denies double jeopardy appeal in Amber Waterman case

Norvels attorney argued that Act 683, passed in 2023, had language that allowed him to apply for parole. The law was intended to update existing law and ensure that residential burglary was considered a violent felony, and ended with the statement:

Unless the sentencing order expressly designates that the defendant was sentenced under this section, a violent felony offense or any felony sex offense does not include residential burglary,  5-39-201, committed before April 1, 2015, unless the defendant was sentenced on or after May 24, 2022. Act 683 of 2023

Norvels attorney argued that because he was sentenced before May 24, 2022, and his sentencing order did not expressly designate that he was sentenced under that law, he was eligible for parole.

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The circuit court ruled that the argument was correct, and the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld that opinion on Thursday, citing 2024 decisions also impacted by the wording of the 2023 law. The court stated in a footnote that the language in Act 683 required the court to apply it to a sentence given years before it became law.

Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter dies at 85

The Arkansas Department of Corrections currently holds Norvel in its Grimes Unit.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Allie Gosselink (left), director of the Calhoun County Library, advocates for public libraries before the Arkansas State Library Board at its quarterly meeting on Friday, February 14, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

The Arkansas State Library Board on Friday will disburse public funds to libraries for the last time in the 2025 fiscal year, and likely the last time before all seven board members will be replaced.

As local library directors wait for their regular shares of state funding, some continue to await a long-delayed avenue for rural libraries to be eligible for more state funding. An amendment to the State Librarys fiscal year 2024 appropriation bill introduced by Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn, required the Arkansas Department of Education to alter library funding eligibility standards to allow smaller libraries not supported with a local millage access to state aid.

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The original deadline for establishing those standards was July 1, 2024, the start of the current fiscal year.

Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn, asks a question during a public health committee meeting on Jan. 22, 2025. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

We want [libraries] to receive local support, Payton told a Joint Budget subcommittee at the time. We dont want them dependent on the grants and aid that might come through the State Library system, but its impossible for them to pass and maintain one mill if theyre a city of less than 5,000.

Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 30 prohibits libraries in cities with fewer than 5,000 people from being supported by local property taxes. Payton said he presented the proposal to change the rules on behalf of his constituents in Ash Flat, which has a population of just over 1,100 and a library funded by the city government.

Eligibility for state aid would allow the Ash Flat Library to apply for state and federal grants it currently cannot access, Terry Hill, chairman of the librarys governing board, told the Advocate.

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Subsequent State Library appropriations, for fiscal 2025 and 2026, reiterated the need to broaden access to library funding, but the rule-making process stalled last year, meaning rural libraries still cannot access the funds, according to library directors and the education department.

State Library Director Jennifer Chilcoat told the board in a Feb. 14, 2024, email that the rules had to be in place before the board met that August to start disbursing state funds for fiscal year 2025. If not, the State Library would be in violation of either its standards for state aid to public libraries or the legal requirement to create the rules, Chilcoat said in the email.

The State Library appropriation bills state that the new rules must allow a public library to adequately demonstrate a source of revenue in lieu of the requirement to maintain a one-mill county or city property tax, which is currently a standard for libraries to receive state aid. Without formal rules, the current standard limits which libraries can receive state grants. A mill is equal to $1 dollar for every $1,000 in assessed value on real estate.

Calhoun County is Arkansas most rural county, and its library system would receive an $18,000 funding boost under broader state aid eligibility standards, director Allie Gosselink told the Advocate. The Hampton library would also be able to increase its hours of operation from 28 to 40 hours per week and would bolster its early literacy services and upgrade its technology, Gosselink said.

Five Arkansans spoke against Senate Bill 536 before the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. From left: Misty Hawkins, regional director of the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System; Allie Gosselink, director of the Calhoun County Library; Debbie Hall, grants manager for the Arkansas State Library; John McGraw, executive director of the Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library; and Clare Graham, Mid-Arkansas Regional Library System director. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

She and John McGraw, regional director of the Faulkner-Van Buren Library System, were both on the advisory committee that drafted new rules required by the 2023 law.

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We talked about every piece of that and tried to decide what worked, what didnt work, what was detrimental, and we changed the rules based on what we thought would be fair, Gosselink said.

Assistant Attorney General Sarah DeBusk told the State Library Board in November that proposed rules must be approved by the education secretary and governor and a public comment period before final approval by the Arkansas Legislative Council.

The Department of Educations legal division is responsible for ensuring the rules are in the proper format before they return to the state agency that drafted them. The State Library Board would be responsible for opening a 30-day public comment period on the rules after receiving the formal version from the education department, and Chilcoat urged the board in the February 2024 email to plan for a special meeting the following month.

Education department attorneys were tentatively predicting that we should either hear back from or receive approval from Sanders office in the subsequent few weeks, Chilcoat wrote.

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There is a timeline that we are keenly aware of to get the changes in place before the start of the 2025 State Fiscal Year, she said in her February 2024 email. For that reason, we cannot wait until the May board meeting to get these Rules in front of you and the public.

The State Library Board has not voted on the proposed rules but has a new deadline of this July 1 to act, according to emails obtained by the Advocate via the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Possible alternatives

The still unofficial rules and possible actions the Library Board can take were the subject of late April emails between Chilcoat and ADE Chief of Staff Courtney Salas-Ford.

Since the board doesnt have new rules to address Paytons 2023 appropriations amendment, Chilcoat wrote on April 25, we need to have a stopgap formula beginning in August in case the promulgation process is not complete at that time.

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If there arent new State Aid Rules in place when the new board members begin their terms, these drafts will give them a template which they can use or dismiss, but it will give them a starting point from which to work if they so choose, the email said.

One of the last laws the General Assembly passed before adjourning this month was Act 903, which will dismiss the entire State Library Board and require Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to appoint seven new members in August.

In an April 30 email, Chilcoat told Salas-Ford she has two versions of a one-time state aid formula for the current board to choose from and approve so that the new board doesnt have to deal with the first quarter payments at their first meeting.

One formula simply removes the MLS (Masters of Library Science) credit from all recipients of it. The other is a simple across-the-board percentage decrease [in state aid to all libraries].

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Both are included so that we can honor Senator Paytons amendment to include those libraries that dont or cant collect the millage previously required. Of course, the current board can also vote to pass the responsibility to the next board.

Gosselink and McGraw both told lawmakers in April that the inaction on the proposed rules was a reason the Legislature should not dissolve the State Library and its board and transfer their responsibilities and funds to the education department. A House committee rejected the proposed dissolution, one of several bills that generated hours of debate about library oversight and funding throughout the 2025 legislative session.

The new rules for state aid to libraries are on Fridays Library Board agenda.

Gosselink said she hoped Fridays board meeting would create a little bit of clarity for her librarys funding for the rest of the states fiscal year.

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Tensions are higher between India and Pakistan than they have been in decades as the two countries trade blame for drone attacks on each others territory over the past few days. At the heart of the dispute is what India claims is Pakistans support for armed separatist groups operating in Kashmir, a region disputed between the two countries.

An armed group called The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month in which 26 people were killed. India alleges that TRF is an offshoot of another Pakistan-based armed group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and has blamed Pakistan for supporting such groups.

Pakistan has denied this. It condemned the attack in April and called for an independent investigation.





Here is more about who the armed groups are and the major attacks theyve claimed or been blamed for.

The Resistance Front (TRF)

The TRF emerged in 2019 following the Indian governments suspension of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, stripping Indian-administered Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status.

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However, the group was not widely known before the Pahalgam attack, which it took responsibility for in April via the Telegram messaging app, on which it said it was opposed to the granting of residency permits to outsiders.

Since the repeal of Article 370, non-Kashmiris have been granted residency permits to settle in Indian-administered Kashmir. This has stoked fears that the Indian government is trying to change the demographics of Kashmir, whose population is nearly all Muslim.

Unlike other armed rebel groups in Kashmir, the TRF does not have an Islamic name.

However, the Indian government maintains that it is an offshoot of, or a front for, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based armed group whose name means Army of the Pure.

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In 2020, TRF started claiming responsibility for minor attacks, including some targeted killings. TRF recruits included rebels from different splinter rebel groups. Indian security agents say they have arrested multiple TRF members since then.

According to Indian government records, most armed fighters killed in gunfights in Kashmir were affiliated with the TRF in 2022.

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)

The LeT, which calls for the liberation of Indian-administered Kashmir, was founded around 1990 by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who is also known as Hafiz Saeed.

In 2008, armed gunmen opened fire on civilians at several sites in Mumbai, India, killing 166 people. Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive, said the attackers were members of LeT. Saeed denied any involvement in that attack, however. Kasab was executed by India in 2012.

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India also blamed Pakistani intelligence agencies for the attack. While Pakistan conceded that the attack may have been partly planned on Pakistani soil, it maintained that its government and intelligence agencies were not involved.

According to the United Nations, LeT was also involved in a 2001 attack on Indias parliament and a 2006 attack on Mumbai commuter trains that killed 189 people.

On May 7, India launched missile attacks on several cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. One of these cities was Muridke in the Punjab province. India claims that Muridke was the location of the headquarters of the Jamat-ud-Dawa, a charity organisation that New Delhi insists is a front for the LeT.

Last week, the Indian army claimed it had struck LeTs Markaz Taiba camp in Muridke. The army also claimed Kasab had been trained at this camp.

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Pakistan says LeT has been banned, however. Following an attack on Indian-administered Kashmirs Pulwama in 2019, Pakistan also reimposed a lapsed ban on Jamat-ud-Dawa. Saeed was arrested in 2019 and is in the custody of the Pakistani government, serving a 31-year prison sentence after being convicted in two terror financing cases.

Jaish-e-Muhammad

Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), or The Army of Muhammad, was formed around 2000 by Masood Azhar, who had been released from Indian prison in 1999.

Azhar, who had been arrested on terrorism charges, was released in exchange for 155 hostages being held by hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane.

Azhar previously fought under the banner of a group called Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, which calls for Kashmir to be united with Pakistan, and has been linked to al-Qaeda.

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According to the UN Security Council, JeM has also had links with al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.

Pakistan banned JeM in 2002 after the group, alongside LeT, was blamed for an attack on the Indian parliament in 2001.

The British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted of killing US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002, was also a member of JeM. Pearl was the Wall Street Journals South Asia bureau chief. However, a 2011 report released by the Pearl Project at Georgetown University following its own investigation claimed that Pearl had not been murdered by Sheikh. The report instead alleged that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks, was responsible. In 2021, a panel of three judges at Pakistans Supreme Court ordered Sheikhs release.

Despite the ban, Indian authorities claim the group continues to operate in Bahawalpur, in Pakistans Punjab province. On May 7, the Indian army claimed its strikes had also targeted the headquarters of JeM there.

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In 2019, JeM claimed a suicide bomb attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers in Pulwama in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Azhar has been arrested by Pakistani authorities twice, but was released and has never been charged. He has since disappeared from the public eye and his current whereabouts are not known.

Hizbul-ul-Mujahideen

Hizbul-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), or Party of Holy Fighters was formed in 1989 by Kashmiri separatist leader Muhammad Ahsan Dar.

The group emerged out of the 1988 protests in Kashmir against the Indian government. The group, also called Hizb, has become the largest Indigenous rebel group based in Indian-administered Kashmir.

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Rather than calling for independence, HuM calls for the whole of Kashmir to be allowed to accede to Pakistan.

The group has a huge network of fighters in Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama districts in the south of Indian-administered Kashmir.

In 2016, the killing of popular HuM commander Burhan Wani triggered widespread protests in Indian-administered Kashmir, resulting in a crackdown by Indian security forces.

The following year, the US designated HuM as a foreign terrorist organisation and placed sanctions on the group.

HuM leader Riyaz Naikoo spoke to Al Jazeera in 2018. It is the nature of the occupying Indian state that has compelled us to resort to violent methods of resistance, he said.

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When asked what the groups demands were, Naikoo said: Our demand is very simple  freedom. Freedom, for us, means the complete dismantling of Indias illegal occupation of Kashmir and all the structures that support it, be they military or economic.

He added that the group considers Pakistan an ideological and moral friend because Pakistan is the only country which has consistently supported our cause and raised the concerns of Kashmiri freedom struggle at international forums.




CANBERRA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the elected members of parliament (MPs) of his Labor Party to maintain a focus on working for all Australians after winning re-election.

Albanese on Friday convened the Labor caucus, comprising all of the party's elected members of both houses of parliament, in Canberra for the first time since winning a second term in power at last Saturday's federal election in a landslide result.

Addressing the caucus, Albanese welcomed the party's new elected parliamentarians to Canberra and asked members of both houses to retain a "laser-like focus" on working for the Australians who voted for them and those who did not.

"We want to see them lifted up, and given opportunity," Albanese said. "We seek power in order to deliver for the people who need Labor to be in government."

Albanese said on Friday that parliament will return at the end of July at which time he said his first priority would be introducing legislation for Labor's election pledge to cut higher education student debts by 20 percent.

The PM will on Monday announce the cabinet of his second term before a swearing-in ceremony with Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Tuesday.

It was revealed on Thursday that Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic, both members of Albanese's cabinet during his first term as prime minister, will not be part of the new cabinet. 
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Lake season is coming up quick and some of you might already be headed that way to enjoy the nice weather this weekend. However, officials say caution is key with several lakes in the state over normal levels thanks to recent rain.

Fishermans point at Lake Thunderbird had parking spots under water along with the near-shore side of a pier. Its really not uncommon across the state right now.

High water at Lake Thunderbird. Photo courtesy KFOR.

High water at Lake Thunderbird. Photo courtesy KFOR.

High water at Lake Thunderbird. Photo courtesy KFOR.

U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers video shows the gates open at the Lake Texoma dam. That lake is sitting at about 18 feet above normal right now.

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The water is also flowing fast and furious at the Red River as well. Video there shows it almost touching the bridges that are crossing over the state line.

Lakes near the metro are also seeing high levels. Arcadia Lake is about nine feet above normal, while Lake Thunderbird is about 8 feet above normal.

We have quite a few lakes that are actually well above what we would call normal for this time of year, Hydrologist and Forecaster with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Price Taft said.

Taft cautions anyone going to the lake over the next several week to take precautions, because releasing water and leveling out lakes and rivers takes time.

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Theres only so much channel capacity downstream and if everybodys releasing at the same time, were going to have floods downstream, he said.

Grady County families no longer stranded after crews repair flooded-out road

It is out of the ordinary for sure, said Lt. Danny Proctor with the Oklahoma Highway Patrols lake patrol at Lake Thunderbird.

Proctor as been in lake patrol there for about 18 years. Its definitely not the highest hes ever seen it because he said it went over the spillway for the first time in lake history back in 2019. Right now though, he said it is at about eight feet higher than normal and has flooded some campsites.

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Just use common sense if youre going to be out here on the water, he said.

If you cant get your boat on the water safely, Proctor said dont come out at all. If you decide to swim, be sure and wear life vests. However, you will still want to be weary of debris and things that could be under you.

You have just unknown phenomenons in the water that arent normal, Proctor said.

The City of Edmond said Arcadia Lakes level is going down right now. It is open, but with some restrictions. For instance, all courtesy docks are closed and booking and reservations are not available. That will remain in effect for another week as they continue to monitor levels.

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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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The U.S. Army has incorporated special operations-specific requirements into the design of its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor, which has led to an unspecified increase in gross weight. The changes are intended to make it cheaper and easier to convert baseline FLRAAs into special operations versions for the Armys elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). The current process for turning standard UH-60M Black Hawks into special operations MH-60Ms is very complex and resource-intensive.

Lt. Col. Cameron Keogh, Program Manager for both Future Vertical Lift and the MH-60 within U.S. Special Operations Commands (SOCOM) Program Executive Office-Rotary Wing (PEO-RW), provided an update on the special operations end of the FLRAA effort at the annual SOF Week conference today. The Army announced it had selected a design based on Bells V-280 Valor tiltrotor as the winner of its FLRAA competition in 2022. FLRAAs are expected to replace a significant portion of H-60 Black Hawk variants across the entire Army, including around half of the 160ths special operations MH-60Ms.

When it comes to FLRAA, we are very tightly nested with Big Army on this one. We, again, are about half a step behind. They put in their base contract some CLINs [Contract Line Item Numbers] for us to use for development, Keogh explained. We started with some engineering analysis.

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Were going to have to hang all the mission equipment that we currently have on the ramp, or that were gonna have on the ramp at that point in time when this is fielded, he continued. Do we have the structural provisions to do that? Do we have space reserve to [sic] where we could put this stuff?

The MH-60Ms that special operations FLRAAs are set to replace are absolutely jam-packed with systems not found on standard UH-60Ms, including a nose-mounted radar, additional sensors, defensive systems, and communications gear. They also have an inflight refueling probe not found on regular Army Black Hawks. You can read more about what goes into the last special operations Black Hawks here.

A look at an MH-60M Black Hawk from the front, highlighting the array of special operations-specific features just at the nose-end of the helicopter. USN

A standard Army UH-60M. USAF

So we did an engineering analysis, which is now turned into the detailed design on that, Keogh added. The Armys FLRAA program manager and the services Program Executive Office for Aviation (PEO-Aviation) took our engineering analysis with the initial cuts at the detailed design. They looked at it, they looked at the weight trades  it did add a little bit of weight to the baseline of that aircraft  but they said, Hey, this buys us future growth capability for mission equipment, as well, and they inserted those into the baseline aircraft.

The Army has already made clear that the production FLRAA design will differ substantially from Bells V-280 demonstrator, which has been flying since 2017. The service has also talked about pushing to lay the groundwork now to make the integration of new and improved capabilities down the line easier.

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Now, every FLRAA that gets built for fielding is going to have the provisions for us to put our things on the aircraft, which is a huge cost reduction for us when it comes time to field the [160th Special Operations Aviation] Regiment. So that was a huge win, Keogh said. Again, were in lockstep with the Army on that one. Were not  we cant move ahead of them. Theres no way for us to accelerate that program. Theyre doing a great job with it.

Keogh added that his office is also working to take special operations-unique software in use now on 160th helicopters and see what of it might be adaptable to work with FLRAAs mission systems. A key area of focus for the Army with FLRAA has already been modular and open-architecture systems to help speed up the introduction of new functionality in the future.

Bells V-280 Valor demonstrator on which the Army FLRAA design is based. Bell

We have a unique avionics suite to the [160th Special Operations Aviation] Regiment. Its common between the big aircraft [the MH-60M and MH-47G Chinook]. The user is very happy with it. Its got great functionality. Theyve been developing it for 20-plus years now, he explained. Were working to pull some of those software bits out, turn them into applications that we can then put into the FLRAA computing environment, so we can still have the same stuff that we use in CAS, the common avionics architecture without having to pull all those boxes out [and] put our own cockpit in there.

The process Keogh outlined for converting baseline FLRAAs into special operations versions is fundamentally different from how MH-60Ms are converted from UH-60Ms today, not to mention simpler. The resulting helicopter is also substantially different, right down to its core structure, from the standard M variant of the Black Hawk.

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You fly a good Black Hawk, a good Army UH-60M Black Hawk, up to SOFSA [the Special Operations Forces Support Activity in Lexington, Kentucky], and then we take it completely apart, he explained. We fly at higher gross weights, because we have a ton of mission equipment to do the things  to give the operators the capability to do the things they need to do.

All that mission equipment adds weight to the airframe. So we had to do a lot of structural modifications to increase our gross weight, so we can still offer a suitable payload to carry the operators where they need to go, he continued. And then we ran into the problem, now weve got this really heavy aircraft, the engines only make so much power, so weve got bigger engines. We run the YT-706. YT because its not fully qualified, but its a very qualified engine.  its one of the things that we do here, is we are able to accept a higher level of risk in order to provide capability for our users. Highly trained users, the best pilots in the world, they can manage that risk.

So we do that, rip it apart, all the structural mods, weve got the engines, we put the SOF [special operations forces] peculiar systems in, and then the last thing we do is paint it black.

A pair of 160th SOAR MH-60s. US Army

Its not hard to see how making changes to FLRAAs basic design to streamline this process could pay serious dividends. As Keogh noted, Big Army could also leverage the trade space now baked into the design to add in additional capabilities to meet its own needs.

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FLRAA is already set to completely change how the conventional Army conducts air assaults thanks to its substantially greater range and speed compared to the Black Hawk. The service has been targeting a top speed of at least 250 knots (285 miles per hour), and potentially up to 280 knots (320 miles per hour), and an unrefueled combat radius of between 200 and 300 nautical miles for its new tiltrotor. A typical current-generation Black Hawk flying under normal operating conditions can get up to a top speed of 163 knots (187.5 miles per hour) and fly 268 nautical miles without needing to refuel, according to Lockheed Martin, the parent company of the helicopters manufacturer Sikorsky.

The speed and range of the FLRAA would be particularly important in any future conflict in the Pacific region, where initial launch points  on land or at sea  and operating areas could easily be very far apart. Those capabilities could also be very valuable for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which is regularly called upon to conduct especially challenging long-duration missions in unforgiving environments, typically at night. A prime example of this in the Regiments relatively recent history is the famous raid in Pakistan that led to the death of Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden.

The Army had said in the past that its goal was to begin fielding the baseline FLRAA variant by 2030, but just this week the service disclosed it is now looking to accelerate that timeline to 2028. Army officials have also pushed back on the possibility of the program being canceled as part of a massive U.S. military-wide review of priorities. The service is looking to make major cuts to a host of programs, some of which it is now moving to axe entirely, as part of a larger force restructuring effort.

With the work it has been doing with the Army on FLRAA in the meantime, SOCOM is laying the groundwork for getting special operations versions of the tiltrotor into service as quickly as possible once the baseline variants begin being fielded.

Special thanks to FlightGlobals Ryan Finnerty for providing audio of the PEO-RW session from the SOF Week conference.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
An Army service member pulled off the biggest surprise for his graduating mom ahead of Mother's Day.

Blane Yuhas, an active-duty Army specialist serving abroad, recently traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana, to see his mother Sebrina Hill -- an Air Force veteran, reserve firefighter and mom of three -- receive her associate degree in nursing from Purdue Global, Purdue's online university.

Purdue Global confirmed to "Good Morning America" that its graduation team worked with Yuhas to arrange the May 3 surprise for Hill. The school shared a video of the heartwarming reunion on social media afterward.

PHOTO: Blane Yuhas, an active-duty Army specialist, surprised his mom, Sebrina Hill, at her graduation in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Purdue Global via Storyful)

"I had to pull some strings to be able to get here. It doesn't feel real right now. It's been about nine months since I've seen my mom," Yuhas explains in the video, ahead of the surprise. "After a month of not seeing me, she was sobbing. So, I can only imagine it's going to be something special."

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Military brother gives sister 'best surprise' ahead of her wedding

In the video, when the mother and son are reunited ahead of the ceremony, they share a long, heartfelt embrace.

"Oh my God! You made it!" Hill says. "Oh, welcome home! Oh my God!"

Military dad surprises daughter at kindergarten ceremony

"I'm shaking, a lot," Yuhas tells his mom. "Yeah, it's been a long drive. Long drive and long flight."

In a statement to "GMA" on Friday, Jon Harbor, interim chancellor of Purdue Global, said, "Purdue Global prides itself on being a military-friendly university; one where working adults can be successful in reaching their educational goals. It's moments like these that make celebrating a Purdue Global student's achievement that much more special. We were honored to be a part of their emotional reunion."

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Yuhas also surprised additional family members, who were in the audience for the graduation ceremony.

Army son surprises mom with emotional reunion at her graduation originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Police have given an update to a standoff that took place in the 600 block of West 12th Street on Thursday morning.

KELOLAND News was on the scene as both police and the SWAT team apprehended a man from a room at the Delux Motel in Sioux Falls.

Ronald Detress, 58, from Sioux Falls was arrested on two charges of of simple assault, and window peeking, police spokesman Sam Clemens said.

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Rhoden changes governors credit card policy

Detress is accused of looking into womans window and threatening two people with a BB gun, police said.

A report of a man looking into a womans window and allegedly threatening the woman and friend with a gun led to a standoff at about 9:20 a.m. Thursday, police said.

When a woman saw Detress looking through her window, she and and a friend went to confront him. The two friends discovered two people in the driveway. The man who was looking in the window pulled out what appeared to be a gun and threatened the friends.

The womans friend recognized the suspect and described him to police.

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Clemens said that around 9:20 a.m. police located the suspect outside a room at the Delux Motel in the 1700 block of West 12th Street. The man ran inside. Police tried to contact him through a loudspeaker. He refused to talk.

Police believed he was armed with a weapon and the S.W.A.T. team was called to the scene. After around two hours of a standoff, Detress surrendered to police.

When officers went inside the motel, they discovered that the weapon he had was a BB gun.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
A 44-year-old Peekskill man was arrested for tampering with mountain biking trails in the Blue Mountain Reservation 50 miles north of New York City, the Westchester County Police Department announced in a press release.

Jeffery Jarvis was charged with Criminal Nuisance 2nd Degree, a misdemeanor, after trail cams set up by a local mountain biking group captured him deliberately placing branches on sections of trails. No injuries were reported in connecting with the trail tampering. Jarvis was released and is scheduled for a May 19 appearance in Peekskill City Court.

In the fall of 2024 Westchester County Police began receiving complaints that someone was placing tree limbs and branches at the bottom of a rock face on a trail frequently used by mountain bikers.

County police and park rangers began making regular inspections of the remote location where the incidents were reported. The Westchester Mountain Biking Association placed trail cameras in areas that had been tampered with, and captured video of Jarvis moving limbs 3 to 5 inches in diameter onto the established singletrack trails. The video lead to the identification and arrest of Jarvis.

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If youre a disgruntled trail user and you dont like what you see, you should notify the land owner, the park staff, and start from there before doing anything as a vigilante, Westchester Mountain Biking Association president Sam Lee told ABC7NY Eyewitness News.

A still image from the the Westchester Mountain Biking Association trail cam.Courtesy Westchester Mountain Biking Association

A motive for Jarvis actions hasnt been released, but conflict over trail use of the area between hikers and mountain bikers in the Blue Mountain Reservation is nothing new in the area. Mountain biking is permitted on the parks 43 trails that span over 29 miles.

"Some of the bikers are crazy though and destroy vegetation that holds the soil and prevents mud and dirt run off. I hope those who use it are not racing each other but using the trails to move across. I am not sure why they are taking a mountain bike up a mountain actually," one person commented on the Westchester County Police Department's Facebook page.

"As a mountain biker that has used these woods for more than 30 years I have see the progressive destruction that unauthorized trails are creating in the woods. Yes I bike for fun but for me part of the fun is being in beautiful natural surroundings. If all you are looking for is a thrill from riding down steep rocky inclines then stick to your skate board park like experience somewhere else. I have seen many beautiful moss covered rocks striped with trails that are clearly just for thrill seekers. I have also noticed many trails progressively widening by timid people trying to avoid the rocky bits in the middle. Real mountain bikes are looking for the challenge of riding rough trails and go straight down the middle. The damage caused by wider trails just causes more erosion and run off and has made some the trails I used to ride easily unmanageable on the hard tail bike that I prefer to ride. Blocking the trails as this jerk did is not the way to handle the situation. It is up to mountain bikers consider more carefully how they share this park. I would love to see some more official control on the proliferation of new trails through out the park to prevent what I have seen as a progressive destruction of one of the best parks in Westchester," commented another person.

BikeMag.com will continue to follow this story.
LONDON (AP)  An art expert who appeared on the BBC's Bargain Hunt show pleaded guilty Friday to failing to report that he sold pricey works to a suspected financier of Lebanons militant Hezbollah group.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, was charged with failing to disclose art sales between October 2020 and December 2021. He pleaded guilty in Westminster Magistrates Court to eight offences under a section of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Ojiri sold about 140,000 pounds ($185,000) of artworks to Nazem Ahmad, a diamond and art dealer sanctioned by the U.K. and U.S. as a Hezbollah financier. The sanctions were designed to prevent anyone in the U.K. or U.S. from doing business with Ahmad or his businesses.

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U.S. prosecutors said Ahmad acquired more than $160 million (120 million pounds) in artwork and diamond services by using a complex web of companies to evade sanctions.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris said Ojiri knew about the sanctions against Ahmad because he had searched for news reports about his status and discussed it with others.

There is one discussion where Mr. Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links, Harris said.

Ahmad was sanctioned in 2019 by the U.S. Treasury, which said he was a prominent Lebanon-based money launderer involved in smuggling blood diamonds, which are mined in conflict zones and sold to finance violence.

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Two years ago, the U.K. Treasury froze Ahmads assets because he financed the Iranian-backed Shiite militant organization that has been designated an international terrorist group.

Ojiri, who also appeared on the BBCs Antiques Road Trip, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced June 6 in the Central Criminal Court.
In a busy street by a canal in central Paris, where walls are usually covered in graffiti and bursts of spray-paint, something unique has taken shape.

An image not scrawled but carefully glued, piece by piece, onto a brick wall. A boy on a bicycle throws a newspaper with such force that it shatters a stone wall.

The project is the idea of multiple non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including Europeans Without Borders, Cartooning for Peace and Reporters Without Borders.

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A dozen young volunteers, many from underprivileged backgrounds and neighbourhoods, united to raise awareness of freedom of the press around the world - through art.

Its important to celebrate this freedom, said Naomi, a 20-year-old volunteer.

In some countries, freedom of the press is censored. Some are not allowed to publish or put their ideologies in the press. This collage is there to show the world that the press isn't just about articles, its also about drawing and art. Through art, we can express a lot of ideas and subjects," she told Euronews.

Young volunteers with representatives from Europeans Without Borders and Cartooning for Peace - Sophia Khatsenova/Euronews

Many tourists and locals took a brief moment to observe and take in the new art piece. Its great to see this, said Sandra, an American tourist who stumbled upon the collage.

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Its very in keeping with Paris and what Paris represents. And in America right now, we could use some freedom of the press," she added.

In its 23rd annual ranking, published on 2 May, Reporters Without Borders warned that increasing financial pressure on media outlets poses a real threat to the general public. The NGO stressed that financial burdens may limit access to reliable information.

Street art contributors show the collage to the original Mexican artist Guffo - Sophia Khatsenova/Euronews

Although Europe remains at the top of the ranking by region, it is increasingly divided. We can see that the situation for media freedom is under major threat, particularly in Portugal, Croatia and Kosovo. Even France has dropped by four points compared to last year," said Lea Rocchiccioli, Campaign Director at Europeans Without Borders.

Among those observing the group was Wimar Verdecia, a Cuban cartoonist, who currently lives in exile in France.

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It gives me a bit of hope to see people are interested in press cartoons, even street art," he said.

For Rocchiccioli, the cartoon serves is a symbol that draws attention to the importance of accurate reporting.

Its a positive message, she said. You can see that its a newspaper breaking down that wall. We wanted to start a debate marked with hope in the public space.

The original cartoonist, Guffo, based in Mexico, was contacted through a video call by the proud group of young adults.

"I am so honoured," he exclaimed, witnessing his art crossing borders and sparking meaningful dialogue.
Arthur Brooks, an author and Harvard University professor, said universities are starting to get better in how they respond to campus protesters.

Brooks, who is also an Impact Scholar at the University of Utah, told Fox News schools like Columbia and Harvard are getting it figured out.

His remarks come following a crackdown on protesters at Columbia University who engaged in pro-Palestinian protests on campus that took a violent turn on Wednesday.

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Masked protesters took over the universitys Butler Library in the week preceding finals, forcing out over 900 students, clashing physically with police, vandalizing shelves with pro-Palestinian and anti-Columbia statements and hanging Palestinian flags. The takeover ended with over 60 students suspended and 80 protesters being taken into custody.

Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman unequivocally condemned the riot.

I spent the late afternoon and evening at Butler Library, as events were unfolding, to understand the situation on the ground and to be able to make the best decisions possible. I arrived to see one of our Public Safety officers wheeled out on a gurney and another getting bandaged, she wrote in a letter to Columbia faculty and students. Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library  none of that has any place on our campus. These arent Columbias values."

She also condemned students for shutting down the library in the week before finals.

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We, at Columbia, value freedom of speech, robust debate, and peaceful protest, she said. (Wednesdays) disruption of Butler Library was not that. We must, and we will, come together as a community to consider what civil disobedience actually is and what it means.

Shipmans reaction has garnered praise from the White House, who said her leadership met the moment with fortitude and conviction.

Tom Homan, the border czar for the Trump administration, said that protesters were at risk of deportation for damaging college property and support(ing) terrorist organizations like Hamas, which governs Palestine and launched the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, 2023.

The fraught relationship between the president, higher education and the protestors

Brooks, a professor at Harvard Business School and columnist at The Atlantic magazine, said he thinks Shipmans comments demonstrate a shift.

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The leadership is (now) much better, he told Fox News. We have a terrific president at Harvard, Alan Garber, hes a very strong and very sensible guy, and hes actually enforcing the rules.

Brooks indicated that Harvard, at least, is prepared to make and commit to rules around the freedom of speech.

You dont have to take a position on the particular type of protest, you just have to have rules about how people can protest and whether or not they can disrupt a campus, and the answer is they cannot, Brooks told Dana Perino. You actually have to call in the police when it is appropriate and expel people as is appropriate to the rules.

When asked about Harvards battle with President Donald Trump over antisemitism and DEI, Brooks said he does not believe Trump will necessarily follow through on his threats.

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When the university said it would not adopt Trumps demands, he withheld $2 billion in research grant funds and threatened the schools tax exempt status.

The truth of the matter is that the first bid with Trump tends to be extremely pugilistic  hes a fighter, so the result of it is that he goes in hot, and then generally speaking theres an accommodation," Brooks said. Im pretty confident that Harvard and the federal government are not going to be at war forever.

We have an administration now thats completely dedicated to following rules. I mean, there are rules, and youre going to pay a price if you do something. The problem is that when you dont follow your own rules you get more of the behavior that you dont like, he said.

The future of Columbia University and the rest of the collegiate landscape

Columbia Universitys swift and absolute condemnation of Wednesdays riot aligns with its recent agreement with the Trump administration over matters of antisemitism and protests.

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In March, the administration cancelled $400 million in research grants over Columbia Universitys fail(ures) to address antisemitism. After a short-lived struggle with the administration, during which the university went through two presidents resignations, Columbia agreed to implement a whole host of policy changes, including investigating its Middle Eastern studies department and rewriting rules for public protests.

Such rules no longer permit students to wear face masks for the purposes of concealing ones identity. Protests are also no longer permitted inside academic buildings.

The Wednesday library riot saw both those rules broken.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  Two people have been arrested in connection to a shooting that happened from a drug deal gone wrong.

Related video: What do the different schedules of drugs mean?

On May 2, the Asheville Police Department said they responded to a call regarding a man with a gunshot wound. Police said that the victim was shot from a drug deal that happened in a businesss parking lot, at the 700 block of Fairview Road.

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The suspect was identified as 25-year-old Aidan Francis McLean. He was brought into custody on Thursday.

He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill/seriously injure, discharge firearm into occupied vehicle, and discharge firearm in city limits.

Police said that during McLeans arrest, they found him in possession of more than $9,000 in illegal narcotics and two firearms.

McLeans girlfriend, 25-year-old Katrina Lea Vulgamore, was also arrested and charged with two counts of accessory after the fact, according to police.

McLean and Vulgamore were additionally charged with the following:

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Felony possession of schedule 1 narcotics

Possession with intent to manufacture schedule 1 narcotics

Possession with intent to distribute schedule 1 narcotics

Trafficking cocaine

Possession with intent to distribute schedule 2 narcotics, two counts

Possession with intent to distribute schedule 3 narcotics

Maintaining a dwelling, for the sale of narcotics

Possession of drug paraphernalia

McLean was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $100,000 bond. Vulgamore was also booked under a $50,000 bond.

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Why would Musk even ask to look into information regarding Social Security? What gives him any legal right to that information?

 Jaqueline Miller

Hi Jaqueline,

Like other Department of Government Efficiency activities, this stems from Elon Musks stated goal of rooting out fraud and promoting efficiency.

But when it comes to DOGEs legal right to sensitive Social Security data, a federal judge seemed to share your question  yet, she didnt get a good answer.

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U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander wrote in a lengthy ruling last month that the government couldnt explain why DOGE needs access to Americans personal information to accomplish its mission. This 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, she wrote.

Hollander said the problem wasnt what DOGE wants to do but how it wants to do it  namely, with Americans private information entrusted to the Social Security Administration. For some 90 years, SSA has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records. This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation, she wrote in granting a preliminary injunction to plaintiffs who brought a lawsuit against the government.

The Obama-appointed judge said the SSA could still give DOGE access to redacted or anonymized records, so long as anyone accessing that data is appropriately trained and vetted.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit declined to halt Hollanders injunction, and the Trump administration brought an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court last week. The government has frequently filed such appeals in Donald Trumps second term, as judges find legal issues with various aspects of his agenda.

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Trumps solicitor general, John Sauer, cast the reason for the barrage of urgent appeals differently. This emergency 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, he wrote. When it comes to this Social Security case specifically, Sauer said 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.

Chief Justice John Roberts (who handles emergency litigation from the 4th Circuit) asked for a written response from the plaintiffs by Monday afternoon. The government can then file a final reply brief, after which we can hear from the court anytime about whether it will upend Hollanders injunction.

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This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
TEHRAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday rejected a Fox News report claiming to have identified a new secret nuclear facility in Semnan province.

In a post on X, Araghchi dismissed the "Very Scary Satellite Images" touted by Fox News as part of an effort by Israel to derail the forthcoming indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

"Like clockwork, more Very Scary Satellite Images are being circulated as Iran-U.S. indirect nuclear talks are set to resume," Araghchi said.

Fox News reported that it had exclusively obtained satellite imagery purportedly showing a previously undisclosed Iranian nuclear weapons facility, a 2,500-acre compound codenamed "Rainbow Site" that the network said has been disguised as the chemical producer Diba Energy Siba and active for more than a decade.

The rebuttal comes on the eve of the fourth round of Oman-mediated indirect talks on Iran's nuclear program and U.S. sanctions relief. To date, delegations from both sides have met three times, twice in Muscat on April 12 and April 26 and once in Rome on April 19. 
An Athens woman who admitted to filing more than $3.5 million in fraudulent tax returns has been sentenced to prison.

Jessica Crawford, 34, was sentenced to serve eight years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and assisting in preparing and presenting false income tax returns in November.

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Prosecutors say Crawford, a tax preparer, was part of a multi-state COVID-19 unemployment benefit scheme and received a portion of the money.

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They say she filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits for people who created fake businesses or submitted false information. Investigators uncovered text messages between Crawford and those people.

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In 2022, an undercover agent went to Crawfords tax preparation business. They say she asked the agent if he did anything on the side and said if he did that expenses could be deducted. He told her that he mows his aunts lawn sometimes.

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Without asking for income or expense amounts, they say Crawford created a landscaping business for the agent and filed for a loss of $19,373 and applied other credits. Ultimately, the tax return was issued a fraudulent federal income tax return of $12,359.

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The Atlanta City Council discussed plans for a possible second set of e-bike rebates after the level of community engagement with the last one.

In 2024, the city greenlit a rebate program for Atlanta e-bike riders.

Through the program, which ended up having a waitlist due to the high turnout, offered up to $2,000 to owners, depending on how much they earn per year, and what type of e-bike theyd purchased.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2 Action News previously reported how the Atlanta Regional Commission managed the applications and when the process ended, reported almost 9,000 people had applied.

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ARC called the program a rolling success due to the amount of applicants.

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Now, the Atlanta City Council is considering doing it again, citing the twin challenges of rising transportation costs and climate change, and saying that e-bikes had proven to be one of the best ways to reduce emissions by replacing car trips while still providing fast transportation around Atlanta.

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The council is considering providing a donation to ARC to support more e-bike initiatives in Atlanta. Last years program was given $1 million from the Atlanta City Council for the e-bike programs operated by ARC, according to documents from the city.

"More than 11,065 unique Atlanta residents applied for an e-bike rebate through the ARCs program, underscoring significant demand that was largely unable to be met under the programs original funding allocation," the city council said in an ordinance. "Income-qualified rebates represented 75% of total rebate funds issued and 82% of total rebate funds redeemed, exceeding the program goal for income-qualified rebate funds."

Collectively, the council said in their legislation that e-bike transactions represented by the rebates totaled $1.2 million, which was all spent exclusively at 12 locally-owned small businesses in Atlanta.

If approved for 2025, the Atlanta City Council would donate $1 million to ARC and Propel ATL to continue their e-bike initiatives in Atlanta, authorizing the citys Chief Financial Officer to move the funds.

The program renewal is now up for consideration in the citys Transportation Committee.

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(WTAJ)  The Cannabis Health and Safety Act was passed Wednesday by the State House in a 102 to 101 vote, and as written, Attorney General Dave Sunday does not support the movement.

At this point with what we know and with all the information out there that we havent even looked at yet, Im not supportive of this current legislation, but it doesnt mean I wont be at some time in the future and I will continue to be a voice for public safety on this issue, Sunday said.

Some Clearfield County residents feel the same way, saying that if it passes through the Senate, it opens up the opportunity for recreational marijuana to become a gateway drug, even though there are safeguards, like limited THC levels and strict marketing rules.

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PA Cyber says funding cap would hurt student opportunities

When you are taking marijuana naturally, theyre going to get hooked on it after a while, and then theyre going to go to a higher drug, Jim Marando said.

Other residents say they support it, and that regulating what a person chooses to do with marijuana shouldnt be the governments responsibility.

Those who want to use it recreationally. They should have that choice, you know, it shouldnt be up to the Government, Susan Yonushonis said.

If the bill clears the Senate, it would create a system of state-owned Pennsylvania cannabis stores to sell marijuana products. It also calls for criminal convictions to be expunged, while advancing restorative justice for those with cannabis-related offenses.

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Some residents want to know what it would mean if they already have a medical marijuana card.

What about people who have their card, will they be able to relinquish it and then get their gun rights back because you cant, you know, youre not allowed to own a firearm if you have a medical marijuana card, Crisann Deitch said.

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With many House Republicans against the act, it faces an uphill battle with a Republican controlled Senate.

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Alireza Doroudi, a University of Alabama graduate student, is seen standing in front of a building in this undated photo. After spending more than 40 days in detention, Douroudi decided to return to his home country, his attorney said. (Courtesy of Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani)

A University of Alabama graduate student detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more than 40 days said he wants to return to Iran, his home country.

David Rozas, an attorney representing Alireza Doroudi, said in a statement Thursday that Douroudi made the decision after a hearing in Jena, Louisiana, where he was taken by authorities after ICE agents took him into custody in March.

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Mr. Doroudi made the difficult decision to ask for and was granted voluntary departure and return to Iran in order to avoid prolonged and unnecessary detention, Rozas said in the statement. He turned and looked at me and said, I love this country, but they dont want me here, so I will go home.

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A message was sent Friday to the Department of Homeland Security seeking comment.

Rozas said no evidence was ever presented in court that indicated Doroudi, a doctoral student studying mechanical engineering, was a national security risk while he resided in the U.S..

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He said the charge that the agency brought against Doroudi was that his F-1 student visa had been revoked and an allegation that he was not being in status. But Rozas said the revocations would only take effect upon his departure from the United States, not while he was in the country.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acknowledged this and indicated during the master hearing their intention to drop the charge. This acknowledges that the initial reason for arrest 45 days ago was an error, Rozas said.

Rozas said that the judge in the case required DHS to submit in writing to the court the agencys intent to rescind the charge and have a second hearing to address the issue even though the charge that Doroudi is not in status and that it no longer holds weight without the F-1 revocation, because he was clearly still in status.

Rozas also stated in his statement that Doroudis legal team had submitted evidence on multiple instances and requested a subsequent bond hearing to have him released as the court decides his case. However, the judge refused and stated that the request needed to be filed formally with the court, leaving Doroudi to remain in custody of DHS.

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In the face of this legal uncertainty and prolonged detention, Mr. Doroudi chose to leave voluntarily. This is not only a loss for him personally, but a setback for our system, Rozas statement said. When due process is delayed or denied, when charges are sustained without standing, and when individuals are forced to choose between uncertain length of detention in a country they feel no longer wants them, or leaving voluntarily, we must ask what kind of precedent we are setting not just for foreign students, but for fairness and justice in America.

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The South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

The state Department of Revenue collected about $530,000 in commercial vehicle fee overcharges affecting more than 11,000 South Dakota vehicles last fiscal year.

The finding was part of a fiscal year 2024 audit report on state government presented to the legislative Government Operations and Audit Committee on Thursday in Pierre.

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According to Mike Kogelmann, a state audit manager, the Department of Revenue changed its fee tables on July 1, 2022. Instead of charging a flat $7 additional fee for vehicles registered at over 78,000 pounds, in accordance with state law, the department erroneously charged $7 for every 2,000 pounds over 78,000 pounds.

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If your vehicle was registered at 79,000 pounds, you paid $7. If your vehicle was registered at 81,000 pounds, you paid $14, Kogelmann said. Prior to that, and when the law was implemented, it was always that everything over 78,000 was $7.

The department corrected its fee table in December last year, Kogelmann said. The average overcharge was $46 per vehicle.

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The department did not immediately respond to a question from South Dakota Searchlight asking whether the vehicle owners were refunded for the overpayments.

Kogelmann told lawmakers he was not aware of refunds from the department. Hes also not aware of any law requiring the state or local governments to provide refunds for overpayments.

In an email to South Dakota Searchlight, Kogelmann said the fee tables were not selected for testing for the fiscal year 2023 audit report, which is why the overcharge was not addressed last year. He did not know how many vehicles were overcharged in fiscal year 2023, but we have no reason to believe it wouldnt be in the neighborhood of the 11,000 vehicles overcharged in fiscal year 2024.

Rep. Julie Auch, R-Yankton, said she wants the money repaid.

Our state enforces laws if taxes arent paid, she said, but when we overpay we should have the same in return.

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Austin renters are getting noticeably less space than they did a decade ago, even as the average national apartment size has trended up.

According to a new report from RentCafe.com, Austin lost more than 50 square feet in average apartment size in 10 years. Houston and Plano, meanwhile, saw barely any shrinkage  with decreases of less than 5 square feet, RentCafe said.

"Texas may be known for 'bigger is better,' but Arlington has seen the steepest drop in apartment size in the U.S.," according to a news release from RentCafe, a nationwide apartment search website and a part of Yardi.

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"In just 10 years, the average apartment in the home of the Dallas Cowboys shrank by 215 square feet  enough space to accommodate an entire New York City micro-apartment, where the kitchen doubles as the living room," RentCafe said in a news release.

Austin lost more than 50 square feet in average apartment size in 10 years, a new report from RentCafe.com says. Houston and Plano saw barely any shrinkage  with decreases of less than 5 square feet, the report says.

In Austin, several factors are behind the apartment size changes in the city's rental market, said Adina Dragos, the reports author and a RentCafe research analyst.

"There has been an increase in the share of studios and one-bedroom apartments compared to the decade before, while larger units like two-bedrooms have become less common," Dragos told the American-Statesman in an email. "Whats more, the average size of all units has shrunk, leading to an overall trend of smaller living spaces.

"These changes are likely to reflect shifting renter preferences towards more desirable areas such as big job hubs, even if it means choosing a smaller living space. This is especially true for younger Millennials and Gen Z who often prioritize location and access to urban amenities over space."

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Dragos explained that developers are adding more units to each floor plan to meet the needs of Austin's booming population and rapidly increasing demand for housing.

With square footage emerging as the new currency in the apartment market, RentCafe.com analyzed a decade of apartment data to see how much space renters in 100 U.S. cities are getting now compared with 10 years ago.

Austin's shrinking average apartment size bucks an upward national trend.

"Our annual analysis shows a significant shift in the U.S. rental landscape: the average size of new apartments expanded again in 2024, reversing a decade-long trend of shrinking floor plans," RentCafe said. "The most substantial space gains are appearing in several Coastal and Sunbelt cities, giving renters fresh options for more spacious living."

This chart shows the average apartment size in the Texas cities that RentCafe analyzed, and how it has shifted over the past 10 years.

Other key takeaways:

The average apartment size in the U.S. increased in 2024, reaching 908 square feet, as most unit types expanded their living spaces.

Studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments got larger, adding between 4 square feet and 13 square feet to their floor plans.

Two Florida destinations, Tallahassee and Gainesville, claim gold and silver among the cities with the largest apartments.

Seattle holds on to its top spot as the city with the smallest apartment size in the U.S.

Apartments in San Francisco have expanded the most among large cities, gaining 59 square feet in the last decade compared with the previous one. Its followed by Queens, New York, where renters gained 39 square feet.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin apartments got smaller in size over the past 10 years.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Authorities say they are attempting to narrow down persons of interests in their investigation of a 72-year-old woman who disappeared in 2019.

The Boonville Police Department held a press conference on Friday with the Warrick County Prosecutors Office, the FBI, Indiana State Police and the family of Donna Hatfield to renew public attention in her disappearance. Hatfield was reported missing by her family on August 26, 2019. She was last believed to have been seen in late May or early June of that year at the home where she was living with her son, Thomas Rainey Jr., in the 600 block of 1st Street in Boonville.

Boonville police continue search for missing woman

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Authorities say Hatfield was living with Alzheimers disease at the time of her disappearance, and her personal belongings, including medication, identification and clothing, were found untouched inside her home. Since her disappearance, investigators say they pursued numerous leads, executed multiple search warrants and enlisted support from outside agencies. However, police say there is currently no evidence to indicate she is still alive.

Investigators say there is a small pool of persons of interest in the case, including Hatfields son.

Hatfields family has stated that a reward of up to $10,000 will be strongly considered for information that directly leads to the discovery of her remains. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact one of the following agencies:

Boonville Police Department: 812-897-6550

Warrick County Dispatch: 812-897-1200

Warrick County Prosecutors Office: 812-897-6199

Indiana State Police: 812-867-2079

FBI (Toll-Free): 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)

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Nebraska advocates for medical cannabis have worked for more than 12 years, and continue to wait, for a safe, regulated system in Nebraska, after winning voter approval in November. Pictured are many longtime advocates for the effort. (Photos courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana)

LINCOLN  At just 7 years old, Teddy Bronson of Omaha has faced six brain surgeries, been prescribed 14 different drugs and used about half a million dollars in medical hardware to fight his drug-resistant epilepsy that at one time had him enduring an average of 3,800 seizures each month.

Matt Bronson, a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran, and Liz Bronson, a nurse practitioner at Childrens Nebraska, say that each day is a fight for their beautiful little son, Teddy, including any measures possible to reduce his seizures. That included a groundbreaking half-day neurosurgery at Childrens just a few years ago with a robotic surgical assistant.

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At a public forum this weekend for medical cannabis regulations, which the Bronsons say could help ease Teddys pain, Matt Bronson said his son is at 85% higher risk of losing his life each night. But each morning, Liz and Matt greet their son.

I get to see my son smile. I get to hear him babble, and damn it, he is seven and a half years old and hes walking, Matt Bronson told an often raucous, cheering public forum crowd in Omaha on May 4. Three years ago, he was in a wheelchair.

Liz Bronson, a nurse practitioner at Childrens Nebraska, and Matt Bronson, a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran, flank their son, Teddy, who has a rare and severe form of drug-resistant epilepsy. (Courtesy of Liz and Matt Bronson)

Data shows Teddy is improving, but any seizure can take him, Liz Bronson said. Quoting the familys California-based epileptologist, Liz Bronson said, We can either pass evidence-based, well-regulated legislation, or we can sign more death certificates.

We come here before you today to say that, Im sorry, but Teddy matters, and that our family matters and that the suffering individuals in this state matter, Liz Bronson said.

A continued fight

In a more than decade-long fight for medical cannabis in Nebraska, through three election cycles, numerous legislative bills and multiple court fights, the Bronsons are among those who have consistently fought for access to the medicine.

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Voters overwhelmingly approved legalizing medical cannabis in November. It was approved by 71% of voters, and just a slightly smaller percentage, 68%, approved the basic outlines of a regulatory system.

The Bronsons were among hundreds of Nebraskans who attended public forums May 3 in La Vista, May 4 in Omaha or May 5 in Lincoln. Most shared a similar message: Medical cannabis is legal in Nebraska, and the will of the voters must be implemented.

But how the state should do so differed among the dozens of speakers who addressed a bipartisan group of 13 state senators spread between the three events on Legislative Bill 677, from State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, a bill meant to clarify regulations. Senators estimated at least 300 attendees.

Some speakers linked the fight with legislative efforts to water down minimum wage and paid sick leave protections passed in the 2022 and 2024 statewide elections.

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Others linked LB 677 to LB 316, from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, a priority of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who has escalated his opposition to LB 677 and all products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. LB 316 essentially reclassifies hemp as marijuana. Opponents call it a de facto ban on nearly all THC or hemp products.

Hilgers said Wednesday that it was never his intention to use LB 316 against the ballot measures. Hansen is working to make explicit in Kauths bill that it does not conflict with the ballot measures or LB 677.

Hilgers said his heart goes out to anyone in pain who feels they cant access something they feel could alleviate the hurt. However, he said he must uphold federal laws against marijuana despite dozens of states approving medical or recreational cannabis.

I think two plus two is four, even if everyone else says two plus two is five, Hilgers said this week when he launched a law enforcement campaign against LB 677.

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Speakers at this months forums blasted LB 677 for its compromises, including prohibiting smoking cannabis, specifying 15 qualifying conditions, allowing no more than 30 medical dispensaries and requiring a patient or caregiver to pay up to $45 for a registry card under the new state regulatory system.

Among those was Ethan Stankus of Bellevue, who said that if hed known there would be a smoking ban, conditions list or other needless compromises, he would have voted nay.

This is not what we voted for, Stankus said, holding up a breakdown of the amendment to LB 677, asking why Nebraskans needed to take time to reexplain their vote.

100% of the apple

For Hansen and supporters, the need for the bill is complicated, illustrated, for instance, when many attendees criticized the regulations for being housed in a new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission that shares resources and staff with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

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That was part of the ballot measure, partly in response to consistent opposition to medical cannabis from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Across the dozens of speakers, only one, the states former longtime state epidemiologist in DHHS, Tom Safranek, raised hesitation about the voter-approved laws, for a potential for societal damage.

DHHS also opposes LB 677.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair kneels to talk with State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue. Hansen is the lead sponsor on a 2025 bill to help give a regulatory structure to the states new medical cannabis laws. Holdcroft is the chair of the General Affairs Committee considering his bill. March 25, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Due to constitutional constraints with ballot measures  including the need to stick to a single subject  supporters were limited in what they could present to voters. Supporters of LB 677 say it would provide clearer guidance before the commission acts.

The proposal also seeks to aid a voter-enacted deadline for the commission to write the regulations, which is currently July 1. The commission, in court filings, has said the ballot measure provided no ability to carry out any duties set forth in the new laws, particularly with its lack of funding.

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State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, chair of the Legislatures General Affairs Committee, who worked with Hansen on the bill, said Sunday there is no way the measures required regulations can be completed in time.

LB 677 seeks to delay the required regulations by three months, while also more explicitly setting the parameters of the new regulatory system. The voter-passed laws wide flexibility to let the commission draft all regulations could end up with a system stricter than LB 677 proposes.

For instance, one of the governor-appointed members, Lorelle Mueting of Omahas Heartland Family Service, said in an online comment against a separate LB 705 this year that her agency does not support legalizing marijuana in any form for medical purposes without federal approval.

Mueting opposed LB 677 at its hearing.

Hansen said the time is right to get off our butts and unite Democrats and Republicans and reach the 33-vote threshold needed to pass LB 677 and help Nebraskans.

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The system needs to start right and show the world hasnt ended, Hansen said. Everyones not dying. People arent smoking doobies on the corner like a lot of my conservatives think.

Were not going to eat 100% of the apple, Hansen said Saturday of the efforts. We get 75%, 80%, make sure the people who need it, you get it.

Pigs must be flying

Marcie Reed of Blair, one of Hansens constituents, spoke of her 12-year-old son Kyler, who has epilepsy and takes six medications a day. Since 2019, the family has prepared to use a rescue medication for Kyler, a controlled substance, if Kylers seizures last more than five minutes.

You dont ever get it until youre in that situation, Reed, who worked on the recent cannabis ballot measures, said. One day, somebody you love might have epilepsy or cancer, and I think that if you truly think about it, you will realize you wish that you could have this to give to your loved one and not keep fighting for it.

Marcie Reed of Blair advocates with other families on behalf of her son, Kyler, to receive medical cannabis after voter approval in November. March 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

While tense at times, the weekend also brought moments of levity, such as Shannon Coryell of Omaha, a self-described bleeding heart liberal who said that pigs must be flying because she agreed with Hansen, a Republican with a Libertarian bent.

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Tom Becka, a former host on conservative talk radio in Omaha and a longtime broadcaster, spoke to Hilgers and Ricketts, saying that the movie-musical Reefer Madness wasnt a documentary.

More people have died from the onions on the McDonalds hamburger than have died from medical cannabis, Becka said to a laughing crowd.

No deaths from overdoses of marijuana have been reported, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, though some edibles have led to an increasing number of emergency room visits.

Fight like our lives matter

Multiple Nebraskans also encouraged lawmakers to act quickly, as some patients who could have gotten help or tested out the medication have died in 12 years of legislative waiting.

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Jill Heese of Lincoln spoke of her mother, an open-minded Republican and licensed practical nurse who died of cancer in 2006. While some speakers said they would just go to Missouri for marijuana anyway, Heese said that wouldnt be the case for her mother, a kind, compassionate, law-abiding woman.

Angie Cornett of Norfolk, Terrell Murphy of West Los Angeles and Kim Bowling-Martin of Lincoln joined at the Wine, Beer and Spirits in Lincoln to finalize signature counts for the 2024 Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign. July 3, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Lia Post of Springfield read a written letter Monday on behalf of her friend Angie Cornett of Norfolk, who missed the meeting to bury her mother.

Cornett, a nurse, wrote that her mom endured severe and chronic pain for decades. When she tried cannabis for the first time 25 years ago, at age 50, it eliminated the severe burning pain in her feet caused by severe nerve damage from her back and apathy from diabetes.

Cornett said her mom described the new pain relief as stepping on cold slushy watermelon.

A cocktail of addictive pain relief medications was part of her moms medical regimen, Cornett said, adding she couldnt help but wonder how her moms life could have changed with medical cannabis.

She knew exactly what she was voting for, and as I bury my mom today, I want you to know that she is just one of many patients who have died waiting for the right to access plant-based medicines in Nebraska and access to a God-given plant that was used medicinally since the ancient times, Cornett wrote Monday.

Post, a frequent medical cannabis advocate at the Nebraska State Capitol, said she is one of a handful of longtime advocates who have been told by lawmakers to mind their interactions and cool frustrations or methods of advocacy, such as Post telling Republicans that patients are dying.

Lia Post, at left, holds a Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana T-shirt beside Trish Petersen on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, on Lincoln, Neb. The two became best friends during the campaign. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Even so, Post said the roadblocks wont make her back down from a disease  complex regional pain syndrome  that will one day take her life.

Fight for us. Fight like our lives matter, Post said Saturday. None of you are God, and you do not deserve to play God in this anymore.

Seeing patients

Dominic and Shelley Gillen of Bellevue have been in the fight for 12 years, similar to the Bronsons, for their now 23-year-old son Will, who similarly has a severe form of drug-resistant epilepsy and is referred to by friends and family as Gods Will.

In that time, Dominic Gillen estimated, his son has faced more than 450,000 seizures and a body littered with scars.

Dominic Gillen said he considers Hilgers efforts against the medical cannabis campaign and its many volunteers, patients and caregivers, the type of lawfare that Republicans lamented under former President Joe Biden. At each event, Gillen told senators to see the patients, not look through them.

Will has never spoken a word, but hes touched countless lives in this state and other states through his story, Dominic Gillen said. Will is truly the greatest of blessings. Hes perfect even in his imperfection.

The Gillen family joins together in summer 2020 at turn-in day for the first of what would be three campaigns to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in Nebraska, which the family hopes will help Will Gillen, front. Joining Will Gillen, from back left, is Katelyn Gillen, Nolan Gillen, Shelley Gillen, Megan Gillen and Dominic Gillen. (Courtesy of Shelley and Dominic Gillen)

Hansen, too, urged Nebraskans to share their stories and photos with lawmakers, particularly Republicans. Out of curiosity, he asked Sunday whether those in attendance would support recreational marijuana if LB 677 failed and the regulations became too restrictive.

Nearly everyone raised their hands. Hansen said hes telling his colleagues to pass LB 677 and regulate medical cannabis, or the voters will end up legalizing recreational marijuana. Hilgers and other opponents of medical cannabis and recreational marijuana have said LB 677 would open the door to recreational use already.

Court battles continue in front of the Nebraska Supreme Court and in courts in Hall County, against a notary, and Lancaster County. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office has argued the laws are preempted by federal law and threatened to sue the Medical Cannabis Commission if it issues dispensary licenses.

Notaries targeted in those cases have pledged innocence, including Jacy Todd of York, a notary who faces first-of-their-kind criminal charges in Grand Island. None of the four notaries targeted in the case before the Nebraska Supreme Court has been criminally charged, though a lower-court judge tossed some of their signatures. Hilgers said the lack of charges shouldnt be read into.

Hilgers, joined by various sheriffs on Wednesday, said that medical cannabis and LB 677 are going to make Nebraska less safe, more dangerous. Its going to handcuff the good men and women here that are in front of you and all their colleagues around the state.

Lets take away this pain

Todd, a disabled veteran, was among those asking lawmakers to act and include post-traumatic stress disorder in the list of acceptable conditions for use, the removal of which Hansen said was one of the negotiating factors that was needed to get LB 677 out of the General Affairs Committee.

Matt Bronson, a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran, joins his son Teddy, who has a rare and severe form of drug-resistant epilepsy. (Courtesy of Liz and Matt Bronson)

Two amendments from State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha would add PTSD to the list. The first directly, the second by removing the list altogether and leaving the decision between doctors and patients.

Matt Bronson, who served in the military, left for war at age 19. He said he broke his back in 2007, struggles with PTSD, is a recovering alcoholic and has lost most sensation in his legs. He was given many options, including opiates and other addictive pain medications. Before Teddy was born, he said he tried to take his life.

Medical cannabis is not about Matt Bronson or Teddy getting high  I give two s about getting high, his father says.

However, Bronson says he cant take the addictive medications, get significant back surgery or be put in a wheelchair for 18 months because he and Liz Bronson need to care for Teddy at a moments notice, who comes first above his own health.

Lets take away this pain, Matt Bronson said. I dont want to remember those brothers and sisters I lost in war. I dont want to remember every single damn casket I put on the back of C-17 flying home covered in the damn flag. I love my country, but God damn, Uncle Sam, lets do something about this s.

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(Watch the full interview below)

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Back to the Future is headed to Greenville in a way youve never seen before: as a musical.

With the show set to open at The Peace Center on May 13, 7NEWS anchor Diane Lee spoke with one of the creators of the original movie trilogy about getting those movies made and the jump to Broadway.

Bob Gale, co-writer of the films, said he worked closely with the team behind the musical.

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The process of translating film to stage began nearly two decades ago, in 2006, and did not get off the ground until 2020.

In the interview, Gale discusses inspiration for Back to the Future: his fathers high school yearbook.

I thought, Gee, if I want to school with my dad, would I be friends with him?', said Gale. And boom, thats when I got hit by a lightning bolt of an idea to say, What if a kid could go back in time and go to high school with his father? And when I told the idea to [Back to the Future director and co-writer] Bob Zemeckis, he loved it and he said What if mom went to the same high school and all the things she said she never did, she did them.'

Gale said that the idea to make a stage musical dates back to 2005 when Zemeckis wife was watching The Producers.

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According to Gale, she mentioned to her husband that Back to the Future would make a really good theatrical musical.

That kicked off a process that led to Gale and Zemeckis bringing Alan Silvestri, the composer of the films, and songwriter Glen Ballard on board to work on the show.

We thought, This is going to be easy because everyone knows what Back to the Future is! But it turned out that, here we were starting this out in 2006 and we didnt get the show off the ground until 2020, Gale explained. So it took us longer to get Back to the Future: The Musical on stage than it did for us to make all three Back to the Future movies starting from August 1980 when I had the idea. So, go figure.

The show finally moved forward after Gale said he and Zemeckis found British producer Colin Ingram.

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Back to the Future is a tricky thing, explained Gale. Youve got to have the DeLorean. Youve got to figure out how its going to go 88 miles an hour. Youve got to have the clock tower sequence. Theres a lot of big set pieces in the story that you wouldnt normally think should be on stage or even could be on stage.

We put together a team of people who loved the movie and understood that this was necessary, Gale said. They raised the bar on what is possible. When you go see the show, youre going to be blown away as to how we did some of this.

The show, Gale said, is designed so that people will enjoy the show whether theyve seen the movie or not.

Weve had people tell us that they like the musical better than they like the movie, said Gale.

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Watch the full interview in the video player below:

The North American tour will be in Greenville from May 13 through May 18. Tickets are on sale on the Peace Centers website.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
LUSAKA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecoms firm Huawei announced on Thursday the introduction of a cloud-enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to Zambia to provide seamless access to education in unserved areas.

Lei Yang, Huawei's vice president for the sub-Saharan African region, said that the technology will enable learners in rural Zambia to access smart education.

"In the context of Zambia's education system, the cloud-enhanced AI offers transformative solutions and makes learning more personalized," he said during a summit on narrowing the digital divide to promote a balanced development of basic education.

He further noted that apart from creating a more supportive learning environment, the cloud-supported AI could also support language translation and optimization of the school curriculum.

According to Lei, the technology also provides flexibility to adapt to different learning styles and environments, adding that it will help students access real-time education content.

Noriana Muneku, permanent secretary in charge of administration in the Ministry of Education, thanked Huawei for being a shining example of a solid digital partner in Zambia for over 20 years.

She said that the government hopes to continue revolutionizing the education sector with Huawei's partnership.

Muneku added that technology has given the education sector an opportunity to eliminate digital barriers through smart classrooms, especially for people in rural areas. 
State Sen. Louis Blessing, III, R-Colerain Township, is co-sponsoring a measure prohibiting noncompete contracts in Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

Ohio senators heard from supporters Wednesday of a proposal establishing guardrails around media produced with artificial intelligence. The proposal would prohibit the use of AI to create deepfake porn  particularly involving minors. But with provisions requiring watermarks and punishing identity fraud, the bills impact could extend far beyond the creation of pornography.

Senate bill 163

The bills sponsors, state Sens. Louis Blessing, R-Colerain Twp., and Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, argue the restrictions will prevent potentially harmful uses of an emerging technology while protecting Ohioans safety and privacy.

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The bill goes after AI-generated child porn by expanding the definition of obscenity to include an artificially generated depiction. Blessing explained current laws against child sexual abuse material require an actual real photo of a child to be able to prosecute someone.

With AI not being a real photo, he added, this leads to issues of prosecuting someone generating these photos. Senate bill 163 will give attorneys the ability to prosecute these people.

The sponsors argue AI can also be used to engage in fraud for financial, political and reputational purposes. So, the proposal extends identity fraud statutes to include a replica of an individuals voice or likeness. It prohibits the use of a replica persona to defraud, damage a persons reputation, or depict a person in a state of nudity or engaged in a sexual act.

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Beyond its prohibitions, the bill aims to get ahead of deceptive uses by requiring any media created with artificial intelligence to include a watermark identifying it as such. Removal of a watermark is subject to a civil lawsuit for damages, and anyone who removes a watermark faces the presumption that they caused the alleged harm.

Proponents testimony

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost praised the measures three-pronged approach. He argued the watermark requirement would provide a minimum level of transparency and notice when an individual encounters AI-generated content.

Speaking about the bills identity fraud provisions, Yost brought up a case from his time as state auditor. A scammer successfully mimicked a school districts email system and then sent a fake funds transfer request to the accounts payable department posing as the districts financial controller. Best practice, Yost said, would be to call the sender for confirmation.

But now, in the era of deepfakes with audio, Yost explained, you can send that fake email, call up (accounts payable) using the controllers voice and say, Hey, I just sent you an email asking you to do a wire transfer. This is really important. We need to move it. I wanted to follow up with phone calls so you didnt have any questions.

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As for the restrictions on child sexual abuse material, Yost urged lawmakers ensure these powerful tools are not used for evil, and added that these are the kinds of things that keep me up at night.

Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, pressed Yost on how useful state legislation can be when it comes to addressing a borderless crime.

Yost acknowledged hed prefer to see federals laws and even international treaties governing the use of AI-generated images. But possession or use within Ohio can still be proscribed by this body and it ought to be. He added that one way to push Congress to act is for states to pass an array of legislation.

Lou Tobin, speaking on behalf of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, noted many states have passed bills to prohibit AI-generated child sexual abuse material or CSAM.

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As of last month, he said, Thirty-eight states, including every state surrounding Ohio, have enacted laws that criminalize the creation, possession and distribution of artificially generated CSAM.

But while many states have taken action, its not clear those laws will hold up in court.

I think a federal district court has found one of these statutes to be in violation of the Ashcroft decision, Tobin told lawmakers. The Ashcroft decision was a U.S. Supreme Court decision from the early 2000s that said you could not criminalize artificially generated images of child pornography because there wasnt a real victim.

In February, a federal judge in Wisconsin threw out one charge related to possession of virtual child pornography, but allowed three others to go forward. Prosecutors in that case have appealed the decision to dismiss the charge.

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Tobin explained his office and the AGs worked with state lawmakers to narrowly tailor S.B. 163 bill to avoid problems with the First Amendment. Regardless of how the case in Wisconsin or others play out, Tobin agued, We think thats a fight worth having.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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MADISON - The father of the Abundant Life shooter made his first appearance in court May 9, and was assigned $20,000 bail.

Jeffrey Rupnow, the father of the Abundant Life shooter, was arrested by Madison police on May 8 and made his first appearance in court May 9. The 42-year-old man was charged with two felony counts of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 and one felony count of contributing to the delinquency of a child.

"This case is unprecedented," said Dane County District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne at the hearing. "There was no other person who knew the child better than the defendant. His actions and lack of judgement here contributed to the fatal and tragic mass violence incident."

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Rupnow appeared by video call from his jail cell, peering from between two small windows in the door. He could be seen nodding along with what his public defender said. He is being held in the Dane County Jail. A victim was present in court May 9.

Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington also ordered Rupnow will have no contact with the school. If he posts bail, he will be subject to GPS monitoring.

In the criminal complaint, police said that he knew his daughter, 15-year-old Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow had access to the firearms in their Madison home, that she ultimately used to open fire inside a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School in December.

Teacher Erin West, 42, and freshman Rubi Vergara, 14 were killed in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow died by suicide.

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Ozanne had requested the judge set bail at $100,000. But Rupnow's attorney, Bruce Davey, said in an interview after the proceedings that the bail amount set wasn't fair. He also noted that Rupnow does not have a criminal record and has been free since the shooting in December.

"He hasn't caused any difficulties," Davey said. "He works at home. He has a family here."

The criminal complaint against the father detailed that police had been aware of "high-risk" online behavior from the man's daughter and notified him of in June 2022.

According to the criminal complaint tied to the father, details obtained from documents found in her bedroom, she described humanity as "filth." She lived in a "population of scum" and she used a racial slur before saying, "Some of you guys deserve to be dead." The complaint revealed her idolization of previous mass shooters, and that she drew parallels linking them to herself.

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In particular, Natalie Rupnow said that she was able to obtain the firearms she would use in the Abundant Life shooting as a result of "lies and manipulation, and my fathers stupidity" [sic].

Wisconsin law allows for a felony charge against a parent in situations where they provide a gun or other dangerous weapon to someone under 18.

Wisconsin statute says that Rupnows charge, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, applies to any person who intentionally sells, loans or gives a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 years of age is guilty of a Class I felony." If the shooting results in death, the penalty is a class H felony.

In recent years, parents in other states like Michigan and Illinois have been charged with crimes after their child took the lives of other people.

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Members of the press were not permitted to attend the initial appearance May 9 and were told that because the hearing was available via live stream, there was no need for reporters to be in the room.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bail set at $20,000 for Jeffrey Rupnow, father of Abundant Life shooter
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The father of a 15-year-old girl who killed a fellow student and a teacher at a private school in Wisconsin had his bail set at $20,000 on Friday at his first court appearance on charges that he allowed her access to guns.

Prosecutors charged Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, on Thursday with two felony counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor causing death and one felony count of contributing to the delinquency of a child. Rupnow would face up to 18 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Jeffrey Rupnow's daughter, Natalie Rupnow, opened fire at her school, Abundant Life Christian School, in Madison in December. She killed teacher Erin Michelle West and 14-year-old student Rubi Bergara and injured six others before she killed herself.

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Jeffrey Rupnow's attorney, Bruce Davey, said in court that his client would not be able to post $20,000 in bail, saying he's not a wealthy man. Davey noted that he has no prior criminal history, cooperated with the investigation, has lived in the area his whole life and needs to work at his job to pay his bills and keep his house.

Theres no reason to hold him in jail," Davey said. Davey asked for him to be released on a signature bond, which requires the posting of no money.

Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne had asked for $100,000, noting the seriousness of the shooting and the pending charges. He mentioned that a victim from the shooting was in the courtroom. He did not name the victim. The proceedings were held in a jail courtroom and viewable only via a Zoom teleconference. The victim was not visible on camera.

This is unprecedented and we do have two deceased," Ozanne said. "We have multiple gunshot victims. Its the defendants actions, inactions, that contributed to this incident.

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Court Commissioner Scott McAndrew said he did not want to set a cash bail so high that Rupnow could not pay it but wasn't comfortable with a signature bond given the seriousness of the offenses.

He ordered that if Rupnow posts $20,000 and is released, he will be fitted with a GPS monitoring device, not be allowed to have contact with anyone at Abundant Life Christian School, purchase or possess firearms or go to the block where the school is located. He said the cash amount could be reviewed later and set a status hearing for June 9.

McAndrew did not allow reporters into the courtroom, telling them through bailiffs that they could watch the proceeding on Zoom.

Asked outside the courtroom after the proceeding had ended whether the cash bail was high enough, Ozanne said the commissioner made his decision and his office will move forward. He then stepped into an elevator and left.

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Davey told reporters he did not think the bail amount was fair. Rupnow has been free since the shooting and has not caused any problems, he said.

Rupnows mother was also turned away at the courtroom door and had to listen to the Zoom teleconference by holding her cellphone next to her ear in the lobby. She declined to comment on the case.

According to a criminal complaint, Jeffrey Rupnow told investigators his daughter was struggling to cope with her parents' divorce in 2022.

He bought the two handguns she brought into the school for her as a way to bond with her, he told investigators. He added that he told her the access code to the safe where he stored her guns in case she ever needed them, the complaint said. Rupnow also told investigators he wasn't sure whether he put one of the guns back in the safe after his daughter cleaned it the day before the school attack.

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Investigators found writings in Natalie Rupnow's room saying she hated people who smoked marijuana and drank as much as they can like her father. She also wrote that her mother wasn't in her life, that she admired a number of school shooters and that she obtained her guns by lies, manipulation, and my fathers stupidity.

Jeffrey Rupnow sent a message to police in the days after the shooting saying the biggest mistake he made was teaching his daughter how to handle guns safely. He urged police to warn people to change their gun safe combinations every two to three months because kids are smart and they will figure it out.

Rupnow is the latest in a line of parents of school shooters who have been held criminally liable for their children's actions in recent years.

___

Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this report.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Coroners Office has released the identity of a 29-year-old who died in the hospital days after an assault.

Candelario Parada Reyes IV, 29, of Bakersfield died in the hospital April 20, after Bakersfield police said Reyes was assaulted days before at an unknown location. The assault took place on April 13.

2 people, deputy wounded in shooting incident on Water St shooting: KCSO

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The time of the assault is also unknown. The coroner said Reyes suffered blunt injuries to the head.

This homicide case is currently under investigation. If you have any information, reach out to the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-326-3803.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A museum in the Estonian city of Narva has placed a large banner on the border with Russia equating Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin with Nazi Germany's leader Adolf Hitler. This move comes on 9 May, when Russia commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The banner bearing the slogan "PUTLER WAR CRIMINAL" was mounted on the wall of Narva Castle facing the Russian border.

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Details: "This is our message, a reminder of the ongoing full-scale war and the war crimes being committed," said Narva Museum Director Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova. "Today, on Europe Day, we celebrate peace and freedom. With the end of the Second World War, it was peace and freedom, respect for sovereignty, and the principles of solidarity that became the core values of the European community. At the same time, a full-scale war unleashed by Putin has been going on for four years next to us. We call a dictator a dictator, and war crimes war crimes."

Background:

Russia marks the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on 9 May, accompanied by traditional propaganda events such as military parades and concerts.

As in previous years, large screens have been installed on the Russian bank of the Narva River, facing Estonia, to broadcast the celebrations.

Since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Narva Museum has repeatedly displayed a similar banner on 9 May.

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The Catholic church made history on Thursday with the election of its 267th leader. For the first time in history, the pope is an American.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, emerged from the Vatican after two days of deliberation among cardinals. He greeted a massive crowd of spectators below, blessing them and offering the first words of his papacy.

Another Chicagoan offered kind words to the new pope on Thursday, as former President Barack Obama sent a message on social media.

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"Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV," the former president said on X.

"This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith."

During his opening address, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the church's need to collaborate and exist as a welcoming space for all.

"We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love," he said at the Vatican on Thursday.

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Leo XIV attended Villanova University, earning a Bachelor's degree in mathematics from one of the nation's most well-regarded Catholic institutions. He would go on to spend over two decades in Peru, assuming various roles and becoming a naturalized citizen.

He replaces Pope Francis, who was the first non-European pope to hold the role in more than 1,000 years. Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, and his successor has been named after weeks of respectful mourning.

"Thank you to my Cardinal brothers who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church," Leo XIV said on Thursday, acknowledging those who came before him and those who elected him to his current position.

We'll see what the future holds for Leo XIV, but it's clear that today is an exciting and historic day for Americans.
An art dealer who appears on BBC Bargain Hunt has pleaded guilty to eight charges relating to funding terrorism.

Oghenochuko Ojiri admitted failing to report a series of high value art sales to a man suspected of funding Hezballah.

The 53-year-old appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Mr Ojiri, who also appears on the BBC Antiques Road Trip, was accused of selling works of art to a man he knew had been sanctioned as a terrorist financier by the United States.

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The sales took place between October 2020 and December 2021 and Mr Ojiri was arrested in April 2023.

More to follow

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)In this weeks Basin Bites, we visited Anas Cuisine, a food truck in Midland that is one of the few spots offering authentic Filipino dishes. Owner Ana Capule opened up shop about a year ago when she told her husband that she wanted to have her food truck. Her motivation was to see if she could really do it and spread Filipino culture to West Texas.

Basin Bites: Permian Basin Bakery

Annas Cuisine is really an authentic Filipino food, says Capule. I told my husband, I want to open one. I want to see how it goes. If West Texas people like it, well, there you go. We have a Filipino food in Midland.

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Menu items that Anas Cuisine has are pancit, lumpia, BBQ skewers, caldereta, halo halo, and much more. In addition, Ana also takes pre-orders for cake.

Anas is located at 6401 SH-349C Loop Midland, TX 79705 and is open on Sundays from 12 pm-6 pm.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baton Rouge man was charged in connection with an April shooting that left an 18-year-old dead inside a car.

Albert Boatner, 18, was charged with principals and second-degree murder.

The Baton Rouge Police Department was called to the scene in the 2400 block of N. 38th Street around 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Jonathan Triplett, 18, was found shot to death in the drivers seat of a Dodge Charger.

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The car, which was located between the train tracks and Choctaw Drive, had multiple bullet holes, according to an affidavit. Officers also found spent shell casings from different firearms.

Boatner was taken into custody after a traffic stop on Wednesday, May 7. During an interview with investigators, he said people inside his car shot at the Tripletts car.

Boatner was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday, May 8.

Police identify suspect arrested in connection with armed robbery at Regions bank

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A man died while attempting to rescue his dog from the ocean in the Bay Area shortly after entering the surf, officials say.

Witnesses saw a full-clothed man, believed to be middle-aged, enter the water along Ocean Beach just before 2:10 p.m., the San Francisco Fire Department said in a statement late Thursday.

After entering the surf line to save his pet, the man collapsed in the water for unknown reasons, officials said. On Friday, it was still not clear what caused the victim to lose his footing.

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The fire department said two women who were nearby rushed into the ocean in an attempt to rescue the man, dragging him out of the water to shore to provide life-saving support before calling 911.

Ocean Rescue personnel arrived at the scene within two minutes of the dispatch call being made and immediately started CPR. Paramedics from the fire service arrived four minutes later and initiated advanced life support.

San Francisco Fire Department announced the rescue operation on Thursday (San Francisco Fire Department/X)

The man was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he finally succumbed to his injuries. The dog, however, managed to return to shore on its own, uninjured, officials said.

Authorities have not yet announced any plans for a formal investigation.

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Ocean Beach is known for its powerful, channeled currents, even during calm weather. Treacherous rip currents and danger areas are constantly changing due to multi-directional swells creating holes in the sandbar.

Fire officials reminded beachgoers to be careful in the ocean and not to go after pets if they are in distress.

This is an unfortunate reminder not to enter the water for humans or pets but rather, to call 911, the fire department wrote in its statement.

Sukai Curtis-Contreras, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department, told KTVU that people can be pulled into the surfs unique currents in even ankle-deep water.

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The mans identity has not been made public, nor have the identities of the two women who attempted to save his life.

The Independent has contacted the San Francisco Fire Department for more information.
The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday participated in a grand parade at the Red Square in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.












MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Bay Minette man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

FBI joins investigation of deadly Clarke County crash that killed 2, injured 4

According to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Alabama, Timothy Allen Arthur, 66, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2024.

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According to court documents, during the summer 2023, Bay Minette police were called to a school regarding a nude image of a student that was being distributed at the school.

As part of that investigation, officers spoke to Arthur, who allegedly acted suspicious during the interview, the release said.

Teachers at the school had been looking at the social media accounts of a 12-year-old and noticed inappropriate comments Arthur had made on some of the childs posts, according to the release.

Officers spoke to the girl, who said Arthur had been sending her inappropriate text messages for about a year. A search of her phone confirmed that Arthur had sent the girl messages that asked her to have sex with him and send naked pictures of herself including sexually explicit language detailing what he wanted to do with her, the release said.

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Police said the girl did not encourage or respond positively to any of Arthurs comments, and even reminded him that she was only 12. According to the release, the girl repeatedly told Arthur to stop messaging her.

In addition to the prison sentence, Arthur will serve 10 years of supervised release after he leaves prison. While in prison, he will have sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment, the release said. He will be required to register as a sex offender and is not allowed to have any contact with minors. He was also ordered to pay $35,000 in restitution and $5,100 in special assessments.

Parents of 4-year-old with ethanol in her system looking for answers

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay Minette Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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EXCLUSIVE: The BBCs search for its next content chief is gathering pace.

Several industry sources told Deadline that the field of contenders has narrowed, with three executives said to be frontrunners for the biggest creative job in British TV, audio, and streaming.

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They are: Kate Phillips, the BBCs unscripted boss and interim chief content officer; Patrick Holland, Banijay UKs executive chairman; and BBC Studios Productions CEO Zai Bennett.

Others are said to be under consideration. Multiple sources said BBC director general Tim Davie has met with Netflix UK chief Anne Mensah, though many are uncertain about her appetite for the role and willingness to take a pay cut. She is adored by her bosses at Netflix, who will want to keep her after a string of hits, including Adolescence.

Tom McDonald, the New York-based executive vice president of Nat Geo, is also said to be in the mix. He is highly thought of and his experience working in the U.S. would certainly not count against him.

Headhunters Grace Blue and Ibison are helping steer the BBC recruitment process, with applications closing last week. As always, the potential for a dark horse candidate remains a possibility.

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Others are thought to have ruled themselves out. This includes Jay Hunt, Apple TV+s boss in Europe, and Channel 4s content supremo Ian Katz. Sources said Apple executive Alison Kirkham was considered, but is said to be happy in her current role. Liam Keelan, Disneys former EMEA originals chief, is not in the running.

The successful candidate will replace Charlotte Moore, who is stepping down as chief content officer after four years to join Left Bank Pictures as CEO. She will also oversee international creative output for Sony Pictures Television.

The Frontrunners

Phillips is widely seen as the executive to beat, with both BBC insiders and influential producers trumpeting her prospects. She has been the BBCs director of unscripted since 2022, overseeing the likes of The Traitors, Strictly Come Dancing, and Gladiators.

Kate Phillips

Insiders have been impressed with how she has acted up in the interim role over the past few weeks, while one ally in the production community said she had been groomed for the position, having worked closely with Moore for years.

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I was in with her recently and was impressed by her grasp of the material, her insights, support for the commissioners, and she was good with the talent, said another producer. That job is about understanding the bigger picture of the BBC, not just greenlighting shows. She has a strong and empowered commissioning team to get on with that.

The idea that she is capable of navigating the unique demands of the role came up repeatedly. Described as one of the toughest jobs in the industry, it requires an ability to guide hits, grip controversy, and safeguard the BBCs public service values as charter renewal negotiations loom. In recent months, Phillips changes to Strictly Come Dancing helped calm the misconduct storm that engulfed the show, while she has also had to handle the fallout from the Gregg Wallace scandal.

What Tim is after is someone who really believes and loves the BBC, would live and die for the BBC, rather than someone in it for the glory of the job, said a BBC executive. Its about public service, so he needs a good public servant.

Phillips would also be one of the few candidates who would be the beneficiary of a pay rise, should she be promoted. She currently earns as much as 294,999 ($389,000), while Moore is paid 468,000.

Patrick Holland

Holland, the former BBC2 controller, is regarded as the leading external candidate, even though he is said to be happy at Banijay UK, where he has been since 2022. Sources said the allure of an outsider remains tempting for the BBC, and Hollands mix of commercial and public service experience could work in his favor. As time has gone on, talk around the potential for Holland to take on the top job has grown rather than dimmed.

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He would be a brilliant candidate. He has got PSB passion and journalism/documentary experience. You need someone who can see all sides of a story and has got that grounding in impartiality issues, said a highly-regarded factual producer. Holland commissioned BAFTA-winning Once Upon a Time in Iraq and Race Across the World during his time at the BBC. A former BBC insider said: Patrick always said the only job hed go back for is the top BBC content job.

Zai Bennett

Bennett only joined BBC Studios last year, but people close to the former Sky executive believe he is considering Moores old job. Some think the optics of him jumping ship so soon are unusual, but one person said he was brought to BBC Studios with a specific eye on succession planning for Moore and deepening the corporations talent bench.

With credits including Chernobyl, Brassic, The Only Way Is Essex, and People Just Do Nothing, Bennett knows how to pick a hit. He is also widely regarded as a strong communicator who would be able to articulate the BBCs mission effectively.

Moore remains employed by the BBC, but is now entering the final weeks of her tenure. She was an unflinching advocate for the power of public service broadcasting, and the glowing tributes to the job she did suggest she leaves big shoes to fill.

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Additional reporting by Max Goldbart

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The BBC quietly edited an episode of Question Time after allegedly making a false claim about net zero.

Richard Tice, the Reform UK deputy leader, appeared on Thursday nights panel show following his partys sweeping gains in the local elections last week.

During the show, which was recorded before a live audience but broadcast later, he was asked about his partys position on climate change policies, which he said was to scrap net stupid zero.

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In the debate, Fiona Bruce, the host, intervened to correct Mr Tice on the proportion of carbon emissions that are man-made.

The MP for Boston and Skegness claimed that it was about three or four per cent of all emissions, to which Bruce said that, according to Nasa, it was around a third.

Mr Tice claimed that he approached a BBC editor after the show to tell them that the statistic was a mistake, and was informed that the information had come from BBC Verify, the broadcasters fact-checking unit.

The exchange with Bruce was then edited out of the programme, but the BBC has not reflected this in the show uploaded to its iPlayer.

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There is no clear consensus in the scientific community on the correct statistic. However, the BBC stands by the Nasa statistic and has said there was no mistake.

The BBC said the segment was edited out because two statistics were compared which were not directly comparable and therefore more context would have been needed to explain the two statistics sufficiently.

A BBC spokesman said: These claims are simply untrue. It is normal practice to edit the programme before broadcast for audience clarity. In this case two statistics were compared which were not directly comparable. The decision was taken to edit this as more context would have been needed to explain the two statistics sufficiently. The statistic came from Nasa, which is a trusted authoritative source on the issue.

BBC Verify was launched in 2023, when its purpose was described as explaining complex stories in the pursuit of truth.

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But the unit has been accused of making errors and being politically biased.

It comes after Bruce was forced to correct herself on a programme last year when she made an intervention during remarks on asylum seekers by Zia Yusuf, the Reform chairman.

Mr Yusuf said that the UK took more asylum seekers per capita than France, to which she countered that France and Germany took more per capita than Britain.

Bruce later said: Actually, before we move on, I just want to say, Zia, you are right, in fact, that France takes fewer asylum seekers per capita than the United Kingdom. We take more than that, its important to get that right.

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BBC sources said that BBC Verify was not involved in the incident with Mr Yusuf.

Mr Tice told The Telegraph: This is the second time in a matter of months where the presenter has wrongly challenged a Reform representative, and essentially made them look bad in front of the audience and other panellists.

Theyve relied on BBC Verify, which perhaps should be named BBC Guesswork. Clearly Reform wants to be on the programme but if we feel that were constantly being assailed with false information by the programme-makers, it becomes less attractive.

He added: If BBC Verify is giving duff information on live shows that is regurgitated as fact by presenters, then the BBC is in serious trouble.

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The unit, which as of 2024 employed 61 people with a combined salary of 3.3 million, has been criticised in recent months.

At the beginning of this year, BBC Verify suggested that private school fee increases after the Governments VAT raid would not affect parents choices around their childrens education.

Last November, BBC Verify was involved in a controversy over the reporting of inheritance tax changes affecting farmers, quoting Dan Neidle, the former Labour activist, as an independent tax expert before quietly removing that job description.

A week later, Frans Unsworth, the BBCs former news chief, expressed anxieties over the message that BBC Verify was sending about the corporations journalism.

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She said: I think if you want to set your stall out and say what youre about, its probably a pretty good branding exercise. But my anxieties are what does it say about the rest of the journalism? Is that not true, then?

The proportion of carbon dioxide in the Earths atmosphere is relatively low, but experts say that this does not equate to a low impact on climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming.

Saqib Bhatti, the shadow culture minister, said: The BBC has a duty to educate, entertain and inform  not spread misinformation about net zero.

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Kemi [Badenoch, the Conservative party leader] has been clear that the mad dash to net zero by 2050 will bankrupt Britain. The only people who dont seem to be on board with this are the Labour Party and the BBC.

Our public service broadcaster should know better than to not let the facts get in the way of its agendas.

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BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT)  Beaufort County Schools recently received a $20,500 grant from No Kid Hungry to support summer school lunch programs.

This initiative, already in place within the district, will benefit from the funding by adding an extra vehicle to help deliver meals to students during the summer months.

With school lunches on the mind, second-graders at John Cotten Tayloe School recently participated in a Farm Day event. The students rotated through four educational stations: one where they planted watermelon seeds to take home, another where they learned about dairy farming and milking cows, a tractor ride, and a session focused on local produce from Eastern North Carolina.

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You cant beat eating localit works for the farmers, and it works for us, Director of School Nutrition for Beaufort County Schools Joanne Kirven said. Very often nowadays, theres a lot of poverty around. Many children might not have experienced some of these things at home.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Police are searching for additional victims of a Beaverton man who is facing multiple charges, including promoting prostitution.

On April 24, officers first arrested 35-year-old Zackery Max Driver at his apartment.

Man caught on camera yelling slurs, punching Portland homeowner facing assault charges, investigators say

The following week, a Washington County grand jury indicted Driver on charges including promoting prostitution (involving three women between the ages of 19 and 25), felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of body armor, unlawful possession of cocaine, as well as unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

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Driver is currently lodged in the Washington County Jail.

As investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward, they are encouraging anyone with information to contact Beaverton police.

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NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  A priest is back home thanks to a New Bedford firefighter who saved his life while on vacation.

Firefighter Michael Desouza, assigned to Ladder Co. 3, was on a family trip to Bermuda when he and a Waltham 911 dispatcher responded to an emergency at the beach.

According to a social media post by the New Bedford Fire Department, a 75-year-old man was found unresponsive, floating in about two feet of water next to his brother.

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Desouza and the dispatcher pulled the man to shore and began CPR. He was reportedly not breathing and had no pulse.

New Bedford firefighter Michael Desouza and Waltham 911 dispatcher rescue priest in Bermuda

(Courtesy: New Bedford Fire Department)

Shortly after, the department said the man experienced a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and became semi-conscious. Two surgeons who happened to be at the beach also helped until the man was taken to a local hospital.

The man, a Catholic priest from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was on a cruise with his family celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He has since fully recovered and returned home.

(Courtesy: New Bedford Fire Department)

The fire department praised Desouza for exemplifying its Service Above Self slogan.

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His lifesaving actions illustrate that the knowledge and skills learned as a firefighter can be called upon to save a life no matter where in the world you might be, the department wrote.

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Maxime Prevot, Belgium's new Foreign Minister, has said his country is ready to help establish an international coalition to keep Russian assets frozen, despite having no guarantees that EU sanctions will be extended this summer.

Source: Prevot in an interview with Euractiv, an EU-focused news and analysis website, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Belgium-based clearing house Euroclear holds the bulk of Russian assets under sanctions in Europe, estimated at over 180 billion in public and private funds that were frozen by the EU following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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However, the sanctions are set to expire by the end of July. EU diplomats say they expect Hungary to attempt to undermine the decision by abstaining, thereby blocking the unanimity required among all 27 EU member states.

"In this case, we absolutely need to have alternatives for keeping the assets frozen," Prevot noted. "We could have a new international framework initiative, which will force those assets to stay in Euroclear, or another alternative would be a national initiative of the Belgian parliament."

He added that Belgium cannot act alone.

"We absolutely need to pool the risks," Prevot said. "We absolutely need to have a mutual approach. Seeing the risk both legally and financially, its absolutely important to have a 'coalition of the willing'  this time related to the Russian assets."

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"The time is running, so it is really important to have a clear process identified in the coming weeks, before the moment when we have to decide on the 17th sanction package," he said.

Prevot noted that Belgian experts are working to analyse the various possibilities and find a lasting solution.

"Belgium will absolutely avoid being alone and taking all the risk of being pursued by Russia in different courts with only sentimental support from EU member states," he added. "No, we need to have strong, written commitments from the other countries  maybe not only the EU ones, but perhaps also supported by the UK, Canada, and others."

Background:

Reports indicate that Euroclear plans to confiscate and redistribute around 3 billion in frozen Russian assets after Moscow seized funds held by foreign investors in Russia.

The EU has long debated the confiscation of Russian assets and their transfer to Ukraine.

However, key countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain oppose the move, fearing it could deter international investors and deprive the EU of a major bargaining tool in future peace negotiations.

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BELOIT, Wis. (WTVO)  Beloit Police Chief Andre Sayles announced his resignation on Thursday.

According to Sayles, he has accepted a new position and will be leaving the police department.

Its bittersweet as I am sharing some personal news. Ive been proud to serve as your police chief these past four years, and I am proud of everything we have achieved together, Sayles said in a statement. I am sharing today to inform you that I have accepted a new position. This opportunity provides a unique chance for me to continue my career and contribute to a new community, and I am grateful for the support I have received to pursue this path. I will announce my destination at a later date.

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Sayles last day will be June 6th, 2025.

Sayles has been with the Beloit Police Department since 2005, joining as a patrol officer. In 2013, he was promoted to sergeant 2013. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2017 and to captain in 2020.

He was appointed Chief of Police in April 2021.

Chief of police appointments in Wisconsin communities with populations over 4,000 are

made by the communitys Police and Fire Commission, whose members are appointed by

the municipalitys elected officials.

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MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia urged nuclear-weapon states to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, according to a joint statement on global strategic stability released here on Thursday.

The two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship among major countries in addressing global strategic issues.

Noting that nuclear-weapon states bear special responsibilities for international security and global strategic stability, the statement said that they should give up taking measures that trigger strategic risks, and concerns should be addressed through equal dialogue and consultations based on mutual respect to enhance trust and avoid dangerous misjudgments.

The statement noted that not all nuclear-weapon states follow the above-mentioned position, saying the rising tensions among nuclear-weapon states have escalated, even to the point of facing direct military conflicts, adding that problems and challenges in the strategic domain keep emerging, and the risk of nuclear conflicts is rising.

According to the statement, the fact that certain nuclear-weapon states build or expand permanent military bases in sensitive areas around other nuclear-weapon states, flex military muscle to exert pressure, or carry out hostile acts that threaten the core security interests of other countries has become one of the most urgent strategic risks to be eliminated.

Meanwhile, the forward deployment of military facilities and advanced offensive and defensive weapons have been continuously strengthened, a trend that has raised serious concerns.

The recently announced "Golden Dome" plan of the United States aims to build a global, multi-level and multi-domain missile defense system that is not subject to any constraints to resist various missile threats, including those from "evenly matched" opponents, said the statement, adding that it also causes serious damage to strategic stability.

This plan completely and thoroughly negates the inseparable interrelationship between strategic offensive and strategic defensive arms, the core principle on maintaining global strategic stability. In addition, this plan also provides further support for the research and development of kinetic and non-kinetic means to strike missiles and their supporting facilities and achieve "left-of-launch."

The "Golden Dome" program openly proposed a significant increase in outer space combat means, including the development and deployment of orbital interception systems, weaponizing outer space and turning it into a large-scale armed confrontation site, which made the situation even worse, said the document.

The two countries oppose the attempts of individual countries to use outer space for armed confrontation, and reject the implementation of security policies and activities aimed at gaining military superiority and defining outer space and using it as a "war-fighting domain."

China and Russia condemned the use of commercial space systems to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states and intervene in armed conflicts of other countries.

Some individual nuclear-weapon state, supported by its allies, aims to undermine the reliability and effectiveness of the strategic deterrence of other nuclear-weapon states, revealing the attempt to seek overwhelming military superiority, and ultimately achieve "absolute strategic security." It fundamentally violates the basic logic of maintaining strategic balance and runs counter to the principle of equal and indivisible security, according to the statement.

Any military confrontation among nuclear-weapon states should be resolutely avoided, said the document, adding that political and diplomatic solutions to existing differences should be sought on the basis of mutual recognition of and mutual respect for each other's security interests and concerns.

Both sides pointed out in the statement that through a trilateral security partnership, the United States, Britain and Australia attempt to establish military facilities used by the two nuclear-weapon states to safeguard their nuclear forces within the territory of a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, undermining regional strategic stability and provoking a regional arms race. 






Two men have been found guilty nearly two years after cutting down a popular, historical tree and landmark in the U.K.

The Sycamore Gap tree, which was cut down in September 2023, was featured in 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

39-year-old Daniel Graham and 32-year-old Adam Carruthers have been found guilty of two counts of criminal damage







Two men were recently convicted of cutting down the famed Sycamore Gap tree in 2023  a beloved British landmark  in what a prosecutor called their moronic mission.

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On Friday, May 9, a Newcastle Crown Court jury found 39-year-old Daniel Graham and 32-year-old Adam Carruthers guilty of two counts of criminal damage connected to the felling of the tree in September 2023 and the resulting damage to the historic Hadrians Wall, according to a release from the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service.

The tree, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, was notably featured in 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and has been standing near the Hadrians Wall since it was planted in the late 19th century, per the CPS.

But around the night of Sept. 27, 2023  and the early hours of Sept. 28  Carruthers and Graham traveled from Carlisle to Northumberland and cut the tree down with a chainsaw before returning to Carlisle with a section of it.

For over a century, Sycamore Gap has been an iconic natural landmark in the North East of England, bringing immeasurable joy to those visiting the area," Gale Gilchrist, chief prosecutor at CPS North East, said in a statement. In just under three minutes, Graham and Carruthers ended its historic legacy in a deliberate and mindless act of destruction."

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As Gilchrist recounted, news of the pair's mission "spread the following day," as they were "revelling in the public outcry they had caused."

Thanks to an outstanding investigation on the part of our police partners, the Crown Prosecution Service was able to build a robust case against both men and bring them to trial," the prosecutor added. The international reaction of disapproval and anger following the destruction at Sycamore Gap illustrates how keenly the public has felt the loss of this beloved site, and we hope our community can take some measure of comfort in seeing those responsible convicted today.

Carruthers and Graham will be sentenced at a later date, per the CPS.

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Authorities stand around the fallen Sycamore Gap tree Authorities stand around the fallen Sycamore Gap tree

According to CBS News, which cites Justice Christina Lambert, the men will be sentenced on July 15, with them facing a lengthy period in jail. The maximum criminal damage sentence is 10 years in prison, per the outlet.

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Prosecutor Richard Wright KC called the crime both a moronic mission and the arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery," according to The Guardian, which noted that the men's trial lasted eight days.

During the trial, the jury saw footage from Graham's phone  which was later sent to Carruthers  of the tree being cut down, according to CBS. The prosecutor said that while it was unclear who cut the tree, both men were the only two who had access to the footage.

Both men also apparently discussed coverage of their crime via text and voice messages the following day, with Wright sharing that he believed they did it for "a bit of a laugh." They later testified that they each had nothing to do with it, with Graham putting the blame on Carruthers, according to CBS.

Up and down the country and across the world, the reaction of all right-thinking people to the senseless felling of the Sycamore Gap tree has been one of sadness and anger," Wright said, per The Guardian. "Who would do such a thing? Why would anyone do such a thing? Take something beautiful and destroy it for no good reason.

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He added: Far from being the big men they thought they were, everyone else thought that they were rather pathetic.

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Authorities stand around the fallen Sycamore Gap tree Authorities stand around the fallen Sycamore Gap tree

The value of the tree will also likely play a factor in sentencing, with prosecutors originally claiming it was estimated around $830,000  with an additional $1,500 for the wall damages, according to CBS News. Prosecutor Rebecca Brown later said the figures are likely lower.

Northumbria Police said following the sentencing, per the BBC, that the men did not give an explanation for the crime and that there could "never be a justifiable one."

Read the original article on People
KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT)  Law enforcement officers with the Kinston Police Department arrested a New Bern woman on drug charges Thursday.

Police were called to the Quality Inn in Kinston to assist with a disturbance. Officers arrived to find Chasity Wilburn, 36 years old, and an unnamed man. An investigation began after officers observed the reportedly off behavior of the two people.

Methamphetamine and buprenorphine/naloxone were allegedly found along with drug paraphernalia.

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Wilburn was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, a schedule III controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the Lenoir County Jail and given a secure bond.

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Fighting oligarchy from the P.J.: Sen. Bernie Sanders (IVt.) and I actually have a lot in common: We both think private jets are super cool. The only problem is that he's trying to brand himself as "fighting oligarchy," whereas I have no interest in being a foot soldier in that fight.

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) have been traveling the country doing speaking events and rallies on their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, which aims to "take on the oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country."

On Fox's Special Report with Bret Baier, Sanders was asked about his choice of transport. "You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. [It is] the only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people. You think I'm going to be sitting on a waiting line at Unitedwhile 30,000 people are waiting?" Sanders replied. FEC filings show that Friends of Bernie Sanders, his campaign committee, spent over $221,000 chartering private jets during the first quarter of 2025.

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Sanderswho enjoys a house in Burlington, Vermont, another one in D.C., and a third at Lake Champlain, all of which he says are modest propertiesmight be part of the very oligarchy he claims to want to smash. He mentions on Lex Fridman's show that he didn't receive some massive inheritance; he grew up poor, but it's his book deals, his royalties, and his $175,000 annual salary that allow him and his wife to afford their homes. He notes that he drives an old car and just has a watch and a wedding ring, but that now they're financially secure such that they don't have to worry about surprise medical bills, which is "enormous" for their family. Good!

What Sanders appears to dislike is vulgar wealth. But what he doesn't understand is that his spending, justify it as he might, probably looks showy to those who are poorer than him. How many Americans have ever been on a private jet or owned a vacation home?

More importantly, what Sanders is describinghis slow crawl up the socioeconomic ladder, due to writing books that people value and want to read and representing ideas that people value and want to circulate and his ability to enjoy the attendant conveniencesis exactly what capitalists like me want more of (though ideally the ideas themselves would be better). If you subtract all the socialism-peddling, Bernie Sanders is an American success story who went from rags to (modest) riches. More of this, please!

Plenty of fellow politicians are beclowning themselves by suggesting that, of course, Sanders has to fly private:

Bernie Sanders is 83 and had to be in multiple states in the same day. In that situation you fly private.  Andrew Yang????  ???????? (@AndrewYang) May 8, 2025

But Sanders and his defenders should ask themselves why this logic applies to politicians but not CEOs making decisions about billion-dollar businesses, which surely generate more economic value than the Fighting Oligarchy tour ever could. By misunderstanding who creates value in our economy (and how), Sanders is showing how ill-suited he is to restructure it. And by making excuses for why he gets to enjoy the spoils of his success, Sanders is showing that, actually, he too believes in the upward-mobility promise of the American dream.

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Habemus papam: And he's from the Midwest!

After a very brief conclave, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen by his fellow cardinals to be the next pope. He will assume the name Leo XIV. This is the first time an American has ever been elected pope (and also the first time we've had an Augustinian pope).

With Trump's tariffs in effect, we are now making popes in America  Christian Schneider (@Schneider_CM) May 8, 2025

The Augustinians are a religious order whose members cater to the needy and live very humbly. They draw from the life and works of St. Augustine of Hippo, one of my personal favorite theologians, and author of Confessions. Pope Leo XIV, a native of the Midwest, went to Villanova University and studied mathematics and philosophy, then "served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen" before he ascended to lead the Order of St. Augustine. He then served as a top bureaucrat in the Vatican, playing an essential role in choosing and supervising bishops around the world. He's also a polyglot, able to speak fluently in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, as well as his native English; he reads German and Latin.

"Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure," said Pope Leo XIV in his first homily as pope today.* "These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society. And these are not few."

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Pope Leo XIV will, in some ways, be a natural successor to Pope Francis: He's oriented toward unity in the increasingly global church. "He is a very balanced, measured kind of person who deals well with crisis in a certain sense," a former classmate of his, Rev. Mark R. Francis, told The New York Times. "It doesn't fluster him. He thinks things through and offers very stable leadership."

Though popes should not be thought of as conservative vs. liberalthat's not really the axis on which they're operatinghe has made several public statements that show him to be a bit of a rhetorical departure from Pope Francis. "The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist," he told local news media in Peru, when a government proposal sought to include gender-ideology teachings in local curricula. In other ways, his beliefs are expected to line up well with Pope Francis'; he retweeted articles criticizing Vice President J.D. Vance's understanding of ordo amoris applied to immigrants.

"Will the next pope be right wing?" Wrong question. Catholicism is nine times older than the left-right paradigm. There's no way to plot conclave politics on less than twenty different axes, several of which operate on non-physical planes & three of which are about being Italian  Madoc Cairns (@MadocCairns) April 21, 2025

Scenes from New York: "Why Can't New York Have Nice Mayors?" asks The New Yorker, misunderstanding that all those who seek such power have an innate character defect.

QUICK HITS

Ana Camero, a 64-year-old grandma, was deported after mistakenly taking the wrong turn on her way home from work, driving into San Diego's Marine Corps Recruit Depot and failing to provide ID, at which point immigration authorities were called. Her family says she came here illegally but has lived in the U.S. for 20 years and that she does not have a driver's license or any other California or U.S. identification. Forgive me, but the crime I'm worried about here is grandmas being bad drivers more than the decades-ago border crossing.

Expect much more like this:

NEW ODD LOTS: A US clothing brand facing existential threat from the tariffs.@tracyalloway and I spoke with Sarah LaFleur, CEO of the clothing brand @mmlafleur on the apparel and textile supply chain and what's already happening to her business. https://t.co/T0eI09RtVK  Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) May 9, 2025

"India and Pakistan accused each other of launching new military attacks on Friday, using drones and artillery for the third day in the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours in nearly three decades," reports Reuters.

*CORRECTION: This article previously misstated the date of Pope Leo XIV's first homily.

The post Bernie Sanders: American Success Story appeared first on Reason.com.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on Congress Friday to raise the nations debt ceiling by mid-July to keep the federal government from defaulting on its more than $36 trillion debt.

In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Bessent said there is reasonable probability that the governments cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess.

Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July, before its scheduled break, to protect the full faith and credit of the United States, he said.

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Republicans are hopeful they will be able to raise the debt limit on their own this year using a process known as budget reconciliation. The aim is to raise the debt ceiling using the same vehicle being put together to advance wide swaths of President Trumps agenda with only GOP votes.

This would allow Republicans to avoid Democratic demands for concessions in exchange for their votes, but it would also set a hard mid-summer deadline for the massive bill that has spawned numerous divisions on the right.

The debt limit was last suspended by Congress as part of a bipartisan bill struck between former President Biden and GOP leadership in 2023, staving off the threat of national default through early 2025.

However, then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in January that the government would have to implement extraordinary measures after the government was expected to reach the new limit later that month.

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The debt limit caps how much money the Treasury Department can owe to pay the countrys bills.

Trump urged the previous Congress to raise the debt limit before he assumed office, as Republicans argued Democrats could use the leverage point to demand major concessions.

House GOP leaders also used the debt limit during the Biden administration to get Democrats to come to the negotiating table, but only after months of an intense game of chicken between both sides. The high stakes battle eventually resulted in a debt limit suspension and a bipartisan deal for new limits on spending, but not without another downgrade of the nations credit rating.

In his note to lawmakers on Friday, Bessent said prior episodes have shown that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can have serious adverse consequences for financial markets, businesses, and the federal government, harm business and consumer confidence, and raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers.

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These risks were underscored by the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee in a report issued on April 29, 2025, raising concerns including increased volatility and costs, negative impacts on U.S. financial strength, and a heightened risk of a default, he said.

Updated at 5:14 p.m. EDT

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Every May 9, Russian president Vladimir Putin flexes his countrys military might with a grandiose, propagandistic display to mark the Soviet Unions triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. Putin regularly appeals to a distorted history of the Second World War to justify Russias revanchist foreign policy, and it is high time for the United Kingdom and the United States to counter the Russian dictators exploitation of the past.

According to Putins version of history, the Soviet experience in World War II is a foundation stone for Russian exceptionalism: having lost millions of lives in a horrific conflict, Russia emerged set apart from other countries as a global savior uniquely qualified to combat Nazism yesterday and today.

Putin has infused the May 9 Victory Day celebrations with spiritual significance, branding the day a sacred holiday and declaring 2025 the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. This narrative has great resonance among Russians, who retain a profound emotional connection to the conflict as countless families have lost loved ones.

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The Kremlins narrative about World War II is based on a selective reading of history. It ignores, for example, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, in which the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany cooperated to divide and conquer Poland. The aftermath of this pact and a subsequent trade agreement witnessed extensive commerce between the Soviets and Nazis. More poignantly, it saw the infamous Katyn Massacre of 1940, in which the Soviets executed over 20,000 Poles.

The Russian narrative imagines that the war began only after the Nazis betrayed their erstwhile ally. Furthermore, according to Putins conception of history, the Poles were fascist sympathisers heroically saved from Nazi tyranny by Soviet intervention. There is no room for criticism of Soviet actions. Defending former Soviet leader Joseph Stalins actions during the war, Putin once declared that nobody can now throw stones at those who organized and stood at the head of this victory.

In 2014, Russias parliament passed a law mandating up to five years in prison for spreading intentionally false information about the Soviet Unions actions during World War II.

Beneath the facade of concern with fighting fascism, Putin leverages this narrative to justify Russias aggressive foreign policy. Indeed, Russia has tried to convince the world that its war against Ukraine is a continuation of the fight against the Nazis. By cloaking his revanchist wars in anti-fascist dress, Putin perversely presents his aggression as a defense against tyranny.

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Putin also uses historical propaganda to attack his Western adversaries. In 2019, for example, Putin characterised former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as a hypocrite, stating: [R]emember Churchill, who at first hated the Soviet Union, then called Joseph Stalin a great revolutionary when it was necessary to fight Nazism, and after the Americans got nuclear weapons, he called for the immediate destruction of the Soviet Union. The Kremlin has argued that the American and British bombing of the German city of Dresden can be compared to Nazi atrocities, portraying the Soviet military as more noble by contrast.

The UK and the US should counter the Kremlins shameless exploitation of World War II. Recently, the Trump administration took a meaningful step toward this end, with president Trump declaring May 8 Victory Day in the United States.

When announcing Victory Day, Trump declared that nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, thereby hitting Putin and his lackeys in a sensitive spot. Dmitry Medvedev, Russias former president and deputy chairman of the countrys Security Council, called Trumps statement pretentious nonsense. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed the Soviet Union would have defeated the Nazis regardless of American intervention.

The United Kingdom and its allies should launch offensive influence operations to undermine Putins efforts to use World War II propaganda to shape Western perceptions of Russias foreign policy and put Moscow on the defensive.

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For example, London should needle Putin and his cronies through satire and revive Soviet-era jokes about Stalin. The information space in Russia should be filled with the famous Stalin slogan Life has become better, comrades! and adapted to the current situation to remind the Russians of the lack of freedom and economic hardships under Putin.

Just as Adolf Hitler hated Charlie Chaplins The Great Dictator film, the Kremlin loathes the 2017 movie The Death of Stalin. Russias Culture Ministry banned it for mocking Russian history and humiliating the Russian people. Now, the UK should strengthen a public-private effort between the British Government and the British film industry and produce a humorous movie about the Great Dictator Putin. Similar to how Stalin imprisoned people for telling disrespectful jokes, Putin approved a law that threatens to jail people for disrespecting government.

Tyranny is no laughing matter, but time and again humour has proven an effective antidote to dictatorship. The UK should launch a concerted effort to make Putin the butt of many jokes.

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GREENBELT, Md. (DC News Now)  A Bethesda doctor is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to unlawfully prescribing medications to patients, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland.

Anissa Maroof, 48, of Potomac, Maryland, was federally charged with distributing and dispensing controlled substances.

According to court documents, between January 2019 and June 2022, Maroof distributed and dispensed controlled substances, including Buprenorphine, Xanax, and Adderall, to patients after knowing it was not for a medical purpose or that the patient intended to sell the prescription.

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Cocaine confiscated from student at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, deputies say

The USAO states that Maroof was a board-certified physician in addiction psychiatry and owned a medical practice with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number that allowed her to prescribe the substances.

Court documents add that Maroof provided controlled substances to patients from West Virginia without warning them of the risks or providing them with therapeutic services, including prescribing medication to the patient before seeing them first.

According to court documents, Maroof additionally allowed the patients to leave cash under her office door in exchange for a prescription. She also taught them how to split the prescription filling between pharmacies to avoid detection.

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Maroofs sentencing is set for Tuesday, August 19, at 2:30 p.m., where she faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release.

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Greenville, S.C. (WSPA)- May is Mental Health Awareness Month and you can support funding for local suicide awareness by playing a raffle online.

7 News is at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts because it is a stigma free environment, which acknowledges the space as a place for mental and physical health.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of Walts Waltz, a nonprofit started by Susan Crooks after she lost a son to suicide.

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Crooks said the organization has made a significant impact in transforming conversations around mental health.

To celebrate this milestone and continue raising awareness, theyre hosting a Raffle Rouser, with more than 100 donated itemsincluding artwork, merchandise, and unique experiences.

The Raffle rouser runs through May 14, bid by following this link.

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Six months have passed since Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in the November election for president, and many Americans are still mourning. The devastating blow divided the country even more, and now, former President Joe Biden is finally addressing his theories about why the Democratic party failed.

Since leaving the White House, Biden has kept a relatively low profile. That is until recently, with him sitting down for several major interviews and making public appearances over the last few weeks. During an interview on The View Thursday (May 8), Biden spoke about last years campaign season, even making a surprising admission.

According to the former president, Harris defeat didnt come as a shock. Not because I didnt think the vice president was qualified to be president, he clarified. Biden went on to defend Harris saying she was more than qualified to run the country. But there was two simple yet deeply complex things he believes stopped her from pulling out the final victory.

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Its no secret that Harris is Black woman. But despite making history as the first woman district attorney in San Francisco and the first woman to serve as vice president, Biden said it was her gender and race that many folks couldnt see past. Plus, it didnt help that the Republican party basically used her identity against her, just like they did during former President Barack Obamas campaigns.

Former Pres. Biden tells #TheView he "wasn't surprised" by Pres. Trump's win in 2024: "[Kamala Harris is] qualified to be president of the United States of America, but I wasn't surprised because they went... the sexist route." pic.twitter.com/GrtA9iZhP0  The View (@TheView) May 8, 2025

I was surprised because they [MAGA] went the sexist route, the whole route. This is a woman, shes this, shes that, really, Ive never seen a successful and consistent [of a] campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldnt lead the country  and a woman of mixed race, Biden told The View hosts. Lets all remember the rights continuous attacks on Harris, previously calling her a jezebel and suggesting she slept her way to the top of the political ladder.

The same thing happened in 2016 with the battle between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Trump. Even The View host Sara Haines mentioned the 2016 voting frenzy saying Harris loss was like 2016 all over again. In the cases of Obama, Clinton, and Harris, each candidate presented a radical progressive change in the political system. But while Obama, a Black man, was able to win two terms, the ladies didnt have the same success.

harris had conservative ideas. the only progressive play she had was abortion rights. everything else could easily be applied to a republican. and she didnt get republican votes because shes not a republican candidate. shes not radical, she just happens to be a Black woman.  jourdain searles (@judysquirrels) November 7, 2024

Of course, if you were paying any attention to last years election, Bidens recent remarks arent surprising. It was very clear from the beginning of Harris 100-day campaign that voters were hesitant to elect the first female president. But you know who called it? Black women.

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On X, @judysquirrels tweeted back in November that Harris is not radical, she just happens to be a Black woman. Another Black woman, @tify330, wrote People hate when Biden is honest, everything he said is true: Sexism, Racism, COVID, Pessimism, Negative view of Govt all played a role.

It remains unclear if this country will ever be ready for a Black women to lead, or even a woman in general. But despite this, Biden continues to praise his former second in command. We had a very successful effort to change the direction of the country and we did, he said. She was every single part of that.



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A lawsuit filed in federal court is seeking to undo the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in the Southern California desert, claiming President Biden overstepped his authority by setting aside such a vast swath of land days before leaving office.

Plaintiffs represented by an Austin, Texas-based conservative think tank claim Biden abused the Antiquities Act, a 1906 law that allows presidents to create national monuments. The suit brought against the Interior Department highlights that the law mandates monuments be limited to the "smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected."

If you look at the history, it was supposed to be limited to, let's say, 100 acres, maybe 1,000 acres. But it certainly wasn't the kind of expansion that we've seen in recent years, said Matt Miller, senior attorney for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which filed the suit.

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Supporters of Chuckwalla, which sits south of Joshua Tree National Park, point out that the law has long been used by presidents to protect large land masses  including the designation of the Grand Canyon by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. On Jan. 14, Biden created Chuckwalla to safeguard land sacred to tribes as well as important wildlife habitat and military sites.

On May 1, the foundation filed the suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of a resident of the state with mining claims in the footprint of the monument and the BlueRibbon Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for recreation access.

Event workers disassemble a sign after President Joe Biden canceled a press conference announcing the Chuckwalla National Monument scheduled at Box Canyon, January 7, 2025. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

According to the lawsuit, Daniel Torongo, whose family began mining in the region in 1978, and members of the BlueRibbon Coalition, will be prevented from using the land in ways they previously enjoyed because of the monument designation.

Torongo, of Brighton, Mich., will face onerous restrictions to maintaining his claim and will not be able to expand it as he planned, potentially threatening his retirement plan to spend more time mining there with his family, according to the suit.

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"Although Mr. Torongo and his family have invested time and money in acquiring claims, equipment and relevant knowledge, the dream of expanding their operation beyond its current size is no longer possible," the suit states.

BlueRibbon Coalition members, meanwhile, which include off-roaders and dirt bikers, fear theyll also face restrictions because of the goal of maintaining the undeveloped character of the land, according to the suit.

The Interior Department hasn't yet responded to the suit and spokeswoman J. Elizabeth Peace said department policy is not to comment on litigation.

In a statement, she said the department reaffirms its unwavering commitment to conserving and managing the nation's natural and cultural resources, upholding tribal trust responsibilities and overseeing public lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans, while prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people.

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Read more: Biden creates two vast national monuments in California during final week in office

Janessa Goldbeck, chief executive of Vet Voice Foundation, a nonprofit representing veterans, said the suit makes numerous false claims.

"We have a Texas special interest group representing a guy from Michigan trying to undo something that Californians love and fought for," she said. "So I think it's important that we see it for what it is, which is an ideological attempt by out-of-state special interests to sell off our public lands here in California."

Goldbeck, a former U.S. Marine, pushed back on the suits description of military sites protected by the designation, which includes a World War II-era training site established by Gen. George Patton to prepare troops to fight in the deserts of North Africa. The suit reports that "all that remains of that facility is tank tracks and remnants of concrete fountains and rock-lined walkways."

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According to Goldbeck, you can still see the roads and foundations  including one bearing the handprint of the captain who built it. Theres also a chapel with a pulpit thats still standing, she said.

"They clearly have not been out on the landscape," she said. They don't understand why veterans and military families from across the political spectrum got together to advocate for the creation of the Chuckwalla National Monument."

She added that the notion that recreation will be stymied is similarly untrue, and that hiking, authorized hunting, camping and more will still be allowed.

During his final week in office, Biden designated Chuckwalla along with Sattitla Highlands National Monument, spanning more than 224,000 acres of pristine lakes and unique geological features near the Oregon border.

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Even before the monuments were designated, there were fears they could be rolled back by the Trump administration.

During his first term, Trump sharply reduced the boundaries of two monuments in Utah  Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante  and stripped protections from a marine monument off the coast of New England to allow commercial fishing . The Biden administration reversed the changes .

In early February, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order that many saw as opening the door to potentially eliminating or shrinking monuments. He directed his assistant secretaries to review and, as appropriate, revise all withdrawn public lands, citing a federal statute corresponding to the law that allows presidents to create monuments.

Some believed Californias young monuments were at most risk of being targeted, in part because Trump might seek to undo his predecessors actions.

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Then, a little over a month later, the Trump administration caused confusion when it issued and then appeared to roll back an announcement implying the president had rescinded his predecessors orders creating Chuckwalla and Sattitla .

Whether presidents have the authority to alter monuments is unclear and hotly contested. Litigation challenging Trumps previous monument reductions was still pending when Biden reversed them and the matter was never settled.

Read more: Native Americans press Biden to designate three new national monuments in California

Miller, the attorney leading the recent litigation, said he believed it was possible the administration would not defend the suit brought against it.

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The suit argues that the designation of Chuckwalla was an invalid use of the Antiquities Act, and also claims the Antiquities Act itself is unconstitutional.

Congress has the right to decide how federal property is used and disposed of, Miller said, citing what's known as the Property Clause of the Constitution. Congress can't give that right to the executive branch, according to the suit.

If the plaintiffs prevail, Chuckwallas monument status will be nullified, Miller said.

In any case, Miller believes the losing side will appeal  and said it could end up before the Supreme Court. In 2021, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. questioned how presidents have implemented the Antiquities Act to designate sprawling monuments and signaled the court might revisit the law in a future case.

"If it goes up that high, we hope this is that case," Miller said.



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(NewsNation)  Former Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd criticized former President Joe Biden and his wife Jill for prioritizing personal interests over their political party in light of their recent joint interview on The View.

Its pretty clear the Bidens were always much more focused on themselves than the party, whether it was before running for president, while running for president, and certainly now, Todd said Thursday on NewsNations On Balance.

Todds comments came in response to recent appearances by the Bidens in which they defended themselves against claims of cognitive decline during Joe Bidens final year in office.

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Biden calls reports of mental decline wrong

Todd said the former president lacks self-awareness and disputed the notion that Biden was primarily a party man.

I thought Joe Biden was a party man, kind of like Bob Dole  if youre a party man, you worry about your party before yourself, Todd explained, adding that he would stand first in line to admit his misconception about the former president.

Todd placed blame primarily on the Democratic Party rather than the media for not addressing Bidens issues sooner, stating, The Democratic Party is the one that decided not to do anything about this. Theyre the ones that didnt speak out.

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Donald Trump has his own political problems right now  but Joe Biden shows up, Todd said, suggesting Trump would love nothing more than for voters to be judging him against Biden as an alternative.

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CARACAS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A group of 315 Venezuelan migrants, who were repatriated from Mexico, landed on Thursday in the Venezuelan capital aboard a flight of the state airline Conviasa.

The repatriates, consisting of 197 adults and 118 children, arrived in Caracas "to reintegrate into the socioeconomic development" of the country, Venezuela's Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace said on Instagram.

"It should be noted that they joined nearly 4,000 Venezuelans whose safe return has been guaranteed by the Bolivarian government," the ministry said.

Since February, batches of Venezuelan migrants have returned under the Return to the Homeland Plan, a government program that offers support for the repatriation of Venezuelans from North America and other parts of the world. 
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One indicator about the health of the nation is how many lower federal judges a regular news consumer can nameand reel off biographical details aboutwithout much hesitation.

By now, many know James Boasberg, who is handling the matter of deportation flights to El Salvador. He is merely the highest-profile in a crew of newly famous judges: Paula Xinis is overseeing Kilmar Abrego Garcias case. Fernando Rodriguez Jr. rejected the Trump administrations use of the Alien Enemies Act. J. Harvie Wilkinson scorched the White House over due process. Beryl Howell threw out Donald Trumps executive order targeting a liberal law firm. Tanya Chutkan was set to preside over Trumps trial on charges of 2020 election subversion, though the case was dismissed first.

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At any given time in our history, the public writ large doesnt know of a single lower-federal-court judge, the legal scholar and retired federal judge Michael Luttig told me. (Luttig has also contributed to The Atlantic.) Fast-forward to today: Judge Boasberg is a federal district-court judge, and Donald Trump puts him on a marquee in front of the world and trashes him.

Luttig might be exaggerating the publics ignorance of federal judges slightly, but these jurists have suddenly become major figures in the news, many of them for nothing more than doing their job: hearing cases, trying to earnestly interpret the law, and then issuing an opinion. The desire of many media organizations to illuminate their personalities, and the desire of audiences to learn about them, is understandable, especially as Trumps attempts to test the rule of law have made the courts into more heated battlegrounds. Also understandable is the impulse among Trump critics to lift up as heroes judges who withstand pressure. Nor should any public official be beyond scrutiny.

But watching the focus shift from law, precedent, and evidence and onto the judges themselves has been unnerving. The problem is not merely the celebrification of politics that has in recent years afflicted the executive and legislative branches, and to some extent the U.S. Supreme Court as well. In the context of the judiciary, the danger is especially acute. John Adams wrote in 1776 that the very definition of a Republic, is an Empire of Laws, and not of Men. Focusing on the judges as personalities is a step away from a government of laws and toward one of men and women.

It also serves Trumps purposes. He would much rather focus on attacking the judges and claiming that they hate him or are anti-American than on the fairly clear findings in case after case that his administration has overstepped its power and the bounds of the Constitution. Perhaps its no surprise that when Time asked Trump about that Adams quote recently, he was unfamiliar.

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The last thing that any federal judge wants to do, frankly with anyone, is seek out controversy, Luttig told me. But of course this is the way the president wants it. The last thing he wants to talk about is the law, and he wants to demonize the individual judges.

By attacking nearly every judge who rules against his policies as biasedeven those that come from judges he nominated to the benchTrump delegitimizes the court system, allowing himself to overstep further next time and possibly laying the groundwork to disregard court rulings. The attacks also risk physical harm against judges, who have faced a growing number of threats in recent weeks. Trump may merely wish to bully judges, but his vilification of public figures has in the past resulted in some of his supporters taking up violence.

Judges are not, and should not be treated as, purely objective and rational beings who are above politics. Starting in the mid-20th century, conservatives began complaining about activist judges who they believed were driving a social agenda from the bench. More recently, liberals have embraced a similar critique. Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan, argues in her forthcoming book, Lawless, that the Supreme Court has abandoned legal interpretation for conservative grievance.

Its healthy and important for news coverage to capture the reality that judges are people too, she told me. Their legal rulings are going to be influenced by their life experience and their worldview and the political parties that appointed them, and to not acknowledge that in some way feels misleading.

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This means, for example, that noting who nominated a judge can be valuableespecially, as in the Rodriguez example, when a Trump-nominated jurist rules firmly against the president. It also means that when judges make repeated decisions that fly in the face of precedentsuch as Aileen Cannon, the Trump-appointed judge who repeatedly ruled in his favor in the case over his hoarding of sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lagothey deserve scrutiny.

Another unfortunately prominent federal judge is Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump-appointed district-court judge in Texas. Conservative activists have homed in on Kacsmaryk, because he reliably rules in their favor and because, thanks to the oddities of judicial districts, they can consistently get their cases before him specifically and then persuade him to issue nationwide injunctions. In his most notable case, he attempted to block mifepristone, an abortion drug, in a long-shot challenge to its FDA approval. The substance of Kaczmaryks rulings deserves criticismthe Supreme Court had no patience for his mifepristone rulingbut even here, as Nicholas Bagley wrote in The Atlantic, the larger problem is the system that allows for such judge-shopping and national injunctions. (Now that judges are issuing nationwide injunctions against the Trump administration, some conservatives are starting to see the wisdom of this point.)

If the newfound prominence of these judges were a sign of improved civic engagement, perhaps that would be reason for applause. But this is unlikely, given continued public ignorance about the Supreme Court. A poll last year found that a majority of the public had never heard of or knew little about any of the justices besides Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh. Americans are hearing both too much about the courts, and far too little.

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Were All Living in a Carl Hiaasen Novel

By Amy Weiss-Meyer

Nothing about Carl Hiaasens outward appearance suggests eccentricity. Ive seen him described as having the air of an amiable dentist or a pleasant jeweler or a patrician country lawyer. He is soft-spoken, courteous, and plainly dressed. The mischief is mostly detectable in his eyes, which hell widen to express disbelief or judgment, or cast sideways to invite a companion to join him on his wavelength, raising his brows for effect. Every so often, hell say something that serves as a reminder of why his name has become synonymous with Florida Weird.

Read the full article.

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Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)

A bill that would help fund the installation of rescue boxes for parents in crisis to anonymously relinquish newborns to the state is headed to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe.

State Rep. Jim Murphy, a St. Louis Republican and the sponsor of the Safe Place for Newborns Fund, called his legislation a pro-life bill that everybody agrees with.

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That was nearly true. The bill faced no opposition until it reached the Senate, where state Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, voted against it Wednesday when it passed 31 to 1. When the bill returned to the House for final approval on Thursday evening, it passed 136 to 1, with state Rep. Bryan Wolfin, a Republican from Ste. Genevieve, as the lone dissenting vote.

The legislation was amended in the Senate where lawmakers kept the tax credit allowance for maternity homes at 70% but raised the ceiling from $50,000 to $100,000 per taxpayer per year. The Senate also extended the expiration date on the diaper bank tax credit to 2031.

The amended bill also establishes the Zero-Cost Adoption Fund, which would go toward helping Missourians pay for adoption costs, giving priority to those adopting children in foster care. The fund would be administered by the Missouri Department of Social Services and also provide financial support for community-based interventions to help prevent children from entering foster care.

Any time we can make not only the adoption process smoother and more cost-efficient and also put supports in place to ensure that the adoption is successful, thats an easy yes for me, state Rep. Melissa Schmidt, a Republican from Eldridge, said Thursday.

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But the newborn safety incubators remained the focus of the bill. These boxes are increasingly popular around the country, allowing parents to anonymously relinquish their infant to the state without criminal consequence for abandoning the child. Under state law, parents who relinquish their infants still have an opportunity to ask the state for custody of their child again in the future.

Six of these safe boxes have been installed around Missouri with four more on the way, all thanks to private donors, Murphy said. One child has been safely relinquished through this method, he said.

The first box was installed in August 2023 at the Mehlville Fire Protection District in south Saint Louis County. Exactly six months later, the boxs silent alarm went off. Inside the box, first responders found an hours-old newborn.

In early February, while testifying in support of the bill, Hendricks said he planned to attend the little girls 1st birthday later that month with her adoptive family.

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There is no reason in the world we live in that babies end up in dumpsters, Hendricks told state representatives in February. We can do better. But the funding is an issue.

The fire chief said he receives at least three calls a month from other fire departments and law enforcement agencies interested in installing their own boxes. But in most cases, funding is a major barrier.

The cost of installing each box is roughly $20,000, Murphy said. This includes equipping the box with temperature controls, alarms to notify first responders the box has been activated and a feature that dials 911. Some are also outfitted with video cameras that show a live feed of the baby.

The current budget earmarks $250,000 for the program, which would put up to $10,000 toward each box, thus contributing to the installation of 25 more boxes in the next fiscal year.

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Murphy told his colleagues that the interest in the boxes spans the state. In Kansas City, for example, one councilman is looking to install six boxes, he said.

During the House hearing on the bill, state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, told Hendricks that she was texting the fire chiefs in Berkeley and Ferguson in north Saint Louis County about the technology.

I want that box, said Proudie, who suggested extending the relinquishment period to six or 12 months.

In 2002, Missouri passed a safe haven law that allowed mothers to surrender babies within the first weeks of their lives to staff at hospitals, fire departments, ambulance services, law enforcement agencies, maternity homes or pregnancy resource centers.

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Since then, Murphy said, many, many babies were still found in dumpsters and alleys and places like that, adding: The safe haven bill didnt work as planned.

The National Safe Haven Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for infant abandonment protection, reports that in 2021, 255 infants were relinquished through Safe Haven laws around the country. That same year, the nonprofit reports, 36 babies were found abandoned in dangerous locations like dumpsters around the country.

During Senate debate Wednesday, state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, expressed her support for the bill as she addressed Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold, who handled the legislation in the Senate, acknowledging both their roles as adoptive mothers.

My son was placed in my arms at 13 days. I cant imagine what his birth mom was going through during those days, but I am so grateful that after 13 days, she was able to place him in my arms, Nurrenbern said. Thats what we want for all birth parents in that situation, to recognize that there is a safe place for their baby.

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On Thursday, state Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore, a St. Louis Democrat, accused Senate Republicans of hypocrisy for passing the baby box legislation then leading a filibuster the evening prior to kill legislation that would have created a child care tax credit.

These baby boxes are all well and good, Walsh Moore said. But if we invested in our families and our working families making sure that mothers are healthy and cared for and that children are safe in child care, then maybe people wouldnt have to hand their children over to the government.

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This story was updated at 10 a.m. Friday to include updated data from The National Safe Haven Alliance and to correct the tax credit allowance for maternity homes, which remains at 70%.
Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates did not mince words when commenting on the impact that sweeping cuts imposed by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency would have on global health, telling the Financial Times, "The picture of the world's richest man killing the world's poorest children is not a pretty one."

Gates' concerns stem from DOGE's drastic and sudden dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has left global health systems reeling when it comes to preventing and treating diseases like malaria, a disease that kills roughly 600,000 people per year, according to the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that 76% of those deaths are in children under 5.

While it may sound like something from the past to many Americans, malaria has actually become a bigger problem in many parts of the world in recent years as rising global temperatures and heavy rainfalls have expanded the time of year and the damp settings in which mosquitoes thrive and breed.

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Thus, the cuts to global health funding come at a time when rising temperatures are influencing the spread of this and other diseases, with some of the world's most vulnerable people being impacted by both changing weather patterns and growing health threats simultaneously.

"Populations in situations of vulnerability in Africa are particularly affected by the most severe impacts of climate change, and many of these same communities are at high risk of contracting malaria," warned the WHO World Malaria Report 2024.

The effects of cuts to U.S. government funding are already being felt, particularly in Africa, where the WHO says 95% of malaria deaths occur. In Kenya, a program to prevent the spread of malaria by conducting indoor spraying during the rainy season has been canceled after U.S. funding was withdrawn, according to Context News. Malaria prevention and treatment programs from Kenya to Mozambique have been either cut completely or severely scaled back just in time for the region's rainy season, when prevention efforts typically kick into high gear.

Cuts made to such programs will have both immediate and long-lasting ramifications. Malaria cases are already on the rise in places such as Uganda, and once these trends start, they can take years or even decades to rein back in.

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"History has shown us what happens if we let our guard down against malaria," said Daniel Ngamije, director of the WHO World Malaria Program, according to Context News. "In 1969, the global eradication effort was abandoned, triggering a resurgence in cases and deaths. It took nearly 30 years for world leaders to come together and restore momentum."

And with breakthroughs in vaccines and antimalarials sitting right at the threshold, cuts to research now have the potential to cost scores of infections in the future.

Malaria treatment, prevention, and eradication form a pillar of the Gates Foundation, focused on global health. Gates himself has just announced a new commitment to spend down $200 billion before dissolving the foundation in 20 years.

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  A bill has been introduced in Kentucky to expand the boundaries of Mammoth Cave National Park.

A release obtained by Eyewitness News says Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Brett Guthrie introduced the bicameral Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act.

The bill would give the park the ability to acquire an additional 551.14 acres of land from the Nature Conservancy.

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Kentucky is lucky to be home to an abundance of natural treasures, among them, Mammoth Cave National Park. This extensive cave network has been inspiring Kentuckians and drawing visitors from all corners of the globe for generations. Beyond its role in driving tourism to our Commonwealth, the park also plays a crucial role in the regions economic growth, supporting good jobs for the people of Kentucky, said Senator McConnell. Im proud to partner with Congressman Guthrie on this important initiative once again which will expand the critical habitats that the National Park Service protects and preserves in the park.

Every year, Mammoth Cave National Park draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and contributes nearly $90 million to our local economy, said Congressman Guthrie. This natural wonder has inspired people for thousands of years, playing a foundational role in the culture of our region. I am proud to introduce the Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act to expand protections for the cave systems important biodiversity and rich history, ensuring that it can be studied, maintained, and enjoyed by future generations of Americans.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
The failings of the Office of Child and Family Services, a division of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, was a key focus of the Legislature last session. (Photo by Getty Images)

A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to change oversight of child welfare in Maine to mirror the approach taken by its neighboring state.

Assistant House Majority Leader Lori Gramlich (D-Old Orchard Beach) said she modeled her bill after the New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate. LD 1893, which has two Republican and seven Democrat cosponsors, would transfer Maines existing child welfare ombudsman into a new, independent agency with expanding responsibilities to advocate for Maine children.

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The proposed Office of Child Advocate would have the authority to receive complaints, access information, investigate, make public reports and advise the executive and legislative branches on how best to provide services to the states youth.

This bill builds a foundation for meaningful oversight and reform while ensuring childrens voices and interests remain at the forefront, Gramlich told the Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee during a public hearing Friday morning.

After renewed scrutiny in recent years, there have been multiple proposals from lawmakers and agency leadership to improve the states embattled child welfare system. Last year, frontline workers came forward with accounts of onerous workloads that culminated in December with a letter of no confidence in the agencys leadership.

The proposed restructuring comes after the committee backed a proposal to update the states definition of child abuse and neglect that legal experts have argued is easy to conflate with poverty.

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Christine Alberi, the states current child welfare ombudsman, supports the bill to transition her position into an Office of Child Advocate because it preserves the work her office is already doing while adding necessary functions. For example, the new office would allow for juvenile justice investigations and access to facilities such as Long Creek Youth Development Center, the South Portland-based youth correctional facility.

However, Alberi said that adequate funding would be crucial to the offices success. During the hearing, she said it wasnt clear where those resources would come from, since the ombudsman office has struggled with a lack of funding for staff since 2012.

The current child welfare ombudsman program in Maine operates as a nonprofit that assists and investigates complaints against how child protective services cases are handled. It submits an annual report that includes an analysis of case specific reviews and other details about its interaction with the Office of Child and Family Services.

Having served as New Hampshires first child advocate, Moira ONeill said she believes Maine could have avoided a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice over the states childrens behavioral health services had there been a proactive resource checking on the children in the care of the Department of Corrections. The suit was settled last November.

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ONeill, who helped craft the model in New Hampshire before stepping down in 2021, supported Maine adopting that structure. She said Maines current ombudsman office leaves many children, especially those in the juvenile justice system, without an ally.

Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire have expressed interest in cutting the Office of Child Advocate when looking for ways to trim the state budget.

Gramlich said the Office of the Attorney General suggested modest amendments to the bill that she is happy to work with the committee to incorporate.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which houses the states child welfare agency, spoke neither for nor against the bill. Director of Government Relations Abby Stivers said the department would like more time to review the proposal, but cautioned that the new framework being proposed likely requires more consideration than the department can give it in the remaining time for this legislative session.

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Stivers said the authority granted to the child advocate in this legislation could be wide reaching and questioned whether it is necessary given the multiple forms of oversight that already exist for child welfare services. The agency is subject to federal oversight, multiple citizen review panels and was subject to extensive investigative work from the Legislatures Government Oversight Committee last session.

However, Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) reintroduced a bill he brought forth last session to create an Office of the Inspector General of Child Protection.

The problems with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services are going to require far more than cosmetic surgery being suggested by some, he told the committee when introducing LD 770.

An inspector general at the state level would send a clear and articulate message that the accountability and transparency of Maines child welfare system needs to be substantially changed, Baldacci said. He referenced a 2024 report from the federal watchdog that indicated Maine struggled to comply with best practices in the vast majority of abuse and neglect cases.

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Under this proposal, the inspector general would be appointed by the governor to serve a five year term, with the potential for reappointment. It would also take on matters related to juvenile justice and have subpoena powers.

No one from the public testified on the bill. Bobbi Johnson, director of the Office of Child and Family Services, provided written testimony opposing the legislation. She wrote that it isnt clear what benefit the role would offer to the robust and comprehensive oversight of child welfare that already exists.

The proposal last session ultimately died after it was not endorsed by the Health and Human Services Committee.

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As Catholics throughout the world celebrate the selection of Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Diocese of Erie weighed in on the historic election of Cardinal Robert Prevost.

It came as a surprise to many that the new pontiff selected was born in the United States for the first time in the history of the Church.

Bishop Persico echoed that surprise, but said the cardinals made a great choice.

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Bishop Persico said Pope Leo brings with him a wealth of pastoral experience and appears to be a more reserved man who looks to be committed to building bridges with others and wants to unite and heal people.

Who is Robert Prevost, the American-born Pope Leo XIV

Hes a person maybe known by some, but not the type of person to be in the news a lot. Many familiar with the new pope said, despite his being born in Chicago, hes not as American as you might think.

For most of his priesthood and life, been in South America and Europe, giving him the ability to unify the Church across continents.

Persico said it will be interesting to see how hes perceived around the world.

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I think this is something well have to watch and see how this unfolds. I think its a little too early to tell how it will be perceived. Im sure many people are scrambling right now, especially in different countries, trying to find out who he is and what he is about. Time will tell us, Bishop Persico said.

Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova University alum: What we know

The Diocese of Erie is encouraging people to attend masses offered for the intentions of the Pope. Theyre expected to start Monday. Well announce the times for those services when we hear them.

Bishop Persicos full remarks are as follows:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, With profound gratitude and heartfelt joy, I write to you today as the universal church welcomes Pope Leo XIVs election as its new Holy Father. Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the 267th successor to Saint Peter. In the wake of Pope Franciss passing, our prayers have been answered, and the Holy Spirit guided our choice of our new pontiff. Pope Leo, the first American elected to the papacy, brings a wealth of pastoral experience and a deep commitment to the Gospel. There is great anticipation that our new bishop, a faithful shepherd whose spirit of peace and commitment to building bridges, will guide us toward greater unity, healing and hope. His experience in South America, particularly Peru, and Europe gives him a unique perspective on unifying the church across continents. Though relatively new to the College of Cardinals, he is a spiritual leader serving as prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, a prominent role in the Catholic Church. As we embark on this new chapter, let us unite in prayer for our Holy Father, that he may be granted wisdom, strength and grace to lead the Catholic Church in these times. I encourage each of you to participate in this momentous occasion by attending Masses offered for the intentions of Pope Leo, and by including him in your prayers. May we, as a diocesan family, support our new Pope through our faith and sense of community. Let us also remember the words of Pope Francis, who reminded us that the church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open. May we continue to embody this spirit of openness and love in our communities. Sincerely yours in Christ, The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, JCL Bishop of Erie Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico on the announcement of Pope Leo XIV.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Since the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26, I have been alternating between the Mass prayers of the Holy Spirit and the Mass for the election of a Pope. And Im struck by the thoughts expressed in the Mass prayers.

In the opening prayer for the election of the Pope, we ask almighty God to send us a pastor for your Church, a shepherd, who will fulfill his role through his personal holiness. And that in and of itself is a reminder for the entire Church of the importance of the pursuit of holiness. I believe this pope will serve by his example and his witness to the faith just as much as any words that he might preach in a homily.

The Church prays that as Pope Leo XIV begins his Petrine ministry, his ministry will be pleasing to Almighty God. That should be his first priority: to be faithful to and please Almighty God.

The prayers then continue  that he will instruct us by his own virtues and then preach the truth of the Gospel.

And so, along with the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, we must trust and rejoice that the Holy Spirit has guided the College of Cardinals in this decision. We can assume that the selection of Pope Leo XIV is the work of God.

Those who were able to follow the beginnings of the Conclave saw how everything was enveloped in prayer. The prayers to the Holy Spirit, the litany of the Saints, their own personal prayer, all with the goal of being open to select the Pope needed for our age.

As we learn more about Pope Leo XIV, we discover his love for the missions which fits in perfectly with the writings of Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XIV, and Francis, calling the Church to be on the move, a Missionary Church, challenging each member of the Church to be an intentional disciple.

Since he served under Pope Francis as prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops he would have worked closely with Pope Francis in the selection of bishops throughout the world. Pope Francis specifically chose him saying that he wanted a missionary, he wanted somebody from outside, he wanted someone who would come in with a different perspective.

As a final thought, Pope Leo XIV belongs to the Augustinian order. The famous quote of St. Augustine, You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in thee. People are searching for meaning in life, they wonder the purpose of their existence. St. Augustine would say, You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.

When our hearts rest in God, life makes sense, we discover our purpose.
History is made as Pope Leo XIV becomes the first American Pope and the first Augustinian pope.

Bishop Erik Pohlmeier from the Diocese of St Augustine is excited about the link this represents for Catholics locally.

WATCH: Cardinal Robert Prevost elected pope, will take the name Leo XIV

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Its built on the teachings of Saint Augustine specifically, and since our roots in the Diocese of Saint Augustine are built on that great patron, then I look forward to the ways that he will reflect on his knowledge, his life, his connection to St. Augustine, said Bishop Pohlmeier.

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Bishop Pohlmeier also notes a great symbolism in the popes decision to go by the papal name Leo.

Pope Leo XIII was best known as giving us the origins of the Churchs social teaching, which is taking the demand of charity in our lives and applying it to all the different aspects of human thriving, starting even with human labor and workers and the dignity of workers, said Bishop Pohlmeier. It started with Leo XIII and with now Pope Leo XIV carrying that on, it builds on that tradition.

Bishop Pohlmeier was appointed as the 11th Bishop of St. Augustine by Pope Francis in 2022. Action News Jax asked him where he believes the direction of the Catholic Church is going under this new pope. He tells me, while he doesnt know much about him yet, the new popes missionary efforts could give us an idea.

Part of his responsibility after serving as a missionary was in the office that names bishops around the world, said Bishop Pohlmeier. What I do know about that is that it would give him a perspective on the global reality of the church that not many people would have. So his understanding of that global reality and his heart of service to the poor would connect him with people throughout the world.

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We asked him what he thinks Pope Francis would make of the selection. He tells Action News Jax he believes the late Pope would most definitely approve.

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WHEELING, WV (WVNS)  The election of U.S.-born Robert Prevost as Pope on Thursday caused surprise around the world.

Prevost, who chose the name Pope Leo XVI, was Pope Francis chief advisor for choosing bishops.

Pope Leo XVI is reportedly committed to Catholic social justice programs and spent much of his religious life serving the poor in Peru.

Bishop Mark Brennan of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese in Ohio County said on Thursday, May 8, 2025, that Cardinals are often reluctant to elect a Pope from countries which are world powers, such as the U.S. and China.

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The bishop said, however, that Pope Leo XVIs service in Latin America likely overcame their concerns.

Black Bear safety tips from WVDNR

Hes identified with people in another part of the world, and especially in an area of that world where theres been a lot of conflict, a lot of injustice, not that we dont have them here, said Bishop Brennan. I think that would have overcome most of the reluctance any of them felt.

Bishop Brennan said the home country of the new Pope is not important.

Man allegedly crashes in Z-Way work zone at Daniels while impaired

Im just glad that we have a pope, he said. I really didnt care where he came from.

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Its a surprise that they chose a U.S.-born and raised man to be the pope. That is a surprise.

Bishop Brennan reminded believers to pray for the other.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
In 1978, a young housewife named Lois Gibbs captured the national medias attention when she learned her community was built on a toxic waste dump.

She lived in Love Canal, a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, which up until that time had been an idyllic suburb to raise a family. Unbeknownst to residents, most of their homes abutted a partially dug canal that had been repurposed to serve as a chemical dumping ground. Decades before, companies had buried over 21,000 tons of chemical waste there. The playground of her sons elementary school sat directly atop the site.

So when Gibbs read about this history in the local newspaper, and about an investigation that had opened that April to look into a potential health hazard in the community, she connected the dots between her sons recent health issues, including seizures, to her familys proximity to the dump.

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She began to meet with other housewives and listened as they described miscarriages, birth defects and unexplained illness in their families. That led Gibbs to form the Love Canal Homeowners Association, which held meetings, met with local and national government officials and represented hundreds of families as they demanded accountability for what had happened to their health and homes.

An aerial view of the Hooker Chemical plant in Niagara Falls, New York. The company that dumped more than 21,000 tons of toxic waste into the partially dug canal. Homes were later built on and around the site. (Bettman/Getty Images)

In her quest for justice, she became a media darling, perfectly encapsulating the narrative of a White working-class community fighting to salvage their American dream. The story of Love Canal eventually catalyzed the creation of the Superfund Act, which tasks the Environmental Protection Agency with cleaning up hazardous waste sites across the country.

But while Loiss story as a mother protecting her children from a toxic environment resonated with the media, those same reporters were ignoring similar concerns being raised by Black women who lived just across the street in a public housing complex. They were seeing parallel health issues crop up in their families and sent their children to the same school as the other families at Love Canal. A school that was later closed due to contamination. As Black mothers, who were also renters, their story garnered less sympathy from homeowners, the government and the media.

As a result, the history of Love Canal narrative often leaves out their activism. This is their story.

Just two months after Gibbs first made headlines in June of 1978, a state of emergency declared that pregnant women and children under the age of 2 should evacuate from their homes closest to the canal. Homeowners in this area were also offered relocation assistance, and the government bought back their homes at a fair market price as part of their compensation.

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But as these evacuations were unfolding, homeowners excluded from that zone and residents of Griffon Manor, a public housing complex for over 200 families, were left to worry about their health. With construction planned to remediate the site, and no plans to move renters, they worried about further exposure to toxins and felt like the officials hadnt done enough to investigate the extent of the contamination or the health issues plaguing them.

As a result, Black women from the housing complex stepped up as leaders for the renters. This included people like Agnes Jones, Vera Starks, Elene Thorton and Sarah Herbert, who all took on various leadership roles throughout the disaster and voiced the concerns of families through the formation of the Concerned Love Canal Renters Association. They also enlisted the help of the NAACP and a religious organization called the Ecumenical Task Force of the Niagara Frontier to fight alongside them.

The backyard of an abandoned Love Canal home in 1978. While some residents were relocated as the crisis unfolded, many, including renters living in nearby public housing, were left behind. (Digital Collections  University at Buffalo Libraries)

Carol Jones, Agnes daughter, remembers her mother poring over a stack of newspapers and other research documents at their kitchen table, trying to parse out how the chemical contamination might be affecting her family and the other residents at Griffon Manor.

They moved to the complex when Carol was a teenager after their house burned down in a neighborhood not far away. Agnes had worked as a nurse at both the elementary school and at Dupont, a chemical plant, and like Gibbs, she began interviewing residents when she learned about the chemicals lurking in the ground. They told her about their pregnancy complications, about mysterious cancers that had developed in family members, about unexplainable skin rashes.

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Agnes would take that information to news reporters she hoped would cover their story. But no matter how many interviews she gave, it never seemed to break through in the same way. She was rarely on TV or quoted in the paper.

Wed watch the news after seeing my mother communicate with these reporters, and she wouldnt be there, and the people wouldnt be heard, Carol remembers.

She chalks part of that pattern up to racism. Whereas Gibbs story garnered sympathy, My mom was considered an angry Black woman that was living in a housing project, she said.

Agnes also felt sidelined by some of the homeowners. At meetings they organized, Carol remembers her mother standing up to shout her concerns when she felt like renters werent being listened to. But I also remember my mother coming home at night and putting her head on the table when she thought we were asleep, and we could hear her cry from the frustration from not being heard, Carol said.

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Historian Elizabeth Blum said that for the Black women of Love Canal, the fight wasnt just about health, but about getting the same treatment as their peers. The environmental disaster unfolded just a decade after passage of the Civil Rights Act. Desegregation was underway, and Black leaders across the country were fighting to realize their full rights as citizens.

Lois Gibbs became the national face of the Love Canal fight. But just across the street, Black mothers like Agnes Jones were doing the same organizing work without access to the same media spotlight or resources.

What they were doing was not only a fight for a cleaner and a healthier environment, but they also saw it as part of a struggle of trying to achieve more equality, said Blum, who wrote Love Canal Revisited, a book examining how gender, race and class influenced how the two groups were treated.

Through this lens, Blum also credits these women as being part of a longer history of fighting for environmental justice years before the movement garnered recognition in Warren County, North Carolina. In 1982, Black activists fought against toxic chemicals being illegally dumped in their community, launching a national movement with other communities facing environmental racism.

Black women were pivotally involved in urban environmental issues, and they were connecting it to civil rights issues during the progressive era, she said. One group called the National Association of Colored Women was active in fighting against unhealthy housing conditions and doing neighborhood cleanups way back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were talking about that all within the aspect of health. And they were also talking about it as a racial issue.

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But their activism was blunted by their gender, race and socioeconomic status. Many of the women in Griffon Manor were single mothers, which carried its own stigma. And as renters, they also garnered less sympathy about their situation from the public. As Blum said, In the mid- to late 70s, you had that constant language, and still have that language, of welfare mothers and that theyre not deserving.

Griffon Manor residents did not have the means to move out of the toxic environment where Carol remembers chemicals leaked into the basements of some of the units.

A lot of people were barely keeping their heads above water, she said.

When White homeowners were being evacuated, they felt trapped in Griffon Manor. As Thorton, one of the activists wrote in a letter asking for relocation assistance, The mental anxiety caused by living in a chemically polluted area is enough reason to move those who wish to move from the area.

A protest sign discarded on a pile of debris in 1982 reflects the anger felt by residents who remained in the contaminated neighborhood. (Digital Collections  University at Buffalo Libraries)

Finding information about how the chemicals might be affecting their health was another hurdle. From getting adequate testing for residents, to compensation for illnesses linked to the tragedy, the women had to fight for resources and services being offered more readily to White residents including more robust health testing.

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At one point Agnes, wrote in a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, decrying the lack of testing for residents in Griffon Manor, and describing a pattern of test results never being returned that made people distrust the research. These people are confused, hurt and frustrated, she wrote.

Other women like Thorton were looking for experts who could help them conduct health surveys at Griffon Manor. In at least one instance, she wrote to one doctor who had offered to help homeowners, asking if he could extend the same offer to the renters. Eventually, Thorton tapped another researcher, Beverly Paigen, who had been working to evaluate health claims of the homeowners, to expand her research to the housing complex.

After years of this advocacy work, in 1980, the federal government finally announced it would help relocate renters and the remaining homeowners. For the renters, in particular it was a hard-fought victory. This decision came after a proposed state plan had excluded them from relocation assistance. Once the evacuations began, homeowners received buyouts to leave long before renters were given other housing options. Its less clear in records whether renters ever won additional compensation for associated health issues.

It took courage, Carol said of her mothers activism at the time. But the end result also weighed on Agnes: My mother always thought that there was something else that she could have done.

Despite their years of activism at Love Canal, the Black women who fought tirelessly for their families are hard to locate in the story. Hundreds of archival images are available from that time frame, but only a handful even show Black residents were present at Love Canal. Thousands of pages of records from the homeowners association have been preserved on university websites, but only traces of the work done by the renters association, by Agnes and the other Black mothers of Griffon Manor can be found in records.

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That failure to include their voices in a narrative that led to national change has ripple effects into how we understand the history of environmentalism, said Evlondo Cooper, a researcher with the climate and energy program at Media Matters, a nonprofit that analyzes media coverage.

It matters that we revisit these stories, he said. Because otherwise, We lose a space where Black women are the natural leaders, or key leaders in the environmental movement.

Residents march in protest on Mothers Day, around 1980, to demand accountability. Black mothers from Griffon Manor also took part in these protests, but they rarely appear in the surviving photo archives documenting the movement. (Digital Collections  University at Buffalo Libraries)

There are also lessons to be learned about how the media can shape narratives today. If you prioritize centering [marginalized] voices it makes it much harder to erase their contributions, Cooper said. It also has material benefit to marginalized groups, because as demonstrated by the saga of Love Canal, communities that are getting the media and attention are the communities that can get the resources to fix the problem.

While its hard to find a tangible record of all the work people like Agnes did over the years, Blum said they should be remembered as strong women who fought to protect their families amid huge obstacles, not just from the toxic chemicals lurking in their backyards but from a society still hesitant to recognize them as equal citizens in the fight.

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These brave, determined women should be known on the same kind of level as Lois Gibbs, Blum said. They are just as much part of the story as the White women are.

The post The Black mothers behind one of the biggest environmental fights of the 20th century appeared first on The 19th.

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OTTAWA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke Thursday about strengthening defence ties between their two countries, according to a statement from Carney's office.

"The leaders discussed working together to strengthen collective defence and security, including as close partners in the Arctic and at NATO," it said, noting that both sides looked forward to deepening their relationship and agreed to stay in close contact.

Both countries are under the threat of U.S. annexation.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently renewed his threat of taking over Greenland, once a Danish colony and now an autonomous territory in Denmark. In an NBC News interview, Trump said he would not "rule it out" making the island a part of the United States.

Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his "51st state" idea as Carney visited the White House on Tuesday, describing the potential integration of Canada into the United States as a "wonderful marriage" and once again labeling the border between the two nations as "artificial." 
Saying Florida Senate President Ben Albritton "blew up the framework for the budget deal we had," House Speaker Daniel Perez said lawmakers now must extend the 2025 session to June 30 to finish the 2025-26 state budget  the one job they are constitutionally mandated to do each year.

A new budget must be finished by then because the state's budget year starts on July 1.

In a May 9 memo to his members that was released to the news media, Perez, R-Miami, said Albritton, R-Wauchula, broke "his commitment to the House" by saying he would "no longer bring the Houses historic tax proposal to the Senate floor."

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That's because Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier in the week said he would veto any proposed cut to the state sales tax, claiming it would jeopardize his push for cuts to property taxes. Any 'Florida last' tax package is going to be dead on arrival, he told reporters at an event in Tampa.

The veto threat upended what was called a framework for a budget deal agreed to by House and Senate leaders, who failed to reach an agreement during the 60-day regular session that was supposed to end May 2. Lawmakers still need to come to accord on what could be a $115 billion budget.

In his own memo released soon after Perez's, Albritton said that "throughout the entire course of negotiations with the House, the Senate has been and remains committed to tax cuts that offer broad-based and meaningful tax relief for families, seniors, and small businesses."

"... It is important to me that we develop a tax relief package that is sustainable for the long term and leaves room in our balanced budget for the voters to consider meaningful property tax relief on the ballot at the next general election," he added. "We will continue to work towards a final budget and tax relief package the House, Senate and Governor can support."

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Albritton went on to list the "main concerns" he heard from his members:

"An across-the-board sales tax cut of one quarter of one penny is not meaningful, felt, or seen by families and seniors when compared with other available options." That language  "one quarter of one penny"  is how DeSantis derided the House's sales tax cut.

"A $2.5 billion recurring tax cut is not sustainable when combined with the projected budget shortfalls already on the horizon."

"A $2.5 billion recurring tax cut may constrain options for the major property tax reform the governor, House, and Senate, and most importantly  the Floridians we represent  are asking us to put forward."

Albritton also made clear that no work on the budget could begin the week of May 12, when lawmakers were expected to return to Tallahassee: "As soon as we determine a date to start the budget conference, we will certainly let you know."

Meantime, Perez said he was "keenly aware that the uncertainty around the schedule causes problems for you and your families, but we will continue to work with the Senate to lock down dates as soon as practical."

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"... We will still be meeting on Tuesday, May 13 to hold a floor session to pass a concurrent resolution extending the timeline through the end of June. We will also hold a meeting of the Select Committee on Property Taxes."

But a Senate spokesperson said Albritton wouldn't be asking senators to trouble themselves to come to Tallahassee.

He "did not want to go to the expense of bringing senators to Tallahassee for a procedural motion. If further extension becomes necessary, and the senators decide to pursue that avenue to complete a budget, an extension resolution can be passed at a later date," Katie Betta said.

"Good on the @FLSenate for standing up for Floridians and the need for PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, and rejecting the nonsensical FL House tax plan to benefit tourists & Canadians," DeSantis' chief spokesperson Bryan Griffin posted on X.

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DeSantis himself was in Jacksonville the morning of May 9 holding a roundtable on tax cuts, where he noted legislative leadership hasn't even agreed yet on allocations, the large pots of money that go to each budget subcommittee to divvy up to fund various parts of state government.

"They don't even have an agreement on what the level should be. They're not even close to any of this stuff. And I'm just thinking to myself, 'you had a pretty good blueprint on how to just do effective conservative governance,' " he said.

"... They need to be putting Floridians first. They need to be supporting conservative policy. They need to be supporting property tax relief," DeSantis added.

But Perez said the House's "responsibilities do not change."

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In his memo, he said his chamber "will deliver a fiscally conservative budget that cuts government waste and puts Florida on the best possible trajectory for long-term success."

This story, which contains previously published material, is developing and may be updated. Check back later for more.

Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network  Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis veto threat derails state budget, session may be extend again
The Palm Beach County School Board has terminated a man who worked at Boca Raton Middle School following his arrest earlier this week on a charge of traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sex.

Stephon McCray, 44, was a non-instructional staff member and was removed from the middle school in February when McCray was initially reported to Delray Beach Police, the school said in a message to parents on Wednesday. The School Board voted to fire him on Wednesday.

Officers were called to Sprouts Farmers Market in Delray Beach on Feb. 26 about a suspicious incident. They met with Dustin Lampros, who runs a social media account called 561 Predator Catchers, according to a probable cause affidavit for McCrays arrest.

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The account is similar to the To Catch a Predator series from NBCs Dateline, where adult men ran sting operations and confronted those who believed there were meeting up with minors for sex in the early 2000s.

Lampros told police that McCray had been inappropriately communicating through the dating app Grindr and through texts with someone who posing as a 14-year-old boy named Jordan, the affidavit said. In reality, McCray was messaging with someone else, a decoy. Lampros showed officers all of the messages.

McCray and Jordan messaged for several hours on Feb. 26, and several were about meeting up for sexual activity, the affidavit showed. Jordan early on in their texting purported to McCray that he was a minor. It is not clear in the affidavit who was actually texting McCray.

do u care if im younger or nah, the person pretending to be a minor wrote.

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Are you legal? McCray replied.

im bout to be 15 just being honest its hard af being gay nowadays hope u not madd, the person wrote back.

Im not mad but being under age can get someone like me in prison if it were to become anything but clean and clear conversation, McCray replied.

In the messages that followed, McCray told the decoy that their conversations had to be PG-13 or better, according to the affidavit. They talked about meeting up at a store, and Jordan asked what they would do if they were to meet.

Not sure yet. Im still trying to figure out and decide if youre an undercover law enforcement agent or not, McCray wrote. What store would it be?

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McCray in one message to Jordan described exactly the situation he did not know he was in; he wrote that he had a friend who works as a child predator victim agency and had told him about how people pretend to be minors online and then try to catch adults who setup meetings to abuse them, the affidavit said.

bruh I aint got time for that, the decoy replied.

After McCray allegedly messaged that he was hoping Jordan would engage in sexual activity with him and went to the supermarket to meet up, Lampros confronted McCray inside the store and recorded the encounter, a video posted on YouTube showed. Lampross stings have resulted in numerous arrests in Palm Beach County.

The probable cause affidavit was signed by an officer a week later. McCray was booked into the Palm Beach County jail earlier this week and has been released after posting bail on a $20,000 bond and must follow certain conditions, including not using the internet, social media, a computer, a smart phone or emailing or text messaging.

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His defense attorney did not respond to a request for comment. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The message sent to Boca Raton Middle School families on Wednesday said that McCray had not been allowed to interact with any students since he was removed from the campus in February.

The safety of our students is our utmost priority. Following an internal investigation, the School District is proceeding with the termination of Mr. McCrays employment, the message said. We were informed (Tuesday) that Mr. McCray has been arrested. Current information suggests this incident did not involve any students from our campus.
Consciousness is primarily experienced internally, but the phenomenon of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) challenges this assumption.

Although scientists have developed biological-based explanations for OBEs (a mismatch of sensory information or the disruptions of coordination across certain brain areas), other experts wonder if OBEs could be evidence of non-local consciousnessthe extremely controversial idea that the brain isnt at the center of our awareness.

A tiny new study argues that gathering qualitative data surrounding these experiences could help both explain OBEs and understand how they fit within the ever perplexing mystery of consciousness.

For most scientists, consciousness and the brain are inextricably linkedand for good reason. The brain is the synaptic center where our biological selves make sense of the world around us. But this approach only explains certain aspects of consciousness, like information processing and memory storage. The hard problem, as famously stated by the Australian philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers, is explaining why these physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experience.

And it is indeed a hard problem, one that philosophers, theologians, neuroscientists, and biologists have pondered for millennia. Because knowledge abhors a vacuum, many theories of consciousness have filled the void. Some have even explored the highly controversial idea of non-local consciousnessthat is, a consciousness that exists beyond the confines of our physical skulls. This might seem counterintuitive to your lived experience, which feels very internal. But for years, some have analyzed the perplexing phenomenon of the out-of-body experience (OBE) as potential evidence for this controversial theory.

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Whether induced in a moment of immense calm or calamity, OBEs broadly describe the feeling of a persons consciousness temporarily being spatially removed from the body. A new study, published last month in the journal Frontiers in Psychology , argues that the subjective experience of those whove experienced OBEs should be considered when exploring ideas surrounding the hard problem of consciousness.

We argue that these experiences should be described as they present themselves to consciousness, without resorting to theoretical presuppositions or external causal explanations, the authors wrote. Addressing this gap is crucial to achieving a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. This is essential for two main reasons: first, to comprehend the nature of human consciousness, and second, to help normalize these experiences for individuals who undergo them.

In this very small study, the authors interviewed 10 participants who experienced OBEs in a variety of contexts. Most participants described the experience using terms like other plane of existence or universal consciousness, which the authors note aligns with theoretical descriptions of non-local consciousness.

However, scientists also have other, less controversial explanations about what is going on in our mind when we experience OBEs. For example, a 2023 study from Stanford University analyzed nine epilepsy patients with cerebral electrodes (originally inserted for other purposes). With their permission, the scientists attempted to locate the area of the brain that appeared most affected by out-of-body experiences, pointing them to the anterior precuneusan area of the brain associated with somatosensory (i.e. body-related) information.

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After receiving pulses of electricity, participants experienced distortions both to their sense of space and to their perceived location of consciousness. This work builds on previous research that also suggests that OBEs could be the misalignment of vestibular information with visual information. In other words, the experience of an OBE doesnt necessarily mean that consciousness exists outside our bodies.

With such a small sample size, its difficult to draw an definitive conclusions about out-of-body experiences. But with more qualitative information about the experience, scientists could potentially begin to piece together the endlessly complex puzzle that is human consciousness.



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YAZOO COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A preliminary hearing was held for a former Mississippi police chief who has been charged with capital murder.

According to the Yazoo County Sheriffs Office, the hearing for former Yazoo City Police Chief James Durwood Winstead was held on Thursday, May 8.

One killed in shooting on Holden Street in Jackson

Winstead was initially given a $1 million bond. During Thursdays hearing, Winstead was bound over to the Yazoo County Grand Jury, and he was denied bond.

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Yazoo County deputies responded to a call about a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9. Investigators said they found Timothy Byrd deceased at the scene.

James Durwood Winstead (Courtesy: Yazoo County Sheriffs Office)

According to deputies, they uncovered several discrepancies with the story told by a male at the scene. They also said more evidence showed that foul play was involved.

On Friday, Apri 11, deputies arrested Winstead. The investigation is ongoing.

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Following a thumping at the polls, the St. Joseph School District is all ears.

Theres no harm in asking what went wrong after 53% of voters rejected a $157 million bond proposal to build a new high school south of U.S. Highway 36. The district, in a survey posted on social media, seeks feedback on why voters opposed the measure, where they get their information and what would increase their support for a future high school bond issue.

The survey, however, didnt seem to ask the most important question: Do you support, either through new construction or renovation of existing facilities, the districts goal of consolidating to a two-high school model?

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If the answer to that question is no, then the district might be absorbing plenty of disappointing election results in the future. The Board of Education has the authority to close a high school if its in the public interest to do so. But the board needs community buy-in because voters control the purse strings.

Given the results in April, theres no guarantee voters will support Plan B  a proposal to renovate Lafayette and Central and convert Benton into a middle school  even if its a no-tax increase bond. Thats the issue that should keep the board up at night.

Some look at low turnout and blame voters for lack of engagement. Only 24% of registered voters bothered to cast a ballot in the April election.

This is a fair point, although it overlooks recent history. No one complained in 2012 when 25% of voters turned out to approve a bond issue to build two new elementary schools. That measure passed with 65% support  possibly a high point for the district given all the troubles that followed.

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We agree that turnout should have been higher, but we disagree with throwing it back on voters because thats a recipe for further disappointment. In 2025, the biggest problem for the district isnt that too many people stayed home. Its that the district didnt give them a reason to show up.

In the future, the people you need to convince are not going to be sitting in the latest Vision Forward meeting and they arent going to be the ones with no signs in their yards. Their minds are made up.

After all these Vision Forward meetings, its disheartening that the district is no closer to knowing what the public wants and the public is no closer to understanding what the district needs.
ROME (AP)  Speakers blasted songs including Born in the U.S.A. and American Pie as six cardinal electors from the United States gathered in Rome on Friday to share their thoughts on the election of the first U.S.-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost.

I took a look at Bob ... and he had his head in his hands and I was praying for him, because I couldnt imagine what happens to a human being when youre facing something like that," said Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, of the moment right after casting his vote in the Sistine Chapel. And then when he accepted, it was like it was made for him.

One day after the Chicago-born Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the cardinals met on a stage decorated with the Stars and Stripes and a Vatican flag at the Pontifical North American College. The hilltop institution for U.S. seminarians is a short walk from St. Peters Basilica, where Leo made his first speech to the world on Thursday evening as the new leader of the Catholic Churchs global faithful of 1.4 billion people.

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The cardinals highlighted how his American nationality wasn't a deciding factor, especially in the most geographically diverse conclave in history, though many rejoiced in it.

The fact that he was born in the United States of America, boy, thats a sense of pride and gratitude for us, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said.

But Dolan and others added that Leo's experience as an Augustinian as well as ministry in Peru  where he also acquired citizenship  and leading the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops made him a citizen of the world."

In a very real sense, Cardinal Prevost in his life has been at his core a missionary, in every way, Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington said.

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They also said that Leo could build bridges to all world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. Catholic bishops have had a fraught relationship with Trump, especially over the crackdown on immigration, and Pope Francis had sparred with Trump since he first was a presidential candidate.

But cardinals in the conclave were most concerned with who among us can bring us together, who among us can strengthen the faith and bring the faith to places where it has grown weak, Cardinal Wilton Gregory said.

Earlier, the first U.S. Black prelate to assume the rank of cardinal had joked that he and Leo had chatted from one south sider of Chicago to another.

The United States had 10 voting cardinals in the conclave, the second-highest number of any country after Italy. Four of them currently serve as archbishops in the U.S.  Blase Cupich of Chicago as well as Dolan, McElroy and Tobin. Joining them were archbishops emeritus Gregory and Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston in Texas, as well as French Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.

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They urged the faithful to see the conclave not as a political campaign, but as a grave choice driven by the Holy Spirit for a global spiritual leader.

This wasn't our first rodeo, said Dolan, referring to the church's election of more than 260 popes in its 2,000-year history.

He said that the ecstasy in the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square on Thursday night exploded when the much-expected  Habemus Papam   Latin for we have a pope  rang out from the loggia, even before the new pope's identity was revealed.

There will be a man at the window on Sunday ... papa is back," Dolan added, referencing the blessing that popes have long bestowed on the crowds on Sundays, and which Leo  il papa in Italian  is scheduled to deliver on May 11. Its the office of the successor of St. Peter that endures."

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Several of the men referred to the man  who theyve known for years as Bob or Robert  by his papal name, Leo. On Friday, they joked with each other and the journalists  including Dolan and Tobin saying that the conclave might have have been short, because the first night's meal wasn't conducive to sticking around.

But they highlighted that ultimately what delivered a majority in less than 24 hours stemmed from discernment and the grace of God.

We were able to treat each other with great respect, to listen to each other during the congregations beforehand, and then when it came time for voting, things seemed to just jell and go in a direction that set us on a path of unity, Cupich said. If only the rest of us, in our lives and in the world, could have that mad dash to unity that we seemed to have in conclave.

___

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Colleen Barry contributed to this report from Soave.

___

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.
A 12-year-old New Hampshire boy who was badly hurt when a tree fell on him earlier this year is finally home.

Back in March, Kyle Murray was walking to his home in Boscawen when strong winds caused a tree to snap and come crashing down.

His injuries were so severe-- doctors placed him in a medically induced coma.

Hes been recovering at Franciscan Childrens Hospital in Brighton.

His family said they are looking forward to returning to normalcy.

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Its an amazing day today, we werent sure we were ever going to have the chance to do this but because of everyones involvement and helping us along, here we are, were going home, said Kyles father, Gordon Murray.

Kyles doctors say hes come a long way but will still have to undergo a lot of physical therapy.

Kyle said he is going to miss all the nurses and doctors who have helped him along the way..

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DENVER (KDVR)  A woman who was arrested on Friday after allegedly threatening children with a knife is now suspected of using a family members information when she was arrested, according to police.

The Boulder Police Department identified Alyiah Faith Vega, 52, as the suspect who allegedly menaced a group of schoolchildren and teachers on Monday. This name is different than what was previously released, as police said Vega allegedly used a relatives identification as one of many aliases throughout the years.

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This arrest comes after Vega allegedly followed two teachers and children with a knife on Monday afternoon in Boulder. Police say she allegedly threatened to kill them, and witnesses said she was waving the knife around.

Vega was booked into the Boulder County jail on one count of felony menacing, then police said she was released on Tuesday on a personal recognizance bond.

Police said Vega didnt appear in court on Thursday, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. The District Attorneys Office also filed 18 charges of felony menacing and 17 counts of misdemeanor child abuse on Thursday.

Vega was booked into jail on 35 charges on Thursday night, according to police. She also had active warrants out of Boulder County, Lakewood and Edgewater related to drugs, criminal impersonation and DUI charges, police said.

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Police are asking anyone with any information about this case to contact Detective Jonah Snyder at SnyderJ@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3386 regarding case 25-04126.

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A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed most of the claims brought against Tom Brady, Shohei Ohtani, Steph Curry, Gisele Bundchen, Naomi Osaka, David Ortiz, the Golden State Warriors and other celebrity defendants over their promotion of failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore reasoned that although these celebrities probably should have been more curious about FTX before telling their fans to invest, that type of shortcoming doesnt establish the celebrities had actual knowledge of fraudulent actsa required element for some of the claims. He reached the same conclusion about claims brought against a group of YouTube influencers.

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The plaintiffs are 16 people from a handful of countries including the U.S., Canada and Australia. They invested in FTX, lost money and blame celebrities and influencers for recommending the company. FTXs founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, was convicted on fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges and last year was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He oversaw a scheme where investors funds were moved around through multiple entities before the scheme imploded.

All told, the plaintiffs offer nearly 200 pages of allegations regarding celebrities and influencers who, among other things, lent their NIL, appeared at glitzy events, and were featured in advertisements and social media posts that encouraged fans to invest. The lawsuit contains 14 claims under different states laws and involve unfair and deceptive practices, conspiracy to induce payments in a fraudulent enterprise, and aiding and abetting.

The celebrities and influencers are advantaged in that courts are generally skeptical of claims that product endorsers ought to be held liable for wrongdoing committed by an endorsed company. The basic logic is that endorsers usually didnt know of the wrongdoing and were merely paid to put in a good word.

About 20 years ago, retired MLB All-Star Steve Garvey defeated a lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission over his endorsement of Enforma, a weight-loss system that sounded too good to be true, and was: Lose weight while just standing or sitting around doing nothing. The system included such products as the Fat Trapper and Exercise in a Bottle.

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It turned out that doing nothing isnt so healthy, and the FTC went after the companyand Garvey, whose infomercials promoted Enforma. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sided with Garvey. It explained that to hold him liable required proof he had actual knowledge of any material misrepresentations and was recklessly indifferent to the truth or falsity of any representations he made.

In recent years, the FTC has become more concerned about the use of social media to promote goods and services. Its not always clear if the promoter (influencer) is merely being paid to say positive words or genuinely believes in what he or she is saying. Federal judges have held that social media posts and videos that fail to disclose a paid relationship can run afoul of the law.

In the FTX case, the celebrities contend they werent involved in FTX beyond promoting it and that they shouldnt be blamed for adults who decided to buy into FTX. Yet Moore highlighted that the celebrities negotiated deals with FTX that called for substantial compensation packages. Compensation packages included multimillion-dollar payments, equity, cryptocurrency and NFTs.

Moore underscored that while the celebrities were paid a lot, they still werent partners in FTX. The celebrities, the judge explained, may have been uninformed, negligent, or event reckless in urging fans to make risky financial decisions about products for which they lacked relevant expertise. But the plaintiffs havent shown these celebrities knew about FTXs fraud or that they had any intent to deceive or defraud.

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Alan Milstein, a litigator who has represented celebrity athletes such as Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, told Sportico that Moore rightfully dismissed the claims, recognizing that paid spokesmen should not be held liable if a consumer finds that, say, light beer neither tastes great nor is less filling. Milstein added that pro athletes are often the targets of litigation because of their deep pockets and in no case was this more obvious than endorser-related litigation arising out of the FTX collapse.

Moore dismissed 12 of the 14 claims but advanced a pair of claims that allege violations of Florida and Oklahoma securities laws. He explained the celebrities could be rendered agents of FTX within the meaning of securities laws given their promotional work and the nature of the investments. The judge acknowledged there is legal uncertainty about the application of securities laws to FTX and, more broadly, cryptocurrency.

The celebrities insist there is no authority or relevant court precedent finding that a trading platform such as FTX counts as a security within the meaning of securities law. Securities generally include investments with expectations for profits, but crypto platforms have resisted application of securities law. The offering of a security must comply with registration, disclosure and a bevy of other requirements. Moore reasoned that at this point in the litigation, the plaintiffs have plausibly pleaded the celebrities were associated with FTX and may have been agents of unregistered securities.

Even though most of the case has been dismissed, the advancement of two claims means that pretrial discovery will be scheduled. The celebrities will be asked to give sworn testimony and share documents, including emails related to their FTX involvement. Its possible the case settles. Shaquille ONeal and Trevor Lawrence settled claims stemming from their involvement with FTX. Their celebrity brethren might do the same.

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BRANSON, Mo.  The Branson Police Department (BPD) welcomed DJ Daniel  a 13-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer  as an honorary officer on April 15.

According to a Branson Police Department social media post, the BPD joined more than 200 agencies in a special ceremony in Berkeley, Missouri, last month.

With over 325 officers in attendance and more than 1,100 departments across the country now swearing him in, DJs journey has inspired a nationwide wave of support, unity, and admiration, the BPD says.

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Earlier this year, Daniel was made an honorary Secret Service agent by President Donald Trump at the joint session of Congress.

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MOSCOW, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said here Friday that China is Serbia's most precious friend, consistently offering selfless support and assistance to help Serbia develop its economy and improve the well-being of its people.

Vucic made the remarks while meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. 
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL)  A Bristol, Tennessee man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a child in December 2023.

According to the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department, officers were called to an apartment on Godsey Road on Dec. 19, 2023 for an unresponsive 3-year-old. The child was taken to Knoxville for treatment, where they later died.

An autopsy was conducted at the William L. Jenkins Forensic Center, and detectives determined the death to be a homicide.

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On May 9, a Sullivan County Grand Jury indicted Dexter S. Montgomery, 35, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

Montgomery was taken to Sullivan County Jail, where he remains on $250,000 bond.

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Chinese students are still propping up UK universities, despite institutions being urged to wean themselves off money from Beijing.

UK universities financial accounts for 2023-24 show almost a third of the entire income of some institutions comes from Chinese students, Telegraph analysis has found.

In total, Chinese students brought in about 5.5 billion in fees across 158 universities last year, about 10 per cent of all university income from tuition fees.

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The Royal College of Art (RCA) had 1,295 students from China last year, equivalent to 45 per cent of the London universitys entire student body. The Telegraph estimates suggest that, when applied to fees, this would be equivalent to 100 million in revenue, or 37 per cent of the colleges entire income.

Using this same analysis, The Telegraph found that 21 universities are reliant on tuition fees from Chinese students for at least a tenth of their income.

It includes four universities that derived more than a fifth of their overall income from Chinese students last year  the Royal College of Art, University of the Arts London (UAL), the University of Southampton and Goldsmiths, University of London.

In total, 57 UK universities have seen the proportion of their overall income from Chinese students increase over the past few years, or about 37 per cent of institutions analysed by The Telegraph.

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It comes despite universities being told to reduce their reliance on Chinese students amid growing national security concerns relating to Beijing.

The Office for Students (OfS) wrote to a select number of institutions with large proportions of Chinese students in 2023, urging them to draw up contingency plans in case of a sudden interruption to overseas recruitment.

The universities watchdog said such interruptions could come from a changing geopolitical environment which could cause an immediate and significant impact on income  widely interpreted as a potential souring of relations with Beijing.

The OfS has not disclosed the names of the 23 institutions and refused a request for the information by The Telegraph.

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Russell Group institutions such as University College London (UCL), Imperial and Leeds are among universities with the largest proportions of Chinese students, according to the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (Hesa).

The OfS said in its annual report on university finances published on Thursday that institutions have been reminded about the impact of uncertain geopolitics on their student intake.

It comes after overall foreign student numbers fell by more than a fifth last year, partially due to student visa restrictions brought in by the Tory government.

It has led to concerns that universities may scramble to recruit even more students from China this year as they seek to balance the books, and ahead of potential fresh restrictions on other nations.

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Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly considering applying new restrictions on student visa applications from countries such as Nigeria and Pakistan, where students are considered more likely to overstay and claim asylum in the UK.

University leaders have warned that the move will worsen a financial crisis across the sector, after The Telegraph revealed on Wednesday that 43 per cent of UK higher education institutions are currently in a deficit.

Chinese students made up the largest foreign intake of any country at UK universities until 2022/23, when a surge in students from India saw the country sail into the top position for the first time.

But a drop in foreign students across the board last year and a large decline in Indian enrolments have seen the gap between New Delhi and Beijing narrow.

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HESA data published on Thursday showed there were 107,489 Indian nationals studying in the UK last year, while 98,4000 were from China.

Will Dent, head of financial sustainability at the OfS, told The Telegraph in a media briefing on Thursday: By far and away, the biggest domiciles for international students [are] India and China. Those geopolitical risks still apply, and weve certainly commented on that in [our] report for the first time.

Were able, as part of our engagement with individual institutions, to talk to them about their international strategies at a country level so we can target our interventions and our discussions with institutions about that, and thats something were doing.

It comes amid mounting concerns over Chinese influence in the UK, brought to a head last month by a diplomatic spat over a Beijing-owned steel plant in Scunthorpe.

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The UK Government was forced to take control of British Steels site in Lincolnshire after Chinese owner Jingye threatened to shut down the furnaces, prompting warnings about Beijings control over key parts of the UK economy.

Experts have also accused British officials of being asleep at the wheel over Chinese interference at UK universities.

Call for public register of donations

The Telegraph has reported numerous instances in recent months of universities stifling criticism of Beijing on campus for fear of jeopardising lucrative Chinese students and contracts with the countrys institutions.

The chairman of Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee last month urged ministers to create a public register of Chinese donations to British universities.

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Writing in The Telegraph, Lord Beamish, who served as a Labour MP for 23 years and was Gordon Browns veterans minister, warned the Government not to be naive about Chinese influence in British academia and emphasised the need for transparency.

Both Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, have voiced a willingness to engage more with China despite potential challenges as they view Beijing as a key economic driver for the UK.

The Department for Education was approached for comment.

A UAL spokesman said: We value the diversity of our student body, and our international students form a key part of that.

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While we celebrate our international appeal and community, UAL has been alert to the associated risks of reliance on any particular country for a number of years, and has put in place measures to mitigate these. These measures include prioritising globally inclusive recruitment activities and developing our scholarships to help diversify our recruitment.

A University of Southampton spokesman said: Our global reputation means Southampton is a popular destination for students from across the world, with international students playing an important and welcome role in our diverse and vibrant community.

A spokesman for Goldsmiths, University of London, said: Goldsmiths is a leading creative and cultural university so it should come as no surprise that students from across the world choose to come here to acquire the skills and conduct research that will lead to successful careers.

Britains strength in attracting international students is only now seen as a weakness because of a broken university funding model that needs to be urgently fixed.

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The RCA was approached for comment.

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A British warship has tracked a Russian submarine in the English Channel as part of a Nato effort to monitor Moscows activity in European waters.

The Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a wider Nato operation to shadow Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it made its surfaced journey back to Russia from the eastern Mediterranean.

It comes two weeks after HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey separately shadowed Russian vessels through the Channel.

Credit: Royal Navy

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Last month, HMS St Albans was activated to monitor RFN Admiral Golovoko as the frigate sailed east through the English Channel, while Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey tracked RFN Soobrazitelny as the corvette sailed westward.

It was the second such activation for HMS St Albans in April, after she had to monitor the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoikiy in a three-day operation two weeks ago.

The announcement comes as world leaders meet at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Oslo on Friday.

JEF leaders are expected to discuss further protections to the UK and Euro-Atlantic critical national infrastructure.

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The patrol vessel intercepted Krasnodar on entry to the Channel near the French coast, reporting on every move as it made its eastward journey before handing over duties to allies as the submarine left UK waters.

Earlier in its journey, Krasnodar was tracked by a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron deployed with the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the Atlantic.

Once responsibility for Krasnodar had been handed over, HMS Tyne was quickly back on new tasking to shadow Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy as it headed westward from the Baltic Sea, through the busy Dover Strait.

Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces minister, said the Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness to secure UK waters - WENN.com

Dedication, courage and professionalism

HMS Tyne and 815 Naval Air Squadron later monitored the corvettes return journey to the Baltic alongside three merchant ships.

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Luke Pollard, the minister for the Armed Forces, said: The Royal Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness to secure UK waters and protect the public.

Our sailors acted swiftly and decisively to a potential Russian threat, and I pay tribute to their dedication, courage and professionalism.

National security is a foundation of the Governments Plan for Change and we are giving our Armed Forces what they need to keep us secure home and strong abroad.

Lt Bailey Denyer, HMS Tynes Operations Officer, said: Activations like the one weve seen on this patrol to track Krasnodar are our bread and butter  defending UK sovereignty and that of our Nato allies is at the very heart of what the Royal Navy does.

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The West Bridgewater Police Department has arrested and charged a Brockton man with attempted murder.

Mario Raul Babbs, Age 38, of Brockton, is facing charges of:

Attempted Murder

Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon

Assault and Battery

The incident occurred on the night of May 8, around 11 P.M., when West Bridgewater police responded to a Spring Street residence after receiving two 911 calls stating that a man was severely bleeding from the neck.

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Officers arrived on the scene to find the 36-year-old East Bridgewater man with a towel around his neck, attempting to control the bleeding. West Bridgewater Firefighters transported the victim to Boston Medical Center - South in Brockton.

At this time, the status of the victim remains unknown.

Officers then began an investigation, determining that the incident occurred inside the home where several people were gathered.

The investigation determined that Babbs had forcibly entered a bedroom and then stabbed the East Bridgewater man several times to the head and neck area.

Babbs then ran from the home, where an officer and K-9 located him in a nearby patch of woods.

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Babbs was taken into custody and transported to Boston Medical Center - South, He was then later brought to West Bridgewater Police Department for booking.

Babbs is expected to be arraigned in Brockton District Court on Friday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A new chapter is beginning for Williamsburg with the opening of Throop Corners at 88 Throop Avenue.

Its a 140-unit affordable apartment building that promises stability and opportunity for local families. The building officially opened this week after years of community advocacy and collaboration among neighborhood organizations.

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On Thursday, local officials, housing advocates, and members of Unified Neighborhood Partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Throop Corners in Williamsburg. The event celebrated the completion of this much-anticipated project, which represents a significant step forward in addressing the areas affordable housing crisis.

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For Shellice Beharie, one of the buildings newest residents, the opening of Throop Corners is more than just a housing milestone; its a turning point after years of hardship.

Visually impaired since 2016, Beharie has faced tremendous challenges, including the tragic loss of family members and time spent in the shelter system.

I became blind in 2016 right after I had my second son, Beharie shared. That was an adjustment cause I had a newborn baby and a 6-year-old son to take care of. Her struggles continued with heartbreaking losses in 2017 and 2019, yet despite it all, Beharie found hope when St. Nicks Alliance helped her secure a home at Throop Corners.

Its been a lot, she said. Its hard, but you cant give up and you got to keep on trucking and you got to keep on pushing, even if it takes three, five years.

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Throop Corners is the result of a powerful partnership between St. Nicks Alliance, Riseboro Community Partnership, Los Sures, and United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg, collectively known as Unified Neighborhood Partners. Together, they ensured the project would be inclusive and benefit many residents.

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The building includes 14 units reserved for formerly homeless households and features amenities such as a workforce development center, rooftop solar panels, and an all-electric design.

Kieran Harrington, CEO of Riseboro Community Partnership, praised the project as a model for the city and beyond.

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This apartment building is a model for what our city should be, right? Orthodox Jewish families living side by side with Hispanic families, African American families altogether, who are deeply in need, cant afford housing in the city. This is a model not simply for our city, but for the whole world, Harrington said.

By working together, the nonprofits behind Throop Corners are setting the stage for more inclusive development in Williamsburg and the surrounding neighborhoods.

For more information on 88 Throop Avenue, click here.

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It would take a matter of seconds for people among those most at risk for drug overdose to get a life-saving product in their hands.

Five vending machines stocked with naloxone, a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose and is commonly known by the brand name Narcan, have been installed in public areas of the Broward Sheriffs Offices four jails and the Department of Detention and Community Programs office in Lauderdale Lakes. They are intended for inmates leaving custody and people under community supervision to access in a way that alleviates fear of judgment, oftentimes a barrier to seeking resources for people struggling with addiction.

We understand the stigma associated with it, David Scharf, BSOs Executive Director of Community Programs, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. So we wanted people to be able to discreetly have access to it and takes maybe 12 seconds to press a button and pick up a couple of boxes and walk out the door.

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The free naloxone vending machines have been inside the jails public lobby areas and the Lauderdale Lakes office for about two months, and messaging on the sides of the machines show how to use the sprays. The project, which cost a total of about $80,000, was funded by a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant and took about a year to roll out, Scharf said.

Similar vending machines have been installed in other areas of the country in recent years. Often they included Narcan, in addition to drug-testing kits and strips or reproductive health supplies. One machine installed in a neighborhood of a small city in Massachusetts supplies syringes, drug test strips and pipes for smoking, items that are among those considered harm-reduction supplies by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Lauderhill Fire Rescue late last year installed more than 30 naloxone dispensers at different locations in the city.

While other machines elsewhere in the U.S. are located outside of county health buildings or in places where the general population can access them at any time, Scharf said the Sheriffs Offices five machines were installed in the jails and Lauderdale Lakes office with the intent that those released from the criminal justice system, specifically, will take them.

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People released from jails and prisons are among those most at risk of a drug overdose death, and data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows that thousands of people are arrested in Broward County annually for drug-related offenses.

Scharf said that an internal study, reviewing deaths in Broward County from 2023, showed that a significant number of people who died from an overdose had spent time in the Broward jail system before their death. Deputies, employees of a substance abuse program in the jails and other personnel are informing people in custody about the machines so they know naloxone is available when they leave, he said.

People recently released from custody are more at risk of an overdose, in part, because their tolerance to a drug may have decreased while not using for a period of time, Scharf said.

Naloxone can be used to reverse the effects of an overdose from heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and other opioids. While overdose deaths have declined in Florida in recent years, fentanyl is still the deadliest drug.

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More than 2,500 people statewide died from fentanyl in the first half of 2023, the latest data from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission shows, about 200 less deaths than the same time period in its 2022 report. More than 580 of those who died were in South Florida, with Palm Beach County reporting the third-highest number of fentanyl deaths statewide and Broward County the fourth highest. Broward County previously recorded the highest number of fentanyl-related deaths in the state.

Sharf said law enforcement and fire rescue have in recent years often see multiple overdoses on multiple shifts in a day. In 2024, deputies deployed Narcan and saw hundreds of revivals, he said.

More than 2,600 doses of naloxone were administered in Broward County alone in 2023, but the vast majority of the time emergency medical services personnel are the ones administering it rather than someone prior to their arrival, the latest data available from the Florida Department of Health shows.

Since the vending machines have been installed, Sharf said they are constantly replenishing the naloxone, but it is difficult to discern how often and when someone other than fire rescue and law enforcement are taking the sprays.

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A study from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in late 2024 found that the total number of naloxone boxes distributed in six Michigan county jails using similar vending machines increased by over 60% within six months after they were installed.

The following locations are among those in Broward County that offer naloxone, according to a database maintained by I Save Florida:
A former day care employee accused of sexually abusing children in his care now faces 43 felony charges, a Brownsburg Police Department spokesperson said.

Gabriel Garner, 22, was arrested on May 6 after investigators received multiple delayed reports of sexual abuse from the Department of Child Services. Initial reports indicated that Garner was charged with a count of child molestation and a count of child exploitation.

During their investigation, analysts uncovered a trove of child sex abuse material on Garner's phone. Metadata showed that 130 of the photos were taken at Main Street University 4 Kidz in Brownsburg, where he had worked since February 2021.

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More: Court docs: Indiana daycare alerted to sexual abuse a year ago, didn't call police

Brownsburg police said May 9 that Garner faces 30 counts of child exploitation, 11 counts of child molestation, one count of vicarious sexual gratification and one count of possession of child pornography.

No attorney is listed for Garner in online court records at the time of publication.

Main Street University 4 Kidz was shuttered May 8 after officials uncovered what they characterized as a "conscious and systemic" failure to report allegations of child abuse.

A probable cause affidavit filed in Garner's case alleges that day care management knew of multiple allegations against Garner dating back to April 2024 but did not alert law enforcement or DCS, which they were legally obligated to do. The day care's owner, Nancy Minton, did not respond to a request for comment.

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Detectives have identified six victims of exploitation, and they have all been contacted, a Brownsburg Police Department spokesperson said.

Parents and caregivers who are concerned that their children may have been victimized are asked to contact the Brownsburg Criminal Investigations Unit at (317) 852-1109, ext. 2123, or the DCS hotline at 1-800-800-5556.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former day care employee faces 43 charges for child abuse
WINDHOEK, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has recorded a 45 percent reduction in wildlife crime, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu has said, attributing the decline to intensified anti-poaching operations.

"NAMPOL (Namibian Police Force) participated in anti-poaching operations, which resulted in the reduction of wildlife crime by 45 percent," Iipumbu said on Thursday while delivering the ministry's budget statement in parliament.

A total of 239 wildlife crime cases were reported, leading to the arrest of 505 suspects, the minister added.

To strengthen law enforcement, Iipumbu said NAMPOL has acquired 17 trained canines and operational equipment worth more than 30 million Namibian dollars (about 1.65 million U.S. dollars).

Earlier, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel said in her budget address that 83 cases of rhino poaching and 9 cases of elephant poaching were recorded in 2024.

Despite these incidents, she reaffirmed the government's commitment to wildlife conservation and announced the recruitment of 50 young Namibians into the Anti-Poaching Unit.

Daniel also highlighted efforts to reconstruct Etosha National Park's 824 km of deteriorating boundary fencing and to implement human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures such as predator-proof kraals and elephant-friendly watering points.

Namibia is home to one of the largest free-roaming black rhino populations in the world and a significant number of elephants, making it a target for poachers and international trafficking syndicates. 
The immediate family of accused quadruple-murderer Bryan Kohberger will be allowed to attend his trial despite being potential witnesses.

Judge Steven Hippler made the decision public on Thursday, after prosecutors expressed concern over the presence of Kohbergers parents and sisters, who are expected to testify during his upcoming murder trial. Its not uncommon for witnesses to be excluded from legal proceedings for fear they could shape their testimony in response to what other witnesses have said or what evidence has been presented.

Courts recognize that having defendants family members present at trial advances the values served by the right to public trial, i.e., ensuring fair proceedings; reminding the prosecutor and judge of their grave responsibilities; discouraging perjury; and encouraging witnesses to come forward, Hippler wrote in his decision, citing the Sixth Amendment.

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The judge previously ruled that family members of the victims may also attend the trial.

Kohberger, a former Washington State University PhD candidate, is accused of of killing Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, 21-year-old best friends, as well as their housemate, Xana Kernodle, and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, both 20.

All four students were found fatally stabbed inside a home in Moscow near the University of Idaho campus on Nov. 14 2022, sparking a weeks-long manhunt for their killer. The search culminated in Kohbergers arrest weeks later at his parents home in eastern Pennsylvania on Dec. 30 of that year.

Prosecutors have said they intended to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted at his trial, which is set to begin in August.
Florida Capitol and Old Capitol. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)

A $2.8 billion tax cut deal reached between Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez last week to help bring the 2025 regular session to a close is now off the table.

The breakdown means legislators are nowhere near coming up with a new budget, which needs to be in place by July 1 or the state risks a government shutdown.

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The Friday morning announcement from legislative leadership came as Gov. Ron DeSantis continued to tour the state attacking the House, and Perez by extension, for pushing a reduction in the states sales tax rate instead of backing the governors two-step plan to provide property homeowners relief.

Perez had championed a permanent reduction in sales taxes and last week Albritton said he was backing it. But in a memo to House members, Perez said Albritton has told him he is breaking his commitment to the House that he publicly announced.

Speaker Daniel Perez via Florida House

I was disappointed when the Senate President informed me of his decision to no longer bring the Houses historic tax proposal to the Senate floor, Perez wrote. As Im sure you can appreciate, this blew up the framework for the budget deal we had negotiated.

Albritton sent his own memo to his members shortly thereafter explaining that he was backing away from the agreement with Perez for an across-the-board sales tax cut because the governor had indicated the bill would be dead on arrival.

Three concerns

Albrittons letter outlines three main concerns he heard from senators about the $2.8 billion tax agreement, of which $2.5 billion would be recurring.

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An across-the-board sales tax cut of one quarter of one penny is not meaningful, felt, or seen by families and seniors when compared with other available options. A $2.5 billion recurring tax cut is not sustainable when combined with the projected budget shortfalls already on the horizon. A $2.5 billion recurring tax cut may constrain options for the major property tax reform the Governor, House, and Senate, and most importantly  the Floridians we represent  are asking us to put forward.

Senate President Ben Albritton (photo via Florida Senate)

Albritton continued:

Throughout the entire course of negotiations with the House, the Senate has been and remains committed to tax cuts that offer broad-based and meaningful tax relief for families, seniors, and small businesses. As negotiations move forward, [Appropriations] Chair [Ed] Hooper and I will continue seeking your advice and feedback.

It is important to me that we develop a tax relief package that is sustainable for the long term and leaves room in our balanced budget for the voters to consider meaningful property tax relief on the ballot at the next general election. We will continue to work towards a final budget and tax relief package the House, Senate and Governor can support.

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The two sides need to reach a deal on the size and scope of tax cuts in order to reach a deal on budget allocations that determine how much money will be included in the final appropriations act.

The Senate and House on May 2 voted on a resolution (HCR 1631) that lists 16 bills the chambers will consider in an extended session. Included in the list is Albrittons priority legislation to infuse $200 million in infrastructure in areas of the state that are less developed. Albritton has dubbed the bill Rural Renaissance.

Albritton said that day that the chambers had reached an agreement for a budget that included $2.8 billion in relief, which he noted is the most historic tax relief package in the history of our state.

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The one must-pass bill

Nearly 2,000 bills were filed in the House and Senate for consideration during the 2025 session. Most of them didnt pass  indeed, just 255 made it across the legislative finish line before the session adjourned.

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But theres just one bill the Legislature is required to pass each year and thats the state fiscal year budget, officially known as the General Appropriations Act.

The chambers passed drastically different proposed spending plans for state fiscal year 2025-26 with a $4.4 billion gap between the two blueprints.

Perez has championed rolling back the states sales tax by 0.75%, to 5.25%. The speakers plan would roll back all other sales tax rates by the same amount  commercial rent from 2% to 1.25%; electricity from 4.35% to 3.6%; new mobile home purchases from 3% to 2.25%; and coin-operated amusement machines from 4% to 3.25%.

The Senate floated a more modest $2.1 billion plan centered around a permanent elimination of the sales tax on clothing and shoes costing $75 or less. Other parts of this plan include a permanent reduction in the business rent tax from 2% to 1%, a one-time credit for vehicle registration fees, and several sales tax holidays.

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Meanwhile, DeSantis has pushed for elimination of property taxes, a proposal he has continued to champion this week at press events across the state, appearing Friday in Jacksonville.

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Bryan, TX (FOX 44)  Bryan High Schools creation for the Monster Truck Jam project is close to completion!

After working hard for six months, the Bryan High School welding team is finally putting the final touches on their monster truck project.

Twenty-eight hands have built a mini monster truck from the ground up.

Im very proud, Senior student, Nate Surley said. We started with obviously just materials. Weve bent metal, weve learned and done stuff we never have. We put new things to use that we have never done. Its very close to the edge of running, driving like an actual truck.

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Whats a challenge without a little trial and error?

We ran into an issue that the fuel pumps were both busted on the machine, and we got two new fuel pumps put onto it, Welding Instructor, Chris Lehde said. Its running, its mounted, and weve got the chain hooked up. We have not test-driven it yet because were kind of having an issue with our high RPM kicking in the gear.

The team put blood, sweat, and tears into the project, and says they are excited to show the school their truck as well as compete in the long-awaited Monster Truck Jam.

It gives us a chance to show off like the months we were putting into the project, Surley said. All like the hours staying after school, the weekends we put into it. Thats a really big thing to look forward to.

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Chris Lehde, Bryan High Schools welding instructor, said this project has brought the welding team closer.

Its been an amazing experience, Lehde expressed. Really, no downsides to it at all. theyve worked together. Im seeing them now way more as a team. They know the time crunch is on, getting things done. The pressure is on, theyre working great together.

The team will debut their final project on June 7th in Austin.

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The News

Chinas exports grew faster than expected despite plummeting shipments to the US, pointing to the fast-changing shape of global trade as a result of hefty American tariffs.

The latest figures were largely driven by Asian manufacturers importing Chinese raw materials to produce goods ultimately bound for the US ahead of fresh tariff rises due in July. The data also indicates that Chinese companies efforts to pivot to other markets are paying off, ING economists noted, with sales to Japan and Europe accelerating.

Washington is reportedly mulling offering substantial tariff cuts as part of talks with Beijing this weekend, but the legacy of its punishing levies may be new trade patterns of which the US is not a part.
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A burglar was arrested early Friday morning at an Oceanside business after he was found hiding inside the ceiling while feigning sleep, according to police.

Police and a San Diego County Sheriffs Office K-9 unit responded to the business, located in the 1900 block of Mission Avenue, around 3:16 a.m. after a burglary alarm went off.

Following an initial search of the building, officers turned to the crawl space, where they believed the suspect may have stowed away to evade authorities.

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Oceanside police find parents of 2-year-old found alone

Using a department drone, officers found the suspect in the crawl space above the ceiling tiles. According to police, he nearly fell through the ceiling while attempting to remain hidden, but officers were able to safely remove him without incident.

Authorities identified the suspect as Karlos Jordon, a 36-year-old Oceanside resident who had an outstanding warrant connected to a separate incident. He was booked into the Vista detention facility and faces at least one charge of burglary.

However, police say investigators believe he may be connected to other burglaries in the area. Authorities encourage people to contact the Oceanside police detective in charge of the case if they have information on nearby burglaries: Sergeant Joshua Young at 760-435-4729.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Butler Hospital is planning to temporarily outsource its workforce as management braces for hundreds of frontline staff to go on strike later this month, according to the New England Health Care Employees Union (SEIU 1199NE).

Jesse Martin, executive vice president of SEIU 1199NE, announced Thursday afternoon that Butler Hospital will be spending $1.8 million on temporary labor ahead of the open-ended strike, which is slated to begin May 15 at 6 a.m.

SEIU 1199NE, which represents more than 800 frontline staffers at Butler Hospital, entered into contract negotiations with its parent company Care New England two months ago.

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RELATED: Butler Hospitals unionized workers to go on strike

The unions four contracts with Care New England officially expired on March 31, and there are currently 116 job openings at the hospital.

SEIU 1199NE is asking hospital management to address the critical safety and economic concerns that workers believe have contributed to the staffing shortage.

In a survey conducted by SEIU 1199NE, 95% of Butler Hospital workers believe Care New England isnt doing enough to keep them safe at work, and 60% have struggled to afford both food and housing costs.

Instead of investing in its own workforce, Care New England plans to spend almost $2 million to fly in out-of-state workers during the strike, Martin said.

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Martin said Care New England has failed to make proposals to lift its workforce out of poverty, address chronic workplace violence or protect their retirement and health insurance benefits.

Rhode Islanders deserve the services of a health system that treats its workers with respect by providing them with fair wages and benefits, Martin said.

Martin emphasized that workers remain committed to reaching a collective bargaining agreement to meet the needs of Butler patients.

But if the hospital is unwilling to fix this care crisis, SEIU 1199NE members will be forced to strike, he said.

Martin said SEIU 1199NEs negotiators submitted contract proposals as late as Wednesday night, but hospital management has refused to respond.

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In a statement to 12 News, Care New England spokesperson Raina Smith claimed SEIU 1199NE disengaged from bargaining Wednesday as the hospital was actively working toward a fair and meaningful agreement.

Smith said Care New Englands latest offer included across-the-board wage increases, continued pension contributions for existing employees, affordable health insurance and the creation of a workplace violence taskforce with equal union and management representation.

Unfortunately, the high cost of preparing for a strike, including bringing in temporary licensed professionals to ensure uninterrupted care, has required us to reallocate resources that otherwise would have supported wage and benefit improvements, Smith wrote. We remain open to productive negotiations and sincerely hope union leadership will return to the table with a renewed focus on solutions.

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California has taken steps that, if completed, would over time effectively end key portions of its Advanced Clean Fleets rule, through a settlement of a lawsuit by 16 states spearheaded by the Nebraska attorney general.

The settlement was posted Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. It is a predictable outcome of the decision in January by the state, through the California Air Resources Board (CARB), to withdraw its request for a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency that would have granted EPA permission to implement the Advanced Clean Fleets rule. ACF would have established a series of mandates for truck owners in California to follow on the way to ending internal combustion engines in trucks by the mid-2040s.

According to the court document, the agreement will require CARB staff to present to the board a proposal to repeal the high-priority fleets and drayage requirements of ACF. There will be a public hearing on the proposal before Oct. 31. The Initial Statement of Reasons for the rulemaking that would approve the repeal would need to be published by Sept. 1.

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The high-priority fleets section of ACF governed purchases of Class 8 tractors, among other vehicles. The drayage requirements were to be the first rules to hit the states trucking sector, requiring any new drayage trucks to be registered with the state after Jan. 1, 2024, to be zero-emission vehicles. But the state said in late 2023 it would not enforce that mandate while various lawsuits played out.

When the state withdrew its waiver request in the final days of the Biden administration, any pathway to implementing the key parts of the ACF in California appeared dead.

CARB sees new approaches

But in response to a query from FreightWaves, CARB seemed to suggest that the embers are still burning for the ACF, though at a lower temperature. Its spokeswoman used the terms certain elements and new and alternative approaches in an email to FreightWaves.

CARB recently took steps to resolve litigation  on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation by filing a joint stipulation, the spokeswoman said in the email. CARB agreed to present a proposal to repeal certain elements of the ACF Regulation to the Board and not to enforce certain requirements of the regulation. [Plaintiffs] agreed to dismiss [their] case after the repeal becomes effective under state law. CARB remains committed to protecting public health using existing authorities as well as new and alternative approaches.

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While CARB has not put out a formal statement about the agreement it reached in the Nebraska case, the settlement filed with the court spells out the steps to be taken by the agency. The defendants in the case were CARB Executive Officer Steven Cliff and California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

It will take some time

The Parties have reached an agreement that is anticipated to resolve this litigation but will require time to execute, according to the document known as a stipulation and order to hold case in abeyance pending outcome of rulemaking.

If the CARB board agrees to the proposed repeal of the high priority and drayage sections of ACF, it will be submitted to the states Office of Administrative Law by Aug. 31, 2026.

After that occurs, Nebraska and the other plaintiffs will withdraw their lawsuit, filed just less than a year ago.

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What is notable about the agreement is that it does not make reference to the full repeal of ACF. It refers only to the high-priority and drayage sections of the proposal.

In the court document, the state also says it will not enforce the part of the ACF that requires 100% ZEV sales in the medium- and heavy-duty categories beginning with the 2036 model year until CARB obtains a Clean Air Act preemption waiver from EPA for that regulatory requirement, seemingly leaving the door slightly ajar to revive at least part of the ACF under changed political conditions.

There also is no reference in the court settlement to the section of the ACF that would require government fleets to begin a transition to zero-emission vehicles by purchasing a growing percentage of ZEVs for their own fleets. The original Nebraska lawsuit did describe the provisions of the government fleet mandate, but it is not mentioned in the four-page settlement document that was released Monday.

In addition to the attorney general of Nebraska, the attorneys general of 15 other red states joined as plaintiffs: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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The Nebraska Trucking Association and the Arizona State Legislature also were plaintiffs.

A unified national approach

In its prepared statement on the court settlement, Kent Grisham, the president of the Nebraska Trucking Association, noted that the lawsuit is not being withdrawn. We are only putting it into abeyance until CARB follows through on its promise to repeal ACF altogether, he said. But the fact that they have admitted that an EPA waiver is necessary sends a signal to any other state wanting to create a patchwork of regulations around the country that when it comes to interstate commerce, a unified national approach is the only way to keep the supply chains running.

Much of the opposition from other states to various California clean transportation rules is not that they can create a patchwork of regulations. It is that the sheer size of the California market will lead OEMs making cars or trucks to produce vehicles that meet Californias standards in all locations, effectively nationalizing one states rules.

When CARB first approved the ACF, its view was that it did not need a waiver, as it did for the companion Advanced Clean Trucks rule. But late in 2023, California did request a waiver for ACF.

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Conventional wisdom when it was withdrawn in January is that the waiver request was being pulled because the Trump administration would be in charge of the EPA in just a few days. But the fact that it had been more than a year since the waiver request was made to EPA and it still had not been approved by the Biden-led EPA was also seen as a signal that even a Biden EPA was not prepared to approve the sweeping changes that would have been required under the ACF.

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The post California deal with 16 states would end key parts of Advanced Clean Fleets rule appeared first on FreightWaves.
KABUL, May 9 (Xinhua) -- At least three people, including a civil court judge, were killed in a road accident in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province late on Thursday, according to the state-owned Bakhtar news agency.

The mishap occurred when a vehicle veered off the road due to reckless driving and plunged into a river on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Parun city, provincial police spokesman Ghulam Rahman Haidari was quoted as saying.

Three people, including civil court judge Rahimullah Haqqani in Parun city, lost their lives in the accident, Haidari added.

Thousands of people lose their lives in road accidents in Afghanistan each year due to various reasons, including reckless driving, poor conditions of roads, lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways, overloading and overspeeding. 
WASHINGTON (AP)  Who called first?

It's the question that has put Beijing and Washington in a verbal sparring match even as the two countries are heading into a weekend meeting in Switzerland to discuss lowering sky-high tariffs that they slapped on each other in heated moments that have shaken financial markets and stirred worries about the global economy.

The meeting is being held at the request of the U.S. side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Wednesday.

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President Donald Trump disagreed. They said we initiated it? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files, Trump said Wednesday when swearing in David Perdue as the new U.S. ambassador to China. That followed weeks of each side suggesting the other side had reached out first, including Trump implying Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him, only to be refuted by Beijing.

When it comes to the world's two largest economies readying themselves for what is expected to be tough trade talks, the public back-and-forth is no trivial matter.

The obsession with who reached out first is a proxy fight over leverage, said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. For Washington, signaling that Beijing initiated the meeting reinforces the narrative that the tariffs are working. For Beijing, denying outreach preserves the illusion of parity and avoids domestic perception of weakness.

Jockeying for dominance

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Daniel Russel, a former U.S. diplomat who oversaw East Asian and Pacific affairs, called the exchange part diplomatic stalemate and part dominance display worthy of a nature documentary.

In his decades-long career as a diplomat, Russel said he is unaware of a single instance where a Chinese leader initiated a call with a U.S. president. It may be pride, it may be protocol, but for Beijing, being the demandeur is to show weakness  and thats something the Chinese system is hardwired to avoid, said Russel, now vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

The Trump's administration is less accommodating. Their position is: If Xi wants the tariffs lifted, he knows how to reach us, Russel said.

Not long after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% and Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods, Trump suggested that China, like many other countries, was in talks with his administration. On April 22, he apparently directed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to say we're doing very well regarding a potential trade deal with China.

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I think its a process thats going to go pretty quickly with China, Trump said on the same day. I think were going to live together very happily and ideally work together.

Back and forth ... and back again

Yet China quickly denied any talk towards a deal. When asked about such negotiations, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded: All is fake news. The next day, Guo asked the U.S. to stop creating confusion on tariff talks.

Then came a TIME magazine interview when Trump claimed Xi had called him. Details? None provided. When? Trump didn't say. Hes called. And I dont think thats a sign of weakness on his behalf," Trump said in the interview published on April 25. Beijing dismissed it, saying there was no recent leadership phone call.

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Yet soon the word started to spread on China's social media that the Trump administration was contacting Beijing, and it was confirmed a few days later by the Chinese Commerce Ministry.

The U.S. had repeatedly and proactively conveyed messages to China recently to express the hope to engage in negotiations with China, the ministry said on May 2. In this regard, the Chinese side is assessing it," the ministry said, in an apparent off-ramp move climbdown that prepared the public opinion for the announcement a few days later that Vice Premier He Lifeng would meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Switzerland this weekend.

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said the reality is more complicated when the two governments have been in regular contact and each side may have its own understanding what constitutes reaching out for tariff talks. Technically," Sun said, both sides are correct.

By Thursday, Trump appeared ready to move on. We can all play games  who made the first call, who didnt make them. Doesnt matter," Trump said.

Referring to the upcoming tariff talk this weekend in Switzerland, Trump said: "It only matters what happens in that room.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A former Massachusetts music teacher and a man residing in Maryland face federal charges for allegedly conspiring to sexually exploit minor boys in the Philippines.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge, and Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national living in Baltimore, were each charged with one count of sexual exploitation of minors, including attempt and conspiracy. Authorities say DeWitte paid more than $23,000 to Tisoy in exchange for video footage documenting the abuse of children overseas.

Hampden County Sheriffs Office celebrates National Correctional Officers Week

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DeWitte was arrested Wednesday and appeared in federal court in Boston, where he was ordered held pending a detention hearing set for May 12. Tisoy, who entered the U.S. in September 2024 on an H-1B visa and works as a medical technologist at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, was arrested Tuesday in Maryland. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on May 14 in the District of Maryland.

According to the criminal complaint, DeWitte was identified in December 2024 as the user of a Snapchat account that uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including a video showing a boy estimated to be between eight and ten years old. Further investigation allegedly uncovered sexually explicit conversations DeWitte had with Snapchat users posing as minors, during which he solicited nude images, sent photos of himself, and discussed arranging in-person encounters.

Authorities also allege DeWitte offered money to other Snapchat users to acquire child pornography and help recruit minor boys. Following the discovery, state police executed a search warrant at DeWittes Cambridge residence in January 2025, leading to his arrest on state charges including dissemination of obscene material to a child and possession of child pornography. He was released on conditions before the federal charges were filed this week.

A forensic examination of DeWittes cellphone revealed disturbing conversations via the Telegram messaging app, according to prosecutors. In one exchange, DeWitte allegedly boasted about prior abuse overseas, writing, I was in the Philippines. Most of my vids are from there, and thats where I was with a 10 yo and 12. 16 yo in Japan and Korea.

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Investigators say DeWittes communications with Tisoy included discussions about which boys to exploit, what acts they should perform, and how the footage should be recordedincluding camera angles and whether a third party or the victims themselves should film. The pair allegedly exchanged preferences to tailor the videos to their gratification, with Tisoy instructing the victims accordingly.

Between July 2023 and December 2024, DeWitte allegedly sent 87 PayPal payments to Tisoy ranging from $27 to $958, totaling approximately $23,752. These payments were reportedly made in direct exchange for videos documenting the sexual exploitation of minors.

The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor, including attempt and conspiracy, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years, along with up to a $250,000 fine and supervised release ranging from five years to life.

Local News Headlines

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Canada has approved the construction of the first mini-nuclear reactor in the West, beating Britain in the race to approve the technology.

The Government of Ontario has endorsed a multibillion-dollar plan for GE Hitachi to build four small nuclear reactors (SMRs), with the first to be operational by 2029. The project will create 18,000 jobs and cost C$20.9bn (11.3bn).

The decision comes as GE Hitachi vies to build Britains first mini-nuclear reactor, competing in a government-led competition against Britains Rolls-Royce and US company Holtec. The UK is not expected to have its own SMR up and running until the mid-2030s.

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Andy Champ, GE Hitachis UK director, said: The decision to proceed with construction in Canada means our BWRX-300 is the only SMR in the Western world with a contract to deploy, making us the lowest-risk choice.

Great British Nuclear (GBN) is expected to announce the winning bidders of its SMR contract this summer, with participants expected to build three to four small reactors.

The competition to bring the power plants to Britain has been repeatedly delayed in what has been described as a tortuously slow Whitehall process. The winning technologies was initially supposed to be chosen by late 2024, but that timeline has repeatedly slipped.

The delays have led to warnings from industry that Britain risked falling behind in the global race to capitalise on the technology. Nations that award the initial contracts are likely to see factories assembled in their country, something that may not be a given as the industry evolves. Tufan Erginbilgic, the boss of Rolls-Royce, told The Telegraph last year that Britain risked losing first-mover advantage.

The four Canadian reactors will provide enough clean energy for 1.2m homes

SMRs are viewed as a key breakthrough in nuclear technology, since they can be made in factories and assembled on site, cutting the building time for a new nuclear power plant from decades to years, saving billions of pounds.

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GBN has advertised contracts worth 20bn in total for technology partners, a figure expected to be shared among two winning bids. However, that budget is expected to come under pressure from the Chancellors cross-departmental spending review.

The four Canadian reactors will provide enough clean energy for 1.2m homes and produce 1,200 megawatts (MW) of power. The government-owned Ontario Power Generation will install a GE Hitachi BWRX-300, which uses commercially available uranium to generate power.

This is a historic day for Canada as we start construction on the first small modular reactor in the G7, said Stephen Lecce, minister for energy.

This nation-building project being built right here in Ontario will be led by Canadian workers using Canadian steel, concrete and materials to help deliver the extraordinary amount of reliable and clean power we will need to deliver on our ambitious plan to protect Ontario and unleash our economy.

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Miles Morrisseau

ICT

The billowing white smoke told the world that a new Pope had been chosen. It would be a handful of minutes before the new Pope stepped forward and Robert Francis Prevost, the first American to do so, was revealed to the world. He has taken on the name Pope Leo XIV.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who had attended the funeral of Pope Francis as part of the Canadian delegation, congratulated the new Pope. On behalf of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), I extend warm congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. We welcome his message of peace and bridge building among all people, said Woodhouse Nepinak.

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The National Chief wants to continue dialogue with the Catholic church regarding reconciling the long and painful history of the Indian Residential School system. The Catholic Church ran the majority of schools during the period of over a century when the Canadian government partnered with churches to assimilate Indigenous children.

I invite His Holiness to continue the important work of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, especially those who suffered the harms of Residential Schools, stated Woodhouse Nepinak, while also calling on the Vatican to return sacred First Nations items. We must continue dialogue on many issues including repatriation of sacred First Nations items housed in the Vatican. I encourage His Holiness to make reconciliation a top priority and to engage with our people and communities to continue healing for all.

Related: Pope Francis remembered for residential schools apology

Woodhouse Nepinak attended the funeral of Pope Francis as part of the Canadian delegation led by Governor General Marie Simon and which included Metis National Council President Victoria Pruden.

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At that time, Pruden called on Catholic institutions in Canada to continue to work with Indigenous people regardless who was named Pope and also asked for Metis cultural artifacts to be returned by the Vatican.

We call on the Catholic Church in Canada to continue meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples and to take further action towards reconciliation, stated Pruden in an April 26 release. This includes calling on the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum to work with Metis knowledge-keepers, historians, and other experts to identify and return Metis cultural artifacts. These items are part of our stories and identities, and their return aligns with the Vatican's rejection of the Doctrine of Discovery and support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Related: The next pope will inherit Pope Francis' mixed legacy with Indigenous people

Governor General Mary Simon, Inuk, is the representative of the Crown and King Charles in the Canadian parliamentary government. Simon posted heartfelt congratulations to the Catholic community worldwide on the election of the new Pope.

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As the Catholic Church enters this new chapter, may the leadership of the new Holy Father be a source of hope, compassion, and unity, guiding the Church and inspiring people toward peace and reconciliation, Simon posted to X. We look forward to witnessing a continued commitment to dialogue and shared values that strengthen our global communities.

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CANISTEO, N.Y. (WETM)  The former Canisteo police chief resigned on Thursday after pleading guilty in court to charges regarding him receiving money through manipulating time sheets, according to a release from the New York State Police.

Kyle C. Amidon, the former Canisteo police chief, resigned on Thursday, May 8, after pleading guilty to one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. Amidon was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and was ordered to pay the Village of Canisteo restitution amounting to $13,378.57, which he paid before his sentencing, according to state police.

Previous Post: Canisteo Village Police Chief placed on paid leave pending investigation

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Amidons sentencing stems from an investigation in April 2024 after a letter was sent to the villages mayor and board of trustees. Information was passed off to state police and the NYSP Special Investigations Unit (SIU) began a more in-depth search into Amidon.

Troopers uncovered potential misconduct involving falsified time sheets and irregularities tied to the Canisteo Police Club, a group that Amidon founded and managed.

Due to a conflict of interest in the Steuben County District Attorneys Office, the case was assigned to Schuyler County, and the Schuyler County DA, Joeseph Fazzary, was made the special prosecutor.

Fazzary evaluated evidence found in the SIU investigation connected to the misconduct, financial impropriety, and timekeeping fraud, and concluded the charges above were appropriate.

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It was learned Amidon was placed on paid leave in June 2024 due to the investigation, but the reason was unknown at the time.

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**Related Video Above: What happens when you call 911

CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  Canton police are searching for a man suspected of killing another man Thursday night.

Police were called to the 1500 block of Clarendon Avenue Southwest around 8:45 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

US Marshals arrest 3 murder suspects in Ohio

Upon arrival, first responders found a man in a yard who appeared to have a gunshot wound in his back. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Stephon Dunn of Canton, was taken to Aultman Hospital for treatment but died from his injuries, police said in a statement.

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Following an investigation, police said they identified 18-year-old Malachi Fortner of Canton as the suspect in the shooting.

Police said theyve obtained an arrest warrant for Fortner. He is charged with murder and felonious assault, according to police.

Longtime Oberlin patrol officer dies

Anyone who may have information regarding the shooting or Fortners whereabouts is asked to call Canton detectives at 330-489-3144. Find out how to report an anonymous tip right here.

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By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - As U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost realized during the secret conclave that he might be elected the next Catholic pope, he put his head in his hands at the daunting prospect of leading the 1.4-billion-member Church, a cardinal said on Friday.

New Jersey Cardinal Joseph Tobin, one of the other 132 clerics locked inside the Sistine Chapel with Prevost for the conclave, said he looked at the future pope during one of the last ballots.

"I took a look at Bob, because his name had been floating around and he had his head in his hands," Tobin said, using Prevost's nickname.

"I was praying for him, because I couldn't imagine what happens to a human being when you're facing something like that."

"And then when he accepted, it was like he was made for it," said Tobin.

"Whatever anguish was resolved. I think  God had made something clear and he agreed with it."

Tobin was speaking at a press conference with six other cardinals, in their first public comments since the election of Prevost as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday evening.

Leo, a largely unknown figure on the world stage, is a former U.S. missionary in Peru who was a senior Vatican official for the past two years.

The cardinals offered small insights into the secretive conclave process and even joked about the food. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan called it a "good, good, good, good impetus to get this over with."

They also speculated about how Leo, the first U.S. pope, might engage with President Donald Trump.

Dolan said he did not think Prevost's nationality "had much weight" in the cardinals' decision.

"It should not startle us that we should look to Pope Leo as a bridge builder," said Dolan.

"Will he want to build bridges with Donald Trump? I suppose. But he will want to build bridges with the leader of every nation."

The late Pope Francis was a sharp critic of Trump, saying earlier this year that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the U.S. was a "disgrace".

Asked whether Leo will act like Francis and openly criticize the Trump administration's policies, the cardinals demurred.

"We were looking for someone following the pathway of Francis, but we were not looking for a photocopy," said Washington, D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, McElroy's now retired predecessor in Washington, said it was important to give Leo "space to grow into the office." Gregory added a joke: "He's never been pope before."

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Keith Weir)
The Catholic Church has a new pope: Chicago Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected on Thursday after four rounds of voting as the new head of the Catholic Church after just 24 hours of conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

As pontiff, the 69-year-old will take the name Leo XIV. The first-ever pope from the United States previously served in the Vatican as a curial cardinal, heading the important dicastery  effectively the ministry  responsible for bishops worldwide.

Earlier in his career, he worked as a missionary and bishop in Peru and served as the prior general of the Augustinian Order. He is regarded as someone who can mediate well between the conservative and reform-oriented factions within the Catholic Church.

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After his election, he appeared before the public for the first time on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica at 7:13 pm (1713 GMT). This was met with huge cheers. He addressed, in Italian, the more than 100,000 people who had been waiting for the new pope. "Peace be with you all, dear brothers and sisters," he said.

He also referred to his immediate predecessor, Francis: "God loves us all, and evil will not prevail. Let us move forward without fear, hand in hand with God and one another. Help us to build bridges to the world. Thank you, Pope Francis."

Pope Leo, who speaks fluent Italian and Spanish, also addressed the massive crowd in front of the chapel in Spanish in his first comments as head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

First pope from the United States

For the first time in two millennia of church history, a pontiff comes from the US. Shortly after 6:00 pm, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel  the signal that the 133 cardinals from around the world had reached a two-thirds majority.

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Loud cheers erupted on St Peter's Square, where more than 15,000 people were waiting at the time. The bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out in celebration. Prevost had already been considered one of the favourites before the conclave. However, he was not at the very top of most published lists.

The Empire State Building in New York will be illuminated in gold and white lights on Thursday to mark the election of Pope Leo.

Conclave began on Wednesday

Leo is the 267th pontiff in 2,000 years of Catholic Church history. From the balcony, he gave his first Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing.

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The successor to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, was elected relatively quickly. The cardinals had only entered the chapel on Wednesday at around 5:45 pm, where they deliberated strictly isolated from the outside world. They were not allowed any contact with the outside, even during breaks and at night.

Since the 1960s, no conclave has lasted longer than three days, and this one was no exception. It was also quicker than the 2013 election of Francis, which required five rounds of voting. This time, the electoral body was larger than ever, with 133 cardinals.

There is great anticipation as to whether Pope Leo will continue the cautious reform course of his Argentinian predecessor. Conservative cardinals had previously called for a return to a more traditional direction.

Pope Leo will celebrate his first major Mass as the head of the Catholic Church on Friday in the Sistine Chapel, according to the Vatican.

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Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters the pope will also appear on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica for the midday prayer on Sunday.

World leaders congratulate new pope

Among the first to congratulate the new pope was US President Donald Trump.

"It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Germany's new chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is Catholic, said in a press statement that people in Germany look to the new pontificate "with confidence and positive expectations."

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Congratulations and well wishes came in from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Polish President Andrzej Duda, who all wrote on X.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres passed on his congratulations via X.

"Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity & compassion," he wrote.

"I look forward to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the UN and the Holy See to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation & build a just and sustainable world for all."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the new pope, saying he hoped the new head of the Vatican would continue to support his war-torn country and condemn Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine more than three years ago, said in a statement that he hoped that "the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us."

Church losing support in Europe

In Europe, the Catholic Church has lost significant numbers of members in recent years, driven by numerous abuse scandals. Elsewhere however the number of Catholics is growing.

Since 1978, the papacy has been held by John Paul II from Poland, Benedict XVI from Germany and Francis who hailed from Argentina.

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV (L), the American Robert Prevost, appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after the Papal Conclave. Oliver Weiken/dpa

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the American Robert Prevost, appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after the Papal Conclave. Oliver Weiken/dpa
KIGALI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- African accountants have been urged to innovate and cooperate to drive sustainable economic, social and environmental transformation across the continent.

"We must reimagine our role as accountants, not simply as technical professionals, but as catalysts for inclusive sustainable development," Keto Kayemba, outgoing president of the Pan African Federation of Accountants, said on Thursday during the Africa Congress of Accountants 2025 held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Over 2,000 delegates, including accounting and finance leaders from across the continent, attended the four-day event, which started on Tuesday under the theme "Creating Value for Africa."

Jean Bouquot, president of the International Federation of Accountants, emphasized the growing need for non-financial reporting in sustainability and decision-making.

"Investors and lenders require accurate sustainability information to make informed decisions that align with long-term goals," he said.

Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa noted that accountants have a unique role in helping Africa generate, assess, and safeguard value, by promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability across public and private sectors.

The forum was hosted by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda in partnership with the Pan African Federation of Accountants. It focuses on reshaping the future of accountancy and exploring strategies to drive innovation, strengthen collaboration, and advance sustainable economic and environmental value across Africa to shape the future of the profession. 
Court documents claim the theft of Kristi Noems bag was just one incident in a one-man crime spree

A Gucci shoulder bag worth thousands, left under a womans seat in a burger restaurant, probably looked like an easy target.

After spotting the bag, a thief in a Covid mask and dark cap hooked his foot through the strap, tugged it over to his table and swiftly exited the building before heading out onto the evening streets of Washington, DC, prosecutors say.

It seems to have been sheer bad luck for the man, whom authorities claim is Mario Bustamante Leiva, that the bag belonged to Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary and one of the most powerful figures in Donald Trumps government.

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Court documents claim the theft of Ms Noems bag was just one incident in a one-man crime spree, alleging the suspect committed three separate robberies in just over a week in the city.

Mr Leiva, a Chilean national whom police said has admitted to stealing Ms Noems bag after being arrested last month, reportedly honed his pickpocketing skills on the streets of London more than a decade ago.

Mario Bustamante Leiva has been arrested in connection with the theft

The 49-year-old, who was branded a career criminal by Ms Noem, and whom the department of homeland security (DHS) says is in the US illegally, was previously handed a prison sentence for a series of thefts in Britain.

In the space of five months, he reportedly stole 21,000 ($27,800) of phones, wallets and computers in bars and cafes in high-end areas of London, the Daily Mail reported.

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When Mr Leiva was finally arrested in December 2014 entering a pub north of London Bridge, he was said to have been listening to a stolen iPod.

Mr Leiva, a father of three with no fixed address, reportedly admitted to 22 charges of theft, and was sentenced to three years in prison by a judge who branded him dishonest to his fingertips, according to the Daily Mail.

It is unclear how long Mr Leiva spent in prison. He is reported to have entered the US legally in 2021 under Joe Biden, before breaching the terms of his admission.

Chile is the only South American state that belongs to the USs visa waiver programme, which allows citizens to enter for 90 days  although it is unclear if Mr Leiva made use of this.

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The New York Post reports he belonged to a large robbery organisation operating on the East Coast, although this is not mentioned in court documents.

Authorities place him in Washington, DC, on April 12 this year, where he is said to have removed a womans purse from the back of her chair while she was eating in a Nandos restaurant, using his jacket to conceal it on his way out.

He allegedly acted alongside a second individual who blocked the theft from view.

The pair then apparently went to a Safeway supermarket, where Mr Leivas alleged accomplice is said to have bought a 377 ($500) gift card using the womans credit card.

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Five days later, Mr Leiva had re-appeared at DCs downtown Westin Hotel, where he allegedly walked in with a coat hanging over his left arm, brushing past the chair where a woman was eating with her family  and swiping her purse in the process.

Ms Noem branded Mr Leiva a career criminal - Alex Brandon

On his way there, at the Dolcezza coffee shop a block away, he appears to have removed an object  the size of a wallet or purse, investigators said  from a tan shoulder bag.

He is then said to have returned to the Safeway and made two purchases: a 9 ($12) bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, and ten minutes later, a 300 ($400) gift card.

On April 19 he appeared in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he called the police and reported that he had been sleeping on a bench when he was robbed by five men, saying they had taken his bag containing over 755 ($1,000) in cash and Chilean passport.

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Officers noted that he was somewhat un-cooperative and smelled strongly of alcohol.

On April 20, Kristi Noem took her family, including her grandchildren, out for dinner at Capital Burger, a restaurant located roughly halfway between the White House and US Capitol.

The homeland security secretary had 2,270 ($3,000) in cash in her handbag, which she intended to use to pay for the meal.

[Ms Noems] entire family was in town including her children and grandchildren  she was using the withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts, a DHS spokesperson said after the incident.

Ms Noem had taken her family out for a meal when the theft occurred

It is unclear whether Mr Leiva, had he been in the restaurant, would have recognised Ms Noem had he been in Capital Burger, or realised two of the men sat at the bar near her table were plainclothes Secret Service officers.

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Prosecutors do not allege he targeted her because she is the face of Donald Trumps immigration crackdown,

Instead, authorities allege it was Ms Noems Gucci shoulder bag that caught his eye.

Frankly, it was a nice-looking purse, Ed Martin, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, later told NBC News.

Referencing to CCTV footage of the incident, he added: This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out.

The relatively upmarket restaurant  its flagship burger, which boasts caramelised onions, Gruyere cheese and shallot aioli, costs 17 ($23)  is dimly lit with tables set close together.

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Mr Leiva is said to have edged his chair towards the homeland security secretary, twisted his body to the left, and used his leg to edge the bag towards him before scooping it up and leaving abruptly.

He reportedly told police that he disposed of most of the contents of the bag, which included Ms Noems driving licence, government identification card, medication and keys, but kept her purse and the 2,270 ($3,000) she had inside.

He then apparently boarded a bus to an Italian restaurant, where he spent more than 151 ($200) on food and drink with her credit cards, leaving both the bag and purse in full view of a security camera as he sat at the bar.

Authorities shared a picture of a man with Ms Noems bag in a bar after the theft

Mr Leiva then allegedly headed outside and is said to have fallen asleep at one of the restaurants tables until 7.30am the following morning.

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Police later arrested him at a Motel 6 in northern Washington, roughly a 35-minute bus ride from Capital Burger.

According to documents submitted to DCs US district court, Mr Leiva admitted to stealing Ms Noems bag but could not remember the other offences, citing memory loss caused by alcoholism.

Staff at a Quality Inn had told authorities that he had drunkenly argued with a shift manager who had asked him to return to his room.

Soon after his arrest he was transferred to hospital after complaining of alcohol withdrawal, according to the court filing.

He has been charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and robbery in connection with the three thefts.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  The Virginia Division of Certificate of Public Need (DCOPN) approved Carilion Clinics application to start a kidney transplant program. On top of being the regions only level one trauma center, this will make Carilion have the regions only organ transplant program as well.

During the application process, Carilion garnered a lot of local public support for this, and it was grateful for that.

They, more than anyone, recognized the need for this kind of service, David Salzberg, the director of the new program, said. For renal and kidney transplant service in this area.

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The closest transplant center for many people around Roanoke is in Charlottesville. and some may have to drive even farther for treatment, which could complicate care and result in longer waitlist times.

Carilion Clinic requests new Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in Roanoke

Salzberg believes this new program will provide easier access for everyone in the region.

When they get that call for a kidney, many people here have trouble getting to clinic in the middle of the day on a regular day, when were here in Roanoke, he said. Imagine having to go six hours in the middle of the night, so we hope to end that crisis.

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According to Salzberg, between 5,000 and 6,000 people in southwestern Virginia have or are close to kidney failure, and he believes that number could triple over the next decade.

He said the program plans to meet that demand.

Thats the intent, yes, Salzberg said. We will work as hard as possible to make sure that we are an all-access center.

The clinic is expected to launch sometime next year. It will be located in the neurology building, while surgeries will take place at the hospital.

It also plans to launch a second clinic in the New River Valley.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) visited our morning shows to discuss his busy agenda. This Friday morning, the senator will meet with officials from Louisiana Economic Development and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership to discuss the future of the former Dr. Reddys Laboratories site in Shreveport.

The goal is to find a new company to take over the facility and manufacture medicine there. The governor says this move supports President Donald Trumps wish to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back from China and India to the United States.

If youre going to reboot it, put it in the boot. If we already have that manufacturing site, can we get that going once more? Im meeting with local leaders; how can we use that initiative with local assets to recreate economic development here in Northwest Louisiana. says Senator Cassidy.

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He also touched on the presidents first 100 days in office, saying the first 30 days were fantastic, as Mr. Trump made moves to shut down the wave of illegal immigration coming across the southern border.

He says that when it comes to Louisiana, in particular, the president will focus on energy dominance.

Bill Cassidy leads Louisiana Senate race, new poll shows

Energy dominance is Louisianas strong suit. We are an energy state, and I think its going to create a lot of jobs in northwest Louisiana, Cassidy explains.

Senator Cassidy has also introduced legislation to strengthen power grid resiliency, an effort that President Trump supports and that has been shown to be important after recent power outages.

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Somebody is on a home ventilator and the electricity goes off, they better have a generator, and a lot of families cant afford that generator. But also, if youre going to set up a business someplace, youre not going to set up a data center if youre concerned about the electricity going out. So, youve got to have a hardened grid for the family, for the person and for your economic development, says Cassidy.

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VATICAN CITY  The new American pope received a very American reception in Vatican City.

USA! USA! USA! chanted a boisterous group of young clergymen dressed in long black cassocks, pogoing in the center of St. Peters Square.

The square  often a place for calm and prayer  felt more like a sporting event or a rock concert Thursday after the Vatican conclave chose Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to be the next pope, making him the first American-born head of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Americans in Vatican City expressed exultation, pride and surprise  stunned surprise  all rolled into one.

I am shocked, said Joe Brodeur, 27, a deacon from Providence, Rhode Island. I am feeling so much joy, thats all I can say.

Sean Sikora, second left, and Cole Wendling, center, Americans from Texas, celebrate in Vatican City after the election of Pope Leo XIV was announced Thursday. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

In truth, the first emotion that swept this part of the square was confusion.

Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced the result in Latin. The 40,000 people assembled in the square got the habemus papam bit  we have a pope  which elicited more cheers. But the actual name was swallowed up by the din.

Who did they say? a person asked over the clamor. Did he say Robert Sarah? wondered someone else, referring to the Guinean cardinal well regarded by bookmakers beforehand.

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Soon Prevost's name began rippling through the crowd.

E lamericano, an Italian said.

Most Americans felt a rush of pride  though few had actually heard of the new pontiff.

Im ecstatic, said Alec Maddox, 32, a consultant who lives in San Diego, although he and his two brothers, Tommy, 30, and Jack, 28, admitted they didnt know too much about the new Pope Leo XIV, either.

Brothers Tommy, Jack and Alec Maddox, all from the United States, celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square on Thursday. (Alexander Smith / NBC News)

We would like someone who is doctrinally oriented and who doesnt want to change that doctrine, said Tommy Maddox, hinting at the more traditionalist, conservative wing of Catholicism, which had been critical of some of the late Pope Francis more progressive pronouncements.

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Like his brothers, Tommy Maddox is originally from Utah. He's studying for an MBA at the University of Pennsylvania. Well have to do some more reading on him, thats for sure, said Jack Maddox, 28, who is based in Georgia and about to leave the Army to train to become an architect.

They will learn about a pope widely considered a moderate, who has previously indicated that, like his predecessor, he favors a pastoral approach over doctrinal dogma.

Rebecca Tabiani, 48, likes the sound of what she has heard about Pope Leo. But Tabiani, a New Jersey native now living in Rome, is disappointed with the decision, agreeing with the long-held belief within the Vatican that the United States holds too much power as it is.

I dont like the message it sends to the world, said Tabiani, who works in forestry. I think it should have gone elsewhere, because as an American living abroad, I am ashamed of whats going at home right now.

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Others expressed more balanced views.

People wait for the smoke signaling the result of the cardinals' vote at St. Peter's Square on the second day of the conclave in Vatican City on Thursday. (Filippo Monteforte / AFP - Getty Images)

People wait for the smoke signaling the result. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images)

I was certainly surprised  he was not on my list, said Matthew Laferty, 39, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome. Originally from Crestline, Ohio, he is in charge of his Protestant organizations relationship with the Catholic Church. I think the choice shows there was probably some compromise among the cardinals.

The Americans joy seemed to be felt by most people inside the square regardless of nationality, whether they were the people holding up a giant Lebanese flag or the Brazilian clergyman riding on a friends shoulders, draped in the Brazilian flag, making peace signs with both hands.

Thousands of miles to the west in New York City, television news cameras lined the sidewalk in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the iconic midtown Manhattan Catholic church.

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Alura Marini, 60, was at Mass at St. Patrick's when the new pope was announced. Marini said the church started playing "The Star-Spangled Banner," prompting churchgoers to erupt.

I said: Woah! I put my hand to my heart and said: The new pope is American? Marini said, who comes to St. Patricks every day,

Marini said she hopes Leo will emulate the late Pope Francis, who is popular among progressive-leaning Catholic New Yorkers.

"I hope the pope will embrace everybody, no discrimination in any way," she said. "Embrace everybody the way they come."

Maria Andrade, 58, said that over the last three to four years, she has seen more events at her church, St. Patrick's Cathedral, targeted at younger Catholics. She said the selection of Leo gives her faith that the trend she has seen in recent years will continue.

Americans react after newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, addressed the crowd from the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images)

"I see a revival, and I see it in New York City, of people looking for faith," she said. "This could be a really good message for the young people, and people who are just looking for spiritual guidance, to have a pope who's from the U.S."

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Lesesne Hudson, 78, who was visiting relatives in New York from Charleston, South Carolina, said she, too, was optimistic.

"A lot of those people had fallen away by the wayside because of the pedophilia that was going on with the priests," she said. "Hopefully we've taken care of a lot of that, but it left a big black mark in a lot of young Catholics' minds."

"Francis did a lot to bring those people back into the church, and I'm hoping Pope Leo XIV will do even more to bring them back," she added.

Alexander Smith reported from Vatican City and Matthew Lavietes from New York City.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
For the first time in the Catholic Churchs history, an American, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, was elected as the newest Pope.

Channel 11s Andrew Havranek spoke with Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik after Pope Leo XIV was introduced to the world.

What was your initial reaction to finding out? Havranek asked.

Shock. In fact, we were involved in a meeting and when the announcement came, everybody started laughing at me because they said youre really shocked! Zubik said. And I was shocked because I believed that taboo that an American could never be elected as pope.

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Zubik said he wasnt surprised a pope was elected so early in the conclave process, because Wednesdays first vote seemed to take a long time.

But he said he feels the cardinals took a clear path for the church.

It seems to me that the cardinals chose the surprise choice, Zubik said. It seems to me theres a clear indication they thought it was well to continue the legacy of Pope Francis.

Before being elected pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost was a missionary with dual citizenship in the USA and Peru. He was born in Chicago in 1955, and was even a graduate of Villanova University  right here in Pennsylvania.

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Thats really exciting, Zubik said. I have a grand niece who is in Villanova now and she texted me and said do you think hell come and speak at my graduation?

Havranek asked Zubik what impact the first pope from the United States will have on the Catholic Church here at home.

Im gonna guess maybe not as major as we think, and Ill say that for this reason, he did not say anything in English, Zubik said. He spoke in a language that would be common for popes to speak, and I think he wanted to give the clear message, I think, by not speaking English, that hes a pope for the entire church.

And while the bishop said we will learn more about Pope Leo XIVs agenda in the coming days, weeks, and months, there is some indication of the direction he will lead based on his papal name.

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We can learn a lot from the name that he chose. Leo XIII was one of the greatest popes, Zubik said. It says something about the need to make sure that we not only pay attention to, but really respond and serve people who societys put on the fringes.

Bishop Zubik also said he wouldnt be surprised if many parents at baptism and those being confirmed in the church choose the name Leo in the coming years.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Pope Leo XIV was introduced Thursday, sending shockwaves through the world as hes the first American pope, from Chicago, and an underdog in the election.

Father Joseph Lubrano, a priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Huntsville, said Pope Leo was not even on his radar.

Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV

My first reaction was surprise, Lubrano said. I really did not expect, you know, an American to be considered pope. Im just ecstatic and happy. I think thats great. I think were overdue. In all the people that were placed on the list of whos going to be the next, he wasnt even mentioned. And, very honestly, I really didnt know much about him.

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Lubrano said that lack of knowledge stems from Pope Leos extensive ministry career in other countries besides the United States. He said Leo spent a third of his time ministering in Peru and another third in Rome.

Nonetheless, Lubrano is excited about the election.

What impressed me about him is he has worked with world leaders and will help steer the church, Lubrano said.

New art installation set to open in downtown Huntsville

Growing up, Pope Leo XIV went by Robert Prevost. It is tradition in the Catholic Church to select a new name if elected to become the pope. Lubrano said this is because one is taking on a new identity in such an important role.

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Leo XIII had written some letters supporting the Catholic community in the United States, way back when, Lubrano said. It was appropriate for him to take Leo and be the 14th.

News 19 spoke with Catholic leaders in the city where Pope Leo grew up: Chicago.

Deacon Michael Penich said he is full of joy, along with the world.

Hes a kind person, hes a humble person, Penich said. The good thing is, you know, he has a good feeling for the entire world, not just the United States.

Penich added that Pope Leos intent to mirror the actions of Pope Francis gives him even more hope.

I would hope that the Catholic Church will continue in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who once wanted to, and did, welcome everyone, Penich said. And I think thats a significant thing, that if the church is going to continue to thrive, we have to be a church thats open to all people.

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The jury is still out on whether or not Pope Leo is a Chicago White Sox or a Chicago Cubs fan. The pontiffs brother came out Thursday to say he roots for the White Sox, as he grew up in White Sox territory. Deacon Penich told News 19 he heard the pope is a Cubs fan.

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CHICAGO  Robert Francis Prevost was elected the new pope Thursday. Pope Leo XVI as he is now known was born in Chicago in 1955.

He attended grade school at the Old St. Mary Catholic School in Chicago, which is now closed.

Decades ago, Prevost returned to his hometown of Chicago and the Catholic Theological Union.

Prevost earned his Masters in Divinity there in 1982.

Who is Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV?

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Those who have followed in his footsteps here said they are thrilled to see an Augustinian leading the church.

I will confess I never dreamed we would be having this conversation, Sister Barbara Reid, president of Chicago Catholic Theological Union said.

More Coverage of Chicagos Pope

The Hyde Park building across the street from where the present-day Catholic Theological Union is located if where a Prevost earned his masters.

Later on, he was assigned to Peru, where the Augustinian priest, who is fluent in multiple languages, developed a world-wide view of the modern church.

Faculty, staff and students gathered for a watch party Thursday and were thrilled to witness the historic moment .when the new pope walked out on the balcony at St. Peters Square.

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Augustinian Brother Frank Connor said he hope the new pope can held the world racked by war and conflict.

Having a great pope from here in Chicago in the United States can really speak to that and help people in a big way, he said.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  In the nations capital, the bells chimed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, next to Catholic University.

There was a Mass set to start with the monsignor announcing the new pope, sending those gathered into cheers.

PHOTOS: New pope elected on Day 2 of voting

That excitement among Catholics is felt all around our region. Few could ever imagine a cardinal from the U.S. would be picked.

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Even Monsignor Walter Rossi was surprised.

I said, Oh my God, an American Pope! And the person I was with said, You said it would never happen. I said, well, I guess I was wrong, said Monsignor Walter Rossi.

Rossi said Pope Leo XIV has been to D.C. before.

When he was appointed cardinal two years ago by Pope Francis, he actually stopped here at the Shrine on his way to Rome to celebrate mass, Rossi said. That was my first time meeting him. And at that moment he was gracious, kind and a little bit shy.

There was excitement among a group from Columbus, Ohio, on an eighth-grade field trip to the basilica.

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A guy from Chicago, the big city of Chicago, is now the pope of the world, and so its a neat experience and I want to enjoy that today, said visitor Jeff Uhlenhake.

I hope that he can kind of just relate to all those in America, just because hes from here, said Noah Phillips.

It was really thought-provoking because he might have grown up in the same conditions that we grew up in, so he can really connect more on the people and bring more people to our faith, said Kamani Phillips.

Rossi said Pope Leo XIV is American by birth but international by life, and will carry forward the legacy of Pope Leo XIII

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A pope for the people, a pope for the marginalized, a pope for those who are in need, a pope for those who are poor, Rossi said.

Rossi hopes the pope will make a trip to D.C., but said that might take a couple of years.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Yellow and white bunting hung from The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Thursday, celebrating the election of a new Pope.

Robert Francis Prevost was elected the new leader of the Catholic Church and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

Prevost is the first American Pope in the Churchs history.

New pope is selected, first American ever

I heard hes American! And hes from Chicago! I dont know anything about him, said Elaine Samson, who was at the Basilica Thursday.

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Samson was touring the Basilica with a friend visiting from out of town. The two just happened to be at Mass when the announcement was made.

I think a lot of people were expecting someone from maybe Africa or Asia, this was a complete surprise. Im so excited to learn more about him, she said. We really hope he brings a strong presence and advocates on behalf of Christians, Catholics and Christians all over the world.

This is something our students will remember forever, said Amy Wilson, principal at St. Rock Catholic School in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Her eighth-grade class is visiting D.C. on a field trip. They were also at mass when the announcement was made.

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Right before the mass started, the Monsignor came out and told us there was white smoke. There was jumping up and down and clapping, she said.

It was just thrilling, said Mary Ann Chamberlain, a teacher with the school. You think of all the tradition thats behind what goes into choosing the Pope and how he comes out.

The group of teachers is hopeful Pope Leo will visit the United States one day, given his connection to the country.

Hes American! They just said it will never happen, it just breaks tradition, said Susie Jordan, a teacher on the trip. Im hoping he will visit America because he is from Chicago! That would be wonderful.

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HARARE, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government on Friday expressed deep concern over the sharp rise in malaria cases across the country, with cases increasing by 180 percent in the first 17 weeks of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

"From Week 1 to Week 17, cumulative malaria cases have increased by 180 percent, rising from 21,309 in 2024 to 59,647 in 2025. Malaria-related deaths have also increased by 218 percent, from 45 in 2024 to 143 in 2025," the Ministry of Health and Child Care said in a statement.

The health ministry attributed the increase to a combination of environmental and behavioral factors.

"Increased rainfall, humidity, and temperatures have created favorable conditions for mosquito breeding. At the same time, more people are engaging in outdoor activities such as artisanal mining, farming, tobacco curing, and cross-border trading, particularly from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active," said the ministry.

"Many of these activities take place in remote areas where access to health services is limited, leading to delays in treatment and an increase in fatalities," it added.

The health ministry reminded the public that the country is currently in a high malaria transmission period and urged those experiencing malaria symptoms, such as fever, chills, and sweating, to seek testing and treatment within 24 hours from their nearest health facility. 
DES PLAINES, Ill.  Chicago-area Catholics continued to pray and give thanks for the selection of Pope Leo.

Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected Thursday as the first American pope. Prevost was born in the Chicago area.

More: Robert Prevost named Pope Leo XIV

Many faithful flocked to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines Thursday after hearing the news.

Shrine staff says theyre weekly mass will go on as at 7 p.m. WGNs Christine Flores was at the shrine and got reaction from those who came by

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Catholics in the Harrisburg Diocese are overjoyed at the election of the first American pope.

A mass of celebration is underway at St. Patricks Cathedral in Harrisburg today to mark Pope Leo XIVs election. Robert Prevost is the first American pope, and while he was born in Chicago, he has a connection to Pennsylvania.

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Prevost graduated from Villanova in 1977, which many Midstate residents attended, or know someone who attended.

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The celebration of the new pope kicks off at noon at St. Patricks Cathedral in Harrisburg.

It makes it seem like hes a hometown boy to me. And thats quite exciting and quite energizing for the church in Pennsylvania, said Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation Maria Gallagher.

Bishop Timothy Senior of the Harrisburg Catholic Diocese, who is from the Philadelphia suburbs, joked that this may be the first pope who has ever been to a Wawa, and that he hopes the new pope will be a unifier.

He said he channels (Pope) Francis in his teaching. I think that with that as his as his guide, I think he also has the opportunity now to perhaps apply that teaching that vision in a fresh way and in a way which I think might also address some of the rifts that are in the church. Frankly, I hope that he will again be a unifier, Bishop Senior said.

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ST. PETERS, Mo.  A wave of retail thefts is costing local businesses thousands and putting public safety at risk.

One recent example is video from March 22 that the St. Peters Police Department wants you to see. Two men inside Kohls grab armfuls of clothing. Youll notice a unique hand tattoo on one man wearing glasses and wavy hair under the hood of the other suspect.

They ended up stealing about $1,500 worth of clothing, Sgt. Melissa Doss, St. Peters Police Department, said. They just stuff bags full of mens clothing.

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Outside video shows their getaway car, with someone you cannot see driving a white newer model Dodge Durango.

It could lead to a violent encounter, and we dont want that in our area, Doss said.

The National Retail Federation reports a 93% increase in retail theft since 2019  with losses for a single St. Louis store exceeding $30,000 in less than a year.

For some small businesses this is sink or swim, Jim Whyte, Central West End Security Initiative, said. His group is tracking a wave of thefts from Lululemon  including one that happened the day we interviewed him.

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Two cases struck within three days recently; young women grabbing as much as they can and leaving. One case involved a suspect throwing the alleged stolen clothing into the getaway cars back broken out window.

They think its a joke until theyre sitting in circuit court with felony charges, Whyte said.

Stealing more than $750 in Missouri is a felony, a threshold surpassed repeatedly recently at Lululemon. In a statement to FOX 2, the athleisure wear company said, Lululemon is honored to be in St. Louis, where weve built a strong community of guests, ambassadors, and team members. The safety and well-being of that community is a top priority for us. We take retail crime very seriously, using advanced technologies and investigatory techniques to help address these incidents. Our commitment to St. Louis is to be an active and responsive community partner. We actively work alongside local law enforcement and our retail peers to build cases that lead to arrests and prosecutions.

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Police in St. Louis City have issued multiple wanted statements on Lululemon cases, like the five people police say stole $3,200 in clothing last month.

Police and prosecutors announced several others were charged last week for Lululemon thefts. Amaia Hamilton, Heaven Brooks, Dorothy Keys, and Evan Pitts were all charged on May 1 and May 2.

Were just scratching the surface here and perhaps creating a regional response to this, Whyte said.

Whyte believes they need to up the response, as thieves have grown so brazen theyre selling items online with security tags.

She just took the bag, Mark Coulter, Christophers in Kirkwood, said, describing someone walk right up to his surveillance camera to steal. We account for it in our accounting, that we would love to not have to, but its part of life.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Over 100 grams of fentanyl hidden in a 40-year-old womans genitalia were seized on Wednesday, May 7, at the Paso Del Norte international crossing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release.

CBP said that on Wednesday morning, CBP officers selected a pedestrian, a U.S. female citizen, for a secondary exam.

During the inspection, the woman told officers she had a foreign object concealed in her body, CBP said.

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CBP said the woman was taken to a medical facility for an exam, which confirmed the presence of an object internally concealed.

Medical staff successfully removed the drug-filled package, which contained 113 grams of fentanyl. No additional anomalies were spotted during a subsequent exam, CBP said.

CBP said the woman was returned to the port of entry, where she was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face federal charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.

This is an exceptionally dangerous practice and could be lethal if the packaging were to fail during transport, CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio said. It is best to not engage in smuggling activity, but especially this form. It is risky on many levels.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists, working at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso, seized nearly 300 pounds of prohibited pork products this week, CBP announced in a news release.

Agriculture specialists seized 25 large rolls of prohibited pork bologna, two packages of pork ham, and 16 rolls of pork chorizo on Thursday, May 8, CBP said.

Photos courtesy of CBP

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The discovery was made just before 8 p.m. when a 61-year-old male presented himself for inspection in the vehicle lanes at the port of entry. After obtaining a negative declaration for fruits, vegetables, and meat products, a CBP officer at the primary booth spotted multiple rolls of meat under the floor mats, CBP said in its news release.

The driver was referred for a secondary agriculture inspection. During the secondary exam, CBP agriculture specialists located 275 pounds of bologna, 17.6 pounds of pork ham, and 7 pounds of pork chorizo hidden in various locations in the vehicle, CBP said.

The prohibited pork products were seized and destroyed by CBP, per U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations.

The seizure marks the second time the individual was caught attempting to smuggle pork bologna from Mexico to the U.S. at the El Paso port of entry. The man was previously assessed a $1,000 penalty after CBP agriculture specialists discovered 30 rolls of bologna in the vehicle he was driving, CBP said.

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It is important that members of the traveling public clearly understand that pork products have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases to the U.S. The impact to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry could be devastating, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector A. Mancha said.

Travelers should not try to cross pork products from Mexico to the U.S. If they are unsure, it is best for travelers to declare any items acquired abroad to help CBP stop the introduction of potentially harmful products, Mancha said.

The smuggling case is being referred to USDA Investigative and Enforcement Services who enforce alleged violations related to animal and plant issues, CBP said.

CBP is also exploring civil penalties which may be applied.

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The USDA and the Department of Homeland Security are partners in the effort to protect American agriculture against the introduction of pests and diseases at our nations ports of entry. Undeclared prohibited agriculture items will be confiscated and can result in a civil penalty for failure to declare, the news release said.

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By Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) - Efforts towards securing an agreed ceasefire in Ukraine are moving in the right direction, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Friday, shortly after speaking with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Finland's Stubb was speaking after holding two conversations in the last 24 hours with Zelenskiy and one with Trump, as fighting continued on the ground.

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"I feel carefully optimistic that at this particular moment in time, we're moving in the right direction, both militarily on the ground, as Zelenskiy has pointed out, and also in terms of the ceasefire and the peace process," Stubb told a press conference with his Norwegian counterpart and after a meeting of Northern European nations' leaders in Oslo.

"We can't give a timetable now, but in an ideal world a Ukraine ceasefire would be declared over the weekend."

Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere initiated the phone call with Trump late on Thursday, after speaking with Ukraine's Zelenskiy earlier in the day.

They had again spoken to Zelenskiy on Friday, alongside leaders of other Nordic nations, Britain, the Baltics and the Dutch defence minister.

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Norway's Stoere appeared somewhat more cautious on progress.

"It depends, as always, with what do we compare," Stoere told Reuters.

"So compared to some weeks ago, I think there are some positive elements. I think the fact that the U.S. are still engaged, that they reconfirmed their engagement - if you read the wording of President Trump yesterday evening, I think we contributed to that."

Russia has unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire running from May 8-10 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

Trump on Thursday called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, warning that Washington and its partners would impose further sanctions if the ceasefire was not respected.

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Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal.

On the ground, both sides reported fighting.

Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, while Ukraine's military said there had been 80 attacks by Russian troops along the front line on Friday.

(This story has been corrected to clarify the participants in Friday's call, in paragraph 6)

(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche, editing by Terje Solsvik and Alex Richardson)
The New York Police Department continues to search for a male suspect, who stole jewelry from the Title of Work store in downtown Manhattan.

A man entered the store at 57 Orchard Street around 10:30 a.m. on April 18 and started removing property and placing it into his pockets, according to the NYPD. When approached by an employee, the suspect displayed a knife and pointed it at him, before fleeing on foot northbound on Orchard Street.

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Video footage of the incident that has been circulating online in recent days shows Title of Works owner Jonathan Meizler confronting the thief, and at one point blocking the stores entrance before the thief ran down the street. Meizler said Thursday that he had been standing outside of his store talking to a neighboring business owner when he saw the suspect pass by and enter the store. The designer said he immediately clocked him as sketchy, reentered the store and saw him take $3,000 worth of necklaces. NYPD confirmed that figure Thursday.

Meizler said he told the suspect to drop the necklaces, but he refused to, which led to Meizler manhandling him. At one point, the suspect showed that he had a knife so Meizler backed away and the thief ran down the street. Meizler said he chased the man for 10 or 15 blocks, while shouting Thief! Call the police. The storeowner claimed that four strangers did, as did he as he ran after the suspect. He also claimed that he warned that the suspect had a knife.

Recalling how he was dressed in all black and wearing black sunglasses as if he were part of SWAT, the founder said, It was like a scene from a movie. I was like, I cant believe this is happening.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made, as the investigation remains ongoing, according to NYPD.

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Title of Work is a 12-year-old sustainability-minded jewelry brand that has been worn by Tom Cruise, Robert Pattinson and other celebrities. The store has been located on Orchard Street for the past seven years. Based and made in New York, the brand has developed a following for its day-in-the-life style campaign with personalities like pro motorcycle racer Joe Robert, the band Quarters of Change, and model Betsy Gaghan and her musician partner Jasper Harris.

Betsy Gaghan and Jasper Harris

After the incident, the founder said he sent surveillance video footage and other imagery via WhatsApp with a group of Lower East Side stores that keep each other abreast of any shoplifting in the area. That has become a practice with some independent boutique owners that have been targeted by shoplifters in the past few years.

Joe Robert

The 61-year-old Meizler, who said he is not a runner, estimated that the suspect was half his age. He said he responded the way he did, due to all the adrenaline kicked in. The designer said, Im not a big guy. Im just under 6 foot, but Im strong. I just had to stop him from taking the jewelry. Its just not right.

During the pursuit of the suspect, a good Samaritan intervened and the suspect dropped his cell phone. After picking it up, Meizler said he told the offender to give him the jewelry in exchange for the cell phone, but he did not. The storeowner said that when the thief refused to with a look of desperation, he felt a little bit empathetic for him. It spoke volumes for where were at right now, Meizler said.

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The Title of Work owner has not heard from any of its high-profile clients and the store has not seen an increase in shoppers due to the media coverage. But Meizler said he has been asked why he would chase a knife-wielding thief who was half his age. It was just a violation. I dont like to be violated, he said.

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A sizable portion of the senior population is vulnerable to scams, and scammers exploit that vulnerability and come up with a wide array of schemes to rob them blind. Once the money has been taken, recourse is often limited, and recovery is typically rare. Therefore, awareness and prevention of their tactics are the focus. Benjamin Franklin wisely said, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention is key!

Scammers have some new tricks, but often resort to familiar ones. They love to call their victims. Some of their common catch phrases on the phone may be Act now! or Dont trust anyone. Theyre in on it. They want to pressure the senior to not think but to react quickly. The scammer wants to prevent their target from talking to someone who might recognize the ongoing fraudulent activity.

More: Oklahoma legislation would help victims of scammers | Opinion

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In an article for the National Center on Aging, Jessica Johnston, senior director of the Center for Economic Well-Being, said: Fraudsters and con artists tend to go after older adults because they believe this population has plenty of money in the bank. Plus, many people are embarrassed to report financial scams. And they can be tough to prosecute. Criminals, therefore, consider them low-risk. However, these scams can be especially devastating for older adults whose ability to recover their losses may be limited.

Scammers are always updating their schemes, so we must update our knowledge to be able to combat their attacks and bring them to a halt. A common scam tactic to be aware of is the Grandparent Scam, Johnston said, where the caller appeals to the emotions and tricks the senior to volunteer personal information, often posing as a grandchild. The grandchild usually asks for financial help with late rent, car repairs, or medical emergencies, for example.

An increasing number of financial scams involving the use of cellphones are being reported across the nation.

I would recommend that family members establish a code word that only your closest family members know. This would provide a layer of protection for your family, especially senior members, to know when requests for financial help are legitimate or not.

An updated scam is the Tech support scam. These scams exploit the unfamiliarity that seniors can have regarding technology. Tech support scams are some of the most common fraud committed against seniors.

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Johnston describes the scam this way: Typically, a persons computer or phone screen will freeze or go blank. A pop-up message will appear with a phone number to dial for help. When the user calls it, the scammer on the other end will ask for permission to log on to the device remotely. This fake 'tech support' representative may also demand a fee to repair the issue.

Also very concerning is the fact that scams are now often initiated through text messages. Perhaps you recently received one from Pikepass giving a final warning that tolls remain unpaid. It threatened immediate suspension of the vehicle registration by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, a court judgment, legal collection, damage to credit scores and public driving record, with the possible vehicle impoundment if found operating while suspended. It is full of alarming language that uses fear tactics to get victims to click on the link to resolve this so-called problem.

More: With dementia, a lighthearted approach is best for family caregivers | Opinion

Do NOT click on any links sent via text or email that you're not expecting. They are likely part of a scam. Report suspicious links to Reportfraud.ftc.gov immediately, so information can be passed on to raise awareness to other users.

Another scheme to watch for

A friend recently told me about a scam tactic. She and her senior mother were walking out of a Walmart and were approached by a woman asking if she could use my friends mothers phone to call her husband. She claimed she was trying to locate him in the parking lot. It was a busy Saturday morning, so it seemed like a reasonable request. However, my friend had recently seen a story on the local news about people claiming an emergency or important need to use someones cellphone to make a call for help. Ultimately, the person making the call made their way on the cellphone to the victims financial apps (CashApp, Venmo or PayPal, etc.), and the scammer managed to send $200 to themselves from this victims phone.

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Remembering this story, my friend politely but firmly denied the woman the use of her mothers cellphone, and rather said she would dial her husbands phone number. The woman seemed a bit flustered but quickly gave them a number to dial. It rang one time, then the woman suddenly claimed to see her husband in the parking lot and ran off to him. My friend ended the call, and she and her mother watched the woman run out into the parking lot and aimlessly wander around. It seemed no one was there to meet her. My friend was fairly convinced that what had transpired was an attempt to scam her mother out of money.

No one should hand their phone over to anyone to use. Instead, offer to dial the number for them. Also, be sure to set up passwords or a PIN for all of your financial apps. This will block anyone who uses your phone from having access to your bank account, credit cards, or financial information.

Banks are heavily involved in fraud and scam prevention for their customers. Their employees are trained to spot fraud in action and have developed strategies to interrupt and terminate a scammers plan in action. Establish a relationship with your bank representatives for another level of financial protection.

Sadly, seniors are often easy targets for a variety of reasons. Many are still very trusting and find it difficult to believe someone could be so cold-hearted to lie to them and steal a portion of or possibly their total life savings. We must remain vigilant to disrupt scams and eventually end the harassment of our seniors by scammers and fraudsters.

Robin Gunn

Robin R. Gunn is publisher, editor and radio host of the Oklahoma Senior Journal Radio (celebrating its 32nd year) and cofounder of the secondhalfexpo.com. She can be reached at rgunn@okseniorjournal.com.

Conference to offer advice

An excellent way to learn how to combat fraud and scams would be to attend the upcoming Fraud Prevention Conference sponsored by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office and Oklahoma City Police Department. Expert speakers from local and national organizations will present the latest statistics and trends in existing and emerging scams.

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This three-day conference will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 13, 20, and 27 at the Metro Tech District Center. Each day, they will cover informative topics such as Protecting yourself in this digital landscape, Combating elder exploitation, abuse, and neglect, and Recovery and Resources. You can register at metrotech.edu/FraudPrevention. Attendance can be in-person or virtually.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Be on alert for cellphone scams targeting seniors | Opinion
LORETTO, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Senators constitutional powers include proposing legislation, drafting or amending bills and filibustering. They serve a six-year term.

However, every year, dozens of students get to skip the election process and jump right into action as a Senator. Its for Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.s (R-35th) Senator for a Day Program.

Its good to allow who really are the future leaders of, you know, our state and our nation, the opportunity to see the legislative process up close and firsthand. They may see or hear on the news that a bill was passed. But this really shows everything that comes together. So much involved in the process, so many competing interests and so many different viewpoints that ultimately result in the crafting of the law. And its good for them to see it, you know, hands-on, Langerholc Jr. said.

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Thursdays event was held at Saint Francis University in the JFK Student Center Auditorium. Eighty-four students from nine schools were in attendance.

Cambria County school officials discuss shortage; student teacher stipend

The program began with an overview of how the legislative process works. Student senators then divided into Senate committees to discuss bills, take positions and draft bills for the full Senate, their peers, to consider.

Im really excited about my committee. Im on state government committee. Last year I was education, and that was really interesting. You always feel nervous going into the committee meetings, but then you realize you have so much more to say than you originally thought, Ivy Peterman, a Senior at Westmont Hilltop Junior-Senior High School, said.

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Ivy plans to study Communications and Political Science when she goes to college, in hopes of becoming a publicist for a politician in the future.

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Former and current legislators, as well as lobbyists were also at the event.

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BERLIN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Germany's manufacturing sector, long a cornerstone of Europe's largest economy, is being rattled by a fresh wave of U.S. tariffs, with small and mid-sized exporters sounding the alarm over rising costs, squeezed margins and growing uncertainty.

At Tornado Antriebstechnik GmbH, a mid-sized gearbox manufacturer located north of Berlin, production lines remain active. In 2024, the company shipped 160,000 custom units, with about 15 percent destined for the United States. But recent tariff hikes have disrupted that flow, increasing cross-border costs and complicating investment planning.

"We simply can't absorb these costs indefinitely," said General Manager Norbert Mensing, noting that the company has been forced to pass some of the burden onto customers. "We had planned to grow in the U.S. market, but now we're heading in the other direction."

Despite operating a U.S. subsidiary, Tornado has seen several key components subjected to steep tariffs, significantly inflating overall production costs. The company's U.S. expansion plans are now on hold.

"Due to the unpredictable shifts in U.S. trade policy, we are considering scaling back our American operations and refocusing our investments domestically," Mensing explained.

Tornado's predicament reflects broader unease among German manufacturers, many of whom cite erratic trade policies as a major threat to stability. The latest tariffs, billed by the Trump administration as "reciprocal," have added new friction to long-established transatlantic supply chains. While intended to address trade imbalances, the tariffs have in fact heightened uncertainty and dampened investment appetite, German firms argued.

SQUEEZED MARGINS, DEFERRED GROWTH

Germany's export-driven economy remains highly vulnerable to external shocks. While industrial giants like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have the flexibility to shift production across global sites, smaller manufacturers like Tornado have far fewer options to absorb the impact.

The concerns extend across Germany's manufacturing heartland. The country is home to a vast ecosystem of "hidden champions" -- small and mid-sized enterprises that excel in niche global markets. These firms have flourished thanks to precision engineering, long-term strategic planning, and reliable cross-border supply chains.

For many of these companies, sweeping U.S. tariff hikes and increasingly unpredictable trade policies are more than just hits to profitability -- they are shaking the foundations of the global production and sourcing systems these firms rely on to remain competitive.

Hermann Simon, the economist who coined the term "hidden champions," said modern tariffs are no longer just pricing mechanisms but structural disruptors. "Supply chains are so tightly interwoven that even small disturbances can produce far-reaching ripple effects," he told Xinhua.

For companies built on trust, stability and global connectivity, uncertainty itself is more damaging than regulation, Simon warned.

CONFIDENCE EROSION

Recent data confirms the growing anxiety. In April, 28.3 percent of German firms surveyed by ifo Institute reported deteriorating business conditions, the highest share since late 2022. U.S. trade policy was cited as the leading external risk.

In the same month, Germany's federal government slashed its 2025 GDP growth forecast to zero, following contractions in both 2023 and 2024. If the forecast holds, it would mark the country's first three-year economic downturn since World War II. Officials cited U.S. tariffs as a significant factor in the downgrade.

German Economic Institute estimates that if current tariffs persist through 2028, the cumulative cost to Germany could hit 290 billion euros (about 325.48 billion U.S. dollars), around 1.2 percent of annual GDP.

The report warns that these tariff policies are emerging as catalysts for global economic disruption, eroding investment confidence, and obstructing the coordinated development of industrial ecosystems worldwide.

"Many companies' investments are being delayed or canceled," Simon said. "When companies stop expanding and start waiting, it creates a chain reaction that risks turning into a systemic drag."

INTERDEPENDENCE AND RISK

Despite rising tensions, economic ties between the United States and Germany remain strong. In 2024, the United States accounted for 10.4 percent of German exports, the highest share since 2002. Germany also recorded a record 69.8 billion euro trade surplus with the United States last year.

German executives, however, caution that unpredictable trade policies are undermining trust in the rules-based global trading system. In a world of tightly interconnected supply chains, abrupt changes do more than disruptive operations -- they threaten the foundations of long-term industrial cooperation.

The impact is particularly acute for mid-sized manufacturers like Tornado, often dubbed the "backbone" of German economy. Unlike global multinationals, these firms cannot easily relocate operations or absorb geopolitical shocks. Their competitiveness depends on stable environments, long-term investments, and deeply integrated supplier networks.

Under the current condition, Germany faces a significant challenge to defend open-market principles, rebuild industrial confidence, and support its manufacturing sector in a world where economic certainty is increasingly hard to find.

While the United States defends its "reciprocal tariffs" as a matter of fairness, critics argue the approach prioritizes national gain over global stability. The result may be counterproductive, disrupting supply chains and eventually harming U.S. consumers as well. 
CENTRAL TEXAS (FOX 44)  The announcement of Pope Leo XIV has the Central Texas community full of excitement.



Father Will Rooney of St. Marys Catholic Church in Temple says the news came as a surpriseand a powerful moment of connection for American Catholics.

When he was announced, I was like, wow, thats an American. Thats the first United States citizen ever to sit on the throne of Peter, and thats kind of a crazy thing. Like this -theres a little bit of wow, thats really cool, like someone whos been in places where Ive been, Father Rooney said.

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Rooney, who watched Pope Leo deliver his first public address, said it was more than the wordsit was the demeanor that made an impact.

Not so much something that he said, but just the way that he approached coming out onto the loggia there, coming out and speaking, he said, Which was his smile, like it was kind of like, wow, okay, you seem happy, right  and thats beautiful. Theres a gift there to the church, certainly in that joy which reflects the joy of Christ.

That sense of joy and pride is being felt well beyond the Vatican. In Waco, local Catholics are joining in the celebration.

Very excited. Very excited and happy, said Yolanda Cates.

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Well, Im very excited too, and I prayed, and I feel the Pope was chosen for the holy spirit, added Jenny Kunkel.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his new role, Central Texans say they are watching with hope and faith that this historic choice will inspire a new chapter for the global church.

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INDEPENDECNE, Mo.  Thursday, May 8, marked the birthday of President Harry S. Truman.

It was also Victory in Europe Day, celebrating Germanys surrender in World War II.

On Thursday, the Truman Library and Museum in Independence held a birthday commemoration.

A U.S. Army team laid a wreath at Trumans tomb on behalf of President Donald Trump.

Truman served as president from 1945 to 1953 and died in 1972.

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Officials say he always held a special place in his heart for his hometown.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

He had so many organizations that he was a part of and he traveled the world. He was also very proud of his hometown of Independence, which he called the center of the world, said Kelly Anders, deputy director at Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.

The museum offered free admission to the public on Thursday.

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Celebrations are underway after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected to succeed Pope Francis to become the 267th person to lead the Catholic church.

He will serve as Pope Leo XIV and will be the first American to hold the position.

Channel 9s Ken Lemon spoke with the Diocese of Charlotte about the historic moment.

ALSO READ: Pope Leo XIV: Who is the first American pope?

In September, Bishop Michael Martin said he had a one-on-one meeting with the man who is now the pope.

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Martin said Pope Leo speaks calmly, but he is well informed about issues within churches all around the world, including Charlotte.

He told Channel 9 during that meeting, he got to see his character face to face.

He had a certain calm about him, but that was more appropriate in that one-on-one meeting and his interest in me and his interest in what was happening here in Charlotte, said Martin.

Martin didnt give more details about the meeting, but he said he got the sense that Pope Leo was more interested in what was happening with the bishop than what was happening with himself.

He said thats the kind of pope the Catholic Church now has, someone who will encourage followers to listen to each other rather than fighting to be understood.

VIDEO: Tens of thousands file into St. Peters Basilica to pay final respects to Pope Francis
First, it was just a limb sawed from a tree at a North Figueroa Street intersection on April 13.

Then the next day, three mature trees were cut down on West Temple Street in downtown, about two miles away.

A few days later, another fell on North Broadway. Then it was three more on West 8th Street.

The bizarre vandalism almost went unnoticed as none of the felled trees were initially reported to Los Angeles police  that is until the morning of April 19, when three huge trees were discovered downed across South Grand Avenue.

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The images of those disturbing losses cycled through social media and quickly made it onto local news. Two more were found nearby that day, all sliced cleanly through their trunks.

The outrage and shock over the vandalism helped draw a slew of tips, including surveillance video evidence, that police would ultimately use to piece together the confusing case of the city's tree cutter and track down a suspect before more trees were lost.

On April 21, two days after the South Grand Avenue trees were reported, police arrested 44-year-old Samuel Patrick Groft, finding him in possession of a spray-painted electric chain saw. Detectives said they have linked him to a total of 13 tree cuttings in and around downtown over a span of seven days. City officials estimated damage for just six of the trees amounted to more than $170,000.

Groft has since pleaded not guilty to several counts of felony vandalism. His attorney, Julieta Flores, declined to comment on the case after a hearing Thursday. Flores successfully argued that two of the counts should be reduced to misdemeanors without evidence that the tree damage exceeded $400.

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However, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge George Lomeli found that, overall, prosecutors had sufficient evidence to proceed with their case against Groft.

Police arrested Samuel Patrick Groft on suspicion of felony vandalism at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles' Chinatown on April 22. (David Zahniser / Los Angeles Times)

"It appears to this court that the charges in the underlying complaint  have been committed," Lomeli said at a preliminary hearing Thursday. "There is probable cause and a strong suspicion that the conduct involved this defendant, Mr. Samuel Groft.

Groft, who was wearing a yellow Los Angeles County Jail T-shirt and had one hand handcuffed to his chair during the hearing, didn't appear to react to the decision. However, he often sent notes or spoke  sometimes quite animatedly  to his attorney during the proceeding. He is facing nine felony charges and two misdemeanors, accused of cutting down 12 trees and cutting off one limb on another. He continues to be held in jail in lieu of $350,000 bail.

No motive for the vandalism has been shared publicly, but at the hearing Thursday, Det. Jose Hidalgo testified that Groft had admitted to knowing about several of the felled trees after his arrest.

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While Groft didn't explicitly confess to the vandalism when he was interviewed by police, Hidalgo said that he identified himself when shown surveillance footage of a suspect captured near certain felled trees.

Read more: Enough is enough: Chainsawed trees spark anger over downtown L.A.s decline

Upon his arrest from a homeless encampment in Chinatown  where he'd been living  Groft told officers he was surprised the arrest was occurring on Earth Day, Hidalgo testified.

He said something like, I love trees, I love bark, Im an arborist, Hidalgo said.

Tracking down Groft involved officers from three different Los Angeles Police Department divisions and many helpful tips, officers said.

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After the downtown tree cuttings became public, security guards and business owners around the city began reporting similar cuttings that had happened in recent days. Several of them provided surveillance footage of a man on a bicycle, wearing a camouflage hat and carrying a backpack, duffel bag and what appeared to be a chain saw, officers testified.

One tip came in anonymously with surveillance footage that showed a similar man cutting a limb from a tree at the corner of North Figueroa Street and West Avenue 26 in broad daylight. LAPD Det. Ryan Watterson used other surveillance footage to confirm the man had come from a nearby Harbor Freight hardware store  where a receipt from the store confirmed both his name and that he had bought a chain saw that day.

Read more: Chain-saw-wielding man suspected of felling downtown L.A. trees is arrested

Using that information, detectives were able to locate Groft at a homeless encampment where he had previously talked to a student journalist from Cal State L.A. about living on the streets. Groft was cooperative during his arrest, Hidalgo said. They found in his possession the same brand chain saw he had bought from Harbor Freight, as well as a bike, duffel bag and hat that matched many of the images from surveillance footage where trees had been cut down.

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Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Cynthia Valenzuela said several of the trees were cut down during the day, others at night. The first limb was cut from a tree on North Figueroa Street on April 13; three trees were cut down at 717 W. Temple St. on April 14; on April 17, one was cut from 555 North Broadway; three trees were downed at 1550 W. 8th St. on April 18; and five were cut on April 19, four of them on South Grand Avenue and one on South Hope Street, she said.

The three at 350 S. Grand Ave. were Chinese elms, while the others nearby were ficus trees, Valenzuela said. The three on West 8th Street were a type of dragon tree, and the ones on West Temple Street were junipers, she said. Some were on city property and others were on private property, she said.

Dan Halden, a spokesperson for the city's Bureau of Street Services, had previously said the city was removing the remaining stumps and evaluating the replacement cost. He was not immediately available Thursday to provide updates on possible tree replacement plans on city property.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Student leaders at a local high school hosted a prayer circle Thursday, ahead of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly later this month.

Chaminade Julienne Catholic High Schools Peace Ambassador Club organized the event, which saw the group praying for peace across the world and for world leaders traveling to Dayton.

NATO is coming to Dayton, heres what to know

Peace Ambassador Club co-leader Shahzad Anwari says that the prayer circle was an opportunity to bring people together in community.

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Our country are struggling with peace and with kindness, so the reason we are doing to spread the peace and make people to come together and work together and spread the peace around our community and our country.

Students prayed in between classes and flags of visiting countries were placed in the center of the circle.

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The Scene

Joe Biden mounted an unusual mini-media blitz this week to revisit an argument few in his party want to join: that he wouldve won reelection, had he not abandoned his 2024 campaign.

President Donald Trump still got 7 million fewer votes, Biden told the hosts of ABCs , referring to his popular vote margin in the 2020 election. A lot of people didnt show up.

It was Bidens second interview of the week, at odds with how most former presidents not named Trump have politicked after leaving office. And it was the second time since November that Biden suggested he could have done what Kamala Harris didnt; back in January, Biden told USA Today that, based on the polling, he could have beaten Trump a second time.

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He elaborated on that with the sympathetic hosts on, contending that the race was very close in those toss-up states.

Biden did take responsibility for his vice presidents loss in November: I was in charge and he won, he said. But he also absolved himself for an error Harris had made in that very same studio, in one of her first long interviews as a presidential candidate.

When asked by co-host Sunny Hostin what she would have done differently than Biden, Harris replied that nothing comes to mind. Biden said on Thursday that I did not advise her to say that. (According to reporting by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, published in their book ,Biden had told her, weeks earlier, to put no daylight between them.)

Biden went on during his Thursday interview to describe a winnable election that was lost by factors out of his control.

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We werent quite as good as he was about advertising, he argued. He saw sexism playing a factor in Harris loss: Ive never seen quite as successful, and a consistent, campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldnt lead the country.

Earlier in the week, in an interview with the BBC, Biden described his choice on reelection differently. Things moved so quickly that it made it difficult to walk away, he told Nick Robertson. It was a hard decision.

Pressed on whether he should have quit the race earlier, he said that he didnt know how that would have made much difference.







Davids view

Americas second Catholic president picked a rough week for a media tour. To the delight of Democrats I talked to on Thursday, Bidens interview was shunted out of the news cycle by the election of Leo XIV, the first American pope.

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They dont want to criticize Biden on the record. They dont want to praise him on the record. They expect to confront this topic again, against their will, when Jake Tapper and Alex Thompsons book lands in 12 days.

But senior party members dont typically have to say much about their former presidents, because those men have avoided the fray after the final trip to Joint Base Andrews. George W. Bush, who left office with approval ratings in the mid-30s, largely disappeared from political life; he didnt campaign for any candidate in public until a 2016 rally for his brother Jeb.

Barack Obama re-emerged 93 days into Trumps first term with a non-political interview about volunteerism; he resisted talking about his successor until he started campaigning for Democrats.

Youll notice I havent been commenting a lot on politics lately, Obama said in October 2017, rallying for Democratic candidates in Virginia  criticizing Trumps record, but not using his name.

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Trump, just the second president to lose reelection then come back for a second term, broke the old elder statesman norms. But he did so as the rarely-disputed leader of his party. At this point four years ago, just weeks after the Capitol riot, ambitious Republicans were already traveling to Mar-a-Lago to get Trumps endorsement.

No Democrat has campaigned with Biden, who in February offered to help the party with whatever it needed. His first post-presidency political speech was to a crowd of 200 Social Security advocates; Trumps was to a crowd of more than a thousand GOP activists at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference.

In the meantime, the Trump administration has humiliated Biden. His predecessor/successor frequently jokes about the competence and age of the worst president in American history.

Remember when the bunny took Joe Biden out? Trump said at this years Easter Egg Roll, referencing a clip from the 2022 event when an aide in an Easter Bunny costume ushered the president away from reporters.

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Trump has ended Bidens security briefings, ended Secret Service protection of his adult children, and is reportedly planning to release the audio of Bidens interview with former special counsel Robert Hur, a Republican demand rebuffed by the Biden administration. Hurs initial memo, and a transcript of the interview, amplified questions about Bidens ability to serve another term.

(That story says everything about the two presidents fortunes: What began as an investigation into Trumps handling of classified documents grew into a damaging probe of Bidens treatment of documents after leaving the vice presidency.)

Democrats have criticized that behavior by Trump. But they have not jumped in to defend Biden, or agree with his analysis that he could have done better than Harris. (Party lawmakers in tough races led the charge for Biden to quit, partly because their polling showed him collapsing and putting new seats into play for Republicans.)

The governors with the most obvious designs on the 2028 nomination have been the most cautious about how they tackled the age question, largely sticking to the argument that Trump is nearly as old as Biden and the fateful debate that ended Bidens campaign was a bad night. That is still Bidens line, too.

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I had a bad, bad night, he told ABC on Thursday. But even after that, the polls just showed me down by 2 points.

Jill Biden, who joined her husband on the set, said that they knew hed screwed up the debate with Trump, but we were not going to let 90 minutes of a debate define his presidency and all those years of service.

This sounds like delusion to most Democrats, when theyre speaking candidly (though, of course, they rarely do so about Biden on the record).

And Bidens assessment of Trumps second term in his BBC interview didnt sound much better. Asked if he believed that democracy was at risk, as he did in 2024, Biden said he was getting less worried because the Republican Party is waking up to what Trump is about.

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Six years ago, this month, Biden predicted that Republicans would undergo an epiphany if Trump lost the 2020 election.







The View From Republicans

Biden took specific shots at Trump in his interviews, from the presidents negotiations with Russia to the claim that Bidens final executive orders could be nullified. But the White House ignored those specifics and ridiculed the former president.

Joe Biden is a complete disgrace to this country and the office he occupied, White House communications director Steven Cheung said of Thursdays interview. He has clearly lost all mental faculties and his handlers thought itd be a good idea for him to do an interview and incoherently mumble his way through every answer. Sadly, this feels like abuse.







Room for Disagreement

At least one prominent Democrat has publicly disagreed with Bidens assessment that he should have stayed in the race and could have won.

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In an interview with Semafors podcast, Bidens first White House press secretary said it was a mistake for the president to seek re-election.

Of course, Jen Psaki told Ben Smith and Max Tani. A lot of his legacy has become, for at least this period of time, based around this question of him running for reelection, not being aware or not being honest with himself about being able to do another full term.







Notable
DENVER (AP)  Charges have been dropped against all but one Colorado law enforcement officer accused of not stepping in and possibly preventing the fatal 2022 shooting of a man in distress who had called 911 for help.

The misdemeanor charges of failing to intervene were dismissed against Tim Collins, Brittany Morrow and Ryan Bennie under a deal that required them to record a training video about what went wrong in the standoff with Christian Glass in a small mountain community, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum confirmed Friday.

They were among six officers charged in 2023 with failing to intervene to stop the actions of former Clear Creek Sheriffs Office Deputy Andrew Buen, who shot and killed Glass. The shooting drew national attention and prompted calls to reform how authorities respond to people with mental health problems.

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Prosecutors tried twice to convince jurors to convict Buen of second-degree murder. The first time the jury convicted Buen of a misdemeanor for recklessly putting other officers in danger by opening fire. In his second trial, jurors convicted Buen of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide for the shooting itself in February. He was sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum sentence he faced.

That verdict and the effect three more trials could have on Glass's family as well as the county of about 10,000 people led prosecutors to enter a deal to dismiss the charges, McCollum said. Under the agreement, Collins, Morrow and Bennie all received additional training, including on de-escalation, and participated in making the training video, she said.

The hope is that their video will be used by law enforcement agencies across the country that are already using body camera footage of the Glass shooting to teach how not to respond to people in crisis.

"If we can save one life, if we can prevent one law enforcement officer from killing someone, then the dismissal of these three cases is worth it, McCollum said.

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Another officer is still charged with failing to intervene and third-degree assault. McCollum said she cannot comment on possible plea deals with him or any defendant.

Siddhartha Rathod, a lawyer representing Glass's parents, Simon and Sally Glass, praised McCollum for trying a different approach.

This is the type of prosecutors we want, who are being creative, who want to create solutions that result in a safer community, he said.

Duty to intervene charges were also dropped against two other officers who work for the state's gaming division in December. A judge ruled they were not covered by the law passed in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd.

Buen's supervisor pleaded guilty to failing to intervene.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Hurricane season begins at the end of the month and Charleston County is working to get ahead of possible changes coming to how disaster relief is issued.



County officials said while they are still uncertain on what changes the federal government will make to disaster reimbursement, they are working to put themselves in a good position to provide relief



Its very sobering discussions, because I remember Hugo and everything and the image youre presenting is wed be on our own almost if the same thing happened, said District 2 Councilmen Larry Kobrovsky.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has traditionally been responsible for the majority of disaster response efforts. However, with the Trump Administrations push to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, more of the responsibility may be shifted to state and local agencies. Charleston County is working to ensure theyre able to meet the need.



Seems to me, the benefit of having this done on a national level is you dont know where the hurricane will hit, you dont know where the tornado will touch down, theres an insurance function. Maybe we can do the next best thing and mitigate those risks on a state level, said District 3 Councilmen Robert L. Wehrman.

In the event of a disaster when state resources have been exceeded, the governor can request a presidential disaster declaration which opens up a federal disaster relief fund: providing money to state and local governments impacted by that disaster. Now that threshold for those funds may change.



The threshold in which the state can request that fund thats being discussed as being increased which means typically the funds we see from the federal government for reimbursement might not be there, said Justin Pierce, the Director of Emergency Management for Charleston County.

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The new threshold could require 50 million dollars worth of damage. In the last 11 years, South Carolina has had 13 disasters that qualified for federal assistance. Under the new threshold only five of those would have qualified.



We know the areas that FEMA wants to step back on or pivot their traditional response so that gives us very clear views of the gaps we need to fill that were working on right now, said Pierce.



The council passed a motion in the finance committee to activate the emergency management recommendations.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Theres a connection in the Queen City to newly elected Pope Leo XIV.

At a meeting with reporters Thursday, Bishop Michael Martin said he had met with the cardinal in April when he took a trip to Rome to talk about some issues locally. He said they had one-on-one time for over an hour.

I was very taken by his friendly nature but also about his awareness of the dynamics not just of the church in the United States, but more importantly about the church and around the world, Martin said. And so Im certainly thrilled that our church has selected this man.

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Martin said Prevost was the Dicastery for Bishops, where he helped to decide who became a bishop worldwide. He said the thing that stood out to him about their meeting was Prevosts calm demeanor.

His interest in me and his interest in what was happening in Charlotte, in particular, the things we were talking about, I just had the sense of someone who cared very deeply about what was important to me, more so than maybe what was important to him, Martin said.

Pope Leo XIV is the first American pontiff. Martin said he is surprised because in the grand scheme of things the church has been around for 2,000 years and America is a much newer country.

Im very surprised. I never would have dreamt that we would see a pope born in the United States in my lifetime, Martin said. I thought eventually it would happen, but I have to admit, sitting there watching him walk out onto the loggia, I was very shocked.

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The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte will be hosting a special mass for Pope Leo XIV Friday night at St. Matthew in Ballantyne. It starts at 7 p.m.

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police paused Friday morning to remember those who gave everything in the line of duty.

In Uptown, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Fallen Officer Memorial Statue, followed by a procession to First Baptist Charlotte.

There  officers, families, and community members gathered for the annual Mecklenburg County Peace Officers Memorial Service. The tribute comes just days before the start of National Police Week, which kicks off on Sunday.

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One year later: Former police officer discusses mental health struggles law enforcement face after incidents like Shannon Park

Peace Officers Memorial Day is officially observed on May 15.

The day began even earlier at the Law Enforcement Center, where dozens of officers got on their bikes for the 2025 Bike 2 DC  Ride to Honor. The 500-mile journey to Washington, D.C., has been a Charlotte tradition since 2007.

Each mile is ridden in memory of fallen law enforcement officers, with the team set to participate in the national Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall next Tuesday.

Latest stories from QCnews.com

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PHNOM PENH, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has reported a 50.6 percent rise in the number of Chinese tourists in the first quarter of 2025, said a Cambodian Ministry of Tourism's report released on Friday.

A total of 286,156 Chinese visitors traveled to the Southeast Asian country during the January-March period of this year, up 50.6 percent from 189,961 over the same period last year, the report said.

The number of Chinese tourists accounted for 15.6 percent of the total 1.83 million international tourist arrivals to Cambodia, the report said, adding that China was the third-biggest source of foreign holidaymakers to the kingdom after Thailand and Vietnam.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said Chinese tourists are vital for Cambodia's tourism industry.

"The current cooperation between Cambodia and China in tourism is promising, with growing numbers of Chinese visitors contributing significantly to our economy," he told Xinhua.

He said designating 2025 as the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism marked a significant step forward in revitalizing bilateral tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

"Chinese tourists have historically played a crucial role in Cambodia's tourism industry, and this initiative aims to stimulate market growth, create employment opportunities, and bolster related sectors amidst global economic uncertainties," Sinan said.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.

The country has four UNESCO-listed world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in central Kampong Thom province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker archaeological site in northwest Preah Vihear province.

Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching about 450 kilometers in the four southwest provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong. 
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Hamilton County, Tennessee, is 358 miles from Memphis. Attorneys traveled there to find a jury for the three ex-Memphis police officers on state trial in the Tyre Nichols beating death.

Defense attorneys wanted the change of venue over concerns that an impartial jury couldnt be found near Shelby County because of so much publicity about the Tyre Nichols case.

There was a motion filed by the defense to change venue, and there was study done in the amount of publicity in the very large cities in Tennessee and it was found that Chattanooga had the lowest amount of pre-trial publicity with regard to this case. And so thats why it was chosen, said Paul Hagerman, prosecutor in the Tyre Nichols case.

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Jury finds three ex-officers not guilty in Tyre Nichols death trial

Hamilton County has a population of around 380,000; 76% are white and 20% are Black.

While we are not sure about the demographics of the full jury pool that was called for the Tyre Nichols case, the final 12 jurors that decided it were all white.

They did not look like Mr. Nichols. They did not not look like the officers that were charged, and we are supposed to be judged by what? People that are our own peers, said a friend of the Nichols family.

But this jury was not reflective of the city of Memphis, and I think that was a big win for the defense, because I think the jurors tend to be more conservative from places like Chattanooga and East Tennessee, other parts of East Tennessee, Knoxville, which theyre going to be more friendly to the police, and I think thats what you saw here this week, said Art Horne, Memphis Attorney.

WREG asked long time attorney Art Horne, who was not involved in the Tyre Nichols trial, if attorneys could have done more to get a diverse set of jurors.

Unfortunately, it doesnt work like that. You get a pool of you get a list of people, and theyre randomly selected. And so basically, when theyre selected, they have to answer questions.

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Im sure one of the questions was, had they seen the video in Tyree Nichols case, and disproportionately, Im sure, African Americans saw that video more than probably white Americans, and so I think that hampered the ability to get diversity and minorities on that jury, said Horne.

Tyre Nichols mother: Verdict a devastating blow

Hamilton County and Chattanooga are worlds apart when it comes to issues facing the communities. Memphis is in a crime fight, thats become well know around the region. And it even played into defense attorney Martin Zummachs closing arguments as he read crime headlines to the jury.

CNN headlines: Memphis Mayor meets with gang members to request a ceasefire, said Martin Zummach, Justin Smiths attorney.

He stressed what police, like those on trial, face every day.

Crime has continued to go nuts. Its a matter of public record. Its a matter of your own knowledge in your own head when you come to Shelby County, said Zummach.

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Sen. Brent Taylor calls out D.A. Mulroy after not guilty verdicts in Tyre Nichols case

Think that really, really had an impact on this jury, who was not from here, and who probably looks a lot of people across the state of Tennessee, as you know, kind of look at Memphis as the armpit of the state, and were very different, said Art Horne, Memphis attorney.

It was masterful. I think he did a great job for his client. I think he did a great job for his client. I think he knew the audience that he was catering to, and they played right into the hands of those jurors from Hamilton County, said Horne.

It worked for the defense. Attorneys got the verdicts they wanted from a jury they pushed for, and prosecutors left to deal with the outcome. I think its a testimony to the fairness of our criminal justice center that we bent over backwards to get a jury from another jurisdiction to assure the defendants were given a fair trial. Beyond that, I dont think I should comment, said Steve Mulroy, Shelby County District Attorney.

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SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A Chelsea woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon.

VIDEO: Authorities arrest Tennessee man hiding in attic

Adrienne Holderby, 86, was injured when the Honda Accord she was driving was struck by a GMC Sierra around 1:45 p.m. Holderby was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred on U.S. 280 near the 17 mile marker. Nothing else is available as Alabama Law Enforcement Agency continues to investigate.

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ATHENS TWP, Pa. (WETM)  A Chemung man has been sentenced to probation after officials say he fled from police in Athens Township on a motorcycle in August of 2024.

Ryan R. Davidson, 31, was sentenced to 21 months of probation for the crime of fleeing and eluding, a third-degree felony, as stated in a release from the Bradford County District Attorneys Office.

Towanda man sentenced for selling meth in Bradford County

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Davidson was charged with the crime by an officer with the Athens Township Police Department after a failed traffic stop on Route 220, the release said. At this time, the release states that Davidson refused to stop despite the officer initiating lights and sirens, and instead, fled at a high rate of speed.

After Davidson sped away, officers were forced to end the chase for safety reasons, but conducted an investigation which ultimately resulted in his confession to fleeing from officers on his motorcycle, the release states.

Former Meshoppen man sentenced after failing to update sex-offender registry

The DA states that Davidson had no previous criminal convictions, which deemed his probation sentence appropriate. As a result of his sentence, Davidson will lose his driving privileges in Pennsylvania for 18 months. If he commits any other crimes or fails to meet the terms of his probation, it could be revoked, and he could face a harsher sentence, including imprisonment.

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CHESHIRE, Mass. (WWLP)  A Facebook post led to an investigation into allegations that Cheshire Highway vehicles passed a school bus, which was later determined to be false and caused unjustified distress among town employees.

In a statement provided by the Town of Cheshire, Board of Selectmen member Michelle Francesconi saw a post on the towns neighborhood watch Facebook group stating that, on Wednesday, allegedly, vehicles for the highway department passed a school bus that was picking up children with its lights flashing. Francesconi reported this post to the Director of the Cheshire Department of Public Works, Corey McGrath, who began an investigation.

Hampden County Sheriffs Office celebrates National Correctional Officers Week

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The Highway Department workers who were working on grading a portion of Notch Road were interviewed and stated that two construction vehicles, a grader and roller, were traveling on Notch Road in front of the school bus. McGrath then contacted Dufour Bus Company and spoke with Director of Safety and Training David Sookey III, who stated that he had not received any reports of an incident of a school bus being passed at any time.

It is disappointing that social media was sued as the sole means of reporting what could have been a serious incident. The Town of Cheshire would take such a report very seriously and would not tolerate such a blatant disregard for the safety of members of the public, most especially children. In this case, the social media report was fake and caused unjustified distress and angst among the workers of the Cheshire Highway Department. Both are highly dedicated to the safety, health, and wellbeing of our townspeople and the community. Both have dedicated and risked their lives to ensuring the public is protected and cared for. An allegation such as the one made was damaging to the reputation and character of some of the most upstanding citizens our community is blessed to have, a statement from the Board of Selectmens Office.

Officials are urging residents to contact their office to report any incidents involving town employees by calling 413-743-1690 or emailing admin@cheshire-ma.gov.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Cheviots public library reopens May 10, after an eight-month nearly $5 million renovation.

The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library branch, located at 3711 Robb Ave., will mark the reopening with a 10 a.m. event and activities that continue through 4 p.m.

The 5,700-square-foot location, built in 1962, closed in September for an upgrade. The space now includes a new accessible entry, elevator, meeting room, expanded childrens area and new furnishings, carpet and paint.

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"The Cheviot branch is a welcoming and flexible space built to serve the community for generations to come," library director Paula Brehm-Heeger said in a press release.

More: Library spending continues with $21M in upgrades underway, more to come

The work is part of the librarys system-wide, $350 million Next Generation plan to update all 41 of its locations. The library kicked off the 10-year project in 2019.

In Cheviot, library users were directed to the Westwood branch during construction.

The Cheviot branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library reopens May 10 after a $4.95 million renovation

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cheviot library reopening.
EDITORS NOTE: The above video is from May 8, 2025, during the original layoff announcement.

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  UPDATE: This is an update to our coverage on Chevron announcing layoffs in Denver, CO that aired May 8, 2025. Chevron has responded to our request for comment if Permian Basin jobs would be impacted.

Chevron Communications Advisor for Chevrons Mid-Continent Business Unit Phil Avocato said in an email, Chevron is taking action to simplify our organizational structure, execute faster and more effectively, and position the company for stronger long-term competitiveness. This work includes optimizing the portfolio, leveraging technology to enhance productivity, and changing how and where work is performed, including the expanded use of global centers. We believe changes to the organizational structure will improve standardization, centralization, efficiency and results, unlocking new growth potential and helping Chevron drive industry-leading performance now and into the future.

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Chevron expects these actions to result in global workforce reductions of 15 to 20 percent, with some local variances, beginning in 2025 with most complete before the end of 2026. We expect impacts in the Permian to be in line with the global average.

These reductions are in line with the previous announcement of $2 to $3 billion in targeted structural cost reductions by the end of 2026, with some residual impact in 2027 and beyond. We do not take these actions lightly and will support our employees through the transition. But responsible leadership requires taking these steps to improve the long-term competitiveness of our company for our people, our shareholders and our communities.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW:

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Thursday, oil-giant, Chevron announced it would be laying off 125 employees from the Denver, Colorado office starting July 1, 2025.

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This is part of their announcement in February that they would cut their workforce by 15-20% this year.

This comes as oil prices dropped to a 4-year-low, sitting at just over $60/barrel Tuesday.

In a statement to Chevron Employees in Colorado Trudi Lewis Boyd, Chevrons corporate affairs manager, said in an email quote A number of Denver positions will move to the companys headquarters in Houston as part of the reorganization.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
As newly-elected Pope Leo XIV  a native son of Chicago  made his first appearance on the loggia at St. Peters Basilica, Cardinal Blase Cupich looked on from an adjacent balcony, keenly aware of the monumental moment and its significance for more than a billion Catholics worldwide.

The archbishop of Chicago gazed down at the piazza and crowd that spilled to the Tiber River, jam-packed with more than 250,000 faithful awaiting the first words of the new pontiff.

To be in that position is something that Ill never be able to replicate in the future, Cupich said during a phone interview with the Tribune from Vatican City. Its a once in a lifetime experience to be on the same platform where the new pope is going to be announced with hundreds of thousands of people chanting his name.

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Following the papal conclaves historic selection, Cupich declared Chicago should be proud to have produced the new pope, a South Sider who became the first American pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Lets be proud that Chicago produced a person of this quality that could be pope, he said. We should be very proud of that.

The archbishop of Chicago played an historic role Thursday as a member of the conclave that selected Doltons own Robert Francis Prevost, longtime missionary and member of the Augustinian order, to lead the Church.

Local family members and friends know the new pontiff as a lifelong devout Catholic and former altar boy who makes frequent trips back home to the Chicago area, cheering for the White Sox and enjoying a slice of Aurelios pizza when back in town.

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Cupich described the pope as an organized and meticulous worker, who is humble and strives to take in a variety of different perspectives.

Hes very smart  he picks up things quickly. But he also has the ability to listen to other people and make sure that people with different opinions than his are listened to, Cupich said. Theres no ego that gets in the way of his own deliberation and decision making. He just wants to always try to do the right thing and discern the right path forward. There is a great authenticity to him. And I think that will serve him well as Pope Leo XIV.

Indeed, Catholics across the Chicago area on Thursday celebrated the news that one of their own was now the pontifex.

When I heard the news of the new Holy Father at that moment, at least here in Chicago, the sun came out, said the Rev. Greg Sakowicz, rector of Holy Name Cathedral.

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Some would say the sunny weather was just a coincidence, Sakowicz acknowledged.

But a coincidence is Gods way of remaining anonymous, he added.

The popes older brother, John Prevost of south suburban New Lenox, recalled that when Prevost was in first grade a neighbor predicted he would be the first American pope.

While Thursdays news of Prevosts election as pope came as a surprise to John Prevost, it also felt somehow inevitable  hed had a gut feeling all along.

While John Prevost knows the role will have its challenges, he believes his brother is ready to lead.

Its awesome, its a great responsibility, but he will be scrutinized left and right, John Prevost said. I think it will be a lot. But he has the patience of a saint.

Local roots, Augustinian legacy

In the new popes first public address, he offered the world blessings and a message of combating fear with faith.

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God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail, he declared. We are all in Gods hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward.

Born on Sept. 14, 1955, at Mercy Hospital in Chicagos, Prevost was raised in suburban Dolton with his parents and two brothers, attending St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the Far South Side where he went to school, sang in the choir and served as an altar boy.

Marianne Angarola, 69, was in the same class as Prevost, and remembered him as a talented singer who cared about people and looked for the good in things.

He was the pride and joy of every priest and nun in that school, Angarola said. Everybody knew he was special.

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Cupich believes Prevosts deep family roots in the Chicago area will influence his leadership style as pope.

He is a hard worker, Cupich added. He is a Midwesterner who is not afraid of hard work, who is practical and not afraid of getting things done and bringing people together. That is part of our culture.

Prevosts late father, Louis, was an educator who led Glenwood School District 167 and served as principal of now-defunct Mount Carmel Elementary School in Chicago Heights. His mother, Mildred, was a librarian who worked at Holy Name Cathedral, Von Steuben High School on the North Side and Mendel Catholic Prep.

Jim Priestley attended St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan and Villanova University with Prevost. The two saw each other last summer, Priestley recalled, after Prevost came to the area to speak with parishioners at St. Jude Catholic Church in south suburban New Lenox. During his visit home, Prevost met with some old friends at Aurelios pizza in Homewood.

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Priestley said, Prevost is the type of guy who likes a challenge.

Loyola University Chicago professor Michael Murphy recalled having dinner with Prevost and several other faculty colleagues last summer at the Ivy Restaurant in west suburban Wheaton.

The waiter asked Murphy if Prevost was famous.

And Im like No, not really. Hes a great cardinal from the area and hes had a really great career, Murphy said, laughing in retrospect.

There is much significance to the name the new pope selected, said Murphy director, of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola.

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Leo invokes two prominent namesakes: Pope Leo the Great was renowned for being a peacemaker, famously meeting with Attila the Hun and convincing him not to ransack Rome.

And Attila made a u-turn and left, he said.

Pope Leo XIII was known as a social justice advocate, championing workers and the right to a living wage, Murphy added.

I think hes going to be a great pope, Murphy said.  I think hell be a true Catholic servant and successor of St. Peter.

Prevost was head of the Augustinian religious order from 2001 to 2013. In 2014, he was named apostolic administrator and then bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru.

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About two years ago, his predecessor Pope Francis named Prevost to take over the Vatican office that vets worldwide bishop nominations from a retiring Canadian who had recently been accused of sexual misconduct; that powerful Holy See office also investigates allegations of abuse or negligence against bishops.

As pope, Prevost will have to continue grapple with the Catholic Churchs ongoing sexual abuse crisis. He has been criticized for his handling of two local sex abuse cases involving Augustinian priests in the Chicago. Survivors organizations have accused him of allowing the Rev. James Ray, a priest accused of abusing minors and whose ministry had been restricted since 1991, to live at the Augustinians St. John Stone Friary in Hyde Park in 2000 despite its proximity to a Catholic elementary school. The Vatican previously has denied Prevost approved the accommodation.

Prevost also has been criticized for the orders handling of allegations against the Rev. Richard McGrath, former president of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. McGrath served for 32 years as principal and then president of the school before retiring amid allegations that he had abused a student and had pornography on his phone. The order settled one accusers lawsuit for $2 million in 2023. McGrath was never criminally charged.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests filed a complaint against Prevost with the Vatican in March.

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It certainly does not give us a lot of hope right now. It hurts, said James Egan, a SNAP spokesperson.

Despite these worries, Egan said he hopes SNAP can collaborate with Prevost to end abuse.

We can get to a post-abuse church, and we really hope we can work with Robert Prevost on that, Egan said.

Unity in a polarized world

Shortly after white smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling Prevosts election, Cupich said he spoke privately with the new pontiff.

He was serene, Cupich recalled. He had accepted it.

The cardinal said he has thanked Prevost several times for accepting the role of pontiff.

Because it is a heavy responsibility, Cupich said. Its a whole life change for him. Imagine, his life is now altogether different. You dont go out at night for a pizza or a walk. Youve now got the whole world watching everything that you do. Its quite a change and I was so glad he accepted.

The archbishop of Chicago marveled at the swiftness of the papal conclaves decision to elect Prevost, noting that 133 men from 70 countries came to an agreement in just over 24 hours.

There is a unity there that so often we miss in the world, he said.

Humanity tends to be mired in conflict and division, he added.

So I think it is a matter of our prayer with the gift of the Holy Spirit to come to the right decision, he said. That was what was remarkable to me: That it came so naturally and quickly.

Dugan McGinley, Rutgers University teaching professor of theology, believes the new popes biggest challenge will be having to thread the needle to keep a large institution together in a very fractious world.

Were in a very polarized era, he said. No one in Catholicism wants schisms. How does he keep all sides listened to and affirmed in some way? Ultimately that might be an impossible task. But I think from what Im hearing of him, hell do his best.

There have been recent divisions in numerous faiths over social issues like national politics and LGBTQ inclusion, McGinley said, noting that more conservative Catholics and self-styled traditionalists are going to be watching him closely.

Hes signaling that hes very much a pope in the trajectory of Pope Francis, McGinley added. He wants to be inclusive and have it be a pastoral loving and welcoming church.

Cupich also predicts Pope Leo XIV will carry on much of the legacy of the late Pope Francis, a charismatic pastoral figure who was beloved by many Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Pay attention to what he says now as he defends workers rights, immigrants, people who are living in the margins of society, Cupich added. That is the program of Pope Francis that he is going to fully embrace People should stay tuned.

While the Chicago area should celebrate that one of their own will be leading the Catholic Church, Cupich added that Pope Leo XIV will work to build bridges and help unify humanity across the globe.

Hes the worlds pope, he said.
More than 130 cardinals deliberated for hours over the last two days, and a new Pope has been elected. Pope Leo XIV emerged from the Vatican to greet church members, standing over them as the 267th leader of the Catholic church.

The new Pope's election marks a historic moment, as he is the first American-born Pope in history.

Leo XIV was born as Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. The mayor of the city reacted to his election on Thursday via social media.

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"Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!," said Mayor Brandon Johnson on X.

Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon. https://t.co/CBnXVjNhbJ  Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) May 8, 2025

"Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon."

Leo XIV was born in Chicago, but he has ties to another major American city. The new Pope earned a Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Philadelphia, one of the most prestigious Catholic institutions in the country.

Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. Francis made history in his own right as the first Jesuit Pope, as well as the first non-European Pope. He held papancy from 2013 through 2025, and was known and respected for his progressivism when compared to previous pontiffs.

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I think my classmate just got it, said Father William Lego of St. Turibius Church in Chicago, according to Julie Bosman of the New York Times.

Lego said that he knew the recently elected Pope after their time studying together as seminaries in Michigan.

"They picked a good man. He always had that sense of being conscious of the poor and trying to help them.

In his initial address, Pope Leo XIV thanked the cardinals for their election while speaking in multiple languages. Among other roles, he served as a bishop in Peru for over two decades, becoming a naturalized citizen of the nation.

As the new Pope takes over following his election, we'll see how the United States and the rest of the world at large reacts to the first-ever American to hold the highest role in the Catholic churh.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's construction sector work done value surges 16.6 percent year-on-year to 42.9 billion ringgit (9.93 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2025, official data showed Friday.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that the growth was mainly driven by continued expansion in the special trade activities and residential buildings sub-sectors, which posted double-digit growth of 35.5 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

The non-residential buildings sub-sector also showed an increase of 21 percent. The civil engineering sub-sector also remained positive with a marginal growth of 3.7 percent.

The private sector remained the main impetus to the growth, with an increase of 23.7 percent. The value of work done by the private sector amounted to 27 billion ringgit or 62.9 percent of the total construction work done value.

In contrast, the public sector contributed 15.9 billion ringgit or 37.1 percent of total work done, with a growth of 6.3 percent. 
Robert Prevost has been elected as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first American to hold the papacy in the Church's 2,000-year-old history.

The 69-year-old, who holds citizenship in both the United States and Peru, will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost served as the Prior General of the Augustinian Order for two terms and was the Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.

In 2023, Prevost was appointed to the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops, where he was responsible for overseeing the selection and appointment of new bishops.

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Born in Chicago, Prevost earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated his historic election with a tweet.

Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon. https://t.co/CBnXVjNhbJ  Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) May 8, 2025

The mayor wrote, "Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back soon."

The papal conclave began on May 7, 2025, 16 days after the passing of Pope Francis. Within two days, Cardinal Prevost secured the required two-thirds majority from the College of Cardinals - 133 in total, making him the next pontiff.

The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Addressing the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV's first words were, "May peace be with you."

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He paid tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis, "We still hold in our ears that weak yet ever courageous voice of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome - the Pope who blessed Rome, who gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world."

Pope Leo XIV brings a unique background and a wide range of experience to the Vatican, marking a new chapter for the Catholic church.

Related: Pope Leo XIV Said Church Can't Close Its Heart to Abuse Victims
CHIPPEWA FALLS  Just days before a trial was slated to begin, charges of child sexual assault against a Cornell man have been dismissed.

Jeremiah J. Hakes, 44, 317 S. 5th St., was charged in February 2024 in Chippewa County Court with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. He was accused of sexually touching a 12-year-old girl.

According to the criminal complaint, the girl told authorities that Hakes assaulted her at a residence in Cornell in September 2023, and she described the sexual acts. Police interviewed Hakes, who denied the sexual contact. However, he admitted he might have accidentally touched her and removed his body quickly from her body.

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The trial was slated to begin next Tuesday; jury instruction forms were filed by both attorneys earlier this week.

However, Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the charges without prejudice, which means he could refile them, but he added that was not likely.

During the (investigator) interview, and trial prep, the victim made it clear that the defendant touched her intimate body parts for an extended period of time, Newell wrote to the court. While the State could prove the touching, and prove that the touching was grooming in nature, that is not sufficient under the statute. The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the touching was for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. Based upon the nature of the touching described by the victim, the State does not believe it would be able to meet its burden.

Judge James Isaacson agreed to dismiss the charges.

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When the charges were initially filed, Hakes was released on a signature bond, and has been free throughout the length of the case.

Online court records indicate Hakes has not been convicted of any crimes in Wisconsin.






Roksana Lecka is on trial for allegedly mistreating 23 children under her care at the Riverside Nursery in South London between January and June 2024

CCTV footage shown in court showed her allegedly pinching several children and even grabbing one by the neck

Lecka denies mistreating the children and said she "adhered" to policies with "handling" them







A childcare worker accused of child cruelty was allegedly caught on CCTV hurting children at her workplace.

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Roksana Lecka, 22, who is on trial for allegedly mistreating 23 children under her care at the Riverside Nursery in South London between January and June 2024, appeared in court on Thursday, May 8 as the prosecution argued its case, according to BBC and Sky News.

Prosecutors showed the jury CCTV footage that allegedly showed Lecka pinch a male childs nose, body, wrist, and mouth, according to Sky News. Leckas colleagues checked him for red marks. A teaching assistant also reported seeing Lecka assault a child, per the outlet.

Daniel Allan/Getty Stock image of a police car Stock image of a police car

The footage also reportedly showed her grabbing a child by the neck, according to BBC. Staff alleged that several children sustained injuries from Lecka that included pinch marks, red skin and raised skin," per Sky News.

As the footage was shown in the court, there were audible gasps from parents whose children attended the childcare center in the public gallery, Sky News reported.

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"You might see from the footage her watching other members of staff as she harms a child, just checking if another member of staff is watching, prosecutor Tracy Ayling told jurors, per the outlet. All these things are for you to decide."

Lecka, who was arrested on suspicion of child cruelty on June 5, 2024, admitted to two counts of child cruelty but denied 21 charges of similar offenses, according to Sky News. She denied assaulting the children at the Riverside Nursery in a statement to the court.

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.

Leon Neal/Getty Crown Court Crown Court

I went into work that day and had a normal day. There were no accidents where any child seemed hurt. We have procedures for the handling of the children, which I adhered to. I am unaware how any injury to these children were caused," she said, per Sky News.

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The prosecution also noted in court, per BBC and Sky News, that there werent any concerns raised when Lecka was first hired to work at the childcare center, which looks after children between the ages of 10 months and 2 years.

Her references said she "worked hard and interacted with children. However, staff noticed strange behavior from Lecka, who was even sent home from work one day after acting "almost as if she was in a daze, which gave other staff members "grave cause for concern, per Sky News.

Leckas trial is expected to continue next week and is expected to last around five weeks, per the outlet.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article on People
Fridays Top Stories

Fridays Five Facts

[1] VIDEO: BCSO deputies try to convince 2 children to drop loaded gun  New video shows BCSO deputies trying to convince two little boys to hand over a loaded gun. In the video, the boys, ages seven and nine, can be seen carelessly holding the loaded gun. Deputies go on to tell them this isnt a game. Another deputy can be heard yelling to the boys that theyre trying to help them. What looks like a bean bag or rubber ball is fired toward the kids, who then eventually give up the gun. BCSO did not say how the children got the gun.

[2] New pope brings reactions from church leaders  The Vaticans choice of the first American pope is drawing reaction across New Mexicos widespread Catholic community. Reverend Sanchez of the San Felipe de Neri church in Old Town helped put up white and gold bunting at the entrance, representing the churchs new leadership. Reverend Sanchez hopes the news unites New Mexicos extensive catholic community. In a statement, the Archbishop of Santa Fe said, This is a sacred and historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, and we rejoice in the guidance of our new spiritual leader.

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[3] Mountain rainfall and warmer temperatures  A few spotty to isolated showers and storms will again develop Friday afternoon, mainly in northern New Mexico with a slight chance in western, central, and eastern parts of the state. Overall though it will begin a stretch of drier and more warm weather. Isolated storm chances return to the mountains in western and northern New Mexico Saturday. Dry air will return to nearly the entire state Sunday,

[4] Albuquerque and Rio Rancho hospitals earn higher Leapfrog rating  A year after UNM got bad grades in a hospital safety review, the watchdog group behind that review process says things are looking up. The non-profit, Leapfrog Group, just gave UNMs Albuquerque hospital a C grade in its annual safety review  an improvement from last years F. The grade are based on survey results and public reported hospital data. UNMs Sandoval Regional Medical Center also received a higher grade, going from a D to a B.

[5] City of Albuquerque shares plans for Paseo and Unser road expansion  Expansion of a highly trafficked Albuquerque intersection will soon be underway. The $62 million makeover will add more traffic lanes, better stormwater systems, and upgrades for people who arent driving. Phase one will start with Unser Blvd. from Paradise Blvd. to just south of Paseo. Phase two of the project calls for widening Unser Blvd. further south toward Rainbow Blvd., along with widening Paseo west toward Ventana Ranch. The city hopes to have the work done by mid-2028.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Chimpanzees drum with regular rhythm when they beat on tree trunks, a new study shows.

Chimpanzees and humans last shared a common ancestor around 6 million years ago. Scientists suspect this ancient ancestor must have been a drummer  using beats to communicate.

Our ability to produce rhythm  and to use it in our social worlds  that seems to be something that predates humans being human, said study co-author Cat Hobaiter, a University of St Andrews primatologist.

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Previous research has shown that chimps have their own signature drumming style. A new analysis of 371 bouts of chimpanzee drumming demonstrates that the chimps clearly play their instruments -- the tree trunks -- with regular rhythms, said University of Amsterdam music cognition researcher Henkjan Honing, who was not involved in the study.

When bounding through the jungle, chimps will often grab hold of the tall buttress roots of rainforest trees. Sometimes they pound them several times to create low-frequency sounds that can be heard for a kilometer or more through the forest.

Scientists believe that the drumming is a form of long-distance communication, perhaps to alert other chimps where one chimp is waiting or the direction it is traveling.

Its a way of socially checking in, said Hobaiter, adding that each chimp has its own individual signature  a pattern of beats that allows you to recognize whos producing that drumming.

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The new work showed that chimps from different regions of Africa drum with distinctly different rhythms, with western chimps preferring a more even beat while eastern chimps used varied short and long intervals between beats. The research was published Friday in the journal Current Biology.

It's well-known that chimps use tools such as rocks to crack open nuts and sticks to fish termites from their mounds. Tree roots can also be tools, the researchers say.

Chimps are selective about which roots they pound, said co-author Catherine Crockford, a primatologist at the CNRS Institute for Cognitive Sciences in France. Certain shapes and wood varieties create sounds that travel well through dense jungle.

The drummings are likely "a very important way to make contact," she said.

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At closer distances, chimps use a repertoire of vocal calls more complex than scientists once thought, according to a separate study in Science Advances.

Researchers analyzed how chimps combined sounds  such as a call associated with resting and one used to invite play  to create new meanings. In this example, the combined call was an invitation to nest together nearby at night.

We have probably underestimated the flexibility and complexity of animal communication," said Crockford, who was part of both research teams.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
You feel it in your body when they drumits insanely impressive, says Vesta Eleuteri.

Shes a cognitive biologist at the University of Vienna who studies chimpanzee drumming and observed over 350 drumming performances like this in five African countries.

Chimpanzees in West Africa hold onto trees with their hands while kicking against roots with their feet, emitting powerful sounds that travel long distances, sometimes over a half mile.

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Theyre so fast sometimes their hands and feet are a blur, says Catherine Hobaiter, primatologist at the University of St. Andrews, who was also involved with the research. They will jump between the buttresses on these huge rainforest trees and almost dance around them, hitting them with their feet and hands. Its really amazing to see.

Eleuteri and Hobaiters findings that chimpanzees drum rhythmically on tree roots, and that different groups drum with different styles, was recently published in Current Biology. Their observations suggest drumming is a way to share information with other members of the group. Its a unique mode of communication based on rhythmic percussiona skill that humans and chimpanzees share. Scientists think it may have arisen in a common ancestor the two species share.

Another new study on some of the same chimpanzees, published in Science Advances, found they combine vocal sounds to convey complex meanings, a communication system which could be a stepping stone between animal communication and human language.

Together, these chimpanzee behaviors can help scientists understand how human music-making and language first developed.

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Youve really got the building blocks of the kind of things weve used to make modern music, present long before humans were humans, says Hobaiter.

Communicating with drumming and calls

Rhythmic music-making has long been considered uniquely human, and percussion is one of the earliest forms of human musical expression. Drumming can have different individual and regional styles but typically consists of non-random timing: hits are evenly spaced, aligning to a set rhythm.

Eleuteri and Hobaiters previous research discovered chimpanzees drum on buttress rootslarge, wide roots growing above the soilto send information over long and short distances. Each chimpanzee has their own unique drumming style, and they combine drumming with hooting to share where they are in the forest and what they're doing.

Although all animals communicate, humans are considered the only species on Earth known to use language: combining sounds into words, and words into sentences, to create meaning.

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Other animals like birds vocalize to send messages, and while some species do combine these calls, this behavior is typically limited to a few types of calls and to the context of alerting others to predators. Bonobos, which are closely related to chimpanzees and humans, also use complex combinations, primatologists think the mysterious origins of human language might come from a common ancestor shared by all three species 5 to 7 million years ago.

The new drumming study analyzed 371 drumming bouts in 11 chimpanzee communities in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Until recently, there wasn't a lot of convincing evidence for rhythmic behavior in primates that has any resemblance with human musical rhythm, Pritty Patel-Grosz, a linguist at the University of Oslo who was not involved in the study but whose research explores rhythmic dancing in gibbons, wrote in an email. [The] observation that chimpanzee drumming on tree buttresses exhibits properties of human musical behavior is another huge breakthrough.

The same research project studying drumming chimps in Cote dIvoire also contributed to the new study on how chimps combine vocalizations. It analyzed over 4,000 recorded sounds from 53 chimpanzees.

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Calls were connected to specific events: feeding, nesting, approaching, aggression, or predator encounters. Two-call vocalizations were combined to convey more meaning than a simpler call, spanning a range of day-to-day activities: for example, a hoo" sound was usually used during feeding and travel, and a pant sound was mostly used during social activities with other chimpanzees, but a combined hoo and pant sound was used during nesting, creating a whole new meaning.

We expected the system to be versatile, but that was beyond our expectations, says study author Cedric Girard-Buttoz, evolutionary biologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). The system has most of the linguistic phenomena we find in language.

Complex chimpanzee vocalizations could represent an evolutionary bridge between more simplistic animal calls and open-ended human language, says Girard-Buttoz.

Chimpanzee communication may incorporate the seeds of a human-like system, Patel-Grosz writes of the findings.

Shared ancestors in rhythm and language

In human cognition, many scholars have been arguing that language and music are closely related, and they may share the same cognitive resources, wrote Patel-Grosz. For example studies showing the same parts of the brain process language and music.

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Patel-Grosz proposes further research can better clarify this connection: In other words, did chimpanzee vocal communication and chimpanzee rhythmic drumming evolve together, and can this inform our understanding of the evolution of language and music?

When investigating the evolution of human language, we usually compare it to the vocal communication of [animals], says Mael Leroux, evolutionary biologist at University of Rennes, who was not involved in the new studies. Human language is not vocal, its very much multimodal, a combination of sounds and gestures.

That suggests the origins of human language are also multimodal, Leroux says.

Different drumming styles were observed in the different communities researchers studied, which may also reflect the variation in human language, says Leroux.

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Western chimpanzees typically drummed more often and faster, while eastern chimpanzees drum more slowly and start drumming later in their hooting. Hobaiter thinks these differences are shaped by the different social structures seen between the eastern and western groupseastern chimpanzees are more aggressive and hierarchical, and western chimpanzees are more cohesive and egalitarianand Hobaiter points out that since rhythm is central to human sociality, dance, and speech, our social behaviors may have been tied to how we developed rhythm too.

This is the kind of science that wakes us up to the fact that every single population of chimpanzees is worth conserving and preserving, says Hobaiter. Were starting to recognize that they might have cultures in their communication, in their rhythm, in their social behavior if you lose a group, you lose the unique culture that goes with it.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in matters of international law, according to a joint statement released on Friday following Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

The two countries both stated their opposition to unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported the statement as saying, and will work together to defend the United Nations' central role in international affairs.

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Chinas exports to the United States tumbled in April while its trade with other economies surged, suggesting that President Donald Trump's tariffs offensive is hastening a shakeup in global supply chains.

Total exports from China rose 8.1% last month from a year earlier, much faster than the 2% pace most economists had been expecting. That was  however  much slower than the 12.4% year-on-year increase in March. Imports fell 0.2% in April from the year before.

Shipments to the US sank 21% in dollar terms as Trumps tariffs on most Chinese exports rose to as high as 145%. With Chinese tariffs on US goods at 125%, business between the two biggest economies has grown increasingly uncertain.

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China's imports from the US dropped more than 13% from a year earlier, while its politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States was nearly $20.5 billion (18.2bn) in April, down from about $27.2bn (24.2bn) a year earlier.

In the first four months of the year, Chinas exports to the United States fell 2.5% from a year earlier, while imports from the US fell 4.7%.

Tariff breakthroughs

A potential break in the tariffs stalemate could come as soon as this weekend. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other senior trade officials are due to meet with Chinese officials in Geneva on Saturday. But Beijing and Washington are at odds over a raft of issues, including colliding strategic interests that will may impede progress in the talks.

Some of the punitive tariffs, including Beijings retaliatory 125% tariffs on US exports, could be rolled back, but a full reversal is unlikely, Zichun Huang of Capital Economics said in a report.

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This means Chinas exports to the US are set for further declines over the coming months, not all of which will be offset by increased trade with other countries. We still expect export growth to turn negative later this year, Huang said.

Whatever the outcome of those discussions, the rapid increase in Chinese exports to other countries reflects a restructuring that began years ago but has gained momentum as Trump has raised barriers to exporting to the US.

A shift in the trading order

Global manufacturers have been looking for alternatives to a near total reliance on manufacturing in China after disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for more diverse options.

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The need for more versatile supply chains grew more apparent as Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese exports during his first term in office. Most of those remained during former President Joe Biden's term.

Exports to the United States accounted for about a tenth of Chinas total exports in April and the US is still China's largest single-country market. But the European Union and Southeast Asia are larger regional export markets.

Trade with a broader grouping, the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which does not include the United States, is still bigger. And exports to countries participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative, a vast network of Beijing-supported infrastructure projects, are bigger still.

Boosting a staggering economy

In the first four months of the year, exports to the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations rose 11.5% from a year earlier, and those to Latin America also climbed 11.5%. Shipments to India jumped nearly 16% by value, and exports to Africa surged 15%.

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Some of the fastest growth was in Asia, reflecting moves by Chinese and other manufacturers to diversify their supply chains outside of the Chinese mainland. Most notable were exports to Vietnam, which jumped 18% year-on-year. Exports to Thailand were up 20%.

Back in China, preliminary figures have shown a sharp decline in shipping and other trade activity. Earlier this week, Beijing announced a barrage of measures meant to counter the impact of the trade war on its economy, which was already struggling to regain momentum after the pandemic and a lengthy downturn in its housing sector.
(Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping pledged on Friday to support Myanmar in its rebuilding efforts following the Southeast Asian nation's deadliest earthquake in recent years, according to state media Xinhua.

Xi met with Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, in Moscow and discussed several initiatives.

The natural disaster has bolstered the position of Min Aung Hlaing, who has been isolated diplomatically for four years after his junta ousted an elected government, sparking a brutal civil war. The earthquake has enabled the junta leader to re-establish ties with regional powers, with offers of millions in aid, relief supplies, and rescue workers from countries including China, India and Russia.

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"Myanmar highly appreciates the three global initiatives proposed by China and the vision of building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and stands ready to work with China to address common challenges," Min Aung Hlaing said.

(Reporting by Bangalore Newsroom; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Diane Craft)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese embassies in India and Pakistan on Friday advised citizens to step up safety precautions and to be cautious about travelling to the South Asian countries, amidst the worst fighting in the region in nearly three decades.

The nuclear-armed neighbours have been clashing since India struck multiple locations in Pakistan on Wednesday that it said were "terrorist camps", in retaliation for a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month.

Chinese citizens in India and Pakistan should closely follow the situation and enhance security measures, separate statements from the embassies said.

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Beijing's embassy in Nepal also advised citizens to avoid areas along the Nepal-India border in a statement posted on its social media account on Friday.

Nepal and India have an open border, and Chinese citizens should avoid mistakenly entering India without a valid visa, the embassy said, adding that both India and Nepal have stepped up security efforts along their border amid the heightened tensions.

(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen and Liz Lee; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Sharon Singleton)
BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade has maintained resilience and stable growth since the beginning of this year despite challenges from external environment, official data showed on Friday.

China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 5.6 percent year on year in April, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Last month, China's goods exports rose 9.3 percent year on year to 2.27 trillion yuan (about 314 billion U.S. dollars), while imports went up 0.8 percent year on year to 1.57 trillion yuan.

Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis, said China's foreign trade has sustained steady growth since the beginning of this year thanks to the concerted efforts of various localities and departments in the face of external shocks.

In the first four months of this year, China's total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 2.4 percent to 14.14 trillion yuan, the data showed.

During the period, China's exports rose 7.5 percent to 8.39 trillion yuan while imports fell 4.2 percent to 5.75 trillion yuan.

The steady growth of China's foreign trade in the first four months fully reflected the country's economic resilience, said Wan Zhe, an expert from Beijing Normal University.

In particular, the robust foreign trade growth in April highlighted China's swift adjustment capability to cope with trade disputes and supply chain shocks, Wan said.

According to the GAC data, the growth rate of China's goods trade in April accelerated by 4.3 percentage points compared with the expansion recorded in the first quarter.

Exceeding market expectations, the latest performances of China's foreign trade sector have demonstrated the irreplaceability of the country's manufacturing sector within the global industrial chain, according to Wan.

The GAC data also showed continued structural improvement in China's foreign trade. In the first four months, China's export of mechanical and electrical products increased by 9.5 percent year on year to 5.04 trillion yuan, accounting for 60.1 percent of the country's total goods exports.

High-tech products showed outstanding performance with a total trade value of 1.52 trillion yuan in the first four months, a year on year increase of 7.4 percent, Lyu said.

In terms of trading partners, ASEAN remained China's largest trading partner in the January-April period. During this period, trade between China and the ASEAN bloc totaled 2.38 trillion yuan, a year on year increase of 9.2 percent.

During the same period, China's foreign trade with the European Union went up 1.1 percent year on year to 1.78 trillion yuan, while that with Belt and Road partner countries rose 3.9 percent to 7.25 trillion yuan.

China's foreign trade with the United States decreased by 2.1 percent year on year to 1.44 trillion yuan during this period, according to the data. 
Chinese exports to the U.S. plunged in April, as steep tariffs on China make it too costly for many U.S.-based retailers to import goods from the country.

President Trump ratcheted up his trade war with Beijing in April, hiking tariffs on Chinese goods to up to 145%. China retaliated with 125% levies on Americans goods.

As a result, shipments of goods from China to the U.S. in April dropped 21% compared with the same period one year earlier, data released Friday from China's General Administration of Customs shows. Chinese exports to Southeast Asian countries surged by the same amount, according to the April data, demonstrating how Mr. Trump's tariffs are already upending trade patterns.

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On Friday, Mr. Trump said in a post on his social media site Truth Social that the levies on China could come down to 80%. The lower rate "seems right," wrote the president, ahead of U.S.-China trade negotiations set to kick off this weekend in Switzerland.

While lower than the 145% tariffs currently in place, 80% levies would still make importing goods from China prohibitively expensive for many U.S.-based businesses. Many consumers, meanwhile, are unlikely to afford price hikes from steep tariffs at a time when they are already squeezed financially.

Upending trade patterns

Some business owners say they are skipping orders they would normally have already placed with Chinese factories, as they wait and see where tariff rates on China and other countries settle.

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Mr. Trump in April announced a bevy of country-specific tariffs, which he later placed on hold  with the exception of those on China  for 90 days. A 10% tariff in place on all imports to the U.S. remains in effect. Businesses say the 10% baseline tax is a challenge, but far easier to absorb than duties over 100%.

April's shakeup in the flow of goods around the world comes as many retailers rethink their supply chains, and some take steps to reduce their reliance on China, with steep levies in place.

Meanwhile, Chinese imports from the U.S. dropped more than 13% compared with April 2024. Beijing could bring down its 125% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods, if trade negotiations between the two countries progress this weekend.

UBS analysts expect U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to settle at around 34%, "as a more constructive tone and the start of high-level talks in Switzerland suggest both sides are open to deescalation and further negotiation," said Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, chief investment officer of global equities at UBS Global Wealth Management, in a research note.

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Capital Economics' China economist Zichun Huang added that U.S. tariffs inflict minimal harm to China, as exports to other countries in Asia offset the decline in shipments to the U.S.

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JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The 2025 Habitat for Humanity Women Build provided a unique opportunity: houses built by women, for women.

On Friday, women of Jackson and Washington counties came together to work on two houses for first-time female homeowners.

The homes are part of Chipola Area Habitat for Humanitys new subdivision. Its the organizations first subdivision in Marianna in over 30 years.

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Theres a shortage of housing of any kind. And so while we cant fix the entire problem, we can help move a few families forward and give them a decent place to live and help them have safe and affordable housing for the long term, Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Kevin Yoder said.

City of DeFuniak Springs announce new dates for LakeFest 2025

Womens Build volunteers are working on Chipola Habitats 107th and 108th homes.

Dozens of community members are serving alongside the future homeowner families to help make it a reality.

It shows us that we do have other people out in the community thats willing to help us become the homeowners that were soon to be, future homeowner Lekeria Williams said.

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Groups from the panhandle and beyond take part in the event.

Its really amazing to see the expansion of the impact beyond Alabama. So, to be able to come to these other states to be able to bring these homes to other communities is really valuable, Auburn University Rural Studio Assistant Research Professor Mackenzie Stagg said.

The annual Women Build event is meaningful to all involved.

It is good to have a new beginning, something to offer for our family and our kids. To be a part of it from day one to see it built from the ground up is pretty exciting, future homeowner Keshia Williams added.

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Chipola habitat is something big for this community. Its a blessing for some families here. And also, I think this has helped the community all get together, bind together, Florida Public Utilities Marianna Manager of Electric Operations, Rhondon Gray said.

The land for the Gillis Ridge seven-home subdivision was donated to Habitat back in the early 2000s.

Around 2020, the local chapter received a low-interest loan from Habitat for Humanity International, partnership money from the city of Marianna, and donations from individuals and businesses to pay for the project.

The first home is expected to be completed later this year.

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If youre interested in volunteering with Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity, 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 mypanhandle.com.
This is an adapted excerpt from the May 6 episode of All In with Chris Hayes.

On Wednesday, a federal appeals court ruled that detained Tufts University Ph.D. student Rumeysa Ozturk must be transferred from a detention center in Louisiana, where she has been held for over a month, to Vermont within a week. There, a judge will hear her appeal to be released on bail.

Ozturk, a legal resident in the U.S. on a student visa, was snatched off the street by plainclothes immigration agents earlier this year. She is currently being imprisoned for her protected free speech, seemingly after she wrote an op-ed in her school paper last year that was critical of Israels war in Gaza and Tufts response to student protests.

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Ozturk's detention is part of what appears to be an authoritarian attempt to criminalize thought, political speech and protest in this country. Donald Trump and his administration are attempting to use the full force of the government to punish those who disagree with U.S. support for Israels war.

We have seen the state weaponized against legal immigrants like Ozturk, Mahmoud Khalil and others. It is also cracking down on U.S. citizens, putting enormous pressure on public and private universities where some of the most organized and active protests surrounding Gaza have formed.

On Wednesday night, at least 80 people were detained at Columbia University after protesters occupied the schools main library and refused to leave. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has aligned himself closely with Trump, called the protest unacceptable.

This kind of stuff is happening all over the country: Cities and universities are collaborating with the Trump administrations pressure campaign. According to reporting from The Intercept, New York University tried to bar more than 30 pro-Palestinian law students who were under disciplinary investigations from taking their final exams if they did not first renounce their right to protest. The university later walked back that demand amid public pressure.

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In a statement to the Intercept, a university official said, It is not the case that any student is prohibited from taking in-person exams or accessing student health centers as a result of engaging in protest activity. In cases concerning reports of serious disciplinary violations, some students have been asked to sign a use of space agreement which restates the Law Schools policy prohibiting disruption during the reading and exam period.

In Texas, a federal lawsuit was filed last week accusing the University of Texas at Austin of collaborating with the state government to suppress pro-Palestine speech, in violation of the First Amendment. Part of that suit includes body cam audio of a police officer questioning the legality of arresting peaceful protesters.

It is the closest thing I have seen to McCarthyism in my lifetime. It is an attempt to take a specific, constitutionally protected ideological perspective and intimidate people away from expressing it through threats of force and banishment.

It has gotten to the point where, when I saw viral images of musician Dave Matthews holding up signs reading Stop the Genocide and Stop Killing Children, my first thought was to check his immigration status for fear that the Trump administration would have him deported. (Turns out he is a naturalized U.S. citizen.)

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But it is crucial not to lose sight of what these people are protesting in the first place. Gaza has been bombed for a year and a half. According to Save the Children, 15,000 children have reportedly been killed since the start of the war. The United Nations reports that 1.9 million people have been displaced, as the whole strip has been effectively razed to the ground. (The Israeli military has repeatedly said it does everything possible to limit civilian casualties in Gaza.)

All of which happened with the sometimes tacit  often explicit  support of the Biden administration, according to a new investigation from Israels Channel 13, which included interviews with nine current and former U.S. officials. That report was translated by Drop Site News and shared on X.

After all that, the Trump administration says the real extremism is happening on college campuses. Now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving on to the newest phase of his plan, which, at least as reported and communicated by ministers in his own government, appears to be bringing about an ethnic cleansing in Gaza. BTselem, a prominent Israeli human rights group, has said that ethnic cleansing is already underway. (Israel has strongly denied accusations of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.)

But Netanyahu and his administration are openly promising to destroy everything in Gaza and to make life there so miserable that 2 million Palestinians will be forced to flee, and hopes for the return of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas are almost certainly extinguished.

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Just this week, Israels finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said, Gaza will be completely destroyed, causing civilians to leave in large numbers to third countries.

This will change the reality, the history of the state of Israel for decades to come, he continued. We must invent much more than this, especially politically vis-a-vis the United States, and get those third countries. There is a good discourse that is moving forward with them and it should be much more meaningful.

Smotrich is not the only member of Netanyahus government openly saying stuff like this. In March, The Times of Israel quoted National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir as saying, Gaza must endure hell. And hell also means bombing all the aid depots that Hamas holds, as well as halting the supply of electricity and water,

Doing so, he continued, will cause mass starvation of Hamas terrorists and their supporters in the Gaza Strip and will allow us to return to war with tremendous force, when Hamas terrorists are weak and exhausted, without any significant ability to fight back  and we can crush them without difficulty.

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On Wednesday, Chef Jose Andres World Central Kitchen announced on social media that [a]fter serving more than 130 million total meals and 26 million loaves of bread over the past 18 months, World Central Kitchen no longer has the supplies to cook meals or bake bread in Gaza.

Its been more than two months since Israel announced it would stop all goods and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Instead of opposing that, our government is enabling it. The Trump administration has been talking about what country will take in the Palestinians through mass population transfers  a phrase that recalls some of the worst episodes in human history.

We are facing a U.S. and Israeli policy that is more aggressively radical and extremist, more flagrantly in violation of all international law and human rights, than ever before. But if you point that out, the Trump administration may try to label you a terrorist, an enemy of the state, and have you removed from the country.

Meanwhile, too many top figures in the Democratic Party have effectively abdicated their leadership on this issue. What exactly are young Americans who have increasingly soured on Israeli policy in Gaza supposed to do? Should students shut up and pretend their government isnt reportedly abetting mass civilian death and population transfer?

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I can tell you this: No amount of repression and bullying is going to successfully stamp out the movement against this carnage, and if history is any indication, it is just as likely to make the movement stronger.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As a retired Detroit Police Department investigator with over four decades of experience investigating violent crime, and as someone who once stood trial for second-degree murder after acting to save my partners life and my own, I understand, in the most personal and painful way, the emotional, legal and moral weight of a split-second decision made under duress.

In 1993, during a gang enforcement operation, I believed my partner had just been shot. I returned fire in what I perceived to be an ambush, an incident sparked when a third party inserted himself into our investigation. Prosecutors charged both my partner and I with murder.

The headlines were deafening. Public judgment swift. But once the jury heard the full story, understood the peril we faced, and saw the situation in context, they acquitted us.

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The scars of that ordeal stayed with me, not out of guilt, but from being publicly vilified before the facts were even understood.

The media room display shows Christopher Schurr taking the stand to testify in 17th Circuit Court on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Schurr, 34, is charged with second-degree murder stemming from the April 2022 fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya.

Full transparency, due process

Officers carry the burden not just of their actions, but of how those actions are perceived. In todays climate, Im not certain Id want a public jury deciding my fate.

But I am certain that full transparency and due process are necessary in every case where a life is lost at the hands of police.

Thats why I publicly supported the decision to bring Officer Christopher Schurr, now a former Grand Rapids police officer, to trial for the killing of Patrick Lyoya.

A man was shot in the back of the head. The officer was white. The deceased was Black. The event occurred in a city already strained by distrust between law enforcement and the community. The killing was captured on video, and the surrounding facts were unclear.

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That is precisely the kind of case where a trial isnt just appropriate, its essential.

The heart of justice

To those who criticized my stance, including some in law enforcement: Due process is not disloyalty. Its the very heart of justice. Trials dont weaken police legitimacy, they reinforce it. Public trust is eroded not when officers are held accountable, but when accountability is absent.

Here are the uncontested facts:

On April 4, 2022, Officer Schurr initiated a traffic stop involving Patrick Lyoya, a Congolese refugee, due to a license plate issue.

Lyoya exited the vehicle and appeared disoriented. He did not comply with verbal commands.

A physical altercation ensued.

Schurr deployed his Taser, which Lyoya either grabbed or deflected.

After approximately 90 seconds of struggle, Schurr drew his firearm and shot Lyoya in the back of the head.

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According to prosecutors, Lyoya never had full control of the Taser. According to Schurr, he feared it would be used against him.

That distinction is at the heart of the legal question.

What a trial is for

Under Michigan law, deadly force is justified if an officer has a reasonable and honest belief that their life is in imminent danger. The trial was necessary to determine whether that standard was met. Was this a reasonable fear under the circumstances, or an excessive, criminal overreaction?

This is precisely what a trial is for.

As someone who has endured that crucible, I can tell you: Trials are grueling. But they are the only venue where fear can be measured against fact, and training evaluated against outcome. Thats not persecution, its the rule of law in action.

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The video was jarring. A man face-down. A gun drawn. A fatal shot. For many in the community, especially those who have witnessed similar tragedies, it resembled an execution.

But context matters. The physical struggle. The malfunction or resistance to the Taser. The split-second judgment. None of it automatically exonerates the officer. But it all demands examination.

We must be clear: Not all killings by police are criminal. But not all are justified, either. Officers are trained to assess threat, to de-escalate, to use force proportionally, and to retreat if safe. Whether those principles were followed here was a question for the court, not for the media, and not for public opinion alone.

The badge stands for justice

When a white officer kills a Black man in America, history walks into the courtroom with them. Communities see patterns. Officers see accusations. But justice must be rooted not in identity, but in evidence and standards.

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To my fellow officers: A trial is not an indictment of all police. Its a reaffirmation that the badge stands for justice, not exemption. If a shooting is lawful, let the facts show it. If not, we must own that too. Thats how trust is built.

On Thursday, the trial ended in a hung jury. Prosecutors haven't decided whether Schurr will be re-tried.

I wasn't surprised. The decision was a sobering reminder of the complexities of our justice system, especially in cases involving police use of force. The jury, made up of ordinary citizens, listened to all the evidence, examined the facts, and deliberated for days. In the end, they could not come to a unanimous decision, and that is part of our legal process.

A hung jury is not a victory or loss for either side. It is a signal that, despite the gravity of the evidence and the emotion surrounding the case, the jurors were genuinely divided. That division reflects the larger tensions in our society, about policing, race, accountability and justice.

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But the value of this trial endures. It reminded us that every life lost in an encounter with law enforcement deserves a full and fair examination, not just for justice, but for the preservation of public trust.

This was never about condemning Schurr personally. It was about ensuring that no death, especially one so public, so charged, and so painful, goes unquestioned.

That is not a threat to law enforcement. It is the cornerstone of its legitimacy.

Just one mans opinion.

Ira Todd spent 35 years with the Detroit Police Department, retiring as an investigator. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Christopher Schurr charges in Lyoya killing were rule of law | Opinion
Hours after Pope Leo XIV  the new leader of the Catholic Church  appeared on the main balcony of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican on Thursday, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the pontiff a message of goodwill.

On behalf of the leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we extend heartfelt prayers and greetings to Pope Leo XIV, wrote President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. This significant moment in time for the Catholic Church is a reminder of the enduring importance of faith to people everywhere.

The leaders noted that as fellow followers of Jesus Christ, they look forward to continued opportunities to work together to bless the lives of Gods children everywhere.

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May we strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ to care for the poor and needy, become peacemakers and create a world where faith and goodness can flourish, they wrote.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. | Alessandra Tarantino

Pope Leo XIV is the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88. The conclave to choose a new leader began on Wednesday.

White smoke appeared at the Vatican earlier today, signaling that the 133 cardinals sequestered in the Sistine Chapel had made a selection. A little more than an hour later, Pope Leo XIV greeted the public.

The First Presidency also issued a statement on April 21 following Pope Francis passing.

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We join the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His courageous and compassionate leadership has blessed countless lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who looked to him for inspiration and counsel. As the world pauses to remember his example of forgiveness and service, we feel deep gratitude for the goodness of a life well lived and rejoice in the hope of a glorious resurrection made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Church of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church have worked together for many years  promoting religious liberty and the family and caring for the poor and responding to disasters.

After visiting the Vatican in 2019, President Nelson said the faiths share a mutual concern for the people who suffer throughout the world and want to relieve human suffering. They also both promote the importance of religious liberty, the importance of the family, our mutual concern for the youth [and] for the secularization of the world and the need for people to come to God and worship him, pray to him and have the stability that faith in Jesus Christ will bring in their lives, he said.

During the visit to the Vatican, President Nelson met with Pope Francis in what was the first meeting of its kind between leaders of the two faiths. Following the March 9, 2019, meeting, President Nelson talked about the experience.

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We had a most cordial, unforgettable experience with His Holiness. He was most gracious and warm and welcoming. What a sweet, wonderful man he is, and how fortunate the Catholic people are to have such a gracious, concerned, loving and capable leader, he said.

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and President M. Russell Ballard, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, March 9, 2019. | The Vatican

In addition to that meeting, other Latter-day Saint leaders have participated in interfaith dialogue at the Vatican, including President Eyring, who shook hands with Pope Francis during a Vatican summit on marriage in 2014, according to ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

In 2010, the late President M. Russell Ballard visited Catholic leaders at the Vatican. In 1995, the late President Gordon B. Hinckley gave a copy of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism to the Vatican Library.

Catholic and Latter-day Saint leaders have also met in many other places. For example, in 2010 the late Cardinal Francis George (19372015), then the leader of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke at Brigham Young University and met with Latter-day Saint apostles. Apostles have discussed issues of common ground with Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York. And several Catholic leaders have made visits to Utah. This includes Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville (then the president of the USCCB), who visited Temple Square in 2016, and Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia, who has spoken at Brigham Young University several times. In 2015, Archbishop Chaput invited Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to share principles Latter-day Saints employ to strengthen families during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

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In Utah, the Church has cultivated a strong relationship in recent decades with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. President Ballard and Elder Christofferson joined Catholics in Utah for the installation of Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2017 to lead Catholics in Utah. President Ballard also attended the installation mass for Archbishop John C. Wester in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Archbishop Wester, Bishop Soliss predecessor, was the Catholic bishop in Utah for eight years.
For the record:

12:58 p.m. May 9, 2025: An earlier version of this piece dropped words from the quote of Pope Leos balcony speech. He characterized Pope Francis voice not only as weak, but also always courageous.



As the world welcomes Pope Leo XIV, many are finding hope in the promise of expanding the legacy of Pope Francis  a shepherd who reshaped the Catholic Church by drawing it closer to the poor, the excluded and the wounded. This moment of transition is not just ceremonial. It is a spiritual and moral inflection point.

In his first public words as pope, Leo XIV proclaimed: We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue. That single sentence signals continuity with the soul of Francis papacy  and also charges us with something urgent: to build.

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Read more: Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass as details emerge of how votes coalesced in secret conclave

But even before those words were uttered, Catholics worldwide should understand the deep significance of the name, Leo. Pope Leo XIV now carries a name steeped in social tradition. Leo XIII first framed workers rights and economic dignity as sacred ground in Rerum Novarum. This 1891 encyclical revolutionized Catholic engagement with the modern world. It emerged during an era of massive industrial upheaval, as workers faced unparalleled exploitation and fundamental attacks on human dignity  a time not unlike today. The choice of the name Leo is a very specific act, signaling the gifts of the new pope.

The values that animated Francis  mercy, justice, human dignity and care for creation  were championed by his predecessors, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. But Francis lived them with striking clarity, embodying them not just in teaching, but in action and encounter.

Over the past decade, I had the privilege of working alongside Francis through a Vatican office for human rights and social and economic justice. I also served as a delegate to international gatherings of grassroots organizers that Francis convened to center the voices of the poor. Through that work, I witnessed firsthand the vision that defined his papacy.

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Read more: L.A. is a capital of Catholicism. It has direct and indirect ties to the new pope

In 2015, at the churchs World Meeting of Popular Movements, I heard Francis decry the unfettered pursuit of money as a new colonialism and lifted up the sacred rights of housing, labor and land. The future of humanity, he said, is in the hands of peoples and in their ability to organize.

Four years later, I met him again and gave him an image from Dolores Mission in Los Angeles depicting Mary and Jesus as migrants. I asked what message I could bring home. He smiled, pointed to my heart, and said: Quedate con el pueblo. Stay with the people.

That is the call the church inherits. Pope Leo XIV honored its spirit when he said, Let us keep in our hearts the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome.  God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.

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Read more: Robert Prevost, first pope from U.S. in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV

At this moment of change and possibility, four principles that Francis lived, and that Leo XIV has begun to echo, must guide the church.

Cultivating encounter In a time of social fragmentation and loneliness, the church must become a home for relationships. One in five Americans reports having no close confidant. Loneliness is now considered as dangerous to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Francis reminded us: We do not love concepts or ideas; we love people. Catholic parishes are among the last places where people of different races, classes and generations gather. But they must become spaces of belonging and mission, not just Sunday obligation.

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Community organizing offers one path forward. Through small-group listening and storytelling, parishes can become schools of shared purpose. As the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has been paraphrased, Church is not the place you come to  it is the place you go from.

Read more: Why 'Leo'? New pope shows support for workers, labor unions

Integral human development This is the name of the Vatican office I collaborated with. Its work with migrants, war refugees, peacemakers, the poor and workers is based on the belief that spiritual formation and social transformation go hand in hand. We need contemplative practice and emotional and spiritual resilience to navigate this age of uncertainty.

Integral human development means resisting the binary thinking so common in politics and the media, seeking truth beyond ideology, and leading with mercy. In a world of outrage and division, these are not luxuries, they are essentials.

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Civic leadership Francis challenged the church to become bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than trapped in self-preservation. Meanwhile, inequality, climate collapse and democratic erosion threaten the common good. In the 2024 election, California alone saw 1.7 million fewer ballots than in 2020. Too many people feel invisible or discarded.

The church must follow Jesus call to be the salt of the Earth and light of the world. Salt preserves. Light reveals. A Salt and Light Movement would help Catholics establish relationships across difference, organize locally and bring Gospel values to public life. As one priest told me of marching in the 1963 March on Washington: It forever changed my understanding of who God is.

Read more: Contributor: I'm praying for a pope of color

Moral leadership We face a crisis of courage. Francis warned that fear leads us to feel trapped and paralyzed. His answer was joy, imagination, and public witness. Leo XIV seems ready to continue that witness, by always seeking peace and justice. Seeking to work with men and women who are faithful to Jesus Christ without fear to proclaim the gospel.

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The world needs us not to be indifferent or hopeless in the midst of darkness. The world needs people of faith and goodwill who choose to encounter their neighbors, expand their circle of human concern and summon the courage to act in civic life for peace, justice and the care of our common home. Pope Leo XIV is a spark of light that gives us faith that a more compassionate and inclusive church and world are possible. May he guide, as Francis said, with humility and conviction this process of change.

Joseph Tomas Mckellar is executive director of PICO California, a statewide faith-based organizing network. He collaborated with Pope Francis through the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and served as a delegate to multiple World Meetings of Popular Movements.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  A recent University of Cincinnati graduate won big while on a trip across the river in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Lottery said Rohith Kandula was stopping for gas when he decided to buy some lottery tickets on a mid-April trip to the Fort Wright Shell on Dixie Highway with his four best friends and fellow recent University of Cincinnati graduates.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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According to lottery officials, Kandulas first ticket won him $10, which he used to buy another $5 Kentucky Jackpot game, winning the $125,000 top prize.

The five friends scanned the ticket at the Fort Wright Shell, and after seeing the amount, immediately ran back to their car.

Its like we didnt know what to do at that time because it was a big winner, Kandula said. We took the scratch-off to the car and we all started shoutingloudly. My heart was beating like 120, no 160. I was in shock. I could hear my heartbeat, he joked.

Kandula said he was still in shock a few days after his win, so he downloaded the Kentucky Lottery app and scanned the winning ticket.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

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I was still thinking, is this true or not? he said.

Kandula road-tripped with his four friends to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters recently to claim his ticket.

Lottery officials said the five friends went to school together in India and all transferred to the University of Cincinnatis information technology masters program in 2023. The group graduated in December 2024.

Kandula plans to use the winnings to pay off his student loans and send money to his family.

My family back home has worked so hard for me, so I want to give back to them, he said.

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Kandula said the group is planning to take a big trip together that he will pay for to celebrate his friends being with him on the day of his big win.

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After taxes, Kandula took home a check for $82,500. The Fort Wright Shell will receive $1,250 for selling this winning ticket.

According to a news release, two $125,000 top prizes remain on the $5 Kentucky Jackpot Scratch-off, along with 22 $1,000 prizes.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Live coverage of this story has ended. Please see our story here for the latest coverage.

Family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers are gathering Friday for a final time around Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson, who was struck by a car and killed May 2 while directing traffic outside the University of Cincinnati's commencement ceremony. Follow The Enquirer's coverage for updates throughout the day.

2:07 p.m.: Before burial, a final radio call and 'Amazing Grace'

As hundreds of deputies and police officers stood silently at Spring Grove Cemetery, a bugler performed "Taps" and a radio dispatcher made a final, symbolic radio call for Deputy Henderson.

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After a horse-drawn caisson carried Henderson's flag-draped coffin to its burial place, a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace."

The funeral procession arrived at the cemetery just before 1 p.m., where it was greeted by flags, dozens of police cruisers and the sheriff's bagpipe and drum corps. Thousands gathered along the procession route to show their respects.

Mitch Batschelett, a 25-year-old Ph.D. student at Cincinnati Childrens hospital in Corryville, watched the funeral procession along Martin Luther King Drive.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said. It speaks to the sadness. Its hard to put into words."

12:58 p.m. Procession arrives at Spring Grove Cemetery

The procession transporting Deputy Henderson's body has arrived at Spring Grove Cemetery for a private service with family and friends.

11:45 a.m.: Friend says Henderson's 'shift on Earth was all too short'

In his eulogy of Deputy Henderson, Lt. Dave Downing remembered his friend as the person who always was there for others, first as a Marine and later as a deputy who volunteered for the most dangerous assignments, from the bomb squad to the SWAT team.

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He said Henderson could lighten the mood with a well-timed joke and often set the standard for the department with his professionalism, promptness and intensity on the job.

When Henderson relieved his fellow deputies after a long shift, Downing said, everyone knew they were leaving their work in good hands.

"Go home," Henderson would say. "I got it."

Downing said he heard Henderson say those words more times than he could count. "It's finally our turn to relieve Larry," Downing said. "His shift on Earth was all too short."

Then Downing asked the many officers and deputies in attendance to join him in saying to Henderson now that his shift was over.

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"Go home," he said. "I got it."

After the eulogy, Rabbi Mendy Kalmanson, the sheriff department's chaplain, urged mourners to remember Henderson by living their lives as he did, as "someone who quietly and consistently did good."

Doing so, he said, is the best way to combat the darkness many of them feel now as they grieve for Henderson and his family. "A little light dispels much darkness," Kalmanson said. "In a dark room, even a flicker of light can change everything."

Following the service, hundreds of officers and deputies prepared to join a long procession from Cintas Center to Spring Grove Cemetery, where Henderson will be buried.

11:20 a.m.: Sheriff McGuffey says Henderson walked 'the path of justice'

Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, speaking to her own deputies and to hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the country, said every officer raises his or her hand to swear "an oath to walk the path of justice."

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But she said no officer does that alone. She said husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and countless others share the burden that oath requires.

"Our families," McGuffey said, "they have their hands raised, too."

When officers risk their lives, she said, families worry and wait, And when they die upholding their oath, she said, families suffer most. But McGuffey said they need not suffer alone, because they are part of an extended family of law enforcement officers.

"It is then, in the darkest of times, that we must grab on to each other so we do not lose our way," she said. "We will never walk alone."

11 a.m.: Memorial service begins with tribute to Deputy Henderson

Uniformed pallbearers escorted Deputy Henderson's flag-draped coffin to the stage at Cintas Center at 11 a.m. Friday as a bagpiper played.

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Family and friends took their seats and joined Rabbi Mendy Kalmanson, a chaplain with the Hamilton County Sheriff's office, in a prayer at the start of the memorial service.

"We thank you for Larry's life, his courage and his service," Kalmanson said. "May Larry rest in your eternal care."

The Rev. Steve Angi, a Catholic priest and police chaplain, read a Gospel reading proclaiming that "love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

"Love never fails," Angi said.

10:35 a.m.: Arena fills with mourners for service. 'It's an honor to be here'

Law enforcement officers from around the country joined the thousands of mourners at Cintas Center early Friday for the memorial service for Deputy Henderson.

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Sgt. Nicholas Cervantes came from Chicago with the nonprofit Brotherhood for the Fallen. Cervantes has been a member for two years.Its a tragedy, but its an honor to be here, Cervantes said.

Though several thousand people have arrived, the arena remains quiet as guests pay their respects. A giant American flag hangs from the stage, surrounded by flowers and a photograph of Deputy Henderson in uniform.

Karen Dirr is a Cincinnati native, but traveled from Covington to be here. She said she just wanted to do her part.When I heard about it, I just felt sad, she said, but added, Its great that were coming together.

Two deputies from the Vigo County Sheriffs Office in Indiana said they go to many services for fallen officers in the region. One of them, Deputy Jason Parker, said they came to show solidarity with Henderson's family and fellow deputies.

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We want to show the family they are supported nationwide, Parker said.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich, who secured an aggravated murder indictment Thursday against Rodney Hinton Jr., the man accused of killing Henderson, arrived with several members of her office.

"It's just a devastating tragedy," she said.

8:30 a.m.: Procession arrives at Cintas Center, along with hundreds of mourners

The funeral procession from Spring Grove Cemetery arrived at Xavier University's Cintas Center, just as hundreds of Henderson's fellow sheriff's deputies streamed into the arena for the public visitation and memorial service.

The black hearse carrying Henderson's body was accompanied by dozens of police cruisers and motorcycles. The procession was met at Cintas by a large American flag hanging from the ladders of fire trucks.

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The service is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

7:35 a.m.: Flags, signs and mourners greet first funeral procession

The first funeral procession honoring Henderson got underway at 7 a.m. Hundreds of people stood along the route from Spring Grove Cemetery to Xavier University's Cintas Center, where a public service will be held.

A black hearse flanked by police motorcycles passed by mourners clutching American flags and signs. Fellow officers saluted. A bagpiper played.

"We remember & honor Deputy Larry Henderson," read one sign.

"In remembrance," read another.

In the crowd along Beechmont Avenue in Anderson Township, Linda Obert, 69, stood with other onlookers, waiting for the procession to pass. She said she came to show support for Henderson, a retired Marine who served 33 years as a deputy, and for all law enforcement officers.

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I was just horrified, Obert said of her reaction when she learned of Hendersons death. It just hurt my heart to hear that.

A public memorial service for Henderson is scheduled at Cintas Center at 11 a.m. Two funeral processions, one before and one after the service, also will give friends and strangers an opportunity to pay their respects.

Dozens of police cruisers from communities across Greater Cincinnati arrived at Cintas Center ahead of the procession, as firefighters unfurled a large American flag from ladder trucks. Hundreds of Henderson's fellow sheriff's deputies began streaming into the arena shortly after 8 a.m.

Later, when Henderson's body returns to Spring Grove Cemetery, a horse-drawn caisson that replicates one used at Arlington National Cemetery will carry Henderson to his burial place.

The man charged in Henderson's death, Rodney Hinton Jr., is accused of intentionally driving his car into Henderson in apparent retaliation for the shooting death of his 18-year-old son, Ryan, who was shot and killed May 1 by a Cincinnati police officer while running from a stolen car with a gun. Hinton is charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Schedule for funeral services and routes for processions

Here's what you need to know about the services and processions Friday:

The public visitation is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Cintas Center, 1624 Musketeer Drive.

The public service is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cintas Center.

The first procession begins at 7 a.m. at Spring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave. This is the route:

Beginning at the cemetery, it will turn right on Mitchell.

Travel Interstate 75 south to Interstate 471, then south to eastbound Interstate 275.

Take the exit for state Route 125, Beechmont Avenue.

Turn left on Beechmont Avenue.

Turn right on Wolfangel Road.

Turn left on State Road.

Turn left on Five Mile Road.

The procession will then travel west on I-275, north on I-471, and north on Interstate 71.

Exit left on Martin Luther King.

Turn left on Gilbert Avenue.

Turn left on Victory Parkway.

Turn right on Hopkins.

Turn right on Webster to the Cintas Center at Xavier University.

Following the funeral, the procession will leave the Cintas Center onto Webster Avenue.

It will then travel:

Left on Hopkins Avenue.

Left on Victory Parkway.

Right on Gilbert Avenue.

Right on Martin Luther King Drive.

Right on Clifton Avenue.

Left onto Spring Grove Avenue, ending at the cemetery.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Deputy Larry Henderson laid to rest at Spring Grove Cemetery
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  After a heated city council meeting yesterday over the new Enmarket arena parking lot that, if completed, will be the most expensive parking lot in Georgias history.

29 million dollars. Thats how much money the City of Savannah would spend on the flat surface Enmarket Arena parking lot if the new 14-million-dollar proposal gets approved at the workshop set to take place in two weeks.

Council members have a right to be outraged right now, and the public has a right to be outraged because we burned through $15 million so far, Nick Palumbo District 4 Alderman said. The same contractor has billed us for an additional $1.9 million, which we have not paid. And the city is now recommending that we continue with the same contractor for another $14 million. I think, honestly, we need to ask whether or not theyre going to be able to finish the job. What has changed on the site to render this recommendation?

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According to the cities contract, they are required to remediate the site due to the soil in the area being contaminated. Palumbo said there are a lot of other less expensive ways to fulfill their obligations.

The alternatives include we dont have a sidewalk that runs east to west from the arena to the site, Palumbo said. We dont have a bike lane that runs east to west, from the arena to the site, you know, where all of the hotels and parking are downtown. We dont have a safe mobility connection that runs east to west thats there.

Palumbo said other council members agree with him that the parking lot is not needed and would add no value to the city or the patrons who call it home.

It is in the 100-year flood plain adjacent to the Springfield Canal, surface parking produces the heat island effect, making our environment worse. And it really doesnt add any value to the community whatsoever, outside of just more convenient parking for the arena and for those arena patrons, perhaps, Palumbo said.

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The workshop is set for May 22, and they will be taking a deep dive into the budget and other options available instead. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
MOSCOW, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China and Serbia should carry forward the ironclad friendship, boost mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the high-quality building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. 
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso Department of Public Health, along with the El Paso Fire Department, will host a free drive-thru measles vaccine event at the El Paso Zoo.

The event will be from 2 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 19, at the El Paso Zoo, 4001 E. Paisano.

According to the news release by the City of El Paso, the event is free and open to all community members who need a measles vaccine; no appointment or insurance is needed.

We need the community to ensure they are up-to-date with their measles or MMR vaccine, said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, city-county health authority. Vaccinating ourselves and our children not only protects our families but also helps prevent the spread of the disease within our community.

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According to the City, measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread rapidly, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area.

Common symptoms of measles include the following:

Fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes.

Rash that begins on the face and spreads downward.

Infected individuals are contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears (Day 0 is the day the rash begins).

In addition, those at increased risk of contracting measles include:

Unvaccinated individuals.

Recent travelers to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks.

Immunocompromised individuals, including pregnant women, people with HIV and those undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments.

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The measles vaccine is highly effective, with two doses providing approximately 97 percent protection. Although rare, vaccinated individuals may still contract the virus, but they are far less likely to experience severe symptoms or transmit it to others, the City said in a news release.

Those who want to participate in the event should bring their shot record, if available, according to the City.

According to the City, adults under 68 years old who do not have a record of receiving the vaccine are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

Pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems should not receive the vaccine, the City said.

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For more information on measles symptoms, vaccination and potential exposure can contact the City of El Pasos Mealses Hotline at (915) 212-HELP (4357), call 211 or visit the Citys website under the Vaccination and Immunization tab.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM)  Mayor Danene Sorace said Thursday that affordable housing is a topic on the mind of every mayor across Pennsylvania and nationwide.

For a city, it can be difficult to find room to squeeze in new housing. Its leading Lancaster down the path of protecting the aging homes it already has.

It is often one repair, one leaking roof, one boiler thats not working, one collapsed sewer line that is the difference between whether or not theyre going to be able to stay in their home or if theyre going to need to sell and relocate to some place else that may not be as affordable long term, Mayor Sorace said.

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This isnt just a Lancaster problem. Governor Josh Shapiro is looking to address the issue and provide dollars in his next budget.

The governors proposal calls for $50 million in a housing stock restoration program to restore our aging homes, Rick Siger, the secretary of Pennsylvanias Department of Community and Economic Development, said.

Lancaster received a grant in 2020 for around $10 million to make necessary repairs inside aging homes.

In 2024 alone, the city invested $3.75 million in our aging housing stock and helped more than 200 low to moderate income households make needed home repairs, addressing a variety of health and safety issues, Mayor Sorace said.

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Those repairs are made possible with the help of the citys Office of Healthy Homes, which is looking to combat issues such as lead poisoning.

Were really trying to let people know that lead is really just the tip of the iceberg, Elaine Esch Lapp, the lead program manager for the Office of Healthy Homes, said. I know a lot of caretakers of young children worry about lead poisoning.

Mayor Sorace feels confident in Healthy Homes work across the city.

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I know that the work that our led team is doing is transforming the lives of our little ones because they will not be impaired for their entire lives by lead poisoning, Sorace said.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  The Better Business Bureau serving Western Virginia and the City of Roanoke recognized Thursday, May 8 as scam survivor awareness day, and will continue to do so on the second Thursday in May moving forward.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging more scam victims to report their experiences in hopes of raising awareness and preventing more people falling victim to scams in the future.

One scam victim spoke with WFXR, but her name has been altered to Katherine Jones for this story.

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Soon after Jones graduated college as a first-generation student, she took on the burden of student loan repayment.

When she was contacted by a group claiming to be a third-party repayment service that offered loan forgiveness, she was relieved.

I thought I had found what looked like the legitimate resource that was going to be the most helpful to me, that was going to be the best repayment option for me, she said.

The company accurately reflected her FAFSA loan balance and had access to personal information that made the site look more credible.

But after about six months of payments, Jones noticed that her balance was staying level, continuing to accrue interest.

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That was really the moment when they didnt have an answer that made sense to me, she said. They didnt have something that I could concrete see that progress was being made.

Better Business Bureau warns of raising AI scams

Jones identified other people sharing similar experiences online, prompting her to sound the alarm and report the scam.

She was able to get her money back, but said the experience still left her shaken.

In the end, it definitely left me with a lot more anxiety when it comes to trying to make sure Im talking to the right people and that its a trustworthy source that all my data is going to, said Jones.

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She said it took some time to share the story with family and friends as a result of embarrassment.

The BBB says that those feelings lead many financial scams to go unreported, as some victims feel like they are to blame.

These scammers are criminals, said Julie Wheeler, president of the BBB serving western Virginia. This is no different than being held up on the corner with a gun. We want people to recognize that it isnt you. You didnt do something wrong. Youre not to blame for it.

Data from the BBB says that about 50 percent of scam victims report feelings of stress and anxiety after the crime, particularly if it causes them to lose large sums of money.

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Scam survivor awareness day seeks to change that.

What were trying to do here is recognize those who have been through these terrible financial scams and have come out on the other side positively and have figured out how to use their stories to help others, said Wheeler.

Jones said she was ultimately compelled to share her story in hopes it would help other victims feel less isolated, and to prevent future people from becoming victims.

Trust your gut, she advised. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Err on that its probably a scam until they can prove to you its not, versus the other way around.

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For more information on scam prevention, visit the BBB website.

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A civilian has been injured in Russian drone strikes on the settlements of Bilenke and Malokaterynivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration; Ukraine's National Police

Quote from Fedorov: "A 45-year-old man has been injured in an enemy drone attack on the village of Bilenke. He was provided with all necessary assistance. A car was also damaged in Bilenke.

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An enemy first-person view (FPV) drone also struck Malokaterynivka. Luckily, there was no damage or casualties there."

Details: Ukraine's National Police reported that a person had been killed in Russian bombardments of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Thursday 8 May.

Russian forces are reported to have used 150 loitering munitions and launched 70 artillery strikes on populated areas in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Thursday, in violation of the laws and customs of war.

A 63-year-old woman was killed in the settlement of Prymorske when a Russian FPV drone hit a civilian car. The National Police documented nine reports of destruction of civilian infrastructure over the course of the last day.

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Zaporizhzhia police urge citizens to move to safer places.

Background:

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has unilaterally announced a three-day ceasefire to mark Victory Day in World War II. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

Ukrainian authorities have dismissed the move as a farce, pointing out that Russia continues its attacks and refuses to consider a full ceasefire.

Ukraine's General Staff reported that on the first day of Putin's so-called "parade truce", Russian forces persisted with assaults and bombardments of Ukrainian positions and civilian areas along the front lines. A total of 193 combat clashes were recorded on 8 May.

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Clark County officials warn of heat-related illnesses, deaths ahead of summer

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Clark County is on track to surpass last summers record as the hottest.

This summer, the Climate Prediction Center has predicted an above average chance for above normal temperatures once again, Meteorologist Dan Berc with the National Weather Service said.

Tragically, last summer, more than five hundred heat-related deaths occurred, the highest ever recorded here.

Dr. Cassius Lockett with the Southern Nevada Health District said these deaths are preventable.

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We typically begin to see heat-related deaths and hospitalizations in May, Lockett explained. So it starts early, with numbers peaking in July and August.

As we enter this time of year, Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said, when outside, drink plenty of water and make sure you have access to shade and air conditioning. She also said to take frequent breaks if working or exercising.

My own granddaughter will tell you, shes invincible, Kirpatrick said. She thinks she can be in the pool all day long, but thats not the case.

Check on your neighbors and the vulnerable population. At night, temperatures may stay well above 90 degrees, which does not give your body a chance to cool down.

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It is important to know the signs of heat-related illness.

When the body overheats, symptoms can range from muscle cramps, get a headache, you can even become unconscious.

Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels added this reminder to prepare for road trips: When you have summer trips this year, tires inflated, drink water, make sure you have water in the car.

For more resources, head to the Health Districts website here.

Additionally, Clark Countys Social Service Department coordinates with community partners to activate daytime cooling stations. Locations typically include libraries and senior centers. To find a location, dial 2-1-1 or visit www.HelpHopeHome.org

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A central Ohio woman said she couldnt believe it when the new pope was announced.

Thursdays election of Robert Prevost  now Pope Leo XIV  was extra special for Marie Sweeney, a proud graduate of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, the same city where Pope Leo XIV was born, and also the same Catholic graduate school he attended and graduated from just one year after she did.

Pope Leo XIV previously shared criticism of Trump administration on social media

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Sweeneys day started out as any other  she had just gotten home from running errands when she got a text from a friend saying there was a new pope.

Thats when she went inside and turned on the television. She read about the various possibilities for the next pope, and knew his name sounded familiar, but as his time in Chicago was reiterated after Thursdays announcement, thats when it clicked. He attended CTU with her, the same school she said shaped her adult life.

Sure enough, Sweeney dug out her yearbook from more than 40 years ago, and on page 29, just five pages before her picture, was Robert Prevost.

She said their education at CTU was rooted in experiencing new cultures, getting to know people and their stories and beliefs, and making connections. Shes confident the school prepared Prevost well to take over for Pope Francis and his mission to make the Catholic church more inclusive.

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Heres how every public university in Ohio is preparing for Senate Bill 1

Pope Francis whole move to have the church act in a more, they used the word synodality, but in a collaborative way basically, and not have judgment, but be open to diversity, is exactly what he was taught, Sweeney said. That was exactly what he was taught.

She was thrilled to hear Pope Leo talk about that mission as he addressed worshippers for the first time as pope on Thursday.

Pope Leos message also resonated at Columbus Ohio Dominican University. Sister Gemma Doll said she was excited and very pleased with Pope Leos announcement, looking forward to see what he will do leading the church.

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Doll said the new pope will start choosing his close associates and begin to make his mark in the church. She hopes hell continue to raise up the leadership of women in the church because she believes the church needs more women leaders.

Before his election as pope, Prevost had three women join him at a very high level, and they were granted votes on the selection of bishops in the world for the first time in history.

What Pope Leo XIVs name choice may signal

Doll believes the quick election of Pope Leo  two votes over the two days of the conclave  is because he worked closely with Pope Francis.

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So they both were, you know, spent a lot of time in Latin America, and I think they bring that real pastoral care of the people and that comfort of being on the margins with people who are poor and, and oppressed and people with struggles, she said.

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A fence stands around Sneads High School in the Panhandle. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Floridas sheriffs asked for legislative clarification of a clunky 2024 school-safety law. Lawmakers responded, sending classroom door-locking revisions through both chambers.

Last summer, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judge espressed concern that law enforcement officers might unintentionally violate state laws designed to lock out threatening people.

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You know, we passed this legislation last year, and its unfortunate that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission had to request that it be passed in the first place, Judd told the Phoenix in a phone interview.

But, despite our best efforts, there were some schools and some administrators who werent keeping the doors locked, he continued. His county didnt have that problems but that other counties did, he said.

Judd said the law, before amended, was clunky and difficult to understand and easy to violate it even without the intent to violate it.

Lawmakers passed SB 1470 during the last week of the scheduled legislative session. The bill builds on the school guardian program, developed after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas shootings that killed 17 people, and looks to clarify door locking requirements in hopes of preventing the next school shooting.

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The bill builds on HB 1473, a 2024 law mandating classrooms be locked, as well as campus access doors, gates, and other access points, when students are present.

Among the concerns sheriffs raised were the extent to which doors were required to be locked and whether to lock career and technical education classrooms during lessons that require ventilation, like welding.

I think its much better now than it was before, Judd said this week. In July, voicing concerns from his employees, he had said, Were having a really hard time and we need something from the state to come down to these folks.

Specifically, the new bill would allow classrooms to use temporary locks, require school safety protocol to apply for 30 minutes before and after school, and allow door locking exemptions for career and technical education classrooms where ventilation is required.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd via Polk County Sheriffs Office

No two doors or classrooms are equal, depending on the type of instruction thats going on there, Judd said.

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The bill requires the perimeter of campuses to be locked or guarded, protecting students behind a locked gate or door.

The law was a little clunky last year and it needed to be cleaned up so we more clearly could make it reasonable to lock all the doors, and thats what this legislation did this year, Judd said. You would think it would not be necessary to have to put in law to lock a school door to protect a child, however, thats exactly what we had to do.

Sen. Danny Burgess, the measures Senate sponsor, said the bill helps clarify that schools would not need to provide security for non-school meetings happening at night, such as a Boy Scouts meeting. The 2024 law requires security when students are on campus, whereas the new language sets the timeframe for security measures to 30 minutes before and after school.

SB 1470 builds on last years school safety policy that we passed by strengthening school safety training and campus security measures while supporting practical implementation for schools and law enforcement. Essentially, the goal is to balance enhanced safety against the need for efficient operations in schools, Burgess said when presenting the bill in committee in March.

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Consulting stakeholders

The House bill was sponsored by Reps. Brad Yeager and Christine Hunschofsky, who was mayor of Parkland at the time of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shootings.

Hunschofsky said in March that she and Yeager made sure to consult with school leaders in crafting the legislation so that whatever were doing up here also makes sense in a school environment, because its about safety but its also about making sure the kids and the teachers have the environment that they need to thrive.

Christine Hunschofsky via Florida House

The bill passed unanimously in all of its stops.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chair of the safety commission, worked with legislators to address the needed changes, Judd and Burgess said.

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Subject to the still incomplete Appropriations Act, the bill would implement a centralized panic alert system connecting the states schools.

It would allow childcare facilities, at their own cost, to partake in the school guardian program to train staff or guards in school safety.

Its like building a new park  you pour sidewalks and then sometimes you see people want to walk in areas where theres not a sidewalk so you go back and you pour more sidewalks where people really want to walk, Judd said.

Weve got this law in place to make sure children are kept safe and if we need to tweak it or modify it in the future, just as the Legislature was more than willing to do it this time, then well do that at the appropriate time.

The bill has not yet been sent to the governor.

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A conservative group is taking an unusual strategy to win more support for President Donald Trump's tax cuts: buttering up John Fetterman.

The Club for Growth, the anti-tax organization, is airing a TV ad on Fox News this weekend that describes the Pennsylvania Democratic senator as standing up for every working family in PA as he faces mounting questions about his health.

But if much of the ad is laudatory, the spot, first shared with POLITICO , is aimed at pushing Fetterman to vote for Trumps megabill.

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"Everyone in Pennsylvania will benefit if Fetterman helps extend and expand Trumps tax cuts, says the narrator in the ad, which is running statewide on Sunday. Tell him: Keep fighting for PA. Extend and expand Trumps tax cuts.

Fetterman has voted against the budget blueprint laying the groundwork for a massive package that would include an extension of Trump's tax cuts and said on Friday that he continues to oppose that effort.

Ill always fight for working families in Pennsylvania, but this bill would gut essential services like Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP that Pennsylvanians depend on  all to give tax cuts to the ultra rich, he said in a statement. I can never support hurting hardworking Pennsylvania families to put more money in the pockets of billionaires and the top 1 percent.

The Club for Growth routinely airs advocacy ads in battleground states, and the group is a major supporter of extending Trumps tax cuts. But the organizations targeting of Fetterman comes at a particularly sensitive time for the senator and underscores the shifting political allegiances surrounding him  and a possible effort to win him over to the right. New York magazine published an article last week reporting that current and former staff are concerned about Fettermans mental and physical health. Fetterman has denied that he is unfit to serve, and has called the article a one-source hit piece.

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Few elected Democrats, particularly in Fettermans state, have rushed to his defense in the wake of the story. Instead, the Pennsylvania politician who is offering the strongest support of him is a Republican, Sen. Dave McCormick, who said in a post on X on Friday that it is time to put politics aside and stop these vicious, personal attacks against Senator Fetterman, his wife, and his health.

Fetterman has recently grown more popular among Republican voters in both his state and nationwide. But he has said repeatedlythat he is not switching parties. And public polls have shown Democratic voters in Pennsylvania are sticking by him, though an internal survey found his popularity sinking among Democrats in his backyard of Pittsburgh.

House Republicans are looking to pass legislation before the end of the month that would finance an extension of the 2017 tax cuts and new tax policies by, in part, cutting other federal programs that could produce major cost-savings  like changes to safety-net programs. Lawmakers are haggling over just how much to slash from Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but Medicare cuts are not currently on the table.

Any bill advanced by the House would have to pass muster with the Senate, where Republicans could approve the measure with a simple majority since they are relying on a process known as budget reconciliation to skirt filibuster rules. It's difficult to imagine a scenario where Democrats help Republicans get the bill over the finish line, given the proposed cuts to popular programs in health care and food assistance, alongside federal worker benefits and efforts to combat climate change.

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If Republicans can't get on the same page to support the sweeping piece of legislation they desire, though, they might decide to pursue a more narrow extension of the tax cuts, in which case courting Fetterman could theoretically come into play.

Fetterman  who has a heterodoxical streak that sometimes angers members of his own party  has recently been squeezed by both sides of the political spectrum, as some on the left have criticized him over his hardline stance on Israel and his January meeting with Trump. On the right, Club for Growth President David David McIntosh urged Fetterman in a statement to back Trumps tax package, saying that by supporting President Trump's tax cuts, Senator Fetterman can truly put Pennsylvanians before party politics and make even more woke socialist heads explode."
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Local veterans are speaking out, after President Trump announced he would be renaming Veterans Day as Victory Day for World War I.

I dont agree on him changing that, said Dan DiFlorio, a Vietnam veteran.

I dont believe that it should be done, said Charles Johnson, a Navy veteran and who retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Im totally against it, said Richard Madden, a Vietnam veteran.

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The president made the announcement just last week.

I think thats probably the dumbest idea that Ive ever heard from that man today. I think its incredibly insulting to the rest of the veterans in our country, said Madden.

The federal holiday, which is observed annually on November 11 is a day to honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Veterans Day was initially known as Armistice Day. It was renamed in 1954.

Its not a victory. Its Veterans Day, and that encompasses all veterans. Whether they were World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, all of them, said Johnson.

But not all veterans are against the president renaming Veterans Day.

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I dont have a problem with it. Memorial Day was originally to memorialize the veterans of the Civil War, thats largely been forgotten about, said Reg Ameele, an Air National Guard veteran.

President Trump also says he wants to celebrate May 8 as Victory Day for World War II.

I dont agree with that. I just dont agree with it. I want to just keep it the way it is, where we all are going to be all one, said DiFlorio.

The White House is now saying Veterans Day will not be renamed. Instead, it will be an added proclamation, that will go out the same day.

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A Coal Valley woman was sentenced to six years (72 months) in federal prison for using interstate facilities in a murder-for-hire, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

Autumn Markley (Scott County Jail)

Public court documents show that in late 2023, Autumn Markley, 30, tried to arrange a murder-for-hire by wiring money through Western Union. Markley, who lived in Colorado at the time, contacted a confidential source who was located within the Southern District of Iowa. Markley made several statements while communicating about the plan, saying she would pay for someone to murder one of her relatives. She gave the confidential source a target name, address and downpayment for the murder-for-hire.

Markley must serve a three-year term of supervised release after her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

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United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement and the case was investigated by the Scott County Sheriffs Office.

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TEHRAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Friday that the next round of indirect talks with the United States will be held in Oman on Sunday, adding the Omani side is expected to announce the time to start the negotiations.

He made the remarks in an interview with Shahrara newspaper on the sidelines of his visit to the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad while commenting on the Omani-mediated talks with the United States on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of Washington's sanctions.

Araghchi said, "Our Omani friends asked our opinion about setting the next meeting date on Sunday, and we announced our consent. Apparently, they have spoken to the other side, and up to this moment, the negotiations are scheduled to be held on Sunday."

The minister added that although Iran's positions in the negotiations were principled and fixed, the U.S. side was sending contradictory messages, emphasizing that Iran would insist upon its "clear" positions.

During the interview, Araghchi noted that he would visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday, adding he would hold consultations on regional issues and Iran-U.S. indirect talks in Riyadh and take part in the Iran-Arab World Dialogue summit in Doha.

The delegations of Iran and the United States have held three rounds of indirect talks so far -- the first and third in Muscat on April 12 and April 26, and the second in Rome on April 19. A fourth round had been scheduled for May 3 in Rome but was postponed due to what Oman described as "logistical reasons." 
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Boating season has arrived in San Diego, but federal officials are urging the public to be wary of illegal charter operators after the U.S. Coast Guard stopped one such pleasure craft last week.

According to the Coast Guard, crews encountered the 26-foot vessel on Saturday, May 3, off the coast of San Diego. At the time, a boarding team was conducting a safety inspection of the boat, which was carrying 10 passengers and one non-credentialed crew member.

Upon further inspection, the Coast Guard crew determined the boat was being used as a charter vessel without meeting a number of key requirements for commercial boating operators.

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US Coast Guard underfunded by $21 billion, DHS Secretary Noem says

This included not having an appropriately credentialed mariner on board, failure by the operator to be enrolled in a drug and alcohol testing program, and the lack of a valid Certificate of Inspection from the Coast Guard.

Any violations of regulations guiding charter boat operations can carry hefty civil and criminal penalties for proprietors and operators, including fines anywhere from $5,996 to $22,647, depending on the infraction.

Heading into the thick of boating season, here are some things the Coast Guard says to ask the skipper of a charter vessel about to ensure it is safe and legal to take out on the water:

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Captains credentials and the ships documentation: The Coast Guard requires captains to have a Merchant Mariners License to take paying passengers out on the water. Boats carrying more than six people are also required to have a Certificate of Inspection from the maritime agency. These documents are expected to be on board.

Proof of enrollment in a drug and alcohol testing program: All charter outfits, regardless of size and how many passengers they carry on their ships, are required by the Coast Guard to have a drug and alcohol testing program for their employees. Proof, however, can come in a handful of different forms, such as a letter from a third-party administrator or a wallet-sized enrollment card.

Safety plan: Asking about the ships safety plan can give insight into whether the boat has all the appropriate equipment on board, such as life jackets and fire extinguishers. Vessel operators are also recommended to file something called a float plan with an on-shore individual, which details the trips route, duration and passenger list in case of emergency.

What if its a bareboat charter? Bareboat charters, meaning those where the people renting the boat are able to sail it themselves, have a different set of rules attached. For businesses that operate these charter trips, no more than 12 passengers are allowed on board, not including any crew that may be provided. Charterers must be allowed to choose their own captain on these trips and the vessels registered owner cannot be onboard as they take it out and about.

To report potentially unlawful charters, Coast Guard officials encourage people to report it to the San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center at 619-278-7033 or by sending in a tip through the Coast Guard Investigative Service Tips app.

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CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW)  Information on Coastal Carolina Universitys website that South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace said promoted cross-dressing was removed after she posted a Facebook video this week criticizing CCU.

Coastal Carolina confirmed to News13 Thursday night in an email that the link had been removed but did not specify whether it was taken down because of Maces video.

Coastal Carolina University was made aware of the link in question, which directed users to a third-party website, the school said in a statement. The link has since been removed from our website. We appreciate this matter being brought to our attention and are conducting a review of the site to ensure that third-party links align with our sites guidelines.

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Maces office provided News13 with screenshots of links to the information on CCUs website after her office was asked about the video on Thursday. In the video posted on Wednesday, Mace did not mention a specific website link.

The screenshots show a page that included details of Safe Zone  Training and Resources with a link to Tri-Ess, which is an international support and social group for straight (heterosexual) crossdressers and their partners, spouses, and families.

Why is a South Carolina school promoting cross-dressing on their website? Mace said in her video. I sure would like to know.

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Mace wrote in the caption of the video that South Carolina is better than this. On Friday, she thanked Coastal Carolina in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Thank you to @CCUChanticleers for acting quickly to remove their cross-dressing page, the post reads. South Carolina parents, students, and taxpayers spoke up, and Coastal Carolina responded.

* * *

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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CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Authorities charged an 18-year-old student after they were found to have cocaine on them at Thomas Stone High School last week, deputies said.

According to the Charles County Sheriffs Office, minutes before 1 p.m. on May 5, a Youth Engagement Advocate recovered a vaping device and a baggy of cocaine from the 18-year-old student.

Robert Prevost elected the first American pope in history, will take the name Leo XIV

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When the cocaine was found, the worker was conducting an administrative search, deputies noted.

Authorities recovered cocaine from a student at Thomas Stone High School on May 5, 2025. (Courtesy: Charles County Sheriffs Office)

The student will face disciplinary actions per the Charles County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct. He was also charged with possession of cocaine.

DC News Now reached out to CCPS for a statement but did not back in time for publication.

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The messages Donald Trump is sending about a proposal to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans arent just mixed; theyre actually inscrutable.

In a post on Truth Social Friday, the president appeared torn about whether he planned to actually follow through on his proposal to hike taxes on the superrich.

The problem with even a TINY tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, Read my lips, the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election. NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do!!! Trump wrote.

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Trump was referring to President George H.W. Bushs famous campaign promise, Read my lips: no new taxes. Ultimately, Bush left income tax alone but raised other levies on oil and chemicals, increased fees on international travel, and moved up the collection dates for certain taxes. Trump seemed unwilling to break his campaign promises to lower taxes for Americans.

But it was Trump who reportedly pitched House Speaker Mike Johnson Wednesday on creating a new 39.6 percent tax bracket for individuals earning at least $2.5 million, or couples making $5 million, people familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg. Trump has been adamant that his sweeping reciprocal tariffs will replace the federal funding lost by eliminating the income tax.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Bloomberg Televisions Balance of Power

Thursday that higher taxes for the rich could help offset other tax cuts.

During his first term, Trump slashed rates from 39.6 to 37. So, if he just goes back to what he did last time, Im in favor of that, Lutnick said. I think its smart, as long as it is a redistribution to his priorities of no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security.
COLDWATER, Mich. (WOOD)  A Coldwater man has been sentenced for sexually assaulting two minors, the Michigan Attorney Generals Office said.

Last week, 55-year-old David Miller was sentenced to 18 to 50 years in jail after pleading to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in February.

The attorney generals office said that Miller was investigated by the Lagrange County Sheriffs Department in Indiana in March 2023. Deputies learned that sexual assaults may have happened in Michigan. The Michigan State Police began investigating and learned that Miller sexually assaulted the two boys numerous times in Branch and St. Joseph Counties.

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I am grateful for the collaborative efforts of the prosecutors in my office, the Branch County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, the Lagrange County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, the Lagrange County Sheriffs Department, and the Michigan State Police, who all worked together to ensure justice for the victims in this case, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a release. Because of their dedication, we secured significant prison time while sparing the victims from the trauma of a trial.

Miller was previously sentenced in Branch County to up to 15 years in jail after he pleaded to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and other charges earlier this year, the attorney generals office said. That case involved the same victims, officials say.

The sentences will run concurrently.

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May 8Sen. Susan Collins says that Canadian students attending school in Aroostook County are being subjected to "excessive" security screening and questioning when crossing the northern border.

Collins, a Republican who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, raised the issue with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a budget hearing Thursday.

Collins also asked questions about illicit marijuana growing operations in Maine that allegedly are tied to transnational Chinese gangs, both during the hearing with Noem and at a separate hearing Thursday with FBI Director Kash Patel. Noem and Patel appeared before Senate appropriations subcommittees to discuss the budget released by the administration on Friday.

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Collins spoke briefly about the problems that Canadian students have recently confronted when entering Maine, especially those attending the University of Maine Presque Isle, saying she wanted to put it on Noem's "radar screen."

"There are so many others who do deserve scrutiny, but these are duly enrolled Canadian students, and they have been crossing the border without trouble," Collins said. "But lately they're being subjected excessive searches and questioning despite having their visas and other documents in order."

The comment came near the end of Collins' alloted time for questions and she did not provide additional details.

"I will certainly look into it," Noem replied.

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About 75 students commute from Canada, a UMaine spokesperson said. Most of those students attend classes at the Presque Isle campus, while the others take classes at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

"I can confirm that the concerns raised by Senator Collins today reflect experiences reported to us by some of our Canadian students earlier this spring, and that as a result, a handful of Canadian commuter students chose to complete their courses for this semester online," spokesperson Samantha Warren said.

It's unclear why the students are facing increased screening or how many students are affected.

But it comes as the Trump administration has been taking steps to secure the nation's borders to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking, while also implementing additional tariffs on trading partners, including Canada.

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To enact the Canadian tariffs without Congressional approval, Trump declared a national emergency at the northern border, where he claims illegal immigrants and fentanyl are flowing into the United States. However, data suggests that less than 1% of all fentanyl seizures occur at the northern border.

Collins opposes Trump's tariffs on Canada, which is Maine's largest trading partner, supplying 80% of the state's gasoline and heating fuel. She was one of a handful of Senate Republicans to join two unsuccessful efforts to end the emergency declaration used to justify the tariffs.

Noem said in her opening statement that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is working "to enforce President Trump's America first trade agenda."

ILLICIT MARIJUANA

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Collins also called on Noem and Patel to devote more federal resources toward combating illicit marijuana growing operations by Chinese nationals with ties to the Communist Party.

Collins said such operations are active in 22 states, but Maine is disproportionately affected, with more than 270 estimated grow sites, many of which are in rural parts of the state. They have generated an estimated $4.3 billion in illicit revenue.

"These grow houses are destroying homes, they're threatening our communities, our public health and our national security," Collins said during her questioning of Patel.

Collins said state, county and local law enforcement officers are working hard to dismantle the operations, but they need more federal assistance in identifying connections to money laundering, human and drug trafficking, and other criminal activity.

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Patel said that he was trying to direct more resources to the problem as part of his plan to reassign more than 900 FBI agents currently working in Washington, D.C., to more field offices throughout the country. He said the redeployment of agents is happening on a mostly monthly basis and is expected to be finished in six to nine months.

"We will not only have the manpower in the field, but at headquarters I have prioritized intelligence collection against the (Chinese Communist Party) that is directly tied to the marijuana grow houses," Patel said. "We have numerous new investigations open on just these matters alone."

In a separate hearing, Noem committed to working with Collins on an "all of government approach" to combating the illegal grows, one that includes the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Internal Revenue Service.

Noem called the situation "incredibly alarming."

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"Everything we can do to ensure we're addressing that (by) not allowing (China) to get a foothold in the center of our country and in important states like Maine, is incredibly important," Noem said. "Thank you for bringing it to everyone's attention today, and I commit to working with you."

FOREIGN WORKERS

Noem seemed less receptive to a request from Collins to expedite the issuance of visas that allow foreign nationals to work in Maine's hospitality and agricultural industries.

Collins said the state simply doesn't have enough workers to support those industries, so businesses rely on workers in the H2A and H2B visa programs.

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But Noem made no commitment to expedite any additional worker visas.

"I certainly take your request and know that many others have asked us to go and give as much latitude as possible and we are certainly considering it and willing to consider that going forward," Noem said.

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Colombia this week took a leading position in Latin America for Indigenous rights and forest protection by formalizing Indigenous local governments across swaths of the Amazon, raising hopes that other countries in the region will follow its lead.

Activists say Monday's decision gives Indigenous communities not just land titles, but actual self-governing authority  complete with public budgets and administrative power. The process, underway since 2018, now has a legal framework enabling Indigenous councils to function as official local governments.

This puts Colombia in the lead when it comes to recognizing Indigenous rights  not just to land, but to identity, autonomy, and decision-making over their own development, said Mayu Velasco Anderson, head of the Peru and Colombia program at nongovernmental organization Rainforest Foundation Norway.

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Patricia Suarez, Indigenous leader and adviser to the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon, called the presidential decree historic.

We have been seeking recognition of our autonomy and self-determination as Indigenous Territorial Entities for over 30 years, Suarez said. This progress is a milestone in the consolidation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples as autonomous governments.

In contrast, other Latin American countries typically only grant land titles. Brazil, for example, has extensive Indigenous territories that frequently intersect multiple municipalities, forcing communities to navigate conflicting public systems and undermining their self-governance.

In Brazil, even demarcated and regularized Indigenous lands fall under the administrative boundaries of states and municipalities, and communities depend on these governments to access public policies, said Ines Luna Maira, head of institutional partnerships at Rainforest Foundation Norway. They have to deal with a patchwork of public systems and elected officials that dont reflect Indigenous governance.

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Suriname, home to some of the most intact forests and Indigenous and Maroon communities, lags furthest behind other nations in the region on this issue.

Colombia's new framework gives Indigenous groups direct authority over their territories, streamlining governance and boosting protections for forests that are critical to combating climate change.

Julia Urrunaga, director of Peru Programs at the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency welcomed the move and expressed hope that her country would follow Colombias example.

We celebrate this victory for the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia, she said. Sadly, the Peruvian government has been walking in the opposite direction  passing laws that affect Indigenous rights without prior consultation, which goes against Perus own constitution.

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Urrunaga pointed to what environmental activists have dubbed Perus Anti-Forest Law," which activists say legalizes illegal deforestation in Indigenous territories, and to the governments promotion of palm oil plantations over Amazonian forest.

Perus Indigenous Peoples are still struggling to receive recognition of their ancestral territories, she said. And even when they obtain it, they dont get the support they deserve from the state to protect their land and forests for the benefit of all humanity.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Gov. Jared Polis speaks about a sweeping housing policy that was set to be introduced in the Legislature, in March 2023 at the state Capitol in Denver. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Colorados 2025 legislative session, which ended Wednesday, was another mixed bag for those who want to make it easier to build more housing units and solve the states affordability crisis.

Connecting the news in Colorado to the big picture.

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Its been three years since Gov. Jared Polis embraced the YIMBY movement  short for Yes In My Back Yard  and made More Housing Now a signature goal of his second term.

Polis first big YIMBY priority was an audacious 2023 bill to reform land use policies and require higher-density development across the state, including by abolishing single-family zoning in Colorados most populous cities and towns. That proposal landed like a lead balloon in the state Legislature, where it was gradually watered down before being killed entirely in the final days of the 2023 session.

In the wake of the bills defeat, proponents have revived parts of it in piecemeal fashion, successfully passing bills last year to require higher-density housing near transit stops, legalize the construction of accessory dwelling units in most circumstances, and prohibit local minimum parking requirements. But resistance to YIMBY policies has remained strong. Skeptical lawmakers have stripped reform legislation of enforcement mechanisms, and local officials in several large Colorado municipalities have signaled they wont comply with some of the new requirements.

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The latest YIMBY disappointment came this week with the defeat of House Bill 25-1169, which would have overridden local zoning codes to presumptively allow faith-based organizations and educational institutions to build multifamily housing developments on their land. The bill, dubbed the Yes In Gods Back Yard measure, passed the state House of Representatives in March but stalled in the final days of the legislative session as its sponsors acknowledged it lacked enough votes in the Senate.

The YIGBY bill had a lot in common with other housing bills taken up by the General Assembly in the last few years. Its sponsors included two of the statehouses most progressive lawmakers in Sen. Julie Gonzales and Rep. Javier Mabrey, both Denver Democrats. It was backed by a long list of environmental, labor and social justice organizations. It passed the House over opposition from Republicans and a handful of moderate Democrats, and faced hurdles in the Senate, where the business lobby and a larger bloc of centrist lawmakers tend to exert their influence.

This has become a familiar pattern in Colorado politics. But its notably at odds with many of the presumptions of an intraparty debate currently flaring up among Democrats and left-leaning commentators at the national level, as they seek a path forward after a stinging defeat in the 2024 election.

A loose affiliation of pundits and politicians, critical of what they see as certain shortcomings of Democratic governance, have sought to articulate an alternative approach under the banner of abundance. The buzzword was the title of an October 2024 conference held in Washington, D.C., by influential centrist organizations like the Niskanen Center and the Breakthrough Institute, as well as a best-selling book this year by liberal authors Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.

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Abundance, in short, encompasses what Klein also calls a liberalism that builds  more housing to bring down rents and home prices, more industry to create jobs and protect supply chains, more clean energy and transit infrastructure to reduce climate pollution. This vision has resonated with some powerful Democrats: Klein was invited to be a guest at U.S. Senate Democrats annual retreat this week, Axios reported, and Polis himself has described his governing philosophy as an effort to bring the abundance agenda to Colorado.

Blame for the failure to build, in the abundance crowds telling, often falls on what Klein and like-minded pundits have taken to calling simply the groups  an epithet of sorts for labor unions, environmental nonprofits and other organizations on the Democratic Partys progressive left wing. The groups, they say, have stood in the way of progress on key issues by saddling Democratic policy initiatives with unpopular ideological goals, or by erecting too many regulatory or procedural barriers via legislation and the courts.

But if three years of battles over housing policy at the Colorado statehouse have proved anything, its that the groups can be willing, enthusiastic members of the YIMBY coalition, and political obstacles to a drastic increase in housing supply are far more likely to be found on the right and center of the political spectrum than the left.

Beginning with the ambitious 2023 land use bill, virtually every YIMBY-endorsed housing proposal taken up by lawmakers lately has enjoyed the support of a loose network of climate and environmental advocacy groups that includes the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Conservation Colorado, the Colorado Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, 350 Colorado and others. Other progressive groups focused on economic policy or social justice  9to5 Colorado, the Bell Policy Center, the Colorado Fiscal Institute, the League of Women Voters, Servicios de la Raza, Together Colorado and many more  have also frequently lobbied for the bills, records show.

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The most vocal and consistent opponent of these measures has been the Colorado Municipal League, the organization representing the governments of the states 271 cities and towns. In a few cases, influential business groups and local chambers of commerce have supported some of the changes, but in many others they have opposed, sought to amend or taken no position, according to lobbying records.

In floor and committee votes, Republican lawmakers have been nearly unanimously opposed to the most sweeping changes, while skepticism from Democratic moderates has repeatedly resulted in concessions, including the multiple exemptions granted to mountain towns like those represented by state Sen. Dylan Roberts and House Speaker Julie McCluskie.

Though a handful of exceptions and ideological cross-currents may exist, the broad political alignment on these issues could hardly be clearer. As Polis and other advocates for More Housing Now continue to pursue that goal, their allies and their opponents are easy to spot  and in Colorado, at least, the abundance crowd seems to have it exactly backwards.

The Trendline offers analysis on public policy in Colorado. Articles explore ways to think about the news based on research, history and other important context, helping Coloradans connect the headlines to the big picture.

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Columbia Universitys crackdown on free speech just got even worse: The school tried to suspend four student journalists who covered a pro-Palestinian protest at Butler Library this week, according to The Columbia Spectator.

Columbia College and Barnard College issued interim suspensions to one reporter at the Spectator and three student journalists at WKCR, the student-run radio station that has provided consistent on-the-ground coverage of the student demonstrations at the universityincluding the massive raid by police at the Gaza solidarity protest in Hamilton Hall last year.

Disciplinary emails obtained by the Spectator cited information received from Public Safety, which indicated that Sawyer Huckabee (class of 2026), Natalie Lahr (class of 2028), Celeste Gamble (class of 2027), and Spectator reporter Luisa Sukkar (class of 2026) had been involved in the demonstration in the Lawrence A. Wien Reading Room at Butler Library Wednesday afternoon. However, the student journalists at WCKR wore prominently displayed press placards and Huckabee identified herself as a journalist to public safety officers before leaving the building, the Spectator reported.

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New York City Police were dispatched to the university, and 78 students were arrested.

Columbia lifted its suspension on one reporter only five hours after its initial notification Thursday afternoon, but the other three students remained suspended until Friday at 9 a.m.

In an email to alumni Wednesday, Acting President Claire Shipman touted a commitment to free speech while admitting that the university had called the police on its own students. Shipman also made the disturbing move of blaming the protesters for the targeting of its international students.

I am deeply disturbed at the idea that, at a moment when our international community feels particularly vulnerable, a small group of students would choose to make our institution a target, Shipman wrote.

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But its the institution, not the students, that has refused to shield its own community from the Trump administrations immigration and free speech crackdown. After Donald Trump rescinded $400 million in federal funding, the university administration agreed to the presidents outrageous demands for a complete overhaul of the schools protest policies, as well as the adoption of a new definition of antisemitism, among several other concessions that severely undermined academic independence from the federal government.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a post on X Wednesday night that the administration was reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia Universitys library.

Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation, he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

MOSCOW, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China and Serbia should carry forward the ironclad friendship, boost mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the high-quality building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

Noting his successful state visit to Serbia in May last year, Xi said that over the past year, the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in a new era has got off to a good start and the achievements are obvious to all.

As profound changes unseen in a century continue to unfold across the world amid multiple overlapping risks and challenges, China and Serbia should maintain strategic resolve and concentrate on managing their own affairs well, Xi said.

China is ready to deepen strategic communication with Serbia, enhance mutual support, strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, continue supporting the construction and operation of relevant projects, give full play to their demonstrative effect, and achieve more outcomes that deliver mutual benefit and win-win results, Xi said.

Xi stressed that 80 years ago, the peoples of China and Serbia made important contributions to the victory on the Asian and European battlefields in the World Anti-Fascist War, respectively.

China is ready to work with all countries in the world, including Serbia, to unite and cooperate to meet challenges, jointly safeguard world peace and international fairness and justice, safeguard the achievements of economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

For his part, Vucic said that China is Serbia's most precious friend, consistently offering selfless support and assistance to help Serbia develop its economy and improve the well-being of its people.

Serbia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and always believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, he said.

Serbia is ready to expand economic and trade exchanges with China, Vucic said, adding that his country welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Serbia, and will provide a favorable business environment for them.

It is hoped that China will actively participate in the 2027 Belgrade Specialized Expo, he said.

Vucic commends China's steadfast support for multilateralism, noting that China's visions and actions have bolstered the international community's courage and confidence in safeguarding common interests.

Serbia stands ready to unite with China in addressing the challenges posed by unilateralism and protectionism, Vucic added. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Chamber of Commerce hosted their quarterly Eye Opener Breakfast, where some of the citys leaders spoke about Columbus public safety.

Some of todays panelists included Chief of Police Stoney Mathis, Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman, Fire and EMS Chief Sal Scarpa and Muscogee County Prison Warden Herbert Walker.

Todays message was one of unity, as the panelists highlighted their joined efforts to protect and defend Columbus citizens.

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A unique thing about this is that you have all four of the public safety leaders here today. And we work well together. said Sheriff Greg Countryman. And I think that that should be a good feel for anyone to know that we have public safety leaders who believe in working together for the for the benefit of those we serve.

This was a part of a series of Chamber of Commerce events focused on the community. This year the Chamber has already held Mayor Skip Hendersons State of the City and a conversation with Fort Benning commander Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is looking for a 64-year-old man last seen near the 7000 block of Thrush Drive on Tuesday, May 6.

Frank Wilkins was last seen wearing a dark grey pullover and black sweatpants. Frank drives a blue 2007 Toyota Tundra with Georgia tags SFV8639.

Anyone with information about Frank or his whereabouts, is asked to contact 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449 or the lead investigator, Detective Meagan Cole at 706-225-4242.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)  A Christopher Columbus statue removed in 2020 amid a climate of racial reckoning after the police killing of George Floyd has finally found a home in a new museum dedicated to preserving the history of New Haven, Connecticut.

Mayor Justin Elicker and other officials on Friday announced an art loan agreement has been reached with the Lost in New Haven Museum, which plans to display the 1892 monument to the 15th century explorer as part of its wide-ranging collection.

It is a privilege to be entrusted with the stewardship of New Havens Christopher Columbus Memorial, an important artifact in the citys history," said Robert Greenberg, the museum's founder. He said the museum is dedicated to celebrating the immigrants who built the New Haven while recognizing the city was developed on unceded land of the indigenous Quinnipiac people.

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We are committed to presenting this history in its entirety, he said in a statement.

The New Haven Parks Commission decided to take down the statue after it was vandalized multiple times. Many residents demanded its removal, but the decision to do so was controversial.

Those who wanted the statue gone condemned the 15th-century Italian explorer as a white supremacist who touched off centuries of European oppression and the decimation of Indigenous peoples. Columbus supporters, meanwhile, called the statue an important symbol of Italian-American heritage. It was located for generations in Wooster Square, which is surrounded by an historically Italian neighborhood.

Demonstrators from both sides briefly skirmished with each other when the statue was taken down.

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An Italian-American group in 2022 sued unsuccessfully to force the statue to be moved back. There was also some discussion about locating the memorial in the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven but nothing materialized.

Robert Bonanno, president of the Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee, said he was pleased the statue will now be located in the museum.

I grew up in Wooster Square, and the Columbus Memorial is an important part our communitys history," he said in a statement "I am very happy that the statue will be going to the Lost in New Haven museum and that it will be displayed so that people will be able to continue to see it in an appropriate setting.

Last year, the city dedicated a new monument to immigrants to replace the Columbus statue.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced mockery online after delivering what critics thought was a sycophantic tribute to President Donald Trumps face during a press event announcing a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

The billionaire businessman-turned-Cabinet member heaped praise on Trump and sought to make clear the presidents personal role while introducing the deal, which has been widely panned by economists and even some conservatives.

Lutnick: "I want to make this clear. This was the president's deal. People think, 'Oh, that's not the way it works.' If you got to sit next to him -- I have the best dealmaker to my left. And if you don't think that we take advantage of him calling the prime minister and getting pic.twitter.com/BkfqClUaey  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 8, 2025

I want to make this clear: while JD Vance and others worked hard, this was the presidents deal, Lutnick gushed. And if people think, Oh, thats not the way it works  if you got to sit next to him, I have the best dealmaker to my left.

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Lutnick continued, If you dont think that we take advantage of him calling the prime minister and getting that deal done, you dont understand whos the president of the United States. Hes the closer. He gets deals done that we could never get done because he understands business. He understands deals. And thats why were here today.

Social media users were quick to poke fun at the over-the-top flattery.

Trump makes calls, and somehow thats considered closing the deal.



Real negotiations require strategy, not just bluster and phone calls.



Business deals arent won just by being loud or braggadocious. Theyre built on substance and diplomacy.



This UK deal is a loss and a  Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) May 8, 2025

Has there ever been a bigger group of arse kissers than this current Cabinet?



We had a SURPLUS with the UK... Just wow...  Avatar  @backavatar on  (@BackAvatar) May 8, 2025

No one kisses Trumps ass like Lutnick



Literally no shame in his praise towards Trump   Politics Sloth  (#1 reply guy) (@SockDemFan) May 8, 2025

Good lord Lutnick. Are you saying that without Trump you dont know enough about business to get a deal done with the UK? The ass kissing you guys do just makes you look stupid. Enough already its embarrassing for us all to watch.  Jesse McConnell (@Jesse_Now) May 8, 2025

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Does this make any other fellow conservatives think this is cringe?  Bob Ochoa (@ochoab1) May 8, 2025

Yikes. Have some dignity FFS.  Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) May 8, 2025

Toadies everywhere. Luckily he has no use for good advice.  WheelJork (@WheelJork) May 8, 2025

Where did Trump find a lickspittle like @howardlutnick?  Jeffery A Thomas  (@JefferyThomas) May 8, 2025

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Its hard to watch a man with no shame.  Raghu Venugopal MD (@raghu_venugopal) May 8, 2025

Donald Trump may not have been able to get other countries to "kiss [his] ass" as he told MAGA rally goers he was doing. But at least he has the Cabinet to do it. Trump just eats it up when they heap undeserved praise on him.  Laurence (Larry) Boorstein (@LarryBoorstein) May 8, 2025

Why does every Trump Press conference, or cabinet meeting , start out with a solid minute of ass kissing? It's truly sickening.  Denison Barb (@DenisonBarbs) May 8, 2025

Related...
Milwaukee's police chief is up for a second term  and he and the mayor want it to happen.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman's reappointment is set to be discussed at a May 15 meeting of the Fire and Police Commission, the hiring body for the city's fire and police chiefs. That committee will vote on Norman's reappointment at a later date, a news release said.

If a reappointment offer is extended, Norman told the Journal Sentinel he would accept it.

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"I believe our department has made great strides," Norman said. "I desire to continue to build upon that."

Norman would focus on building community trust  long an emphasis of his  and working on the city's crime. He also said the department would continue to hold itself accountable under his possible reappointment.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson supports Norman's reappointment, said Jeff Fleming, the mayor's spokesperson. The two have a "solid working relationship," he said.

I am focused on reducing crime with both accountability and prevention measures. The police chief both supports  and adds to  those approaches," the mayor said in an email through his spokesperson.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, foreground, salutes during the Greater Milwaukee Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at the War Memorial Center on North Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee on May 8. The event honors law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Norman's current four-year term ends in November. The May 15 meeting is being held far in advance of the chief's November term expiration to "ensure stability and continuity of leadership," the news release said, citing Fire and Police Commission Chair Miriam Horwitz's wishes.

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Norman was hired as acting chief of the department in 2020 and named police chief the following year, following the retirement of another acting chief and the controversial removal of former chief Alfonso Morales in 2020.

A Milwaukee native, he was hired in 1996 by the police department and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as a lieutenant in the homicide unit and later a captain of District 3, which includes parts of the central city and west side.

Since being named chief, Norman has led the department through the crime spikes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, heavy local and state policy change after George Floyd's murder prompted national outrage and leading policing during the Republican National Convention.

In 2024, Norman was a finalist for the police chief position in Austin, Texas, but was ultimately passed on for the role. At that time, a department spokesperson said Norman remained "steadfast" in his commitment to Milwaukee.

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The chief declined to say whether he has applied for other jobs as his term approaches its end in Milwaukee. He said he was focused on reappointment locally.

"I'm focused on this particular process now and honored to serve another term," Norman said.

The May 15 meeting will also discuss ways to gather community input before a final vote, according to the news release.

Norman was paid $177,112 in 2024, according to an online city salary database.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police chief Jeffrey Norman's reappointment to be discussed
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, is building one of the world's largest AI supercomputers in Memphis, Tennessee. Since coming online in September, the facility, dubbed Colossus, has amassed an absurd arsenal of 200,000 Nvidia graphics processing units to train Musk's chatbot, Grok.

That comes with monstrous energy demands, and the way xAI is meeting them has angered environmental groups and the residents of Boxtown, a predominantly Black neighborhood just three miles south of the facility, Politico reports.

Without obtaining a permit, Musk's company has rolled in 35 portable gas-powered turbines with enough electricity output between them to power a small city, spewing harmful, smog-forming pollutants into the air, including nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde. And in just 11 months since xAI started operations in Memphis, it's become one of the largest emitters of smog-producing nitrogen oxides in the surrounding county, according to environmental group estimates reviewed by Politico, afflicting an area that already leads the state in emergency visits for asthma.

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"I can't breathe at home, it smells like gas outside," a tearful Alexis Humphreys, a Boxtown resident, said while holding up her asthma inhaler during a public hearing about the turbines last month, per Politico. "How come I can't breathe at home and y'all get to breathe at home?"

"xAI has essentially built a power plant in South Memphis with no oversight, no permitting, and no regard for families living in nearby communities," Amanda Garcia, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), said in a statement last month.

The saga is the latest example of Musk's enterprises flouting environmental regulations. In August, his aerospace company SpaceX was accused by state and federal regulators of illegally dumping hazardous pollutants into water in Texas. Tesla, Musk's automaker, has faced similar accusations of repeatedly mishandling hazardous waste from its facilities in California.

xAI's environmental consultant, Shannon Lynn, said in a recent webinar that because the turbines are temporary, the company doesn't need federal permits for their emissions of hazardous pollutants like NOx or formaldehyde, per Politico. In August of last year, the Shelby County Health Department similarly said that it didn't need to issue permits because the Environmental Protection Agency had agreed that it doesn't have the authority regarding the gas-burning turbines, since they were temporary, Politico reported.

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But experts don't see it that way. Bruce Buckheit, a former director of the EPA's air enforcement division, said that xAI is violating the Clean Air Act with its actions.

"There needs to be a permit beforehand," Buckheit told Politico. "You don't just get that first year for free."

Garcia, the SELC attorney, found the county Health Department's argument to be dubious, too. The exemption for temporary turbines is intended for small machines like those used to power asphalt crushers for road construction, he said.

"xAI's position is quite suspect  I mean, they're huge," echoed John Walke, a former attorney in EPA's Office of General Counsel, to Politico. "The temporary or not temporary argument is irrelevant."

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Facing significant community pressure, xAI in January said that it would seek permits for permanent installation of its turbines. At the time, the company claimed it only had fifteen pieces of the machinery onsite. But in March, thermal images taken of the facility by environmental groups showed that xAI, in reality, had 35 turbines, with 33 giving off significant amounts of heat.

Though caught in a lie, xAI is still seeking the permits. As of April, Lynn, xAI's environmental rep, claimed that only seven of the current turbines will remain at the facility, and will be "retrofitted" with pollution reduction controls. The other 28 turbines, he added, are merely "temporary" and will be removed once xAI finishes construction of two substations to supply power from the energy grid.

The timeline for this, though, is suspiciously hazy. Only one of the substations has approval. And at this point, many in the community are fed up with all the deception.

"The way they have come into the city, its like, oh, you think we are unintelligent, you think that the people in these communities arent able to comprehend what you are doing and will take this assault on our health lying down," 15-year-old Boxtown resident Jasmine Bernard told Politico.

More on AI: Small Towns Are Rising Up Against AI Data Centers
DENVER (KDVR)  Community members are planning to gather for a vigil in honor of a beloved middle school teacher who was killed in a crash in Weld County.

Christine Schwarz, a 57-year-old seventh-grade science teacher at La Salle North Valley Middle School, was one of three people who were killed in a crash on April 30.

2 of 3 killed in Weld County crash identified; community mourns middle school teacher

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Colorado State Patrol previously said that the crash happened when a suspected stolen vehicle fled from deputies and crossed over into oncoming traffic on Highway 85 in Platteville. A spokesperson for the Weld County Sheriffs Office told FOX31s Vicente Arenas that they are not sure if a pursuit was happening at the time of the crash. Both agencies are investigating.

When news broke of Schwarzs death, classes at the school were canceled for two days. Several community members told FOX31 that word spread quickly and the death hit the community hard.

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 told Arenas.

Community comes together to honor teacher, raise funds

Members of the community are planning to celebrate her life with a candlelight vigil on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the north shelter in La Salle Park.

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While grieving continues and there are still many questions surrounding her death, her husband Chris now faces a new reality of life without her, along with unexpected expenses. But members of the community are trying to help with that.

Denver Nuggets star launches AI funeral planning platform

A neighbor, Sabrina Flanagan, started an online fundraiser through GoFundMe to go toward end-of-life expenses like a celebration of life, as well as to help Chris keep up with everyday living expenses.

In the GoFundMe post, Flanagan describes Schwarz as a rare, extraordinary soul who changed peoples lives just by being herself.

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Chris shared how he had gone searching for her after not being able to reach her, only to come upon the scene himselfonly to realize, with unimaginable heartbreak, that this is why she did not answer. She had already been taken from the site. And in the midst of his own shock and grief, Chriss first instinct was to call her school principalnot for himself, but out of concern for her students. Because Christine wasnt just a teachershe was a beacon of love, support, and inspiration to every child she taught, the GoFundMe post reads.

The goal is to raise $25,000, and as of Thursday afternoon, nearly $3,000 had been donated to the cause. Those who wish to help can donate to the GoFundMe online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A community will gather to pay their final respects to a sheriffs deputy who died in the line of duty.

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A visitation for retired Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson will be today at 9 a.m. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, according to a sheriffs office spokesperson.

As previously reported by News Center 7, Henderson was operating a traffic detail at the University of Cincinnatis spring commencement when a driver hit and killed.

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Rodney Hinton Jr. has been indicted on several felonies, including two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, and two counts of felonious assault in Hendersons death, according to our news partner, WCPO in Cincinnati.

Authorities say his 18-year-old son was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer last week.

Henderson was struck the next day.

Investigators say Hinton hit him on purpose, WCPO said.

Henderson retired from the sheriffs office in December after 33 years of service.

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MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV)  If the halls and classrooms at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh-Fox Cities could talk, they would have thousands of stories to tell.

Unfortunately, they cant so UWO-Fox Cities history professor Steve Sheehan does the talking for them. He held a presentation on the history of the campus on Thursday night. It was to pay tribute to a university that has meant so much to so many over the years.

We are here to have a celebration of life, said Sheehan. Its not a funeral for the campus, its a celebration of its life.

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The UWO-Fox Cities campus will close down at the end of June. Although most of the community assets will stay on campus and remain open, there will no longer be classes there.

Dairy Queen in Neenah raises $2,000 for Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team through green popcorn fundraiser

This notion of the Wisconsin idea and it goes back over a century, said Sheehan when asked about the biggest message he wants people to take away from the presentation. And its the idea that the boundaries of the university should reach the boundaries of the state. The university should reach out to people where theyre at and try to make their lives better.

Several dozen people packed into one of the lecture halls on campus to take in the presentation and share memories they have of their time at UWO-Fox Cities.

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The universal theme of everyone who worked in this building is that there is a dedication to students and learning like no other, said Tina Koch, who is the former associate director of student affairs for the university. I think the biggest thing is we did really good work guys.

Northeast Wisconsin residents rally to protect Medicaid, Congressman Wied pledges support

Although the campus will close soon, people who attended the presentation said the memories will live on forever.

Many of our students over the years have stayed local, and thats just a tremendous amount of value added to the community, said Sheehan.

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UWO-Fox Cities has some of its memorabilia from over the decades displayed in room 1130. The public can come check it out.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
TEHRAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran has agreed to hold a fourth round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States in Oman on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.

The date and venue were proposed by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi and accepted by Tehran, Tasnim said, citing an unnamed member of Iran's negotiating team.

The talks will focus exclusively on Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions, the source added.

The delegations have held three rounds of indirect talks so far -- the first and third in Muscat on April 12 and April 26, and the second in Rome on April 19. A fourth round had been scheduled for May 3 in Rome but was postponed due to what Oman described as "logistical reasons."

Also on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to discuss the progress of the talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two also reviewed bilateral cooperation on Iran's nuclear activities, which Tehran insists are for peaceful purposes.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- in 2015. Under the deal, Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

The United States, led by President Donald Trump during his first term, unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to gradually reduce compliance with its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the agreement have not achieved substantial progress. 
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  San Diegans joined in as Catholic faithful across the world celebrated the election of a new pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first United States-born pontiff in the 2,000-year churchs history.

The 69-year-old Augustinian, who will serve under the papal name Pope Leo XIV, was regarded in statements from local Catholics as a significant selection that emphasizes leading with peace and compassion  key themes of his first address from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica.

Were very, very excited about this, said Father Max Villeneuve, chaplain at Saint Augustine High School in North Park. Hes a very great pastor, hes a good priest  I actually had lunch with him in January. Its completely surreal.

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PHOTOS: New pope elected on Day 2 of voting

The University of San Diego, a private Roman Catholic university, similarly reveled in the selection of the new pontiff, describing him as emblematic of the universitys mission of affirming the dignity of every human by building bridges and leading with compassion.

Together, we continue to work toward a world where we welcome all by fostering peace, working for justice, and leading with love, the university said. May God Bless Pope Leo XIV.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego also shared a brief celebratory statement of Leo XIVs pontificate on Facebook, saying Our church rejoices in the appointment of the new Successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV! Let us pray for our New Pope!

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The Chicago native was a close confidant of the late Pope Francis and who he viewed to be his heir apparent, despite the longstanding taboo surrounding election of an American to the papacy due to its geopolitical power.

Francis first showed his esteem for Prevost, who had spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru, in elevating him to bishop of Chiclayo, located along the countrys northern Pacific coast. The late pope then made him cardinal and prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the powerful Vatican office charged with overseeing bishop nominations.

As prefect, Prevost presided over some of the most revolutionary changes Francis made to the church, including the addition of three women to the voting bloc who decides what bishop selections move on for the popes approval.

In his first words to the faithful as pope, Leo expressly said he wants to pick up where Francis left off, guiding the church in its mission to love all without any limits or conditions  tenants in line with the Augustinian religious order.

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The selection of Leo as his papal name similarly serves as indication of this continuity with Francis ministry, considering the legacy of the previous Leos dedication to social justice and reform. Leo XIII was also an Augustinian.

Pope Leo XIVs many years of pastoral experience, his commitment to justice, and his deep spirituality are an example of life lived in service to Jesus Christ, Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joes Villages, said in a statement. Our wounded world needs justice, healing and hope and we look to spread Pope Leo XIVs message to share that love with those in need.

What Pope Leo XIVs name choice may signal

However, Leos donning of the red cape of the papacy  the one Francis had abstained from wearing  in his debut at St. Peters Basilica suggests some degree of a return to traditions following his predecessors unorthodox pontificate.

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Leo is lion, so I think hes going to be a very strong pope, Villeneuve said. Hes got a strong will, a strong personality. Hes very pastoral, hes a great listener, but he also knows who he is. A lion kind of knows who they are without having to speak too much  thats who he is.

What it means for the church is we have someone who is going to lead it. Someone to make sure everyone is heard, Villeneuve continued. Theres still unknowns in the future ahead of us, but that we have a sure and certain shepherd to lead the church and to lead the flock.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A Canonsburg business was raided Thursday after parents reported their concerns to police.

An investigation at Canonsburg Vapors began after multiple parents contacted police with concerns about the items their teens were allegedly bringing home from this local vape shop.

On Thursday afternoon, the whole parking lot was filled with police cars, as officers from multiple agencies looked for illegal substances that investigators say were being sold at the store.

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The raid came after a months-long investigation by the Canonsburg Police, the AGs Office, Homeland Security and the District attorneys office. Detectives went undercover to get products that they then tested and discovered to be illegal.

During the course of the investigation, we were able to obtain some of the suspected chemicals or packages... It was sent to a crime lab, Canonsburg Police Chief Al Coghill said. Of course it was not marketed as what the label said, it was much more potent than the label indicated.

As of Thursday evening, the store remained open.

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Until today, nearly every Vatican insider agreed on one thing: The United States would never produce a pope, at least not while the country remains a superpower. A citizen of the worlds dominant nation could not become the leader of the worlds largest religious organization without dramatically upsetting the global balance of geopolitical and cultural power. Or so the thinking went.

And yet, the conclave that concluded today in Rome has chosen the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church: Robert Francis Prevost. Making the milestone even more remarkable is that Prevost was chosen on just the second day of voting by the most geographically diverse body of papal electors in history. Perhaps most surprising of all is that the Churchs first-ever American pope was selected during Donald Trumps presidency, as Washington assumes a more contentious stance toward the rest of the world.

[Read: This conclave will be different]

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Prevost, who has taken the papal name Leo XIV, was born in Chicago (with the accent to prove it) and attended an American school (Villanova University), but he spent much of his adult life outside the United States. Leo led the Augustinian religious order from Rome and lived in Peru, serving as a missionary bishop. During his first speech as pope from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica today, he switched easily from fluent Italian to fluent Spanish. Many in the Catholic hierarchy tend to identify American clergy as parochial; they will find that Leo goes against type. Given his association with Peru, some in the Vatican even talked about him as though hell be the second pope from Latin Americaafter Francisrather than the first from America.

Many observers are likely to cast Leo as anti-Trump, a role that Francis was often cast in himself. In February, a profile on X apparently belonging to Leo reposted an article criticizing J. D. Vance, who had argued that Catholics should prioritize their family and neighbors over foreigners. And indeed, it seems likely that the new pope will continue policiessuch as advocacy for migrants and environmental protectionthat his immediate predecessor embraced and that the current U.S. administration largely opposes. But almost any of the 133 men voting in the Sistine Chapel today would have done the same had he been chosen pope. Francis was a controversial figure among many cardinals on account of his autocratic governing style and his de-emphasizing of sexual ethics, but not for his beliefs on economic or social justice, which aligned with those of mainstream Church leaders. By taking the name Leo, the new pope is clearly signaling an intention to highlight modern Catholic social teaching, a tradition that began with Leo XIII, who reigned from 1878 to 1903.

The new popes impact on the Catholic Church in America promises to be dramatic. Imagine the scenes in Chicago on his first pastoral trip to the country. Francis, who did little to hide his wariness of U.S. power and once said that it was an honor to be attacked by Americans, was nevertheless broadly popular with his flock there, as with the non-Catholic population. The U.S. is bound to embrace its native son with even greater fervor, not least because his elevation clearly confirms Catholicisms status as an American religion, for any Catholics who might still harbor doubts about fully belonging in a traditionally Protestant society.

Leos relationship with the U.S. Catholic hierarchy could provide an early clue as to the direction of his papacy. Many American bishops felt that Francis downplayed moral issues, specifically abortion, which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops repeatedly declared the pre-eminent priority of its public-policy agenda. Francis bluntly denounced abortion, but he and his allies among American prelates sought to give equal weight to social issues including poverty and the environment.

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[Luis Parrales: The papacy is no ordinary succession]

The new pope served his predecessor for the last two years of Franciss reign as chief adviser on the selection of bishops, helping find men who shared Franciss vision to lead the Church around the world. In that role, he was not known for public interventions in the culture wars. And yet, there is some evidence that he might more closely resemble the majority of American bishops than his proximity to Francis may suggest.

In October 2012, when he was leading the Augustinian order, Leo gave a speech at the Vatican denouncing the Western mass media for promoting practices that are at odds with the Gospel, including euthanasia, abortion, the homosexual lifestyle, and gay adoption. That speech would have clashed with the tone set by Francis, whose most famous line as pope was Who am I to judge? Well see if such stark language makes a comeback under his successor.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
A conference that started on Thursday in Cobb County hopes to bring mental health awareness to first responders.

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The First Responder Conferences, a two-day event, had more than 150 first responders from dozens of agencies in attendance and was hosted by Marietta police at the Hilton Convention Center.

From police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers, anyone who works in public safety, theyre difficult professions that deal with trauma daily.

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As an officer, there are different things that trigger us, not all under the same umbrella, Canton Police Ofc. Mary Reynolds told Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach.

A retired officer, Shawn Thomas, founded First Responder Conferences.

Dealing with mental health and wellness around the country and not only connecting, but connecting them to resources for everything from PTSD, depression, addiction, to suicide prevention.

We want to make sure theyre aware of whos out there to help, and its not one size fits all, Thomas said.

This includes spouses and family members.

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Donna Georgiana lost her son, Mitchell, in 2021. The Smyrna police officer was just 23 years old when he took his own life.

We had no inclination that Mitchell was struggling with anything. We had nothing, Georgiana said.

Now, the organization has created Gotcha Covered Blankets to have blankets in patrol cars to give out, like her son would do.

Ofc. Mitchell Georgiana had been on thousands of serious and traumatic calls in the months before his death.

Even if we had known, its not to say things would have been different, but at least we need to equip families more, and our officer we got to let them know its okay to talk, Donna Georgiana said.

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Retired Cobb County police captain Chris Michael responded to that call. Hes now connected to the charity. He and therapy dog Nadia now work helping law enforcement agencies and officers open up.

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He says the conference is vital in pushing passed the traditional silence.

Coming into a room like this, you realize that youre not alone. You start hearing the stories from other people, and think theyre telling your own personal story, Michael said.

The conference is also a chance for networking among law enforcement and first responders. It will wrap up on Friday.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  A national park associated with Prince Harry in the Republic of the Congo has acknowledged that its guards committed human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples who were displaced when the park was constructed.

An internal investigation by African Parks, a South African-based wildlife parks consortium, uncovered cases of torture, rape and forced displacement of Indigenous people who used to inhabit the land now occupied by the Odzala-Kokoua National Park.

Prince Harry sits on the board of African Parks.

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African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims, read a statement released Thursday by the group and London-based law firm Omnia Strategy.

The initial reports of the abuse, which allegedly took place in 2023, were raised by international rights group Survival International. The allegations were investigated, but the final report of the abuse remains confidential and many details remain unclear.

The rights group said Thursday in a statement that men and women were beaten, tortured or raped by rangers who are managed and paid for by African Parks. It did not provide details.

Jonathan Mazower, a spokesperson for Survival International, alleged that African Parks has known since at least 2013 of cases of abuse when a researcher raised the issue with them.

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This is not a particularly isolated case, he said.

Founded in 2000, African Parks established a hard-nosed reputation by going into seriously degraded places armed with the right to hire and fire from governments, which retained broad authority but respected a clear separation of roles.

The group assumes day-to-day management of countries wildlife areas, seeking more efficiency and accountability in the campaign to protect flora and fauna from poaching and habitat depletion. Many partner nations struggle to run parks on their own, challenged by poverty, corruption and conflict.

___

Louis Patrick Okamba contributed from Brazzaville
For close to 40 years, my wife, Sara, and I have practiced holistic management of our ranch near Vinita, Oklahoma. Holistic management means being gentle on our land and livestock, working not through force, but through partnership. We joke that if there was ever yelling during a round-up, it was at each other and not at our animals.

As a rancher in the seventh decade of his life, my thoughts often stray to the legacy Ill leave to my four children and 12 grandchildren. I am motivated by a deep desire to do the right thing by my land and my family. This same desire is why I serve on the boards of both Holistic Management International and the Oklahoma Grazing Lands Coalition.

Just as everything on our ranch works together, from the cattle and wildlife down to the microbes in the soil, agricultural producers cannot do our jobs alone. Over the years, our ranch has been fortunate to receive help from Farm Bill conservation programs. These programs, however, are currently in jeopardy, facing major budget and staffing cuts right at a moment when Oklahomas family farmers and ranchers are in acute need of support.

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The Farm Bill is critical to the care and conservation of working lands such as my familys. For 10 years, the Conservation Stewardship Program has helped to finance our ongoing efforts to return old cropland back to healthy prairie. These pastures, full of diverse grasses, legumes, flowers, forbs and weeds, dont just make for happy cattle. They provide habitat for northern bobwhite quail  creatures whose presence enlivens our ranch  and a host of other wildlife.

For ranchers, healthy land and water often means a healthy wallet. As I have improved management of my pastures, Ive been able to eliminate the use of fertilizer, rely on hay to supplement in limited quantities, and only use herbicides strategically to control invasive woody species like red cedar. Our holistic grazing practices, enabled in part by the Conservation Stewardship Program, mean that our cattle have plenty to graze, even in winter.

Research underscores the Farm Bills value to the economy. According to a recent analysis, the four major Natural Resources Conservation Services programs support nearly 1,000 jobs each year in Oklahoma and drive $32.2 million in total household income. Across the country, these programs support more than 46,000 jobs each year and have a return on investment of $1.58 for every dollar invested.

More: At first, I questioned the value of wind energy, but now I see its value | Opinion

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Farm Bill programs also ensure that ranches stay ranches, and farms stay farms. Our ranch was recently accepted into the Agricultural Land Easements program, which will permanently protect it from commercial development. ALE gives me peace of mind that my children will be able to continue our family business, which has endured since 1907.

I am far from alone in my gratitude for the Farm Bill. Here in Oklahoma, where roughly 73% of all land is agricultural, applications to Farm Bill programs far exceed available resources. As family farmers and ranchers reel from severe weather and economic turmoil, these programs offer a way to save money, recover after drought and other disasters, and make our operations more resilient for the long term.

I urge Oklahomas congressional delegation to fully fund Farm Bill conservation programs and pass a new Farm Bill as soon as possible. These commonsense programs support sustainable businesses, thriving rural communities, and flourishing land for children, cattle  and quail.

Jim Shelton

Jim Shelton is a rancher based near Vinita.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why Congress must fund Farm Bill conservation programs | Opinion
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Congressman Boby Scott has endorsed Jay Jones in the Democratic primary for Virginia Attorney General.

In a statement, Scott talked about Jones experience aligning him for the role as Virginia Attorney General.

Im so proud to announce my endorsement of Jay Jones for Attorney General of Virginia, said Congressman Bobby Scott. Jay represents the next generation of leadership for Virginia. As a former Assistant Attorney General and a dedicated legislator, he has demonstrated the integrity, legal expertise, and commitment to justice that the Commonwealth needs. I know he will fight every day to protect the rights of all Virginians and uphold the values we share.

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Jones reacted to Scotts endorsement, referring to him as a tireless champion for justice, equality, and opportunity.

Scott joins Governor Ralph Northam, Governor Terry McAuliffe, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, Congressman Eugene Vindman and over 100 elected officials from across the Commonwealth in support of Jay Jones in the primary.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern's daughter Molly McGovern, who died suddenly in April, experienced nausea during a dinner with her friends while vacationing in Italy before her death.

Paul Morigi/Getty Jim McGovern and daughter Molly McGovern Jim McGovern and daughter Molly McGovern

The 23-year-old college student died on April 23 in Assisi, Italy, minutes after becoming nauseous while dining with friends, The Boston Globe reported in a new interview with her father published on Wednesday, May 7.

Her funeral was held Saturday, May 3, at St. Bernards Church in Worcester, Mass.

Paul Morigi/WireImage Jim McGovern and his daughter Molly McGovern, April 2019 Jim McGovern and his daughter Molly McGovern, April 2019

The outlet also spoke to the politician in a phone interview days ahead of the funeral where he once again spoke of her love for the Pope and marginalized communities: Shed also be saying, Whats the deal? Why cant women be cardinals? 

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McGovern, 65, spoke with the Globe before Molly's funeral, sharing her love of Pope Francis and marginalized communities. Shed also be saying, Whats the deal? Why cant women be cardinals? " McGovern, whose district includes much of central Massachusetts, said.

When Molly was younger, a priest asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, And she said, I want to be a cardinal,' " McGovern recalled.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Molly was a student at Northeastern University in Boston, studying political science and government, with a focus on international affairs.

Just after she turned 18, Molly was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Those who knew her best said she lived her last five years to the fullest.

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Her everyday necklace was a St. Francis medallion, her mother, Lisa McGovern, said during Mollys eulogy.

Molly Mcgovern/Instagram Molly McGovern Molly McGovern

She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best, Lisa continued. There were little miracles everywhere.

In addition to showing kindness to others, Molly was known for traveling the world  visiting places like Tasmania, Washington, D.C., Australia and Rome.

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She also became friends with the Pelosi family in recent years, sending Rep. Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi cards to lift his spirits after he was assaulted at home in 2022.

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Molly and Pelosi, 85, had been texting the same day she died, as they discussed the former U.S. House Speaker's plans to travel to Italy for Pope Francis' funeral.

I think his holiness, who was so saintly, decided he wanted another angel in heaven. And that would be Molly, because she was so good, Nancy told Jim after his daughters death, per the Globe.



Read the original article on People
(KRON)  Two congressmen sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth following reports that the Trump administration is considering using Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield as an immigration detention facility and mass deportation center.

U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) are calling the Travis Air Force Base plan outrageous.

Its outrageous and inappropriate for the Trump Administration to use Travis Air Force Base as an immigration detention facility, the congressmen wrote.

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Travis Air Force Base is known as the Gateway to the Pacific because of its its geographical location and mission for transporting for military personnel and equipment around the world.

Earlier this year, Garamendis office sent a letter demanding answers from the Department of Defense regarding the use of C-17s and C-130s from Travis Air Force Base to deport undocumented immigrants.

Travis-AFB-LetterDownload

Unfortunately, this is not the Presidents first attempt to inappropriately utilize Travis Air Force Base, hampering its critical mission. In February, we uncovered that Trump was using Traviss military aircraft to transport undocumented individuals. Now, the President wants to turn Travis into a mass deportation center. All these instances compromise our national security and are simply absurd, the congressmen wrote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
May 8While a couple days remain for interested candidates to throw their hats in the ring, it's already clear the Spokane Valley City Council will look a little different next year.

And if one councilman has his way, the council may look drastically different.

Councilman Rod Higgins, the longest continuous serving member of the board, said he does not plan to run for re-election. Higgins, 82, was appointed in 2013 and won the seat in an election later that year. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2021. The conservative council mainstay served as mayor of the Spokane suburb from 2016 to 2020.

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Higgins cited his age and a desire to get fresh perspectives and voices on the council in disclosing his decision not to seek re-election.

"I can tell you firsthand, no, I don't think I'm Joe Biden, at least not in that bad of shape yet," Higgins said. "But I can feel that I'm losing a step and stuff, and it's time for somebody else to get in there."

Two Spokane Valley business owners, each with prior campaign experience, launched their bids for Higgins' soon-to-be-vacated seat well before filing week, during which candidates across Spokane County declare their intentions to run for public office. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to file to run for city councils, school boards, fire commissions and other local offices.

Kristopher Pockell, a software engineer and co-owner of Elixir Sauce Company, and Mike Kelly, an entrepreneur who serves as chief financial officer for Salem, Oregon-based KT Contracting, each hope to win the open seat following the November election.

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Both ran for the state Legislature in the district encompassing the Valley last fall. Pockell unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Suzanne Schmidt as an independent, while Kelly fell short in a race for an open Senate seat eventually secured by fellow Republican state Sen. Leonard Christian. Kelly, despite carrying endorsements from several local prominent Republicans, lost steam in his campaign after details of a 1990 drug arrest in his hometown of Portland came to light.

Kelly was appointed to the city's planning commission last year by Mayor Pam Haley, after moving to the Valley in 2019. He owns and operates several property management and real estate holding companies, and has worked as a consultant, financial adviser, paralegal, investment counselor and a certified tax preparer.

Pockell, a graduate of Spokane Valley's Central Valley High School, said he hopes to focus on supporting first responders, developing the region's economy and ensuring the Valley's infrastructure continues to match pace with the rapid rate at which the city has grown over the past two decades, if elected.

Pockell's already started to prepare for the position, he said, by regularly attending council meetings and budget discussions, meeting with the current iteration of the council to come up to speed on big ticket items and through the lessons learned through his campaign last year.

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"It doesn't have to be as polarizing as you see on a national level," Pockell said of campaigning. "There's room for different voices at the table, and we learned a lot talking to people, learning what they care about and thinking about ideas to solve the problems that we all see all the time."

On Wednesday, Lisa Miller, a member of the Spokane County Board of Equalization, became the third candidate vying for Higgins' open seat. While it's her first bid for office in Spokane County, the California transplant previously served two terms on a neighborhood council in Los Angeles.

"I love my city and I love Washington State, and I would like to use whatever skills I have to help," Miller said.

With experience as a law professor, an administrative hearing officer and general counsel for California Community Colleges, Miller said she has a wealth of legal knowledge to draw from. If elected, she would focus on "supporting public safety in a meaningful way," while maintaining her values as a fiscal conservative, she said.

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Miller catches as many council meetings as she can, and said she looks forward to connecting with voters on the issues they care about. She pointed to a lengthy debate about laws surrounding electric scooters in Spokane Valley at Tuesday's council meeting as an example of how civically minded Valley residents tend to be.

"People really care in this town, and it doesn't really matter if it's a scooter or a tax increase, people care," Miller said. "And I do too."

As for the remaining board seats on the ballot this fall, Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Laura Padden and Mayor Pam Haley have filed for re-election, as has Councilman Ben Wick. No one had filed to challenge Haley as of publication deadline, according to state records, but Padden and Wick will have to contend with candidates backed by one of their fellow board members.

Councilman Al Merkel won't be up for re-election until 2027, but that hasn't stopped him from getting involved in the 2025 races early.

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Chaos and controversy have plagued the council since Merkel's arrival, as he's repeatedly butted heads with the board over construction projects, grant applications and the complaints and investigations related to him. Last May, an independent investigator found Merkel repeatedly disrespected city staff and fellow board members, often engaging in "intimidating behavior."

In a later, separate independent investigation, Merkel was found in violation of state law and city code regarding public records for his social media activity. Those findings were later upheld by the city's hearing examiner following an appeal by Merkel, and are the basis of a lawsuit the city launched against him earlier this year that alleges he is still not in compliance with state law.

After months of failing to find common ground with his peers, Merkel recruited candidates to replace them.

Wick, a councilmember from 2012 to 2015 before rejoining the council in 2017, has drawn a challenge from Daryl Williams, an employee of Fairmount Memorial Park who goes by "The Karaoke Guy" while operating his local karaoke pop-up business.

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Williams, 74, said he has always had an interest in politics and local government and thinks "there is room for improvement" on the Spokane Valley City Council. He believes his general demeanor and approach could help alleviate some of the tension and communication issues between council members, issues that have plagued the board since Merkel joined in January 2024. The West Valley High School graduate added that Merkel encouraged and helped him file to be a candidate for the position.

"You're there to represent the people who voted for you, not to pat yourself on the back," Williams said. "I just want to get involved in my community."

Merkel's also helped Brad Hohn, manager of the salvage yard High Mountain Horsepower, in his attempt to unseat Padden. Hohn said the council members are good people "for the most part," but he believes they "are losing focus of what the people really want."

As an example, he does not believe the city is prioritizing the right infrastructure projects, pointing to the lack of completion of an overhaul of the Trent Avenue and Sullivan Road interchange that's been in the works for years.

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"You get a lot of people who complain about many different things, or how things should be ran, but yet they don't vote or try to do anything themselves," Hohn said. "It's put up or shut up, you know?"

City of Spokane

The Spokane City Council will have three seats on the ballot this fall, which continued to draw more prospective candidates as filing week stretched on.

The South Hill is home to the only open seat, which is being vacated by Councilwoman Lili Navarrete. The race included two candidates as of Wednesday evening: Alejandro Barrientos, chief operating officer at SCAFCO Steel Stud Company, and Kate Telis, a former deputy prosecutor in New Mexico.

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For the seat representing northeast Spokane, incumbent Jonathan Bingle filed for re-election and is being challenged by social justice advocate Sarah Dixit, organizing director for Pro Choice Washington and co-chair of the Spokane chapter of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition.

Northwest Spokane Councilman Zack Zappone has a pair of challengers as he seeks reelection: private cigar lounge co-owner Cody Arguelles and Meals on Wheels board member Christopher Savage.

The city's three municipal court judges, Kristin O'Sullivan, Mary Logan and Gloria Ochoa-Bruck, each filed for re-election Monday. As of Wednesday evening, Logan was the only to draw a challenge  from former Spokane City Attorney Lynden Smithson. Smithson oversaw the prosecuting side of the office before taking on the top role in an interim capacity in 2022. The council named him city attorney in 2023, a role he held until Mayor Lisa Brown took office in January 2024.

Local school districts

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In the county's largest district, Spokane Public Schools, all four board members in seats up for re-election have filed to retain their seats. Incumbents Nikki Otero Lockwood, Hilary Kozel, Nicole Bishop and Jenny Slagle have yet to draw a challenge in their respective races.

East of the county seat, Spokane County GOP Chair Rob Linebarger and Dr. Allen Skidmore, who has a family medicine practice in the Valley, are hoping to join the Central Valley School District. The positions' incumbents, Pam Orebaugh and Tere Landa, respectively, have yet to file for re-election.

Beata Cox, Jonathan Horsle and Mike Bly, board members of the East Valley School District, have all filed for re-election and have yet to draw a challenger. Local Subway store owner Carolyn Petersen, who lost a bid to current district 3 seat holder Justin Voelker in 2021, is the sole candidate who's filed for the position as of Wednesday evening.

The West Valley School District did not have a contested race as of publication. Incumbents Bob Dompier and Pam McLeod have filed to retain their positions, according to state records.

The Mead School District's five-member governing board has two seats up for election this year, and Vice President BrieAnne Gray was the sole candidate to have filed by end of day Wednesday. Gray is seeking re-election for the first time.

In southwestern Spokane County, incumbent Elizabeth Winer will contend with Jessica Davis, owner of Airway Heights eatery Wolffy's Breakfast Burgers and Brew, for a seat on the Cheney School District's governing board. Kyle Belock, husband to Cheney City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Belock, filed to run for a separate seat on the board Wednesday.
Policemen stop vehicles near Nur Khan Air Base following an Indian attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, May 10, 2025. India launched air-to-surface missiles at three air bases in Pakistan, but all strategic assets of the Pakistan Air Force remained safe in the attack, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army said in the wee hours of Saturday. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, May 10 (Xinhua) -- India launched air-to-surface missiles at three air bases in Pakistan, but all strategic assets of the Pakistan Air Force remained safe in the attack, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army said in the wee hours of Saturday.

India carried out missile and drone strikes targeting multiple Pakistani military installations in Punjab province, including Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi district near the capital city of Islamabad, Murid Air Base in Chakwal district, and Shorkot Air Base in Jhang district, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistani army, told the media.

He claimed that India also launched drone and missile strikes in Afghanistan.

"These unprovoked and reckless acts demonstrate India's madness and treacherous nature," the officer said, adding that "through its continued aggression, India is pushing the region towards a dangerous and unnecessary conflict. Now you just wait for our response," said Chaudhry.

Talking to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, official sources said that four missiles were fired at Nur Khan Air Base. Two of them struck the runway at 2:15 a.m. and 2:20 a.m. local time (GMT 2115 and 2120 Friday), while two others were reportedly intercepted by Pakistan's air defense systems.

The attacks resulted in injuries to at least four people, who have since been shifted to a nearby hospital, the sources added.

Eyewitnesses, who gathered at the site shortly after the strike, said that one of the missiles struck a nearby residential colony, engulfing several houses in fire. 

An ambulance is pictured near Nur Khan Air Base following an Indian attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, May 10, 2025. India launched air-to-surface missiles at three air bases in Pakistan, but all strategic assets of the Pakistan Air Force remained safe in the attack, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army said in the wee hours of Saturday. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

Policemen stand guard on a road near Nur Khan Air Base following an Indian attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, May 10, 2025. India launched air-to-surface missiles at three air bases in Pakistan, but all strategic assets of the Pakistan Air Force remained safe in the attack, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army said in the wee hours of Saturday. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)
HAMMOND, Ind. (WGN)  The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating a Northwest Indiana fatal shooting that involved an officer from the Chicago Police Department (CPD).

According to CPD, 4th District officers responded to a person with a gun call in the 13400 block of South Baltimore Avenue around 5:50 p.m. Thursday, for an individual wanted for an aggravated battery.

Upon arrival, officers witnessed the person enter a vehicle and flee from the area. A short time later, the offender then crashed his vehicle at Dearborn and Gostlin Street in Hammond, Indiana.

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Officers arrived to the 100 block of Gostlin Street where they were fired upon and returned fire, striking the offender.

The offender sustained gunshot wounds and was transported to St. Catherine Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Both officers were transported to a nearby hospital for observation in good condition. Police said no other injuries were reported.

One firearm was recovered on scene. The shooting is being investigated by COPA with the full cooperation of the Chicago Police Department.

The officer(s) involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for a minimum period of 30 days.

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COPA asks those who may have any information that can aid them in their investigation of this incident, call 312-746-3609.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct a statistic on fatalities in 2025.

DENVER (KDVR)  Coloradans who neglect to buckle their seatbelt are at a heightened risk of receiving a ticket this month, amidst a nation and statewide Click It or Ticket enforcement effort from May 12 to June 1.

Fines for failing to buckle up in Colorado start at $65, while parents or caregivers caught not properly restraining their child can expect to receive a minimum fine of $82, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

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Express lane safety with CDOT

A total of 1,782 seatbelt citations were issued last year, according to the agency, which said the number included 74 for unrestrained children.

Drivers need to buckle up at all times, even when they think its safe. Seat belts save lives in all situations, including in trucks and on rural roads, said CDOTs Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk, in a statement.

April enforcement leads to more than 1,100 citations

CDOT noted that traffic deaths increase in Colorado during the summer months. Following the May enforcement period, an additional Click It or Ticket effort will take place from July 21 to Aug. 1, the agency said.

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A previous seatbelt enforcement period in April yielded more than 1,100 citations, according to CDOT, which said the majority of citations were issued by law enforcement in Westminster (78), Jefferson County (59) and Larimer County (47).

For every excuse, there is only one response for why troopers want you to wear a seatbelt. No other safety feature in your vehicle is more effective in reducing your risk of dying in a crash than wearing a seat belt, said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in a statement.

Law enforcement to increase patrols

CDOT said law enforcement will increase its patrols during the enforcement period, and noted drivers with unbuckled passengers can also be ticketed.

Coloradans, for their part, are buckling up in increasing numbers, with seatbelt use rates in the state up to 88% from 79% in 2005, according to CDOT. Still, the agency warned that 49 unbuckled vehicle occupants have already died this year on Colorado roads, making up 38% of all vehicle occupant fatalities.

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The reality is that 186 people died in Colorado in 2024 while not wearing a seat belt. Their lives might have been saved if they decided to buckle up, Packard said.

Understanding Colorado seat belt laws

While Colorado law requires the driver and every front-seat passenger of a motor vehicle and autocycle to wear a seatbelt, a law enforcement officer is unable to pull over an adult vehicle solely for not buckling up, the agency said.

An adult driver and front-seat passenger may receive a secondary ticket, however, for not being buckled in when stopped for an unrelated traffic violation.

Wearing a seatbelt is subject to what is known as primary enforcement, however, when a driver is under the age of 18, police can issue a traffic stop if the driver and/or passengers of any age are not wearing a seatbelt.

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Law enforcement may also pull over a vehicle if they see any person under the age of 18 who is unrestrained or improperly restrained.

CDOT notes that caregivers may face additional charges if a child is injured due to not being properly restrained.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a bill Friday that would require chip exports to have location-tracking systems to prevent American technology from reaching adversaries.

The bill, titled the Chip Security Act, would direct the Commerce Department to require a location verification mechanism on artificial intelligence (AI) chips subject to export controls.

Chip exporters would then be required to report to the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) if their products were diverted from the intended destination or tampered with.

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Expanding access to advanced technology cant come at the cost of our national security, Cotton wrote Friday on social platform X. My Chips Security Act will prevent American chips from falling into the hands of adversaries like Communist China.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration confirmed it is planning to repeal the Biden administrations AI diffusion rule, which was announced in January in the final days of former President Bidens term.

The rule placed caps on chip sales to most countries around the world, except for 18 U.S. allies and partners, and intended to curb foreign competition in the tech development space.

In a statement Wednesday, the BIS called the rule overly complex, overly bureaucratic and warned it would stifle American innovation and dominance. David Sacks, the White House AI and crypto czar, later said the rule alienated key U.S. allies and overreached on export control authority.

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Several other technology companies from Microsoft to Nvidia urged Trump to loosen the rules in recent months.

The issue raises new challenges for the administration as it grapples with curbing competition from China and ensuring the success of American exporters.

The Trump administration last month rolled out new export licensing requirements for certain chips, including Nvidias H20 and AMDs MI308 models. Nvidia said the rules will cost the company $5.5 billion, and Reuters reported Friday that the chip manufacturer is planning to release a modified H20 AI chip in the wake of the new rules.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Cortes Bank, the famed and elusive wave 100 miles off the coast of California, is an anomaly. The massive peaks that have seen XXL records and near-death experiences result from a seamount  an underwater mountain with a summit below the surface.

Now, scientists in a NASA-backed project say theyve found up to nearly 56,000 previously unmapped underwater mountains in the planets oceans.

Mapping the ocean floor for numerous economic and environmental repercussions. Ships need to know if there are any hazards in their way. Cable-laying and mining operations have to know whats going on down there, too. Scientists are also interested in what kind of geological formations and marine ecosystems exist in the depths.

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The Surface Water and Ocean Topography project, a collaboration between NASA and the French space agency Centre National dEtudes Spatiales, used radar altimetry during a full year of satellite observations. The SWOT satellite covered about 90% of the planet every 21 days, and the seafloor map it created was published in Science in December 2024.

The SWOT satellite was a huge jump in our ability to map the seafloor, David Sandwell, a geophysicist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, told NASA.

How big of a jump was this research? The satellite measured small bumps on the oceans surface caused by the subtle gravitational pull of the large seamounts below, and researchers used that data to predict the location of the underwater masses. According to their pencils, the number of mapped seamounts skyrocketed from 44,000 to nearly 100,000. That's an estimated 56,000 previously hidden peaks, uncovered just like that.

Related: Less Than 0.001% of the Sea Floor Has Been Seen by Humans

So, is the next Cortes Bank still out there? Could another mountain range intercept swells and cause a titanic wave to break on the oceans surface? Unfortunately, its too soon to tell. This data is preliminary, and the SWOT team is still calculating the depths of each feature the satellite pinpointed. This is part of an international effort to map the entire ocean bottom by 2030. Previous research could only detect seamounts over 3,300 feet (1 kilometer) in height. The SWOT team can find features half that height.

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For reference, the Cortes range rises an estimated 4,000 feet from the ocean floor, and its tallest point (Bishop Rock) comes alarmingly close to the surface. Its also in a prime position to cop the brunt of massive long-period Pacific Ocean power. It's entirely possible the newly mapped seamounts don't come close enough to the surface to cause swells to break. While the scientists crunch the numbers, best keep your eyes peeled.

Related: Where Does HBOs 100 Foot Wave Go From Here?
Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) addresses the upper chamber on May 7, 2025. (By Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

A Republican legislator is pushing for the state to lay the groundwork for a four-day work week by establishing a pilot project and a tax credit to encourage participation.

Sen. Rick Bennett of Oxford presented a resolve, LD 1865, to the Taxation Committee on Thursday that would establish a pilot project administered by the Maine Department of Labor to promote, incentivize and support the use of a four-day work week and study the benefits and effects of the schedule change.

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This proposal is rooted in a simple principle, Bennett said. Maine people work hard and they deserve to thrive, not just survive.

Bennett said his proposal is not about working less but working smarter, but some Republican legislators on the committee were critical of the plan.

Working five days a week, thats part of being an adult, said Rep. Tracy Quint of Hodgdon.

Bennett pushed back. I dont think part of being an adult is to have to work in a given rigor that was handed to us by what worked in 1938, he said, adding that when former President Franklin D. Roosevelt ushered in the 40-hour work week about 80 years ago, critics feared economic disaster but instead it helped usher in an era of prosperity.

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I do not want our state policy making to be governed by fear, Bennett said.

The pilot project would be voluntary, open to all private and public employers with at least 15 employees, but selection will be up to a process established by the Department of Labor to ensure a wide breadth of participation.

Research on four-day work weeks is in its early stages, and not all four-day work weeks look the same.

Bennett said hed like the pilot to involve a reduction in hours per week to 32 hours, eight hours per day, without any loss of pay, employment status or benefits. Other models compress 40 hours into four days.

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An international trial of more than 200 companies that switched to a reduced hours workweek like Bennett proposed found improved worker well-being, retention and recruitment, with most companies choosing to continue the model.

However, other studies identified some negative impacts, including scheduling problems, more intense monitoring measures and a risk of benefits fading over time.

Some private Maine businesses have implemented four-day work weeks, using varying methods, as well as a handful of municipalities, including South Portland, Lewiston and Biddeford.

In order to encourage participation, the resolve would also establish a tax credit against income taxes owed by that employer.

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The specifics of that credit are not outlined in the proposal. Currently, it states that it would be determined by the department and the State Tax Assessor, but constitutionally tax changes must go through the Legislature, so ultimately such a decision would have to come back to lawmakers.

Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield) questioned why a tax credit is necessary if some municipalities and businesses in Maine have already implemented four-day work weeks, but Bennett said Maine-specific data on effectiveness is lacking. The credit would be an incentive to help the state gather that data, and it is not intended to replace the cost of the additional eight-hour work day.

I want it to be proven out that the productivity gains and the other possible advancements are achievable and arent just replaced by state tax dollars, Bennett said.

Pressed on the cost the tax credit could incur the state by legislators of both parties, Bennett said he would return with specifics for the work session but anticipates it to be modest.

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He is also open to the committee choosing to fund an incentive in another way, noting that he modeled his plan after a similar bill currently being considered in Massachusetts that uses taxpayer dollars.

I hope that you dont reject it on that basis, he said.

The duration of the pilot project in Maine would be at least two years but no more than four years, which would be determined by the Department of Labor.

The resolve specifies that participating employers should be diverse in size, industry location and ownership, including those owned by veterans, women, minorities and people with disabilities. Those participating should also have both employees who are exempt from and subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

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No one testified for or against the measure on Thursday, but Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, spoke neither for nor against. Woodcock said, if the resolve does pass, the chamber would want to partner with the Department of Labor to make the pilot as effective as possible, noting that it would be helpful to gather data about how a four-day work week would work for salaried versus hourly employees.

I think ultimately, for something like this to be successful, you do need the executive buy-in, Woodcock said. If this does have a trend of being utilized as a best practice, I think Maine does need to be at the forefront of consideration of this model.

The department would be required to report annually to the Legislature on the progress and participation levels for the duration of the pilot project and then submit a final report.

The report would assess the economic and social effect of a four-day workweek on the participating employers and the effect on the wellbeing of participating employees, as well as include recommendations.

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However, throughout the pilot, participating employers must provide the department access to employer data and participating employees including through interviews and surveys on a regular basis, though employees can opt out of those inquiries and any data gathered must be anonymized.

The State Tax Assessor would also be required to submit an annual report on the tax credit.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order, took the name Leo XIV. The crowd in St. Peters Square erupted in cheers, priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted Viva il papa!

Catholics in Mississippi were surprised the cardinals chose an American pope.

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As the newscaster said, there was an audible gasp. And, I mean, I had the same reaction. I went, An American pope. I couldnt believe it, but Im thrilled for it, said Ed Prybylski, a Mississippi resident.

Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know

Prevost had been a leading candidate for the papacy, but there had long been a taboo against a U.S. pope, given the countrys geopolitical power already wielded in the secular sphere. But Prevost was seemingly eligible because hes also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

Pope Francis sent Prevost to take over a complicated diocesan situation in Peru, then brought him to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. And in January, he elevated him into the senior ranks of cardinals.

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The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903. That Leo softened the churchs confrontational stance toward modernity, especially science and politics and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers rights and capitalism at the beginning of the industrial revolution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has commented on the political support for the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, which has the text of his speech

Details: On 9 May, European foreign ministers gathered in Lviv and welcomed the completion of technical work on the draft legal instruments necessary to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine within the Council of Europe.

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"Today's event in Lviv demonstrates our unity and resolve to ensure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," Berset commented.

He drew attention to the fact that Ukraine is part of the European family and remains a top priority for the Council of Europe.

"We have already developed an Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction. We have established a fully functioning Register of Damage for Ukraine. The European Court of Human Rights is examining thousands of cases of alleged human rights violations resulting from Russia's aggression. And we have made the plight of Ukrainian children our own," he said.

Berset stressed that the EU is now creating the basis for a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

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"This is the moment for states to follow up on the political will they have shown today. Justice also needs resources. Funding must be secured, and the necessary support provided for the functioning of the future tribunal," added the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Background:

As reported by European Pravda, it is hoped that the tribunal will start working next year.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas hopes for the tribunal's decision on aggression in 2026.

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GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Friday rejected U.S. accusations that it was controlling humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

In a press statement, Hamas said that the accusations made by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee against Hamas of controlling Gaza aid are "contrary to the truth."

Huckabee stated on Friday that a new distribution system of humanitarian aid to Gaza through private companies is being prepared, describing the system as an effort to prevent Hamas from stealing aid.

In its statement, Hamas referred to the U.S. accusations as "a reiteration of Israeli lies that have been exposed by all UN organizations and agencies operating in Gaza," saying "the ambassador also uses them to justify involvement in Israeli displacement and subjugation plans in Gaza through the policy of starvation."

Hamas affirmed the right of the people of Gaza to receive humanitarian aid with dignity and via the mechanisms approved by the United Nations and international relief organizations.

It called on the international community to help break the blockade imposed by the Israeli government on the enclave and to force Israel to immediately open the crossings for the entry of aid convoys stuck on the Egyptian side of the border.

Meanwhile, Palestinian National Council Speaker Rawhi Fattouh also debunked the U.S. plan in a press statement.

"The U.S. plan, which entrusts the distribution of limited humanitarian aid in Gaza to international companies, has nothing to do with humanitarian work," Fattouh said, calling the plan "a dangerous racist project aimed at isolating Palestinians in residential enclaves and apartheid camps, stripping them of most necessities of life."

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 of the agreement has yet to be implemented due to a lack of consensus between the parties. 
The Florida Supreme Court is ordering a 10-day suspension for Broward County Judge Mardi Levey Cohen, who admits she spread unverified information about her political opponent in the 2022 election and led a church to believe its tax-exempt status with the IRS was in danger.

The decision came eight months after the court rejected a more lenient agreement between Levey Cohen and the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, which polices the behavior of judges on and off the bench. The earlier agreement called for a public reprimand.

The reprimand is still part of the penalty that Levey Cohen has accepted.

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According to the Supreme Court, Levey Cohen spread unverified information from an email she received purporting to be from a relative of lawyer Kaysia Earley, her opponent in the 2022 race. She also admitted sending a letter to a Lauderhill church whose leaders were supporting Earley. The letter was the complaint Levey Cohen had sent to the IRS.

Churches do risk their tax exempt status when they wade too deeply into politics, but Levey Cohen led church leaders to believe they had received a copy of the complaint from the IRS when in fact it was sent by Levey Cohens office.

Her 10-day suspension must begin within 30 days, and her public reprimand will be scheduled by the Florida Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court agreed with the Commission that there were mitigating factors.

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Without minimizing the seriousness of Judge Levey Cohens misconduct, the Commission found as mitigating circumstances that the judge admitted her misconduct, accepted responsibility, and cooperated with the Commission in all respects, it said. We accept the Commissions evaluation of Judge Levey Cohens responsiveness and contrition.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda.
Editors note: This article contains descriptions of child abuse. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Indiana Department of Child Services' Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All adults are mandated reporters in Indiana.

A Brownsburg day care center knew about sexual abuse allegations against an employee for more than a year but failed to act, according to the investigators who found more than 130 images documenting the abuse on the employee's phone.

Main Street University 4 Kidz was shuttered by state officials on May 8, two days after one of its employees was arrested on accusations of child molestation. During their investigation, detectives uncovered that leadership had been made aware of the employee's abuse allegations at least three times, beginning in April 2024. They never contacted law enforcement or the Department of Child Services.

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In the time between when day care leadership was notified of the allegations and when police launched an investigation, the employee is accused of abusing an unknown number of children.

The employee, Gabriel Garner, was arrested on May 6 on preliminary charges of child molestation. He remained detained as of 3 p.m. May 8. The Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office will make final charging decisions.

Garner, 22, began working at the day care center in 2021. Investigators are asking parents who believe their children may have been abused to contact the DCS hotline at (800) 800-5566 or Brownsburg Police at (317) 852-1109, ext. 2123.

The day care's owner, Nancy Minton, did not respond to a request for comment.

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We are devastated for these families, and horrified by the magnitude of this abuse, said attorney Catherine Michael, whose firm is representing families of children who attended the day care. No child should ever endure what these children have suffered, especially in a daycare setting that is supposed to protect them and ensure their safety. The betrayal of trust here is unspeakable."

How the investigation began

On Feb. 20, 2025, a day care employee whose daughter attends the school received a text from Garner. The message was a joke about her 3-year-old daughter having a "foot fetish" because the girl was touching a sock. She'd heard concerns about Garner before from other staffers and decided to report the off-color joke to her supervisor.

When managers didn't report her concerns to DCS, she called the agency and began gathering information on her own. At least three times, managers had failed to alert the state agency about abuse allegations, she told police.

She recorded two conversations with the day care's manager, who explained "they do their own in-house investigations and if there is no acting out by the child and no proof on video, they do not contact DCS," according to court documents. Day care workers are required to report allegations even if they believe they're unfounded.

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The mother called DCS and took those recordings to the Brownsburg Police Department, which began investigating.

Parents tell police their concerns were dismissed

In November 2024, a 5-year-old girl told her parents that her day care teacher had molested her. Her parents immediately took their concerns to the school.

But according to court documents, the girl's mother "let the school convince her that nothing happened." Staff said there had been other complaints about Garner that were later recanted.

Main Street University's owner, Minton, and manager, Jennyfer Lingbeck, showed the parents surveillance footage of the classroom that didn't capture anything untoward. There were about five minutes when the alleged abuser was the only employee in the classroom and not visible on video, but the mother recalls that the day care's owner said it's "not possible to have done anything to a child in that time." Police allege the girl's abuse occurred at a "sensory table" located in an area not visible to cameras.

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About a month ago, state investigators contacted the 5-year-old's mother after learning from police about the new allegations. The mother again asked to meet with day care leadership. In that meeting, Minton said they didn't contact police at the family's request, according to court documents. Contacting the police wasn't optional, the detective notes.

The whistleblower's recorded conversation referenced two other accusations that were not reported to police or the state. The accusations are not described in detail, but a violation report from the state's day care licensing agency cites failure to report abuse in April 2024, November 2024 and February 2025.

Police find child sex abuse material on employee's phone

Police interviewed Garner on May 2. He referenced two separate allegations of abuse against 5-year-old girls, but said leadership investigated both accusations and "nothing came of it."

During questioning, police noted, his demeanor was off-putting. "He was cotton mouthed, his lips appeared to be dry, extremely nervous and was laughing," court documents state.

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When asked if he'd had any of the children touch him, he hesitated before responding, "not that he can remember." He also "became extremely uncomfortable" when police said the classroom's surveillance camera captured footage from multiple angles, the affidavit for his arrest stated.

As Garner got up to leave the interview, police took his phone. When he learned that they'd be looking at photos, "I could see a change in his demeanor," the investigator wrote.

A forensic analysis turned up over 130 images geotagged to Main Street University 4 Kidz, taken between 2023 and 2024.

"The images are vile in content," the detective wrote.

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Around 125,000 pornographic images found on the man's phone are still being processed. The employee was connected to a group chat used for trading child sex abuse material, though court documents do not allege that images taken at the day care were disseminated online.

'A conscious and systemic decision'

This was not just a failure by one individual. This was a failure of supervision, safety, training, and a systemic failure to follow the law, the families' attorney said in a prepared statement. The management's alleged refusal to notify the authorities after receiving warnings is a clear failure to report suspected abuse. These children were left vulnerable knowingly and that is unforgivable."

Indiana requires that people working in daycares be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma and possess the ability to read and write. They must also pass a background check. A search of online court records indicates Garner did not have a prior criminal history.

A letter sent from the state authorities to Main Street University's management on May 8 called the failure to report abuse "a conscious and systemic decision by child care management."

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The Family and Social Services Administration, which oversees the state's child care facilities, can cite businesses for violations without requiring them to shut down. In November 2024, police filed charges against a woman accused of physical abuse at a different day care in Westfield. The facility was put on probation, but not closed, after the state regulatory agency found the abuse wasn't reported promptly. The woman was fired and court documents don't allege a pattern of unreported abuse.

A representative from the Family and Social Services Administration, which oversees the state's day cares, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Brownsburg case. The agency's previous inspections of the facility had never uncovered abuse.

On May 1, Gov. Mike Braun signed a new law that requires law enforcement to investigate allegations that institutions like schools, day cares and gyms failed to report abuse to authorities. It also restricts who can delegate the reporting duty to another person. The law was inspired in part by a 2016 IndyStar investigation of USA Gymnastics' repeated failure to report abuse at the hands of team doctor Larry Nassar.

The law goes into effect on July 1.

How to learn more, get help

Parents seeking information about childcare providers can view enforcement actions on FSSA's website.

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Indiana law requires all adults who suspect child abuse or neglect to report their concerns to law enforcement or to DCS at 1-800-800-5556.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana daycare shut down by police after failure to report sexual abuse
A man allegedly attempted to drive his car through the gates of actress Jennifer Aniston's Los Angeles home on Monday. Security guards held the man at gunpoint until police arrived to arrest him - all while Aniston was home.

The man, identified as Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, was charged with stalking after the LA District Attorney's office found several disturbing social media posts with a particular fixation on Anderson.

According to TMZ, prosecutors believe Carwyle began harassing Aniston with unwanted calls, emails and DMs in 2023.

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Carwyle was in court for his arraignment on Thursday, and two significant decisions were made in the case. He was told to not contact Aniston and is ordered to stay more than 100 feet away from her at all times.

The judge set his bail at $150,000 and ordered him to not to acquire firearms while obeying the law.

Legal proceedings have been suspended for the case involving Aniston's home, and they will only move forward if Carwyle is found to be competent enough to participate.

In court on Thursday, Carwyle appeared with only a blue blanket over his body. He stared straight ahead and did not react during the proceedings, as he was charged with one count of felony stalking and one count of felony vandalism.

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In his social media posts, Carwyle made multiple references to Aniston being his "bride," and mentioned that others said he was lying when he would tell them that he was married to the actress.

Aniston is perhaps best known for her role as Rachel Green on the long-running NBC sitcom "Friends," but she's had other significant roles during her career. She's been a staple of the comedy genre with films like "Office Space," "We're The Millers" and "Horrible Bosses."

Recently, Aniston has been applauded and recognized for her performance on the Apple TV+ drama series "The Morning Show," opposite Steve Carrell and Reese Witherspoon. She won a Screen Actors Guild award for the show's first season, and has also been nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards during the show's run.

As Aniston continues her career, hopefully she's seen and heard the last of her alleged stalker.
(QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A crash involving an overturned boat caused significant traffic delays on I-77 South in Davidson, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The accident, which happened just after 8 a.m. Friday, May 9, blocked both the left and center lanes. NCDOT warned drivers to expect delays in the area as crews worked to clear the scene.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

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The boat involved appeared to have come loose from a vehicle and flipped onto the roadway. The NC State Highway Patrol, local fire departments, and Medic responded to the scene.

One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Queen City News has reached out to the NC State Highway Patrol for more details.

Photos: NCDOT

Latest stories from QCnews.com

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Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Jimmy Ronald Dupree, 48, of Iuka, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, capias for possession of methamphetamine, contempt of court.

OBryant Hamilton, 21, of Okolona, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, uttering a forgery.

Robert Jerome Jones, 56, of Guntown, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, trafficking fentanyl.

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Rena Renee Mays, 57, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, driving under the influence fourth offense.

Pansy L. Shaw, 52, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Baldwyn Police Department, possession of a controlled substance, contempt of court.

Timothy Charles Summers, 41, of Fulton, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Wednesday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

A County Road 2432, Guntown, man said a white male carrying a maroon suitcase walked through his year around noon. He did not recognize the subject, who left on foot headed west.

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A County Road 1461, Mooreville, man said a large white dog has been hanging around the trailer park for about a week. The dog growls at everyone and he would like it picked up. The deputy explained that there is no stray ordinance in Lee County, so deputies cant go pick up animals. The man would need to take a copy of the report to justice court and have a judge sign a pickup order for an aggressive animal.

A County Road 2156, Saltillo, man said someone stole a set of four 17-inch magnesium rims for a Ford Expedition. He thinks the theft happened in the last couple of days. He has a trail camera, but it did not capture the incident.

A County Road 811, Saltillo, woman heard someone trying to wiggle the front doorknob around 3 a.m. She then heard a voice near her truck and later heard voices around the front and back door at the same time. She said the noises stopped about five minutes before deputies arrived.

An Aberdeen Housing Authority employee said they put a $900 check in the mail on Aug. 28, 2024. The mail was intercepted at some point, the check removed and cashed at the County Line Store on Highway 348 in Blue Springs on Aug. 29, 2024. The had an image of the signature used to cash the check. The report did not say why they waited 8 months to file a report.

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.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and educators are continuing to warn of a sharp rise in students mental health struggles in the classroom.

Weve surveyed our members, and recently theyve told us that theyre losing five hours of instruction a month due to disruptive student behaviors, said Mary Barden, executive director of National Education Association Rhode Island.

State lawmakers have introduced a new bill to bring more mental health support directly into Rhode Island schools. Barden said the demand for those resources is higher than ever.

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Our educators and support staff really need a voice at the table around addressing the issues around student behaviors and mental health, Barden explained. Post-COVID, theres been this increase in disruptive student behaviors thats really impacting instruction, and we want to be able to have places where students are going to have great outcomes for their mental health and their behaviors.

RELATED: Senate committee OKs bill to ban cell phones in schools

The bill was backed by the R.I. House of Representatives and aims to strengthen mental health policies in schools. It passed the house in April by a 60-10 vote.

This bill would direct every school committee in every district to form a student safety and behavioral health committee to address the mental health crisis we have right now. And schools are on the front line, said state Rep. Megan Cotter, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation.

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Cotter explained that adding more counselors, support staff and therapy would help. According to 2022 data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 42% of teenagers experience feelings of sadness.

Barden told 12 News that legislation like House Bill 5165 is a step in the right direction.

Were looking for, at least in every district, for these programs to be implemented consistently and supported by administration so that our folks can do what theyre trained to do, which is teach kids, Barden added.

Mental health is very difficult because it does look different for every individual person, Cotter said. If a child falls and breaks an arm, theres a policy, theres help available. Mental health is very different and its not as simple. We need to give children the tools to succeed and be successful adults.

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ALSO READ: 60 Massachusetts school districts receive mental health funding

The bill now heads to the Senate, where companion legislation is already on the table.

Were hopeful and optimistic that it will pass in the Senate, Cotter said. Theres no reason why it should not pass. We know as a body what is going on right now in schools and how the mental health crisis really needs to be addressed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority said that its April testing showed two of its arsenic treatment facilities continue to be below federal limits and one was slightly higher, the utility said in a news release on Friday, May 8.

The Environmental Protection Agencys maximum contaminate level (MCL) for arsenic is 10 parts per billion (ppb).

Test results, released by Eurofins Environment Testing, an independent water lab certified by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), showed the Sunland Park ATF at 6.2 ppb, the Santa Teresa Community ATF at 4.5 ppb and the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF at 12 ppb, the utility said.

Graph courtesy of Camino Real Regional Utility Authority

When we received the test results for the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF, we immediately implemented protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) we initiated in partnership with NMED, and adjusted treatment that lowered the arsenic level to below the MCL, CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby said. At no time was the public health at risk. The water continues to meet NMED and EPA standards and is safe to consume.

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Crosby said CRRUA also notified NMED about the test results, in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Crosby said CRRUA will continue to conduct daily monitoring at all ATFs and will follow up with additional testing at the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF on May 13 and May 20, utilizing an independent, NMED-certified laboratory.

Crosby said developing standard operating procedures was a priority when he was named CRRUA acting executive director in January 2024.

Our quick response in correcting the exceedance at the Santa Teresa Industrial ATF is a direct result of the processes we enacted. I am extremely proud of the timely and proper corrective actions our team took to protect the health and safety of CRRUA customers, Crosby said.

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Crosby said the voluntary monthly testing CRRUA has been conducting since February 2024 is to not only for internal monitoring purposes, but for public transparency.

Our monthly testing is strictly voluntary, Crosby said. It is a proactive process we undertake to keep our customers constantly informed about water quality. We post arsenic test results on the CRRUA website at crrua.org and on the CRRUA Facebook page.

He said although the tests are conducted by an independent, NMED-certified lab, they are not for compliance purposes. Only the quarterly tests NMED conducts are for compliance, he said to explain the process further.

CRRUA excluded the Border Entry ATF from its voluntary testing due to its continued meeting of federal and state requirements.

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The water samples used in the most recent testing were collected on April 23.

As of January 2025, all four arsenic treatment facilities (ATFs) operated by CRRUA are NMED compliant, which means they were below EPAs MCL for four consecutive quarters, the utility said.

So far this year, CRRUA passed NMEDs first quarter arsenic test, and three-monthly voluntary tests verified by an independent laboratory.

Since Jan. 24, 2024, CRRUA has passed 22 arsenic tests including four quarterly NMED tests, the utility said.

Arsenic tests results are available on the CRRUA website at crrua.org.

CRRUA said it recently achieved 94.8% compliance in correcting deficiencies identified by NMED in its 2023 survey of the utility. Of the 58 deficiencies identified, CRRUA has corrected 55, the utility said.

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CRRUA provides water and wastewater services to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Followers of the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement are locked in a furious row over Donald Trumps nominations for surgeon general.

The president on Wednesday withdrew his pick of Dr Janette Nesheiwat  a doctor and Fox News contributor whose confirmation hearing was scheduled for Thursday  amid claims she lied about her qualifications and was too supportive of the Covid-19 vaccines programme.

In her place, Mr Trump announced he will nominate Robert F Kennedy ally Dr Casey Means, boasting of her impeccable MAHA credentials.

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The US surgeon general is considered the leading authority on matters of public health, overseeing a staff of 6,000.

Her academic achievements, together with her lifes work, are absolutely outstanding, Mr Trump wrote. Dr Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest surgeon generals in United States history.

Dr Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News contributor, was withdrawn as Donald Trumps pick for surgeon general

However, the announcement has split opinion among Trump supporters.

While prominent Maga podcasters Charlie Kirk and Megyn Kelly praised Dr Means as a brilliant pick, Nicole Shanahan, a lawyer and Mr Kennedys former running mate, said she was not qualified for the role and that the health secretary had promised he would not offer her a job.

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I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS [health and human services] or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be), she wrote on X.

Sit in silence

Others criticised Dr Means, a wellness influencer and staunch critic of the food and drug industry, for not being sufficiently critical of giving Covid-19 vaccines to children, which they claim are unsafe despite World Health Organisation (WHO) advice.

Dr Mary Bowden, who was suspended from a Texas hospital for allegedly spreading vaccine misinformation and now has a sizable online following, said: All the people celebrating Casey Means Give it a month. See if she continues to sit in silence while millions of children continue to get the shots.

Laura Loomer, a staunch ally of Mr Trump branded his pick a woo woo woman.

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The comments were accompanied by screenshots, allegedly taken from Dr Means newsletter, in which she claimed to have worked with a spiritual medium, attended full moon ceremonies and talked (literally out loud) to the trees.

Ms Loomer had posted on X over the weekend that she also opposed Dr Neshiewats confirmation, owing to her support for Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

Ms Loomer is an influential figure in Maga circles who allegedly played a key role in the ousting of several national security agency staff in April, after she marched into the Oval Office and accused them of disloyalty, according to The New York Times.

The purge was followed last week by the removal of Mike Waltz, Mr Trumps former national security adviser and the sister-in-law of Dr Nesheiwat.

Path of curiosity

Liz Wheeler, a conservative commentator with one million followers on X, thanked Mr Trump for changing his decision and called Dr Nesheiwat a Covid freak who supported masking kids.

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Dr Means is a Stanford Medical School-trained surgeon who opted to leave traditional medicine and devote her career to tackling the root cause of why Americans are sick after her mother died of pancreatic cancer.

Dr Means and her brother soared to prominence after co-authoring the best-selling book Good Energy, which argued their mother had been simply prescribed pills and not set on a path of curiosity about how these conditions are connected and how the root cause can be reversed.

The founder of Levels, a health app that monitors blood glucose levels, Dr Means was a close ally of Mr Kennedy during the campaign, while her brother, Calley Means, already works alongside the health secretary as one of his key strategists.

The Means siblings have strongly advocated for a crackdown on unhealthy foods and additives such as synthetic food dyes.

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Dr Means has also claimed it is criminal to require vaccinations, writing on her website last year that the current extreme and growing vaccine schedule could be causing health declines in vulnerable children.

Dr Means was approached for comment.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is warning the community of a social media challenge that has the potential to cause a fire.

CSFD said the viral TikTok Chromebook Challenge encourages students to put a piece of metal or pencil lead into the charging port of the Chromebook. The reaction will then cause the device to spark, smoke, or catch fire. The challenge poses serious risks, including fire, battery explosions, and the release of toxic fumes. CSFD also said that if the Lithium-Ion batteries in the Chromebooks catch fire, they can be exceedingly difficult to extinguish.

>>Students deliberately short-circuiting school laptops as part of social media trend

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According to CSFD, in the Pikes Peak Region, CSFD has been made aware of 16 instances of the trend taking place. Multiple students have been referred to the CSFD Youth Firesetter Intervention Program, which most school districts require students involved in these incidents to go through for fire safety awareness.

There could be more with other situations that are under investigation right now, said Daiko Abe, a Senior Safety Educator for CSFD.

CSFD said so far, the incidents have stayed relatively minor and have not required a response by fire crews. CSFD is encouraging parents to have a conversation with their children about the dangers of tampering with an electronic device.

If those lithium batteries were to catch fire, those are very hard to extinguish, Abe said. Putting water or using a fire extinguisher alone is not really that effective in extinguishing these fires.

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School districts have also sent out letters to parents as well. FOX21 News received a letter that Skyview Middle School sent out to parents on Friday. In the letter, the school district said Anyone involved in damaging or defacing school property are subject to both school and police action.

FOX21 News also reached out to each school district in El Paso County for a statement on the trend. District 20 was the only one to respond on Friday. The district said it is aware of the trend and added We are supporting our principals in communicating with families and students to prevent future incidents.

CSFD is also working with school districts and School Resource Officers to ensure they are well-versed in the challenge and the protocol for handling the situation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Connecticut State Police held a public discussion in West Hartford on Thursday night to discuss how the state is responding to hate crimes.

Members of their hate crimes investigative unit also attended to talk about how people can play a role in preventing hate crimes.

Connecticut officers begin bike ride from Hartford to DC for Police Unity Tour

I stand here today to try and help the community with the hate crime and make sure that we are trustworthy, and we are here to gather together and become a community so that we can stop the hate together, Sgt. Nicholas Caez, said.

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Guests were able to ask state police questions about their work and took part in scenarios to teach them how to identify and report a hate crime.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
An aerial drone photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows MSC Turkiye, one of the world's largest container ships with a capacity of 24,346 TEU, docking at the Kribi Deep Seaport for the commissioning ceremony of the second phase of the port, in Kribi, Cameroon.

Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

YAOUNDE, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region.

To mark the inauguration, MSC Turkiye, one of the world's largest container ships with a capacity of 24,346 TEU, docked at the port on the eve of the occasion.

"The start of operation for the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport opens a new era for our economic growth. The structural transformation of our economic is a major challenge. For the government, Kribi seaport was constructed for a decisive step for the industrialization of Cameroon," said Cameroon's Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe who attended the ceremony.

He said that the port had become indispensable in improving the competitiveness of companies in the country and is now a reference in the Gulf of Guinea.

"The Kribi Deep Seaport stands as one of the flagship projects of China-Cameroon cooperation and serves as a model for China-Africa collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative. The first phase container berth has already surpassed its designed capacity," said Chen Ze, general manager of CHEC Central Africa Division said while addressing dignitaries at the occasion.

The first phase of the port became operational in 2018, giving a boost to the country's economy, while construction of the second phase began in 2019. 

This photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows a view of the second phase of the Kribi Deep Seaport, in Kribi, Cameroon.

Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

This photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows MSC Turkiye, one of the world's largest container ships with a capacity of 24,346 TEU, docking at the Kribi Deep Seaport for the commissioning ceremony of the second phase of the port, in Kribi, Cameroon.

Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows MSC Turkiye, one of the world's largest container ships with a capacity of 24,346 TEU, docking at the Kribi Deep Seaport for the commissioning ceremony of the second phase of the port, in Kribi, Cameroon.

Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

This photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows a view of the second phase of the Kribi Deep Seaport, in Kribi, Cameroon.

Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, Cameroon's minister of transport, speaks during the commissioning ceremony of the second phase of the Kribi Deep Seaport, in Kribi, Cameroon, May 9, 2025.

Cameroonian authorities on Friday inaugurated the second phase of Kribi Deep Seaport in the southern part of the country, noting that the new maritime facility opens a new vista of economic development for the Central African nation.

Constructed by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), the Kribi Deep Seaport is the first deep seaport in Cameroon and the biggest in the Central Africa region. (Xinhua/Kepseu)
A train partially derailed Friday morning in a Cobb County neighborhood.

CSX said a train derailed 17 of its 115 railcars near Campbell Road and Nancy Circle around 2:22 a.m.

The scene is about half a mile from Campbell Middle School.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

No hazardous materials were released, no injuries were reported, and there is no current threat to the safety of the surrounding community, a CSX spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News.

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Cobb County and Smyrna first responders are assisting with the cleanup. Its unclear how long it will take to move the cars.

CSX is investigating the cause of the derailment.

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A Winsted woman already facing nearly 40 counts of animal cruelty was arrested on additional charges on Thursday after an investigation reportedly found that two dogs that were in her care lost an unhealthy amount of weight.

Sarah Anne Smolak, 28, turned herself in at the Norwalk Police Department where officers held two warrants for her arrest, according to police. She was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals following separate investigations into the condition of dogs she allegedly cared for last year.

Norwalk police Lt. Tomasz Podgorski said police began investigating in October 2024 after receiving a complaint indicating a dog allegedly fostered by Smolak lost a significant amount of weight and showed a decline in health. Animal control officers reviewed veterinary records from multiple care centers in Connecticut and New York to establish a timeline of Smolaks custody of the dog and its condition, Podgorski said in a statement.

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The investigation found that a 3-year-old brown and white Pit Bull named Little Squishy was in Smolaks care for two months in August and September 2024. During that time, the animal allegedly lost 13 pounds and his body condition deteriorated, according to Podgorski. After the dog was removed from Smolaks care, he was found to gain weight without any issue and his overall health improved, Podgorski said.

Officers found the dog was not receiving proper care and caloric intake while in the care of Smolak, Podgorski said.

According to Podgorski, police received a similar complaint involving Smolak in March involving a dog that also allegedly showed a sharp decline in its health while in her care. Investigators once again examined veterinary records from multiple care centers in Connecticut and New York to establish when Smolak had custody of the dog.

The investigation found that a black and white colored Pit Bull named Royal Blue was in Smolaks care for 24 days between March and April 2024, during which time he lost allegedly seven pounds and his body condition deteriorated, Podgorski said. The dog was also prescribed de-worming medication after being in her care. Using a surgically implanted microchip in the dog, animal control officers were able to confirm he had since been adopted by new owners and was found to be doing well with no apparent medical issues.

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Smolak was first arrested by the Winchester Police Department on March 18 and charged with two counts of cruelty to animals. The arrest came weeks after animal welfare groups and rescues launched a social media and email campaign urging state officials, local police and media to conduct an investigation. David Reid, 28, of Winsted was also charged with one count of cruelty to animals in connection with that investigation, police said.

Police at the time said they seized 27 dogs as part of their ongoing investigation.

According to online court records, Winchester police arrested Smolak again on April 10 and charged her with 36 counts of cruelty to animals. Norwalk police on April 22 arrested her on one count of animal cruelty, records show.

Smolak had a total of five pending cases involving animal cruelty charges prior to her arrests on Thursday, according to court records. She is free on bonds totaling $135,000 and is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 28 on the new charges, records show.
By Eloisa Lopez and Karen Lema

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spends his days in a small, spartan room in detention at the Hague, awaiting trial for a bloody war on drugs that killed thousands during his time in office.

But halfway around the world, in his hometown of Davao City, Duterte is on the ticket for mayor in midterm elections on Monday that he is widely expected to win, riding on support in the family stronghold, though it may not translate nationwide.

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"I've seen what he accomplished as both mayor and president, from his fight against drug lords to what he did for the country," said Jennifer Maumbas, 28, a worker in a small cafe that displayed Duterte's visage on a banner.

"No matter what happens, we're solidly for Duterte."

Duterte's arrest in March, following a request by the International Criminal Court, was a major blow to his powerful family, whose popularity surged after he swept to power in 2016 from his position as a maverick, crime-busting mayor.

As president, the tough-talking Duterte upended Philippine foreign policy and launched a "war on drugs" that rights groups say killed significantly more than a police estimate of 6,000, for which he is being tried in the Netherlands.

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Yet his influence beyond Davao is far less certain, as the polls shape as a test of how far incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has managed to subdue the Dutertes' political machine, born in the southern city.

The Duterte name has a kind of mythic status in Davao, but perhaps less nationwide, said Ederson Tapia, a specialist in public administration at the University of Makati.

"All indications are that they still have a solid base," he added. "Whether that's enough to carry a serious campaign in 2028 remains to be seen - especially with the vice president now facing an impeachment complaint."

Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential elections, but is besieged by political woes of her own.

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She faces an impeachment trial on charges including a threat to assassinate Marcos, whose key ally she was in a 2022 team hailed as a powerhouse union of political dynasties.

But policy disagreements, power struggles and competing ambitions shattered the alliance, raising the stakes for both camps ahead of Monday's elections, in which more than 18,000 positions are up for grabs.

These include 317 congressional seats and thousands of local posts, but the fiercest contest centres on a dozen spots in the upper house Senate, which wields outsize influence on national affairs, its 24 members being jurors in impeachment proceedings.

Marcos' candidates remain ahead in polls and appear poised to dominate the Senate race, despite the sympathy generated for the Duterte camp by his arrest and detention.

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DRAMATIC ARREST

As president from 2016 to 2022, Duterte has long defended his drugs crackdown, saying it was meant to make the Philippines safer and that police were ordered to shoot only in self-defence.

His arrest only cemented support for him in Davao, a city of 1.8 million, where he was mayor for more than two decades before becoming the first president from the Mindanao region.

"We cried. We could not sleep for three days," said Joel Sagosoy Valles, who runs a small restaurant plastered with pictures documenting Duterte's career, while he recounted how he and his family watched footage of the arrest.

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A win on May 12 could prove a critical asset in achieving Sara Duterte's ambitions, as a strong regional base ensures a loyal bloc of voters, offering leverage in power struggles and a launchpad for national ambition.

"Duterte would then continue to have power from which to launch his attacks against the Marcos administration," Jean Franco, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, said of the former president.

"They can use their power in Davao and the Mindanao area to help elect the next president."

If he does win, however, Duterte would be unable to take office, Philippine officials say, so the role would pass to the winning vice mayor, probably his youngest son, Sebastian.

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Some in Davao wear T-shirts with slogans demanding Duterte's return.

"We believe he still has much to offer, not just for Davao, but for the country," said Dennis Archie Jabutay, 38, who travelled 300 km (186 miles), to join Duterte's 80th birthday rally in March.

Not all residents want Duterte to return as mayor, however, with some turning to his main rival, Karlo Nograles, a former cabinet secretary and Davao congressman who hails from another Philippine political dynasty.

"We need some change," said Arlene Noyney, 50. "I just want things to be peaceful. No fights, no killings."

(Reporting by Eloisa Lopez and Karen Lema; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal and Clarence Fernandez)
[Editors note: This article has been updated to clarify that hospital workers are assisting county health officials in notifying known exposures.]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  Cuyahoga County has confirmed its first case of measles in 2025, in an unvaccinated child.

The child was previously treated at the Cleveland Clinics Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, and sent home to isolate until it ran its course, according to a Thursday news release from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

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County health officials are now warning people who were in the hospitals atrium lobby between 3:50 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, May 2, that they may have been exposed. Hospital workers are now working with county health officials to notify people who are known to have been exposed.

Bay Village lacrosse player dies after critical injury during game

The child visited the hospital for lab work on Friday, May 2, according to the release. The child returned on Sunday, May 4, for emergency treatment, when medical officials suspected the child may have measles.

The illness was first reported on Sunday, May 4, then confirmed to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health on Tuesday, May 6, according to the release.

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Anyone who was in the Hillcrest Hospital atrium lobby during that time who does not have evidence of immunity to measles is urged to quarantine at home, staying away from work, school or public places for at least 21 days.

According to the county, a person is generally considered to be immune to measles if they:

Have had two doses of the measles vaccine after 12 months of age

Show immunity to measles in blood work

Were born before Dec. 31, 1956, when natural immunity was more prevalent due to widespread infection

Anyone who experiences symptoms of measles is urged to call the board of health at 216-201-2000.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles symptoms include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite and red, watery eyes, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The rash usually lasts for five to six days. It begins at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and then down the body.

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Another common symptom is conjunctivitis, or pink eye, which can develop one to two weeks after exposure, according to the county.

Diarrhea and ear infections are common complications, but more severe complications are possible. Complications are more common for children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant women and immunocompromised people.

About 1 in 20 children who contract measles also develop pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death from measles in young children, according to ODH.

Learn more about measles on the CDC website and get answers to frequently asked questions on the ODH website.

How does measles spread?

Measles is extremely contagious and is passed by coughing and sneezing, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The virus can survive in air for up to two hours afterward. A person who breathes the contaminated air or touches an infected surface then touches their eyes, nose or mouth can become infected.

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Infection is commonly identified by a rash. People who are infected can spread it to others up to four days before or four days after the rash appears, according to ODH.

The virus can also be brought back to the U.S. and Ohio by travelers.

Without protection, 9 in 10 people who are exposed will become ill, according to ODH.

One unvaccinated person can spread the infection to up to 15 other people, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

2 sentenced in gun battle outside St. Malachi Parish

Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR vaccine, is 97% effective against measles. If you are up to date on measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is very low, reads the release.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the first dose of the measles vaccine for children between 12 and 15 months, and the second dose between 4 and 6 years old.

The vaccine is also available for adults born after 1957 who are not vaccinated or who dont know if they are vaccinated, according to the release.

In Northeast Ohio, Ashtabula, Holmes and Knox counties have reported confirmed measles cases this year.

Ohio reported 90 cases of measles in 2022, including 85 cases related to an outbreak in Central Ohio, according to the release. There was one case in 2023 and seven in 2024.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Cybersecurity provider Trellix recently released its April CyberThreat Report revealing an alarming rise in cyberattacks targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, with the freight and logistics sectors now in the crosshairs of nation-state actors and sophisticated ransomware groups.

Between October 2024 and March 2025, the U.S. saw a 136% increase in Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) activity, prolonged and targeted cyberattacks in which an intruder gains unauthorized access to a network and remains undetected for an extended period.

Of particular concern is the role of APT29, also known as Midnight Blizzard, a well-documented cyber espionage group linked to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. Known for its stealthy, high-level campaigns, APT29 specializes in long-term intrusions that exfiltrate sensitive data without immediate detection.

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Trellix researchers report that 55% of APT29s observed activity in this period specifically targeted the transportation and shipping sectors, signaling a coordinated focus on disrupting or surveilling supply chain operations. For logistics professionals, this suggests that state-sponsored actors are probing for weaknesses not just in physical infrastructure, but also in the digital ecosystems that support freight visibility, scheduling and warehouse management.





Meanwhile, ransomware continues to plague U.S. organizations, with 58% of all global ransomware-related posts traced back to U.S.-based attacks. This reflects an environment where financially motivated criminal groups are increasingly exploiting known and zero-day vulnerabilities, bypassing phishing emails in favor of more direct and technical exploits.

Whats more troubling is the evolution in attacker methods. Rather than relying on suspicious email attachments, cybercriminals are now favoring fileless malware, which hides in memory, and using legitimate Windows tools to execute attacks, making them harder to detect with traditional antivirus solutions.

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Learn more about these cybersecurity threats in the Trellix report.

(GIF: Tenor)

Fraud Clip of the Week

How did Flexports Convoy platform achieve zero thefts over the past 380,000 loads booked?





Dooner asked the guy who runs it on a recent episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Heres what Bill Driegert, head of trucking, had to say:

Philly detective unmasks the citys largest-ever cargo theft ring

Lt. George Ackerman of the Philadelphia Police Department was no stranger to crime trends, but when tractor trailers filled with beef, booze, crab legs and TVs began disappearing at an alarming rate in 2022, even his decades of experience couldnt explain the scale.

What began as sporadic cargo thefts ballooned into a citywide epidemic, particularly across Phillys 8th District, where over 180 thefts were eventually reported. The goods, often worth millions, vanished without a trace, with no suspects, no patterns and no product ever recovered.

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Ackerman, a former trucker himself, became the lead on what would become the citys largest cargo theft case in modern history. At first, detectives assumed it was a string of isolated jobs. But the thieves always seemed to know exactly where to strike, regardless of drivers unique schedules.

A breakthrough came in April 2023, when Ackerman responded to a robbery involving over 2 million U.S. dimes stolen from a U.S. Mint trailer. Surveillance footage showed a highly coordinated team, including scouts, lookouts and loaders, operating in sync.

Ackerman and his team, with support from the FBI, Secret Service and state police, slowly began to unravel the group. Cell tower data, surveillance footage and even Coinstar deposits pointed to a tightly knit crew based in the area. Their incriminating texts, bragging about liquor and cow feet dinners, confirmed their role in more than $1.5 million in thefts.

Learn more about Ackermans detective work from Philadelphia magazine here.





(GIF: Tenor)

Join us at our Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas next week

Be part of the solution that stops freight fraud in its tracks. Lets cut through the noise and address this issue head-on!

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Freight fraud has reached a crisis level, and it impacts everyone in the industry. Its time for us to come together to address this critical problem and share best practices on how to mitigate it.

Join us on May 14 in Dallas at the Freight Fraud Symposium, where transportation executives, freight leaders and technology buyers will come together to discuss the issues we all face, share lessons learned and get insights on the latest technology to tackle this problem.

Register now

(GIF: Tenor)

Articles by Grace Sharkey

Fraud flowers in April showers

Massachusetts man convicted in CDL bribery scam

DHL Express ships endangered antelopes to Kenya; freight fraud; fixing backhauls | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

The post Cyberthreats surge against US logistics infrastructure appeared first on FreightWaves.
Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET on May 9, 2025

Surely, you remember The Orb.

Its been nearly a decade, but the image from Riyadh still prompts fascination, mystery, and a general feeling of Just what was that anyway? The glowing orb radiated from the center of a darkened room lined with computer screens. A trio of world leadersPresident Donald Trump, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egyptsilently and slowly approached. All three then placed their hands on the bright white sphere and held them there for nearly two minutes. Their faces were illuminated from below, as if they were standing above the worlds most expensive campfire. No one said a word.

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The first lady, Melania Trump, also momentarily touched the orb, which, upon closer inspection, was actually a globe. Photos and videos of the scene immediately went viral and, depending on your political viewpoint, evoked either the bridge of a sleek Star Trek spaceship or a summit of James Bond supervillains. None of the leaders seemed to know quite what to do. At one point, Trump sort of smirked. I was standing about four feet away from the odd assemblage. And it wasnt even the strangest thing I saw that day.

The first foreign trip of Trumps second term, scheduled for next week, will come almost eight years to the day after the first international trip of his previous term, and it will begin in the same placethe Saudi Arabian capital. Many of the same themes that defined the presidents 2017 visit remain pertinent now: Trumps support for Israel, his fondness for authoritarians, his push to contain Iran, and his prioritization of deals over humanitarian concerns. Now, as then, European allies are watching nervously.

For all the spectacle of that first trip, its true revelation was Trumps refusal to say the things that American presidents normally say. He made no attempt to publicly promote democracy and human rights in Saudi Arabia. In Israel and the West Bank, he pointedly declined to affirm Americas long-standing support for a two-state solution. And on the last leg of the trip, in Europe, Trump would not explicitly endorse the mutual-defense doctrine that has been the cornerstone of transatlantic security for decades. But what was shocking then is expected now. In many ways, Trump on that trip first suggested the role he intended to play as a global figure that has now been fully realized in his second term in office.

In 2017, world leaders were still adjusting to the new American president, knowing they needed to flatter him but deeply uncertain about what he truly believed and how he would wield his power on the international stage. Now there are fewer mysteries with Trump, who, since his return to power, has shown no hesitation in straining alliances, igniting a global trade war, and favoring autocratic regimes over democracies. But he is heading back to the Middle East at a fraught moment, amid a humanitarian crisis and renewed conflict in Gaza, as well as precarious talks over Irans nuclear future. His transactional view of foreign policy has only hardened, and it will be on full display as he returns to the region.

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As soon as Air Force One touched down in Riyadhs triple-digit heat in May 2017, it was clear that the Saudis had figured out how to get in Trumps good graces. When Trump stepped onto foreign soil for the first time as president, he did so onto a literal red carpet and was greeted by the kingan honor not given to his predecessor, Barack Obama. Cannons boomed, and Saudi military jets roared overhead. I was in the press poolthe rotating group of journalists that travels with the presidentand as our motorcade raced through the citys emptied streets, we saw giant images of Trump and King Salman hanging on nearly every highway overpass and many buildings. A lavish cardamom-coffee ceremony and medal presentation at the Royal Court followed, honors usually bestowed only on royalty. Trumps image was also projected onto the side of the Ritz-Carlton resort where he stayed, towering over the sprawling desert metropolis. (That same hotel would later be used as a luxurious detention center, where Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kings son and heir apparent, imprisoned his political foes.)

[Read: Saudi Arabia first]

The strange orb was part of a hastily built anti-extremist center. And yet it was somehow topped on the surrealness scale by a traditional sword dance that followed a few hours later at the nations official cultural center, which included Steve Bannon, noted isolationist, cutting a few moves alongside saber-toting Saudi royals. (After publication, Bannon told me he wasn't dancing that night.) Everything about the Saudi stop was larger than life, meant to impress and woo the president, and Trump seemed flattered by the overtures. The template established by those days in Riyadh was emulated in some fashion in the months ahead in global capitals as disparate as London and Beijing.

One thing that has remained constant is his seeming kindred affection for strong leaders, Mark Hannah, the head of the Institute for Global Affairs, a foreign-policy think tank, told me. Hannah added that Trumps choice not to lecture about American values on the world stage might now put him in a better position to broker deals. Hes shrewd about the value of geopolitical neutrality, Hannah said, and creates a sense to others that they can do business with him.

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Next weeks trip will be more modest in scope than the 2017 tour, with just three Gulf-state stopsSaudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emiratesover a few days. A major focus for Trump will be business, including investments in technology, as well as weapons sales and joint AI projects. A Saudi-U.S. investment forum will take place during Trumps visit. Similar efforts are being planned for the UAE. A diplomat who works for one of the nations Trump will visit, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss upcoming negotiations, told me that the trip is expected to focus more on concrete financial achievements than on achieving diplomatic breakthroughs. Were no longer in solving the worlds problems mode, this person said.

A secure and stable Middle East means greater prosperity for our partner nations and the United States, a White House spokesperson told me.

But the worlds problems will be impossible to avoid. Israel has announced that it plans a military assault and full-on occupation of Gaza unless Hamas agrees to concessions, including releasing the remaining hostages it is holding; the deadline the Israelis gave the terrorist group falls the day after Trumps visit to the region concludes. Israeli officials had hoped that Trump would include a stop in their country. But two administration officials told me that Trump did not want to visit unless he had secured a Gaza cease-fire that he could tout. At the same time, Trump has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wide leeway to run his war in Gaza, and proposed that all 2 million Palestinian residents be removed so the Gaza Strip could be turned into a resort. Gulf-state leaders, mindful of the sympathy their people have for the Palestinians, are expected to lobby Trump to rein in Israel.

When President Trump came into office, there was real positive movement in Gaza. There was a cease-fire in place. There were dozens of hostages released, and there was robust humanitarian aid getting in to address the suffering of Gazans. Thats changed, Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, told me. Trump has an enormous opening here, an opportunity to show real leadership on the world stage by pressing Netanyahu to abandon the idea of occupying Gaza fully, to abandon the idea of displacing Palestinians, and to restart humanitarian aid into Gaza.

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Negotiations between the United States and Iran about its nuclear future will also be a central agenda item for the trip. Tehran is close to developing a nuclear weapon, which Israel and other Middle Eastern neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, strongly oppose. There has been internal debate within the Trump administration as to what path Tehran should be permitted to take; the Iran hawks support Netanyahus view that the nuclear program should be completely destroyed, while others, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have voiced support for allowing Iran to maintain a nuclear-energy program. Trump has argued against using military force and recently said on Meet the Press that he wants total dismantlement of Irans nuclear program, something Tehran has previously refused. Still, some in the administration believe that a deal could be possible before long, according to the two U.S. officials.

We have to remember what led to the Iran negotiations to begin with: The administrations motivation to pursue talks is rooted in an assessment that Iran could be close to having a nuclear weapon, Hagar Chemali, a former Treasury Department official under President George W. Bush and National Security Council adviser under Obama, told me. That would fundamentally change things across the Middle East.

Trump has established close ties with the Saudi crown prince, known as MBS, whom he defended after the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in 2018, allegedly at Riyadhs order. And the presidents fondness for Saudi Arabia has further isolated its rival Iran. Aides told me that one goal for his second term is to secure an extension of the Abraham Accords, the deal his first administration brokered to normalize relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, and others. Now the administration wants to do the same for Israel and Saudi Arabia. A deal between those two countries was gathering momentum in the Biden administration before Hamass attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. Most observers believe that a breakthrough in Gaza is needed before much additional progress can be made.

[From the April 2022 issue: Inside the palace with Mohammed Bin Salman]

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Trump earlier this year teased one other blockbuster possibility for his time in Saudi Arabia: a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war in Ukraine. But Trump has since downplayed those chances, and both the White House and the Kremlin have said no summit is scheduled.

As for the orb? The anti-extremist center in Riyadh is still open, but the orb is no longer there, according to a book by the New York Times reporter Ben Hubbard. When workers at the center noticed that many American visitors took photos with it, the Saudi government gave the sphere to the U.S. embassy as a gift. It has since been placed in storage.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
For decades, Russian energy pervaded Europe: from heating flats in Slovakia to powering German industry. Voices warning that this dependency on one energy supplier could be risky were in a minority.

A first blow came with Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, but the dangers only became clear to most Europeans with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since then, the European Union has struggled to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels, while facing internal obstruction from some member states.

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When the full-scale invasion began, the EU sanctioned Russia and took steps to reduce coal and oil imports. Now gas has come into focus. As more liquefied natural gas (LNG) becomes available globally, the EU plans to replace gas from Russia with LNG  if possible from other sources than the Kremlin.

Earlier this week, the European Commission presented a roadmap towards a "coordinated and stepwise phase-out of Russian energy supplies" by 2027.

"It is now time for Europe to completely cut off its energy ties with an unreliable supplier," said commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

A secondary aim is to strengthen the bloc's pivot towards renewables.

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"We do this to preserve our security. But it is also an important step towards becoming energy independent," EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jrgensen said.

But achieving these goals may be easier said than done.

Supply follows demand

According to the commission, Russian gas imports dropped from a 45% share in 2021 to 19% in 2024. Gas imports via pipeline have fallen sharply, but several EU countries have increased LNG purchases.

LNG is transported by sea, unloaded at ports, regasified and then injected into the European network.

There is a total ban on coal imports. Oil imports from Russia amount to 3% of the total, down from 27% in early 2022.

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Yet, according to estimates by the Kpler data consultancy, Russian gas accounted for 9% of EU consumption from January to April 2025. It remains among the top three gas suppliers, alongside Norway and Algeria.

The Ember global energy think tank said imports rose year-on-year by 18% in 2024, mainly due to increased imports into the Czech Republic, Italy and France.

According to Czech analyst Jiri Tylecek, the rise in Russian gas imports underlines persistent problems in European energy security.

"Business is very pragmatic and importers do not care too much whether or not taking Russian gas is politically problematic," Tylecek said. "Unless there are legal obstacles, such as an embargo, then they focus on importing cheaper Russian gas."

The roadmap ahead

The commission now wants to end all Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, with legislative proposals due next month.

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Oil and nuclear fuel are also being targeted. Russia is a major supplier of the uranium needed to produce nuclear energy. Several EU members also operate Russian-built reactors.

"We don't want to be under the control of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," Jrgensen said after setting out the measures. "We know that he will weaponize energy if he feels that it's in his interest."

The commissioner noted that the bloc had spent more buying fossil fuels from Russia than on aid to Ukraine since 2022.

The legislation will have to be approved by EU lawmakers and member states. The commission does not need all 27 member states to approve the import bans, which require only the backing of a weighted majority of 15 countries.

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Hungary and Slovakia, which entertain close ties with Moscow, have already blasted the plans.

Slovak Premier Robert Fico called the move to end all Russian energy imports "economic suicide," while recognizing the goal of reducing energy dependence.

Jrgensen said the commission was willing to go it without unanimity.

But even if resistance from Hungary or Slovakia is almost a given, headwinds may come from other quarters, as a number of member states rely on Russian energy.

Countries such as Slovakia or Hungary remain dependent on Russian fossil fuels  importing 80% of their oil from Moscow, for example. They are exempt from the ban on oil imports.

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At the end of 2024 - when the transit deal between Moscow and Kiev ended - Austria was still getting about 80% of its gas from Russia. It was only at this point that the deliveries stopped.

The commission will also have to manage some member states' increased dependence on Russian LNG imports. Most of it goes to three countries - Belgium, France and Spain - according to the International Energy Agency, although some is re-exported to neighbouring countries.

Franco-German motor, powered by Russia?

The bloc's economic heavyweights France and Germany have a big stake in the shift away from Russian energy.

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Before Russia's attack on Ukraine, Germany imported 55% of its gas from Russia. Since then, Berlin has been working on diversifying its energy imports and constructing LNG terminals.

Since Russia closed the Nord Stream 1 Pipeline in 2022, Germany has imported its natural gas from Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany gets LNG from other EU members, including some of those who import it from Russia.

France would face a heavy impact from any move away from Russian LNG as it has five terminals for its delivery in Europe. France increased its Russian LNG imports by 81% between 2023 and 2024, giving Russia 2.68 billion in income, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Import dilemmas

Russia was the third largest supplier of natural gas to Spain as of March, accounting for 13.2% in the first quarter of the year, behind Algeria and the United States, both at around 32%.

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The government said these LNG imports stemmed from "private contracts" where it cannot intervene, but stressed that it wanted to increase imports from other sources.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in Kiev in February that both the government and Spanish society had the "political will" to find suppliers other than Russia.

The Czech Republic's struggles exemplify the energy dilemma. While the country has been independent of Russian oil for the first time since April due to the completion of a new pipeline, it still imports Russian gas, albeit indirectly.

In 2023, Prague declared total independence from Russian natural gas, cutting its imports to almost zero. However, grid data shows that it is importing at least some Russian fuel via Slovakia.

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The flows highlight the challenge some nations face in curbing their reliance on Russian fuel, even as they oppose the Kremlin's war on Ukraine.

One member state that weaned itself off Russian gas is Croatia. It completed the construction of a floating LNG terminal on the island of Krk in January 2021 - even before the war in Ukraine.

This move diversified its gas supply and ended the dependence on Russian imports. Today, Croatia imports liquefied gas mostly from the US, followed by Nigeria, Qatar and Egypt. The terminal not only meets Croatia's gas needs, but can also supply its neighbours.

With plans to expand the hub and upgrade gas pipelines, Croatia wants to turn itself into a regional energy hub.

Trading favours

Opening the door for more LNG supplies from the US could also help Brussels ease trade tensions with US President Donald Trump.

The US is already the EU's largest supplier of LNG, accounting for 45% in 2024, followed by Russia's 20%. In April, Trump advanced the figure of $350 billion in additional energy purchases by the EU.

The commission said it aims to rely on suppliers ranging from the US, to Norway, Qatar or North African nations. At the same time, it needs to keep an eye on consumers.

Rising energy prices remain a politically sensitive topic and the commission will have to navigate the spectre of another gas price surge like in 2022, when the EU began imposing hefty sactions on Moscow, if it wants to break free of Russian energy.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, Europa Press, HINA, MIA and TASR as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has once again called on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to end the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to stop threatening Europes security.

Source: Frederiksen in a comment to Danish Broadcaster DR, as reported by European Pravda

Details: When asked if she had a message for Putin on 9 May, when he was celebrating the Victory Day in Moscow, Frederiksen urged him to "end the war". [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

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Quote: "And dont attack Europe. Dont try to destroy our democracies with disinformation and bots. Dont destroy our critical infrastructure. Dont carry out underwater sabotage. Dont destabilise and destroy the global community and dont kill Europeans.

In fact, its not that hard. The rest of us arent doing it."

Details: Frederiksen also expressed scepticism about the possibility of reaching a ceasefire in Russias war against Ukraine, stressing that Moscow has shown no desire for peace.

Background:

US President Donald Trump, after a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on 8 May, stated that he would like to see a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

US Vice President JD Vance said he is "still optimistic" about the possibility of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, adding that Washington is currently awaiting consent from both Ukraine and Russia to engage directly with each other.

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Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen weighed in on the report that the United States has stepped up its spying efforts on Greenland, telling The Associated Press that you cannot spy against an ally.

Cooperation about defense and deterrence and security in the northern part of Europe is getting more and more important, Frederiksen told the AP Friday. Of course, you cannot spy against an ally.

The Danish prime ministers remarks come as President Trump has reaffirmed his wish for Greenland, the worlds largest island, to become a part of the U.S., an idea strongly rejected by Denmark. Trump has not ruled out taking the island by force.

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I dont rule it out. I dont say Im going to do it, but I dont rule out anything. No, not there, Trump said while on NBCs Meet the Press.

We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which well take care of and well cherish them and all of that, but we need that for international security, the president added.

Greenlands officials have said the Arctic island, a semiautonomous Danish territory, is not for sale.

The U.S. has intensified its intelligence-gathering efforts in Greenland. Several high-ranking officials, under the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, directed agency leaders to gather more information about the attitudes of U.S. resource extraction on the island and Greenlands independence movement, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday evening, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

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In response, Gabbard said the paper should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking classified information. They are breaking the law and undermining our nations security and democracy.

Following the Journals explosive report, the acting head of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Jennifer Hall Godfrey, met with Danish diplomat Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen on Thursday, multiple outlets reported.

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DAR ES SALAAM, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A nine-year-old pupil on Friday wore a broad smile after she was declared the overall winner of the fifth "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show for Primary School Students and the second Chinese Show for Primary School Students in Tanzania.

Mariam Mussa, a pupil in Dar es Salaam, triumphed over 14 fellow contestants from seven primary schools across the port city at the colorful event organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam.

As the top performer, Mariam will travel to China in July to compete in the global finals of the competition.

The young contestants showcased their Chinese language talents in storytelling, speech giving, classical poetry recitation, and singing, impressively using gestures and emotional expression to convey their messages.

"I am excited to be declared the overall winner. I am looking forward to traveling to China for the finals," said Mariam after receiving her awards from Xu Yongliang, a representative from the Chinese embassy in Tanzania.

Flora Magige, acting deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Dar es Salaam, said the competition was aimed at building self-confidence among students.

"These seeds being planted in these young students will blossom and bear great fruits in building a lasting bridge of friendship between China and Tanzania, now and in the future," said Zhang Xiaozhen, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Wilson Mahera Charles, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, highlighted the significance of Chinese language education for Tanzanian youth and expressed hope for deeper educational cooperation between the two countries.

He made the remarks during the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Competition for Secondary School Students in Tanzania, held last week at Dodoma Secondary School in the capital, where 16 contestants from across the country demonstrated outstanding Chinese language skills and a deep appreciation for Chinese culture. 
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Dauphin County roadway is closed after a tree crushed multiple communication wires.

According to the Londonderry Fire Company on Facebook, Foxianna Road is closed between South Geyers Church Road and Felker Road due to a tree coming down on multiple wires.

It is unclear how long the roadway will be closed. Drivers should avoid the area while crews work to clear the scene.

Get traffic alerts from the abc27 mobile app for the latest local delays and road closures

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
David Souter, who died on Thursday at age 85, was perhaps the most important Supreme Court justice of the late twentieth century. His appointment to the high court in 1990 was meant to cement the conservative legal counterrevolution, washing away the heady liberalism of the 1950s and 1960s in favor of right-wing constitutional theories.

Nobody seemed to ask Souter if he was interested in such a role in American legal history, however, and when given the opportunity to play it, he declined. Roe v. Wade survived an additional 29 yearsmore than half of its ultimate lifespansolely because he defied expectations by not voting to overturn it in 1993. The counterrevolution was not stopped, but it struggled for another two decades until more loyal foot soldiers could be found. Souter was not the most influential or powerful justice of his era, but he may be the one most essential to understanding the court today.

George H.W. Bush nominated Souter to the high court in 1990 expecting him to be a reliable conservative vote. He was, though not in the way that Bush and other legal conservatives expected. Souters conservatism was instinctual, not ideological. As the Rehnquist court pushed constitutional law to the right, his preference for judicial restraint led him to drift toward the courts liberal wing over his 19-year tenure on the high court.

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The Constitution, Souter told a class of Harvard graduates in 2010, was not a document that could be read in terms of absolutes or clear meanings but a pantheon of values that had to be understoodeven if not perfectly sharedby each generation. The constitutional requirement that senators be 30 years old is easy to interpret, he conceded. But most of the text defied the popular understanding that deciding cases was a straightforward exercise of reading fairly and viewing facts objectively.

These are reasons enough to show how egregiously it misses the point to think of judges in constitutional cases as just sitting there reading constitutional phrases fairly and looking at reported facts objectively to produce their judgments, he explained. Judges have to choose between the good things that the Constitution approves, and when they do, they have to choose, not on the basis of measurement, but of meaning.

Souter spent his life as a priest of sorts in the American civic faith, enjoying a semi-ascetic life without a spouse or children. Washington, D.C., with its elbow-rubbing, peacocking social culture, was never a good fit for him. When he retired, he first sought to live in his family farmhouse in Weare, New Hampshire, but had to purchase a new place in a quiet nearby town for a very Souterian reason: The two-story farmhouse could not structurally support the weight of the thousands of books that he owned.

His disdain for D.C. and its politicking eventually extended to the court itself. His most bruising moment came halfway through his tenure, when the Supreme Court effectively decided the result of the 2000 presidential election in Bush v. Gore. In his book The Nine, Jeffrey Toobin recounted how the quiet New Englander experienced something like a crisis of faith over how his colleagues handled the case and considered resigning over it.

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His whole life was being a judge, Toobin wrote. He came from a tradition where the independence of the judiciary was the foundation of the rule of law. And Souter believed Bush v. Gore mocked that tradition. His colleagues actions were so transparently, so crudely partisan that Souter thought he might not be able to serve with them anymore. Only at the behest of a handful of close friends did he decide against resigning in protest.

Another painful experience came when the court first heard Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2009. The case centered, at least at first, on a documentary about Hillary Clinton during the 2008 election cycle and whether video-on-demand films violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Acts restrictions on election spending by nonprofits. As the justices heard the case, however, it transformed into a wide-ranging attack on the constitutionality of federal campaign-finance restrictions.

Souter, by that point, had already announced his retirement from the court at the end of its 20082009 term, having barely waited a few months into Barack Obamas first term before bolting for the door. He was assigned to write the original main dissent in Citizens United, and while it has never been made public, Souters draft was reportedly an uncharacteristic barn burner by the mild-mannered departing justice.

Souter wrote a dissent that aired some of the courts dirty laundry, Toobin wrote in a 2012 article on Citizens United for The New Yorker. By definition, dissents challenge the legal conclusions of the majority, but Souter accused [Chief Justice John Roberts] of violating the courts own procedures to engineer the result he wanted. Roberts responded by bouncing the case to be reheard during the courts 20092010 term, thereby putting the constitutional question at the heart of the caseand keeping Souters dissent from going public.

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It was a symbolically potent finale for Souters tenure. His nomination came at a pivotal time in the Supreme Courts history. After decades of dominance, conservatives did not control the Supreme Court for most of the mid-to-late twentieth century. Franklin D. Roosevelt had appointed all nine sitting justices over his 12-year presidency by the time he died in 1945. Democrats held the White House for all but eight of the next 24 years.

President George H.W. Bush introducing Souter at the White House in 1990

Even Dwight D. Eisenhowers picks during that two-term gap did not shift the balance: Justice William Brennan became the intellectual leader of the courts liberal wing, while Eisenhowers choice for chief justice, California Governor Earl Warren, gave his name to the courts most progressive era. The Warren court effectively dragged the United States into liberal democracy by ending racial apartheid in the South, adopting the one person, one vote principle for redistricting, and incorporating most of the Bill of Rights against the states.

But the river turned after 1968. Richard Nixon managed to appoint four justices in his first term, ending the courts liberal era and placing its moderates in control. Ronald Reagans administration, particularly the Justice Department under Edwin Meese, became a launching pad for many legal conservatives. As the Warren-era liberals died or retired, they hoped to replace them with justices committed to originalism, the conservative legal movements preferred method for constitutional interpretation.

Brennans retirement in 1990 would be a particularly savory triumph. He had either written or shaped most of the Warren courts most famous liberal rulings, and he had spent the last two decades dissenting from the courts turn away from them. Democrats had not nominated a Supreme Court justice to the high court since the 1967 appointment of Thurgood Marshall, who would step aside one year after Brennan.

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The nature of Supreme Court nominations had also changed significantly. New Deal liberalisms political dominance in the 1950s and 1960s had translated into the legal profession. Shifting that tide required immense energy and funding. The conservative legal movements initial coalition read like a roster of those whod lost out in the Warren era: ex-segregationists who opposed further expansions of civil rights laws, cultural conservatives who lamented the end of prayer and Bible study in public schools, tough-on-crime politicians who chafed at broad interpretations of the Fourth Amendment, and corporate leaders who resented unions and regulations.

By 1990, the conservative legal movement was ascendant but not yet dominant. A powerful sign of its limits came three years before Souters nomination. Reagan nominated Judge Robert Bork, one of the movements intellectual leaders, to fill a vacancy left by a retiring moderate justice in 1987. Borks nomination floundered after intense opposition from liberal interest groups and Democratic senatorsa break from tradition in an era when Supreme Court nominees regularly received unanimous or near-unanimous approval.

Legal conservatives to this day insist that Bork was unfairly maligned by liberal senators during the process. But Borks greatest enemy may have been himself. The outspoken legal scholar had opined on a wide range of constitutional issues over the years: He had denounced Roe v. Wade as a serious and wholly unjustifiable judicial usurpation of state legislative authority, rejected the notion that there was a right to privacy in the Constitution, and opposed the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (He later said he had changed his mind on the last one.)

When Brennan announced his retirement in 1990, the George H.W. Bush administration wanted to avoid a similar fate. They sought a conservative jurist who was Borks opposite: a minimal paper trail, a scant record of controversial rulings, and a less confrontational demeanor. (Borks hairstyle and deep, resonant voice evoked an Old Testament prophet.) They found Souter, who had just begun serving on the First Circuit Court of Appeals after almost a decade on the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

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Legal conservatives were uneasy with Souter, especially after he declined to publicly endorse originalism during his confirmation hearing, but their doubts were dismissed by Bush and two close New Hampshire allies, chief of staff (and former New Hampshire governor) John Sununu and Senator Warren Rudman. Souter largely voted with the courts conservatives during his first few years on the bench but started to drift leftward after he found his footing. His vote to save Roe v. Wade in the 1993 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey proved to be the final breaking point.

The conservative legal movement has an extensive mythology about the judicial wars, to the degree that a judges name alone is a potent symbol. To Bork someone is to maliciously and unfairly ruin their reputation; perceived apostates from the one true method of constitutional interpretation are deemed to be Souters. So great was Souters psychological impact on legal conservatives that they restructured their movement to prevent someone like him from happening again. Modern legal conservatism, as I noted in a profile of Justice Amy Coney Barrett earlier this year, is replete with constant ideological checks and socializations of each other to ensure they dont put any more Souters on the bench. The courts current radicalism is, in many ways, a downstream effect of its failure to double-check that Souter was actually part of their movement.

I do not know how Souter felt about his name being used as a derisive epithet. After his retirement, he made almost no public appearances, aside from serving again on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. (Supreme Court justices are allowed to hear cases in lower appeals courts after they retire, and he apparently relished the opportunity to do so.) I tried to interview him a few times over the years to no avail; his clerks made clear he was done with all that. In an era when the Supreme Courts conservative majority is inventing presidential immunity out of constitutional thin air and clearing the path for insurrectionists to hold public office, I would hope that he took their battle cry of No More Souters as a badge of honor.
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who served on the high court for 19 years after being appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, has passed away. He was 85 years old.

Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service, Chief Justice John G. Roberts said in a Friday statement.

Souter was involved in several high-profile cases during his time in Washington, D.C., including Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992, when he co-authored the plurality opinion with Justices OConnor and Kennedy, upholding the core of Roe v. Wade.

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Later, in 2000, Souter dissented in Bush v. Gore, which halted the Florida recount and cemented the election. While being initially pegged as a conservative, Souter often sided with more liberal justices on issues like affirmative action and abortion.

Following his retirement in 2009, Souter routinely sat as a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade; the court looked at cases from New England - New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, as well as Puerto Rico. He was born in Massachusetts and moved to New Hampshire at the age of 11.

Souter went on to attend Harvard University for both his undergraduate degree and for law school, with a stop at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar coming in between.

After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade, Justice Roberts noted. He will be greatly missed.

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His retirement at 69 in 2009 allowed former President Barack Obama to appoint Justice Sonia Sotomayor as his replacement.

Souter also received some pop culture recognition in 1993 when Homer Simpson made it clear he was a fan. In The Simpsons episode Homer Goes to College, written by Conan OBrien, Homer finds out many of his heroes are nerds a running fear of his in the episode  according to his daughter Lisa.

Nerds are nothing to fear, Dad, Lisa told Homer. In fact, some nerds of note include popcorn magnate Orville Redenbacher, rock star David Byrne and Supreme Court Justice David Souter.

Oh no! Not Souter! Homer responded.

The post David Souter, Former Supreme Court Justice, Dies at 85 appeared first on TheWrap.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police responded to a shooting on Thursday night after a person was shot at.

Just before 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the 1200 block of New York Ave., NE for a report of an assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the victim had been shot at by a group of suspects.

VIDEO: DC police in search of three suspects in Northeast shooting near high school

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The victim was not injured; however, their vehicle was struck by gunfire. The suspects fled the scene following the incident.

Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android.

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville is discussing medical care for sexual assault survivors. They say often the first step to healing begins in a hospital room, and nurses are being specially trained to provide care to rape victims.

Statistics show at least 10,000 rapes occur across the Tri-State every year, and more than two-thirds of sexual assaults go unreported.

For over a decade, Deaconess Midtown has worked to equip an entire team with forensic-level training so anyone who finds the courage to seek medical care knows theyre in the best hands.

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Watching people testify, doing pelvic exams to become competent in your training you also do exams with another trained SANE nurse, says Jessica Cannon, a registered nurse and sexual assault nurse examiner at the hospital.

To become a sexual assault nurse examiner, or SANE, requires over 40 hours of training and clinical practice. Cannon began pushing for the change 10 years ago and now shes joined by a dozen other nurses. The hospital sees about 100 survivors each year.

We would get a full history about what happened to you. We get informed consent. We give you all your options. If youre comfortable with certain parts but not others, thats okay. As health care providers, we dont want to re-traumatize you. We do everything how you want it done, says Cannon.

The process involves whats known to most as a rape kit, and is only viable if utilized within 5 days of the incident.

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Indiana Criminal Justice Institute does reimburse the hospitals for the ER bills. So, most patients will never receive a bill for the carewhich is great, says Cannon.

Its a full head-to-toe exam that can last up to 6 hours and swabs anywhere DNA may be present. A special blue light helps pinpoint bruising and stains.

We would take photographs if necessary and collect clothing, says Cannon.

Only 39 Indiana counties have SANEs, and less than half are pediatric friendly. Even fewer offer 24/7 access to their services like Deaconess Midtown.

No patient ever has to leave feeling exposed. A clothes closet houses clean t-shirts and other items. It balances science with the human side of trauma care.

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Some people come in, and theyve used drugs and then this has happened to them. Theyve been intoxicated, and this has happened to them. I think really helping that person understand that no choice that you made makes what happened to youokay, [is important], says Libby Tieken, another SANE nurse.

It doesnt stop at the bedside. Patients over 18-years-old choose whether they want to take it a step further and seek help from law enforcement. Officials say a chain of custody is crucial.

Once we open the kit, we are stuck with it. Theres no exiting the room with evidence laying out. Once I seal that kit, I initial it and I hand it physically over to someone. I document exactly what time and who i handed it to, says Cannon.

She says shes honored to provide a safe starting point for peoples healing processone sealed kit at a time.

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RAINS COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  An East Texas judge is accused of threatening a defendant, saying, I heard you have a problem with me, boy. You take that deal, boy  or dead men cant testify. Two days later, the defendant entered a no-contest plea in a felony case.

Rains County Justice of the Peace arrested for driving while intoxicated

A lawsuit filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, alleges that Justice of the Peace Jenkins Franklin threatened Coby Wiebe to enter a guilty plea in a criminal case over which he had no jurisdiction.

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Weibe alleges that the threat made in October 2023 is part of a broader pattern of misconduct that Franklin exhibited and went unchecked by county officials, leading to a Monell claim against the county. A Monell claim is based on a 1978 Supreme Court ruling that allows a person to sue local governments for constitutional violations.

Phone records and a polygraph exam administered to Weibe led the Rains County District Attorney to file a motion to dismiss the felony sentence, and has since been granted judicial clemency.

Defendant [Coby Wiebe] was coerced to testify falsely and to enter a plea of No Contest by an elected official of Rains County [Judge Jenkins Franklin], thus raising significant concerns about the voluntariness of plea. The State further urged the court to set aside the verdict or permit the Defendant to withdraw his plea, dismiss the indictment against him, and that the Defendant be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction in this case.'

DPS offers $6k for information in 2013 cold case murder in Hallsville

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Weibe alleges that Franklins threat violated his First, Fourth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights as well as official oppression, witness tampering and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Coby-Wiebe-v-Robert-Jenkins-FranklinDownload

This threat was intended to silence [Wiebe] from speaking in open court, suppress future legal action and force a false narrative, the lawsuit claims. As a result, [Weibe] was intimidated and coerced into providing false testimony and entering a No Contest plea under duress, calling into question the voluntariness and constitutionality of that plea.

Lufkin police investigate targeted shooting in residential area

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The plaintiff seeks that Franklin not receive judicial immunity as he was not acting as a judge in Wiebes criminal case. Such conduct was criminal, personal and entirely extrajudicial, the document reads. As a result, judicial immunity is inapplicable.

Due to Franklins alleged actions, Wiebe now seeks relief, including actual damages in an amount to be determined at trial and compensatory damages for mental anguish, emotional distress and loss of liberty.

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May 8Prosecutors said they have video of a deadly shooting in Portland's Bayside neighborhood last fall.

Attorneys discussed the recording Thursday during a court hearing for a second person charged in connection with the death, who prosecutors say helped the suspect leave the scene before police arrived.

Edgar Cando, 31, was shot multiple times on Portland Street in October and later died at Maine Medical Center, police said. An obituary notes he was a father, and that his family will miss him for his "kind spirit, resilience and compassion."

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Police charged 21-year-old Omar Abd Elkader last year with murder in his death. And a grand jury recently indicted 29-year-old Savoy Boyd with one count of hindering apprehension or prosecution, a Class B offense.

Boyd denied the state's allegations during an arraignment Thursday morning in Cumberland County Superior Court. Her attorney argued briefly that she actually encouraged the "primary suspect," apparently referring to Abd Elkader, to turn himself in after the shooting, contrary to the state's allegations.

Abd Elkader pleaded not guilty in February and his attorney Matthew Crockett declined to discuss the details of the case that were shared during Boyd's hearing, saying it would be inappropriate to comment on another defendant's case.

Crockett said he and co-counsel Andrew Edwards are still waiting on discovery materials from the state and are preparing Abd Elkader's defense.

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Police documents detailing the probable cause for both suspects' arrests were not available following Thursday's hearing, when some case details were made public for the first time.

Boyd's attorney, Roger Brunelle, Jr., told the court that the "primary defendant" had used Boyd's weapon, but that she otherwise had nothing to do with the shooting. Brunelle said the shooting was retaliation for an assault.

He argued that it was his client who persuaded the other defendant to turn himself in within hours of the shooting.

"Any allegations she tried to hinder prosecution are false," he said in court. "This is not a premeditated attack. There's no evidence at all she had anything to do with this incident. ... We understand that the charges are serious, but ultimately we believe the evidence is thin."

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Assistant Attorney General Kate Bozeman said their evidence is actually quite strong, citing video footage of Boyd standing "beside the defendant as he follows and shoots a man on Portland Street in broad daylight."

Bozeman said the two left the scene of the shooting in a car. No video evidence was played in court.

District Judge Jed French lowered Boyd's bail from $50,000 to $7,500 and barred her from contacting Abd Elkader, who is being held in the Cumberland County Jail.

Until recently, Boyd was in California. The state suggested she might be a flight risk but Brunelle said his client was visiting family and that she will now stay in Maine.

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Brunelle also said that when Boyd was informed she was being charged in mid-April, she wasn't given a return date or any other details about the allegations. French had to unseal a copy of her indictment so that she could view it Thursday morning.

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Youth distrust of mainstream media is more intense than ever. Forty-eight percent of people 18 to 29 say keeping up with politics is one reason theyre on TikTok. Amid the contracting and crumbling of the media industry, were in the era of the YouTube video essay, the talking-to-camera headline roundup, and the independently run newsletter. Welcome to Teen Vogues new series Logged On, where we talk to the people bringing you politics and the news in innovative and fun ways.

The anonymous account Dear White Staffers first gained notoriety in early 2020, around the time congressional workers announced their intention to form a union. In the years since, the accounts focus has shifted from sharing the workplace complaints of Hill staffers to amplifying a number of social justice efforts, collab-posting on Instagram with organizers nationwide to put their work in front of its 200,000-plus following.

Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take

In this latest installment of Logged On, the Hill staffer behind the Dear White Staffers account  who wants to remain anonymous for safety reasons  got on Zoom with Teen Vogue to talk about leaking information from dissatisfied federal staffers, pushing back on anti-trans compliance under the Trump administration, and more.

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This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

Teen Vogue: How would you describe the role of the account right now, with the added focus on federal workers after the cuts and layoffs ordered by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency?

Dear White Staffers: The role the account has played has been this anonymous outlet for good, for justice, not to sound too corny. Over the last year, where a lot of staff on the Hill were vocally really upset about their bosss stance on Gaza, for instance, there were moments where we were able to organize online around that. Most recently, I have been receiving hundreds of messages from federal workers, [those who are] still working but also a lot who have been laid off or fired.

A lot of federal workers, at least the ones I've spoken to, there's a good number who feel in some way apolitical. A lot of them do feel like, I am just a public servant, I am not a pawn of either party, I don't want to push either party. I'm just trying to work and serve and support myself or my loved ones. So I think that's where this account comes in, where it's like, they don't necessarily want to be featured all over the media. They just want people to understand what's happening.

Obviously, there's a ton of distrust in a lot of traditional media outlets for a variety of reasons. I think some federal workers are also scared to experience retaliation for speaking to the media, so there's that aspect as well.

TV: Can you describe the types of messages you typically receive? How do you decide what to share? Do you fact-check them?

DWS: There's kind of a spectrum of messages. There's some where it's just a quick update or tip, here and there. Because theyre federal workers who were using their first and last names on their Instagram accounts, they are real people who you're able to look up and find their information out there.

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There are some messages that feel extremely specific, where I feel like it would endanger them to share the information, so sometimes we're able to draft up something together that's getting the information out there without endangering the source.

There's definitely been a number of instances where it felt too specific, and then [I] had to pull something down, because then the person would message me, Oh my God, my coworkers saw this and now they're upset! Ill be like, Let's just remove this and we'll figure something out. Take care of yourself." Everyone's safety is first and foremost. That is top priority. I don't want anyone to get in trouble. I don't want any harm done, I don't want anyone to lose their job. So that's really important.

Then there's definitely some sensitive information that I would love to share, but I feel like it's either so salacious or I would need to really verify before posting something like that. And a lot of this information comes sometimes just before it's been reported on, or a day before it's reported on, so it eventually does all get out there. I've seen some of these things become actual stories. I try to use a level of discretion there. It's very easy to just post everything.

Also, I am trusting the source and the audience to understand that these are submissions that are coming in, and I am doing my best to vet everything. But I'm a one-person team, so I am gonna do all the vetting that I can  that one person can do with minimal resources  here.

TV: Whats the vibe in DC right now, given everything in the news?

DWS: I was here eight years ago when Trump was first [in office], and at the very least there was kind of a, you know, #resistance. At least we had that. Now there really isn't [one] in Congress, at least; it's more the people out there marching and storming these town halls and everything.

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So on the Hill and in the halls, it's definitely some doomer aspects. It's just depressing. I think a lot of people are feeling a little aimless. People are just kind of taking it day by day. There's also just this shared frustration thats either people feeling that their bosses aren't doing enough or that Democratic leadership isn't doing enough. What is going on? There isn't a clear leader in the party.

TV: Are there Dems you think are doing a good job  any you think are doing a bad job?

DWS: Bernie Sanders had a really great weekend in the West, and that was a nice salve amongst all this. Like, Oh, wow, there are people who really care. It's great to have at least one senator who's out there, messaging the way that really resonates with a lot of people. That's really exciting.

And it's sad to see that juxtaposed with [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer and [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries, whose messaging just feels extremely insufficient, and falls apart immediately. It's just like, I cannot believe that you are the leader of this opposition party. That is really frustrating.

It's also a situation where I sorely miss Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush and messengers like them. They would have been obviously great to have in Congress right about now. But weve got the rest of the Squad, who are doing their thing. It's hard, honestly, [as] anyone [can see], in this media ecosystem, trying to cut through the flooding of the zone; but it's clear that there are certain messaging tactics at work  like Bernie's rally. That is cool to bring your town hall energy to the people.

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[AOCs] know your rights stuff was really great, and it would be cool to see more Democrats do that kind of thing. That feels a little bit more material: Here's what you can do, here's what you shouldn't do, stuff like that. I think that'd be cool.

TV: Are there any stories or actions youve shared on your platform that you feel didnt get enough attention?

DWS: I do feel that trans health care was not talked about at all. I don't think anyone [in office] said a f**king thing when a number of hospitals just straight-up complied [with the Trump administrations order to stop gender-affirming care for people under 19], what is it, 90 days before the deadline?

That is so heinous to leave kids without care  that's crazy, to leave them in complete limbo. Children's National Hospital in DC was one of them, and I didn't expect Mayor Bowser or the DC rep to say anything. Then the [Children's Hospital of] Richmond also complied early, and I don't think that representative said anything. I was trying to find someone who was gonna say a f**king thing  just a tweet, some acknowledgement  and there was nothing.

I went to one rally at the Children's National Hospital here in DC, and it was actually very well-attended. A ton of different people were there, and there were a lot of great speakers. We got to yell at these hospital administrators who are walking into work, trying to make them feel some sense of shame.

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But yeah, it was extremely disappointing to see almost no one say anything about trans people. And that's also after having ample opportunities to talk about [Republican Rep.] Nancy Mace and the [bill to ban trans women from using the appropriate] bathroom [on federal property], and the implications beyond just the Capitol Hill building. It has implications in your damn district. It's just, like, come on.

TV: Between Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, were seeing the owners of our mainstream social media platforms take on powerful roles and comply with the Trump administration. Your reach is totally tied to those platforms. Have you considered moving off of them?

DWS: In exchange for an email address and my algorithm and geo location and whatever, I'm able to create this platform here.

Obviously, Twitter or X is a tremendous cesspool now, and at the same time, I don't want to cede that ground yet. It is terrible, it is the worst one right now, but there are still people I organized with through that medium, and so it sucks. Until there's a legitimate alternative of that scale, of Instagram and Twitter, it is what we have right now.

A lot of people are also really careful when they're sharing information on these platforms now. People are wanting to move it over to Signal or any other encrypted form of communication. But there's also still a level of very reasonable distrust in how encrypted or how safe any of those things are. I think about how big a lot of these right-wing creators or influencers are on these platforms, and I just don't want to give up on that space. I think it's worth being there, and it's worth fighting on there, until the end.

TV: Something else were seeing is that individual creators seem more credible to news consumers  a double-edged sword when youre doing work that brings you under scrutiny. Would you consider dropping your anonymity? Is that something youd even feel safe doing, working on the Hill in Trumps DC?

DWS: Safety is such an odd thing in this day and age. [With] my personal safety, just walking around on Capitol Hill and having been the target of Richie Torres [in the media and online], and of Jewish Insider, and whoever else, that sucks; it definitely puts a target on my back. And it is hurtful that other Jews think I'm antisemitic. That is really painful at times.

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I think there will be a time when I want to shed the anonymity and start to venture out, but I just feel like, right now, I haven't quite figured out what that would look like. Maybe it would be tied into whatever next step or next form this project takes on. I don't know if that's off Capitol Hill or wherever else.

I definitely think about it from time to time, but I don't know, it is still somewhat important to me to have some sense of safety there. At least on Capitol Hill, that safety is very thin, but out in the real world, I'm still just an anonymous person, and that is nice.

TV: What might that change look like for you?

DWS: I am literally trying to figure out what is next. Sometimes I don't even need to think about what is next because what is next just comes to you. After October 7, I focused primarily on the genocide in Gaza. That was a very obvious focus for me. As soon as that happened, I was like, You know what? I'm willing to nuke this account, if they want to cancel this account and come after me. I would 100% ride for Gaza.

I don't ever have time to think about what the development of this project will eventually be. It's kind of a little bit of everything [right now]. I've enjoyed being an organizer and being able to use this account to push messages, out here and there, and uplift the work of my friends who are doing direct actions here in the Capitol or have something going on in LA during the fires.

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The people that I've been able to meet and organize with online have been such a tremendous honor. I'm always amazed by people doing their work and projects in their neck of the woods, and then coming to me and being like, Hey, can you upload this? I'm like, Yeah, of course. Let's figure out how we can work together, and just keep building. Being able to continue to connect and convene people is immensely cool.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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The U.S. government is seeking the death penalty for a convicted robber accused of murdering his cellmate at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City.

Jasper Reed, 27, is accused in a federal indictment of strangling to death convicted drug smuggler Rene Lamar Perez on May 8, 2024.

The U.S. Justice Department announced in a May 7 news release that Attorney General Pam Bondi had authorized federal prosecutors in Oklahoma City to pursue capital punishment in the case.

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The announcement is the latest example of a major shift in the politics of the death penalty in the United States.

President Donald Trump on his first day back in office issued a sweeping executive order "restoring" the death penalty. That punishment has now been sought three times since then.

The first time came in the federal case against Luigi Mangione over the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

The Biden administration only sought the death penalty once  for the racist who fatally shot 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in 2022. The Biden administration also imposed a moratorium on federal executions,

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In his final weeks in office, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row.

In his executive order, Trump said Biden and others had defied the laws of the nation, made a mockery of justice and insulted "the victims of these horrible crimes."

Trump called capital punishment "an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens." Trump directed the attorney general to pursue the death penalty "for all crimes of a severity demanding its use."

In Reed's case, prosecutors allege there are 10 aggravating factors that justify a sentence of death. They call Reed a continuing danger to the lives and safety of other persons.

What are the charges?

Reed was initially charged last year with second-degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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A federal grand jury in a May 6 indictment charged him with attempted murder, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and first-degree murder. His attorneys have declined comment.

More: How Trump's election led to the scheduling of an execution in Oklahoma

Reed is accused of assaulting his first cellmate at the Federal Transfer Center on April 27, 2024. A correctional officer saw him on top of the cellmate with both hands around the cellmate's neck, the FBI reported in a court affidavit.

"I am the next up and coming," the New Mexico robber told a correctional officer on April 30, according to the FBI affidavit.

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"I am one bad (expletive). I am 505, and this whole prison is going to know my name before I leave," he said, referring to a New Mexico area code. "You just keep putting other inmates in my cell and you will find out."

He is accused of strangling to death Perez, his next cellmate, by the end of their first day together. The victim was 52.

The Federal Transfer Center is the main hub that holds federal inmates as they are being moved across the country. It is adjacent to OKC Will Rogers International Airport. Most inmates are there for a short time and have already been convicted of federal crimes.

The death penalty was last sought in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma after a Fort Sill soldier starved to death his girlfriend's 10-year-old son in 2011.

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The U.S. Army private, Connell C. Williams, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the middle of his trial, and prosecutors withdrew their request for the death sentence. Williams was later sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of release.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Death penalty sought for federal inmate accused of murdering cellmate
Flights operations temporarily suspended at Pakistani airports

Xinhua) 17:00, May 08, 2025

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Flight operations at airports of major cities of Pakistan have been temporarily suspended due to operational reasons, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said on Thursday.

The PCAA officials told Xinhua that flight operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Islamabad International Airport, and Sialkot International Airport will remain suspended until further notification.

The PCAA said that air routes will be unavailable for commercial flights, advising the passengers to stay in touch with relevant airlines for the latest situation.

Earlier on Thursday morning, four people were injured when a blast occurred at a military compound in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, official sources told Xinhua.

Official sources from Pakistan also said two people were injured when an Indian drone crashed near a gas well in southern Sindh province on Thursday morning.

On the same day, Pakistani authorities also reported shooting down drones in the Lahore and Chakwal districts of eastern Punjab province.

At least 31 civilians have been killed and 57 others injured in an Indian attack on Pakistani territory and subsequent exchange of fire between Pakistani and Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides the disputed region of Kashmir, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army's media wing said on Wednesday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
ADDIS ABABA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Africa's ongoing mpox outbreak has surpassed 1,750, as the number of cases reported since the beginning of 2024 approaches 130,000, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

During an online media briefing on Thursday evening, Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff and head of the Executive Office at the Africa CDC, said that 24 mpox-affected African countries have reported 129,711 mpox cases since the start of last year. Of these, 29,609 were confirmed and about 1,751 related deaths were recorded.

Data from the African Union (AU)'s specialized healthcare agency showed that last week alone, the continent reported 3,553 new cases, including 758 confirmed ones and 12 new related deaths. Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda contributed to 93.3 percent of all confirmed cases reported during the past week.

The Africa CDC further warned over the continued surge in mpox cases, as the total number of cases reported so far this year constitutes about two thirds of last year's total. The continent has recorded 52,082 mpox cases since the beginning of this year, it noted.

Meanwhile, the Africa CDC has raised the alarm regarding the increasing trend of public health emergencies occurring throughout the continent.

"In 2024, we had, in total, 117 moderate and high risk public health events. This year, we are already at 120. We have had 34 high risk, and 86 moderate risk events this year. This shows that the situation is not reducing," Ngongo said, adding that the top disease outbreaks reported by AU members so far in 2025 include mpox, cholera, dengue, and Lassa fever.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral disease typically transmitted through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. The infection often causes fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

In August last year, the Africa CDC declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security. Shortly afterward, the World Health Organization designated the viral disease as a public health emergency of international concern. 
Editors note: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers.

KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  A federal court has denied the appeal of a convicted 1980s eastern Kentucky killer and upheld his death penalty sentence.

In 1985, Benny Hodge, now 73, and another individual posed as FBI agents and entered the home of Dr. Roscoe Acker in Letcher County, according to the Attorney Generals Office.

While inside, they tied up Roscoe and his daughter Tammy Acker, 23, and forced him to open his safe, Russell Colemans office confirmed. Roscoe was then strangled until he lost consciousness before Tammy was brutally stabbed 10 times with a kitchen knife.

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A news release noted that Hodge was convicted in 1986 and given the death penalty before a panel of three judges overturned his sentence in 2024. Coleman asked the appellate court to reconsider, and, in what his office called a rare move, all Sixth Circuit judges agreed to rehear the case.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

In a 14-4 decision made on Wednesday, May 7, Hodges arguments were rejected and his death penalty sentence was upheld, per the AGs office.

Coleman praised the decision of the judges in a statement.

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For nearly four decades, this brutal murderer has tried to escape justice, hoping that we would eventually give up and forget about this case. We never forgot about this tragedy, about the Acker family and about the justice they were promised, said Attorney General Coleman. Every Kentuckian will be safer when this convicted criminal faces his lawful sentence.

The release claimed that, since being convicted, Hodge has filed numerous appeals trying to avoid punishment, and the judges claimed that, in their collective opinion, the high cost of these delays was accentuated.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

The public suffersparticularly surviving victims and loved oneswhen we allow previously convicted perpetrators of violent and deadly crimes to relitigate their convictions or sentences, or both, many years after the trial (in this case decades), after evidence has gone stale or been lost, and the percipient witnesses (like Dr. Acker) have died, the judges wrote.

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Tawny Acker, Tammys sister, was relieved at the result of the appeal.

I want to thank Attorney General Russell Coleman and his staff for their excellent preparation and presentation to uphold the sentencing of a cold-blooded murderer before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Tawny said. They stood masterfully in the gap, defending justice and protecting the safety of my family and the safety of all families in the Commonwealth.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Governor Josh Shapiro asked lawmakers to cap tuition payments to cyber charter schools, which districts have been complaining about for years.

But, many students and parents have succeeded with online education and enrollment has spiked. Now, theres a new development in the fight for funding.

Calls for cyber charter reform intensify after audit found ballooning revenue, surpluses

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I kind of feel like its Groundhog Day at these hearings, to be honest with you, State Rep. Marc Anderson (R-York).

Anderson is a former public school teacher and administrator who doesnt automatically bash cyber charters for siphoning cash from public school districts.

Start asking the question, why are so many kids going to cyber charter schools? I really havent heard anybody answer that, Anderson says.

The more kids that go, the bigger the check school districts must write.

Were drowning in what were paying these cyber schools, Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery) said. Our districts are begging for reform.

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He believes his bill, House Bill 1372, is providing it. The bill would cap tuition payments, currently all over the map, at $8,000. He estimates districts would save $600 million a year. Charters say it would crush them.

We would have to seriously look at operations and have to pare back most, if not a vast majority of it, Tim Eller, with Commonwealth Charter Academy.

The bill has a new wrinkle. If a local school offers cyber learning and is approved by the Department of Education, students would have to go there. Districts wouldnt have to pay others

Theyre already created, Rep. Nikki Rivera (D-Lancaster) said. If your school district meets this, this, this, and you have a sound cyber charter in-house, why would our taxpayers have to pay additional for outside cyber charter?

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Because, Eller would argue, enrollment suggests parents want what his cyber school is offering.

Parents should have a right to choose where they send their children, whether its public, nonpublic, private, Eller said. The money should follow the student. Parents are taxpayers, too.

Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters!

Which brings us back to the Groundhog Day debate that wont likely be ending anytime soon.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Leaders in Washington and North Carolina are divided over whether to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Administration, as recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene continue.

This week, FEMAs acting administrator was removed from his role after telling a Congressional subcommittee that I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Cameron Hamilton acknowledged the decision was not his to make, but his comments did not align with the administrations position. The day before, Hamiltons boss, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, testified on Capitol Hill.

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FEMA and its response in many, many circumstances has failed the American people and that FEMA, as it exists today, should be eliminated, said Noem.

In a statement to Queen City News, a spokesperson for North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said Stein is ready to work with Hamiltons replacement, David Richardson, to continue to get resources for Helene-ravaged areas. But Steins office made clear the Governor is opposed to abolishing the agency.

Over in Western North Carolina, US Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Trump ally, has not been shy when criticizing FEMA.

Theres no question FEMA needs to be reorganized, downsized, restructured and more of the authority and responsibility needs to be passed onto the states, said Edwards.

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But during a one-on-one interview last month, Edwards says he wasnt ready to support total elimination.

Its a difficult time right now with Western North Carolina being in the middle of a recovery to say lets evaporate FEMA. Because we very much need them to help us rebuild from this disaster, he added.

A new executive order from President Trump requires a review of FEMAs work, but its unclear when the Trump administration would begin dismantling the agency.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 South Deerfield man has been charged after attempting to assassinate a cabinet member nominee.

Ryan Michael English, 24, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, has been charged with the attempted assassination of a cabinet member nominee and carrying a dangerous weapon on the Grounds of the Capitol.

This stems from a January 27 incident where English, also known as Reily, turned himself in to the U.S. Capitol Police.

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According to charging documents, English admitted to possessing a knife and two Molotov cocktails.

Police searched English and found a folding knife, as well as two improvised incendiary devices from the inside pockets of Englishs jacket. The devices were constructed of 50 milliliter bottles of vodka with a grey cloth affixed to their tops. Police recovered a green lighter from another pocket.

While searching English, he confessed that he was at the Capitol to kill a Presidential nominee who was there testifying before the U.S. Senate. Police recovered a note that English wrote to his family member, saying This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sistersIm so sorry for lying and plotting and lying.

The case remains under investigation by U.S. Capitol Police.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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May 8LIMA  Latoya McClellan, the mother of a Lima teenager on trial for murder, dominated the proceedings Thursday in her son's jury trial in Allen County Common Pleas Court.

McClellan was called to testify in the case of her son, Donya Perkins, but much of the significance of the woman's appearance took place outside the jurors' presence.

Perkins is charged with murder in the shooting death of Steve Smith, whose body was discovered in the early morning hours of July 16, 2023, in the 1000 block of Reese Avenue in Lima, near the home of McClellan and Perkins. McClellan and Smith were alleged to have been involved in a sexual relationship at the time.

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McClellan was the state's first witness of the day, but prior to the start of testimony Thursday, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Josh Carp made a formal motion that the woman be declared a "court's witness." Carp said it had come to his attention that the defendant's mother "will testify differently" from statements she earlier had made to investigators and prosecutors.

Defense attorney Allison Hibbard, outside the presence of jurors, shared with Judge Jeffrey Reed information she had received that McClellan had threatened to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination if forced to testify, and that prosecutors had threatened her with a murder charge if she elected to do so.

Carp vehemently denied that allegation. He said that during a meeting Wednesday with the witness, "We (prosecutors) just asked her what her intentions were" upon taking the witness stand.

Hibbard also sparred with prosecutors over text messages that prosecutors planned to submit into evidence in which McClellan reportedly threatened to blow up Smith's house and to kill the Lima man. Prosecutors said, and Reed agreed, that rules of evidence would not allow the defense attorney to question McClellan about the alleged threats.

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Hibbard explained, to no avail, that the purpose behind that line of questioning was "to develop an alternative defendant" in the case. The judge overruled her objection.

One event, several stories

McClellan was convicted of tampering with evidence in connection with Smith's death. She was sentenced in March 2024 to an 18-month prison term for hiding the firearm allegedly used by her son to shoot and kill Smith. She was recently released from prison and is now on parole.

Taking the witness stand Thursday morning, McClellan was questioned by prosecutors about statements she made to Lima Police Department Detective Steve Stechschulte on the morning after Smith's death. The woman admitted to jurors that some information she had given the detective about the night of the shooting were "probably not true" because she was nervous and scared. In other instances, she said she just outright lied.

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McClellan told jurors that late on the evening of July 15, 2023, her son exited the family home at 403 E. Second St. with a gun in his pants after Smith knocked loudly on the front door of the residence. She said Smith was in the yard when Perkins exited the home "and then the gun went off." Asked by Carp if her son fired the gun, McClellan answered "yes."

The witness admitted upon cross-examination that her testimony in court did not match what she had said to Stechschulte because she had been "drinking and smoking marijuana" the prior evening.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case in chief with Stechschulte on the witness stand. Jurors watched two videotaped interviews between the detective and Perkins, including one which took place the morning after Smith's death. Perkins initially denied any knowledge in the events surrounding the shooting but changed his story after McClellan was briefly brought into the LPD interview room.

"Your mom told me everything. She just took me to where she said the gun was thrown. You just lied to me," the detective told Perkins on the video.

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The defendant then gave his account of the incident, saying Smith was knocking on the door at the family home.

"He was trying to kick the door in, so I went outside. Me and him started fighting. He hit me and kept coming at me," Perkins said on the video.

Perkins said he pulled a pistol from his pants pocket and fired a random shot.

"I didn't even aim (the gun) at him," he said.

The jury is expected to receive the case and begin deliberations sometime Friday.

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For much of the 19th century, Americans thought that the broad expanses of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans protected our homeland from enemy attack. They believed that the United States was blessed with what historian C. Vann Woodward dubbed free security. As he noted:

Throughout most of its history the United States has enjoyed a remarkable degree of military security, physical security from hostile attack and invasion. This security was not only remarkably effective, but it was relatively free. Free security was based on natures gift of three vast bodies of water interposed between this country and any other power that might constitute a serious menace to its safety. There was not only the Atlantic to the east and the Pacific to the west, but a third body of water, considered so impenetrable as to make us virtually unaware of its importance, the Arctic Ocean and its great ice cap to the north. The security thus provided was free in the sense that it was enjoyed as a bounty of nature in place of the elaborate and costly chains of fortifications and even more expensive armies and navies that took a heavy toll of the treasuries of less fortunate countries and placed severe tax burdens upon the backs of their people.

Many historians took issue with the notion that the relative security that the U.S. enjoyed was free, noting that for the bulk of the century after the War of 1812, the U.S. sheltered behind the implicit protection of the British Royal Navy. That fact notwithstanding, Woodward was certainly correct about prevailing American views. Most political leaders and much of the public believed that forward presence was not needed to be safe in our own hemisphere.

In the first half of the 20th century, we learned that allowing hostile aggressive powers to dominate Europe and the Pacific Ocean littoral created significant dangers to our security, even if they seemed far away. The experience of World War II convinced most members of Americas national security elite that the future defense of the United States would have to begin well beyond the nations continental frontiers. As historian Michael Sherry concluded in 1987 in his pioneering study of American air power, policymakers came to believe that American weakness had encouraged Axis ambitions in the 1930s and that as a result powerful military forces could deter or subdue future troublemakers. Pearl Harbor and the new weapons developed subsequent to it demonstrated the nations nakedness to sudden attack and its need for unprecedented forces-in-being to ward off the coming blitzkrieg. The result was a consensus that Americas national security in the future would require forward defense, the ability to project power to Europe, East Asia and the Middle East which, in turn, would require allies and partners around the world to sustain a globe-girdling system of bases and facilities.

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In the second half of the 20th century the development of long-range aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear weapons underscored that overseas developments can directly threaten the U.S. homeland. We finally recognized that to defend the United States we must engage overseas to prevent future warswhich might ultimately involve usfrom starting. The alliances we have built over the last 70 years offer the best possible means to discourage potential aggressors from starting local wars that will inevitably become global. They allow us to maintain the global commonsincluding freedom of the seasacross which worldwide commerce flows, creating the unprecedented increase in wealth and prosperity that has developed since World War II. The ability to provide defense in depth and rapidly project power forward to regions of concern became the fundamental basis of Americas unique global role.

Today the United States is facing two highly dangerous, aggressive, autocratic, and expansionist foreign leaders. Yet despite the traditional emphasis on forward defense and the importance of U.S. bases as a form of reassurance for allies there have been persistent calls from the Trump administration for reductions of the U.S. overseas presence.

Our presence sends the signal that the U.S. is committed to and can prevent a fait accompli. It also can also provide opportunities for training and improving interoperability with allies, strengthening deterrence by conveying to potential adversaries that they will face a powerful counter coalition if they choose to pursue aggression.

Vladimir Putin, who famously declared that the breakup of the USSR was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century, has been pursuing the reconstitution of the Soviet empire since he took power. His forces occupy parts of Georgia and Moldova; he has taken Crimea; three years ago, he began a bloody and merciless full-scale war to conquer Ukraine. He has made clear that Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are in his sights. And he covets the recreation of a buffer zone to Russias west along the lines of the defunct Warsaw Pact, a sphere of influence which would allow him to dominate Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. In addition, his regime has declared the NATO alliance to be Russias enemy, routinely threatens the use of Russian nuclear weapons in response to policies he opposes, and has been carrying out a clandestine campaign of sabotage against Western communications cables, armaments factories and warehouses, and transportation grids.

Half a world away, Xi Jinping, under a similar belief that China has been denied a leading role in the world by the West, seeks to create a de facto empire that dominates the Asia-Pacific region. His regime has declared that the South China Sea, a key waterway through which one-third of global maritime trade flows, should be declared an internal Chinese lake, subject to control by Beijing. China also seeks to control the two key chokepoints, the Malacca and Lombok Straits, that offer access to the South China Sea from the west. Xi has made clear his intention of reunifying China with Taiwan, with force if he cannot achieve it by coercion. The Beijing regime has, further, claimed parts of the exclusive economic zones of several of its neighbors and has used armed force to protect Chinese commercial activity in those areas.

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Ominously, both Russia and China are expanding their intercontinental and particularly their regional nuclear forces. And both have demonstrated a complete and total disregard for any treaties or obligations they might have undertaken.

Should either Putin or Xi believe they can take their neighbors territory without suffering significant cost, they might attempt to do so. The result, an imbalance in global power, a possible denial of U.S. access to areas of the world vital to us, and an invitation for further aggression could result in war, including possibly the use of nuclear weaponsall of which could have catastrophic effects on our own security.

It becomes imperative, therefore, to make clear to both Putin and Xi that the cost of such attacks would be prohibitive, that they would significantly exceed any gains they might hope to make. Only the United States can provide the military capability to make such a threat. And we can only do so credibly if we are present in those regions. While there are costs involved in forward presence, they pale in comparison to the costs of the likely global war that would result if deterrence failed. The recent bipartisan report of the NDS Commission estimates that a global war that began in the Indo-Pacific could cost the global economy as much as $10 trillionand that is probably an underestimate.

All this said, it is worth raising the question of what benefits, precisely, the U.S. derives from what some have quantified as a $55 billion to $80 billion annual expense. Many so-called realists who seek to diminish the U.S. presence overseas, in order to reduce defense spending and avoid foreign entanglements that might lead to endless wars, never acknowledge that host nations provide support and some compensation for U.S. bases, but it is still worth reminding ourselves of the non-monetary compensation the U.S. gets from its overseas presence.

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Base access enables us to deploy forces forward. Repeated studies by the RAND Corporation have demonstrated that the presence of significant U.S. military forces reduces the likelihood of major interstate conflict or escalation of local conflicts into major war. Our presence sends the signal that the U.S. is committed to and can prevent a fait accompli. It also can also provide opportunities for training and improving interoperability with allies, strengthening deterrence by conveying to potential adversaries that they will face a powerful counter coalition if they choose to pursue aggression. Reassurance of allies is a particularly important and underappreciated element of U.S. base presence overseas. U.S. bases are a visible sign of U.S. commitment and willingness to extend U.S. military deterrent power to friends and allies.

The U.S. presence can also block adversaries from seeking precisely the advantages described above for themselves by arranging for access or basing themselves. The small U.S. deployment in Syria, for example, has both helped keep a lid on a resurgence of ISIS terrorism and provided U.S. overwatch of Iranian efforts to rebuild its proxy network that Israel has done so much to weaken over the last few years. When the U.S. ignores a region or vacates its positions there, we can be sure that our adversaries will seek to move in. One can already see the PRC seeking precisely these kinds of access and advantages in places where the U.S. has been chronically inattentive like Latin America, Africa, and especially the South Pacific.

The bottom line is that while U.S. forward deployed forces, in concert with and assisted by the military forces of our allies, defend allied territorythe first targets of potential aggressionthey also provide a jumping off point for U.S. forces in case deterrence fails in any major contingency. The record shows that their very existence helps to prevent war and the catastrophic consequences that would engulf us too were a global conflict to break out. In doing so they also protect the American homeland. And that makes our bases and forward presence a bargain when compared to the alternative.

Read more at The Dispatch

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The defense attorney for Erik and Lyle Menendez withdrew a motion Friday to remove the Los Angeles County district attorney and the entire D.A.s Office from the highly publicized case involving the possible resentencing of the brothers, who were convicted of murder nearly three decades ago.

A hearing was scheduled Friday morning for a judge to hear arguments by the defense that D.A. Nathan Hochman and his office are biased against the brothers.

The family does not want to go through this charade anymore with the D.A., defense attorney Mark Geragos said before the hearing. Whats obvious to anyone, I think, who has a couple of synapses that are still firing is this is a D.A. who made up his mind and did no hard work in terms of his position.

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Geragos spoke to the media outside the courthouse following Fridays new developments.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are seen in a hearing sketch on May 9, 2025. (Mona Edwards) FILE  This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections via AP, File) FILE  Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court where their attorneys delayed making pleas on behalf of the brothers who are suspected in the murders of their parents on March 12, 1990. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit with defense attorney Leslie Abramson, right, in Beverly Hills Municipal Court during a hearing, Nov. 26, 1990. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman gives a news conference about the Menendez brothers case in Los Angeles, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Erik and Lyle Menendez are pictured, on August 12, 1991 in Beverly Hills. (Getty Images) Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing, on December 29, 1992 in Los Angeles after the two pleaded innocent in the August 1989 shotgun deaths of their wealthy parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez of Beverly Hills, Calif. It took 40 months for the Superior Court arraignment after prosecutors and defense attorneys battled over the admissibility of taped confessions the brothers allegedly made to their psychotherapist. (Photo by VINCE BUCCI/AFP via Getty Images) Erik and Lyle Menendez in front of their Beverly Hills home in November 1989. (Getty Images) Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November, 1989. (Getty Images)

I pulled the recusal motion, for those who want to know, for a strategic legal reason, Geregos said. He didnt give detailed information on those strategies but pointed to the many avenues still available to the Menendez brothers for resentencing.

Hochman also spoke Friday morning, saying he was ready to go toe-to-toe with Geragos with the facts and was hoping for a resentencing hearing soon.

The Menendez brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996 for the shotgun murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home.

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Hochman believes that the brothers, who were 18 and 21 at the time, have not taken full responsibility for the crime, citing the extreme violence of their actions.

The brutality of this murder  Thirteen shotgun blasts. Again, one through the back of the fathers head. One to the mother at point-blank range as she lay dying on the ground. And then through the kneecaps after each one was dead in order to stage it as a mafia killing, Hochman said before Fridays hearing.

Former D.A. George Gascon recommended a sentence reduction for the brothers in October, but Hochman, who was elected to the office in November, has opposed the resentencing.

The Menendez brothers are still waiting for the full results of a state parole board risk assessment ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsoms office. The final hearing, scheduled for June 13, will influence whether Newsom grants the brothers clemency.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinstein 's lawyers sought Friday to raise doubts about an ex-model's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in her teens, portraying her as a wannabe actor who tried to leverage the former studio boss.

You believed that if you had consensual sex with Mr. Weinstein, youd get your foot in the door and become a movie star, defense lawyer Mike Cibella said.

No, thats not what happened, Kaja Sokola responded. I never had a consensual relation with Mr. Weinstein.

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Throughout a day of questioning, Cibella sought to suggest that Sokola hadn't told the full story of her interactions with Weinstein. At one point, Cibella repeatedly asked whether she invited Weinstein up to a New York apartment  and into the bedroom  where she was staying in 2005. She denied it.

I didnt want any shortcuts from Mr. Weinstein. I wanted him to be honest with me, Sokola testified at a later point, her voice growing heated.

She said the Oscar-winning producer promised to help her fulfill her acting ambitions but instead broke my dreams, and he broke my self-esteem."

The Polish psychotherapist has accused Weinstein of repeatedly sexually abusing her when she was a teenage fashion model. Some of those allegations are beyond the legal time limit for criminal charges, but Weinstein faces a criminal sex act charge over Sokola's claim that he forced oral sex on her in 2006.

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Prosecutors added the charge to the landmark #MeToo case last year, after an appeals court overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction. The guilty verdict pertained to allegations from two other women, who also have testified or are expected at the retrial.

Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty and denies ever sexually assaulting anyone.

The Polish-born Sokola, 39, had a jet-setting modeling career as a teen. She testified earlier this week that Weinstein exploited her youthful interest in an acting career to subject her to unwanted sexual advances, starting days after they met in 2002, while she was a 16-year-old on a modeling trip to New York.

She told jurors that four years later, when she was 19, Weinstein lured her to a hotel room by saying he had a script for her to see, then pinned her down on a bed and performed oral sex on her as she implored him not to.

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Sokola never got a full-fledged role in a Weinstein movie, though he did arrange for her to be an extra in 2007's The Nanny Diaries. Her scene ultimately got cut, she said.

His company also wrote her a recommendation letter to an acting school. She said she hadn't been able to afford it.

Sokola sued Weinstein several years ago over the alleged 2002 incident, and she ultimately received about $3.5 million in compensation. Her suits never mentioned the alleged 2006 assault. She testified Thursday that she'd had a tougher time coming to terms with it than she did with the alleged 2002 sex abuse.

Cibella underscored the omission, and he suggested that she sued to gain financial independence and be able to leave her now-estranged husband. On the contrary, she said, she was working two jobs and out-earning him.

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Cibella also pointed to differences in some details of Sokola's testimony this week and what she told a grand jury last year, including the month of the alleged 2002 sexual abuse. The attorney further noted that Sokola is pursuing various legal pathways to stay in the U.S. long-term, and her involvement in the criminal case could help with one of them.

Sokola is expected to continue testifying next week.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, but Sokola has given her permission to be identified.
NEWARK, Ohio (WJW)  For the first time in the trial of Jacob McDonald, a 60-year-old truck driver facing multiple counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, the defense presented its case on Thursday, calling a crash expert to the stand to argue that the deadly pile-up on Interstate 70 was a tragedy, but not a crime.

McDonald is accused of causing a chain-reaction crash near a construction zone that killed six people in November 2022, including three students from Tuscarawas Valley High School. Prosecutors allege McDonald was reckless behind the wheel of his semi truck. But on day three of the trial, the defense sought to change the narrative.

Bay Village student dies after critical injury during lacrosse game

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Sebastian van Nooten, a forensic engineer who specializes in collision reconstruction, testified that McDonalds truck was moving at a steady speed between 70 mph and 71 mph.

He said there was no data to suggest the driver was distracted or acting recklessly.

In the data I have found, there is no way that I can determine that he was driving recklessly, van Nooten testified. Just that he didnt reduce his speed in time.

But prosecutors quickly went on the attack, challenging van Nootens credibility and accuracy. They pointed to a glaring error on page one of his report, which incorrectly stated that five people were killed in the crash, not six.

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Thats a mistake, right? a prosecutor asked.

Yes, van Nooten replied.

A pretty glaring one, the prosecutor added.

The questioning intensified when van Nooten admitted he had not reviewed the official report from the National Transportation Safety Board, the agency tasked with investigating serious transportation accidents.

You are aware that the NTSB did publish the report? a prosecutor asked.

No, I was not aware, van Nooten said.

How long have you been doing this? a prosecutor asked.

23 years, van Nooten said.

Man who fell from stands at Pittsburgh Pirates game speaks out: Im all right

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Prosecutors also revealed he had miscalculated the semi trucks cruise control data, calling into question key aspects of his analysis.

The basis of the opinion on cruise control is incorrect, a prosecutor noted.

McDonald opted for a bench trial, meaning a judge, not a jury, will ultimately decide his fate. The defense has now rested its case after briefly calling a second forensic expert to the stand.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A man is facing charges after a report of an alleged sexual assault involving a 12-year-old.

According to a press release, on Friday, the Eden Police Department received the report and began an investigation in which they secured warrants on Lorne Landon Davis, 63, of Wilmington, Delaware.

Lorne Landon Davis (Eden Police Department)

Davis was charged with one count of felony indecent liberties with a child and one count of misdemeanor sexual battery.

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Davis was taken to the Rockingham County Jail and is being held under a $50,000 secure bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 21.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Delta Airlines is making a series of changes to its domestic routes, which will reportedly result in the end of four destinations from Minneapolis-St. Paul International, plus the addition of a new one.

The route cuts, first reported by travel website The Points Guy, showing that Delta is ending its daily flights from MSP to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Fairbanks, Alaska; and Great Falls, Montana.

Delta has confirmed to Bring Me The News that the Albuquerque route will come to an end in November, while the other three services will cease towards the end of September.

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However, Delta  the largest carrier at the Twin Cities airport  is adding another route to New York, starting a daily flight to Westchester County Airport from Sept. 8.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal reports it will be the fourth nonstop Delta route between MSP and a New York City-area airport, with other routes to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports.

Both Delta and United Airlines announced in March that they would be cutting flights in summer 2025, with Delta reducing its financial outlook for the year due to a combination of severe weather, plane crashes, and weakening consumer sentiment.
Attorney General Nick Brown (center) announces a lawsuit against the Trump administration in Seattle, Washington, on May 9, 2025, over its declaration of an energy emergency. (Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Washington, Oregon and 13 other states are suing the Trump administration over the presidents declaration of an energy emergency to speed up permitting for fossil fuel projects.

Issued the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trumps executive order says inadequate domestic energy development and an unreliable grid warrant the national emergency. The order argues these issues are most pronounced in the Northeast and on the West Coast.

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Dangerous State and local policies jeopardize our Nations core national defense and security needs, and devastate the prosperity of not only local residents but the entire United States population, the order reads.

The order pushes federal agencies, like the Army Corps of Engineers, to use any lawful emergency authorities to facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited to, on Federal lands.

In practice, this has meant bypassing or quickening reviews under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Historic National Preservation Act for planned energy projects and giving the public less time to weigh in, according to the complaint filed Friday in federal court in Seattle. Washington and California lead the 15-state lawsuit.

The lawsuit cites a proposed 100-mile transmission line that would mostly run under the riverbed of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon. The project could be expedited despite water quality concerns.

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Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, who is leading the lawsuit, noted Trumps order emphasizes oil and natural gas, while excluding renewable energy like wind and solar.

This is not a serious or lawful effort by the president, Brown said in a press conference Friday. It is all about limiting competition and shackling America to dirty fossil fuels forever.

Last month, the Interior Department announced it would fast-track the approval of coal, gas, oil and mineral projects on public lands in light of Trumps emergency declaration. Environmental reviews that can typically take a year would be shrunk to two weeks.

Meanwhile, the United States produces more oil and gas than any other country and production is growing, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement that the order puts Oregon communities at risk.

This order deliberately cuts out clean energy projects and puts our communities in Oregon in the dark about the risks to their health, their homes, and their environment, Rayfield said. Were talking how we prevent polluted drinking water, protect against toxic spills and lessen the impact of natural disasters like flooding.

The energy emergency order is separate from one the president issued last month targeting state climate policies, including potentially Washingtons Climate Commitment Act and Oregons Climate Action Plan.

Casey Sixkiller, the director of the Washington state Department of Ecology, said the emergency declaration is an abuse of authority.

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Environmental regulations arent red tape, Sixkiller told reporters. There are guardrails that protect our air, water, land and keep people safe.

Bill Iyall, chair of the Cowlitz Tribe, said its difficult to weigh in on what projects will mean for the tribes land when they only have a week or two.

We are there to advocate for our cultural and natural resources, Iyall said. Looking at a project individually, if you did it carefully and planned it carefully, you would be able to minimize those impacts and get a facilitated permit.

The lawsuit asks a judge to declare the presidents order illegal and stop the issuance of emergency permits. The states are not seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately stop the Trump administrations actions, as it has in other cases.

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The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Washington State Standard, like the Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com.
House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, speaks to reporters outside the House chambers on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  Democrats in the South Carolina House are calling for the censure of a Republican legislator accused of disparaging fellow lawmakers, which he denies.

A resolution filed Thursday afternoon accuses Rep. John McCravy of using antisemitic, racist and sexist statements that were so egregious as to amount to personal attacks. The Greenwood Republican says he didnt use any of the terms hes rumored to have said.

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Democrats demand there be an investigation and swift justice, Rep. Jermaine Johnson of Columbia, the measures chief sponsor, told reporters gathered in the Statehouse lobby. We deserve better, and we will demand better.

Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Columbia, speaks to reporters outside the House chambers on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

Johnsons resolution was sent to the House Ethics Committee in the last hours of the 2025 legislative session. Its unclear when in the off-session the committee will meet. It is the only committee divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats in the supermajority GOP chamber.

The resolution seeks censure on the grounds that McCravy violated a House rule that requires legislators to act with decorum at all times when the House is in session.

House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, a member of the Ethics Committee, said a censure is the least that should happen after McCravy used a racial slur when answering a reporters question.

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While he did not name the reporter, The Post and Courier reported after the news conference that the slur came during an unreported and unrecorded part of an interview with McCravy last week. According to the newspaper, the legislator said the term as something he would not use toward a Black colleague.

The interview was about House Majority Leader Davey Hiotts departure from the Family Caucus, which he co-founded with McCravy in 2017.

Hiott said part of his rift with McCravy stemmed from comments he made last session when referring to two legislators he didnt believe should lead House Judiciary subcommittees. McCravy denied using any derogatory terms while voicing his concerns over policy differences.

Rep. Hamilton Grant, D-Columbia, speaks to reporters outside the House chamber on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

Johnsons resolution wraps up the various accusations as antisemitic, racist and sexist.

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When it goes to the committee, we want to know what exactly happened and action to be taken from a strong stance of this body that hate wont win, said Rep. Hamilton Grant, D-Columbia, a co-sponsor.

Asked about the resolution, Hiott said its an ethics situation now.

Ethics Committee Chairman Jay Jordan, R-Florence, will handle it just like any other ethics complaint, said Hiott, R-Pickens. He will allow the process to work. So, as far as Im concerned, its off the House, and its into the Ethics Committee.

The resolution followed Wednesdays mass resignation from the Family Caucus, which was over activists tactics in pushing for an abortion ban. The 29 legislators who co-signed the resignation letter to McCravy said the caucus under his leadership has grown increasingly exclusionary and divisive. It made no mention at all of alleged comments.

The rebuke was over McCravys continued affiliation with hardcore abortion opponents, whose tactics included going to House GOP leaders churches on Palm Sunday to distribute fliers that accused leadership of blocking a vote on McCravys bill banning nearly all abortions.

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We reject the intrusion of that brand of activism into our state, our churches, and our conservative movement, reads the letter provided to reporters.

The letter came after McCravy declined leaders request to rein in the activists. McCravy has told the SC Daily Gazette he doesnt think its appropriate or ethical to tell the activists what they should or shouldnt do.

Its unclear when the House last censured anyone.

Democrats introduced a similar resolution in 2021 calling for the censure of a different Republican legislator over comments he posted on Facebook. Nothing came of it, but that legislator lost his bid for re-election in 2022.

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In 2017, then-Speaker Jay Lucas was preparing to introduce legislation taking the exceedingly rare move of expelling a legislator, something not done in the state House for more than a century. The legislator, who was charged with beating his wife bloody, resigned rather than face expulsion.

Reporter Skylar Laird contributed to this report.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka being taken into custody by federal agents at Delaney Hall, an immigrant jail in Newark, on May 9, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman)

Democrats seeking the governorship this year quickly condemned fellow candidate Newark Mayor Ras Barakas arrest by federal immigration officials Friday, while Republican candidates blasted Barakas actions as shameful and praised agents for arresting him.

Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said in a statement that Baraka had committed trespass at Delaney Hall, a private 1,100-bed immigrant detention center in Newark. Baraka, who alleges the buildings owner opened it without obtaining required city permits first, has been protesting outside the facility this week and making failed attempts to enter and inspect the building.

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Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a Democrat, called the arrest wrong and said it sets a dangerous precedent.

Regardless of your views on ICE, the law is the law  and any facility operating in a New Jersey municipality must follow it. If Delaney Hall doesnt have proper local authorization, Mayor Baraka had every reason to be there, and every right to demand accountability.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat, demanded Barakas immediate release.

Its absurd that hes being held. As Ive said before, the Trump Administration should not be using Delaney Hall, a crowded private prison, as an immigrant jail. Its an environment ripe with mistreatment and abuse, Gottheimer said.

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Baraka is reportedly being held at a separate ICE facility in Newark. On Friday afternoon, dozens of his supporters gathered outside it, chanting for his release.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, in a statement called Barakas arrest an absolute outrage.

The Trump administrations decision to reopen Delaney Hall, a private, for-profit prison to detain immigrants wont make New Jerseyans safer, and it wont fix our broken immigration system, Sherrill said.

Sean Spiller, a Democrat and the president of the statewide teachers union, said he will appear outside Delaney Hall Saturday morning to protest Barakas arrest and he called on his opponents to join him.

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What we saw at Delaney Hall goes beyond politics. Its about right and wrong, and what I saw was wrong. To see Mayor Baraka taken out in cuffs because he wants to see with his own eyes, as the mayor of Newark, the conditions in Delaney Hall, that was wrong, Spiller said in a video posted to social media.

Former state Sen. Steve Sweeney, a Democrat, said he has always known Baraka to stand up and fight for what he believes in.

Donald Trumps disregard for the rule of law was on full display this afternoon, he said. The Mayor has every right to enforce the laws of his city and should be released immediately.

There are five Republicans running in the June 10 primary for the partys nod for governor. Two of them fired their criticism at Baraka.

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In Newark, the airport is in the midst of an unprecedented & dangerous meltdown, the public schools are failing students & families, and there is crime in the streets every day. And yet its Mayor and leading Democrat candidate for Governor, @rasjbaraka, is busy shilling for illegal Immigrants at an ICE detention center with a cheap publicity stunt. Shameful, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli said.

Bill Spadea, a Republican former radio talk show host, thanked Habba for ensuring that the rule of law can continue.

All of the other candidates should join me in condemning Ras Baraka and stand in solidarity with ICE, Tom Homan, Alina Habba and everyone working to enforce the law and end illegal immigration in New Jersey, Spadea said.

Three Republican candidates  State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union), former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and contractor Justin Barbera  did not immediately issue statements on Barakas arrest.

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Democrats are blasting former President Bidens reemergence in the spotlight following his interview Thursday on The View, his second major postpresidency interview.

During the sit-down, which took place alongside former first lady Jill Biden, Biden slammed President Trumps second administration, saying hes had the worst 100 days any presidents ever had. The former president also denied reports of his mental decline during his term and took responsibility for Democratic losses in 2024, telling the shows hosts, I was in charge, and he won.

Yet some Democrats are criticizing Bidens recent appearances, arguing the former president is becoming a drag on the party as it seeks to rebuild following its widespread losses in 2024.

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Elections are about the future. Every time Joe Biden emerges, we fight an old war, said Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, who worked for the Biden administration. Every interview he does provides a contrast to Trump thats just not helpful for the Democratic brand, which needs trusted messengers and fighters who can reach independents and moderates and inspire the base. Joe Biden aint that.

Coley said it was good Biden took responsibility for the events that led to Trumps election but questioned whether it mattered going forward.

Honestly, what good does that do now? Many Democrats  from elected leaders to the party faithful  are just ready to turn the page. I just dont think he understands how wide and deep this sentiment is, he said.

Other Democratic critics argue the former president did not go far enough.

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One Democratic strategist said Biden needs to take responsibility for his actions and own up to the fact that he caused Democrats to lose.

I dont think theres a willingness to cop to the fact that he should never have run again in the first place, the strategist said. Why cant he come out and acknowledge that part of this is on him?

Thursdays interview with The View was his second sit-down interview of the week, with the first airing Tuesday on the BBC. Biden took multiple opportunities to criticize Trumps foreign policy in his conversation with the British broadcaster, taking particular aim at Trumps handling of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Some Democrats say Biden would be better suited avoiding sit-down interviews and instead focus on community outreach, much like former President Carter did.

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There is a way for President Biden to build his postpresidency, but this isnt it, said Steve Schale, a longtime Biden ally who ran a pro-Biden super PAC in recent cycles. I really wish hed embrace the thing thats been his calling card for 50 years: his humanity.

While Biden focuses on preserving his legacy, Schale said he would take an approach similar to what Carter took in the years following his presidency.

By the end of his life, we were reminded of the decent and humble nature of the man thanks to his acts, not his words, Schale said. I really wish Biden would follow a similar path.

Get out and work in the community. Do  things that highlight the things his administration did to help people, Schale said. Let the images of his human interactions and the stories they tell rebuild the brand. Thats way more powerful than playing pundit.

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The interviews come amid a slew of books detailing the last year of the Biden administration, including accusations his mental acuity was slipping while in office. Biden denied those reports, calling them wrong. The former first lady also slammed reporting on Bidens mental acuity while in office, noting the people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us.

A second Democratic strategist predicted the Biden narrative on his mental acuity will not go away and will be something future presidential contenders will have to answer for.

Theres a good chance that the most significant litmus test for any Democrat in the 2028 field will be how and if they admonish Biden for the political judgment in the final 18 months of his political career, the strategist said.

But Biden still has staunch defenders within the Democratic ranks who argue his storied career in politics is needed in the party.

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I thought that was good for Joe Biden to just be honest and open about where things were, and where they are, and where he thinks they very well could be based on his own life experiences, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright, who has spent time with Biden after his administration.

If you know Joe Biden like I know Joe Biden and have spent time with him post-the presidency like Ive spent time with him, then you will know that Joe Biden is doing what is still in the best interests of the country, he continued. Joe Biden can still be helpful to the country, to the Congress, the Constitution, and the community.

Seawright said the choice of The View for Bidens first American postpresidency interview was good, given the programs broad reach.

I think The View is a very captive audience. Its also a very diverse audience that crosses many sectors of the country, he said.

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But as younger voices become more prominent voices in the party, other Democrats are questioning why the interview was even necessary.

I dont know whos asking for this, Democratic strategist Jon Reinish said. I actually think that a lot of people are starting to pay much more attention to a younger generation of Democrats free of baggage and who are finally starting to move the party away from folks who stayed too long at the fair.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(The Hill)  Democrats are blasting former President Joe Bidens reemergence in the spotlight following his interview Thursday on The View, his second major post-presidency interview.

During the sit-down, which took place alongside former first lady Jill Biden, Biden slammed President Donald Trumps second administration, saying hes had the worst 100 days any presidents ever had. The former president also denied reports of his mental decline during his term and took responsibility for Democratic losses in 2024, telling the shows hosts, I was in charge and he won.

But some Democrats are criticizing Bidens recent appearances, arguing the former president is becoming a drag on the party as it seeks to rebuild following its widespread losses in 2024.

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Elections are about the future. Every time Joe Biden emerges, we fight an old war, said Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, who worked for the Biden administration. Every interview he does provides a contrast to Trump thats just not helpful for the Democratic brand, which needs trusted messengers and fighters who can reach independents and moderates and inspire the base. Joe Biden aint that.

Trump pushes Republicans to have rich pay more taxes

Coley said it was good that Biden took responsibility for the events that led to Trumps election but questioned whether it mattered going forward.

Honestly, what good does that do now? Many Democrats  from elected leaders to the party faithful  are just ready to turn the page. I just dont think he understands how wide and deep this sentiment is, he said.

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Other Democratic critics argue that the former president did not go far enough.

One Democratic strategist said Biden needs to take responsibility for his actions and own up to the fact that he caused Democrats to lose.

I dont think theres a willingness to cop to the fact that he should never have run again in the first place, the strategist said. Why cant he come out and acknowledge that part of this is on him?

Thursdays interview with The View was his second sit-down interview of the week, with the first airing Tuesday on the BBC. Biden took multiple opportunities to criticize Trumps foreign policy in his conversation with the British broadcaster, taking particular aim at Trumps handling of the Russia-Ukraine war.

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Some Democrats say Biden would be better suited avoiding sit-down interviews and instead focus on community outreach, much like former President Jimmy Carter.

There is a way for President Biden to build his post-presidency, but this isnt it, said Steve Schale, a longtime Biden ally who ran a pro-Biden super PAC in recent cycles. I really wish hed embrace the thing thats been his calling card for 50 years: His humanity.

While Biden focuses on preserving his legacy, Schale said he would take an approach similar to what Carter took in the years following his presidency.

By the end of his life, we were reminded of the decent and humble nature of the man thanks to his acts, not his words, Schale said. I really wish Biden would follow a similar path.

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Get out and work in the community. Do  things that highlight the things his administration did to help people, Schale said. Let the images of his human interactions and the stories they tell rebuild the brand. Thats way more powerful than playing pundit.

The interviews come amid a slew of books detailing the last year of the Biden administration, including accusations that his mental acuity was slipping while in office. Biden denied those reports, calling them wrong. The former first lady also slammed reporting on Bidens mental acuity while in office, noting the people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us.

A second Democratic strategist predicted that the Biden narrative on his mental acuity will not go away and will be something that future presidential contenders will have to answer for.

Theres a good chance that the most significant litmus test for any Democrat in the 2028 field will be how and if they admonish Biden for the political judgment in the final 18 months of his political career, the strategist said.

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Trump fires Librarian of Congress

But Biden still has staunch defenders within the Democratic ranks who argue his storied career in politics is needed in the party.

I thought that was good for Joe Biden to just be honest and open about where things were, and where they are, and where he thinks they very well could be based on his own life experiences, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright, who has spent time with Biden after his administration.

If you know Joe Biden like I know Joe Biden and have spent time with him post-the presidency like Ive spent time with him, then you will know that Joe Biden is doing what is still in the best interests of the country, he continued. Joe Biden can still be helpful to the country, to the Congress, the Constitution, and the community.

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Seawright said the choice of The View for Bidens first American post-presidency interview was good given the programs broad reach.

I think The View is a very captive audience. Its also a very diverse audience that crosses many sectors of the country, he said.

But as younger voices become more prominent voices in the party, other Democrats are questioning why the interview was even necessary.

I dont know whos asking for this, Democratic strategist Jon Reinish said. I actually think that a lot of people are starting to pay much more attention to a younger generation of Democrats free of baggage and who are finally starting to move the party away from folks who stayed too long at the fair.

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Former President Joe Bidens recent media appearances have angered Democratic Party strategists seeking to move on and redefine their movement in the wake of last years devastating election defeat to Donald Trump, according to a report.

Biden, 81, stepped aside last summer to allow his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to run in his place amid widespread concerns about his supposed cognitive decline. However, she lost to Trump and granted the Republican a belated second term in the White House.

Coinciding with the victors first 100 days in office, the 46th president returned to the spotlight by granting interviews to the BBC and ABCs The View.

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What the hells going on here? What president ever talks like that? an energized Biden said of Trump and his threats to annex Greenland and Canada in conversation with Nick Robinson of BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Wednesday.

Joe Biden interviewed by the BBCs Nick Robinson earlier this week (BBC)

Thats not who we are. Were about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation.

He also took his successor to task for engaging in modern-day appeasement in his handling of Russian President Vladimir Putin: I just dont understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide hes going to take significant portions of land that arent his, that thats going to satisfy him.

Meanwhile, on The View, Biden, accompanied by his wife, former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, continued his attack, saying Trump has done, quite frankly, a very poor job in the interest of the United States of America. He went on to accuse him of blowing up NATO.

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Asked why Trump was fixated on him, Biden won a warm round of laughter and applause from the studio audience when he answered sharply: I beat him Im used to dealing with bullies.

The veterans May media blitz may well boost his personal brand with the public at a time when a number of books are hitting the shelves dissecting last years disaster. However, according to The Hill, it has not been so well received by his old partys strategists, who would prefer to move on rather than relitigate past hurt.

Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden take questions from the panel on ABCs The View (ABC)

Elections are about the future. Every time Joe Biden emerges, we fight an old war, Democratic strategist and former Biden administration staffer Anthony Coley complained.

Every interview he does provides a contrast to Trump thats just not helpful for the Democratic brand, which needs trusted messengers and fighters who can reach independents and moderates and inspire the base. Joe Biden aint that.

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Honestly, what good does that do now? Many Democrats  from elected leaders to the party faithful  are just ready to turn the page. I just dont think he understands how wide and deep this sentiment is.

Steve Schale, an ally who once ran a pro-Biden super PAC, added: There is a way for President Biden to build his post-presidency, but this isnt it.

I really wish hed embrace the thing thats been his calling card for 50 years: his humanity.

The Bidens leave the White House on January 20 to make way for Donald Trump (Getty)

Schale suggested Biden would be well advised to follow the example of the late Jimmy Carter: By the end of his life, we were reminded of the decent and humble nature of the man thanks to his acts, not his words. I really wish Biden would follow a similar path.

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Get out and work in the community. Do things that highlight the things his administration did to help people. Let the images of his human interactions and the stories they tell rebuild the brand. Thats way more powerful than playing pundit.

More receptive to Bidens re-emergence was party strategist Antjuan Seawright, who said: I thought that was good for Joe Biden to just be honest and open about where things were, and where they are, and where he thinks they very well could be based on his own life experiences.

If you know Joe Biden like I know Joe Biden and have spent time with him post the presidency like Ive spent time with him, then you will know that Joe Biden is doing what is still in the best interests of the country.

Joe Biden can still be helpful to the country, to the Congress, the Constitution, and the community.

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The former president is not the only ghost of 2024 still haunting Democrats, however.

Kamala Harris poses prior to her appearance at New Yorks Met Gala (Cameron Smith)

Harris recently delivered her first major speech since November, accusing the president of marching the country into recession thanks to his tariff war. She then appeared at New Yorks prestigious Met Gala.

Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has meanwhile given a swathe of interviews to everyone from The Washington Post to fellow governor turned podcaster Gavin Newsom, offering characteristically candid insights into what he believes went wrong.

None of this has helped the party rally around a new figurehead. Governors Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, JB Pritzker, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are just some of its members tipped as future presidential candidates and leaders, but have yet to grasp the torch.
Dozens of House Democrats urged Israel to resume humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

As supporters of a strong US-Israel relationship, we write to express our opposition to the current Israeli government policy to block all humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, the group said in its letter addressed to Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter.

We are deeply alarmed and dismayed by this blockade, which started on March 2 and has contributed to some of the worst humanitarian conditions in Gaza since October 2023. Such a policy is morally wrong and runs counter to the shared democratic values between our two countries, the letter continued.

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Led by California Democratic Reps. Salud Carbajal and Ami Bera, the letter also was signed by Democratic Reps. Mark Pocan (Wis.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), James Clyburn (S.C.), Maxwell Frost (Fla.) and many others.

According to recent reporting from The Associated Press, Gaza has not seen aid in more than two months due to an Israeli blockade. The territory has already faced mass death, dire living conditions and infrastructure destruction amid Israeli military strikes on the strip during the Israel-Hamas war.

We implore your government to resume the flow of aid into Gaza. We also reiterate our support for a renewed ceasefire and hostage release deal to finally end this war  the only option to alleviate the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians and put the region on a path towards security and stability, the House Democrats said in their letter.

The Hill has reached out to Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment.

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Read the letter here.

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AMSTERDAM  Denmark will allocate 830 million ($935 million) to the Ukrainian defense industry in 2025 on behalf of the European Union, using windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to buy Ukraine-made weapons.

The Danish Ministry of Defence and the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, signed an agreement giving Denmark the role as implementing actor for the disbursement of a large portion of the windfall profits this year, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The Danes have been frontrunners in investing Western military aid in Ukraines defense manufacturing, using funds to buy locally produced weapons rather than foreign equipment through what is known as the Danish model .

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Denmark has taken the lead in the international efforts to strengthen defense production in Ukraine, Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen said. It is a recognition of Denmarks efforts on this matter that the EU has decided to channel even more funds through us this year.

The windfall profits this year will be used for donations of supplies including ammunition, air defense and military equipment produced in the Ukrainian defense industry, the Ministry of Defence said.

Last years equipment purchases using the Danish model included Bohdana howitzers, long-range drones, anti-tank and anti-ship missile systems.

Buying Ukrainian strengthens the embattled countrys production capacity, ensures competitive prices, and enables faster adaptation to the Ukrainian needs, the ministry said.

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This provides obvious logistical advantages while also contributing to building Ukraines defense industry for the future, Lund Poulsen said. We are now able to do this on an even larger scale.

Denmark last year allocated around 400 million of windfall profits from Russian assets on behalf of the EU, using the Danish model.

Total funding channeled via the model amounted to around 4.4 billion Danish kroner ($664 million) in 2024, with contributions from the Danish Ukraine fund, allies, and the EU, according to the ministry. Denmark expects to implement more than double that amount through the model in 2025, the MoD said.

Denmark will allocate aid to Ukraine on behalf of several countries, including Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Canada.
Photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows a building during a blackout enforced by authorities in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir. Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected Indian media reports alleging cross-border attacks originating from Pakistani territory, calling them "baseless, fabricated, and aimed at creating a false pretext for escalation."

"The repeated pattern of leveling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilize the region," the ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.

Separately, Pakistani security sources dismissed claims carried by Indian media alleging drone or missile attacks in the Indian-controlled Kashmir and the downing of a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.

"No drone or missile has been launched from Pakistan," the sources told Xinhua. "These reports are outright fake, politically motivated, and part of a broader campaign of disinformation."

In India, the Indian army on Friday released a short video showing a strike hitting a target in Pakistan.

In the short, low-resolution video, a projectile (apparently a missile) can be seen moving and hitting a structure.

The army described it as a "befitting reply" to Pakistan's shelling, but the exact location of the destroyed structure has not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Indian capital region Delhi on Friday installed and tested air raid sirens.

According to social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, the Indian government has asked it to block 8,000 accounts on the social media platform, including those belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users.

On Wednesday, India launched airstrikes on Pakistani targets to avenge last month's killing of 26 people by gunmen in Pahalgam town, about 89 km east of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The situation along the Line of Control, dividing Kashmir, has been tense as troops of India and Pakistan deployed on both sides of the ceasefire line were engaged in an exchange of fire and artillery. 

A man watches a mobile phone in a room during a blackout enforced by authorities in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on may 9, 2025. Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

Photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows a building during a blackout enforced by authorities in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir. Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

People watch their mobile phones in a room during a blackout enforced by authorities in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on may 9, 2025. Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

People watch their mobile phones in a room during a blackout enforced by authorities in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on may 9, 2025. Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

People watch their mobile phones in a room during a blackout enforced by authorities in Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on may 9, 2025. Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)
DENVER (KDVR)  On May 5, the Denver City Council failed to approve a contract extension with Flock, a tech surveillance company that has been contracted to provide over 100 license plate readers around the county.

The city first contracted with Flock in March 2023, with the original agreement lasting through the end of this February. The amendment would have extended the contract by another two years for $666,000. The original contract cost the city $339,450, but the cost wasnt the main reason why council members voted no.

18 people removed from US after Colorado Springs nightclub raid, 86 still in ICE custody: ICE

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Instead, the members cited privacy concerns, questioning who has access to the data as Denver continues to remain in the crosshairs of the Trump Administration for so-called sanctuary laws. Members worried that federal agencies would gain access to data and information that would be detrimental to immigrant communities.

The Denver District Attorneys Office told FOX31 it would work with stakeholders to address potential privacy concerns, while the Denver Mayors Office said it had asked for the contract to be voted down, but said the city plans to continue its pilot of the Flock software.

As Denver works to leverage responsible technology to improve public safety in our community, we plan to convene a task force to address concerns and ensure we are employing the best strategies to reduce crime. We look forward to a collaborative process with City Council and other stakeholders across the city, concluded a statement from the mayors office.

One of Denvers southern neighbors, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly, spoke out against the vote. Weekly posted to X on May 6, referencing a FOX31 story on the contract extension failure, saying, This morning we caught a robbery suspect from another jurisdiction using @Flock_Safety. This tech helps catch murderers, rapists, kidnappers, robbers, & ID sex offenders near schools. Meanwhile, @CityofDenver policies empower criminals and make our entire metro area less safe.

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Weekly has also been vocal about wanting local law enforcement to be able to work directly with federal agents on civil immigration matters, which is currently prevented by Colorado law, and was part of a lawsuit to try and overturn the laws so his deputies can work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The U.S. Department of Justice has also sued to try and overturn those laws.

Colorado sheriff: Executive order an attempt to federalize, by intimidation local law enforcement

One citizen asked about the protection of personal data when it comes to Flock cameras, asserting that safety is paramount but asking how much privacy should be sacrificed for safety.

100% agreed, the sheriff wrote. There is an audit trail on who is accessing information and for what purpose. Also limited retention of information based on agency policy. Keep in mind this reads the tech identifies the plate and vehicle description. It does not ID the individual(s) inside.

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FOX31 asked Flock to weigh in on the privacy concerns. The company noted first that its technology has been used to solve hundreds of cases by the Denver Police Department, including a multi-million dollar jewelry heist at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

The Sheriff is correct in all of these assertions. All searches conducted in the Flock LPR (license plate reader) system are saved in a permanent audit trail, which records the user, the parameters of the search, and the reason for the search (typically a case number), Flock told FOX31. All data collected by the LPR system  both vehicle images and metadata  are owned by the customer, in this case DPD, stored in the cloud encrypted, and purged automatically after 30 days. Denver has instituted an LPR policy that guides acceptable use and data sharing, along with additional best practices like regular audits and user training.

The company said that the license plate reader system only has searchable images of vehicles, which can be conducted on specific vehicle plates and vehicle characteristics, but not people.

On data storage, our system ensures that images and metadata are encrypted throughout the entire lifecycle  collection, processing, and storage, Flock said. The company added that it is also certified by the FBIs Criminal Justice Information Services and are also NDAA, SOC2 (Type II), SOC3, ISO 27001, Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Tool, HIPAA and FERPA-compliant.

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CO judge expands on order, rules Trump improperly used 18th century wartime act against TdA

Because the data is owned by the agency, Flock defers all data requests from any entity to the agency in question, Flock concluded.

The Denver City Council Committee on safety, housing, education and homelessness has not placed a new Flock camera contract request on its upcoming agenda.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A girl recovering from a rare brain tumor celebrated her 11th birthday Sunday, hundreds of miles away from everything she's known  her friends at school, her community at church, her home.

She's one of four U.S. citizen children who were sent to Mexico from Texas three months ago when immigration authorities deported their undocumented parents.

Fearing for their safety after the mixed-immigration-status family was taken to an area in Mexico that's been known for kidnapping U.S. citizens, they haven't given up on being able to return to the U.S.  primarily to continue the girl's medical treatment.

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On Friday morning, the family is traveling to Monterrey to meet with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. They hope that sharing their immigration plight motivates legislators to advocate for their return under humanitarian parole, according to a family representative.

An 11-year-old girl and U.S. citizen recovering from a rare brain tumor is now in Mexico after her parents were deported. The photo has been blurred by the Texas Civil Rights Project for confidentiality purposes. (Texas Civil Rights Project)

Pressure from the public about the deportation of vulnerable United States citizen children really is effective, and members of Congress are answering that call, Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, the legal advocacy and litigation organization representing the family, told NBC News on Thursday.

Democratic Reps. Adriano Espaillat of New York and Sylvia Garcia and Joaquin Castro of Texas are set to meet with the family, according to a spokesperson from the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Its important that the public continue paying attention to this but also continue engaging and encouraging members of Congress to take action, Garza said.

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The girls mother first told NBC News about the familys ordeal in March. The case got the attention of several other congressional lawmakers, including Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Alex Padilla of California as well as Rep. Al Green, D-Texas.

Since then, five other similar cases, including a mother who was deported to Honduras last month with her two U.S. citizen children, one of which is a 4-year-old boy with Stage 4 cancer, have become public.

It would not surprise me if this were much more systemic than what we are currently seeing, Garza said.

How it all started

The mother previously told NBC News that on Feb. 3 the family was driving from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, area where they lived to Houston, where their daughters specialist doctors are based, for an emergency medical checkup.

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On the way there, they stopped at a stateside immigration checkpoint, one they have passed through multiple times. The parents were equipped with letters from their doctors and lawyers to show the officers at the checkpoint.

But immigration authorities arrested the parents after they were unable to show legal immigration documentation. According to their attorney, Daniel Woodward, other than lacking valid immigration status in the U.S., the parents have no criminal history. He added the parents were in the process of obtaining T visas, a temporary immigration benefit for victims of human trafficking.

Five of their children, ages 15, 13, 11, 8 and 6  four of whom are U.S. citizens  were with them when they were arrested. The parents and the children were taken to a detention facility, where they spent 24 hours before they were placed in a van and dropped on the Mexico side of a Texas bridge on Feb. 4.

NBC News is not publishing the family members names for safety reasons.

The family photo of the little girl and her family has been blurred for confidentiality purposes. (Texas Civil Rights Project)

Attorneys for the family filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in March requesting a probe into abuses they say the family faced in U.S. detention. In the filing, they also requested immigration authorities grant humanitarian parole to the undocumented parents, the girl and one of her siblings.

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But that DHS office, which protected the civil rights of both immigrants and U.S. citizens, was dismantled shortly after the attorneys filed the complaint  forcing them to refile it with the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services. They have not yet received a response.

A DHS spokesperson previously told NBC News that reports of the familys situation are inaccurate and declined to speak on the specifics of the case, citing privacy reasons. They said in a statement that when someone is given expedited removal orders and chooses to disregard them, they will face the consequences.

In response to a similar but separate case involving the removal of U.S. citizen children in connection with their mothers deportation, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Thursday: The narrative that DHS is deporting American children is false and irresponsible reporting, adding that immigration authorities ask mothers if they wish to be removed with their children or if they want the children to be placed in the safe custody of someone the parent designates.

McLaughlin added that undocumented parents can take control of their departure by using the CBP Home app, the Trump administrations self-deportation app.

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Speaking from Mexico in March, the mother of the 11-year-old said in a video message in Spanish provided to NBC News that she and her husband, when they were detained, faced the worst decision, an impossible one, to be permanently separated from our children or to be deported together.

When undocumented parents of U.S.-born children are picked up by immigration authorities, they face the risk of losing custody of their children. Without power-of-attorney documents or guardianships outlining who will take care of the children left behind, the children can go into the U.S. foster care system, making it harder for parents to regain custody of their children in the future.

Making the case for humanitarian parole

Just after her birthday, the girl had her first medical checkup in Monterrey this week.

Denisse Molina, a humanitarian outreach coordinator at the Texas Civil Rights Project, said it took her two exhausting days, countless phone calls, and being bounced between hospital departments to secure a medical appointment and schedule an MRI for the girl.

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No oneespecially a child in need  should have to fight this hard just to access essential care, Molina told NBC News in a statement Thursday.

While this temporary solution is bringing the family some relief, regular medical checkups are critical, according to the child's mother and the family's advocates.

The child was diagnosed with the brain tumor last year and underwent surgery to remove it, the mother said after learning of the diagnosis through translators. But Woodward said that since contacting the girls doctors and obtaining her medical records in the familys pursuit to obtain humanitarian parole, she found out the cause of the tumor was an unnamed novel condition.

Few medical specialists can effectively monitor these kinds of cases; the girl's U.S. doctors are among those with the necessary expertise. The girl needs scans and checkups every three months, her doctors told the Texas Civil Rights Project.

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The surgery that saved the girls life last year left her with some lasting side effects. The swelling on her brain is still not fully gone, her mother said in March, causing difficulties with speech and mobility of the right side of her body.

Before the family was removed from the U.S., the girl was routinely checking in with doctors monitoring her recovery, attending rehabilitation therapy sessions and taking medication to prevent convulsions.

In Mexico, the family has been able to enroll four of their children in school while they get ready to apply for humanitarian parole later this month at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

According to the USCIS website, applicants may demonstrate urgency by establishing a reason to be in the U.S. that calls for immediate action, including critical medical treatment, or the need to visit, assist or support a relative who is ill.

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Our hope is that members of Congress will learn about this particular case and support our request for humanitarian parole for the family, Garza said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(WSPA)  The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights has opened a Title IX investigation into Western Carolina University.

The Department of Education announced the investigation Thursday, claiming that WCU has refused to comply with Title IX and to ensure sex-separated intimate spaces in federally funded institutions of higher education.

The department said that it received credible reports that WCU allowed a male to room with a female in a girls dormitory and that WCU opened an investigation against a female student for asking a male student to leave a female locker room.

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The Department of Education cited a former student who said that the students involved in both incidents identified as transgender women.

WCUs reported contempt for federal antidiscrimination laws and indifference to, and retaliation against, girls who have spoken up about males invading their intimate spaces is simply unacceptable, said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

When reached for comment, a Western Carolina University acknowledged receiving notice of the investigation from the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights.

We believe that our campus policies and procedures are compliant with Title IX and all other federal and state laws, the university said in a statement. We will work with OCR to fully resolve this complaint.

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Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits, with some exceptions, discrimination on the basis of sex involving any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Purses and credit cards were reportedly stolen from residents of a Rutherford County neighborhood earlier this week, sparking a search for the armed vehicle burglars.

According to the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, a home video captured a young man with an AR-style handgun breaking into vehicles around the Blackman community overnight on Tuesday, May 6. However, deputies believe there were multiple suspects, who also appeared to be young men.

MTSU professor faces multiple charges, including theft and forgery, following state investigation

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Officials said the incidents happened on Burnt Knob Road, Sugartree Drive, Ruby Oaks Lane, and Shelly Plum Drive. Some vehicles were locked, but others were unlocked.

Streets where break-ins occurred in Blackman (Image: WKRN)

Tensions are high throughout the Blackman community in the aftermath of the burglaries. Several people said they were very concerned about men with weapons breaking into vehicles.

It just made it a little uneasy knowing that, I mean, weve had break-ins before, but not to this extent, Rutherford County resident Norma Smith told News 2.

A homeowner whose window was busted on her van said the suspect(s) stole nothing of value, but she still faces a very expensive bill for the window replacement.

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The day after this story was published, the sheriffs office announced that cameras showed two suspects breaking into cars during the early morning hours on Wednesday, May 7 in a Blackman subdivision, saying the suspects who stole credit cards and other items from cars were armed with an AR-style pistol and a handgun.

Law enforcement said a stolen credit card was used to buy gas at the 7-Eleven store on Veterans Parkway around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Authorities initially said one of the stolen credit cards was used Wednesday at a Donelson Waffle House, leading them to believe the suspects may live in Nashville, but in the statement on Friday, May 9, they reported the card was used at a Waffle House on Clarksville Pike around 4 a.m.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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According to officials, the first suspect wore a Nike hoodie, black sweatpants, and black shoes; the second suspect wore ripped blue jeans, a dark-colored puff jacket, and brown shoes; and they drove a 2020s model Hyundai Tucson with a temporary Tennessee license plate.

Law enforcement said a third suspect tried to use a credit card stolen from one of the cars to purchase items from a Dickerson Pike Walmart shortly before 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday. He reportedly carried a backpack and wore sunglasses, blue and white Air Jordan shoes, a yellow cross necklace, a yellow watch, a red plaid shirt, and a black and grey jacket.

Rutherford County vehicle burglary suspects at Nashville Waffle House (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office) Rutherford County vehicle burglary suspects at Nashville Waffle House (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office) Rutherford County vehicle burglary suspect at Nashville Waffle House (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office) Rutherford County vehicle burglary suspect at Nashville Walmart (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office)

Authorities advise residents not to approach any auto burglary suspects, especially since these burglars were armed. Youre also encouraged to remove valuables from your vehicles and keep the doors locked.

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If you have any information about the identities of the suspects photographed above or the vehicle burglaries in Blackman, youre asked to contact Detective Grant Quintal at 615-904-3054 or the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office at 615-898-7777.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The Greenville County Sheriffs Office released the 911 call and body cam footage Friday morning of a deputy-involved shooting in Travelers Rest.

Deputies provided a disclaimer that the information released may be disturbing to some viewers and viewer discretion is advised.

Click here to watch: Deputies release footage of deputy-involved shooting in Travelers Rest

7NEWS previously reported that 75-year-old Jesse William Wright Sr. was shot and killed in a shooting involving two deputies on Coster Road. The sheriffs office initially responded to the residence in regard to a disturbance.

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The critical incident briefing video revealed that an investigation began before 5 p.m., when Wrights wife called 911 Communications stating that she was outside her residence in a car after her husband had threatened her.

During the call, the caller reported that the suspect had come outside while armed with a shotgun pointed in her direction. She can be heard during the call saying, He has his shotgun; hes pointing it my way.

The sound of shots fired could also be heard during the call, where the victim confirmed with the operator that Wright reportedly fired his shotgun away from her direction.

Shortly after 5 p.m., one of the two deputies arrived on the scene, where Wright was still armed in front of the residence. Authorities gave several commands asking Wright to drop his firearm.

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Another deputy arrived at the scene from an elevated position while the other deputy continued to negotiate with the suspect. When Wright reportedly lifted his shotgun at the deputy, the fatal shooting ensued.

Wright was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff Hobart Lewis said it was determined that the two deputies involved in the incident were consistent with the sheriffs office protocol.

Further information regarding the sheriffs office protocol is located below:

GCSO-Response-to-Resistance-AggressionDownload

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting and no further information will be released at this time.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  Bishop William Joensen with the Des Moines Diocese shared his reaction to the selection of a new pope at a meeting Thursday afternoon.

Joensen said that Pope Leo XIV will bring unity to the catholic church.

And so may be that unifying figure that I know Pope Francis and his predecessors aspired to be. But maybe now, as one from the Midwest, we like to think that we kind of can carry that balance between the coasts and now, you know, on a global perspective that Pope Leo will bring that charism to the church, unity within the church, larger unity and a social and, God willing, peace on a geopolitical scale as well to be an ambassador of peace, Joensen said.

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Beloved urban garden prepares for more crops, crowds in 2025

Joensen hopes that Pope Leo XIVs American roots will help attract young people to the church.

We would certainly hope that it would light a fire as we were looking for, you know, to, again, appeal to our young people in particular. But to, I think, capture their imaginations and their intention that though we are a universal church, is very much a church that is presented as one of the nations who the faithful are among the worlds most populous Catholic countries, Joensen said.

Joensen also hopes that Pope Leo XIV will visit Iowa.

Oh, absolutely. You know, we want to bring him here as soon as we can. You know, I think that would just be electric and you know that itll be interesting. What would be his emphasis as he comes here and what would he care to do? But may he make a visit to Chicago? Joensen said.

Metro News:

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The authors writes, "We cannot claim to be a national leader while telling thousands of workers their health and dignity are negotiable because of who signs their paycheck." (Photo by Getty Images.)

Minnesota did the right thing in 2023 by passing earned safe and sick time for all workers.

This was a powerful first step that affirmed a simple truth: No one should be fired, or risk the ability to feed themselves or their family, because of a short-term illness, the need to care of a sick family member, or because theyve suffered domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. It was a common sense step toward ensuring dignity for all workers, no matter where we live or what we do.

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This week, six members of the Senate DFL joined Republicans to put that promise in danger.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Senate passed amendments to take ESST away from more than 110,000 workers who have been earning and using earned sick and safe time for 16 months now, for no other reason than the size of their employer.

In doing so, they sent a clear, troubling message: some workers count less than others.

Let it be clear, sick is sick. It doesnt matter if you work in a small business in Minneapolis or as a farmworker in Greater Minnesota. It doesnt matter if you have four coworkers or 40. The need for paid time off to see a doctor, get out of an abusive relationship, or care for a loved one doesnt change based on the size of your workplace. Its a basic dignity that all Minnesotans deserve. But with these amendments, our lawmakers are creating a two-tiered system that leaves behind more than 110,000 Minnesotans, as well as the loved ones we care for.

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But this will wind up affecting all of us: The child care workers who nurture our children; the home care workers who take care of the most vulnerable among us; the farm workers who grow and harvest the food we eat.

When we deny these workers the ability to rest, recover or care for loved ones, we dont just endanger their health  we compromise the well-being of our entire society. No community thrives when its families are forced to choose between their health and a paycheck. Undermining their protections is not just unjust  its dangerous.

These rollbacks are a direct blow not just to workers, but to the industries they claim to protect. Stripping away basic protections makes attracting and retaining workers harder, makes workplaces less safe, fuels public health risks, and undermines the stability families depend on. Its short-sighted and deeply unfair.

For the last 16 months, ESST has allowed all workers to take care of themselves and their loved ones, and made them proud to work in a state where we look out for each other.

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As we think of these potential cuts, we are reminded of a story of a young father from Saint Cloud whose partner developed severe vertigo during pregnancy. He had to take on extra caregiving responsibilities for both her and their child, often stepping in when their daughter was sick. Having just started a new job without paid sick days, he was forced to choose between earning a paycheck and being there for his family, a choice that caused immense stress and heartache. These are the families that ESST was developed to protect. These are the painful stories that could again become reality if these carveouts become law.

Luckily, the fight is far from over. The Minnesota House and Gov. Tim Walz now have a critical opportunity and a responsibility to do what the Senate would not: stand up for universal, common-sense protections and reject these harmful carveouts. They must listen to the voices of working Minnesotans who simply want the right to care for themselves and their loved ones without risking their livelihood.

Minnesota promotes itself as one of the best states to live, work and raise a family. We fight for strong public schools, vibrant communities, and a commitment to fairness and opportunity. But policies like these carveouts chip away at basic worker protections and move our state backwards. We cannot claim to be a national leader while telling thousands of workers their health and dignity are negotiable because of who signs their paycheck.

If we want to continue setting the standard for a thriving, equitable state, we must defend the rights that make that possible. Cutting corners on ESST doesnt just hurt workers  it weakens the foundation of what makes Minnesota great.

No worker should be left behind. No exception should be made to basic dignity.
When Robert Prevost was in the first grade, his neighbor told him he would be the first American pope, one of his brothers told ABC News.

On Thursday, that prophecy came true, when the 69-year-old cardinal was elected to be the 267th pontiff -- and the first from the United States.

John Prevost told "Good Morning America" he was able to speak with his younger sibling on Thursday for about 30 seconds to congratulate him.

Tune in to "The American Pope: Leo XIV," a special edition of "20/20," on Friday night at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on ABC, and streaming later on Hulu and Disney+.

He said that if their parents were still alive they would be feeling "extreme joy" and "extreme pride" about their son, but they would also be concerned as to how he would handle his new role because "it's a heavy weight on his shoulders."

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"I'm concerned," John Prevost told "GMA" on Friday. "It is quite a responsibility that he's going to face now because he's got the task of trying to bring the world's Catholics together. I think we're splitting apart quickly. Maybe he can do something to bring it back. People are leaving the church. There are factions in the church. ... I think he's got to face those things and somehow talk about it and bring people together to talk about it, to get worldwide opinion."

PHOTO: Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Before he was Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost grew up the youngest of three brothers in the South Chicago suburb of Dolton.

He always wanted to be a priest, his older brother, John Prevost, told ABC News outside his home in Illinois on Thursday.

"He knew right away. I don't think he's ever questioned it. I don't think he's ever thought of anything else," John Prevost said.

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As a child, Pope Leo XIV "played priest," John Prevost said. "The ironing board was the altar."

The pope is a White Sox fan, his brother confirmed. "He's a regular, run-of-the-mill person," he said.

MORE: What we know about Leo XIV, the new American pope

Leo started to emerge as a front-runner for the papacy in the days before the conclave began, according to the Rev. James Martin, a papal contributor to ABC News.

John Prevost said he also spoke to his brother on Tuesday, before the cardinals went into the secretive conclave, and told his younger brother that he also believed he could be the first American pope. At the time, his younger brother called it "nonsense" and "just talk," saying, "'They're not going to pick an American pope," John Prevost said.

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"He just didn't believe it, or didn't want to believe it," John Prevost said.

PHOTO: John Prevost, brother of newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, speaks with ABC News in New Lenox, Illinois, May 8, 2025. (ABC News)

John Prevost said he expects his brother will follow in the late Pope Francis' footsteps as a voice for the disenfranchised and poor.

"I think they were two of a kind," John Prevost said. "I think because they both were in South America at the same time -- in Peru and in Argentina -- they had the same experiences in working with missions and working with the downtrodden. So I think that's the experience that they're both coming from."

MORE: Pope Leo XIV pledges to 'build bridges' in 1st remarks as pontiff

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Louis Prevost, the eldest of the three Prevost brothers, was feeling under the weather and lying in bed at his home in Florida when the big moment came.

"My wife called to tell me there's white smoke from the chapel," he said.

PHOTO: Louis Prevost, brother of newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, speaks with WWSB in Florida, May 8, 2025. (WWSB)

Louis Prevost said he tuned in to the live broadcast of the Vatican announcement.

"They started reading his name, and when he went, 'blah, blah, blah, Roberto,' immediately I knew -- that's Rob," he said. "I was just thankful I was still in bed lying down, because I might have fallen down."

Louis Prevost said he got out of bed and started "dancing around like an idiot."

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"It's just incredible," he said. "I'm suddenly wide awake and feeling wonderful."

PHOTO: John Prevost, brother of newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, shows a family photo of brothers L-R: Louis Prevost, Robert Prevost and John Prevost as he speaks with ABC News in New Lenox, Illinois, May 8, 2025. (Courtesy of John Prevost)

He described his brother as "down to earth," someone who has a good sense of humor and is "smart as a whip." He loved his work as a missionary in Peru and being with the people, and through his work with the Vatican has traveled the world, Louis Prevost said.

"I thought I had done traveling in the Navy, but, my God, he blew me away," he said.

His brother surmised that global experience may have stood out to the other cardinals in electing him pope.

Louis Prevost said his brother seemed to always know his calling, and that as young as 4 or 5, the family knew he was destined for great things in the Catholic Church. When his brothers were playing cops and robbers, Leo would "play priest" and distribute Holy Communion with Necco wafers, Louis Prevost said.

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We used to tease him all the time -- youre going to be the pope one day," he said. "Neighbors said the same thing. Sixty-some years later, here we are."

Destined to be pope: Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
An Ocala man is facing a first-degree murder charge after a deadly shooting in New Tampa last summer.

Terrance Barnett Robinson Jr., 34 was originally facing a charge of acting as an accessory to the murder of 24-year-old Kyle John Prisco, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office. Prisco was found shot on Regents Park Drive, off the 19000 block of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, shortly before 3 p.m. June 17.

Deputies previously said that Robinson was present when Forest Isaiah Jackson, 25, shot Prisco. The two men fled together after the shooting, according to the sheriffs office.

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Following an extensive and ongoing investigation, new evidence confirmed Robinsons involvement leading up to the shooting, the sheriffs office said in a news release Friday. As a result, he is now facing a murder charge for his role in the incident that led to the victims death.

Robinson was arrested on the accessory charge in Ohio on July 3. Records show he was booked into a Hillsborough County jail July 23 and was released four days later after posting $100,000 bail.

On Thursday, he was arrested in Marion County on the murder charge and a charge of robbery, and he is awaiting transfer to Hillsborough County, according to the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office did not provide further information, but a previous arrest warrant for Robinson sheds more light on what investigators say happened.

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Shortly before 3 p.m. June 17, the sheriffs office received multiple 911 calls reporting a person shot in the road near Regents Park Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. When deputies arrived, they found a disabled white Mercedes Benz CLA parked on the north side of Regents Park Drive facing west in the southbound turn lane. Prisco was found dead with apparent gunshot wounds to his upper body and head, the warrant states.

Through interviews and surveillance footage, investigators determined that a black Chevrolet Camaro had pulled into the Chase Bank at 19001 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. at about 2:43 p.m. About a minute later, Prisco arrived in the Mercedes and parked just east of the Camaro, leaving at least one parking spot between the vehicles, the warrant states.

Robinson approached the bank from the direction of where the Camaro is parked and withdrew $400 in cash from an ATM inside the vestibule. He then entered the passenger side of the Camaro.

The Mercedes is then seen pulling away from the bank and heading east through the parking lot, followed by the Camaro. Numerous witness statements and cellphone video provided to law enforcement determined that the Mercedes exited the plaza and proceeded west on Regents Park Drive with the Camaro following.

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When both vehicles stopped at a red light in the southbound turn lane of Regents Park Drive, Jackson exited the drivers side of the Camaro with an assault rifle style firearm, the warrant states. He then approached the Mercedes and forced Prisco out at gunpoint before shooting him multiple times.

Prisco ran eastbound and fell to the ground near the intersection. Video recorded by a witness shows Jackson approaching Prisco and shooting him again at point-blank range before running back to the Camaro, the warrant states.

Jackson is seen getting a cardboard box with unknown contents from near the Mercedes before getting in the passenger side of the Camaro and fleeing eastbound down Regents Park Drive, the warrant states. Witnesses told investigators that Robinson was behind the wheel of the Camaro.

A search of the Mercedes revealed two cellphones belonging to Prisco and about 2.15 pounds of a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana. Prisco was known to sell marijuana and was in the process of opening a shop in California, according to the warrant. A witness told investigators that Prisco was known to place the marijuana into cardboard boxes if the quantity was over 2 pounds.

Jackson was later found in Jamaica, deported to the United States and taken into custody on charges of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump struck a trade deal on Thursday that Detroit automakers say disadvantage them over foreign rivals. (Carl CourtPool/Getty Images)

A lobby group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis attacked Trump for prioritizing a deal with the U.K. over the two largest U.S. trading partners on the country's doorstep. Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a U.K. vehicle with very little U.S. content than a USMCA compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts, they said.

Detroits three automakers blasted the White House for throwing the U.S. car industry under the proverbial bus with his U.K. trade deal.

On Thursday, a lobby group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis expressed disappointment their U.K. competitors are getting a better shake than they are despite British cars largely lacking any appreciable American content in the form of drivetrain and chassis components.

Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a U.K. vehicle with very little U.S. content than a USMCA compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts, said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council.

Blunts criticism comes after Trump negotiated the tentative outline of a deal that would see among other concessions the U.S. drop its 25% sectoral tariff down to 10% of a vehicles value, a level that reflects the U.K.s own duty on imported cars.

While that is only valid for the first 100,000 vehicleswith any cars above and beyond that once again subject to the full dutyit neatly matches the volumes exported from Britain last year. This is a relatively minor amount compared with the roughly 16 million light vehicles sold new last year, of which half were imported.

Blunt furthermore criticized that the America First president ought to have prioritized talks that help out his own domestic industry first, rather than invest political time and capital for the benefit of British rivals.

This hurts American automakers, suppliers and auto workers. We hope this preferential access for U.K. vehicles over North American ones does not set a precedent for future negotiations with Asian and European competitors, Blunt continued.

'Severe and immediate threat'

The White House pushed back against Blunt in a statement to Fortune.

"No president has taken a greater personal interest in reviving the American auto industry than President Trump," spokesman Kush Desai said. "The Trump administration is working hand-in-glove with automakers to re-shore manufacturing that is critical to our national and economic security, including with custom-tailored tariff relief and deregulatory policies."

The timing of the tentative dealwhich is itself only a broad outline and has yet to be finalizedwas however governed by political realities on each side of the Atlantic.

Both U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump have been under severe pressure of late. The formers Labour party was just trounced in local elections while the U.S. presidents poll ratings have sunk after steering the country towards a possible recession over a trade war with his closest allies.

The agreement represents a much-needed win for the two struggling statesmen, with Trump trumpeting a MAJOR TRADE DEAL with a BIG, AND HIGHLY RESPECTED COUNTRY on Truth Social before it was actually official.

While Blunt took aim at the agreement, his counterpart from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders was all too happy to hail it as great news for his U.K. industry.

The application of these tariffs was a severe and immediate threat to U.K. automotive exporters, so this deal will provide much needed relief, said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

Trump partial to Britain's handmade luxury cars like Rolls-Royce

Blunts candid criticism of the administration is unusual. Despite historically poor approval ratings for the president this early into a term, companies have been careful not to slight Trump given his reputation for governing based on instinct rather than studied policy analysis.

The president even confessed being inclined to reduce tariffs he had unilaterally imposed without Congressional consent since they were deemed critical to U.S. national security. On Thursday, Trump told reporters he gave them preferential treatment, because he personally was partial to Britains ultra-luxury car brands like McLaren, Bentley and Rolls-Royce, the latter of whom he readily accepted would not set up a dedicated factory in the United States.

Thats really handmade stuff. Theyve been doing it for a long time in the same location, he remarked. So I said, yeah, that would be good. Lets help them out with that one.

Even though the 100,000-vehicle cap effectively puts a hard ceiling on further growth for the U.K. car industry, investors welcomed the trade deal by bidding shares in Aston Martin Lagonda, the only British stock-exchange listed automaker, higher some 14% in Thursdays trading session.

This updates an earlier version of the story with a response from the Trump administration.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
COLOMBO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A Sri Lanka air force helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir in North Central Province of the country on Friday morning, but all those on board survived, said air force spokesperson Eranda Geeganage.

Twelve people, including two pilots, were on board at the time of the crash.

All individuals survived and are currently receiving treatment at two regional hospitals, said Geeganage.

The incident took place during a demonstration held as part of a passing-out ceremony for the Sri Lankan air force. 
Catholics in metro Detroit are praising the first American to be pope, who once lived in Michigan, saying he will continue Pope Francis' legacy of caring for marginalized communities. Some also hope he will improve the Vatican's record of handling sexual abuse, expressing concern about how he handled some cases in the past.

Born in Chicago as Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV attended in the 1970s a Catholic high school in west Michigan, the now-closed St. Augustine Catholic Seminary, a boarding school in Laketown Township for boys in grades 9-12, according to the Vatican.

Before being selected by his fellow cardinals during a conclave this week, he served for decades in Peru as a missionary. Close to Pope Francis, he rose through the ranks in the Vatican, becoming a cardinal-bishop in February, assigned to a diocese in Rome, Italy. Catholic cardinals voted on May 8 to select Prevost, 69, during an assembly known as a conclave at the Vatican.

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"I'm delighted," Michael Hovey, a senior instructor at the University of Detroit-Mercy who teaches religion and is the former coordinator for ecumenical and interfaith relations for the Archdiocese of Detroit, told the Free Press shortly after the announcement. "I think we're going to see great things out of him."

Like Pope Leo XIV, Hovey was also a missionary in Peru for a year and a half, and so feels a connection to the new pope. He's also excited about the name he chose, Leo. The last pope with that name, Pope Leo XIII, was a supporter of workers' rights.

"I'm especially happy with the name he's chosen, Leo the 14th, because Leo the 13th is the pope who started what we now call Catholic social teaching," Hovey said. "Leo the 13th wrote an encyclical on the rights of workers, critiquing some of the excesses of capitalism, and talked about the need for things that we now take for granted, like good working conditions and time off, vacation and sick days."

Archbishop of Detroit Edward Weisenburger also praised the new head of the Catholic Church, holding a news conference on the afternoon of May 8 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, the seat of the archdiocese.

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Weisenburger, who was installed as archbishop in March, said he was pleasantly surprised an American was chosen.

"Pope Leo XIV's election leaves me exceptionally joyful," Weisenburger said in a statement from the archdiocese. "And I must humbly acknowledge that I did not anticipate a United States citizen would be elected Pope."

For decades, it was seen as taboo to have an American pope, given the power of the U.S. and fears it would take over the church.

Weisenburger noted the new pope's history in South America and his close ties to Pope Francis, who appointed Weisenburger in February to lead the Detroit archdiocese. Both Weisenburger and Pope Leo XIV speak Spanish as Latinos make up an increasing part of the Catholic Church's membership.

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"His lifetime of ministry includes many years of ministry as a bishop in Peru, giving him a thorough understanding of South America," Weisenburger said. "Moreover, his close association with Pope Francis, history of charitable efforts for the poor and marginalized, extensive prior experience in the Vatican, and personal humility are all qualities that perhaps focused the light of Christ upon him for his brother Cardinals to see."

The Detroit archbishop called upon Catholics to "pray for Pope Leo XIV as he now begins his sacred ministry as the successor of Saint Peter, the Vicar of Christ on Earth."

The head of the diocese of Kalamazoo, Bishop Edward Lohse, told WOOD-TV that Prevost was a student at a seminary in Allegan County. A photo published in 2013 by the Holland Sentinel shows Prevost at a class reunion in Michigan at the Felt Estate, where the seminary was located. The caption reads "...the Rev. Bob Prevost, class of 1973, talk with graduates of St. Augustine Seminary High School on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Felt Mansion. Prevost, in red jacket, is now prior general, the world leader of the Augustinians."

Paul Long  the CEO and president of the Michigan Catholic Conference, the voice of the Catholic Church in the state on public policy  echoed the views of the archbishop.

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The cardinals election of Pope Leo XIV is a source of joy and excitement for Catholics and indeed all people of goodwill in Michigan and across the globe," Long said. "The world holds great interest in the leadership of the Catholic Church and the popes teaching on faith and morality, his approach to geopolitical realities, and the burning need for peace in our world."

Long said Catholic leaders in Michigan hope Pope Leo XIV "continues to build bridges, foster dialogue, and uphold the dignity and worth of every human life."

The Michigan Catholic Conference and Weisenburger have both emphasized this year the importance of respecting immigrants, an issue that Pope Leo XIV has also stressed on his Twitter feed. In several posts on X, previously known as Twitter, the new pope appeared to criticize Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, for his conservative views on immigration. Vance had said Catholic doctrine known as "ordo amoris" means we should not care as much for groups such as migrants as we do for fellow Americans and our families. Catholic leaders said Vance misinterprets church teachings.

"JD Vance is wrong," read a tweet posted by Pope Leo XIV in February. "Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

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Pope Leo XIV also has liberal views on environmental issues, agreeing with Pope Francis on the threats posed by climate change.

While Catholics believe in dominion over nature," humans should not become tyrannical" over it and instead have a relationship of reciprocity with the environment, he said, the Vatican News reported in 2024.

While the new pope was praised by many, he also has his critics who say he has a weak history of fighting sexual abuse in the church and is too right-wing on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2012, he criticized what he called the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children," the New York Times reported on May 2.

Archbishop Edward Weisenburger, center, during a mass for Pope Francis at Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on Monday, April 21, 2025.

Over the past week, there were some reports questioning whether Prevost should be named pope given his past record on dealing with sexual abuse allegations. The Will County Gazette, a newspaper in suburban Chicago in Illinois, ran a report on May 2 on an activist and abuse survivor who said Prevost should not become pope because of how he allegedly mishandled abuse committed by a priest. The headline quoted the activist, reading in part: "If he saw and stayed silent  hes not a good priest."

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With Prevost, we definitely do not want to enter into another situation where there is a cardinal that becomes pope that has bad things in their closet, Eduardo Lopez de Casas, a clergy abuse survivor and national vice president of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), told the Illinois newspaper. Survivors worldwide ... should not have to watch men responsible for cover-ups climb to the top of the Catholic Church.

In a statement Thursday, SNAP detailed a list of abuse cases it alleges Pope Leo XIV mishandled. The group had filed a complaint in March with the Vatican complaining about Prevost, saying he abused his power in interfering with some cases involving sexual abuse. SNAP called upon Pope Leo XIV to take "decisive action" in his first 100 days to adopt a zero tolerance policy on abuse.

The church has no credibility to speak on childrens rights while it continues to shelter predators and shield bishops from accountability," SNAP said.

The Pillar, a conservative Catholic media outlet, also raised concerns about Prevost, mentioning some abuse cases in Peru.

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Janet Smith, a retired professor of moral theology formerly at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, said that Pope Leo XIV has an opportunity to assuage those who are concerned about his record by making it clear has a zero tolerance on abuse.

Smith cited the case of a priest from Slovenia accused of assaulting women, Marko Rupnik. Rupnik had been excommunicated, but that excommunication was lifted by Pope Francis in 2022, outraging advocates for abuse victims. Some of his artwork is featured in the Vatican. His supporters deny the allegations against him.

More: Michigan Catholics mourn death of Pope Francis, recall his 'kindness'

"One of the first things that Leo the 14th could do that would signal that he, in fact, is going to exercise the zero tolerance that the Vatican keeps talking about in respect to sex abusers, is that he will lay aside and refuse to have any of his art ever used again in the Vatican, and actually to apologize for ever having used it, especially after they knew the accusations against him," Smith said. Pope Leo XIV should also reverse the decision that Pope Francis made to lift his excommunication, she said.

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Overall, Pope Leo XIV is "an unknown quantity" and it remains to be seen how he will lead the church, said Smith, who is sympathetic to the views of conservative and traditional Catholics. Smith said she hopes he will be more open to the traditional Latin Mass, which Pope Francis cracked down on. Weisenburger recently announced that the traditional Latin Mass will end at parish churches in the Detroit archdiocese by July.

The fact that Pope Leo XIV was often promoted by Pope Francis "suggests he probably is in line of Pope Francis," but she added that "there are some signs to the contrary."

More: Michigan native will help choose the next pope. What to know as papal conclave begins

Traditional Catholics are "holding on to as signs of hope, that he bore the traditional garb, that he chose a name that could be associated with conservative pontiffs, so he's a mix, not yet a completely known quantity. I'm trying to remain hopeful."

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A special Mass to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV is planned for 5 pm Saturday, May 10, at the Blessed Sacrament cathedral, 9844 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, said officials with the archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.

The Holland Sentinel and Reuters contributed to this report.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Catholics in Detroit praise Pope Leo XIV, who studied in Michigan
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Department of Homeland Security said on Friday that the patriarch of the Austin family that ICE transported to Mexico, along with their two U.S.-born children, had illegally entered the country three times before and was convicted of multiple crimes while living in Texas.

Omar Gallardo-Rodriguez, 43, and his partner Denisse Parra-Vargas were pulled over outside Dobie Middle School in north Austin last Wednesday over expired tags, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Rodriguez and his partner had just dropped off their school-age children at a nearby school when three troopers in an unmarked vehicle stopped them, according to the familys legal team. The legal team believes that at least one of the couples three children was in the car at the time.

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DPS confirmed that their tactical strike team, working alongside Homeland Security investigators, conducted the stop over the expired plates. The agency has not responded to questions from KXAN about why it was operating near the school.

The photo appears to show Omar Gallardo-Rodriguez and Denisse Parra-Vargas being stopped by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on April 30 near Dobie Middle School. A community member who wanted to remain anonymous provided the photo.

Gallardo, Parra-Vargas and their three children, including the two American minors, were transported across the U.S. border to Mexico on Tuesday, according to ICE, less than a week after the traffic stop.

SOURCES: ICE sends family of five to Mexico, including US-born kids, after DPS detainment near Austin school

DHS officials said on X, and in a statement to KXAN, that they are not deporting U.S. children but allowing their mothers to choose if they wanted to be removed with their children or if they wanted ICE to place the children with someone safe the parent designates.

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The agency said Parra-Vargas was taken into ICE custody and chose to bring her children with her to Mexico.

What they are doing is far worse, Texas Civil Rights Project Senior Supervising Attorney Daniel Hotoum said. Instead, DHS is taking U.S. citizen children, and telling them and telling their parents that they will be separated unless they give up their home, their country.

History in the country

According to Austins Mexican Consulate, Parra-Vargas entered the United States in 2016 and requested asylum, which was later denied. DHS, in a post on X and statement to KXAN, said the mother failed to appear before her immigration judge and was issued a final order of removal in 2019.

ICE officials told KXAN that Gallardo first illegally entered the U.S. near Laredo. The agency said ICE deported Gallardo after identifying him in the Travis County Jail, where officials said he was serving time for assaulting a family member.

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The agency said an immigration judge ordered Gallardo removed to Mexico, and he was taken to Mexico in May 2006.

DHS memo offers new guidance on terminating status of international students

ICE officials said the agency found Gallardo in the U.S. again in 2010  this time near Hebbronville, Texas, and he was transported to Mexico in February 2010. The agency said Gallardo was found in the Travis County Jail again on Jan. 28, 2013, while serving a sentence for driving while intoxicated, and he was deported to Mexico in March 2013.

Now in Mexico

The familys legal team told KXAN that on the day of the traffic stop outside of Dobie Middle School, Gallardo and Parra-Vargas were both detained, but Parra-Vargas was released to pick up her children from school. At some point, her attorney said she was given an ankle monitor as part of ICEs Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, or ISAP.

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According to the familys legal team, ICE later instructed Parra-Vargas to report to the ICE facility in Pflugerville. Upon that appearance, ICE detained the mother and her three children and, on May 7, sent them to Mexico.

She followed [ICEs] instructions and appeared at their facilities, where they started the removal process, Gonzalez Echevarria said. She was deported through McAllen-Reynosa and is now in Mexico.

Immigration Legal Resource Center Senior Staff Attorney Cori Hash, one of the attorneys providing legal support to Parra-Vargas, said she was informed that ICE used private contractors to transport the family from the Pflugerville facility. Hash also said the family was held in a hotel room in McAllen before being transported to Mexico. KXAN asked ICE and DHS about the use of private contractors and has not yet received a response.

On a phone call with reporters Friday, the legal team for Parra-Vargas and her family said they have been unable to contact the family since they were removed from the country. Hash said it was their understanding that the family had been taken to a city just across the Texas-Mexico border.

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DHS and ICE have not answered KXANs questions about whether the U.S.-born children were appointed a guardian ad litem or any representation during the removal process of their parents.

What the administration is relying on in these cases, [] is to act so incredibly quickly that steps cannot be taken to stop them from expatriating those children, Hotoum said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
WASHINGTON  Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday openly flouted a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S., insisting during a Senate committee hearing that there is no scenario in which the Maryland man will be in the country again.

In response, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called her remarks incredibly chilling for the balance of powers in a democracy.

Noem was testifying before a Senate appropriations subcommittee when she made her comments about Abrego Garcia, who federal law enforcement officials last month arrested in his home state of Maryland and deported to an El Salvador prison.

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The Trump administration has accused Abrego Garcia, who has no criminal record, of being a member of the international gang MS-13, which his family and attorneys have denied. Originally from El Salvador, he was granted a withholding of removal order in 2019, which prevents the U.S. government from sending him back to his country of origin due to a credible fear of persecution. Hed been legally living in Maryland until ICE agents detained and deported him in March, which the administration said was due to an administrative error.

In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court last month ordered the Trump administration to immediately facilitate Abrego Garcias return and proceed with its case against him in the U.S., as he was never given due process, which is required by the Constitution. But the administration has been violating the courts order  which on Thursday Noem bizarrely said wasnt true, while also insisting Abrego Garcia is never coming back to the U.S.

Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and should never have been in this country and will not be coming back to this country, she told senators. There is no scenario where Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again. If he were to come back, we would immediately deport him again.

Noem said he doesnt belong in the U.S. because he is a terrorist, hes a human smuggler and he is a wife-beater. There is no evidence that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist, and he was never arrested on or charged with human smuggling. It is true, though, that his wife filed a protective order petition against him in 2021, alleging he had physically attacked her on multiple occasions.

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That is all beside the point, of course, and Noem knows it: Abrego Garcia is entitled to due process in the U.S., and the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to bring him back for it. The prospect of the executive branch intentionally violating an order from the nations highest court doesnt just amount to a constitutional crisis; it is grounds for holding the Trump administration in contempt of court.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies during the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security hearing on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

During the hearing, Democrats pounced on Noem for dodging questions about the legality of the administrations actions.

Does the Supreme Court decision not require you to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia? Murphy asked.

The Trump administration is complying with all court orders and judges orders, she replied.

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Does the Supreme Court order require you to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia? Murphy repeated. Yes or no?

It is up to the president of the El Salvador to make the decision, Noem began.

Youre a defendant in the case! said the Connecticut senator, stunned.

As Noem again brought up that Abrego Garcia is not a U.S. citizen and is a dangerous individual, Murphy cut in.

The discussion ends when the Supreme Court rules 9-0 that you have to facilitate his release, he said. The fact you cant even acknowledge the wording of the order which commands you to facilitate his release, and you advertise to this committee you are going to willfully ignore the ruling  that is incredibly chilling for the balance of powers in a democracy that relies on the executive branch to honor decisions made by the highest court of the land.

Things got a bit testy when Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who went to El Salvador last month and met with Abrego Garcia, asked Noem if the Department of Homeland Security is doing literally anything to comply with the Supreme Courts order.

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We are following court orders, she said, giving no details. Your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming to me.

Van Hollen chided Noem for using political rhetoric and reiterated that there is no evidence Abrego Garcia has ties to terrorists.

Im not vouching for the man, Im vouching for his due process, he said.

Well, yes, you are, sir, Noem said. Youve been vouching for him. I would suggest that you defend and stand alongside the victims  and the citizens who live here and are United States Americans.

I know youre doing a political speech here, Van Hollen said, as they talked over each other. Im asking questions of law.

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I truly believe this as an American, she replied.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who chairs the subcommittee, eventually jumped in as Van Hollens time ran out. She abruptly cut him off as he was talking.

Madam chair, he said to Britt. I have some additional questions.

No sir, thats up to you to manage that time, she said and ignored his request, turning to Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) to begin his questions. Van Hollen was miffed.

Well, I need a little help from a chair that respects the members of the committee, he sniped as Kennedy began his turn.
Elmo appears to have activated LinkedIns Open for Work tab.

A post on the employment social media network attributed to the adorable Sesame Street character has gone viral.

Unfortunately, Elmo was recently laid off because of the federal budget cuts. Elmo worked at Sesame Street for 45 years. Elmo is sad. Elmo loved his time at Sesame Street,' the three-and-a-half-year-old explained. Elmo is going to miss his friends Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert, Abby, Grover, Count and so many more. They made Elmos day so much better.



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Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the show, told Complex the account isnt tied to them. While it isnt official and is from a fake account, the statement does pull at your heartstrings.

Elmo is looking for his next opportunity Elmo is good at so many things, he continued. Like hugs. Elmo LOVES giving hugs. Elmo can also recognize the letter E, spell his name, feel empathy, sing Elmos Song and ask how you are doing. Elmo is open to full-time or freelance roles.

While Elmo is sad, Elmo is excited for whats next. And one more thing: Elmo loves you.

The post comes after President Donald Trump signed the Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media.

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The 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 White House, in a social media posting announcing the signing, said the outlets receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

Fans of Elmo immediately went to X to weigh in.

If Elmo gets laid off, what hope is there for the rest of us, wrote one user.

We live in a world where Elmo has been laid off. Let that sink in wrote another.

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With PBS being the home of Sesame Street, the post from the fake Elmo seems very real.

Earlier this week, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Chief Executive Officer Patricia Harrison addressed the cuts in the following:

Nearly every parent has raised their kids on public broadcastings childrens content. For the past 30 years, Ready To Learn-funded PBS KIDS content has produced measurable, real-world impacts on childrens learning, she explained. Ready To Learn has received strong bipartisan support from Congress for the last 30 years because of the programs proven educational value in advancing early learning skills for all children. We will work with Congress and the Administration to preserve funding for this essential program.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
(AP / WJW)  Robert Prevost, elected as the first American pope in history on Thursday, decided to take the name Leo XIV.

The name suggests he will continue the work of Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church between 1878 and 1903 with a commitment to social issues.

Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the religious studies chair at Manhattan University, told The Associated Press that the name choice signifies that Leo XIV, much like the late Pope Francis before him, will stay committed to social justice.

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NE Ohio Catholic leaders rejoice following announcement of new American pope

So, what did Francis name mean?

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, elected in 2013, decided to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi, who was known for his humility, life of poverty and love of all living things.

With that name, Pope Francis led a papacy that focused on people who are often viewed as outsiders, such as those in poverty and the LGBTQ+ community. The papacy also prioritized peace and taking care of the environment.

Popes used their own names for most of the Catholic Churchs first millennium, but historians said the idea of adopting a new name became commonplace in the 11th century.

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President Trump reacts to new pope: Meaningful

They typically chose the name of the pope who elevated them to cardinal for centuries, but according to historians, new popes in the mid-20th century started choosing a name that signaled the aim of their papacy.

Here is a look at other popes in recent years and what their names meant:

BENEDICT: Last chosen by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, elected in 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said he wanted to pay homage to Benedict XV, who led the church during World War I and dedicated himself to healing the rifts of war, and to the 6th century St. Benedict, founder of Western monasticism, who helped spread Christianity throughout Europe. One of Benedict XVIs priorities was trying to revive the faith in Europe.

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JOHN PAUL: The papacys first composite name was chosen by Cardinal Albino Luciani in 1978 to honor Pope John XXIII, who opened the Vatican Council II process that reformed the Catholic Church, and Paul VI, who closed it. The name signaled a commitment to reforms, including sidelining the Latin Mass in favor of local languages and opening to other faiths, most significantly Judaism. John Paul Is papacy lasted just 33 days. Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who succeeded him, chose the name John Paul II.

JOHN: Chosen 23 times by popes, most recently in 1958 by Pope John XXIII. John can refer to St. John the Apostle, one of Jesus 12 apostles and the author of one of the Gospels, or St. John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus.

PAUL: Chosen six times, most recently in 1963 by Paul VI. St. Paul the Apostle spread the teachings of Jesus in the 1st century.

PIUS: It is associated with popes known for their traditionalist, anti-reform bent. Pius IX ordered the kidnapping of the Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara in 1858 and raised him Catholic in the Vatican after learning he had been secretly baptized by a housekeeper; Pius X was the early 20th century anti-modernist who inspired the anti-Vatican II schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X; Pius XII was the World War II-era pope criticized for not speaking out sufficiently about the Holocaust.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
As the Sean Diddy Combs sex trafficking trial heats up in Manhattan, lawyers on both sides previewed their approaches ahead of witness testimony.

Jury selection was delayed Friday morning as Combs defense attorneys and federal prosecutors deliberated on certain topics they agree will be off-limits during the cross-examination of witnesses.

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Referencing separate incidents of alleged violence, Combs defense lawyers indicated that they hope to portray Casandra Cassie Ventura, Combs longtime ex-girlfriend and the star witness in this trial, as an aggressive and violent person who is capable of starting physical confrontations. Combs lawyers wish to undermine the governments argument that Ventura was coerced by Combs into sexual activity by painting her as a strong person with a nature of violence.

Federal prosecutors argued that such incidents are outside of the scope of this trial, while Judge Arun Subramanian questioned whether the defenses claim that Ventura was at times violent is relevant to the allegations of sex trafficking and coercion.

Strong people can be coerced just like weak people, the judge said firmly.

Marc Agnifilo, Combs lead counsel, said the defense will definitely take the position that there was a huge role of violence in [Combs and Venturas] relationship. Combs lawyers believe that these separate incidents of alleged violence are relevant because they relate to pertinent character traits belonging to Ventura. It is uncertain whether the judge will allow the defense to make such assertions to the jury.

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Ventura, who is referred to as Victim-1 in court documents, is a key witness in the prosecutions case against Combs. She had an intimate relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018 and accused him of rape and abuse in a 2023 civil lawsuit that was promptly settled. Combs denies those allegations.

A hotel surveillance video published by CNN that allegedly depicts Combs beating Ventura and dragging her across a hallway was seen by many of the potential jurors. CNNs copy of the video will not be used as evidence in the trial, but variants of the footage will be shown to the jury.

Ventura is expected to testify next week after opening statements begin Monday, May 12. The jury has still yet to be confirmed for the trial, as the 43 potential jurors will be brought in early Monday morning for peremptory strikes.

Combs trial began Monday in a New York courthouse and is expected to last at least eight weeks. During jury selection, potential jurors were asked about their prior knowledge of the case, their opinions on Combs, and whether there is any reason they couldnt render a fair and impartial judgment, among many other questions. They also were shown a list of more than 190 people and places and asked if they personally know any of the names.

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Combs is facing five counts, including one for racketeering, two for sex trafficking and two for transportation to engage in prostitution. If he is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Since 2023, the music mogul has been hit with more than 70 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct ranging from rape to sex trafficking. Those lawsuits are separate from the federal trial, which will feature testimony from Ventura and other alleged victims.

Having interviewed more than 50 witnesses and recovered evidence from more than 100 electronics, federal prosecutors will set out to paint Combs as a serial abuser who led a vast criminal network upheld by assistants, security guards and other employees who kept their mouths shut for years. The charges in the indictment stem from alleged crimes that span from 2004 to 2024. Combs has denied all allegations and has insisted that all sexual activities were consensual.

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By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The sex-trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, which kicks off on Monday, marks the highest-profile case so far for a nascent group in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office focusing on criminal prosecution of civil rights violations.

Since its launch in 2022 by then-Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, the unit has brought 21 criminal cases with allegations including antisemitic hate crimes, excessive use of force by law enforcement, sexual abuse of a minor, and environmental negligence by a construction contractor.

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The nine-lawyer group, called the Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division, is separate from a longstanding Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. That unit generally brings civil lawsuits against companies and local government entities, including a lawsuit against New York City to try to reduce violence in jails.

The new criminal division unit has a solid record. It has secured 15 guilty pleas and one trial conviction, with two defendants acquitted at trial, according to a Reuters review of press releases and court records.

Ten defendants charged by the unit, including Combs, have cases pending.

The trial of Combs, who is known for elevating hip-hop in American culture, will bring more international attention to the unit's work than previous cases. Combs, 55, pleaded not guilty last September to forcing women to participate in sexual performances. The jury is expected to be seated on Monday.

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Three months after Combs was charged, Williams announced sex-trafficking charges against Oren Alexander and Tal Alexander, the cofounders of a luxury U.S. real estate brokerage, and their brother Alon Alexander. All three have pleaded not guilty.

"There has been additional resources and time and attention" devoted to sex trafficking, Williams told reporters at the time.

Williams, appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, has said he formed the unit to centralize responsibility for sex-trafficking cases, which were previously spread across different units, and to address a spike in hate crimes.

Antisemitic threats and violence have been the subject of six of the unit's cases. On Wednesday, the unit charged Tarek Bazrouk, 20, with hate crimes for allegedly assaulting Jewish individuals, including two Columbia University students, during protests over the war in Gaza. Bazrouk has pleaded not guilty.

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Both that indictment and additional criminal charges against the Alexander brothers unveiled on Thursday were approved by Jay Clayton, Republican President Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York.

"I was immediately impressed by the speed and impact of the Civil Rights Units work," Clayton, who took office on April 22, told Reuters in a statement. "I continue to be heartened by the skill and determination of this group of talented prosecutors."

VICTIMS CAN BE HESITANT

While the unit handles a broad range of cases, many involve alleged abuse of power, whether by a wealthy individual like Combs or an armed security guard like Jimmy Solano-Arias, who was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge stemming from his sexual abuse of an asylum-seeker at the federal building where he worked.

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"The skill sets you need to handle those types of cases are similar," said Sarah Krissoff, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan and current partner at law firm Cozen O'Connor.

The prosecutors on Combs' case include Maurene Comey, who secured the conviction of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell on sex-trafficking charges at trial, and Mitzi Steiner, who charged Solano-Arias.

Victims of sexual violence can be hesitant to come forward, and prosecutors who specialize in such cases may be more effective, said Rachel Maimin, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan.

"It's not the same as working with victims of other violent crimes," said Maimin, a partner at law firm Lowenstein Sandler.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Matthew Lewis)
Nathaniel Herz

Northern Journal

A 1,000-gallon diesel spill earlier this month near the Yukon River has prompted renewed objections to plans by a privately held oil company to drill in the region later this year.

The truck was operated not by Hilcorp, the oil company, but by Brice Inc., a Native-owned construction firm that has worked with Hilcorp on its preparations for the summer drilling efforts in the remote Yukon Flats basin, north of Fairbanks.

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Hilcorp is staging equipment for the drilling program at the Yukon River Camp, where the Dalton Highway, which connects urban Alaska to the North Slope oil fields, crosses the Yukon River. Once the ice on the river clears, the equipment will be barged up the Yukon toward drill sites.

Thom Leonard, a spokesman for Brices parent company, Calista, said Brices truck was between jobs when the spill occurred earlier this month at a parking lot at the camp, which is run by a Fairbanks-based tourism business on federal land.

The lot is typically used for multi-day barging storage, according to a post-spill report from Brice to regulators at the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, known as DEC.

Theres no indication that the fuel reached the Yukon itself, according to documents released by DEC.

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But critics of the drilling effort say the spill still serves as an example of the type of incidents that can happen during industrial operations like oil exploration.

The spill left some 600 gallons of pooled fuel in the parking lot that had to be vacuumed up by another truck. A video of the site obtained by Northern Journal showed workers walking through an ankle-deep pool that one of them described as diesel.

We were told over and over again that we were overhyping the danger, we were alarmist, and that everything they were doing is perfectly safe, Rhonda Pitka, the chief of the tribal government in the Yukon River village of Beaver, said in a phone interview. It's so disappointing.

Oil companies often hire contractors to perform specialized tasks, and Brice affiliates have worked for Hilcorp in the past.

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Leonard, the spokesman for Brices parent company, would not say whether the truck had originally been in the area supporting Hilcorp, adding that we don't typically comment on clients we serve. A Hilcorp spokesman also declined to comment.

But an online update last month from Doyon Ltd., the regional Native corporation that owns land in the Yukon Flats where the oil drilling will take place, noted that a crew from Brice was doing debris clearing for Hilcorps exploration program.

A Doyon official said the company is aware of a situation that was reported to DEC but referred questions to Hilcorp as the appropriate point of contact.

Hilcorps search for oil in the Yukon Flats has support from Doyon and tribal leaders in Birch Creek, the Native village closest to where the summer drilling will take place. Other tribal leaders along the river and in Alaskas Interior have harshly criticized the exploration campaign, saying that its potential risks are incompatible with the regions salmon-dependent Native communities.

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While the spill took place April 6, according to documents released by DEC, drilling opponents only learned about it in recent days through word of mouth, according to Pitka. She described the incident as exactly what we were afraid of.

Opponents of the drilling program point to Hilcorps history in Alaska: The company, which traditionally has acquired and operated aging oil and gas infrastructure, has been fined for numerous incidents, and regulators have pointed to a track record of regulatory noncompliance.

A DEC official involved in the spill response, Terra Meares, described Brice as the responsible party for the spill and said that the purpose of the companys equipment at the Yukon camp is beyond her agencys jurisdiction.

Decisions about potential penalties or enforcement actions, she added, would be made at higher levels of DEC. The director of the departments spill prevention and response division was out of the office this week and unavailable for comment.

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The truck was originally left at the parking lot April 4, with no indication of leaks or issues, according to Brices report to DEC. The spill was discovered early in the morning of April 6 by a camp resident who was watching the northern lights and saw or smelled fuel.

The trucks tank holds 3,000 gallons, and the 600 gallons of pooled fuel were ultimately vacuumed up from snow- and ice-covered ground by another truck that was dispatched to the site, according to documents released by DEC. An excavator subsequently arrived at the site to remove thicker layers of contaminated ice, according to the documents.

Leonard, with Brices parent company, said the businesses always strive to respect the environment.

We are Alaskans, Leonard said in an email. It pains us when incidents like this occur, although we are proud our team members took immediate action and followed all regulatory requirements.
DHAKA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for Bangladesh dipped to 52.9 in April, an 8.8 point decline from the previous month, signaling a softer pace of economic expansion in the South Asian country.

The April PMI dropped as the manufacturing, construction, and services sectors grew at a slower rate, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) said in their latest PMI report released on Thursday.

The latest PMI reading was attributed to a slower rate of expansion posted by the sectors of manufacturing, construction, and services, whereas the agriculture sector posted a faster expansion rate.

In terms of the future business index, according to the report, faster expansion rates were recorded for the indexes of manufacturing and construction, whereas the agriculture index posted a slower expansion rate.

"The latest PMI readings indicate continued expansion in all key sectors, but at a slower rate. The April PMI is also the lowest since October 2024 when the expansion track commenced. Long stretches of public holidays leading to closure of businesses, early effect of U.S. tariffs on the production of apparel orders, and energy supply hurdles are likely causes of the slower dynamism," said M Masrur Reaz, chairman and chief executive officer of PEB.

The PMI reading in October 2024 was 55.7.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates growth from the previous month, while one below 50 points to a contraction.

The MCCI and PEB began publishing the PMI in January last year. It covers over 500 private sector firms across agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and services. 
ST. LOUIS  DiGregorios Italian Market has purchased the former Viviano and Sons Grocery Store, which closed permanently last week.

The acquisition was finalized on April 30th, marking a significant move to maintain the cultural heritage of The Hill neighborhood.

Ashley Bowersox, a real estate broker in Brentwood, stated that John DiGregorio reached out immediately after learning about the closure of Viviano and Sons.

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Bowersox emphasized the importance of preserving the unique character of The Hill, suggesting that DiGregorios acquisition was motivated by a desire to protect the neighborhoods identity.

The purchase by DiGregorios Italian Market reflects a commitment to preserving the cultural essence of The Hill, although the future of the location is yet to be determined.

All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.

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The U.S. House is set to begin the most significant discussion of the future of Americas health care system in some time.

In conversations about policy, the stories of the real people who are affected by the decisions their elected representatives make in Washington are too often an afterthought, rarely seen and understood.

What Republicans in the U.S. Congress are trying to do in the budget process would devastate millions of families across the country, including more than 2.6 million Michiganders, by stripping them of their health care. We have to tell their stories.

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Congressional Republicans have proposed the biggest cuts to Medicaid in history, when Medicaid is already a lean program. Medicaid is one of the most cost-effective forms of coverage, ensuring those with the greatest need have access to vital services. It has lower per capita costs than all other major health programs, including Medicare and private health insurance.

With few options for filling the budget holes that would be left by cuts to Medicaid funding, all states will be forced to cut coverage and benefits, leaving more people uninsured and underinsured.

Heres the reality: people will die.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, right, talks to voters on outside of polling places on U-M campus in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

More: 700,000 Michigan residents could lose health insurance under Medicaid cuts, report shows

Desperate and scared

Michiganders on Medicaid cant afford to have their benefits reduced or slashed altogether. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a report this week that shows Medicaid cuts would immediately terminate health care for 700,000 Michigan residents.

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A new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan agency, shows that the policies Republicans are considering to slash Medicaid would directly result in millions of people losing their health coverage.

I have heard from parents desperate and scared about how they will afford to care for sick children.

Katie, in my district, has a six-year-old son, Nathan. He was born premature and has required more than 15 procedures on his airway to help him breathe.

As she told me, some of those procedures cost $20,000 or more. Without Medicaid, there is no way Katie and her family would be able to meet Nathans complex medical needs.

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Medicaid is a lifeline. It keeps children healthy, it helps parents work, it cares for seniors in nursing homes.

Medicaid is the biggest payer of long-term care in America. Any cuts will place an enormous financial burden on older adults, people with disabilities, and their families, especially for those who have already spent down their assets and resources to qualify for Medicaid.

A few weeks ago, a woman approached me to ask if her husband who has Alzheimers would be thrown out of his nursing home if Michigan loses Medicaid funds.

I have heard from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council about the devastating impacts these cuts would have on the lives of people with developmental disabilities and seniors.

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One Medicaid beneficiary spent 37 days in the hospital, many in the intensive care unit, due to a spinal fluid leak in the base of their brain. This led to meningitis and other serious central nervous system complications. Without Medicaid, they would not have had the home and community-based support to safely get to the hospital and would not be able to cover their medical bills.

These cuts wont just hurt individuals covered by Medicaid. They will hurt entire communities.

When people lose their Medicaid coverage, they dont stop needing health care, they show up in the emergency room as uninsured patients  or they just dont go at all. Coverage losses would lead to higher uncompensated care costs, further straining the ability of hospitals to provide high-quality care.

Rural hospitals often rely on Medicaid and Medicare payments as their main sources of revenue. Without Medicaid payments, more rural hospitals would be forced to reduce or eliminate services, forgo equipment upgrades, or close their doors. In Michigan, Medicaid covers more than a third of people in rural areas. If rural hospitals closed, everyone in the community will be forced to travel further for care, including emergency services, putting their lives at risk.

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Loss of funding will contribute to adverse economic conditions and financial instability in rural areas. The immediate effect would be job losses, as hospitals are often among the largest employers in small communities, providing good-paying jobs for physicians, nurses, administrative staff and support workers. This loss of employment would reduce household incomes and decrease local spending, leading to further economic decline.

More: Potential cuts to Medicaid aren't an option for these metro Detroiters

About 100 people rallied and marched Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Milford's Central Park over concerns with potential cuts to Medicaid and federal food assistance.

Speak up

I understand the scale of this issue better than most. I sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which would be required by this budget to cut $880 billion in spending. There is simply no way to meet this number without drastic cuts to Medicaid.

We are working on the bill in committee next week. Many of my Republican colleagues know these cuts are deeply unpopular with their constituents. Theyre hearing from Americans at town halls across the country, and in phone calls and letters to their offices. I encourage everyone to continue to speak up.

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Tell your stories. They must be heard. We cannot cut off the lifeline of Medicaid for the millions of Americans who depend on it.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GOP Medicaid cuts would devastate Michigan, writes Dingell | Opinion
Catholics across Central Florida are rejoicing after the conclave selected Chicago-born, Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th pontiff.

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV spent much of his life working as a missionary in Peru and is a polyglot, meaning he speaks multiple languages.

Inside St. James Cathedral in Orlando, there was a rush of excitement as white smoke signaled the selection of Pope Leo XIV after just three conclave votes.

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I get a call from one of our staff members. Other staff members were running to the sacristy saying white smoke, white smoke! said Father Phillip Mills.

Mills said his plans for mass quickly pivoted as he searched for a new mass prayer once Pope Leo was named.

Parishioners told Channel 9 they were thrilled to see an American selected as the leader of the church.

Im so happy its an American Pope, said Maria G., a parishioner at St. James Cathedral.

She told Channel 9 that she hopes Pope Leo XIV will build on the work of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis had very good poise. Hopefully, he will bring some of that, said Maria.

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Bishop John Noonan of the Diocese of Orlando said Pope Leo came to power under former Pope Francis, who selected him to become a bishop and then a cardinal.

Noonan said he hasnt met the new Pope, but he already feels a kinship with the churchs new leader.

The fact that we have a bishop cardinal from the United States, Chicago, being named Pope is a great privilege for all of us, said Noonan.

Noonan said the selection of the name Leo itself signals the new Popes commitment to social justice.

I would expect him to be a Pope for the people and the world, for those who are underprivileged, said Noonan.

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St. James parishioner Irene Sandler said that beyond the important role Pope Leo XIV will play for Catholics, he will drive global conversations on the world stage.

I think its a really happy day for even our non catholic brothers and sisters, the pope is an important world figure, said Sandler, Chicago-born.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Diocese of San Angelo has issued a statement following the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church.

Leo was elected to lead the Catholic Church on May 8 following the conclusion of the 2025 conclave. A 69-year-old Chicago native, Leo is the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church and the successor of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on April 21.

Who is Robert Prevost, the American-born Pope Leo XIV?

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Michael Sis, the sixth bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, released a statement regarding Leos ascent to the papacy hours after the new pontiff stepped out onto the loggia of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican following the conclusion of the 2025 conclave.

It is with great joy that we received the news that the cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, Sis said.

Sis stated that, although he has never personally met Leo before, he looks forward to his ministry as the universal shepherd of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.

As he takes up this new cross, I trust that the Holy Spirit will give him all the spiritual gifts he needs to carry out his duties faithfully, Sis said. I am convinced that carrying out the awesome responsibility of his ministry will be made possible only by the grace of God.

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Sis called for prayer as Leo began his ministry as the pope.

As he begins this new adventure, let us all remember him in our prayers, Sis said. May his style of leadership always bear the imprint of our Lord Jesus.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Trump administrations decision to gut reproductive health research is alarming some conservatives, who worry it undercuts the presidents pro-family agenda.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid off thousands of federal employees last month, including about 80 who worked at the Centers for Disease Controls Division of Reproductive Health, according to three former CDC staffers granted anonymity to speak candidly on agency dynamics.

The office collected state and national data on live births, abortion trends and fertility treatment outcomes  the kind of information policymakers rely on to assess and improve maternal and infant health care, said Isaac Michael, a former HHS statistician who worked on the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System before he was laid off.

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If you cut PRAMS, this is dismantling one of the strongest tools we have to prevent maternal deaths, to reduce infant mortality and to close socioeconomic health gaps, he said.

Michael  who said he voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 based on his anti-abortion stance and supports the presidents push to rein in federal spending  said ending PRAMS contradicts the administrations pro-family messaging. By tracking maternal health behaviors before, during and after pregnancy, Michael said the PRAMS team helped identify health disparities, evaluate the effectiveness of Medicaid and Women, Infant and Children (WIC) programs for pregnant people and understand causes of preterm birth and infant death.

Without it, we are flying blind, Michael said. We lose the ability to see where we are failing mothers and babies until it's too late.

Trump and members of his administration have been silent on the cuts. The White House did not respond to requests for comment about the future of the divisions gutted programs.

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HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said in a statement to POLITICO that critical programs from the CDCs Division of Reproductive Health will continue under the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) alongside multiple agencies and programs to improve coordination of health resources for American.



PRAMS was one of multiple research teams within the divisions womens health and fertility branch, which was wiped out by the layoffs, former CDC employees said. A fertility epidemiology studies team within the branch helmed projects like the CDCs contraception guidance for healthcare providers and an annual abortion surveillance report, which collected voluntary data about legal abortions. The divisions field support branch, which deployed epidemiologists to states to improve maternal care, is also gone.

The cuts come as more American women died around the time of childbirth last year, reversing a two-year decline, according to provisional data released last month.

Patrick T. Brown, a fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, called the layoffs short-sighted, suggesting it could backfire on the Trump administrations pro-family message.

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Especially if we're going to be pumping more money or more rhetorical power into IVF or  maternal mortality, an area with a lot of bipartisan support, we should be investing in the kind of research that helps inform those debates and approaches, he said.

Brown, whose work focuses on pro-family economic policy, said the cuts may force conservatives to rely on abortion surveillance data from groups like the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights think tank. On IVF, Brown noted that while not all conservatives support expanding its access through federal mandates, basic data on usage and success rates is still necessary to inform proper policymaking.

This is the kind of basic statistics gathering that theres just not really a good free market solution for, Brown said. Collecting data like this is a pretty classic function of government and its not something that you can rely on private industry or even academic institutions to do in the same scope or scale.

Still, Brown is not convinced the programs are gone for good. He said he suspects the Trump administration will eventually reconsider the cuts.

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Even groups hesitant to criticize Trump directly are sticking up for PRAMS.

Tools like PRAMS have real value when theyre used to support vulnerable populations and guide evidence-based care, Mary Hodges, vice president of the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses, said in a statement to POLITICO. If this program is being phased out, we would encourage the development of new, transparent systems that preserve those strengths while aligning with a pro-life framework.

PRAMS was temporarily paused earlier this year while HHS reviewed the programs compliance with the Trump administrations executive orders, according to Michael and the three other former CDC staffers. The team was greenlit to resume some operations in April  but then the workforce reduction hit, one former CDC staffer told POLITICO.

A congressionally-mandated team working on assisted reproductive technology  the most common type being in vitro fertilization  was also a casualty of the layoffs.

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While some conservatives support the cuts as part of an overarching goal of shrinking the federal government, others fear it could weaken public health policy efforts that align with their values. Trump has made boosting birth rates and access to IVF a key plank in his agenda, referring to himself as the fertilization president, during a Womens History event at the White House in March. And in February, Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to IVF and reducing out-of-pocket costs.

But those critical of the cuts are largely reluctant to criticize the Trump administration to avoid jeopardizing higher-profile goals, like reinstating strict FDA regulations on the abortion drug mifepristone.

One leader at a national anti-abortion organization, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive dynamics without upsetting allies in the Trump administration, said while he personally was "really sad to see" the programs eliminated, neither he nor anyone else he knows in the movement is planning to speak out against them.

"We can't just be the party of cutting," this leader said. "We also need to support life and support women."

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Mayra Rodriguez, state director for the anti-abortion group Moms for Arizona, said when she voted for Trump she hoped he would purge federal agencies of ideological bias  not cut maternal and infant health research.

"Their data needs to be better, but again, it is their data that has helped us pass a lot of legislation that protects life, said Rodriguez, who worked for Planned Parenthood before joining the anti-abortion movement.

Rodriguez said the CDCs abortion surveillance report has helped identify the gaps and inconsistencies in state-level abortion reporting, aiding the passage of legislation that monitors post-abortion complications among women.

She pointed to an Arizona law passed in 2018 that revised the states abortion reporting requirements, mandating health care providers to report specific complications, including incomplete abortion retaining part of the fetus requiring reevacuation.

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"If we truly care about women and children, we need the data to improve health outcomes, and removing groups or organizations that do that contradicts the pro-life stance that we value both the mother and the child, she said.

For now, the divisions Maternal and Infant Health branch remains  spared from the layoffs. But according to an HHS announcement about the department restructuring, the so-called Administration for a Healthy America will tackle maternal and child health issues, leaving the future of the branch uncertain. One former staffer warned that the remaining employees cant absorb the lost workload.

"They won't be able to do it, the staffer said. There are so few experts in this topic area throughout the country  they don't have the time or ability or institutional knowledge to continue these programs.

Alice Miranda Ollstein contributed to this report.
Theres a fundamental challenge facing the nascent trade deal the United States and United Kingdom just unveiled: Neither country trusts the man behind it.

A wide majority of American and British adults support their governments reaching a deal, according to a POLITICO-Public First poll conducted last month, but less than one-third of respondents in the U.K. and 44 percent of Americans said they believed President Donald Trump would abide by it. Nearly half of Americans, including 25 percent of his own voters, said Trumps unpredictability is the biggest barrier to negotiations.

The poll offers a sobering assessment of how Trumps whiplash-inducing approach to tariffs has eroded the United States credibility in other countries  a warning for the White House that its combative approach is pushing longtime allies toward its biggest economic rival: China.

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After all, the U.K. deal is among the easiest to broker of the dozens the Trump administration is scurrying to complete by July 8. The administration announced Thursday an agreement that will lower tariffs on British-made cars, plane parts, and steel and aluminum and open up the British market for American agricultural products, ethanol and machinery. But the agreement also dodged some of the thorniest trade issues between the two countries. And it was reached with a partner, the U.K., that has been working on striking a trade deal with the U.S. since the first Trump administration.

The POLITICO-Public First poll found that nearly half of Americans agree that the U.K. is the most important country for the United States to have as an ally  but only one in five say its the most important country to have a good trade deal with. And the specifics of the deal did not bother Americans, who generally supported any deal that did not introduce new tariffs, giving the administration room to maneuver on a deal.

But even as Trump takes a victory lap, the poll found serious warning signs about how Trumps approach to tariffs is damaging the U.S. image both at home and abroad. A 42 percent plurality of British adults said that China would be a more reliable trading partner than the United States  with a majority citing Trumps unpredictability as the top pitfall in any deal. That sentiment was particularly strong among young people, raising questions about the countrys future standing: A majority of U.K. adults younger than 34 said China is the more stable partner.

China is looking a lot better these days, given that theyre not unilaterally and without provocation lashing out at even folks they thought were their closest allies and trading partners, said Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute.

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The news that the United States is nearing a deal with the United Kingdom is likely to be welcomed by adults in both countries.



A majority of American and British adults surveyed by London-based pollster Public First for POLITICO last month said they support their governments reaching a trade deal and agreed that the bilateral relationship is important not just on economic terms but also for national security.

The online poll of about 2,000 adults in each country was conducted from April 23 to 27.

While Trump largely spared the U.K. from his harshest tariffs  in large part because the U.S. ran a trade surplus with Britain in 2024  the British automobile and steel sectors were hit hard by Trumps 25 percent tariffs that went into effect earlier this spring. The U.K. exported $11.8 billion in automobiles to the U.S. in 2024, and the U.S. is Britains second most important export market for steel.

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The framework announced Thursday will provide tariff relief for those sectors but also comes with a guarantee that the U.K. will open its market to billions in U.S. agriculture, ethanol and machinery.

I think that it's a great deal for both parties, Trump said. It is for us. We've opened up, I didn't know how closed it was, quite closed, the market, the U.K. And it opens up a tremendous market for us, and it works out very well.

American adults did not have strong feelings about possible elements of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal. Asked about a variety of options, Americans said they were willing to accept them without strong preferences.

But theres deep-seated doubt among Americans about whether Trump would stick to his agreement: 47 percent said Trumps unpredictability is the biggest barrier to negotiations between the U.K. and U.S., and 42 percent said they would not trust Trump to abide by a trade deal, including 11 percent of his own supporters and 36 percent of Independents.

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The poll also shows the White House has not really sold the American public on Trump's aggressive use of tariffs or broader trade agenda.

Just 34 percent of American respondents said they supported Trumps decision to impose duties on other countries. Only 25 percent of independents supported raising tariffs, while 48 percent were opposed.

Trump has gone after nearly every country in the world with new tariffs but has saved some of his sharpest salvos for key allies like the European Union and Canada. The presidents brash approach has been coupled with high tariffs on critical manufacturing sectors and a threat of sweeping global tariffs of up to 50 percent on some rising Asian economies that are strategically important to U.S. efforts to cut down Chinas influence and economic power.



While Trump paused his most severe tariffs for 90 days, critics have warned his trade agenda, including his willingness to start and stop tariffs on a whim, will drive those countries toward Beijing, a finding borne out in the new polling.

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China has engaged in a charm offensive with other countries as it seeks to position itself as a better trading partner as Trump tears up agreement after agreement. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited several Asian countries to discuss economic partnerships shortly after Trump unveiled his sweeping April 2 tariff regime, and his government has also made overtures about expanding trade ties with the European Union.

While their economic rivalry has intensified, the worlds two largest economies are still deeply intertwined, and the ongoing trade war is threatening to do deep damage to the U.S. economy, driving up the price of goods like automobiles, clothes and toys, while risking product disruptions should the tariff wall between the two countries stretch on deeper into the summer.

China and the U.S. are set to begin talks this weekend, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has made clear there is still a long, uncertain road ahead.

I think there is a lot of quite reasonable uncertainty out there, said Ed Gresser, a former official in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative now at the Progressive Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. And thats having its effects.
A diver died on Friday during preliminary operations to recover British tech tycoon Mike Lynchs superyacht from the waters off the coast of northern Sicily, local police said.

The 56-meter-long (184-foot) Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it was likely hit by a downburst, a very strong downward wind, killing seven people, including Lynch and his daughter Hannah.

The accident happened on Friday happened while the diver was underwater in Porticello, police said, adding that the precise cause of death was still unknown.

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The attempt to lift the yacht off the sea bed is expected later this month and should help shed light on how a supposedly unsinkable vessel disappeared into the sea.

Italian news agencies reported that the diver was a 39-year-old Dutch national who worked for the Dutch specialist salvage company Hebo Maritiemservice.

Hebo was not immediately available for comment.

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A diver died on Friday during preliminary operations to recover a superyacht belonging to Mike Lynch, the British tech tycoon, off the coast of northern Sicily, local police said.

The 56-metre-long (184ft) Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it was probably hit by a downburst, a very strong downward wind, killing seven people, including Lynch and his daughter Hannah.

The diving accident happened on Friday while the diver was underwater in Porticello, police said, adding that the precise cause of death was still unknown.

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The attempt to lift the yacht off the seabed is expected later this month and should help shed light on how a supposedly unsinkable vessel disappeared into the sea.

The Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, killing Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah - PA Media

Italian news agencies reported that the diver was a 39-year-old Dutch national who worked for Hebo Maritiemservice, a Dutch specialist salvage company. Hebo was not immediately available for comment.

The complex salvage mission involves a remote-controlled saw chopping through the 72m (237ft) mast of the Bayesian, which has been lying on its starboard side 50 metres below the seabed.

Salvage workers will use an undersea drone with laser scanners to pinpoint the yacht and conduct checks to ensure it is not leaking the 18,000 litres of fuel still inside the vessel.

The operation will also involve two barges.

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The first is a 55m-long (186ft) craft called Hebo Lift 2, which has a 700 square metre (840 square yard) deck with a crane, specialist diving equipment and a remotely operated underwater vehicle.

The second, Hebo Lift 10, is one of Europes largest floating cranes. Weighing 5,695 gross tons, it will lift the yacht out of the water using its 83m (274ft) crane.

The 56m (183ft) Bayesian was built by Perini Navi, an Italian shipyard, in 2008. Last year, Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive and founder of its parent company, the Italian Sea Group, said the yacht was unsinkable.

He suggested that doors or hatches must have been left open and has threatened legal action after some experts suggested the huge mast may have been a factor.

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People watch a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 8, 2025. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua)

Military personnel march during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 8, 2025. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua)

Military personnel march during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 8, 2025. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua)

Military personnel attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 8, 2025. (Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic/Handout via Xinhua)
DES MOINES, Iowa  The Des Moines Police Department has released the name of the man killed in a single-vehicle southside crash on Thursday.

According to the DMPD, at approximately 2:31 p.m., DMPD officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 6500 block of Bloomfield Road. Officers arrived and found the vehicle had left the roadway and struck a utility pole.

DMPD says woman abandoned pets, one who was found dead, after eviction

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The driver, 60-year-old Jerome Cook, was announced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Cook was driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix northbound on Bloomfield Road at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and crashed into the utility pole, according to the DMPD.

The Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit continues a technical investigation into the crash. Thursdays crash is Des Moines fourth fatal crash of 2025.

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On 22 February 1498, a well-weathered mid-40s Christopher Columbus ordained in writing that his estate in the Italian port city of Genoa would be maintained for his family "because from it I came and in it I was born".

Though most historians regard the document to be a cut-and-dried record of the famed explorer's birthplace, some have questioned its authenticity and wondered if there's more to the story.

Last year, a decades-long investigation led by forensics scientist Jose Antonio Lorente from the University of Granada in Spain came out in support of claims that Columbus may not be of Italian heritage after all, but was actually born somewhere in Spain to parents of Jewish ancestry.

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The revelation was announced in October as part of a special program broadcast in Spain to celebrate Columbus's arrival in the New World on 12 October 1492.

It's important to keep in mind that science by media ought to be viewed with caution, especially when there isn't a peer-reviewed publication to critically examine.

"Unfortunately, from a scientific point of view, we can't really evaluate what was in the documentary because they offered no data from the analysis whatsoever," former director of Spain's National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Antonio Alonso, told Manuel Ansede and Nuno Dominguez at the Spanish news service, El Pais.

"My conclusion is that the documentary never shows Columbus's DNA and, as scientists, we don't know what analysis was undertaken."

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Nonetheless, historical documents are increasingly being challenged  and bolstered  by forensic analyses of biological records, raising the possibility that Columbus's own DNA could potentially reveal insights into his family history.

Based on interpretations of records written when he was an adult, the man known throughout much of the western world by the anglicized name Christopher Columbus was born Cristoforo Columbo sometime between late August and late October in 1451 in Genoa, the bustling capital of the northwestern Italian region of Liguria.

It was only later in life as a young man in his twenties that he traveled west to Lisbon, Portugal, in search of affluent patrons who might fund his audacious attempt to take a 'short cut' to the east by heading in completely the other direction.

Christopher Columbus House in Genoa, Italy, an 18th-century reconstruction of the house in which Columbus grew up. The original was likely destroyed during the 1684 bombardment of Genoa. ( Ettorre (gregorio)/CC BY-SA 4.0/ Wikimedia Commons

Though most historians accept the court documents placing his birthplace in Genoa as the real-deal, speculation of an alternative heritage has been floated for decades.

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One persistent rumor maintains Columbus was covertly Jewish, born in Spain at a time of intense religious persecution and ethnic cleansing. Supporters of the claim cite curious abnormalities in his will and interpretations of the syntax in his letters.

Now, it appears his own genes may provide a new line of evidence.

Lorente and his team of researchers claimed in the televised special that their analysis of Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA taken from the remains of Columbus's son Ferdinand and brother Diego is compatible with a Spanish or Sephardic Jewish heritage.

This doesn't categorically rule out Genoa, of course, nor does it pin down any one place in Europe as a place of birth for the explorer.

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Indeed, Jews exiled from Spain at the end of the 15th century just as Columbus was making his landmark voyage flooded into the Italian city seeking asylum, albeit with few succeeding.

But any merit to Lorente's findings would make Columbus's Italian origin a little harder to support, raising questions of how somebody of Sephardic Jewish heritage would come to be born in Genoa in the 1450s.

Painting of Christopher Columbus at the gates of the monastery of Santa Maria de la Rabida with one of his sons. ( Benet Mercade/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

For the findings to become widely adopted, the results would need to be carefully scrutinized, if not convincingly replicated in detail.

Even then, there's more to an individual's story than genetics  leaving open the case of how an individual from a persecuted minority truly came to represent the spearhead of Spanish expansion.

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For now, the story of Columbus remains one of an Italian sailor who caught the eye of Spanish royalty, who came to be both celebrated and scorned for the mark he inadvertently made on history far from that "noble and powerful city by the sea", his home of Genoa.

An earlier version of this article was published in October 2024.

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This story is a collaboration with Biography.com



As the nation is gripped by the upcoming trial in the case of the Long Island Serial Killer, a surprising breakthrough has come along regarding possible additional victims. Two bodies found 14 years apart near Long Islands Gilgo Beach have finally been identifiedand even more shockingly, theyre connected.

A dismembered adult body found in Hempstead Lake State Park, which had commonly been referred to as Peaches due to a tattoo of the fruit being one of the only defining characteristics to remain, has been identified through DNA analysis as 26-year-old Tanya Jackson. The body of a 2 year old child found roughly 20 miles away from Jackson has been identified as her daughter, Tatiana Dykes. Now, investigators are trying to determine how these two victims died, and if they are connected to killings suspect Rex Heuermann is currently accused of having committed.

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When a story of modern forensic technology leading to a breakthrough in a cold case comes along, its common for historians and true crime enthusiasts alike to wonder what would have happened if this tech had been around during some of the more infamous crimes of past eras. It raises the question: Could the cutting-edge DNA analysis currently being deployed in the Gilgo Beach case have securedor even overturnedthe verdicts in some of the most infamous trials of the past century?

According to a report in Long Islands Newsday, some believe it still could.

Could DNA Analysis Solve the Crime of the Century?

Bettmann - Getty Images

In what was called the Crime of the Century, the child of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and held for ransom on March 1, 1932. The childs dead body would ultimately be recovered not far from Lindberghs New Jersey home from which they had first been absconded. A German immigrant named Bruno Hauptmann was ultimately convicted of the kidnapping in 1935 and subsequently executed. But with a trial that hinged on elements like analysis of the wood grain of a ladder, some observers (both then and now) have been unconvinced of Hauptmanns guiltor, at the very least, are convinced Hauptmann did not act alone.

Now, as Newsday notes, three of those doubters have come forward with a lawsuit, seeking to utilize the same modern DNA analysis technology deployed to identify the potential victims of the Gilgo Beach killings to re-examine 90-year-old evidence from the Lindbergh case.

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The plaintiffs want access to certain pieces of evidencenamely several envelopes that contain the original ransom notes, Newsday wrote, [...] so they can submit the stamps and adhesives for forensic testing to possibly identify others involved in the crime and prove a conspiracy.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, comprised of an American history professor at the University of Kansas, a retired New Jersey teacher, and a developmental psychologist, hope to recover DNA from the adhesive materials in much the same manner as investigators were able to recover samples from the heavily degraded bodies on that Long Island beach. In a statement for the court filing, genetic genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick remarked that it has only been recently that DNA testing and analysis have evolved with the potential of testing those envelopes to produce definitive investigative leads that could resolve lingering uncertainties.

While not one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Fitzpatrick spoke to Newsday about the intended goal of the suit, stating that in essence, genetic genealogy could allow researchers to backtrack through public databases to find other modern-day relatives of any potential and long-dead coconspirators in the kidnapping. She notes that DNA had previously been extracted from 19th century envelopes, so such an effort is not without precedent.

The attorney who filed the complaint, Kurt W. Perhach, asserts that such analysis could clarify if Hauptmann had assistance in the crime, including (possibly) an accomplice close to the Lindbergh family. There are far too many circumstantial things [in] this case, Perhach wrote, to have any possible belief that one strange person acted alone.

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May 8MORRISON  Five days before a Rock Falls man's murder trial is set to begin, Whiteside County's state's attorney is asking to delay the trial because her office continues to wait for DNA test results held up in the Illinois State Police crime lab.

Whiteside County State's Attorney Colleen Buckwalter's motion to continue Kyle Cooper's first-degree murder trial was met with pushback from defense attorney James Mertes at a hearing Thursday, during which he vehemently opposed delaying the trial and argued that the state's inability to "get its act together" to get DNA testing done is not reason enough to push proceedings into June.

Cooper is charged in the Feb. 14 stabbing death of Daniel J. Gordon during an early-morning confrontation in a Rock Falls home's driveway. Cooper and Gordon knew each other because Cooper's previous girlfriend was dating Gordon. The woman was with Gordon the night of Feb. 13, when they crossed paths with Cooper while out in the Rock Fall bar scene that night and began feuding.

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[ Rock Falls fatal stabbing trial delayed until May ]

Gordon, 27, was found unresponsive with multiple abdominal stab wounds about 2 a.m. Feb. 14 in the 600 block of West 20th Street in Rock Falls after Cooper and Gordon fought in a driveway, police said. Gordon died later that day at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, according to officials.

Cooper, 36, was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery in connection with Gordon's death.

In laying out details of the state's case in late February, Whiteside County Assistant State's Attorney Ryan Simon said Cooper was taken into custody in the hours after Gordon was stabbed.

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Cooper, wearing blood-stained clothes, turned himself in at the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office later that morning and was charged with aggravated battery, police said. He was formally charged four days later with murder and an additional count of aggravated battery.

He pleaded not guilty, demanded a speedy trial and has been detained in the Whiteside County Jail since his arrest.

During the hourlong hearing Thursday, Whiteside County Circuit Court Judge James Heuerman sifted through layers of issues regarding the case, including whether the trial should be delayed to June 10 at the state's request because the test results have not been completed.

The main issue concerning the delay  and who is at fault for the absent lab results  hinges on a consumptive testing order Heuerman issued in April in response to a motion made earlier by Mertes.

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Consumptive testing happens when bodily fluid evidence tests leave little to no remaining sample after testing is complete. The Whiteside County State's Attorney's Office requested at an April 4 hearing that Heuerman allow consumptive testing, after which Mertes followed up with his request to allow a defense designee to be there to videotape the procedure. Mertes said he wanted that safeguard in place "to protect the due process and rights of the defendant."

Mertes said it is important to memorialize such testing through video and sought to have a designee of the defense present at the testing to be done on DNA and blood samples collected from Cooper's vehicle and a bloody pair of pants he was wearing when he turned himself in at the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office in the hours after the stabbing.

Mertes, at that time, said that in previous cases in which consumptive testing was allowed, the ISP refused to let a defendant's designee observe, even after a judge ruled that a designee would be allowed in.

Simon responded at that time that the ISP doesn't want someone in the lab video recording out of concern that they could contaminate the lab. He said the ISP would want someone who understands the testing process and can follow lab protocols, such as making sure they are not recording testing in other cases.

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Heuerman, on April 4, granted Simon's request for consumptive testing on the five pieces of evidence, then followed up with granting Mertes' motion for video recording, but imposed conditions that the video be done by an employee of the Illinois State Police Department of Forensics, not a defense designee. That video, which would not contain audio, would then be given to the state's attorney's office, which would disclose it to the defense.

"Whether they'll do it or not, we'll find out," Heuerman said of the ISP at that time.

In fact, after receiving the order, the ISP turned the matter over to its legal department, Simon said Thursday. He said the director of the department told him she is doing everything she can to move forward with the testing. The Illinois Attorney General's Office, in the meantime, filed a petition to intervene in the case on behalf of the ISP. Whether that will be allowed will be determined at a May 9 hearing in Heuerman's courtroom.

Buckwalter, just days away from trial, told Heuerman on Thursday that she doesn't control the state crime lab and, because of that, does not have the results. She said moving the trial to June 10 still keeps it three days under the 120-day speedy trial deadline. She also requested to extend that deadline, weaving in an argument about the Safe-T Act's guidelines. Heuerman said the request was not necessary because she was under the 120-day deadline.

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He was concerned, he said, that at the time charges were filed in February, Buckwalter could have asked for more time based on the nature of the case, and by not asking then, she signified she could be ready within the 120 days.

Mertes at one point countered Buckwalter's motion by saying that her office could have looked at bringing in an independent lab to do the testing and that while she doesn't run the lab, per se, as the chief law enforcement officer of the county she does have control over law enforcement agencies and getting the evidence testing done.

Mertes also contended that Buckwalter must provide a step-by-step account of how she tried to get the testing done as a way to prove that there was good cause to delay the trial date until June.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Heuerman said he would rule on whether to delay the trial to June 10 right after the intervener hearing on Friday. He also is expected to hear and rule on several motions in limine regarding the trial.

If he decides the trial will start May 13, any remaining motion work will be done Monday afternoon.
DODGE CITY, Kan. (KSNW)  Dodge City pet owners, take note: Fido and Fluffy will soon need a tiny piece of tech to stay street legal.

At Monday nights City Commission meeting, officials approved an ordinance requiring all cats and dogs registered within city limits to be microchipped. The goal? To help reunite lost pets with their owners and promote responsible pet ownership across the community.

Microchipping is a simple procedure where a chip about the size of a grain of rice is inserted under a pets skin, typically between the shoulder blades. The chip contains the owners contact information and can be scanned by animal shelters and vets, but its not a GPS tracker.

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Plane hits car in Reno County; no injuries

The city says the change will assist animal control and local shelters in quickly identifying lost pets, making the process of getting them home much smoother. Similar ordinances have already been adopted in other Kansas cities, including Wichita.

Dodge City says pet owners are responsible for the cost of microchipping, which typically runs between $40 and $83. Local veterinary clinics and animal care facilities offer the service.

For more information on the ordinance or how to register your pet, contact Dodge City Animal Control at 620-225-1567 or visit them at 104 N. 14th Ave.

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For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
PAYNE COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Federal budget cuts could be hitting several Oklahoma organizations hard, leaving two groups in Payne County who help domestic violence victims and at-risk youth worried.

Janet Fultz is the executive director of Payne County Youth Services, a nonprofit that provides emergency shelter and interventions for Oklahoma kids ages seven to 17.

We provide a lot of mental health and substance abuse counseling across Payne County, said Fultz. Not only are our programs at risk of being reduced, but also having to reduce some staffing positions.

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Fultz said most of their funding comes from federal grants that are disappearing.

Shes been monitoring the online portal for grant applications that no longer exist.

At this point, were having to assume that those grants are not going to be available to us through federal dollars, said Fultz.

Its also a major worry for Brandi White.

Oklahoma lawmaker battling breast cancer stunned after Stitt vetoes bill requiring insurance to cover cancer screenings

White is the executive director for Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services, a domestic violence shelter for woman and children.

We also have counseling programs for prevention programs. We have court advocates on site, said White.

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Together the two organizations are awarded around $1 million in federal funding, which is about one third of their overall budget.

We really have no guarantees that all of that funding will be coming back again, said White. Its definitely just a trend that has us concerned.

The directors said local donations are unlikely to fill the void, but they know the needs of Oklahomans in crisis are only increasing.

When we start making cuts to programs, it does affect your community, said White. It does affect the women and the kids and the victims in your community at a level that maybe people dont understand.

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News 4 reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Department of Justice regarding the possible cuts, but did not hear back.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFRV)  A Colorado man, and former youth pastor in central Wisconsin, has pleaded guilty after allegedly assaulting a child between September 2002 and December 2003.

According to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), 53-year-old James Lane was charged with one count of Repeated Sexual Assault of a Child, stemming from a report made to the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative.

Lane pleaded guilty on April 8. He faces up to 40 years in prison, and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 3.

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Volatile standoff continues as extremely dangerous, heavily armed man not leaving Wisconsin residence

At the time of the incidents, Lane was reportedly a youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church located in Wisconsin Rapids. Lane is alleged to have assaulted the victim in his vehicle when he was reportedly driving the victim home.

When interviewed by Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation special agents, Lane allegedly stated that he had a relationship with a girl in the youth group that got inappropriate.

Before reporting the alleged assault through the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative, authorities say that the victim had not reported any incidents to either the church or law enforcement.

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Person who died in jail identified as man who killed Wisconsin doctor on a walk with her family

As this conviction shows, the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative is continuing to have an impact, said AG Kaul. Thank you to the courageous survivor whose decision to make a report has led to accountability for the defendant.

Survivors of clergy or faith leader abuse, their friends and family, or anyone who has information about how a religious organization has responded to reported abuse are encouraged to report that information to Wisconsin DOJ either online at SupportSurvivors.widoj.gov or by calling 1-877-222-2620. Wisconsin Department of Justice

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.
Fresh off of the swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Jason House, the Dolton Village Board has approved several new appointments Wednesday, including cutting ties with the village administrator and bringing on a chief of staff.

The board also agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a 2023 police shooting that resulted in a mans death.

The board also appointed a new public works director and hiring a public relations firm and media director.

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House said he received some 50 resumes from people interested in filling key roles in village government, including about 20 who want to become the villages new police chief.

He said he and trustees want to be thorough in filling jobs, including police chief, and said he is heartened by the number of potential applicants.

We have had the blighted image as a community, House said Thursday morning. Its encouraging to see so many people willing to work with the community.

Keith Freeman will transition out of his job as Doltons village administrator, being replaced immediately by Charles Walls, House said. Walls will be paid $100,000 annually, the mayor said.

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House said he received three resumes from people interested in being administrator, and that Walls, a Dolton resident, has an extensive history in banking, a masters degree in public administration and I have known him personally for 30 years.

House said Freeman will assist in the transition to Walls but that, within 30 days, Freeman will no longer be part of the administration.

Under former Mayor Tiffany Henyard, trustees had resisted her repeated efforts to dump Freeman.

In April of last year, Freeman was charged with bankruptcy fraud in a federal indictment, accused of making false statements in his bankruptcy.

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The Orland Park resident pleaded not guilty and a status hearing in the matter is set for June 10. According to a filing in the case, it was stated April 9 that plea discussions are ongoing.

House said he did not believe that federal case was a factor in the boards decision to cut ties with Freeman.

Before his election as mayor, House said trustees were concerned that if Freeman was to have been let go without justification, Dolton would be open to a possible whistleblower lawsuit.

He said Thursday Freemans job performance was not sub-par, and that the board is working with its attorneys regarding any possible lawsuit.

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Freeman was seen as an ally of Henyard, and that led to what House called an adversarial relationship between the administrator and trustees.

That has changed in the past months, and Freeman has been nothing short of professional and courteous, House said.

The board voted to hire the law firm Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath, as village attorneys. The firm has been legislative counsel to trustees.

A chief of staff to the mayor, Samysha Williams, was approved Wednesday, with the village resident and former village employee to be paid $75,000 annually, House said.

Williams previously ran for village trustee, and filed a defamation lawsuit against Henyard in February 2024.

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Darryl Bunch, whos worked for the villages Public Works Department more than 50 years and lives in the village, was named public works superintendent.

The board approved hiring a public relations consultant, High Society Management, which did media work for the House-led Clean House 2025 ticket that ousted Henyard.

The firm will be paid a retainer of $4,000 monthly, according to an agreement approved by trustees.

Following a closed session, the board approved an out-of-court settlement with the estate of Destinie Hall, stemming from the April 2023 shooting death of Timothy McDaniel Hardy.

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According to Michael McGrath, partner in Odelson, Murphey, the $150,000 settlement will be paid in two installments. He said Hardy was the father of a child with Hall.

McGrath said police were called at 5 a.m. to a home on 144th Place for a report of an unwanted subject, and found a male apparently asleep in a vehicle in the rear yard of the house.

Police said Hall told them Hardy had been stalking and harassing her, and had been at the home and left, McGrath said.

McGrath said officers around the vehicle, saw a firearm in the sleeping mans lap and police ordered him to put his hands on the steering wheel when the engine began to rev up.

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The man, later identified as Hardy, complied with the request but then dropped his hands toward his lap where the gun was, which police interpreted as a threat and shot at him through the drivers side window, McGrath said.

Because it was an officer-involved shooting, state police took part in the investigation into the death of Hardy, of Gary, Indiana.

McGrath said the board also settled a lawsuit filed against the village by the Better Government Association regarding access to village records through the states Freedom of Information Act.

The board also approved business and liquor licenses for several businesses that had been held up.

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Trustees said previously they had received complaints from some businesses about excessive delays in getting license renewals under Henyards administration.

Licenses approved Wednesday included a Checkers restaurant on Sibley Boulevard, Fifth Third Bank, the White Castle on Sibley off the Bishop Ford Freeway, and Keiths Auto Repair on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Domestic violence services are in jeopardy, providers say

K.C., a stay-at-home mother in North Canton, Ohio, knew her husband had hidden multiple guns around their home. He never pointed the weapons at her, but he routinely invoked them to silence her during arguments.

"I was always living in fear, walking on eggshells, having to do everything to make him happy and just not saying anything to upset him," said K.C., who asked to be identified only by her initials because of safety concerns.

In 2023, days after her husband sexually assaulted her, K.C. said that she discovered a loaded pistol in the closet and two shotguns in the attic. With no family or friends to turn to, she started calling domestic violence shelters, eventually finding a room at the Hope and Healing Resource Center in Akron.

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"It literally was my saving grace," K.C. said. "If I didn't have Hope and Healinga place to go, a place of refugeI would be on the streets."

Now, services like these are on the chopping block, a potential casualty of President Donald Trump's effort to shrink the federal government, The Trace reports. Domestic violence groups, already stretched thin, warn that looming cuts to federal grants, coupled with a dwindling federal workforce, are likely to gut resources for survivors seeking to escape abusers.

After the Trump administration imposed a widespread pause on federal grants and loans in January, the Office of Violence Against Women, or OVW, abruptly scrubbed its website of grant opportunities and told organizations not to bother finalizing applications.

OVW is one of the largest sources of federal grants to combat domestic abuse. Between 2021 and 2025, the office doled out $2.2 billion to support crisis hotlines, provide mental health counseling, and help survivors secure housing. Federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to resume funding to existing grantees, but the president has appealed those rulings, putting the program's future in limbo.

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"We may be able to breathe in this moment, but we're also holding our breath simultaneously," said Anastacia Snyder, the executive director of Catalyst, a domestic violence group in Northern California. "What this did was sow the seeds of fear and chaos into the fabric of our services."

Adding to the uncertainty is the Republican spending package Congress passed in March. Pushed through with some Democratic support to avert a government shutdown, the package empowered the Trump administration to cancel or redirect federal dollars. Domestic violence groups are now bracing for the possibility that Trump will stop the OVW funding once the existing grants expire at the end of the fiscal year in September.

"You have to reapply every year for those awards," said Jennifer Pollitt Hill, executive director of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Abuse. "Without those federal funds, most agencies will cease to exist entirely."

The Justice Department, which oversees the OVW, declined to comment.

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Domestic violence groups say the funding uncertainty has them weighing layoffs, reduced hours, and shelter closures.

Artika Roller, the executive director of Cornerstone Advocacy Service in Minnesota, said her group may have to close its shelter, displacing approximately 30 survivors. "If those services are not available for victims and survivors, then they may have to make decisions of staying with someone that is doing harm," she said.

The turmoil coincides with a Trump administration push to establish a process for people with criminal convictions, including those for domestic abuse, to legally own guns again. Federal law bars gun ownership by people found guilty of felonies or certain misdemeanor domestic violence crimes. But a rule the Justice Department proposed in March would allow the attorney general to restore gun rights based on a person's "past criminal activity and their subsequent and current law-abiding behavior." On April 3, The New York Times reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi had approved allowing the actor Mel Gibson to own guns again after he pleaded no contest in 2011 to misdemeanor battery against a former girlfriend.

Domestic violence advocates have decried the proposed rule. "It's taken us decades to get to the place where we recognize the risk associated with firearms, and I cannot fathom making a decision that would undo that," said Anna Harper, the executive vice president of Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse in Tucson.

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About 75 percent$7 millionof the Emerge Center's annual budget comes from federal funding, Harper said. That money supports a range of services, including a program in which the center works with police and the local domestic violence court to monitor gun-related cases. An OVW grant pays for court advocates to shepherd the survivors through the legal system and create safety plans when their abusers are about to regain access to guns.

Harper now says she might have to lay off the advocates. "When we talk about intervening and domestic violence fatalities," Harper said, "those advocates and the services they provide are really critical."

While groups are seeking to court new donors, Leeann Luna, the CEO of Monarch Services, a domestic violence group in Santa Cruz County, California, said there is not enough private funding to go around. "Unfortunately, it's really tricky because, while we are creating partnerships and relationships for funding with, say, private foundations, it still isn't going to rise to the amount that the federal government gives us," she said.

Even if the White House renews the grant programs, Luna said the administration's staffing cuts could hinder groups' access to the money. "All of these grants are reimbursement-based," she said. "If he (Trump) continues to let people go, is that going to then impact our ability to receive payment in a timely manner, or even at all?"

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Several advocates expressed concern about federal funding losses jeopardizing efforts to disarm abusers. In January, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, published a study showing that 85 percent of men who self-reported committing domestic abuse also owned a gun. Previous research has found that abusers with access to firearms are five times more likely to kill their partners.

OVW has funded programs to help survivors obtain court orders to temporarily remove guns from their abusers. But Jennifer Wagman, co-associate director of UCLA's Center for Gender and Health Justice, said many survivors are still unaware of the process, and even when such orders are issued, enforcement is lackluster.

"These funding cuts can make an already challenged system even less effective," Wagman said.

At the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, where K.C. received help, CEO Teresa Stafford-Wright, said her group was trying to reapply for funding for its court program when the grant opportunities disappeared from OVW's website. Now, she is worried about keeping that program running.

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"We are already at capacity with the work that we're doing with the funding that we have," Stafford-Wright said.

K.C. credits Hope And Healing with landing her a job and an apartment for her and her kids. Without federal funding, she said, other survivors won't get the help they need.

"Nobody should continue to live in abuse," she said. "Pulling funding definitely would alter the dynamics and enable abusers to continue the cycle over and over."

This story was produced by The Trace and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Donald Trump has opened up about the news of a new Pope!

The president gave his much-awaited reaction to the emergence of the latest Pope and seemed satisfied with the process leading up to it.

Cardinal Robert Prevost breaks history as the first-ever American Pope, and President Donald Trump couldn't be happier. The election of a new Pope comes two weeks after Pope Francis' burial in Vatican City.

President Donald Trump Can't Wait To Meet The New Pope

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

On May 8, following the announcement that the papal conclave had elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new Pope, Trump expressed his enthusiasm on social media.

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He congratulated Prevost, highlighting the significance of his selection as the first American Pope and emphasizing it as a great honor for the country.

"It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!" Trump wrote.

The momentous occasion was marked by the sight of white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the end of the two-day conclave. The protodeacon of the College of Cardinals then emerged on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to announce "habemus papam," meaning "we have a pope."

PEOPLE reported that Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, addressed the crowd for the first time, extending a message of peace.

The POTUS Always Rooted For An American As Leader Of The Catholic Church

Samuel Corum - Pool via CNP / MEGA

The new Pope was born in Chicago and began his religious journey there. He has dual citizenship in the United States and Peru, where he previously served before being appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023.

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Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, Trump humorously suggested that he would consider nominating himself for the papacy, while expressing a desire for an American pope.

While he referenced a cardinal from New York, likely Archbishop Timothy Dolan, he acknowledged the improbability of an American being elected as Pope. Other religious experts also indicated that the United States' significant global influence makes such an appointment unlikely.

Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, a professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University, stated that the chances of an American pope are minimal.

Trump Uploaded A Controversial Image Of Himself As The Pope

As reported by The Blast, the politician lived up to his words and went on full pope mode on his social media handle. Trump's actions stirred significant controversy after sharing an AI-generated image of himself depicted as the Pope.

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The image, which showed him in traditional papal attire with a raised finger, was posted on his Truth Social account without any accompanying caption. The official White House X account also shared the image, amplifying the reaction online.

This incident follows closely after the burial of Pope Francis and just days ahead of the Catholic Church's upcoming election for a new pope. Many users expressed disappointment with Trump's actions, especially since he had previously joked about wanting to be a pope.

Social Media Users Slammed Donald Trump's Stunt

Aaron Schwartz / CNP / MEGA

Trump's act sparked significant backlash on social media, with many users expressing their discontent at his alleged disrespect for the church.

Critics described the controversial AI image as very disrespectful and a reflection of arrogance. One commenter noted that such behavior lacks statesmanship and reveals a troubling self-importance.

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Another user described the post as a "baneful" statement from the U.S. government, criticizing the administration's apparent disregard for shame and moral values. Additionally, a third commentator condemned the act as disgraceful.

The commenter stressed that his actions damage America's reputation internationally, particularly among the Catholic community still mourning the loss of a beloved religious leader.

How Is A New Pope Selected In The Catholic Church?

KCS Presse / MEGA

The late Vatican City sovereign leader was interred on April 26, attended by numerous world leaders, including Trump in flesh. Unsurprisingly, the president faced criticism for allegedly violating the dress code at the funeral.

Following the burial, the conclave to elect the next Pope commenced on May 7. This significant election, which has lasted through the ages, involves around 100 cardinal electors who will gather in the sealed Sistine Chapel to cast their votes secretly.

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A two-thirds majority is required to elect the new Pope, marking the 267th leader in the history of the Catholic Church. Strict protocols are in place to prevent any communication with the outside world during this process.

Once elected, the new Pope accepts his name and role, receives homage, and delivers the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, thereby officially assuming authority over the Catholic Church.

Congratulations to the new Pope and may his reign be blissful!
BUDAPEST, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has expelled two Ukrainian diplomats accused of conducting espionage under diplomatic cover, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Friday.

Szijjarto confirmed that the two expelled diplomats were stationed at the Ukrainian Embassy in Budapest.

The expulsion follows a recent move by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) to detain two individuals allegedly linked to a Hungarian intelligence network operating in western Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian media reports, the network was reportedly collecting sensitive military data in the Zakarpattia region, which is home to an ethnic Hungarian population. Authorities described the incident as the first of its kind in Ukraine's history.

"The agents gathered data on Zakarpattia's military defenses, looked for vulnerabilities, and analyzed how locals might react if Hungarian troops entered the region," the Kyiv Post reported.

Szijjarto described the expulsion as a response to what he called "ongoing smear campaigns" against Hungary by Ukrainian authorities. He emphasized that Hungary continues to support peace and has consistently refused to send military aid to Ukraine or become involved in the conflict with Russia. 
Donald Trump has tapped Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to serve as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.

Pirro is the latest Fox News figure to get a spot in the administration, following figures like Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy.

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Pirro is a co-host of The Five, the most watched show on cable news. She hosted the networks weekend show Justice with Judge Jeanine from 2011 to 2022.

On Fox News Special Report, anchor Bret Baier said that Pirro will be leaving Fox News to take the position. Obviously we wish her well, he said.

Baier: One of the co-hosts of "The Five Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. She will be leaving Fox to take this position and we obviously wish her well. pic.twitter.com/r5NTLtyAJy  Acyn (@Acyn) May 8, 2025

Trump wrote on Truth Social, I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Jeanine was Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York, and then went on to serve as County Judge, and District Attorney, where she was the first woman ever to be elected to those positions. During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime. Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutors Office was the first in the Nation. She excelled in all ways. In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television. Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself.

Pirro has been one of Trumps steadfast defenders, on her own show and on The Five. Like the president, she redefined her career on reality TV, hosting the CW show Judge Jeanine Pirro from 2008 to 2011, as Trump was on The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice. She was among the Fox News personalities whose amplification of unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential election were part of Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against the network. The lawsuit was settled for $787.5 million.

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Trumps appointment of Pirro came hours after he indicated that he was withdrawing the nomination of Ed Martin to take the position as U.S. attorney permanently. Martin, who has been interim U.S. attorney, faced a doubtful confirmation after a key Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), said that he would vote against the pick.

CNN reported last week that Martin had appeared on a podcast hosted by a white nationalist, and Democrats had seized on his praise of Janaury 6th defendant Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who prosecutors described as a Nazi sympathizer with a history of anti-semitic remarks.

Pirros role will have a set time frame. Interim U.S. attorneys can serve 120 days before they either have to depart the position or secure Senate confirmation after nomination by the president.

A Fox News spokesperson said, Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The new head of the federal agency tasked with responding to disasters across the country warned staff in a meeting Friday not to try to impede upcoming changes, saying that I will run right over you while also suggesting policy changes that would push more responsibilities to the states.

David Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, was named acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday just after Cameron Hamilton, who'd been leading the agency, also in an acting role, was fired.

Richardson has been the Department of Homeland Securitys assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction. He does not appear to have any experience in managing natural disasters, but in an early morning call with the entire agency staff he said that the agency would stick to its mission and said he'd be the one interpreting any guidance from President Donald Trump.

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Prefacing his comments with the words Now this is the tough part, Richardson said during the call with staffers across the thousands-strong agency that he understands people can be nervous during times of change. But he had a warning for those who might not like the changes  a group he estimated to be about 20% of any organization.

Dont get in my way if youre those 20% of the people," he said. I know all the tricks.

Obfuscation. Delay. Undermining. If youre one of those 20% of the people and you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not because I will run right over you, he said. I will achieve the presidents intent. I am as bent on achieving the presidents intent as I was on making sure that I did my duty when I took my Marines to Iraq.

He previewed what might be ahead

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Richardson also reminded staff that FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security: Don't forget that.

In a preview of what might be coming in terms of changes in policy, Richardson also said there would be more cost-sharing with the states.

Were going to find out how to do things better, and were going find out how to push things down to the states that should be done at the state level. Also going to find out how we can do more cost sharing with the states, he said.

This issue  how much states, as opposed to the federal government, should pay for disaster recovery  has been a growing concern, especially at a time of an increasing number of natural disasters that often require Congress to repeatedly replenish the federal fund that pays for recovery.

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But states often argue that they are already paying for most disaster recoveries on their own and are only going to the federal government for those events truly outside of their ability to respond.

Richardson did not take questions from the staff members, saying he wanted them to first read memos he was going to be sending out later Friday. He planned a town hall next week, when he will take questions from the staff.

A 'mission analysis is planned for FEMA

In the memos obtained by The Associated Press, Richardson told the agency it would be conducting a Mission Analysis" of the organization to identify redundancies and inefficiencies" while also clarifying the organization's core mission and deterring mission creep.

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He also listed tasks to be accomplished in the coming weeks  including providing internal assessments of the agency's preparedness for 2025; a list of all known gaps in preparedness or core capabilities"; a list of lessons learned from past disasters; and an overview of disaster aid before FEMA's existence and the role of states and the federal government coordinating disaster management.

He said he was honored to be in the role, leading an organization he described as an unwieldy beast.

Richardson arrives at FEMA at a time of immense turmoil and as it prepares for hurricane season, an extremely busy time for the agency.

Trump, a Republican, has suggested abolishing FEMA and providing money directly to states to manage. He has established a review council tasked with reforming and streamlining the nations emergency management and disaster response system." The 13-member council is chaired by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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Homeland Security has not said specifically why Hamilton was removed from his position. But his dismissal came one day after he appeared before a House subcommittee where he was asked about plans to eliminate FEMA and said he did not believe the agency should be eliminated.

Having said that, Hamilton continued, Im not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination such as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Friday about Hamilton's firing and suggested it was related to his congressional testimony, but didn't specify exactly what it was that he said that led to his dismissal.

This individual testified saying something that was contrary to what the president believes and the goals of this administration in regards to FEMA policy. So of course we want to makes sure that people in every position are advancing the administrations goals," she said.

___

Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this story.
(WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano has already won one Republican gubernatorial primary, and he thinks he could win again.

Mastriano has been publicly weighing whether to mount a second campaign for Governor in 2026. He says his team is still in place from the 2022 run, where he won a nine-candidate primary with 44%, but lost to Josh Shapiro (D) by 800,000 votes.

This week, Mastriano said if he enters the Republican primary race, were gonna win it.

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A retired Army colonel and combat veteran, Mastriano says hes done an after action review on his 2022 loss and says hes identified several places where we missed strategically.

Mastriano has also noted that he would support mail-in voting in a potential gubernatorial run, noting he lost a significant portion of the non-Election Day voting in 2022. While he has not made a final decision on whether to run, Mastriano has previously said he and his wife are praying over the decision.

Congressman Dan Meuser, who represents more than a dozen counties in Pennsylvanias central and northeast regions, acknowledged earlier this month that he is considering a run for Governor.

Congressman Dan Meuser has said he is also considering a run for Governor and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity has ramped up fundraising while saying she will make a decision on a potential gubernatorial run in a few months.

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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 ABC27.
NEW YORK  Dozens of Columbia University students were temporarily suspended as of Friday for their alleged involvement with a brief takeover of the main campus library in a pro-Palestinian protest, The New York Daily News has learned.

At least 65 Columbia students were placed on interim suspension pending further investigation, according to a university official. Another 33 people, including students at affiliated institutions such as Barnard College, have been barred from campus, as have alumni, the person said.

A Columbia webpage on school rules  launched in the aftermath of pro-Palestinian protests on campus  said a school official, known as the Rules Administrator, immediately began an investigation on Wednesday after students occupied Butler Library ahead of final exams.

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The Rules of University Conduct seek to balance protecting free expression and achievement of Columbias academic mission, read the update on Friday. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of the core principles of the Rules of University Conduct.

Eighty protesters were taken into custody while police cleared Butler. A group of demonstrators left the library before the New York Police Department entered under the condition students identified themselves.

The swift crackdown on student protesters came as Columbia is in active negotiations with the Trump administration over $400 million in canceled grants over allegations it did not do enough to protect Jewish students from harassment. Among the federal governments conditions for resuming talks was meaningful discipline, which it defined as expulsions or multi-year suspensions.

In the quick action, Columbia and Barnard reportedly suspended a number of student journalists, who were at the library to cover the protests, according to campus newspaper Columbia Spectator. Those suspensions were reversed but could have a chilling effect on press freedom  with student reporters being the only media regularly permitted on campus, which remains closed to the public.

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Columbias response on Wednesday marked a shift in strategy for the university, which required students show IDs before leaving the library or face arrest. Either way, Columbia could more easily identify the protesters, much to the advantage of disciplinarians looking to move fast. It took about 11 months for the university to finish the disciplinary process for the Hamilton Hall occupiers.

That is done with the expectation of putting sanctions on people, said a Columbia Ph.D. student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. If you can identify them, you can punish them.

She pointed to the tight security measures requiring students to show IDs at the gates: Assuming those processes are working as they should be, theres no concern these are people coming onto the campus unauthorized.

Neither Columbia nor the NYPD shared how many of those arrested were students, though the number of suspensions suggested that many had ties to the university despite claims of a significant presence of individuals not affiliated with the University.

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The students were trying to leave the library, said a Columbia library-goer, who also declined to give her name. The public security officers wouldnt let them leave until they showed their IDs. They werent going to do that.

Final exams at Columbia started on Friday.

_____

(New York Daily News Kerry Burke contributed to this article.)

_____
Dozens of EU foreign ministers and diplomats are meeting in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Friday in a show of support for Ukraine on Europe Day.

"It is important and symbolic that the European partners are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine on Europe Day," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram after talks with top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas.

May 9 celebrates peace and unity in Europe, and this year marks 75 years since a landmark proposal that is seen as laying the foundations of European cooperation.

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According to Ukrainian sources, 35 top European representatives were in attendance in Lviv, including new German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

At a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lychakiv Cemetery, the diplomats commemorated the Ukrainians killed since the Russian invasion in 2022.

The programme included discussions on the situation at the front line and on the need for further arms for Kiev.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said talks would also focus on the creation of a special tribunal to try Russian leaders.

Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Kiev has been working on the creation of a special tribunal, modelled on the Nuremberg trials, to hold the Russian leadership under President Vladimir Putin to account.
Above the shimmering waters of Salt River Projects Granite Reef Diversion Dam, a scenic view of Red Mountain is on full display, but below the surface, a dirty problem grows.

As the key piece of infrastructure diverts water from the Verde and Salt Rivers into the regions canal system, sand and sediment continually build up until they spill into the canals.

SRP now has a new tool for cleaning the dam: a state-of-the-art dredge to suck up the piles of sand. The dredge acts like a pool cleaner, stirring up the underwater sediment before vacuuming it to the surface.

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By removing the sediment, the dredge ensures that water can be delivered cleanly and efficiently into SRPs canals, which provide water to about 2.5 million Phoenix-area residents. Without removal, the sediment can spill into the canals, increasing water treatment costs and leading to canal closures.

Along with limiting the amount of water that can be held behind the dam, the piles of sediment also allow fast-growing underwater vegetation to accumulate near the waters surface, which can also affect dam operations. To combat the vegetation, SRP workers use equipment that works like an underwater lawnmower to cut and collect the growth.

The new dredge was installed with a 500-ton crane in February, replacing an old dredge that was installed over 70 years ago, in 1954. The new dredge is much faster than the old model.

The old one could pull out about 200 tons of material in a week's time. This one can do 8,000 tons in a week. So it's a big difference, said Jeff Conyers, a dredge operator who has worked at Granite Reef for over 15 years.

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Water delivery system: SRP's 'smallest employees' are relocated during annual canal cleanup

Unlike most dredges, which are diesel-powered, the new model is completely electric with upgraded computer screens and a mapping system that allows operators to see the areas of the dam that need dredging. It was also built with food-safe equipment to ensure there is no degradation to the water quality.

The wildlife and fish are minimally affected by the dredge, according to Conyers, who often sees fish and ducks feeding near the machine as it operates.

As the auger sweeps the bottom of the reservoir, dirt and water are vacuumed up through a series of pipes into a nearby basin, where the sand and silt are separated from the water. As the water is channeled back into the reservoir, a sand plant company collects the sediment left behind and processes it for sale to companies like Home Depot and concrete businesses.

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For the public, the best way to contribute to the work of the dredge is to keep the river clean. Large debris, like bed sheets used for tubing, can drift downstream to the dam and get tangled in the dredge auger causing a delay in operations.

John Leos covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to john.leos@arizonarepublic.com.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SRP installs new dredge at Granite Reef Dam, clearing canal water
Halt the margaritas! Two of your favorite tequila brands are in hot water. A class action lawsuit is alleging that Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas "consist of significant concentrations of cane or other types of alcohol rather than pure tequila." You're telling me we're possibly being duped by big tequila? Say it ain't so!

The proposed class-action lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, goes on to allege that both brands fail to meet the regulatory requirements to label themselves as "100% agave" in Mexico and the United States, even though they carry that distinction on their labels. This is important because, according to Mexican law, tequilas that are marked as "100% agave" must be produced exclusively from Blue Weber agave grown in designated regions of Mexico.

Food & Wine explains that while tequila regulations do permit a small amount of flavoringup to one percent of the total volumethe inclusion of alcohol from sources other than Blue Weber agave, such as cane spirits, is strictly prohibited.

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The lawsuit claims that Casamigos and Don Julio contain significant amounts of non-agave alcohols, despite being labeled as 100% agave. Customers named in the suit claim that they purchased the products under the assumption that the tequilas were made exclusively from Blue Weber agave, and paid prices reflective of that premium designation. The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages on behalf of consumers, along with an injunction to halt Diageothe brands' parent companyfrom allegedly "deceptive advertising practices."

The plaintiffs also point to wider economic damage, claiming that the use of less expensive alcohol alternatives has hurt small agave farmers in Mexico by lowering the market price of agave.

Diageo has denied the allegations and stated that both brands comply with U.S. and Mexican regulatory standards. The company also maintains that the tequilas are certified by Mexicos tequila regulatory body, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT).

Looks like I'm strictly a Patron girly for the time being.

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An Alsace Township man was arrested Thursday after allegedly shooting a BB gun at another driver during a road rage incident.

Daniel Iezzi, 61, of the first block of Hemlock Lane remained free following arraignment Thursday in front of District Judge Kyley Scott in Reading Central Court on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, possessing an instrument of crime, discharging an air rifle on a highway, disorderly conduct and harassment.

According to state police:

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Troopers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Pricetown Road in Alsace Township about 5:15 p.m. for a report of a road range incident involving a firearm.

When they arrived, the troopers spoke to the victim who told them he had gotten into an argument with the driver of another vehicle. The victim said the other driver turned left in front of him in an unsafe manner.

During the argument, the other driver pulled out what appeared to be a gun and fired five or six shots in his direction. The victim was not hit.

Police found the vehicle involved in the incident parked outside a nearby residence. They spoke to Iezzi, who admitted firing several shots at the victim with a BB gun.

The weapon was found inside Iezzis home and he was taken into custody.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A driver was injured after pulling in front of another vehicle in south Abilene Friday afternoon.

The accident happened on the 4400 block of Southwest Drive around 3:00 p.m.

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Police at the scene told KTAB and KRBC a truck pulled out of the Walmart parking lot onto Southwest Drive and crashed into another truck that was pulling a trailer.

The driver of the truck that pulled out into traffic was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. He was alert at the time of transport.

No further information is available at this time, but the investigation is ongoing. Check back with BigCountryHomepage.com for additional details.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
MADRID, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) claimed a narrow sprint victory in Stage 6 of the Vuelta Femenina (Women's Tour of Spain) on Friday.

Vos edged out compatriot Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) in a photo finish after the 126.7-kilometer stage from Becerril de Campos to Baltanas, northwest of Madrid. New Zealand's Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) completed the podium on a predominantly flat stage that favored sprinters.

Liane Lippert (Movistar) attempted a surprise attack on an uphill section 14 km from the finish, prompting Vos, overall leader Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) to collaborate to reel her in. Lippert launched another attack but was again neutralized by Vos and Bredewold, who retained enough energy to dominate the uphill sprint.

"I'm very happy, and exhausted, to be honest. We knew as a team that today was a chance for us, we wanted to go all-in, and we did. In the end it was really close, so I'm happy I could just take it," said Vos post-race.

The green jersey holder added that the stage featured "long, straight, open roads with not a lot of wind, but enough wind to make it hard." 
May 8HENRYVILLE TOWNSHIP  A crash between a pickup and a semitractor reported early Thursday morning in

caused only minor injuries.

According to a news release from the

emergency personnel found a Ford F150 pickup truck rolled over in the ditch on its roof when they arrived to the crash site approximately eight miles south of

A 2018 Freightliner semitractor was located a short distance away on the shoulder of the road on Renville County Road 1, north of the intersection with County Road 4.

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The pickup driver, Ryan Hendrickson, 46, of Richland, Washington, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, according to the news release. Airbags in the pickup deployed.

The semi driver, Wade Hillmer, 43, of

was uninjured.

According to the news release, both drivers were able to exit their own vehicle and were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.

Initial investigation showed that Hendrickson was driving southbound on County Road 1 while Hillmer was traveling north. Hendrickson's vehicle appeared to have drifted into the northbound lane, striking the tires on the semi, which caused the pickup truck to roll over into the ditch, according to the news release.

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The crash reported around 5:46 a.m. Thursday remains under investigation, according to the Renville County Sheriff's Office.

The

Olivia Ambulance, Danube Fire and Rescue and the Danube Medical Response Unit all assisted the Renville County Sheriff's Office at the scene.
Some of the nations small liberal arts colleges arehiring Washington lobbyists for the first time  seeking to distinguish themselves from the Ivy League universities at the center of President Donald Trumps attacks on higher education.

While managing government relations has always been a main responsibility for college presidents, at least five of U.S. News & World Reports top 20 liberal arts colleges have recently hired lobbyists for the first time in their histories, according to lobbying disclosures: Williams College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Davidson College and Washington and Lee University. All five schools declined to comment or did not respond to interview requests.

There are some institutions that have decided that because of the risk, they feel like they need to hire some outside expertise to bolster what theyve already been doing, said Steven Bloom, assistant vice president for government relations at the American Council on Education.

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Firms hired to lobby on education-related issues for those five schools include Lewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College. Holland & Knight has received the largest payday of the firms hired by those five schools, netting $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, according to disclosure reports. The lobbying firms declined or did not respond to requests for comment.

A key factor driving the K Street hires, according to disclosure reports and people familiar with the matter, is worry about an expanded endowment tax  the 1.4 percent tax on university investment income that was first adopted in 2017 to help offset Trumps broader package of tax cuts.

The number of schools paying the tax fluctuates from year to year based on student enrollment and endowment size. Only 56 schools paid the tax in 2023, generating $381 million, according to IRS data.

Due to the way the tax is applied  only to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student  universities with large enrollments can be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations are required to pay.

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House Republicans are considering a major expansion of taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially larger tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth, according to four people granted anonymity to share details of the GOP tax package.

Under the tiered proposal, schools with endowments valued at $750,000 or less per student would be taxed at the current 1.4 percent rate, according to two of those people. Schools with endowments valued between $750,000 to $1 million per student would be taxed at a 10 percent rate and schools with endowments greater than $1 million per student would be taxed at a 20 percent rate. The committees tax bill is not yet finalized and details could still change, the people cautioned. A spokesperson for the committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The existence of a tiered proposal, but not the exact brackets, was first reported by Bloomberg.

Approximately 30 schools concerned about changes to the tax, including some of the small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, have banded together in a consortium to coordinate strategy, according to two people with knowledge of the group granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for it. Schools subject to the tax range in size and dont fall neatly into preexisting higher education trade associations, prompting formation of a group focused on this issue, the people said. The consortium declined to comment.

In recent years, Republican lawmakers have proposed various methods to increase revenue generated by the tax. In 2023, then-Sen. JD Vance proposed raising the tax rate to 35 percent. Another proposal called for foreign students to be excluded from enrollment counts for tax purposes, which would increase the number of schools that qualify.

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For some of the small liberal arts schools hiring their first lobbying firms, one goal is clear: to differentiate themselves from Columbia. Columbia University, which has faced criticism from Republicans for its response to last years pro-Palestine student protests, doesnt currently pay the tax. A desire to adjust the tax criteria to fit Columbia is partially driving the current changes, according to two people granted anonymity to share details of the ongoing discussions.

Id be shocked if they come out of this and arent paying the tax, one of the people said. Columbia declined to comment.

Washington and Lee University, one of the schools that has hired an outside lobbyist for the first time, had no student encampments of the kind seen at Columbia during the protests last year and is emphasizing that contrast to lawmakers, the person said. Washington and Lee has an endowment of nearly $2 billion and is currently subject to the tax.

Wabash College, a small mens college located an hour away from Indianapolis, doesnt currently pay the tax but is on the cusp of qualifying due to its student body of around 850 and its roughly $400 million endowment. The firm Barnes & Thornburg, which has previously handled legal matters for the school, recently registered to lobby for the school for the first time on education and tax policy issues. Barnes & Thornburg did not respond to a request for comment.

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No one that Ive talked to says the endowment tax is really meant to hit Wabash College, said school President Scott Feller. Were an unfortunate side effect, I think, of where our lawmakers want to take this tax bill.

The endowment tax fight comes amid the Trump administrations broader assault on higher education. Trump has cut billions of dollars of grant funding to universities, citing antisemitism on campuses, and required major changes to the way schools operate as a prerequisite for releasing the funds. Harvard University sued over the funding cuts, prompting Trump to declare he would strip the school of its tax exempt status. On Monday, the Education Department banned Harvard from receiving new federal research grants. Some of this is a political attack on higher education, Bloom said.

In this environment, some schools are eager to highlight political differences between themselves and the Ivies in Trumps sights.

I think the best-case scenario is that the difference between our status and those of the top 1 percent will be acknowledged as the law is updated, Feller said, noting Wabash would pay the same tax rate as Harvard under current law despite Harvards endowment being significantly larger.

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Thats where the lobbyists come in.

The work of colleges and universities needs to be explained in plain language, he said. Im a lifelong academic, so I can say academics arent always great at that. I think that its our responsibility, even as a small college, to work with our government relations partners to make sure that the story of Wabash College and other colleges is being told in the language that people can understand.

Benjamin Guggenheim contributed to this report
On a scorching afternoon in Tampa, the Kraken3 Scout Medium uncrewed surface vessel (USV) sped in circles through the harbor, offering a glimpse of its potential to thousands flocking to the annual Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week conference. The demonstration came as the use of USVs, also known as drone boats, was a hot topic of conversation at the conference attended by top spec ops leaders from around the world, thanks largely to Ukraines successful deployment of these weapons against Russian targets.

The 27-foot USV was designed by the British Kraken maritime technology company to carry out a variety of missions. They range from kinetic strike to counter-drone to cargo and personnel delivery, Alex Clark, senior technical director for AV, told us from the SOF Week showroom floor at the Tampa Convention Center. While the vessel was made by Kraken, AV (formerly known as AeroVironment until it merged with BlueHalo) designed the navigation and swarming technology and two different payloads for the USV.

AV

On the day we spoke with Clark, he said a NATO customer was taking delivery of one of the boats. He declined to name the customer.

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The boat is a so-called marsupial USV, with two different compartments designed to carry a variety of payloads. In Tampa, it carried AVs Titan 4 RF detect and defeat counter-drone system, which was also introduced during SOF Week. The Kraken3 can also carry a lot of AVs Switchblade 600 and 300 drones, Clark said. These are tube-launched loitering munitions that can provide reconnaissance or strike capabilities, and have seen service in Ukraine against Russian targets. The 600 variant has a larger warhead and greater range than the 300.

Using AVs proprietary HaloSwarm collaborative autonomy system, Kraken3 Scout can operate fully autonomously or with man-in-the-loop, Clark explained.

We have operated three USVs in the U.K. simultaneously using our HaloSwarm collaborative autonomy, he added.

In Tampa, the boat carried a passenger.

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During the SOF Week demo, our team was able to showcase the versatility of platform control available with the Kraken vessel and AV integrations, including fully autonomous operations, remotely operated operations over vast geographic regions, and pilot bay options, Clark told us. A human was on the boat to demonstrate the pilot bay and to comply with regulatory constraints.

The Kraken3 Scout Medium uncrewed surface vessel (USV) on display at the SOF Week conference in Tampa. (AV)

Clark offered up an example of how the Kraken3 can operate autonomously even with passengers.

Somebody wants to send a boat to an area, but they dont want to deal with docking, so they remotely load the waypoints, he posited. You have a guy that kicks the boat off  and then the boat will navigate where its supposed to go. And when it gets within view of the dock, they berth the boat, get out and unload 

The Kraken3 has four cameras that are just for situational awareness and a user-configurable sensor ball gimbal, Clark continued. This can be a FLIR or any number of other camera systems around the top for spotting longer range.

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As for communications, the systems in use right now are Starlink long-range, HF and 2.4, Clark explained. It can also run over cellular networks. Depends how we have it configured.

A static model of the Kraken3 Scout Medium uncrewed surface vessel (USV) on display at the SOF Week conference in Tampa. (Howard Altman)

In GPS-denied environments, Kraken3 is designed to navigate via the HaloNav Alternative Precision, Navigation and Timing (APNT) system.

The system utilizes sky polarization, solar tracking, lunar tracking, celestial tracking, Inmarsat Satellite positioning, and Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), according to AV. That set up is designed to support navigation of USVs in Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) environments where Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are not available and passive modes of operation are preferred.

That system is accurate to less than 100 meters from a cold start anywhere in the world, AV claims.

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When it comes to range, Kraken3 is capable of traveling 650 nautical miles, with a 600 kilogram payload, at a 35 knot cruise speed and 55 knot surge speed, Clark claimed.

For the one-way kinetic attack configuration against other vessels, Kraken3s terminal seeker utilizes BlueHalos automated target recognition (ATR) system, Clark pointed out, adding that it has a threat library of warships to choose from.

It is my understanding that AV has one of the largest threat libraries in existence, Clark posited.

Though the vessel has the capability to do a terminal one-way mission using full ATR  we would ask to put an operator on the loop for that type of mission, he noted.

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Current U.S. military doctrine requires all autonomous combat systems with deadly abilities to be capable of man-in/on-the-loop control, even just to give approval for engaging targets with deadly force. How long this norm lasts is up for debate, but full autonomy for kinetic weaponry remains a taboo concept within the U.S. military-industrial complex, even though adversaries (and some allies) will have no qualms with allowing weapons to pick their own targets and engage them. And this is already becoming a reality on the battlefield in Ukraine. By allowing these systems to engage on their own, especially when working as a team with other drones, they become far more survivable, deadly, and competitive, but there is a major moral tradeoff in doing so. You can read all about this issue in this previous feature of ours.

Clark laid out the Kraken3s capabilities just days after Ukraine claimed it shot down two Russian Su-30 Flanker multirole fighters with AIM-9 Sidewinders launched from Magura 7 USVs, a story we were the first to report. You can see one of those engagements in the following video.

World first: On May 2, 2025, the @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.



 https://t.co/DXhg74AKcgpic.twitter.com/Z4fP5CFRb8  Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) May 3, 2025

Such a configuration is something that would fit the profile for this type of boat, Clark commented. I dont know that we would do a surface-to-air missile out of this, but were definitely entertaining using the AV Switchblade line of products.

The ongoing fight in the Black Sea between Ukraine and Russia has shown that USVs are vulnerable to manned vessels and aviation assets firing heavy machine guns and other weapons as well as first-person view (FPV) aerial drones. AV has no current plans, however, to add kinetic defensive armament, instead relying on the Titan 4 counter-drone system.

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A day after the SOF Week conference wrapped, GUR posted a new documentary, called Sea Battle. The Age of Drones. It showcases the Ukrainian development of USVs as weapons that helped destroy several Russian vessels and keep the Black Sea Fleet largely at bay. The documentary, by Artem Shevchenko, also introduces some never-before-seen USVs, like one with four rails to launch drones. Ukraine pioneered the operational use of USVs to launch aerial drones. In January, Ukraine claimed it used these vessels to launch FPV drones at Russian targets in Crimea.

GUR is also aiming to create a new USV flotilla with boats ranging from single-use kamikaze drones to reusable platforms for launching drones and for supporting the attack with fire, according to the documentary.

Our sea platform carries from 500 to 3,000 kilograms of various types of weapons  air, surface, underwater. The system uses the latest technologies combined with NATO-style artificial intelligence, says a member of a special forces reconnaissance group working with these drones.

The success of Ukraines USV program was not lost on those planning the future of U.S. SOF naval warfare.

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Weve learned a lot from international partners and current events, Navy Cmdr. Michael Linn said during a PEO Maritime panel at the conference. So I want to make sure that were prioritizing rapid, iterative improvements and adaptations that are critical to success. You know, everyone likely saw the news out of Ukraine  that a Magura 7 USV shot down an SU-30 fighter with a SAM. Thats another major milestone coming out of [Ukraine].

Linn told us that while he is interested in fielding something akin to how Ukraine used a SAM to take down the Flankers, he is not currently in the position to pursue that capability.

Given Ukraines success with USVs, more companies are developing models in what is becoming a growing market segment, of which Kraken3 is just one of a number of offerings.

However, with on-the-water demos and a static mock-up on display at SOF Week, there were certainly a lot of high-ranking international special operations officials who got a chance to learn about Kraken3. Whether that translates into the USV ever becoming a program of record for the U.S. or any other military remains to be seen.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (KCAU)  Dogs are a mans best friend, and thanks to the efforts from the Sergeant Bluff Police Department and a local expert, one dog is wagging his tail happily.

On April 22, Sergeant Bluff police responded to a call regarding a dog on Interstate 29, and he was later found down in the ditch.

So, we had about three days worth of calls. People calling saying there was a dog roaming around the interstate area; 1st Street here in Sergeant Bluff. We were unable to locate it, said Chief Jereme Muller with Sergeant Bluff Police Department.

Later on, we got another call saying a couple of citizens had located the dog down in a culvert down by the interstate, So I responded and I could tell the dog was very ill and in need of some medical assistance, said Officer Andrew Hansen with SBPD.

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Amanda with Forever Wildlife Lodge and Clinic was called to the scene to take a look at the poor pup, and she immediately called up a vet to have him looked at.

He had a lot of stuff in his stomach, so he had been foraging on like roadkill and bones and rocks and things like that, so he had been probably running for quite some time. And so when you have a belly full of that kind of stuff, it can cause major issues, said Amanda Hase, with Forever Wildlife Lodge and Clinic.

Story continues below

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After being hospitalized for a couple of days, Oliver the dog  a mixed pooch  was treated for his condition, turning the once scared dog into a happy-go-lucky guy wanting some toys and pets.

Sadly though, cases like Oliver happen often.

I get calls just almost pretty much weekly, daily on these situations. And so we help where we can, said Hase.

Anyone caught dumping an animal in Iowa could face charges.

It can be up to an aggravated misdemeanor, two years in jail, some fines. And it really depends on the animal when we find them, the condition and the circumstances, said Chief Muller.

No one ever claimed Oliver, so now hes being taken care of while he waits for his forever home.

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Sergeant Bluff police say theyre happy to see the pup happy and full of energy.

Lyon County Sheriffs Office reminds public of womans cold case murder

Makes me feel accomplished [be]cause it kind of shows were not were not just there for people. Were also there for animals and [to] try to take care of everybody in everything that we can, said Officer Hansen.

Its fantastic. Im a dog lover myself, and I think that we should if you have a pet, you should take care of them. And seeing him go from the worst to now his best is rewarding, Muller said.

Oliver is up for adoption, if youre interested in taking home this happy dog, you can call 712-560-2253 and leave a voicemail.

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Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, speaks in the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Legislature is moving rapidly to pass a bill that would force Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration to disclose reports that could show the state settling oil tax disputes for significantly less than what is owed.

This bill shouldnt be necessary, but here we are today, said Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage and chair of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, in a Thursday hearing by the House Rules Committee.

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Either the Department of Revenue has already compiled the information requested in the special audit for its own use and is deliberately withholding it from the legislative auditor, or it has failed to do the basic work of calculating the tax, interest, and penalties assessed for each audit cycle, she said. Frankly, Im not sure which of those scenarios would be more troubling.

The Senate passed Senate Bill 183 on a 19-0 vote Monday. The House of Representatives could vote on it as soon as Friday.

Dunleavy could veto it, allow it to pass into law without his signature, or sign it.

If enacted, it would require the executive branch to disclose information in the form or format requested by legislative auditors.

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Under the Alaska Constitution, the Legislature is responsible for overseeing executive branch operations, but since 2019, the legislative auditor has been unable to properly examine the part of the Department of Revenue that audits tax payments by oil and gas companies.

In the past, the Department of Revenue provided the Legislature with organized summaries showing the total amount of additional tax, interest and penalties assessed for each annual tax cycle, Gray-Jackson said. However, the department now claims it is only required to provide access to raw data, not to compile or categorize information in a usable format, as it had done previously.

Though legislators can examine raw data, they dont have the resources to process them. The change makes analyzing the executive branchs actions impossible, Gray-Jackson said.

Legislators have written letters and asked for access, to no avail.

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Unfortunately, the issue remains unresolved, and the auditor still cannot complete this important audit, which concerns the oversight of billions of dollars in state oil and gas revenue, she said.

Until 2019, the first year of Dunleavys administration, Department of Revenue tax auditors regularly published a memo summarizing total tax and interest assessed after its annual audit cycle.

By combining that information with the amount paid in settlements, lawmakers and the public could see what share of assessed taxes and interest were being paid.

Without the tax and interest information, its not clear how oil companies settlement payments compare with the original state assessments.

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Under the Alaska Constitution, the Legislature is responsible for overseeing executive branch operations, and the memo was part of that oversight.

When the memos stopped, legislative auditors asked for them and were told that they were now confidential.

At the time, members of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee were so concerned that they commissioned a special audit of the executive branchs auditors.

For five years, theyve been unsuccessful. Members of the executive branch say theyre not required to turn over compiled reports, only raw data.

That interpretation overturns long-standing precedent, said legislative auditor Kris Curtis, and it essentially limits the oversight by the Legislature. The fear is that state agencies from here on out will refuse to provide or compile data in any type format for future legislative audits.

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Destin Greeley, an audit supervisor for the Department of Revenue, testified Thursday that providing what Curtis requested is creating this new work product that is very time-consuming and trying to put a square peg in a round hole for us.

Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, said she doesnt understand why that suddenly became difficult for the Department of Revenue to do.

I am not buying your story, and this is a huge red flag for me, she said.

When youve got hundreds of millions of dollars involved, Im worried, Stutes said.

Legislative attorney Emily Nauman said she believes the new bill will resolve the ongoing dispute if the department complies with the law.

If not, she said, the topic could head to the courts.

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BRUSSELS (AP)  Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Friday that NATOs chief wants the 32 member countries to agree to start spending at least 3.5% of gross domestic product on their defense budgets at a summit in the Netherlands next month.

In 2023, as Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its second year, NATO leaders agreed that all allies should spend at least 2% of GDP. They are expected to set a new goal at a meeting in The Hague on June 25.

President Donald Trump insists that U.S. allies should commit to spending at least 5%, but that would require investment at an unprecedented scale. Still, Trump has cast doubt over whether the United States would defend allies that spend too little.

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Schoof told reporters that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has written to the member nations to tell them that he expects the NATO summit to aim for 3.5% hard military spending by 2032.

Rutte also wrote that he expects a commitment to 1.5% related spending such as infrastructure, cybersecurity and things like that. Also achievable by 2032, Schoof said.

While the two figures do add up to 5%, factoring in infrastructure and cybersecurity would change the basis on which NATO calculates defense spending. The seven-year time frame is also short by the alliances usual standards.

Asked at NATOs Brussels headquarters about his demand, Rutte said: Im not going to confirm the figures. He said that there are many rumors floating around as NATO envoys discuss the new spending goal.

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NATO foreign ministers are likely to debate the numbers again at a meeting in Antalya, Turkey next Wednesday and Thursday.

Rutte reaffirmed his public position that if we stick at the 2%, we cannot defend ourselves. So we have to really increase defense spending.

Standing alongside Rutte, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that for Germany currently, each 1% of GDP represents around 45 billion euros ($51 billion). Germany was estimated to have spent 2.1% on its military budget last year, according to NATO figures.

But Merz said that NATO allies also need to discuss infrastructure as well, including civilian infrastructure  roads, bridges, air and seaports  so that armies can move more quickly around Europe, and not just pure military spending.

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It remains difficult to see how many allies might reach even 3.5%. NATOs most recent estimates show that 22 allies would reach the 2% goal last year, compared to a previous forecast of 23.

Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain would not, although Spain does expect to reach the 2% goal in 2025, a year too late.

Even the United States was estimated to have spent 3.19% of GDP in 2024, down from 3.68% a decade ago when all members vowed to increase spending after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Its the only ally whose spending has dropped.

___

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof suggests that Russia may start a war against Northern European countries in a few years, so it is worth preparing for this.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Dutch public broadcaster NOS

Quote from Schoof: "In a few years, Russia could build up sufficient capabilities to potentially start another war, and it could easily be on the European continent."

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Details: He added that he "doesn't want to scare anyone" and there is no certainty about such a scenario, but it should be understood that it is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Schoof also believes that the Netherlands and other European allies should work seriously to prevent this.

Earlier, media reported on Russia's growing activity near the Finnish border, where, in particular, new railway lines have begun to be built.

Background: The Baltic States and Finland have announced or already implemented withdrawal from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

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(KRON)  An East Bay worker who was killed in an industrial accident this week is being remembered by his family as a devoted father who put the needs of others before his own.

The worker was fatally injured at a repaving construction site on Walnut Boulevard in Brentwood on May 5, the Brentwood Police Department said. The accident involved a skid loader, police said, and the worker was pinned by a large piece of machinery.

Telesforo Torres Lopez (Photo courtesy GoFundMe)

Police said the 54-year-old Petaluma man died at the scene. A verified GoFundMe page created by his daughter, Salma, identified the victim as Telesforo Torres Lopez.

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My dad was our everything. Someone that helped others without judgment and never expected anything in return. Even after having worked long hours in the scorching sun, if he would see us come home in a bad mood he would hug and baby us until he managed to squeeze a smile out of us. He would serve us a cup of water, happily cut up an orange and caress our face while he listened to our problems. He would give us his comforting advice, Lopezs daughter wrote.

Telesforo Torres Lopez (Photo courtesy GoFundMe)

Lopez found joy in working hard for his family, and he took his final breath doing so, Salma wrote.

To help raise funds for his funeral, the GoFundMe page is requesting for donations. Its been very difficult for me, my mom and sister to come to terms with his death and accept that he is no longer with us. Any support is greatly appreciated, the victims daughter wrote.

Forklift operator crushed at Windsor wine facility

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The Contra Costa County Coroners Office and OSHA officials are investigating the workplace fatal accident.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Aurora police say there are no injuries reported as officers investigate a call of shots fired near East Middle School, which resulted in the school being placed on lockdown.

The call came in to the department at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, with the shots fired reported near the intersection of 13th Avenue and Fraser Street.

Free on Your TV  New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV

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East Middle School was placed on lockdown out of an abundance of caution for the safety of students and staff, according to the Aurora Police Department. The lockdown was lifted as of 4:30 p.m. and the school said that it would begin a controlled release of the students.

The agency reported a large police presence in the area for an active, ongoing investigation.

FOX31 has a crew on the way to learn more information about this incident, such as if there was any property damage and if there are suspects.

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Students learn Chinese fan dance during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

Students attend a Chinese calligraphy workshop during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

A student attends a woodblock printing workshop during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

Noah Eskinazi-Nehme, a student from City of London School, speaks during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

Students learn opera facial mask painting during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

A student attends a Chinese calligraphy workshop during an event marking Chinese Language Day in London, Britain, on May 8, 2025. An event marking this year's Chinese Language Day was held on Thursday in London, bringing together around 100 students from six schools across Britain to celebrate the Chinese language and culture. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  An East Tennessee pastor who was abducted at gunpoint from the pulpit in South Africa has returned home and is sharing his story of faith and how a miracle unfolded after six days of being held captive.

Josh Sullivan, 34, his wife Meagan and their six children have been living in South Africas Eastern Cape providence, where they are church planting missionaries and lead a life on a mission to share the gospel. The Sullivans sat down with 6 News Lori Tucker, saying that as they shared their story of Joshs kidnapping and rescue, they wanted to be intentional to keep the focus on the sovereign hand of God that got them through.

Report identifies teens who died after jumping from I-75 bridge in Loudon County

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On April 10, Josh Sullivan was preaching at a prayer meeting when four armed men broke into the Fellowship Baptist Church in the Motherwell Township. Meagan Sullivan recounted how many thoughts when through her mind in the first few moments, quickly shifting from excitement to see men coming to the church, which is mainly attended by women and children, to noticing that the men had firearms, and then again to the realization that they may be robbed soon. Josh Sullivan explained that the men came in a few minutes into the service.

I assumed they all had guns, but we definitely saw two different guns because one came to me and one came to her. We originally thought they were going to rob us  that happens, unfortunately, a lot in our area  so I was prepared to give them my phone and iPad. But then once he hit me over the head with his gun, I knew this was not a normal robbery. Josh Sullivan said.

Josh Sullivan said his eyes went black for a moment, and he wondered what happened because he didnt see it coming.

Then I heard my wife speaking to one of the other individuals, they were looking for the car keys to our vehicle, and then I was on the ground after that, he recalled.

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Ultimately, the men took Josh Sullivan to a location where he was kept for 122 hours. He said the men who kidnapped him were seeking a ransom of 5 million rand, which is worth upwards of $250,000. The couple explained that kidnapping for ransoms in the region are something that seems to be frequent, a statement that aligns with a BBCs report that there has been a dramatic increase in kidnappings for ransom in South Africa over the past decade.

Josh Sullivan recounted that the men who were keeping him offered him food and water frequently, but when it came to the phone calls they had him make for ransom money, they would say things to him to try to make him afraid.

Throughout those six days, Josh Sullivan said it was hard to tell how much time was passing. He knew when the sun rose and set, but other than that, not much happened to show the passing of time. On the final day, he said there were mixed signals from the men on if he would be staying at the home another night or if they would be taking him to another location. That night, another man he had not seen before brought him his shoes and told him they were leaving.

That night, Josh Sullivan described how he felt the hand of the Lord intervene. Before that point, the men had used the shoelaces from Josh Sullivans shoes to bind his hands, so the shoelaces had to be put back into his shoes. Then, as they led him to the vehicle with his head covered, he said he tripped on multiple steps because he could not see where he was going. All these actions slowed down the process, which the men were attempting to make go as quickly as possible. Once they were finally in the vehicle, Josh Sullivans head was in one of the mens laps when shots rang out.

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The South African Police Service previously said that a multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation, known as the Hawks, led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation rescued Josh Sullivan. He explained that the officers who rescued him were actually going to a different location and made a wrong turn. That mistake led officers to the home he was being kept at, where the men who were holding him opened fire. The South African Police Service described what followed as a high-intensity shootout. Once the gunfire ended, an officer checking the scene was surprised to find Josh Sullivan alive and asked if he was the American pastor that had been kidnapped.

Hundreds evacuated, charges pending after gas leak in Maryville

Sullivan described the events that led to his rescue as a miracle, and the sovereign hand of God. Within a few hours, Josh Sullivan was reunited with the rest of his family. The family had been moved to a safe house about an hour away, and Josh Sullivan added that both of his brothers-in-law travelled to South Africa to help look after his family. Meagan Sullivan said while her husband was kept captive, she wrote a letter of all the things he missed. She also said she heard from people in about 10 countries that they were praying for her family, and she knew there were thousands praying for them.

Since his rescue, the family has returned to the United States to rest and recover, but both Josh and Meagan Sullivan said they feel they will go back to South Africa. Josh Sullivan explained they feel strongly that the gospel message needs to be shared in South Africa. Meagan Sullivan added that if she was asked years ago, she would not have believed she would have such a strong love and calling to the people of South Africa, but when her husband is ready, they plan to return to their mission field and continue their lifes work of helping save souls.

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Those interested in supporting the Sullivans can visit www.three2thrive.org. The family also shares prayer letters and more information about their work on their website, sullivansinsouthafrica.weebly.com.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK) Smith County received a tornado warning alert Tuesday afternoon, but the City of Tyler did not turn on their sirens because there was not an immediate threat to the area.

Severe storm devastates East Texas, cleanup efforts underway

The Tyler Police Department is in control of the sirens and said they watch the radar, wind speeds and what their officers are seeing on the ground to determine if the sirens should go off.

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We send officers out to certain parts all over the city to start looking outside. We take what people see outside in addition to what we see on the radar and what we see is wind speed. We take a lot of these things into consideration, Tyler Police Department spokesperson, Andy Erbaugh.

The National Weather Service sends out the weather alerts to phones to counties, but Tyler PD is responsible for any dangers for the city itself.

Erbaugh said his department wants to make sure all of the weather ingredients align before the alarm sounds and people get worried.

The NOAA in Fort Worth reiterated the Outdoor Weather Siren is not just for tornadoes, but for high wind speeds and large hail.

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Theyre actually called outdoor warning sirens because theyre meant to warn those who are outdoors. For DFW, there are some areas that dont just sound the sirens for tornadoes. They issue them for high enough wind speeds and large enough hail, so any kind of damaging storm, lets see, Meteorologist Allison Prater said.

The City of Troup turned on its alarms on Tuesday.

The NOAA recommends people have multiple ways to receive an alert, because some people indoors may not hear the sirens.

Were definitely wanted people to not rely on outdoor warning sirens alone, especially if youre indoors because sometimes you cant always hear them. Make sure you have your phone on with the severe weather alerts, use your media, use the news stations, use the weather radio, so all you have all those different sources for your disposal, Prater said.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Eastern Shipbuilding Groups Coastline Initiative challenges students from local schools to design and build artificial reefs.

Participating teams from Wewahitchka High School, Port St. Joe High School, Haney Technical College, and Chipola College had three months to get their projects off the ground.

To meet regulations, they had to submit a plan to Eastern Shipbuilding to get approved through the permitting process.

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Students gained hands-on experience in welding and marine engineering, preparing them for future careers in skilled trades.

Theres several trades involved. And its not only welding, you know, their steel, this fabrication. Theres the engineering side of it, designed the whole creativity aspect of design is a whole issue of its own, Eastern Shipbuilding Group Director of Operations England Reeves said.

Navy acquires Barefoot Palms property for base expansion plans

Eastern Shipbuilding Group donated the scrap material and equipment needed for the reefs. And they stopped by the schools to meet with students.

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We get some face-to-face time with the students, which I think it makes a difference. You know, it really engages them. And they see industry partners, you know, real-life stuff happening outside of the school system. These industry partners coming inside the school and meeting, discussing, going over these plans and in their bill materials and, you know, face to face with students, I dont think they get that much, Reeves said.

The artificial reefs will be going to a permitted zone, 15 to 28 miles offshore from Panama City. They will bring habitats to several local fish species.

The habitat is what the fish like for this area, mainly its what we call a bottom species, snapper or grouper. Amberjack, triggerfish, those species like some kind of structure to live around, either it being like natural structure, like limestone edges or coral reefs, or artificial structure thats manmade that people put out, Bay County Artificial Reef Association Member B.J. Burkett said.

The reefs will sit on display in front of Captain Andersons Marina for a 14 day inspection period that ends May 22. They are reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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After they are approved, they will be deployed by the Bay County Artificial Reef Association.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Thousands of graduates accompanied by their families and friends celebrated East Carolina Universitys Spring graduation ceremony on Friday, May 9th at Dowdy-Ficklen stadium.

Greenville native and ECU alumnus, John May 93, served as the keynote speaker for the commencement ceremony.

May is the founder and managing partner of CORE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm with approximately $2 billion in assets under management. Since its founding in 2017, CORE has become one of the fastest-growing firms in the industry, investing exclusively in lower middle-market manufacturing, industrial technology and industrial services businesses. The firm has offices in Chicago, Austin, Texas, and Cleveland.

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May spoke about leading with your faith, believing in yourself, working hard, and loving those that love you. He said these are all crucial in life and have helped get him where he is today.

Some pirate graduates are staying in Greenville after graduation whether it be working for ECU, a hotel in Greenville, or a remote small business. No matter where the class of 2025 goes, they will have the wind of pirate nation in their sails.

I think that its very surreal for me because Im neurodiverse so I have five learning disabilities and to be able to graduate for my masters degree when people predicted that I wouldnt have gone to college, its a really big deal to me and my family, Lydia Pinto, earning her Masters of Recreation Sciences said.

Pirate nation has given me a wealth of opportunity, study abroad, getting the chance to work for the university full time now and then just meeting so many wonderful people along the way. My biggest piece of advice is networking all the way through. Talk to as many people as you can. Pirate Nation runs deep, and the purple and gold run deep, Meaghan Skelly, earning her Master of Arts and Strategic Communication said.

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Id like to thank my mom and my dad, they helped me through school and life, Justin Livernois, earning his bachelors degree in communications said.

More commencement ceremonies are taking place throughout the day Friday, and into Saturday for the individual colleges and majors. You can find more information on this years commencement and graduates in the video above or here.

Dont miss out on other University Commencement Ceremonies this weekend including UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, and Pitt Community College.

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A Southern California Edison transmission tower that was being removed as part of an investigation into what caused the Eaton fire was damaged Thursday as it was being lifted by a helicopter, officials said.

The damage occurred when the top portion of the tower came into contact with power lines, as it was being lifted, said David Eisenhauer, spokesperson for Southern California Edison.

The tower was one of two structures that were being removed as part of their investigation into the cause of the devastating Eaton fire on Jan. 7. The other idle transmission tower, known as M16T1, or Tower 208 and located at the suspected point of ignition, was removed on Wednesday. It was broken up into two pieces and flown to a landing pad to be transported to a warehouse.

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That tower was removed without incident.

But that was not the case with the second tower, located near Gould substation in La Canada Flintridge.

"We're acknowledging there was some potential damage when an SCE tower was transported via helicopter," Eisenhauer said.

No injuries were reported because of the incident.

Read more: As investigators close in on cause of Eaton fire, activity swirls around Edison lines

It was not immediately clear how much damage was sustained by the tower, or if it would have any impact on the ongoing investigation.

Eisenhauer said the company was still assessing the damage to the tower, which was moved Thursday evening to a landing pad.

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The tower was to be disassembled into three parts, and taken away to be tested Wednesday, but work was paused when the top part came into contact with power lines.

Eisenhauer said the power lines that made contact with the tower were not energized at the time.

While the official cause of the fire is still under investigation by Los Angeles County Fire, Edison International Chief Executive Pedro Pizarro told The Times that induction  a rare occurrence when idle tower and power lines are reenergized  is now a leading theory into how the deadly fire was sparked.

As part of an agreement among SCE, county investigators and a growing list of law firms that have filed suit against the utility giant, the two towers were scheduled to be removed and taken to a warehouse in Irwindale, where they would be tested and examined to look for clues.

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SCE has told state regulators that four lines, including the dormant Mesa-Sylmar line, saw a surge of electrical current about the same time that the fire was started.

The company also detected a fault on the Eagle Rock-Gould line, which also connects to the Gould substation.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
When Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in 1979, an estimated 1.5 million people flocked to see the Holy Father, who said a three-hour Mass in Grant Park. This newspaper called it the largest crowd ever assembled in one place in Chicago history.

And for decades, a visit from the pope felt like the best Chicago Catholics could ever hope for.

Thursday, one of Chicagos sons was elected pope in the Sistine Chapel. Few in his hometown could have imagined such an honor.

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Thursday was a historic day not just for our city but for our country. In the Catholic Churchs 2,000-year history, Leo XIV is our first U.S. pontiff.

The news from Rome came as a shock after just over 24 hours of deliberation within the conclave. Thanks to the movie Conclave, many of us had expected the wait to be far longer. Either way, the conventional wisdom was that an American pope was out of the question. Prevost was considered a long shot by conclave watchers. (For whatever its worth, the gambling world placed long odds on a Prevost win, with at least two bettors bringing in over $50,000 on news of the new popes selection.)

The new Holy Fathers first words to the public in his new role were, Peace be with all of you!  a blessing he imparted to crowds of the faithful from the Central Loggia of St. Peters Basilica.

Yet before being named Leo, Robert Prevost was a Chicago boy.

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The new pope was born in 1955 and raised in Dolton just south of Chicago city limits, to parents of French, Italian and Spanish descent. Prevost studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers before attending Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1977 and also pursued studies in philosophy, according to the Vaticans announcement. He went on to study theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Prevost was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1982.

Prevost spent nearly two decades in missionary service in Peru, beginning in 1985 with roles such as parochial vicar and chancellor in Chulucanas, and later director of formation for Augustinian aspirants in Trujillo. After a period back in the United States, he returned in 2014 as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, becoming its bishop the following year and serving until 2023. In recognition of his deep ties to the country, he was granted Peruvian citizenship in 2015. He was bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015 to 2023, and ordained a cardinal in 2024.

So what can we expect from Prevost? His Augustinian roots suggest discipline and seriousness. And his Chicago roots, say we, imply tenacity, strength and fearlessness.

Prevost is viewed as more of a centrist than Pope Francis, though he espouses many of the same compassionate positions as his predecessor, especially championing the causes of migrants and the poor. On other issues, such as womens role in the church, we hear that Leo holds traditional views  again, in line with Pope Francis, who, for example, opposed ordaining women as deacons.

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Hopeful Catholics regard as Leo as a potential unifier of the church. He already has sent that message.

God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail, he said Thursday in his first appearance as pontiff. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward.

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Well find out more about Leos vision for his pontificate and the church in the days to come. For now, we celebrate, and our imaginations abound with what this historic news could mean for a city that needs a shot in the arm. As white smoke erupted, memes and reactions flooded phones on the shores of Lake Michigan.

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A particular favorite among this board is that the new Popemobile will be a CTA bus.

The Chicago Cubs were quick to lay claim to Leos potential allegiance, especially since he was a son of the South Side. By Thursday afternoon, the Wrigley Field marquee proudly announced, Hey, Chicago, Hes a Cubs fan!

Not only would we welcome Pope Leo XIV to Wrigley Field, he could sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said in a hastily released statement. Dont hold your breath for the Pope singing about Cracker Jack. But Ricketts other suggestion has more of a chance of bearing fruit. Maybe the Cubs, perennially in need of divine intervention, will now have a new pal in a high place.

Since three of his predecessors visited Yankee Stadium, including Pope Paul VI, who delivered the 1965 Sermon on the Mound, we would invite the Pontiff to do the same at the Friendly Confines, Ricketts said, delivering an immediate invitation. Perhaps a double-header.

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Out in the suburbs, meanwhile, an Itasca billboard along I-290 lit up the words Da Pope against a Chicago Bears backdrop of blue and orange.

As a fellow Chicagoan, his appointment brings an extra joy to me, said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, speaking for most all of us.

Mayor Brandon Johnson got in on the news, borrowing from the Chicago historian Sherman Dilla Thomas: Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon, Johnson wrote on X.

One devout Chicago Catholic told us she felt the decision is divine providence, trusting that Leos ascent is nothing short of the will of God.

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We dont pretend to know the will of God but we do wish that Leo will bring honor to our city, and give us an infusion of good news, goodwill and the catalyzing hope our city so sorely needs.

Chicagos name gets kicked around a lot, dragged by people politically invested in our failure or decline. Now, along with having molded a two-term American president in Barack Obama, Chicago will further be known internationally as the city that nurtured a head of the Catholic Church.

What a great day for Chicago. What a special day for our strong Catholic community.

Prevost was a long-shot contender for the biggest job in the Catholic world. We Chicagoans love a good underdog. We wouldnt have had it any other way.

Welcome and God bless you, Pope Leo XIV. Come home soon.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
State Education Board member Randy Henderson (left) and Education Secretary Jacob Oliva (right) listen to public testimony during a state board meeting on Mar. 9, 2023. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas education secretary notified the state education board Thursday of his intent to recommend a Level 5  Intensive Support classification for the Blytheville School District due to ongoing academic and administrative challenges.

Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said, with the boards support, hed like to schedule a special board meeting in Blytheville in the next two to three weeks so they can hear from community members and formally recommend increasing the districts current Level 4 classification to the highest level of state support.

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This is a school district where theres opportunities for students and families to be very successful. There is no reason that this school district should continue to be the failure factory that it is, Oliva said. And its becoming more and more apparent the reason theyre in the state they are is because they do lack governance and leadership.

The State Board of Education visited Blytheville in August after being alerted to concerns with the Northeast Arkansas district last July. The district has struggled with declining student enrollment over the last decade, according to Deputy Commissioner Stacy Smith, who provided an overview of Blythevilles situation to the board at its monthly meeting Thursday. The district has 1,260 students this year, about half of its 2014 enrollment.

Students are struggling academically, according to last years statewide testing scores, which showed more than half of students in English language arts and science and 76% of students in math scored in the lowest achievement level, Smith said.

About half of Blythevilles teachers are unlicensed, but the education department has helped them all get on licensure pathways, she said.

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Arkansas Department of Education and Crowleys Ridge Education Service Cooperative staff have provided about 100 and 185 days, respectively, of onsite support and training, Smith said.

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Theres been a dance of inconsistency at the district, which was making progress but now appears to be backsliding, she said. While staff members seem receptive to making changes, Smith said theres dysfunction between the central office and the Blytheville School Board because we dont have the right people in either place.

Since 2018, the district has had two full-time superintendents and three interim superintendents. Jennifer Blankenship was appointed as the current interim superintendent on June 12, 2024. She also served in the interim role from July through December 2021.

After the previous superintendent was officially terminated last August, the board reviewed candidates in late November and decided to keep Blankenship. A consulting firm hired in February presented two of 13 applicants in late April, but the board declined to interview them and reposted the position.

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Our biggest concern at this point is we are in May and we have no superintendent, and we have walked with this district for an entire year providing lots of support, Smith said.

Though the board unanimously agreed to reject the superintendent candidates, Smith said theres a lack of coherence and dysfunction within the board.

When we were there before, much of the public comment in the meeting was about the dysfunction of the board, it wasnt about what was happening in the school, she said. It was about this public image of the board.

State education board members expressed support for Olivas request for the special meeting, including Blytheville native Randy Henderson who said he was very disappointed in the situation. Fellow board member Jeff Wood cautioned his colleagues that upgrading Blythevilles classification to a Level 5 isnt something that should be taken lightly.

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Level 5 intervention rarely has the celebratory results that were looking for on the backside of Level 5; it is not an answer in itself, Wood said. There is still a long road of work ahead even after Level 5 consideration. I would hope for a strong plan, decisive plan, quick action plan because one thing I learned in the Level 5 I lived through is just the slow process of it didnt work.

Wood was appointed in 2016 to serve on the Little Rock School Districts Community Advisory Board when ADE took over that district. When the district was returned to local control in November 2020, Wood was elected to serve on the districts new school board.

The process of considering the classification change must begin with written notification to the Blytheville School District about the intent to recommend the Level 5 classification, Smith said. The district has the right to appeal and ask for a hearing, or the board can make the recommendation without a hearing, she said.

If the classification is approved, the board can determine what sanctions go along with it, such as dissolving the local board or approving a state takeover of the district.

Districts currently under the Level 5 classification are Earle, Lee County, Helena-West Helena and Marvell-Elaine.

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An effort to ask Manchester voters if they support making the school district a department of the city  a topic debated on and off for decades  has new life.

Mayor Jay Ruais broke a 7-7 tie Tuesday night when he voted to send a request  to look at either making the Manchester School District a city department or granting the mayor the power to set the districts budget  to the aldermanic Committee on Administration/Information Systems later this month, ahead of possible placement on the November election ballot.

Voting in favor were aldermen Chris Morgan, Ross Terrio, Ed Sapienza, Norm Vincent, Kelly Thomas, Joe Kelly Levasseur and Crissy Kantor.

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While the school district isnt a city department, aldermen must approve its budget.

Ruais said he recently spoke with the City Clerks Office and several department heads on how such a change would impact them.

The easiest thing to do would be, on the budget side, to give the mayor  whomever that is  budget authority, Ruais said. Merging the entirety of the school district and the city beyond just the budget would require potentially 14 changes to the charter.

He suggested that the administration committee come up with a recommendation about the best direction to pursue.

For the matter to appear on a municipal ballot this November, aldermen will need to take a final vote by June 3.

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This would be a pretty significant lift, and I just think if were going to do this, we should do it thoughtfully and substantively and go through the committee process, Ruais said.

Similar efforts have fallen short over the past 20 years.

In April 2017, Levasseur proposed putting a question on the ballot that, if passed, would have put aldermen in charge of school finances.

That motion initially passed, but a few weeks later aldermen voted to reconsider, ultimately rejecting Levasseurs original motion.

Levasseur said the school district would have better supervision and oversight as a city department.

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More than 20 years ago, the school district filed a petition to determine whether it was a city department. According to Judge Joseph Nadeaus ruling, the school district functions as a substantially independent governmental entity and was not a city department and not under the control of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

In 2001, voters passed by 4,000 votes a city charter amendment changing the school district to a city department. That amendment was later struck down by the courts, which ruled that it violated state law.

The Legislature changed the law in 2003, but attempts to hold another charter vote have foundered  as in 2011, when aldermen voted against scheduling a required public hearing that would put the issue back before voters.

pfeely@unionleader.com
QUITO (Reuters) -Eleven soldiers were killed and one was injured in Ecuador's Amazon region during an armed confrontation with a criminal group, the country's defense ministry said on Friday.

The troops were attacked during an operation targeting illegal mining in the Alto Punino area, the ministry said.

The ambush was carried out by the Comandos de la Frontera, or 'Border Command,' armed group, which used explosives, grenades and rifles during the assault, the ministry said, citing military intelligence.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Fire crews knocked down a house fire Thursday afternoon, May 8, near Album Park in East El Paso.

According to El Paso Fire, the call came in minutes before 1 p.m. on May 8 at the 10300 block of Suewood Court.

The fire was reported as a Condition 2 fire, the Fire Department said.

No injuries were reported, but El Paso Animal Services was called about three dogs at the scene.

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Later, officials said three cats had died due to the fire, and crews located a total of five dogs and one cat near the scene.

El Paso Fire did not say if the dogs or the cat were injured.

The fire was knocked down at roughly 2 p.m., and crews continued to search for hotspots, the Fire Department said.

El Paso Fire did not say how the fire started.

Fire investigators and El Paso Electric will be investigating the incident, El Paso Fire said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
THE HAGUE, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Eindhoven Airport in the southern Dutch province of North Brabant was temporarily closed on Friday morning after a false bomb threat involving a flight bound for the Turkish resort city of Antalya.

The incident began when a 51-year-old woman claimed, prior to departure, that there was a bomb in her luggage, according to airport authorities. However, a subsequent inspection by the bomb squad found no explosives.

The woman was arrested, taken off the plane, and detained. Her motive remains under investigation.

Due to the disruption, one flight was diverted to Weeze Airport in neighboring Germany, about 80 kilometers from Eindhoven, while several other flights were delayed. 
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Catholics around the world are celebrating the historic election of Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church.

Here in the Borderland, many are hopeful that the new pope will carry forward the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, especially when it comes to addressing global issues.

Im excited about it. That we finally have a new pope. What I would love to see is unity and peace across the world, El Paso resident Angie Rodriguez said.

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Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S.-born cardinal to ever lead the Catholic Church. Some observers say this could shape how he engages with global politics, including relations with the Trump administration.

Politically, the outcome in my opinion will probably be a continuation of some of Franciss approaches, Clayton Bench, director of UTEPs Religious Studies, said. Just looking at his background has some traditional leanings too, so I think its significant that the church has chosen someone middle of the road politically.

Some residents, like Claudia Knight, hope Pope Leo XIV continues the humility and compassion that characterized Pope Francis.

I think having come from Latin America is going to make a difference like Pope Francis did. Hopefully (Pope Leo XIV) will be like him, so humble that he won everybodys hearts, she said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
BANGKOK (AP)  Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn presided Friday over an elaborate annual ceremony that marks the start of the rice-planting season and honors the nation's farmers.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held to read auguries that predict the farming conditions for the year ahead. As is usually the case, good times were predicted, even though Thailand's economy is sluggish.

The King and Queen Suthida were sheltered from the bright sun by ornate umbrellas at the ceremonys traditional venue, Sanam Luang, or Royal Ground, a large field near the Grand Palace in the capital Bangkok.

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According to Thai historians, the ritual goes back some 700 years. Then, as now, the cultivation of rice was central to the countrys culture and economy, and the ceremony is meant to give encouragement to farmers as the new planting season begins.

The ceremony was led by the highest-ranking civil servant in the Agriculture Ministry, serving as the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony. In a colorful traditional costume, he chose from a selection of cloths, and the one he picked was interpreted to signify satisfactory rainfall and an abundant harvest.

In the ceremonys second stage, he anointed the heads of two sacred oxen, who then pulled a plough around a section of the field several times, as he scattered seeds at the front of a small procession with more traditionally garbed participants.

The two oxen, called Por and Piang  which together mean sufficiency  then chose from a selection of food offered by Brahmin priests. The foods chosen were water, grass and liquor, which symbolize adequate water supplies, abundance of food supplies and what was interpreted as good international trade, respectively.

After the departure of the king and queen, onlookers sprinted onto the field to collect the scattered seeds as souvenirs or to add to their own rice stores at home for a meritorious mix.
Elderly people with arthritis and back pain stand to lose the most from Liz Kendalls benefit cuts.

The Work and Pensions Secretarys controversial benefit reforms, which have fuelled outrage among Labours backbench MPs, will hit older people with physical ailments the hardest, analysis shows.

They stand stand to lose 4,500 on average per year if their cases are reassessed, while young people with mental health problems are more likely to be spared.

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It comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Kendall face a growing rebellion over welfare changes announced in March.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), which analysed data from Department for Work and Pensions, people suffering from conditions such as anxiety and depression are also less likely to be affected.

The finding is likely to prove controversial, as Government ministers have repeatedly warned that some young working lives are destined for the scrapheap amid a surge in sickness and disability benefit claims related to mental health.

Ms Kendall meanwhile vowed to protect those who cannot work because of ill health while creating a more pro-work system.

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However, the analysis suggests that those bearing the brunt of tightening criteria to disability benefits  known as personal independence payments (PIP)  will be those struggling with physical pain.

People dealing with back pain, arthritis and other regional musculoskeletal diseases will be among the biggest losers from the changes.

Similarly, those struggling with chronic pain syndromes, heart conditions and respiratory diseases will lose out most if reassessed.

People with ADHD and autism are meanwhile less likely to experience benefit cuts than cancer patients and people suffering from multiple sclerosis.

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The IFS also found that older disability benefit claimants face a greater risk of having their benefits cut if their case is reviewed compared to young people.

More than half of people aged 40 and over on disability benefits are at risk of losing out because of announcements at the Spring Statement.

In contrast, this applies to fewer than one in 10 people aged 16 to 19 and a quarter of 20 to 29-year-olds.

The analysis raises serious questions about how successful the Governments welfare reforms will be in boosting employment rates.

It comes as the number of young people not in work, education or training approaches 1m, sparking alarm from officials.

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Research by the Resolution Foundation last year found people in their 20s were more likely to claim they were too sick to work than those in their 30s and 40s.

Separate research has also found 1m more people aged 16 to 34 have a work-limiting health condition compared to a decade ago, driven by ill mental health and conditions like autism and ADHD.

Britains sickness and disability benefit bill had been on course to hit 100bn a year by the end of the decade before the changes announced in March. It will now instead rise to 97.7bn from 81.2bn currently.

Some 800,000 people stand to lose out on PIPs worth on average 4,500 a year from the welfare changes.

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This includes 370,000 people who currently claim PIP and a further 430,000 who would have been entitled to it.

A government spokesman said: Were determined to support people in all parts of the country by tackling poverty and creating secure, well-paid jobs, while putting the welfare system on a more sustainable footing.

Thats why as part of our Plan for Change were helping more sick and disabled people into work with our 1bn employment support package.

This builds on our Get Britain Working white paper that will overhaul job centres, drive down inactivity and deliver a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4)  The Elizabeth Smart Foundation released a video and statement Thursday evening, addressing Wanda Barzees recent arrest at a Salt Lake City park.

In a three minute long video posted to the Foundations Instagram page, Elizabeth Smart addresses the recent arrest of Barzee and the justification that Barzee used, which Smart says is a reminder of her past and a warning of the risk Barzee poses to the community.

Smart continues by thanking the Salt Lake City Police Department for responsibly handling the incident and highlighting how the incident addresses the importance of enforcing the sex offender registry, monitoring release conditions and evaluating individuals involved in similar crimes.

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Here is the full statement from the Elizabeth Smart Foundation:

We are deeply troubled by Wanda Barzees recent actions. She entered public parks in Salt Lake City, which she is legally barred from due to her status as a registered sex offender. Barzees justification that she was commanded by the Lord is a reminder of her past and a warning of the risk she poses to the community.

This incident highlights how crucial it is to enforce the sex offender registry, monitor release conditions, and evaluate individuals convicted of crimes like Barzees. It also emphasizes exactly why we must listen to and center survivors in our legal process.

We want to thank the Salt Lake City Police Department, and Chief Redd, for their responsible handling of this incident. Their professionalism, attentiveness, and trauma-informed approach speak to their commitment to survivor-centered practices.

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At the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, we believe in a future where all survivors of sexual violence are heard, believed, and supportedand where systems are built not just around legal technicalities, but around true justice. Many survivors live without justice for the harm done to them, and their perpetrators are never arrested. We often say for survivors of sexual violence and exploitation, we have more of a legal system than a justice system.

But, we also believe in the possibility of change.

We are building that change by promoting survivor-informed policies, expanding education and prevention programs, and working with law enforcement, communities, and survivors to create a safer, more compassionate world.

Elizabeth Smart has continually expressed concern over Wanda Barzees release. Barzees violation affirms the need for ongoing reforms to protect survivors and prevent further trauma. At the same time, it reminds us that solutions are possible when communities, leaders, and institutions come together with a shared commitment to do better.

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We urge policymakers, justice officials, and the public to take incidents like this seriouslyespecially in cases that are not as widely publicized as Elizabeth Smarts. There is an urgent, broad need for reform.

Survivors deserve to live without fear. They deserve to thrive. Together, we can build systems that not only protect them but also uplift them.

Elizabeth often remembers advice that her mother gave her after she was rescued. She said, Dont you let them steal one more second of your life. Not one more second! You be happy. You move on. Elizabeth is pleased to report that she is indeed happy, and lives a fulfilling life with her family, and does not live in fear of her captors.

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Elizabeth Smart said that she had concerns about abductor Wanda Barzee after she violated the conditions of her parole as a sex offender

Barzee told police she visited two parks in the month of April because the lord "commanded" her

Smart said that she had concerned about Barzee's religious extremism and believed she posed a threat while protesting her release from prison in 2018

Elizabeth Smart is breaking her silence after the arrest of her kidnapper last week.

"Wanda Barzee was recently arrested for entering a public park in Salt Lake City, a place where she's legally barred from going because she's a registered sex offender," Smart says in the video posted to her Instagram.

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Barzee was arrested on May 1 for visiting two Salt Lake City parks in the month of April, and according to police allegedly confessed to the offenses.

"Her justification was that she was commanded by the Lord, which unfortunately, is very familiar to me and is probably the most concerning thing, because that's how they justified kidnapping me," says Smart.

Elizabeth Smart/Instagram Elizabeth Smart Elizabeth Smart

Smart goes on to thank the Salt Lake City Police Department and other members of law enforcement as well as her supporters in the video.

She also says at one point: "I've been vocal about my concerns since Barzee's initial release."

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Barzee 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.

Smart was subjected to near-daily sexual assaults and forced to "marry" Mitchell in a ceremony just hours after her abduction.

Mitchell and Barzee were arrested in 2003, after a tipster saw Smart walking with them following the pair's public identification. Mitchell would be sentenced to life in prison while Barzee got a 15-year sentence. Ajudge ruled that Barzee could be released from prison in 2018.

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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

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"To my knowledge she has neither complied with medication or treatment and as someone who has experienced first hand just how depraved she truly is, I believe her to be a threat and a danger not just to myself but to the community, any vulnerable person," Smart said at the time.



Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department/Getty Brian David Mitchell, Wanda Barzee Brian David Mitchell, Wanda Barzee

She noted that her biggest concern though was Barzee's religious extremism, and her belief that the word of a religious figure carries more weight than the law.

At the time, she also noted that she had learned from individuals inside Barzee's prison that she still carried around a holy book written by Mitchell, the man who kidnapped Smart from her bedroom.

A spokesperson for the SLCPD told PEOPLE that the agency will continue to monitor Barzee moving forward as part of a joint effort with other agencies.

That spokesperson also said that the "criminal prosecution in this matter remains our priority."



Read the original article on People
As Tesla CEO Elon Musk continues making a name for himself in the world of artificial intelligence, recent accusations say he may be severely damaging the area where his project is located.

According to an article in the Guardian, Musk is building a supercomputer for his company, xAI, in Memphis, Tennessee, and nearby residents are already noticing the negative effects.

Per the Guardian, xAI has brought in 35 or more portable methane gas turbines, enough to power a city, to help run its supercomputer  without air permits. Methane is a key contributor to planet-harming and people-harming pollution, and this massive amount justifiably struck a chord with concerned citizens and officials alike.

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While some people, like Memphis Mayor Paul Young, support Musk's project, as it could contribute to the area's economy, the facts are not quite straight.

"I've talked to the xAI leadership team," Young claimed, per WREG Memphis. "There are 35, but there are only 15 that are on. The other ones are stored on the site."

But he was directly contradicted when overhead thermal footage showed 33 were emitting heat.

A senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, Amanda Garcia, spoke on the issues, saying to the Guardian, "It is appalling that xAI would operate more than 30 methane gas turbines."

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Generative AI's environmental and health impact is not newfound. On top of the heat and pollution created while fueling it, a whole lot of water is needed to cool it down.

A "Deny The Permit" rally was held by upset citizens on May 1 to fight back against xAI's permit application for using the gas turbines, according to Fox 13 News Memphis.

By educating yourself on critical climate issues, like the people of Memphis, you can do your part in protecting our world and your health.

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.
Elon Musks X has clashed with India over demands by Narendra Modis government that it block thousands of accounts amid escalating military tensions with Pakistan.

The social media company said it had been ordered to block 8,000 accounts in India, claiming its local staff faced the threat of imprisonment if it did not comply.

The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users, the companys global affairs team said.

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It comes as India and Pakistan exchange blows over the disputed region of Kashmir in the wake of a terrorist attack on Indian tourists in April that killed dozens of people.

India has unleashed drone and missile strikes on towns in the region that are administered by Pakistan, which it said had targeted terrorists and militants. Both nations have traded artillery fire amid fears of further escalation between the two nuclear-armed powers.

Mr Musks X, formerly Twitter, said it had been ordered to block accounts that authorities said had violated Indian law, but the company added: We did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts.

X said it would restrict the accounts in India alone. It added the crackdown amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech.

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The company added: This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians ability to access information. X said it was exploring legal challenges to the orders.

On Instagram, one of the biggest Muslim news accounts claimed it had been blocked in India. The handle @muslim is followed by 6.7m people.

India is known for its stringent social media laws and has previously clashed with Silicon Valley companies over demands they take down posts. It has banned TikTok, the video sharing app, since 2020. In 2021, prior to Mr Musks takeover, Indian police raided Twitters offices during the Covid pandemic.

Earlier this year, X sued India, accusing the government of operating a censorship portal  an automated website used by the government to issue take-down requests.

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The clash with New Delhi comes at a delicate time for Mr Musk. The billionaire is hoping to launch Tesla in the country, while his satellite operator Starlink has been seeking a licence to operate in India for months. The White House, which Mr Musk advises, has been seeking a trade agreement with India.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A popular local Mexican restaurant chain has closed one of its locations.

Jason Hemmert, co-owner of Elsas, confirmed to 2 NEWS that Elsas On The Border, located at 1227 Wilmington Avenue in Dayton, permanently closed on Thursday, May 1.

Hemmert said patrons can still visit Elsas at its locations in Centerville, Dayton, Kettering, Springboro and Sugarcreek Township.

All five of our family and partner owned stores are open as always, said Hemmert.

The restaurant is known best for its Bad Juan and Super Burrito, according to its website.

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TANEY COUNTY, Mo.  The Taney County Sheriffs Office has issued an endangered person advisory alert for Wayne Ferry, 82, who was last seen in Republic on Thursday, May 8.

Ferry was last seen in Republic at around noon on Thursday heading to his residence on Hollister, but he has not arrived. He was in a Gray 2011 Chevrolet Equinox bearing Missouri license plate TG8V9S.

Ferry is described as a white male who is 510 and 190 lbs. He has gray hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion, and is wearing a red sweatshirt and gray pants.

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TCSO says Ferry was diagnosed with dementia and may seem confused when contacted.

Anyone who sees Ferry, his vehicle, or has information about his whereabouts should call 911 or the TCSO at 417-546-7250.

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Editors Note: The identities of Yellow Ribbon activists who live in Russian-occupied territory have been withheld for security reasons.

"When my child hears about May 9 they almost scream, and so do I," an activist with the Ukrainian Yellow Ribbon civil resistance group currently living in the Russian-occupied town of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, tells the Kyiv Independent.

"Every week at school, from the very beginning of the semester, my kid has to do something about May 9,'"

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"We have learnt all the songs, the Soviet uniform is already lying at home because we were forced to buy it, and every third homework assignment for six months has been about it," they added.

Russia's Victory Day celebrations, which mark the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, are one of the country's biggest public events of the year.

The annual performance is a key part of Russia's propaganda efforts to justify aggression against what the Kremlin falsely describes as "Nazis" in Ukraine, with the day culminating in a military parade in Moscow's Red Square, and a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The event's reach also extends to Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, where Kremlin-installed authorities continue their attempts to "russify" the land and its people.

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But across occupied Crimea, and the partially occupied parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, activists of the Ukrainian Yellow Ribbon civil resistance movement monitor, report, and defy the Russians.

"This is a way of saying that we are here and we have not surrendered," a Yellow Ribbon activist currently living in Donetsk, under Russian occupation since 2014, tells the Kyiv Independent.

"On the day when the occupiers celebrate a victory that is not ours, people like me remember that the real victory is still ahead, and it will be Ukrainian."

"It may be dangerous, but it's even more frightening to remain silent," they added.

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Read also: Inside occupied Ukraines most effective resistance movements

Resistance in Russian-occupied territories is highly dangerous  anyone deemed to be defying the occupying authorities faces the very real possibility of imprisonment and torture.

As such, small acts carried out in relative safety can carry huge significance for those defying the Kremlin.

"Going out is not an option. We downloaded The Lord of the Rings and will watch it instead of the Victory Day celebration," the activist in Tokmak said.

In Moscow, amid much pomp, military machinery, and the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes, Putin delivered his annual speech to mark his country's Victory Day parade, but omitted several key things from his version of the events of World War II.

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"I am sick and tired of this hypocrisy and brazen Russian propaganda about their 'Russian victory," an activist currently living in Melitopol, occupied by Russian forces in 2022, tells the Kyiv Independent.

People participate in an event organized by Russian occupation authorities in Melitopol, Ukraine, in a photo published by pro-Kremlin media on May 9, 2025. (Telegram)

"We don't want to celebrate at all  the occupiers have distorted the very essence of this day. But for ourselves, we remember the dead, because this is a day of remembrance, not celebration," they added.

Although Putin will never admit it, Ukraine played a hugely significant role on the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazy Germany  at least six million Ukrainians fought in the Soviet army, and though exact numbers are unknown, it's estimated that around 1.65 million of the Ukrainians who fought were killed, the highest number from any of the Soviet republics after Russia itself.

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014, Victory Day  celebrated on May 9 in contrast to May 8 in most of Europe and the U.S.  was a popular occasion.

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In 2010, 58% of the population considered it one of the most important public holidays. By 2025, and after 11 years of war, that number has fallen to just 11%. May 8 was officially made a public holiday in Ukraine in 2023, the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation.

An activist currently living in Alchevsk, Luhansk Oblast, occupied by Russia since 2014, said they'd marked the May 8 holiday but said it was "very difficult for us here."

"Because the enemy is right here, and the idea of reconciliation with the enemy is not appropriate now," they said.

"When there is a victory, when there are tanks in Moscow, then maybe in 10 years the idea of reconciliation will be perceived normally, but now it is very difficult," they added.

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But despite the risks, they are undeterred in their desire to maintain the resistance.

"This is Ukraine. I am Ukrainian, and my parents were Ukrainian. Showing this to the world is the right thing to do, no matter what happens next," they said.

"Children are being trained to march, sing songs about the feats of the grandfathers, and prepare performances about the war."

Viktoria, a Ukrainian psychologist living now in Berlin survived weeks of Russian occupation before leaving her home city, Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in April 2022.

She asked for her last name to be withheld as her relatives still live there. She told the Kyiv Independent her mother is "simply planning to avoid the central streets" during the Victory Day celebrations.

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For Ukrainians living under Russian occupation, the holiday has been imposed on them regardless. In occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Communist Party of Russia unveiled a monument to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

"To the organizer and inspirer of the victory of the Soviet people over the Nazi invaders, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin, from grateful descendants," a plaque on it reads.

Stalin's legacy in Ukraine is marked by profound suffering. Under his rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 19321933.

In Russian-occupied Sevastopol, Crimea, schoolchildren have been forced to draw postcards for the Russian military.

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Some parents withdrew their children from school rather than allow authorities to make them do it, according to the Yellow Ribbon activists on the peninsula.

The viewing of the parade in Moscow is compulsory viewing for students and staff in schools in the occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast, the Centre of National Resistance reported on May 7.

"I know from my acquaintances that there is a total 'victory frenzy' in schools and kindergartens," a Yellow Ribbon member currently living in Donetsk, under Russian occupation since 2014, tells the Kyiv Independent.

"Children are being trained to march, sing songs about the feats of the grandfathers, and prepare performances about the war," they added.

People participate in an event organized by Russian occupation authorities and members of United Russia, the ruling party of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Henichesk, Ukraine, in a photo published by pro-Kremlin media on May 9, 2025. (Telegram)

This year is the fourth Victory Day since the start of the full-scale invasion, and resistance to the holiday has been present throughout.

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Natalia Shatilova-Pohasiy, is a volunteer and acting head of the Dnipro District Organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in Kherson, a city which was occupied for several months in 2022.

"After 13 March (2022), when Kherson residents marched in columns to the Park of Glory with Ukrainian flags and inscriptions Kherson is Ukraine,' the conscientiousness people did not celebrate Victory Day," she tells the Kyiv Independent.

"On May 9, 2022 we stayed at home so as not to provide a photo opportunity for the Russian media, as well as to not be in danger," she added.

Ukraine has had some success at disrupting Russia's Victory Day  the parade in the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol was cancelled over safety concerns, and other events around occupied Ukraine suffered a similar fate.

"A concert in the city centre was promised  a band was supposed to come from (the Russian cities of) Yelabuga and from Tver and at first it should have been obligatory for school children," the activist from Tokmak said.

"But at the last minute, the organizers cancelled, saying something about it being too dangerous."

Read also: Evil must not win  how Ukraines female partisans resist Russian occupation

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A coalition of 15 U.S. states is filing a new lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order declaring a "national energy emergency," which aims to accelerate fossil fuel development.

Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown announced the legal action Friday during a press briefing. The 61-page complaint was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

According to the lawsuit, Trump's order violates the National Emergencies Act of 1976, which was designed to ensure that presidents use their emergency powers "only when actual emergencies exist" and not for "frivolous or partisan matters."

"Prodded onto the shakiest of limbs by the President's unsupported and unlawful Executive Order, multiple federal agencies now seek to broadly employ these emergency procedures in non-emergency situations," the lawsuit said.

Brown criticized Trump's emergency declaration as "fake," as U.S. energy production is at an all-time high level.

"This is not a serious or lawful effort by the president. It is all about eliminating competition and shackling America to dirty fossil fuels forever," Brown said at a news conference held in Seattle.

Trump issued the executive order on his first day back in office earlier this year. It promotes the expansion of oil, gas, coal, and other fossil fuel sources, while explicitly excluding wind, solar, and battery-based energy initiatives.

"Our Nation's current inadequate development of domestic energy resources leaves us vulnerable to hostile foreign actors and poses an imminent and growing threat to the United States' prosperity and national security," Trump declared in the executive order.

Federal agencies have since begun to bypass or reduce environmental review requirements under laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, the lawsuit alleges.

The legal filing seeks a court ruling to invalidate the executive order and to prohibit federal agencies from issuing fast-tracked permits based on the order.

States joining the suit include California, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. 
From Ashland in the north to Zenda in the south, the voices of Wisconsin farmers, native people, homeowners and other landowners are critical in safeguarding public lands. But their voices aimed at protecting our health, air, water and wild places are diminished through President Trumps Executive Order 14154.

Im not a billionaire or politician. Im a recently retired USDA Forest Service and National Park Service employee who believes in protecting our public land.

For decades, the National Environmental Policy Act, has provided a democratic process for public input when the federal government analyzes environmental and other consequences of federally funded projects  like replacing a bridge, creating bike pathways or installing a petroleum pipeline.

Public input on projects can make all the difference

When a proposed highway project impacts your town, you can suggest an alternative route. A good example in Wisconsin is the Highway 26 bypass. The proposed route would have crossed dairy farms, but based on public input the route was moved to minimize the impact to farmland.

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Without the act, the needs of the community would not have been heard. The act requires that analyses adequately consider the consequences of any project on air and water quality, rivers and lakes, wildlife and their habitats, and historic sites.

Letters: I've seen firsthand how wake-enhanced boating makes small Wisconsin lakes unsafe

It also requires that the federal government give the public time to read about a proposed project and the environmental analyses on the plan as well as to allow comments or questions on any part of the project or analyses.

During my career I experienced several examples where local people had more information than the government, and their suggestions made the projects better, such as:

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In the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest, adjacent landowners had better information about a forest stand than the Forest Service, and we changed the proposed treatment.

The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians recommended spreading logging treatments over time and space to reduce local impacts. We accepted their suggestion, and it made the plan better.

The act is the publics opportunity to influence federal projects, ensuring that environmental impacts are thoughtfully evaluated and all reasonable alternatives considered.

Trump seeks to short-cut project review process

The Trump administration would like to shorten the review process and potentially short-cut the more in-depth reviews for projects that have high environmental consequences.

The government could improve the efficiency of these environmental studies by hiring more experts whose sole function is these reviews, but the target of the Executive Order is less review and fewer public comments. And with the recent reductions in federal agencies like the National Park Service or Forest Service, there will be fewer people to analyze these projects.

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Opinion: Campaigns have always been rough. I'm sick of politics of personal destruction.

Speeding up the approval process risks reducing environmental protection and public participation. If you didnt already know about this new rule, its because the review and comment period were shortened to limit your input. See, its already working! Tell your representatives that you support NEPA so we can have input on federal projects that impact our environment.

Gus Smith is a recently retired USDA Forest Service and National Park Service employee, former Northland College professor and longtime Wisconsin resident.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democracy suffers when public not allowed input on projects | Opinion
A Lesser Golden Plover sits in a section of wetland June 4, 2006 in Barrow, Alaska. (Justin Sullivan | Getty Images)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army will hold a listening session in Charleston next week to get public input regarding proposed changes to the federal Clean Water Act that could redefine what waterways are subject to regulations and protected from certain kinds of pollution nationwide.

Two listening sessions will be held on Wednesday at the Kanawha County Courthouse, the first from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m. and the second from 4:15 to 6 p.m., according to a news release from the EPA. Attendees can participate virtually or in person by registering for the listening sessions here.

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The federal agencies, according to the news release, are looking to understand real-world perspectives and experiences regarding how the Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, are defined in the Clean Water Act.

Since the 1970s, WOTUS has been used to refer to nearly all waterways in the nation, including wetlands and smaller streams and tributaries that run adjacent to them. The term, however, has never been clearly defined, making regulation of certain waterways more difficult.

In 2023, a decision from the Supreme Court of the United States narrowed the protections and regulations for wetlands, which provide habitats for thousands of species of animals and plants and can play a crucial role in controlling floodplains in areas prone to flooding as well as naturally filtering drinking water.

The Supreme Court decision led to an amendment to the federal rule from the EPA, which has since been mired in litigation and contention. Under the amendment offered in 2023, more than half of the nations remaining wetlands have no EPA regulations or protections over them.

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In March, the EPA  operating under President Donald Trumps direction  issued a new interpretation of the Supreme Courts 2023 decision that further erodes protections, which experts say will disproportionately impact rural communities.

Wetland conservancy groups and environmentalists from across the country have spoken out against the changes to the federal Clean Water Act. Meanwhile, the American Farm Bureau Federation  a lobbying group representing industrial farming throughout the nation  wants to see the changes made to relieve what they say is a burden for the farm industry, which is responsible for runoff and toxic pollution into thousands of tributaries and wetlands nationwide.

The listening sessions in Charleston are just a few of those being held across the nation in recent and coming weeks.
What's the latest federal agency drawing the scrutiny of the Trump administration for inefficiency, expense, and administrative bloat? It's the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a federal bureaucracy long infamous for intruding into Americans' lives and making it more difficult and expensive to do business. The EPA's own administrator, Lee Zeldin, says the agency is overdue for reform. If he's open to suggestions, people who have been working on the problem for years have good ideas to offer.

Anti-Science, Anti-Technology, and Anti-Industry

"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," Zeldin wrote in an op-ed for Newsweek published last week. "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 Plans to improve air quality around the country."

The EPA's faults long precede the Biden White House. But the current administration's openness to change and its efforts to shutter other irrelevant and overbearing federal agencies are encouraging. That's good, because there's a lot of fixing to be done when it comes to the EPA.

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Writing for the Cato Institute in 2017, Henry I. Miller, a former FDA official, remembered his experiences with the sister agency: "I found the EPA, several of whose major programs I interacted with, to be relentlessly anti-science, anti-technology, and anti-industry. The only thing it seemed to be for was the Europeans' innovation-busting 'precautionary principle,' the view that until a product or activity has been proven safe definitively, it should be banned or at least smothered with regulation."

In consequence, he added, the EPA "killed off entire, once-promising sectors of U.S. research and development."

Abolish the EPA and Leave It to the States?

Jonathan Adler, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, addressed exactly that point in Permitting the Future, a paper published last year. He wrote that "legal requirements adopted at all levels of government for the purpose of ensuring environmental review, facilitating public participation, and limiting environmental harm have become obstacles to continued environmental progress." That is, environmental regulation stands in the way of cleaner technologies that can make the world a better, greener place to liveif bureaucrats get out of the way.

Following up on that theme in the December 2024 issue of Reason, Adler argued that to the extent environmental regulation should exist, it ought not be at the federal level: "Today, as environmental concerns butt up against other values, state and local governments have generally shown themselves to be more innovative, and more respectful of private property rights, than their federal counterparts."

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That doesn't mean states and localities are immune to excess or bad regulation. But Adler suggests that they're less bad and closer to the people they affect. He recommended abolishing the EPA.

A Detailed Blueprint for Reform

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) shares such concerns, which are reflected in its Modernizing the EPA: A Blueprint for Congress project, edited by Daren Bakst and Marlo Lewis.

"The EPA is supposed to protect the nation's environment, but it has become an agency that uses this mission as a means to regulate major portions of the economy and affect how we live our lives," Bakst and Lewis caution. "The EPA is well known for ignoring the will of Congress, and this problem is only getting worse. The agency also acts as if the only thing that matters is achieving whatever environmental objective it is pursuing, without properly considering the costs and tradeoffs of its actions and the harm it can cause Americans."

Like Miller and Adler, Bakst and Lewis write that the EPA fails to properly consider costs and tradeoffs and ignores the role of the states in protecting the environment. While not going as far as Adler's call to pull the plug on the EPA, CEI recommends deep reforms in how the EPA operates to trim its overreach and make it less dangerous to American liberty and prosperity.

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As did Miller, CEI's contributors suggest that many of the EPA's "scientific" assumptions are junk. They also claim the agency's worst overreach is in the realm of enforcing the Clean Air Act and that in the process of regulating the nation's water, "The EPA, along with the US Army Corps of Engineershave consistently ignored the role of states and the importance of private property rights."

The blueprint's contributors recommend that Congress require the EPA to use accurate climate models, ease permitting, and "require the EPA to abandon the precautionary principle." The EPA should not be allowed to close types of businesses or ban goods. They also want to limit the EPA's use of the linear no-threshold model which assumes there's no safe level of exposure to potentially hazardous substances.

Over the course of 232 pages plus endnotes, CEI offers a detailed plan for reforming not just how the EPA wields its authority, but even the philosophical foundations it brings to the job.

"Congress should ensure that the EPA is focused on protecting Americans from genuine environmental harms," the blueprint concludes. "This is not merely about limiting the agency's regulatory abuses. It is also about ensuring that the agency is not using funding in a manner not intended by Congress."

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The best approach, I believe, is the one recommended by Adler: getting rid of the EPA entirely so that a trimmed bureaucracy can't metastasize in the future back to its old malignancy, like an overlooked tumor. An abolished bureaucracy is the least dangerous type of bureaucracy.

But if that's too big an ask for Congress and the Trump administration, CEI's Modernizing the EPA offers a good plug-and-play plan for reforming the agency and making it less dangerous. That would still leave a smaller and, hopefully, better-focused bureaucracy in place, but some improvement is better than none.

Zeldin and the Trump administration got off to a good start when they redirected the EPA from the trendy social justice ideological pursuits it adopted under the last administration. At that time, the new management announced efforts "to ensure that enforcement does not discriminate based on race and socioeconomic status (as it has under environmental justice initiatives)."

If that energy can be brought to reforming the whole EPA or (preferably) abolishing it, the country will be better off.

The post The EPA Is a Prime Candidate for Reform by the Trump Administration appeared first on Reason.com.
NEW YORK  New York City Mayor Eric Adams is heading to the White House on Friday to have an audience with President Donald Trump, on the same day the Department of Justice is set to release documents in the mayor's now-dismissed corruption case.

It will be the first in-person meeting between the Democratic mayor and Republican president since Adams traveled to Florida in January to meet with Trump near his Mar-a-Lago estate.

"The mayor will travel to Washington D.C. for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss New York City priorities," reads his public schedule, updated Friday morning to include the confab.

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The sit-down comes amid Friday's deadline for Trumps Justice Department to publicly disclose documents in Adams case, which a judge dropped last month at the urging of the DOJ. The court papers to be unsealed are expected to shed light on the prosecution into a mayor accused of taking bribes from Turkish officials. They were initially due on the public docket last Friday, but the DOJ failed to file them, defying an order by U.S. District Judge Dale Ho.

Were looking forward to finding ways that we can collaborate together to address infrastructure and other funding items, Adams said in a brief video made aboard an airplane and posted Friday morning to social media.

The Trump DOJ had directed Manhattan prosecutors to drop Adams corruption case in February, sparking a cascade of prosecutor resignations in protest. Then-interim Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon and others left, and Sassoon accused DOJ officials of engaging in a quid pro quo with Adams. The mayor had pleaded not guilty to the initial charges and subsequently denied cutting any deal with the Trump administration to have his case dismissed.

Ho agreed to drop the case against the mayor permanently.

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Adams, a moderate Democrat, has warmed to Trump since the presidents 2024 campaign, finding common ground in what both have alleged are politicized prosecutions. The mayor routinely criticized the Biden administration for neglecting to provide aid as New York City grappled with an influx of more than 200,000 migrants on his watch, and he now says he is intent on working with the Trump administration.

Adams meetings with Trump border czar Tom Homan, as an example, led the mayor to agree to an executive order returning federal immigration officers to the Rikers Island jail complex  loosening a "sanctuary city" policy advanced under his predecessor, Bill de Blasio.

Adams is running for reelection this year as an independent and foregoing the Democratic primary, an acknowledgment that his standing among New York City Democrats  who have resoundingly rejected Trump three times  is too weak for him to pursue that route.
An Erie County man was visiting family in Texas, only to discover a blast from the past from back home.

Ed Rickrode was browsing an antique shop in Kerrville, Texas, when he stumbled upon an old record with a WJET label.

City of Erie releases summer paving plans

At first, he thought there must be a JET Radio in Texas, but then he read the words: 30 years of Erie Gold.

He purchased the record featuring personalities and songs from the 50s through the 80s for just $9.

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City of Erie pleased with first round of code sweeps

And if you look on the back of the record, they have been produced by Jim Cook and they have Myron Jones, Frank Martin, and theres other ones I recognize the names on them. But when I first got it, Im thinking Erie Gold, holy smokes thats from Erie, PA, Rickrode said.

Rickrode generously donated the record to us here at JET24, where well proudly display it.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
A new litter control boom was installed Thursday morning to capture floating debris that might be entering Presque Isle Bay.

That device was placed at the Myrtle Street outfall near the Erie Water Works, who partnered with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Carry the Load stops in Erie raising awareness for veterans sacrifices

The outfall deposits water from catch basins and roadways north of West 16th Street between Poplar and Sassafras Streets.

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Anything that enters storm drains in the 336-acre area comes out at the Myrtle Street outfall.

Clean drinking water doesnt just happen. It starts with the source. Today, were taking actionable items to prevent debris, trash, and other things from draining and going into our waterways, said Craig Palmer, CEO of Erie Water Works.

Saegertown residents turn trash into treasure for Make-A-Wish

Its essentially designed to find out what we dont know because were not sure whats coming into Presque Isle Bay from this location, said Don Benczkowski, program coordinator for the Lake Erie Region of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

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Its also Drinking Water Week, and 12 million people rely on Lake Erie for drinking water.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
In the escalating conflict between Pakistan and India, troops from both countries have once again engaged in overnight fights.

The surging escalation triggered global concerns that the time might be running out to prevent a full-blown conflict between nuclear-armed rivals.

Indias army accused Pakistan of launching "multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border" during the night.

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The drone attacks were reportedly repelled, the army announced on the platform X and the Indian army also retaliated, it said. It accused Pakistan of multiple ceasefire violations. Islamabad initially did not comment on the allegations.

At least one woman was killed and four other civilians were injured from artillery fire in the Indian-administered part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir, the newspaper The Indian Express reported, citing government officials. This brings the number of civilian deaths in India to 17 since Wednesday, according to India.

Pakistan claims it shot down 50 drones

The Pakistani military said forces shot down nearly 50 more Israel-manufactured HAROP drones launched by India overnight and Friday morning on the third day of clashes between South Asian neighbours.

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This brought the total number of fallen Indian drone in Pakistan to 77 since Wednesday night, Information Minister Atta Tarar said.

At least six more Pakistani civilians died and more than two dozen were injured as Indian troops fired artillery on villages across Kashmir border, local disaster management agency said.

The clashes started when India launched a series of air and surface missile strikes inside Pakistan on Tuesday night, killing at least 33 people, the military said.

New Delhi said strikes targeted hideouts of Islamist jihadist groups allegedly behind last months deadly terrorist attack in Indian part of Kashmir that had killed 26 tourists in Kashmir.

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India blames Pakistan for backing several Islamist militants groups behind deadly attacks in Kashmir - an allegation Islamabad denies.

Pakistan said those killed in the strikes were civilians including children as young as three and women.

Mediation efforts underway

Several world capitals continued their efforts to prevent further escalation following the worst clashes between Indian and Pakistan since their Himalayan conflict in 1999.

The deputy prime minister of Saudi Arabia, one of Pakistan's closest allies, arrived in Islamabad on Friday after vising New Delhi for US-backed efforts to seek de-escalation.

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Adel al-Jubeir was set to meet Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar, deputy prime minister, to share Indian proposals for easing tensions.

Britains Foreign Secretary David Lammy called his Indian and Pakistani counterparts to urge both the countries to show restraints.

Islamabad vowed to retaliate to Indian missile strikes at the time of its liking, stoking fears of a spiralling escalation. The war cabinet on Wednesday authorized the military to retaliate against Indian strikes, as the rising escalation could lead to a full-blown conflict and even a long-term war.

Parts of airspaces and several dozen airports remained closed in both countries, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Conflict affecting cricket - beloved by both sides

High-valued leagues of cricket, a popular sport in South Asia, were suspended in both India and Pakistan as international players refused to play under the cloud of war.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence in 1947 over the control of Kashmir, parts of which are controlled by both countries, though the two nations each claim in is theirs.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Officials with eStem Public Charter Schools announced Friday a plan to seek reorganization of its school campuses including the closing of its UA Little Rock campus.

According to a release, the restructuring plan will become effective this fall.

This restructuring plan aims to right-size our district while remaining committed to our current eStem students and families, Nick Patterson, CEO of eStem Public Charter Schools said. These adjustments allow us to ensure that we invest our resources in our students and your children.

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Keep Arkansas Beautiful reveals mural at eStem Public Charter School in Little Rock

Here is a list of changes coming as part of the new plan:

The Downtown Elementary School and East Village Elementary School will be consolidated into eStem Elementary School, split across the old Gazette Building and the Federal Reserve Buildings. Kindergarten  4th grade will be in the old Gazette Building at 112 W. 3rd Street. Fifth and 6th grades will be directly across the street in the old Federal Reserve Building.

eStem Downtown Junior High School, located at 123 W. 3rd Street will be renamed eStem Junior High School and will relocate to 400 Shall Avenue in downtown Little Rocks East Village neighborhood. In this new location, eStem Junior High will serve all 7th and 8th graders.

eStem High School will move from its location on the campus of UA-Little Rock, 2801 S. University Ave., to 410 Shall Ave in downtown Little Rocks East Village neighborhood. eStem High School will serve all 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in East Village.

This strategic restructuring will create two eStem campuses in downtown Little Rock, an elementary campus on W 3rd St, and a secondary campus in East Village.

School officials said that in this new structure, all eStem students will be within a mile of each other in downtown Little Rock. All eStem Schools will be within a mile of the River Cities Travel Center, allowing Rock Region Metro service from across the city.

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COVID-19 affecting eStem Charter School students and staff within first week

The school said that virtual and homeschool options have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic and have changed the educational landscape throughout Arkansas since eStems expansion seven years ago.

According to the school, their number of enrolled students has steadily decreased from 3,180 in 2020-21 to 2,358 in the 2024-25 school year.

Dr. Carrie Phillips, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock said that the university is exploring its opportunities with the soon to be vacant building.

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To learn more about eStem Public Charter Schools, visit EstemSchools.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 KARK.
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and ministers from EU member states have signed a declaration in Lviv expressing their intention to transfer 1 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda

Details: On 9 May in Lviv, a declaration was signed to transfer 1 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

The declaration was signed by Kaja Kallas, Danish Minister for Business Morten Bdskov, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli.

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"With these funds, the signatories will purchase weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," stated Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

He later clarified that, in total, the EU will allocate 1.9 billion from the profits of Russian assets for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine.

Shmyhal said that over 600 million will be directed towards artillery and ammunition, and more than 200 million will go towards strengthening Ukrainian air defence.

"We sincerely thank the European Union for this forward-looking decision, leadership and support. Special thanks to Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Italy, which will carry out the procurement of Ukrainian weapons worth 1 billion," Shmyhal wrote.

Background:

In early April, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said the EU would soon receive a second tranche of funds from the profits of immobilised Russian assets, amounting to 2.1 billion. "The majority of the funds will be used to purchase weapons, ammunition and air defence systems for Ukraine in the form of grants," she noted.

In particular, part of the funds will be transferred to EU member states for the purchase of ammunition and air defence systems for Ukraine, and another 1 billion will be directed towards orders from the Ukrainian defence industry under the Danish model.

Mathernova reiterated that the EU had already invested 400 million in Ukraine's defence industry in 2024. In an interview with European Pravda, she explained that this included, in particular, the production of Bohdana howitzers.

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EU foreign ministers and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas honored fallen Ukrainian soldiers during a visit to Lviv on May 9, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported on Telegram.

The visit coincided with Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, an annual event the Kremlin uses to showcase military might and justify its war against Ukraine.

Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.

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"Today, we celebrate Europe Day with Ukraine and its people. Because in a family, both joys and hardships are shared," Kallas wrote on X. "Together with foreign ministers, we stand united with Ukraine for a lasting peace."

The diplomats visited the Field of Honorary Graves at Lychakiv Cemetery, where Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russia's war against Ukraine are buried.

"Ukraine and Europe are eternally indebted to those who gave their lives for peace and security on the entire continent," Shmyhal wrote.

Europe Day, celebrated annually on May 9, marks peace and unity across the continent. This year, it comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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"During the meeting, we discussed further joint efforts to strengthen Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia, and promote Ukraine's accession to the EU," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

On May 8, Kallas said that final political approval will be given to initiate an international tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine, aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior Kremlin officials.

She also said the EU is expected to announce the allocation of 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to bolster Ukraine's defense industry.

Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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Its crucial to bridge the gap between achieving net-zero energy targets and determining the most suitable financing mechanisms

(ROI) case for them to invest in renewable energy assets. Currently, these assets can provide over 30 percent internal rate of return (IRR) for captive energy users, making them one of the best investment classes. We inform our clients about these opportunities and propose various models.If a company has expansion plans but is conservative with capital spending, we can offer a flexible solution. In this case, we, as developers, or with the assistance of our associated investors, will make the entire investment. Moreover, as we hold Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several leading banks, including the State Bank of India, Bank of India, ECOFY Solutions, and AEREM Solutions, there is also an option available to secure loans for solar projects at competitive rates tailored to the customers needs. After all this, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is signed and we charge the customers based on their energy usage.One of the core strengths of Suninfra Energies is that it has a complete in-house team dedicated to the turnkey development of these solar parks. This includes everything from identifying and selecting land, aggregating land, and securing grid connectivity permissions, to signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and securing contracts for captive solar open access plants.In this area, it handles complete in-house design, engineering, and installation sourcing the highest quality materials from around the world. It also imports equipment globally, ensuring thorough installation, commissioning, and best ongoing operations and maintenance.Suninfra Energies focuses on several key aspects of its operations and that includes adhering to the necessary ISO certifications that validate the quality of its work.The most crucial aspect, however, is prioritizing health and safety. The company is also committed to following the best practices in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) as well as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) when managing our solar plants. Additionally, it has an in-house team dedicated to ensuring that all regulatory compliance is met and that the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are obtained on time for all its projects.As technology has penetrated industries, Suninfra Energies has also rooted its belief firmly around it and thus is dedicated to ensuring the longevity of solar plants while delivering systems that operate at optimal energy generation levels. To achieve these goals, Suninfra conducts thorough due diligence on technology, design, and engineering. A solid design is fundamental to the success of a solar plant, influencing maintenance and performance. Hence, while designing solar plants, it focuses on reliable operation for 30 years as per its energy generation commitments. It carefully selects vendors by assessing their manufacturing processes and quality control.For instance, Suninfra Energies employs the latest Topcon technology in solar panels and yields an impressive output of 585 to 600 watts. Moreover, Suninfra prioritizes the financial stability of its vendors to ensure long-term support and warranty fulfillment. To protect customer interests, the organization often secures third-party insurance for solar panel performance, mitigating concerns over future manufacturer service availability. For solar inverters, it utilizes string inverter technology to enable quick repairs, along with optimizer-based technologies that enhance overall generation and provide complete performance visibility. Precisely, Suninfra Energies is committed to rigorous quality assurance and adheres to best practices in installation and asset management to uphold the highest standards in its projects.Founded with the fundamental principle of helping companies achieve energy freedom and meet their sustainability goals, today Suninfra Energies is not only a consultant or EPC partner, but it has extensively positioned itself as a true energy partner. Appreciably, it has even received several prestigious awards recently for its mission like being recognized as one of the top 10 solar EPC contractors according to the Bridge to India (division of CRISIL) report published in December 2024. Additionally, the company has been acknowledged as the top solar EPC contractor in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector for 2023-24 and awarded the best-performing solar power plant for industrial consumers by EQ.Suninfra Energies both on-site and off-site open access solar initiatives are recognizable. Regarding off-site open access solar plants, it is constructing captive facilities for several clients such as NMIMS University, Endurance Technologies, and more. Recently, it has successfully developed two solar parks and is currently working on four more, primarily in the western part of India. These solar parks are set to generate a total of approximately 150 megawatts of solar power, with the installation planned over the next year and a half. These parks will meet the energy needs of several prominent institutions in India, including Mithibai College, Bhagobai College, and other NMIMS institutes. Additionally, its solar park clients encompass some of the largest foundries and auto component manufacturers in India, which is worth noting concerning open access projects. On the on-site solar plant side, Suninfra Energies has successfully delivered large rooftop solar solutions to companies such as the Well spun Group, Tata Power, and the Brabourne Stadium. Moreover, it is currently developing projects that integrate renewable energy with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and green hydrogen solutions.We aim to be recognized as the preferred net-zero energy partner for corporate India. To achieve this, we will deliver integrated renewable energy solutions that address the full spectrum of energy requirements encompassing energy efficiency solutions, solar energy, round the clock renewable energy solutions, battery storage systems (BSS), and green hydrogen solutions in the future, Durgesh concludes.
Dozens of EU foreign ministers and diplomats met in Lviv on Friday in a show of support for Ukraine on Europe Day, and discussed plans for a special international tribunal to prosecute top Russian officials for the war on Ukraine.

"It is important and symbolic that the European partners are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine on Europe Day," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram after talks with top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas.

May 9 celebrates peace and unity in Europe, and this year marks 75 years since a landmark proposal that is seen as laying the foundations of European cooperation.

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According to Ukrainian sources, 35 top European representatives were in attendance in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, including new German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

At a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lychakiv Cemetery, the diplomats commemorated the Ukrainians killed since the Russian invasion in 2022.

They were to discuss the situation at the front line and on the need for further arms for Kiev.

Ukraine war tribunal planned

Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Kiev has been working on the creation of a special tribunal, modelled on the Nuremberg trials, to hold the Russian leadership under President Vladimir Putin to account.

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The diplomats later gave their go-ahead for a special international tribunal to prosecute top Russian officials for the war on Ukraine.

The panel of judges is to be based in The Hague and will hold top figures in the Russian leadership to account, according to a joint declaration by more than 30 diplomats who met in Lviv on Friday.

Germany's new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, who took part in the meeting, said: "This war, which violates international law, must not be allowed to remain without consequences."

"Those who bear responsibility for this must also be held accountable by a legitimized court," he said.

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The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said that the tribunal would "ensure that those most responsible for the aggression against Ukraine are held accountable."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who joined via video, said: "Russia must be held accountable for its aggression like the Nazis were."

Wadephul said he would try to persuade his US counterpart Marco Rubio that the United States should rejoin the group supporting the tribunal. After President Donald Trump took office, the US withdrew its support.

The group of states - which includes EU members as well as others including Australia, Costa Rica and Norway - now plans to formally ask the Council of Europe for a treaty to establish the tribunal as soon as possible.

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Judgements should also be possible in the absence of the accused - as it is unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, will be tried in person.

The tribunal is to have 15 judges, each elected for a nine-year term. EU estimates put the total costs at 1 billion ($1.13 billion).

Germany pledges aid for Ukraine

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also said on Friday that Berlin would provide Ukraine with an additional 40 million ($45 million) in humanitarian aid as he met with EU foreign ministers in Lviv to show a united front against Russia.

"We are showing here that Europe stands with Ukraine and are reminding people that the Nazi regime was also significantly defeated by Ukrainian soldiers," Wadephul said.

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The representatives acknowledged that many other groups who were then part of the Soviet Union helped to defeat Nazi Germany.

"We will not allow this day of remembrance, which is entirely justified, to be used to justify today's war against Ukraine. That would be a distortion of history, which would do justice neither to Ukraine nor to Europe's history as a whole," he added.

After visiting a rehabilitation centre for severely injured soldiers and a cemetery with his colleagues, Wadephul expressed his shock. "This is a completely senseless war, one that claims victims every day."
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said that the EU understands what to do if the Hungarian veto on Ukraine's accession is not overcome.

Source: Kallas in a comment to European Pravda journalists in Lviv

Details: Kallas emphasised that the EU firmly believes that bilateral issues should not hinder Ukraine's accession and that European institutions are preparing for a possible blockade.

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She stated that the EU does have plans B and C, although plan A  securing unanimous support  remains the priority. Kallas noted that the EU is in ongoing dialogue with Hungary regarding the lifting of the veto. She added that Ukraine and the EU each had their respective tasks to complete, stressing that engagement with the Hungarian government is continuing.

If no compromise can be found, the EU is ready to act.

Kallas stated that the EU is working on a plan B in case plan A fails. However, she refrained from disclosing any details, emphasising that the process was still underway.

The EUs chief diplomat noted that the accession process, referred to as the reunification process, is essential not only for Ukraine but also for the European Union.

Background:

Earlier, the Ukrainian government criticised the EU's treatment of Ukraine's progress as unfair.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has complained that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to change the Hungarian government.

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Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, believes that the available evidence will allow the special tribunal on the crime of Russian aggression to make quick judgments.

Source: Kallas said this on Friday in Lviv, answering questions from European Pravda in a conversation with journalists

Details: Kallas believes that the trials should begin shortly after the tribunal is established. European Pravda reports that it is expected that the tribunal will start working next year.

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She said that she could not give a specific date for the first verdicts, but the documents she had seen indicated that it should start working in 2026, which is when the trial process should begin.

She added that the investigations were already underway, since this has been the most documented war in the world.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasised that the documentary base is already being prepared. He added that there are no legal obstacles to already taking those legal steps, to document and prepare the evidence base.

Background: As European Pravda previously reported, the special tribunal for Russian aggression was the central topic of the meeting of foreign ministers in Lviv.

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Editor's Note: The original version of this article said that the EU foreign ministers committed to advancing a special tribunal for the Russian war crimes. The tribunal will actually investigate Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine.

LVIV  On Europe Day, as tanks rolled through Moscow's Red Square in a show of force with many foreign leaders aligned with Russia joining, European foreign ministers gathered in Lviv to deliver a different message  in their own words one of solidarity, justice, and long-term military partnership with Ukraine as stated by many of the almost 20 European foreign ministers during the Lviv meeting.

Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and the EU's top diplomats, signed a landmark agreement to bolster Ukraine's defense industry and committed to advancing a special tribunal for the Russian crime of aggression against Ukraine.

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The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.

"This is a concrete step to help Ukraine not only defend itself today, but build long-term resilience," said the EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas.

The agreement, backed by 1 billion euros sourced from the windfall profits of frozen Russian assets, is designed to facilitate joint production and procurement of military equipment.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Western countries have frozen approximately $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets. In October 2024, the Group of Seven (G7) approved nearly $50 billion in loans for Ukraine, to be repaid with proceeds from these frozen assets.

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Read also: Russian regimes legitimacy rests on the manipulation of history

Tribunal talks become solid

During the visit, ministers convened a session of the international coalition pushing for a special war tribunal to prosecute Russia's top leadership for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for a number of Russian officials over war crimes, it lacks jurisdiction to prosecute the crime of aggression against a non-signatory like Russia  a legal gap the new tribunal seeks to close.

"It's a breakthrough, because even (Vladimir) Putin can be tried now," one diplomat told the Kyiv Independent.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently pushed for the creation of a special tribunal to hold Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, accountable for launching the full-scale invasion.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) meets with North Korean servicemen on Red Square after the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2025. ( Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian authorities have documented thousands of war crimes, including targeted attacks on civilians, medical facilities, and cultural heritage sites, as well as widespread torture and forced deportations.

The day began with ministers paying tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers at Lychakiv Cemetery before proceeding to Lviv City Hall, where a minute of silence was held.

As Ukraine braces for a continued war with Russia, the commitments made in Lviv may mark a turning point in Europe's strategy toward the Russian invasion of the country.

A Divided Europe: Criticism of Fico's Moscow Visit

The timing of the Lviv summit offered a clear contrast to the parade in Moscow, where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico appeared alongside Putin at the annual Victory Day parade. His presence drew sharp criticism from multiple EU leaders.

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"Fico stands shoulder to shoulder with the man who started this war," said Kallas. "It's incomprehensible. You stand on the wrong side of history," Kallas told the press during the summit.

Fico's friendly stance toward the Kremlin, including controversial meetings with Putin, has drawn condemnation from European leaders.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky added a pointed remark: "I'm glad no Czech official stood in Red Square today. We must stand with Ukraine  not lend credibility to Russian propaganda."

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski quipped, "Wasn't he supposed to be sick?"  referencing Fico's earlier claim he would skip Moscow due to illness.

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Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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The European Union has pledged to supply over 1.35 million rounds in 2025 and plans to allocate nearly 1.9 billion euro ($2.1 billion) from Russian frozen assets in military support for Ukraine, Ukrainian officials announced on May 9.

The news comes as delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv to discuss the establishment of a special tribunal against the Russian leadership and new defense aid for Ukraine.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and EU allies for the initiative to provide 2 million artillery rounds for Ukraine. According to Sybiha, by the end of 2025, European partners must send Ukraine at least 1.35 million shells, while work to increase this number is ongoing.

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The minister also highlighted the new EU instruments for the long-term development of the European defense sector and the accelerated integration of the Ukrainian and European defense industries.

"This will strengthen European defense with our unique technologies and strengthen our defenders on the battlefield," Sybiha said.

Following the event in Lviv, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the EU has announced its intention to allocate almost 1.9 billion euro ($2.1 billion) for military support to Ukraine.

"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Shmyhal said.

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One billion euros ($1.1 billion) of this sum will be used to purchase weapons according to the Danish model, that is, directly from Ukrainian manufacturers, by Italy, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands, Shmyhal added.

Another 600 million euros ($676 million) will be spent on artillery and ammunition, while more than 200 million euros ($226 million) will be spent on strengthening Ukraine's air defense, according to Shmyhal.

Speaking at the same event, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that Paris will allocate profits from frozen Russian assets to the maintenance of CEASAR 155mm howitzers, of which Ukraine has received dozens since 2022.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Europe has allocated 138 billion euros ($157 billion), 23 billion euros ($26 billion) more than the U.S., according to an April 15 report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy's Ukraine Aid Tracker.

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The U.S. still holds an edge in terms of military aid  its 65 billion euros ($74 billion) total leads Europe by 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion)  but the gap is narrowing, as Washington has not allocated a new aid package since Jan. 9, still under the Biden administration.

Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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Last weeks worst blackout Europe has ever seen in modern times was a wake-up call for the EU  and the rest of the world  that regardless of booming renewable energy capacity installations, power supply will not be secure unless grids are capable and flexible enough to accommodate clean energy and meet rising demand.

Renewable energy proponents have been touting for years the record-breaking solar and wind capacity additions in Europe and elsewhere, calling at the same time for more investments in grids. With headline-grabbing record renewable installations and reduction of dependence on fossil fuels, the need for trillions of dollars worth of investment in grids may have been overlooked. Until it was too late and Spains grid buckled on April 28, leaving the country, most of Portugal, and, for shorter periods of time, parts of France, without electricity and basically ruining (even more) an entire Monday for millions of people.

Investigations continue into what happened and why Spains transmission system was disconnected from the European grid midday Monday.

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Whatever the cause, the worst blackout in Europe and the first major system collapse in the era of booming renewable energy installations highlighted the need for investments in storage and grid resilience.

Grid Investments Lag Behind Renewables Additions

While focusing on boosting solar and wind power and their benefit for the environment and the reduction of imports of fossil fuels, policymakers are aware that booming renewable capacity generation needs to have access to the power systems. But investments arent enough. If electricity transmission, distribution, and interconnections cannot handle power from the record-breaking solar and wind capacity, the clean energy progress stalls.

As early as last year, think tank Ember said in a report that grid investments in Europe are lagging behind renewable additions and a lack of transmission capacity could hold back the energy transition.

Related: Russia Claims Active Talks With China on New Gas Pipeline Are Underway

Making sure solar and wind can actually connect to the system is as critical as the panels and turbines themselves, says Elisabeth Cremona, Energy & Climate Data Analyst at Ember.

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There is no transition without transmission.

Europe needs to significantly boost grid investments and fully align planning processes with the new reality of the energy transition, according to the clean energy think tank.

At a global level, the situation is pretty much the samethe International Energy Agency (IEA) says that thousands of gigawatts of renewable energy are waiting in grid connection queues.

This shows grids are becoming a bottleneck for transitions to net zero emissions, the IEA said, noting that booming investments in renewables contrast with barely changed spending on grid resilience and expansions that have been static at about $300 billion per year over the past decade.

EU Needs Up to $2.6 Trillion in Grid Investment by 2050

Thats too little to support grids that support the rollout of more renewable energy.

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The European Commission has estimated that $2.265 trillion (2 trillion euros) to $2.6 trillion (2.3 trillion euros) is required to meet grid needs until 2050, a review of the EUs electricity grids by the European Court of Auditors showed earlier this year.

Success hinges on overcoming key challenges, including coordinating grid planning across the EU, streamlining permitting processes and tackling equipment and labour shortages, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in the report.

A large part of the EU electricity grid dates from the last century: almost half of distribution lines are over 40 years old, said Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the ECA Member responsible for this review.

To ensure the EUs competitiveness and autonomy, we need modern infrastructure that can support our industry and keep prices affordable.

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This decade alone, the EU needs a cumulative $660 billion (584 billion euros) in grid investments, the Commission estimated in its Grids, the missing link - An EU Action Plan for Grids.

This missing link between the renewables boom and the connection and transmission of clean energy to consumers, as well as the need for much higher investments in battery storage, came to the forefront of the green energy debate after the massive power outage in Spain last week.

Delays in grid development have created a backlog of over 800 GW of wind and solar capacity awaiting connection in Europe, nearly double the current supply, Allianz Research said a month and a half before Europes worst blackout.

Moreover, the lack of grid flexibility exacerbates intraday price volatility, with high electricity prices during peak demand and negative prices during off-peak hours, according to Allianzs analysts.

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The EU also needs to improve cross-border electricity interconnections to make grids more flexible and allow countries to import electricity from neighbors when needed. The EU has bumped its interconnection target to?at least 15% by 2030, up from a previous 10% target. This means that an EU member state should be able to import up to 15% of the electricity it consumes from one or more of its neighbors.

By the beginning of 2025, a total of 14 out of the 27 EU countries had exceeded the 2030 target and 5 countries were above the 10% threshold, while 8 countries were still below the previous target from 2020.

If finished on time, the interconnection projects in the pipeline are expected to further improve interconnectivity levels, but more interconnections are needed in some regions, particularly in view of increasing renewable generation capacities, the EU says.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com

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By Andriy Perun and Vladyslav Smilianets

LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Europe threw its support on Friday behind a special tribunal to prosecute President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, a show of unity on a day when Moscow marks its "victory day".

At a meeting in Ukraine's western city of Lviv, ministers from almost 20 European nations gave their political sign-off to the tribunal, welcoming the completion of the technical work required to set it up.

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The tribunal will be set up within the framework of the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights watchdog that was formed after World War Two to uphold rights and the rule of law.

European nations have stepped up their efforts since U.S. President Donald Trump authorised sanctions in February against the International Criminal Court, created to prosecute war crimes when member states are unwilling or unable to do so themselves.

Russia denies its troops have committed atrocities in Ukraine since its forces launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine says Russian troops have committed many thousands of war crimes.

Foreign ministers from the so-called 'core group' of at least 37 countries signed the "Lviv statement", a document marking the conclusion of work done to draft the necessary legal instruments for the tribunal.

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The tribunal could start operating next year.

"This tribunal will ensure that those most responsible for the aggression against Ukraine are held accountable," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was a moral duty for Europe to hold Russia accountable for the war.

"A strong tribunal for the crime of aggression can - and must - make any potential aggressor think twice," he said in a video address to the meeting.

'GOOD STEP'

An EU official said the tribunal would need to respect the immunity of Putin and his officials while in office but added a prosecutor would be able to investigate and prepare a proposed indictment for when that immunity dropped.

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Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel welcomed the move.

"I think it is a good step because it fills a void that currently exists, which is how can you prosecute the leadership for the crime of aggression against another country," he told Reuters in Kyiv.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal led ministers to a military cemetery in Lviv to honour some of the tens of thousands of Ukrainians killed during more than three years of war against Russia.

The images were in stark contrast to the show of military might in Moscow, where Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the World War Two defeat of Nazi Germany.

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Drawing a parallel with the allied victory in World War Two, British foreign minister David Lammy said 80 years later "in Ukraine we are (again) on the frontlines of that fight for freedom ... sending a powerful message to Putin and his cronies and those that stand with him that freedom will prevail".

European nations are trying to ramp up the pressure on Putin to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as proposed by the United States. Separately, Britain on Friday announced a new package of sanctions on Russia's so-called shadow fleet.

Ukraine has been pushing for the creation of a special tribunal since early in the conflict, accusing Russian troops of committing many thousands of war crimes, but is also intent on prosecuting Russians for orchestrating the 2022 invasion.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Moscow says the warrant is meaningless, and "null and void".

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But the ICC cannot prosecute Russian officials for the crime of aggression in Ukraine because Russia is not a member of the Rome Statute, which created the court, and Ukraine was not a full member at the time of the invasion.

For the ICC to prosecute the crime of aggression, members must also sign an additional amendment.

(Writing by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, has listed five mistakes that Western countries risk repeating in the Russo-Ukrainian war, citing lessons from World War II.

Source: Kubilius at the Kyiv Security Forum on 8 May

Details: Kubilius named insufficient aid to Ukraine as the first mistake. He noted that over the past three years, the EU and the US have provided around 40 billion annually, in roughly equal proportions  significant figures, but less than 0.1% of their GDP and less than they spend on their own defence needs.

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Kubilius called this an illogical approach in a situation where Ukraine, defending itself, is protecting other Western countries from the same enemy.

He called the second mistake the inability of "somebody" to clearly distinguish between the aggressor and the victim in this war, and the third mistake the hope for good relations with the aggressor Putin after the Russo-Ukrainian war subsides.

Quote: "NATO and all of us, we consider Russia the biggest threat to European security. And NATO plans to radically ramp up preparedness to defend and to deter Russian aggression. It is impossible to plan to be friendly with the biggest threat and to demand bigger defence spending in order to deter the biggest threat."

More details: Kubilius hinted at US President Donald Trump in his speech.

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"Implementation of the promises of friendship with aggressor Putin will embolden Putin to continue his internal and external aggressive policies, will bring confusion to the whole Western world of democracies, and again, will encourage aggressiveness by other authoritarian regimes," he added.

He called the fourth mistake the recognition of the occupation of Crimea and reiterated that it was the betrayal of Czechoslovakia in 1938 that opened the gates for further aggression by Hitler's Germany in Europe.

"History teaches clear lessons about leadership. In the critical moments, leaders can play the role of Chamberlain or the role of Churchill, Roosevelt, or Reagan. [...] To demand that Ukraine give part of its territory to aggressor Putin is a simple and tragic repetition of the historic mistake of Chamberlain," Kubilius stressed.

Kubilius named the fifth potential mistake as denying Ukraine the opportunity to join NATO.

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"Russia demands no NATO for Ukraine not because they are afraid of NATO offense against Russia using territory of Ukraine, but because they are afraid that NATO will defend Ukraine against next Russian aggression," he noted.

Background:

Also on 8 May, the foreign ministers of the Baltic states, Poland, Czechia, Moldova and Ukraine published a joint statement explaining, based on the lessons of World War II, which scenarios for ending the Russo-Ukrainian war are dangerous and unacceptable.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows that World War II is not "just history".

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European foreign ministers meeting in Lviv on 9 May have issued a joint statement welcoming the completion of technical work on draft legal instruments required to establish a Special Tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine within the Council of Europe.

Source: the joint statement, seen by European Pravda

Details: The ministers reaffirmed the critical importance of the Special Tribunal in ensuring justice by holding to account those most responsible for this grave international crime committed against Ukraine.

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They stressed that once established, the Special Tribunal will conduct its proceedings in full accordance with international law and human rights, as set out in its statute.

The ministers reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to the establishment of the Special Tribunal within the Council of Europe, its prompt commencement and support for its effective operation.

They have urged other states and international organisations to actively contribute to the work of the Special Tribunal.

The ministers noted that they look forward to the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg on 13-14 May 2025, which will mark the next step towards formalising the establishment of the Special Tribunal within the Council of Europe.

Background:

European Pravda reported that there are expectations that the tribunal could begin its work next year.

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, expressed hope that the tribunal would issue a decision on aggression by 2026.

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Liverpool Target Frimpong as Alexander-Arnold Replacement Identified

Frimpong emerges as key figure in Liverpools transfer strategy

Liverpools search for a dynamic right-back to succeed Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken a promising turn, with TalkSport reporting that Bayer Leverkusens Jeremie Frimpong is firmly on the clubs radar. The Netherlands international, who has enjoyed a standout season under Xabi Alonso, is available for a fee of just 29.7 million due to a release clause in his contract  a sum considered a bargain in the current transfer climate.

Frimpongs potential arrival is a reflection of Arne Slots ambitious vision for a Liverpool squad that clinched the Premier League title in his first season in charge. With Alexander-Arnold making a high-profile move to Real Madrid, right-back is one of several areas the Dutch manager is prioritising in the window, alongside a left-back, centre-back, and striker.

Dutch connections influencing Liverpools interest

The 24-year-old has long been admired by Slot, who is looking to add more pace and directness to Liverpools transitions. Frimpongs relationship with current Liverpool players may smooth the transition, having formed close ties with Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo through the Netherlands national team.

He even teased fans recently during a light-hearted international moment when he greeted Gravenberch in a Scouse accent, saying, Alright la. You alright? You alright, la? The charm offensive hasnt gone unnoticed at Anfield, and neither has his form.

With 44 assists and 29 goals in 189 appearances for Leverkusen, Frimpongs attacking output is unmatched for a full-back. His blistering pace, technical dribbling, and positional intelligence make him a major threat in counter-attacking systems, precisely the type of player Slot could utilise in wide overloads or inverted roles.

Squad evolution and tactical reshaping under Slot

Slot is expected to be backed with significant funds after securing Liverpools 20th top-flight crown. Frimpongs arrival would mark a clear statement about the managers intent to maintain the clubs attacking edge from deep areas, particularly in games where width and pace are crucial.

Other targets include Milos Kerkez at left-back and Dean Huijsen in central defence, as uncertainty surrounds the long-term role of Jarell Quansah. Meanwhile, Giorgi Mamardashvilis impending arrival from Valencia shows the rebuild is already well underway.

Frimpongs contract clause makes him particularly attractive in a summer where elite-level value is scarce. His weekly wage at Leverkusen  reported at around 65,000  would likely be upgraded at Anfield, and his commercial portfolio, including a 20 million New Balance deal, underlines his growing profile.

Potential risks and defensive concerns

While his attacking traits are well documented, Frimpong is not without his limitations. Critics have noted his positional vulnerabilities and occasional lapses in defensive structure  concerns which echo those levelled at his potential predecessor, Alexander-Arnold.

Slot may need to adjust Liverpools shape or ensure strong support from the right-sided centre-back to mitigate those risks. Nevertheless, Frimpongs upside far outweighs the drawbacks for a club seeking evolution rather than revolution.

Our View  EPL Index Analysis

For Liverpool fans, this feels like one of the most exciting transfer developments in recent windows. Frimpong is electric, fearless, and could add another dimension to their right-hand side, especially in a Slot system that prioritises overloads and high pressing.

Its a dream scenario: a Premier League-winning manager with a clear plan, targeting a player available at a fraction of what others might cost. 29.7 million for a player who has delivered 73 direct goal contributions from right-back? Thats elite value.

Yes, there are concerns about defensive solidity  but lets be honest, thats been the trade-off with Trent too. What Frimpong offers is energy, drive, and a relentless willingness to make things happen. Imagine him linking up with Salah and Szoboszlai down the right. Imagine him surging forward at Anfield under the lights. Its got all the makings of another fan favourite.

With the Dutch spine already forming under Slot, Frimpong would feel like a natural next step in this new Liverpool era.
Diplomats from the European Union and partner countries gave their go-ahead on Friday for a special international tribunal to prosecute top Russian officials for the war against Ukraine.

The panel of judges is to be based in The Hague and will hold top figures in the Russian leadership to account, according to a joint declaration by more than 30 diplomats who met in Lviv on Friday.

Germany's new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, who took part in the meeting, said: "This war, which violates international law, must not be allowed to remain without consequences."

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"Those who bear responsibility for this must also be held accountable by a legitimized court," he said.

The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said that the tribunal would "ensure that those most responsible for the aggression against Ukraine are held accountable."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who joined via video, said: "Russia must be held accountable for its aggression like the Nazis were."

Wadephul said he would try to persuade his US counterpart Marco Rubio that the United States should rejoin the group supporting the tribunal. After President Donald Trump took office, the US withdrew its support.

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The group of states - which includes EU members as well as others including Australia, Costa Rica and Norway - now plans to formally ask the Council of Europe for a treaty to establish the tribunal as soon as possible.

Judgements should also be possible in the absence of the accused - as it is unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, will be tried in person.

The tribunal is to have 15 judges, each elected for a nine-year term. EU estimates put the total costs at 1 billion ($1.13 billion).
European foreign ministers and Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers during their visit to Lviv on 9 May.

Source: Kallas on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: European diplomats visited the Field of Honour at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv, where Ukrainian soldiers who were killed in the Russo-Ukrainian war are buried. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi were also present.

Today, we celebrate Europe Day with Ukraine and its people.

Because in a family, both joys and hardships are shared.



Together with Foreign Ministers, we stand united with Ukraine for a lasting peace. For the future we believe in. pic.twitter.com/10QOs96vZu  Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) May 9, 2025

Quote: "Today, we celebrate Europe Day with Ukraine and its people. Because in a family, both joys and hardships are shared. Together with Foreign Ministers, we stand united with Ukraine for a lasting peace. For the future we believe in."

Background:

Kaja Kallas announced yesterday that the final political approval of the tribunal for Vladimir Putin will take place in Lviv on 9 May.

On 8 May, the foreign minister of the new German government, Johann Wadephul, said that he had arrived in Lviv.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
By Elizabeth Piper and Andreas Rinke

KYIV (Reuters) -Major European powers threw their weight behind an unconditional 30-day Ukraine ceasefire on Saturday, with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump, and threatened President Vladimir Putin with "massive" new sanctions if he did not accept within days.

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine set the start of the ceasefire for May 12 at a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Trump.

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"So all of us here together with the U.S. are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a press conference.

"No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays."

Soon after the European leaders' announcement, the Kremlin appeared to pour scorn on it.

"We hear many contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations. Nothing more," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax.

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Peskov was later quoted by the state TASS news agency as saying that Russia would consider the ceasefire proposal, while Moscow has its own position.

Western sanctions against Russia have been toughened repeatedly since its full-scale invasion in 2022, without ending the war. But following through on the threat would be a sign of growing Western unity after months of unpredictability in U.S. policy since Trump's return to the White House in January.

After engaging directly with Russian officials, clashing publicly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and briefly cutting vital military aid to Kyiv, Washington has patched up ties with Ukraine and signed an agreement giving the U.S. preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals.

Trump, who did not immediately comment publicly on the European leaders' remarks, has also signalled frustration with what Washington views as Putin's foot-dragging over a ceasefire.

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"In the event that the ceasefire is violated, massive sanctions will be prepared, in coordination between the Europeans and the United States," French President Emmanuel Macron said.

By imposing new sanctions, the White House would be aligning itself more closely with Western Europe, which has been rattled by a trade war in which Trump has imposed tariffs on them and other countries and has suggested he might not come to the defence of NATO allies that underspend on their defence.

Zelenskiy said he and the visiting leaders had agreed the unconditional ceasefire must start on Monday and cover air, sea and land. If Russia refused, it would face new sanctions, including the strengthening of punitive measures targeting its energy and banking sectors, he said.

The leaders later issued a joint statement summing up the contents of the proposed 30-day ceasefire and saying its main purpose was "to make room for diplomacy".

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They welcomed support for the proposal from both Europe and the United States and said that if Russia sought to apply conditions, "this can only be considered as an effort to prolong the war and undermine diplomacy".

Peskov had been quoted as saying on Friday that Russia supported the implementation of a 30-day ceasefire, but only with due consideration of "nuances".

In remarks to U.S. broadcaster ABC broadcast earlier on Saturday, Peskov had suggested Western military assistance for Ukraine must stop for a temporary ceasefire to take effect. "Otherwise it will be an advantage for Ukraine," he said.

TRUMP PHONE CALL

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Macron said that if the ceasefire went ahead, it would be monitored mainly by the U.S. and European countries would contribute.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who is now a senior security official, derided the idea of giving Russia an option between being sanctioned or giving Ukrainian forces an opportunity to rebuild.

"Shove these peace plans up your pangender arses!" he wrote on X.

The European leaders said the terms of a peace deal would be negotiated during the 30-day pause in fighting.

"We have no illusions that the ceasefire will be breached," Zelenskiy said.

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On the eve of the summit, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv warned of a "potentially significant" air attack in the coming days.

When the European leaders arrived in Kyiv by train on Saturday, a screen on the platform announced the arrival of the "Bravery Express". Zelenskiy accompanied them as they paid their respects at a Kyiv memorial honouring Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war.

The visit falls on the final day of a May 8-10 ceasefire declared by Putin that Ukraine did not accept, denouncing it as a sham. Both sides have accused each other of violating it.

Reuters journalists at a field hospital near the front line in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region saw soldiers being brought in with combat injuries sustained since the Russian ceasefire began.

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"There hasnt been any ceasefire, shelling has continued just as before, drones are flying just like before, the same with explosives being dropped. Nothing has changed at all," said a wounded soldier who gave his name as Stanislav.

(Writing by Tom Balmforth, Editing by Christian Lowe, Timothy Heritage and Ron Popeski)
European foreign ministers approved the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine during a meeting in Lviv on May 9.

The tribunal, which will operate under the auspices of the Council of Europe, aims to prosecute Russia's top political and military leadership, including President Vladimir Putin.

The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.

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In a joint statement, coalition representatives welcomed the completion of technical work on the legal instruments necessary to establish the tribunal.

They cited the UN General Assembly resolutions on aggression against Ukraine and the Vienna-Riga Statement of Nov. 22, 2024, as the foundation for the tribunal's mandate.

The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to launching the tribunal's work as soon as possible and called on additional states and international organizations to join and support the tribunal's activities.

The next formal step will be at the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on May 1314.

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The statement was endorsed in the presence of EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and Council of Europe Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law Michael McGrath.

Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv on May 9. The visit coincided with Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, an annual event the Kremlin uses to showcase military might and justify its war against Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for the tribunal to ensure that Putin and other senior Russian officials face justice for launching the invasion nearly three years ago.

Ukrainian authorities have documented thousands of war crimes, including deliberate strikes on civilians, cultural heritage sites, medical facilities, as well as torture and forced deportations.

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Unlike other international charges such as war crimes or crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression targets only the top leadership responsible for planning and waging a war.

Read also: EU diplomats honor fallen soldiers in Lviv, pledge more Ukraine support

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Diocese of Evansville will host a mass to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV on Friday.

The mass will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Saint Benedict Cathedral on Lincoln Avenue. It will be officiated by Bishop Joseph Siegel, who tells Eyewitness News he met Pope Leo ten years ago at a fundraising dinner, and was impressed by his kindness.

The diocese says all are welcome to attend.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Evergy, Topeka headquarters shown here, announced first-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.54 per share in a call Thursday. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Evergy missed Wall Street expectations but reported a $125 million profit during its first-quarter earnings call Thursday.

Evergy and Black Hills Energy had earnings calls Thursday morning, with both reaffirming their projected earnings for the upcoming year.

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Evergy reported first quarter adjusted earnings of $0.54 per share, missing a Zacks consensus estimate of $0.66. Zacks Investment Research projects earnings estimates for companies based on input from more than 2,500 analysts.

Weaker sales due to two heavy snow events and a large industrial customer outage held back Evergy earnings, said David Campbell, president and CEO.

The first quarter was a slower start to the year than anticipated, said Bryan Buckler, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Total demand grew 2.7% while weather normalized demand decreased by 3%. Colder winter weather led to increases in residential commercial usage, but major snow storms limited the business activity in January, and to some degree, in February, on the industrial side.

Despite lower than expected earnings, Campbell said Evergy continues to stay on track to deliver 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance in the range of $3.92.

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The long-term outlook for our business is as strong as it has been in decades, bolstered by strong demand from large new customers, one of the most robust customer pipelines in the industry and constructive regulatory frameworks and supportive legislation in both Kansas and Missouri, he said.

Evergy also stuck with its long-term earnings growth target of 4-6% through 2029.

Campbell said a February cold spell led to a new winter peak load record of more than 48 gigawatts in the Southwest Power Pool, which is a regional transmission organization that ensures reliable power for its members.

The new record emphasized the need for continuing investment in infrastructure, such as new dispatch generation, he said. Evergy has applied to the Kansas Corporation Commission to build two new natural gas plants and one solar power facility in the state.

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Growth opportunities through economic development in Kansas and Missouri assure Evergy of future opportunities, Campbell said.

Of course, the environment for new economic development projects is competitive and we do not expect to win all projects in the queue,  he said, adding that multiple projects in Kansas and Missouri are or could affect energy usage.

Those projects include a data center in Missouri, which is in process, and final-stage negotiations with two large customers for two data center projects representing 1.3 gigawatts of load.

One of these customers is evaluating our Kansas service territory and the other existing data center customer is evaluating expansion in Missouri, Campbell said. Both customers remain on track to share announcements regarding their plans later this year.

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Black Hills Energy

Black Hills Energy president and CEO Linn Evans reported earnings of $1.87 per share, and reaffirmed the companys estimates of a 5% annual growth rate.

He also spoke about three company objectives, including a $1 billion capital plan and executing on regulatory initiatives. Black Hills has asked KCC for a 17.6% rate increase.

We have successfully implemented new rates through five rate reviews since the beginning of 2024, and we also have two active rate reviews requested to be in effect later this year, Evans said. Collectively, regulatory execution by our team on these seven rate reviews reflects the recovery of more than $1.3 billion of new system investments.

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Evans said Black Hills has evaluated any tariff impacts and potential changes in federal legislation and does not believe they will affect the companys five-year outlook.

The materials for the majority of our 2025 capital projects are already sourced, and our historical spend from foreign sources has been less than 3%, he said. We have strong confidence in our long-term (earnings per share) growth target, 4 to 6%, given our robust balance sheet, capital forecasts, incremental investment potential and our other growth opportunities, highlighted by increasing demand from our data center customers.
Two people, a juvenile and a School Committee candidate, were arrested on Thursday after chaos erupted on a Worcester street when federal agents detained a Brazilian woman.

Community leaders are now calling for transparency and answers after the dramatic scene, which was caught on cell phone video.

Worcester Police said more charges could be coming at the local level as police review videos showing the crowd surrounding and, in some cases, assaulting law enforcement officers.

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City leaders, during a press conference on Friday, blasted federal and local law enforcement for their response to the Worcester neighborhood.

In a statement Friday night, the Worcester Police Patrolmans Union said its officers on Thursday responded to a hostile and uncooperative crowd surrounding them.

Worcester police officers and federal agents were threatened, abused and even assaulted on scene, the police union said. Such conduct cannot be tolerated or condoned.

The Worcester Police Patrolmans Union Local 911 will not stand silently in the face of such outrageous conduct or allow the safety of our officers to be put at risk by any individual, the Patrolmans Union said.

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These types of calls for assistance can be extremely dangerous and place officers at a high risk of injury due to the high emotions people feel at the time, the police union said. Our officers always strive to be as compassionate as we can daily.

Some councilors are calling for enhanced oversight and civilian review boards. They say Thursdays ICE detainment of the local woman is not only an attack on one family but all families in the Worcester community.

The response yesterday from the federal government and the police department was completely unacceptable, District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj said during a press conference on Friday.

District 4 Councilor Luis Ojeda said, I want to make sure the Latino community knows I am here, we are here to support you.

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I dont have all the answers. I dont. But I also know that all parties are impacted throughout this incident, said City Council Vice Chairman and Councilor-at-large Khrystian King.

Folks said we got to do better. We do. We will, and what comes to mind is, those officers that responded, they responded as trained, King said.

If were going to look for change, you have to look on what was expected of them when they arrived in numbers, what was expected of them when they showed up from their superiors, from their training, from their preparation, King said. We need to deescalate a young person whos lost her family in real time, and we perhaps could have got there with a little more patience.

Ashley Spring, 38, a Worcester School Committee candidate on the November ballot, was among those arrested following the incident.

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Spring is accused of pushing multiple officers at the scene and throwing an unknown liquid substance on the officers. She is charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and interfering with a police officer.

A juvenile was also arrested. Neighbors said the teenager is the daughter of a Brazilian woman ICE agents were detaining.

The teen reportedly held a baby in front of a law enforcement vehicle as officers were detaining the woman and chaos unfolded at the scene.

The teen was charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Her name was not released because she is a juvenile.

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Boston 25 has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.

Worcester Police said officers responded to Eureka Terrace around 11:15 a.m. Thursday after learning of 25 people reportedly surrounding a federal agent.

Witnesses told Boston 25 News tensions grew after federal authorities intercepted a family in a BMW with a two-month-old baby in tow.

A crowd of neighbors, community leaders, and immigration activists went to the scene and tried to stop the family from being separated.

Then, things escalated.

Neighbors at the scene accused ICE agents of not having a warrant and wanted to know why they were taking the unidentified woman into custody.

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You can see, in one of the videos, her foot got stuck under the car, and a bunch of people tried to do a chain, said neighbor Daniela Fraga. It escalated and got worse and worse.

The teenage daughter of the woman taken into federal custody appears to stand in front of the ICE van with the newborn baby in her arms.

Police said she eventually handed over the infant to someone else after officers told her she was endangering the child.

She then ran back toward the moving vehicle and kicked the passenger door.

Brian Webb, who went to the scene when he saw social media posts from the scene cropping up, told Boston 25 News that when things started getting out of hand, officers announced over loud speakers that the gathering was an unlawful assembly and that people in the crowd should disperse or face arrest.

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He called the scene heart wrenching.

There was a few different moments when like when you could, everyone present and anyone watching the footage could feel the despair, Webb said. I dont know, they were horrified.

I had no idea what I could possibly do to change or affect anything going on out here, said neighbor Lee Duerden. This is happening across the country, so it is very concerning.

A woman who identified herself as Springs roommate declined to comment at their Waconah Road home on Thursday night.

A statement from City Manager Eric Batista addressed the community turmoil following Thursdays heated chain of events.

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The series of events was no doubt disturbing and the footage of a family being separated is harrowing, said Batista. Unfortunately, two individuals were arrested after several attempts by WPD officers to deescalate the chaotic situation, which included the endangerment of an infant. My heart goes out to all those impacted by todays events and the growing tension we all feel due to the national political climate.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty also addressed the incident on social media.

I am disturbed to hear about todays events involving ICE. As someone who prides themselves on leading a welcoming city, I am devastated to hear about the separation of a family, especially with Mothers Day around the corner, he said. The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city.

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Voting for a new pope is no joke.

Before Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Francis Prevost) was named the successor of the late Pope Francis at the latest conclave, healong with more than one hundred other Catholic cardinalshad to adhere to strict rules during the super secretive affair.

In fact, all cardinals have to take a solemn oath to protect the secrecy of the conclave under the penalty of "automatic" excommunication ahead of sequestering for the election, according to the Universi Dominici Gregis, one of the documents used to regulate the papal election.

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And once the doors of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel are sealed, with the master of ceremonies declaring "extra omnes" ("everybody out") to usher those not taking part in the vote off the premise, all forms of communication with the outside world are forbidden.

That means cardinals are "specifically prohibited" access to internet, social media, TV, telephones, radios, newspapers and faxes, per the U.D.G.

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To really make sure there are no leaks, the Vatican kitchen avoids serving food such as ravioli, whole chickens and pies that could easily be used to conceal messages.

As for communication between cardinals? They can speak to each other and exchange views concerning the election, though they must "abstain from any form of pact, agreement, promise or other commitment of any kind which could oblige them to give or deny their vote to a person," the U.D.G. notes.

While Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci's cardinal characters in Conclavethe 2024 movie centered around a fictional papal electionare close friends, real-life electors are discouraged by the U.D.G. to be guided "by friendship or aversion, or to be influenced by favor or personal relationships towards anyone" in their voting.

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Instead, cardinals are instructed in the U.D.G. to pray for "divine assistance" and vote for the person "who in their judgment is most suited to govern the universal Church in a fruitful and beneficial way."

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Per tradition, a majority vote of at least two-thirds-plus-one is needed for a candidate to be selected as the new pontiff. The Vatican announces the conclave's decision by burning paper ballots to make white smoke rise from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, as opposed to black smoke to signify that the cardinals have yet to reach a resolution.

To see all the cardinals who were in the running for pope in the latest conclave, keep reading.

Pietro Parolin

Cardinal Pietro Parolin had served as Pope Francis secretary of statea.k.a. his second in commandsince 2014. In his role, the 70-year-old Italian, a former ambassador to Venezuela, oversaw internal church affairs and guided official foreign policy, making him exceptionally familiar with the politics of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican and on the world stage. But the pick would not be without the tinge of scandal: Parolin was linked to, but not charged in connection with, an investment in a London real estate venture that went wrong and led to another cardinal, Angelo Becciu, and nine others going on trial for financial crimes at the Vatican in 2021. (Becciu, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of fraud and embezzlement.)





Fridolin Ambongo

As archbishop of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, 65, grew close to Francis as a member of the popes nine-person advisory board, the Council of Cardinals. If elected, he would be the first pope from sub-Saharan Africa, but hed come from the more conservative side of the church, having opposed Francis 2023 ruling that allowed blessings of same-sex couples.





Luis Antonio Tagle

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines accompanied Francis on multiple trips through Asiaand he would be the first Asian pope. (For the record, Francis was the first non-European pope since 741 A.D., so a variety of firsts are possible for this conclave.) Known familiarly as Chito among his faithful, the congenial 67-year-old is an advocate for the poor, which would be in keeping with Francis priorities. Formerly archbishop of Manila, Tagle was brought to Rome by France to head the Vaticans missionary evangelization office. Tagle was previously considered for the papacy during the 2013 conclave but, at 55, was considered way too young.





Matteo Zuppi

Also a proponent of the belief that the church should first and foremost serve the poor, Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy, was made a cardinal in 2019and theres speculation that Francis would have handpicked him to be his successor if such things were done. As archbishop of Bologna since 2015, hes been known as Don Matteo, a defender of immigrants and the migrant plight. Zuppi wrote the preface to the Italian edition of Rev. James Martins 2017 book Building a Bridge, about how the church can better minister to members of the gay community. He was also a member of a team from the SantEgidio Community charity that helped negotiate the end of Mozambiques civil war in the 1990s and Francis named Zuppi his peace envoy amid Russias war in Ukraine.

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Peter Erdo

In 2003, Pope John Paul II made then-50-year-old Peter Erdo of Hungary the youngest cardinal at the time. While the current archbishop of Budapest is known for his support of his countrys Jewish community and for reaching out to Catholics in Latin America and Africa, Erdo has some more entrenched conservative beliefs than Francis. Now 72, he has spoken out against the church taking in migrants and against divorced Catholics receiving communion (which Francis didnt allow, per se, but was open to considering it case by case).





Reinhard Marx

Archbishop of Munich and Freising Reinhard Marx, 71, was a key advisor to Francis and headed the Council for the Economy, which was created in 2014 to oversee Vatican finances when the church needed to take a closer look at its spending habits. Marx was only one of two original members to continue on the council once Francis appointed six women to join in 2020. In 2021, Marx offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German churchs failings when it came to properly dealing with reports of sexual abusea scandal that has roiled Catholicism worldwide. Francis refused to accept and encouraged him to stay put.





Marc Ouellet

Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada oversaw the bishops office that helps select diocese leaders the world over until 2023. Since 2019, the office has been leading investigations into bishops accused of covering up for predatory priests all over the world, meaning Ouellet has seen a lot of files on a lot of church leaders. Like Francis, Ouellet has supported women having a greater role in the churchwhile still, also like Francis, being against their ordination as priests.





Robert Prevost

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost would make history as the first pope from the United States. He spent nine years running the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, before Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to head up the office that vets bishop nominations all over the world. The 69-year-old is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which would extend the churchs close relationship with the region of the planet where almost 40 percent of the worlds Catholics reside.

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Christoph Schoenborn

Christoph Schoenborn, who served as archbishop of Vienna from September 1995 until Jan. 22, 2025, has voiced support of civil unions and women serving as deacons, andas someone whose parents divorced when he was a teenagerhe defended Francis outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics. The 80-year-old criticized the Vatican in 2010 for its past refusal to sanction high-ranking officials who were credibly accused of sexual abuse, including his own predecessor in Vienna, Hans Hermann Groer, who died in 2003 and never faced charges. Schoenborn accused then-Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano (who died in 2022) of orchestrating a cover-up to protect Groer and making light of the entire issue by dismissing accusations of clerical abuse as petty gossip. The Vatican, headed up by Benedict XVI at the time, rebuked Schoenborn for speaking out, stating that only a pope can level such an accusation against a cardinal.





Anders Arborelius

Anders Arborelius, 75, converted to Catholicism at 20 and, in 2017, became Swedens first Catholic cardinal. (The Scandinavian nation was very Lutheran before becoming more secular.) The former Carmelite monk has preached unity, saying in a recent interview (per the New York Times), It can be a danger in some parts of the church that you get divided on various issues. We should not form parties within the Catholic Church.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
The former keyboardist for the Detroit band Mac Saturn said he was sorry for his actions, ashamed and has deep regret before a federal judge sentenced to him 15 years in federal prison in a child pornography case.

"This is not who I am as a person," Evan Mercer, wearing a tan jail jumpsuit and handcuffs, said as he spoke for several minutes May 8 in U.S. District Court in Detroit, a piece of paper on the lectern in front of him.

The lifelong musician with no prior criminal history told Judge Terrence Berg this was a "giant wake-up call" that had cost him his freedom and reputation. Mercer said he has an addiction to sex and adult pornography, but "I will show that rehabilitation is possible." He said he began the first steps of reflection while being held in the Sanilac County Jail.

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Mercer said his intention was not to inflict damage to others and reiterated how "deeply sorry I am for what I've done."

Mercer, then 31, pleaded guilty in December to sexual exploitation of a child. The case surfaced right before the fast-rising rock group was to go on a national tour early last year.

Mercer was indicted in February 2024 on one count each of exploitation, which occurred in September 2023, and possession of child pornography, plus three counts of enticement of a minor. Prosecutors dismissed the other four counts at sentencing.

Federal prosecutors wanted 30 years in prison, the maximum Mercer could have received. His attorney, Michael Rataj, advocated for 15 years.

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Berg sentenced Mercer to the mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months, or 15 years, in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no restitution at this time, as there have been no victim identities, including a 7-year-old girl from an incident in September 2023.

Berg said 180 months is "a very long sentence."

Berg said he read sentencing memorandums from both sides as well as a psychological evaluation of Mercer, numerous character letters from Mercer's family and friends and a statement from a witness to the crime that detailed the suffering the witness has endured.

Rataj said he was unaware of the witness' statement until he walked into court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Princ said the witness was present in court, but Berg said it was not normally appropriate for a witness to speak at sentencing, but reiterated he read the witness' letter.

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Rataj said the prosecutors' sentencing memorandum painted Mercer as a monster with no redeeming qualities. But he said Mercer, who has a support network and "not a mean bone in his body" also "has owned up to what he did ... and he wants to get better. He's very repentant and remorseful." He said Mercer "is not a monster. He has many redeeming qualities."

Princ said that child exploitation is "like murder to the child's soul," that the incident wasn't isolated or an aberration, and that Mercer recorded it for his sexual pleasure.

More: Ex-Mac Saturn keyboardist Evan Mercer pleads guilty in federal child porn case

"This is a serious crime. A child was hurt. We're advocating for a serious sentence," she told Berg.

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Prosecutors began their sentencing memorandum writing that Mercer "directed children, as young as seven years old, to engage in sexually explicit conduct that he masturbated to and recorded so that he could view later to gratify himself. To fulfill his sexual interest in children, Mercer also saved images of children being sexually abused on his phone."

They wrote "the horrific nature of Mercer's conduct cannot be understated, and it is impossible to ignore Mercer's cruelty and callous attitude toward the children he abused." They added that his online sexual exploitation of children was ongoing and involved multiple victims and that he "enticed children to expose themselves in the most humiliating ways for his selfish perversion."

Mercer was arrested in January 2024. Federal investigators accused him of being seen on video engaging in sexual acts with underage victims. Some of the files were discovered by an ex-girlfriend of the musician through a shared iCloud account.

Mercer was detained the same day as the band's debut album release and a hometown show at The Fillmore Detroit. The band was to have a 35-city North American tour, but canceled it days after his arrest.

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More: Feds: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer facing child porn charges

Hours before the hometown show, Mac Saturn announced on social media that Mercer was no longer in the band. The Wayne State University music alum and veteran of the Detroit music scene became a Mac Saturn member two years before the charges, when he was added to the band's existing lineup.

In September, the band posted on Instagram that it had been a year "of healing, reflecting and intense growth that the strength of our focus as a group has mirrored." It thanked those who came forward to "rid our lives of an unknown evil, and our loyal fans for the encouragement and love they've shared over these past months."

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Mac Saturn member sentenced to 15 years in federal child porn case
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. CEO Juan Luciano said its ingredients business is "on the path to recovery," more than a year after the crop trader's nutrition unit was swept up in a broad accounting scandal.

Luciano said in an earnings call that demand for flavors, particularly among the beverage industry, raised operating revenue at the nutrition segment by 13% in the first quarter compared to last year.

The improved performance in nutrition was a small bright spot in an otherwise dour sales environment for ADM. Operating profits in the first quarter were down by 38% compared to the prior year, as the crop trader contends with trade uncertainty.

Dive Insight:

As the food and beverage industries face pressure from the Trump administration to phase out artificial dyes, ADM's ingredients unit is seeing more demand for natural colors, which Luciano hopes could drive future growth for the beleaguered nutrition business.

ADM's nutrition unit, which includes its flavor and ingredients businesses, has struggled to regain its footing following a criminal probe into the segment's accounting practices. The investigation, which looked into whether ADM overstated profits in the segment, prompted the departure of the companys CFO and a significant downsizing of the companys nutrition offerings.

The company has also seen delays in restarting operations at its specialty ingredient manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois, following a plant explosion in 2023. Luciano said the company made important progress in getting the facility back online, and that the plant is in the final stages of recommissioning.

ADM has moved to cut costs as tariffs and uncertainty in biofuel regulations pressure overall earnings. The company announced a plan to eliminate up to 700 jobs and potentially sell assets to generate approximately $750 million in savings.

Its also focused on improving nutrition performance through a renewed focus on health and wellness. The company announced an agreement in February with Japan-based Asahi Group to distribute a postbiotic ingredient to improve sleep, stress and mood.

Flavor demand boosted revenue at ADMs Human Nutrition subsegment by 4%, according to the companys Q1 earnings.

We continue to invest in R&D related to health and wellness solutions, Luciano said on the call, adding that the companys focus on nutrition is beginning to show positive results.
A federal jury found a former Manchester High School West teacher guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a minor Thursday afternoon after hearing testimony about a November undercover operation at a Manchester hotel.

Lancaster, 46, of Hudson, was arrested during a Homeland Security sting in November and charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison because the purported minor victim was under the age of 14 years old.

Lancaster, who took the stand in his own defense, is being detained pending his sentencing scheduled for Aug. 18.

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Evidence during the trial showed Lancaster visited a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts, where he offered to pay $100 to have sex with a 12-year-old-girl. He was arrested after he showed the money to an undercover agent, prosecutor Matthew Vicinanzo said.

Lancasters attorney, Charles Keefe, left the courthouse in Concord without comment.

During opening statements on Tuesday, Keefe told the jury that Lancaster had intended to hire an adult escort that day when he came across the advertisement on a commercial sex website. The ages of the girls were revealed during text messages.

Had misgivings

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Keefe pointed to a text message where Lancaster appeared to have a negative sentiment about the age of the girl. He asked for someone older.

Kristen Draper, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, testified during the first day of trial that Lancaster appeared nervous as they spoke about the use of condoms and $100 payment for the 15-minute appointment.

In a video shown in court, Lancaster is heard saying he was not used to under-agers.

Closing arguments took place Thursday morning before the jury deliberated for about two hours.

Judge Paul Barbadoro read the jury instruction regarding entrapment at the request of the defense.

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Keefe argued that its up to the jury to decide whether the government conduct has crossed the line from valid law enforcement tactic to improper inducement.

In a proposed jury instruction, the prosecution wrote: The defendant maintains that he was entrapped. A person is entrapped when he is induced or persuaded by law enforcement officers or their agents to commit a crime that he was not otherwise ready and willing to commit.

The instruction included language that agents are allowed to use false names and appearances during undercover operations.

Prosecutors, however, were not allowed to reveal Stacey Lancasters place of employment during the trial. The defense argued it would be unfairly prejudicial.

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The jury did not hear evidence of Lancaster overseeing the schools Naval Junior ROTC program, even though Lancaster took the stand.

A representative from West High was removed from the witness list before the start of trial.

Manchester Police Detective Mark Schmidt, a school resource officer, was allowed to testify that he worked with Lancaster. According to court papers, he was set to testify that the defendant did not approach him to report suspicions that a child was being trafficked at a local hotel, according to court records.

The detective had nothing to do with Lancasters arrest.

Before the trial

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Prior to the trial, prosecutors said, This anticipated testimony is relevant to the resources and ability that Lancaster had to report possible child trafficking to law enforcement, court records say.

During cross-examination of Lancaster, prosecutors were also allowed to ask him about his training for being a mandatory reporter of suspected child abuse.

Lancasters decision to not report illegal activity that he was aware of is relevant to his consciousness of guilt and probative of his intent to conceal the crime, prosecutors argued before the start of trial.

jphelps@unionleader.com
A former high school teacher was ordered held on Thursday after a federal jury found him guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney and news reports.

Stacey Lancaster, 46, of Hudson, was convicted of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack said in a statement.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro ordered Lancaster detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 18.

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Lancaster is a former Manchester High School West teacher, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported. He formerly oversaw the schools Naval Junior ROTC program.

Lancaster tried to sex traffic a 12-year-old during a proactive federal and local law enforcement operation in November, McCormack said.

On Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, 2024, agents posted and monitored an advertisement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex.

The advertisement contained images of what appeared to be two minor females, and a contact phone number, McCormack said.

Stacey Lancaster, right, a former Manchester High School West teacher charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor, arrives with his wife Tamires for a hearing at federal court in Concord in March. He was convicted of the crime Thursday. DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER file

Law enforcement agents monitored the phone line and used it to communicate with potential sex buyers, including Lancaster, McCormack said.

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During a text conversation between an undercover agent and Lancaster, the agent said that they had a 12-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money.

The agent then provided Lancaster with the address of a hotel in Manchester, McCormack said.

Once at the hotel, Lancaster met with an undercover agent and confirmed that he had $100 that he had agreed to pay for the commercial sex act, and that he would use a condom, McCormack said.

In a video shown in court, Lancaster is heard saying he was not used to under-agers, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

During opening statements on Tuesday, Lancasters attorney, Charles Keefe, told the jury that Lancaster had intended to hire an adult escort that day when he came across the advertisement on a commercial sex website, the newspaper reported. The ages of the girls were revealed during text messages.

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Keefe pointed to a text message where Lancaster appeared to have a negative sentiment about the age of the girl, the newspaper reported. He asked for someone older.

On Thursday, Keefe left the courthouse in Concord without comment, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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(This May 9 story has been corrected to clarify that Iran's statement came from its permanent mission to the United Nations, not the United States, in paragraph 8)

By Jonathan Landay, Jonathan Saul and David Ljunggren

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - Iran is preparing to deliver in the near future launchers for short-range ballistic missiles that the U.S. said Tehran sent to Russia last year for use against Ukraine, according to two Western security officials and a regional official.

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Iran denied it had such plans and dismissed the idea as "utterly absurd".

The delivery of the Fath-360 launchers - if it occurs - would help support Russia's grinding assault on its neighbor and reaffirm the deepening security ties between Moscow and Tehran.

With a 75-mile (120-km) range, the Fath-360 would give Moscow's forces a new weapon to fire at Ukrainian frontline troops, nearby military targets, and population centers close to the border with Russia, analysts said.

The U.S. last September said that Iran delivered the missiles to Russia on nine Russian-flagged ships - which it sanctioned - and three sources told Reuters at that time that the launchers were not included.

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The Western security officials and the regional official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the delivery of the Fath-360 launchers was imminent.

They declined to provide further details of the pending transfer, including why they thought the launchers were not delivered with the missiles.

Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations dismissed what it called "baseless allegations" against Tehran.

"So long as conflict persists between the parties, Iran will abstain from rendering any form of military assistance to either side," it said in an emailed statement.

Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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The U.S. National Security Council referred inquiries to the State Department, which did not respond immediately. The CIA declined comment.

Russia and Iran have previously denied that Tehran had shipped the missiles or any other arms to aid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Moscow launched in February 2022. U.S., Ukrainian and European officials say Iran has provided Russia thousands of drones and artillery shells.

In an apparent reference to the Fath-360s, U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of U.S. Central Command, last month told U.S. lawmakers that Iran had donated to Russia more than 400 short-range ballistic missiles.

There have been no public reports of Iran transferring any other kinds of short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow or of Russian forces using the Fath-360.

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POSSIBLE COMPLICATION FOR PEACE TALKS

Russia's deployment of the missiles could complicate U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to arrange a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and to strike a separate deal with Iran to curb its nuclear program.

The regional official said that the indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Oman are among "several reasons" for the delayed delivery of the launchers.

The talks have encountered turbulence, although Iran on Friday said it agreed to hold a fourth round in Oman on Sunday.

Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said that Iranian officials would consider the issue of sending arms to Russia as separate from the nuclear talks.

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"That the Iranians are negotiating on nuclear issues with the U.S. will not be seen as connected to what they might do in collaboration with the Russians," he said.

Analysts said there could have been another complication: Iran had to modify European-made commercial trucks on which to mount the launchers for its own Fath-360 arsenal, and it may have had to do the same for Russia given its massive losses of vehicles in Ukraine.

With the launchers, Russia will be able to increase pressure on Ukraine, said the experts.

"It would be much easier (for Russian forces) to launch a strike much faster ... against high-value targets," said Fabian Hinz, a research fellow with the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "They (Fath-360s) don't need a lot of launch preparations. Their flight time is incredibly short."

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Deploying the Fath-360 could allow Russia to reserve its more advanced missiles, like the Iskander, for longer-range strikes at critical infrastructure, including the power grid, straining Ukraine's precious missile defenses, the analysts said.

The Fath-360 "is designed to be handled and operated by people with relatively little training," said Ralph Savelsberg, an associate professor at the Netherlands Defense Academy.

"Why would they (Russia) buy inferior Iranian missiles? The only reason I could think of is that they cannot produce a sufficient number of their own missiles," he said.

"They're not super accurate and they don't carry a very large payload. But it just adds to Ukraine's headaches."

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Jonathan Saul. Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth in London, Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Don Durfee, Alistair Bell and David Ljunggren)
SEMMES, Ala. (WKRG)  A Mobile County family is praising a Semmes woman whose normal grocery deliveries turned into a life-saving moment.

Healthy Her in Mobile addresses these common womens health questions (video)

Lee was delivering groceries for Spark, a Walmart delivery service, to make a little bit of extra money while school is out  shes a college student at Coastal Alabama Community College.

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I do work in retail at EZN Outfitters, thats my main job, Lee said. I do like to pick up a few Spark orders and Door Dashes as well.

Lee said she was in the right place at the right time on Monday when she found 74-year-old Linda Williams, who was actively having a stroke.

She did have a screen door, so I could see into the home. And so, whenever I walked up, I could tell she was sitting on the ground, like, almost lied back on the ground, said Lee.

Thats when Lee opened the door and offered the woman help. Then Williams said something that caused Lee to become even more concerned than she already was.

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She was like I dont know, my legs, theyre not working.

Lee walked outside to call her job and some of Williams family members to let them know what was going on, but by the time she came back inside, things had gotten worse.

Photo courtesy: McKayla Lee and Laura Finney

I end up coming inside and shes like Its worse, my arms are numb. My arms are numb, my legs are numb, I cant feel anything, said Lee.

They then decided to call 911 and Lee waited with Williams until the first responders arrived at the home.

Williams daughter, Laura Finney, said they werent expecting a call from a random stranger.

We were actually surprised to have her call us and then we were very thankful that she did.

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Finney said she felt like Lee was Williams angel.

I just thank her for helping my mom out and being there and being her angel, said Finney. God sent her at the right time Shes definitely a hometown hero.

Finney is extremely appreciative of Lee, especially given everything theyre currently going through.

Finneys son, Michael, is a student at Mary G. Montgomery High School. On April 7, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

When Lee found Williams having a stroke, family members were at the Ronald McDonald House with Michael.

We really dont know how were gonna manage all of this, said Finney.

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Finney said their family is staying in contact with McKayla  shes even helping out with a fundraising event for Michael.

Escatawpa Hollow Parks beach and river access temporarily closed

[McKayla] and my daughter are talking now and shes gonna come help with the fundraiser benefit that were having for Michael, said Finney.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
By Gram Slattery, Valerie Volcovici and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials are discussing a plan to pull Greenland into America's sphere of influence using a type of agreement that the United States has used to keep close ties with several Pacific Island nations, according to two U.S. officials and another person familiar with the discussions.

Under the plan being considered, the Trump administration would propose to Greenland's leaders that the island enter into a so-called Compact of Free Association, or COFA, with the United States.

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While the precise details of COFA agreements - which have only ever been extended to the small island nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau - vary depending on the signatory, the U.S. government typically provides many essential services, from mail delivery to emergency management to military protection. In exchange, the U.S. military operates freely in COFA countries and trade with the U.S. is largely duty-free.

President Donald Trump, who during his first administration floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, has pressed even harder since taking office in January, refusing to rule out taking the island by force. Denmark, which governs the island, has sharply rebuffed the idea.

A COFA agreement would stop short of Trump's ambition to make the island of 57,000 people a part of the U.S. It is not the only Greenland plan on the table, the sources said, and it would face many practical hurdles.

Reuters reported before Trump took office that some advisers had informally suggested the idea. But it has not been previously revealed that White House officials have begun talks about the logistics behind such a proposal.

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Some officials at the National Security Council and the National Energy Dominance Council, which Trump established, are involved in the talks, two of the sources said. The National Economic Council is also involved, one of those sources added.

COFA agreements have previously been inked with independent countries, and Greenland would likely need to separate from Denmark for such a plan to proceed. While polls show Greenlanders are interested in independence, surveys also show most do not want to be part of the U.S. A COFA - which cedes significant autonomy to Washington - could be viewed with similar skepticism.

One of those involved in the discussions is Markus Thomi, the acting senior director for the National Security Council's Western Hemisphere section, according to two of the sources. David Copley, the key mining official on the NEDC, is also involved in the talks, one of those sources said.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the Danish Embassy or Greenland's representative office in Washington.

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The Interior Department, which plays a key role in administering COFA agreements through its Office of Insular Affairs, also did not respond.

TROUBLES WITH EXISTING COFA DEALS

Washington's existing COFA agreements with Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia are seen across the U.S. political spectrum as important for countering China's growing influence in the Asia Pacific.

Still, such accords have hit snags in the past.

Republican lawmakers have at times opposed elements of the budget allotted to fund COFA agreements, creating deep frustrations in the countries that rely on the funds.

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Signing a COFA also offers no guarantee that a nation will be immune from influence operations by U.S. rivals.

In April, Reuters reported that Chinese nationals had successfully cultivated close ties to senior political figures in Palau, alarming U.S. officials.

Danish leaders have not been approached about the COFA idea and have not had any substantive discussions with the White House about Greenland's future status, one senior European official said. Danish officials have publicly rejected the idea of the U.S. acquiring Greenland, and insist Greenlanders must determine their future.

Administration officials argue the island is crucial to the U.S. due to its deposits of minerals that have important high-tech and military applications, but which remain untapped due to labor shortages, scarce infrastructure and various other challenges.

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An administration official told Reuters the U.S. was helping Greenland diversify its economy and gain greater economic independence from Denmark. The Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank, both U.S. agencies, could play a role in that process, the official said.

The official pointed to the Tanbreez Project, which will see rare earths extracted on the island and processed in the U.S., as a particular bright spot in relations with Greenland. New York-based Critical Metals Corp holds a 42% stake in the project, though that stake could increase considerably as part of a complex deal due to be completed later this year.

The official said a COFA "could be an elegant way to address some of the concerns that we have when it comes to Greenland security," but did not otherwise comment on the possibility of such an accord.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery, Valerie Volcovici and Steve Holland; Editing by Don Durfee and Alistair Bell)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A new Washington law making all clergy mandatory reporters, signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson last week, is facing pushback after the Archdiocese of Seattle released a statement that they would excommunicate any Catholic clergy who follow the new law.

Beginning as Senate Bill 5375, the law requires clergy members to report any child abuse or neglect, even information shared with a priest during confession.

The initial bill was passed through the Senate and House over the last several months and was officially signed into law last Friday. However, in response, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne released a statement from the Archdiocese of Seattle pushing back against the law, which has led to the Washington Department of Justice opening a civil rights investigation into the laws constitutionality.

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Multnomah County overpaid more than $78K for recruiting services, report finds

According to the Archdiocese, the new law requires clergy to violate the Seal of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, better known as confession.

In response, Archbishop Etienne cited Acts 5:29, We must obey God rather than men, saying, this is our stance now in the face of this new law. Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession  or they will be excommunicated from the Church. All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.

The Archbishop added that the church agrees with protecting children and preventing child abuse, noting the Archdiocese of Seattle already has mandatory reporter policies for priests. However, those rules dont apply to information received during confession.

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On Monday, the Department of Justice announced they are investigating the law, which appears on its face to violate the First Amendment.

In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon called the law a violation of the constitutional right of the free exercise of religion. He also added the law singles out clergy as the only people who cant rely on legal privileges as a defense of mandatory reporting.

SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government, said Dhillon. Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals. We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington States cooperation with our investigation.

Portland archbishop stunned at unprecedented selection of new pope from U.S.

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The Archdiocese of Seattle cited the text of the First Amendment in their rebuke, specifically where it reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Furthermore, fearing further incursion into their constitutional rights, they asked the question: With this new law, where is the line drawn between church and state?

This new law singles out religion and is clearly both government overreach and a double standard, Archbishop Etienne concluded. The line between Church and state has been crossed and needs to be walked back. People of every religion in the State of Washington and beyond should be alarmed by this overreach of our Legislature and Governor.

Although the bill was signed into law by the governor, the new law is not set to take effect until July 2025.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.






25-year-old Eli Sweeting from Bristol, England, was reported missing after he didnt return home on Sunday, May 4

The "experienced hiker" went on a solo hiking trip to Mitre Peak in New Zealand

Search-and-rescue efforts resumed on Friday, May 9, after weather halted plans on Thursday, May 8











A U.K. man has been missing for five days after going on a solo mountain-hiking trip in New Zealand.

According to the BBC, 25-year-old Eli Sweeting from Bristol, England, was reported missing after he didnt return home on Sunday, May 4.

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Eli, who is described as an "experienced climber," went on a hiking trip to Mitre Peak in the Milford Sound area of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park.

In a statement on Friday, May 9, New Zealand police said they were resuming search-and-rescue operations after the weather halted their plans the previous day.

Police are maintaining a positive outlook as search efforts continue, the release read. Approximately 40 staff and volunteers are working in the Milford Sound area.

PEOPLE has contacted New Zealand police for further comment.

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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Westend61/Getty Fjordland National Park in New Zealand's South Island Fjordland National Park in New Zealand's South Island

Authorities added, There is a large-scale air and ground search effort planned for the coming days, and we would like to acknowledge everybody assisting with the search.

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Land Search and Rescue teams from across the southern region are working with a Dunedin-based LandSAR search dog, members of the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue team, the Dunedin LandSAR Cliff Rescue team and the Otago SAR squad and the Southland Amateur Radio Club, the release continued.

The police concluded, Our search efforts continue to be greatly supported by Southern Lakes Helicopters, Heliworks Queenstown and Real NZ.

A GoFundMe page to help with the search efforts for Eli has so far raised 9,288 ($12,339) out of a 10K ($13,285) goal.

There has been a light spotted at a point along the route down the mountain and all efforts have been focused there, Elis sister Serena wrote on the page. Searches have had to be halted over Wednesday and Thursday due to weather warnings."

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"The challenges are that the Bush is so dense that it is hard for infrared to pick up any signs. Searches are due to continue from Friday 9th," she continued.

Serena went on to write, My brother is an experienced climber and has hiked in this terrain many times. I also spend time in the mountains and know how incredible it can be up there, but how quickly things can change. It could happen to any of us.

Kieran Stone/Getty Milford Sound at Fjordland National Park in New Zealand's South Island Milford Sound at Fjordland National Park in New Zealand's South Island

Being in the mountains and adventure is what my brother lives for and he spends lots of time preparing for these adventures and training, she added.

The funds raised by the GoFundMe page will contribute to search-and-rescue teams and equipment needed, as well as seeking people who have drones who could support the teams as sometimes this type of equipment is limited.

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Serena also said they would like funds to go towards New Zealand search and rescue and Alpine search and rescue and the Real New Zealand to say thank you and to aid them in the incredible life saving work they do.

Per the GoFundMe page, Elis family has traveled to Milford Sound to help with search-and-rescue efforts.

Read the original article on People
The Trump administration plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on solar panels imported from four Southeast Asian countries.

Energy experts are concerned that the high tariffs will hurt solar producers in the U.S. because of broader price hikes on imported cells and panel assembly.

What's happening?

As The Guardian reported, trade officials in the U.S. are ready to enforce tariffs on companies in Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.

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Since Cambodian companies didn't cooperate with a U.S. solar panel investigation, they face the highest tariffs of 3,521%. Last year, a group of U.S. solar panel makers accused Chinese companies with factories in these four countries of flooding the market with low-cost, subsidized products.

Meanwhile, solar products in Thailand face 375% tariffs, while Malaysian-made products from a Chinese manufacturer face 41% tariffs.

The news of these high solar panel tariffs raises concerns about the future of energy security.

Approximately 60 countries recently attended a summit to discuss energy security amid changes to the world and disruptions to the energy supply. The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said that energy security relies upon supply diversification, political predictability, and global cooperation.

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Birol said the recent trade war has caused "uncertainty which will affect demand for oil and gas for some time to come."

Why are solar panel tariffs important?

Solar panel tariffs are concerning because they impact the American solar industry and residential and business consumers.

In theory, tariffs aim to support and protect domestic manufacturers by making them more competitive against foreign companies. However, tariffs can also increase the price of supplies domestic manufacturers need to make their own products, and these costs often get passed on to customers.

Overall, higher solar panel prices could reduce demand for clean energy and overshadow their long-term cost savings and environmental benefits.

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Tariffs that cause global supply chain issues can raise costs for everyone involved in the solar industry and trigger trade disputes between countries.

What's being done to keep solar panels affordable?

With tariff price hikes looming, now is an ideal time to take action on your solar system upgrade.

Unbiased solar comparison sites such as EnergySage can help you quickly compare estimates and find trusted local installers. There are also thousands of dollars in tax incentives that you can pursue to offset the upfront cost of a solar commitment.

One option is portable solar panels, which can reduce the price of solar energy while saving you money on utility bills and contributing less household pollution to the environment.

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Community solar programs are also available and an excellent option for an affordable transition to solar.

Looking ahead, the International Trade Commission, a U.S. government agency, plans to vote on a final decision about the Southeast Asian tariffs in June. Until then, the proposed tariffs have not yet gone into effect.

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.
Cryptocurrencies, including the popular Bitcoin, are here to stay, but the energy-intensive nature of the blockchain processes that support them is cause for environmental concern.

How do blockchain systems work?

Proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain systems, such as Bitcoin, use significant computational power as miners solve mathematical problems in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens, according to The Block.

These processes validate transactions and open new blocks, but they consume enormous amounts of energy as miners push to stay ahead of their competitors. Bitcoin mining alone accounts for 0.5% of the world's electricity consumption.

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Alternatively, the proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, in which validators hold and stake tokens for the privilege of earning transaction fees, relies more on the machines of coin owners and draws much less computational power.

Ethereum, as detailed in the report, has made the switch to PoS in its new 2.0 upgrade, which is said to have made significant progress toward reducing its carbon footprint by around 99.95%.

Why should you care about the rise in cryptocurrency exchanges?

A United Nations study has revealed that cryptocurrencies  along with data centers where many are hosted  are impacting more than just the electricity grid, which is reason enough to be concerned, as their massive power demand can lead to blackouts and higher utility bills.

Water resources and land use are also major factors in the pollution they generate.

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Some believe the expansion of cryptocurrencies is helping drive innovation, with many data centers transitioning to renewable sources to meet their voracious energy demands.

However, UN scientists reported that dirty fuels are still the primary power source for digital currencies, using Bitcoin as an example. The study, which covered the period between 2020 and 2021, found that 45% of its energy mix was coal, followed by 21% natural gas.

Globally, data centers account for 1% of electricity consumption, while large economies, such as the United States, are seeing a draw of up to 4%, according to the International Energy Agency. It should be noted, however, that those numbers include machine learning and other processes beyond just crypto.

"Technological innovations are often associated with unintended consequences and Bitcoin is no exception," said study lead Professor Kaveh Madani, the director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).

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"Our findings should not discourage the use of digital currencies. Instead, they should encourage us to invest in regulatory interventions and technological advancements that improve the efficiency of the global financial system without harming the environment."

Indeed, blockchain technology has enabled new economic models, decentralization, and greater transparency for some financial transactions.

Crypto's environmental impact, though, particularly through energy-intensive PoW systems, "remains a significant challenge" to the sector, as The Block concluded.

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.
Amazon has introduced several advanced robotics systems designed to enhance the efficiency, safety, and ergonomics of its delivery stations.

Located in Dortmund, Germany, the companys latest Last Mile Innovation Center showcases a range of cutting-edge technologies aimed at transforming package sorting and loading processes at the final stage of delivery.

These innovations are poised to streamline operations while reducing manual labour and improving the overall working environment for employees.

New robotic systems improve package handling

At the heart of Amazons latest innovations is a series of automated technologies, including Tipper, which automates the unloading of packages.

Rather than requiring employees to manually lift and remove items from carts, the Tipper system transfers packages directly onto conveyor belts.

This reduces physical strain and improves efficiency, allowing workers to focus on other tasks. The system also ensures a smooth and continuous flow of packages through the facility, which is crucial for meeting delivery deadlines.

Advanced sorting technologies boost accuracy

In addition to Tipper, the Dortmund facility features two complementary systems that enhance package sorting accuracy.

The Echelon system manages package flow along conveyor belts, while the six-sided scanner captures detailed package information from every angle. Together, these systems eliminate the need for manual scanning and sorting, improving both speed and precision.

By automating these processes, Amazon is able to reduce errors and ensure packages are routed to the correct destinations without delay.

Focus on worker safety and efficiency

Perhaps one of the most significant features of Amazons new robotic systems is their ability to improve the ergonomic conditions for workers.

Technologies such as Agility and Matrix optimise the sorting process by determining the best paths for packages, minimising the need for workers to reach or manually handle items.

Meanwhile, ZancaSort brings packages to an ergonomic height, reducing the need for employees to walk long distances or perform repetitive tasks. This emphasis on worker comfort and safety is expected to make the delivery process not only faster but also more sustainable.

With these advancements, Amazon aims to create safer, more efficient delivery stations while providing employees with opportunities for career growth.

The companys Career Choice program, which has seen increasing demand for technology-related courses, plays a pivotal role in fostering skill development and creating high-skilled roles across the globe.
The Florida Capitol building on Aug. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Some of Floridas most vulnerable people who rely on Medicaid may wind up having their care flow through managed care organizations under a bill the Legislature passed this session.

Advocates for people with intellectual disabilities are willing to make this move because the proposal, HB 1103, also makes changes to how the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) operates, requiring, among other things, for it to be more transparent about the billion-dollar Medicaid iBudget program it administers.

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Now there are fears the bill wont become law because the Legislature heavily recast the original agency bill. For example, it provides for a no-bid statewide expansion of a Medicaid pilot program, imposes transparency requirements on the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis, and is a priority for House Speaker Daniel Perez, who has been rowing with the governor.

Alan Abramowitz, CEO of The Arc of Florida. (Photo courtesy of Alan Abramowitz)

Everyone is worried hes going to veto it, Alan Abramowitz, executive director of the social services agency The Arc of Florida, told the Florida Phoenix in a telephone interview.

The legislation involves a Medicaid managed-care pilot program launched at the behest of then-House Speaker-Designate, now Speaker, Daniel Perez in 2023. The pilot was designed to care for up to 600 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and was approved for Medicaid regions D and I, which serve Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties.

The state received federal approval for the pilot in February 2024. The Agency for Health Care Administration issued a competitive procurement for the pilot with two vendors, Florida Community Care and Simply Healthcare Plans Inc., vying for the contract. AHCA eventually awarded the contract to Florida Community Care.

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Three hundred and fifty eight people were enrolled in the pilot program as of May 5. During testimony in a House Health and Human Services Committee in February, Carol Gormley, vice president for government affairs for Independent Living Systems, attributed the slow start-up to administrative barriers on APDs part. Independent Living Systems is the parent company of Florida Community Care.

HB 1103 would lift the 600-person cap on the pilot program on Oct. 1, expanding enrollment statewide for qualifying disabled people on the Medicaid iBudget wait list. There are 21,000 plus people on the waitlist, according to a legislative analysis.

Expansion premature?

iBudget provides clients with money to choose services to help with activities of daily living such as eating and bathing. Those home- and community-based services allow clients to live in their communities and outside of institutions. APD serves 35,790 individuals through iBudget Florida.

Under the bill, in July 2026 the program would open to every Medicaid-eligible intellectually disabled person, including those already enrolled in the iBudget program and a different Medicaid managed-care program known as the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) long-term care program.

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Some observers feel the statewide expansion may be premature, though.

Valerie Breen, executive director of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, told the Florida Phoenix that there hasnt been enough experience with the pilot program to take it statewide.

[The] council believes there should be more data before it goes statewide. In addition, we believe that people should have the ability to choose their long-term support and services, Breen said.

State Sen. Jennifer Bradley via Florida Senate

Senate bill sponsor Sen. Jennifer Bradley tagged two amendments onto HB 1103 late in the session that ensured Florida Community Care will continue to be the only contracted managed-care plan for the intellectual disabled for the next six years.

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The Arc of Florida doesnt oppose statewide expansion of the pilot program because enrollment in it isnt mandatory, Abramowitz said.

Agreement required

Indeed, Abramowitz lauded HB 1103 because it makes it clear that intellectually disabled clients or their guardians must affirmatively agree to be placed into a managed-care plan and cannot be mandatorily assigned into one. The affirmation applies to the intellectually disabled program and the Medicaid managed-care program.

While most Medicaid beneficiaries in Florida are required to enroll in that managed-care program, people with intellectual disabilities are not. Nevertheless, the AHCA has been assigning Medicaid-eligible intellectually disabled people into the managed-care program unless they tell the state they dont want to be enrolled.

Again, Florida Medicaid statutes dont authorize AHCA to randomly assign people, but the DeSantis administration has done it nonetheless, including through mandatory assignment language in the last managed-care contract.

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AHCA was rolling out the managed-care policy change while APD was announcing the new intellectually disabled managed care pilot program.

It confused everyone. It was a mess. People were unhappy, Abramowitz said.

Hijacked by the House

HB 1103 quickly went from a priority bill for APD to a priority bill for House leadership and advocates.

The bill was filed in February when Taylor Hatch still headed the agency (she now heads the Department of Children and Families.) As initially filed, the bill would have increased the size and power of the APD and made it the single state agency to serve Florida residents with disabilities.

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To that end, an early version of the bill would have transferred the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Blind Services, and the Federal Rehabilitation Trust Fund from the Department of Education and placed them within APD. It also would have changed the title of the person who runs the agency from executive director to secretary.

None of that is in the final bill, though. Thats because the House Human Services Subcommittee tagged a lengthy amendment onto the measure, replacing the agencys wish list with the House leaderships instead.

The amended bill would create a statewide advisory council to make recommendations to the APD.

The idea that information about the number of people served, the expense of the service being accessed, those on the waiting list, those sorts of things, once again being available online is certainly going to be a positive.

 Former APD Executive Director, advocate, and lobbyist Jim DeBeaugrine

It also would require APD to post its quarterly reports on its website regarding Medicaid iBudget and its operations, including the numbers of clients and of people on the iBudget wait list.

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APD routinely posted the information on its website for years but in the last two years under the DeSantis administration has stopped making the information  which the agency is required to submit to the Legislature  publicly available.

Former APD Executive Director Jim DeBeaugrine lauded the transparency requirements for the iBudget reports.

The idea that information about the number of people served, the expense of the service being accessed, those on the waiting list, those sorts of things, once again being available online is certainly going to be a positive, DeBeaugrine said.

A surge of support

Abramowitz said the transparency requirements, along with creation of a Statewide Family Council, represent important changes for people with intellectually disabled family members.

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The Statewide Family Council would advise APD on policy, working alongside the existing local Family Care councils. These councils have for the last 31 years worked with families of people with disabilities, sharing information about programs, services, and resources available in Florida.

The bill would require APD to publish on its website all local family care council reports plus local council findings, policy recommendations, and an assessment of the agencys actions in response to previous recommendations of the local councils.

Lastly, the bill would require APD to contract for a study to review, evaluate, and identify recommendations regarding the algorithm used to set a persons iBudget allocation. The study must, at a minimum, assess the performance of the existing algorithm used by the agency and determine whether a different algorithm would better meet clients needs.

Abramowitz said a lot of the bill was grassroots written and that theres been a surge of support for it in the community.

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Stephanie Nordin is a mother of four, including twins with severe autism, who wrote a letter to DeSantis beseeching him to sign the bill.

Like so many parents across Florida, I live with the constant weight of trying to secure support for my children in a system that feels impossible to navigate. This bill would bring meaningful, desperately needed change to families like mine, she wrote.

And just as importantly, this bill creates real transparency. For the first time, agencies will be required to publish updates about waitlists and funding, so families arent left in the dark wondering where they stand.

Abramowitz, too, wrote a letter to the governor asking that he sign the bill into law.

Our families, self-advocates, and providers would be honored to celebrate this moment alongside you and your staff. I hope you will consider holding a bill signing ceremony. We would be there in force to celebrate with you. . I would be happy to help coordinate and bring families to the event, Abramowitz wrote.

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HERE IS YOUR EYEWITNESS WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, MAY 9 FROM CHIEF METEOROLOGIST JORDAN REED:

A storm system moving up the East Coast is bringing rain to parts of Central New York through tonight and into Saturday morning! Dry weather will slowly push east over the weekend, helping conditions improve across more of the state.

Temperatures will begin to climb a bit each day, feeling more like summer by Monday. The central part of the state remains cloudy and wet into Saturday; the west already has clearer skies and just a few clouds.

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Looking ahead to Sunday and Monday, high pressure will keep things dry and start pulling in warmer, slightly more humid air from the south. But the calm weather wont last. By Tuesday, another system moves in with more rain, possibly sticking around through the rest of the week. Wednesday looks to be the rainiest day, and theres a chance of thunderstorms through Friday as a new front arrives. Temperatures will mostly stay in the 70s, but by late next week, parts of central New York could see highs topping 80 degrees.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Following a deadly midair collision and a string of alarming technical failures, the federal government unveiled a sweeping plan to modernize the nations aging air traffic control system.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a multi-billion-dollar plan aimed at updating outdated technology and hiring hundreds of new air traffic controllers. The move comes in response to a fatal collision and recent breakdowns at Newark Liberty Airport that have raised serious concerns about aviation safety.

Its been a patchwork of fixes, partial funding, Duffy said during a press conference. Our country, our people, those who use the airspacedeserve a system that keeps them safe.

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The ambitious plan has received support from both industry leaders and safety officials. During the announcement, major airline CEOs, who are often rivals, stood in rare unity with the Department of Transportation.

This is absolutely the best opportunity that weve had in decades to do something about our outdated air traffic control infrastructure, said Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines.

President Donald Trump also weighed in, suggesting that upgraded systems could have prevented the recent deadly incident in Washington, D.C.

Had we had the right system in place, bells and sirens would have gone off three minutes before that accident happened, Trump said.

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The National Transportation Safety Board has long called for major changes, pointing to an aging system that Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy says poses an untenable risk to public safety.

I said it after DCA, and Im going to say it again now, Homendy added.

With passengers and pilots demanding safer skies, the pressure is on for Washington to deliver real 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
Claim:

Pope Francis donated a "popemobile," one of the vehicles the late pope used for transportation, to a Catholic relief organization to convert the vehicle into a mobile health unit for children in Gaza.

Rating:

Rating: True

In early May 2025, rumors spread that Pope Francis donated one of the "popemobiles" (used to transport him) to an aid organization and directed the group to convert it into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza.

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The claims spread on X (archived), Bluesky (archived) and Facebook (archived).

The late Pope Francis requested that his popemobile be turned into a health clinic for the children of Gaza, as his legacy of peace continues to shine in our conflict-ridden world.https://t.co/I2XBnv6ynM  Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 4, 2025

The rumors are true, although the headlines on several stories said the late pope donated "his Popemobile," which some readers could interpret to mean there was only one such vehicle. It's unclear precisely how many "popemobiles" Pope Francis used, but Business Insider reported in 2019 that he rode in at least nine of them that year.

In a news release on May 3, 2025, the Jerusalem and Swedish branches of Caritas  an international group of Catholic relief and development agencies  announced that the pope had donated the vehicle to the organization.

https://media.snopes.com/2025/05/caritas_press_release.pdf

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We reached out to Caritas Jerusalem seeking further details, and a representative responded that the timeline for the vehicle to enter Gaza depends on when the organization applies for a permit to do so. The organization also said it cannot provide further evidence that Pope Francis requested the conversion of the vehicle.

The official news outlet for the Vatican, Vatican News, also published an article (archived) on May 4 confirming Pope Francis' donation, publishing photos from Caritas of the vehicle's conversion process.

Men work on turning the popemobile into a health clinic. (Caritas)

The news release noted that a driver and doctors would staff the vehicle, which Caritas was in the process of fitting with "equipment for diagnosis, examination, and treatment  including rapid tests for infections, suture kits, syringes and needles, oxygen supply, vaccines, and a refrigerator for medicines."

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However, it was unclear when the popemobile would be able to hit the ground in Gaza, as Israel cut off all humanitarian aid to Gaza on March 2, 2025. The Caritas news release noted that the popemobile would be ready to give primary health care to children in Gaza "when the humanitarian corridor to Gaza reopens."

Sources:

Caritas PRESS RELEASE. Caritas, 3 May 2025, https://www.caritas.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pressrelease_The_Vehicle_of_Hope-CJRM-May-3rd-2025-1.pdf.

'Israel Accused of Using Aid as a "weapon of War" against Gaza in World Court Hearing'. NBC News, 29 Apr. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/israel-aid-weapon-war-icj-hearing-gaza-world-court-hague-law-rcna203447.

'Pope Francis Donated a Popemobile to Serve as a Mobile Health Unit for Gaza Children'. AP News, 5 May 2025, https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-popemobile-gaza-children-caritas-vatican-83fa693f8fe605e89960a810e08afaad.

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The Popemobile of Peace: Pope Francis' Final Gift to Gaza - Vatican News. 4 May 2025, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/the-popemobile-of-peace-pope-francis-final-gift-to-gaza.html.

'Who We Are'. Caritas, https://www.caritas.org/who-we-are/. Accessed 6 May 2025.
Claim:

An image circulating online in late April and early May 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

An image supposedly showing a Time magazine cover featuring Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney giving U.S. President Donald Trump the middle finger circulated online in late April and early May 2025.

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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."

The alleged cover appeared on X (archived) and Threads (archived) in May, while another X user's post from April featuring the image had amassed more than 7.7 million views (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."

(X user @sunsungirly)

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 or May 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 the user 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.
Claim:

A class-action lawsuit known as the "Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement" or "Lopez v. Apple" is an authentic settlement with Apple over claims that the company's voice assistant, Siri, eavesdropped on users.

Rating:

Rating: Legit

In early May 2025, Snopes readers began inquiring about an alleged class-action lawsuit against Apple over claims that the company's voice assistant service, Siri, eavesdropped on its device users.

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"I got a suspicious email from Lopez voice assistant class action suit about Siri," one reader wrote. Social media users on platforms like X and Reddit also claimed people could cash in on the purported settlement.

This is an authentic $95 million settlement over claims that Apple "violated users' privacy by allegedly recording private and confidential conversations without consent" through Siri, and the company "disclosed such conversations to third parties, who listened to and transcribed the audio as part of an effort to improve Siri and Apple's dictation service," per a news release from the plaintiffs' lawyers in the case. Those who used Siri from Sept. 17, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2024, are eligible for a small portion of the sum as long as they file a claim by July 2, 2025.

Thus, this is not a scam and we rate it legitimate.

A court document confirming the existence of the settlement is available here; one of the plaintiff's names is Fumiko Lopez, hence "Lopez v. Apple." Page 2 describes certification and who's eligible (emphasis ours):

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a) and (b)(3), the Settlement Class is preliminarily certified for the purpose of Settlement only as follows: All individual current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri Device, who reside in the United States and its territories, whose confidential or private communications were obtained by Apple and/or were shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024. The Settlement Agreement defines "Siri Device" as a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV.

Under the terms of the document, Apple denies all liability for Siri's alleged snooping; officially, the courts did not rule in favor of either Apple or Lopez, instead allowing both sides to agree to the settlement.

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The official website for this settlement is https://lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com; the FAQ page lists the lawyers in the lawsuit as contact information for any inquiries from prospective claim beneficiaries. The website notes you can submit a claim form for $20 for up to five devices with Siri installed, or $100 total. This aligns with Page 6 of the court document (emphasis ours):

Settlement Class Members may submit claims for up to five Siri Devices on which they claim to have experienced an unintended Siri activation during a conversation intended to be confidential or private. Settlement Class Members who submit valid claims shall receive a pro rata portion of the Net Settlement Amount for a Class Payment up to a cap of $20 per Siri Device.

As of this writing, a final approval hearing for the courts to affirm the terms of the settlement will happen on Aug. 1, 2025, at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and should the settlement be approved, users will "promptly" receive the cash, per the website's FAQ page (emphasis theirs):

The Court will hold a hearing on August 1, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (the "Final Approval Hearing"), to decide whether to approve the Settlement. The Court may move the Final Approval Hearing to a different date or time without providing further Notice to the Class. The date and time of the Final Approval Hearing can be confirmed on this website. If the Settlement is approved, there may be appeals. The appeal process can take time. If there is no appeal, your settlement benefit will be processed promptly. Please be patient.

Sources:

Levis, Christian. "Lowey Dannenberg." Lowey Dannenberg, 3 Jan. 2025, lowey.com/news/apple-agrees-to-settle-siri-user-privacy-claims-for-95-million/. Accessed 9 May 2025.

"Lopez v. Apple, Inc., 4:19-Cv-04577 - CourtListener.com." CourtListener, www.courtlistener.com/docket/16027233/lopez-v-apple-inc/?page=2. Accessed 9 May 2025.

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"Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement." Lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com, www.lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com/faqs. Accessed 9 May 2025.

White, Jeffrey S. "[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING MOTION for PRELIMINARY APPROVAL of CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT; PRELIMINARILY CERTIFYING SETTLEMENT CLASS; and APPROVING FORM and CONTENT of CLASS NOTICE." CourtListener, 10 Feb. 2025, storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.345934/gov.uscourts.cand.345934.341.0.pdf. Accessed 9 May 2025.
If everything had gone to plan, an uncrewed Soviet-era spacecraft would have landed on Venus in 1972 to conduct a few hours of operations before dying for good.

The probe known as Cosmos 482 was meant to eventually sputter out of life on the scorching surface of Venus after gathering some intel. Instead, an engine malfunction prevented the spacecraft from getting very far  dooming Cosmos 482 to five decades of circling aimlessly around Earth.

The vehicle's orbit has slowly brought it closer and closer to our planet ever since, and now it's on the cusp of finally plummeting back to its home world.

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News of Cosmos 482's impending crash landing has been met with questions regarding just precisely when  and where  the decaying remnants of the probe could come careening down.

Here's everything to know so far as astronomers and space agencies attempt to track the probe's descent, which could come within a matter of hours.

What is the Soviet-era spacecraft, Cosmos 482?

Cosmos 482  also referred to as Kosmos 482  is believed to be a Soviet-era landing probe that embarked in 1972 as part of a series of uncrewed Venera missions launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The spaceport is one Russia's space agency Roscosmos still operates within Kazakhstan.

The spacecraft was one of two identical atmospheric landers bound for the planet of Venus on a mission to make scientific measurements of its soil, known as regolith. The other, Venera 8, successfully landed to gather data before ceasing operations, according to NASA.

The Venera 8 descent module, which is identical to the Cosmos 482 probe due to crash back on Earth.

But when the Cosmos 482 launched four days after its twin probe, it failed to reach its destination due to an apparent engine malfunction. Unable to fire its engines to reach a velocity that would have allowed it to transfer into Venus' orbit, the spacecraft was instead left stranded  earning it the Soviet "Kosmos" designation for any craft that made it to Earth's orbit.

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The spacecraft is believed to have separated into four pieces, two of which decayed within 48 hours and fell out of orbit. The remaining two pieces, presumably the lander probe and a detached upper stage engine unit, went into a higher orbit.

When will Kosmos 482 crash on Earth?

NASA predicts the decaying probe could reenter Earth's atmosphere anytime before Tuesday, May 13.

However, the spacecraft is most likely to begin its descent Saturday, May 10.

One calculation from the federally-funded Virginia-based Aerospace Corp., which tracks space debris, predicts the probe reentering Earth's atmosphere at 1:54 a.m. ET Saturday, May 10.

The ESA Space Debris Office is closely following the reentry of the Cosmos (Kosmos) 482 Venus descent craft and currently expects the object to reenter Earth's atmosphere at 09:12 CEST on 10 May, +/- 14 hours. Updates and FAQs can be found on our blog: https://t.co/ggqIsJMQZa  ESA Operations (@esaoperations) May 8, 2025

The European Space Agency provided a similar time frame, 2:26 a.m. ET.

Where will the Soviet spacecraft land?

A large swath of the globe could be a potential reentry location for the space debris.

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And estimates from Marco Langbroek, a lecturer and space traffic expert at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, hardly helped narrow down the possibilities.

Given its orbit, the spacecraft could land anywhere between latitude 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south, Langbroek wrote on his blog. That potential landing zone "includes much of south and mid-latitude Europe and Asia, as well as the Americas and the whole of Africa and Australia," Langbroek explained.

Will Cosmos 482 survive impact?

Most space junk and meteors traveling through Earth's atmosphere burn up while whizzing at thousands of miles per hour.

But because the Soviet-era spacecraft was designed to survive the extreme temperature and atmospheric density of Venus, researchers suspect the aging vehicle could easily make a trip back to Earth at least partly in tact.

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Equipped with a heavy-duty heat shield, the spacecraft might well survive Earth atmosphere entry," Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist and astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, wrote on his website.

The spacecraft will be going around 150 miles an hour when it plummets toward Earth, Langbroek calculated, so its condition when it lands wherever it lands remains to be seen.

Is space debris dangerous?

Space debris or space junk  composed primarily of retired satellites and other human-made objects, like used rocket boosters  are a growing problem littering Earth's orbit. Left unchecked, the junkyard of orbital debris can pose dangers to both crewed and uncrewed space missions, as well as astronauts on the space station.

And if debris doesn't burn up when it reenters the atmosphere, it can pose a risk to people on Earth.

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In 2024, for instance, a family in Naples, Florida, filed a claim against NASA for more than $80,000 in damages to their home after a chunk of space debris from the International Space Station tore through their roof.

But in the case of Kosmos 482, astronomer McDowell said the debris has just a one-in-several-thousand chance of hitting someone. If anyone were to encounter the spacecraft's debris, they're advised to contact authorities and avoid touching it, as it could still be hazardous.

"No need for major concern," McDowell concluded, "but you wouldn't want it bashing you on the head."

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Kosmos 482: What to know about Soviet spacecraft returning to Earth
FAIRMONT  While students at Fairmont Catholic School entered recess, halfway around the world, white smoke blew out of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

The Conclave of Cardinals selected the first American Pope in the Churchs 2000 year history on Thursday. The reveal seized Fairmont Catholics attention, as students watched Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, deliver his first words to the worlds Catholics.

It makes me feel like were starting to be a bit more included  Americans  in it, fifth grade student Lily DeMary, 11, said. Its been very exciting because of the fact that since its been like, 2,000 years, its important for all of us to be included in faith because all of us believe.

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Inside the school, Principal Diane Burnside checked various news outlets for a live feed of St. Peters Square. As live images of St. Peters Basilica and the balcony the new pope would eventually step out of, a class of third graders entered the teachers lounge where Burnside had set up a TV. As Archbishop Diego Ravelli drew up a document Prevost would sign to agree to become bishop of Rome, excitement built up at Fairmont Catholic as students and faculty began to realize what was happening.

A group of third graders clustered around a laptop one of the students brought, tried to name the flags of the countrys they saw on the laptop while CNN kept its camera fixed on the Basilicas balcony on the larger TV.

While Pope Francis took roughly 10 minutes to appear before the crowds in Rome after white smoke billowed, Pope Leo took closer to an hour. The third graders tried counting down from 10 several times, only to meet disappointment whenever their count reached zero with no pope to show for it. Burnside tried redirecting their counting into prayer and one sister suggested counting down from 1,000 instead.

I think theyll be able to tell their kids this story someday where they were at Fairmont Catholic when this American Pope came out and how they felt about it, Burnside said. You could feel the excitement in the whole school. You could hear it from all the classrooms.

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While Prevost made his way to the Room of Tears, Sister DSouza also turned CNN on for her fifth grade class. DeMary and her fellow students wondered what why Prevost hadnt appeared yet. As with the third graders, Burnside continued providing what context she could, and explained the Vatican had papal vestments of three sizes prepared in the Room of Tears, where Prevost would don his vestments for the first time. The different sizes were to ensure the new pope, regardless of who he was, would have what he needed to wear.

Finally, the doors to the balcony swung open and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France emerged. The fifth graders sat raptured to what was happening.

Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum: Habemus Papam, Mamberti said through the screen.

We have a pope. Clapping erupted.

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It was really exciting for my students, fourth grade teacher Shelby McCullough said. This was the first time they had seen anything like this. So excited to meet the new pope, especially learning he was from somewhere so close to us here in the United States. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us.

McCullough said learning the new Pope was American energized her students. They instantly started discussing among themselves what pope name they would choose for themselves. McCullough said the fact the new Pope spoke English as his main language and was from a place close to home really reiterated the fact that becoming Pope really could be almost anyones job if they dedicated their life to it.

A lot of girls were even asking me questions, why cant a girl be Pope, McCullough said. And all of these other things because theyre starting to connect to him in a way, even after 15 minutes, because that wasnt exactly how they connected to Pope Francis. We learned more about him as this overarching character. But now, with Pope Leo XIV, they feel a little bit more of a connection.

In many ways, the naming of a new Pope is a marker on the path of life. DeMary said she hadnt even been born yet when Francis became Pope 12 years ago. In 2013, Burnside had just retired from Marion County Schools and taught at Fairmont State University. One thing led to another and she ended up at Fairmont Catholic, where she became principal.

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McCullough watched Francis become Pope when she was teenager. She spent her early 20s searching for purpose. She found it two years ago in Catholicism, and now at 29, teaches at a Catholic school. DeMary said watching Pope Leo ascend as an adult was a full circle moment, the weight of which has fully manifested to her after immersing herself in the culture.

A new Pope introducing himself to the world is just as much about looking ahead than reflecting about the past. DeMary said she hopes shes in college when the time for a new papal conclave comes. McCullough hopes by then to have a family of her own, one she can share her experience of watching the first American Pope greet crowds from Rome with her kids when its time for them to experience their first Papal conclave. Its also Burnsides last year teaching, after having done so for the last 50 years. She retires on June 30.

The fact Pope Leo is from Chicago amazes McCullough. Prevost attended St. Augustine Seminary High School in 1973, meaning he most likely appears in a high school yearbook.

What an amazing sentence to be able to say, my dad was best friends with the pope growing up, she said. Thats something no one in the United States has had the ability to say ever before.
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Leo XIV touched on faith, power and corruption in the homily of the first Mass he celebrated after being elected pontiff.

Here are some highlights.

His first words in English as a pope

The first U.S.-born pope in history used Italian and Spanish in his blessing to the crowd on Thursday from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

But at the start of his first Mass on Friday morning, he turned briefly to his native English to address the cardinals who elected him as the leader of the Catholic Church the day before. He began by quoting the responsorial psalm about praising the Lord for his wondrous works.

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I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out upon all of us," Leo told them. Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission.

On faith and missionary work

As Cardinal Robert Provost, the new pope did years of missionary work in Peru and he addressed the significance of missionary work in his homily.

In impeccable Italian, Leo decried that in today's world "there are many contexts in which the Christian faith is considered something absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Contexts where other certainties are preferred, such as technology, money, success, power, pleasure.

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These are environments where it is not easy to bear witness to, and announce, the Gospel, and where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where mission is urgently needed. Because the lack of faith often carries with it tragedies such as the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, violations of human dignity in the most dramatic manners, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

On Jesus as Savior, not superman

In another reference to the ills of today's world, Leo said: Today, too, there are many contexts in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.

This is true not only among non-believers but also among many of the baptized, who thus end up living at this level, in a state of practical atheism. This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to joyful faith in Christ the Savior.

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On being called by God to help make the church an ark of salvation

Leo told the cardinals that he felt he was called by God to become pope in order to be a faithful administrator to the Catholic church.

He has done so in order that she (the church) may be ever more fully a city set on a hill, an ark of salvation sailing through the waves of history and a beacon that illumines the nights of this world. And this, not so much through the magnificence of her structures or the grandeur of her buildings  like the monuments in which we find ourselves  but rather through the holiness of her members.
By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) - Apple has asked a federal appeals court to temporarily pause key provisions in a U.S. judges ruling that ordered the tech company to immediately open its lucrative App Store to more competition.

Apple told the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a filing on Wednesday that it will be irreparably harmed if the April 30 order is not put on hold while the iPhone makers legal challenge is pending.

Apple is fighting a ruling that found the company in contempt of an earlier order in a 2020 antitrust lawsuit brought by Epic Games, maker of the online video game Fortnite.

In its filing, Apple said the new ruling blocks the company from "exercising control over core aspects of its business operations."

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to end several practices that she said were designed to circumvent the injunction. Apple's filing focused on two of them, including the court's ban on a new 27% fee Apple imposed on app developers when its customers complete an app purchase outside the App Store.

Apple in its filing said a federal court can't "force Apple to permanently give away free access to its products and services."

Apple is also challenging part of the judge's order that bars the company from restricting where developers place links to make purchases outside of an app.

Epic Games in a statement called Apple's bid to stay the trial judge's order a "last ditch effort to block competition and extract massive junk fees at the expense of consumers and developers."

Apple has faced a "surge of genuine competition" since the injunction issued last week, as developers updated apps with "better payment methods, better deals, and better consumer choice," Epic said.

In the underlying lawsuit, Epic Games sued Apple to loosen its control over transactions in applications that use its iOS operating system and how apps are distributed to consumers.

The Cupertino, California-based company willfully failed to comply with a 2021 injunction in the case designed to allow developers to more easily steer consumers to potentially cheaper non-Apple payment options, Gonzalez Rogers said in her decision.

"Apple sought to maintain a revenue stream worth billions in direct defiance of this courts injunction, Gonzalez Rogers wrote.

Gonzalez Rogers said Apple had misled the court about its efforts to comply with her injunction and referred the company and one of its executives to federal prosecutors for a possible criminal contempt investigation.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Leslie Adler and Shri Navaratnam)
This is Part 1 of a series on CDL fraud looking at a recently enacted Arkansas law designed to get a handle on CDL fraud, and how that effort was informed by similar legislation in Texas.

Part 2 releasing Saturday examines how Texas uncovered a high number of phony documents held by people with Mexicos equivalent of a CDL who in fact were from Central America.

Part 3 releasing Sunday looks at the ease with which fraudsters have exploited a loophole to obtain a Mexican document that essentially grants them the privileges of a U.S. CDL holder.

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The current discourse on the quality of drivers more closely resembles Don Quixote in a trucker hat chasing CDL-inspired windmills while his faithful squire, driver misinformation, accompanies him in his attempt to revive the good old days of trucking.





I decided to follow the mania and try to answer the question, What is up with all this non-domicled driver talk, and why are some in trucking media obsessed with speaking English.

What I found out from conversations and interviews with state safety officials and trucking lobby groups, as well as research, was a web of regulatory oversight, loopholes and bad actors, decades in the making. The situation is way more complex than it looks at first glance. The regulatory questions involve local, state and federal guidelines, international trade deals, and bureaucratic machinations worthy of an HBO special. But to begin this tale, lets start in Arkansas by way of Texas.

Big trouble in little Arkansas

I began my odyssey by reaching out to Shannon Newton, president and CEO of the Arkansas Trucking Association, about a bill in the Arkansas House, HB1745. The bill would make presenting a fake CDL or operating a commercial motor vehicle without an employment authorization document a Class D felony in the state. This all came about from dueling Arkansas legislation, with another bill, HB1569, gaining headlines over its purported $5,000 fine for truckers who did not possess sufficient English proficiency.

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The Arkansas ATA-backed bill, HB1745, recently passed in the State Legislature and was subsequently signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as Act 604. In addition to English proficiency, certain commercial driver license holders must possess a U.S. work authorization to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the state. Failure to meet the new requirements results in a $500 fine for the first offense and a $1,000 fine for any subsequent offense.





What I found more interesting was how these bills came about. For Newton, this problem began in 2023 when her counterpart in the Texas Trucking Association reached out to her to raise awareness about fraudulent CDLs.

Texas had come up with this solution to try to root it out and warned Newton to be aware of it because its likely that itll be coming to Arkansas next. And the issue that they had discovered was a quantity of fraudulent Mexican CDLs or LFCs that were being presented at roadside by drivers in Texas that law enforcement could almost think were suspicious, said Newton in an interview.

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She told FreightWaves that the Texas roadside enforcement officers began to dig, and what they found was a black market for fake Mexican LFCs  short for Licencias Federal de

Conductor. (For purposes of this article, LFC is the equivalent of an American CDL.)

The Texas solution to combat the fake LFCs was to require a second form of ID, like a work permit, visa or green card. The Texas ATA told the Arkansas association that if Texas closed this loophole by requiring extra ID, fraudsters would likely move upstream, in this case to adjacent states like Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

In other words, because the states are a patchwork of regulations, if one state cracks down on documents, those that dont become havens for bad actors who were chased out of the first state. The recent flurry of news on state bills targeting CDLs is a direct response to this.

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After the Texas law passed, there were significant penalties associated with fake CDLs  but with a twist. Newton added, As those who were doing wrong became aware of the new law, the numbers spiked in individuals who were actually presenting as having no CDL rather than presenting their fake one to avoid the charge of presenting the fake. It was actually a less strenuous penalty to be cited for just not having a license at all.

So my question became, Why do I keep hearing about fake LFCs, and how does this all tie into my bad-English, non-domiciled windmill? For that, we go to the Lone Star State (and Part 2 of this story).





The post Fake CDLs, language laws and the battle for safer US roads appeared first on FreightWaves.
STOUGHTON, Mass. (WPRI)  A Fall River man is facing more than a dozen charges following an investigation into a break-in at a Massachusetts restaurant last month.

Mark Smith (Courtesy: Stoughton Police Department)

Stoughton police responded to the Sharon Street business Sunday, April 20, after receiving a report of the crime.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect, later identified as Mark Smith, 40, inside the restaurant around 3:30 a.m. that day, according to police.

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A store credit card was stolen during the break-in.

Smith allegedly used the card seven times at ATMs in Fall River, Seekonk, Swansea, East Providence, and Tiverton, with transactions ranging from $32 to more than $500.

Surveillance video shows the suspect who used the credit card stolen from a Stoughton business at a Seekonk store on April 20 (Courtesy: Stoughton Police Department)

Surveillance video shows the suspect who used the credit card stolen from a Stoughton business at an ATM in East Providence, Rhode Island, on April 20. (Courtesy: Stoughton Police Department)

Police said Smith was a former employee who hadnt worked at the restaurant for years.

He was arrested Wednesday after a search of his Fall River home turned up clothing that matched what was seen in the surveillance footage. He was charged with:

Breaking and entering during the nighttime with intent to commit a felony

7 counts of identity fraud

7 counts of credit card fraud

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DUNCAN, S.C. (WSPA)  An officer with the Duncan Police Department who was killed in the line of duty 86 years ago will be inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial next week.

On June 23, 1939, Officer Charlie Smith arrested and a drunk man, Duncan Police Chief Greg Satterfield said. Smith even told the man that once he sobered up, hed get some dinner.

What Officer Smith didnt know was that Mr. Moore had stowed a shotgun back behind the old coal storage building for the railroad, explained Satterfield. So, he calls Charlie out. Charlie gets out of his patrol vehicle and meets him around the corner of that building where, Mr. Moore shot him in the in the leg.

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Officer Smith died from the gunshot.

Officer Charlie Smith with the Duncan Police Department. (Photo: Duncan Police Chief Greg Satterfield)

Officer Charlie Smith with the Duncan Police Department. (Photo: Duncan Police Chief Greg Satterfield)

Newspaper story detailing the killing of Officer Charlie Smith, who served the Duncan Police Department. (Photo: Duncan Police Chief Greg Satterfield)

Additional newspaper story detailing the killing of Officer Charlie Smith, who served the Duncan Police Department. (Photo: Duncan Police Chief Greg Satterfield)

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Smiths granddaughter, Teresa Proctor, said that while she never got to meet her grandfather, stories of him have prevailed through the generations.

She recalled stories her mother would share with her about her late grandfather.

Oh, she really loved her father. Her mother died when she was three years old, so she was very close to her father and talked about what a good dad he was, Proctor said. Its an honor that theyre recognizing my grandfather after all these years.

Smiths family members, along with Chief Satterfield and police officers will attend the induction ceremony in Washington, D.C. on May 13.

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We always say Whether its fallen first responders, fallen military, we will never forget. Therefore, 86 years later, we never forgot Charlie Smith and got his name on the wall to give him the recognition that he deserved, Satterfield remarked.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is, according to their website, the nations monument to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The ceremony takes place during National Police Week, from May 11 to May 17.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Even 1,200 miles apart, Geraldine Mickens Patterson kept in touch almost daily with her son, Lionel, in Johnstown.

Its a reason she was concerned even before receiving shocking news Mickens and his friend, Britney Rummell, were shot dead in his Pine Street home in 2022.

I just kept trying to call him  and I didnt get an answer, Patterson, 82, said.

The grieving South Florida woman is still seeking answers three years later, left with only questions about who pulled the trigger that day.

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I just know someone knows who killed my son and his friend  and his poor dog, Patterson, a Johnstown native, said in a telephone interview with The Tribune-Democrat. We just pray to God someone will come forward, because were still hurting.

In partnership with Cambria County Crime Stoppers, donations collected by the Mickens family has bolstered an award to $8,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person  or people  who murdered Mickens and Rummell in April 2022.

And a new billboard ad asking Who killed us? hangs over nearby Kernville, urging the public to help investigators solve the case.

Patterson said it pains her that whoever is responsible could be walking the streets of Johns- town like nothing ever happened.

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Its not that easy for the Mickens and Rummell families, Mitchell Mickens said, adding that both are still grieving.

We just want closure. If we can get some answers about what happened, then the reward  and everything weve put into this  will all be worthwhile.

Open case

Lionel Mickens, 61, Rummell, 36, and Mickens deaf rescue dog, Daniel, were all found dead in late April 2022.

All three were found dead from fatal gunshot wounds in an upstairs bedroom of the Pine Street home, and investigators have said they were likely targeted.

Johnstown Police Detective Cory Adams said they are still actively investigating the 2022 homicide case.

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But he described the new billboard and the increased reward as absolutely beneficial to their effort. Any new leads they could generate may be a game-changer in the case, Adams said.

Most of the time, its just one small piece of information that makes the difference in resolving a case, Adams said, noting it might seem trivial. And thats what we need.

He said the Mickens familys tireless efforts to raise awareness through billboards and other methods reminds people about the tragedy and that the case remains under investigation.

Adams described the Mickens family as persistent.

That might seem like a natural response. But Adams said he has investigated homicide cases where relatives didnt even want to speak to police about the incident.

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The Mickens family has gone above and beyond in their efforts to bring Lionels killer to justice.

Maybe more than any other family weve ever spoke with (in a homicide investigation), Adams said.

More than anything, Mitchell Mickens said he keeps pushing for his mothers sake.

Shes 82 years old, he said. And this still bothers her everyday.

Patterson said she has lost two of her three sons in recent years.

Her son, Brett, died from diabetes complications.

Losing him was hard, too, but I understood why  so I was able to accept it, as difficult as it was, Patterson said.

With Lionel, she said, all I have is questions.

How do you cope with that? Patterson said.

David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune- Democrat. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TDDavidHurst.
Andrew Washington's aunt Toni Ervin, center, speaks at a press conference held outside Jersey City's City Hall annex on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Jung for New Jersey Monitor)

JERSEY CITY  The family of a man killed by police here in 2023 gathered with social justice advocates Thursday to condemn a grand jurys decision last week not to criminally charge the officer responsible for his death, calling it another example of racism within the criminal justice system.

It was an outcome that left the family and advocates disappointed, but not surprised, they told reporters. They also claimed that community-led mental health response programs that were supposed to be implemented in the wake of Washingtons death have yet to receive proper funding.

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Washingtons case reflects broader failures in handling mental health crises, especially in communities of color, advocates said.

Mental illness is not met with sympathy and respect. It is met with militarized policing instead of compassion. Families like ours are left with funerals and trying to heal, said Toni Ervin, Washingtons aunt.

Andrew Washington with his family (Courtesy of Courtnie Washington)

According to Ervin, Washington had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He was experiencing a mental health crisis when his family called a medical hotline for assistance (they said he feared police). Law enforcement eventually responded instead of mental health professionals, the family said, and after a two-hour standoff, officers broke open Washingtons door. Washington, who had a knife in his hand, came toward the officers, and then Officer Stephen Gigante shot and killed him.

The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office launched an investigation into Washingtons killing, as it does with all officer-involved shootings. On April 28, a grand jury decided Gigante would not face criminal charges.

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We are even more reinvigorated than ever to get justice for Drew, said Amelia Green, an attorney for the family.

The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in August 2024 against the Jersey City Police Department, Jersey City Medical Center, and Hudson County, alleging they violated Washingtons constitutional rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Green noted that following the grand jury decision, they now expect to receive previously withheld evidence, including unreleased body camera footage of some of officers interactions with Washington.

Washingtons death, along with the police killing of Paterson activist Najee Seabrooks, inspired the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act, state legislation that Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law in January 2024. The law creates a two-year pilot for community-led, non-emergency crisis response programs. Though the state has pledged $12 million for the initiative, none of the selected organizations have received their promised funding, advocates said at the press conference.

Pamela Johnson of the Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County, one of the grant recipients, said her organization has an office on Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City that it cannot open because it does not have enough money.

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So how are we supposed to address individuals going through mental health issues and answer those calls from family members when they need help, said Johnson.

Jersey City Councilman Frank Gilmore expressed frustration with city leadership, calling the handling of Washingtons case an epic failure and accusing city officials of not making mental health resources a priority.

This is what happens when you dehumanize a certain segment of the population. Because the reality is, if this would have happened to someone else, somewhere else, the sympathy would have been there, Gilmore said.

Jersey City spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said that even with the citys participation in Arrive Together  an initiative of the Attorney Generals Office that pairs mental health professionals with law enforcement for crisis calls  and its own investments in crisis response, situations with potential violence like the one involving Washington are still handled by police first.

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No other municipality in the state has addressed more police misconduct and terminated police officers for wrongful conduct than Jersey City. The loss of anyones life is tragic, and even as the grand jury found no wrongdoing by the officers, the city remains committed to improving services while ensuring public safety, said Wallace-Scalcione.

Washingtons family has continued advocating for improved mental health support systems in Jersey City and statewide. Ervin urged people to register to vote to help elect officials who will implement change.

We will continue to demand justice, not just for him, but for every life disrupted or ended by police violence, Ervin said.

Dan Prochilo, a spokesman for Attorney General Matt Platkin, said the office of public integrity and accountability that Platkin oversees conducted a thorough investigation into Washingtons death.

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The work of the Fatal Police Encounter Unit within OPIAs Integrity Bureau, which conducts independent investigations of any civilian death during an encounter with law enforcement as well as deaths in custody, has resulted in several indictments and a conviction of a former corrections officer, who was sentenced to a three-year prison term, Prochilo said in an email.

As for advocates claim that they have not received the funding they were promised from the Seabrooks-Washington bill, Prochilo said organizations that have received approval and a fully executed contract can submit reimbursement requests.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin created the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses to enable our Office to work hand-in-hand with community partners in the distribution of the funds that support such programs while also adhering to our obligation to be good stewards of the public funding, he said.

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German prosecutors on Friday opened an investigation into far-right lawmaker Maximilian Krah in connection with bribery by China and money laundering.

Krah is a member of the German lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, where his party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), is the second-biggest force.

The allegations relate to his previous mandate as a member of the European Parliament.

A preliminary investigation in connection with alleged Russian payments linked to Krah is still pending, the Dresden prosecutors' office said.

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The aim of the China-related investigation is to determine whether there is "sufficient cause to bring charges or whether the proceedings should be discontinued," the prosecutors said.

Prosecutors have asked for his immunity from prosecution to be lifted.

Krah wrote on X that the accusations were "absurd and politically motivated."

In essence, he argued, the issue was about the fact that he had invoiced clients as a lawyer.

"Of course I have not committed any criminal offence. This is purely about defamation of character," he wrote.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  There was plenty of bacon at the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday. The Illinois Pork Producers was celebrating Illinois Bacon Day.

President Josh Maschhoff was thanking lawmakers all day long.

We appreciate Senator Balkema (R-Chanaahon) bringing a resolution to the floor to establish May 7, 2025, as Illinois Bacon Day, officially, Maschhoff said. The pitch is not all just about bringing home the bacon, but its about the importance of pork farmers to the Illinois economy and the jobs that they contribute to this state.

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From the Farm: Preparing for corn disease

There are about 30,000 Illinois jobs just to produce pork. The processing and distribution side of the industry adds another 20,000 to 30,000 jobs. Altogether, the pork industry contributes $13.8 billion to the Illinois economy each year.

Senator Balkema, who grew up on a hog farm, brought the resolution establishing Illinois Bacon Day a few weeks ago, and he had bipartisan support in doing so.

Im very proud to honor the Illinois Pork Producing Association, Balkema said. They add a ton of value to our community, and it was wonderful to highlight them in the resolution.

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He called it the easiest bill hes ever brought to the floor.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Wisconsin prosecutors on Thursday charged the father of a teenage girl who killed a teacher and fellow student in a school shooting last year with allowing her access to the semiautomatic pistols she used in the attack.

The criminal complaint against 42-year-old Jeff Rupnow of Madison details how his daughter, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, struggled with her parents divorce, showing her anger in a written piece entitled War Against Humanity. Her father tried to bond with her through guns, the complaint said, even as she meticulously planned the attack, including building a cardboard model of the school and scheduling the shooting to end with her suicide.

Jeff Rupnow was arrested early Thursday and taken to the Dane County Jail. He was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Friday. Online court records did not list an attorney for him. Acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson said he was cooperative throughout the investigation. No one returned voicemails left at possible telephone listings for him and his ex-wife, Melissa Rupnow.

Attack left 2 dead, 6 injured

Natalie Rupnow entered Abundant Life Christian School, a religious school in Madison that offers prekindergarten through high school classes, on December 16 and opened fire in a study hall. She killed teacher Erin Michelle West and 14-year-old student Rubi Vergara and injured six others before she killed herself.

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According to the complaint, investigators recovered 20 shell casings from the study hall where she opened fire.

They also recovered a 9 mm Glock handgun that Jeff Rupnow had purchased for her from the room and a .22-caliber Sig Sauer pistol from a bag the girl was carrying, the complaint says. Jeff Rupnow had given that gun to her as a Christmas present in 2023, the complaint says.

Also in the bag were three magazines loaded with .22 ammunition and a 50-round box of 9 mm ammunition. She wore a black T-shirt emblazoned with a bulls-eye during the attack.

Natalie Rupnow had been struggling with parents divorce

Jeff Rupnow told investigators that his daughter lived with him but had been struggling with his divorce from her mother in 2022, saying she hated her life and wanted to kill herself. He said she used to cut herself to the point where he had to lock up all the knives in his house.

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She had been in therapy to learn how to be more social until the spring before the attack, he told investigators. Her mother, Melissa Rupnow, told detectives that the therapist told her that Natalie was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the divorce. One of Natalies friends told investigators that Jeff Rupnow was frequently verbally aggressive with Natalie and that she had told him that her father was a drinker, according to the complaint.

Jeff Rupnow told investigators that he took Natalie shooting with him on a friends land about two years before the Abundant Life attack. She enjoyed it, and he came to see guns as a way to connect with her. But he was shocked at how her interest in firearms snow balled, he told investigators.

He kept Natalies pistols in a gun safe, telling her that if she ever needed them the access code was his Social Security number entered backward. About 10 days before the school attack, he texted a friend and said that Natalie would shoot him if he left the fun safe open right now, according to the complaint.

The day before the school attack he took the Sig Sauer out of the safe so Natalie could clean it. But he got distracted and wasnt sure if he put the weapon back in the safe or locked it, according to the complaint.

War Against Humanity

A search of Natalies room netted a six-page document the girl had written entitled War Against Humanity. She started the piece by describing humanity as filth and saying she hated people who dont care and smoke their lungs out with weed or drink as much as they can like my own father.

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She wrote about how she admired school shooters, how her mother was not in her life and how she obtained her weapons by lies and manipulation, and my fathers stupidity.

Investigators also discovered maps of the school and a cardboard model of the building, along with a handwritten schedule that detailed how she would begin the attack at 11:30 a.m. and wipe out the first and second floors of the school by 11:55 a.m. She planned to end the attack by 12:10 p.m. with a notation ready 4 Death.

She had been communicating online with people around the world about her fascination with school shootings and weapons, Acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson said Thursday.

Father calls teaching her gun safety biggest mistake

Jeff Rupnow sent a message to a detective two weeks after the school shooting saying that his biggest mistake was teaching Natalie how to handle guns safely and urging police to warn people to change their gun safe combinations every two to three months, the complaint said.

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Kids are smart and they will figure it out, he wrote. Just like someone trying to hack your bank account. I just want to protect other families from going through what Im going through.

According to the complaint, after learning that Natalie was the shooter while talking to a police officer, Melissa Rupnow began breathing very quickly through her nose and yelled something, to the effect of, Im going to kill him, Im going to kill him, apparently referring to her ex-husband.

Charges are latest in string of cases against parents in school shootings

Jeff Rupnow is the latest parent of a school shooter to face charges associated with an attack.

Last year, the mother and father of a school shooter in Michigan who killed four students in 2021 were each convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The mother was the first parent in the US to be held responsible for a child carrying out a mass school attack.

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The father of a 14-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting four people at a Georgia high school was arrested in September and faces charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for letting his son possess a weapon.

In 2023, the father of a man charged in a deadly Fourth of July parade shooting in suburban Chicago pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanors related to how his son obtained a gun license.

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Apple is planning to integrate AI-powered search options into its Safari browser, in a development that could impact Googles stronghold in the online search market.

Apple's senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, said the company is actively looking at integrating AI search providers such as OpenAI, Perplexity AI and Anthropic into Safari.

Cue made the comments while testifying in a US Department of Justice antitrust case examining Google's dominance in online search.

We will add them to the list  they probably wont be the default, Cue said, according to Bloomberg.

He added that prior to AI, my feeling around this was, none of the others were valid choices. I think today there is much greater potential because there are new entrants attacking the problem in a different way.

According to a source familiar with the matter cited by Reuters, Cue noted that Safari searches declined for the first time last month, attributing the drop to users increasingly turning to AI tools.

Cue also said he believes AI tools will eventually replace traditional search engines.

Theres enough money now, enough large players, that I dont see how it doesnt happen, he said.

The current agreement between Apple and Google, reportedly worth around $20bn annually, makes Google the default search engine on Safari.

Bloomberg reported that Cue confirmed a bake-off took place last year between Google and OpenAI before Apple selected ChatGPT for use in its upcoming AI features.

Cue said the terms Google offered had a lot of things Apple wouldnt agree to and didnt agree to with OpenAI.

He also revealed that Apple has had discussions with other AI players, including DeepSeek and xAIs Grok, and that the agreement with OpenAI allows Apple to add more providers to its operating system in the future.

Google, in response to the developments, said it has continued to see growth in overall search queries, including those from Apple devices.

People are seeing that Google Search is more useful for more of their queries  and theyre accessing it for new things and in new ways, the company wrote in a blog post, highlighting features such as voice and visual search.

Recently, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company hopes to finalise an agreement with Apple by mid-year to bring its Gemini AI product to iPhones.

The Justice Department has proposed banning Google from paying to be the default search engine as part of potential remedies in its antitrust case.

Cue said he has lost sleep over the possibility of ending the revenue-sharing deal with Google.
The father of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who killed two people and then herself at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison last year, has been arrested.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice announced Thursday that Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, was taken into custody at 3:45 a.m. and is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child and two counts of providing a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 resulting in death.

His daughter killed 14-year-old freshman Rubi Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin Michelle West when she opened fire at the school on the morning of Monday, Dec. 16.

Wisconsin DOJ

Five students and one teacher were injured in the shooting, with two students critically wounded. One remains hospitalized as of May 8.

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Rupnow then turned the gun on herself, taking her own life.

Acting Madison Police Chief John Patterson said in an afternoon press conference we "may fully understand" Rupnow's motive, but did say she had a "fascination with weapons and school shootings," and often discussed them with others online.

A search of the Rupnow home turned up a selection of writings by Natalie Rupnow, tantamount to a written manifesto titled "War Against Humanity," along with other documents and videos.

"The items recovered were disturbing, alarming and would have led any average person to the conclusion of violence," Patterson said.

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Rupnow was in possession of a 9mm handgun and another gun, but used the 9mm to carry out the shooting. Patterson says that both guns were purchased legally by her father.

There were multiple other guns in the Rupnow home, all bought legally, including one that was "about to be gifted to [Natalie]." There was a gun safe, but Patterson claims it didn't stop the teen having "regular access to firearms."

On the day of the shooting, Rupnow was late for school, taking a rideshare to campus, going to the office, then to her locker, the restroom, and then the study hall where she opened fire.
The father of a 15-year-old who shot and killed a teacher and fellow student at her Wisconsin Christian school last December has been arrested and charged with several felonies related to the deadly attack, police said.

Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, was arrested Thursday and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child and two counts of providing a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 resulting in death, the Madison Police Department announced.

Rupnows daughter Natalie Samantha Rupnow, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following the Dec. 16 shooting, had regular access to firearms and a fascination with weapons and school shootings, which was made evident through personal items recovered at her home, said Madison Police Chief John Patterson.

Police crime scene tape is seen after a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. Kirby Lee via Getty Images

These items included a self-written manifesto titled War Against Humanity, as well as drawings and videos all detailing interest to mass violence, Patterson said at a press conference.

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A cardboard model and hand-drawn floor plans of Abundant Life Christian School, where the shooting took place, were also recovered at the home she shared with her father, according to a criminal complaint obtained by local station WMTV.

The items recovered were disturbing, alarming, and they would have led any average person to the [concern] of violence, Patterson said.

The elder Rupnow told detectives that he had three rifles and nine pistols inside a gun safe in his home, all of which he had purchased. He stored an additional gun under his bed, which he said he planned to give his daughter for Christmas, according to the complaint.

There was a gun safe in the home. Based on our investigation, it did not stop the teen from having regular access to the firearms, Patterson said.

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I got the weapons by lies and manipulation, and my fathers stupidity, the teen wrote in documents recovered from her home, according to the complaint.

Rupnow, who did not have an attorney listed as representing him, has his first court appearance scheduled for Friday.
EUCLID, Ohio (WJW)  This weekend marks one year since Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin was shot and killed in the line of duty.

And for the first time, his father, a fellow officer, speaks out about loss of his hero, his son.

It hurts, said Euclid K-9 Officer Vince Trusso, father of Jacob Derbin. It hurts every single day.

Trusso, opened up to the I-Team, to share his story. Saying it is tough for him to believe his son died a year ago.

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Shake-up on Cleveland police consent decree case: I-Team

It seems like last night , Trusso said. I keep thinking he is going to call.

Trusso said last year on May 11 he was off work when he got a call from his supervisor.

I remember asking if he needed me and the dog and he said for me to get to the hospital, Trusso said. Thats when my heart sunk.

Jacob Derbin was shot and killed after he responded to a domestic call. The suspect hiding in the back yard of the victims home, ambushed Derbin. Derbin was taken to the hospital and died a short time later. The suspect died by suicide the next day.

Trusso worked with his son on the same department for less than a year but says he treasures the moments the two shared. He said a few times the two ended up on the same call and he remembers once searching for a suspect, and his son was behind him, watching his back.

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I never felt so secure. He was just a big wonderful guy, he was just a wonderful person, Trusso said. I dont know if he wanted to follow my footsteps because he had his own way of doing things, but I watched my son in the 10 months with the Euclid Police Department become a man.

Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer said the night the shooting happened, Jacob was more concerned about his fellow officers. He said Jacob yelled out a warning after being shot.

He is the epitome of a hero, Meyer said. He also returned fire and I believe that his actions and his vocalizations are what led to the safety of the two other officers that were with him.

Jacobs mother, Dawn, also told us it was her sons dream to become a police officer. She said he always looked up to his grandfather, who also was an officer.

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Jacob died just weeks before his wedding day.

Trusso said the past year has been difficult adjusting to life without his son. He added that the love and strength he has received from his fellow officers has helped him return to work.

Vince is my friend hes also a brother in our lives hes our union brother a police brother , said Euclid Detective Steve Shubert. We are a family here.

County executive wants money for Cleveland sports stadiums, but not Browns dome: I-Team

Trusso said he wants to make sure Jacob is always remembered.



My lifes changed completely, my whole familys life changed completely, Trusso said. I really dont think there is anybody that can say anything bad about him. My hero.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Madison Police Acting Chief John Patterson speaks at a press conference Thursday about the arrest of Jeffrey Rupnow on charges that he illegally gave his daughter two handguns, including one that she used in the school shooting Dec. 16 at a Madison private school. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

The father of the teenager who shot and killed two people at a Madison private school and took her own life five months ago was arrested Thursday and charged with three felony counts in connection with the December shootings.

Jeffrey Rupnow, 42, was charged with two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under the age of 18 and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. All are Class H felonies under Wisconsin law, subject to a fine of up to $10,000 or a prison sentence of up to six years, or both.

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Rupnow was booked into the Dane County jail just before 5:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the jails online records.

He is the father of Natalie Rupnow, the 15-year-old student at Abundant Life Christian School on Madisons east side who entered the school in the middle of the morning on Dec. 16, 2024, shot and killed a teacher and a student, wounded six other people and then took her own life, all within a matter of minutes.

According to the criminal complaint, which was unsealed Thursday after Rupnows early morning arrest, Rupnow purchased two guns for his daughter: a 22-caliber handgun and later a Glock 9 mm pistol  the weapon that was used in the shooting. He said Natalie helped pay for the Glock and he purchased it for her from a gun store, the complaint states.

All of these weapons, including [a third] one that was about to be gifted to the same teen, were purchased legally, Madison Police Department Acting Chief John Patterson said at a Thursday afternoon press conference.

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There was a gun safe in the home. Based on our investigation, it did not stop the teenager from having regular access to the contents, he said.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the case is a call and an action to hold parents accountable  if their children can access their firearms.

Rhodes-Conway said she wanted to see the Legislature take up a number of really common sense proposals that have been around for years to reduce gun violence. Those include measures such as universal background checks before people can purchase a gun as well as red flag laws that empower the courts to remove guns from owners who may represent a credible threat to others.

The other piece of this is really making sure that responsible gun owners are doing everything they can to make sure that those guns do not fall into the hands of people who should not have them, she said.

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Patterson said Rupnow has been cooperative with police throughout the investigation.

In interviews with police, Natalies parents as well as two friends described her behavior as depressed and sometimes angry at her parents, who are divorced.

Why would a 15-year-old open fire in her school and murder a teacher, classmates, and injure six others? We may never fully understand that horror, Patterson said. We do know the teenager had a fascination with weapons and school shootings.

The complaint states that in June 2022 Madison police officers told Jeffrey Rupnow of high-risk behavior that [Natalie] was engaging in via the internet. The complaint does not elaborate further on that report. I cant speak further to the follow-up that was done at that time, Patterson said.

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Patterson said the investigation remains open in the case. He declined to comment about reports that people in other states were in touch with Natalie Rupnow online.

According to the complaint, Jeffrey Rupnow told police he had 11 guns, including two that were considered Natalies. He told police his daughter became interested in guns after he took her to a friends farm to shoot guns about two years ago and that they would occasionally go to a shooting range.

Because of her interest, Rupnow told police he bought her a 22-caliber handgun and later the Glock, according to the complaint.

The complaint states that Rupnow described occasional comments by his daughter about wanting to kill herself, but that he generally viewed those remarks as attention-seeking behavior.

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Rupnow told police he had a gun safe where he kept all of the guns, including those he had purchased for his daughter. The safe was locked with a security code. He told police he had not told his daughter the code itself, but that he had told her that it was his Social Security number backwards, in case she needed to get into it.

The complaint states that police found maps of the school and a cardboard mockup that appeared to be of the school building among Natalie Rupnows things at home.

Police also found notebooks and what Patterson called a manifesto  a six-page document titled War Against Humanity. That and other documents suggested a fascination with other mass shootings, including one in 2007 by an 18-year-old in Finland, which she noted in one of her writings took place two years after she was born.

In addition, police found and reviewed 30 sets of camcorder videos, some of them with Natalie handling weapons and some depicting what appeared to be animal mutilation, according to the complaint.

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According to the complaint, Natalie took both of her handguns to the school on Dec. 16, the day of the shooting, but apparently used only the Glock.

The complaint states she arrived at the school just before 10:40 a.m. and entered a classroom just before 10:50 a.m.

A student in the classroom, a study hall, told police that once in the classroom, Natalie held the gun with both hands and aimed it at the teacher who was sitting at her desk in the front of the room. The student said he heard gunshots and ran to the back of the room, where he hid behind a beanbag chair.

After the shooting stopped, the student, who was wounded in the leg, saw Natalie Rupnow lying on the floor on her back, with the gun in her hand. The student told police he removed the gun from her hand and put it in a drawer because he wanted to make sure that no one else got a hold of it, the complaint states. The police later retrieved the gun from the drawer.

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The teacher, Erin Michelle West, and one student, Rubi Bergara, were both killed, according to the Dane County Medical Examiners office. Six other students were wounded. One remains hospitalized, Patterson said.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Conversations quickly escalated during the Fayette County Public Schools board meeting Thursday night after discussions centered around the budget and the potential of teachers jobs being cut.

A very vocal and large crowd showed up at the school board meeting as the possibility of up to 25 teachers being laid off came about.

The uncertainty had many concerned, including board member Myles Wilson, who repeatedly asked who exactly would be laid off and when it would happen.

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I wish someone would answer my question, Wilson said. Ive asked it three times, what positions are being eliminated?

WREG waits months to see interim superintendents employment files

The board said a letter would be sent out that night informing teachers of their status.

The next day, the school district made a social media post saying buses may be delayed during pickups across the district due to driver illness.

The post says, Due to driver illness, buses across the district may be delayed for pickup this morning and drop off this afternoon. Please be patient as we work to transport all students to and from school today. Thank you for your understanding.

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That was followed by another post for Teacher Appreciation Week, thanking educators who show up with a purpose, lead with love, and teach with excellence.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  During the 2025 papal conclave, St. Josephs Catholic Schools faculty and students in Fayetteville gathered together to learn the appointment of the new pope together.

Fr. Jason Tyler with St. Josephs said traditionally the conclave is a momentous occasion in the Catholic church, and hes had the opportunity to witness his third appointment as of recently with Pope Leo XIV.

According to Tyler, lists circulated the past few weeks regarding potential pope options, and as of recently, he said he saw a name that caught his attention.

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I saw the name of Cardinal Prevost on some of those lists, and I thought, Well, thats interesting. But I also thought, I dont think well have an American pope. I dont think thats going to be the result here. But it surprisingly was, said Tyler.

He said that though he felt surprised, having a pope from the United States feels reassuring to him.

Its a way of saying that the Catholic church, which is a worldwide Church, recognizes the strength of the faith in this land. You know, recognizes that a priest who came from this country can offer that sort of worldwide service to the church as a whole, said Tyler.

Before the announcement, St. Josephs Deacon Jason Pohlmeier said faculty worked to help their students understand and engage during this pivotal time in the Catholic church.

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Weve been trying to get our students involved and excited, and so they were very excited. I think they understood what was going on, said Pohlmeier.

Pohlmeier said the students learned about the different cardinals, which led them to root for their favorites, leading up to the announcement.

When the time came to celebrate and welcome a new pope, Tyler said the faculty and students gathered in the gymnasium to wait for the news.

However, the students originally were cheering for a different cardinal, some thought had been selected, according to Pohlmeier.

Theyve become big fans of another cardinal from Israel named Pizzaballa. And so we saw the white smoke go up and they immediately started chanting Pizzaballa, Pizzaballa,' said Pohlmeier.

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Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know

But the moment when Pope Leo XIV stepped on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica for the first time, the faculty said the students began a new chant.

We told them this is an American pope, then they started chanting USA. They got very excited when the camera started cutting to American flags that were in the crowd. And so, I think that really accomplishes that. It connects them to the larger church, really makes them feel connected to this thing thats happening half a world away, said Pohlmeier.

He said he feels excited that the faculty and students got to experience a historical moment together.

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These kids are going to remember the next time that theres a new pope and really throughout their lives, I remember that time when I was at Saint Joseph and we started chanting USA and it was Pope Leo. You know, youre making a lifelong memory, said Pohlmeier.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.






Story Update

After this story was published, Vianca N. Rodriguez Feliciano, Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, replied to a request for comment, saying that the testing "program is currently paused but will resume once transferred to another FDA laboratoryan effort that is actively underway. In the meantime, state and federal labs continue to analyze food samples, and FDA remains committed to working with states to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply."







On April 21, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended a dairy testing protocol that sent consumers into a panic. However, according to experts, there was never anything to worry about, especially now that its coming back!

What Program Was Cut?

Two weeks ago, Reuters reported that the FDA terminated proficiency testing for Grade A raw milk and finished dairy products in the United States. This resulted from budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), contributing to 3,500 layoffs at the FDA and a halt in operations at the FDAs Moffitt Center Proficiency Testing Laboratory.

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Since then, there has been mounting concern over the quality of U.S. dairy products, but its important to understand what a proficiency testing pause really means.

Proficiency testing was established in 2004. In the United States, approximately 170 FDA-affiliated laboratories undergo this safety check, which begins by testing spiked milk samples from the FDA.

Under the proficiency program, labs are asked to test milk samples spiked by FDA with microbiological, animal drug, and chemical contaminants. The labs are evaluated on whether their results concur with those of FDA reference labs for each sample ... The results need to match closely the results of FDA, the International Dairy Foods Association explained in an article.

Proficiency testing was designed to certify that each laboratory is producing accurate results. This is different from halting Grade A milk testing altogether.

Read More: Pasteurized vs. Ultra-Pasteurized Milk, Organic Valley Explains the Difference

Where Was The Confusion?

When I looked into it, I realized it was a lot less dire than what the media was pushing, said Dennis DAmico. D'Amico has a PhD in Animal, Nutrition, and Food Sciences and specializes in improving the quality of dairy products. There was no effect on the actual testing of milk. And that's where the confusion came in, as people thought that your milk wasn't going to be tested for safety and quality anymore, he continued.

On the contrary, milk still receives several levels of quality-control checks.

All Grade A milk continues to be subject to stringent testing and oversight throughout the supply chainon the farm, before transportation, and multiple times at processing facilitiesby both state and federal regulators, as outlined in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, the International Dairy Foods Association explained.

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The Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) was established 100 years ago, and PMO regulations are implemented every day in dairy farms across the nation.

We have lots of checks along the line and regulations, and all this is still being followed. In the labs that are testing for quality and safety, [they] are still going to be testing, with the same people, the same qualifications and whatnot. So I wouldn't be concerned much at all, D'Amico said.

While DAmico was never worried, he is happy to learn that proficiency testing is returning.

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Proficiency Testing Is Coming Back

On April 24, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), an advocacy group that represents 650 dairy cooperatives and companies, sent a petition letter to the FDA, asserting that the suspension of proficiency testing poses a threat to our collective ability to prevent foodborne illness and to consumer confidence.

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On April 29, they shared this announcement in their online newsletter:

Following a letter from WCMA last week urging action to resume Grade 'A' milk proficiency testing, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) officials have reinstated employees who oversaw the testing program. FDA Senior Science Advisor for Milk Safety Beth Briczinski also noted the agency is working to ensure proficiency testing will remain available, even as it executes a longer-term plan to transfer the program from FDAs Moffitt Center to a different laboratory.

Rebekah Sweeney, the WCMAs state and federal lobbyist and signee of the petition letter, confirmed from the FDA that all of the staff at the Moffitt Center have been reinstated. She received an email from Briczinski stating that the FDA is working to secure access to proficiency testing while they act to house the program in a different facility.

We have full confidence in the safety of America's dairy supply because nothing changed in terms of commercial milk testing, but our industry feels strongly in the robust nature of food safety oversight, and any erosion of food safety programs is cause for concern by our industry, Sweeney said.

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Read More: Would You Drink Milk From a Bloated Carton?

If You Are Still Concerned

Though milk testing hasnt vanished, the lack of proficiency testing does eliminate one factorcertainty.

One potential effect of not having that proficiency is that it's a little harder to trust the accuracy of the results coming out of those affiliated labs, DAmico shared.

While these experts never believed the lack of proficiency testing posed a serious safety risk, DAmico offers advice for anyone who may want to take extra precautions in the meantime.

They could re-heat treat their milk at home to 145F for 30 minutes or 162F for 15 to 30 seconds (or just bring it to a boil and then cool it down). This will help kill off any microbial contaminants, DAmico shared.

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However, now that Grade A milk proficiency testing is coming back, you should be extra confident that the milk on your grocery shelves will be safe to drink.

Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES
With summer on the horizon, you may feel inspired to dust off the grill and whip up a spread of backyard barbecue favorites, such as macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and beanie weenies. However, before you crack open that can of baked beans in your pantry, make sure to check the brand. Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans have recently been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over allergen concerns.

Here's everything you need to know.





What product has been recalled?

On May 2, 2025, Vietti Food Group recalled 4,515 cases of Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans, 15-ounces, that were sold at retailers such as Walmart. The revocation affects as many as 23 states across the United States.

Courtesy of FDA

Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans, 15 oz Best by Date: February 17, 2028



What states are affected?

The recall spans coast to coast and border to border, affecting 23 states:

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Arizona

Colorado

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

What is the exact reason for the recall?

Vietti Food Group, parent company of Yellowstone, recalled the brand's Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans over the presence of soy, a common allergen that was not disclosed on the label. This could have "serious or life-threatening" consequences for those with a soy allergy or sensitivity, according to the FDA. So in the name of caution, the brand decided to issue the recall.

However, it's worth noting, no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported as of May 2, 2025.

What should I do if I have the recalled product?

The first thing you'll want to do is check to see if you have the recalled product. The revocation specifically applies to Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans, 15-ounces, with an expiration date of February 17, 2028, which can be located on the bottom of the can.

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After confirming that you have one of the recalled cans, Vietti is urging customers to return it to their place of purchase for a full refund.

If you do not have a soy allergy or sensitivity, the ingestion of soy is harmless, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Therefore, you can safely consume the Yellowstone baked beans without issue.

However, if you prefer to err on the side of caution, there is always the option to return for a full refund.

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FDNY fire marshals have arrested a 25-year-old man they say set three separate arson fires inside a Brooklyn NYCHA housing complex, officials said Friday.

Unique Cherry was arrested on Tuesday for sparking the blazes, which date back to December, Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said.

FDNY officials said all three fires were set in NYCHAs Albany II houses in Crown Heights.

This investigation demonstrates the outstanding work of the FDNYs Bureau of Fire Investigation, Tucker said. Arson is a serious crime. It is extremely reckless and shows a complete disregard for the lives and safety of others.

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The blazes could have put many other people in danger, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in announcing Cherrys arrest.

Firefighters first learned of the alleged firebugs activities on Jan. 26 when they responded to a fire in a first-floor apartment in the housing complex on Bergen St. near Troy Ave.

The fire was quickly extinguished, but marshals soon learned that someone had intentionally set 12 small fires throughout the apartment.

Marshals quickly identified Cherry as the arsonist, who was seen near the apartment when the blaze broke out.

At the time, Cherry was considered a person of interest in several other blazes in the complex.

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When fire marshals brought him in for questioning on Tuesday, he admitted to starting the Jan. 26 fire, as well as giving detailed confessions on two other buildings in the complex.

He admitted to sparking a small blaze inside a Troy Ave. apartment building on Jan. 20 and then another in an apartment building on the Park Place side of the complex on Dec. 15.

No serious injuries were reported in the three fires, officials said.

Fire marshals charged Cherry with three counts of second-degree arson, three counts of criminal mischief, and three counts of reckless endangerment.

A Brooklyn Criminal Court judge ordered him released without bail during his arraignment Wednesday, according to court records. Cherrys expected to respond to the charges in August.
Harrowing new video footage reveals the moment a mob of angry Massachusetts residents descended on federal immigration agents and attempted to thwart their operation to detain a woman with her family.

Neighbors spotted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials intercepting a mother who was with her teen daughter and her newborn baby at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday on Eureka Street in Worcester. The father was detained by ICE on Wednesday, according to the local immigration justice network LUCE.

The arrests come just weeks after ICEs acting Director Todd Lyons announced the agency had been preparing for a second surge in arrests in the Greater Boston area, amid President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown.

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The dramatic video footage, which has since gone viral online, was captured by a witness at the scene and shows the woman clinging to her infant child as ICE agents attempt to arrest her.

A swarm of 25 locals gathered, with one heard demanding to see identification and a warrant and calling to stop the chaos. We dont have to show you anything, an ICE agent reportedly told the crowd.

Immigration officials called upon officers from the Worcester police for backup, with the department describing in a statement how the unruly crowd put their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers.

The woman, whose neighbors told Boston 25 is of Brazilian descent, gave her baby to her 16-year-old daughter as she was taken into custody.

Blurred footage shows the moment one person, believed to be the ICE detainees teen daughter, was restrained by authorities during Thursday's chaotic scenes (NBC Boston)

The teen then tried to stop the ICE vehicle from leaving by standing in front of it, while holding the baby.

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After handing the newborn to a neighbor, the daughter kicked the car, police said. The girl managed to initially evade police officers, who are then seen chasing and restraining her on the ground as she screams, according to separate footage captured by NBC Boston.

The news station reported that the girls face was slammed into the ground. The teen was arrested on four charges, including child endangerment, police said.

Among those arrested was Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring. Shes accused of throwing an unknown liquid at officers. Her charges include assault and battery on a police officer.

Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was one of the residents who, she said, formed a human ring around the detainees.

ICE officials, photographed arresting a man at a different scene, have been instructed to embark on a surge of arrests in Greater Boston (REUTERS)

As an elected official, it is my obligation to stand up for my constituents, she said in a statement. The way immigrants in Worcester and across the Commonwealth are being targeted and terrorized by this federal administration for deportation is absolutely unconstitutional.

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What kind of person takes a mother away from her family?, another neighbor questioned. Everyone is fed up! Its disgusting seeing ICE across the country tearing families apart.

City Manager Eric Batista wrote in a statement that the events were disturbing and harrowing, but said that police officers were there to uphold peace and not to assist ICE with detainments.

My heart goes out to all those impacted by todays events and the growing tension we all feel due to the national political climate, he said.

Meanwhile, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty called the altercation devastating.

As someone who prides themselves on leading a welcoming city, I am devastated to hear about the separation of a family, especially with Mothers Day around the corner. The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city, the mayor said.

Local government officials said that they had not been told about the ICE operation beforehand.

The Independent has contacted ICE for more information.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A federal agent says a man sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for driving to Moore, Oklahoma, with the intent to have sex with a minor has numerous other victims across state lines.

On Monday, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of Oklahoma, shared that 25-year-old Bryan Cruz had been sentenced in connection to an April 2024 case in Moore. Police reports said that on April 5, 2024, a Moore police officer showed up at a home in the city after getting a call from a neighbor that someone was looking into the window of a 13-year-old girl.

Texas man sentenced after traveling to Oklahoma to engage in sexual acts with a minor

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Authorities were able to find Cruz nearby using a thermal imaging drone and arrested him. The minors parents allowed police to search a laptop used by the minor and discovered that the two had met online. He told the minor he was a 17-year-old high school student and expressed interest in meeting the minor.

News 4 spoke with the victims mother on Thursday, and to protect her daughter, we are only referring to her as Tali.

He had told her his name was Alex, that he was 17, said Tali.

Tali said her daughter used the messaging app Discord to connect with Cruz. The apps website says its a group chat thats all fun and games. Tali had said that her daughter never should have been able to access the app due to parental controls, but she bypassed them using her fathers birthday.

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She also went on to say that she was disturbed when she finally got a chance to review the messages herself.

They have like messages back and forth, for about, over a month, said Tali.

Eventually, Talis daughter gave Cruz enough personal information to act. He traveled from Dallas to Moore to engage in illicit activity, over 200 miles away.

Officials say on May 7, 2024, a two-count indictment was returned against Cruz, charging him with coercion and enticement of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor. On September 12, 2024, Cruz pleaded guilty to count 2 of the indictment and admitted to traveling to Oklahoma to meet with the minor.

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Cruz was sentenced on May 1, 2025, to 210 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

These types of predators know no boundaries, said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent Andrea Salazar.

Salazar said they conducted a thorough investigation of Cruz leading up to the sentencing, and also said that he has other victims and a pattern of behavior.

He has a technique about grooming these minors and asking very personal questions and pushing their boundaries and seeing what theyre able to indulge in and what theyre able to kind of let him know about themselves, said Salazar.

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Salazar said parents should always be vigilant about their childrens online activity. Tali said its hard to keep up in a world of technology thats constantly changing.

As soon as you like, catch up, theres something new, said Tali.

Salazar said kids should also be vigilant about their own personal online use, given the reality of predators.

Theres people out there that do no have good intentions, said Salazar. That do not have the best, their best interests at heart on the other end.

Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to:

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Prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Explain how to report online enticement and victimization.

Offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Lewis F. Powell Jr. federal courthouse in Richmond is home to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. (Photo: Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)

A trio of federal judges appeared skeptical on Friday of arguments advanced by attorneys for the state of North Carolina in a voting rights case involving the issue of voting by people with past felony convictions. The state is seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that struck down a statute criminalizing voting by disenfranchised felons as racially discriminatory.

The case concerns a state law making it a felony for anyone who has lost their right to vote following a criminal conviction to cast a ballot unless they have had their right restored. The North Carolina A. Phillip Randolph Institute (APRI), a nonprofit affiliate of the AFL-CIO, filed suit in 2020 on the grounds that prosecuting individuals who unknowingly vote while ineligible is an unconstitutional violation of due process and equal protection rights. The nonprofit also contended that the law has a chilling effect on North Carolinians with criminal convictions who have since regained their eligibility.

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In 2023, the General Assembly passed an updated version of the law  explicitly excluding unintentional voting violations from prosecution  and set it to take effect for any offenses taking place on or after Dec. 1 of that year. Federal Judge Loretta Biggs ruled in April 2024 that the prior statute unconstitutionally discriminated against Black North Carolinians on both grounds, and permanently enjoined its enforcement, finding that the legislature did not repeal the previous law when it rewrote it.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections appealed the ruling, arguing that: a) the district court should not have granted relief in light of the new law, b) APRI no longer had a concrete interest in the case, and c) the matter should be declared moot. The board did not dispute the contention that because North Carolina has no statute of limitations for felonies, voters could still face prosecution for ballots cast in past elections.

The new NC Board of Elections, with all members appointed by the state Auditor, are sworn in on May 7, 2025. Left to right, Jeff Carmon, Chairman Francis DeLuca, Stacy Four Eggers, Siohban Millen, and Robert Rucho. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)

The panel on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals  judges James Wynn Jr., Pamela Harris, and DeAndrea Benjamin  grilled lawyers for the board and the state Conference of District Attorneys Friday on why they would want the law to remain on the books when it was replaced by a new statute in 2023, unless they sought to prosecute under the old law.

Terence Steed, an attorney with the North Carolina Department of Justice representing the board, noted that APRI was not challenging the new law and said theres no evidence in the record that the previous law would be enforced, even if it legally could be.

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Can I ask why youre here, then? Harris asked. If there will not be prosecutions under the old law, I truly dont understand why youre here.

Theres important principles of mootness in this case, Steed replied. When our office defends statutes, which it is frequently called upon to do, it is not uncommon  just as it is in Virginia and all the other states in the circuit and across the country  that the General Assembly, during the pendency of that litigation, might step in and amend the law to correct what the plaintiffs are concerned about.

Harris said while that may be true, she had never seen anything like this in which a state nonetheless appeals an injunction against enforcing a law that has been made obsolete. She asked why the old law could still be enforced after the passage of its replacement, to which Steed replied that he was not sure how it would work under North Carolina law, and thats not an issue I was prepared for  a statement that Wynn chided him for.

I dont understand at all what youre arguing here when you say you dont understand how it operates under North Carolina law, Wynn said. Youre representing the state of North Carolina, we expect you to know that.

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Judges also pressed Elizabeth OBrien, an attorney with NCDOJ representing the Conference of District Attorneys, on whether she was arguing the state should be able to prosecute offenses prior to 2024 under the old law.

I think that the way the statute was amended provides that those prosecutions could occur, OBrien said.

Judge James A. Wynn Jr. expressed skepticism toward attorneys for North Carolina, noting that if they did not uphold the district court ruling, prosecutions could continue under the old statute. (File photo)

Thats the point were making, Wynn interjected. Youve just admitted, you just presented why its not moot. You say they could occur, and so if they can occur if we dont uphold the district court, then essentially, youre saying you should have two statutes you can prosecute under.

Jonathan Youngwood, the attorney representing APRI, said if anything, the new law creates more of an interest in relief to prevent voter misinformation about their voting rights. He cited the confusion in the courtroom as evidence that voters with criminal convictions whose rights had been restored could easily be misled into thinking it was still unlawful for them to vote.

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North Carolina has no statute of limitations on felony charges. That means any person who voted in a prior election and some DA, someday decides could be subject to this old discriminatory law, could be prosecuted, Youngwood said.

He said the General Assemblys amendment was insufficient to counter this issue, arguing that because it said it is effective to acts going forward, it does not repeal the previous statute by implication. And he noted that at the time of discovery in 2022, there were 200 active cases related to the law. All those cases could be live, Youngwood said.

Your Honor, I wish we could make some deal that there wouldnt be future prosecutions. The only way we know it is the way we pursued it in the district court, which was to seek an order making it clear, Youngwood said. We hoped the case wouldnt be appealed, it was appealed, and so were taking up your time this morning.

Wynn asked whether it would be sufficient to uphold the district court order on only one of the grounds: either as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause or a violation of the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Youngwood replied that while he did not presume to tell them how to write their decision, either would be adequate relief so long as it would permanently wipe the statute from the books.
Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, listens to discussions during a special session on redistricting on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 in Montgomery, Ala. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

A federal court Thursday ruled that the Alabama Legislature intentionally discriminated against Black voters in approving a congressional district map in 2023 that would only have had one majority-Black district.

In a nearly 600-page order, the three-judge panel  U.S. Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, and U.S. District Judges Anna M. Manasco and Terry F. Moorer, both appointees of President Donald Trump  accused the Legislature of ignoring its orders in 2023 to replace a map approved in 2021 with a new one that had two districts where Black voters had a substantial opportunity to elect their preferred leaders.

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The Legislature knew what federal law required and purposefully refused to provide it, in a strategic attempt to checkmate the injunction that ordered it, the opinion said. It would be remarkable  indeed, unprecedented  for us to hold that a state legislature that purposefully ignored a federal court order acted in good faith.

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The three-judge panel also said it would consider a request from plaintiffs to place Alabama back into preclearance for future congressional redistricting efforts  which Alabama has not had to go through for over a decade following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Shelby County v. Holder.

The judges wrote that they had no doubt that the the 2023 map was designed to crack Black voters across congressional districts in a manner that that makes it impossible to create two districts in which they have an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice, and thereby intentionally perpetuate the discriminatory effects of the 2021 plan.

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So we observe that although the success of the Milligan Plaintiffs claim of intentional discrimination is unusual, we also do not regard it as a particularly close call, they wrote.

Deuel Ross of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, representing plaintiffs who originally challenged an Alabama congressional map approved in 2021, said in a phone interview Thursday that the courts decision confirms the unfortunate reality of Alabamas illegal and unconstitutional actions in this case.

Its an incredible victory for Black voters, and all voters, really in the Black Belt, who have been denied representation by the state for decades, Ross said.

Amanda Priest, a spokesperson for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, said Thursday that the office is still reviewing the order and that all options remain on the table.

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Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, a co-chair of the legislative committee tasked with redistricting congressional districts, said in a text that he needs time for the attorneys to digest the ruling before I will be able to comment.

Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, who led legislative redistricting efforts in 2023 with Pringle, and attorneys for Pringle and Livingston.

The decision will not immediately affect the shape of Alabamas congressional districts, but could require the Legislature to tread carefully with future redistricting.

The court in early 2022 cited racially polarized voting in Alabama  where white Alabamians tend to vote for Republicans and Black Alabamians tend to vote for Democrats  in ruling that Alabamas 2021 congressional map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by making it practically impossible for Black Alabamians to elect their preferred leaders. The panel ordered the Legislature to draw two congressional districts where Black voters would have an opportunity to choose those leaders.

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The state appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court ruling. In the summer of 2023, the Legislature approved a map that the panel later rejected, finding it fell far short of their directives. The panel appointed a special master who drew a map where two of Alabamas seven U.S. House districts  the 2nd and the 7th  have majority-Black or near-majority Black populations.

The courts finding of intentional racial discrimination, drawn from actions and statements from lawmakers during the redistricting process and their initial refusal to draw a second majority-Black district, is significant.

The Legislatures conduct and that concession thrust this case into an unusual posture: we are not aware of any other case in which a state legislature  faced with a federal court order declaring that its electoral plan unlawfully dilutes minority votes and requiring a remedial plan that provides an additional opportunity district  responded with a plan that the state concedes does not provide that district, the judges wrote.

Ross referred to it as the uniqueness of Alabamas defiance of the law.

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If theres a court order thats been affirmed, particularly by the Supreme Court, then the result is that the defendants need to comply with it, or any party, especially a state, Ross said.

Laurel Hattix, an attorney with the ACLU of Alabama, said in a statement that the ruling is an overdue acknowledgment of Alabama lawmakers persistent attempts to shut out Black voters from the electoral process.

For decades, Black Alabamians have organized and fought for not just their voting rights, but the voting rights of all Americans. Today, the courts have affirmed what Black voters have long known: fair representation is not optional  its a right, Hattix said.

Ross also said the special masters plan used in the 2024 elections will remain in effect at least through the 2030 redistricting cycle, barring intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Alabama obviously has the right to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court has an opportunity to weigh in if it wants to, but well see what happens there, Ross said.

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, won the election in the 2nd Congressional District last November. Coupled with U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, winning an eighth term in Congress, the election marked the first time in history that Alabama elected two Black U.S. Representatives at the same time. Alabamas population is about 27% Black; in the 19th century, it was between 45 and 49% Black.

This story was updated at 5:00 p.m. with comment from Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, and at 5:04 p.m. with comment from the Alabama Attorney Generals office.

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A federal judge in Vermont has ordered the Trump administration to release a Tufts University PhD student from Turkey whose video-recorded detention earlier this year by immigration agents drew broad condemnation.

Judge William Sessions ordered the release of Rumeysa Ozturk on May 9, and she is now free on a personal recognizance bond, her attorneys said. Ozturk, who is Muslim, was taken into custody by plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as she walked on the sidewalk near her Boston-area home on March 25.

Shortly after Sessions' ruling, Ozturk was released from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile.

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Ozturk's attorneys say she has committed no crime, and was instead targeted by ICE because she co-wrote a pro-Palestinian opinion piece in the student newspaper. Ozturk was detained in Massachusetts before being transferred to Vermont and then Louisiana, where the White House has been sending many international detainees. Her attorneys said her health has been declining since she's been detained.

"When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for? her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, said in a statement.

The Trump administration had targeted multiple international students over their participation in pro-Palestinian protests, but generally declined to offer specific charges against each. The administration has also revoked the visas of more than 1,000 international students, many of whom appeared to have never participated in protests, although those revocations are now on hold.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts, poses in an undated photograph provided by her family and obtained by Reuters on March 29, 2025.

Prior to the Trump administration, people on visas like the one Ozturk holds were typically permitted to remain free during the immigration court process.

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Sessions' specific order was not immediately available; most of the court files are sealed.

Critics said the Trump administration targeted Ozturk to scare other students.

"I am relieved and ecstatic that Rumeysa has been ordered released," Khanbabai said. "Unfortunately, it is 45 days too late. She has been imprisoned all these days for simply writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: VT judge orders ICE to release Tufts student whose detention went viral
A federal class-action lawsuit accuses UCLA's medical school and various university officials of using race as a factor in admissions, despite a state law and Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Californias Central District federal court, was brought by the activist group Do No Harm, founded in 2022 to fight affirmative action in medicine; Students for Fair Admissions, the nonprofit that won its suit at the Supreme Court against Harvards affirmative action program; and Kelly Mahoney, a college graduate who was rejected from UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

According to the lawsuit, the legal action was being taken to stop the medical school and UCLA officials from allegedly "engaging in intentional discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity in the admissions process."

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UCLA's medical school did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: California banned affirmative action in 1996. Inside the UC struggle for diversity

Citing unnamed "whistleblowers," the lawsuit alleges that Jennifer Lucero, the associate dean for admissions, "requires applicants to submit responses that are intended to allow the Committee to glean the applicants race, which the medical school later confirms via interviews."

It also alleges that Lucero and admissions committee members "routinely and openly" discussed race and used it as a factor to make admission decisions.

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Lucero did not immediately respond to an emailed request to comment.

Do No Harm is fighting for all the students who have been racially discriminated against by UCLA under the guise of political progress, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of Do No Harm, said in a news release. "All medical schools must abide by the law of the land and prioritize merit, not immutable characteristics, in admissions."

Read more: Justice Department probes major California universities over 'illegal DEI' in admissions

The lawsuit comes as UCLA and other UC campuses are facing scrutiny by the Trump administration for potential illegal DEI in admissions practices.

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The Department of Justice in late March said it would investigate UCLA, UC Irvine, Stanford and UC Berkeley, suggesting the schools flouted state law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent banning the use of race as a factor when evaluating college applicants.

A UC spokesperson said in a statement about the March investigation that UC stopped using race in admissions when Proposition 209  which bans consideration of race in public education, hiring and contracting  went into effect in 1997. Since then, UC has implemented admissions practices to comply with the law.

Separately at the time, the Department of Health and Human Services said it was investigating an unnamed major medical school in California to determine whether it discriminates on the basis of race, color, or national origin in its admissions. An HHS official previously told The Times that the investigation centered on the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

In response to that March announcement, UCLA said "we will be fully cooperating with their investigation."

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The lawsuit Thursday alleges that Lucero and the admissions committee routinely admit Black applicants with below-average GPA and MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test scores, "while requiring whites and Asians to have near-perfect scores to even be seriously considered."

According to the lawsuit, Do No Harm has at least one member who applied to Geffen, was rejected and "is able and ready to reapply if a court orders Defendants to stop discriminating and to undo the effects of its past discrimination." Students for Fair Admissions has at least one member who will apply to the medical school.

"In this race-based system," the lawsuit alleges, "all applicants are deprived of their right to equal treatment and the opportunity to pursue their lifelong dream of becoming a doctor because of utterly arbitrary criteria."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Federal prosecutors have revealed that one of the witnesses in Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial has gone missing.

The individual in question is referred to as "Victim 3" in the superseding federal indictment against Diddy.

"Victim 3" was added to the indictment based on charges of sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution against Sean "Diddy" Combs.

One Of The Key Witnesses In Diddy's Sex Crimes Trial Is Missing

MEGA

Diddy's sex crimes trial has taken an unexpected turn due to one of the three witnesses expected to testify for federal prosecutors.

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According to the Daily Mail, federal prosecutors revealed in court today that they are unable to locate the witness, who is referred to in the indictment as "Victim 3."

The witness in question is reportedly not residing in New York, where the trial is currently being held.

Not only have prosecutors had difficulty reaching her, but they have also been unable to contact her attorney.

They also claimed that they have doubts about the unnamed victim showing up in court, even if they are able to locate her.

Now, the disclosure has seemingly put a lid on the "very personal and explosive details" the witness was expected to make about the abuse she endured from Diddy.

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Diddy's attorney, Teny Geragos, has also applied pressure on the prosecution to make a decision, giving them until the end of the week, ahead of the opening statement on Monday.

What Are The Charges Against The Rapper?

MEGA

In his ongoing trial, Diddy is facing a racketeering conspiracy charge, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

The charges relate to four accusers, including Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, who were allegedly unwilling participants in the rapper's "freak offs."

These "freak offs" have been described as sex- and drug-fueled parties where the rapper allegedly forced his victims to engage in sexual acts with male prostitutes. He is also said to have filmed these acts for his personal use, with some of the videos reportedly discovered during a raid on his residence.

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Earlier this year, Diddy's attorneys, Marc Agnifilo and Tony Geragos, contested the videos, claiming that the women featured were all willing participants.

"Contrary to what the government has led this Court and the public to believe, the so-called 'Freak Offs' were private sexual activity between fully consenting adults in a long-term relationship," the attorneys argued, per ABC.

Jury Selection Expected To Be Finalized This Week

Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

On Friday, both the prosecutors and Diddy's lawyer will meet in court to determine which 45 potential jurors will move on to the final selection.

The group of 45 was selected from a larger pool of 600 individuals who answered a series of questions to assess their suitability for the case.

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These questions included topics such as domestic partner violence, their music and media preferences, and their hobbies.

Once the trial begins later this month, reaching a conclusion could take up to eight weeks or more.

Each court session will not be televised or live-streamed. However, members of the public will be allowed access to the courtroom.

Diddy Could Face Life In Prison If Found Guilty In His Federal Case

MEGA

If Diddy is found guilty of racketeering, he could face life in prison.

Meanwhile, a conviction for sex trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, while transporting individuals for prostitution could result in an additional sentence of up to 10 years.

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Since the legal process began, Diddy has maintained his innocence while claiming that the federal prosecutors are simply targeting him in an attempt to bring down a Black man.

The embattled rapper seems so determined to prove his innocence that he even rejected a plea deal, which would have likely spared him a prolonged sentence if found guilty of the charges against him.

New Report Reveals Diddy's Alleged 'Sex Slave' Signed $5M NDA With Him

MEGA

Amid the ongoing drama surrounding Diddy's trial, new evidence has surfaced that appears to support explosive claims made by former adult film star Jonathan Oddi.

Oddi previously alleged that he was held as a "sex slave" by the music mogul following his arrest in 2018 for opening fire at a Florida resort owned by President Donald Trump.

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At the time, he told the police that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in exchange for $5 million and alleged that Diddy was "scared" he would "expose" him.

The NDA in question was recently obtained by the Daily Mail and appears to bear Diddy's signature, though it remains unclear whether the signature is authentic or forged.

Oddi's former wife, Tonia Troutwine, has also come forward to confirm the existence of the NDA, adding that it was signed around the time of their separation in 2014.
David Steiner, a member of the FedEx board of directors, has been appointed as the next postmaster general and CEO of the United States Postal Service, the letter carrier's board of governors announced Friday.

Steiner is set to replace former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who resigned in March, and current acting Postmaster General Doug Tulino.

Dave is the right person to lead the Postal Service at this time to ensure this magnificent and historic organization thrives into the future, board Chair Amber McReynolds said in a press release.

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Steiner's appointment has already faced pushback given his ties to FedEx, a leading private competitor of USPS. Union leaders were quick to denounce Steiner, The Washington Post first reported Tuesday, arguing that his appointment further encourages the privatization of postal services.

His selection isnt just a conflict of interest  its an aggressive step toward handing Americas mail system over to corporate interests, Brian Renfroe, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said in a statement. Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years.

Shortly before stepping down, DeJoy announced plans to eliminate 10,000 USPS jobs in March, and he also confirmed the agency is working alongside Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. USPS is made up of roughly 650,000 employees.

DeJoy, who assumed his post in June 2020, was met with animosity from both sides of the aisle during his tenure. Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike criticized him for not allowing them to visit USPS postal facilities. DeJoy also faced backlash from Democrats in response to his handling of postal services during the height of Covid-19.

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Now, Steiner is set to assume the position amid growing uncertainty within the agency.

I deeply admire the public service and business mission of this amazing institution, and I believe strongly in maintaining its role as an independent establishment of the executive branch, Steiner said in a press release. As the entity with the largest union membership in the United States, I look forward to engaging with the unions and management associations to ensure that together we create a world-class employment experience.

Steiner previously served as CEO of Waste Management and was a partner at law firm Phelps Dunbar. Pending background and ethics checks, Steiner will join USPS in July.

Steiner was selected by the USPS board of governors, who are presidentially appointed.

President Donald Trump has floated privatizing the Postal Service  or merging it with the Commerce Department  in the past. The Washington Post reported that the board of governors had selected finalists, and Trump made the final call on the next postmaster general.
David Steiner, a former CEO of the nations largest waste management company who currently serves on the FedEx board of directors, is poised to take over control of the U.S. Postal Service, becoming the nations 76th postmaster general.

The announcement of Steiner's appointment, which heightened concerns from postal unions over possible efforts to privatize the USPS, was made Friday by Amber McReynolds, chairperson of the USPS' Board of Governors, during a meeting of the independent group that oversees the service.

We anticipate that Mr. Steiner will join the organization in July, assuming his successful completion of the ethics and security clearance processes that are currently underway, McReynolds said.

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Fridays announcement by the the Board of Governors comes as President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency have raised the idea of privatizing the nearly 250-year-old Postal Service, which has faced financial challenges amid a changing mail mix and other issues.

The choice of Steiner has been seen by the postal unions as a harbinger for possible privatization of some or all of the venerable quasi-public institution, which is largely self-funded and has a mission to serve every address in the country  nearly 167 million residences, businesses and post office boxes.

Postal unions have held protests throughout the country over potential privatization, job cuts and possibly ending the universal service obligation.

Brian L. Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said Steiner is not just any executive from the private sector but someone who sits on the board of one of the Postal Services top competitors.

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His selection isnt just a conflict of interest  its an aggressive step toward handing Americas mail system over to corporate interests, Renfroe said in a statement. Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years. Steiners selection is an open invitation to do just that.

Renfroes union represents 205,000 active city letter carriers and around 90,000 retirees.

Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, which represents more than 220,000 USPS employees and retirees, likened the appointment of Steiner to a fox guarding a hen house.

FedEx has a very different agenda than the public postal service. And theyre a major competitor of the United States Postal Service, he said. Im not talking about any attributes of an individual, but to me, thats the last type of person you will put in charge of the public institution as the anchor of the mailing package industry in the country.

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Don Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, urged Steiner to embrace the legacy of one of our nation's oldest and most trusted institutions and its values to serve the entire country.

The Postal Service is not a business in the traditional sense  it is a national network that binds the country together, serving every American, no matter how remote their address, he said in statement.

Steiner, who will leave the FedEx board, said in a written statement that he admires the public service and business missions of the USPS and called it an incredible honor to be asked to lead the worlds greatest postal organization.

I believe strongly in maintaining its role as an independent establishment of the executive branch, said Steiner, who served as CEO of Waste Management Inc. from 2004 through October 2016.

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In a written statement, McReynolds called Steiner "the right person to lead the Postal Service at this time to ensure this magnificent and historic organization thrives into the future.

Dave is a highly regarded leader and executive with tremendous vision, experience and skill that can be applied to the long-term mission and business needs of the Postal Service," she added. "Our Board looks forward to working with Dave as he takes on the core mandates of providing universal and excellent service for the American public and doing so in a financially sustainable manner.

Dimondstein questioned Trump's possible influence on the decision to appoint Steiner, saying the board may have shamelessly and outrageously abdicated their independent responsibility in selecting a new PMG.

A message was left with a USPS spokesperson, seeking comment about his accusations. A statement from the board noted the selection of the postmaster general rests solely" with the board, whose members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. McReynolds said the board hired Egon Zehnder, a global leadership advisory firm, to conduct an executive search to find candidates for the job.

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The Postal Service is in the midst of a 10-year modernization and cost-cutting plan that began in 2021 under Postmaster Louis DeJoy, who resigned in March. The plan is an attempt to stop losses at the agency, which has a budget of about $78 billion a year and is mostly self-funded, including through stamps and packages.

Known as Deliver for America, the initiative has received markedly mixed reviews. While postal officials contend it has led to major efficiency improvements, some members of Congress have criticized it for leading to mail delays, unsustainable postage increases and declines in business.

A financial report released Friday revealed the Postal Service lost $3.3 billion in the last quarter, $2.5 billion of which is considered uncontrollable costs, such as adjustments to workers' compensation premiums. However, it noted continued revenue growth from package deliveries, coupled with lower transportation costs and work hour reductions.

Besides privatization, theres also been talk of possibly moving the USPS under the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The choice of Steiner was first reported by The Washington Post.
May 8Maine has lost $9 million it was awarded to reduce flooding and restore fish habitat Down East, making the project another victim of the Trump administration's continued efforts to cut federal spending.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notified the Maine Department of Marine Resources in April that the project was an "overuse of taxpayer dollars" and no longer "relevant" to the administration's priorities.

The grant funding was meant to elevate a road in Addison so it wouldn't flood and to add a culvert that would help fish and lobster swim from the ocean into a salt marsh along the Pleasant River. The effort is part of a larger $30 million to $40 million project to restore tidal flow in that area after it was blocked in the 1940s.

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The termination has alarmed state legislators who say their Down East communities are among the "most vulnerable" in the state to rising sea levels.

"The towns in the project area are not only dependent on fisheries but are also critically underserved communities," state Sen. Marianne Moore, R-Washington, and Rep. Tiffany Strout, R-Harrington, wrote in a letter to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, urging her to help reinstate the funds. "(These) recent actions by the U.S. Department of Commerce will harm our communities in Maine."

The Department of Marine Resources also receives around $20 million annually from the federal government for its scientific work. Deirdre Gilbert, the department's director of policy and management, told lobstermen at a recent meeting that the department is worried that it will soon take more hits to its federal funding.

SLASHING AWAY

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Timothy Carrigan, the acting director of NOAA, said in the April letter that the agency was rescinding the Maine grant "to streamline and reduce the cost and size of the federal government."

"The stated goal and description of the program  restoration of salt marsh and related effects  fall outside of the current direction NOAA is taking regarding habitat restoration at this time," Carrigan wrote.

Several other NOAA programs have been frozen or cut, and a draft of the 2026 federal budget proposes reducing the agency's $6 billion budget by about 25%, according to NPR. That would include cuts to national grant programs for habitat restoration, KUOW reports.

It is unclear whether Maine is the only state to have this kind of grant rescinded. NOAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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WHAT'S GOING AWAY

NOAA awarded the Department of Marine Resources the $9 million last July.

The project would have focused on infrastructure improvements to the Addison Road in Columbia  west of Jonesport  where an offshoot stream of the Pleasant River is causing "significant roadway flooding" due to critical structural issues with the crossing's two culverts.

And as sea levels continue to rise, the Department of Marine Resources predicts there will be more flooding at nearby fire stations and, as a result, emergency response times will increase. The work would have replaced the road crossing, raised the adjacent roadways, and relocated wells and septic systems.

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"The rebuilt crossing would have also allowed for future upstream passage and increased nursery habitats for recreationally and commercially valuable fish species such as rainbow smelt, American lobster, groundfish and shellfish," said Carl Wilson, Maine's new marine resources commissioner.

The Department of Marine Resources had not yet spent any of the $9 million, Jeff Nichols, the department's spokesperson, said.

TAKING ACTION

Collins, a Republican, has so far intervened on a handful of funding cuts aimed at Maine. She stepped in when the Trump administration rescinded funding for the Maine Sea Grant and U.S. Department of Agricultures grants for the University of Maine  both of which were restored.

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And on May 2, she publicly expressed "serious objections" with Trump's 2026 budget proposal.

Strout and Moore, the Down East legislators, have called on her to step in once again.

"We have been very impressed in your successful intervention to get funding reinstated for the Maine Sea Grant and other programs," they wrote. "There is no advocate more effective for our state than you and your office. We would appreciate your efforts getting the ... grant funding reinstated."

The flooding, they said, has harmed local ecosystems and led to the death of a constituent in back-to-back storms in January 2024.

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"Addison and Columbia are ranked as 'most vulnerable' in Maine's Coastal Risk Explorer that shows social vulnerability to sea level rise in coastal communities," they wrote.

It is unclear whether Collins is taking action; her office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

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May 8Maine has lost $9 million it was awarded to reduce flooding and restore fish habitats Downeast as part of the Trump administration's continued efforts to cut federal spending.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notified the Maine Department of Marine Resources in April that the project was an "overuse of taxpayer dollars" and no longer "relevant" to the administration's priorities.

The grant funding was meant to elevate a road in Addison so it wouldn't flood and to add a culvert that would help fish and lobster swim from the ocean into a salt marsh along the Pleasant River. The effort is part of a larger, $30-40 million project to restore tidal flow in that area after it had been blocked in the 1940s.

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The termination has alarmed state legislators who say their Downeast communities are among the "most vulnerable" in the state to rising sea levels.

"The towns in the project area are not only dependent on fisheries but are also critically underserved communities," state Sen. Marianne Moore, R-Washington, and Rep. Tiffany Strout, R-Harrington, wrote in a letter to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, urging her to help reinstate the funds. "(These) recent actions by the U.S. Department of Commerce will harm our communities in Maine."

The Department of Marine Resources also receives around $20 million annually from the federal government for its scientific work. Deirdre Gilbert, the department's director of policy and management, told lobstermen at a recent meeting that the department is worried that it will soon take more hits to its federal funding.

SLASHING AWAY

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Timothy Carrigan, the acting director of NOAA, said in the April letter that the agency was rescinding the Maine grant "to streamline and reduce the cost and size of the Federal Government."

"The stated goal and description of the program  restoration of salt marsh and related effects  fall outside of the current direction NOAA is taking regarding habitat restoration at this time," Carrigan wrote.

Several other NOAA programs have been frozen or cut, and a draft of the 2026 federal budget proposes reducing the agency's $6 billion budget by about 25%, according to NPR. That would include cuts to national grant programs for habitat restoration, KUOW reports.

It is unclear whether Maine is the only state to have this kind of grant rescinded. NOAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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WHAT'S GOING AWAY

NOAA awarded the Department of Marine Resources the $9 million last July.

The project would have focused on infrastructure improvements to the Addison Road in Columbia  west of Jonesport  where an offshoot stream of the Pleasant River is causing "significant roadway flooding" due to critical structural issues with the crossing's two culverts.

And as sea levels continue to rise, the Department of Marine Resources predicts there will be more flooding at nearby fire stations and, as a result, emergency response times will increase. The work would have replaced the road crossing, raised the adjacent roadways and relocated wells and septic systems.

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"The rebuilt crossing would have also allowed for future upstream passage and increased nursery habitats for recreationally and commercially valuable fish species such as rainbow smelt, American lobster, groundfish, and shellfish," said Carl Wilson, Maine's new marine resources commissioner.

The Department of Marine Resources had not yet spent any of the $9 million, Nichols, the department's spokesperson, said.

TAKING ACTION

Collins, Maine's only Republican U.S. senator, has so far intervened on a handful of funding cuts aimed at Maine. She stepped in when the Trump administration rescinded funding for the Maine Sea Grant and U.S. Department of Agricultures grants for the University of Maine  both of which were restored.

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And on May 2, she publicly expressed "serious objections" with Trump's 2026 budget proposal.

Strout and Moore, the Downeast legislators, have called on her to step in once again.

"We have been very impressed in your successful intervention to get funding reinstated for the Maine Sea Grant and other programs," they wrote. "There is no advocate more effective for our state than you and your office. We would appreciate your efforts getting the ... grant funding reinstated."

The flooding, they said, has harmed local ecosystems and led to the death of a constituent in back to back storms in January 2024.

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"Addison and Columbia are ranked as "most vulnerable" in Maine's Coastal Risk Explorer that shows social vulnerability to sea level rise in coastal communities," they wrote.

It is unclear whether Collins is taking action; her office did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

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A convoy transporting heavy mining equipment from Bamako to Allied Gold's Sadiola mine was attacked in the Kayes region of Mali, reported Reuters, citing two people with knowledge of the incident.

The incident underscores the escalating security threats faced by mining companies in the Sahel states, where Islamist militant groups are increasingly active.

The attack has not been claimed by any group. The eight Neemba employees present during the incident were reported to be unharmed due to the intervention of nearby Malian soldiers.

The incident destroyed two large trucks, damaged an excavator and resulted in the theft of two pick-up trucks.

The equipment, leased from local Caterpillar dealer Neemba to subcontractor Mota-Engil, operating at Sadiola's quarry, was targeted between the towns of Diema and Sandare.

While attacks on government and military convoys are more common in Mali, assaults on mining logistics have been infrequent until now.

Mali is one of Africa's top gold producers, with several international mining companies including Barrick Gold, B2Gold, Resolute Mining, Endeavour Mining and Hummingbird Resources operating in the country's gold-rich western and southern regions.

The region continues to grapple with instability, despite recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that brought military officers to power.

In February 2024, a fatal attack on a B2Gold convoy, which was reportedly mistaken for a military convoy, led to the death of three employees.

The CEO of Fortuna, a Canadian gold mining company, stated that increasing security threats were a key factor in its decision to withdraw from Burkina Faso, Mali's neighbouring country.

"Attack on mining convoy to Allied Golds Mali mine raises security concerns" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




The U.S. Department of Justice said cash and drugs, pictured here, were seized in Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico in the countrys largest ever fentanyl bust in April, 2025 (Photo courtesy U.S. District Attorneys Office, District of New Mexico)

The U.S. government this week announced drug trafficking and conspiracy charges against 17 people  at least six in New Mexico  in what U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is calling the largest fentanyl bust in our nations history.

At a news conference on Tuesday in Washington D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Ryan Ellison said prosecutors have filed conspiracy, illicit fentanyl distribution, firearms and immigration charges as a result of the bust.

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He also said the alleged drug trafficking organization is one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl operations in United States history  spanning New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah  and distributes drugs throughout the western United States.

We will not tolerate those who profit from poisoning American citizens, Ellison said.

Bondi said the organization is affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel operating out of Mexico, and when authorities arrested its alleged leader, Heriberto Salazar Amaya, they found millions of dollars in cash and vehicles. She said he insulated himself from the drugs, which agents found in Albuquerque, Phoenix and Utah.

Asked for specifics on how the defendants were captured, Bondi said the investigation is ongoing and she wont reveal police sources or methods.

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In court records, two Drug Enforcement Administration special agents characterized three New Mexico defendants David Anesi, Vincent Montoya and Francisco Garcia as high-volume drug traffickers in the Albuquerque area, and Phillip Lovato as a significant customer in Santa Fe.

They also named Roberta Herrera as Montoyas significant other who has been observed participating in drug transactions with him, and allege that Misael Lopez-Rubio rented out a storage unit in Albuquerque to use as a stash location.

DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy noted that the organizations drug distribution had probably caused someone to die.

Since 2018, New Mexico has experienced a dramatic increase in drug overdose deaths associated with prescription drug use and, more recently, use of illicit fentanyl, according to the state Department of Health. Overall, deaths in the state attributed to drug overdose have fallen in the last two years.

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Overall, authorities seized 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder; approximately $4.4 million in cash; approximately 79 pounds of methamphetamine; approximately 7.5 kilograms of cocaine; approximately 4.5 kilograms of heroin; approximately 41 firearms; and approximately 4.1 million fentanyl pills, according to court records.

Ellison said in Albuquerque alone, police found 2.7 million fentanyl pills; 11.5 kilograms of concentrated fentanyl powder; seven pounds of methamphetamine; multiple kilograms of heroin and cocaine; 41 firearms; more than $600,000 in cash and numerous luxury vehicles.

When we catch you  all of these individuals, if convicted, we will put you behind bars, Bondi said. There will be no negotiating, and we will lock you up for as long as humanly possible. We will not negotiate with those who are killing our family members including brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends.

DOJ prosecuting, not deporting, defendants who arent citizens

Bondi said six of the people charged are living in the U.S. unlawfully. A detention order for Lopez-Rubio indicates that he will be held until trial, in part, because he lacks legal status in the U.S. and is subject to removal or deportation after any prison sentence.

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When asked how shes deciding whether to prosecute or deport any defendants who lack U.S. citizenship, Bondi said its based on their potential prison sentences, if theyre convicted.

I want them to stay in our prisons as long as possible, Bondi said. Theres a very big risk  we all know  releasing someone, especially to Mexico. Sending them back to Mexico, who knows, they could attempt to get through our borders. Not under Donald Trump, I doubt. But theyre also part of a major drug trafficking ring in Mexico, so sending them back to Mexico to continue on with their drug business isnt going to happen under this administration.

This article was first published by Source New Mexico, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Goldberg for questions: info@sourcenm.com.
The Trump administration's pledge comes 10 days after air traffic controllers lost contact for 90 seconds with flights going in and out of Newark airport. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

Federal officials announced an ambitious plan Thursday to modernize the nations air traffic control system, acting after several recent deadly plane and helicopter crashes ignited public panic and made air safety a sudden priority for the Trump administration.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outlined plans to replace decades-old technology, build new air traffic control centers and towers, and supercharge hiring to erase the current national shortage of more than 3,000 air traffic controllers.

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Workers would replace radar, software, hardware, and telecommunications networks, with an eye on reducing outages, improving efficiency, and ensuring safety, Duffy said. The plan also aims to eliminate close calls on runways and in approach airspace by expanding a surface awareness initiative to 200 airports.

Duffy likened the current system to a flip-phone, saying it has antiquated telecommunications technology that relies on copper wire instead of fiber-optic cable and air traffic control centers dating back to the 1960s.

You have to redo it all, simply put, Duffy said. We are going to build a brand-new air traffic control system. Full stop  this is the biggest lift, the biggest build that has ever happened in the history of the FAA.

Duffy announced the plan Thursday afternoon in Washington, D.C., before an audience that included politicians, press, and people who lost loved ones when a plane and Army helicopter collided in January over the Potomac River near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Sixty-four plane passengers and three soldiers died in that crash, and investigators revealed more than 15,000 near-miss incidents occurred near the airport in the four years before the crash.

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President Donald Trump joined the announcement by phone, referring to ongoing delays and outages at Newark Liberty International Airport as the flavor of the moment. On April 28, a radio and radar outage left air traffic controllers unable to track aircraft or communicate with pilots at Newark airport for 90 seconds.

That was not a good situation, Trump said Thursday. Im sorry what youre going through with the terminals, but were going to get them fixed up.

Its unclear if the proposed improvements will ever happen, as Duffy and Trump had no cost estimate for the plan.

Pressed by reporters, Duffy said administration officials havent put a price tag on the plan, although he expects it will cost billions. Lots of billions.

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Im going to leave that to the Congress, Duffy said.

He added: Congress has a lot of fights over money. This is one they should not fight over.

Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) said the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which he chairs, has approved a $12.5 billion down payment to get improvements rolling.

U.S. air traffic control centers need modernization because they date back to the 1960s and look like they should be in the Smithsonian, federal officials say. (Courtesy U.S. Department of Transportation)

Trump said he hopes one company will get one big, beautiful contract, where its, you know, theyre responsible for everything from digging ditches to the most sophisticated stuff. And if you have any ideas as to who makes the best system, wed love to have it.

Duffy called the plan a national priority and said it will require permitting reform so that whatever companies do the work can bypass regulations that would likely drag improvements out over 10 to 15 years or longer. Administration officials instead aim to have the work done within three to four years, Duffy said.

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The improvements are especially urgent as the skies become more crowded, Duffy added, citing recent upticks in air taxis and delivery drones.

A parade of CEOs from airlines and industry groups took the microphone after Duffy to applaud the plan as long overdue.

The technology that we use to track our teenagers is more advanced than what we give to our air traffic controllers. That is literally insane. We need to fix that, said Todd Hopley of the American Association of Airport Executives. We need better technology. We need better facilities, and we need more controllers. It is as complicated as that and as simple as that. Its something we can fix, its something we should fix, and its something we will fix.

Joanna Geraghty, the CEO of New York-based Jet Blue, acknowledged the families of crash victims in the audience.

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It should not take a tragedy to solve this problem, she said. We know air traffic control delays and challenges far, far too well. This has quite literally been our number one priority for decades.

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An outbreak of measlesa disease once declared eliminated in the U.S.has hospitalized 91 people in Texas, killing two unvaccinated school-aged children. It is a horrific disease: In severe cases, a childs immune system collapses, and they suffer seizures and brain damage from encephalitis or drown as fluid fills their lungs.

And any outbreak of measles is entirely preventable. The first vaccine was introduced 62 years ago, and vaccination saved an estimated 60 million lives between 2000 and 2023 alone. Measles epidemics once represented a public health crisis, but today the disease represents a different kind of afflictionone that is both psychological and cultural in nature, and one that is surprisingly resistant to intervention.

On a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, British author Douglas Murray challenged the worlds most popular podcaster over his penchant for hosting armchair experts who promote ideas outside of the mainstream. Specifically, Murray cited Rogans interviews with Daryl Cooper, a podcaster who has argued that Winston Churchill was the real villain of World War II, and comedian Dave Smith, who appeared on the podcast with Murray, and whose taste for criticizing Israel has never inspired him to pay a visit. Murray faced significant backlash from right-wing influencers on social media, while writers at The Atlantic, UnHerd, and Quillette rallied behind him. Yet despite the lengthy conversation, which spanned hours, some crucial concepts were left unaddressed.

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The main issue that Murray did not raise was that in the ecosystem that Rogan occupies, many podcasters and their listeners do not read. Murray brought his norms of journalistic rigor into a largely postliterate culture, where information is consumed via aural and visual formats as opposed to the written word. It was a clash of cultures between an author and journalist who primarily lives in the world of printed text, and those who primarily live in the world of conversation and storytelling.

Illustration by The Dispatch. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

This postliterate shift isnt merely occurring in digital media ecosystemsit has penetrated some of the worlds most prestigious educational institutions. In an article for The Atlantic last year, Rose Horowitch described students at elite universities who struggle to read an entire book. One first-year student confessed she had never been assigned a complete book throughout high schoolonly excerpts and articles.

Its important to distinguish the difference between a literate and postliterate world. For centuries, women died in childbirth at relatively steady rates. Only when doctors started sharing knowledge about obstetric techniques in medical journals did mortality rates start to decline. Sharing knowledge via the written word enhances the accuracy of the transmitted information, whereas oral reinterpretations lend themselves to inefficiency and error.

When an audio-visual narrative culturewhich lacks the precision and permanence of written documentationcombines with amateur methods, our collective ability to discern the truth simply deteriorates.

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The problem with armchair experts like Daryl Cooper and Dave Smith isnt what they claim but how they reach those claims. Their conclusions may occasionally align with reality, but they arrive there without the rigor that ensures reliability. When someone forms theories about Churchill or Israel without consulting primary sources or visiting the region, theyre charting territory blindly. Criticism, therefore, should focus on process instead of results: Their flawed methods inevitably produce unreliable findings, even when they occasionally stumble onto correct conclusions by chance.

When it comes to working out what is true in the world, there is a hierarchy of method. If I fear I have cancer in my body, I am perfectly free to visit a psychic if I choose tobut her technique for discovering a malignant growth is going to be less effective than an oncologists. This doesnt mean that the oncologist is always right, or that the psychic is always wrong. What it means is that the tools used by the oncologistblood tests and radiologyare simply better than sensing, reading tea leaves, or consulting the stars.

Other empirical professions have a hierarchy of methods, too. History scholars examine secondary sources (written accounts of the time period), but also primary sources (manuscripts and contemporaneous eyewitness accounts) of the era they wish to understand. Just as someone who is unable to replace the carburetor of his car cannot call himself a mechanic, anyone who does not consult primary sources in their research cannot call themselves a historian.

Rigor dampens engagement, and uncertainty saps attention. The marketplace of ideas has been subsumed by a marketplace of emotions, where incentives reward those with the sloppiest procedures.

Journalism also has a method. While not all journalism is alike (this opinion column is not the same as an investigative piece), one expects journalists reporting on a conflict or protest or natural disaster to do so from the ground.

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These empirical professions each employ graduated standards of evidence. Gut intuition, vibes, tea leaves, psychic readings, tarot cards, revelations, and superstition fall below the threshold of acceptable evidence. Just above this threshold sit anecdotes and case studies: My auntie said she saw a UFO last night. One level higher are cohort studies, synthesis of secondary sources, and analysis of contemporaneous reports. At the top sit randomized controlled trials, original research using primary sources, and on-the-ground investigative reporting.

Since the mid-20th century, many elite institutions have rejected the philosophical orientation of empiricism in favor of a faddish postmodern view of the world. Postmodernism, alongside romanticist and fundamentalist religious modes of thought, rejects the notion that humans are able to discern what is true through data collection and experimentation. Romanticists believe that the truth is discerned through feeling, fundamentalists through revelationand postmodernists believe that there is no such thing as truth at all. Our new media ecosystem blends all three of these outlooks, rendering empiricism a quaint relic of another age.

Tucker Carlson speaks of being attacked by demons in his sleep, Candace Owens dismisses the moon landing as fake and gay, and Russell Brand sells amulets to his followers to ward off evil energies.

During and after the pandemic, Bret Weinsteinan evolutionary biologist who was once hounded out of Evergreen State College, and who is now a professional podcasterclaimed mRNA vaccines were unsafe for women, declared to Tucker Carlson that 17 million people had died from COVID vaccines, and pronounced this imaginary death toll a great tragedy of history. But every step Weinstein took away from rigor increased his audience and influence. Peer-reviewed research is slow and time-consuming. Sharing lurid stories of vaccine injuries is easy.

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Today, Bret Weinsteins conspiracy theories span multiple domains. Documented by Chris Kavanagh, of the Decoding the Gurus podcast, and Jesse Singal, independent journalist and Dispatch contributor, Weinstein has suggested that Israels unpreparedness for the October 7 attack was deliberately orchestrated by powerful interests to create division among COVID skeptics; Chinas one-child policy was strategically designed to create an army of males to infiltrate the U.S. military; and that his own groundbreaking telomere research was stolen by one of his peerswho went on to win a Nobel Prize.

The continuous positive feedback from a growing audience doesnt just reward methodological shortcutsit demands them. There is no clearer demonstration of how audience capture drives counter-Enlightenment thinking in digital media than Weinsteins trajectory. Rigor dampens engagement, and uncertainty saps attention. The marketplace of ideas has been subsumed by a marketplace of emotions, where incentives reward those with the sloppiest procedures.

In his 2022 book, Liberalism and Its Discontents, Francis Fukuyama writes:

The attack on modern natural science and Enlightenment approaches to cognition began on the left, as critical theory exposed the hidden agendas of the elites who promoted them. This approach denied the possibility of true objectivity, and valued instead subjective feelings and emotions as a source of authenticity. Skepticism has now drifted over to the populist right, who see elites using these same scientific cognitive modes not as techniques to marginalize minority communities, but rather to victimize the former mainstream.

What Fukuyama described is an ideological inversion: The lefts tools of deconstruction are now used by the right. Pandoras box has been opened, and epistemic nihilism cannot be selectively applied. In 2017, a Canadian political scientist, Matt McManus, wrote for Quillette: postmodern conservatives are not substantially different from their leftwing opponents. Both regard identity as the locus of epistemic and moral validity, and both are preoccupied with achieving power since that is their only major concern.

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We tend to take our modern world for grantedrunning water, piped-in gas, an electricity grid, internet, superabundant consumer goods, medicines, and life-saving surgeries performed under anesthesia. Citizens in a modern liberal society are like fish in water: They dont comprehend the luxuriousness of their lifestyles and could not survive without them. We are surrounded by the fruits of liberal capitalism to the point where critics of this system rely on the very tools created by it to condemn it. Yet success has bred complacency, and in the third decade of the 21st century, this complacency is now coming home to roost.

Sharing knowledge via the written word enhances the accuracy of the transmitted information, whereas oral reinterpretations lend themselves to inefficiency and error.

The United States, a country founded on Enlightenment ideals, is at a crossroads: Trade policy is conducted according to vibes, anti-vaccine propaganda is spread by the highest health official of the land, and children now die of a once-eliminated disease. A path forward requires a counter-counter-Enlightenment. This doesnt require censorship or an appeal to authority, but a return to rigor and the written word. While podcasts and videos are undoubtedly entertaining, their ability to transmit knowledge is time-consuming and inefficient. They are the equivalent of the fireside yarnwhat humans did before we emerged from our caves. Text may not be as popular as a three-hour podcast conversation, but it remains the form of knowledge most likely to be accessed by future generations. Principia Mathematica was not a podcast, and On the Origins of Species was not a video series. Technologies may continue to create disruption, but we wont enter a new Dark Age unless we forget the ability to read and write.

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An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard along a street in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on May 9, 2025. Credit - Firdous NazirNurPhoto/Getty Images

The crisis embroiling India and Pakistan continues to spiral. Pakistans military claims to have killed 40 to 50 Indian troops along their de facto border in Kashmir and downed 29 Indian drones during Thursday night and Friday morning, in response to India striking multiple locations in Pakistan on Wednesday that it claimed were terrorist camps.

The current unrest was sparked by last months deadly terrorist attack on tourists in the India-controlled part of the restive region of Kashmir, which left 25 Indians and one Nepali national dead. New Delhi has pinned the bloodshed on Islamabad, which denies complicity and called for an independent investigation. But with both sides blaming the other for every escalation, full blown war appears worryingly close.

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On Thursday, Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir stood atop a tank during a military exercise to address his troops. Let there be no ambiguity, he said. Any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and notch-up response.

For Bharat Karnad, an emeritus professor in national security studies at New Delhis Centre for Policy Research, everything rests on Munir, whos something of a hot head, he says. Hes a Quranic literalist, one of the true believers, whos spoken about Ghazwa-e-Hind, referring to a holy war against India mentioned in the Hadith.

Conversely, Fawad Chaudhry, a former Information Minister under Pakistani ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, believes Indian leader Narendra Modi is the chief villain and set on redrawing the boundaries in Kashmir to secure his legacy in the face of plummeting poll numbers.

He wants to be a bigger leader than Gandhi or Nehru, Fawad tells TIME. So I think he will actually expand the theater of war.

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The specter of two nuclear-armed foes once again trading blows over disputed territory that they have already waged two wars over has naturally alarmed the international community. On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that a military solution is no solution.

On the last two occasions that India and Pakistan clashed significantly over Kashmir, in 2016 and 2019, the U.S. played a key role in deescalating tensions. However, todays Trump administration is taking a hands-off approach, with Vice President J.D. Vance telling Fox News that the spat was fundamentally none of our business.

The Pakistanis dont have that out that they used to have of relying on Washington to ride in like the cavalry to save them, says Karnad.

So, were all screwed then? Not so fast. Into the fray is instead galloping an unlikely arbitrator: Gulf States, in particular Saudi Arabia, who are today playing a key though unfamiliar peace-making role.

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On Thursday, Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir made a surprise visit to India to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and help broker a climbdown. Peace is clearly in Riyadhs interests, given Saudi Arabia currently hosts some 2.6 million Indians working alongside a similar cohort of Pakistanis. After all, when the Kashmir attack unfolded, Modi was in Jeddah to discuss the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and advance an investment deal worth $100 billion.

Gulf states by the nature of their relationships with Pakistan and India are going to become more active in urging the two states to exercise restraint, says Samina Yasmeen, director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia. Its in their interest to make sure that the region is stable.

Still, its a remarkable transformation for Saudi Arabia in particular, which has long been the worlds preeminent exporter of Islamist terrorism. From financing 9/11 to waging war against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen to the torture and murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the kingdom has been an undeniably destabilizing presence.

However, regional dynamics have shifted in recent years. The Gulfs swelling economic and diplomatic clout has corresponded with interests replacing ideology as the chief driver of foreign policy, as illustrated by the remarkable (though ultimately aborted) negotiations toward the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

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At any rate, the historic Great Powers are no longer the sole repositories of global influence. Other than the Saudis, nations like Qatar and the UAE are filling the vacuum. Rather than fanning the flames by backing fellow Islamic state Pakistan in the ongoing crisis, Qatar and the UAE both urged restraint. Doha even went so far as to back New Delhi in the spat, at least according to an Indian readout.

Still, things are complicated. China remains a key investment and security partner of Pakistan, and it was Chinese J-10C fighters armed with its PL-15 missiles that shot down five Indian Air Force jets on Wednesday. In addition, China is another claimant in disputed Kashmir, controlling two slivers of the territory adjacent to its border.

China cannot remain aloof from this conflict, says Chaudhry. Any territorial adjustment by India will not be acceptable to China. Thats not for Pakistanthats for Chinas own interests.

But the fact that it is interests, rather than values or ideology, that are ultimately driving all regional actors marks a distinct departure from orthodoxy. For a long time, Pakistan clung to the idea that as a Muslim state, it had a higher claim of loyalty from the Gulf compared to India. Today, however, despite religious differences and divergent value systems, India has emerged as a very significant actor in the Gulf.

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Its not the strict alignments that we saw in the Cold War era, says Yasmeen Its a more fluid situation in which all these countriesIndia, Pakistan, includedtry and explore what they can get from other parties.

Iran, for example, is a fellow Muslim nation that shares a border with Pakistan, which itself hosts a large Shia population. Yet Iran is arguably on better terms with India than Pakistan these days. Tehran has expressed heartfelt condolences to India over the Kashmir terrorist attack. On Wednesday, Irans Foreign Minister visited New Delhi just hours after leaving Islamabad and offered to help deescalate tensions. Like many nations across the Gulf, India has significant interests in Iran, including a long-standing agreement to develop and operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar Port, including a $120 million investment and a $250 million credit line for infrastructure development.

Ultimately, no regional actors want another India-Pakistan war. Still, analysts fear that a Rubicon may have been crossed.

One burning issue is Modis suspension of the Indus Water Treaty that governs water flows south to Pakistan and his desire to renegotiate it for Indias benefit.

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And on April 24 Pakistan suspended the 1972 Shimla Agreement, which essentially means Kashmirs Line of Controlthe de facto borderreverts to merely a ceasefire frontier. Under international law, a ceasefire line can be changed to the advantage of either party by military means. A psychological barrier has been breached, says Karnad. Now the Indian military has legal sanction to do more than just destroy a few tanks, gun positions, and then go back.

It all means that even if careful diplomacy provides an off-ramp to current tensions, there will be no quick fix and constant, earnest mediation will be necessary to keep things from boiling going forward.

A lot now depends on whether Saudi Arabia will exert pressure on India, says Chaudhry. Otherwise, war is imminent.

Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com.
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  Two convicted felons are behind bars after deputies said they stole hundreds worth of tequila from a Florida Costco.

The Collier County Sheriffs Office said store surveillance video footage from May 1 showed 28-year-old Courtney Gerell Bryant and 40-year-old Nikita Lynn Hicks concealing eight bottles of Don Julio and Silver Patron tequila valued at $547.92.

Flying car being tested in downtown Tampa

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Investigators said the pair fled in a silver Chevy Malibu.

On Tuesday evening, deputies said they conducted a traffic stop on a silver Malibu.

Hicks, the driver, had an active warrant from Polk County. Her passenger, Bryant, was seen wearing the same clothes seen in the Costco footage, according to deputies. Both were taken into custody.

The sheriffs office said Hicks was charged with the Polk warrant, felony petty theft for the Costco theft and a traffic-related offense that lead to the traffic stop. Bryant was charged with violating state probation and felony petty theft for the Costco theft.

Inside the vehicle, detectives said they found a large quantity of suspected stolen merchandise, including liquor, personal hygiene products and clothing, many with anti-theft devices still attached.

Investigators said more charges are expected as they determine whether the pair is tied to similar thefts in Collier County. They are also suspected of multiple retail thefts throughout Southwest Florida.

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Just weeks before the official start of hurricane season in Florida, FEMA may get washed away.

President Donald Trump has suggested abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency  which coordinates federal response to help people affected by disasters  and just providing money to the states to use for emergency response as they wish.

FEMA has already seen employees laid off and funds frozen. On May 8, a day after acting director of FEMA Cameron Hamilton said during a House committee hearing that he opposed eliminating the agency, he was removed from his position. The new head, David Richardson, told staff the next day that he will "run right over" anyone who resists changes and that all delegation of authority in the agency is immediately suspended.

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FEMA sets up offices and tents, establishes hotlines and sends out updates, all to coordinate the federal response to help people anywhere there has been a Presidential disaster declaration. FEMA has helped millions of Floridians after rampaging hurricanes left them without food, water, power or even homes.

FEMA staffers have also gone door to door in disaster areas to talk directly to survivors and help them register for federal aid, but a May 4 memo from Hamilton directed regional FEMA leaders to stop doing that in favor of more targeted outreach, according to Wired.

Trump, DeSantis want to end FEMA

I think were going to recommend that FEMA go away," Trump said while touring flood damage in North Carolina in January. From there, he traveled to view the widespread wildfire damage in Los Angeles, where he said, "I say you don't need FEMA, you need a good state government."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, reiterated Trumps position in a May 6 congressional hearing.

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He believes that FEMA and its response in many, many circumstances has failed the American people, and that FEMA, as it exists today, should be eliminated, Noem said.

As a presidential candidate, Trump was quick to share unfounded claims that FEMA was ignoring Hurricane Helene victims in the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia. FEMA officials and staffers received death threats, and the agency was forced to put up a fact-check page debunking the rumors.

Nearly two dozen states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration for the fund freeze, saying it targeted Democrat-led states that didn't align with his ideologies. A federal judge ordered the funds unblocked in March, but the Trump administration said he was not frozen, it was being "reviewed" for fraud and abuse. Florida was not one of states involved..

Cut the bureaucracy of FEMA out entirely and that money will go further than it currently does at greater amounts going through FEMAs bureaucracy, DeSantis said at a press conference in February.

What is FEMA?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created under President Jimmy Carter in 1978 to coordinate federal responses to major disasters that are beyond the resources of local and state authorities. The agency's role has increased along with the number of disasters from extreme weather events and serves as emergency response and a backstop for affected people who do not have insurance.

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After a disaster is declared and FEMA is activated, the agency offers:

Money: FEMA offers a variety of funds for housing repair, appliance and furniture replacement, housing assistance, ruined food reimbursement, medical assistance, funeral costs and more. Some of it does not have to be paid back, some may be in the form of loans. FEMA can also facilitate small business loans. Disaster victims with immediate needs like water, food and fuel may qualify for a Critical Needs Assistance payment of $700.

Medical assistance: FEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, usually doctors and paramedics, may be deployed to provide medical care at disasters.

Urban Search and Rescue : The US&R task forces help rescue victims from disasters affecting buildings and confined spaces, such as collapsed structures or mines.

Communication: FEMA coordinates with county and state emergency departments and local law enforcement to expedite assistance

After the Sept. 11 attacks, FEMA was moved under the Department of Homeland Security to make it easier to coordinate the different agencies that deal with disaster preparedness and recovery, law enforcement, border protection and more. Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 to, among other things, make FEMA a more independent agency.

FEMA also manages the National Flood Insurance Program, the Center for Domestic Preparedness, the Homeland Security Grant Program, and multiple programs to help communities identify and reduce the risks of injury and loss of property or to rebuild in ways to reduce the impact of future disasters.

How much does FEMA give to Florida?

Last year, FEMA provided more than $1 billion to help people in Florida after communities were shattered by Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby.

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FEMA has come to Florida 21 times in the last 14 years, according to the Tampa Bay Times, and provided $8.5 billion to the state for disaster relief assistance.

Will we lose FEMA? Amidst FEMA staff cuts, worries grow about summer hurricane, tornado seasons

How has FEMA changed under Trump?

On Jan. 24, Trump signed an executive order creating a review council to look at FEMA and suggest potential changes. Florida's emergency management chief Kevin Guthrie and Tampa, Florida, Mayor Jane Castor are members, as are Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Noem has already said she will move to abolish FEMA

At least a dozen staff members were asked to submit to lie detectors by new FEMA officials, according to a leaked account

Nearly $300 million in federal aid earmarked to help Florida communities protect themselves from flooding and storms was frozen in January

About a third of the agency's roughly 6,100 full-time employees left or made plans to leave under Elon Musk's voluntary retirement offer and expected layoffs

More than 200 more employees were fired on Feb. 17

Trump's proposed budget would include a $644 million cut at FEMA

Contributing: Zac Anderson, Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: FEMA director fired by Trump and replaced by David Richardson
May 8 (UPI) -- Federal Emergency Management Agency acting administrator Cameron Hamilton was fired one day after telling members of Congress he did not think it would be in the public's best interest to eliminate FEMA.

A FEMA spokesperson confirmed Hamilton's firing on Thursday, The Hill reported.

Hamilton testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday.

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Ranking member Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., expressed her concern that President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem might be considering eliminating FEMA.

"Eliminating FEMA would cause catastrophic and needless suffering to the American public," Underwood said during the hearing.

"Pushing disaster response and recovery fully back to the states is dangerous and unrealistic," she added.

Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, later mentioned Trump's statement about FEMA while touring storm-impacted areas in North Carolina while campaigning in 2024.

Trump suggested FEMA was not doing its job.

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The president in January made a similar comment after touring wildfire disaster areas in California and said his administration is considering getting rid of FEMA.

"We do not on Maui believe that FEMA should go away," Case said while referencing the August 2023 Maui wildfire that killed more than 100 and caused $5.5 billion in damages.

"FEMA helped us to save the day after a devastating disaster," Case said.

Hamilton told committee members FEMA needs to be reformed and modernized to make it more effective at addressing natural disasters and other emergencies.

Rep. Rose DeLauro, D-Conn., afterward asked Hamilton if the Trump administration intends to eliminate FEMA and quoted Noem saying FEMA "has failed the American people" and "as it exists today should be eliminated."

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"I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton responded.

He said he is not in a position to make such a determination and that is a conversation that should be had between Trump and members of Congress.

Delauro agreed with Hamilton, but his answer might have resulted in his firing less than 24 hours later.

Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edger and President Donald Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski informed Hamilton he had been fired on Thursday morning, Politico reported.

A driver took Hamilton back to FEMA headquarters, where he collected his belongings and left.

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A replacement for Hamilton already is in place.

David Richardson now is FEMA's acting administrator and most recently was the assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
ELYRIA, Ohio (WJW)  Elyria police announced the arrest of 20 people in a multi-week drug trafficking investigation in the city.

Police said in a press release that officers seized large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine as part of Operation Genesis.

Truck slams into local gas station in suspected smash-and-grab attempt: Police

The operation took place starting April 4 through May 7.

Police said officers arrested several people on outstanding warrants and unrelated offenses, while others were arrested on charges from ongoing drug investigations.

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Heres what was seized during the operation:

215 grams of fentanyl

79 grams of cocaine

10 grams of methamphetamine

Four firearms

This operation is part of our departments continued commitment to addressing the devastating impact of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our neighborhoods, Elyria Police Chief James Welsh is quoted in a press release.

Urgent safety recall for eye care products

We will not tolerate those who profit from addiction and misery. These arrests are a reflection of months of investigative work and the dedication of our officers.

Anyone with information related to drug activity in the community is encouraged to contact the Elyria Police Narcotics Tip Line at 440-322-7264 or submit information anonymously online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico arrived in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate Victory Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Slovak and Russian press agencies reported that Fico was accompanied by other politicians from his party, including Erik Kaliniak, Lubos Blaga, Richard Gluck. A deputy from the far-right Slovak National Party, Miroslav Radachovsky, was also a part of the group.

During his visit, Fico is expected to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and a government representative of Vietnam.

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Fico, who anticipated arriving in Moscow on May 8, was delayed in his arrival, following the Baltic states' decision to bar Slovakia's government plane from flying over their respective country's airspace en route to Moscow.

"Estonia informed us a couple of minutes ago that it will not allow us to fly over its territory," Fico wrote on Facebook. "Of course, we are talking about a deliberate attempt to disrupt my visit to Moscow on the occasion of the official celebration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II."

The Kremlin uses the annual victory celebrations for propaganda purposes and to showcase its military might, while Russian propaganda leans heavily on the Soviet victory in World War II.

Fico is known for inflammatory statements on Ukraine and the war that often echo Moscow's talking points. He has repeatedly criticized military aid for Ukraine and called for restoring relations with Russia after the war.

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Fico's planned visit comes as another jab at the Western efforts to internationally isolate Putin over Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. Slovakia is a member state of both NATO and the EU.

Read also: Fico slams Zelensky amid Moscow Victory Day security concerns





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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A dispute between family members at a funeral in Connecticut spiraled into a melee in which one man was stabbed and a woman grazed by gunfire, police said.

Witnesses and police described a chaotic scene as people threw punches and gunshots rang out as people screamed and the crowd of about 150 mourners poured out of Gospel Lighthouse Apostolic Church, north of downtown Hartford. Police said there was shooting both inside and outside the church.

You can imagine what 150 people scrambling out of the church looked like, said police Lt. Aaron Boisvert, who said bullets damaged the interior. No arrests were announced.

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Police recovered two guns but investigators had not yet determined if they were fired. The two wounded people had injuries that weren't life-threatening and were taken in private vehicles to a local hospital.

It wasnt immediately clear what sparked the fight. No one answered the phone at the church and a phone message was left for the pastor.

The funeral was for 89-year-old Ida Hawkins-Green, who had nine kids of her own and one stepchild, as well more than 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, according to her obituary. She died last month.

Curtis Thomas, who was set to sing at the service, wondered when this kind of violence would end.

Its already enough grieving. But to do it in a church? A church? he told WTNH-TV. A place where people come to get guidance and get help from a higher power."
Bitcoin (BTC) is poised to hit a new record high, with investment flows now the dominant market driver, according to Standard Chartered (STAN).

U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen $5.3 billion in inflows over the past three weeks, the investment bank said in emailed comments Thursday.

Adjusting for hedge fund basis trades, net real flow is estimated at over $4 billion, the bank said. The basis trade is a strategy that exploits the difference between the spot price of bitcoin and the price of the cryptocurrency in the futures market.

Strategy (MSTR) has increased its holdings to 555,450 BTC, or 2.6% of total future supply, which is locked at 21 million BTC. The company's plan to raise $84 billion to buy more of the world's largest cryptocurrency could bring its stash to over 6%, wrote Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered.

Next weeks 13F filings may reveal further institutional adoption, Standard Chartered said. Abu Dhabis sovereign fund already holds BlackRock's bitcoin ETF (IBIT), and both the Swiss National Bank and Norges Bank have disclosed positions in MSTR.

New Hampshire passed a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill this week, the first U.S. state to do so, which signals growing policy alignment, the report added.

Given these developments, a second-quarter bitcoin target of $120,000 may be too conservative, the bank said, citing its previous forecast.

The bank has a year-end bitcoin price target of $200,000.

The world's largest cryptocurrency was trading around $101,000 at publication time.

Read more: Bitcoin to Hit New All-Time High Around $120K in Q2, Standard Chartered Says

Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesks full AI Policy.
After nearly a week and more than 100 prospects parading before a federal judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers, a jury has still not been officially selected for Sean Diddy Combs sex-trafficking trial.

In what was intended to be a final pre-trial hearing to wrap up any loose ends, Judge Arun Subramanian on Friday pushed solidifying the jury until Monday morning. If convicted, Combs faces life behind bars.

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With their client in the courtroom today, Combs defense team led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos pushed the argument that it is better to leave objections to first thing next week in case any potential jurors get cold feet over the weekend. That, they argued, could seriously hamper the start of the trial. In fact, one potential juror told the court via email today that they wanted off the case.

Opposed by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorneys office for the Southern District of New York, the shift to May 12 could delay the start of the trial by at least an hour or more.

The current panel of 12 plus six alternates has been pretty much in place since May 7. It was presumed to be locked up this morning after prosecutors and defense lawyers voiced last-minute objections and challenges. Subramanian has set opening statements to start around 9:30 a.m. ET Monday in his Manhattan courtroom.

Charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more, the 55-year-old Combs (aka inmate 37452-054) has pleaded not guilty. He has been incarcerated in Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest last September. A defendant not just in this criminal case but in dozens of civil cases alleging assaults and abuse, the onetime mini-mogul has always said he is innocent, and that allinteractions at issue were consensual and the result of a swinger lifestyle.

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Another wrinkle in the process that popped up today is that the feds still cant find or get in contact with one of their key witnesses. Repeating what they said earlier in the week, one of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys informed Subramanian on Friday that Victim-3 has fallen off their radar. Anticipated as recently as two weeks ago to testify about being sexually exploited by Combs, out of state Victim-3 has not responded to any attempts by the feds to get in touch with her in the past few days.

Prosecutors told the judge they should know for sure by EOD if Victim-3 will or will not be participating in the weeks-long trial.

One witness that is assured to testify, despite her quickly settled ($30 million) assault and abuse suit firm November 2023, is Victim-1, aka former Combs girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

The defense on Friday previewed how theyll seek to undermine the credibility of Ventura: by challenging the governments portrayal of Ventura as a victim and an unwilling participant in the filmed orgies  called freak offs by Combs  at the core of the governments prostitution and sex-trafficking case.

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With the 2016 hotel security footage made public by CNN last year clearly in mind, Agnifilo said that the defense will concede to jurors that their client was physically violent with then-girlfriend Ventura, but will argue that the domestic violence flowed both ways. There was mutual violence in their relationship, Agnifilo said, adding, There was hitting on both sides.

Sean Diddy Combs physically assaulting Cassie Ventura in 2016

During a debate over whether to allow testimony about alleged past, unrelated violence by Ventura against other people, not Combs, Agnifilo spoke of Venturas nature for getting into physical altercations and described the prosecutions star witness as a strong, capable individual who does not shy away from confrontations, meaning physical fights.

Agnifilo and fellow defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued, in essence, that testimony about past aggression by Ventura would raise the legitimate question of whether she was too strong and physically violent in her own right to be coerced into participating in Combs orchestrated freak-offs.

Judge Subramanian called that argument a stretch and scoffed at the idea that someone who was committed an act of violence in the past cannot be subjected to coercion. But he said hell make a ruling on the issue on Monday morning. The judge said the only way the defense can get any version of that argument in front of jurors is if prosecution opens the door to it, whether in opening statements or in their direct examination of Ventura, by trying to portray her as a peaceful, non-violent person by nature.

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The judge earlier ruled that prosecutors can show the jury a photograph of Ventura taken in May of 2005, when she was 18, with a close friend who will also be a prosecution witness. Defense lawyer Shapiro argued that the government wants the photo in evidence to sway jurors by showing them an image of an extremely young Ventura and implying that Combs was engaging in sexual conduct with an underage person when he wasnt even involved with her at the time and isnt accused of any criminal wrongdoing against Ventura until 2009.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson replied that Ventura was of consenting age when the photograph was taken, that it helps to establish the friendship with the other testifying witness, and that eight months after the photograph was taken, Combs signed Ventura  by then a 19-year-old  to a recording contract with his Bad Boy record label.

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Finland has proposed to impose duties on all Russian imports to the European Union.

Source: Bloomberg, citing Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen

Details: The duties will operate in parallel with anti-Russian sanctions, Valtonen told reporters during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw.

"If in the future some of the sanctions lose their effectiveness, or whatever happens, we would still have this tariff," Bloomberg quotes her as saying.

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Bloomberg reports that the proposal is a response to a potential new clash with Hungary over the extension of tariffs introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Trade measures such as duties offer a workaround as they require only a qualified majority to be approved.

Background:

Earlier, Valtonen stated that the proceeds generated by frozen Russian assets should be used to arm Ukraine.

She believes the EU and the US could implement this idea jointly. The G7 and the EU have frozen around 300 billion in Russian assets, which are expected to yield approximately 3 billion in annual returns.

"These funds could be used to purchase weapons, supply defence equipment and, in the long term, to rebuild Ukraine," Valtonen said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU would not allow a return to dependence on Russian gas and oil.

"Some are still saying that we should re-open the tap of Russian gas and oil," she said. "This would be a mistake of historic dimensions. And we would never let it happen. Dependency on Russia is not only bad for our security, but also for our economy. Our energy prices cannot be dictated by a hostile neighbour."

A new, 17th package of EU sanctions against Russia will be prepared for the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in May 2025, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has said. All proposals for the sanctions package will be gathered ahead of the meeting.

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At a press conference on 9 May in Oslo, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre stated that they believe that current efforts to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine are moving in the right direction.

Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Stubb and Stre held phone conversations with the presidents of Ukraine and the United States the day before. Later, they also spoke again with Zelenskyy during the JEF summit.

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Quote from Stubb: "I feel carefully optimistic that at this particular moment in time, we're moving in the right direction, both militarily on the ground, as Zelenskyy has pointed out, and also in terms of the ceasefire and the peace process."

Details: He said that he could not specify a timeline for achieving such a ceasefire, but added that "in an ideal world, a Ukraine ceasefire would be declared over the weekend".

The Norwegian prime minister was slightly more reserved in his assessment of the progress.

Quote from Stre: "So compared to some weeks ago, I think there are some positive elements. I think the fact that the US are still engaged, that they reconfirmed their engagement  if you read the wording of President Trump yesterday evening, I think we contributed to that."

Background:

Stre was referring to Trumps statement following his conversation with Zelenskyy on 8 May, in which he said that he would like to see a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

Previously, Trump stated that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin was more inclined towards peace following the recent drop in oil prices.

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MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  One fire department in Wilson County worked with a new tool that will help with investigations.

Honey, a 5.5-year-old labrador retriever, is one of four accelerant-detection K9s used by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in investigations across the state. Honey and her handler Special Agent Jeff Mosley paid a visit to the Fire Department of Mt. Juliet to help assist.

As soon as Honey smells odors of gasoline or other petroleum-based products, she alerts her handler. Shes reward-based, meaning that she gets lots of treats when shes working.

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She can go into a fire scene and, within seconds, find ignitable liquids that are deep below fire debris Mosley said. Whereas we can go in as trained investigators [and] have to dig for that evidence for days to find the same evidence that she can find within seconds.

Chief of training with the Fire Department of Mt. Juliet, Scott Lively, said the department used an abandoned house where they train for various scenarios to work with Honey.

During the training, firefighters learned how to best preserve evidence  and how to best utilize Honey in any future investigations.

Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com.

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CLINTON, Tenn. (WATE)  A former Clinton High School teacher who was fired after an investigation into grade manipulation at the school is now facing criminal charges in connection to that investigation.

On Friday, 6 News obtained arrest warrants that state Clay Daniel Turpin is facing 22 felony counts of destruction or tampering with government records in connection with the grade manipulation investigation. Turpin and another teacher were fired in May 2024 by the Anderson County Schools Board of Education after the investigation.

THP troopers, rangers working to rescue injured hiker in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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The charges against Turpin all stem from the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, according to affidavits of complaint for each charge. The charges appear to be broken apart by individual students in separate classes, however, because student information was redacted from the affidavits, a single student could be referenced in multiple charges.

Each of the charges alleges that Turpin changed at least one grade a student received using his login to the Anderson County School System online system that contained student grades and assignments. Five of the charges involve allegations that a 0 grade was changed to a 100, and at least three involve changes on multiple unit tests. One affidavit alleges that Turpin changed 10 of a students final grade unit test scores from scores ranging between 16 to 36 up to 90 each.

Previously, 6 News reported that during an interview with administrative staff, Turpin said he taught credit recovery but was not trained. Two of the 22 charges stem from grade changes in credit recovery courses.

The first of those involved a student that should not have been placed in the credit recovery course because of their low grades. The affidavit alleges that Turpin changing the students grade allowed for them to pass in both English I and II courses.

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Sex offender charged with child abuse after deputies respond to Knox County home

The second charge involving a credit recovery course involved a student in English II who had four individual scores ranging between 20 and 32. The affidavit alleges that Turpin changed each of the grades to a 90, which allowed the student to pass the course and move on to take English III and IV in the subsequent school years.

Previous Coverage

The second teacher who was fired following the investigation, Rachel Jones, is listed as a witness on each arrest warrant. Among other witnesses listed, there is also someone who worked for IT at Anderson County Schools District.

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Rich Trumka Jr., a commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission until he was fired by President Trump on Thursday, said in a letter that his dismissal is illegal and that he plans to fight the action.

"See you in court, Mr. President," Trumka wrote in a May 9 social media post that included a statement using the CPSC's official letterhead in which he describes his dismissal.

The CPSC is an independent agency that regulates the safety of consumer products, from toys to appliances. It's the group that often handles recalls of items such as kitchen ranges that can set fires and steam cleaners that have burned users.

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In his statement, Trumka said he was given no reason for his firing, but that his dismissal came after he and two other commissioners voted against allowing members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to work at the agency. Trumka, who was appointed to a 7-year term by President Biden in 2021, said he pushed back against DOGE because "if these people are allowed in to govern our agency, they will gut it and the result will turn back the clock on product safety."

He added, "CPSC's livesaving work is far too important to take this lying down."

In addition to Trumka, two other commissioners on the five-person Consumer Product Safety Commission were fired on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. All three were Democrats, the publication said.

Trumka expounded on the firings in an interview Friday with CBS News.

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"On Wednesday, we had a public commission meeting, where we said there's no financial reason, no logical reason, to get rid of anyone at our agency, because their lifesaving work is to important to compromise," Trumka told CBS News. "And just the next day, DOGE was in our building. They asked if we would allow them to implant at our agency. They asked for our answer to that by 6 p.m. We said 'no.' And moments later, we were fired by email from the president."

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, however, in a press briefing Friday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that the CPSC falls under the executive branch, giving the president the right to fire employees there.

Consumer Reports issued a statement condemning the CPSC firings, and said that the commissioners should be reinstated immediately.

"This is an appalling and lawless attack on the independence of our country's product safety watchdog," said William Wallace, director of safety advocacy for Consumer Reports, in an email. "Anyone who cares about keeping their family safe should oppose this move and demand that it be reversed."

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Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and three other Democratic senators  Maria Cantwell of Washington; Ed Markey of Massachusetts; and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut  also objected to the firings in a May 9 letter to Mr. Trump, calling the dismissals "illegal."

"The Consumer Product Safety Commission makes sure toys are safe for our kids and the products Americans use everyday don't have hidden hazards," Klobuchar said in a statement. "It conducts thousands of investigations and issues crucial recalls .... This move is dangerous and illegal."

DOGE firings

DOGE has sought to cut federal workers in the name of reducing fraud, waste and abuse. But many of its firings have had to be reversed, either because the group mistakenly fired essential workers  like bird-flu experts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture  or after a court ruled the dismissals were illegal.

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DOGE's savings have largely been wiped out by costs related to those issues as well as lost productivity, according to a recent analysis by the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan nonprofit that focuses on the federal workforce.

The CPSC firings come after the Trump administration dismissed other officials at independent agencies, including the vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board this week and a member of the National Labor Relations Board in January.

"If my illegal firing is allowed to stand, it will clear the way for the Administration and its lapdogs to cripple the lifesaving functions of this agency to benefit their wealthy donors," Trumka added.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Fire crews battled a large fire overnight in a building near the Las Vegas Strip.

The fire was reported around 11 p.m. Thursday on Highland Drive near Twain Avenue. Numerous Clark County fire units responded to the scene and were able to put out the blaze of a single-story commercial building that was vacant.

Kyara Brown, who was staying in a building nearby, captured video of the flames.

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There was heavy smoke and flames when crews arrived. CCFD said firefighters attacked the blaze through large roll-up doors, but then moved to a defensive operation with crews fighting the flames from the exterior of the building.

No victims were found in the building. The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation. Clark County was assisted by Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, NV Energy, and Southwest Gas.

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May 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Teal Health to provide the nation's first at-home test kit to screen for cervical cancer.

The Teal Wand, which will be available for those age 25 to 65 at average risk, tests for human papillomavirus, or HPV, a virus that causes most cervical cancers.

Teal Health CEO Kara Egan didn't say how much the test would cost. Egan anticipates the test will be covered by insurance.

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They will first be available in California in June and then expand nationwide.

Until now, the only way to screen for cervical cancer was in a doctor's office during a pelvic exam.

"As a mom and a woman, I get how easy it is to put your own health last," Egan said in a news release. "That's why this FDA approval means so much; it's not just about an innovative new product, it's about finally giving women an option that actually makes sense for their lives -- something that can be done quickly and comfortably at home. Because when we make care easier to get, we help women stay healthy, for themselves and for the people who rely on them every day."

Because of the invasive aspect, the company found 1 in 4 women in the United States are behind in testing.

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Dr. Emeline Aviki, a gynecologic-oncologist at New York University Langone Health, who worked on initial studies, told CNBC: "It's not a fun exam and it's the easiest thing to cancel."

She worked on early studies to validate the new test.

In a Teal Health study, 86% of participants thought they would more likely stay up-to-date with cervical cancer screening if they could do it at home. And 94% said they would prefer to self-collect at home if it were accurate.

In the new vaginal swab, a speculum is used and samples of cells are collected from the cervix.

Last year, the FDA approved a similar swab, also performed by patients themselves, that's collected in a doctor's office.

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"What's different about this new indication is that this sample can be collected at home and not in a medical setting," Dr. George Sawaya, a gynecologist at University of California San Francisco Health, told CNBC. You have to logically believe that would increase access if people's main barrier was getting to a medical setting."

Patients can order the test kit after a telehealth appointment with a doctor. The swab is then mailed to a lab for analysis.

The product initially must be prescribed by one of Teal Health's virtual providers.

If there is a positive test, women may need additional tests in a doctor's office.

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The American Cancer Society estimates that 13,360 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year and about 4,320 women will die. "Cervical cancer incidence rates decreased by more than half from the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s because of widespread screening uptake," ACA said.

Cervical cancer mortality rates also dropped by more than half since the mid-1970s.

The study found the test detects cervical precancer 96% of the time.

"As a Principal Investigator in the SELF-CERV trial, I saw firsthand how receptive and excited women were to use the Teal Wand," Dr. Christine Conageski, associate professor, OB-GYN and director of the Complex Dysplasia Clinic at the University of Colorado, said in the company's news release. "Cervical cancer is largely preventable, yet screening rates in the U.S. continue to lag, and the FDA approval of this at-home Teal Wand self-collection device is a critical step forward. It offers an evidence-based way to expand access without compromising accuracy."

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She noted women must do more than be tested.

"But access is only part of the solution," she said. "Comprehensive screening must go hand in hand with structured, reliable follow-up."

Last year, researchers found a new urine test might help doctors more easily screen for cervical cancer. The test looks for proteins generated by a type of cancer-causing human papillomavirus, HPV 16.
Five people face federal charges for allegedly trafficking narcotics in the Waterbury area, including one person with a history of drug dealing, officials said.

Those who have been charged include Zachary Foster, also known as Lee, 58, of Waterbury, Kevin Lucas, 61, of Waterbury, Phillion Harvey, also known as Dawg, 52, of New Haven, Ronald McDowell, 58, of Waterbury and Kenya Brown, 43, of Bristol, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut.

Federal officials said Foster was previously sentenced to 35 months of time already served in prison and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics during a hearing on Nov. 26, 2024.

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An investigation conducted in February by the DEA New Haven District Office Task Force found that he was again allegedly trafficking drugs, officials said. Between February and April, investigators allegedly intercepted hundreds of calls between Foster and his alleged associates coordinating the distribution of cocaine, crack and fentanyl.

Investigators searched an alleged stash location that Foster used at a residence on National Avenue in Waterbury and reported finding about one kilogram of cocaine, according to authorities. A search of another location he maintained on Meriden Road allegedly turned up about 600 dose bags of fentanyl, authorities said.

During the investigation, federal officials allege Harvey, McDowell and Brown were also allegedly found with distribution quantities of fentanyl.

All five individuals were charged following an indictment that was returned on April 16 by a federal grand jury in Bridgeport. They have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, cocaine and fentanyl.

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According to authorities, if Foster were convicted, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment based on his prior history as well as the type of drug and quantity allegedly involved. He could face additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release.

Lucas, Harvey, McDowell and Brown each face a maximum of 20 years in prison, officials said.

Foster, Lucas and McDowell have been detained since they were arrested on federal criminal complaints on April 3. Brown was arrested on April 25 and is free on $100,000 bond, according to authorities. Harvey was arrested on April 29 and is free on $50,000 bond.
Credit: Reuters

For many in Britain watching Donald Trumps trade deal announcement this week, the most striking takeaway was not, perhaps, what Trump said but the sight of a familiar figure standing over his left shoulder.

Flanking the most powerful man in the world along with vice-president JD Vance was Britains own Lord Mandelson, the man who once described himself as the eternal comeback kid.

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Love him or loathe him, its impossible to argue with Lord Mandelsons assessment of his career.

Following resignations from the Cabinet in 1998 and 2001 over controversies involving wealthy friends, he went to Brussels as a trade commissioner before Gordon Brown unexpectedly brought him back into government via a peerage. Even a friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (which he has since said he deeply regrets) and an ill-judged stay aboard an oligarchs yacht, failed to keep him down for long, and he now luxuriates in the title and trappings of His Majestys Ambassador to the United States of America.

Here are the secrets to his success, according to some of those who know him best.

Sharp political instincts

Hes a genius, theres no other word for it, says one Labour veteran who knows Mandelson well.

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He has authority, experience, insight and judgement, he is really clever and his advice is always worth listening to.

Authority and experience can only be gained over a period of time, but even as a young man Mandelson, now 71, had perhaps the sharpest political instincts of anyone of his generation.

He is a brilliant strategist, says his colleague, he can look at an issue, work out where he wants to get to and then work out how he can get there.

All politicians think they can do that but he is at a different level.

Lord Mandelson earned his nickname The Prince of Darkness as Tony Blairs New Labour spin doctor - Paul Faith

Master spinner

Arguably the original spin doctor, the former TV producer was one of the architects of New Labour, working from 1985 as the partys director of communications before becoming an MP in 1992.

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The New Labour rebrand was partly credited to him, as well as convincing the public that ditching the Clause IV commitment to nationalisation was proof that the party was modernising, rather than abandoning its core values.

He had already earned his reputation as the Prince of Darkness when Tony Blair made him Business Secretary in his first Cabinet (before he had to resign over a secret 373,000 house loan from his colleague Geoffrey Robinson).

Ability to read the room

It was another of his qualities that made Blair gamble on bringing him back to the Cabinet just 10 months later, as Northern Ireland Secretary: his ability to read a room and think on his feet.

The reviews of his job (before he had to resign over the Hinduja passport affair) were mixed: the Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson praised him for approaching the peace process fairly and with an even hand, but Sinn Fein said he had been an impediment to progress.

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Even Gordon Brown felt he could not do without him, despite their spectacular falling out over Mandelsons decision to back Blair for the party leadership, and in 2008 he gave him his old job back as Business Secretary and made him First Secretary of State  effectively deputy prime minister.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a man who, when he once asked Brown for 10p to ring a friend from a phone box, was told: Have 20p  then you can ring them both.

Despite falling out spectacularly over his decision to back Tony Blair, Gordon Brown couldnt govern without Mandelson and gave him a peerage - Gareth Fuller

The contrast between Volodymyr Zelenskys disastrous Oval Office bust-up with Trump and Vance in February and Lord Mandelsons quiet but highly successful wooing of the president, demonstrates his ability to identify the way the political wind is blowing and harness, rather than fight it.

On paper Lord Mandelsons politics are far removed from Trump, whom he once described as a danger to the world and little short of a white nationalist and racist. But to win and succeed at the most prestigious job in British diplomacy he had to adapt to the new political climate in DC. And, as ever, he did just that.

Peerless charm

He was, of course, helped by an extraordinary ability to charm those he needs to impress to get his way.

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Its a pretty impressive thing, said his former colleague, and it helps him to get things done.

President George W Bush called him Silvertongue  which inadvertently but rather appropriately made him sound like a Bond villain  and Lord Mandelson has clearly been able to work his charm on Trump, coming across in the Oval Office like a seasoned adviser to the president rather than a political opponent who had been publicly lambasting him six years earlier.

His undeniable natural talents have now been supplemented by 40 years of experience, including his stints as business secretary and European trade commissioner, which means he is taken seriously all around the world, his friend says, with good relationships in so many capitals.

Relentless networking

His international reputation speaks to another of his innate abilities, networking. Lord Mandelson is a born networker, who uses every lunch, every meeting and every drinks reception to bolster his bulging contacts book.

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His ability to forge long-lasting friendships was part of the reason he got his current job, as Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers most senior aide, was instrumental in persuading the Prime Minister to send him to Washington.

Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers most senior aide, was instrumental in persuading the Prime Minister to make Mandelson the Ambassador to the United States - Carl Court/ Getty

Lord Mandelson had identified McSweeney as a rising star and helped him behind the scenes with his Labour Together project to install Sir Keir as leader once Jeremy Corbyn had been dispatched, and McSweeney returned the favour once he got behind a desk in Downing Street.

He had never been a diplomat, but Sir Keir put him in charge of an 800-strong team in Washington where he has been busily working on the trade deal announced this week.

Britain is not the only country hoping he can use his unique skills to pull off an altogether more important coup: persuading Trump to remain the guarantor of security in Europe.

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Were on a SEVERE WEATHER ALERT from the Boston 25 Weather Team due to a flash flood warning.

This alert is in effect for Hampshire and Worcester County areas until 9:15 P.M.

Seek shelter immediately and stay with Boston 25 for the latest weather information.

A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for parts of our area until 5/08 9:15PM. Travel will be dangerous in this spot and should be avoided for safety reasons until flooding subsides. Stay with @Boston25 for the latest. pic.twitter.com/pIjOIe84FH  Shiri Spear (@ShiriSpear) May 8, 2025

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HONESDALE, WAYNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A local community is battered but recovering after experiencing major flooding earlier this week.

Residents we spoke with say its the worst theyve seen in decades, and a Pennsylvania congressman got to see it first hand.

28/22 News captured the worst of the storm damage in front of St. John the Evangelist Church in Honesdale.

FEMAs acting administrator is replaced a day after congressional testimony

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You can see what used to be a concrete walkway, completely collapsed into the ground. While the damage is severe, the local, state, and federal government are working together for a solution.

Four inches of rain in four hours. The flash flood Tuesday afternoon in Honesdale led to property damage, impassable roadways, and people being displaced from their homes.

St. John the Evangelist Church was hit particularly hard.

An aging storm drainage system running alongside the building burst and caved in, causing parts of the churchs walkway and the road running alongside it to give out.

Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R) met with borough officials Thursday afternoon to assess the damage and help work towards a solution.

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We have to look and see what we actually have here. What needs to be fixed, what went wrong, how it went wrong. We have to look forward to make sure that the residents of Honesdale are secure, emphasized Rep. Bresnahan.

Borough officials say work will be done through Friday, filling in the area with gravel and rocks to prevent more damage.

Coincidentally, a pre-planned FEMA study is being conducted Friday to assess the boroughs aging storm water system.

FEMA has come under fire from the Trump administration recently questioning its effectiveness, but Bresnahan, a Republican, believes the agency is still useful in situations like this.

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Ive certainly seen the benefits and the positive outcomes of working with FEMA. We actually have some hearings scheduled over the next few weeks to get a better understanding of the direction of FEMA and which way its heading. But ultimately we need to be in the position to provide for our local communities, explained Rep. Bresnahan.

Leonard Schwartz, Honesdale resident, and owner of the Wayne Inn across from the church says the flooding caused some minor damage to his business. While nothing severe, he says the pipe issue has been known for a long time.

They knew about it for 20 years and didnt do anything, stated Schwartz.

So this has been an issue for a while, asked reporter Avery Nape.

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Yeah its been an issue, but the issue was very minor until this week when we had the massive rainfall, said Schwartz.

Now, the borough says they will be working Thursday into Friday by filling a caved in sidewalk in with gravel and rocks.

With more rain in the forecast, these measures may be crucial to mitigating future damage.

They also say they have plans in place for the future of the stormwater system here in Honesdale.

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MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA)  A flood advisory was issued for a majority of Western North Carolina following a storm and predictions of heavy rain Thursday night.

Related video: Thunderstorms bring hail to parts of western North Carolina

Buncombe, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, and Henderson County are all under a flood advisory until 11 p.m. tonight.

Officials reported minor flooding in low lying and poorly drained areas such as backroads, and asks resident to use caution when driving. Residents are also encouraged to report flooding when or any environmental hazard threatening roads or property.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
A standoff between Gov. Ron DeSantis and fellow Republicans in the Legislature is deepening  with differences over tax breaks now jeopardizing chances of finalizing a state budget in an already extended session.

DeSantis wants some kind of property tax give-back for Floridians.

House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, is touting a cut in the states 6% sales tax.

Both sides have been exchanging heated words and a May 9 blow-up has led lawmakers to scale-back on plans for budget committees to renew work next week at the Capitol.

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Perez said Florida Senate President Ben Albritton "blew up the framework for the budget deal we had," and lawmakers now must extend the 2025 session to June 30 to finish work on the state budget.

For his part, Albritton said it was useless to summon senators back next week to Tallahassee to pursue a doomed sales tax cut. Instead, in a memo to senators, Albritton pledged, "We will continue to work towards a final budget and tax relief package the House, Senate and governor can support."

More: 'Blew up': Florida House speaker slams Senate president for breaking state budget deal

Heres whats fueling the divide. And a little history.

Sales taxes vs. property taxes

DeSantis is trying to catch a wave, making Florida among a dozen Republican-led states considering how to cut or eliminate property taxes.

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No state has actually erased all property taxes, with 63% of voters in North Dakota last year rejecting a ballot measure that wouldve effectively done that.

DeSantis earlier called for sending $1,000 rebate checks to the states homesteaded property owners. But the Legislature ignored the idea.

Instead, lawmakers outlined plans to study the idea while generally backing DeSantis approach of putting a property tax overhaul on the November 2026 ballot.

But its getting tense. Perez barked back at DeSantis after the governor recently ridiculed the idea of cutting Floridas sales tax. Perez said the state actually could cut sales tax now and property taxes later.

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DeSantis has cast the House-Senate idea of reducing Floridas sales tax by 0.25%  "a quarter of a penny," as he recently characterized it  as a concept that will mostly help the tourists and the foreigners.

Roughly 16% of state sales tax dollars came from tourists in 2021-22, according to state economists. But everything else comes from Floridians and businesses, they concluded.

Property taxes power local governments, paying for police, fire, garbage pickup and other services whose futures could be clouded by a deep reduction.

Sales taxes also are considered a regressive tax, "one that creates a larger burden on lower-income taxpayers than on middle- or higher-income taxpayers," as the nonpartisan Tax Foundation has explained. Since property taxes are imposed based on the market value of homes, office buildings and retail space, the tax is less regressive.

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For his part, Perez has been defiant: If the governor wants to veto that, he's welcome to explain to the voters why he thinks they do not deserve actual and meaningful tax relief, he said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis tosses blue sharpies into the audience after signing anti-illegal immigration legislation with Speaker of the House Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton by his side Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Bottom line: Tax cuts key to budget deal

Deciding on the tax cuts may be key to settling the 2025-26 state budget, which is set to go into effect on July 1.

But no tax cut deal maybe means no budget. Lawmakers are set, at least till recently, to end their extended session June 6.

Perez and Albritton, R-Wauchula, announced what they called the framework of a deal May 2. That included $2.8 billion in tax cuts, with the biggest share being the sales tax cut.

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That cleared the way for a budget they promised would come in under the $115.6 billion level proposed by DeSantis for 2025-26.

But with DeSantis ready to veto the sales tax reduction and push for some kind of property tax cut, the stage could've been set for more drama -- including a potential veto override of the governor. But given the bitterness now separating Perez and Albritton, that looks unlikely.

How Session went off the rails... Session derailed by dollar divides, deep distrust, then late-hour deal emerged

House throws in wild card... GOP split deepens over plan to gut Florida tourism funding

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The House and Senate earlier this year overrode DeSantis veto of $57 million in funding for legislative support services. But the Senate refused to join in when the Houses later overrode four spending items from last year totaling about $4.7 million.

The needed three-fifths support for overriding DeSantis on a tax cut veto would be probable in the House. But now its clear the Senate isn't ready to go to all-out war with the Republican governor, which a tax cut override would signal.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli speaks as Senate President Andy Gardiner stands with him at the 2015 AP Florida Legislative Planning Session on Wednesday Jan. 28, 2015.

Will history repeat? Summer sessions are hot

It was 10 years ago, that Florida Republican leaders last battled with even a shade of the ferocity seen now.

At the time, Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, a hospital executive, pushed senators to insist on expanding Medicaid to cover lower-income, working families.

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The House, under Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, refused. He was backed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, co-founder of the Columbia Hospital Corp.

The regular session ended without a state budget. And a three-week special session in June was called that eventually ended with a state spending plan  but no Medicaid expansion.

Still, the three-week special session ended up costing taxpayers $651,435 extra for bringing legislators and staff back to the Capitol to complete their work. It stands as the longest, and costliest, special session of this century.

Lawmakers that year were also back for 12 days in August for another combative special session, this time on congressional and legislative redistricting.

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But now, given the kind of harsh words being thrown about and the high-stakes nature of the clash underway between DeSantis and the Legislature, a rerun of 2015s lost summer appears possible.

Senate President Andy Gardiner stands behind House Speaker Steve Crisafulli while speaking at the 2015 AP Florida Legislative Planning Session on Wednesday Jan. 28, 2015.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida GOP split on taxes, budget as lawmakers return to Capitol
TALLAHASSEE  The tentative budget deal Floridas legislative leaders made last week has blown up, according to a memo from House Speaker Daniel Perez.

Floridas 2025 session is already in overtime, as Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, have been unable to agree on a budget, the only required duty the Legislature must complete.

A government shutdown could occur if the state Legislature fails to pass a budget before the end of the fiscal year, which is June 30. If that were to take place, state-funded services would be impacted.

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Shortly after Perez announced the House and Senate were going back to the drawing board, he said in an interview with the Times/Herald that he is not budging on his goal of cutting government spending.

We are steadfast in our goal, Perez said. We believe that eventually, the Florida Senate will reach the conclusion that it is better to be a fiscal conservative than to continue wasteful spending.

Last week, lawmakers agreed to extend the session until June 6. Now, the House plans next week to extend the session through the end of June, Perez said in his memo.

But the Senate is only planning to extend further if it becomes necessary, according to a spokesperson.

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The latest budget update comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday said he would likely veto the Houses plan for a sales tax cut, saying any Florida last tax package is going to be dead on arrival.

The Republican governor, who has railed in recent months against House leaders, has said a sales tax cut would benefit out-of-state tourists more than it would help Floridians. He has also framed the sales tax cut as conflicting with his idea to cut property taxes, an assertion that Perez said is false.

Perez has championed the sales tax cut, but Albritton has been more hesitant.

Last week, Albritton said as part of our agreement with the House, the Senate would take up a tax relief package that includes $2.8 billion in cuts.

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According to Perez, $1.6 billion of that cut would be to reduce sales taxes. Announcing the outline of a deal last week, Perez said it was better to get it right than to do it fast.

In his memo to lawmakers Friday, Perez expressed disappointment that Albritton would no longer bring the Houses historic tax proposal to the Senate floor.

As Im sure you can appreciate, this blew up the framework for the budget deal we had negotiated, Perez said in the memo.

Perez said Albritton called him on Thursday to tell him he would no longer support what they had agreed upon a week ago. Albritton did not mention the governors threat in the call, Perez said.

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Albritton sent a memo to senators Friday that noted that DeSantis had said an across-the-board sales tax cut would be dead on arrival.

Albritton said senators also have concerns about the cut, and instead favor targeted tax relief that benefits growing families and seniors aging with dignity.

Albrittons memo didnt directly say that he had gone back on the framework he agreed to with House leaders.

But he did say he wanted a tax package that is sustainable for the long term and leaves room in our balanced budget for the voters to consider meaningful property tax relief.

A change to Floridas property taxes would need to be approved by at least 60% of voters in a future election. Lawmakers have the ability to put a proposed amendment on the ballot for people to vote on but didnt pass any proposal to do so this year.

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Perez has launched a special committee to consider property tax proposals for the 2026 election, saying DeSantis office didnt provide any specific plan.

But DeSantis has dismissed that effort, saying, You dont convene a 37-person committee when youre trying to get something done.

Perez said he hasnt spoken with DeSantis about the budget plan recently.

I am willing to be the adult in the room and sit with the governor and explain to him why I believe this is in the best interest of Florida, and he is free to disagree with me, Perez said. If we can do it in person like adults, its something that I would prefer. But unfortunately, the governor only talks in roundtables and Twitter.

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The Republican Party of Florida on Friday said it is offering to host a budget summit with DeSantis, Albritton and Perez.

Bringing everyone to the table will help us focus on our shared prioritiesfiscal responsibility, tax relief, and a balanced budget, Evan Power, Republican Party of Florida chairperson, said in a statement.
Congratulations are in order to Florida lawmakers for not becoming easy marks in President Donald Trumps Bitcoin scheme.

When Trump issued an executive order in March that created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, he called the volatile cryptocurrency digital gold and draped it in a lot of hyperbolic rhetoric that guaranteed short-term gains for existing investors.

The United States Government currently holds a significant amount of BTC, (bitcoin), but has not implemented a policy to maximize BTCs strategic position as a unique store of value in the global financial system, the executive order read.

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Just as it is in our countrys interest to thoughtfully manage national ownership and control of any other resource, our Nation must harness, not limit, the power of digital assets for our prosperity.

Florida had a Bitcoin bill. It failed.

And like magic, Trump-susceptible legislatures around the country began pushing bills that called for state funds to invest in Bitcoin.

That effort in the Florida House of Representatives was led by Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deland, who authored a bill that would allow the state to invest up to 10 percent of the money in the states retirement trust fund, general fund, and other funds in Bitcoin.

Speaking to the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee last month, Barnaby told members to put aside their fears of cryptocurrency and put their faith in Trump.

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It is a new day. This is a new rising. We are embarking on the golden age of the United States of America, Barnaby said.

We are doing something that is consequential, representatives. While we cannot tangibly see, we have to trust  Ive done my research and I can tell you wholeheartedly that I believe in the president of the United States.

(That sound you hear in the back of your head is the faint bleating of a lamb.)

Clearly, the mans not a Trump University graduate.

Letter: Does Trump see Harvard as his next Trump University?

As for research, I would start with noting that Trump disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team while he relentlessly marketed his own $TRUMP memecoin and his sons Don Jr. and Eric got into the Bitcoin mining business.

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Looks like the golden age is off to a grifting start.

Lucky for us, the sales pitch to make Florida the first state to jump on the Trump Bitcoin bandwagon and put the states pension fund at risk gave lawmakers some pause.

The second one of these blockchain technologies gets hacked, the value of that coin goes to zero pretty quick, said Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Hudson. That would be the only fear I have in investing in something like that.

Im a tangible person, Steele continued. A coin I cant touch, feel or see is not tangible. Its vaporware, so to speak.

State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-West Palm Beach, thought that giving the states Chief Financial Officer the ability to invest 10 percent of state funds in a cryptocurrency was too risky.

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Do you think its wise to invest up to 10 percent of our entire portfolio in any one item, whether its Bitcoin or Tesla stock? he asked.

State Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, a wealth manager by trade, said he didnt know why the state should single out just Bitcoin when there are many other forms of cryptocurrency that could be purchased.

He also said that this was an investment option that was still in its infancy. And that should give us pause.

There are new concerns when were adding a new asset class, he told his colleagues. One of them, significantly, is the volatility.

State Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, 65, said she learned from her children and grandchildren that theres a whole new world out there in this digital stuff.

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Opinion: Will Florida follow behind Texas with litter box legislation for public schools?

But she worried about giving Floridas Chief Financial Officer, a job thats now vacant, the power to take real money out of state funds to invest in something so hard to imagine.

My generation dont understand it if its not money, she said.

In the end, Florida lawmakers took a pass on succumbing to Trumps Bitcoin push. And the state wasnt alone.

Trump's Bitcoin push failed elsewhere, too. Good.

Similar legislative efforts in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma failed to adopt Bitcoin reserves in those states too.

And in Arizona, the states Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, vetoed a Bitcoin bill last week that had been passed by the Republican-led legislature there.

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The Arizona State Retirement System is one of the strongest in the nation because it makes sound and informed investments, Hobbs wrote in her veto letter.

Arizonans retirement funds are not the place for the state to try untested investments like virtual currenc.

And neither is Floridas. At least for now.

So, lets salute our state lawmakers for having enough sense this time to resist being conned by their greedy hero.

Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, which is part of the USA Today Network-Florida. He can be reached at FCerabino@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump couldn't get Florida its own Bitcoin reserve. Good | Opinion
The state will pay $40,000 to an aide to top prosecutor Monique Worrell who sued after law enforcement officials stormed her house and her new supervisor fired her while she was on maternity leave.

Keisha Mulfort had served as Worrells chief of staff but was terminated Aug. 10, 2023, the day after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Andrew Bain to replace the suspended Worrell as Orange-Osceola State Attorney. Mulforts suit claimed the moves against her violated her rights under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

The Florida Office of the Attorney General negotiated the April 21 settlement, first reported by WKMG, which published the full document online. According to the settlement agreement, the State Attorneys Office denied any wrongdoing.

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In an emailed statement late Thursday, Mulfort said the settlement doesnt fix what they did to me or my family.

It doesnt undo the trauma or restore what was stolen from me. It does, however, close the door on a chapter built on cruelty and cowardice, she added. It allows me to move forward without carrying the weight of their actions. And it frees me to release people who were never worthy of my trust, my loyalty, or my forgiveness.

Of the $40,000 amount, Mulfort will get $15,107.40 for compensatory damages and $6,474.60 in back pay. The rest will go toward attorney fees.

A spokesperson for Worrell did not respond to a request for comment.

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Mulforts firing came amid the opening scenes of one of the most-watched dramas in Central Florida politics  in which Worrell, a progressive prosecutor in the majority-Democratic 9th Judicial Circuit, was pit against DeSantis, then running for president, as he sought to score points against those he deemed too soft on crime.

DeSantis suspended Worrell Aug. 9, 2023, for what he said was neglect of duty and appointed Bain. The next day, Orange County deputies arrived at the home of Mulfort, months into a maternity leave, demanding she return agency-issued devices, vehicles and access cards as well as relinquish access to the offices social media accounts. At the time, she was in contact with the office through her attorney, who had sought to amicably resolve the matter of turning over access to the online profiles.

I am on FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) and yall are coming here like Im a criminal, Mulfort said at the time as shown on body-worn camera video. Regardless of what has happened at that office  regardless of what you have with Monique Worrell, I am on FMLA and yall should have made arrangements. That would have been a respectful thing to do.

In June she filed a federal lawsuit against Bain  someone she once called a friend who had attended her childs baby shower  claiming he had violated her employment protections under FMLA.

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A spokesperson for Bains office said they rejected the claims, while insisting they took compliance with state and federal employment laws very seriously.

Mulfort managed Worrells reelection campaign last year as she trounced Bain and returned to office.

Mulfort now works for ACLU of Florida, but the agreement does not preclude her from returning to work for her former boss.

I went above and beyond daily in that office  to the point I was working on the day my child was born, Mulfort said in her Thursday statement regarding the settlement. I served with integrity, diligence, and with a deep commitment to this community.

And when I needed even a fraction of that care in return, I was met with this despicable act.
Police in Florida are asking the public for information amid the ongoing search for a missing 15-year-old girl.

On Thursday, May 8, the Marion County Sheriff's Office put out a missing persons poster on Facebook, revealing that Elizabeth Grace Fulmer hadn't been seen since leaving her house earlier that day and was considered a "missing endangered juvenile."

"Elizabeth Fulmer left her home, located at 5560 NE 6th Place, in Ocala, at around 3:00 p.m. [local time] today," police said.

The post continued, "She was last seen on a purple beach cruiser bicycle carrying a pink backpack with white 'NIKE' lettering. Elizabeth did not take her prescribed medication with her."



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The sheriff's office said that Fulmer had "made statements that have caused law enforcement and her family to be concerned about her safety."

Marion County Sheriff's Office A photo of a Marion County Sheriff's Office vehicle A photo of a Marion County Sheriff's Office vehicle

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Fulmer has been described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. The post urged anybody with any information about the teenager's possible whereabouts to call 911.

The Marion County Sheriffs Office didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

Read the original article on People
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Three teenagers are accused of kidnapping a man at gunpoint, driving him to a remote desert area an hour outside of Las Vegas, and stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher, both 16 and from Pasco County, Florida; and a third teenager, face charges including robbery, kidnapping, and extortion, records said. A juvenile court judge previously certified Ashraf and Fletcher as adults.

The third teenager was no longer in the United States, a prosecutor said during Fletchers probable cause hearing Friday. The men are accused of stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), prosecutors said.

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Last November, a man called police saying three young men kidnapped him at gunpoint, drove him to a remote desert area, and stole millions of dollars from him, documents said.

Police suspect the three young men then drove the victim across the Nevada border to White Hills, Arizona  more than 70 miles and an hours drive from Las Vegas. The victim walked five miles alone in the desert to reach a gas station where he called a friend to pick him up, documents said. (KLAS)

That night, the victim was hosting a cryptocurrency-related event at a business in Downtown Las Vegas, police said. The victim then returned to his apartment complex and parked his car. The three suspects then approached him and forced him into the back seat of their vehicle, police said.

[The victim] was told if he complied, he would live to see another day, and if he did not comply, they had his dad and would kill him, documents said. [The victim] had a towel placed over his head and was told by the suspects not to look at them.

The young men demanded the victims passwords and threatened him for access to his financial accounts, police said. It also appeared that another person was directly speaking to the young men through a phone call, which the victim could hear through a speakerphone.

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Police suspect the three young men then drove the victim across the Nevada border to White Hills, Arizona  more than 70 miles and an hours drive from Las Vegas. The victim walked five miles alone in the desert to reach a gas station where he called a friend to pick him up, documents said.

Austin Fletcher, 16, appears in Las Vegas Justice Court on May 9, 2025. (KLAS)

Metro investigators later tracked a possible suspect vehicle traveling from Florida to Nevada, specifically including the locations of the victims apartment. In a separate vehicle stop in Mississippi, a gun involving a suspects family member matched one in one of the teenagers social media profiles, police said.

The three teenagers were also involved in disturbances together at a Florida high school, police said.

In one report from last summer, the young men were reported as swearing in English and Arabic, and [Ashraf] was observed shoulder checking a school resource officer, and screaming at an assistant principal, documents said.

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During Fridays hearing, Fletchers public defender argued for her client to serve house arrest. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer set bail at $4 million.

This surveillance photo shows the victims car leaving during the kidnapping, police say. (KLAS)

During a hearing Tuesday in Ashrafs case, his attorney, Ross Goodman, argued for his client to serve house arrest. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Noreen Demonte ordered Ashrafs release with electronic monitoring, records said.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June. The FBI assisted in the investigation, documents said.

8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.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 KLAS.
Digital asset manager Bitwise is looking to list an exchange-traded fund that tracks NEAR, the native token of the NEAR protocol, according to a Tuesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If approved, the Bitwise NEAR ETF will track the price of NEAR minus the expenses of the funds operations, with Coinbase acting as the custodian. The management fees and ticker werent included in the filing.

The fund provides investors with the opportunity to access the market for NEAR through a traditional brokerage account without the potential barriers to entry or risks involved with acquiring and holding NEAR directly, according to the filing. It wont use derivatives.

Bitwise did not respond to etf.coms request for comment.

What is NEAR?

NEAR is a digital asset and the native token of the NEAR protocol, a decentralized application platform for developers that focuses on user-friendliness. The protocol is a competitor of Ethereum, the blockchain platform with the native token Ether, the second-largest crypto by market capitalization after Bitcoin.

NEARs market capitalization is $2.7 billion as of Wednesday morning, making it the 33rd-largest crypto, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

The Rise of Altcoin ETFs

With Bitcoin and Ether spot ETFs gaining SEC approval last year, asset managers are seeking approval for a slew of other altcoins, including Litecoin, Solana and Cardano.

But in many cases, were not likely to hear back from the SEC on those filings for at least a few months, Bryan Armour, director of ETF and passive strategies research for North America at Morningstar, told etf.com.

With that said, it certainly seems that the SEC has become more crypto-friendly, Armour said. The odds of approval are higher than with the previous administration, and I would say the timeline is shorterif they were to be approvedthan it would have been before the new administration.

As an example of that friendlier stance towards crypto, he referred to the launch of the Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF (XXRP) before the futures market had even opened. Historically, Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs were built around a more mature futures offering on CME.

Gains Never Guaranteed

Armour said investors should remember that just because an ETF may be approved doesnt mean the price of the underlying token will necessarily go up or that the ETF will gain assets.

Theres a pretty significant drop off from Bitcoin to Ethereum, and Ethereum is significantly larger in market size than a lot of the altcoins that are being filed for, Armour said.
As a Texas mother, grandmother and conservative Republican, I believe Texas families deserve the freedom to make their own choices without heavy-handed, government interference. Yet, some politicians in Austin are pushing unnecessary, superfluous regulations that not only erode personal liberty but also burden businesses, raise costs, and put out-of-touch bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be left to individuals.

Whether its excessive food labeling requirements or government overreach regarding food ingredients, these policies reflect a nanny state mentality that has no place in Texas.

The Texas Legislature is attempting to pass three bills that would create new regulations, expand the size of the state government and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Senate Bill 25 would create the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee to develop food labeling requirements; SB 314 would prohibit certain food dyes or additives in school meals; and SB 379 would bar people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from using their benefits, previously known as food stamps, to buy sweetened drinks. All three measures, which have passed the Senate and await votes in the House, enact new and needless public policy which is already regulated by other government entities.

An H-E-B staffer checks the shelves in preparation of the grocery store's opening on South Congress Avenue last December. Texas lawmakers are considering several bills, including one adding food labeling requirements.

Lets be clear: Texans can trust the safety of the products they buy. The ingredients in our food and beverages are safe: No country in the world has banned them. Our food and beverage manufacturers are already held to rigorous standards by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency that ensures consumer safety. The push for warning labels isnt about transparency. Its about fearmongering, and inappropriate and disproportionate control.

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When government bureaucrats dictate what businesses must put on their labels, they are not informing consumers they are misleading them. Texans dont need anyone telling them what to eat and drink.

Do we really want to follow Californias lead, where nearly every product comes with a meaningless warning label in hopes of striking fear in consumers? Or worse, the European Unions overregulation, where the government micromanagement puts a chokehold on business growth and restricts consumer choice?

An example of a meal is shown at the 'Make Texas Healthy Again' press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. The meal was a lunch served at a Eanes ISD school. Lawmakers spoke about the upcoming set of bills aimed at revamping Texans' diets. As part of the initiative, there will be some restrictions on ultra-processed foods and food additives.

These burdensome regulations dont just create confusion. They increase costs for everyone. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, would bear the brunt of these mandates, struggling to comply with state-specific rules that make Texas a less attractive place to do business. Big corporations might afford to absorb these costs, but local entrepreneurs wont. If we want to keep our economy strong, we must reject these unnecessary rules and fight to keep Texas a business-friendly state.

Lets not expand the size of government under the false pretense of fixing a fictional problem that doesnt exist. Instead of restricting consumer choices, we should focus on individual responsibility, education and market-driven solutions.

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Texans dont need politicians or bureaucrats dictating whats best for them. Our state thrives on freedom, innovation, and individual liberty  not top-down mandates and government control. If lawmakers truly care about public health, they should invest in education and consumer awareness, not punitive regulations that hurt businesses, limit your choices and raise costs for hardworking families.

Conservatives win when they stand for free markets, individual liberty and limited government  not when they imitate the Democrats' obsession with regulation and control. Texans dont need government micromanaging their lives. They need the freedom to make their own decisions. Thats what Texas stands for. Thats what America stands for. And thats what we should fight to protect.

Jennifer Bannister served as a senior staff member for the Republican Party of Texas from 2007-09 and for former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm from 1986-96. She worked for Rick Perry from 1997-2000, during his tenure as agriculture commissioner and lieutenant governor.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Food restriction bills bring nanny state mentality to Texas | Opinion
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A former Albuquerque Public Schools janitor who shared child pornography and boasted to an undercover agent about abusing infants is headed to federal prison. Thomas Abeyta was arrested after someone he was chatting with on an incest-related website turned out to be an FBI agent.



He was later charged with possession and distribution of child sex abuse material after investigators learned he shared thousands of files online depicting abuse. This week, Abeyta was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges Wednesday against the former Cambria County Bar Association Executive Director Robin Hagins for allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from the organization between 2018 and 2023.

"As executive director of the Cambria County Bar Association, the defendant was entrusted with carrying out its important mission through educational and philanthropic endeavors that benefit the community," Sunday said in a release. "The defendant's alleged actions betrayed the trust of the bar association while enabling herself to live a lavish lifestyle with someone else's funds."

Hagins, 56, of Johnstown, was scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in front of District Magistrate Susan M. Gindlesperger, court records show, and faces felony counts of theft by unlawful taking; theft by deception; receiving stolen property; misappropriation of funds; forgery; criminal use of communication facility; and deceptive or fraudulent business practices.

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Unsecured bail was set at $150,000.

Charges were filed following an attorney general investigation involving the 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury.

Sunday alleges Hagins used the funds for travel, cosmetic procedures and a timeshare property.

She also reportedly diverted bar association funding without approval to her family's nonprofit Cuddles for Kids, for which she served as executive director.

Investigators determined Hagins had no other way of covering such expenditures.

Lauren Presser, Cambria County Bar Association president, said the organization noticed financial discrepancies in June 2023 and contacted law enforcement for assistance.

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"We made a report immediately to the authorities and the association has been cooperating fully in the matter," she said. "When this was initially discovered, the board of managers also took appropriate personnel action against Ms. Hagins."

Because this is an ongoing criminal matter, Presser deferred additional comment to the office of the attorney general, but noted the association's appreciation for the hard work of Sunday and his staff.

According to the attorney general's office, the association received an overdraft notice from a bank and that prompted a financial review.

That evaluation showed "suspected overpayments of compensations to Hagins, as well as multiple overdrafts, incidents of insufficient funds and a monthly (unapproved) auto-debit of $200 toward repayment of a Small Business Association loan."

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The investigation revealed Hagins allegedly stole a total of $314,759 from the Cambria bar association between 2018 and 2023, authorities said.

The Cambria County District Attorney's office referred the case to the attorney general's office for investigation.

Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry will prosecute the case.

Court records show Hagins has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. May 28 in front of Gindlesperger.
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  Former Decatur police officer Mac Bailey Marquette is asking the state appeals court to overturn a Morgan County judges ruling and find that he acted in self-defense in the on-duty shooting death of Stephen Perkins in September 2023.

Marquette has been charged with murder in Perkins death. He also requested Thursday that his murder trial, set for June 9, be delayed pending his appeal. That stay request was granted in Morgan County on Friday and a new trial date was set for Sept. 15.

In early April Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott found Marquette did not act in self-defense when he shot Stephen Perkins outside Perkins home in September 2023, during a botched truck repossession.

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The new appeal argues Elliott abused his discretion in denying Marquette immunity. Marquettes lawyers also argue that the ALEA investigator in the shooting case found Perkins was the aggressor and that Marquette was justified in using deadly force.

Marquettes lawyers are asking for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to hear oral arguments as part of their appeal. If the appeals court finds Marquette did act in self-defense, the murder case against him would be over.

Marquette and his lawyers argue that Perkins was threatening a tow truck driver with a gun during the repossession and then he pointed his gun at Marquette.

The new appeals court filing argues that Marquette was justified in using deadly force because Perkins pointed his gun at him and Marquette feared for his life. The appeal also argues that while Judge Elliott found Marquette was essentially trespassing on Perkins property the night of the repossession, that does not change Marquettes legal right to use force if he is facing a deadly threat.

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Pointing a firearm at a person might be the quintessential example of when a person (let alone a police officer) might fear that deadly physical force is about to be used against him. Perkins unlawfully pointed a firearm at an unarmed civilian and a uniformed police officer, the filing argues. No other competing or contrary facts exist in the record. It would have been patently absurd or clearly erroneous for the circuit court to conclude that Perkins pointing a gun at Combs and then Marquette would not give rise to a reasonable fear that Perkins was about to use unlawful deadly physical force.

Marquettes immunity hearing in Morgan County took place on Tuesday, March 25 and closing arguments were on Wednesday, March 26.

On April 2, Elliott said Marquette failed to prove that he acted in self-defense following an immunity hearing that lasted over a day. When Judge Elliott issued his decision, he pushed Marquettes trial back from April to June 9 to allow him time to appeal the decision.

The issue of immunity in this case is now with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

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BALTIMORE, Md. (DC News Now)  A former Frederick County resident was sentenced on child exploitation charges Thursday, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland.

William Joseph Murrow, 43, received 25 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release. The USAO adds that Murrow must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Dozens expected to rally at El Salvadorian embassy for return of Maryland man wrongfully deported

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According to court documents, Murrow sexually abused and exploited a minor girl by asking for sexually explicit images and taking part in sexual acts with her over the course of a year and a half.

Court documents say the abuse ended once the girls mother discovered what was happening and reported him to police.

The USAO states that Murrows arrest was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative.

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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.
A former Gwinnett County teacher is out of a job because police say he inappropriately touched elementary school students in class.

Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson was at Trip Elementary School, where Brandon Hill, 29, taught.

Police said he told one victim it was quiet time during the incidents. Hill has since been arrested and charged, though he is now out on bond.

Officers told Channel 2 Action News that multiple victims told very similar stories about him.

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Hill, who lives in Athens, is accused of crimes against at least two students across 20 days in March.

According to an arrest warrant, he sat beside one girl and rubbed her hair, head, back and shoulders six different days.

Police said Hill told her to not use her voice and that it was quiet time while he was touching her.

Tina Brown, a Gwinnett County parent, told Johnson it was hard to hear.

A teacher touching a child? That hurts me dearly, Brown said.

Speaking with parents about the allegations, Johnson heard from multiple parents who said they were alarmed.

If you want to touch on children, you should go to jail, go sit there and understand the meaning, Brown said.

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In another case, police said Hill stroked a girls hair and rubbed her back and shoulder.

A statement from Gwinnett County Public Schools shared with Channel 2 Action News said, The safety and well-being of our students and staff is - and will always be - the districts top priority. As soon as we became aware of the allegations, we acted swiftly and followed all state and district-mandated protocols The teacher was promptly removed from the classroom and did not return to the school.

Hill faces a misdemeanor simple battery charge and a first-degree felony child cruelty charge.

Parents told Channel 2 Action News they were worried about the emotional toll for the victims.

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Jail records show Hill posted a $6,000 bond and was released while awaiting his court date.

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Paul Dyal, a former Jacksonville pastor accused of sexual battery on a child, has pleaded guilty to a count of child abuse.

The State Attorneys Office said Dyal, 81, entered the guilty plea late Thursday morning and was sentenced to five years of probation.

Action News Jax first told you in March 2022 when Dyal and two other men were arrested in connection with what police called decades of physical and sexual abuse at the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ Church.

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Elisabeth DAugerot was a member of the church and said she witnessed the abuse.

It was absolutely insane, said DAugerot. I had never seen anything like it in my life. What they would do to children. They would humiliate them in front of the whole school especially during opening chapel.

Other conditions of Dyals sentence include a year in jail, which he has already has served, no contact with the victim or her family, and no unsupervised contact with minors, the SAO said.

The case was resolved in this manner because the victim did not want to take part in further court proceedings, the SAO said.

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The victim asked the SAO to resolve this case in a manner that would no longer require her participation. In accordance with her wishes, the SAO has reached a negotiated disposition, according to an SAO memorandum.

READ THE MEMORANDUM BELOW:

22CF013202 Dyal, Paul Memo-Dispo by ActionNewsJax on Scribd

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In the end, I overcame. I have people who love me, a husband who protects me, family and friends who support my heart in ways I never imagined. Ive healed so much, and every day I get stronger because of moments like now, the victim wrote in her impact statement.

READ THE FULL IMPACT STATEMENT BELOW:

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After seeing what other children went through, DAugerot said she understands why the victim asked prosecutors to resolve this case. But she believes Dyal should have received a harsher punishment.

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People like that, they should have the death penalty, I think, because they have absolutely ruined someones life, said DAugerot.

The two other suspects in the abuse at the church were tried separately from Dyal.

The case of Jerome Teschendorf, 71, is still moving through the court system and has a hearing on a motion scheduled for May 19.

Vernon Williamson, 88, was sentenced to life in prison in April 2024.

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MADISONVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A former Madisonville police officer is facing charges, including theft and misconduct, in connection to an investigation over the misuse of the city-issued fuel card that was intended to be for his patrol car.

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasurys office announced on Friday that former Madisonville Police Department officer Bobby Woods was indicted by the Monroe County Grand Jury on one count each of theft over $2,500, fraudulent use of a debit or credit card and official misconduct in May 2025.

THP troopers, rangers working to rescue injured hiker in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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The investigation into Woods began after concerns were raised about his use of a city-issued fuel card, that was intended for his patrol car, between February 2022 and December 2023.

The comptrollers office said investigators determined Woods used the card on 84 different occasions to purchase fuel for personal use, misappropriating at least $3,072.71. Reportedly, Woods admitted to investigators that he used the city-issued card for personal purchases, and investigators identified at least $2,270.43 in questionable purchases, including fuel amounts that were not supported by odometer readings consistent with expected vehicle usage.

Sex offender charged with child abuse after deputies respond to Knox County home

Woods resigned from the Madisonville Police Department on December 4, 2023.

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Cities must adopt clear policies and document internal controls to prevent fraud and misuse of public resources, said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. A simple written policy could have helped deter this misuse and ensured better accountability.

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BMW anticipates a reduction in US car tariffs starting July, based on discussions with US officials, offering an optimistic view amid the trade war.

The German luxury carmaker has reaffirmed its 2025 forecast, despite warnings of a "notable" impact on second-quarter earnings from tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Engaged in multi-level discussions with US policymakers, BMW has found its arguments for tariff relaxation are being considered, reported Reuters.

BMW Group finance chief Walter Mertl was quoted by the news agency as saying: "We are noticing that things are moving, developing and being negotiated everywhere. Accordingly, our reading, based on all the networks that we have at our disposal, is that we assume that something will change in July."

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse highlighted the economic contribution of the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, which supports approximately 43,000 jobs and contributes over $26bn annually.

"We can already see that this will not be ignored, our large footprint," Zipse commented, without providing further details.

In contrast to competitors like Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Stellantis, which have withdrawn their 2025 forecasts due to US trade policy uncertainty, BMW stands by its March projections.

The company anticipates earnings before tax for 2025 to match 2024 levels, with an automotive business operating margin between 5-7%.

BMW expects some tariff increases to be temporary, with reductions foreseen from July 2025.

BMW shares saw a 1.3% rise after the firm reported first-quarter earnings before interest and tax of 2.02bn ($2.3bn) at its auto unit, surpassing the LSEG poll's average forecast of 1.85bn.

The automotive unit's operating margin reached 6.9%, down from the previous year's 8.8% but still above the 6.3% poll prediction, supported by strong orders and cost discipline.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould was quoted the news agency as saying: "In an environment where its peers have been withdrawing guidance left, right and centre, BMW's decision to stick with guidance was well-received by the market.

"Part of this is predicated on some tariffs going into reverse from July onwards  so investors will be able to judge from the summer whether or not the current forecasts remain credible."

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"BMW anticipates US car tariffs reduction from July" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.
Two men are both being charged with one count of sexual exploitation of minors, the U.S. Attorneys office announced.

Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national residing in Baltimore, are both being charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy).

According to charging documents, at the time of the incident, DeWitte was a music teacher at a school in Massachusetts, while Tisoy was a citizen of the Philippines who had lawfully entered the country in September 2024 on an H1-B Visa. Tisoy was working as a medical technologist at the Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

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The charging documents detail that back in December 2024, DeWitte was the owner of a Snapchat account that was uploading files of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of a boy between the ages of 8-10.

Records that were obtained from Snapchat showed that back in September 2024, DeWitte engaged in multiple sexual conversations with minors. In those conversations, DeWitte would allegedly ask for nude pictures and then send pictures of his penis. DeWitte would then discuss previous and potential in-person meetups to engage in sexual relations with minors.

DeWitte also allegedly paid and offered to pay another Snapchat user to make child porn and recruit minor boys for himself.

Police used the information to obtain a search warrant for DeWittes Cambridge home in January, where they arrested DeWitte and charged him with six counts of disseminating obscene material to a child, one count of distribution of material depicting a child in a sexual act, and one count of possession of child pornography. He was later released on conditions.

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A forensic examination of DeWites cell phone revealed a conversation he had on the app Telegram with another user, where he allegedly shared videos, stating I was in the Philippines. Most of my vids are from there and thats where I was with a 10 yo and 12. 16 yo in Japan and Korea; and I have a contact thereHe only records vids of the boys or arranges for my visit.

Older conversations between Tisoy and DeWitte were found on the cell phone, in which the two discussed four minor boys by name, and arranged for the production of videos depicting the sexual exploitation of at least two minor boys in the Philippines.

In the same conversation, DeWitte and Tisoy both negotiated the details of the videos of the minors, including:

Which minors should be involved

Which sex acts should the minors perform

Who should film, including whether a third party or one of the minors themselves should film

What angles should be filmed

How much should DeWitte pay Tisoy for each video

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The negotiation also included the sexual preferences of both men, determining what the two would find most sexually gratifying. Tisoy then relayed instructions to the minors on what to produce.

Between the dates of July 3, 2023, and Dec. 27, 2024, DeWitte made a total of 87 PayPal payments to Tisoy, ranging anywhere from $27 to $958. The total sum of all payments was $23,752.

Tisoy was arrested on May 7 in Baltimore, and DeWitte was arrested today.

DeWitte is expected to be detained following his appearance in Boston Federal Court while he awaits a scheduled hearing on May 12, while Tisoy is also expected to be detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 14.

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MESHOPPEN, Pa. (WETM)  A Pennsylvania inmate was sentenced recently to more time in a Pennsylvania State Prison after failing to update his address required by law, according to the Bradford County District Attorneys Office.

Matthew C. Salsman, 36, formerly of Meshoppen, PA, and currently an inmate in the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 months to a maximum of eight years for failure to comply with registration requirements, a felony in the second degree.

ICE detain alleged undocumented immigrant after assault sentencing in Bradford County

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Salsmans sentencing stems from an arrest by state police in May 2023 after he failed to comply with Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements, Pennsylvanias form of Megans Law.

Salsman was deemed a sex offender after his prior convictions for assault with intent to rape in Santa Barbara County, California, along with a similar charge of failing to register in Wyoming County, PA, in 2016, according to the DAs office.

By law, people with sexual convictions of this nature are required to register their current addresses along with other personal information so that authorities can keep track of them, the DAs office said.

This sentence will serve to keep Salsman in prison for a significant amount of time, the DAs office said.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A former IRS employee from Grandview, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for preparing fraudulent tax returns, which allowed her to illegally claim more than $200,000 in refunds from her clients.

According to U.S. Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray of the Western District of Missouri, 64-year-old Sandra D. Mondaine, a previous contact representative for the IRS before she retired, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Mondaine to pay restitution of $1,113,215.90 to the IRS.

Missouris oldest resident, Mary Chesney, dies at 112 years old

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In November, Mondaine pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the preparation and filing of false tax returns.

The court announced that Mondaine admitted to preparing federal income tax returns for clients that carried false and fraudulent claims. She was charged with assisting at least 11 people to file a minimum of 39 fraudulent income tax returns from 2019 to 2021.

The loss equated to about $237,329, however, the court said the parties did not agree on the total tax loss.

Because Mondaine included false information on her clients tax returns, she was able to get them substantial refunds they were not entitled to. As she filed the fraudulent claims, Mondaine also charged her clients with a fixed dollar fee or a fee representing a certain percentage taken out of the tax refund.

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Fagan was elected as the Secretary of State in 2020, but she resigned from the position in May 2023. (Courtesy of the Secretary of State's office)

Former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan must pay $3,600 in fines to the state over her decision to accept a lucrative side gig consulting for a marijuana company involved in an audit her office conducted.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission in a meeting on Friday found Fagan used her position as the states second-highest elected official and chief auditor in 2023 to obtain a $10,000-per-month consulting side gig for marijuana entrepreneurs, and that she requested excessive state reimbursements for work trips to use an SUV and larger hotel room to accommodate herself, her kids and dog  who she called the Secreterrier of State.

The commission unanimously rejected a $1,600 proposed fine and instead approved a $3,600 fine for Fagan. Fagan will also receive an education letter, or a letter from the commission explaining the law and how to comply with it in the future.

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Fagan, alongside her lawyer, attended the meeting. She said she has spent the last two years in bittersweet reflection about her time in Oregon politics.

Now Im sitting here and I know that my actions were indefensible, embarrassing mistakes, bad judgment and Im sorry, she told the commission. Whatever fine you decide to impose on me today, I will accept it.

Fagan in violation for two out of three cases against her

Fagan was elected as the Secretary of State in 2020, but she resigned from the position in May 2023, after Willamette Week reported that she had taken a consulting job with the owners of a prominent but troubled cannabis company, La Mota. Fagans moonlighting for La Motas owners came as the Audits Division of her office was completing an audit of Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, which regulates marijuana companies. Current Secretary of State Tobias Read withdrew that audit in March, saying it didnt meet proper auditing standards.

Fagan previously blamed her $77,000-per-year salary  which is among the lowest in the nation for secretaries of state  for why she needed to find outside employment. Oregons elected officials in the executive branch have some of the lowest pay rates in the nation, and increasing salaries requires legislative approval. Voters last November rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed a commission to set salaries for elected officials without legislative approval.

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The ethics commission investigated three cases related to Fagans conduct. First, it investigated whether she failed to properly disclose a conflict of interest for her consulting job. The commission found no violation or evidence of such a conflict. Second, it looked into whether she used her position to secure a private consulting contract, which the commission found she did. Lastly, the commission reviewed her use of travel reimbursements and determined that she was in violation.

Fagan received an additional $1,089 in reimbursements than what she would have received if she had traveled alone rather than with her family and dog, said commission executive director Susan Myers.

Commission Chair David Fiskum thanked Fagan for appearing in person at the meeting and for her apology.

We genuinely do appreciate your intent, you being here today and to be compliant with our agenda and our process, he said.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Four women who worked under disgraced public administrator Robert Telles, who are suing the county claiming a hostile work environment, are calling a $100,000 settlement offer disrespectful.

Clark County commissioners approved the possible settlement with the women Tuesday, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, offering the combined sum to be split among the group.

Telles, 48, the former Clark County public administrator, killed Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, 69, in 2022 after German wrote unflattering stories about Telles and the office he ran. The Clark County Public Administrators Office administers the estates of the deceased while a search is conducted to find a family member or executor.

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A jury found Telles guilty last summer. The panel, along with a judge, sentenced him to a minimum of 28 years in prison. Evidence at trial included the fact that police found Telles DNA under Germans fingernails.

Four of Telles former employees later filed a federal complaint, claiming Telles created a hostile work environment before his arrest and later removal from his elected position. They learned of the settlement offer from the 8 News Now Investigators reporting, a statement said, calling it a disrespectful settlement proposal.

The public nature of this apparent settlement offer feels very much like a tactic to undermine and invalidate the discrimination, harassment and bullying we endured while working under Robert Telles, the women said Friday. This offer is a reflection of the countys culture of deflection and inaction.

The four women said Telles discriminated, harassed, and retaliated against them after they reported his behavior to the county, the lawsuit said. When Telles became aware of formal complaints about him, he allegedly retaliated against the employees involved.

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The county failed to protect us when we reported these problems to them, resulting in a hostile work environment and life-altering trauma, and what happened is again being minimized.

The approval came on the commissions consent agenda Tuesday and there was no discussion or debate. The statement to 8 News Now on Friday did not say if the women were rejecting the offer, nor did it talk more about the pending case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A federal jury in Columbia convicted former Rock Hill Police officer Daniel Paul Shealy Thursday on 18 counts of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Attorneys Office for South Carolina reported.

According to evidence presented during trial, in 2023 investigators with the York County Sheriffs Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that three videos depicting the sexual abuse of children were flagged on the social messaging app Kik, under the username orgasmd0nor. Investigators with the sheriffs office and FBI traced the account and IP address to 36-year-old Shealy, a detective and former school resource officer at South Pointe High School.

Court documents further revealed that Shealy was a member of more than 40 private groups on Kik allegedly designed for users to trade child sexual abuse material, including groups with references to minors, teens, and incest in the titles.

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PREVIOUS: Jury selection begins in federal child pornography case against former Rock Hill detective

Investigators testified during trial that after receiving the tip, they executed a search warrant on Shealys phone and his Kik account. Shealys phone was in his patrol car and accessible through his thumbprint and a passcode, which was his badge number.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says agents recovered 126 explicit videos of children from Shealys phone and Kik account, which he had received or distributed to others on the internet. He was arrested by York County deputies Sept. 28, 2023, and was held without bond.

The jury returned a guilty verdict following three days of testimony and an hour and a half of deliberation.

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Court documents say Shealy admitted at trial that he operated the account being investigated and accessed the unlawful material on the platform. He also admitted that he never reported the any of the videos to Kik or to law enforcement because he either did not know how to report or was concerned about his privacy related to his intimate life. Shealy was taken into custody at the conclusion of the trial.

The facts alone in this case were disturbing but became even more appalling because the defendant was a police officer, an individual given immense public trust, said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. We remain committed to holding those who betray public trust accountable and protecting our most vulnerable citizens, our children. Were grateful to the FBI, York County Sheriffs Office for their work on this case and our trial attorneys that worked diligently to bring this man to justice.

Sushi distributor creating 146 jobs with move to Rock Hill

Shealy faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, lifetime supervision to follow the term of imprisonment, and sex offender registry requirements.

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U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. presided over the trial and will sentence Shealy at a later date,

Shealy was fired by Rock Hill Police the day of the arrest. He had been a member of the department since 2011.

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Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the shy and frugal small-town New Englander who was touted as a conservative but surprised his Republican backers and nearly everyone else by becoming a staunch liberal on the high court, has died, the court said in a statement Friday. He was 85.

Souter stepped down in 2009 after nearly two decades on the court where he cast key votes to uphold laws on campaign finance, environmental protection, civil rights and church-state separation. He also played a crucial role in upholding a womans right to choose abortion in 1992.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts said in a statement that "Justice Souter served our court with great distinction for nearly 20 years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service."

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Souter often said he liked the court work, but he did not like living in Washington and looked forward to returning home.

"After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the court of appeals for the First Circuit," Roberts said.

Justice David H. Souter signs documents of office at the Supreme Court after being sworn in as the newest member of the high court in Washington on Oct. 9, 1990. (Ken Heinen / Associated Press)

As an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, Souter was expected to join with then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and other conservatives who were determined to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that expanded abortion rights.

Read more: Little-Known Judge Named to Replace Brennan on Court : Judiciary: David Souter served as New Hampshire justice and attorney general. He has no clear record on abortion.

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But when a Pennsylvania test case came before the court in 1992, Souter instead joined moderate Justices Sandra Day OConnor and Anthony M. Kennedy to affirm the right to abortion. Souter saw the issue as a matter of precedent.

Repealing the constitutional right to abortion would be a surrender to political pressure, he wrote. To overrule under fire in the absence of the most compelling reason to re-examine a watershed decision would subvert the Courts legitimacy beyond any serious question.

That decision stood for 30 years, but in 2022, three new justices appointed by President Trump played key roles in overturning the constitutional right to abortion and leaving it to the states to decide.

Souter had also cast key votes to maintain church-state separation. In 1992, he joined a 5-4 decision that upheld the strict ban on school-sponsored prayers at graduations. The five justices who voted to uphold the abortion right and the ban on school prayers were all Republican appointees.

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But they no longer reflected the views of a more socially conservative GOP, and Souter was denounced by some in the party as a turn-coat. By the late 1990s, No more Souters had become a rallying cry for conservative legal activists.

Justice Souter was a judicial version of a disappearing phenomenon: the moderate New England Republican, said Pamela Karlan, a professor at Stanford Law School. He was not a true liberal and would not have been a liberal on the court of the 1960s and 70s. But he believed in privacy and civil rights and precedents, and that made him a liberal on the court of his day.

The home of David H. Souter, where he lived since he was 11 years old, on a dirt road in Weare, N.H., in July 24, 1990. (Jim Cole / Associated Press)

He was unusual in other ways. Shortly after he arrived as a new justice in 1990, he was dubbed one of the citys most eligible bachelors in the Washington Post, leading to a series of dinner invitations. He usually found himself seated between a single woman and a guest who spoke only Japanese, he later joked.

Souter became adept at turning down invitations. He would dine with Justice John Paul Stevens and his wife, or with OConnor, but mostly he worked and ate alone. He spent evenings jogging along the waterfront near his small apartment.

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Whenever the court took an extended break, Souter drove to the farmhouse where he grew up in tiny Weare, N.H., so he could hike.

He was in good health and not yet 70 when President Obama moved into the White House in early 2009. Soon after, Souter passed word that he intended to retire. Obama chose Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina on the high court, to replace him.

Souter was dubbed a stealth nominee when he arrived in Washington in 1990, and he remained a mystery when he left. He did no interviews and made no public statements.

Back in New Hampshire, he continued to serve part time as a retired judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, deciding low-profile cases out of the public spotlight.

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Souter was not the first justice to surprise the president who appointed him, but he may be among the last. Since Souters time  and indeed, partly in reaction to him  presidents have carefully selected court nominees with public records showing they shared similar views on legal issues.

Justices of the Supreme Court, from right: John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and David H. Souter, walk down the steps of the Supreme Court as they wait for the casket carrying Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to be brought out of the Great Hall on Sept. 7, 2005, in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

Souter had deep ties to the Republican Party. He carried a gold watch that was a prized possession of a great-great-grandfather who attended the Republican party convention of 1860 that nominated Abraham Lincoln as president.

The GOP supported environmental conservation and the separation of church and state when Souter was growing up. But it grew increasingly more conservative over the decades, and Souter didnt always agree.

In July 1990, he was a 50-year-old bachelor who lived alone in a farm house with peeling paint and books on the floor. He had just been named to the U.S. court of appeals in Boston. Until then, he had spent his entire career as a prosecutor, state attorney and judge in New Hampshire.

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His scholarly manner and devotion to the law had won him influential admirers, including then-Sen. Warren Rudman and former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, who was then-White House chief of staff to the first President Bush.

When the Supreme Courts liberal leader, William J. Brennan, suffered a stroke and announced his retirement, Souters name made the presidents short list of possible nominees.

Bush was anxious to avoid a fight with Senate Democrats over abortion and civil rights. Republicans still smarted from the Senates defeat in 1987 of Judge Robert Bork, whose strongly conservative writings convinced critics he was too extreme to be confirmed.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, left, and former Justice David H. Souter, second from left, leave the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after attending Justice Antonin Scalia's funeral Feb. 20, 2016. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

Souter seemed an ideal nominee. He was conservative, or at least old-fashioned. He wrote with a fountain pen, not a computer. And he ignored television. He only learned Brennan was stepping down when a postal clerk in his town shared the news.

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Two days later, Souter stood in the White House press room as Bush announced his nomination. Souter was said to have no paper trail, but Sununu privately assured activists that he would be a home run for conservatives.

Liberal Democrats, led by Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, were Souters sharpest critics that summer, while the arch-conservative Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina led the fight to confirm him. In less than two years, it became clear that both sides had miscalculated.

Read more: Opinion: David Souter retires; Barack Obama gets early Supreme Court pick

By the mid-1990s, Souter had allied himself with Stevens, another moderate Republican who also seemed to move left, and with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, the two appointees of President Clinton. They formed a liberal bloc in cases where the court split along ideological lines.

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David Hackett Souter was born in Melrose, Mass., on Sept. 17, 1939, the only child of Joseph and Helen Souter. His father was a banker and his mother a gift shop clerk. When he was 11, the family moved to the New Hampshire farm house in Weare that remained Souters primary home until after his retirement.

As a Harvard undergraduate, Souter dated a young woman and spoke of marrying her. But when he won a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and went to England to study at Oxford University, she found someone else.

Souter told friends he was disappointed he never married. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1966, he eschewed the big-city law firms and returned to the small-town life and rugged mountains of the New Hampshire he loved.

Friends and former clerks say Souter was never a true conservative as his early backers said, nor was he a solid liberal as he was portrayed years later.

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Souter was a judges judge, said Penn Law professor Kermit Roosevelt, who clerked for him in 1999. He didnt have a political agenda. People had a mistaken idea of what they were getting when he was appointed.

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May 9 (UPI) -- Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died, the court announced Friday. He was 85 years old.

Souter, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and retired in 2009 after serving nearly 20 years on the court, died at his home in New Hampshire on Thursday, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

"Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly 20 years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service," Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr. said in a statement. "After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade. He will be greatly missed."

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Souter was a Harvard graduate and Rhodes Scholar at Magdalen College with a jurisprudence degree from Oxford.

Souter served as attorney general of New Hampshire and became an associate justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire in 1978.

Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter died Thursday at the age of 85. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and retired in 2009 after serving nearly 20 years on the court. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, walks with retired Justice David Souter, center, as they leave the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception following the funeral service for Justice Antonin Scalia, in Washington DC, February 20, 2016. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI

Souter was a moderate who voted in favor of reaffirming Roe v. Wade abortion rights in 1992.

He also opposed the 5-4 decision to end Florida ballot counting that gave George W. Bush the presidency in the 2000 election.

Supreme Court Justices, from the left, David H. Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen G. Breyer attend the swearing in ceremony of Judge Samuel Alito to Justice of the Supreme Court, at the White House, in Washington on February 1, 2006. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)

"There is no justification for denying the State the opportunity to try to count all disputed ballots now. I respectfully dissent," he wrote at the time.

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He also wrote a 5-4 decision in 2005 that blocked three Kentucky counties from displaying framed copies of the Ten Commandments in courthouses and public schools.

Although nominated to the high court by a Republican, Souter's decisions disappointed conservatives who expected him to consistently support conservative opinions in his decisions.

Souter retired at 69 during the Obama administration, allowing Obama to nominate Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

He evolved into what was perceived as a solid liberal vote on issues that included abortion rights, LGBTQ rights and the death penalty.

Born in Lemrose, Massachusetts Sept. 17, 1939, Souter moved to New Hampshire where he enjoyed a simple, frugal life away from Washington.
A revised formula doling out $26.4 billion to New York school districts that public education advocates had been lobbying for will, as it turns out, deliver hundreds of millions less to New York City than had the old formula remained intact.

The new plan, passed Thursday by state lawmakers, was supposed to be a welcome development, as the past two schools chancellors and their backers had long been pushing for reforms to the states per-pupil funding, known as Foundation Aid. But in a twist, the deal reached between Gov. Hochul and the Legislature will leave a gaping hole between what the city expected and what it ultimately receives.

An earlier estimate projected the difference at about $350 million. All in all, though, the budget agreement still results in an overall Foundation Aid increase of about 5% for the citys public schools, according to the governors office.

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While an overhaul of the outdated formula is sorely needed, the limited changes make matters worse  shortchanging NYC students as a result, Kim Sweet, executive director of Advocates for Children, said in a statement.

The budget bill updated the formulas poverty weight by replacing decades-old census data with a new metric known as Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, or SAIPE. It also substitutes school lunch eligibility with a broader category of economically disadvantaged students.

Were not using the old data that was used before because it was leading to unfair outcomes, Hochul said at a media gathering earlier this week. Were going to be using the most up-to-date poverty estimates. Thatll be the major change.

Both changes were first proposed by the governor in January. But the Adams administration warned of the $350 million gap, in part because the federal guidelines for poverty do not account for the local cost of living.

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City Hall and the Education Department did not return a request for comment on Thursday afternoon.

Im not going to argue for the old way of counting [poverty], because it was based on the 2000 census. So yes, we should do away with relying on data from the 2000 census, said Michael Rebell, executive director of the Center for Educational Equity at Columbia University Teachers College, who was an attorney in the landmark school funding lawsuit that prompted the Foundation Aid formula.

Rebell added that an index that better accounts for the regional costs in New York City could have helped offset the difference. But ultimately, lawmakers only updated the measure for Westchester County.

Thats why I say do the whole formula. You dont do it piecemeal, Rebell said.

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The plan also expands the weight for students learning the English language, restoring an estimated $30 million  though that is far short of the $350 million and a recent proposal by the Assembly, according to estimates by Advocates for Children.

Youre going to have people who see the glass as half full and as half empty. On the one hand, its a significant amount less than what New York City schools wouldve received under the old Foundation Aid, said Sen. John Liu (D-Queens), chairman of the NYC Education Committee. On the other hand, it is about $540 million more than last year.

Asked which camp he falls in, Liu said: Im happy that we were able to get a substantial amount more money for New York City public schools.

Rebell and Liu both agree that more changes are needed. Rebell is working on a new funding formula, while Liu is pushing for further reforms: We all understood that the Foundation Aid formula, which is almost 20 years old, at this point requires updates and possible overhauls. I think the executive budget and enacted budget did not go far enough in truly updating the formula, the senator said.

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Apart from Foundation Aid, the budget also finalized changes to the educational standards for religious schools, such as yeshivas, including pushing back the timeline of real consequences for not providing basic instruction in subjects such as reading and math.

It also signed into law a new school cell phone ban, with a $13.5 million state investment to assist with implementation.
May 8There will be no immigration enforcement operations based in or operating out of offices the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority plans to lease to U.S Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Forty Fort Borough said Thursday.

The unused space in the flood authority's Forty Fort headquarters will host administrative offices for HSI, which is overseen by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The borough said the offices are being moved there from their location in the regional office of the PA Attorney General in Wilkes-Barre.

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"HSI conducts complex criminal investigations around human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, cyber-crimes, identity theft, etc.," a post on the Forty Fort Facebook page read. "There will be NO immigration enforcement operations based in or operating out of the offices in Forty Fort."

Clarification from the borough on what the office space will be used for comes after a planned meeting Wednesday with Forty Fort officials, the Luzerne County Flood Protection and officials from Homeland Security.

Forty Fort Mayor Brian Thomas at a recent council session said the meeting was held in order for the borough to get a better idea of what HSI will use the space for.

The Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority held a meeting on April 22, where the board voted to award several contracts to begin renovations on the space.

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Authority executive director Christopher Belleman said after the meeting that the renovation plans do not call for detention or holding cells.

According to previous reporting, Belleman said Homeland Security will pay the authority approximately $30,000 annually to lease 1,700 square feet of space for three years, with the option for an additional two-year renewal.

At the time, authority Board Chairman Dominic Yannuzzi said the additional revenue will help reduce the burden on Wyoming Valley Levee fee payers to maintain the flood control system along the Susquehanna River, which protects approximately 100,000 residents in 12 municipalities.

Democratic Socialists of America's Northeast Pennsylvania branch and other groups held a cookout-style townhall in Betty Mascelli Park on May 3 to discuss ICE's presence in Forty Fort, while Bikers for Trump and NEPA Republicans protested the town hall and showed support for the department.
Singapore-based insurtech company bolttech has teamed up with Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corporation to form a joint venture (JV) for device protection in Asia.

The JV will deliver technology-enabled embedded solutions to distribution partners throughout Asia, with a focus on device life cycle management services including device upgrades.

The partnership will start with a device upgrade programme in South East Asia using bolttechs distribution network and Sumitomos financing expertise.

Sumitomo Corporation Media & Digital Group CEO Shinichi Kato said: We are thrilled to join forces with bolttech, a partner with proven track record in offering technology-enabled solutions to address consumer needs.

We are confident that this partnership will enable us to leverage our combined expertise and resources to deliver industry-leading device life cycle management services, driving growth and innovation across the Asia region.

This initiative aims to enhance the offerings of distribution partners, enabling them to provide comprehensive solutions to their customers.

bolttech CEO Rob Schimek stated: We are delighted to welcome Sumitomo Corporation as our strategic partner. We are confident that Sumitomo Corporations expertise in devices and vast network, combined with our distribution capabilities, will drive us forward in creating a better protection experience for consumers in Asia.

We are excited to continue our journey in shaping the future of insurance, working towards our vision of connecting people with more ways to protect the things they value.

Operating in 37 markets, bolttech brings a suite of digital and data-driven capabilities that connect insurers, distributors and customers.

In December 2024, the company launched its Series C funding round, led by Dragon Fund, by Liquidity and MUFG, valuing bolttech at $2.1bn (S$2.72bn).

"bolttech and Sumitomo to launch JV for device protection in Asia " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Trans Alaska Pipeline is seen on Sept. 19, 2022, in Fairbanks. This portion of the pipeline, 450 miles south of Prudhoe Bay, has been transformed into a visitor pullout and is a tourist attraction. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

At his third annual sustainable energy conference last year, Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy featured a relatively straight-laced group of scientific experts and Biden administration officials.

At this years conference in June, with President Donald Trump promoting American energy dominance and trying to boost oil production, the conferences agenda has taken a sharp righthand turn: One of the featured speakers at the June event is Alex Epstein, a fossil fuel evangelist from California and author of a 2022 book titled Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas  Not Less.

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Epsteins website lists a standard $37,000 fee to speak at an in-person event. He did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday; a Dunleavy spokesman, Grant Robinson, said that the conferences speaker agreements are not public information.

If theres a fee, Robinson said, it would be negotiated between the speaker and the contractor thats helping to organize the energy conference, and it would be paid with conference sponsorships and ticket revenue.

Epstein, a self-described philosopher and energy expert, has testified multiple times before U.S. Congress and asserts that policies to reduce fossil fuel use among developing countries are immoral. His arguments and talking points on behalf of expanded fossil fuel consumption have made him a favorite speaker for some conservative elected officials and their ideological allies.

Also joining Epstein as a featured speaker is Daniel Turner, whose national group, Power the Future, has aggressively promoted expanded extraction of Alaskas coal, oil and natural gas and says renewables are not the answer. Turner describes his work as fighting to protect American energy workers from the eco-Left and from Hollywood phonies.

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In a press release Tuesday, Dunleavys office said the conference would explore the future of energy in Alaska and on a global scale. Its focus will include artificial intelligence and the electricity needed to power data centers, advancements in renewable and nuclear power and the continued responsible development of Alaska oil, gas, and mineral resources, the release 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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(FOUNTAIN, Colo.)  The Fountain Fire Department (FFD) hosted a town hall on Thursday evening, May 8, to discuss the Citys wildland mitigation efforts.

According to FFD, the goal of the town hall was to educate and foster discussion around wildland fire safety and mitigation strategies, especially within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)areas where development meets natural vegetation and fire risk is elevated.

Attendees heard from representatives of FFD, the Fountain Police Department, Fountain Utilities, the Fountain Parks Department, and the Office of the City Manager.

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The department detailed a mitigation project it completed last month in Hibbard Parka spot City Parks believes has a high wildfire risk. Crews thinned out brush and grass which could help spread a wildland fire. The City has also identified seven to eight open spaces FFD wants to address immediately with mitigation.

Courtesy: Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team Courtesy: Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team Courtesy: Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Jack Young

FFD stressed that the community is pivotal to the departments responses to fire events.

On those high fire danger days, those high fire risk days, if you see something, say something, said Division Chief Jared Cass. If you see smoke, call 911. Dont assume somebody else has already called, because maybe nobody has. And the sooner we get notified about those, the quicker we can put them out, the smaller they stay, the less damage to the environment and our community.

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FPD reminds the community that the best way to stay connected to first responders and be alerted if ever there is a wildland emergency is to sign up for community notifications at PeakAlerts.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 FOX21 News Colorado.
Fox News gave viewers a bit of a scare on Thursday night when political commentator Camryn Kinsey fainted on live TV, falling out of her chair to the studio floor  but thankfully, shes already recuperating and is doing well.

President Donald Trumps former external relations director from the first term of his Presidential Personnel Office stopped by Fox News @ Night to discuss former President Joe Bidens appearance on The View from earlier that day.

This is what they have to do, they have to rewrite history because they had a failed campaign, they had a failed presidency. They put her as the border czar. She never went to the border, she said of Kamala Harris in the moment leading up to the incident. So this is about incompetency. Its not about, uh, ideology or, uh, its not about, uh

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At that, Kinsey then fell to the ground in front of guest host Jonathan Hunt, who was filling in for Trace Gallagher.

 Fox News guest Camryn Kinsey faints live on air. pic.twitter.com/T5AquOuBUo  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 9, 2025

Oh my goodness, were just going to get some help for Camryn, he said before first attempting to toss to a colleague and eventually going to a commercial break. Upon the shows return, Hunt added, Camryn is up and moving, we have paramedics checking her out now.

After Fox News @ Night guest Camryn Kinsey fainted during a live on-air appearance last night in our Los Angeles bureau, paramedics were called and she was treated and cleared, a network spokesperson told TheWrap. We are happy to hear she is now feeling much better and wish her a speedy recovery.

Wow, sorry for the scare last night.



I want to start by thanking the incredible Fox News team and the EMTs who responded with such speed and care. It was an unexpected and frightening moment, but thanks to their professionalism and kindness, Im doing well.



To everyone who has  Camryn Kinsey (@camrynbaylee) May 9, 2025

Wow, sorry for the scare last night. I want to start by thanking the incredible Fox News team and the EMTs who responded with such speed and care. It was an unexpected and frightening moment, but thanks to their professionalism and kindness, Im doing well, Kinsey shared on X on Friday. To everyone who has called, texted, prayed or checked in, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support has meant the world. Im taking it slow, staying hydrated, letting my body rest and thanking the Lord that everything is OK.

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It may not have been how I planned to end the segment, but Ill be back on your TV soon, she concluded her message. Hopefully long enough to finally finish my point about Kamala!

The post Fox News Commentator Camryn Kinsey Is Doing Well After Fainting on Live TV | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Camryn Kinsey recently passed out on camera due to health issues during her recent appearance on Fox News @ Night. The concerning event occurred live on air while the former Donald Trump administration official was conversing with makeshift anchor Jonathan Hunt.

Heres everything you need to know regarding Camryn Kinseys fainting incident on Fox.

Heres what happened to Fox News panelist Camryn Kinsey

The latest episode of Fox News @ Night featured renowned internet personality and political commentator Camryn Kinsey as a panelist. She appeared on the show to criticize former US President Joe Biden and his tactics. However, as Kinsey criticized Bidens recent statements on The View regarding Kamala Harris loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 US Presidential elections, she began to show signs of uneasiness.

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This is what they have to do, they have to rewrite history because they had a failed campaign, they had a failed presidency. They put her as the border czar. She never went to the border. So this is about incompetency. Its not about uh ideology, Camryn Kinsey noted before passing out on live television, as per The New York Post. She initially tried to maintain composure and took a quick breath, but ultimately fell out of her chair in an unconscious state.

The camera quickly cut to Jonathan Hunt while a crewmember attempted to help the passed-out Kinsey. Hunt then stated, Were just going to get some help here for Camryn, before calling out for a commercial break. Hunt updated worried fans on Kinseys situation shortly after the shows return, saying, Camryn is up and moving, we have paramedics checking her out now. We will keep you updated, and of course, we wish Camryn all the best.

A dedicated Trump supporter, Kinsey worked as the External Relations Director inside the Presidential Personnel Office during Trumps first term in the White House. She later joined forces with One America News Network as their White House correspondent for a period of six months. In recent times, Kinsey has launched her own media marketing consulting firm, titled Titan Media Strategies.

Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on ComingSoon.

The post Fox News Panelist Camryn Kinsey Passes Out on Air appeared first on Mandatory.
Camryn Kinsey fainted on camera Thursday night while making an in-studio appearance as a guest on "Fox News @ Night," based in Los Angeles. It made for a dramatic television moment  one that she commented on Friday morning on social media.

Kinsey was on the show to comment on former President Biden's media appearances this week on "The View" and the BBC. "So this is about incompetency," she said. "It's not about ideology or, it's not about  uh," she trailed off, then suddenly fell from her seat and out of camera range.

Read more: Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto departs in cost-cutting move

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"Oh, my goodness, we're just going to get some help here for Camryn," said a shocked Jonathan Hunt, the former international correspondent who was filling in for anchor Trace Gallagher. Hunt tried to toss the show back to a second, remote pundit, then seemed to be advised by producers to go to commercial instead.

"We want to give you a quick update. Camryn is up and moving," he told viewers when the show returned from the break. "We have paramedics checking her. We will keep you updated. We wish her all the best."

The real update from Kinsey came Friday morning on X. "Wow, sorry for the scare last night," she tweeted, thanking the Fox News team and EMTs for responding quickly. "It was an unexpected and frightening moment, but thanks to their professionalism and kindness, Im doing well. ... Im taking it slow, staying hydrated, letting my body rest, and thanking the Lord that everything is okay.

"It may not have been how I planned to end the segment, but Ill be back on your TV soon. Hopefully long enough to finally finish my point about Kamala!"

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Read more: Trump's U.S. attorney appointee Jeanine Pirro will leave Fox News and 'The Five'

After 'Fox News @ Night' guest Camryn Kinsey fainted during a live on-air appearance last night in our Los Angeles bureau, paramedics were called and she was treated and cleared," a Fox News Media spokesperson told The Times on Friday. "We are happy to hear she is now feeling much better and wish her a speedy recovery.

So who is Camryn Baylee Kinsey? Let's take a look.

Camryn Kinsey is young and ahead of the curve

Kinsey, who doesn't turn 25 until July, was the youngest member of the Trump 45 administration. She was, per IMDb, the external relations director in the White House presidential personnel office from 2020 until the president's first term ended in January 2021.

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She graduated from high school when she was 16, and her Instagram bio mentions a master's degree in national security.

Read more: Fox News' Kat Timpf gives post-op (and postpartum) update after double mastectomy

Her background won't surprise conservatives

She's a Kentucky native and proud Christian, according to an interview she gave to the Conservateur website four years ago when she was in the White House.

"I am a 20-year-old model and college cheerleader turned White House staff member  they couldnt put me in a box even if they tried," she said.

She has an online audience

Kinsey has some fairly massive follower counts online: 248,000 on Instagram, 225,000 on X and 232,000 on Truth Social.

Democrats need not apply for a date

"I ... dont date across the aisle. I see it as a conflict of interest," she told Conservateur back in the day. But she had some self-awareness too. "In all honesty, I am not sure I am the one that should be giving dating advice," she said at the time. "It would be the blind leading the blind, but I will say this: Never lower your standards and know your worth."

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Read more: Peter Doocy of Fox News welcomes a second baby with Hillary Vaughn of Fox Business

She is a fashionista with a message

Most glam photos on Kinsey's Instagram are captioned with right-wing messages and reveal she favors a simple black fit. "Abolish the IRS," reads the text on a shot of her in a low-cut dress. Cut to a newer bathroom selfie in a minidress, captioned "Why does the IRS exist?" "Mood because Trump is doing everything he said he was going to do. #MAGA," is the message on a video of her with a glass of red wine and a fully made-up face, bopping along to Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love."

"My college wardrobe consisted of sweat pants and a cheer uniform," she told Conservateur years back. "Dont be fooled by my social media  I kept the sweatpants. I just traded my cheer uniform in for a blazer and MAGA hat. My style embodies my story."

Read more: Kayleigh McEnany of Fox News is pregnant with baby No. 3 and promises a gender reveal

She wants to change the mainstream media's take on the GOP

What take would that be? Well, "the ignorant narrative that we are all racist and hate poor people," she told Conservateur, opining that Democratic leadership was the group that had "failed minorities and disregarded low-income households."

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"I hope to change the mainstream perspective," Kinsey said, "by being living proof that the label the media boxes conservatives in is entirely inaccurate."

Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyones talking about from the L.A. Times.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo on Thursday explained why the newly named, U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV has criticized the Trump administrations policies over the years, particularly the presidents stances on immigration.

Look, all popes are going to support migrants, support the poor, support peace. Their heart goes out to humanity, thats with the job. Jesus would do the same, Arroyo told Fox News Will Cain, who had asked how Pope Leo XIVs vision for the Roman Catholic Church could compare to Pope Francis.

Arroyo  a host on the Catholic-focused Eternal Word Television Network  also weighed in on the new pope taking potshots at Vice President JD Vance on social media. In February, after he reshared an op-ed that said the vice president was wrong for ranking his love for others.

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The pontiff has also reshared posts signalinghis opposition to President Donald Trumps bans on refugee admissions in 2017. Most recently, he reshared a post knocking Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukeles response to the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly sent to a Salvadoran prison.

The new pope has already taken heat from right-wing media figures, muchlikeFrancisdid in his years leading the church.

Sean Hannity claimed the new pope has perhaps been indoctrinated into the liberal way of thinking for not seeing anything remotely Christian about warehousing immigrant children in cages, Media Matters for America noted.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) also slammed him for using what Santorum called buzzwords of the left.

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Earlier in the program, Cain noted that the papacy isnt a political office, so it may be inappropriate to ask whether the new pope is liberal or conservative.

But is he progressive in the vein of Pope Francis? That seems to be the great question, said Cain, adding that the new popes stance on issues ranging from climate change to diversity, equity and inclusion will raise questions over the new vision of the church.

Arroyo noted that the pontiffs appearance with a traditional mozzetta on Tuesday is a cry back to the past and made traditionalists as well as conservatives feel as if he was dressing like a pope.

We frankly havent seen this in 12 years with Pope Francis. So, maybe Leo will be as he mentioned in his speech today, a bridge-builder, he said.

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H/T: Mediaite

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The family of 25-year-old Daniel Orellana says he is a victim of misidentification.

Early Monday Morning, Orellanas girlfriend says, ICE agents detained Daniel inside a Shell Station on Concord Street in Framingham.

Daniel Orellana is from Guatemala, and on Monday morning, he was on his way to work when ICE Agents detained him.

His girlfriend tells Boston 25 News that Daniel claims ICE agents were looking for someone else, and that when he tried to explain the mistake to agents, they detained him anyway.

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Daniels girlfriend said he has been held in custody in Plymouth since Monday and has not yet seen a judge

In Framingham, Daniels supporters will rally at City Hall Friday for Daniel and others in the same situation.

We are looking for our leadership local and nationwide to step up and do as much as they can to uphold due process. And protect rights. They are neighbors, there are teachers, they work in hospitals in stores, we would want someone to protect us, said Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley of the group, Framingham Fights Back.

Boston 25 reached out to ICE to find out more about the Daniels case.

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We did not get a response.

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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FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German automotive supplier Robert Bosch said on Thursday it would not be able to estimate the impact of tariffs on its business until late in the year, and predicted 2025 sales to grow by a currency-adjusted 1% to 3%.

Volatility in global trade makes the forecast fraught with uncertainty, the company said, also citing a difficult business environment in its main markets but also possible tailwinds from state infrastructure investment programmes."The consequences of additional tariffs and possible economic effects from European and German infrastructure investments also make an assessment more difficult," it added.

The U.S. tariffs' impact, which cannot be calculated until late in the year, may lead to greater regional differentiation in company's product development, CEO Stefan Hartung said during conference call.

Bosch is in talks with the U.S. government, but "it's not the case that companies can make small, extra agreements for tariffs", the chief executive said.

In the first quarter of 2025, Bosch sales rose 4% compared with the same period last year.

In contrast, German peer Schaeffler on Wednesday posted a first-quarter revenue decline of 2.9%, citing general softness in the industry.

Bosch confirmed its operating margin target of 7% for 2026, though calling it "extremely challenging".

Bosch added that it expects the number of jobs at the company to decline further, particularly in Germany and Europe.

(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach and Christina Amann; Writing by Amir OrusovEditing by Ludwig Burger and David Evans)
CALHOUN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  An event series specifically designed to support rising kindergartners is being hosted all across Calhoun County over the next week and a half.

The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida is hosting three separate Power Up for Kindergarten events across the county.

The first one will be on Wednesday, May 14th, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Blountstown Public Library.

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Panama City Arts Center hosts 62nd Bay Annual Exhibition

The next one is at the Kinard Public Library on Saturday, May 17th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The final one is at the Mossy Pond Public Library on Wednesday, May 21st, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

There, your child can get a free developmental screening, participate in activities supporting kindergarten readiness, take home learning kits, connect with local organizations, and more.

This series is completely free to attend for all interested, thanks to the Calhoun County Board of County Commissioners.

To register for any of the Power Up for Kindergarten events, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi said Columbias response to pro-Palestinian protesters storming the library was inciting more violence.

On Wednesday, Columbia called in the New York Police Department and arrested 80 students after they reportedly stormed the schools library, injured two employees, carved Columbia will burn into framed pictures and would not leave or identify themselves after they were asked.

Columbia University is participating in the destruction of the democratic system, Mahdawi said in an interview with The Associated Press. They are supporting the initiatives and the agenda of the Trump administration, and they are punishing and torturing their students.

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The freed student said Columbia is inciting violence instead of rising to the moment to be a beacon of hope.

Mahdawi was recently released on bail after the Trump administration arrested him during his naturalization interview to become a U.S. citizen.

He is the first student to be released after being arrested by federal authorities amid President Trumps crackdown on high-profile pro-Palestinian activists on campuses.

Mahdawi said those still held in detention should stay positive and dont let this injustice shake your belief in the inevitability of justice.

Detained Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk recently saw a win as a federal appeals court denied the Trump administrations appeal to keep Ozturk in Louisiana after another judge ordered she be transferred to Vermont.

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People are working hard. Communities are mobilizing, Mahdawi told the AP. The justice system has signaled to America with my case, and with Rumeysas yesterday with the 2nd Circuit, that justice is functioning and checks and balances is still in function.

Mahdawi said he will attend his graduation at Columbia despite his disappointment with the university.

I plan to attend the graduation, because it is a message, Mahdawi said. This is a message that education is hope, education is light, and there is no power in the world that should take that away from us.

The Trump administration praised Columbias swift call to the police due to the protest and said it is confident the school will properly discipline those involved in the demonstration.

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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 The Hill.
In an era of state-supported multiculturalism and significant population change, one of the most pressing questions in modern Britain is will liberal democratic values survive in the face of Islamism?

A clash between former Reform MP for Great Yarmouth and darling of the online Right, Rupert Lowe, and the Independent Alliance MP for Blackburn, Adnan Hussain, has thrust into the spotlight the tensions between freedom of speech and religio-political tribalism.

On social media platform X, Lowe expressed his opposition to blasphemy laws  stating that burning the Quran is not a crime and that free speech means protecting the right to offend, including Islam. While Lowe tends to frame the free-speech debate largely around British Muslims (to the stage that it comes across as an obsession), Hussains response would not have discouraged him from continuing to do so, with the Burnley-born solicitor replying that what Rupert actually wants to say is: free speech means protecting the right to offend Muslims.

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Freedom of speech, of course, protects the right to offend not only Muslims but all religious groups in modern Britain (and those of no religion). No ethnic, racial, and religious group living in England is above its free-speech traditions and the rule of law  with the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel being formally abolished in our country back in 2008.

Fellow British Muslims who desire the reintroduction of blasphemy laws  such as the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, Tahir Ali  should be careful over what they wish for. I find the burning of the Quran and the promotion of derogatory cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH to be thoroughly grotesque acts. But the call to ban them reeks of insecure authoritarianism and risks inflaming anti-Muslim prejudice, reinforcing the view that a particular group are the beneficiaries of preferential treatment by the British state.

Also, withdrawing the right of others to desecrate religious scriptures and mock prophets (acts which are very rarely committed on British soil) could lead to an increase in both as an act of rebelliousness against perceived theocratic overreach. Creeping Islamist-inspired regulation of the public sphere will not help to keep the peace  it will only destabilise community relations and harden hostile attitudes towards the very presence of Islam in contemporary Britain, thereby undermining the security of British Muslims.

The reality is that freedom of speech in England allows Muslims to proselytise (Dawah) in an overwhelmingly non-Muslim country with an established Church. It gives Muslims the freedom to theologically challenge other faiths as part of an effort to spread their own, which includes scrutinising the doctrines of the Trinity and incarnation in Christianity.

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The truth is that Islam, while portrayed by its detractors as a mediaeval backwards religion, is faring well in the British marketplace of ideas. Indeed, it has been so successful that around one in twenty Muslims in Britain come from the majority white-British ethnic group  many converting to Islam as adults.

The regimented and collectivistic nature of Islam certainly has its appeal  especially in a society which has increasingly become a hotbed of moral degeneracy, where far too many people place their individual interests above the needs of their family members and local community.

England has a rich tradition of religious freedom and free speech. Championing their mutual co-existence should be at the heart of British religious conservatism. Compared to their co-religionists in countries such as militant-secular France, British Muslims are afforded considerable religious freedoms  but this should never be exploited to the point that Englands reputation for being the home of free speech becomes a thing of the past.

Dr Rakib Ehsan is the author of Beyond Grievance

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By Layli Foroudi

PARIS (Reuters) - A French pro-Palestinian protest group is contesting a government decision to shut it down, saying the move was politically motivated and based on "false" arguments as part of a wider crackdown on the movement for Palestinian rights.

Urgence Palestine (Emergency Palestine), created in 2023 to protest against Israel's military offensive in Gaza, filed its counterarguments to the shutdown procedure on Thursday, their lawyer Elsa Marcel said.

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French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, explaining the decision, said in a letter dated April 28 to one of the group's founders, Omar Alsoumi, that Urgence Palestine had provoked violent acts, including towards Jewish people, and had called for armed struggle.

Asked about the decision, Alsoumi told Reuters on Friday:

"This shows the partiality of the French government on the genocidal war that the Palestinian people is experiencing."

He said the group, which has been organising protests across France over the past 19 months, rejects any conflation of Jews and the Israeli government and that Palestinians have the right to resist occupation under international law.

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The French Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Last week Retailleau said the move against Urgence Palestine was necessary to "crack down on Islamists".

"We must not deform the Palestinians' just cause," he said in an interview with CNews/Europe 1 on April 30.

The group's lawyer Marcel said the closure was part of a wider wave of repression in Western countries against pro-Palestinian, anti-war activists.

"There is an extremely elastic use of the question of terrorism apology, which we contest, and criticism of Israel is represented as antisemitism, which we also contest," she said.

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Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run health authorities. The offensive was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Surges in violence in the Israel-Palestinian conflict have often fuelled racist incidents in France. The number of antisemitic and Islamophobic acts rose by 284% and 29%respectively in 2023, France's human rights commission said.

(Reporting by Layli Foroudi; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Following a tense and politically charged search process, Misty Her has made double history: She is the first woman and the first Hmong American to serve as superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District since its founding in 1873.

This milestone holds powerful symbolic value, particularly in one of Californias most ethnically and culturally diverse school districts.

Hers appointment is more than symbolic. It reflects a significant step forward for both gender equity and racial representation. As a Hmong American woman in the districts highest leadership role, Her offers inspiration to Hmong youth and other underrepresented students who rarely see themselves reflected in positions of authority.

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Opinion

Yet with this historic achievement comes a profound responsibility: to lead with cultural responsiveness, transparency, and accountability.

Representation, however, does not automatically lead to structural change. True transformation of Fresno Unifieds organizational culture will require more than symbolic victories. It demands that all stakeholders  students, educators, families, and community members  have a meaningful voice in shaping the decisions that impact them. Inclusion must be more than a value; it must be a practice rooted in trust, transparency and shared ownership.

Hers leadership arrives at a moment when many institutions, including public education, are increasingly criticized for top-down, autocratic practices. In this context, it is essential that Hers tenure reflect the inclusive values her appointment symbolizes. That means reimagining curricula, rethinking pedagogical approaches and fostering school environments that affirm student identity, uplift educators and actively engage families as partners in the educational process.

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One of the most urgent challenges Her must confront is the districts widely reported culture of fear, a critical issue highlighted by educators and the Fresno Teachers Association but largely ignored during the superintendent selection process. Addressing this pressing matter will be crucial to restoring trust and ensuring that educators feel empowered rather than silenced.

Although Her took steps during her time as interim superintendent to engage specific groups, broader and more transparent community involvement is necessary. Greater inclusion will not only lend legitimacy to district strategies, but also strengthen collective responsibility and support for district goals.

Fresno Unified has made efforts to emphasize professional development and align teaching practices with student outcomes. However, its centralized decision-making process continues to limit teacher autonomy and reinforce perceptions of top-down governance. This dynamic contributes to dissatisfaction among educators and a community that seeks deeper involvement in shaping educational priorities.

As someone who has navigated educational and professional systems as a Hmong American woman, Her brings lived experience that mirrors the journeys of many students, especially those from immigrant, refugee or multilingual backgrounds. This background gives Her a unique and powerful lens through which to advocate for culturally relevant education.

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Still, if this perspective is to move beyond symbolism, it must inform a deliberate critique of how traditional curricula often exclude or marginalize students. When students dont see themselves reflected in what theyre taught, they disengage, physically attending school while mentally checking out. This sense of alienation contributes to chronic absenteeism and undermines academic success.

Curriculum reform is therefore not a peripheral issue, it is central to closing the achievement gap. Interventions focused on truancy or performance will fall short unless teaching and learning begin to center the student voice, culture and identity. In this regard, Her has both the platform and responsibility to be a bold advocate for culturally relevant education.

Language instruction, particularly bilingual education and culturally responsive language curricula, must also be prioritized. For a district like Fresno Unified, where many students speak multiple languages or come from linguistically diverse households, these efforts are not just supplementary  they are essential.

If Hers leadership is to mark a true turning point for Fresno Unified, it must be defined by more than representation. It must be rooted in transformative, systemic change that affirms every student and empowers every stakeholder.

Silvio Manno is a retired Fresno bilingual teacher and author.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed their countries' relationship on May 8, vowing to increase cooperation in all areas, including military ties.

In a joint statement released during Xi's visit to Moscow amid the May 9 Victory Day celebrations, the two countries promised to "strengthen coordination in order to decisively counter Washington's course of 'dual containment' of Russia and China."

In a show of unity against U.S. President Donald Trump, the two countries disavowed "the promotion of hostile approaches toward Russia and China by third countries in various regions of the world, as well as the discrediting of Russian-Chinese cooperation."

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The two countries also vowed to "contribute to the establishment of peace in Ukraine," while addressing the "root causes" of the war.

The statement on the Ukraine war alludes to phrasing that Russia has regularly used to justify its full-scale invasion, falsely claiming that it was pushed into war with Ukraine over NATO's perceived expansion.

China has strengthened ties with Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, becoming Moscow's leading supplier of dual-use goods that bolster Russia's defense industry.

While China has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the war, it has simultaneously criticized the U.S. and its allies for "exacerbating" the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine. NATO has labeled China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's aggression.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on April 17 that China is supplying weapons to the Russian military. His statement marks Kyiv's first confirmation that Beijing supports Russia's war effort by providing weapons.

Xi said earlier in the day on May 8 that he was pleased to take part in the Victory Day celebrations and that "China and Russia are ready to defend the truth about the history of World War II."

The Chinese president's visit to Russia is expected to last until May 10. During this time, the Chinese and Russian sides will hold talks in various formats, both between the two leaders and between delegations, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

During his three and a half hour meeting with the Chinese leader, Putin expressed his willingness to pay another official visit to China and emphasized that the governments of both countries are working to fully develop their bilateral relations.

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Xi's presence in Moscow serves as an important boost to Putin amid ongoing negotiations brokered by the United States to put an end to the war in Ukraine.

While the Trump administration initially sought to overhaul relations with Russia, Trump has reportedly grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress being made on negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. On April 26, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be "tapping me along" in negotiations.

On May 8, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the U.S. would be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war.

Read also: Turkey, China may serve as potential peace talk mediator if US pulls out, Polish FM says





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The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of an international fugitive who was captured in Savannah in April as part of Operation Take Back America.

According to USDOJ, Orville Andrew Pernell, 32 of Jamaica, was arraigned Friday and charged with possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.

Pernell is an international fugitive who was charged with murder before escaping custody in both Saint Lucia and Jamaica, and then unlawfully entering the United States under a false identity, said acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr. Our office is proud of the collaborative work of our United States, Saint Lucian, and Jamaican law enforcement partners whose efforts resulted in Pernells identification and apprehension.

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A federal grand jury delivered the indictment April 23, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia said.

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On April 15, Channel 2 Action News reported when members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Pernell into custody in Savannah. Pernell was arrested by ICE and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on April 4.

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At the time, ICE officials said Pernell was wanted for murder and on the run, accused of killing Clius Alfred in Saint Lucia, located in the Caribbean, in 2020.

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Pernell was said to have escaped custody while on trial for murder and went to Jamaica.

ICE said, while announcing Pernells arrest, that hed been a fugitive for several years, having been encountered near California by members of the U.S. Border Patrol in December 2022 while trying to enter the United States with a fake identity.

USDOJ said Pernell was arrested by the Clayton County Sheriffs Office in July 2023 after he was seen driving 115 mph.

During an attempted traffic stop, he sped off but was forced to stop after hitting heavy traffic, USAO said. Officers determined the bike was stolen and while searching him, found a handgun stolen from a firearms shipment. Pernell also gave Clayton County officers a fake name when he was arrested, saying his name was Oneil Reid.

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Now that Pernell was charged in U.S. court, hes been ordered detained pending trial and is subject to extradition back to Saint Lucia once his case in the U.S. is done.

Federal officials said the case was part of Operation Take Back America, a national immigration enforcement effort.

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GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested a man in Garfield Heights wanted in the sexual assault of a child.

According to a press release, Robert Flynn, 77, is charged in the United Kingdom with eight counts of indecent assault of a child.

Urgent safety recall for eye care products

Hes been wanted since August 2022, investigators said.

Information developed by the U.S. Marshals Office tracked Flynn to the Cleveland area.

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He was arrested in the 6100 block of Turney Road on Friday, according to a news release.

Rethink when you fix your dog, new study says

Flynn faces an extradition hearing in federal court.

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
The bells of St. Mary's Basilica in downtown Phoenix rung for a few minutes the afternoon of May 8 as parishioners prayed inside as the world learned of the new leader of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV  the first from the United States.

The 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Prevost took his papal name as he addressed thousands gathered at St. Peter's Square to see the Sistine Chapel's chimney's white smoke that signaled a new pontiff. Some 6,150 miles away at the basilica, applause broke out when Father Nathaniel Glenn mentioned the man who was succeeding Pope Francis, who died April 21, aged 88.

Tom Keller knelt and made the sign of the cross as he faced the basilica's altar before taking a seat in one of the wooden pews, joining roughly more then 50 others. Just before walking into the historic church, Keller expressed enthusiasm about the conclave of 133 cardinals deciding the new pope after having first convened less than 24 hours prior.

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"The decision was made so quickly. Makes me think that everyone's united," Keller said. "That's what we need going forward  a united church community."

Pontiff did missionary work in Peru

Keller, a 16-year Phoenix resident, said he lived for 20 years in Chicago, where Prevost was born. The new pope grew up in the city's suburbs and earned a degree in mathematics at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

From his second-story office just walking distance from the basilica, Roman Catholic Phoenix Diocese Bishop John Dolan said the new pope's Chicago-area upbringing provides the pontiff with the multicultural nuances he needs to serve Catholics worldwide.

Dolan lauded Pope Leo XIV's service in Peru where the now pontiff once served as archbishop.

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"He was a missionary at heart," Dolan said, noting the Catholic Church's leader dedicated himself to a diocese in northern Peru, which he said was "a country that probably needed some love and attention."

The 1980s, when Prevost first moved to Peru, is often referred to as "the Lost Decade" due to the deep economic crisis the western South American country found itself in.

Though the conclave's decision was a surprise for most observers as Prevost was not a rumored front-runner, Dolan shared he had considered him the most likely of the cardinals originally from the U.S. who would become the 267th pontiff.

Dolan noted Prevost's Hispanic heritage by way of his late mother, Mildred Martinez Prevost, who was reportedly of Spanish descent. Phoenix diocese Monsignor Peter Dai Bui agreed that Prevost may have been from the U.S., but he conveyed some of the same Latin American character as the late Pope Francis, who was from Argentina. Prevost was also known to have Peruvian citizenship.

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Pope Leo XIV possesses an "understanding (of) the culture, mentality" of South Americans, Bui said.

Rejoicing at the day's announcement filled the building in which the Phoenix bishop's office is located, the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Maria Chavira, chancellor at the Phoenix Diocese, swayed about with a couple of colleagues as she demonstrated the dance some working under Dolan did upon the revelation of the new pope.

"We are just in anticipation and full of hope and joy today," Chavira said.

At St. Mary's Basilica, the solemnity of the Mass returned as Father Glenn led the believers in an invocation for Pope Leo XIV.

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"I think, in a special way, we can really pray for him today. I imagine he has a very lonely and long night ahead of him," Glenn said. "As his American brothers and sisters, pray for him, to lift him up in prayer that our Lord can bless him with all the grace that he needs to lead his church right here and now."

Pope disagreed with Vice President Vance

The new pope expressed disagreement with U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier this year. A Catholic convert, Vance defended President Donald Trump's forceful immigration enforcement measures by arguing his religion taught an "order of love" that prioritized compassion by proximity. Pope Francis wrote in a February letter to priests that "Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups."

Prevost agreed with his predecessor in posts on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that were critical of Vance's stance and current U.S. immigration policy.

Live updates: History is made with new Pope Leo XIV, first-ever pontiff from US

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Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Haley BeMiller contributed to this article.

(This story was updated to add more information, videos, a gallery and photos.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix-area Catholics pleased with American being named Pope Leo XIV
LONDON (Reuters) -Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD, ABI.BR) reported a 7.9% rise in first-quarter operating profit on Thursday, more than double the increase expected by analysts, as the world's biggest brewer boosted its profit margin despite a fall in sales volumes.

Analysts had expected the beer maker to report a 3.1% rise in organic operating profit in the three months ended March 31. Its shares rose over 4% in early trade in Europe, and over 2% in premarket trading on Wall Street.

The maker of Corona and Stella Artois has cheered investors with its performance in recent quarters. But U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs now pose a threat to consumer sentiment in one of its most important markets, the United States.

AB InBev saw a 5.1% year-on-year drop in U.S. revenues in the quarter and attributed the decline to fewer selling days, a late Easter and bad weather.

The company sold 2.2% less beer globally in three months, a decline that was less severe than feared. Industry peers, such as Heineken, have also reported lower sales volumes.

Reduced sales costs and effective overhead management boosted margins, AB InBev said.

"The consistent execution of our strategy by our teams and partners drove a solid start to the year," CEO Michel Doukeris said.

Cans of Budweiser beer are displayed on a supermarket shelf in Shanghai

Analysts also pointed to the company's strong performance in South American nations, such as Brazil.

"This exemplifies the resilience of (AB InBev's) geographically diverse footprint," said RBC Capital analyst James Edwardes Jones.

AB InBev's statement didn't mention the potential impact of the sweeping U.S. tariffs, unlike Heineken and Carlsberg, which have warned that levies could dent consumer sentiment.

AB InBev is at risk of a direct hit from tariffs on aluminium, which it uses to make beer cans. The company said 98% of its beer volumes were locally produced.

Industry sales may also suffer if levies hurt the economy and curb consumer spending on beer.

The brewer has faced headwinds in China, where volumes fell 9.2% in the quarter.

It said it was boosting investments in key brands such as Budweiser and ramping up efforts to grow at-home consumption as spending elsewhere, including in bars, comes under pressure.

(Reporting by Emma Rumney. Editing by Sumana Nandy and Mark Potter)
The Provo River Delta is pictured on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The Trump administration is recommending Congress cut hundreds of millions out of the governments budget that helps fund the Central Utah Project, a massive system of water infrastructure and habitat restoration projects.

This article is published through the Colorado River Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative supported by the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air at Utah State University. See all of our stories about how Utahns are impacted by the Colorado River at greatsaltlakenews.org/coloradoriver

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Its just one line item in the administrations 46-page discretionary budget request, which slashes funding for a number of programs and agencies while boosting federal dollars for defense and border security.

According to the White House, the Department of the Interiors budget provides about $1.2 billion to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project. Of that, the White House is proposing a $609 million cut.

Described as the most comprehensive federal water resource development project in the state, the Central Utah Project is a web of reservoirs, pipelines and river systems that transports Colorado River water from eastern Utah to the Wasatch Front, where its tasked for municipal and industrial use, irrigation, hydroelectric power, fish and wildlife, conservation and recreation.

But reservoirs and pipelines disrupt wildlife and vegetation, and sometimes come at the expense of hunting, fishing and other types of recreation  so a portion of the funding for the project has been used to offset those impacts. Now, the Trump administration wants the project to solely focus on water infrastructure.

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According to the budget proposal, the money allocated to the project funds programs that have nothing to do with building and maintaining water infrastructure, such as habitat restoration.

Instead, the Budget focuses Reclamation and the Central Utah Project on their core missions of maintaining assets that provide safe, reliable, and efficient management of water resources throughout the western United States, the proposal reads.

Birds fly over the Provo River Delta on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The request doesnt specify any habitat restoration project in particular, and its likely the request would also impact other bureau projects in the West.

In Utah, that funding helped restore wetlands and riparian areas along the Provo and Duchesne rivers, improve recreation access for hunters, anglers and boaters, and have contributed to the resurgence of the June Sucker, a fish native to Utah Lake that was once near extinction.

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Its tough to say at this point how that all trickles down to Utah and to our project, but were making plans and adjustments, said Michael Mills, executive director of the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission. Its a difficult spot were in, we dont really have any more details than what is included in that budget proposal.

Mills commission was formed in the 1990s after Congress passed the Central Utah Project Completion Act. The commission works to offset the environmental impact of large water infrastructure projects  for instance, when the Jordanelle Reservoir was created in 1993, the commission worked to restore a lower section of the Provo River to make up for the section that was flooded, and conserved land in Wasatch County for elk herds that were displaced.

Since its inception, the commission has worked with federal, state and local governments, universities, nonprofits and the Ute tribe on a number of ecosystem and wildlife conservation projects.

One of the most recent is the Provo River Delta Restoration and the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program on Utah Lake.

An interpretive sign provides information about the June Sucker on the banks of the Provo River Delta on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The June Sucker was nearly extinct in the 1980s  if it didnt have a lifespan of nearly 40 years, some ecologists say the species would have disappeared. But a few hundred held on, and as the species was listed as endangered, the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program took shape.

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Farmers and water users in the basin worked to conserve water to increase Provo River flows, and a collaborative effort to restore the rivers delta in Provo began. The delta has undergone a complete transformation  now theres a boat ramp, hiking trails and a thriving ecosystem. On any given day, you can find scores of birds, fish and other wildlife at the delta, including the June Sucker. This year, scientists estimated the fishs population to be 80,000.

All of that was made possible by the federal revenue stream now on the chopping block.

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A lot of people think the federal government is all about overreach and regulation. But what we see with the June Sucker program is that federal coordination brought resources, it brought a lot of funding, and it gave a mechanism for different stakeholders to be heard, said Ben Abbott, associate professor of environmental science and sustainability at Brigham Young University.

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Yes, it was about this endemic fish that only lives on Utah Lake, but it ended up improving water quality and creating better public access and having a lot of unexpected benefits, he said.

The proposed budget cut makes Abbott and others nervous that projects like the June Sucker restoration wont be possible in the future. The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission is currently working on a restoration project on the Duchesne River in eastern Utah that, if federal funding is pulled, could be impacted.

Plus, operation and maintenance for completed projects could suffer. Federal funding pays for snow and garbage removal, bathroom maintenance, fencing, general upkeep and ongoing conservation.

Obviously, I think the work we do is very important, and I enjoy doing it. But if our elected officials are saying theres other priorities out there, we pivot to try to accommodate those priorities, Mills said.

Birds float in waters near the Provo River Delta on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The presidents budget recommendations are just that  recommendations. Congress has the final say when it comes to federal spending, and experts say that many of Trumps proposed cuts wont get a green light.

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But it provides insight into the Trump administrations priorities. Since taking office, the administration, in partnership with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has cut budgets for federal agencies and laid off federal workers in an attempt to streamline the government and cut waste.

The budget proposal reflects that same sentiment, with a proposed $163 billion in cuts to non-defense discretionary spending. That includes more than $15 billion in funds allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; $1.3 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to study climate change; nearly $1 billion for the National Park Service to operate the park system, build new infrastructure, preserve historic sites, and offer preservation and recreation grants; and $721 million slated for the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development Program.

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The CFO of GiveSendGo is speaking out about the controversial fundraising campaign of a woman who appeared to call a 5-year-old a racial slur

GiveSendGo's Jacob Wells said during an interview that Shiloh Hendrix is "going through a dark time," and his company wants to "be a light"

The boy's family launched their own fundraising campaign after the incident, but closed it after raising over $340,000







The CFO of GiveSendGo is defending his company after a woman accused of using a racial slur against a 5-year-old at a Minnesota playground went on to raise over $750,000 for herself through donations on the platform.

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In an interview with NewsNation, CFO Jacob Wells defended Shiloh Hendrix, who was captured in a video appearing to call a young child the N-word after accusing him of trying to steal from her son, and has since raised over $750,000 in funds to "protect" her family.

Wells accused people of piling onto Hendrix after seeing the viral video, which was filmed on a playground in Rochester, Minn. on April 28, according to NBC News. The CFO said the public has adopted a "mob mentality," which has ruined so many peoples lives."

"The boy was rummaging through her belongings, so it's not like she just stepped into the situation unprovoked and called a young boy a term," Wells claimed before adding that he doesn't "condone calling people racial epitaphs [sic] and bad names at all."

While he told NewsNation he was "bothered" by the video, he continued to defend Hendrix.

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Shiloh is going through a dark moment, just as much as this other family is, and we want to be a light in all of these moments, Wells said.

"I believe in freedom of speech, freedom of association," he continued. "When you start going down the road of cancellation and cancel culture, it actually brings the very things that we say that were against."

Wells did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The man who recorded the video, Sharmake Omar, told NBC he knows the family of the young boy, who is on the autism spectrum and "was visibly upset by the incident."

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The boy's family launched their own fundraising campaign after the incident, local station KIMT reported, but have since closed it after raising more than $340,000 on GoFundMe.

Hendrix's fundraiser sparked a protest on Monday, May 5, near Roy Southerland Playground, where the incident took place, according to KIMT. One anonymous protestor told the outlet, "Its disturbing that this is even happening in Minnesota."

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.

Hendrix launched her GiveSendGo fundraiser to raise money to help her family potentially "relocate" after the incident. While the site typically allows users to post a comment with their donation, GiveSendGo had to disable the comment function on Hendrix's page after multiple contributors shared racist notes with their donations, according to The Washington Post.

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In the most recent update posted Friday, May 9, to her GiveSendGo page, Hendrix thanked her "wonderful supporters," writing that "Without their help, your donations, and the folks from Give Send Go, we would have been lost in the dark."



Earlier this week, the Rochester Police Department announced that they had completed their investigation into the incident and passed their findings onto to the City Attorney's Office to review for "a charging decision."



Read the original article on People
A 24-year-old has been charged in connection with a May 7 fatal shooting at Lock 4 Park boat launch in Sumner County.

Gallatin police said in a social media post that Will Wheatley fatally shot 30-year-old Miles Hanna around 11:15 p.m.

There had been a verbal altercation between Wheatley and Hanna before the shooting, police said.

No other details were immediately released.

The investigation is considered active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Gallatin Police Department at 615-452-1313.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gallatin Police: Argument turns deadly at boat launch. Suspect charged
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) left the door open for a possible 2028 presidential bid, saying in a recent interview that while of course the idea has come up, hes not focused on it currently.

Gallego, who has stirred speculation with an upcoming visit to battleground Pennsylvania, told NBC News that he has received encouragement from donors, organizations and well-known Democratic operatives to run.

Has it ever crossed my mind? Fing of course, Im an elected official, it crosses my mind, he said, calling the question a land mine.

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The junior senator added, Am I thinking about it right now? Absolutely not.

Gallegos comments come as hes set to participate in a town hall Saturday in battleground Bucks County, Pa. The Keystone State, much like Arizona, is a swing state that voted for President Trump in November. The state Democratic Party is hosting the town hall as part of a broader Fight to Save Medicaid initiative.

His trip has drawn some attention to him as a possible 2028 candidate as Democrats search for their next clear leader. Gallego was able to win his Senate race in 2024 and outperform former Vice President Kamala Harris despite her more than 5-point loss to Trump.

The senator told NBC that the next presidential race is so distant that its not even near the radar of me thinking about doing it. He also mentioned that his wife is expecting their third child and hes only been in the Senate for a few months.

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I need to do both jobs well, and those are two very hard jobs, he said. Being the father is the hardest one.

Gallego added that Pennsylvanians want to hear from him because they want a message that Democrats can deliver and bring back working class voters to win elections.

Im the person that has worked those hard jobs and has had to figure out how to make ends meet, how to string a couple paychecks together, to pay rent and everything else like that, he said in the NBC interview. And I think people want to hear from Democrats like me.

The Arizona Democrat is just one of several names that have been floated as possible 2028 Democratic candidates, including Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.) and Chris Murphy (Conn.) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Gamma Iota Boule Foundation hosted the ninth annual recognition luncheon celebrating student achievement and community support.

This years ceremony embodied the theme Cultivating and Celebrating Excellence  recognizing young, outstanding scholars in the community.

News 8s Theresa Marsenburg was a presenter at the event again this year as students in the Rochester community were awarded scholarships totaling $11,000 contributed by local businesses, foundations and donors.

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This is a community interested in growing and improving a part of our vision is to make Rochester an outstanding place to live and this is one of the steps we take to make that vision a reality, Gamma Iota Boule Foundation Chairman Matthew Augustine said.

Dr. Frederick Jefferson Jr. received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. At 90, Dr. Jefferson just retired from the University of Rochester in December.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(FOX40.COM)  AAA announced that as of Thursday, Californias average gas price is $4.82, with the national average at $3.15.

 Video above: Chevron gas station officials discuss the oil companys future in California

As spring ends and summer starts, people may expect gas prices to go up, but AAA said they are not.

According to AAA, the group of oil-producing countries announced on Saturday that it will increase output again in June, which would make room for the supply surplus. This means prices continue to drop going into fall.

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Road trippers would see lower prices at the pump this summer, said a spokesperson from AAA.

Man sentenced to 26 years for rape and child abuse in San Joaquin County

The national average is now 49 cents less than it was one year ago today, said AAA. The National Averages over the past have been as follows:

One Week Ago: $3.18

One Month Ago: $3.24

One Year Ago: $3.64

AAA stated that according to the Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand decreased from $9.09 million last week to $8.71 million, which caused the total domestic gasoline supply to slightly increase from $22.5 million barrels to 225.7.

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In Sacramento, the average gas price is set at $4.93, which is a six-cent rise from the average on Wednesday, according to AAA. The highest gas price was in June 2022, with the price being at $6.44.

The top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are:

California $4.82

Hawaii $4.49

Washington $4.26

Oregon $3.90

Nevada $3.89

Alaska $3.60

Illinois $3.43

Pennsylvania $3.30

Idaho $3.30

Utah $3.30

The top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are:

Mississippi $2.64

Louisiana $2.70

Oklahoma $2.73

Arkansas $2.74

Alabama $2.75

Tennessee $2.75

Texas $2.76

South Carolina $2.77

Missouri $2.82

Kansas $2.83

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(The Hill)  Billionaire entrepreneur Bill Gates criticized Elon Musk for advising the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash the budget of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), accusing the worlds richest man of killing the worlds poorest children.

In an interview with the Financial Times (FT), Gates suggested the DOGEs cuts were too abrupt and left life-saving food and medicines to expire in warehouses. He said the Trump administrations moves to eliminate USAID came at the cost of a resurgence of diseases like measles, HIV and polio.

The picture of the worlds richest man killing the worlds poorest children is not a pretty one, he told FT.

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The Trump administration effectively shuttered the agency earlier this year, with any remaining responsibilities getting absorbed into the State Departments portfolio.

RIP Skype: What to know about your data

Gates told the outlet that under Musks direction, DOGE carried out mass layoffs at USAID without having an understanding of the agency or how it operated. The Microsoft co-founder worked closely with the foreign aid agency for years through joint efforts with the Gates Foundation.

The interview comes the same day the billionaire philanthropist announced plans to spend almost all of his money over the next 20 years in an effort to have maximum impact on global health issues like finding cures for diseases like HIV and eradicating polio. He estimated his foundation would spend more than $200 billion on global health, development and education in the next 20 years, at which point the foundation will close.

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It gives us clarity, Gates said. Well have a lot more money because were spending down over the 20 years, as opposed to making an effort to be a perpetual foundation.

He previously held the top spot on the list of the worlds wealthiest people and now comfortably sits near the very top. The former tech executive said he would pass on less than 1 percent of his wealth to his children.

People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that he died rich will not be one of them, Gates said in a letter outlining his decision. There are too many urgent problems to solve.

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The first-ever American-born pope inherits a world in crisis.

In his first remarks as Pope Leo XIV, Chicagos Robert Francis Prevost prayed for peace.

He said it nine times during Thursdays brief address.

Peace be with you.  This was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God, he said in Italian, explaining his choice of words as he spoke to a crowd and the world from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica.

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I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.

Leo XIVs vision for the Catholic church is one of peace and justice and building bridges ready to receive, with open arms, all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love. A united church must seek peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering, he said.

His urgent message of peace confronts vast suffering and death from brutal wars, simmering tensions among nuclear powers, a long shadow of abuse within a church he now leads, and humanitarian outrage from his home country following three months of chaos under Donald Trumps administration.

By treaty, the Vatican has exercised neutrality in wars for a century, and the pope is barred from mediating global conflicts unless requested by warring parties. But Leo XIVs ascent thrusts him into a period of global turmoil, with both worshippers and a growingly secular American public closely watching whether his message will resonate.

The world is watching how Pope Leo XIV responds to global crises after the death of Pope Francis, who repeatedly called for ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine (Getty Images)

Catholics Vote Common Good, an American progressive Catholic activism group, hailed Leo XIVs election as a new day for modern American Catholicism.

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The conclave gave us something we could have only dreamed of, wrote the groups national co-chair Denise Murphy McGraw. A pope who is as committed to social justice as we are  and as was our beloved Pope Francis, she said.

Leo XIV succeeds Francis, who repeatedly demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israels devastation. Francis also called the Holy Family Church in Gaza every night since the beginning of the war, speaking with church leaders and displaced Palestinians sheltering inside.

A white popemobile built for his 2014 visit to Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is to be transformed into a mobile health clinic to treat Palestinian children, among one of the final missions he blessed in the months before his death on April 21.

Israels President Isaac Herzog said in a statement that he is looking forward to enhancing the relationship between Israel and the Holy See, and strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world.

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May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples. May we see the immediate and safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and a new era of peace in our region and around the world, he said.

Francis also repeatedly promoted peace in Ukraine and maintained an open line of communication with Kyiv throughout Russias ongoing assault. After meeting with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky in October 2024, Francis, while not explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor, appealed for Ukrainians not to be left to freeze to death and stop the killing of innocent people.

Ukraine deeply values the Holy Sees consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federations military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians, Zelensky wrote following Leo XIVs election.

At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraines efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace, he added.

Palestinian clergymen hold mass for late Pope Francis at the Holy Family Church in Gaza on April 21 (AFP via Getty Images)

The papal conclave also selected Leo XIV despite allegations that he had mishandled sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States. Survivors of abuse are now demanding accountability from the new pope and a grave reckoning that should follow.

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We were once the children of the church, reads an open letter from Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests sent in the moments after Leo XIVs election.

The sex offender in the collar commits two crimes: one against the body, and one against the voice, survivors wrote. The grand pageantry around your election reminds us: survivors do not carry the same weight in this world as you do.

Leo XIV also will face a church that stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter for LGBT+ communities, according to GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis.

With his leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love, she said.

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He can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all, she added.

Leo XIV has repeatedly criticized immigration policy under both Trump administrations (AP)

Leo XIV  the Latin Yankee, as he is known in Rome  follows the Jesuit legacy of Francis in South America.

Leo XIV spent 20 years as a missionary among Perus poorest communities, and was so enamored with the country he became a naturalized citizen there. Leo XIV and Francis, an Argentine who became the Churchs first leader from South America, maintained intimate connections to Latin America and across the global south, and were attuned to the unrest, violence and economic devastation that has fueled instability across continents.

During Trumps first presidency, Leo XIV shared several posts on social media criticizing the presidents agenda, particularly his actions against refugees, Trumps racism and nativism, and family separation policies.

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He reposted a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2017 against Trumps order halting refugee admissions. Another post mourned Americas descent into an immoral nation by abandoning Syrian refugees. He also shared a post saying there is nothing remotely Christian, American or morally defensible about Trump-era family separations in immigration cases.

He shared another post from Democratic Senator Chris Murphy in 2017, condemning cowardice in Congress to pass gun control after a massacre in Las Vegas.

Leo XIV did not post in 2024, but in 2025 he posted five times  including two posts criticizing Vice President JD Vance for his widely derided views on the concept of Christian love and Trumps immigration policy.

His most recent post on X shares criticism of Trumps meeting with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, who has agreed to detain deported immigrants from the United States in his notorious prison. Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet? the post says.

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Trump congratulated Leo XIV shortly after his election, calling the appointment of an American pope an honor and saying he looks forward to a meeting that will be a very meaningful moment.

Vance, who posted his congratulations more than an hour later, wrote: Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church.
(NewsNation)  Experts studying why Gen Z is drinking significantly less than previous generations have offered up several potential factors, including health concerns and the influence of social media.

A Dutch banking company offers a much simpler reason: Gen Z is broke.

Rabobank last month published an analysis that explored whether Gen Zs lower consumption of alcohol is due to a life stage or a generational shift. Gen Z is described by Time magazine as anyone born between 1997 and 2012.

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The stigma has decreased: Behind Gen Zs alcohol aversion

Time reported in January that alcohol consumption in the U.S. has risen overall, but not among younger adults. A 2023 Gallup poll determined that the share of adults under age 35 who say they drink dropped ten percentage points in two decades, from 72% in 2001-2003 to 62% in 2021-2023.

George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, suggested that Gen Zers are more health-conscious than previous generations.

It is becoming clear that, for whatever reasons, todays younger generations are just less interested in alcohol and are more likely than older generations to see it as risky for their health and to participate in periods of abstinence like Dry January, Koob told Time.

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The magazines report cites multiple other factors, like the increased legality of marijuana and changing socialization patterns. A 2023 Surgeon Generals advisory stated that the average amount of time people spent with friends in person decreased from 30 hours a month in 2003 to 10 hours a month in 2020.

Gen Z socializes more online than previous generations, and alcohol is a social drug, Koob said.

Dry January: What an alcohol-free month does for your health

Experts theorize that social media, and the desire young people have to look their best online, are significant factors affecting drinking patterns. Technology, including tracking apps, also makes it much easier for underage drinkers to get caught.

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Rabobanks report suggests that while these factors are legitimate, the narratives are greatly overblown. According to analysts, half of Gen Z is under the legal drinking age, while those 21 and older may be struggling to make ends meet.

(Those Gen Zers) have yet to get a college degree, are working an entry-level job or not working at all, and therefore dont have any money to spend on alcohol, the report said. This was also true of millennials, Generation X and baby boomers when they were in their 20s.

As Generation Z gets older, their alcohol purchases are likely to grow, though the industry will need to adjust its products and its advertising to connect with the diversity of the generation and with their changing drinking patterns.

This is an ideal outcome for the alcohol industry, which can celebrate the declines in underage drinking and binge drinking while still benefiting when Gen Zers reach their more mature and responsible prime spending years, the report stated.

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By Anuja Bharat Mistry

(Reuters) -Restaurant Brands missed first-quarter revenue and profit estimates on Thursday, hurt by sluggish demand at its restaurant chains such as Burger King and Tim Hortons amid tariff-related uncertainty.

The restaurant industry has been battling ongoing sales declines as budget-conscious Americans stick to home-cooked meals, prioritizing spending on essentials over dining out.

The U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years in the first quarter, signaling consumers are expecting product prices to shoot up due to the escalating global trade tensions.

The Trump administration's shifting tariff policies have forced businesses to raise prices in an effort to protect profit margins from rising input costs and supply chain disruptions.

Fast-food chain operators such as McDonald's, Domino's, Chipotle and Starbucks took a hit to sales and flagged weak consumer demand.

"We anticipated that Q1 would be our softest quarter of the year and believe that some of the macro noise may have driven further softness," Restaurant Brands CEO Josh Kobza said on a post-earnings call.

Comparable sales at the company's Tim Hortons segment, its biggest revenue generator, dipped 0.1% in the quarter, while at Burger King it fell 1.3%.

"Surprised by the Tim Hortons miss in the context of peers that cited strength in Canada including McDonald's, Starbucks, Wendy's & Yum!, while the brand was a theoretical beneficiary of the 'Buy Canadian movement'," Andrew Charles, analyst with TD Cowen Securities, said.

Rising prices of commodities such as coffee pushed up its supply chain costs, according to Restaurant Brands.

The company reported quarterly revenue of $2.11 billion, compared with analysts' average expectation of $2.13 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands earned 75 cents per share, missing estimates of 78 cents.

(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
COLOGNE, Germany  U.S.-based drone maker General Atomics has achieved a key safety certification from British aviation authorities for the Protector drone, which will allow the unmanned aircraft to fly routinely over civilian areas, the company announced this week.

The so-called Military Type Certificate means the Royal Air Forces Protector RG Mk1, which also goes by the designation MQ-9B, has passed a rigorous airworthiness assessment, a General Atomics statement reads.

In practice, the drones now have the blessing to operate without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas, the company said.

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The achievement has been a long time coming for the U.S. drone vendor, which has pitched its drones ability to fly safely in civilian airspace as a key selling point for its business campaign in Europe.

Military drones must normally stay within protected corridors when flying over land, especially in densely populated areas found in many parts of Europe. That is because unmanned aircraft were traditionally designed with military objectives in mind, giving little consideration to fail-safe propulsion or collision avoidance in mid-air, for example.

This April 29 decision was a first-of-its-kind milestone for a large, unmanned aircraft system, General Atomics said in the statement, referring to the date the UK Military Aviation Authority passed its judgment. Its a huge accomplishment for the UK and a technological watershed in the history of unmanned aircraft systems.

At the heart of the certification lies a NATO standard, dubbed STANAG 4671. The idea is that drone airworthiness achieved to these specifications is transferable across alliance members.

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Linden Blue, the CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said the company had spent $500 million over 11 years to have the the MQ-9B certified to the NATO safety standard.

Besides the British Royal Air Force, the company said it has MQ-9B orders from Belgium, Canada, Poland, Japan Coast Guard, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Taiwan and India.
George Galloway has appeared in Moscow for Vladimir Putins Victory Day celebrations, days after flying to Iran to collect an award named after a dead Hamas leader.

The leader of the hard-Left Workers Party of Britain travelled to Tehran this week to collect an award in honour of Ismail Haniyeh, the assassinated political leader of Hamas, whom the former MP praised as a martyr.

He boasted during the visit that his most treasured possession was Haniyehs passport.

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Mr Galloway, 70, then travelled to Russia, where he witnessed Putins military show of strength, which he said was moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling.

He was given the special Martyr Ismail Haniyeh award at a media festival in the Iranian capital.

Haniyeh was the political leader of the terror group at the time of the October 7 attacks on Israel. The International Criminal Court (ICC) intended to apply for a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but the proceedings were dropped following Haniyehs assassination in Tehran, which has been blamed on Israel.

Elected as the head of Hamass political bureau in 2017, Haniyeh was accused by Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, of being criminally responsible for the killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians in attacks perpetrated by Hamas, in particular its military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, and other armed groups on 7 October 2023.

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At the ceremony, Mr Galloway said in his acceptance speech, captured on video and posted online: I am honoured to receive this award. I actually hold in my safe the passport of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh because when we arrived with one of our convoys to break the siege on Gaza [in 2009], he had promised me a Palestinian passport but they had run out of Palestinian passports. So he gave me his own personal passport and it is one of my most treasured possessions.

Credit: YouTube/ Sobh Festival

Mr Galloway went on to thank the Iranian leadership for their steadfastness in support of the Palestinian people, adding: The truth is when Palestine is finally free, Iran will be able to take its place in the panoply of heroes who made it possible.

He was presented with the award at the Iranian state media festival in recognition of his outspoken defence of Palestine.

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On Friday, Mr Galloway appeared in Moscow, posting a picture of himself on X in Red Square with his fourth wife Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, who is 30 years his junior. Included with the photograph was the caption, moving, emotional, inspiring, humbling.

Mr Galloway posted this image, describing Victory Day in Moscow as inspiring

The Russian presidents Victory Day parade has been condemned for using the 80th anniversary VE Day to justify his ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It was attended by more than 20 foreign leaders, including Xi Jinping of China, and with troop contingents from Egypt and Burkina Faso.

One legal expert said that although Hamas was a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, Mr Galloways praise for Haniyeh, one of its senior leaders, was not in breach of terrorism laws.

But the timing of the visit is also particularly awkward with tensions heightened between Iran and the UK following the arrests last Saturday of four Iranian nationals over an alleged plot to attack Israels embassy in London.

Credit: Reuters

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Mr Galloway picked up his award on May 5, two days after counter-terrorism police arrested the alleged Iranian terrorist cell at four locations in the UK.

Stephen Brisley, from Bridgend in South Wales, whose sister Lianne Sharabi and two nieces Yahel, 13, and Noiya, 16, were killed on Kibbutz Beeri on October 7, said: Its deeply disturbing to see George Galloway praising a former leader of Hamas. This is a cruel blow to the grieving families of those murdered, missing, or held hostage by Hamas.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: George Galloways behaviour is appalling. Hamas is a banned terrorist organisation responsible for repressing its citizens in Gaza and murdering innocent civilians. It is despicable that Galloway has expressed admiration for a senior member of their leadership and that he has travelled to Iran, a state hostile to the West, to do so.

The fact he has then topped it off with a visit to Vladimir Putins Russia, another murderous regime, says all you need to know about George Galloway.

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Mr Galloway was unavailable for comment.

There is no suggestion that Mr Galloway supports Hamass terrorist activities. In a debate at Oxford University in 2012, he previously said: I dont even like Hamas. I would never have voted for Hamas.

Mr Galloway is due to host a talk show from Moscow on Sunday evening which will be broadcast on X and other social media platforms.

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Georgia GOP U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter announced Thursday that he is entering the 2026 U.S. Senate race that is shaping up to be a referendum on President Donald Trump. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder (file)

Georgia Republican Congressman Buddy Carter announced Thursday that hell run for Senate in 2026, entering into whats sure to be a crowded field of Republican candidates looking to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.

Carter, whos serving his sixth term as congressman representing a coastal Georgia district, launched his campaign with an ad declaring himself an ardent backer of the MAGA agenda to put America first.

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The Pooler Republican is entering the race days after presumptive GOP favorite Gov. Brian Kemp announced he was declining to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

Last November, Georgia spoke, but Jon Ossoff doesnt care, the Carter campaign ad says. He fought against President Trump securing our border, and voted for men in girls sports. Jon Ossoff is on the wrong side. Trump has a warrior in Buddy Carter.

Ossoffs U.S. Senate campaign manager Ellen Foster said their campaign was unfazed by Carters announcement.

Sen. Ossoff will defeat any challenger, she said in a statement. While the GOP primary field scrambles to outmaneuver each other and audition for Donald Trumps support, Senator Ossoffs campaign is already building the most effective and unstoppable turnout effort in Georgias history.

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Since 2015, Carter has represented Georgias 1st Congressional District, which includes Savannah. Carter serves on the House Budget, Energy and Commerce committees in Congress. He previously served in the Georgia Legislature for a decade.

Carter becomes the first established Republican candidate to publicly declare for the Senate race. Among the other candidates who have indicated interest are Reps. Mike Collins of Jackson and Insurance Commissioner John King.

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, another stalwart Trump ally, was considered a possible candidate, but she announced on social media Friday that she does not plan to run.

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Charlie Bailey said Carters alignment with Trumps policies puts him at a disadvantage.

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Buddy Carter jumping out of the gate as a self-described MAGA warrior only means that over the next eighteen months he will have to own Donald Trumps tariffs that are increasing costs for Georgia businesses and families, Medicaid cuts, anti-abortion extremism, devastating budget cuts hitting seniors, veterans, and kids, and so much more, Bailey said in a statement.

Georgia Republicans are clearly heading towards a messy, chaotic, and disastrous primary, he said.

Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie said Carters announcement is part of a strategic plan to gain name recognition in a contest that is expected to be highly competitive with no clear front runner.

Gillespie said Carter will look to appeal to Trump supporters without polarizing a segment of voters who like another potential candidate.

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The Senate election will show where Georgias shifting political parties stand after the pandemic-affected 2020 election and the 2022 midterm election in which Republicans regained some control, Gillespie said.

If we look at 2022 in the other statewide races, it looked like Georgia was coming back to equilibrium with Republicans winning, albeit by single digit margin, even though in many instances it was healthy single digit margins, Gillespie said. But when (U.S. Sen.) Raphael Warnock won over Herschel Walker, it reinforced the idea that Georgia has become competitive enough that if the Republican candidate is really problematic Democrats have a shot at winning.

The 2024 presidential election also reflected what is probably still the norm of Georgia in that the state probably still leans Republican, Gillespie added. Even understanding that those national conditions might be a little bit more favorable for Democrats this year, Georgia still looks like its leaning Republican.

Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, anticipates that whichever Republican Senate candidate emerges from the primary in 2026 will close some of the gap in polling against Ossoff.

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He said the harder part is becoming as popular as Kemp in state politics.

What Kemps term as governor has shown is that people approve of the job hes done, and therefore he attracts large numbers of independents and even some Democrats, Bullock said. So it doesnt mean that other Republicans couldnt do that, but theyve got to work a lot harder to get there.

So far, the Democratic Party is making the Senate race a referendum on Trump, Bullock said.

How much of a vulnerability that proves to be in a general election will in part depend upon what the state of the economy is, he said.

Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report.

This post was updated at 9 a.m. on May 10 after Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she will not run for Senate in 2026.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL)  A Georgia man was sentenced to prison for his crime involving a child.

According to the United States Attorneys Office in the Middle District of Alabama, a federal judge ordered Darvin Jerrell Williams, 28, to serve 20 years in prison for transporting a young girl from Alabama to Georgia to commit an act of child sexual abuse.

Williams sentencing was ordered on Wednesday, May 7. The attorneys office says Williams is ordered to remain on supervised release for five years following his sentence and register as a sex offender.

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Court records, as well as his plea agreement, say Williams started a relationship with a pre-teen girl in the Middle District of Alabama by communicating with her through text messages and a popular social media app back in December 2023.

The 28-year-old communicated his desire to have a sexual relationship with the young girl on multiple occasions.

Then, in January 2024, Williams traveled to Alabama to pick up the young girl and take her back to Georgia, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Authorities started searching for the girl after she was reported missing on the same day Williams picked her up. She was found in her hometown the next day.

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Williams was indicted in August 2024 for illegally transporting a minor across state lines and for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He pled guilty to those charges on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tallassee Police Department.

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After spending 45 days in a Cobb County, Georgia, jail on a charge of attempted kidnapping, Mahendra Patel was released on Tuesday on a $10,000 bond after a judge determined he was not a threat to the community. Patel, 57, was arrested on March 18 and initially denied bail after a mother accused him of trying to kidnap her 2-year-old son in an Atlanta-area Walmart.

According to the police report, Patel approached 26-year-old Caroline Miller and her two young children in the Walmart to ask for help finding Tylenol. Miller was sitting on a motorized shopping cart provided for disabled customers (even though she is not disabled) and had her toddler son on her lap. Miller told WSB-TV Atlanta that Patel grabbed the toddler and started "tug of warring" with her before letting go. Miller later reported the incident to 911 operators. "I had to rip my baby out of some other man's hands because he was trying to snatch him," Miller told the operator. "It all happened so fast, and he was out of the store, and while I was talking to the manager, he left."

Patel was subsequently arrested and charged with assault, battery, and kidnapping, which was later amended to attempted kidnapping.

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However, security footage shown during Patel's latest bail hearing has been used to question the mother's claims. Patel's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, claimed that Patel believed Miller was disabled due to the motorized cart and was merely trying to help stabilize the toddler as the mother began standing up from the cart. Merchant argued that Patel had no intention of taking the boy. Witnesses also failed to corroborate Miller's story and did not recall seeing any kind of attempted kidnapping. "The video couldn't be clearer: Mr. Patel did not try to kidnap this child," said Merchant.

Prosecutor Jesse Evans, on the other hand, argued that the security footage does in fact back up the mother's story and shows Patel tugging on the 2-year-old boy's leg before returning her son to her lap. Evans also highlighted Patel's criminal historya past low-level felony conviction and a pending DUI caseand evidence that Patel may have been intoxicated during the incident (a point refuted by the defense). Additionally, Evans argued that Patel's statements during an interview with police that he knew Miller thought he was taking her kid and wanted to apologize for what he had done were further proof that Patel is a danger to the community.

After hearing both arguments, the judge presiding over the bail hearing determined that Patel was "entitled to a bond" and "doesn't have any type of conviction that bothers me in terms of any type of violent behavior." Patel was granted a bond and released later the same day after spending over six weeks in custody. He still faces charges, including attempted kidnapping. An individual is considered guilty in the state of Georgia of attempted kidnapping if found to have attempted to "abduct or steal away another person without lawful authority or warrant and holds such a person against his or her will," and includes even "slight movement" of another person. If convicted, Patel faces between one and 30 years in prison.

The post Georgia Man Who Spent 6 Weeks in Jail on a Kidnapping Charge Says He Was Helping a Falling Child appeared first on Reason.com.
A Georgia State Patrol trooper was injured in a crash Wednesday night while he was assisting the Waycross Police Department in a pursuit.

GSP said Waycross officers were trying to stop a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Tracy Hilliard, 47, on Swamp Road near Gilmore Drive.

GSP said Trooper First Class Justin Jones became the primary position in the pursuit and worked to disable Hilliards vehicle with a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver.

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Jones patrol car and the Tahoe both left the road, and the patrol car ended up overturned and partially submerged in a canal, GSP said.

Hilliards vehicle ended up on top of Jones patrol car, and Jones had to be rescued from the car by WPD officers.

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The Waycross-Ware County Development Authority said in a Facebook post that Jones was airlifted to Memorial Trauma Center in Savannah.

As a community, we stand in support of Trooper Jones and his loved ones during this difficult time. Were all wishing him strength, healing, and a full recovery, the Authority said in its Facebook post.

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GSP said Jones expects to be released from the hospital soon.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday called for the cancellation of the European Union's supply chain law during his inaugural visit to Brussels as head of government.

"We will revoke the national law in Germany. And I also expect the European Union to follow suit and really cancel this directive," he said, speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The so-called Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is part of von der Leyen's long-term push for more sustainable and climate-friendly regulations.

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The law, this was adopted last year and is to be applied from 2028, aims to strengthen human rights worldwide. Large companies are to be held accountable for human rights violations in their supply chains including child or forced labour.

Some companies however see the directive as adding excessive requirements that would impose bureaucratic burdens and reduce Europe's competitiveness.

Merz welcomed the commission's effort to reduce bureaucracy and red tape in other areas.
New Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited Donald Trump to Germany during his first phone call with the US president.

According to government sources, Trump signalled that he could envisage such a visit after the 30-minute conversation.

Apart from stopovers at the US military's Ramstein Air Base, Trump has only visited Germany once as president, for the 2017 G20 summit.

Trump, for his part, invited Merz to Washington. The chancellor has already publicly stated that he would like to travel to the US before the G7 and NATO summits in June.

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The G7 summit will take place in Canada in mid-June, followed shortly afterwards by the NATO summit in The Hague.

The topic of Ukraine dominated most of the phone conversation. Both sides agreed to work closely together with the aim of ending Russia's war, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said.

Merz shared Trump's demand that the killing in Ukraine must come to a swift end. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire to create space for negotiations. Trump said he wanted to support European peace efforts.

Trump and Merz also agreed to seek a swift resolution to trade disputes, according to the statement.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has threatened Russia with new sanctions if it does not agree to a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks.

Source: Merz on Friday during his first visit to Brussels, as quoted by Stern, European Pravda reports

Details: The new German chancellor called on Russia to "finally embark on the path of real peace talks".

"If this does not happen, we will not hesitate, together with our European partners and the United States of America, to further strengthen sanctions," he said.

Background:

On Thursday, Merz had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump. The chancellor said that he expressed his support for the plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Merz said that Russia must "finally agree to a lasting truce that will allow for a genuine peace treaty".

On Friday, Merz arrived in Brussels for his first visit as chancellor to hold talks with EU and NATO representatives.

On 8 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Merz. The Ukrainian president said that they agreed to "work on the implementation of many important things".

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Germany's new Economy Minister Katherina Reiche on Friday called for the rapid construction of new gas-fired power plants in the country to support the country's energy supply when renewable sources are unavailable.

"We need flexible gas-fired power plants that can supply electricity when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining. And we need them quickly," Reiche said at the Ludwig Erhard Summit at the Bavarian lake resort Tegernsee, three days after taking office.

She said it was important to "quickly move to tender at least 20 gigawatts of gas-fired power plants to maintain energy security."

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Reiche, from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), pointed to the recent power outage on the Iberian Peninsula, saying that had demonstrated how important such gas-fired power plants are.

To make this feasible in terms of costs, she said, "long-term gas supply contracts" and a reality check of the energy transition are needed.

She added that it must be clarified whether the expansion in recent years has been ideal "or whether we have overlooked the system risks and system costs in the expansion of renewable energies."

While she acknowledged that "the expansion of renewable energies has advanced us towards the goal of climate neutrality," she noted the costs, including those for grid expansion, grid bottlenecks, and for shutting down coal and gas-fired power plants.

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"This will be one of my first measures. We need a kind of monitoring and an honest assessment of the state of the energy transition," she said.

Electricity costs key

To revitalize Germany's economy, the new government will also address electricity prices, Reiche said.

"We need to lower the electricity tax, we need to reduce the gas storage levy, and we need an industrial electricity price, although I must say that this is a tough nut to crack in Europe," she stressed.

The diversity of renewable energies must be utilized, "but we must always keep an eye on the costs."

No return to nuclear power

Reiche currently sees no possibility for a return to nuclear energy, which the CDU and its Bavaria sister party, the Christian Social Union had vocally demanded during the election campaign.

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"The phase-out has been completed," she said.

A return would not only require money but also the trust of companies that would need to implement it, which no longer exists.

Additionally, she said, it remains difficult to achieve societal consensus on nuclear energy in Germany.

The opportunity for a return to nuclear power was missed during the energy crisis, and "we have to live with the situation now."

New free trade agreements

Reiche also stressed the urgent need for new free trade agreements to protect global trade, given Germany's export-oriented economy.

"This means we need to conclude the relevant free trade agreements with Chile, Mercosur, India, Australia and Mexico. And I explicitly say, we also need the United States of America," Reiche said.

Katherina Reiche, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, takes part in the Ludwig Erhard Summit, attended by representatives from business, politics, science and the media. Sven Hoppe/dpa
By Deborah Mary Sophia

(Reuters) - Shopify is seeing steady growth in the number of merchants signing up on its e-commerce platform and no weakness so far in consumer demand, the Canadian company said on Thursday, easing some investor fears of a tariff-induced hit.

The company also said it expects no meaningful impact to its business from the expiration of the "de minimis" policy that allowed import packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.

Only 1% of its overall gross merchandise volume (GMV) - the total value of goods sold on Shopify - is related to imports from China that were subject to the exemption.

Shopify forecast second-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates, as its platform upgrades and AI features help pull in more sellers.

Sidekick, the company's AI assistant for merchants, has doubled its monthly average user count since the beginning of the year, Shopify said.

"Our business model is built for this (uncertainty) ... it's precisely in times like this that we can demonstrate that those building on Shopify are simply better prepared than those that are not," President Harley Finkelstein told analysts on a call.

Shopify's U.S.-listed shares pared some premarket declines, and were last trading 3% lower. The company forecast second-quarter gross profit below estimates, owing to higher cloud infrastructure costs and changes in pricing of its subscription services and trial periods.

"Investors are very concerned about what happens with e-commerce in a new global tariff regime, so they're very sensitive even to the smallest miss right now," D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria said.

A slew of companies have lowered or withdrawn outlooks recently, as Corporate America scrambles to adjust to trade tensions brought on by U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff plans.

Meanwhile, Shopify forecast second-quarter revenue growth in the mid-twenties percentage range, above analysts' average estimate of 22.4% growth, according to data compiled by LSEG.

It expects gross profit to grow at a high-teens percentage range, while analysts were expecting a 20.2% rise.

Ken Wong, analyst at Oppenheimer, said: "The quarter was arguably good enough, but I think just given the backdrop ... there's still some concerns that further headwinds could potentially put the numbers at risk."

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
Johann Wadephul, the new German Foreign Minister, has arrived in Ukraine for his first visit on 9 May.

Source: European Pravda; Tagesschau, a German television news service

Details: Wadepful arrived in Lviv, where an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers will take place on 9 May. He posted a short video on his X feed on the evening of 8 May confirming his arrival in Ukraine.

The minister assured journalists in his comments that Germany would continue to be among the countries with the highest level of support for Ukraine and would "clearly show this in the coming days".

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The German foreign minister noted that he intends to inquire about Ukraine's current needs.

"We will do what is necessary and we will continue to do what is necessary, and we will do it as long as it takes, until Russia realises that this war has to end, that they have to come to the negotiating table and that they must now quickly and consistently respect the ceasefire," Wadepful said.

Background: The new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also said that he plans to visit Ukraine in the near future.

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The new German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed that a special tribunal on Russia's aggression against Ukraine will be the main topic of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lviv on 9 May.

Source: Tagesspiegel, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Wadephul said that establishing a special tribunal to ensure accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine will be a key topic at the informal meeting of European ministers.

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He noted that this would demonstrate to the free world that such actions cannot remain without consequences.

Wadephul stressed that this tribunal was also a preventive measure for the future, so that no one would ever think that in the 21st century the world could return to the Middle Ages and wage wars with impunity.

Background:

On 8 May, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that Putin's tribunal would receive its final political approval in Lviv on 9 May.

European foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commemorated the fallen Ukrainian soldiers during their visit to Lviv.

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BERLIN (AP)  Margot Friedlander, a German Jew who survived the Theresienstadt concentration camp and became a high-profile witness to Nazi persecution in her final years, died Friday. She was 103.

Her death was announced by the Margot Friedlander Foundation in Berlin on its website. Details about where she died, as well as the cause of death, were not immediately made public.

She died the week of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germanys unconditional surrender in World War II.

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After spending much of her life in the United States, Friedlander returned to live in the German capital in her 80s. She was honored with Germanys highest decoration and with a statue at Berlins City Hall.

What I do gives me my strength and probably also my energy, because I speak for those who can no longer speak, Friedlander said at an event at Berlins Jewish Museum in 2018.

I would like to say that I dont just speak for the 6 million Jews who were killed, but for all the people who were killed  innocent people, she said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences in a statement, saying she gave Germany reconciliation despite the horrors she went through here in her life. Steinmeier said the country cannot be grateful enough for her gift.

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A report released last month said more than 200,000 Jewish survivors are still alive but 70% of them will be gone within the next 10 years.

Were Germans'

Friedlander was born Margot Bendheim on Nov. 5, 1921. Her father, Artur Bendheim, owned a shop in Berlin. He had fought for Germany and had been decorated in World War I.

Friedlander recalled that, after the Nazis took power, her father initially said that they dont mean us; Were Germans. She added that we didnt see it until it was too late."

Friedlander wanted to design clothes and started an apprenticeship as a tailor. After her parents divorced in 1937, Friedlander, her mother and younger brother went to live with her grandparents. In 1941, they had to move to a so-called Jewish apartment, and Friedlander was forced to work nights at a metal factory.

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In January 1943, just as the family was planning to flee Berlin, Friedlander returned home to discover that her brother, Ralph, had been taken away by the Gestapo. A neighbor told her that her mother had decided to go to the police and go with Ralph, wherever that may be.

She passed on her mothers final message  Try to make your life, which would later become the title of Friedlander's autobiography  along with her handbag.

Friedlander went into hiding, taking off the yellow star that Jews were obliged to wear. She recalled getting her hair dyed red, reasoning that people think Jews dont have red hair.

She said that 16 people helped keep her under the radar over the next 15 months.

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That ended in April 1944 when she was taken in by police after being stopped for an identity check after leaving a bunker following an air raid. She said she quickly decided to tell the truth and say that she was Jewish.

The running and hiding was over, she said. I felt separated from the fate of my people. I had felt guilty every day; had I gone with my mother and my brother, I would at least have known what had happened to them.

Theresienstadt concentration camp and ghetto

Friedlander arrived in June 1944 at the packed Theresienstadt camp. In the spring of 1945, she recalled later, she saw the arrival of skeletal prisoners who had been forced onto death marches from Auschwitz ahead of that camps liberation.

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At that moment, we heard of the death camps, and at that moment I understood that I would not see my mother and my brother again, she said. Both were killed at the Auschwitz death camp.

Her father had fled in 1939 to Belgium. He later went to France, where he was interned, before being deported in 1942 to Auschwitz, where he was also killed.

Shortly after the camps liberation, she married Adolf Friedlander, an acquaintance from Berlin whom she met again at Theresienstadt. He had a sister in America, and  after months in a camp for displaced persons  they arrived in New York in 1946.

A return to Germany

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Friedlander stayed away from Germany for 57 years. She and her husband became U.S. citizens; she worked as a tailor and later ran a travel agency.

Adolf Friedlander died in 1997, aged 87. Margot returned to Germany for the first time in 2003, when she was received at Berlins City Hall along with others who had been pushed out by the Nazis.

In 2010, she moved back to the German capital, where she told her story to students and was decorated with, among other things, the countrys highest honor, the Order of Merit. She was made a citizen of honor of Berlin in 2018.

Noting that there were few Holocaust survivors still alive, she told an audience that year: I would like you to be the witnesses we cant be for much longer.
A Social Democrat lawmaker in Germany has been forced to defend himself against criticism for taking a trip to Azerbaijan for talks with Russian representatives, which came to light after a media investigation.

"One of the principles of good foreign policy is that, even and especially in difficult times of increasing tensions, conflicts and wars, dialogue contacts in all parts of the world and also with Russia should be maintained," Ralf Stegner wrote in a joint statement with three former members of the parliament on Friday.

German media had reported on the trip to Baku which Stegner and others took on April 14.

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Stegner told dpa that he was surprised at the polemical reaction, which had "no grounds."

"It's important to have contact for there to be any dialogue at all," he said.

Stegner stressed that he did not go as a government representative, but a freely elected member of parliament. It was "based on private initiative and organized and financed informally," he said.

No sensitive security information or even secret information was exchanged, he said.

The deputy chairman of the parliament's intelligence oversight panel, conservative Roderich Kiesewetter, told reporters previously that Stegner "would have to face some questions" on the visit.

A senior politician from the liberal Free Democrats, Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, demanded that Stegner be should not be allowed to remain a member of the oversight panel.
The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is counting on close cooperation with Turkey on defence issues, he said in Brussels on Friday.

He and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are united by "the firm will to keep Turkey firmly bound to us as a major NATO member," Merz said during his inaugural visit to NATO's headquarters in Brussels, days after being sworn in as chancellor.

Turkey protects an area within NATO territory whose strategic importance cannot be overstated, Merz told a joint press conference with Rutte. "That is why Turkey is an extremely valuable and important NATO partner for us, and I will do everything in my power to maintain and further expand this partnership with Turkey within NATO," he said.

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Merz also said that he intends to accept an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the near future.

His statement comes as the German government weighs whether to approve the delivery of fighter jets to Turkey.

Turkey seeks to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets. As Germany is involved in the European joint project, the fighter jets cannot be exported without the German government's approval.
By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN (Reuters) - German legislators are demanding an explanation from a senior Social Democrat on the parliamentary committee that scrutinises the work of the intelligence services after he held undisclosed talks with close associates of Russia's president.

Ralf Stegner, a member of the Bundestag's Parliamentary Control Committee, was among politicians from the SPD and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives who took part in the April meeting in Baku.

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Among those they met on April 13 in the Azerbaijan capital was former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Subkov, head of Gazprom's supervisory board, and Valery Fadeyev, EU-sanctioned chair of Russia's human rights council.

On both sides, the participants were former members of the Petersburger Dialogue, a forum founded in 2001 by Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The forum was officially disbanded in 2021 after Russia's crackdown on several participating civil society organisations.

Four German participants - Stegner, Ronald Pofalla - who once led former Chancellor Angela Merkel's office - and two former regional ministers - confirmed in a statement to Reuters that they had been at a "private" event in Baku.

"Talking even in difficult times of growing tension is a fundamental principle of good foreign policy," they wrote, adding that the "confidential" meeting was not secret, and none of them had a public mandate to be there or had been paid for their presence.

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The meeting, first reported by ARD public television and newspaper Die Zeit, took place at a time when Russia's ties with the EU are in a deep freeze over its invasion of Ukraine. The timing raised questions over the apparent willingness of some politicians to seek rapprochement even as Moscow wages war on a German ally.

In Stegner's case, critics also raised security concerns: Members of the parliamentary control committee have privileged, confidential access to the work of Germany's foreign and domestic security services, both of them heavily involved in gathering intelligence relating to Russia and the war.

"This is a quite impossible and irritating development that must immediately be cleared up," Konstantin von Notz, the Green chair of the committee, told Der Spiegel.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a conservative member of the committee, said Stegner should explain himself, while liberal European legislator Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said Stegner should not be nominated for a new term on the committee.

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"People in such a key role have to be above all suspicion," she told Funke newspapers. "That is not the case for him."

(Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke, editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will decide on whether to publish a report from Germany's domestic intelligence agency classifying the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a confirmed right-wing extremist group after meeting with the agency.

Dobrindt, a Bavarian conservative, told a Thursday evening talk show on the German public broadcaster ZDF, that he had invited the president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's (BfV), the agency, for a discussion.

"I also want to be briefed on this report directly by the BfV itself," Dobrindt said. Following his meeting with the BfV, Dobrindt said a decision would be made on whether to publish the report, potentially in a redacted form to protect intelligence sources.

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The internal document served as the basis for the domestic intelligence agency's recent decision to classify the AfD as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavour" but the document has been kept under wraps.

The AfD is challenging the classification with an urgent application before the Cologne Administrative Court.

So far, the BfV has suspended the new classification under a so-called standstill agreement and continues to list the AfD as a "suspected case" until the court rules.

Report is more than 1,000 pages

The report, which is said to be around 1,100 pages long, provides quotes and evidence supporting the confirmed right-wing extremist classification.

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Dobrindt said on the show that he has not yet read the report and he does not have a copy of it.

However various media outlets have reportedly accessed the internal document and are already quoting from it.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reminded the country of the lessons learned from World War II in a major speech on Thursday, as Germany commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and the downfall of the Nazi dictatorship.

"We know where isolation leads, where aggressive nationalism and contempt for democratic institutions lead. We have already lost democracy once in Germany," Steinmeier said in a speech to Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, attended by foreign diplomats based in Berlin.

"Let us trust in our experience! Let us stand up for our values. Let us not freeze in fear," he said.

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The president emphasized that May 8 has become central to the identity of the whole of Germany.

Today, he said, Germans no longer need to ask whether May 8 represented liberation. "But we ask: How can we remain free?"

International order under attack

Steinmeier noted that the United States was currently calling into question the international order built after World War II.

He said Washington's policies and Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked a "double break with history."

"Russia's war of aggression and America's breach of values mark the end of this long 20th century."

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Steinmeier said the fascination with authoritarianism and populist temptations are also gaining ground in Europe, and doubts about democracy are being voiced.

Extremist forces in Germany

The German president expressed concern about the rise of extremist forces in the country.

These forces mock the institutions of democracy, poison debates, play on people's fears, trade in fear and incite people against each other, he said.

"Anyone who wants good for this country must protect coexistence, cohesion and the peaceful reconciliation of interests. I expect this of all democrats in this country," Steinmeier said to prolonged applause.

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The anniversary comes just two days after the new German government under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office, with the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) forming the largest party in the opposition.

Directing a warning towards the AfD, Steinmeier cautioned against attempts to "close the book on our history and our responsibility."

He said he was surprised by the stubbornness with which some people, "unfortunately also in this house," were calling for this.

"Let us not flee from our history. Let us not throw its lessons overboard, especially when they demand something of us. That would be both cowardly and wrong," he said.

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Bundestag President Julia Klockner echoed this warning in her speech at the opening of the special ceremony in parliament.

"To this day, not everyone is aware of the monstrous extent of the German crimes. Or worse still, many no longer want to deal with it," she said.

Merz chides AfD

Merz criticized the behaviour of the far-right AfD during Steinmeier's speech in the Bundestag.

"You might have seen the different degree of applause this morning between the different parliamentary groups we are having in parliament," Merz said after the commemorative event during a discussion with participants of the international youth camp "Youth4Peace" at the Chancellery.

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"My guess was that the AFD, the so-called Alternative fur Deutschland, didn't like most of the speech the president gave this morning. This shows that the division of thinking and how we estimate our democracy is dividing our parliament," he added.

"That's the reason why I'm feeling extremely challenged by that development we are faced with over the last 10 years now. We have to do our work thoughtfully and carefully, but we have to engage ourselves and we have to encourage you from whatever country you come from. But our democracies are at a test."

During the speech, only a few AfD members of parliament applauded at times, in contrast to all other parliamentary groups.

Forgotten victims of the war

Klockner highlighted the forgotten victims of the brutal war, emphasizing the suffering of the Polish nation, and of the scale of German destruction in modern-day Belarus and Russia.

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She also brought up the plight of the German women who faced sexual violence by invading forces, drawing a direct parallel to the conflict in Ukraine.

Among others, the Israeli and Ukrainian ambassadors to Germany, Ron Prosor and Oleksii Makeiev, as well as the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, sat in the public gallery during the memorial service.

Ambassadors from Russia and Belarus were not invited to the ceremony due to their governments' involvement in the war against Ukraine.

80 years on

The event marks eight decades since Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender, which came into effect late on May 8, 1945 - when it was already May 9 in Moscow.

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The war, started by Adolf Hitler's regime in 1939, resulted in the estimated deaths of about 60 million people worldwide, most of them civilians.

The Soviet Union was particularly hard hit, with around 27 million dead. Germany lost around 6.3 million people, including many soldiers.

Fighting in the Asia-Pacific continued for several months after the defeat of Nazi Germany. Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, ending hostilities, on September 2, 1945.

Commemorations were taking place in capitals including Paris and Ottawa. Moscow will hold its annual Victory Day parade on Friday. London held a smaller parade earlier in the week.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Public prosecutors in Germany have moved to strip a politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) of his immunity as a lawmaker after initiating a probe into bribery and money laundering allegations, local media reported on Friday.

Prosecutors in the eastern city of Dresden confirmed that an investigation had been initiated against a German lawmaker on charges of bribery while he was a member of the European Parliament as well as money laundering in connection with Chinese payments.

The prosecutors did not name the suspect.

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According to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, the probe is focused on Maximilian Krah, one of the new cohort of AfD politicians who entered the German parliament after February's federal election.

Krah's office was not immediately available for comment on the report, which was also carried by Der Spiegel magazine.

Last month German authorities arrested a former aide of Krah on suspicion of having used his position to gather information for the Chinese intelligence service and of spying on Chinese dissidents.

The man, identified as Jian G., obtained more than 500 documents to transfer to China, including some classified by the European Parliament as particularly sensitive, the federal prosecutors' office said in a statement.

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Krah has not commented publicly on the case since his former aide's arrest. Two years ago, when a member of the European Parliament, he dismissed allegations then surfacing that his aide had been lobbying for China as slander against himself.

(Reporting by Hans-Edzard Busemann, Writing by Miranda Murray; Editing by Gareth Jones)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday that Germany would provide Ukraine with an additional 40 million ($45 million) in humanitarian aid as he met with EU foreign ministers in Lviv to show a united front against Russia.

"We are showing here that Europe stands with Ukraine and are reminding people that the Nazi regime was also significantly defeated by Ukrainian soldiers," Wadephul said during an informal meeting of EU diplomats in the western Ukrainian.

The representatives acknowledged that many other groups who were then part of the Soviet Union helped to defeat Nazi Germany.

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"We will not allow this day of remembrance, which is entirely justified, to be used to justify today's war against Ukraine. That would be a distortion of history, which would do justice neither to Ukraine nor to Europe's history as a whole," he added.

After visiting a rehabilitation centre for severely injured soldiers and a cemetery with his colleagues, Wadephul expressed his shock. "This is a completely senseless war, one that claims victims every day."

The German diplomat noted a spirit of solidarity with Ukraine among his EU colleagues: "We stand together."

Wadephul also welcomed US President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine as a first step towards a peace solution.

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Following what he described as a "very positive, constructive" phone call between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Trump on Thursday, the German government intends to continue involving the United States in the peace process.

Wadephul plans to discuss this further with his US counterpart Marco Rubio on Friday evening and hopes to meet Rubio in person as soon as possible.
By Curtis Williams

(Reuters) -Cheniere Energy, the largest U.S. liquefied natural gas exporter, beat first-quarter estimates for core profit and revenue on Thursday, helped by rising prices for the superchilled gas as demand increased.

The U.S. is the world's top exporter of LNG and commercial activity in the sector has gained further momentum following President Donald Trump's lifting in January of a moratorium on new export permits.

Cheniere said first-quarter adjusted core profit, or EBITDA, rose 6% to $1.87 billion versus last year, which also beat analysts' average estimate of $1.64 billion, based on LSEG data.

The increase was mainly driven by higher profit margins as stronger market prices boosted returns compared with the same period in 2024.

Cheniere is expecting to produce the first LNG from the second of its seven-train expansion at its Corpus Christi, Texas facility, within a month, CEO Jack Fusco said in an earnings call.

Cheniere has been building a 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) expansion to its Corpus Christi export plant in Texas, called Stage 3, which consists of seven trains.

The company is also expecting that four of the seven trains will be completed before the end of the year, Fusco said. It had previously said it expected to finish three trains before the end of the year.

Cheniere expects to make a financial decision in a few months on another expansion project called Midscale 7 and 8, Fusco said.

Cheniere does not see its 2025 financial performance being impacted by the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China and expects its Chinese buyers to purchase all their contracted cargoes, even if they sell some to third countries, said Anatol Feygin, Cheniere's Chief Commercial Officer.

Chinese buyers have been reselling their U.S. cargoes to Europe and other markets to avoid the reciprocal tariffs placed on LNG as part of the trade war between the U.S. and China.

Feygin said some European countries could face LNG price shocks because of their low gas storage levels and as Russian gas is not an option. He predicted, however, that Russian gas will flow to Europe again on the conclusion of the Ukraine war.

The company's total revenue for the first-quarter jumped 28% to $5.44 billion, beating estimates of $4.91 billion.

The reported quarter included a $725 million boost from increased Henry Hub-linked LNG contract pricing and $428 million from stronger short-term marketing sales amid elevated global gas prices, the company had earlier said in a filing.

Cheniere reaffirmed its 2025 financial forecast of adjusted EBITDA between $6.5 billion and $7.0 billion, and distributable cash flow between $4.1 billion and $4.6 billion.
German police on Friday said they had shut down a major online platform for cryptocurrency exchanges, seizing 34 million ($38 million) in assets.

The eXch platform was taken down in late April, according to a statement from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Frankfurt prosecutor's office.

Authorities confiscated 34 million in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin and Dash, representing the third-largest seizure of crypto assets in the BKA's history.

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The platform had been operational since 2014, allowing users to exchange cryptocurrencies.

Users were not required to identify themselves, with the platform explicitly advertising itself as not implementing measures against money laundering.

An estimated $1.9 billion had been exchanged on the platform, which was accessible on both the regular internet and the dark net.

The platform's operators are suspected of having facilitated money laundering and running a criminal trading platform.

The operators had announced they would shut down the service on May 1, but authorities intervened to close the platform on April 30, enabling them to secure more than 8 terabytes of data.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday supported US President Donald Trump's proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, as he visited Brussels for the first time since taking office earlier this week.

"Russia is now called upon to finally agree to a longer ceasefire, which must leave room for a genuine peace treaty," Merz said after meeting European Council President Antonio Costa.

Merz also warned of further sanctions if Russia does not cooperate.

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"If this does not happen, we will not hesitate, together with our European partners and the United States of America, to further increase the pressure of sanctions," he said.

Merz also held talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Belgian capital.

The newly elected chancellor spoke to Trump on the phone for the first time on Thursday evening, two days after taking office.

He said that several European states, including Germany, France, Poland and the United Kingdom, are willing to support Trump's initiative with a joint declaration.

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Trump on Thursday said "the US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire" in a post on his Truth Social platform.

A three-day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to last until Saturday night, coinciding with a major military parade in Moscow.

Both Ukraine and Russia have reported continuing attacks despite the supposed ceasefire.

Merz dampens Kiev's hopes of joining NATO soon

Speaking after his meeting with Rutte, Merz gave little hope of Ukraine joining the Western military alliance in the near future.

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kiev applied for membership to the European Union and urged NATO allies to issue an invitation to join the military alliance.

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NATO agreed last year to admit Ukraine in the future without setting a date, but the US administration under Donald Trump has since ruled out such a move. NATO allies have to agree unanimously on admitting new members.

"Ukraine has the prospect of joining the European Union," Merz said, speaking alongside Rutte. Experts say that Ukraine will not be ready to join the EU until 2030 at the earliest.

"This will certainly come before NATO accession, if that should materialize one day," Merz added.

Merz calls Turkey 'extremely valuable, important NATO partner'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is counting on close cooperation with Turkey on defence issues, he also said in Brussels.

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He and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are united by "the firm will to keep Turkey firmly bound to us as a major NATO member," Merz said.

Turkey protects an area within NATO territory whose strategic importance cannot be overstated, Merz told a joint press conference with Rutte.

His statement comes as the German government weighs whether to approve the delivery of fighter jets to Turkey. Turkey seeks to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets.

As Germany is involved in the European joint project, the fighter jets cannot be exported without the German government's approval.

Merz defends German migration policy

The trip to Brussels is his second foreign trip as chancellor after travelling to Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday. The new German government took office on Tuesday.

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Merz has promised closer cooperation with France and Poland and a renewed push for European sovereignty in response to the foreign policy shift in the United States under Trump.

During his election campaign, Merz also promised a tougher stance on migration.

The new chancellor on Friday defended his government's move to increase controls at borders with its neighbours amid criticism from Poland, Austria and Switzerland.

Critics say that such an approach might not be compatible with EU law.

"We will also continue to turn people back, but this is all in line with European law and our European neighbours are also fully aware of this," Merz told reporters in Brussels.

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After her meeting with Merz, Von der Leyen said, "Migration is a common European challenge and it needs a common European solution."

The commission president announced 3 billion ($3.4 billion) would be made available from the EU budget for migration and border management as well as for hosting Ukrainian refugees.

Von der Leyen stressed that the bloc has agreed on a far-reaching reform of its migration and asylum regulations but that many stricter rules are yet to come into effect, calling the current situation "a dilemma."

Merz calls on EU to scrap supply chain law

Merz, who promotes a pro-business agenda, called for the cancellation of the EU's supply chain law, likely to von der Leyen's displeasure.

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"We will revoke the national law in Germany. And I also expect the European Union to follow suit and really cancel this directive," he said, speaking alongside von der Leyen.

The so-called Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is part of von der Leyen's long-term push for more sustainable and climate-friendly regulations.

Some companies however see the directive as adding excessive requirements that would impose bureaucratic burdens and reduce Europe's competitiveness.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the lifting of all tariffs between the United States and the European Union in his first telephone call with US President Donald Trump.

"I told him that I don't think it's a good idea to escalate this customs dispute," Merz said in Brussels on Friday, speaking alongside European Council President Antonio Costa. "The best solution would be down to zero for everything and for everyone."

"My view is and remains that such a customs dispute can only harm us all and ultimately benefits no one," Merz added during his first visit to the Belgian capital as chancellor.

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Merz spoke to Trump on the phone for the first time on Thursday evening, two days after taking office in Berlin.

He said Trump invited him to Washington during the phone call on Thursday, with the German leader also inviting the president to Berlin.

The comments came as the EU seeks to settle an ongoing trade dispute with the US administration under Trump, which has imposed a blanket 10% duty on all imports and threatened further measures.

In April, Trump paused special levies on imports from most trading partners, including the EU, for 90 days, prompting the bloc to suspend its planned counter-tariffs to allow for further talks.

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Amid the negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has offered Washington a "zero-for-zero tariff agreement."

But on Thursday, the commission unveiled plans to impose additional counter-tariffs on US goods if talks with Washington do not lead to a solution to the trade conflict.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the lifting of all tariffs between the United States and the European Union in his first telephone call with US President Donald Trump.

"I told him that I don't think it's a good idea to escalate this customs dispute," Merz said in Brussels on Friday, speaking alongside European Council President Antonio Costa. "The best solution would be down to zero for everything and for everyone."

"My view is and remains that such a tariff dispute can only harm us all and ultimately benefits no one," Merz added during his first visit to the Belgian capital as chancellor.

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Merz spoke to Trump on the phone for the first time on Thursday evening, two days after taking office in Berlin.

He said Trump invited him to Washington during the phone call on Thursday, with the German leader also inviting the president to Berlin.

The comments came as the EU seeks to settle an ongoing trade dispute with the US administration under Trump, which has imposed a blanket 10% duty on all imports and threatened further measures, triggering significant turbulence in the stock and financial markets.

In April, Trump paused special levies on imports from most trading partners, including the EU, for 90 days, prompting the bloc to suspend its planned counter-tariffs to allow for further talks.

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Amid the negotiations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has offered Washington a "zero-for-zero tariff agreement."

But on Thursday, the commission unveiled plans to impose additional counter-tariffs on US goods if talks with Washington do not lead to a solution to the trade conflict.

Trump's tariffs on China put jobs in Germany in danger

The trade war between the US and China is putting tens of thousands of jobs in Germany at risk, according to insurer Allianz Trade.

Exporters from China are likely to push into the European market, and particularly into Germany, if the US and China fail to reach a compromise, according to an analysis seen by dpa.

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While many of Trump's planned tariffs have been suspended to allow for trade negotiations, special tariffs of up to 145% remain in place on Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on US products.

Chinese companies are likely to try to find other sales markets for their goods, the analysis said, which would increase competitive pressure on German companies at home and abroad as supply will increase.

Some 14% of Chinese exports relocated elsewhere could end up in Germany over the next three years, Allianz Trade said, saying this meant goods worth some $33 billion.

"The US tariffs are leading to significant shifts in trade flows almost everywhere in the world," said Milo Bogaerts, head of Allianz Trade in Germany, in a statement.

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Between 17,000 and 25,000 jobs in German industry are at risk if goods are relocated, with mechanical engineering, the textile industry and companies that make household goods and sanitary products all areas which could see job losses, the analysis said.

Companies that produce electronics, computers and vehicles would also be affected.

Southern Germany could be particularly hard hit, as it is home to a relatively large number of industrial companies manufacturing such products.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday gave little hope of Ukraine joining NATO in the near future, as he visited Brussels for the first time since taking office this week.

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kiev applied for membership to the European Union and urged NATO allies to issue an invitation to join the military alliance.

NATO agreed last year to admit Ukraine in the future without setting a date, but the US administration under Donald Trump has since ruled out such a move. NATO allies have to agree unanimously on admitting new members.

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"Ukraine has the prospect of joining the European Union," Merz said, speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Experts say that Ukraine will not be ready to join the EU until 2030 at the earliest.

"This will certainly come before NATO accession, if that should materialize one day," Merz added.

The German chancellor stressed that joining NATO or the EU must be Kiev's free decision.

"Ukraine is and must remain sovereign in deciding on its membership of political and military alliances," he said.
By Andrew Gray and Thomas Escritt

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not rule out common European Union borrowing for defence during a trip to Brussels on Friday, but said it must be for exceptional circumstances and voiced concern about rising global debt.

Visiting Brussels for the first time as chancellor, Merz also said he was now more optimistic about the future of NATO than in February, when he questioned whether the alliance that has been the bedrock of European security would still exist in its current form when its leaders meet in June.

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He said U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which has warned European allies it will not protect them if they do not spend enough on defence, had now recognised that Europeans were taking more responsibility for their own security.

"America is indispensable for the security of Europe - today and for a long time to come," Merz told reporters at NATO headquarters.

"I am very thankful today that I can come to a more optimistic assessment of the future of NATO."

Russia's war in Ukraine and its hostility towards other European countries, coupled with fears that the U.S. might not come to the aid of NATO allies, have prompted many European leaders to ramp up defence spending and vow to do even more.

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That has led many European governments to back common EU borrowing to fund a defence spending splurge.

But fiscally cautious Germany, the EU's largest economy, has traditionally rejected common borrowing, with the exception of during the COVID pandemic when it was used to fund recovery projects.

'MAJOR CHALLENGE'

Merz, who took office on Tuesday, told a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that he did not want to preempt conversations in his government and the EU over different financing options.

When asked about common debt, he said the guiding principle must remain that the EU should take on debt only in exceptional circumstances, without saying whether he thought the current situation qualified as such.

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"We had the exceptional situation of the coronavirus pandemic, and now we face a new major challenge: the establishment - or re-establishment - of the European Unions defence capability," Merz said.

"We are looking for ways to finance this."

Before taking office, he pushed a historic fiscal package through parliament that would allow his government to sharply increase national defence spending, suggesting he would take a more assertive stance on defence than his predecessor.

Merz is also a conservative who has long advocated fiscal rectitude. He said on Friday he was "worried about the constantly rising national debt around the world - not just in Europe, but also, for example, in the United States".

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"And I do wonder how long it will be possible not only to refinance the debt itself but also to finance the interest payments. We cannot keep taking on debt indefinitely," he said.

German debt is just above 60% of GDP - half of the level of the U.S. and two thirds the euro zone average.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray in Brussels, Thomas Escritt and Miranda Murray in Berlin; Writing by Sarah Marsh and Andrew Gray; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Timothy Heritage)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, three days after taking office, to discuss developments in the Gaza Strip.

"The chancellor condemned in the strongest terms the brutal terrorist attack by [Palestinian Islamist organization] Hamas on October 7. He expressed his concern about the fate of the hostages and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said.

Merz expressed hope that negotiations for a ceasefire would soon begin, the spokesman added.

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Merz, who heads Germany's new coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats, referred to upcoming visits marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due in Berlin on Sunday. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will then join him on his return to Israel on Tuesday.

Germany and Israel established diplomatic relations on May 12, 1965, two decades after the end of the Second World War.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to arrive in Brussels on Friday for talks with top EU and NATO officials, marking his second foreign trip since taking office earlier this week.

Merz is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

He visited Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday on his first official trip abroad as chancellor.

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Merz has pledged that Germany's "voice in Europe and in the world" would be heard again.

As opposition leader, Merz had accused former chancellor Olaf Scholz of a passive approach to EU affairs and vowed to end Germany's "silence in European policy."

Merz has promised closer cooperation with France and Poland and a renewed push for European sovereignty in response to the foreign policy shift in the United States under President Donald Trump.

NATO talks are expected to focus on the war in Ukraine and the alliance's readiness to counter Russian threats. The visit comes ahead of next month's NATO summit in The Hague, the first to include Trump since his return to office in January.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday downplayed tensions with Poland as he sought to ease European frustration over German migration and border policies.

"In my talks in Warsaw, I did not detect any major irritation but rather a great deal of agreement," said Wadephul.

The new foreign minister made his comments on the sidelines of a meeting with his EU ministerial colleagues in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.

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"We all have a migration problem in Europe. We must solve it together," Wadephul added.

He expressed his support for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's demand that Europe's external borders be secured.

Wadephul said he had agreed with his Polish counterpart, Radosaw Sikorski, to travel together to the Polish-Belarusian border to assess the situation there.

Poland and Europe, he said, are being subjected to hybrid attacks and destabilization, with migrants being sent across the border from the Belarusian side.

"We must find joint answers to this. That is the focus of our policy," Wadephul said.

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The European Commission had previously called on the new German government to closely coordinate border controls with its neighbours.

Following an order by new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to tighten rules at Germany's borders, increased checks are now in place.

In addition to Poland, Switzerland and Austria have also previously criticized Berlin's approach.
Photo: Scott Olson (Getty Images)

Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) Global will purchase Dubai-based Deribit, the worlds largest trading platform for Bitcoin and Ether options, for approximately $2.9 billion  in Bitcoin.

Coinbase announced the news on its website, noting that the $2.9 billion will consist of $700 million in cash as well as 11 million shares of Coinbase Class A common stock, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

Both companies lauded the transaction.

Were excited to join forces with Coinbase to power a new era in global crypto derivatives, said Deribit chief executive Luuk Strijers in a prepared statement. The CEO went on to say that the deal will accelerate the foundation we laid while providing traders with even more opportunities across spot, futures, perpetuals, and options  all under one trusted brand.

For its part, Coinbase pointed to several synergies that will be achieved through the transaction  if regulators let the deal through.

Deribits robust options platform complements Coinbases rapidly growing US futures and international perpetual futures businesses, completing our derivatives offering. This is an important step toward our goal of providing traders access to spot, futures, perpetual futures, and options trading, Coinbase noted in a press release.

The deal comes as some lawmakers examine crypto with heightened scrutiny, while the Trump family cashes in on the sector.

I promised to make America the worlds Bitcoin superpower and the planets crypto capital. And were taking historic action to deliver on that promise, President Donald Trump said at the White Houses Digital Assets Summit in March.

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When it was first announced four years ago, it sounded like an aviation geeks dream  an airline with a fleet consisting only of Airbus A380 superjumbos, the huge and majestic double-decker airplanes that offer unrivaled comfort in the sky.

Promotional images released by Global Airlines, a startup carrier founded by former investment banker and Guinness World Record holder James Asquith, added to the excitement, with images of smart cabins and even an onboard pub.

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Now that the airline is counting down the days to its first flight, some of that gloss and excitement has begun to wear off and that flashy dream of an all-A380 fleet has still yet to fully materialize.

Thats not to say Global Airlines isnt trying. Tickets have been on sale for the carriers debut: an A380 experience, as the carriers global chief commercial officer, Richard Stephenson, put it via email.

That involves a flight from Glasgow, Scotland, to New York on May 15 with a return flight scheduled for four days later on May 19. A second flight is then scheduled from Manchester, England, to New York on May 21, returning May 25.

The good news is, both services are due to be on an A380. And, according to Asquith  who told CNN in 2023, I want a better product across the Atlantic and thats why were doing what were doing  the airline will serve Laurent-Perrier champagne in first class and Rova Caviar Madagascar in both first and business.

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A splashy aviation launch is nothing new. Virgin Atlantic is known for its legendary premium booze-soaked kickoffs. Even United Airlines recent launch of a service from Tokyo to Mongolia capital Ulaanbaatar involved cupcakes and the ceremonial breaking of a barrel of sake.

Still, Global Airlines debut isnt as big a reason for celebration as Asquith might have hoped.

The Global story

Global Airlines's founder James Asquith says its been "gruesomely challenging" to get his airline off the ground. - Dirk Grothe/digroaero.com

Asquith founded Global in 2021 with a desire to return to a golden age of air travel. That meant, he said, offering travelers something of a step up for their buck on transatlantic flights, with a vision of superjumbo luxury that includes champagne and caviar.

Ive flown on about 280 different airlines and sat there seeing whats good, what doesnt work and what can be improved, Asquith said in the 2023 CNN interview. He was applying those lessons to Global, he added.

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The A380 was key to Globals pitch. Following the pandemic, many superjumbos were parked with airlines believing air travel would not come back quickly enough to warrant their size. That made the planes attractive to a startup airline willing to take a bet on their 500-plus seats, as well as a savvy marketing ploy: come fly on the largest passenger plane in the skies!

The downside of an all-A380 fleet is that superjumbos are expensive to operate, from needing lots of fuel to higher airport landing and parking fees. An airline needs to fill most of the seats on the plane, and at a decent price, to make the economics work.

Things didnt go as planned for Global. After announcing a deal for its first A380 in 2023, the airline did not actually get a plane  a different ex-China Southern Airlines model  until February 2024. That A380 then had to undergo maintenance and other modifications to meet Globals specifications that were not complete until earlier this year.

It was and has been gruesomely challenging, Asquith wrote on LinkedIn in April. Theres always something else in aviation, and I myself am guilty of harsh criticism. We have got things wrong, and will continue to do so, but we have the best intentions of making a better product as we go, and one that holds the highest safety standards as well.

One-off demo flights

Asquith says he wants his airline to evoke a golden age of air travel. - Dirk Grothe/digroaero.com

Globals inaugural flights will not be a typical affair. Airlines usually wait to have all their is dotted and ts crossed with regulators and be ready to fly a regular service travelers can rely on before they begin flying.

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Global is taking a different route.

It only plans the four one-time flights in May from Glasgow to New York and back, and then the same from Manchester. Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly will operate the first flights as Global does not anticipate securing its own operating certificate from UK authorities until 2026 at the earliest. And tickets can only be found on the website of travel consolidator GA.Flights  not on Expedia or via your local travel agent.

In other words, would-be travelers need to know Global exists and actively want to fly with it, otherwise theyre unlikely to stumble across the tickets.

So, why operate novelty debut flights when the airline doesnt appear to be ready to throw its hat in the ring to fully compete with other transatlantic players?

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These two flights are charter flights and designed to give people the chance to fly on an A380 and test out the product we are offering, Stephenson said.

That may be part of the reason but aviation experts believe its also an attempt to secure much-needed cash.

Candidly, I think this is kind of an opportunity to try to raise some money, which they undoubtedly have to do in order to operate, said Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst and consultant based in New York.

A roundtrip economy class ticket for the inaugural Glasgow-New York flight and back was available for $1,034 (778.62) on May 1. Not exactly cheap for a new airline trying to make a name for itself in the market.

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Travelers could book a connecting flight from Glasgow to New York via Amsterdam on KLM for the same dates for as little as $525 round trip, according to Google Flights.

There are many reasons for these flights and we are delighted that we have reached the point where our first aircraft is ready to carry passengers  a point that many experts said would never happen, Stephenson said, responding to the fundraising speculation.

If fundraising is Globals plan with its pair of inaugurals, leaving its A380 parked at JFK for four days between flights is an odd choice. Airlines must pay parking fees when they store a plane, especially at busy airports like New York.

Its probably close to 50 grand  I hope they raise that much, said Mann of the parking fees.

Startup risks

With just one A380, Global has yet to expand to the fleet of superjumbos initially promised. - Dirk Grothe/digroaero.com

Booking one of Globals first flights comes with all of the risks of flying on a startup airline. They typically have minimal ability to accommodate travelers in the event of a flight delay and refunds are unlikely if there is a cancellation or other snafu.

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Travelers should stay informed, as with any startup, but its an interesting story to watch unfold, said Ahmed Abdelghany, an associate dean in the business school at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.

Ticketholders on Globals first flights are protected under the UKs Air Travel Organisers Licensing, or ATOL, scheme that guarantees travelers refunds and, in the event they are stranded abroad, a repatriation flight back to the UK.

Globals success will likely depend on whether they can carve out a niche market that values comfort over cost and whether they can maintain operational reliability and regulatory compliance as a new entrant, added Abdelghany.

Those caveats extend even to the first flights. Given the expense of operating even a limited number of flights, the relatively premium prices being charged, the large number of seats to fill and the obscurity of the sales platforms, Global is already fending off doubts over its viability.

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There is no reason for anyone to be concerned, said Stephenson. We have just flown our first passengers (twice) and everything ran very smoothly and with no issues at all, so our proof of concept program is going very well!

The flights he referred to were two services from Barcelona to Berlin on May 2, and Berlin to Londons Gatwick airport on May 3. The flights carried a limited number of passengers who enjoyed some of Globals onboard offerings, leading many experts to believe they were familiarization flights for crew ahead of Globals transatlantic debut.

Stephenson says things are going very well, but at this nascent stage, the stakes are high for the fledgling airline.

But the cult appeal of the A380 and the prospect of riding on an airlines first-ever service  plus the marketing buzz amplified by Asquiths 1.1 million Instagram followers  could be more than enough to ensure it makes it down the runway.

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For around 2,000 years, global sea levels varied little. That changed in the 20th century. They started rising and have not stopped since  and the pace is accelerating.

Scientists are scrambling to understand what this means for the future just as President Trump strips back agencies tasked with monitoring the oceans.

Since 1993, satellites have kept careful watch over the worlds oceans, allowing scientists a clear view of how they are behaving. What they have revealed is alarming.

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Sea level rise was unexpectedly high last year, according to a recent NASA analysis of satellite data.

More concerning, however, is the longer-term trend. The rate of annual sea level rise has more than doubled over the past 30 years, resulting in the global sea level increasing 4 inches since 1993.

Its like were putting our foot on the gas pedal, said Benjamin Hamlington, a research scientist in the Sea Level and Ice Group at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While other climate signals fluctuate, global sea level has a persistent rise, he told CNN.

It spells trouble for the future. Scientists have a good idea how much average sea level will rise by 2050  around 6 inches globally, and as much as 10 to 12 inches in the US. Past 2050, however, things get very fuzzy.

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We have such a huge range of uncertainty, said Dirk Notz, head of sea ice at the University of Hamburg. The numbers are just getting higher and higher and higher very quickly.

The world could easily see an extra 3 feet of sea level rise by 2100, he told CNN; it could also take hundreds of years to reach that level. Scientists simply dont know enough yet to project what will happen.

What scientists are crystal clear about is the reason for the rise: human-caused global warming.

Oceans absorb roughly 90% of the excess heat primarily produced by burning fossil fuels, and as water heats up it expands. Heat in the oceans and atmosphere is also driving melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which together hold enough fresh water to raise global sea levels by around 213 feet.

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Melting ice sheets have driven roughly two-thirds of longer-term sea level rise, although last year  the planets hottest on record  the two factors flipped, making ocean warming the main driver.

Melting icebergs crowd the Ilulissat Icefjord on July 15, 2024 near Ilulissat, Greenland. - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Its likely that an increase of about 3 feet is already locked in, Notz said, because we have pushed the system too hard. The big question is, how quickly will it happen?

Ice sheets are the biggest uncertainty, as its not clear how fast theyll react as the world heats up  whether theyll melt steadily or reach a tipping point and rapidly collapse.

From studying things like ice cores and sediments, scientists know sudden and dramatic melting happened thousands of years ago, Notz said, but its still unclear how processes may unfold over the next decades and centuries.

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Antarctica is the elephant in the room, he said. Alarming changes are unfolding on this vast icy continent, which holds enough water to raise levels by 190 feet.

Notz describes the ice sheet as an awakening giant: It takes a long time to wake up but once awake, its very, very difficult to put it back to sleep.

Sea ice floats in the Antarctic Peninsula region, on November 4, 2017, above Antarctica. Scientists are concerned the West Antarctic Ice Sheet may be in a state of irreversible decline directly contributing to rising sea levels. - Mario Tama/Getty Images

It will take time for scientists to unravel what the future holds for the ice sheets and what that means for sea level rise.

Therell be big uncertainties that persist for decades, said Robert Nicholls, professor of climate adaptation at the University of East Anglia.

Where is most vulnerable?

The ocean is not flat like a bathtub and there are big variations in the way sea level rise is experienced.

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Some parts of the world see higher levels because of a tangle of factors, including regional currents, erosion and land shifts  some due to natural processes such as tectonic plate movements, others to human activities including fossil fuel and groundwater extraction.

Flood waters inundate a neighborhood on June 13, 2024, in Hallandale Beach, Florida. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A family travel by boat to their home after it flooded during Hurricane Ida on August 31, 2021 in Barataria, Louisiana. - Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The US coastlines are tracking above global average and toward the upper end of climate model projections, NASAs Hamlington said.

The Gulf Coast, where land is sinking in large part due to the extraction of oil, gas and groundwater, is a hotspot.

Louisiana is particularly vulnerable as climate change-driven sea level rise meets fast-sinking land. The state has one of the highest rates of land loss in the world, with some areas experiencing relative sea level rise nearly four times the global rate.

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Outside the United States, low-lying Pacific island nations bear the brunt of sea level rise, which already poses a threat to their existence.

Over the next three decades, islands such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji will experience at least 6 inches of sea level rise even if the world reduces planet-heating pollution, according to NASA.

What are the impacts?

The worlds coastal communities were built with an understanding of where high tides normally reach. Now were shifting that normal and even tiny shifts can cause big impacts, Hamlington said.

Already, coastal flooding is increasing, even in the absence of big storms or heavy rainfall. High tide flooding is now happening two to three times more often since 1990 along most US Atlantic and Gulf coastlines, said William Sweet, an oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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Sea level rise also contributes to coastal erosion, chokes sewage systems and causes salty water to seep into underground freshwater supplies.

Rising seas wont be felt equally. In some places, 6 inches might mean more frequent flooding during high tides; in others, it could lead to constant inundation, with water covering streets and coastal land for months at a time. The difference depends on a range of factors, including land shifts.

The world can adapt to slow sea level rise, Notz said: We might have to relocate cities; you might have to move people around, but there are ways to build and prepare.

This is already happening. Entire villages in Fiji have been formally relocated, said Fijian activist George Nacewa, from climate group 350.org, the incoming tides are flooding our roads and inundating our crops.

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However, if the pace accelerates rapidly, it will be very, very difficult to adapt to, because things unfold too quickly, he said. As ever, it will be the most vulnerable who feel the biggest impacts, he added.

Residents wade through the flooded streets in Fiji's capital city of Suva on December 16, 2020, ahead of super Cyclone Yasa. - Leon Lord/AFP/Getty Images

Seawater floods past a sea wall into the community of Veivatuloa Village, Fiji, July 16, 2022. - Loren Elliott/Reuters

Many parts of the world arent well prepared. Sea level rise is an underappreciated problem as its hard to grasp the implications of even a few inches of rise, the University of East Anglias Nicholls said.

Humans still have control over how fast sea level rises over the next decades and centuries by cutting emissions, Notz noted.

Global levels of planet-heating pollution, however, continue to tick up and the Trump administration is racing to undo climate policies, including slashing Earth science research at NASA, sweeping staff cuts at NOAA and withdrawing the US from global climate action.

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One of the big concerns with the current US administration is that they wont renew satellites, Nicholls said. This would take eyes off the oceans at a crucial time.

What the world chooses to do is an ethical issue, said Notz.

The kind of sea level rise that we have to deal with is so much smaller compared to what future generations have to face, he said; the real catastrophe will come further down the road when those who have caused the problem are no longer around.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  A Gloucester police officer has been charged in federal court with possession of child sexual abuse material following an investigation that allegedly linked him to a dark web platform used to distribute illicit content involving children.

Alexander Aiello, 34, of Gloucester, faces one count of possession of child pornography. He is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on a date yet to be scheduled.

According to federal prosecutors, Aiello, a patrol officer with the Gloucester Police Department, was identified as a registered user of a hidden dark website known to facilitate the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The site allowed users to download, view, and distribute explicit content involving minors.

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On April 28, investigators executed search warrants at Aiellos residence and on his person, leading to the seizure of several electronic devices, including a laptop, cell phone, and a USB thumb drive reportedly discovered in a bedroom nightstand.

Preliminary forensic analysis of the devices revealed that a TOR browser  a tool commonly used to access dark web content  was installed and actively running on Aiellos laptop at the time of the search. Investigators also found encrypted folders on both the USB drive and the laptop, along with file download data consistent with recent activity.

As a law enforcement officer, Mr. Aiello was entrusted with safeguarding the community  and that includes protecting children from exploitation and abuse. Instead, he allegedly participated in one of the most reprehensible forms of exploitation, said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. Whether the offender is a private citizen or a public official, our mission remains the same: to protect children and pursue justice for victims.

James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Boston Division, echoed that sentiment. As a police officer, Alexander Aiello was sworn to protect and serve, but today, the FBI arrested him for possessing images of children being sexually abused, he said. Those who seek out this despicable material are perpetuating the victimization of innocent children. Protecting kids from this physical and emotional trauma is our priority.

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The charge of possession of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, Aiello could also face at least five years of supervised release, with the possibility of a lifetime term, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Gloucester Police Department has not yet released a public statement regarding Aiellos current employment status or whether administrative action has been taken.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the FBI Boston Division.

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The Iowa House Appropriations Committee moved ahead amended legislation Tuesday that would increase state funding for community colleges but not state universities. (Photo courtesy of Kirkwood Community College)

Iowa community colleges would get an increase in state funds next year but state universities would not under a budget agreement between House and Senate Republicans.

Budget lines in proposed Iowa House legislation for primary and secondary education programs across Iowa have shifted after negotiation with the other chamber, said Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, in an appropriations committee meeting Thursday.

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Harris introduced an amendment to House Study Bill 337, setting the budget for Iowa Department of Education, state universities, community colleges and other education programs across the state. Numbers from the amendment reflect what was decided upon after negotiations with the Iowa Senate, he said.

Rather than decrease funding for universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents, as was proposed in the original version of the bill, the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University would receive flat funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

Community colleges would see a $7.5 million increase in funding with the amended legislation, which Harris said was about $7.5 million more than what the Senate initially wanted to do.

Senate legislation for education appropriations would keep funding flat for community colleges, compared to the original House bill, which would have provided an additional $8 million for the system.

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Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, said she would not vote in favor of the amendment, as the education subgroup on the amendment preferred the previous proposed IJAG funding and had concerns about flat university funding causing families to have to pay more due to tuition increases.

She added she and others are worried about cuts to special education funding. Harris said the proposed $5 million funding cut is the result of conversations with the Iowa Department of Education, in which officials said the special education division was planning to spend less than $2.5 million of the $10 million it was allocated last year.

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Im not sure that weve seen the total repercussions yet of those changes within the school system, and I think thats why theyre having, probably, a difficult time finding staff, Brown-Powers said.

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Harris said he agreed with Brown-Powers about liking the original budget set by the House education appropriations subcommittee, but what he brought forward was the compromise that could be reached.

I preferred, actually, all of our original numbers, not just on this budget, but all the other budgets, Harris said. But thats part of negotiations.

The amendment passed, and the full bill was moved to the House floor with a 17-5 vote.

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The pro-natalist movement has historically been co-opted by far-right misogynist groups, including fascist and authoritarian regimes. CSA-Archive via Getty Images

President Donald Trump is reportedly entertaining policy proposals to incentivize American women to have more children. But the proposals dont include basic and undeniably effective ideas like subsidized child care or paid parental leave. Instead, the Trump administration appears to be considering a $5,000 cash baby bonus and a National Medal of Motherhood for any woman who has six or more children.

The policy proposals are part of a larger push from conservative Republicans to boost the United States declining birth rates by persuading families to have more kids. The proposals fall squarely into whats known as the pro-natalist movement  an ideology created to raise declining population rates that has historically been co-opted by far-right misogynist groups, including fascist and authoritarian regimes.

The contemporary pro-natalist movement has found a leader in Trump, who has aligned himself with some of the ideologys most extreme advocates, including far-right influencer Jack Posobiec and billionaire Elon Musk. Musk, who was never far from Trumps side at the start of his second term, has fathered 14 children and routinely voices concerns about population collapse due to declining birth rates. Vice President JD Vance famously made fun of childless cat ladies during the campaign and recently urged Americans to have more babies. And Trump has proudly appointed himself the fertilization president.

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At the same time, the president has literally made it more dangerous to be pregnant and give birth in the U.S. He has bragged about his role in dismantling federal abortion protections and commented that its a beautiful thing to watch states ban abortion. Dozens of pregnant women have nearly died due to those state-level abortion bans because theyre so vague that they also criminalize miscarriage care. Trump has also slashed the social safety net, attacking vital family planning resources for low-income women and implementing policies that target immigrant and LGBTQ+ children.

It makes you wonder who, exactly, his administration is telling to have more kids and why.

Medals for women who give birth to a lot of children and cash bonuses are not new ideas from the Trump administration, said Denise Lynn, a professor of history and director of gender studies at the University of Southern Indiana. Fascist and authoritarian regimes of the past have used similar pro-natalist ideologies to restore conservative family values within society and relegate women to the home, where their sole duty is to bear children.

Germanys Adolf Hitler, Chiles Augusto Pinochet and Italys Benito Mussolini all employed pro-natalist policies to encourage specific types of married couples to produce children for the state. In Nazi Germany, white women were awarded a bronze medal for having four children, silver for six and gold for eight children. The Nazi Party also gave out financial loans to white families; couples could have more children in order to decrease how much money they would owe back to the state.

One of the first things many fascist regimes did was ban abortion and restrict birth control. Trump has proudly claimed responsibility for repealing Roe v. Wade, which led to a dozen or so abortion bans in states around the country. Republicans in the current administration are continuing to attack access to contraception and roll back access to general sexual and reproductive health care.

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Theres been lots of studies that have shown that with access to higher education, with access to health care and prenatal, postnatal and perinatal care, and all of these other things, everyones standard of living increases in a culture, said Lynn, whose research focuses on the American Communist Party during the Great Depression and the Cold War, specifically around anti-fascism sentiments during those eras.

So, feminist policies actually benefit everyone, including men, and yet we persist in pushing policies that are going to hurt all of us in the long run.

HuffPost spoke with Lynn about the history of pro-natalism in fascist regimes and some of the through lines she sees to the situation today in the U.S.

How do you define pro-natalism?

Its a pro-birth political position that has historically revolved around fears about declining populations. Generally, when the party in power shares that pro-natalist view it can appear in public policy. So, for example, anti-abortion laws are pro-natalist, anti-birth control or birth control stigma is pro-natalist. I would even argue that abstinence-only programs are pro-natalist because many pro-natalists see the heterosexual married relationship as the epitome of citizenship, and thus enforcing it in education is a necessary part of a pro-natalist political position.

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The fundamental idea behind it is that states depend on womens reproductive labor to reproduce [their] citizenry, and so reproductive bodies are expected to serve the state by producing citizens.

From your research, how have pro-natalist policies and ideologies worked in tandem or within authoritarian or fascist regimes?

Within authoritarian or fascist regimes, reproductive labor becomes a state obligation specifically for women. So its an obligation that is in service to the state.

In Nazi Germany, it was framed as producing future soldiers and laborers to build the nation and, in the 1930s at least, to fight wars for progressing the creation of Hitlers lebensraum or living space. The pro-natalist movement was really strong in Europe after World War I. I would argue that it was still present in the United States, but the imperatives were different because there was so much human loss after World War I that there were countries that saw deep demographic declines. But in Nazi Germany, which also had huge population loss  which, of course, means fewer men to marry, fewer children to have  they saw this as jeopardizing their future security. And then, of course, in Nazi Germany, its coupled with racial imperatives that they needed to perpetuate the white Germanic stock. Thats when we saw the racial hygiene laws become part of state policy in Nazi Germany.

Mothers with their children in the garden of a "Mother and Child" home, run by the national welfare organization in Nazi Germany. Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Some of your research focuses on anti-fascism and the American Communist Party, specifically how women in the Communist Party fought back against pro-natalist policies. You wrote in one research article that in Hitlers Germany and other fascist states such as Italy, Spain and Austria, communists believed there was an effort to nationalize womens maternity in service to the state. Can you talk to me more about that?

The people I studied feared women would lose all autonomy and would be quite literally owned by the nation  their bodies would be owned by the nation, their childrens bodies would be owned by the nation. That bodily sovereignty would not belong to women anymore, and that all decision-making was now influenced by national concerns and certainly not influenced by personal concerns or even medical concerns. Its framed as an imperative for women to have babies for the nations and not for their own emotional, mental, physical, well well-being.

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Traditionally, we think of childbirth in the past as children were used as laborers for the family, that their existence was seen as something that would help a family. In the pro-natalist state, children are laborers that serve the state.

One of the things that I discuss in my more recent research focuses on anti-Korean War activism among Black radicals. One of their big concerns was that they were basically being told they needed to produce cannon fodder for the states future wars. This bond between their children transformed into: the state needs me to produce soldiers.

I want to talk about whether you see any through lines from that point in history to whats happening in the U.S. today.

Im covering the attacks on the abortion pill, mifepristone. In the updated complaint from three anti-choice states trying to restrict access to the pill, they use pretty barefaced pro-natalist terminology that makes me think of what you just said: Defendants efforts enabling the remote dispensing of abortion drugs has caused abortions for women in Plaintiff States and decreased births in Plaintiff States. This is a sovereign injury to the State in itself.

Oh my gosh. Yeah, thats a great example of pro-natalism.

You wrote in that same article: In Nazi Germany, improved economic conditions led to an increased birth rate. But pro-natalist policies helped to encourage this rise, particularly the laws prohibiting abortion and allowing for the prosecution of those performing and receiving abortions.

Its hard not to think of whats happening in the U.S. when I read that. The fall of federal abortion protections in 2022 has led to nearly half the country criminalizing care, and physicians are being prosecuted, and pregnant people are dying.

The Dobbs decision [overturning Roe v. Wade] was a pro-natalist policy. I like the language of the current movement, the language of forced birth policies, because by banning abortion, they really do take away womens autonomy.

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One of the problems in the United States is that not only are we limiting access to abortion and birth control, but we have forced birth policies in a country that has aggressively rejected things like maternity leave, Medicare for all, adequate prenatal and postnatal care and affordable childcare. These things have not been remedied even when Roe was in place.

One of the arguments behind pro-natalism is that the state needs people to do labor  right now we are heading toward a demographic cliff with an aging population and fewer younger people to do the work needed for society and to take care of the aged. Of course, this could be solved by immigration and creating pathways to citizenship, but the very same people committed to pro-natalism take hardline stances against immigration. This just further demonstrates that pro-natalisms primary goal is to enforce second-class citizenship on women.

Are there any pro-natalist policies from Nazi Germany or other fascist regimes youve studied that stand out or are similar to the ones that the Trump administration is entertaining?

I was having a conversation with one of my colleagues the other day about the proposed $5,000 allowance for someone who has a child. That reminded me of the loans that Nazi Germany afforded to white Aryan families. That is very similar. Its also a joke  $5,000 isnt going to do much.

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Under Nazi Germanys racial hygiene laws, they gave out loans to families, specifically to the husband, that promised you could reduce your payback amount with every subsequent child. One of the big things that the women I studied  and they talked about it well into the Cold War  is the fascist triple K: Kinder, Kuche, Kirche, which means children, kitchen, church. This pro-natalist ideology sought to confine women, essentially, to second-class citizenship.

I keep thinking about the idea to award a National Medal of Motherhood to women who have six kids and the similarity to Nazi Germanys motherhood medals.

It really reduces women to breeders. It ignores the deep complexity of childbirth. You have a uterus and ovaries, but that doesnt mean you have the ability to have children. But if you cant have children and you have a uterus and ovaries, do you no longer have status in your own country? It marginalizes fathers and fatherhood. Theres so many layers of issues.

President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk, joined by his son X  A-Xii, speaks in the Oval Office at the White House. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

How does pro-natalism intersect with race and eugenics?

In United States history, pro-natalist policies were directly linked to eugenics. Eugenics emerged in the U.S. when middle- and upper-class white women were having fewer children, while immigrants and people of color continued to have more children. A lot of that has to do with access to birth control information, and eugenicists wanted to flip that script completely and encourage white birth rates. But only appropriate white birth rates.

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One of the doctors involved in the 1927 Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell was given a citation by the Nazi government. It was about this woman, Carrie Buck, who had been confined to a mental health institution. Its likely she was probably raped by a doctor there, but became pregnant with a second child out of wedlock and she was accused of being an idiot, which was a eugenics term for someone who might have had a second to fourth grade mentality.

Carrie Buck was white, but eugenicists were like, Well, we dont want idiots to have children either, and the Nazi government is going to learn from that case. Essentially, the Nazis really liked our racial hygiene cases because it glorified not just white births, but appropriate white births.

Of course, as the 20th century goes on, eugenics itself becomes stigmatized, but it still lives on. So Black women, Latinas and Indigenous women faced forced sterilization, while white women were often refused permanent sterilization until they had a specific number of children.

Do you see any of that today?

We can definitely still see the eugenicist language today. I dont think its a coincidence that forced birth policies jeopardize people of color the most because white nationalists have no interest in their birth outcomes. Theyre only concerned about producing more white babies.

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There was a senator from Louisiana who basically said, We have a great maternal mortality rate if you dont include Black women. And that was only a couple of years ago. Our policies around forced birth do disadvantage people who are already disadvantaged, and I dont think thats coincidental.

Where do we go from here?

One of the things that I think about a lot is the question around health. Politicians dont talk about reproductive care as an issue of health. We see conversations on social media that say, Well, birth is a natural part of life. And, sure, but maternal mortality rates were very high until the 1950s and one of the things that changed was access to care for the reproductive body.

Those poor birth outcomes werent that long ago. I worry that were heading towards a future thats gonna look a lot like our past. I just hope it doesnt last very long.

Related...
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and his cabinet hold a news conference to announce GRIT, a new government efficiency initiative, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on May 9, 2025. (Courtesy of the Governor's Office)

Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order on Friday launching a new government efficiency initiative called GRIT  Utahs take on DOGE.

But when pressed on whether it will lead to employee layoffs, Cox said he didnt expect so because he sees the Government Reform, Innovation and Transparency project as yet another budgeting exercise on top of several that state leaders already practice to spend taxpayer dollars wisely in Utahs $30.8 billion budget.

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Im not out there looking to just cut a whole bunch of jobs, Cox told reporters during a news conference at the Utah Capitol, though he added, we may need to move some people in some other ways that will be better.  But were trying to empower our employees to make things better, not trying to make our employees scared of their jobs.

But the short answer is yes, Cox said when asked whether GRIT was Utahs version of the Department of Government Efficiency that was launched under President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to slash federal spending.

However, Cox also said he hesitated to directly compare the two initiatives, because Utah leaders already do about 10 things every year that the federal government hasnt done in about 50 years to audit government programs for efficiency.

DOGE is awesome and I desperately want DOGE to work, Cox said. We have a bloated federal government that is a disaster. Weve been begging for something like DOGE for decades, and Im so excited that its actually happening.

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But as far as Utah is concerned, he said, we do DOGE like six times a year in this state every single year.

We DOGE the hell out of our budget every single year, Cox said, to chuckles from his cabinet leadership members standing behind him. We were DOGE before DOGE was a thing. We were DOGE when it wasnt cool, and we will be DOGE long after it is cool.

The Republican-controlled state already has several layers of yearly budgeting processes where both the executive and legislative branches hunt for cuts.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and his cabinet hold a news conference to announce GRIT, a new government efficiency initiative, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on May 9, 2025. (Courtesy of the Governors Office)

The governors office does it while preparing its budget recommendation to the Legislature. Lawmakers sitting on legislative committees go through their own process, line item by line item. Then legislative leaders on the powerful Executive Appropriations Committee make the near-final decisions, deciding what new funding requests get prioritized, what doesnt, and what should be cut. Then the Utah Legislature votes as a whole on the states budget, which is balanced every single year. Finally, the governor can also use his pen to veto budget line items, if he wishes.

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Plus, legislative auditors also pick several agencies a year to find inefficiencies, which Cox likened to going to get your physical exam when youre 50.

So why GRIT? Cox said its because the question I always have is, how can we be better?

You dont stay No. 1 by just doing the things that youve always done, he said. We have to be constantly improving.

That was one piece of praise that leaders from the limited government think tank, the American Legislative Exchange Council, offered to Utah when they ranked the states economic outlook No. 1 for the 18th year in a row last month. Cox pointed to that ranking  and the U.S. News & World report ranking Utah the No. 1 best state in the nation for a third straight year earlier this week  as evidence that Utah is the best managed state.

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(ALEC) said if we had just stopped 18 years ago, where we were when we were first No. 1, we would now be 22nd or 23rd, the governor said. So weve been able to maintain that by constantly reinventing ourselves, looking for ways to do things better.

Through Utahs existing fiscal conservatism, weve already done all the low-hanging fruit.

Thats the difference between this and DOGE, he said, saying the federal government has so much low-hanging fruit, while Utah will have to reach higher. Its going to be harder for us, for sure, but we know it can be done.

Pressed on whether GRIT could mean cuts to services  including social services  Cox said thats not the aim.

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Its not (about) reducing services. Its improving services, he said, adding that hed like to see any savings found to be recommitted toward making programs better, like perhaps moving people up on social services wait lists.

Thats ultimately what were trying to do, is not to just cut back whats already working and helping people, Cox said, its so we can help people more and fill some of those gaps that are already out there and broken.



Cox, though he had plenty of complimentary words for DOGE, also said he has his concerns with its aggressive approach.

One of the concerns I have about DOGE is that theres slashing going on, which weve desperately needed, but unfortunately theyre not looking at outcomes, he said. And sometimes you slash something and the things get worse. We want to make things more efficient.  Sometimes you actually have to add people to get the right outcome. So its about making sure that the taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most efficient way. Sometimes that means cutting, sometimes that means increasing or moving from one program to another.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and his cabinet hold a news conference to announce GRIT, a new government efficiency initiative, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on May 9, 2025. (Courtesy of the Governors Office)

What will GRIT do?

Cox called GRIT a comprehensive effort to make Utahs government more efficient, more accountable, and more responsible to the people that it serves.

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The governor said GRIT will have a bottom-up approach, involving state government employees to ask tough questions about what is actually working, whats wasting time and money, and what needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

If something isnt delivering value to the citizens of this state, we should stop doing it, and do something else with those limited resources that we have, he said.

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With GRIT, we are really going to empower even more our cabinet members and our employees  every one of our employees.

Were expecting them to bring real solutions, he said. And well be holding them accountable to doing exactly that.

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Additionally, Cox said state leaders will welcome feedback from Utahns about what is and isnt working for them.

Under Coxs executive order, all state agencies will be required to:

Submit at least one efficiency improvement project to the Governors Office of Planning and Budget no later than July 1.

Direct each division, office or bureau to independently launch at least one additional internal efficiency project.

Participate in the states Efficiency and Process Improvement Collaborative, an advisory committee made up of representatives from state agencies that is tasked with fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Use public feedback gathered from the states Customer Experience Initiative, a program the Legislature created in 2020 that collects feedback from Utahns experiences with state employees and issues annual reports for improvement.

Report measurable results related to cost savings, time savings, and improved service delivery, according to the governors office.

The governors office encouraged Utahns to participate in the initiative by using QR codes that will be posted on receipts and in government buildings across the state, wherever Utahns engage with state services. They can also submit feedback online.

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For transparency, Cox also said the state will be standing up dashboards to show the initiatives progress, how much money weve been able to save, and how much time weve been able to shave off.

Cox said state leaders have purposefully not set a firm dollar amount of how much taxpayer money theyd like to save through the GRIT process because he said he wants to let agencies go through the exercise first.

We will eventually get to a goal, but I want to hear the best ideas, he said, though while looking around at his cabinet members he added we want this to be uncomfortable for the people standing behind me.

Thats how you sharpen the saw.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and his cabinet hold a news conference to announce GRIT, a new government efficiency initiative, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on May 9, 2025. (Courtesy of the Governors Office)

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Utah has arrived. Its no longer the spunky upstart trying to make its way onto the stage, Gov. Spencer Cox said in remarks to a room full of the states political and business leaders.

After Utah was named the best state in the nation for the third year in a row by U.S. News and World Report, Cox is taking a victory lap of sorts, celebrating the strong human capital he sees as the basis for the states success.

Cox spoke about Utahs success on Thursday at the Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, a two-day, invitation-only event sponsored by Zions Bank and World Trade Center Utah that invited world leaders and top business minds to discuss the uncertainties, trends, and opportunities surrounding international business.

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Utah does well in rankings, Cox said, because the states residents dont engage in zero-sum thinking. Instead, the states residents embrace an abundance mentality, he said.

Cox started his remarks by praising the book Superabundance, written by Utah Tech University professor Gale Pooley. The book counters the idea popularized by Paul Ehrlich in the 1960s that the worlds growing population would be a strain on resources, leading to widespread famine and human suffering.

The thing is that the greatest resource we have are our people, human beings, Cox said. You see all of those minerals, all of those commodities, all of those important things are just atoms. Theyre basically worthless. They dont mean anything until you put human knowledge and ingenuity behind them.

Utahs international trade numbers

Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, who spoke at the summit earlier on Thursday, shared some of the numbers behind the states numerous awards.

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Utahs workforce is the third most well-trained, well-educated in the country, Gochnour said.

The state also has the lowest poverty rate in the country, and, when adjusted for cost of living, Utah also has the highest median household income in the country.

Gardner Institute director Natalie Gochnour moderates a panel discussion on Potential Economic Impacts of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games, at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute newsmaker breakfast, hosted by the Kem C. Gardner Institute, in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A study released by the institute Thursday also showed Utah is punching above its weight in international trade.

The state had $18.2 billion in merchandise exports and $21.9 billion in imports in 2024. The study said international trade supports over 70,000 jobs in the state.

Utahs largest trading partners are the United Kingdom, Canada, China and Mexico.

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Amid her discussion of the states international exports, Gochnour brought up the tariffs recently levied by the Trump administration on most of the countrys trading partners.

She said she wasnt going to make a judgement about the policy decision, and said there could be some mid- or long-term benefits to the administrations economic policies, but said economists are mostly united in their belief that tariffs will hurt trade and the economy.

Tariffs could make housing more expensive at a time when the state is already struggling, she said, and a recent drop in consumer confidence is also worrying.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Applications are now open for a new $10 million fund for East Side property owners in an effort to revitalize neighborhood business districts, Gov. Hochul announced during a press conference Friday.

The project must include a mixed-use or commercial property in order to be eligible. It must be on the East Side, preferably in an already established business district.

The East Side Building Fund comes from Empire State Development and local organizations.

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My administration is continuing its commitment to help East Buffalos business property owners with the often-hard job of upgrading their buildings, which will in turn make our business districts more attractive, inviting and able to better serve Buffalo neighborhoods, Hochul said.

Projects including small renovations to existing buildings can receive grants of up to 90% of total project costs or $400,000 and will be provided by the non-profit organization Heart of the City Neighborhoods.

Projects with major restorations can receive up to 50% of total project costs or up to $2 million. Applicants must demonstrate that they own the buildings and that they are not publicly owned.

Applications are due on June 27. A public information meeting to learn about the fund will be held on May 21 at the Northland Workforce Training Center.

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See the full presser in the video player above.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its Baron Health Care Fund first quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund returned 2.54% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter compared to a 3.87% gain for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index (benchmark) and a 4.72% decline for the Russell 3000 Index (the Index). The fund trailed the benchmark due to stock selection and, to a lesser extent, active sub-industry weights. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Health Care Fund highlighted stocks such as Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN). Headquartered in Alameda, California, Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN) designs and manufactures medical devices. The one-month return of Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN) was 6.03%, and its shares gained 36.01% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On May 8, 2025, Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN) stock closed at $288.73 per share with a market capitalization of $11.181 billion.

Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivers the State of the State address in the Old House Chamber at the Alabama State Capitol on Feb. 4, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Will McClelland for Alabama Reflector)

Gov. Kay Ivey Friday signed a bill reducing the state sales tax on groceries.

HB 386, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, will cut the state share of the tax from 3% to 2% effective Sept. 1.

When we can reduce taxes in Alabama and provide some relief to the hardworking people of this state, I am all for it. I was pleased to sign House Bill 386 to take another notch off our state grocery tax, Ivey said in a statement.

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Alabama is one of just a few states that still taxes groceries. Until September 2023, the state taxed groceries at the full 4% state sales tax thats been around since 1939. Combined with local taxes, the total tax on food in Alabama ran as high as 10% in some places. In Montgomery, a family spending $600 a month on groceries could pay up to $60 in taxes.

The Legislature in 2023 reduced the state sales tax on groceries from 4% to 3%. But it also required growth of at least 3.5% in the Education Trust Fund (ETF), which gets most of the grocery tax.

Compared to the previous fiscal year, the current 2025 ETF has grown 3.28% this year, compared to the 2024 ETF at the same point, but budget chairs indicated they were comfortable with moving forward.

Under the new legislation, the tax bill on $600 worth of groceries in Montgomery will go from $54 to $48.

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Lawmakers also changed the bill to allow local governments to reduce their sales and use tax on groceries, effectively combining HB 387 with the legislation  which the House passed in March and a Senate committee in late April.

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CROSSLAKE, Minn.  It is a Minnesota tradition like no other that the final days of the legislative session and the opening of fishing season coincide by a matter of days each May. That means in the midst of negotiations to wrap things up at the state Capitol, the governor  for 77 straight years now  heads off to a lake or river to celebrate angling on the states abundant waterways.

Talking about fishing and the goings-on in St. Paul on Friday, in an exclusive interview with the Pioneer Press, Gov. Tim Walz said its time to get the lead out. And he was referring to both anglers and legislators.

He wants the legislative session to finish on time, and with an eye toward protecting the official state bird, he wants anglers to cut down on their use of lead fishing tackle.

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With the May 19 deadline for adjournment of the legislative session now less than two weeks away, Walz said he will call a special legislative session, with a preset agenda agreed upon, if necessary, but its not something he wants to do.

If you dont set a time to mow the yard, it doesnt get mowed. If they dont do some of these things, then I think you just have to set the time and recognize you cant let the perfect get in the way of the good, he said, urging lawmakers to compromise and get to the finish line on time. And I think the longer you wait, it becomes harder, I think then it becomes, you just keep procrastinating. And so were getting late. Theres no doubt about that, but theres still an opportunity to get this done.

He pitched once again for his wish for a lower sales tax rate, accompanied by an expansion of the sale tax to include financial planning and wealth management services, but said he will be unlikely to veto a tax bill that gets to his desk, even if it does not include his reform idea.

I dont threaten when I go in there, I leave things open, Walz said. And I just made the case on this for Minnesota. Were talking about lowering the sales tax for 80% of Minnesotans as we see it. But right now, the sales tax excludes things like wealth management banking, things like that.

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He offered examples of what he sees as inconsistencies in Minnesota law, like the sales tax charged if you have someone trim your trees, but not if you have someone manage your money, or the sales tax charged on funeral arrangements, but not on the preparation of a last will.

So I said, you just expand that base, lower the rate. A lot of folks dont use those upper end services, and just candidly, the folks who use them have a little more wealth, he said. I think the thing is, Im bringing this up because peoples spending habits have changed. People are using more services and less goods. But well see, and I think its just about having consistency in our tax system.

Whitefish Chain fishing

As is traditional for this event, which has been held everywhere from Lake of the Woods in the north to the Mississippi River near Winona in the south, Walz planned to head out with a guide on one of the dozens of lakes in the Whitefish Chain in the wee hours of Saturday morning. In Crosslake, members of the local Republican party were organizing a protest and boat parade for Saturday morning, which is not uncommon for a governor whose popularity in greater Minnesota has varied widely since Walz was first elected in 2018.

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One change the governor was advocating for this year is getting lead lures and sinkers out of Minnesotans tackle boxes, as ingesting the metal is harmful to aquatic birds, most notably the common loon. Legislation calling for a ban on lead fishing gear in Minnesota has failed at the state Legislature in the past. Walz said he would sign a ban if it got to his desk, but he also feels that encouraging changes rather than mandating them is the right approach.

Here in Minnesota, we still make it your option. Were trying to educate people on this.  Loons are our state symbol now. Theyre on our state seal. Very important to who we are. Leads very, very dangerous to them, Walz said, noting that he hunted pheasants with bismuth-based ammunition last year and liked the feel of it.

The waterfowl hunters have worked on this for years. I think theres a move away from lead tackle. Weve got Lindy and some corporations that are moving to that. I think its important to bring people along on their own terms. I dont think an industry this big and the folks whove been doing this, that you dictate to them, he said. I know there is a school of thought that says we just pass a law and ban it. I think that having compliance with bringing people along, and more and more people are doing it. So I fish lead free, shoot lead free. I think (we) try to encourage people to go there, but we dont mandate it.

Looking back on campaign

Meeting with members of the media on radio row during the 77th annual Minnesota Governors Fishing Opener at Manhattan Beach Lodge in Crow Wing County, Walz admitted the relatively slow pace of events like these is a welcome change following the whirlwind that 2024 became for him last summer.

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When Walz accepted an offer to run for second in command at the White House alongside then-Vice President Kamala Harris, his life became a nonstop world of travel and thrust his family into the national spotlight. After the Harris/Walz ticket lost in November, he said getting his body back into shape has been a goal and while Walz remains thankful for the experience, he also values his time back in this Land of 10,000 Lakes.

I ate a lot, so Im now trying to lose some weight. I was doing the ice cream at midnight type of thing, Walz said, with a grin, looking back fondly on the campaign. But it was quite a thing. Look, it was an honor to do it. I got to see this country more than I ever would have, but I also say this: When you travel and you see a lot, home looks pretty good. So coming back to Minnesotas a blessing.

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The United States is quietly working to roll back state-level bans on known toxic chemicals, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in consumer products, a plan that could put public health at risk in the interest of making things easier and cheaper for big businesses.

What's happening?

According to the Guardian, the Environmental Protection Agency under the Donald Trump administration is considering a rule that would reverse hundreds of bans on harmful chemicals in manufactured goods. The bans include chemicals such as PFAS in clothing and food wrappers, mercury in personal care items, and bisphenol in bottles, cups, and teething products for children. ProPublica reported that bans on another cancer-causing substance called TCE, or trichloroethylene, are also under threat of being repealed.

If the bans on these dangerous chemicals are reversed, public health advocates warn that society would face much higher levels of exposure to substances that can cause serious health problems, including cancers and reproductive issues.

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Under the new set of rules proposed by the Trump administration, the EPA would be required to evaluate the risks posed by individual uses of each chemical, providing a loophole for industries to keep putting them in products. For example, since most consumer goods contain only a small amount of the chemicals considered hazardous to human health, the EPA can say they don't pose an "unreasonable risk."

"This will increase health risks to consumers by exposing them to toxic chemicals," an EPA employee who spoke to the Guardian anonymously said.

"It also allows the market for toxic chemicals to continue, because it maintains the financial incentive for them to be made for all these consumer products."

Why are chemical ban reversals concerning?

PFAS have been linked to numerous health problems, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, developmental delays, increased cancer risk, reduced immunity, and hormone disruption, per the EPA. They're known as forever chemicals because they are nearly indestructible, capable of persisting in the environment for thousands of years. PFAS are also remarkably resistant to breaking down in the human body, which is why they pose a significant health risk.

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Because of their widespread use in consumer products, they've been found virtually everywhere  from the human brain to the Arctic Ocean. Scientists have even discovered the chemicals in rainwater, and they're pervasive in drinking water supplies as well.

If bans on PFAS and other health-damaging chemicals are rolled back, it would put people and the planet in unnecessary danger.

What's being done about the bans?

The Guardian noted that the proposed rules could take several years to take effect, as the EPA is understaffed because of Trump's government layoffs. This will give states more time to pass laws to ban toxic chemicals in household products and put further pressure on industries to find safer alternatives.

In 2024, at least 11 states passed legislation banning or restricting the use of PFAS in products such as clothing, cleaning products, and cookware. Maine was the first state to pass a comprehensive ban on PFAS in 2021, which prohibits the sale of any products with intentionally added PFAS by 2030.

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Consumers can avoid or limit exposure to PFAS by investing in high-quality nonstick pans, using natural cleaning products, and purchasing cosmetics from eco-friendly companies.

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Endangered marine animals in one of the world's largest ocean reserves may soon encounter serious threats after President Donald Trump issued an executive order allowing commercial fishing in the area.

What's happening?

The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument was established in 2009. It covers nearly 500,000 square miles, which is almost twice the size of Texas, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

According to The New York Times, Trump's April 17 executive order established commercial fishing rights 50 to 200 nautical miles from the border of the monument. The order said federal protections such as the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act would be enough to protect resources, species, and habitats in the area.

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Some environmental activists and research organizations have already pushed back. Angelo Villagomez, a Center for American Progress senior fellow, said that the executive order "sets a dangerous precedent that our public lands and waters are for sale to the highest bidder," per the Times.

The president issued another executive order calling for the Interior Department to review and recommend other marine monuments that should allow commercial fishing. This order was aimed at reducing regulations and asserted that "the United States should be the world's dominant seafood leader."

However, the Times noted that the area being opened to fishing in the Pacific is "dotted with coral atolls and populated by endangered sea turtles and whales."

Why is protecting endangered species important?

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, protecting endangered species "safeguards the intricate balance of our planet's life, ensuring a healthier and more secure future for ecosystems and people." The loss of a species can start a chain reaction that puts other species at risk. Maintaining biodiversity helps preserve the planet's ecosystems.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service quotes the 1973 Endangered Species Act, saying that endangered and threatened species "are of aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people."

Wildlife populations declined by about 73% between 1970 and 2020, according to the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report 2024. Per the report, habitat loss, a warming planet, and overexploitation are among the threats to nature.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, overfishing and bycatch (catching species unintentionally while fishing for others) are significant factors in the decline of ocean wildlife populations. In fact, a report found that more than one-third of endangered sharks, rays, and chimaeras (related fish) are at risk of extinction because of overfishing.

What's being done about protecting endangered species?

The Endangered Species Act provides a program for the conservation of threatened and endangered species. Under the law, federal agencies must ensure that their actions don't threaten the existence of endangered species.

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There are also simple ways for humans to learn about and advocate for endangered species. Recommendations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration include watching wildlife responsibly, volunteering for restoration projects, and reporting animals in distress.

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Gov. Mike Braun visited Lebanon Tuesday to help break ground for the $4.5 billion Eli Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon.

The foundry is the first research and development site of its kind in the world and will combine research, process development, and clinical trial manufacturing in a single site. It represents the most strategic capital investment in the nations pharma supply chain in a generation, Lilly Chairman and CEO Dave Ricks said.

Lilly has pledged $100 million in scholarships to train its own workforce.

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Braun said the foundry will create a pipeline of opportunity for Indianas university graduates and strengthen Americas pharmaceutical supply chain, as it returns pharmaceutical production back to the United States.

At the Foundry, Lilly scientists will research and make lifesaving medicines to replace injectable drugs for genetic and other diseases, Lilly Chief Scientific Officer and President of Lilly Research Laboratories and Lilly Immunology Dr. Daniel Skovronsky said.

Lilly built a pilot mini-foundry 20 years ago, and the diabetes drug Trulicity blossomed out of research there, along with a new breakthrough medicine to treat Alzheimers disease and others, Skovronsky said.

Lilly scientists plan to develop complex drugs that combine elements in new ways that have never been combined before to treat conditions including ovarian cancer.

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Ovarian cancer accounts for only 2% of female cancers but causes a disproportionate number of deaths.

We think we can fix that, Skovronsky said.

State and county leaders came together Tuesday to turn dirt with red shovels at the site south of Ind. 32 on Lebanons west side.

Braun thanked Lebanon Mayor Matthew Gentry for helping draw Lilly to Lebanon.

The groundbreaking of Eli Lillys Medicine Foundry marks a transformative moment for Lebanon and American manufacturing, Gentry said afterward. With a $4.5 billion investment, this facility will create 400 high-skill jobs. The Medicine Foundry will not only deliver high-quality jobs but also provide opportunities for local small businesses, including contractors, caterers, and service providers, ensuring that our entire community thrives into the future.

This facility bolsters our nations ability to produce critical medicines domestically, reflecting the values of hard work and independence that define our community and state, he added.
For Jacksonville residents like Jenell Flynn, property taxes are a point of pain, now more than ever.

With the income I do have coming in and all these taxes that are presented to me, its very hard to maintain a lifestyle that you would like to lead, Flynn said.

Thats why Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Blaise Ingoglia met with Jacksonville residents at Gators BBQ on West Beaver Street on Friday.

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The taxes plus principal and interest are more than what you pay on the balance of your home, Governor DeSantis highlighted. Youre paying tax. Youre paying insurance. And then principal and interest is less than those two combined, and so this is difficult for people.

First and foremost, Governor DeSantis outlined the importance of tax rebates for homeowners in the short term  something the Governor has already teased in the past couple months, in the form of $1,000 checks for homeowners.

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However, the governor also stressed rebates would just be a temporary solution, with attention set to be turned to constitutional protections on the ballot for Florida homeowners in 2026.

Read: New project aims to make Riverside intersection safer

We in Florida, we have the opportunity - even though this is a local issue mostly - to do constitutional protections, Governor DeSantis stated. There are things we can do in Tallahassee working with the legislature.

Now, Governor DeSantis is calling on state legislators to band together in addressing property taxes here in the Sunshine State  an initiative he says would be putting Floridians first.

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Gov. Phil Murphy said language changes to the bill are needed to protect the rights of legitimate protestors. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

Gov. Phil Murphy, citing First Amendment concerns, has conditionally vetoed legislation intended to deter disruptive pop-up parties that have harried shore towns in recent summers.

Murphy on Thursday said he supports the bills intent but worries its language could chill free speech and peaceful protest, and he warned provisions could criminalize lawful mask wearing. Civil rights advocates had urged Murphy to veto the bill.

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My proposed changes recommend modest revisions that preserve the intent and integrity of the bill, while ensuring that First Amendment rights are not inadvertently hindered, the governor said in his veto message.

The bill, which won unanimous votes in both legislative chambers in March, would have created new criminal charges of inciting a public brawl for those who engage or promote at least four others to engage in disorderly conduct.

Murphys conditional veto suggests lawmakers change the bill to say those who incite or attempt to incite at least four others to such conduct could be charged with inciting a public brawl. Under both versions of the bill, inciting a public brawl would carry maximum penalties of 18 months imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

Civil liberties advocates who had cautioned about the impact the bill could have on constitutionally protected speech hailed the governors action.

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By conditionally vetoing this bill, we can now work to ensure that no New Jerseyan can be targeted by law enforcement for exercising their First Amendment rights, said Jim Sullivan, interim policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. Amidst unprecedented attacks on the right to protest and assemble, were calling on state lawmakers to protect our most fundamental civil rights and liberties.

Lawmakers backed the bill in a bid to stop pop-up parties that have drawn teens and young people in numbers that have overwhelmed local law enforcement in some shore towns. Last Memorial Day weekend, a fight between large groups of teenagers in Ocean City ended with a 15-year-old stabbed.

The bill would also have added a disorderly persons offense for those who attempt to conceal their identities while engaging in disorderly conduct. Murphy wants lawmakers to add exceptions for medical, religious, or expressive masks, and for disguises.

Disorderly persons offenses are what New Jersey calls misdemeanors. They carry penalties of up to six months imprisonment and fines of not more than $1,000.

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The bills chief Senate sponsor said legislators would take up the changes, which he viewed as largely technical.

Ive showed it to police chiefs in our district. They dont believe it substantially changes their ability to use this statute on people that are coming into their jurisdiction and trying to create public brawls and major disruptions and take over events and cause mayhem and havoc, said Sen. Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester).

He said he hopes to have both chambers concur with the conditional veto by the end of the Senates June 2 voting session.

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Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Resources and Grady County officials kicked off the countys Opioid Abatement Program Monday.

OKARR is a nonprofit organization started in 2024 with the goal of providing grant writing and project management services and ensuring impactful projects are successfully funded and executed. The kick-off event, held at the Grady County Sheriffs Office, introduced the partners involved in the opioid abatement program and the services it will provide to the community.

According to Suzanne Williams, executive director of OKARR, Grady County received $150,000 to be used over an 18-month period.

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The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Grant is handled by the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office and provides funding for applications for treatment and recovery programs, assistance with occurring disorders and mental health issues, opioid abuse education and prevention, and more.

Partners present at the kick-off event for the program, entitled Hope and Healing, include the Grady County Sheriffs Office, Verden Police Department, Ocarta and the District Attorneys Office.

The opioid abatement grant and subsequent programs started in Grady County in December, according to Williams.

So what does that bring to Grady County? It brings a task force to really focus on what is working, whats already being done in Grady County so its not duplicative, Williams said. What individuals need to be at the table.

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The first Grady County task force meeting was held April 24 with community leaders from various organizations. During the task force meeting and other meetings leading up to applying for the grant, Williams said community members voiced the need for a sober living facility and Ocarta was selected as the nonprofit organization to run a Level 2 sober living facility for women and women with children.

All of our houses are protected by the Federal Supreme Court ruling, meaning theyre considered single-family dwellings. They dont have to go through a planning committee or get a permit or any of those types of things because they are single-family dwellings, Williams said. Level 2 has a house manager and theyre connected to resources, but most of those resources are already existing in the community.

Another need brought to OKARRs attention was school-based education on opioids in the Verden School District. Ninnekah Public Schools has also joined the education program since it started.

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess said he is going to work on getting the education programs in every school in the county.

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The education is mainly for high school and middle school students but will also be offering a prescription education program over the summer geared towards parents. Williams said it will help teacher parents understand what opioids and other drugs look like, how to use narcan and other information to keep children safe.

We do have a drug issue, Boggess said. Its been coming across the borders for years and years and years. Yes, the borders are being shut down, but if you think thats gonna stop this, its not. Its absolutely not.

The Grady County Undersheriff is on the Grady County Task Force, and Boggess said he will try to attend as many meetings as he can to help address the opioid issue in Grady County.

I think this program will help us get some of the ones that you get started in it that we can get a hold of, try to help get them on the right path and get them the right education on this, Boggess said.

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Managing Assistant District Attorney Jeff Siffers said he is not seeing as many drug crimes in drug court anymore because the statute has limited the amount of accessibility based on trafficking and other specific exclusions.

While optimistic about the program, he said he has concerns certain individuals who are repeat offenders and take advantage of the current services provided, that those individuals will do the same with the opioid abatement program services. He specifically mentioned transportation services being taken advantage of.

Where I really would love to see this partnership go is finding the opportunity to restrict the amount of opportunities that young people have to become the parents that may have been the people that Ive put in custody, Siffers said.

Verden Chief of Police Jason Cox said he equates the opioid issue in the area to mass casualty events in terms of training. For mass casualty events, officers are trained to end the threat, protect the victims and control the scene.

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Thats how we kind of approached this, all hands on deck, in my town for opioid stuff, Cox said.

He said he has often received backlash for the department driving someone to Southeast Oklahoma for rehabilitation programs. This opioid abatement grant will help free up some of the funding and labor his department has been using to address opioid issues in Verden.

Coming back to the crisis, you may not think its a very urgent matter until youre squirting narcan up somebodys nose and theyre blue, he said. That seems urgent to me.

The county, municipalities and school districts are able to apply for another round of the Opioid Abatement Program in the coming weeks, Williams said. The deadline is June 11 for a three-year grant that could provide up to $450,000.

For more information about OKARR or to provide input on what services could benefit Grady County in terms of the opioid crisis, visit https://okarr.org.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Mahoning County grand jury Thursday indicted an East Side man on 20 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person.

Rolando Guzman-Sosa, 28, is charged with taking part in the activity in April 2024.

The charges are all fourth-degree felonies.

The investigation began as a cyber tip to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Investigators then raided Guzman-Sosas home on Himrod Avenue, and prosecutors say they found tens of thousands of images.

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Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Going Around

Selected Journalism

by Murray Kempton

Seven Stories, 460 pp, $29.95

FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE END of the twentieth century, the streets of New York City were source, subject, and muse to the writer Murray Kempton. He was a true working journalist, by which I mean that he spent many of his days biking around the city looking for his next story. Some knew him as an author with one or two well-regarded books under his belt, surebut if we want to get at Kemptons essence, we will find him to be a perfect representative of a type that has all but disappeared: the old-school newspaper columnist.

Unlike many of todays columnists, Kempton didnt limit himself to trafficking in political commentary or offering second-day reactions to the news. He saw himself as a reporter to the end, when he was pushing 80. All my life, he wrote in 1995, when called upon to identify myself to the Internal Revenue Service . . . I have preferred to enter not journalist, not columnist, not commentator, certainly not author, but simply . . . newspaper reporter.

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Born in Philadelphia in 1917, he was raised by his mother and his aunt in Baltimore, where he spent his formative years listening to jazz (he was particularly into Count Basie and Bessie Smith) and reading articles by a local newspaperman named H.L. Mencken. Kempton briefly joined the then-liberal New York Post before World War II and rejoined the paper after the war. Hed spent most of the rest of his life working for daily papers like the New York Sun and Newsday, with a stint editing the New Republic in the mid-1960s. But he also freelanced for the weeklies and monthlies: This collection includes pieces written for Playboy, Grand Street, and the New York Review of Books. He never stopped working, filing columns up until shortly before he died in 1997.

And indeed, throughout Going Around, one can read him reporting on anything and everything. He reflects on the lives of Emmett Till and Tupac Shakur, examines Donald Trump and Karl Marx, chastises Ed Koch and Roy Cohn Jr., and looks for meaning in the downfall of Robert Oppenheimer. He even writes with humor about getting mugged and having his bike stolen. This is not the niche work of a specialist, and nor is it the smoothly faux-sophisticated work of someone with Wikipedia (or, God forbid, ChatGPT) at their fingertips. Instead, Kemptons writing is that of an observant person in conversation with the world around himand of someone hungry for the next story. In a December 1987 column occasioned by his 70th birthday, Kempton offered this reflection on his career:

I have seen Robert Kennedy with his children and John Kennedy with the nuns whose fidelity to their eternal wedlock to Christ he strained as no other mortal man could. I have been lied to by Joe McCarthy and heard Roy Cohn lie to himself and watched a narcotics hit man weep when the jury pronounced Nicky Barnes guilty. Dwight D. Eisenhower once bawled me out by the numbers, and Richard Nixon once did the unmerited kindness of thanking me for being so old and valued an adviser. . . . Most of lifes epiphanies arise from its accidents, and it is never so much fun as when it conscripts us as prisoners to the luck of the day.

Some of lifes epiphanies arise from your inbox. (They do if youre a Bulwark subscriber, at least.) Join us:

IN ADDITION TO KEMPTONS OWN WRITING, little snippets of others writing about him have been dropped in throughout the book. One excerpt comes from his FBI file; others have been clipped from profiles written about him. One that this collections editor, Andrew Holter, passed over, but which gets at the matter directly, comes from Garry Wills 1994 review of Kemptons book Rebellions, Perversities, and Main Events: I go away from most Kempton pieces feeling that no one has better caught his subject. Reading through this collection, I felt I understood just what Wills meant. Kemptons skill as a journalist was, in a way, self-effacing. In his best and most mature work, he doesnt make much of his vocabulary or regale his readers with complex, long-winded sentences. His real gift comes out in the way he is able to penetrate and see into his subjects.

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Among the pieces collected in Going Around, the one that offers the best example of this talent in action is Kemptons 1967 profile of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, written for Esquire. He explains how Eisenhower hid a formidable intelligence behind a mask of innocence and charm, one that he refined through years of practice. It was the purpose of his existence, writes Kempton, never to be seen in what he did. When he fired Sherman Adams, his chief of staff, as a political liability in 1958, Adams thought it was Nixons doing. While he was coldly measuring the gain or loss from dropping Nixon as his 1952 vice-presidential candidate, Nixon thought it was Thomas E. Deweys doing. A few pages later he gets to how and why Eisenhower got this way: He learned to play bridge well because his pay did not cover losing money to civilians. He is equipped to respond to any challenge which seems to him sensible. By the end of the piece, Kempton has used Eisenhowers skill at cards to throw light from new angles on the mans political repertoire: The president was a knack for clever bluffs, the ability to say one thing while meaning another, and a strong awareness of when to show emotion for maximum advantage (and just how much to show, too). In only a few pages, Kempton offers you as good a picture of the presidents mind as you might get from a much longer biography.

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Kemptons skills extend beyond his ability to get an inside view of his subjects. He writing is alive with witty asides and clever one-offs. About Nixons attempts to secure an apartment at the fancy 61 East 72nd Street building, Kempton wrote: He dared to bargain with Brezhnev and Mao, but he knew better than to try to bargain with an East Side co-op. On Trump: We are assured that God does not make trash, which thought disposes of the impression that Donald Trump is not altogether a self-made man. And my favorite Kempton mot, on former New York City mayor Ed Koch: New York is a city of beggars, separated into the two classes of those who are capable of shame and those who arent; the Koch who scorns abject beggars smears his mouth with the shoe polish in his dealings with arrogant ones.

Going Around covers a very long period. The selection includes pieces ranging across six decades, from an early item originally published in 1936 to an article Kempton wrote shortly before he died in 1997. As a result, this is a long book that also feels incomplete. For every column and feature story that Holter chose to include, you feel the ghostly presence of another that is missing. The sort of ephemera beloved by completionistsa piece on the New York Mets first season at the Polo Grounds, scripts from his stint at CBS Radio in the 1970s, excerpts from an unfinished memoirare here, but some heftier items, including his essay on Machiavelli, his coverage of the 1976 Republican National Convention, and a long profile of Paul Robeson, arent. Neither are any excerpts from those well-regarded books: Part of Our Time: Some Ruins and Monuments of the Thirties and The Briar Patch. Its a shame to miss them here, sure, but thats simply to be expected with any collection that presumes to gather a representative body of work from a writing career as long and varied as his. (Thankfully, too, those three essays, at least, are available in an earlier Kempton anthology.)

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Ultimately, though, the collection left me with a rueful impression. Thats because it prompted me to wonder: Whatever happened to this kind of reporter? When I was growing up in the Toronto area, we had newspaper columnists of our own whod been cast in the Kempton mold: Joey Slinger and Joe Fiorito are two such figures who wrote about the city with verve while covering anything and everything. But the conditions that allowed for their careersand those of others like them, like legendary New Yorker reporter Joe Mitchellhave disappeared. With the consolidation of print media ownership and the collapse of print advertising revenue, newspapers have repeatedly slashed budgets and, as a result, their coverage. There is no Murray Kemptonstyle reporter working at the Toronto Star or the New York Times anymore, although we do have writers like Luke ONeil and Rosie DiManno who cover similar ground.

And that makes Going Around all the more important for readers. We used to have journalists whose beat was the life of their community, who took their bikes around the city to report on what was happening and wore out the soles of their shoes chasing stories. And if we had that once, we can have it again, even if it must come back to us in some new form. Let Kempton show us how it was once done.

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As trade dynamics continue to shift, global political tensions rise and logistical challenges intensify, Copen is repositioning itself to strengthen its support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) regions. At the same time, it is ensuring full compliance with all applicable Customs and Border Protection regulations, including those currently in flux.

The global supplier of pocketing, waistbands and linings has taken a strategic approach to Mexico over the past decade that has supported its continued success and expansion, with the addition of stock products and tactical locations that offer logistical advantages to key production hubs, according to Marc Shevrin, president of the Western Hemisphere at Copen United.

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Marc Shevrin, president of the Western Hemisphere at Copen United

In 2019, 90 percent of Copens pocketing sales in Mexico were sourced from Asia. By 2024, that figure reversed, with 90 percent of sales coming from regionally produced, USMCA-compliant productsprimarily manufactured in Mexico. This shift to local sourcing, ahead of changes to rules of origin, allowed Copen to improve delivery times and offer more competitive pricing, particularly as freight costs for U.S. production rose sharply.

The establishment of Copen Mexico in 2024 also opened opportunities to better serve the domestic Mexican market. While denim remains a core focus, Copen is expanding into the workwear sector, offering alternative products and meeting a broader range of quality standards.

Copen

This move has enabled Copen to compete for business it previously could not access without a local presence, Shevrin said. Additionally, recent changes to USMCA rules of origin now allow Copens lining division to target regional opportunities, as suit linings no longer require regional yarn compliance to qualify.

Alongside its existing pocketing operations in Torreon and Puebla, Copen has expanded its footprint in 2025 with the opening of a warehouse and factory in Aguascalientes. This facility supplies waistbands, pre-cut pockets, bindings and other products to the USMCA region.

As part of its broader efforts around sustainability, transparency and traceability, Copen is partnering with forensic and data science company Oritain to strengthen its documentation and origin claims. Oritains forensic process analyzes isotopes and trace markers on cotton to verify its origin, providing scientifically backed evidence in case of inquiries from authorities, brands or vendors.
GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR)  A Greeley special education teacher was killed at the hands of her estranged husband in a murder-suicide in March.

Laura Ruben was inside her car, with her 2-year-old child in the backseat, when her husband opened fire and turned the gun on himself. The last conversation Jessica Callaham had with her sister, minutes before the murder, still haunts her.

One of the first things she said is, Im scared that hes going to do something,' Callaham shared.

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Ruben was on the phone with police when her husband shot her to death, according to Greeley Police. The 40-year-old mother was described as caring, kind and compassionate.

Community holding vigil, raising funds for teacher killed in Weld County crash

She had such a big heart, Callaham said. Shes always just had a heart for special needs children.

It was that calling that brought her to Greeley one year ago to work with visually impaired students in School District 6. Ruben, her two daughters and her husband of 10 years made the cross-country trip to Colorado, eager for new beginnings.

But Callaham says Rubens husband struggled with mental illness for years

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She stayed around in hopes that he understood the severity of his mental health, Callaham said.

She shares that her sister did everything possible to support the man she vowed to love in sickness and in health by going to therapy, setting up medical appointments, admitting him, locking up pills and knives in the home and more. But over the last two years, the red flags grew louder and louder.

Him starting to physically harm her, along with the verbal abuse, the psychological abuse and just outbursts. Very violent outbursts, Callaham explained.

December outburst spurred changes

It was an outburst in December that involved her husband destroying their home and putting the girls at risk that was the last straw for Ruben. Over the next few months, Ruben was determined to walk a new path. She enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado to earn a masters degree, filed for separation, rented a new apartment and was granted a temporary restraining order.

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Kelly Loving Act: Colorado lawmakers push for more transgender protections

The Victim Services Unit covers 13 police departments in Weld County and works closely with Ruben. Coordinator Heather Wright and Advocate Specialist Faith Thompson connected Ruben with the vital resources to leave, start fresh and navigate the legal system.

She was leaving him and at the end of the day, he decided to take her away from all of those wonderful people who love and supported her because she said I will not be with you anymore, Wright said. As details were coming in on what exactly happened to Laura and her family that day my anxiety started to go up and up.

That day was March 17, 2025.

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The separated couple had a court hearing that morning where a judge implemented a more permanent restraining order and granted supervised visitation with the children, which Callaham said caused Rubens husband to become agitated. While driving home, Ruben called her sister scared and said her husband was tailing her.

Laura Ruben (Courtesy Jessica Callaham) Laura Ruben (Courtesy Jessica Callaham) Laura Ruben (Courtesy Jessica Callaham) Laura Ruben (Courtesy Jessica Callaham)

I was the one that told her its going to be okay, Callaham cried.

Ruben reached the parking lot of her apartment complex and was sitting in the front seat with her 2-year-old daughter in the backseat when she received a call from a Greeley Police officer in regard to her estranged husband violating the restraining order. All of a sudden, her husband appeared in the parking lot and Callaham says he blocked her car in.

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Ruben was trapped and still on the phone with the officer.

They did an all-call. Witnesses said eight to 10 cop cars rushed in, but unfortunately, they just couldnt get to her fast enough, Callaham recalled.

With his daughter in the car, the 36-year-old man shot into Rubens car multiple times, killing his wife and then shot himself, according to police. The toddler was not hurt.

Denver police arrest off-road vehicle rider for a second time this spring

To know that there wasnt a moment where he stopped to check for her, it haunts me, Callaham cried. Its bad enough to leave your child without her parents, but to expose her to that.

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Rubens girls are now left in this world without a mother. Thompson and Wright responded to the crime scene to soothe the children and help the family navigate the unthinkable.

Her family is absolutely amazing, Wright said. They came into a horrible situation and always kept the girls and Laura at the forefront of every action that they did.

And that grace goes both ways. Callaham is praising the Greeley Police Department for ensuring her sister always felt heard and seen.

Im just tremendously thankful for the people of Greeley for taking care of her when I couldnt, Callaham cried.

Man who served 19 years for holding housekeeper captive resentenced, will be deported

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Although nothing will bring Ruben back, Callaham has a message for other women.

Normalize that its not our job to save other people. Its our job to save ourselves, Callaham cried. Its something I wish my sister had grasped a little bit more  that he has to save himself and that she couldnt save him.

A judge has ruled that Rubens daughters do get to stay together and the two are currently in Georgia with Callaham. However, its going to be a long road with a lot of financial responsibilities. Callaham is working to set up college funds for both girls. If youd like to donate, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Timothy Mitcham of Greenbrier High School was the top vote-getter in a competitive Student of the Week poll that had nine nominees.

The category was students who help other students in ways like peer mentoring, assisting classmates with special needs, tutoring and more.

The Tennessean asks Middle Tennessee high school principals, guidance counselors, teachers and staff to send us their best students in different categories throughout the school year. Those nominated are part of our weekly poll as we then let you, the reader, decide who deserves the title by voting in our weekly poll.

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Mitcham received 5,578 votes, just ahead of runner-up Lukas Delaney of Montgomery Central with 4,868 votes. Anais Vazquez of Rossview garnered 1,071 votes.

Timothy Mitcham.

Cosmetology & SkillsUSA Advisor Laureida Dooley pointed to examples about Mitcham that included the student's help with an annual prom fashion show and support for students with special needs.

Check Tennessean.com on Monday to vote in our next scheduled poll to recognize seniors.

Here is a look at the students nominated for this poll.

'Class Disrupted': Hear from students on today's heated education debates in ongoing series

Anais Vazquez, Rossview High

A second-year peer mentor, Vazquez works in the self-contained classroom with students who have the most complex disabilities. Vazquez consistently arrives each day with an exceptional attitude and readily assists in all situations, Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Daniel Cozine said. Vazquez was also described showing remarkable skill working with the most challenging students, effectively navigating communication and feeding challenges. Vazquez plans to pursue a nursing degree this fall.

Lukas Delaney, Montgomery Central High

Delaney has served as a peer mentor for Comprehensive Development Classroom students for the past two years, teacher Debra Tuberville said. "He is an outstanding young man who willingly works with any student, regardless of their disability. Many students request to work with him on a daily basis," Tuberville said. Delaney frequently volunteers to support students who are having a difficult day, something he takes pride in. "He is a true inspiration to all who know him," Tuberville said.

Gatlin Dunn, Stewart County High

The senior "comes to school each day with a positive attitude towards students and staff. Gatlin is the type of student that, if all were as good as he is, would put all principals out of business because he is that outstanding," Principal William Gray said in his nomination. "Gatlin is the most respectful student I have ever encountered."

Ella Cleveland, Green Hill High

The senior has been a peer helper in special education classrooms at Green Hill for two years. Cleveland has also been an active member in the school's Best Buddies club and serves as the Buddy Director on the leadership team for Best Buddies. Cleveland is also an active member of Green Hill's Special Olympics Unified Fitness club and has been a helper with the school's Unified Track and Field Athletes. "Ella strives to learn more about how to not only be a friend to people with disabilities but also how to better include, advocate, and interact," Green Hill Comprehensive Development Classroom teacher Victoria Croasmun said. "She has been a great role model for these students and has helped these students achieve goals. She cultivates genuine friendships and has provided opportunities for these students to have a typical high school experience inside and outside of school. She represents a heart for inclusion."

Brianna Smith, Liberty Creek High

A Comprehensive Development Classroom peer described by Principal Phillip Holt as "an outstanding role model who cares deeply about all students, Brianna is willing to work with anyone in need." Smith has volunteered at both fall and spring Special Olympic events, is president of Inclusion Club and has helped plan and coordinate events throughout the year for the Comprehensive Development Classroom including the annual high school spring dance here on campus for all Sumner County schools. Smith plans to become a special education teacher one day herself.

Ryan Zimmerman, Riverdale High

Zimmerman has been a peer tutor for Riverdale's special education department. "Ryan arrives with an upbeat, exciting energy that uplifts all of our kids," his nominator said. Zimmerman is described as always ready to lend a helping hand when needed and works well with even our most struggling students. We have been blessed to have him on our team."

Addison Fuss, Siegel High

As a peer tutor in Siegel's Structured Instruction classes, Fuss helps students in class and also participates in after-school events for special needs students. Described as kind, helpful who always goes above and beyond to befriend students to lend a listening ear.

Emery Shelton, Mt. Juliet High

The senior was a student peer helper in one of the school's Comprehensive Development Classroom classes last semester. It taught me a lot about patience, understanding, and empathy," Shelton said. "I learned how to communicate in different ways to adapt to each kids uniqueness. I enjoyed building puzzles and playing bingo with them. I helped with reading, writing, and some math. Shelton also played volleyball for four years and competed one year on the track and field team in the discus. Shelton has also volunteered at her church Vacation Bible School for four years and given volleyball lessons to youth for the past two years. She has taken multiple Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment classes and achieved a 4.3 grade point average. Shelton will be attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy this fall to study Marine Engineering and play volleyball.

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Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Timothy Mitcham of Greenbrier wins Tennessean Student of the Week poll
In recent months, its been a common occurrence to see headlines about airplane engines catching fire or planes forced to return to the runway due to wildlife strikes.

Despite the dangers or chaos those situations can cause, the efforts to prevent those situations begin long before takeoff.

Action News Jax was granted exclusive access to the Jacksonville International Airports airfield for an inside look at how airport teams are proactively managing the threat of wildlife strikes, which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said are on the rise nationally.

A daily defense

Wildlife, especially birds, pose a real threat to aviation, said certified wildlife biologist Alison Doran, who works with JIA. Doran and her teams spend their days patrolling the airport grounds with safety personnel, scanning the skies and the grounds for everything from mourning doves to coyotes to wild boars.

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You cant mitigate for every bird, Doran said. Youre always going to have the one robin or the mourning dove. You want to target your strategies towards things that could cause a damaging strike, like large-bodied birds, flocking birds like gulls or cormorants.

READ: Surveillance pricing: Location, demographics, shopping habits go into determining the price you pay

Data from the FAA Wildlife Strike Database shows JIA has seen at least 120 bird or wildlife strikes since 2023, which is slightly more than Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers over the same time frame, despite Fort Myers having roughly more daily flights.

JIA and RSW can be considered similar on a comparison scale, relative to other Florida daily flight airport counts.

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READ: JFRD was not prepared: Battalion Chief breaks silence on Blount Island cargo ship fire injuries

While JIA hasnt experienced any significantly damaging strikes in the past decade, prevention is still a 24/7 operation and commitment.

Ops personnel are constantly driving around the perimeter road, Doran explained. Theyre looking for safety hazards, wildlife, foreign object debrisanything that could interfere with flight.

If a strike occurs, remains can be submitted to the Smithsonians Feather Identification Lab to determine the species involved, and strategies can be adjusted accordingly, such as changing mowing rotations to disrupt bird feeding patterns. Crews showed us that JIA safety vehicles are each equipped with a strike kit, which houses such tools.

Managing habitat, not just runways

The airfields safety team employs a layered approach to wildlife management, Doran said.

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It starts with habitat management, then exclusion, trapping, and removal, she said. We have a contract with the USDA to remove larger animals like deer, hogs, or coyotes that breach the fence.

READ: Audit finds Floridas guardianship program not doing enough to protect seniors from malfeasance

One of the airports key strategies is controlling grass height. The FAA recommends a height between six to 12 inches. Why? Too short, and birds see each other and feel safe to flock or stay together. Too tall, and it attracts mammals and insects that, in turn, attract birds.

Theres a reason for everything, Doran added, as she crouched beside a strip of grass on the runway. We want to keep it at a height where birds cant communicate effectively or feel comfortable landing.

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Her team also enforces zero tolerance zones for wildlife in critical safety areas near runways and adjusts mowing patterns to drive wildlife away from those zones.

Simulating crisis

Roughly 30 minutes south of the airport, at Jacksonville University, Captain David Marble trains future aviators for scenarios like bird strikes.

A former Delta pilot, Marble now teaches in the universitys School of Aviation using a flight simulator capable of replicating flights, including emergency scenarios. Action News Jax got the chance to watch Captain Marble run through flight training with a Jacksonville University Aviation Student.

We simulate engine failures, bird strikes, electrical or hydraulic problems, Marble said. Pilots are trained to identify issues quickly, refer to their crew alerting systems, and execute checklists with precision. Very few things that happen in an airplane cant be handled if the crew is working together.

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Marble said students often train under challenging weather conditions to build confidence in emergency scenarios.

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They fly approaches in fog, rain, snow. We push them with night flights and mountainous terrain training, he said. All of this ensures theyre ready when it counts.

Built to withstand

According to the FAA, commercial aircraft engines are designed to safely ingest birds weighing up to four pounds, and planes are built to withstand strikes from birds up to eight pounds. During our visit to the airfield, the Action News Jax team did not see any birds over that threshold.

But Doran says large-bodied birds, particularly those that fly in flocks, remain the biggest concern. Species like gulls (seagulls) and cormorants are regularly spotted, and some, like cattle egrets, are drawn to airport mowers because of the insects they stir up.

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If we see that pattern, we change our mowing, Doran said. Everything we do is about removing food, water, and coverwhatever attracts the wildlife in the first place.

A shared responsibility

From biologists monitoring the fence line to student pilots training for in-air emergencies, keeping the skies safe is a coordinated effort that begins long before passengers board, JIA safety officials said.

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We cant prevent every strike, but we can do everything in our power to minimize the risk, Doran said.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  An environmental group said Thursday that they believe xAI is planning to install up to 90 power-generating turbines at its second Memphis facility, but the Greater Memphis Chamber quickly responded, saying there were no such plans.

XAI, a company founded by Elon Musk, is evaluating a plan to install between 40 and 90 polluting methane gas turbines at its second South Memphis data center, according to documents obtained by the Southern Environmental Law Center, the group said in a news release. XAI appears to be preparing for a truly staggering number of polluting turbines for its second South Memphis data center, all while continuing to run unpermitted turbines nearby.

Hours later, the Chamber responded with a news release stating the company was instead taking turbines offline, and was not planning on using them at the new site:

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xAI is demobilizing turbines in Shelby County and has no plans to site any turbines at its Tulane location. The company continues to evaluate various power solutions for its Memphis facilities while working within all applicable regulatory frameworks, the Chamber stated.

xAI gas turbines to be removed, Chamber says; Pearson says hes skeptical

xAI has been using 15 gas-powered turbines to provide electricity to power its Colossus supercomputer in southwest Memphis on a temporary basis for the past several months.

The health department says the company must receive a permit to permanently operate the turbines after a year, and environmental advocates say the turbines have the potential to cause health issues for nearby residents.

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On Tuesday, the Chamber said xAI had been connected to the TVA power grid via a substation providing 150 MW of power, and would remove the turbines over the next two months, though Rep. Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis) said he was skeptical of that announcement.

In addition to the supercomputer that has been operational in southwest Memphis since mid-2024, xAI is currently building a second data center on Tulane Road in Whitehaven.

xAI purchases 1 million-square-foot property in Memphis

xAI is committed to Memphis through their sustainable environmental practices, Chamber officials said. The company is participating in the Demand Response program as outlined by MLGW and is exploring ways to provide energy to the grid for the benefit of the community, especially in emergency situations or other times of need. As xAI grows, so will Memphis.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Dr. Reddys Laboratories, a global pharmaceutical company, recently closed in early 2025 due to business and financial decisions.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), toured the facility with North Louisiana Economic Partnership and Louisiana Economic Development to learn about its potential.

You have several major pharmaceutical companies [that] have made it publicly known that theyre looking to expand their manufacturing in the U.S. And this having recently been- been a functioning manufacturing facility for pharmaceuticals, they intent is to let them know hey, this is ready, we have trained individuals here that have worked in that space, and they can come in and get up and running very quickly, said Justyn Dixon, president and CEO of North Louisiana Economic Partnership.

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Senator Cassidy was able to see the facilitys layout, footprint, and capabilities while learning from former employees and directors at the laboratory.

Senator Cassidy on tour of Dr. Reddys Laboratories Senator Cassidy on tour of Dr. Reddys Laboratories Senator Cassidy on tour of Dr. Reddys Laboratories Senator Cassidy on tour of Dr. Reddys Laboratories

The senator says he is all about economic development for North Louisiana and wants to build on assets. He says the facility is laid out for an industry to hopefully step in and pick back up what the former company did not.

President Trump is putting tariffs on those countries that are currently making these drugs which is going to increase the cost of production if you will over there, so it might be the opportunity to have a lower cost in production here, said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D.

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Cabinet Health disrupts healthcare with sustainable pharmacy

Will Parker, the former associate director of Dr. Reddys Laboratories in Shreveport, says the facility is strategically located next to rail and highway transit. It is at the corner of 31-32 and I-49.

We are equipped with two labs, an analytical lab and a microbiological lab. We have two warehouses, a little over 3,000 rack spaces. The site is right around 300,000 square feet, situated on 50+ acres, said Parker.

Parker says the vast majority of equipment in the facility is serviceable and in good working order. They just need to be requalified and revalidated.

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We have a number of various equipment to manufacture different types of pharmaceutical products. So we can do anything from OSD or your oral solid dosage forms, topicals, liquids. We can even package. We can package various forms of products, be it bottles, jars, blister packing, whatever the case may be, said Parker.

Senator Cassidy says he wants economic development for Shreveport-Bossier.

Once you have 500 people or 300 people employed here, theyre buying groceries, theyre buying insurance, theyre buying homes, and so it just spins through the economy, and it elevates a lot of things. So, my goal is how do we realize the potential of this facility for the benefit of Northwest Louisiana, said Senator Cassidy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
At least 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked travellers in Nigerias southeastern Imo State, according to Amnesty International.

The human rights NGO reported on Friday that more than 20 commuter vehicles and trucks were set ablaze during a vicious attack along the Okigwe-Owerri road the day before.

The attackers are suspected of being members of the banned separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Amnesty said.

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The attack  shows callous disregard for the sanctity of life. The gunmen blocked Okigwe-Owerri highway and areas of Umuna in Onuimo LGA unleashed violence in an utter show of impunity, Amnesty wrote on X.

The Nigerian authorities must immediately and transparently investigate this attack and ensure that the actual perpetrators are brought to justice. International law requires the Nigerian government to promptly investigate unlawful killings to bring perpetrators to justice, it added.

Amnesty International strongly condemns the vicious attack on travelers yesterday 8 May 2025, along Okigwe-Owerri Road in Imo State, killing at least 30 people and burning over 20 commuter vehicles and trucks.  Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) May 9, 2025

Imo police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed that the attack took place in the early hours of Thursday, but declined to comment on the death toll.

On Friday, Okoye told the Reuters news agency that one of the assailants had been killed by the police.

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According to a police statement, the gunmen, operating in three groups, blocked the highway at 04:00 GMT and shot sporadically.

A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding, the police said.

Nigerias Premium Times also reported that the police commissioner of Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, led a joint tactical team of security operatives to the scene.

According to Danjuma, the joint security team comprised personnel from Nigerias army, the police, and the State Security Service.

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The IPOB, which the Nigerian government has classed as an outlawed organisation, has been campaigning for the secession of southeastern Nigeria, where the majority of people belong to the Igbo ethnic group.

Following the late 1960s civil war that engulfed the Biafra region, killing more than one million people, separatist groups have continued to push for an independent state from the southeast and in some parts of the south of Nigeria.
By Ben Ezeamalu

LAGOS (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead at least 30 travellers in an attack in Nigeria's southeastern Imo state, Amnesty International said on Friday, raising fresh concerns about violence in a region rife with insecurity.

More than 20 vehicles and trucks were set ablaze by the attackers, who were suspected to be members of the banned separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Amnesty said in a post on X.

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Imo police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the attack occurred in Thursday's early hours, but declined comment on the number of fatalities. One of the assailants was killed by the police, Okoye told Reuters on Friday.

A police statement said the gunmen, operating in three groups, barricaded the highway at about 0400 GMT and shot sporadically before setting vehicles ablaze.

"A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding," the police said in the statement.

IPOB campaigns for the secession of southeastern Nigeria, where the majority belong to the Igbo ethnic group. Nigerian authorities have labelled IPOB a terrorist organisation.

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Civil war engulfed the Biafra region in the late 1960s, killing more than 1 million people.

Thursday's attack coincided with a visit by President Bola Tinubu to the region, occurring in the same week that IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu appeared in federal court where he is facing trial on terrorism charges.

Amnesty called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

(Reporting by Ben Ezeamalu; editing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Mark Heinrich)
Harvey Weinstein's retrial for his overturned New York convictions is in full swing, with a new sexual assault victim sharing shocking details and name-dropping Gwyneth Paltrow and others in her testimony.

The Manhattan Supreme Court recently heard from Kaja Sokola, a 39-year-old woman who claims she was sexually abused by the disgraced film producer when she was 16. She, unlike the other alleged victims, did not testify at Weinstein's first conviction trial.

The new witness shared her traumatic tale, claiming Harvey Weinstein enjoyed name-dropping the female A-listers he allegedly helped rise to fame, like Hollywood veteran Gwyneth Paltrow. However, the former Miramax co-founder remains adamant he did nothing wrong.

Alleged Victim Claims Harvey Weinstein Namedropped Female Celebrities Before Assault

Will / MEGA

During her testimony, Sokola recalled the moment Weinstein allegedly assaulted her when she was just 16. She told the court he got "upset" when she tried to scream and told her to work on her "stubbornness" if she wanted to succeed in Hollywood.

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Weinstein allegedly namedropped the female stars he helped rise to fame, listing famous actresses like Penelope Cruz and Paltrow. Sokola claimed he used these names to threaten her, noting he told her, "I have to listen to him if I want to proceed with that career."

The alleged victim broke down crying while recounting the horrific memory, telling the court Weinstein coerced her into silence by stressing "this has to stay between us." The New York Post reported that while she recounted her tale in tears, Weinstein remained impassive in his wheelchair.

The Movie Producer's Accuser Endured The Abuse For Her Career

MEGA

Sokola, originally from Poland, explained that she endured Weinstein's unsolicited advances out of fear and for the promises he made to boost her career. She recounted one moment where the movie producer and his driver picked her up for lunch but took her to his Soho loft instead.

Weinstein, per her claims, demanded she strip and follow him to the bathroom where he touched her vagina and forced her to touch his penis.

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"It was the most horrifying thing I've ever experienced until that time," Sokola lamented. She stated she saw Weinstein's eyes in the mirror during the incident, and "they looked black and scary. I will never forget this."

Despite her fear, Sokola still hoped Weinstein would make her a star as he promised. So she met him again in 2004, where he allegedly groped her breasts during a car ride and tried to fight off his advances. This incident wasn't the last, as Sokola stayed in touch with Weinstein, leading to a third assault in 2006.

The Alleged Victim Felt Soulless After The Third Incident

MEGA

Sokola claimed she was 19 when Weinstein orally "raped" her in his hotel room. The alleged incident happened after he got her a part as an extra in "The Nanny Diaries." Because of this gig, she believed Weinstein when he asked her to come over to look at a script.

The alleged victim claimed he pushed her onto the bed before taking off her shoes and ripping off her stockings and underwear. "I kept saying, please don't, please stop  I don't want this But he didn't listen, he didn't listen," Sokola told the court, adding:

"I didn't scream, I didn't kick, I started saying, please stop, please stop. I couldn't move. He was too heavy, he was too strong. The force was too strong. I couldn't move in any way."

She claimed the encounter left her feeling broken, like "my soul was removed from me." Sokola's testimony marks the first time she has testified publicly against Weinstein, and she is expected to continue her story on Friday morning.

Miriam Haley Returns To Fight Against Her Alleged Predator After Five Years

RCF / MEGA

Unlike Sokola who didn't testify at Weinstein's first sexual assault conviction, Miriam Haley returned to court to ensure justice is served. The Blast covered the story, reporting that the alleged victim echoed similar sentiments to her past testimony against the movie producer.

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She took the stand weeks earlier in April, recalling the moment Weinstein sexually assaulted her in his Manhattan apartment. Haley noted the incident occurred in 2006 after her alleged abuser gifted her a ticket to the premiere of "Clerks II" in Los Angeles.

Haley claimed she was sitting on the sofa when Weinstein suddenly tried to kiss her before pinning her down and forcing her onto a bed. She tried to avoid the attack by citing her period but Weinstein allegedly didn't care and removed her tampon before raping her.

Inside Harvey Weinstein's New York Conviction Retrial

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Haley first testified about her alleged encounter with Weinstein five years ago when the movie producer was convicted of sexual assault in New York. However, the conviction did not stick after an appeals court sided with Weinstein in 2024.

At the time, the appeals court ruled that his constitutional rights had been violated during the trial. Now, prosecutors are pursuing another case against Weinstein while he maintains his innocence. He won another small victory in April following a transfer petition.

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Weinstein's lawyers argued that he should be moved from the infamous Rikers Island prison to Bellevue Hospital because the penitentiary failed to manage his health properly. His transfer plea was granted, allowing the former media giant to escape his prison cell until the outcome of his retrial.

Will Harvey Weinstein be proven guilty again, or will he escape the sexual assault allegations?
On this special edition of KTAB 4u we focus on Habitat for Humanity, a global organization that continues to build hope in communities around the worldincluding right here in Abilene.

Executive Director Rosten Callerman tells us about the the former sites of Saint Anns Hospital and The Spanish Arms Apartments. Two properties both affected by recent fires but now part of a hopeful future thanks to Habitat for Humanity.

Originally built in 1938 as a maternity hospital, Saint Anns served the Abilene community for decades before closing in 1968. In the years since, the property passed through multiple owners and suffered a series of devastating fires, ultimately leading to its demolition in 2022.

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Now under the stewardship of Habitat for Humanity, the site is poised for transformation. Executive Director Rosten Callarman shared his vision for the space: I hope that what Abilene sees here is an opportunity to join together, to build something better and to not just stop. Once we want to turn this building down and build something better in its place. But to build enough affordable housing that we dont need to worry about trying to create programs out of abandoned buildings anymore.

Community members can support Habitats mission by donating or volunteering. To learn how you can help go to habitatabi.org.

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This is where most carriers say, I dont want to bother them. But heres the truth: You are not bothering them if youre adding value.

Attach your PDF carrier packet and W-9 to make their life easy. Keep it simple and remember to be consistent in your efforts.

Thanks for your time, [Your Name]

Just wanted to follow up on my previous message. Ive attached our carrier packet here in case you have a need now or in the future. We specialize in [region/lane] and maintain clean safety scores, reliable drivers, and flexible equipment.

Wait 23 business days after your initial outreach.Even if you have not heard back, send a professional follow-up email attaching your carrier packet .

(This is your cold call or cold email. It sets the tone.) You introduced yourself, kept it brief, and asked to stay in touch. Now it is about showing value over time.

Lets walk through a basic yet highly effective 5-touch follow-up strategy designed specifically for small carriers and owner-operators.

Shippers are flooded with carriers dailyemails, voicemails, LinkedIn requests. What separates you is consistency, not just charisma.

Let that sink in. Your first contact is the beginning of the relationship, not the pitch that closes it.

But over 80 percent of sales happen after at least five touches

And how to convert a single opportunity into a long-term customer

What it takes to secure that first load

How to structure your second and third touches

How to follow up with intention

Part 2 focuses on what happens after first contact:

But this is where most small carriers fall off. They do the hard part of starting, but never build the discipline of following through. And in todays freight market, where volatility and tight shipper loyalty are the norm, follow-up is the difference between being seen as a real optionor forgotten entirely. (You have heard the term fortune is in the follow up)

If you think outreach ends after the first cold call or email, you are leaving real money and long-term freight relationships on the table. In Part 1, we broke down the foundation: identifying your ideal shippers, building prospecting lists, and initiating contact through a structured cadence.

The first contact gets their attention. The second one gets you remembered. The third through seventh? That is what closes the freight.

Story continues

Touch 3 (about 57 business days later) is a brief note with insightnot a sales pitch.

Examples:

A SONAR chart showing regional rate shifts for their outbound market



A local fuel surcharge trend and how you are managing it



A lane-specific snapshot showing your availability/preferences



Example Message:



Hi [Name],

Just wanted to check back in real quick  Ive still got open truck space running out of [Shippers City] this week, and Id love to help if anything comes up on your end. Ive also attached a quick update with what were seeing in the market right now for that lane.

Thanks again,

[Your Name]

Touch 4  Phone Call or Voicemail

About 10 days after your last message, follow up with a professional phone call.

Keep it short. Even a voicemail is valuable here:

Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] with [Your Company].

I sent over some info last week and just wanted to follow up. Ive still got steady truck availability out of [City], and if you ever need help with a load, Id be glad to jump in and show you how we operate. Appreciate your time either way.

No pressure. No pitch. Just presence.

Touch 5  Test Load Offer

By now, youve shown consistency, professionalism, and reliability without being overbearing.

If you still have not secured a lane, now is the time to make a direct offer.

Offer to run a single load at cost or a small-margin rate as a test. You are trying to get in the door and you have to think flexibly to do so..



Why?

Because every long-term shipper relationship starts with one successful delivery.

Example:

Hi [Name],



Ive got a truck coming through [City] on [Date] and saw youre nearby. If youve got anything that needs to move that day, Id be glad to help out and run it at a fair ratejust to show you how we do business. No strings attached, just a chance to earn your trust.

Thanks,

[Your Name]

This is where relationships are won.

How to Close and Onboard Like a Professional

Lets say your persistence pays off. The shipper sends over their onboarding packet or requests rate quotes.

Here is how to avoid fumbling the close.

1. Confirm All Legal Docs Are Current

Make sure:

MC and DOT are active



W-9 is clean



COI (Certificate of Insurance) is up-to-date and matches their requirements



If they request specific cargo limits or additional insureds, respond within 24 hours. Speed = trust.

2. Set Communication Expectations Early

Make it clear how often you will update them, how you handle delays, and who to contact.

Example:

Our dispatcher sends arrival ETA at pickup, delivery ETA post-load, and immediate notification if anything changes. We pride ourselves on proactive communication, not waiting until something goes wrong.

3. Deliver Flawlessly on That First Load

No late arrivals. No excuses. No missed calls.

Treat that first load like it is the only one you will ever getand it will turn into five.

Jessica from United Commercial Insurance said it on The Long Haul best:

Small carriers win when they operate like big oneswith even more consistency.

Turning One Load Into a Lane

Once the first load is done, follow up within 24 hours.

Thank them, share delivery confirmation, and ask for feedback.

Thenoffer consistent lane coverage. Let them know when you will be back in their region and hold capacity for them. But remember, only if it makes sense and it is profitable for you to do so.

Over time, this is how you build from:

One load



To two loads a month



To weekly drop-and-hooks



To being their preferred carrier



It is not about flashy pitches. It is about repeatable performance and showing up before they ask.

Metrics to Track for Ongoing Outreach Success

Keep tabs on:

Outreach touches per week



Carrier packets sent



First loads booked



Loads converted to regular volume



Revenue generated from direct freight



This lets you measure the ROI of your outreachand double down where it is working.

Final Word

The best carriers in this market are not waiting on brokers to call them. They are out building freight relationships like a business should.

Outreach is not about being slick. It is about being disciplined, organized, and relentlessly consistent.

Follow-up is not annoying when it adds value. Persistence is not a flaw when it is structured.

And no shipper is too busy to say yes to a carrier who makes their life easier.

If you are tired of chasing the same low-margin loads, tired of waiting to be found, tired of being invisible to real freightyou already know what the next move is.

Execute. Track. Improve. Repeat.

And if you want the exact tools to manage your shipper pipeline, write better follow-up messages, and close your first few accounts this quarter, we cover all of that inside the Playbook Masterclass.

Because direct freight is not about luck. It is about work.

And the ones who are working will win.

The post How to Craft a Shipper Outreach Strategy That Works Part 2 appeared first on FreightWaves.
Stolen personal student and teacher information that was supposed to be destroyed after a ransom was paid is now being used to extort individual school districts.

In December, a hacker gained access to personal data for students and teachers around the world in the database for the PowerSchool student information system. PowerSchool told users that the hacker destroyed the data, but now that same data is being used to get ransoms from individual school districts.

Ransom demands have been sent to school districts across the U.S. and Canada, including at least 20 North Carolina school districts and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The hacker wants Bitcoin in exchange for destroying the data, according to Vanessa Wren, chief information officer for DPI.

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The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will not engage with those making the threats, State Superintendent Mo Green said at a news conference Wednesday.

State officials did not release the names of the school districts that received the ransom demand in emails on Wednesday, but Green said they have been told not to engage with those making the threats.

The data affected goes back to 2013, when all North Carolina public schools began using PowerSchool. PowerSchool is used to record information such as student attendance, grades and class schedules. In a decision made before the latest breach, all North Carolina public schools will switch to using a different system called Infinite Campus by July 1.

It is certainly unacceptable that these families and public servants have had the data compromised again and going through what we just went through a few months ago, Green said. It is completely unfortunate that the perpetrators are preying on innocent children and dedicated public servants.

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Wrenn said PowerSchool believes the new threat is coming from the same hacker who stole the data but cant confirm that yet. Law enforcement in the U.S. and Canada are investigating.

In a statement Wednesday, PowerSchool confirmed it had paid a ransom to the hacker in hopes of having the data destroyed. The company says the hacker did not honor the deal.

PowerSchool is aware that a threat actor has reached out to multiple school district customers in an attempt to extort them using data from the previously reported December 2024 incident, PowerSchool said in its statement. We do not believe this is a new incident, as samples of data match the data previously stolen in December.

PowerSchool has provided free credit monitoring to people affected by the data breach. It urged people concerned about the data breach to go to https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/ to take advantage of the credit monitoring services.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now)  Small business ventures in western Maryland are getting support from an incubator at Hagerstown Community College.

A three-day conference to help anyone with a business plan found plenty of resources to lend a helping hand. The goal of the conference is to spark entrepreneurial innovation and business growth.

We stress the importance of working with others, working with the community, working with other entrepreneurs with the winning idea, Maureen Kolb, director of the incubator, said.

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Economic growth in Washington County showcased at Chamber of Commerce forum

Jada Riley with the Maryland Opportunities Business Center said its a one-stop shop for startups.

Providing services like accounting and credit repair and website building and company logos, Riley said. We offer legal assistance as well.

Andrew Gehman came to the conference from Pennsylvania, where he owns a video production company.

I came here to learn, Gehman said. I want to learn about marketing, running a small business, type of stuff. But I also came to network.

And Marylands Transportation Department was on hand Thursday, too, touting a certification program for minority small businesses.

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This program is great for small businesses, Heather McCall, outreach manager for the department, said. It allows them to be partners of bigger contracts.

Hagerstown locals voice concerns over increasing landfill fees, water bills

Steven Tibs was also at the incubator, trying to rebound from a hit his beef jerky business took from the pandemic.

COVID came around and just wiped me out, Tibbs said. It put me about $400,000 in debt.

Then theres Luis Antonio Landaverde, who launched a minority mortgage brokerage service with the help of the incubator.

I couldnt have done it without them, Landaverde said. I am very thankful for all the help, their support.

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A defunct, Soviet-era spacecraft is falling back to Earth uncontrolled, but experts say theres little cause for alarm.

The half-ton craft, known as Kosmos-482, was designed to land on Venus but instead has spent the past 53 years languishing in Earth orbit because of a rocket malfunction. Now the spacecraft is expected to plunge through the atmosphere in the coming days, with the latest forecasts predicting uncontrolled re-entry will occur sometime on Saturday.

A huge hunk of metal tumbling back to Earth may seem like a terrifying prospect, but old satellites, spent rocket parts or other small bits of space debris actually fall to Earth and re-enter the atmosphere on an almost daily basis, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

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In most cases, the spacecraft will burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, with very few  if any  parts surviving the fiery journey. But even when some pieces have withstood atmospheric re-entry, its very rare that they have fallen over land and caused any damage, mostly because oceans cover around 71% of the planets surface.

The risk of any satellite reentry causing injury is extremely remote, ESA officials wrote in a blog post about Kosmos-482. The annual risk of an individual human being injured by space debris is under 1 in 100 billion. In comparison, a person is about 65,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning.

An artist rendering of Venera 9, a Soviet spacecraft, on the surface of Venus. (Mark Garlick / Science Photo Library via Getty Images)

ESAs Space Debris Office is predicting that Kosmos-482 will begin falling through the atmosphere on Saturday at around 4:26 a.m. ET, with an estimated uncertainty of plus or minus 4.35 hours.

The U.S. Space Force is also projecting that re-entry will occur on Saturday, but slightly earlier, at around 1:52 a.m. ET.

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Its difficult to make precise forecasts of when an uncontrolled spacecraft will fall back to Earth because much of it depends on atmospheric dynamics, space weather and the specific orientation of the object as its orbit degrades  all of which are tricky to model.

As the spacecraft gets closer to re-entry, researchers will be able to refine these predictions, but its still hard to know exactly where the spacecraft will make landfall.

NASA said the landing location could be anywhere between 52 N and 52 S latitude, a huge swath that covers Africa, Australia, much of North America and South America and large portions of Europe and Asia.

Space Force officials said their latest predictions show Kosmos-482 re-entering the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, west of Guam, while ESAs ground track pegs the landing site south of Australia, in or around the Southern Ocean.

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Kosmos-482 was launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 on a mission to land on the surface of Venus. It was one of a series of missions to Venus, but this one became stranded in orbit around Earth after a rocket mishap.

Most of the debris from the ill-fated mission already fell back to Earth decades ago, but it's the half-ton, spherical landing capsule that is expected to return to Earth sometime this weekend.

Since the capsule, which measures about 3 feet across, was designed to operate on fiery-hot Venus, it could survive re-entry through Earths atmosphere, according to Marco Langbroek, a scientist at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, who has been tracking Kosmos-482 and posting updates online.

It is possible that it will survive reentry through the Earth atmosphere intact, and impact intact, Langbroek wrote in a post that was updated Thursday. It likely will be a hard impact: I doubt the parachute deployment system will still work after 53 years and with dead batteries.

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Still, that doesn't mean anyone on land will be in any immediate danger.

The risks involved are not particularly high, but not zero: with a mass of just under 500 kg and 1-meter size, risks are somewhat similar to that of a meteorite impact, he wrote.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Fabian Schmidt of Nashua was released from Wyatt this week and is now back at home. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Fabian Schmidt, the German-American man who was detained by immigration officials in March and held at a detention center in Rhode Island, has returned to his home in Nashua, New Hampshire, his family said on social media.

FABIAN IS FREE and HOME!!!! his partner, Bhavani Hodgkins, wrote on Facebook Thursday. We ask for your patience and privacy as we navigate through this.

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In the post, Hodgkins said shed be providing updates and a video at a later date.

Schmidt was born in Germany but has lived in the U.S. since he was a teenager. He is a legal permanent resident with a green card. On March 7, Schmidt, who currently lives in New Hampshire, was returning from Luxembourg when immigration officials detained him at Boston Logan International Airport and took him to the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, according to his attorney.

His family told reporters and attorneys that upon being detained, Schmidt was stripped naked, placed in a cold shower, violently interrogated, denied his medication for anxiety and depression, and given little food or water. They said officials asked him to relinquish his green card, and they didnt know why he was being detained.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations.

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These claims are blatantly false with respect to CBP, Hilton Beckham, assistant commissioner of public affairs for Customs and Border Protection previously said in a statement to the Bulletin. When an individual is found with drug-related charges and tries to reenter the country, officers will take proper action.

The officials did not publicly provide justification for his detention.

Schmidt is not the subject of any active criminal proceedings. However, according to court records in California, he faced misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence in 2015 and 2016, respectively, among other minor charges. His family said those cases had been resolved.

GBH News was the first to report the news of Schmidts release.

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His detention came amid the Trump administrations high-profile immigration agenda. That agenda has included a slew of deportations and immigration actions, including sending hundreds of men to a famously brutal prison in El Salvador. Among them is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the administration has acknowledged was mistakenly deported. International students who protested on their college campuses against Israeli military strikes on Palestinian civilians have also been detained.

Additionally, other Germans have faced issues at U.S. borders. The New York Times reported that two German tourists  Jessica Brosche, who was held for 46 days, and Lucas Sielaff, who was held for 16  were detained at the border trying to enter the country for vacation. Tourists from Germany are typically allowed visa-free travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days, but they were held in detention centers for weeks and then deported.

New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com.

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After two days of ceremonies honoring the life and public service of a Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy prosecutors say was "targeted and killed, Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said his courage reached beyond Hamilton County, beyond the state of Ohio.

McGuffey, wearing a ceremonial uniform, spoke briefly to reporters on May 9 shortly after the end of Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy Larry Ray Henderson Jr.s funeral service at Spring Grove Cemetery.

He was courageous. He was honored. He was a deputy that all deputies aspire to be, McGuffey said. She also expressed gratitude for the messages of support that have come from people across the nation.

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Family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers gathered for a final time around Henderson, who was struck by a car and killed May 2 while directing traffic outside the University of Cincinnati's commencement ceremony.

Henderson was honored during a public visitation and service at Xavier Universitys Cintas Center, followed by a graveside ceremony and burial at Spring Grove.

Strangers paying their respects to Henderson stood quietly while lining the street outside Spring Grove to view the procession as it drove through the cemetery gates early in the afternoon. It included police officers from agencies all across Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

This was a horrible tragedy, said Don Garrett, a 77-year-old Vietnam War veteran who lives in Finneytown.

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The final service featured a flyover, a ceremonial flag folding and a 21-gun salute, all time-honored traditions meant to show reverence for Hendersons life and service, McGuffey said.

When I presented the flag to his family, I noted that it was on the behalf of a grateful nation and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department that I present that flag for Larry's courageous career, McGuffey said.

Henderson, a Marine Corps veteran, served 33 years with the sheriffs office before retiring in December 2024. Henderson even volunteered to work in a specialized unit diffusing bombs, McGuffey said.

The program for Hamilton County Sheriff Deputy Larry Henderson, 57, at his services at Xaviers Cintas Center, May 9, 2025. Henderson was killed in the line of duty May 2.

Henderson continued to work as a special deputy after his retirement, taking assignments like the traffic detail he was working on the day of his death.

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Its hard to let go of Larry, McGuffey said. Its very hard to let go.

The man charged in Henderson's death, Rodney Hinton Jr., is accused of intentionally driving his car into Henderson in apparent retaliation for the shooting death of his 18-year-old son, Ryan. The young man was shot and killed May 1 by a Cincinnati police officer while running from a stolen car with a gun. Hinton is charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Larry Henderson funeral: Sheriff says 'its very hard to let go'
HARRISBURG, S.D. (KELO)  A planned child care center will help staff and students in a local school district.

EmBe is partnering with the Harrisburg School District to open a child care and early learning center.

Its expected to be located in the Harrisburg School Districts Heritage Building.

Right now, its in development, but were planning on five early learning child care classrooms as well as a cafeteria space and an outdoor playground space to make sure kids have a diverse range of opportunities to explore, HSD Director of Academic Services Michael Amolins said.

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The center would be open 7:00 am-4:00 pm, and would offer child care for district employees during the school year.

It does allow them to have it at the place of work or near their place of work and not have to pay for summer months, which is an advantage for staff that way, so we are excited that we think it will help the recruitment and retention of our staff as well, HSD Superintendent Tim Graf said.

While EmBe will operate the facility, the center will also provide several possibilities for Harrisburg students.

Whats going to make this unique is that fact that there are going to be students who are working here that are part of classes, internship opportunities, dual credit opportunities, things like that, Amolins said.

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We really see this facility not only as a child care center, but really a learning laboratory for our students, plus, other EmBe employees will come into this facility and learn as well, EmBe CEO Kerri Tietgen said.

Tietgen hopes to see the center open in the fall.

Innovation and child care hasnt been two words you hear often together, and were really proud that I think this partnership allows us to do that, Tietgen said.

The South Dakota Department of Education has awarded the district a grant for more than $218,000.

It will help with startup costs for the child care center.

The cost to use the service isnt set yet.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Hartford Hospitals 33rd annual Black & Red Gala is set to make history, raising a record-breaking $3 million to support healthcare initiatives.

Rhona Free, Hartford Hospital board member and president of the University of Saint Joseph, joined Good Morning Connecticut at 9 a.m. to discuss.

Watch the video above.

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Kaja Sokola, a former model from Poland, testified Thursday at Harvey Weinsteins retrial in Manhattan, alleging that the disgraced movie mogul sexually assaulted her in 2002 and 2006.

Sokola recounted the alleged 2006 assault, which occurred when she was 19 years old  just days before her 20th birthday. Prior to the alleged incident, Sokola and her older sister met Weinstein for lunch at a restaurant on the ground floor of a Tribeca hotel. Sokola said she wanted to prove to her sister that she knew a real producer who could help her acting career.

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At one point, Weinstein mentioned he had scripts upstairs in a hotel room, so Sokola took the elevator up with him while her sister remained in the restaurant. When District Attorney Shannon Lucey asked if she had any intention of engaging in anything romantic or sexual with Weinstein in the hotel room, Sokola simply responded, No.

When they entered the hotel room, Sokola recalled that Weinstein pushed her onto the bed, causing her to land in a seated position. I was trying to resist  to not fall down on the bed completely, she told the courtroom.

However, Sokola ended up on her back after Weinstein pushed her onto the bed a second time. She then said that he took off her boots, stockings and underwear while she told him, Please dont. Please stop. I dont want this. According to Sokola, Weinstein didnt listen to her and instead pinned her to the bed, adding, I couldnt move under him.

Weinstein had also pushed her dress up. He forced himself on my vagina and he raped me, Sokola said, clarifying that his tongue and mouth were on her vagina.

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Sokola said she wasnt kicking or punching him, but was trying to push him away and was unable to because of his weight. She said she felt completely numb in the moment. My hope just died, she said, referring to how she felt when she realized she couldnt get out of the situation.

After Weinstein finished allegedly performing oral sex on Sokola, the ex-model said he told her, You see? That wasnt so difficult. She then got dressed and took the elevator down to the ground floor to meet her sister. She noted that she didnt have any movie scripts or other paperwork with her, and that there had never been any discussion about an actual script.

Sokola also mentioned that she had no bruises or scratches on her body, and that her stockings had no holes or tears.

Sokola said she didnt tell her sister what had happened in the hotel room, explaining that she had just introduced her to the man she believed could launch her acting career  and that she cared deeply about her sisters and the rest of her familys opinions.

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I tried to pretend that nothing ever happened, Sokola said. She added that she blamed herself for what occurred, mainly her own stupidity for putting herself in that situation.

Earlier on Thursday, Sokola recalled meeting Weinstein for the first time at an event in 2002, when she was 16 years old. She gave him her phone number so they could have lunch to discuss her aspirations in film. However, several days later, he brought her to his SoHo apartment instead.

Sokola recounted that they were alone in his apartment, and she followed him into a bathroom after he told her to. When asked by the prosecution why she complied, Sokola responded that she didnt know what to do, explaining that she was only 16 and alone with a man for the first time. She tearfully added, He was so many years older than me.

Sokola sobbed as she told the courtroom, I felt stupid, and I felt ashamed. She explained that, before entering the bathroom with Weinstein, she had removed her top and was left wearing only a bra, jeans and underwear.

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He told me to take my clothes off, and I didnt want to do that. I was panicking, Sokola testified. She said Weinstein told her that actors are sometimes asked to appear nude in films and that she should get used to it if she wanted a career in the industry. Once inside the bathroom, she recalled that Weinsteins pants and underwear were pulled down to his knees.

Sokola then described what occurred in the bathroom, noting it was the most horrifying thing shed ever experienced up to that point in her life. He put a hand up my vagina  under my underwear  and he took my hand and put it on his penis, she said.

Despite the 2002 encounter, Sokola said she had contact with Weinstein again in 2004, hoping he could still help with her acting aspirations. During that meeting, which took place in his car, she said he attempted to put his hands on her breasts. In early 2006, he offered her a role as an extra in the film The Nanny Diaries, which involved a full day of shooting (Weinstein was not present on set). Later that year, her next interaction with him was during the lunch meeting at the Tribeca hotel with Weinstein and her sister.

Weinstein is charged with two counts of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and one count of third-degree rape, following accusations by Sokola, former TV production assistant Miriam Haley  who testified last week  and actor Jessica Mann.

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Weinstein is not facing charges for the alleged 2002 assault involving Sokola. Her testimony about that incident is being introduced to showcase that Weinstein had a propensity or predisposition to commit the crimes for which he is currently on trial, Judge Curtis J. Farber explained to the jury on Thursday, including the alleged 2006 assault involving Sokola.

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Harvey Weinstein accuser Kaja Sokola told jurors Thursday she met with the monstrous movie mogul in 2006  even though hed sexually abused her as a teenager years earlier  because she wanted to impress her family, who disapproved of her acting dreams.

Weinstein already had attacked Sokola, now 39, when she was a 16-year-old model, rubbing her vagina under her pants and underwear in 2002, and two years later, he grabbed her breast in a limo, she testified at Weinsteins sexual assault retrial in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Though she recounted both alleged incidents on the stand Thursday, the charges against Weinstein focus on a May 2006 encounter at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, while her sister waited at a restaurant table downstairs.

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Still, Sokola stayed in touch with Weinstein because she wanted to go to the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, and she shot a scene in February 2006 in a role as an extra in The Nanny Diaries.

And when her older sister, Ewa, visited her in New York for her birthday, Kaja had something to prove, she said.

My mom was extremely upset that I didnt go to university, Sokola said. She thought I made the dumbest decision with my life. She did not want me to go to acting school.

She went to a lunch meeting with Weinstein at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, and brought her sister along with her.

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I was happy that my sister was there with me, Sokola recounted. I really wanted to have her approval. I really wanted her to have a conversation [about me] with my mom that, Shes not a joke, she has a chance, someone really believes in her and shes doing the right things right now.'

She added, With my sister there I was feeling safe and secure.

About a half hour into the conversation  which included her sister commenting on Weinsteins weight and health, and on how great actresses from Europe start to act in American films and they become bad  Weinstein invited Sokola to a room upstairs to read a movie script, she recalled.

But he didnt have a script for her, she said.

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Instead, he pushed her onto a bed, pinned her with his body, removed her boots, stockings and underwear, and forcibly performed oral sex on her: My soul was removed from me, she said.

And I kept on saying, Please dont. Please stop. Please dont. Please stop. I dont want this,' she recounted. But he didnt listen.

The assault ended after Weinstein pleasured himself, and then told her, It wasnt that difficult, was it? she said.

She didnt tell her sister what happened as they left the hotel, and made every effort that I could to not make her notice that anything was off.

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No, after that, she said, I never shared it with anyone. I blamed myself.

Meanwhile, Ewa Sokola testified on Wednesday that she had no inclination her sister had been assaulted, and didnt learn of the allegations until seeing a 2022 Rolling Stone article.

Shortly afterward, Weinstein sent Kaja Sokola a birthday card, written to someone with a real zest for life, with a note telling her, thought you would like some of these titles and that theyd make her a movie lover.

Sokola also testified about the alleged 2002 assault, which happened when she was just 16 years old. She said she met Weinstein at a nightclub in lower Manhattan during a modeling trip to the New York and got his number to set up a lunch meeting.

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When Weinstein picked her up in a private car a few days later, they drove past a restaurant and headed for his Soho loft instead, she said. There, he ordered her to take off her top, and he reached into her underwear in the lofts bathroom, while he guided her hand to his penis, she testified

After the abuse, she said, she started to scream but he chided her that she had to work on my stubbornness, and pointed out he had made the careers of actresses like Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow, she said.

Sokola never reported to police what happened, she said: I thought its my fault what happened.  I was a happy teenager before that. And I had boundaries. But this felt like my boundaries were not respected. They were completely crushed, and it happened so rapidly without my permission that I didnt know how to put it together, to understand it, she said.

The retrial, which entered its third week of testimony, marked the first time Sokola aired her allegations in an open court proceeding.

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Sokola didnt come forward until after October 2017, when several women went public in news reports about Weinstein. She received a $3 million settlement for the alleged 2002 assault from Disney, Miramax and Weinsteins brother and Miramax co-founder Robert. She also got $475,000 from a settlement fund for the alleged 2006 attack.

Weinstein was convicted by a Manhattan jury in 2020 of rape for an attack on aspiring actress Jessica Mann at the DoubleTree Hotel in 2013, and criminal sex act for assaulting former TV production assistant Miriam Haley in his SoHo loft in July 2006.

Weinsteins retrial covers allegations by Haley and Mann, as well the new allegations by Sokola. Haley took the stand for several days last week.

Weinsteins defense team is expected to cross-examine Sokola Friday.
Key Points

Several factors have contributed to Lilly's share price decline, including earnings misses and increased competition.

However, Lilly's growth prospects still look promising.

10 stocks we like better than Eli Lilly 

For a while, it seemed as if Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) could do no wrong. Its shares skyrocketed. The company's market cap grew so much that it was within striking distance of the $1 trillion mark. Along the way, Lilly became the largest healthcare company in the world based on market cap.

However, the situation isn't so rosy for Eli Lilly now. The big pharma stock has fallen nearly 20% below its peak set last year. Some dark clouds hover on the horizon. Should you buy Lilly on the dip?

Behind Lilly's decline

There isn't just one factor behind the decline in Lilly's share price. However, the biggest issue for the drugmaker is a common one for high-flying stocks: Lilly didn't meet Wall Street estimates. Unfortunately, the company has failed to deliver the results analysts expected in two out of the last three quarters.

The worst miss was in the third quarter of 2024, when Lilly's earnings came in roughly 19.5% below the consensus estimate. More recently, the big pharma company narrowly missed earnings expectations by around 3.4%. Regardless of the size of the miss, though, investors expect a stock with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.6 to be practically perfect.

Concerns about rising competition in the obesity drug market have also weighed on Lilly's share price. Novo Nordisk is on track to file for regulatory approval of CagriSema in early 2026. CVS Health recently chose Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy as a preferred drug on its formulary over Zepbound. Roche teamed up with Zealand Pharma, which has a promising weight-loss drug in clinical development. Viking Therapeutics is advancing its experimental obesity drug VK2735 into late-stage clinical testing.

To add more uncertainty to the mix, the Trump administration has threatened major tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. Lilly CEO David Ricks acknowledged in the company's Q1 earnings call that tariffs "would have a negative effect on Lilly and for our industry."

Reuters also recently reported that the White House is considering implementing international reference pricing, which would peg the price Medicare pays for prescription drugs to the prices that other major countries pay. Ricks said in the Q1 call that looking at U.S. versus European list prices for drugs in isolation is "a nonsensical idea."
NEW YORK  Harvey Weinstein accuser Kaja Sokola told jurors Thursday she met with the monstrous movie mogul in 2006  even though hed sexually abused her as a teenager years earlier  because she wanted to impress her family, who disapproved of her acting dreams.

Weinstein already had attacked Sokola, now 39, when she was a 16-year-old model, rubbing her vagina under her pants and underwear in 2002, and two years later, he grabbed her breast in a limo, she testified at Weinsteins sexual assault retrial in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Though she recounted both alleged incidents on the stand Thursday, the charges against Weinstein focus on a May 2006 encounter at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, while her sister waited at a restaurant table downstairs.

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Still, Sokola stayed in touch with Weinstein because she wanted to go to the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, and she shot a scene in February 2006 in a role as an extra in The Nanny Diaries.

And when her older sister, Ewa, visited her in New York for her birthday, Kaja had something to prove, she said.

My mom was extremely upset that I didnt go to university, Sokola said. She thought I made the dumbest decision with my life. She did not want me to go to acting school.

She went to a lunch meeting with Weinstein at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, and brought her sister along with her.

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I was happy that my sister was there with me, Sokola recounted. I really wanted to have her approval. I really wanted her to have a conversation [about me] with my mom that, Shes not a joke, she has a chance, someone really believes in her and shes doing the right things right now.'

She added, With my sister there I was feeling safe and secure.

About a half hour into the conversation  which included her sister commenting on Weinsteins weight and health, and on how great actresses from Europe start to act in American films and they become bad  Weinstein invited Sokola to a room upstairs to read a movie script, she recalled.

But he didnt have a script for her, she said.

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Instead, he pushed her onto a bed, pinned her with his body, removed her boots, stockings and underwear, and forcibly performed oral sex on her: My soul was removed from me, she said.

And I kept on saying, Please dont. Please stop. Please dont. Please stop. I dont want this,' she recounted. But he didnt listen.

The assault ended after Weinstein pleasured himself, and then told her, It wasnt that difficult, was it? she said.

She didnt tell her sister what happened as they left the hotel, and made every effort that I could to not make her notice that anything was off.

No, after that, she said, I never shared it with anyone. I blamed myself.

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Meanwhile, Ewa Sokola testified on Wednesday that she had no inclination her sister had been assaulted, and didnt learn of the allegations until seeing a 2022 Rolling Stone article.

Shortly afterward, Weinstein sent Kaja Sokola a birthday card, written to someone with a real zest for life, with a note telling her, thought you would like some of these titles and that theyd make her a movie lover.

Sokola also testified about the alleged 2002 assault, which happened when she was just 16 years old. She said she met Weinstein at a nightclub in lower Manhattan during a modeling trip to the New York and got his number to set up a lunch meeting.

When Weinstein picked her up in a private car a few days later, they drove past a restaurant and headed for his Soho loft instead, she said. There, he ordered her to take off her top, and he reached into her underwear in the lofts bathroom, while he guided her hand to his penis, she testified

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After the abuse, she said, she started to scream but he chided her that she had to work on my stubbornness, and pointed out he had made the careers of actresses like Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow, she said.

Sokola never reported to police what happened, she said: I thought its my fault what happened. I was a happy teenager before that. And I had boundaries. But this felt like my boundaries were not respected. They were completely crushed, and it happened so rapidly without my permission that I didnt know how to put it together, to understand it, she said.

The retrial, which entered its third week of testimony, marked the first time Sokola aired her allegations in an open court proceeding.

Sokola didnt come forward until after October 2017, when several women went public in news reports about Weinstein. She received a $3 million settlement for the alleged 2002 assault from Disney, Miramax and Weinsteins brother and Miramax co-founder Robert. She also got $475,000 from a settlement fund for the alleged 2006 attack.

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Weinstein was convicted by a Manhattan jury in 2020 of rape for an attack on aspiring actress Jessica Mann at the DoubleTree Hotel in 2013, and criminal sex act for assaulting former TV production assistant Miriam Haley in his Soho loft in July 2006.

Weinsteins retrial covers allegations by Haley and Mann, as well the new allegations by Sokola. Haley took the stand for several days last week.

Weinsteins defense team is expected to cross-examine Sokola Friday.

_____
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  Several Hattiesburg organizations are participating in the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday, May 10.

Residents are encouraged to fill a grocery bag with healthy, non-perishable food items and leave it next to their mailbox. Their letter carrier will pick up the donation during regular mail delivery.

All donated food will be distributed locally to Christian Services, the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, The Salvation Army and The Childrens Feeding Task Force.

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Hattiesburg unveils Right Down Broadway plan

The food drive is the largest single-day food collection effort in the country. Organizers said local pantries are seeing greater demand as summer approaches.

At Edwards Street, our food pantry is serving more people than we ever have in history. This is our second year to go into record-setting numbers, and what that looks like right now is 2,000 households every month come into our food pantry, and those households represent 6,000 individuals. And thats really staggering to think about that many adults and children that we all interact with every day who just arent real sure where their next meal is going to come from, said Ann McCullen, executive director of the Edwards Street Fellowship Center.

Items needed are canned vegetables, fruit, soups, pasta, peanut butter and cereal.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  A popular Waikiki cafe adds a new spot across from a historic makai walkway known as Walls while also now serving an Ono mothers day special.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

WakeUp2Days Chris Latronic went live at Hawaiian aroma cafe at Waikiki walls with a look & a taste.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

He met up with founder & owner, Jonathan Rotmench to tour the epic new space & check out the incredible Mothers Day dish that mom will love!

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  School district officials across the country are warning students against a social media trend directing them to short-circuit their school-issued laptops.

Officials said students record themselves short-circuiting their laptops or puncturing the lithium batteries, which causes the batterys temperature to rise uncontrollably.

RELATED STORY: Students deliberately short-circuiting school laptops as part of social media trend

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The trend made its way to Central Texas and impacted the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

Hays CISD Spokesperson Tim Savoy said a total of 12 laptops were damaged.

Apparently, the smoke that the lithium ion battery produces when its on fire is actually toxic in itself, Savoy said. [If] enough of it was there, youre going to have to evacuate, you know, a wing of a school, or the whole school.

In an email sent to families on Thursday, Hays CISD said this is dangerous and damaging. There is a risk of fire, skin burns, and electrical shock  and of course the loss of a Chromebook.

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Please help us by taking a minute today to mention to your children that if they see this social media challenge that they shouldnt participate. Intentional damage to school district devices will lead to an expensive equipment replacement bill for the student, and possibly worse  having to explain to a judge what they were thinking, the email read.

Savoy told KXAN those Chromebooks are a little more than $300 each. The student would be responsible to pay that back.

Thats $3,600  $4,000 of taxpayer money that was put in jeopardy. Tim Savoy, Hays CISD Spokesperson

If the trend continues, Savoy said the consequence might escalate.

Intentionally damaging public property can be considered a crime, Savoy said. We certainly wouldnt want to have to refer it off to criminal activity.

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Round Rock Independent School District said its seen a handful only at the middle school level. Principals reported damage to about 10 laptops.

Austin Independent School District said its aware of two separate incidents, however only one laptop was damaged.

Pflugerville Independent School District sent an email to its families about this challenge as well. The district said several of its teachers have seen students trying this. PfISD said families will be held financially responsible. The price tag for that is $425, according to the districts email.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SAO PAULO (AP)  The head of Brazil's state-run gas and oil giant Petrobras was facing criticism on Friday after a video emerged of her saying Drill, baby, drill! when speaking about controversial oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River.

Magda Chambriard made the remarks Tuesday during the Offshore Technology Conference, in Houston. In a video obtained by the Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico and published Friday, Chambriard is seen addressing Clecio Luis, governor of the Amazonian state of Amapa, who was in the audience.

We do believe we will have very good surprises once we have the (environmental) license to drill. So what one wants to say to Amapa is, Lets drill, baby, drill!" Her comments prompted a round of applause, including from Luis.

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Petrobras did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. The company confirmed the authenticity of the video, according to Valor Economico.

U.S. President Donald Trump has long used the phrase Drill, baby, drill! in expressing support for increased oil exploration and production.

The lets drill, baby rhetoric may comfort industry leaders and short-sighted policymakers, but history will remember them as the ones who buried the 1.5 C goal," said Natalie Unterstell, president of Talanoa, a climate policy think tank, referring to the internationally adopted aim to keep warming under 1.5 C since pre-industrial times.

Climate change is caused by the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Oil, from exploration to its various uses, is a central driver of climate change.

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Chambriard was appointed by Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose environmental record in the Amazon is mixed. While he has curbed deforestation and championed the Amazonian city of Belem as the host of the U.N.'s COP30 climate summit in November, he also supports Petrobrass push to drill for offshore oil at the ecologically sensitive mouth of the Amazon River and other big projects that bring environmental impact to the worlds largest tropical forest.

Exploratory offshore drilling near the Amazon, whose reserves are unknown, is expected to draw scrutiny during the COP30 summit. A central push of the annual climate talks has been to reduce the use of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
On Thursday, the Trump administration forced Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, out of his job. The move came one day after Hamilton told lawmakers that the agency, which the administration favors dismantling, shouldnt be eliminated.

I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hamilton told members of the House Homeland Security subcommittee. President Donald Trump named him acting head of the agency  more specifically, the senior official performing the duties of the administrator  in January. His bio no longer appears on the FEMA website.

Hamiltons statement directly contradicted one made a day earlier by his boss, Kristi Noem. She leads the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, which oversees FEMA. Addressing the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, she said, The president has indicated he wants to eliminate FEMA as it exists today.

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Neither FEMA nor DHS explained why Hamilton is no longer in his position.

Tension between Hamilton and Noem has been mounting for weeks. In late March, after news leaked that DHS was considering downsizing FEMA, the department suspected Hamilton of leaking the information and gave him a lie-detector test, which cleared him. Politico was the first to report his ouster.

I think Cam did the best he could with what he was facing, one person who recently left the agency and asked to remain anonymous told Grist. He earned a lot of respect from FEMA staff.

FEMA employed more than 20,000 people at the start of the second Trump administration. Its stated mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. For many Americans, the agency is the face of the federal governments response to events such as Hurricane Helene, the Los Angeles fires, and other disasters. It also runs the National Flood Insurance Program, which covers millions of homes.

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As climate change fuels more extreme weather, the long-underfunded agency has strained to keep pace with its mandates. Hamiltons departure is happening as the country heads into an Atlantic hurricane season that begins June 1 and is expected to be especially active.

Both FEMA and DHS confirmed that David Richardson, the assistant secretary at DHSs Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, will take over for Hamilton. Richardson, who previously served as a Marine in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa, takes the helm at a time when the future of FEMA remains both unclear and in peril.

Noem has already begun to dismantle the agency. In early April, she announced that it would discontinue mitigation-related grant initiatives. The cancellations include the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program  the agencys main climate adaptation program  which was launched during Trumps first term and has helped hundreds of communities across the country prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Read Next

flooded South Fork New River after hurricane helene in north carolina

FEMA moves to end one of its biggest disaster adaptation programs

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Zoya Teirstein & Jake Bittle

DHS has also recently revived President Trumps earlier fork in the road approach to downsizing, which gave employees various options to leave voluntarily, such as early retirement, deferred resignation, or a buyout. Its unclear how many FEMA employees took the offer.

Hamilton reportedly had been making further plans to significantly transform FEMAs workforce, including potentially sending more employees into the field to respond to disasters. Apparently those changes werent enough.

When Disaster Strikes, Were Here to Help, the FEMA website reads. The worry among the agencys supporters is that by removing Hamilton, the Trump administration may be clearing the path for broader rollbacks  or a future in which FEMA doesnt exist at all.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline The head of FEMA defended the agency on Capitol Hill. Trump fired him. on May 8, 2025.
The head of the Royal Navy has stepped down over allegations he had a relationship with a female colleague under his command.

Admiral Sir Ben Key, 59, has stepped back from all duties while the Ministry of Defence (MoD) carries out an investigation into his alleged extramarital affair.

A Royal Navy source insisted the relationship was consensual but added that it was disappointing because Sir Ben, who has served more than 40 years in the Navy, was held in such high regard within the Armed Forces.

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Sir Ben, who is married with three children, had previously announced that he would retire as First Sea Lord this summer, despite being considered as a frontrunner to become the next Chief of the Defence Staff.

At the time, a senior Navy source told The Telegraph that the reason Sir Ben was standing down was because he has stared down the bottom of the barrel and doesnt like what he sees.

However, when his abrupt departure was announced earlier this week, defence sources speculated that the reason would not be untoward, with some suggesting he may be suffering from poor health.

The MoD told journalists Sir Ben had stepped away for private reasons and refused to comment further.

The King meets with Admiral Sir Ben Key at Buckingham Palace in September 2022 - Stefan Rousseau/PA

Two months ago, Sir Ben railed against inappropriate relationships within the military during a parliamentary defence select committee discussing women in the Armed Forces.

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Sir Ben said: We are absolutely determined to create a Royal Navy in which people are judged for their professional conduct, welcomed for the contribution that they make, and accepted for who they are. Behaviours that run counter to that will not be accepted, and particularly those around unwelcome sexual behaviours.

He added: We have removed people from the service, including those who have commanded, where we have discovered that their behaviours were not appropriate, or we have removed people from positions of responsibility before situations have got out of hand.

It is not clear if Sir Ben was having the affair at this point. A Navy source was unable to confirm the timeframe of the relationship.

Best First Sea Lord in a long time

As a serving member of the military, Sir Ben will probably have fallen foul of the Navys service test, which prohibits relationships between commanders and their subordinates. The military does not allow behaviour that could harm another serving members marriage.

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All three services have been plagued by accusations of sexual assault and harassment. Under Sir Bens command in 2022, the Navy began an internal investigation into what he described as abhorrent claims of bullying, misogyny and sexual harassment against women within the Submarine Service.

After The Sun first reported that Sir Ben had had an affair with a female subordinate, one military source who worked closely with the former First Sea Lord said: He deserves to be remembered for being much better in leadership, strategic insight and operational insight than any First Sea Lord in a long time. Not this legacy.

Sir Ben walks with Rishi Sunak during a visit to San Diego in 2023, when the latter was prime minister - Stefan Rousseau/PA

A former Army head had previously described Sir Ben as a man of the utmost character who had devoted his life to service and told The Telegraph it was very unlikely that he would have stood down over inappropriate behaviour.

Sir Bens departure comes during a crucial period for the Navy, with the Carrier Strike Group weeks into its eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific as part of Operation Highmast.

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The deployment is of huge strategic importance as HMS Prince of Wales will also have to decide whether to transit the contentious Taiwan Strait. The aircraft carrier may also engage in action against the Houthis in the Red Sea.

Vice-Admiral Sir Martin Connell, the Second Sea Lord, was promoted to First Sea Lord in Sir Bens absence and will now be one of the chiefs leading on decisions surrounding the Carrier Strike Group. He will work with Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, as well as Nato counterparts, throughout the deployment.

Any decisions that involve combat will be made by the Defence Secretary and Prime Minister.

Later this summer, Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who commanded the Special Boat Service, will take over as the Navy chief.

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Upon news of Sir Bens retirement earlier this year, sources close to him had said he was unhappy with the state of the Navy and wanted to leave the service rather than accept a promotion.

They added that Sir Ben was looking forward to enjoying a summer with Elly, his wife of more than 30 years, and spending more time with their children.

Sir Ben was appointed the head of the Royal Navy in 2021, succeeding Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.

He had previously been the vice-admiral and impressed bosses by leading the evacuation of 15,000 people from Kabul following the Talibans takeover in August 2021.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary at the time of his appointment, said he was an exceptional military officer.

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Throughout his career, he has commanded four ships, including the mine hunter HMS Sandown, the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Lancaster and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

An MoD spokesman said: An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.

Sir Ben was approached for comment.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  On Thursday morning, the Panama City Police Department gathered in a solemn but spirited event.

A memorial service was held to honor officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in the line of duty.

Its one of those traditions we never need to let die. It is something that we need to remember throughout history, these officers that have fallen in the line of duty, you know, gave their life to protect others. And they deserve that. They deserve the ability to know that their names will live on in history, Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith said.

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The names of fallen officers in Florida were followed by the ringing of the bell.

We ring the bell. And it is just an attention to the angels above.

Keynote speakers reflected on the 147 officers who died in the line of duty in this country in 2024, a shocking 25% increase from the year 2023.

Dr. Irvin Clark moved those in attendance with an empowering speech.

You stand between safety and chaos. You stand between peace and anarchy. You are the reason we can go to bed at night. confident that trained and dedicated armed forces officers are patrolling our streets while we sleep, Keynote speaker Dr. Irvin Clark said.

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As you know, he preached up there of standing in the gap between, you know, peace and chaos. And it is so important that the officers realize the need that they fulfill. And, you know, a lot of these officers have participated in this year after year after year, for a lot of these officers its the first time theyve seen such a solemn event, Smith said.

Chief Smith says hes grateful for the turnout at Thursdays service. Its an event hes participated in for 44 years.

Every year, the event precedes Law Enforcement Appreciation Week. That will be next Monday through Friday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
Happy Friday! You may have noticed there was no Pentagon Rundown last week. Thats because I was at the Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C., writing about various topics, including the Marine Corps efforts to repair and refurbish its barracks.

As always, its been busy, and some of the biggest news has been Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths recent announcements about reshaping the military. On Monday, Hegseth announced that he had ordered a cut of at least 20% of active-duty four-star positions and National Guard general officers.

The second phase of Hegseths plan calls for an additional 10% reduction of general and flag officers throughout the Defense Department as part of changes to the Unified Command Plan, which assigns missions and responsibilities to the combatant commands, Hegseth said in a video posted on X on Monday.

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Were going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters, Hegseth said in the video.

Reducing the number of general and flag officers was one of the recommendations in Project 2025, a policy blueprint released by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, D.C., prior to last years election. The projects chapter about the Defense Department says that although the military currently has more generals and admirals than during World War II, the actual battlefield experience of this officer corps is at an all-time low. It also claimed that previous presidential administrations had promoted officers for reasons other than their warfighting prowess.

The Pentagon has implemented several other proposals in Project 2025, including reinstating troops who were separated for refusing to get vaccinated for COVID-19 with back pay, trying to separate transgender service members, and abolishing diversity equity and inclusion offices and staff.

In a separate move, Hegseth has directed the Army to restructure itself, and that includes consolidating commands. The force structure changes that Hegseth ordered in an April 30 memo include merging U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South into a single headquarters, combining Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command into a single entity, and divesting outdated formations, including select armor and aviation units. The memo did not specify which units.

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In my nearly 20 years as a defense reporter, Ive seen the military expand rapidly during the Iraq war, only to undergo draconian personnel and funding cuts as part of sequestration. Once again, the military is in a state of flux, this time as it prepares to deter and  if necessary  fight China. As things currently stand, change is the only constant, so its a safe bet that more efforts to transform the military are coming.

And on that note, heres your weekly rundown.

Thank you for reading and have a great weekend!

Jeff Schogol
By Brenda Goh and Nick Carey

SHANGHAI/LONDON (Reuters) -BYD, China's No. 1 automaker, aims to sell half of its vehicles outside the Chinese market by 2030, a massive increase that would make it a rival to the world's largest automakers, according to four people familiar with the matter.

The growth would be fueled by expansion in Europe and Latin America, the people said, even as BYD and all other Chinese brands remain locked out the U.S. market by trade barriers.

BYD executives have outlined the 2030 target to investors in small groups since late last year, emphasizing its Europe expansion as pivotal to hitting the target, according to one of the people familiar with the discussions.

That goal is a heavy lift even for a company with BYD's dizzying growth rate. Its home market of China accounted for nearly nine of every 10 vehicles of the 4.27 million vehicles BYD sold last year.

It was unclear whether the sales target communicated to investors included a number for total global sales in 2030.

A second person with knowledge of BYD's global target, who attended a private event with BYD executives in Shanghai during last month's auto show, said its confidence stems from its explosive growth in China over the past five years on the strength of affordable EVs and hybrids.

BYD now believes "they have the right products to repeat their Chinese success in overseas markets," said a third source, who was familiar with the automaker's discussions with investors.

BYD did not respond to a request for comment.

Hitting the ambitious target of selling half its cars outside China would vault BYD  a middling player five years ago  into the upper echelon of global carmakers by vehicle sales, joining multinational juggernauts Toyota and Volkswagen. BYD unseated VW last year as the top automaker in China, the world's largest car market.

BYD global sales have surged to a level just behind Ford and General Motors, from fewer than 430,000 cars in 2020.

FIRST CHINA, THEN THE GLOBE

BYD's aspirations will likely fray nerves among executives at those companies as well as electric-vehicle rival Tesla, which sold 1.79 million fully-electric cars in 2024.

BYD and other Chinese carmakers have racked up China market share rapidly at the expense of once-dominant foreign brands by tapping cheaper supply chains to launch a flurry of high-tech EVs and hybrids. Now, many competitors losing to Chinese brands in China must fend off their incursion into Europe, Latin America and elsewhere.

Ford CEO Jim Farley called out BYD at a February investor conference as the leading threat in "a global race" to develop profitable EVs.
(Reuters) -A helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has killed six military personnel, an Air Force official said on Friday.

A Bell 212 helicopter had crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir in central Sri Lanka with a dozen armed forces personnel on board.

Six died after they were rescued and rushed to hospital, Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Group Captain Eranda Geeganage said.

"The helicopter was assigned to conduct a grappling exercise at a passing-out parade. Four special forces personnel and two Air Force gunmen died of their injuries," Geeganage told Reuters.

He declined to give details on the possible reason for the crash.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  From the rising price of groceries to federal funding cuts, things look uncertain for some nonprofits. That means that one fundraiser this weekend is coming at the perfect time.

While federal funding cuts have changed the way things look at Feeding South Dakota, so has the lack of holiday spirit.

Police presence closes part of West 12th Street

Right now we are seeing that decline in just donated food in our local community, after the holidays, when everybodys in their giving spirit, things start to decline naturally. So were at a perfect time for this food drive to help replenish the stock of what we typically would have, Feeding SD Community Engagement Manager Jennifer Stensaas said.

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Which is why the Stamp Out Hunger food drive this Saturday is such a big deal.

Thats a nationwide drive, done through the National Association of Letter Carriers in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service, City Letter Carrier in Sioux Falls, Eric Wicks said.

An easy way to figure out if youre in a participating area is if you receive a postcard or a bag in the mail.

What youll do is take that bag with any other bags that you might have in the house and fill it full of food, whether you have some ingredients that you didnt make with a recipe, or even stopping by the store and just picking up an extra couple of items, Stensaas said.

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Then set that bag on Saturday morning, next to your mailbox, if its attached to your house or if its a curbside box on the street, if its your apartment lobby, or if its your central neighborhood box unit, Wicks said.

Then, volunteers will come pick up the food that day.

With the rising price of food, and an uncertain future, its up to the community to help make a difference for those in need.

We have an obligation to look out for each other and take care of each other. And everybodys better if were all taking care of each other and everybodys getting what they need, Wicks said.

Feeding South Dakota says it is looking for cereal, pancake mix, and canned fruits and vegetables.

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HENDERSON, La. (KLFY)- The town of Henderson received a $250,000 grant from the state of Louisiana to clean up blighted properties in the area.

Henderson Mayor, Sherbin Collette, said the town of Henderson received a letter from Governor Jeff Landry, stating that the $250,000 was given to the town through the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program.

They approved $250,000 coming to the town of Henderson to clean up all the blighted properties that we sent out, said Collette. I think it was 36 letters, 28 came back, signed and they agreed with all the stipulations.

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Collette said he had been the mayor for over 21 years and is happy to see a project like this come to fruition during his term.

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Franklin mayor aims to remove blighted properties with grant funds

Every one of the blighted places had an opportunity to get this done, said Collette. So thats 21 years its been in my mind, I dont like it to take that long, but its happening today, thank you lord.

He said the grant is beneficial because of some residents being on low-income.

Over fifty-percent of the people over here are low-income people, they cant afford to do this, theres no way, said Collette.

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He continued to share the homes are a serious concern for the community because of overgrown grass, crumbling buildings, and infestation of snakes and other insects.

I went out, Ive killed snakes at peoples houses already, snakes from the blighted places right alongside of them, snakes, rats, everything else, I dont like that, I wanted to do something about it, said Collette.

In addition to the blighted properties, he said more projects are expected to be completed in Henderson.

We have a lot more things in the future that could possibly come thats going to better this town, that was my goal, my goal was to make the people of Henderson proud of where they come from, and I think this is going to be a big part of it, said Collette.

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Collette said it will take about seven months for these properties to be demolished.

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The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo announced the passing of 59-year-old female Asian elephant Indu.

The Phoenix Zoo said Indu had undergone treatment for osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that weakens cartilage over time, and that she was struggling with age-related illnesses. The zoo said Indu's care team had been managing her conditions with daily medication, various treatments and therapies.

It had become difficult for Indu to manage her discomfort, and the Phoenix Zoo said they saw a decline in her mobility. Veterinarians and zookeeping staff recognized the decline in her health and decided to euthanize Indu on May 8.

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Zoo representatives said she passed away surrounded by those who loved her the most  her dedicated care team.

Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo announced the passing of 59-year-old female Asian elephant Indu on May 8, 2025.

"Indu was truly a remarkable elephant who touched the hearts of everyone who had the privilege to know her. Her gentle spirit, intelligence and resilience inspired not only our staff but also the millions of guests who visited her over the years," said President and CEO of the Phoenix Zoo Bert Castro. "Her legacy will live on through the stories we share, the connections she helped people form with wildlife and our continued commitment to the highest standards of animal care. She will be profoundly missed."

The Phoenix Zoo said Indu was considered elderly, surpassing the average life expectancy of 48 for elephants in facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The elephant Indu lived and thrived under the compassionate care of dedicated and expert professional staff at the Phoenix Zoo. Her 59 years of life is a testament to the focus on animal care and wellbeing that is a hallmark of the Phoenix Zoo and all AZA-accredited members, said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the association.

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Indu arrived at the Phoenix Zoo in 1998 and quickly became an ambassador for Asian elephants, a species classified as endangered.

Indu has captivated the hearts of guests and staff alike with her gentle nature and immense presence, said Heather Wright, elephant collection manager at the zoo. Indu has made and continues to leave an indelible impression on all who have the privilege to care for her and the guests who have had the joy of seeing her. We thank you for your support and condolences during this difficult time.

The Phoenix Zoo said Indu's story brought awareness to the challenges faced by elephants in the wild and inspired countless guests to advocate for conservation efforts.

"Her imposing stature was matched only by her gentle demeanor, and she brought smiles to the faces of countless guests, from wide-eyed children seeing an elephant for the first time to lifelong Zoo supporters who came back time and again to visit her," the statement from the Phoenix Zoo said.

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The zoo said they take solace in the profound impact she had on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

The Phoenix Zoo honored Indu's memory with a webpage featuring photos, videos and memories shared by staff and zookeepers who deeply loved Indu.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Zoo reveals the death of beloved 59-year-old elephant Indu
SNAP, a national advocacy group for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, issued a statement expressing "grave concern" about the election of Pope Leo XIV

The group cited his handling of an abuse case in Chicago, where Leo was the provincial supervisor of the Augustinian

You can end the abuse crisis  the only question is, will you? SNAP's statement said.

Survivor groups are expressing concern about Pope Leo XIVs past handling of sexual abuse allegations against Catholic priests.

On Thursday, May 8, shortly before the Vatican announced the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, of Chicago as the 267th pontiff, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), released a lengthy exhortation calling on the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church to prioritize survivors.

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In its six-page letter, the organization, a national advocacy group for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, called on the new pope to enact for the first time a universal zero tolerance law for sexual abuse and cover-up.

Prevost chose the name Pope Leo XIV in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who served as pope from 1878 to 1903 and was known for fighting for social justice and the vulnerable. But when the Vatican announced he had been elected, the group said it became worried, releasing a statement saying it had a "grave concern about his record managing abuse cases."

Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Pope Francis and cardinal Robert Prevost during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of new Cardinal on September 30, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis and cardinal Robert Prevost during the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of new Cardinal on September 30, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican.

The group cited the case of Father James Ray, a priest accused of abusing at least 13 minors and banned in 1991 from being alone with minors and working in a parish, who in 2000 was allowed to move into a friary in Chicago half a block from a Catholic School, the Chicago Sun-Times reported in 2021.



Pope Leo XIV, First American Pontiff, Honors Pope Francis in Moving First Speech  and Declares 'Evil Will Not Prevail'

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When church officials, including Prevost, who was provincial supervisor of Chicagos Augustinian order in 2000, reportedly approved the move, they claimed there was "no school in the immediate area, according to records obtained by the Sun Times.



Related: Cardinal Robert Prevost Announced as Pope Leo XIV, Will Make History as First American Pontiff

But SNAP says there is a school nearby, and the group accused Prevost of endangering the safety of the children at the school by approving the move, Newsweek reports.

The Vatican has reportedly denied that the new pope approved Ray to move to the friary, Newsweek reports.

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In 2002, Ray was removed from the priory and from public ministry, CNN and KVIA report. He was removed from the priesthood in 2012.

Besides this, SNAP also says that when Prevost served as a bishop in Peru until 2023, when Pope Francis reassigned him to Rome, three women filed a complaint to Prevost saying that starting in 2007, two priests had sexually abused them when they were minors, The Pillar reported.

In 2022, the women filed civil complaints accusing the diocese of ignoring their allegations, CNN reported.

The case was closed a month later because the statute of limitations had expired, CNN reports.

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The diocese said Prevost met with the women when they first filed their complaint, according to CNN.

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One of the priests was suspended and the other left the priesthood, CNN reports.

The diocese also said it forwarded the womens complaints to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, which closed the case in August 2023 after the civil cases were closed.

The Vatican has reportedly denied that Prevost did anything wrong in the Peruvian case, Newsweek reports.

In fact, Sociologist Rodolfo Soriano Nunez told CNN Prevost was one of the few bishops in Peru who actively worked to support victims of clergy abuse.

I think Prevost was the best bishop in Peru when dealing with abuse cases in his diocese, he told CNN. And there were plenty of cases. He dealt with the issue as far as he was able to deal with it.

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SNAP wants the Vatican to launch a full investigation into both cases, Newsweek reports.

In its statement, SNAP called on the pontiff to take bold and immediate action within his first 100 days, outlining a sweeping reform agenda that includes the creation of an independent Global Truth Commission with full Vatican cooperation, the adoption of a Universal Zero Tolerance law into canon law, and binding international agreements to ensure transparency and accountability. The group also urged the establishment of a survivor-funded Reparations Fund, supported by church assets, and a Global Survivors Council with the authority to oversee and enforce compliance.

You can end the abuse crisis  the only question is, will you? SNAP's statement said.



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A celebration ahead of graduation turned somber after a high school senior was shot and killed.

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The deadly shooting happened on May 3 in Virginia during an alleged prank.

Michael Bosworth Jr., 18, was shot and killed. His classmates are heartbroken.

Its been very emotional, honestly, because we graduate next week, said Khamoni Keys. He was a very passionate person about stuff, just that he had to go the way he did.

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A second teenager was shot and survived, and a third was not, according to CNN Newsource affiliate, WJLA.

Bosoworth died from his injuries at the hospital, the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies arrested 27-year-old Tyler Chase Butler. He is charged with second-degree murder and other crimes.

Detectives say an initial 911 call was for an attempted home burglary. It ended with Butler, who lives in the home, firing gunshots.

The two teens told police they were playing a prank called Ding Dong Ditch, where they ring doorbells and run away.

WJLA reports that, according to court documents, they had done this to a few homes while filming themselves and posting them on TikTok as part of a social media trend.

Butler is in jail on no bond.

The teens were read their Miranda warnings, but have not yet been charged.

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Owners of dangerous dogs in Volusia County will now be required to carry insurance policies five times higher than the state standard.

A new law meant to hold dog owners accountable is waiting for the governors signature right now.

Eyewitness News has been following this issue closely since January when a child from DeLand was mauled to death by two dogs that wandered into his neighborhood.

County leaders want to send a message. Council member David Santiago said if someone wants to own a dangerous dog in this county, its going to cost them.

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However, Santiago said he wants to make it clear that this change isnt meant to be a punishment for all pet owners.

For him, the motivation stems from the death of 8-year-old Michael Millett.

For months, his family and Sheriff Mike Chitwood have pushed for changes in state law. Eyewitness News traveled with them to Tallahassee twice, and now the bill, known as the Pam Rock Act, just needs the governors signature to become law.

The bill got its name from a mail carrier who was killed by a pack of dogs in Putnam County in 2022.

The change in law takes a lot of the waiting out for victims and their families. It forces owners of dangerous dogs to have insurance and microchip their dogs.

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If a dog kills someone, it will have to be put down.

In Volusia County, a similar ordinance was already in place, but Santiago said it needed more weight.

If a dog is deemed dangerous, the owners will have to carry a $500,000 policy, which is five times the state requirement.

Santiago added that deciding if a dog is dangerous will still take several steps.

It all depends on the specifics of the scenario of the bite. For instance, if a dog is protecting their owner on their own property, if someone is trespassing, dogs dont get classified as dangerous in those situations. So, every case is very specific. It isnt as simple as you bit someone you are now dangerous, said Santiago.

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He said for the ordinance and state law to be successful, people need to report incidents to animal control and the sheriffs office. That is something investigators said didnt happen in Michaels case.

The dogs in that case were put down after a 10-day quarantine, but that would have happened immediately had they been deemed dangerous before.

The owners of those dogs are currently being investigated for manslaughter by culpable negligence and owning a dangerous dog.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.






On Saturday, May 3, 57-year-old Richard de Reyna hiked for about 7.5 hours before he got lost off the Kilkenny Ridge Trail in New Hampshire and called 911

When a first responder tried to call him back, they could not reach him and decided to launch a rescue operation

Hours later, first responders rescued de Reyna, who was mildly hypothermic but able to hike out of the area







On the night of Saturday, May 3, first responders in New Hampshire came to the rescue of a cold, wet and very lost hiker.

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Richard de Reyna, a 57-year-old Massachusetts resident, set out from a trailhead in Berlin, New Hampshire around 8 a.m local time, but found himself in deep snow conditions while heading to the summit of Mt. Weeks-South Peak. On the Kilkenny Ridge Trail, de Reyna tells PEOPLE he had difficulty finding the path due to fallen trees and difficulty seeing trail markers.

He repeatedly used his cellphone to find the trail again, which drained its battery. Before the phone died and after hiking for about 7.5 hours, he called 911 to ask for help.

That was kind of the scary moment," de Reyna tells PEOPLE. "I had stopped for a while because I was trying to find the trail, so my body was cooling significantly, and the rain was really soaking me at that point. I was shivering and I just decided I don't want to risk wandering through the woods all night without my phone."

Around 3:45 p.m., a New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officer was informed about the 911 call. De Reyna, who has decades of hiking experience, said he was wet, cold, and had no light source. The Conservation Officer tried to call de Reyna back to help him find the trail and rescue himself, but could not reach him.

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According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, officials initiated a rescue response after noting a forecast of heavy rain and concerns about the possibility of hypothermia.

The team of responders included volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers, and members of the Berlin Fire Department.

A group of responders hiked off the trail to find de Reyna and located him shortly after 9 p.m. about 4.5 miles from the closest road  and in the exact location where he placed the 911 call.

De Reyna felt immediate relief as he heard the rescue team approach him.

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I heard them call to me from a distance, and I would call back to them, and that was when I knew that I would be safe again, that the struggle part was, or the life-ending risk was over, de Reyna says.

He was mildly hypothermic but the rescue team gave him dry clothes, warm liquids, and a light source before they all hiked about 2.4 miles to an ATV, which drove him the remaining two miles to waiting vehicles.

You just feel relieved that what you've gone through, that you're going to live another day because I didn't  I didn't know how long I might last out there by myself, de Reyna says.

De Reyna says he no longer plans to hike in the mountains of Maine, Vermont, or New Hampshire in April or May because of the difficult terrain at that time of year.

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It's been kind of traumatic, and I've been having a hard time getting back to reality, just because Ive been thinking about the decisions I made and wondering if doing things differently would have been better, de Reyna adds.

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Speaking generally about wilderness safety and rescues, NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Chief Colonel Kevin Jordan tells PEOPLE that as cell phone service has improved in the region, officials have received more calls for help, but he encourages hikers to bring traditional essentials along with their phones, like a map, compass, headlamp and matches.

People rely on that cell phone as their emergency tool, Jordan adds. Nothing wrong with taking a cellphone with you and having it, but if it is your one answer for when you get in trouble, you've made an error, because the batteries go quickly in the rain, in the cold, the coverage is spotty at best at some of these places. So youve got to have some backup plan.

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He also says that hikers dont always anticipate weather changes at elevation or pack accordingly.

Two things we see all the time: one is underestimating weather, not checking and paying good attention to weather conditions above tree line or near tree line," Jordan continues. "And then two, not having the appropriate gear or a combination of those two things are what get people in trouble."



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A California hiker recently discovered the skeletal remains of a couple who had been missing for nearly a year, and authorities believe the case to be a murder-suicide. The unidentified hiker was walking a trail in Thousand Oaks late Sunday when he came across the remains of of Jose Luis Perez, 64, and Stephanie Elizabeth Perez, 64, the Ventura County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday.

According to the Medical Examiners Officer, both victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Officials concluded that Jose Perez shot Stephanie before turning the gun on himself. Both parties lived in Simi Valley, California and their disappearance was reported after they suddenly lost contact with friends and family.

Alarms were first raised when Stephanie Perez failed to show up for her remote job. Her employer notified authorities, signaling a welfare check. Detectives found items such as passports, cellphones, money and a vehicle, as reported by the Simi Valley Acorn.

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This appears to be an isolated incident, as the subjects were known to one another and were both reported missing in July of 2024. Law enforcement officials confirmed that an investigation is still ongoing to determine the motive behind the apparent murder-suicide.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
By Siyi Liu, Trixie Yap and Chen Aizhu

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Recent U.S. sanctions on two small Chinese refiners for buying Iranian oil have created difficulties receiving crude and led them to sell product under other names, sources familiar with the matter said, evidence of the disruption that Washington's stepped-up pressure is inflicting on Tehran's biggest oil buyer.

The targeting of independent refiners, known as teapots, marked an escalation in Washington's efforts to cut off Tehran's export revenue as President Donald Trump seeks to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear programme.

Washington's sanctions against Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical in March and Shandong Shengxing Chemical in April have also begun to deter other, larger independent Chinese refiners from buying Iranian crude, three of the sources said.

About five plants in the refining hub of Shandong province have halted purchases of Iranian oil since last month, worried about being hit by sanctions, two trading executives said. That wariness is the main reason discounts for Iranian Light have widened to $2.30-$2.40 a barrel against ICE Brent from about $2 a month ago, the executives and another source said.

Among the inconveniences faced by the two sanctioned teapots, state-run Shandong Port Group, the main port operator in the province, has denied entry to vessels loaded with crude they have purchased, five trade sources said. That follows the port group's January ban on port calls by U.S.-sanctioned tankers.

Shandong Port Group and Shengxing did not respond to requests for comment. A Luqing executive declined to comment.

Large state banks have also stopped providing Luqing with operational capital for purchasing crude, forcing it to work with smaller banks, four of the sources said.

The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Beijing says it opposes unilateral sanctions and defends as legitimate its trade with Iran, which ships about 90% of its oil exports to China. However, Chinese customs data has not shown any oil shipped from Iran since July 2022, with Iranian crude imports instead labelled as originating from Malaysia or other countries.

SHIPPING, SALES HEADACHES

The Shandong Port Group's banning of cargoes for the two refineries has forced them to discharge at other ports, according to three sources.

In one case, the tanker Bei Hai Ming Wang carrying oil for the Shengxing refinery was rejected when it sought to land at the Laizhou port, controlled by Shandong Port Group, around April 21, according to a source familiar with the matter.
2021 was a stressful year for Alec Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria Baldwin.

On October 21, 2021, the "30 Rock" actor was rehearsing a scene for the Western indie film "Rust" in New Mexico when a gun he was holding went off, fatally wounding cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and hospitalizing director Joel Souza.

Although Baldwin didn't go on trial until 2024 (it was dismissed with prejudice after only three days), Hilaria explains in her new memoir, "Manual Not Included," that her husband struggled with physical and mental health issues in the weeks and years following the shooting.

Hilaria Recalls When She Was 'Sure' Alec Baldwin Was Dead

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Hilaria released her memoir Manual Not Included on May 6. In the book, she discussed the fallout of the 2021 Rust shooting and described how the Saturday Night Live alum became a totally different man following the fatal shooting.

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On January 31, 2023, Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, along with armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is currently facing an 18-month sentence following her involuntary manslaughter conviction last year.

Although the charges were temporarily dropped in April 2023 pending an FBI investigation into the firearm used in the shooting, Hilaria noticed that her husbands health quickly deteriorated and recalled rushing him to the emergency room.

In her book, she describes how his hands became cold and he could barely walk. She said that the doctors did many tests but concluded that it was more stress. She noticed that Alec had stopped eating and drinking as much as she used to and felt that he was turning off.

Alec Was Admitted To The Hospital A Few Days Later

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Although the doctors sent him home after that trip to the emergency room, Hilaria revealed that her husbands health took a turn for the worse a few days later. While taking their children to school, Hilaria received a call from their nanny urging her to come home immediately because the Beetlejuice actor was really sick.

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"I rushed back and found him shaking, unable to stand up. He still refused to see the doctor, doing his best Alec-curmudgeon again to make me leave him alone," Hilaria recalled, revealing that Alec initially resisted calling an ambulance or going to the hospital.

After she finally convinced him that he needed to see a doctor, Alec relented and let her drive him to the hospital. However, when they arrived, Alec seemingly had trouble with his vision and slumped back, eyes rolling, mouth open.

Hilaria Baldwin Reveals He 'Couldn't Walk' Without A Walker Before Completing 'Rust'

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Hilaria described how their driver, Mikey, ran inside the hospital to get help. I was sure Alec was dead, Hilaria wrote. I thought I was going to vomit from feeling so helpless and heartbroken. How could this be happening?"

The Supercell actor was immediately admitted to the hospital and stayed there for a week. When it was time for him to go home, Hilaria revealed that he couldnt walk without the help of a walker even though he needed to travel to Montana in order to finish filming Rust, which was quietly released in select theaters earlier this month.

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To prevent the cast and crew from growing concerned about his illness, he wore an orthopedic boot to create the impression that he was slow and weak due to an injury.

Hilaria Says That Alec Struggles With Survivors Guilt

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

On the second episode of their TLC reality series, The Baldwins, Hilaria opened up on the survivors guilt that the actor has been struggling with following the fatal shooting.

I found these text messages the other day between us, you know, the day after, Hilaria told the camera. And [Alec] said he wanted to kill himself.

In a confessional, she explained that Alec has survivors guilt due to the shooting. You're involved in this thing that nobody could even possibly imagine. And so he goes back to that day, he wishes it were him, she recalled. He would change places [with Halyna Hutchins] in a second.

Hilaria Baldwin Says Alec Will 'Never Be The Same'

MEGA

Ahead of her memoir release, Hilaria also referred to a time that the actor fainted, which resulted in her shaking him awake. Its unclear if that is the same incident that led to his hospitalization in 2023.

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He'll never be the same, Hilaria said during the shows second episode. This has affected his health and his mental health tremendously the past few years. All of a sudden, he has started having heart problems. He's been hospitalized multiple times.

It's hard sometimes, the former yoga instructor added. But, you know, hopefully we're in the hardest but the tail end of it.
The day after Pope Leo XIV was named to lead the Catholic Church, historians in Atlanta are sharing new details about his ancestry.

According to the historians exploring the popes genetic history, he can trace his lineage to the Afro-Caribbean culture.

Channel 2s Audrey Washington spoke to members of Atlantas Caribbean community at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus about the significance of the new popes heritage.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Its wonderful news, Maureen Sutherland, a Jamaican Catholic, told Channel 2 Action News.

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Sutherland said she hasnt stopped smiling since she heard the news. She watched Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost become the new pope along with the rest of the world on Thursday.

He is relatable, he can relate to persons of this side, Sutherland said.

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Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, hes the first American-born Pope.

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Now, historians at Emory University say theyve discovered hes also a pope with creole roots.

According to historians, Pope Leos maternal grandparents were both described as Black or mulatto in different historical records.

Hes someone I think will be for everyone and I think has a particular love and partiality for those who have historically been marginalized, Dr. Susan Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University, told Channel 2 Action News.

Historical records show that the grandparents lived in New Orleans in the early 20th Century.

Eventually, they moved to Chicago, where the pope was born.

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He is a man of faith and he is committed and he is committed to the community, Sutherland said.

Pope Leo XIV has served as a missionary and a bishop while in Peru, before Pope Francis summoned him back to Rome in 2023 and appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

In the wake of his election as pope, the Peruvian community is celebrating the news as well.

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A historic hotel in the North Carolina High Country is being torn down.

The Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock, which was built back in 1891, is set for demolition.

ALSO READ: Carolina Theatre gets ready to reopen after 47 years

During its 133-year history, the hotels guests included 2 presidents, Annie Oakley, and Margaret Mitchell, who penned a portion of Gone with the Wind while staying at the hotel.

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On Friday, Channel 9 crews spotted workers trying to salvage some of the wood from the historic hotel.

The town of Blowing Rock said the new owner wants to build condos and a forty-room hotel on the site.

VIDEO: Historic Carolina Theatre reopens in Uptown
People in Prague commemorated VE day on Thursday with a large-scale reenactment of the 1945 Prague Uprising against the Nazis. (AP Video by Stanislav Hodina)
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said a classroom phone ban set to be implemented this year will protect students education.

The distraction-free school policy will make New York the largest state in the nation to require statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools.

Ive been a mom longer than Ive been a governor, so Im hardwired to protect kids  my own and yours, Hochul wrote in a Friday Fox News op-ed titled Why New York is saving education by getting phones out of classrooms.

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Thats why, as New Yorks first Mom Governor, I led the nation last year in taking on the addictive algorithms driving social media feeds. And now, were taking another bold step: becoming the largest state in the nation to restrict cellphones in K-12 schools throughout the entire school day, she added.

The New York governor said the push for phone removal came after teachers told her they could not continue to compete against technology devices for their scholars attention.

One young woman told me, You have to save us from ourselves. I knew she really meant it. And I knew I had to act, Hochul said.

Ninety-five percent of teenagers have smartphones, and they receive 250 notifications per day on average, according to Hochul.

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Public and charter schools with be subject to the new policy in addition, to the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. The measure requires parents be provided a way to contact their children during the day and secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage for phones and other devices.

Hochul touted the backing the policy received in a press release announcing the change.

Parents and educators are frustrated by what these addictive technologies are doing to our children, and I am so proud to live in a state where our policymakers are actually listening and willing to fight for what they know is right, Muna Heaven, Mothers Against Media Addictions Harlem Chapter leader and child welfare attorney said in a statement about the phone ban.

The Bell-to-Bell Smartphone Ban has truly transformed our school environment by helping students focus, cultivate meaningful relationships, and renew their commitment to learning, said Anika Bhupati, an eighth grade student at Farnsworth Middle School, according to the release.

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Hochul said thats exactly what the policy is meant to do.

People ask me why this issue matters so much. Its simple: I want laughter in the hallways again. I want to hear real voices in gym class. I want our kids to make eye contact and talk to each other face-to-face, Hochul wrote for Fox News.

I want teachers to feel free to teach again. And I want to create an environment where kids can actually learn and just be kids again.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A judge this week denied Burger King's request to dismiss a false advertising lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims Burger King's Whopper ads mislead consumers about its size and ingredients.

The case is the latest false-advertising lawsuit against fast-food chains.

Burger King's Whopper lawsuit just won't go away.

A federal judge in Florida this week denied Burger King's request to dismiss a lawsuit against the company for false advertising related to its famous burger. It is the latest case of false advertising targeting fast-food chains.

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The lawsuit represents 19 people from 13 different states who say they purchased Burger King's signature Whopper based on "false and misleading advertising concerning the size and/or the amount of ingredients."

In a statement to Business Insider, Burger King denied the claims.

"The plaintiffs' claims are false," a spokesperson for the company told BI. "The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to guests across the US."

Burger King filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in May 2022, two months after it was first filed. It argued that since every burger is hand-made at the restaurant, the "look" of each sandwich "necessarily will differ."

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US Southern Florida District Judge Roy Altman, however, said in his ruling on Monday that he would allow the plaintiff's claims of negligent misrepresentation to move forward.

In some states, the law requires that a customer have a "special relationship" with a company to sue it for misrepresentation in ads. The law defines a special relationship as requiring a "position of confidence or trust," like with a lawyer or engineer. A food service business would not typically fall into this category. But Florida law does not have this requirement, Altman wrote.

Altman said Burger King's lawyers were "resisting the common-sense reading of Florida law" by suggesting that Burger King could not be liable based on the absence of a special relationship.

The Russo Firm, a class action law firm representing the plaintiffs, wrote in a blog post that Altman's ruling was "significant."

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"The court's decision underscores the importance of truthful advertising and may set a precedent for how fast-food chains represent their products," the post says. "The outcome of this case could have broader implications for marketing standards within the industry."

The Whopper lawsuit is the latest example of false-advertising claims targeting fast-food chains. In 2023, for example, a federal judge in Brooklyn dismissed a similar false advertising lawsuit against Wendy's and McDonald's that accused the restaurants of marketing their burgers as larger than reality.

US District Judge Hector Gonzalez said in his ruling for that case that the plaintiff did not prove that a reasonable consumer would have been misled by the ads.

Also in 2023, a man filed a class action lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, accusing the company of misrepresenting its boneless chicken wings, which are actually made with chicken breast meat.

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Bill Marler, an attorney specializing in food safety cases, previously told BI that these kinds of class action lawsuits are often legally unproductive and walk the "thin line between consumer advocacy and just being annoying."

"It raises the issue about what's the real purpose here? Is it that they're being a consumer advocate and then extracting fees and costs out of the company to discourage them from doing it again? Or is it just a tool to extract fees and costs out of a company?" Marler said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Donald Trump made no secret about tariff being the most beautiful word in the dictionary, but no one ever saw it coming to the film industry.

But thats what seems to be in the works, according to Trumps Truth Social post earlier this week, and it could have serious consequences for the film industry in Europe.

The president vowed to impose a 100% tariff, but didnt share further details on when and how it might be rolled out.

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If this were to kick in, it would devastate entire industries in the U.K. and Central Europe, especially as more Hollywood movies and shows, including Wicked and Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon, are increasingly being shot or produced abroad.

Trump said Hollywood was being devastated by the shift, and pointed out that foreign incentives are propaganda which pose a national security threat to the U.S.

However, as most major media companies, whether Walt Disney or Universal Pictures, shoot projects abroad, its clear that the movie-making process is already entirely globalizedanathema to Trumps MAGA message.

Brian Cox, who famously played the role of Logan Roy in HBO series Succession, told Times Radio that the Trump administration didnt understand how films are made, and what films cost, [how] the cost of films [has] gone up and the cost of films in America went up considerably.

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Its a kind of nonsense and a divine ignorance on all their parts, Cox added.

News of movie tariffs follows after years of disruptions faced by the industry, including COVID-19 delays, Hollywood actors' and writers' strikes, and Los Angeles wildfires. The ripple effects of these have been felt across the world.

Iris Knobloch, president of the Cannes Film Festival, declared that Hollywood is back and said the industry is reinventing itself. While its still early to assess the impact of what might happen if the tariffs roll out, Knobloch, a former Warner executive, told the Financial Times that films have always been resistant to any kind of political or other pressures.

I hope, however, that the global film industry wont be paralysed by caution and uncertainty, she said.

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 07: Iris Knobloch gives a speech during a reception in honor of the teams of French films selected for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival at Ministere de la Culture on May 07, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images)

Questions abound on how tariffs might impact movie-making

Nearly half of the spending on movie and TV projects by U.S. producers in 2023 was made outside the U.S. when budgets exceeded $40 million, according to research firm ProdPro.

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This is largely because countries like the U.K., Belgium, and Hungary offer significant incentives, ranging between 25% and 45% in rebates, if films and shows are made or produced there. In contrast, the cost of making movies in Hollywood is often much higher.

Its not uncommon for large-scale movies, such as in the Mission Impossible franchise, to have spectacular overseas backdrops where the plot is set.

Theres also more to it than just filmingmovie production is a long process and takes a village to turn into the final product we watch at home or in theatres. Production houses work with talent across countries for various tasks at the post-production stage, which entails editing, sound design, CGI, and more.

Itll prove tricky to tariff some parts of the process and not others, especially when theres not always a clear way to track which steps of the overall production process take place in the U.S. or overseas.

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Take the U.K. for example. Film and high-end TV production spend in the country was 5.6 billion ($7.4 billion) in 2024, up 31% from 2023, according to the British Film Institute (BFI). A vast majority of what was spent came from the U.S.

While this announcement is clearly concerning, we need to understand the detail surrounding the proposed tariffs, Adrian Wootton OBE, the chief executive of BFI, told Fortune in a statement. We will be meeting with [the] Government and our industry policy group in the coming days to discuss further. The U.K. and U.S. have long enjoyed a strong, shared history of film-making, recently celebrating 100 years of creative collaboration and production.

Bectu, the British union representing workers in the media industry, said tariffs could deal a knock-out blow to an industry that is only just recovering and will be really worrying news for tens of thousands of skilled freelancers who make films in the U.K.

The U.K. just signed a trade deal with the U.S., and there are already active discussions on the subject of tariffs on film production.

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The silver-lining, as Disneys CFO Hugh Johnston pointed out in a CNBC interview this week, is that Trump wants to help the film sector.

What I was actually most encouraged by was the President talked about the fact that he wants to help the industry and he wants to make the industry stronger, he said.

For now, however, there are more questions than answers on the tariffs that might follow.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
May 8Cathedral bells tolled in Santa Fe as New Mexicans joined Roman Catholics worldwide in sharing excitement and shock at the election of the first pope from the United States.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV, is the first American in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church to be elected pope by the 135 members of the College of Cardinals late Thursday evening in Vatican City.

A candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the votes to become pope, and the conclave chose Leo XIV in just two days, one of the shortest decisions in papacy history.

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Abbott Joel Garner of the Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey said it was "quite an extraordinary phenomenon" that an American cardinal was selected.

"I think he knows how important the United States is in the world at the moment in terms of the issues that face us," Garner said, "so his emphasis on peace while we're in a world that is not at peace is very important."

The pope is in charge of leading the Catholic Church, which has over 1.4 billion followers worldwide. As pope, Leo XIV will preserve and teach the Christian faith, influencing the world's Catholics. Leo XIV will also oversee the appointment of bishops across the world.

"We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open, like this very piazza, welcoming," Leo XIV said in Italian to a crowd of thousands who watched the pope make his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday .

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What's in a name?

Many religious leaders and scholars noted how striking it was that the pope selected the name Leo XIV, stating that it signaled his views and ideals moving forward. Pope Leo XIII, head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, was known for the 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum, an open letter that addressed the condition of the working class and advocated for labor rights. Leo XIII was a figure of the Catholic social justice tradition. It is not required for a pope to change his name, but every pontiff in the last 470 years has done so to honor a predecessor and signal an intention to follow in their footsteps.

"I think it's significant that he chose the name Leo, and that is giving us a clue as to where he's going," said John Sitler, a religious studies teacher at Albuquerque's Menaul School. "The famous encyclical statement really advocated for worker rights and social justice, and I think that shows where this new American pope sees a focus of the church should be."

Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester welcomed the newly chosen pope with open arms.

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"I really hope he continues to do what Pope Francis did, and that is to promote the Second Vatican Council," the archbishop said. "I think the pope is going to be a unifier and try to break down the barriers and promote peace because Christ prayed earnestly for peace."

Leo XIV was one of the younger candidates for the title of pope, something that people hope will bridge the gap between the younger generations and the Catholic Church.

Controversies

While Leo XIV can be considered a centrist in comparison to other papal candidates, he has more progressive views on key social issues like embracing marginalized groups, similar to his predecessor Francis. But, like Francis, Leo XIV opposes ordaining women as deacons.

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In February, on the social media platform X, prior to being elected pope, Leo XIV expressed criticism of the Trump administration's stance on immigration, likewise following in the footsteps of Francis.

Leo XIV has been criticized in the past for failing to act decisively against priests in Peru who were accused of sexual abuse, raising concerns on how the pope will handle the knotty issue of abuse moving forward.

American roots

Leo XIV was born Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago to French father Louis Prevost and Italian mother Mildred Martinez. He has two brothers, Louis Martin Prevost and John Joseph Prevost. He studied philosophy and earned a degree in mathematics at Villanova University in Philadelphia in 1977. The same year, Leo XIV entered the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis and took his first vows on Sept. 2, 1978.

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Three years later, Leo XIV made his solemn vows, a permanent promise taken within the Catholic Church. It would be years before Leo XIV would return to the United States, but in 2013, he returned to his Augustinian Province in Chicago, serving as director of formation at the Saint Augustine Convent, as well as first councilor and provincial vicar, according to the Vatican. The following year, his predecessor Pope Francis appointed Leo XIV as Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo.

Leo XIV was made a cardinal by Francis after he named Leo XIV to run the diocese of Peru. He served in that position until 2023, when Francis brought Leo XIV to the Vatican to serve as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, head of the office that oversees bishop nominations.

In January 2024, Francis assigned Leo XIV as the Diaconate of Saint Monica.

Leo XIV's episcopal motto, "In Illo uno unum", a phrase chosen by a bishop to express their guiding principles as leader of the church, means "although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one," showing his devotion to creating a community in the followings of Christ.
Due to increasing extreme weather events and coastal flooding, homeowners living near waterways across the globe have seen a rise in homeowner insurance premiums. One unlucky homeowner living on the Sunshine Coast in Australia recently found out just how high their yearly premium would be after moving homes.

What's happening?

Anita Lacey recently moved from one town to another on the Sunshine Coast and was shocked to discover how much more her new homeowner's insurance would cost her.

"I had no idea it would be so expensive," Lacey told Sunshine Coast News.

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Lacey's homeowner's insurance for her house from a few years ago in a different area didn't cost over $3,000, but she is now paying $4,700 on her new home, which is quite the jump in costs.

According to University of the Sunshine Coast finance professor Sajid Anwar, who also spoke with Sunshine Coast News, there are many reasons for this.

"The first reason is that property values have gone up, and the second is that the cost of everything  building materials  has gone up, so that forces the insurance companies to increase the premiums," Anwar said.

The professor also acknowledged that risk assessment, particularly flood risk, factors into the premium equation.

Why are rising insurance premiums concerning?

Insurance premiums continuing to rise will make it more difficult for people to own homes. Furthermore, in some coastal areas, insurance companies have simply dropped coverage altogether, which means that when a hurricane or heavy rain hits and homes are flooded, homeowners are entirely on the hook for damage-related costs.

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Once insurers drop coverage of specific areas or people simply can't afford to live there, more people may move inward and away from the coasts. This will increase inland populations, possibly making the cost of homes and home insurance there rise.

Considering that the continued use of dirty fuels boosts the amount of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, which are responsible for driving weather to further extremes, this issue is likely only to worsen.

What's being done about rising insurance premiums in Australia?

According to the Sunshine Coast News report, the Australian Insurance Council has encouraged people in the region to try to keep homeowner costs down by comparing policies and premiums before committing to an insurance plan.

Meanwhile, Anwar said that insurers, the building industry, and the government all need to come together to mitigate the risks of flooding by flood-proofing developments.

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.
(Reuters) -China has granted tariff exemptions on select pharmaceuticals, microchips and aircraft engines from its 125% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods imposed after President Donald Trump unleashed his tariffs in April.

It has created a so-called "whitelist" of U.S.-made products that would be exempted from its tariffs, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters, and some companies have said they have been able to import to China without paying the duties.

Below are some companies that have said their imports have been free of China's retaliatory tariffs:

HEALTHCARE

** SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS: CEO Bernd Montag said on May 7 that some of the German medical technology group's products, such as the so-called reagents in its diagnostics business, had been exempted from Chinese tariffs.

If reagents, substances that cause chemical reactions, were imported with the newly imposed tariffs, their costs would more than double, Montag said in a press call.

** DIASORIN: The Italian diagnostics firm said on May 6 that more often than not, tariffs were not being applied to its goods when they pass customs in China.

** Pharmaceutical companies have reported that they had been able to import some drugs with tariff exemptions, the Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce said on April 25.

SEMICONDUCTORS

** A source at a memory chip design firm said on April 25 that the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA) had informed it of waivers on imports of eight types of microchips, with analogue chips exempted but not memory chips.

AEROSPACE

** SAFRAN: The head of the French engine maker said on April 25 that China had decided to grant exemptions for some aircraft parts, including jet engines.

CHEMICALS

** China has waived the tariff on ethane imports, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on April 29.

(Compiled by Bernadette Hogg in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 40-year-old man was arrested for assault causing bodily injury on Friday, May 2, in Horizon City, after a reported fight, according to the Horizon City Police Department.

Luiz Zeijas, 40, was charged with assault causing bodily injury and booked into the El Paso County Jail with a $2,500 bond, police said.

On May 2, officers with the Horizon City Police were dispatched to the 13600 block of Eastlake Boulevard for a call about a fight.

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When officers arrived on the scene, they saw a black pickup truck exiting the parking lot at a high rate of speed, according to Horizon City Police.

A traffic stop was conducted near the intersection of Ashford Street and Horizon Boulevard in Horizon City, police said.

Horizon City Police identified the driver as Zeijas, and further investigation confirmed he was one of the individuals involved in the reported fight, Horizon City Police said.

He was then taken into custody.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Texas House of Representatives will meet Friday to consider a number of bills, and could vote on two bills aimed at transgender life in Texas, according to the chambers calendar for the day.

House Bill 229 and House Bill 778 drew attention from a coalition of LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who will rally Friday in opposition to the bills, according to a joint press release issued by Equality Texas on Thursday.

The rally will include civil rights nonprofits and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including: ACLU of Texas, Equality Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, Texas Freedom Network and the Transgender Education Network of Texas.

House Bill 229

HB 229 would mandate a gender binary and define it in Texas law. It would also require Texas governmental agencies to define every person as either male or female on records.

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The legislature finds that males and females possess unique immutable biological differences that manifest prior to birth and increase as individuals age and experience puberty, the original bill reads, biological differences between the sexes mean that males are, on average, bigger, stronger, and faster than females  leav[ing] females more physically vulnerable than males to specific forms of violence, including sexual violence.

The bill does not include an exception for intersex Texans.

Under HB229, all Texas agencies and Departments would be required to enforce a narrow definition of gender that excludes trans and intersex Texans, wrote Equality Texas in the release. This would complicate the work of any department that uses such records, and would make ordinary daily life exceedingly complicated for trans people who would not be permitted to update their government documents.

When the House State Affairs committee heard the bill on April 25, 26 people spoke against the bill and 210 people registered their opposition. Six people testified in support and three others registered support, according to the Texas Legislatures website.

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According to the Legislative Budget Board, implementing HB 229 could cost the state $2.5 million in order to update computer systems at DSHS and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

House Bill 778

HB 778, filed in November 2024, was one of the earliest bills of the session, as KXAN previously reported.

The bill would require health insurers who cover gender transition therapy, medications and surgeries to also cover treatment to manage, reconstruct from, or recover from gender transition.

Bill author Rep. Jeff Leach reported to the committee that individuals who have reversed their transition told him that they chose to do so due to  adverse consequences, according to the bills analysis.

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HB 778 seeks to ensure adequate health care coverage and assistance to those individuals dealing with adverse effects from undergoing gender transition treatment or procedures or have decided to reverse their transition, Leachs bill analysis states.

While the bill appears to potentially increase coverage for transgender Texans by including hormone level tests and recovery from surgeries, opponents said they fear the bill would have a chilling effect on insurers.

If implemented, HB778 would increase liability for any insurer that covers trans health care, making them responsible for infinite possible outcomes after such care. In practice, this would make trans care prohibitively expensive for most people, and would likely drive many insurers to drop coverage for such care, Equality Texas said.

The bill had a public hearing on April 2. Twelve people spoke in favor of the bill, with five other attendees registering their support; 14 people spoke in opposition, and 156 people registered as being against the bill, according to legislative records.

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If the bills pass in the House, they will head to the Texas Senate for consideration. If enacted into law, both bills would take effect on September 1.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico made it through the House of Representatives on Thursday.

If made law, it would change the name of the body of water to the Gulf of America for any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record.

Greene took to X to praise the move, saying: Our military defends its waters, our business owners support its economy, and the American people fund its protection. This is one of President Trumps many executive orders that needs to be codified into law.

 BREAKING: The Gulf of America Act has PASSED the House! 



OUR military defends its waters, OUR business owners support its economy, & the AMERICAN PEOPLE fund its protection. 



This is one of President Trumps MANY executive orders that needs to be codified into law.



I pic.twitter.com/VmuU331KHs  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) May 8, 2025

Only one lawmaker broke party ranks on the measure. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. joined with Democrats in voting against the bill.

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The bill was met with support by North Carolina Rep. Virginia Fox, saying Greenes bill recognizes the strategic influence America has over this geography, not to mention the existing economic, cultural, and commercial might that we passively exert on the gulf.

Democrats on the other hand, called the move useless.

Prices are going up. Peoples 401 Ks are being decimated, and they want to rename the Gulf of Mexico, which isnt even going to work. The rest of the world is going to call it the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Democrat Rep. Maxwell Frost said.

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Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen called the bill insanity.

I cant believe this is where we are spending our time, the Democrat said.

President Donald Trump already signed an executive order during his first day in office to rename the Gulf.

The body of water has shared borders between the United States and Mexico. Trumps order only carries authority within the U.S.

Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change.

The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN)  The fight for funding at Huber Heights City Schools isnt over yet.

On Tuesday, the Huber Heights school levy narrowly won, so narrow in fact, that the votes will have to go to a recount. Results show the 6.9 mill operating levy passed by just 10 votes Tuesday night.

May 6 election: Did my school levy pass or fail?

The Montgomery County Board of Elections says official results will be confirmed on May 21 after their board meeting.

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Following that meeting, theres a five day window when recounts can be requested.

For Huber Heights, that date is already set for the morning of June 5.

The district has previously said it does have plans in place if the levy does not pass, but that they need the levy to continue operations as normal.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
HuffPost turns 20 this year. In honor of our anniversary, we thought wed take a look back at some of the most interesting, wild and iconic moments from the last two decades. Join us for a walk down memory lane!

HuffPost has been delivering fair, fearless reporting for 20 years. Help us shape the next 20 by contributing to our newsroom today.

2005: The Huffington Post is founded by Arianna Huffington, Jonah Peretti, Kenneth Lerer and others.

Early writers included Lawrence ODonnell, Nora Ephron, Larry David, Diane Keaton and Alec Baldwin.

Some of HuffPost's early team, including founding editor Roy Sekoff and co-founders Jonah Peretti and Arianna Huffington. HuffPost

2006: The Huffington Post makes a name for itself as one of the few outlets at the time to treat global warming as a real threat and openly celebrate marriage equality.

Supporters await the New Jersey Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage on Oct. 25, 2006, in Trenton, New Jersey. Jeff Fusco via Getty Images

2008: A Huffington Post blogger breaks the story of then-Sen. Barack Obamas guns or religion quote.

Mayhill Fowler reported Obamas comments that small-town voters cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who arent like them. The New York Times wrote at the time that the comments created an instant sensation in the media.

Associated Press

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2008: Barack Obama writes his first post for the site.

He was a candidate for office at the time and would go on to contribute several times during his presidency.

HuffPost

2008: Obama is elected and calls on The Huffington Post in the press room, the first time a sitting president has called on a web-only outlet.

But also sitting in the front row at Obamas press conference were Sam Stein, a 26-year-old class of 07 graduate of Columbia Journalism School who works for the Huffington Post, Time wrote in 2008. By calling on Stein on such a big stage, Obama is continuing to work the message that this is not a traditional presidency, that he is not averse to working with those outside the establishment.

Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

2009: The Huffington Posts pre-inaugural ball draws celebrities like will.i.am, Sting and Sheryl Crow.

The star-studded event at D.C.s Newseum drew approximately 2,800 guests. Sting was one of the featured performers at the party.

Sting and will.i.am perform during The Huffington Post pre-inaugural ball. Paul Morigi via Getty Images

2010: The Huffington Post launches its divorce section under Editor-at-Large Nora Ephron.

HuffPost

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2011: AOL acquires The Huffington Post.

Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

2011: The Huffington Post launches its iconic LGBTQ+ vertical, Gay Voices.

It later rebranded to Queer Voices.

Associated Press

2012: The Huffington Post launches HuffPost Live.

The streaming platform offered an alternative to traditional TV news.

Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

2012: The Huffington Post wins a Pulitzer Prize.

Beyond the Battlefield, a 10-part investigation by David Wood into the trauma faced by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, won in the National Reporting category.

Arianna Huffington addresses the newsroom with David Wood joining virtually. Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

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2013: Obama spars with The Huffington Post over his nomination for chair of the Federal Reserve.

The Huffington Post published a series of columns criticizing Larry Summers, who was then in contention to head the Federal Reserve. Obama fired back, telling lawmakers not to believe everything you read in The Huffington Post. Still, Summers ended up withdrawing his candidacy.

Bloomberg via Getty Images

2014: The Huffington Post stages a counterprotest against Westboro Baptist Church at its New York office.

Editor Buck Wolf takes part in the counterprotest dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants. HuffPost

2015: The Huffington Post lights up the Empire State Building green for its 10-year anniversary.

Our position is to look at issues through the public interest, Arianna Huffington told CNN Business at the time.

Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

2016: The Huffington Post Union organizes with the Writers Guild of America East and receives voluntary recognition.

It was the largest digital media outlet to unionize at the time. The watershed moment helped catalyze employees at similar outlets to organize.

HuffPost Union

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2016: Jennifer Aniston publishes her famous blog post, For The Record.

For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up, she wrote. Im fed up with the sport-like scrutiny and body shaming that occurs daily under the guise of journalism, the First Amendment and celebrity news.

Associated Press

2016: The Huffington Posts story on heroin addiction, Dying to Be Free, is a Pulitzer finalist

This story, by Jason Cherkis, asked why the U.S. continued to shy away from medication-assisted treatments for heroin addiction in favor of traditional rehab.

HuffPost/Courtesy of the Haubner family

2016: Arianna Huffington steps down as editor-in-chief.

Great companies always succeed beyond their founder, she said at the time. Even though HuffPost bears my name, it is absolutely about all of you and about this amazing team weve been for over 11 years.

Huffington Post

2017: New Editor-in-Chief Lydia Polgreen rebrands the site as HuffPost.

Sometimes its a good idea just to embrace the name that your audience has chosen. Its shorter, its snappier and gets us a more compact look, she said at the time.

HuffPost

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2017: HuffPosters drive a bus across America on a reader listening tour.

Listen To America brought HuffPost reporters and editors to small towns and large cities to talk about the issues facing everyday Americans.

Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

2018: HuffPost Life launches.

The section focuses on expert-backed advice and real-life experiences to offer a no-nonsense guide to modern living.

Abby Wambach and Lydia Polgreen at a HuffPost Life conference. Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

2021: A HuffPost reporter publishes widely viewed video from inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection

The highly viral video, captured by Igor Bobic, showed Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman confronting rioters.

Heres the scary moment when protesters initially got into the building from the first floor and made their way outside Senate chamber. pic.twitter.com/CfVIBsgywK  Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 6, 2021

2021: BuzzFeed acquires HuffPost.

Associated Press

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2021: Danielle Belton joins HuffPost as its new editor-in-chief.

SOPA Images via Getty Images

2022: HuffPost begins to relaunch its iconic Voices sections, including Queer Voices, Black Voices, Disabled Voices and Indigenous Voices.

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2022: Am I Doing It Wrong? launches.

The wildly popular HuffPost podcast explores the all-too-human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right  from saying sorry to casual hookups to fighting climate change  and enlists experts and guests with big opinions to debate and strategize the best ways to tackle everything thats constantly thrown at us. (You can listen here.)

HuffPost/Acast

2025: HuffPost launches a membership program.

The tiered program invites readers to partner with the newsroom and support its coverage. Contributors at certain tiers receive exclusive merch and an ad-free experience on the site.

HuffPost

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2025: Whitney Snyder is named HuffPosts new editor-in-chief.

Its an honor to be leading this newsroom that has shaped me as an editor, leader and person. HuffPosts role is more vital today than ever, and readers need a news outlet that is loud, direct, honest and interesting, that isnt afraid to tell it to them straight, he said.

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2025: The Trump administration erupts at HuffPost.

President Donald Trump has taken aim at HuffPost multiple times during his administration. First, he told a reporter he thought we were dead, and then he kicked a reporter out of the press pool. But were very much alive  and ready to fearlessly report for the next 20 years and beyond.

If you want to support our work, you can join our membership program here.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Dozens of families gathered at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Office (TIRRC), sharing emotional stories of how recent ICE operations have torn their loved ones away.

This weekend, THP, in collaboration with ICE, detained 94 people during a so-called Safety Operation. Among them, officials with ICE say they were a convicted child sex predator, a known Tren De Aragua gang member, and an MS-13 Gang Member wanted for aggravated murder out of El Salvador.

But advocates on Thursday said not every case fits that narrative.

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Ingrid Martinez said her mother was one of those detained. On Thursday, she stood in her place and described her mom as a churchgoer and devoted grandmother, not a criminal.

Nashville releases timeline of ICE activity across city

Its not fair because they are only arresting them and getting them because of their color and because they are Hispanics, a family member of a detainee, Ingrid Martinez, said. My mom isnt a criminal. My mom, she serves at church, she takes care of her grandkids, so I dont know how she can be seen as a criminal.

Written testimony from Patricia, who moved to Nashville in 1992, shared how her family is now living in fear and uncertainty after their loved one was also taken away.

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I would like you to think about the families that are separated who are in pain, anguish, and despair, the letter from Patricia, read by Luis Mata, said. We are human beings like everyone else. Dont let them lie to you and make you think they are only arresting criminals. They are arresting anyone simply based on who they are and what they look like.

The letter continues, The situation can be compared to a tornado that lifts up and destroys everything in its path.

Also in the room were families facing similar heartbreak.

TIRRC said it has handled over 850 calls on its legal hotline in the last five days, 75% of which were related to this weeks enforcement activity.

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Officials with TIRRC explained that they are still waiting for more information, with only 62 detainees identified.

Immigrant community on alert amid reports of ICE activity in Nashville and beyond

These stories are just a small glimpse into the devastation that families across our community have experienced in the last four days, Executive Director for TIRRC, Lisa Sherman Luna, expressed. As we speak we are getting reports of ICE roaming the streets, going up to children at a bus stop and asking them about their parents immigration status, weve heard of a father on the way home from buying birthday decorations for his sons birthday party, getting picked up and is now in detention.

According to a THP press release, the agencys role in the joint operation is to observe driving behavior and conduct lawful stops based on violations of Tennessee traffic laws.

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Preliminary results released by the THP resulted in 468 stops for observed traffic violations. These included:

Hazardous Moving Violations

3 DUI arrests

1 child endangerment arrest

1 felony evading arrest

2 drug arrests

5 felony wanted persons

The press release goes on to say THPs role is to enforce Tennessee traffic laws fairly and consistently, and our troopers continue to make lawful stops, based solely on traffic infractions, in an effort to keep Tennesseans safe. We do not enter neighborhoods or stop vehicles based on who someone iswe stop based on what they do behind the wheel.

If this incident affected you or a family member, TIRRC urges you to call its resource line at 615-414-1030 for legal information and resources. The coalition also shared this link to offer a review of constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement or ICE.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

To donate to The Belonging Fund, an effort to support Nashville immigrants during moments of crisis, follow this link.

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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 WKRN News 2.
Human rights groups writing on behalf of over a dozen families filed an emergency petition with an inter-American human rights commission Friday, urging the commission to pursue the immediate release of hundreds of people the United States has sent to an infamous mega-prison in El Salvador without charge or trial.

The filing centered on U.S. President Donald Trumps administration sending at least 288 men to El Salvadors Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT, since mid-March. The groups called for the release of the detainedVenezuelan and Salvadoran migrants to the United States. Many of the migrants had open U.S. asylum cases and other protections and were not given due process before being condemned by Trump to potential life imprisonment in one of the hemispheres most notorious prison systems.

I knew that this kind of thing was happening in Venezuela, sending innocent people to a detention center without a trial, the partner of one of the CECOT detainees, identified by her initials DCNP, said in a press release accompanying Fridays filing.

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I find it almost unbelievable to see this happening in the United States and in El Salvador with [my partner].

Fridays request sought emergency precautionary measures, and was sent to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of all individuals transferred by the United States to CECOT since mid-March and their families. It listed declarations from family members of 18 individuals who the United States transferred to CECOT.

The commission is an independent body within the Washington, D.C.-based Organization of American States. Its seven commissioners may direct that a state adopt precautionary measures with regard to serious and urgent situations presenting a risk of irreparable harm to persons or to the subject matter of a pending petition or case before the organs of the inter-American system, according to commission rules. While the commission lacks serious enforcement powers, ignoring its findings can come with political repercussions.

The request was submitted by four U.S.-based human rights legal groups: the Boston University School of Law International Human Rights Clinic, the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, the Global Strategic Litigation Council and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

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This is a moral and legal failure of two governments  and a human rights emergency demanding global attention, Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, said in a statement included in Fridays announcement.

The U.S. and El Salvador have colluded to strip hundreds of people  including many individuals with pending asylum claims in the U.S.  of their rights and freedom. These individuals have been ripped from their families, vanished without a trace and abandoned in a prison widely condemned by the international community. This is state-sanctioned enforced disappearance and must end now.

The filing, a copy of which HuffPost reviewed, stresses the urgency of the detainees situation: They have been held incommunicado for months in a facility known for overcrowding, abusive practices and torture. Family members of the detainees have faced a grave psychological and emotional toll having not heard from them for all that time, the release said.

Conditions in CECOT and other detention facilities in El Salvador are beyond appalling, Isabel Carlota Roby, a senior staff attorney at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights who unsuccessfully tried to access the prison in person recently, said in a statement. Detainees are held in inhumane conditions, without charges, without representation and without hope. This is arbitrary detention on a mass scale.

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The request urged the commission to issue a series of measures against El Salvador, including the immediate release of the U.S. CECOT detainees, the ability to resolve habeas corpus petitions, facilitation of communication with family members and legal counsel, confirmation of detainees identities and any alleged legal basis for their detention, independent monitoring of detention conditions, and a refrain from any transfer of the detainees to any other country where they might be deprived of their human rights.

The Trump administrations decision to make a multimillion-dollar agreement with El Salvadors president, self-proclaimed coolest dictator in the world Nayib Bukele, to indefinitely detain hundreds of people transferred from the United States without due process marks yet another step away from democratic norms by the Trump administration.

Since 2022, El Salvadors president has ruled over a state of exception involving sweeping consolidation of executive power and degradation of due process, with tens of thousands of people being detained without the ability to exercise their legal rights.

According to public reporting and legal filings, U.S. immigration agents told several detained migrants that they were being sent to CECOT simply due to common tattoos like clocks and crowns. The vast majority dont have any criminal record, in anycountry.

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The Trump administration has not released a list of names of the people it has sent to CECOT, and has only acknowledged a handful of the U.S. detainees by name in interviews or legal filings. As a result, many legal scholars consider Trumps expulsions to CECOT to be enforced disappearances, a violation of international law in which people are detained and deprived of their rights without any official acknowledgement, outside of the rule of law. Fridays filing used the same term.

The Trump administration has labeled roughly half of the people its sent to CECOT as alien enemies, using an 18th century law to deny them due process by arguing not only that they are members of the Tren de Aragua gang but also that they are working with the Venezuelan government and are akin to an invading army.

Others were sent to El Salvador after receiving standard deportation orders from an immigration judge. Immigration proceedings are civil processes, not criminal ones, and Trumps use of an infamous prison as a destination for otherwise-standard deportees is unprecedented.

Several U.S. courts have, for now, essentially paused ongoing transfers of U.S. detainees to CECOT. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month lifted a lower courts pause on sending noncitizens to CECOT under the Alien Enemies Act  but the court also required that future detainees have some ability to make a case against their removal in court.

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Separately, a federal judge in Boston ruled that the United States must give any deportee to a third country  other than their country of origin  a chance to express a fear of removal to that country and reopen immigration proceedings.

Other federaljudges around the country have paused Alien Enemies Act removals for anyone in their specific judicial districts.

Still, the administration has demonstrated it is willing to openly defy court orders  as with its continued defiance of the Supreme Court, which found that the United States must facilitate the return of one CECOT detainee, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to El Salvador despite an immigration judge previously granting him protection from deportation to that country specifically.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday there was no scenario in which Abrego Garcia would step foot in the United States again, despite him having a wife and children in the country, the backing of the Supreme Court and having been afforded no due process for his Salvadoran detention.

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Even after Trump himself acknowledged that he could bring Abrego Garcia home with a phone call, a Trump administration lawyer said in federal court Thursday that influence does not equate to constructive custody, arguing that the fate of U.S. detainees in CECOT is really up to Bukele, not Trump.

Theres some hope that pressure from the Inter-American Commission could move the needle. Earlier this year, the United States banished several hundred deportees from around the world to Panama, where some were sent back to their home countries, but others were held in custody without trial, first in a hotel and then in a jungle camp. (A parallel situation is ongoing in Costa Rica.)

The Global Strategic Litigation Council sought IACHR precautionary measures, urging the deportees release from the camp and a pause on their deportations. Panama took those steps, offering over 100 migrants temporary humanitarian permits. Still, their future, like the detainees in El Salvador, is uncertain.

Related...
Sex trafficking is a $10 billion industry, and its happening everywhere.

Weve found a new app that is designed to make it easier to report traffickers to the police.

Lala Appleberry said she eventually learned that her boyfriend - the man she trusted - was a trafficker.

It started with hugging, touching, kissing, things like that. And it grew. It became more, the ask became more, Appleberry said. I didnt realize it was boyfriend to trafficker. It was, This is my boyfriend and Im going to help him cause we live together and were doing this together. Im his Bonnie, hes my Clyde. He needs help, and he has helped me.

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Unfortunately, her story is very common.

TRENDING STORIES:

This could be happening in your neighborhood and your bougie neighborhood in Milton, or Cobb County, or Johns Creek, or Peachtree City, or Buckhead, or Brookhaven. It is happening, it could be on your street, and you might not know, said Titania Jordon, chief parent officer of Bark Technologies.

Bark helps parents keep track of the online activity of their kids.

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Jordon was in Washington as details of Operation Burn Notice were revealed.

The multi-agency undercover effort targeting sex trafficking nabbed 17 people in Henry County.

Theres a new app called Simply Report out. That helps to fight human trafficking. You know, unfortunately, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has left too many victims without help, Jordon said.

Simply Report helps users identify and report trafficking indicators to the authorities.

Its going to empower those who are involved in trafficking, those victims and hopefully survivors, to be able to report without worrying that theyre going to get arrested for being in this industry, Jordon said.

Here is how you can download the app: Apple, Google Play
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  On Sheri Jones final day with 6 News, Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich honored her service with law enforcement with a certificate of commendation. To understand why, were going to have to take a look back over the past three decades.

Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan started featuring wanted criminals in 1989. The concept was simpleshow a mugshot or picture of a wanted person on the run and incentivize viewers at home with cash if they called in a tip and their information led to an arrest.

The first voice for Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan was Bob Trojanowicz, a professor and the former director of Michigan State Universitys Criminal Justice Department. His son, Eric, says his dad was extremely passionate about this new way of community policing and would be routinely visited by a certain up-and-coming local reporter.

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Sheri used to come to our house and interview him in regards to different topics that were happening in the community and also nationally, said Eric. And my dad had a lot of respect for Sheri as a young reporter at that point in time.

But, in 1994, after 5 years of successfully catching criminals thanks to Crime Stoppers, Bob unexpectedly passed away, meaning a new face was needed to keep the policing program running. Without hesitation, law enforcement leaders looked to Sheri Jones to save them, and she hasnt let them down since.

I look at Sheri over the years as being an ambassador to law enforcement. Crime Stoppers, shes done a wonderful job with, and weve put a lot of bad people in jail because of her, says Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth. When somebody is out there and they need to get got, Sheri promotes that, asks us in the community for help, and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds have gone to jail because of Sheri and her work with Crime Stoppers as well.

As Sheri says before every exclusive Crime Stoppers report, the program works because of you, the viewers, and the stats dont lie.

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Roughly 75% of all the people Sheri has featured on WLNS-TV since she started have been caught.

Its really provided a service to the Mid-Michigan community and to all the law enforcement agencies, as well as other community members, to create that safe environment, said Deputy Chief of MSU Police and Public Safety Doug Monett.

Her commitment to the community and keeping the community safe, in partnership with all the law enforcement in the Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton County area is impressive, said Lt. Adrian Ojerio with the East Lansing Police Department.

What may be even more impressive is how Sheri was able to get Mid-Michiganders to call in a tip many times without even collecting a cash reward. Her supporters attribute that to Sheris passion for keeping the community safe.

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Whenever you hear her name, the word trust usually follows, and thats because the law enforcement circle in the tri-county area trusts her, says Clinton Cunty Sheriff Sean Dush.

That is one of the things that I think made her so successful with Crime Stoppers, because she was genuine, she was caring, she had empathy, said MSU Police and Public Safety Chief Mike Yankowski.

She cares so much about our victims. She cares so much about the families. She wants to see them have the closure and wants to see them have a sense of justice, and she plays a big role in that, says Lansing Police Department Chief Robert Backus.

Sheris role has spanned over three decades, a role that the family of the original voice of Crime Stoppers would have been proud of.

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Were happy as a family to have Sheri take over that role from my father, said Eric.

Butlocal law enforcement knows her support may not be fully over just yet.

I wish her the best, said Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich. She will be missed, but Im sure she wont be too far away.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
GXO Logistics Inc. reported first-quarter revenue of $3 billion, a 21% year-over-year increase compared to the same quarter in 2024.

Adjusted earnings per share in the first quarter was 29 cents, a 36% year-over-year decrease.

Greenwich, Connecticut-based GXO Logistics (NYSE: GXO) is one of the largest pure-play contract logistics providers in the world. It has more than 970 facilities totaling approximately 200 million square feet, with a global workforce of more than 130,000 people.

Wall Street expectations had called for revenue of $2.93 billion and EPS of 25 cents.

CEO Malcolm Wilson said the company delivered a strong first quarter.

We signed $228 million of new business wins, and our sales pipeline of $2.5 billion  stands at its highest level in three years, Wilson said in a news release. Weve finalized a landmark deal with Englands National Health Service Supply Chain. This is our largest-ever contract and carries a total lifetime value of about $2.5 billion.

Net loss was $95 million, compared with net loss of $36 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the quarter was $163 million, a 6% year-over-year increase..

GXO generated $29 million of cash flow from operations in the first quarter, compared with $50 million for the same period last year.

As of March 31, the company had cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash), debt outstanding and net debt of $288 million, $2.7 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively.

GXO repurchased 2.8 million shares during the first quarter.

The companys full-year 2025 guidance projects organic revenue growth of 3% to 6% and adjusted EBITDA between $840 million and $860 million. GXO also expects adjusted EPS of $2.40 to $2.60.

The company will hold a conference call with analysts at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

GXOQ1/25Q1/24Y/Y % ChangeRevenueAdjusted EBIDTAAdjusted earnings per share

The post First look: GXO Logistics Inc. appeared first on FreightWaves.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that Budapest has not yet received official reports from Kyiv about the exposed network of Hungarian spies, but also recalled the alleged "anti-Hungarian propaganda" in Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda with reference to 444.hu

Details: When asked by the media to comment on the Security Service of Ukraines statement about the exposed network of Hungarian military intelligence spies operating in Zakarpattia Oblast, Szijjarto said that he had not yet received such reports from the Ukrainian side.

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Quote: "We will be able to say something only if we receive some details or official information. Until then, this should be seen as propaganda and should be treated with caution.

Anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used in Ukraine, and in many cases it has been completely unfounded."

Background:

On the morning of 9 May, the Security Service of Ukraine announced the exposure of a Hungarian military intelligence network that had been conducting espionage activities in Zakarpattia Oblast, including "testing the waters" on the mood of local residents and their reaction to the potential appearance of "Hungarian peacekeepers" in the oblast.

Hungary continues to block the start of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations because of its demands on the rights of Hungarians in Zakarpattia.

This has created a risk that Ukraine and Moldova will go through this process separately.

Read more in the article: Orban sidelines Ukraine, helps Moldova. What might happen to Kyiv's EU dream with Hungary's veto

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Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi claims that the intelligence services of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had been spying on Ukraine several years ago.

Source: Panyi on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Following the arrest by Ukraines Security Service of two suspected Hungarian spies in Zakarpattia Oblast, accused of working for Hungarian military intelligence, Panyi "recalled information he had previously received."

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The journalist states that in the second half of 2023, two national security officers from EU/NATO countries told him that while most NATO states were exchanging intelligence primarily concerning Russia, Hungary was not cooperating in the same way.

Quote: "From the data that Hungarian intelligence services were submitting to the common pool, NATO allies already understood that Hungarys civilian and military intelligence were focused on rather different targets: they were sharing a relatively large volume of information about Ukraine."

Details: Panyi added that while almost all other member states were gathering intelligence on Russia as the aggressor and sharing it with partners, "the Hungarians were spying on Ukraine."

He also pointed to a significant failure by Hungarian military intelligence shortly before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On 23 February 2022, Hungarian intelligence leaders told MPs there would be no large-scale assault. The following morning, Russia attacked Kyiv.

Background:

On Friday, Ukraines Security Service announced it had uncovered a Hungarian military intelligence network engaged in espionage in Zakarpattia Oblast in Ukraines west. The network was reportedly assessing the mood of local residents and gauging their reaction to the possible presence of Hungarian peacekeepers in the oblast.

Initially, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest had not received any official notification from Kyiv about the uncovered Hungarian spy network, and referred to the reports as "anti-Hungarian propaganda".

However, a few hours later, Budapest announced the expulsion of two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.

The Hungarian authorities asserted that Ukraines statement about uncovering a Hungarian intelligence network on its territory indicates cooperation between Kyiv and the Hungarian opposition party Tisza.

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Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has reported that his country is expelling two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.

Source: Hungarian news portal Telex, citing Szijjarto, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Szijjarto lamented the "rising anti-Hungarian rhetoric" in Ukraine and the "discrediting campaign against Hungarians".

He added that two "spies operating under diplomatic cover" at the Ukrainian Embassy in Budapest were expelled from Hungary on 9 May. The decision was only recently communicated to the Ukrainian ambassador in Budapest.

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Quote: "The latest campaign against Hungarians has the same goal as the previous ones. We, the Hungarians, want peace, we say no to war, we've never supplied weapons to Ukraine and we are not going to do so. We haven't and won't allow anyone to drag us into this war."

Details: These developments were prompted by the revelation that the Security Service of Ukraine had uncovered a Hungarian military intelligence network involved in espionage activities in Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia) in Ukraines west. The network was reportedly assessing the mood of local residents and gauging their reaction to the possible presence of Hungarian peacekeepers in the region.

Initially, Szijjarto asserted that Budapest had not received any official reports from Kyiv regarding the exposed network of Hungarian spies and referred to it as "anti-Hungarian propaganda".

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Huntsville City Schools says it has taken another step in being released from long-standing federal court supervision by filing a motion for partial unitary status.

The school system said it filed an unopposed motion for partial unitary status specifically for extracurricular activities, facilities, and faculty and staff.

The system currently has partial unitary status on transportation.

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The district said the Department of Justice does not oppose the motion.

HCS said that if the court grants the motions, it will have achieved partial unitary status in four of the seven green factors required for full release from federal oversight.

The three remaining areas include: Equitable Access to Course Offerings and Programs, Student Discipline, and Student Assignment.

Superintendent Dr. Clarence Sutton said the filing is a big step for the system as a whole.

This is a proud and affirming moment for Huntsville City Schools, he said. This acknowledgment of our progress speaks volumes about our districts commitment to student success.

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The system previously asked for community feedback on its brief, asking for partial unitary status.

March 11 marked 62 years since the desegregation lawsuit was filed by parents at five different Huntsville City Schools, including Sonnie Hereford.

In September 2023, U.S. District Judge Madeline Hughes Hakala said the city schools no longer had to provide regular reports on the systems progress in hiring black administrators and faculty. The judge cited the progress that has been made since the 2015 order was issued and she said she expected Huntsville City Schools good faith efforts to comply will continue.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Starting in September, shoppers in Alabama will pay less sales tax on their groceries. A bill to lower the Grocery Tax from 3% to 2% is on its way to Governor Kay Iveys desk.

On Thursday, News 19 stopped by a grocery store in Huntsville to see how shoppers are feeling about this news.

Its a good thing, you know, anytime they lower the cost for consumers, Im happy with it, said Tim Bright. He was one of many shoppers that News 19 spoke with who seemed to be excited by the change.

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Bright said this may bring a little relief to his wallet, as the prices of groceries have soared.

Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.

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You get sticker shock, he said about walking into a grocery store. You go to the store and youre going like Where have I been?'

The sales tax change comes as both the Alabama House and Senate voted earlier this week to lower the statewide Grocery Tax. The new 2% rate will go into effect on Sept. 1 if signed by Governor Kay Ivey.

A spokesperson for Governor Iveys Office did not provide News 19 with a timeline for when she will sign it into law. However, the spokesperson said, The bill now goes before the governor for her signature.

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The non-profit, public policy group Alabama Arise showed support for the bill, saying it will improve life for every Alabamian.

Executive Director Robyn Hyden told News 19 that it will help families save money.

It does mean for the average Alabama family, another $150 a year that they get to hold on to, she said.

Hyden said it is a good move, especially for lower-income and working families.

You know, everyone has to buy food, and as a result, poor people are disproportionately taxed via these sales taxes, Hyden said.

The Alabama Legislature already lowered the Grocery Tax from 4% to 3% in 2023.

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However, Hyden said that Alabama Arise would like to see that percentage disappear altogether.

We still are, you know, wanting to finally get rid of all of the state sales tax on food, she said.

Shopper Tim Bright said he wouldnt mind that either.

Anytime they want to lower them, go ahead, he said about the grocery tax.

Food City just opened the doors of its newest north Alabama location off of Old Gurley Road in northwest Huntsville.

Inside the new Food City on Old Gurley Road.

The new Food City on Old Gurley Road.

The new Food City on Old Gurley Road.

Store Manager Michael West said he thinks his customers will appreciate the lower sales tax.

Having that extra percentage knocked off is going to be a real saver for a lot of people, West said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
A barista making coffee. A group of Starbucks employees have organized a union drive at a shop in Huntsville. The union election is scheduled for Monday. (Getty Images)

A group of LGBTQ+ baristas is working to unionize a Starbucks in Huntsville for what they hope will help create a more fair and equitable workplace for everyone.

If successful, the store on Memorial Parkway would be the third organized Starbucks outlet in Alabama, after stores in Scottsboro and Birmingham. The organizing team wants to join Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), the union that represents over 570 union Starbucks stores, out of about 15,000 outlets in total.

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Questions at the Huntsville Starbucks were directed to a corporate media line. Messages sent by phone and email seeking comment were left with Starbucks. After publication of the story, Starbucks sent a statement Friday afternoon saying its success starts and ends with our partners (employees).

We respect our partners right to choose, through a fair and democratic process, to be represented by a union or not to be represented by a union, and will continue to work together to make Starbucks the best job in retail, the statement said.

Huntsville union organizing team members Briar Wolf and Nox Ashes were initially drawn to Starbucks because of its long-standing reputation as an inclusive and supportive workplace, especially for LGBTQ+ employees.

Starbucks is the place where queer people land and where trans people land because theyve had a reputation for a long time as being a friendly place to work, she said. You know, theres the joke about the whole blue hair, they/them baristas making the best coffee and all that. Starbucks had presented themselves as this, this paragon of acceptance for queer and trans people to be able to work there.

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Wolf was also attracted by the companys benefits, including tuition reimbursement for a first-time bachelors degree through Arizona State University and the companys health insurance plan. In 2018, Starbucks introduced a supplemental insurance plan that covered gender-affirming procedures like electrolysis, facial feminization, and other related health care, many with no co-pays or deductibles. The company provides travel reimbursements for gender-affirming care.

But now, she said, that support has been slowly eroded. Fast Company reported in 2022 that many of the procedures covered by the supplemental plan were moved to a primary plan, which can include co-pays and in-network and out-of-network doctors.

For one of the surgeries that I plan to have, to get a doctor that is even on WPATHs (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) recommended list, Im going to have to go to San Francisco, she said. They used to pay for travel, but now they only pay for a certain amount of travel, and only if its approved, and only if theres not an in-network doctor within driving range. Theyve chipped away at little bits and pieces of it.

Starbucks said its benefits package has not changed. In a letter to the union sent in 2023, May Jensen, a Starbucks vice president, wrote that individual state policies led to shifts in coverage.

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Whether specific same-sex and gender affirming care, services, and procedures are covered as part of the Companys core health insurance plan or its additional wrap plan depends upon the state law applicable to the Companys plans and, more specifically, whether the care, services, and procedures are required to be part of Starbucks core health insurance plan offerings, the letter said.

SBWU bargaining delegate and Birmingham barista Naomi Wilson, whose Starbucks store is unionized, is part of the team drafting and negotiating SBWUs first collective bargaining agreement with Starbucks, as well as an active member of the unions Trans Rights Action Committee (TRAC).

One of the biggest things that we want is the reinstatement of the trans health care supplemental plan that they took away in 2023, Wilson said. Everybody is like, yeah, were getting that. I havent seen anybody say that, no, thats too much. Everyone in our union says we are going to get that.

Another key issue driving Huntsvilles union effort are allegations from Wolf and Ashes of workplace discrimination against transgender workers. They say coworkers are misgendered by management, and despite multiple corrections every day, it continues without response. Starbucks refers to employees as partners.

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At some point, it really does become malicious, and partners who were more outspoken about the way things were being run were being misgendered very frequently and sort of pointedly, Ashes said.

The baristas say that logistical issues also plague this location. On Starbucks website, the Memorial Parkway location is supposed to close at 6 p.m., but the baristas say it regularly closes at 2 p.m. because of staffing issues. Wolf said workers who are scheduled for those shifts have to use PTO to make up the hours.

Ashes said turnover in the store, which left everyone fed up, also contributed to the union push.

I just didnt feel safe anymore, she said. Suddenly my job security did not exist.

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Despite concerns about risking her job, benefits and education, Wolf began organizing just three weeks into the role.

I decided to go ahead with it, because its just the right thing to do, she said. Showing people that folks look down on and consider unskilled labor, whatever that is, because all the labor is skilled labor, that they do have power and that they can organize. () My lifes mission is to organize and empower marginalized people and people who work at Starbucks, people who work at whatever fast food places, theyre marginalized people. People look down on them.

The organizing team recently filed for a union vote, which grants them legal protections against retaliatory firings. If they are fired during this period, they can file charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

Ashes said she hopes a union will give them guaranteed hours, proper staffing and power for workers.

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Were having p.m. workers who have been working p.m. for a year plus, sometimes several years are now being forced to work a.m. because theyre being told that their hours dont exist anymore, Ashes said. The power to take all of those issues and say, this needs to be fixed, and if you dont fix it, your store is not going to run. We need to be respected. We were hired to work this. We can work this. We desire to work, but you need to let us and support us

Wilson has worked at the unionized Birmingham Starbucks location for a year and a half. She said she has greater job security but that the union has led to greater scrutiny from the company.

People are scared to say the word union, Wilson said. It was dark. It was like saying the word union was like a bad word in our store.

But Wilson said the union gave her a heightened sense of responsibility in her workplace and a stronger community.

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By participating, you actually give people a fighting chance to have a good workplace, a stable workplace, she said. And by burying your hand in the sand, youre leaving everyone vulnerable to like, harassment, firings.

In a report released in January, the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank, cited Starbucks as engaging in union busting, citing 771 open or settled unfair labor practice tactics before regional offices of the federal National Labor Relations Board through February 2024.

Workers at the Huntsville location are starting to report documents on unions are being hung up around the store. They report that two documents were hung up in their store recently, including one listing ten negative things about joining a union.

Local labor organizations have expressed support for the Huntsville Starbucks, including the North Alabama Democratic Socialists of America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and The North Alabama Area Labor Council.

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Starbucks workers in Huntsville have realized what more than 10,000 Starbucks workers across the country have realized  that a voice on the job is important, and that they do deserve it, said Jacob Morrison, president of the North Alabama Area Labor Council.

The union election is scheduled for May 12.

Updated at 8:35 a.m. Monday with a statement from Starbucks.



SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Friday after gaining entry to Delaney Hall, which ICE opened as a detention facility this week against the citys wishes.



Baraka and other city officials repeatedly tried to visit the facility this week to serve a representative of its operating company, Geo Group, with summonses over code violations, including refusing to grant access to the facility and failing to have an evacuation plan in place. They were denied entry.



On Friday, three Democratic members of Congress from New JerseyRepresentatives Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIverwere admitted to tour the facility, and brought Baraka with them. After the mayor gained entry past the gate, the representatives tried to include Baraka in conversations. At least one of them was shoved by agents, and Baraka was subsequently arrested.

Video shared w/ @Axios of the moment Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested: https://t.co/Spvhs7LygX pic.twitter.com/AEUXmmSmbk  Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) May 9, 2025

The acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey and Donald Trumps former lawyer, Alina Habba, announced the arrest on X, saying that Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon.

X screenshot Alina Habba @AlinaHabba: The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 3:05 PM  May 9, 2025  366.7K Views

Baraka is currently running in the Democratic primary for governor of New Jersey, and in April, the city of Newark filed a lawsuit against the opening of Delaney Hall, seeking to allow the facility to be inspected. Currently, a federal judge is considering whether to block the opening of the facility, and its unclear whether anyone is being held there right now.

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Coleman said that she and her colleagues, as well as Baraka, were assaulted by guards.

What we experienced was the weaponization, is the abuse of power. They know who we are  they manhandled us and arrested the mayor, Coleman said, adding that if they can treat members of Congress like that, imagine how they treat people on the streets.

Its the first arrest of a sitting U.S. mayor by the Trump administration over immigration. Last month, the FBI arrested a judge in Milwaukee for allegedly obstructing an immigration operation.

This story has been updated.
SAYRE, Pa. (WETM)  A former Sayre man was sentenced recently to time in the Bradford County Correctional Facility before being detained by federal agents due to his legal status in the country, according to a release from the Bradford County District Attorneys Office.

Francis Mukisa, 30, was detained by agents with the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) after he was sentenced to seven months in jail for the charge of simple assault, a class A misdemeanor, the DAs office said.

Previous Post: Sayre man arrested on assault, strangulation charges

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Mukisa was detained after his sentencing with the DAs office alleging he is an undocumented immigrant from Uganda. Mukisa remains in federal custody while waiting for further deportation proceedings.

Mukisas sentencing stems from an arrest in September 2024 which police claim involved him choking someone and preventing them from leaving a room.

The report stated that Mukisa had been drinking and eventually fell asleep, allowing the victim to leave the house and contact police.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers faced a crowd of opposition while attempting to arrest a mother clinging to her baby on the streets of Worcester, Massachusetts, Thursday morning.

The brazen arrest, in which ICE agents were swarmed by close to 25 onlookers demanding a warrant and identification, was captured on video. Agents attempted to control the crowd as they formed a human ring around the ICE vehicle holding the detained woman. Local police were called to the scene amid the chaos.

The crowd was unruly, police said in a statement. They claimed that some individuals put their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers.

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The womans daughter, a 16-year-old, was left holding her baby sister and stood in front of the agents car at one point, trying to block it. She allegedly kicked the car after handing the baby to someone else, and now faces four criminal charges, including reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Also arrested was a Worcester School Committee candidate, Ashley Spring, who allegedly threw an unknown liquid substance on police officers and pushed them while they tried to arrest the 16-year-old.

Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was among the residents who protested the arrest.

As an elected official, it is my obligation to stand up for my constituents, Haxhiaj said in a statement. The way immigrants in Worcester and across the Commonwealth are being targeted and terrorized by this federal administration for deportation is absolutely unconstitutional.

Its only the latest brazen action from immigration agents attempting a deportation arrest. The Trump administrations immigration officers have tried to detain other immigrants in the street without warning, identification, or the production of a warrant. Last month, in another Massachusetts arrest, ICE agents smashed a car window to detain an immigrant with no criminal record.


Ford Motor has announced a price increase on several models produced in Mexico, attributing the hike to the recent US tariffs, reported Reuters.

The affected vehicles include the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, Maverick pickup, and Bronco Sport, with increases up to $2,000 on some models.

This move makes Ford one of the first major automakers to adjust prices in response to the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The price adjustments were communicated to dealers in a notice, which indicated that the new prices would apply to vehicles built after 2 May and arriving at dealerships by late June.

A Ford spokesperson explained that the price hikes are a result of "usual" mid-year pricing actions combined with the tariffs. They emphasised that the full cost of the tariffs has not been passed on to customers.

Ford's announcement comes in the wake of the company's statement earlier in the week, estimating that Trump's trade war would add about $2.5bn in costs for 2025.

Rival General Motors also acknowledged the financial impact of tariffs, projecting costs between $4bn and $5bn, with plans to mitigate at least 30% of that.

Despite the price increases, Ford shares dropped 1.7% to $10.26 by midday.

The company continues to offer a discount programme through the 4 July weekend on many models.

The White House has eased some tariff conditions, allowing credits for US-produced auto parts and avoiding double tariffs on raw materials.

However, a 25% tariff on the eight million vehicles imported annually to the US remains unchanged.

Analysts predict that US auto sales could fall by over one million vehicles per year if these tariffs persist.

Ford's strong US manufacturing base, with 79% of its US-sold vehicles assembled domestically, places it in a more favourable position compared to competitors like GM, which assembles 53% domestically.

Nevertheless, Ford still imports popular models like the Maverick from Mexico, and along with GM, faces significant tariffs on imports from China and South Korea.

Major companies, including Toyota and Hyundai Motor, import a significant portion of their US-sold vehicles, with some exceeding 60%.

Prior to Ford's pricing adjustments, other automakers had hinted at potential increases, with Porsche and Audi expressing concerns over the tariffs.

Navigate the shifting tariff landscape with real-time data and market-leading analysis.

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"Ford price hike on Mexico models reflect tariffs impact  report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA)  Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in a coalition with 20 other attorneys general, won a court order stopping the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies.

In April, Raoul joined this coalition in suing the administration to stop the implementation of an executive order that would dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). These three agencies provide services and funding supporting public libraries, museums, workers and minority-owned businesses across the country.

Brother answers burning question: Is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Cubs fan?

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The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued an order on Tuesday granting the states request for a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from implementing the order and protecting these agencies.

The administrations actions jeopardize critical library and museum programs across the state. These programs help residents of rural communities and underserved youth access educational opportunities and technology, Raoul said. I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general to stop the unconstitutional attempt to dismantle agencies created by Congress.

This executive order is the administrations most recent attempt to dismantle federal agencies in defiance of Congress. Raoul and the coalition are seeking to stop the dismantling of the three agencies targeted in the administrations executive order:

The IMLS, which supports libraries and museums across the nation through grantmaking, research and development

The MBDA, which promotes the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance programs

The FMCS, which promotes the resolution of labor disputes

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Illinois gas tax goes up on July 1st. Heres by how much:

According to Raoul, as the coalition continues to assert in the lawsuit, dismantling these agencies will hurt communities throughout Illinois and across the nation that rely on them to provide important services to the public. These include funding for libraries, promoting minority-owned businesses and protecting workers rights.

The preliminary injunction that has been granted halts the executive order as it applies to IMLS, MBDA and FMCS. The court also found that the states had established a strong likelihood of success on their claims that the order violates the Administrative Procedure Act and disregards the Constitution by attempting to dismantle agencies that Congress both established and funded by law.

Attorneys general from the following states joined Raoul in this coalition:

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Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Hawaii

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

New Mexico

Oregon

Rhode Island

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ILLINOIS (WTVO)  Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 17 states won a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration.

The ruling is in connection with an ongoing lawsuit to restore federal funds that support programs for students across the state.

The injunction forces the Trump administration to restore the states access to funds supporting low-income and unhoused students, among other programs.

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The Trump administrations shortsighted and illegal decision to attempt to rescind already-appropriated education funding would hurt vulnerable students the most and could wreak havoc on the budgets of school districts throughout Illinois and the nation, said Raoul.

Illinois would lose $77 million under the Trump administrations plan.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  An Illinois lawmaker wants to give survivors of human trafficking and related offenses more time to get justice.

Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Crest Hill) passed a bill out of the Senate Criminal Law Committee that would remove the statute of limitations for victims of sex trafficking or exploitation to bring charges after they turn 18 years old.

The victims of crimes like these can take time to come forward because of trauma or other hardships, Loughran Cappel said.

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Under the current law, any minors who have been a victim of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude or trafficking can only press charges against their offender within 25 years after they turn 18. This bill is part of broader legislation lawmakers have filed to increase punishment for human traffickers and remove the statute of limitations on similar serious offenses.

Illinois bill to include horse riding therapy in coverage passes House Insurance Committee

Cappel said this bill gives power back to the survivors to get justice when they feel its time.

Eliminating the time restriction would help ensure survivors can tell their story when they feel ready, not when the law says so, Cappel said. The perpetrators of these awful crimes shouldnt be able to hide behind past time.

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The bill passed both chamber committees with full bipartisan support, and it has already passed the House of Representatives.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  Police have released images of a suspects vehicle believed to be involved in a road rage shooting in Thornton, and they are asking for help from the public.

The shooting happened last Friday just before 6 p.m. near 104th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.

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The Thornton Police Department said a preliminary investigation found that there was a verbal road rage incident between two drivers, both men, and one of them pulled out a handgun and shot the other in the arm.

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The man who was shot was treated at a hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and a woman and child who were in the car were not injured.

The suspect fled the scene in a red or maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee with black rims. The licence plate number is unknown. On Friday, police released an image of the suspect vehicle in a post on Facebook.

Police have released images of a suspect vehicle believed to be involved in a road rage shooting in Thornton, and they are asking for help from the public. (Courtesy of Thornton Police Department)

Police described the suspect as a short, chubby Hispanic male with long hair.

Police are asking the public for help locating the vehicle and identifying the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the TPD tip line at 720-977-5069, or tipsters can remain anonymous and report a tip to the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers online or by calling 970-913-7867.

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The immigrant arrested at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on May 7 is facing two felony charges accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman and a teenage girl after getting drinks together at a restaurant he co-owns

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in Chicago posted on X on the afternoon of May 8 that its office had arrested Kevin I. Lopez, 36, at the county's courthouse complex the previous day.

"Kevin Lopez, 36, is a citizen of Mexico arrested by @EROChicago at the Milwaukee County Courthouse May 7, facing state charges for sexual assault of a minor and sexual assault of an unconscious victim," the post said. "Lopez was previously arrested by local authorities for marijuana possession."

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Lopez was listed as being in ICE custody at the Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau, according to online records. He has not yet been charged by federal officials. His legal status in the country was unknown.

Michael F. Hart, one of his attorneys, wasn't immediately available for comment.

Lopez has been charged by state prosecutors with one felony count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 and another felony of second-degree sexual assault of an unconscious victim. If convicted, he could face up to 100 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.

Lopez marks the fourth immigrant arrested by ICE at the Milwaukee County Courthouse over the past two months. Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was also handcuffed at the courthouse and charged with one felony and one misdemeanor on allegations of assisting an undocumented immigrant try to escape arrest.

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CNN has confirmed at least a dozen cases of people being arrested by ICE on or near courthouse grounds in Virginia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

Earlier on May 8, Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley said he did not have a copy of the arrest warrant for the most recent arrest, directing questions about the matter to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. In at least some past arrests, federal agents have provided copies of warrants to Ashley's office.

In a note to his colleagues, Ashley said the arrest took place about 9:30 a.m. May 7 "outside of the preliminary hearing courtroom."

According to the three-page criminal complaint, Lopez was charged in late March with the two criminal counts. His attorneys fought the charges in a preliminary hearing and lost, and the judge found probable cause and bound him over for trial.

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Lopez pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 7 after earlier posting $25,000 bail.

The complaint says two friends were out drinking at a local bar until it closed at 2 a.m. on March 24. The pair then joined up with Lopez, another friend and a 14-year-old girl and headed to Judy's Cantina, where they stayed until 4 a.m.

Lopez runs the restaurant with his mother, according to a 2024 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.

The group then went to a nearby apartment, where one of the friends, a 24-year-old woman, fell asleep on a couch next to the 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors accuse Lopez of inappropriately touching the 24-year-old woman, even though she was sleeping, and taking pictures of her naked.

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Lopez then sexually assaulted the girl and "grabbed (her) arms and held her hands above her head," the complaint says.

When the 24-year-old woman woke up, the girl was crying and said, "I did not want it to happen. I wanted it to stop."

Chris Ramirez of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Immigrant arrested in Milwaukee has 2 sex assault charges
Members of the Nevada Immigration Coalition and Nevada lawmakers in Carson City Thursday. (Nevada Immigration Coalition video screengrab)

A heightened federal immigration enforcement presence in Nevada is a tactic to create fear, and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo should be assuring Nevadans their rights will be protected, the Nevada Immigration Coalition said Thursday.

The press conference comes after an estimated 30 people were arrested this week by federal agents in Northern Nevada, including in Reno and Carson City.

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Noe Orosco, the Government Affairs Manager with Make the Road Nevada, warned that having immigration enforcement in Carson City where laws of our state are being made shouldnt be seen as a coincidence.

That is intimidation, plain and simple, he said.

The coalition earlier announced it had canceled its immigrant lobbying day scheduled for next week out of fears of prolonged presence of federal immigration officials.

Organizers have previously warned of increased immigration enforcement in the state over the last few weeks, but have struggled to verify how many people have been detained by immigration officials in Southern Nevada.

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Athar Haseebullah, the executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, said immigration actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration have been devoid of due process as federal officers have targeted undocumented immigrants, Green Card holders and even U.S. citizens in some instances.

Realistically, there needs to be a press conference next door because the governor has been silent, Haseebullah said. We need the governor to stop being silent.

Nevada Current asked Lombardos office to comment on reports of an escalated presence of federal enforcement officers in the state, what communication the governors office had with them, and how he plans to ensure people receive due process if they are detained.

Elizabeth Ray, a spokeswoman for the governors office, referred all questions to immigration enforcement officials.

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Nevada is not a sanctuary state or jurisdiction, and Nevada will continue to follow federal law under Governor Lombardos leadership, Ray said in an email.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement didnt respond to questions.

Having repeatedly promised mass deportation on the campaign trail, since his inauguration Trump has rescinded a 2011 policy prohibiting immigration enforcement in sensitive places such as schools, churches, and hospitals, targeted green card holders, and flaunted court orders finding the administrations immigration policies have failed to provide people with due process under the law.

Haseebullah said many of these actions are done in cooperation with state and local agencies.

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For any government institution in Nevada that decides its going to cooperate with ICE in these investigations in violation of the law, expect to hear from us, he said. If you are hiding records, which many government entities are  we will find them, we will bring legal action against you and you will be held accountable for that.

The coalition cautioned that even the threat of enforcement could disrupt and harm people, especially families. They also said increased U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement activity would damage the states fragile economy since it depends heavily on its immigrant workforce.

We are day laborers, bakers, food service workers, parents and neighbors, Orosco said, adding that the states immigrant community contributes over $20 billion annually to the economy.

Several state Democratic lawmakers also joined the coalition during the press conference as they work to pass several bills that seek to provide a measure of reassurance to anxious families.

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Assembly Bill 217 would prohibit school employees from granting permission to immigration officers to enter a school, or provide student records, including information on a students family, without a warrant. Assembly Bill 460 seeks a streamlined process for selecting a temporary guardian for minors prior to any immigration action.

Every Nevadan, regardless of their immigration status, deserves due process, dignity and protection under the law, said Democratic Assemblymember Cecelia Gonzalez, who is sponsoring both bills. Immigrants are not a threat to Nevada, they are essential.

The coalition encourages people to be aware of their rights if confronted by enforcement agencies

The Nevada Attorney Generals office has similarly published know your rights pamphlets for individual immigrants and for immigrant employers.
The fear on Texas college campuses spread fast after the Trump administration abruptly revoked the legal status and visas of more than 250 international students.

Even foreign-born students who werent identified for removal began worrying about getting on the radar of a White House that has fervently sought to supercharge the nations deportation apparatus.

They canceled summer trips home. They stopped venturing out of their homes alone. They deleted social media accounts.

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The Trump administration originally said its nationwide reclassification of international students was aimed at those who led pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year or had committed serious crimes while in the U.S. But in legal challenges filed across the country, lawyers for affected students argued their clients had not protested and that some had only been previously charged with minor offenses, like traffic infractions. Federal authorities restored many students legal status late last month  but also said they would develop a new policy to pursue future revocations.

The sudden revocations, the opaque method to determine whose status was altered, the whiplash reversal and the promise of a new policy have sowed worry and confusion among students.

"When you create that kind of hostile environment, it makes it difficult for us to carry on with our normal life and complete our education because so much time is spent talking about it, like talking to a lawyer, hearing about the complications, said a University of Houston doctoral student from South Asia. It creates an environment of anxiety and fear."

He was one of four international students who spoke to The Texas Tribune on the condition of anonymity because they fear any misstep, including talking publicly about their experience, could spur the federal government to target them for removal, even though they have permission to be in the U.S.

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Immigration attorneys are advising international students to keep their heads down. But higher education experts worry the tumult could hinder efforts to recruit and retain international students, who contribute to the states economy and often support the research efforts of its universities.

Last year, Texas universities enrolled more than 89,000 international students, the third most of any state, according to Open Doors, an organization that conducts an annual census of international students in the country and is sponsored by the federal government. More than half come from either India or China to pursue a STEM degree.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in March that the administration has the right to revoke visas of students who helped bring college campuses to a standstill during the pro-Palestinian protests.

Were going to err on the side of caution. We are not going to be importing activists into the United States, he said. I think its lunacy to continue to allow that.

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Rubio later said expressing approval of or supporting a terrorist group like Hamas, or encouraging others to, is grounds for a visa revocation.

Immigration attorneys say the sudden revocations violated international students due process protections and fit the Trump administrations pattern of taking enforcement action on sometimes unsustained accusations.

Everything that we have seen come out of this administration, whether it be DOGE, whether it be mislabeling people as gang members, or whether it be this iteration, everything they do is just done with a big sledgehammer and there are so many errors, said Kristin Etter, director of policy and legal resources at the Texas Immigration Law Council.

Dreams and fears

One of the most high-profile instances of federal authorities targeting an international student came in March when plain-clothes Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents detained a Tufts University student from Turkey, which was captured on video that went viral. Rumeysa Ozturks detention came after she wrote an op-ed for the student newspaper criticizing Tufts response to the campus pro-Palestinian movement. She remains in detention.

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The University of Houston student who spoke to the Tribune said some of his peers stopped going places alone or without first notifying someone after seeing the video. They feared ICE could pick them up  perhaps on an accusation they had broken a law they didnt know existed  and that no one would know what happened to them, he said.

It might sound to an outside person unnecessary, but the situation is that when you see people getting abducted on the street, when you see those videos online, you are like, am I going to have the same kind of encounter? It is an actual fear because they are seeing how arbitrary enforcement has been, he said.

He canceled plans to visit family in his home country this summer out of fear that he might not be able to reenter the U.S.

So did an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Arlington, who has not seen his family since leaving Pakistan to study in the U.S. in 2023. He said he is prepared not to see them until after he graduates in a few years because he believes a degree from a U.S. institution will lead to a better and well-paid job.

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He chose to study in Texas in part because he heard it was a conservative state where people minded their business, but also spoke their minds. But now, hes careful with what he says and warns other international students to do the same.

Theres actually some advice that I would like to mention for other international students: Stay away from political matters. Unless youre a political science major, you came here for an education. Take and make something out of it, he said.

He also decided not to join UT-Arlingtons Muslim Student Association because he thought doing so could lead the federal government to associate him with the pro-Palestinian protests, though he said he hasnt participated in them. The student said he was never very religious, but he wanted to join the association to get more in touch with his culture and meet new people like him while he was away from home.

Im fine with it, he said of canceling his flight home and not joining the association. I came here for an education and thats all I want.

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A doctoral candidate from Taiwan studying at the University of Texas at Austin said he doesnt feel like he did anything wrong when he peacefully participated in several of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that took place on campus last year. Police did not detain or arrest him.

He said he felt compelled to advocate for Palestinians because he empathized with them as a citizen of Taiwan, a country with its own long-standing territorial disputes with China.

He will go back to his home country in July, where he will complete his Ph.D. He said hell leave with the impression that its better to study at universities in Taiwan, which he said do not permit police to come onto campuses.

I feel like America is not really a free country, but one with more potential for threats and chaos, he said.

Navigating a precarious moment

The Department of Homeland Security announced in April that it would begin screening international students social media for antisemitic content as grounds for revoking their legal status. DHS officials said the students could no longer hide behind the First Amendment.

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There is no room in the United States for the rest of the worlds terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said.

Protests erupted on college campuses throughout the country after Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Students who participated in them have said they were protesting Israels response to the attack and calling on their universities to divest from manufacturers supplying that country with weapons.

But the Trump administration has said the protests led to an increase in antisemitism on campuses. It accused universities of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, which it says has taken the form of everything from denying them access to class to physical threats and assaults. The administration assembled a multi-agency task force to investigate universities where large protests took place.

The task force will not allow these so-called protesters to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said after one such investigation was launched this week at the University of Washington.

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The Diaspora Alliance, a group that fights antisemitism and its instrumentalization, has accused the Trump administration of justifying repressive policies, like targeting campus activists protesting the Israel-Hamas war, by conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Its actions have ignored antisemitic behavior from the far right and risk blowback to Jews, the organization says.

Immigration attorneys said they have advised international students to get off social media because their posts could be misconstrued or distorted.

The Texas Immigration Law Council held a know-your-rights webinar for international students on Zoom. Within minutes of starting, the lawyers on the call had 500 scared students hanging onto their every word.

The one question they asked over and over again was: If I havent done anything wrong, could my visa still be revoked? The answer was yes.

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Its hard, Attorney Faye Kolly said. They have constitutional rights, but those can put them in jeopardy right now. We want these students to remain safe and outside the ire of this government.

The federal government can revoke legal statuses and visas at its discretion, but has historically only revoked student visas in extreme circumstances, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Kolly said it is unusual for the federal government to target international students citing national security or foreign policy concerns.

Due process protections for international students are limited, attorneys said. Students whose status was revoked do not get to hear the specific reasons why or get an opportunity to respond to them. They can request their legal status be reinstated, but the governments decision is not subject to judicial review. However, attorneys have recently sued the government alleging it is not following its own rules for revoking status.

Visa revocations are not subject to judicial review either, unless DHS initiates deportation proceedings in immigration court. Only at that point is the student entitled to representation, at their own expense, and given a chance to challenge the governments evidence.

International students already go through a meticulous background check before being allowed to come to the U.S. They also have to demonstrate they can afford to live here and must agree to leave within 60 days of completing their studies.

The UH student remembered showing U.S. consular officers every social media account he had ever made when asked.

Anyone who has applied for a U.S. visa from a country, especially a third-world country, knows how difficult it is and how rigorous the process is, he said.

Risk to Texas

International students generated $2.5 billion for Texas economy and supported more than 22,000 jobs last year, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Some higher education experts are worried the current political uncertainty has already discouraged some students from other parts of the world from wanting to come to the U.S., putting the countrys schools at a disadvantage when competing for talented students abroad.

Sarah Speitzer with the American Council on Education said Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia have recently been the U.S. biggest competitors for international students, but China and France are also trying to attract more.

That comes at a time when universities are facing other financial headwinds.

Nationally, the Trump administration is trying to limit how much money from federal grants can be spent on overhead for biomedical research, which could cost Texas universities hundreds of millions of dollars.

In Texas, state leaders have not allowed universities to raise tuition for undergraduate students for years. And state lawmakers have made continuous threats to cut state universities funding over perceived violations of the Texas ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Losing international students could make things more financially precarious, Speitzer said.

That could have an enormous economic impact on our institutions, she said.

Several universities reached by the Tribune  including UH, Texas A&M University, UT-Austin, UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, Texas Tech University and Texas State University  declined to share examples of how they are supporting international students during this time or did not respond. The University of North Texas said faculty who instruct the impacted students may allow them to submit coursework or take tests electronically.

Ravi Prakash, who was an international student before becoming a professor of computer science at the UT-Dallas, said most international students in the U.S. are graduate students who pay out-of-state tuition, which is two to three times more expensive than in-state tuition.

He said international students also play an integral part in a universitys research efforts. Many of the students who helped him research ways to improve wireless internet access came from outside the U.S., for example.

America embraced me as an immigrant and I feel like things are changing now, Prakash said.

Texas has 16 top-tier research universities that attract and benefit from international students. An international student from South America told the Tribune he saved up $30,000 to study at Texas A&M University, which enrolls more than 6,000 international students.

He said many international students in the engineering department are now worried that companies wont hire them to do optional practical training, a kind of temporary job in students field of study they can apply for after they graduate. He said hes fortunate to be graduating and starting his optional practical training soon.

Prakash at UT-Dallas said many international graduate students count on those jobs to pay off the tens of thousands of dollars in student loans they take out.

The A&M student said international students have also stopped talking with each other about current events to protect the investment theyve made in their education.

The last thing that I want to be is involved in a political discussion that is not related to me, he said.

The UH student said he wanted to do his Ph.D. in Texas in 2021 because he wanted to learn from a UH faculty member he admired. He said he believed he could speak freely and do research without political interference in America. The administrations actions have shattered those beliefs, he said.

Honestly, if someone asked me if they should come to the U.S. now, my answer would be no, he said.

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, University of Texas - Arlington, University of Texas - Dallas, University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 1315 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
O'Shay Toney and GuJuan Fusilier, two of the three men held in the Penitentiary of New Mexico who are challenging the prison's use of solitary confinement. (Photos courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico)

Three New Mexicans held at the maximum-security state prison in Santa Fe are challenging the New Mexico prison systems use of solitary confinement, not just for them but for anyone else and those who might be subjected to it in the future.

Through their attorneys, three men on Thursday filed a complaint for class relief against the prison itself, the New Mexico Corrections Department and so far unidentified defendants who will be named later.

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OShay Toney, GuJuan Fusilier and Mah-konce Hudson allege the prison system has an unlawful and unconstitutional policy and practice of subjecting hundreds of New Mexicans annually to prolonged periods of solitary confinement as a form of punishment for violating prison rules.

On Thursday, the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe assigned the case to Judge Matthew Wilson.

We dont comment on pending litigation, Corrections Department Spokesperson Brittany Roembach told Source NM in a statement.

The Corrections Department denies it uses solitary, with Roembach instead referring to it as restrictive housing.

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To be clear, solitary confinement does not exist in the NMCD system, she said. We utilize restrictive housing, like the Predatory Behavior Management Program (PBMP), to fix behaviors.

In response to Sources questions, Roembach shared a copy of the prison systems policy governing the program, which states that its purpose is to reduce predatory behavior among incarcerated people.

ACLU-NM Managing Attorney Lalita Moskowitz told Source NM in an interview its a very common practice for prison officials to use euphemisms for solitary confinement. Prison reform advocates in New Mexico have said previously that the program is one example of the department putting a different label on solitary confinement.

In the complaint, the incarcerated people allege that the program uses solitary as punishment and guards use arbitrary and inconsistent criteria to put people in it.

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Under the program, the men have spent months, and in many cases, years of their lives locked in tiny, barren cells for 23 hours per day or more as supposed punishment for violating prison rules, the complaint states.

If Judge Wilson finds that allegation to be true, that would be a violation of the states 2019 Restricted Housing Act, which defines restrictive housing as confinement of a person in a locked cell or similar living quarters for 22 or more hours each day without daily, meaningful and sustained human interaction.

There are 147 people in the program at PNM, according to Roembach. ACLU-NM estimates that 400 people have been held in solitary over the last three years.

The policy also requires that prison officials provide mental health and psychiatric treatment to people in the program, however, the complaint alleges, In reality, PBMP is a long-term solitary confinement unit that offers little in the way of programming or preparation.

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Both Fusilier and Toney suffer from severe mental illness, the complaint states, and Hudson was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder because of trauma from being in long-term solitary.

Fusiler said in a statement that hes begged for help with his anger, anxiety and PTSD and prison officials have allegedly responded with isolation and rejection.

This so-called program offered NOTHING it promised, he said. This place doesnt provide growth or positive change for our lives, no matter how loud our cries for help are. It feels like the people running it dont care about the success of my life. Instead, they keep us pinned down and oppressed.

While in solitary, Toney alleges he is unable to privately or consistently speak with a mental health professional. Hudson fears being overmedicated in solitary and cant access the care he needs because he has no privacy or ability to communicate with providers, the complaint states.

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Prison officials have also allegedly prohibited Toney from using technology, making phone calls or accessing the commissary, his property or recreation time, the complaint states.

Hudson said in a statement long-term solitary turns anger into hate, eliminates coping mechanisms, leaving only survival tactics, and exacerbates existing mental health issues into debilitating anxiety and paranoia.

It teaches isolation rather than connection, leaving people ill-equipped for social environments whether in general population or upon release to society, he said.

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(FOX40.COM)  If you noticed more flashing lights and patrol cars around Stockton on Thursday, it wasnt a coincidence.

Law enforcement agencies across the region joined forces with the Stockton Police Department in a citywide effort to reduce collisions and promote safer driving habits.

The initiative, part of the Saturated Traffic Enforcement Program, brought more than 20 traffic officers from surrounding departments to target unsafe driving behaviors.

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Police said this effort isnt just about writing tickets.

Lodi City Council appoints acting city manager

Unsafe speeding, distracted driving, those go into the primary collision factors, said Omer Edhah, spokesperson for the Stockton Police Department.

Edhah says the campaign comes in response to growing concerns about road safety, including reckless driving, red light running, and sideshow activity.

Residents like Chinadun Feaster say these issues are all too common.

They are speeding, speeding. To the point where Im like, come on now, Feaster said.

During just 30 minutes at the intersection of March Ln and Pacific Ave, FOX40 cameras captured more than a dozen drivers running red lights.

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Thats normal, Feaster said. I mean, everybody does it.

Emergency first responders said this behavior has real consequences.

Brian Hijak, regional director for American Medical Response in San Joaquin County, says staff members follow a rule of thumb.

Man gave teen girl vape pens, cash for sex, say Ceres police

When the light turns red, wait three seconds- because when the light turns red, theres another vehicle that runs a red light, Hijak said. Its a very somber feeling when Im notified that a member of our team has been involved in any accident, for that matter, but especially red lights.

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This year, Stockton Police has reported 5 fatal crashes, a drop from seven fatal crashes this time last year.

With warmer weather and more people going out, officers also want to deter illegal street takeovers and sideshows.

We want to send a strong message to the community that, for people who want to take part in these sideshows, Stocktons not the place to do it.

Officers emphasize that STEPs goal is not punishment, but rather prevention and getting drivers to make safer choices behind the wheel.

Stockton Police say theyre continuing to work with city officials to improve traffic safety and are encouraging residents to speak up and report any concerns in their neighborhood.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

After teasing its intention earlier this year, GameStop has sold its Canadian business (officially named Electronics Boutique Canada Inc.) to entrepreneur Stephan Tetrault, according to a Monday press release. Tetrault will act as company CEO, and the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Now known as GameStop Canada, the business will be relaunched as EB Games Canada  its company name before being rebranded in 2021. The retailer has more than 185 stores across Canada.

The relaunch will be accompanied by in-store events, expanded product lines, deeper integration with pop culture brands, and a renewed focus on Canadians, per the release.

Dive Insight:

French-Canadian entrepreneur Tetrault has positioned his acquisition as an effort to revitalize the countrys retail gaming industry.

"This isn't just a business decisionit's about bringing something back that Canadians truly loved," Tetrault said in a statement. "We're going to build something special here, with community, nostalgia, and innovation at its heart."

Tetrault is listed as a co-owner of action figure manufacturer McFarlane Toys and game company Imports Dragon on LinkedIn.

This deal comes as no surprise, after the company in February announced it was in the market to sell its assets in the country, as well as its French business. CEO Ryan Cohen had shared an email contact in a post on X for those interested in an acquisition, adding that, High taxes, liberalism, socialism, progressivism, wokeness and DEI included at no additional cost if you buy today.

The sale of GameStops international assets follows news in March that the company would close a significant number of stores in 2025. In 2024, the company decreased its footprint with the closure of about 600 U.S. locations.

The companys fourth-quarter net sales fell 28.5% year over year to $1.3 billion, and net income more than doubled to $131 million. In the quarter, GameStop completed its divestiture of its operations in Italy and the wind-down of store operations in Germany.

In March, the gaming retailer also announced that its board voted unanimously to add bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. The company acknowledged it was a highly volatile asset and could prove unsuccessful as a strategy.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Seminarians from the Grand Rapids area were among the thousands who celebrated in St. Peters Square Thursday as a new pope was elected.

The three Diocese of Grand Rapids students at first did not believe the news that the new pope, Leo XIV, is American.

It was absolutely crazy. It was insane, Willison said. I was absolutely shocked. I never thought it was possible. The people around me started saying, I think hes an American.

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Robert Prevost elected the first American pope in history

Daniel Willison and Dominic Klaes were in the security line when the pope was announced.

We were like, Is this it? And so we kept like trying to peek around the columns and then we saw it, Willison said.

They saw white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals were gathered for the second day of the conclave.

I was very surprised as to the timing of it all. I really thought that the pope would be elected sometime later in the week and so actually I was considering not even going down to St. Peters Square, Klaes said.

White smoke is seen coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel from St. Peters Square in Vatican City, signaling the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. (Courtesy Diocese of Grand Rapids)

St. Peters Square in Vatican City on the day of the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. (Courtesy Diocese of Grand Rapids)

Pope Leo XIV addresses the faithful at St. Peters Square in Vatican City after being elected pope on May 8, 2025. (Courtesy Diocese of Grand Rapids)

Jack McCarthy rushed to the square after he heard the news.

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I saw on my phone that the white smoke was coming out of the chimney and so I ended up getting on an electric bike and biking, trying to bike to St. Peters, trying to get there as fast as I could, but I ran into 5 oclock traffic, McCarthy said.

New pope attended Catholic high school in West Michigan

He made it in time to see Robert Prevost emerge onto the balcony to address the faithful below for the first time as Pope Leo XIV.

It was really incredible. I mean, I thought the funeral (for Pope Francis) was a big crowd, but this was  this was really crazy. I think everyone descended on St. Peters, McCarthy said.

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Back in West Michigan, Diocese of Grand Rapids Bishop David Walkowiak celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving for the election of a new pope at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew Friday. The cathedral was decorated in the colors of the flag of Vatican City.

The bishop, too, was surprised by the choice of Pope Leo XIV, but welcomed the news of a Midwestern-born pope. Traditionally, Americans have been considered long shots for pope because of the global influence of American society and the power of the government. But Walkowiak said the pope understands America and will be an asset to the church.

This familiarity is just an amazing thing. To have somebody whose native language is English, American English, who came from Chicago, which is not that far away from Grand Rapids, its kind of exciting, Walkowiak said.

The seminarians agreed.

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Its really special, I think, to have a holy father thats from our country and whos from our region of the country, McCarthy 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 WOODTV.com.
Indian and Pakistani forces have again engaged in exchanges of fire on their heavily guarded border.

The Indian military on Friday accused Pakistan of launching "multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border."

The drones were "effectively repulsed," the army wrote on X, saying it gave a "befitting reply" to the attacks.

Islamabad has not commented on the latest incidents.

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Media reports in India said that at least one woman was killed and four other civilians were injured by artillery fire late on Thursday in the Indian-administered part of the disputed Kashmir region.

This would bring the number of civilian deaths on the Indian side since Wednesday to 17.

India said Pakistan carried out air strikes on Indian-administered Kashmir and in the state of Punjab on Thursday evening, causing no casualties.

Pakistan rejected the accusations. The information could not initially be independently verified.

The alarming escalation in tensions between the two nuclear powers was triggered by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April which killed 26 people, mainly Indian tourists.

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New Delhi accuses Islamabad of involvement in the attack. Pakistan denies involvement and has called for an independent investigation.

Pakistan and India each control parts of Kashmir, but both claim the entire Kashmir Valley for themselves.
Supply chain delays out of India and Pakistan are expected to hit ocean carriers as both countries closed off port access to each other.

Indias restrictions are more nuanced than Pakistans, which are a blanket prohibition of the import and transit of Indian goods. A May 2 decree banned vessels which have cargo from Pakistan onboard, including empty containers, from calling at Indian ports.

More from Sourcing Journal

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Vessels carrying Pakistan-originated cargo that departed before the restriction are not permitted to berth at Indian ports until such cargo is discharged elsewhere.

The ban is expected to cause delays and could leave some cargo to be turned away from Indian ports like Mumbai, Mundra and Nhava Sheva.

Complicating matters, the restrictions in place will make it nearly impossible for carrier services to make direct vessel calls to Pakistans Port of Karachi or Port Qasim after stopping at Indian ports, according to freight forwarder OEC Group.

A report from India Shipping News indicated that a Hapag-Lloyd container ship, the Nagoya Express, called at Port Qasim on May 1 and was due at Nhava Sheva on May 3. But the vessel instead ended up diverting south to the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, likely to transship the Pakistani cargo to the U.S. East Coast.

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That report also said that the CMA CGM Bianca vessel en route to Mundra turned back on May 1 to Pakistan to offload cargo it previously picked up in the country.

Erik Rosica, account executive at OEC Group, said Thursday that ocean carriers will have to reroute vessels or create new sailings as the restrictions linger.

Its going to create another space issue, Rosica told Sourcing Journal. Its going to be difficult getting vessel space, because theres probably going to be such a demand and a shortfall of space now that theyre splitting the surfaces essentially.

Rosica said that most importers will be affected in a similar capacity regardless of which country they are picking up cargo from, but he noted that customers who need their goods quicker like those in high fashion, will suffer due to the adjustment period involved.

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Along with the delays the capacity problems would cause, as well as potential port congestion in hubs like Singapore or Colombo, shippers would likely have to deal with rising freight rates out of the south Asian neighbors.

Weve already seen rates on the rise from India in the last month or so, said Rosica. There have been a regular increase over the past six weeks, so this will only exacerbate that situation. Unfortunately, customers now they have the tariffs to worry about, plus now the ocean rate will start coming up from that region.

Rates are bound to jump another way. The conflict has now resulted in CMA CGM announcing an $800 per container emergency operational recovery surcharge for Pakistani containers headed to Europe, the Mediterranean, the U.S. and Africa. The same surcharge will be applied to cargo entering Pakistan from Asian countries.

A separate $300 per container surcharge is levied on containers headed to Pakistan from Europe, the Mediterranean, the U.S. and Africa, as well as those leaving Pakistan for Asia.

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The extra charges are effective May 15 for most trade lanes and June 6 for U.S., Latin America and Australia cargo.

CMA CGM says the measure has become necessary, as the ongoing geopolitical developments in the region, which have significantly impacted the liners operations.

The surcharge is essential to maintaining the continuity, safety, and reliability of our services during this period, the company said in a customer advisory.

Other major container shipping companies havent established surcharges yet, but that will likely

Once one car gets the ball rolling, the others kind of follow suit. If it looks like its going to stick, said Rosica. Its the same way with general rate increases (GRIs). A lot of times, MSC, because theyre the biggest ocean carrier, would be the first to set a precedent for what an increase might be. Then the others will usually fall in line. But I dont think theyre going to be the only ones.

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Hostility between the south Asian countries escalated in the wake of the April 22 massacre of 26 tourists by Pakistani militants in the historically disputed Kashmir region.

The tensions have further reached a boiling point, with India and Pakistan trading missile strikes across Wednesday and Thursday.
India and Pakistan are locked in a rapidly escalating military exchange that threatens to explode into a fully fledged war, triggered by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 in which 26 civilians were killed, but rooted in decades-old hostilities.

On May 7, India launched a wave of missiles into Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, striking at least six cities and killing at least 31 people  including two children  according to Islamabad. Since then, Indian drones have hit major Pakistani cities and military installations, and India has accused Pakistan to launching a barrage of missiles and drones at its cities and military facilities.

Alongside the missiles and drones, the nuclear-armed neighbours have also traded allegations and denials. India says its May 7 missiles only struck terrorist infrastructure while Pakistan insists civilians were killed. Pakistan denies that it launched missiles or drones towards India, and both claim to be victims of the others aggression.

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Yet the origins of this latest crisis between India and Pakistan go back to their very formation as sovereign nation states in their current form. Here is a recap of the state of near-constant tensions between the South Asian neighbours.

1940s-50s: A tale of two countries

The Indian subcontinent was a British colony from 1858 until 1947, when British colonial rule finally ended, splitting the subcontinent into the two countries. The Muslim-majority Pakistan gained its independence on August 14 that year as non-contiguous and culturally distant zones, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. The Hindu-majority but secular India gained its independence on August 15, 1947.

The partition was far from smooth, causing one of the largest and bloodiest human migrations ever seen, displacing about 15 million people. The process also sparked horrific communal violence and riots between Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs across the region, in which between 200,000 and two million people died. Border disputes and separatist movements sprang up in the aftermath.

What stuck out as a major sticking point between the neighbours was the question of where the Muslim-majority Himalayan region, Kashmir, would go. The monarch of Kashmir initially sought independence and the area remained disputed.

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In October 1947, the first war over Kashmir broke out when armed Pakistani tribesmen invaded the territory. The monarch of Kashmir asked India for its assistance in driving out the tribesmen. In return, the monarch accepted Indias condition for help  that Kashmir join India.

Fighting continued until 1948, when it ended with Kashmir divided. Pakistan administers the western part of Kashmir, while India administers much of the rest, with China holding two thin slices of Kashmirs north. India claims all of Kashmir, while Pakistan also claims the part that India holds but not what China, its ally, holds.

1960s: Failed Kashmir talks and the second war

The decade started with a promise of better ties. In 1960, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty, a World Bank-mediated deal under which they agreed to share the waters of the six Indus Basin rivers they both relied  and still rely  on.

The treaty gives India access to the waters of the three eastern rivers: the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Pakistan, in turn, gets the waters of the three western rivers: the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. After the April 22 Pahalgam attack, India has suspended its participation in the treaty but until recently, the deal stood as a shining example, internationally, of a water-sharing pact that survived multiple wars.

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One of those wars would take place in the 1960s.

In 1963, the then-foreign minister of India, Swaran Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, held talks over the disputed territory of Kashmir. These talks were mediated by the United States and the United Kingdom.

While exact details of the discussions were not made public, no agreement was reached. In 1964, Pakistan referred the Kashmir case to the United Nations.

In 1965, the two countries fought the second war over Kashmir after between 26,000 and 33,000 Pakistani soldiers dressed as Kashmiri residents crossed the ceasefire line into Indian-administered Kashmir.

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As the war escalated, Indian soldiers crossed the international border into Pakistans Lahore. The war ended inconclusively, with a ceasefire. In 1966, Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Mohammad Ayub Khan signed an agreement in Tashkent, mediated by the Soviet Union, restoring diplomatic and economic relations.

A picture taken on August 12, 1965 in New Delhi shows two Pakistani officers captured during the Second Kashmir War. [Punjab Press/AFP]

1970s: Bangladesh and the first step towards a nuclear race

In 1971, East Pakistan and West Pakistan went to war after then-president Zulfikar Ali Bhutto refused to let Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the East Pakistan-based Awami League, assume the premiership. This was despite the fact that the Awami League won the majority of seats in Pakistans 1970 parliamentary elections.

A group of Indian soldiers captured by Pakistani army pose for a photographer in a POW camp in December 1971 during the India-Pakistan border conflict. [AFP]

In March, the Pakistani military began a crackdown in East Pakistans Dhaka and in December, the Indian army got involved. The Pakistani army eventually surrendered. East Pakistan became the independent country of Bangladesh.

In 1972, Bhutto and Indian PM Indira Gandhi signed an agreement in the Indian town of Simla, called the Simla Agreement where they agreed to settle any disputes by peaceful means.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India (R) and Pakistani President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto sign a peace agreement 04 July 1972 in Simla. [AFP]

The agreement established the Line of Control (LoC) between the two countries, which neither side is to seek to alter unilaterally, and which shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side.

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In 1974, Kashmirs state government affirmed that it is a constituent unit of the Union of India, an accord rejected by Pakistan.

In the same year, India detonated a nuclear device in an operation codenamed Smiling Buddha. India deemed the device a peaceful nuclear explosive.

1980s: The rebellion in Kashmir

By the early 1980s, Kashmir was back at the centre of India-Pakistan tensions. A separatist movement took root, as popular sentiment started turning against the elected government of Indian-administered Kashmir, which many locals felt was betraying their interests in exchange for close ties with New Delhi.

A tipping point was the 1987 election to the state legislature, which saw the National Conference, a party committed to the Indian Constitution, win amid widespread allegations of heavy rigging to keep out popular, anti-India politicians.

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By 1989, a full-blown armed resistance against India had taken shape in Indian-administered Kashmir, seeking secession from India.

New Delhi has consistently accused Islamabad of financing, training and sheltering these armed groups, who India describes as terrorists. Pakistan has insisted that it only offers moral and diplomatic support to the separatist movement, though many of those groups have bases and headquarters in Pakistan.

1990s: More agreements, nuclear tests and the Kargil conflict

In 1991, both countries signed agreements on providing advance notification of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements, as well as on preventing airspace violations and establishing overflight rules.

In 1992, they signed a joint declaration banning the use of chemical weapons.

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In 1996, after a series of clashes, military officers from the countries met at the LoC in order to ease tensions.

In 1998, India detonated five nuclear devices. Pakistan responded by detonating six nuclear devices of its own. Both were slapped with sanctions by many nations  but they had become nuclear-armed states.

In the same year, both countries tested long-range missiles.

In 1999, Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee met with Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. The two signed an agreement called the Lahore Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to the Simla Accord, and agreeing to undertake a number of confidence building measures (CBMs).

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However, later in the same year, the Pakistani military crossed the LoC, seizing Indian military posts in the Kargil mountains, sparking the Kargil War. Indian troops pushed the Pakistani soldiers back after bloody battles in the snowy heights of the Ladakh region.

An Indian army convoy of reinforcement moves towards the Indian border town of Kargil in 1999. [Aijaz Rahi/AP]

2000s: Tensions and the Mumbai attacks

Tensions across the LoC remained high throughout the 2000s.

In December 2001, an armed attack on the Indian parliament in New Delhi killed 14 people. India blamed Pakistan-backed armed groups for the attacks, that led to a face-to-face standoff between Indian and Pakistan militaries along the LoC. That standoff only ended in October 2002, after international mediation.

In 2002, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, amid Western pressure following the 9/11 attacks, pledged that Pakistan would combat extremism on its own soil, but affirmed that the country had a right to Kashmir.

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In 2003, during a UN General Assembly meeting, Musharraf called for a ceasefire along the LoC, and India and Pakistan came to an agreement to cool tensions and cease hostilities. In 2004, Musharraf held talks with Indian PM Vajpayee.

But in 2007, the Samjhauta Express, the train service linking India and Pakistan, was bombed near Panipat, north of New Delhi. Sixty-eight people were killed, and dozens injured. Hindu extremists were charged by the Indian government at the time, but have subsequently been set free.

In 2008, trade relations began to improve across the LoC and India joined a framework agreement between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan on a $7.6bn gas pipeline project.

However, in November 2008, armed gunmen opened fire on civilians at several sites in Mumbai, India. More than 160 people were killed in the attacks.

Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive, said the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Kasab was executed by India in 2012. India blamed Pakistani intelligence agencies for the attacks.

In 2009, the Pakistani government conceded that the Mumbai attacks may have been partly planned on Pakistani soil, but denied that the plotters were sanctioned or aided by Pakistans intelligence agencies.

An Indian soldier takes cover as the Taj Mahal hotel burns during gun battle between Indian military and militants inside the hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 29, 2008. [David Guttenfelder/AP]

2010s: Jugular vein and Pulwama

In 2014, Pakistans then army chief General Raheel Sharif called Kashmir the jugular vein of Pakistan, and that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris and in line with UN resolutions.

In 2016, armed fighters killed 17 Indian soldiers in Uri, Indian-administered Kashmir. As a response, India carried out what it described as surgical strikes against bases of armed groups across the LoC.

In 2019, a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers in Pulwama in Indian-administered Kashmir. Jaish-e-Muhammad claimed the attack.

In the aftermath, the Indian Air Force launched an aerial raid on Balakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, claiming it targeted terrorist hideouts and killed several dozen fighters. Pakistan insisted that Indian jets only hit a forested region and did not kill any fighters.

Later in 2019, India revoked Article 370, which granted Kashmir a special, semi-autonomous status and began a crackdown that saw thousands of Kashmiri civilians and politicians arrested, many under anti-terror laws that rights groups have described as draconian.

2020s: Pahalgam and the drones

On April 22 this year, an armed attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, killed 26 men.

An armed group called The Resistance Front (TRF), which demands independence for Kashmir, claimed responsibility for the attack. India alleged that TRF was an offshoot of the Pakistan-based LeT. Islamabad denied allegations of its involvement in the attack and called for a neutral investigation.

On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, carrying out missile strikes on multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistani authorities have claimed that at least 31 people were killed in six targeted cities.




Pakistan has rejected allegations that it was behind a series of reported airstrikes on Indian territory after India's Defence Ministry accused it of launching missile and drone attacks.

The Indian government on Thursday accused Pakistan of carrying out attacks in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir and on a military installation in the state of Punjab.

The Integrated Defence Staff headquarters responsible for coordination among the Indian army's branches said on X the threat had been "neutralized" and reported no casualties.

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"The Government of Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless and irresponsible allegations propagated by the Indian media, accusing Pakistan of launching attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar," the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad responded in a statement.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also said Pakistan had not targeted any locations in Indian-administered Kashmir or across the international border.

Indian media report explosions, drone hit

According to Indian media reports, explosions in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir late Thursday caused panic among local people. India Today reported that a drone had hit the airport of Jammu, where an air force facility is located.

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India said it had activated its air defence system.

"Suspected bombing, shelling or missile strikes," the former police chief of the Union Territory, Shesh Paul Vaid, wrote on X.

India's government had previously stated that it had attacked air defence systems in several locations in Pakistan on Thursday morning, with an air defence system in the megacity of Lahore near the shared border neutralized.

The military added it had responded to Pakistan's attempt to hit military targets in the north and west of India, including 15 cities, with drones and missiles.

However, this was thwarted. There was initially no confirmation of this from Islamabad.

Pakistan reports downing of drones

Pakistan, for its part, said it had shot down 25 Indian drones.

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"Pakistan Armed Forces have so far shot down 25 Israeli-made Harop drones using both soft kill (technical) and hard kill (weapons-based) countermeasures," the military's media wing ISPR said in a statement.

On Thursday, at least three drones were downed in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, a few kilometres from the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Amid the panic, sirens sounded in parts of Islamabad. However, the capital administration said "a few individuals are spreading panic in Islamabad by sounding false sirens."

Tensions between the two nuclear powers have escalated significantly since an attack in the town of Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22 that left 26 people dead.

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New Delhi accuses Pakistan of involvement in the attack. Islamabad rejects this.

In response to the attack, the Indian military struck several Pakistani targets in the early hours of Wednesday. According to India, several "terrorist camps" were destroyed in the process.

Both sides report casualties

Pakistan's military on Wednesday night confirmed the death of a civilian from the debris of a downed drone in the southern province of Sindh, although local media reports suggested more casualties occurred.

This brought the death toll from Indian strikes to more than 30 people and over 57 injured, including women, children and four soldiers.

The Indian military reported 13 deaths from Pakistani artillery fire Wednesday night. One soldier was among the dead.

Army soldiers examine a building damaged by a suspected Indian missile attack near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir. Hussain Ali/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Revamped towing regulations tripped Indiana lawmakers up for nearly four months but survived a chaotic legislative session. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Indiana is getting tougher on predatory vehicle towing.

Revamped regulations tripped Indiana lawmakers up for nearly four months but emerged from a chaotic legislative session within House Enrolled Act 1390, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) annual package. Theyre set to take effect next month after a zig-zagging path through the Statehouse.

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Indiana is the No. 1 predatory towing state in the nation, author Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle.  Our towing practices exploit and harm trucking companies in their time of need.

From left: A critical Rep. Bob Morris questions Rep. Jim Pressel about towing regulations on the House floor on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Surveyed commercial carriers logged the most predatory towing incidents relative to mileage in Indiana between 2021 and 2023, according to a report by the American Transportation Research Institute. The state also had few of the personal vehicle owner towing protections identified in a 2021 report from the Public Interest Research Groups Consumer Watchdog team.

House Enrolled Act 1390 holds towing providers accountable, requiring transparency, capping fees and ensuring access to personal belongings, while penalizing bad actors who are taking advantage of a bad situation, Pressel said.

Commercial vehicles in the spotlight

That research sparked a Hoosier campaign for reform.

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The great majority of the towers  are responsible businesspeople and are not the problem, but theres a small percentage that have taken advantage of the industry, and those are the ones that were focused on, Indiana Motor Truck Association President and CEO Gary Langston said.

Gary Langston, leader of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, testifies in committee on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

After learning of the commercial tow findings, Langston began asking around  and was bombarded with invoices from in-state and out-of-state carriers.

Indiana law already mandates itemized receipts, but that doesnt mean all charges are legitimate.

Langston recalled one invoice for an 18-mile tow that featured a fuel surcharge of more than $7,000. He also described seeing overstated hourly labor costs and various hidden fees in the miscellaneous and administrative columns on the invoices.

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Commercial vehicle interests additionally sought greater recourse for recovering vehicles and the client loads inside while disputing such charges.

In committee hearings, Indiana Towing & Wrecker Association President Karrie Driscol expressed openness to additional regulations but similarly blamed the complaints on a handful of bad actors. Her organization declined comment to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Charges, releases scrutinized

Several chunks of incoming Indiana code tackle what Langston dubbed egregious overcharging.

Towing companies on the Indiana State Police (ISP) rotation will only be able to charge the rates theyve already filed when ISP calls them for emergency tows. When their services are requested by local law enforcement agencies, the restrictions shift.

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If there are set rates, thats whatll get charged. If not, a company could charge its ISP rates. If the company isnt on the ISP rotation, it will charge, at most, whats in the ISP districts agreements.

The legislation also requires law enforcement agencies to include a lengthy list of provisions in written policies or contracts entered into, amended or renewed after June 30: contract lengths, service and storage rates, allowable administrative fees, a prohibition on charging unlisted fees, a provision allowing the agencies to suspend or remove violator companies, and more.

When private property owners request tows, companies will charge whatever rates are in the agreements they already have with the owners, according to the legislation. If theres no preexisting agreement, a company must charge a rate applicable under the legislations local law enforcement agency provisions.

The states itemized invoice requirement also got tweaks.

Indiana Towing and Wrecker Association President Karrie Driscol testifies in committee meeting on Monday, March 31, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Come July 1, invoices must include the number of miles the vehicle was towed, a good faith estimate of where and how long invoiced items were used, and an attestation that all invoiced items were used and necessary in the ordinary course of business.

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Fees must also be accompanied by full descriptions of the services provided. Towing companies and storage facilities are barred from charging inspection fees but could charge for retrieval.

Another piece of the legislation lets commercial carriers file complaints with the Indiana Attorney Generals Office if they believe the charges are unreasonable. A towing company or storage facility will have to release the impounded vehicle and its cargo within 24 hours of receiving payment for 75% of the invoice, proof of a bond for the remaining 25%, and a copy of the complaint.

Legislators also cracked down on towing company compensation offers for referrals. Theyre banned unless there is a prior contract in play.

Winding journey, differing reactions

Towing changes encountered hefty opposition throughout several rounds of changes.

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House lawmakers briefly considered giving the Secretary of States Office oversight and requiring that towing companies obtain licenses from the office, but the language ultimately wasnt added to House Enrolled Act 1382 before it left the chamber.

The House gavel and sound block sit in a basket of legislative documents atop the rostrum on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Also in the sessions first half, procedural deadlines felled two towing-focused proposals. Pressels committee didnt put one on its hearing agenda; the other advanced to the House floor but languished on the chambers agenda for eight straight session meetings and died.

One Senate committee resurrected that language during its turn to consider the annual BMV agency bill  the same place it was re-inserted more than two weeks later.

In between, another panel removed the provisions, prompting Pressel to cram them into a utility trailers sales bill. At the time, Driscol pressed lawmakers for a pause this session.

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May 1, are you available? she quipped, in a March 31 committee hearing.  I think that even if this does go, and passes, Chairman Pressel and I will be talking over the summer, because there are still tons of issues that need to be resolved.

Shes not alone.

Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, was a vocal opponent. He told the Capital Chronicle that hes looking forward to continued work with Pressel and others on the topic. He wants to make sure good towing companies dont get caught up in the new regulatory structure.

I think its workable, but it actually kind of contradicts itself as well, Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, said of the final version. There were so many different versions done on the language, trying to get it right.

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Lawyers for Benjamin Ritchie contend that the death row inmate has long suffered from fetal alcohol exposure, which they say should disqualify him from capital punishment. (Photo provided by Benjamin Ritchie's legal team)

Lawyers for Indiana death row inmate Benjamin Ritchie are seeking a last-minute execution pause from the U.S. Supreme Court to allow evidence of the inmates serious brain damage to be weighed for the first time.

The high court requests are in response to a 2-2 decision handed down late last month by Indianas Supreme Court justices, which shut the door on any further legal challenges in state or federal courts.

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Defense attorneys argued in the Wednesday filings that the denial was a legal error and said Indianas justices failed to take into account Ritchies ineffective lawyers at trial and in other post-conviction matters. Current counsel said those earlier lawyers failed to present fetal alcohol syndromes, which lead to a death sentence based on inaccurate information.

Benjamin Ritchie (Mugshot from the Indiana Department of Correction)

Through trial, state post-conviction, and habeas review, the record developed by Ritchies attorneys contains incomplete information of Ritchies brain damage, public defenders said in new court documents. Ritchies attorneys allowed the State to create a materially false impression with the jury.  Ritchie was condemned to death without anyone hearing evidence that he suffers from a fetal alcohol syndrome.

Ritchie faces a May 20 execution date for the 2000 killing of Beech Grover law enforcement officer William Toney. The condemned man has been on death row since his conviction in 2002.

Per court documents, the underlying crime began as a police pursuit of a stolen van on Sept. 29, 2000. Toney later pursued Ritchie on foot. Ritchie ultimately fired four shots at the police officer, who did not survive the shooting.

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The inmates current counsel said prior lawyers completely failed to investigate the source of Ritchies serious brain damage because they erroneously believed he lacked the facial features that are commonly associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.

As a result, state prosecutors told the 2002 jury to assign little weight to his mitigation because there was no such diagnosis, according to the latest filings.

Separate from the SCOTUS filings, Ritchies attorneys are seeking an emergency stay from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. In the motion, filed Thursday, his defense team similarly argued that Indianas Supreme Court has wrongly shut down final opportunities for post-conviction relief.

If the higher courts decline to intervene, the only option for a commuted sentence rests solely with Gov. Mike Braun, who has final say over Ritchies pending clemency petition.

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Ritchie was condemned to death without anyone hearing evidence that he suffers from a fetal alcohol syndrome.

 defense attorneys for Indiana death row inmate Benjamin Ritchie

Those proceedings began earlier this week when members of Indianas Parole Board spoke with Ritchie during a Monday hearing held at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. A second meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, in Indianapolis and will allow members of the public to speak for and against Ritchies clemency petition.

After both hearings, the board will make a recommendation, but a final clemency decision about whether to commute Ritchies death sentence to life in prison without parole will ultimately be up to the governor. Theres no timetable for the board, or Braun, to issue opinions.

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Neither the governor nor any current members of the states parole board have deliberated a death penalty clemency case before Ritchies.

Three clemencies have been granted in Indiana since 1976.

The most recent was in 2005, when then-Gov. Mitch Daniels commuted the death sentence for Arthur Baird, who killed his pregnant wife and her parents in 1985. Although the parole board denied his petition for clemency, Daniels granted Baird clemency one day before the scheduled execution, in part citing questions about Bairds sanity.

Years of ineffective counsel

Ritchies lawyers submitted two requests to Justice Amy Coney Barrett: one to supersede the state supreme court and allow for further post-conviction review of the inmates case; and another to stay, or pause, the scheduled execution, at least until those proceedings can play out.

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The petition for writ of certiorari  a request asking SCOTUS to review the state supreme courts decision  held that a 2002 jury sentenced Ritchie to death based upon inaccurate information.

The inmates current lawyers said prior counsel was insufficient(ly) prepared and hired only one mental health professional who was forced to admit that any brain damage suffered by Ritchie could not be traced to any source.

Story continues below.

20250507154136734_Cert

Thats contrary to new evidence submitted to the Indiana Supreme Court earlier this year, Ritchies lawyers said.

Included in the most recent post-conviction filings were findings from two Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) experts, who claimed that Ritchie has extensive brain damage resulting in deficits due to a fetal alcohol syndrome.

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One expert, a geneticist, specifically diagnosed Ritchie with Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), meaning his brain damage limits Bens functioning to that similar to a person with intellectual disability.

Ritchie has significant adaptive functioning deficits caused by pFAS that, among other things, inhibit his ability to control impulses, his lawyers wrote in the petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Importantly, unlike an investigation into other mental illnesses and behavioral issues, a diagnosis of FASD can establish both cause and effect of a criminal defendants actions, they continued.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokitas office has repeatedly maintained in legal filings that Ritchie has failed to provide the high court with a good reason to reconsider its decision to set an execution date or to deny him permission to re-litigate his trial counsels performance.

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Ritchie has not explained why the jury would have found this evidence more mitigating had his trial counsel linked those functional deficits to a formal clinical diagnosis  state attorneys wrote. Ultimately, the reports submitted by Ritchie at this late stage do not cover any new ground and they certainly do not help Ritchie meet his burden of proving that there is a reasonable possibility that he is entitled to relief on his successive claims.

State supreme court justices split

Indianas Supreme Court justices agreed that (Ritchie) has brain damage caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol and other toxins. But the court was split, 2-2, on whether he should be allowed to present evidence of the effect of that damage on his behavior on the night of his crime.

Chief Justice Loretta Rush, who disagreed with the decision to deny further post-conviction relief proceedings, said in her April 15 opinion that she believed evidence submitted to the court suggested a strong likelihood that Ritchie suffered from FASD when he murdered Toney, the Beech Grove police officer, in 2000.

Rush said she preferred to hold off on an execution date so the court has more time to receive and consider the FASD experts evaluations.

But Justices Derek Molter and Geoffrey Slaughter said in their opinion that what Ritchies experts turned up is irrelevant. The issue before the court is not whether Ritchie suffered from FASD in 2000 or whether he does so today, they said. Rather, the justices must decide whether Ritchies trial lawyers were constitutionally ineffective during sentencing for failing to investigate the possibility that Ritchie suffered from FASD then.

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The affirming justices, citing federal law, maintained that Ritchie was unable to meet the necessary standards for his petition to be further litigated.

Last week, the states high court justices rejected a follow-up request by Ritchies defense team for a new hearing to reconsider the inmates request for post-conviction relief. The justices additionally denied a request for a stay which would have delayed the execution.

Justice Mark Massa, who served as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County and participated in proceedings related to Ritchies case, has recused himself from the case.

The decisions stymied Ritchies ability to appeal in federal court. His legal team wants the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Indiana justices ruling and allow Ritchie to continue his post-conviction pleas.

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The high courts ruling followed a series of exhausted appeals previously filed by Ritchie and his legal team.

Executions were put on hold for 15 years in Indiana until convicted killer Joseph Corcoran was put to death in December. The state paid $900,000 on execution drugs but wont say how much was purchased.

Ritchie and six other men remain on the states death row at the Indiana State Prison.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) On Friday, the Indiana Democratic Party and local leaders are gathering at the Vigo County Public Library to host a Peoples Town Hall.

According to the news release, this town hall is intended to discuss the real-world impacts of Republicans cuts to Hoosier healthcare, nutrition benefits, and more. This event is in response to GOP Rep. Mark Messmer not holding his own in-person town hall due to the Republican mandate. According to Politico, this mandate was put in place after the backlash of in-person town halls with Republican lawmakers.

Some members in attendance for the panel include State Representative Tonya Pfaff and Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian. The former state representative Dave Crooks will be moderating the town hall.

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Extremists in D.C., including Rep. Messmer, voted to rip away health care coverage and food assistance from Hoosiers in order to fund tax cuts for their wealthy donors. Voters in Indiana are demanding to be heard, said Indiana Democratic Party Spokesperson Sam Barloga. Rep. Messmer has been a cheerleader for Trump and Musks dangerous tariff agenda. He is sitting idly while Hoosier jobs are at risk. Our first Peoples Town Halls in Bloomington, Lafayette, and New Albany showed the anger and frustration Hoosiers are feeling. They want to be heard, and their Republican representatives are hiding from them. If Rep. Messmer refuses to hold a public, in-person town hall and answer to Hoosiers pressing concerns, voters will look to leaders who will.

The event for the voters in Indianas 8th District will be held at the librarys main branch located at 640 Poplar Street. It will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and those who wish to participate can RSVP at this link.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
A view of the death chamber from the witness room at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility shows an electric chair and gurney August 29, 2001 in Lucasville, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Simons/Getty Images)

If the state of Indiana moves forward with the execution of convicted murderer Benjamin Ritchie on May 20 as planned, the Indiana news media  and by extension the public  will have no legal right to witness the proceeding. Our government will impose the ultimate punishment behind a veil of secrecy, with no objective witnesses.

Its time for that to change.

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Indiana is one of 27 states with the death penalty, but one of only two that prohibits professional media witnesses to its executions. Under state law, execution witnesses are limited to a small group of people, including the warden, immediate family members of the victim, no more than five friends or relatives of the convicted person, the prison physician, and the prison chaplain. The Indiana Department of Corrections implementing policy explicitly states that the press shall not be permitted to witness the execution or be in the Execution Chamber.

Late last year, the state of Indiana executed death row inmate Joseph Corcoran, who was convicted of murdering four people in 1997. It marked the first time in 15 years that the state carried out the death penalty.

Members of the news media were barred from witnessing Corcorans death by lethal injection except for one. Indiana Capital Chronicle Senior Reporter Casey Smith witnessed Corcorans execution, but was only able to attend after being specifically invited by Corcoran to take one of the seats that the statute reserves for an inmates friends and relatives. Smiths access to Corcorans execution was an outlier. When the state carries out Ritchies execution later this month, journalists will be prevented from officially observing it.

Earlier this week, attorneys from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Indianas ban on media access to executions on behalf of The Associated Press, the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Gannett, WISH-TV, and TEGNA. Our lawsuit argues that the media ban violates the First Amendment.

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The public relies on journalists to serve as its eyes and ears, and Indianas exclusion of the news media from witnessing executions goes beyond safety or security. Indianas law and policy runs counter to the First Amendment and denies transparency to the public.

When state lawmakers hold hearings to discuss health care, public education, or property tax reform, we expect members of the news media to be there to document the debate and help us understand what it all means. When a mayor announces plans for a new economic development project, we expect reporters to be there to ask questions about how much it will cost and how it will impact the local community.

We should expect the same level of journalistic scrutiny when the government uses taxpayer dollars to carry out one of its gravest responsibilities  capital punishment.

Media witnesses play a crucial role in ensuring that executions are carried out lawfully. Their reporting provides the public with an accounting of execution protocol and proceedings, from start to finish. If the lethal injections go as planned, news reporting from media witnesses can help the public have greater confidence in the process. If things dont go as planned and an inmate suffers a painful death at the hands of the state, journalists should be there to tell us about it.

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The need for media witnesses is arguably more important today, as states increasingly use controversial methods to end the lives of death row inmates, despite mounting concerns that they dont always work  or arent always administered  as intended. Reporting by independent media witnesses has shown that prison officials sometimes have conflicting accounts.

Indianas execution of Corcoran last December was the first in which the state used only a single drug, pentobarbital, rather than a cocktail of drugs as it has done in the past. (I am currently representing Indiana Capital Chronicle in a lawsuit against the Indiana Department of Correction seeking access to the cost of the drug. The lawsuit recently prompted officials to disclose that the state paid $900,000 to acquire the drug, but the government continues to resist disclosing important related information, including how much of the drug was purchased.)

Advocates for and against the death penalty will always debate its merit. But we should all agree that when the government carries out its ultimate punishment in the publics name, it cannot be allowed to do so in secret.

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We recently published a list of 10 AI Stocks Getting Wall Streets Attention Right Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) stands against other AI stocks that are getting Wall Streets attention right now.

Investors in the artificial intelligence trade have been frantic ever since the tariff frenzy started. Particularly on April 2, dubbed Liberation Day by President Donald Trump, the administration announced sweeping tariffs that led to significant market volatility and a sharp downturn in stock indices.

While the President may strive to make the United States the world capital of artificial intelligence, the aggressive trade and tariff moves that have since followed have been threatening the crucial technology and weakening competition with China.

Executives and experts in AI and data center construction have been worried about how trade levies would significantly increase the cost of constructing, equipping, and operating the data centers that will, in turn, power AI development.

READ NEXT: 10 AI Stocks in the News Today and 10 AI Stocks in the Spotlight This Week.

Fast forward to earnings reports from some of the Big Tech, and it can be noted how investors have been worried more than necessary about the AI trade. Meta and Microsoft, in particular, reported strong quarterly results that demonstrated how artificial intelligence progress wont necessarily slow amid economic turmoil.

Few stocks are truly immune to Trump tariffs [and] trade war, but AI is a lot less impacted than investors currently believe. Were early in a very steep growth curve right now, and that goes for AI infrastructure.

What happens next to AI stocks largely depends on whats next for tariffs. If its better than expected, these and other AI stocks may climb and lift valuations. On the other hand, if tariffs seem high, these stocks could fall further.

Nevertheless, strong companies, particularly the likes of Nvidia and Palantir, are likely to win over the longer term due to their smart innovations. According to Wells Fargos Christopher Harvey, it may be time for investors to reenter the trade.

The groups risk/reward today is much more attractive than a year ago. We remain in a durable AI investment super cycle.

For this article, we selected AI stocks by going through news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds. The hedge fund data is as of Q4 2024.
A psychologist takes notes on a clipboard in a therapy session for children. (iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Twenty-one agency leaders, health industry professionals, disability advocates and others will look to contain Medicaid spending on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy  while ensuring continued care for thousands of young, autistic Hoosiers  the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced Friday.

Gov. Mike Braun directed the agency to create the working group in a February executive order. A report featuring three cost-containment recommendations is due by December.

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ABA therapy is commonly used to improve social, communication and learning skills in children and young adults with autism or other developmental disorders. Some critics, however, object to the teaching tool and say it encourages compliance over independence. Additionally, some practitioners coupled it with electroshock therapy as late as 2022.

Indiana Medicaid spending on ABA therapy has risen over time:

2019: $120 million

2020: $102 million

2021: $276 million

2022: $420 million

2023: $639 million

Source: Indiana Capital Chronicle reporting

Nevertheless, its increasingly popular. Families, however, often struggle to access the therapy because of the price, limited insurance coverage and other health care industry stumbling blocks.

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State coffers are also taking a hit.

Indiana Medicaid expenditures for ABA therapy rose from about $14 million in 2017 to $120 million in 2019, according to FSSA, then dipped to $102 million in 2020  still the second-highest in the nation, per U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The cost surge prompted the federal office to audit Indianas 2019 and 2020 ABA payments. The 2024 report found at least $56 million in improper payments  citing problems with documentation, diagnostic evaluations, staff credentials, referrals and more. It recommended that Indiana refund more than $39 million to the federal government.

Soaring totals since then have prompted greater scrutiny from Hoosier leaders worried Medicaid costs are growing too much, too fast. The financial pressure has only worsened.

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A grim April revenue forecast forced lawmakers to cut $2 billion in spending out of the states next two-year, now-$44 billion budget.

Brauns order charged the working group with evaluating cost-containment strategies that minimize the negative impact felt by enrollees and their families.

Gov. Mike Braun delivers remarks while celebrating his first 100 days in office on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

He directed the group to evaluate the best clinical care models to provide the right therapy in the right setting at the right ages. The order sought recommendations for a better coordinated experience for children, but in a financially sustainable manner.

Under the order, group members must also consider potentially implementing quality metrics for ABA services, caps on the number of therapy hours per week, caps on the number of months children can receive the therapy, an appeals process for extenuating circumstances along with new provider enrollment and billing requirements.

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The comprehensive review of ABA therapy in Indiana should identify key drivers of Medicaid expenditures, Fridays news release read.

An evaluation must be completed by September 30. A written report has to include three recommendations for meaningful cost-containment, plus the advantages and disadvantages for each recommendation. Thats due to Braun by November 30.

The working groups members include:

FSSA staff, some of whom lead disability and Medicaid utilization efforts

Health care industry representatives, including a pediatrician, psychiatrist and a health insurance company lobbyist

Autism, other disability and special education organization advocates

State lawmakers

Other parents

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Controversy over ABA cuts ensnarled Brauns predecessor, former Gov. Eric Holcomb. Families rallied repeatedly, urging Holcomb and his FSSA to reconsider.

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BANGKOK (AP)  India's missile and bomb strikes on targets in Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir have spiked tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with Pakistan's leader calling the attacks an act of war.

Claims about the initial attack and the aftermath have differed widely, with neither India nor Pakistan releasing many specific details. Making the ongoing conflict even more confusing, the internet has been "flooded with disinformation, false claims, and manipulated photos and videos, the Soufan Center think tank said.

This information warfare is compounded by both sides commitment to save face, it said.

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With ongoing fighting, it has been impossible to independently verify many of the claims, but some information can be gleaned from official statements and paired with what is known to gain greater insight into the clash:

Chinese aircraft, Russian defenses and rampant disinformation

Pakistan on Saturday said it launched hypersonic missiles from a JF-17 Thunder jet, an aircraft built by China in collaboration with Pakistan, and destroyed a Russian-built S-400 air defense system in India's border Punjab state.

India denied the site was hit, saying it would provide evidence later.

Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the two sides are effectively at war even though they have not yet called it that, and an explosion of disinformation stemming from a lack of official confirmation is causing panic among civilians, particularly among those living in border areas.

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It's become a remorseless race for military one-upmanship, he said.

Pakistan also said Saturday it used its Fatah-II missiles to target an Indian missile storage facility and two airbases, an attack acknowledged by Indian officials who said they targeted Pakistani military bases in retaliation.

It was not clear what damage was caused in either attack, though Pakistan claimed to have intercepted most of the Indian missiles and was, in turn, retaliating for India's retaliatory strike.

Pakistan says it shot down 5 Indian planes involved in initial attack

Hours after India's attack early Wednesday, in retaliation for last month's massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Pakistan's military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif claimed the Pakistan air force had shot down five Indian attack aircraft: three French-made Rafales, a Russian-made SU30MKI and a Russian-made MiG-29.

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Pakistan's air force suffered no casualties, and that all of its aircraft returned safely to base, he said.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeated the claim, saying the Pakistan air force had the opportunity to shoot down 10 Indian planes, but exercised restraint and downed only the five that had fired on Pakistani targets.

He told Parliament that overall 80 Indian planes had been involved in the attack.

India, meantime, has not acknowledged any losses, though debris from three aircraft came down in at least three areas.

Events remain unclear without witness reports or video

India has all three types of jets among its more-than 700 combat capable fighter aircraft, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance report.

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All three aircraft are fighters with the capability of carrying bombs or missiles for ground attacks.

Pakistan and India have both said their planes did not leave their home airspace, suggesting that if Pakistan's account is accurate, rather than a dogfight in the skies over Kashmir, Pakistani pilots fired multiple air-to-air missiles over a long distance to take down Indian planes.

Presuming India fired back, even though Pakistan said none of its planes were hit, the aerial skirmish would have been quite the show. But there have been no eyewitness reports or video to emerge on social media.

What is known for sure is that Indian planes were in the air and attacked at least nine targets and debris from three has been found.

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It's also plausible Pakistan used surface to air missiles to hit Indian planes, which the war in Ukraine has shown to be very effective and would not have meant risking any of its own planes.

Pakistan has a wide range of such missiles, primarily Chinese-made.

Events put Chinese tech to the test

Pakistan's air force includes U.S.-made F-16s, the French Mirage and the new Chinese-built J-10C, as well as the JF-17.

In addition to American air-to-air missiles, Pakistan also has several Chinese products in its arsenal, including the PL-12 and PL-15, both of which can be used to fire at targets beyond visual range.

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Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told lawmakers it was the J-10C that shot down the Indian aircraft, raising the likelihood that Chinese-built missiles were also employed.

It's interesting that Pakistan is saying it is using Chinese jets that it has imported from China to shoot down Indian aircraft, said Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific security program at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.

In 2019, during the rivals' previous military confrontation, it was a Pakistani F-16 provided by the United States that was used to shoot down an Indian aircraft, Curtis said in a conference call. Its interesting to see that Pakistan is relying more on its Chinese equipment than it did six years ago.

The news convinced traders with shares in AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, which builds both the J-10C and J-17, to post large gains Wednesday and Thursday on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

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The stock of Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale jet, which is among those Pakistan claims to have shot down, dropped sharply on Wednesday on the Paris Stock Exchange, though it had recovered by close on Thursday.

Pieces of information issued by each country

India hasn't talked about what assets were involved in the attacks. The Indian Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted at least nine sites where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.

India showed video of eight of the strikes at a briefing on Wednesday, four in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and four in Pakistan.

Pakistan has said 31 civilians were killed, including women and children, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the countrys Punjab province, and that buildings hit included two mosques.

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Both sides have talked about missile strikes, but it was clear from the video that bombs also were dropped on some targets, possibly from drones. In addition to claiming the five Indian aircraft shot down, Pakistan also said it downed an unspecified number of drones on Wednesday.

Indian officials said the strikes were precision attacks, and from the videos shown it appeared specific areas of installations were targeted with individual missiles or bombs, rather than widespread areas.

___

Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Aijaz Hussain and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
Graham Lee Brewer

Associated Press

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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).

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.
Sandra Hale Schulman

Special to ICT

The latest: Native film free streaming, classic song revamped, Rising Buffalo photos

FILM: FNX launches with a gala

First Nations Experience (FNX) is the first and only national broadcaster dedicated to Native American and Indigenous content. It hosted a red carpet gala and concert to celebrate the official launch of the Indigenous-led streaming platform at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on May 1. The event featured Native actors, performers and creators who are reshaping media representation and accessibility across the U.S.

Cahuilla artist Gerald Clarke (left) and Sioux Chef Sean Sherman at the FNX Gala on May 1, 2025, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (Photo Sandra Hale Schulman)

Gala guests included Chef Sean Sherman (The Sioux Chef, James Beard Award winner) who dished out some Indigenous cuisine; FNX leadership, tribal leaders, Native actors Jessica Matten and Eugene BraveRock from Dark Winds, Ruth Ann-Thorn, host and producer of This Is Indian Country, and Cahuilla art star Gerald Clarke.

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Performers included The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red) with dual DJs onstage against a backdrop of a free form video with lucha libre wrestlers and cartoon animation. JR Redwater, a Native stand-up comedian, told some raunchy jokes; ShanDien Sonwai LaRance  Cirque du Soleil hoop dance artist, and Electric Turquoise Dance Troupe.

Backed by the Yuhaaviatam (pronounced "Yu-HAH-vee-ah-tahm") of San Manuel Nation, FNX is the only national Native and Indigenous television network in the U.S. operating through the PBS system. FNX features documentaries, films, news and music celebrating Native cultures around the world.

Miccosukee filmmaker Montana Cypress has a feature short film he directed, Lumbeeland, on the network.

What is awesome about having a streaming app now, because its the only place to see some great films from other Native filmmakers, Cypress told ICT. Now we'll have a place to put up that work on the streaming app where it's available to everyone, not just live on the festival circuit and for free. The films will have life after the festival to have more eyes on them so that people can see these works from all areas that are unique and cool. I have Lumbeeland up there now, and we're in talks to put up the gator wrestling film I made.

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Cypress showed a sneak peek of a comedic film he is making about the casting of the Indian for the pollution awareness commercial in the 1970s that became known as the Crying Indian. Its fiction, but clever, and gives a new backstory to the controversial commercial.

MUSIC: Keith Secola cruises onto Dark Winds

Crossing genres and borders, the celebrated Native American Music Hall of Fame inductee Keith Secola, Anishinaabe, has his hit song NDN Kars featured in a pivotal scene in the finale of Dark Winds Season 3. He recorded a new version of his hit song "NDN Car" thats looser and more acoustic for the series that keeps its drum- and chant-driven spirit. Overall, the song has been streamed hundreds of thousands of times online.

Now Toronto-based Ishkode Records, a label committed to uplifting Indigenous voices across Turtle Island, has signed Secola to its roster. Secola is the labels first signed artist based outside of Canada. It signals a meaningful step in uniting Indigenous musicians across borders and generations.

A seven-time Native American Music Award winner, Secola blends rock, folk and blues and traditional Indigenous instruments and storytelling. NDN Car is his most famous work next to the sing-a-long classic Frybread.

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Keith Secola is a masterful storyteller whose songs carry truth, humor, resistance, and pride.  His voice is timeless and unmistakably authentic, a force celebrated and uplifted across generations. We are deeply honored to welcome Keith to the Ishkode Records family, the label said in a statement.

Secola says NDN Car is about the richness of being poor. Even with disparity and hardship, survivors can restore our identity through artistic expression which is forever resistant. We can transcend oppression by affirming our cultural pride and rebel against oppression which causes our fragmentation.

Keith Secola "NDN Kars" in "Dark Winds." (Photo courtesy of Ishkode Records)

NDN Car is the most requested song on tribal radio stations, and it has been heard in the soundtrack of Dance Me Outside, and a 2020 remix by The Halluci Nation. The use in Dark Winds reinforces the songs enduring humorous relevance as identity, sovereignty and resistance.

ART: Can't keep a good buffalo down

Bridging performance and self-portrait, the exhibition Zig Jackson: The Journey of Rising Buffalo shows the everyday experience of Native American life and culture, with one photographers focus on community, sovereignty and respect for the land. The exhibition opens at the George Eastman Museum May 10 through Nov. 9.

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Zig Jackson, known as Rising Buffalo, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, is the first Native American photographer to receive a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography. Raised on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, Jackson was taken from his home when he was eight and placed in St. Josephs Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D.

He survived and later graduated from Intermountain Indian School in Utah, where he discovered his passion for photography and the universal issues facing Native Americans. Jackson is now a professor emeritus at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.



The George Eastman Museum is proud to host Zig Jacksons first solo exhibition to be held on the East Coast, said Jamie M. Allen, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Curator in the Department of Photography, who co-curated the exhibition along with Curatorial Associate Louis Chavez. We are excited for visitors to learn about Jacksons work and how his photographs have contributed to discourses about Native American history and visual representation.

"Indian Man on Bus," 1994, from Indian Man in San Francisco. Inkjet print. (Loan courtesy the artist,  2025 Zig Jackson _ Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)

Jackson uses memories and reflections, documenting public and private life on the reservations. His images, mostly in black and white, contemplate family structures, substance abuse, veterans issues, homelessness and connection to natural resources. His images are simultaneously playful and somber, such as in his best-known work Indian on the Bus in which he dons a headdress and casually sits with the other plain clothed people on their commutes.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Fashion designers from across North America are bringing together inspiration from their Indigenous heritage, culture and everyday lives to three days of runway modeling that started Friday in a leading creative hub and marketplace for Indigenous art.

A fashion show affiliated with the century-old Santa Fe Indian Market is collaborating this year with a counterpart from Vancouver, Canada, in a spirit of Indigenous solidarity and artistic freedom. A second, independent runway show at a rail yard district in the city has nearly doubled the bustle of models, makeup and final fittings.

Elements of Friday's collections from six Native designers ran the gamut from silk parasols to a quilted hoodie, knee-high fur boots and suede leather earrings that dangled to the waste. Models on the Santa Fe catwalks include professionals, dancers and Indigenous celebrities from TV and the political sphere.

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Clothing and accessories rely on materials ranging from of wool trade cloth to animal hides, featuring traditional beadwork, ribbons and jewelry with some contemporary twists that include digitally rendered designs and urban Native American streetwear from Phoenix.

Native fashion, its telling a story about our understanding of who we are individually and then within our communities, said Taos Pueblo fashion designer Patricia Michaels, of Project Runway reality TV fame. Youre getting designers from North America that are here to express a lot of what inspires them from their own heritage and culture.

Santa Fe style

The stand-alone spring fashion week for Indigenous design is a recent outgrowth of haute couture at the summer Santa Fe Indian Market, where teeming crowds flock to outdoor displays by individual sculptors, potters, jewelers and painters.

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Designer Sage Mountainflower remembers playing in the streets at Indian Market as a child in the 1980s while her artist parents sold paintings and beadwork. She forged a different career in environmental administration, but the world of high fashion called to her as she sewed tribal regalia for her children at home and, eventually, brought international recognition.

At age 50, Mountainflower on Friday presented her Taandi collection  the Tewa word for Spring  grounded in satin and chiffon fabric that includes embroidery patterns that invoke her personal and family heritage at the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in the Upper Rio Grande Valley.

I pay attention to trends, but a lot of its just what I like, said Mountainflower, who also traces her heritage to Taos Pueblo and the Navajo Nation. This year its actually just looking at springtime and how its evolving.  Its going to be a colorful collection."

More than 20 designers are presenting at the invitation of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.

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Fashion plays a prominent part in Santa Fe's renowned arts ecosystem, with Native American vendors each day selling jewelry in the central plaza, while the Institute for American Indian Arts delivers fashion-related college degrees in May.

This week, a gala at the New Mexico governors mansion welcomed fashion designers to town, along with social mixers at local galleries and bookstores and plans for pop-up fashion stores to sell clothes fresh off the fashion runway.

International vision

A full-scale collaboration with Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week is bringing a northern, First Nations flair to the gathering this year with many designers crossing into the U.S. from Canada.

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Secwepemc artist and fashion designer Randi Nelson traveled to Santa Fe from the city of Whitehorse in the Canadian Yukon to present collections forged from fur and traditionally cured hides  she uses primarily elk and caribou. The leather is tanned by hand without chemicals using inherited techniques and tools.

Were all so different, said Nelson, a member of the Bonaparte/Stuxwtews First Nation who started her career in jewelry assembled from quills, shells and beads. Theres not one pan-Indigenous theme or pan-Indigenous look. Were all taking from our individual nations, our individual teachings, the things from our family, but then also recreating them in a new and modern way.

April Allen, an Inuk designer from the Nunatsiavut community on the Labrador coast of Canada, presented a mesh dress of blue water droplets. Her work delves into themes of nature and social advocacy for access to clean drinking water.

Vocal music accompanied the collection  layers of wordless, primal sound from musician and runway model Beatrice Deer, who is Inuit and Mohawk.

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Urban Indian couture

Phoenix-based jeweler and designer Jeremy Donavan Arviso said the runway shows in Santa Fe are attempting to break out of the strictly Southwest fashion mold and become a global venue for Native design and collaboration. A panel discussion Thursday dwelled on the threat of new tariffs and prices for fashion supplies  and tensions between disposable fast fashion and Indigenous ideals.

Arviso is bringing a street-smart aesthetic to two shows at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts runway and a warehouse venue organized by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, from the Siksika Nation.

My work is definitely contemporary, I dont choose a whole lot of ceremonial or ancestral practices in my work, said Arviso, who is Dine, Hopi, Akimel Oodham and Tohono Oodham, and grew up in Phoenix. I didnt grow up like that.  I grew up on the streets.

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Arviso said his approach to fashion resembles music sampling by early rap musicians as he draws on themes from major fashion brands and elements of his own tribal cultures. He invited Toronto-based ballet dancer Madison Noon for a beautiful and biting performance to introduce his collection titled Vision Quest.

Santa Fe runway models will include former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland of Laguna Pueblo, adorned with clothing from Michaels and jewelry by Zuni Pueblo silversmith Veronica Poblano.
(Reuters) -Infant hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in the United States dropped as much as 43% last year compared to previous years, following the widespread availability of preventative shots, federal data showed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a report on Thursday said that hospitalizations related to RSV decreased by 28% and 43% across two large national databases, compared to pooled rates from 2018-2020.

Years from 2020 to 2023 were excluded from the study because the COVID-19 pandemic led to unusual RSV seasonality and circulation, the study authors said.

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WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The 2024-2025 season marked the first period of widespread availability of preventive shots against RSV, a virus that often results in cold-like symptoms but is a major cause of severe infection and death in infants and older adults.

Separately, CDC data showed a drop in the infant mortality rate in 2024, compared to the previous year.

Pfizer's maternal vaccine, sold as Abrysvo, and Sanofi and AstraZeneca's antibody shot, Beyfortus, are available in the United States to prevent RSV infection in infants.

BY THE NUMBERS

The largest estimated reductions in hospitalization rates occurred among infants aged up to 2 months, the CDC said.

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The infant mortality rate in the United States, defined as the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births, dropped to 5.49 in 2024, down from 5.63 a year earlier, CDC data showed.

CONTEXT

The data suggest that the most severe RSV disease among infants up to seven months old is preventable, the CDC said, adding that it is important to protect infants, ideally within their first week of life, especially those born during the RSV season.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
By Antoni Slodkowski and Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) - Since U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on China last month, Beijing has responded in kind. On state and social media, it posted images of Mao Zedong, lambasted "imperialists," and sent a message: capitulation to bullies is dangerous, and it wouldn't back down.

But behind closed doors, Chinese officials have grown increasingly alarmed about tariffs' impact on the economy and the risk of isolation as China's trading partners have started negotiating deals with Washington, according to three officials familiar with Beijing's thinking.

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These factors, along with outreach by the U.S. and an easing of Trump's rhetoric, persuaded Beijing to send its economic tsar He Lifeng for meetings with U.S. counterparts in Switzerland this weekend, the officials told Reuters.

Re-engagement was complicated by the fractious nature of U.S.-China diplomacy. In particular, Beijing considered a letter the U.S. side sent to Chinese ministries in late April about fentanyl "arrogant," two officials said. Efforts to arrange talks were further impaired by disagreements over which officials should be involved, said one of these people and another official.

China's reasons for deciding to negotiate, Washington's letter on fentanyl, U.S. diplomatic challenges in Beijing, and the early outreach between the two sides are reported by Reuters for the first time, based on interviews with nearly a dozen government officials and experts on both sides. Most of the people were granted anonymity to discuss non-public information.

China's foreign ministry said in a statement to Reuters that it reiterated that "China's firm opposition to the U.S. abuse of tariffs is consistent and clear, and there is no change."

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"The U.S. has ignored China's goodwill and unreasonably imposed tariffs on China under the pretext of fentanyl. This is a typical act of bullying, which seriously undermines dialogue and cooperation between the two sides in the field of drug control."

China's State Council and ministry of commerce, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In response to Reuters' questions about the lead-up to the Geneva talks, the U.S. State Department said it and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing "continue to regularly engage Chinese counterparts to advance the interests of the American people."

China's Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying said on Friday that China has full confidence in its ability to manage U.S. trade issues, adding that the Trump administration's approach cannot be sustained.

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The trade war between the world's two largest economies, combined with Trump's decision last month to impose duties on dozens of other countries, has disrupted supply chains, unsettled financial markets and stoked fears of a sharp downturn in global growth.

Chinese export restrictions, meanwhile, have squeezed the supply of critical minerals the U.S. needs for weapons, electronics and consumer goods. Trump's approval ratings are falling due to his handling of tariffs and the economy.

The volatile run-up to the Geneva talks underscores the deep mistrust and divergent negotiating styles between the Trump team and China, which could make for protracted and fraught discussions.

"Both sides I think are balancing trying to look tough with not wanting to be responsible for sinking the global economy," said Scott Kennedy, an expert in Chinese business affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

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"The Chinese set a high bar for these talks, but it became increasingly clear that the Trump administration wanted to talk, and they couldn't say no forever. So, they've accepted what are probably best seen as pre-negotiations in Geneva."

FROM MINISTER TO TSAR

After Trump's tariff salvo last month, China took a hard line in its public messaging. Beijing posted footage on its official social media feeds of a Chinese MiG-15 fighter shooting down a U.S. jet in the Korean War, with commentary: "China won't kneel down, because we know standing up for ourselves keeps the possibility of cooperation alive, while compromise snuffs it out."

The tone began to shift on April 30, when a state media-affiliated blog said the U.S. had "proactively reached out to China through multiple channels, hoping to discuss tariffs."

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CSIS's Kennedy said contacts between Chinese agencies, Beijing's embassy in Washington and the Trump administration had been increasing in frequency in recent weeks. Some in-person interactions took place at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in late April, including with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, which paved the way for the Swiss meeting, said Kennedy.

After Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao quietly reached out to his U.S. counterpart, Howard Lutnick, but was rebuffed as not senior enough, according to one official familiar with the exchanges.

Trump has been pushing for direct talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But China has rejected that idea as not in keeping with its traditional approach of working out the details first before the leaders sign any deal, according to public statements by both sides.

Another significant factor for China was Trump's public berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in February, said one of the sources, adding that any unscripted hostile interaction between the U.S. and Chinese leaders would represent an unacceptable loss of face for Xi.

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As messaging on both sides grew more conciliatory, China decided to put forward its vice premier and Xi confidant He Lifeng, whose direct predecessor struck the "Phase One" trade deal with the U.S. in 2019.

The move satisfied Washington's demands for substantive talks with a senior official with direct access to Xi, but avoided exposing the Chinese leader to potential embarrassment, said one of the sources.

As for the choice of venue, the Swiss foreign ministry said that "during its recent contacts in Washington and Beijing, Switzerland expressed to the U.S. and Chinese authorities its willingness to organize a meeting between the two parties in Geneva."

ECONOMIC PAIN

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Among the main drivers of Beijing's climb-down were internal signals that Chinese companies were struggling to avoid bankruptcies and to replace the U.S. market, three people familiar with the Chinese government's thinking said.

Some areas feeling immediate impact were furniture and toy makers, as well as textiles, said one of the officials.

U.S. diplomats in China have also been closely monitoring factory closures, strikes, and job losses in the industrial heartland in southern China.

Many analysts have downgraded their 2025 economic growth forecasts for China, and investment bank Nomura has warned the trade war could cost it up to 16 million jobs. China's central bank this week announced fresh monetary stimulus.

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One of the officials said Chinese companies were struggling to replace the U.S. market because developing nations cannot buy as many items, and that for many firms this was an existential threat that needed to be resolved in days or weeks.

In addition, Beijing was worried it was left without a place at the negotiating table while its major trading partners, such as Vietnam, India and Japan, began talks with Washington, said two officials familiar with Beijing's thinking.

In a warning to the countries negotiating with the U.S., China's commerce ministry said in a statement this week that "appeasement cannot bring peace, compromise cannot be respected, and adhering to principled positions and upholding fairness and justice is the right way to safeguard one's own interests."

As part of the push to counter the U.S., China is sending its Premier Li Qiang to Malaysia in late May for a summit with a newly established group of Southeast Asian and Arab nations, two sources told Reuters.

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A regional diplomat based in Beijing told Reuters China's message to Southeast Asia was "We will buy stuff from you."

In Geneva, Beijing appears to have modest expectations.

Internally, China has downgraded the talks from a higher level to merely a meeting, reflecting its view that the discussions will be mostly about finding out Washington's demands and red lines after weeks of contradictory messages by Trump and other senior U.S. officials, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Still, one official said China could draw on its extensive toolbox and follow Asian neighbors in offering to buy more American liquefied natural gas.

On the table may also be purchases of agricultural goods, similar to the 2019 "Phase One" deal during Trump's first term. At the time, Beijing said it would increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products by $32 billion over two years.

While other matters like the U.S.'s axing of the "de minimis" exemption for packages under $800 from China and the sale of TikTok are also likely to play a part in the broader talks, Chinese officials said they do not expect them to play a central role this weekend.

FENTANYL AND TURMOIL

Even before triggering the broader trade war, Trump imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese goods, saying Beijing wasn't doing enough to counter the flow of chemicals used to produce the deadly drug fentanyl.

One of the moves that complicated the rapprochement, according to two officials, was a letter sent by the U.S. to China in late April that outlined the steps Trump wanted Beijing to take on fentanyl.

The document, reviewed by Reuters, caused friction with Beijing because it referenced a congressional report that asserted China, through value-added tax rebates for exporters, directly subsidizes production of fentanyl precursors for sale abroad. China denies it does so.

The letter, sent to the ministries of foreign affairs, commerce, and public security, called on Beijing to publicize the crackdown on fentanyl precursors on the front page of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily; send a similar message through "internal party channels" to party members; tighten regulation of some specified chemicals; and deepen law-enforcement cooperation.

Two officials familiar with China's reaction said it found especially the first two points "arrogant" because Beijing saw it as the U.S. dictating what China should do within its ruling apparatus.

One said fentanyl would feature in the Geneva talks and that the U.S. government's opening position would be to present the four points to China.

A U.S. official familiar with the letter said the Trump administration simply wanted China to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors to drug cartels.

Complicating the negotiations, Trump's Washington team has frozen out many U.S. embassy officials responsible for earlier contacts with Chinese counterparts, two people familiar with the matter said.

Trump's new ambassador to China, David Perdue, is slated to arrive in Beijing next week, but Deputy Chief of Mission Sarah Beran, who served as a senior official on China in the Biden administration's National Security Council, was removed from her post this week, the two officials said.

The turmoil has resulted in lack of internal consultations on demands put forward by the American side, the officials said. An official familiar with Chinese thinking said there had been minimal contact with the U.S. embassy ahead of the Geneva talks.

A State Department official told Reuters in response to questions that Beran's "upcoming departure from Beijing is a routine personnel change, and does not reflect the current state of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship."

(Additional reporting by Kevin Krolicki and the Beijing newsroom; David Lawder, Michael Martina and Andrea Shalal in Washington; and John Revill in Zurich; editing by David Crawshaw)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings will get a settlement from the city council. But the vote to authorize it was anything but clear-cut.

As Channel 9 reported, the April 28 vote to approve the settlement was 5-2. Despite a majority being in favor, the vote to settle failed because it takes 6 votes for the Charlotte City Council to pass something.

ALSO READ: 9 Investigates: Charlotte City Council votes to not settle potential lawsuit from CMPD chief

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But before the vote was taken, earlier that night, a Charlotte City Councilmember left the meeting without being excused by a majority of councilmembers.

The city attorney spent the week researching whether the 5-2 vote should be 6-2.

According to Charlotte City Councils rules of procedure, that councilmembers vote was counted as a settle vote.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Charlotte City Council settles with Chief Johnny Jennings

A failure to vote by a member who is physically present in the Council chamber, or who has withdrawn without being excused by a majority vote of the remaining members present, shall be recorded as an affirmative vote, Charlotte City Councils Rules of Procedure state.

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When Charlotte City Councilmembers met in closed session on May 5, they were told the vote to settle actually passed, with the absent members vote being the decider.

A spokesperson for the city of Charlotte says a vote is official at the time it was taken. So, despite Charlotte City Council members not finding out until May 5 that the settlement vote passed, it was already official.

That determination that the vote was already official played a key role in this next part.

Sources say a Charlotte City Councilmember tried to change their vote on May 5, but the attempt was rejected.

A spokesperson for the city of Charlotte says, per the councils rules of procedure, a motion to reconsider must be made by a member who voted with the prevailing side, and only at the meeting during which the original vote was taken.

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This has happened before.

In 2021, on a council retreat, Charlotte City Councilmembers were debating whether to send the transit plan to the intergovernmental committee. Charlotte City Council voted to do so and was able to because former Councilman Matt Newtons parking expired, and when he went to renew his parking, he noticed he forgot his wallet and had to go grab it and go back to the meter. When Councilman Newton returned, he made a motion to revisit the vote. The council decided not to send the transit plan to the committee.

It also happened in 2022 when the Charlotte City Council was debating an apartment complex in NoDa. Councilmember Victoria Watlington voted with the majority to send the apartment complex back to the zoning committee. At the request of former Councilman Larken Egleston, Councilmember Watlington made a motion to reconsider her vote later in the meeting. The project then passed.

But despite the council not finding out the settlement passed until May 5, by the citys logic, the vote was effective at the prior meeting, April 28. A vote can be visited during a different meeting, but it is much harder to do so.

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A spokesperson for the city of Charlotte says in order for that to happen, the council must suspend its rules, which require a 2/3rds majority.

Votes to suspend the rules are rare but have happened before.

Last April, the Charlotte City Council voted to suspend the rules when people mistakenly signed up to speak at a public hearing about the wrong topic.

But on May 5, there was no appetite to suspend the rules for something much more controversial.

VIDEO: Controversial text messages at the heart of CMPD chief settlement
May 8City Councilor Dan Lewis has once again called for a federal investigation into Albuquerque's use of COVID-19 relief funds.

The request is nearly the same as one Lewis made in January. But this time, the recipient is different. Lewis asked recently appointed U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison to investigate the city five months after the city's Office of Inspector General found that some $300,000 in federal COVID-19 relief money was used for bonuses, something the mayor's office has disputed.

Lewis said he renewed his call since the office had new leadership. Alexander Uballez, the former U.S. Attorney now running for mayor, stepped down after Donald Trump's election. The president then appointed Ellison, a former assistant U.S. attorney for New Mexico in Las Cruces, to lead the office.

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"It's very clear that our Inspector General found some very problematic conclusions from her investigations," Lewis said. "Because these are federal funds, and because the U.S. attorney would normally investigate things like this, I think it's appropriate for them to take a look at it."

Mayor Tim Keller's administration has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the Inspector General as "little more than an opinion writer."

"This Inspector General lost credibility long ago. Her own oversight board  made up of legal and accounting experts  has repeatedly flagged her for misrepresentation, lack of peer review, audit violations, and clear bias. At this point, she is little more than an opinion writer who has dragged her office into the depths of rumor and factless interpretation," Dan Mayfield, spokesperson for the city, told the Journal in an emailed statement.

When reached by phone, Inspector General Melissa Santistevan said her office would not respond to the comments from the mayor's office.

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The money in question was a portion of the federal funds Albuquerque received from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA. ARPA was a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill meant to accelerate the country's recovery from the pandemic and subsequent recession.

Specifically, the OIG raised concerns about child care stabilization grants, which provided financial assistance to child care providers to alleviate unforeseen expenses related to the pandemic and stabilize their operations.

The OIG's report was completed in October. It concluded that the city's Family and Community Services Department issued $280,000 worth of bonuses to 27 employees between 2021 and 2023. The report found at least 10 recipients, including top managers, received nearly $20,000 each.

However, the same report was not approved by the OIG oversight committee, which had appointees from the mayor and City Council. The Accountability in Government Oversight Committee said the OIG "lacked sufficient jurisdiction under the city's Inspector General ordinance to investigate one or more of the allegations" but did not explicitly recommend disciplinary action.

A U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson confirmed that they had received Lewis' complaint. However, they said the office could not confirm whether they had launched an investigation.
We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Absolutely Nailed These 11 Stock Predictions. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discussed.

During a recent episode of Mad Money, which aired on Friday the 2nd of May, Jim Cramer discussed some macro-based data that affected the stock market over the past week:

When you get a strong employment report like we did this morning, it does a lot of things that you need to know about. First, it takes a near-term recession kind of off the table. Very difficult to have recession with a 4.2% unemployment rate. Thats just too much demand for workers.

READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Says Big Tech Is Back and Deep Dives Into These 8 Stocks And Did Jim Cramer Hit or Miss On These 13 Stock Predictions?

He warned his viewers to not get excited about the recent rally but admitted that the recent earnings reports were encouraging:

So keep in mind that todays rally may not be one off as we go through our game plan for next week. But first, let me just say were over the hump. Weve now had companies that reported fabulous numbers.

His last cautious warning was to look out for any possible geopolitical escalations between the U.S. and China:

Heres the bottom line: We know that were living through a time of great tumult. We could easily be thrown off if President Trump responds harshly to this Chinese olive branch this very weekend. If that happens, there could be some unwinding to do. Right now, though, it looks like the momentum can keep up as long as we dont get a total breakdown in the nascent trade talks between the worlds two biggest nations.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 11 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during Mad Money episodes that aired on the 5th and 6th of May, 2024. We then calculated their performance for the past 12 months, until May 6th, 2025, market close. We have also included the hedge fund sentiment for the stocks, which we sourced from Insider Monkeys Q4 2024 database of over 900 hedge funds. The stocks are listed in the order that Cramer mentioned them.

Please note that this article mentions Jim Cramers previous opinions and may not account for any changes to his opinions regarding the stocks that are mentioned. It is primarily an examination of how his previously provided opinions have panned out.

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).
John Fettermans popularity is sinking among Democratic voters in his backyard, according to an internal poll obtained by POLITICO  one of the first major indications that the Pennsylvania senator is taking a hit with the very voters who elected him.

The poll is likely to take on new relevance as Democrats in Pennsylvania increasingly talk behind the scenes about the prospect of a primary challenge against Fetterman in 2028.

Fetterman, who lives just outside Pittsburgh, is underwater with likely Democratic voters in the city. Forty-nine percent said they have an unfavorable impression of him, while 46 percent said they have a favorable impression, according to the survey. By way of comparison, the poll showed 82 percent view Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro favorably, versus 13 percent unfavorably.

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The poll, completed by a Democratic firm surveying the upcoming mayoral primary election in Pittsburgh, was conducted before New York magazine published an article reporting that staff are concerned about Fettermans mental and physical health.

It is a single poll, and runs counter to recent public surveys. Still, it has shocked some Democrats in the state.

In Pittsburgh, this is a break-glass, freak-out moment for Fetterman, said a Pittsburgh-based Democratic strategist who was granted anonymity to speak frankly.

The results suggest a real vulnerability for Fetterman, who has made his personal ties to the region a key part of his political brand. During his 2022 Senate campaign, his team gave supporters yellow, Fetterman-branded towels modeled after the Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towel. Fetterman frequently uses the term yinzer, slang for a Pittsburgh native, and talks up his love of the convenience store Sheetz.

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In the 2022 Senate primary, Fetterman overwhelmingly won Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, by 25 percentage points, outpacing his rivals then-Rep. Conor Lamb and state lawmaker Malcolm Kenyatta.

The poll of 500 likely Democratic primary voters in Pittsburgh was conducted from Feb. 6 to Feb. 11, through a mix of phone calls and text-to-online responses.

The surveys results are a marked contrast from public polling that has shown Democratic voters in Pennsylvania sticking by Fetterman even as many on the left criticize him over his positions on Israel and meeting with President Donald Trump.

Recent Morning Consult surveys have found Fettermans popularity rising in Pennsylvania, the result of him improving his numbers among Republican voters while keeping steady support with Democratic ones. Polls of adults across the country have painted a different picture, with him sliding among national Democrats and independents while performing better among Republicans.

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Some Democratic strategists in Pennsylvania have said that Fettermans shifting approach to Trump could weaken the senator among Democratic voters more than his hardline stance on Israel. Fetterman has voted to confirm a number of Trumps top officials , including Attorney General Pam Bondi. He said in January that he was meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago because he will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation.



The internal survey found that Fettermans standing among progressives in Pittsburgh is in particular bottoming out. Seventy-four percent of self-identified progressive Democrats in the city gave him an unfavorable ranking, while only 22 percent gave him favorable marks. His approval rating was 52 percent favorable to 47 percent unfavorable among liberal Democrats and 65 percent favorable to 27 percent unfavorable among moderate and conservative Democrats.
The Clean Energy Transition Partnership has helped many countries stem the flow of money to polluting oil and gas projects, according to Oil Change International.

The partnership was formed by 39 governments and institutions at the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference. The signatories committed to stopping public funds from going to fossil fuel projects. Oil Change International dug into the progress of those members toward that goal.

America pulled out of CETP along with the Paris Agreement in President Donald Trump's first term, though it is still on the hook with a similar G7 commitment. Oil Change International found that the European Union, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan were still spending billions of dollars in public funds on fossil fuel projects.

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That said, Norway, Australia, Spain, and Sweden have all shown progress on cutting ties. Eleven of the 17 high-income members have existing or new policies that make contributions to the cause. The study showed public funding of fossil fuels has dropped by two-thirds since before the agreement, which works out to $15 billion less each year. Should signatories and the G7 meet their goals, $30.2 billion per year could be siphoned from fossil fuels and put toward renewables.

The agreement also encourages investment in renewable energy, but efforts are stuttering. The report said $21.3 billion had gone from the member organizations into clean energy in 2023. This is compared to $26 billion in 2022 and an average of $18.4 billion annually between 2019 and 2021, prior to the CETP.

Reducing oil, gas, and coal production is vital to slowing their use and hastening their replacement with sustainable alternatives, which include solar, wind, and hydro. Fossil fuel usage generates the lion's share of pollution, which is exacerbating destructive weather events and heating the world's oceans.

Despite political headwinds in the United States, there's reason to be optimistic.

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"The CETP initiative has been successful in bringing down fossil fuel finance, and it will make even more progress with or without the Trump administration," said Oil Change International strategist Adam McGibbon, per Sustainable Views.

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.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The FBI calls it Traveling Conman Fraud. Criminal organizations with ties to Ireland and the United Kingdom are preying on American homeowners, and it may be happening right here on Southern New England.

Irish journalist Eamon Dillon has been covering this type of crime for more than 20 years. He sat down with Target 12 consumer investigator Sarah Guernelli to explain what the scheme entails.

How to avoid falling victim to contractor fraud

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Watch the full interview in the video above.

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Harvested corn is piled near Lake City in western Iowa. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Bills updating the grain indemnity program and allowing the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship clean titles on livestock they take over, advanced Thursday from the Iowa House.

Lawmakers appear to have resolved differing opinions on grain indemnity limits and including credit-sales, which has been a roadblock for similar bills in the past, though the Senate will have to give final approval to the amended bill.

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Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt, who managed the bill, said there were a lot of opinions on the policy, which left him feeling caught between a rock and hard spot.

I believe, at the end of the day, we have a better product because of that cooperation between everybody, Mommsen said.

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Although the House accepted some of the Senates version of the bill, Mommsen proposed an amendment to Senate File 608.

Mommsen explained grain indemnity as being like FDIC insurance on a savings account. Since the 1980s, when it was created, the grain indemnity fund has helped farmers get paid for sold grain when their buyers go broke.

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Farmers pay a per bushel fee into the grain indemnity fund when the fund is below its lower boundary, and they stop paying once it reaches the upper boundary. The fund stayed above the minimum for nearly 30 years until 2023, when the bankruptcy of a soybean dealer triggered more than $3 million in indemnity claims from affected farmers and depleted the funds.

Mommsen said the goal was to upgrade the rules around the fund to better respond to todays market conditions.

One such upgrade included increasing the funds minimum from $3 million to $8 million, and the maximum from $8 million to $16 million to reflect the changes. These figures reflected the original version of the House bill, but were an increase from the $5 million and $12 million figures in the version that passed the Senate.

Cash-sale contracts would be reimbursed at 90% under the bill, which is consistent with current law. The bill updates the fund to include some credit-sale contracts and Mommsens amendment provided definitions for two different types of credit sales.

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Per the amendment, a deferred-payment contract means the dealer and seller agreed on a price for grain but the payment will take place more than 30 days from the date of delivery. These contracts are not eligible for indemnity claims.

A deferred-pricing contract means the grain was delivered without an agreed-upon price. Farmers with these contracts can claim indemnity for 75% or up to $400,000 of their losses.

Earlier versions of the bill in the House only covered 70% of these types of sales, and the version of the bill that passed the Senate did not differentiate between the different types of credit sales.

Mommsen said it was important to differentiate because deferred payments are like an unsecured loan.

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Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, said it felt pretty impactful to have a bill in the House updating a fund that rose out of the farm crisis of the 1980s.

When we do have an agricultural recession were dealing with, when were dealing with tariffs that are causing uncertainty, farmers need to make sure they have the protection they (need), Scholten said. This may not be the perfect bill, but this is a good enough bill.

IDALS announced in April the fund would stop collecting the fees in September since the current grain indemnity fund balance sits above $10 million, after collecting the fees since Sept. 2023.

Mommsen said because the current balance is within the boundaries set by the bill, there would be no need to reinstitute assessment fees for the fund if the bill becomes law.

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The amended bill passed 81-3.

IDALS policy bill

The House sent Senate File 632, which updated regulations for the department of agriculture, to the governors desk.

The bill allows IDALS to have a clean title on livestock in the event the department must intervene to take care of the animals.

This issue arose in October when the state took over care for more than a million poultry following the bankruptcy of Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. The department was unable to sell the birds to a processor because of existing liens on the birds. As a result, the state had to cull the birds.

Mommsen said the bill would also clean up terminology, remove the requirement of an oral examination for pesticide licenses, and allow the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine to revoke licenses and assess civil penalties of up to $10,000.

The bill passed from the House unanimously.

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This article has been updated to correct Rep. Scholtens party affiliation.
An Iowa senator introduced a resolution to outlaw same-sex marriage.

Sen. Sandy Salmon of Bremer County introduced IA SCR3, which calls for overturning the federal landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges. The case legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. The proposal calls it an illegitimate overreach. The resolution was referred to the judiciary committee.

Iowa legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 after the state supreme court ruling in Varnum v. Brien.

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The Iowa Senate passed an amended version of legislation to bar state entities and community colleges from funding diversity, equity and inclusion offices and activities. (Photo illustration by iStock/Getty Images Plus)

The Iowa Senate dropped private universities Friday from legislation barring diversity, equity and inclusion activities and offices in state entities.

Senators amended House File 856 and sent it back to the House. The bill would, as amended, prohibit state agencies and community colleges from spending public or private dollars on opening or sustaining DEI offices and official positions. Previous versions of the bill stated private universities would risk Iowa Tuition Grant funding if they continue to maintain DEI divisions, but an amendment introduced by Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, and passed by the chamber removed this section.

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Another amendment, also passed, clarified definitions listed in the bill.

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Senate Democrats opposed the legislation, saying it limits academic freedom and freedom of speech. Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said during debate those restrictions are completely contradictory to our constitutional mandate and our democratic principles of the United States.

Echoing previous comments on other DEI-focused legislation, Quirmbach said eliminating the ability for agencies like law enforcement and school districts to use a DEI practice like recruiting from certain communities will have negative consequences, as staff wont be as well-equipped to understand other cultures.

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Sens. Molly Donahue and Sarah Trone Garriott said the legislation would harm higher education institutions working to graduate well-rounded students who are prepared for the workforce and world.

Iowa is a state without enough people to work in it, Trone Garriott said, and DEI programs and practices help keep young people in the state and attract new residents to it.

Policies like this are already hurting Iowa, and we can see it as employers are struggling to attract workers, and our young people move away and dont come back, and our colleges and universities are having a very hard time attracting students, and our economic growth is lagging behind other states, Trone Garriott said. This is moving in the wrong direction.

Rozenboom said in closing comments he heard a lot of fearmongering, a lot of exaggeration, hyperbole and that sort of thing from those opposing the bill, when in reality what it serves to do is show that state entities do not exist to promote politically divisive ideologies.

I think House File 856 is required because of the directions some have gone, in the extreme, to push DEI initiatives in our state institutions, Rozenboom said.

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(Main photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus; seal courtesy State of Iowa)

The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a district court decision that cleared the way for election officials to distribute voter materials in languages other than English.

Without directly addressing the merits of Iowas law restricting the dissemination of government records in languages other than English, the court found that the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa lacked standing to bring its lawsuit challenging the states application of the English Language Reaffirmation Act.

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Joe Enriquez Henry, president of LULAC Council #307, said he was disappointed in the courts decision.

There are over 50,000 registered voters in the state of Iowa whose primary language is not English, Henry said. This issue has an impact not only on Latinos but other ethnic groups and new citizens. This is a constitutional issue. You know, the right to vote is a constitutional issue, and language should never be a barrier to exercising that right. So, for the Supreme Court to say we lack standing to bring this case is totally wrong.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. (Photo courtesy Iowa Secretary of State)

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement: I appreciate the courts thoughtful consideration of this case. Todays ruling affirms our efforts to administer Iowa election laws securely, fairly, and in accordance with state and federal laws. We remain committed to maintaining a careful balance between protecting election integrity and supporting voter participation among all eligible Iowa voters.

Fridays ruling is tied to a 2007 case in which LULAC was not a party. In that case, a group that included then-U.S. Rep. Steve King, four county auditors, three state legislators and U.S. English Only Inc. filed a lawsuit against Iowas secretary of state and the Iowa Voter Registration Commission challenging the provision of voter registration forms in languages other than English.

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The district court dismissed the claims of everyone but the county auditors, ruling only they had the standing to challenge the practice, and in 2008 ruled in favor of the auditors, finding that the Iowa English Language Reaffirmation Act unambiguously required all official government documents to be in English. While noting that language barriers could serve as an impediment to voting and that exceptions outlined in the law might justify the use of non-English voter registration forms, the judge noted that the secretary of state had never raised that argument.

The district court enjoined the secretary of state and the Iowa Voter Registration Commission from using languages other than English in the official voter registration forms of this state.

Thirteen years later, in 2021, LULAC sued Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, the Iowa Voter Registration Commission, and several county auditors, arguing the law, correctly interpreted, allowed for the dissemination of voting materials in languages other than English. The district court ultimately granted LULACs requests to dissolve the 2008 injunction.

Pates office appealed, and in addressing the matter, the Iowa Supreme Court said the primary question it faced was whether LULAC had standing to seek dissolution of the 13-year-old permanent injunction issued in the initial case and to seek a court interpretation of a law that did not cause any injury to LULAC itself.

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In its ruling Friday, the justices concluded the district courts 2008 decision had no effect on LULACs rights, status, or legal relations  LULAC asks us to direct Secretary Pate to administer the law as LULAC wishes and to allow county officials to have the discretion to administer the law as LULAC wishes. In effect, LULAC is asking the judiciary to exercise the executive functions of the government at LULACs behest. This the court cannot do.

As for LULACs argument that it had standing in the case due to the injury it suffered by having to spend money translating documents for members, the justices noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled that a litigant cannot spend its way into standing simply by expending money in response to a law it is attempting challenge.

In finding that LULAC lacked standing to bring its lawsuit, the justices reversed the rulings of the district court and remanded the case back to district court for an order of dismissal. All of the justices concurred in the opinion, except for Justices Thomas D. Waterman and Edward M. Mansfield, who did not take part.

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DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran has agreed to hold a fourth round of nuclear talks with the United States on Sunday in Oman, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday, adding that the negotiations were advancing.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew Washington from a 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers meant to curb its nuclear activity, has threatened to bomb Iran if no new deal is reached to resolve the long unresolved dispute.

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, plans to attend the talks in Oman, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

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Western countries say Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran accelerated after the U.S. walkout from the now moribund 2015 accord, is geared toward producing weapons, whereas Iran insists it is purely for civilian purposes.

"The negotiations are moving forward, and naturally, the further we go, the more consultations and reviews are needed," Araqchi said in remarks carried by Iranian state media.

"The delegations require more time to examine the issues that are raised. But what is important is that we are on a forward-moving path and gradually entering into the details."

Witkoff, in an interview with Breitbart News, said the Iranians had stated that they do not want a nuclear weapon and the United States will "take them at their word" on this point.

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"If thats how they feel, then their enrichment facilities have to be dismantled. They cannot have centrifuges. They have to downblend all of their fuel that they have there and send it to a faraway place  and they have to convert to a civil program if they want to run a civil program," he said.

The fourth round of indirect negotiations, initially scheduled for May 3 in Rome, was postponed, with mediator Oman citing "logistical reasons".

In a separate statement on Friday, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said that after "coordination with both Iran and the U.S.", the fourth round of negotiations was set to take place on Sunday in Muscat.

Araqchi said his planned visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Saturday was in line with "continuous consultations" with neighbouring countries to "address their concerns and mutual interests" about the nuclear issue.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi and Dubai Newsroom; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Bill Berkrot, Mark Heinrich and Daniel Wallis)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran and the United States will meet again this weekend for talks over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said the talks Sunday would again be held in Oman, which has mediated three previous rounds of negotiations.

The two will speak in both direct and indirect talks, according to a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity Friday to describe private diplomatic contacts. It comes ahead of Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week.

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Witkoff, in an interview with the conservative outlet Breitbart News published Friday, ramped up U.S. demands for a deal. After weeks of mixed messaging, he said the U.S. would not allow Iran to maintain a uranium enrichment program, which had been a main criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal reached during the Obama administration.

That agreement, which Trump withdrew from in 2018 during his first term, had allowed Iran to keep enriching uranium at low levels. Critics said that allowed Tehran a pathway to eventual nuclear weapons development.

An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again, Witkoff told Breitbart. Thats our red line. No enrichment. That means dismantlement, it means no weaponization, and it means that Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan  those are their three enrichment facilities  have to be dismantled.

Witkoff also said that during the talks Iran had reiterated it did not want to acquire a nuclear weapon, something that Iranian officials have said for years.

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We believe that they cannot have enrichment, they cannot have centrifuges, they cannot have anything that allows them to build a weapon, he said.

He added that if the talks on Sunday were not productive, then they wont continue, and well have to take a different route.

Trump has imposed new sanctions on Iran as part of his maximum pressure campaign. He has repeatedly suggested military action against Iran remains a possibility, while emphasizing he still believed a new deal could be reached after writing a letter to Irans 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian officials increasingly have threatened that they could pursue a nuclear weapon.

Oman did not immediately acknowledge its hosting of the Sunday talks.

___

Lee reported from Washington.
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Jim Cramer Stocks with Huge Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against the other Jim Cramer stocks with huge upside potential.

During the episode of Mad Money aired on Wednesday, Jim Cramer broke down what he considers some of the most effective practices for buying stocks.

I want to pull back the curtain and show you how a professional looks for stocks to buy and knows what to sell. There's no magic. There's no hidden talent. Just a bunch of disciplines, disciplines that can help you try to make mad money if you master them.

READ ALSO: 21 Stocks on Jim Cramers Radar and Jim Cramers Thoughts on These 13 Stocks.

Cramer stressed the importance of conducting thorough research before committing to any stock purchase. He emphasized that investors must truly believe in the stock they are buying, even if that belief is rooted in skepticism, so long as they are convinced the price will rise and that the stock deserves that rise. He warned, however, that conviction is not enough on its own when a stock has pulled back from its high. If the decline is unrelated to the company's actual business, which he described as an extraneous reason, it may present an opportunity.

Be certain you're dealing with a momentarily damaged stock and not a troubled company that's going down, down, down. How can you tell the difference between a damaged company and a damaged stock? The fundamentals haven't changed, the stock probably hasn't fallen from grace. It's pulled back for mechanical reasons, profit taking, or some panic in the market in general.

Cramer pointed out that modern markets are heavily influenced by highly levered hedge funds, which treat stocks like commodities. He said that such behavior leads to irrational sell-offs that can drag high-quality stocks down for reasons unrelated to their financial health. Still, he cautioned that once a stocks fundamentals begin to shift, if the qualities that originally made it appealing no longer exist, then it is no longer suitable for inclusion in a portfolio.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 43 stocks that Cramer was bullish on during episodes of Mad Money aired between April 24 and May 2. We narrowed the list to 10 stocks that were most favored by analysts. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their average analyst price target upside as of May 8. We also mentioned the hedge fund sentiment around each stock, which was taken from Insider Monkeys Q4 database of over 1,000 hedge funds.
A ban on social media for children under 16 years old is under very serious consideration by the government of Ireland.

The Irish could follow Australia in imposing the toughest restrictions in the world on platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Tech giants would be expected to police the ban with age verification technology, or face fines, amid growing fears over the negative impacts of social media on children.

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The era of self-regulation is over, said Simon Harris, the deputy prime minister and leader of Fine Gael, as he described the issue as a ticking time bomb on Thursday.

This is an area that we should act on. Very serious consideration should be given to the idea of having to be 16 before you are on social media.

In Britain, the Netflix drama Adolescence, which is about cyberbullying and online misogyny, has fuelled the debate over a similar move.

Fuelling crime

Senior police officers last month called for a UK ban over allegations that the platforms are fuelling crime. Earlier this year, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said nothing can be off the table when asked about a possible ban for under-16s.

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Australias parliament backed a ban, which is expected to take effect in November at the earliest. Social media companies face fines of up to 25.7 million if they dont comply.

The law is the worlds strictest, with the 16-year-old age limit the highest globally. Unlike other restrictions elsewhere, it does not allow exemptions for existing users or children with parental consent.

Australia deserves great credit, Mr Harris, a former Taoiseach, said in the Irish parliament.

He warned that although there was a digital age of consent of 16 in Ireland, there were many loopholes that let children access social media before then.

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84 per cent of Irish 12-year-olds have their own social media accounts despite the minimum age of 13 on most of the popular apps. Irish charity CyberSafeKids said 94 per cent of eight to 12-year-olds had a smartphone.

The ban risks bringing Dublin into conflict with Washington at a time when relations are strained over Irish criticism of Israels war on Gaza.

The Trump administration has put European governments and the UK under pressure to weaken their supervision of US companies. The president has previously threatened the EU with tariffs over its regulation of firms he views as national champions.

Many American tech giants have their European headquarters in low-tax Ireland, which is particularly vulnerable to US tariffs on the EU and Mr Trumps desire to bring jobs back across the Atlantic.

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Mr Harris said Ireland would not be browbeaten by anyone as it put a regulatory structure in place that protects our democracies, protects our people and most importantly protects our children.

He will take over as Taoiseach from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin halfway through the coalition governments five year term under an agreement made after Novembers general election.

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The growing tensions between India and Pakistan have prompted repeated warnings that sectarianism threatens to spill onto the streets of Britain.

But its a bit too late for that. Sectarianism isnt just rife at the protests in London or even the rhetoric being spouted in the mosques and madrassas of the UK.

It is fast infecting our local councils, Parliament itself and many of our great institutions. So much so, in fact, that a senior Labour source told me recently that its MPs were unlikely to get re-elected in some parts of the country.

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Leicester is lost, as are parts of Birmingham and Bradford, he conceded. We wont get elected in some of these areas again.

As the focus understandably turned to the rise of Reform, few noticed that the local elections once again witnessed the elevation of a number of Islamist candidates.

In years gone by, they would have stood for Labour, but the growth of Britains nearly four million strong Muslim population means they are now able to be elected in their own right  without being tied to a national party.

In Burnley Central East, Maheen Kamran was elected as an independent in the formerly Labour-held ward after campaigning in favour of segregation between the sexes. The pro-Gaza candidate, 18, won 38 per cent of the vote, surpassing Reform UKs 30 per cent and leaving Labour trailing in third place on 14 per cent.

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The victory came after Ms Kamran said she had been motivated to enter politics by the genocide taking place in Gaza, and called for the end of free mixing between Muslim men and women. Progressive stuff.

In nearby Brierfield and Nelson West, Mohammed Iqbal beat Labour to win his seat as an independent with a 2,396 majority. Formerly the Labour leader of Pendle Council, the 63-year-old was suspended by the party after the Jewish Chronicle revealed that during a debate on flying the Palestinian flag above Nelson Town Hall, he said: The fact is that whats going on in Ukraine, Palestine, and other areas Ive mentioned, reminds me, I barely passed my GCSE history at school, but many people in this room will remember what justification Hitler had for what he did to the Jews in the Second World War.

Mr Iqbal later insisted: I wish to publicly state I am not anti-Semitic and have campaigned all my life against all forms of racism and sexism and will continue to do so.

Another suspended Labour candidate, Azhar Ali, won the neighbouring seat of Nelson East despite being dumped by the party as its parliamentary contender for the Rochdale by-election. He was dropped after apologising unreservedly following reports he had told a meeting that Israel allowed Hamass attack on October 7 in order to get a green light to do whatever they bloody want.

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Other pro-Palestine politicians to win council seats last week include pro-Gaza Sohail Asghar for the Greens in Accrington West and Oswaldtwistle Central. Just days after the October 7 attacks, Asghar reposted a message on X which read: Israel = Isis. He has promoted the posts of people associated with Holocaust denial.

None of this should come as any surprise, not least when Labours vote share in highly Muslim-populated areas dropped by 29 percentage points at the last general election, from 65 per cent in 2019 to 36 per cent in 2024.

And still Labour panders to the Islamists. As the Conservative MP Nick Timothy has raised in the House of Commons, Labour pretends not to engage with groups like the European Islamic Centre (EIC) which is associated with the Islamist ideologues Jamaat-e-Islami and Abul Ala al-Maududi. And yet, Jim McMahon, the minister for Local Government and English Devolution, attended an iftar hosted by the EIC during Ramadan. The Government also insists it has a non-engagement policy with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), and yet Stephen Timms, the minister for Social Security and Disability, attended the MCBs annual dinner in January.

Some are less subtle. Last November, the Labour MP Tahir Ali called on Sir Keir Starmer to introduce measures to prohibit desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of Abrahamic religions. The Prime Minister did not rule it out, instead insisting that we must tackle Islamophobia in all its forms.

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In February, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner appointed Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general, to lead a review into creating a new definition of Islamophobia, despite repeated warnings it could curb free speech. Ever the wetty, Grieve appeared to pre-empt the outcome by saying he hoped the review would help support positive change in our country.

And we have Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, suggesting that anyone who mentions the grooming rape gangs scandal is blowing a dog whistle.

Last month, a group of 20 Labour MPs petitioned the prime minister of Pakistan to build a new airport in Mirpur, the ancestral homeland of a majority of Britains Pakistani population.

Factor in the regular contributions of the four pro-Gaza independent MPs in Parliament and you cant easily escape sectarianism. Iqbal Mohamed, the MP for Dewsbury and Batley, has spoken out against a ban on first cousin marriage in the Commons, suggesting that ordinary people see family inter-marriage overall as something that is very positive.

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And this week, Adnan Hussain, the independent MP for Blackburn, criticised free speech because it means protecting the right to offend Muslims.

Mr Hussain later posted a clarification on X stating that his original post had been misunderstood and that an inference has been made that I am objecting to free speech, this isnt the case. I very much support the right to free speech.

Mr Hussain added: I believe that those in positions of public influence should exercise their speech with a measure of responsibility and fairness.

It came after Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, highlighted the case of Hamit Coskun, 50, who was initially charged with intent to cause distress against the religious institution of Islam after allegedly burning a Quran. As Jenrick rightly pointed out, blasphemy was abolished as a common law offence in England and Wales in 2008. The Crown Prosecution Service has now acknowledged the charge was incorrectly worded and has amended it.

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Even some Tories have been indulging the Islamists in their midst by this week signing a letter demanding that the UK recognises Palestine in a move that would only embolden the murderous death cult that is Hamas.

Meanwhile, Indhu Rubasingham, who refused to host the UK Jewish Film Festival when she was head of the Kiln Theatre in Kilburn (then known as the Tricycle) in 2014, has just been appointed to lead the National Theatre, while Minouche Shafik has been picked as the new head of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Baroness Shafik, you may remember, was president of Columbia University in the US during the outbreak of the worst anti-Semitism the campus has seen in recent times, before she resigned last year.

After years of turning a blind eye to sectarianism, it is now everywhere you look.

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In the run-up to the vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., knew her party had a problem  and its name was John Fetterman.

Fetterman, the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, was open to confirming President Donald Trumps embattled pick, according to two people familiar with his thinking. Murray wanted to speak with her colleague one-on-one. So she reached out to set up a time.

But Fetterman refused, as the two people familiar with the episode told NBC News.

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He figured that she wanted to yell at him about it, one person familiar with the senators thinking said.

That Fetterman wouldnt even talk to one of the most senior members of his party  someone who is well-respected in the caucus and, like Fetterman, has a reputation for being a straight shooter  was emblematic of the way Fetterman has operated in the Senate.

This article is based on interviews with 18 former Fetterman staffers, Pennsylvania officials and congressional lawmakers and staffers, many of whom said the senator is increasingly isolated and absent from official business, both in Washington and his home state.

His behavior has received renewed scrutiny after a recent New York magazine article detailing concerns about his mental health from one of his closest former aides, as well as some frustration from Democrats that Fetterman is not on the same page as many other members of the party when it comes to standing up to Trump and his agenda.

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The crux of the article focused on a May 2024 letter from Fettermans former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, addressed to Dr. David Williamson, the senators neuropsychiatrist at Walter Reed Medical Center, where Fetterman spent six weeks in 2023 to treat clinical depression. In that letter, which NBC News obtained, Jentleson expressed worry that if his boss stays on his current trajectory he wont be with us for much longer.

We do not know if he is taking his meds and his behavior frequently suggests he is not, Jentleson wrote. We often see the kind of warning signs we discussed: 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, such as swearing up and down that he didnt say something everyone heard him say a few minutes prior.

A Fetterman spokesperson emphasized that the senator has no intention of resigning and has been transparent about his health, whether related to his stroke or hospitalization at Walter Reed.

"People in his circle and people who talk to him privately know this is John Fetterman," the spokesperson said. "He is not an extrovert. This is how he functions. He does care about Pennsylvania, he keeps a busy schedule, hes meeting with people all the time. For the most part, he votes along party lines and has good relationships with his colleagues."

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"There are expectations of a stereotypical politician that he has never once expressed that he was going to try to be," this person added. "People knew he was breaking from tradition and they elected him for that reason."

On Tuesday, Fetterman said that the New York magazine article was built on one source with a couple anonymous sources, describing it as a hit piece from a very left publication.

Fetterman added Friday to NBC News that the article "decided to platform a grudge fashioned by best friends and disgruntled staffers unwilling to put their names on it."

"My actual doctors and my family affirmed that Im in good health," he said.

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In response to Fettermans earlier pushback, Jentleson said on Tuesday, I stand by what I said and hope he gets the help he needs.

"I havent seen him this year in person, a House Democratic lawmaker from Pennsylvania said. My staff reaches out on bills and such. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

The incident with Murray wasnt the only recent run-in with a colleague. As he was leaving the cloak room after ultimately voting against Hegseths nomination, he bumped into Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wanted to discuss a Republican bill designed to punish the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants to Israeli officials.

Two sources familiar with the exchange said Fetterman was rude and dismissive to her. He also suggested to her that hed be more inclined to help her if she put him on the committee  something she didnt have the power to do.

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Fetterman ended up being the only Democrat to support the Republican bill, which did not pass.

Murray and Shaheens offices declined to comment.

"Senator Fetterman has lots of conversations with his colleagues, on both sides, and he doesnt comment on those discussions," a Fetterman spokesperson said. "He highly respects and values Vice Chair Murray and Ranking Member Shaheen and considers them great colleagues and leaders."

I havent seen him this year in person

Fetterman never had a warm and fuzzy reputation. As mayor of Braddock  a downtrodden once thriving steel town just outside of Pittsburgh  and then lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, Fetterman became known for his straight-talking style, fearless social media persona and unconventional image for a Democratic politician.

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Fetterman won election to the Senate in 2022. But his race was beset by challenges  chiefly, a debilitating stroke that kept the Democratic nominee off the trail for months.

Still, Fetterman and his team were able to connect with voters. They ran an intensive social media campaign to portray Fetterman as an authentic Pennsylvanian against the celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, who had only limited ties to the state and is now a health official in the Trump administration.

But those familiar with Fetterman say he has often neglected the duties of his job since being elected, rarely making appearances for noncampaign events in his home state, regularly missing committee hearings, bill mark-ups and votes.

In the past year  from April 2024 to this March  Fetterman missed 77 of 381 votes, according to GovTrack. That put him in the 90th to the 99th percentile among all senators in terms of total votes missed during each three-month stretch of the calendar in that time.

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Of senators who served the entirety of the 118th Congress, only Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and then-Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, missed more votes than Fetterman  and both were either running for president or on Trumps ticket as his running mate. Of course, many of those missed votes included the six-week stretch when Fetterman was hospitalized.

Fetterman also rarely attends hearings or business meetings for the three committees on which hes a member. In just this year alone, Fetterman skipped 25 of the 26 hearings or business meetings the Senate Commerce Committee held, with the first hearing he attended being on Thursday, after the New York magazine article was published.

He missed all nine of the hearings and business meetings the Senate Homeland Security Committee has held this year, and skipped all 11 times the Senate Agriculture Committee has met in 2025.

Among the meetings he missed were confirmation hearings for key Trump nominees like Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

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Fetterman has also voted by proxy  meaning the ranking member of the committee announced his vote because he was absent  for every vote all three committees have taken this year on pieces of legislation, nominations or organizing resolutions.

In a comment for this article, Fetterman did not address missing so many committee hearings but said of votes last year: "Everything in 2024 was about the election."

"I spent months traveling Pennsylvania to help keep Democrats in the White House," he said, adding that so far this year he has "made roughly 90% of the votes" while the ones he has missed "were overwhelmingly procedural, my vote was never determinative and limited to travel days."

On his lack of in-state events, a spokesperson said this year's Senate schedule "has given few opportunities for extensive travel in the state since January." He's also sought time to spend with his family.

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"In the coming spring and summer months when the Senate is in recess, there will be more opportunities for in-state events," this person said.

That hasn't been enough for some in the state. In March, Cumberland County Democratic Chair Matt Roan called for Fetterman to resign in an op-ed that blasted the senator for having refused to hold town hall meetings in Pennsylvania to hear from his constituents.

Enough is enough, Roan wrote, adding, He seems disinterested in serving in this important position.

Additionally, a House Democratic lawmaker from Pennsylvania who spoke with NBC News on Thursday said they have had no interactions with Fetterman in recent months.

I havent seen him this year in person, the lawmaker said. My staff reaches out on bills and such.

They added that Democrat Bob Casey, who lost re-election to the Senate in 2024, was a much, much more active partner.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Fetterman has appeared publicly just once in the state this year, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January.

Fetterman hasnt been known to glad-hand or build relationships with many of his fellow members. Even among the Keystone States congressional delegation, where members frequently need to coordinate on issues like infrastructure projects and natural disasters, Fetterman has been absent.

The entire delegation has talked on Signal about how hes just so weird, never ever returned phone calls from any of us (nor did his former chief), said a participant in the Pennsylvania delegations Signal group. Pretty sure he couldnt identify most of us out of a line-up.

The opinion wasnt unanimous, though.

My team and I have a good working relationship with the Senator and his team, Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., who represents a district near Fettermans home, said in a statement. Thats important across the PA delegation and can help us get stuff done for our region.

Still, some who spoke with NBC News worried whether Fetterman is having cognitive struggles that may be exacerbating his isolation.

The House Democratic lawmaker from Pennsylvania expressed concern over the New York magazine article, saying that if theres an issue, it needs to be addressed and can be addressed.

He successfully did that once before and he should, this person said, pointing to 2023, when Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for mental health treatment. Its not like he was ever the warmest, most fluid speaker in the world. So youre starting with someone whos got an atypical personality.

But Jentleson said he saw a decline in the strength of Fettermans relationships after that episode. In his May 2024 letter, he said the senator is on his phone constantly and spends more time scrolling and coming up with tweets than any other activity.

He is isolated and has damaged his personal relationships, he added. In the fall, he had started to build relationships with other senators, but that has fallen off a cliff. He comes up with reasons why they are all out to get him or secretly hate him, and will launch into endless tirades about why they are all terrible and he is the only sane person.

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., however, said he had dinner with Fetterman and Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., two weeks ago. He said Fetterman was doing pretty well and described him as a special talent in our party who has a way of speaking to everyday folks that really connects.

Now, he went through an incredible health event, and it takes ongoing care, Welch told NBC News. I have no knowledge of it, but you dont have to know much to know that thats an ongoing challenge, and I want to be there to support him as much as I possibly can.

Hes so isolated

After his stroke, Fetterman received praise from across the political spectrum for openly sharing his struggles and destigmatizing them.

People hear all their lives about I cant get out of bed, and you really cant understand what that really means, he told NBCs Meet the Press in December 2023. You cant get out of bed until it happens to you. And it did.

But the vibe around Fetterman has shifted as an increasing staff exodus trailed him since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. Fetterman has vociferously defended Israels conduct in Gaza in the months since, becoming one of its stalwart defenders in Congress and alienating much of the left-wing support base that championed him in his 2022 primary.

At the same time, while being a consistent Democratic vote, he has moved rightward in some of his rhetoric and approach. He was the only Democrat to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago during the transition and voted in favor of a number of his Cabinet choices, including Attorney General Pam Bondi.

When Democrats released a resolution in January to condemn Trumps pardons of supporters who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Fetterman, who later signed onto the resolution, described it as a performance art vote.

I dont know if it was a communication breakdown or because I wasnt aware of it, or they were sandbagging me, but I love it, Fetterman said sarcastically of the resolution. I do. We need more performance art votes, because thats really been very helpful before the election.

In an interview with NBC News shortly after Trumps win in November, Fetterman said Democrats needed to stop freaking out over everything Trump does.

His favorability numbers tell the story. In an Economist/YouGov survey released this week, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points, Fettermans favorability stands at 34% with voters who backed former Vice President Kamala Harris last fall. With Trump voters, its 39%. Voters who hold unfavorable views are flipped, with 39% of Harris voters and 34% of Trump voters viewing Fetterman unfavorably.

So far, none of Fetterman's Senate colleagues have called on him to step aside. (Francis Chung / Politico via AP file)

As for his openness to confirming Hegseth, who faced an allegation of sexual assault that he denied, Fettermans view was framed around a disdain for cancel culture, according to one person familiar with his thinking. Among a few rationales he floated, the senator repeatedly questioned why Democrats were willing to accept former President Bill Clinton  who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct  and Jay-Z, who faced allegations of sexual assault at the time, this person said. (Jay-Z sued his accuser in March for allegedly falsifying her claims after she dropped a lawsuit against him.)

He went on some rants about that, this person said.

Asked about his consideration of Hegseth, Fetterman emphasized that his vote on the nominee "was NO."

"Considering a vote is a feature of a senator, not a bug," he told NBC News.

A spokesperson added that Fetterman "expects his staff to disagree with him on things."

"Thats normal," this person said. "But airing grievances publicly hurts the staff and puts their work in jeopardy."

Some have defended Fetterman in recent days  including on the political right.

Salena Zito, a conservative journalist based in Pennsylvania who interviewed Fetterman and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., together in February, tweeted that after spending time with him then and reading the New York magazine story, My only conclusion to come to is that someone is looking for redemption for having worked for him because he wasnt left enough and they are trying to destroy him.

Three Republican senators  McCormick, along with Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Tom Cotton of Arkansas  tweeted support for Fetterman Friday.

Its time to put politics aside and stop these vicious, personal attacks against Senator Fetterman, his wife, and his health, McCormick wrote. While we have many differences, we are both committed to working together to achieve results for the people of Pennsylvania and make their lives better.

Cotton said Fetterman was a "decent and genuine guy" and claimed the "radical left is smearing him with dishonest, vicious attacks because hes pro-Israel and they only want reliable anti-Israel politicians."

Publicly, members of Congress who have weighed in have stood by Fetterman, and no one has called for him to resign. Privately, both detractors and allies dont think he will step down anytime soon. One House Democrat from Pennsylvania said they know Fetterman well and have spent time in his office, never seeing anything odd. This person believes he is fit to serve.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was among those who voiced support for Fetterman.

Hes doing a good job, and hes a good legislator, Schumer said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has had a volatile relationship with Fetterman, offered only brief remarks Thursday on the senator.

Ill just say this: I think the best judge of Sen. Fettermans health is Sen. Fetterman and his family, and Ill leave it to them to discuss that, Shapiro said, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A former Fetterman staffer said the question of whether Fetterman should continue to serve should come down to whether he is doing his job.

Are you meeting with constituents? this person said. How are those meetings going? Whats your schedule like? Are you missing lots of votes? Are you in committee hearings? Are you for these Trump nominees? Are you doing things in the state? Are you visible? Are you accessible? You run down the list, and the answer to those things is like, no.

I think its connected to his mental health, the former staffer continued. Hes so isolated and very clearly so miserable being in Washington, D.C. The job feels like an imposition to him, and hes not doing it. Pennsylvania doesnt have two senators right now.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Reuters) -Israel's military said on Friday it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen towards Israeli territory, an attack for which Yemen's Houthi forces claimed responsibility.

The incident came days after Oman said it mediated a ceasefire deal between the U.S. and the Houthis, with the Yemeni group saying the accord did not include close U.S. ally Israel.

The Iran-aligned militia group claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, saying it fired a ballistic missile towards Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree.

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Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said after the military reported the missile launch that Israel would respond forcefully in Yemen and "wherever necessary", describing the Houthi missiles as "Iranian".

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen as the group had agreed to stop attacking U.S. ships.

But the Houthis have continued to fire missiles and drones towards Israel, most of which the Israeli military says it has intercepted, without casualties or serious damage occurring.

The Houthis have attacked numerous vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade, in a campaign that they say is aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has been fighting a war in Gaza since a deadly raid by Palestinian militant group Hamas into southern Israel in October 2023.

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The Houthis are part of Iran's so-called "Axis of Resistance" against Israeli and U.S. interests in the Middle East, a group also including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Israel has weakened those groups by assassinating top leaders and destroying military infrastructure since the Gaza war began, though Houthi capabilities appear largely intact.

(Reporting by Tala Ramadan, Yomna Ehab and Ahmed Tolba; editing by Hugh Lawson, Mark Potter and Mark Heinrich)
Air raid sirens were heard in Israel as a missile was launched towards the territory by Yemens Houthis, who say they are retaliating against Israeli sites in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Israels military said it intercepted the projectile on Friday using its air defence systems.

There were no reports of injuries or damage from the missile attack, according to a military statement.

The incident came days after Oman said it mediated a ceasefire deal between the United States and the Houthis, with the Yemeni group saying the agreement did not include Israel.

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Houthi rebels fired a hypersonic ballistic missile towards Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, while also claiming a drone attack targeting a vital Israeli enemy target in the same area, according to the groups military spokesperson, Yahya Saree.

Israeli media reported that air raid sirens were sounded in several areas across central Israel, with people receiving early warning mobile messages about the missile attack.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary, describing the Houthi missiles as Iranian.

Going to strike back

The Israeli defence minister has released some comments saying that Israel is going to strike back with full force, said Al Jazeeras Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan. But these comments arent really surprising because weve heard them from Israel Katz previously when the Houthis had launched any sort of ballistic missile towards Israel.

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However, this time its a little bit different because earlier in the week one of those missiles actually made impact  at quite a strategic location at the main airport inside of central Israel, Salhut said.

Fridays missile sent thousands of people running towards shelters and safe rooms, she added.





US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his country would stop bombing Yemen as the Houthis had agreed to stop their attacks on US ships in the Red Sea.

But the Houthis have continued to fire missiles and drones towards Israel, most of which the Israeli military says it has intercepted, without casualties or serious damage occurring.

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The Houthis have attacked numerous vessels in the Red Sea linked to Israel and its allies in what they state is an act of solidarity with Palestine.

According to Israeli media, the Houthi group has launched 28 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones at Israel since March 18, when Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza.

Israel has been waging a devastating war on the enclave since October 2023, killing more than 50,000 Palestinians, after a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel that month.




After 19 months of war in Gaza, the Israeli government has decided to march deeper into the quagmire.

Israel has announced its intention to take and retain a significant part of the Gaza Strip. Call-up orders are going out to tens of thousands of already exhausted reservists. The battered, hungry population of Gaza is to be forced into an even smaller part of the narrow enclave. The lives of the remaining Israeli hostages are in greater danger than ever.

The plan came with a caveat: The escalation will reportedly not start until the end of U.S. President Donald Trumps tour of the region next week, allowing for the possibility of a new hostage deal. But reports of an impending deal have become such a constant background murmur that few observers count on a diplomatic breakthrough to head off the new operation.

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We will achieve full, absolute victory in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Hebrew in a social-media clip just before the decision Sunday night by the security cabinetthe committee of senior ministers responsible for military affairs. We are in the stages of victory, Netanyahu added. Or, to paraphrase in American English: We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Read: How to say no to a would-be autocrat]

For this Israeli, as for many others, the escalation is a promise to plunge deeper into darkness, militarily and morally.

The Israeli army will seek to take and hold more territory in Gaza and to destroy all terror infrastructure, above- and belowground, a government spokesperson said Monday. Belowground refers to Hamass tunnel network, which has bedeviled the Israeli army since the war began. What will be left standing aboveground remains to be seen.

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The spokesperson, David Mencer, said that the objective was both to return the hostagesthe 59 captives, alive and dead, still in Gazaand to defeat Hamas. But Netanyahu made the order of his priorities clear in a controversial speech last week: Freeing the hostages was an important goal, he said, but the supreme goal was victory over Hamas. Or, as he put it in another clip for his social-media followers this week, to drive Hamas from the face of the Earth.

Netanyahu has made this overambitious promiseof absolute triumph over Hamassince early in the war, and has repeatedly said that it is around the corner. But total victory is a chimera. Reoccupying larger chunks of Gaza is unlikely to eliminate Hamas. Instead, it will expose Israels soldiers to a long war of attrition with the extreme Islamist organization. Hamass losses will mount, but this will not make the deaths on the Israeli side any easier to bear.

Israels military doctrine relies on mobilizing large numbers of civilians to fight short wars. This war is no longer short, and many reservists have spent more time in uniform than in civvies since October 7, 2023. They, their families, and their workplaces are very tired. Netanyahus government promises more exhaustion.

The Palestinian civilians of Gaza, of course, are much more exhausted and traumatized. In the name of protecting them, the Israeli army intends to order yet another evacuation, reportedly to a single humanitarian zone in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said this week that the intention is for the army to continue to hold whatever territory it takes. Implicitly, then, Palestinian civilians wont be returning until the promised day when Hamas is erasedand maybe not even then.

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If permanent displacement is the governments policy, the proper term for it is ethnic cleansinga moral catastrophe.

And what will happen inside the humanitarian zone? The government reportedly has a plan for providing food aid via a largely unknown foundation and private security firms. Nothing has been reported about who will govern the area, provide health services, or enforce public order. If Israel were to try to impose a military government, soldiers would be under constant attack. Netanyahu has been unwilling to discuss proposals for creating a new Palestinian government in Gaza. Hamas is likely to fill the vacuum.

The security cabinet apparently paid little attention to this problem in setting its policy. It also reportedly ignored an explicit warning from the military chief of staff, General Eyal Zamir. In the plan for a full-scale operation, we wont necessarily reach the hostages, Zamir told ministers in a preparatory session before Sundays decision, according to Israels Channel 13. Keep in mind that we could lose them.

As of now, Israels official count is that 21 hostages are still alive, the fate of three is unknown, and Hamas is holding the bodies of 35. Netanyahu insists that military pressure is the only way to save the remaining living hostages. But no hostages have been found or released since fighting resumed in March. A New York Times investigation concluded that 41 hostages have died in captivity since the war began, including at least four who were killed in Israeli bombings and seven who were murdered by their captors to keep Israeli troops from rescuing them. Those dangers will only increase if the fighting intensifies.

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[Read: Why 70 percent of Israelis want Netanyahu to resign]

The gap between the Israeli public and the government is most stark on the hostage issue. A recent poll found that more than two-thirds of Israelis see saving the hostages as the most important goal in the war, compared with one-quarter who say that toppling Hamas is most important. Last month, nearly 1,000 current and former Air Force reservists signed a public letter calling on the government to reach an agreement immediately with Hamas to release the hostages and end the war. That set off a wave of statements by reservists and veterans of other units.

So far, Netanyahu has refused to change course. To do so would mean admitting that his promise of absolute victory is hollow. It could spark a revolt by the two far-right parties in his coalition, and bring down his government.

Its just possible, nonetheless, that Netanyahu will change his mind and finally respond to the fury and despair of his own people. Or that during his stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, the erratic American president will hear something to persuade him to tell Netanyahu to hold his fire. Or that Hamas and Israel will agree to one of the latest proposals for a renewed cease-fire and hostage deal.

But if such a deus ex machina does not appear, theres every reason to fear that Israel will plunge deeper into the morass.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. (WAVY)  The Old Dominion state is turning 250 next year, and Isle of Wight County Schools faculty and students have been working overtime to commemorate the occasion.

Over the last year, theyve been putting together a podcast series paired with creative writing pieces collectively called Revolutionary Roots.

The projects central inquiry, How did agriculture, livestock, and major conflicts shape the founding of Isle of Wight County, and how do we see these influences today? served as the guiding theme for student research and creative production, according to a press release. Using primary and secondary sources, students investigated local history through the lenses of agriculture, education, indigenous relations and the Revolutionary War.

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The project was spearheaded by three teachers: Zachary Kempf and Samantha Lewis from Smithfield High School, and Heather Byrum from Windsor High School.

The students worked with local historical societies and libraries, gaining access to historical documents and modern digital tools.

Field trips to local landmarks, such as the Isle of Wight County Museum, St. Lukes Historic Church and Museum and the 1750 Isle of Wight Courthouse, provided immersive experiences and access to valuable historical materials, the release reads.

Revolutionary Roots is part of the larger VA 250 initiative, which aims to encourage community reflection on our collective history.

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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 WAVY.com.
Vice President J.D. Vance is speaking out in defense of President Donald Trump's tariffs  including his statements about children needing fewer toys  by arguing that Americans could benefit from using American-made weapons if "God forbid ... your country goes to a war."

During an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum on Thursday, May 8, Vance, 40, spoke out about Trump's comments about his tariffs on goods from China, and said that Americans "need to become more self-reliant."

"Thats not going to happen overnight, and its not always going to be easy," Vance told MacCallum. "What Id ask people is not whether they want two dolls or five dolls or 20 dolls for their kids. Id ask American moms and dads, would you like to be able to go into a pharmacy and know that the drugs your kids need are actually available to you?"

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Donald Trump and J.D. Vance on September 11, 2024. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance on September 11, 2024.

Related: Trump Says He Paused the Tariffs Because People Were Getting Yippy

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"As an American parent, would you like to  God forbid, if your country goes to a war and your son or daughter is sent off to fightwould you like to know that the weapons that they have are good, American-made stuff, not made by a foreign adversary?" Vance continued.

Vance's interview comes after Trump made comments about his tariffs on foreign goods during a cabinet meeting on April 30.

"Somebody said the shelves will be open. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30. Maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally," Trump said, responding to a question about how the tariffs might continue to affect the U.S. marketplace.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Donald Trump on April 2. Donald Trump on April 2.

"But we're not talking about something where we'll have to go out of our way," he continued. "They have ships that are loaded up with stuff, much of which we don't need. And we have to make a fair deal. We've been ripped off by every country in the world, but China, I would say, is the leading one."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In early April, the president upped the tariffs to 145%. Bloomberg reported this week that cargo shipments from China have fallen by an estimated 60%. By the beginning of May, the U.S. Commerce Department released a new report indicating that the American economy shrank by 0.3% during the first quarter of 2025.

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Additionally, on Wednesday, after days of insisting he wouldnt change course on his sweeping, market-plummeting tariff plan, Trump said he would issue a 90-day pause on the tariffs for nearly all nations  excluding China, which had its import tax bumped up to 125%.

Following the announcement, Trump spoke with reporters at the White House, offering his reasoning.

I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line... They were getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid, he said.

Weve got a big job to do, Trump continued. "No other president would have done what I did... No others. I know the presidents, they wouldnt have done it.



Read the original article on People
By Mariam Sunny

(Reuters) -Kenvue on Thursday forecast that its annual profit would be flat year-over-year as the consumer health firm anticipates a $150 million impact from President Donald Trump's trade tariffs implemented on U.S. imports thus far.

Customers are bracing for price increases as consumer-facing companies try to navigate higher costs brought on by the tariffs.

Kenvue will work with retail partners on targeted pricing actions in a way that will "preserve the long-term health of our brands" and "minimize the impact for our consumers", CEO Thibaut Mongon said in a call with analysts.

The company expects its efforts to secure alternate sourcing, pricing actions and revenue growth to mitigate the tariff hit, mostly from China, but said it would not be able to absorb the full impact this year.

Shares of New Jersey-based Kenvue rose 6% in morning trading.

Kenvue, spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, has been under pressure from activist investors to boost performance, particularly in its struggling skin-health and beauty unit, which includes brands such as Neutrogena and Aveeno.

The company has been spending more on social media campaigns and other marketing efforts to get its skin and beauty products across to more Gen Z consumers, a critical demographic where it has lagged.

Separately, Kenvue said on Thursday that its CFO, Paul Ruh, would be replaced by Kellanova's Amit Banati, effective May 12. Banati most recently served as the finance chief of Kellanova.

The company had previously forecast adjusted profit to range between flat to a 2% growth in 2025. It had earned $1.14 per share in the previous year.

First-quarter sales at its skin health unit fell 7.3% to $977 million, below analysts' estimate of $1.09 billion.

Kenvue earned a profit of 24 cents per share for the reported quarter, compared with an expectation of 23 cents per share.

Quarterly revenue of $3.74 billion topped an estimate of $3.68 billion.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Pooja Desai)
Jared Kushner is back to advising Donald Trump, ahead of the presidents trip to the Middle East.

Kushner is reportedly advising administration officials in negotiations with Arab leaders, CNN reports, citing sources in the White House and people close to the presidents son-in-law. While Kushner isnt expected to travel with Trump, he has been talking to foreign leaders, including Saudi Arabias, about normalizing relations with Israel.

While Trumps stated priority for the trip is to make trade deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, Kushner and others in the White House are trying to use the trip to expand the Abraham Accords, which Kushner negotiated during Trumps first term. The accords led to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco, and Sudan.

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Kushner has specifically been advising Trump officials on how to approach Saudi Arabia regarding normalizing relations with Israel, with the administration hoping for progress on that front. They dont expect a deal to come from the trip, though.

We fully expect other countries to sign (agreements) first before Saudi, a senior Trump administration official told CNN, adding that there are discussions with a wide range of countries.

When it comes to the Middle East, Jared is an expert, another administration official said. He knows all the players and is one of the few people who has the ear of the Arab leaders, as well as the Israelis.

Like his father-in-law, Kushner has extensive business dealings in the Middle East, raising ethical concerns. He is pocketing billions from Saudi Arabia and reportedly speaking with the countrys crown prince every week. Also like Trump, Kushner has praised Gazas waterfront beachfront property as very valuable, a troubling sign given Israels vote this week to occupy the territory.

Its anyones guess as to what Kushners actual agenda is in advising the Trump administration. It could be to line his own pockets or to further a real estate development project in Gaza. Either way, it presents a host of ethical issues.


As President Donald Trump prepares for the first major foreign trip to the Middle East of his second term, some administration officials have privately turned to a familiar face for help navigating the region: Jared Kushner.

The presidents son-in-law, who served as a chief Middle East negotiator in Trumps first term and built deep relationships with leaders in the region, has been informally advising administration officials on negotiations with Arab leaders, multiple Trump administration officials and people close to Kushner tell CNN. Though Kushner is unlikely to join Trump on the trip, he has been heavily involved in discussions with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, about signing agreements that would normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, the sources said.

The presidents top priority next week is to procure economic agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, his three stops on the trip, that would enhance their investments in America, the sources said. But Kushner and other Trump advisers have also been privately plotting the more ambitious goal of expanding the Abraham Accords, the treaties negotiated during Trumps first term between several Arab Nations and Israel, the sources said.

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That is a topic of discussion, one senior White House official told CNN.

Kushner was central to getting the UAE, which Trump is also visiting next week, to sign the normalization agreement in 2020. He has been closely advising the broader Trump team on how to approach sensitive talks with Saudi leaders on the trip, the sources said. Kushners role in helping guide officials for the trip has not been previously reported.

Kushner sits aboard an EL AL Airlines jet upon landing at Abu Dhabi Airport in the first-ever commercial flight from Israel to the UAE on August 31, 2020. - Nir Elias/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

People involved in the discussions said the Trump administration is under no illusion that they will leave the Middle East having struck a deal with Riyadh. But they view the face-to-face meetings between Trump and Saudi leaders as a prime opportunity to make progress.

We fully expect other countries to sign (agreements) first before Saudi, one senior Trump administration official involved in the talks said, adding that Trump officials are engaged in conversations with a wide range of countries.

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The White House views Kushner as critical to helping clinch such agreements.

When it comes to the Middle East, Jared is an expert, a second senior administration official told CNN. He knows all the players and is one of the few people who has the ear of the Arab leaders, as well as the Israelis.

Trump critics and some former diplomats have noted that Kushner has business interests in the region, which complicates his involvement. Shortly after leaving Washington, he founded Affinity Partners, an investment firm which received significant backing from sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf.

Mr. Kushner led some of the first Administrations biggest successes, including the historic Abraham Accords to help bring peace to the Middle East. There is no question this Administration values his expertise and welcomes his advice on all areas where he is willing to be helpful, White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement to CNN.

New challenges in the Middle East

The dynamics in the Middle East have changed significantly since Trumps first term. Hamass October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza has caused a renewed rift between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the countrys de facto leader, has stated unequivocally that Riyadh wont normalize relations with Israel until there is a clear path for Palestinian statehood and a permanent end to the war in Gaza  neither of which appears imminent.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement that Trump took credit for at the start of his term is in tatters. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is launching a new, more intensive phase of the war in Gaza, though an Israeli official has said it would begin after Trumps visit.

Kushner meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2020. - Saudi Press Agency via Reuters

How Trump plans to bridge the divide with Prince bin Salman remains unclear. But, people close to Kushner say he believes there are proposals the administration can offer to the crown prince that would soften his stance on joining the Accords only if Palestinians have a clear pathway to statehood. The people declined to offer specifics about what the proposals would entail. Kushner developed a close personal relationship with Prince bin Salman during the first Trump administration  the two often communicated via WhatsApp  and they still speak frequently, sources familiar with their relationship said.

Theres a way, and Jareds thought about this a lot. He thinks outside the box. But theres a way to potentially solve that part for the Saudis and have them start taking steps toward normalization, one of the senior administration officials involved in the talks said.

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The presidents Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff  who has taken on a far more expansive portfolio that also includes serving as the point person on negotiations with Russia and Iran  told an audience at the Israeli embassy in Washington this week that he expected an expansion of the Abraham Accords soon.

We think will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly, said Witkoff, who is expected to accompany Trump on his visit to the Middle East.

Who else is going on the trip?

Trump will travel with a large delegation to the Middle East, including several cabinet secretaries and high-ranking officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are expected to fly to the region, separately from Trump, to participate in meetings. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also expected to join the delegation. The majority of senior staff at the White House, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Trumps slate of deputy chiefs will also be accompanying the president, senior White House officials tell CNN.

There were a lot of people who wanted to be a part of this trip, one administration official said of the large delegation.

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Kushner, who is unlikely to go, does not have, nor want, a formal role in Trumps second term, sources said. But he has continued to be a crucial player behind the scenes on Middle East talks, the sources said.

He likes having the freedom to do what he does. He wants to operate behind the scenes until he has something successful he can more publicly point to, one of the senior administration officials said.

Some of Kushners involvement is attributable to his close personal relationship with Witkoff, sources said.

Trump administration officials and people close to Kushner tell CNN that the two have been in regular contact since the presidents transition, with Kushner often offering Witkoff advice on his dealings with Arab leaders. Witkoff is expected to travel with the president to the region next week, three Trump administration officials said.

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Hes been able to help Steve (Witkoff) get connected with folks there, he gives Steve input, one of the officials said.

Hes been Witkoffs biggest champion, helping him understand the issues and navigate the personalities, another official told CNN. Hes comfortable being in the background.

Kushner was at the White House on Tuesday for Witkoffs swearing-in ceremony. In addition to advising Witkoff, Kushner has met on occasion with Rubio, who is also currently serving as the presidents interim National Security Adviser.

CNNs Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.

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May 8Another small portion of a granular road in Jasper County may get reclassified from a Level A road to a Level B road, which will ultimately limit how often the street is maintained by engineer's office crews and prohibit new rock from being added to the surface. But first the county has to get through its public hearings.

Supervisors scheduled the public hearings for the reclassification of North 75th Avenue West between West 116th Street North and West 108th Street North at 9:30 a.m. on May 13, 20 and 27 at the courthouse. If there is no dissent, is it likely subsequent hearings will get waived by the county supervisors.

County Engineer Michael Frietsch said in the middle of this stretch of road is a bridge over Clear Creek rated for five tons that needs to be removed. The first step, he added, is reclassifying the road to a Level B, and then the next step would be to vacate a section around the bridge to officially remove it.

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"It'll be a multi-million-dollar bridge to replace that bridge," Frietsch said.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma asked if there was any way to reclassify the street to a Level C and then install gates. Frietsch said that could certainly be possible if the road is reclassified to a Level B. He agreed with the idea, but he noted it would take signatures and consent from landowners to reclassify to a Level C.

Frietsch noted at the April 15 meeting that property owners would be notified prior to the public hearings. The county will send certified letters to the four affected property owners identified as: Janice Gregerson, Trustees Methodist Church, Phyllis Steenhoek Revocable Trust and Rodney Altes Revocable Trust.

Acknowledgement slips will be added to the letters and the dates in which the public hearings will be held. In the letters addressed to the property owners, the engineer makes it clear the maintenance on the reclassified road will be of a lower standard; a copy of the county ordinance was included to further explain.

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Supervisor Doug Cupples asked if the county considered vacating the road, but Frietsch said there is no way to vacate it with how the parcels are laid out. The aforementioned road is the only way some of these parcels can be accessed. Frietsch said the county might have been able to vacate the road if not for that.

Frietsch said this road reclassification is part of a list the county will be working on over the next year. One such reclassification was already approved back in February. The board of supervisors reclassified Indian Street to Level B road, much to the chagrin of some of the nearby property owners.
May 8Jay and Wilton officials are forming a joint committee to explore options for collaboration between their respective police departments, officials announced Thursday in a joint news release.

The committee will be comprised of two select board members and two residents from each town, along with participation from town managers, Shiloh LaFreniere in Jay and Maria Greeley in Wilton, and both police departments.

"With recruitment becoming more competitive, costs continuing to rise and both towns facing ongoing public safety challenges," the statement said, "we believe it's time to look beyond the traditional approach and see if new solutions could help us maintain a stable and effective police presence in both communities."

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The first committee meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. June 9 and deadlines for applications to join the committee are May 21 for Jay residents and May 29 for Wilton residents.

"We're committed to a process that is careful, transparent and inclusive," the statement said.

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Franklin County budget panel trims government operations proposal to $8M

Maine Department of Education denies accusations in DOJ lawsuit
The Scene

The spotlight keeps falling on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker  not that he minds. This week, he and two other Democratic governors accepted invitations from House Republicans to testify on sanctuary immigration policies in their states in June. They accepted right before Chicago-born Robert Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the church, a moment of non-partisan pride for Pritzkers biggest city.

Pritzker talked with Semafor before his recent speech to New Hampshire Democrats in Manchester, where he condemned both do-nothing Democrats and the tyrants and traitors of the GOP. He had more to say than that, some of it on topics that will be fought over in next months high-profile hearing  some of it, about the meaning of oligarchy, being fought over every day. This is an edited transcript of the conversation.

The View From JB Pritzker

David Weigel: Do you want to see New Hampshire vote first in 2024?

JB Pritzker: To be clear, Im not here about any of that. We just finished a presidential election. Could we take a breath and talk about the congressional elections coming up in 2026? We need Chris Pappas to win for the United States Senate.

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I think New Hampshire is a good early primary state  just as an observer of presidential elections, for a lot of years. I think it needs to be paired with other states, with other demographics. Thats absolutely possible now that weve got South Carolina, Nevada on the calendar. But New Hampshire is a really fascinating place, its a small place, and it allows people to come, when they run for president, and not need a lot of money, and be able to meet a lot of voters.

What role are you taking to help Democrats in 2026? How much of it is financial support?

Ive traveled around the country to try to help Democrats everywhere. Its been a personal endeavor, not so much about the financing of campaigns as it is about making sure that were pressing forward on the message of what we stand for. Right? Were a party that stands up for working families, and the candidates that we support are the quality candidates that people want to serve in Congress.

Ive also supported candidates financially wherever I could, and the Wisconsin race is a great example of that. Compared to Elon Musk, you might say that I got an awfully great return on investment. I think its $30-$40 million that he spent, not to mention offering, what, a million dollars a piece to a few people to get them to vote Republican? That seems illegal to me. But yes, I put my money where my mouth is. I happen to have the ability to support people financially.

One reason I ask is that, in Wisconsin, when Republicans were asked about Elon Musks spending, theyd point to you and say, Democrats have out-of-state billionaires too.

(Pritzker holds one hand high and one hand low, to illustrate the gap in their spending.) Elon Musk is one of the  well, wealthiest person in the world, right? That was a very important race, and its going to make an enormous difference. The Republicans have been manipulating politics in Wisconsin, and I wanted to make sure that it was a fair fight.

Bernie Sanders has been rallying around the country, talking about the threat of an oligarchy. Do you think youre included in that?

Well, would you put me in the same category politically as Elon Musk? I would not. I think what people talk about, when they talk about an oligarchy, is the group of the most powerful people in the society who are trying to impose their will on everyone else and make them pay for what the oligarchs are unwilling to pay for. That is clearly the opposite of what I believe in, right? I am a Democrat. Im someone who believes in little D democracy, and someone who believes that the very people who ought to be in charge are the working families of our country, the working families of the state of Illinois, and not the wealthiest people in our state or in the country. You can use whatever word you like, but Im saying, theres a big difference between the people that Bernie Sanders is talking about and what I believe in.

Two questions about Congress. The House Education Oversight Committee is investigating whether the clinic at Northwesterns Law School, which now obviously is the Pritzker law school, endorsed antisemitism by representing people in Gaza protests. Was that antisemitic, to defend those protesters?

Im not getting involved in what theyre attacking universities about, except to say this: The attack seems to use antisemitism to actually go after what they believe are liberal institutions. The reality is that universities are places that house free speech, that give an opportunity to young people to exercise their academic capability. When there was a Muslim ban imposed in Trumps first presidency, his first term, I went to OHare and there was a table of lawyers there to make sure that the law was being followed for people who were legal residents returning to the United States. I met the folks at that table, and some of them were from, guess what, the Pritzker School of Law at Northwestern.

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I was very proud of that fact, right? These are young people who believe in something, theyre out there standing up for it. I dont think the universities should be under attack by the federal government. So many of the great developments that exist in our society, our universities developed. So to have the federal government decide that theyre just going to pull away from universities and use antisemitism as an excuse seems un-American to me.

Youre also being invited to the House Oversight Committee to talk about sanctuary cities. Whats going to be your defense, if you go?

Yeah, they have about 800 different ways of defining a sanctuary state or sanctuary city. We have a law on the books that was signed by my Republican predecessor called the Trust Act. All it does is it says that our local officials, local law enforcement, cant be sequestered by the federal government to do the federal governments job  that what we need is for our police to be stopping violent crime on the streets of Chicago or across the state of Illinois. It lets police do their job.

By the way: I want every violent criminal whos undocumented, a violent criminal who is convicted, removed from my state and the country. And I think every Democrat should be saying that from the rafters. What we also want is comprehensive immigration reform. What does that mean? It means that people who are law-abiding, hard working, tax paying people who happen to be undocumented and have been in this country for some years  that we ought to find some path for them, right? These are the very people that, if you had a good immigration system, youd want to have come into the country.

My family came here as refugees. My family would not have survived if this country hadnt let them in. So, Im a believer that immigration is not just good because were saving lives, but also because its good for our economy. And let me add one other thing: We need to secure the border. This all goes together, securing the border and having comprehensive immigration reform and finding a path for people to stay legally in this country who are law-abiding, tax paying people. Right now, weve got a policy thats ruining the country, taking up citizens and disappearing them from the streets and ignoring habeas corpus.
Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Russia has asked for territory it hasnt conquered in peace talks over its invasion of Ukraine, as the White House continues to signal frustration with Moscow in its efforts to end the war.

Russia can't expect to be given territory that they haven't even conquered yet, Vance told Fox News Martha MacCallum in an interview. And that's one of the things that they've put down in that initial peace plan.

In the interview, Vance echoed statements he made at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington on Wednesday. Russia is "asking for too much, he said at the meeting, and would likely have to make concessions.

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But Vance told MacCallum on Thursday that Moscows sky-high demands make sense because Russia believes it is winning the war.

We knew that the Russians' first offer would be too much, we knew that they would ask for more than was reasonable to give, that's how negotiations often work, he said. I'm not bothered by that. What would bother me is if we conclude that the Russians are not engaging in the negotiation in good faith.

In that case, Vance said, the White House would walk away from its role as the mediator.

After initially focusing the ire of the White House predominantly on Ukraine in his efforts to broker a peace deal, President Donald Trump in recent weeks has signaled frustration with the lack of urgency coming from Russia.

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The president in April fretted that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be  tapping me along , and indicated he could employ sanctions in response.

Trump on Truth Social Thursday called for, ideally, a 30-day ceasefire between the two countries , with the threat of further sanctions if it isnt respected. But Vance on Wednesday said the White House was focusing on a long-term settlement.

The fact the Russians are offering a peace plan at all, that's a breakthrough. The fact the Ukrainians are offering a concrete proposal, that's a breakthrough. But we've got to try to get these sides a little bit closer together to achieve a lasting peace, Vance said. We are not there yet, we'll keep working on it until we decide that we ultimately can't make any more progress.
(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Jeanine Pirro, who co-hosts 'The Five' on Fox News and whose previous roles include serving as Westchester Countys assistant district attorney, will be appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Trump's first pick Ed Martin, who holds the job on an interim basis, failed to garner enough support to advance in the U.S. Senate.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Ryan Patrick Jones)
A man who allegedly stalked Jennifer Aniston and crashed his car through the gates of her home has been charged with vandalism.

Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, appeared shirtless and wrapped in a blanket when he attended a Los Angeles court on Thursday.

Prosecutors allege Mr Carwyle harassed Aniston with a flood of voicemails, emails and social media messages for two years.

The alleged campaign of harassment culminated in him driving into the gate of her house, prosecutors say.

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You are not to have any contact with Jennifer Aniston under any conditions, the judge said.

The defendant was ordered to refrain from contacting the star - Jennifer Aniston

Police say Aniston was home when Mr Carwyle crashed his Chrysler PT Cruiser through the gate of her home in the wealthy Bel Air neighborhood on Monday.

A security guard stopped him in her driveway before police arrived and arrested him. Nobody was injured in the crash.

Mr Carwyle also faces an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm.

If convicted he faces get up to three years in prison. A mental health court will first ascertain whether he is fit to stand trial.

A mental health court will decide if Mr Carwyle is fit to stand trial - Jae C Hong

Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles District Attorney, said in a statement: Stalking is a crime that can quickly escalate from harassment to dangerous, violent actions, threatening the safety of victims and our communities.

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My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who stalk and terrorise others, ensuring they are held accountable.

Aniston bought the mid century mansion on a 3.4-acre lot for about 16 million ($21 million) in 2012, according to reporting by Architectural Digest.

The Friends star became one of the most well known faces in television after spending 10 years on the long-running sitcom.

Aniston won an Emmy Award for best lead actress in a comedy for the role, and she has been nominated for nine more.

She currently stars in The Morning Show on Apple TV+.

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.
Newark, New Jersey mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Elizabeth on Friday as the mayor and members of Congress joined demonstrations demanding answers from Donald Trumps administration about the conditions inside, marking a major escalation of immigration protests surrounding the facility.

Videos from outside the facility shows a chaotic scene with masked federal officers pushing against a crowd in the detention centers parking lot as Baraka is shoved towards the building and then placed in handcuffs.

New Jerseys interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba  Trumps personal attorney  accused the mayor of trespassing and ignoring warnings from federal law enforcement agents to leave.

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He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, Habba wrote.

Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark confronts ICE agents at a demonstration outside an immigrant detention center in Elizabeth, on May 7. He was arrested outside the facility on May 9 (AFP via Getty Images)

Lawmakers gathered in Newark on Friday to demand answers from ICE following the opening of the private, for-profit facility that can detain more than 1,000 people.

In February, ICE agency awarded GEO Group a 15-year, $1 billion contract to hold immigrants facing deportation inside the two-story facility known as Delaney Hall.

The building is near Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been used by the federal government to stage removal flights.

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Baraka, a Democratic candidate for the states governor, has vowed to join daily demonstrations outside the facility until city officials are allowed inside to inspect its conditions. He said government officials did not obtain necessary permits to jail immigrants there, and the city of Newark filed a lawsuit against the administration last month in a last-ditch attempt to prevent its opening. The facility opened May 1.

Speaking on Fox News immediately following Barakas arrest, Habba refused to say where he is being detained.

We will not stand for anyone getting in the way and getting rid of criminals in this country, Habba said. Its very simple. Unfortunately, the mayor has publicly for three days been saying he will break in and eventually did break in and was given multiple opportunities to remove himself and failed to do so and has been detained and will be charged.

Three House members from New Jersey were allowed inside the facility on Friday, and Baraka was initially allowed into the fenced parking lot area before officers told him to leave and threatened him with arrest. A heated argument appeared to break out after agents blocked his entry and continued even after Baraka returned to the other side of the gates.

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In video from the scene, masked federal officers can be seen shoving back protesters and grabbing Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver past a fence into the facility as Baraka is moved towards the center. Agents appeared to swarm him and others as they blocked protesters from the fence.

McIver said she and Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman were assaulted and fellow New Jersey Rep. Robert Menendez Jr. was roughed up after what was supposed to be an oversight visit. Menendez called what happened to McIver an assault.

What we just witnessed was disgusting, McIver said outside the facility. If they can treat three members of Congress like that, just imagine how they can treat people on the street each and every day.

Watson Coleman said lawmakers had traveled to the facility to see the conditions.

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We dont know if everyone belongs there, and but we knew that people are OK, its safe, theyre feeding them, she told reporters. ICE is out of control. ICE thinks it can intimidate all of us. And it cannot intimidate any of us. And we the people will make sure that this administration adheres to the rules that separate us from dictatorships and other third world countries.

Rep. LaMonica McIver, joined by Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman, called federal agents treatment of lawmakers disgusting after Baraka was arrested at an ICE jail in New Jersey on May 9 (AP)

Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed Reps. Coleman and Robert Menendez Jr. stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility with multiple protesters.

This illegal breaking and entering of a detention facility puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk, she said in a statement.

Watson Colemans office said McLaughlins claims that lawmakers stormed the facility is factually inaccurate.

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No sitting mayor of an American city should be arrested for trying to inspect an immigration facility in their jurisdiction, New York Immigration Coalition president Murad Awawdeh said in a statement, calling the arrest a reckless and irresponsible action.

The incident follows intense scrutiny from Democratic members of Congress and opposition from civil rights groups and demonstrators across the country against the presidents anti-immigration agenda, which is seeking to swiftly deport tens of thousands of immigrants from the country housed in massive detention centers.

The Independent has requested comment from a spokesperson for Baraka.

Additional reporting from Justin Baragona
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Masimo said Tuesday it agreed to sell its Sound United consumer audio portfolio for $350 million to Samsung Electronics Harman International unit, freeing the company to focus on its professional healthcare business. The sale is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

The $1 billion acquisition of Sound United in 2022 was at the center of a proxy fight that ultimately led to the resignation of Masimo founder and longtime CEO Joe Kiani.

Masimo lowered its 2025 earnings per share forecast due to the impact of tariffs but maintained its revenue outlook in its first-quarter earnings release. The patient monitoring company also disclosed a cybersecurity incident that is limiting its ability to fulfill orders.

Dive Insight:

The sale price for Sound United, whose brands include Bowers & Wilkins, Denon and Marantz, is at a steep discount to what Masimo paid for the business three years ago.

When Masimo bought Sound United, Kiani championed the acquisition as an opportunity to leverage the companys consumer expertise, but investors questioned the strategy. Activist shareholder Politan Capital Management, arguing the deal and subsequent selloff in Masimos shares were the result of poor management, won a majority of seats on the companys board after a two-year battle. Kiani left the company soon after.

In finding a buyer for Sound United, the new Masimo board has achieved one of its main objectives, said Vice Chairman Quentin Koffey.

BTIG analyst Marie Thibault, in a note to investors Tuesday, called the Sound United sale a positive for the company and noted that Masimo would have increased its profit forecast if not for the impact of tariffs. Thibault believes the company's counteractions will likely be enough to achieve its financial guidance.

Masimo expects tariff impacts would reduce its 2025 non-GAAP earnings per share by 45 cents to 50 cents, before any tariff mitigation, to a range of $4.80 to $5.15. The company said it has developed mitigation plans that it will reassess and modify as needed, including adjusting product sourcing and operations.

The cyberattack on some of its manufacturing facilities, which Masimo discovered on April 27 and disclosed in a securities filing, disrupted the companys website and several computer systems but is not expected to affect its financial guidance.

Recommended Reading
NEWARK, New Jersey  The mayor of New Jerseys largest city, who is also a Democratic candidate for governor, was handcuffed and detained by federal officials on Friday at a protest ofan immigration detention centerfollowing a scrum involving federal agents and three members of Congress seeking a tour of the facility.

The arrest followed a chaotic scene in the detention facilitys parking lot involving protesters, federal law enforcement officers and the three Democratic members  Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver  at Delaney Hall. It is the Trump administration's newest Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility, which is expected to play a major role in its Northeast immigration operations.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was being held at a separate ICE field office in his own city as elected Democrats in New Jersey scrambled to get him released.



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The members of Congress all said they were touched to varying degrees and, in one case, assaulted by federal authorities at the facility.

"This most assuredly is the most discomforting, concerning visit we have had. And what we experienced was the weaponization, of the abuse of power, that this administration has given ICE to do," Watson Coleman said. "ICE is out of control."

The mayor and the three members of Congress had been visiting Delaney Hall hoping to inspect conditions inside. While the members were inside, Baraka waited in a fenced in parking lot at the facility while protesters gathered outside the fence.

The roughly 1,000-bed facility just recently started taking detainees. The Baraka administration has tried to prevent it from opening, taking the private prison operator that runs the facility to court and alleging it does not have proper city permits.

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The detention unfolded after Baraka was apparently allowed inside the fenced parking lot at the facility and then later told to leave.

The three House members had been inside the facility waiting for a tour but then came out after officers wearing gear that identified them variously as federal police, ICE and Homeland Security personnel began gathering near Baraka in the parking lot. At one point, the three Democratic members came out as authorities threatened to arrest Baraka. They all exited to a parking lot outside the fence where protesters had gathered in an attempt to defuse the situation and to avoid Baraka getting arrested.

The three members then reentered the fenced area while Baraka waited outside the fence, but Menendez quickly came back and warned Baraka that the authorities still wanted to arrest him. When Menendez came to warn Baraka, he looked through the fence and told the mayor, "They are talking about coming out to arrest you."

Later, Menendez told POLITICO that hed witnessed an agent inside the fenced area talking on the phone with someone who told the agent to arrest Baraka, who by then was outside of the fenced area. McIver gave a similar account in a press conference.

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Then law enforcement officials all came out, setting off a scrum in the parking lot area outside the fence, with Baraka and 80-year-old Watson Coleman near its middle.

It was a chaotic scene.

The group then moved to reenter the fenced-in area as Baraka was handcuffed and detained.

The interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, confirmed that Baraka was in custody.

"The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon," shewrote on X. "He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW."

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But the members of Congress also said they had been touched.

McIver, who represents Newark, said she and her colleagues came to the facility for a "simple oversight visit" but they had to wait about two hours to get inside. She and Watson Coleman were "assaulted" and Menendez was "roughed up" afterward. Menendez said that "all of us were touched," calling what happened to McIver an assault."

As they reached the gate after the scrum to reenter the secure area of the facility, Menendez said he witnessed a federal law enforcement official assault McIver.

It was a complete shove, Menendez said in an interview.

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McIver gave a similar account.

But even after that, the three members of Congress continued inside the secure area and received a tour. None of the members said they witnessed deplorable conditions at the facility, but by then the mayors arrest had overtaken the inspection.

"What we just witnessed was disgusting," McIver told reporters. "If they can treat three members of Congress like that, just imagine how they can treat people on the street each and every day."

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, described the events differently. It said in a statement that as a bus of detainees was entering the security gate of Delaney Hall a group of protesters and two members of Congress  Menendez and Watson Coleman  "stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.

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These members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk," the agency said. "Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.

protesters on the scene, which included members of the SEIU union, began moving to the field office across town when they learned Barak was being taken there.

By late afternoon, the three members of Congress reassembled at the field office and began pushing back against claims that they had stormed the facility. At least 100 protesters remained outside the facility in the rain Friday evening, chanting "free Ras Baraka."



Baraka, astaunch progressive and one of six Democrats running for governor this year, has been a vocal opponent of the Trump administrations plans for the immigration detention facility. While other Democratic candidates have spoken out against the Trump administrations recent immigration actions, none have done so as forcefully as Baraka. Hetook part in a rally against the reopening of the facility in March  footage of which hasappeared in his campaign ads  and has been demanding entry into Delaney Hall throughout the week since its opening.

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Newark, which is home to a diverse population, previouslyfiled a complaint with the Essex County Superior Court, alleging that ICE was planning to open Delaney Hall without following proper building safety protocols. (DHS told POLITICO in a statement that the facility has valid permits and inspection from plumbing, electricity to fire codes has been cleared.) GEO Group, the private prison contractor that owns the facility, has accused the legal action of being politically motivated. GEO Group referred POLITICO to ICE for comment.

At the March rally, Baraka told reporters that he would love to see action from his fellow Democratic candidates regarding immigration.

They say they are against the detention facility in Newark, and that's the talk," Baraka said at the time. "I would love to see them out to help us in this effort. I mean, it is a competition, so maybe they feel like coming here supports me. I don't know what it is. I can't speak for them, but I would love to see them out here.

The arrest puts Baraka in the national spotlight with a month to go before the June 10 primary. Just two hours after he was led away in handcuffs, Barakas campaign sent out a text message asking for donations. Ras was at Delaney Hall today demanding entry into the ICE detention center where Trump and MAGA extremists are illegally detaining people, it read. Ras is ready to do whatever it takes to stop Trump and to protect New Jerseyans from his extreme agenda. We need you with us now more than ever.

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Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement he was outraged by the unjust arrest of Baraka. The governor noted that he signed a law several years ago that aims to ban private immigration detention facilities, but the law has not been enforced amid a pending lawsuit.

Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors, he said. I am calling for his immediate release by federal law enforcement.

The arrest alarmed other pro-immigrant activists who were in attendance.

If they can do this to a mayor that has a profile as large as Mayor Baraka, what are they going to do to people protesting at Tesla stores? said Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

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Other Democratic candidates running for governor condemned the arrest. Rep. Mikie Sherrillcalled it an "absolute outrage," while Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City,said it was "a dangerous precedent  and it demands condemnation in the strongest possible terms." Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney called for his release, as did Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who said that Delaney Hall has an environment ripe with mistreatment and abuse.

New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller said that he will go to Delaney Hall tomorrow, and called on the other candidates to join him in standing together for justice.

Meanwhile, Republicans attacked Baraka. Bob Hugin, the state Republican Party chair, warned that Baraka would be a governor who puts political theater ahead of public safety and the rule of law. The GOP gubernatorial hopefuls also went after him, with former radio host Bill Spadea saying that he should be embarrassed by his behavior and former Assemblymember Jack Ciattarelli calling Baraka shameful.

In Newark, the airport is in the midst of an unprecedented & dangerous meltdown, the public schools are failing students & families, and there is crime in the streets every day, Ciattarelli wrote. And yet its Mayor and leading Democrat candidate for Governor  is busy shilling for illegal Immigrants at an ICE detention center with a cheap publicity stunt.

Madison Fernandez and Daniel Han contributed to this report.
Jimmy Kimmel warned President Donald Trumps base that his first big tariff deal shows he doesnt really care about them.

Trump on Thursday announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom that essentially triples the taxes Americans will pay on British goods.

He is very proud of himself for making a trade agreement with a country we were trading with just fine until he screwed it all up, Kimmel said.

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The late night host noted that some companies such as Rolls-Royce got a special break in the deal. While most imported cars now face a 25% tariff, Trump agreed to cut that to 10% for British automakers, which are mostly luxury brands.

Rest easy, Ma and Pa MAGA hat, Kimmel snarked. Youre still gonna lose the farm, but youll only have to pay 10% extra on that Rolls-Royce youve had your eye on.

See more in his Thursday night monologue:
More than 100 days into Donald Trumps return to the presidency, former President Joe Biden has weighed in on former Vice President Kamala Harris 2024 election loss.

During a Thursday episode of The View, Biden reflected on his withdrawal from the race last July, Harris 107-day campaign as his successor, and the result.

Host Sara Haines asked the former president point-blank: Why do you think the vice president lost, and were you surprised?

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Biden responded that he wasnt surprised by the outcome despite believing that Harris met the qualifications for the role.

I wasnt surprised because they went the sexist route, the whole route. This is a woman, shes this, shes that, really, Ive never seen quite as successful and consistent [of a] campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldnt lead the country  and a woman of mixed race, he said.

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris and then-President Joe Biden pose together on Jan. 15, 2025. Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Biden reiterated that while he was very disappointed, he still wasnt surprised. What did surprise him, he said, was the success to which theyve gone in some of the attacks theyve made.

During the 2024 campaign, critics questioned everything from Harris racial identity to her upbringing and even whether she truly worked at McDonalds.

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The former president also said that he and Harris talk frequently, noting she had recently sought his opinion for a reason he declined to disclose.

Shes got a difficult decision to make about what shes going to do, Biden said of Harris next move. I hope she stays fully engaged. I think shes first-rate.



He ended on an encouraging note, saying he remains optimistic about Harris future.

During the interview, Biden  later joined by his wife, former first lady Jill Biden also spoke candidly about the hurtful attacks on his cognition, saying there was nothing to sustain the concerns about his fitness for office.

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His wife added her own perspective.

Being president is not like a job. Its a lifestyle, she said. You live it 24 hours a day. That phone can ring at 11:00 at night or 2:00 in the morning. Its constant. You never leave it. And Joe worked really hard.

Related...
Joe Biden believes he knows exactly why Donald Trump talks about him so much.

During the Thursday, May 8 broadcast of The View, former first lady Dr. Jill Biden and the former president sat down for a conversation with the hosts of the daytime talk show, where Joy Behar made the claim that the president is "obsessed" with Biden and his family.

SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox

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"Have you noticed that Trump can't stop talking about you?" Behar, 82, asked Biden during Thursday's show, adding with a laugh, "He's obsessed with you."

She then went on to list a number of statistics regarding how many times Trump has mentioned Biden, his family or his administration. According to Behar, that number is upwards of 580 as of late April. Plus, at his cabinet meeting last week, Biden's name was reportedly mentioned 52 times.

"Why is he so fixated on you?" Behar asked Biden, 82, who had a very simple response to the question.

"I beat him," Biden said with a smirk, which made the studio audience erupt in laughter and applause.

Biden came out on top of Trump in the 2020 election, barring him from staying in the White House for a second consecutive term. Trump eventually got voted into office again in November 2024, when he won the election against Biden's Vice President, Kamala Harris.

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"He's just ticked off," Behar added, after noting that Trump is still "blaming" Biden and his administration for the current economic state of the nation.

"I'm used to dealing with bullies," Biden added.

Related: Whoopi Goldberg Asks Co-Hosts If She's 'Crazy' For Making Bold Claim About Donald Trump
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Johnstown police have a suspect in custody following a shooting that injured one person in Moxham Wednesday morning.

Police were dispatched at 7:15 a.m. to the area of Village Street and 500 Place. By that time, the suspect had already fled the scene to Kernville, where he was taken into custody later in the morning, Johnstown police Capt. Dan Price said.

With the suspect in custody, Price said there was no threat to the public.

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Police were also able to speak with the victim, who was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center on Franklin Street, Price said.

Residents and business owners in the area of the shooting watched Wednesday as police, aided by the Cambria County SERT team, executed a search warrant to find the firearm, which they believe the suspect discarded when he ran.

After a search that employed metal detectors and a drone, the firearm wasn't found in the area of Village Street and 500 Place, Price said.

Three Greater Johnstown schools entered an hour-long "shelter-in-place" protocol at 7:25 a.m. Wednesday when school officials were alerted by police.

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"We were alerted by local police that shots were fired in the Moxham section of our city," Greater Johnstown Superintendent Amy Arcurio said in an email. "During a shelter-in-place, we continue all educational activities. However, due to the threat in the community, no one can exit or enter our schools until the shelter is lifted," she said. "The shelter was lifted at 8:25 a.m as the Johnstown Police Department notified us that we were no longer in a potentially threatening situation. We appreciate the swift action and communication we received, as keeping our schools safe is priority one."

Check back for additional information on this developing story.
Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) told reporters that they would be starting from base with the budget. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

The Joint Finance Committee kicked off its work on the next Wisconsin State Budget Thursday by eliminating over 600 items from Gov. Tony Evers sweeping budget proposal, saying they would start from base and his budget had too much irresponsible spending. Democrats criticized Republicans for blocking all of Evers proposals without presenting a plan of their own to address the concerns of everyday Wisconsinites.

The committee spent last month hearing from members of the public, many of whom called for investments in public education and health care, and from some agency heads, who have defended Gov. Tony Evers budget requests. The state has a $4 billion budget surplus its considering, and Evers proposed the state tap those funds and raise income taxes on the wealthiest Wisconsinites to fund his proposals.

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The list that lawmakers eliminated from the budget bill spanned about 20 pages and includes a new 9.8% income tax bracket for high-income earners, Medicaid expansion, nearly $500 million for the Child Care Counts program, marijuana legalization and taxation, $125 million to create a grant program to address PFAS, $200 million to address the replacement of lead pipes and other provisions to help address lead poisoning and many provisions related to public schools including free school meals, a grow your own teaching program and ensuring access to menstrual supplies in schools, funding for the Office of School Safety and a provision to cap participation in the states voucher programs.

Ahead of the budget meeting, committee co-chairs Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) told reporters that they would be starting from base with the budget, meaning removing all of the items and taking the budget back to the one in place for 2023-2025.

Born said legislators are accustomed to the way we have to manage the governors executive budgets. Since Evers took office in 2019, Republicans have kicked off every budget cycle by removing all of his proposals.

Unfortunately, [Evers] sends us an executive budget thats just piles full of stuff that doesnt make sense and spends recklessly and raises taxes and has way too much policy, Born said. So, well work from base and the first step of that today is to remove all that policy and then begin the work of rebuilding the budget.

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Responding to Democrats criticism that Republicans are removing items that are popular with the public, Marklein said they should draft separate bills and use the regular legislative process to advance those ideas.

I can point to things in the budget bill that were going to pull up that I like and were pulling that out as well. Its a policy, Marklein said. Its got nothing to do with the budget.

Born noted that there are also other ways that lawmakers could address issues of concern apart from Evers suggestions, saying the removal of items doesnt mean that when we build this budget over the next couple of months, we wont impact those areas in positive and significant ways.

The governor has one idea on how to fund child care or one idea on how to impact mental health, Born said. There are other ways that we can do that in current law and current budget operations by inserting more money in things that I can most likely see us do.

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Marklein also noted that there could be some changes to how they go about drafting the budget this year following the state Supreme Court upholding Evers partial veto in the last budget.

I anticipate that youre not going to see too many references to digits, years anymore, Marklein said. My guess is that our drafting attorneys are going to recommend that you spell out those years, and those dates in the budget. Born said the decision could also affect the education budget because there are increases already baked into the cake.

Evers slammed Republicans for gutting his proposal, saying that they are refusing to help Wisconsinites.

The most frustrating part for me as governor is that Republicans consistently reject basic, commonsense proposals that can help kids, families, farmers, seniors and Wisconsinites across our state, all while Republicans offer no real or meaningful alternative of their own, Evers said. Republicans talk a lot about what theyre against, but not what theyre for.

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During the meeting, Democrats proposed keeping 19 items in the budget across a handful of motions that touched on certain issue areas, saying they hoped they could carve out some spots for agreement.

One would have placed $420 million back in the budget to fund the Child Care Counts program, as well as several other child care related measures.

Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) said Republicans are willing to pull out really, really important items and said the child care proposals are essential, warning that money for the Child Care Counts program is expected to expire in June.

We are at risk of losing 87,000 [child care] slots The fact that these things are being pulled out of the budget today and as of today, there is no mention or discussion of a replacement plan for something as important as this, she said, is creating uncertainty among Wisconsinites and exacerbating a crisis.

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Our children deserve quality services. Our families deserve affordable rates, Johnson said.

Another motion would have placed Medicaid expansion back in the budget. Wisconsin is one of only 10 states that havent accepted the federal expansion, which would allow coverage for those up to 138% of the federal poverty line.

Families are struggling to afford the care they need, and we have an opportunity  and I would argue an obligation  to do something, Andraca said.

Andraca noted that Congressional Republicans, including Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, are considering cuts to the Medicaid program as they aim to extend the 2017 tax cuts from President Donald Trumps first term.

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We heard how people are fearful of cuts to the programs that they rely on, and they are forced to make increasingly hard choices between groceries and prescriptions, Andraca said. Are you still willing to turn your backs on the people who entrusted us to vote for their best interests? Honestly, our constituents deserve better than this.

The final proposal from Democrats would have kept items in the budget related to veterans including tax credits for veterans, funding for a veterans mental health program and for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as well as an item to designate Juneteenth and Veterans Day as holidays.

Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha) said he hoped they could agree on not making veterans lives harder.

I recognize that its sort of the whole brand of the Republican party right now is to make everyones life a little bit more difficult, McGuire said. Certainly, its harder to travel in this country, Its harder for people to access health insurance, its harder for people to afford college or go to college or manage their student loans. Its harder for people to afford groceries and there may even be a question of what you can have full shelves soon I know its your whole brand to make peoples lives harder, but I think we can all agree [veterans] should still deserve some support.

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Republicans rejected each motion.

McGuire doubled down on his point, saying that Republicans opposition to supporting even smaller parts of Evers proposal is a sign that they dont want to help the average person.

People are struggling and it is a challenging world and the one thing we should not be doing the one thing that nobody votes for their legislator to do is to make their life harder, McGuire said. Yet, that is all we are seeing out of the Republican party right now. Thats all we see out of the federal Republican party and frankly the Republican party here, McGuire said, noting that Republican lawmakers recently passed legislation that would place additional restrictions on unemployment benefits.

Youre making things less affordable and more difficult for regular [people] and thats bad and we shouldnt do it, McGuire said.

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Marklein said he was glad were going back to base because Evers budget proposal included a 20% increase in spending, an additional 1,300 positions funded by general purpose revenue and an increase in taxes.

When I talk to my constituents about the process, they are truly supportive of us not starting from this inflated budget that [Evers] put before us, Marklein said, noting that Evers signed the last budget after they went through a similar process. The idea that the door is closed on all these things is pretty ridiculous.

McGuire pushed back on Markleins comments, saying that lawmakers are pretending it is a nice and friendly process.

Part of the process that occurs here today is that not only do you remove the governors budget items, which make life easier for Wisconsinites, but then, you also prohibit anyone from ever discussing them ever again, McGuire said. And thats really bizarre This is a top-down totalitarian committee where were not permitted to discuss things past a certain point.

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JOPLIN, Mo,  A work in progressthats how the Joplin Police Chief describes year end crime trends from 2024.

Dr. Richard Pearson says crime was down two percent last year, but his goal is an even bigger drop in 2025. 2024 saw fewer reports of robbery, sex crimes, and burglaryand no homicides.

But there were higher numbers of assault, arson, and larceny. Pearson points to new initiatives which started last year that he says will reduce crime in Joplin.

You want to go after the guy whos a one-man crime wave, who goes after multiple cars, he creates multiple victims. Those are the people we want to focus on. So, I think with the use of our flex platoon, were going to be addressing that. Weve started a relationship with probation and parole. If youre in Jasper County, were going to be working with them, to do some home visits with them, said JPD Chief Richard Pearson.

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Chief Pearson is also encouraging residents to be proactive about crime. He says the city could see bigger reductions in property crime if everyone would make sure to lock homes and car doors on a regular basis.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
This article was originally published in Maryland Matters.

A U.S. District Court judge in New York on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Trump administrations plan to cancel more than $1 billion of previously approved pandemic-era relief funding to schools across the country.

The preliminary injunction issued by District Judge Edgardo Ramos prevents the U.S. Department of Education and its secretary, Linda McMahon, from recovering money during the pendency of this litigation or until further order of the Court.

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Maryland had joined 15 states and the District of Columbia in the suit against the department and McMahon last month. The suit, filed April 10, followed a letter from McMahon that arrived in email inboxes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28, advising state school officials that any unspent COVID-19 federal recovery funds were being reclaimed immediately.

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Most of the money in Maryland comes from the American Rescue Plans Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ARP ESSER, program. McMahon wrote that it didnt make sense for the federal goverment to be awarding COVID-19 grants years after the COVID pandemic ended.

Maryland officials initially estimated that as much as $418 million could be at stake, the most of any state in the lawsuit. School officials announced last week, before the state Board of Education meeting, that the number is actuallly closer to $232.1 million, but the injunction was still welcome.

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COVID-19 may be over, but its impact is still being felt in schools across our State and nation, as reading and math scores remain lower than pre-pandemic levels and students continue to struggle with behavioral health issues since schools reopened, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) said in a statement Tuesday.

This ruling preserves hundreds of millions of dollars for Maryland schools, allowing our educational leaders to continue giving their students the support they need and deserve, Brown said.

A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday night.

The money is being used for various educational programs and school construction projects, ranging from tutoring and reading materials to the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

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The lawsuit highlighted several affected projects, such as Baltimore City Public Schools cancellation of tutoring and after-school programs. The school system hasnt been reimbursed $48 million.

Besides D.C. and Maryland, others in the suit were Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org.
Jimmy Hill became visibly emotional on Monday as he watched retired Atlanta police officer Sung Kim testify for the first time in federal court about fatally shooting Hills son, Jimmy Atchison.

Hill told Capital B Atlanta after the evidentiary hearing that he got caught up in the moment during Kims remarks, which he characterized as untrue.

It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of ones actions, Hill said, quoting Indian independence leader Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi. Sung Kim made a choice to take my son Jimmy Atchisons life.

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Kim spoke at an evidentiary hearing at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in downtown Atlanta about the January 2019 encounter in which he and members of other law enforcement agencies serving on an FBI task force for fugitive apprehension pursued the 21-year-old Atchison, who was suspected of robbing a woman at gunpoint. After Kim shot and killed Atchison, a witness came forward saying there was no gun or force used during the alleged robbery.

Since Atchisons death more than six years ago, his family has been vocal about demanding accountability for law enforcement who use lethal force. A Fulton County grand jury indicted Kim in 2022 on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, and violation of oath for his actions that day. None of the other task force members was charged.

Mondays hearing was the last one before District Court Judge Michael L. Brown decides, based on the facts of the case, whether to dismiss the charges against Kim or allow the case to proceed to trial.

[People] should know that Jimmy was not a bad child, Atchisons aunt, Tammie Featherstone, told Capital B Atlanta after the hearing. This entire situation was bogus. It should have been investigated deeply before they even issued a warrant for him.

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According to Kims testimony, task force officers followed Atchison into an apartment after he had evaded arrest on foot twice earlier that morning. Kim said he and another officer entered a bedroom, where he saw the white of one of Atchisons eyeballs from under a pile of clothes he hid beneath.

Thats when the prosecution says officers shouted conflicting commands, with one instructing Atchison to show his hands and another telling him not to move.

There are conflicting reports about what Atchison did next. Kim testified that he saw Atchison raise his right hand, while other officers told investigators they saw Atchison raise both hands or a fist.

I fired my weapon because when the hand raised that fast, that quickly, I thought I was gonna get shot, Kim testified. I feared for my life.

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Judge Brown gave the prosecution until May 14 to file an additional brief before he makes his decision.

Featherstone, who said shes skeptical of Kims version of events, added that she was hopeful that the judge would be fair based on the questions he asked the attorneys before Kim testified.

Its been hard for the family, she said. Its been very hard.

The post Judge to Decide Whether to Move Forward With Trial in Fatal Police Shooting of Jimmy Atchison appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A judge this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court denied a request for bail by a suspect accused of the shooting death of a teen at a birthday party in 2023.

Judge Anthony DApolito made his decision Wednesday during a pretrial hearing for Danyo Sellers, 18.

Sellers was originally charged as a juvenile with murder, felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter for the April 15, 2023 death of Amya Monserrat, 15, who was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Southern Boulevard restaurant following a birthday party.

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It is the fifth time that attorneys for Sellers, also known as Legend Pless, have made the request.

The case is set for trial July 14.

In their latest request, Sellers attorneys said their client should be granted bail because a key prosecution witness who has already pleaded guilty in the case but has yet to be sentenced has recanted his story, and that physical evidence collected by city police back up Sellers version of events.

Prosecutors filed a brief last week opposing the request.

Police said Sellers was part of a group of people feuding with another group at the birthday party, and Sellers group drove by and exchanged gunfire with others in the parking lot when Monserrat was shot.

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Sellers case was bound over to common pleas court following a hearing in juvenile court.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Tokyo-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has entered into an agreement to acquire a 10% stake in CI Fengmiao, a move that marks its growing involvement in the offshore wind power sector.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is developing the Feng Miao offshore wind farm in Taiwan through CI Fengmiao, which holds 100% of shares in the project.

This strategic investment is expected to provide MOL with valuable insights from the construction phase of the wind power project.

Located approximately 35km off the coast of Taichung County, Taiwan, the Feng Miao I offshore wind farm will boast a generating capacity of 495MW.

This output is sufficient to power around 650,000 households, making a significant contribution to Taiwan's energy needs.

The project will be equipped with 33 bottom fixed Vestas-15MW turbine units.

The investment by MOL is projected to be around Y25bn ($172.6m), underlining the company's commitment to renewable energy.

CIP partner and head of Asia-Pacific Thomas Wibe Poulsen said: We are delighted to welcome MOL as co-investor in Fengmiao  and I am confident that we together will bring a project of the highest standards to commercial operation. The transaction recognises the value created by CIP during the development phase as well as CIPs strong offshore wind track record in Taiwan.

Construction of the wind farm commenced in March 2025, simultaneously with the final investment decision, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Fengmiao I's funding structure includes a mix of equity investments and senior debt provided by a group of 27 global and local Taiwanese banks and financial entities, with partial backing from four export credit agencies, along with guarantees from Taiwan's National Credit Guarantee Administration.

The generated green energy will supply a consortium of six major local and international energy consumers in Taiwan, including Google and United Microelectronics Corporation, under long-term power purchase agreements.

MOL's involvement in the Feng Miao I project follows its previous investment in the Formosa I offshore wind farm, reinforcing its strategy to expand its renewable energy business.

The company plans to dispatch personnel to oversee the project from the construction phase and will also provide vessel support for construction and maintenance operations.

"MOL expands renewable energy portfolio with 10% stake in CI Fengmiao" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




When the crypto-trading platform FTX imploded, various celebrity endorsers found themselves on the wrong end of a civil action. Now, a judge has dismissed most of the claims against a group of big names, including Tom Brady.

Via MacKenzie Sigalos of CNBC.com, a federal judge in Florida has found that the plaintiffs failed to prove that Brady and others had sufficient knowledge that FTX and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried were engaged in misconduct.

Other defendants include Gisele Bundchen, Steph Curry, Shohei Ohtani, Larry David, the Golden State Warriors, Udonis Haslem, David Ortiz, and Naomi Osaka.

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The judge explained that, even thought Brady and others may have been "uninformed, negligent, or even reckless, the plaintiffs failed to show that they had actual knowledge of fraud or intent to deceive or defraud FTX investors.

The judge did not dismiss claims based on Florida and Oklahoma securities laws; both states prohibit the sale of unregistered securities. Also, the plaintiffs were given an opportunity to amend their complaint, which could result in fresh claims that will stick.

Per the report, Shaquille O'Neal reached a settlement the FTX investors last month.

Brady had been a prominent endorser of what ultimately was a house of cards. It was if nothing else a major embarrassment for the six-time Super Bowl winner. The financial fiasco hasn't really stuck to him the way it could have and arguably should have.

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As Brady said in one of his commercials, "FTX is the safest and easiest way to buy crypto." (It was not.)

Brady and others could still end up being stuck with legal responsibility to partially compensate some of the folks who lost money when they took Brady's advice and gave FTX their money.
The Franklin County sheriff was ordered to return 48 guns to the county jail by 5 p.m. Thursday.

Walla Walla Superior Court Judge Brandon Johnson said the guns need to be returned to the jails gun storage cabinet where they were stored before being seized 10 days ago.

The court is going to order that all the weapons be returned immediately, Johnson said Thursday afternoon following a 90-minute hearing at the Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco.

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We can deal with paperwork on the back end. We cant deal with a serious safety threat on the back end, he ruled.

The chance the guns will be needed by corrections officers escorting prisoners to court or the hospital or in the case of a jail uprising made it more important for the jail officers to have them available, Johnson said.

The dispute over control of the guns and the need for a quick ruling came after Franklin County commissioners voted suddenly on April 23 to take over immediate control of the jail from Sheriff Jim Raymond.

The result was serious confusion over the legal authority over the weapons for jail officers and security at the courthouse.

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On Thursday, Johnson allowed Sheriff Raymond to keep control over the small security gatehouse in front of the courthouse for at least another week.

County commissioners had hired a private firm, Tri-Cities Monitoring, to take charge of searching people entering the courthouse and county complex but the sheriff refused to allow them to start.

Judge Brandon Johnson from Walla Walla conducts Thursdays court hearing in Franklin County Superior Court in Pasco.

Dis puted court order

The only issue decided Thursday was over the guns that were originally assigned to corrections officers under the legal commission of Raymond. When the jail was taken from his authority, he argued that the officers were no longer his employees under his legal control and was concerned about the legal issues of having them in the hands of people who arent certified by him.

County prosecutors got a temporary court order signed by Judge Pro-Tem Jennifer Azure saying that Raymond needed to leave them be in the jail.

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But Raymond disputed the validity of that order and took matters into his own hands and went into the jail and seized the weapons.

That lead the deputies and sheriffs commanders unions to file for their own court order to bar the sheriff from ordering them to violate court orders. They were granted a temporary court order.

Prosecutors also asked for Raymond to be found in contempt of court.

The cases were then assigned to Johnson because of conflict of interest issues with local judges.

About 25 listen as Judge Brandon Johnson from Walla Walla speak at Thursdays court hearing in Franklin County Superior Court in Pasco.

New attorney for sheriff

Until this week, Sheriff Raymond had no attorney representing him. His first attorney had a conflict of interest, and he declined to work with the second one assigned.

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Hes now been assigned Bob Christie, a Seattle-based civil attorney with Baker Sterchi Cowden and Rice.

However, Christie was appointed days before Thursdays hearing and told the judge he wasnt prepared to argue on all the issues.

He wanted until Monday to come up with a plan to return just four of the guns to the jail.

What Ive undertaken to do and have been successful in doing in the short amount of time that Ive been involved in this is to determine some things that would create a pathway to bringing a limited number of weapons back into a secure area outside of the jail, Christie argued.

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He argued there are still two weapons that were in the hands of the jail as well as sheriffs commission cards that needed to be returned to the sheriff.

Sheriff Jim Raymond attends Thursdays court hearing via a video link from his office.

Christie said once those are in the hands of the sheriff, they could begin to work on a process to get some of the guns back to the jail.

He noted that under jail procedures guns are taken into the jail and are used only by officers escorting inmates outside the jail. As for a possible riot inside the facility, he noted there has never been an uprising.

There are commissioned Franklin County sheriffs deputies that are still fully commissioned with weapons engaged in the daytime hours to transfer prisoners in and out of the courtroom  fully armed, no issue there, Christie contended. This hue and cry of the need for some weapons for a possible emergency ... is not a practicality.

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While the guns are county property, Christie argued they were issued by the authority of the sheriff, and since the jail isnt a law enforcement agency anymore it doesnt legally have right to issue guns.

The sheriff planned to issue a limited commission to the corrections officers, but that process will take time, he said.

Corrections officers safety

Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Briggs argued that the weapons are necessary to protect the safety of the corrections officers at the jail. Each had been issued a gun.

Every moment that the corrections officers do not have access to these firearms puts their lives in danger, Briggs said. Thats our primary concern.

Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier attends the court hearing Thursday in Franklin County Superior Court in Pasco.

The corrections officers also need the weapons to ensure the safety of the community at large, he argued, saying the sheriff should be found in contempt for seizing them.

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He noted that the sheriff knew that they needed these tools to do there job. Having the weapons was part of the jails policies.

With only one squad working Monday through Friday, they dont have access to guns on nights or weekends.

Its a very dangerous situation, not to mention the exposure of liability to the county, he argued. Im very concerned for the safety and security of the people that put their lives on the line working for the county every day.

Johnson said the safety concerns outweighed Raymonds worries about whether the corrections officers could legally have the guns.

Another hearing on the other issues is scheduled for May 15.
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia  A federal judge has cleared the way for the CIA to fire a doctor criticized by some of President Donald Trumps supporters for her role in the mandatory vaccination of military service members against coronavirus.

At a hearing Friday, U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff declined Dr. Terry Adirims request for a temporary restraining order blocking the CIA from dismissing her as director of the spy agencys Center for Global Health Services. The judge, a Biden appointee, also lifted an administrative stay he issued last week putting Adirims firing on hold.

Adirim had argued that her impending termination was the result of public attacks by some of Trumps most vocal social media defenders, who had highlighted her role in the Biden-era Covid policy shortly before her termination. She pointed, in particular, to posts on X by Ivan Raiklin, who publicly characterized her as the architect of the Pentagons Jab Genocide Mandate.

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Adirims suit alleges, citing common sense and evidence to be acquired through the litigation, that Raiklin asked prominent pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer to encourage Trump to have Adirim fired, and that Loomer relayed this to the president during an April meeting in the Oval Office. Raiklin, who attended the hearing, flatly denied to reporters that he urged Loomer to ask Trump to fire Adirim.

A lawyer for Adirim, Kevin Carroll, also argued that a post on X from Donald Trump Jr. welcoming Adirims firing amounted to the CIA publicly endorsing claims that she acted illegally or unethically.

The CIA, however, has sharply rejected any connection between the public campaign against Adirim and its decision to fire her. The agency indicated that it had received multiple complaints by several different CIA officers about Adirims conduct and that those complaints had caused concern among agency leadership.

There is no reason other than the close timing of Ms. Loomers White House visit and the CIAs communication of its termination decision to Plaintiff to suggest the two are linked, the Justice Department argued in advance of the hearing.

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Nachmanoff zeroed in Friday on the post by the presidents son, saying that it did not appear to amount to evidence that the CIA was defaming her. and could not justify a temporary restraining order keeping her in her job, Carroll said. However, according to the lawyer, the judge said he was not expressing any judgement about the underlying legal merits of Adirims suit.

Speaking to reporters following the hearing Friday, Raiklin said he did not communicate with Loomer in the months prior to Adirims firing.

Raiklin also said documents make clear that Adirim was involved in executing the Biden administrations mandatory vaccination policy for members of the armed forces. He pointed to a Sept. 14, 2021, memo Adirim issued while serving as the acting principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs that instructed health providers to use Pfizer and Comirnaty vaccines to carry out the vaccination mandate.

Raiklin also noted that on Wednesday a senior Pentagon official issued a memo calling the 2021 mandate unlawful as implemented.

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Raiklin rejected claims that he was tipped off to Adirims role at the CIA. He pointed to her LinkedIn post last year announcing that she was starting a new position as Senior Executive at US Federal Government! He said that language is often used by people referencing their work for the CIA.

A CIA spokesperson declined to comment.

Nachmanoff started the hearing before the scheduled time Friday, leading to several reporters arriving just as the court session ended.
BURLINGTON, Vermont  A federal judge Friday ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Tufts University Ph.D. student whose video-recorded detention by masked federal agents drew national scrutiny amid a crackdown by the Trump administration.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions III ruled that Ozturk had been unlawfully detained in March for little more than authoring an op-ed critical of Israel in her school newspaper.

That literally is the case. There is no evidence here  absent consideration of the op-ed, the Clinton-appointed judge said, describing it as an apparent violation of her free speech rights. He also said Ozturk had made significant claims of due process violations. Her continued detention cannot stand.

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Sessions said the Trump administrations targeting of Ozturk could chill the speech of millions and millions of noncitizens.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had revoked Ozturks visa, saying her continued presence in the United States was contrary to American foreign policy interests, part of a wave of similar visa terminations targeting students who had criticized Israel or joined pro-Palestinian protests.

Ozturk is currently detained in Louisiana, but the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ordered her returned by May 14 to Vermont, where she had been held when her attorneys filed an emergency petition for her release. Fridays order for her immediate release comes just days after another Vermont-based federal judge, Geoffrey Crawford, ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian Columbia University student who had been active in campus protest.

Sessions order, while expressing severe doubts about the constitutionality of Ozturks detention and deportation, only applies to her immediate confinement. Efforts by the Trump administration to deport Ozturk will continue in immigration court.

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The Justice Department had argued largely that Sessions had no authority to order Ozturks release, but made little substantive case against her bid for release from incarceration. Videos of her apprehension by ICE went viral in March, showing a group of masked, plainclothes agents surrounding her in Somerville, Massachusetts, and whisking her away in broad daylight. She has been detained since.

Sessions found that in addition to the violation of her constitutional rights, she faced significant risk in ICE custody for an exacerbation of her diagnosed chronic asthma. He asked the Justice Department to notify him as soon as she is released from detention.

Ozturk, who attended the hearing virtually from the ICE facility in Louisiana, at times appeared emotional during more than three hours of proceedings. She testified about her academic work researching child development at Tufts and shared how her health has worsened significantly since being held in custody. At one point she briefly left the hearing, citing an asthma flareup.

Dozens of protestors appeared outside the Burlington courthouse, waving Palestinian flags and signs of support.

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Ozturk probably doesnt have a whole lot going on other than reaching out to her community in a caring and compassionate way, Sessions said.

Both the Justice Department and Ozturks attorneys floated the idea that Ozturks travel be limited to Vermont, where the court challenge is pending, and Massachusetts, where she lives.

But the judge declined to impose any limits on her travel. I dont find that she poses any risk of flight, the judge said.

Crampton reported from Burlington, Vermont. Cheney reported from Washington, D.C.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misstated who appointed U.S. District Judge William Sessions III.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  After nearly a month in federal custody following a controversial arrest by immigration agents, a New Bedford man is set to be released, 12 News has confirmed.

On Thursday morning, Judge Donald Ostrom agreed to dismiss the case against 29-year-old Juan Francisco Mendez, who is currently being held at a detention facility in New Hampshire.

Mendez was taken into custody on April 14 after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers pulled him over on Tallman Street and shattered his car window.

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BACKGROUND: ICE agents shatter car window during New Bedford arrest

As the couple waited for their attorney, Ondine Galvez Sniffin, to arrive, agents surrounded the vehicle and warned them the situation could be handled the easy way or the hard way.

Mendezs wife, Marilu Domingo Ortiz, recorded the incident in a cell phone video that has since made international headlines. It shows an ICE agent using a large tool to smash the backseat window and forcibly remove Mendez from the vehicle.

While an ICE spokesperson defended the agents actions that day, stressing that Francisco Mendez refused to comply with instructions, Sniffin argued they detained the wrong person. She said the agents told her clients they were looking for someone named Antonio.

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Since Mendezs wife was granted asylum due to persecution in her home country, the couple is lawfully present in the United States, according to Sniffin. She also said Mendez has no criminal record.

Meanwhile, ICE claimed Mendez entered the U.S. illegally or without inspection. While the agency acknowledged he has no criminal history, a spokesperson described him as an illegally present Guatemalan alien.

RELATED: ICE defends agents who smashed car window during New Bedford arrest

But after determining that the federal government had not submitted charging documents, the judge decided to close the case as a failure to prosecute.

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Francisco Mendez has not yet been released. Sniffin referenced the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador but has not been returned to the U.S.  despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering his removal. She told 12 News she hopes this does not become a similar situation.

Sniffin said she has contacted ICE, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New Hampshire attorney who filed the habeas corpus petition on her clients behalf regarding his release. She hopes Mendez will be returned to New Bedford Thursday evening, where his wife and child await him.

MORE: Congressman questions violent destruction during New Bedford ICE arrest

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A federal judge on Friday ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University who had been held for six weeks in an immigration detention center, ruling that her arrest and continued confinement were unlawful and raised serious constitutional concerns.

Judge William K. Sessions III of the U.S. District Court in Vermont found that Ozturk, who was detained in March after co-authoring a pro-Palestinian op-ed in her campus newspaper, had been targeted for her speech in a manner that violated her First Amendment and due process rights. The ruling is a sharp rebuke of the Trump administrations use of visa revocations and deportation proceedings against foreign students accused of dissenting from U.S. foreign policy.

There is no evidence here absent consideration of the op-ed, Sessions said in court, describing the governments case as hinging entirely on her protected speech. Her continued detention cannot stand.

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Ozturk, who appeared virtually from an ICE facility in Louisiana, was ordered released without restrictions on her travel, allowing her to return to her home in Massachusetts.

The ruling was announced as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was in the midst of a briefing with reporters. When asked about the decision, Leavitt suggested Sessions had overstepped. Weve made quite clear that lower level judges should not be dictating the foreign policy of the United States," Leavitt said.

Later on Friday, Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, announced that the Administration is actively looking at suspending habeas corpus, the right to challenge a persons detention by the government when the U.S. has been invaded or during an insurrection. Habeas corpus has only been suspended four times since the ratification of the Constitution: during the Civil War; in South Carolina during Reconstruction to combat the Ku Klux Klan; in the Philippines during a 1905 insurrection; and in Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. The Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in time of invasion, Miller said, just days after a New York federal judge ruled that the Trump administration had not shown evidence that there was a foreign invasion to justify using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations.

Sessions order in the Ozturk case comes amid mounting scrutiny of President Donald Trumps policy of revoking student visas on the basis of perceived political threats. Since returning to office, Trump has directed his administration to act aggressively against foreign nationals who the Administration has alleged are undermining American interests, particularly in the context of criticism of Israel and campus protests against the war in Gaza.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who revoked Ozturks visa, said her presence in the U.S. was contrary to American foreign policy interests and suggested she had aligned herself with groups hostile to Jewish students. A State Department memo cited the op-ed she co-authored and alleged links to a student organization that was temporarily suspended by Tufts.

We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses, Rubio told reporters. If weve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, were going to take it away.

The administration has provided no evidence of criminal activity or direct support for a terrorist group, and immigration authorities have not charged her with a crime. But the Department of Homeland Security has argued that visa holders like Ozturk can be expelled at the discretion of the executive branch.

Judge Sessions forcefully rejected that view, warning that the governments actions could chill speech by millions and millions of noncitizens who live, study, and work in the United States.

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Ozturks detention had sparked national protest and viral outrage after video emerged of masked federal agents surrounding her on a Somerville, Mass., sidewalk in March and forcing her into an unmarked vehicle. Since then, she has been held over 1,300 miles away in Louisiana, where her health has deteriorated significantly according to her lawyers. They said she suffers from chronic asthma and has experienced repeated attacks in detentionincluding one during Fridays hearing.

I believe the world is a more beautiful and peaceful place when we listen to each other and allow different perspectives to be in the room, Ozturk said in a statement read by her attorney in early April. Writing is one of the most peaceful ways of addressing systemic inequality. Efforts to target me because of my op-ed in the Tufts Daily calling for the equal dignity and humanity of all people will not deter me from my commitment to advocate for the rights of youth and children.

The ruling marks the second time in recent weeks that a Vermont federal judge has ordered the release of an international student caught in the Trump administrations visa crackdown. Last month, Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University who was detained for participating in campus protests.

The administration has argued that such revocations fall squarely within the executive branchs authority. We absolutely believe the President and the Department of Homeland Security are well within their legal rights to deport illegal immigrants, Leavitt said Friday. As for visa revocations, the Secretary of State has the right to do that as well. It is a privilege, not a right to come to this country on a visa.

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But Ozturk, 30, was in the U.S. legally on a student visa when she was apprehended. Legal experts say her case could set precedent on whether visa-holders have constitutional rights in immigration custody, and whether political expression can lawfully trigger removal proceedings.

While Judge Sessionss ruling pertains only to her release from detention, the Trump administrations broader deportation case against Ozturk is expected to proceed in immigration court.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
On Friday, a judge ordered the government to immediately release Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk on bail from a federal immigration detention center. The judge said Ozturk's challenge of her arrest raised serious claims of due process and First Amendment violations, and that her continued detention "potentially chills the speech of the millions and millions of people in this country who are not citizens."

U.S. District Judge for the District of Vermont William K. Sessions III said the government's failure to produce any evidence against Ozturk besides an op-ed she helped write for the Tufts student newspaper suggested that she was detained for protected First Amendment speech. Citing the extraordinary circumstances of her case, the chilling effects of her continued detention, and Ozturk's medical testimony, Sessions found that Ozturk's detention could not stand and ordered her released on her own recognizance without restriction on travel.

The ruling is a loss for the Trump administration's campaign to deport student visa holders for speaking in favor of Palestine and participating in pro-Palestine protests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed sweeping powers to revoke the visas of foreigners that the federal government deems harmful to its foreign policy interests and have them arrested without a warrant or criminal charges.

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"Rumeysa can now return to her beloved Tufts community, resume her studies, and begin teaching again. We could not be more delighted," Noor Zafar, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a press release. "Today's ruling underscores a vital First Amendment principle: No one should be imprisoned by the government for expressing their beliefs."

Immigration agents snatched Ozturk off the street near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 25. She was then whisked away to Vermont, followed by an immigration detention center in Louisiana before she was allowed to speak with a lawyer.

The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Ozturk "engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans." However, the only evidence it could provide, even after prodding from Sessions, was an op-ed Ozturk helped write that called on Tufts to divest from Israel.

Ozturk filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her arrest and detention.

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At her court hearing on Friday, Ozturk testified via Zoom from the Louisiana detention facility where she has been held for more than six weeks. She said she suffers frequent and severe asthma attacks. She also testified that a nurse ordered her to take her hijab off when she was trying to get help for one of those attacks.

"The nurse said 'take the thing off my head,'" Ozturk said.

The Trump administration's legal arguments in Ozturk's and similar cases have alarmed civil rights groups and federal judges. In another student visa case, a federal judge compared the tactics to the Red Scare and Palmer raids. Free speech groups have also condemned Ozturk's arrest.

"It is unthinkable that a person in a free society could be snatched from the street, imprisoned, and threatened with deportation for expressing an opinion the government dislikes," the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) wrote in an amicus brief filed last month in support of Ozturk.

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Ozturk still faces deportation, but Sessions' ruling is welcome pushback against the Trump administration's thuggish campaign to silence disfavored speech.

The post Judge Orders Tufts Grad Student Rumeysa Ozturk Be Released on Bail From Immigration Detention appeared first on Reason.com.
A Tufts University scholar who has been locked up in an immigration detention center for more than six weeks is no longer imprisoned after a federal judge ordered her immediate release.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student studying child development at the Massachusetts school, pressed her hands over her heart and smiled as she stepped out of a remote Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana on Friday evening.

Ozturk was arrested by masked plain-clothes federal agents outside her apartment on March 25.

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She is among several international students at the center of Donald Trump administrations targeting of on-campus advocacy for Palestine during Israels war in Gaza. Her visa was revoked and she was moved across the country to an ICE detention center where she was placed in deportation proceedings.

Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by plain-clothes federal agents and moved into a remote ICE detention center in Louisiana in late March (via REUTERS)

Ozturk, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and taupe hijab, appeared virtually for her bail hearing on Friday from inside an all-white room at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center  roughly 1,700 miles away from the courtroom in Burlington, Vermont.

It marked the first time Ozturk was seen by the public since her arrest on March 25.

The order from District Judge William K. Sessions III granted her immediate release from custody while she continues her parallel legal battles challenging her immigration proceedings and the constitutionality of what her attorneys argue is a retaliatory arrest.

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Simply and purely, she was detained for the expression she made or shared in the op-ed critical of Israel, Sessions told the court.

I put the government on notice they should introduce any such evidence. .... That was three weeks ago, and there has been no evidence, Sessions said. That literally is the case. There is no evidence here as to the motivation, absent consideration of the op-ed.

Her health has deteriorated while in ICE custody, and her arrest chills the speech of potentially millions of millions of people in this country who are not citizens who now fear being whisked away to a detention center, Sessions added.

The government did not appear to possess any evidence backing up claims of antisemitism and support for a terrorist organization to justify her arrest, according to court filings and government memos.

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The only apparent evidence against her is an op-ed she co-wrote with Tufts students in a student newspaper that criticized Israels war in Gaza.

Right now, the clear message that the government is sending to everyone who is watching is that you can be detained thousands of miles from your home for more than six weeks for writing a single student newspaper article, according to Monica Allard, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Vermont.

In her remote testimony, Ozturk described her academic work in studying social media use among children and young people, which has been impossible to continue while in ICE detention.

The work I do is very meaningful, she said.

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She hopes her work can contribute to the well-being and development of children all around the world, she said.

Ozturk, whose faculty adviser testified to her intimate connections within her department and the broader Tufts community, also helped organize an event to grieve for children killed in war, from Gaza to Israel, from Russia to Ukraine, from Congo to Haiti, from Sudan to Yemen, from Cameroon to Afghanistan, Ozturk said.

It was a project of poetry and art and silence, she said.

Ozturk described the event as an attempt for academics who are typically removed from the subjects of their work to create a safe space to grieve.

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She has experienced asthma attacks more than a dozen times since her detention in Louisiana, where she faces constant exposure to dust, no proper ventilation and limited time outside while locked in a small cell she shares with 23 people.

While trying to get treatment, a nurse at the facility told her to take the thing off my head, said Ozturk, gesturing at her hijab.

In the middle of a doctors testimony about her asthma diagnosis, Ozturk said was experiencing another asthma attack and excused herself from the room.

Demonstrators in New York protested the ongoing detention of Rumeysa Ozturk during an appeals court hearing in New York on May 6. A federal judge in Vermont ordered her release on bail from a Louisiana detention center on May 9 (Getty Images)

Lawyers for the Department of Justice declined to cross examine Ozturk.

They also declined to cross examine Ozturks adviser.

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With every day that goes by, shes missing opportunities for her future career, said Sara Johnson, an associate professor at the universitys Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development.

Ozturk was on track to complete her PhD by February 2026, but she is in a critical juncture for her studies.

She is also scheduled to return to teaching a program for high school students this summer.

Shes really not replaceable. Its a course she designed herself from scratch.  Theyd have to cancel it, Johnson said.

Johnson said Ozturks absence has been devastating for both the department and students she mentors as well as her colleagues and friends at the university.

Ozturk is allergic but always asked to see pictures of Johnsons cats and wrote down the dates of her cats cancer treatments to check in, Johnson said. Ozturk also befriended Johnsons mother, whose bucket list trip is to visit Turkey, she said. Ozturk talked with her for hours about her home country.
Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk who had been held since she was detained by immigration agents in March was freed from ICE custody Friday evening, hours after a federal judge ordered her release.

"Ozturk is free to return to her home in Massachusetts. Shes also free to travel to Massachusetts and Vermont as she sees fit, and I am not going to put a travel restriction on her, because, frankly, I dont find that she poses any risk of flight," Judge William K. Sessions III said earlier in the day.

The government was ordered to immediately release her, pending further proceedings on the merits of her habeas petition, the federal judge in Vermont said. She walked out from a detention center in Louisiana at roughly 6 p.m. Friday, hands on her heart as she faced reporters outside.

Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, from center, stands with from left, Nora Ahmed, legal director of ACLU Louisiana, and attorney Mahsa Khanbabai, from right, after being released from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, on Friday. (Courtesy Rumeysa Ozturks legal team)

Thank you so much. I am a little bit tired, so I will take some time to rest," she said.

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One of her lawyers, Ramzi Kassem, said there's a "sense of joy" for Ozturk, her family, and her community now that she's free.

Speaking on MSNBC, he added, "Today is really a great day."

During the hearing, Ozturk appeared virtually, with her attorney Mahsa Khanbabai, from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center.

Khanbabai said she was "relieved and ecstatic" by the news.

"Unfortunately, it is 45 days too late. She has been imprisoned all these days for simply writing an op-ed that called for human rights and dignity for the people in Palestine," she said in a statement. "When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for?"

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Khanbabai said in a statement Friday evening that the government made an "11th-hour attempt" to make Ozturk wear a location-tracking ankle monitor as part of her release.

According to Ozturks legal team, the judge learned of the attempt by ICE and ordered a conference call with government lawyers and her attorneys at 4:50 p.m. to reaffirm his verbal order that she be released with no conditions.

Sessions subsequently filed a written order around 5:15 p.m. effecting Ozturk's release "without any form of Body-Worn GPS or other ICE monitoring at this time." He said the government had until Monday to submit proposed conditions of release that could be added if he agrees.

Ozturk was detained on the streets of a Boston suburb on March 25. Video of her arrest showed officers with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and immigration authorities surrounding her on a sidewalk and grabbing her wrists. She screamed as she was led to a nearby SUV.

Rumeysa Ozturk being arrested on March 25 in Somerville, Mass. (Obtained by NBC News)

The Trump administration revoked Ozturks student visa in late March based on an assessment from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement that she "had been involved in associations that 'may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization.'"

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It included her co-writing an op-ed "that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus, the Bureau of Consular Affairs approved revocation, effectively immediately," according to a State Department memo.

Ozturk wrote an op-ed last year in her student newspaper that was critical of Tufts response to the war in Gaza.

Earlier in her bail hearing, Ozturk had an asthma attack.

She had testified that the frequency, length, and intensity of her asthma attacks have increased since her detainment.

She told the Sessions that it has been negatively affecting her.

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The doctoral student from Turkey had previously detailed her attacks in a declaration filed with the court. Attorney Jessie Rossman, who appeared in person for the hearing, told Sessions that her client has had more attacks beyond the eight documented in the declaration.

Rossman said she was "relieved" her client would soon be able to return to Massachusetts.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. (Courtesy of the Ozturk family via Reuters)

"For 45 days, Rumeysa has been detained in Louisiana  over 1300 miles from her friends, her community, and her lawyers. During that time, she has suffered regular and escalating asthma attacks," she said in a statement. "And at the same time, the government has failed to produce any justification for her detention."

During her testimony, Ozturk said that she was diagnosed with asthma in 2023 in her hometown in Turkey and had experienced attacks before her detainment.

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During an episode, she said she experiences anxiety, exhaustion, chest tightness and coughing. They are usually brought on by environmental triggers as well as stress.

Tufts University medical center has helped her maintain her asthma, she said, noting that she has two inhalers, one for daily maintenance and another she uses when she has an attack.

Ozturk appeared to get upset as she testified about an attack at the Atlanta airport after she was detained. She was seen putting her hands over her chest and taking a deep breath.

"I was afraid, and I was crying," she told the court about the Atlanta incident.

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After her testimony, Dr. Jessica McCannon, who has expertise in treating asthma, was called to the stand. While McCannon was speaking, Ozturk began coughing uncontrollably and appeared out of breath. Attorney Khanbabai, who was with Ozturk, said her client was having an asthma attack.

Ozturk rushed out of the room to get her inhaler.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Pierce County and other local governments got a legal victory over the Trump administration this week, but the future of millions in grant funding for housing and homeless programs remain unclear.

Lawyers representing Pierce County and other local governments recently were granted a two-week pause on the grant conditions ordered by the Trump administration, but the future of some of Pierce Countys grant-funded programs is cloudy.

On May 2, a coalition of eight local governments, including King County and Pierce County, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the Trump administrations U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.

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Officials from Pierce Countys Human Services Department, which administers federal grant funding for housing and homeless programs, said it objected to the administrations guidelines related to immigration, gender ideology, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello described the administrations requirements that grant funding not be used to promote gender ideology or DEI or support undocumented immigrants as coercive and pushing an extreme political agenda.

On May 7, lawyers representing the local governmentsasked a federal judge for a temporary restraining order to pause the new grant requirements.

During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein acknowledged that the terms tied to grant funding from the previous presidential administration directly conflicted with some of the new requirements recently ordered by the Trump administration.

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For example, guidelines for grant contracts which were previously allocated money for this year under the Biden administration specifically required that program recipients address the needs of LGBTQ+ families. Just weeks beforese contracts were about to be signed, new guidelines were ordered by the Trump administration which include requirements to ensure grant funds do not promote gender ideology.

Do you think it is possible for plaintiff to meet both sets of conditions? Rothstein asked attorneys representing the federal government.

I think as posed that way, your honor, it would be difficult, attorney Brian Kipnis answered.

Rothstein made the decision to grant the plaintiffs a two-week pause on the grant conditions, in part to allow certain governments such as King County and San Francisco a chance to meet the deadlines tied to the dispersal of the grant funding.

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If we dont sign the agreement within 40 days, the government can say, Sorry, thats the reason you dont get your grant money, argued attorney Paul Lawrence, representing the local governments.

Defendants have put Plaintiffs in the position of having to choose between accepting conditions that they believe are unconstitutional, and risking the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grant funding, including funding that they have already budgeted and are committed to spending, Rothstein wrote in her decision.

Pierce Countys homelessness response relies heavily on federal funding from HUD. Last year HUD announced Pierce County would receive more than $4.9 million to renew or continue 10 different housing and homeless programs through 2025.

Pierce County Human Services spokesperson Kari Moore told The News Tribune the grant award ensures housing and support services for hundreds of very vulnerable people.

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Moore said the next step is filing a preliminary injunction asking the court to enter another temporary pause on the conditions until the judge makes a final decision.

When asked if the legal proceedings would delay housing programs and homeless services, Moore said the county was still in the process of drafting service contracts and would await the final court decision.

Our primary goal is to have no lapse in services for clients being served, but were still working through the details, Moore told The News Tribune.

As of May 8, Human Services has not received its funding award for programs from HUD.
By Matt Tracy

(Reuters) -Moody's ratings agency warned on Wednesday of the rising risk that retail investors, who put their money into private credit assets, pose to the U.S. economy.

Since the pandemic, the share of U.S. and global credit markets has gradually shifted from banks in the public markets to private credit firms, growing to hold over $2 trillion in assets under management since their inception in 2014, according to a Wednesday report by Moody's.

This comes even amid the tumult that has shaken the market since President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on China and other countries.

"Even as market volatility persists, alternative asset managers have continued to launch funds aimed at drawing retail investors into private credit and other types of private assets," Moody's analysts wrote on Wednesday.

Daily Life in New York City

Retail exposure to the growing private credit space has also accelerated since the pandemic, led by a rise in open-ended evergreen funds and their looser restrictions compared to the traditional closed-end funds.

Exchange-traded funds focused on private credit have also grown in popularity. Moody's highlighted this rise in ETFs could "redefine access to private markets" but only with appropriate safeguards.

Retail-focused ETFs and evergreen funds offer far greater flexibility than closed-end funds when it comes to accepting and redeeming investments, the ratings agency noted.

Moody's analysts noted this freedom comes with risks akin to a run on a bank, which Silicon Valley Bank and other regional banks experienced last year.

"Misalignment between liquidity terms and investor expectations could impact trust in fund sponsors," the analysts wrote.

Risks also stem from the loose covenants, or restrictions on lenders and borrowers, in evergreen fund credit agreements relative to closed-end funds, Moody's noted.

"Retail capital could significantly expand private markets, but managing liquidity and ensuring transparency will be critical to long-term success," it said.

(Reporting by Matt Tracy; editing by Diane Craft)
A Tufts University student from Turkey was released from a Louisiana immigration detention center Friday, more than six weeks after she was arrested walking on the street of a Boston suburb.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Burlington ordered the release of Rumeysa Ozturk pending a final decision on her claim that shes been illegally detained following an op-ed she co-wrote last year that criticized the schools response to Israels war in Gaza. A photo provided by her legal team showed her outside, smiling with her attorneys in Louisiana, where the immigration proceedings will continue.

In her first words since leaving the facility, Ozturk thanked her supporters.

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Thank you for all the support and love, she said. I am a little bit tired so I will take some rest.

Despite an 11th hour attempt to delay her freedom by trying to force her to wear an ankle monitor, Rumeysa is now free and is excited to return home, free of monitoring or restriction, attorney Mahsa Khanbabai said.

Even before her release, Ozturks supporters cheered the decision, punctuating an earlier news conference held by her attorneys with chants of She is free!

What we heard from the court today is what we have been saying for weeks, and what courts have continued to repeat up and down through the litigation of this case thus far, Jessie Rossman, legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts, told reporters. Theres absolutely no evidence that justifies detaining Ozturk for a single day, let alone the six and a half weeks that she has been detained, because she wrote a single op-ed in her student newspaper exercising her First Amendment right to express an opinion.

This photo provided by the Ozturk legal team shows Rumeysa Ozturk, center, with Nora Ahmed of ACLU Louisiana and Mahsa Khanbabai of Khanbabai Law on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Basile, La., shortly after her release from an immigration detention center. (Ozturk legal team via AP)

Governor Maura Healey lauded the release of the Tufts student, saying in part:

This court order confirms what we already knew - Rumeysa Ozturks detention was never about public safety. It was part of the Trump Administrations campaign to silence those who disagree with them. I applaud Judge Sessions for upholding due process and freedom of speech.

I think that its really encouraging that there are judges out there finding that the constitution applies to everybody, and free speech is a right that everybody should have, explained Nicole Micheroni, an immigration attorney with Cameron, Micheroni, and Silvia in Boston.

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She told Boston 25 News that she sees Fridays ruling as an encouraging step for immigration activists and students who are wondering if theres any hope for people who are in this situation.

Micheroni also explained another way its beneficial, I do think that other detained people can use this case as precedent, cite it, and say that theres now a decision that says this is in violation of free speech, and that it should apply to me too.

She added that Ozturks legal battle isnt over, and she is still facing removal from the United States based on foreign policy grounds. Micheroni said foreign policy grounds essentially means that the U.S. government states that Ozturk being in America is adverse to the foreign policy of the U.S.

FILE- This contributed photo shows Rumeysa Ozturk on an apple-picking trip in 2021. (AP Photo)

Appearing by video for her bail hearing, Ozturk, 30, detailed her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate degree focusing on children and social media while appearing remotely at her bail hearing from the Louisiana center. She and her lawyer hugged after hearing the judges decision.

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Completing my Ph.D. is very important to me, she testified. She had been on track to finish her work in December when she was arrested.

Ozturk was to be released on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE in consultation with her lawyers.

Sessions said the government had offered no evidence about why Ozturk was arrested other than the op-ed.

This is a woman who is just totally committed to her academic career, Sessions said. This is someone who probably doesnt have a whole lot of other things going on other than reaching out to other members of the community in a caring and compassionate way.

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A message seeking comment was emailed Friday afternoon to the U.S. Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Sessions told Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher he wants to know immediately when she is released.

Sessions said Ozturk raised serious concerns about her First Amendment and due process rights, as well as her health. She testified Friday that she has had 12 asthma attacks since her detention, starting with a severe one at the Atlanta airport.

I was afraid, and I was crying, she said.

Immigration officials surrounded Ozturk in Massachusetts on March 25 and drove her to New Hampshire and Vermont before putting her on a plane to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana. Her student visa had been revoked several days earlier, but she was not informed of that, her lawyers said.

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Ozturks lawyers first filed a petition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they did not know where she was and were unable to speak to her until more than 24 hours after she was detained. A Massachusetts judge later transferred the case to Vermont.

Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an op-ed in the campus newspaper, The Tufts Daily, last year criticizing the universitys response to student activists demanding that Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Ozturk said Friday that if she is released, Tufts would offer her housing and her lawyers and friends would drive her to future court hearings. She is expected to return to New England on Saturday at the earliest.

I will follow all the rules, she said.

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A State Department memo said Ozturks visa was revoked following an assessment that her actions may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization including co-authoring an op-ed that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in March, without providing evidence, that investigations found that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for? Khanbabai asked. I am thankful that the courts have been ruling in favor of detained political prisoners, like Rumeysa.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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A Tufts University student from Turkey was released from a Louisiana immigration detention center Friday, more than six weeks after she was arrested in a Boston suburb.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Burlington ordered the release of Rumeysa Ozturk pending a final decision on her claim that shes been illegally detained following an op-ed she co-wrote last year that criticized the schools response to Israels war in Gaza. A photo provided by her legal team showed her outside, smiling with her attorneys in Louisiana, where the immigration proceedings will continue.

Despite an 11th hour attempt to delay her freedom by trying to force her to wear an ankle monitor, Rumeysa is now free and is excited to return home, free of monitoring or restriction, attorney Mahsa Khanbabai said.

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Even before her release, Ozturks supporters cheered the decision, punctuating an earlier news conference held by her attorneys with chants of She is free!

What we heard from the court today is what we have been saying for weeks, and what courts have continued to repeat up and down through the litigation of this case thus far, Jessie Rossman, legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts, told reporters. Theres absolutely no evidence that justifies detaining Ozturk for a single day, let alone the six and a half weeks that she has been detained, because she wrote a single op-ed in her student newspaper exercising her First Amendment right to express an opinion.

Appearing by video for her bail hearing, Ozturk, 30, detailed her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate degree focusing on children and social media while appearing remotely at her bail hearing from the Louisiana center. She and her lawyer hugged after hearing the judges decision.

Completing my Ph.D. is very important to me, she testified. She had been on track to finish her work in December when she was arrested.

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Ozturk was to be released on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE in consultation with her lawyers.

BACKGROUND: Turkish student at Tufts University detained, video shows masked people handcuffing her

Sessions said the government had offered no evidence about why Ozturk was arrested other than the op-ed.

This is a woman who is just totally committed to her academic career, Sessions said. This is someone who probably doesnt have a whole lot of other things going on other than reaching out to other members of the community in a caring and compassionate way.

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A message seeking comment was emailed Friday afternoon to the U.S. Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Sessions told Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher he wants to know immediately when she is released.

Sessions said Ozturk raised serious concerns about her First Amendment and due process rights, as well as her health. She testified Friday that she has had 12 asthma attacks since her detention, starting with a severe one at the Atlanta airport.

I was afraid, and I was crying, she said.

Immigration officials surrounded Ozturk in Massachusetts on March 25 and drove her to New Hampshire and Vermont before putting her on a plane to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana. Her student visa had been revoked several days earlier, but she was not informed of that, her lawyers said.

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Ozturks lawyers first filed a petition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they did not know where she was and were unable to speak to her until more than 24 hours after she was detained. A Massachusetts judge later transferred the case to Vermont.

Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an op-ed in the campus newspaper, The Tufts Daily, last year criticizing the universitys response to student activists demanding that Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Ozturk said Friday that if she is released, Tufts would offer her housing and her lawyers and friends would drive her to future court hearings. She is expected to return to New England on Saturday at the earliest.

I will follow all the rules, she said.

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A State Department memo said Ozturks visa was revoked following an assessment that her actions may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization including co-authoring an op-ed that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in March, without providing evidence, that investigations found that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

When did speaking up against oppression become a crime? When did speaking up against genocide become something to be imprisoned for? Khanbabai asked. I am thankful that the courts have been ruling in favor of detained political prisoners, like Rumeysa.

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A brown bear walks on the tundra in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Aug. 11, 2023. Critics of the state's bear-culling program, which is aimed at boosting Mulchatna Caribou Herd numbers, say Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials have failed to adequately analyze impacts to bear populations, including impacts to bears that roam in Katmai. (Photo by F. Jimenez/National Park Service)

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game does not have the right to carry out a controversial plan to kill bears this spring, at least for now, a state judge has ruled.

Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin found that the departments predator control program, aimed at boosting a caribou population that has declined dramatically since the 1990s, remains unconstitutional, despite an Alaska Board of Game emergency authorization for the bear-killing to resume.

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Through the program, which began in the spring of 2023 after the board first authorized it in 2022, the department has killed 175 brown bears, five black bears and 19 wolves.

Rankins order, released late Wednesday, was in response to a request by the Alaska Wildlife Alliance for a restraining order barring the department from carrying out this years predator control. The department had planned to start culling bears this weekend.

A restraining order is not needed because the program is already legally invalid, under a ruling issued by Superior Court Judge Andrew Guidi on March 14, Rankin said.

Neither the Department of Fish and Games March 21 petition for an emergency nor the Board of Games March 27 approval of the emergency changed the fact that there is an existing court ruling that the predator control program violates the constitution, Rankin said.

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The state has not satisfied the requirements in Guidis order for adequate public notice and analysis of the predator control programs impact on the bear population, Rankin said. Because of that, the Court specifically finds that the requirements of the Order have not been met and are still binding on the State, she said.

Critics of the states program argue that bears are not to blame for the Mulchatna Caribou Herds decline. They point to numerous other factors, including a changing habitat in which tundra vegetation favorable to caribou has been replaced by woody plants favorable to moose.

They also argue that the predator control program poses a threat to bear populations, including those that roam through Katmai National Park and Preserve.

The Alaska Wildlife Alliance sued the state in 2023 to block the program, and that lawsuit resulted in Guidis March ruling.

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On Thursday, the alliance counted Rankins ruling as a victory, even though it did not result in a restraining order blocking the states plans to start roving bears on Sunday.

The Superior court ruled that the existing predator control program was unlawful, which means that the State poached almost 200 bears over the past few years, including dozens of cubs, from planes and helicopters, Nicole Schmitt, the organizations executive director, said in a statement. Instead of remedying those legalities, the State and the Board tried to skirt the public process again. Were grateful the Court saw this process for what it was: an attempt to run-around a Court order without meaningful engagement from the public.

In their petition to the Board of Game for emergency authorization, state officials argued that they were under a time crunch to remove bears from the caribou herds range.

The bear culling has to be conducted during the spring and early summer, the time when caribou are giving birth to calves on which the bears might prey, department officials argued in their petition and at the March Board of Game meeting.

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But Rankin, in a hearing Tuesday, expressed skepticism about the justification for the emergency finding.

She peppered Kimberly Del Frate, an assistant attorney general for the state, with questions about how the emergency action would not be seen as an end run around Guidis ruling.

I know its a hard fact, but you need to just admit it: The emergency was created because you lost with Judge Guidi. You wouldnt have needed to do it if you didnt have this decision, Rankin told Del Frate.

Department of Fish and Game officials did not provide information Thursday on their plans now for predator control in the Mulchatna area. The department was still evaluating Rankins decision, a spokesperson said.

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Joe Geldhof, one of the attorneys representing the organization, said he fears that state officials will carry out their predatory control program in defiance of the ruling.

He and fellow attorney Joel Bennett, a former Board of Game member, see parallels with the Trump administrations defiance of court rulings.

To try to bolster the case against the bear-killing program  and potentially give Rankin legal grounds to issue a restraining order against the Department of Fish and Game  Geldhof and Bennett on Wednesday filed an amended complaint that adds the Board of Games emergency authorization to the list of state actions that they want to overturn.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  A local judge delivered a prison sentence to a Topeka man this week who was found guilty of stabbing a gas station worker in the head several years ago.

A Shawnee County judge sentenced Anthony R. Downing, 39, of Topeka to 266 months or around 22 years in prison on Friday, May 9. This sentence comes in connection with a stabbing incident reported in 2019.

Anthony R. Downing was sentenced this week after he was found guilty of seriously injuring a Topeka gas station clerk in 2019. (Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Department of Corrections)

Car drives into The Wheel Barrel in north Topeka

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Officers with the Topeka Police Department (TPD) were called around 4:15 a.m. on May 8, 2019, to a Kwik Shop gas station located at 1700 Southwest Topeka Boulevard on reports of a stabbing. Police learned that a man, later identified as Downing, had stabbed a cashier in the head at the gas station, resulting in a life-threatening injury.

Police later arrested Downing in connection with the investigation. Prosecutors charged Downing on May 13, 2019, with attempted murder in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.

Downing pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 8, 2020. However, a Shawnee County jury found Downing guilty of the crime on March 3, 2025.

Downing, at the age of 33, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder after he stabbed a Dillons employee who was walking into work in 2013. He was sentenced to six years in prison for this crime.

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18-year-old sentenced to life in prison for killing Topeka teen in 2023

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The students sued after the federal government terminated their records in an immigration database, jeopardizing their legal status and academic careers. (Daniella Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)

A federal judge said Thursday that federal immigration officials likely acted unlawfully when they terminated the records of five international Rutgers University students and one recent graduate.

The students  all from China or India  sued the federal government in April after their records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, were abruptly terminated, placing their academic and professional careers in jeopardy. The database hosts information colleges use to track students compliance with their immigration status, and deleting students records effectively ends their protected status and any benefits that come with it, like the ability to work.

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U.S. District Court Judge Katharine S. Hayden on Thursday granted the students a preliminary injunction barring the government from enforcing or implementing any legal consequences as a result of the deleted records. Haydens order also requires the government to restore the records and give the students at least 20 days notice if the records are terminated again.

Her 33-page decision came after the two sides met in court in Newark Wednesday.

Attorneys for the students applauded the judges order, which they say will allow them to safely return to research, work, and their public lives.

The government not only failed to provide notice or explanation when it terminated our clients records, but then gave shifting rationale for doing so, underscoring how arbitrarily this administration is treating students, said Molly Linhorst, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. But like all other people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, our clients are entitled to the Constitutional guarantee of due process of law.

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Since President Donald Trump took office in January, his administration has purged thousands of SEVIS records. Affected students had no ability to appeal the termination, and were told their visas had been revoked for failing to maintain status.

Two weeks ago, the Trump administration reversed course and reinstated students status following a flurry of lawsuits around the country. But the Rutgers students and graduate continued their legal challenge, contending that the notations left in their records would continue to cause them harm and serious legal consequences.

At least two of them already faced some fall-out  one student was fired after their status was terminated, and another lost their research assistant position, along with their annual $40,000 stipend. All of them expressed concerns that they still fear being picked up by federal agents, and that theyll likely run out of money after losing employment.

Hayden said the plaintiffs would likely succeed in their claim that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security violated administrative procedures when terminating the students records. She said the law requires agencies to make reasoned decisions and that actions be set aside if they are arbitrary or capricious.

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Hayden said the government supplied no reason for the termination of the students records, nor for their reinstatement.

The Rutgers students, here on F-1 visas, said they were in good standing, compliant with the law, and had not been charged with any crimes. Some had minor or dismissed charges, like a drivers license violation, which would not have jeopardized their protected status.

Plaintiffs visas were not revoked, so the remaining ground would be the criminal records check  but the so-called criminal records of plaintiffs involved incidents that did not meet the requirements for termination of status under the law, Hayden wrote. Defendants do not contend otherwise.

In his second term, Trump has been executing his campaign promise to detain and deport immigrants, including those with legal status. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also confirmed plans to revoke visas for students, particularly those who participate in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.

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More than 23,000 international students attended New Jersey colleges in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Institute of International Education. New Jersey ranks 17th in the country for accepting international students, who spent nearly $1 billion last year, the group says.

Rutgers University officials did not immediately return a request for comment.

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The states official judicial ethics watchdog has filed formal charges against a newly elected Broward judge who promoted a salacious tell-all and a deepfake recording during her 2024 campaign.

Lauren Peffer, whose term on the bench began in January after she won a County Court judge seat in August 2024, campaigned on a platform of restoring public confidence in the judiciary. As evidence that of that loss in confidence, Peffer made public references to a self-published book called The Ninth Circus Court of Florida, a tell-all written by a former employee of the Orlando-area court system.

Those references to the book were made in an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinels Editorial Board when seeking the media companys endorsement. The Sun Sentinel did not endorse her.

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The book painted the Ninth Circuit as a hotbed of corruption, but as Peffers 2024 campaign was taking shape, there was no indication that the book Peffer promoted had any impact in that judicial circuit. It had no published reviews and no news organizations wrote or broadcast any stories about it.

Asked by the South Florida Sun Sentinel in June about the apparent silence surrounding the book, Peffer provided a link to a recording that purported to be a conversation about the book between Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz and Lisa Munyon, chief administrative judge of the Ninth Circuit. On the recording, those two judges are supposedly joined by Florida Supreme Court Justice Renatha Francis.

The recording was a fake, according to all three judges and the Judicial Qualifications Commission notice of charges, which accuse Peffer of failing to maintain the dignity appropriate to judicial office and act in a manner consistent with the impartiality, integrity, and independence of the judiciary, as outlined in the state judicial canons.

Artificially created deepfakes are a tool for misinformation and digital impersonation used to influence elections and spread disinformation, the Judicial Qualifications Commission wrote in its announcement of formal charges. Your campaign theme was to restore the publics trust, but your behavior did the opposite and brought harm to the dignity and integrity of the judiciary.

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Peffer acknowledged the problems with the book in an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel in July and promised to stop referring to it in her campaign. She won the election with 52.5% of the vote.

But according to the JQC, she should never have cited the book in the first place. She admitted she never spoke to the author of the tell-all, never spoke to any of the judges involved in the accusations, and never tried to authenticate the recording before sharing it.

Rather than promote public confidence in the judiciary, your actions eroded public confidence by perpetuating a false perception of illegal, unethical, or immoral conduct by Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, a Chief Judge, and others working within the judicial branch, the JQC wrote.

Peffer has 20 days to file a written response to the charges.

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She released a statement Friday afternoon pointing out that she had no ties to the author of the Ninth Circuit book, whose website also posted the deepfake recording.

My sole intent was to provide an example of the scrutiny a judge faces and why the judiciary must hold itself to the highest moral standard, she said. While unintentional, I take responsibility for my actions and apologize for the unfortunate effects my reference may have caused my fellow judiciary members.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda.
The jury is nearly in place for Sean Diddy Combs federal criminal trial after a colorful selection process but the prosecutions case against the rap mogul may have been dealt a blow as the feds admitted that one of the four key witnesses set to testify in the New York federal trial may not turn up to take the witness stand.

On Friday, the prosecution and defense teams will have an opportunity to question potential jurors in a second round of probing of their background, any experiences with violence and their ability to weigh evidence around sexual assault and abuse while remaining unbiased and impartial. Combs was charged in a five-count indictment of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denied that any accusations against him are true.

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As part of the selection process, potential jurors this week were handed a series of questions in a pamphlet that asked them some personal questions about their ability to remain unbiased and more. They were also shown a list of names of A-list celebrities and places, with jurors asked if they could be impartial if the names were to come up. The list included actor Michael B. Jordan and rapper Kid Cudi, both of whom Combs former on-off partner Cassie Ventura dated; the list also contained actor Mike Myers name for reasons unclear.

The jurors also had 1-1 interviews conducted by Judge Arun Subramanian, who dismissed one woman who said that the notorious video of Combs assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016 that was leaked on CNN last year could be damning evidence. The impact of the video was apparent throughout the selection process and even led defense attorney Marc Agnifilo to express frustration over how it affected the jury selection process. Another potential juror made it through after admitting that on a social media site, he had liked a video in which comic Dave Chappelle made a gag about the vast amount of baby oil found at Combs home when it was raided by federal investigators last year; the juror brushed this off as mindless social media doomscrolling.

On Wednesday, one juror said that he was too distracted by the release of Disney+s Andor to finish all of his questionnaire. I was tired, the potential juror responded, according to USA Today. I was binging the new Star Wars [series] Andor. It just came out. The judge asked the man about his ability to concentrate on the trial or if he will be too busy binging Andor? The potential juror may have won some points for honesty when he responded, Like I said, I was binging  Im just being lazy.

The trial is moving forward after three days of jury selection. Forty-five potential jurors have been selected to move forward. On Friday, the prosecution and the defense teams will narrow that set down to the 12 men and women who will serve on the trial jury, plus six alternates.

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It was during jury selection on Wednesday that prosecutors told Judge Subramanian that they may have lost one of the four victims of Combs scheduled to testify as they make their case against the fallen rap mogul. The witness, named Victim 3 in the indictment, was set to tell the court how Combs had coerced her into sexual acts and how she was sexually exploited by him. The prosecution said that they were now unsure if Victim 3 would turn up to the trial.

We do not know whether she intends to appear, and we are trying very hard to find out because we are having trouble communicating with her counsel, prosecutor Maurene Comey said Wednesday, the New York Post reported, adding that the admission came following pressure from the court for an update on the matter.

Comey told the court that the woman the prosecution has called Victim 3 does not live locally and may not show up, even if we try to enforce the subpoena and want to call her. This comes a week after the federal prosecutors said theyd spoken with her lawyer and she was now willing to use her real name in court.

An update will be provided by the prosecution team on the state of the situation on Friday morning. Three other alleged victims of Combs are set to testify in the trial, which will hear opening statements on Monday.

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Last March, Chicago was stunned by the stabbing death of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins in a case that drew scrutiny over safeguards meant to protect domestic violence victims.

The details were shocking, even for a city that regularly experiences violence: Jayden was killed as he tried to protect his pregnant mother from a man with a documented history of abusing her and another woman just a day after he was released from prison, police and prosecutors alleged.

On Friday  just over a year after the attack  the parties began selecting the jury to hear the case against 39-year-old Crosetti Brand, who is charged with murder, attempted murder and other felonies for the slaying at an Edgewater apartment. The trial is expected to begin in earnest on Monday with opening statements.

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By Friday evening, 11 jurors had been selected.

Sixty potential jurors crowded into a courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building to answer questions from Judge Angela Petrone, who solicited information about what part of the city they live in, how they get their news, whether they have prior knowledge about the case and whether they watch movies or television programs about police or the courts, among other questions.

The case is going to trial at a nearly unheard of speed. Murder cases in particular often take years to be resolved, and Cook County is especially slow. By contrast, the longest-serving inmate in Cook County Jail awaiting trial has been booked since 2011.

The primary reason for the quickness is Brands decision to represent himself against experienced prosecutors  an unusual and often-discouraged decision.

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Brands self-representation has caused headaches in the courtroom leading up to trial and on Friday quickly set the stage for a potentially strange trial, scheduled to last around three weeks.

In final pretrial motions before potential jurors were called into the courtroom, Brand swore under oath to the contents of a telephone call between himself and a witness, only for prosecutors to reveal that the witness died months before Brand said the conversation happened.

Brand also submitted a question he would like to be asked of the potential jurors: Have you read any books that are mysteries or thrillers or written by authors James Patterson or Michael Connolly?

After he was charged, Brand had demanded a speedy trial, causing the state to expedite the process of turning over evidence.

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Oftentimes in cases like this where you are dealing with different agencies, (evidence production) can take a year, 18 months, Assistant Cook County States Attorney Danny Hanichak said during a hearing last summer. Weve fast-tracked everything.

The attack unfolded around 7:45 a.m. in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue. Jaydens mother, Laterria Smith, was on the phone with her mother while getting ready to take Jayden and his 5-year-old brother to school.

Brand, prosecutors have alleged, forced his way inside as she unlocked her front door getting ready to leave. On the other end of the phone call, Smiths mother heard her yell No, C.O. as she was attacked, referring to Brands nickname, prosecutors said.

Jayden was stabbed as he tried to help his mother, who survived the attack.

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Smith, who was engaged to someone else, was in a romantic relationship with Brand more than 15 years ago. Brand has racked up multiple convictions for battering her, threatening her and her mother and violating orders of protections, court records show.

He also has been convicted of battering other women.

In 2013, Brand pleaded guilty to charges of domestic battery for punching a woman, who had recently ended a relationship with him, hard enough to knock her unconscious and leave her bleeding from the mouth.

Later, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a November 2015 attack on another woman, who had recently ended a relationship with him, according to court documents. He also threatened her son when he tried to intervene.

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Brand was released from prison in October 2023, and according to prosecutors, resumed his harassment of Smith. In the weeks preceding the attack, he sent her a text message threatening her and her family and showed up at her apartment.

He rang the doorbell multiple times and tried to pull the door handle out of the door, prosecutors have said. Smith contacted the parole board, and he was sent back to prison.

Court records show that Smith sought an emergency order of protection against Brand after that incident, but it was dismissed on the day she was attacked.

On March 12, 2024, Brand was released from prison. The next day, March 13, is when he allegedly attacked Smith and Jayden.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Boards controversial release of Brand  who had been re-incarcerated after he was accused of violating the terms of his parole  led to the resignation of two members and spurred Gov. J.B. Pritzker to create a new position on the board.
By Sriparna Roy

(Reuters) - Novavax on Thursday tried to calm investors spooked by the delay of full approval of its COVID vaccine shot by U.S. regulators saying that it sees a pathway to resolving issues with the FDA, sending shares up nearly 19% in early trading.

The vaccine maker said it believes commitments to run new trials would be after it receives approval for the shot.

"Based on what we've received to date, formally from FDA, they're asking for a post-marketing commitment. And by definition, it's our understanding that a post-marketing commitment comes after approval and you've begun to market that product," CEO John Jacobs said in a post-earnings conference call with analysts.

The vaccine's prospects were thrown into doubt after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration missed its April 1 target to approve the shot. U.S. Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attributed the delay to the shot's composition in a CBS interview earlier that month.

The company said talks with the agency on the proposed study design are ongoing.

"We haven't commented publicly on the nature of the post-marketing commitment at this time, but we continue to work with the FDA diligently and urgently to try to bring this forward as soon as possible to a positive conclusion, and we do see a pathway forward to approval based on the formal comments and questions we've received from FDA," said Jacobs.

The company wants to convert the vaccine's emergency authorization granted in 2022 into a full approval that would allow for expanded use and help it compete against shots from rivals.

Novavax, whose protein-based shot uses an older technology, missed out on the pandemic vaccine windfall  enjoyed by rivals Moderna and Pfizer which make messenger RNA-based vaccines  due to manufacturing issues and regulatory hurdles.

Novavax swung to profit in the first quarter, helped by reduced costs tied to the development and sale of its COVID-19 vaccine, its only product on the market.

The Maryland-based biotech has been banking on revenue from its Sanofi deal and vaccines in development. It signed a licensing deal worth at least $1.2 billion with the French drugmaker last year to hand over the rights to sell its vaccines in several markets, including the United States and Europe.

Novavax's quarterly revenue rose to $667 million in the reported quarter, from $94 million a year ago, and comfortably surpassed analysts' estimate of $343.85 million, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Handling personal publicity for the likes of Tom Brady and J Balvin, Stephanie Jones knows a thing or two about the power of perception. When it comes to the Jonesworks chiefs ongoing entanglement in the trench warfare between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over what happened on It Ends With Us and the movies fallout, the PR vet paints a distinct portrait of her former client and his Wayfarer Studios cohorts.

In a filing late Thursday to dismiss amended counterclaims by Baldoni, Wayfarer execs and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, Jones and her team turned their legal high-beams on the alleged effort to chill disclosure, shift blame, and distance itself from its own conduct. The memorandum of law placed in the federal docket says Team Baldonis alleged blatant harassment is repugnant and should be dismissed out of hand.

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With just under a year until the trial start date of March 9, 2026, attorneys for Lively and Ryan Reynolds assert the Another Simple Favor star will have her very public day in court. This is a case about what happened to Blake Lively when she raised claims of sexual harassment on the set and the retaliation that followed, said attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson in a less-is-more statement to Deadline. Of course she will testify.

The status of whether or not Deadpool main man and defendant Reynolds will testify is TBD, I hear.

In part, the answer is unresolved because Reynolds is trying to be dismissed from Baldonis $400 million defamation and extortion action against him, Lively, their publicist Leslie Sloane and her company and the New York Times. In fact, Reynolds, Lively, Visions Sloane and the NYT are all hoping to be cut loose from Baldonis legal tractor beam. Something the Jane the Virgin alum isnt always making that easy for them.

Although obviously uncomfortable for the Lively parties, the truth is not a distraction, Baldoni primary lawyer Bryan Freedman says of the IEWU co-star and her A-lister crew like Taylor Swift and hubby Reynolds. The truth has been clearly shown through unedited receipts, documents and real life footage. More to come. Blake was the one who brought her high-profile friends into this situation without concern for their own personal or public backlash. As the truth shows, she used her Dragons to manipulate Justin at every turn.

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This all became public and clogging up the courts with lawsuits galore starting with a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint filed by Lively on December 20 with Californias Civil Rights department That was nearly immediately succeed by a NYT expose the next day on the domestic violence-themed IEWU and an alleged we can bury anyone online smear campaign from Baldonis side to astroturf and neuter the actress.

Beyond what may or may not went on during IEWU, the heart of the high-profile dispute for both sides has been seemingly damning text messages and other correspondence from Abel and Nathan (who was brought on to the matter by Jonesworks for around a month last summer). To that, it has long been known that the texts, originated from Abels confiscated cell phone when she exited Jonesworks to form her own shop in August 2024 amid bad blood between once professional besties Abel and Jones. It has also long been asserted that Jones handed over the incriminating material because of a subpoena  a demand that we now know came from an under-the-radar suit Lively and Reynolds filed under a corporate name in September 2024 and terminated December 19, one day before the actress CRD filing.

Diving into murky accusations again against Reynolds and Marvel owners Disney in relation to alleged narrative revenge on Baldoni, Freedman today sweetened the pot and plot.

Ryans involvement is very well documented and we continue to discover more intentional misconduct. Was Disney actually complicit in Ryan using shareholder revenues to further a personal grudge? said the lawyer, who also represents the family of the resentencing-seeking Menendez brothers. I would be surprised to learn that this type of corporate waste would not lead to much more exposure for those that have been complicit in affecting shareholder revenue.

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Disney had no response to the return of Freedmans accusations that the icky and manipulative Nicepool character in 2024 blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine was a corporate sanctioned slagging of man-bun-wearing Baldoni and his feminist ally assertions.

Neither Freedman nor other reps for Baldoni and the Wayfarer side had a response to Jones desire to see dueling suits from the IEWU director and ex-Jonesworks VP Abel tossed out. On the other hand, calling Abels individual counterclaims a rotating game of whack-a-mole, where the minute one baseless theory is debunked, another even more implausible theory pops up in its place, Jones herself didnt leave much to be pondered about her stance on Baldoni and his close aides.

Jammed with the incendiary text messages that have framed what presiding Judge Lewis J. Liman has called a feud between PR firms, Jones 35-page filing against the Wayfarer parties, which includes Abel, takes a new-ish bite out of the other side.

The document from pricey law firm Quinn Emanuel says: Wayfarers amended counterclaims are, like their predecessors, devoid of any footing in law or reality, and serve only as a transparent vehicle to vent Wayfarers anger over the lawful exposure of its co-founder Justin Baldonis sexual harassment of co-star Blake Lively, and his and Wayfarers retaliatory, vindictive smear campaign that followed. Irate not at Baldonis wrongdoing, but that it was widely covered in the press, Wayfarer now seeks to punish Jonesworks and its founder Stephanie Jones, masking lawful process with defamatory cries of leaks. There were no leaks and Wayfarer is not a victim. Instead, it was a principal actor not only in the Lively campaign, but also in a covert, calculated scheme to sabotage Jonesworks from within and flout irrefutably plain contractual commitments. Wayfarers amended counterclaims fare no better than their first attempt, falling far short of stating any viable claim for relief.

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Outside of the courts and the dockets, Lively has emerged from months of inconspicuousness in recent weeks to attend the SNL 50th anniversary event, and go to the TIME 100 gala as a honoree and reveal the sexual assault her mother suffered decades ago. She and Reynolds found eager paparazzi wanting to take photographs of the couple as Lively and her spouse took in some Broadway.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds seen arriving at a Broadway play on April 29, 2025 in NYC

At the exact same time, while the media savvy Lively skipped this years Met Gala, she has also been promoting the Prime Video playing A Simple Favor sequel on traditional outlets in a fairly traditional manner. Career DOA Baldoni and his backers have been shuttered his foundation, but Lively has been using her media hits with the likes of Seth Meyers to insist that without going too into it this year has been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in my life.

I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially right now, afraid to share their experiences, and fear is by design, she added. Its what keeps us silent.

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The Kansas chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the Wichita State University unit of AAUP-AFT issued statements in support of international students who could be targeted by the administration of President Donald Trump. In this image WSU students walk to class on campus. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  The Kansas conference of the American Association of University Professors condemned the targeting of college and university international students and scholars by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The statement signed by Mary Turner, president of the Kansas AAUP, said it was wrong for the federal government to refuse scholars entry into the United States, revoke student visas or to take students into custody for proceedings that could include deportation.

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These actions, which are brazen attacks on the First Amendment and the right to learn, have been enacted by hidden bureaucrats and masked agents and have proceeded without any semblance of due process, the statement said. In addition to their impact on international students, they also strike at the heart of academic freedom and the international community of scholars.

The Kansas conference of AAUP urged colleges and universities in the state to refuse to assist with the assault on higher education.

At a moment when the future of higher education and free speech are in peril, Kansas higher education institutions have obligations beyond doing no harm, the Kansas AAUP statement said. If they fail to protect these international students and scholars, they jeopardize the safety and academic freedom of all students and scholars.

Kansas higher education institutions enroll approximately 8,600 international students, Kansas AAUP said. It is not clear how many of these students had visas revoked by the Trump administration.

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WSUs visa revocations

Gamal Weheba, president of the AAUP-AFT chapter at Wichita State University, said the organization issued a resolution in support of international students in Wichita. He said in an interview that 27 graduate students at WSU had visas revoked during the spring semester.

The international students are really scared, said Weheba, a professor of engineering. We care about the students, all of them, but especially international students.

The majority of WSUs international graduate students were enrolled in data science and computer science programs within the College of Engineering, Weheba said.

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We have to take a stand here, he said. Our basic message now to students is were here, we have your back.

The AAUP resolution from Wichita State said the university administrators should commit to helping international students with degree completion, maintaining positions or stipends, and supporting legal action to challenge removal or rejection of student visas.

It said WSU President Richard Muma ought to issue a statement clarifying student rights and legal protections to the student body, staff and faculty of the institution.

The resolution asked WSU to provide direction to faculty on how to accommodate students who were unable to complete academic work in the spring semester.

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Weheba said international students had studies interrupted after revocation of a visa or were afraid to attend classes for fear of drawing scrutiny or being taken into custody.

This visa removal process has placed students in a legal limbo and induced fear and anxiety into the campus student community and adversely impacted the institutional mission, the resolution said.

Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, spokeswoman for WSU, said the administration appreciated the AAUPs advocacy on behalf of the universitys international students.

University leadership shares AAUPs sentiment that international students are a vibrant constituent part of our campus community, she said. The university remains firmly committed to the success and well-being of all our students.

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The Kansas Board of Regents didnt respond to a request for comment about the AAUP statements.

Kansas AAUP demands

Specifically, Kansas AAUP asked higher education administrators to cease turning over personal student information in response to federal investigations of alleged violations of Title VI the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Trump administration has relied on an interpretation of Title VI to launch inquiries into whether colleges or universities discriminated on the basis of race, color and national origin in federally funded programs.

Kansas AAUP urged higher education administrators to avoid voluntary cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement engaged in activities that could lead to deportation of students or scholars.

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In addition, the statement asked colleges and universities in Kansas to not comply with Trumps executive order calling on campus administrators to monitor and report on international students and staff.

Colleges and universities in Kansas should keep international students enrolled in the event of a visa revocation, legal status termination, detention or deportation, Kansas AAUP said. If possible, the statement said, students and scholars should be allowed to continue their studies remotely.

Work swiftly and affirmatively  through lawsuits, if necessary  to stop the termination of legal status of students and scholars without any due process, the statement said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel Thursday, signaling a new pope has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church.

Quite a shock, very unexpected, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop James Johnston said.

Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Peace be with you  those were Pope Leos first words as pope, but not in English.

Pope Leo spoke in Italian and Spanish to a crowd of thousands in Vatican square.

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What Pope Leo XIVs name choice may signal

Bishop James Johnston with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph said peace be with you happens to be the words a priest or bishop speaks at the beginning of every mass.

Those words, peace be with you are first of all, wonderful words to introduce yourself to the world, Johnston said.

Pope Leo was born in Chicago and is the first American pope.

Johnston said only 10% of the Catholic Churchs population is from North America.

I think theres a chance he will be vising his homeland, but who knows how long that will take, but I also thought it was noteworthy that in his opening remarks, he didnt use English, he didnt speak in English, Johnston said. So, I think in part, he wants to show that hes a shepherd for the whole world and he wasnt going to favor the US and favor his home country.

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Pope Leo XIV previously shared criticism of Trump administration on social media

Were told the 69-year-old spent his career ministering in Peru.

He also led the Vaticans powerful office of bishops.

I did not think I would live to see the choice of a pope from the United States, Archbishop Joseph Naumann said.

Hes the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Catholics all over the world are joyful and elated that the Holy Spirit has raised up the leader for the universal church, he said.

Part of what I think made him a candidate that the cardinals were attracted to was he has a lot of experience outside of the United States, Naumann said. So, hes had quite a quite an interesting and kind of broad experience of the church throughout the world.

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Johnston believes choosing the name Leo is significant  its associated with a lion.

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Im hoping, in a good way, hell have a heart of a lion, in the sense of being a shepherd with courage and someone who is very bold in proclaiming the good news of the Gospel, Johnston said.

Naumann said the excitement of the crowd at the Vatican reflects the excitement for the first American pope.

I think what you were seeing in St Peters Square was true of Catholics everywhere, he said. Were really excited.

At Guardian Angels Parish in Westport, their 5:30 mass led by Father Carlito was held in celebration of the papacy. I think he will be a strong pope, Father Carlito said. Im also really surprised because Pope Leo the 14th was not a frontrunner.

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Naumann thinks the choice of the name Leo is significant. Leo XIIIs papacy was known for advocating for social justice.

That signals that thats going to be very important, it was important to Francis, but I think it will be important to him as well, he said.

For the Archbishop and for Father Carlito, the new pope is not a political position.

For me, the pope is not liberal is not conservative, Carlito said. He should be above them.

The Archbishop says the position is a calling from God.

I think we think of elections very politically, Naumann said. But this is where they try to discern who is God really chosen for this big responsibility.

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Johnston said hes looking forward to learning more about what Pope Leo sees as priorities in the coming weeks and months.

As the pope is installed in the Vatican in the next few weeks, Naumann encourages parishioners to pray for Pope Leo XIV.

It is humanly impossible. But with the Holy Spirit, all things become possible.

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Raylen Phelon, left, and his son, Adam Phelon, are corn and soybean farmers who are concerned about whether a farm bill will pass. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

GARNETT  Kansas farmers are sharing opinions ranging from concerned to pi**ed about trade tariffs with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, who toured a corn farm Friday southwest of Kansas City.

When Im talking to folks, I hear everything from concern and a cautious approach to how to navigate this tariff climate that were in, all the way to folks who are really, like, really worked up and are pi**ed, Davids said, standing on a gravel road near the Phelon family corn farm outside Garnett.

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Davids began visiting a variety of ag operations in 2023, including a goat farm in Miami County, a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County. She serves on the House Agriculture Committee and wanted to learn more about farmers and their needs, she said.

The farmers shes met with expressed concerns about potential future impacts on the international markets for their products because of tariffs, Davids said.

The time and investment it takes to get those customers in international markets, its not a lightswitch, and it takes a lot of work and effort and rebuilding of relationships to get those same customers back and continue to have that level of market share, she said. The impacts are there and people are feeling it.

Davids spent Friday morning with Adam Phelon and his father, Raylen Phelon, discussing the farm bill and other issues while touring their fourth-generation corn operation.

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I would say that right now, the prospect of a farm bill is very much dependent on how the Congress moves forward on reconciliation, Davids said. Were supposed to have a markup on the reconciliation bill next week. I think when it comes to the farm bill, we have a really strong starting place in this Congress.

Davids said Republicans and Democrats see crop insurance as a top priority, for instance, and there is agreement on other agricultural provisions.

I think that theres a reason to be realistically optimistic, but similar to last Congress  its not the farm bill that is holding up the process of getting a farm bill done, she said. Its that there are other legislative things going on before we can do the farm bill.

Adam Phelon, who is a Kansas Soybean Association board member, said he would like to see Congress pass a farm bill but added that multiple issues are being watched by farmers.

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Its not just tariffs  its trade, its EPA regulations, its the energy costs, its infrastructure. I mean, infrastructure is such a huge one for us, he said. And that goes to not just our roads around here, but that goes to rail, that goes to ships that are coming into ports, you know, everything that goes on there. All thats important to us as farmers.

But the priority right now is getting a farm bill, he said.

We need updated reference prices, he said. We need to make sure that theres a strong safety net, and we need to make sure the crop insurance is protected because we have weather uncertainties. Without having crop insurance and making sure theres a strong safety net underneath us  those things can be life or death in terms of a farm and how we operate.

Statewide insights

Kaleb Little, CEO and administrator of the Kansas Soybean Association, was at the Phelon farm for the tour. He said he is hearing similar concerns as those expressed by Adam Phelon from others in the organization.

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Theres always so much uncertainty in farming and agriculture, Little said. Theres so much thats just out of their hands. And then throw in what the federal government is and isnt doing is just another layer of uncertainty in there, whether trade or not, getting a farm bill done, or bio fuels policy, Little said. Farmers are always optimists, right? Because they have to be.

A lot of association members are hanging onto what Little termed cautious optimism that things will come out better. Still, he said, there is angst and concern.

For soybean farmers, half of their products go to the international market, he said. There were long-term impacts from tariffs put in place during President Donald Trumps first administration.

The world dynamics really changed, Little said, adding that pre-2018 tariffs, about 60% of Chinas soybean market came from U.S. farmers.

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That got cut in half, he said of the impacts of previous tariffs. Some of the good that came out of that was soybean farmers and groups like the United Soybean or the American Soybean Association, those organizations really worked to diversify the international market. So U.S. soy is going to a lot more individual markets than it did pre-China. There are some positives there, but its a lot more work to maintain 50 countries as customers versus 12 or 15, especially when you talk about infrastructure and things like that.

In his blood

Uncertainty is a part of running a farm, whether it be weather- or politics-related. But it makes planning difficult.

The uncertainty is a huge issue, Adam Phelon said. So, yeah, maybe we wont be making some bigger purchases that we planned on before, just so we can plan for the future in case, you know, things get worse before they get better.

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Even knowing the challenges, Adam Phelon never doubted that hed continue his familys farming tradition.

This ground that were standing on today has been in my grandmas family for around 100 years now, he said. Yeah, weve got VHS tapes of me in a crib being hauled up the side of a combine. I remember getting dropped off at youth group, and the look on my youth group teachers face when she saw me climb right into a tractor to go to work. Her jaw dropped. I was probably 11 or 12 years old.

I love being out here working in the dirt, and seeing the crop grow from a seed to a final product, and taking pride in that, Adam Phelon said.
Gov. Laura Kelly, seen here at May 2, 2025, even, announced that Merck Animal Health is expanding its De Soto plant with a $365 million capital initiative. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Merck Animal Health will build an $895 million capital expansion project and add 200 jobs at its De Soto manufacturing facility, Gov. Laura Kelly and the company announced Thursday.

Merck will invest $860 million in its existing facility and $35 million in its research and development laboratories, a press release said.

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Kelly billed the announcement as the second-largest private investment in Kansas history.

This extraordinary investment by Merck Animal Health underscores my administrations commitment to securing a strong economic future for our state and ensuring prosperity for generations to come, Kelly said. Public-private partnerships that lead to major global projects, such as those with Merck, Fiserv and Panasonic  just to name a few recent successes  are occurring because people believe in Kansas.

Merck Animal Health has been in the De Soto community for more than 20 years, said Mayor Rick Walker.

Weve watched them grow. Theyve grown with us. So were excited to see them continue to make this level of investment in our city, he said. The Merck property, the way their project lays out, its pretty much all upside on that. Its very little stress on our transportation infrastructure and our utility infrastructure.

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City administrator Mike Brungardt said other economic developments, like the decision by Panasonic to build a 300-acre facility in the citys Astra Enterprise Park, are wonderful, but seeing Merck expand is special in a different way.

Its a recognition that not only did they come here 20 or 25 years ago, but they made the decision again to redouble their investment in our community, he said. This one when it came across as a possibility, it stood out from the others because this is an existing partner in our community with an existing employment base. Theyve already invested an enormous amount in the fabric of our community.

Brungardt added that Lt. Gov. David Toland, who also serves as state commerce secretary, said in a speech Thursday that if the company had decided not to do this expansion, its future plans for the campus were uncertain.

This was a very big win in ways that the others just werent, Brungardt said.

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Brungardt said a tax incentive package for the project has not been finalized. Merck Animal Health has been investing in its existing facility for the past five or 10 years, he said, and has received an incentive package.

That package has been an 80% property tax abatement for 10 years, Walker said, adding that there likely will be a construction sales tax exemption.

The 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility project will expand filling and freeze dryer capacity for large molecule vaccines and biologic products for Merck Animal Health, the press release said.

Site preparation and facility design will start immediately, creating 2,500 construction jobs. Commercial manufacturing is expected to begin in 2030.

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Our De Soto manufacturing facility is strategically located in the heart of the Animal Health Corridor. This region is renowned for its concentration of animal health companies, fostering an unparalleled ecosystem for innovation, collaboration and industry leadership, said Richard DeLuca, Merck Animal Health president.

The KC Animal Health Corridor is anchored by Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri, and is home to about 300 animal health companies. Those companies represent 56% of total worldwide animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales, the organizations website said.

The corridor supports jobs in this field, Brungardt said. Workforce has been an ongoing topic of discussion.

Within a 30-minute drive of De Soto, weve got 2 million people living here, he said. Mechanisms to deliver the pipeline for workforce for advanced manufacturing and research and development jobs tie in with the Animal Health Corridor. Manhattan will be a pipeline for the research development jobs.

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Since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Merck has allocated more than $12 billion to enhance domestic manufacturing and research capabilities, with additional planned investments of more than $9 billion over the next four years, the press release said.

Mercks massive expansion in De Soto further elevates Kansas long-established status as a global leader in animal health, Toland said. The opportunities and ripple effects of having almost $1 billion surge into the local economy will have far-reaching and long-lasting reverberations across the entire state.
A Kansas review board decided to parole Jimmie Nelms, 78, after nearly 47 years in prison for the murder of Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Conroy O'Brien in May 1978. Conroy's name was added to the state law enforcement memorial at the Capitol in 1987. This image is from the 2025 ceremony adding two names to the memorial. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Sadness and alarm accompanying the execution-style shooting of Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Conroy OBrien on May 24, 1978, was matched by despair and shock of state law enforcement leaders when informed of the decision to parole murderer Jimmie Nelms.

Kansas Highway Patrol Col. Erik Smith, Attorney General Kris Kobach and Sage Hill, president of the Kansas State Troopers Association, objected to the three-member Kansas Prisoner Review Boards order to authorize release of 78-year-old Jimmie Nelms.

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Nelms was convicted of premeditated felony murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison for killing OBrien near Matfield Green during a traffic stop. OBrien had pulled a speeding vehicle over on the Kansas Turnpike. While he wrote a citation, three men  including Nelms  overpowered the trooper. OBrien was forced to walk into a roadside ditch and kneel on the ground. He was pistol-whipped by Nelms, who then shot the trooper twice in the back of the head at close range. OBrien was 26.

Hours later, Nelms and his partners eluded KHP Trooper Charles Smith following a chase on county roads and a shootout. The trio fled on foot and were captured.

Smith, who leads the Kansas Highway Patrol, said the agency opposed Nelms request for parole at multiple hearings, including the March session prompting the parole order. He said the boards decision relayed to him this week by the secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections was like a gut-punch.

There is no conceivable world in which the release of a convicted cop killer  an executioner  is acceptable, Smith said. Yet, the legal framework allowing parole existed at the time and has now come full circle. So, while we may vehemently disagree with the boards decision, we must live with it by continuing to support his surviving family and his blue family.

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Kobach said it didnt make sense to release of a person who killed a law enforcement officer and was sentenced to prison for life.

There is something deeply wrong with this picture. Those who murder law enforcement officers should expect to receive the death penalty, not to be walking free on the streets of Kansas, Kobach said.

Kansas didnt reinstate capital punishment until 1994, and the state hasnt executed anyone since 1965.

Hill, president of the states trooper association, said it was unfathomable the review board betrayed OBriens family, friends and anyone who ever has or ever will wear the badge of a Kansas state trooper.

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It does not go unnoticed when life sentences in Kansas arent worth the paper theyre written on, even for cop killers when there is no question of guilt, Hill said.

Hill said the decision of review board members Carolyn Perez, Jeannie Wark and Mark Keating was disgraceful and disgusting.

We hope you feel profound shame from this day forward whenever you see a young Kansas state trooper on the side of the road protecting our community, he said.
The Trump administration remains delusionally committed to its abuse of executive power, doubling down on threats to Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk after a federal judge ordered her release on Friday.

In March, Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student on a Fulbright scholarship, was disappeared from the Boston area by masked, plainclothes ICE agents after she wrote an op-ed that called for Tufts to acknowledge the ongoing genocide in Palestine and to divest from Israel. Her releaseafter six weeks in ICE detentionis a direct rebuke of the Trump administrations actions, as was the release of Palestinian student activist Mohsen Mahdawi last month.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt was tasked with answering for the Trump administrations legal loss.

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Does the administration have any response to the news today that a federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk from detention? a reporter asked Leavitt on Friday afternoon. Particularly his comments that the government submitted no evidence other than an op-ed that Ozturk wrote last year?

Leavitt defaulted to one of her go-to answers: Its the judges who are crazy.

I think our overall feelingweve made quite clear lower level judges should not be dictating the foreign policy of the United States, and we absolutely believe that the president and the Department of Homeland Security are well within their legal rights to deport illegal immigrants, Leavitt replied. As for visa revocations, the secretary of state has the right to do that as well. It is a privilege not a right to come to this country on a visa.

This is one of many examples of the Trump administration only considering the courts valid when they agree with the rulings they make. Green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, who missed the birth of his child while being detained in Louisiana, and Georgetown student Badar Khan Suri, who is now held in a Texas detention center, are still in custody.
Beth Houts has been an artist since she was a kid.

She started with photography at just 12 years old, first with personal portraits and then by developing a love for wildlife photography.

Because of the popularity of wildlife photography, Houts began to refurbish old windows and doors, among other items, to build custom frames for her pieces.

Since 2015, the Kansas City area artist has traveled the nation, making her living as a full-time artist. In fact, Houts was a featured artist at the East of Oak Art Fest on May 3rd.

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But a week before the festival, Houts was contacted by a person who had seen her custom trailer, filled with her art, items for her booth setup, and personal items, in someone elses driveway. Houtss trailer and her utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, were allegedly taken from her property in Cleveland, Missouri, while she wasnt there.

The artist contacted the Cass County Sheriffs Office, where a preliminary incident report confirms an ongoing investigation for a stolen trailer and side-by-side on April 27. Her trailer was found by Grandview police two days later, but it was empty.

Kansas City police officers responded to a call for a stolen vehicle on April 30 on the 7600 block of East 75th Terrace, according to spokesperson Sgt. Phil DiMartino. Officers recovered the vehicle as part of the ongoing investigation, DiMartino said.

Houts said the recovered vehicle was her UTV.

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$10,000 worth of equipment and $30,000 worth of art were allegedly taken from the trailer, according to Houtss GoFundMe fundraiser. Authorities have told her that five to 10 men could have been involved in the alleged theft, Houts said.

Since I havent been told my stuff hasnt been dumped or destroyed, Im still trying to locate it, because its my lifes work, Houts said. Shes been working with three different law enforcement agencies to recover her items.

Its my heart. Its been devastating to me.

Houts has been in photographer since she was 12 years old and said she would know which one of her pieces was stolen if she saw it.

Negotiating with alleged thieves

While working with law enforcement, Houts has tracked down some of her items on Facebook.

Authorities told Houts a man was arrested with her trailer in Grandview, but was released, she said. The man contacted Houts and denied that he took her trailer, she said, but said he has one of her laptops and a debit card.

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He has since stopped communicating with her.

Another man, who knows the alleged suspect, told Houts he has a piece of her artwork and is cooperating with law enforcement, she said.

Both were saying, Yes, I have this of yours, and I want to give it back to you, Houts said. ...I want to get [the items] back to you, but I dont want to get arrested or whatever. So then they said they wanted to get it back to me, but they havent.

Houts said shes also been contacting friends of the alleged suspects on social media, who told her to be careful as she attempts to track down her lifes work.

Ive had several say, Dont mention, dont say my name. Were all scared of them. So Im not dealing with safe people, Houts said. Trying to keep myself safe and my son safe and everyone involved safe at the same time.

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One of the alleged suspects told her some of her belongings were in a storage unit in Raytown. Houts said she is working with Cass County Sheriff deputies, the lead agency on the case, to acquire a search warrant for the unit.

The entire process has been draining for Houts, she said. Pieces shes spent years working on, all gone, without compensation or appreciation. Her work is well-regarded, displayed in businesses like the Loews Hotel and The Gatsby on Oak, so the loss has hit hard, not only financially, but also emotionally.

Kansas City artist Beth Houtss work is well-regarded, displayed in businesses like the Loews Hotel, Oggi Lofts and The Gatsby on Oak.

So very time-consuming, very draining, on top of the fact that my lifes work was taken from me, she said. Thats just heartbreaking to me. Every time I think that, I get sick and I cry and I keep going because I still have hope that I can retrieve it.

Houts still went to the East of Oak Art Fest with some printed photographs and a table. Thats where her friends and supporters began fundraising for her and helped her create a GoFundMe, which has currently raised almost $1,000 of its $10,000 goal.

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As she continues working with law enforcement, Houts holds on to her community and her family, who have been encouraging her throughout her journey.

Despite all the ugliness, there are good people who are willing to reach out and help when youre struggling, Houts said. Just hearing the words of admiration of my work lifts my spirits enough to get up and keep going and keep searching.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Local restaurants raised thousands of dollars for a scholarship fund named after a Kansas City firefighter who was killed in the line of duty last month.

The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association announced that a total of 17 restaurants came together May 3 for the Dining for a Hero campaign and raised $30,000 for the Graham Hoffman Scholarship Fund.

KC firefighters death highlights rise in violence against health care workers nationwide

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The campaign pledged 10% of the restaurants total revenue from that day to the fund, which was established to support those who are pursuing accredited firefighter and paramedic training programs.

Hoffman, who was a firefighter and paramedic for the Kansas City Fire Department, died April 27 after he was stabbed in an ambulance while trying to take a woman to a hospital. The 29-year-old served KCFD for three years and before that was a firefighter in Belton.

Fire departments from all over the metro and members of the public paid tribute to Hoffman during a funeral last week and lined the procession route that spanned the city.

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In addition to restaurants, several donors also contributed last weekend to the Hoffman scholarship fund.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the restaurants, diners, and donors who made this

campaign a success, Trey Meyers, a spokesperson for the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, said in a statement Friday.

This contribution will go a long way in supporting the next generation of leaders in Grahams honor.

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By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose around 3% on Thursday, buoyed by hopes of a breakthrough in looming trade talks between the U.S. and China, the world's two largest oil consumers.

Brent crude futures settled up $1.72, or 2.8%, at $62.84 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.84, or 3.2%, to $59.91.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with China's top economic official on May 10 in Switzerland for negotiations over a trade war that is disrupting the global economy. Optimism around those talks was providing support to the market, said SEB analyst Ole Hvalbye.

The countries are the world's two largest economies and fallout from their trade dispute was likely to lower crude consumption growth.

Analysts cautioned that the recent tariff-driven volatility in the oil market was not over.

"The global risk premium that was pushing oil prices up and down during the past couple of years has been replaced by a tariff premium that will also be fluctuating in response to the latest headlines out of the Trump administration," Jim Ritterbusch, of U.S. energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note.

In another trade development, U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a "breakthrough deal" on trade that leaves in place a 10% tariff on goods imported from the UK while Britain agreed to lower its tariffs to 1.8% from 5.1% and provide greater access to U.S. goods.

On the supply front, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies in OPEC+ will increase its oil output, pressuring prices.

OPEC oil output edged lower in April despite a scheduled output hike taking effect, a Reuters survey found, led by a cut in Venezuelan supply on renewed U.S. attempts to curb the flows and smaller drops in Iraq and Libya.

Analysts at Citi Research lowered their three-month price forecast for Brent to $55 per barrel from $60, but maintained their long-term forecast of $60 a barrel this year.

A U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could drive Brent prices down toward $50 per barrel on increased global supply, but without a deal prices could rise to over $70, they added.

U.S. sanctions on two small Chinese refiners for buying Iranian oil have created difficulties receiving crude and led them to sell product under other names, sources familiar with the matter said, evidence of the disruption that Washington's stepped-up pressure is inflicting on Tehran's biggest oil buyer.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in New York, Seher Dareen in London, Katya Golubkova in Tokyo and Emily Chow in Singapore; Editing by David Evans and Ed Osmond, Kirsten Donovan and David Gregorio)
WASHINGTON (AP)  As the world's humanitarian organizations are triaging their shrinking amount of funding, the head of the International Rescue Committee stresses that the choice is stark: Keeping millions alive in the most vulnerable countries will require pulling some assistance for programs in better-off countries that target everything from climate change to refugee resettlement.

Life-saving food, water and health programs already are shutting down in countries including Sudan, where the closing of 80% of communal kitchens has ended the only access to food for millions. That comes after the Trump administration dissolved the lead U.S. aid agency and terminated thousands of foreign assistance programs.

There are lives on the line, David Miliband, president of the IRC, told The Associated Press in an interview this week in Washington, where he also was speaking to lawmakers and Trump administration officials.

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Our point is there's no way you can keep the aid system as it was, said Miliband, a former U.K. foreign secretary. As it was, he notes, only 14% of total aid was going to humanitarian efforts, while middle-income countries got more funding than low-income ones.

The triage underway shows the impact of the Trump administration decision to pull the U.S. back from being the worlds single largest aid donor. The United States previously provided about a third of the more than $200 billion in foreign assistance given annually by governments worldwide. The White House last week proposed a budget for next year with an 84% cut to such funding.

Other important European donors, including Britain, say they also are cutting aid as they work to free up more money for defense spending, fearing U.S. changes in European defense commitments.

Miliband and his International Rescue Committee are more explicit than some aid groups in offering their ideas for change in leaner funding times. Countries that are doing OK or are downright wealthy should have some of their donor funding redirected, so it can go to the range of needs of poor countries most affected by war and climate change.

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If youre looking for a guideline, I would say at least half the global aid budget needs to go to conflict states, Miliband said. Thats up from about a quarter of total aid now.

Miliband points to climate mitigation in wealthier countries and help for newly arrived refugees to settle in wealthier countries as programs that should be lower priorities for donors in the current harsh aid environment.

With the dust settling from the Trump cuts, aid organizations are looking at how to reorganize to focus on the most vital and strategic aid, said Kate Phillips-Barrasso, a vice president of Mercy Corps, another top humanitarian organization.

My fear is that we're going to end up in a world where donors split their efforts between two poles: arranging financing for infrastructure and economic development in middle-income countries or paying for only the most basic aid helping people not die in poor countries, Phillips-Barrasso said.

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I worry about pretty much everything in the middle disappearing, she said. That would leave the very poorest and most fragile countries never getting the help they need to get ahead of climate change and other threats.

For Miliband and the IRC, donors should focus on getting humanitarian aid, climate help and other vital assistance to 13 poor countries struggling the most with conflicts and environmental damage. That includes Afghanistan, where the Trump administration has cut aid on the grounds that it could benefit the Taliban, and Yemen, where the U.S. recently reached a ceasefire with Houthi militants, who have been targeting global shipping.

The other countries that the IRC identifies as priorities for the shrinking pool of aid funding are Haiti, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.

The Trump administrations cuts already have forced top aid organizations to pull out of entire countries. Groups say that endangers the progress many countries in Africa and elsewhere have made and threatens further destabilization and extremist gains in volatile regions, including the southern edge of the Sahara.
President Donald Trump this week publicly nominated Dr. Casey Means as U.S. surgeon general in a Truth Social post, and the announcement has resulted in a MAHA movement blowup.

Surgeon general is the nations top public health position, and individuals in this role advise Americans on health issues, oversee the U.S. Public Health Service and work with disease prevention and health initiative teams, per the HHS.

Following Trumps announcement, which cited Means impeccable MAHA credentials, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Means.

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The Surgeon General is a symbol of moral authority who stands against the financial and institutional gravities that tend to corporatize medicine. Casey Means was born to hold this job, Kennedy wrote.

Means received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, and she began residency at Oregon Health & Science University in head-and-neck surgery, per Medical Economics.

However, Means dropped out in her fifth year due to disillusionment with the medical system, according to Politico. She has since advocated for functional medicine and co-founded the continuous glucose monitor company, Levels.

She will be a juggernaut against the ossified medical conventions that have helped make our people the sickest in the world at the highest cost per capita, Kennedy said in his endorsement.

RFKs former running mate blasts the choice on X

Several hours after the endorsement, Kennedys presidential running mate Nicole Shanahan said Kennedys endorsement didnt make any sense, in an X post.

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Shanahan claimed Kennedy had promised her neither Means nor her brother Calley Means would be working in the HHS if she supported his Senate confirmation.

I dont know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on, she wrote. It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isnt President Trump).

Shanahan brings her concerns to Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck spoke to Shanahan on his show Thursday, and asked about her recent comments.

The MAHA movement is about listening to the group of doctors that did the right thing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shanahan told Beck.

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Shanahan alleged Means medical company does biometric harvesting. Shes very close with many of the Big Data biometric harvesting companies in Silicon Valley. And I know several of these people, and you do not want them in a government position that is responsible for everybody equally, she said.

However, Shanahan added that she is pleased with some of what the HHS has done since Kennedy began serving as secretary, especially with appointing Jay Bhattacharya to serve as director of the National Institute of Health.

Kennedy and brother defend Means on X the next day

In a Thursday morning X post, Kennedy responded indirectly to Shanahan, saying, the attacks reveal just how far off course our healthcare conversations have veered, and how badly entrenched interests  including Big Food and its industry-funded social media gurus  are terrified of change.

Kennedy defended Means medical accomplishments, adding, I have little doubt that these companies and their conflicted media outlets will continue to pay bloggers and other social media influencers to weaponize innuendo to slander and vilify Casey, the same way they try to defame me and President Trump. But it will not work.

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Early Friday morning, Means brother, Calley, directly addressed Shanahan in an X post, claiming tension between he, his sister and Shanahan began when Kennedy endorsed Trump in August 2024.

The only substantive conversation I have had with Nicole was the day of Bobby Kennedys endorsement of President Trump, Calley wrote.

Nicole was saying she refused to endorse the President, and I called her and her husband to say that was destructive to the cause of childrens health that President Trump is a unique figure who has the courage to stand up to corrupt interests, and the endorsement would change the world."

Calley added that Shanahans criticism about Means does not contain a single substantive claim.
KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  What was once a bipartisan investment in student mental health is now being scaled back, and Kentucky education leaders are raising red flags.

The Trump administration announced it will cut $1 million in federal grants that schools nationwide have been using to hire mental health professionals. For many Kentucky educators, the move feels like a step in the wrong direction.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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These cuts feel like a step back when it comes to mental health stigmas, said Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association.

Making sure that were having conversations about what mental health is and what healthy mental health is is important, and we need to be having that conversation, Campbell added.

The grants were part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation passed in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. The bill funneled federal dollars into schools to address growing concerns over student mental health.

Any cuts to public education are going to always be harmful because were making cuts that are going to directly impact the students that we serve every day, Campbell said.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

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Campbell noted that Kentucky had already taken steps at the state level to prioritize mental health in schools, pointing to legislation like Senate Bill 1 of 2019.

Not only with the Safer Communities Act of 2022, which was a bipartisan bill after Uvalde, he said, but also Senate Bill 1 of 2019, which increased the ratio of student to counselor and mental health specialists in our schools here in the state of Kentucky.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman also weighed in on social media, writing, Our kids deserve better.

Campbell echoed that sentiment, noting the toll recent natural disasters have taken on Kentucky students.

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We had major flooding in the eastern part of the state. We had tornadoes in the western part of the state, he said. Theres been lots of trauma that our students have faced over the last several years, and making sure that our students have someone there thats trained to help support them and their mental health is very important.

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As for what comes next, Campbell says the fight isnt over.

The question then becomes, How do we provide those same services in the Commonwealth of Kentucky? he said. And that will be a question for legislatures. Are they going to provide additional funding to support this gap that would occur?

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We will continue to advocatethats what we do as a Kentucky Education Association. We stand up for our students; we stand up for our educators.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Kern Agriculture Foundation hosted their annual scholarship night on Wednesday, and 50 students from Kern County were awarded $80,000.

The event was held Wednesday evening at the Kern Ag Pavilion. The money awarded in scholarships went to top students in Kern County who are college bound and interested in agriculture.

BPD awards Moms Against Drunk Driving $2,500

Bianca Ramirez, president of the Kern Ag Foundation said she was once in the students spot and emphasized how important and beautiful it is to see the amount of generosity the students received.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The worlds 1.4 billion baptized Catholics watched in wonder and excitement at Thursdays introduction of the new Pope.

That number included Kern Countys 240,000 Catholics  many of them quite young. A number of things set Pope Leo XIV apart. One, of course, is that hes an American. Another is that he speaks multiple languages. Perhaps the most remarkable, is that hes only 69-years-old, which means young Catholics will grow up with this Pope.

69-years-old is young for a pontiff, and since the average age of the Pope at his time of death since 1900 has been 78, young Catholics are likely to know Pope Leo as the leader of their religion into young adulthood.

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Day 2 of the Conclave was a day of great anticipation for Kern County Catholics, young and old. There was palpable excitement outside downtown Bakersfields Saint Francis of Assisi Parish.

Its exciting, very thrilling, St. Francis parishioner Karen Townsend said early Thursday morning. Its a joyful time.

When the white smoke came, it indicated that the 133 Cardinals in attendance had selected a new Pope.

To me, this is very good, said religion educator Dinah Pequeno. It comforts me. I trust this process and were just very excited.

We were in Mass and we got a message, said fourth grade teacher Stephanie Tobias. And everyone started whispering and so everyone is super excited.

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PHOTOS: New pope elected on Day 2 of voting

Erica Meyer, principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, saw the Conclave as a learning experience.

Theyve been waiting and they know a little bit about it, she said of her students. Theyve been learning throughout the process, and just very inquisitive.

He kept mentioning peace, said sixth grader Mateo Figueroa. I thought that was a good thing for a Pope to care about.

Its a relationship that will need to grow, as introductions have barely been made.

I just wanted to know more about him and about what he cares about, said seventh grader Jiselle Rivera.

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One thing that intrigues them  Pope Leo is an American! A Chicago Cubs fan, of all things. He speaks Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and, most fluently, English.

We can, like, understand him and relate to him better, said seventh grader Annie Pryor.

Adults feel the same way about the American Pope.

I didnt expect that, said Nicolette Thomson, who was picking up a toddler from the Our Lady preschool. I expected a different continent. Maybe Africa, maybe Asia. But Im excited to see what an American Pope can bring to the Vatican City.

I think for Americans its probably just national pride more (than anything), said Jeanne Varga, also picking up a pre-schooler. But I think an American Pope, with everything thats going on in the world, is gonna be able to reach out.

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One can only hope. A new generation of Catholics awaits his guidance.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A new movie being filmed in Milwaukee featuring Kevin Spacey wrapped on at Uncle Wolfie's on May 8.

On the ESPN Wisconsin radio show that aired the morning of May 9, Good Karma Brand owner Craig Karmazin told the hosts he was an extra for the final scene shot at the diner downtown with Spacey and actress Frances Fisher, who played Kate Winslet's mother in the Titanic.

Karmazin said the one minute scene shot from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. He also said mentioned attending a Bucks game with Spacey several few weeks ago.

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City documents show the film producers obtained permits to shoot at Broadway and Michigan between May 6 and 8, but it obtained special event permitting to barricade East Reservoir Avenue between April 14 and 17. Filming also took place in a vacant office warehouse building owned by Phoenix Investors on North Lydell Avenue in Glendale.

Not much is known about the plot and cast, but actor and Whitefish Bay resident Michael Roman who's directing the film told Glendale officials a basic premise: "The last DMV in the former United States."

An employee at Uncle Wolfie's reached over the phone said she was aware of the filming but didn't have any additional information on it.

Neither Karmazin nor Spacey's manager and producer for the film could be immediately reached for comment.

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Almost two years ago, Spacey was acquitted in a high-profile sexual abuse criminal trial in 2023. The actor still faces two British lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Kevin Spacey movie filmed in Milwaukee wraps at Uncle Wolfie's
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW)  In the early morning of May 24, 1978, Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Conroy OBrien was patrolling the Kansas Turnpike when he stopped a vehicle near Matfield Green for speeding.

He was ambushed while writing a ticket, forced out of his vehicle at gunpoint, shot twice in the back of the head, and left to die in a ditch. The three men involved in his death were wanted for a string of armed robberies across several states, led by Jimmie Nelms.

Nelms and his accomplices were eventually captured following a gun battle with Trooper Charlie Smith. He was convicted in September 1978, receiving two life sentences for first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, along with an additional six to 20 years for possession of a firearm.

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Because of state law at the time, Nelms could become eligible for parole, which is what the Kansas Prisoner Review Board has decided. The board voted to grant Nelms parole after serving 46 years and just over six months in various Kansas prisons.

The now 78-year-old is currently housed at Winfield Correctional Facility, a minimum security facility. Its not known how quickly Nelms could be released.

Trego County arson, racketeering; seven charged

KHP leadership has condemned Nelms parole:

KHP has adamantly and publicly opposed Nelms requests for parole at every hearing, including the most recent on March 6, 2025. There is no conceivable world in which the release a convicted cop killer  an executioner  is acceptable. Yet the legal framework allowing parole existed at the time and has now come full circle. So, while we may vehemently disagree with the Boards decision, we must live with it by continuing to support his surviving family and his blue family. And we must continue to serve with professionalism and dignity. Trooper OBriens brutal murder was a tragic event, and we have not forgotten this act of violence against one of our own. Nor will we ever forget Trooper OBrien. Col. Erik Smith, Superintendent, Kansas Highway Patrol

The president of the Kansas State Troopers Association also condemned the decision:

To the Kansas Prison Review Board, Mark Keating, Jeanine Wark, and CJ Perez: Please understand that we will never forgive your disgraceful and disgusting actions. We hope you feel profound shame from this day forward whenever you see a young Kansas State Trooper on the side of the road protecting our community. With this decision you not only abandon Troopers Conroy OBrien and Charlie Smith, you uneccessarily punished each and every one of us. Despite what your self-agrandizing online profiles say, public servants you are not. To Conroys family, friends, and partners: we are sorry this happened. We will always love and remember Conroy, and we will always love you. Sage Hill, President, Kansas State Troopers Association

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.






A Las Vegas woman will spend her life in prison following her sentencing this week over the 2018 death of a 4-year-old boy with autism

Crystal Stephens previously pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm, and child abuse

This might be the worst child homicide Ive ever had," one prosecutor said of the case







A Las Vegas woman who earlier this year pleaded guilty to the 2018 murder of a 4-year-old boy with autism has now been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Crystal Stephens, 48, was sentenced in Clark County District Court on Wednesday, May 7, according to both CBS affiliate KLAS and the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced Stephens less months after she took a plea deal in exchange for no longer facing the death penalty in connection with the murder of 4-year-old Brandon Steckler Jr., per KLAS.

As part of the deal, Stephens pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm and child abuse, according to court records viewed by PEOPLE.

Weve had a number of these cases before this, Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Hamner told the judge, per the Journal. This might be the worst child homicide Ive ever had.

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Per KLAS, Stephens cried during her sentencing and told the court she was "terribly sorry" for her "horrific" actions.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Crystal Stephens Crystal Stephens

The boy was first discovered by authorities burned and bruised on July, 30, 2018, according to the Journal, before he died in the hospital the following day.

Citing court documents, the outlet reports that Steckler's death was ruled a homicide and that he was found with broken ribs, a lacerated liver, a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone and potential rat bites.

Steckler had 27 rib fractures, methamphetamine in his system, and suffered from malnutrition, sepsis and pneumonia at the time of his death, KLAS reported, citing prosecutors.

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According to arrest records cited by the Journal, Stephens initially told authorities she was caring for the boy and his sister.

Drug residue and paraphernalia were later found in the home of Stephens, who had called police to report that the boy had drowned, according to KLAS.

Before the boy's death, Child Protective Services had been contacted five times regarding concerns about the boy and his family. The agency investigated once but found the claims to be unsubstantiated, according to a state child welfare report cited by the outlet.

Stephens was first arrested on July 30, 2018 and remains in custody, per the Clark County Detention Center's website. She told the judge during her sentencing Wednesday that she takes full responsibility for her actions, but did not explain why she abused the child, according to the Journal.

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Anna Clark, her public defender, added that Stephens knows there is no justification for her actions, the outlet reported.

Court documents obtained by the Journal indicate Steckler was nonverbal with autism. His father, Brandon Steckler Sr., is now remembering him as someone who brought joy, as he recalled referring to him by the nicknames Tuku (too cool") and happy feet.

I will say his story long after hes dead and gone, because that is my boy, and he will always be in my heart, the father said, per the Journal.

The boy's grandmother, Synthia Mosley, told the court she hopes Stephens "feels in every moment the consequences of what shes done because we feel them in every heartbeat."

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"The hole his absence has left behind is as immeasurable as the love he gave so freely," Mosley said.



If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article on People






King Charles quoted Queen Elizabeth's diary about sneaking out of the palace to celebrate VE (Victory in Europe) Day on May 8, 1945

The King, 76, shared how his mother "walked for miles" and "conga-ed into the house" as crowds rejoiced that World War II was over in Europe

The late Queen later said that it was "one of the most memorable nights of my life"







King Charles wove excerpts from Queen Elizabeths personal diary  written when she was a 19-year-old princess celebrating VE Day in London  into his speech marking the 80th anniversary of the historic night.

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On May 9, the King, 76, charmed the crowd at the VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember concert at Horse Guards Parade in London. Charles was joined by Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton and other members of the royal family for the final national celebration commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which heralded the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.

The King remembered how his grandfather, King George VI, announced to Britain and the Commonwealth that "the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes," and what then-Princess Elizabeth wrote about that night.

"The celebration that evening was marked by my own late mother who, just 19 years old, described in her diary how she mingled anonymously in the crowds across central London and, in her own words, 'walked for miles' among them," King Charles said.

Last night at 9pm, The King delivered a speech to mark exactly 80 years since his grandfather, King George VI, addressed the nation on VE Day.



During the speech, His Majesty reflected on his mother Queen Elizabeth II's memories of the special day.



 BBC Studios Events pic.twitter.com/tuufhV3Nm0  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 9, 2025

"The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote, 'Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into house. Sang till 2 a.m. Bed at 3 a.m.!' " he added. The diary entry made the audience of 12,000 laugh, and Prince William and Princess Kate smile.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2 a.m., let alone for that matter to lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace!" the King continued, and the audience laughed again.

Chris Jackson/Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a concert marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Horse Guards Parade in London on May 8, 2025. Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a concert marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Horse Guards Parade in London on May 8, 2025.

The future Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret famously slipped into the crowd to celebrate on VE Day, short for Victory in Europe Day. Their father, King George VI, had announced via radio broadcast that World War II was over in Europe after six years of fighting and the princesses joined him on the balcony of Buckingham Palace multiple times to greet the cheering crowds gathered below.

They appeared there with their mother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and British Prime Minister Winston Chruchill, who led the country through World War II.

Reg Speller/Getty Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day, May 8, 1945. Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day, May 8, 1945.

That night, the royal sisters went out to join the revelry across the city, a scene reimagined in season 6 of The Crown on Netflix. The Independent reported that the princesses received permission from their parents to go out, and were escorted by a group of Grenadier Guards.

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No photos from the outing are known to exist, but the palace released a previous recording of the Queen remembering the unforgettable evening.

The Queen said in the clip that she was part of a group of about 16 people and a fellow officer scolded her for pulling her uniform hat over her eyes in an attempt to disguise herself. Then-Princess Elizabeth served in a reserve unit during World War II and was also named Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

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"We cheered the King and Queen on the balcony and then walked miles through the street. 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."

It was "one of the most memorable nights of my life," she said.



Read the original article on People
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope this week, taking the name Leo XIV. King Charles, the head of the Church of England, sent private congratulations to the new leader of the Catholic church. In the message, Charles expressed his and Queen Camillas sincere good wishes for Pope Leo XIVs pontificate.

Pope Leo XIVs inauguration will likely take place within the week, and King Charles will likely be represented by a member of the British royal family at the event. In 2013, at Pope Franciss inauguration, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended; in 2005, at Pope Benedict XVIs inauguration, Prince Philip attended.

Daniele Venturelli - Getty Images

King Charles didnt attend Pope Franciss funeral, though he saw him shortly before he died during his visit to Italy; instead, Prince William represented his father at the ceremony in Vatican City.

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My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry, the King wrote in a tribute to Francis.

He added, His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.

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Optio Group, an independent specialty managing general agent (MGA) platform, has acquired Custodian Management, a UK-based MGA.

Since its inception in 2013 by managing director Zahid Naqvi, Custodian Management has focused on underwriting profitability and specialises in offering professional indemnity (PI) and management liability.

This acquisition is expected to enhance Optio's PI capabilities and is part of its strategy to create a diversified platform.

Insurance Advisory Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to Optio for this transaction.

Optio Group CEO Deepak Soni said: "Custodians established underwriting expertise, strong broker relationships and robust capacity support make it a natural strategic fit within Optios growing portfolio.

This transaction builds on the momentum of our ongoing strategy targeting high-quality, niche specialty MGAs globally, underscoring our commitment to strategic growth, underwriting excellence and client-focused solutions.

The terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, have not been disclosed.

Naqvi stated: Joining forces with Optio marks an exciting new chapter for Custodian. Over the past decade, we have built our business on underwriting discipline, adaptability, trusted broker partnerships and consistent performance.

We are proud of what we have achieved and are confident that, with Optios scale and shared values, we can continue to grow our proposition and deliver even greater value to our partners and clients.

In March this year, Optio Group purchased Norwegian MGA S Insurance, a marine hull specialist.

In November, it completed the acquisition of Netherlands and Brussels-based MGA Den Hartigh Beheer & Exploitatie.

The Optio group of companies, which includes Brockwell Capital, Northcourt, Optio Europe, Optio Re MENA, Optio Risk Services and Optio Underwriting, collectively provides insurance products, underwriting services and broking capabilities.

"Optio Group snaps up Custodian Management in UK " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




The King has sent a private message to Pope Leo XIV, congratulating him on his election, Buckingham Palace has said.

His Majesty sent most sincere good wishes for his pontificate on behalf of both himself and the Queen.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, was elected on Thursday as the 267th pontiff and Bishop of Rome.

The King is deeply religious and takes his titles of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England extremely seriously.

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He also holds a deep interest in other faiths and has made interfaith dialogue  one of the cornerstones of his work  using speeches to plea for coexistence and understanding.

Special moment

The King and Queen were invited, at relatively short notice, for a private audience with the late Pope Francis last month, shortly before his death.

The 20-minute visit, which took place during the couples state visit to Italy, was described by Buckingham Palace as a special moment  Che occasione speciale!

It was later hailed as one of the couples personal highlights of their four-day state visit.

They were particularly touched by the late Popes warm words of congratulations on their 20th wedding anniversary.

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Following Pope Franciss death on Easter Monday, the King described how both he and his wife were greatly moved to have been able to visit the Pontiff in his final weeks, a private moment that will now take on particular resonance.

The Prince of Wales attended Pope Franciss funeral last month, his first international funeral on behalf of the King.

Prince William took a moments silence in front of the coffin, bowing his head, and made brief small talk with Donald and Melania Trump, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, and Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister.

He was seated between Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, and the prime minister of Andorra for the service in St Peters Square.

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The world was watching on Thursday when Pope Leo XIV walked onto St. Peters Balcony in Vatican City as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. While the crowds of thousands gathered in the square below remained in peaceful revelry, many dignitaries and world leaders shared messages with well wishes for the first American pope.

Among them, Europes few remaining Catholic royal families welcomed Pope Leo, who might be the first American regnant monarch as well. The pope is considered a sovereign monarch as the head of the Vatican City, which is an autonomous city-state surrounded by Rome, making the role unique as both a religious and temporal leader.

We can likely expect to see some of the European Catholic royals at the upcoming inauguration. Papal funerals typically draw world leaders, royals, and dignitaries of all faiths from around the globe, but attendance at a papal inauguration follows different precedents. When Pope Francis was inaugurated in 2013, for example, then-Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain were the most prominent royal guests. Now King and Queen, they also attended the late popes funeral in April.

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In contrast, while King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden as well as Queen Mary of Denmark were all present for Pope Franciss funeral, there were no Swedish or Danish royals at the inauguration. For the British royals, it has operated a bit differently. Prince William attended Pope Franciss funeral on behalf of his father King Charles. In 2013, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester represented Queen Elizabeth at Pope Franciss papal inauguration.

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Here are some of the royal messages shared so far:

United Kingdom

While the British royal family been Anglican since the reign of Henry VIII (with a few short-term reversions to Catholicism centuries ago), it has maintained friendly diplomatic relations with the Holy See for many years now.

King Charles, the head of the Church of England, sent private congratulations to the new leader of the Catholic church. In the message, Charles expressed his and Queen Camillas sincere good wishes for Pope Leo XIVs pontificate.

Spain

The Spanish royals, perhaps the most high-profile Catholic monarchs in Europe, were the first to put out a statement, with a brief message on Instagram Stories within an hour of the papal announcement on Thursday: We congratulate Cardinal Prevost on his election as the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. His call for peace inspires us, encourages us, and reflects the deep wishes and feelings of the Spanish people.

Monaco

Prince Albert of Monaco wrote on Friday morning, On the occasion of Your Holinesss elevation to the Pontifical Throne, my family and I assure You of our fervent prayers for the greatness of Your Pontificate and humbly offer our respectful congratulations. Together with the people of the Principality, we express our deepest hope that the fulfillment of this eminent and weighty spiritual mission of universal scope will be marked by many satisfactions. I ask Your Holiness to kindly accept the respectful homage of my deep and filial devotion.

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The Monegasque royal family is Roman Catholic, and Albert is also part-American through his mother, the late Princess Grace.

See the original below in French:

Luxembourg

Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, shared a message to Instagram late Thursday evening, writing: The Grand Duchess and I wish to extend our warmest congratulations on your election to the Sovereign Pontificate. Your accession to the head of the Catholic Church represents a moment of hope for millions of faithful around the world. I express my hope that your pontificate will be marked by peace, dialogue among peoples, and universal fraternity. Rest assured, Most Holy Father, of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourgs commitment to continuing its ties of friendship and cooperation with the Holy See.

See the original below in French, featuring a photo of Grand Duke Henri next to Pope Francis and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa, greeting then Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo. Pope Francis met with the Luxembourg royals, also Roman Catholics, during a state visit to Luxembourg and Belgium in 2024.

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May 9MOOSE LAKE  Over 40 people were displaced after a kitchen fire activated sprinklers at a Moose Lake apartment building early Friday morning.

Moose Lake Fire District firefighters were called to the fire at Hillside Manor West on Fourth Street just after midnight, according to a post on the fire department's

Facebook page.

The building is owned by the Moose Lake Housing and Redevelopment Authority and is home to elderly and disabled residents.

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The small kitchen fire had already been extinguished by a sprinkler system when firefighters arrived, according to the post. Firefighters turned off the still-flowing sprinkler system. No one was injured.

The fire damage was limited to the unit of origin, but water damaged several additional units on multiple floors.

Due to extensive possible damage to the electrical system, Moose Lake Power recommended that the evacuated residents not be allowed to return to their apartments.

The American Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to provide temporary housing, food and other assistance,

according to its Facebook page.

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Residents still had not been allowed back into the building as of Tuesday morning as electrical repairs were ongoing. A shelter was established at Hope Lutheran Church in Moose Lake, according to a news release from the United Way of Carlton and Pine County.

The United Way is collecting monetary donations to fund assistance for the displaced residents. To make a donation go to

www.unitedwaycarltoncounty.org.

This story was updated at 5:40 p.m. May 13 with information about the ongoing displacement of residents and the United Way donation drive. It was originally posted at 11:44 a.m. May 9.
MADISON - Nearly five months after a student opened fire inside a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School, her father has been charged with providing guns to the teen. Here's what to know about the charges and the incident.

What happened at the Abundant Life shooting in Madison?

Teacher Erin West, 42, and freshman Rubi Vergara, 14 were killed in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.

Six other people were injured, including one teacher.

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The shooter, Natalie "Samantha" Rupnow, died by suicide after opening fire inside a study hall filled with students from different grades, according to court documents. No officers fired their weapons.

What was Jeffrey Rupnow charged with in association with the shooting at Abundant Life?

Jeffrey Rupnow, the father of the Abundant Life shooter, was arrested by Madison police on May 8. The 42-year-old man was charged with two felony counts of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 and one felony count of contributing to the delinquency of a child.

Her father knew that she had them, or at least had access to them, said acting Madison Chief of Police John Patterson at a May 8 news conference.

Rupnow was arrested May 8, during a traffic stop in the early hours of the morning.

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More: The Abundant Life shooting shattered Madison's safety. Here's how the community can support each other.

Can parents be charged for something their child did?

Wisconsin law allows for a felony charge against a parent in situations where they provide a gun or other dangerous weapon to someone under 18, legal experts previously told the Journal Sentinel.

Wisconsin statute says that Rupnows charge, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, applies to any person who intentionally sells, loans or gives a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 years of age is guilty of a Class I felony." If the shooting results in death, the penalty is a class H felony.

Did the parents, police know the shooter was at-risk?

The criminal complaint against the father detailed that police had been aware of "high-risk" online behavior from the man's daughter and notified him of in June 2022.

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At a news conference May 8, Patterson declined to answer questions about whether police or her father knew about her fascination with guns at that point.

In a manifesto found in Natalie Rupnow's room during the police investigation, she said she acquired the guns she took to Abundant Life Christian School as a result of "lies and manipulation, and my fathers stupidity" [sic].

What else did the criminal complaint say about the shooter?

Notebooks, dioramas and camcorder footage Madison detectives found in Natalie Rupnow's bedroom offer snapshots into the teenager's point of view. According to the criminal complaint, Natalie Rupnow left behind a manifesto titled "War Against Humanity," with a subtitle reading, "The creation of a disaster and why is it so unfair?"

These documents are the first to show Natalie Rupnow's mental state in the weeks leading up to the deadly shooting at her high school. The criminal complaint also offers a lens into the ways adults around Natalie Rupnow responded to her mental health struggles.

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Four years ago, Jeffrey Rupnow told a detective in a Jan. 29 interview, Natalie Rupnow exhibited signs of suicidal ideation as a student at Black Hawk Middle School. The principal identified Natalie Rupnow using self-harm language and, soon after, was seen at an emergency department, where it was determined there was no immediate threat of self-harm.

She would go on to see a therapist 46 times between Oct. 21, 2021, and June 14, 2024. Despite her history of cutting, so severe that Jeffrey Rupnow told detectives he locked up every knife in the house as a precaution, he bought his daughter her first handgun as a Christmas present in 2023. By the time of the Abundant Life shooting, he had gifted her two guns. A third gun was wrapped under his bed for Christmas.

According to therapy records, Natalie Rupnow started going to therapy for anxiety, depression, anger and self-harm. When the therapist asked Jeffrey Rupnow if his daughter ever expressed suicidal thoughts, he said "(Natalie) talks about it, I don't take it to seriously [sic]. I think she's really just looking for attention when she talks like that."

What about the Abundant Life shooter's online activity and connections to other threats, shootings?

In the days after the Abundant Life shooting, attention turned to Rupnow's online activity and what it might tell about her motivations. That activity revealed the girl had connections to three other people in the country who either plotted or committed shootings.

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In April, Florida authorities arrested Damien Allen, 22, for planning a mass shooting. The two appeared to be in an online relationship and told each other they loved one another, according to court records.

Those records showed the girl say she "wanted to do a Black church in reference to possible locations. Allen told her he had several places in mind, including a police department, records said.

In Nashville, 17-year-old Solomon Henderson shared similar online networks with her and appeared to admire her, according to a report by Wisconsin Watch. He killed a classmate and then died of a self-inflicted gunshot in a school shooting.

It appears Henderson and Rupnow had only a few direct interactions, Wisconsin Watch reported. Henderson was active on social media in communities that glorified school shootings, according to the USA TODAY Network.

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Since the Columbine shooting, a toxic subculture glorifying mass shooters has formed in online spaces. Much of the internal culture and shared language overlaps with white supremacist and other ideologies. The views in these spaces tend to be incoherent and not necessarily a clear political ideology.

Twenty-year-old Alexander Paffendorf, a California man, was also arrested on suspicions of "plotting" to coordinate a mass shooting at a government building in conjunction with her actions, those court records showed. He hoped to pursue a romantic relationship with her, CBS 8 reported.

How did the Madison community respond to the shooting?

After the December shooting, the Madison community was left with more questions than answers as police searched for the motive behind Natalie Rupnow's action.

In the days following the shooting, the community held community mourning events, during which leaders asked for more action from lawmakers to prevent future actions.

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Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway highlighted May 8 during a news conference that there still had been no meaningful action by state or federal lawmakers to prevent future school shootings.

What happened at Abundant Life Christian school should have been impossible, she said. Instead, we live in a world where preventing a similar tragedy is what feels impossible, and that is not okay. We need to make it impossible for kids to have access to deadly weapons.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about charges against dad of Abundant Life school shooter
President Donald Trump s administration expanded its capacity to detain immigrants not legally in the country by opening a facility in New Jerseys largest city this month, spurring protests outside the fenced-in building including from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrested at ICE detention center in NJ

Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility along an industrial stretch of Newark Bay, opened May 1, according to the private prison company that operates the center. The administrations announcement came amid a headline-grabbing crackdown on immigration around the country and as it ramped up its efforts to deport certain immigrants.

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The situation is playing out in Newark and in federal court as the mayor litigates against the company running the facility. The city says it shouldnt be open yet because of building permit issues. The conflict underscores the divide between what Trump views as an election mandate to deport people not lawfully in the U.S., and Democratic officials who question the administrations methods as well as the necessity of cracking down.

A closer look at whats going on at the Newark detention center.

What is Delaney Hall and why is it in the news?

The gray, two-story building next to a county prison operated as a halfway house before a February announcement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement that it and the GEO Group, which runs Delaney Hall, reached a $1 billion, 15-year deal for a detention center there.

The new facility sparked pushback from immigrants rights groups and the mayor in particular. Baraka sued GEO Group soon after the deal between the company and ICE was announced. The case got transferred from state to federal court, where a judge is considering the citys request to temporarily block the opening of the facility.

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Its not clear whether anyone is held inside yet. GEO Group did not comment on whether it was holding detainees at Delaney Hall, and ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What does the mayor say about it?

Baraka says the facility lacks the proper city permits in order to open, including a certificate of occupancy. He appeared Tuesday and Wednesday outside the facilitys gates, aiming to gain entry but ultimately being denied.

This comes as the mayor, who is the son of late poet and activist Amiri Baraka, is in a crowded Democratic primary to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, also a Democrat. Baraka has embraced the fight with the Trump administration over illegal immigration, arguing the president is pushing constitutional due process limits.

Its not a Democratic or Republican issue in my mind. This is an issue of human rights, an issue of due process, an issue of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, he said this week. We are afraid and opposed and alarmed by them setting up a detention center.

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The city says Delaney Hall has permit issues such as needing grounded electrical outlets in a half-dozen rooms in the facility, and a new entry gate that needs a permit related to electrical work, among other things. Thats according to code inspection documents submitted in legal filings for the citys case against GEO Group. The inspection didnt find any problems with how fire extinguishers had been serviced, and said exit signs were properly installed.

Where does the company running the facility stand?

Florida-based GEO Group said the mayor is politicizing the situation and that city officials didnt object when the Obama administration operated the facility as an ICE processing center.

Christopher Ferreira, a company spokesperson, said via a statement that the facility is creating hundreds of unionized jobs, with an average annual salary of $105,000, and is expected to contribute $50 million to the local Newark economy.

In legal filings, the company has argued theres no legal standing for the city to seek a preliminary injunction based on the purported violations of city codes.

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Adventurous hikers now have access to see a different side of Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz Nomad Trail (KNT) is a 1,243-mile (2,000-kilometer) long-distance hiking trail in northern and eastern Kyrgyzstan, which make it the longest trail network in Central Asia. Launched in June 2024, the KNTa network of 18 sectionsruns west to east passing through states (oblasts) such as Jalal-Abad, Naryn, and Issyk-Kul.

Along the trail, hikers also experience the beauty of Kyrgyzstan firsthand with natural landmarks such as Ala-Kol, a lake located in the Terskey Alatoo mountain range in the Issyk-Kul region, and the Engilchek Glacier, the sixth longest non-polar glacier in the world.

Tourists and locals regularly visit the regions popular destinations like the alpine lake Kel-Suu and Tash Rabat, a well-preserved, 15th-century Silk Road-era caravanserai or roadside inn where travelers and merchants crossing the mountains would stay overnight.

Tourists on horseback follow a trail to Kol Suu (or Kel-Suu) Lake in Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Juliette Robert, HAYTHAM-REA/Redux

Yuval Yellin, one of the world explorers responsible for creating the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail, believes the trail plays an important role in luring hikers and tourists away from the countrys most popular routes and drawing them to lesser-known areas.

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[The Kyrgyz Nomad Trail] allows visitors to reach a much wider range of locations and communities around Kyrgyzstan and alleviate some of the pressure from the few and very popular places being visited today, he says.

(Related: The big trip: how to plan the ultimate Silk Road adventure through Central Asia.)

Expanding the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail

By the end of summer 2025, the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail will expand by 621 miles (1,000 km). Nine new trail sections will branch off near the existing route at the Arpa Valley, a remote area of Naryn oblast, which is close to the Chinese border.

The newly developed sections of Kyrgyz Nomad Trail pass through Batken and Osh via the Tien Shen and Pamir Mountain ranges. Along the trail, the mountain villages and residents, including shepherd families who live in the mountains during the warmest months of the year, feel the trails impact. More tourists will give these communities a boost in business and their economies, which could manifest as job opportunities for locals to work as guides and porters.

In Tash Rabat, this is a yurt camp located near Song-Kol, a lake at an altitude of 11,482 feet (3,500 meters) in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Thomas Grabka, laif/Redux

Women dismantle a yurt in Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Thomas Grabka, laif/Redux

Marc Foggin, director at Plateau Perspectives, says his organizations goal core focus is to ensure the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail creates positive change in Kyrgyz mountain communities. Beyond all the extraordinary landscapes and the natural and cultural heritage that a long-distance trail such as KNT can open up for travelers; it can, and should, also serve the interests of the local mountain communities. And this occurs both by linking and connecting different regions and communities around the country, enabling mutual learning and support, he says.

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(Related: 8 wild and beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan.)

Navigating hikers' safety on the trail

Despite intermittent conflicts with bordering countries, like Tajikistan in the summer of 2021, the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail and its network of trails have been created to keep hikers safe. The KNT is very carefully routed, to stay in areas that are far from the zones of conflict and [to keep tourists] as safe as possible. Of course, we follow the progress of this conflict closely and are ready to change or close routes if needed.

In March 2025, Kyrgyzstans President Sadyr Japarov and Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon signed a deal to formally delineate their national borders, ending an ongoing dispute since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Now, theres the possibility of tourists returning to Batken, including to sections of the trail near the Tajik border.

Yellin encourages hikers to visit. This country is marvelous full of magic, unbelievable landscapes and unbelievable people, he says. Hiking here is also a real and serious challenge. Be respectful, hike responsibly, think sustainable, and create positive impact.

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(Related: How I got the shot: Karolina Wiercigroch on capturing nomadic life in Kyrgyzstan.)

How to plan your trek on the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail

What you should know: Adventurous travelers should decide how they would like to tackle this epic network of trails, which will determine how many days or weeks are necessary to complete their ideal trek. Currently, no operators arrange tours of the full Kyrgyz Nomad Trail, but Kyrgyzstan-based companies can arrange customized hiking adventures, including these KNT partners, such as Nomads Land, Ak-Sai Travel, and Community-Based Tourism Kyrgyzstan.

Getting there: Most visitors enter Kyrgyzstan at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, which has regular direct flights to China, Kuwait, Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and numerous Russian and Central Asian hubs. Travelers from Europe and North America may not have the option of a direct flight, so expect to air travel to include one or more connection flights.

Within the country, hikers will need to hire private transportation from Bishkek or Talas to reach the Chatkal Valley trailhead and start the hike.

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When to go: The best time to hike the Kyrgyz Nomad Trails is June through September because this period offers the best the weather conditions for hiking, warm temperatures, and minimal rainfall. The high passes and mountain lakes will likely be covered in snow until late June or early July.

A group of hikers make their way along a rocky trek in the foothills of the Tien Shen Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by trekkingimages, Alamy Stock Photo

Visas and Permits

Tourists from the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, and Canada can enter the Kyrgyz Republic visa-free for up to sixty days. Information by country and details on how to apply for an electronic visa are available on the official Kyrgyzstan e-visa website.

A border permit is required from the State Border Guard Service of the Kyrgyz Republic for travelers who want to visit areas of Kyrgyzstan, bordering Tajikistan, China, and parts of Kazakhstan. While it is possible to apply for this independently, the process is onerous and time-consuming. Any reputable travel agency in Kyrgyzstan can apply on your behalf, typically for a fee of U.S. $30-50.

(Related: 5 Underrated Destinations in Central Asia.)

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Editor's Note: Depending on comfort level, travelers can work with a reputable travel agency (in their home country) to arrange trip logistics; however, they should also be very familiar with travel in Kyrgyzstan.

Stephen Lioy is a photographer and travel writer based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for over a decade. Follow in his hiking footsteps on Asia Hikes.
The Catholic Church officially has a new leader: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost made history on Thursday as the first American to be elected pope. He will now lead the worlds some 1.4 billion Catholics, and thousands of people gathered in Rome to witness the historic moment.

The new pontiff, who has taken the name Leo XIV, choked back tears as he walked out onto the balcony of St. Peters Basilica for the first time and delivered his inaugural address in Italian, beginning with, Peace be with you all.

But his election by the 133 cardinal electors  secured with the required two-thirds majority  was far from guaranteed. For decades, the idea of an American pope was considered something of a taboo, largely because of the United States role as a global superpower and fears that the Church could appear politically aligned with U.S. interests.

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Heres what we know about Pope Leo XIV, who is poised to usher in a new era of Catholic leadership following the death of Pope Francis last month at age 88.

Where is Robert Francis Prevost from?

Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was born in Chicagos South Side in 1955. His father, Louis Prevost, was a school superintendent, while his mother worked as a librarian.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, his family was deeply involved in parish life at St. Mary of the Assumption Church on the far South Side of Chicago. Along with his two older brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph, he served as an altar boy. A former classmate from parish school remembered him as the smartest person in the class, while another recalled him as a little trickster with a good sense of humor.

Robert Francis Prevosts background and career

After graduating from high school, Prevost received a mathematics degree from Villanova University in 1977, but soon after, he felt called to a higher purpose and joined the international Augustinian religious order. From there, he pursued advanced theology degrees in both the U.S. and abroad, eventually earning a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

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Prevost then spent two decades in Peru, serving as a missionary and parish priest in one of the countrys poorest communities  a period during which he became a naturalized Peruvian citizen.

What are the new popes views?

Prevost is generally viewed as more centrist than his liberal-leaning predecessor.

While Pope Francis offered a more inclusive stance on LGBTQ issues, Prevost has taken a more cautious approach. He has neither fully endorsed nor outright opposed the Vatican document allowing blessings of same-sex unions. His current position remains unclear, but in a 2012 address to bishops, he criticized Western media for promoting what he called sympathy that conflicted with the Gospel, citing the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children. Prevost has also voiced conservative views on gender identity in education, calling it confusing and saying it seeks to create genders that dont exist.

Yet in his first public address as pope, Leo XIV struck a more inclusive tone, calling for a Church that builds bridges and is always open to receive everyone.

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On other social issues, Prevost is more closely aligned with Francis, particularly on immigration. Given his longstanding advocacy for migrants and refugees, its not surprising he may not be a strong supporter of President Donald Trump  or his Vice President, J.D. Vance. In fact, his final post on X before being elected pope was a retweet of Catholic commentator Rocco Palmos criticism of Trumps partnership with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele to deport undocumented migrants.

The new pope has also echoed Franciss call for environmental responsibility. In a November seminar, he stated that humanitys dominion over nature must not become tyrannical, urging the Church to take stronger action against climate change.

What was his relationship to the late Pope Francis?

Prevost clearly caught Pope Franciss attention early on. In 2014, the pope sent him back to Peru as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, in the countrys northwest. A year later, he appointed him bishop there.

Over the following years, Francis repeatedly entrusted Prevost with major responsibilities. In 2022, he tapped him to lead a landmark reform, adding three women to the voting body that determines which bishop candidates are sent to the pope, despite his more moderate views.

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In 2023, Francis elevated Prevost to two key roles: president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and head of the Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican office that oversees bishop appointments worldwide. Prevost remained in that position until Francis death on April 21.

Hes right out of Franciss playbook, history professor Kathleen Sprows Cummings, at the University of Notre Dame, told The Washington Post.

Pope Leo XIVs previous controversies

Prevost has faced scrutiny over his handling of two separate sexual abuse cases  one in Chicago and another in Peru. But neither ended up halting his rise through the Church.

The first case goes back about 25 years, when he was leading the Augustinian Province of Chicago. A priest who had been found to have abused minors was still allowed to live in an Augustinian monastery that happened to be near a Catholic elementary school.

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More recently, while serving as bishop in Chiclayo, Peru, Prevost came under fire again. Two priests in the diocese were accused of abusing three young girls. This year, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests filed a complaint, saying Prevost failed to launch an investigation and didnt send Rome enough information.

In both cases, the Vatican has stood by him, denying that he did anything wrong.

Despite these allegations, Prevosts steady rise suggests that his leadership and loyalty to Church authority have outweighed the criticisms  at least in the eyes of the Vatican.

The post What We Know About the New Pope, From His Views to His Controversies appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
BARBOURVILLE  The Knox County Sheriff's Office is actively searching for a local man in regard to a shooting that took place in the Stinking Creek community on Thursday.

Daniel Edwards, 42, is described as a white male, six feet tall and weighing 230 pounds. His head is shaved and he has full neck tattoos as well as several on his arms.

Published reports indicate the incident involved a man suffering two gunshot wounds to the lower torso with the shooter fleeing scene. He was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington for treatment.

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Kentucky State Police and the US Marshals Service are assisting with the investigation.

Authorities are asking the public not to approach Edwards as he is considered armed and dangerous.

If you have seen or know Edwards' whereabouts, call Knox County Dispatch at 606-546-3510 or KCSO at 606-546-3181.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW)  Major improvements are expected to come to Clevelands east side with construction that could begin sometime this year.

The Harmony District is a mixed-use development spearheaded by Anthony Henderson, better known as Krayzie Bone, from Clevelands own Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

He told FOX 8 the idea came from his Spread The Love foundation, which was used to help the citizens of the area. Now, Krayzie Bone wants to help the appearance of the part of Cleveland the world-famous hip-hop group traces its roots back to.

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Thats the corridor of St. Clair Avenue at East 99th Street, which was coined Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Way back in 2023.

I feel like the people in this community deserve to see better. They deserve to live in a community thats flourishing, he said.

Nick Chubb era likely over in Cleveland: GM

He explained how he asked people in the community whats needed, and they told him they need things like affordable housing and access to gas and groceries. Those types of projects are expected to come with the Harmony District, along with attractions for fans who visit Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Way.

Those plans include a Bone Thugs museum and a digital library of minority cultures.

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The project is said to blend economic development with cultural heritage. Its an idea Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb fully supports.

The Harmony District presents an exciting vision for Glenville, and were encouraged by its potential to celebrate local culture and generate inclusive economic growth. We look forward to continued conversations about how the city and community partners can support efforts that align with our shared goals for equitable development, the mayor said in a statement.

Krayzie Bone shared how this project is a way for him to give back to his hometown and be an example of doing the right thing at the same time. He said anyone who has a platform should step up in these types of scenarios.

I was inspired to come back and not just give back, but build something here, he said. We need to really start investing back in these communities and making them better, and I think everybody should feel obligated to do this once you have a platform and youre able to help because theres a lot of people out here that need help. I just want to be a source of help any way I can.

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Local hospital visitors may have been exposed to measles

Theres no set construction start date, but Krayzie Bone believes residents in Glenville will be very pleased once they start seeing trucks rolling in and improvements being made.

According to a release, initial funding commitments are secured. He added that it will take more than just him to see the Harmony District reach its full potential.

It takes a community to build a community, Krayzie Bone said.

He will welcome anyone who wants to participate, donate or help in any way, he said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Moscow and Washington have discussed the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.

Ushakov's statement follows a Reuters report on the gas talks between the U.S., confirmed by eight sources familiar with the matter.

Washington's involvement may also help mitigate political opposition in Europe, while giving the U.S. strategic visibility over future Russian energy flows, sources told the news agency.

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"We raise this topic with the Americans, but with whom else, frankly, I don't understand," Ushakov told the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European Union nations dramatically cut their imports of Russian gas. State energy giant Gazprom reported a $13.1 billion loss in 2024 as a result. Russian pipeline gas now accounts for only 19% of European supply, down from 45%.

Despite efforts to diversify, some EU countries, like Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, and France, continue receiving Russian gas through pipelines or long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and a Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev have discussed gas exports, two of Reuters' sources said.

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The two met last in St. Petersburg on April 11. Russia's Direct Investment Fund denied the talks at the time, stating, "Currently, there are no such discussions."

Still, opposition in Brussels remains firm. After years of reducing its reliance on Russian gas since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, on May 6 the European Commission presented a detailed roadmap to fully sever the European Union's energy dependence on Russia by 2027.

The plan has been described as the bloc's most comprehensive effort yet to end imports of Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel, a dependency critics argue has long compromised EU sovereignty and funded the Kremlins war machine in Ukraine.

Read also: Russian regimes legitimacy rests on the manipulation of history

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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Dive Brief:

Pri Mar Petroleum is expected to sell its business, including 13 Pri-Mart c-stores in Michigan, by the end of the month, according to a report from MoodyOnTheMarket.com.

The convenience stores and gas stations will be sold to Blarney Castle Oil while the fuel oil and lubricant business will be sold to Michigan-based fuel company Merle Boes, Pri Mar President and CEO Kurt Marzke told the publication.

This announcement comes amid a slew of M&A news, from Kent Companies and Minuteman making one-off deals to Sunoco buying Parkland Corp.s fuel business and thousands of retail locations.

Dive Insight:

Pri Mars 13 stores are expected to become part of Blarney Castles EZ Mart chain, which includes nearly 200 stores in Michigan. Some Pri Mart locations offer Hunts Brothers Pizza, while EZ Mart offers a wider variety of food across its footprint, including Lucky Louies Pizza and Bill and Will gourmet hot dogs.

The Pri Mart stores  located in Michigans Berrien, Cass and VanBuren counties  will continue offering their current brands of gasoline after the acquisition, according to the report.

Marzke noted that most of the employees for both sides of the business will be retained by the acquiring companies. He did not disclose the terms of the deals.

Neither company responded to request for comment by press time.

Blarney Castle Oil is no stranger to using M&A to grow its presence in Michigan. In 2023, the company bought Alpena Oils 14 c-stores, six grocery stores and cardlock system.

The report about Pri Mar selling its assets came out the same day as fuel company Sunoco announced it had reached an agreement to buy Parkland for $9.1 billion.

Meanwhile, smaller deals like Kents acquisition of Whits Grocery in Midland, Texas, and Minuteman Food Marts purchase of a former Speedway c-store in Whiteville, North Carolina, are also continuing apace.

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Ahead of Victory Day on 9 May, Russian authorities have stepped up their historical propaganda in an attempt to present the war against Ukraine as a continuation of the USSR's heroic path in World War II. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War note that the Kremlin is continuing to draw on Soviet-era narratives of victory in the Second World War to establish an information context intended to justify the protracted war in Ukraine and future aggression against NATO in the eyes of Russian society.

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On 8 May, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov released an article in which he asserted that Russias war in Ukraine would go down in history as a feat comparable to the Red Armys defeat of Nazi Germany.

Belousov also claimed that Russias actions in Ukraine are a continuation of the "glorious traditions" of Soviet valour and heroism, as well as the enthusiasm of the Soviet people to mobilise and support the war effort. He also stated that Russia's victory in Ukraine is "inevitable".

ISW analysts report that these analogies to Russias Soviet past are also actively supported by Russian state media, pointing to an intentional attempt to forge a new state ideology.

Quote: "Kremlin officials have recently seized on the mythos of the Second World War to form the basis of a new pseudo-state ideology that will span across generations and that the Kremlin intends to use to justify potential future aggression against the West."

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Details: Belousov reiterated the narrative that Russia had no viable alternative but to commence a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, presenting it as a matter of life and death.

Moreover, Dmitry Medvedev, Head of the Russian Security Council, warned European states, saying they ought to "remember the crushing defeat of Nazi Germany" when supporting Ukraine.

ISW analysts stress that this information operation is part of a larger reflexive control strategy designed to erode European backing for Ukraine.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 8 May:

The Kremlin continues to seize on the Russian mythos of the Second World War ahead of Russia's 9 May Victory Day holiday to set informational conditions to justify a prolonged war in Ukraine and future aggression against NATO to Russian society.

Belousov explicitly identified large-scale Russian military reforms as preparations for a future conflict with NATO as Russian Security Council Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev threatened European countries that support Ukraine.

Russia claimed to have implemented its unilateral Victory Day ceasefire on 8 May and accused Ukraine of ceasefire violations even though Ukraine did not officially and publicly agree to Russia's ceasefire. Russia's unilateral Victory Day ceasefire and accusations of violations continue to demonstrate the necessity that any ceasefire or peace agreement be formally agreed to in advance by all parties and include robust monitoring mechanisms.

Ukrainian officials continue to highlight Ukraine's willingness to implement US President Donald Trump's desired 30-day ceasefire to precede peace talks.

The Kremlin is attempting to exploit its unilateral Victory Day ceasefire to blame Ukraine for the lack of progress toward a longer-term ceasefire and peace negotiations despite Russia's continued rejection of such a longer-term ceasefire.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and People's Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping conducted a series of bilateral engagements in Moscow on 8 May, showcasing deeper Russian-Chinese cooperation and alignment.

The joint Russian-Chinese statement on 8 May referenced Putin's original aims in launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to lend international support and legitimacy to Russia's goals and attempted justifications for the war.

The joint Russian-Chinese statement supported Putin's proposed Eurasian security architecture and Russia's ongoing efforts to create a Russia-dominated alternative, anti-Western bloc.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (UN HRMMU) reported that Ukrainian civilian casualties have significantly increased between 2024 and 2025.

The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) ratified the US-Ukrainian bilateral economic partnership agreement on 8 May.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk. Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk and Sumy oblasts and near Kupiansk, Borova, Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka.

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(Reuters) -The militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) made "historic decisions" at a congress this week after a call from its jailed leader to dissolve, a linked news agency said on Friday - a potentially key step in resolving a long conflict with Turkey.

The Firat news agency reported the PKK as saying it held its congress on May 5-7 in northern Iraq, where the outlawed group is now based. But the PKK statement it published did not say whether the insurgents had decided to disband or disarm.

Any PKK decision to formally disarm and dissolve, which is not guaranteed, would have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighbouring Syria where Kurdish forces are allied with U.S. forces.

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It would also give President Tayyip Erdogan a historic opportunity to develop mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey, where violence has killed thousands and hamstrung the regional economy in 40 years of conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state.

"The PKK 12th Congress made decisions of historic importance regarding PKK activities based on the call of Leader Apo," the PKK was cited by Firat as saying, referring to PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan who has been imprisoned in Turkey for 26 years.

More detailed information would be shared with the public "very soon," it said.

Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence, issued a statement on Feb. 27 calling for the PKK to disarm and disband.

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The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. There have been intermittent peace efforts over the years, most notably a ceasefire between 2013 and 2015 that ultimately collapsed.

'WEAPONS TO DIALOGUE'

The PKK declared a ceasefire in March following the disarmament appeal by Ocalan, and its congress announcement had been expected by the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, the third largest in Turkey's parliament.

"We are all awaiting this historic decision with great seriousness and importance," DEM Party spokesperson Aysegul Dogan told reporters after a party board meeting.

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"This historic opportunity must be made permanent. Weapons must give way to dialogue," she said, adding that the DEM hoped for mutual steps toward lasting peace, with political and legal groundwork essential.

DEM has played a key role facilitating Ocalan's public call to his PKK, including visits to his island prison near Istanbul, and has since held talks with Erdogan and other government officials seeking to propel the potential peace process.

The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, mainly focused in the country's southeast.

Earlier this week, Erdogan's AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik said the elimination of tensions through the PKK's dissolution and disarmament would strengthen Turkish democracy.

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"Every concrete step taken toward ending terrorism, dissolving itself and laying down arms by the terrorist organisation will bring new positive responses and steps.

"It is extremely important for the terrorist organisation to announce its decision to dissolve and lay down arms as soon as possible," Celik added.

(Editing by Daren Butler, Jonathan Spicer and Mark Heinrich)
The banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced the forthcoming disclosure of a "historic decision" leading observers to speculate it might announce its disbandment.

The "historic decision" announcement was reported by the PKK-affiliated news agency ANF on Friday.

Observers speculate that the organization, which has been in conflict with the Turkish state for decades, might announce it is dissolving - as its imprisoned founder, Abdullah Ocalan, had called on the group at the end of February to do.

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In a recent development, ANF reported that the PKK held a congress a few days ago, which Ocalan had also previously urged. The results of the congress are expected to be made public "shortly."

It remains unclear whether all factions within the PKK would comply with a decision to dissolve. The PKK has been engaged in armed conflict and attacks since the 1980s, advocating for a Kurdish state or an autonomous region in south-eastern Turkey. However, the organization has since moved away from its demand for an independent state.

Hope for a peace process

Ocalan's call has sparked hope for a renewed peace process, not only in Turkey but also internationally. The last ceasefire was declared in 2013, but the peace process collapsed in the summer of 2015.

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The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the European Union and the United States. According to the think tank International Crisis Group, approximately 40,000 people have been killed during the group's conflict with the Turkish state.

Ocalan's appeal followed an initiative by the ultranationalist coalition partner of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Its leader, Devlet Bahceli, suggested in October that Ocalan could be released if the PKK disbanded.

Observers see possible reasons for this development in Erdogan's considerations to gain new majorities with the help of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), as well as regional power shifts, such as those caused by the upheaval in Syria and the Gaza war.
Its not just the Inland Empire thats expected to see scorching temperatures this weekend.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued its own heat advisory on Thursday, warning the following locations of heat-related dangers on Friday and Saturday.

Santa Clarita Valley

West Santa Monica Mountains

East Santa Monica Mountains

Calabasas/Agoura Hills

West San Fernando Valley

East San Fernando Valley

Santa Susana Mountains

San Gabriel Valley

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Residents of these areas and elsewhere are advised to stay hydrated, wear light and loose clothing, and stay on the lookout for heat-related illnesses in themselves and others.

Public Health recommends residents use the National Weather Services HeatRisk tool to better gauge their specific risk.

Although its crucial that we take care of ourselves, its equally important that we extend our hand to those in need. We must look out for those who are more likely to get ill due to the heat, including the elderly, unwell, pregnant women, children, and those living alone. Hot days arent just uncomfortable  they can be dangerous, said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer. However, if we make sure to stay hydrated and keep cool, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones, friends, and neighbors. If you have an elderly or unwell family member or neighbor, check on them regularly to ensure they are safe and well.

For more information, visit ready.lacounty.gov/heat.

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JEROME, Fla. (AP)  Lab results have connected one of three black bears killed by wildlife officers in southwest Florida to a fatal attack on a man and his dog a day earlier, officials said Friday.

Necropsy results revealed that a 263-pound (119-kilogram) male bear contained the partial remains of 89-year-old Robert Markel, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement. Testing showed that same bears DNA was present on Markel's body, inside his home and on the dogs body.

Wildlife officials have not explicitly said that bear is the one that killed Markel, but a preliminary autopsy by the Collier County Medical Examiner found that Markel's cause of death is consistent with a bear attack.

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Markel was attacked early Monday near his home in a rural area east of Naples, just south of Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area.

Wildlife officers set several traps and cameras. They killed three black bears in the area and sent their remains to a Gainesville lab. None of the animals tested positive for rabies, officials said.

Wildlife officials are still investigating the events that led to the attack.

Floridas black bears, which were once threatened, have increasingly wandered into neighborhoods and private property in recent years, especially in more rural areas of north and central Florida.
A US labor judge has decided against Costco in a matter involving worker confidentiality agreements.

The case involves a worker who had to agree not to discuss an internal sexual harassment investigation.

The NLRB argued that Costco's policy "appears to instead protect the harasser."

Costco's policies surrounding internal investigations are under scrutiny for being "overly broad" and in violation of employees' rights.

On Monday, US National Labor Relations Board judge Andrew Gollin decided against Costco in a matter involving the confidentiality agreements that workers are expected to sign when raising issues with management.

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The specific case was brought on behalf of Jessica Georg, who in 2022 used Costco's "Open Door" policy to file an internal complaint that she was sexually harassed by a co-worker, according to filings.

As part of the process, Georg was required to sign a confidentiality agreement that barred her from discussing the open matter with coworkers. She later received a letter from Costco that said the employee was fired, the case was closed, and that "we hope and expect" that the information would continue to remain confidential, according to filings.

The NLRB and Georg each declined to comment for this story, and neither Costco nor its attorney responded to Business Insider's request.

In a briefing, Costco's lawyer Paul Galligan argued that the confidentiality rules are intended to protect the integrity of the investigation and are in the shared interest of the company and workers.

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"It helps employees to be candid in their statements knowing that their statements will be treated confidentiality. It is probably more critical in an industry like retail where employees work closely together," Galligan said.

He also said in the briefing the rules aren't intended to dissuade employees from discussing things like wages, working conditions, or forming a union.

But Costco's investigation found that the individual about whom Georg complained also had several prior complaints filed against him, and Georg later testified she felt she or her coworkers with similar experiences felt they might be risking their jobs if they shared information about alleged patterns of behavior by an individual employee about whom they had raised concerns.

A more tailored confidentiality agreement could still protect sensitive information while still assuring workers of their rights to protect themselves against harassment, the NLRB attorneys said in a brief.

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The NLRB attorneys argued that Costco's policy "appears to instead protect the harasser who has had individual complaints dismissed over and over, because no one outside the investigator is privy to the serial nature of the harassment."

Costco's lawyer argued that the company's employee handbook explains that the confidentiality requirement is not intended to discourage workers from exercising their rights. The NLRB argued, and the judge agreed, that having workers sign a separate form (as was the case here) could reasonably cause confusion for a typical worker and lead them to fear for their job.

Part of Judge Gollin's proposed remedy is that Costco post a notice in the one warehouse where the violation occurred, since the NLRB did not prove conclusively that similar confidentiality forms were used at all of the company's US locations.

The case now heads to the NLRB's board, with exceptions to the decision due by June 2.

Got a tip? Email Dominick or call/text/Signal at 646.768.4750.

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A Labour council could be forced to scrap a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) after a High Court judge ruled it unlawful and its consultation unfair.

Mr Justice Smith said Lambeth council was guilty of a serious failing after it ignored an impressive report which warned that street closures in south London could lead to increased congestion and pollution.

He also found the local authority had given a masterclass in selective partial reporting after a council document failed to record how a public consultation about the West Dulwich LTN engendered tremendous hostility from local people.

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The West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), which brought the case, has become the first residents organisation to win a legal battle over an LTN.

The judgment will prove hugely embarrassing for Lambeth council, which claims the millions of pounds it has generated from LTN fines is helping to fight climate change.

A WDAG spokesman said: We are delighted with this ruling, which clearly demonstrates that Lambeth council failed to fully consider the impacts and effects of the LTN on local residents and businesses.

It sends a clear signal to councils nationwide: communities will no longer tolerate top-down, poorly conceived schemes that ignore local input, which prioritise revenue over real solutions to issues like pollution.

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We were made to feel as though we were climate deniers standing in the way of work meant to help the planet.

In fact, we were showing legitimate concerns that the scheme conversely added more pollution and was unfairly impacting more people than it was helping, including 6,300 school children and poorer communities living on the LTN boundaries. This judgment shows the LTN is unlawful and should be scrapped.

The LTN in West Dulwich provoked hostility from residents - Belinda Jiao

In February, the Royal Courts of Justice heard two days of legal arguments after WDAG claimed the consultation on the LTN was unfair.

On Friday, Mr Justice Smith published a 34-page judgment which found the local group had proven one of three grounds in its challenge.

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The court heard that council staff had been given a wellbeing day off after being left in tears because angry residents at a 2023 meeting at West Norwood Library were relentless in their opposition.

Mr Justice Smith concluded the session was not a happy event with feelings against the proposals by some of those in attendance clearly running high.

He was less sympathetic with the council because an official report claimed the event gave the local community an opportunity to look at the proposals in detail and ask any further questions.

Mr Justice Smith wrote: The passage [in the council document] is a masterclass in selective partial reporting. It is what it does not say that renders the reporting of the event misleading.

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Mr Justice Smith said that the councils consultation process was lawful, but some elements could undoubtedly have been improved upon.

He added that the way the council considered input from engagement with the public was unlawful.

Two-thirds against the LTN

A separate survey revealed that 67.5 per cent of those who responded were either very unhappy or unhappy with the scheme.

Mr Justice Smith also concluded that an impressive 53-page presentation by WDAG given to the local authority did not form part of the councils considerations in its decision[s] about the LTN.

The document claimed traffic banned from the LTN would clog up and pollute boundary roads where often poorer communities lived. It also showed how their research had established would increase journey times, intensifying rather than reducing pollution.

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The judgment said: The failure to have regard to it [the WDAG report] was a serious failing, rendering the decision to make the [traffic] Orders [to close the roads] unlawful.

Mr Justice Smith invited lawyers for WDAG and Lambeth to make further arguments about what would be appropriate relief following his judgment.

Lord Justice Smith said that the way the council considered input from engagement with the public was unlawful - Belinda Jiao

Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, deputy leader of Lambeth council, said they introduced the LTN to reduce road danger and create a neighbourhood where residents can live safer, happier and healthier lives and promote active travel.

She added: The court has allowed the claim against the West Dulwich Street Improvements on one of the three grounds of challenge, and dismissed the other two. We acknowledge the courts decision and are carefully considering the implications of this judgment; we will provide further updates in due course.

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The current trial scheme in West Dulwich will remain in place in the meantime, while we await further directions from the court.

The council has done a huge amount of work, in partnership with residents throughout Lambeth, to make neighbourhoods more pleasant, and make roads safer, more vibrant, green and accessible.

We remain fully committed to working with local communities to transform streets across the borough and getting on with our programme to deliver benefits for everyone.

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A Labour-run council introduced the second homes premium despite it affecting little more than 30 owners in its borough, The Telegraph can reveal.

Figures show there were just 33 second homes on Rochdales database when it agreed to hit owners with double council tax bills under new measures intended to ease housing shortages.

They now face an annual average charge of 4,060, compared with 1,874 last year, according to Telegraph analysis.

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Local authorities in England were given the power to charge a 100pc council tax premium from April 1 under laws passed by the previous Conservative government.

Unearthed government guidance shows that councils were told to only introduce the premium where appropriate and take into account local circumstances.

Second homes accounted for just 0.04pc of Rochdales housing stock, yet the council opted to bring in the surcharge as soon as it could.

John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: These extortionate premiums were supposedly brought in to ensure that areas with high levels of second home ownership contributed to the local area.

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Even though that policy is wildly misguided, there is no excuse for councils to introduce it in areas with as little as just 33 second homes.

He added: It will be of little surprise to taxpayers that politicians have spied an opportunity for a cash grab, and seized it with both hands.

Back in 2023 when the topic of introducing the premium was raised, Rochdale council said there were 33 second homes in the borough. Implementing the surcharge was expected to raise 60,000 in additional income.

The council told The Telegraph the number of second homes has since increased to 245 due to the opening of a new town centre development. The figure equates to 0.2pc of the boroughs housing stock.

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The local authority is grappling with a housing shortage, but it has not been caused by the boroughs small share of second home owners.

There are 1,729 homes run by social housing associations which are standing empty, according to the latest government figures. Of these, around half are in such levels of disrepair that they are unable to be let out.

The boroughs high number of vacant homes comes as the council contends with a bulging housing waiting list of 9,000 people  one of the largest in the country.

Councillor Carol Wardle, Rochdales cabinet member for finance, said: In November 2023 when this premium was approved, it was in addition to the removal of discounts on empty properties and on top of other measures aimed at persuading owners to bring properties back into use rather than leaving them empty.

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Our approach is in line with the majority of other authorities in Greater Manchester and with services still under significant financial pressure we will put the premium to good use for the benefit of the local community.

Last year, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said it was clear that it expects local councils to take into account local circumstances when determining where it is appropriate for a premium to apply.

Other councils with minimal second homes include Watford, which according to government data has just 38 second homes. It has agreed to implement the premium from April 2026.

The findings come after The Telegraph launched a campaign to abolish the levy, which has been supported by several politicians.

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Dozens of readers have been in touch to complain of exorbitant bills being issued on inherited family homes or properties that are used every week for work.

Telegraph analysis revealed local authorities are spending as little as 9p in every 1 generated from the raid on affordable housing, while other councils are sitting on hundreds of empty properties of their own.

A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: We are determined to fix the housing crisis we have inherited, but we recognise local leaders are best placed to understand the impacts that second homes can have on their areas, including driving up housing costs and damaging local services.

That is why local councils are now able to add up to 100pc extra on the council tax bills of second homes, and it is for them to decide whether to implement this.

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This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com.

Emergency crews from the Lacey Fire Department said they were sent to a local construction site after a worker fell into a large pipe Wednesday.

It all started when the worker, whose identity has not been released, got stuck after falling into the pipe during a job. After receiving a 911 call, firefighters quickly arrived and carried them to safety.

Lacey worker rescued after fall into pipe

The worker was found with injuries to their ribs and was having difficulty breathing. After being stabilized, the worker was taken to a nearby hospital. The current condition of the worker has not been released.

Officials have not confirmed what led to the fall.
Landowners are calling for action against invasive cactus species in Queensland and surrounding areas in Australia.

What's happening?

ABC News reported on aggressive Queensland cacti in January and again in March. The harrisia cactus, jumping cholla, and coral cactus are invasive species that were introduced as potted plants.

Peter Whip, a co-owner of Leander cattle and goat station, called coral cacti an "atomic bomb of weed." But his land is also infested with jumping cholla, which he said is "equally as nasty."

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He told ABC News: "It went from that one pot plant like 60 years ago to now being over potentially 100,000 acres."

A former owner of Leander, Elizabeth "Thumper" Clark, told ABC News: "You could make a nightmare film out of it."

Ken Stower, a landowner in the Captains Mountain, said, "It's gone from hundreds to thousands of plants everywhere," referring to the harrisia cactus. Stower had to euthanize a badly wounded prize bull because of a harrisia cactus.

Another Queensland rancher, Sally McKeering, had to have surgery to remove thorns from her wrist. And the harrisia had "pretty much crippled" some of her horses.

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The Whips expressed similar experiences. They said cows had been pierced by deep thorns. These cactuses cripple whole regions, threatening the livelihood and safety of Queensland ranchers.

Why are these cacti so dangerous?

The way they spread is indomitable. Seeds attach to animals, travel on the wind, or drift down waterways.

Many worry these could spread to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, harming flora and fauna that depend on the lake, namely the countless bird species. Endangered and rare species live there too, like the night parrot, grey falcon, greater bilby, yellow-footed rock wallaby, and letter-winged kite, per the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Invasive species deplete resources and displace native species. This decreases biodiversity and disrupts delicate ecosystems. It leads to species extinction, food and water insecurity, and accelerated climate change. Maintaining healthy biodiversity is key to a cool planet.

What's being done about Australia's invasive cacti?

According to ABC, a Biosecurity Queensland spokesperson said in a statement that "harrisia's eradication is not feasible due to its biology, resilience, and the extent to which it has spread."

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For the harrisia cactus, ranchers use herbicides and mealybugs. Researchers are also exploring the potential of a stem-feeding fly from Argentina. The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and the AgForce lobby group nominated harrisia as a weed of national significance. Hopefully, this will attract funding to find a solution.

Those battling jumping cholla and coral cactus have used the cactus-eating cochineal bug and sprayed water-based chemicals. While these efforts reduce the spread, none have stopped it.

Supporting research efforts and properly destroying cactuses are the best ways to stop the spread and save the area.

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.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -Dutch technology investor Prosus NV expects adjusted profit at its e-commerce business to exceed its guidance and reach $435 million this fiscal year, Chief Executive Fabricio Bloisi said on Thursday.

Last year, Prosus, majority-owned by South Africa's Naspers, estimated adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (aEBIT) of $400 million for its e-commerce business in the 2025 financial year, compared with a trading profit of $38 million in the 2024 fiscal year.

"I am very happy to say we have exceeded our goal and will report more than $435 million for the year. For financial year 2026, I want to achieve at least the same level of incremental aEBIT," Bloisi said in a letter sent to shareholders on Thursday and published on the company's website.

The group will report its full-year results in June.

Revenue at Prosus-owned OLX, one of the largest classifieds companies globally, grew by nearly 20% in the year ended March 31, "faster than its peers with room for significant margin expansion," Bloisi said. OLXs aEBIT increased by over 50% to about $270 million.

Meanwhile, Prosus' Latin American food delivery platform iFood grew its aEBIT by more than 100% in the year to more than $200 million, he added.

In India, where its Swiggy investment listed last year, bringing in almost $2.4 billion for the group, Prosus recently invested in Rapido, which is growing more than 100% year-on-year in ride hailing and doing more than 3 million rides per day, he said.

Bloisi re-affirmed India's status as one of the Dutch group's global priority markets alongside Brazil and Southeast Asia.

"We have invested $8.6 billion in India, we have seen a very good return already, and we continue to see a lot of opportunity in the region," Bloisi said.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Susan Fenton)
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Grain Belt Express has awarded $1.7 billion in contracts to Quanta Services and Kiewit Energy Group to begin work on the largest electric transmission project in U.S. historyan 800-mile line connecting Kansas to Indiana.

Phase 1, linking Kansas and Missouri, is set to begin construction in 2026. According to its planners, the line will deliver 5,000 megawatts of power, lower energy costs, and is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs.

Work continues on transmission line across Kansas

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Developed by Invenergy, the project uses high-voltage direct current technology to connect four grid regions. More than 1,500 land agreements have been signed in Kansas and Missouri, with $105 million committed to landowners.

In a news release, Invenergy says local materials will be sourced when possible, and the project wont rely on ratepayer funding.

Kansas lawmakers are backing the initiative as a major infrastructure investment with long-term benefits for the state.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

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LARGO, Fla. (WFLA)  A Largo man was arrested after deputies said he abused two disabled group home residents.

The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office said it began an investigation on May 2 after receiving a report that two residents were battered by an employee at Live Oak Group Home on Curlew Avenue.

Deputies said they learned that an employee, 27-year-old Travis Crayton, had battered two men suffering from severe cognitive disabilities.

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A witness told deputies that Crayton grabbed a man around the head, wrapped his hands and fingers around his skull, and squeezed him for about 10 minutes. They said Crayton knocked on the mans head two times with a closed fist.

The witness also said Crayton went over to another man who was lying on a couch and placed his knee on his head, pushing him down.

On Wednesday, Crayton was arrested and taken to the Pinellas County Jail. He was charged with two counts of abuse of an elderly/disabled adult.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Pay first, fight later: If you get a traffic ticket in Nevada, you have to pay the penalty before you even go to court  $417 later, a Las Vegas couple learned that the hard way.

In January, a Clark County School District police officer pulled over Kim Ferguson for speeding.

Hi, how are you doing? the interaction began, according to body-camera video the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. But that quick, friendly greeting later gave Ferguson a not-so-pleasant feeling.

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I said, Oh my gosh. Ive never had a ticket before. I dont know what to do, she said about the stop. Her ticket-free streak ended as the officer cited her for going over the speed limit in a 15-mile-per-hour school zone.

In January, a Clark County School District police officer pulled over Kim Ferguson for speeding in the south valley. (KLAS)

The reason Im stopping you is its a 15-mile-an-hour school zone right now on Spencer, the officer said. Youre doing a 31 going through it.

The officer would lower that speed to 20 for Fergusons ticket, telling her it would cost several hundred dollars. Ferguson, who said she drives below the speed limit, does not believe she driving 31 mph and was following the flow of traffic as it sped up at the end of the school zone, expected a $200 bill.

We looked on the thing and I told my husband, Oh my god, its $417, Ferguson said, adding there was no indication the area where she was driving was still in the school zone.

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Its $417 a state law requires her to pay, whether she wanted to fight it or not.

We looked on the thing and I told my husband, Oh my god, its $417, Kim Ferguson said. (KLAS)

Youre going to have to contact the court to pay the fine  if you want to go to court to court to contest it. All the information is right here, the officer said before driving off.

When youre retired, thats a lot of money, said Kims husband, Tom Ferguson, calling the system a revenue generator. Now maybe to some people its not, but to us it is.

The Fergusons paid the ticket and said there was no point in fighting it. They added that it would cost more money to hire a lawyer. The law states the payee would get the money back should a judge side with them in court.

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The punishment doesnt match the crime, Tom Ferguson said. If you were doing 50 miles per hour in a school zone, I would understand that, but 20? It doesnt make sense to me.

The way state law is interpreted now, ticketed drivers have to pay in full, whether they want to contest a ticket or not. (KLAS)

It did not make sense to lawmakers either. Since 2021, Nevada lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, have changed most traffic infractions, like a speeding ticket, to be a civil infraction, not a criminal one. That means tickets no longer carry the threat of jail time, and missed court appearances do not really matter in the long run since the court may already have your money.

The way state law is interpreted now: The court shall require the person to post a bond equal to the amount of the full payment of the monetary penalty, means ticketed drivers have to pay in full, no matter what.

I think the bigger issue, especially among my colleagues here at the Legislature, is just the unfairness in having to pay the fine first and then be seen by a judge, Democratic State Sen. Melanie Scheible said.

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Her proposal, Senate Bill 359, would amend Nevadas traffic-ticket law to give courts flexibility to reduce that bond  that ticket payment.

For many Nevadans, especially those with limited financial means, this upfront payment creates a financial barrier to their right to a hearing, Scheible said during a recent legislative hearing. In Kim Fergusons case, she paid the bond and lost faith in the system.

In addition, changes in Senate Bill 359 would combine civil and criminal infractions  minor speeding offenses versus driving without a license  and allow a judge to deal with both in one hearing.

We have to continue to develop legislation that still allows for our enforcement agencies to hold people accountable when they violate traffic laws, Scheible said.

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The Fergusons feel the system is a money maker, adding that they paid an additional fee to pay online. Moving forward, Kim Ferguson, who said she always drives below the speed limit, said this was her first and final citation.

Senate Bill 359 would amend Nevadas traffic-ticket law to give courts flexibility to reduce the bond  that ticket payment. (KLAS)

I just go a lot slower now  theres no more tickets, she said.

The 8 News Now Investigators discovered a potential error on the ticket, leading to questions about the validity of the entire case. The officer who wrote the ticket noted a registration lapse, however, the Fergusons said they always keep up with their payments. A spokesperson for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed it did not appear the Fergusons ever had a lapse in coverage.

The officer cited Kim Ferguson after school, and it did not appear any students were present in the area at the time. Nevadas school-zone law calls for the reduced speeds to be in effect 30 minutes before and after school and when students are present.

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Scheibles proposal passed unanimously out of the state Senate. It was moving forward in the Assembly and would likely pass in that chamber as well.

8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.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 KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  In one week, Las Vegas high school students turned a memorial into a motive for change, but the school district is drawing a line on where their responsibilities begin and end.

During a morning Clark County School District news conference, school leaders expressed grief following the death of 18-year-old McKenzie Scott. She was killed Thursday when police said an alleged drunk driver struck her while she walked through a crosswalk in front of Arbor View High School.

Please remain vigilant and cautious in the areas near our schools the safety of our students is a shared responsibility, CCSD Police Chief Henry Blackeye said. We must continue to work together to protect and support them.

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The topic crossed into an afternoon CCSD School Board meeting, where Arbor View High School Students cited each of their requests.

I love them to put in a pedestrian activated beacon, talking to different construction companies, a rectangular rapid flashing beacon, even repainting the crossing walk that is fairly faded, a speed bump, Hannah Cohn, a student, said. Also addressing the miles per hour on Buffalo [Drive]. Its 40 miles per hour during the school hours, which are very short.

Cohn said she understood some of the responsibility remains on the City of Las Vegas, which has examined the crosswalk for possible further improvement.

Im aware that the city is more in charge of making change of crossing guards and putting in construction and getting things into motion, Cohn said. But the voice of CCSD as a board themselves, is a huge push for the city, for them to actually get stuff done. So, its just having the board support.

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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 KLAS.
LANSING  A Lansing police officer is back on the job, more than a year after she and another officer were shot during a struggle with a man on the city's south side.

Caitlin Markey endured three surgeries and "countless hours" of rehabilitation following the April 10, 2024, incident on West Holmes Road, Lansing police said May 8 in a social media posting. In all, three people suffered gunshot wounds, including the suspect and one other officer.

The other officer was less seriously injured and returned to work long ago, Lansing Police Public Information Officer Jordan Gulkis said.

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"Officer Markey was shot while in the line of duty back in April of 2024, and what followed was hours and hours of incredibly hard work just to get back to a job she loves doing," officials said on Facebook. "Nothing about her rehab was easy, but thankfully shes used to hard work."

Police released no details about her injuries, and it was unclear when she returned to work.

Andrial Ched Ortiz was indicted on a weapons charge in federal court in connection with the incident.

The indictment alleged Ortiz possessed two 9mm handguns on that day and fired one of them. The U.S. Attorney's Office said he repeatedly tried to steal weapons from Lansing officers while the officers were trying to arrest him.

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Ortiz was charged in federal court with being a felon in possession of firearms. Court records indicate that case is still pending. There was no indication he's been charged in Ingham County courts in connection with the West Holmes incident. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office said it referred the case to the state Attorney General's Office for a review of possible state court charges.

The incident began about 11:15 a.m. in the 2000 block of West Homes Road, just east of Simken Drive.

At the time, then-Lansing police Chief Ellery Sosebee said detectives went to the area of an apartment building for a follow-up investigation and asked for two uniformed officers to help make contact with the suspect. Ortiz was the focus on an investigation into a violent crime earlier that week, Sosebee said.

After a traffic stop, the man  later identified as Ortiz  ran away and was quickly caught, Sosebee said. But during the struggle, Ortiz disarmed one of the detectives and fired their weapon, striking two officers, the chief said at the time. One of the officers returned fire, striking the suspect, he said.

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Lansing police released video clips from the incident about nine days later. A slide in the video says one patrol officer was shot and another suffered a grazing wound before a patrol officer fired a weapon. All three people who were shot, including Ortiz, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, they said.

Ortiz ran when police tried to arrest him, but they caught him and tackled him to the ground, according to the slides. While on the ground and as police tried to put handcuffs on him, the man told police they would have to kill him.

Ortiz in the video appears to reach for at least one law enforcement officer's gun before an officer said she was going to use her stun gun on Ortiz. The officer hit him with the stun gun, but Ortiz continued to fight with detectives and an officer before one can be heard saying the suspect had a gun, followed by the sound of a gunshot.

A slide in the video says one patrol officer was shot and another suffered a grazing wound before a patrol officer fired their weapon.

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Matt Mencarini contributed to this report. Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing police officer Caitlin Markey back to work after being shot
VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass on Friday, a day after his historic election as the first U.S.-born pope in the Catholic Church's 2,000-year history while congratulations poured in from world leaders and statesmen at the start of his papacy.

On Thursday, Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged onto the loggia of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican, following the conclave and the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that a new pontiff has been chosen. His election overcame the traditional prohibition against a pope from the United States.

Leo, a 69-year-old Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vaticans powerful office of bishops, wore the traditional red cape  which Pope Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013  suggesting a return to some degree of rule-following after Francis unorthodox pontificate.

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Leo's first words to the crowds below  Peace be with you  emphasized a message of dialogue and missionary evangelization. He spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English.

Here is the latest:

US cardinals celebrate to Born in the U.S.A. and American Pie

Speakers blasted the songs as the U.S. electors shared their thoughts on the first U.S.-born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost.

I took a look at Bob and he had his head in his hands and I was praying for him, said Cardinal Joseph Tobin, describing the moment when he cast his vote in the Sistine Chapel. And then when he accepted, it was like it was made for him.

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The cardinals met on a stage decorated with the Stars and Stripes and a Vatican flag at the Pontifical North American College.

Some said Prevosts U.S. nationality wasnt a factor. They were most concerned with who among us can bring us together, who among us can strengthen the faith and bring the faith to places where it has grown weak, Cardinal Wilton Gregory said.

 Read more about the American cardinals celebration

Dalai Lama, Mormon leaders send greetings

When the world is witnessing so many challenges, your election brings new hope not just to the Catholic community, but to people everywhere who are seeking a happier life in a more compassionate, peaceful world, the Tibetan Buddhist leader wrote.

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The Dalai Lama recalled meeting previous popes, reflecting his firm belief in the oneness of humanity and his commitment to promoting inter-religious harmony.

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrote that as fellow followers of Jesus Christ, we look forward to continued opportunities to work together to bless the lives of Gods children everywhere. May we strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ to care for the poor and needy, become peacemakers and create a world where faith and goodness can flourish.

Russian Orthodox Church leader notes civilizational challenges

Congratulating Pope Leo XIV on his election, Patriarch Kirill said You are beginning your ministry as the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church at a special historical moment, connected both with a number of civilizational challenges and with certain omens of hope.

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In this context, the relationship between the Christian East and West acquires special significance for the fate of the world, he added.

The message cited by Russias state news agency RIA Novosti expressed hope that the relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church will will progressively develop.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx: I can tell you, I am very happy

Marx, the archbishop of Munich and Freising and a progressive close to Pope Francis in his vision, would not speak of conclave discussions. But he said that before they were sequestered, small groups of cardinals would say, What about this one, what about that one?

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Marx took note of Prevost  an American with deep experience in Latin America, strong linguistic and cultural fluency, and a history of leadership as Superior General of the Augustinians. That convinced me to say, this could be a possibility, said Marx, adding that he was struck by the future popes temperament when they met last year.

We had a very good conversation, Marx said. I realized hes a man who listens, takes arguments seriously, weighs them. You cant just place him into one camp  he really tries to build bridges. I liked that very much.

Pope Leo XIV's first foreign trip could be to Turkey

He's been invited at the end of May to travel to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history and an important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meanwhile sent a congratulatory letter expressing Turkeys desire to strengthen ties with the Vatican to promote global tolerance and collaborate in addressing humanitarian crises, particularly in Gaza.

I am fully confident that the sincere and constructive dialogue established with Pope Francis will continue with you as well, Erdogan wrote, according to a Friday statement from the Turkish presidents office.

Is he a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan? Leo XIVs brother sets it straight

Chicagos two baseball teams demand fierce loyalties. Some early reports on the new pope's allegiances prompted extra celebrations on the citys northside, where Wrigley Fields iconic marquee announced HEY, CHICAGO. HES A CUBS FAN!

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But his brother, John Prevost, set the record straight in an interview with WGN-TV: He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I dont know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan.

Family always knows best, the southside White Sox said. A jersey with his name on it is already on its way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark, the team statement said.

As for citys long-suffering football team, one fan said the Bears now have a direct line to God. Another said the Bears wont be on the wrong side of Hail Marys. Quarterback Caleb Williams could use that help. Daaaaaa Pope, he posted on X.

Chicago bishop: Not just a hometown hero

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Chicagoans gathered Friday morning at Holy Name Cathedral to celebrate the election of native Chicagoan Pope Leo XIV.

Bishop Lawrence J. Sullivan, the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, celebrated the Mass. In his homily, Sullivan said they come to give thanks and pray for the new pope as he takes on the enormous task of leading the Catholic Church.

More importantly than celebrating a hometown hero, or far more important than celebrating the fact that we have our first pope from the United States, Sullivan said. The real celebration is that God has given us a shepherd.

Pope wasnt just Chicago-born  the city shaped him

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Robert Prevost was born in 1955 in the south side Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville and grew up in suburban Dolton, where he attended Mass and elementary school at St. Mary of the Assumption, before studying theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago in Hyde Park. He taught in local Catholic schools.

We are overjoyed that someone who is beloved and known to us is now the beloved leader of the whole entire church, said Barbara Reid, a Dominican sister and president of the Catholic Theological Union.

John Doughney, a fellow 1969 St. Marys grade school graduate, remembers Prevost as a friend to everyone and a kind, caring, compassionate young man.

Even when he was 12 and 13, it was apparent to all of us that he knew what his calling was, he said. It wouldve shocked all of us if he didnt go into the priesthood. Were so proud of him.

Chicagoans hope Leo XIV continues the citys history of social justice

For Catholic Chicagoans, to have a native son who has been born and raised in a city where support and care of all has always been central to who we are as a city, it really speaks volumes, said Mary Perrotti, director of advancement at the citys Frances Xavier Warde School. I truly believe his upbringing in Chicago informs his ministries, his compassion and sense of justice.

Theres tears of joy, of hope, of motivation to rise to this moment and leave this world better than we found it, said Raul Raymundo, co-founder of a Chicago community advocacy group called the Resurrection Project.

Raymundo, an immigrant from Mexico who grew up in Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood, said he hopes Leo XIV will continue Pope Francis legacy and Chicagos legacy of social justice and compassion, especially in welcoming immigrants.

 Read more about Leo XIVs Chicago roots

Leo XIVs brother expects him to be a second Pope Francis

John Prevost described his brother as being very concerned for the poor and those who dont have a voice.

Hes not going to be real far left and hes not going to be real far right, he told The Associated Press in an interview. Kind of right down the middle.

The new pope grew up the youngest of three boys  his brother John is only a year older.

John remembers Robert Prevost being very good in school, and enjoying playing tag, Monopoly and Risk. They only had vacations together after Robert graduated eighth grade and left for seminary school. But these days, he said the brothers talk on the phone every day  Robert will call him and theyll discuss everything from politics to religion, and even play the days Wordle.

John Prevost said hes not sure how theyll handle staying in touch in the future: Its already strange not having someone to talk to, he said.

On Jesus as Savior, not superman

In another reference to the ills of todays world, Leo said: Today, too, there are many contexts in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.

This is true not only among non-believers but also among many of the baptized, who thus end up living at this level, in a state of practical atheism. This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to joyful faith in Christ the Savior.

Pope Leo XIV decries the neglect of mercy

In impeccable Italian, Leo decried that in todays world there are many contexts in which the Christian faith is considered something absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Contexts where other certainties are preferred, such as technology, money, success, power, pleasure.

These are environments where it is not easy to bear witness to, and announce, the Gospel, and where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where mission is urgently needed. Because the lack of faith often carries with it tragedies such as the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, violations of human dignity in the most dramatic manners, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

Pope Leo XIVs first words in English as a pope

The first U.S.-born pope in history used Italian and Spanish in his blessing to the crowd on Thursday from the central balcony of St. Peters Basilica.

But at the start of his first Mass on Friday morning, he turned briefly to his native English to address the cardinals who elected him as the leader of the Catholic Church. He began by quoting the responsorial psalm about praising the Lord for his wondrous works.

I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out upon all of us, Leo told them. Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission.

The Vatican outlines Pope Leo's schedule for May

The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV will be formally installed as pope at a Mass on May 18 and will preside over his first general audience on May 21.

The Vatican provided a schedule of Leos upcoming agenda that includes meetings with cardinals, Vatican officials, the media, diplomatic corps and the general public.

The Vatican also said that Leo had asked all heads of Vatican offices, who technically lost their jobs with the death of Pope Francis, to return to work until further notice. It said he wanted to take time for reflection, prayer and dialogue before taking any further decisions on confirming them definitively.

A Hong Kong Catholics' plea for a more harmonious world with Pope Leo

Hong Kongs Roman Catholic Cardinal Stephen Chow and the faithful are praying for Pope Leo's emphasis on bridge-building, a synodal church and a church for the poor, according to a statement from the church's communication office.

The statement said they are also looking to Leo's call for collective efforts from believers worldwide to build a more harmonious world.

A former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong enjoys greater religious freedoms as a semi-autonomous city than mainland China.

The pope's first homily

In his homily, delivered in fluent Italian, Pope Leo XIV touched on faith, power and corruption. As Cardinal Robert Provost, he had done years of missionary work in Peru and on Friday, as pope, he addressed the significance of that work in keeping the faith alive.

He said there are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied."

"Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed, he said.

Leo celebrated Mass in Latin and Italian, and his prepared homily was in Italian. He offered some initial comments in English, unprepared, off-the-cuff before he began reading his homily.

A Bosnian cardinal's admiration

Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic, the longest-serving among the cardinals who were in the conclave, said he was honored to be chosen to stand next to the new pope at the loggia of St. Peters Basilica when Leo XIV emerged as the pontiff.

Puljic described the pope as very spontaneous but subtly spontaneous. He told the Catholic Press Agency in Bosnia in an interview published Friday that it's his impression that the pope "communicates well, that he has an ability to listen and hear, and I hope he will preserve those qualities.

Puljic, who will be 80 later this year and whose health has fragile, said the initial vote in the conclave was dispersed, but that it then narrowed toward Cardinal Robert Prevost because it became clear that he has the capacity to lead.

The new pontiff's first Mass

Leo has celebrated his first Mass as pontiff, presiding in the Sistine Chapel over the cardinals who elected him to succeed Francis and follow in his social justice-minded footsteps.

Wearing white vestments, the pope processed into the Sistine Chapel and blessed the cardinals as he approached the altar and Michelangelos The Last Judgement behind it.

It was in the same frescoed chapel that the Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost was elected on Thursday afternoon the 267th pope.

A few minutes earlier on Friday, the cardinals processed into the chapel wearing ceremonial white miters on their heads.

When the pope was a young boy...

One of Pope Leo XIVs neighbors intuited when he was still a young boy that he would someday become pope.

John Prevost, one of Leos brothers, says he thinks it happened when Leo was in first grade.

One of the neighborhood ladies across the street said to him, You will be the first American pope, he said. How she did that, who knows?

Israeli leaders hope the new pontiff will help in building bridges

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Pope Leo XIV success in fostering hope and reconciliation among all faiths, in a post on X on Thursday.

Relations between Israel and the Holy See have been strained since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Pope Francis regularly criticized Israels military actions in Gaza, condemning reports of famine. He also made daily calls to Christians in Gaza, contacting those sheltering at Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City to ask about safety and access to food and water.

Israels President Isaac Herzog said Israel looks forward to welcoming the new pope to the Holy Land and expressed hope Leo's papacy will be "one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples.

May we see the immediate and safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and a new era of peace in our region and around the world, Herzog said.

Pope Leo XIVs first appointments have been set

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says:

Taiwan looks to work with the new pope to spread the message of peace

Taiwans President Lai Ching-te has extended his congratulations to the new pontiff and said his diplomatically isolated island hopes to work with the Vatican on spreading peace, justice, religious freedom, unity and compassion.

The Vatican is the only state in Europe to have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and Taipei has worked hard to maintain a close relationship with recent popes.

About 2% of Taiwans population of 23 million are Catholic, though the church's roots go back hundreds of years on the island. Most Taiwanese follow Buddhism.

Chinas state-backed church organizations offer congratulations to the new pope

China's official news agency Xinhua reported on Friday that the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops Conference of Catholic Church in China  both under the Chinese government  congratulated Leo.

The Vaticans relations with China were severed in 1951 after the Communist Party came to power and the expulsion of foreign priests. The countrys estimated millions of Catholics were divided into the state-recognized church and an underground one that stayed loyal to Rome.

In 2018, the Vatican and China signed an accord over the thorny issue of bishop nominations, and the deal was extended in 2024 even though Rome previously acknowledged that it was far from ideal.

The Holy Sees outreach to China under late Pope Francis has drawn criticism, especially from American conservatives who have accused the Vatican of selling out the faithful who have been forced underground. Hong Kongs outspoken Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen also criticized the deal.

Filipinos welcome the first US-born pontiff

The Philippines is the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia and there were hopes the late Pope Francis would be succeeded by a prominent Filipino Cardinal, Luis Antonio Tagle, from the laidback city of Imus just south of Manila.

Still, Leo's election was welcomed and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he prays that the new pope would "continue to bring the church closer to the poor and disadvantaged.

I wanted the candidate from the Philippines  but lets accept this choice because this was Gods plan, Alexandra Bonilla, a 20-year-old student, said at a cathedral in Imus.

Australia's prime minister says Pope Leo's leadership comes at an important time

Anthony Albanese said on Friday that he will invite the new pope to the 54th International Eucharistic Congress, a gathering of Roman Catholic clergy and lay people, in Sydney in 2028.

As the first North American Pope, Pope Leo XIVs leadership comes at an important time for the Catholic Church and for the world," Albanese, a Catholic, told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra.

What is a core value for Augustinian priests?

A religious order is a community of Catholics  which can include priests, nuns, monks and even lay people  dedicated to a particular type of mission and spirituality. A core value for the Order of St. Augustine that the new pope belongs to is to live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.

Pope Francis was the first pope from the Jesuit religious order ever, and the first in more than a century and a half to come from any religious order. The previous one was Gregory XVI (1831-1846), a Camaldolese monk. In all, 34 of the 266 popes have belonged to religious orders  and six of them before Leo XIV were Augustinians, according to America, a Jesuit magazine.

The idea of a US pontiff was taboo. Prevost overcame it

Pope Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to lead the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.

Prevost kept a low public profile in Rome, but was well known to the men who count. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals.

Back in Prevosts old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru, the Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil said Prevost would have breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers each day. No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy, Purisaca said in an email.

 Read more about Robert Prevosts background
President Donald Trump on Friday floated cutting tariffs on China to 80% ahead of a weekend meeting as he looks to de-escalate the trade war.

Top U.S. officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since Trump sparked a trade war with stiff tariffs on imports.

Here's the latest:

Vance declines to comment on past criticisms of him by Pope Leo XIV

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I try not to play the politicization of the pope game, the vice president said Friday in an interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt. Im sure hes going to say a lot of things that I love. Im sure hell say some things that I disagree with, but Ill continue to pray for him and the church despite it all and through it all and thatll be the way that I handle it.

Pope Leo XIV shared his criticisms of Vance and the Trump administration on social media before he ascended to the papacy.

In the interview, Vance, a convert to Catholicism, said he knows the church will touch on public policy from time to time. But he said, its better for all of us if we allow the church to be about the saving of souls and dont try to fit it into a pre-ordained political box.

Vance says Trump is nicer than his critics give him credit for  just ask his 5-year-old son

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Vance says Trump has a softer side than the presidents critics realize.

As an example, Vance talked about his son calling him via FaceTime while the vice president was meeting with the president.

Vance told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Friday that he and Trump were meeting the previous day when his 5-year-old called while on the way home from preschool.

The presidents like, Pick it up, Vance said. And I answer it, and he talks with my 5-year-old in the middle of a meeting in the Oval Office.

Vance added, Thats the kind of guy that he actually is.

Trump takes aim at energy efficient showers and sinks

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Trump has signed a presidential memorandum he says will undo useless water pressure standards.

In it, the president pointed to an energy efficiency policy approved in 1992, which he argues make bathroom appliances more expensive and less functional. The order says standards meant to enforce environmental efficiency can make American appliances like clothes washers and dishwashers less useful, more breakable, and more expensive to repair.

Trumps order directs the Energy Department to work to rescind these unnecessary radical green agenda policies.

Water pressure is a topic that has long delighted Trump. During a Friday afternoon Oval Office meeting with lawmakers, Trump looked at a stack of legislation he was signing and excitedly asked, Do you have the sinks one in here?

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Trump signs executive order meant to speed implementation of his executive actions

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for the federal government, and is a journal of official actions taken by agencies and the president. But Fridays order complains that the Office of the Federal Register frequently takes days or, in some cases, even weeks, to publish new regulatory actions.

It directs the archivist of the United States  a post Secretary of State Marco Rubio currently holds in an acting capacity  to work with the Office of the Federal Register and government publishing office to reduce publication delays by modernizing computer systems and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy.

The order is intended to speed implementation of Trumps efforts to wipe out past government regulations.

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Trumps order also directs officials to study the cost of publication in the Federal Register to see if it can be reduced.

Justice Department seeks dismissal of police reform settlement in New Mexico

The U.S. Justice Department and city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, asked a judge on Friday to dismiss a decade-old police reform settlement against the city.

Albuquerque came into the spotlight nearly a decade ago as community members and activists began protesting a pattern of excessive force by officers, resulting in an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Federal officials harshly criticized the police force but reached an agreement with the city to improve training and dismantle troubled units.

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The Justice Department and the city say the settlement should be dismissed because the city is in full compliance with the reforms.

White House moves to try and block invasive carp from the Great Lakes

A White House fact sheet says the presidential memorandum Trump signed directs the administration to expeditiously implement the most effective mechanisms, barriers, and other measures to prevent the migration and expansion of invasive carp in the Great Lakes Basin and the surrounding region.

It endorses construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project in Illinois, which it says will mean multiple layers of innovative technological deterrents designed to prevent invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

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The White House says the project was delayed by Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and Trumps memorandum establishes a deadline of July 1 for Illinois to acquire necessary land to begin construction while setting other deadlines for local permits to be granted to facilitate Army Corps construction.

Trump signs executive order to create national center for military veterans experiencing homelessness

The White House says the National Center for Warrior Independence will be housed on the campus of the Department of Veterans Affairs in West Los Angeles.

It will be open to veterans from around the country, with the goal of housing 6,000 veterans by 2028.

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The administration says the center will promote self-sufficiency through housing and substance abuse treatment, and will support employment programs for veterans there.

It says federal funding to build and maintain the center is being redirected from facilities previously servicing people in the country lacking permanent legal status.

Trump blames Ross Perot for costing George H.W. Bush reelection

Trump is again endorsing the idea of raising taxes on wealthy Americans while also challenging conventional political wisdom about the 1992 presidential election.

I would love to do it frankly, Trump said when asked about higher tax rates for the wealthy being included in legislation Congress is working on. Congressional Republicans have largely balked at the idea, and Trump himself pointed to President George H.W. Bush.

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Bush signed a tax increase into law after campaigning on the slogan Read my lips and vowing hed never raise taxes. Then Bush lost his reelection bid to Bill Clinton in 1992.

But he lost because of Ross Perot, he didnt lose because of that statement, Trump said, referencing Perot, a Texas businessman, who ran for president that year as a third-party candidate.

Treasury secretary calls on Congress to increase debt limit by mid-July

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that receipts from Aprils tax filing season indicate that there is a reasonable probability that the Treasury will have exhausted in August its cash and the accounting maneuvers called extraordinary measures that keep the government operating.

Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt. Bessent noted in his letter, obtained by The Associated Press, that Congress is scheduled to be in recess then.

Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July, Bessent wrote.

He said he would continue to update Congress as more information becomes available, but he warned that a failure to suspend or increase the debt limit would wreak havoc on our financial system and diminish Americas security and global leadership position.

The letter to Johnson also comes as Republicans consider a massive tax cut and border security package that includes an increase in the debt limit. Bessents request could give GOP lawmakers greater incentive to reach an agreement.

Trump says hes told US negotiators the minimum tariffs hes willing to charge China  but wont disclose it

Trump says hes given U.S. negotiators meeting with a Chinese delegation this weekend a number on how low the U.S. would be willing to go on setting its tariffs on goods imported from China  but he wont say what it is.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump answered yeah when asked if hed given the U.S. team a number.

Top U.S. officials are meeting this weekend with a high-level Chinese delegation in Switzerland.

Trump said, We have to make a great deal for America, but added that he wouldnt be disappointed if no deal was reached this weekend.

I think were going to come back with a fair deal for both China and us, he said.

Trump signs measures rolling back Biden administration regulations on energy efficiency

Trump signed a series of measures approved by Congress to roll back regulations the Biden administration implemented in its final days.

The four measures he signed Friday evening were approved as part of the Congressional Review Act, which Congress can use at the start of an administration to wipe out policies it doesnt like from a previous one  though there are time limits on when such actions can be taken.

Flanked by Republican lawmakers, Trump signed measures repealing Biden-era regulations on gas water heaters and walk-in coolers and freezers, as well as energy conservation standards for some appliances and some consumer products and commercial freezers.

Its all about common sense, Trump said.

New FEMA head warns staff who might resist changes

David Richardson addressed staff Friday  a day after the former acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was fired  telling those who might want to hinder upcoming changes at the agency: Dont get in my way. If they did, he said, I will run right over you.

I will achieve the presidents intent, Richardson said during a call with staffers across the thousands-strong agency.

Richardson is a former Marine Corps officer who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. He was named FEMAs acting administrator on Thursday just after Cameron Hamilton, whod been leading the agency also in an acting role, was fired.

Richardson arrives at FEMA at a time of immense turmoil and as it prepares for hurricane season.

Trump has suggested abolishing FEMA and providing money directly to states to manage.

 Read more about FEMAs new acting head

Broadway show reacts to Library of Congress firing

The cast and creative team behind the Broadway musical Dead Outlaw have canceled an upcoming appearance at the Library of Congress following the firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

Dr. Hayden has been a fierce advocate for preserving Americas cultural memory and a great champion of the Broadway community, reads a statement from the show.

Composers David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna and book writer Itamar Moses on Monday were to donate artifacts representing the development of the musical, which were to be enshrined in the librarys permanent collection. The event was also to feature a performance and discussion from the creative team and Broadway cast members.

Dead Outlaw tells the tale of a real life alcoholic drifter turned failed bandit who was shot dead in 1911 and whose afterlife proved to be stranger than fiction. It earned seven Tony Award nominations last week, including for best new musical.

US to accept two dozen white South African refugees while other programs remain paused

The first Afrikaner refugees are arriving Monday at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. They are expected to be greeted by a government delegation.

The flight will be the first of several in a much larger-scale relocation effort, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters.

Whats happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created, he said. This is persecution based on a protected characteristic  in this case, race.

State Department refugee programs have been put on hold since Trump ordered a review in February. While halting arrivals from Afghanistan, Iraq, most of sub-Saharan Africa and throughout Latin America, Trump also issued an executive order prioritizing the processing of white South Africans who claim racial discrimination in their home country.

New Jersey mayor arrested at ICE detention center where he was protesting, prosecutor says

Alina Habba, acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, said on on the social platform X that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka trespassed and ignored warnings from Homeland Security personnel to leave Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility run by private prison operator GEO Group.

The mayor has been protesting the opening of the facility throughout this week, saying its operators did not get proper permits.

In her social media post, Habba said Baraka had chosen to disregard the law. She added that he had been taken into custody.

An email and phone message left with the mayors communications office were not immediately answered Friday afternoon.

 Read more about the mayors arrest

15 states sue over Trumps energy emergency efforts to fast-track oil and gas projects

The coalition of states says the administration is bypassing environmental protection laws and threatening endangered species, critical habitat and cultural resources.

Trump issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency  on the first day of his presidency. The order urges oil and gas expansion through federal use of eminent domain and the Defense Production Act, which allows the government to use private land and resources to produce goods deemed to be a national necessity.

The attorneys general of Washington, California and the other states say those kinds of steps are supposed to be reserved for actual emergencies, like projects needed in after hurricanes or major oil spills.

But now, the attorneys general say, agencies are bypassing required reviews under federal laws like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

They want a judge to declare the executive order unlawful and to bar the government from pursuing emergency permitting for non-emergency projects.

Miller on national security adviser job: Thrilled with current job

Asked whether he would consider becoming the next national security adviser, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller isnt necessarily ruling it out.

But Im very thrilled with the job that I currently have, and my focus right now, is Im supporting Secretary Rubio, said Miller, referring to the secretary of state who has been tapped to the role in the interim. Marco and I have become very close friends.

Could habeas corpus be suspended for migrants?

Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, said the administration is looking for ways to expand its legal power to deport migrants who are in the country illegally.

The Constitution is clear  and that of course is the supreme law of the land  that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion, he told reporters. So its an option that were actively looking at.

Miller added that a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.

Habeas corpus refers to peoples right to challenge their detention in court.

 Read more on immigration

Recent US poets laureate blast the firing of the librarian of Congress

The three most recent U.S. poets laureate have condemned the firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who had appointed each of them to their positions.

Dr. Carla Hayden is the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation, Ada Limon, who last month completed a three-year run as poet laureate, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Joy Harjo, the laureate from 2019-2022, said in a statement that Hayden had expanded all peoples access to history, literature, art, archives and cultural programming.

Tracy K. Smith, who served from 2017-2019, told the AP in an email that

Her abrupt firing suggests a desire to tamp down the ceiling on our collective remembering and deprive the collective imagination of vital resources.

White House dismisses conflict of interest concerns about Trumps upcoming dinner with memecoin investors

The White House is dismissing conflict of interest concerns about Trump promoting an upcoming dinner for top investors in his memecoin.

Trump will attend a May 22 dinner at his Virginia golf for the largest investors in the memecoin $TRUMP, and has used his social media site to drum up interest.

Pressed on whether some might invest to try and influence Trumps policy decisions, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, I can assure you, the president acts with only the interests of the American public in mind.

She said Trump is abiding by all conflict of interest laws and has has been incredibly transparent with his own personal, financial obligation throughout the years.

Pentagon directs military to pull, review library books that address anti-racism and gender issues in new DEI action

The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21.

Thats according to a memo issued to the force on Friday.

It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo.

White House sidesteps question on the new popes social media

Before Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, he shared criticisms of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on social media, particularly when it comes to immigration policy.

But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didnt directly address the issue when asked about it on Friday.

It was a rare instance of the administration holding fire when faced with criticism.

Leavitt said having an American pope is a great thing for the United States of America and the world, and we are praying for him.

 Read more on the new pope.

White House calls Newark air traffic controllers losing communication a glitch

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the glitch this morning at Newark airport was caused by the same issues as last week, but that it didnt disrupt flights.

Air traffic controllers who guide planes landing and taking off at New Liberty International Airport briefly lost radar and communication with aircraft Friday morning.

That glitch was caused by the same telecoms and software issues that were raised last week, Leavitt said. But she added, Everything went back online after the brief outage and there was no operational impact.

 Read more on the outage.

Iran cant be allowed to enrich uranium, Witkoff says ahead of talks

U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff said ahead of a new round of nuclear talks with Iran this weekend that the Trump administration wouldnt allow the country to maintain a domestic uranium enrichment program.

Thats a main criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal Trump left in his first term.

An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again, Witkoff told the conservative outlet Breitbart News in an interview published Friday. Thats our red line.

In the talks, Witkoff said Iran had reiterated that it didnt want to acquire a nuclear weapon, something Iranian officials have said for years.

He added that if the new talks on Sunday werent productive, then they wont continue, and well have to take a different route.

White House spokeswoman says US trade deal with UK is essentially finished, though negotiators say otherwise

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the trade deal with the United Kingdom is effectively completed.

When asked why President Donald Trump presented a deal on Thursday that wasnt finished and ready to be signed, Leavitt said: Thats not true.

But thats not quite accurate as Trump himself said the final details still need to be negotiated. She later walked back that statement somewhat by saying that trade deals operate by being announced and then negotiators make sure that the ts have to be crossed and the is have to be dotted.

The frameworks origins preceded Trumps April 2 announcement of broad universal tariffs and British officials hope to find ways to lower Trumps 10% baseline tariff rate.

Judge releases Rumeysa Ozturk, the Turkish Tufts University student who was detained by ICE

U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Burlington released Rumeysa Ozturk pending a final decision on her claim that shes been illegally detained.

Ozturk, detailing her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate degree focusing on children and social media, appeared at a bail hearing remotely from the Louisiana center.

Lawyers for Ozturk, 30, said her detention violates her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process.

Ozturk was released Friday on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE.

White House says Trumps trip will promote a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says of next weeks trip that Trump is making a historic return to the Middle East.

Trump leaves Monday and plans stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Leavitt said during her briefing with reporters that the White House wants to promote a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East.

This trip ultimately highlights how we stand on the brink of the golden age for both that region and the U.S., Leavitt said.

Most Americans disapprove of Trumps treatment of colleges, a new AP-NORC poll finds

A majority of U.S. adults disapprove of President Donald Trumps handling of issues related to colleges and universities, according to a new poll.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research comes as Trumps administration ramps up threats to cut federal funding unless schools comply with his political agenda.

More than half of Americans, 56%, disapprove of the Republican presidents approach on higher education, according to the poll. About 4 in 10 approve with Trumps approach, which is in line with his overall job approval.

Since taking office in January, Trump has tried to force change at universities he says have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. The spotlight most recently has been on Harvard University, where Trumps administration has frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal grants, threatened to strip the schools tax-exempt status, and demanded broad policy changes.

 Read more about the poll

Pull climate and other funding from richer nations to keep millions alive after aid cuts, group says

Leading aid organizations are reallocating where theyre sending resources as countries including the U.S. funnel less money to foreign assistance.

Its time to pull some donor funding for programs in better-off countries that target everything from climate change to refugee resettlement so that millions of people in the most vulnerable countries get what they need to survive, according to David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee.

Miliband told The Associated Press this week that its time to change priorities to move at least half of the worlds aid budget to the poorest and most conflict-ridden places. Currently, a quarter of total aid goes to such places.

The shifting of resources shows the impact of the Trump administrations decision to pull the U.S. back from being the worlds single largest aid donor.

Transgender veteran says purging the military could cause a lot of problems

A transgender Marine veteran says ousting service members poses a problem for several reasons.

It could make the military less prepared, and it would disrupt life for the ousted service members and their families, said Sarah Klim, who served for 23 years but never openly because she retired in 2016, right as the end to the ban on transgender troops was announced.

Klimm, who is now a policy analyst for Minority Veterans of America, is also concerned about what happens to medical treatment for ousted troops as the Department of Veterans Affairs phases out gender-affirming care for transgender vets.

They dont have a warm and fuzzy feeling about being taken care of by the VA, she said.

Proposal to triple the state and local tax deduction is insulting, some GOP lawmakers say

Congressional Republicans from New York say a House proposal that would triple the cap on state and local tax deductions is insulting and would threaten the chances to extend the individual tax cuts passed in President Donald Trumps first term.

The tax cut package passed in Trumps first term placed a $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions. Lawmakers from New York, California and New Jersey are leading efforts to lift the cap.

Rep. Nick LaLota tweeted a joint statement from he and three other New York Republicans who say Speaker Mike Johnson and members of the House Ways and Means Committee unilaterally proposed a $30,000 cap. They say that was an amount they already knew would fall short of earning our support.

Separately, Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., tweeted that she and one of the four New York Republicans, Rep. Andrew Garbarino, remain committed to a fair deal and that this isnt an offer  its a slap in the face to the hardworking taxpayers we represent.

The protests signal the difficulties Republicans will have in getting their tax cut and border security package through the House before Johnsons goal of Memorial Day.

After flirting with raising the tax rate for the wealthiest, Trump is backing off  sort of

He noted on social media Friday morning that hiking taxes on anyone, even the rich, could stir a political backlash, although he didnt completely discourage Republican lawmakers from pursuing that option as they write their massive tax package.

The problem with even a TINY tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, Read my lips, Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

The president is referring to an infamous quote by George H.W. Bush during the 1988 presidential campaign, when he pledged not to implement any new taxes as president.

Trump has mused about a higher rate for millionaires for months and revived his request in private talks this week.

Trump will formally nominate Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as federal prosecutor for Washington

Thats according a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity Friday to disclose plans not yet made public.

Trump announced on social media Thursday that hes appointing Pirro to be interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Nominating her for the job on a more permanent basis makes her subject to Senate confirmation.

Trump picked Pirro after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr., whos been acting U.S. Attorney since January. Trump withdrew Martin from consideration after a key Republican senator said he couldnt support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Pirro has significantly more courtroom experience than Martin, whod never worked as a prosecutor or tried a case. She was elected as a judge and a district attorney in New Yorks Westchester County years before joining Fox News.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who publicly opposed Martins nomination, expressed support for Pirros selection on social media.

 Seung Min Kim

 Read more about Judge Jeanine Pirro

Senator blasts Trump action on grant program to improve online access

Sen. Patty Murray, the sponsor of legislation aimed at helping more Americans have access to affordable high-speed internet, is blasting Trumps announcement that he was ending the program.

Trump said on Truth Social: No more woke handouts based on race!

Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, said in a statement that her legislation, the Digital Equity Act, passed as part of a bipartisan infrastructure package during Joe Bidens presidency. It was designed to close the digital divide in America.

She says funding went to help red and blue communities with money going to school districts, libraries and workforce training programs, among other things.

Its about making sure seniors can get online and equipping every student in every classroom with the tools they need to succeed, whether thats a hotspot to take home or a laptop, Murray said.

She said the funding will be illegally blocked because the President doesnt like the word equity.

Rights groups sue to free Venezuelans deported from the US and held in El Salvador

International human rights organizations filed the lawsuit Friday with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asking that the commission order El Salvadors government to release the Venezuelans deported from the United States and held in a maximum-security prison.

In March, the U.S. government deported more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants alleged to have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador, paying the Salvadoran government to imprison them.

Since then, theyve had no access to lawyers or ability to communicate with their families. Neither the U.S. nor Salvadoran governments have said how the men could eventually regain their freedom.

These individuals have been stripped from their families and subject to a state-sponsored enforced disappearance regime, effectively, completely against the law, said Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, which helped bring the suit. Were hoping that this case might help put pressure on El Salvador to put basic guardrails in place.

 Read more about the deported Venezuelans being held in El Salvador

Fishermen battling with changing oceans chart new course after Trumps push to deregulate

Virginia Olsen has pulled lobsters from Maines chilly Atlantic waters for decades while watching threats to the states lifeblood industry mount.

Trade imbalances with Canada, tight regulations on fisheries and offshore wind farms towering like skyscrapers on open water pose three of those threats, said Olsen, part of the fifth generation in her family to make a living in the lobster trade.

Thats why she was encouraged last month when President Trump signed an executive order that promises to restore American fisheries to their former glory. The order promises to shred fishing regulations, and Olsen said that will allow fishermen to do what they do best  fish.

That will make a huge difference in communities like her home of Stonington, the busiest lobster fishing port in the country, Olsen said.

 Read more about Trump and the fishing industry

Trumps Friday schedule, according to the White House

The first thing on the presidents public schedule for Friday is at 4 p.m., when he will sign executive orders.

At 1 p.m., Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a press briefing.

Wall Street drifts higher as it counts down to a highly anticipated US-China meeting on trade

U.S. stocks are drifting higher Friday as Wall Street heads toward the end of an unusually quiet week.

The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in early trading and on track to erase what had been a small loss for the week. This may be the first week in seven where the index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts moves by less than 1.5%, after getting rocked first by fears about Trumps trade war and then by hopes that hell relent on some of his tariffs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 127 points, or 0.3%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.7% higher.

The big event for the week is likely coming Saturday, when trading will be closed in financial markets. Thats when high-level U.S. and Chinese officials will be meeting in Switzerland for their first talks since Trump launched an escalating trade war between the worlds two largest economies.

 Read more about the financial markets

New York Mayor Eric Adams says hell meet with Trump on Friday to discuss citys priorities

Adams provided few other details about the meeting in Washington, which comes a month after a federal judge approved a U.S. Justice Department request to dismiss the criminal corruption case against the mayor.

Adams was accused last year by former President Joe Bidens administration of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel discounts from a Turkish official and others, in exchange for helping Turkey open a diplomatic building without passing fire inspections, among other things. He pleaded not guilty and a trial was set for April.

But Trumps Justice Department moved to drop the charges so Adams could assist with the presidents immigration agenda.

Danish leader says you cannot spy against an ally after reports of US gathering intel on Greenland

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told The Associated Press you cannot spy against an ally after reports that the United States has stepped up intelligence gathering on Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory coveted by Trump.

Frederiksens comments Friday are the latest in the spat between Denmark, Greenland and the United States because Trump seeks to annex the strategic Arctic island. Denmark and Greenland insist the mineral-rich island is not for sale, while Trump hasnt ruled out taking it by military force even though Denmark is a NATO ally.

The Danish prime minister spoke to the AP the day after Denmark summoned the top American diplomat in the country for an explanation following a Wall Street Journal report which said several high-ranking officials under the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenlands independence movement and sentiment about U.S. resource extraction there.

 Read more about reports of U.S. spying in Greenland

Trump is failing to give critically needed leadership in Gaza, Democrats say

The Trump administration is failing to provide critically needed leadership to end the growing crisis in Gaza after the collapse of a ceasefire there, the senior Senate Democrats say in their joint letter to Trump.

The Associated Press obtained the letter Thursday night.

The Democrats argued that a new proposal that would U.S. security contractors in a dramatic overhaul of future aid to Gaza was not viable. And an Israeli proposal for long-term control within Gaza would only take matters farther away from Trumps goals for a permanent resolution to the Israeli-Hamas conflict and for improved Israeli security, the Democratic senators said.

Leading Senate Democrats urge Trump to push Israel to let aid back into Gaza

And the two dozen leading Senate Democrats also urged the president to push Israel to forgo any permanent Israeli reoccupation of Gaza.

Senators made the appeal in a letter sent Thursday night to the White House, ahead of Trumps Middle East trip next week. Aid groups also expect a global monitor to release an update next week detailing the worsening food crisis in Gaza amid Israeli aid restrictions.

Senior Democrats among those signing include Sens. Chris Coons, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, Cory Booker, Tim Kaine, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen.

Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

Trump abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the president and his agenda.

Hayden was notified in an email late Thursday from the White Houses Presidential Personnel Office, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press. Confirmed by the Senate to the job in 2016, Hayden was the first woman and the first African American to be librarian of Congress.

Hayden, whose 10-year term was set to expire next year, had come under backlash from a conservative advocacy group that had vowed to root out those standing in the way of Trumps agenda. The group, American Accountability Foundation, accused her and other library leaders of promoting childrens books with radical content and literary material authored by Trump opponents.

 Read more about Carla Hayden

Up to 1,000 transgender troops are being moved out of the military in new Pentagon order

The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify under a new directive issued Thursday.

Buoyed by Tuesdays Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military, the Defense Department will begin going through medical records to identify others who havent come forward.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued the latest memo, made his views clear after the courts decision.

No More Trans @ DoD, Hegseth wrote in a post on X. Earlier in the day, before the court acted, Hegseth said that his department is leaving wokeness and weakness behind.

No more pronouns, he told a special operations forces conference in Tampa. No more dudes in dresses. Were done with that s---.

 Read more about the new Pentagon order

Trump floats cutting China tariffs to 80% ahead of meeting as he looks to deescalate trade war

Trump on Friday floated cutting tariffs on China to 80% ahead of a weekend meeting as he looks to de-escalate the trade war.

Top U.S. officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since Trump sparked a trade war with stiff tariffs on imports.

 Read more about Trumps consideration to cut China tariffs
In contrast to Russias celebrations marking 80 years since the surrender of the Nazis, European leaders agreed to set up a tribunal to try Russian leaders for Moscows war on Ukraine.

The rift between Western European powers and Russia  erstwhile allies who defeated Nazi Europe  was laid even more bare Friday as the European Union pledged another 2 billion euros to help Ukraine arm, this time with money raised from Russias own frozen assets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the leaders of China, Brazil and many others for a massive parade meant to project Russian power.

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While Britain, France and the U.S. held ceremonies Thursday, EU foreign ministers opted to meet in Lviv in support of Ukraine. European leaders will do the same as they gather in Oslo.

Here is the latest.

___

Putin meets Slovakia's populist PM Robert Fico

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Friday with Slovakias populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has openly challenged the European Unions policies over Ukraine.

Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which border Russia, announced plans earlier this week to close their airspace to the planes carrying Serbias and Slovakias leaders to Moscow out of safety concerns.

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Putin thanked Fico for the visit and mentioned logistical challenges.

I think that those who tried to prevent you from coming have once again realized that it is better not to do so," Putin said. You achieve your goals anyway.

The Russian leader promised to work towards restoring bilateral ties with EU and NATO member Slovakia. Those ties, he said, had been effectively frozen by the previous Slovak government, which clearly followed the collective line of the West.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Fico as saying that Slovakia was interested in normal relations with Russia, and that he welcomes diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, as there is no military solution to the conflict. ___

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Putin holds more bilateral talks with foreign leaders

Putin held more bilateral meetings with foreign leaders at the Kremlin on Friday.

After holding talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Russian leader also sat down with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and then Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic.

Putin said that the Kremlin appreciated that Vucic came to Russia despite the pressure. Vucic had previously said that he wouldnt cancel the trip even amid European Union pressure that visiting Moscow could derail Serbias ambitions to join the bloc, and earlier this week Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which border Russia, announced plans to close their airspace to the planes carrying Serbias and Slovakias leaders to Moscow out of safety concerns.

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I know that they tried to dissuade you, certain logistical problems were created, but nevertheless, you are here with us, and we highly appreciate it, Putin said.

The two discussed Russian gas supplies to Serbia, among other things.

France and Poland agree to mutual security guarantees

France and Poland have signed a new treaty that includes mutual security guarantees in case the two EU countries are attacked.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and French president Emmanuel Macron met in the eastern French city of Nancy Friday to finalize the deal they said will help reinforce peace and security in Europe following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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Macron said the deal only strengthens and operationalizes an existing link and wont replace either NATO or the European Union.

Tusk said Poland will remain committed to NATO as the country spends almost 5% of its GDP on defense.

Macron said that under the treaty, France could intervene quickly in Poland and hinted that it could receive protection under Frances nuclear weapons deterrent.

Kremlin says it won't react to Russian war crimes tribunal announcement

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Moscow will not be reacting to the announcement that a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes will be created.

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Earlier on Friday, Ukraines Foreign Ministry said that a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes in Ukraine will be formally set up at a Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meeting later this month.

In a joint statement with foreign ministers from some 40 countries, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said technical legal work needed to establish the tribunal is now completed. The Committee of Ministers meeting will be held in Luxembourg on May 13-14.

Putin toasts foreign leaders to showcase Russian clout

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted foreign leaders at a reception in the Kremlin as part of celebrations to showcase Russias global clout and the Wests failure to isolate Moscow.

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The Russian leader on Friday raised a toast to the glorious generation of victors, to the triumph of truth and justice, to the prosperity of our countries and peoples.

He later sat down with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss bilateral ties. More meetings with foreign leaders were planned for Friday, the Kremlin said earlier this week.

Putins foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov told Russias state-funded Channel One TV station that the Russian leader also exchanged congratulations on the occasion of our common holiday and warm words with U.S. President Donald Trump through their aides.

Special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes to be set up

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Ukraines Foreign Ministry says a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes in Ukraine will be formally set up at a Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meeting later this month.

In a joint statement with foreign ministers from some 40 countries, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Friday technical legal work necessary to establish the tribunal is now completed. The Commitee of Ministers meeting will be held in Luxembourg on May 13-14.

The tribunal will focus on prosecuting Russian leaders most responsible for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.

EU to help Ukraine purchase weapons using Russian frozen assets

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Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says the European Union will allocate almost 1.9 billion euros for military support to his country.

Shmyhal posted on his Telegram page Friday that a billion euros from this amount will go toward the purchase of weapons directly from Ukrainian manufacturers.

Some 600 million euros will go toward procuring artillery and ammunition and another 200 million will be used to bolster Ukraines air defences..

Shmyhal said hes particularly grateful to Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Italy which will help in the 1 billion euro purchase of weapons.

The Ukrainian official called the military support package historic because weapons will be purchased using proceeds from Russian frozen assets through the European Peace Fund.

Zelenskyy says Putin must be held accountable through a tribunal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine because he escaped punishment for previous wars he had waged.

He said Russia must be held accountable for its aggression just as the Nazis were, urging for full EU support for the creation of a tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes.

The Ukrainian president also indicated that Europe is preparing another 1 billion euro ($1.12 billion) military aid package for his country, bringing the total of new EU support funds to 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion).

EU endorses special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes in Ukraine

Standing alongside top Ukrainian government officials in Lviv, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas paid respects to the victims of the war in Ukraine at a cemetery there.

Kallas said she couldn't understand how other leaders could stand with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for Friday's celebrations in the Russian capital.

Kallas and dozens of European officials gathered in Lviv to endorse the creation of a special tribunal tasked to prosecute crimes of aggression by top Russian officials in the war on Ukraine.

Kallas said the courts launch will mean that nobody can be left unpunished for the crimes committed," including leaders who decided to send soldiers into Ukraine.

She urged other countries to back the tribunal, warning that such crimes could be repeated without accountability.

Estonian museum equates Putin with Hitler

Estonia's Narva Museum has hung a banner of a composite portrait of Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler as the Russian president hosts celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The banner hung from the museum's castle wall read 'Putler War Criminal' and is visible from the Russian side of the Narva River, according to the museum's Facebook post.

Estonia has refused to allow use of its airspace for any flights to and from Moscow for the Russian celebrations, according to the Baltic News Service.

European leaders speak together by phone with Trump over Ukraine

Several European leaders said they had a good conversation with Trump Thursday shortly before he posted on his Truth Social platform to say that the U.S. calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.

Trump said if the ceasefire is not respected the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions on Russia.

Nordic and Baltic leaders gathering ahead of a security meeting in Oslo, Norway, called Trump up Thursday and put the phone on the table to speak to him, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the call lasted around 20 minutes while Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described it as excellent, adding that Trumps position has gone toward working with European partners.

Top U.S. officials previously indicated Europe would be cut out of discussions with the U.S. on Ukraine and threatened to walk away from involvement in negotiations unless a deal is done.

French foreign minister says more sanctions against Russia are coming

France's foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, says European allies have agreed on another package of sanctions against Russia. Barrot did not elaborate on the details of the package, saying it will be adopted in the coming days.

He spoke from Lviv, Ukraine, where dozens of European officials are meeting to endorse the creation of a special tribunal tasked to prosecute crimes of aggression by top Russian officials in the war on Ukraine.

Im sure that this tribunal will allow for the fight against impunity against all war crimes that have been committed during this war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine, Barrot said. There is no peace without justice, and there is no justice without the truth.

Barrot added that French president Emmanuel Macron spoke on Thursday with U.S. President Donald Trump and told him that its time to force Russia's Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.

Putin praises Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory."

Putin was speaking during Friday's military parade. The Russian leader declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting Wednesday to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations, but warned that Russian troops will retaliate to any attacks.

Moscow has been reluctant to accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day truce that Ukraine has accepted, linking it to a halt in Western arms supplies to Ukraine and Kyivs mobilization effort, conditions Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected.

Ukrainian authorities reported scores of Russian strikes on Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings.

Zelenskyy tells Trump he's ready for a ceasefire in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he had a good conversation with Donald Trump, during which the two marked Victory Day and discussed the path toward peace in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said Friday he briefed Trump on the battlefield situation and reiterated that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire starting even today, urging Russia to support the proposal.

He emphasized Ukraines willingness to engage in talks in any format but said Russia must prove its commitment by declaring a full, unconditional ceasefire.

Zelenskyy added that Trump confirmed his desire to help end the war and supported the idea of a ceasefire, with both agreeing to remain in contact.

Military parade begins in Moscow

Russia began a vast military parade in Moscow's Red Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

President Vladimir Putin and a host of foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, attended the parade.

A massive parade through Red Square and other ceremonies underline Moscows efforts to project its power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West amid the 3-year-old war in Ukraine.

Festivities this year were overshadowed by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at the capitals airports, as well as cellphone internet outages on Wednesday.

What is Victory Day and why does Russia celebrate it on a different day to most Western countries?

Victory Day, which celebrates the surrender of Nazi Germany that ended World War II, is Russia's most important secular holiday.

While most Western countries celebrate the anniversary on May 8, Russia celebrates it on May 9.

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe, actually accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany at 2:41 a.m. local time on May 7, in a ceremony at Reims, France. Although the news leaked out by that evening, the official announcement was delayed until the following day as the U.S., Britain and France tried to work out differences with the Soviet Union, which felt the surrender didnt recognize the sacrifices its troops had made in securing victory.

A second surrender document was signed around midnight on May 8 in Berlin, satisfying Soviet concerns.
A female staffer at the University of Warsaw in Poland was murdered in a grisly axe attack on campus, according to the BBC.

The staffer, a 53-year-old porter, came "under attack in the main campus building on" the evening of May 7, 2025, BBC reported.

Be forewarned that the details in this article are very disturbing.

The suspect is a 22-year-old Polish man with unclear motives.

He was described as "a third-year law student who was Polish but not from Warsaw," the BBC reported.

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The woman and suspect were not named. BBC reported that, after entering the campus, the suspect went to "the university's biggest lecture hall, the Auditorium Maximum building."

According to Fox News, police found a severed head at the scene.

"Police have detained a man who entered the University of Warsaw campus. One person died, another was taken to hospital with injuries," Warsaw police said, according to Fox.

People mourn the death of a woman who is murdered with an axe on the campus of the University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland, on May 8, 2025. NurPhoto/Getty Images

It's not clear whether the victim and suspect knew each other.

According to a translation of Polsat News, a Polish-language news site, the suspect has been accused of "murder with particular cruelty, attempted murder and desecration of a corpse."

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Polsat News reported that the victim was attacked with an axe as she closed "the door to the Auditorium Maximum." A guard at the university tried to help her and "was seriously injured," the site reported.

The President of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski wrote, according to Polsat News, that he was "shocked to hear about the macabre crime on the University of Warsaw campus."

He expressed the "deepest sympathy" to the "family and loved ones of the murdered woman. I also hope that the man who was injured in the attack and was helping will fully recover."

The victim was a mother of three, Polsat News reported.

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Makes Unexpected 9-Word Statement in Court
So, after four months of arduous work, the Arizona Legislature is taking a break.

It seems the beach is calling, and they must answer.

The House is taking two weeks off, returning on May 20. The Senate will return on May 27.

This is, of course, an outrage. An affront to every hardworking Arizonan  the people who work five, six or even seven days a week just to get by.

People who, Im confident that when told their leaders taking a few weeks off, will rise up with one voice and ask:

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What will it take to get them to stay away?

Arizona Legislature hasn't accomplished much

Its not like this Legislature has accomplished much, other than beating up on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs virtually every day and patting themselves on the back for passing bills that will go nowhere.

And, oh yeah, scheming to cut care for disabled children and trampling the constitutional rights of Scottsdale voters.

Protecting the states water supply? Nope.

Passing a plan to boost the supply of houses people can afford to buy without selling all their internal organs? Uh-uh.

Demanding better oversight of the states runaway Empowerment Scholarship Account program? Be serious.

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Proposing a workable plan to ask voters for an extension of the Proposition 123 education funding that runs dry on June 30?

Theyve hinted about holding hostage that $300 million in public school funding unless voters agree to a constitutional guarantee for ESAs. Yeah, no.

Will anyone notice their vacation?

After all that statesmanship, it seems our leaders are just too exhausted to stick around and do the one thing they actually are required to do.

To pass a balanced budget, that is.

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs proposed her 2025-2026 budget on Jan. 17.

Republican legislators? Nope.

Opinion: What does Hobbs have against transparency?

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Once upon a time, the Legislature proposed a budget then held detailed hearings, allowing the public a voice in how our money is spent. Sure, was a time suck, but it was also good governance.

These days, a few legislative leaders knock out a plan in private, then present it to the governor. By the time it gets to rank-and-file legislators, its basically take it or leave it, and you have three minutes to decide.

The public, meanwhile, has no role.

So, now our exhausted leaders are headed off to vacay and other than the Governors Office, which called the late-session vacation shameful, Im wondering 

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Will anybody even notice that theyre gone?

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @laurieroberts.bsky.social.

Like this column? Get more opinions in your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ lawmakers take a break and nobody even notices | Opinion
Siemens Energy has announced in its second quarter (Q2) earnings report that it anticipates a comparable revenue growth of 1315% for fiscal year 2025 (FY25), citing strong order momentum.

The company posted a 20.7% increase in revenue on a comparable basis to 10bn in Q2.

Orders surged by 52.3% to 14.4bn compared with the previous-year quarter, excluding currency translation and portfolio effects.

The company experienced growth across all segments, particularly in Grid Technologies and Gas Services, with the latter achieving a record high in terms of quarterly orders.

The company's book-to-bill ratio remained strong at 1.45, contributing to a record order backlog of 133bn.

Profit before special items climbed to 906m, a substantial increase from 170m in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, resulting in a profit margin of 9.1%.

Despite negative special items of 291m, mainly due to the sale of its Indian wind business, Siemens Energy's profit rose to 615m.

Net income also saw an increase to 501m, with basic earnings per share at 0.50. Free cash flow pre-tax improved dramatically to 1.39bn due to contributions from almost all segments and bolstered by customer payments including reservation fees.

Siemens Energy president and CEO Christian Bruch said: The rising demand for electricity led to an exceptionally strong quarter and first half of the fiscal year for our business. The improved outlook reflects our confidence in the ongoing market opportunities and our excellent project execution. Even in light of the uncertain macroeconomic factors, our focus remains on profitable growth.

For FY25, the company anticipates a profit margin before special items ranging between 4% and 6%.

Net income is expected to reach up to 1bn, excluding potential positive special items following the demerger of the energy business from Siemens Limited, India. The forecast for free cash flow pre-tax has been revised to approximately 4bn.

The company anticipates limited direct impact from the recent tariff announcements by the US Government on its profit in the second half of FY2025. Profit is estimated to be up to a high double-digit million euro amount after the implementation of mitigation measures.

In March 2025, Siemens Energy secured a $1.6bn project to supply essential technologies for the Rumah 2 and Nairyah 2 gas-powered power stations in Saudi Arabia.

"Siemens Energy expects up to 15% revenue growth for FY25" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Gov. Kristi Noem presents her annual budget address to lawmakers in the South Dakota State Capitol on Dec. 3, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Revelations about Republican former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noems credit card use prompted a legislative oversight committee to question state officials Thursday in Pierre about how the state approves credit card spending for travel and other expenses.

The Dakota Scout obtained and published records earlier this year showing about $750,000 billed to the Noem offices state-issued credit cards during her six years as governor, including travel expenses related to a book tour and a Canadian hunting trip, plus expensive stays at hotels such as The Venetian in Las Vegas. Noem resigned the governorship in January after she was appointed U.S. secretary of Homeland Security.

The governors credit card is intended to pay for travel-related expenses. Allowable expenses, said Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Terwilliger, include flights, hotel rooms and meals.

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Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, who chairs the legislative Government Operations and Audit Committee, said she doesnt view several $500 charges for Sirius XM radio as allowable expenses.

The taxpayers have an issue with that. I have an issue with that, Howard said.

Since the information was published, Terwilliger said the state canceled the satellite radio subscriptions and made internal policy changes for credit card expenses.

Many of the expenses related to the Governors Office credit cards come from security details ensuring the governors safety during travel, Terwilliger said. The state has since separated accounts between security and the governors other expenses to better track what costs are directly related to the governors spending.

South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Terwilliger speaks to the state Senate Committee on Appropriations on Jan. 18, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Noem traveled to other states and Canada during her time as governor, sometimes appearing at campaign events supporting out-of-state Republicans or for President Donald Trump.

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Lawmakers questioned if taxpayer-funded security detail should only be for state-related expenses, rather than campaign-related travel; how governor travel expenses are determined as a benefit to the state; and how many people in the Governors Office have a credit card, among other questions.

While Terwilliger said he doesnt believe any of the credit card charges were campaign related, security for the governor is a 24/7, 365-day mission. Security is provided by the state Highway Patrol. Terwilliger said he could not say how many people have access to one of the credit cards, saying it would provide information for potential bad guys that want to do harm.

Howard was not satisfied with the responses.

Its our job as legislators to set up parameters, Howard said. Your answer cannot always, when legislators ask for an explanation, the answer cannot just be hiding behind security all the time. We have to figure out a way we can ask questions and get them answered without someone just saying, Well, thats security. You cant know.

State Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, listens to a presentation during a South Dakota legislative budget committee meeting on Jan. 15, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

The State Auditors Office reviews the credit card charges once an invoice is submitted by the Governors Office. Auditor Rich Sattgast told lawmakers he has never denied a charge from the governor.

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He said the Legislature could set stricter parameters on elected officials spending to improve oversight or limit spending.

For the vast majority of elected officials, there has not been what would be seen by the public as an overstepping of their jurisdiction of spending money, Sattgast said. So I think having the public be aware of it and being accountable to the public is probably the primary aspect of it.

Jenna Latham, with the Auditors Office, said the governor and some other elected officials can stay in expensive hotels because they answer to the taxpayer.

The office will occasionally question if an expense is allowable and ask for justification. Sometimes the expense will get scratched and covered by the individual, but if they come back, you essentially have to approve it, she said.

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Theres not much that can stop us, Latham said, adding, we have to follow the rules.

Howard told lawmakers that they can propose legislation recommendations at the end of the year if theres different legislation that we think should be brought.

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The only New England state without a food waste ban could join its cohorts this year, but the bipartisan bill isn't without its detractors  and one of them may surprise you.

As reported by the Maine Morning Star, state Sen. Stacy Brenner sponsored a bill that could help Maine recover much of its 360,000 tons of annual food waste, giving the Pine Tree State another tool to feed the 1 in 8 residents who struggle with hunger.

If approved and signed into law, LD 1065 would ban "significant generators" of food waste from sending food to a landfill or an incinerator if they are within 20 miles of an organics recycler with available capacity in 2027. Two years later, that distance would stretch to 25 miles.

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Hospitals, food manufacturers, and schools are among the facilities that could qualify under LD 1065, which lawmakers see as a path toward Maine achieving its climate action goal of cutting food waste and loss in half by 2030.

In addition to reducing heat-trapping pollution, recovering edible food and diverting other food to composting facilities could ultimately save consumers money, as Maine's 2024 Food Loss and Waste Generation Study determined that food measuring and tracking can aid in slashing operational costs.

The other New England states of Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire passed their own food waste laws no later than 2023, per the Morning Star.

However, a version of Maine's bill that would have gone into effect in July 2025 faltered in the last session, and the state's Department of Environmental Protection was a key opponent.

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"Although the Department fully supports the goals of food waste diversion, the Department has several substantial concerns regarding the feasibility, implementation, and cost of the approach proposed in this bill," the agency wrote for a March 2023 hearing. The DEP cited a need for more staff and better infrastructure as among the reasons for its dissent.

The lack of infrastructure, in particular, could have posed a threat to public health  creating the possibility of improper food storage for long periods  while trucking waste to existing facilities would have been cost-prohibitive and could have resulted in more pollution.

In April, Maine held a public hearing on LD 1065, and the bill is still making its way through the state legislature.

While it is unclear if the law will be successful this time around, individuals can help the planet and maximize their budgets by reducing their food waste at home. They can do so by properly storing leftovers, freezing perishables to keep them fresh longer, and composting their food scraps.

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.
Leaders from Silicon Valley were met Thursday with a new tone from Congress, where Republican lawmakers urged policymakers to prioritize tech innovation over regulations.

Over the course of more than three hours, four major technology leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, pitched their ideas to senators on how to stay ahead of China in the artificial intelligence (AI) race.

Altman warned the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that the U.S. is ahead now, but China might not be that far behind.

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It is our belief that the American models including some models from OpenAI, Google and others are the best models in the world. Its very hard to say how far ahead we are, but I would say not a huge amount of time, Altman said during the hearing titled Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation.

Other witnesses were Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, CEO of semiconductor maker AMD Lisa Su, and Michael Intrator, co-founder of AI cloud computing startup CoreWeave.

To keep ahead of China, Altman and the other witnesses called on Congress to prioritize AI infrastructure like data centers, training workers like electricians to help build these products and the need for open and broad access to public data.

A light-touch approach

While the hearing touched upon a variety of topics from AIs energy use to discrimination in models, the push for a light-handed approach underscored both witness testimony and questions from mostly GOP lawmakers.

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Adopting a light-touch regulatory style for AI will require Congress to work alongside the president.  We need to advance legislation that promotes long-term AI growth and innovation, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in his opening remarks.

Cruz called out Europes regulation-heavy stance, warning it killed tech in Europe.

The tech leaders echoed this idea, while noting they would still support a streamlined federal approach that would make clear the rules and speed up development.

One federal framework that is light touch that we can understand and lets us move with the speed that this moment calls for seems important and fine, Altman said, later noting a state-by-state approach would be burdensome.

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While more than 100 bills were introduced last Congress to place new rules and guardrails on AI, very few made it past the finish line. States have taken the matter into their own hands, creating a patchwork of legislation for companies to deal with.

Altmans support for this approach is a sharp reversal from two years ago, when he appeared before a Democratic-majority Congress and emphasized the need for regulation and guardians on AI development.

Two years later, Republicans and President Trump are back in control, with the message of prioritizing innovation over regulation to lead in the global tech space.

Altman signaled an alignment with this approach, at one point going further than the other tech leaders.

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When asked by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) if the National Institute of Standards and Technology should set standards for AI model, Altman said, I dont think we need it. It can be helpful.

The other witnesses said yes when asked.

Altman later said he would support a risk-based approach to regulations when suggested by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

The need for infrastructure, energy

The conversation took various twists and turns, but witnesses usually came back to the need to build and power the infrastructure used for AI development.

We are moving towards a period of this race where the size, the magnitude of the infrastructure that is being required to move our artificial intelligence, the labs that are building it, the companies that are building it forward at the velocity that is necessary is going to be a specific challenge, Intrator said.

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Its tough, and it will get harder as we move through time, he added. Because the existing infrastructure that does have opportunity  some level of elasticity, is going to be consumed and once that is consumed, he added.

Smith said he hopes the permitting process for data centers will be sped up to accelerate this process.

Altman touted the Stargate investment project as a part of this goal. The project, launched with Trump, OpenAI and the CEOs of Oracle and SoftBank, is intended to invest up to $500 billion in American infrastructure.

The OpenAI co-founders appearance on Capitol Hill comes one day after he visited one of the Stargate projects underway in Abilene, Texas.

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To further boost this project, Altman said OpenAI will offer a program where it will help countries build up their data center capacity in exchange for the countrys investment in Stargate.

Smith with Microsoft took this call a step further, telling senators the country must recruit and train skilled labor like electricians and pipe fitters, along with researchers at national labs and universities to speed up the construction and growth of the data centers.

The United States needs hundreds of thousands of new electricians, something we should all want to get behind, Cantwell said.

Altman downplays energy concerns

Democrats on the committee took a more cautious approach when it came to the companies demand for more energy supply. Multiple party members hammered witnesses over the environmental impact of data centers and AI infrastructure.

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Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), one of the chambers most aggressive advocates for action on climate change, pressed the witnesses on how the design, training and deployment of AI models pose a real risk for our environment.

The massive data centers that are critical for AI development require substantial amounts of electricity, putting stress on the grid and potentially raising costs for consumers, Markey said.

The truth is we know too little about both the environmental costs and benefits of AI; Mr. Altman, do you agree that the federal government should help with studying and measuring the environmental impact of AI? Markey asked.

I think studying and measuring is usually a good thing; I do think that the conversation about the environmental impact of AI and the relative challenges and benefits has gotten somewhat out of whack, Altman responded.

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Altman suggested AI can be used to help address climate and environmental challenges, a more commonly used argument by AI developers to defend the vast amounts of energy the technology requires.

Yes, AI may find a cure for cancer  it may  but AI could also help to contribute to a climate disaster. Thats also equally true, Markey said.

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DENVER (KDVR)  State lawmakers have finished their work at the Colorado Capitol, for now. Both parties reflected on what they see as wins and losses for the state this year during their press conferences.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are glad they were able to end the session with a balanced budget that did not harm schools, but worries surrounding the fiscal shape of the state and its citizens still linger.

Denver voted to not extend its Flock camera contract: Are ICE access concerns valid?

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While we worked really hard to address the $1.2 billion budget shortfall, I think there is still a lot more work to be done and we know that there is potential for more cuts coming forward, said House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese.

We are fearful that with the Trump administration, continuing to cut services in rural parts of our state, cuts to public safety, cuts to agricultural and water infrastructure, that there is more work ahead for us today, said House Speaker Julie McCluskie.

As lawmakers celebrate the end of the session, they also acknowledge they could be back this summer for two reasons: one being unfinished work at the state level, like delaying the states landmark artificial intelligence regulation measure.

We couldnt get that done. It was never the plan for this bill to be the final product. And I think that we will get working and whether we go into a special session or go into next year, I think we will be in a much better place with the policy and have more consensus, said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez.

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Another reason they could come back is the potential for cuts from the federal level, lawmakers could need to rework the state budget if the state does not get the federal dollars they planned for.

Lawmakers act on artificial intelligence bills as Colorado session ends

If we come back into a special session, it will clearly be on the polis administration and the tax and spend democrats in the legislature. Ive said it before several times, probably at nauseam for some people, we do not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. The Democrats in Colorado have the same issue as the tax-and-spend democrats in Washington, D.C. They have a crisis of priorities, and they cant stop themselves from overspending, said Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer.

Leaders in both parties hailed the failure of a bill that would have allowed the state to sue over the legality of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights as a win for Colorado taxpayers.

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Im always pleased to have one lawsuit less, so thank you for not suing us, Governor Jared Polis said as he turned towards Democratic legislative leaders.

There was a resolution introduced with 31 Democrat members of the House on that resolution, 13 Democrat members of the Senate on that resolution and we worked diligently behind the scenes to make sure that an effort to destroy the Taxpayer Bill of Rights did not come to committee and did not have a vote, said Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen.

The parties, however, have differing opinions over societal policy measures that have been passed: bills protecting civil rights for immigrants and members of the transgender community.

Republicans said they wished more measures addressing affordability and public safety had been prioritized this year. While the governor acknowledged some bills, like a measure addressing collective bargaining for unions in the state, were not able to reach solutions he liked, he all but said he plans to veto the measure.

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We were seeking a way to get a policy that would have the buy-in to be stable and unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the sponsors and our best efforts, and many in both the labor and business community, we did not quite get there, Polis said.

Lawmakers send rideshare safety measure to governors desk on last day of session

Polis has 30 days to sign or veto bills. Lawmakers said if a special session happens, it would come after details of the federal budget are more finite.

I expect there is still going to be more because of this affordability issue that we are going to see Medicaid grow in terms of the number of individuals. So it will not surprise me if we need to come back and talk about that, said Representative Rick Taggart.

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Were watching Congress, its in the hands of our congressional delegation. The lieutenant governor and I, and many members of the legislature, have called on them not to cut Medicaid, we hope that they dont. But if those big steps are taken, it is quite likely that we would need to work with the legislature to see what that looks like, said Polis.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition and members of the Defend NM Water Campaign held a rally to share their concerns about the proposed oil and gas wastewater reuse rule on May 6, 2024 outside the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)

On Thursday, 27 Democratic New Mexico lawmakers wrote to the 14-member board that governs state water policy, urging members to reconsider in an upcoming meeting its recent decisions regarding oil and gas wastewater.

Last month, the Water Quality Control Commission continued deliberations on a proposed rule to expand the uses of oil and gas water outside the oilfields. Deliberations have been ongoing since December 2023, when the New Mexico Environment Department petitioned to expand legal uses beyond oilfields.

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With New Mexico water sources expected to become increasingly strained by more demand and shrinking supplies from a hotter, drier climate, the relationship between oil and gas and its wastewater has sparked a major policy debate in the past few legislative sessions and in the WQCCs rulemaking.

The states oil and gas production generates billions of gallons of wastewater, which is extremely salty and can include radioactive materials and heavy metals from underground; chemicals used in the fracking process; or cancer-causing or toxic compounds mixed in from the oil and gas, such as benzene.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has floated using treated oil and gas wastewater in manufacturing and other industries in her Strategic Water Supply proposals, but lawmakers stripped produced water from the final bill. Water and conservation groups that opposed the idea said that treatments for the water remain unproven and the waste poses threats to human and environmental health.

The WQCC rule-making deliberations included several weeks-long hearings in 2024 with hours of testimony from scientists, water experts, environmental officials and industry representatives. In April, recent edits to the rules culminated in the board adopting positions to allow for some pilot projects to discharge treated produced water into the groundwater, and allowed for so-called closed-loop projects to bypass the permitting process.

Lawmakers weigh in

The letter, signed by Democrats in both chambers, called the boards limitations for these pilot projects insufficient, and said they contradict existing law and potentially risk human and environmental health.

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The decision to allow ANY discharge of treated oil and gas waste to ground or surface water prior to the development of treatment and quality standards is both irresponsible and dangerous in the extreme, the letter said.

The letter cited testimony from New Mexico State University researchers, experts from the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association and even NMED, which requested the rule change, that produced water contains toxic chemicals and treatment options have not been proven safe nor effective.

Until credible, scientifically based standards for treatment and water quality are adopted, we believe it is premature to issue permits for any pilot treatments outside the oilfield, the letter said, and suggested research can be done in the labs or in the field under existing laws.

Lawmakers also said if the WQCC does allow pilot projects, then those projects must not discharge waste to surface or groundwater and must follow a permitting process, to allow for public notification and the right to protest.

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The Commissions decision on the issue is contrary to the legislatures intent and the letter of the law, the letter stated.

The letter cited motions filed by environmental groups and suggested that any law adopt more stringent permitting standards. The letter also recommended that the WQCC include tests of 600 substances in the treated water.

WQCC Chair Bruce Thomson, an environmental engineer, said lawmakers raised some good points, in the letter but that he disagrees with the characterization of oil and gas wastewater.

My biggest concern with the letter is that they claim that treatment technologies do not exist. I will agree that treatment technologies are in an early stage of development, Thomson told Source, saying the board heard testimony of 15 to 20 studies about potential technologies to treat it to a very high level of quality.

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Thomson said the objections to the lack of permits would likely be discussed in the next deliberation.

Melissa Troutman, a climate and health advocate at WildEarth Guardians, told Source NM her group also argued to the WQCC that the leftovers from any produced water treatment process would meet the qualifications for hazardous waste.

Our argument at Guardians is that it would be creating a new hazardous waste, but the rule isnt applying hazardous waste laws, and thats illegal, she said, saying it would no longer have the exemption under oil and gas exploration.

Troutman said theres still time to reshape the outcome.

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The door is still open for deliberation, and hopefully we can bring these points forward, Troutman said. Hopefully, when they do issue a final rule, its much, much closer to what we actually need.

The WQCC is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 13 to continue deliberations.

HB128_GLGLettersgn5.8.25

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POLK COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Polk County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for information about lawn equipment that was stolen from a local business on State Highway 146 South early Wednesday.

Houston County Sheriffs Office arrest suspects in connection to death of 16-year-old teen

Deputies said two unknown suspects stole leaf blowers, weed eaters and hedge trimmers from the business property. Officials believe the suspects were male and drove a white Dodge Durango.

Courtesy of Polk County Sheriffs Office

Tyler PD honors officer on 70th anniversary of line of duty death

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The Sheriffs Office is asking the public to contact them at 936-327-STOP for any information regarding the case. Those who call can choose to remain anonymous and may collect a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.

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LAWRENCE (KSNT)  History was made in the Vatican Thursday, May 8 as an American was chosen as the first Catholic Pope.

The conclave elected Robert Prevost, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. At the St. Lawrence Catholic Center at the University of Kansas, dozens of students and community members gathered to watch as the new pope appeared before the world. Father Luke Doyle told 27 News he feels a sense of gratitude having a new leader of the Catholic Church. He feels that the Pope is the main representative of Jesus and the church.

To add to the special day, Pope Leo XIV made history by being the first ever American to hold the position.

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Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know

We have an American pope, and its probably not something I thought Id never probably live to see, so this is a really historic day, Doyle said. We have a closer bond to Saint Peter now. We have a closer bond to the universal church throughout the world because one of our own now is the universal Shepard for the entire family of God.

Pope Leo will immediately take the role. The Conclave, made up of more than 130 cardinals voted with a two-thirds majority.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Disable voters in Lawrence Park Townships District One will have to cast their ballots in an alternative way.

The Erie County Voter Registration Office was just made aware that the handicap accessible ramp is under construction at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Schools across Erie celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week

In response, the office has come up with a different method for those who cannot walk up the stairs.

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Disabled residents can vote curbside with an alternative ballot.

City of Erie administration calls out Daria Devlin for inaccurate statements regarding budget

Its much like voting by mail. so theyll be given a ballot and they can vote in the privacy of their car and then theyll package it up in the privacy envelope and put in a declaration envelope and sign and date it and hand it back to the poll worker, said Tonia Fernandez, director of elections for Erie County.

Those unable to access the polling site will need to apply for the alternative ballots.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Lawyers representing Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney doctor at Rhode Island Hospital who was told she couldnt re-enter the United States after coming back from Lebanon in March, have filed an amended lawsuit challenging the legality of her removal.

Boston Globe reporter Ed Fitzpatrick joined 12 News at 4 Thursday to discuss the latest filing and what Alawiehs lawyers are arguing.

Read the full story in The Boston Globe Rhode Island: Lawyers for deported R.I. kidney doctor file amended lawsuit challenging her unlawful expedited removal 

MORE: Globe RI & 12 News Stories



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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A year ago, Abilene introduced a safe option for new parents to surrender their newborns who are less than 60 days old. KTABs special, Left with Love: Inside the Baby Box Movement, uncovers the emotional stories behind baby boxeshaven drop-offs that save newborn lives and give families hope.

WATCH TONIGHT: Left with Love, Inside the Baby Box Movement

The Safe Haven Baby Box in Abilene is located at Fire Station #7. This facility allows new parents to surrender a newborn baby less than 60 days old anonymously. When a baby is placed inside the container, a silent alarm sounds, and firefighters will come to the retrieval area in the truck bay. The baby is then examined and sent to Child Protective Services.

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How does Abilenes baby box work? A look inside Fire Station #7

Throughout the special, we hear from numerous leaders of the Baby Box movement in Key City, including Abilene Fire Chief Cande Flores and Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Box.

After the special event, a panel discussion took place featuring several people affected by the initiative. Among them was Belen Fire Department Firefighter Lt. Chris Martinez, who shared his personal story about adopting a child who had been left in a baby box.

San Angelo could get a Safe Haven Baby Box  heres what that means

Melanie Wood and Chief of the San Angelo Fire Department, Johnny Fisher, hope to contribute to this legacy by introducing a Safe Haven Baby Box in San Angelo, a cause that speaks from the heart.

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The most recent was probably about seven or eight years agothe baby was dropped off by the mother. Fire stations and hospitals are a safe haven through the Moses Law, a safe place to surrender your babies, Fisher recalled.

Texas Baby Moses Law legislates a safe surrender

The concept of a Safe Haven Baby Box in San Angelo is still in the planning stages, but there is a specific location and goal in mind. Fisher mentioned that once the funds are raised, they aim to install the baby box at San Angelos Central Fire Station.

The Baby Moses Law, or Safe Haven, allows parents or guardians to surrender their infants safely and anonymously. In 2023, this law was revised to enhance the process by permitting the use of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, which provide a secure, temperature-controlled environment for the surrendering of infants. This ensures both the childs safety and the parents privacy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's exports rose more than expected in April as customers stockpiled the island's high-tech products before any U.S. tariffs take effect, which could drive first-half exports to a new high.

Exports jumped 29.9% from the same month a year ago to $48.66 billion, the second-highest monthly figure on record, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday. That exceeded a forecast of 16% in a Reuters poll and eclipsing March's 18.6% rise, resulting in the 18th consecutive monthly gain.

Taiwan firms such as TSMC,, the world's largest contract chipmaker, are major suppliers to Apple, Nvidia and other tech companies.

April exports benefited from continued strong artificial intelligence demand as customers placed orders in advance in expectation of the U.S. tariff measures, the ministry said in a statement.

"Export value in the first half has a good chance of hitting a record," the ministry said, but added there could then be a slowdown in the second-half, flipping on its head the usual pattern of a stronger back end to the year as exporters gear up for the holiday season in Western markets like the United States.

The ministry also warned that U.S. tariff uncertainty and geopolitical risks could hinder the global economic outlook.

For May, the ministry expects exports to rise between 15% and 20% year-on-year.

In April, Taiwan's exports to the United States rose 29.5% year-on-year to $13.145 billion, versus a 39.9% surge in the prior month.

Exports to China, Taiwan's biggest trading partner, climbed 22.3%, after rising 12.6% in March.

Taiwan's total exports of electronic components climbed 26.8% in April on the year to $16.407 billion, with semiconductor exports up 28.2%.

Imports rose 33.0% to $41.46 billion, higher than economists' forecasts of a gain of 18.9%.

(Reporting by Faith Hung and Roger Tung; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Ben Blanchard)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  Months of back and forth with the Iroquois County Highway Department have left a mother exhausted. Her daughter was hurt after she crashed into Bayles Lake last year.

Amanda Loveless wants more safety in the area to prevent crashes like her daughters. In December, 18-year-old Elaine Carman-Loveless was driving down County Road 200N in Loda when her SUV hit a patch of ice. It hit the guardrails, continued to slide and ended up in the lake.

Carman-Loveless was able to get out of the SUV through the back and survived.

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Im not the only one, Carman-Loveless said. My moms the one who expressed concerns.

People say enough is enough  Citizens Utility Board fighting record-breaking gas rate hike

Ever since that cold December day, Carman-Loveless and her mother have been asking for new safety equipment to be installed. On Thursday, Loveless went to the ICHDs meeting in Watseka to see if there were any updates on safety measures.

This was the first meeting since Iroquois County States Attorney Michael Quinlan sent a letter to Charles Alt, the Transportation and Highway Committee chairman, and Alan Hardwood, the Iroquois County Highway Engineer. In the letter, Quinlan said the county would not be held liable if they decided to put up new safety equipment.

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But that doesnt mean theyre going up, and Carman-Loveless and her mother feel they arent being heard.

Its more hurtful to me than anything to feel very disregard and ignored as another human being Carman-Loveless said.

Assumption City Council votes to shut down cat rescue until they get a main facility

The two said theyve reached out to the Iroquois County Transportation and Highway Committee multiple times. Loveless has been to all but one meeting this year.

At the meeting Thursday morning, she said it reached a boiling point.

I was told that they had only five minutes, Loveless said. They had somewhere to be, which was really frustrating because I take off work to be at these meetings. But then also, they just stated, Hey, wait, we arent discussing this.'

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Loveless said Alt said there were no future plans to discuss the issue. He did not respond to WCIA 3s requests for comment, and Harwood declined to comment.

Village of Savoy approves redevelopment contract in downtown plaza project

When asked if she had a message for the board, Carman-Loveless had this to say:

If this was your child or if this was you, you would feel the same way I do and you would be up at night reading every comment thats hurtful towards you, she said. And they would play in your head every time youre driving.

Despite being frustrated, Loveless and her daughter said theyre both going to continue to push for changes to be made to the road. Loveless said she wants the county to apply for an IDOT grant to fix county roads. The deadline for that is mid-June.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
LENEXA, Kan.  May 8, 2025, marks 80 years since Germanys surrender and the end of fighting in Europe in World War II.

A Lenexa veteran reflected Thursday on what it was like to be able to send word home to his family in the most memorable way possible. Understandably, for Charles Staubus, 100, those memories have faded a bit. But luckily, they are forever etched in writing on the very tyrants stationery who had been threatening democracy as we know it.

Staubus letter is dated, Somewhere in Germany, May 8th, 1945. It begins, Dear Dad, Well this is it VE Day.

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Meet Truman, Missouris favorite capitol companion

Tens of thousands of U.S. service members probably wrote the same triumphant message home 80 years ago. However, few likely announced the day of Germanys surrender and the end of fighting in Europe on Adolf Hitlers own stationery.

After Hitler fled and took his own life, Staubus and his unit, which had been mostly responsible for registering the dead, went to Berchtesgaden, Germany. They spent the night in Hans Lammers office at the Little Chancellery,

I picked the lock on his desk, the one thing he had left there was this, Staubus described.

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Hed find a seating chart of Nazi leaders and Hitlers stationery marked Der Furher.

I just remember, I thought this was a pretty big deal having his stationery, Staubus said.

FOX4 first introduced you to Staubus last year when he spoke on a panel with other World War II veterans presented by the Valor Partners Foundation. When he told the story of the letter, he smiled about the little secret he kept from military supervisors.

They didnt know a thing about it, Staubus said of liberating the stationery.

Thursday, he revealed that someone else got a letter on that stationery besides his dad.

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I wrote a letter to the IRS on it, my son didnt think too much of that, Staubus laughed.

Staubus marched in Americas victory parade with 13,000 soldiers led by the 82nd Airborne Division playing the clarinet.

Kansas City Royals improve to 23-16 with White Sox series sweep

It was the grand daddy I say of all parades, it was five hours without stopping, he described.

He enjoyed seeing Europes celebrations both on this date in 1945 and on Thursdays 80th anniversary. But the 100-year-old will never forget where he spent V.E. Day and what he walked away with.

I thought it was kind of cool, Staubus smiled.

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Although the fighting officially ended in Europe, many troops didnt get to rush home. There was still war in the Pacific theater while Staubus spent several months occupying Austria.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
When the late Pope Francis challenged Donald Trump on immigration, climate change and poverty during the presidents first term, the White House and its allies responded with a collective shrug.

But with Catholic Cardinals choosing an American to lead the Church for the first time in its history, that will change. The Chicago-born Robert Prevost, Americas first pope, has a worldview that appears to be at odds with America First.

Elected on just the second day of voting, Pope Leo could become a global rival to the president, one who has the homegrown credibility to sway Catholic Republicans more than his predecessor did and speak with a voice that has a louder boom here in the U.S.

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Trump on Thursday immediately praised the selection of Leo, who lived most of his adult life in Peru, promising to meet with the new pope soon.

It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment! Trump posted on Truth Social.

But its not difficult to imagine the looming conflicts to come. Like his predecessor, Leo hails from a more progressive, inclusive wing of Catholicism, preaching peace and the importance of building bridges in his first address from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, though it appears he still holds traditional Catholic views on LGBTQ+ issues.

Already, the pope is earning enemies in his homeland as conservative Catholics in Washington, D.C., sent flurries of texts Thursday afternoon sharing posts from a social media account under Leos name criticizing Trump and Vice President JD Vance. POLITICO has not been able to independently confirm the authenticity of the account. The Vatican press office, the Vatican's embassy to the U.S. and the diocese in Chicago and Peru did not respond to questions.

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Why the cardinals chose an American for the first time is likely to remain within the Sistine Chapels walls. But Leos selection comes at a pivotal moment as Americas place on the world stage is more uncertain than ever. The U.S. has slashed foreign aid and become growingly skittish about involving itself in global conflicts, no longer content to be the worlds policeman.

The fact that he's American raises the possibility that the front-and-center issues are going to continue to be sort of first-world issues  and that could be, again, a recipe for division and tension with the administration, said Ramesh Ponnuru, a conservative commentator and practicing Catholic.

Leos American citizenship is likely to give him a certain cachet with the president  and, should he so choose, the authority to offer critiques from a worldview that the Argentine Francis lacked.

I don't know that, substantively, the new pope is going to be different in terms of he's still going to say we have to take care of the poor, obviously, as he should. But it might not have that same kind of sweeping character of condemnation that we sometimes got from Francis by virtue of Leos American upbringing, Ponnuru said.

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Some Catholic Church observers say Leo is stylistically different from Francis and likely to take a more measured approach than the outspoken one his predecessor was known for. Francis most recently clashed with Vance over a theological concept surrounding the structuring of love, known as ordo amoris.

The elevation of Leo also comes at an pivotal moment for the Catholic Church, whose leadership is drifting leftward even as people in the U.S. who regularly attend Mass have been drifting to the right. Recent years have seen an increasing embrace of traditional Catholicism  adherents are colloquially referred to as trad caths  who prefer traditional Latin mass and reject what they perceived as a movement toward modernism in the Church.

Bit of a mixed reaction to Prevost, honestly. DC is a tradcath capital so we were hoping one of the more conservative candidates would be picked, one MAGA Catholic who works in politics, granted anonymity to speak freely about the reaction to Leos selection, said over text. Prevost will be Francis-like, I think. Sympathetic to his progressive causes but a little more restrained.

One of the presidents most prominent Catholic allies, Steve Bannon, called Leo the worst pick for MAGA Catholics, deeming him the anti-Trump pope.

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This is an anti-Trump vote by the globalists that run the Curia  this is the pope Bergoglio and his clique wanted, said Bannon, referring to Francis by his given name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

A group of hard-line conservative Catholics had launched what was essentially a lobbying campaign for a more conservative pope. One of the hard-right candidates, Athanasius Schneider, a bishop in Kazakhstan, had claimed that refugees in Europe are a mass invasion leading to the spread of Islam, while another, American Cardinal Raymond Burke, actually endorsed Trump.

Not all Trump allies were downcast about the pick, though. MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk suggested in missives that hed dug up a party tracking file he claimed was proof the pope was a Republican, which POLITICO has also not been able to independently verify. Others like conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt appeared to welcome the rise of an American to what is essentially the most public religious leadership position in the world.

Whats more, Trump  who loves the pomp and circumstance of any major celebration  is likely to be genuinely curious about the new pope.

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The president has been particularly warm as of late in his embrace of Catholics after winning 59 percent support among the groups voters in the 2024 election. He carried Catholics with 50 percent support in 2016 and former President Joe Biden won Catholics with 52 percent support in 2020, according to CNN exit polling. Vance is also only the second Catholic to hold the office, after Biden, and Trumps Cabinet is stacked with Catholics. Despite his frequent clashes with Francis, Trump made a whirlwind trip to Rome late last month to attend Francis funeral, days after Vance had a brief audience with the pontiff in his final hours.

It is unclear whether those feelings translate to the papacy, though Trump did attribute his decision to attend Francis funeral in part to his win of the Catholic vote. In recent days, Trump has also joked that he should be picked as the new pope, posting to his Truth Social account an AI-generated image depicting him as such that was later shared by the White House. Some Catholics called the gesture distasteful.

Vance, in a post on X, wished Leo only congratulations.

Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him! Vance wrote.

Irie Sentner and Jessica Piper contributed to this report.
Pope Leo XIVs first homily, delivered to his fellow cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, was a mission statement about missions. First, that the Roman Catholic Church must be humble and lead through example (not lording it over the laity). Second, it must profess that Jesus was divine  not just a nice chap, but the son of God.

You could almost call it back to basics, though there was nothing rudimentary about its intellectual depth.

As outsiders try to figure out why the cardinals chose this man  almost none of us tipped Robert Francis Prevost for the top job except, curiously, the Trumpite thinker Steve Bannon  its tempting to alight on the theme of unity. After decades of debate about the proper role of the Church in the modern world, the new Pope is trying to knit things back together.

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Some clerics worry that Catholicism has watered down its theology; others that it doesnt focus enough on human need. Prevost, we assume, is a figure of broad appeal: an American, which might help with donations, but also ethnically French, Spanish, Italian and Creole, plus a missionary from Peru. The Church, he said to the cardinals, should shine not through the grandeur of her buildings... but rather through the holiness of her members. A plea for modesty that couldve come from Francis.

The Pope said that the Church should shine not through the grandeur of her buildings... but rather through the holiness of her members - Vatican Pool/Getty Images

And yet one can see the first signs of Leo integrating this theme into the Augustinian theology of Benedict XVI, Pope Franciss more conservative predecessor. St Augustine was a fourth-century bishop with an honest opinion of human frailty. Hes famous for saying: Lord, give me chastity and continence but not yet!

Augustine influenced the Churchs views on the relationship between faith and reason, and the role of grace (how God helps us to be better people). We instinctively want to be good, to aspire to belong to the heavenly city on the hill  a phrase used by Pope Leo, also the American Pilgrims and Ronald Reagan. But first we must dwell in the city of man, a place dripping in temptation.

Today, lamented Leo, there are lands where Christianity is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent  cultures in which money and power are preferred. Christians will face oppression or ridicule when evangelising in such places, but thats exactly where they should go  for the absence of faith is accompanied by a loss of meaning.

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Whereas Pope Francis turned his evangelical face towards the developing world, this first homily felt pointed at America or Europe, where consumers are rich but miserable. Then came this gut punch: There are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. Even some Christians believe this, said Leo, which means they are living in a state of practical atheism.

Pope Francis turned his evangelical face towards the developing world - Alessandra Tarantino/AP

One can imagine both sides of the spectrum nodding along. Conservatives will see practical atheists as liberals who think Jesus was lovely but not divine, hence we can adhere to Christian teachings that sound kind (help immigrants) and reject those that the 21st century says are unkind (sex is real, life begins at conception).

But theres also a brand of conservative theology, often found in the gym, which treats Jesus as a personal guru; the stress is on upgrading oneself, mentally and physically, rather than being transformed into a servant.

Im not accusing the new Pope of devious ambiguity; rather its an example of how Catholic tradition is so rich that it invites multiple interpretations within a Church that the papacy has preserved, deepened and handed on for two thousand years  and Leo now seeks to unify.

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He concluded that Catholics in authority should make oneself small so that God will be glorified and to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.

A Franciscan call for bishops to move out of their palaces and into a cardboard box? Perhaps. But it also suggests Leo believes the office of pope is bigger than the individual occupying it, that he wont seek to distract from the Churchs mission by commenting on every subject under the sun.

Could Leos collegiality, this vibe of putting the team first, be what won the hearts of the cardinals? Im beginning to suspect so.

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Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, has been selected to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Donald Trump reconsiders raising taxes on the nation's highest earners. And an underwater volcano 300 miles off the coast of Oregon is showing signs of erupting soon.

Heres what to know today.

Pope Leo XIVs path from Chicago to the Vatican

Theres a new pope in the Vatican: Leo XIV.

Hes the first American-born pope, originally from Chicago  and, according to his brother, a White Sox fan. Most recently, Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, was the head of the dicastery responsible for the appointment of bishops and the archbishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru.

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After white smoke billowed yesterday morning from the Sistine Chapel, the new Pope Leo XIV greeted a joyful crowd of around 150,000 people from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica. His first public words: Peace be with you all. Notably, Leo addressed his flock in Spanish and Italian but not in his native English.

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Chants of USA! USA! USA! sounded throughout Vatican City after the new pope was announced. Despite the excitement, the reaction among Americans who spoke to NBC News was a mixture of pride and stunned surprise.

That Leo is American goes against conventional wisdom, which has held that the U.S. holds enough power in the world already. But Leo has spent much of his life outside the United States, so he is also considered to have a global perspective. He holds a Peruvian passport in addition to his American and Vatican ones. In addition to English, Italian and Spanish, he also speaks French and Portuguese, and he reads Latin and German.

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He led his first Mass as pontiff this morning in multiple languages, calling on the Church to show humility by making itself small so as not to obscure the glory of Christ.

The pontiff stressed that the Catholic Churchs missionary outreach around the world was desperately needed as he condemned the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

The new pope is widely considered a moderate and has indicated that he favors a pastoral approach over doctrinal dogma. In public statements, Leo, 69, often echoed Pope Francis with calls for reaching out to the poor, to the neediest, to those on the margins. His online footprint has shown him expressing support for gun reform and immigration but indicating some disagreement with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

As a young boy growing up on Chicagos South Side, Leo was recognized as just godly by his elementary school classmates. He attended a seminary high school in Michigan and earned a bachelors degree in math at Villanova University.

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In Peru, Leo served as a missionary and taught canon law and was later appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and later the bishop of Chiclayo. For just over a decade in between, Prevost was back in Chicago and appointed the leader of the Augustinian orders Midwestern region. Pope Francis promoted him to archbishop in 2023 and made him a cardinal a year later.

He has faced at least two accusations that he failed to investigate allegations of abuse while in leadership positions in Chicago and Peru.

Read the full story here.

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV:

Follow our live blog for more reaction and updates as Pope Leo XIV leads his first Mass.

The pontiff inherits a packed in-tray , from a world on fire to sex abuse scandals.

See photos of nuns from around the world gathering in and around St. Peters Square to witness history.

Trump suggests raising taxes on the wealthy

Trump privately pressed Speaker Mike Johnson to raise the tax rate on the highest earners and close the so-called carried interest loophole, two 11th-hour requests that add a new wrinkle in the Houses efforts to reach an agreement and vote on the massive package for the presidents agenda. With House Republicans struggling to make the math work for their massive bill, leadership is now reconsidering its options.

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A GOP source said Trump is considering allowing the rate on individuals making $2.5 million or more annually to revert from 37% to the pre-2017 39.6% to protect Medicaid and help pay for middle- and working-class tax cuts. Just last month, Trump opposed the idea of increasing taxes on millionaires, saying it would be disruptive. Read the full story here.

Also complicating Johnsons effort to get Trumps agenda passed: A key group of New York House Republicans, who yesterday rejected what they called an insulting offer on how to expand the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT. They want to lift the $10,000 limit imposed by Trumps 2017 tax laws, but Johnson and the House Ways and Means Committee proposed a $30,000 cap.

More politics news:

FAA announces upcoming changes in wake of criticisms

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a three-year plan to modernize air traffic control systems and phase out outdated technology. The overhaul comes after mounting pressure on the federal government to address a recent string of fatal crashes, ongoing delays and a recent near-disaster communication blackout at Newark Airport, during which air traffic controllers temporarily lost all contact with pilots.

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Some of the changes include replacing decades-old analog technology and legacy radios, as well as building six new ATC centers for the first time since the 1960s, the FAA said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the changes alongside the top Republican and Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who vowed a bipartisan effort on increasing efficiency. We dont want the effort to span generations, one said. Read the full story here.

Read All About It

Doctors often gaslight women with pelvic disorders and pain, sometimes leading them to stop seeking care or experience a delayed diagnosis, new research shows.

President Trump gave a break to luxury British carmakers like Rolls-Royce but threatened more tariffs on Mattel toys after the companys CEO said he doesnt see the company moving to the U.S.

The Pittsburgh Pirates fan who fell 20 feet onto the field said he has broken everything in his first public comments since the incident.

Staff Pick: Signs an underwater volcano may soon erupt

About 300 miles off the coast of Oregon and about a mile deep underwater, a volcano, known as Axial Seamount, is showing signs of rumbling to life. As science reporter Denise Chow writes, scientists have recorded an uptick of earthquakes in the vicinity and the structure itself is steadily swelling, a telltale sign that its filling with molten rock. Current forecasts predict an eruption anytime between now and the end of the year.

But dont panic  the underwater volcanos eruption doesnt pose any real danger to humans. In fact, it offers scientists a chance to refine tools that can help save scores of people in the future.  Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

The NBC Select staffers are big fans of e-readers, so they tested brands such as Amazon Kindle, Kobo and Boox and went over the pros and cons of each. Plus, sneaker loafers are the latest footwear trend, and theyre exactly what they sound like. See options from brands like New Balance, Hoka, G.H. Bass and more.

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Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

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Pope Leo XIV, who was unveiled at the Vatican on Thursday evening after being chosen to become the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, previously voted in a string of Republican primaries, records show, offering a hint at his opinion of President Donald Trump.

Shortly after white smoke was seen billowing from the Sistine Chapels chimney to indicate that the conclave of cardinals had chosen their new leader after just two days in session, Chicago-born Robert Prevost, 69, was announced as the 267th pope, succeeding the late Pope Francis.

Trump warmly welcomed the news, days after joking that he should get the job himself.

Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American pope, is unveiled at the Vatican on Thursday May 8 2025 (Getty)

Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope, the president wrote on Truth Social.

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It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

The Washington Free Beacon subsequently reported that His Holiness, who spent much of his life serving as a missionary in Peru, returned to his hometown to vote in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016 and in general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024.

The records, obtained by the conservative data science firm Pulse Decision Science, do not indicate how the then-Cardinal Prevost cast his vote or suggest that he was a registered Republican, as voters are prohibited from registering with a political party under Illinois state law.

Similarly, the Federal Election Commission and Illinois State Board of Elections databases do not record him making donations to particular political campaigns.

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But what they do reveal is that Prevost has not voted in any GOP primary since 2016, the year Trump first began to dominate Republican politics, nor the 2016 or 2020 presidential elections in which he ran.

The fact that he hasnt voted in a Republican primary since 2016 and, in fact, didnt vote in the general in 16  and his public statements  if I had to guess, he certainly would fit the profile of a former or Never Trump-type ex-Republican, said Mark Knee, Pulse Decision Sciences chief data officer.

Donald Trump risked offending Catholics around the world over the weekend by posting an AI image imaging himself as the new pope (Donald J Trump/Truth Social)

If that assessment feels speculative, it is backed up by Prevosts social media presence, which contains several posts critical of Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance.

Prevost shared another cardinals op-ed in 2016 entitled Why Donald Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic and, more recently, declared that Vance, a recent Catholic convert, was wrong to attempt to offer a Christian justification for the administrations hardline anti-immigration policies, which have seen it launch a significant mass deportation effort to remove undocumented migrants from the United States.

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The new popes supposed anti-Trump leanings have already led MAGA activist Laura Loomer to bemoan his ascension.

He is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis, she wrote on X.

Catholics dont have anything good to look forward to. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.

Having trawled through his old posts, Loomer also attacked the pontiff for retweeting an appeal for prayers for George Floyd in 2020, for supporting the children of undocumented migrants to the U.S. known as Dreamers, and for expressing disapproval at Trumps use of the phrase bad hombres to deride Mexicans.
Vatican City  It felt like the square could talk in one voice: Leone! Leone! Leone!

Thousands of people in St Peters Square chanted in chorus the name adopted by Robert Prevost as he ascended to the papacy on Thursday: Leo XIV.

Just an hour and a half earlier, white smoke had billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, announcing that a conclave of cardinals had elected a new leader for the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics.

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Now, it was time to meet Pope Leo himself. A solemn silence fell across the square. The faithful waited to hear the popes first message, which would set the tone for his papacy.

Peace be upon you, said Leo XIV, appearing on the central balcony of St Peters Basilica.

He proceeded to repeat a blessing uttered by his late predecessor, Pope Francis, just weeks earlier: God loves us, God loves everyone, and evil will not prevail. We are in the hands of God.

It was a closely watched moment, with red-hatted cardinals poking out of nearby windows to catch their first glimpse at the newly minted pontiff.

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Pope Leo XIV was elected on the second day of the conclave, and his opening remarks as leader signalled continuity with Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88. But experts say he is likely to strike a middle path, between furthering Franciss inclusive agenda and embracing Vatican tradition.

Peace was one of the most used words in his brief speech  a choice meant to echo the words that Jesus pronounced after Easter, as Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni explained during a news briefing.

Leo XIV called on Catholics to seek a disarmed peace and a disarming peace through dialogue and building bridges, in a brief speech heavy with themes of unity.

Bravo! That is what we need! one audience member in the square shouted as the new pope spoke.

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Another, 29-year-old Kasper Mihalak from Denmark, was squeezed in the middle of the crowd hoping to catch a glimpse of the first North American pope.

I am really excited. Cardinal Prevost, now Leo XIV  its gonna be amazing! He said a lot about peace during his speech. I think the world now really needs it, Mihalak said.

Rosaria Venuto could hardly hold back her tears. Early in the morning, she picked up her two children and drove four hours from Ascoli Satriano, a small town in the southern Italian province of Apulia, to be in St Peters Square.

I am deeply moved to have the chance to be here and live through this joy and be a small part of this historical event, she said.

Crowds gather below the balcony of St Peters Basilica, where Pope Leo XIV made his first appearance [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters]

His own man

Born in Chicago, a midwestern city in the United States, Leo XIV spent more than two decades in Peru, where he acquired dual citizenship.

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There, he worked in some of Perus poorest areas, and he eventually became the bishop of Chiclayo, in the countrys agricultural north. Then, in 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to lead a powerful office that manages bishops across the world.

Phil Pullella, a Vatican expert who has covered the papacy for more than four decades, said that background offers a degree of continuity with Francis, who hailed from Argentina and advocated against poverty.

He knows about poverty in Latin America, Pullella said of Leo XIV. So, hes not the same thing as if they had elected some cardinal of New York, for example.

That continuity was likely appreciated by conservative camps at the Vatican, as well as liberal-leaning ones, Pullella added.

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He comes from the wealthy world, but he witnessed firsthand the problems of the Global South in a poor country, he said.

Still, Pullella noted that the way Leo XIV dressed showed that he is going to be his own man.

Instead of the simple white cassock that Pope Francis wore in 2013 when he was elected, Leo XIII added a traditional red cape over his vest, symbolising the spiritual and temporal powers of his office.

In a sense, he is going back a little bit to that kind of tradition, Pullella said. He would not have been elected had he not had the votes of the conservative bloc.

Nuns at the Vatican react with glee to the announcement of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV on May 8 [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

A unifying figure

Leo XIVs election came as a surprise to many. Many observers were betting on a new pope by nightfall, but few expected only three rounds of voting.

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The crowd was stunned when white smoke started to pour out of the tiny chimney by early evening, at around 6:09pm local time (16:00 GMT).

That was the signal that  of the 133 cardinals under the age of 80 who were eligible to vote  a candidate had received the two-thirds majority needed to become pope.

This years conclave had the distinction of being the most international in the Vaticans history: The participating cardinals hailed from more than 70 countries, representing divergent views for the Catholic Churchs future.

The diversity was part of the legacy of Pope Francis, who appointed cardinals from underrepresented countries like Laos and Haiti to broaden the churchs global appeal.

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Francis spent 12 years as head of the Catholic Church, shaking up the establishment by adopting a distinct style and tone, focused on austerity and advocacy for marginalised populations.

The late popes efforts caused excitement among reformers but also dismay among conservatives, who accused him of diluting the Churchs teachings. Experts say that led to a deep polarisation within the church, with some members criticising Francis for decentralising the churchs authority.

Those experts point out that Leo XIVs experience in the Roman Curia  the churchs government  was likely a selling point among conservative conclave voters looking for stability in the years ahead.

Members of the Catholic Church cheer the election of a new pope on May 8 at the Vatican [Marko Djurica/Reuters]

Whats in a name?

While Pope Leo XIVs first moves are yet to be revealed, his choice of name is noteworthy.

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Bruni, the Vatican spokesperson, noted that Leo is a direct reference to Pope Leo XIII, who adopted a new social doctrine in the late 19th century.

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical  or papal letter  known as the Rerum Novarum. It called on Catholics to address the wretchedness facing the working class, amid the upheavals of industrialisation and political changes like the unification of Italy.

That encyclical marked a radical new approach to workers, and it triggered the creation of Catholic newspapers, social cooperatives and banks  a social movement that is still alive today.

Bruni said the current Pope Leo hoped to draw a parallel to that time, with its technological revolutions.

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It is not a casual reference to the men and women of their work at a time of artificial intelligence, Bruni explained.

Robert Orsi, a professor of religious studies at Northwestern University, said the name choice could also signify other historical parallels.

Leo XIII strongly put down a movement called Americanism, said Orsi.

This movement was a kind of nationalist impulse within Catholicism, with national churches claiming to have their own identities, their own particular ways of doing things, he explained. And I think by choosing the name Leo XIV, this pope was, without a doubt, signalling a return to a global Catholicism.

Pullella also believes it is noteworthy that, while Leo XIV mentioned his parishioners in Peru, he avoided highlighting his ties with the US.

I think its very significant that he did not give a shout-out to the United States. He didnt say, Im from America. He didnt speak in English, Pullella said.

That sent a message that basically hes not owned by the United States, Pullella added. Leo XIV has previously been critical of the administration of US President Donald Trump over issues like nationalism and migration, just as the late Pope Francis was.

Still, Orsi predicted the Vatican under the new Pope Leo would be subtle and wise in how he deals with Trump in the years to come.
Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush in 1990, died at his home in New Hampshire on Thursday. He was 85.

The Supreme Court released the news, stating that Souter had died peacefully. Chief Justice John Roberts said Souter brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade. He will be greatly missed.

He served on the nations highest court for 19 years, retiring in 2009, allowing former President Barack Obama to fill his position with current Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the courts first Latina justice.

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In his nomination announcement, Bush described Souter as a remarkable judge of keen intellect and the highest ability, one whose scholarly commitment to the law and whose wealth of experience mark him of first rank.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts, the former judge graduated from Harvard College, attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, where he received his A.B. and M.A. in 1963, and then received his law degree from Harvard Law School, per the Supreme Court press release.

Prior to his Supreme Court appointment, Souter served as an assistant attorney general of New Hampshire and deputy attorney general, and, in 1976, became attorney general of New Hampshire.

In 1978, he became an associate justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire, and in 1983, he was appointed as an associate justice to the Supreme Court of New Hampshire.

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During his tenure as a Supreme Court justice, Souter was anticipated to be conservative-leaning in his rulings, but this prediction proved inaccurate, according to legal information platform Justia:

Almost from the outset, he took a moderate or even left-leaning stance on several key issues. For example, Souter declined to erase the constitutional right to abortion when the opportunity arose. He helped to craft an opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that limited rather than overturning Roe v. Wade. Souter also would have permitted the recount in the 2000 presidential election to continue, contrary to the majority in Bush v. Gore."

In retirement, Souter warned about the possible issue of U.S. citizens lacking understanding of how American democracy functions. In an interview with PBS NewsHour in 2012, he stressed the importance of teaching American civics in early education.

The reason I said I think its the most significant problem that weve got is that I think some of the aspects of (the) current American government that people on both sides find frustrating are in part a function of the inability of people to understand how government can and should function. It is a product of civic ignorance.

He added, I dont worry about our losing republican government in the United States because Im afraid of a foreign invasion. ... What I worry about is that when problems are not addressed, people will not know who is responsible. And when the problems get bad enough ... some one person will come forward and say, Give me total power and I will solve this problem. That is how the Roman Republic fell.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  On Saturday, letter carriers across the U.S. will collect non-perishable food items left out for them to help fight hunger. Local donations will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee.

The annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is held on the second Saturday of May each year.

Bristol man charged with murder in 3-year-olds death

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Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is encouraging people in the area to donate shelf-stable food items to help their neighbors. Non-perishable food donations should be placed in a bag on or near the mailbox, and the letter carriers will collect them.

There is an urgent need for food donations right now, Rhonda Chafin, the executive director of the food bank, said in a news release. The food bank is providing food to over 43,000 people each month, and more donations are necessary to ensure that we are able to keep up with the demand.

According to Second Harvest, the Letter Carriers Food Drive is the largest food drive for the local food bank every year. In 2024, more than 36,000 pounds of food were collected to fight food insecurity in Northeast Tennessee.

Second Harvest hopes to exceed that amount in 2025.

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The National Association of Letter Carriers donated $1,000 to the food bank to start the 2025 event.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Rivian warned it will only deliver between 40,000 to 46,000 vehicles in 2025, after delivering 51,600 last year, revising its earlier guidance. Capex spending will also be $200 million more than anticipated. But a second straight quarter of gross profit helped by the sale of regulatory CO2 credits unlocks a crucial $1 billion investment by German partner Volkswagen.

U.S. automaker Rivian warned on Tuesday deliveries of its electric vehicles would decline by at least a tenth this year, blaming the presidents global trade war for cutting its guidance.

The Tesla rival now only expects to ship 40,000 to 46,000 EVs this year instead of the 46,000-51,000 it predicted in late February, before the Trump administration began imposing across-the-board tariffs. Last year Rivian delivered nearly 51,600 vehicles after just over 50,000 in 2023.

Annual spending would also be $200 million more than initially anticipated, with capital expenditure weighing in at $1.8-1.9 billion as tariffs increase the cost of purchasing new equipment.

We are not immune to the impacts of the global trade and economic situation which we expect to impact material costs, material availability, capital expenditures and the demand backdrop, CEO and founder RJ Scaringe told investors during the Q1 earnings call.

Scaringe was moreover frank about his inability to capitalize on Tesla haemorrhaging customers, with vehicle deliveries at Elon Musks company dropping 13% in the first quarter. April data out of Europe show sales volumes are plummeting amid a stale line-up, sluggish appetite for the available higher trim version of the refreshed Model Y and the CEOs own divisive politics.

Cannot capitalize on Tesla's changeover to newer Model Y

Unfortunately for Rivian, not only does it not sell outside North America, but it only has the R1T and R1S on offer. Both the pickup and its sibling SUV, respectively, are positioned at a price point typically well above $75,000 in an upmarket segment for roomier, more luxurious vehicles.

The segment where Tesla is most vulnerable right now is the smaller mid-size Model Y crossover that accounts for two out of every three cars the brand sells worldwide.

Its not until the first half of next year that Rivian can begin competing directly with Teslas best-seller, with its upcoming R2 starting at a similar $45,000 sticker price.

I couldnt be more excited for R2s launch. Last week I was driving an R2 prototype and the vehicle is just incredible.

Even after it arrives, volumes will however be restrained, according to finance chief Claire McDonough. She said Rivians factory in Normal, Illinois, will run its R2 assembly line on a single shift for the bulk of the year rather than a more optimal two-shift operation to ensure production proceeds smoothly.
I am disgusted with Sen. David McCormick and other congressional Republicans continued betrayal of their oath to the Constitution. McCormick swore to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Yet he continues to turn a blind eye to the corruption, chaos, and lawlessness perpetrated every day by the president and his cronies.

Trump is ignoring Supreme Court decisions. He is disappearing people off the streets of America, even U.S. citizens (including a youngster with stage 4 cancer). He let loose Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate funding authorized by Congress. Hes threatening law firms, universities, the press, and judges. Hes instituted tariffs that are crippling the economy.

Hes fine with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spreading top secret information with friends, family and the editor of The Atlantic. (What kind of consequences would McCormick have suffered if he did the same while in the service?)

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Trump is threatening Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. However, McCormick probably couldnt care less about these programs considering his tremendous wealth.

Know that Pennsylvania constituents are wise to this threat to democracy and the senators complicity in it.

Donna M. Oaks

Spring Township
To the editor: Once again, the conservative members of the Supreme Court demonstrated their collective ignorance in lifting the lower court's ban on the Defense Departments move to remove transgender individuals from active military service ( Supreme Court allows Trumps ban on transgender troops, May 6). This sets the stage for the removal of thousands of service personnel before the lawsuit filed in response is settled on its merits  resulting in unnecessary chaos if the plaintiffs prevail on the merits and are returned to active duty.

More important, the rationale advanced in support of the government's argument for discharging those currently serving (that transgender personnel are incompatible with military service) is specious at best. One named plaintiff is a 20-year Navy fighter pilot who has flown more than 60 combat missions. How much more compatible could she be?

Noel Johnson, Glendale

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..

To the editor: I believe that transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military. They should be required to meet the same standards as cisgender men and women, without stigma or bias against their gender identity. Transgender individuals are capable of meeting the military requirements for mental and physical health.

Theres been no evidence that shows that having transgender service members has negatively affected the militarys cohesion and readiness. If a transgender person qualifies to serve their country, they should be allowed to serve proudly.

Emma Guilford, Rohnert Park, Calif.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To the editor: So the High-Speed Rail Authority wants the good citizens of states like, say, Maine and Hawaii to help fund the hideously expensive bullet train with their federal tax dollars even though none of them will be riding the train themselves regularly ( Californias high-speed rail leaders sound alarm over projects financial future, May 1). Since the train will serve only the state of California and not Hawaii and Maine, it is fair that only federal tax money generated by California should be used for this boondoggle.

Meanwhile, the idea of public/private partnerships to fund the train project is a desperate fantasy. What private investment company would contribute to this $100-billion-over-budget fiasco? What hope do they have for a reasonable return on the risk?

The bullet train and its initial bond financing were sold to California tax-paying voters as a superior alternative to vehicle and airplane travel. A fine idea at the time, but not anymore considering the current estimate of future cost. It is time to mothball what has been built so far, spend on more urgent issues and perhaps resurrect the train at some future point.

Dick Helmuth, Costa Mesa

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
After several anonymous online posts were made claiming the Lewiston-Porter Central School District does not properly address bullying, residents are taking action.

Colleen Summerville, a Youngstown resident who is a retired mental health counselor from SUNY Niagara, has five children who graduated from Lew-Port and now has a grandchild in the district. She took charge of organizing parents complaints with Jennifer Weibert of Lewiston, with at least 20 parents reaching out so far.

When we get together, the purpose is to work together with the district, administrators, and the Board of Education, resolving any concerns about bullying, Summerville said, emphasizing they want their meetings to be cordial and without slander.

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Some of these parents spoke about the issue at the Board of Educations April 28 meeting, while a former board member reportedly said there was no such problem.

The anonymous Facebook posts that started in April, including some claiming to be students, bring up cyberbullying and students telling others to kill themselves.

District officials said they took swift action to address the issue.

Superintendent Paul Casseri said they are aware of Facebook posts and students involved with bullying have faced disciplinary consequences, with the district having a zero-tolerance policy for bullying at any of its buildings.

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We sincerely hope that anyone experiencing or witnessing bullying will come forward so we can provide support and take appropriate action, Casseri said in an email to one of the concerned parents. Only when we are made aware of a situation can we take steps to address it.

Lewiston-Porter already has several programs in place in the primary and intermediate education centers meant to help students learn leadership skills and navigate any emotional and social issues they may have. Last November, the IEC was named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education for its success in imparting leadership skills on the schools third- through fifth-graders.

There is also an anonymous tipline on the district website where any student or community member can voice concerns.

These parents plan to be at the school boards May 12 which will also feature budget presentations and this years school board candidates. There will be a community meeting at Youngstown Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. on Tuesday for discussions on an action plan.

The plan they come up with will be presented at the school boards May 27 meeting.

Any concerned parents can reach out to Summerville at 716-531-6701.
American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the new pope on Thursday, selecting the papal name Pope Leo XIV. The first pope from the U.S., Leo is thought to continue some of the reforms made by the late Pope Francis, who died last month.

Leo's thoughts on the LGBTQ+ community have not been widely reported, but at a meeting of bishops in 2012, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," The New York Times reports. At the time, the new pope specifically mentioned the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.

Michael O'Loughlin is the executive director of Outreach, a resource organization working and supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told The Advocate in a statement that Leo's choice of name is a sign of what can be expected from the new pontiff. Pope Leo XIII is looked to for his support of labor rights during the Industrial Revolution.

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"From his choice of name honoring a pope committed to justice, to his call for a church focused on peace and dialogue, early signs show that Pope Leo XIV hopes to continue the pastoral outreach of Pope Francis. While we do not yet know how the new pope will interact with LGBT Catholics, the same was true in 2013 on the night Pope Francis was elected, and his pontificate wound up being inspiring to so many in our community," he said.

Francis was often perceived as being more accepting of LGBTQ+ Catholics than previous pontiffs. Pope Benedict XVI, Francis's direct predecessor, was staunchly anti-LGBTQ+. When asked by a journalist in 2013 about gay priests being included, Francis said, "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with goodwill, who am I to judge?" He later upheld that the church should apologize to LGBTQ+ people for mistreating them. Though Francis made several anti-trans statements, he met with trans Catholics on a number of occasions.

"As a gay Catholic myself, and one who lived for a decade in Pope Leos home city of Chicago," O'Loughlin said. "Im hopeful for the church and offering prayers for the new pope."
LGBTQIA activists protested HB229, under which Texas agencies would be required to enforce a binary definition of gender, and HB778, which would increase liability for any insurer that covers transgender health care.
NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH)  Licking Countys rapid growth and adjacent housing concerns are complicating things for elderly residents, a new study revealed.

The Licking County Aging Partners released the results of its age-friendly community needs assessment, offering insight into how older Licking County residents are interacting with rapid growth. There are 43,555 Licking County residents over age 60, representing 24% of the population. Most  81.1%  of them own their residences, but the study found the growth coming to the region is making it more difficult for older residents to stay in their homes.

The report found 5,110 older Licking County residents are currently in unaffordable housing situations. Further, almost one in five older adults told Licking County Aging Partners that they have had to spend less on food, medication or other necessities to afford housing.

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Intel affirms commitment to Ohio plants division

Licking County is already bracing for rapid growth, and residents worry they could be pushed out of their homes or be unable to keep up with housing costs. Licking County Aging Partners focus group found many older residents in apartments are seeing steady increases in rent, making it more difficult for retired residents to stay in their homes.

Most focus group participants said that they dont want to move, but that their houses are becoming too large to maintain, the report said. There were few options mentioned within the county to move to, and instead individuals felt that they would need to leave the county if they needed to move to more accessible and affordable housing.

Respondents overwhelmingly said they wanted to stay in their homes as they aged, and many wanted to stay in Licking County. When asked about what they would change, participants said they want improved infrastructure, prevent against overdevelopment and voiced concerns about traffic, rising housing costs and homelessness.

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Federal agency cuts more than $88K in grants for OSU

Rising rent costs arent the only financial concerns; only 17% of respondents said they were able to access low-cost or free home repair services. With aging, residents often have to equip homes with accessible features like ramps or grab bars, adding costs. One participant said he has to budget more for home maintenance as he is no longer able to work around the house as he used to.

Although growth exacerbates them in Licking County, these concerns exist state-wide. According to Americas Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation, 28% of Ohioans aged 62 and older live with at least one of the following problems: uncomplete kitchen or plumbing facilities, overcrowding or cost-burdened occupants.

Licking County Aging Partners said it will now use this information to create an action plan to address concerns among older populations. Community leaders, residents and stakeholders are collaborating to create the plan, which they hope to release in the next year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Liev Schreiber is opening up about his 16-year-old daughter, Kai, who is transgender.

The Ray Donovan star talked to Variety about the teen joining him and his wife, Taylor, for the Ali Forney Centers A Place at the Table Gala being held Friday night in New York City. The center provides housing and support for homeless LGBTQ youth. The goal of the event is to make a lasting impact and continue our mission to uplift and empower young people in need, according to the centers social media.

Schreiber revealed that his daughter never actually came out to him and her mother, actress Naomi Watts, as trans.

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Kai was always who Kai is. But I suppose the most profound moment was her asking us to change her pronouns, he said. To be honest with you, it didnt feel like that big of a deal to me only because Kai had been so feminine for so long.

He had words of praise for his daughter, who has modeled for Valentino.

Kai is such a fighter, he said. Its important that she goes, Hey, I am trans, and, Look at me.

When asked if he had any advice for other parents with trans children, Schreiber said, I dont know the answer for your kid.

I dont know what its like for you to be a trans dad. I dont know how you were brought up, he said. I dont know what religion you encountered or what your spirituality is. And for me to tell you what I think about my kid feels like an overstep.

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He then added, I guess if I would say anything to someone whos having trouble with their trans teen or their adolescent trans kid its Teenagers are a headache. Theyre hard.

It doesnt matter whether theyre trans or not because youll come out of this, he said. But a trans teen is going to be a teen. Theyre such a pain so much of the time, and Kai is as feisty and outspoken as they come.

Schreiber said he tries not to dwell on the current political climate, which includes the Supreme Court recently ruling that the Trump administration can enforce a ban on transgender service members in the military.

To some degree, I feel like I dont want to overcook that fear or that anxiety, the actor said. Theres enough in the world to be anxious and afraid about.

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May 9Local historian, educator Butler dies at 97

A longtime Lawrence County teacher, who, in retirement became a community fixture with her history presentations and work in genealogy, died Sunday at age 97.

A Rome Township native, Jean Fuller Butler worked as a teacher in elementary schools, both in Ohio and Florida, for 39 years.

In her retirement, she pursued her interest in genealogy, researching not just her own family, but those of many others.

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Butler compiled her research into a book of extensive history of both the Fuller and Butler families. She was able to trace her ancestry to Plymouth governor William Bradford of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts, as well as Mayflower passengers John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. As a result of proving her lineage, Butler was a member of the Mayflower Society of Ohio.

After leaving the school system, Butler continued to devote herself to education, working on a series of presentations about women in history.

Ranging from first ladies of the United States, such as Martha Washington and Eleanor Roosevelt; queens of England, women from Ohio history, such as the state's initial first lady, Mary Worthington; and Lawrence County pioneer Mary Swain Fuller (one of Butler's ancestors), these presentations featured the author in costume, telling of her subject's life in the first person.

Butler said she would first practice the parts by doing her scripts in front of an audience of her three dogs  a Chihuahua, a miniature pinscher and Chihuahua/Jack Russell terrier mix.

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"I say, 'Listen, children, and I'll tell you story,'" she said in a 2016 Tribune interview.

Butler, who lived in Hanging Rock, took these performances to venues such as local schools, the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library, the Lawrence County bicentennial celebration, and churches, and she made monthly visits to the Ironton Senior Center.

Butler, who was a Sunday school teacher for several decades, also did a similar series of presentations on women from the Bible.

These presentations also served as the basis for books she wrote, such as "British Queens Tell It Like It Was" and "Bible Women Tell It Like It Was."

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Sandy Joseph, former assistant principal for Fairland West Elementary School, hosted many of Butler's visits to her school, including one in which she portrayed Worthington.

"Our kids just absolutely loved it," she said. "They were fascinated, asked lots of questions and wanted to know when she was coming back.'

She said the school library now features several of Butler's books, which are used in the third grade local history curriculum.

Joseph is related to Butler through her mother, Maxine Jenkins, whose father was the brother of Butler's father, former Lawrence County Auditor Rex Fuller.

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Joseph said the Fullers had a farm in Rome Township, where Butler and her sisters worked.

Joseph she remembered, as a girl, Butler's visits to the family home.

"She and mom were very close," Joseph said. "And when she visited, it was all day."

She said she remembered Butler telling them stories of the family's history.

"It was like 'Little House on the Prairie,'" Joseph said, recalling hearing of Butler attending a one-room school and walking through the fields to get there.

Butler was also heavily involved with the Lawrence County Historic Society and contributed a column of childhood recollections of Ironton for The Tribune's local history edition of its annual Profile magazine in 2020.

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Joseph said Butler's two biggest priorities were education and church.

"She was so well read," Joseph said. "She was highly intelligent and had excellent memory recall. And Jean was just great at sharing history."

Butler was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Donald Butler.

She is survived by her daughter, Sonja Butler Wheelis, of Ocala, Florida; son, Dr. Donald Butler, of Spring Hill, Tennessee; grandson, Donald Alan Butler; and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

A funeral will take place at noon today, with a viewing at 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church Ironton. Pastor Eric Barnes will officiate.

 Full obituary here.
The major averages were sharply higher near noon amid increased optimism around trade, as well as a decrease in U.S. initial jobless claims for the week ended May 3. President Trump announced a new trade deal with Great Britain, has said the U.S. intends to make a deal with Europe, and appears open to lowering tariffs on China after talks with the country this weekend.

Protect Your Portfolio Against Market Uncertainty

In central bank news, the Bank of England lowered its Bank Rate just a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve kept the federal funds rate unchanged. Following the Feds move, Trump called Fed Chair Jerome Powell a fool for not lowering rates.

Looking to commodities, gold prices are lower once again, while oil prices are sharply higher amid U.S.-China trade optimism.

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.

1. STOCK NEWS:

2. WALL STREET CALLS:

Sarepta (SRPT) downgraded at Evercore ISI

Wedbush downgraded Uber (UBER) to Neutral on lack of catalysts

Mosaic (MOS) upgraded at RBC Capital

Archer Daniels (ADM) downgraded to Underperform at BofA amid misplaced optimism

Centessa (CNTA) initiated with bullish view at Chardan

3. AROUND THE WEB:
The Oklahoma House is pictured. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Budget cuts are often sold to the public as necessary belt-tightening  an unfortunate but unavoidable step toward fiscal responsibility.

But what happens when those cuts target the most vulnerable among us? What happens when the programs being slashed arent luxuries, but lifelines?

Across Oklahoma and the nation, disability services are quietly being defunded, downsized, or dismantled. These decisions may not make front-page news, but their impact reverberates deeply in the lives of disabled individuals and families who depend on them for support, inclusion, and survival.

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Programs designed to support and protect people with disabilities  like state councils on developmental disabilities, protection and advocacy systems, and national initiatives that give us a voice  face the threat of elimination.

As a single mom of five, raising a son on the autism spectrum, I live the realities these programs are designed to address.

Every day, I navigate school systems, health care barriers and support networks in a world that isnt built with families like mine in mind.

And Im not alone.

Since 2022, more than 2,000 Oklahoma families have been approved for or are currently receiving developmental disability services, following a significant reduction in the states waitlist from 13 years to one. These services are not luxuries; they are essential supports that enable families to move from merely surviving to truly thriving.

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What truly changed the trajectory of my advocacy journey was Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program I completed through the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council. That experience gave me the tools to speak up  not only for my child, but for the entire community. I learned how to navigate the Legislature, challenge broken systems, and amplify the voices of others who are often ignored.

This is not just a budget issue  and its not about left versus right. Its about whats right versus wrong.

In Oklahoma, recent funding efforts have made a measurable difference. Rolling back that progress now would be devastating.

Despite that, Im hearing growing concern that this progress could be reversed in the upcoming budget and that these critical services could be on the chopping block  putting thousands of families at risk of losing the critical support theyve only just begun to receive.

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Budget cuts would send a message loud and clear that our needs are not a priority. Without programs like these, future advocates wont get the chance to find their voice. The leaders, policy changers, and community builders of tomorrow will be silenced before they ever begin.

Cutting disability programs means cutting off access  to education, employment, independence, safety, and basic dignity. It also means delaying early screenings and interventions  critical steps for diagnosing developmental disabilities, identifying delays like autism and addressing childhood trauma.

The data is clear: approximately 1 in 6 children aged 317 in the U.S. has a developmental disability. Services to support these children are not a luxury  they are a necessity. When children are denied early access to help, we miss critical windows of opportunity that shape their futures.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early diagnosis and intervention for developmental disabilities can greatly improve a childs development and long-term outcomes. Eliminating these services risks leaving thousands of Oklahomas children without timely help during their most critical developmental windows.

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What starts as a delay in services, often grows into a lifetime of missed potential, greater needs, and heavier burdens  both for families and for our state. Cuts made today will cost far more tomorrow both in lives and in dollars.

We cant claim to value community, family, or fairness while gutting the very programs that make those ideals possible for everyone. Oklahoma cant call itself inclusive if we only show up when its convenient. We cant say we care about all children while ignoring those who need support the most.

Because when we silence the most vulnerable among us, we dont just harm individuals and their families  we betray the very values that are supposed to unite us and wound the very soul of our society.

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Louisianas wetlands are a hot political topic right now, thanks to Governor Jeff Landry putting the breaks on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. Debate over that decision has probably overshadowed other efforts to replenish our coast.

Episode 5 of The Light Switch dives headfirst into the conflict with Illuminator reporter Elise Plunk, our Report for American corps member whos focused on all things water related. Shes taken an up-close look at ongoing wetlands rebuilding and spent a lot of time looking into the science behind coastal restoration. Well talk about her recent reporting (see story links below).

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For our Swamp Spotlight segment, Elise interview Tulane University professor Ehab Meselhe, one of the foremost authorities on coastal restoration. He weighs in on the stalled Mid-Barataria diversion, the science behind the project and other wetlands work.

In our News From the States segment, we learn about why Rhode Island leaders felt the need to revise their rules on harvesting road kill. Yes, we think that feels like a very Louisiana thing, too.

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On May 8th, the world held its breath as Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. At 69, the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church made history as the first American-born pope, but adopted a name that stirred echoes of the past: Leo, or lion in Latin.

After the white smoke dissipated and the Latin proclamation Habemus Papam ran through the square, the importance of a chosen name rolled in the back of my head. For a pope, a queen, an actoror even this writera name is more than just a moniker. It's a story, a declaration, a whisper of legacy. Choosing a name is like writing the opening of your epic. Your name announces your pronounce far before you even walk into the room.

Leo XIV. It rolls off the tongue with a hint of regal flourish. But for those who don't know their papal history, the name Leo is not just a choice but a nod to a legacy intertwined with social justice and reform.

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The most recent Leo, Pope Leo XIII, reigned from 1878 to 1903, a tenure that stretched across the turn of the 20th century. Born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci, Leo XIII was known as the 'Social Pope' and the 'Pope of the Workers.' In a time when industrialization swept across the world, leaving a trail of inequality and unrest, Leo XIII stepped forward, not back. His 1891 treatise, Rerum Novarum, boldly asserted workers' rights to fair wages and safe working conditions, championing what many recognize as the first steps toward modern Catholic social teaching.

Leo XIII's advocacy was not just performative for a man born into relative prosperity. If this was the legacy of the last Pope Leo, what does it mean for Leo XIV?

Names, after all, are never just names. They're laden with expectation and promise, with the spectre of those who carried them before. When I chose my names, it wasn't simply sounding nice but an echo of every woman in my lineage who lived, ruled, and left something behind. For Leo XIV, choosing his name is his first act of leadership. Before he speaks, decrees, or blesses, he is Leothe lion, the bold, the just.

Or, at least, that's what the world hopes.

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But what of the man behind the name? Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is a name not often uttered in global headlines. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he spent much of his ecclesiastical career in South America, serving in Peru. His work focused on pastoral care, community development, and indigenous rights. His reputation precedes him as a compassionate leader, a bridge builder, and a listener. Though his record may not carry the same LGBTQ+ stance as his predecessor, LGBTQ+ Catholics remain hopeful of the new pope. Meanwhile, as his alleged tweets emerge, Pope Leo may be the best leader to attack Donald Trump's regime of hostility toward the marginalized.

In 2025, the world is, in many ways, not so different from 1891. Workers' rights, income inequality, and social justice remain as relevant now as they were. A name like Leo comes with expectations, whether Prevost intended it or not. To choose the name of the lion is to invoke a spirit of boldness, of righteous advocacy. If Leo XIII was the 'Pope of the Workers,' then what will Leo XIV be? The 'People's Pope'? The 'Pope of the Marginalized'? Or something else entirely?

Once thing is for certain, within the heart of that calm and genteel silhouette is the heart of a lion. Because a name is never just a name; it's a legacy waiting to be written.

And the world is ready to read.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
TYLER, Texas (KETK) According to nonprofit organization Officer Memorial Down, Texas has lost over 2,200 line of duty officers with the highest deaths being from gunfire at around 1,289 deaths.

Officer Memorial Down is a nonprofit who is dedicated to honoring the lives and sacrifices of Americas fallen law enforcement officers. With over 26,000 officers lost in the line of duty since 1776, ODMP preserves their legacies by providing a meaningful platform for surviving families, fellow officers, friends and the public to remember and pay tribute to their courage and service Officer Down Memorial said.

KETK news has compiled a list of East Texas officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty from gunfire, stabbing, an animal attack and vehicle crash.

Anderson County

Deputy Sheriff James Monroe Stafford, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

Officer Down Memorial said Deputy Sheriff James Monroe Stafford died on June 15, 1899 at 42 after being shot by a city marshal. Stafford was killed when he was at the county jail with an attorney talking about the previous nights gambling raid.

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The city marshal called Stafford out of the jail and began arguing with him. When Stafford responded, the marshal pulled out his pistol and shot him.

Rep. Nathaniel Moran honors fallen Tyler police officer on House floor

The marshal was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Stafford was survived by his wife and eight children.

Some other fallen officers from Anderson County include Lieutenant Goodvin Derrell Honea, Deputy Sheriff Charles Ledwith, Deputy Sheriff John Rogers, Deputy Sheriff James Robert Godley, Constable Dave Pierce, Constable Alvy Pharris, Deputy Constable Floyd Carl Cox and Constable James Glover Long.

Angelina County

Reserve Captain Don Willmon, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

Reserve Captain Don Willmon was stabbed to death on May 13, 1979 at 32 after questioning a suspect in Lufkin.

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Officer Down Memorial said Willmon was questioning the suspect in the alley behind a store on Bonner Street when the suspect stabbed him as he attempted to radio for assistance.

The suspect was arrested in Mexico on August 28th, 2003, by the FBI and Mexican authorities, Officer Down Memorial said. The man was released by Mexican authorities several days after being arrested because the Mexican statute of limitations had passed.

Willmon was survived by his wife, daughter, son, parents and four siblings. His son later joined the Lufkin Police Department.

Some other fallen officers from Angelina County include Deputy Sheriff Byford Henry Hunter and Sheriff William Read McMullen.

Bowie County

Deputy Sheriff Sherri Katherine Jones, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

According to Officer Down Memorial, Deputy Sheriff Sherri Katherine Jones, 54, was shot and killed on April 18, 2011 while preparing to transport a prisoner.

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Around 2:30 p.m. Jones was moving a prisoner in the basement of the Bowie County Courthouse when he overpowered her and fatally shot her with her own gun. The suspect then stole the transport van and drove to Arkansas where he was later arrested.

The suspect was sentenced to 30 years for Jones murder. Jones was survived by her daughter, three stepsons, mother, two brothers, sister and 10 grandchildren.

Deputy Sheriff Michael Page, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

34-year-old military veteran and Deputy Sheriff Michael Page was shot and killed on June 30, 2007 in Texarkana during a struggle with a hit-and-run suspect.

Page had responded to a car striking a utility pole and when he arrived he saw a man running into the nearby woods. During a scuffle between the suspect, Page was struck over the head and then shot in the shoulder with his own handgun.

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Page had walked himself out of the woods and was transported to local hospital where he later died. The suspects body was found the same day with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Tyler PD honors officer on 70th anniversary of line of duty death

Deputy Page, a U.S. Army veteran, had served with the Bowie County Sheriffs Department for three years and had previously served with the Texarkana Police Department for five years, Officer Down Memorial said. Page was survived by his wife, two children, parents and three sisters.

Some other fallen officers from Bowie County include Deputy Sheriff Willie Edward Nichols, Deputy Sheriff William Lafayette Nettles, Deputy Sheriff David Morgan, Constable William Madison Culberson, Deputy Constable Robert F. Talley, Patrolman Tom L. Roland, Police Officer William Homer Jack Hill.

Gregg County

Deputy Sheriff Vance Howard Clements, courtesy of Officer Memorial Down

According to Officer Down Memorial , Deputy Sheriff Vance Howard Clements died at 32 on Feb. 1, 2001 after a single-vehicle crash while he was responding to a disturbance call.

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Clements patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree in front of the First Baptist Church of Judson. He was transported to a local hospital but later died from his injuries.

Clements served with the Gregg County Sheriffs Office for 10 years and was survived by his son, parents and brother.

Some other fallen officers from Gregg County include Corporal Robert Eugene Ransom, Deputy Sheriff Marion Dyer Hodges, Deputy Sheriff James W. Killingsworth, Special Constable G. A. Andy Fambrough, Sergeant Randy Loy Davis, Patrolman Marshall Jefferson Sowders, Jr.

Henderson County

Deputy Sheriff Paul Steven Habelt, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

Deputy Sheriff Paul Steven Habelt, 63 and Deputy Tony Price Ogburn, 61 were shot and killed after responding to a domestic violence call on May 17, 2007 in Payne Springs, Officer Memorial Down said.

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While Habelt, Ogburn and Kevin Harris arrived at the home, the suspect opened fire with a high-powered rifle, killing Habelt and Ogburn and wounding Harris.

The suspect was wounded by officers and was convicted to capital murder and was sentenced to death.

Deputy Sheriff Tony Price Ogburn, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

Habelt had served in law enforcement for 43 years while Ogburn had served with the sheriffs office for eight years.

Both men left behind wives, children, other relatives, co-workers and friends.

Some other fallen officers from Henderson County include Deputy Sheriff Charlie Fields, Sr., Deputy Sheriff John Carlie Reeves, Lieutenant Bennie Royce Everett, Constable Sherry Kay Langford and Constable James W. Hopson.

Nacogdoches County

Deputy Sheriff Raymond Bradley Brad Jimmerson, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

According to Officer Down Memorial, Deputy Raymond Bradley Brad Jimmerson was struck and killed by a vehicle near Nacogdoches while he responded to reports of debris in the roadway.

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Around 6:45 a.m. Jimmerson responded to U.S. Highway 259, around seven miles north of Nacogdoches while cleaning up debris in the road.

Jimmerson had served in law enforcement for more than 20 years and was survived by his fiancee, parents and brother. In May of 2019, the highway was renamed Deputy Sheriff Raymond Bradley Jimmerson Memorial Highway in his honor.

Some other fallen officers from Nacogdoches County include Sergeant Tom Anderson Sitton, Deputy Sheriff John Arlington Hargis, Patrolman Bennett T. Spradley.

Smith County

Deputy Sheriff Raymond Lorenzo Bustos, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

According to Officer Down Memorial, on Deputy Lorenzo Bustos 29 final night of field training hew was struck and killed by a drunk driver near Winona.

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Smith County Deputy Lorenzo Bustos legacy lives on through memorial award

On July 29, 2022 while Bustos was making a traffic stop with his field training officer in the 14000 block of State Highway 155 he was standing behind his patrol SUV when he was struck by another vehicle.

The impact pushed Deputy Bustos beneath the patrol vehicle, Officer Down Memorial said. His partner, who was sitting in the passenger seat at the time of the crash, immediately started rendering aid.

Bustos was transported to a local hospital where he later died about five hours later. The driver was arrested for intoxication manslaughter. Bustos was survived by his wife and three children.

Officer Down Memorial said Deputy Robert Leo Britton, Jr., 54 died on March 28, 2011 after he was attacked by an injured cow four days early while he was directing traffic around the animal.

Deputy Sheriff Robert Leo Britton Jr., courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

On March 24, 2011, Britton responded to the scene of a car crash between a car and a cow on Farm Road 344 near Bullard. While he was directing traffic around the injured cow, it charged at him, knocked him into the air and he landed on his head causing severe injuries.

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The cow continued to attack him until other deputies arrived and pulled him to safety, Officer Down Memorial said. Britton was transported to a local hospital where he died four days later.

Britton had served at the sheriffs office for 19 years and was survived by his two children.

K9 Ogar, courtesy of Officer Down Memorial

1-year-old K9 Ogar was shot and killed while he was attempting to apprehend a suspect who was in a stolen vehicle that was abandoned near Lindale on Jan. 19, 2016.

Ogar was tracking one of three subjects near the intersection of I-20 and FM 849 when he was shot. The person who shot Ogar was arrested for numerous narcotics and weapon charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison according to Officer Down Memorial.

Some other fallen officers from Smith County include Deputy Sheriff Walter Leroy Terry, Deputy Sheriff Marion D. Norton, Constable Dale David Geddie, and Patrolman Eugene Verdall Vickers.

For anyone who wants to find more information about fallen officers across Texas or the United States, they can visit the Officer Down Memorial website

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
This story was produced and originally published by WPR and Wisconsin Watch.

Wisconsin prisoners have struggled to connect with loved ones for weeks and even months as a state contractor fails to keep up with increasing demand for its call and messaging services.

The Department of Corrections last year began working with Texas-based ICSolutions, the prison systems phone provider, to make electronic tablets free for every state prisoner. The state allocated $2.5 million to cover some of the cost. The program aims to boost quality of life behind bars by making it easier for incarcerated people to connect with their loved ones and access resources.

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Intermittent problems began after some prisons began distributing the tablets in March 2024. The issues worsened this spring, prisoners and their family members say, spreading across institutions that imprison more than 23,000.

More: Wisconsin is spending $2.5 million on new tablets in prisons. Find out what's changing and why.

More: Jails around Wisconsin forgo in-person visits for video calls. How is this affecting those incarcerated?

WPR and Wisconsin Watch heard from more than 25 people experiencing connection difficulties at multiple prisons. Incarcerated people described dialing a number multiple times before getting through and waiting more than an hour for calls to connect. Family members described hearing their phones ring but receiving no option to connect with the caller; some calls have dropped mid-conversation.

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Family members are airing frustrations in a nearly 300-member Facebook forum launched specifically to discuss the phone problems.

Brenda McIntyre, incarcerated at Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center, traditionally calls her grandchildren every weekend. But the overwhelmed system blocked a recent check-in.

Grandma, why didn't you call me? You said you're going to call me, McIntyre recalled one grandchild asking when they finally connected.

Phone services somewhat improved late last week, McIntyre said. But she worries about missing updates about her sister's cancer treatment.

Its been a living hell, she said.

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Neither ICSolutions nor its parent company responded to requests for comment. But in an undated statement on its website, the company promised improvements in the coming weeks, with significant optimization coming this summer. The statement recommended shifting calls to off-peak hours  before 5 p.m. or after 9 p.m. But family members say they are not always available at such hours.

Corrections spokesperson Beth Hardtke squarely blamed ICSolutions, saying state-run infrastructure and Wi-Fi access played no role in the issue.

To be very clear, the quality of service that ICSolutions is providing is not acceptable to the department. If reliability and customer service do not improve, the department will be forced to reevaluate our contract, Hardtke wrote in an email.

The statement from ICSolutions blamed unexpected challenges from increased demand for calls. But Hardtke said the company previously assured the department it could handle higher call volume during the rollout.

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Prisoners in nine of Wisconsins 36 adult institutions  including all three womens facilities  still lack tablets. The glitches affect them, too, because ICSolutions services the entire phone system, not just tablets.

The corrections department is pausing tablet distribution while trying to fix the reliability problems, Hardtke said.

Tablets mean more calls

Emily Curtis said she was cautiously excited when her incarcerated fiance gained access to a tablet at Stanley Correctional Institution.

He previously could call only from the prisons landlines and during limited hours. The tablet enabled calls most anytime, even during lockdowns. For about two months, the two talked daily  right before Curtis fell asleep and right after she woke up.

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It was great, Curtis said. Until everything kind of hit the fan.

Wisconsin is not the only state prison system that has issued tablets.

Unlike some states, however, Wisconsin allows people to make calls from their cells and doesnt limit the number of calls they can make, Hartdke said via email. That policy, which the department communicated to ICSolutions during contract negotiations, naturally increased call volume, she added.

Calls from Green Bay Correctional Institution, for instance, increased by nearly 200% after the tablet rollout, Hardtke wrote.

Curtis now hears from her fiance just once daily, usually very early in the morning. Their 14-year-old son has gone weeks without talking to his dad, Curtis said, because the phone lines are too jammed once hes home from school.

Costly for families, profitable for providers

ICSolutions and the prison system make millions each year from phone calls. The company charges six cents a minute and shares revenue with the state, adding nearly $4 million to its general fund in recent years.

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Curtis said she spends roughly $250 a month on calls.

Tablets present new revenue opportunities for prison contractors. An ICSolutions affiliate sold them to incarcerated Wisconsinites before the state made them free. And even with free tablets, prisoners pay for calls, messaging and other applications.

The high cost of phone calls has long burdened the incarcerated and their families. The Federal Communications Commission last year responded by capping fees. Apps for TV and music arent subject to the same regulations. That makes tablets a safer investment for prison telecommunication companies, said Wanda Bertram, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative, which focuses on solutions to mass incarceration.

Incarcerated people often greet the rollout of tablets with excitement, Bertram said. But the attempt to improve virtual communication comes as Wisconsin, like other states, has restricted other communication  like physical mail.

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In December 2021, the corrections department began rerouting all prisoner-bound mail to Maryland, where a company called TextBehind scans each piece of mail and sends a digital copy to those incarcerated. The controversial effort aims to reduce the flow of drugs into prisons.

The change delays access to mail and boosts reliance on tablets. As a result, technology glitches have bigger consequences, Betram said.

We're helpless: Blocked calls mean lonely holidays

Charles Gill is incarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution. His fiance lives in New York, and his adult son lives in New Jersey, too far to visit in person. Gill relies largely on his tablet for communication. But online texts have been delayed by two to three days, Gill said.

We're helpless, Gill said. To be a father, not knowing what's going on with your child, to be in a relationship with someone and not knowing what's going on with them. God forbid something happens and somebody goes to the hospital, somebody gets hurt. We don't know about it, and we can't reach out to nobody and talk about it.

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Gill felt particularly helpless on Easter weekend, the anniversary of his brothers death. He couldnt reach any family members.

The phones were just destroyed on (Easter) weekend, " he said. You could really feel the tension in the air because people weren't able to call their families.

He worries about a repeat around Mothers Day.

Having that ability to speak to someone who still sees you as a human being and not a number is vital, said Marianne Oleson, the operations director for Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing of Wisconsin.

Thats especially the case for mothers who are incarcerated. The majority of women in prisons nationally have children under the age of 18, according to a 2016 U.S. Department of Justice report. Phone calls offer incarcerated women their only chance to act as parent, wife or daughter  ensuring their loved ones are safe, Oleson said.

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The faulty phone system leaves incarcerated people with tough choices.

We even have to choose to try the phone over going to meals, Christa Williams, who is incarcerated at Ellsworth, wrote in an email.

Shawnda Schultz said phone failures have left her incarcerated mother in tears during recent calls.

It bothers me because their phone calls are the one thing that (prisoners) have to keep them going in there, and it keeps us going too, because that's our mother, Schultz said.

Schultzs sister recently delivered her first baby. If the phones dont improve, she worries her mother will miss hearing updates, like when her grandchild says his first word.

I found myself actually in tears because I'm just like, what if something happens to my mom? Schulz said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin prison phone failures leave families disconnected
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  From Rome to each and every home  thats what local Bishop David Bonnar says he believes newly selected Robert Prevost will approach his papacy, in some ways, continuing the work of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

For the past few years, hes been involved with the dicastery of bishops. Hes been intimately involved in the selection of bishops throughout the world. So I think he has a pulse for what is going on in the world and what the needs of the church are in those various parts of the world, said Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown.

Prevost is the first American pope.

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While its very exciting for all of us who are American that there is an American pope, I think at the end of the day, this man is going to be a pope for all of Gods people with a particular preference for the poor. Just by virtue of the name that he chose, Pope Leo. Continuing the work and the spirit of not only Pope Francis but of also Pope Leo the 13th, who really cared about people, cared about workers and very much cared about the poor, Bishop Bonnar said.

Bishop Bonnar said he will celebrate Mass on Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Columba to pray for the new pope and invites the community to attend.





Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May marks Brain Tumor Awareness Month and a local woman is sharing her story to spread awareness.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The American Brain Tumor Association said about 90,000 people face a brain tumor diagnosis every year.

One of those people is Billi Ewing from Montgomery County. This year marks 11 years since Ewing became a brain tumor survivor.

What is not shared with us is what life is like after your brain tumor, she said.

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Since becoming a survivor, shes made it her mission to share her story with others dealing with that diagnosis.

If you find yourself with this diagnosis, the resources and support that is out here, nationally, locally, regionally, Ewing said. We are here, they are here, but people just dont know.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, Ewing has taken her advocacy to Washington, D.C., serving as an Ohio delegate with the National Brain Tumor Societys annual Head to the Hill event.

Those are the three days that a person may get out of the whole year, that they dont have to explain what theyre feeling, she explained.

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Some of the time is spent connecting with other survivors and the family members of those who died because of their brain tumor.

Theres somebody new every year, and you hear these heart-wrenching stories about how peoples lives have been changed forever, she said.

The event also includes time at Capitol Hill, meeting with lawmakers.

Ewing met with both the offices of Ohio senators, as well as the office of Congressman Mike Turner, putting a human connection to keep in mind when making decisions.

We have to explain why brain tumors and brain cancers need to be a separate line item, and so it is our responsibility to make them understand why, Ewing said.

In her push to raise awareness, Ewing takes one of her biggest challenges to make a difference.

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HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM)  A local brewing company will soon hold the official grand opening for its new location inside a popular York County smash burger eatery.

The locally owned Lydian Stone Brewing Company, which was formerly known as Touchstone Brewery, LLC, is owned and operated by Keith and Maria Stevenson. The York County based nano-brewery is most known for offering a variety of craft beer options.

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According to Lydian Stone Brewing Company, they will soon soon host the official grand opening of their new location, which is situated inside the second floor of Greers Burger Garage on 108 East Chestnut Street in Hanover.

Greers Burger Garage in Hanover first opened to the public back in March of 2024 and has become most known for its renowned smash burgers, hot dogs, and Garage Fries.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Lydian Stone Brewing Company will take place on Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m.

Our approach is simple, founder and brewmaster Keith Stevenson said. We stick to traditional brewing methods, use the best ingredients, and keep our batches small so we can be creative while maintaining the highest level of quality. Each brew is handcrafted and non-pasteurized for superior flavor, giving visitors an authentic craft beer experience to enjoy on site or take home.

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The new upstairs space will offer a full-service dining and brewery experience for guests, in addition to being decorated with a retro neon signage, mid-century decor, and more.

According to Lydian Stone Brewing Companys Facebook, once they open their hours of operation will be:

Tuesdays  Thursdays // 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fridays  Saturdays // 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sundays // 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition to the new location inside Greers Burger Garage, Lydian Stone Brewing Company also boasts a location at 685 York Haven Road.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

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Following the announcement of the election of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, as the new head of the Catholic Church, local Catholic leaders expressed joy and support  and a bit of surprise about his Midwestern roots.

I never thought I would see an American pope, Bernard Hebda, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said in a news conference Thursday. How exciting is that?

Hebda said he and Prevost had previously corresponded by mail but had never met in person. Most of the letters they shared, Hebda said, were archdiocese status updates during the time Prevost oversaw the Dicastery for Bishops, the church body thats in charge of selecting new bishops and is involved in managing relations between dioceses and the Vatican.

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Kevin Kenney, an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, graduated from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago a few years after Prevost did, but the two men never met there, he said.

Kenney became a bishop in 2024, during Prevosts time leading the Dicastery, so its likely that Prevost was the one who, upon the bodys recommendation, brought Kenneys name to Pope Francis, Leos predecessor, for papal approval.

I am surprised that the Cardinals elected an American but overwhelmed with joy, Kenney wrote in an email Thursday. I am sure he had a big role in my becoming bishop so I look forward to meeting him someday.

Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of WinonaRochester, also from Chicago, traveled to Rome to witness the new popes first appearance. In a video posted to his Facebook page Thursday evening, he noted that he and Prevost had met a couple times at church synods over the years.

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Hes a quietly competent person, Barron said in the video. Not a flashy personality; a man of great intelligence, prayerfulness, obviously.

Chris Mulcahey, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Catholic Conference, said hes not aware of personal connections to Prevost among other bishops around the state.

The new popes Midwestern upbringing could help him connect to American Catholics in ways that are distinct from previous popes, Hebda said.

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To have a pope, for example, who understands Catholic schools or the struggles parents go through to make sure our kids can get a good education, Hebda said. Just recognizing the experiences hes had that would be very similar to Catholics in our archdiocese. Somebody who has the same experience of the American church and the way in which our church is so multicultural.

It is unknown whether Prevost has ever visited Minnesota. To date, no sitting pope has ever visited the state. Before becoming Pope Pius XII, then-Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli briefly stopped in St. Paul on a national tour in 1936.

The new pope, who spent much of his career as a pastor and later bishop in Peru, is a White Sox fan, his brother told a local TV station in Chicago.
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -UnitedHealth Group was sued on Wednesday for allegedly concealing how backlash from the killing of a top executive was damaging its business, causing its stock to nosedive after the insurer lowered its 2025 outlook.

In a proposed class action filed in Manhattan federal court, shareholders said the insurer defrauded them after the December 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson by shifting away from strategies that led to higher-than-average claims denials, without revealing the impact on profitability.

UnitedHealth shares fell 22.4% on April 17, wiping out about $119 billion of market value, after the insurer cut its 2025 forecast for adjusted profit per share to between $26 and $26.50 from between $29.50 and $30.

The insurer cited higher costs in its Medicare business. It had issued the old forecast one day before Thompson's death.

Shareholders said UnitedHealth had previously inflated its stock price by recklessly sticking with its old forecast, even as mounting public anger and an October 17 U.S. Senate report on claims denials caused it to become more patient-friendly.

UnitedHealth had no immediate comment. The insurer has offices in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Washington, D.C.

Wednesday's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for UnitedHealth shareholders from between December 3, 2024 and April 16, 2025. Chief Executive Andrew Witty and Chief Financial Officer John Rex are also defendants.

Luigi Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murdering Thompson in midtown Manhattan, and could face the death penalty.

Mangione has become a hero to some Americans who are unhappy with for-profit health insurers that deny coverage for treatments.

The case is Faller v UnitedHealth Group Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-03799.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Thursday was a momentous day for Catholics around the world as a new pope was elected. Pope Leo XIV, an American, is the first in the Churchs history to come from the United States. A Chicago native, Pope Leo previously served as a long-time missionary in Peru.

Among those present for the historic announcement at the Vatican was Wichita native Shawn McKnight, the Archbishop Designate of Kansas City. He told KSN it was a moment he will never forget and that he felt blessed to witness the white smoke rise outside St. Peters Basilica.

Archbishop McKnight described the event as both historic and deeply spiritual. In Rome with a group of pilgrims, he said the white smoke signaled a new era for the Catholic Church. He hopes Catholics in Kansas share his sense of joy and pride. He also says he is looking forward to Friday.

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I have the privilege of being scheduled tomorrow morning at eight, here at St. Peters, at the altar of the chair to celebrate the English mass. So that would be the first time I get to use his name in our celebration of mass, and I will be lifting up everybody back home in the state of Kansas in my thoughts and prayers during that special time, he said. When we return, well have lots of stories to share.

Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know

Many local Catholics are hopeful that Pope Leo will prove to be a great leader and demonstrate that the Church is in capable hands under American guidance.

Of course, I pray for him. I have a bond with him as a bishop. I hope someday to meet him soon and to express my loyalty to him and my desire to work for him, and to assist him in his work and to ask him to pray for me in my own ministry, Bishop Carl Kemme with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita said. I think we need an intelligent, prayerful, a very courageous man to serve in that role. I dont know him, but I hope to see those qualities in him early on in the first days of his ministry and as he goes forward to serve us as our pastor.

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The announcement sparked celebrations in Wichita, though surprise was a common reaction among local Catholics.

Surprised. I wouldnt have anticipated that, but with the new pope, I just hope he can take his responsibilities and share them with the world and prove our standings as Catholics and make us a light to everybody out there in the world, Jesse May, a local Catholic church member, said.

I dont think any of us imagined wed have a new pope today, but we did, and our phones kind of started blowing up. So we broke a rule, and we pulled it up on the computer, and we live-streamed it so everyone can see it, Cara Boyer at Catholic Art & Gifts said.

Archbishop McKnight echoed the surprise, noting the speed of the conclaves decision as a sign of strong support for the new pontiff.

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TUPELO - When Pope Francis died April 21 after a lengthy illness, it seemed to be a loss felt by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

The 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis appealed to a diverse swath of humanity during his dozen years as pope. For many, his commitment to connecting with people on a personal and human level made him feel more accessible.

Christi and Jeff Houin, New Orleans natives now living in Tupelo, appreciated that about Pope Francis. The couple saw Pope Francis twice on visits to Vatican City.

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"The crowds were huge," Jeff Houin said. "We were near the front, and as Pope Francis got closer, people from behind us started passing babies up for Francis to bless and kiss. And he would. Then the crowd would pass the babies back. Now that's faith."

Christi Houin nodded in remembrance.

"He always took time to stop and speak to people, especially special needs kids," she said.

There's the well-watched video of Pope Francis delivering a homily and a little girl with Down syndrome wanders up to him. When security was called to take her away from Francis, he waved security away and let the girl sit by him as he continued the homily.

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It is fitting Pope Francis chose Francis as his papal name.

"He chose the name to honor Saint Francis of Assisi," said Father Tim Murphy, priest at Saint James Catholic Church in Tupelo. "Saint Francis was kind of everybody's saint.

"Pope Francis sought to bring understanding across all lines and classes, as Francis of Assisi did."

With the papal conclave beginning just a day ago, the eyes of the world are watching with great interest as members of the College of Cardinals meet to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

There are 133 bright red-vested cardinals who are eligible to cast votes for the pope: Only those under the age of 80 can vote.

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Along with the rest of the world, nearly 1.4 billion Catholics are mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Many have hopes for what they'd like to see in their new pope. Local Catholics are not exempted.

Tanya Britton, a congregant at Saint James, said she has given a lot of thought and countless prayers to the kinds of qualities shed like to see in the next pope.

"I just finished a novena," she said. "I prayed the cardinals choose someone with the heart of Saint Peter, and the zeal and will to evangelize with the fervor of Saint Paul."

A novena is a nine-day period in which one commits to pray, and that prayer can be for anything.

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Britton is a lifelong Catholic  or a cradle Catholic, as theyre often called.

"I was baptized as a baby, attended Catholic school in Jackson through eighth grade, and then went to a Catholic boarding school in Washington, D.C. for high school," she said.

The Houins, also cradle Catholics, also have thoughts about what they hope for in a new pope. Both were admirers of Pope Francis.

"He really kicked people out of their comfort zones," Christy Houin said.

Her husband agreed.

"He was humble and joyful," he said. "He was beloved by so many. Even when he was in the hospital for so long, people missed him. People continued to visit the Vatican even when he wasn't there."

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In a new pope, Christi Houin would look for the wisdom that comes with age.

"I would want a pope younger than 80," she said. "But I would like him to have become wiser with age.

"I'd also like it to be someone who will be a great unifier. And someone who is willing to be pope, not someone who just wants to be pope."

Jeff Houin added to his wife's wish list.

"The new pope should walk, talk and love like Jesus," he said. "And I'd like to see him come from an area of the world where Catholicism is thriving, like the Philippines or Africa.

"And, of course, we believe the Holy Spirit has a big part in this too."

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Tupelo attorney Mike Tapscott comes from a large family of lifelong Catholics.

"I would prefer a pope similar to Pope Francis, one who is faithful to core Catholic doctrine but also charismatic and compassionate, Tapscott said. The pope is the most visible and influential moral leader in the world. He should express sympathy for the marginalized."

Jai Eschete grew up in New Orleans but has called Tupelo home for the past 25 years. A longtime Baptist, Eschete converted to Catholicism in 2013.

"The first pope I have known as a Catholic is Francis," he said. "And I loved him."

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His affinity for Pope Francis has influenced Eschete's hopes for a new pope.

"I'd like him to be a mix between Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II," he said. "Outspoken, humble, for the people. Someone who will stand up for the church in whatever times society brings. And I hope the cardinals will look at all candidates, no matter where they are in the world."

Pope John Paul II was the head of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.

No one knows how long it will be before the College of Cardinals chooses a new pope. Historically, the longest conclave in the 13th century was 1,006 days  that's almost three years. The shortest conclave was in 1939 when Pope Pius XII was elected on the third ballot in less than 24 hours of the conclave's beginning.

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When the successor to Pope Francis is ultimately elected, Father Tim Murphy hopes the new pope will somehow build on the work of Francis.

"In my view, two distinctive aspects of Pope Francis' leadership are encounter and inclusion," Murphy said. "He began with the exhortation to 'go to the margins' to encounter Christ. He worked to reform the leadership structure of the church to be inclusive and consultative, from Rome to the local parish.

"The new pope inherits these graces and challenges, he said. He will have the opportunity to embrace them and make them his own. That is my hope and prayer."
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Catholics from Hampton Roads are reacting to news of the first American pope, now that Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago has been elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Hampton Roads priest reacts to first American pope

Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia Beach held its scheduled Mass Thursday night. 10 On Your Side caught up with those in attendance about their reaction to the news.

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I was watching the TV earlier, and as when I saw the white smoke, and you can hear the crowd was yelling, some of them were crying. I was almost ready to cry too, said resident Tony Espelepa.

The fact that the new pope is American was also exciting for them to hear. He is the first pope in the Catholic churchs long history who is from the United States.

We never thought an American would be picked as a pope, but looking in his background, we were so excited, resident Joy Palm said.

The announcement came just hours before the local church had its regularly-scheduled mass. But Palm said they had just enough time to get ready.

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Mass is always exciting for us, but its just having a new pope to pray about, Palm said. Thats the first thing I did to make sure our one of our prayers of the faithful, our universal prayer includes prayer for Pope Leo.

The Catholic Diocese of Richmond will also be celebrating the new pope Friday with a special noon mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond.

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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  For our first edition of Local Flavors were heading to the heart of Downtown Panama City, where Chef Leonardo Ortiz, Executive Chef of Harrisons Kitchen & Bar in Downtown Panama City, takes us step-by-step through his recipe for Spring Vegetable and Rock Shrimp Risotto with Pan Seared Scallops.

Spring Vegetable and Rock Shrimp Risotto with Pan-Seared Scallops Printable Recipe:

Local-Flavors-Harrisons-Risotto-with-ScallopsDownload

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Local Flavors celebrates the diverse and delicious culinary landscape of the Panhandle, bringing you into the kitchens of beloved local chefs who are passionate about sharing their craft. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes where well explore more standout dishes and the stories behind them.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) With Mothers Day just days away, local flower shops are feeling the pressure  not just from demand, but from rising costs driven by international tariffs.

Hazels Flowers & Gifts, a longtime staple in Midtown Columbus, says this years floral shipments have been delayed, and prices are higher than usual.

Between the shipping issues and increased tariffs, its been a challenge, said owner Hazel Thomas, who has been in business for nearly 37 years. But were doing everything we can to keep our arrangements beautiful and affordable.

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Many flowers are imported from countries like Colombia and Ecuador, where tariffs and international supply chain slowdowns are raising the price of roses, lilies, and popular spring blooms.

Still, customers arent holding back. Hazel says demand remains strong as families look to celebrate the moms and mother figures in their lives.

Its always a meaningful holiday, she added. And well be here making sure everyone has something special to give.

Hazels Flowers & Gifts is still accepting Mothers Day orders and offers delivery across the Columbus area.

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GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)Its been months since the International Paper Mill shut down in Georgetown County, and the sites future remains unconfirmed. Rumors of a biomass plant coming to the site of the old paper mill remain unconfirmed. Still, with the possibility on the horizon, many residents wonder what biomass is.

Biomass is defined as an organic matter that is derived from living or recently living organisms like plants and animals, which can be used as a source of energy, but with environmental health concerns from the old paper mill still top of minds, many Georgetown residents want more details about exactly what kinds of matter the plant will bring.

What constitutes biomass? Could it be body parts that have been amputated from individuals, could it be organs, could it be blood, could it be nuclear tailings from other locations, and a company coming in? People need to know precisely what constitutes biomass and what is being brought in, said Everett Carolina, a former county council member.

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Organizers are holding a public meeting on Friday night to try to give the public some answers. Theyre bringing together several environmental professionals and educators to help inform residents about what could be coming to the area. Local Leaders are encouraging all residents to come out and voice their concerns because the future of Georgetown County could depend on it.

Its imperative that they come out to gather information to educate themselves about whats happening around them, and if you dont come out, what happens? Its a sad story of when the worst-case scenario comes out again. If people dont ask, others wont tell, said Carolina.

The meeting will kick off at the Howard Center inside the auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. you can count on 2 to bring you updates on the meeting.

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(WKBN)  Local mail carriers will be helping their neighbors in need with a food drive this weekend.

Its the 33rd annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive this Saturday.

Residents are encouraged to leave non-perishable food items such as peanut butter, canned meats, fruits and vegetables by their mailboxes. Volunteers and mail carriers will collect the food.

The nationwide effort helps fight food insecurity in communities across the country.

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My office is in Campbell, Ohio, and we collect enough food to feed the people who come there for three months, so its very important to be able to help people who are in need of food. As we all know, prices of food are just crazy Its just very important, said Marshawn Peyko, NALC Branch 385 Stamp Out Hunger coordinator.

The one-day event is Saturday, May 10.

Just leave non-perishables next to the mailbox. Once collected, the items will be distributed to local food banks.

Find more information about the event and participating locations on the NALCs website.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Springfield Regional Chamber invited its members to hear from area mayors Friday morning.

Members of the areas business community are hearing directly from the people leading our western Massachusetts cities. The Springfield Regional Chambers annual mayors forum brings together the mayors from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

Which means that the guests here hearing from the mayors really get this unique perspective of whats happening, you know,w really across that tri-town area, including economic development, how communities are managing their challenges, said Diana Szynal, President of Springfield Regional Chamber.

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Mayor Sarno announces Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for City of Springfield

This forum comes at a time when our mayors say cuts at the federal level are being felt at the local level. Their working to navigate uncertainties, which they say their 2026 budgets, will likely reflect.



Chicopee Mayor John Vieau spoke to recent challenges, saying the city of Chicopee issued a spending freeze for May and June, and as they finalize the budget, theyre looking to cut things out of it. Theres a lot of just uncertainty right now with whats happening. And the goal is to focus on providing the best public services that we can.

Meanwhile, in Westfield, Mayor McCabe said health care increases proved difficult this year. He said the city went from about $16 million for employee health care benefits to over $21 million, an increase of $4.6 million, that the city doesnt have sitting in cash reserve.

When youre asked to kind of just absorb that in a budget, where you can only raise taxes by 2.5%, thats an impossibility, Michael McCabe, Mayor of the City of Westfield, told 22News.

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Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle tells attendees that the increases and gaps theyre facing are different now than they have been historically. Its not sustainable how we fund our cities and towns, and how we take care of our employees and our residents.



Each city has different priorities for its 2026 budget, but all are navigating challenges in what they agree is a difficult economic time.

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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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  There were warm smiles and greetings around Western New York as parishioners went to Mass on Thursday to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV  the first American pope in history.

Parishioners at The Saint Jude Center on Ellicott Street and The Buffalo Irish Center on Abbott Road were excited, describing Thursdays news as wonderful. The naming of any pope would have been a welcome sight, they said, but the naming of the first American pope in history makes it even more special.

Its a background that many hope he will use to understand the struggles that churches face in the United States  especially here in Buffalo.

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I hope that hell change a lot of the parishes closing, a lot of the schools closing, said parishioner Ellen Jones. (Hopefully) well go back to where we were 20 years ago where we can go to the churches where we want to go.

I took pictures of him on my phone  I got his blessing, said parishioner Bertha Hyde. But Im glad. Im glad its an American  the first time ever. Maybe something will happen, something good. Maybe he can save all our churches.

Parishioners added that this is a time of celebration and prayer for Pope Leo XIV, hoping that he can bring the church together into the future.

For more local reaction to the election of the new pope, check out our interviews with Father Bill Quinlivan, a pastor at Catholic Family Parishes, below.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

***

Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  History is made as the Catholic Church gets its first American born pope.

Earlier today, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel and shortly after that Robert Prevost was named Pope Leo XIV.

Now we are hearing from the local Catholic community about the significance of a new pope.

Father Patrick at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church says just from what hes seen today he believes that Pope Leo XIV will be a successful pope. He also tells Ozarks First that he has had a blessed few weeks because he was fortunate enough to attend Pope Franciss funeral.

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I must say that there was a moment of pause, just a moment of pause and a moment of silence because what youre looking at is a man who for 12 years actually reminded us about the presence of Jesus and reminded us about what Jesus actually was in this life. So that was very special for me to be able to be part of that, says Father Patrick Nwokoye, who was in Rome at the time of Pope Franciss death.

He had travelled there to attend the canonization of Carlo Acutis, which was then cancelled due the popes passing.

He then stayed to attend the funeral.

Now, nearly two weeks later Robert Prevost has been named Pope Leo XIV.

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He is 267th in the churches history and is the first to be born in the United States.

Multiple people off camera today at Catholic Churches in Springfield told Ozarks First they are excited to see someone born in the United States lead the church.

Pope Leo XIVs father is of French and Italian decent and his mother is of Spanish decent.

Father Patrick says that the new pope being born in the United States is very significant for the church but believes it the popes ties to places around the world will help him be great.

It has never happened before, says Father Patrick Nwokoye. So this is a big thing that we have a pope that is from Chicago who has a tie to France. So, this is a big thing. But I think this this pope is going to be good for the church.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Rep. Buddy Carter announced Thursday he will be running for a senate seat in Georgia in 2026.

Rep. Carter is currently serving Georgias 1st Congressional District in the House of Representatives, a role he has held since 2015.

Carters announcement came after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced on May 5 that he would not run.

Rep. Carter is the first Republican to throw his name into the race. He announced his intention to run with a video ad posted to social media, calling himself a MAGA Warrior.

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Its an exciting day. Its an exciting day for me personally, and I hope its an exciting day for the people of GA, he said.

In the upcoming race, Rep. Carter will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, who has his position since January of 2021.

The voters have rejected that [Republicans] from the past senate races. Now, youre going into that cycle coming next year. That hasnt proven to be a winning strategy, Communications Chair for Georgias Democratic Party of Chatham County Orlando Scott said.

While Carter has aligned himself with Trump, Ossoff, as well as the other Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, are both democrats.

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Every statewide elected official in Georgia is republican except for these two senators. Theyre both democrats, and I would submit to you thats an anomaly, Carter said.

At home, Carter has been facing opposition for several weeks, with a series of ongoing protests held outside his offices.

Most demonstrators have been calling for one thing: an in-person town hall.

He hasnt had an in-person town hall since 2017. Now, he wants a promotion to cover the state of Georgia, Scott said. People want answers. People want to speak to their representative. People want to touch their representatives and for them to have a listening ear. Congressman Carter hasnt done that

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When asked whether he would host an in-person town hall in the future, Carter said, Im sure that we will have plenty of tele-town halls. Im sure that we will have plenty of debates during the campaign, and I welcome that. The people will have the opportunity to voice their concerns.

Carter is now in his fifth term representing Georgias first district. Before being elected to the U.S. House, he previously served as the mayor of Pooler and in the Georgia General Assembly.

Carter is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Budget Committee.

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HUBBARD, Ohio (WKBN)  Ohio State Representative Lauren McNally paid a visit Friday to Hubbard High School.

She met with juniors in the American History class, giving them first-hand knowledge of the legislative process.

Its one thing to learn about it from books, but its another thing to really have an opportunity to talk to somebody whos in the weeds doing the work. So I hope I can offer them a different kind of perspective, she said.

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McNally says her schedule can be chaotic  traveling to Columbus each week, working 12-hour days with committee sessions, hearings, meetings with lobbyists and ceremonies. When she comes home, the work doesnt stop.

I represent nearly 145,000 people and they all have different needs, and they are all working towards different goals for themselves, their organizations, their businesses, their lives. So when they are contacting me, its a never-ending job, McNally said.

She also talked to the students about the importance of public service, even at their age.

Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report.

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CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  The Stark County Sheriffs Office will conduct two sobriety checkpoints on Friday, May 16, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce impaired driving, Sheriff Eric Weisburn announced Friday.

The checkpoints, organized in coordination with the Stark County OVI Task Force, will include roadside stops to screen drivers for signs of alcohol and drug impairment.

Urgent safety recall for eye care products

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Deputies and other participating officers will be on alert for impaired motorists.

These checkpoints are about saving lives, Weisburn said in a statement. If you plan to drink, plan for a designated driver.

Exact checkpoint locations and times will be released closer to the date.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  For the first time in history, the head of the Catholic church is an American. Catholics around the world, including right here in Colorado Springs, are celebrating the surprise announcement.

Robert Francis Prevost has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. The Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen, and lived there for years, first as a missionary, then as an Archbishop. He evoked this broad experience in his first public remarks as Pope, speaking first in Italian then switching to Spanish, but not speaking in English as he addressed the crowd in St. Peters Square.

As cardinal, the new pontiff was closely aligned with Pope Francis, and the faithful believe his papacy could follow in Francis footsteps, focusing on the less fortunate.

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If you paid attention to the Holy Fathers initial speech when he was introduced, he mentioned the poor, he mentioned the church going out to the marginalized, and that God loves all people, and human dignity, said Lucas Pollice, Diocese of Colorado Springs. So I think our Holy Father is going to continue a lot of what Pope Francis was talking about, as far as going out to the peripheries, and that the church needs to go out and mercy, and meet people and their needs and in their wounds, and I think thats going to continue.

Bishop James R. Golka of the Diocese of Colorado Springs also issued a statement, inviting the local faithful to join him in praying for the new Pope.

I welcomed the news that the Chair of St. Peter is no longer vacant and that Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Leo XIV, Bishop Golka said. It is a truly historic and beautiful moment when a new Vicar of Christ is chosen to continue the unbroken line of apostolic authority that stretches back more than 2,000 years. It is also remarkable that he is the first pope from the United States. I am grateful to the 133 cardinals who participated in the conclave, and I trust that the grace of the Holy Spirit was at work during this process. I ask all the faithful to join me in praying for the new pope as he assumes the tremendous responsibility of the papal office. During this month of May, we also entrust our new pope to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As cardinal, Pope Leo presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Pope Francis enacted, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the Pope.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo has indicated he will veto an education budget approved in the Nevada Legislature because lawmakers removed pay raises that would have gone to charter school teachers.

Ive been clear and consistent on this. I will not sign an education budget that does not include equal pay for public charter school teachers and make teacher pay raises, including those for charter school teachers, permanent, Lombardo said in a Thursday statement.

Further, I will veto any education budget bill that falls short of addressing a serious need for accountability, transparency, and real parental choice. All 63 legislators have been aware of my position for months, and it is my expectation that they will pass a bill that improves education for all Nevada children. he said.

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On Friday morning, Republican lawmakers said charter school teachers at 81 campuses in Nevada were being used as pawns by Democrats.

I just cannot accept the fact that we are not giving the charter school teachers who are public employees the raises that I feel they deserve, as all teachers do, Republican Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus said. She said she wants to see progress on additional legislation on charter school teacher raises before she will support the budget.

Democrats control the majority in both houses of the Legislature, and on the committees that voted on the budget Friday. As the committee approved the budget, six Republicans voted no, and Democratic leaders railed against political posturing.

A vote against the education budget would torpedo raises for all teachers.

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Its been made abundantly clear by the members of this committee that we are still working on the charter school teacher pay raise increase, Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager said Friday morning during a joint meeting of the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means committees.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said the charter school raises will come in separate legislation. She repeated her commitment to secure those raises.

To the speakers point, we can do two things at once. We can approve a budget for the things that we know and then we can also work on legislation to implement things that are new, Cannizzaro said. That is not a reason to not vote for this budget.

Lawmakers on Thursday dipped further into the states reserves to fund education, approving an additional $115.7 million from the Education Stabilization Account, known as the rainy day account for schools. Thats on top of $126.9 million allocated from the same fund on Wednesday.

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In total, lawmakers are drawing that account down by about a quarter-million dollars, leaving it with an estimated reserve of $639.6 million.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  The mayor of London wants to hear residents feedback.

Letters postmarked April 30 have begun to arrive in London residents mailboxes. Inside was a letter to citizens signed by Mayor Randall Weddle and a feedback submission slip.

Reasons for London city officials resignations revealed: Current climate

FOX 56 obtained a copy on Thursday, May 8.

As we look to the future, I want to hear directly from you about the people who live, work, and raise families here in London, Weddle wrote. Attached to this letter, youll find a feedback form. Im asking every resident to take a few minutes to fill it out and share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions.

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Further, the mayor urged residents to watch the recording of the May 5 special-called city council meeting. In Mondays meeting, the council discussed a proposed bullying ordinance, 2025 development, the fire departments response to EMS calls, and the resignations of three city officials.

(Anonymous London Resident) (Anonymous London Resident) (Anonymous London Resident) (Anonymous London Resident)

Our focus has always been clear: to work together, tackle challenges head-on, and deliver real results that matter to the people of London, Weddle wrote.

The listed improvements were broken into five categories: infrastructure and safety, community engagement and service, investments in technology and city operations, public safety advancements, and fiscal responsibility and grant funding.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Heres an overview of what was included:

Over 14,000 feet of roads and sidewalks were resurfaced, repaired, or replaced.

Enhanced safety measures in parks, including lighting, speed bumps, crosswalks, storm drainage improvements, and more.

Spotlight program to highlight local businesses and community pride.

City staff worked to build wheelchair ramps and foster a sense of community.

Updated security systems and transitioned to paperless systems.

New record management software

Expand investigation capabilities within the London Police Department, specifically focusing on child exploitation.

The fire department is responding to EMS calls to improve response times.

New rescue squad equipment, enhanced dive rescue, and part-time rescue staff additions.

Securing over $2.2 million in grant funding.

Using grant funding to improve sidewalks, purchase lifesaving equipment, upgrade infrastructure, and modernize city services.

Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving as your mayor. I am proud of what weve accomplished together, and I look forward to what the future holds for London, Weddle signed off.

The letters arrival comes just days after the resignation of councilwoman Holly Little was made official and stand-in police chief Bobby Day announced the first update in a deadly shooting investigation since December 2024.

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A Long Island suburb voted to wallop homeowners with a 87% property tax hike with local officials saying the insane increase was necessary because of a years-long administrative goof.

Atlantic Beachs village board of trustees told residents the big number was needed because of how taxes were assessed by the county in recent decades but officials refused to give The Post further information or answer any questions.

The Nassau County assessor said it was the village government that was improperly billing commercial properties.

Atlantic Beach voted to wallop homeowners with a 87% property tax hike. littleny  stock.adobe.com

Nassau County is not responsible for the Village of Atlantic Beach budget or tax levy, nor do we calculate, bill, collect or distribute village taxes, Assessor Joseph Adamo said.

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Though village officials blamed assessment quirks, some residents said part of the hike is to cover more than $500,000 in legal fees in an ongoing legal battle with The Chabad of the Beaches, a Jewish organization claiming the village discriminated against it.

I wouldnt mind paying more taxes if they would fix the damn boardwalk or do something about the roads that have been a mess since Hurricane Sandy. Its really not fair, the mayor and the trustees, theyre the ones who should be paying out of their pockets for the lawsuit  not taxpayers, we shouldnt be footing the bill for their antisemitism, said one resident, who asked not to be identified in fear of retaliation from the mayor.

The Chabad of the Beaches purchased a former Capital One bank in November 2021 for $950,000 to offer religious services and programming for the broader Jewish community in Atlantic Beach.

The Long Island suburbs board of trustees told residents the increase was needed, and when contacted by The Post, refused to answer questions regarding the tax hike. Village of Atlantic Beach

But when village leaders learned of the plan, they quickly moved to block it by announcing theyd seize the site through eminent domain  the government process of taking over private property for public use.

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The village has largely been on the losing end of court decisions after it announced it would it to build a village-run community center for lifeguard operations at the site.

First Liberty, a legal organization representing The Chabad, railed against the village government.

Its time for Village officials to stop targeting Chabad of the Beaches and leave this community alone so they can worship in peace, First Liberty said in a statement.

Residents are planning to attend the next board of trustees meeting to demand answers and accountability.
OBERLIN, Ohio (WJW)  The city of Oberlin announced that one of its longtime officers died Friday morning.

According to a press release, Patrol Officer Billie Neadham was at his home in Lorain when he died.

Urgent safety recall for eye care products

He had been with the department for more than 18 years.

Billie Neadham

Officer Neadham was also a school resource officer in the Oberlin City Schools and helped organize many community programs, according to a press release.

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We join the Oberlin Police Department and the Oberlin community in mourning this incredible loss and send our deepest sympathies to Officer Neadhams family and all those who knew him, the City of Oberlin said in a press release.

Rethink when you fix your dog, new study says

Grief counseling has been arranged for students and staff.

The school district also released a statement.

Dear Oberlin City Schools Families and Community,

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Officer Billie Neadham, our School Resource Officer and a cherished member of the Oberlin City Schools community.

Officer Neadham was more than a law enforcement officerhe was a trusted mentor, a positive role model, and a caring presence in our schools. He built strong and supportive relationships with students, families, and staff, always leading with compassion and integrity. His commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students made a lasting impact that will not be forgotten.

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We recognize that this news may be difficult for many members of our community, especially for students and staff who interacted with Officer Neadham daily. We will have counseling support available in our schools and encourage families to reach out if their child needs additional support during this time.

The city said more information will be shared as it becomes available.

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LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  The Longview Fire Department responded to a house fire on Thursday afternoon that occurred while the home was being renovated.

Pack of dogs attack, seriously injuring woman in Golden Oaks

Firefighters arrived at the home located off of Marion Drive in Longview at around 8:30 a.m. The home was not occupied at the time due to the house being remodeled. First responders reported thick black smoke coming from the home with no visible flames.

Courtesy of Longview Fire Department

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Once inside the home, an interior fire attack was performed to reduce flames, according to officials. The fire was eventually brought under control after around 20 minutes. Three fire engines, two ladder trucks, one ambulance and six support vehicles were on the scene to help put out the house.

According to the Longview FD, no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Senate Republicans are defending their Democratic colleague, John Fetterman, after a series of reports called into question his mental fitness to remain in office.

Senators Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, and fellow Pennsylvanian Dave McCormick all defended Fetterman in a series of posts on X Thursday, rallying behind the Democrat who has alienated his staff and his constituents by hawkishly supporting Israel in its massacre of Gazans and taking a softer line with President Trump.

Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres, who has also alienated much of the left with his stance on Israel, accused Fettermans critics of attacking him for his unapologetic pro-Israel politics.

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Reports from New York magazine and The Philadelphia Inquirer over the past week exposed how Fetterman frequently loses his temper and patience and has become disengaged from his duties as a senator, missing meetings and votes. Fetterman also reportedly avoids colleagues and spends many hours alone in his Washington, D.C., office. New York reported that Fetterman even misses regular medical check-ups, drives erratically, and has diminished spatial awareness.

Despite these worrying reports, Republicans may be trying to rally around Fetterman because they smell blood in the water. Politico reports that a recent internal poll shows Fetterman losing support from Democratic voters in his own home area of Pittsburgh. While Fetterman has defended Trump in the past few months, he still is a relatively reliable Democratic vote in the Senate, and the GOP could see an opportunity to replace him in 2028 with one of their own.

Republicans could also be trying to convince Fetterman not to resign from the Senate. The New York profile mentioned tension between Fetterman and his wife, Gisele, a formerly undocumented immigrant from Brazil, over his turn toward Trump and his vehement support for Israeland its conceivable that Fetterman chooses to resign, citing health or family reasons.

A replacement senator appointed by Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would result in a more solid Democratic vote and hurt Republican chances to retake the Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2028. Whatever the reason for the sudden show of support, Republicans probably have an ulterior motive.


But that is not all the Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate owns. There is the investment portfolio (more on that in the next section) and the insurance operations, which is the crown jewel of the business and managed by Ajit Jain, whom Buffett has called the best insurance underwriter in the world. The insurance subsidiaries generated $9 billion in underwriting profits and $13.7 billion in insurance-investment income in 2024, making them vastly important to Berkshire Hathaway's operations. Jain is set to remain in charge of the insurance portfolio after Buffett retires. No changes are going to occur for these divisions after Buffett leaves.

For many years, Berkshire Hathaway's operations have been helped by vice presidents under Buffett's CEO umbrella. These include Abel, who is currently in charge of the wholly owned operating subsidiaries, such as the BNSF railroad and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, which generated $5 billion and $3.7 billion in earnings, respectively, in 2024. Other controlled businesses like See's Candies remain under Abel's direction but are typically run with little oversight by managers as long as profits remain positive. This structure should not change once Abel takes over as CEO.

Unsurprisingly, Buffett has been setting up his succession planning for over a decade now. At 94 years old and in charge of a sprawling conglomerate and tens of thousands of employees, Buffett chose to do the only prudent thing.

It has been quite the ride for Buffett and Berkshire, making this tiny textile manufacturer into one of the largest companies in the world with sprawling operations in insurance, energy, railroads, and a large stock portfolio. What comes next for Berkshire Hathaway? Here's how the company will operate once Buffett steps down and what it could mean for the stock going forward.

He finally did it. After 60 years at the helm and 75 as a professional investor, Warren Buffett has announced his plan to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B) by the end of 2025. Vice Chairman Greg Abel, current leader of the operating subsidiaries division, will step in as the leader of one of the top 10 largest companies in the world by market cap at the end of the year.

A few questions remain on how the business will run, but it is set up to succeed over the long term as it has in the past.

Greg Abel will lead in his absence, with help from other leaders at Berkshire Hathaway.

Story Continues

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Managing the investment portfolio transition

One of the beauties of Berkshire Hathaway was Buffett's ability to take insurance premiums and subsidiary operating profits and invest them intelligently in the stock market. It is a wonderful combination to have one of the best insurance underwriters in Jain and perhaps the best stock investor ever in Buffett working for the same company. This is how Buffett was able to acquire 5% of Apple stock and make over $100 billion in gains for shareholders, saying at the last shareholder meeting that Tim Cook made more money for Berkshire Hathaway than Buffett himself.

Berkshire Hathaway's two other stock investors are Todd Combs, who joined the company in 2010, and Ted Weschler, who joined in 2012. It is likely that the pair will have the capital-allocation decisions when it comes to managing this portfolio of stocks that include American Express, Coca-Cola, and Apple. Weschler and Combs have great track records, with Weschler turning his $70,000 retirement account into over $250 million (not a typo) from 1989 through 2018. Not a bad track record for taking over this immense portfolio for Berkshire Hathaway.

One question remains: How much of Berkshire Hathaway's dry powder of over $300 billion in cash will be available for Todd and Ted to invest? This decision used to be made by one person (Buffett), but the head CEO is now Abel. Will Weschler and Combs have to request funds to invest from Abel? Understanding this relationship will be key for investors who continue to hold Berkshire Hathaway after Buffett retires.

What comes next for Berkshire Hathaway

Even though Buffett's retirement is a big loss for Berkshire Hathaway, the truth is that Berkshire Hathaway will operate more or less the same after he leaves. This is a moment he has been setting up for over a decade, and he knows from experiencing decades of business history that it is not something you take lightly.

Jain will still run the insurance operations. Abel will be in charge of BNSF and Berkshire Hathaway Energy. All three of these divisions can utilize capital to reinvest for growth. The investment portfolio will now be run by Combs and Weschler. They have solid track records and have been learning from Buffett for over a decade now.

At a market cap of $1.1 trillion today, Berkshire Hathaway is not going to generate the miraculous returns over the next few decades that it has in the past under Buffett. The law of large numbers is not going to let this happen. However, it can still be a solid stock to own and a bedrock of financial conservatism that will last through market cycles. Buffett made sure he will leave investors in good hands when he officially steps down as CEO.

Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now?

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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Warren Buffett's Retirement: What Comes Next for Berkshire Hathaway? was originally published by The Motley Fool
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)- Its been nearly a week since 86 Veterans took the trip of a lifetime with the Honor Flight of Southern Indiana. Eyewitness News Hannah Haerle was on that flight to capture the stories and moments that each veteran will remember for years to come.

A day that would be full of emotion and honor started in the early hours of the morning.



There were jitters and excitement for some-and feelings that couldnt be explained, for others.

Its a bunch of mixed emotions. Its really hard to say, but Im ready to go, said one veteran. Those inexplicable feelings were a theme for many veterans throughout the day as they received an excited send-off by family, friends, volunteers, and city leaders.



The veterans were greeted in our nations capital by a water salute and strangers, who our veterans quickly realized are grateful Americans welcoming them home.

The itinerary was packed full of sights, many of which the veterans had never seen, and visiting the memorials built in their honor.



The first stop the World War II memorial.

It was a sight especially notablefor one veteran who served in that very war.

Its very somber. It brings back a lot of memories. Its just mind-boggling. WWII memorial meant a lot to me because there arent many of us left.. I consider myself young, says WWII army veteran Herbert Jankins.

Next were the Lincoln, Korea, and Vietnam memorials- each holding a different meaning and resurfacing forgotten feelings.

Some veterans remembering times of service, Theres a guy on the bus with me and we got to reminisce about the crap we used to do together, said vietnam army veteran, loren dixon.

For others, it allowed them to visit old friends. It brings back a lot of memories. I have fellow soldiers on the wall, and I got to visit them. Its been great, said Vietnam Army veteran Charles Stewart. For most, it was a feeling of honor and gratitude which they so rightfully deserve for the first time.

I had some Korean kids come up to me and thank me for what I did in Korea.. So that was special, said Korea Navy veteran Donald Woods.

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More than 400 thousand people are laid to rest in the rolling hills at Arlington National Cemetery. Within it lies the tomb of the unknown soldier.

It is guarded 24 hours a day every day of the year in rain, sun, or snow.

The veterans experienced a tedious, moving changing of the guard.

The silence was loud as the soldier marched back and forth, guarding the tomb.

And if you listen closely in the midst of the most precise footstepsthere was the scuff of a heel acknowledging the veterans presence. Its quite an experience. Its from the heart. Ill never forget it, said Dixon.



Each veteran I spoke to shared deep feelings of gratitude for the honor flight for making the day possible, but also for their chaperones and for their fellow comrades who accompanied them.

These people I can relate to because they have been through what I have. Veterans are so special. Ive been here. My brother is buried here, so Ive been here, but this is different. because I am with my comrades. Theres not a stranger on these buses, said Wools.



As we boarded the plane to head back to Evansville, 2 familiar words came over the speaker: mail call.

Thousands upon thousands of letters from people all around the Tri-State thanking the veterans for their service and sacrifice.



The veterans were presented with one more heartfelt welcome home as thousands of people waited for their arrival at Evansville Regional Airport.



It was a day full of emotion, gratitude, and honor.

I got so many hugs and so many people shaking my hand that my hand is sore! This is something Ill never forget, said Jankins.

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After her son Donovan died from injuries he suffered in a fall from a chairlift at Keystone Resort, Colorado, Tonette Romero is now advocating for a significant Colorado ski resort policy change: mandatory safety bar use on chairlifts.



Donovan, a 32-year-old snowboarder, suffered a traumatic brain injury on December 11, 2024, and was left unconscious. Hed fallen almost 50 feet from the Ruby Lift. A witness sitting beside him told authorities that he was attempting to adjust his snowboard binding before the fall, 9News reports. The lifts safety bar wasnt engaged at the time.



On May 2, 2025, Donovan, who is a father of children, passed away at home with his mother by his side, 9News reports. He had been released from the hospital and was receiving hospice care.



Keystone Resort and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guests family and friends, said Keystone Resort vice president and general manager Shannon Buhler, in a statement.

Related: Snowboarder Falls From Chairlift in Colorado

Tonette, in a message published on a GoFundMe page that is raising money for her son's funeral and medical expenses, argued for stricter safety bar rules.



No other industry that transports people at heightwhether its aviation, amusement parks, or public transitwould allow such a critical safety measure to go unregulated, her message reads. Imagine an airline making seatbelt use optional, or a rollercoaster ride where harnesses are left to personal choice.



"When a safety feature exists but is not required, it sends the message that convenience outweighs caution. That mindset has already cost lives, and it will again unless change is made," Tonette's message continued.



The Lift Safety portion of Keystone Resorts website instructs guests to lower the safety bar when they embark on the chairlift. Colorado Public Radio reports that ski resorts in Colorado encourage, but dont mandate, the use of safety bars. On its website, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) also recommends using safety bars.



Adherence to those recommendations is mixed.



A study published in 2023 found that on chairlifts just carrying adults in the Rocky Mountain region, where Keystone Resort is located, safety bars were used only 36% of the time.



Of the regions surveyed in the study, the Northeast U.S. had the highest occurrence of safety bar usethey were used 80% of the time. If children were also on the chairlift, these percentages increased significantly. In the Rocky Mountain region, they jumped from 36% to 84%.



The primary cause of ski resort fatalities in the U.S. is collisions with trees and the snow surface, per NSAA data. Since 1973, there have been 14 deaths that resulted from a fall from a chairlift nationwide, according to an aerial ropeway and surface lift fact sheet published by the NSAA in 2024.

Related: Here's The Gear We Trust for Multisport Missions This Spring
President Donald Trump on Thursday notched his first trade win ahead of his debut on the global stage in the Middle East next week.



But the deal with the United Kingdom the president announced in the Oval Office  surrounded by many of his top lieutenants and with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on speakerphone  falls short of a trade agreement in a traditional sense. Instead, it is a framework targeting trade in specific sectors, coupled with an agreement to flesh the rest out later.



The presidents triumphal tone belies the challenging road ahead as the U.S. continues to negotiate with dozens of other countries it has levied with heavy tariffs  and as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares for a meeting in Switzerland this weekend to de-escalate tensions with China, the worlds second largest economy and the U.S.s third biggest trading partner.

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Everett Eissenstat, who served as deputy director of the National Economic Council during the first Trump administration, said the agreement was a very significant development that shows where the administration is willing to find accommodations and where it is not.



But negotiating durable trade agreements takes time, he added. And there are a lot of other countries in the queue.



Under the framework the two countries agreed to, the U.S. plans to export $5 billion in certain products like ethanol, beef and machinery, in addition to other agricultural goods. It will also keep in place a 10 percent levy on all imports from the U.K. that the administration anticipates will generate $6 billion. In exchange, the U.K. can export to the U.S. 100,000 cars at that lower 10 percent tariff rate, rather than the current 25 percent rate for autos, and the U.S. will cut the tariff rate for steel to zero.



The deal does not, however, address the 2 percent digital services taxthe U.K. levies on U.S. tech companies for services such as online advertising  something Trump officials had sought to address as part of the negotiations  and also leaves unresolved tariffs on other goods, like pharmaceuticals and the 100 percent levies Trump threatened to slap on foreign movies over the weekend.

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But Trump, in the Oval Office, rejected the notion the deal was anything other than comprehensive, even as he suggested there was room for growth.



This is a very conclusive deal but we think we can grow it even from that, Trump said. This is a maxed-out deal that were going to make bigger and we make it bigger through growth.



It was a point Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, speaking on Fox Business Thursday morning, appeared to contradict. She called the announcement a very, very important step, but acknowledged, It is an agreement in concept. There are a lot of details to be worked out.



In a sign of how hurried negotiations were, Trump made what U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson called an 11th-hour intervention. The president called Starmer around 9 p.m. London time on Thursday asking him to cut U.K. tariffs on American ethanol and pork, according to three people familiar with the details, who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. Britain agreed to Trumps demand on ethanol, but not on pork.

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The White House has been searching for an off-ramp to cool economic unease and relieve tension with trading partners and found one in the U.K. While Trump allies, former administration officials and others in the trade world frame the U.K. deal as a first step, the agreement is unlikely to soothe broader economic uncertainties in the U.S. against a backdrop of empty West Coast ports and high consumer anxiety.



Only a small fraction of U.S. trade is with the United Kingdom. Two-way trade totaled about $148 billion last year, accounting for about 3 percent of U.S. trade worldwide. That pales in comparison to some trading partners like China, which face much higher tariffs.



The White House was especially eager to notch a win before Trump departs next week for the Middle East, in what was supposed to be the first foreign trip of his second term before Pope Francis funeral was scheduled late last month.



The framework with the United Kingdom offers a preview of what is likely to come from other so-called trade deals the U.S. is working on with other countries, like India, Japan and South Korea. Whatever consensus the U.S. reaches with those countries is similarly unlikely to be a robust trade agreement but rather an outline for further discussions with the countries  and Trump suggested deals made with other countries would include across-the-board tariff rates higher than the U.K.s 10 percent.

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The deal with the U.K. came together relatively quickly compared with talks in other countries as the two nations had already been in conversation when Trump announced his April Liberation Day tariffs. The United Kingdom has wanted a trade deal since Trump was in office the first time  seeking to shift some of its reliance on Europe to America as it prepared for Brexit to go into effect in 2020  but the parties never finalized an agreement.



That, coupled with the fact that Trump hit the country with only a 10 percent tariff, made the path to compromise easier and shorter than it is for other countries who face higher levies and only started negotiating over the last month. Negotiations with the U.K. were at one point thought to be on the backburner as the U.S. prioritized Asian countries in an attempt to pressure China to the negotiating table.



Even Republican allies have been cautious about sounding victorious too early. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called Bessents meeting with China a step in the right direction on a very long journey, but argued the myriad negotiations have complicated the U.S.s work.



It would have been a bit easier to prosecute this had we not had so many traditional, generally speaking, trading partners in the yellow, not necessarily in the green, that were dealing with at the same time, Tillis said. That creates a lot more complexity for Bessent to sort through.

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The deals are expected to come in stages: The administration is beginning negotiations by asking for a terms sheet, which details which areas may be up for negotiation on issues like tariffs, non-tariff barriers and digital services. As talks progress, they hope to be able to hammer out an outline of a deal  effectively a letter of intent saying what the deal will include. From there, lawyers will iron out the details, a labor intensive task that could make or break the strength and longevity of a deal.



Vice President JD Vance, for instance, announced that the U.S. had reached that first stage  he called it terms of reference  with India during a trip to the country last month. A phase one announcement of an initial agreement is expected within weeks while a fuller trade deal will take months, said one person familiar with the negotiations, granted anonymity to share details of internal deliberations.



The person said India is considering opening its market to two or three U.S. agricultural imports, like corn for ethanol and another commodity for animal feed.



The European Commissions top trade official, Sabine Weyand, led a delegation of high-level technical experts for talks Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington. The commission on Thursday put forward a retaliatory proposal to tariff nearly 100 billion of imports  about $112 billion  including big-ticket items like aircraft, cars and medical appliances.

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They are not close, said one EU official, granted anonymity to speak about the private talks, referring to the status of talks with the United States, earlier this week. Because the U.S. keeps seemingly changing their focus many times  it is absurd.



One European participant at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington on Wednesday, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, compared the U.S. negotiating tactic to a decaying animal.



"They've thrown on the table the stinking fish, and then they've said, What do you pay me  to take that fish away? Oh, but by the way, I will just take away the head. I will leave the rest. So only part of the tariffs are negotiable, the person said. That is not really conducive to a constructive negotiation."



When asked for comment, the White House directed POLITICO to Trumps comments in the Oval Office, where he said he plans to negotiate a deal with the European Union.

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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latter characterization.



A Gallup poll released last week found that 89 percent of Americans think that tariffs will drive up prices on products. Seventy percent believe the levies will, in the short term, cost the U.S. more money than they make  and 62 percent think its a losing move in the long-run, too.



Still, Trump has continued to urge Ameicans to bear the cost of the tariffs  promising long-term payoff  and to accept the prospect of buying fewer dolls at Christmas..



Senate Republicans have been eager for the administration to announce deals as theyre made, even if theyre just a framework for deeper negotiations, to help settle economic concerns.

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Bessent told Congress earlier this week that he expects to have trade deals made with 80 to 90 percent of U.S. trading partners by the end of the year.



Ive encouraged everybody I can talk with in the administration, time is of the essence on this, said Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who served as ambassador to Japan in Trumps first term. Markets can take on a personality of their own and all were dealing with right now is psychology because the media is amplifying, not all media, but theres been an amplification of the greatest elements of concern creating fear in the marketplace.



Dan Bloom, Sam Blewett, Felicia Schwartz, Doug Palmer, and Grace Yarrow contributed to this report.
Rep. Emily Chenevert presented her bill to the Senate Education Committee on May 15, 2024. (Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator)

A Louisiana legislative committee has dramatically rewritten an anti-DEI policy proposal for state agencies that would now prohibit schools from requiring certain race and gender-based curriculum for undergraduate students.

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a substantially re-written version of House Bill 421 by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, which would prohibit compulsory classes that cover any of the following subjects:

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Critical race theory

White fragility or white guilt

Systemic racism, institutional racism or anti-racism

Systemic bias, implicit bias or unconscious bias

Intersectionality

Gender identity

Allyship

Race-based reparations

Race-based privilege

The use of pronouns

Courses that include these topics could still be taught, but the classes could not be required for graduation. The bill makes an exception for majors, minors and certificates that are specifically related to race or gender studies.

In its original state, Cheneverts bill would have prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion practices in state agencies, but an amendment made public late Wednesday night drastically re-wrote the bill, focusing it on college and university curriculum in addition to forbidding DEI trainings.

Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, objected to Chenevert putting forward major and controversial changes to the bill with little notice. Committee members voted 10-6 to advance the proposal.

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Contacted for his reaction after the vote, LSU Faculty Senate President Dan Tirone said the measure would restrict subject matter experts from determining what topics are necessary for students to learn, though he said he appreciates the bill does not place a blanket ban on those subjects.

Having state statutes which limit what can be taught in many of the mandatory introductory courses across a wide array of fields  seems to be the imposition of a bureaucratic process which will diminish the ability to adequately prepare our students and substitute policymaker preferences for the professional expertise of our professors and instructors, Tirone said in a statement.

Opponents of Cheneverts revised bill include the Southern University Foundation, the NAACP Baton Rouge chapter, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Louisiana Democratic Party.

Its been a known fact that there have been pervasive instances of racial and gender discrimination in our state and nation, Louisiana Democratic Party chairman Randal Gaines said. Those particular consequences have not been eliminated. So DEI programs not only help to remedy those consequences, but they make sure that theyre not repeated.

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Conservative groups supporting the bill include the Foundation for Government Accountability and the Louisiana Family Forum. Chenevert told committee members that Gov. Jeff Landry supports the legislation.

While Chenevert said she believes her bill promotes equality and eliminating bias, Black lawmakers on the committee raised concerns with eliminating practices they view as necessary.

Ive only been able to get jobs in government agencies because they were forced to see me, they were forced to give me an opportunity, Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, said. Because with my three degrees, I still was not given opportunity based on my merit because the color of my skin, and the gender that I was born kept me out of those places.

Marcelle also expressed concern that the bills language could prohibit law enforcement from receiving racial bias recognition training. Chenevert said she did not believe the bill would prohibit that training, but she indicated she was open to amendments that would clarify that.

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As it reads now, the legislation would prohibit any training, policies or procedures designed in reference to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Last year, Chenevert sponsored legislation to require K-12 schools, colleges and universities to issue reports to the legislature on their DEI spending. Schools at all levels reported minimal expenditures on DEI activities.

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Legislators push back on a bill to give the state public defender more authority. (Getty Images)

For the second year in a row, legislators pushed back on State Public Defender Remy Starns efforts to gain total authority over Louisianas sprawling indigent defense system. His proposal would also have made it easier for him to fire a small group of public defense attorneys who have publicly clashed with him.

Two lawmakers hastily pulled bills from consideration Thursday after members of the House Committee on Criminal Justice questioned Starns motivation for pushing the legislation.



The committees vice chair, Rep. Vanessa LaFleur, D-Baton Rouge, criticized the proposal as a power grab from Starns and then asked her colleagues to squash it.

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Attorneys who run local public defender offices in central and north Louisiana also testified Thursday that Starns was using the legislation to push them out of their jobs. He was upset, they said, because they had opposed his bills at previous legislative hearings.

We are about to have our careers wiped out because Mr. Starns doesnt think that we should come before you and share with you when we disagree with his policies, said Michelle AndrePont, the head of Caddo Parishs public defender office and one of the attorneys Starns is trying to dismiss.



House Bill 447, sponsored by Rep. Les Farnum, R-Sulphur, would have eliminated a review process AndrePont and other chief public defenders are in the middle of now to fight Starns decision to fire them. It also would have taken away some limited power lawmakers bestowed on the State Public Defender Oversight Board just last year.



House Bill 516, sponsored by Rep. Roy Daryl Adams, D-Jackson, would have consolidated authority over local public defense funds and operations with Starns. Both bills were scuttled temporarily by the authors but could be brought up for reconsideration later in the session.

At the urging of Gov. Jeff Landry, state lawmakers in 2024 transferred significant authority for managing the states public defender system from an oversight board to the state public defenders position, which Starns has held since 2020.



Starns had clashed with the previous state public defender board on several issues and told legislators last year its members were interfering with his ability to improve the public defender system overall.



The new version of the board, which has less power than its previous version, is made up of appointees from the governor, legislative leaders and the Louisiana Supreme Court. It oversees the public defense systems largest contracts, mostly with private attorneys who provide death penalty defense, and it sets the salary scale for chief public defenders hired to run local offices.

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Yet even on these limited issues, Starns has had difficulties getting along with the new board, whose members were seated last July.

The new board initially declined to go along with Starns proposal to route the death penalty contracts through local public defender offices. Its members have also twice turned down his proposed pay scale for chief public defenders, primarily because it would have cut the salaries of some by tens of thousands of dollars.

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More recently, the board has agreed to review Starns decision to fire five chief public defenders, including AndrePont.

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All of the attorneys at risk of losing their jobs testified during Thursdays committee meeting. They said Starns was trying to fire them, primarily because they have criticized his policies in front of state lawmakers and the state public defender board.

Collectively, the attorneys said they have over a century of experience working in public defense. None have received a negative performance review, they added.



What do we five have in common? We are active in the legislative process, said Brett Brunson, who has run the public defender office in Natchitoches Parish for 18 years and is at risk of losing his job. At times, we have been at odds with Mr. Starns and his proposals.



When the public defenders testified last year, they warned they might lose their jobs over speaking out publicly against Starns proposals. A few legislators appeared taken aback Thursday that Starns was attempting to fire them.



You all are the same ones who came in opposition? And all of you are the same ones who are now terminated? Rep. Alonzo Knox, R-New Orleans, asked the attorneys.



Yes, responded Trisha Ward, chief public defender for Evangeline Parish.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana leaders celebrated the election of Robert Prevost, the first pope from the United States.

The Chicago-born Prevost took the name Leo XIV. His first words from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica were Peace be with you. He emphasized a message of peace, dialogue, and missionary evangelization while wearing the traditional red cape of the papacy.

The newly elected pope has ties to Louisiana. According to FindAGrave records, his maternal grandmother, Louise Baquie Martinez, was born in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 1868. She and his grandfather, Joseph Martinez, got married in New Orleans on Sept. 17, 1887. The couple moved to Chicago around 1911.

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What Pope Leo XIVs name choice may signal

Reaction from Louisiana leaders

Gov. Jeff Landry congratulated Prevost in a post on X.

This is a historic day. May his leadership be guided by faith, wisdom, and a deep commitment to the service of the Church, Landry said.

Attorney General Liz Murrill called Thursday a historic day in a social media post.

A historic day as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States was elected as the 267th Pope. I join Catholics across Louisiana and the world in congratulating and praying for Pope Leo XIV, Murrill wrote.

Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. May God bless the first American papacy in these historic days.

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Sen. Bill Cassidy wrote, The influence of the Catholic Church is felt throughout the world. In modern times, it has included John Paul IIs advocacy for the freedom of Eastern Europe from Soviet Russia and every popes strong stand for life. We pray that Pope Leo XIV provides the same level of moral courage and clarity for the Catholic Church and beyond.

Congressman Troy Carter released a statement celebrating Prevosts election and his familys ties to New Orleans. Read his full statement below.

As a Black man, a proud son of New Orleans, and a U.S. Congressman honored to represent Louisianas 2nd Congressional District  which includes the very 7th Ward neighborhood where our newly selected Popes family once lived  I am overwhelmed with joy and pride at this historic moment.

For many years, I have had the privilege of serving and representing this vibrant, resilient community  a place rich with Creole heritage, deep faith, and a legacy of perseverance. As someone who grew up in the Catholic faith and graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically Black Catholic university in the world, I know firsthand the profound intersection of faith, identity, and culture that shapes our people.

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The news that the first American Pope has roots here in New Orleans, with ancestral ties to our Creole and Haitian families, is nothing short of extraordinary. It reminds the world that greatness rises from every corner  including communities that history has too often overlooked or underestimated.

This moment is a testament not just to personal achievement, but to the enduring strength and global reach of New Orleans diverse faith community. As we celebrate, I pray that the Holy Father leads with justice, compassion, and a commitment to uplifting the marginalized, reflecting the spirit of the people and places that shaped him.

We rejoice as one  and we send our love, our prayers, and our pride from the 7th Ward to the Vatican.

Bishop Michael G. Duca of the Diocese of Baton Rouge said his election was groundbreaking.

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The clergy and lay faithful of the Diocese of Baton Rouge join me in congratulating His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, on his election as Roman Pontiff! His election is certainly a groundbreaking one since Pope Leo will serve as the first pope born in the United States; this election also brings great pride to the people of South Louisiana, having learned of his ancestral roots here. As his new name indicates, we look forward to a pontificate that focuses on the rich social teaching of the Church, emphasizing solidarity, respect for the dignity of the human person, and a preferential option for the poor. As he indicated in his first words to the faithful gathered in St. Peters Square, it is our common responsibility as a Church to proclaim the never-changing truth of the Gospel in these times through peace, unity, and missionary work through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We thank God for giving us this new Shepherd, and we pray for him and his Petrine ministry that he will inspire us to live in the hope of the Gospel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Conclave that elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope was short  but not the shortest ever

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The district attorney was left stunned by the Friday sentencing of twin Louisiana brothers convicted of money laundering.

Robert McCormick and Thomas McCormick, both 55, were found guilty of multiple charges in December 2024, including money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit filing of false public documents, conspiracy to commit prohibited splitting of profits, conspiracy to commit malfeasance in office and conspiracy to commit felony theft.

A district judge ordered both to pay $214,262 in restitution to the Louisiana State Fire Marshals Office, pay $5,000 each to the Louisiana Legislative Auditors Office (LLA), pay fines and court costs and serve three years probation. The district attorneys office said the state requested nearly $850,000 in restitution, and LLA requested almost $98,000.

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Although we respect the court and this judge, we are stunned by the sentence. This was a case of serious breach of public office and laundering public money. We wanted jail time. My office is reviewing the sentence to determine if there are any grounds to appeal the sentence. At least they will be convicted felons for the rest of their lives, District Attorney Tony Clayton said.

According to court documents, the brothers reportedly created fake companies to funnel $824,760 in state dollars to themselves for personal use. Thirty-two invoices were paid over the course of eight months  from Aug. 30, 2020, to April 28, 2021. An audit of the State Fire Marshals Office revealed misuse of funds.

Five other individuals were also connected to the money-laundering scheme, which took place as the state was dealing with the aftermath of several hurricanes.

DA: Greensburg man convicted of killing young mother in 2018

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
Loved ones are searching for a Southern California man who has been missing for over a month.

Hehsi Chen, 36, also known as Cody, was reported missing on April 5, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Chen, an L.A. County resident, was last seen on the 21000 block of Stonepine Street in Diamond Bar at 8 a.m.

Hehsi Chen, 36, also known as Cody, was last seen on April 5, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department)

He is described as an Asian male standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 141 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and black pants.

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Chen may have been heading overseas to Taiwan at the time of his disappearance, authorities said.

His family and loved ones have not heard from him since and are very concerned for his well-being.

Anyone who may know Chens whereabouts or has information on the case is asked to call LASDs Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ALEXANDRIA/BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)LSU Alexandria and Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) have formalized a 2+2 memorandum of understanding (MOU), allowing BPCC students holding an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science to transfer directly into LSUAs Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in Disaster Science and Emergency Management.

Under the new agreement, students from BPCC who successfully complete their associate degree and meet LSUAs admission requirements will be fully admitted into LSUAs specialized disaster science program, a press release stated. After transferring up to 57 earned credit hours, students will complete an additional 63 hours at LSUA, fulfilling all requirements for the Bachelor of General Studies with a Disaster Science and Emergency Management Concentration.

LSU Health Shreveport celebrates its largest graduation ever

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This new pathway will help students achieve their educational and professional goals and address critical workforce needs in emergency management and disaster preparedness across the state.

One thing LSUA and BPCC have in common is that we always try to meet our states workforce needs, said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil, Ph.D. No one questions the need for skilled workers in disaster management and recovery. This partnership reflects our shared hope to create more opportunities for Louisiana students to succeed while helping build a safer, more resilient state. By aligning our academic programs, we are investing in both education and public safety.

BPCC Natchitoches launching new fiber optics certification program

According to the release, both institutions anticipate this collaboration will boost enrollment, encourage degree completion, and provide real-world training that benefits students, communities, and emergency agencies across Louisiana. Student performance will be regularly evaluated, supplying data to improve the transfer process and meet academic standards.

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Building pathways for our students to begin their college career with an eventual bachelors degree in mind is important to us, said BPCC Chancellor Rick Bateman, Ph.D. BPCC grads are special students, because we think a lot about caring our students to success with caring and attentive faculty and staff pouring into students who develop resiliency in pursuit of their educational goals.

New partnership: Centenary students, staff can enroll early in LSUS program

LSUA remains dedicated to providing students with higher education opportunities while fostering experienced professionals willing to help their communities in times of crisis. For more information about LSUAs Disaster Science and Emergency Management program and transfer opportunities, visit explore.lsua.edu.

We are thankful for the commitment of Dr. Callegari and Dean Whittington to follow through on an idea that was planted by the local community expressing a local need, said LSUA Provost Liz Beard, Ph.D. Hopefully, this is the first of many opportunities for LSUA to develop bachelors degree pathways for BPCC students.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Editor's Note: This opinion first appeared in CNN Portugal.

In January 2023, Brazil rid itself of Jair Bolsonaro's government. Bolsonaro's rule saw dictatorship's torturers exalted, minorities being targeted, and democracy treated as an obstacle.

In this atmosphere, the 2022 elections allowed his political opponents to brand themselves as defenders of democracy, even if their own pasts were not without problems.

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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, despite his longstanding sympathy for authoritarian regimes such as those of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela or Fidel and Raul Castro's iron rule over Cuba, moderated his rhetoric during the 2022 election campaign and presented himself as the only viable alternative to Bolsonaro's nationalism and ultraconservatism.

With the active support of his new wife, Janja Lula da Silva, he built a campaign centered on defending democracy.

This rhetoric remains present in Lula's public projection, especially when he criticizes the nationalism of U.S. President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro's ally, for governing unilaterally and disregarding institutions, rules, and any appreciation of diversity.

But one thing stands out about Lula and Janja  their selectivity and hypocrisy.

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On the morning of May 3, Janja landed in Moscow six days ahead of the president and posted on social media that, at the invitation of the Russian government, she had visited the Kremlin.

In her post, she tried to give the visit a reflective tone, stating that in such difficult times as we live in today, with conflicts spreading and intensifying and with the resurgence of extremist forces, it is necessary and important to preserve memory, learn from history, and together build a future of peace and fraternity among peoples.

Anyone who claims to be a defender of democracy cannot applaud a war criminal.

The problem is that Janja speaks of peace and fraternity precisely alongside a regime that has carried out the gravest violation of peace in Europe since World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin not only invaded a sovereign country but also bombarded hospitals and murdered opponents, all while rewriting history using both propaganda and tanks.

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If Janja is concerned about extremism, she should look to her host, one of the darkest showings of modern authoritarianism, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.

Lula and Janja have made themselves pawns in Vladimir Putin's theater. Lula arrived in Moscow on May 9 to participate, alongside other authoritarian leaders such as Belarus's Aleksandr Lukashenko, Venezuela's Maduro, and Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel, in the celebrations of the so-called Victory Day. Russia's state news agency TASS has already announced that a large number of world leaders will come to Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations.

The holiday, which marks the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, has been transformed by Putin into a central propaganda tool, used to justify the invasion of Ukraine as if it were a new crusade against Nazism.

Read also: Will Trump help Putin escape punishment for his crimes in Ukraine?

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Brazilian leadership proudly shows its support for democracy at home, yet conveniently forgets that Putin destroyed Russian democracy and murdered those who had the courage to stand up to him.

Putin eliminated political rivals like Alexei Navalny, manipulated elections, and turned the media into propaganda networks. Putin has turned the country into a dictatorship where the constitution has been rewritten to suit the modern czar, and any critical voice is silenced through imprisonment, exile, or poisoning.

Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025. (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images)

Foreign leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Burkina Faso's junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore, attend a flower-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025. (Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP via Getty Images)

Putin has done in Russia everything that Lula had been against in Brazil under Bolsonaro's rule.

Lula and Janja, in contrast to Bolsonaro's machismo and misogyny, have rightly championed feminism, women's rights, and press freedom, all under fire by the previous administration.

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Yet, when it comes to foreign policy, Lula and Janja tend to forget what they stand for.

So what does this visit really reveal? On the one hand, Lula has tried to distance himself from regimes like Maduro's, knowing they are unpopular in Brazil and cost him votes. On the other hand, he continues to offer ideological comfort to Putin, even in the face of Russian atrocities.

This reveals the persistence of the old logic of the Latin American left. If a country adopts an anti-Western stance, it is treated as a legitimate ally. It does not matter if this alignment contradicts the values Lula and Janja claim to defend, such as human rights, press freedom, or diversity. In the end, progressive discourse becomes a tool of convenience, used to confront internal opponents but discarded when it is time to denounce abuses by friendly regimes.

Some try to justify the Brazilian government's position by saying that Brazil is part of BRICS or that it depends on Russian fertilizers. But that is a flimsy excuse for those trying to deceive others or themselves.

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Putin is in no position of strength to sever ties with the few democracies still willing to maintain dialogue with Moscow. Russia was expelled from the G8, and since then, BRICS has become one of its last international showcases. Putin knows this. He will not risk losing one of the few spaces of global prestige he still holds just because Brazil refuses to openly endorse the invasion of Ukraine. No one is asking to cut diplomatic ties. Maintaining dialogue is part of diplomacy. But posing next to a dictator wanted for war crimes as if nothing is happening is unacceptable.

Anyone who claims to be a defender of democracy cannot applaud a war criminal.

And for those clinging to economic arguments, the data is even more embarrassing.

In 2023, Brazil imported 4.5 billion dollars in diesel from Russia, along with fertilizers and other inputs. But Russia ranked only 41st among Brazil's top export markets, with 1.3 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the United States, which Lula has blamed for prolonging the war, purchased 37.4 billion dollars in Brazilian goods in the same year.

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In other words, Lula treads carefully around authoritarian regimes even when the economic relationship is modest and attacks Western partners who support a significant share of Brazilian exports. This is not pragmatism. It is opportunism with an ideological veneer.

If this little trip to Russia reveals anything, it is who Lula and Janja truly are.

Behind the progressive rhetoric and postures in defense of diversity lies the same old musty, incoherent left, one that kneels before dictators as long as they claim to be anti-Western.

A left that loves to denounce conservatism but bows to a regime that criminalizes homosexuality, murders journalists, and deports children.

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By posing with Putin, Lula and Janja not only undermine everything they claim to defend. They also expose their lack of political discernment and hand arguments, on a silver platter, to the grotesque conservatism they claim to oppose.

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In essence, living within or below your means is often more impactful than accumulating a particular dollar figure, he continued. Financial security is not about how much you have  it is the confidence that you can meet your obligations, weather unexpected challenges and pursue your goals without undue financial stress.

True financial security could be defined by having a stable income, manageable debt and adequate savings to handle emergencies and support retirement  not by reaching a specific net worth, Rayman said. Many individuals attain a sense of security through disciplined saving, low expenses and intentional financial planning.

However, if you are still working, you dont necessarily need a large sum of money stashed away to be financially secure.

A portfolio of that size, assuming a modest 4% annual withdrawal rate, would produce only $20,000 per year  an amount that often falls short of covering basic living expenses, Rayman said.

In fact, if they want to retire on that amount, they will likely need more than $500,000.

The largest proportion of Americans surveyed (34%) believe that you need to have $500,000 or more in savings and investments to be financially secure  and experts say this is a realistic benchmark.

Among Americans who are pre-retirement age (45 to 64), only about one-quarter believe they will have enough savings to retire at 65.

Gen Z was the most confident that they would become millionaires in their lifetimes. Gen X and boomers were the most sure they would not.

Over 1 in 3 Americans (34%) believe you need more than $500,000 in savings and investments to be financially secure. The next most-popular response was between $100,000 and $150,000, with 10% selecting this range.

A new GOBankingRates survey explored Americans perceptions about what it takes to be and feel rich, including how much total money they would need in savings and investments to feel financially secure, whether or not they believe they will achieve millionaire status, and whether or not they believe they have saved enough for retirement.

The amount of money needed to feel rich is a constantly moving target. As the cost of living rises, the amount needed to live a rich life today is vastly greater than it was just a decade ago. But have Americans expectations kept up with reality? Or have they actually gone too far?

Story Continues

Whos Going To Be a Millionaire?

Although you dont need to have a million dollars in the bank to be secure during most phases of life, it is a good goal to aim for $1 million as a retirement nest egg.

If you consider having a million dollars to be a millionaire, then Id argue that would probably be the coveted amount to retire with for financial security, said John Gillet, CEO and founder of Gillet Agency, a financial planning firm in Hollywood, Florida.

With this number, financial levers can be utilized to guarantee adequate levels of income to weather the storms of retirement, he continued. This amount of money would work effectively in conjunction with having no major debt and good Social Security benefits.

While $1 million may be the ideal goal, most Americans (66%) dont think theyll achieve it. However, confidence in achieving millionaire status varies by age. Americans ages 18 to 24 are the most likely to believe they will be millionaires (52%), followed by Americans ages 25 to 34 (46%), Americans ages 35 to 44 (39%), Americans ages 45 to 54 (31%), Americans ages 65 and older (26%), and Americans ages 55 to 64 (22%).

Young Americans optimism may be warranted.

Gen Z holds significant potential for long-term wealth accumulation, driven partially by their technological fluency and early adoption of AI, Rayman said. Their comfort with digital platforms grants them access to sophisticated tools for investing, budgeting and entrepreneurship  resources that were far less accessible to previous generations.

Rayman also noted that Gen Z is most likely to take on side hustles in addition to traditional 9-to-5 jobs.

The traditional model of working a single job and relying on a pension for retirement has evolved, he said. Today, it is increasingly common to see Americans balancing a full-time role with additional income-generating pursuits in the evenings. Growing up in the digital age, Gen Z is uniquely positioned to leverage technology across multiple channels, such as e-commerce, freelancing and content creation, to diversify and accelerate wealth-building opportunities.

Perception vs. Reality

Although Americans know theyll need at least $500,000 to retire comfortably, very few are on track to achieve this goal.

In reality, many individuals fall short of the $500,000 savings benchmark, revealing a significant gap between perceived financial needs and actual savings behavior, Rayman said. As the cost of living, healthcare and housing continue to rise, what once seemed like a reasonable savings target now feels increasingly out of reach for many Americans.

The lack of savings explains why so few Americans of pre-retirement age believe they will be able to retire on time. Just over one-quarter of Americans ages 44 to 54 (27%) and 25% of Americans ages 55 to 64 said they believe their savings are on track to fund their retirement. An additional 15% of Americans ages 44 to 54 and 13% of Americans ages 55 to 64 say they are on track, but they will have to retire after age 65.

A significant portion of these age groups  20% of Americans ages 45 to 54 and 30% of Americans ages 55 to 64  believes they will have to work part-time throughout their retirement. And, concerningly, 24% of Americans ages 45 to 54 and 16% of Americans ages 55 to 64 dont believe they will ever be able to retire.

Many Americans find themselves unprepared for retirement due to a combination of behavioral, economic and informational challenges, Rayman said. A common issue is the prioritization of immediate financial obligations over long-term planning, which can delay or derail consistent saving. Procrastination also plays a role, as many assume they will have time to catch up on savings later, often underestimating the impact of lost compounding.

He recommended that anyone who feels their savings are not on track seek the advice of a financial professional.

In this evolving environment, seeking professional financial guidance has become more important than ever, Rayman said. A personalized plan, grounded in current realities and tailored to individual goals, is essential to charting a clear and confident path toward a secure and comfortable retirement.

Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older from across the country between April 23 and April 28, 2025, asking 13 different questions: (1) Which range best describes your total household income before taxes?; (2) How much do you currently have in savings?; (3) Do you believe you will be a millionaire in your lifetime?; (4) Which socioeconomic class do you believe you belong to?; (5) What annual income would you need to feel personally wealthy?; (6) How do you define wealth? (Select all that apply); (7) Do you believe you need to own a home to be wealthy?; (8) How much money would you need in savings/investments to feel financially secure?; (9) Do you believe you will have enough in savings to fund your retirement?; (10) If you lost your job today, how many months worth of expenses could your savings cover?; (11) If you have student loan debt, do you believe youll be able to pay off the balance in full?; (12) If you have credit card debt, do you believe youll be able to pay off the balance in full?; and (13) When did you start to learn about financial wellness/literacy? GOBankingRates used PureSpectrums survey platform to conduct the poll.

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Sources

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Wealth Perception in America: Heres What It Takes To Feel Rich in 2025
LYON COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU)  Authorities in Lyon County, Iowa, are reminding the public about a murder cold case as they search for more information.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office reported that in 1978, a dead woman was discovered in a rural part of the county. In 2006, she was identified as Wilma Nissen. Officials believe Nissen was murdered, and theyre still investigating her death.

Story continues below

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On Thursday, authorities released a press release to remind the public the case is still open and being investigated. Theyre encouraging anyone who knows anything about her death to come forward and help her family get closure.

If you know anything about Wilma Nissens murder, call the Lyon County Sheriffs Office at 712-472-8300. You can also email sheriff@lyoncountyia.com with tips regarding the case.

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On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of President Donald Trump, clearing the path for the administration to move forward with its plan to ban transgender people from serving in the military. The plan would also remove current transgender service members as the lower courts continue to debate the legality of the ban.

The Supreme Court order is not a final ruling on the issue, but will remain in place as litigation proceeds.



Approximately how many service members will be impacted is unclear. Recent figures from the Defense Department reported 4,240  or 0.2 percent  of about 2 million service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Data from previous years by advocacy groups has calculated the number to be much higher, at around 15,000.

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Among those transgender service members is Commander Emily Shilling, who has served in the Navy for almost two decades. A naval aviator with over 60 combat missions under her belt, she is the lead plaintiff suing the administration to overturn the ban. Shilling told Women Rule that its her duty not only to follow lawful orders but to challenge those she believes to be unlawful.

Trump unveiled the plan in an executive order on inauguration day. The basis for the order, which Trump also enacted during his first term, is the argument that gender dysphoria is incompatible with military service.



U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes  a Joe Biden appointee  blocked the move on March 18, but the ruling was subsequently paused by a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. A second judge, George W. Bush appointee U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, also blocked the order 10 days later.

The Supreme Court ruling was unveiled in a one-page order, with the three liberal judges dissenting. Neither side provided reasoning for their positions given it was an emergency appeal.

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Im heartbroken, said Shilling, who is president of SPARTA Pride, a nonprofit advocacy group for transgender service members.

Now, Shillings future, along with many other transgender service members, is riddled with uncertainty.

Women Rule spoke with Shilling about the SCOTUS decision, its impacts and her experience serving as a high ranking official in the U.S. Navy. She stressed that her views do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Defense or the Navy.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You've been fighting against Trump's military ban since he signed the executive order. Now that the SCOTUS decision has been released, how do you feel?

My oath, as any military officer would tell you, is to the Constitution of the United States and to follow all lawful orders. And so right now, I'm following lawful orders. I'm being kicked out. I will follow what I'm being told. But it's also my duty to challenge anything that I feel is an unlawful order. And the only way for me to do that is to sue, because I can't go storm off. I have to use the legal system, which is why it's there. So I am performing my duty. I am challenging something that I believe to be an unlawful order, and we'll let the courts decide.

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We were hoping that the Supreme Court would go to a shadow docket and make a decision that was kind of final. That way we can all just move on with our lives, either we're banned and we can go get our new jobs, figure out where we're going to live, figure out how to pick up the pieces, or we're not banned, and we get to continue to serve and do what we love. Instead, we got kind of a non-answer, and we got the protections that we did have stripped away from us. We had this injunction in place that allowed people to stay deployed, allowed people to continue with their careers.

I had individuals who were about to take over command of places, and then the ban happened, and they got pulled off of those things. And that person lost the opportunity to command, and their career is irrevocably damaged. Thousands of people will be kicked out of the military, and then if the lower courts decide Oops, that's a mistake, what are we going to do? Invite them all back?

Whats your plan these next few months?

This fight right now is purely legal. We hope that we will have a more favorable administration or Congress at some point, and then we can step up the advocacy side again, working on public opinion, working on congressional opinion, and hopefully get trans and so many other rights codified into law.

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So for Emily Shilling, the next few months are going to continue to be this world of uncertainty: Do I have a job? Do I not? Am I going to continue with the Navy? Am I not? It's a hard place to live in. I have the privilege and luck that my partner is, she's an O-5 in the military too. She makes good pay, and we can live on her salary, and she's not at threat of losing our job. But there are a lot of troops who aren't in that situation, and they're going to be hurting like so many Americans are right now.

Recent administrations have sort of flip-flopped on this issue. Trump instituted a ban in his first term, which Biden revoked, and now Trumps bringing it back. How do you think that impacts young transgender peoples willingness to serve?

Well, I feel it's devastating. It's not only devastating to the trans individual, but to all their friends and their allies. Studies have shown that the mass majority of our youth support the LGBT community, and are they going to want to work or serve for an organization that doesn't reflect those values? I got called to the Navy because the motto at the time when I joined was, A global force for good, and I truly believed that, and I'm very proud of the service that I've done. In my entire adult life I've encouraged my kids to go into the military. When I've talked to people, I've told them that they've given me so much, and I'm such a better person for having served. At this moment I can't give that advice [in] good conscience, and I truly hope, and I choose to hope and believe that our military will prevail in the end, and we will show what honor and courage and commitment look like, and we will stay true to our values, and we will be a service worth serving for.

Why do you think the Trump administration continues to target transgender military members?

I don't want to get ahead of the president, and I don't want to really speak for him, because it's not my place to make any kind of judgment on his character or on his policies; he's my boss. But I think in the grander scheme, there's always some population that is vilified, that has turned into the boogeyman. And the arguments are always the same. They were: Oh, it's going to destroy morale in the units. Oh, it's going to cost too much. Oh, it'll be a distraction. And every single time, we have been shown that it's just not the case.

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I was in the service when don't ask, don't tell was repealed. I remember sitting on the fantail smoking cigars with my friends and them thinking it was just the end of the world if we let gay people serve in the military, that the military will just disintegrate, and it just isn't the case. We're here over a decade later, and the military is still strong. It's going to be the same thing with trans individuals. It's just going to take time for the world to catch up.

Youve talked in the past about how transitioning helped you become a better leader and a stronger asset to the military.

In 2016 when I was a test pilot, I was at the peak of my career living my dream. And I didn't come out when I could, because I wanted to keep flying, and I didn't want to put my squadron down a person. So I waited. And by the time that I could come out, the ban was put in place the first time. And that left me distracted, it left me angry. It left me unable to connect with individuals because I was only bringing in 60, 70 percent of myself to work. The rest of that energy was dealing with putting a mask on and being somebody I'm not.

So when I finally did come out, I'm now showing up to work completely authentic. I'm showing up at 100 percent and I'm able to actually meet people where they are with a little bit of empathy.

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Before I came out, I was a 36-year-old white man, married, three kids, two cars, a dog, a house, and I didn't think racism existed. I didn't think sexism existed. I didn't see any of them because I never experienced them. And when I got put into one of the most despised groups in the country right now or vilified groups, the transgender community, I'm hearing this bigotry and this transphobia, and it really opened my eyes that maybe I didn't have it all right, and just because I hadn't seen or experienced it myself, maybe I was wrong. I learned so much that I had never seen or been willing to see. I'm able to connect with my people in a way that I've never been able to. And that is true leadership.

You've served for almost two decades now. Why was it important for you to serve in the first place? And how has service impacted you?

People always say, Thank you for your service, and all I can ever say back is No, thank you to the service for letting me serve. I graduated college, I started working as an engineer, and I wanted some adventure. I wanted to do something that I felt meant something. When we were in Afghanistan, the thing that drove me was women's rights. And I was very proud of what we were doing.

I'm heartbroken. I've watched something that I've dedicated so much energy and so much time to and so much love to. It was the honor of a lifetime to serve in the U.S. Navy, and I just hope that they live up to the sacrifice that we've made.


MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56)  New information was released on Friday about a fugitive who escaped from custody in Rowan County.

The Morehead Police Department issued a public safety alert around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, saying 35-year-old Anthony Martinez escaped from the U.K. Saint Claire Hospital in Morehead.

In a Facebook post Friday morning, the Rowan County Sheriffs Office said Martinez was wanted for bank robbery and other charges.

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Reportedly, the police department received information on Thursday that Martinez may have been in a densely wooded area near Triplett Creek.

They used machetes to cut their way through and spotted Martinez, giving him commands to get on the ground, the sheriffs office said.

RELATED | Possibly dangerous Kentucky fugitive who escaped hospital arrested

Martinez reportedly ran directly into an officer, and at one point, he was able to slip one handcuff from his wrist and assaulted the officer, telling him he was going to kill him.

Other officers tried to get control of Martinez, but he continued fighting back, attempting to grab their weapons and pushing officers, ending up in the cold water of Triplett Creek.

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This suspect was approximately 6 2, weighing approximately 240 pounds, and willing to do anything, including killing police officers, to keep from being returned to jail. I can only imagine what he may have done if he had encountered an unarmed resident, Rowan County Sheriffs Office said on Facebook.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

In the sheriffs office call said that, despite what the news release from the Morehead Police Department would make you think, the arrest wasnt normal.

So now that you know The rest of the story, if you see one of the officers involved in this arrest, do exactly what I did, say thank you! Thank you for going above and beyond, thank you for putting your life on the line to make sure a dangerous fugitive is back where he belongs! the Rowan County Sheriffs Office said.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has reported that he spoke last night with US President Donald Trump about a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Source: Macron on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Macron stated that he welcomed Trumps clear call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. He said this call was supported on Friday morning by British and Nordic partners.

Macron stressed that everyone must now work immediately to achieve a ceasefire  "without pretense or delaying manoeuvres".

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"Ukraine agreed to this ceasefire almost two months ago. I now expect Russia to do the same. Otherwise, we will be ready to respond decisively, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States," the French president wrote.

Background:

On Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz threatened Russia with new sanctions if it does not agree to a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine and to peace talks.

On Thursday, Merz also held a phone call with US President Donald Trump. The chancellor said he had expressed his support to Trump for the plan of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Trump, after his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 8 May, stated that ideally he would like to see a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and again mentioned the possibility of new sanctions against Russia.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that a meeting of "the coalition of the willing" will take place in a hybrid format in Kyiv on 10 May.

Source: Macron during a press conference in the French city of Nancy alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on 9 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Macron confirmed that the meeting of "the coalition of the willing" leaders will indeed take place in Kyiv on Saturday, though some leaders will participate online, The Guardian reports.

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The French president declined to specify in which format he himself would join the meeting.

"I will go there [to Ukraine  ed.] at the appropriate time. For a number of entirely understandable reasons, such visits are rarely announced in advance," Macron was quoted as saying by French broadcaster BFMTV.

Background:

Earlier on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a meeting of the "coalition of the willing", although the format of the event remained unclear from his statement.

Notably, Kyiv issued a warning about traffic restrictions on 10 May due to the arrival of foreign delegations and the holding of "solemn and commemorative events".

"The coalition of the willing", led by France and the UK, said it is working on a plan to deploy a mission to Ukraine to help guarantee a future ceasefire.

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President Trump spoke late Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron after Trump called for Russia and Ukraine to agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face potential sanctions.

Macron posted on the social platform X that he spoke several times with Trump and praised his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as did our British and Nordic partners earlier this morning.

We must all work towards this goal without delay, false pretenses, or dilatory tactics. Ukraine has already expressed its support for such a ceasefire nearly two months ago, The French leader wrote. I now expect Russia to do the same. Failing to do so, we are ready to respond firmly, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States.

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Trump spoke Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He later posted on Truth Social that the U.S. was calling for ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

If the ceasefire was not respected, Trump posted, the U.S. and its partners would impose further sanctions.

Ukraine had previously said it supported a temporary ceasefire, but Russia has not agreed to those terms.

Vice President Vance said Wednesday that the Trump administration believes Russia is asking for too much in peace talks to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Trump has expressed frustration with Moscow in recent weeks, suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin may be stringing him along in peace talks.

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Late Wednesday afternoon, Donald Trump surprised much of the political world with an announcement: The president had decided to abandon Dr. Janette Nesheiwats surgeon general nomination, replacing her with Dr. Casey Means. In an online item, Trump insisted that Means has an absolutely outstanding record and has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.

Less than 24 hours later, the president also said that he doesnt know who Casey Means is.

When a reporter noted that his surgeon general nominee never finished her medical residency and is not a practicing physician and asked Trump why he picked her for the job, the president pointed the finger at Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Because Bobby thought she was fantastic, Trump said.

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After touting Means as brilliant, he added, I dont know her.

Oh my.

Right off the bat, for those concerned about Trumps transformation into President Bystander, this rhetoric is hardly reassuring. For all intents and purposes, Trump made it sound as if RFK Jr.  a longtime proponent of ridiculous conspiracy theories and bizarre scientific ideas  told the president to nominee Means, at which point Trump effectively replied, Okey doke.

Whats more, lets not forget that when a president is asked about a controversial nominee and he replies that he doesnt know his own nominee, that traditionally suggests that the White House is abandoning the person ahead of a confirmation vote. Thats probably not the case in this instance (at least not yet), but Means couldnt have been reassured by Trumps bizarre comment. Senators weighing their options wont be more inclined to support an unqualified nominee whom the president isnt even aware of.

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But in case that isnt quite enough, one day after the president announced his surgeon general nominee, the backlash wasnt limited to the left. Politico reported, President Donald Trumps new pick for surgeon general  wellness influencer Casey Means  is already the target of MAGA vitriol, underscoring a split inside the presidents base over the future of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again movement.

Right-wing activist, radical conspiracy theorist and Trump confidant Laura Loomer was especially aggressive in going after Means, calling her a total crack pot who DOESNT EVEN HAVE AN ACTIVE MEDICAL LICENSE.

The Washington Post reported that prominent anti-vaccine activists have also been quick to condemn Means, accusing her of not going far enough to oppose vaccines.

If the surgeon generals nomination advances and shes hoping for a rescue from Democrats, that also seems unlikely. While members of the Senate minority had little to say about Means, her record is almost certainly going to be a problem with them.

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There may yet come a point when the Trump White House starts to vet nominees for important positions, but this week offered a timely reminder that this day has not yet arrived.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* A federal court rejected Alabamas congressional map this week, concluding that it violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voters political influence. It sets the stage for Alabama to draw up its third map since the 2020 census.

* In related news, a group of Democratic voters this week asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court  which now has a progressive majority  to reject the states current congressional map, which was drawn by a gerrymandered Republican majority.

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* In Georgia, where Republicans are in the market for a competitive U.S. Senate candidate, Rep. Buddy Carter threw his hat into the ring this week. Carter is perhaps best known for recently introducing legislation that would empower Donald Trump to acquire Greenland and rename it Red, White, and Blueland.

* Health problems are forcing Rep. Gerry Connolly to retire, but the Virginia Democrat this week endorsed his former chief of staff, James Walkinshaw, in the race to fill his seat in the 2026 elections.

* Democratic leaders would love to convince former Gov. John Bel Edwards to run for the Senate in Louisiana next year, and to their relief, hes not saying no. In fact, The New York Times reported that Edwards has signaled to party leaders to circle back to him closer to August.

* In Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine realizes that state GOP officials might endorse Vivek Ramaswamys gubernatorial candidacy, but the term-limited incumbent is reportedly scrambling behind the scenes to prevent that from happening.

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* And in Arizona, the president has officially endorsed both of the Republican Partys gubernatorial candidates  Karrin Taylor Robson and Rep. Andy Biggs  but Axios reported that three of Trumps top political lieutenants are abandoning Robsons operation a year ahead of the GOP primary.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The New York Times reported this week about the ongoing challenges at West Point, as the U.S. Military Academy struggles to comply with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths culture war agenda. Classes have been scrapped midsemester; works from well-known Black authors have been purged from the English department; a history professor was told not to mention atrocities committed against Native Americans; and another professor was told not to mention specific novelists whose work is out of step with Team Trumps sensibilities.

Just as notably, the universitys senior librarian, who was told to identify books that might be at odds with Hegseths directives, quit after 14 years on the job. His counterpart at the U.S. Naval Academy had already been told to remove 381 books from the campus library.

These were not isolated incidents, as a new report from The Associated Press makes clear.

The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies.

Last month, Amid personnel turmoil at the Pentagon, multiple and intensifying controversies and fresh calls for his resignation, Hegseth spoke to U.S. troops at the Army War College, where he delivered an expletive-laden address about how pleased he is with recent efforts. The beleaguered Pentagon chief concluded, We are laser-focused on our mission of warfighting.

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Except, thats clearly not the case. Hegseth is certainly laser-focused on several priorities, but combat doesnt appear to make the list.

On the contrary, the former Fox News personality appears preoccupied with some cartoonishly absurd priorities such as scrubbing Defense Department websites of articles and images about Jackie Robinson and the Navajo Code Talkers. As Politico reported, Colin Carroll, the former chief of staff to the deputy defense secretary who was fired last month, recently said that Hegseth was obsessed with the spread of leaks and spent half his time investigating them to the detriment of defense priorities.

And the Cabinet secretary appears increasingly fixated on banning books.

For all of Hegseths reported interest in lethality and championing a hypermasculine warrior ethos, in recent months he and the Pentagon have invested a ridiculous amount of time in pursuing petty culture war goals that dont advance the nations national security goals in any way.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* As you mightve heard by now, theres a new pope: Habemus Papam! The worlds 1.4 billion Catholics have a new leader  Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the first American-born pope. The 69-year-old is originally from Chicago and has chosen the papal name Leo XIV.

* An intensifying crisis: India and Pakistan appeared to be dangerously escalating their armed confrontation on Thursday, as both countries said that their military sites had come under attack, and heavy shelling and strikes were reported overnight on each side of their border.

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* An expensive military operation: President Donald Trumps fight against the Houthis never dealt a crippling blow to the militant group, but it has cost America more than $1 billion since March, including the thousands of bombs and missiles used in strikes, along with seven drones shot down and two fighter jets that sank, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the cost.

* Itll be interesting to see how Congress responds to this effort: The FAA will embark on an ambitious three-year plan to modernize Americas air traffic control systems and phase out the outdated technologies that are unable to meet modern demands, officials said Thursday.

* All is not well at NIH: The Trump administration terminated $1.81 billion in National Institutes of Health grants in less than 40 days, including $544 million in as-yet-unspent funds. Thats according to an analysis published Thursday in JAMA, which relies on data from the Department of Health and Human Services Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System.

* Things arent great at CDC, either: The Trump administration has terminated a federal advisory committee that issued guidance about preventing the spread of infections in health care facilities. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) crafted national standards for hand-washing, mask-wearing and isolating sick patients that most U.S. hospitals follow.

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* Things could be a lot better at NOAA, too: Federal scientists will no longer update a list of weather disasters that cause billions of dollars in damage, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. The list had been growing dramatically in recent years, a sign of both extreme weather and increasing development across the country.

* Dont be surprised if this bill returns to the floor for a second attempt next week: A first-of-its-kind bill to regulate parts of the cryptocurrency industry stalled in the Senate on Thursday, after Democrats blocked it amid concerns in their party about how President Trump and his family are profiting from crypto. On a vote of 48 to 49, the measure failed to muster the 60 votes necessary to advance. It would have regulated so-called stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency tied to the value of an existing asset, often the U.S. dollar.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
By Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The federal human resources agency at the heart of billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk's efforts to slash the federal workforce has awarded a contract for a new cloud-based HR platform to Workday without seeking bids from rivals, raising questions among the agency's current and former employees.

The workers, consulted on Thursday, described the sole source contract as unusual, given the competition in an industry that includes ADP and SAP. They expressed surprise to see OPM's largely successful in-house HR platform on track to be replaced.

The Office of Personnel Management said in a May 2 memo that the sole source award was necessary due to "an urgent confluence of operational failures and binding federal mandates that require immediate action,", citing strict deadlines from President Donald Trump's administration for workforce restructuring and hiring reforms.

"OPMs fragmented and outdated HR systems have reached a critical failure point, resulting in payroll errors, benefits disruptions, and a manual workload that is no longer sustainable," said the memo.

Workday said in a statement it was "honored to partner with OPM" to modernize its HR systems via the 12-month $342,200 contract. OPM did not respond to a request for comment on the memo, first reported by Washington Technology on Wednesday.

The contract, awarded on May 2, puts Workday in charge of HR-related tasks such as payroll, hiring, time and attendance tracking.

The Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency has said it is trying to cut the federal workforce and slash contracts.

DOGE has led an unprecedented government overhaul in which some 260,000 civil servants have resigned, been fired or taken early retirement, according to a Reuters tally. DOGE claims to have saved U.S. taxpayers $160 billion to date, although its accounting has been riddled with errors and corrections.

Among the employees who were shown the door at OPM were many of those charged with running award-winning federal HR platforms like USA Performance and USA Staffing, which OPM spent millions developing for use across the federal government and which the agency now appears to be replacing with Workday.

Deprived of dozens of key support staff, those platforms may in fact be breaking down, two former employees with knowledge of the matter said, adding most of OPM's HR platforms have already been migrated to the cloud.

"UNUSUAL AND COMPELLING URGENCY"

Usually, to win approval for a non-competitive bidding process, agencies need to demonstrate "unusual and compelling urgency" and show that the chosen vendor is uniquely up to the challenge.
In recent months, the radicalism of the Trump administrations anti-immigration agenda has come into focus, leaving many to wonder just how much further the Republican White House is prepared to go. It was against this backdrop that CNBC reported:

White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller said Friday that the Trump administration is actively looking at suspending habeas corpus, the right to challenge the legality of a persons detention by the government. Millers comment came in response to a White House reporter who asked about President Donald Trump entertaining the idea of suspending the writ of habeas corpus to deal with the problem of illegal immigration into the United States.

The Constitution is clear  and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land  that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in time of invasion, the presidential adviser said. So, thats an option were actively looking at.

As part of the same comments, Miller went on to say that the White Houses actions will be guided by whether federal courts do the right thing or not.

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In other words, if Miller and his colleagues are satisfied that judges are ruling in ways that satisfy the White House, then everything will be fine. If judges fail to make Team Trump happy, then Miller and his cohorts are actively looking at alternative ideas, such as suspending the writ of habeas corpus.

There are legal experts who can speak to this with greater authority than I can, but the basic idea behind habeas corpus is that people who are taken into custody by the government have a legal right to challenge their detention. To suspend habeas  something that happened during the U.S. Civil War, for example  is to allow the government to lock people up without charges and without the ability to contest incarceration.

This, according to Miller, is a point of discussion in the White House.

When I spoke about this to my colleague Lisa Rubin, an MSNBC legal correspondent and a former litigator, she described Millers idea as truly crazy, adding, Miller isnt proposing suspending a statutory right; rather, what hes talking about is triggering a specific constitutional provision, namely the Suspension Clause of Article I of the Constitution. That clause provides The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

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Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor, similarly explained that the Constitutions Suspension Clause doesnt allow the President to unilaterally suspend habeas, especially when Congress is in session; applies only to cases of invasion or rebellion (this is quite clearly neither); and even then applies only when the public safety may require it. (It doesnt.)

This is precisely why it was relevant throughout the 2024 campaign that Donald Trump and his allies would reference the word invasion as part of their anti-immigration pitch.

Time will tell whether the president is seriously prepared to pursue such an extreme approach, but that this conversation is even underway is a startling reminder of just how far the United States has gone down a radical path.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Christian Brueckner is the primary suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who vanished from Portugal in 2007

Authorities believe McCann is dead

Brueckner is currently incarcerated on an unrelated rape conviction

German police allege they discovered disturbing messages and writings on a hard drive at Christian Brueckners home during a 2016 search, including a horrifying Skype chat in which the suspected kidnapper of Madeleine McCann allegedly wrote he wanted to capture something small and use it for days, according to a new report.

Collect/Handout / Alamy Stock Photo, Carabinieri via AP Madeleine McCann and Christian Brueckner Madeleine McCann and Christian Brueckner

The disturbing evidence, according to a report this week by The Sun, also includes writings allegedly authored by Brueckner, now 48, describing fantasies about drugging a young girl and her mother outside of a preschool before abusing the child. German investigators also allegedly discovered 75 swimsuits for adolescent girls and photographs depicting child abuse.

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The hard drive also included information that reportedly led police to believe Madeleine is dead, according to The Sun report, which aired this week on the Channel 4 network. Madeleine, who went missing in 2007, has never been found. German police have said Brueckner, who is currently in prison on an unrelated rape conviction, is the primary suspect.

According to the newspaper, the newly revealed evidence came from a 2016 search at Brueckner's home, which resulted in authorities discovering the hard drive underneath his buried dog.

PEOPLE recently looked back at the 2007 abduction of Madeleine. No one has ever been charged in the 3-year-old British girls disappearance.

Related: What Happened to Madeleine McCann? A Complete Timeline of Her Disappearance

Handout/Getty Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann

Madeleine, who would've turned 22 next week, is believed to have been taken from her familys vacation apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007. Madeleine was just days shy of celebrating her 4th birthday at the time of her disappearance, and had been left alone at the family's vacation apartment with her twin 2-year-old siblings while their parents Kate and Gerry McCann dined at a nearby restaurant.

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The McCanns were initially considered suspects in their daughters disappearance after forensic tests revealed traces of Madeleine's blood in a car they rented 25 days after her disappearance. However, more than a decade later, police zeroed in on Brueckner and named him a primary suspect in the case.

German authorities previously said they have evidence that connects Brueckner to Madeleine's case.

Braunschweig Public Prosecutor's Office prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who was leading the investigation into Brueckner, said during a 2020 CNN interview that authorities "actually have findings that suggest that he is Madeleine McCann's murderer." However, Wolters lamented that investigators had insufficient evidence to convict Brueckner of Madeleine's kidnapping and murder. By 2022, German and Portuguese authorities announced they had an official suspect but did not clarify whether it was Brueckner.

Now, the new Sun investigative report says that authorities have continued searching Brueckners property for clues, discovering his deceased dog, and a wallet containing six USB sticks and two memory cards buried underneath the animal.

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One hard drive was described by police as "deeply concerning," according to the Times of London.

Related: What We Know About Christian Brueckner, the Man Suspected of Murdering British Girl Madeleine McCann

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.

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.

Brueckner has a history of sexual abuse, including against children, PEOPLE previously reported. The German national had first been charged with committing sexual offenses against children in 1993 and was later extradited from Portugal to Germany in 2017, where he spent 17 months in prison for sexually abusing a child.

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He later was sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in 2005. He is expected to be released from prison in September 2025.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

Read the original article on People
The new budget authorized by New York lawmakers has MAGA world up in arms over a special line that provides funds for government employees who are targeted by Trumps Justice Department.

As Gothamist reports, it seems pretty clear the funds are to assist New York Attorney General Letitia James, even if the budget line doesnt mention her by name:

The budget sets aside $10 million to cover private defense costs for state employees subject to federal investigation, so long as the investigation was reasonably likely to have been commenced because of the employees work. The measure leaves little doubt it is carefully tailored to apply to James, who won a $450 million judgment against Trump, his family and his business last year. The provision applies to state employees who previously initiated  a criminal or civil investigation or prosecution of a federal official.

Trump has smeared James for years, publicly calling her everything from racist to a total crook, as she pursued a successful fraud prosecution of the Trump family real estate business.

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The allocation in New Yorks budget comes after Trumps Justice Department launched a working group to investigate James and other officials whove probed Trump over the years and initiated a criminal investigation into allegations that James engaged in mortgage fraud.

James lawyer told CBS News that it appears to be the political retribution President Trump threatened to exact that AG Bondi assured the Senate would not occur on her watch. If prosecutors are genuinely interested in the truth, we are prepared to meet false claims with facts.

Republicans and conservative media are trying to gin up outrage, framing the budget line as an unnecessary expense and a burden on New York taxpayers  though theres a valid argument to be made that New Yorkers have a vested interest in ensuring their officials can work without fear of reprisal for doing their jobs.

Gothamists report includes a quote from Staten Island Republican state Sen. Andrew Lanza, who said, I cant imagine a majority of New Yorkers not being outraged by the provision. The conservative New York Post editorial board denounced it as well, while the New York Republican state committee chairman told the Post that the money amounts to corruption.

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New York Rep. Elise Stefanik denounced the provision in a statement calling it a slush fund. But even her statement seems to make the obvious connection between James investigations of Trump and the Trump administrations investigation of James. Letitia James, who illegally weaponized her office to pursue politically motivated witch hunts, now expects taxpayers to foot the bill for her alleged misconduct, Stefanik said.

In the video clip below, you can listen to James herself discuss what she calls Trumps revenge tour during her recent sit-down with MSNBC host Chris Hayes, for a recent episode of his Why Is This Happening? podcast. Check it out below:

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As the white smoke cleared, Robert Prevost of Chicago became Pope Leo XIV, the first ever American pope.

That revelation quickly gave way to an even more important one: Bob seems to have a Twitter account. Online sleuths quickly shared a February post from an account in his name sharing a National Catholic Reporter headline: J.D. Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love of others. The account also retweeted defenses of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a call for prayers for George Floyd and his family and a 2017 post from Jim Martin (a well-known liberal Jesuit I briefly worked with during an internship at America Magazine) reading: Were banning all Syrian refugees? The men, women and children who most need help? What an immoral nation were becoming. Jesus weeps.

At least one contingent of the right is happy; the executive director of the Pro-Life Action League sent around a statement highlighting a reported comment the pope made during a homily this year: Gods mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks  the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journeys end  because each bears Christs face.

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The political portrait that emerges is baffling to the American mind: liberal on immigration and the poor, conservative on abortion. Its also a fairly typical Catholic profile, in a church that both urges social justice and care for the marginalized and also opposes abortion, women in the priesthood and same-sex marriage.

The MAGAverse, though, isnt waiting for confirmation that the Twitter account is Prevosts. It has seen enough  and it doesnt like the cut of the new popes jib.

MARXIST POPE! bellowed Laura Loomer in response to the George Floyd retweet.

The new pope seems to be anti-Trump and pro-open borders, tweeted Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist, reacting to Prevosts alleged retweet of a Washington Post article headlined: Cardinal Dolan: Why Donald Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic. Dolan, for what its worth, is a conservative who often cozies up to President Trump.

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Here is the new pope attacking Trump, Jack Posobiec, a far-right activist, lamented in response to the same retweet.

Is it too much to hope that some 20-year-old ran the new popes X account and he never looked at it? grasped Megyn Kelly.

Nightmare, Catturd tweeted gloomily.

Many liberals loved Pope Francis not because he was progressive by American political terms  he maintained throughout his life that abortion is murder, and did not change doctrine forbidding same-sex couples from marrying in the church  but because he expressed warmth and acceptance towards LGBTQ people far beyond what his anti-gay predecessors had shown. He also championed the dignity of immigrants and refugees, advocated for environmental stewardship and appointed more women to senior Vatican roles than any other pope. For a worldview long boxed out of the highest ranks of Catholicism, Francis posture was a sea change.

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But MAGAism brooks no dissent, tolerates no heterodoxy. Any departure from or criticism of Trumps worldview, even indirect, is grounds for excommunication.

 Kate Riga

Well, Which Is Worse?

Now that Trump has dropped Ed Martin as his nominee to permanently hold the position of D.C. U.S. Attorney  due to Republican heartburn about his Jan. 6-related antics (not his recent targeting of Trumps perceived political enemies, of course)  the President is reportedly mulling another trollish option to, at least temporarily, run the office. Per ABC News:

President Donald Trump is strongly considering installing Fox News host and former prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Double Take

In what appears to be a bid to help House Republicans who are at a standstill over how to get away with hoodwinking Americans into thinking massive cuts to Medicaid are a good thing  while hardliners in the conference claim they wont support a bill that adds to the deficit  Donald Trump reportedly instructed congressional Republicans to  raise taxes on the wealthy.

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Its a surprising and somewhat contradictory directive from the President who also wants Republican lawmakers to extend his 2017 tax cuts, which primarily benefited the wealthy, as part of the same legislation. (Its also, obviously, a policy proposal historically supported by progressives, not Trump and his billionaire buddies and not the Republicans in Congress who are at an impasse.) Trump may see the maneuver as a remedy, a way to break the logjam that is currently holding House Republicans back from releasing the text of the targeted cuts they need to make to pay for the 2017 tax cut extension. In theory, it could address hardliners demands that the deficit not increase or give House Republicans a bit of breathing room to slash less of Medicaid.

Whether any faction of the House Republicans will be able to swallow such a tax hike, in practice, is another matter.

From WaPo:

Trump, in recent conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), said Congress should raise taxes on some of the highest earners, according to two people familiar with the presidents position, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the issue publicly. Administration officials have discussed several options for doing so, including allowing the top tax rate to revert back to Obama-era levels. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also floated creating a new tax bracket for those earning more than $5 million per year.

Investigating The Investigators On Steroids

Trumps Justice Department has opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a case that led to a $354 million fine for Trump after a New York judge found that he and the Trump Organization were liable for inflating his wealth and assets in order to secure loans, among other things. Attorney General Pam Bondi referred the investigation to New Yorks Northern District instead of SDNY. The statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the New Yorks North District to the Times Union was inappropriate  at best.

This is being handled at this time by main (Department of) Justice and the Albany FBI field office, said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, who oversees the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Yorks Northern District. We stand prepared to act in the capacity that we need to when and if we are informed theres a charge to be made. Unlike Letitia James, who unethically ran around the state campaigning on getting Donald Trump my office conducts itself in a manner that is proper and professional.

In Case You Missed It

Inside One Venezuelans Last-Minute Escape From a Flight to CECOT

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New episode of the Josh Marshall Podcast: Ep. 372: Culture War Losses

On Day Griffin Concedes, Another Republican Power Grab In North Carolina Becomes Official

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Two men were arrested in connection to the armed robbery of a postal worker, according to Akron Police.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to CBS affiliate WOIO, 18-year-old Aarynn Rodgers and 20-year-old Dennis Harris were arrested Wednesday.

WOIO says police believe they targeted the mail carrier for his arrow key to open mail boxes.

Rogers wore a ski mask as he flashed a gun at the mail carrier, according to WOIO.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The mail carrier gave up his keys and Rogers left the scene in a getaway car allegedly driven by Harris, WOIO says.

Officers tracked the car to a nearby apartment building and found the suspects. They were taken into custody after a short foot chase and officers were able to recover the key, according to WOIO.

Rodgers was charged with aggravated robbery and Harris was charged with obstruction of justice, according to WOIO.

Both Rodgers and Harris are in Summit County Jail.

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May 8AUGUSTA  Maine's attorney general urged the U.S. Supreme Court to deny an emergency request from a censured state lawmaker to restore her voting rights.

"Like other censures of Maine House members, the censure resolution required Rep. (Laurel) Libby to apologize for her conduct  not recant her views. Rep. Libby has steadfastly refused to comply with this modest punishment, which is designed to restore the integrity and reputation of the body," Attorney General Aaron Frey wrote in a nearly 50-page brief filed Thursday in response to Libby's appeal to the nation's highest court.

Libby, R-Auburn, has asked that she be allowed to vote in the House of Representatives while she challenges the censure in U.S. District Court in Maine.

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Frey's filing said Libby's request calls on the Supreme Court "to insert itself into this intra-parliamentary dispute and, for the first time, pierce legislative immunity for core legislative acts."

House Democrats voted to punish Libby for a viral social media post that featured photos of a transgender high school athlete, leading to safety concerns for the individual and school district.

Libby filed her emergency Supreme Court appeal on April 28, after two lower courts ruled against her request.

She has argued that her voting rights should be immediately restored so she can represent her constituents while her lawsuit against House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, plays out.

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Libby's appeal was filed with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. One of the court's four liberal justices, she is overseeing emergency requests from the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. She could either rule on the application or refer it to the full court.

Libby has argued that the censure violates her First Amendment right to free speech and 14th Amendment right to due process. While she's prevented from speaking or voting on the House floor, she can testify before legislative committees and introduce legislation.

House rules dictate that a censured lawmaker may regain their speaking and voting rights if they issue a public apology. Libby has refused to do so and in the process has generated national attention and fundraising opportunities.

Libby traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to participate in a news conference with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Riley Gaines, who is helping lead the charge nationally against transgender athletes, to announce the Trump administration's lawsuit against Maine for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports.

Note: This story was updated May 22 to correct a reference to Libby's emergency appeal. It asks only that her votes be counted in the Legislature.

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One of Britains biggest chemical plants is at risk of closure after the sites Saudi owners paused a multimillion-pound upgrade project.

The Olefins 6 cracker facility in Teesside, controlled by Sabic, employs hundreds of workers and had been undergoing a major conversion to run on gas feedstock.

But Sabic paused that work months ago and is now understood to be on the verge of announcing the plants closure amid spiralling costs and concerns about high energy prices.

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The company, which is owned by Saudi state oil giant Aramco, has not responded to a request for comment.

However, bosses recently said they were looking to scale back their European presence or exit the region entirely. Another cracker in the Netherlands was shuttered last year.

The closure of one of the UKs most significant chemical plants would deal a fresh blow to the Government as it prepares to unveil its industrial strategy.

Earlier this year, chemical company bosses warned Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, to expect mounting closures as the industry reached breaking point.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of Britains richest men, has also warned the UKs multibillion-pound chemicals industry faces extinction because of soaring energy costs and the shift to net zero.

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Sources close to Sabic suggested the plants closure was partly due to Britains high energy prices as well as the perceived lack of interest shown by the Government in the crisis-hit sector.

Olefins 6 is the second-largest cracker in Europe and has been a feature on the Teesside skyline since it began operating in the late 1970s, notable for its bright flaring. The plant uses extreme heat to break down, or crack, hydrocarbons into ethylene, a raw material used by other neighbouring Sabic plants.

Jos Visser, site director of Sabics Teesside operation, confirmed to local newspaper TeessideLive that the crackers conversion had been paused but insisted it had not yet been mothballed.

He said the company needed to reaffirm the business case, adding: Also, we needed to understand what the cost was of completing project from where we were at that moment.

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I think you see more companies holding back their new investment plans to sort of wait and see how the market is going to develop. Were exactly in that position.

However, sources warned an announcement may be imminent.

An email sent this week to employees at Wilton International, which runs nearby facilities and counts Sabic as a major client, said the company had been advised that no decision has been taken.

Ben Houchen, the Mayor of Tees Valley, said he was seeking urgent talks with Sabic executives to see whether local jobs could be saved.

He added: This is concerning news that I know will cause uncertainty for those employed within the chemical sector in Teesside.

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Teesside was built on its industrial heritage and whilst this is a decision that has been taken overseas, I will be fighting with everything I have to try and safeguard our chemical sector.

The Government cannot allow the chemical industry to fail on their watch. Their Industrial Strategy cannot be defined by industrial failure. They must act and save these good quality jobs.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
An unexpected landslide resulted in a large oil spill in Ecuador. The landslide affected the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System. As crews work to clean up the mess and repair the infrastructure, Petroecuador, the state oil company, declared force majeure on the pipeline.

What's happening?

The emergency measure essentially means that Petroecuador will not fulfill contracts. Bloomberg reported that Shell had previously purchased 1.8 million barrels of oil from the company.

Ecuador is a major producer and exporter of oil. The country generates roughly 475,000 barrels a day and exports about 72% of that. The pipeline  known as SOTE for Sistema de Oleoducto Transecuatoriano  is the main way Petroecuador transports the oil 500 kilometers from the Amazon to the Pacific Ocean.

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The spill polluted the Esmeraldas River in Esmeraldas province. Vilko Villacis, the mayor of the capital city, Esmeraldas, described the damage as "unprecedented." Residents attempted to build dikes to contain the spill, but they proved ineffective.

Why are oil spills important?

Global reliance on the burning of oil for energy comes with severe environmental consequences. Accidents caused by the drilling and transport of oil are all too common. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the toxic makeup of oil can lead to severe health problems for plant and animal life after a spill.

And this doesn't even take into account the massive amounts of pollution that come from the burning of oil. It affects everything from air quality to ecosystem health. It has also been linked to severe health problems for people around the world.

This is only the latest oil spill to affect water and marine life. Severe storms in the Kerch Strait led to an oil spill in the Black Sea. Russia President Vladimir Putin called it "one of the most serious environmental challenges we have faced in recent years."

What's being done about oil spills?

Singapore is no stranger to oil spills because of the Singapore Strait, one of the busiest sea lanes in the world. The government continues to develop a variety of tools to help detect and clean up oil spills quickly and efficiently. This includes drone technology as well as lasers that could eliminate the need for hazardous chemicals in the cleanup process.

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While companies take measures to safeguard their shipments and governments do their best to regulate the industry, the truth is spills are inevitable. The only way to prevent them is to continue to diminish the reliance on oil by transitioning away from the dirty fuel and toward clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and water.

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.
President Donald Trumps aides have been camera-ready for years.

Keeping true to his first term, the president has relied on Fox News pool of talent to shape his administration once again, plucking the networks fiercest and most loyal constituents to serve beside him for Trump 2.0.

While Trumps first term saw him employ former Fox News contributors like John Bolton into high-ranking roles, his second term has seen him gravitate toward even bigger stars on the networks programming, nabbing several primetime mainstays and plopping them in the Oval Office instead.

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From Pete Hegseth to Sean Duffy, here are some of the biggest former Fox employees Trump has appointed to top roles in the White House.

Jeanine Pirro

Jeanine Pirro was announced acting attorney for the District of Columbia in May. / John Lamparski/Getty Images

Prior to working on Fox News, Jeanine Pirro had an expansive career in politics and law which saw her achieve multiple milestones like becoming the first woman to be elected as district attorney of Westchester County in the 90s.

Pirro joined Fox News in the 2000s and was the host of Justice with Judge Jeanine from 2011 to 2022. She then became a co-host of The Five in 2022, before leaving the network to fulfill her appointment as acting attorney for the District of Columbia. Her support of Trump has seen her push numerous conspiracy theories, including doubts around his 2020 election loss. She was named in litigation against Fox by Dominion Voting Systems. Fox eventually settled with Dominion for $787.5 million.

Pete Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used to co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend. / Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014. He later became the co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend between 2017 to 2024, before assuming his tenure as the head of the Pentagon. His role has hit a shaky start with Signalgate defining a large chunk of his appointment so far, while reports of chaos inside the Pentagon are exacerbating concern.

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Prior to both his careers at Fox and the White House, Hegseth served in the Army as an infantry officer in the National Guard.

Sean Duffy

Sean Duffy used to work as a co-host on Fox Business. / Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Sean Duffy had a long career in politics prior to becoming secretary of transportation. Between 2011 to 2019, Duffy served in Congress as the representative for Wisconsins 7th Congressional District.

Following his resignation, he moved on to Fox Business where he became a co-host of The Bottom Line with Dagen and Duffy for some time before being appointed into his current role by the president. As transportation secretary, Duffy faces the gargantuan task of re-hauling the air traffic control system.

Kimberly Guilfoyle

Kimberly Guilfoyle used to be a co-host on The Five. / Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

Before she was Trumps nominee as U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimbery Guilfoyle was a staple at Fox News for over a decade.

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Guilfoyle worked at the network between 2006 to 2018, where she also co-hosted The Five. The former television host was also engaged to the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., before their split in 2024.

Dan Bongino

Deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Dan Bongino used to host his own show on Fox. / Jason Koerner/Getty Images

Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), had a storied career in law enforcement before becoming a commentator and media personality at Fox News.

Between 2021 to 2023, the FBI head hosted Unfiltered with Dan Bongino, having already been a contributor at the network since 2019. He also hosted a five-part series on cancel culture for Foxs streaming service, Fox Nation, called Canceled in 2021.

Tammy Bruce

Tammy Bruce was a longtime Fox News contributor and hosted her own show. / Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Prior to becoming the spokesperson for the Department of State, Tammy Bruce was a Fox News contributor and longtime political commentator.

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She also hosted Fox Nations Get Tammy Bruce which ran between 2019 to 2023.

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee hosted his own show on Fox News for seven years. / Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Mike Huckabee is currently serving as the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Prior to his appointment by Trump, he hosted an eponymous talk show, Huckabee, on Fox News between 2008 to 2015 and was a regular contributor at the network.

Huckabee also served as the governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007.

Richard Grenell

Richard Grenell was a Fox News contributor before assuming several roles within Trump's two terms. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Richard Grenell was a former Fox News contributor before serving as Trumps special presidential envoy for special missions.

He also assumed several roles during Trumps first administration, acting as U.S. ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020, and later, as special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo negotiations from 2019 to 2021.

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He has clashed in recent weeks with performers who are unhappy with Trumps conservative takeover of the Kennedy Center.

Tom Homan

Border czar Tom Homan was a regular commentator on Fox. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Border czar Tom Homan was a Fox News contributor and commentator for years before taking charge of the nations borders.

During Trumps first term, Homan served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement between 2017 to 2018. He then became a contributor at Fox News, where he often spoke on immigration.

Tulsi Gabbard

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard became a contributor at Fox News in 2022. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Prior to becoming director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard had a lengthy career in government, serving as representative for Hawaiis 2nd Congressional District from 2013 to 2021.

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In 2022, she also became a contributor at Fox News and has made numerous appearances on the networks programming.

Trumps appointees list also includes a handful of former Fox contributors and even associate producers. Some of them are:
By Portia Crowe

DAKAR (Reuters) - An attempt by Mali's military government to stamp out public dissent by banning all political activity will be put to the test on Friday as critics wary of security and economic woes call for protests.

Authorities on Wednesday announced that all work by political parties and other political organisations had been suspended until further notice to preserve public order.

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The move came ahead of planned protests in the capital, Bamako, and the city of Segou against the government, which came to power after coups in 2020 and 2021.

Government critics, including activists and opposition politicians, appeared keen to build momentum after unprecedented public gatherings on May 3 and 4 in Bamako. Those were triggered by recommendations from a national council of political actors to hand military leader Assimi Goita a five-year mandate and dissolve all political parties.

Several hundred participants carried placards displaying messages calling for multi-party elections and chanted slogans such as: "Down with dictatorship, long live democracy."

While organisers of Friday's protest postponed the event until further notice, calls for civil disobedience nonetheless circled on social media.

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A spokesperson for Mali's Ministry of Security and Civil Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The likelihood of a mass popular uprising remains low for now, especially in a country like Mali where multiple political opponents and government critics have disappeared from public view, including one on Thursday, according to his party - but analysts said the coming days will be a critical test.

If protesters come out in larger numbers than last weekend, and are perhaps tear-gassed or arrested, it could result in an even stronger backlash, said Benedict Manzin, an analyst with strategic risk consultancy Sibylline.

If a similar number of demonstrators, or fewer, take to the streets "because people have been intimidated into silence, then this will probably just go away", he said.

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WORSENING SECURITY

While the council's recommendations on dissolving political parties and granting Goita a five-year mandate were an important trigger, the protests last weekend highlighted anger over a broad range of issues in a country where military leaders - who took power promising to stem the threat posed by jihadist groups - have instead overseen a worsening security situation.

"There are many factors," said a Malian security analyst in Bamako who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. They include insecurity as well as social issues like power cuts, the high cost of living and job losses.

"The longer it goes on, the more unsustainable it becomes," he said.

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Much of northern Mali remains out of government control, and jihadist groups are expanding their reach and carrying out more frequent attacks around Bamako.

Last September, Al Qaeda affiliate Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed an attack in the capital that hit an elite police training academy and the airport.

With insecurity as rampant as ever, military governments not just in Mali but in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger - all former French colonies - have leaned on anti-colonial rhetoric to justify their rule.

"But that gets old," said Manzin.

"Livelihoods are being destroyed, the population are under threat of attack - eventually, what you need is just stability and economic well-being."

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Rather than a public uprising, a stronger threat to the current leaders would likely come from within the government itself, said Byron Cabrol, senior Africa analyst at Dragonfly.

"A wave of protests would not be enough to kind of incentivise someone [within the military government] to take action," he said, "but it's undoubtedly a contributing factor, among many others."

(Reporting by Portia Crowe; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Sharon Singleton)
May 9A Dayton man is facing charges after he reportedly raped and sexually abused a 10-year-old.

Anthony Jordan Lewin, 28, was charged with two counts of rape of a person younger than 13 in Dayton Municipal Court.

Dayton police began investigating Monday after the child reportedly told their mother Lewin raped them.

A sexual assault kit was done at the hospital, and Lewin was interviewed Monday night.

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Lewin said the child touched him under his clothes and engaged in sex acts with him twice, according to court documents.

The child was interviewed on Wednesday and provided details of multiple incidents of alleged sexual assault.

A second child spoke to police and said they were suspicious when Lewin and the 10-year-old were in a room with the door closed, according to an affidavit.

Lewin was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with a string of arson fires in NYCHA developments, the FDNY announced Thursday.

Unique Cherry was charged with arson and criminal mischief, among other charges.

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Cherry was identified as a suspect in a fire at 1430 Bergen Street in Brooklyn in January, officials say. He was eventually arrested on May 6.

During interrogation, Cherry confessed to the fire at Bergen Street, in addition to two other fire incidents, officials say.

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The Brooklyn District Attorneys Office will prosecute the case.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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(FOX40.COM)  Turlock Police Department responded to reports of a suspicious person attempting to force entry into a residence while yelling profanities on Tuesday night.

 Video above: How to report a public safety threat

According to TPD, the incident happened on the 500 block of Angelus Street at around 9:30 p.m. While the officers were responding to the scene, the dispatch received more information that the suspect was armed and had fired a gun, as many people heard gunshots.

When crews arrived at the scene, they found a woman who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen, said TPD. Her injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, and she was transported to a local hospital to be treated for her wound.

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TPD stated that officers attempted to stop a vehicle from fleeing the area after they believed that the vehicle was involved in the incident, but lost sight of it during the pursuit.

Man sentenced to 26 years for rape and child abuse in San Joaquin County

Witnesses who were at the scene identified the suspect as 25-year-old Eric Martinez of Delhi, according to TPD. Investigators later confirmed that the suspect and the victim know each other.

TPD said that detectives along Turlock Police Department SWAT Team got a search warrant at Martinezs home in Delhi and collected evidence that was related to the case.

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Authorities said that on Thursday morning, Martinez turned himself in voluntarily at the Turlock Public Safety Facility and was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on the following charges.

Two counts of attempted murder

Child endangerment

Felon in possession of a firearm

Felon in possession of ammunition

Evading a peace officer

At this time, this remains an active investigation, and police are asking if anyone has any information to contact Detective Urban at (209) 668-6571.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man from Springfield was arrested and charged with possession to distribute cocaine after officers found 20 individually packaged baggies during a search of a barber shop in West Springfield.

In a news release from the West Springfield Police Department, at around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers conducted a search warrant at West Side Cuts barber shop located at 84 Westfield Street. All parties in the barshop shop were searched, and officers found 20 individually packaged baggies, approximately 15.7 grams of suspected cocaine on Erick Rolon Reyes.

Woman sentenced for witness intimidation in Berkshire County case

Erick Rolon Reyes (West Springfield Police Department)

Reyes, from Springfield, was arrested and charged with possession to distribute a Class B substance (cocaine), a subsequent offense.

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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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A Northwest D.C. man has been arrested and charged in a fatal Dupont Circle stabbing, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

MPD said officers responded to reports of a stabbing on Dec. 30, shortly before 4 p.m., in Dupont Circle, Northwest.

Five arrested in connection with two armed carjackings in Northeast DC, police say

There, a man was found unconscious, suffering from a stab wound, and was transported to the hospital by DC Fire and EMS.

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MPD said, despite all life-saving measures, the man identified as Dominique Ratiff, 36, died from his injuries.

According to MPD , on Thursday, May 8, Donald Shields, 46, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

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Previous story: Man shot to death at busy intersection near Tampa; deputies searching for suspect

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A man was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that happened on June 17, 2024, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office announced.

Deputies responded to a report of a shooting just before 3 p.m. on June 17, 2024, in the roadway near Regents Park Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

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Deputies arrived and found Kyle Prisco, 24, dead at the scene.

Terrance Robinson, 34, was previously arrested on July 23, 2024, for accessory after the fact in the investigation, but additional charges have been filed against him in connection with the shooting, HCSO said.

A second suspect, Forrest Jackson, 34, was identified as the suspected shooter and was deported to the U.S. from Jamaica.

New evidence confirmed Robinsons involvement leading up to the shooting, and he is now facing a murder charge for his role in the incident that led up to the victims death, deputies said.

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This individual thought he could avoid accountability, but our detectives remained relentless, said Sheriff Chad Chronister. Violent acts like this will never be tolerated in Hillsborough County, I hope the arrest brings some measure of peace to the victims loved ones, knowing justice is being served.

Robinson was taken into custody on Thursday by the Marion County Sheriffs Office and is waiting to be extradited to Hillsborough County.

Robinson is facing robbery and first-degree felony murder charges.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The man accused of attacking a homeowner in SE Portland and yelling slurs at Spanish workers was arraigned in court on Thursday, officials say.

According to investigators, Caleb Moyer was the man caught on camera cursing at the workers near SE 42nd Avenue and Rex Street. Police said Moyer appeared to be upset over the ethnicity of the crew.

When confronted, Moyer threatened and punched the man in the face in front of his 5-year-old daughter, authorities say.

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Moyer faces multiple assault charges from the incident.

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A north Georgia jury has convicted a Tennessee man of attacking his family because of the way dinner was prepared, prosecutors say.

Stefon Smith, 43, was convicted of child cruelty, false imprisonment and family violence battery. He was sentenced to 50 years with the first 30 years to serve in prison.

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Prosecutors say that in May 2023, Smith was living with the mother of his 9-month-old, the baby and the womans 3-year-old and 5-year-old from a previous marriage.

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They say Smith complained about the way dinner was prepared before yelling at the family and breaking things.

The mother locked herself and the children in a bedroom. When Smith got into the bedroom, prosecutors say he threw the 5-year-old and held the mother down on the 9-month-old.

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Smith proceeded to hold a gun to his head and demand that the woman shoot him before eventually leaving the home.

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When the baby was being examined at the hospital, they found cocaine in her system. Smith later admitted to using cocaine and exposing the child to it.

In Tennessee, he might have gotten a talking to and probation. In Georgia, he got 50 years. If youre thinking about bringing your violent crimes across the border - dont. In northwest Georgia, we dont play, the district attorneys office wrote in a statement.

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Dirt is moving and the land that once housed Leroys Steakhouse in North Bend is getting ready for its newest occupant, the North Bend Rural Fire Protection District No. 9 fire station.

Paid for though a bond approved by voters in February, the plans for the volunteer firefighter station are underway as the group met with the architects last week, and the hope is to have the project done by the end of the year, said Pat Tawney, president of the North Bend Rural Fire District.

The current North Bend fire station, at 140 W. Seventh St., was built in 1971, and, throughout the years, as fire trucks and equipment has gotten bigger, the space has become quite cramped. With insufficient storage space, the truck area also became a catch all for everything including weights to workout. It became clear the fire district needed a solution.

A plan for a new fire station started around a year and a half ago with a committee of five. The group visited several recently built local fire stations and made notes of the items that they liked and what they didnt like. Working alongside volunteer fire department members, a plan started to form.

Jolene Tawney, Pats wife, drew the plans for the fire station. Utilizing his background serving in fire stations, Pat, who is retired from the Fremont Fire Department, and Jolene with her background in architectural drafting, they were able to save thousands of dollars by creating the plans themselves.

When it came to funding the project, the fire district turned to the citizens and put a bond up for vote. The bond is 3.6 cents per $100,000 valuation, not to exceed $3.4 million. Voters approved a bond in February with about 76% voting to approve the bond.

We really got a lot of support from this and that was really a good thing, Tawney said. We really appreciate all the community support weve had to this point and were looking forward to more as we move on.

The new build is an L shaped design. On one end, there will be a gear locker room where members can get dressed and come on to the apparatus floor, Tawney said. Next to the gear room will be a shop area where all the tools needed to fight a fire will be stored.

There will be male and female restrooms with showers. And in this same area, there will be space for members to store a change of clothing. If members go on a call and return needing to get cleaned up, they can do that here to avoid taking contaminants home from a fire. Washers and dryers will also be available.

Rounding out the west side of the building, will be an EMS room. This room will house all the supplies the rescue squad needs. Above this area will be storage.

Because of lack of parking at its current location, there will be parking along the west side of the new building, and an overflow area for members to park.

The truck bay will be in the middle of the building.

On the other end of the building, there will be a kitchen, meeting room and office space. Above this area will be a weight room, a day-room space where members will be able to spend off time and more storage.

We want to promote people to be there, Tawney said. Because if theyre there and we get a call, that just helps us out too. ... We want to have a nice place for them to come and be proud of and something that the whole town stands behind. Were excited about that.

The new fire station will be more than double the amount of space than in the current building, Tawney said.

The North Bend Rural Fire Protection District No. 9 provides fire and emergency medical services to a coverage area of 125 square miles which includes all the calls out of Morse Bluff. There are 28 volunteer firefighters, and they handle around 250-300 calls per year.

Its going to be awesome, Tawney said of having this new space.

The new fire station will allow for training that firefighters are unable to do now. There will be significantly more space for storage as well as space between vehicles. Ultimately, Tawney said, they are hoping this will help with recruiting and retention for the fire department.

As of this week, dirt is being moved to the site to raise it at least 3 feet for flood regulations. The building should be ordered in about a month and it should arrive in about two months, Tawney said. The building company will build it and ship it to be erected in North Bend.

The goal is to have the building complete and have members in the building by the end of the year, but it may take longer than that, Tawney said.

Were excited about it, I think its going well so far, Tawney said. Were at the point in this process of just crossing our Ts and dotting our Is and making sure the builders, the engineers, us, everybody are on the same page and were starting to get some work done. ... Its starting to speed up a little bit.

For more information on the fire district, visit northbendfire.com.
A man was convicted of murder and a gun enhancement Friday in a Merrillville hotel slaying.

Barry Blue Billingsley, 45, of Merrillville, was charged in the Oct. 2, 2021, shooting death of Anthony Gibbs, 36, of Highland.

His sentencing is June 4.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours. Billingsley did not testify. Jurors were also given a reckless homicide option to pick as an alternative to murder.

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In closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Maureen Koonce said several pieces of evidence put Billingsley there and strongly implied he shot Gibbs.

Gibbs was shot in the face and leg. Police collected 10 casings.

When Billingsley was arrested in a traffic stop a few days later with his girlfriend, cops found a Muppets Animal ball cap and jean jacket he appeared to wear on camera around the time of the shooting.

Koonce acknowledged they didnt know the motive. There was no sound to the hotel videos.

Billingsley told his girlfriend he wanted a shootout with the cops, Koonce said. He refused to voluntarily provide DNA, He was hiding a gun when they were pulled over.

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He also was caught later on a jail phone call  using another inmates account  asking another man to intimidate witnesses, including the girlfriend and make sure they dont show up.

Defense lawyer Casey McCloskey, representing Billingsley with lawyer Sonya Scott-Dix, emphasized the hotel videos had no sound.

Before the shooting, cameras caught Gibbs girlfriend talking to a friend in a vehicle. Suddenly, a different woman  Billingleys friends girlfriend  went up to the vehicle and started attacking Gibbs girlfriends friend who was sitting in the drivers seat.

Gibbs and the dog, as well as Billingsley and his friend, moved into the videos frame. Court records suggested the spat between the two women started a situation that escalated to the shooting.

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None of these people  who would have known what was said  were called to testify, McCloskey said, only Billingsleys girlfriend.

Prosecutors were in the position to pick and choose what the jury heard, he said.

They would rather have a silent witness, McCloskey said. They want you to assume there was an argument (between the men).

DNA was on the gun handle, not the trigger. They didnt know how long it was there, or how long the gun residue was on the jean jacket, he said.

Deputy Prosecutor Judy Massa countered that words were not enough to justify the shooting and that the evidence was overwhelming.

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When police were called Oct. 2, 2021 to the Economy Inn, 8275 Louisiana St. in Merrillville, and found Gibbs unresponsive around 6 p.m. on the sidewalk outside, shot in the face and leg, according to court documents.

Gibbs girlfriend tried to rent a room that day, but couldnt because she only had a photo of her identification. Gibbs was on a do not rent list, according to court documents.

About an hour before the shooting, they were at a different motel, where she saw an acquaintance and asked for a ride to a Super 8 to get some things and bring it back.

Hold on, the woman said before pulling into a spot in front of a room. Inside, Billingsley told another man to get Gibbs to leave, who was sitting on a chair outside the room.

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Oh, no, no, no, back up, Im not helping yall, Billingsleys friend said.

Just then, two police officers drove by. Billingsley told them to move along unless they were buying something, court records said.

The couple went to Economy Inn, where the woman failed to get a room without her ID. The woman saw a friend of hers and went up to chat with her in the SUV, court documents said.

Billingsley appeared from a room, with a gun in his pocket, then stepped outside, getting into an argument with Gibbs, according to the affidavit.

Didnt I tell you not to come around here, Billingsley said.

All right dude, Im leaving, Gibbs said, appearing to back away, documents said.

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As Gibbs leaned down to grab his bags, his girlfriend heard gunshots and felt her foot burning and her dog was yelping from getting shot, court documents said.

She didnt realize Gibbs had been shot until she saw him on the ground.

mcolias@post-trib.com
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man charged with attacking a clerk May 2 in a West Side store was taken into custody Thursday.

Matthew Whittenberger, 26, is expected to be arraigned later Friday in municipal court on a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony. He was taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Fugitive Task Force and booked into the Mahoning County jail.

Reports said police were called about 9:35 p.m. to a 3309 Mahoning Ave. store, and when they arrived, they found an employee outside on his knees rubbing the back of his head.

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The employee told police that Whittenberger came into the store but was not allowed inside because of a previous incident, and the clerk tried to escort him out.

Once outside, Whittenberger punched the employee, who tried to fight back but was overwhelmed, reports said. Whittenberger then reportedly left.

Police watched security video that showed Whittenberger punch the man, who then tried to punch him back. Whittenberger kept punching, and when the man fell to the ground, he continued to attack him before going to his car and driving away, reports said.

The employee was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to be treated for his injuries.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  An accused drunken driver has pleaded no contest to all charges  including second-degree murder  filed in connection with a deadly crash on Highway 65 that took place more than two years ago.

William Pederson, 56, made the open plea Thursday in Superior Court. He faces up to 30 years to life in prison, plus 16 years, at his sentencing hearing in July, prosecutors said.

Neither the judge nor prosecutors agreed to anything in exchange for his plea, District Attorneys Office spokeswoman Daniela Gonzaga said.

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Before his plea, Pederson had been set to stand trial next week for the crash that killed Juana Torres de Calderon, 53.

Early on Feb. 14, 2023, Pedersons Dodge Ram crossed double yellow lines and entered the opposing lane as he drove south on Highway 65, colliding with Torres de Calderons vehicle just north of Famoso Road.

At least 1 person seriously injured in N Rancho Dr crash south of Arvin: CHP

Pederson told officers he was returning home to Porterville after spending time with family in Sacramento. He said he drank about a six-pack of Coors beer.

Preliminary tests showed his blood-alcohol content at 0.158 and 0.156%, according to court documents, nearly twice the legal limit. His blood was later drawn for testing and the results revealed his BAC at 0.167%  plus he tested positive for methamphetamine.

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Pederson told investigators hes been arrested four times on suspicion of drunken driving  twice as an adult and twice as a teen. He has DUI convictions from 2014 and 2019 in Sacramento County.

Because of his convictions, Pederson was required to have an ignition interlock device on his vehicle requiring him to blow into a tube before driving. If alcohol is detected, the vehicle wont start.

There was evidence Pederson disabled the device, prosecutors said.

After being taken to Kern Medical for treatment of minor injuries, Pederson was asked if he could have avoided the collision if he hadnt been drinking.

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Theres a very good possibility of it, he said according to the documents.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Rochester police have launched a homicide investigation after a man was found dead last night on Orchard Street.

Officers responded to the scene around 9:45 p.m. Thursday night for reports of an injured person and possible assault. They found a man in his 30s on the north side of a building in a wooded area.

The victim, according to police, was already deceased and had a gunshot wound to his upper body.

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RPDs Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating this incident. Anyone with information or video is asked to call 911, the Homicide Unit at (585)-428-7157, Crime Stoppers at (585)-423-9300, or email MajorCrimes@cityofrochester.gov.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police are investigating an overnight homicide in downtown Kansas City.

One man is dead, according to police. They said the homicide happened near 10th and Wyandotte. Police were called to the scene around 2:30 a.m.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

According to KCPD, the man, later identified as 22-year-old Russell Mason, was found in a stairwell of a parking garage at 11th and Wyandotte with obvious bodily trauma. KCPD said a security guard discovered the body while conducting rounds.

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When EMS arrived, they pronounced him dead.

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Investigators are working to determine what led up to the homicide and what exactly caused Masons death.

Detectives are searching the area for witnesses and surveillance footage. Crime scene personnel will be processing the scene for physical evidence.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A man accused of dumping the body of a 2-year-old girl, who died after being punched, has been found guilty, according to the East Baton Rouge District Attorneys Office.

A jury convicted Phillip Gardner, 34, of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Phillip Gardner (East Baton Rouge Parish Prison)

The conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

A trial began last week for Gardner.

He was formally charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in January 2022.

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Gardner was accused of dumping the body of two-year-old Nevaeh Allen in Mississippi after she was punched and died.

Nevaeh Allen

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore issued a statement on Gardners conviction.

This trial took an emotional toll on all people involved, especially the family of Nevaeh Allen, who miss the bubbly and beautiful child she was. We are grateful to the jury who spent nearly two weeks exercising the utmost care and diligence. This case was clearly emotional to the jurors who heard these facts. Nothing can bring back this child who was murdered, but justice is done when those responsible for Nevaehs death are held accountable for their crimes. The guilty as charged verdict of second-degree murder and obstruction were just and clearly based on the horrible facts of this case.

I am extremely proud of the effort of all of the agencies involved and particularly the District Attorneys trial team for their outstanding effort in a very emotional and difficult case.

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Many agencies put forth their best efforts in what was initially an effort to hopefully locate a child that we all hoped would be alive. Just on the Sunday search alone there were over 100 persons searching the woods in MS from multiple agencies and groups with cadaver dogs. The search lasted several days, involving many people and agencies. Officers from many agencies were hitting the streets to find video surveillance, interviewing witnesses/neighbors. This work was occurring during a very difficult week, which saw 7 homicides in Baton Rouge.

Special thanks to the BRPD, LSP, EBRSO, and the FBI. All played integral parts in this case. Special thanks as well to the Hancock County SO in Mississippi that assisted in securing the scene Saturday night into Sunday morning back in 2021.

Background on the case

Officers contacted Gardner, who identified himself as the childs stepfather, on Sept. 24, 2021, about a missing persons report. He reportedly told police he woke up from a nap to find the front door open and the child missing.

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An affidavit stated that detectives later learned that the child had died after her mother, Lanaya Cardwell, 27, became angry and punched her daughter, which led the child to fall and hit her head on a cabinet. Gardner told investigators he attempted CPR after finding Allen unresponsive after he returned from dropping Cardwell off at work.

The Baton Rouge Police Department said Gardner admitted to not calling 911 or police to protect Cardwell and instead put Allens body in a suitcase, and traveled to Hancock County, Mississippi, to dispose of the body in a makeshift grave deep in the woods. He told detectives that he knew of previous incidents of abuse and did not report them.

According to arrest documents, a forensic pathologist said Allen had severe trauma, causing brain swelling, and could not rule out that she was still alive when her body was placed in the suitcase.

Gardner and Cardwell were arrested and later pleaded not guilty to charges.

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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services opened an investigation a little over a week after Allens death.

Trial for childs mother set for fall

Court records show Cardwells trial is set to start on Nov. 3, 2025. She was formally charged with second-degree murder in January 2022.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
(FOX40.COM)  A man was taken into custody on multiple charges related to sexual offenses that involved a minor, following a six-month-long investigation conducted by the Ceres Police Department.

 Video above: CEO of WEAVE Inc. describes how to help when victims of abuse seek assistance

According to CPD, the man has been identified as Christopher Rios, 27, of Pittsburgh. The investigation was initiated after the mother of a 16-year-old girl found suspicious messages on her daughters social media accounts, which raised some concerns that the minor had been communicating with an adult and possibly meeting with him.

Lodi City Council appoints acting city manager

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After an extensive investigation, detectives determined that Rios had traveled from the Walnut Creek area to Ceres to engage in sexual acts with a 16-year-old in exchange for vape pens and cash, said CPD.

Ceres police detectives drove to Walnut Creek, where the suspect was taken into custody without incident with the help of the Walnut Creek Police Department. He was then transported to the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center and booked on multiple charges that are related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

This case highlights the critical importance of parents and guardians regularly monitoring their

childrens activities on social media, said CPD. While the investigation remains ongoing, currently there is no indication of additional victims.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
As Yellowstone National Parks summer season is just beginning, a Florida man became the first to be gored by a bison Sunday in the park.

The attack against the 47-year-old man from Cape Coral, Florida, occurred at around 3:15 p.m. on Sunday in the Lake Village area of the park.

It was the first such incident of the year, according to a statement from park officials. There were two reported incidents of people injured by bison in 2024 and one in 2023.

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The man was gored by the bison after he approached it too closely, he sustained minor injuries and was treated by emergency personnel.

The statement from park officials said that the attack is still under investigation and gave no further details on the man or the incident.

Wildlife in Yellowstone are wild and can be dangerous, said the statement. Wild animals can be aggressive if people dont respect their space.

Lake Village, where the attack took place, is an area of campsites, cabins and a lodge on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.

One of the two reported incidents of people gored by bison last year was an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was seriously injured, per The Associated Press. In 2023, a woman from Arizona was significantly injured.

Tips for avoiding animal attacks

Here are some tips by Yellowstone National Park to help people stay safe around national parks:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (DC News Now)  The Annapolis Police Department is in search of a shooter involved in a Friday incident that left one man hurt.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting at 10:54 a.m. in the 1800 block of Bowman Court, where a man was found suffering from a gunshot wound.

MPD investigates homicide of 1-year-old girl in Northwest DC

Police said the man was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (410) 260-3439 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP and submit an anonymous tip.

Anyone with information that leads to an arrest or indictment may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

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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.
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that a Kiowa County deputy and the sheriff's office may be sued for a fatal vehicle collision because of alleged violations of state law, although the parties dispute whose actions caused the accident.
Jeffrey Endres allegedly drove his SUV into a family in a deliberate act of revenge, killing Dr. Kami Hansen and the family dog

The motive was reportedly tied to allegations of a "sensitive crime" committed by a Hansen family member against a child in Endres' family

Endres was found dead in his jail cell days after being charged with multiple felonies

A man in Wisconsin charged with intentionally driving into a family during a walk  killing the mother and the family dog  has been found dead in his jail cell.

Authorities confirmed that an individual was found unresponsive in their cell just before 6 a.m. Tuesday and later pronounced dead, prompting an ongoing investigation led by Madison Police. The Dane County Medical Examiner later identified the deceased as Jeffrey Endres, 49, according to WMTV and WMSN.

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Endres had been charged just a day earlier with multiple felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide, for allegedly driving his Chevrolet Traverse into a neighboring family walking their dog on April 28.

The crash killed 41-year-old chiropractor Dr. Kami Hansen and the familys pit bull terrier. Her husband, Paul Hansen, and their 13-year-old son were also struck and injured. The son was hospitalized with a concussion and required surgery, while Paul sustained minor injuries.

According to a criminal complaint cited by WTMJ, Endres was motivated by what prosecutors described as a sensitive crime allegedly committed by a Hansen family member against a child in Endres family.

Just hours before the fatal crash, Endres had received public records tied to that investigation. He and the Hansens had previously been close friends and neighbors, according to the complaint.

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Witnesses told police the SUV appeared to accelerate directly at the family. Paul Hansen recalled hearing the engine rev before the vehicle jumped the curb and hit them. One neighbor estimated Endres was driving at least 60 mph in a 25 mph zone.

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Despite these accounts, Endres told medical staff after the crash that he was driving 25 mph to a gas station and had simply lost control. He was treated for crash-related injuries at the hospital, where he also reportedly disclosed recent suicidal thoughts.

Police said Endres had been aware of the criminal allegations involving the children just hours before the crash.

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Deputy District Attorney William Brown said the crash was an act of revenge.

Endres was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of attempted homicide, and felony animal mistreatment.

A judge set his bail at $1 million on Monday. If convicted, he faced life in prison. His attorney, Emily Bell, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

A cause of death has not yet been released.



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The Washington State Patrol (WSP) arrested two brothers in separate pursuits on Wednesday night, WSP said in a release.

At around 8:20 p.m., WSP says troopers tried to pull over a Honda Civic on I-90 near Preston for improper merging.

After not stopping, troopers started a pursuit.

Video posted by WSP shows that while troopers were chasing the driver, an Infiniti G35 coupe, pulled up and started to interfere with the pursuit.

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The driver of the Honda lost their right rear tire and spun out trying to exit near Issaquah, while the Infinity went around and sped off back onto I-90.

The Honda drove away from troopers and back onto I-90 westbound in the wrong direction.

WSP troopers coming to assist further away on I-90, slowed down traffic in anticipation of the Honda heading their direction. Dashcam shows the driver coming toward troopers head-on and then swerving across all four lanes and crashing into a ditch on the shoulder.

State Patrol says that the driver, 21-year-old Victor A. Hernandez-Paredes, was arrested for eluding, reckless endangerment, obstruction, and DUI. A woman was also in the passenger seat with a child in her lap, but no injuries were reported.

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The Infinity was later seen on traffic cameras in Bellevue, and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) alerted WSP of its location.

18-year-old Daniel O. Hernandez-Paredes, the brother of the first driver, was found and arrested for eluding, reckless driving, and obstruction.
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who was already indicted by a grand jury once this year was handed a second indictment after reports state he violated a protection order and then jumped into a creek to avoid arrest.

Joshua Gallimore was recently indicted by a Columbiana County grand jury on felony charges of escape, violating a protection order, obstructing official business and a first-degree misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

The charges stem from an incident in the evening of Saturday, April 5, when deputies with the Columbiana County Sheriffs Office were called to a home on East Liverpool Road in reference to a protection order violation.

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When they arrived, deputies reported that Gallimore was in the front yard of the home with the person who had the protection order against him.

Gallimore was immediately handcuffed behind his back, reports state. Once handcuffed, Gallimore allegedly told deputies he wanted to go to rehab for his drug problem, while deputies informed him that was not the reason for his present arrest.

When a deputy turned to his cruiser to unlock the door, reports state Gallimore jumped and then ran. Deputies chased after him, but as he reached a steep decline that goes into the creek, Gallimore jumped down into the creek while he was still handcuffed behind his back, according to reports.

Those on scene said due to the steep decline, wet ground and debris, it was very difficult to get to the bottom of the decline and reach him in the creek, so they searched from the top of the hill before locating him between a rock and a tree by the bank.

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Reports state one deputy began to run down the hill, but then fell multiple stories and injured his knee. Another deputy tried a different approach and successfully managed the descent to apprehend Gallimore, removing him from the water.

The West Point Fire Department was called to the scene, which used a rope connected to a winch to lower crews to the bottom of the hill, where Gallimore was strapped to a sled and then pulled back up, according to reports.

Gallimores case is set for review by Judge Scott Washam at the end of the month.

Court records additionally show Gallimore was secretly indicted in January on drug charges. That case is still ongoing.



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SALEM, Ohio (WKBN)  A man from Dover was arrested in Salem Thursday following an undercover sex sting by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from Salem police.

Investigators say that Michael Marsh, 45, responded to an online advertisement requesting various sexual acts, including wanting a female to vomit on him and do lines of ecstasy off her buttocks.

When Marsh arrived at the pre-determined location, investigators said that he brought with him suspected methamphetamine, ecstasy, various types of smoking paraphernalia, restraints, sexual enhancement apparatuses, a pacifier, and a skirt.

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Marsh was immediately taken into custody.

Investigators said they learned that Marsh was a prior registered sex offender in Ohio from 2007-2017, stemming from the felony convictions of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning in connection with a 14-year-old victim.

Marsh was booked into the Columbiana County Jail on charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. The Salem Police Department also charged Marsh with possession of drug paraphernalia, and pending the lab analysis of the suspected narcotics seized, additional charges may be filed.

Marsh was arraigned Friday. He will be back in court in July.

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A man accused of making a false gun threat that set off an active shooter lockdown at the Kansas City IRS campus on Pershing Road last year has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Anthony Alford, 46, of Kansas City, made the report of the fake threat to 911 on Sept. 10, saying a woman he had been dating, who was an IRS employee, had a gun and was threatening to shoot up the federal building at 333 W. Pershing Road, according to court documents. The call led to a law enforcement response at the campus and set off a lockdown as the agency announced there was an active shooter in the building, officials said.

Alford was eventually arrested, and he pleaded guilty to a count of intentionally conveying false and misleading information in January in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. A federal judge sentenced him to three years in prison Wednesday.

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After the 911 call, Kansas City police, Department of Homeland Security officers and IRS security responded and detained the woman who worked at the IRS building. She was handcuffed but was eventually cleared.

She reported that she dated Alford for about a month and had been trying to break up with him for about a week. She said Alford had never been violent but that he had exhibited controlling, possessive and jealous behavior, according to court documents.

Before the 911 call, he had repeatedly called and messaged her and threatened to involve the police, authorities said. In one message the morning of the 911 call, he reportedly said, On the phone with IRS police have fun when you get there.

Police arrested Alford two weeks after the incident, and in an interview, he told law enforcement he had been drinking alcohol when he called 911..

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Alford expressed regret about making the false 911 call admitting that he was drunk and pissed off, a federal agent wrote in court documents.

In court documents, Alfords attorney, Marc Ermine, asked for a seven-month sentence with a requirement that Alford participate in alcohol treatment, saying his client has had alcohol abuse issues for decades.

The false report came after an argumentative text message exchange between Alford and the woman that was sent while Alford was drinking, Ermine wrote. He was arrested and admitted that he had been in an argument with the woman while he was drunk and that he had made the false report, Ermine wrote.

Ermine didnt respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.

Prosecutors requested a sentence of four years in prison, saying, Calling in a false report of an imminent mass shooting at a heavily populated federal building places everyone nearby in danger. Employees simply pulling into work are thrust into an appropriately armed and amplified, but wholly unnecessary, police protective response. The police too were both placed on high alert, but also diverted from other tasks for which they are needed because (Alford) was mad.
John Reid wants everyone to know he is not dead.

Anybody listening out there, John H. Reid III is alive, the Locust Grove resident told Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray.

But Reid has been officially dead as far as the federal government is concerned since early April.

That means his bank, credit cards, and even health insurance all think he is dead, too.

I found out I was dead by a letter I received on the 8th of April, a condolences letter from my insurance company, and then that was followed by a letter from Social Security, Reid said.

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That Social Security letter announced his benefits were cut off. On his most recent trip to the doctor, Reid was told his insurance was canceled.

I presented my Blue Cross Blue Shield card and my Medicare card, A and B, and they told me I wasnt in the system, he said.

It all comes back to the death master file that the Social Security Administration maintains.

Reid was, for some reason, listed as dead there, and that was communicated to places like banks and credit cards.

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The Social Security Inspector General told Channel 2 Action News that it is launching a new audit in the next month into reasons SSA recorded erroneous deaths and whether it complied with policy when correcting them.

For nearly a decade, Channel 2 Action News has been investigating mistakes with the Social Security death master file.

SSA collects data from states and from other sources, like funeral homes and financial institutions

In 2016, Gloria Ornsby told Gray that her home nurse stopped showing up, and her seizure medications couldnt be filled after she was mistakenly added to the death master file.

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Martin OMalley, the Social Security Commissioner under President Biden, said hes concerned that thousands of recent job cuts at SSA are leading to an increase in these incorrect death listings.

They are terminating peoples financial lives, making their bank accounts get closed, they cant open up a new bank account. Weve all seen what a hassle it is if our credit card or debit card gets hacked, well imagine that happening, and then you cant open up the new account, OMalley said.

The Reids had to come home early from their Florida vacation to try to fix this.

Can you imagine that? Waking up and then at zero, nothings in the bank account. I said, Oh, I guess well be going back home, Reid said.

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SSA said in a release posted in March on its website that less than one-third of 1% are erroneously reported deaths that need to be corrected.

Thats not much solace for Reid.

Its very stressful to be dead. If youre not dead, this will kill you, he said.

After repeated trips to the Social Security office, SSA now tells Reid he is officially resurrected from the dead, but he still has not received either of his missing retirement checks.

The Social Security Administration has not responded to our request for comment.

The Social Security Inspector General said its new audit is its first look at this topic since 2021 and will assess the effectiveness of SSAs internal controls related to detecting, preventing, and removing incorrect death reports for beneficiaries.

On its website, SSA said people incorrectly listed as dead should go to their local SSA office and should be prepared to bring at least one piece of current (not expired) original form of identification. Social Security takes immediate action to correct its records, and the agency can provide a letter that the error has been corrected that can be shared with other organizations, agencies, and employers.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  One person was hospitalized in stable condition following a shooting early Friday morning in the 600 block of North 15th Street, according to emergency medical services.

Baton Rouge police and EMS responded to the scene around 4:15 a.m. Officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. The Baton Rouge Fire Department was also called to assist.

Multiple police units and crime scene tape were visible at the location as detectives began their investigation. Authorities are currently working to determine a motive and identify a suspect.

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The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the BRPD Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more details become available.

Police identify suspect arrested in connection with armed robbery at Regions bank

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(FOX40.COM)  The San Joaquin District Attorneys Office released a statement sentencing a man to 26 years for rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

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DA Ron Freitas announced Bertin Melo Villanueva, 34, was sentenced to 26 years in state prison in the courtroom of The Honorable Richard Guiliani, after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges.

Both offenses are strikes under the California Three Strikes Law, according to SJDA. Villanueva also admitted to personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim and agreed to waive all custody credits set back to his arrest on April 12, 2024.

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This is the kind of predator we will never stop fighting to remove from our communities, said District Attorney Ron Freitas. The brutality and trauma this child endured are unspeakable. This sentence ensures that this defendant will never have the opportunity to hurt another innocent child again.

Suisun City Police investigate fatal train-pedestrian crash

According to authorities, during the sentencing, there was a statement from the victims family that was read aloud in court calling the defendant a monster and a coward and expressing relief that he will never do this to somebody else as justice is being served today.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Elaine Casillas, who is with the San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office, and investigated by Detective Allison Barsetti of the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  58-year-old Johnny Gibson was sentenced in D.C. to 90 months in federal prison after sex trafficking women, whom he kept under his control by supplying them with narcotics, officials said Thursday.

Gibson, aka Preach, pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2024, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. In addition to the 90-month prison term, Gibson is also required to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia (USADC).

According to court documents, Gibson recruited drug-addicted women to work as sex workers for his commercial sex enterprise that operated in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

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The enterprise ran from 1994 until Gibsons arrest at a motel in Brooklawn, New Jersey, on July 25, 2024.

Gibson placed online advertisements offering the womens sexual services. Some ads ran on websites that targeted the DMV. The attorneys office noted that in 2019, he ran ads in the District touting one woman that stated 100% Real and always discreet, always on time, fresh, and looking my very best. I always aim to please

When he was arrested in July 2024, Gibson gave a recorded statement in which he admitted to sex trafficking five women, acting as a pimp, procuring drugs for them, and controling the women by providing access to drugs, according to the attorneys office.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a 2024 fatal shooting south of downtown Wichita.

In March, Yancy Hermosillo pleaded no contest to a charge of aggravated battery in the death of 35-year-old Ladonte Ostrander. Ostrander was found sometime around 5:10 a.m. in the 1000 block of S. Market.

Ostrander died at the hospital. Hermosillo was initially charged with second-degree murder. However, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

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Charter bus headed to Emporia had liquid meth instead of passengers

According to court documents, defense attorneys argued that the judge should depart from sentencing guidelines because Hermosillo was not the gunman, and was only driving another man around to look for Ostrander, whom they believed to be responsible for breaking out a window of Hermosillos home, an act he saw as a threat to the safety of family and friends inside.

On Friday, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced Hermosillo to 84 months (7 years) in prison.

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Colorado lawmakers overturned a recent decision of the state Supreme Court in the final days of the legislative session, clarifying that the government cannot re-evaluate a juvenile defendant's competency to proceed without a judge's order.
DENVER (KDVR)  On Tuesday, a man pleaded guilty to 11 amended charges related to accusations of holding his Indonesian-born housekeeper captive and repeatedly molesting her over four years, and was immediately resentenced, according to a Colorado district attorneys office.

Homaidan Al-Turki, 56, stood trial in 2006 and was convicted of 18 charges, ranging from false imprisonment to unlawful sexual contact, extortion and theft stemming from 2000 to 2004, the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office reported on Thursday. Since then, Al-Turki has been serving his six-year-to-life sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Previous case reporting: Declassified documents show possible link between man in Colorado and 9/11

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He became eligible for parole in 2011, but didnt participate in the DOCs sex-offender treatment program, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office. Because he didnt participate in the program, he was prohibited from release, delaying his deportation back to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Turki has filed several motions with the court alleging that his defense counsel improperly represented him. A hearing to determine if Al-Turki qualified for post-conviction relief led to the DAs office agreeing to amend 11 counts if Al-Turki would plead guilty to them.

Those charges were all criminal attempt to commit unlawful sexual contact by physical force, and a judge sentenced Al-Turki to six years on each amended count to be served concurrently.

Mr. Al-Turki raised 6th Amendment concerns that his trial attorneysall four of them failed to adequately research Colorado statutes relating to sentencing for unlawful sexual behaviors, Chief Deputy DA Ann Tomsic said in a release. This issue, coupled with the nearly 19 years the defendant has served in prison and the difficulties retrying the case due to its age, unknown location of the victim, and death of witnesses, necessitated an agreement to a reduction in the eleven sex offense charges and their sentences, along with an understanding that he will be immediately removed from the United States.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took Al-Turki into custody on Tuesday and will remove him from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Turki has served nearly two decades in prison for his heinous and aggravated conduct, District Attorney Amy Padden said. Returning this convicted felon and sex offender to his home country ensures he will not be able to prey on anyone else in our community.

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Los Angeles police have apprehended the man allegedly seen on Ring doorbell cameras stalking the halls of a San Fernando Valley apartment building, then breaking into one of the units and killing the resident inside.

Erick Escamilla, 27, was taken into custody at a West Hills hospital, the culmination of a regional manhunt following a slaying late last month in Valley Village. The killing struck fear into residents and sparked questions about the length of time it took for police to discover the victim's body. The body was found three days after neighbors reported screaming and a fight inside the unit.

LAPD investigators caught up with Escamilla after tracking his whereabouts and narrowly missing him at least once in the last week. He was arrested Thursday evening on suspicion of murder.

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At a news conference Friday, Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that detectives had yet to uncover a motive for the killing, but may learn more once they interview Escamilla.

Escamilla, McDonnell told reporters, had lived a life of uncertainty, going back and forth between staying at his mother's home in the West Valley and sleeping on the streets. He was convicted of burglary in 2019, for which he served two years in prison, police said.

Menashe Hidras body was found April 26 inside his fifth-floor Valley Village apartment after an assailant broke into a neighboring unit, jumped from the balcony to his and attacked him, investigators said.

Three days before, neighbors had called 911 and reported hearing shouting and a struggle coming from the apartment. Officers responded to those calls, knocked on the door and left without finding anything.

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Hidras body was discovered inside his top-floor unit at the Ashton Sherman Village complex by officers doing a welfare check after a friend became concerned. Hidra was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prior to the latest allegations, Escamilla was facing misdemeanor charges in a February incident in the San Fernando Valley including trespass, entering a noncommercial dwelling and resisting arrest and was free on $10,000 bail. San Fernando police had previously arrested him in December.

LAPD officials said that social media rumors of a serial killer at large in the area were wrong and that, at this point, Hidra's death has not been connected to any other killings.

At Friday's news conference, McDonnell reiterated that the department was conducting an internal review of the officers' response to the initial 911 call, days before Hidra's body was discovered. Such a probe could take "weeks, or it could be longer than that," he said.

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And while he said that he expected officers in such situations to speak to neighbors to gather more information before clearing a call, he said that police can't rush into every home given the rise in so-called swatting calls  a dangerous prank in which people make false reports of violence in an effort to provoke a large emergency response.

He added that while he understood the public's anxiety around the case, he said that some of those fears would be "diminished" by the fact that it was a "very unusual, very isolated case" and not indicative of a broader crime wave.

The same day that Hidra's body was discovered, so was the body of Aleksandre Modebadze, who was beaten to death inside his Woodland Hills home. In that case, a woman inside the home called 911 and reported the assault, but officers who arrived knocked and left. Only upon returning later did they find Modebadze, mortally injured.

The suspects in the Woodland Hills homicide have been arrested.

A wall between Menashe Hidra's apartment in Valley Village and a neighboring, vacant one was stained with blood. (Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times)

In a recording of a police dispatch call before 4 a.m. April 23, a dispatcher is heard reporting the call to officers in the field: "Van Nuys units, possible ADW [assault with a deadly weapon] in progress ... caller hears two males fighting and wrestling, banging and yelling." Multiple law enforcement sources say police officers responded to the scene but never entered the apartment.

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A day before Hidra's body was discovered, LAPD officers investigated a burglary at the vacant apartment next door. Inside, officers found a shattered skylight and dried blood, according to two sources not authorized to discuss the investigation.

Investigators suspect the killer may have broken into the vacant apartment neighboring Hidra's through a skylight, then moved from the unit's balcony to his. McDonnell said Friday that there was no sign of forced entry into Hidra's apartment.

Blood was left on a stairwell door handle at the Valley Village apartment complex where Menashe Hidra was killed. (Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times)

Bloody handprints and marks were visible on the wall between Hidra's balcony and the vacant apartment when a reporter visited with residents last week. Blood was also visible on the door handle of a stairwell exit, where the assailant was seen fleeing the building in a video released by police.

Times staff writer Libor Jany contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.  A man wanted in connection with a stabbing during a hotel fight in Paducah, Kentucky, was arrested earlier this week in St. Charles County.

The Paducah Police Department reports that a 26-year-old Ricardo Esquivel Garcia was taken into custody Wednesday on warrant for first-degree assault.

St. Charles County police located Garcia at a home after receiving a tip from Paducah authorities. Garcia was booked into the St. Charles County Corrections Center, where he awaits extradition to Kentucky.

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Why Burger King cant use its name  or open  in one small Illinois town

The arrest stems from a fight Tuesday evening at a Paducah hotel. Investigators say several men had been drinking when a physical altercation broke out. A 40-year-old man told police he was stabbed during the fight and accused Garcia, though he had reportedly left the scene before officers arrived.

The man stabbed suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Paducah Police Department would like to extend their gratitude to the St. Charles County Police Department for their assistance, said the department via Facebook.

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LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The Laurens County Sheriffs Office is searching for a man in connection to multiple domestic violence charges.

35-year-old Manuel Cunningham Jr. is wanted on five counts of domestic violence in the county. He is also wanted for various weapon possession charges.

The Laurens County Sheriffs Offices asks for anyone with information on Cunninghams whereabouts to contact their office at 864-984-4967 or dispatch at 864-984-2523.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  An allegedly armed man was shot by police Thursday afternoon in Pacific Beach, authorities said.

The initial call to law enforcement was around 4:20 p.m. about a man wielding an axe at Dawes Street and Thomas Avenue near St. Andrews by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, according to the San Diego Police Department.

A transient man allegedly erupted while sitting at a computer in the Pacific Beach Taylor Branch Library, according to witnesses. People inside the library say the man, in his 50s, was wielding an axe, smashing computers and chopping at books, tables and chairs, before leaving through the librarys front door.

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Several commands were given to the individual to drop the weapon, and he did not. One officer fired several rounds, striking the subject, said Lt. Juan Marquez from the San Diego County Sheriffs Office.

Pope Leo XIV has several ties to San Diego

Stephanie Brown, a regular at the Pacific Beach library, said police were trying to get the suspect out of the library to keep all the patrons safe.

Witnesses told FOX 5/KUSI the man is a known transient who hangs around the area.

Ive seen knives, Ive seen guns, Ive seen drugs, but I havent seen an axe, said Cady Sliger, a neighbor of the library.

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Residents say living near a library has been a difficult experience.

Weve called the police multiple times, dealing with similar incidents, Sliger said.

The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He is expected to live, per investigators.

Hes a human being too, and I know drugs and alcohol are a terrible thing, but human beings deserve kindness, Brown said.

The San Diego County Sheriffs Office is investigating the shooting, with the FBI and the DOJ monitoring.

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The four new members of the Western New Mexico University board of regents met for the first time on April 9, 2025. (Screenshot of meeting)

Starting next month, regents on New Mexico university boards will have to complete 10 hours of training to prepare them for their roles in guiding academic institutions.

Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), directs the New Mexico Department of Higher Education to develop those training hours to include topics such as state law, financial management, institutional governance and student success. The HED is tasked with providing the training and ensuring regents comply.

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB19 on April 8 and the bill goes into effect on June 20. The bill states that current regents must complete the training by Dec. 31 this year.

Higher Education Department Spokesperson Auriella Ortiz told Source NM in a written statement that members of the department have started considering requirements and platforms for the training, which she said is projected to be completed by the end of the year.

Since the agency has provided a similar type of training for regents in the past, this process is not new to us, Ortiz wrote.

Steven Neville, a former state senator who represented San Juan County, recently took over as chair of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents. The entire board consists of four new members after previous members resigned or concluded their tenure in late 2024 and early 2025, following the boards controversial decision to award outgoing university President Joseph Shepard a $1.9 million severance package. Attorney General Raul Torrez filed a civil suit against Shepard and the board in an effort to recover the state funds. A hearing is scheduled in June to consider Shepards motion to dismiss the case against him.

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Neville told Source NM that he has a lot of knowledge about state law and financial management from his time as a lawmaker and member of the Legislative Finance Committee, which he will use in his new role, but university management is still different.

Therere certain things about the way universities run that are totally different than my county commission experience or my city council experience or even my state senate experience, Neville said. Ive been on several boards and commissions through the years, but nothing is exactly the same.

He added that all four members of the board need some aspect of the future training, despite everyones background. He said the HED provided all new regents with a short orientation over a couple of hours when they were first appointed, but hopes that future training also involves more explanation of higher education policies and funding intricacies that are a little different from one agency to the next.

Ortiz reiterated to Source that the HED already provides training to newly appointed and reappointed regents covering topics such as governance, ethics, fiscal management and state and federal laws.

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Adding a requirement of 10 hours will enhance a governing boards understanding of their appointed or elected positions in addition to the tools they need to better champion students, faculty and staff on their campuses, Ortiz wrote. It is important to note that Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez and our colleagues at the department are always available to assist governing board members at any time beyond the training sessions.

During the session earlier this year, Steinborn told Senate Education Committee members that he introduced the bill to ensure regents are prepared for their work in hiring university presidents, setting tuition and other actions that fundamentally impact students and faculty. SB19 was one of several bills and resolutions introduced this session that would have addressed the process for how regents are chosen and the preparation they receive for fulfilling their roles.

Steinborn also introduced Senate Joint Resolution 7, which would have required the governor to choose regent nominees from a pool of candidates approved by a nominating committee. House Joint Resolution 12, introduced by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), would have codified regents fiduciary duties; moved regent removal proceedings to the district courts; and allowed the attorney general or a majority of the board to initiate the removal of a regent. Both resolutions would have required a ballot vote to amend the state constitution, however both died in committee.

I think we owe it to our universities and our kids and taxpayers that we have the best regents we can get and that theyre trained, Steinborn said during the committee meeting.

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  Today is Friday, May 9. Heres a look at this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go.

A man, charged with the 2024 murder of Moody County Deputy Ken Prorok, was back in court Thursday afternoon.

Third attorney, specialist granted in 2024 murder case

A Nebraska man who was wanted in both Nebraska and South Dakota, is now in custody and faces charges in both states, as well as in federal court.

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Man arrested, facing SD, NE and federal charges

Rosie didnt mean to build a legacy when she bought Curlys Cafe back in 1984. She just wanted a place to cook good food, serve her customers and raise her daughter, Beckie. But today, the clock will stop. After 41 years, Rosies Cafe will close its doors.

Customers saying goodbye Rosies Cafe in Sioux Falls

A warm day and a warm weekend is ahead for KELOLAND. Dry skies will be rule for most of us, but we do have a few exceptions to that trend in the Black Hills today.

Fire weather watch on Mothers Day

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
A father facing charges in the death of his 2-year-old daughter was granted court approval to travel to Hawaii for a family vacation.

The defendant, Christopher Scholtes, of Marana, requested permission to travel to Maui from May 1 to May 9 with his wife and their two daughters, stating they planned to stay with friends of the couple.

Scholtes faces one count of first-degree murder and domestic violence, classified as a Class 1 felony. He also is charged with one count of intentional or knowing child abuse  a Class 2 felony  after being accused of endangering his daughter by leaving her in a hot car.

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A Pima County judge granted Scholtes permission to travel out of state for a family vacation. Court documents said, "The court finds good cause to grant the Defendant's Request to Travel."

According to court documents, at the time of the request, Scholtes was released on his own recognizance under the supervision of Pretrial Services. The documents also state that he signed a Waiver of Extradition and was instructed to contact his defense counsel and Pretrial Services officer upon his return to Arizona on May 10.

The Pima County Attorney's Office said, "The public record would show that the defendant and his counsel requested permission from the court to travel out-of-state. Our prosecutors strenuously objected. The court granted permission over our objection."

In March, Scholtes rejected a deal offering him a sentence between 10 and 25 years if he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He now awaits trial on the first-degree murder charge, which comes with the possibility of a life sentence if he is convicted.

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Scholtes' next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 11.

'Jake had the biggest heart': Family mourns man who died after Tucson bus stop hatchet attack

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marana father charged in death of child gets OK to go to Hawaii
Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlander, one of the last living Jewish survivors of the Nazi concentration camps, has died at the age of 103, the Margot Friedlander Foundation announced on Friday.

Friedlander, who was born in Berlin in 1921, went into hiding in the city and was eventually sent to the Theriesenstadt concentration camp in 1944, in what was then Czechoslovakia. Her father, mother and brother were killed in Auschwitz.

She and her husband, whom she met in Theresienstadt, emigrated to the United States in 1946.

After he died, she started to visit Berlin in the 2000s and moved back permanently in 2010 at age 88. She had working tirelessly telling young people in Germany about the Nazi regime ever since.
Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlander, one of the last living Jewish survivors of the Nazi concentration camps, has died at the age of 103, the Margot Friedlander Foundation announced on Friday.

Friedlander, who was born in Berlin in 1921, went into hiding in the city and was eventually sent to the Theriesenstadt concentration camp in 1944, in what was then Czechoslovakia. Her father, mother and brother were killed in Auschwitz.

She and her husband, whom she met in Theresienstadt, emigrated to the United States in 1946.

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After he died, she started to visit Berlin in the 2000s and moved back permanently in 2010 at age 88. She had working tirelessly telling young people in Germany about the Nazi regime ever since.

"Hate is alien to me," she once said.

She received a lot of recognition in Germany - a lovable, sprightly old lady who could tell such impressive stories. A prize for school projects on the Holocaust and today's culture of remembrance bears her name.

In June 2018, at the age of 96, she was named an honorary citizen of Berlin. To mark her 100th birthday, a book and an illustrated biography were published.

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In autumn 2023, public broadcaster ZDF produced a docudrama about her, coinciding with the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the horrific 1938 pogrom carried out by the Nazis.

The National Socialists launched a nationwide wave of terror against Jews on the night of November 9 to 10, 1938. According to the German Historical Museum, more than 1,300 people were killed, 1,400 synagogues were destroyed or damaged, 7,000 shops were attacked and 30,000 Jews were deported to concentration camps.

Even at 102, Friedlander remained active in public life, attending events such as a reception with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Last month, she delivered the keynote speech at the Federal Press Ball in Berlin.

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Friedlander spoke to schoolchildren and at official memorial ceremonies, including at the European Parliament in Brussels at the age of 100.

In 2011, she was awarded Germany's highest civilian honour - the Order of Merit - given for outstanding service to the nation.

One of her enduring messages was simple yet powerful: "We cannot change what happened, but it must never happen again."
Colorado's political world is in as close to a lull as it's likely to get this cycle  six months past the 2024 general election, days after the end of this year's regular legislative session, and with just over a year to go until voters begin casting primary ballots.
Brazil's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva takes part in the 11th Meeting of Environment Ministers from the BRICS member countries and holds a press conference at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on April 3. Credit - Ton Molina/NurPhotoGetty Images

Marina Silvas achievements may seem borderline miraculous. Since taking office for a second run as Brazils environment and climate minister in 2023, the country has quickly and dramatically reversed deforestation trends with strict enforcement of environment rules that had been abandoned by her predecessor. According to the most recent official account released last fall, Amazon deforestation had fallen to the lowest level in a decade. In 2023 alone, it dropped nearly in half from the prior year.

When we took office, we had deforestation on an ascending curve that was out of control, she told me on April 30. We had to rebuild institutions, command and control organizations, and increase public funding.

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And yet, as we met in her office in Brasilia, she was careful not to linger too long on the success. The Amazon rain forest is dangerously close to a tipping point that could rapidly reshape not just the worlds most famous rainforest biome but the whole planet. Once reached, the Amazon would lose the ability to sustain itself and vast swathes would transform into savannah, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and also a massive release of carbon dioxide. To halt it, she says, leaders will need to embrace new mechanisms to stop legal deforestation and catalyze efforts to reforest degraded landall while continuing ongoing enforcement work. But, she says, saving the Amazon will require work beyond Brazils borders: the world will need to slow its burning of fossil fuels.

Even if we can nullify deforestation, with climate change, if we don't reduce carbon from fossil fuel emissions, the forest will be destroyed anyway, she says.

For Silva, who was born and raised to a family of rubber tappers in the remote Amazonian state of Acre, this is the next step on a lifelong journey of Amazon protection. But its also a key, potentially make or break moment as Brazil occupies the center of the climate movement this year as it hosts the annual U.N. climate conference, COP30, in November.

We're already at the limit, at the changing, shifting point of the climate crisis, she says. There was a window of opportunity of not shooting over the 1.5 degree limit, and now it's just a sliver.

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Even a seasoned climate expert would be forgiven for struggling to track all the work happening in Brazil ahead of COP30. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known simply as Lula, has made climate a top priority with ministers across the government focused on tackling the issue. Silva, a national figure in Brazil who finished third in the 2014 presidential election, has turned her ministry into a central node in the effort.

While I was in Brazil, the government announced a $2 billion financing program to reforest up to 1 million hectares (about the size of the island of Hawaii) of degraded land in the Amazon. And in recent months Silva has doubled down on work with her counterpart in the finance ministry on a $125 billion fund aimed at protecting tropical forests around the world. Beyond the rain forest work, the government has rolled out a carbon price for domestic industriesand talked about how it might work with other countries to harmonize equivalent policies elsewhere.

Silva hopes that these efforts all come together at COP30 as part of a broader effort to make the conference a pivotal moment for the implementation of climate initiatives globally. She described the emerging COP30 goal as a global ethical stocktake: Lula and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres will hear from a wide group of stakeholdersfrom philosophers to Indigenous people to political leadershipwith an eye to helping the world chart a plan for putting climate solutions into action. We can't keep pushing things off, she says. We need to implement.

It goes without saying that this years climate negotiations will be rife with challengesperhaps none more significant than the challenge posed by the U.S. pullback from the international Paris climate engagement. Silva did not mince words on the role of the U.S. and the Trump Administration in muddying global climate discussions. Without my prompting, she criticized everything from his exiting the Paris Agreement to his decision to ice the National Climate Assessment. All of that leaves a massive gap in the necessary climate action, she says: Things have become more difficult, especially with the decisions of the Trump Administration.

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My visit to Brasilia happened to coincide with a key meeting of the BRICS countriesa group of emerging market countries that cooperate as a counterweight to U.S. and European power. In my hotel, I spotted the Chinese foreign minister walking through the lobby with his entourage along with other country delegations. But Silva says the rest of the world can't replace the actions needed from the U.S. We can't be deniers, not with geopolitics, not with climate, she told me. The vacuum created by the U.S. is the U.S.s vacuum.

She pointed to challenging geopolitics, in part, to respond to questions about Lulas own climate leadership. Despite his focus on the issue, some environmental activists have criticized him, saying he is moving too slowly and not doing enough. One area of particular concern: new oil exploration efforts in the Amazon region currently under consideration. Asked about the pending decision, Silva first pivoted to the stone-cold geopolitical realities. Oil demand remains high and supply is strained. The U.S. position has created a sense across the globe that fossil fuels will be around for a while.

The solution, she says, is a well-managed transition. What I defend is a fair transition, a planned transition for everybody, she says. When I say fair and planned, it's because it's not magic. COP30, with Brazil at the helm, is a good place to start implementing such a transition.

This story is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. TIME is solely responsible for the content.

Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com.
HIGH POINT  A historical marker recognizing Guilford Countys once-vibrant village of Florence will be unveiled this weekend, a permanent reminder of the community that existed here long before the establishment of High Point.

Sponsored by the city of High Point and the High Point Historic Preservation Commission, the ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the corner of Penny and East Fork roads, in the heart of where the community once stood.

It was a thriving village at one time, says Benjamin Briggs, the president and CEO of Preservation North Carolina, who lives on Penny Road near the site of the marker.

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There was a general store there, a buggy manufacturer, a factory that made guns for hunting, and a school  Florence Female Academy. Deep River Friends Meeting was on the edge of that town, and there was also a Methodist church there, as well as a good many houses.

Florence is believed to have been established in the early 1800s, according to a High Point Enterprise article written in 1939 by Briggs great-grandfather, Henry Clay Briggs, who had lived in the Florence community.

According to the article, the Florence Female Academy was a two-story building, with a dormitory on the second floor and the first floor used for administration and instruction. The school was disbanded during the Civil War and was never reorganized, but these days another school  High Points Florence Elementary, which is in the same vicinity  gets its name from the former village.

The article also mentions a government gun factory that was built in Florence during the Civil War. It was reportedly burned down during the war as part of Stonemans raid, a Union military campaign aimed at destroying Confederate factories.

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According to Benjamin Briggs, who plans to attend Saturdays marker unveiling, the demise of the Florence village started around 1856, when construction of the North Carolina Railroad came through the part of the county we now know as Jamestown.

A lot of the merchants and residents ended up moving there, because it was more connected for the transfer of goods and for incoming produce and products, Briggs explains.

So the energy of Florence was pulled away by Jamestown, and then as High Point began to grow  after it was established in 1859  it pulled energy away from Jamestown. By the 1880s, Florence was kind of considered to be a ghost town for Guilford County.

Thats why the historic marker is so important, so the village of Florence and its significance to the county are not forgotten, Briggs says.

Saturdays unveiling ceremony is open to the public.
DES MOINES, Iowa  A Marshalltown man has been arrested for allegedly starting two fires, and court records indicate hes a suspect in another fire.

Anthony Garcia

The Marshalltown Police Department said in a news release that Anthony Garcia, 22, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of first-degree arson.

Garcia is accused of starting a fire in a hotel room he was sharing with his girlfriend at the Super 8 hotel at 3313 S. Center Street on October 24th, 2024. He is also accused of starting a fire in the upstairs of a residence in the 400 block of Union Street on February 26, 2025.

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1 killed in single-vehicle crash on Des Moines southside

A criminal complaint filed in the case said Garcia had been in an argument with his girlfriend on Feb. 26th. She told police Garcia said he started the fire to show her how much he loved her. Other witnesses at the residence told police Garcia was the last person upstairs when the fire began.

Another criminal complaint said Garcia is suspected of setting his girlfriends house on fire about a month before the fire at the Super 8. Online court records did not reflect that a charge had been filed in that fire.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Garcia on May 19th.

Iowa news

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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A man from Maryland was arrested for allegedly shooting someone multiple times during an argument outside of a nightclub in Baileys Crossroads.

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said Evangel McNeill, 35, of Maryland, was arrested for his involvement in the shooting.

Tree falls onto house in Fairfax, knocks out power

The incident happened on May 1 at around 1 a.m. outside of a nightclub in the 5800 block of Seminary Road.

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An investigation revealed that McNeill had gotten into an argument with a man, and then McNeill shot him multiple times.

McNeill ran away before officers got to the scene, and the victim was taken to the hospital, where he remains with non-life-threatening injuries.

FCPD said that with the help of the Prince Georges County Police Department, McNeill was found in Maryland and arrested.

He is being held at the Prince Georges County Jail while he waits to be extradited to Fairfax County.

FCPD said McNeill is being charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Man dies in car crash in Clifton, police say

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Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call (703) 246-7800, option 2.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest.

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MARYLAND (DC News Now)  The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) said that there is a concerning new social media trend that deliberately causes fires.

Officials said that students have been putting electrically conductive items into electronic devices charging ports in what is called the Chromebook Challenge.

This reckless behavior has been linked to several incidents resulting in fires, smoke, and property damage, OSFM said in a news release.

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OSFM said that this challenge started being documented on May 5. In some cases, there have been emergency evacuations at schools across Maryland.

School officials: students setting laptops on fire, connected to TikTok trend

We want to emphasize the importance of educating students about the dangers associated with these acts, Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said in the release. It is crucial that parents and educators work together to promote a culture of safety and responsibility regarding electronic devices.

OSFM encourages parents to discuss the dangers of such acts with their children.

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May 9Changes to Maryland's signature education policy will impact how school districts implement and fund teachers' collaborative time. But plans for next steps go unspoken.

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Originally Published:May 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM EDT
CHICAGO  Catholics around the world are celebrating the historic appointment of Pope Leo XIV, especially in Chicago, where many feel a close connection to the new leader of the church, who has ties to the citys South Side.

On Friday, Chicagos Holy Name Cathedral on the Near North Side hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of Pope Leo XIV and there was a sense of joy among those who gathered before and after Mass on the dawn of a new era for Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass as pope, says his election is a cross and a blessing

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My guess is he is going to be a good Pope. Each is a little different in the way they approach things, but my guess is he is a humble man and will try to lead the church like so many before have, parishioner Mike Muldowney said.

When word of white smoke was seen wafting above the Sistene Chapel Thursday, there may have been cheers from the thousands watching in St. Peters Square, but it was jubilation in Chicago when Cardinal Robert Prevost walked out on the balcony as Pope Leo XIV.

The new pope is from Chicago and folks dont know how to act

Some who gathered on Friday believe the popes ties to Chicago could influence him in his new role.

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I still think that midwestern values are something that are really driving the pope forward, its his roots. Im excited to see how this reflects on the community, parishioner Marissa Mongoven said.

Brother answers burning question: Is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Cubs fan?

Some parishioners who gathered on Friday for the special Mass of Thanksgiving said the new leader is renewing the faith of some Chicago Catholics.

Been getting back into the swing of things and this is, like, well, thats maybe just more of a sign, parishioner Bryan Kraus said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
LYNN, Mass. (WWLP)  A man from Lynn who was arrested in connection with a drug trafficking organization that distributed heart-shaped pills laced with methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced to prison.

In July 2023, an investigation into an overdose death in Salem led detectives to uncover a large-scale drug trafficking organization led by the three suspects, Deiby Felix, Emilio Garcia, and Sebastien Bejin of Lynn. Four months later, investigators searched a stash house that Bejin and Garcia were said to frequent and found an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine-laced pills and powder.

Man arrested during police search at West Springfield barber shop

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More than six pounds of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl were seized from a hidden drug lab inside a home connected to what the FBI says is believed to be among the biggest-ever drug busts in a single location in New England.

The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy. Department of Justice in Boston

Upon searching Felixs home, officers located more than three kilograms of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl and a firearm. Officers discovered a secret drug laboratory in Felixs basement when visiting a second time, where they seized multiple industrial pill presses, mixing equipment, and other manufacturing materials.

Throughout the investigation, 198 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine were seized, along with multiple additional kilograms of cocaine and dozens of kilograms of cutting agents, including xylazine, that are used to adulterate controlled substances. The laced pills and powder seized had an estimated street value believed to be upwards of $8 million.

Department of Justice in Boston Department of Justice in Boston Department of Justice in Boston Department of Justice in Boston Department of Justice in Boston Department of Justice in Boston Department of Justice in Boston

Bejin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

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The Department of Justice says Garcia and Felix pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

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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Police in Worcester, Massachusetts, held a young girl's face to the ground as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained her mother on Thursday, video shows.

The footage, captured by Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, shows an ICE agent and police officer chasing after the girl, before three more officers surround her and the ICE agent backs away.

The four police officers then bring the girl to the ground, with at least one grabbing her legs and forcing her to lose her balance, the video shows. Two women, one of whom is holding a newborn baby, then can be seen trying to help the girl.

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The teenage girl is screaming throughout the entirety of the incident, the video shows.

Police in Worcester, Mass., held a young girl's face to the ground as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained her mother. (Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, via NBC Boston)

The mother-daughter pair, another relative and a newborn baby were about to get into a vehicle when they were intercepted by ICE agents, neighbors told NBC Boston. The neighbors said the girl held to the ground was 16-years-old.

It is unclear what the immigration statuses are of the individuals involved in the incident. ICE did not immediately return a request for comment on the incident.

In Massachusetts, state law generally prevents local police from assisting ICE with immigration enforcement.

The Worcester Police Department defended their conduct in a lengthy statement on Thursday.

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Officers were dispatched to the scene "for a report of federal agent who was surrounded by a large group of about twenty-five people," the department said. It added that officers also received a call from an individual "saying that ICE officers were on scene and refusing to show a warrant to the crowd."

Police said that when they arrived, they witnessed a "chaotic scene," with federal agents placing a woman under arrest and trying to leave with her in a vehicle.

"The crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving," the police said. "Worcester officers attempted to deescalate the situation and keep everyone safe."

Police said that as the vehicle tried to pull away with the detained woman, a juvenile girl holding a newborn baby stood in front of the car.

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"As the vehicle moved away, she ran after the vehicle and kicked the passengers side of it," police said. "It appeared that she was going to run in front of the moving vehicle, and officers took her into custody."

Police said the juvenile girl was later charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

They added that another woman was arrested for pushing officers and throwing an unknown liquid substance on them as they tried to arrest the girl.

The woman, who police identified as 38-year-old Ashley Spring, was charged with assault and battery of a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer, according to police.

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Spring did not immediately return a request for comment.

Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty said in a statement on Thursday night that he was "deeply disturbed" by the incident.

"Simply put, we cannot have this happen in our community," he said.

Petty added that his office was not notified by ICE about the detainment and that he asked the city manager for a full report about the incident.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA)  The Mattoon Police Department assisted the Southern District of Illinois U.S. Marshals Service in locating and capturing a Most Wanted Fugitive on Thursday.

Shelby County man arrested for involuntary manslaughter after deadly shooting

On May 8, Mattoon Police helped the U.S. Marshals Service in locating 43-year-old Carrie Coats for an outstanding Illinois Department of Corrections warrant. The warrant was for a parole violation that had been outstanding since 2001. She was arrested at 8:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Western Ave. in Mattoon.

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Coats was identified as one of the Illinois Department of Corrections Most Wanted Fugitives, as she was originally convicted in Cook County for a home invasion charge. Following her arrest on Thursday, she was transported to the Coles County Safety and Detention Center, where she awaits transfer back to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Maui Fire Departments newest wildland firefighting tool was blessed on Thursday, May 8.

MFD personnel, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Fund representatives and others gathered on Community Wildfire Preparedness Day to celebrate the donation of the Countys first wildland firefighting apparatus.

First responders battle Kokee brush fire; 70% contained

The Hawaii Community Foundations Maui Strong Fund and contributions from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez support the fund.

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According to MFD, the apparatus is the first of seven and will help strengthen the departments ability to protect Maui communities from future fires.

MFD Fire Chief Bradford Ventura emphasized that Hawaii no longer has a wildfire season like we used to. Instead, the state prepares for wildfires year-round.

Our firefighters are putting themselves in harms way every month to get in front of these fires, and of course, we know during the dry seasons, things are gonna be enhanced and theyre preparing themselves, Chief Ventura added.

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During the ceremony, several speakers emphasized the need for the Maui community to come together to prepare, prevent and respond to wildfires in Hawaii.

It does take all of us collectively to work together, to make a difference. We are very fortunate in Hawaii, we still have community, we still have the aloha spirit. We do care about everybody else. Thats not true in a lot of places elsewhere, said Laura Mallery-Sayre, Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Fund.

Chief Ventura added that reaching out with philanthropy, working with partners and coordinating helps the department tie up loose ends.

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It wouldve been plenty to say thank you, it wouldve been plenty to say we appreciate the work of our folks, but to actually translate that into something thats behind me is truly incredible, said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
KAHULUI, Hawaii (KHON2)  A United States citizen said she was held against her will by federal immigration agents, along with over a dozen others, outside a Kahului home on the morning of Tuesday, May 7.

She said she heard pounding at the door around 6:15 a.m.

Outrageous: Hawaii Sen. Schatz on Maui ICE investigation

I woke up to agents dressed in black with guns outside of my window pounding at the door, saying to open up and that they had a warrant, the Maui teacher described. I gently opened the door a crack and asked them if they were ICE and for identification, they rushed past me, pointing guns, telling me that they were looking for a convicted felon.

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The teacher wished to stay anonymous. She said she kept telling the agents she was a U.S. citizen and living with teachers who were here legally on visas, and asked if she could prove it with proper identification.

I was denied, as I noticed that they pointed their guns and ushered the other teachers, including myself, down the stairs, she said. She said half were taken outside with just blankets and wet hair, because they had just gotten out of the shower and were getting ready for the school day.

She said about 12 other teachers lived at the house with family members and children.

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I began to notice that some of the people around me were shaking and that one of the teachers daughters, who was in front, was crying, and I was really concerned, so I asked again, gently, if we could show them documentation to prove our identity. And once again, I was told no, she continued.

After about 45 minutes, she said she was able to show her U.S. passport. He was taken aback and looked shocked and apologized to me several times, the Maui teacher said. All the teachers and family members were released and rushed to get to school for the day.

When she returned home from work, she asked the landlord if the agents provided a warrant. The landlord apparently told her they did after the fact, and they were looking for a man who lived at the house over a year ago.

But when they were searching the house, and then when I was out front with them, I did repeatedly say to them that we are teachers, they have proof of identification, that theyre legally here in the United States, and I am a citizen as well. Can we please show you our documentation? Because the person youre looking for, I do not think, is here, so I did try to repeatedly ask for that, and I was repeatedly told no, until a certain point of time had passed when I think they had realized that that person was not there and that they had made a mistake.

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The whole situation was really overwhelming and traumatic for all of us, but I felt the need to speak out, because I felt it could have been handled better, and I really do not want to see that happen again with teachers who are here to help our children who are here legally as well, the teacher added.

Two assaulted in apparent Kakaako road rage incident, man arrested

The Hawaii Department of Education said the teachers are here legally under the U.S. Department of States J-1 Visa program, which offers foreign teachers the chance to teach in U.S. schools to address the ongoing teacher shortage.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association said there was no public apology for the harm that was done to the teachers and believes this will have a negative impact on others wanting to join the program in the future.

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We encourage our students to take their time and do their homework, as weve seen across the country and now here in our communities, our government is not doing their homework and doing sloppy work, which jeopardizes lives and the well being of those who live here, Osa Tui, HSTA President said. Were concerned that, if this was a mistake, what other mistakes are being made or will be made affecting other innocent people. This week is teacher appreciation week, and we appreciate all that our teachers do for our students, but we do not appreciate how this situation was handled, and expect more from these federal agencies.

He said this is happening in other states as well.

Were glad that this situation ended with them being released, but had this Maui teacher not been there, there might have been a different outcome, and were very worried that that might happen again.

Immigration attorneys say citizens, green card and visa holders have the right to remain silent and verify warrants, which can be done without opening the door.

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Its important to examine that document and to see the persons name on the warrant actually lives at the home or doesnt live at the home, explained Melissa Vincenty, managing director of Worldwide Migration Partners. This mistake is made quite often, that theyre looking for somebody, and they have a specific person named on the warrant, but that person doesnt live there, or they might have lived there five years ago and dont live there anymore.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

A spokesperson for ICE said in an e-mail, When we execute a search warrant, the fist thing we do is to knock and announce loudly Police, we have a search warrant please open the door or a variant of those same words. We do in fact have our guns out until we can secure the space for everybodys safety. Once we have cleared the space and there are no threats, the guns are holstered. Its not uncommon to have all occupants of the building/house/space to be co-located in the same room while we are conducting the search warrant. Again, thats for the safety of our agents and others in the space.

The search warrant was issued by a judge and it is in fact the location we got the warrant for. A copy of the search warrant was left at the house.





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Protesters in Baltimore leave Camden Yards to march to the Inner Harbor during May Day demonstrations this year. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

This year, May Day demonstrations swept across the nation in protest against President Trump and sometime Co-President Elon Musk. People took to the streets in over 1,000 peaceful demonstrations in opposition to the chaotic policies and actions of the second Trump administration.

For me, May Day was a day of reflection as I attended a modest size demonstration in Frederick. It was not the first May Day demonstration for me. My first was in May 1971. May 2025 was different for me: I was a protester this time.

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In May 1971, I was in Washington, D.C., as a member of the Metropolitan Police Departments Special Operations Division, Tactical Branch. I was a member of the Civil Disturbance Unit, trained in crowd control, mass arrest procedures and the deployment of special chemical weapons (tear gas).

Following a peaceful demonstration by 175,000 protesters on April 25, up to 40,000 protesters set out the next day for their spring offensive to disrupt government by closing downtown Washington on May Day. Their slogan was, If the government wont stop the war, well stop the government.

Marching orders for demonstrators were provided in a tactical manual published many months in advance. It described how to carry out civil disobedience. It included photos and maps of targeted locations and tactics to be employed by protesters who set out to overwhelm police capacity to respond.

From April 26 through May 7, as protesters carried out their planned civil disobedience, over 12,000 arrests were made, with over 7,000 arrests on May 3 alone.

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In stark contrast, this years May Day drew hundreds of thousands of protesters across the United States in cities and towns, large and small, with comparatively few arrests. There were speeches by politicians, community leaders and protest organizers  and there were protest signs of all shapes and sizes expressing dissatisfaction with the current direction of our nation.

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Although both May Day demonstrations were protesting the policies and actions of presidential administrations, one attempted to close the government for an administrations actions during the Vietnam War and the other denounced an administrations attempt to decimate federal services and our democratic form of government.

The foremost difference between the demonstrations of 1971 and today have to do with the motives of the demonstrators and the provocations that brought them to the streets.

In 1971, President Nixon, for all of his faults  and there were many, including the continued prosecution of the Vietnam War  was trying to preserve government services, keeping offices open during the demonstrations and ensuring personnel could get to work and do their jobs.

President Trump, on the other hand, has been attempting to shut down the government, to bring our democratic form of governance to its knees with indiscriminate firings, withholding congressionally authorized funding and closing many federal offices.

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The 1971 protesters, using civil disobedience, tried to shut down the government. Todays demonstrators, organized by the 50501 Movement, used peaceful demonstrations to protest the dismantling of government and to preserve our democracy and way of life.

I have now seen things from both sides, as a law enforcement officer attempting to keep the peace as well as a protester, peacefully exercising our First Amendment right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As we enter what will undoubtedly be a summer of widespread protest, I want to implore demonstrators to remain peaceful and respectful, particularly the law enforcement officers there to ensure their safety and the safety of others. Be careful not to do anything that would provoke an unwanted response from the police.

Remember, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that when demonstrations filled Washingtons streets after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, then-President Trump asked authorities if they could shoot protesters in the legs. Cant you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something? was said to be Trumps question.

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Similarly, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Trump called for law enforcement to handle protesters and crack their skulls.

Law enforcement, peace officers, are reminded of their oath of office, to protect and defend the Constitution. As summer heats up in both temperature and rhetoric, it will be important for officers to keep cool heads and maintain public order while protecting protesters right peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Mass demonstrations can have an impact. A White House Historical Association official said the enormity of the protest pushed Nixon to accelerate the nations exit from Vietnam. Whether the protests that lay ahead will have the same impact as those of the Vietnam War era, only time will tell.

Lets all pull together to make democracy work!
President Trump said Mayor Adams came to the White House on Friday so the mayor could thank him in the wake of the dismissal of Adams federal corruption indictment.

Almost nothing, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked what he and Adams discussed during their brief sit-down earlier in the day.

He came in to say hello, I think he came into thank me, frankly  I would say the primary reason. But he was very nice, hes a nice man, but I think he actually came in to thank me.

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The mayor, whose relationship with Trump has come under scrutiny since the Department of Justice stepped in earlier this year to quash the mayors corruption case, relayed the meeting differently.

Just left the meeting with the president talking about those issues that are important to New York City, like the wind farm project and how we can move the city forward, and talking about how do we do investments in our city, Adams said in a video posted on X of him walking outside the White House.

Adams wind farm reference appeared to be related to a green energy project in Brooklyn that Trumps administration has sought to derail.

Adams said in the video his conversation with Trump also revolved around the manufacturing industry and developing our own chips, a reference to semiconductor production.

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At the heart of this was to establish a real communication, thats our goal, he added. We must have a dialogue with the White House, and thats what were going to do, thats my responsibility.

The meeting lasted less than 30 minutes, according to a source briefed on the matter.

The source, who spoke with the Daily News both before and after the White House meeting, said Adams had hoped to talk to Trump about a need to secure more federal money for the city, including for its Emergency Management agency, which could face serious funding shortfalls due to the presidents push to slash federal funding across the board.

Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for the mayors campaign, said that the thanks Adams gave to Trump was for words of support while the president was on the campaign trail.

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At a time when Mayor Adams was being unfairly and selectively targeted by federal authorities, then-candidate Trump publicly acknowledged the injustice and stood in defense of fundamental fairness and due process, Shapiro said in a statement. That gesture was meaningful, and the mayor appreciates the presidents willingness to speak out when many remained silent.

Tiffany Raspberry, deputy mayor for intergovernmental affairs, was also in the meeting with Trump, according to Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak.

Trumps Department of Justice last month secured the dismissal of the mayors indictment, which accused him of taking bribes and illegal campaign cash, mostly from Turkish government operatives, in exchange for political favors. In seeking the dismissal, Trumps DOJ officials said they werent opining on the merits of the case against the mayor, but wrote they needed it quashed so Adams could play a larger role in helping Trump target undocumented New Yorkers for mass deportations.

That unusual arrangement has left many to believe Adams is beholden to Trump.

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Amid the political fallout, Adams, who denies a quid pro quo with Trump, dropped out of Junes Democratic mayoral primary last month and is instead seeking reelection as an independent candidate in Novembers general election.

The mayor has consistently said he wants to work, not war with the president.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux joined our morning shows on Thursday to update us on issues impacting residents.

The mayor touched on the citys water issues and what they are doing to improve the failing grade received in a statewide report.

Weve made progress, weve refurbished one of the three water towers this year. Well do the second one next year, well do the third one the year after that. The reason that they take so long is, you cant take them all out of service at the same time or you lose all your water pressure in the city. We have to space those out, but we have the funds for that. Its all set up and we actually have the bids out, says Mayor Arceneaux.

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The failing grade comes on the heels of Director of Water and Sewage, William Daniel officially stepping down from his position. Daniel advocated for bonds to improve the citys water infrastructure, better conditions for his department, and held back-to-back community meetings to discuss the water crisis with residents.

Cassidy says more grant funding coming to Louisiana airports

Mayor Arceneaux says he is still confident the job can get done without him.

We have an excellent interim director whos been with the water system for a long time, Brandon Sneed. Brandon is completely competent to carry out and execute these plans, says the mayor.

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The mayor has yet to announce a permanent replacement for the director position, which will need to be confirmed by the city council.

Mayor Arceneaux also discussed Shreveport Regional Airports new partnership with SkyWest Airlines, which will create hundreds of new jobs in the area.

These are going to be aircraft mechanic and repair jobs, and SUSLA has a program for that, theres also one in Longview and in Texarkana, and I think thats the reason that they chose us over 30 other cities, he explained.

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Republican Dave McCormick, who is running for U.S. Senate, speaks to supporters Tuesday outside a hotel in Bucks County. (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

Sen. Dave McCormick said hes introduced a second bill aimed at addressing the cost of housing with Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego.

In a press release, the swing state senators said the bill is meant to increase cooperation across U.S. government agencies with programs and research on affordable housing. It directs the Departments of Agriculture, Urban Development and Veterans Assistance to create a data-sharing agreement for housing-related research and information, and to report to Congress on how they can increase collaboration on housing programs.

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Homeownership is out of reach for far too many families in Pennsylvania, including our nations veterans, McCormick said in a press release. We need federal agencies to work together more effectively to increase the limited supply of housing and reduce housing costs.

This follows another bill aimed at boosting the development of multifamily homes, which Gallego introduced and McCormick co-sponsored in late April. That bill would increase the limit on loans from the Federal Housing Administration for developers of multifamily homes with up to four units.

The loan limits, which Gallego said in a press release had not been raised since 2003, were put in place to prevent the Department of Housing and Urban Development from subsidizing luxury projects.

McCormick and Gallego were also co-sponsors of a bill introduced by Alex Padilla (D-Ca.) that is intended to help homeless veterans by excluding veterans disability payments from counting towards annual income qualifications for a joint HUD and VA housing program.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) are inviting citizens to learn how to spot outdoor hazards at their upcoming event.

The MDC are holding a virtual event to help people identify and avoid dangerous plants and animals. This includes poison ivy, venomous snakes and others.

The program is titled Conservation Families: Outdoor Hazards, and the event is free to all visitors.

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Branson teams up with SFC to launch new indoor sports facility

The event is being put together by MDCs Springfield Conservation Nature Center staff.

The program will have MDC Naturalist Jordi Raos to speak about the dangers of ivy, ticks, venomous snakes, insects and other things that could be a problem outdoors.

The presentation will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16. For more information, visit their website.

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By Christy Santhosh

(Reuters) - The number of measles cases in the United States has crossed 1,000 for the first time in five years, federal data showed on Friday, as the country battles one of its worst outbreaks of the childhood disease.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,001 measles cases in 31 jurisdictions, as of Thursday.

The CDC count does not reflect the latest data from Texas, the epicenter of the current measles outbreak, where cases have increased by seven to a total of 709.

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Researchers have warned that the United States is at a tipping point for the return of endemic measles, a quarter century after the disease was declared eradicated in the country.

Infections only previously surpassed the 1,000 mark in 2019 when the country reported 1,274 cases.

"I think we are still at risk of seeing these numbers at least stay steady, if not continue to increase over time," said Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The outbreak in Texas, which has led to the deaths of two children and hundreds more being infected, is centered in a Mennonite community and has spread to neighboring states including New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas.

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The CDC said 13% of those infected with the disease this year have been hospitalized. There have been three confirmed deaths so far.

There have been 14 outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases, reported in 2025, the CDC said.

U.S. pediatricians and infectious disease experts say that the fight against rising measles cases nationwide is being hampered by a lack of forceful advocacy for vaccination by government health officials and by misleading statements about unproven treatments that confuse parents.

The measles vaccine is 97% effective after two doses, according to the CDC.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas and Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
The first-ever at-home screening test for cervical cancer earned approval by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, paving the way for the DIY device to be in the hands of eligible women as early as next month. And its already in-network with big insurers Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross of California.

Developed by femtech startup Teal Health, the Teal Wand, which is modeled after a tampon, was shown in clinical trials to have the same accuracy as the cervical cancer test performed in your OB-GYNs using a speculum. To date, the company has raised a total of $23 million with funding from Serena Ventures, Metrodora, and Labcorp.

While the at-home test wont replace your visits to the gynecologist where you can get a full pelvic exam and address other issues with your doctor, Teal Health CEO Kara Egan hopes its accuracy, convenience, and comfort factors will encourage more women to get lifesaving screening.

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About one in four women are currently behind on cervical cancer screening, which along with the HPV vaccine, is a proven way to prevent the cancer from developing. Cervical cancer will kill more than 4,000 women this year.

In clinical trials, 94% of users said the Teal Wand was preferable to getting the test in a doctors office, and 86% of participants said theyd be more likely to stay up to date with cervical cancer screening if they could do it at home.

All women prefer a better way, says Egan. She spoke with Fortune about the Teal Wand and why some women skip out on potentially lifesaving care.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Fortune: What problem is Teal Health aiming to solve in women's healthcare?

Kara Egan: When we look at the top three reasons why women aren't getting screened, it's "access," "convenience," and "fear/discomfort." But when you talk to real women, they explain it differently. Like, "I don't get screened because I'm a mom and I have two young boys, and all the doctor time gets taken with them." Another woman said, I live in New York City and I cant find an OB-GYN. Thats an access issue, but we describe it in everyday terms like not being able to find an appointment or not being able to take time off work.

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Teal addresses all of this. You can collect your sample comfortably at home. We wrap the experience with a telehealth solution, so you get access to doctors for both prescription and result review. Its convenient and flexibleyou can take the telehealth visit from home when it works for you.

teal wand by teal health

Fortune: Walk me through how it works. How do I know I need a screening, how do I collect the sample, and how do I get my results?

Kara Egan: You start by visiting the Teal Health website and completing a short eligibility registration. Most people dont know when theyre due, but based on your last screening and its type, it could be anywhere from one to five years. Most insurance will cover it every two years. If you're unsurejust get screened.

We use the exact same test used in doctors officesprimary HPV screening, which is now the standard. The difference is that you're collecting the sample using the Teal Wand at home. So you'd have a short visit with our clinician, and she'd explain how Teal is going to work. It takes about 10 minutes total. Then we ship the kit to your house. Its designed like a tampon, which is something that every woman's comfortable with. We designed this to really be both comfortable but also give a woman confidence that she is collecting enough sample. In our clinical trial, 98% of women collected enough sample for the test.

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You cant do it wrong. If not enough sample is collected, the result comes back as invalidnot a false positive or negative.

Heres how it works: insert into the vagina to the back wall, extend, rotate 10 times, slide it back out, pop off the sponge, place it in the vial, and send it back to the lab.

The clinician knows both your new results as well as your past history. So coupling those two together is how we decide if you have any follow up appointments. And this is the exact same as if you had done it in person.

Kara Egan, CEO of Teal Health

Fortune: That sounds simple enough. So why arent we doing this in doctors offices?

Kara Egan: Good question. It just hasnt shifted yet. Even though doctors could allow in-office self-collection, the problem Teal solves is getting to the appointment in the first place. Most women choose Teal not just for comfort, but because its easier to get done.

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All women deserve a better way. We have a problem with the way it's currently being done, and that one in four women are behind, but all women who get screened are like, I didn't like that. Why does it have to be like that? We've evolved the screening tests. We're comfortable with screening at home. There was a lot of momentum to get this done, but a big piece of it was asking women what they preferred.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
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Researchers have found pages of a rare medieval manuscript masquerading as a cover and stitched into the binding of another book, according to experts at the Cambridge University Library in England. The fragment contains stories about Merlin and King Arthur.

The two pages are from a 13th century copy of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin. The manuscript, handwritten by a medieval scribe in Old French, served as the sequel to the legend of King Arthur. There are just over three dozen surviving copies of the sequel today.

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Part of a series known as the Lancelot-Grail cycle, the Arthurian romance was popular among aristocrats and royalty, said Dr. Irene Fabry-Tehranchi, French specialist in collections and academic liaison at Cambridge University Library. The stories were either read aloud or performed by trouveres, or poets, who traveled from court to court, she said.

Rather than risk damaging the brittle pages by removing the stitches and unfolding them, a team of researchers were able to conduct imaging and computed tomography, or CT, scans to create a 3D model of the papers and virtually unfurl them to read the story.

Fabry-Tehranchi, one of the first to recognize the rarity of the manuscript, said finding it is very much a once in a lifetime experience.

The scans revealed book-binding techniques from the distant past and hidden details of the repurposed manuscript that could shed light on its origins.

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Its not just about the text itself, but also about the material artefact, Fabry-Tehranchi said in a statement. The way it was reused tells us about archival practices in 16th-century England. Its a piece of history in its own right.

Hiding in plain sight

Former Cambridge archivist Sian Collins first spotted the manuscript fragment in 2019 while recataloging estate records from Huntingfield Manor, owned by the Vanneck family of Heveningham, in Suffolk, England. Serving as the cover for an archival property record, the pages previously had been recorded as a 14th century story of Sir Gawain.

But Collins, now the head of special collections and archives at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, noticed that the text was written in Old French, the language used by aristocracy and Englands royal court after the Norman Conquest in 1066. She also saw names like Gawain and Excalibur within the text.

Collins and the other researchers were able to decipher text describing the fight and ultimate victory of Gawain, his brothers and his father King Loth versus the Saxon Kings Dodalis, Moydas, Oriances, and Brandalus. The other page shared a scene from King Arthurs court in which Merlin appears disguised as a dashing harpist, according to a translation provided by the researchers:

The pages were folded, torn and stitched together to create a cover for 16th century property records. - Cambridge University Library

While they were rejoicing in the feast, and Kay the seneschal (steward) brought the first dish to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, there arrived the most handsome man ever seen in Christian lands. He was wearing a silk tunic girded by a silk harness woven with gold and precious stones which glittered with such brightness that it illuminated the whole room.

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Both scenes are part of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin that was originally written in 1230, about 30 years after Merlin, which tells the origin stories of Merlin and King Arthur and ends with Arthurs coronation.

(The sequel) tells us about the early reign of Arthur: he faces a rebellion of British barons who question his legitimacy and has to fight external invaders, the Saxons, Fabry-Tehranchi said in an email. All along, Arthur is supported by Merlin who advises him strategically and helps him on the battlefield. Sometimes Merlin changes shape to impress and entertain his interlocutors.

Blue and red flourishes on some of the letters enabled researchers to date the manuscript to the late 13th to early 14th century. - Bazej Mikua/Amelie Deblauwe/Cambridge University Library

Tracing the books journey

The pages had been torn, folded and sewn, making it impossible to decipher the text or determine when it was written. A team of Cambridge experts came together to conduct a detailed set of analyses.

After analyzing the pages, the researchers believe the manuscript, bearing telltale decorative initials in red and blue, was written between 1275 and 1315 in northern France, then later imported to England.

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They think it was a short version of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin. Because each copy was individually written by hand by medieval scribes, a process that could take months, there are distinguishing typos, such as Dorilas instead of Dodalis for one of the Saxon kings names.

Each medieval copy of a text is unique: it presents lots of variations because the written language was much more fluid and less codified than nowadays, Fabry-Tehranchi said. Grammatical and spelling rules were established much later.

Some of the text, written in Old French, was faded or worn over time, likely by a leather strap. - Bazej Mikua/Amelie Deblauwe/Cambridge University Library

But it was common to discard and repurpose old medieval manuscripts by the end of the 16th century as printing became popular and the true value of the pages became their sturdy parchment that could be used for covers, Fabry-Tehranchi said.

It had probably become harder to decipher and understand Old French, and more up to date English versions of the Arthurian romances, such as (Sir Thomas) Malorys Morte DArthur were now available for readers in England, Fabry-Tehranchi said.

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The updated Arthurian texts were edited to be more modern and easier to read, said Dr. Laura Campbell, associate professor in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University in Durham, England, and president of the British branch of The International Arthurian Society. Campbell was not involved in the project, but has previously worked on the discovery of another manuscript known as the Bristol Merlin.

This suggests that the style and language of these 13th-century French stories were hitting a point where they badly needed an update to appeal to new generations of readers, and this purpose was being fulfilled by in print as opposed to in manuscript form, Campbell said. This is something that I think is really important about the Arthurian legend  it has such appeal and longevity because its a timeless story thats open to being constantly updated and adapted to suit the tastes of its readers.

Uncovering hidden clues

Researchers captured the documents across wavelengths of light, including ultraviolet and infrared, to improve the readability of the text and uncover hidden details, as well as annotations in the margins. The team carried out CT scanning with an X-ray scanner to virtually peer through the parchment layers and create a 3D model of the manuscript fragment, revealing how the pages had been stitched together to form a cover.

The CT scans showed there was likely once a leather band around the book to hold it all in place, which rubbed off some of the text. Twisted straps of parchment, called tackets, along with thread reinforced the binding.

Scans across different wavelengths of light enabled the researchers to see hidden details and annotations. - Bazej Mikua/Amelie Deblauwe/Cambridge University Library

A series of specialised photographic equipment such as a probe lens as well as simple accessories such as mirrors were used to photograph otherwise inaccessible parts of the manuscript, said Amelie Deblauwe, a photographer at Cambridge University Librarys Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory.

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The research team digitally assembled hundreds of images to create a virtual copy of the pages.

The creation of these digital outputs including the virtual unfolding, traditional photography, and (multispectral imaging) all contribute to the preservation of the manuscript in its reused form, while revealing as much of the original contents as possible, Deblauwe said.

The researchers believe the methodology they developed for this project can be applied to other fragile manuscripts, especially those repurposed for other uses over time, to provide a nondestructive type of analysis. The team plans to share the methodology in an upcoming research paper.

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Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

The Orlando Business Journal this week is celebrating 26 influential Central Florida women as the 2025 Women Who Mean Business, recognizing their leadership across diverse sectors.

These successful and influential honorees have significantly impacted their industries and communities, overcoming challenges and driving innovation. They are paving paths for future generations, in addition to being key to significant business dealings, workforce development and economic impact that trickles beyond their walls and into the overall community.

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Read: Newest service dogs now serving their owners through Canine Companions

An advisory committee of previous Women Who Mean Business winners and OBJ staff culled through numerous nominations to choose this years group  the 27th year of this program  which includes members in health care, sports, law, hospitality, transportation, nonprofit, banking, private services and more.

Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.






Pope Leo XIV was raised by his dad Louis, an educator, and mom Mildred, a librarian

The new pontiff grew up in Chicago alongside two brothers, Louis and John

His brothers always knew Pope Leo XIV was destined to become a religious leader







Pope Leo XIV's family might've predicted he would become a religious leader one day, but it all still feels like a dream.

On May 8, Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo, was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, making history as the first American-born pontiff. Leo's parents, Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martinez, welcomed him on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago, where he was raised alongside brothers Louis and John.

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During a conversation with NBC News shortly after Pope Leo made his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, his brother John answered the question on everyone's minds: Yes, the new pope did watch 2024's Conclave.

The same day, John told ABC News that his brother was destined to become a religious leader.

"Some people play school, some people play army, he played priest, and we had to go to Mass," he recalled of their childhood. "He knew right then and there that this is not a joke. ... The women down the street said he would be the first American pope."

From their Chicago upbringing to what they've said about his new role, here's everything to know about Pope Leo XIV's family, including his parents and two brothers.

His dad was an educator and his mom was a librarian

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica for the first time on May 8, 2025. Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica for the first time on May 8, 2025.

Pope Leo's father, Louis, was a school superintendent, while his mother, Mildred, was a librarian who was deeply involved in parish life, per The New York Times.

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According to the Chicago Tribune, Mildred grew up in Chicago with five sisters and graduated from all-girls Immaculata High School in June 1929. Per the outlet, both Mildred and Louis received graduate degrees in the same education program at DePaul University in 1949.

Mildred died in 1990, followed by Louis in 1997.

Although they aren't alive anymore to see their son become pope, Pope Leo's brother John said his parents would "be on Cloud 9," per The New York Times.

He has two brothers

NBCNews/TikTok; James Veysey/Shutterstock John Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's older brother; Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the USA, on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. John Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's older brother; Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the USA, on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Leo grew up alongside his two older siblings, Louis and John, who are especially proud of their brother.

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"He was elected, I got up immediately, got dressed, dancing around like an idiot, just because it's incredible," Louis told ABC News.

His brother John added, "I don't think it's really sunk in. It's kind of surreal. It's great pride."

Louis also said that they used to tease their brother, saying, "You're going to be the pope one day ... he just had it about him."



According to The New York Times, John is a retired educator and school principal who lives in suburban Chicago, while Louis has relocated to Florida.

They grew up in Chicago

ABC News Pope Leo XIV and his two brothers Louis Prevost and John Prevost. Pope Leo XIV and his two brothers Louis Prevost and John Prevost.

Pope Leo and his two brothers grew up in Dolton, Ill., a town just outside of Chicago, according to The New York Times. Per the outlet, they attended church and school at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish on Chicago's South Side.

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According to John, Pope Leo is a fan of the White Sox, not the Chicago Cubs.

They have Creole roots in New Orleans

Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now a pope, presides over his first Holy Mass on May 9, 2025, in Vatican City. American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now a pope, presides over his first Holy Mass on May 9, 2025, in Vatican City.

Pope Leo's dad is of French and Italian descent, while his mom is of Spanish descent, per Vatican News. But, according to The New York Times, the family also has Creole roots in New Orleans.

Per the outlet, the pope's maternal grandparents lived in New Orleans' Seventh Ward, an area known to be traditionally Catholic and a melting pot of people with African, Caribbean and European roots.

John told the outlet that their paternal grandparents were from France and that his father had been born in the United States. The retired educator also said that he and his brothers did not discuss their Creole roots and that they do not identify as Black.

His brother said Pope Leo XIV will follow in Pope Francis footsteps

Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Pope Francis appoints new Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who is now a pope, at St. Peter's Square on Sept. 30, 2023, in Vatican City. Pope Francis appoints new Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who is now a pope, at St. Peter's Square on Sept. 30, 2023, in Vatican City.

Though Pope Leo is succeeding Pope Francis in the wake of his death, John is confident that he will continue his legacy, per The New York Times.

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The best way I could describe him right now is that he will be following in Francis footsteps, John said. They were very good friends. They knew each other before he was pope, before my brother even was bishop.

The new pontiff's brother went on to tell ABC News that people might not see a big initial difference between Pope Leo and Pope Francis.

"I think they were two of a kind," he said.



Pope Leo XIV's brother described him as having "middle of the road" views

ABC News; Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Pope Leo XIV's brother John ; Cardinal Robert Prevost, newly elected as pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV's brother John ; Cardinal Robert Prevost, newly elected as pope Leo XIV.

John described his brother's political views as middle of the road," per The New York Times.

I dont think well see extremes either way," he said, adding that he wouldn't be afraid to use his platform to take a stand on certain issues.

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I dont think hell stay quiet for too long if he has something to say, John said. I know hes not happy with whats going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far hell go with it is only ones guess, but he wont just sit back. I dont think hell be the silent one.



Meanwhile, Louis told ABC News that he is hoping his brother can "bring all these sides together."

"I wouldn't call him a conservative, I wouldn't call him a liberal," he continued. "I think he's open-minded enough. He seeks out guidance not only praying to God and the Holy Spirit, but from fellow Cardinals, from the nuns, from priests [and] bishops."

Read the original article on People
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, greets the faithful as he appears from the Central Loggia of St. Peter's Square on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Credit - Alessandra BenedettiCorbis/Getty Images

"Peace be with all of you!" Those were the first words of Pope Leo XIV, the newly anointed leader of the Catholic Church.

As Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost addressed the ecstatic crowd gathered in St. Peters square, he used the worlds most famous pulpit to promote a vision that, of late, has been more of a wish than reality.

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To all people, wherever they are, to all the people of the earth, he continued, in fluent Italian, may peace be with you. He is now tasked with delivering it.

Prevosts appearance on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica was the culmination of a centuries-old election ritual in which specially selected cardinals, sworn to secrecy, gathered behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel to decide who could best lead the church through a period of immense change. He succeeds Pope Francis, who died on April 21, onto the world stage, and will be expected to continue in the globally beloved leaders path toward a more open, inclusive church that advocates for the poor and the marginalized.

The voting began on Wednesday night with an inconclusive result. Another three rounds were held on Thursday, before Cardinal Prevost obtained the required two-thirds majority. The fact that the voting took less than two days, on par with the selection of Francis in 2013, shows that the cardinal-electors were largely united in their choice of a man known for his solid judgment, his sharp insight, and a steady hand to lead the church through a tumultuous time.

A new name and an old cape

The papal tradition of a cardinal taking a new name as he is announced pope symbolizes his rebirth as custodian of the church. The chosen name often signals the direction the new Pope intends to take. By choosing the name Leo, Prevost was making a powerful statement. Pope Leo XIII, whose turn-of-the-20th century pontificate straddled a period of global upheaval defined by the industrial revolution, was known for his defence of the rights of workers, his advocacy for immigrants and his care for the poor.

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In many ways, Pope Leo XIII was very conservative, but on social issues, he was very strong. I'm guessing that Cardinal Prevost wanted to signal his commitment to social justice in the tradition of Pope Francis, says Brett C. Hoover, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University in California.

Read More: As the Conclave Concludes, Catholicism Is at a Crossroads

Still, the fact that Prevost donned the traditional ermine fringed red cape that Francisin a sign of his commitment to humilityrefused to wear at his own anointment in 2013, signals that Leo XIV plans to take a more conciliatory approach to church conventions, even as he expands on other aspects of Francis legacy.

In his short address to the faithful, Prevost praised Francis commitment to outreach and inclusivity and laid out his own plans for continued dialogue and a church a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close, especially to those who suffer.

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Prevosts public embrace of pontifical tradition alongside Francis provocative agenda balances the concerns of a church leadership split over issues of doctrinal purity. A calm and thoughtful leader, according to those who know him, he is a Francis with sanded down edges.

The least American American

Born in Chicago to a family with Italian, French, and Spanish roots, Prevost, 69, will be the first Pope from the United States the Catholic Church has ever seen, and only the second Pope from the Americas, after Francis, who was from Argentina.

Photograph by Guglielmo MangiapaneReuters

He attended a high school run by an Augustinian seminary, then went on to get a degree in mathematics at Philadelphias Villanova University. He has spent most of his life outside of the United States. Ordained in 1982 at the age of 27, he went on to serve as an Augustinian missionary, parish priest and eventually a bishop in Peru, where he spent more than two decades. Francis made him a Cardinal in 2023.

As an American with Peruvian citizenship who spent most of his career serving the world, he is uniquely poised to balance the demands of a global church against the worst impulses of an isolationist America.

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After addressing the crowds gathered in front of St. Peters Basilica in flawless Italian, he thanked members of his Peruvian diocese in perfect Spanish. Notably, he did not say a word in English, thank the people of Chicago, or refer to his American origins in any way. That was deliberate, says Hoover. He was saying, I'm an American, but I'm a different kind of American. I'm not a nationalist; I'm a person that cares about the entire world.

That didnt stop U.S. President Donald Trump from congratulating the newly minted Pope in a social media post soon after the announcement. It is such an honor to realize that he is the First American Pope, Trump wrote. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment.

Read More: World Leaders React as Robert Francis Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV

Close confidants describe Prevost as reserved, almost shy. But they uniformly laud his ability to listen. In meetings he was like a sponge, says Father Andrew Small, who has worked with Prevost on several high-level church commissions. Hes a listener and his questions tell you hes processing what youre saying. It doesnt mean you know what hes thinking, but you know that youve been heard.

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Pope Leo XIV comes to prominence at a pivotal time, when principled leadership is more vital than ever. He faces ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, along with the politically divisive, but morally urgent, issues of migration, religious freedom, human rights and the climate crisis. He will have to navigate a surge in right-wing nationalism, as well as a potential economic slump that threatens the worlds most vulnerable.

The power of the papacy extends far beyond Catholicisms 1.4 billion followers. The pope may not have the military or economic power of other leaders, but he has the moral authority that most global leaders lack. Whatever its weaknesses, the church has alwaysat least over the past 150 yearsgiven priority to people on the margins. And we need that more than ever in an era of America first and Fortress Europe, says Richard Lennan, a professor of Theology at Boston College. We need someone who can speak up for the poor, the marginalized, the displaced on the world stage. Even if people just nod politely and move on, we still need that voice. With his stated commitment to build a united church, always seeking peace and justice," Prevost made it clear that he would be that voice.

Read More: The Biggest Challenges Pope Leo XIV Faces

The Churchs need for a counter to Trumps brand of America-first global realignment likely played a role in Prevosts selection, says Lennan. Hes the least American American. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that was part of the thinking of the Cardinals, that they wanted someone who could keep challenging attitudes and actions that disregard the value of human lives.

A hard act to follow

As Leo XIV takes up the popes miter, many will expect him to build on Francis legacy. It will be a difficult undertaking.

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Francis criticism of capitalisms excesses, his calls for world leaders to respond to the warming climate, and his impassioned advocacy for migrants made him globally popular. Yet within the church, his reformist interpretation of church doctrine"Who am I to judge? he famously responded when asked to weigh in on gay priestsset off a polarizing struggle between modernists and traditionalists. So too has his radical approach to inclusivity that welcomed the non-ordained faithful, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and lay women, to sit with bishops and contribute their thoughts on issues of church doctrine in meetings called synods. It is this vision of synodalitythe church as a listening one instead of a top-down teaching onethat was at the core of Francis progressivism, and the biggest threat to traditionalists who seek stability by maintaining the power and influence of church leadership.

Read More: Pope Francis Greatest Achievement Was Emphasizing Mercy

To the relief of many in St. Peters Square, Pope Leo confirmed his belief in the consultative process. We want to be a Church of the Synod, he said.

Unfinished business

Francis leaves behind a lot of unfinished business that the new pope will have to address. During his 12-year pontificate Francis galvanized liberalsboth Christian and secularby breaking longstanding church shibboleths. He said that divorced and remarried Catholics could take communion, and he allowed priests to bless same-sex unions. He brought up other controversial issues, such as the ordination of women as Catholic deacons, whether or not married men can become priests in regions where vocations are rare, and the use of birth control, but failed to offer a definitive take, frustrating many of his followers.

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Church members will pressure Prevost to offer clarity on these and other pressing issues facing the modern church. How he leans is a bit of a mystery, says Lennan. As a missionary who spent most of his life outside of the United States, he was able to stay out of the culture wars that define American Catholicism. On these issues, hes the great unknown. There's a difference between the person you are the day you get elected and who you are as pope. How he responds to these questions will either cement Francis progressive legacy or demonstrate that it was a temporary aberration.

Read More: Where Pope Leo Stands on Specific Issues

Pope Leo also faces challenges of a more practical nature, such as the Vaticans parlous financial state and its diplomatic ties. One of the hallmarks of the Francis pontificate was a groundbreaking agreement with Beijing that allowed the Chinese Communist Party leadership to weigh in on church appointments within the country. A few days after Francis deathan interregnum known as sede vacante, the empty seat, when all leadership decisions are put on holdBeijing unilaterally named two bishops, including one to replace a Vatican favorite. Leo's response will set the tone for his approach to Beijings increasingly overt challenges to Vatican authority, as well as its persecution of underground Catholic clergy in a country that is home to approximately 20 million Catholics.

Read More: What to Know About the Vaticans Relationship With Chinaand What the Next Pope Means for It

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The Catholic communitys contentious history with sexual abuseand its coordinated efforts to cover these instances upremains an ongoing issue that Pope Leo will not be able to avoid. The advocacy group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests has criticized Prevost for not doing enough to address sexual abuse, and for failing to follow up on accusations against priests under his juristiction.

He clearly has a great sense of empathy, especially for the vast numbers of Catholics and people in general in the global south and elsewhere who live in unspeakable poverty and injustice, says Small, who was the former Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Protection of Minors under Francis. But by being in touch with such massive amounts of suffering, one might unwittingly relativize the pain of a much smaller group of people in the church who are victims or survivors of sex abuse committed by its members or mismanaged by its leadership. We all have something we need to work on, and I think that is an area that needs urgent attention.

Pope Leo is inheriting a church in financial distress, says John Allen, a longtime Vatican analyst and the editor of Crux, a catholic magazine. Donations are down, the budget is beset by $94 million deficit and its pension system is grievously underfunded. The Vatican is, to be frank, a bit of a mess right now, particularly with regard to its finances. It's facing a ticking financial time bomb. One that Pope Leo will have to diffuse quickly.

For the secular world, one of Francis most important contributions was his stance on climate change. His seminal Laudato Si encyclical, a 176-page pastoral letter on the religious importance of caring for the planet, sparked a climate movement in the catholic church that echoed through the temples and mosques of the worlds other great religions. As the inheritor of that green mantle, Pope Leo will be expected to maintain the Vaticans commitments on climate change while urging world leaders to do the same. The planet, our own survival, is at stake, says Father Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, a professor at Romes Salesian Pontifical University.

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As cardinal, Prevost was known as a passionate environmentalist. In a 2024 seminar on climate change in Rome, Prevost reiterated the Holy Sees commitment to protecting the environment and urged countries to move from words to action Dominion over naturethe task which God gave humanityshould not become tyrannical, he said. It must be a relationship of reciprocity with the environment. Given his background in Peru, one of the worlds most climate-vulnerable countries, he will likely keep carrying that banner.

Francis shadow looms large, but ultimately, Pope Leo XIV is the successor of Peter, the first pope, not Francis, the most recent one. He will make his own mark, and the faithful will follow. The rest of the world will take note.

Correction, May 9

The original version of this story misstated when Francis first made Prevost a Cardinal. It was September 2023, not February 2025.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Our Student of the Week poll has now closed. Thanks to all who voted.

For this week's Wisconsin Student of the Week, we had two Pulaski students  both high school juniors  compete for the title.

Keep reading to see who won, and how you can nominate a student for our weekly poll. We plan to continue Student of the Week through May, so we're welcoming submissions through May 23.

Samantha Wyent, grade 11, Pulaski High School

Samantha Wyent

Our winner, Samantha Wyent, nicknamed "Sammy," was nominated by Pulaski learning support teacher Mindy Micolichek.

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Micolichek nominated Wyent for her "positive attitude, leadership, hard work, and kindness," she said.

"(Wyent) puts in extra effort to get items done, gets tasks done as soon as asked, problem-solves on her own, and is always the first to volunteer to make sure different things are done," Micolichek said.

In addition to working hard on classwork, Micolichek said Wyent also devotes her time to many extracurriculars, especially student council. Her involvement "enhances school culture," Micolichek added.

About Student of the Week

High school students are nominated for Student of the Week by principals, teachers, youth organizations and others who work with teens. Voting is open each week from 5 a.m. Monday until noon Thursday with polls at jsonline.com, postcrescent.com and greenbaypressgazette.com.

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Do you work with youth and know someone who should be Student of the Week? Reach out to Debi Young, statewide education editor, at debi.young@jrn.com to get a link to the nomination form.

Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meet this week's Wisconsin Student of the Week winner, Samantha Wyent
First lady Melania Trump hosted the unveiling of a U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring former first lady Barbara Bush at the White House on Thursday -- with a notable absence of former President George W. Bush.

A number of family and friends of the Bush family, including Neil Bush and Dorothy Bush Koch, filled the East Room for the event honoring the former first lady, who died in 2018 at the age of 92.

Dorothy Bush Koch, the youngest child of the 41st president and first lady, spoke about her mother's impact in transforming the White House into a "true home."

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Melania Trump, who has made few appearances in Washington during her husband's first three months in office, celebrated Barbara Bush's political and family life.

"Mrs. Bush's legacy is marked by her respect for tradition while also breaking with convention," Melania Trump said.

PHOTO: First lady Melania Trump and Dorothy Bush Koch unveil a U.S. Postal Service Stamp honoring former first lady Barbara Bush, on May 8, 2025, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Other Bush children, George W. Bush and Jeb Bush, did not attend the event.

George W. Bush, who has kept a relatively low profile since leaving office, was in Washington for President Donald Trump's inauguration earlier this year. He was seated near former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton and former President Barack Obama.

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But he has otherwise kept Trump, a fellow Republican, at arm's length and the two have a history of mutual criticism.

MORE: Biden, on 'The View,' takes blame for Trump's win and rejects reports of cognitive decline

ABC News reached out to George W. Bush's office for comment on Thursday's event.

George W. Bush didn't endorse Trump in any of his presidential campaigns. In 2020, he said he didn't vote for either Trump or Joe Biden, but rather wrote in Condoleezza Rice, who served as his secretary of state between 2005 and 2009.

He and his father, late President George H.W. Bush, were critical of Trump in a 2017 book, in which they expressed concern about his impact on the Republican Party and conservative values. In a rare public speech that same year, George W. Bush condemned the brand of politics embraced by Trump and his supporters, though didn't explicitly mention Trump by name.

PHOTO: Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and formerPresident Barack Obama attend the inauguration of Donald Trump in the Capitol Rotunda, Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool/Getty Images)

Barbara Bush once said of Trump, "I don't understand why people are for him."

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Trump's criticism of the Bush family ramped up during the 2016 Republican presidential primary as he went after Jeb Bush as "low energy." He later bragged of beating the "Bush Dynasty" after his election victory.

Trump has also repeatedly criticized George W. Bush's response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Iraq war.

"Bush led a failed and uninspiring presidency. He shouldn't be lecturing anybody!" Trump said in 2021 after George W. Bush gave a 20th anniversary speech in which he warned domestic terrorism posed as much of a threat as foreign terrorists.

Melania Trump unveils stamp honoring Barbara Bush, with George W. Bush absent originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Melania Trump is giving a first look at a new stamp honoring Barbara Bush, helping to unveil it at a White House ceremony despite a seemingly sticky relationship between President Trump and members of the former first family.

Barbaras unwavering conviction, dignity and [loyalty] to her loved ones have left an undeniable mark on our hearts and history, the first lady said Thursday as the U.S. Postal Service stamp bearing the image of Bush, the wife of late President George H.W. Bush, was revealed publicly for the first time.

Mrs. Bushs legacy is marked by her respect for tradition while also breaking with convention, Melania Trump said.

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While she is known for championing literacy, she also supported womens empowerment, changed the national conversation on AIDS, and took a stand supporting gay rights, she added, saying she applauded Bush for defending our societys vital need for women across all avenues  whether CEO or homemaker.

Barbara Bush, who was also former President George W. Bushs mother, died in 2018 at 92.

The image that will be featured on the first-class postage stamp is from a 1995 favorite portrait of Bush by artist Chas Fagan. In the painting, Bush is seen sporting a signature, multi-strand pearl necklace and displaying a small smile.

While some relatives, such as daughter Doro Bush Koch, were among the attendees at the White House ceremony, several of the most prominent family members  including George W. Bush  were not eyed in the East Room.

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A spokesperson for the ex-commander in chief didnt return ITKs request for comment ahead of the event about his absence.

There has been apparent tension over the years between President Trump and several members of the Bush family.

According to a 2019 biography of Barbara Bush, the former first lady once referred to Trump as a symbol of greed.

Trump later said he would expect Bushs criticism given his treatment of one of her sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), during the 2016 GOP presidential primary.

I have heard that she was nasty to me, but she should be. Look what I did to her sons, Trump said of Bush.

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In 2018, Trump criticized George W. Bush over the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, calling it the single worst decision ever made.

A 2017 book quoted George W. Bush saying that Trump didnt know what it means to be president.

The 43rd president didnt endorse a candidate during last years White House race between Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

But Bush Koch expressed appreciation to the first lady, saying, We are so grateful to you for hosting us at the White House on this momentous occasion.

The stamp perfectly captures moms poise and dignity, Bush Koch said, choking up at one point during her remarks as she reflected on her parents relationship, which she described as a partnership that would span decades and helped shape history.

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Its unlikely that mom ever pictured herself on a postage stamp, and its very likely that she would be wondering what all this fuss is about today, Bush Koch quipped.

But on behalf of my entire family, I can assure you that we are all very proud and grateful for this special tribute.

The unveiling of this commemorative stamp honors Barbara Bushs contributions as first lady and her enduring impact on our nation, Melania Trump said.

May this tribute inspire us to lead with compassion, act with strength and uphold the values that direct us toward meaningful existence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KANKAKEE, Ill. (WGN)  Funeral services for former Gov. George Ryan took place in his hometown of Kankakee.

Friends, family and colleagues gathered at Asbury United Methodist Church on Thursday to say goodbye to Ryan during a memorial service. Cameras were not permitted inside the church during the ceremony.

A private entombment was held prior to the service, WGN News has learned.

Ryan passed away last Friday at the age of 91.

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Previous Coverage: Former Illinois Governor George Ryan, who served time for corruption, dies at 91

He served as the 39th Governor of Illinois from 1999 to 2003. Ryan, a Republican, also served as Illinois Secretary of State before his governorship from 1991 to 1999, and as the states Lieutenant Governor from 1983 to 1991.

He made national headlines in January 2000 when he imposed a statewide moratorium on executions, and three years later, commuted the sentences of 167 convicted who were on or waiting to be sent to Illinois death row.

Thom Serafin, the communicator who ran the memorial service, noted how Ryan was known to reach across the aisle on political issues of his era in American politics.

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The difference today is we dont communicate; we dont talk to each other, Serafin said. I was in Springfield last couple days. There are a lot of issues, but we dont talk to each other. Republicans are not talking to democrats. Democrats are not talking to Republicans.

Hedy Ratner, a lifelong Chicago Democrat who worked alongside Ryan and former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, recapped part of her speech after the ceremony.

On so many issues, he was ahead of his time, often taking position in opposition to the consternation of his conservative Republican colleagues, Ratner said. He was very grumpy, but he was very kind and generous. I ended up saying, since I know he is watching me and timing mehe always accused me of talking more than I shouldplease forgive me dearly George. I just couldnt cut this.

After his time in office, Ryan was convicted on fraud and racketeering charges in 2006 that stemmed from his time as secretary of state. He went on to serve more than five years in federal prison, during which his wife died from lung cancer in 2011.

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He didnt feel that he did the things he was accused of, but the separation of Lura Lynn was the penalty of his life, Serafin said.

Ryan was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, but grew up in Kankakee County and attended Kankakee High School. In 1954, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and eventually served a 13-month tour in Korea.

After returning from the Army, Ryan married his high school sweetheart, Lura Lynn. The two had five daughters and one son.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Local high school students are taking their science skills to a global level after winning big at the Red River Science and Engineering Fair.

Now theyve been selected to compete at one of the most prestigious science competitions in the world.

Stamp Out Hunger drive to collect food in Wichita Falls area, nationwide

Evan Liang, Jimin and Jun Park are students at Memorial High School who developed a project that uses artificial intelligence to detect hand gestures for prosthetic devices.

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It was so impressive that it earned them an invitation to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus Ohio to show the world what theyve created.

Their project focuses on improving prosthetic limb function through AI and electromyogram signals. It stood out among dozens at the Red River Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Midwestern State University, and now Red River is paying for the students to go to Ohio to present it on a global stage shared by some of the brightest young minds in science.

Their project uses deep learning algorithms and non-invasive electromyogram signals to detect hand gestures. The Park brothers said not only will this help them in the fields they plan to pursue going forward, but they also have hopes this technology could help improve the way many people use prosthetics, including their grandfather.

We have a grandfather who is an amputee, and we understand how difficult it is for him to apply the prosthetic and how awkward it is for him to move around. So, our research in this field of electric limbs and bionic arms can potentially help people like our grandfather, said Jun Park.

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The team said theyre proud to be representing Wichita Falls and hope their work can spark real-world change.

The students will head to Ohio for the science fair the week of May 11, joining students from across the globe to present their research in hopes of bringing home the $100,000 grand prize.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On April 27, a large-scale Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operation in Colorado Springs led to the detainment of more than 100 individu
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Memorial Medical Center (MMC) has named its 2025 Mercy Award Winner, according to the hospital on Tuesday, May 6, in Las Cruces.

Traci White, Memorial Medical Centers clinical pharmacy specialist in oncology and palliative care, was announced as the 2025 Mercy Award winner.

Traci White, recipient of the 2025 Mercy Award. Photo courtesy of Memorial Medical Center.

To say our hospital, Cancer Center and community are blessed to have Traci is an understatement. Her heart is truly one in a million, said Dennis Knox, CEO of Memorial Medical Center. We are incredibly proud of Traci, we are thrilled to bestow this honor on her, and we know she will represent MMC extremely well at the national level of this award process.

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The Mercy Award is a Lifepoint Health (parent company) award that highlights one employee from each facility nationwide who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive, according to the news release by MMC.

According to Memorial Medical Center, White was one of only seven pharmacists nationwide to be double-Board certified in oncology and geriatric pharmacy.

Before working at MMC, White was working at a local hospital agency and began working at Memorial Medical Center in 2019.

White also started the Palliative Care Program at the hospital, where she recognized a great need in our community and region to improve the care for serious and/or terminal illness, MMC said.

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According to MMC, White has served as the Chair of the Las Cruces Palliative Care Coalition since 2022, the Community Advisory Board for the New Mexico State University Cancer Outreach Core and is a regional leader for the Network for Collaborative Oncology Development and Advancement.

In addition, White has also served on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Advisory Group on pain management and palliative care and the development committee for the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists, MMC said.

While juggling board position, White also serves at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University for the colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy residents, MMC said.

Each Lifepoint Health facility winner, including White, will be considered for Lifepoints 2025 company-wide Mercy Award. The winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville in August, according to MMC.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn  A mother is sounding the alarm about illegal devices being used to turn Glocks into weapons of war. She suffered the loss of her son because of it.

It was January 1, a Saturday afternoon, when snow that had blanketed Memphis was starting to melt.

Debra Seaton was at her daughters apartment in Orange Mound when she says some woman tried to fight her. Her son, LaCurtis Waller, saw and tried to intervene.

LaCurtis Waller

You say something to them, and they ready to shoot you, Seaton said.

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Within a matter of seconds, she saw a gun.

I knew this was something powerful. It was just so loud, and it was like pop, pop, pop, everywhere, she said. There were so many people out there. There were people running for their lives. Those people were actually running for their lives. There were children out there. My granddaughter was out there.

The panic soon settled, and the ringing in her ears was then interrupted.

I heard this young man screaming that Curt was dead, Seaton said. To see your child in the streets, shot and face down. It the snow and the ice. This was murder. Cold-blooded murder.

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Memphis Murder Map 2025

Police said one other person was also shot that day. Seaton believes they were hit by a stray bullet.

Police said they have issued one warrant in connection to the incident, but are still working to find the person who killed Waller.

When [witnesses] were talking about it, they were saying that it was a Glock. A Glock with a switch on it, Seaton said.

WREG Investigators have told you about a switch. Its a tiny, illegal device criminals are attaching to their Glock to convert it into a machine gun.

Criminals creating their own machine guns with switch

Law enforcement continues to call it an emerging threat. They showed us how hard it is to control even for one of their most experienced shooters.

Since 2021, the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission says Memphis police seized more than 500 switches.

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Despite the danger and destruction they pose, those caught with one have only been facing the lowest felony charge at the state level.

A bill is now headed to the governors desk to change that. If signed, it will increase the state penalty to a class C felony.

Mother lobbies for tougher punishments for people putting switches on firearms

A move one Memphis mother, Janice Walker, lobbied for. She recently told us her son was shot multiple times by a Glock with a switch attached to it.

She was forced to say her final goodbye in the hospitals ICU.

Janice Walker (L) and her son Justin Walker (R)

The doctor had to literally pop his heart with her hands to get him going again, Walker said. I put my hand on his chest until he stopped. I had to immediately leave the room, because I could no longer breathe.

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Seaton said she saw Walkers story.

I sympathize with her. I said somebody needs to come together and get something done, Seaton said. Our city is in trouble. We are in trouble.

Seaton believes there must be a call to action. Shed like to see more churches and mentors getting involved and intervening in young peoples lives to break the cycle. Otherwise, she said this will keep happening and will keep destroying families.

They took away a good man. A good kid. A good-hearted kid, Seaton said. The guys in the neighborhood, who were messed up and homeless, he would bring them into my daughters house, sit them down at the table and feed them.

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She said Waller helped everyone.

He was helping everyone! Even in the midst of his struggles, and he was struggling, she said. Big Curt was the protector of his pride. He protected his grandma. He protected his cousins.

Her protector and loving son was full of love and mercy.

Let me tell you something. Whoever that was, if they shot him and he lived, you know what he would have did? Later on down the road, he would have forgave him. Thats how he was, Seaton said.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  Two men have been charged after allegedly stealing a $900 antique harp and silver tea set from a Jefferson County home last year.

According to court documents, Phillip King and Steven Baird stole the antique items, including a hammock, from the home on Jul. 31, 2024.

Police said both suspects entered the home and removed the $900 harp, $500 silver tea set, and $200 hammock. The following day, King came back and stole a Moultrie camera valued at $120.

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Suspect dead after shootout with St. Louis officer; investigation linked to three homicide victims

After the robbery, police interviewed Baird, who admitted to being on the property with King but denied stealing any of the items. In another interview with police, King admitted to stealing the silver tea set with Baird.

King also told police he returned to the property for a second time to cover his tracks when he noticed the Moultrie camera.

Both King and Baird have been charged with second-degree burglary. King was also charged with stealing less than $150 with no prior stealing offense. Baird and King are scheduled for an initial court appearance on June 16 at 9 a.m.

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The Menendez brothers battle for freedom brought their attorneys to court in Los Angeles again for a Friday hearing as the the incarcerated duo, who have been behind bars for over 30 years after being found guilty of the shocking 1989 Beverly Hills double murder of their parents, had sought to boot the L.A. District Attorneys Office from the case entirely, citing the new DAs bias and a conflict of interest. But in a surprise move, their attorney Marc Geragos withdrew the motion for withdrawal entirely.

In the hearing at the Van Nuys courthouse in Los Angeles, Geregos did not provide a reason for the withdrawal before Judge Michael Jesic. But outside the court, the powerhouse lawyer who has been dipping his toes into Sean Diddy Combs defense as his case begins in New York, said that hit was a strategic move and was creating a paper trial.

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Now that the recusal request has been withdrawn, the brothers resentencing hearing will now take place next week, on May 13 and May 14.

Fridays court hearing was the latest in a series regarding the potential resentencing of Erik Menendez, 54, and his older brother, Lyle Menendez, 57. It comes a month after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Jesic refused District Attorney Nathan Hochmans request to toss out his predecessor George Gascons request that a resentencing for the brothers be considered.

The brothers were not allowed to use their imperfect self-defense argument in their second joint trial, or any evidence that theyd been abused sexually and emotionally by their father, Jose Menendez, for most of their lives. Recent compelling evidence that indicated the brothers were telling the truth about the abuse they suffered has caused a sea change in how their extended family and the public at large view the case.

Hochman, who said he spent a great deal of time poring over the case since taking office last year, is not one of those compelled by the new evidence and has stated that the brothers cannot be released until they admit their motivation was greed, not self-preservation. His offices assessment points to 16 unacknowledged lies that they say the brothers have told about the murders; Hochman has shown a staunch refusal to acknowledge any form of abuse was talking place in the Menendez home and like the prosecutors in their second trial, views the murders as a cold-blooded money grab from the boys from a wealthy family.

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Because Hochman does not consider the new evidence in the case valid, he refuses to consider resentencing for the brothers; the new D.A. has said he believes that they have not accepted complete responsibility for their actions. This and other factors are why, in a recent court filing, the Menendez brothers attorneys wrote, 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.

Several factors and elements have entered the case for or against the D.A.s recusal in recent months and weeks. Geragos has said that a prosecutor in the case violated Marsys Law by showing a grisly crime scene photo during a hearing; the shock of seeing this sent one of the Menendez brothers relatives to the hospital from the courthouse hearing last month. Theres also the removal, by Hochman as he overtook the L.A. DAs office, of two prosecutors who worked under Gascon on the Menendez case and supported their resentencing. Both are suing D.A. Hochman after they were quickly moved out of the department where they looked at cases for potential resentencing, saying they were demoted in retaliation for their support of the Menendez resentencing bid. In addition, Hochman has hired an attorney who had represented a Menendez family member who opposed their resentencing.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are serving life prison sentences without the possibility of parole for the Aug. 20, 1989, shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Kitty Menendez. While their claims of abuse and threats to their lives from their parents were it to be revealed led to the killings were not admitted in their second joint trial, a letter Erik wrote to his late cousin surfaced decades later that confirmed the abuse. Moreover, around the same time, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo came forward to claim he was also abused by the Menendez patriarch, who had led RCA Records in the 1980s and signed the group to a $30 million deal.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are entitled to a fair resentencing process, the brothers attorneys wrote in their motion to see Hochman removed from the case. Jose and Kitty Menendezs family members  regardless of what position they take as to resentencing  are all entitled to a fair sentencing process. The public is entitled to a process that appears fair.

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The DAs office has refuted the attorneys claims of bias, writing, Other than the fact that they do not agree with, or like, the current legal position of the District Attorneys Office, the defense has completely failed to articulate any legitimate conflict of interest which would create a likelihood that the defendants would be treated unfairly.

The California Attorney Generals Office wrote in a filing this week that it agrees with Hochmans office and that the moving around of the two prosecutors and hiring the attorney who worked with a relative doesnt create a disabling conflict of interest.

A statement from the Menendez family-led initiative focused squarely on the DA, stating that recusal is about accountability and ensuring [District Attorney] Nathan Hochmans office stops crossing ethical lines and starts respecting our rights as victims under Marsys Law.

Also to be discussed Friday was the state parole boards comprehensive risk assessments of the Menendez brothers vis-a-vis their clemency request. Separate hearings were scheduled to be held June 13 for the brothers; then, the reports are to be sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a possible clemency decision from the term-limited state leader. Newsom has signaled that he supports the brothers regaining their freedom but has been meticulous and by-the-book in moving forward the process at the state level.

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On Friday, Judge Jesic said that he will consider the comprehensive risk assessments for Erik and Lyle as a part of any resentencing decision. How much weight they will have in his decision is unclear.

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After decades in prison for the brutal murders of their parents, the waiting is nearly over for brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez in their bid for freedom.

Following disagreements between the current and former Los Angeles County district attorney and a series of legal fits and starts delayed the matter in recent months, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said Friday that the brothers' resentencing hearing can go forward Tuesday. The hearing is expected to last two days at the Van Nuys Courthouse.

The brothers were convicted of murder with special circumstances in the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents, Jose and Kitty, at the family's Beverly Hills home.

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Read more: Menendez brothers' bid for freedom stalled by fight over parole board document

Erik, then 18, confessed to the killings in a conversation with his therapist and the two brothers were later sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. While Erik and Lyle claimed Jose sexually abused them and was a threat to their lives, prosecutors contended they killed their parents to get early access to their multimillion-dollar inheritance.

The brothers have been hoping for their day in court since October, when then-Dist. Atty. George Gascon asked a judge to make them eligible for parole. Resentencing could trigger their eligibility for parole through the state's youthful offender law since they were under 26 at the time of the murders.

Gascon cited the brothers' work creating rehabilitation programs in prison, their low-risk assessments from corrections officials and potential new evidence about their fathers alleged abusive behavior as reasons they should be set free.

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But after Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman trounced Gascon in November, he vowed to re-examine the case. In March, he said he would not support resentencing, contending the brothers had not taken proper "insight" into their crimes and were still lying about being afraid their parents might kill them to cover up Jose's alleged abuse.

Read more: A coach is suspected of killing a 13-year-old. Did a case backlog seal the boy's fate?

Hochman previously asked Jesic to disregard Gascon's motion and only consider filings submitted under his administration in the case, but the judge rejected that bid last month, saying there "was nothing really new" in those filings.

Hochman, who appeared on the record in court alongside the line prosecutors assigned to the case, again asked Jesic to throw out Gascon's petition Friday. This time, he insisted information contained in a risk-assessment report generated by the parole board under the direction of Gov. Gavin Newsom  who is separately considering a request for clemency from the brothers  would have been critical for Gascon to review.

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The brothers' risk level was raised from "low" to "moderate" in the report. Hochman said the report also said that Erik was caught with a cellphone, which is considered contraband in prison, in November. The phone demonstrated that Erik continues to show "elements of entitlement," according to Hochman.

"He has continued to display narcissistic and antisocial traits," Hochman said, reading from the report.

Hochman said Lyle, too, had used an illegal cellphone this year and admitted to aiding another inmate with tax fraud 15 years ago and purchasing narcotics in prison. The district attorney said those incidents proved the brothers showed a pattern of deceit behind bars.

Read more: D.A. Hochman officially brings death penalty back to Los Angeles

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Jesic again denied Hochman's request, saying the report would need to contain something so shocking that Gascon would have reconsidered his position, such as proof the brothers joined a notorious prison gang, such as the Mexican Mafia.

A coalition of relatives supporting Erik and Lyle's release has been in dispute with Hochman over the case in recent weeks, some of which served as the basis of a motion filed last month by defense attorney Mark Geragos seeking to disqualify Hochman and his prosecutors.

The family has accused Hochman of holding a bias against the brothers and acting "hostile, dismissive and patronizing" toward them during a meeting earlier this year. Geragos also contends Hochman created a conflict by hiring Kathy Cady  a former prosecutor and victims rights attorney who previously represented the lone Menendez relative opposed to their release  as the director of his bureau of victims services. Hochman has maintained Cady is "walled off" from the case.

The family has also questioned Hochman's decision to transfer the two prosecutors who filed the initial motion to resentence the brothers. The attorneys, Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford, have sued Hochman for retaliation.

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Hochman has denied allegations of bias and said he is simply following the law. Geragos withdrew his motion to disqualify on Friday because it would delay the re-sentencing hearing.

An attorney for relatives supporting the brothers, Bryan Freedman, continued to criticize the D.A. in court Friday.

Freedman accused Hochman of spending "hundreds of thousands of dollars" by hiring a communications consultant to disparage the Menendez family during his successful campaign for office last year.

While Hochman did make an issue of the Menendez case during the campaign  going so far as to accuse Gascon of seeking to re-sentence the brothers for political purposes  the issue was raised only in the final weeks of the race.

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LAG Strategy, the public relations firm that handled communications for Hochman when he was a candidate, had been working on his campaign for nearly a year at that point.

"LAG Strategy is proud to have managed all communications for Nathan Hochman's winning campaign for District Attorney. Our role ended when Mr. Hochman was sworn in as District Attorney on December 3, 2024," Stuart Pfeifer, co-founder and managing partner of the firm, wrote in an email to The Times. "The Geragos team's statement in court today shows they simply did not do their homework.

Pfeifer is a former Times reporter.

In fiery remarks outside the courthouse, Hochman accused the Menendez camp of spreading misinformation and "hoping that that somehow will sell in the media."

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"Shame on them," he said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The long-awaited resentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers, who are both serving life in prison for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez, has been set for next week.

On Friday, May 9, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic announced that the fate of Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, will be determined during court dates scheduled for May 13 and May 14, according to the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. The decision comes months after the brothers' initial resentencing hearing in December 2024 was delayed multiple times.

Since their 1996 convictions, the brothers fought for decades to be released from prison, claiming self-defense. They've said they feared for their lives after claiming that Jose had sexually abused them for years with Kitty's knowledge, and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone.

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However, prosecutors at the time said the brothers motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings.

Los Angeles Times via Getty Erik, left, and Lyle Menendez Erik, left, and Lyle Menendez

Related: Where Are the Menendez Brothers Now? A Look at Erik and Lyle's Lives in Prison  and the New Evidence That Could Get Them Out

In October 2024, then-Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon formally recommended that the brothers each be resentenced to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. He said the two would qualify as youthful offenders" due their ages at the time of the killings. (Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21.)

However, Gascon lost the November election to Nathan Hochman, who then opposed his predecessors resentencing recommendation. Hochman previously said at a press conference that the brothers have not taken full responsibility for their crimes and accused them of telling "lies" for the "past 30 years."

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While Hochman tried to withdraw the resentencing request, Jesic denied it, the New York Times reported.

Still to be determined is whether Governor Gavin Newsom's risk assessement investigation request to the state parole board can be considered as part of the brothers' bid for resentencing. Newsom has said his decision on clemency will not be made until after their final hearing.

Many members of Lyle and Eriks family have openly supported their bid for release, including their maternal aunt Joan VanderMolen.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



Read the original article on People
Erik and Lyle Menendez's much-anticipated resentencing hearing will move forward on May 13 and 14, a judge ruled on Friday, as new details about the brothers' alleged behavior behind bars were revealed in court.

A hearing was held Friday to determine whether the brothers' resentencing case should include information from the California Board of Parole's newly completed risk assessment, which was conducted as a part of a separate clemency path. The risk assessment came at the request of Gov. Gavin Newsom as a part of the brothers' clemency bid; the brothers are pursuing multiple avenues to freedom, and the clemency path is separate from the resentencing path.

Judge Michael Jesic indicated he will take some of the risk assessment into account, but that the information in it is preliminary and attorneys can't question the forensic psychologists who performed the examinations.

PHOTO: In this April 12, 1991 file photo, Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez appear in court for a preliminary hearing held in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Kevork Djansezian/AP, FILE)

The risk assessment said Erik and Lyle Menendez pose a moderate risk to the community if they're released.

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The assessment revealed the brothers possessed illegal cellphones in prison, among numerous other violations. Erik Menendez had a phone as recently as January of this year, which Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stressed was during the resentencing effort when he should have been on his best behavior.

Erik Menendez allegedly bought and traded drugs and allegedly helped inmates commit tax fraud years ago, according to the assessment. The psychologists found Lyle Menendez to be narcissistic.

MORE: Menendez brothers' long-awaited resentencing hearing is delayed after dramatic day in court

The assessment said the brothers had a likelihood to not follow the law out of prison if they ignored rules in prison.

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Jesic appeared to dismiss many of the findings.

The assessment likely includes the positive work the brothers have done in prison, too. Hochman's predecessor, George Gascon, has praised them for furthering their education, rehabilitating themselves and starting programs to help other inmates.

PHOTO: This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections via AP)

MORE: Menendez brothers timeline: From the 1989 murders to their new fight for freedom

Also at Friday's hearing, defense attorney Mark Geragos withdrew his attempt to get Hochman kicked off the case after making allegations against his background and alleging the DA hired a crisis public relations firm to go after the brothers. Hochman denied that, saying the PR firm was not for the brothers but for his campaign, and that the PR firm ended its work after he was elected in November.

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Friday's hearing followed a dramatic court appearance on April 17, which was initially set to be the brothers' resentencing hearing. However, on April 16, the district attorney's office in a filing urged Jesic to delay the resentencing hearing if he couldn't obtain a copy of the risk assessment report in time for court.

Hochman, who wants to keep the brothers behind bars, argued the risk assessment is relevant to the resentencing case, while Geragos noted a strong desire for the assessment to be used only for the June 13 parole hearing.

For next week's resentencing hearing, Geragos said he will have seven witnesses rather than his previously planned 20 witnesses. Two experts are expected to testify.

MORE: Menendez brothers' aunt hospitalized after DA shares graphic photos in court: 'We are devastated'

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Erik and Lyle Menendez -- who are serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez -- have the support of over 20 family members in their efforts to be freed after 35 years behind bars.

Their resentencing case gained momentum in October when Gascon announced he was in support of resentencing.

Gascon recommended the brothers' sentences of life without the possibility of parole be removed, and said they should instead be sentenced for murder, which would be a sentence of 50 years to life. Because both brothers were under 26 at the time of the crimes, they would be eligible for parole immediately with the new sentence.

Gascon's office said its resentencing recommendations take into account many factors, including rehabilitation in prison and abuse or trauma that contributed to the crime.

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In November, Gascon lost his reelection bid to Hochman, who in March filed a motion to withdraw the resentencing petition, calling the brothers' claims of self-defense part of a litany of "lies." The judge denied the request by Hochman.

Menendez brothers' resentencing hearing will be next week; risk assessment says they pose moderate risk if released originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Law enforcement was called to investigate a school threat at Marion Local Schools.

According to the Mercer County Sheriffs Office, on the morning of May 9, a middle school student reportedly made threats to come to school and do harm. Marion Local Schools officials immediately contacted law enforcement to investigate.

Deputies and detectives worked with the school to determine the situation, eventually taking a juvenile suspect into custody.

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The student appeared in Mercer County Juvenile Probate Court before being transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.

The sheriffs office reports there is no active threat to the public at this time.

The case will be turned over to the prosecutors office for review.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Germany's newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz is en route to Kiev alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a joint statement has announced.

The three leaders, joined by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, plan to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday to reaffirm their countries' continued support in light of Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion.

According to a joint statement, the visit is also intended to bolster their call for a 30-day ceasefire with Moscow.

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"Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace," the leaders said.

"We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, to discuss technical implementation of the ceasefire, and prepare for a full peace deal."

They would continue to "ratchet up pressure on Russias war machine" until Russia agreed to an enduring ceasefire, the joint statement said.

"We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come."

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Earlier, Zelensky said in a video conference that the "coalition of the willing" was to gather in Kiev on Saturday, referring to nations prepared to support Ukraine, as fighting continued in the embattled country. However, he did not state exactly who would attend.

The "coalition of the willing" consists of some 30 countries and is led by France and Britain. All are working on plans to support Ukraine after a possible ceasefire.

While Washington recently urged the two battling nations to agree to a ceasefire, the US is not part of the coalition.

The meeting is important for the security architecture in Europe, and Europe will also benefit from it, Zelensky said.

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Earlier, the Kiev military administration warned of road closures in the centre of the city on Saturday due to foreign delegations but said the times and specific roads would not be revealed yet for security reasons.

Moscow, Kiev trade blame over ceasefire violations

Earlier on Friday, Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a three-day ceasefire declared unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, there have been almost 200 clashes on the battlefield in the past 24 hours.

Around the key mining city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine repelled 71 Russian advances, according to the situation report. Towns close to the front line were also being shelled, it said.

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For their part, Russian authorities reported a drone attack on the regional administration in Belgorod.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov published a video on Telegram apparently showing the aftermath of the attack.

Some metal parts - possibly drone debris - could be seen on the ground in the video, although there was no visible major damage to buildings. There were no deaths or injuries, Gladkov said.

The information from the front could not be independently verified.

The ceasefire, which Putin said he called for humanitarian reasons, is set to end on Saturday night.

It comes as Russia marks the 80th anniversary of victory over the Nazis in World War II with a huge parade in Moscow's Red Square.

Ukraine said the ceasefire was only for show and has called for it to be extended to 30 days.
Gov. Jared Polis did not categorically say he would veto the proposal to eliminate a key requirement before labor organizations can negotiate imposing union dues on non-union members. Still, he strongly indicated on Thursday that he will reject the legislation.

"We've been clear on that," the governor said, referring to his oft-repeated position that major changes to Colorado's 80-year-old law governing collective bargaining must secure both business and labor buy-in for him to sign it.

"We worked hard with the business community and labor to find an update, a way to modernize the 83-year-old act, and our criteria was that it had enough buy-in to be sustainable, to be lasting."

The governor had pushed for a deal in the last few weeks, but the negotiations failed to produce a compromise.

On Thursday, the governor reiterated his position and noted that the efforts to "meet the threshold" he had set for him to approve the legislation fell short.

He also explained his rationale for insisting on a grand compromise.

He said any legislation seeking to "modernize" the nearly century-old law must hold for just as longor at least over the next few decades.

He expounded on his position that the legislation needs to be durable and not easily swayed by changing political winds.

"It did not meet our threshold for having enough enduring support to, if not last 83 years, at least last for decades, on something that's important for workers and important for Colorado businesses," he said.

Polis commended labor and businesses for coming to the negotiating table and trying to compromise.

Having failed to reach a deal, lawmakers sent the proposal to the governor's desk on Tuesday, shifting the pressure to Polis.

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On Thursday, Dennis Dougherty, co-chair of the Colorado Worker Rights United and the Colorado AFL-CIO executive director, said the governor would be "kowtowing to the billionaire class" if he vetoed the measure and that "nurses, truck drivers and other workers wont forget that the governor betrayed them."

The coalition of businesses opposed the measure, which included Colorado Concern and the state and metro Denver chambers, earlier said: "Our employees should not be compelled to reduce their paychecks to pay union officials who may not even work at their company and who may support political causes with which they disagree. This is untenable and would be nothing short of taxation without representation for our employees and comes at a time when we already face workforce and affordability challenges in this state."

Senate Bill 005sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Reps. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Jennifer Bacon, D-Denversought to repeal the 80-year-old requirement to hold an election to establish a "union security" agreement at an already unionized workplace. Under that law, 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 that election, a labor group must receive a simple majority to unionize  a related but separate issue from what's before Colorado lawmakers.

At issue at the Colorado Capitol is the state law requiring the "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, and the unions want to eliminate it.

Labor and business have clashed over framing a proposal to eliminate a key requirement before unions can negotiate to impose dues on non-union members.

The diametrically opposed framing is unsurprising given major fights at the state Capitol. For labor, it's likely aimed at drawing public support amid the governor's pronouncements that he would veto the measure if the two sides could not reach an agreement.

Business, meanwhile, is playing defense, as it seeks to conserve the law that outlines the steps unions must take to impose dues on non-union workers under a company agreement.

The labor coalition pushing the legislation and its allies at the state Capitol have insisted it's about workers' ability to unionize, framing it adopted early on by arguing that unionization yields much better economic results for a state.

Business representatives have countered that the proposal has nothing to do with workers' ability to form a union. They maintained that the legislation deals with imposing dues on all workers, regardless of whether they are union members.

Polis has until June 6 to act on the bill.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday expressed support for US President Donald Trump's proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.

"Russia is now called upon to finally agree to a longer ceasefire, which must leave room for a genuine peace treaty," Merz said in Brussels after meeting European Council President Antonio Costa.

He also warned of further sanctions if Russia does not cooperate.

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"If this does not happen, we will not hesitate, together with our European partners and the United States of America, to further increase the pressure of sanctions," he said

Merz spoke to Trump on the phone for the first time on Thursday evening, two days after taking office.

The chancellor said that several European states, including Germany, France, Poland and the United Kingdom, are willing to support Trump's initiative with a joint declaration.

European Council President Antonio Costa (R) welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the European Council headquarters ahead of their meeting in Brussels. Francois Lenoir/EU Council/dpa

European Council President Antonio Costa (R) welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the European Council headquarters ahead of their meeting in Brussels. Francois Lenoir/EU Council/dpa
The Mexican government has U-turned on a hefty cruise tax that would have charged $42 per passenger for docking at its ports.

Mexicos federal government has reportedly agreed to a lower amount and a phased roll-out of the cruise tax after pressure from the cruise industry and local governments where cruises contribute to the economy, industry magazine The Maritime Executive reported, citing Mexican newspapers.

Negotiations, which started in December, delayed the rollout for six months. Initially, the federal government announced in late 2024 that it would end an exemption for cruise passengers from the tourist tax charge known as a Non-Resident Duty.

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The tax was to be set at $42 per passenger as of 1 January 2025, in addition to potential higher costs depending on local port taxes.

The government then allowed for this to be delayed until 1 July, giving the cruise industry time to adjust to the new taxes as well as starting negotiations to find a compromise.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), which represents 23 cruise lines such as Carnival, P&O and Royal Caribbean, was heavily involved in striking a compromise with the government.

In December, the association sent a letter to Mexicos president, Claudia Sheinbaum, claiming that the tax would make cruise tourism in Mexico 213 per cent more expensive than the average Caribbean port, stating that the country would be priced out of the market.

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"This proposed tax could also jeopardise cruise industry investments in the country  including billions in planned development and other projects  meant to help rebuild Acapulco, cultivate new Mexican tourist destinations, employ more Mexican seafarers, and provide social programs to help underserved communities in Mexico, the FCCAs CEO Michele Paige wrote.

After months of talks, Mexican media is reporting that a deal is now in place, with the tax on passengers significantly reduced from its initial $42 starting point.

The tax will still begin in July, but at $5 per person, which will stay in place for the next 13 months. From August 2026 to July 2027, it will then increase to $10 per person and then $15 in 2027-2028. By November 2028, it will increase to $21 per passenger. The fee will be collected once per itinerary.

The FCCA celebrated the tax reduction, saying in a statement: We thank the Federal Government of Mexico for working with us to reach an in transit fee agreement that safeguards cruise tourism to the country and aims to enhance the benefits for local communities whose livelihoods depend on it.

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"The cruise industry is a success story for Mexico, contributing roughly $1 billion USD in direct spending to the economy in the past year alone.

"This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials."

Cruise lines have also agreed to support port infrastructure projects, such as a proposed fourth pier in Cozumel, as well as promote Mexican goods aboard their ships, The Maritime Executive said.

The Independent has contacted the FCCA and Mexicos National Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism for comment.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexico has sued tech giant Google over its labelling of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a change made by U.S. President Donald Trump via executive order, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday.

Sheinbaum did not provide details of the lawsuit during her daily press briefing, but said that Google had been sued.

Mexicos Foreign Relations ministry had previously sent letters to Google asking it to not label Mexican territorial waters as the Gulf of America.

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Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The body of water has shared borders between the United States and Mexico. Trumps order only carries authority within the U.S. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change.

Mexico argues that Gulf of America should only apply to the part of the gulf over the United States continental shelf.

In February, Sheinbaum shared a letter from Cris Turner, Googles vice president of government affairs and public policy, stating that Google will not change the policy it outlined after Trump declared the body of water the Gulf of America.

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As it stands, the gulf appears in Google Maps as Gulf of America within the United States, as Gulf of Mexico within Mexico and Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) elsewhere. Turner in his letter said the company was using Gulf of America to follow longstanding maps policies impartially and consistently across all regions.

The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press refers to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. The White House moved in February to block the AP from being among the small group of journalists to cover Trump in the Oval Office or aboard Air Force One, with sporadic ability to cover him at events in the East Room.

The AP sued three Trump administration officials over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the blocking of its journalists.

A federal judge ordered the White House last month to restore the APs full access to cover presidential events, affirming on First Amendment grounds that the government cannot punish the news organization for the content of its speech. The judge's decision granted emergency relief while the lawsuit proceeds.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
As early as next month, Miami city commissioners could vote to give themselves and Mayor Francis Suarez an extra year in office.

The idea circulating Miami City Hall  to move city elections from odd years to even years, in line with national elections  could push the upcoming November 2025 election to 2026.

City Attorney George Wysong confirmed to the Miami Herald that the City Commission has the authority to move the election back one year, rather than ask voters for approval. The change would mean Suarez and Commissioners Christine King and Joe Carollo would stay in office until 2026. Commissioners Damian Pardo and Miguel Angel Gabelas terms would also extend one year, until 2028.

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As it stands now, Suarez is term-limited and set to leave office at the end of the year, and a few high-profile candidates have already filed to replace him in the election planned for this fall. But if the city pushes the election to 2026, Suarez  a former city commissioner  will get a 17th consecutive year as an elected official in Miami.

The idea has not yet been placed on an upcoming meeting agenda, but Gabela told the Herald his understanding was that it would be linked to a separate proposal from Pardo to create lifetime term limits for elected officials. The term limits proposal, which would limit elected officials to two terms as mayor and two terms as commissioner during their lifetime, would ultimately need voter approval. The commission is expected to take an initial vote on it June 12.

While Pardo said there was no connection between his term limits proposal and moving the citys elections to even years, he expressed support for aligning with national elections.

Commissioner Damian Pardo speaks at a meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove.

In an interview Thursday, Pardo said moving elections to even years would increase voter turnout, which typically hovers around 10% to 15% in Miami. He also said aligning with the national election cycle could save the city money.

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Residents, if they can see the bigger picture, would understand that youre changing the landscape of a city going forward, Pardo said. And theres always going to be a cost to that, whether its [elected officials] losing a year, gaining a year.

Pardo added that he wouldnt oppose shortening elected officials terms rather than lengthening them in order to switch to even-year elections. However, doing so by 2026 could create a situation where the winners of the November 2025 election need to run again in just one year.

What Im looking at is the long-term impact on the city of Miami and changing the structures so that we would double our [voter] participation, Pardo added.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez delivers his final State of the City address at the former Melreese Golf Course, the future site of Miami Freedom Park, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.

Asked Thursday if he would be interested in having an extra year in office, Suarez did not give a direct answer. He did, however, bring up Pardos proposal for term limits.

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Ive enjoyed being the mayor, and Ive been very blessed to have the confidence of my residents, who reelected me by close to 80%, Suarez said in a short interview at City Hall.

However, he added that since there is not yet a formal agenda item related to moving the election to 2026, theres really nothing to speculate or comment about related to that.

There is a proposal, however, on the agenda, related to closing the term limit loophole, Suarez said. So that, at the appropriate moment, if it gets to my desk, Ill weigh in on that. But other than that, Im looking forward to my 188 days left of service.

It is unclear what Suarez meant when he said hell weigh in on that proposal, and he declined to elaborate. The mayor does not have a vote on the commission, but he has veto power  something hes exercised sparingly during his tenure.

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Suarez has previously supported the idea of moving elections to even years, saying so in his 2024 State of the City address to residents.

Commissioner Miguel Gabela speaks at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove on April 17, 2025.

Gabela expressed staunch opposition on Thursday to the prospect of moving elections to even years. Gabela said his understanding is that the term limits proposal would be coupled with the proposal of pushing the upcoming November election to 2026.

I dont want the extra year, nor will I be voting for this, Gabela said. He added that while he supports the term limits proposal, he wont vote for it if it contains something to give us an extra year.

Theres a hitch there, you know, and I dont want to be associated with that hitch, Gabela said. I want to be associated with the first original idea. That was term limits, period. End of story. That I will do.

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Gabela also said that switching elections from odd to even years will make it harder for grassroots candidates to raise money because theyd be competing with the noise of national politics.

Carollo, who is termed out of his District 3 seat in November under the citys current rules, said Thursday that he is not interested in adding an extra year onto his term.

Carollo is considering running for mayor, although he hasnt formally filed for the race yet.

Chairwoman Christine King speaks at a meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove.

King, the commissions chairwoman, is up for reelection as District 5 commissioner in November, although she hasnt officially filed for the race yet. A spokesperson for King did not respond to a request for comment Thursday about whether she supports the proposal and if shes interested in having an extra year added to her term.

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King was a vocal opponent to Pardos term limits proposal when the commission discussed it last month, saying lifetime term limits were too rigid and too inflexible.

It takes away choice from my constituents, King said at the meeting.
A Miami man is claiming he was robbed of thousands of dollars by a woman he met while out for a night of fun in the citys Brickell neighborhood, according to reporting by NBC Miami.

The 31-year-old man, who requested anonymity, told the outlet that he met the woman, who claimed to be a tourist, at a bar on May 2. The pair went to another bar in Wynwood before returning to the man's home to have drinks.

But when he woke up the next afternoon alone, with no memory of what had happened after the drinks, he realized he had been robbed of $3,000 in cash and his Rolex watch.

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Its a scary feeling because it can really happen to anybody, he told NBC Miami. To be made so vulnerable and have somebody touching your unconscious body and rummaging through your stuff  its a very eerie feeling.

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.

You were planning that the whole night, he added. Since you saw me. Thats just evil.

Miami police did not directly address the allegations in the NBC article, but forwarded PEOPLE police reports of similar recent arrests  which a spokesperson described as bad date crimes  involving women allegedly targeting men.



Authorities told NBC Miami that the type of crime has become more prevalent in recent months.



Read the original article on People
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The first American pope has been selected, and Catholic bodies across the Miami Valley are celebrating the news.

Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV is a Midwest native  hailing from Chicago.

LIVE UPDATES: Robert Prevost elected the first American pope in history

Catholic leaders across the area are celebrating, as well as the nearly 450,000 Catholics in the greater Cincinnati and Miami Valley area, as the Vatican welcomes their first American pope.

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Originally from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV spent the last 30 years of his life in Peru, even obtaining a Peruvian passport.

In his address to the people in the Vatican City, Leo said he intends to carry on Pope Francis legacy in helping all and uniting everyone to obtain peace.

Back home in the states, prayer services have been held at churches and local universities to celebrate the selection.

At the University of Dayton, bells rang in celebration of the election of Leo XIV.

It was such a beautiful scene at St. Peters in the square. Thousands of people from across the world and theyre crying with joy, and he comes out, giving them their greeting of peace, said Sandra Yocum, UD professor of faith and culture. I think it was just kind of a wonderful image of what its like when the world comes together for a joyful celebration.

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Many say they are excited to see someone representing the United States on an international level.

He wants the whole world to know that God loves us, and if that doesnt speak about how much he wants to make the Catholic church a place for people to belong, I dont know what else does, said Pastor Satish Joseph, Bread of Life Family Parishes.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Cincinnati shared a statement upon the election:

Habemus papam! We have a pope! Through prayerful discernment and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the Cardinals of our Church have chosen our new shepherd. This is a unifying moment in the life of the Church, reminding us of the Good Shepherds eternal care for His flock. Christ, who is yesterday, today, and forever, now places the care of this flock in the hands of Pope Leo XIV. With great joy and gratitude, I join the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in praying for our new Holy Father. May the Lord grant him wisdom, courage, and strength in carrying out his sacred ministry. Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati

The archbishop will hold a Votive Mass for the Holy Father on Saturday, May 10 at 11:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati. All are welcome to attend.

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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.
Day 12 of Karen Reads murder retrial featured only one witness on the stand for hours  Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik.

Bukhenik was the supervisor in charge of the investigation into the death of John OKeefe in January of 2022.

He oversaw former state trooper Michael Proctor, who was let go after several violations, including derogatory texts about Karen Read during the investigation.

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The prosecution and Bukhenik outlined their early findings at the scene of 34 Fairview Road in Canton. He began the investigation with Proctor in the morning of January 29, 2022.

They also outlined several surveillance clips from John OKeefes driveway, CF McCarthys, and the Waterfall between January 28-29 2022.

Bukhenik also spoke on the missing shoe of John OKeefes.

He explained, Our theory had evolved to a vehicle strike.

Bukhenik and Proctor saw OKeefes body at the hospital after he was found dead.

I saw pooling of blood underneath his head, he explained. There was seepage of blood into the sheets... There was also swelling, discoloration, a large amount of blood pooling underneath his eyelids.

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In the afternoon, defense attorney Alan Jackson grilled Bukhenik on not reprimanding Proctor regarding his text messages.

Bukhenik responded, The investigation was done with honor, integrity, and all the evidence pointed in one direction, one direction only.

Jackson asked, Honor and integrity by Michael Proctor?!

He continued, If you dont properly supervise your subordinates in an investigation, failing to properly supervise them could increase the chances that mistakes are made. Is that right?

Bukhenik responded, That is one possibility.

Karen Read also spoke briefly outside of court, saying its unclear whether shell take the stand.

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Day 13 of the retrial begins Friday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at May 8, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from May 8 drawing

Midday: 2-5-9

Evening: 5-8-9

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from May 8 drawing

Midday: 9-6-3-5

Evening: 0-4-2-0

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 8 drawing

14-18-23-34-35, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from May 8 drawing

JH-QH-AS-7C-6H

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from May 8 drawing

05-06-13-18-28

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15-21-22-30-35

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from May 8 drawing

03-04-06-08-15-20-24-31-35-46-47-48-52-53-58-59-61-62-67-69-75-79

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize

All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices.

To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:

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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 8, 2025
MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland Health Department has confirmed a fifth case of measles in an adult and is working to identify exposures and notify exposed individuals.

The case comes amid a continuing rise in cases across Texas. Earlier this week, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services reported that 702 cases have been diagnosed so far, including three in Andrews, 11 in Ector County, three in Martin County, one in Reeves County, and now five in Midland. However, only one percent, or fewer than 10 of the confirmed cases, are estimated to be actively infectious since their rash onset date was less than a week ago.

Symptoms of Measles

Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and may include:

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High fever (above 101F)

Cough

Runny nose

Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)

Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) inside the mouth (2-3 days after symptoms begin)

A red, flat rash that starts on the face and spreads downward to the rest of the body (3-5 days after symptoms begin)

People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days after it develops.

What To Do If You Have Been Exposed or Have Symptoms

If you believe you have been exposed to measles or are experiencing symptoms:

Stay home to prevent spreading the virus to others.

Call your healthcare provider or the Midland Health Department before visiting a medical facility to arrange testing in a way that minimizes exposure to others.

If you decide you want to be seen at your doctors office or at a healthcare facility such as an emergency department or clinic, PLEASE CALL THEM FIRST and inform them you were possibly exposed to measles.

Monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure.

Prevention & Vaccination

Vaccination is the best protection against measles. The Midland Health Department offers the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine for individuals who are unvaccinated. While no special vaccination clinics are currently planned, residents are encouraged to check their immunization records and speak with their healthcare provider about their vaccination status.

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People born before 1957 are usually considered immune. Those who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are also considered protected. Vaccination, even shortly before or after exposure, may prevent or lessen the severity of measles. In certain high-risk individuals (such as pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and unvaccinated infants), immune globulin given within six days of exposure may help prevent infection.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
A former El Paso County public defender accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old pleaded not guilty in the 4th Judicial District on Thursday.

Thomas Cushing, 26, was arrested Nov. 22, 2024, and faces one count of sexual assault against a child, according to court records. An affidavit for Cushings arrest indicates he met with the victim on two different occasions for sexual intercourse.

The document also states the victim told Cushing that she was 18 years old, but made it clear she was a high school student still living with her legal guardians.

Cushing's attorney, Josh Tolini, told the court the not guilty plea was entered in order to continue plea agreement negotiations with the prosecution.

At the time of Cushing's arrest, James Karbach, a spokesman for the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, confirmed to The Gazette that Cushing no longer worked at the public defenders office but declined to comment further.

Cushing appeared out of custody in jeans, a leather jacket and a face mask after posting his $25,000 surety bond shortly after his arrest.

His trial is set for late September unless a plea agreement is reached before then.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Thursday marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. In Savannah, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force honored the day with remembrance, education and personal stories.

Visitors to the museum experienced their special Salute to Victory event. One of the highlights was a talk by the son of a World War II airman from the 100th Bomb Group. He shared his fathers story of surviving as a prisoner of war.

Visitors also learned about two missions where American bombers dropped food, not bombs, over starving parts of the Netherlands in May 1945.

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With fewer than 1% of U.S. World War II veterans still living, events like this are crucial in preserving their legacy. Dawn Brosnan, director of communications for the Mighty Eighth says, It is important to remember. Even though we have so few World War II veterans left, their families, their relatives, their descendantsthey gave sacrifices of their time, their efforts, sometimes their lives. Sot it is always important to honor and remember 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 WSAV-TV.
An Iraqi asylum seeker has won the right to stay in the UK after claiming he could not return to his home country because of his tattoos.

The Kurdish man, who was granted anonymity, said he faced a violent reaction from his family as they felt his tattoos deviated from the principles of Islam.

He said he had to flee Iraq when his father and uncle tried to burn his tattoos off his skin and found out they were intending to kill him.

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However, he was unable to take key identity documents with him and claimed he could not return to Iraq because not having an identity card would put him at risk of inhumane treatment in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Iraqi asylum seekers have previously successfully argued they cannot safely return to their home country without ID documents because of the risks of arrest and interrogation, as well as preventing them from travelling cross-country through checkpoints.

Skin burnt trying to remove the tattoos

The Home Office initially rejected the Kurds asylum claim on the basis that he could relocate internally. But an asylum tribunal has ruled that he can stay and granted him refugee status.

The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example exposed by The Telegraph in which illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have won the right to remain in the UK or halt their deportations.

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There are a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds, which Labour has pledged to clear by halving the time it takes for them to come to court to just 24 days.

The Kurdish man, named only as AA, fled Iraq when his father and uncle discovered he had tattoos. They viewed these as abnormal behaviour that deviated from the principles of Islam  tattoos are seen as changing Gods creation  and the pair burnt his skin to try to remove them.

When that did not work, AA found out from his mother that his father and uncle were planning to kill him for dishonouring the family. He told the tribunal that his brother helped him arrange a flight, including obtaining AAs passport, which was normally kept with his father.

However, the brother was not able to get any other documents, including his Iraqi ID card, because they were being kept separately. Once in the UK, AA lodged asylum claims, but these were rejected by the Home Office in November 2023 on the grounds that he could seek state protection or relocate within Iraq.

At risk of honour killing

In April 2024, the asylum seeker appealed this decision on the grounds that his father and uncle were well connected to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the political party which controls Iraqi Kurdistan, and so they would be able to find him wherever he went in the region.

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He also argued he could not return without his identity documents which were in his fathers possession and his mother or brother could not obtain them because they were also afraid of his father.

A first tier tribunal accepted the Home Office argument but an upper tribunal has now granted his appeal. Judge Makesh Joshi found that his mother or brother would be put at risk if they helped him obtain his ID card and that without it he would be likely to experience inhumane or degrading treatment in Iraq.

This was despite the Home Office arguing that the Kurdish man could ask his family to assist him as they had already helped him get his passport.

Judge Joshi also ruled that AA should be granted refugee status because of the risk he could be the victim of an honour crime at the hands of his father and uncle.

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When considering his claim under the Refugee Convention, in light of our finding that [AA] would not be able to live and travel within Iraq without encountering treatment or conditions which are contrary to Article 3 of the ECHR, we find that it would be both unduly harsh and unreasonable to expect him to relocate elsewhere in the IKR or indeed within Iraq, the court ruled.

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In the early morning hours of Wednesday, a group of detained migrants were bused from a facility in Texas to a base where a military aircraft awaited them  at least one of them had been told he was destined for Libya, according to an account shared with his attorney.

Johnny Sinodis, an attorney based in San Francisco, told CNN his Filipino client, who he didnt name due to privacy concerns, had been told Monday evening that he would be deported to Libya, raising alarm and leading him to try to understand why a migrant from the Philippines would be removed to a country in North Africa.

Sinodis said his client had a removal order to the Philippines and anticipated being deported there in late April. That same month, he was moved to two detention facilities in Texas, ultimately being held at the South Texas ICE Processing Center and expecting to be removed to his native country. But early Wednesday, that appeared to take a turn.

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Sinodis client, along with 12 other detainees, were loaded onto a big white bus, according to the account shared with Sinodis. They were taken to what his client described as a military plane and waited on the bus for hours.

Eventually, the bus started rolling back to the detention facility, without explanation. Sinodis told CNN hes since been in touch with his client and tried to reach Immigration and Customs Enforcement for explanation.

The military plane that was scheduled to bring migrants to Libya on Wednesday never departed, according to flight trackers and a defense official. Instead, the plane flew to Guantanamo Bay on Thursday, the defense official said. It held only military personnel being repositioned to the island after the Libya flight was canceled.

The Trump administration appeared to be moving forward with plans Wednesday to send migrants to Libya, though the White House declined to comment on the flight plans. CNN first reported the administration was communicating with Libya to have the country take migrants from the United States.

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The episode reveals new details about how preparations unfolded for the migrants believed to be destined for Libya, including the lead up and abrupt fallout, as told by a migrant to his attorney moments after.

The decision to send migrants to Libya, a country the United Nations has previously criticized for its harsh treatment of migrants, is a further escalation of President Donald Trumps hardline deportation policies  which have faced widespread political and legal backlash.

Amid reports that a plane was positioned to depart, which the Libyan government disputed, a federal judge warned the administration it could violate his previous order if proper protocol wasnt followed.

The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement that it categorically denies any agreement or coordination with US authorities regarding the deportation of migrants to Libya.

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CNN has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.

Immigrant advocacy groups filed an emergency motion Wednesday to block the removal of any migrants to Libya, citing media reports and accounts from attorneys with clients believed to be manifested for the deportation flight.

Last month, Judge Brian Murphy temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting people to countries other than their own without first providing notice and an opportunity to contest it. The groups, which brought the lawsuit in Massachusetts earlier this year, argued Wednesday the government didnt follow those procedures.

Late last night and earlier this morning, alarming reports from class members counsel and from the press emerged announcing the imminent removal of, inter alia, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Philippine class members being prepared for removal to Libya, a county notorious for its human rights violations, especially with respect to migrant residents. Class members were being scheduled for removal despite not receiving the required notice and opportunity to apply for (UN Convention against Torture) protection, the filing said.

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The groups asked the court for an immediate order restraining flights carrying migrants to Libya or any other third country and if necessary, to order the return of those removed, according to the filing. Sinodis client was cited in the filing.

Murphy quickly weighed in.

He issued an order the same day clarifying that deporting migrants to Libya or Saudia Arabia, as reported in the media, would violate his previous order if they were not provided written notice and an opportunity to contest ahead of time.

The Department of Homeland Security may not evade this injunction by ceding control over non-citizens or the enforcement of its immigration responsibilities to any other agency, including but not limited to the Department of Defense, Murphy wrote.

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If there is any doubtthe Court sees nonethe allegedly imminent removals, as reported by news agencies and as Plaintiffs seek to corroborate with class-member accounts and public information, would clearly violate this Courts Order, he concluded.

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By Ted Hesson, Phil Stewart and Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Migrants in Texas who were told they would be deported to Libya sat on a military airfield tarmac for hours on Wednesday, unsure of what would happen next, an attorney for one of the men told Reuters.

The attorney, Tin Thanh Nguyen, said his client, a Vietnamese construction worker from Los Angeles, was among the migrants woken in the early morning hours and bused from an immigration detention center in Pearsall, Texas, to an airfield where a military aircraft awaited them.

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After several hours, they were bused back to the detention center around noon, the attorney said on Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security, the Pentagon and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Reuters was first to report that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was poised to deport migrants to Libya, a move that would escalate his immigration crackdown which has already drawn legal backlash.

Officials earlier this week told Reuters the U.S. military could fly the migrants to the North African country as soon as Wednesday, but stressed that plans could change.

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A U.S. official told Reuters the flight never departed. As of Friday, it was unclear if the administration was still planning to proceed with the deportations.

A federal judge in Boston ruled on Wednesday that any effort by the Trump administration to deport non-Libyan migrants to Libya without adequate screenings for possible persecution or torture would clearly violate a prior court order.

Lawyers for a group of migrants pursuing a class action lawsuit had made an emergency request to the court hours after the news broke of the potential flight to Libya.

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

Nguyen, who declined to name his client, said the man was told on Monday to sign a document agreeing to be deported to Libya. The man, who does not read English well, declined to sign it and was placed in solitary confinement and shackled along with four or five other men, the attorney said.

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The man was never provided an opportunity to express a fear of being deported to Libya as required under federal immigration law and the recent judicial order, Nguyen said.

"They said, 'We're deporting you to Libya,' even though he hadn't signed the form, he didn't know what the form was," Nguyen said.

Nguyen said his client, originally from Vietnam, has lived in the U.S. since the 1990s but was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year during a regular check-in.

Vietnam declines to accept some deportees and processes deportation paperwork slowly, Nguyen said, making it harder for the U.S. to send deportees there.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson, Phil Stewart and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Richard Chang)
OXFORD  Mike Henderson has announced his candidacy for reelection to the Oxford City Council. Henderson, 68, a lifelong resident of Oxford and a 21-year veteran of the council, said he wanted to continue enhancing the quality of life for city residents.

A retired banker with a 46-year career in the industry, culminating in the position of City President of F&M Bank in Oxford, Henderson said his ties to the community run deep. He is a graduate of Oxford High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Jacksonville State University.

"My motivation has always been to improve the quality of life for our citizens," Henderson said.

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Henderson has several priorities outlined if he were to win reelection. He stressed the importance of completing ongoing and planned infrastructure projects efficiently  such as the work that has begun on the Leon Smith Parkway.

Major infrastructure projects underway that will continue into the next term include the Friendship Road bridge replacement, which is expected to begin within the next two years, and a major drainage project in the Bynum area, where engineering work is being finalized.

Henderson said there have also been discussions between the city and the Alabama Department of Transportation regarding some solutions to provide traffic relief along the parkway such as bridge widening or possibly another exit from the (Oxford) Exchange.

There has been some preliminary engineering work done regarding this option, Henderson said.

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Additionally, he proposed the construction of three new area-specific substations for the Oxford Healthcare Paramedics service, or potentially the construction of a dedicated animal intake facility.

We have had citizens attend meetings concerned about people dumping animals, primarily dogs, and them roaming our streets and neighborhoods, Henderson said. Several have complained about their pets or themselves being attacked by packs of dogs that possibly have no owners.

The city currently has limited options for places to take animals picked up by animal control. A shelter is desperately needed to address this problem. The proposed shelter would be a humane facility with the plan to adopt out animals picked up by animal control, he continued.

Henderson said he believes his extensive experience and varied skill set make him a strong candidate.

"My experience on the council, my ability to get things done, my knowledge of the city and its needs, financial knowledge and fiscal responsibility, vision, honesty and integrity, and my Christian faith are qualities I bring to the council," Henderson said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The military services scrambled Friday to nail down details and put together new guidance to start removing transgender troops from the force.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a memo released late Thursday, reinstated orders issued earlier this year that said expressing a false gender identity divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service."

His new order gives active duty troops until June 6 to identify themselves as transgender and voluntarily begin to leave the service. National Guard and Reserve troops have until July 7.

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Army Maj. Alivia Stehlik, who served in the infantry and is now a physical therapist, will be eligible to retire in three years but doesnt want to be forced out for being a transgender service member.

I still have a job to do, she said. My command expects me to show up and be an officer and do my job because Im the only person at my unit who can do what I do.

The military services were rushing to put out new guidance to help commanders work through the process, including what to do in more complex situations, such as if any of the troops are deployed, at sea or may require special orders or funding to meet the deadlines.

Here's a look at the issue and what happens next:

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What is going on with banning transgender troops?

In 2015, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter broached the idea of lifting the ban on transgender troops and allowing them to serve openly, which raised concerns among military leaders. He set up a study, and in June 2016 announced the ban was over.

Reinstating that ban has long been a goal for President Donald Trump.

Six months into his first term, Trump announced he was not going to allow transgender people to serve in the military in any capacity. That set off a roughly two-year struggle to hammer out the complex details of how that would work, even as legal challenges poured in.

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The Pentagon eventually laid out a policy that allowed those currently serving to stay and continue with plans for hormone treatments and gender transition if they had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. But it barred new enlistments of anyone with gender dysphoria who was taking hormones or had transitioned to another gender.

Gender dysphoria occurs when a persons biological sex does not match up with their gender identity.

That ban was overturned by then-President Joe Biden. When Trump took office again this year, he directed Hegseth to revise the Pentagons policy on transgender troops.

In late February, Pentagon leaders ordered the services to set up procedures to identify troops diagnosed with or being treated for gender dysphoria by March 26. And it gave them 30 days to begin removing those troops from service.

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A flurry of lawsuits stalled the ban. But on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration could enforce the ban, while other legal challenges proceed.

How many transgender troops are there?

There are about 2.1 million active duty, Guard and Reserve troops.

According to the Defense Department, about 1,000 service members have voluntarily identified themselves as transgender and will now begin the process of leaving the military. And while the totals are early estimates, as many as 500 of those are Army soldiers, hundreds are in the Navy and at least 50 are Marines.

Defense officials say troops began to self-identify after the February order, going to their commanders and filing out forms. That process stopped in late March due to the lawsuits, but officials said Friday they were dusting off those files and figuring out how to proceed.

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Still, exactly how many troops may be affected is complicated, and the military services are grappling with how to identify and remove them all.

Defense officials have said that 4,240 troops currently serving in active duty, the National Guard and Reserve have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria And they contend that, as of late last year, about 3,200 service members had received gender-affirming hormone therapy from 2015 to 2024, and about 1,000 received gender-affirming surgery.

Previously, however, estimates of transgender troops have hovered between 9,000 and 12,000. And they could range from people who haven't been officially diagnosed or aren't taking medication to those who are taking medication, have undergone surgery or are in the process of transitioning to their preferred gender.

In March 2018, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis released a memo with unprecedented details on the data. It said, at that time, there were 8,980 service members who identified themselves as transgender and 937 had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

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Is military separation voluntary or not?

Hegseth's latest memo sets up two distinct processes, but the details remained a bit uncertain.

Service members who voluntarily identify themselves to commanders would likely be able to receive some type of separation pay, which could include cashing out leave time that hasn't been used or bonuses that haven't yet been paid.

After June 6, the department will go through medical records to find any other troops who have been diagnosed with or treated for gender dysphoria and force them to leave the service. Those troops may not qualify for some of that additional pay.

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The Pentagon policy, as written earlier this year, would allow for limited exemptions.

That includes transgender personnel seeking to enlist who can prove on a case-by-case basis that they directly support warfighting activities, or if an existing service member diagnosed with gender dysphoria can prove they support a specific warfighting need, never transitioned to the gender they identify with and proves over 36 months they are stable in their biological sex without clinically significant distress.

If a waiver is issued, the applicant would still face a situation where only their biological sex was recognized for bathroom facilities, sleeping quarters and even in official recognition, such as being called Sir or Maam.

What will it mean?

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Over the years, transgender troops have been serving effectively in all of the services, according to military leaders, who told Congress they were not seeing any problems. They have ranged from rank-and-file enlisted members to elite special operations forces.

The troops and activist groups argue that removing transgender service members also hurts their units and military readiness more broadly.

Stehlik, who has been in the military since she went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2004, transitioned in 2017, while serving in the Army. She said that for her and others who haven't hit their 20-year retirement milestone, being kicked out would mean a major loss of benefits, including a pension and health insurance.

Sarah Klimm, a transgender Marine who served for 23 years, retired just as the end of the ban was announced in 2016, so was never able to serve openly.

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Now a policy analyst for Minority Veterans of America, she said that in the past nine years, there haven't been any of the unit cohesion problems that some feared.

Klimm said ousting members is going to hurt military readiness. Senior enlisted side and senior officer ranks  thats a lot of time and money put into them, she said. You dont just backfill it.

____

Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
A military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 began in Moscow on Friday in bright sunshine.

The Victory Day ceremony, featuring numerous international leaders, thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry, is the fourth on Moscow's Red Square since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Security measures are even tighter than usual due to threats by Ukraine that it would not comply with a unilateral ceasefire called by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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While most of Europe marked the anniversary on Thursday, Russia holds its annual parade on May 9.

Celebrations in Russia's Far East have already taken place, including in the cities of Vladivostok and Novosibirsk.
May 9ST. CLOUD  The selection of Cardinal Robert Prevost to become the first pope from the United States is cause for joy and shock for St. Cloud area Catholics.

"I still can't believe it  I never thought I would see it in my lifetime," said Doug Liebsch, Cathedral High School chaplain. "I will still be processing this for weeks."

Prevost, 69, now Pope Leo XIV, was selected by the conclave at the Vatican on Thursday, May 8. Not only is he the first pope from the United States, Prevost is from the Midwest.

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"Growing up here, you think America is the center of the world, and as you grow up, you realize the world is big and Catholics come from all over," Liebsch added. "So it's a big deal that not only is he from the U.S., he's from the south side of Chicago, which is not that far away from here geographically."

Diocese of New Ulm Bishop Chad W. Zielinski expressed joy in Thursday's written statement.

"It is with great joy that the Universal Church has received the most exciting and wonderful news of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. I truly believe the Holy Spirit guided the College of Cardinals in selecting the right man to lead the Church in the upcoming years."

Zielinski said he met the new pope in Rome in 2016, when the two were the only Americans in a course for new bishops.

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"He struck me as a kind-hearted, gentle, quiet man who truly had the heart of Christ the Good Shepherd," Bishop Zielinski said in his statement. "He had a deeply heartfelt concern for the poor and truly had the heart of a missionary priest."

The bishop added: "His election as the first pope from the United States of America is a historic moment and a wonderful blessing for our nation."

The history of the moment was seen on livestreams in classroooms throughout Cathedral High School in St. Cloud on Thursday as soon as the white smoke was seen coming from the Sistine Chapel, according to Liebsch.

The announcement of the new pope was a cause for celebration for many Catholic organizations across the region.

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The bells at St. Mary's Cathedral in downtown St. Cloud rang to mark the occasion.

Diocese of St. Cloud Bishop Patrick Neary expressed support for Pope Leo XIV in a written statement Thursday.

"I am so pleased that we have such a worthy successor to Pope Francis in Cardinal Prevost," Neary said in the statement. "There is hardly a more challenging or important role of leadership in our world."

The Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict in St. Joseph and the monks at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville posted celebratory messages Thursday on their social media pages.
Shiloh Hendrix, the Minnesota mom filmed repeatedly saying the N-word after being accused of using that epithet to berate a child, has raised more than $750,000 since launching a fundraising campaign one week ago.

Video posted to social media on April 30 shows Hendrix being confronted by a man on a playground who asks her why she just insulted a boy who appears to be around 5 years old.

While holding her own young son, she claims the child tried stealing something from her diaper bag, says f--k you to the man filming her and repeatedly uses the N-word again.

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Two days later, Hendrix claimed she was being victimized on a GiveSendGo fundraiser launched to help her family find a new home.

My name is Shiloh and I have been put into a very dire situation, her fundraising letter begins. I recently had a kid steal from my 18month old sons (sic) diaper bag at a park. I called the kid out for what he was.

According to Hendrix, after video of her rant was posted online, her Social Security and phone numbers were leaked. She said her older child isnt safe at school, while other family members have been attacked.

Hendrix asked supporters to donate whatever they can afford. She also included an option for people who want to let her know theyre praying for her family. That button had been pressed by nearly 9,000 supporters during the fundraising drives first week.

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We cannot, and will not live in fear! Hendrixs note ends.

By Thursday afternoon, shed raised more than $754,000 of her $1 million goal.

Most of the contributions seem to be for small amounts and from anonymous supporters, though several donations have ranged from $2,000 to $10,000. Others have included $14 and $88 in their figures, numbers with symbolic significance to white supremacists.
A former deputy district attorney and Colorado Springs Mormon church leader accused of sexual assault on a child opted to forgo trial and instead took a plea deal that will likely keep him out of prison, according to court records.

David McConkie, 46, a former president of the Colorado Springs East Stake within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was set to go to trial in June after two 2024 trial dates were postponed.

Court records show McConkie accepted an April 4 plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to a count of criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child, a class five felony, in exchange for the remaining charges being dismissed.

According to the 21-page plea agreement obtained by The Gazette, if accepted by the judge, McConkie could serve five years of sex offender intensive supervised probation and would be required to register as a sex offender. He could face imprisonment if he fails to comply with his probation requirements.

In addition, the plea agreement states that up to 90 days in jail as a condition of probation "shall be open to the court."

McConkie declined a similar plea deal in February 2024 that also would have likely kept him out of prison, according to prior Gazette coverage.

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According to the affidavit obtained by the Gazette at the time of his arrest, McConkie admitted to an inappropriate sexual act with a child to a church leader in 2008. The charge came after one victim, now an adult, reported abuse spanning several years amid concerns it was still happening.

In the plea agreement, McConkie admits "I could have removed my hand sooner," when referring to the 2014 assault involving a 10 to-11-year-old child. In his statement, McConkie said he was "about 36" at the time.

McConkie was a deputy district attorney for the 4th Judicial District 2008-2011 and went into private practice as a partner in a Colorado Springs law firm. His time as president of the Colorado Springs East Stake was between 2016 and 2021, according to previous Gazette coverage.

The Gazette reached out to Colorado Springs East Stake on Wednesday for a statement on the matter, but did not receive a response as of the time of publication.

McConkie posted a $100,000 bond in August 2023 and has been out of custody since. He was also allowed to move back to Utah in November of 2024, according to prior Gazette reporting.

McConkie's is scheduled to be sentenced July 1 in the 4th Judicial District. If his plea agreement is not accepted by the judge, McConkie may see trial after all.
A proposal to create a new oversight office for state government agencies passed with overwhelming bipartisan backing Thursday in the Minnesota Senate. But with time dwindling in the legislative session, its unclear whether the bill will reach the governor this year  or if hell sign it.

Support for a state Office of Inspector General has gained traction at the Legislature this session amid calls for greater oversight after the state lost hundreds of millions of dollars to pandemic-era fraud schemes.

In the Feeding Our Future scandal, for instance, prosecutors have alleged that a group of scammers used nonprofits to make off with about $250 million from a federally funded school meals program, claiming reimbursements from the state for millions of meals never served. A total of 70 individuals have been charged in the case with the ringleader found guilty earlier this year.

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If the Senate bill becomes law, a new state oversight office would be able to shut down payments when there is a credible suspicion of fraud and conduct an investigation. The office would have subpoena powers, and the Senate on Thursday adopted an amendment adding law enforcement capabilities.

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor-majority Senate passed its inspector general bill 60-7, with some DFL holdouts concerned about how state fraud enforcement efforts might interfere with federal benefits like Medicaid. They also had concerns about due process for organizations suspected of fraud.

Similar proposals exist in the tied House, though they have not gained the same level of traction with just under two weeks remaining in the legislative session.

DFL Gov. Tim Walz has said he supports efforts to combat fraud, though its not completely clear where he stands on the Senate bill. At an unrelated Thursday bill signing, he said hes open to the idea but questioned whether it was the most efficient way to combat fraud.

Fraud a big issue this session

Addressing government fraud has been a politically potent issue at the Capitol this year, with Republicans and DFL lawmakers alike sponsoring bills to prevent future large-scale waste, fraud and abuse in government.

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House Republicans created a new committee specifically aimed at highlighting and addressing the issue, and have advanced several proposals aimed at fighting problems in the future.

Democrats say theyve already taken significant action and that the perpetrators of Feeding Our Future and other schemes are being held accountable in court. They point to a 2023 bill approving new oversight staff at state agencies, and Walzs January executive order creating a fraud investigation unit at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

That hasnt stopped a bipartisan push in the Senate to do more. The lead sponsors on the Senate inspector general bill are Sen. Heather Gustafson, DFL-Vadnais Heights, and Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine.

They argue that while some agencies have their own oversight offices, Minnesota would benefit from an office insulated from politics with its own enforcement capabilities. Right now, governor-appointed commissioners appoint their agencies inspectors general.

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We have already made significant strides in fighting fraud in Minnesota, but today filled a gap that was desperately missing, Gustafson told reporters at a press briefing following the vote. We needed to be able to be more proactive. For years, weve been able to do quite a bit of fraud prevention work, but we are always still a little bit reactive.

Minnesota already has a nonpartisan Office of Legislative Auditor, which conducts independent oversight investigations of state agencies and programs. While its work is valuable to understanding problems in state government, it often identifies them after theyve occurred, Gustafson said.

Some Minnesota government agencies, like the Department of Education, have their own oversight officials. Under the bill, theyd be shifted to the central Office of Inspector General. Thered be about 30 staff funded by just under $9 million.

As part of a compromise, the Department of Human Services would be the primary authority on investigating Medicaid fraud, Gustafson said. That came due to agency concerns about how a state fraud investigation might interfere with federal rules.

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Backers say the new office would be insulated from politics by requiring a supermajority to confirm leadership and giving it its own enforcement powers.

Under the Senate bill, an advisory panel composed of an equal number of DFL and GOP lawmakers would recommend a list of appointees to the governor.

Once the governor chooses someone to fill the position, they would need to be confirmed by a three-fifths majority of the Senate.

Not ready for prime time

While many hailed the bills passage as a bipartisan accomplishment, holdouts said they had concerns about due process in cases where the office decided to cut off funding for suspected fraud.

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They also had concerns about how enforcement actions might interact with federal programs,. Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, said state actions could lead to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services interrupting funding for programs in Minnesota.

Its going to make headlines, but you didnt do your due diligence, he said ahead of the vote. Although its a great front page of a newspaper article, its not ready for prime time. Vote no.

The state Department of Human Services had raised concerns about this with lawmakers in the past, and, for Hoffman and others, the bill in its present shape didnt do enough to address them.

I thought that things were clear  that that we needed to be careful about how we grant a new entity authority over programs that affect vulnerable people in our state, said Sen. Melissa Wiklund, DFL-Bloomington, the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

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Backers said their amendments to the bill on Thursday addressed those concerns in part by requiring a federal response to the state before it proceeds with enforcement actions.

The Senates inspector general bill is just one of several fraud-related measures moving through the Legislature this year. Others include a GOP-backed proposal to create stricter reporting requirements for fraud in state agencies and new protections for whistleblowers.

The last day of session is May 19.

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New Delhi, India  Aqib Parray was standing at a local shop near his home in Jammu, in Indian-administered Kashmir, when all the lights went out late in the evening on Thursday, May 8. Loud bangs followed.

Panicked, everyone on the streets started rushing home, 24-year-old Parray said. From the terrace of his home, he said, I saw that the missiles were scattered in the skies. Then his internet also went off. We have never seen Jammu like this.

Two generations of Indians and Pakistanis have not witnessed a fully fledged war, with blackouts and the threat of missiles raining on them even if they are far from any battlefield. In 1999, the nations fought a war over the icy heights of Kargil, but the conflict was contained.

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Now, as India and Pakistan edge closer to a fully fledged war, millions of people on both sides are witnessing scenes unprecedented in their lifetimes. They include the 750,000 people of Jammu, and millions more in Indian cities that on Thursday evening came under attack, according to the Indian government.

Eight missiles were fired from Pakistan-origin drones towards Jammu and nearby areas of Satwari and Samba, also targeting military stations in Udhampur and Indian Punjabs Pathankot, said Indias Ministry of Defence. India says they were all brought down with no casualties.

Shortly after, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied that the country had targeted any locations in Indian-administered Kashmir or across the international border.

Yet the mounting anxiety across cities in India and Indian-administered Kashmir close to the frontier with Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir is real. Seventeen days after gunmen killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmirs Pahalgam, and two days after India hit at least six Pakistani cities with missiles, the prospect of a war looms over communities close to the border.

Sleepless nights

Soon after dusk, authorities in Indian Punjab issued complete blackout orders in several districts, including its capital city of Chandigarh, and Jalandhar, Pathankot and Mohali.

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Sabarpreet Singh, a 46-year-old businessman from Amritsar, Punjabs second-largest city, said he is learning to react during sudden blackouts. Things are changing very quickly. I have not been able to sleep at night, he said. Im thinking of leaving the city with my children [and wife]; they are scared when sirens go off.

Late on Wednesday, a blackout was imposed in parts of Kutch, in Gujarat; and in bordering areas of Rajasthan, where the border with Pakistan goes through the Thar Desert.

The situation is much more dire along the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Both armies traded heavy artillery as civilian injuries and deaths continued to rise. Amid gunfire, India has moved to evacuate thousands of people, who now sleep in shelters overnight.

There were attempts to target military sites in Jammu, including the defence airport, a local intelligence official told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the media. We have confidence in [Indian] defence systems, however, the security situation is deteriorating. We are monitoring every moment closely.

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That India should be on edge is understandable, said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

After India struck deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7, killing at least 31 people  terrorists according to India, civilians (including two children) according to Pakistan  Islamabad and its military are under immense pressure to respond forcefully, he said.

Pakistan was bound to retaliate. Neither the government nor the civil society in Pakistan was willing to de-escalate without a response, Donthi said.

Senseless belligerence

In a media briefing on Thursday, New Delhi said that Pakistan had earlier that day attempted to engage military targets in several cities in India and Indian-administered Kashmir, including Srinagar and Amritsar, using drones and missiles.

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While Indian officials said that forces neutralised these attempts, New Delhi said it responded by targeting Pakistans air defence systems at several locations, including in Lahore, Pakistans second-biggest city.

Islamabad said its air defence system brought down 25 Indian drones overnight in several cities, including Lahore and Karachi. At least one civilian has died, and five people were wounded, the Pakistani military said.

Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated on Thursday that any forthcoming Pakistani attack would be responded to by New Delhi. He insisted that India was merely responding to escalation by Pakistan, also referring to the Pahalgam attack as the original escalation point.

Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by denying any attacks on India or Indian-administered Kashmir, noting, Any escalation based on false pretences will be met with full resolve and determination.

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Referring to global calls for restraint and de-escalation, Sumantra Bose, a political scientist focusing on the intersection of nationalism and conflict in South Asia, said, The situation needs an urgent intervention by the international community, with effective diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.

There is no support in the world for this senseless conflict, said Bose, which he said, has been rather mismanaged  and should never have been allowed to get to this point.

Things have gotten out of hand very quickly and it is looking to get worse, he said, reacting to the drone warfare and the alleged attacks on Jammu. In the escalatory spiral, it is just retaliations; an endless loop of retaliations from both sides.

Later on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, We are remaining engaged with both governments at multiple levels.

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Acknowledging that Pakistan wants an independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack, Bruce said that the United States wants the perpetrators to be held accountable and are supportive of any efforts to that end.

However, Indian Foreign Secretary Misri had already rejected the calls for an independent investigation earlier in a media briefing, citing no confidence in the Pakistani establishment for cooperation.

The Trump administration, Donthi said, had, at least until May 7, appeared willing to let the situation unfold between India and Pakistan.

Unless the US and other international powers intervene more proactively to defuse the situation, it could lead to a full-blown war, Donthi told Al Jazeera.

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Bose, the political scientist, argued that it is already a state of war.

It would be much worse unless there is urgent, and effective, diplomatic intervention that makes the key decision makers, namely the Indian government and Pakistans military, to end this senseless belligerence and the spiral of escalation.
UPDATE (5/9/2025): Deputies have confirmed Morgan has been found and is safe.

ORIGINAL STORY

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Monroe County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in the search for a missing 17-year-old.

Deputies said Morgan Zampieri was last seen Thursday at 6 a.m. leaving her house in Henrietta. They add she may be with another friend at a home in Greece.

MCSO describes Zampieri as standing at 53 tall and weighing 108 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black leggings.

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Deputies said Zampieri is likely not in danger. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

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FLOWOOD, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) called on residents across the state to help combat a critical blood shortage.

Residents are encouraged to donate blood May 9-10, 2025. All donors will receive a $20 VISA gift card.

According to MBS, blood inventory levels have reached dangerously low levels due to a significant nationwide decrease in donations coupled with heightened patient demand. MBS is especially in need of O negative, O positive, B negative, B positive and A negative blood types.

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Daughter says mom gave me life twice with kidney donation as pair graduate nursing school

The need for blood is immediate. Every donation can save up to three lives, said Kasey Dickson, director of Marketing and Public Relations at MBS. There is no blood on the shelves. Without community support, essential medical procedures could be delayedputting lives at risk.

Donation Center Locations & Hours (May 910):

Cleveland: 609 North Davis, Suite 101B

Flowood: 115 Tree Street

Oxford: 2627 West Oxford Loop #C

Hours:

Friday, May 9: 9:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 10: 7:30 a.m.  2:30 p.m.

Walk-ins are always welcome. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.msblood.com.

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CLEVELAND, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons hosted a check presentation ceremony in Cleveland on May 8 to announce the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding recipients.

The TAP utilizes federal funds that contribute up to 80% of the total eligible project cost. The Mississippi Transportation Commission invites eligible project sponsors to apply for funding approval of a Transportation Alternatives (TA) project.

Buc-ees unveils grand opening plans for first Mississippi location

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Descriptions of each project include:

City of Vicksburg  $453,000 for construction of a concrete walking trail and installation of additional lighting in the new Riverfront Park.

City of Belzoni  $415,000 for construction of an asphalt walking trail in the existing City Park.

City of Drew  $104,000 for construction of an asphalt walking trail in the downtown area of Drew.

City of Moorhead  $114,000 for the removal and replacement of the existing sidewalk with a new sidewalk along Washington St. to connect Moorhead Central School to the West Delta Ave. intersection.

City of Rosedale  $638,000 for additional lighting along State Route 1 next to a sidewalk built in a previous TA project.

City of Shelby  $266,000 for rehabilitation of the existing walking trail, installation of additional lighting and off-street parking.

Delta State University  $633,000 for construction of a new sidewalk and installation of additional lighting along a section of Statesman Park Blvd.

Silver City/Humphreys County Board of Supervisors  $141,000 for construction of a new sidewalk along Front St.

Louise/Humphreys County Board of Supervisors  $169,000 for the construction of a new sidewalk along Old Highway 49.

Sunflower County Consolidated School District  $454,000 for the construction a new sidewalk along BB King Rd. to connect Gentry High School to residential areas along with additional landscaping and BB King Historical Trivia Markers.

Town of Boyle  $476,000 for the extension of an existing asphalt walking trail, installation of lighting, adding off-street parking, and rehabilitating an existing train crossing bridge into a pedestrian bridge.

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The Mississippi River rises to flood stage surrounding a highway outside Memphis in 2016. Memphis is again flooding this week after heavy rains. (Photo by Andrew Breig / Daily Memphian)

The Mississippi River is the nations most endangered river, a national conservation group says, because of federal plans to cut flood relief programs as severe weather threats grow.

American Rivers, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization, has issued an annual list of U.S. rivers it views as most at-risk for the past 40 years. The Mississippis place at the top comes as communities along the lower river flooded from torrential rain in early April, and as Trump administration officials consider eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, which helps state and local governments respond to disasters.

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The list calls attention to the threats rivers face and prioritizes those for which the public can influence policies that affect their well-being, said Mike Sertle, senior director for American Rivers Central Region. For the Mississippi River, he said, the organizations goal is to press the federal government to maintain a role in disaster relief, which it says is critical to safeguarding people in river communities.

We dont disagree that things need to be reviewed and updated, Sertle said. But we also see theres importance to keeping the agency.

The Mississippi River has always flooded. While flooding threatens human structures, it is an important part of the Mississippi Rivers life cycle and actually builds land. But experts say floods are growing more frequent, erratic and severe due to climate change. In 2019, the rivers most recent major flood, water stayed at or above flood stage for months and caused $20 billion in damage.

FEMA assists communities during floods and other types of disasters, provides funds for recovery and oversees preparedness efforts, like its flood maps that predict risks in different areas. And its doing so more often today. A January 2025 report to Congress found that the average number of major disaster declarations has increased by 61% from the 1980s and 1990s, partly due to climate change.

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But it has faced broad criticism for not moving quickly enough after disasters and not helping disaster survivors equally. President Donald Trump has floated the idea of dismantling the agency and in February the agency fired more than 200 of its staffers as part of Trumps push to shrink the size and scope of the federal government. The White House did not comment on the American Rivers reports criticism of these actions.

Mississippi River flooding touches multiple states

FEMA is especially important for coordinating flooding responses along the Mississippi River because it touches so many states on its journey to the Gulf, said Kelly McGinnis, executive director of the environmental advocacy group One Mississippi.

She and Sertle both described significant room for improvement in how FEMA operates, including speeding up timelines for getting help to communities. The American Rivers report says a more effective and efficient FEMA is critical for flood management as the cycle of drought and flooding on the Mississippi River becomes increasingly extreme.

State Hwy. 35 along the Mississippi River is taken over by floodwaters April 27, 2023 in downtown Fountain City, Wisconsin.

(Photo by Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Cuts to other federally funded flood management agencies will likely impact the Mississippi River beyond the threat to FEMA, the American Rivers report noted.

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FEMA plays a critical role in helping address issues in the aftermath of the flood, said Alisha Renfro, coastal scientist with the National Wildlife Federation. On the front end, its really about the Army Corps of Engineers and their budget is being threatened as well.

In March, a stopgap bill to fund the federal government through Sept. 30 slashed $1.4 billion from the Army Corps of Engineers construction budget, which funds hurricane and flood mitigation projects.

With budget losses to both FEMA and the Army Corps, grant programs to address riverine flooding could be impacted substantially. According to FEMA, every federal dollar spent on flood mitigation yields $7 in benefits.

In a statement released after the announcement, the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative announced that it does not agree with the rivers designation as the Nations Most Endangered Waterway, citing significant improvements including new natural infrastructure, landscape protections, added conservation lands and water quality integrity measures. But the group of mayors agreed that federal oversight of emergency management is needed.

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Disaster response along the Mississippi River is inherently a multi-state question and thus, FEMA needs to continue to play a vital role in coordinating the efforts of many states to systemically mitigate risks, recover, and restore infrastructure. MRCTI Mayors are ready to work with the President to reform FEMA, expand states role and save taxpayer resources, said Belinda Constant, MRCTI Louisiana State Chair and Mayor of Gretna, LA.

Trailer homes are submerged in Mississippi River floodwaters near Memphis, Tennessee in 2011. (Photo by Lance Murphey, Daily Memphian)

American Rivers announcement comes as states along the lower Mississippi are experiencing and bracing for flooding from heavy rains upriver. Vicksburg, Mississippi officials are reinforcing flood walls as they wait for water to arrive. In Louisiana, the Army Corps is patrolling New Orleans levees for problems. On Monday, the new Bayou Chene floodgate was closed for the first time due to high water to protect several parishes from backwater flooding as the Atchafalaya River continues to rise.

The Mississippi has made the endangered rivers list in the recent past for other problems. In 2022, the entire river appeared on the list because of pollution and habitat loss, and in 2020, threats from climate change and development landed the upper Mississippi at number one.

The rivers continued appearances on the list show that there isnt enough progress being made on its biggest challenges, McGinnis said.

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But although the distinction may be negative, she said its a good excuse to put river issues in the spotlight.

I think its very useful to be having these important conversations, McGinnis said, so we can hopefully really begin to change how we handle big rivers.

This story is a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation. American Rivers and MRCTI also receive Walton funding.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Missouri senator calls on the U.S. Department of Labor to investigate Tyson Foods after a whistleblower accused the company of illegal child labor practices.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer asking her to investigate the Springdale-based company, saying he was contacted by a whistleblower who alleges that Tyson Foods used child workers at one of its processing plants.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., speaks during the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the nomination of Martin Makary to serve as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services, on Capitol Hill Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The whistleblower, a former Tyson Foods employee who oversaw plant safety, alleges that they personally witnessed underage workers and also received multiple reports from hourly Tyson employees about child workers in the plant, Hawley said in the letter. According to the allegations, these child workers were employed by a third-party entity contracted by Tyson for work in the plant.

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Report says 2023 Arkansas law could lead to fewer child labor violation investigations

The whistleblower claimed Tyson retaliated against them after raising concerns to company superiors about child workers employed at the plant.

Hawley concluded the letter, saying, In your confirmation hearing, you testified: Child labor should not be accepted by anybody in America. The Department of Labor has the enforcement capability to double down if [companies] are knowingly breaking the law and exploiting children in their factories. I agree. We cannot allow children to continue to be exploited in the name of corporate profits. I therefore urge you to investigate all allegations regarding Tysons illicit child labor practices, including these new whistleblower allegations.

KNWA/FOX24 reached out to Tyson Foods for a statement regarding Hawleys letter, but has not heard back.

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In October, a pair of Tyson Foods plants in Northwest Arkansas were searched by the Department of Labor after court documents revealed child labor accusations.

Tyson Foods released the following statement in response to those allegations:

To be clear, we do not allow the employment of anyone under the age of 18 in any of our facilities, and we do not facilitate, excuse or in any other way participate in the use of child labor. We take the enforcement of all labor laws very seriously, and we have procedures in place to verify the age of all team members, and fully participate with the federal governments E-Verify and IMAGE programs. We have fully cooperated with the Department of Labor, and they have not provided us with any information that would suggest that any of our policies or practices were violated. Tyson Foods

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May 8 (UPI) -- Former Grand Rapids, Mich., police officer Christopher Schurr's murder trial for the death of Patrick Lyoya ended in a mistrial on Thursday.

Seventeenth Circuit Court Judge Christina Mims declared a mistrial on Thursday after the jury could not reach a verdict.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker will have to decide whether or not he will refile charges against Schurr, who killed Lyoya during a traffic stop three years ago.

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Supporters for Lyoya and Schurr had gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids prior to the mistrial announcement.

Lyoya was an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and struggled with Schurr while trying to flee a traffic stop.

An autopsy determined Lyoya's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Becker charged Schurr with second-degree murder, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Schurr's defense attorney Mark Dodge said his client "was justified" in the shooting death.

Schurr initiated the traffic stop at 8:11 a.m. on April 4, 2022, in southeastern Grand Rapids when the license plate on Lyoya's vehicle did not match the car.

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Police said Lyoya was intoxicated and tried to flee after Schurr told him to stay in the car, which caused Schurr to tackle Lyoya in a nearby yard.

Schurr tried to use his taser twice during the struggle but missed Lyoya.

Video footage shows Lyoya tried to grab Schurr's stun gun as the two struggled on the ground, and Schurr shot Lyoya in the back of his head.

A passenger in Lyoya's car recorded part of the struggle. So did Schurr's bodycam and the police car's dashcam.

Lyoya's shooting death triggered protests in Grand Rapids, and his family filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against Schurr and the city of Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids Police Department fired Schurr in June 2022.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 39-year-old man faces a slew of felony charges after he allegedly led authorities on a pursuit with his 4-year-old child in the vehicle.

According to an arrest report, detectives with the Metro Nashville Police Department were alerted to a stolen 2024 gray Honda Accord on Thursday, May 8.

Memphis drug agents find suitcase of cash from Nashville robbery

Detectives and an MNPD helicopter reportedly followed the Honda and observed it, running multiple stop lights, endangering the other motorists that were crossing through intersections throughout the downtown area.

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At some point, the MNPD helicopter advised that the Honda had crossed over the center line and drove in the opposite lane of traffic. Due to the speed and danger to the public, MNPD officers said they decided to deploy spike strips near the intersection of Buena Vista Pike and Stokers Lane.

Despite the successful spike, officers said the driver continued to flee and drove to Clarksville Pike near Ashland City Highway, where a marked MNPD vehicle attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

An arrest report states the Honda did not stop and drove to the intersection of Clarksville Pike and Kings Lane before it fish-tailed in the driveway of a Kwik Sak gas station. The MNPD helicopter said the driverlater identified as 39-year-old Timothy Wilsongot out of the stolen vehicle and ran into the woods.

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As Wilson was running away, his 4-year-old son reportedly got out of the vehicle and began to run after his father. Officials said Wilson knowingly placed his juvenile son in imminent danger by fleeing at a high rate of speed in the stolen vehicle, running red lights, and crossing into oncoming lanes, which could have resulted in a crash with injuries.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

According to police, a records check of Wilsons driving status in Tennessee listed his status as revoked. Officials confirmed the Honda, which had a value of approximately $25,7500, was reported stolen.

Wilson was charged with motor vehicle theft, child endangerment, misdemeanor and felony evading arrest, reckless driving and driving on a revoked license. At the time of his arrest, the 39-year-old had three outstanding warrants for a prior incident where he evaded authorities, police said.

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Booking records show he is being held in Metro Jail on a $86,500 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Republican lawmakers, who are in the minority at the state Capitol, said they saw little success in their campaign to save residents money this year, as Democrats "shredded" that goal.

At the beginning of the session, Republicans unveiled a series of measures that, they insisted, would save the average Colorado family $4,500 each year.

"We had hopes to make life more affordable," said Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen of Monument.

The agenda included measures to repeal the state's grocery bag ban and undo a retail delivery fee, ride share fees, and regulations around cage-free eggs. They also sought reductions in energy and utility costs, and pushed to reduce and  eventually repeal  the state income tax and the state tax on Social Security income.

Still, Republicans counted as part of their victory the passage of a bill adding nuclear power to the state's list of "clean" energy solutions, a long-time effort, and regulatory relief through Senate Bill 39, which lifted a requirement for owners of agricultural buildings to report on energy use.

The Republicans reflected on the 2025 session a day after lawmakers wrapped up their work for the year.

They looked back  and looked ahead, warning about another year of potential budget pain. This year, lawmakers had little flexibility, as they worked to plug a $1.2 billion deficit.

Republicans, in fact, had improved their numerical position following the elections in November. In the House, Republicans hold 22 seats, up from 19 the previous year.

House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs said their agenda focused on affordability, public safety, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and parental rights. This was a nod to the lengthy battles over House Bill 1312, the transgender bill that won final passage on the last day of the session.

She noted HB 1312 changed substantially in the last days of the session, saying it showed "the voices of the people were heard."

Republicans pointed to the floor debates over the transgender bill and behind-the-scenes fights over a House resolution that would have allowed the General Assembly to sue the state over the constitutionality of TABOR as among their most substantial engagements this year.

Noting the $1.2 billion budget shortfall, Pugliese said her side fought to repeal ineffective programs.

"It's not a revenue problem, it's a prioritization problem," she said, echoing a frequent point Republicans have cited throughout the session.

Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, the caucus representative on the Joint Budget Committee, talked about the difficulties of crafting the 2025-26 budget amid the billion-dollar deficit.

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He said the JBC's work ahead "is cut out for us."

"This wasn't an easy year, and next year won't be either," he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer of Brighton, the Senate Republican's caucus representative on the Joint Budget Committee, said the state faced an unprecedented budget crisis that lawmakers knew was coming four years ago. Instead of cutting programs, Democrats continued to spend and their quest to eliminate TABOR, she said.

Kirkmeyer pointed to the costs tied to renovation of the former Department of Revenue building and a request for $4 million on furniture, along with $6 million on office renovations  all for lawmakers.

Those projects have been ongoing for two years since being authorized in 2023. Department of Personnel and Administration spokesman Doug Platt said the construction is scheduled for fall 2025 completion, with move-ins completed by the start of the 2026 session.

Kirkmeyer also pointed out that lawmakers gave themselves a pay raise, through an increase in the per diem rate that came out of a 2024 bill that goes into effect with the 2025-26 budget. That will cost an additional $300,000 in general funds, money that will primarily go to lawmakers who live less than 50 miles from the state Capitol.

She noted that even with a $1.2 billion general fund shortfall, general fund spending in the 2025-26 budget increased by 3.4%. That includes increased Medicaid provider rates that the Joint Budget Committee also have supported for several years. All told, Colorado's budget added $3 billion more compared to the current spending plan.

Kirkmeyer also criticized the budget committee saving the biggest spending decisions  on Medicaid, K-12, and higher education  for last.

Additionally, Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter of Trinidad noted what he described as the continued assault on the Second Amendment, with bills such as Senate Bill 3, which the governor signed on April 10 but only after substantial policy changes.

"People want leadership that will listen to them," Winter said.

Last week, Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Justice, asking for an investigation into gun legislation adopted by Democrats over the last four years, including SB 3, which would prohibit purchase of some guns unless a person undergoes a hunter safety training course.

When pressed what Republicans accomplished with a 21-seat disadvantage, Pugliese pushed back at the notion they held no power, saying if they're going to "tie up" the floor for a day, that's leverage.

"It's short-sighted to say we have no power," she added.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  From Rome to right here at home, its a historic day for Catholics around the world as the church welcomes its first American pope.

Mobile deacon at The Vatican for Pope Leo XIVs introduction

Its an exciting day, Archbishop Thomas Rodi of the Archdiocese of Mobile said. Its a historic day!

Pope Leo XIV has been named the new pope, and hes the first ever pope from the United States.

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Its a milestone that Archbishop Thomas Rodi and Catholic students at St. Dominic said they never expected to witness.

I did not think it would be an American in my lifetime, so this is this is a day of joy! Rodi continued. A day of pride for Catholics and all Americans that an American is chosen to be the pope.

I was really amazed because Saint for Pope Francis has been the Pope all my life, and Ive never seen a new pope, St. Dominic Catholic School student Claire Calametti said. So I was just really amazed about it.

Following the announcement, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Mobile held mass.

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It was so exciting! Mobile resident Susan Comeaux said. I had come before mass for some time of prayer and heard the bells ringing and wasnt really sure what was going on. And then we heard that there is a new pope, so it was kind of hard to focus on, on my intention initially, but then, you know, just how exciting to be a part of this.

Northwest Florida residents react to newly elected American Pope Leo XIV

Im really surprised they chose an American and you know, the Holy Spirit is the one who guides our, you know, our faith, our church, Mobile resident Rochelle Terrell said. And He is the one who selected Pope Leo, and were very excited about that.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Moffitt Cancer Center will no longer fly a rainbow flag in June to commemorate pride month, according to internal emails obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.

The nonprofit also will not fly a special flag on June 19 to commemorate Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people.

The decision comes as the Trump administration has threatened to withhold medical research grants to universities and other organizations that have diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

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Moffitt received more than $55 million in research funding from the National Institute of Health in 2024, records show. It receives additional funds through its partnership with the University of South Florida.

Moffitt officials confirmed the decision but declined to give a reason.

Moffitt Cancer Center is committed to our mission of contributing to the prevention and cure of cancer  for all populations, a statement provided by Moffitt said. Moffitt strives to deliver high quality outcomes for all. Every day, our team members show dignity and respect to each other and every patient who walks through our doors. It is the culture of our organization."

The decision is an abrupt U-turn for the nonprofit, which has flown a pride flag since at least 2017. In 2020, it launched a study aimed at training oncologists to better understand the needs of their LGBTQ+ patients.

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Moffitt donated $1,000 to this years Tampa Pride event in March, and its employees have regularly taken part in the St. Pete Pride event, which in the past included a Moffitt booth to promote the center.

Other health groups, including Tampa General Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, are among sponsors of St. Petersburg Pride, the largest LGBTQ+ festival in the Southeast.

An email announcing the decision was sent Wednesday to Equity at Moffit, a engagement employee network, by Laura Bosselman, manager of patient experience and relations.

I know this is not the outcome many of us were hoping for, she wrote. The flags have served as powerful symbols of recognition, inclusion, and visibility for our communities, and I share in the disappointment this decision brings.

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A significant number of companies and organizations, including Walmart, IBM, Goldman Sachs and United Health Group, have rolled back or ended diversity, equality and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in the wake of an a series of executive orders from President Donald Trump.

One order requires federal contractors and recipients of grants to certify that they do not operate any illegal DEI programs. Another instructs the U.S. attorney general to investigate private sector groups that have DEI programs to see if they violate federal antidiscrimination laws.

Equality Florida, a nonprofit civil rights group, said at at time when federal and state policies are undoing years of support and acceptance, Floridas LGBTQ population needs institutions  especially in healthcareto provide reassurance that they are valued and welcomed.

Backing away from the pride flag sends the wrong message at the wrong time, said spokesperson Brittany Link. Now is not the time to shrink from visibility  now is the time to stand taller, louder, and more united than ever."

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One page on Moffits website includes a transcript of a 2024 podcast with Elizabeth Olson, the associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Olson and her wife brought Olsons mother, Gloria Olson, to Moffitt for cancer treatment in 2023. When they arrived for her surgery at the Tampa campus at 5:30 a.m. on June 1, the first thing they saw was the pride flag flying outside the entrance.

It felt like all of my attention could now be on my mom, Olson said in the podcast. And I didnt have to spend my energy evaluating whether or not Moffitt was a safe space to introduce people to my wife.

Told by a reporter that the flag would no longer be flown at Moffitt, Olson said it was a shame.

I recognize that institutions are facing difficult decisions in a shifting political climate, but its important to remember that for LGBTQ+ patients and families, symbols of visibility and support are not just performativethey are vital to feeling seen, safe, and supported in healthcare spaces," she said in an email.
If you run your own business, you already know that youre incredibly busy. But have you ever taken the time to consider what you will do when its time to pass the torch and leave the business?

Jim Lyons of Edward Jones joined us in studio to discuss the benefits of creating a succession plan for your business.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
A 25% tariff on Canadian imports has left Montana farmers in limbo and worried about their livelihoods, given Canada is Montanas largest trading partner.

Many of our farmers, their closest supplier or their closest buyer is from Canada, Walter Schweitzer, president of Montana Farmers Union (MFU), told NBC Montana.

And theyve been receiving letters telling them they dont know if theyre going to be able to honor their contracts this year because of the tariffs.

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Now Schweitzers union is taking legal action and supporting a proposed bill  The Trade Review Act of 2025  that it hopes will offer some tariff relief.

Decades to rebuild

According to the U.S.Census Bureau, Montana exports more goods to Canada ($869 million annually) than its next seven largest foreign markets.

Of those, 39% are agricultural such as live cattle, dried legumes and barley.

Meanwhile, Montana imports $6.8 billion in goods from Canada each year. In 2023, it imported $411 million in agricultural products, including canola oil, dried legumes, mustard seeds and wheat.

Farmers and ranchers have invested decades in developing reliable markets for our products, Schweitzer said in a statement. Overnight, these random tariffs have destroyed markets that will take decades to rebuild.

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Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

While his union supports strategic tariffs, Schweitzer said President Donald Trumps tariffs dont fall in this category. He said billions of dollars are at stake for Montanas farmers and ranchers; crop prices are already falling.

The MFU is joining members of the Blackfeet Tribe in asking a U.S. District Court judge for a court injunction to stop the implementation of tariffs on Canada.

It is also supporting a bipartisan bill currently before the House Ways and Means Committee: The Trade Review Act of 2025,

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The Northern Ag Network says the bill aims to bring stability and accountability to U.S. trade policy by reestablishing limits on the presidents ability to unilaterally impose tariffs without the approval of Congress.

How the Trade Review Act could help

If passed, the Act would require President Donald Trump to notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or increasing a duty on imported goods. It would also require an analysis of the economic impact of any such action.

Schweitzer said the authority to impose tariffs should reside with Congress because it provides a forum for public debate and input and ensures the benefit outweighs the harm.

Any new tariffs would expire after 60 days (unless the tariffs passed a joint resolution of approval) and Congress could terminate tariffs at any time (through a joint resolution of disapproval).

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The Act could provide a way to review  and potentially overturn  tariffs that negatively impact agricultural exports. It could also create a possible pathway for legislative pushback, resulting in smarter, more strategic tariffs (or none at all).

By requiring congressional approval, it could reduce the volatility that farmers are currently experiencing with on-again, off-again tariffs. Stability is key for farmers, since they make long-term production decisions based on trade outlooks.

And, it could help to preserve export markets and possibly prevent retaliatory tariffs from trading partners. While Canada is Montanas largest trading partner, Montana also trades with China, Mexico and several European nations, all subject to tariffs.

The executive branch has overstepped its constitutional and statutory authority on these tariffs, MFUs Schweitzer said in the statement. Montana farmers and ranchers cant afford any more uncertainty or any more financial stressors  especially not random tariffs.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
More than $220 million worth of contracts cancelled by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been brought back.

Forty-four of the government contracts ended by DOGE and Musk have been revived by federal agencies, according to a federal spending data review by The New York Times.

However, DOGE still lists 43 of those contracts on its website as having been terminated, and some were added after they had been restored. This led to several data errors on the site.

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The White House told the outlet that the paperwork lag would be fixed. The contracts that have been rekindled include everything from software license agreements to partnerships with vendors in charge of data and records for the government. Most of the contracts came to an end in February and March amid demands that agencies make massive cutbacks.

Agencies subsequently restored the contracts, at times only days after they had been cancelled. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency restored a contract after two and a half hours, but DOGE still listed the contract as canceled for weeks. The contract was subsequently extended, now costing more than previously.

Musk and DOGE set out to cut $1 trillion out of the $7 trillion federal budget, but the backtracking on cancelled contracts revealed the difficulties of making such expansive cuts. Contractors told the paper that as DOGE rushed to urge agencies to cancel contracts that were likely to be revived, as some were required by law, and some required skills that the government doesnt have.

Federal agencies revived at least 44 government contracts cancelled by Elon Musks DOGE (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The DOGE Wall of Receipts provides the latest and most accurate information following a thorough assessment, which takes time, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told The New York Times. Updates to the DOGE savings page will continue to be made promptly, and departments and agencies will keep highlighting the massive savings DOGE is achieving.

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DOGE has listed over 9,400 contracts it claims to have cancelled, totalling $32 billion in savings. The group claims to have saved $165 billion in taxpayer funds in total.

The White House spokesperson told The New York Times that the reversals it had found were small potatoes in comparison.

Musk has said from the beginning that the government would most likely have to backtrack on some of its spending cuts. Appearing on the Joe Rogan podcast in February, Musk said, We need to act fast to stop wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer money. But if we make a mistake, well reverse it quickly.

However, Musk also said that DOGE would share the details of its work publicly, saying that they can name the specifics, line by line. But The New York Times found several errors on the so-called Wall of Receipts, often inflating the supposed savings. DOGE has taken credit for ending programs that finished years or at times decades ago. It has also counted the same cancellations more than once and, at one point, shared a claim that jumbled billion and million.

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This month, DOGE removed a contract that had been cancelled for less than a day, but also added five revived contracts to its terminations list, claiming $57 million in savings, which had already been restored, according to the paper.

Contractor Larry Aldrich was told in February that his contract doing web design and making videos for the Department of Veterans Affairs site for veterans with PTSD had been cancelled. The agreement was reinstated two weeks later.

The V.A. cannot do this work on its own, Aldrich told the paper. They dont have the manpower or the skill set.

The reversal started in the middle of February, less than a month into President Donald Trumps second stint in the White House. On February 14, Raquel Romero and her husband lost their contract offering leadership training to Agriculture Department attorneys. They regained $45,000 in revenue when all their other federal business had dried up.

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We had lost all of the income that we were planning for calendar year 2025. Weve had to sell our house. Were in the process of moving into a condo, she told The New York Times.

The department told the paper that it revived the contracts after finding that it was required by law. Romero added that she believed the reversal was due to a personal intervention by one attorney in the department, who Romero said retired two weeks later.

Musks Department of Government Efficiency initially set out to cut $1 trillion from the federal 7 $trillion budget (Getty Images)

Regarding contract reversals, the Department of Veterans Affairs comes on top with 16 cancelled and revived contracts. According to veterans groups speaking to the paper, some of the contracts were required by law, noting that one contract was for a contractor who helped veterans search for military records as evidence when applying for benefits, which was restored after just eight days.

Even with the revived contracts, experts say DOGEs cuts have damaged the quality of government services.

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There doesnt seem to be an approach to dig in on places where government services could really be improved, the executive director of the Yale Budget Lab, Martha Gimbel, recently told The Guardian. Any improvement in government services takes time. You have to invest. You have to build it out. You have to figure out how to fix it.

There has clearly been a degeneration of government services, she added.

DOGE claimed to have saved $38 million over several years at the Department of Education after ending a contract to manage a data repository about schools across the country. However, lawmakers and advocates pushed back, arguing that the law required the information to be gathered for the government to know which schools were eligible for some grants. The contract was resurrected after 18 days; however, $17 million in funding had been removed.

The E.P.A. signed a contract with a company in Maryland in 2023 to help raise awareness about asthma. Contracting data revealed it was cancelled just after 4.30 p.m. on March 7 of this year. That same night, shortly before 7 p.m., it was reinstated. The E.P.A. told the paper that the reinstatement of a contract shows that the agency found that funding action supported Administration priorities.

The agency extended the contract for another year last month, agreeing to pay $171,000 more than before the contract was cancelled.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
More Californians are talking to their therapists through a video screen or by phone than in person, marking a profound shift in how mental healthcare is delivered as record-setting numbers seek help.

While patients and providers say teletherapy is effective and easier to get than in-person services, experts in the field noted that teletherapy often requires a skilled mental health practitioner trained to pick up subtle communication cues.

Almost half of the roughly 4.8 million adults who visited a medical professional for mental health or substance use disorders in 2023 did so exclusively through teletherapy, according to a KFF Health News analysis of the latest data from UCLAs California Health Interview Survey .

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About 24% of adults used a combination of face-to-face and teletherapy in 2023, while roughly 23% got help exclusively in person, according to the survey of about 20,000 California households.

A recent national study of patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system found a similar pattern: Fifty-five percent of mental healthcare continued to be provided via telemedicine, a figure that jumped after patients shifted to teletherapy by necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teletherapy is certainly more convenient, enabling patients to see their therapists from the comfort of home.

Its actually really effective, said Joshua Heitzmann , president of the California Psychological Assn. I think part of that is that it just allows more comfortability  people are willing to work a little bit more when they're comfortable.

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Studies back that up: Teletherapy patients report getting better at rates similar to those receiving in-person therapy.

Research has basically shown that there's no difference between teletherapy versus in-person therapy  so, basically, as effective as in-person therapy, said Tao Lin , a researcher at the University of Pennsylvanias Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, who recently conducted an analysis of several studies comparing teletherapy and face-to-face therapy.

But Lin said it can be difficult for a therapist to see hand motions or read body language during a video call, which could lead to therapists missing nonverbal cues about their patients emotional states. Lins most recent research, yet to be published, suggests therapy over the telephone is less effective than video conferences due to more loss of information.

And some people have trouble emotionally connecting with a therapist without seeing them in person, Lin said. Technical difficulties, not uncommon, can also interfere with clients building a therapeutic relationship.

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Sacramento resident David Bain relies on teletherapy to treat his depression because mobility issues make it difficult for him to visit a therapist in person.

It's almost to the point where I wouldn't be able to get the service if I wasn't able to get it through telehealth, said Bain, executive director of NAMI Sacramento , a nonprofit that provides support and advocacy to people with mental illness.

Bain said that his one-on-one teletherapy sessions have helped, but that hes had less success with online group therapy. He recently participated in a 10-week dialectical behavior therapy class, but he didnt get the connection and support he received in past in-person group settings, he said.

There was probably me and two or three other people that were actually showing ourselves on screen, he said. Everyone else had their screens off.

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Teletherapy is increasingly offered through cellphone applications such as BetterHelp and Talkspace . Patients using these applications often pay a subscription fee, which insurance may partly cover, for regular sessions and contact with therapists.

Eunkyung Jo , a researcher at the UC Irvine, co-wrote a study published in 2023 that looked at patient reviews of eight of the most popular teletherapy apps. Many patients expressed satisfaction with their therapists, but the team also uncovered negative patterns.

Some patients did not get the therapy they paid for, often because of technical difficulties. Other patients reported their therapists acted disinterested or unprofessional, a finding Jo said could be tied to the relatively low pay therapists earn on some apps.

And several users mentioned in reviews that their therapist suddenly disappeared from the app without explanation. She said therapists in more traditional pay-as-you-go arrangements rarely discontinue treatment without warning.

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Nikole Benders-Hadi, chief medical officer of Talkspace, said patients often can use their insurance to get therapy on the platform, at a typical cost of a $10 copay. Separately, Talkspace spokesperson Jeannine Feyen said that salary for therapists has increased since Jos study was conducted, and that full-time Talkspace therapists make $65,000 to $90,000 a year.

At BetterHelp, therapists earn up to $91,000 and the average patient rating last year for a live session on the platform was 4.9 out of 5 , spokesperson Megan Garner said. A significant majority of patients reported reliable symptom improvement or remission, she said.

The number of Californians visiting a medical professional for mental health issues rose by about 434,000, or 10%, from 2019 to 2023, UCLA data show. It jumped by nearly 2 million, or 69%, from 2009 through 2023.

Even so, the transition from in-person therapy to teletherapy has left some behind.

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The UCLA data show that Californians living within 200% of the federal poverty level  for example, a family of four with a household income of about $60,000 or under in 2023  were less likely to use teletherapy.

The data also show that residents in rural areas, where access to telehealth should provide a boon, werent using it as much as residents of urban areas.

For example, about 81% of San Francisco Bay Area residents who visited a medical professional for mental healthcare in 2023 did so either fully or partially via teletherapy. About 62% of residents in the states rural, mountainous counties did the same.

Those disparities are suggestive of gaps seen in remote-work patterns: Wealthier, urban Californians are more likely to work from home than lower-income, rural residents. By extension, Californians of greater means have more opportunities to arrange online appointments and may be more comfortable with them.

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By comparison, low-income folks tend to go into the office for doctor visits, Heitzmann said.

Lower-income and rural Californians may also lack the reliable internet service necessary for good telehealth. A recent KFF Health News analysis found millions of Americans live in places with doctor shortages and poor internet access.

Lower-income Californians also are more likely to live in tight quarters , making privacy for an intimate therapy session difficult.

Regardless, teletherapy is now dominant. And its not just patients who enjoy the convenience. Many therapists have ditched expensive office rents to work from home.

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COVID allowed that, Heitzmann said. A lot of folks really just got rid of their offices and were perfectly happy converting their home into some kind of office and doing it all day long.

This article was produced by KFF Health News , a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Pierce Countys largest school district is facing a $30 million deficit for the next school year, and district officials say financial insolvency is a possibility.

Tacoma Public Schools chief financial officer Rosalind Medina said the district has had to make cuts to its budget in recent years and has sought to keep those cuts away from the classroom as much as possible. Medina said at a May 8 board meeting that more staff positions, services and programs might now be on the chopping block as the district seeks to bridge the $30 million gap, again citing rising costs and insufficient funding from the state.

Though Gov. Bob Ferguson has yet to sign the Legislatures budget and the districts deadline to finalize its own budget isnt until July, Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Josh Garcia said the funds for education outlined in the budget will not be enough for the district to fulfill its needs.

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The needs in special education and [materials, supplies and operating costs] across the state were billions of dollars, and the reply was a few hundred millions of dollars, he said at the meeting.

A major gap is the amount of money the state provides for staff salaries and benefits, the district said in a statement. Simply put, the state gives us roughly 65% of the costs for what we need to fully fund staff salaries and benefits.

The districts reserve funds have also been depleted, Medina said.

If all things were to end today, if things were to continue on, we would have no reserves to help us either balance the budget and or in case of emergencies, she said. So resources are limited in that respect.

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Also a possibility are binding conditions  a situation in which a districts expenses exceed its revenues, and it has to turn to officials from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to intervene and set certain benchmarks for it to achieve in order to resolve its deficit. Binding conditions would be the first of several steps in a process of increasing state intervention to help school districts address a budget deficit that would culminate in the dissolution of a school district if the state-recommended mitigation efforts are not successful.

District officials pointed out a handful of other school districts in the state that are also facing binding conditions like the Tukwila and Marysville. Medina said she doesnt expect to enter into binding conditions, but it is a possibility.

Our intent is to avoid them at all possibilities, she said.

The district has eliminated a handful of positions, instituted a hiring freeze and canceled certain contracts to mitigate the deficit, but additional position eliminations are in progress, she said. Medina also said that the district is implementing new strategies, like freezing purchasing cards and overtime.

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Garcia said district staff have not received certain raises in recent years as part of budget-mitigation efforts, and some staff reduction efforts have taken place at the district level.

A handful of educational support staff from schools around the district spoke at the meeting, criticizing the board and district leadership for maintaining high salaries for its administrators despite cutting school-level staff positions.

Connor Griswold, an educational support professional at Fawcett Elementary, said at the meeting that the schools other ESPs were notified this week that they no longer have jobs to return to.

Staff arent being cut because of the state, theyre being cut because the district chose buildings and salaries over people, Griswold said at the meeting.

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Director Lisa Keating expressed frustration at the meeting with state lawmakers for not allocating more money for education, saying that Ferguson seems to be opposed to new tax revenue.

I know that my colleagues and I dont sit up here with any sort of relief to hear these reports, to hear public comment, she said.

The district will evaluate whether to maintain or eliminate contracts for certain provisional staff by May 15. The district plans to adopt the budget for the 2025-2026 academic year by July 10.

Editors note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect when Tacoma Public Schools will determine a reduction-in-force plan for certain staff.
KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Wednesday, 28/22 News told you about reports of missing dirt bikes Sunday night in Luzerne County.

In addition to two being stolen in Plains Township, Kingstons police chief tell us a dirt bike was also stolen in their area as well.

Police searching for car vandals in Monroe County

The chief says the bike was stolen off the back of a pickup truck the same night as the the dirt bikes that were stolen from a garage in Plains Township.

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Police are looking into who stole the dirt bikes and if the thefts are related.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A nurse administers a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to a patient in Utah. (George Frey | Getty Images)

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Friday issued guidance for how families who object to vaccines on religious and philosophical grounds can receive exemptions to the states school immunization requirements.

While the states compulsory school vaccination law has not changed, the governor does not intend to rescind his executive order granting religious and philosophical exemptions, according to a news release Friday.

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I am calling on the State Superintendent of Schools and the county boards of education in this state to work with the Bureau for Public Health to ensure that religious rights of students are protected, Morrisey said. Students will not be denied access to public education because of their religious objections to compulsory vaccination.

In his letter Friday, Morrisey acknowledged that the state cannot compel private schools to exempt children without a statutory change, but he urged the schools to honor the religious beliefs of their students and not turn them away because of their strongly held objections to vaccines.

West Virginia state law includes one of the strongest school vaccination policies in the nation. All states require children attending school to be vaccinated for a number of infectious diseases, like polio and measles. West Virginia was one of only five states that allowed only medical exemptions to those vaccination requirements.

In a Jan. 14 executive order, Morrisey directed the State Health Officer and the Bureau for Public Health to establish a process for religious exemptions and come up with necessary rules and legislation to facilitate them. West Virginias last health officer, Dr. Matthew Christiansen, resigned in December. Morrisey has not appointed someone to fill the role.

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State lawmakers rejected a bill that would have established religious exemptions in state code. The measure, Senate Bill 460, passed in the Senate but was rejected by the House of Delegates with a vote of 42 yeas and 56 nays.

The disagreement between the states executive and legislative branch has led to confusion among the states schools and daycare facilities. Some private schools in particular have said theyre not following the executive order.

The Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston  which operates 24 schools throughout the state  will not accept religious exemptions for required school vaccinations despite the executive order, Tim Bishop, communications director for the church, told West Virginia Watch this week.

West Virginia state School Superintendent Michele Blatt put out a memo to county boards of education on May 2 saying that since the state Legislature didnt adopt the bill allowing religious exemptions, students who enroll with an exemption prior to May 1 would be allowed to finish the school year. But, the memo continued, students would not be allowed to enroll in the upcoming school year without the required immunizations. Before the day was over, Blatt rescinded the memo at Morriseys request and said the school system would work collaboratively with the governors office to issue guidance to counties about how to comply with the order.

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According to the governors guidance, parents seeking a religious or philosophical exemption to a vaccine should send an email to vaccineexemption@wv.gov with the following information:

Name and date of birth of the student seeking an exemption

Name of the students parent or guardian

The school the student intends to enroll in

A mailing address for the parent or guardian.

The Bureau for Public Health will mail a letter to the parent telling them whether the exemption has been granted, and a copy of the letter will be sent to the school, Morriseys letter says. Exemptions will be granted on a per-year basis.

Morrisey told public school officials that when a student receives an exemption, the exemption should be honored by the school the student is enrolled in and the student should be allowed to attend virtual and in-person classes without the vaccination theyre exempted from getting.

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Morriseys executive order is based on the Equal Protection for Religion Act, a 2023 law signed by former Gov. Jim Justice. The law prohibits government action that substantially burdens a persons exercise of religion unless it serves a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive way of achieving that interest. In his letter Friday, Morrisey argued that the order takes precedence over state law because the legislature wrote that the EPRA applies notwithstanding any other provision of law.

Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, told West Virginia Watch earlier this week the Legislature has the authority to set the school vaccination policy and the governor does not. Garcia, an attorney by trade, said the matter would likely have to be settled by a lawsuit.
The West Virginia State Capitol (West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has signed lawmakers key foster care measure into law  an omnibus bill that folded together several pieces of legislation. It includes creating a team to review the death of a foster child that occurred while in state care.

The Republican governor opted to veto other child welfare-related items, including a bill that would have provided pay raises for attorneys representing foster children. He also slashed lawmakers funding for a nonprofit that helps foster kids.

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Lawmakers came into the 60-day session saying they must address widespread issues in the states troubled foster care system that is serving more than 6,000 children with a shortage of social workers, support services and safe homes for children. Too many children have ended up living in hotel rooms, and the state spent $70 million last year sending foster kids to out-of-state group homes. And, for years, the state hasnt wanted to answer questions about whats happening to kids in the child welfare system.

While many of the proposed bills  including one mandating an outside review of the foster system  never made it up for a vote by deadline, lawmakers behind the successful foster care measure say its a step in the right direction.

Foster care is a glaring area of need in state government, said Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, who is a foster parent.

Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason

We made it clear that we are willing and committed to taking action  Weve tried over the course of several years to identify areas that need attention and need work, and many of those areas got touched by [House Bill] 2880, he continued. Theres always work to be done, but when you look at the measure that we did get passed  Im pleased with where were at.

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Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, called it the most important bill of the session.

Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell

For all the praying we do in the Senate, these are the least among us. These are the most vulnerable people, he said. There was a lot of bipartisan work that went into this  Its a really thoughtful bill. Its going to help kids.

But more should have been done, he emphasized.

This bill would hit like 20% of what we could have done during the session, he said. This is just a screaming issue for the little ones who have no lobbyists.

During the legislative session, a federal judge dismissed a sweeping lawsuit brought by foster children against the state for alleged mistreatment in care. The judge said that the ongoing problems couldnt be solved by the courts, and the blame squarely lies with the West Virginia state government.

Whats included in the bill

The foster care measure nearly died in the final hours of session last month as Senate and House members struggled to come to an agreement on what it should contain.

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Woelfel told lawmakers in a conference committee hashing out the bill that they couldnt let the sessions only foster care measure die. Lawmakers eventually agreed to remove a part of the bill that would have regulated in-state behavioral programs for children, and said theyd work on that part in a separate bill for next year.

House Bill 2880 in its final form folds together several different foster care measures from this session, including mandating that parent resource navigators, who help parents who are seeking to reunify with their children, be included in key meetings about the childs case. Parent resource navigators are established through the court system.

West Virginia terminates parental rights at twice the rate of any other state.

Its always about reunification with biological mom and dad, but they dont always get a lot of resources through navigating the complex system, explained Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, who sponsored the bill. Burkhammer is a foster parent.

Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis

The measure also created a Critical Incident Review Team that will review a fatality or near fatality of a child in the custody of the state Department of Human Services. The team must meet within 45 days of the fatality or near fatality to conduct the review and share a report with lawmakers and online.

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I think probably the best part of the bill is the Critical Incident Review Team and being able to put an additional set of eyes on these fatalities and near fatalities, Pinson said, adding the goal is to help prevent future incidents. Being able to bring in additional resources to address our response to these very serious situations is demanded.

The bill also included some new requirements for the states online Child Welfare Dashboard, including additional information about the states Child Protective Service workforce.

Angelica Hightower, communications specialist for the Department of Human Services, said that the agency didnt have any concerns with the bill.

We recognize the intent of this legislation to strengthen the delivery and oversight of services within our child welfare system and broader human services framework, she wrote in an email. As we move toward implementation, the department is committed to working collaboratively to ensure that the measures outlined in the bill are carried out effectively and in alignment with the needs of West Virginias children and families.

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Lawmakers also revised childhood immunization rules for foster families in a bundle of rules changes, Burkhammer said. Foster parents will no longer be required to provide the vaccination records of their biological children as an eligibility condition to open their home to a foster child.

Both Burkhammer and Pinson said lawmakers failure to fix ongoing issues with the states voucher system, which provides money for their foster kids clothes and other items, was the biggest failure in foster care reform this session.

The current voucher system limits spending to only certain stores and regularly results in foster parents and kinship caregivers spending their own money to pay for clothes, beds, car seats and more.

When parents are willing to step up and put themselves out there for foster children, weve got to make sure that as a state we can provide the resources that they need, Pinson said.

Morrisey vetoes pay raise for guardian ad litems amid shortage

Morrisey vetoed House Bill 2351, sponsored by Burkhammer, which would have given public defenders and guardian ad litems a pay raise of an additional $10 per hour for in- and out-of-court work.

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The state has a shortage of guardian ad litems, which are required in child welfare cases and represent the best interests of the child. The shortfall has led to cases often lingering in the court system while children await permanency.

In his veto message, Morrisey said he was sympathetic to the intent of this bill but noted that lawmakers had reduced his proposed funding amount for the Public Defender Services.

I want West Virginia to be a national model for fiscal responsibility, and this bill fails to meet that objective, Morrisey wrote. The math does not add up. The Legislature did not fully fund this line item for the ensuing fiscal year, which necessitates the veto of this bill.

Burkhammer emphasized that the shortage of guardian ad litems has led to low quality of services.

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Ultimately, the childs best interest is not getting the attention it deserves, he said.

Morrisey also cut 75% of lawmakers allocated funding to West Virginias Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, a program that helps foster children in the court system, before signing the budget bill.

In his veto message, the governor said the program relies on grants and could seek additional grant funding.

Woelfel believes that despite the vetoes, Morrisey is committed to foster care reform.

Im taking him at his word, he said. I think it has got to be a team effort.

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Russia hopes to continue and develop its ongoing dialogue with the Vatican, according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, in a statement posted after the election of the new pontiff.

The Russian Foreign Ministry hopes its exchange will continue including concerning the war in Ukraine, it said a day after Pope Leo XIV was elected to lead the Catholic Church.

"We value the constructive cooperation with the Vatican in resolving a number of humanitarian issues in the context of the conflict in Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

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The relationship is based on a mutual commitment to "traditional spiritual and moral values" and a similar approach to issues of global development and the establishment of a just world order, the Russian ministry said.

The ministry emphasized in its statement that relations between Moscow and the Holy See are based on mutual respect and support.

However, Leo's predecessor, pope Francis, had repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine.

In March, the former pontiff said the underdog, meaning Ukraine, must have the courage to negotiate, a statement that drew criticism worldwide, as some saw it as suggesting Kiev capitulate, in the full-scale invasion launched by Russia more than three years ago.

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Relations between Moscow and Rome have not always run smooth with the Russian Orthodox Church for years accusing Catholics of trying to proselytize within its sphere of influence.

In 2016, the first ever meeting was held between the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill I, and the Pope  Francis, at the time.
May 9MOSES LAKE  A Moses Lake man was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamines following an alleged assault in late April.

Cesar Adame, 42, was booked on federal charges for distribution of methamphetamines, according to a press release from the Moses Lake Police Department. Rob Curry, public information officer for the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington, said Adame will appear before a federal magistrate sometime in the next few days. He will enter a plea and be scheduled for a preliminary hearing, Curry said.

The investigation began in late April, when a subject reported an alleged assault and robbery to MLPD officers.

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Moses Lake PD Captain Jeff Sursely said the MLPD Street Crimes Unit was able to connect the alleged assault with information they already had on suspected methamphetamine distribution. Grant County INET and Drug Enforcement Agency personnel worked with the MLPD on the investigation.

Adame allegedly was attempting to intimidate the assault victim into participating in his meth trafficking organization, the press release said.

Adame was arrested on the assault and robbery charges; SCU detectives obtained search warrants and among other things searched his apartment. They found and seized about four ounces of methamphetamine, the press release said.

Sursely said local law enforcement officers can be deputized for federal agencies simultaneously with their local jobs. Moses Lake PD has two officers deputized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and one by the DEA. As a result, suspects that meet certain criteria can be charged with federal crimes, he said.

"The ones that are really impacting our community," Sursely said.

Sursely expressed gratitude to INET and DEA agents for their assistance in the investigation.
While California voters are sharply divided along partisan lines when it comes to election integrity and voter fraud, they broadly support a politically-charged proposal from President Trump and other Republicans to require first-time voters to provide government-issued identification proving their citizenship in order to register, according to a new poll.

A majority of voters in both parties back the proof of citizenship requirement for registering, according to a new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by The Times. Most Californians also supported requiring a government ID every time a voter casts a ballot, though by a slimmer majority and despite most Democrats opposing the idea.

Mark DiCamillo, co-director of the Berkeley IGS Poll, said the bipartisan support for first-time voters showing proof of citizenship stood out, as many of the poll's other findings showed a stark political divide and a majority of Californians at odds with Trump and his recent edicts on voting  which California and other states are suing to block.

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Still, DiCamillo said his biggest takeaway was the sharp distrust in the state's election system that the poll found among California Republicans, which he said should be a "serious concern" for state elections officials  even if a majority trust the system. Democratic voters in the state are largely confident in the state election system and doubtful of prevalent voter fraud, while many Republican voters feel the opposite, the poll found.

"It is significant to me that the Republicans in this state are not of that view. And that's something that has to be dealt with," DiCamillo said. "In an election system, you want both sides to be on board."

Overall, 71% of respondents said they supported new voters having to prove citizenship upon registering, including 59% of Democrats, the poll found. Nearly all Republicans  95%  backed the proposal, as did 71% of voters registered to other parties or as "no party preference."

A separate proposal to require voters to show proof of citizenship every time they vote also drew support from a majority of poll respondents, but a much slimmer one  with 54% support. While 88% of Republicans backed that idea, about 60% of Democrats opposed it. Among independents and Californians registered with other parties, 54% supported it.

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Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento have repeatedly rebuffed proposals for stricter voter ID laws in the state, including in recent weeks, when they shot down a voter ID bill from Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego). DeMaio also has launched a campaign to place a voter ID and proof of citizenship requirement on the 2026 ballot.

DeMaio said the poll showed there is "broad public support" for his measure  which would require both proof of citizenship upon registering for the first time and a photo ID for confirming identity each subsequent time voting  and that California Democrats are "out of touch" with the electorate.

"Overwhelmingly, voters support this ballot measure," he said. "The only people who don't support it? Sacramento politicians."

The proposed ballot measure would require mail-in ballots to include the last four digits of the voters valid government-issued form of identification, along with the current requirement to have the signature of a voter on the ballot verified.

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Read more: Trump's popularity in a slump in California amid abuse-of-power concerns

The polling was conducted April 21-28, about a month after Trump issued a March 25 executive order presuming to dictate to the states a slate of new election requirements that Trump said were necessary to restore integrity in U.S. elections, but many experts said were outside the scope of his authority.

Trump has alleged for years, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from him and that voter fraud is widespread, including among immigrants who are in the country illegally. Neither of those things is true.

Trump's executive order says voters must show a U.S. passport, Real ID or some other government-issued photo identification in order to register to vote. It says states also must limit their counting of ballots to those received by election day  not postmarked by then, as California and some other states currently allow  or risk losing federal funding.

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The order also directs the Election Assistance Commission, which is an independent, bipartisan body outside the president's control, to mandate the proposed restrictions and other, Trump-determined requirements for state voting systems, and to rescind its certifications of voting equipment in states that don't comply.

Parts of Trump's order  including the proof of citizenship requirement  have been blocked in federal court while litigation challenging the order continues. California is one of many states suing, with California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta calling Trump's order "a blatantly illegal power grab and an attempt to disenfranchise voters."

In a statement on the poll results, Bonta said it was fortunate that a majority of Californians still have confidence in the state election system despite Trump "spreading lies" about voter fraud and other election issues for years. He said state law "already contains robust voter ID requirements with strong protections to prevent voter fraud," and that his office "is committed to removing barriers to voter registration and to promoting greater participation in the democratic process  in and out of court."

Dean C. Logan, registrar-recorder and county clerk for Los Angeles County, said in a court filing earlier this week that Trump's order  if left intact  would "divert time, resources, and attention from other critical departmental responsibilities and election preparation, including assisting voters displaced by the Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires; upgrading the Countys Election Management System ('EMS') which serves as the backbone of the voter registration intake and database; and engaging in a site by site analysis of all 600-plus Vote Center locations to ensure they meet accessibility standards."

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Read more: California, other states sue Trump administration to block order on voting overhaul

The poll found Californians are largely at odds with Trump's attacks on the integrity of U.S. elections, which is perhaps not surprising in a state where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans nearly 2 to 1 .

For instance, the poll found that a majority of Californians  and strong majorities of Democrats  believe voter fraud is rare, express confidence in the integrity of the state's voting system, oppose efforts by the federal government to take more control over voting from the state and counties, and oppose Trump's proposal to prohibit the counting of mail ballots after election day.

Among the respondents who participated in the poll  6,201 registered voters in the state  more than two-thirds, or 68%, expressed confidence in the overall integrity of the state's election system. The same percentage opposed Trump's recent proposal to prohibit the counting of ballots postmarked but not received by election day.

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Well over half  or 57%  said they believed voter fraud in the state is very or fairly rare, while a similar percentage, 58%, said they were opposed to Trump's proposal for the federal government to take greater control over state elections.

On all of those questions, however, Californians were heavily divided along partisan lines.

For instance, 61% of Republican voters said they are not very or not at all confident in the integrity of the state's election system, which compared to just 13% of Democrats. And while 74% of Republicans said fraud was somewhat or very prevalent in state elections, just 14% of Democrats felt the same, the poll found.

A majority of voters  58%  opposed the federal government taking more control over elections from the state, despite more than three-quarters of Republicans supporting the move.

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And, while 57% of Republican voters backed Trump's proposal to prohibit the counting of mail ballots postmarked but not received by election officials by election day, just 9% of Democrats agreed  with 86% of Democrats disagreeing.

Read more: Trump administration offers unauthorized immigrants $1,000 to leave the country

Rick Hasen, a voting rights expert at UCLA Law School, said the poll results  including Californians' overall confidence in the state's election system, disbelief in prevalent fraud and opposition to federal takeover  were in line with other polling and what he'd expect.

"Most people in most states believe that their own state's election system is run well, and that if there is any kind of problem, it's elsewhere," he said.

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It was equally unsurprising that "Republicans have a much more cynical view of the process," he said.

"Party supporters tend to follow their elites, and the top of the Republican Party has been making false and unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud for decades now," Hasen said. "It's no surprise that it's seeped through to the electorate."

Hasen said the results on proof of citizenship also made sense, as "voter ID has polled positively, so requiring proof of voter citizenship also tends to poll positively." But, he questioned whether poll respondents really understood the implications of such a requirement.

Read more: Real ID brings confusion and surprise but relatively few problems at SoCal airports

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Asked whether it would be easy or difficult to "present a government-issued photo ID as proof of citizenship when voting in an election," 93% of respondents said it would be easy. But Hasen, many Democrats and most voting rights groups have argued just the opposite  that millions of U.S. citizens would be blocked from voting by the measure because they lack the required documents, which don't include birth certificates, which don't have photos, or many California driver's licenses.

"I just don't think people recognize that a lot of government-issued photo IDs would not qualify, and they certainly wouldn't qualify under the president's proposed rules," Hasen said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Most Americans are opposed to President Trumps handling of college campuses, according to a poll released Friday.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found that 56 percent disapprove of Trumps push to restructure higher education.

The survey results come as Education Secretary Linda McMahon has revoked funding from Harvard University and Columbia University over concerns about antisemitism, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also cut $70 million in funding at three colleges.

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The White House has issued some institutions a list of demands that must be met before federal funds are restored. But the new poll finds that only 4 in 10 Americans approve of the White House move.

A majority of respondents said colleges contribute new ideas and innovative technology, in addition to uplifting medical and science research.

Sixty-three percent of surveytakers said universities make unprecedented positive contributions in the field of technology, while 27 percent said neither negative or positive changes are made from schools and 9 percent said they have a negative impact.

Sixty-four percent said they believe higher education institutions advance research, 26 percent said they have no contribution and 9 percent said there was a poor impact on research.

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Less than half of Americans, 48 percent, said colleges contribute to the quality of the workforce. Thirty-four percent said that secondary education institutions have no impact on professional fields and 17 percent said the impact is bleak.

The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,175 adults May 1-5. Its margin of error is 4 percentage points.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  New Tax Commission numbers released this week show most recipients approved for the Parental Choice Tax Credit were awarded to families earning above average income.

The total amount approved was $236 million with a cap of $250 million.

Oklahoma Policy Institute first reported the findings earlier this week and found that families earning more than $250k/year made up more than 1 in 4 recipients.

The numbers showed that most of the money went to students who had already been enrolled in private school, too.

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It showed that just 2,963 of the 36,921 students approved for the tax credit so far this year were enrolled in public school the previous semester.

Lifting cap on Oklahomas School Choice Tax Credit could have high cost

They were sold as being a way to help public school kids who were in bad public schools get into private school. Clearly thats not the case since 92% of the people using them are already in private schools, said Senator Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City).

Also, almost 75% came from families with household incomes above $75,000, according to the latest Tax Commission data.

Numbers from March showed that a $27.1 million portion, about 30%, went to families making below $75,000 a year. A nearly equal amount, $26.3 million, went to families making between $75,000 and $150,000. Another $15.7 million, or 17%, went to families making between $150,000 and $225,000.

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Almost half of the folks that are receiving the tax credits are making more than $150,000 annually, and 92% of the families were already in private school to begin with. So, again, the question that we have is, whos getting a different choice now? asked Senator Carrie Hicks (D-Oklahoma City).

Republicans have long approved of the program. Governor Stitt has asked as recently as March for there not to be a cap on the program.

On Wednesday, News 4 asked the governors office if they had looked at the recent snapshot from the Tax Commission and if he still wants the cap removed. We have not heard back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Mothers Day is this weekend, and the weekend forecast is looking fantastic! Checking the record books reveals that Mothers Day in the Ozarks is usually warm and the chance of seeing rain is 50/50.

First, lets look at some Mothers Day history. The first Mothers Day is recognized as taking place on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia. The first Mothers Day was organized and campaigned for by Anna Jarvis, who wanted to remember her mothers passing a few years prior, according to Smithsonian.

The idea of honoring mothers all around the nation quickly caught on and soon every state celebrated Mothers Day, which eventually led to President Woodrow Wilson declaring Mothers Day a holiday in 1914. Mothers Day falls on the second Sunday in May.

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Jarvis began to campaign against Mothers Day, however, when she noted how commercialized the holiday had become. Her simple act of honoring her mother had become associated with the phrase, Hallmark Holiday. She spent the rest of her life boycotting Mothers Day and was actually arrested for disturbing the peace. Anna Jarvis died in November 1948.

Interested in more Mothers Day history? Go here.

Okay, now lets look at some weather. Springfields average high temperature on Mothers Day is around 74. Comfortable! Overnight temperatures average around 52 on Mothers Day. The hottest Mothers Day was in 1963 when temperatures reached 90 on May 12. The coldest temperature recorded on Mothers Day in Springfield was on May 11, 1969, when temperatures dropped to near freezing at 34.

Believe it or not, Mothers Day is notoriously rainy. It rains roughly 49% of the time on Mothers Day in Springfield. Crazy! The wettest Mothers Day in Springfields history was on May 9, 1943, when the city recorded 2.41 of rain.

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While weve had snow flurries in early May, weve never had snow on Mothers Day itself.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.






A mother in Georgia was able to see her son get married just before she died

The hospital set up a chapel in her room so that she could witness the ceremony

Samuel B. Wilson and Nakiuma Wade, who is an ICU nurse at the hospital, then had their official ceremony two weeks after his mom's funeral







A mother in Georgia got her dying wish after seeing her son and daughter-in-law get married by her hospital bed.

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In a Facebook update, South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) Health confirmed Samuel B. Wilson and Nakiuma Wade were able to tie the knot after they managed to turn his mother's room in the Valdosta facility into a space fit for a ceremony.

"In less than 12 hours, a hospital room became a chapel," SGMC Health wrote alongside multiple photos from the special occasion. "SGMC Health was honored to help create an experience that will be remembered forever."

SGMCHealth/Facebook Samuel B. Wilson and Nakiuma Wade getting married in front of Wilson's mother Samuel B. Wilson and Nakiuma Wade getting married in front of Wilson's mother

SGMC Health added, "At the bedside of his mother, Samuel B. Wilson married Nakiuma Wade, RN, so that his mother could witness her sons wedding before saying goodbye."

"It was a moment full of love that we will always cherish. Thank you to the Wilson and Wade families for letting us be a part of something so meaningful," the medical center concluded.

SGMCHealth/Facebook The wedding decorations set up in the mother's hospital room The wedding decorations set up in the mother's hospital room

While speaking to NBC and ABC-affiliated local station WALB about saying their "I dos" with his late mother in attendance, Wilson said, Well, it meant a lot to me because my Momma always gets what she wants, and this was no exception."

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Wade, who is an ICU nurse at SGMC Health, told the outlet, She would always tell me, I want to dance with my baby. She wouldnt go to any other wedding. She wouldnt go. She would say, I got one wedding to go to, and thats the one she made it to.

SGMCHealth/Facebook The wedding decorations set up in the mother's hospital room The wedding decorations set up in the mother's hospital room

The couple then held an official wedding ceremony on Saturday, May 3, two weeks after the funeral of Wilson's mom, Martha Jenkins Wilson, the outlet stated.

The station noted that Martha had been diagnosed with cancer before her son's ICU wedding, which took place on April 11. She died a day later.

Wilson told WALB, I think the saddest part about it is Saturday. Momma wasnt there, but I could feel her presence.

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All of us at the bedside when she went was everything because its a lot of times people lose family members, and nobody is at the bedside. But we were able to be there with her, so I knew Saturday she would be so proud that she could dance with her baby, Wade shared, per the station.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

She added of her late mother-in-law, She told every listening ear, and they were able to tell everybody. And thats what she would have wanted."

SGMC Health didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

Read the original article on People
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH)  A woman facing 24 charges, including murder, in the brutal death of a 4-year-old Reynoldsburg boy will remain in jail after a bond hearing Thursday.

According to court records, Kailee Smith-Parks, the mother of JaKai Smith, is facing charges of murder, aggravated murder and 22 counts of endangering children in the death of Smith, who was reported dead on April 10 after police were called to Nationwide Childrens Hospital. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

18-year-old arrested after woman found dead in Ohio Amish community

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In a bond hearing at Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Smith-Parks was remanded and will remain in Franklin County Jail. She was appointed a public defender as counsel.

Smith-Parks and her boyfriend Linwood Allison, both 19 years old, were arrested after an investigation began because of the suspicious circumstances related to (JaKais) death, which was ruled a homicide. Police said Allison was allegedly seen on the childs bedroom camera causing fatal injuries to JaKai at a residence on Steinway Drive in east Columbus.

A court indictment also includes 44 total charges of endangering children between the two suspects, including 22 apiece, between March 21 through April 10. Each count indicates that JaKai suffered injuries, almost daily, from possible torture, corporal punishment or physical restraint or abuse in a cruel manner and excessive manner that created a substantial risk of serious physical harm.

A motion filed by state prosecutors is seeking remand for both suspects and said that the videos show Allison using torture methods, both physical and psychological, which would include, but not limited to, beating, locking the boy in his room, starvation, waterboarding, forced cold showers, and verbal abuse.

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The prosecution said Thursday that JaKai could not stand or walk when he was found and would be punished if he asked for food.

You will see JaKai eating crumbs, off the carpet to try and get some kind of nutrients, Reynoldsburg detective Nicholas Rubenstahl said in court. When they do feed him, things such as apples, he would eat the entire apple, including the core because of how little food he was provided.

One dead, one arrested after alleged accidental shooting in east Columbus

On April 10, when JaKai was found motionless, prosecuting attorneys said he was accused of faking it. State counsel said Smith-Parks involvement was daily.

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The motion filed asking for remand said JaKai Smith died from his injuries and that he was malnourished and had multiple visible injuries to his body. At the time of her arrest, police said Smith-Parks had reason to believe the child needed immediate medical attention, but failed to seek help.

Last week, Smith-Parks and Allison, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, were issued bonds of $500,000 and $1.5 million, respectively in Franklin County Municipal Court. A future court date for Allison has yet to be determined.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  An attorney representing the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Sooie Bros. BBQ Joint.

Attorney Ruth Wyman, who is representing CUPHD, Environmental Health Director Sarah Michaels, Environmental Health Specialist Rami Wilson, Food Program Coordinator Penny Murphy and Administrator Julie Pryde, has filed this motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Sooie Bros. co-owner Alven Allison.

PREVIOUSLY: Champaign Public Health District files motion for restraining order against restaurant

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Back in February, Allison filed a lawsuit, asking $40,000 for money damages.

Wyman told WCIA that there are basic laws one must follow to file a suit, and she along with those she is representing do not believe Allison followed those laws. She also said that her and her clients intend to follow the law, and they expect everyone else involved to do the same.

Wyman filed this motion on Tuesday, and once Allison receives the motion, the attorneys will communicate, and a judge will set a date for a hearing. She expects this to be done within the next few days.

On April 29, a judge ordered that Sooie Bros, must stay closed until they either comply with the food service plan from 2023 and acquire a walk-in freezer, or until they apply and receive approval for an amended food service plan by CUPHD. This ruling upheld the health districts decision, made on April 16, to suspend the restaurants food license.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
A Saudi man, imprisoned in 2006 for holding his Indonesian-born housekeeper captive and repeatedly molesting her in his Colorado home, is expected to be deported back to Saudi Arabia.

Homaidan Al-Turki, 56, pleaded guilty to 11 amended counts of criminal attempt to commit unlawful sexual conduct (physical force) during a post-conviction relief hearing on Tuesday, resulting in 18th Judicial District Judge Eric White reducing his original sentence and agreeing to return him to his home country, according to a news release received from the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Based on careful analysis of the facts and evidence presented through the 35 motion, as well as the difficulty in re-trying the case nearly two decades later if the motion was successful, our office determined that resentencing Al-Turki to 11 felony sex offenses, in addition to the other offences that he stands convicted of, and resulting in his removal from the United States, is the appropriate outcome in this case at this time, Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley said in the release.

Al-Turki had been serving a six-year-to-life sentence after being convicted of holding his Indonesian-born housekeeper captive and repeatedly molesting her in his Colorado home between 2000 and 2004, according to the release. During his sentence, he filed multiple motions with the courts, alleging that his defense counsel did not properly represent him at his trial.

Judge White granted Al-Turki a Rule 35 hearing, which allows a convicted defendant to argue that their conviction or sentence was not valid on the grounds of ineffective counsel, newly discovered evidence or a violation of a defendants constitutional rights, according to the release.

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Upon hearing the argument, the judge agreed to resentence Al-Turki to 11 amended counts based on the mans agreement to plead guilty to each of them, and determined that enough resources had already been spent on Al-Turki during his 19 years in a U.S. prison.

Mr. Al-Turki raised 6th Amendment concerns that his trial attorneys  all four of them  failed to adequately research Colorado statutes relating to sentencing for unlawful sexual behaviors, Chief Deputy District Attorney Ann Tomsic said in the release.

This issue, coupled with the nearly 19 years the defendant has served in prison and the difficulties retrying the case due to its age, unknown location of the victim and death of witnesses, necessitated an agreement to a reduction in the 11 sex offense charges and their sentences, along with an understanding that he will be immediately removed from the United States.

Al-Turki will remain a convicted sex felon in the U.S. while being returned to his home country, according to the release. Al-Turki was taken into custody by Immigration Customs and Enforcement Tuesday afternoon pursuant to a removal order to deport him back to Saudi Arabia, ICE confirmed Friday via social media outlet X.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A motorcyclist has died from injuries sustained in a crash that happened last month in Kansas City, according to police.

The crash was reported April 12 near Interstate 435 and Front Street, Kansas City police said in a news release. The driver of the motorcycle was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

37-year-old woman struck and killed in Olathe Thursday night

Police said Friday they were notified by the Jackson County Medical Examiners Office that the driver died from the injuries.

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The victim was identified by police as Christopher Tibbitts.

Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
BIBB COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A 44-year-old Moundville man has died following a crash during a police pursuit over the weekend.

Willie T. Wills was attempting to elude police on State Hwy 5 near mile marker 84 Saturday night when he collided with another car, according to State troopers. Wills was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash around 10:58 p.m.

BWWB votes to sell utility company to city of Birmingham for $1

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The driver and two juveniles inside of the car Wills crashed into were were injured and taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
The source of a mystery stench that has plagued Mount Dora residents and visitors for years may finally have been identified by consultants for the city and Lake County.

Now the question is what to do about it.

According to the consultants 83-page report, funded by a combined $270,000 from the two local governments, the Mid Florida Materials Mount Dora landfill on State Road 46 is likely generating the hydrogen sulfide gas that gives off the pungent odor.

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The study exonerates the citys sewage treatment plant, while also noting weather patterns in the area worsen the problem.

The Mid Florida Mount Dora landfill has the most significant impact on odor conditions in the study area, the report concluded. It is further observed that calm wind conditions prevent dispersion, allowing foul odors to accumulate in the area, resulting in more severe odor conditions.

The study addressed odor conditions and likely odor sources near ground zero for the stink: Sullivan Ranch, Stoneybrook and areas close to the junction of U.S. 441 and SR 46.

City officials chose consulting firm Halff to lead the study, with California-based V&A Consulting Engineers subcontracting to help complete background reviews and project management duties, among other tasks.

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The final report, V&A was able to determine, as we expected, that the odor was not being emitted from any of our facilities but from the landfill, Andrew Marsian, Mount Dora utilities & plant operations director, said. We have a meeting next week with some of the stakeholders to decide the best approach with this moving forward.

Investigators acknowledged the disposal site  described as a construction and demolition landfill  was not fully accessible during the study and that all observations were conducted from the perimeter of the site.

Mid Florida Materials issued a statement pledging to review the findings. Our facility has been and remains in full compliance with applicable air quality regulations, and we will address any concerns of the DEP, it read.

The investigators identified several aroma hotspots within the landfill property, including retention ponds, vents and the landfill working face  the location where waste is dumped, deposited, compacted, and covered.

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While specific sources of hydrogen sulfide were not named, demolition landfills can include drywall waste, which often contains sulfur that emits a rotten-egg smell when wet.

The report also included a number of weak odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.

A slight odor was detected at both facilities that was later identified as cannabis and not similar to the odors observed in the study area. The cannabis facilities were determined as unlikely to cause the persistent foul odor that led to the study.

Over the years, multiple locations have been suspected as the source of the stench, particularly the landfill and the citys wastewater treatment plant along James P. Snell Drive off U.S. 441.

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Mount Dora then took steps to help rectify the situation, including the installation of a $500,000 carbon biofilter in 2022 and the addition of monitors to detect hydrogen sulfide at its wastewater treatment plant in March 2023.

But the smell persisted and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a consent order requiring the city ramp up odor mitigation efforts in November 2023.

An initial study, authored by consulting firm Kimley-Horn, indicated the odor is highly unlikely to be coming from the wastewater and collections system but left unsaid what the culprit might be.

Mount Dora councilmember Cal Rolfson said he believes this most recent study fully clears the city of responsibility for the smell, allowing city officials to move forward with DEP and focus on alleviating the odor for good.

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This vindicates the city of Mount Dora, in my opinion, with clear and convincing evidence that states it is not our problem and not our issue, Rolfson said. But it is our issue in terms of needing to work with [FDEP] and do something about this. The smell comes into our city and therefore we have some responsibility to make sure responsible parties are contacted and that we deal with them appropriately and legally.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at jwilkins@orlandosentinel.com or 407-754-4980. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
May 8MOUNT VERNON, S.D.  A Mount Vernon High School freshman is the winner of a $10,000 prize  and another $10,000 for her school  by learning to be a safe driver.

Payten Braun was announced the winner of this year's Lesson Learned SD program during an all-school assembly at Mount Vernon High School where she was presented with a $10,000 cash prize. Braun also gets to choose a school program which will receive a $10,000 award as well.

The Lesson Learned program is in its ninth year and is provided in partnership with the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety and the South Dakota Broadcasters Association.

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"The Lesson Learned campaign isn't just about keeping teens safe today  it's about building habits that will protect them for a lifetime. By starting young, we're shaping a generation of responsible drivers," said South Dakota Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Robert Perry.

Students identified safe driving habits on the Lesson Learned SD website and were entered into the drawing. This year, there were over 5,800 entries.

"The program rewards students and their schools for participating in safe driver education," said Steve Willard, president of the South Dakota Broadcasters Association. "It's an important message and one that can embed safe driving habits for life."

The Lesson Learned website can be found at lessonlearnedsd.com.
The faithful in Los Angeles, Americas most Catholic city, were delighted  and a little stunned  Thursday to learn a Chicago-born priest with deep roots in Peru had been elected to lead the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics.

The elevation of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, to pope marks the first time someone from the U.S. has been entrusted with what is arguably the highest-profile position in global religion.

It was an outcome that caught many followers of the Catholic Church, which has been shifting its focus away from its shrinking base in Europe to the growing number of faithful in the Global South, completely by surprise.

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I had kind of discounted it, because, you know, we didn't think that an American would necessarily be a good idea, given the amount of power and influence the U.S. already wields in the world, said Father Allan Deck, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

"He really understands what is the reality of the different cultures of the United States," Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said of Pope Leo XIV. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

But because Prevost, who has chosen to be called Pope Leo XIV, spent decades serving the church in South America and had risen to leadership of an international religious order known as the Augustinians, Deck said hes uniquely positioned to unify Catholics around the globe.

He might also inspire a resurgence of the faith in the United States, where many parish pews have been sparsely populated for decades.

The choice is absolutely inspirational; I am thrilled, Deck said.

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The announcement was doubly sweet for Carolina Guevara, chief communications officer for the L.A. Archdiocese, who was in Piura, Peru, celebrating her grandmother's 105th birthday when the new pope was announced.

"Its really a reflection of our immigrant church to have a pope who is Peruvian and American," Guevara said. "To hear him break the tradition and speak in Spanish to address his hometown  that was such a beautiful moment as well. That filled our hearts."

For Catholic Angelenos, and Peruvian immigrants in particular, "theres going to be a sense of great joy," she said.

Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)

And much like metropolitan Los Angeles, it's hard to overstate just how cosmopolitan the new pope is.

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He was born in Chicago to a father of Italian and French ancestry and a mother of Spanish ancestry. He pursued his education in the U.S. and Italy. He is a naturalized citizen of Peru, where he was a priest for 20 years. He speaks English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and French.

His diverse background and broad exposure to different cultures had Californias Catholic community buzzing with excitement, hope and a sense of familiarity.

He really understands what is the reality of the different cultures of the United States," said Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez. "Those cultures are a real blessing for us.

Joseph Tomas Mckellar, director of Pico California, a large faith-based community-organizing network, was euphoric Thursday morning, minutes after Prevost finished his first speech as pope from the balcony overlooking St. Peters Square in Vatican City.

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Im so emotional, Im just kind of shaking, he said. What we have is a pope who is a bridge builder, who is going to carry on in the footsteps of Pope Francis and ensure the church is proximate to those who are most excluded, who are on the margins, who feel lost in the turbulent times in our world.

The fact that they selected an American who went out [into the world] says something about the priorities of the church, Mckellar added.

Those priorities had to change because the church is changing so quickly.

Catholics gather at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles for a Mass to welcome Pope Leo XIV. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Once firmly anchored in Rome and drawing its top leaders from Europe, the Catholic Church has seen its parishioner numbers shrink in countries such as Italy and Spain, and barely hold steady in most of the United States.

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The real growth is almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere  where the church still dominates culture, politics and many aspects of daily life.

For example, Brazil has more than 120 million Catholics, accounting for more than half the population. In Mexico, nearly 100 million Catholics make up more than 70% of the population. And in the Philippines, more than 75 million Catholics account for greater than 80% of the population, according to the Catholic World Mission.

So when an Argentine cardinal was elected pope in 2013, many in the church hailed it as a welcome, almost inevitable evolution. That was until Pope Francis, as he chose to be called, started acting in unpredictable ways.

He repudiated the luxurious trappings favored by some cardinals, and his hands-on devotion to the poor broke with many long-standing traditions, and added a populist flair to others.

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For example, on Holy Thursday, popes traditionally washed the feet of 12 male priests, a show of humility meant to echo Jesus washing the feet of his disciples the night before he died. Pope Francis shocked conservatives when he expanded the ritual, moving it outside the confines of the Vatican and making it a symbol of inclusion, washing the feet of prisoners, women and Muslims.

Francis created positions of authority for women, including putting a nun in charge of a major Vatican office for the first time in the church's 2,000-year history. And while maintaining the churchs long-standing tenet that gay sex is sinful, he said that merely being gay is not a crime and met with LGBTQ+ people from around the world.

A man prays at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels during a Mass to welcome Pope Leo XIV. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Progressives in the church hope Pope Leo will continue where Francis left off.

Leo has been criticized for previous comments about the LGBTQ+ community, Mckellar said, but he trusts the new pope will continue in Francis footsteps.

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I cannot imagine that he is not going to build on the opening of the doors of mercy, and welcome all people, including our LGBTQ+ siblings, Mckellar said.

Others questioned whether the new pope will have the charm and social media savvy required to perform as the front man for Christianity.

One thing we still dont know about Leo is whether he has the personality for the modern papacy, said Richard Wood, president of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC. I think his humility comes across loud and clear, but does he have the charisma Francis had for the social media age? I suspect it will be a quieter version of that, if he has it.

Hell face other challenges as well. Wood pointed out that the Vatican is in real financial trouble.

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The Vatican has lost a lot of its American, European, African and Asian donors. Can he bring them back to the table? he asked. The church is rightly concerned with preaching the Gospels, but it is also a worldly institution that has to pay its bills, and the new pope can help solve some of that.

Jose Mendez lifts his arms in prayer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN)  Two weeks after a woman was taken into custody in connection with a pursuit that stretched from Southern Kentucky into Middle Tennessee, authorities announced a man is also facing charges in the case.

According to the Christian County Sheriffs Office, shortly after 6:45 p.m. on April 22, a deputy noticed two vehicles backed into a wooded area near Carter Road and Barkers Mill Road in what appeared to be suspicious activity. When the deputy approached, both vehicles reportedly sped off, leading to a chase that crossed into Clarksville.

Authorities said they pursued the first vehicle  driven by 23-year-old Jordyn Purcell  while the second vehicle fled separately. Law enforcement eventually apprehended her without further incident on Tiny Town Road in Clarksville.

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Driver accused of endangering deputies, minors in Christian County

During the investigation, officials said Purcell admitted to trying to flee due to recent marijuana use and identified the second driver. In addition, a search of the vehicle reportedly led to the discovery of marijuana, which was seized as evidence.

Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office took Purcell into custody while Christian County deputies sought warrants, according to authorities.

Law enforcement said Purcell was extradited from Montgomery County and charged on April 25 with the following offenses:

Speeding

Reckless driving

First-degree fleeing or evading law enforcement

First-degree wanton endangerment

Disregarding a stop sign

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Possession of marijuana

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Following further investigation, officials said they obtained a warrant for the second suspect: 24-year-old Donovan Ball of Woodlawn, Tennessee.

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On Tuesday, May 6, authorities said Ball was served with the Christian County warrant at the Christian County Sheriffs Office and then transported to the Christian County Jail for the charges listed below:

Speeding 26 mph or more over the limit

Reckless driving

First-degree fleeing or evading law enforcement (motor vehicle)

First-degree wanton endangerment

Disregarding a stop sign

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Possession of marijuana

Operating on a suspended or revoked operators license

No additional details have been released about this case.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
At the corner of 7th and Witmer streets, not far from downtown Los Angeles, stands a gray-and-orange six-story building that was meant to serve as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless people.

But for many tenants who long dreamed of moving off the streets and into their own apartment, the property has become a horror show.

In a lawsuit filed against current and former owners and property managers of the facility, tenants say the building has fallen into disrepair and lacked security for months at a time, allowing outsiders to wander into the property, resulting in break-ins, drug use and fires in stairwells.

Attorney Josh Nuni presents the lawsuit to one of the plaintiffs, resident Donald Trahan.

Complaints about a lack of hot water, power outages, roach infestations and mold contamination have gone unanswered, according to tenants. And the only elevator in the building is prone to breaking, in one case for months, stranding several disabled tenants who were forced to rely on neighbors for food and groceries.

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One tenant who uses a wheelchair told The Times she had to crawl down the stairs like a child. Another tenant said he suffered a stroke after carrying groceries up six flights of stairs.

And now, after years of complaining, the tenants said they had no choice but to sue the owners and property managers for allowing the building to fall into extreme neglect and disrepair that subjected them to "abysmal living conditions."

Read more: Their homes survived the Eaton fire. But living there has been hell, residents say

Development of the multimillion-dollar building, which includes studio and one-bedroom units, a central courtyard, outdoor deck and parking for up to 34 vehicles, began in 2014 and was completed in 2020.

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The building was celebrated for having obtained a LEED for Homes sustainability certification and was the first to implement the use of both stormwater and graywater to supply toilets and irrigation, according to the lawsuit.

The building is funded partially by tenants' rents and public subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Los Angeles Department of Health Services, among other sources.

The permanent supportive housing project is meant for people who are experiencing chronic homelessness and have demonstrated a need for housing support.

The way this property has been run is not only immoral, its also a complete betrayal of the public trust, said Josh Nuni of the Peoples Law Project, which represents the tenants in partnership with Capstone Law APC. The defendants here received millions in public money for a brand-new building and then let it completely fall apart.

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Standing outside the building earlier this week, 48-year-old Nereida Vazquez, a longtime tenant, broke into tears upon receiving a copy of the lawsuit in which she and 23 other current and former tenants are named as plaintiffs.

All we want is to live a normal life  to have a house and try to live independently and productively like anyone else, she said, crying.

Residents gather outside a permanent supportive housing complex that is at the center of a lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names as defendants the property owner, 7th and Witmer, as well as previous entities overseeing business operations and managing the 76-unit building.

Among those named are two companies: Decro Witmer and Trillium Property Management. In August, Decro began handling business operations and Trillium began managing the property. The project was originally built in 2020 and operated by a partnership that included Deep Green Housing and Community Development, a Los Angeles nonprofit housing developer, and Brook Financial Group Inc.

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Deep Green has since disbanded, according to public records, and Brook Financial could not be reached for comment.

Read more: Editorial: To understand homelessness, listen to homeless people. Here's what I learned

Ted Handel, chief executive of Decro, said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not respond to the allegations made by the tenants.

If theyre alleging activities prior to September 2024, it was not under our watch, he said.

Handel, however, acknowledged the building was in disrepair when his company came on board and said the company has been trying to address several issues, including security problems.

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Handel said the company had hired a new security firm and installed security cameras but was awaiting approval of city permits to beef up security further.

Were taking a number of proactive measures to ensure the safety and security and well-being of the residents, and that is paramount to what we do, he said.

The lawsuit alleges the companies failed to address a host of problems at the building, including bug and rat infestations. A lack of security, the suit claimed, led to break-ins, thefts and assaults.

Residents gather outside the housing complex near downtown Los Angeles.

A constantly malfunctioning elevator that at one point was left unrepaired for months, stranding disabled tenants on upper floors and forcing all tenants to walk up and down flights of hazardous, unmaintained stairwells damaged by fires and littered with trash, drug paraphernalia and human feces, the lawsuit read in part.

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The buildings units suffer from severe dampness and moisture accumulation, including under floorboards. That has contributed to mold contamination, according to the suit.

Defective plumbing with sewage backups and overflows; and brown, contaminated water which has led multiple [tenants] to experience skin infections and irritations with puffy, red, cracked skin and oozing sores, particularly on tenants lower limbs, the suit read.

The lawsuit also claims the companies repeatedly failed to make repairs to the building even when told to do so by inspectors with the Los Angeles Housing Department.

We're aware of this location on Witmer [Street], said Sharon Shadow, a spokesperson for LAHD. There have been issues at this location, but a new partner came in and has been working to stabilize the property."

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Only one city compliance order remains for the property, a requirement to fix the elevator, Shadow said.

Handel said the elevator has been fixed. But he noted that when the elevator breaks down tenants are temporarily placed in hotels while repairs are being made.

Tenants said they have noticed some recent improvements. They said there are door locks on the emergency doors and the elevator has been fixed. Although they confirm that they have been placed in hotels when the elevator has recently been out of service, they complain that the hotels were not safe and were rampant with prostitution and drug use.

Shana Hauanio, 52, who lives on the third floor of the building, recalls having to crawl down the stairs when the elevator broke down recently, a process that would take her 30 minutes. Sometimes, she said, her 67-year-old boyfriend had to help her climb up the stairs.

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Its humiliating," she said.

Andrew Amer, one of the plaintiffs, lives in a unit with an unusable toilet, among other plumbing problems. He showers elsewhere.

Andrew Amer, a tenant who uses a wheelchair after the loss of a leg, said he has had to drag his chair up and down five flights of stairs to see a doctor and get groceries.

Richard McLay, 65, who lives on the top floor of the building and uses a cane, said he has fallen a few times on the stairs and has asked friends and neighbors to watch over him as a precaution against further falls.

He said he suffered a stroke two years ago when he returned with groceries to find the elevator was not working and was forced to climb up the stairs several times.

But most recently, he said, he was forced to take the stairs when the elevator was out of service and security did not allow people who deliver meals and medications to come up to his apartment.

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That isnt right, he said. Even my physical therapist, they werent letting him come in. I had to go down and get him when the elevator broke.

Tenants hope the lawsuit will push operators to address other problems at the building.

Permanent supportive housing is critical, and we need a lot more of it, Nuni said, but no one should be forced to live like this. I hope this case puts other permanent supportive housing operators on notice: If you dont take your basic obligations as a landlord seriously, you are opening yourself up to significant liability.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A report released Thursday reveals Multnomah County overspent more than $78,000 to help recruit executive-level staff.

The report, released by the Multnomah County Auditors Office, stemmed from a tip submitted to the Good Government Hotline, a tool for county employees and community members to report suspected fraud or misuse of county resources.

The tip alleged that the county improperly awarded a contract to a contractor who was not a qualified provider, as required under Oregon law and county policy.

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While the Auditors Office says it did not substantiate the claim, they did find cases in which contractors potentially overbilled the county after reviewing invoices.

DUI suspect stabbed to death following altercation with deputy near Ridgefield

During the investigation, auditors reviewed 40 county executive or staffing recruitments between July 1, 2020, and October 17, 2024. The Auditors Office reviewed 24 county contracts for the recruitment services, noting the total cost of the 40 recruitments was around $1.6 million.

Overall, the report says the county overpaid more than $78,000 for the recruitment services and cited to reasons driving the overpayment.

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First, auditors said the county permitted a contractor to charge a higher rate than provided by the terms of a contract.

This includes one case when the county overpaid for services by more than $44,000 after telling a contractor they could charge a higher rate than what was agreed to in the contract.

Second, the county did not properly reconcile if incoming invoices matched the terms outlined in the contract. This includes the county failing to detect nearly $34,000 in billing errors, auditors found.

Dozens of Portland Albertsons workers will be laid off due to lease issues

During the investigation, the Auditors Office said nearly half of the contracts they reviewed did not include complete financial terms.

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We found that numerous county rate-based contracts lacked financial terms, which can cause confusion as to the intended payment agreement. In the case of one contractor, terms that would have reduced costs for the county were left out of a contract, the Auditors Office said, noting even though contracts usually undergo numerous rounds of review, they found 11 out of the 24 contracts they reviewed did not have financial terms.

Without financial terms, it is uncertain how much the county should expect to pay the contractor for goods or services, the Auditors Office said.

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Eye on Northwest Politics

In one case, the county failed to include a term in the contract that would have saved the county money, the report notes, however, auditors said they alerted county management, which resolved the issue.

During the procurement process, the contractor proposed a $49,500 maximum on its fee for executive recruitments. That maximum was not incorporated into either of two final contracts with the contractor. After we discussed with management that the maximum had been left out of the contracts, the current contract with the contractor was amended to include the cap, as of January 1, 2025, the audit states.

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Next, the report highlighted a case when the county reached an agreement with a contractor outside of the countys typical process.

Shuttered Oregon chateau named among Americas most endangered historic sites

For an executive recruitment, the county reached an agreement to pay a contractor fee equal to 30% of the starting salary of the person hired.

In this case, the county had an existing contract with the contractor for a different scope of work  to recruit for IT rather than executive recruiting. The terms of the existing contract laid out an 18% rate rather than the 30% rate, auditors learned.

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Because of the differences in scope of work and the rate, the countys existing contract was not reconcilable to the agreement the county department reached separately. The department should have sought appropriate procurement authority or used a different contract. Other contractors may have been excluded from this opportunity due to procurement rules being circumvented, the report says.

Fred Meyer employee stole $60K for gambling

In a statement on the report, Multnomah County Auditor Jennifer McGuirk said, The county has a responsibility to be efficient with taxpayer dollars, and the current general fund reductions make this even more important, adding, The county needs to reinforce contracting and invoice approval requirements to ensure that incoming invoices agree with the contract financial terms.

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson sent a letter on May 6 to McGuirk agreeing to the recommendations.

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Recruitment efforts are conducted at the department level, and external recruitment firms are retained to assist in accessing expanded national executive professional networks and candidates who possess the expertise specific to the requirements of executive level management for each department. To ensure compliant procurement and contracting practices are adhered to, a plan to address the recommendations from this investigation has been developed, Vega Pederson wrote, noting training will be provided in June 2025 to the Purchasing Advisory Council, Purchasing Leaders Group and Finance Managers Forum to reinforce contract policies.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A Muslim housing development in Texas is under investigation by the Justice Department amid concerns it would violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Americans.

The proposed development, put forward by the East Plano Islamic Centre (Epic), is touted as a thriving ecosystem that paves the way for prosperity and would be centred around a mosque and a private Islamic school.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, accused the planner of creating an exclusively Muslim community that would impose Islamic law on residents.

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Republican Senator John Cornyn urged Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, to investigate the development, writing: A master-planned community of thousands of Muslims could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community.

I further encourage the department to investigate whether Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities would receive equal protection under the law in this new community.

Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nations values, and I am concerned this community potentially undermines this vital protection.

Epic City

Mr Abott had also directed state agencies to probe the development, suggesting the Islamic centre had conducted illegal funerals in its mosque.

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Named Epic City, developers claim the project will create a vibrant, multi-generational and inclusive master planned community.

The vision is to create a safe and purpose-built environment that fosters growth, connection, and prosperity, its website reads.

Construction has not begun and no permits to begin building the development have been issued, according to the New York Times.

Epic has done nothing illegal and we will cooperate fully with any and all investigations, Dan Cogdell, a lawyer for Epic, told the paper.

Texans would be far better served by the good senator solving real problems and instead of twisting himself into a pretzel over imaginary ones.

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NASA has revealed that it's considering reprioritizing its goals to accelerate Elon Musks push to send humans to Mars.

In a statement to Politico, NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency is "evaluating every opportunity, including launch windows in 2026 and 2028, to test technologies that will land humans on Mars."

Last week, the Trump administration released its proposed budget for next year, suggesting slashing the space agency's science budget in half, while allocating $1 billion in "new investments for Mars-focused programs."

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Incoming NASA administrator Jared Isaacman  a billionaire fighter jet pilot-turned-SpaceX astronaut  has had to actively distance himself from Musk over a glaring potential conflict of interest. He's stated that the agency could be "paralleling" efforts to return astronauts to the Moon as part of its Artemis program, and missions to Mars.

SpaceX wasnt named, but the subtext was clear: the president appears to be boosting one of his closest allies' interests in settling on the Red Planet.

SpaceX has been working on a massive launch vehicle, called Starship and was awarded approval for 25 launches per year by the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday.

In early April, NASA officially added the enormous rocket to its roster, despite the vehicle never having completed a single (entirely) successful test flight.

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Musk has repeatedly vowed to send a Starship to Mars as soon as 2026, a year when Earth and Mars' orbits align to make the trip most convenient.

But whether he can meet that extremely ambitious deadline remains to be seen. His space company's latest two Starship launches have ended in enormous explosions, showering countless pieces of space junk down over the Caribbean.

A doubling down on a Musk-led mission to Mars could anger lawmakers, who have repeatedly advocated for NASA's existing Artemis program. As such, Trump's controversial budget proposal could meet considerable resistance during the upcoming congressional review.

Musk has made his stance on the matter clear, accusing NASA's Artemis program of being "extremely inefficient as it is a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing program," calling for shutting it down.

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"We're going straight to Mars," he tweeted earlier this year, calling the Moon a "distraction."

In its budget proposal, the Trump administration suggested canceling NASA's "grossly expensive and delayed" Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule" after just two crewed launches.

Which rocket will pick up the slack after that remains unclear. Will it be SpaceX's Starship  or Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, which successfully reached orbit on its first test flight in January?

Considering Musk's tremendous amount of influence in the White House  and a sizable headstart  it's far more likely to be the former.

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But getting the vehicle ready for a journey to the Red Planet in roughly a year and a half, however, could prove extremely difficult.

More on Mars: Incoming Head of NASA Defies Elon Musk on Order to Abandon Moon Program
The Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Fabian Schmidt of Nashua was released from Wyatt this week and is now back at home. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Fabian Schmidt, the German-American man who was detained by immigration officials in March and held at a Rhode Island jail, has returned to his home in Nashua, his family said on social media.

FABIAN IS FREE and HOME!!!! his partner, Bhavani Hodgkins, wrote on Facebook Thursday. We ask for your patience and privacy as we navigate through this.

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In the post, Hodgkins said shed be providing updates and a video at a later date.

Schmidt was born in Germany but has lived in the U.S. since he was a teenager. He is a legal permanent resident with a green card. On March 7, Schmidt, who currently lives in New Hampshire, was returning from Luxembourg when immigration officials detained him at Boston Logan International Airport and took him to the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, according to his attorney.

His family told reporters and attorneys that upon being detained, Schmidt was stripped naked, placed in a cold shower, violently interrogated, denied his medication for anxiety and depression, and given little food or water. They said officials asked him to relinquish his green card, and they didnt know why he was being detained.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations.

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These claims are blatantly false with respect to CBP, Hilton Beckham, assistant commissioner of public affairs for Customs and Border Protection previously said in a statement to the Bulletin. When an individual is found with drug-related charges and tries to reenter the country, officers will take proper action.

The officials did not publicly provide justification for his detention.

Schmidt is not the subject of any active criminal proceedings. However, according to court records in California, he faced misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence in 2015 and 2016, respectively, among other minor charges. His family said those cases had been resolved.

GBH News was the first to report the news of Schmidts release.

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His detention came amid the Trump administrations high-profile immigration agenda. That agenda has included a slew of deportations and immigration actions, including sending hundreds of men to a famously brutal prison in El Salvador. Among them is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the administration has acknowledged was mistakenly deported. International students who protested on their college campuses against Israeli military strikes on Palestinian civilians have also been detained.

Additionally, other Germans have faced issues at U.S. borders. The New York Times reported that two German tourists  Jessica Brosche, who was held for 46 days, and Lucas Sielaff, who was held for 16  were detained at the border trying to enter the country for vacation. Tourists from Germany are typically allowed visa-free travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days, but they were held in detention centers for weeks and then deported.
Ingrid Martinez planned to have breakfast with her mother on May 5, but her mother never showed.

Soon, Martinez learned her mother was arrested as part of a massive immigration enforcement operation this week that caught the wider Nashville community off guard.

Officials informed Martinez shortly after her mother's arrest that she was en route to a processing center in Louisiana.

Martinez thinks racial profiling played a role in her mother's arrest.

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"My mom isn't a criminal. She serves her church; she takes care of her grandkids," said Martinez through tears. "I don't know how she can be seen as a criminal."

Martinezs mother is among 60-plus detainees whom the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition identified amid an unprecedented immigration enforcement traffic sweep in greater Nashville this week.

The coalition organized a news conference May 8 to raise the alarm about a joint operation between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol that began May 4. The magnitude and speed at which the federal and state agencies have arrested individuals under questionable pretenses have both shocked and sobered dozens of Nashville families.

Luis Mata speaks during a news conference at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition office in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 8, 2025. The news conference denounced an immigration enforcement mass traffic sweep that began May 4 in a joint operation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Families of individuals arrested and TIRRC staff spoke at the news conference.

Martinez and Patricia Rocha are some of those family members who spoke up through the news conference. Staff for the Tennessee Immigration & Refugee Rights Coalition read a statement authored by Rocha, whose sister was arrested in this weeks ongoing traffic sweeps. Rochas family has lived in the Nashville area since 1992.

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"Like many other Hispanics, we came in search of a better quality of life; some fled their countries due to danger or discrimination," Rocha said in her statement. "Unfortunately, the Hispanic community is under attack."

Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director for the Nashville-based immigrant rights coalition, called out the law enforcement agencies for racial profiling and doing so without citing criminal statutes to warrant their action.

Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, speaks during a news conference at the TIRRC office in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 8, 2025. The news conference denounced an immigration enforcement mass traffic sweep that began May 4 in a joint operation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Families of individuals arrested and TIRCC staff spoke at the news conference.

Im not going to mince words. ICE, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and government officials are terrorizing our communities, Luna said. They are kidnapping our people off the street based on nothing but the color of their skin.

Detained out of state, potentially waiving rights to a hearing

In addition to the legal basis of the immigration enforcement operation this week, the community groups and leaders are concerned about the circumstances of peoples' detentions.

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City officials requested additional information about where people are being detained in a letter earlier this week. Then, the Tennessee Immigration & Refugee Rights Coalition and four other legal services providers authored a similar letter to an ICE field office director in New Orleans.

It's likely ICE has taken some of the people to a detention facility in Louisiana, said Allen King, the coalition's legal services director. Kings team has identified 62 detainees through calls to the organization's legal services hotline. There have been more than 850 calls to that hotline this week, and most have been related to the recent mass traffic sweep, King said.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we are working hard to identify and locate the dozens and dozens of Nashvillians who have been literally taken from our streets and whisked away to detention centers out of state, King said. This is akin to a mass casualty event or a natural disaster.

The Department of Homeland Security on May 8 said that the Tennessee Highway Patrol had made 468 traffic stops and that ICE had detained 94 of those stopped. The department said several with criminal backgrounds had been arrested.

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Its likely some of those whom ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol detained have waived their rights to a hearing, King said.

Photographs of people who have been arrested by ICE are displayed on a wall with the words Families belong together during a news conference at the TIRRC office in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 8, 2025. The news conference denounced an immigration enforcement mass traffic sweep that began May 4 in a joint operation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Families of individuals arrested and TIRCC staff spoke at the news conference.

"Despite legal status, we have contributed greatly to this city's development. Some people think immigrants are criminals, that we steal jobs," Rocha said in a statement. "On the contrary, many of us are business owners who create jobs."

In a display of solidarity with Martinez and Rocha, other families printed out photos of loved ones who were arrested in this weeks traffic sweep. The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition posted those photos on a billboard with descriptors signifying how those individuals are parents, grandparents, siblings and colleagues of Nashville area residents.

Its more important than ever that we listen to the voices of those affected, that we lift up their stories, Luna said. Neighbors are all languishing in immigration detention center because of the color of their skin.

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Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

Liam Adams mostly covers religion for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville families of those detained in ICE operation speak out
A simple yes from a Nassau County school librarian isnt just causing a change in one of the local schools, but could be allowing more possibilities in school libraries around the country.

Its after she got a call from a mother in Fernandina Beach, Kasi DeStefano. DeStefano wanted to try asking if her homeschooled daughter, Panama, would be able to attend the Scholastic book fair at Yulee Elementary School, even though shes not a student.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The librarian, Chandra Solis, said she could come shop at the book fair. DeStefano, whos also a social media influencer known as Kasi Comunale on TikTok, took a video of the visit and posted it online. The video caught the attention of some of the people working for Scholastic, who reached out to her and said they loved the idea of having homeschooled students visit more book fairs. The company tells Action News Jax its now working to have more schools around the U.S. open their book fairs to homeschooled students.

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As a thank you, Panama brought a flower and a handwritten letter to Solis for letting her visit the book fair at Yulee Elementary School. Action News Jax was there to watch the moment Solis was surprised with the gift.

It was so heartwarming. I didnt know what to expect, so this was a really nice surprise, Solis said, We dont know how we touch other peoples lives and we need to be more cognizant of that and always welcoming.

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Solis tells Action News Jax shes going to work to have Yulee Elementary open all of its future book fairs to homeschooled students. She even said shell try to have a night dedicated for homeschooled students around Nassau County to be able to shop for books in person.

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This is the second time Action News Jax has covered the DeStefano familys love for books. In January, we told you when Kasi and Panama were making videos showing them stocking tiny libraries in Nassau Countys public parks with books from their personal collection. Kasi says getting to continue making change in the community has been a deeply rewarding chapter of her familys story.

This is like reliving my childhood. Its like seeing my best moments as a kid, DeStefano said, this is beyond what I ever thought we would accomplish.

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WEST VIRGINIA (WVNS)  This week is recognized National Small Business Week and local organizations are taking time to recognize entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout their communities.



Small businesses play a major role in our national economy, with nearly 35 million small businesses making up for 99.9% of all businesses throughout the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administrations Office of Advocacy.

Well known for their hospitality, West Virginians have typically been quick to offer up support for mom-and-pop shops, local startups, and other smaller organizations that power the community, as well as the country.



Small businesses are the backbone of not just Greenbrier County, West Virginia, but also the nation, said Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Erin Hurst of the impact of small business.

Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant, Tim Naylor was likewise adamant that small businesses fill one of the most vital economic roles in the nation.



Small businesses are the ones who are your friends; your neighbors; your family, Naylor told 59News. I think its really important that we push small businesses and do what we can to help them out.

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National Small Business week will be observed through Saturday, May 10, offering recognition to some of the hardest working employees and employers across the nation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
(Reuters) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed that alliance members meet higher targets for defence spending by 2032, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on Friday.

Reuters reported last week that Rutte had proposed NATO members raise defence spending to 3.5% of their GDP, and a further 1.5% on broader security-related items to meet U.S. President Donald Trump's demand for a 5% target.

Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Schoof confirmed those figures, which would represent a major increase from the current NATO goal of spending 2% of GDP on defence.

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NATO aims to agree the new targets at a summit of alliance leaders including Trump, in The Hague, on June 24-25.

"Rutte has sent a letter to all NATO members to say that he expects that the commitment at the NATO summit will be 3.5% on hard military spending, to be reached in 2032, and 1.5% on related spending such as on infrastructure, cyber security, and similar things also to be reached by 2032," Schoof said.

NATO did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schoof's remarks.

He said the government of the Netherlands, where Rutte was a long-serving prime minister, would continue discussions to determine its position on the proposal.

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Other NATO members were also considering Rutte's request and would have to discuss it with their parliaments, he added.

Twenty-two of NATO's 32 members meet the current 2% target. But leaders across NATO say that goal is no longer sufficient as they now regard Russia as a far greater threat in the wake of its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

No NATO country meets Trump's 5% target. According to NATO, the United States spends about 3.2% of GDP on defence. Poland spends the biggest share of its GDP - at over 4%.

(Reporting by GV De Clercq and Andrew Gray; editing by Mark Heinrich)
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  For years, it was an eyesore, rows of crumbling town homes, just a stone throw away from a secure military base.

But long before demolition crews rolled down Barefoot Palms, it was supposed to be something entirely different.

A high-end townhouse community for beach-goers and families. But when the 2008 housing crash hit, developer Wes Burnhams vision came to a halt.

Bankruptcy followed, and buildings were left to rot. Bay County officials purchased the 8-acre land from Burnham for $2.9 million.

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The idea was to sell it to the U.S. Navy, due to the Navy being concerned about civilian encroachment. But the Navy didnt have the money to buy the property.

Bay County and Naval Support Activity land swap, townhomes demolished

So one of the biggest tenants we have on the installation is Navy Surface Warfare Center, and theyre a research group that does a lot of innovative research into technologies that were yet to field into the fleet. And so its critical that were able to protect what needs protecting, Panama City Naval Support Activity Commanding Officer Michael Mosi said.

Bay County sheriffs deputies used the property for hostage and active trainer shooting. They even used it as an area to hold people who were arrested during spring break.

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In 2017, the state purchased barefoot palms through their military-based protection program to prevent further encroachment.

In 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed off for the state to gift the property to the base.

On Thursday, Naval Support Activity Panama City accepted and officially signed ownership of the property.

Tyndall highlights mental health resources at Elevate Expo

I am super proud and humbled to be at the finish line and at the signing of this property. A long line of individuals, both in the community and on the installation have put a lot of time into making sure that national security is taken care of, Mosi added.

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Bay County military installations contribute around $4.3 billion in economic impact and in 33,339 jobs.

I loved my time here, and I thought that we could not do anything higher or bigger. And the things that Ive seen in the last two years with skipper Mosi and his team, they have far surpassed it, Former NSA CEO Jessica Pfefferkorn said.

Mosi said the base is in talks with stakeholders on how to make use of the property.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie was deeply involved in setting up one of South America's most important drug cartels, according to a report Friday by German news weekly Der Spiegel.

Dubbed the "Butcher of Lyon" for his wartime torture of prisoners, the former Gestapo chief in the occupied French city fled to South America after the end of World War II.

Barbie was eventually arrested after being tracked down by France's most famous Nazi-hunting couple, Serge Klarsfeld and his wife Beate, the BBC reported. He was extradited from Bolivia to France in 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 on charges of crimes against humanity.

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Barbie died in prison in 1991.

According to Der Spiegel, Barbie -- living under the alias Klaus Altmann -- became a security adviser to drug baron Roberto Suarez after the two men met in the 1970s.

Suarez's son Gary told the magazine that Barbie was "an important person to my father."

"He knew something about security, military strategy and secret service work," he said.

Klaus Barbie in Bolivie, circa 1970. / Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Barbie was also active in advising the Bolivian security services, helping set up a death squad for dictator Luis Garcia Meza.

Gary Suarez told Der Spiegel that "Barbie had been deeply involved in the military regimes going back decades."

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"Bridegrooms of Death"

Barbie had helped "organize the militias that would overthrow the government" in the run-up to the violent 1980 coup that brought Garcia Meza to power.

Among them was a group of neo-Nazi mercenaries called the "Bridegrooms of Death" who had a swastika-clad headquarters called Club Bavaria in the city of Santa Cruz.

After the coup they were deployed to help both crush political opposition and Suarez's rivals in cocaine production.

A CIA dispatch from May 1974 seen by Der Spiegel reveals that the agency's officers already suspected Barbie of involvement in the drug trade, the magazine said.

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Roberto Suarez's son-in-law Gerardo Caballero told Der Spiegel that "Barbie helped us a lot, including in working together with Pablo Escobar," the Colombian drug kingpin.

Barbie was recruited as an anti-communist agent by American Secret Services after the war, and the United States later apologized to France for helping Barbie evade justice.

Der Spiegel has previously reported that Barbie was also active as a secret agent for West German intelligence in Bolivia.

The magazine said he was recruited in late 1965 in the Bolivian capital La Paz and given the code name "Adler" ("Eagle").

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Jacques Verges, a French lawyer who represented Barbie, was asked by "60 Minutes" in 2004 how he could represent one of the world's most vile war criminals.

"You must have hated what he represented," correspondent Morley Safer asked.

"I am not able of hating," Verges responded.

"Even the worst monster you are not able to hate?" Safer asked.

"No. I am curious to understand," Verges replied. "I am condemning, but I am not hating."

Did the conclave pick a front-runner to be new pope?

World awaits new pope after conclave's vote

Trump touts UK trade deal, but U.S. companies fear they won't survive China tariffs
(FOX 5/KUSI)  A pet owner in northern San Diego County went to an animal shelter seeking help after being overwhelmed with 96 pet guinea pigs.

The San Diego Humane Society shared the information on Thursday, saying that the high number of guinea pigs surrendered was just around one-third of the total animals it took in on a single day.

Video Above: The difference between threatened and endangered species

The guinea pigs were surrendered at the shelters Escondido location, with some of the animals needing medical attention.

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Two other situations involving dozens of animals contributed to the Humane Societys total of 267 animal intakes in a 24-hour span.

At the Humane Societys El Cajon location, a box containing 50 chicks was delivered after it arrived at a postal service office, but nobody arrived to pick it up.

The chicks had reportedly been ordered from Utah and a community member visiting the postal service office volunteered to take the chicks to the Humane Society.

50 chicks ordered from Utah arrived at an El Cajon animal shelter on May 8, 2025, and were not picked up by anybody.

Earlier on Thursday, the Humane Societys San Diego location received 44 animals from the Los Angeles area, including 11 cats, 28 kittens and 5 dogs.

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These animals arrived due to overcrowding at a Los Angeles-area shelter, and the Humane Society said it took them in to spare animals at the LA shelter from being euthanized.

Aside from these three events, the Humane Society said it still took in dozens of stray animals and pets surrendered by owners as part of its daily operations.

The organization said that all animals would be treated and spayed or neutered, and eventually become available for adoption when they are ready and if their owners do not reclaim 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
At the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington DC this week, vice-president JD Vance put his finger on a major cause of Europes recent decline. One of the things that the Germans were very good about, he declared, is that they had kept the industrial strength of their economy consistent with the first world standard of living. But now what we see in Europe is a lot of our European friends are de-industrialising. Hard power, he continued, requires strong industry.

Europes present state is hardly surprising. Its industrial base is getting whittled away by net zero policies, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to preserve the environment placed ahead of almost everything else, including economic growth. Worse, China is ramping up coal-fired power at the same time. The net effect is not likely to be net zero but economic suicide for the West.

Europeans need a strong economy not only to sustain their standards of living  those long summer and Christmas holidays, early retirements, and visits to bars and cafes  but also for a strong defence, as demonstrated by the war in Ukraine.

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Yet the EU is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, making the continent so-called climate neutral. The aim is to tighten the rules progressively. By 2030, the plan is for net CO2 emissions to be 55 per cent lower than 1990 levels, and 90 per cent lower by 2040.

Clean air and water are of course worthy goals. But according to the Heritage Institutes Climate Calculator, based on government economic and climate models, reducing Europes entire CO2 emissions to zero would have a net temperature mitigation of only about 0.12 degrees Celsius by 2100, assuming the highest climate sensitivity to carbon.

The argument that any level of government intervention is justified to save the planet is therefore seriously flawed. Especially since making all those solar panels and batteries  net zero technologies that Europe requires  currently drives up the use of fossil fuels. China manufactures 80 per cent of global solar panels, for example, with production mostly powered by fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Despite promises in the Paris Agreement to curb CO2 emissions, Beijing continues to rely heavily on coal as a primary energy source. The countrys coal consumption and coal-powered generation have seen significant growth, with China consuming almost 5 billion tons of coal in 2023, representing 56 per cent of global coal consumption.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged in 2021 to strictly control coal power projects, but in 2024 China is estimated to have begun construction on 94.5 GW of new coal capacity, the highest since 2015. Although electricity generation from wind and solar sources is increasing, coal-powered generation rose from under 1,000 TWh in 2000 to 5,864 TWh in 2024, highlighting the ongoing expansion of coal power in China.

Due to higher prices for electricity in the West, energy-intensive manufacturing has been shipped to countries like China, which do not so slavishly follow net zero nostrums. Europes progressive policies are effectively contributing to Chinas industrial might.

This makes a mockery of the Wests goal to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and its costly international pledges and agreements aimed at reducing carbon footprints. While the West pushes forward with renewable energy and de-industrialisation, Chinas coal consumption and power expansion undermine the global effort. The dichotomy between these two approaches underscores the futility of net zero policies in Europe.

They are also preventing growth in Africa and Latin America. Europeans have pressured international organisations not to lend for fossil fuel projects in emerging economies, where hundreds of millions of people lack electricity, sanitation, or running water. Although the number of members declined after President Donald Trump took office, banks in the Net Zero Banking Alliance are also expected to abide by a UN-requested pledge not to lend for fossil fuel projects.

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With America putting new offshore wind on hold, and with lower US demand for Chinese wind turbines and solar panels, there is a real danger that inefficient renewables will be dumped in Africa and Latin America, with these countries forced to take out expensive loans to pay for them. Instead, American companies should be assisting emerging economies to produce baseload power, selling them modern power plants to take advantage of their rich natural resources of coal, oil, and gas.

As well as moving away from net zero, President Trump and vice-president Vance can encourage others to do the same. For while America may be championing sensible energy policies, Europes unwavering commitment to extreme environmentalism is likely to continue to lead to slower economic growth and declining hard power.

With Americas new energy dominance, Europeans cannot ignore Chinas burning coal fires, which mock the EUs senseless deindustrialisation.

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The local elections have changed everything. As Simon Carr of the Guido Fawkes website has pointed out, despite having only five MPs, Reform UK is already setting the agenda in Parliament.

This is as true of net zero as it is of so many other policy areas. Twelve months ago, claims from the Government benches that renewables were bringing down energy bills would have been accepted without question. Now, when Starmer and Miliband say the same thing, they sound ridiculous.

Everyone now knows we have installed more wind and solar power than just about anyone else, and also that we have the highest electricity prices in the developed world. Everyone can see that our industrial sector, already decimated by years of decarbonisation policies, is rapidly disappearing entirely. Grangemouth, the Luton van plant, a major pottery in Stoke  the litany of disaster seems endless.

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The Government is desperately trying to come up with wheezes to alleviate the economic pain. A new industrial strategy has been mooted but, as with so many Labour schemes, its mostly smoke and mirrors  the only concrete idea on the table seems to be to exempt industry from some of the costs of grid upgrades. Like so many of the ideas that are touted by green activists, this is a mere shuffling of the deckchairs.

The people of the UK ultimately pay for the whole electricity system, either through the cost of living, through taxes, or directly through electricity bills. While it might bring a little relief to industry, Labours plan to move network charges would only shift the cost of all those new wires and pylons from your supermarket bill to your tax bill or your electricity bill.

If the Westminster debate about decarbonisation is still somewhat otherworldly, in the wider world thinking is much clearer  the shock of the local election results has clearly concentrated minds. With Reform now in pole position to form the next government, investors can see that the writing is on the wall for net zero. Within a week of the local election results we have had the Danish wind power company Orsted cancelling the vast Hornsea 4 project. The Cruachan 2 pumped hydro scheme in Scotland has been put on hold too, the developers citing rising costs.

Whether these moves are real, or simply part of attempts to negotiate higher subsidies remains unclear. But the truth is that when net zero is reversed  it is inevitable  neither will be needed. All those pylons and batteries that threaten to scar the counties down the East Coast will be surplus to requirements too.

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Meanwhile, the financial gains to be made from reversing net zero are significant. Although green activists have been trying hard to convince the public that high electricity bills are all down to gas prices, if you dig into the numbers its clearly not true. The costs of all the green crap (to use David Camerons pithy phrase), including carbon taxes, renewables subsidies, grid upgrades and paying windfarms to switch off, are a substantial proportion of what we pay for electricity.

In other words, the prize for cancelling net zero is a massive cut in electricity bills. That is a real industrial strategy.

Of course, those gains will be partially reversed by the need to compensate investors, and it is important that the financial community recognise now that they have a duty to minimise that future cost to the public purse. Recklessly ploughing on with projects that now clearly have no future would rightly be seen as reprehensible.

As the retreat from net zero gathers pace, we should remind ourselves of where we have come from. Just a few months ago, the complete decarbonisation of the economy was seen as a sensible policy, despite the fact that Whitehall had produced neither an engineering plan of the project, nor a credible cost-benefit analysis, and with little or no serious debate of the details in Parliament, academia or the media. Assurances from ministers and officials that the project was desirable and, as a result of the (allegedly) collapsing cost of renewable energy, affordable too, were simply accepted as articles of faith.

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And a faith  or to be more precise, a cult  is exactly what climate catastrophism has become. It has operated just as all cults do, ruthlessly silencing or demonising all opposition. It was only the arrival of upstart media outlets, such as GB News and Talk TV, and Elon Musks free speech stance on social media, that forced the important questions into the public discussion. The green establishment tried to silence them of course  through lawfare via Ofcom and IPSO, and desperate denunciations of any dissent as far-Right, hate mongering and the like.

Reform UKs insurgency has given a political voice to the net zero dissenters and the local election results have now changed everything. We will reverse the net zero policy  of that, I now have no doubt  but there is a real possibility that huge harm will be done before we make it happen. I just pray that we are not too late.

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As a life-long Catholic, I can honestly say I never thought Id see the first American pope. But on Thursday, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected by the College of Cardinals and became Pope Leo XIV.

At 69, Leo XIV brings a lot to the papacy in terms of pastoral leadership and his missionary experience. He spent decades in Chiclayo, Peru, working alongside the poor and serving in local parishes, experiences that shaped him into a servant-leader similar to Pope Francis.

But to be fair, no matter who became the next pope, I would have been elated. Its the pope! Watching Leo XIV step out onto the balcony of St. Peters Basilica for the first time and greet the world saying, Peace be with all of you, was more than liturgical formality. It was a reassurance that everything will be OK.

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The swiftness in which the new pope was elected was striking. I assumed the world would have a new pope by the weekend, not barely 24 hours after the conclave began.

But the speed of the conclaves decision was reassuring. At a time when the institutions feel more fragile than ever, the unity of the College of Cardinals reminded the world that some institutions remain strong and that we can lean on them.

During his first papal address, Leo XIV underscored the need to create a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone. These words echo the sentiments of Francis, but now they are also Leo XIVs: Everyone is welcome in the Catholic Church.

As with every leader, there are critics. Questions have been raised about whether he failed to act on or mishandled sexual abuse cases in Peru and the United States involving priests. These are not minor concerns and they should be taken seriously  no pope, regardless of how beloved, is above accountability.

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However, it would be a mistake to let Leo XIV be defined by his critics alone. He reminds us that no human is infallible, not even the pope. He is a man elevated by faith and shaped by service. And now he must guide 1.3 billion Catholics in an uncertain and divided world.

In America, where faith has become a political battleground, Leo XIVs election reminds the world of the Churchs enduring global identity. Though he is from Chicago, when he stepped onto the papal balcony, he left behind his identity as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to serve a higher calling.

By choosing the name Leo  Latin for lion  he signaled strength and resolve to protect the Churchs integrity, showing that he understands we are living in a world that is hyper-connected, fractured and anxious. And while the Church cant solve every problem or crisis, it can serve as a pillar of moral authority and a beacon of hope at a time when we need it so much.

Leo XIVs message of peace and call to openness reminds us all that we are deserving of grace. As someone who believes that faith endures and the Church still has the power to inspire, I see Leo XIVs election as a sign that grace is still present. For Catholics like me, the election of this pope reminds us that the Church will guide us, even in uncertain times like these.

Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@miamiherald.com
Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were without radar for around a minute and a half Friday morning, leaving staffers without critical safety systems at the nations 13th-busiest airport for the second time in two weeks.

In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said the outage began at 3:55 a.m. and affected a radar approach control facility that guides aircraft in and out of the Newark airspace.

There was a telecommunications outage that impacted communications and radar display at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, the FAA said. The outage occurred around 3:55 a.m. on Friday, May 9, and lasted approximately 90 seconds.

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The same facility experienced a similar outage on April 28. During that 90-second outage, air traffic controllers in Philadelphia who supervise Newark-bound flights were unable to see, hear or talk to the aircraft they were supposed to be guiding.

United Airlines cut 35 daily flights from the airport last week as the flight delays became a persistent issue. In a letter to customers, United CEO Scott Kirby said runway construction at the airport and chronic understaffing have compounded the issue.

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 wrote.

Former air traffic controllers told The Associated Press after last weeks outage that, while troubling, a complete communication blackout doesnt mean passengers are in immediate danger.

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If the pilot doesnt respond right away, you dont have them set up where they could collide, said Jordan Morales, a 12-year veteran who left the job in 2022.

Morales added that other radar approach facilities can step in if one goes down. The airplanes themselves also have technology onboard to alert them to surrounding traffic.

The snafu comes one day after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pledged a multibillion-dollar plan to update the nations systems, though details on the proposal have been scarce.

The Trump administration fired around 400 FAA employees en masse in February at the urging of billionaire Trump ally Elon Musks purported government cost-saving initiative, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

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The FAAs previous administrator, Mike Whitaker, stepped down on Inauguration Day, also under pressure from Musk.

At the same time, Musk  who is still working as a special government employee at the White House  has pushed the FAA to award his satellite internet company, Starlink, a lucrative multibillion-dollar contract to update FAA communications systems.

The Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk, Musk posted online in February, referring to a contract Verizon was awarded in 2023 to update the system with fiber optic cables.

Government employees, contractors and people familiar with the work told the AP that Starlink equipment had already been installed in some FAA facilities, with very limited transparency as to how it was done.

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For the past 10 days, US travelers have been watching chaos unfold at Newark airport. The week-plus of disruptions began on April 28, when a loss in communications and radar at the airport's air traffic control tower kicked off a ripple effect of mass delays and cancellations, impacting thousands of travelers.

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The situation at New Jerseys Newark Liberty International Airport has since improved slightly: On May 9, there were 141 delays and 66 cancellations at the air travel hub by 9:30 a.m., according to FlightAware. Meanwhile, inbound flights faced delays of about two hours at their airports of origin.

One of the driving factors behind the havoc at Newark is a shortage of air traffic controllers. The US air travel system currently needs to hire about 3,000 air traffic controllers to reach full staffing levels, according to Airlines for America, an industry lobby group.

As the peak summer travel season approaches, one question on the minds of many travelers right now is if the situation at Newark could repeat itself at other airports around the country. Fortunately, one expert says thats absolutely not likely to happen.

Although the air traffic controller shortage is ongoing nationwide, the issues facing Newark are locally unique, according to Michael McCormick, professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a former air traffic controller. What happened at Newark was specific to Newark because it involves the move of the approach control from Long Island to Philadelphia, he tells Conde Nast Traveler.

What happened at Newark was specific to Newark"

Michael McCormick, professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a former air traffic controller

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In July 2024, Newark's air traffic operations, called approach control in industry parlance, were moved to Philadelphia International Airport in an attempt to shore up staffing levels. The New York approach control has been chronically understaffed, and it's been that way since the controller strike in 1981, McCormick says. So to mitigate that, they decided to move the approach control from Westbury, Long Island, down to Philadelphia because Philadelphia has not had a problem either attracting, training, or retaining air traffic controllers.

But in order to move the control center from Long Island to Philadelphia, the airport needed more complicated equipment. So, the FAA set up radio and radar relays to enable planes in Newark's airspace to be tracked by controllers in Philadelphia, McCormick explains.

This relay equipment, which is unique to Newark airport, sends radar and radio communication from Newark's old air traffic control center in Long Island to the new location in Philadelphia. The technology relies on old hardware like floppy disks and copper wires that have proven to be antiquated and spotty.

On April 28, the technology experienced an outage for about 90 seconds, according to Bloomberg. During the blackout, controllers were unable to see or speak to planes arriving into Newark's airspace. Then on May 9 at around 3:55 a.m., a second blackout occurred at the Philadelphia facility, which also lasted for about 90 seconds, ABC News reported.

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There have been intermittent [episodes] where they would lose radio communication, and then last Monday they lost radar information as well as a result of that, McCormick says. Whenever you have a loss of communication capability and/or radar, it really impacts the ability for air traffic controllers to provide service to the aircraft. So that's why it can quickly result in a situation where it's chaotic, and the controllers and the pilots have to really resort to creative ways to overcome the problem. Because the radar and radio communications went out at different times, for example, controllers were able to alert some flights that they had lost radar and that pilots should contact other towers along the way, CNN reported.

The incident on April 28 was so stressful that multiple controllers opted to take leaves of absence afterward, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement to the New York Times. As federal workers, controllers are allowed to take leave if they're injured or have a traumatic work-related experience. In a May 2 statement, United CEO Scott Kirby said over 20% of air traffic controllers for Newark Airport were absent in wake of the technological issues at the tower.

In response to the lower staffing levels, the FAA has limited the number of flights allowed to takeoff and land at Newark, causing more delays. The FAA has been slowing arrivals and departures at @EWRairport due to runway construction at Newark and staffing and technology issues at Philadelphia TRACON, which guides aircraft in and out of the airport, the agency said in May 8 statement on X.

What are the solutions to Newarks woes?

The FAA says it is taking steps to solve the issues at Newark, including adding three new, high-bandwidth telecommunications connections between the New York system and Philadelphia to provide more speed, reliability and redundancy, the agency said on X on May 7. Officials are also working to replace old copper wires in the telecommunications system with new fiber optics and installing a temporary backup system while those upgrades are made, according to the FAA.

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Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy released a comprehensive plan for the nations air traffic system on May 8. The sweeping blueprint would totally rebuild the US air traffic control system, including initiatives to replace antiquated telecommunications systems at more than 4,600 sites with new fiber, wireless, and satellite technologies, as well as 25,000 new radios and 475 new voice switches; replace 618 radars that have gone past their life cycle; build six new air traffic control towers for the first time since the 1960s, and install modern hardware and software in all facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers.

Duffy said in a press conference on May 8 that the project would take approximately three to four years. This is bold," he said. This is going to be challenging but we absolutely can do it.

The FAA has also launched a plan to address the staffing shortage of air traffic controllers. The initiative to supercharge the hiring pipeline awards financial incentives to graduates of the FAAs academy when they hit certain training milestones or agree to work at certain understaffed control towers. It also offers a 20% annual bonus to help prevent early retirement.

Is the Newark airport safe?

Following the radar and communication outages, MSNBC reported that an anonymous air traffic controller on the team guiding Newark flights said the airport is not safe for travelers right now. United Airlines, which uses Newark as a key hub, tried to reassure travelers about traveling through Newark. First and most importantly, all the flights in and out of EWR are absolutely safe, Kirby, the carrier's CEO, wrote in a May 7 memo to staff. When there are FAA issuestechnology outages, staffing shortages, etc.the FAA requires all airlines to slow down aircraft and/or cancel flights to maintain the highest levels of safety.

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And although the FAA is working to solve the issues, those federal initiatives will all take several years to pay off. So, in the meantime, should travelers steer clear of Newark this summer? I don't see reason to do that in terms of safety in the system, McCormick says. The FAA's immediate mitigation steps, such as limiting the number of daily flights, should be enough to eliminate any risk for now.

However, McCormick notes that travelers should expect future delays at Newark airport this summer due to runway construction. "Newark only has two runways available for commercial operations, and one of them is shut down until June 15, he says. That means that both departing and arriving flights will be sharing one runway for about five more weeks.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey, was arrested Friday on trespassing charges during a chaotic scene involving protesters, members of Congress and federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.

Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, said in a post on X that the Democratic mayor trespassed and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security officials to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon.

He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state, Habba added.

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Images provided by Barakas office showed the mayor being escorted by federal law enforcement agents with his hands behind his back.

He was released from custody Friday night.

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Baraka said he didn't break any laws

At the end of the day, you know, we didnt do anything wrong. You know, this should not have happened today, but it did, Baraka said.

The mayor added that he had not been at the Delaney Hall detention center earlier to protest, but instead to "support my congresspeople."

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., said in a post on X Friday afternoon that she and two other Democratic members of the New Jersey congressional delegation were exercising our oversight authority to see for ourselves what its like at the ICE facility.

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In a criminal complaint filed in a New Jersey district court Friday, the special agent in charge of the Newark division of DHS, Ricky Patel, signed an affidavit accusing Baraka of unlawfully entering and remaining in the ICE facility. Patel said that notice against trespass was given.

Baraka gave a different account, saying in an interview Friday night that he was allowed on the property in the first place and that nothing happened for at least an hour.

After they finally told us to leave, and I told them I was leaving, they came outside the gate and arrested me. So it looked like it was targeted, Baraka told Jen Psaki on MSNBC.

He added that the charges have not been dropped, and that he must appear in court.

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Watson Coleman, who was with Baraka when he was taken into custody, denounced his arrest during a separate interview on MSNBC.

"This is un-American. This breaks my heart that in the United States of America, as imperfect as it has been, there has never been this disrespect for individual rights, for positions or for justice in general," she said.

A spokesperson for Watson Coleman said earlier that the lawmaker was with Reps. LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez when they were escorted in to the Delaney Hall Detention Center after a period of explaining the law to the officials. The spokesperson added that Fridays visit was organized by the members of Congress, separate from Baraka.

The mayor's wife, Linda Baraka, had told WNBC at a protest before his release that authorities "targeted him."

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"Theyre trying to make an example of him," she said.

Habbas office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Baraka has spoken out against the detention center throughout the week. He held a news conference with an immigrant-servicing organization at City Hall on Monday to address what he called a lack of transparency and the reported detention of people at the facility in defiance of city and state laws regarding its certificate of occupancy, inspections and permits. He also visited the facility with Newark city officials on Tuesday.

The mayor has sharply criticized the Trump administrations deportation policies, arguing in a February gubernatorial debate that Trumps policies were based in white supremacy and racism.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka joins protesters outside of Delaney Hall, a recently reopened immigration detention center, in Newark, N.J., on May 7. (Seth Wenig / AP file)

Watson Coleman said on social media Friday that the ICE facility in Newark opened without permission from the city & in violation of local ordinances.

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The Department of Homeland Security disputed claims that it lacked the proper permits, saying in a news release Friday that it had valid permits and that plumbing and electricity inspections, as well as fire codes, had been cleared.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Watson Coleman and Menendez of storming into the detention facility.

Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation, McLaughlin said in a statement.

DHS made no mention of Barakas arrest.

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At a news conference, Menendez referred to Barakas arrest as an act of intimidation, adding that ICE had sent more than 20 armed individuals to confront the lawmakers and that they had put their hands on Watson Coleman and McIver.

"We were assaulted by multiple ICE agents," McIver said while speaking to reporters.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement Friday night that it was the lawmakers' "constitutional responsibility" to go tour the facility.

"The masked agents who physically accosted two Congresswomen must be identified immediately and any trumped-up charges against Mayor Baraka dropped," Jeffries said.

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"Keep your hands off of Members of Congress," he added.

Menendez went on to say that this administration lies every day when theyre saying theyre going after criminals. It is not true.

They feel no weight of the law. They feel no restraint on what they should be doing, he added.

The Trump administration previously acknowledged that it mistakenly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a prison in El Salvador in March, and has since defended its actions while failing to deliver on orders from courts, including the Supreme Court, to facilitate his return to the United States.

President Donald Trump has said he could arrange for Abrego Garcia's return with a phone call, contrasting claims his administration has made in court that it cannot get him back.

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New Jersey Democrats rushed to Barakas defense Friday, with some criticizing both the arrest and the Trump administration.

Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors, Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.

Sen. Cory Booker, a former mayor of Newark, characterized the arrest as disturbing, unnecessary and indicative of tactics that are undermining the safety and security of our communities, not adding to it.

Moreover, the Trump administrations decision to reopen Delaney Hall, a private, for-profit prison in our community, should have never gone forward, Booker added in his statement.

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Sen. Andy Kim posted on X Friday afternoon that he had spoken with ICE officials, who relayed that the mayor was arrested on trespassing charges.

However, video clearly shows the mayor outside the gates of Delaney Hall facility when he was arrested, Kim wrote. Ive reached out to DHS Secretary directly and am in touch with the members of Congress who conducted the oversight inspection.

Baraka, 55, was first elected as mayor of Newark, the states largest city, in 2014. He easily won re-election 2018 and 2022. He is one of six major Democratic candidates competing in the gubernatorial primary on June 10.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, said that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was detained Friday after refusing to leave a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody, Habba said in a Friday post on social platform X. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

Baraka, along with three members of the New Jersey congressional delegation  Bonnie Watson Coleman (D), Rob Menendez (D) and LaMonica McIver (D)  tried to get access to the Delaney Hall ICE detention center.

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Watson Coleman said on X that the facility was opened without permission from the city & in violation of local ordinances. Weve heard stories of what its like in other ICE prisons. Were exercising our oversight authority to see for ourselves.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a group of protesters, along with two members of Congress  Menendez and Watson Coleman  stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.

The department added that the two House members and multiple protestors are holed up in a guard shack, the first security check point.

Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Friday. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.

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The three members of Congress spoke after Baraka was detained, saying the ICE facility seemed to be safe and clean but slamming federal immigration agents for roughing [them] up.

It was an act of intimidation not just to the mayor, not just to us, but to everyone who is watching, Menendez said during the press conference, according to the New Jersey Globe. They feel no weight of the law. They feel no restraint on what they should be doing. And that was shown in broad daylight today.

Delaney Hall has been a point of contention in New Jersey. President Trumps administration has said the jail is vital for assisting in its effort to detain violent immigrants in the country illegally, while local officials  including Baraka, who is running as a gubernatorial candidate  have argued the administration has not secured proper permits to house migrants at the facility.

The city of Newark filed a lawsuit against ICE in court last month, contending the agency did not provide city officials access to inspect the jail under municipal ordinances and state code, therefore violating city and state law.

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The DHS rejected the allegations in the Friday press release.

The allegations made by Newark politicians that Delaney does not have the proper permitting are false, the DHS said Friday. We have valid permits, and inspections for plumbing and electricity, and fire codes have been cleared.

Updated at 4:38 p.m. EDT.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka being taken into custody by federal agents at Delaney Hall, an immigrant jail in Newark, on May 9, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman)

Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark and one of six Democrats running to be New Jerseys next governor, was arrested and detained by federal immigration agents Friday during a protest at an immigrant detention center in Newark, according to his campaign.

Barakas arrest comes just over a week after the migrant jail, Delaney Hall, opened its doors as the largest detention center on the east coast. Baraka, whose city filed a lawsuit challenging whether the facilitys owner secured proper city permits before opening, has spent the week protesting outside the jail and attempting to gain entry, to no avail.

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A photo taken by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12), who was also at Delaney Hall Friday, shows a handcuffed Baraka being led away from the facility in handcuffs. Its unclear whether he has been charged with any crime. He was taken to a Department of Homeland Security Investigations office on Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, said Kabir Moss, a Baraka spokesman.

About 200 people gathered under the pouring rain outside that building late Friday afternoon chanted: Free Mayor Baraka! and No justice, no peace! Some vowed they would not leave until he is released.

Acting U.S. Attorney of New Jersey Alina Habba said on social media that Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center.

He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody, said Habba.

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Habba, a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, said in April that she is investigating Gov. Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin over the state ban on local law enforcement assisting in civil immigration enforcement. Under a 2018 attorney general directive, state, county, and local cops are barred from aiding federal agencies in civil immigration arrests or providing access to state or local resources and databases.

Reps. Rob Menendez (D-08) and LaMonica McIver (D-10), who joined Baraka and Watson Coleman at Delaney Hall before Barakas arrest, said ICE agents invited Baraka onto Delaney Hall property before arresting him for trespassing.

This is un-American, McIver said. Its how Trump has weaponized police, weaponized immigration, weaponized ICE. Youre supposed to be getting criminals off the street. This is not that.

McIver, Menendez, and Watson Coleman said they went to Delaney Hall to inspect it as part of their oversight role. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday issued a statement saying they stormed the gates and broke into the detention facility with other protestors.

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Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation, said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Watson Coleman said she and the other members of Congress were escorted into Delaney Hall by guards.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman speaking to reporters outside an ICE facility in Newark following Newark Mayor Ras Barakas arrest outside of a migrant jail on May 9, 2025. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

Baraka has made the opening of Delaney Hall a major issue in his campaign for governor.

In February, private prison firm Geo Group announced it had secured a 15-year contract with ICE to use Delaney Hall as a 1,100-bed detention center amid ramped-up immigration enforcement. Trump has made mass detention and deportation of immigrants  including some here legally  a pillar of his second term in office.

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Delaney Hall, which held immigrant detainees from 2011 to 2017, reopened May 1, despite Newark officials attempts to block the opening through the lawsuit. ICE officials have confirmed that detainees are being held there, but have not said how many.

Murphy called Barakas arrest unjust and demanded his release. He noted that Baraka was among throngs of people and politicians who have protested outside Delaney Hall in recent months.

Four years ago, I was proud to sign a law banning private immigration detention centers in New Jersey. And just last week, my Administration was leading the fight to defend that law before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Murphy said in a statement. Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors. I am calling for his immediate release by federal law enforcement.

Platkin called Barakas arrest deeply troubling.

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People peacefully exercising their right to free speech and assembly should never be targeted for opposing the governments policies. To our knowledge, no state or local law enforcement were involved in this arrest, he said.

Federal agents watching protestors gathered outside an ICE facility in Newark on May 9, 2025. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, one of six Democrats vying to become New Jersey's next governor, has been a vocal critic of a new migrant jail in the city he runs. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark and one of six Democrats running to be New Jerseys next governor, was arrested and detained by federal immigration agents Friday, according to his campaign.

This comes just over a week after the migrant jail, Delaney Hall, opened its doors as the largest detention center on the east coast. Baraka, whose city filed a lawsuit challenging whether the facilitys owner secured proper city permits before opening, has spent the week protesting outside the jail and attempting to gain entry, to no avail.

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A photo taken by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12), who was also at Delaney Hall Friday, shows a handcuffed Baraka being led away from the facility in handcuffs. Its unclear whether he has been charged with any crime and where he is being held.

Acting U.S. Attorney of New Jersey Alina Habba said on social media that Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center.

He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody, said Habba.

Habba, a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, said in April that she is investigating Gov. Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin over the state ban on local law enforcement assisting in civil immigration enforcement. Under a 2018 attorney general directive, state, county, and local cops are barred from aiding federal agencies in civil immigration arrests or providing access to state or local resources and databases.

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In February, private prison firm Geo Group announced it had secured a 15-year contract with ICE to use Delaney Hall as a 1,100-bed detention center amid ramped-up immigration enforcement. Trump has made mass detention and deportation of immigrants  including some here legally  a pillar of his second term in office.

Delaney Hall, which held immigrant detainees from 2011 to 2017, reopened May 1, despite Newark officials attempts to block the opening through the lawsuit. ICE officials have confirmed that detainees are being held there, but have not said how many.

The Attorney Generals Office and the governors office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Jersey Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Terrence T. McDonald for questions: info@newjerseymonitor.com.
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11)  Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for allegedly trespassing at an ICE facility in New Jersey on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon, Alina Habba, the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, posted on X.

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Baraka was taken to an ICE field office at 620 Frelinghuysen Ave. in Newark, according to his office. The charges have not been announced.

We are actively monitoring and will provide more details as they become available, his representatives said.

Witnesses said the arrest came after Baraka attempted to join a scheduled tour of the facility with three members of New Jerseys congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

When federal officials blocked his entry, a heated argument broke out, according to Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. It continued even after Baraka returned to the public side of the gates.

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In video of the altercation shared with The Associated Press, a federal official in a jacket with the logo of the Homeland Security Investigations can be heard telling Baraka he could not join a tour of the facility because you are not a congress member.

Baraka then left the secure area, rejoining protesters on the public side of the gate. Video showed him speaking through the gate to a man in a suit, who said: Theyre talking about coming back to arrest you.

Im not on their property. They cant come out on the street and arrest me, Baraka replied.

Minutes later several ICE agents, some wearing face coverings, surrounded him and others on the public side. As protesters cried out, Shame, Baraka was dragged back through the security gate in handcuffs.

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The ICE personnel came out aggressively to arrest him and grab him, said Julie Moreno, a New Jersey state captain of American Families United. It didnt make any sense why they chose that moment to grab him while he was outside the gates.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that as a bus of detainees was entering the detention center, a group of protestors, including two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin was quoted in the statement as calling it beyond a bizarre political stunt and saying it put agents and detainees safety at risk.

Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility, McLaughlin said.

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The department said the facility has the proper permits and inspections have been cleared.

The Newark mayor was visiting Delaney Hall to conduct oversight after the building was turned into an ICE facility.

Delany Hall was leased for $63 million annually from a private prison group known as The GEO Group. The city of Newark is suing for more inspections, claiming ICE has not indicated how many detainees it has in the building  which can only house 1,000 people.

Baraka said on Monday that the issues at Delany Hall go beyond the lack of safety inspections and proper permits.

This is a developing story please check back for updates.

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Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Associated press material was used in 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 PIX11.
NEWARK, N.J. (WPIX)  The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was taken into custody by Homeland Security at an ICE facility on Friday afternoon, according to Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon, reads a post Habba shared to social media.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka joins protesters outside of Delaney Hall, a recently re-opened immigration detention center, in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Baraka was visiting Delaney Hall to conduct oversight after the building was turned into an ICE facility. The mayor has been protesting the opening of the facility throughout this week, saying its operators did not get proper permits.

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Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz. Why did it close in the first place?

Witnesses said the arrest came after Baraka attempted to join a scheduled tour of the facility with three members of New Jerseys congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

When federal officials blocked his entry, a heated argument broke out, according to Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. It continued even after Baraka returned to the public side of the gates.

The agents started intimidating and putting their hands on the congresswomen. There was yelling and pushing, Martinez said. Then the officers swarmed Baraka. They threw one of the organizers to the ground. They put Baraka handcuffs and put him in an unmarked car.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks to protesters outside of Delaney Hall, a recently re-opened immigration detention center, in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Delany Hall was leased for $63 million annually from a private prison group known as The GEO Group. The city of Newark is suing for more inspections, claiming ICE has not indicated how many detainees it has in the building, which can only house 1,000 people.

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Baraka said Monday that the issues at Delany Hall go beyond the lack of safety inspections and proper permits.

This is a developing story. 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.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Tyre Nichols family is still seeking justice in a civil lawsuit against the city after three former officers were found not guilty Wednesday on state charges in Nichols beating deaths.

The five officers, the City of Memphis, and Police Chief C.J. Davis are being sued by Nichols family for $550 million.

Thats correct. The civil lawsuit is still pending, said Antonio Romanucci, Nichols family attorney. There is a trial date for the summer of next year, and we are moving forward.

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The trial is scheduled for July 2026, but the city has said in filings that the damages could bankrupt it.

We feel very confident in the civil case that there will be accountability for the Tyre Nichols family, said Ben Crump, Nichols family attorney.

Former MPD officer reacts to Tyre Nichols verdict: I was taken aback

An out-of-town jury from Hamilton County took about eight and a half hours over two days to find Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith not guilty on all state charges after a nine-day trial in Memphis.

I am convinced to this day that we had compelling evidence that showed that there was proof for every element for every one of the offenses that we charged. The jury took a different view, said Steve Mulroy, Shelby County District Attorney.

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Sen. Brent Taylor calls out D.A. Mulroy after not guilty verdicts in Tyre Nichols case

Van Turner, Attorney and former Shelby County Commissioner, says that there will be another litigation in place with the sentencing on the federal side. He hopes the Nichols family finds justice and peace.

When we go to whats next, lets talk very honestly about how do we make the Nichols family whole? We cannot just sweep them aside because we had a jury verdict that favored these particular officers, said Dr. Keith Norman.

WREG reached out to several city council members for comment about the civil case and was directed to contact Attorney Allan Wade, the city council attorney, for comments.

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The funding came from myriad federal laws, grants, and programs designed to help New Hampshire, and other states, recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)

In March, the federal government announced it was revoking $81.3 million in pandemic-related funding from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services that was not expected to expire until 2026.

The funding was being used to support the states epidemiological laboratory and testing capacity, outreach to vaccinate residents, efforts to address health disparities in the state, and substance use disorder treatment programming, as outlined in a new report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.

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The funding came from myriad federal laws, grants, and programs designed to help New Hampshire, and other states, recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials originally believed theyd be able to spend this funding into 2026, but in a surprise announcement, federal officials clawed back the funding on grounds that the pandemic has ended.

This made a difficult budget year for New Hampshire ever more challenging. The state has been dealing with lagging business tax revenues for the past few years, is being compelled by the courts to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement money after hundreds of children were abused in its juvenile detention centers, and was already running out of pandemic-era federal funding. Amid these challenges, Gov. Kelly Ayotte unveiled a $16 billion two-year budget proposal in February. House lawmakers decided her cuts werent sufficient to deal with the aforementioned fiscal challenges and passed a budget in April that spends $643 million less than the governors proposal. Now, the Senate is debating the spending plan, and lawmakers will have to figure out how to either find funding for these programs elsewhere or eliminate them.

Roughly two-thirds  $51.1 million  of the revoked funding was set aside for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, a joint program between the federal government and states that seeks to allow states to respond to disease outbreaks, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute. The money was being spent to increase the capacity of the states epidemiological testing and laboratories, and on disease research and surveillance.

About a quarter of the funding  $20.7 million  the federal government revoked was being used to support vaccine outreach efforts. Additionally, about 6%  $5 million  was being used to address health disparities in how COVID-19 affected different populations. Money from both of those segments was used to hire 39 community health workers. Those community health workers, typically members of the community where they serve, helped clients navigate the complicated health care system and connected them to food assistance or child care programs.

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Additionally, the revoked money was funding behavioral health programs. A little over 2%  $2.1 million  came from a grant meant to provide community mental health services, and almost 3%  $2.3 million  was being used to support substance use (addiction) treatment, though the money was mostly being used on operational support and not direct patient services. That included programs teaching first responders how to deal with patients experiencing PTSD or other trauma, assisting community mental health centers in becoming federally certified as community behavioral health clinics, and the states 24-hour service that provides mental health assistance via phone and in-person to people experiencing crises.

Those interested in reading more can find the Fiscal Policy Institutes report online at www.nhfpi.org/blog/sudden-end-to-federal-pandemic-related-grants-leaves-unplanned-service-gaps/.
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  Revive Ministries is a Nicholasville nonprofit that aims to serve others through substance use treatment programs, and like other nonprofits, it takes support to keep it going.

The team at Revive Ministries welcomed associates from Keller Williams Bluegrass Realty for the red day of service, which stands for renew, energize, and donate. Heather Johnson with Revive Ministries said this was a huge blessing, especially since it involved extra hands on much-needed projects.

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Over the years, youll have spaces that just need a little bit of help, like painting, yard work, or cleaning out a giant garage so were able to move and steward the things we have well, Johnson said.

This year, the goal was beautification. The team at Keller Williams chose Revive Ministries since their mission aligns with what it means to serve with open arms. Keller Williams realtor Philip Wood volunteered.

A lot of us really look forward to this day every year as a way to give back to our local communities. We take a break from the busyness of real estate and focus on other people and love on them, Wood said.

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Red Day of Service is a nationwide initiative meant to get Keller Williams associates into their communities, meeting people where they are.

We just clicked off really well. This non-profit is a great organization, and we were excited to help them in any way we could, Wood said.

Johnson said it takes a lot of resources to help others, which is why community support makes all the difference.

As a non-profit, were always looking to partner with people. Not just to volunteer for a day, but to come in and teach classes, lead devotions, or fix a meal at one of our houses. Being able to have those relationships is just so encouraging for us as a staff, as a ministry, and as members of this community, Johnson said.

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By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria's Senate passed four tax reform bills on Friday aimed at boosting government revenue, nearing completion of a plan that has faced criticism and pushback from within President Bola Tinubu's ruling All Progressives Congress.

After ending costly subsidies and twice devaluing the naira currency in his first year in office, Tinubu has shifted his focus to reforming the tax system to boost revenue and efficiency.

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Critics say the measures, which include an increase in value-added tax to 12.5% next year from 7.5%, will worsen economic hardship in Africa's most populous country of more than 200 million.

Parliament's passage of the four bills, despite opposition from lawmakers and governors within Tinubu's party, is a victory for his administration's efforts to shore up government revenue and overhaul the country's fiscal framework.

Nigeria has one of the world's lowest tax-to-GDP ratios, at 10.8%, forcing the government to rely on borrowing to fund the budget.

Sani Musa, who chaired the Senate committee that reviewed the bills, said their passage triggered an amendment to Nigeria's oil law.

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The changes transfer "fiscal administration duties, such as royalty and petroleum profit tax collection, to the newly proposed Nigeria Revenue Service", he said on Friday.

Musa clarified that other provisions in the oil law remain unchanged.

Nigeria's lower House of Representatives passed the tax bills in March. Now, the Senate's passage requires both chambers to reconcile their versions before sending the final bills to Tinubu for his assent.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh. Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo. Editing by Mark Potter)
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Niles man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on drug charges.

Nazzarion Battee-Diggs, 25, faces charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The indictments were issued April 16 but unsealed Friday following his arrest.

Battee-Diggs is presently being held in the Mahoning County jail. He is expected to be arraigned later Friday before U.S. Judge John R. Adams.

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The indictment in the case said Battee-Digs possessed the drugs Jan. 10 and intended to sell 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 WKBN.com.
The mother and father of a New Jersey infant have been arrested and charged in her beating death, authorities announced.

Lakewood residents Ruben Santiago and Caitlin Gibson are each facing a count of first-degree murder in the death of their 3-month-old daughter, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said Thursday.

Officers with the Lakewood Police Department were called to the couples home along Pinehurst Drive on Monday night. When they showed up at the scene around 7:20 p.m., they found the baby girl already unresponsive and attempted life-saving techniques until additional first responders and EMS arrived.

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The infant was rushed to an area hospital, and then transferred to intensive care, where she succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday.

An autopsy later determined she died from blunt force trauma. She suffered a fractured skull from repeated blows to the head, causing brain bleeding, NJ Advance Media reported.

Police said a subsequent investigation proved the girls parents were responsible for her death, though they did not provide further details.

They were both arrested on Wednesday and made their initial court appearance Thursday, where they did not speak. They were ordered held in Ocean County Jail until theyre due back in court on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  NJ Transit and the locomotive engineers union have been called to Washington, D.C. to mediate amid failing contract negotiations.

I welcome the National Mediation Boards invitation to resume mediation in Washington on Monday, May 12. I have always said we should avoid a strike and not disrupt the lives of 350,000 riders, NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said in a statement.

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The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen could start striking as soon as May 16, according to NJ Transit. Kolluri claimed on Friday that union leadership shook hands on a deal, but members rejected it.

If the deal wasnt good enough, you cant come back and say I want more. I am still convinced that if he wants to do this, we can talk about it. Why not sit down and talk? Kolluri said.

Employees are asking for competitive salaries that match those of other locomotive engineers in the U.S., the union told PIX11 News.

We know they have been wrong with their approach to collective bargaining from day one. We know they have been wrong by, refusing to negotiate in good faith with the locomotive engineers, said Tom Haas, the general chair of BLET.

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If a strike happens, all NJ Transit rail service could be suspended, the agency said. NJ Transit has even encouraged riders to work from home if a deal isnt struck with the union.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

NJ Transit plans to run park-and-ride bus services and add more capacity to New York bus routes in the event of a strike. The MTA has also promised to cross-honor West of Hudson tickets beginning on May 12.

The union plans to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. to discuss contract negotiations with NJ Transit.

On Friday, both sides had media briefings around Newark Penn Station. They expressed optimism but also presented arguments and different figures.

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We want to continue talking and negotiate. We have put something on the table thats fair to engineers and its financial reasonable, Haas said.

The locomotive engineers want an increase in the average salary. The amount and the effective date are issues. Theyve been without a contract for 5 years.

Kris Kollori was named the NJ Transit President in December. He hoped the handshake agreement on a previous offer would be accepted.

87% of the membership rejected it.

They keep moving the cards around until they get to a number that they now like. I am willing to meet anyone to get a deal, Kolluri said.

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He says the agency has proposed a full-time rate for locomotive engineers that equals an hourly rate of $49.82, which is close to the LIRR. The NJ Transit union says that number represents the LIRRs old contract.

Federal law dictates the process for railroads, and the engineers could be ordered back to work if they choose to strike Friday at midnight. NJ Transit buses can accommodate only about 20% of rail passengers. Some private commuter carriers plan to add or modify service to accommodate additional passengers.

The Port Authoritys contingency plans include buses to help transport people to the Newark Airport.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Photos of damage caused by the McBride Fire in 2022 included in a lawsuit filed against PNM and its vegetation management contractor. The Public Regulation Commission on Thursday held a day-long workshop, hearing from utilities who discussed their strategies and justifications for "public safety power shutoffs" amid increased risk of wildfire and litigation for utility-caused wildfires. (Photo from lawsuit documents)

People across the state should increasingly prepare to lose power the next time high winds and dry conditions combine to raise wildfire risk in their communities.

That was the message big and small electrical providers from all corners of New Mexico told the states utility regulator during a day-long hearing Thursday in Santa Fe. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission held its first of four workshops, stemming out of the historic 2022 wildfire season, focused primarily on public safety power shutoffs.

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Citing increased fire risk and also the specter of bankruptcy from class-action lawsuits, investor-owned utilities and small cooperatives said shutting off power when conditions require it is a crucial way to protect utilities and, therefore, ratepayers from huge expenses related to wildfires.

PNM, the states biggest electrical provider, did its first-ever power shutoff April 17 in Las Vegas, citing high winds and ongoing drought. The power shutoff affected about 2,300 customers and occurred during a particularly windy day in the Northern New Mexico town of about 12,000 people.

PRC commissioners sought to hear from utilities and state and local officials about the toll of recent wildfires, their criteria for future shutoffs and also how theyre approaching communicating with local governments and the public.

These disasters not only cause massive losses for people and businesses, but for utilities as well, PRC chair Gabriel Aguilera said in his opening remarks. Weve increasingly seen utilities facing lawsuits with insurance companies covering only a fraction of the damages, or in some cases, none at all.

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Speakers presented on behalf of small cooperatives in Mora, San Miguel and Taos Counties, as well as investor-owned utilities like PNM and SPS.

PNM is currently facing a lawsuit from hundreds of victims of the McBride Fire in Ruidoso in 2022. A tree falling into one of PNMs utility lines caused that fire, though the parties disagree on whether it was a result of the utilitys negligence.

Singleton Schreiber, one of the nations biggest law firms bringing wildfire lawsuits, alleges the utility and its contractor negligently allowed the tree to be tall enough and close enough to the power line to cause a fire on a windy day.

PNM has denied any liability, citing public reports that said a tree spanning approximately 50 feet tall that was outside of our right-of-way had contacted a powerline due to unanticipated wind gusts of over 90 miles per hour, spokesperson Eric Chavez has said.

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Before the McBride Fire lawsuit, the Jemez Mountain Electrical Cooperative ultimately had to pay $25 million for its role in the 2011 Las Conchas Fire. It sought rate hikes to cover the cost and also could only get between $2 million and $3 million in insurance coverage afterward.

Its not just small cooperatives that face existential lawsuits for wildfires: Major utility PG&E filed for bankruptcy after being implicated in a series of fires in California in 2017 and 2018, ultimately being ordered to pay a $13.5 billion settlement.

The Legislature this year considered, but ultimately didnt pass, a bill that would have limited liability to electrical cooperatives to $2 million, so long as the PRC approved a wildfire mitigation plan the utility provided in advance.

Cutting off power to prevent a wildfire carries its own costs. In Las Vegas, some families with elderly or sick relatives who relied on electric medical equipment had to scramble to find alternate power sources. And during the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, long power outages meant many people in rural areas lost stores of food in their garage freezers.

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Henri Hammond-Paul, Santa Fes director of community health and safety, said at the meeting that utilities need to communicate with local officials and the public as much as possible, including warnings well in advance of a shutoff. He noted that the cost of closing Santa Fe schools, in particular, due to a pre-emptive power shutoff could mean 16,000 students going without lunch.

I understand that there is a lot of liability on utilities. There is a different type of liability and risk for cities, because even if were not the ones who are going to be sued, necessarily, for an incident, we are accountable and we are seen as responsible, he said.

The PRC workshop was only to spur dialogue on the multi-faceted issue of the power shutoffs, members said, though Aguilera suggested the commission was considering crafting a rule that could require standards, public notice timelines and, at a high level, minimum requirements for utilities before they shut power off.

Watch the six-hour special PRC meeting here. The next three workshops are scheduled for July 17, Sept. 15 and Oct. 23.
Rumeysa Ozturk  the Tufts University PhD student who was arrested by masked federal authorities on the streets near Boston and jailed for six weeks in Louisiana after writing a pro-Palestine op-ed  has been ordered immediately released on her own recognizance by a federal judge in Vermont.

The court finds that Ms. Ozturk has raised a substantial claim of a constitutional violation, Judge Williams Sessions ruled on Friday, adding that the government has provided no evidence that Ozturk poses any sort of risk, other than the op-ed. That is literally the case. There is no evidence here, Sessions said.

Ozturk is a Turkish citizen who has long studied in the United States on a student visa, and is currently enrolled in a doctoral studies at Tuft Universitys Child Study and Human Development program. In March 2024, she co-authored an op-ed critical of the Trufts administrations response to a student-government resolution demanding that the University acknowledge the Palestinian genocide.

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Ozturk was targeted by the Trump administration, ostensibly for this free speech activity. In late March of this year, Ozturk was seized in the streets near her residence in Somerville, Mass., by six plainclothes feds and whisked away in an unmarked SUV. The circumstances of her capture, which was caught on video, have been compared to a kidnapping.

The administration claimed in March that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, but did not provide any evidence. The administration added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had revoked her visa, declaring her residency contrary to Americas foreign policy interests. Rubio said Ozturk was one of hundreds of students whose visa had been revoked. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas, the secretary of state said.

Ozturk was shuttled to Louisiana where she was jailed in conditions that left her in ill health due to asthma attacks.

Ozturks case has become a cause celebre for opponents of the Trump administrations illiberal crackdown on pro-Palestinian students. (The administration claims it is combating antisemitism.) Her cause has been championed by the likes of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Aryanna Pressley, both members of Congress from Massachusetts. Rumeysa, we cant wait to welcome you home, Pressley wrote after her release was ordered.

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Following a jurisdictional dispute, Ozturks case was assigned to Judge Sessions in Vermont, who on Friday ordered that Ozturk be freed on bail immediately. He cited her asthma as a circumstance, but also found that the governments claims that she posed a danger were nonsense. There is absolutely no evidence that she has engaged in violence or advocated violence, he reportedly said from the bench, adding: This is a woman who is just totally committed to her academic career.

Sessions said that Ozturk had a strong case that she was unconstitutionally targeted over her speech, and also said that her continued detention could chill the speech of millions of other non-citizen residents of this country. The judge found that Ozturk does not pose a flight risk  and has allowed her free movement throughout the United States.



While Ozturk has been ordered freed, the administration is expected to continue its efforts to deport her in immigration court.

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U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office at the White House on May 6, 2025 in Washington, DC. Carney, who was elected into office last week, is expected to meet with President Trump to discuss trade and the recent tariffs imposed on Canada. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Every kid has heard No means no! when they want something their parents dont think they should have. This week that phrase got a couple high profile uses when Canadas new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, told Donald Trump right to his face that Canada was not and never would be for sale and Montanas Congressman Ryan Zinke forcefully said no to the sale of public lands in the West.

In this day and age seeing U.S. politicians keep their campaign promises  or honor their oaths of office  is becoming increasingly rare. But on keeping public lands in public hands, Rep. Zinke did just that.

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The measure in question was part of the big, beautiful bill touted by Trump to give yet more tax breaks to the already wealthy. The new twist was to sell hundreds of thousands of acres of federal lands in Nevada and Utah for mining, logging, drilling and development to finance those tax breaks.

Doug Burgum, the Secretary of the Interior, has publicly declared public lands and resources as natural assets that can be used to pay down the national debt. Consequently, GOP Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada and Celeste Maloy of Utah inserted the public land sale as an amendment since it was not contained in the original draft of the bill due to bipartisan opposition.

Montanas Congressman and former Secretary of the Interior called the move to sell public lands a red line and was adamant: Its a no now. It will be a no later. It will be a no forever. As Zinke explained his firm opposition: I prefer the management scheme and I give as an example a hotel. If you dont like the management of a hotel, dont sell the hotel; change the management.

At almost the same time, Canadas Prime Minister, Mark Carney was using almost the same words in his White House meeting. After listening to Trumps blather about how Canada should be our 51st state, how much he loved Canada and how erasing the artificial border line would make one beautiful piece of real estate, Carney used Trumps own real estate line to fire back: As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale. Were sitting in one right now. Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, its not for sale, wont be for sale, adding: Canadas not for sale. It never will be for sale.

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Carney won office largely on his opposition to Trumps intentions to take over Canada, saying during the election that: America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. But these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never ever happen.

Both Zinke and Carney are dead right. Polls show 74% of Americans oppose the sale of our public lands  and Carneys election speaks for itself. He won by fighting Trumps nasty threat to take over our northern neighbor that 77% of Canadians oppose.

For a guy whos always been told he can have everything he wants, the double-barrel blast should be a wake up call. The world is not one big real estate sale to be marketed solely to make greedy billionaires even more money. Kudos to Zinke and Carney  and hopefully a sign to the rest of Congress and the world that its time to tell our spoiled child of a president No means no!

Editors note: This column has been updated to reflect the proper committee assignments for Rep. Ryan Zinke.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office at the White House on May 6, 2025 in Washington, DC. Carney, who was elected into office last week, is expected to meet with President Trump to discuss trade and the recent tariffs imposed on Canada. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Every kid has heard No means no! when they want something their parents dont think they should have. This week that phrase got a couple high profile uses when Canadas new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, told Donald Trump right to his face that Canada was not and never would be for sale and Montanas Congressman Ryan Zinke forcefully said no to the sale of public lands in the West.

In this day and age seeing U.S. politicians keep their campaign promises  or honor their oaths of office  is becoming increasingly rare. But on keeping public lands in public hands, Rep. Zinke did just that.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The measure in question was part of the big, beautiful bill touted by Trump to give yet more tax breaks to the already wealthy. The new twist was to sell hundreds of thousands of acres of federal lands in Nevada and Utah for mining, logging, drilling and development to finance those tax breaks.

Doug Burgum, the Secretary of the Interior, has publicly declared public lands and resources as natural assets that can be used to pay down the national debt. Consequently, GOP Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada and Celeste Maloy of Utah inserted the public land sale as an amendment since it was not contained in the original draft of the bill due to bipartisan opposition.

Montanas Congressman and former Secretary of the Interior called the move to sell public lands a red line and was adamant: Its a no now. It will be a no later. It will be a no forever. As Zinke explained his firm opposition: I prefer the management scheme and I give as an example a hotel. If you dont like the management of a hotel, dont sell the hotel; change the management.

At almost the same time, Canadas Prime Minister, Mark Carney was using almost the same words in his White House meeting. After listening to Trumps blather about how Canada should be our 51st state, how much he loved Canada and how erasing the artificial border line would make one beautiful piece of real estate, Carney used Trumps own real estate line to fire back: As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale. Were sitting in one right now. Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, its not for sale, wont be for sale, adding: Canadas not for sale. It never will be for sale.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Carney won office largely on his opposition to Trumps intentions to take over Canada, saying during the election that: America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. But these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never ever happen.

Both Zinke and Carney are dead right. Polls show 74% of Americans oppose the sale of our public lands  and Carneys election speaks for itself. He won by fighting Trumps nasty threat to take over our northern neighbor that 77% of Canadians oppose.

For a guy whos always been told he can have everything he wants, the double-barrel blast should be a wake up call. The world is not one big real estate sale to be marketed solely to make greedy billionaires even more money. Kudos to Zinke and Carney  and hopefully a sign to the rest of Congress and the world that its time to tell our spoiled child of a president No means no!

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com.
Host of Jeopardy! and Washington native Ken Jennings set the record straight this week: there is no s in Pike Place.

On an episode that aired Wednesday, a contestant was asked to solve the following:

IF THE 1960S PLAN TO REPLACE THIS SEATTLE MARKET WITH HIGH-RISES HAD SUCCEEDED, THERE MIGHT BE NO STARBUCKS TODAY.

Contestant Dan Moren, a writer and podcaster from Massachusetts, buzzed in.

What is Pikes Place Market? he answered.

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No. Sorry, Dan, we are sticklers in Seattle. Its Pike Place, Jennings responded.

Close  but not close enough for us Washingtonians.

A Reddit user posted a clip of the interaction between the contestant and Jennings, who is from Edmonds:

The iconic Market sits above Elliott Bay off Pike Street (not Pikes Street) and First Avenue.

The street was named by Arthur Denny in 1869, after his friend John Pike. (Again  Pike, not Pikes.)

It was established in 1907 by Seattle City Councilman Thomas P. Revelle to allow farmers to sell directly to consumers.

It is one of the oldest and largest continuously operating public markets in the United States.

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The Market spans nine acres in the center of downtown Seattle.

Millions of people visit the Market each year to purchase locally made and locally sourced foods and goods.

The Public Market Center sign and clock were installed in 1937.

1.5 acres of Pike Place were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. A larger area was added to the historic district listing in 1972.

The first Starbucks opened in March of 1971.

To read more about the history of Pike Place Market, click here.
CLEVELAND, Wis. (WFRV)  No threat was found after authorities responded to a report of a possible armed individual near Cleveland Elementary School on Thursday.

Deputies from the Manitowoc County Sheriffs Office responded to the report shortly before 2:45 p.m. Out of an abundance of caution, Cleveland Elementary School and Lakeshore Technical College were placed on temporary lockdown.

Wisconsin private school settles disability discrimination claims for $290K

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After a thorough investigation and search of the area, the report was determined to be unsubstantiated. There is no ongoing danger to students, staff, or the community.

How to know if you have a REAL ID in Wisconsin:

We take all reports seriously and appreciate the cooperation of school officials, parents, and community members, the sheriffs office said. The safety of our schools remains a top priority.

No additional details were released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will no longer update its widely cited list of weather and climate disasters that cause billions of dollars in damage, in yet another stunning example of the Trump administration's hostility towards climate science.

For over fifty years, NOAA has tracked extreme weather events, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and droughts. The database has provided the public, media institutions, and scientists a vital way of gauging the human and economic toll of our ever-shifting climate, with its unique pool of data that other institutions don't have access to.

But on Thursday, NOAA announced that it would stop updating the database beyond 2024, "in alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes. All of its existing data is set to be archived.

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To scientists, it's a gut punch.

"The NOAA database is the gold standard we use to evaluate the costs of extreme weather," Jeff Masters, a meteorologist for Yale Climate Connections, told The Guardian. "And it's a major loss, since it comes at a time when we need to better understand how much climate change is increasing disaster losses."

Since records began in 1980, the database has registered 403 of these destructive weather and climate disasters, exceeding $2.915 trillion in costs.

Grimly, the frequency of these events has steadily escalated, the database showed. Between 1980 and 2024, there were nine billion-dollar disasters each year on average. But in the past five years, CNN notes, the annual average has spiked to 24.

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Part of what made the NOAA database so indispensable was that it drew on a wide range of sources that weren't available to the public, including private data from insurance companies and reports from local and state agencies.

"Without [the database], replicating or extending damage trend analyses, especially at regional scales or across hazard types, is nearly impossible without significant funding or institutional access to commercial catastrophe models," Jeremy Porter, co-founder of First Street, a climate risk financial modeling firm, told CNN.

Its shutdown follows a pattern of hostility towards climate science from president Trump, who has called climate change a "hoax" and a "scam." Multiple federal agencies have scrubbed all references to climate change from their websites, while federal research grants have been pulled for even mentioning the word "climate." The administration has also frozen billions of dollars in climate spending.

As part of Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency's gutting of the federal government, the Trump administration has fired or sought the "voluntary" resignation of over 1,300 NOAA employees, with another 1,000 workers set to follow  a total that represents nearly 20 percent of its original workforce.

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NOAA's database has faced some criticism from scientists for its methodology. This year, for example, the database says that no billion-dollar disasters have occurred. But according to the Washington Post, research from the National Centers for Environmental Information estimates that there have been six to eight of these costly disasters. How could it fail to include the devastating wildfire that razed vast swathes of Los Angeles in January, which has been widely reported as one of the costliest disasters in US history, wreaking an estimated $250 billion worth of destruction?

While that's cause for criticism and scientific debate, it doesn't warrant completely shutting the database down.

"It's absolutely important for the federal government to track the cost of disasters; there's no doubt about that," Roger Pielke, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who has been a leading critic of the database, told WaPo.

"Yanking down the database obfuscates the discussion on natural disasters, and for this to go away and not be part of the dialogue is a big problem," echoed former NOAA Administrator and oceanographer Rick Spinrad to CBS News.

More on climate change: Scientists Preparing Experiments to Dim the Sun
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A legendary cioppino feed fundraiser has given back to Kern County nonprofits over the years and continued that tradition on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people turned out for the Bakersfield West Rotary 30th annual Cioppino Feed in March, raising over $140,000. On Wednesday, half of the proceeds were awarded to various organizations at Stockdale Country Club.

The Boys and Girls Club, Bakersfield Museum of Art and Police Activities League each received $23,500.

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Were going to be using this check to pay our water bill, keep the lights on for the program, implement new programs, and ultimately, were a nonprofit organization, so what we do iswe live check to check, said Officer Jose Lara, with the Bakersfield Police Department.

The other half of the proceeds, which is $70,500 to be exact, was awarded to the Bakersfield West Rotary Stroope Family Foundation.

Thats a non-profit focused on enhancing the lives of youth in Kern County through education, health and welfare programs.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The highly indebted Russian pipeline operator Nord Stream 2 can continue its search for a new investor to save it from bankruptcy, a court in Switzerland ruled on Friday.

According to the court, the decision can still be appealed, meaning no further details on the case could be announced.

The Nord Stream 2 project was intended to bring natural gas from Russia to Germany through two 1,200-kilometre pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

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The landmark project was completed amid much fanfare, but never went into operation.

Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the German government cancelled the project, which critics saw as giving Russia too much influence over energy supplies to Europe.

One of the pipelines was damaged in a mysterious attack in 2022.

Media reports have recently speculated about the involvement of US investors in a possible deal.

Stephen P Lynch, a wealthy businessman and supporter of US President Donald Trump, has been mentioned in connection with the pipeline company.

The firm could become part of a US-Russian agreement to peacefully end the war in Ukraine, according to reports.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on state television in March that Nord Stream was "being discussed."
The countries that are part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) initiative have invited Ukraine to establish an expanded partnership.

Source: a statement by the Norwegian government, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Further support for Ukraine was the central theme of the JEF summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in parts of the meeting at Oslo City Hall remotely.

"We agreed to invite Ukraine to form an enhanced partnership with the Joint Expeditionary Force. Russias war against Ukraine has created the most serious security situation in Europe since the Second World War. We stand firm in our support to Ukraine. We also have a great deal to learn from the experience Ukraine has gained during the war. A closer partnership between Ukraine and the JEF will be important for promoting security and stability in our corner of Europe," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre.

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The nations agreed that the JEF should strengthen its work to better coordinate and cooperate with NATO.

"The JEF nations have unique expertise and insight, and we are to provide support to NATO in the regions we know so well. The Baltic Sea region, the High North and the North Atlantic are our geostrategic area of concern and mutual interest. The JEF is a forum for promoting practical cooperation, shared situational awareness and exchange of experience that can help to strengthen both NATO as a whole and the defence and emergency preparedness of the individual countries," says Stre.

Background:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously stated that Ukraine is interested in expanding cooperation with the countries of the Joint Expeditionary Force and in becoming a full member of this initiative.

The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a coalition established in 2014 and led by the United Kingdom, which includes Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic States and the Netherlands. The coalition focuses on maintaining security in the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the High North.

In January 2025, these countries launched enhanced monitoring of subsea infrastructure following the suspected damage to the Estlink-2 submarine power line and several submarine communication cables in the Gulf of Finland on 25 December 2024. These activities are conducted in addition to national and NATO activities.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
KURE BEACH, N.C. (WNCT)  The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) is launching the first phase of a $65 million expansion and renovation in the fall of 2025.

At the heart of this project is a new shark habitat, which will help expand the Aquarium into the largest in the state.

This project is about more than updating our facilities; its about moving boldly into the future, with a reimagined visitor experience unlike any other in the state, Director for the North Carolina Aquariums Division, Hap Fatzinger said. Were creating new, dynamic spaces that educate, connect, and empower our community.

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The project will also include an interactive touch pool, a live coral reef habitat, a state-of-the-art education center with a seamless pathway to outdoor learning, and a breathtaking rooftop sky deck.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

Removing phones from classrooms. Overhauling the foster care system. Expanding the powers and size of the state auditors office. Allowing the concealed carry of a handgun without a permit.

These are just a handful of the hundreds of bills under consideration by North Carolina lawmakers this session. This week provided a key checkpoint for which of them have momentum, and which are doomed to stall out.

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Thursday marked the General Assemblys crossover deadline  the day by which a bill has to have been passed by either the House or Senate. If it hasnt, its considered dead for the remainder of the legislative biennium  through 2026.

Crossover is far from definitive, though. Budget and tax bills dont have to meet the deadline. And lawmakers have ways of getting around the deadline  like gutting and replacing an eligible bill with a new policy, or stuffing policy proposals into the state budget.

Nothing is ever dead around here, House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) told reporters Wednesday evening after the chambers final pre-crossover votes.

Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers, have almost always prioritized their own members bills. Its resulted in frustrations for Democrats, particularly in the Senate, where the party leader says theyve had almost no input.

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Its supposed to be lauded that this is the higher chamber, Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake) told reporters Wednesday. But I feel like we act like were at the kids table half the time, in middle school, where you dont want to invite individuals who have equal representation in their districts to the table.

Both the House and the Senate will likely begin taking up bills from the other chamber in the coming weeks. Lawmakers in the House are also expected to begin active debate and negotiations on the state budget, a version of which has already passed the Senate.

NC Newsline has been following many of the major bills moving through the legislature over the past five months. Theyre organized by subject, alphabetically. Scroll down for links to our additional reporting on the proposals, as well as to the full text and history of each bill.

North Carolina lawmakers, cabinet members and members of the state Supreme Court mingle on the House floor ahead of Gov. Josh Steins State of the State address on March 12, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

AGRICULTURE

Banning foreign farmland ownership: Bans claims on certain land by China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Passed House. House Bill 133.

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Raw milk sales: Allows for sale of raw milk to those in herd share agreements. Does not qualify for crossover deadline, progressing in Senate. Senate Bill 639.

Banning ESG in agricultural lending: Bars banks and credit unions from denying loans to agriculture producers based on their lack of a commitment to ESG  environmental, social, and governance factors. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 554.

Farm Act of 2025: Omnibus bill contains a variety of provisions, including a section that would limit the right to bring suit against pesticide manufacturers. Does not qualify for crossover deadline; still progressing in Senate. Senate Bill 639.

BUDGET & TAXES

State budget: $32.6 billion to fund the states operations and programs, cutting vacant positions and offering small raises to state workers. Passed Senate; House will likely release and debate their own budget. Senate Bill 257.

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Hurricane Helene aid: $524 million for homebuilding, infrastructure repairs and farm aid in western North Carolina. Signed into law. House Bill 47.

BUSINESS & WORKFORCE

Unemployment benefits increase: Raises maximum weekly payment to $450 from $350. Passed House. House Bill 48.

CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Repealing Duke Energy emissions deadline: Removes 2030 carbon reduction goals for the utility company. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 261.

PFAS pollution and polluter liability: authorizes the Secretary of Environmental Quality to order a responsible party to pay for costs incurred by a public water system to address adverse effects resulting from PFAS contamination. Passed House. House Bill 569.

A teacher assists a student during class at Moore Square Magnet School in Raleigh on April 7, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

EDUCATION

Banning cell phones in schools: A House proposal allows districts to create their own policies governing cell phone use. A Senate bill requires districts to ban them during instructional time. Both versions have passed one chamber. House Bill 87, Senate Bill 55.

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Taking books with sexual content off shelves: Requires districts to create committees that would review school library materials and rule on whether they follow state guidelines. Passed House. House Bill 636.

School calendar changes: A Senate bill would let schools start up to a week earlier. A House bill would repeal the current calendar law, allowing school boards to decide when the school year starts and ends. Both versions have passed one chamber. Senate Bill 754, House Bill 121.

GOVERNMENT & EXECUTIVE POWER

Banning diversity, equity and inclusion: Three bills seek to eliminate DEI offices, training and programming across the public sector.

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Barring AG from challenging executive orders: The attorney generals office, currently held by Democrat Jeff Jackson, would be blocked from challenging presidential executive orders. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 58.

Auditors investigative powers: Allows auditor to investigate any entity receiving state or federal money and overhaul the offices staffing. Passed House. House Bill 549.

Auditors DAVE team: Creates a DOGE-esque team within auditors office to examine state agencies spending and job openings using A.I. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 474.

State investment in cryptocurrency: Allows up to 5% of states pension investments to be in cryptos equivalent of mutual funds. Passed House. House Bill 92.

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Investment authority board: Five-member board of appointees would oversee states $127 billion in investments, rather than solely the treasurer. Passed House. House Bill 506.

GUNS & WEAPONS

Permitless carry: All residents 18 or older can carry concealed handguns without a permit, unless otherwise prohibited by law. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 50.

Concealed carry in private schools: All residents with valid permits can carry a handgun on properties owned or operated by private schools. Passed House. House Bill 193.

North Carolina state auditor Dave Boliek speaks to lawmakers about a bill that would give his office a new team to examine state spending and jobs on April 2, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

HEALTH CARE & SOCIAL SERVICES

Limiting protections for transgender youth: The Parents Protection Act would prevent parents and guardians who deny their trans childs gender identity from facing abuse or neglect designations. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 442.

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Parents access to medical records: The Parents Medical Bill of Rights would require parental consent in most circumstances for minors seeking health care and prescriptions, including contraceptives and mental health treatment. Passed House. House Bill 519.

Repealing certificate of need: Rolls back law requiring certain health care facilities and services to go through an approval process to determine their necessity. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 370.

Medicaid work requirements: Requires those enrolled in Medicaid expansion to work in order to receive benefits. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 403, and included in Senate budget (Senate Bill 257).

Overhauling child welfare and foster care: The state Department of Health and Human Services would have greater oversight over counties handling of child welfare cases  provisions aim to reduce hurdles to permanent homes for children in foster care. Passed House. House Bill 612.

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Regulating health insurance companies prior authorization reviews: Puts limits on how health insurance companies review medical cases before giving doctors the okay to treat patients. Passed House. House Bill 434.

Requiring hospitals to disclose their prices: A Senate bill would require hospitals to disclose their costs in advance, provide cost estimates for non-emergency care, and would prohibit hospitals charging fees when patients go to associated clinics. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 316.

Buying ivermectin: The drug popularized by conservative media would be available without prescription from North Carolina pharmacists. Some began taking the anti-parasitic drug during the COVID-19 pandemic to treat or prevent the viral infection, but its effectiveness is unproven. Passed House. House Bill 618.

Breast cancer imaging: Provides coverage parity for supplemental and diagnostic screenings. Passed House. House Bill 297.

Abortion rights: Human Life Protection Act (House Bill 804) would ban all abortions except those necessary to save the life of the mother. Right to Reproductive Freedom Act would codify the abortion rights once secured by Roe v. Wade. (House Bill 509, Senate Bill 467). Died in their chambers of origin.

HOUSING

Banning camping on public property: Bars local governments from allowing or authorizing camping and sleeping on public property. Passed House. House Bill 781.

Drug-free homeless shelters: Requires homeless shelters to be drug-free. Passed House. House Bill 437.

Development and zoning: Omnibus housing development bill. Allows civil lawsuits against individuals for development decisions made on city councils or planning boards. Does not qualify for crossover deadline, progressing in House. House Bill 765.

INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media protections for minors: Bans platforms from allowing minors under 14 years old from holding accounts, and allowing 14- and 15-year olds to have accounts only with consent from a parent or guardian. Passed House. House Bill 3o1.

Social media education: Schools would be required to teach about medias effects on social and emotional health. Passed House. House Bill 959.

LAW ENFORCEMENT & IMMIGRATION

State agencies cooperation with ICE: Requires state agencies to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and waives immunity for local governments with sanctuary ordinances in cases where an undocumented immigrant commits a crime. Passed Senate. Senate Bill 153.

Death penalty methods: Would allow execution by electric chair and firing squad. Died in House. House Bill 270.

Removing alleged squatters: Allows private property owners to remove alleged squatters without an opportunity to contest their claims; they can pursue litigation for wrongful eviction and recover damages. Passed House. House Bill 96.

Limiting rights of transgender people: The Womens Safety and Protection Act would restrict access to public restrooms for trans people and prohibit the modification of sex markers on birth certificates and drivers licenses. Died in the Senate. Senate Bill 516.

Reporting: Galen Bacharier, Lynn Bonner, Christine Zhu, Brandon Kingdollar, Gregory Childress, Clayton Henkel and Ahmed Jallow.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of short-range ballistic missile systems that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against U.S. and South Korean forces, state media said Friday, as the North continued to blame its rivals for escalating tensions through their joint military exercises.

The report came a day after South Koreas military detected multiple launches from North Koreas eastern coast and assessed that the tests could also be related to the countrys weapons exports to Russia during its war in Ukraine.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said Thursdays tests involved a mobile ballistic missile system apparently modeled after Russias Iskander, as well as 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers that South Korean officials classify as ballistic due to their self-propulsion and guided flight. Both are part of a growing lineup of weapons systems that the North says could be armed with tactical nuclear weapons for battlefield use.

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KCNA said the tests were intended to train military units operating missile and rocket systems to more effectively execute attacks under the Norths nuclear weapons control system and ensure a swift response to a nuclear crisis.

The agency criticized the United States and its vassal states for expanding joint military exercises on and around the Korean Peninsula, which the North claims are preparations for nuclear war, and said Thursdays launches demonstrated the rapid counteraction posture of its forces.

Kim stressed the need to strengthen the role of his nuclear forces in both deterring and fighting war, and called for continued efforts to improve combat readiness and precision strike capabilities, KCNA said.

Kim Inae, spokesperson for South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, described the latest North Korean launches as a clear act of provocation that violates UN Security Council resolutions and poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.

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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as North Korean leader Kim continues to accelerate the development of his nuclear and missile program and supply weapons and troops to support Russias war against Ukraine.

In a separate report, KCNA said Kim Jong Un visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Unions defeat of Nazi Germany and praised the development of long-standing strategic relations between the two countries.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursdays launches involved multiple missiles of various types that were fired from an area around the eastern port city of Wonsan from about 8:10 to 9:20 a.m., with the farthest traveling about 800 kilometers (497 miles).

Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing the North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to send military equipment and troops to fuel Russias warfighting against Ukraine.

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Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that none of the North Korean missiles reached Japans exclusive economic zone and there was no damage to vessels or aircraft in the area.

It was the Norths first known ballistic activity since March 10, when it fired several ballistic missiles hours after U.S. and South Korean troops began an annual combined military exercise, and the countrys sixth launch event of the year.

Thursdays launch came a day after North Korean state media said Kim urged munition workers to boost the production of artillery shells amid his deepening alignment with Moscow.
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said North Koreas involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war was justified, calling it an exercise of sovereign rights in defence of a brother nation, state media KCNA reported on Saturday.

"Our participation in the conflict was just, and it falls within the sovereign rights of our Republic," Kim said, according to KCNA. "I consider all the brave soldiers who participated in the Kursk operation to be heroes and the highest representatives of the nations honour," he added.

Kim also said Pyongyang would not hesitate to authorise the use of military force if the United States persists in what he called military provocations against Russia.

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North Korea did not officially confirm until late April that it had sent more than 10,000 troops and weapons to Russia as the countries' military ties grew dramatically under a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.

(Reporting by Heekyong Yang, Jack Kim and Josh Smith; Editing by Leslie Adler)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test of a short-range ballistic missile and long-range artillery on Thursday and stressed the importance of combat readiness of the country's nuclear forces, state media reported on Friday.

The test, which also included an inspection of the operational reliability of its "nuclear trigger" system, was designed to ensure the rapid response posture to counter the sensitive regional military climate, KCNA news agency said.

South Korea and Japan on Thursday reported multiple ballistic missiles were fired from North Korea's east coast in what was believed to be a performance test of short-range missiles that had been already deployed.

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KCNA said the 600 mm multiple launch rocket systems and tactical ballistic missile Hwasong-11 were mobilised for the test.

Hwasong-11 is known internationally as KN-23, a series of the North's short-range ballistic missiles that Ukraine and Western officials have said were being supplied to Russia and used by Moscow to strike Ukraine.

Ahead of the missile launches, there was an inspection of a nuclear defense system, dubbed by the North as "nuclear trigger", KCNA said.

"Kim Jong Un said that it is very important to steadily perfect the normal combat readiness of the nuclear force" to deter war and fight war, " KCNA said.

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"He said that the DPRK should continue to direct efforts to steadily improving the long-range precision striking capability and efficiency of weapons systems," KCNA said, using the short form for the country's official name.

A South Korean military official and an analyst said Thursday's missile launches were was likely to test the performance of a short-range missile arsenal, possibly to upgrade them for export.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Michael Perry)
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  The North Myrtle Beach Business owner who shot and killed Scott Spivey during a 2023 road rage incident is seeking immunity and compensation from Spiveys family, Horry County court records show.

Spivey was involved in an altercation with Kenneth Williams and Weldon Boyd in September 2023. Jennifer Foley, Spiveys sister, sued Boyd in June 2024.

The motion to dismiss Foleys lawsuit could grant both Boyd and Williams immunity from criminal charges. They also seek compensation for attorney and court fees, as well as a loss of income.

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An Horry County police report showed Spivey had allegedly initiated the shooting before he was killed. However, about a week later, 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson asked the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office to review the shooting after Boyd, who owns Buoys on the Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach, posted a thank you message on Facebook shortly after the shooting.

In April 2024 the South Carolina Attorney Generals office said it declined to prosecute Boyd. A spokesperson told News13 it was due to insufficient evidence.

Since then, Horry Countys deputy police chief, Brandon Strickland, resigned, another was fired, and three others face disciplinary action after claims of misconduct involving the case. Stricklands attorney denied the misconduct claims.

Act like a victim photo is new wrinkle in SLED probe of Horry County police conduct in Scott Spivey case

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Foley has publicly asked Horry County leaders, the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office and Gov. Henry McMaster to re-open the case into Spiveys death.

Foleys attorney, Mark Tinsley, told News13 the hearing is set for June 9 in Horry County Circuit Court.

Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work here.

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APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV)  Stacks of handwritten testimonies lined the tables at Wednesdays Protect Medicaid rally in the Fox Cities, each sheet representing a local patient whose health and livelihood depend on the program.

Each one of these papers represents the voice of a patient and someone who lives in the Fox Cities area, said Trish Sarvela, chief development officer of Partnership Community Health Center. These are reasons and stories why people believe Medicaid is important because it changes their lives.

Father of teen who killed teacher & student at Wisconsin school faces felony charges

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Sarvela and other advocates warn that trimming benefits or imposing stricter eligibility requirements could have dire consequences for low-income residents, the disabled and senior citizens.

For many, these benefits arent optional  theyre life-saving, she added.

Among those sharing their stories was 88-year-old Peggy Skruch, a lifelong Wisconsinite on both Medicare and Medicaid.

Im on 25 pills a day, Skruch said. If I didnt have my ForwardHealth, I wouldnt be able to afford the medication thats keeping me alive. And I want to reach my 100th birthday  Medicaid is helping me do that.

Families like that of Aaron Depies also spoke out on behalf of loved ones who cannot advocate for themselves. Depies seven-year-old stepdaughter is non-verbal and autistic, and relies on Medicaid for therapy and medical equipment.

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For us as a family, it would affect every aspect of our living if she were to get cut off completely, he said.

Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI-08), who represents much of northeast Wisconsin, told reporters he opposes any budget that guts Medicaid.

We must do this to strengthen Medicaid for the most vulnerable Americans who truly depend on it, he said, pledging to fight proposed reductions.

Two in Wisconsin arrested on drug charges after hotel employee discovers narcotics in room

Organizers plan to deliver the collected testimonies to state and federal offices in the coming weeks.

Theyre calling on all Medicaid enrollees and their supporters to contact their elected representatives and share their own stories before decisions are made.

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Two recent groundbreaking hypersonic test flights featured a Northrop Grumman capability designed to allow high-speed systems to navigate and maneuver when GPS isnt available.

The company told Defense News this week that its inertial measurement unit, or IMU, flew onboard Stratolaunchs Talon-A glide vehicle during its first two hypersonic flights in December and March.

The successful demonstration of IMU technology on a hypersonic aircraft  which can travel and maneuver at speeds of Mach 5 or higher  is an industry first, according to Jonathan Green, Northrops chief technology officer for emerging capabilities development.

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It met all of our goals  and the fact that it survived throughout this first flight test  these are all incredibly positive developments for how were maturing this technology, he said in an interview.

The Pentagon disclosed the Talon-A tests this week, marking the first successful flights of a reusable hypersonic vehicle since the X-15 program ended in 1968. The U.S. in recent years has increased its investment in high-speed weaponry and aircraft, and Stratolaunchs testbed reflects a renewed urgency to create test opportunities for the components and subsystems needed to support major hypersonic development efforts.

Northrops Advanced Hypersonic Technology IMU is designed to allow high-speed systems to navigate without GPS  a capability that could be disrupted by adverse weather, difficult terrain or enemy jamming and spoofing.

Using advanced sensors to understand how a platform is moving through its environment, the IMU calculates where the system has traveled and what path it needs to take to continue on its trajectory. According to Josei Chang, senior director of advanced technologies at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, the system performed as expected during the flight tests and accurately calculated the vehicles path.

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While Northrop has developed IMUs for spacecraft, this version is a smaller, more rugged system, repackaged to fit on an air vehicle and designed to survive the harsh conditions of Mach 5 flight.

What we have done within Northrop Grumman is to develop an inertial navigation technology that really started from our lineage in space-based inertial navigation, Green said. We took that capability, that portfolio of technology, and enhanced it.

The hypersonic flights represent a significant milestone for the system, which is still in the research and development phase. An abstract for an upcoming navigation conference notes Northrop is developing IMU technology in partnership with the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Systems Center, but the company declined to confirm whether it has any formal development partners or contracts.

Northrop plans to test the IMU on a sounding rocket sometime this quarter and is also eyeing another test event later this year at Holloman Air Force Base in Utah. That test will focus on how the system performs in an environment with high gravitational force.

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The company is also closely tracking Talon-As test schedule, though Green wouldnt confirm whether the IMU would be on Stratolaunchs next flight, slated for this spring or summer.

This partnership that weve had with Stratolaunch to get the system out there and get it tested was absolutely critical, he said. It does speak to the importance of being able to test these things and have the resources to test these things.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  St. Petersburg residents spoke up, and the Florida Legislature heard them. Lawmakers passed the No vehicle wake flood zone provision, banning drivers from speeding through flooded streets and creating damaging wakes.

The plan is to lower the speed limit in the area when necessary. St. Petersburg City Council Member Brandi Gabbard helped spearhead the provision.

New law aims to hold owners accountable for derelict boats

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Slowing the speed down to an idle way so that people can still get to their homes or from their homes if they have to go to work. But that its slowed down enough so that its not pushing that wake, Gabbard said.

She said drivers can be ticketed in what will be considered a minor offense. Enforcement can happen across jurisdictions and across the state.

Rivera Bay residents described how bad the flooding was after Hurricane Helene.

It came up to right about here; weve never had flooding before, said Britni Cox.

News Channel 8 On Your Side spoke with Cox just as a realtor was leaving her house.

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Right now, were leaning more towards the selling, Cox said.

Other residents are trying to stick it out and make repairs.

(The water) was just below the doorknobs but they came in through the windows on the sun porch, said Jodi Crumbliss. We just finished the bathroom, thats a plus. Kitchen, still nothing, and a lot to do.

Crumbliss shared photos of her flooded neighborhood. One picture showed a truck driving through the flood waters.

It comes into our homes, so quit playing, its not a game. Our homes are important to us, and we do everything we can to keep the water out, Crumbliss said.

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News Channel 8 On Your Side asked Crumbliss if she felt the drivers made her home flooding worse. She responded by saying, Absolutely.

You get the kids who love running up and down in the water. They think its a game and they think its fun just to see the water splash, Crumbliss said.

They live in district two, which is council member Gabbards district. Gabbard said there is more to be done.

This is not the only solution. We not only need to work on our storm water system, we also need to be serious about how we help people elevate their homes, Gabbard said. We need to get people up out of harms way while were making sure the infrastructure that is there is dependable and can keep them as safe as possible.

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Some residents said this provision wont change anything for them now.

Too little too late, at least for my circumstances, but I cant speak for the next person out there, Cox said. We still got a little bit of issues going on with the flooding and drainage systems going through here so hopefully stay away from floods please.

Both Cox and Crumbliss hope this provision will help as the city tackles larger flooding problems.

They need to do some work on the canals and what not to help the rising water, but thats down the road, I guess. But that is a great beginning to at least helping people like us who live close to the water, Crumbliss said.

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Gabbard said the council is expected to get an update from the St. Petersburg police chief at the next quarterly report about enforcing the provision.

If Governor DeSantis signs the bill, it will go into effect July 1.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  I did not have that on my radar at all, Bishop Edward Rice with the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau said.

To say Rice is still in shock about the selection of Pope Leo XIV would be an understatement.

I am stunned. I am stunned that it was a pope from the United States, Rice said.

So stunned that Rice, when Ozarks First interview him after Pope Francis passing, said the next Pope could very well come from America, but wasnt confident that it would happen.

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The last time when we spoke, probably 90% of that [likely happening] was in jest, I thought, theres no way theres going to be an American pope, but the Holy Spirit guided the conclave in that direction, Rice said.

Rice has not met Robert Provest, who has taken on the name of Pope Leo XIV, but says he will likely meet him in 2027.

I look forward to meeting him. You know, every seven years we have what is called the liminal visit where we take all of our information, and do a deep dive into our dioceses with all the sacramental records, Rice said. We go to the Holy Father every seven years to sort of explain to him whats going on in our dioceses. So the next one should be in 2027, I believe, and so that will probably be my first opportunity to meet with him.

Pope Leo XIV is from Chicago, something else Rice is excited about.

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Hes from the Midwest and well see how that plays out. I always tell people its good to be from the Midwest for good people here. Were hardworking people, but also his experience as a missionary down in Peru for so many years, hes had a good taste of our culture from different places, Rice said.

Others in the Catholic faith are celebrating the day, excited about the first-ever American Pope.

As a relatively new Catholic, I joined last year and its exciting for me just because everything in this process has been new for me. Having a new pope that is from the United States is really cool because I kind of personally feel like this is a new chapter for me, and also the church, Kandice Riley said.

Im just really happy that the conclave reached its completion. I have a lot of peace with the discernment of all the cardinals that I have a lot of trust. The Holy Spirit was present in their discussions and their decision making. Its really exciting. Its a joyful time for the church, and Im really excited for this, for this new development for sure, Simon Elfrink said.

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Before Provest was announced, Ozarks First spoke to other followers about their reaction to the white smoke seen this morning.

I hope and pray that, you know, their belief in God is, you know, the biggest thing, Jeffrey Quinn said. One thing with Pope Francis is that all he did was love and he went out around all the people everywhere and all around the world and spoke. I think he just did such a great job of that, and Im sure well continue with this next one.

Even young members of the Catholic Church like soon-to-be-12-year-old Joseph Hunt said he was excited about the first new Pope of his lifetime.

Its exciting. Me and my mom were very surprised that they elected a new pope, and this is just an exciting day, Hunt said. I hope he loves God and wants to be like Jesus and that he can be like Jesus is basically all I have to say about that.

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Ozarks First asked Bishop Rice to explain the name Leo and why that was taken as the name for the next Pope.

We usually take a saint that appeals to us, so in taking the name Leo, there were 13 before him. The most recent one, Pope Leo the 13th who lived in the late 1800s, was a real champion for workers rights. He believed in unionization. He believed in a family wage, things like that. Very practical, especially during the industrialization of so many areas of the world, Rice said. You go all the way back to Pope Leo, the first in the three hundreds, and you discover somebody who had to really proclaim the gospel under difficult situations. There is a lot of mistaken understandings about Jesus and different heresies that he had to deal with, and so from Leo, the first all the way to Leo the 13th and now the 14th, he has a he has a great patronage, a great spiritual lineage.

Rice says he expects Pope Leo XIV to continue a message the new Pope has spread in the past; Unity.

IF we can take a clue from his motto, his motto is about unity, and so I would think he would be really investing himself in unifying the church, Rice said. I think unity will be a key of his pontificate.

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Its a message other followers hope is continued too.

I just hope that Pope Leo just has a strong presence and a unifying presence for the church, Riley said.

As far as things that Pope Francis did that I hope Pope Leo carries on is obviously the commitment to unity, Elfrink said.

Rice tells Ozarks First that he wasnt shocked at the amount of time leaders convened before making the pick.

Probably two days was it was faster than usual. I think the last couple of Popes had been within 3 to 4 days, Rice said. [His name] wasnt even mentioned which shows, number one, the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was in charge of this entire process, and it also shows some of these pundits that are making all their comments, they were shooting from the hip. They didnt know.

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As Pope Leo XIV begins his time as the leader of the Catholic Church, Rice is still in shock, but says the Pope is chosen at specific times for a reason.

When they came out and announced him on the balcony, Im like, who? Everybodys like, we dont know who he is, and thats a beautiful thing. When you think about it, know thats the power of the Holy Spirit selecting the person that we need for the moment. Ive always said that when John Paul was elected, he was the Pope that we needed, [the same for] Benedict and Francis. They were the popes that we needed at the time, and so now we can assume by the power of the Holy Spirit that we need Leo XIV for now, Rice said.

Rice adds that on Monday at St. Agnes Cathedral at 5:30, they will have a thanksgiving mass to celebrate the new Pope.

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Joe Biden slipped into the background months before the end of his lone presidential term, so it's a bit jarring to see him come out fighting on "The View."

Biden suspended his presidential campaign last year, bowing to pressure from strategists and party officials who believed he had lost a step. Speaking to the hosts of the long-running talk show on Thursday, the former president vehemently denied reports that his cognitive abilities had declined.

"They are wrong," Biden said. "There is nothing to sustain that."

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Former First Lady Jill Biden backed her husband up, saying that several tell-all books were written by people who were "not in the White House with us."

"They didnt see how hard Joe worked every single day," she said. "I mean, it was nonstop."

Biden added that his decision to step aside for former Vice President Kamala Harris was not an admission that he couldn't handle the gig.

"The only reason I got out of the race was because I didnt want to have a divided Democratic Party. Its a simple proposition. And so thats why I got out of the race," he said. "I thought it was better to put the country ahead of my interest, my personal interest. Im not being facetious. Im being deadly earnest about that."

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Elsewhere in the interview, Biden criticized President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. He said the president was carelessly destroying the United States' standing on the global stage.

"I think he has done, quite frankly, a very poor job in the interest of the United States of America," Biden shared.

Trump has been notably fixated on Biden during the first few months of his second term, attacking the ex-president's use of an autopen and floating the idea of reversing presidential pardons that Biden granted to his family members. When asked why Trump held such a grudge, Biden offered a pat answer.

I beat him, he said.

Watch the entire interview below:
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Wilmot Cancer Institute Nurses hosted their second annual wellness fair to support one another.

In honor of Nurses Appreciation Week, the event helped to ensure that nurses are taking care of each other so they can continue to provide the best patient care possible.

Being a nurse is one of the most challenging, but rewarding professions I can imagine, Senior Nurse Manager Claire Somers. Its an honor to be a part of that journey.

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Many local vendors joined the fair, providing a variety of wellness tips the nurses can take into their own lives.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Its a mask slip-up.

A Gov. Kathy Hochul-backed mask ban in the $254 billion state budget deal drew jeers from lawmakers, who said it didnt go nearly far enough as they lined up to vote on the spending package Thursday.

The anti-mask measure was ultimately watered down to the point it will not be an actual ban, instead creating additional jail time and other minor penalties for people who wear face coverings to conceal their identities while committing crimes.

New York lawmakers criticized the mask ban in Gov. Kathy Hochuls state budget. James Messerschmidt

This is a nothing burger, state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk) said while debating the budget on the Senate floor Thursday.

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This was well intended, Im sure, but it doesnt get us to where we need to go, he added.

Many Jewish groups had pushed for a mask ban as a way to combat antisemitism by masked protesters in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas against Israel.

Its nice that we have it. We could all go home and say that we did something, but did we really? state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Nassau) railed on the Senate floor.

We passed something, but from a practical standpoint, we did not prioritize the safety of innocent people across the state, Martins added.

Masked anti-Israel protesters getting arrested after storming Columbia Universitys Butler Library on May 7, 2025. Christopher Sadowski

A group of organizations called the Unmask Hate Coalition that includes the Anti-Defamation League, NAACP, UJA Federation of New York and National Urban League nonetheless hailed the new penalty enhancer.

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This law couldnt have come a day sooner,  the coalition wrote in a statement Wednesday.

With this new language on the books, we look forward to long-awaited oversight and accountability for any and all individuals who would hide their faces to commit crimes with impunity, whether terrorizing, vandalizing, or harassing others. NYPD, DA Bragg  do your thing.

The new statute hadnt been signed into law as of Thursday evening, so it likely wont have any affect on the cases of masked, anti-Israel rabble-rousers who stormed a library on Columbia Universitys campus one day earlier.

Jewish lawmakers agreed with the assessment that the mask restriction is a day-late, dollar-short version of an actual mask ban that had been in place for more than 100 years before COVID-19.

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Theres no question about it, Assemblyman Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn) told The Post.

I know that there are members of this legislature who have been fighting for a long time to rectify a dumb move that was made five years ago, and this is the best we can get and well take it, but its probably not enough, Yeger added.

The past ban was scrapped by lawmakers in 2020 as masking became a public health necessity during the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers at the time were also responding to concerns from groups such as the New York Civil Liberties Union that said the ban could be unfairly used by cops against people of color.

There is compromising and then there is placating, Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens) said about the new mask restriction.

Masked Columbia protesters inside Butler Library. Obtained by NY Post

Berger said he hopes that Albany will move on other measures meant to combat antisemitism before lawmakers wrap this years legislative session in mid-June.

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I would hope that when the budget is passed, the legislature can come back and pass real solutions to combat a clear antisemitism problem in the state with the largest population of Jews outside the state of Israel.

Hochul sought to insert the item into the budget behind closed doors. Her initial proposal would have created a new penalty for masked harassment.

State Sen. Jim Skoufis, who sponsored the bill that the proposal was based upon, said Dems in his conference fiercely opposed his proposal, which itself falls well short of the straight up ban that had been on the books.

Its the best proposal that we could get, Skoufis admitted.
The three people accused in an armed robbery at an Ocala bank Thursday have been charged, including one who was shot by police.

Police say the trio robbed TD Bank on 17th Street early in the afternoon. At a subsequent news conference, Deputy Chief Lou Biondi said the suspects refused to stop their getaway vehicle, resulting in a chase that hit a top speed of around 90 mph.

That chase ended when the fleeing driver lost control and crashed into a retention pond near the 4400 block of Maricamp Road.

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Biondi said two suspects stayed with the crashed vehicle, while another, identified as Randall Lee Williford, got out and approached officers with a handgun.

Biondi said Williford ignored police orders to drop the gun, raising it up instead. He said at that point, police shot him.

The suspect was hit in the right wrist. The injury was not life-threatening.

After the other two were removed from the vehicle, all three were rushed to the hospital, the deputy chief said.

Williford, 37, is charged with robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and kidnapping.

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The other two suspects are Amanda Jean Bishop, 34, and Andre Javon Baker, 36. Both are charged with robbery with a firearm. Bishop also faces charges of fleeing and eluding police with disregard for the safety of people or property.

As for Willifords kidnapping charge, Biondi said he forced a bank teller to leave with them to help them get out. He said the teller was released when the suspects got to their vehicle.

The investigation into the shooting has been turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as is protocol for officer-involved shootings.

Meanwhile, the Ocala Police Department will handle the robbery investigation.

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This is the second time in a week that TD Bank has been robbed. Investigators say former Marion County deputy Christina Thagard robbed that same bank Saturday morning.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Some businesses on Ocean Boulevard are closing earlier on weekends for safety reasons, following the Myrtle Beach police officer-involved shooting in April.

Myrtle Beach police say just before midnight on April 26, 18-year-old Jerrius Davis of Bennettsville fired shots into a crowd of people between 9th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard.

An officer shot and killed Davis. Eleven people were injured during the shooting, including 15-year-old Serenity Chavis, who claims she was hit by an officers bullet.

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An employee at a clothing and gift shop called Generationx, who wanted to remain anonymous, says the store has not changed its hours since the shooting.

However, she says she needs to stay safe at work, for her children at home and her fellow employees.

What I really think about is the people injured, and how that couldve been me or one of my employees, she said. That right there, alone, put a little bit of fear in my little heart.

The employee says that before the shooting, she would leave the store around midnight. Now, she leaves at 9 p.m.

With peak tourism season just around the corner, the employee is worried the shooting may mean fewer customers and less money this year.

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Is it going to really stop the flow? she asked. Thats really what everybodys questioning at the moment. I pray that it dont.

The employee is also concerned that visitors are learning about the shooting and thinking they are not safe shopping downtown.

We should be able to thrive a little bit better, she said. Well, we should be able to, if people would put that a little bit to the side. It really dont have nothing to do with the businesses. You got to look at other stuff, not the businesses.

News13 spoke to employees at Myrtle Beach Fries and Boardwalk Paradise General Store, who are temporarily closing their stores earlier on weekends because of the shooting.

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They did not want to talk on-camera.

One Myrtle Beach Fries employee says she is closing earlier, but only until tourism season begins on Memorial Day Weekend.

Boardwalk Paradise General Store is also closing a few hours earlier, until they receive more information about the shooting from the city and police department.

News13 also spoke to Governor Henry McMaster at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic Pro-Am on Wednesday. He says both businesses and their customers should feel safe on Ocean Blvd.

They should realize that these things happen all over the place, McMaster said. They dont happen here like they do in other places. We have great law enforcement. I would say be smart, be careful, and have a good time. I think theyll be very pleased with their visit.

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A city spokesperson sent News13 a statement that said, in part, I dont think the decision of two businesses is reflective of the dozens of businesses in operation along this area of Ocean Boulevard.

She also said it is normal for business hours to change closer to the start of tourism season, and that the Myrtle Beach Police Department will have a strong presence on Ocean Boulevard.

* * *

Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
An Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) worker was involved in a crash twice in less than two months.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As previously reported by News Center 7, the latest crash happened Wednesday on Interstate 90 in Cuyahoga County.

Christian Nixon said on social media that his crew was cleaning out the sewers when the driver hit their crash attenuator.

It is a device hooked up to their arrow boards to protect workers.

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Nixon said they managed to finish their work and got the sewers cleaned.

We also want you guys to make sure that youre keeping yourself safe because were trying to do our part, and we ask that the motor public do theirs as well.

Nixon said he was involved in a crash back on March 14.

ODOT Cleveland posted pictures of the crash on its Facebook page.

It shows an orange SUV sustained front-end damage on the drivers side.

Please remember to pay attention, move over, and slow down around vehicles with flashing lights, ODOT Cleveland said. Our men and women just want to get home safely at the end of the day, and they rely on you, the motoring public, to ensure their safety.

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The Norwegian energy company Equinor said Friday it will be forced to terminate an offshore wind project for New York within days unless President Donald Trump 's administration relents on its order that stopped construction.

Work on Empire Wind has been paused since April 16, when Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt construction. Burgum said it needs further review because it appeared the Biden administration rushed the approval. Equinor went through a seven-year permitting process before starting to build Empire Wind last year, and the project is roughly a third complete.

Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and has signed a spate of executive orders aimed at boosting oil, gas and coal. His first day in office, Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pausing the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for all wind projects.

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Empire Wind is fully permitted and the developer has already invested more than $2.5 billion so far in the project, said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Renewables Americas, in an interview Friday.

She said this is an urgent, unsustainable situation because each day of uncertainty is extremely expensive: Equinor spends up to $50 million per week on the project and has 11 vessels on standby. The developer has done a significant amount of onshore work already, where the cable from the wind farm will connect to the local grid.

If no material progress is made toward a resolution within days, Equinor will be forced to terminate the project, she said. This is about honoring contracts and financial investments made in the U.S. It could set a dangerous precedent by stopping a project in mid-execution.

The Interior Department did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

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Equinor has over $60 billion in investments across the U.S., including substantial oil, gas and renewable projects. RWE, a German energy company, has stopped its offshore wind work in the United States, citing the political environment. French energy giant TotalEnergies paused the development of its offshore wind project in New York after Trump won reelection.

Equinor is considering legal options, but rather than getting tied up in the courts, Morris said the best way forward is a quicker political resolution. The summer construction window for major offshore work began this month, and missing it would set the project back a year, she said.

Morris and Equinor CEO Anders Opedal met with Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, on Wednesday. She said it was helpful, but they've asked to meet with Burgum and haven't gotten a meeting.

Equinor is building Empire Wind to start providing power in 2026 for more than 500,000 New York homes. Equinor finalized the federal lease for Empire Wind in March 2017, early in Trumps first term. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the construction and operations plan in February 2024 and construction began that year.

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New York is leading a coalition of state attorneys general challenging the wind energy executive order in court. They say in the lawsuit filed Monday that Trump doesnt have the authority to unilaterally shut down the permitting process, and hes jeopardizing development of a power source critical to the states economic vitality, energy mix, public health and climate goals.

The White House says Democratic attorneys general are trying to stop the presidents popular energy agenda instead of working with him to restore Americas energy dominance.

___

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Elizabeth Walters was elected the new chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. Photo courtesy Twitter.

The Ohio Democratic Party will have a new chair for the mid-term elections.

Liz Walters is stepping down as Ohio Democratic Party Chair no later than June 30 she announced earlier this week on X, former known as Twitter.

The state of the OH Dems organization is in the strongest possible position for change, and completing a chair transition now ensures the next leader of our party will have a healthy amount of time to get their legs under them for the 2026 cycle, she said in a statement.

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Walters was appointed chair in 2021 and was the first woman elected to the role. David Pepper was the previous chair.

Making the decision to leave was not easy, she said in her statement. It has been an honor, and a true vocation, to serve as the chair of the Party that I love in the state I call home.

Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, thanked Walters for her time as chair.

Liz has done an exceptional job for more than four years leading the Democratic Party in Ohio, Russo said in a statement. Her dedication to upholding the democratic values of freedom, dignity, and opportunity in the fight to make the lives of all Ohioans better is a testament to the legacy she will leave behind.

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The Ohio Democratic Party suffered losses in the 2024 election. Republican Bernie Moreno ousted long-time incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown who held office since 2006. All three Republican Ohio Supreme Court candidates swept their races giving the court a 6-1 Republican majority.

Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunners seat will be up next year.

Looking ahead to 2026, former Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton is currently the only Democratic candidate running for Ohio governor.

Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and political newcomer Heather Hill are all vying for the Republican nomination for governor.

Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.

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(WKBN)  The Ohio GOP announced Friday that it is backing Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

The state central committee voted 60-3 for Ramaswamys endorsement.

The group said its backing follows President Donald Trumps Day One endorsement of Ramaswamy.

The Ohio GOP said that Ramaswamy has headlined more than 30 GOP county dinners and visited 56 Ohio counties over the spring, drawing crowds in every region. He sat down in Apirl with WKBN Fist New anchor Stan Boney for a one on one about his vision for Ohio. You can watch that interview in the video player.

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He laid out three issues he wants to deal with  repopulating Ohio, education, and stopping young people from moving away.

Im honored to receive the official endorsement from the Ohio Republican Party to be the next Governor of Ohio and grateful for todays supermajority vote from the Republican State Central Committee, Ramaswamy said. A special thank you to President Trump; Senator Bernie Moreno; members of Ohios Congressional delegation, including Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson, Michael Rulli, and Dave Taylor; Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose; Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague; Ohio Senate President Robert McColley; and the majorities of the Republican caucuses in both chambers of the Ohio General Assemblyall of whom supported me early in this campaign.

Dr. Amy Acton, who helped lead Ohio at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as the former Ohio director of public health, has announced her candidacy on the Democratic ticket.

Ohio Attorney General David Yost announced his candidacy as a Republican, and Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel has also said that he not ruling out a run.

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Former Morgan County school board president Heather Hill announced her candidacy in February. She is a Republican and a business owner.

The election for Ohio governor takes place on Nov. 3, 2026.

Stan Boney contributed to this report.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Ohio Republican Party on Friday endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor.

The endorsement for the 2026 race came at the Ohio Republican State Central Committee meeting. Ramaswamy received 60 votes by secret ballot. He needed 44 votes.

Ramaswamy was endorsed by President Donald Trump not long after he officially launched his bid. The presidents daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, called in at the start of the meeting to urge unity within the party.

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Ramaswamy thanked the party for its endorsement.

Why Columbus is literally sinking more and more every year

Its a major milestone, and I think it reflects unprecedented unity in the Republican Party of this state, he said. That puts us in an incredibly strong position heading into 2026.

He said he would be looking toward potential lieutenant governor candidates in the second half of this year.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is running for auditor, and Treasurer Robert Sprague, who is running for Secretary of State, both support Ramaswamy for governor. Auditor Keith Faber, who is running for Attorney General, said he is not making an endorsement at the moment, but is fine with the committees choice to endorse a candidate on Friday.

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I respect Dave, I respect Vivek, and I respect Lt. Gov. Tressel, so I just didnt think it was time for me to jump in personally at this point, Faber said. I think they all have great strengths and Ill let them communicate that themselves to the voters of Ohio.

Ramaswamy and Attorney General Dave Yost are running as Republicans to replace the term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine. Dr. Amy Acton is running as a Democrat. Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a Republican, told NBC News in a statement that he is considering a run for governor. He previously said he was not thinking about it, but didnt officially rule it out.

We congratulate Mr. Ramaswamy, Yosts campaign said in a statement after the endorsement. The Attorney General is going to take a few days to consult with key supporters about the path forward  but the people of Ohio deserve a choice, not a premature coronation of an untested candidate.

What has been a surprise, and it has been humbling, is how many people are encouraging me to run for Governor, Tressel said in the statement.

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DeWine was working to prevent the state GOP from endorsing Ramaswamy on Friday, according to reporting from NBC News. DeWine wasnt pushing for a specific candidate, but instead to delay the endorsement, thinking that it was too soon to endorse anyone.

I think he would like to forestall an endorsement taking place, because I think he would like to see if he can convince Jim Tressel to run for governor, a Republican leader told NBC News.

Despite being nearly a year out from the primary, the 66-member committee voted 51-13 on Friday to issue an endorsement in the race, later voting to endorse Ramaswamy. Two members were absent.

Local pizzeria expanding with location in Hilliard

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The Ohio Republican Partys rushed endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy proves that despite his attempts to claim otherwise, he is the ultimate party insider who would cater to his fellow billionaires while leaving Ohioans behind, Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Katie Seewer said in a statement.

Ramaswamy was in attendance at the meeting, and gave a speech to the committee during executive session. Yost was not there because he was attending the funeral of a Hamilton County deputy who was killed in the line of duty. Yosts wife spoke on his behalf. Tressel was not at the meeting.

His funeral is Friday morning in Cincinnati  and that presents me with a painful choice, Yost said in a letter to the committee. As the chief law enforcement officer of this state, it has been my practice to attend the funerals for law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.

We have a very important meeting Friday morning, Yost said. But its merely about politics, whether to endorse a candidate for Governor in a primary that is nearly a year away. I have decided that I will put remembrance of Deputy Larry Henderson and my duty first. As you meet Friday, I will be in Cincinnati.

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I believe this is the right thing to do (regardless of whether it is politically wise) and have so chosen my course, he wrote.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A 19-year-old man has been convicted on an assault charge as a result of his involvement in a shooting at the Oklahoma State Fair in 2023.

Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna announced the May 8 conviction of Canaan Jenkins of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. The conviction comes more than a year and a half after he fired his weapon during a fight outside the Bennett Event Center on Sept. 23, 2023.

Jaelen Frazier was shot and treated for three weeks in the hospital before his release, a news release said. Officers located Jenkins, who was 17 years old at the time, after receiving a description of the shooter and the direction he fled after the shooting. Jenkins eventually admitted to the shooting, and told officers it was in self-defense, according to the release.

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The Oklahoma County jury recommended a sentence of eight years time served in prison, but formal sentencing will take place June 30. The punishment for assault and battery with a deadly weapon ranges from zero years to life.

Jenkins also entered a blind plea of guilty for a conjoint robbery that took place the day before the shooting. He also will be sentenced for that conviction on June 30, with a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 50 years.

"DA Behenna would like to thank the jury for their time and thoughtful consideration during the trial, as well as the police who thoroughly investigated this case and the prosecutors and staff who prepared the case for trial," the news release stated.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State Fair 2023 shooting: 19-year-old found guilty of assault
This article was originally published in Oklahoma Voice.

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law a yearlong ban on student cellphone use in all Oklahoma public schools.

Oklahoma will join 11 other states that have implemented similar statewide restrictions. Some school districts in the state enforce a similar policy already.

Stitt signed Senate Bill 139 on Monday to implement the bell to bell ban for the 2025-26 school year. The restriction becomes optional for districts in the 2026-27 school year and thereafter.

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While the yearlong ban is in place, each districts school board must adopt a policy restricting students from using cellphones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, smart headphones and smart glasses from the first bell ringing in the instructional day until final dismissal. The policy must outline disciplinary procedures for enforcing the rule.

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School-issued or school-approved devices used for classroom instruction are still allowed under the law. Districts could permit cellphone use for emergencies and for students who need it to monitor a health issue.

Stitt previously urged public schools to find cost-neutral ways to make classrooms cellphone free to reverse a worrying trend of distraction, bullying and learning difficulties.

Were seeing classrooms across the country struggle with the influx of cellphone use by students, Stitt said in a statement Tuesday. Thats why I issued my cellphone free school challenge in the fall. We want kids to be focused and present while theyre with their teachers, and this legislation helps promote an environment conducive to learning.

Before the 2025 legislative session began, state lawmakers met with mental health researchers who warned about the negative effect and addictive impact of digital media on youth. They also spoke with Oklahoma educators who said their schools saw better student behavior after banning cellphones.

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Meanwhile, Stitt visited schools that already have these restrictions in place, where students and educators spoke favorably about their school rules.

Among the nations largest teachers union, 90% of members said they support cellphone restrictions during class time, and 83% favored prohibiting cellphone and personal device usage for the entire school day, according to a National Education Association survey.

U.S. adults reported broad support for classroom cellphone restrictions in middle and high schools, but only a third of American adults said they support extending these bans for the whole school day, the Pew Research Center found.

Support for SB 139 wasnt overwhelming among Oklahoma lawmakers, either. The state Senate passed the bill with a 30-15 vote, and the House approved it 51-39.

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The House also passed a similar school cellphone ban, House Bill 1276, that would allow districts to opt out of the policy. SB 139 allows no such option until after a year.

This will allow teachers to focus entirely on educating our kids while students can concentrate on learning as much as possible, an author of both bills, Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, said. After two years of hard work on this issue, Im thrilled to see this legislation become law, and Im confident students, parents and teachers will see immediate benefits once the new school year begins.

HB 1276 is unlikely to advance in the Senate now that SB 139 has the governors signature, Seifried said.

The bills House author, Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, called the measure a try it before you buy it type of policy.

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I appreciate Gov. Stitt signing SB 139 to remove the distractions of cellphones from our schools and give our kids their childhood back, Caldwell said Tuesday.

The governor on Monday also signed into law a restriction on virtual school days. Senate Bill 758 will limit districts to using a maximum of two online instruction days per school year.

Kids learn best in the classroom, said Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, who wrote the bill. Virtual days have their place in emergencies, but weve seen them become a go-to solution in some districts  and thats not fair to students or families. This bill strikes the right balance by preserving flexibility without compromising the quality of education.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.
OKLAHOMA CITYA new Oklahoma law will allow food truck vendors to avoid unnecessary regulatory barriers while continuing to uphold safety standards.

Gov. Stitt signed the Food Truck Freedom Act into law on Tuesday.

The new law allows any mobile food vendor with a valid state food establishment license to operate anywhere in the state, provided they follow local health and zoning regulations.

Previously, food trucks were required to obtain separate permits for each city or county in which they operated, which resulted in duplicative fees and logistical hurdles.

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Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, and Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, author of House Bill 1076.

Under the new law, mobile vendors must adhere to operational standards, including keeping their vehicles clean and in good repair, displaying their licenses, and notifying the State Department of Health and local officials before serving at mass gatherings. Theyre also responsible for providing trash receptacles and maintaining cleanliness within a 25-foot radius.

Too many food truck operators were being forced to shut down simply because they couldnt keep up with the maze of local permits and fees, Hildebrant said.

The new law establishes a single statewide license, he said, making it possible for more vendors to stay in business, grow their customer base, and contribute to the local economy without getting buried in paperwork.

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With a single statewide license, food truck owners finally have a clear path to turn their business dreams into reality, Hildebrant said.

The signing of the Food Truck Freedom Act is a big win for small business owners and entrepreneurs across Oklahoma, Gillespie said. Food trucks bring jobs, creativity, and economic growth to our communities. This law cuts unnecessary red tape and makes it easier for these businesses to operate, thrive, and serve Oklahomans wherever they go.

Similar laws have been enacted in states like Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia, where food truck industries have seen notable expansion.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Lori Wathen holds a paddle printed with the word "no" to oppose the practice of corporal punishment in schools before an interim study on the subject on Oct. 21. A ban on corporal punishment of students with disabilities has become law. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A new Oklahoma law will prohibit schools from inflicting physical pain as punishment for students with disabilities.

Although the practice is already banned in the states regulations for schools, attempts by the Oklahoma Legislature to add the rule to state law failed in previous years. State law had barred schools from using corporal punishment on students only with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

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Senate Bill 364 extends the corporal punishment prohibition to students with any type of disability defined in a federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday permitted SB 364 to take effect without his signature. The bill had passed the state Senate in a 31-16 vote and the House 63-25 after lengthy debates in both chambers.

It outlaws the deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or any other physical force as a method of discipline for students with disabilities.

While many schools already prohibit corporal punishment, there are still instances where it is used against children who may struggle to control their behavior or grasp the consequences of their actions, said Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, an author of SB 364.

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Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, has been an outspoken opponent of the measure. He said the bill was overbroad because it extends to students who have no type of cognitive disability. He said it also limits parents choice to decide how schools should discipline their children.

State law previously allowed parents to waive the corporal punishment ban by giving written consent. SB 364 removes that provision.

More than 100 school districts in Oklahoma permit corporal punishment.

The rate of students disciplined with this method has declined nationwide, and 27 states ban the practice entirely, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Students with disabilities were overrepresented among the children who experienced corporal punishment at school, as were Black and Indigenous students, federal data shows.

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May 9ROCHESTER  Olmsted County commissioners are planning a special meeting to continue their discussion of a local lottery to select the county's 14 cannabis retailer registrations .

With more than 14 state-licensed businesses anticipated to seek authorization to open within areas regulated by the county, commissioners have been working on ordinance revisions designed to guide the process for selecting registrants.

A May 6 public hearing on the proposed changes prompted some questions and potential tweaks, with the county potentially holding a lottery for each of three license types that allow retail sales directly to customers.

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"Commissioners have listened to comments during the public hearing and have reviewed the ordinance language in more detail," states a county staff report ahead of the planned May 15 public hearing, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. in board chambers of the city-county Government Center. "This discussion will shape final revisions to the ordinance that will be presented to the County Board for approval on May 20, 2025."

The state plans to issue an unlimited number of microbusiness licenses to qualified businesses as authorized recreational sales of cannabis begin in Minnesota. A microbusiness license allows the holder to grow, buy and sell cannabis. It also allows opening a single retail location.

A statewide cap has been set for mezzobusinesses, which can open up to three retail outlets, and cannabis retailer licenses, which don't allow growing but provide the option to open up to five retail locations in the state.

The state is planning to hold a lottery for mezzobusinesses and some cannabis retailers on June 5, with a second, broader retailer lottery in July, to determine who will receive mezzobusiness and cannabis retailer licenses.

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While the Minnesota Office of Cannabis determines who can hold a license to sell cannabis, the planned Olmsted County lottery for each of the three license types will provide authorization to establish a business in most areas of the county, where they are allowed by zoning regulations. Local government entities overseeing registration are required to allow at least one retailer for every 12,500 residents in the jurisdiction.

The cities of Byron and Pine Island have opted to oversee registrations locally, meaning any businesses in those cities won't count toward the limit set by county commissioners.

Once guidelines for the county lottery plans are established, a 30-day application period is expected to be announced before a drawing is held. During that time, Olmsted County Public Health Associate Director Sagar Chowdhury said, county staff will review applications to ensure they meet requirements and work with applicants to address any concerns.

While plans call for providing a 15-day window to address any application shortfalls, commissioners said they don't want the process to delay the lotteries, which will be held during a regular board meeting.
Russian forces launched airstrikes on the village of Manukhivka in Sumy Oblast on 9 May, killing a woman and injuring a man.

Source: Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "At around 15:30, the enemy carried out airstrikes on the village of Manukhivka in the Nova Sloboda hromada. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Two houses were destroyed after being struck by Russian aerial bombs."

Details: An 85-year-old woman was killed in the attack.

A 49-year-old man sustained injuries.

Background: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, told Ukrainska Pravda that Russia continues to terrorise the border areas of Sumy Oblast with guided aerial bombs. Russian forces launched around 130 such bombs over the past day, with another 50 dropped by the afternoon of 9 May.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  One person is dead and another is arrested after an alleged accidental shooting in east Columbus Thursday night.

According to a Columbus police, the shooting was reported in the 4000 block of Carlton Avenue, in the Leawood neighborhood at approximately 8:23 p.m. Officers found 18-year-old Terrance Spellman suffering from a gunshot wound and he was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

Woman questioned in Mock Park double shooting

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Spellman was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m. Police received statements that Spellman was with a group of friends and were in possession of several firearms.

According to statements made to police, one of the individuals, 18-year-old Donnie Walls Jr., was recklessly handling one of the guns which he unintentionally fired. A bullet struck Spellman, fatally wounding him.

Walls and the other individual reportedly carried Spellman outside and left him in a nearby parking lot before calling 911. The two provided police with false statements to the 911 operator as to what occurred.

Police arrested Walls, who is charged with reckless homicide and is being held at Franklin County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court Saturday morning.

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CPD is asking that anyone with additional information regarding this incident to contact Detective Polgar at (614) 645-4196 or SPolgar@ColumbusPolice.org or to call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, Mo.  A crash between six different vehicles killed one person and seriously injured three others on U.S. 160 two miles south of Nixa Thursday night, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).

The MSHP crash report states that a 2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was northbound on U.S. 160 at around 8:52 p.m. when it crossed into the opposite lane and struck a southbound 2000 Pontiac Firebird.

The collision caused another motorcycle to hit the rear of the Harley-Davidson and skid off the east side of the road, striking a northbound 2014 Toyota Rav-4.

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The Pontiac skidded across the center of the highway and crashed head-on into a northbound 2019 GMC Sierra.

Jury finds Nixa man guilty of killing wife in 2019

A sixth vehicle on southbound U.S. 160  a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer  was also struck by debris from the crash.

MSHP says the driver of the Pontiac, a 47-year-old woman from Highlandville, was pronounced dead by the Christian County Sheriffs Office. The driver of the GMC Sierra and the two motorcyclists received serious injuries and were taken to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. No other injuries were reported.

This is the 35th fatality in MSHP Troop D in 2025.

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CALLAHAN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A driver who was killed in a head-on collision in Callahan County Thursday night has been identified.

Michael Adrian Lopez, 44, of Abilene, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on FM 18 near mile marker 424 west of FM 603 just after 11:00 p.m., according to a crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The report states Lopez was traveling west down FM 18 when he was struck head-on by a vehicle that was driving eastbound on the wrong side of the road.

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Lopez was killed on impact and the driver of the vehicle who crash into him sustained minor injuries.

The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.

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During the 1890s, known as the Gilded Age, Oklahoma City was just a frontier town, but a set of European, Beaux-Arts-inspired townhomes paying homage to the era are set to open for a public tour.

Inspired by the work of late American architect Ogden Codman Jr. in the early 1900s, Richard R. Brown Associates President and Architect Rick Brown designed the townhomes in 2023 at 6100 NW Grand Blvd.

"They were trying to recreate what his vision was," said Joan Bryant, nonprofit spokesperson for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and OKC Orchestra League, which will host the 52nd Symphony Show House May 10-25 on the property.

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The townhomes are unique to Oklahoma City.

Set near the Nichols Hills area, the development followed the blueprints of Codmans former home, which he designed for his wife, Leila Howard Griswold Webb, at 15 E. 51st St. in New York City a few years prior to their marriage in 1904, according to the Historic New England, a historic preservation organization.

Reviving the Gilded Age

Interior designers decorating the home said the homes natural lighting, carved trimmings, curved archways and focus on symmetry were a nod to Codmans elaborate style.

J. Mark Taylor, owner and licensed interior designer of Traditional Interior Design & Furnishings and Show House chair, decorated the drawing room, the entrance corridor, a bathroom and a secondary bedroom on the top floor. Taylor said the home distinguishes itself from other homes with its attention to detail, 12-foot ceilings and flow from room to room and exterior to interior.

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It invokes a feeling of grandeur, he said. Everything Im trying to do is to play on that and lift that higher.

Listings for one of the townhomes at 6119 NW Grand Blvd., priced at $3.7 million, describe a revitalization of the Gilded Age, exhibiting a cosmopolitan way of life in a prime location, complete with extravagant finishes, like three signed Baccarat chandeliers and a La Cornue range.

A 6,690-square-foot townhouse, the main Show House for the annual fundraising event benefiting the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, features a layout true to the era that inspired the property. The second floor features a side for men and a side for women, and the top floor includes a "Jack and Jill" styled floor layout with additional bedrooms for children or guests, its own kitchenette and a bonus space area.

Look at 2024 Symphony Show House: The 2024 Symphony Show House was a 1936 white-columned, Georgian mansion

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Among designers included in this year's Show House are Amini's Galleria, Cory Lloyd & Co., Henry Home Interiors, Holly Flinton Design, Jenny Jarrard Interiors, William & Lauren, Kirby Home Designs, Loree Johns Interiors, Mathis Design Studio, Off the Wall Interiors by Ronette and Tin Lizzie's.

All items selected inside the home will come with a price tag, said Bryant, who added the event not only gives local designers a chance to display their work but also to sell items used for interior designs. Prices of these items can range from very little to a lot, she added.

Cassie Pastor with Oklahoma City Philharmonic said the Show House highlights the architectural features of the property every year, such as the hand-welded staircase in the Grand Boulevard townhomes.

"We really are just highlighting this particular home's story," she said. "We want to focus on the history of the home, why it's special, what are the designers going to bring in to give it new life? What is that going to be like? That's how we approach it."

Codman's philosophy

Codman believed every house decoration should be seen as "a vital part of architectural expression, as part of the architectural order of the house itself," he argued in the book he co-wrote with Edith Wharton, "The Decoration of Houses," published in 1897, according to Historic New England.

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The architect designed the interiors of the Kykuit, also known as the John D. Rockefeller Estate, in 1909, according to the Rockefeller Brother Fund. His style included adding English furnishings, Chinese and European ceramics, and portraits of family and of American presidents, the philanthropic organization states.

True to Codmans work, Taylor filled the first-floor room with fine China, porcelain, reimagined antique furniture and gilded pieces. He placed furniture carefully, keeping with the home's symmetry.

Among the most important elements he kept in mind during the process was distributing the green, gold and pastel color palette evenly throughout the room.

On the third floor, where Taylor designed Guest Room B, one of three rooms on the highest level of the townhomes, he honed his design from below, adding more feminine, bright colors, such as a pink accent wall.

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"Here, I just wanted happy color," he said.

Keven Carl and Cassidy Brunsteter of Mister Robert Interior Design said high-style, formality and sophistication were the elements that truly distinguished the Beaux-Arts style from other European architecture.

The Beaux-Arts

Les Beaux-Arts, French for the beautiful arts, stands out from other European-style homes, according to experts. It's high-style, classical, clean cut, sophistication and formality set it apart from other architecture, which usually portrays countryside or Tuscan-styled designs, according to Keven Carl, owner of Mister Robert and her designer, Cassidy Brunsteter, both of whom have degrees in interior design and are licensed practicing interior designers.

It was during their college education where they learned of Codman's work.

"We learn a lot of those things that you would have missed, otherwise," Carl said. "We learned a lot of his elements, then."

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Tasked with decorating the hallway leading to the master suite, the primary bedroom, bathroom and sitting room, the Mister Robert designers wanted to capture the home's French feel. They hung artwork capturing foreign countries, like a portrait of a French flower market and a painting of a European street.

Inside the sitting room, commonly used as an intimate space for women in the early 1900s, Carl and Brunsteter depicted a modern Parisian interior with touches of century-old pieces. On a living room table, a "Paris Chic" design book laid atop of a small pile. Sheer curtains with canvas leaves draped over the home's large windows left natural lighting in the room, true to Codman's work.

LOREC Ranch designers decorated the interiors on the third floor of the townhome at 6099 NW Grand Blvd. for the 52nd Symphony Show House.

In the corner of the room, an antique secretary desk revealed a small writing table. Brunsteter chose the antique furniture piece to celebrate the period when the original home was built. "To me, that just came to mind, immediately, because when you think of movies or shows set in that era, I feel like you imagine women perched on a little seat, you know, in extravagant dresses and everything," she said. "It certainly was a time women wrote letters."

Mister Robert, a family-owned interior design company based in Norman, has been working with the nonprofit for around 30 years.

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"I grew up in the business," Carl said, adding that she seldomly designed homes with the kind of architecture in the NW Grand Boulevard townhome.

Brunsteter added that the owners of the home praised them for keeping true to the original blueprint, despite the lack of privacy given to the primary bedroom, which has no doors. Future owners, she said, might want to switch the functions of the sitting room and the primary bedroom.

"It's sort of left to interpretation," she said.

Kari Lopez, owner of LOREC Ranch, designed the bedrooms on the top floor of a second townhome on display for the 52nd Symphony Show House being held May 10-25.

Another layout, a modern design

At the other end of the property, at 6099 NW Grand Boulevard, developers modernized the layout of the rooms inside one of the properties also included in this year's Symphony Show House event.

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Inside, Kari Lopez, of LOREC Ranch, filled the rooms with the Edmond-based company's Western-styled interiors. She highlighted the gilding and views of the home. Touches of gold and white hues pop out in her selected decor and furniture to signal Codman's influence.

"We call this 'The Sanctuary of Opulence and Comfort,' because we feel the third floor  it's such a luxurious residence and it just reflects an area for relaxation and reading," she said.

Like Codman, Lopez  a physician by trade  lived in Europe, falling in love with its architecture, cuisine and museums. Originally from Wisconsin, she learned about Oklahoma's history while teaching as a professor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva.

"I learned a lot about Oklahoma, you know, the tip of a hat, the look in the eye, the shake of a hand  that cowboy spirit," she said.

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As she does with so many of her clients' homes, she added pieces to the townhomes to bring that history to life inside the Beaux-Arts-inspired homes.

For around the last seven years, Lopez has participated in the Symphony Show House events, not only to showcase the work of LOREC Ranch, the company that designed Reba McEntire's restaurant in Atoka, but also to help student organizations, like the OKC Orchestra League.

"My true love and passion is the ability to fund educational programs for the students of music and giving the opportunity to understand the symphony and go to programs in the summer," she said.

SYMPHONY SHOW HOUSE 2025

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10-25

Where: 6119 NW Grand Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Tickets: https://www.okcphil.org/symphony-show-house/

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 52nd Symphony Show House will be held at these unique OKC townhomes
MAURY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Its been one year since tornadoes tore through several Middle Tennessee counties, with the strongest one hitting Maury County.

The EF-3 tornado that struck Maury County on May 8, 2024, killed a great-grandmother, injured a dozen other people, and damaged roughly 250 homes.

Tornado lifts van off I-65 in Maury County

Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt told News theres still work to be done in the communitys recovery. However, she and others who spoke to News 2 on the one-year anniversary of the storm said it also serves as a great reminder.

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We feel a sense of sadness when we see some beautiful wooded areas that will never be the same. But they are a reminder, Butt wrote. A reminder of the time we needed help and we helped one another. A reminder that life changes. A reminder that we are not in control. A reminder that nature is powerful. And a reminder that we are resilient!

One man who worked directly with victims said the storm was a shock for residents, adding that recovery will last several more years.

One day at a time: Maury County tornado survivors describe heartache of losing their home

It was scary. To see that happen in our own community, it was challenging on many fronts, said Maury County Director of Emergency Management Jeff Hardy. Theres still citizens out there that are picking up trees and debris from their property. Its a long-term recovery.

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Hardy said it had been a very long time since Maury County was hit by a tornado of last years magnitude. While community members have made tremendous progress in their cleanup efforts, Hardy told News 2 that its important to learn from what happened on May 8, 2024.

In the last month or so, we had two more tornadoes touch down here in Maury County. In fact, one hit my house, so I really want to implore our citizens and our visitors to be weather aware, to have a plan in place on what theyre going to do when that time comes, because its not if, its when, he said.

Maury County family recovering after tornado harms bee farm

Following last years tornado, Maury County established a new Long Term Recovery Group to assist victims. It consists largely of volunteers and is led by a committee of local nonprofit directors, including the director of The Well Outreach, Shelly Sassen.

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I think what we all found out is that a crisis like this can happen right where we liveI think our community didnt know how to react, but we came together, Sassen said.

Hardy said a siren system, which theyre working on getting installed in Columbia, is a top priority. He hopes that will be completed in the next few months.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

However, Hardy stressed that Maury County residents cant solely trust sirens, and that precautions must be layered.

Dont forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.

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Dozens of Venezuelans gathered at El Arepazo, an iconic restaurant in the heart of Dorals Venezuelan community, for a vigil Thursday night in support of deportation protections now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The event was organized for the Venezuelan American Caucus to show support for the Venezuelan community on the final day of arguments before the high court in a case that could determine whether Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans is upheld or revoked.

Going back would be a one-way ticket to a dungeon or to death, said Liduzka Aguilera. We cannot return. Its simply not safe.

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Aguilera, 54, is a TPS holder living in Doral with her family of four. A former criminal attorney in Venezuela, she fled political persecution and arrived in the United States in 2018, where she applied for asylum. In 2021, she and her family were granted TPS. Now, they await a pivotal decision that could determine whether they remain safe or face the threat of being sent back to a country they fear. For her, returning to Venezuela is not just unimaginable  its a matter of life or death.

More than 600,000 Venezuelans hold TPS, making up 66% of the Venezuelan community in the United States of more than 900,000. Over the past two decades, the U.S. has experienced a dramatic surge in its Venezuelan population, driven by a mass exodus from a country devastated by a humanitarian and political crisis.

Venezuelans are significantly less likely to be naturalized citizens than immigrants overall: in 2023, only 15% of Venezuelan immigrants had U.S. citizenship, and just 18% of Venezuelans in the United States were born in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census.

Venezuelan-American Carol Quintero, who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, attended a vigil in Doral Thursday night in support of the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans.

A lawsuit brought by seven Venezuelans at risk of deportation and the advocacy group National TPS Alliance challenges the Trump administrations attempt to end TPS protections. Filed in federal court in San Francisco in February, the suit claims that the Trump administrations decision to end TPS  which had been extended by the Biden administration  was unlawful, politically driven, and rooted in racial discrimination, part of a larger pattern of targeting non-European, non-white immigrants.

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The legal fight escalated on May 1, when the administration formally asked the Supreme Court to overturn a March ruling by a federal judge in San Francisco that temporarily blocked the end of TPS for Venezuelans. That decision had come just days before protections were set to expire, potentially stripping hundreds of thousands of their legal status and right to work.

READ MORE: Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow revocation of TPS for Venezuelans

Adelys Ferro, executive director of Venezuelan American Caucus, said during Thursday nights vigil that situations like Aguileras are common in the Venezuelan community. She said that among the Venezuelan TPS holders are many who were politically persecuted, requested asylum after coming to the U.S. years ago, and have their cases are pending. With the TPS they finally have a legal status. How would these people return to Venezuela? she asked.

Venezuelan-American activist Adelys Ferro talks to the press during a vigil held in Doral Thursday night by the Venezuelan American Caucus.

Ferro warned that Venezuelans with pending asylum cases risk being sent back to face imprisonment or even death at the hands of the Nicolas Maduro regime. She stressed the devastating impact mass deportations would have, not just on individuals, but on entire communities.

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They just rescued five Venezuelans from an embassy in Caracas, Ferro said, echoing the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio referring to the extraction over the weekend of five opposition leaders who had holed up in the Argentinian embassy in Venezuela. Five hostages of the criminal, usurping dictatorship of Maduro, Ferro added. And now, they want to send 600,000 Venezuelans back to that same regime  among them, tens of thousands who are politically persecuted.

If thousands of Venezuelans are forced to leave the country, cities like Doral would be economically devastated, she said. This city was built by immigrants, especially Venezuelan immigrants. Without them, Doral wouldnt even exist. The cost of losing them is immense, not just in human terms, which is the most important, but economically, for the cities where they live and contribute every day.

READ MORE: Judge stops Trump administration from ending TPS for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans

In their arguments to the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs, represented by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, emphasized that the lower court had jurisdiction to consider the claims. They pointed to unrebutted evidence showing that the administrations decision was motivated by a. discriminatory mindset.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, they argued, justified the termination using false and inflammatory stereotypes, such as the debunked claim that Venezuela had emptied its prisons to send criminals to the U.S. She publicly associated Venezuelan TPS recipients with gang members, dirt bags, and dangerous criminals, despite data showing they have lower crime rates and higher labor force participation than the general U.S. population.

Vigils in 15 cities

Marisol Silva, 64, arrived in the U.S. in 2021 with her husband. Both are retired and could no longer afford to live in Venezuela, where the collapsing economy made even basic necessities unaffordable. They came to reunite with their daughter, a journalist who fled the country eight years earlier after being persecuted for speaking out against the regime.

Silva and her husband became TPS holders in 2023, a protection the Trump administration decided would end in April . However, a ruling by U.S. Circuit Judge Edward Chen extended the deadline, allowing them to remain in the country. Their work permits were granted under their pending asylum case, but the uncertainty surrounding their deportation status, she said, remains excruciating. In Venezuela, she added, they were affiliated with one of the countrys largest opposition parties, making the prospect of a forced return especially dangerous.

Honduran-Americans Ana Santos (left) and Angie Carballo attended a vigil in Doral Thursday night in support of extending Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans.

They are among nearly 350,000 Venezuelans who received TPS in 2023 and were at risk of losing the protection last month. Another 257,000 Venezuelans who were granted TPS in 2021 are facing a similar threat, with their protections scheduled to expire in September.

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Thursdays vigils were held in at least 15 cities nationwide  from Spokane, Washington, to San Juan and New York and Chicago  but the largest demonstrations took place in Florida, home to the countrys largest Venezuelan population. In Doral, Orlando, and Jacksonville, communities came together in emotional displays of solidarity, urging the courts to preserve the protections that have allowed them to build lives in the U.S.

Venezuelan Americans gathered to show support for their community regardless of immigration status. Many have family members still fighting for protection, including loved ones without legal status. Carol Quintero, 70, is one of them. Her husband, 71, who lost his legal status decades ago, was finally able to regain a measure of security through TPS. But that relief is fragile.

I feel anxious all the time, she said. Ive had panic attacks just thinking about what would happen if he lost his protection. He could be deported at any moment. Quintero said.

Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera, 26, of Orlando, is one of seven Venezuelan plaintiffs suing the Trump administration after the revocation of Temporary Proteced Status for Venezuelans.

Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera, the only plaintiff in the San Francisco case from Florida and a resident of Kissimmee, told the Herald from Orlando that the gathering there was an expression of the communitys resilience and a call for justice.I know its crucial for us to come together and show both the government and the Supreme Court that our lives are at stake, she said.

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We are not here just as TPS holders  we are mothers, fathers, workers, and active members of our communities who contribute to this countrys progress Herrera said. We are here today to send a clear message: We will not give up our fight for the right to live with dignity and without fear.

The stakes at the Supreme Court extend beyond the Venezuelan community. If the court rules in favor of the administration, it could set a sweeping precedent that limits judicial oversight of TPS decisions, affecting hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries like Haiti, El Salvador and Nicaragua and conflict zones including Ukraine and Afghanistan.

If the Supreme Court ruled that the judge doesnt have the jurisdiction to overrule the secretarys order, that would set a terrible and defining precedent for 17 countries with TPS and for other immigration processes as well, said Ferro. It would mean that a federal judge cant stop, even temporarily, a decision by the Secretary of Homeland Security. It would be devastating.

In its 41-page brief to the court, the administration argued that immigration policy decisionssuch as whether to extend or terminate TPSfall squarely within the authority of the executive branch. Solicitor General John Sauer told the court that judicial interference could undermine the flexible, fast-paced and discretionary nature of immigration enforcement.

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Despite the administrations claim that continued TPS protection for Venezuelans is contrary to the national interest, critics argue that revoking it amid Venezuelas ongoing humanitarian crisis is both inhumane and unjustified.

I feel unprotected. But Ive talked to my husband. If TPS is revoked, we wont leave. Well wait for our asylum hearing, Silva said. I still have hope that one day we will see a free Venezuela. But until that day comes, we simply cannot go back.
ONEIDA, Wis. (WFRV)  The new home for the Oneida Nations Public Transit system is officially open, as representatives gathered to celebrate with a ribbon-cutting on Thursday afternoon.

The new space features more than just offices and garages, it includes a washing bay for Oneida Transit and servicing areas to ensure the transportation operations work smoothly.

New Leaf Foods continues expansion, planting multiple new trees and installing community orchards

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Fares within the service area vary from $1 to $1.50; however, people at least 55 years old or older ride for free.

The new facility is located at N7341 Water Circle Place in Oneida, under the Water Tower on Highway 54.

Additional details and updates on service dates can be found on the Oneida Nation website.

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For decades, America led the world in technological innovation. But that all changed with the rise of 5G, a development that found the US lagging and reactive. Now, advances in 6G seem set to produce yet another technological transformation  one the US must meet with proactive leadership, not a defensive stance.

The stakes are enormous. Whoever masters 6G first will enjoy not just a formidable economic edge, but also a decisive national security advantage.

The 5G era exposed serious vulnerabilities in American technology. Though American tech firms excelled in software, critical hardware, and global standard-setting, there were still major leadership gaps.

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Foreign competitors (most notably Chinas Huawei) surged ahead of America, seizing considerable market share and strategic influence over international telecommunications networks. By the time the US recognised the scope of the challenge, it was playing catch-up.

We cannot afford a similar failure for 6G.

6G isnt just an incremental improvement over 5G. While 5G offers faster speeds and expanded connectivity, 6G promises breakthroughs like seamless integration of augmented reality, ubiquitous Internet of Things (IoT) networks, holographic communications, and AI-driven applications far beyond anything we could imagine now.

In short, 6G promises the kind of technological leap that, if harnessed effectively, will prove fundamental to entire industries  from smart cities to autonomous vehicles, telemedicine, and more.

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Global 5G deployments are projected to contribute $6.5 trillion to the world economy by 2025 and nearly $11 trillion by 2030, according to GSMA Intelligence. But predictions for 6G leave these in the dust. Although 5G is likewise forecast to generate multi-trillion-dollar returns, 6G could exceed even those projections.

For the US to miss out on the benefits of 6G  both economic and strategic  would be to repeat the same mistakes we made with 5G technology. Thats not an option. We must seize leadership in 6G early to ensure we reap the rewards.

Fortunately, other technological developments provide hope of renewed American tech ambition. One example is the emerging Stargate initiative, a forward-thinking AI framework that will bridge academic research, defence needs, and private-sector innovation.

This initiative demonstrates the kind of bold vision we need to bring to 6G development.

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To enact this vision, the US will have to adopt flexible, vendor-neutral solutions  something weve already seen in the push toward open, interoperable architectures (which Trump mentioned by name in a recent statement with the prime minister of Japan).

America does not need to go it alone.

Currently, some of the greatest innovations in 5G and potential 6G infrastructure technology come from trusted allies. We should harness their abilities and place companies like Finlands Nokia, Swedens Ericsson, and South Koreas Samsung (none of which are Chinese state-controlled entities) at the forefront of 6G research and deployment.

These companies existing track records position them well to collaborate with the US in shaping 6G standards, architecture, and rollout. And by partnering with them, we can reduce the risks posed by relying solely on entities with potential ties to foreign enemies.

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By collaborating, we can ensure that 6G standards remain open, transparent, and driven by democratic values  thereby deterring authoritarian regimes from imposing their own versions of network control and cementing our collective leadership in the digital sphere.

All this will demand significant investment. This is where Americas capital markets and global allies must align.

Already, the Trump administration has signalled a renewed intent to resurrect the fight for 6G. But this effort shouldnt be limited to a single administration or political party. Rather, 6G efforts should be part of a bipartisan national agenda funded by both public and private sources.

By engaging in public-private partnerships, well be able to pool resources from the United States, Europe, and Asia, ensuring a collective push that can surpass the efforts of Chinese state-backed entities.

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Time is short. China is already developing 6G prototypes and, if given the chance, will likely offer subsidised deals to developing nations (a move straight from its 5G playbook).

From a national security perspective, networks form the nerve centres of modern societies. If Washington fails to safeguard and lead next-generation infrastructure, it will find itself beholden to foreign interests for critical communications technology.

That risk cannot be overstated. In the information age, national sovereignty hinges in large part on network control.

Because of this, the United States must take the initiative by forming partnerships with non-CCP-linked tech leaders, by pursuing AI efforts like Stargate, and by mobilising political will and capital.

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Now is the time to seize a competitive advantage over the CCP and forge a future defined by open markets, democratic values, and a level playing field  one where all will benefit from cutting-edge connectivity. Winning the 6G race wont just secure Americas economic prosperity and national security; itll reaffirm the vitality of free nations working in concert.

America should learn its lesson from 5G and double down on its commitment to once again leading the world in technological innovation.

Robert Greenway is the director of The Heritage Foundations Allison Center for National Security. Jarrett Lane is a member of Heritages Young Leaders Program

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman advocated for more artificial intelligence freedom and less regulation while speaking to U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

We need to give adult users a lot of freedom to use AI in the way that they want to use it, he said, according to Politico.

Altman, who oversees ChatGPT as the boss of OpenAI, also noted that he did not think the National Institute of Standards and Technology needed to set standards for AI development. I dont think we need it, he said. It can be helpful.

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His comments came during testimony before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; Altman was also joined by Microsoft president Brad Smith, as well as Lisa Su, the chief executive of AMD, and CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator.

All four executives called on lawmakers to reduce roadblocks to AI fundraising and new AI-related projects, according to the AP, with Altman being the most forceful anti-regulation executive among the bunch.

Altmans testimony came during what has been an especially busy period for OpenAI. The company earlier this week announced it was ditching its plans to become a for-profit company  a move that has been heavily criticized by co-founder Elon Musk. Altman has also been helping President Trump with his Stargate AI infrastructure program, which OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank committed $500 billion to fund earlier this year.

And last month, Altman hinted ChatGPT recently hit 1 billion monthly users.

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The 40-year-old executives Thursday comments should not come as a total surprise, though. In March, Altman said the U.S. could strengthen its lead over China on AI technology and unlock economic growth by advocating for rules that make it easier to train AI models using copyrighted material. That plan was lambasted by Hollywood stars like Ben Stiller, Aubrey Plaza and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which you can read more about by clicking here.

The post OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Pushes for More AI Freedom, Less Regulation appeared first on TheWrap.
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA)  The Jackson County Sheriffs Office revealed a multi-day undercover operation that resulted in six arrests in an attempt to crack down on child sex crimes in western North Carolina.

Related video: How to report a public safety threat

Called Operation Up the Creek, the operation consisted of over 45 local, state, and federal, law enforcement officers going undercover to locate and arrest individuals distributing or participating in technology-facilitated crimes against children.

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The Jackson County Sheriffs Office said that this operation was a first for the county. The office also thanked the many agencies that helped in the operation, including the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security.

The operation resulted in six official arrests, with additional suspects potentially facing charges. These charges will be disclosed at a later date, according to the sheriffs office.

The six arrested were given the following charges:

Brandon Scott Severt, 32, of Rowan County

Attempted Statutory Rape of Child under 15

Solicitation of a minor by Computer

Vincent John Lamonica, 53, of Transylvania County

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Attempted statutory rape of a child under 15

Solicitation of a minor by computer

Nathan Lewis Burch, 25, of Rutherford County

Attempted statutory rape of a child under 15

Attempted statutory sex offense with a child under 15

Indecent liberties with child

Solicitation of a minor by computer

Michael Glenn Lowe 29, of Hamilton County TN

Attempted statutory rape of a child under 15

Indecent liberties with child

Solicitation of a minor by computer

Carrying a concealed weapon

Jon Thomas Beall Jr., 32, of Knox County TN

Attempted first degree statutory rape

Attempted statutory sex offense with a child under 15

Indecent liberties with a child

Solicitation of a minor by computer

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Joshua Phillip Phelps, 28, of Stanly County NC

Attempted statutory rape of a child under 15

Attempted statutory sex offense with child 15

Indecent liberties with a child

Solicitation of a minor by computer

In a media release, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office stated that Sheriff Farmer and the dedicated team at the Jackson County Sheriffs Office are committed to protecting children and ensuring the safety of all Jackson County citizens. We are grateful for the strong relationships we have built at the local, state, and federal levels, which played a crucial role in the success of this operation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
It could have been worse.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President Donald Trump in Washington this week, with the specter of Trumps disastrous Oval Office blow-up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy haunting anyone eager for a de-escalation in tensions. The U.S.Canadian relationship has been turned upside down since Trumps inauguration, with the America presidents comments about Canada becoming the 51st State and references to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor Trudeau straining ties between the two neighbors. Combined with the implementation of tariffs, many Canadians are now reconsidering what it means to be partners with the United States.

Canadas newest leader is brand new and has already been thrust into a difficult but essential diplomatic situation. Thankfully, Carney seems initially to be effectively treading a very fine line with his U.S. counterpart.

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In many ways, Carney owes his newfound power to Trump, winning an election marked by rising anti-American sentiment. On the campaign trail he pledged to both assert Canadas sovereignty and pursue a new trade and security partnership with the United States if elected.

At the Oval Office meeting on Tuesday, some of Carneys more intangible qualities were on display. He appealed to Trumps past as a real estate developer to emphasize that Canada wont be for sale, ever. Trump responded with kind words for the prime minister, calling him a nice man and describing the meeting as a step up.

Carneys handling of the meeting was skillful. A former central banker, his business acumen is an asset right now, not least of which because it may impress Trump. But during Trump's first presidency, his initial meeting with Trudeau in 2017 also went relatively well despite their ideological differences.

As Carney looks to move the relationship forward, defense and national security is an obvious area where the two nations can continue to work closely together. Canadas status as a laggard in defense spending among the allies who make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is well known, and Ottawa has for years fallen short of the NATO goal of spending 2% of its GDP on defense. In 2024, Canadas total defense spending was estimated to be just 1.37%. Carney announced during the campaign a plan to meet the 2% goal by 2030, but Trump has called for NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense amid a more volatile international security environment. Carney pledged to meet the 2% goal by spending $13 billion over the next four years on investments ranging from new submarines to ice breakers.

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New capabilities are a good goal, but it would benefit Carney to be bold and pledge to meet a higher defense spending goal in a shorter time frame. At the same time, Ottawa should continue to invest in jointly modernizing the North American Aerospace Command and determine a role for Canada in Trumps "Golden Dome" missile defense proposal.

The two nations should also explore ways to collaborate on Arctic security. Ottawa previously announced the purchase of an over-the-horizon radar system for the region, which will help to reinforce the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces. In Washington, Trump has made clear that he sees the Arctic as a vital region that is relevant to U.S. national security interests. Greater collaboration between the two nations can strengthen defense and security in a part of the world where adversaries like China and Russia are looking to stake their own claims.

Increasing defense spending and collaborating on shared security challenges is a clear way in which Ottawa can start to rebuild the relationship with Washington. Both nations will need a lot more than one fairly pleasant meeting to correct the relationship in a way that is both productive and mutually beneficial.

Tariffs and the bilateral trade relationship are likely to be much more difficult obstacles to overcome. At the meeting, the two leaders pledged that the U.S.MexicoCanada agreement would be the starting point for a renegotiated economic deal. However, Trump also stated there was nothing that Carney could say that would get him to reduce tariffs on Canadian goods at this time.

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Ultimately, Carney handled himself well during the Oval Office meeting, reinforcing Canadas sovereignty and laying the groundwork for further talks. But for the relationship to avoid the contentious dynamics that marked the Trudeau-Trump stalemate, Carney should now aim for actions, such as greater investments in defense and security. Doing so can demonstrate a change in the way Canada approaches the world and can earn favor in the White House.

For now, the meeting seemed to have worked, with the U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hokestra declaring that from my standpoint, from the presidents standpoint, 51st states not coming back. That's good news if true. The American president loves to think of himself as a strong deal maker. Carney must find ways to mirror that strength while seeking out common ground to stand on.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Corruption is like the highly contagious virus that causes measles. It doesnt take much time in the presence of the airborne virus to contract measles. Once corruption infects a group of people or an institution, it spreads everywhere. It only takes a small amount of corruption to potentially destroy the system. In American Covenant, Yuval Levin says, A deformed constitutionalism can deform our society, undermining our capacity to treat one another as dignified equals and to take our common life seriously.

Corruption, including bribery, enriching those in power through connections and policies, disregarding the rule of law, and kickbacks, is well-known. But I want to talk about lesser-known types of corruption.

Those in the administration all took an oath of office to honor and protect the constitution. Yet many have yielded to the corruption of the ends justifying the means, whether constitutional or not.

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The administration undermines the perception of improving efficiency by being secretive about its use of funds, compromising data centers and disrupting vital government services, such as Veterans Affairs and Social Security. Immigration reforms have included canceling humanitarian visas and sending some detainees to a foreign prison. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, have been denied due process. Law firms and universities have been targeted for discipline in violation of First Amendment rights. The administration is pursuing its ends with no regard for the means  with little concern for the people affected or for the laws it breaks. Is this corruption in action?

Let us wash away our excuses and our self-deception and do what we can to eradicate the corruption that has contaminated our government.

Anticipatory obedience occurs when a company or firm decides in advance to comply with the demands of the executive branch in order to prevent being targeted next. Although this might seem like a wise move to protect the company, if the choice is against their stated values, we have to wonder whether they still have integrity in their dealings. Is acquiescing inviting corruption?

When those who have the power to call out corruption choose to remain silent, we lose trust in them. It is difficult to see our senators and representatives remain silent out of fear of retribution, from desire to be on the powerful side or because they want to get their legislation passed. We elected these women and men to represent us, and we are frustrated when they do not honor their oaths of office to the Constitution. Is their silence corrupting them?

I am seeing more cruelty resulting from this administrations executive orders and how they communicate. Immigrants are treated with contempt and detained far from their homes. Our leaders treat our allies with disdain. I have seen cruelty in political discussions on social media, with name-calling and threats. The cruelty corrupts public discourse and can influence others to be cruel.

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The social norm we taught our children was to treat everyone with respect and dignity, but family members have recently observed how cruelty corrupts social norms and hurts people in various ways, including the following experiences.

Children and young adults in Africa whom we support in their educational goals describe some of the challenges they face daily: shortages of food and jobs, the ravages of malaria, and social instability. Now that U.S. foreign aid has mostly stopped, we know many will struggle for the necessities of life without hope that help will come.

One of my daughters is a doctor who cares for the underserved, refugees and patients living with HIV. If Medicaid is slashed or HIV medications are no longer provided, many will suffer and some will die.

One grandson went to science camp recently, but the immigrant parents of 22 children kept their children home out of fear that ICE might detain them while their children were at camp.

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Another daughter is very concerned about the dehumanization and persecution of trans people.

We have all seen mean-spirited social media posts or emails about a variety of topics. Cruelty is being normalized. Is this a corruption of our values?

Let us wash away our excuses and our self-deception and do what we can to eradicate the corruption that has contaminated our government. In our current political situation, many have felt paralyzed or have given in. We must now call on our government representatives, our businesses, our media, our universities and most importantly, we the people, to fight the contagion of corruption in any way we can. We need to inoculate ourselves against it by treating everyone with respect and dignity, no matter their status or situation.

It will take effort to recover and heal in order to regain our former strength of integrity, trust, and norms of social and ethical behavior. But the epidemic of corruption must be stopped!
On May 6, Kari Lake, senior adviser at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), posted an announcement on X that mightve been laughable  if it didnt signal a five-alarm fire. She wrote: USAGM is excited to announce a partnership with One America News Network (OAN) to provide newsfeed services to USAGM networks, including Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Marti, and Voice of America (VOA).

Lets be clear: OAN isnt journalismnot the kind we studied, practiced or defended. Its a MAGA mouthpiece that fueled election denial, peddled Covid conspiracies and settled with multiple plaintiffs who sued the network for defamation. And now, its being handed the keys to influence U.S.-funded media built to fight propaganda in authoritarian regimes. The irony is staggering.

For those of us whove spent our careers defending truth in some of the worlds most repressive media environments  I spent 18 years reporting from and broadcasting to authoritarian regimes across South and Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe through USAGM network, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)  Lakes announcement wasnt just an outrage. It was a gut punch.

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Grant Turner, former CFO of USAGM, told NPR the move is a mockery of the agencys history of independent non-partisan journalism.

But this isnt just mockery  its a deliberate dismantling of USAGMs networks. It breaks 83 years of congressionally backed laws, including the firewall meant to shield public-funded journalism from political meddling.

And it follows Lakes pattern: resist, delay and hope they give up.

Lakes appointment was followed by a sweeping and unlawful termination of grant agreements for RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia (RFA) and others. These broadcasters immediately sued, and courts repeatedly ordering USAGM to release congressionally appropriated funds. But Lakes agency refused.

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Take RFE/RL: After USAGM cut its funding on March 15, a federal judge ruled the move unlawful and, on March 25, ordered the agency to release RFE/RLs congressionally appropriated funds. USAGM ignored the ruling. RFE/RL went back to court and won again on April 29, but, because Lakes agency hasnt complied, the legal battle rages on.

As USAGM continues to defy court rulings, RFE/RL  like its sister networks  has slashed staff, frozen much of its programming and so far narrowly avoided going dark. But its hanging on by a thread.

Meanwhile, VOA  the largest USAGM network  has been off the air since March 15. Its website has sat frozen for over three months. Now, into that silence steps OAN, not with journalism, but with partisan spin dressed up as news.

USAGM reaches 427 million people weekly. For example, nearly half of Nigerian adults tune into VOA. They used to get news. Imagine them now getting OAN in its place.

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The Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN) has already furloughed 90% of staff. MBNs Alhurra TV has gone dark. Its president, Jeffrey Gedmin, says Kari Lake has dodged all efforts to discuss the funding freeze.

Im left to conclude that she is deliberately starving us of the money we need to pay you, our dedicated and hard-working staff, he told his reporters.

As USAGM slipped deeper into paralysis, President Donald Trump focused his attack inside the country. On May 1, he signed an executive order slashing funding for NPR and PBS, accusing the news agencies of spreading radical, woke propaganda.

PBS President Paula Kerger called the move unlawful. NPR CEO Katherine Maher warned that without federal support, local news deserts will expand, hitting rural communities hardest. One in 5 Americans already have no access to local news, she said. Both vowed legal actions. But if USAGM is any guide, even if they win, the Trump administration may ignore court orders.

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The pattern is unmistakable: dismantle U.S. government-funded international media, piece by piece.

Lakes claims of cost-saving are cover. This isnt about efficiency. Its about eliminating any editorial voice that isnt MAGA-aligned and replacing it with propaganda. Its about punishing the independent press.

Trumps first term was the warning shot: He attacked journalists, branded the media the enemy of the people and orchestrated the infamous Wednesday Massacre, when his appointee Michael Pack ousted the heads of all USAGM networks in a single night.

Now in this second term, the attacks have intensified. On March 14, Trump delivered a speech at the Department of Justice that many interpreted as a directive to prosecutors to go after his political enemies  including journalists. He labeled CNN and MSNBC illegal.

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The situation became so alarming that the New York-based press freedom watchdog CPJ broke with its own tradition. Instead of waiting the customary full year to evaluate a new administration, it issued an emergency report just 100 days into Trumps second term, warning: Press freedom is no longer a given in the United States.

The report laid out a chilling timeline:

The Associated Press punished for refusing to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

FCC investigations launched against CBS, ABC, NBC, NPR and PBS.

Harassment and physical threats against reporters skyrocketing.

CPJ has provided over 530 safety consultations to journalists since November  up from just 20 in all of 2022  underscoring how fear is rapidly replacing freedom in American journalism.

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Globally, the damage extends far beyond USAGM. USAIDs support for independent media has also been gutted  leaving entire news ecosystems in fragile democracies on the brink of collapse.

Ive seen this movie before. From Belarus to Afghanistan, from Central Asia to the Middle East, Ive watched what happens when leaders attack the press. It always ends the same: repression, disinformation and collapse of public trust.

Trump tried this with USAGM in his first term, and he failed, because the system, most notably Congress, pushed back. When I asked VOA chief national correspondent Steve Herman whether theres still a path to salvation for the agency, he didnt hesitate:

Congress can save it. Whether VOA gets more or less money, adds or cuts a language service  thats supposed to go through Congress. The executive branch cant unilaterally decide everything.

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Were more than three months into this  and still, Congress hasnt acted. Time is running out. This isnt a budget dispute. Its a full-blown assault on the First Amendment. Press freedom. Institutional independence. Democratic oversight. All of it is on the line.

And once the watchdogs are gone, authoritarianism doesnt creep in  it storms through the front door. This is how free societies die. Not all at once. But headline by headline, budget by budget, lawsuit by ignored lawsuit.

We still have time to stop it. But not much.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
On Monday morning, Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a 19-year-old college student from Georgia, made an illegal turn on a red light. Now, through no fault of her own, she is facing the possibility of deportation  and in the Trump administrations frenzy to rid the country of every undocumented immigrant, America is at risk of losing yet another young person chasing the American dream.

Since President Donald Trumps inauguration in January, the White House has portrayed its ramped-up deportation efforts as an effort to protect Americans from criminal migrants. The detention and possible deportation of Arias-Cristobal make a mockery of such claims.

We already know that undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans and are less likely to be incarcerated. But Arias-Cristobals case highlights how Trumps constant depiction of migrants as marauding invaders has meant that all undocumented immigrants are treated like criminals, even those who are contributing members of society.

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Arias-Cristobal was taken into custody because she didnt have a Georgia state drivers license, though, often in such cases, the police issue a citation rather than arrest the driver. During booking, when asked her residency status, it became clear that she was in the country illegally and was turned over to ICE. She was then taken to a detention center three hours from her home, wearing chains around her wrists and ankles.

Supporters of the presidents zero-tolerance immigration policy will argue that Arias-Cristobal could have sought a path to citizenship, but, in reality, there is no way for her to get legal status. She arrived in America at the age of 4 with her parents, who entered the country illegally. (She is being held in the same ICE detention center as her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, who was arrested two weeks ago on a separate traffic stop.)

In the past, she could have registered in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, which defers deportation every two years, but Trump ended it in 2017.

Now there are zero options for her. As her state representative, Kacey Carpenter, a Republican, pointed out to a reporter at WTVC in Chattanooga, Tennessee: There is not a pathway for someone that is in America right now towards citizenship, unless they get married or they have a child, and the child grows up and the childs 18, then they can petition for their parents. But as far as an individual thats between the ages of four and 25, theres no pathway.

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Dustin Baxter, Arias-Cristobals lawyer, told me her detention is a direct result of the Trump administrations unforgiving immigration policies. If Arias-Cristobal had been pulled over on Jan. 19, nothing would have happened. She would have been cited, not arrested. But because of the Trump administrations zero release policy, she is stuck in an ICE detention center. Baxter tells me that his office, which specializes in immigration matters, is seeing hundreds of cases like Arias-Cristobal's when, during the Biden administration, they didnt see any similar cases.

Arias-Cristobal, who ran cross country in high school and was an honors student, can hardly be considered a threat to society.

The same can be said of her father. He owns a local business and has no criminal record. In a public announcement about his detention, the Department of Homeland Security said Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship, but Baxter scoffed at the notion. Thats not how the immigration system works. If people didnt get legal status before, its not because they were thumbing their nose. Our laws are old and antiquated, and they dont provide a path for people in the country illegally to get status.

Amazingly, though he came to the U.S. illegally as an adult, Tovar may have a better chance of staying in the country than his daughter.

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Since Tovar is in removal status, he can apply for cancellation of removal on the grounds that deporting him would harm his children, who are American citizens. But for Arias-Cristobal, the options are more limited. Before Trump took office, immigration judges were given some leeway to use discretion in allowing undocumented migrants like Arias-Cristobal to stay in the country. But that was done away with at the beginning of the Trump administration, says Baxter.

Its become a bit of a cliche to say were a nation of immigrants, but its also a fact. As her 12-year-old sister, Aurora, who was born in America and thus is an American citizen, told Newsweek about her parents: Theyre not criminals, and theyre good people who came here to make a living for themselves. They came here for a better future, a bright future, and they came here to work and not to be criminals.

How many generations of Americans can tell the same story?

How does it benefit America to tell people who view this country as a land of opportunity and who are seeking a better life for their children that they are criminals and dont deserve to live among us? How is deporting Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a 19-year-old college student with a bright future ahead of her, making America great again?

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Trumps supporters will repeat the same mantra as White House press secretary Katherine Leavitt, that all undocumented immigrants are criminals. In reality, thats not true  simply being in the country illegally is not a crime; its a civil violation. But, in practice, its simply bad policy and fundamentally damaging. Ximena Arias-Cristobal and her father are the kind of people we should want in America. They are little different from the generations of Americans who helped to build this country and, yes, make it great.

Deporting a man who has planted deep roots in America benefits no one. Treating a 19-year-old  who has lived virtually her entire life in America  as an alien and an other to be feared makes no ones life better.

Ximena speaks with a Southern twang, says Baxter. She has no memory of Mexico. She doesnt have the paperwork to prove it  but shes as American as my own kids.

But because of one wrong turn, Ximenas American dream has turned into a nightmare. And all of us are poorer as a result.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The recent revival of old-school execution methods is one of the most distressing signs that the United States is moving backward. While other countries eliminate the death penalty, in the U.S., we have leaders champing at the bit to kill death row prisoners. In response to arguments that lethal injection methods have inflicted lingering and excruciating pain on the executed, those leaders have turned back the clock to methods they can pretend as relatively painless. But its all a farce.

To be clear, there is no acceptable way to execute a living, breathing human being. Theres no morally justifiable reason to do it. And theres no reason to believe that executions make anybody safer. But news out of South Carolina should cause us to focus on the way that state governments continue to insist that they can find a good way to kill people.

That state told convicted murderer Mikal Mahdi he could have his pick: death by lethal injection, firing squad or electrocution. Faced with barbaric and inhumane choices, Mikal Mahdi has chosen the lesser of three evils, one of his attorneys said March 28. Mikal chose the firing squad instead of being burned and mutilated in the electric chair, or suffering a lingering death on the lethal injection gurney.

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But it doesnt appear that Mahdi got the near instantaneous death that he and the state wanted, the near-instantaneous death that a firing squad is supposed to guarantee. On April 11, a three-person firing squad fired at the target placed over Mahdis heart, but in court filings to the South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday, Mahdis attorneys pointed out that there were only two wounds on the cadavers body, and they say neither of the executioners hit his heart directly.

Hes not going to die instantaneously from this, Dr. Carl Wigren, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the defense teams autopsy documents for NPR, said. I think that it took him some time to bleed out.

The autopsy confirms what I saw and heard, David Weiss, an attorney for Mahdi, who witnessed his execution, said in a statement. Mikal suffered an excruciating death. We dont know what went wrong, but nothing about his execution was humane. The implications are horrifying for anyone facing the same choice as Mikal. South Carolinas refusal to acknowledge their failures with executions cannot continue.

Each of the three people in the firing squad was supposed to have a live round. In the attempt to explain why an autopsy that South Carolina commissioned found only two wounds, a doctor added a comment that says it is believed that two of the bullets entered the same wound.

Mikal Mahdi. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AFP - Getty Images)

It is inconceivable that all the executioners missed directly hitting the condemned mans heart but that two of them missed to the exact same degree. We should all feel insulted that a state governments record suggests thats what happened.

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That South Carolinas method of choice wasnt as humane as advertised is less surprising when you consider that different courts cant even agree on what constitutes a humane execution. The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled last year that a firing squad was an acceptable form of punishment because even if it did cause excruciating pain, the pain will last only ten to fifteen seconds. But when Jessie Hoffman, who was condemned to die in Louisiana, said that suffocating him by nitrogen gas would be torturous and unnecessarily cruel and that a firing squad would be better, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals answered bluntly, That cant be right.

And so the state of Louisiana killed Hoffman with a method that it doesnt allow for the euthanization of dogs and cats.

The gas started flowing at 6:21 p.m. on March 18, Louisiana officials reported. John Simerman, a staff writer for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate who witnessed Hoffmans execution, wrote that the 46-year-olds chest rose and he made a jerking motion at 6:22, and that a minute later his body shook and his fingers twitched and he appeared to pull at the arms of the table. That was followed by his hands clenching.

While the exact moment Hoffman expired cant be known, the gas flowed for 19 minutes, and he was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. When the nitrogen mask that had been put over his face was removed, Simerman wrote, Hoffmans head was tilted back, teeth exposed in a grimace.

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Again, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled last year that, at minimum, a person executed by a firing squad would die quicker ... unless there is a massive botch of the execution in which each member of the firing squad simply misses the inmates heart. It appears that in the case of Mikal Mahdi, each member of the firing squad did just that.

Mahdis execution was barbaric. Some people may grudgingly concede that point because his killing was botched. But they ought to admit that it was barbaric because it was an execution.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
When Pope Leo XIV addressed the crowds in St. Peters Square on Thursday evening, the first American pope made it clear that the view from his balcony was not the view from the United States. He began in Italian, added a few lines in Spanish, and concluded with the traditional blessing in Latin. He didnt speak a word of English. He sent greetings to his former diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, but not to his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

Until Thursday, it was a given that the pope would not have an American point of view. Catholics in the U.S. are used to thinking of the pope as a remote figure, unreachable and otherworldly  which is why it created such a stir when Pope Francis did things like paying his own hotel bill or posing for photos with famous American comedians.

The language barrier has helped maintain that air of unreality around the papacy. The pope is someone to look at, rather than listen to; if we do hear his voice, we dont expect to understand the words. When the last three popes made their official visits to the United States, they prayed in Latin, read haltingly from prepared texts, and communicated largely through translators. None of them was comfortable conversing in English.

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Enter Pope Leo XIV, a native speaker of American English with a mild Chicago accent. He chose not to reveal that aspect of himself in his first message to the world, but when he does turn his attention to English-speaking Catholics, there will be no need for a translator and no straining to make out his words. On the contrary, he will be startlingly easy to understand. When, during his first Mass as pope, he began his homily with a few sentences in English, he sounded like any Midwesterner, flat vowels and all.

When and how Leo XIV will turn his attention to the United States is what were all watching for now. I dont see him going out of his way to pick fights with Donald Trump or anyone else in American political leadership. But he chose a name that recalls the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, whose writings in support of workers rights and human dignity earned him a reputation as the father of Catholic Social Teaching. That choice seems to be a deliberate signal of solidarity with the working class and the poor, and when the moment comes for Leo XIV to express those principles, he will be difficult to ignore.

Months after his election in 2013, Pope Francis issued Evangelii Gaudium, a document that condemned the exploitation of the poor and called for attention to the structural causes of poverty. He wrote, Inequality is the root of social ills, and he specifically rejected trickle-down theories as expressing a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system.

Conservative American commentators rushed to downplay Francis words. He didnt really understand the American context, they said; he was thinking of South America, where capitalism is more corrupt. Or they took issue with the official Vatican translation, insisting that it was more moderate in the original Spanish. That was self-soothing nonsense, and as Francis papacy went on, it became harder to cast him as any kind of conservative. But the language barrier did make it easier for some to believe that the plain-speaking pope was an intellectual lightweight.

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Leo XIV, on the other hand, will face no obstacles when he has something to communicate to American Catholics. There will be no opportunity for anyone to soften his remarks with What the Holy Father meant to say This is certainly bad news for Catholics like Vice President J.D. Vance, who want to use church teaching to serve authoritarian ends. Perhaps the cardinals liked the idea of an American pope who can condemn human rights abuses and call for restitution and repentance in words that will not need translating.

For all his pride in his Argentine roots, Francis never made an official visit to Buenos Aires after he left there to become pope. He seemed to know that such a visit could be used to political ends. For the same reason, the United States could be waiting a long time for a visit from its first native pontiff. Leo XIV has watched from Rome as bishops in American dioceses allowed themselves to be used by Trump and lost their credibility in the process. Even Pope Francis was manipulated into a meeting with Kim Davis, the clerk who lost her job for refusing to certify same-sex marriages, when he came to the United States in 2015. The Vatican later had to clarify that the meeting did not indicate support for her actions, and the intermediary who arranged it  Archbishop Carlo Vigano  has since been excommunicated.

Pope Leo surely recognizes the need to be shrewd in dealing with American politics. If and when he speaks directly to America, it will be because he has something important to say. For our part, Americans  and especially American Catholics  will hear it not as a murmur from afar, but as a familiar-sounding voice ringing in our ears. Then, the question will be, Are we prepared to listen?

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
That didnt take long. After a few months of celebrating Donald Trumps astonishing political comeback by offering the president near-unanimous support, Republicans are going squishy.

The Trump agenda is hanging by a thread. Congress, which up to now has done very little to help the White House solve our border crisis, codify DOGE spending cuts or rebalance our justice system, now has to act. They have to pass a big beautiful bill to extend the tax reductions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while incorporating some of the campaign promises the president made, like eliminating taxes on tips.

This is no time for weak knees; failing to extend the tax cuts could throw the economy into recession and clobber Republicans in the midterms.

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Unhappily, some GOP legislators have been wilting over cutting Medicaid, while others torpedoed President Trumps pick for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. It looks like a dip in Trumps approval rating and uncertainty about the success of his economic program are causing palpitations throughout the caucus.

We hoped for more. After all, Republicans would likely not be in charge of the House or Senate but for Trumps extraordinary win. Surely that should earn him more than 100 days support.

At the top of Trumps agenda is the reconciliation bill, into which Congress will jam as many of the presidents campaign promises as possible. Under the rules governing reconciliation measures, reductions in revenues for not taxing overtime, for instance, must be paid for. One solution is cutting Medicaid, a program that has spiraled out of control and is ripe for a serious overhaul.

Total Medicaid spending has exploded, reaching nearly $900 billion in 2023, nearly double the total a decade earlier, despite a marked downturn in the U.S. poverty rate. But it is not only the sum of Medicaid spending that is the problem  it is also where the money is going.

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The Wall Street Journal recently published an op-ed on Medicaid in which the authors describe the nations third-largest entitlement program as fundamentally broken. They write, Because of ObamaCare, the federal government pays $9 for every $1 of state spending on able-bodied working-age adults, compared with roughly $1.33 for pregnant women and disabled children. These figures reveal a profound distortion of the original purpose of Medicaid  to help the most vulnerable. They also show that states have an unhealthy incentive to sign up as many able-bodied recipients as possible.

Medicaid enrollment, the authors claim, is a political machine that studies have shown to boost voter turnout, especially in Democratic areas. When people enroll in programs like Medicaid, they are automatically linked to voter registration and get-out-the-vote nonprofits. This is why Democrats are screaming about possible Medicaid cuts  the program helps them snag voters.

Some Republicans are scared to drain the honey pot, worried it will cost them votes in districts home to large numbers of recipients. The clear solution is to reform the program  and in particular to reestablish work requirements for able-bodied adults without small children. Polling shows that 73 percent of likely voters approve restoring that requirement.

Elsewhere, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced recently that he would not vote to confirm Ed Martin as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Tillis cited Martins defense of defendants charged in the 2021 attack on the Capitol for his decision. His announcement, sufficient to block the nomination on the Senate Judiciary Committee, forced the White House to withdraw Martins nomination and quickly select a replacement.

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Martin was a controversial pick, but Tillis should be reminded that in the U.S., everyone  no matter how heinous their crimes  deserves a proper defense and a fair trial. The fact that Martin represented people who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is not disqualifying.

Many people believe that the Capitol riot defendants were railroaded by a Department of Justice more concerned with political theater and retribution than with justice. In response to the riots, the FBI engaged in what has been described as the biggest criminal inquiry in the Justice Departments 153-year history. In all, the agency charged 1,575 people, the majority for the simple crime of trespassing.

Many Republicans consider the hunting down and charging of Jan. 6 participants another example of a two-tiered system of justice that emerged under former President Joe Biden. He frequently portrayed Republicans as a danger to the country. The ongoing prosecution of the rioters at that time helped make his case.

But when repeat violent criminals are routinely released back onto the streets in our country thanks to lenient justice reform measures, the treatment of the Jan. 6 crowd seems extreme.

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Consequently, many Republicans welcomed Trumps clemency for Jan. 6 participants. Indeed, a Rasmussen poll from late last year found that 49 percent of all likely U.S. voters would approve of Trump pardoning many of those charged with federal crimes for participating in the Jan. 6, while 46 percent would disapprove.

Tillis may believe that his states support for Trump is softening. Perhaps he feels the need to signal independence, or he has qualms about some of Martins far-right views. But D.C. is a dangerous place  a tough U.S. Attorney might have been just the thing for it.

Tillis is up for reelection next year and is considered vulnerable. He should note that whereas he won his seat with less than 49 percent of the vote in 2020, Trump won 51 percent in North Carolina vote last year. Bucking the president may not pay off.

Trump is on a mission, targeting dozens of tough problems faced by our country. He has shown enormous courage under fire, literally and figuratively, taking shots from would-be assassins and also from the hostile press.

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The least Republicans in Congress can do is show some spine and push the agenda forward. If they cannot make a case for the votes they need to take, maybe they should step aside.

Liz Peek is a former partner of major bracket Wall Street firm Wertheim and Company.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna went missing in August 2023 while pursuing a story in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. She died in a Russian prison in September 2024. Her body was given to Ukraine in February 2025.

A forensic examination determined that she had been tortured and that several of her organs had been removed. She was 27 years old at the time of her death.

Roshchyna isnt the only Ukrainian civilian to have been slaughtered by the Putin regime. Three years ago, in March 2022, just several weeks after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some 500 Ukrainians were tortured and executed in the town of Bucha, north of Kyiv. The mutilations and massacres  of both Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war  have continued unabated since then.

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Needless to say, the bestial Putin regime is guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide.

As tragic as Roshchynas death is, its also profoundly political. The Russian authorities could have kept her body or disposed of it some way. Instead, they decided to return it to Ukraine  not in 2024, but in 2025. The timing may be accidental: never underestimate the political incompetence of torturers.

Or it may be  in fact, probably is  intentional. After all, it is quite likely that Russian President Vladimir Putin knew of Roshchynas incarceration and deliberately returned her body to send President Trump a message.

Namely: Cajole, appease and threaten me as much as you like, but I wont settle for anything less than Ukraines destruction.

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Putins subsequent decision to drop bombs on civilians, and especially children, in Kryvyi Rih, Sumy and Kyiv  at precisely the time that the Kremlin is supposedly negotiating with the White House  reinforces the point. Like Roshchynas release, the bombings clearly state that Russia has no interest whatsoever in peace.

This is hardly surprising. Putin has invested his entire career and reputation in the war. Having suffered close to one million casualties, he cant just settle for bits of four provinces, all the more so as Russia officially annexed them in 2022. To accept the status quo is to be humiliated as a loser. Putins got to have it all.

Which means that there can be, and will be, no peace as long as Putin remains in power. Only his departure, whether voluntary or not, will enable whoever succeeds him (possibly) to pursue an end to a war that is destroying Russia.

Do Trump and his minions understand that Putin is playing them by assuring them he wants peace, while at the same time implicating them in his crimes by telling them to their faces that he is a killer? That whatever overtures Trump, Secretary of State Mario Rubio, Vice President JD Vance or Steve Witkoff make amount to turning a blind eye to the slaughter of innocent human beings? The military historian Phillips OBrien goes further and says that Trump is helping Putin kill Ukrainians.

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In effect, Putin is challenging Trump to approve of Russias brutal violation of human rights and international norms. Since the administration has failed to endorse several United Nations resolutions condemning the Russian aggression, Putin has reason to believe that he can taint the White House and thereby relativize his guilt.

Thus far, Trump and friends have either fallen into Putins trap  Witkoff certainly has  or have welcomed Putins embrace of barbarity. The first implies that the White House consists of inexperienced amateurs who cant tell that theyre being suckered. The second ascribes brutality and a lack of empathy to Trump et al.

Both versions are plausible, alas. And neither speaks highly of the White Houses moral standards or political acumen.

Trump could easily extricate himself from Putins bear hug by being at least as tough with him as hes been with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Is the American president aware of the dilemma he confronts and how history will judge him if he makes the wrong choice and condones Roshchynas death?

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The tragedy is that, although the answer is obvious, we dont know.

Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires and Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Theres an old adage that says you can tell a lot about a country by how it governs in a crisis. But lately, its hard to shake the feeling that America isnt being governed at all.

Whereas the media often frames the administrations problems as incompetence or deliberate chaos, I think the truth might be more alarming: What if its not that the car is being driven poorly, but that no one is even in the drivers seat?

Take, for instance, the hollowing out of federal agencies. During President Trumps first presidency, there was a well-documented purge of career civil servants, scientists, diplomats and department heads. But what followed wasnt a thoughtful reconstruction, however ideological. It was a slow fade into nothingness. Positions simply werent filled. Appointments were left pending for months, even years. Entire sections of departments, like at State and the EPA, became ghost towns.

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This wasnt sabotage in the traditional sense  it was more like strategic abandonment.

In Trumps second term, the administration is doubling down on its strategy of management by absence. The presidency  and now the presidents party  is defined not by a coherent philosophy but by a refusal to govern unless there is something immediate to gain from it. Its government via headline. An illusion of action only when the cameras are rolling.

We see this neglect everywhere. In public health, lessons from COVID-19 have evaporated into a partisan fog, such that pandemic preparedness offices remain underfunded. In environmental policy, regulations are repealed but no new frameworks are proposed. In immigration, cruelty often seemed like the point, but even cruelty requires planning. Now the system is simply jammed  not out of some calculated malevolence, but because nobody showed up to fix it.

You dont need a grand conspiracy to get government dysfunction. You just need people to stop doing the work. And when apathy trickles down from the top, the rot spreads quickly. Mid-level managers take their cues from the inaction above. Good-faith civil servants burn out or check out. Soon, systems very finely and intentionally designed to respond, regulate and reform start wheezing like old radiators in an abandoned house. And when the alarm bells go off  a train derails, a border crisis flares or a hurricane hits  there is no one to pick up the phone, much less coordinate a response.

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Of course, the Trump administration, like every administration, has its die-hards, its loyalists, its cult of true believers. But increasingly, their job seems less about governing and more about defending the lack of it. They hold press conferences, write posts and give interviews not to lay out plans or update the public, but to justify why good, functional governing isnt happening.

In this sense, weve moved beyond the conventional dysfunction of past administrations. George W. Bush had Katrina. Barack Obama had the VA scandal. Joe Biden had the Afghanistan withdrawal (and a whole lot more). These were failures of execution  bad choices, misjudgments, slow responses. But even in those moments, there was a clear chain of command, someone trying (however imperfectly) to steer the ship.

What we have now is something eerier: silence from the cockpit. This kind of neglect is dangerous not just because things break down, but because when they do, no one has the blueprint. Bureaucracies, for all their flaws, exist to create consistency. They are built to run on rules, institutional memory and procedures that persist regardless of whos in power. But when you fire the institutional memory and never bother to train anyone new, the rules go with them. And when crises come  and they always do  theres no muscle memory left. Just chaos and improvisation.

Some might argue that this is the point. That dismantling government, shrinking it down to the size where it can be drowned in a bathtub, as Grover Norquist famously put it, is the actual goal. But that interpretation gives too much credit. It suggests strategy, direction, an endgame. What were seeing doesnt look like the pursuit of smaller government; the destination isnt libertarian paradise. Its bureaucratic purgatory.

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And lets not forget the global implications. At a time when the world was crying out for American leadership  on climate, on public health, on technology, on human rights  America hit everyone in the face with tariffs and then ran to the sideline, distracted by culture wars and internal squabbles, content to watch the gears rust. The G-7 doesnt wait. Neither does China. The world moves on, whether or not the United States is ready to lead.

So where does that leave us? In a strange limbo, with a vacuum of leadership dressed up as populism, filled with slogans and scapegoats instead of solutions.

Theres still time to course correct. To re-staff, to rebuild, to remember what a functioning government actually looks like. But that starts with acknowledging the scope of the neglect  not just its outcomes, but its origins. Its not enough to say government is broken. We have to ask who stopped trying to fix it.

At the end of the day, a democracy can survive bad drivers. What it cant survive is nobody driving at all.

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Aron Solomon is the chief strategy officer for Amplify. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Donald Trump is casting yet another Fox News regular for a top position in his administration.

Trump announced on Thursday that he has selected Jeanine Pirro, co-host of Foxs panel show The Five, to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. She is the 23rd former Fox News employee to date that Trump has picked for a high-ranking federal post in his second term in office.

Trump is notoriously obsessed with Fox Newss programming. The president relies on the network to inform his worldview and provide advice about how the federal government should respond to crucial events. So it comes as little surprise that he has brought many of its employees in-house, with Fox alumni occupying top positions in the White House, Cabinet and elsewhere in government.

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And its even less surprising that Pirro will now join their ranks. As Fox remade itself as a Trumpist network, Pirro emerged as one of the presidents most notable sycophants. Her personal devotion to the president is impossible to parody  she once described Trump as a nonstop, never-give-up, no-holds-barred human version of the speed of light.

But hiring people to lead government agencies because you like their takes on right-wing TV comes with major drawbacks  ones that Pirro embodies. Like others she is following through the Trump/Fox revolving door, Pirro lacks relevant experience for the job shes been assigned to do. Instead, she has spent years peddling the bigotry, conspiracy theories, and Trumpist fealty that mint Fox stardom.

The Trump administration ranks are filled with people whose work for Fox News has gotten them jobs well beyond their traditional qualifications. Pete Hegseth and Dan Bongino, for example, spent their early careers in relatively low-ranked positions in the military and law enforcement, made failed runs for office as Republicans, and then leaned on their past experiences to become successful Fox News pundits.

Now Hegseth is secretary of defense while Bongino is deputy director of the FBI. They lack the experience typically seen for those roles, and it shows: Hegseth has faced firestorms over his dysfunctional management of the Pentagon and his potentially illegal handling of sensitive military information, while Bongino is under fire even from MAGA partisans who think he is not working hard enough to address their needs.

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Pirros career has followed a similar path. Though she has experience as a prosecutor, serving three terms as district attorney in Westchester County, New York, that tenure concluded two decades ago after an aborted run for U.S. Senate in 2005 and a landslide defeat for state attorney general the following year.

She promptly joined Fox News and has been a fixture there ever since. Before joining The Five, she hosted a weekend evening show titled Justice with Judge Jeanine, a reference to her brief stint as an elected judge in Westchester County in the early 1990s.

What Pirro has done with her Fox News platform raises even more questions about her fitness to serve as D.C.s top prosecutor.

Fox News programming is steeped in fearmongering about the threat a sinister other poses to its viewers, from the networks Global War On Terror-era scapegoating of Muslims to its more recent targeting of Black Lives Matter activists and migrant crime. Yet Pirro is the rare Fox star to say something so manifestly bigoted that the network suspended her.

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In 2019, her show was taken off the air for two weeks after she noted that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., wears a hijab and asked, Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to sharia law which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution? That remark was part of Pirros long trail of anti-Muslim commentary at Fox News, including her call to start having a conversation about surveillance in mosques.

The Muslim population of Washington, D.C., may now wonder whether the attorney responsible for prosecutions in the city views them as equal members of society  and whether she is planning to spy on their houses of worship.

Fox News stars are notorious for pushing conspiracy theories  but here too, Pirro stands out. Her on-air promotion of lies about Dominion Voting Systems rigging the 2020 election against Trump was part of the companys lawsuit against Fox, which the network settled in 2023 for a record sum.

According to Fox News internal emails revealed in Dominions filings, as Pirro continued to push conspiracy theories about the election, her executive producer described her as a reckless maniac who is nuts and should never be on live television. Less than two years later, she was promoted from weekends to weekdays with "The Five." Now, she will be running federal prosecutions in the nations capital.

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Pirros commentary about how federal law enforcement should respond to the presidents whims raises real concerns about the rule of law now that she is in position to act on it. Throughout Trumps first term, Pirro denounced various Justice Department leaders for not moving quickly enough to quash probes of the president and to investigate his political opponents.

Pirro even called for a cleansing of the FBI and the Justice Department, which she said were full of individuals who should not just be fired, but who need to be taken out in handcuffs.

At one point, after spending weeks pushing conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton that she claimed deserved federal scrutiny, she met with Trump in the White House and successfully pushed for the Justice Department to launch a probe. The U.S. attorney who conducted the investigation ultimately closed it without charges.

Now Pirro herself will have the power and authority to conduct similar reviews of the presidents enemies. The range of potential outcomes is unnervingly wide. If her Fox News commentary is any indication, she will try to harness the office in service of Trumps authoritarian view of federal law enforcement as an extension of his personal will. But its also possible that her lack of experience and general incompetence will see her fail to make much of an impact at all. As with so much of the Trump administration, you will have to tune in to see what happens.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As we enter the third day of fighting between two nuclear armed nations, India and Pakistan, the United States has made it clear that it will not serve as a mediator to prevent a regional war. In an interview with Fox News, Vice President JD Vance called the conflict fundamentally none of our business, ignoring a nearly 50-year history of the United States using South Asia to push back against Russia and China.

Sticking to the "America First" narrative and publicly stating that the United States will not work to influence any country to lay down their arms not only diminishes American power  it gives China the gift of dominating the wealth of trade going through the subcontinent, at the cost of millions of civilian lives.

As a U.S. diplomat at the height of our countrys war in Afghanistan, I witnessed the United States effort to balance South Asian narratives of trauma while securing benefits for all involved. The U.S. is well-equipped to step in as a diplomatic power to stem conflicts between other nations, from the Dayton Accords that settled the Bosnian War in 1995 to building multinational coalitions to keep the peace in the Central African Republic in 2013. In cases where direct talks between leaders at the height of emotion can make the situation worse, U.S. diplomats shuttle diplomacy has given the South Asian nations a face-saving off-ramp after terror attacks.

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The two states of India and Pakistan, created after a horrific and bloody partition in 1947, have much in common culturally but are now on very different trajectories strategically.

With more than 1.5 billion residents, India is a booming economic market now looking to be a global cultural force. The U.S. is Indias largest trading partner. To grasp the scope of Indias expanding cultural influence here simply look at the Met Galas embrace of Indian superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and the Kardashians highly publicized friendship with the ultra-wealthy Ambani family.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, a nation of 250 million people, has used its position at the crossroads of the Middle East and Central Asia to become a trading bridge to China and a base of U.S. national security operations. As recently as last month, while slashing foreign aid budgets elsewhere, the Trump administration continued a nearly $400 million military assistance program with Pakistan, as part of the decadeslong U.S.-Pakistan counterterrorism program.

U.S. leaders from across the political spectrum have supported strategic planning with both India and Pakistan, including high level exchanges on trade and defense. Between Strategic Dialogue deals and bilateral agreements, billions of dollars were invested over the years in making security and stability in South Asia the business of the United States.

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Civil society and social institutions in both countries worked hard to move their military and political classes away from seeing each other as enemies worthy of destruction  and instead to operate as competitors. In 2006, after nearly 40 years of no direct transit, bus and rail routes between some cities in both countries resumed. Bollywood recently opened the door for Pakistani music legends and movie stars like Fawad Khan, while Pakistani-produced soap operas still draw millions of viewers from India. At the Wagah border, color guards from both sides put on a show for civilians, stamping their feet and posturing at each other every sunset. Cultural connections, known formally as track three diplomacy, have been the backbone of keeping the lid on conflict.

But unresolved tensions from the partition, in particular British colonial forces hasty carve-out of the Kashmir province, simmered throughout the decades, becoming easy tinder for conflict along religious and ethnic lines, all of which existed on this stretch of land once called Kashmir and now claimed by India, Pakistan and China. The attack on civilians in Pahalgam last month had people on both sides of the border taking to the internet to remind each other not to blame entire religions for terrorist attacks, with many using humor about their own poor circumstances to defuse tensions.

But the military industrial complexes vowed revenge; missile and drone strikes are now being traded between India and Pakistan with the tacit approval of the United States, while local leaders calls for international mediation are being ignored.

In this new world order, when the United States steps back and washes its hands of its own history, China steps in. India is sending two messages with its response to the terror attack: that it will hit back at the source of militant operations and will seek to cut off the trade going through Pakistan. China is more than willing to defend its economic investments, providing military and propaganda support for Pakistan to respond.

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This is the result of the United States stepping back from being the reasonable and responsible partner to other countries: old wounds become fresh, conflicts escalate, civilians are killed and might becomes right. We are now in a moment where tit-for-tat violence is building toward population centers coming under attack. What comes next in a conflict between two nuclear powers is everyones business.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Stock photo from Getty Images.

More than 20 people spoke out against a bill that would change Ohios marijuana law.

Thirty-five people submitted opponent testimony against Ohio House Bill 160, which would reduce THC levels and redirect most of the tax revenue. State Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, introduced the bill two months ago and opponents testified against the bill for more than three hours during Wednesdays House Judiciary Committee meeting.

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H.B. 160 imposes a litany of negative changes on cannabis users, consumers, growers, and professionals to dismantle key parts of current Ohio law enacted by your constituents, said Gary Daniels, ACLU of Ohios legislative director. At worst, these changes can be interpreted as purposeful, designed to kneecap Issue 2. At the least, these changes fundamentally handicap the purchase, use, transportation, and sale of cannabis in the state.

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Ohioans passed a citizen-initiated law to legalize recreational marijuana in 2023 with 57% of the vote, and sales started in August 2024. Ohio lawmakers can change the law since it passed as a citizen initiative. The states total recreational marijuana sales were $479,219,877 as of April 26, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control.

H.B. 160 would reduce the THC levels in marijuana extracts from a maximum of 90% down to a maximum of 70%, cap the number of marijuana dispensaries at 350, and reallocate the bulk of marijuana tax revenue to the states General Revenue Fund. It would ban using marijuana in public spaces and offer expungement for prior convictions for marijuana related offenses.

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I think this bill represents the most thoughtful of the approaches weve seen from legislators, said state Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord. If we could find some common ground, I think the sponsor has mentioned that he wants to have a fairly stripped down bill.

H.B. 160 would repeal the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Program, which was enacted through the passage of Issue 2. The bill also has an intoxicating hemp provision that would require every THC product to only be sold at Ohios regulated marijuana dispensaries.

During the committee meeting, Callender held up an intoxicating hemp product he recently purchased with the Hawaiian Punch logo on it.

State Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord, holds up an intoxicating hemp product during the Ohio House Judiciary Committee meeting on May 7, 2025. (Screenshot).

This is to show that there is some common ground, Callender said. 1,000 milligrams of THC, 96.1% THC.  No ID required to purchase, no ID required to go into the location.  We dont want children having access. We dont want false labeling.

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The bill would also make it illegal to purchase marijuana in another state and bring it back to Ohio.

But Ohioans can still return home from their favorite out-of-state microbrewery with a can, six pack, or entire keg of beer, Daniels.

Many of the opponents were not shy about pointing this out.

The Issue 2 campaign was called Regulate Cannabis Like Alcohol,said Karen OKeefe, Marijuana Policy Projects director of state policies. Yet H.B. 160s unnecessary and onerous restrictions on cannabis in no way resemble how alcohol is regulated.  Would you ban possessing bourbon purchased in Kentucky?

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Opponents questioned where they would be legally allowed to use marijuana if the bill passed.

If people cant consume at home-and sharing at a friends house becomes illegal, where are they supposed to consume safely? asked Anthony D. Riley, founder of Ohio Cannabis Live and the Ohio Cannabis Expo.

Those opposed to the intoxicating hemp provisions are worried about the ramifications of limiting sales to only marijuana dispensaries.

We have concerns that the language in S.B. 160 would ban most types of legal hemp products from retail sales, reducing access for consumers, said Ohio Grocers Association President Kristin Mullins.

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Instead, she wants lawmakers to incorporate regulatory oversight such as age-restricting products and product labeling.

Ohio Senate marijuana bill

The Ohio Senate passed their own version of a bill that would overhaul the states marijuana law back in February  shortly before the House introduced their bill.

There are some similarities between the bills such as lowering THC levels, requiring marijuana only be used in a private residence, and capping dispensaries at 350.

One of the biggest differences with Senate Bill 56 is limiting Ohios home grow from 12 plants down to six. The bill would also combine the states medical and recreational marijuana programs under the Division of Cannabis Control.

S.B. 56 has yet to have a hearing over in the House.

Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.

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A man from Orange County was sentenced to 50 years in prison for shooting and killing a father in a fit of road rage last January on East Colonial Drive.

Nicholas Carrasquillo was sentenced Thursday for second-degree murder. Prosecutors say he was driving on East Colonial Drive when he claimed the victim, 30-year-old David Alix Sligh, cut him off in traffic. After they exchanged words, Carrasquillo shot Sligh, who later died, according to law enforcement.

During testimony at Thursdays hearing, Slighs grandmother, Betty Ahmed, listed all the reasons she will miss her grandson. She expressed her sadness that he wont be there to help care for her, as he had promised, while she and her husband age.

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Ahmed told the judge that she researched how to write a victim impact statement, only to realize theres no perfect way to convey how the events at the crime scene will have a lifelong impact on her family.

We will not be able to see him raise his son, who has lost whatever a child deserves, she said.

Carrasquillos attorneys said they tried to argue during the trial that he felt threatened, but prosecutors contended that Carrasquillos actions were not justified and that Sligh didnt even have a gun.

According to court documents, his life was taken in just 51 seconds.

Shannon Sligh, the victims wife, said, Thats the biggest thing I want the world to take away, is that my son could have been in the car, and my husbands life is gone, and he can never come back.

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That sentiment reflects part of the reason she said she is not satisfied with the sentence.

I would rather him serve life, a life for a life, she added.

For now, the family must figure out how to move forward with their lives, holding onto memories of David Sligh, who was a husband, father, brother, son, grandson and friend.

His laugh. He had the most contagious laugh. He was a great uncle to my daughters and a wonderful brother, said David Slighs sister, Jessica Cerino.

Shannon Sligh also mentioned that she wears a necklace every day that holds his ashes.

The family is now working on ways to raise awareness about the dangers of road rage.

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The Hungarian authorities have asserted that Ukraines statement about uncovering a Hungarian intelligence network on its territory indicates cooperation between Kyiv and the Hungarian opposition party Tisza.

Source: a statement by Hungarian government on 9 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Orbans administration says that the statement about Hungarian intelligence operations in Ukraine is "a clear sign of increasing coordination between Ukrainian special services and the Hungarian opposition party Tisza".

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Quote: "The Hungarian government considers this position deeply troubling. In the countrys modern history, there has been no precedent where a domestic political actor has worked in tandem with the intelligence services of a neighbouring state."

Details: They also cited as evidence of coordination between Ukraine and Tisza Party the fact that Kyivs claims about uncovering Hungarian spies were promoted by the opposition and "quickly escalated into a full-fledged international discreditation campaign."

The Hungarian government further stated that its refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine "has made the country a target, especially ahead of decisions regarding Ukraines potential accession to the EU".

"In this context, the rapprochement between the Hungarian opposition party and Ukrainian security services is not only alarming but destabilising," the Hungarian government warned.

Background:

On Friday, Ukraines Security Service announced it had uncovered a Hungarian military intelligence network engaged in espionage in Zakarpattia Oblast in Ukraines west. The network was reportedly assessing the mood of local residents and gauging their reaction to the possible presence of Hungarian peacekeepers in the oblast.

Initially, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest had not received any official notification from Kyiv about the uncovered Hungarian spy network, and referred to the reports as "anti-Hungarian propaganda".

However, a few hours later, Budapest announced the expulsion of two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.

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U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, speaks with constituents in Silverton. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

The first-term Democratic congresswoman in Oregons closest congressional district plans to hold seven in-person and three telephonic town halls over the next three months in a major change from her predecessor, whose lack of meetings inspired constituents to question a cardboard cutout.

Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, plans to hold meetings in big cities and small towns through Clackamas, Deschutes, Linn, Marion and Multnomah counties as part of her Give Em Hell tour. She described it as an effort to connect with constituents of Oregons 5th Congressional District and fight back against the Trump administration.

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Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the rest of this administration are making life more expensive, tanking our economy, and ripping away key programs that we rely on, all while dismantling the foundations of our country in the process, Bynum said in a statement. We cant let that happen. Im traveling across my district to turn up the heat on Donald Trump and Republicans  they will hear our stories and they will feel our outrage. Lets give em hell Oregon!

Democrats nationwide have stepped up their use of town halls following Trumps return to the White House, but Oregonians have long been accustomed to frequent in-person town halls. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley famously hold town halls in every county every year, and Wyden has won multiple awards from a grassroots national group for having more open meetings with constituents than any other U.S. senator.

But Bynums predecessor, one-term Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, deviated from that practice. Instead of public meetings in the district, she held quarterly telephonic town halls, which she defended as a more efficient way to reach all constituents. Activists in the district organized a series of events where constituents asked questions to a cardboard cutout of Chavez-DeRemer and volunteers tried to answer them based on her public statements and their own research.

Bynum has held five town halls since taking office in January. Her full summer schedule, with details of most events to be announced:

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May 10: Sisters with Merkley

5:30 p.m., Sisters High School, 1700 W. McKinney Butte Road, Sisters, OR 97759

May 27: Portland

June 2: Albany

June 10: telephonic

June 16: Lake Oswego

June 28: Redmond

July 16: telephonic

July 28: Molalla

Aug. 2: Silverton

Aug. 4: telephonic

Merkley has additional May 10 town halls scheduled in Crook and Jefferson counties, with details here. Other members of Oregons congressional delegation havent announced summer town halls yet, but Oregonians can find meetings as theyre announced by Wyden, Democratic Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Maxine Dexter and Val Hoyle and Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz on their congressional websites. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, shares town hall information on social media and constituent newsletters.

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An Orlando man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Thursday for the deadly road rage shooting of a man he said cut him off in traffic then refused to move when a signal light turned green.

Nicholas Carrasquillo was found guilty in March after a three-day trial on charges of second-degree murder and shooting at, within or into an occupied vehicle for the killing of 30-year-old David Sligh on Jan. 22, 2024. The sentence was announced in a news release by the Orange-Osceola State Attorneys Office.

This case is yet another tragic example of how quickly heated tempers in traffic can escalate into gun violence, State Attorney Monique Worrell said in the release. Gun violence continues to plague our communities, claiming lives and tearing apart families  There is zero tolerance for gun violence in our community.

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Carrasquillo fired six shots into Slighs car, with one striking him in the head, according to an affidavit. The shooting took place in Orlando on East Colonial Drive near Lake Baldwin Lane.

He stayed at the scene as police arrived and was arrested after a witness identified him. He told investigators Sligh cut him off after switching from the far-right lane, causing him to slam on the brakes, according to the affidavit. Carrasquillo flashed his lights and honked at Sligh, and when he didnt move as the light turned green he got out of his car and fired a shot into the roadway.

Carrasquillo told investigators he had to get out of his car because his window didnt work. He fired additional shots into Slighs car, though only with intent to maim him because he wasnt moving, the affidavit said. Though he felt trapped by the interaction, he said he never saw Sligh with a weapon nor did he leave his car.

Surveillance video from a nearby business indicated the interaction between the two men lasted about 51 seconds.

In his interview with investigators, Carrasquillo acknowledged he could have driven around Sligh to get away from the situation, the affidavit said.
WVUE Building - Fox8 New Orleans

New Orleans Fox affiliate WVUE has officially moved into its brand-new building.

"Extremely excited. We're at the finish line now," said general manager Mikel Schaefer. "This is state of the art. This is the highest-end technology that you can have in our industry, and people will see the difference when they're watching."

The station said the new Howard Avenue studios mark a major technological leap forward for the station. The facility includes two fully equipped studios and two control rooms, with cutting-edge LED monitors and a digital infrastructure wired into every corner.

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"This is my home and I take that so seriously," Schaefer said. "We want the best for our people, and this is an example of trying to give them the best."

The project was paid for by Gray Media Group, the stations owner.

"The investment is for all of us," he said. "It's for the 12 parishes and two Mississippi counties that we cover on a daily basis. But separate and apart, yes, an investment in the city of New Orleans - showing how much we feel like investing in the city is important."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A crash involving a large truck reduced traffic to a single lane on I-95 North early Friday morning.

The incident happened near the Providence/East Providence line by Exit 36A. The crash appeared to involve both the truck and another car.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) first reported the crash around 1:40 a.m. RIDOT said the crash wasnt cleared until about four hours later.

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Its unclear whether anyone was hurt. 12 News reached out to Rhode Island State Police for 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 WPRI.com.
During the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) community event Pack the Plane, a Diamond DA50 aircraft delivered food donations totaling about 2,312 meals to families in need via Second Harvest Food Bank.

The event gathered a total of 2,774 pounds of food, exceeding the combined capacity of two Diamond DA50 aircraft, each capable of carrying 1,232 pounds.

The event was organized in collaboration with several partners, including Sheltair, Atlantic Aviation, My Flight, Northern Jet, Orange County Sheriffs Office, Advent Health, Women in Aviation, the Air Line Pilots Association, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and held at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL).

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We are grateful to everyone who came out to make Pack the Plane a success by supporting families in the communities where we live and work, said Lance Lyttle, Chief Executive Officer of GOAA, which manages MCO and ORL.

Our partnerships help to foster hope that working together, we can make a difference when it comes to hunger and gives Second Harvest Food Bank fuel for its mission to create hope and nourish lives through a hunger relief network.

The event also included some wonderful community-focused activities!

Attendees enjoyed aircraft displays, lively music, delicious food trucks and special appearances by the MCO Paw Pilots and Sparky, the beloved mascot of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Two package theft suspects have been arrested after stealing from a South Boston residence, Boston police announced.

57-year-old Philip Renaud and 36-year-old Tayla Lynch, both of South Boston, are being charged with:

Larceny from a Building

Receiving Stolen Property Under $1,200

According to police, around 3:52 P.M., officers were dispatched to the area of 26 Jenkins Street to a report of a larceny in progress.

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Once on the scene, officers were told that a male and female suspect had stolen a package from the doorway of a building and fled toward Dorchester Street.

A search was conducted in the area, and officers spotted two people matching the suspects description, riding a scooter towards 5 Patterson Way.

The suspects were then seen standing by the scooter and surrounded by numerous boxes of merchandise.

Both suspects were placed under arrest and are expected to be arraigned in South Boston District Court.

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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By Aftab Ahmed, Charlotte Greenfield and Shivam Patel

JAMMU, India/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Blasts rang out across Indian Kashmir and the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in neighbouring Punjab state late on Friday, with the Indian military saying it was shooting down drones in the worst fighting with Pakistan in nearly three decades.

The explosions in Amritsar - the first heard there in the three-day-old conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours - could mark a further expansion in the hostilities that have alarmed world powers.

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Projectiles and flashes were seen in the night sky above the Indian Kashmir city of Jammu. It was plunged into a blackout on the second night of blasts in the region's winter capital, officials and a Reuters journalist said.

"Drones have been sighted ... They are being engaged," said an Indian military official who asked not to be named.

The Indian army said in a statement late on Friday that drones were sighted in 26 locations across a wide area of India's west and northwest from Kashmir and states bordering Pakistan to the edge of the Arabian Sea.

Ten blasts were heard near the airport in the Indian Kashmir city of Srinagar and there were explosions in more locations in the contested region, other security officials added.

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There was no immediate comment from Pakistan. It had dismissed Indian accusations that it launched attacks on the same area on Thursday night.

The old foes have been clashing since India struck several areas that it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan on Wednesday in retaliation for a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month.

Pakistan denied Indian accusations that it was involved in the tourist attack. The two countries have exchanged cross-border fire and shelling, and they have sent drones and missiles into each other's airspace.

Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides of the border that have not been independently verified. The Indian army said on Friday a family was severely injured by an armed drone in Ferozepur in India's Punjab state near the Pakistani border.

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Tourists and villagers fled border zones, residents rushed to stockpile food and people were told to stay indoors in Kashmir and beyond. India's cricket board on Friday suspended the IPL - the sport's richest tournament - and the Pakistan Super League postponed its remaining eight matches.

The relationship between India and Pakistan has been fraught with tension since they gained independence from colonial Britain in 1947. The countries have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, and clashed many times.

In Washington, the White House said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in constant contact with the leaders of both countries and reiterated that President Donald Trump wants to see the conflict de-escalate.

CLASHING ACCUSATIONS

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India responded with drones on targets in Pakistan and destroyed one air defence system, Indian Air Force officer Vyomika Singh told a media briefing.

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had dismissed earlier Indian accusations of Pakistani attacks as "baseless and misleading" and said Pakistan had not carried out any "offensive actions".

In Pakistani Kashmir, officials said heavy shelling from across the border killed five civilians, including an infant, and wounded 29 others in the early hours of Friday.

The fighting is the deadliest since a limited conflict between the two countries in Kashmir's Kargil region in 1999.

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Sirens blared for more than two hours earlier on Friday in Amritsar, which houses the Golden Temple revered by Sikhs.

Tourists fled the city by road as the airport was closed.

"We really wanted to stay but the loud sounds, sirens, and blackouts are giving us sleepless nights. Our families back home are worried for us so we have booked a cab and are leaving," said a British national who did not want to be named.

Schools and coaching centres were closed in the Bikaner region of India's desert state of Rajasthan, and residents near the Pakistan border said they were told to consider moving in with relatives elsewhere or using government-arranged accommodation.

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Further south in Bhuj in Gujarat, authorities said tourist buses were on standby in case they needed to evacuate people near the Pakistan border.

Indian shares fell for a second straight session on Friday, losing about $83 billion in market value, with both key stock indexes down 1.1%.

Pakistan's benchmark share index closed 3.52% higher with traders crediting a fall off in violence in Pakistani territory after Thursday's clashes.

(Reporting by Aftab Ahmed in Jammu, Charlotte Greenfield, Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Asif Shahzad in Islamabad, Saurabh Sharma in Amritsar, Rupam Jain in New Delhi, Ariba Shahid in Karachi, Fayaz Bukhari in Srinagar,; Additional reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Writing by Sakshi Dayal, YP Rajesh and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Andrew Heavens and Daniel Wallis)
KARACHI (Reuters) - The Pakistan Army spokesman claimed India fired ballistic missiles that fell in Indian territory, announcing it in a sudden statement on national broadcaster at 1:50 a.m. local time on Saturday (2050 GMT), with no details provided to support the claim.

"I want to give you the shocking news that India fired six ballistic missiles from Adampur. One of the ballistic missiles hit in Adampur, the rest of the five missiles hit in Indian Punjab area of Amritsar," the Army's spokesman said in his short video statement.

Amritsar's district commissioner in a text message between Friday and Saturday said: "Don't panic. Siren is sounding as we are under red alert. Do not panic, as before, keep lights off, move away from windows. We will inform you when ready to resume power supply."

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi and Saurabh Sharma in Amritsar; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Ariba Shahid and Rodrigo Campos

(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund executive board approved on Friday a fresh $1.4 billion loan to Pakistan under its climate resilience fund and approved the first review of its $7 billion program, freeing about $1 billion in cash.

"Pakistans policy efforts under the (program) have already delivered significant progress in stabilizing the economy and rebuilding confidence, amidst a challenging global environment," the IMF said in a statement.

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The review approval brings disbursements to $2 billion within the $7 billion program. No fresh money from the resilience loan was made immediately available.

India has asked the IMF for a broader review of its loans to Pakistan, as tension builds between the nuclear-armed neighbors. An April attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir killed 26 and triggered the worst fighting between the countries in nearly three decades.

At Friday's IMF board meeting, India told the IMF that the Pakistan program raised concerns about the "possibility of misuse of debt-financing funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism."

Pakistan's Prime Minster Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement that "India's attempts to sabotage the IMF program have failed."

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The staff-level agreement on both programs was reached before the current hostilities rose.

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid and Rodrigo Campos; Additional reporting by Urvi Dugar and Sarita Chaganti; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Rosalba O'Brien)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. said on Thursday that India and Pakistan have had contacts at the level of their respective National Security Councils, when asked if the nuclear-armed Asian neighbors had any ongoing lines of conversation.

The ambassador, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, made the comments in an interview with CNN in which he also said the responsibility to de-escalate tensions between the two countries lay with India after two days of clashes.

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KEY QUOTES

"I think there have been contact at the level of NSCs, but then this escalation, both in terms of the actions that have been taken and in terms of rhetoric that is coming out, has to stop," Sheikh said in the interview without giving more details about the contacts.

"Now the responsibility for de-escalation is on India, but there are constraints on restraint. Pakistan reserves the right to respond back. There is enough pressure from our public opinion on the government to respond," he added.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Many global powers, including the U.S., have urged New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate tensions and keep lines of communication open. Washington has called for direct dialogue.

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CONTEXT

On Thursday, Pakistan and India accused each other of launching drone attacks, and Islamabad's defence minister said further retaliation was "increasingly certain," on the second day of major clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Two days of fighting have killed nearly four dozen people.

The latest escalation in the decades-old India-Pakistan rivalry began on April 22 when Islamist militants killed 26 people in India-administered Kashmir in an attack that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, which denied the accusations and called for a neutral probe.

(This story has been refiled to add a dropped word in paragraph 6)

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Michael Perry)
WEST PALM BEACH  In the weeks before his death, Pope Francis bestowed a blessing on Leelamma Lal, the HCA Florida Palms West Hospital nurse whose beating at the hands of a patient drew national attention.

Lal received a copy of Francis' apostolic blessing in late April while undergoing intense physical therapy at Jacksonville's Brooks Rehabilitation Center following the Feb. 18 attack, her son, Chris Lal, said May 8.

He said the letter from the pontiff left Lal, a 67-year-old native of India and a devout Catholic, overwhelmed with joy. Msgr. Gabriel Ghanoum, a chaplain at Palm Beach County hospitals, made it happen.

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"She's going to frame it when she gets home, said Chris with a smile. "She's so excited for that.

Lal's son spoke on the same day that the College of Cardinals elected Robert Prevost, an American, to succeed Francis as Pope Leo XIV, and on the same day that Lal's attorneys claimed victories in court that will help them seek damages for her from HCA Florida.

A Palm Beach County district judge April 8 ordered HCA Florida to hand over a set of records requested by Lals lawyer. The judge also struck down a request from the company's lawyers that would have barred attorneys from talking about the case outside of the courtroom.

Wellington resident Stephen Scantlebury, the patient who beat Lal as she was caring for him, is facing a charge of attempted second-degree murder while evidencing prejudice. He remains in pretrial detention, and his attorneys have said they intend to pursue an insanity defense.

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In court: Years after stray bullet killed Tequesta bride-to-be, jurors find suspect guilty of murder

Palms West nurse surprised as St. Mary's chaplain arranges papal blessing

The family of Leelamma Lal, the HCA Florida Palms West Hospital nurse beaten by a patient in February 2025, shared this April 2025 photo of her as she recovers at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Jacksonville. She still is battling double vision in her right eye.

Lal met Ghanoum while she was in critical condition at the ICU in St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. She quickly became fond of the chaplain, who frequently visited her bedside to pray.

Ghanoum requested the papal blessing for Lal without telling anyone. He traveled to Vatican City in March and returned with the rare letter that was printed March 25, less than a month before Pope Francis died on April 21, the day after Easter.

The letter's arrival stunned Chris and Cindy Joseph, Lals daughter and a Melbourne physician. They say it has become a source of hope, strength and encouragement for her mother during the toughest days in rehabilitation.

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"She has her rosary," Chris said. "And every morning, she listens to a church service on her phone."

Ghanoum continues to pray for Lal during his church services at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantana. He is best known for hosting the "No One Buried Alone" services each year for all the unclaimed ashes around the county of those who died and were cremated.

Nurse beaten at Palms West to have second surgery at St. Mary's

Lal's recovery has been slow but she continues to hit milestones, her children said.

The Royal Palm Beach resident can see out of her left eye and has regained minimal vision in her right eye. Doctors found damage on the cranial nerves in Lal's right eye, which is still causing her to have double vision and has made it difficult for her to walk by herself, her daughter said.

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Lal will undergo another surgery at St. Mary's at the end of May.

"It seems like she's all there, but when you look at her, she's not all there, Chris said.

Weeks before his death on April 21, Pope Francis sent an apostolic blessing to Leelamma Lal, the HCA Florida Palms West Hospital nurse who was beaten by a patient in February. The blessing left Lal, a devout Catholic, overwhelmed with joy, her children said.

Chris and his sister have taken turns to visit their mother in Jacksonville every weekend. They say she is in good spirits and regaining her old personality, worrying about her grandkids and her fish and plants at home.

"She wants to come back home where she could try to be somewhat normal," Chris said. "She's just worried about driving. 'How am I going to go to church?'"

An online GoFundme account for Lal has raised more than $211,000 since February.

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Insurance: Here's what you need to know about how last year's hurricanes will affect insurance rates

Judge strikes down Palms West gag order, orders HCA to give up more records

During the April 8 court hearing, Circuit Judge Joseph Curley denied a motion by HCA Florida attorney Adam Rhys that would prohibit lawyers from talking about findings and the case.

Rhys argued disparaging comments by Lal's attorneys could influence a potential jury.

Martin Reeder, an attorney for The Palm Beach Post, said during the hearing that granting such a motion would be prior restraint on speech and publication, which he called the most serious and least tolerable infringement of First Amendment rights.

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Reeder added it would have restricted the public's access to the case by preventing journalists from getting accurate information from attorneys.

Curley also ordered the hospital chain to surrender more records related to the Feb. 18 attack.

Rhys said the company had already handed over some records to Karen Terry, the attorney representing Lal. Terry said, however, Palms West has not provided the incident report, their policies and procedures for Baker Act Patients, records of phone calls to transfer Scantlebury to other facilities, and video footage of him at the hospital.

"This is a story of great public interest," said Terry. "Safety and security in hospitals is of paramount importance to all of us. We're all going to be patients at some point."

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Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palms West beating: Pope Francis in final days blessed injured nurse
Attorney General Pam Bondi hosted a forum on Wednesday with the family members of people whose federal death sentences were commuted by President Joe Biden during his final days in office  the latest step in the Trump administrations longshot campaign to convince district attorneys to bring state capital charges against those 37 people.

The invitation sent to victim family members claimed that the commutations undermined our justice system and subverted the rule of law, as well as robbed the victims families of the justice promised. Bondi held the forum for victims families to express how the unjust commutations of these violent criminals death sentences affected them personally, according to a copy of the invitation viewed by HuffPost.

Despite the administrations rhetoric, new death sentences at the state level are unlikely, if not impossible, in most of the clemency cases, according to experts.

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Fifteen of the 37 cases involve crimes that occurred in states that either do not allow the death penalty or do not carry out executions, like California. Eleven other cases involve crimes that occurred on federal land, which could complicate efforts to bring state charges. Some prosecutors have already indicated they are not inclined to pursue a costly and time-intensive capital trial in a case where the defendant is already going to die behind bars. Even in jurisdictions with prosecutors who are eager to pursue new death sentences, many of the cases are decades old, meaning key witnesses and pieces of evidence may no longer be available.

These men pose no safety threat to anyone and will die in prison. They are being punished already, Robin Maher, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said in an interview. Prosecutors, if they seek a new state death sentence, will be diverting scarce taxpayer money and tremendous resources to achieve a result that is purely political and harmful to the victims families they say they care about, she continued, citing the potential trauma of enduring another capital trial and lengthy appeals process.

The Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment.

During President Donald Trumps first term, he carried out an unprecedented federal execution spree, killing 13 people, several of whom had pending legal claims. Project 2025, the policy blueprint for Trumps second term, envisioned executing every person on federal death row. But shortly before leaving office, Biden commuted all but three federal death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Trump, left with a near-empty federal death row, lashed out at the clemency recipients, writing, GO TO HELL! in a Christmas Day post on his Truth Social platform.

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On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order calling for a dramatic expansion in the use of the federal death penalty and directing the attorney general to evaluate whether the 37 people whose death sentences were commuted could be charged with state capital crimes.

The executive order also directed Bondi to ensure that the 37 clemency recipients are imprisoned in conditions consistent with the monstrosity of their crimes and the threats they pose. Several of those men have since sued the administration, alleging officials are engaging in a sham process to send them to the countrys most restrictive federal prison, the so-called ADX in Florence, Colorado, regardless of their behavioral histories or medical needs.

Prosecutors in jurisdictions where the crimes occurred in at least three cases have said they do not plan to pursue state capital charges. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office in Missouri told NBC News it had determined that additional state charges against clemency recipients Billie Allen and Norris Holder  who were convicted in the death of a security guard during a 1997 bank robbery  would not enhance public safety and is not in the public interest.

The Tarrant County District Attorneys Office in Texas said the case of Julius Robinson, who was convicted in 2002 of killing three people, is not viable for a capital murder prosecution in the county.

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Last month, a Louisiana prosecutor secured a first-degree murder charge against Thomas Steven Sanders in the 2010 death of a 12-year-old girl. Sanders was indicted in Catahoula Parish, a rural parish with less than 9,000 people. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) indicated in a social media post that the state would provide financial assistance in the prosecution of the case.

Like the U.S. population at large, the loved ones of homicide victims are not monolithic in their views on the death penalty. Although some reacted to Bidens commutations with anger, others praised him for stopping more people from being killed.

On Wednesday, Bondi inaccurately told Fox News that Biden had pardoned the 37 people previously on federal death row, which, unlike a commutation, is an expression of the presidents forgiveness and removes restrictions around voting and holding office. In fact, Biden granted commutations, which reduced 37 death sentences to life sentences without parole.

These men have now been sentenced to another kind of death, which is to die in prison, Maher said.

Related...
ALBANY  Its graduation season in Dougherty County for college students, high school seniors  and a group of 23 Dougherty County School System parents.

The group also will walk across a stage, some donning caps and gowns, to receive their certification from the Dougherty County School Systems Level Up program, an initiative under the DCSS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program that offers certification programs in heavy machinery operation and in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. The program, funded by a Georgia Power Equity in Education grant, is completely free to parents of students in the school system.

Its an economic development and empowerment initiative aimed at supporting the students of DCSS and their families with an opportunity to level up their careers to have a positive impact on household income and decrease the negative impact of poverty in our area, DCSS Superintendent Kenneth Dyer said.

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FACE has been a longstanding part of DCSS. Maqueta Griswold, FACEs director, said it meets the needs of families outside of just academics.

We look to help our families, not only in the area of supporting their children academically but providing them with wraparound services to ensure theyre taken care of, Griswold said.

This includes offering financial literacy courses, teen pregnancy support and even resources as simple as food, clean clothes or money to cover bills for those families that are really struggling.

Two years ago, looking for ways to expand these services, the system began the Level Up program.

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The program offered families a way to take the next step in escaping poverty. It removed barriers against gaining valuable work skills and certifications. At first, the need was clear through data. Some 28% of the Albany area is below the poverty line. DCSSs student population qualifies for free and reduced school lunch at 100%. DCSS families are negatively impacted by poor health care statistics, chronic disease and high incarceration rates.

Equipping parents with the certifications to get a higher-paying job not only means more money, it means full-time positions with health insurance and hours that allow parents to be home with their kids more often. The hope for Dyer and Griswold was a generational pivot.

A lot of our challenges in our community go back to poverty, food insecurity, homelessness and so we feel that we could have a positive impact on family, household income, Dyer said. Then, we can take a blow at poverty and the challenges that our students face, that tie back to poverty.

With the help of Albany economic leaders, DCSS identified major work force needs for the area and decided on the heavy equipment and nursing assistant programs for its parents.

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We saw an opportunity to impact economic and work force development in our area, along with the opportunity to impact the families of children that we serve every day, Dyer said.

The first cohorts began about two years ago. FACE staff made phone calls to parents it had previously served, with propositions about the new program. Griswold said they got an enthusiastic response. The parents were ready to learn and work.

To participate, parents must pass a background test, an aptitude test to prove sufficient background knowledge in subjects like math, and remain drug free.

For each cohort, Level Up hosts an orientation. It offers $150 gift certificates, allowing parents to purchase uniforms and other supplies. It provides transportation for both parents and their children.

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Each cohort is small in size  about 13 CNAs and eight in heavy equipment  to allow for an intimate learning experience. The heavy equipment training happens after hours at the 4C Academy. Its a five-week program, with classes held one day a week. The CNA program is four weeks long, Monday through Thursday, with two different sessions offered in the morning or late afternoon. DCSS parents learn about operating heavy equipment at the 4C Academy through Level Up. Special Photo: DCSS FACEDCSS parents learn about operating heavy equipment at the 4C Academy through Level Up. Special Photo: DCSS FACE

Now, two years and some 30 cohorts later, 137 parents have leveled up. Eighty-four parents received credentials from the CNA program, 79 of whom now hold local jobs. Fifty-three parents are certified in heavy equipment, 38 of whom now have jobs.

The completion of each cohort program calls for a graduation ceremony.

If you were to ever come to those graduations, if you could see the kids faces  how excited they are to see their mom or dad graduating, Griswold said.

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There have been several success stories shared at these graduations, and with Georgia Power, which checks in on the unique program quarterly. For Rashad Ford, the heavy equipment course allowed him to get a job that sees him home every night, able to tuck his kids into bed. Before, he had to work overnights and missed those family moments.

The CNA Pathway program allowed Oceanshina Johnson to start her own business in hiring other nursing assistants locally.

For many, like 34-year-old Jalisa King, the Level Up program meant realizing a lifelong dream that for a long time felt unattainable.

King is a single mother with two daughters attending DCSS schools. In 2021, she had to have her leg amputated. She said this left her in severe depression, trying to raise two kids alone and with barely any income.

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I had been wanting to become a nurse because I love taking care of people  but I couldnt afford to go to CNA school, she said. One day, I was sitting at home, and I said God, show me the way.

The way took shape in a Facebook post advertising the Level Up program. King applied and was accepted.

Soon, she was immersed into the double life of a CNA student and single mom.

Id go to class; Id come home and be a mama, cooking dinner and getting the girls ready for bed, she said. Then Id be up until midnight, studying for my tests.

She said there were days she thought about giving up. She said she always had the support of her peers and teachers with Integrity Health, who offered hugs and words of encouragement.

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When I was in clinicals, I had to walk around that big old building with a prosthetic leg, King said. Every night Id look at my two kids, and I was just like, I cant give up.

She said at night, sometimes the stress would get to her. Her eldest daughter would wake up hearing sniffles from her bedroom. Shed come in and ask King, Whats wrong?

You know that song, Almost there, from Princess and the Frog? King said. Me and my baby, we used to listen to and sing that every day. Shed always say, Mama, youre almost there. You just have to keep going.

And, she did.

King finished her exams with high scores. She got ready for the graduation, a bundle of nerves and shedding tears of joy. When her name was called, she said she couldnt believe shed actually done it.

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Along with her certificate, she received the Determination Award.Jalisa King (center) stands with her two daughters at her Level Up graduation. Special Photo: Jalisa KingToday, King is a medical technician supervisor at Viva Senior Living Facility in Albany. She takes down medication orders, handles narcotics, etc. She plans to eventually become a medical assistant.

She said the Level Up program opened doors in the health care field that otherwise would have remained closed. It helped her see her full potential.

Now, her eldest daughter wants to be a nurse, too.

Griswold said seeing their parents accomplish great things inspires students as well.

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The kids see that, and it makes them want to do better academically, she said. And once the parents receive these certificates and they get their jobs, it allows them to provide a more stable home for their kids, which allows them to be more productive in the school and even better stewards of the community outside of the schools.

Word has spread fast about the Level Up program. Graduates are encouraging their friends to participate. The program has a growing waitlist, and DCSS is looking to hopefully expand into other training opportunities like Phlebotomy and commercial truck driving.

Dyer said while DCSS is still working with Georgia Power, its also looking for other sustainable funding partners to keep the program alive long-term.

Its one of the most rewarding nontraditional programs that we provide, Dyer said. Contact us, and well certainly talk about ways that we can work together to continue to make this impact.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Kansas man will soon leave prison after the state parole board grants his release.

On March 6, 2025, the Kansas Prisoner Review Board decided to grant parole to Jimmie Nelms, who was convicted for murdering a Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper in the 1970s. According to David Thompson, Public Information Officer for the Kansas Department of Corrections, Nelms release date has not been determined, as of Thursday, May 8.

The Kansas Prisoner Review Board believes that Mr. Nelms is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen and is of the opinion that there is reasonable probability that Mr. Nelms can be released without detriment to the community or to himself, Thompson said.

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Topeka family asks support for sons second battle with cancer

On May 24, 1978, Nelms was involved in a traffic stop by Trooper Conroy OBrien near Matfield Green, KS, according to April McCollum, KHP Public Information Officer. During the traffic stop, Nelms shot and killed OBrien.

Nelms was convicted and sentenced to serve two life terms for the following:

First-degree murder.

Aggravated kidnapping.

Six to 20 years for unlawful possession of a firearm.

One man charged in connection to Topekas 5th homicide of 2025

McCollum told 27 News KHP historically opposed Nelms release in every hearing but now will come to terms with the Prisoner Review Boards decision.

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Trooper OBriens brutal murder was a tragic event, and we have not forgotten this act of violence against one of our own, McCollum said. Nevertheless, members of the patrol will continue to serve the with professionalism and dignity.

Unfathomably, the Kansas Prisoner Review Board just betrayed Conroys family and friends, his community, and anyone who ever has or ever will wear the badge of a Kansas State Trooper. Jimmie Nelms, despite touring and executing a respected trooper who also happened to be an expectant father, and despite attempting to kill another trooper during his arrest, will be released from prison. If anyone ever stops and wonders why more good men and women no longer choose a career in law enforcement, please take a moment to remember this: It does not go unnoticed when life sentences in Kansas arent worth the paper theyre written on, even for cop killers when there is no question of guilt. The Kansas State Troopers Association wrote in a press release.

After Nelms release, he will live with family out-of-state, according to McCollum. For more information about the traffic stop from KHP, click here. To read more about the life of OBrien, click 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.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Department of Transportation will close a section of Kansas Highway 15 next week.

The closure will occur at the BNSF railroad crossing east of Udall. It will begin on May 14 and, weather permitting, last through May 17.

The approved detour in Cowley and Sumner counties takes traffic around using K-55, U.S. 81, U.S. 160, and U.S. 77.

Wichita mans body recovered from Arkansas river

K-15 detour (Courtesy: KDOT)

KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones.

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For current road conditions, visit www.kandrive.gov or call 5-1-1. For updates on construction projects in south central Kansas, click here.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
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Remember the days after President Joe Bidens barely coherent debate performance, when Democratic dead-enders insisted that nothing was the matter? That was embarrassing. But apparently it wasnt so embarrassing that everybody took away the correct lesson, because something similar is now happening between Senator John Fetterman and a coterie of admirers on the right. Conservatives are now doing the exact same thing that the Biden defenders did: denying the obvious unfitness of a politician because hes politically useful.

Fetterman is the subject of a devastating new profile in New York magazine (my former employer). Ben Terris reports that Fettermans staff and even his wife have repeatedly expressed concerns over his mental health, following a pattern of strange statements and actions from the senator, including a near-fatal car crash.

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After Terriss story appeared, conservatives leaped to Fettermans defense, depicting it as a hit piece motivated by anger at the senators recent rightward tilt, which has manifested in an ultra-hawkish defense of Israel, warm words for President Donald Trump, and a vote to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general. Fetterman was indispensable in 2022. He was reliably liberal and therefore could never be seen as going rogue. But now that its actually happening, suddenly the party has deemed him quite expendable, hence the flimsy New York magazine piece that just came out of nowhere, the conservative Washington Examiner charges. This line of attack has been repeated in columns in the The Daily Wire (As Fetterman Defends Israel, Dems Suddenly Question His Mental Health), National Review (Progressives Warn That John Fetterman Suffers From Acute Pro-Israel-itis), and several other outlets.

None of these articles acknowledges, let alone attempts to rebut, Terriss extensive account of Fettermans erratic behavior, which is at least as clear as the evidence of Bidens infirmity. Many of the conservative attacks conflate the effects of Fettermans stroke, which occurred before the 2022 election, with his hospitalization for depression the following year, questioning how Democrats could vouch for Fetterman in 2022 while doubting his fitness today.

A stroke is a discrete event from which full recovery is possible. It is also, of course, possible to recover from depression. But as Terris notes, Fettermans staff had strong reason to believe he was failing to adhere to his recovery plan. No one I spoke to for this article could be sure about whether Fetterman stayed on his medication during this period, but five different people said they heard comments from the senator that suggested he was not, Terris writes. Additionally, he reports, in group texts including senior staff from March 2024, staffers used terms like manic to describe his behavior. They pointed out that he was canceling medical appointments despite the blood tests being pillars of the recovery plan. Adam Jentleson, then the senators chief of staff, wrote a letter to Fettermans doctors last year laying out his concerns about his bosss well-being and disregard of doctors orders.

To be sure, assessing whether certain behaviors that troubled Fettermans staff (incoherent rants, compulsive social-media posting) indicate unstable mental health is at least somewhat subjective. In the Trump era especially, one persons raving lunatic is another persons bold populist truth-teller. But Fettermans terrifying record of erratic driving, including a crash that occurred when he insisted on driving home after a red-eye flight, is a matter of objective fact.

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Whats more, the thesis that woke staffers are sandbagging the boss with bogus concerns has trouble explaining why the strongest piece of evidence comes via the letter to doctors from Jentleson, who scolded Democratic staffers whod criticized their bosses on Israel (The thing about being a staffer is that no one elected you to represent them, he posted in October 2023) and has publicly urged his party to defy progressive pressure groups. The right-wing critique also fails to explain why Fettermans staffers refuse to ride in any car hes driving. If their disagreement was ideological in nature, remaining in his employ while engaging in a targeted boycott of Fetterman-driven vehicles would be a very odd form of protest.

[Franklin Foer: How Biden destroyed his legacy]

The conservative complaints more or less begin from the premise that Fettermans ideological apostasy is the only possible explanation for a story on his infirmity. The possibility that a journalist would report on a public figures health for nonideological reasons seems to escape them completely. Some of the rights suspicious minds appear not to understand the basics of journalism. Consider this passage from the Examiner:

So, who are these current staffers? Well never know, because just like every political hit piece, these allegations are based on anonymous sources. But heres where things get both nefarious and obvious: A letter written by former Fetterman chief of staff Adam Jentleson to Walter Reed Medical Center regarding his concern for the senators health was miraculously leaked to New York magazine.

The writer proceeds immediately from claiming that well never know the source of the allegations to insisting that the fact that we know the primary source is nefarious. The miraculous leaking of Jentlesons letter is not evidence of a conspiracy but a straightforward description of how reporting works.

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Many conservative publications are built on a hyperbolic critique of the mainstream media, which assumes that all objective journalism is mere cover for left-wing activism and advancement of the Democratic Partys agenda. With that false premise, they then set out to create the very same thing for the right. But this inability to believe that a reporter might report a story for reasons not of ideology but of public interest reveals a broader form of sophistryone that not only is endemic on the right but also has grown more common on the leftin which a partisan mind builds its worldview entirely in response to the perceived bad faith of the other side.

Suppose you observe, accurately, that many liberals downplayed evidence of Bidens mental decline. Now you can use that as a license to dismiss evidence of mental decline in any politician you favor. As long as the hypocrisy of the opposing side is your only point of contact with the facts of the case, you have no standard of internal consistency that you need to follow. Your position on Bidens fitness can be that the libs are liars for denying it, and your position on Fettermans fitness can be that the libs are hypocritical because they used to defend Biden. Of course, when they were defending Biden, many libs did the same thing, turning every question about his ability to handle the job into a game of Why arent we questioning Trumps fitness?

The misguided assumption beneath this hyper-partisan fallacy is that refusing to hold ones own side to account is an advantage. The conservative movement operates largely on a poisonous distrust of any mainstream institution dedicated to upholding standards (journalism, science, academia). Growing swaths of the left, having seen Trump ride to power on a wave of cult-like obedience, have now decided that maintaining any standards for their leaders is a suckers game.

But looking the other way as Bidens mind was slipping was not a shortcut to defeating Trump. It was an act of self-sabotage. Although conservatives may take longer to pay a price for failing to restrain their mad king, their policy of dismissing all doubts about the mental fitness of their leaders and allies of conveniencea habit now causing them to rally behind Fettermanis a shaky foundation upon which to build a movement.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
The first Latina council member ever elected to serve as Pasco mayor says she will not seek reelection this year.

Blanche Barajas confirmed to the Tri-City Herald on Thursday her plans to step away from the city council after serving two four-year terms. Shes instead recommending a former Pasco High School teacher and Latino voter organizer, Mark Figueroa, to seek her seat.

District 1 includes several neighborhoods south of Interstate 182, stretching from North Road 44 to Ochoa Middle School.

Blanche Barajas

We did many great things for Pasco and accomplished so much while we had a diverse and inclusive team, Barajas wrote in a text message.

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Pasco has been an example to other cities, even taking us to Dallas, Texas, as one of five cities across the U.S.A. chosen to speak on the progress to address homelessness, housing issues and other projects that addressed our disenfranchised communities, she wrote.

Shes stepping away to focus on personal matters, she said. Barajas currently works as executive director of the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs.

Filing week ends Friday, May 9, for 2025 elections in Washington state. There are more than 100 nonpartisan seats up for election this year in the Tri-Cities  from city councils and school boards, to port commissions and regional fire departments.

Seats that attract more than two candidates will appear in the primary election. The top-two vote recipients will then advance to the general election. Seats with two or fewer registered candidates will appear only on the general election ballot.

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On Wednesday and Thursday, a flurry of challengers registered to run for public office with hopes of unseating incumbents.

Case manager and prior council hopeful Calixto Hernandez will challenge Melissa Blasdel, who is seeking election after her 2023 appointment to the District 6 seat. She represents the citys downtown and parts of east Pasco. Leo Perales, whos seeking a second full term on Pasco City Council, will be challenged by regional real estate broker Bryan Verhei.

The Kennewick School Boards top two leaders, both seeking second terms, are also being challenged. President Gabe Galbraith has attracted a challenge from Nicolas Uhnak, a radiochemist who works at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Vice President Micah Valentine is being challenged by WSU assistant professor of history and prominent Hanford historian Robert Franklin.

At least one Pasco School Board member confirmed Thursday she will not be seeking reelection. Amy Phillips, who served four terms, says she will not seek reelection. Another candidate, Heather Kubalek, has filed to fill her District 4 seat. Its unclear if Pasco School Board member Steve Simmons plans to run for reelection. No one had filed for his at-large seat as of early Thursday afternoon, and he had yet to responded to an email inquiry.

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On the Richland City Council, all four seats are being challenged by newcomers. Ryan Whitten, the U.S. Navy veteran and Energy Northwest technician, appointed to Position 7 in 2023, has attracted a challenge from Colin Michael.

Sandra Kent, who first won election to the council in 2009, will run for another term and is being challenged by Pat Holten.

Former Richland Mayor Ryan Lukson does not plan to run for a third term on council. Donald Landsman, a retired pavement manager, has filed to run for his seat and is currently unopposed.

Kurt Maier, the newest Richland city councilman, will face a challenge from Kyle Saltz, former commander of the local VFW. Both are veterans.

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Former Washington Rep. Brad Klippert is no longer the only candidate filed to run for the Kennewick City Councils lone at-large seat. Danielle Schuster, a Kennewick native, has thrown her hat in the ring. The seat is being vacated by Council member Jason McShane, who is instead running for the ward seat held by Mayor Gretl Crawford, who is not seeking re-election.

On Thursday, May Hays, who serves on the West Richland City Council, filed for mayor. Shell challenge Mayor Pro Tem and fellow Council member Fred Brink for the full-time seat. Longtime Mayor Brent Gerry says he recently began mentoring Brink to learn the role.

Other contested races

Port of Benton, District 1: Incumbent Roy Keck and challenger William ONeil.

Port of Kennewick, District 2: Raul Contreras Gonzalez and Tammy Kenfield.

Grandview School Board, District 5: Amanda Rodriguez and Cecilia Lamas Noriega.

Connell City Mayor: Shelly Harper and Patricia Barrera.

Connell City Council, Pos. 2: Terri Cerna and Patrice Hebel.

Connell City Council, Pos. 4: incumbent Joe Escalera and Duey Dixon.

Uncontested races

Kennewick Public Hospital District, Pos. 4: incumbent Spencer Harris.

Kennewick Public Hospital District, Pos. 5: incumbent Wanda Briggs.

Kennewick Public Hospital District, Pos. 6: Rick Reil.

Prosser Public Hospital District:, Pos. 4: incumbent Brandon Bowden.

Prosser Public Hospital District, Pos. 5: incumbent Glenn Bestebreur.

Prosser Public Hospital District, Pos. 6: incumbent Stephen Kenny.

West Richland City Council, Pos. 2: incumbent Ken Stoker.

West Richland City Council, Pos. 4: incumbent Richard Bloom.

Prosser City Council, Pos. 1: Bill Jenkin.

Prosser City Council, Pos. 2: Jackie Kimble.

Prosser City Council, Pos. 3: Harold Lewis.

Kennewick City Council, Ward 1: Jason McShane.

Kennewick City Council, Ward 2: incumbent Loren Anderson.

Kennewick City Council, Ward 3: incumbent John Trumbo.

Benton City City Council, Pos. 1: Gerry Hill.

Grandview School Board, District 1: John Greene.

Ki-Be School Board, District 2: Mike Peterson.

Finley School Board, District 2: Rory Bush.

Finley School Board, At-Large: Chris Knighten.

Prosser School Board, District 3: Eric Larez.

Prosser School Board, District 4: incumbent Jason Rainier.

Richland School Board, Director 1: incumbent Bonnie Mitchell.

Richland School Board, Director 2: incumbent Rick Jansons.

Benton County Fire District #2, Pos. 2: incumbent Steve Rouse.

Benton County Fire District #4, Pos. 2: incumbent Garrett Goodwin.

West Benton Regional Fire Authority, Pos. 1: incumbent Randy Cobble.

Port of Kahlotus, District 1: incumbent Richard Halverson.

Port of Pasco, District 2: Matt Watkins.

Port of Pasco, District 3: incumbent Hans-Joachim Engelke.

Kahlotus School District, Pos. 3: incumbent Kelly Cochrane.

North Franklin School Board, Pos. 4: Gabe Martinez.

North Franklin School Board, Pos. 5: incumbent Hannah Shaw.

Pasco School Board, District 3: incumbent Amanda Brown.

Star School District, Pos. 4: incumbent Richard Wiswall.

Connell City Council, Pos. 3: Michelle Welch.

Kahlotus City Mayor: incumbent Michael Robitaille.

Kahlotus City Council, Pos. 2: Jonathan Seibert.

Kahlotus City Council, Pos. 3: incumbent Perrie Robitaille.

Mesa City Council, Pos. 2: Wyatt Harrington.

Pasco City Council, District 4: incumbent Pete Serrano.

Franklin County Fire District 2, Pos. 4: incumbent Joe Roach.

Franklin County Fire District 3, Pos. 2: incumbent Gary Larsen.

Franklin County Fire District 4, Pos. 3: incumbent Kim Pauley.

Franklin County Hospital District 1, Pos. 2: incumbent Lori Hayles.

Basin City Water-Sewer District, Pos. 1: incumbent Robert Andrews.

Basin City Water-Sewer District, Pos. 2: Matthew Naef.

Interested in running?

For a full list of elected positions on the 2025 ballot, check out the Tri-City Heralds coverage.

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Paperwork and registration payments must be made out to the Washington Secretary of States Office by 5 p.m. May 9. To be eligible to run for public office, a candidate must be a registered voter within the district in which theyre seeking office.

Most seats are at-large, meaning they span the entirety of the district. Other seats may have specific residency requirements and require candidates to live in certain neighborhoods.
It was a tough day to be Ed Martin.

The Trump-loving lawyer got spat on by a passerby just hours after President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of his nomination for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

Martin was being interviewed by Newsmax Thursday afternoon about his failed nomination when a woman came up to him and got aggressive.

A clip of the wild interaction showed that Martin was in the middle of speaking to a Newsmax correspondent when someone exclaimed who the f--k are you? off camera.

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You are Ed Martin, a woman said as she entered the frame.

How you doing? Martin began to say, but the woman quickly spat on him and walked away with her dog in tow.

You are a disgusting man, she added.

Martin was left speechless and quickly stepped off camera.

The Briefing anchor Ed Henry described the passerby as a crazed leftist.

This afternoon acting DC US Atty Ed Martin was spit on by a psychotic lib during our interview. Hope shes ready for a nice stretch in jail. pic.twitter.com/2Y5hj41V0l  Rob Schmitt (@SchmittNYC) May 8, 2025

Rob Schmitt, another Newsmax host, called the woman a psychotic lib in a post on X.

Hope shes ready for a nice stretch in jail, he said.

Martin, a longtime MAGA fanatic who represented Jan. 6 Capitol rioters in court, had been serving as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia since Trump assumed office in January.

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He was soon hounded by controversy over his praise of a Nazi sympathizer and his numerous appearancesover 150 timeson Russian state media.

Martin appeared set to breeze through the nomination process until Sen. Thom Tillis, a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, declined to endorse him over his role in the Stop the Steal movement that sought to overturn former President Joe Bidens election victory in 2020.

I have no tolerance for anyone who entered the building on Jan. 6, and thats probably where most of the friction was, Tillis told reporters on Tuesday. At this point, Ive indicated to the White House I wouldnt support his nomination.

He wasnt getting the support from people, Trump said of Martin on Thursday. To me, it was disappointing, Ill be honest Thats just how it goes sometimes.

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The president later announced his intention to nominate Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, former district attorney for New Yorks Westchester County, to the role.

Martin, in turn, would be named director of the Weaponization Working Group at the Justice Department instead.

Ed Martin has done an AMAZING job as interim U.S. Attorney, Trump said on Truth Social. In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  After gathering outside the Kent County courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids Thursday evening, protesters took to the streets to march. It comes after a mistrial was declared in the murder case against former police officer Christopher Schurr.

An active group of demonstrators chanted things like Justice for Patrick and All Black lives matter. Someone beat a drum and some passing vehicles honked their horns. People held signs that read things like Convict Schurr, No justice, no peace and Justice for Patrick. At one point, the group put their fists up as a song played.

Demonstrators outside the courthouse Thursday evening after a jury said it could not reach a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial in Christopher Schurrs second-degree murder trial in the death of Patrick Lyoya. (May 8, 2025)

Demonstrators march through Grand Rapids, calling for justice for Patrick Lyoya after a jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared in the case of Christopher Schurr. (May 8, 2025)

They marched from the courthouse to the Grand Rapids Police Department headquarters and back. They sometimes encountered GRPD and Michigan State Police officers on bicycles, who told them to stay on the sidewalk.

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Lyoya family after case is declared mistrial: We will keep fighting until we get justice

One supporter said the group had planned to rally after a verdict was reached, but even though theres no verdict, people came anyway to show their support for the Lyoya family after the mistrial.

I was very angry, I was very upset. I guess, in a way, Ill take this over an acquittal as long as a retrial does happen. In my opinion, I think this case is very cut and dry. I think this officer deserves to be punished for killing Patrick Lyoya. But I just hope that this process doesnt take another three years, said supporter Aly Bates.

No decision yet on whether to retry Christopher Schurr

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As Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack stood in front of a classic American flag, he asked people to recall the flag Schurr demonstrators had been carrying the last two weeks outside the courthouse.

What color was that flag? Blue, white and black. That flag is sometimes also at the Grand Rapids Police Department. That means when they killed Patrick Lyoya, theyre not doing it under the American flag that were all united under  theyre doing it under the blue, white and black flag.

Thin blue line flags wave in support of Christopher Schurr outside the Kent County Courthouse on May 2, 2025, as Schurr stands trial for murder in the death of Patrick Lyoya.

He called for the removal of Thin Blue Line flags on all taxpayer-funded city property.

If there is any flag being flown in any city property besides the United States flag, then the red, black and green flag should be there, the LGBTQ flag should be there  every flag that represents the cloth of our humanity here should be in that city building, Womack said.

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If there is any flag being flown at that police station other than the taxpayers flag, its got to go, he said, while leading a chant. Its got to go! Its got to go!

West Michigan pastors after mistrial: Justice must not be selective

We have to dismantle their train of thought because every building and every police officers gun is paid for by your tax dollars, Womack added. Have they forgot who they work for?

Emotions have been high all week as jury deliberations continued. On Tuesday, officers intervened and one person was taken into custody as demonstrators got loud outside the courthouse.

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After 4 p.m., a person was arrested outside of the Kent County courthouse in Grand Rapids. News 8 was told that this person was an anti-Lyoya heckler.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A Pawtucket man will spend the rest of his life in prison for strangling his girlfriend to death in 2020.

Victor Colebut, 46, was sentenced Wednesday for the murder of 30-year-old Kristine Ohler. He was also ordered to complete a batterers intervention program and surrender all firearms.

Following a five-day trial, a jury found Colebut guilty of domestic second-degree murder, domestic assault (third offense), and violating a no-contact order (third offense).

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PRIOR COVERAGE: Pawtucket man convicted in girlfriends 2020 killing

First responders were called to Colebuts home early on Feb. 17, 2020, for a reported medical emergency.

Officers arrived to find Ohler unresponsive with visible facial injuries. She was taken to The Miriam Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Prosecutors said Colebut had violated a no-contact order stemming from a previous violent incident earlier that year.

Perpetrators of domestic abuse seek to exert control over their victims, and will go to extreme measures to keep it, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said. All too often, this violent behavior escalates and ends with victims losing their lives, as was the case here. While nothing can bring Kristine back to her family, I hope this life sentence gives them some sense of peace knowing that justice was served.

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Domestic violence gravely impacts our community, and I am grateful to see this perpetrator be held accountable for his actions, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves added.

NEXT: Trial underway for suspect in deadly 2019 New Bedford shooting

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Peace Corps staffers are bracing for deep cuts at the agency, ones they fear will do untold damage to one of the last remaining programs promoting development and fostering goodwill abroad.

Employees at the agency have been told to expect significant restructuring efforts as Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers begin to assess the agency. They have been offered a second chance at a government buyout as the nearly 800-person headquarters staff faces cuts ranging from 50 percent to 80 percent across various departments.

And outside of Washington, the Peace Corps may cut 25 percent of the fewer than 200 staff members working in the 60 countries across the globe where it operates  potentially forcing some posts to shutter altogether.

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Boosters of the 65-year-old agency say it could falter under such deep cuts, undercutting its main mission: supporting the work and well-being of its more than 3,000 volunteers abroad. Some suggested thats the goal.

Theyre very, very significant staff cuts and could be so much that it cripples the organization and makes it impossible for it to operate. Which would then put them in a position to come back and say, See, we told you it didnt work, so were just going to do away with everything, said Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), the lone returned Peace Corps volunteer in Congress.

Billed the toughest job youll ever love, the Peace Corps stations volunteers in remote and impoverished sites, paying them a small stipend to live at an equivalent level to locals as they teach in schools, work to improve health, stem disease, promote local business, and enhance farming practices.

The Peace Corps volunteer is the person thats on the final mile of the road, said Jonathan Pearson, advocacy director for the National Peace Corps Association.

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Peace Corps is simply put, just America at its finest.

The cuts are part of a broader administrative effort to slash federal spending across programs, both domestic and international. And they mesh with President Trumps campaign promise to shift American resources away from foreign initiatives to focus instead on problems at home.

Supporters of Trumps America First approach say its simply a matter of prioritizing the direction of limited tax dollars. With a roughly $430 million appropriation, the Peace Corps is a fraction of a percentage of the total budget.

The trend is raising concerns about the erosion of American influence around the globe in the face of rising threats from Beijing, Moscow and Tehran. That influence, for decades, has been manifested not only in military might, but also through soft power initiatives.

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Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who has former Peace Corps volunteers on his staff, said the move threatens to diminish Americas reputation abroad.

For decades, the Peace Corps has been one of the most endearing things to nations around the world. These are our ambassadors who literally go out and do good will projects in other countries with the people of those nations. And if you ask people around the world, one of the things they always talk about is how much they appreciate the work of the Peace Corps, Castro told The Hill.

And so to dramatically cut the Peace Corps is just another example of how the Trump administration is damaging Americas reputation around the world and hurting our earnest efforts to build stronger relationships with countries.

Allison Greene, elevated by the Trump administration from within Peace Corps ranks to serve as interim CEO, sought to put volunteers at ease, sending a note last month to those in service that despite the arrival of DOGE, Peace Corps will remain operational.

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We will continue to recruit, place, train, and support volunteer health, safety and security, and effective service, she wrote, citing the positive and lasting impact of volunteers.

While the note helped quell some fears, much is still in doubt about the future of the agency.

Applicants and invitees are on edge, said Maricarmen Smith-Martinez, a former volunteer who served in Costa Rica.

There is a fear that applicants will pull back their applications. You dont want to be going into a program if you think that the government is going to abandon it. Volunteers in country are understandably nervous. Theyre very anxious about what will happen with them, with their service, with their post employees, she said.

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The uncertainty for incoming volunteers  it could be enough to deter people from applying or from accepting.

In a statement to The Hill, the Peace Corps said it was working to identify additional efficiencies in our staffing structure after the arrival of DOGE last month.

The Peace Corps intends to make these changes in line with the agencys statutory obligations, it said.

Proposed cuts would drop by 70 percent the team that houses the agencys recruiters and placement officers  those responsible both for outreach to potential applicants as well as those who review applications and help place volunteers across the world.

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A lot of decisions need to be made about the skill sets of the volunteers, where theres a good fit for them, what part of the world are they interested in serving in, or where theres a need, considering health issues and making sure that theres a good placement. So those are the kind of things youre right that go into the overall process, from application to acceptance to placement, said Pearson of the National Peace Corps Association.

The steepest proposed cuts would result from combining the agencys Office of Health and HIV, which was funded through broader U.S. government efforts to battle the disease, with its department focused on training  combining the two and slashing staff by 80 percent.

Beyond the impacts to the program itself, critics see it as further dismantling of Americas soft power apparatus  programs that not only improve conditions in counties across the globe but also help increase American sway.

Especially with everything else thats been cut, its kind of one of the last development agencies, and also kind of one of the last soft power types of moves that we have left, Smith-Martinez said, noting recent cuts at the U.S. Institute for Peace and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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Peace Corps is both diplomacy and development. It is creating goodwill in areas the U.S. would not otherwise reach, and it is supporting those areas with this development approach. But I find that grassroots diplomacy part of a Peace Corps to be a key.

Castro said the Trump administration and the GOP are also sending mixed messages, complaining about Chinese influence while gutting the U.S. equivalents.

Around here you get contradictory, hypocritical actions. On the one hand, this aggressiveness towards China and very heated rhetoric about not letting China advance diplomatically or convince other countries to become authoritarian. Well, the way you counter that is by showing a different path, a democratic path. And the Peace Corps is part of that, he said.

These are people, Americans, who volunteered to go over and help people of other nations in projects of goodwill, and the Trump administration is saying Thats not valuable to us as Americans. We shouldnt care about that. I dont know how much more you can hurt yourself in the eyes of the world with this and other things that are going on.

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The cuts come as Peace Corps itself has been recovering from the impacts of COVID. The pandemic forced the agency to recall all volunteers  disrupting the service for some 7,000 volunteers.

Based on the potential cuts that are coming, its really heartbreaking and potentially devastating and crippling to the agency to be able to reach its full potential. We have been in a situation where Peace Corps has rebounded from COVID and volunteers are back in the field in as many countries as they were prior to COVID, but still at about 50 percent of where the numbers were pre-COVID, Pearson said.

Garamendi credits the Peace Corpss call to service under former President John F. Kennedy with putting him on the path to Congress. He served alongside his wife Patti in Ethiopia. They returned to the area decades later to bring computers and enable internet access.

Rather than cuts, hes pushing for increased funding in order to expand the total number of volunteers.

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We should have 7,000 volunteers. If we have 3,000 then lets build it back up to the soft power, the other functions that the Peace Corps does, that turn out to be far more important than a new ballistic missile, he said.

Garamendi called trying to figure out the logic behind the cuts a fools errand, saying the administration seems determined to blindly cut staff without much analysis of the impacts.

The support that is necessary for those volunteers to function safely wherever they are around the world was an afterthought, because it appears as though theyve come to the conclusion that theres too much staff, too many federal employees.

Mike Lillis contributed reporting.

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PELLA  Pella Regional Medical Center and Knoxville Hospital and Clinics broke ground on a project to bring improved cancer treatment to Marion County.

Members of the hospitals and community celebrated the beginning of construction on the new South Central Iowa Radiation Center at the Pella Regional campus Thursday. According to Pella Regional CEO Bob Kroese, the project came as a collaboration built on a mutual need for patients in both communities, and in Marion County as a whole.

"Its kind of a first of its kind," Kroese said. "But when we both realized  both of our organizations realized  there was something we wanted to do desperately for our communities is to bring the radiation therapy to our community, and we both found out we were interested in doing it, we decided to talk it over with each other and decided  maybe if we do one united front, it will serve that large patient population even more effectively and really reduce the travel times for people that need that care."

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The 7,800-square-foot facility is budgeted at $14 million, and is expected to include diagnostic tools and treatment technologies like a TrueBeam linear accelerator to deliver radiation treatments and a combined Biograph Trinion PET/CT unit for diagnosing cancer and determining course of treatment.

Iowa has the second highest cancer rates in the United States and a according to Kroese, the new center will play a major role in fighting the issue locally.

"Its very, very unfortunate that our cancer incidences are as high as they are, but its up to us professionally through our missions to be able to provide very, very, high quality  of care, but also do whatever we can to reduce the burden of travel," Kroese said. "If we do that, were fulfilling our mission and providing a great service for this area."

Knoxville Hospital and Clinics CEO Kevin Kincaid reflected this when speaking at the groundbreaking, stressing the importance of nearby care and reduced travel.

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"And we all know that when youre able to deliver care  especially around cancer  locally, what were giving people back is the biggest gift at all when youre talking about cancer, and thats time," he said. "So thats what were interested in, and thats what were going to do."

The new radiation and oncology center is expected to be opened in 2027.
Penn National veterinarian Dr. Allen Bonnell has agreed to a permanent ban by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, according to an order dated May 8. The order means Bonnell has agreed he will be "prohibited from participating in any capacity in any activity involving Covered Horses, or in any other activity taking place at a racetrack or training facility, and from permitting anyone to participate in any capacity on her behalf in any such activities."



The octogenarian was at the center of an investigation in Pennsylvania triggered after Bonnell was seen by security personnel injecting a horse inside of the mandatory cutoff date set by HISA regulations. The investigation uncovered 245 joint injections between May 2023 and October 2024 administered at Penn National in violation of the authoritys regulation on joint injection stand-down times.



They saw me do it, Bonnell told the Paulick Report when news of his summary suspension by the Pennsylvania commission came out in November 2024. Trainers Kimberly Graci, Joe Miller, and Michael Zalalas were also summarily suspended at that time.

On Feb. 21, 2025, HISA announced that it was pursuing charges against Bonnell and 13 trainers as part of an alleged widespread conspiracy to break rules regarding pre-race and pre-workout joint injections.



In it's announcement, HISA said that 30 percent of horses it alleges received injections never ran again after the race for which they were treated; 10 percent were observed lame post-race by regulatory veterinarians; and three died due to injuries sustained in the races they ran in after injection. HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus told media on Feb. 21 that an additional four horses died within a few months of their injections.



Bonnell admitted to investigators that for months, hed been treating horses within days of their races at trainers request with a mixture of hyaluronic acid and the corticosteroid flumethasone, sometimes doing multiple joint injections, and intentionally misreporting or failing to report the treatments to the commission.

There are no positive post-race tests associated with the joint injections. HIWU executive director Ben Mosier told media there is no test for hyaluronic acid, because its an endogenous substance, and said that the doses of the corticosteroids were likely too small to have been picked up.



For his part, Bonnell said he used the hyaluronic acid/flumethasone combination because it doesnt hurt the joint of the horse, unlike what other veterinarians use, and that the main reason he does these injections is to keep horses from breaking down.



Dr. Bonnell went on to say that the horses end up fracturing their good leg because they are protecting their bad leg, read one of commission investigator Bradley Canfields interview summaries. He states the reason to do these injections is to give the horse a fair chance to make it through a race unscathed. Again, Dr. Bonnell reiterated the fact why he used flumethasone. He states that it is needed to get the inflammation out of the joints so the hyaluronic acid being put in can replace the hyaluronic acid that has gone bad. Dr. Bonnell further stated that he uses such a small amount of flumethasone, that its only in the system long enough to do its job and its gone. In Dr. Bonnells opinion, its not giving the horse any advantage.

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When speaking to the Paulick Report last fall, Bonnell blamed HISA for the regulations being too restrictive.



I think its pretty terrible they are making rules that are detrimental to the horse, he said. Their rules are you cant do ankles closer than 30 days from a race and you cant do knees, hocks, and stifles closer than 14 days. Im there for the horse. These HISA rules are a nightmare because they came up with rules that just dont make any sense. Dont make any sense at all. Its one thing to do something thats cheating, but this is not cheating. This is taking care of the animal.



Unsurprisingly, HISA officials disagreed.



Its well-accepted, I believe, within the horse racing community that intra-articular injections too close to a training activity or a race are detrimental to horse welfare, said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus, who characterized Bonnell as a rogue veterinarian. They mask pain, they frequently dont allow the veterinarian to properly inspect whether the horse is race-ready, and they clearly give the trainer an advantage by helping the horse manage pain.



Regardless of rulemaking philosophy, officials pointed out that most of Bonnells administrations would have been illegal under Pennsylvania regulations, even if HISA had never taken effect. Stand-down times under state regulations were 14 days. Under HISA regulations, horses receiving intra-articular injections may not work for seven days or race for 14; horses receiving a corticosteroid in a fetlock are prohibited from running for 30 days due to data showing fetlock injuries are a common cause of fatal breakdowns.

Related: Bad For The Horse: Track Vets Decry Pennsylvania Joint Injection Story

Charges related to the case have been pursued by both HISA and HIWU, because the responsibility for policing the timing of joint injections has fallen under each authority at different times.



In Bonnell's case, the lifetime ban issued by HISA is separate and independent from charges, if any, issued by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit.



You can find the full stipulated agreement here.
Conservative activist David Horowitz, founder of Students for Academic Freedom, addresses a public hearing for a select committee on Academic Freedom in Higher Education in 2006 at Temple University in Philadelphia.
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG)  Two Pensacola residents became victims this week after being followed and then robbed after withdrawing money from an ATM  a crime police refer to as jugging.

Semi-trucks black box data under investigation after deadly Clarke County crash

Pensacola Police Public Information Officer Mike Woods warned residents to be extra cautious of their surroundings the next time they withdraw money from the bank. Suspects will either watch withdrawals occur inside the bank or follow folks after theyve used the drive-through ATM.

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They then follow the victim to their next stop, whether that be a shopping center, their home or somewhere else, Wood said. Once the person gets out of the car, they knock the window out of the car, looking for the money.

The two Pensacola victims had a combined $2,000 stolen from their cars.

So far, the victims have been fortunate; theres been no face-to-face contact with the suspects, Wood said. But if the cash amount is large enough, they dont care. They will follow you home; they will confront you, and they will do whatever they have to do to get their hands on that cash.

Wood advised residents to be discreet when exiting the bank with a large amount of money. He warns against immediately driving home if you feel youre being followed.

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Make a couple extra turns to make sure youre not being followed, and if you are, you need to get on the phone, call 9-1-1, do not stop, call 9-1-1, and we will get an officer very quickly to find out whats going on with that car behind you, Wood said.

5-year-old killed, Citronelle woman arrested in Mobile County crash

This is something thats happened all over the country, Wood added. I mean, its happened so much its got its own term, jugging, so yeah, it happens more than we were certainly like it to happen.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - So far, none of America's transgender troops who want to continue serving in uniform have applied for a waiver to the Pentagon's ban on their service, Reuters was told by each of the military services.

The reason?

Because it's impossible to qualify, transgender troops say.

Reuters was first to report on Thursday a Pentagon memo outlining its plans to start kicking out transgender servicemembers next month, unless they elect to voluntarily leave on their on own beforehand.

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For transgender servicemembers carrying out critical missions, from flying combat helicopters to serving on warships overseas, there has been a lot of interest in any legal strategy to continue in uniform.

The Pentagon has said waivers would be granted "provided there is a compelling government interest in retaining the service member that directly supports warfighting capabilities."

But the qualifications for a waiver look impossible to comply with, allowing only individuals who meet the following qualifications, laid out in a Pentagon memo from February:

* "The service member has never attempted to transition to another sex."

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* "The service member demonstrates 36 consecutive months of stability in their sex."

"As far as I know, no such transgender service member exists," said one transgender service member, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Pentagon referred Reuters back to its memo on the qualifications when asked for comment.

Nicolas Talbott, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army reserve, said it was impossible to apply for a waiver under the Pentagon's list of exemptions since he had fully transitioned.

"It's wild that anybody would think that was something that was actually within the realm of possibility for us to do," Talbott told Reuters.

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Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law, an advocacy group, said the list of exemptions essentially meant there was no waiver.

"It doesn't make sense to file a waiver because they can't serve in their birth sex, because they're transgender people," Levi said.

There were no waivers requested from the Air Force or Space Force, while the Army, Navy and Marine Corps said they were also not aware of any service members who had applied for an exemption.

As of late last year, there were 4,240 U.S. active-duty and National Guard transgender troops, officials have said. Transgender rights advocates have given higher estimates.

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The Pentagon said on Thursday about 1,000 service members who have self-identified as being diagnosed with gender dysphoria will begin the voluntary separation process.

A poll from Gallup published this in February said 58% of Americans favored allowing openly transgender individuals serving in the military, but the support had declined from 71% in 2019.

The Pentagon's ban is just one of a series of steps the Trump administration has taken to curb transgender rights.

Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office on January 20 stating that the U.S. government will recognize only two sexes, male and female, and that they are not changeable.

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But Trump's efforts to end transgender rights in the military were a special focus on his election campaign.

In the executive order barring transgender troops, the White House said that a man identifying as a woman was "not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member."

A former Fox News host, Hegseth has embraced conservative stances on this and other culture war issues, including eliminating diversity initiatives at the Pentagon.

Speaking on Tuesday, Hegseth told a conference hosted by U.S. special operations forces: "No more pronouns, no more climate-change obsessions, no more emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Alistair Bell)
A new pope has been chosen: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. He has made history as the first American to ascend to the papacy. He will take on the name Pope Leo XIV.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images

Prevost, who was born in Chicago and spent two decades in Peru as a bishop, has been described as "reserved and discreet." Pope Leo has widely been regarded as a centrist, and his positions on major political issues are still taking shape.

Franco Origlia / Getty Images

In 2012, he expressed discontent with Western media and culture for promoting values he saw as conflicting with the Gospel, citing "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children," per the New York Times. Like other cardinals, he has also faced criticism for his handling of cases involving priests accused of sexual abuse.

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Still, like Pope Francis, he maintains a commitment to the poor and migrants, and supports climate action. He has remarked that "the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom."

Vatican Pool / Getty Images

Now, his support for migrants and climate action has resurfaced through past social media posts, including tweets critical of JD Vance and policies associated with Donald Trump.

His most recent post on X is a retweet that asks whether Trump and his administration "see the suffering" caused by wrongfully deporting migrants. "Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?" the post reads.

Scrolling down his X account, in February 2025, Pope Leo shared an op-ed titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," which directly challenged Vance's views.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci / @drprevost / Via x.com

The piece responded to comments Vance made in a Fox News interview, where he said, "There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that."

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Related: Trump Had A Complete Meltdown When Asked A Basic Question And His Response Was Unhinged

Other past posts people dug up include one from 2018, where Pope Leo retweeted, "There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all."

He also retweeted a post criticizing Trump's "bad hombres" line as fueling "racism and nativism" and a post in favor of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a US immigration policy that protects people who arrived in the US as children from deportation and allows them temporary work authorization.

He retweeted a tweet praying for George Floyd in 2020.

Related: Justin Trudeau's Shady Comment Toward Donald Trump Is Going Super Viral

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And in 2017 retweeted a post urging Trump to act on climate change.

In light of the new pope's stances resurfacing on social media, people have started reacting:

"An American pope who fights with JD Vance on Twitter? I am so in," said Jon Favreau, the former director of speechwriting for Barack Obama.

"Excellent job of maintaining continuity by picking another Pope who personally hates JD Vance," someone else said.

"ok I'm on board," another said.

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"on the bright side hes NOT considered a conservative! the conservatives in my family are upset over this theyre calling him a woke pope lolol," this person said.

"woke pope woke pope woke pope," joked Rob Flaherty, a campaign manager for Kamala Harris.

Well, it remains to be seen what kind of legacy the new pope will shape. In the meantime, Donald Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

We'll see how it all plays out.

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Also in In the News: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It "One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President"

Also in In the News: Senator Lindsey Graham's Bizarre Trump Pope Comments Are Going Viral

Also in In the News: Republican Voters Are Finally Tearing Into Trump Over One Issue, But It's Not The Issue You'd Expect
Due to the state of, well, everything in the world right now, the topics of authoritarian governments are on everybody's mind. Recently, Reddit user Free_Dimension1459 asked, "People who escaped authoritarian governments, when did you KNOW it was the right time for you to leave your country?"

Sadly, there were A LOT of replies. Here are some of the most compelling:

1."I remember asking my mom why she left the Philippines in the '70s. She explained the Ferdinand Marcos regime and how he declared martial law. She said when that was announced, she knew she had to leave. She had been working towards moving anyway, but she said that was her cue to hurry it up."

MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

duckface08

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2."Im from Myanmar (formerly Burma). Most of us young people left the country when they enacted the conscription law. Now you cant leave the country unless youve done military service  which essentially means until you die. Theres a civil war going on, and they need more meat for the meat grinder."

STR / AFP via Getty Images

LordAdri123

3."I left Russia back in 2006. Everything was great back then (freedom of internet, foreign tourists, international brands, etc.), but I had a weird feeling it wouldn't last long. I cannot explain it. I visited my parents for a month in 2019, and it felt like the beginning of the end. Then came Covid, and the war."

Oleg Nikishin / Getty Images

"IKEA and McDonalds left the country, and flights were cancelled. The time I lived in Russia was a short window between the Soviet era and the prosperity of the 2000s. Im a bird. I used my gut feeling to fly away."

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HAKAKAHO

4."I left the US in 2006. With the Patriot Act and several other infringements of citizens' rights, I felt it was the right time to leave."

LUKE FRAZZA / AFP via Getty Images

SeaDry1531

Related: These 13 Mind-Boggling Pictures Will Push Your Brain To Its Limit, But It's The Cognitive Workout You've Been Missing

5."My grandad left Poland after he was thrown in a concentration camp and escaped. He was very clever and bilingual in German. He made it to the UK. He was 16 in 1939."

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Anonymous

6."The police started harassing people on the streets after a protest in Belarus. Some of them were killed, some injured. Thousands were imprisoned and tortured. It is still happening. When everything happened, I just took the first morning flight and left for another country."

NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

"This is the short version; the full story is a bit more complicated, obviously."

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fromcityoftheSun

7."When I went to the market and found nothing at all but bones. When I had a gun pointed in my face and was robbed for the umpteenth time. When one of my neighbors got shot, and I heard his relatives screaming. When kids died around me in protests. When we got tear gassed and shot at by the National Guard. When the dictator was dancing salsa in a mandatory national transmission while he celebrated the death of protesters. I left Venezuela in 2016 and it still fucking hurts."

AFP Contributor / AFP via Getty Images

"I am blessed and privileged. I am grateful that out of sheer good luck, I got to escape via plane and not through the Darien Gap or a shoddy boat. Others are not that lucky. If you have money to spare, go to a Venezuelan-owned restaurant, help your local refugees, and donate to UNHCR or Doctors Without Borders."

AmazingRise

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8."I used to know a woman who was from Haiti. She said the right time to leave was in 1980 when the Tonton Macoute came for her husband, who was a political dissident. That was the last time she and the kids saw him."

ANDREW HOLBROOKE / Corbis via Getty Images

nmuncer

Related: 101 People Who Woke Up One Morning And Promptly Had The Most Painfully Awkward And Embarrassing Day In Human History

9."My grandfather, the bravest man I have ever known, fled Germany shortly before the Nuremberg Laws were passed in 1935. He had been a lawyer and had arranged everyone's passports, hidden some gold away, and established a place for them to flee. The judiciary was already under the control of the regime. He took his wife and five children and crossed France into Belgium. By 1936, he was applying for asylum to multiple countries, including the US (where he knew people in the embassy). He was summarily denied."

Getty Images

"My family fled along the coast on foot, separating children and adults so they weren't all traveling together, hoping their odds were better that way. My grandmother and two aunts were caught and sent to the gas chambers at Treblinka. Mikhael was caught by the Gestapo in Southern France and summarily executed on the spot. Joseph developed pneumonia and died somewhere in northern Spain.

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My grandfather and father were smuggled into Portugal, got onto a boat, and eventually made it to New Palestine. After the war, my grandfather had had enough of the Zionists, and he was finally granted a US immigration visa and came here in 1947. I was born on American soil in 1961."

Pusfilledonut

10."We left Turkey after the 2016 coup. I think we did the right thing, but now we have another authoritarian government to deal with in the US."

Anadolu / Getty Images

Sirenafeniks

11."My grandmother left Hungary when the hospital she worked at took a direct hit around the October Revolution. It was amazing what she and her family survived for love of country before that moment."

Historical / Corbis via Getty Images

violetx

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12."My great grandma fled the USSR during the pogroms and settled in Germany. The day Hitler was elected, she and her husband starting packing and made a break for the US."

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

RaySizzle16

13."My great-grandparents took their six kids and fled Scotland during the second Highland Clearance. They lost their land at bayonet point. My great-grandfather went from being an educated doctor in the Highlands to being a janitor here in the US because the British were determined to starve out the Scottish clans just like they did with the Irish."

API / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

sunlitmoonlight1772

14."When Putin invaded Crimea, I accepted a job offer to move out of Russia. People around me didnt care much, and I realized that Putin knew he could do anything he wanted there because people wouldnt protest. I thought he would turn the country into a full-on dictatorship, and I was right."

Sasha Mordovets / Getty Images

Vjuja

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15."My mother and her parents left Bosnia in 1991 when the Iron Curtain fell and Yugoslavia started falling. They saw the whole conflict and genocides coming."

AFP / AFP via Getty Images

femboyisbestboy

16."When Putin and Medvedev swapped positions as president and prime minister in 2012, my wife and I looked at each other and were like, 'yep, it's time to go.' Best decision ever."

YURI KADOBNOV / AFP via Getty Images

CanadianRussian74

17.And finally, a reminder to stay vigilant now more than ever: "I have read many accounts of people who lived in authoritarian governments, and most didn't notice until authoritarianism was already in full swing."

The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images

"Many seem to deny it until it affects them directly. Most people are just living their lives, and a lot of people consciously avoid the media as it's generally depressing. The first to leave are those who are paying attention."

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WXavierM

H/T r/AskReddit

Some replies have been edited for length and clarity.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A student of history, the 2nd Districts new councilman says hes excited and ready to get to work to continue the process of making Peoria a vibrant city.

Alex Carmona, 39, sat at his home art studio on Moss avenue Thursday, two days after he was sworn into office and still enjoying the special moment. But he says hes not much for pomp and circumstance.

Rather, hes an ordinary guy who wants to help make his adopted city  he moved here five years ago from Colorado  more attractive to business and a place where people will come and settle.

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Hes pro-business, wanting to make city ordinances more welcoming to companies big and small. Hes a core services guy, meaning he believes that a main facet of City Halls reach should be in the police, fire and public works area.

I would prefer a more of a free market type rather than a heavy handed kind of government control, he said. We need to be a little bit more adaptable to the needs of the business community, but also residents as well.

So all Im saying is that regulations, theyre not bad, theyre good. We need them. Its just to what end? And if we really want this city to grow, we need to be more adaptable, he said.

He also supports bringing the Par-A-Dice casino to this side of the Illinois River if the parent company wants to build a new casino on land.

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I am a big proponent for the for a land-based casino here because things will pop up around it and itll just bring more opportunity around here, he said, noting as others have on the council that the 30-plus-year-odl agreement between East Peoria and Peoria clearly states that land-based gaming was to be on this side of the river.

But hes also got some other ideas that are interesting as well.

An artist, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a jazz and blues lover, Carmona said one way to improve Peoria is to offer more public art. Already, he said there is a lot going on in the central business district or Downtown Peoria but public art is important.

We are starting to pay more attention to public art in this city, he said. Its really interesting and Im not just saying this because Im an artist myself, I am saying this because every city that I go to, Austin, Nashville, (others) they all have a very vibrant art community. They have murals all over the place. Its more welcoming.

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Hes done his share, creating a 32-foot by 35-foot mural which hangs on the Adams Street side of the Niagara parking deck. It was unveiled last fall and he used that event to announce his candidacy.

Its dubbed Live Greater, and features six people, each of whom corresponds to a letter in the word Peoria. The mural, he said at the time, was to capture the joy of our vibrant, diverse community.

He said hes traveled around seeing thriving cities. They have many things in common, including public art and have a business-friendly environment.

We need to try to take examples like this and apply them here in Peoria for the good of all of us, he said.

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And now that hes sitting on the Horseshoe, he wants to do what he can to represent the people of the 2nd District, a very diverse area of town stretching from Downtown up to Northmoor Road.

It was a close race to win the council seat, with less than 50 votes separating the two candidates.

I want to tell everybody, that seriously from the bottom of my heart to even the people who did not vote for me, that Im actually doing this for the right reasons, he said.

He wants to work with the local schools because, as a parent of three, he wants his children to come to love the city and chose to stay here when they are older.

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One of the reasons I actually decided to run was because I noticed life is just speeding right by us, Carmona said. And my oldest daughter, shes learning how to drive. And then I just came to the realization that, you know, shes going to be an adult very soon.

All my kids, you know, eventually are. And I want them to stay here and have opportunity here, he said.

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COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. (WFRV)  A southern Wisconsin man who was facing multiple felony charges for allegedly intentionally driving into a family, killing a well-known chiropractor and the family dog, and injuring a child has died in custody.

According to the Dane County Medical Examiners Office, 49-year-old Jeffrey M. Endres was pronounced dead at the Dane County Jail on May 6. The cause and manner of death are pending. The Madison Police Department and the medical examiners office are continuing to investigate.

Wisconsin 18-year-old arrested for OWI twice within an hour, PBT more than 5 times legal limit

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Endres, of Cottage Grove, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, among other charges, following the April 28 incident.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Cottage Grove police responded to the 1300 block of Landmark Drive for a report of a vehicle hitting multiple pedestrians. Officers arrived to find three family members and a dog had been struck while walking on the sidewalk.

The victims were identified as Dr. Kami Hansen, her husband, and their son. Kami later died at the hospital, while her son underwent emergency surgery and has since been released. Her husband did not require medical attention. The family dog was also killed.

Endres, whose SUV had overturned at the scene, was found nearby with injuries. When officers asked what had happened, he reportedly said he was having a bad day and declined to comment further. He told police he had been driving about 25 mph to a gas station when he lost control of the vehicle.

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The husband told police the SUV appeared to accelerate directly toward the family, jumping the curb without braking. A witness described the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, estimated at 60 mph.

Wisconsin private school settles disability discrimination claims for $290K

According to the criminal complaint, the husband recognized the driver as Endres, a neighbor and former family friend. Their relationship had reportedly deteriorated following a March 2025 investigation into a sensitive incident involving children from both families.

Endres had submitted an open records request for that case and received the documents just hours before the crash, the complaint stated.

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Im confident he was intentionally trying to kill us or [my son] at least, the husband told police.

Another person who reportedly saw the crash ran to the scene, saying, He tried to hit you.

Endres was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He also faced two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, each carrying up to 60 years in prison, and one count of mistreatment of animals, which carries up to 3.5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Two in Wisconsin arrested on drug charges after hotel employee discovers narcotics in room

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His cash bond had been set at $1 million. He was scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 14.

Local 5 News will continue to follow developments in the investigation.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is setting up a fast timeline for transgender troops to get the boot from the military.

He has directed the department to start moving out transgender members of the military as early as next month.

Transgender active service members can separate voluntarily until June 6 and could be eligible for voluntary separation pay. The deadline is July 7 for reserve members.

Hegseth set out his timeline in a two-page memo dated May 8 and referenced President Donald Trumps executive order to remove transgender troops.

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Service by individuals with a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibiting symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is not in the best interest of the Military Services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security, Hegseth said in the memo.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that 1,000 troops who have already self-identified will begin the voluntary separation process.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the department to start moving out transgender members of the military as early as next month. The Trump administrations policy has faced legal challenges, but the Supreme Court ruled that it could proceed (Getty Images)

A Biden-era order that allowed transgender members to serve in the military was revoked by Trump when he entered office in January. The aggressive policy was pursued by Hegseth at the Pentagon, but lawsuits followed.

The Supreme Court gave the go-ahead on Tuesday for the Trump administration to enforce the ban while legal challenges against the policy continue.

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Hegseth boasted it was a victory for Trump in a video message on X Thursday that he captioned: TRANS is out at the DOD.

This is the presidents agenda, this is what the American people voted for, and were going to continue to relentlessly pursue it, Hegseth said.

The Supreme Court ruling is a devastating blow to transgender service members who have demonstrated their capabilities and commitment to our nation's defense, said a statement from Lambda Legal and Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which sued to block the policy on behalf of a group of trans service members.

By allowing this discriminatory ban to take effect while our challenge continues, the Court has temporarily sanctioned a policy that has nothing to do with military readiness and everything to do with prejudice, the groups added.

Transgender individuals meet the same standards and demonstrate the same values as all who serve. We remain steadfast in our belief that this ban violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and will ultimately be struck down.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Prosecutors have filed a petition with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, asking the court to reinstate the capital murder conviction of James Staley for the 2018 death of 2-year-old Jason Wilder McDaniel.

James Irven Staley, III, in the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

James Irvin Staley, III, 42, of Wichita Falls was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole nearly two years ago, on March 13, 2023. Hes been serving that sentence in Amarillos Bill Clemens Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

EXPLAINER: Why James Staleys capital murder conviction was reversed

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On March 6, 2025, almost a year after Staleys appeal was submitted, the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth reversed his conviction and remanded for a new trial.

John Gillespie, Wichita County District Attorney, said he disagreed with the Second Court of Appeals decision and that he intended to fight it.

On May 5, 2025, prosecutors filed a petition with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court in Texas, requesting a discretionary review of the appellate courts decision and asking for Staleys conviction to be reinstated.

Why James Staleys conviction was reversed

James Irven Staley, III, in the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

According to Staleys appellate brief, filed by high-profile appellate attorney Keith Hampton, the case for an appeal of his conviction stemmed from a failure by the Wichita Falls Police Department to produce an adequate search warrant or affidavit to obtain such.

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As a result of that affidavit, several devices were seized from Staleys home almost two weeks after Wilders death, including Staleys cell phone and a Mac Mini computer.

PREVIOUS STORY: James Staleys capital murder conviction reversed on appeal

According to Hampton, who argued the appellate case on March 12, 2024, the video never should have been admitted into evidence because it violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

According to the Second Court of Appeals memorandum opinion, the appellate justices agreed with Staley, adding that they couldnt determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the evidence admitted as a result of that warrant wasnt a factor in the deliberation of the Tarrant County jury.

Prosecution argues for Staleys conviction to be reinstated

According to the prosecutions petition for a discretionary review, case law has been overextended by intermediate courts, and because of this, those courts have reached erratic decisions.

James Irven Staley, III, in the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Prosecutors argued that Staleys case presents another pressing need for clarification regarding search warrants, and whether or not they should account for expanded fair probabilities for household homicides.

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The court of appeals disregard of these broadened probabilities, recognized by Massachusetts in a similar case, threatens law enforcements ability to obtain this critical evidence, the petition said. The frequency of relationship-based homicides makes this an important issue.

READ MORE: James Staleys appeal submitted after oral arguments

The prosecution argued in its petition that probable cause depends on probabilities, not certainties, and that a fair probability of finding such evidence on items, like electronic devices seized from Staleys home, amounts to probable cause.

According to the petition, this is due in part to the fact that Wilder McDaniel was found dead inside Staleys home, where he had been staying with his mother, Amber McDaniel, and that there was a pre-existing fraught relationship between the defendant and victim.

Second Court of Appeals violated higher courts precedent

In its petition for a discretionary review, the prosecution also alleged that the appellate court disregarded a precedent set by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals based on a previous decision in the case of Holder v. State.

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The petition said that, according to the Holder decision, a trial court finding that evidence admitted during trial, even if the warrant lacked probable cause, would mean that the evidence is still admissible under federal law.

The intermediate courts failure to follow Holder created conflict among the courts of appeals, the petition said.  This failure also led to the improper reversal of Appellants capital murder conviction.

Appellate court didnt consider the remaining evidence

According to the prosecutions petition, the Second Court of Appeals failed to consider any of the evidence admitted during Staleys trial that was legally obtained.

READ MORE: James Staley appeal calls key trial evidence unconstitutional

Wilder McDaniel, who was found dead inside the home of James Staley in 2018 (Photo courtesy McDaniel family)

The prosecution claimed that the Second Court of Appeals reversed Staleys conviction due to the videos that were admitted into evidence, including a video of Staley slapping the child with full force, but didnt take into account the remaining evidence, or whether or not the Slap Video was any more or less incriminating than the other evidence.

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The petition claimed that the case described in the opinion given by the Second Court of Appeals was unrecognizable from the multi-week capital murder case actually tried.

The prosecution asserted that overwhelming evidence independent of the video showed that only [James Staley] could have killed Wilder, calling the evidence admitted in the trial outside of the Slap Video was not merely cumulative but overwhelming.

Prosecution asks for conviction to be reinstated

The prosecutions petition ended with a plea for the highest criminal court in Texas to reverse the decision of the Second Court of Appeals, to conduct its own review, hold any error was harmless, and reinstate the conviction.

According to courthouse officials, it may take anywhere between a month and six months before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decides whether or not to grant the petition.

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If the petition is granted, both Staleys defense and prosecutors will then submit another brief to the highest court in Texas. Prosecutors have also requested that they be able to present oral arguments to the court.

WATCH: Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie talks James Staley trial

Previously, Gillespie indicated that even if the petition is not granted, and Staleys conviction is not reinstated, hes not done fighting.

If we cannot get the conviction reinstated, then well try the case again and get him a second time, Gillespie said. Ive only begun to fight.

Staley will remain incarcerated at the Clemens Unit while the petition is pending, according to courthouse officials.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
[Source]

Philadelphias $160 million Chinatown Stitch project, designed to heal the neighborhood divided decades ago by the Vine Street Expressway, now faces uncertainty as House Republicans propose eliminating billions in federal infrastructure funding.

The latest: A House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposal aims to cut unobligated funding from dozens of nationwide infrastructure projects  including Chinatown Stitch  as part of a budget reconciliation process pushed by the Trump administration. This would target over $3 billion allocated for reconnecting communities divided by transportation infrastructure. Were sort of at their mercy, Councilmember Mark Squilla, who represents Chinatown, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Nothing is cut at this point  there havent been any votes  and were going to continue to move forward.

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Why the project matters: The initiative would cap two and a half blocks between 10th and 13th streets along I-676, creating green space and enhancing pedestrian safety in an area disrupted by the expressway's original construction. In March 2024, the project secured a $158 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program. At the time, former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) emphasized the projects purpose to reconnect Chinatown decades after residents suffered the consequences of harmful infrastructure decisions.

Whats next: Construction was originally projected to begin in 2027, but the timeline now hinges on congressional budget decisions. Despite funding uncertainties, Philadelphia officials continue gathering community input through pop-up meetings. John Chin, executive director of project partner Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, expressed concern about the potential funding cuts. All of this is very alarming, he told Axios, describing it as another challenge outside our control and one that reduces our ability to be successful.

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
Ten days before his trial on a charge that could get him the death penalty was scheduled to begin, a Pinellas plastic surgeon accused of murdering an attorney still didnt have a lawyer.

During a hearing Friday, a judge decided to give Tomasz Kosowski a little more time to get one, then set for Wednesday a hearing to decide if his trial would begin on May 19 as planned.

Have your lawyer here, Pinellas Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone told Kosowski, who was dressed in faded orange jail clothes as he sat alone at the defense table.

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Kosowski, 46, is charged with first degree murder in the death of Largo attorney Steven Cozzi and has been in jail without bond since his arrest in March 2023, three days after Cozzi went missing. His body has never been found.

In a hearing last week, Bulone granted a motion filed by Kosowskis defense team to withdraw from the case. One of the attorneys, Bjorn Brunvand, cited comments Kosowski and his mother made during video jail calls indicating they werent happy with his representation. Kosowski said during the calls that he didnt want to pay Brunvand and was considering filing a grievance against him.

Brunvand said during the hearing that he had other reasons he didnt want to share with Bulone in open court, but Kosowski didnt want Brunvand to speak to Bulone without being there, too. Bulone granted the motion.

Bulone had hoped Kosowski would have a new lawyer in time for Friday. Kosowski told the judge he and his mother, who lives in New Mexico, were still searching and hoped they might have an attorney visit Kosowski in the county jail as early as Monday.

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Were trying diligently, Kosowski said.

Before they withdrew, Kosowskis defense team had filed a motion to continue the trial, stating that they didnt have enough time to finish preparing. They cited in part the voluminous discovery in the case.

Kosowski on Friday asked Bulone to grant that motion.

Its not just a lawyer, Kosowski said. Discoverys not complete, depositions are not complete, forensics are not complete.

Bulone said he didnt want to continue the trial while Kosowski was in limbo, still without a lawyer.

If you retain a lawyer and he or she says I cant be ready in five days by the 19th, theres probably a pretty good chance Im going to continue the case, Bulone said.

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Bulone asked Kosowski if he is indigent, which would make him eligible for a public defender. Kosowski said he was not.

In 2023, Kosowski was representing himself in a lawsuit he filed over a medical billing dispute. Cozzi represented one of the defendants.

The doctor and the lawyer had faced each other in a series of depositions, some of which reportedly became contentious. After one meeting, witnesses recalled, the doctor accosted the lawyer in a law office restroom.

Cozzi vanished on March 23, 2023 after showing up for work at his Largo office. Surveillance videos showed him arriving at the office but never leaving. He did not call in to a telephone hearing in Kosowskis lawsuit scheduled for that morning, but Kosowski did.

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A fellow lawyer found Cozzis phone and personal items at his desk, where his computer was open to the text of an unsent email. Investigators would find blood in the offices restroom. Videos also showed a person, who detectives believe was Kosowski, entering the law office that morning with a cart and later leaving with a large object on top of it.

Other surveillance video obtained by police showed the man driving a Toyota Tundra to Kosowskis Tarpon Springs home.

While conducting a search warrant on Kosowskis home, investigators found blood in his garage and in the Tundra that was caught on surveillance footage.

Later on the day that Cozzi went missing, Kosowskis red Toyota Corolla was picked up on license plate readers in the Miami area. When Kosowski was arrested in Tarpon Springs a few days later, police found in his Corolla duct tape, a paralyzing agent, syringes with sedatives, brass knuckles, a Taser and nearly $300,000 in cash, records state. Cozzis DNA was also found in the trunk.

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According to court documents, Cozzis blood was mixed with Kosowskis DNA in a sample collected from the garage floor of Kosowskis home on Seaview Drive in Tarpon Springs, and both mens DNA was found on evidence taken from the outside of the restroom door at Cozzis office.

Investigators suspect Kosowski dumped Cozzis body in a dumpster off U.S. 41 in Collier County

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Kosowski is convicted as charged.

Kosowski chose to represent himself during Fridays hearing. He asked Bulone to schedule a rehearing on a motion his defense team had filed to suppress the evidence found in the Toyota Corolla he was driving when he was arrested, arguing the search violated his right to illegal search and seizure. Bulone denied the motion after a hearing last month and on Friday denied Kosowskis request for a rehearing.

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Assistant State Attorney Nathan Vonderheide told Bulone that he had more evidence to submit as discovery material, including Cozzis bank and other financial records from shortly before he disappeared through February of this year.

Some of the material was printed on paper, which bailiffs said Vonderheide could hand to Kosowski, but other material was on a USB drive that would have to be brought to the jail by someone else and placed with his other property there.

Kosowski asked Vonderheide to give his mother a link to access the site where all of the discovery has been uploaded, but Vonderheide said he couldnt do that because she is not an attorney in Florida or a noticed party in the case. Bulone agreed.
Even though Bishop David Zubik said he was shocked, he said the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American elected pope, is a clear message from the conclave.

It seems to me that the cardinals chose the surprise choice, Zubik said. It seems to me theres a clear indication they thought it was well to continue the legacy of Pope Francis.

>>> Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh bishop shocked that an American was elected as new pope

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Channel 11s Andrew Havranek spoke with several people after Pope Leo XIV was announced to the world Thursday afternoon to get their reaction, both Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Theres a first time for everything! Make the best of it! I hope it goes for a longer time, said John Thomas, a Catholic from Coraopolis. I hope he continues the same thing the last pope was in there.

This is going to bring a lot of people back to the Catholic Church, said Joseph Brady, a non-Catholic visiting Pittsburgh from California. We left the Catholic Church because they were so far behind the times. Im excited for Catholics in this country. Hes going to hopefully bring a lot of people back into the church again.

Cardinal Prevost assumes the papacy at just 69 years old. Thats younger than Pope Francis, who was 76 when elected, and Pope Benedict XVI, who was 78. Bishop Zubik said it could have a huge impact on the church.

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Well, you remember Pope John Paul II was 58. I think that barring any unforeseen health difficulties, we can expect that this can be a pretty long pontificate, Zubik said. I think generations hadnt been used to 26, 27 years of John Paul II. I think certainly when you have a pontificate that can last several decades, it promises good stuff for the church and for the world.

Zubik said he thinks Pope Leo XIV will follow much of Pope Francis legacy of reaching out to the poor, and serve the people society put on the fringes.

The clues are already there, Zubik said. Hes going to be a missionary throughout the world, but if we have one of our own come back to our country, thats going to be an outstanding moment.

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Pittsburgh Public Theater is poised to move its production shop into a flex office-and-warehouse building next to the Bloomfield Bridge.

Its a move the more than 50-year-old theater nonprofit is planning to make later this year, opting for a larger building thats closer to the OReilly Theater in which it stages its productions in the Cultural District downtown and backfilling the former headquarters space of Arch Masonry, a contractor active in preservation work of churches in the citys East End.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Director of Production Monica Bowin called her nonprofit institutions new lease at 500 Dargan Street more than just a change of address in a prepared statement, but a strategic investment in the future of our organization - including the Publics artisans and staff - and in the creative pulse of the city.

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She called Bloomfield a dynamic neighborhood with deep artistic roots and added were excited to be part of its ongoing story.

Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  A militant Kurdish group announced on Friday that it had made historic decisions during its long-awaited congress earlier this week. The group, however, stopped short of saying whether it had resolved to disband and disarm as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey aimed at ending the four-decade insurgency.

The Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, held a congress in two locations in northern Iraq between May 5-7, according to a statement carried by the Firat News Agency, a media organization close to the banned group.

The PKK said the historic decisions taken during the congress would be shared with the public soon.

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In February, the PKKs jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, called on his group to convene a congress to dissolve itself and disarm to end the conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.

The group, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and most Western states, announced a ceasefire days later but had set conditions to disband, including the establishment of a legal mechanism for peace talks.

During the congress, statements by Ocalan outlining his perspectives and proposals were read, according to Firat news. Turkey's Haberturk broadcaster said the congress convened in Suleymaniyah and Duhok, in northern Iraq where the PKK's leadership is thought to be based.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey expects the PKK to respond positively to Ocalan's call to dissolve but said an announcement was not imminent.

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It seems that we will have to wait a little longer to hear the organizations response to this historic call," he told Turkey's 24 news channel in an interview.

This is not an easy decision for the organization," he added, suggesting possible disagreements among factions within the PKK.

Earlier, Turkeys pro-Kurdish party, DEM, which is involved in the peace effort, said the PKK could declare its decision at any moment.

We, too, are awaiting this historic step, this historic decision, DEM party spokeswoman Aysegul Dogan said.

In a later statement, the DEM party described the PKKs congress as a turning point toward peace, and paid tribute to all lives lost during the conflict.

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The party also said Turkeys parliament and other institutions would have a significant role to play toward peace and democratization.

A new page is opening on the path to an honorable peace and a democratic solution, the party said.

The statement added: We believe that, following this historic turning point, all democratic political institutions  especially the Grand National Assembly of Turkey  must take responsibility for solving the Kurdish issue and ensuring Turkeys true democratization.

The latest peace initiative was launched in October by Devlet Bahceli, a far-right Turkish politician who suggested that Ocalan, who is imprisoned on an island off Istanbul, could be granted parole if his group renounces violence and disbands.

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The DEM party statement also honored Sirri Sureyya Onder, a party legislator who was a key figure in the latest effort of peace, and who died last week.

Onder and other DEM party officials visited Ocalan on Imrali island where he is serving a life sentence several times, as part of the peace effort.

Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the group have ended in failure  most recently in 2015.
MENOMONIE  A plea deal has apparently been reached in a case where an Eau Claire man is accused of driving drunk and causing a Dec. 24 crash that killed a Dunn County correctional officer.

Mark A. Sokolowski, 41, 306 Minnesota St., Eau Claire, was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle. He is accused of driving drunk and killing corrections officer Jeff Reynolds, as well as injuring other people in Sokolowskis car. He also was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign, causing death. Sokolowski previously posted a $75,000 cash bond and remains free at this time.

Reynolds began working for the Dunn County Sheriffs Department in 2007.

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Dunn County Judge Luke Wagner recused himself in early January, and the case is now being handled by Eau Claire Judge Jon Theisen.

At a hearing Wednesday, defense attorney Harry Hertel told Theisen that his client plans to waive the right to a preliminary hearing and enter a plea to resolve the case, according to court minutes. Theisen set the next hearing for July 22, where Sokolowski is expected to enter a plea. Theisen also set a sentencing hearing for Sept. 24. Sokolowski retains the right to not enter a plea July 22 if he changes his mind.According to the criminal complaint, a deputy observed a northbound vehicle on County Highway E traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the stop sign, which caused a collision with the westbound vehicle on Highway 29. The driver that reportedly caused the crash, identified as Sokolowski, was arrested.A preliminary breath test showed Sokolowski had a .152 blood-alcohol level. He was taken to the Eau Claire County Jail.

Hertel has previously asked that Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf voluntarily withdraw from prosecuting the case; Nodolf has declined to recuse. Hertel also previously asked Theisen to impose an order that would bar the media from taking photos or video of people who attend hearings, as multiple law enforcement officers are likely to attend. Theisen requested Hertel to draft a proposal for him to review.

As terms of his release, Sokolowski must maintain absolute sobriety and he cannot enter taverns.

Sokolowski has no prior criminal record in Wisconsin, according to the states online database.
washington  Pointing to the February flooding disaster in McDowell County, U.S Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., cautioned Thursday against efforts by the Trump administration to restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Capito, speaking with West Virginia reporters during her weekly press call, said she told Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Thursday that a federal response is still necessary to disasters such as the deadly Feb. 15 flood that caused catastrophic damage across McDowell County.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, testified today that the president has created a FEMA task force that will look at delivering services better and more efficiently and quicker Capito said. I said to her today publicly that I am concerned about that in that our experience at the state level  while it hasnt been perfect and I said earlier we had issues still in McDowell County and some other areas where FEMA hasnt been sufficient  a federal response is still going to be a very critical part of disaster response in general.

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FEMA was created to provide disaster response and recovery support for states and communities impacted by storms, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. President Donald Trump has been critical of FEMA ever since Hurricane Helene hammered parts of North Carolina last fall, and has suggested that the individual states, and not the federal government, should take the lead on disaster response efforts.

Capito said she isnt opposed to the states having more power to respond to such disasters, but said a federal response also is still needed.

Now maybe more of the funding goes or more of the development of that goes to the states, some states are going to be better at it than others, Capito said. Our state is probably going to be pretty good. Weve got a lot of experience, unfortunately. So I am concerned about that. I think we do need to be able to assess the Department of Agriculture disaster funds for disaster recovery, and Im very much in favor of pre-disaster mitigation as well, which would really would have helped us down in McDowell County. When I went down and talked to everybody one of the issues was the debris and everything that had been allowed to build up over time in the river there, which just led to massive flooding.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of FEMA, had been replaced by Trump. Hamilton visited McDowell County on March 21 with U.S. Senator Jim Justice, R-W.Va.

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Capito said federal support for flood mitigation efforts is necessary.

If we keep these waterways clear and off of bridges and roads, Im not saying we would never flood, but we wouldnt have the devastation, she said. So I want to see us retain some of that pre-disaster mitigation because I do think it is money well spent.

The McDowell County Commission is seeking both federal and state assistance with dredging and stream restoration across the county. A resolution passed by the commission in April seeks assistance with the clearing of streams, creeks and rivers has been forwarded to both President Donald Trump and Governor Patrick Morrisey.

While she had questions for Noem about FEMAs future, Capito said she also praised the Homeland Security Secretarys ongoing efforts to secure Americas borders.

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Then with Secretary Noem, I basically praised her and the president for the dramatic 95 percent decrease in the number of folks coming across the border and also 99 percent decrease in the gotaways, Capito said. Those are the ones that dont actually have any kind of interaction. I think it is deterrents and enforcement. And I think Secretary Noem said this will be a high priority for them. I did reiterate in a cautionary tale to her that FEMA has served West Virginia. I know that we have issues still in McDowell County with FEMA, but we do need a national response to disasters. Im not sure all states, although our state is very seasoned at this, Im not sure all states can handle the magnitude of some of the disasters that have occurred.

Capito also repeated her desire Thursday for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to retain all of the employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health office in Morgantown that were impacted by a federal reduction in force order back in April.

There is still continued uncertainty surrounding those West Virginia employees that provide support to the states coal industry, including programs that are designed to protect the health of coal miners.

At least 200 workers at the Morgantown office were impacted by the federal reduction in force order from Kennedy, which was part of the larger purge of federal employees under the Department of Government Effiency, or DOGE, which is led by Trump appointee Elon Musk. The Morgantown office oversees a number of programs that are designed to protect the health care of coal miners in West Virginia, including programs that assist with detecting black lung disease.

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Capito said Thursday it was her understanding that the NIOSH employees were back on the job in West Virginia.

Well I know some people have been called back and that was really I think because of my efforts with Secretary Kennedy, and several calls to the White House, Capito said. We have to have this function to make sure that we are keeping our workers safe and healthy on the job and that did result in some people getting called back, which Im happy about.

Capito said the West Virginia delegation is still making the case to Kennedy and Trump that the NIOSH office is essential to protecting the health and well being of West Virginia coal miners.

Capito was asked about reports that indicated some of the workers who were called back to work were then placed on administrative leave again. She said she would investigate whether those reports are true.

I think the ones who were originally called back are still there, Capito said.

Contact Charles Owens at

cowens@bdtonline.com
By Elizabeth Pineau

NANCY, France (Reuters) - France and Poland signed a treaty on Friday to increase cooperation on defence, nuclear energy and other measures, in a sign of growing alliances between European nations amid concerns about U.S. commitment to Europe's security.

The signing came a day before Ukraine hosts leaders of the so-called "coalition of the willing" - countries led by France and Britain that want to step up support for Ukraine in the face of a more sceptical Trump administration.

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President Emmanuel Macron, speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said France would participate in the Ukraine summit but declined to say whether he would attend, saying he would travel to Ukraine when necessary.

The treaty with Poland includes a mutual assistance clause, deepening a commitment between the two NATO member states to support each other in case of an attack, and a pledge to deepen military and technological links.

"I am deeply convinced that from today France and Poland in these difficult times will be able to count on each other in every situation," Tusk said.

Earlier, Tusk said the pact would pave the way for cooperation on a potential extension of the French nuclear umbrella to cover Poland. However, there was no specific mention of access to France's nuclear deterrent in the treaty itself.

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Macron said in March he was open to extending French nuclear capabilities to other European nations, partly in response to growing doubts over U.S. President Donald Trump's long-term commitment to European security.

The new pact does, however, include provisions for deeper integration on nuclear energy, with France eager to export its nuclear know-how across Europe and beyond.

The treaty is testament to fast-growing Poland's increasingly pivotal role on the European stage, thanks to its strategic position on the continent's eastern flank. Poland spends 4.12% of its economic output on defence, the highest percentage in the NATO alliance.

Tusk's centrist, pro-European government is keen to diversify its security partnerships beyond Washington.

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The treaty is the first that France has signed with a central European country after a series of pacts with Italy, Spain and Germany.

It was signed in the eastern French city of Nancy, where Poland's King Stanislaw Leszczynski lived in the late 18th century, becoming Duke of Lorraine after losing the Polish throne.

(Reporting by Anna Koper, Pawel Florkiewicz, Michel Rose and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Gabriel Stargardter, Hugh Lawson, Timothy Heritage and Sharon Singleton)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  An Austin Police detectives affidavit details the events leading up to an April 27 murder outside of an apartment complex near Mueller, including information from CCTV footage and an interview with a witness.

PAST COVERAGE | Woman shot, killed outside Mueller-area apartment complex

The detective said that surveillance camera footage shows the victim, Samantha Fernandez, approach a red pickup truck before being shot in the head. The truck left the scene immediately after, according to the affidavit.

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At approximately 4:45 [a.m.], I received a phone call from Deputy Rodriguez with the Kerr County Sheriffs Office stating that he and other deputies had located the red Chevrolet pickup abandoned on the side of the road, the detective said. Deputy Rodriguez told me that two subjects, [a witness] and suspect Gonzalo Mendoza-Gonzalez, had been detained at a closed gas station a short distance away.

Gonzalo Mendoza-Gonzalez, 22 (Photo: Austin Police Department)

Officers reportedly seized a handgun from Mendoza-Gonzalez while detaining him on April 28, which was allegedly loaded with 9mm rounds matching casings found at the scene, according to the affidavit.

According to Travis County jail records, Mendoza-Gonzalez was arrested May 2 and faced three charges: first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and deadly conduct. He remained in jail on bonds totaling $750,000 as of Friday.

KXAN reached out his attorney for comment.

Revenge for Cheating?

The detective said he interviewed the witness and Mendoza-Gonzalez at the Kerr County Sheriffs Office.

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[The witness] stated that she discovered Mendoza-Gonzalez was cheating on her with another woman. [The witness], who lives with Mendoza-Gonzalez, said she was angry about this and was going to take some of Mendoza-Gonzalezs clothing, the affidavit read.

Fernandez and the witness went to Mendoza-Gonzalezs home on April 25, according to the affidavit. While allegedly taking clothing, Fernandez also took Mendoza-Gonzalezs AR-15 rifle.

[The witness] told Fernandez not to take the rifle, but Fernandez told her that she was going to sell the rifle because she needed money to bail her boyfriend out of jail, the detective wrote. On April 27, 2025, Mendoza-Gonzalez confronted [the witness] about Fernandez taking the rifle.

According to the affidavit, the witness claimed that Mendoza-Gonzalez threatened her and her family and made her drive him to get bullets. He then allegedly had her load the gun and text Fernandez to come outside to the truck.

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After the shooting, Mendoza-Gonzalez allegedly forced the witness to drive them out of Austin. The truck ran out of gas, which led to them walking to the gas station.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Police arrested a Baton Rouge man accused of severely injuring his wife after a domestic violence-related attack.

The Baton Rouge Police Department said John Greenhouse Jr., 48, was taken into custody on charges of aggravated second-degree battery and domestic abuse battery with serious injury.

Officers responded to the 3700 block of Cathedral Drive on May 3, where the victim, identified as Greenhouses wife in arrest documents, was found with severe facial and head injuries. According to an affidavit, officers found the home in disarray with blood on the floors, walls, hallways, and in the back of the master bedroom.

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The victim told officers that she and Greenhouse had argued after he sold her AirPods and refused to give her the $100 from the sale. Greenhouse allegedly attacked her after she withheld his debit card until he gave her the money. He fled the scene in her car.

Medical staff reported that the victim suffered severe facial swelling, open head wounds requiring stitches, and cuts around her eyes and lips.

The victim reported to police that her husband had been physically abusive in the past. Police later learned that Greenhouse had an active warrant for charges of battery on a dating partner and simple robbery involving another woman.

He is currently being held at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. The investigation is ongoing.

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Man found guilty in death of 2-year-old Nevaeh Allen

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
Clouds move in for an afternoon storm at Cherokee Ridge Gold Course on a spring day in Colorado Springs. (Emily Bejarano/The Gazette)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrols Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) announced the arrest of an Independence, Missouri man identified as a person of interest in a child porn investigation.

29-year-old man killed in collision in south Overland Park

On Thursday, troopers with MSHPs Division of Drug and Crime Control executed a search warrant at a home where they found and arrested 58-year-old Randall Wheeldon.

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Investigators with the DDCCs Special Victims Unit investigated Wheeldons alleged involvement with child pornography before making their arrest, according to MSHP.

On Thursday, the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney also charged Wheeldon with one count of possession of child pornography.

Man found dead in parking garage in downtown Kansas City

The DDCC encourages individuals to report to local law enforcement anyone who attempts to engage in unwanted, inappropriate, or sexualized communications with children.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Vermont State Police say a vehicle driven by a 23-year-old New Hampshire man struck two women walking on the sidewalk on Main Street in Putney on Thursday.

One of the victims, Diane E. Clementine, 77, of Putney, suffered what police described as life-threatening injuries and is in critical condition. The other victim, 68-year-old Deborah Bozetarnik, also of Putney, suffered minor injuries, police said.

The alleged driver, Jason A. Ball, 23, of Alstead, NH, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. Police say Balls vehicle drove off the road before striking the two women just after 11 a.m.

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Ball was being held at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield in lieu of $25,000 bail. He was scheduled to be in Windham County Superior Court at 12:30 p.m. Friday on charges of D.U.I drug, causing serious bodily injury or death resulting, and gross negligent operation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Police are on the scene near Reno and Martin Luther King investigating a shooting that has left one injured.

Authorities say this looks like a possible road rage incident with one victim shot in the leg. Police say the suspect has left the scene.

Police investigating shooting near Reno and MLK, Image KFOR

No further information has been provided at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 24-year-old has been arrested and accused of first-degree murder in the death of a 1-year-old child from September of last year, police said.

MPD investigates homicide of 1-year-old girl in Northwest DC

On Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, around 10:50 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 3700 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest. for the report of a child in cardiac arrest.

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The child was transported to a hospital by first responder, but died after life-saving measures failed. The child was identified as 1-year-old Journee Moore of Upper Marlboro, MD.

On the following day, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, determined the child suffered multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was ruled homicide.

No arrests were made until Thursday when 24-year-old Wayne Blake of Northwest, DC, was arrested pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant.

Blake was charged with first-degree murder, felony murder and cruelty to children.

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The detectives investigation determined that the offense is domestic in nature.

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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.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Scores of law enforcement officers and supporters from across West Michigan attended a police memorial service in Grand Rapids Thursday.

The annual service took place at the American Legion Boat & Canoe Club, where the names of officers who died in the line of duty were read aloud. The 33 officers whose names were read worked on police forces around West Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Michigan State Police and various Kent County forces, including the sheriffs office.

Law enforcement officers at a police memorial service at the American Legion Boat & Canoe Club in Grand Rapids. (May 8, 2025)

Law enforcement officers at a police memorial service at the American Legion Boat & Canoe Club in Grand Rapids. (May 8, 2025)

Law enforcement officers at a police memorial service at the American Legion Boat & Canoe Club in Grand Rapids. (May 8, 2025)

Law enforcement officers at a police memorial service at the American Legion Boat & Canoe Club in Grand Rapids. (May 8, 2025)

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The event was sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Metro Lodge #97, Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Rapids Police Department.

The ceremony comes ahead of Police Week across the nation, which begins Sunday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
DALEVILLE  State police have released the identities of a man who was killed and another who was critically injured in a fiery head-on collision April 29 on Indiana 67.

Jordan Xavier Ivy, 22, Muncie, died in the 8 a.m. crash, according to the Delaware County Coroner's Office. Austin Douglas Duncan, 24, Albany, was critically injured.

According to state police, a Cadillac XT5 SUV, driven by Ivy, was southbound on Indiana 67 between Delaware County roads 600 West and 700 West when it drifted across the center line and collided head-on with a Ram pickup driven by Duncan.

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Following the collision, both vehicles caught fire," state police reported.

Duncan was extricated from the pickup and taken to Ball Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Ivy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were contributing factors, according to state police. Evidence suggests Ivy might have fallen asleep before the collision, police said.

All lanes of Indiana 67 were closed for about four hours the day of the crash while emergency personnel investigated and cleared debris.
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland ISD Police Department has asked for help from the community to solve a crime.

According to MISD, around 3:00 am on April 20, someone broke into an MISD Police vehicle at an apartment complex located as 1200 Albert Avenue. The suspect reportedly stole a police issued American Defense .556 rifle.

If you have any information on who may be responsible or know where the stolen rifle is, please call Crime Stoppers at 432-694-TIPS. You may also submit your tip online or by using the P3 TIPS mobile app. If your tip is the first one to lead to an arrest or solves this case, you will be eligible for a cash reward. You always remain anonymous and no caller ID is ever used.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY)  A man is being sought by law enforcement in connection to an armed robbery in Iberia Parish and is considered armed and dangerous.

Police are searching for Bradley James Lewis Jr. in connection to an armed robbery complaint at the business located at the 1500 block of Weeks Island Road.

Officials said on April 28, a male suspect, believed to be Lewis, entered the store at approximately 3 a.m., brandished a handgun and demanded money from the cash register. The suspect then fled with the money and items from the store.

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Officials with the New Iberia Police Department were able to identify the suspect as Lewis and obtained an arrest warrant for the charge of armed robbery.

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Officials said Lewis should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. They said he is reported to be homeless and does not have a local address, but he is believed to be residing somewhere in New Iberia.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Lewis, they are urged to contact local law enforcement.

Bradley James Lewis Jr.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the publics help in tracking down the driver in a hit-and-run that killed a 68-year-old man in South Los Angeles earlier this year.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was hit at Coliseum Street and La Brea Avenue at about 11 p.m. on March 20, police said in a news release.

The vehicle that hit him, which was moving at a high rate of speed east on Coliseum Street at the time, sped off without stopping to help. Police did not release a description of the vehicle.

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The man, meanwhile, was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

A reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to the driver.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Lozada at 213-677-9791.

During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

To report information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
There are some things that you just have to see to believe, and a raccoon holding onto a drug pipe during a routine traffic stop by the police is one of them. ABC7 News shared a video on TikTok of what happened after a woman was stopped due to an open warrant was arrested, and her car was searched.

What officers found was something they'd never seen before. The woman's pet raccoon was sitting in the driver's seat of the car holding a meth pipe. Make sure your volume is on so you can hear the officers' reactions as they try to process what they're seeing!

This was just wild! Even the cops were in disbelief and amused by the scene! ABC7 shared the entire video on their site, and you can see it here. It reveals just how chaotic the entire situation actually was!

Related: Raccoon Hits the Field at Professional Soccer Game and Hilariously Outruns Everybody

More Details About the Raccoon with the Meth Pipe

Springfield Township Police Officer Austin Branham conducted the traffic stop on Monday, May 5th, after identifying a vehicle whose registered owner had an active warrant and a suspended driver's license. The woman, 55-year-old Victoria Vidal, of Akron, Ohio, was detained without incident. But that's when things got weird.

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Springfield Township Police Department released a statement the following day and described what happened next, "However, things took an unusual turn. As Officer Branham returned to the vehicle, he observed a raccoon named 'Chewy' sitting in the driver's seat with a meth pipe in its mouth. Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to further inspect the vehicle." Police found a large amount of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass methamphetamine pipes.

The statement said, "Thankfully, Chewy the raccoon was unharmed, and notification was made to the proper authorities to determine that she has the proper paperwork and documentation to own the raccoon," police said. "While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!"

As the newscaster noted in the video, the situation was amusing on the surface, but also deeply concerning. It's heartbreaking to think that the pet raccoon was exposed to drug paraphernalia. Imagine the outcome if he had actually found the drugs instead.
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's main opposition presidential candidate was facing mounting criticism on Friday over his acquisition of an apartment from a vulnerable pensioner, as a poll showed a dip in support and the prime minister labelled him unfit for office.

The campaign of Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the nationalist opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, has been rocked by allegations that he lied about owning a second property and that he acquired it from a elderly man in return for a promise of care which he did not provide.

Nawrocki has called the reports that the elderly man ended up in a state-funded retirement home because he did not provide the care he promised in return for the flat "media lies", but said on Wednesday he would give the property to charity.

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"In the Polish state, such people... certainly should not seek the highest state honours, the highest dignities, such as the presidency," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.

PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told parliament he believed the scandal had been orchestrated by Poland's secret services to influence the election, without providing evidence.

A survey conducted by Pollster on May 7-8 for the Super Express tabloid showed that support for Nawrocki had dipped by more than 2 percentage points since its previous opinion poll in late April.

The poll put liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, from Tusk's ruling Civic Coalition (KO), on 32.3% and Nawrocki on 22.7% ahead of the May 18 first round, with 52% of respondents saying the apartment furore would affect the election outcome.

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Since the tough-talking amateur boxer-cum-historian entered the race for the presidency he has faced a deluge of negative coverage in liberal media outlets, including the discovery of a television interview in which he appeared in disguise under a pseudonym and praised his own work as a historian.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Graphic from James Madison Institute poll

A public opinion survey shows U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds leading Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, 44%-25, in the race for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026.

Thats from a new poll conducted for the James Madison Institute (JMI) in the middle of May among 516 Republican voters.

Thats after those Republicans were informed that Donalds has already been endorsed by President Donald Trump for the governors race. The poll says initial results from GOP voters surveyed before learning of the Trump backing had Ms. DeSantis narrowly leading Donalds by a single point, 29%-28%.

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Ms. DeSantis is not a declared candidate yet for governor, but she has not dismissed the possibility of running next year to succeed her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited from running again.

She has faced more media attention over the past month than at any other time as First Lady over the past six years. Thats because of reports about potential misappropriation of funds involving Hope Florida and the Hope Florida Foundation, the social welfare charity that she has been associated with.

Gov. DeSantis has accused House Republicans, the liberal media, and Democrats of launching baseless smears against Hope Florida and by extension myself and the First Lady, he said at a press conference in Kissimmee last month.

Donalds announced his candidacy for governor on Feb. 26, five days after Trump endorsed him. Since his announcement, Donalds has reported raising more than $12 million as of the end of March, with most of that money flowing into his affiliated political committee.

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The James Madison Institute commissioned two public polls, one in April and one in early May. The April poll results were taken when South Florida Sen. Jason Pizzo was still in the Democratic Party and a potential nominee for that partys gubernatorial nomination next year.

The May poll shows former Northwest Florida U.S. Rep. and now cable news pundit Matt Gaetz in third place at 10%; Jeanette Nunez, the former lieutenant governor and now interim president of Florida International University, in fourth place with 9% support. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is next with 5%.

Democratic field

As mentioned above, the JMI poll surveyed voters in both April and May. In April, it surveyed 464 Democratic voters, who gave Pizzo 41% support.

In distant second place at that time was Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava with 15%. Former Republican U.S. Rep. turned Democrat David Jolly was next with 7%, followed by former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham at 5%.

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Jacksonville state Rep. Angie Nixon and former South Florida state Sen. Lauren Book were next at 4%. South Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones was at 2% and House Leader Fentrice Driskell was at 1%.

But with Pizzos departure, a follow-up survey in May of 396 Democratic voters showed Mayor Levine Cava now leads the Democrats with 32%. Gwen Graham is next at 13%, followed by Jolly at 10% and former state Sen. Lauren Book at 7%. However, 20% were undecided.

The survey in both months was conducted by Targoz Market Research of 1,200 voters, 43% of whom said they were Republicans, 33% Democrats, and 23% independent voters. It has a +/- margin of error of 2.77%.

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Among potential GOP candidates for Florida governor in 2026, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds leads First Lady Casey DeSantis by 19 percentage points, 44%25%, according to a new statewide poll of registered voters by a conservative Tallahassee-based think tank.

But that support came after the James Madison Institutes sample of 516 registered Republican voters, out of 1,200 registered voters altogether, were told President Donald Trump had endorsed Donalds  the only officially-declared leading Republican in the race.

Before being told of the Trump endorsement, Mrs. DeSantis was statistically tied with Donalds, of Naples, at 29% and 28% respectively. The margin of error of the survey, which was conducted May 5 to 7, is 2.77%.

Casey DeSantis speaks during a press conference in the Cabinet Room on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

"Trumps endorsement carries huge weight among Republican voters, but half (didn't) know it happened" till they were told, the institute's press release said. (The poll results were released to reporters the evening of May 8 but embargoed till May 9.)

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Casey DeSantis and Gov. Ron DeSantis have been buffeted for weeks by news reports related to her signature Hope Florida initiative, billed as a conservative alternative to traditional welfare programs. That controversy wasn't brought up to poll respondents, according to the released poll questions.

A panel of the GOP-led Florida House and news outlets have been digging into a $10 million donation directed to the programs fundraising arm, and whether that money then was improperly diverted  amounting to a sort of campaign-finance money laundering. The DeSantises have strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Moreover, the closest Mrs. DeSantis has come to confirming her much speculated-about candidacy was saying, Well see, when asked at a conservative summit in Maryland in March. Before that, her husband threw cold water on the idea of a bid, telling Fox News' Laura Ingraham in February that it's not something that shes seeking out ... but it's flattering.

From February: Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis most favored among potential GOP candidates, poll shows

May JMI poll followed similar one in April

The institute actually commissioned two public opinion polls, one in April and the latest in early May. But the April poll didn't make clear to respondents that Trump gave the thumbs up to Donalds.

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The earlier poll also was conducted before South Florida state Sen. Jason Pizzo left the Democratic Party. Pizzos announcement that he was stepping down as Senate Democratic leader and becoming a no party affiliated lawmaker came on the floor of the Senate on April 24, two days after that poll closed.

In April, he polled at a whopping 42% among Democrats or those leaning Democratic. Still undeclared, hes teased his own run for months. Now he can't run in Florida's closed primary system.

Sen. Jason Pizzo stands next to one of his sons for the National Anthem during the opening day of the Florida legislative session, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Asking again in May, the JMI poll found Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava jumped to 32% among the poll's 396 registered Democrats from 15% the month before. And former Tallahassee congresswoman Gwen Graham, most recently an education official in the Biden administration, went up to 13% support from 5%.

Another former Florida congressman, Republican-turned-Democrat David Jolly of Pinellas County, went from 9% support in April to 10% in May.

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Of all those polled in May, a combined 85% said they "always" or "nearly always" vote in elections. Also, 43% identified as Republican, 33% as Democratic and 23% as "independent." But 34% overall identified as "moderate."

In this 2021 file photo, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is at a press conference on the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse.

In one hypothetical general election matchup, Donalds overtook Levine Cava 38%34%, with Pizzo garnering 5% as an independent candidate and 23% saying they were undecided. In another, Casey DeSantis beats Levine Cava 39%35%, with Pizzo at 8% and undecideds at 18%.

"DeSantis and Donalds are polling close to 40%, roughly the share of registered Republicans in Florida," the press release said. "That suggests early general election support is tracking closely with partisan ID, with a large share of voters currently undecided or soft in their preferences."

Both the April and May polls were conducted by Targoz Market Research of Nashville, Tennessee.

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Read more at JMIpoll.com.

This story contains previously published material. Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network  Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Poll: Byron Donalds surges past Casey DeSantis with Trump backing
May 8 was a big day for Catholics with the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the U.S.

President Donald Trump, who identifies as a non-denominational Christian, had joked about wanting to be the next Pope himself and laughed off an AI-generated image of him as the next pope before white smoke drifted up from the Sistine Chapel.

Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native who was formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, is expected to have some similar stances to the late Pope Francis, who was dedicated to marginalized groups, though Leo XIV is considered centrist.

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After Trump and Vice President JD Vance's contentious relationship with Francis, some are wondering what the new pope's relationship with the Floridian president will be.

Here is what we know:

Florida connection Pope Leo XIV's brother lives in the Sunshine State. Read what he says about the MLB fan

Is the new pope anti-Trump? What Robert Prevost's social media posts tell us

Shortly he appeared as the new pope on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, social media went digging and found some posts from the former Cardinal that suggest he could be critical of the Trump administration's policies.

The new pope, on April 14, reposted criticism of Trump and President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele's response to the wrongful deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

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On Feb. 3, Leo XIV reposted an article from the National Catholic Reporter titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

Vance had justified the administration's immigration policy using a medieval-era Catholic teaching, though Francis had called the immigration policies a "major crisis" in an open letter to U.S. Bishops.

Vance and Trump have not yet commented on the criticism, USA TODAY reported.

Is Donald Trump Catholic?

No.

Trump once identified as a Presbyterian, but in 2020 he told Religion News Service he began considering himself a non-denominational Christian.

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First lady Melania Trump, however, made news in 2017 when she met the late Pope Francis and revealed she is Catholic when asking the pontiff to bless her rosary beads. She attended Francis' funeral with the president on her 55th birthday on April 26, wearing a traditional black lace veil.

On May 8, the day the papal conclave ended, Trump congratulated the new pope on Truth Social, saying, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope ... I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

Is Vice President JD Vance Catholic?

Yes. JD Vance converted to the Catholic recently and was baptized in 2019. He is the country's second Catholic vice president after former President Joe Biden, who served as vice president in the Obama administration.

In a blog post in The Lamp, a Catholic journal, Vance said he was raised Christian and then identified as an atheist in college.

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A series of teachings and encounters, including with entrepreneur Peter Thiel, led him back to being a person of faith and specifically Catholic, the blog post describes.

Vance met Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before his death.

Is Usha Vance Catholic? No, she is the first Hindu second lady

Usha Vance is not Catholic. Usha Vance comes from a deeply religious Hindu family, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, and she is the first Hindu second lady.

Still, JD Vance in The Lamp blog post said Usha Vance supported his conversion to Catholicism.

Donald Trump AI Pope picture after joking he wanted to be the next pope

Trump appears to have had some fun with the papal shakeup. After attending Francis' funeral, Trump was asked by reporters who he would like to see be the next pope.

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"I would like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice," Trump said jokingly on April 29, according to a White House pool report.

The Trump administration later stoked controversy by posting an apparent artificial intelligence-created image of Trump dressed as the pope. The president denied having anything to do with its creation, but claimed the Catholics loved it.

However, at least some New York Bishops said it was neither "clever or funny.

Is Barron Trump Catholic? What religion is Barron, son of Donald and Melania Trump?

Barron Trump largely stays out of the public eye, and the Office of the First Lady did not immediately respond to questions about whether Barron follows her faith.

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However, we do know he was baptized at Bethesda-By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida, the same place his parents were married.

(This story was updated with new information.)

Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, Francesca Chambers, Margie Cullen, Antonio Fins, Grace Tucker, USA TODAY Network

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: New Pope Leo XIV: Are Donald, Melania and Barron Trump Catholic?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Vaticans choice of the first American pope is drawing reaction across New Mexicos widespread Catholic community. With the words peace be with you, the new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, greeted the world and thousands of attendees at Saint Peters Basilica in the Vatican City. Taking on the name Pope Leo XIV, the 69-year-old from Chicago is also now the worlds first American pope.

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Its something that many in New Mexico are excited and proud to see. For the first time, unprecedented at least in modern times and how beautiful it was to learn that this new pope is from the United States, and here we are sitting in the heart of Albuquerque, in this beautiful faith community, again is just overwhelmed with joy, said Reverend Deacon Dan Sanchez.

Reverend Sanchez of the San Felipe de Neri church in Old Town helped put up white and gold bunting at the entrance, representing the churchs new leadership. People visiting Albuquerques churches also expressed excitement. Very historic, being the first pope from America, so thats very exciting. I share that excitement with everyone and wish him the absolute best, said Patrick McClain, visiting from Ohio.

Listening from the previous pope, which he was very people-oriented, and lets hope that this one is just the same, and thats my hope for this new pope, said Inge Mosesman, visiting from North Carolina.

Although many are still learn about the new pope, Reverend Sanchez hopes the news unites New Mexicos extensive catholic community. Our universal church is just elated today at the naming of Pope Leo the XIVIts just a beautiful time of renewal, of vigor for our church, said Reverend Sanchez.

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The announcement also brought a reaction from Democratic New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martinez who put out a statement calling it a joyful and hopeful moment. The cathedral in Santa Fe held a Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the new Pope Leo on Thursday night.

In a statement, the Archbishop of Santa Fe said, This is a sacred and historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, and we rejoice in the guidance of our new spiritual leader.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Pope Leo XIV ignored last-second advice from his brother on what name he should adopt as pontiff.

John Prevost, a retired Catholic school principal in suburban Chicago, revealed that he spoke with his younger brother by phone on the eve of the conclave and urged him not to go by Leo should he win the papal election.

The reasoning, Prevost explained, was a botched recollection of Vatican history.

He said, What should my name be? John, 71, recalled to local newspaper the Daily Herald. We started rattling off names just to rattle off names. I told him it shouldnt be Leo because it will be the 13th. But he mustve done some research to see its actually the 14th.

Pope Leo XIV, 69, was not among the favorites expected to emerge as pope after the conclave. He is the first American to become a pontiff. / ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

Then still known as Robert, the Chicago native would soon be sequestered with 133 of his fellow cardinals, naturally the most knowledgeable Vatican buffs on the planet. It is unclear who, if anyone, informed the future pope that taking the name Leo would make him the 14thsince Pope Leo XIII had led the church between 1878 and 1903and not the unlucky No. 13.

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Any of those cardinals could have emerged as pope on Thursday, but, to the shock of Vatican experts, oddsmakers, and especially Prevost, it was his brother who appeared on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica.

Prevost said he knew there was an inkling of a chance Leo may be the next pope, but I really was just as surprised as everyone when they said his name.

Robert Prevost, the future Pope Leo XIV, in second grade, standing fourth from left in this class photo in 1962. / St. Mary of the Assumption School

He told the Herald that he learned of his siblings fate while speaking on the phone with his niece, who is the daughter of the popes other brother, Louis, who lives in Florida. Like most of the Catholic world, Prevost first heard his loved ones name announced live on TV.

We both couldnt believe it, he said of his niece. Then the phone, the iPad, and my cellphone just went nuts.

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Prevost joked that everyone he knew was texting or calling him on Thursday, except the pope himself.

He added that he and his siblings had a normal childhood on the south side of Chicago. They were raised Catholic by a school superintendent father and a school librarian mother in the Dolton neighborhood.

John on Thursday also cleared up speculation over his allegiances in the cross-town Cubs-White Sox rivalry, telling ABC News 7 that the new Pope was a fan of the White Sox.

Newly ordained Rev. Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, meets Pope John Paul II in 1982. / Courtesy of the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel

The Vatican said the popes father, Louis Marius Prevost, was of French and Italian descent, and his mother, Mildred Martinez, was of Spanish descent. He studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and at Villanova University in Philadelphia, where he graduated with a mathematics degree in 1977.

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Prevost recalled that Leo, known as Rob when he was little, was sure from a young age that he would dedicate his life to the church. He did just that, spending two decades as a missionary in Peru before being appointed a cardinal by Francis. His most recent position was at the Vatican, running an office that selects and manages bishops.

Its kind of strange, but all three of us knew what we wanted to do very early in life, Prevost told the Herald, noting he desired a career in education while Louis wanted to join the military.

Leo, meanwhile, knew he was going to be a priest from the time he could walk.

A neighbor once said he was going to be pope someday, Prevost said. Hows that for a prognostication?
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Usually I wait until morning to propose topics to my editors but sometimes the takes are too hot to sleep on. On Thursday night I pinged them excitedly with ideas for a column about Robert Prevost, native son of Illinois, and as of yesterday the most famous American on Earth.

The fact that the man now known as Pope Leo XIV has voted in Republican primaries yet appears uneasy with the presidents immigration policies raises the tantalizing possibility that a Never Trumper now leads the Catholic Church. Some on Twitter have even dubbed him the Bulwark pope, although I dunno about that. Leos reportedly pretty socially conservative by the standards of American politics. He sounds more like a Dispatch pope to me.

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We should send him a gift subscription, assuming he doesnt subscribe already. (Congratulations, Your Holiness!)

The hot take I proposed was welcoming Leo to the Resistance, maybe even analogizing his ascendancy during a period of Trumpist menace to a Polish popes role in ending communism. But one editor cautioned me that a 2,000-year-old faith probably isnt basing its leadership decisions on something as worldly, stupid, and disgusting as modern American politics.

And thats true. There are more compelling explanations for how a White Sox fan ended up as the Vicar of Christ.

For one thing, he had the numbers. The late Pope Francis, whose more progressive-ish views Leo seems to share, appointed 108 of the 133 cardinals who voted in this weeks conclave. Go figure that they preferred someone in their patrons mold to a more conservative alternative. Pro-life American Catholics should understand better than anyone that if you want an institution to deliver certain results, having the numbers means everything.

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Leo was also well positioned by experience. Two years ago Francis made him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which meant he had to build relationships with many of his colleagues in the College of Cardinals. The church is a singular organization, but it is an organization, and in any organization those who have made friends within the hierarchy tend to get promoted.

As for any baggage Leo might have carried by dint of being an American, that was apparently mitigated by the years he spent in Peru as a missionary and later as a bishop. (He was eventually naturalized, making him a dual citizen of that country and the United States.) He came to be known at the Vatican as the least American of the American cardinals and went out of his way to demonstrate it in his first remarks as pope to the crowd in St. Peters Square, speaking in Italian and Spanishbut not English.

One U.S. theology professor interpreted the eschewing of the popes native tongue this way for Time magazine: He was saying, Im an American, but Im a different kind of American. Im not a nationalist; Im a person that cares about the entire world.

A different, less nationalist kind of American?

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Hmmm. That does sound a bit political.

A political choice.

The last thing Leo wants for his papacy, Im sure, is to see it sucked into the sleazy reality show that is Trump-era American politics, a black hole of shame and nihilism from which no dignity can escape.

In fact, my guess is that hes less likely to comment on policy in the United States than the other candidates to succeed Francis would have been. Doing so might tempt Catholics here to choose between their loyalty to an American-led church and their loyalty to Trumpism, and not all would choose the church. It would also demean the pontificate, as surely the Holy Father has more exalted business to attend to than serving as the presidents latest foil in Americas degenerate politics as pro wrestling populist spectacle.

Most of all, it would show a world thats been dominated by the United States for 80 years that even the papacy cant prevent an American from parochially and narcissistically prioritizing his own countrys affairs. In an age of America First, where Uncle Sam unapologetically cares only about himself, the so-called Ugly American has never looked uglier. If Leo really does mean to prove that he cares about the entire world, the easiest way to do it is to reject that narcissism by ignoring the United States as completely as possible.

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The pope is not interested in politics, Id guess. But, to paraphrase Trotsky, politics is interested in him.

It took no time at all after his selection was announced for MAGA influencers to lose their minds over some of his more liberali.e. mundanely Catholicviews. Although less delightful than the jokes flying around about Leos near-Chicago roots (Im partial to Malort and savior), watching a bunch of lowbrow Maoists cry Marxism because the pontiff appears to sympathize with immigrants made for hours of schadenfreudean fun.

We need to see from the jump, from the absolute jump, whether or not Pope Leo is interested in working with President Trump or  working against him, populist influencer Jack Posobiec sternly warned. Or what, Jack? Are you going to primary him? Storm the Vatican and start beating the Swiss Guard with flagpoles?

It was amusing, but it was also early notice that Leo will be demagogued by the postliberal grassroots right perhaps more aggressively than even Francis was. Theyve been deprived by Democrats momentary political irrelevance of a domestic villain to rally against. Now, in the person of the first American pope, they have one.

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Still, its not fair to lay the insta-politicization of Leo XIV entirely in the laps of MAGA. The church may claim otherwise, but there are obvious political undertones to the ascension of Robert Prevost. The languages he did and didnt use in introducing himself to the faithful are the least of it.

To begin with, Cardinal Prevost (or someone impersonating him for some reason) commented recently, publicly, and critically on several Trump administration controversies. In February a Twitter account using his name posted an article scolding J.D. Vance for his anti-immigrant interpretation of ordo amoris; a few weeks ago the same account promoted a tweet complaining about the presidents exile of migrants to El Salvador. Either the cardinals who chose Prevost knew of his views on Trump and were fine with it, or the Vatican really needs to do more vetting of candidates for the most important religious office in the world.

Consider his name too. Practically every Catholic whos commented in print about his selection today has noted that the last man to bear the pontifical Leo wrote Rerum Novarum, a foundational statement of Catholic social teaching that advocated for workers rights to a fair wage, safe working conditions, and the rights of workers to belong to trade unions. By adopting the same name as Leo XIII, the new pope presumably intends to take up that very political cause. If Pope Francis was the Peoples Pope, Catherine Pepinster predicted for the Guardian, then Leo XIV is all set to be the Workers Pope.

Beyond that, what else but politics can explain why the unstated taboo against choosing an American pontiff has suddenly been lifted?

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Until today, nearly every Vatican insider agreed on one thing: The United States would never produce a pope, at least not while the country remains a superpower, Francis X. Rocca wrote for The Atlantic. A citizen of the worlds dominant nation could not become the leader of the worlds largest religious organization without dramatically upsetting the global balance of geopolitical and cultural power. American Bishop Robert Barron stated the point more bluntly in a recent interview with CBS News: Look, until America goes into political decline, there wont be an American pope.

We now have an American pope.

What should we deduce from that fact about how the curia views the state of our country?

A counterweight.

In a piece today for The Bulwark, Jonathan Last drew the obvious conclusion: We have an American pope because America is, in fact, in political decline and the cardinals know it. The Pax Americana is over, dead by national suicide last November, and everyone from Ottawa to Berlin to Canberra to Beijing is making arrangements to respond to the new reality. Why wouldnt Vatican City?

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If were going to have a world ruled not by an American-led liberal order but divided into regional spheres of influence among authoritarian bullieslike the United Statesthen theres no reason not to have an American pope. On the contrary: Between his trade policies, his menacing of traditional allies, and the brain drain hes causing, Donald Trump is accelerating Chinese global hegemony. In choosing Leo, the Vatican is simply recognizing that. No Chinese popes will be the unstated rule going forward.

Thats one theory for his selection, that its a sort of last rites for a terminally decadent United States as it slumps further into irrelevance. But heres another, which isnt inconsistent with that: America is poised to do a lot of damage to the world in its death throes as a liberal society and global power, and not just material damage. Trumpism will have a malign moral influence on the world as liberalisms discontents abroad look to it for political inspiration. The president loves American exports, and ideology is no exception.

Shouldnt the Catholic Church, of all institutions, be proactive in trying to limit that malign influence?

Trumpism has always been best understood as a moral project, not as an ideology. Its too dependent on the presidents daily whims to be a coherent political program, but its moral vision is clear and consistent: Strength is the cardinal virtue and unapologetic ruthlessness in advancing ones interests is the way in which that virtue is practiced. I wouldnt equate it with might makes right because it expresses no interest in the concept of right, only in what might be gained in any situation.

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We could summarize it as Do unto others whatever you think you can get away with doing. Its a genuinely Nietzschean, will-to-power rebuttal to conventional Christianity, a bona fide anti-morality that regards empathy as weakness. It resembles a religious cult in its authoritarian demands for absolute loyalty and obedience more so than a political movement. And its taken over the most powerful country in the world and is threatening to spread abroad.

Is it that surprising that the Vatican might hope to defeat it by elevating one of Donald Trumps own constituents to the papacy, underlining the contrast between Christian morality and Trumpist malevolence? If nothing else, having an American as the face of Catholicism will make it harder for nationalists to argue that compassion for ones enemies is incompatible with true American identity. Which probably explains all the screeching from MAGA chuds after the news about Leo broke.

We are watching authoritarianism swell in all parts of the globe, but [it] is fueled most visibly by the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., an American professor of Catholic theology told RNS. The election of an American pope, the first American pope  theres a signal here that the Church is taking a side. The church should take sides morally, always and everywhere. It took sides against the moral degradation wrought by communism. Why wouldnt it do the same against postliberalism?

The new pope might not be interested in politics, but hes certainly interested in morality. And his interest in the latter will inevitably drag him into disputes over the former.

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Take the rebuke that he (or whoevers running that Twitter account) issued to Vance for his explanation of ordo amoris earlier this year. The vice presidents understanding of the concept was vintage America First insofar as it approached love as zero-sum and strained to find an excuse for ruthlessness toward foreigners: Were commanded to love those who are in closest proximity to us first, Vance argued, and only later those further away from us. Thats not how Christian love works, Pope Francis felt obliged to say in response. Pope Leo will probably also feel obliged to respond the next time the veep attempts a bit of Catholic exegesis in service to authoritarianism.

Or maybe Leo will enter the fray if and when Trump gets aggressive about extending Americas sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere. The popes experience in Peru will have given him an entirely different perspective on the Americas, and the U.S. role in the worldan understanding of how Latin America can view its giant neighbor with suspicion, Pepinster speculated. One would assume he is unlikely to sit by quietly if the Marines deploy in Panama or we end up bombing Mexico to try to stop drug trafficking.

But even if the pope shows saintly patience by refusing to involve himself in American politics, sooner or later the president will insist on involving him. Id put even money that Trump picks a fight with him, because he cant help himself, Jonathan Last predicted. To Trump, an American pope who is not openly on the side of MAGA is a provocation.

Precisely right. Any influential American whos not openly on the side of MAGA is a provocation to the president, but until now hes always had options to neutralize the threat. If you make trouble for him he can revoke any federal privileges you might enjoy, shrink your customer base by blackballing your company from government work, or whip up his fans to threaten your life.

Theres not much he can do to silence a pope, though, and that will eat at him. The mere fact that he now has an immigrant-loving rival for the title of Most Influential Living American will irritate his tender ego and eventually trigger his impulse to try to dominate those who threaten him. He will pick a fight with the pope, as totally moronic as the idea of such a thing is, because thats who he is. The church provoked him by offering a different model of moral leadership to Americans and tacitly inviting them to pledge their allegiance to it. Theyre coming after Trumps people. Hell take it personally.

But this is what happens sometimes between rival religions, right? Because they worship different gods, they fight. I hope Bob Prevost, White Sox fan, is up to it.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Its quite the contrast. Pope Leo XIV standing, benign, proud and humble on the balcony of St Peters Basilica in Rome. Dressed in a white cassock with a bright red shoulder cover and stole decorated with saints and motifs of the Catholic Church. The crowd in St Peters Square, and tens of millions of television viewers around the world, both elated and comforted by the presence of this man, newly elected by the papal conclave on May 8 2025, 17 days after the death of Pope Francis.

Then hop north, glide over Europe and take a perch by the Albert Embankment where, behind a red brick wall, aged and blackened by traffic pollution, stands Lambeth Palace, the 15th-century official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. And of the incumbent? Situation vacant. Vacant, indeed, since Monday January 6 when the Most Rev Justin Welby laid down his bishops crozier, a sort of mic drop of antiquity, and relinquished his position. After a day that included a lunchtime Eucharist, an Evensong and that contemplative prayerful service of Compline, his 10 years as head of the Church of England ended at midnight.

As I write, it is 124 days since that moment, and six months since Welby announced his resignation after claims that he failed to properly investigate sexual abuse allegations against the British lawyer and evangelical Christian John Smyth.

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The official established church of England has been rudderless for half a year. So far.

The Catholic Church is beset, of course, by its own sex abuse scandals, as well as tensions between traditional and modern values (grappling with the issues of abortion, contraception, homosexuality and the role of women). But it has a neat and theatrical papal election process.

Indeed, so dramatic is the setting, the costumes and the procedure that it proved prime fodder for author Robert Harris and the film of his book, Conclave.

Praise be the conclave: Romes cardinals appointed Pope Leo XIV just 17 days after the death of Pope Francis - Francesco Sforza

The verdict, decided in secret by an all-powerful, all-male clique, is announced to the Churchs 1.4 billion followers quickly and decisively.

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Compare this to the Church of England  with some one million regular worshippers and an average of 700,000 who attend weekly Sunday services  whose process for choosing a successor would, if it was dramatised, be more like a 16-part re-run of Crossroads, buried deep in the early afternoon schedules.

In fact, its worse than that. The route towards the final Confirmation of Election ceremony at St Pauls Cathedral is a dirge of a process that would bore even a professional observer of the drying of paint.

And it exemplifies so much that is wrong with how our nation is administered, in all its plodding mediocrity. It is the telephone queue to speak to a GP on a Monday morning, the long, painful wait for planning consent  but adorned with vestments and incense.

Now, please steel yourself, because this isnt easy. You might need a drink before I take you through the procedure and youll definitely be needing one by the end of it. Indeed, by the end of the actual process this nation, those of us still alive, will definitely have earned a stiff one.

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As with any tweak to a public body in this country, it starts with a consultation. Thus 11,000 people, between February and March, were consulted. There were emails and letters, online forms completed, children and young people called in and then the Archbishops and Prime Ministers appointment secretaries met over 350 individuals. They spoke with parliamentarians, leaders in public life, representatives from other Christian traditions and those of non-Christian traditions.

Thats right, people of no faith and 12-year-olds had their views canvassed. As for all the other people with enough time on their hands to fill in Church of England consultation forms well, thats a great deal of coffee and biscuits. I dread to think of the drag and cost to the National Grid that was involved merely to boil the kettle so that all and sundry could weigh in on the subject.

Once these hundreds of thousands of transcribed conversations were garnered to, in the words of The Church of England, help discern the gifts, skills and qualities required in the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury to meet the needs of the Church today and in the years to come, various emerging themes were collated.

This document  let us pray that there is an executive summary  will sit alongside a Statement of Needs produced by the Diocese of Canterbury, as well as other information provided by the National Church and Anglican Communion, info that is then submitted to the Canterbury Crown Nominations Commission. This body, explains the C of E, works prayerfully and collaboratively to discern and nominate the next spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion.

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From them a name emerges and the PM submits that name to the King, who assents to that election (sometime later this year).

So thats over a year of faff, months of directionless drift, as congregations dwindle.

To deliver us from a morass of sluggish embarrassment, the C of E needs to go full conclave, with electors locked in Lambeth Palace as soon as the archbishopric falls vacant, and an agreement to send up white smoke within 48 hours: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Archbishop!

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By Angelo Amante and Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - When Cardinal Dominique Mamberti appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and uttered the fateful Latin phrase "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope), more than a hundred thousand people cheered.

When he read out the new pope's name in Latin - Robertum Franciscum Prevost (Robert Francis Prevost) - the crowd fell silent. Many had no clue that the first U.S. pope in the history of the 2,000-year Church had just been elected.

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In some cases, it was reporters who told people in the crowd who the new pope was.

"I had absolutely no idea who he was. I was hoping for an African pope so more parts of the world would be represented," said Veronica Genovese, a Roman.

"I came here from work. I was expecting an Italian. I don't know who he is," said Federica Bonomi, another Rome resident.

The initial reaction was similar to when Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Poland was elected the first non-Italian pope in 455 years in 1978. Because of the difficulty even the cardinal who announced the name had in pronouncing Polish many in the crowd 47 years ago thought an African had been elected.

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The crowd on Thursday quickly warmed to the new pope when he appeared on the balcony. He delivered his first address as pontiff in fluent Italian and Spanish, mentioning his former diocese of Chiclayo, Peru. He did not say anything in English or mention the country of his birth.

AMERICANS IN CROWD THRILLED

Still, Americans in the crowd of more than 100,000 were ecstatic.

"Im just thrilled. I hope this can bring to America a more loving community. I think there's a lot of hate in America, there's a lot of racism. I have experienced it. It's very sad, said Lailah Brown, 28, an African American from Seattle, who was on a religious pilgrimage with her sister.

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Brown said she hoped the new pope could encourage more Americans to follow Jesus' example.

"I hope America does not embarrass the pope. America does very embarrassing things that go against the Bible and I'm just hoping that we can start living more biblically and love others not based on who they love or their skin colour but because they are our neighbours, she said.

An American woman from Long Island in New York, who gave only her first name, Geena, said she hoped the new pope would help bring unity to the United States and the world.

Among the most pleasantly shocked Americans in the square were two foreign exchange students in Italy - Mackenzie Coy, 20, and Ella Buchanan, 19. They and the pope share the same hometown.

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"Some very lovely young lady came up to us to shake our hands and told us he was from America. Il papa e Americano!' (the pope is American) she told us, Coy said.

"Some said he was from Canada, and some said he was from Peru," she said, mentioning the South American country where Prevost spent nearly two decades.

"We were just trying to put the pieces together and we started hearing people say Chicago, Chicago and we were so thrilled."

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer, editing by Deepa Babington)
On at least one major issue, its not yet clear just how closely the new pope will adhere to the legacy established by his predecessor.

As Pink News reported, Pope Leo XIV hasnt made many public statements on LGBTQ+ rights, but the ones he has expressed have been described by The New York Times as less welcoming than stances Pope Francis once embraced.

Per the Times, Leo gave remarks in 2012 that criticized Western news media and pop culture for promoting sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel. Examples of such beliefs that Leo reportedly referenced included a homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.

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As a bishop in Peru, Leo also deemed the promotion of gender ideology in schools confusing, noting that it seeks to create genders that dont exist.

And in 2024, Leo adopted a more ambivalent stance regarding blessings for people in same-sex unions. While Francis supported blessings for people in same-sex couples who sought them, Leo declined to oppose or endorse a document concerning this practice, according to The 19th.

During his tenure as head of the Catholic Church, Francis was known for ushering in a more inclusive period of leadership that embraced LGBTQ+ parishioners and clergy members in a new way.

If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? Francis said of gay clergy members in 2013. He also pushed back against laws around the world that have criminalized homosexuality and met with LGBTQ+ Catholic groups, becoming one of the first popes to do so.

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Francis leadership was widely heralded as a sea change compared to past papacies that promoted anti-gay views, though he did not fundamentally change doctrine on issues like same-sex marriage.

For now, LGBTQ+ Catholics are watching closely to see whether Leo  who emphasized inclusion broadly in his opening remarks  will maintain the same trajectory.

We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues, said Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, an LGBTQ+ Catholic group, in a statement.

This article has been updated to clarify Pope Francis stance on blessings for people in same-sex unions.
On most days, the Sistine Chapel is one of the worlds busiest tourist destinations, but this week it served as the worlds most secretive polling station as 133 cardinals voted for the 267th pope.

On Friday, the chapel was restored to its central purpose: A place of worship.

There, the newly elected pontiff, Leo XIV, held a private service for the cardinals, marking his first Mass as the leader of the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion members.

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Leo, a 69-year-old from Chicago  who was until Thursday known as Cardinal Robert Prevost  made history on Thursday when he became the first pope from the United States.

It has often been said that cardinal electors would always shy away from choosing an American pope due to the outsized global political influence of the United States. Its possible that Leos long experience in Peru  where he is also a citizen  may have mitigated those fears among the electors.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, told reporters on Friday that Leos nationality was irrelevant in the decision making process.

Hes the father of the church universal; where he came from, secondary, Dolan said.

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Asked whether the cardinals chose Leo to counteract US President Donald Trump  who the popes predecessor Francis sharply disagreed with on a host of issues including immigration and climate change  Dolan said it was not a significant factor.

It should not startle us that we would look to Pope Leo as a bridge builder. Thats what the Latin word pontiff means, Dolan said.

Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, also dismissed the idea that the vote was a counterweight against the US president.

The conclave was not a continuation of the American political election, Gregory said, adding: It wasnt an election conclave  it was a desire to strengthen the Christian faith among Gods people.

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Leo alluded to that mission in his Mass on Friday, first speaking in his native English in thanking the cardinals for calling on him to carry the cross of the Catholic Church, before switching to Italian.

Leo used his first homily to urge the priesthood to show humility and make itself small, a call that strongly echoes the priorities of Francis, who devoted much of his papacy to reaching the peripheries of the globe.

He urged the church to continue its missionary outreach to the corners of the world where it is desperately needed.

Leo XIV leaves the Sistine Chapel after leading his first Mass as pope on Friday. - Vatican Media/AP

There have already been plenty of overlaps between Leo and Francis, from Leos choice of shoes to his apparent criticism of Trumps stance on immigration. Leos brother, John Prevost, even said his brother will be like a second Pope Francis.

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But just how closely Leo will follow the Franciscan path is not yet clear. Leos past comment suggests he may tack more closely to traditional Catholic doctrine. Whereas Francis had made efforts to include women in ordained ministries, Prevost said in 2023 that he was not open to changing the tradition that confers priestly ordination only on men.

Now they are no longer sequestered, some of the other voting cardinals have begun to explain why the conclave chose Prevost as pope.

It is clear from the speed with which Pope Leos election was done that Pope Francis had left the Church more united than naysayers would give him credit for, Cardinal Arthur Roche, a British cardinal who voted in the conclave, told CNN.

Roche said while there have been reforms across recent papacies, the conclaves have also opted for candidates offering continuity on the essentials of Catholic doctrine.

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In Pope Leo we have a pastor of proven pastoral, theological and administrative experience combined with those human and spiritual qualities that are warmly welcoming and do not alienate, Roche added.

Although Friday is Leos first day as pope, his papacy will officially begin on May 18 with an inaugural Mass held in St. Peters Square. His first general audience with the public will be held on May 21.

CNNs Sharon Braithwaite and Eric Bradner contributed reporting.

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Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, made history on Thursday, May 8, when he was elected as the first American Pope. The Chicago native, who has spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru, took to the balcony of St. Peters Basilica and addressed the cheering crowd, speaking in Spanish and Italian.

Read More: Peace Be With You: Pope Leo XIV Steps Onto the World Stage

On Friday morning, Pope Leo spoke once more when he presided over his first Mass as Pontiff.

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Dressed in a white robe with a gold border and a tall white miter, and holding a gold crucifix, Pope Leo delivered his first homily during which he spoke in his native English, as well as Latin and Italian, to the cardinals who elected him just a day before.

Leo referred to being appointed Pope as both a cross and a blessing, and spoke of the responsibility he and the cardinals have to spread Christianity in a world that sometimes mocks faith.

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel, the new Bishop of Rome said in English.

Newly-elected Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd overlooking St. Peter's Square on May 8, 2025. Francesco SforzaVatican Media/Vatican Pool/Getty Images

He warned against practical atheism among Christians who see Jesus as more of a "charismatic leader than the savior, and praised the late Pope Francis as he emphasized his predecessors missionary focus as a leader. Leo vowed to be a voice for ordinary people. His initial approach to the papal responsibility appears to reflect the lessons learned during his decades of missionary work abroad, as well the approach taken by that of his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, who notably defended the rights of working people and focused on the poor.

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The newly-elected Pope also lamented the prioritization of technology, money, success, power, or pleasure over faith and religiosity. He said although is not easy to do missionary work in places where faith is mocked, that is where missionary work is most needed.

A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society, he said.

Pope Leo's words come as he looks down the barrel of many challenges he will face as Rome's new Pontiff. Challenges that include efforts to make the Catholic Church more inclusivediscussions that often look at the treatment of LGBTQ+ Catholicsand the geographic diversity of the Catholic community. Francis consistently reaffirmed the importance of diversity, dismissing the idea that nationality or geography should determine a person's standing within the Catholic Church. Leo will also have to decide how the Catholic Church approaches matters concerning President Donald Trump who, in February, set up a task force to "end the anti-Christian weaponization of government and unlawful conduct targeting Christians." Leo's predecessor, the late Pope Francis, famously disagreed with Trump on issues including immigration and the environment.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now the first American Pope, is seen here receiving his biretta from Pope Francis at the Vatican on Sept. 30, 2023. Riccardo De LucaAP

Read More: In Pope Leo XIV, Donald Trump Finds a New Foil

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Concluding his homily, Pope Leo decided to focus on humility in the Vaticans leadership and in priesthood, quoting St. Ignatius of Antioch: "Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body."

This quote can be applied to Church leadership, the new Bishop of Rome said, emphasizing that Cardinals must move aside so that Christ may remain, and should make themselves small so that he may be known. The reminder of the importance of humility echoes the teachings of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

While this was Leos first Mass as the leader of the Catholic Church, it only included the 132 cardinals who elected him as Pontiff. On May 18, Leo will deliver a Mass that can be attended by a wider audience.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Almost 1,600 years ago, a 75-year-old Bishop without any possessions died in a besieged city overflowing with refugees.

There may be no obvious link between St Augustine of Hippo and Donald Trump, but in the mysterious way of history, the accession of Pope Leo XIV means that the relationship between the US administration and the Vatican could yet be shaped by the 5th century philosopher-saint.

At first glance, that relationship appears destined to be fractious: the ethical differences between the two sides are profound.

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However, Pope Leo, like his predecessors, has important points of agreement with Trumps Republicans. They both oppose abortion and gender ideology. They both value the nuclear family as the bedrock of society. And there are Roman Catholics at the highest level of Trumps administration, including Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, Melania Trump, the first lady, and of course JD Vance, the vice-president, who converted from atheism as recently as 2019. In fact, a third of Trumps cabinet are Catholics.

And now, for the first time in two millennia, there is an American pope. A priest from Chicago, Illinois, has passed in a day from obscure Cardinal to St Peters linear successor.

Vice-president JD Vance has credited the teachings of St Augustine as a central inspiration for his conversion to Catholicism - REX/Shutterstock

Hence, as soon as Pope Leo appeared on the balcony of St Peters Basilica, Trump hailed the great honour of having the first Pope from America. His administration would have every right to see something wondrous in that simple fact.

But Pope Leos differences with Washington may come to outweigh everything else. In the end their disagreement centres on a sharply contrasting view of the nation state.

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The Trump administration prizes national identity and sovereignty. For them, America First means protecting the homeland against all dangers, including by launching mass deportation campaigns to remove illegal immigrants and building walls to prevent any more from arriving.

That, in turn, reflects the view that human beings have a hierarchy of obligations, with family at the top and the world beyond their countrys borders at the bottom. You love your family, and then you love your neighbour, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country, said Vance in February. And then, after that, you can focus and prioritise the rest of the world.

He stressed how this idea of a hierarchy was not arbitrary or intuitive, but grounded in Christian ethics, particularly the concept of ordo amoris or order of love, generally attributed to St Thomas Aquinas.

But Pope Leo will almost certainly see things differently. Yes he was born in Chicago and began his ministry in the United States but he later chose to take Peruvian citizenship. For him, an American birth did not preclude identifying with another nation, creating a philosophical gulf between him and Trumps political tradition.

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Now, Pope Leo leads a universal Church which aspires to transcend the nation state. How can that be reconciled with the idea of arbitrary national boundaries creating a hierarchy of obligation between human beings?

Unsurprisingly, there is already evidence that Pope Leo will follow his predecessor and publicly oppose Trump on migration.

After Pope Francis passing, President Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Pope - Reuters

When the new Pope was simply Cardinal Robert Prevost, an X account existed in his name; time and again, its posts took aim at Trumps policies, albeit by republishing the criticisms of others.

Soon after Vance described his view of Christian obligation, Prevosts account circulated an article from the National Catholic Reporter headlined simply: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

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Earlier, in 2017, Cardinal Prevosts account shared a post about immigrants who came to America illegally as children and are known as Dreamers. The message read: I stand with the Dreamers and all people who are working toward an immigration system that is fair, just and moral.

It is easy to imagine a pope with these opinions publicly criticising Trumps whole approach to immigration even if this strains relations between America and the Vatican.

Pope Francis infuriated many Maga Catholics by condemning Trumps agenda.

He denounced the presidents first-term plan to build a wall along the border with Mexico as not Christian, provoking Trump to brand the Popes intervention as disgraceful.

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But no matter what the tensions between Trump and the previous Pope, the evidence suggested that the Maga base were even more furious with the Vatican. When Pope Francis passed away, a few openly celebrated his death.

Evil is being defeated by the hand of God, said Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, on X after Pope Francis passing.

Many practising American Catholics in the Maga camp will look to President Trump, not the Pope, for political leadership and they will also look to President Trump for spiritual leadership, and rightly so, says Benjamin Harnwell, who once worked for Steve Bannon, when the latter was Trumps chief strategist. If so, the centre of spiritual power for many Maga Catholics may have moved from the Vatican to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Almost all of the Catholic priests ordained in America in the last five years describe themselves as moderate or conservative, compared with half of their counterparts from the 1960s who called themselves politically liberal, according to a study by the Catholic University of America.

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But there is one new and completely unexpected factor. JD Vance attributes his conversion from atheist to Catholic partly to the inspiration of St Augustine. In City of God, his most famous work of Christian philosophy, St Augustine denounces a society where every man be able to increase his wealth so as to supply his daily prodigalities, and so that the powerful may subject the weak.

Vance described this passage as the best criticism of our modern age Id ever read, highlighting the emptiness of a society oriented entirely towards consumption and pleasure, spurning duty and virtue. St Augustines ethical insight propelled him towards Catholicism.

The new Pope, meanwhile, was ordained at the age of 20 into the Order of St Augustine and later served as its Prior. In their different ways, the vice-president of the United States and Pope Leo are both avowed Augustinians.

Vice-president Vance, pictured with Pope Francis hours before his passing, has previously criticised those who failed to show proper deference to the Pope - Reuters

Even if the Pope denounces US immigration policy, the evidence suggests that Vance, at least, may be reluctant to answer back. In his essay on why he became a Catholic, Vance writes that he once questioned a conservative Catholic writer about the latters criticism of Pope Francis.

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Vance adds: My growing view is that too many American Catholics have failed to show proper deference to the papacy, treating the Pope as a political figure to be criticised or praised according to their whims.

No matter what the philosophical differences between them, Vance will be instinctively inclined to show deference to Pope Leo. The Maga Catholic congregation may well feel differently.

And deference, of course, is not the same as servility let alone agreement.

But there is enough common ground between the two American Augustinians, who suddenly find themselves in the White House and the Vatican at the same time, for there to be a genuine philosophical dialogue between them. That new element may restrain any overt tensions between the US administration and the Papacy.

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St Augustine died in 430 AD, just before the Vandals captured and destroyed Hippo in the Roman province of Numidia. That was one clash which even he could not prevent. But his words and insights from a millennium and a half earlier may have a chance of creating a bridge between the Vatican and the White House.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Yesterdays election of Pope Leo XIV marks a new chapter for the Catholic Church, and WesternSlopeNow was told, the closing of a sorrowful chapter for the local Catholic Community.

The last three weeks have definitely been a time of transition in the Catholic Church with the passing of Pope Francis unexpectedly on the day after Easter, says Holy Family Catholic School principal Jake Aubert. Theres been a period of mourning.

69-year-old Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo, is the first American pope in history. The shock waves from his election can be felt worldwide, even here on the Western Slope.

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Theres a lot of surprise right now, says Aubert. A couple of things really stuck out. Number one was his age. He was much younger than a lot of people predicted. No one really, predicted, anticipated an American being a Pope.

Now, Chicago native Prevost has risen to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church. With his election comes a new wave of anticipation for the effects his reign will have on the over one billion Catholics and beyond, worldwide. Many saw his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, as a unifying figure and hope his memory will live on in the new pope.

Pope Francis, he tried to lead from a place of love and humility, says Aubert. And I am just very hopeful, and Im prayerful, that the new the new Pope Leo the 14th, will continue in that direction.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Crispian Balmer

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Leo XIV has only been in the job one day and already faces a packed schedule of religious services, diplomatic meetings and Holy Year events, many of which were organised for his predecessor Francis.

After presiding over a Mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, his next expected public engagement will be a meeting with cardinals on Saturday followed by midday (1000 GMT) prayers on Sunday from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

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The formal inauguration Mass - for the first U.S. pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Roman Catholic Church - will be held in St. Peter's Square on May 18, the Vatican announced.

Other early commitments will include taking possession of Rome's three basilicas -- St. Paul Outside the Walls on May 20, and St. John Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major), where Francis is buried, on May 25.

Before all this, the new pope will meet on May 12 with the thousands of journalists who covered the conclave, and on May 16 he will hold an audience with diplomats accredited to the Holy See, the world's smallest independent state.

His first weekly general audience with the faithful is set for May 21.

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Adding to the early workload is the continuation of the 2025 Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, which traditionally occurs every 25 years, drawing millions of pilgrims to Rome for a continuous stream of events. Leo inherits celebrations for that from Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.

Special meetings to celebrate specific groups special to the Church, such as choirs, families and the clergy, are planned from May to the end of the year, including a major youth jubilee from July 28 to August 3.

One of the highlights of the 2025 Catholic calendar is the canonisation of the first saint of the millennial generation, Carlo Acutis. It was set for April 27, but had to be postponed because of Francis' death. A new date has to be fixed.

FOREIGN TRAVEL

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New popes can make a huge impression on their first trips abroad and it will be up to Leo to decide his priorities.

But he will have to make a quick decision whether to fulfil a commitment made by Francis to visit Turkey later this month to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of a major Christian council of bishops in ancient Nicaea, now the modern-day town of Iznik.

Going ahead with this trip would mean Leo would swiftly get to see Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church -- a meeting that would symbolize a renewed commitment to Christian unity.

Leo will also inherit the ongoing Synod on Synodality -- a global consultation process launched by Francis in 2021 with the aim of making the Church more inclusive and collaborative.

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Ten working groups are due to present findings in June on sensitive topics such as women's roles in the Church. In March, Francis had extended the process through 2028.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Frances Kerry)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Leo has confirmed all top Vatican officials in their current roles on a temporary basis, giving him time to decide before making definitive appointments, the Vatican said in a statement on Friday.

All Vatican senior officials, appointed for five-year terms, serve at the pleasure of the pope. A new pontiff usually rolls over existing mandates, at least initially, before deciding whether to change key positions.

(Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Keith Weir)
Newly-elected Pope Leo addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time on May 8, 2025. Credit - Tiziana FabiGetty Images

Robert Prevost was elected as Pope Francis successor on Thursday, May 8, concluding a two-day papal conclave. Hailing from Chicago, Prevostwho has chosen the name Pope Leo XIVis the first American Pope. But his service in the Catholic Church stretches beyond the U.S., as Leo holds both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship, and has dedicated many years of his life to missionary work in South America.

Leo was appointed a cardinal in September 2023 by Pope Francis, and also served as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops from January 2023 until Pope Francis' death on April 21.

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In an unearthed interview from 2023, Leo spoke to the BBC about his appointment to Prefect, during which he mentioned his American roots and how that might aid him in helping with the challenges faced by the Catholic Church in the United States.

Its not coincidental that Pope Francis chose me. Ive been a missionary my whole life and I was working in Peru, but I am American and I think I do have some insights into the [Catholic] Church in the United States, he said.

The need to be able to advise, work with Pope Francis, and to look at the challenges the Church in the United States is facing. I hope to be able to respond to them with a healthy dialogue. And to continue to look for ways to be a Church in this day and age that were living in.

What are the challenges facing the Catholic Church in the United States?

As of March 2025, there are an estimated 53 million adult Catholics across the U.S. Whilst the number of Catholics remains steady, demographic changes are taking place. The share of American Catholics that are white has fallen by 10%, whilst Hispanic Catholics have increased by 7%, according to the Pew Research Center.

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Despite making up a significant share of the national Catholic population, the religion amongst Hispanics in the U.S. has dropped from 67% to 46% between 2010 and 2023.

Reports of historic sexual abuse are another major issue for the Catholic Church around the globe, including parishes that lie within the U.S. Its a matter that still requires significant attention. Cases of abuse continue to be uncovered, and some campaigners say that Pope Francis did not do enough to address the issue, despite showing a more progressive approach than his predecessors. The responsibility to address such matters will now fall on Leo.

The next Pope must institute a zero tolerance law for sexual abuse that immediately removes abusive clergy and leaders who have covered up abuse from ministry, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) sad in a statement before the papal election.

SNAP went on to publish another statement after the appointment of Pope Leo, highlighting their "grave concern about his record managing abuse cases."

Pope Leo's appointment during Trump's second term

Leo takes on the highest position in the Vatican at what is arguably a precarious time for his homeland, so far as foreign relations are concerned. It may be the Leo's wish to help bridge divisions between the U.S. and other nations amid tariff uncertainty and various global conflicts.

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It seems the Pope has always kept an eye on political affairs in the U.S. Earlier this year, Leo appeared to criticize J.D. Vances interpretation of the Catholic doctrine in a post on X.

Vance had used Christianity to defend American policy on deportation, and an account appearing to be that of Robert Prevost said this interpretation was wrong.

The same account also shared an article in 2015, which described Trumps views on immigration as problematic, further criticizing his separation of parents and children at detention centers in 2018.

Political division in the U.S. Catholic Church in the Trump era

Within the Catholic Church in the U.S., division has reared amongst bishops and their opinions on President Trump.

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Some American bishops have been vocal in their disagreement of Trump, in particular over his immigration policies and deportation practices.

On April 7, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that they would be ending partnerships with the government that serve refugees and children, saying the heartbreaking decision followed the Trump Administrations halt of funding for refugee resettlement.

President of the USCCB, Timothy Broglio, said: We simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form."

On April 17, Bishop Evelio Menjivar of Washington voiced deep concern over the Trump Administrations treatment of immigrants. These disturbing actions in violation of fundamental human rights and dignity are not only being taken against undocumented persons, gang members, and those who have committed violent crimes, but against peaceful and productive migrants and refugees across the board," he said.

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Regarding LGBTQ+ issues, American bishops also appear to be divided. In November 2024, some bishops declared their support of the 2024 Vatican Dignitas Infinita which said gender theory and sex change procedures are contrary to human dignity.

These are issues that, as the first American Pope, Leo may well have to address in order to steady the disagreements amongst U.S. bishops. The new Popes support of synodality could be a promising sign of tackling these divisions, an approach which aims to make the structure of the Church more inclusive and participatory.

Leo previously said that it could be a method to heal divisions that have been polarizing the Church.

Pope Leo's Chicago origins and Peruvian service

Born and raised in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV moved to Peru in 1985 to serve in the Augustinian mission in the area of Chulucanas. He stayed there for 13 years, later returning to the U.S. to become the Provincial of the Augustinian Province in Chicago, where he continued his community work.

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But Leo returned to Peru again, and took on an elevated position when Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.

Leo demonstrated his image as a global leader of the Church, not just as an American, in his first address to the public as Pontiff, where he spoke entirely in Italian and Spanish.

Brett C. Hoover, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University in California, told TIME: He [Pope Leo] was saying, Im an American, but Im a different kind of American. Im not a nationalist; Im a person that cares about the entire world.'

Despite service abroad in Peru and the Vatican, the new head of the Catholic Church has maintained strong ties to the Catholic community in Chicago, where much of his family, including his brother, still resides. In 2024, Leo visited a local church for an evening of reflection.

He would also regularly return to Chicago during his years of missionary in Peru, visiting family and churches in the area of his birthplace.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The world saw white smoke on May 8, and they also met a new pope in U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV. It's quite a big moment, because this marks the first time a U.S. cardinal has ever been named pope.

Cardinal Robert Prevost was born in Chicago and is also a citizen of Peru, where he worked for years. Prevost was also the head of the church's Dicastery for Bishops, so he had a major role in the selection of new bishops.

According to CBS News, Prevost is considered a centrist, "but on many social issues he's seen as progressive, embracing marginalized groups like Francis, who championed migrants and the poor." However, he "opposes ordaining women as deacons, for instance, so he's seen as conservative on church doctrine," according to CBS News.

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Prevost walked out from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on May 8 and addressed the public for the first time. His first public message was just five words: "Peace be with all you."

In his speech from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Leo XIV also said the church can still hear "the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis," so he paid tribute to his predecessor.

He was elected pope by the world's cardinals on the second day of the conclave. The Catholic church hasn't had a Pope Leo in more than a century. The previous Pope Leo was Leo XIII, who was born in French-occupied Rome in 1810. He was pope from 1878 until his death in 1903.

Leo XIII is known for being a pope of Catholic social teaching. He wrote an open letter in 1891 discussing the technological changes that were taking place due to the Industrial Revolution. Prevost choosing the use the Leo XIV will likely signal some of the priorities for his papacy.

Related: Pope Francis Approves a First for the Catholic Church
For many, Robert Francis Prevost will now and forever be known as Pope Leo XIV. For others, the Chicago native becoming the head of the Roman Catholic Church is something they always knew was possible.

After Pope Leo XIV, 69, became the first American pope, ABC News spoke to one of his two brothers, John Prevost, who said those who knew the new pope before were always aware he had something special in him.

"I don't know how many people will find it interesting, but when he was in first grade, a woman across the street that we used to play with the kids, and a woman down the street said he would be the first American pope. In first grade, they said that," said Prevost.

TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025 Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025

Prevost said that Pope Leo XIV "knew from that age he was going to be a priest." With that early interest in the church, Prevost said his brother "wasn't around a whole lot" as they were growing older "because after eight grade graduation he went immediately to the seminary."

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"So he was in Holland, Michigan, at the Augustinian seminary for four years, and then he went into Villanova University, which is an Augustinian university," said Prevost. "So he wasn't home a lot. Summer vacations he was home."

When asked if he thought his brother would be chosen as the new pope following Pope Francis' death on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, Prevost said, "To tell you the truth, no."

"Because I kept hearing there will never be an American pope just because of politics and the United State has too much world power now they don't need also [power] into the church. So I did not expect it," said Prevost.

GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV gestures on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025 Pope Leo XIV gestures on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025

Prevost admitted that his mindset began to change after he heard reports that his brother might be a front-runner for the papacy.

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"I spoke to him [Pope Leo XIV] Tuesday before he went into the conclave, and he just kept saying, 'No, that's not true. That's not true.' So he's pushing it away, hoping that it would go away, and it didn't go away," Prevost said.

During his first address on Thursday, May 8, shortly after his election, Pope Leo XIV thanked his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty White smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney on May 8, 2025 White smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney on May 8, 2025

"We still keep in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world that morning on Easter Sunday," he said.

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"Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all and evil will not prevail," Pope Leo XIV continued.



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Pope Leo XIV made his first appearance at Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, May 9

Over 130 Cardinals were in attendance for the Mass, according to the BBC

The new pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected May 8







Pope Leo XIV is stepping into his new role.

On Friday, May 9, the new pope celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, with over 130 cardinals in attendance, according to the BBC. The Mass followed Pope Leo being named pontiff the day before following a two-day conclave.

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The Mass saw Pope Leo kissing the altar in the Sistine Chapel and walking around it once with incense shortly after 11 a.m. local time.

The pope then led a prayer to ask God for forgiveness and acknowledge sins, before being joined by the congregation in singing and a period of worship, per the BBC.

"Through the Ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel," Pope Leo said as he addressed the cardinals in English.

The leader went on to say that he wants his election to contribute in the Catholic Church providing light to drive out "dark nights of this world," adding that he aims to be a "faithful administrator."

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"Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent," he said, per the outlet.

HANDOUT/VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV during a Mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025 Pope Leo XIV during a Mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025

He continued that "missionary outreach is desperately needed" is needed in places that prefer "technology, money, success, power or pleasure."

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is a Peruvian-American from Chicago. Before he was named pope, the pontiff served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and became a Cardinal in 2023 (taking possession of it early 2024, per the Vatican). Each position was appointed to him by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.

The new pontiff, 69, is the first pope from the United States, and the first Augustinian pope. His chosen papal name, Leo, follows a long tradition dating back to St. Leo I, who died in 461.

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In his first address as pope, Leo XIV shared a message promoting peace and good works within the church.

"We must be a synodal church. A church that walks. A church that always seeks peace. Always seeks charity. Always tries to be close especially to those who suffer," he said.

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Father Alejandro Moral Anton, Prior General of the Augustinians, told Vatican News on May 8 that the new pope  a dear friend of his  is a "very balanced, very spiritual" individual, who "loves everyone." Moral also shared that the new pontiff's choice of name likely stemmed from his respect for Pope Leo XIII, who widely advocated for the working class.

HANDOUT/VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV's first Mass on May 9, 2025 Pope Leo XIV's first Mass on May 9, 2025

Pope Leo XIV's first speech contains clues to how the new pontiff will approach his duties, Moral said.

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He spoke immediately of justice and peace and of bridges between all, of synodality," he told Vatican News. "And then the words of St. Augustine, we are pilgrims towards a true homeland which give a clue to his programme for the coming years.



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DOLTON, Ill. (WGN)  A small, single-family house in the south suburbs is generating a lot of attention for being Pope Leo XIVs childhood home.

I was saying to my friends, look, the next Pope could be from Dolton said Mike Wolski, a longtime Dolton resident. And they said, ope, theyll never pick anybody from the United States. And sure enough, the one from Dolton wins.

Wolski was one of many who stopped by the small home on 141st Place to celebrate Pope Leo XIVs election.

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Donna Sagna, who has lived next to the home for the last eight years, said its a beautiful moment for Illinois, knowing the new Pope was born in Chicago and raised in the south suburbs.

Its rehabbed and its beautiful inside, Sagna said, I hope it continues to be a historical place for us all because  I think they should keep it as a beautiful, historic landmark for Illinois.

The owner of the home, who did not wish to speak on camera, told WGN News that he purchased the property six to seven months ago, with his original plan being to rehab the home and rent out the property.

But after learning its history, he said he feels he can make a larger profit off the property.

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Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago and raised in Dolton, was elected to lead the Catholic Church as their 267th pope.

Who is Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV?

He will be known as Pope Leo XIV and will become the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(NewsNation)  Mary Ann Glendon, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, told Blake Burman on The Hill that she believes the newly anointed Pope Leo XIV will be very much in continuity with Pope Francis, as the two shared similar experiences.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Following President Donald Trump's endorsement of the first American-born pope, Pope Leo XIV , social media users were quick to discover that the new pope had previously been critical of Vice President J.D. Vance.

In February, Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, posted two news articles to his X profile. One, titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," refuted Vance's proclamation about Christian priorities on Fox News. The other delved deeper into the late Pope Francis' criticism of Vance using the Catholic concept of "ordo amoris" to justify the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Vance met with Pope Francis just a few hours before the pontiff's death on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The religious leader initially dismissed the Catholic convert, but Vance was eventually granted a private audience.

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I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill," Vance later shared on social media. "It was really quite beautiful.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025 Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025

Following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Leo's election, Trump took to social media to celebrate the appointment of an American pope.

"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope," the president wrote on Truth Social. "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

However, Trump initially had a different American cardinal in mind for the role. After joking with reporters ahead of the papal conclave that he'd like to be the next pope, the president offered a hometown pick.

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I must say we have a cardinal who happens to be out of a place called New York whos very good, he noted, likely referring to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Well see what happens.

Dolan offered the invocation during Trumps second inauguration ceremony in January. He also led Pope Francis funeral mass service at New York Citys famous St. Patricks Cathedral on Saturday, April 26.

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Prior to the conclave, religious experts told PEOPLE that the appointment of an American pope was unlikely.

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"I think that there's no chance for an American pope just because the United States is already so powerful in the world," said Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, a professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University.



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Census records from the 1900s show Pope Leo XIV's grandparents had Creole lineage

His grandparents reportedly lived in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans before moving to Chicago

Pope Leo XIV is making history as the first-ever American-born pontiff







Pope Leo XIV has Creole lineage from New Orleans, according to records shared after his election.

Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquie, the maternal grandparents of Robert Prevost, 69, who was selected as the successor to Pope Francis on Thursday, May 8, lived in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans before moving to Chicago in the early 1900s, according to The New York Times.

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The couple were listed as Black in census records from 1900, Jari C. Honora, a family historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection, shared on Facebook and with CNN.

Records show Joseph, Pope Leo XIVs grandfather, was listed as a cigar maker born in Hayti.

Honora said the couple were married in 1887 and left New Orleans and went to Chicago between 1910 and 1912.



Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has Creole of color roots from New Orleans on his mother's side! Honora wrote on social media alongside images of the records. What a great connection for our local population!

Mildred Martinez Prevost, the new pontiffs mother, was born in 1912 after her parents moved to Chicago, according to records Honora shared with CNN.

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John Prevost, the Popes 71-year-old brother, confirmed the familys lineage to the Times.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, at St. Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025 Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, at St. Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025

Pope Leo XIV is the first-ever American-born pontiff. He was born in Chicago and gained missionary experience in Peru, serving as the bishop of the city of Chiclayo.

In 2023, he was appointed by Francis to the Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from across the globe.

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Speaking in Italian and Spanish to a sea of supporters in St. Peter's Square in his first speech as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV told onlookers, "peace be with you all."

He also declared, "God loves us, God loves you all and evil will not prevail."



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The new Pope is an American. Do not for a minute think he wants to Make America Great Again.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became leader to the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics and took the name Leo XIV. But the former missionary stands to be an ideological check on a certain breed of American-styled Catholicism, which in recent years has been ascendant in Washington yet has drifted into more conservative lanes than its global brethren. With Vice President J.D. Vance and six of the nine Supreme Court Justices as part of his flock, Leo becomes the most powerful Catholic both in the world and among Americans. And Leo, known in Rome as The Latin Yankee, clearly represents a rejection by the Vatican of the intense lobbying from rich Americans to install a pontiff sympathetic to President Donald Trump, who went so far as to joke he should be a simultaneous Pope and President.

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Read More: Trump Plugs a Dark-Horse American Candidate for Pope

Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope, Trump posted to his social media site. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

Perhaps. But like his predecessor, Pope Francis, theres a very good chance that Leo and Trump will clash on serious issues like immigration, human rights, and the environment. The new Pope has a history of amplifying messages in support of racial justice and gun safety, and against capital punishment.

Read More: Where Pope Leo Stands on Specific Issues

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Another collision between the civic leader of the United States and the sacred leader of the Catholic Church seems inevitable, especially given Trumps obsession with a nationalistic agenda that would co-opt Christianity in service of his political goals. Within hours of his election, the MAGAverse seemed to be gunning for the new pontiff in nakedly political terms.

While Trump rushed to the White House driveway to praise the Chicago-born and Villanova-educated Leo, his legion of fans were less laudatory. WOKE MARXIST POPE, tweeted far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer, who also called Leo just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.

Read More: How Villanova Feels About Having the New Pope as an Alum

Thats not to say Leo is the social-justice warrior that the online army of MAGA supporters would suggest. His views on same-sex marriage and transgender rights are in keeping with conservative Catholic teachings, making him to the right of his predecessor. His handling of abuse allegations is an issue that is going to dog him. And while profiles cast him as an engaged spiritual leader, no one is expecting him to bring the charisma of Francis.

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To be sure, pre-papacy Leo has been a frequent critic of Trump, especially on his approach to immigration. Dating back to 2015, he shared on social media a piece critical of Trump, whose policies he described as problematic and carrying anti-immigrant rhetoric. A decade later, then-Cardinal Prevost turned his eye to Vance, a convert to Catholicism just six years ago, over his use of his newfound faith to justify the Trump teams crackdown on migrants. Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others, he wrote.

Read More: The Biggest Challenges Pope Leo XIV Faces

His last posting before heading into the no-phones-allowed conclave to pick a Pope was to criticize Trump for his joint appearance with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele where the pair made the extra-judicial deportation of an immigrant into a punchline.

For his part, Trump flirted with blasphemy in recent weeks, suggesting he might be a candidate to lead the Catholic Church and even posting an apparently A.I.-produced image of himself in the papal regalia. White House allies suggested it was an ill-considered joke, but plenty of Catholics deemed e ven the suggestion offensive. By Thursday afternoon, Trump was bursting with pride about having an American lead the Vatican for the first time in history.

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Read More: World Leaders React as Robert Francis Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV

That dynamic and underlying tension between Leo and Trump will color global affairs and domestic politics in the coming years.

Roughly one in five Americans identify as Catholic, making it a sizable voting bloc that no political pro can ignore. Historically, Catholics make up roughly a quarter of the electorate, reflecting a higher level of civic engagement than other faiths. And they are politically pliable: Trump won them with 59% of the vote last year; Biden, only the second Catholic to serve as President carried them with 52% four years earlier; and Trump carried them with 50% support in 2016.

Still, this moment of profound pride for American Catholics comes as they are trying to figure out just how much to read into Leos selection. With every new Pope, the voting Cardinals are sending a message. But was Leo selected because he is an American or did it have more to do with how he spent much of his career in Peru and was a kindred spirit of the late Pope Francis, who hailed from Argentina? Its far too soon to know, but plenty of players in Washington are looking for clues. The stealth contender broke through the byzantine Vatican politics and may yet break Washingtons understanding of how the Catholic machinery operates around the globe. Its a puzzle best not left to guts or guesses for too long.

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Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
(NewsNation)  Two American cardinals pushed back on the idea that the conclave selected Cardinal Robert Prevost  now Pope Leo XIV  as a counterweight to President Donald Trump.

Cardinals Timothy Dolan and Wilton Daniel Gregory, among others, addressed questions Friday about Leos path to becoming pontiff.

When asked whether the selection of the first American pope was a reflection of cardinals desire to balance out Trumps global influence, Gregory said: I didnt sense in the conversations that I had with the other cardinals of the world that the conclave was seen as a continuation of the American political election.

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Chicago celebrates first American pope

While he acknowledged the cardinals were aware of statements and political actions out of the United States, Gregory said he felt the electing members were primarily concerned with who among us can bring us together.

It wasnt an election conclave, it was a desire to strengthen the Christian faith among Gods people, he said.

Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peters Basilica after being chosen as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican on May 8. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Faithful react after the announcement of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on May 8. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Cardinals attend a final Mass at St. Peters Basilica before the conclave to elect a new pope May 7. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to elect a new pope May 8. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Nolan agreed, calling Leo a bridge builder who will inevitably work together with myriad world leaders.

Will he want to build bridges to Donald Trump? I suppose that he would want to build bridges with the leader of every nation. So, I dont think  at all  my brother cardinals would have thought of him as a counterweight to any one person, Nolan said.

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Trump, Vance celebrate election of first American pope

Nolan added that a conversation with Trump likely wouldnt hold any more heft for Leo than the head of any other nation.

Leo has previously used social media to push back on the Trump administration and its rhetoric around immigration, the death penalty and gun laws, according to a review of his X posts by NewsNation partner The Hill.

In a 2023 interview with the Vatican News Service, the then-cardinal called social media an important tool to communicate the Gospel message reaching millions of people, though he acknowledged there is sometimes a risk of fueling divisions and controversy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
The election of an American as pope is being recognized as a historic choice, but Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost represents another notable departure from pontiffs of the past.

Prevost, 69, is the first Augustinian friar to become pope, the Vatican News reported.

"The fact that the pope is from the Augustinian order is the most surprising thing for me," Charles Gillespie, an assistant professor of Catholic Studies at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, said Friday. "It's extraordinary, and it's been rare for a reason."

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Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV after being elected Thursday to guide the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, had assumed several leadership roles within the Catholic Order of St. Augustine.

The order, formed in the 13th century and based on the writings of Augustine of Hippo, a theologian who lived in modern-day Algeria, is smaller compared to other religious communities within the church. It has about 2,800 members in 47 countries, and sponsors just two universities within the United States: Villanova near Philadelphia, which Prevost attended, and Merrimack College in Massachusetts.

Friars of the Augustinian order typically stand out in hooded black habits made of wool. Rather than being cloistered in a monastery, they live a mendicant lifestyle, in which they go out into the community and rely on charitable kindness, Gillespie said.

Prevost, center, with other Augustinian friars. (The Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova)

They place a real, prayerful emphasis on the heart, and the beauty in the world as it connects with God, he added.

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An Augustinian friars purpose is to serve with humility within their communities. Until Leo, it was unlikely that a member would be called on to leave the order and take on a larger responsibility in the upper echelons of the Catholic Church, much less become pope, Gillespie said.

The largest male Catholic order is the Jesuits, with about 16,000 members worldwide and more than two dozen higher education institutions in the U.S.

Notably, Prevost's predecessor, Francis, was the first Jesuit  and first from Latin America  to become pope.

Historically, popes have not been associated with any specific religious order, but instead have been former priests who've ascended the church's hierarchy from diocesan seminaries and parishes. Before Francis, the last pope from a religious order was Gregory XVI, a Benedictine Camaldolese monk who was pope from 1831 to 1846, according to America magazine, a Jesuit publication.

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"I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world," the Rev. Peter Donohue, president of Villanova, said in a statement. "Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV's leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission."

In 1977, the year that he graduated from Villanova, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine. He would go on to be ordained as a priest in 1982 and then sent to an Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985.

Upon returning to his hometown, Chicago, in 1999, Prevost was promoted within the order's ranks until Francis elevated him as a bishop in Peru in 2015, and eventually rising to a cardinal in 2023. One of his last jobs before becoming pope was in Rome, running the office that helps decide who will be appointed a bishop.

Martin Luther, who in the 16th-century would reject Catholicism and become central to the Protestant Reformation, was a former Augustinian friar.

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Gillespie said given Pope Leo's background, he is certain to follow in Francis' footsteps when it comes to being a moral voice focused on unity, humanity and understanding social issues.

"With Augustinians, there's going to be a real sense that our political involvements and spiritual commitments can't be in separate lanes," he said. "They're about responding to the world, how we organize our social lives, and knowing it's centered out of God's love."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(NewsNation)  The former sister-in-law of Pope Leo XIV is celebrating the Americans election to lead the Catholic Church on Thursday.

Rob (Pope Leo XIV) is my ex-brother-in-law. I cant imagine a better pick for pope. Hes the most humble and a genuinely good person Ive ever known, and he will make a wonderful pope, Kathleen Prevost, 72, told NewsNation shortly after the new pope was announced.

Who is the new pope Cardinal Robert Prevost?

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Robert Prevost is the first American to helm the Catholic Church. He is from the Chicago area and spent his career ministering in Peru. He currently leads the Vaticans powerful office of bishops.

Courtesy: Villanova University Freshman Register

Villanova University, where Pope Leo earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1977 and received an honorary doctorate of humanities from the university in 2014, celebrated his Holiness in a memo from the schools president, Rev. Peter Donohue, addressed to the schools community, which read in part:

What a proud and extraordinary day for Villanova University and the global Church! Today, in St. Peters Square in front of Catholics from around the world, Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, was named the first Augustinian Pope. The selection of Pope Leo XIV by the College of Cardinals comes less than two years after he was announced as cardinal designate by the late Pope Francis, a position to which he was formally installed in September 2023, during a consistory at the Vatican on the eve of the Synod of Synodality.

It continued, A new Pope brings fresh perspectives, renewed priorities and spiritual guidance, all of which can deepen our mission, strengthen our values and enrich our community. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIVs leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission, through an Augustinian lens, as we pursue intellectual and spiritual growth.

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Friday morning, Catholics all around the world are celebrating the new pope.

Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States, and the first images of him flooded the airwaves and the internet Thursday.

The pope greeted the masses in Italian and Spanish, but we have new video Friday morning from inside the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, where Pope Leo XIV held his first mass with the cardinals who elected him.

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He addressed the cardinals in English.

You have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me, Pope Leo XIV said.

ALSO READ >> A certain calm: Local bishop recalls one-on-one meeting with new pope

As the world reacts to the new pope, Channel 9 spoke with one of his university classmates.

A special mass to recognize the new pope is also scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Ballantyne.

(VIDEO: Flabbergasted: Charlotte man says he attended university with new pope)
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Pope Leo XIV has dual citizenship, having become a citizen of Peru in 2015. Peruvians in Paterson proudly assert that for them, the pope is both American and Peruvian.

El Papa Leon, as Latinos refer to the pontiff, delivered some of his first words as the new pope in Spanish. Expressing gratitude to his dear diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where he served as bishop from 2014 to 2023. Diana Navarro felt as if he was speaking directly to her.

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One minute, I was like, OMG, he is speaking Spanish. I am very happy because the pope is half from the United States and the other half Peruvian, Navarro Said.

Pope Leo first worked as a missionary in Latin America, where he moved in 1985.

He also spent a certain time in Piura which is my hometown, I was excited, said Paterson Deputy Mayor, Maria Rivas, as she shared the excitement with other members of the Peruvian community who live in this city.

Here in Peru Square, the town of my constituents, we have the hope who is going to fight for the people in need, Rivas added.

For Ysai Valencia, who has owned a Peruvian mini market in Paterson for more than twenty years, Pope Leo means reconnecting with his roots.

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I had to call to my brother in Peru, hes been living in Peru for a long time but you know I had to tell him, Oh My God surprise, he been living in Peru and my daughter too when I go to home you know the pope is Peruvian he has been living in Peru. Said Valencia

Pope Leo worked closely with his predecessor, Pope Francis, who was from Argentina. Because of this, many are hopeful he will also be like the late pope and stand with immigrants.

Our community, our immigrants, they need somebody. He is a Leo, the name of the person who is going to fight for the people who need help, concluded Rivas.

Perus President Dina Boluarte called the selection of Pope Leo XIV to lead the Catholic Church a historic moment for Peru and the world.

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By Philip Pullella, Joshua McElwee and Keith Weir

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass on Friday in the Sistine Chapel where he was elected less than 24 hours earlier, warning of the dangers caused by a lack of faith and hoping the Catholic Church could be a beacon lighting the world's "dark nights".

Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost and the first U.S. pope, looked calm as he delivered the Mass in the famous, frescoed chapel with the same cardinals who chose him to be the 267th pontiff and the successor to Pope Francis.

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Dressed in relatively simple white and gold vestments, Leo, who was born in Chicago but spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, said a few words in English before continuing his homily in fluent Italian.

In the homily, Leo, 69, painted a picture of the Church he would like to see, saying he would seek to serve as the "faithful administrator" for the Church as a whole.

The new pope, who leads 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, acknowledged that the Christian faith is sometimes "considered absurd" and the preserve of "the weak and unintelligent".

"A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society," he said.

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MAY 18 INAUGURATION

An inauguration Mass for Leo will be held in St. Peter's Square on Sunday May 18, the Vatican said.

World and religious leaders are invited to the inauguration, which marks the formal launch of a papacy. Pope Francis' inauguration in 2013 attracted a crowd estimated at 200,000 people.

The new pope will also leave senior Vatican officials in their roles for the time being, giving him time to decide before making definitive appointments, the Vatican said.

All Vatican senior officials, appointed for five-year terms, serve at the pleasure of the pope. A new pontiff usually rolls over existing mandates at least initially before deciding whether to change key positions.

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The pope was elected at the end of a two-day conclave that was wrapped up on Thursday evening when white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel.

Given the nature of the conclaves, when cardinals are shut away from the world and sworn to secrecy, little or nothing is likely to emerge - at least for now - about how Leo obtained the required two-thirds majority of the vote so swiftly.

The successor to Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88, inherits a number of major challenges, ranging from a budget shortfall to divisions over whether the Church should be more welcoming towards the LGBT community and divorcees, and should let women play a greater role in its affairs.

He will also have a packed agenda, with the Vatican celebrating a Holy Year that brings millions of additional tourists to Rome.

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THE FIRST US POPE

Before Leo's election, U.S. cardinals had largely been written off as papal contenders because of a widespread assumption that the global Church could not be run by a superpower pope.

However, he also holds Peruvian citizenship, meaning that he has deep knowledge of both the West and less developed nations.

U.S. President Donald Trump was quick to congratulate Leo. However, the new pope has a history of criticizing Trump and Vice President JD Vance's policies, according to posts on the X account of Robert Prevost.

Leo worked for decades in the north of Peru, first as a missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. Catholics took to the streets of the small city in northwestern Peru, and church bells rang out to celebrate the election of a man who they embrace as one of their own.

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One of the clues to what kind of a Church leader Leo will be was in his choice of name. The last pope with this name was Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878-1903. He was known for his devoted focus to social justice issues.

Prevost became a cardinal only in 2023. He has given few media interviews and is known to have a shy personality.

Francis brought him to Rome two years ago to head the Vatican office in charge of choosing which priests should serve as Catholic bishops, meaning he has had a hand in selecting many of the world's bishops.

(Writing by Keith WeirEditing by Crispian Balmer and Frances Kerry)
Robert Prevost, the Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vaticans powerful office of bishops, was elected the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church. Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order, took the name Leo XIV.

In his first words as Pope Francis successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peters Basilica, Leo said, Peace be with you, and emphasized a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelization.

Heres what else to know about the historic announcement  and what it means for the Chicago area.

News of the new pope

The crowd in St. Peters Square erupted in cheers when white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel on the second day of the conclave, the most geographically diverse in history. Priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted Viva il papa!

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Waving flags from around the world, tens of thousands of people waited to learn who had won and were shocked when an hour later, the senior cardinal deacon appeared on the loggia and said Habemus Papam! and announced the winner was Prevost.

He spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English.

Greetings  to all of you, and in particular, to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith, he said in Spanish. Read more here.

His Chicago roots

Prevost was born on Sept. 14, 1955, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, and his Catholic roots were planted in the south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. He grew up in St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the Far South Side, attending school, singing in the choir and serving as an altar boy.

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Prevosts father, Louis, was an educator who led Glenwood School District 167 and served as principal of now-defunct Mount Carmel Elementary School in Chicago Heights. He died in 1997, according to his obituary.

His mother, Mildred, was a librarian who worked at Holy Name Cathedral, Von Steuben High School on the North Side and Mendel Catholic Prep. She died in 1990 after decades of service to St. Marys Church.

After graduating from St. Marys in 1969, Prevost attended St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan. Then he briefly lived at the now-shuttered Tolentine seminary in south suburban Olympia Fields before attending Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

John Prevost acknowledged that the role will have its challenges but said his brother is ready.

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Its awesome, its a great responsibility, but he will be scrutinized left and right, he said. I think it will be a lot. But he has the patience of a saint.

And most importantly, at least in terms of the new popes South Side credentials, John Prevost confirmed that his brother has always been a White Sox fan. Read more here.

Chicago Cardinal shares his once in a lifetime experience

Lets be proud that Chicago produced a person of this quality that could be pope, Cardinal Blase Cupich said during a phone interview with the Tribune Friday morning from Vatican City. We should be very proud of that.

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The day before, Cupich witnessed history as a member of the conclave that selected Chicago-born missionary Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pope. As the archbishop of Chicago looked over the piazza, the crowd down to the Tiber River was jam-packed, with more than 250,000 people awaiting the first words of the new pope, he recalled.

To be in that position is something that Ill never be able to replicate in the future, he said. Its a once in a lifetime experience to be on the same platform where the new pope is going to be announced with hundreds of thousands of people chanting his name. Read more here.

Criticism of Trump and Vance

Prevosts previous social media history includes sharing criticism of Donald Trumps administration policies and of comments by Vice President JD Vance.

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The majority of the posts on the X platform are related to or in support of Catholic news and church initiatives. He rarely writes original content, but a look back through his social media timeline shows numerous posts sharing viewpoints opposed to moves aimed at restricting acceptance of migrants and refugees in the U.S.






Cardinal Robert Prevost, considered a dark horse in the race by many experts, was elected pope on Thursday, May 8  and experts have a lot of opinions

The conventional wisdom was that there would not be an American pope, one tells PEOPLE

"This is a clear signal that the College of Cardinals felt the calling of the spirit to elect someone for the whole globe," adds another







Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American pontiff, leaving some experts both surprised and excited about his papacy.

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Cardinal Robert Prevost was born in Chicago and has missionary experience in Peru, previously serving as the bishop of the city of Chiclayo  but many experts considered the 69-year-old cardinal as a dark horse in the race to become the next pontiff.

Dr. Charlie Gillespie, professor at Sacred Heart University, tells PEOPLE he is ecstatic about the selection.

A lot of people are going to say they're excited, adds Gillespie, explaining that this is a clear signal that the College of Cardinals felt the calling of the spirit to elect someone for the whole globe.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Newly elected Pope Leo XIV Newly elected Pope Leo XIV

Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a professor at the University of Notre Dame, adds that she is still in a state of shock," describing his election as an unprecedented move that wouldn't have been possible even "just a hundred years ago.

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The conventional wisdom was that here would not be an American pope, Cummings explains, but adds that Pope Leo XIV had the best chance of any American ever.

He was born in the United States, but he spent most of his life outside of the United States as a missionary, and also working in Italy, working at the Vatican, she notes. So he's really a bridge builder among three different continents, which is perfectly consistent with what the church needs."

Cummings was also surprised to see how quickly a new pope was selected, which she says indicates that there's a great consensus built around him" and bodes well for the future of the church."

As for his first speech, the expert said that one of the first phrases she heard was "God loves everyone."

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"He addressed his comments to all people of all peoples of the entire planet. So he's a pope that's going to continue to extend the church out into the world," she adds.

Gillespie agrees, saying, What you see here is someone who spent time in Peru and also took the name of Leo XIV, the great champion of the poor from the late 19th century who founded Catholic social teaching.

ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Newly elected Pope Leo XIV Newly elected Pope Leo XIV

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GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV

As for the future, Gillespie is interested" to see how this Pope is going to respond to some of the biggest questions of the church.

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On the balcony, the pontiff struck a "slightly more traditional image" with his clothes, as opposed to Francis, who eschewed the traditional papal garb and just wore simple white garments.

Gillespie says that the new pope's decision to wear a traditional red mozzetta cape could signify a more "traditional direction," but believes that he will still be informed by the "openness" of Francis

"We saw a balance of the aesthetics of the traditional church along with language that sounded like Pope Francis," he adds. "So for me that's a really interesting way of seeing a sign of unity, of bringing people together."



Read the original article on People
The new Pope Leo XIV weighed in on the abuse scandals that have hammered the Catholic Church.

The then Robert Francis Prevost discussed the topic in a 2023 interview with Vatican News.

The Chicago-born Prevost was named the first American Pope in history on May 8, 2025, the Vatican announced.

That has a lot of people wondering what he has said about the church abuse controversies. CBS News reported that the new Pope is generally considered a centrist who remains conservative on some matters of church doctrine - such as opposing the ordination of women - but who is socially progressive in the mold of Pope Francis, having spent years as a missionary in Peru. Prevost shared tweets slamming U.S. immigration policies.

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On abuse, he spoke in depth.

"The new norms for combating abuse have increased the responsibility of bishops, who are called upon to act promptly and to answer for any delays and omissions. How is this task experienced by the bishop?" he was asked by Vatican News.

"We are on a journey with regard to this as well," Prevost told Vatican News.

"There are places where good work has already been done for years and the rules are being put into practice. At the same time, I believe that there is still much to learn," he said.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/Getty Images

"I am talking about the urgency and responsibility of accompanying victims. One of the difficulties that many times arise is that the bishop must be close to his priests, as I have already said, and he must be close to the victims," added the new Pope. "Some recommend that it not be the bishop directly who receives the victims; but we cannot close our hearts, the door of the Church, to people who have suffered from abuse."

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He added to Vatican News: "The responsibility of the bishop is great, and I think we still have to make great efforts to respond to this situation that is causing so much pain in the Church. It will take time. We are trying to work together with the other dicasteries."

"I believe it is part of the mission of our dicastery to accompany bishops who have not received the necessary preparation to deal with this issue. It is urgent and necessary that we be more responsible and more sensitive to this," he added.

Vatican News followed up, saying, "The laws are there now. It is more difficult to change a mentality..."



"Certainly, there many differences between one culture and another on how one reacts in these situations. In some countries, the taboo of talking about the subject has already been broken somewhat, while there are other places where victims, or victims families, would never want to talk about the abuse they have suffered," Prevost told the site.

"In any case, silence is not an answer. Silence is not the solution. We must be transparent and honest, we must accompany and assist the victims, because otherwise their wounds will never heal. There is a great responsibility in this, for all of us," he added.

Related: New Pope Robert Prevost Is 'Centrist' With Strong Beliefs on Role of Women
(FOX 5/KUSI)  Pope Leo XIV, an American and member of the Augustinian Order, was announced as the new leader of the Catholic Church, bringing excitement to Catholics around the world, and in particular to St. Augustine High School in San Diego.

The announcement of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV was met with cheers from the crowd at St. Peters Square and elation from those connected to him back in San Diego.

When I saw the TV, and the first thing I saw was its an American, and I thought, oh, thats great,' said Ed Hearn, president of St. Augustine High School. Then I said, oh my God, its Father Prevost is he the pope?

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Pope Leo, who has visited St. Augustine High School on numerous occasions, is celebrated by the school community for his connection to the Augustinian Order.

San Diego Catholics who watched American pope debut call choice pure joy

Pictures from his visit show him celebrating Mass on campus for the schools 90th anniversary during the 2012-2013 school year.

Father Max, who lived with Pope Leo for three months during seminary school in Chicago, recalls him as a leader who listens to all corners of the church and brings people together.

The biggest things he believes in are the White Sox, hes a big White Sox fan, Father Max noted, laughing.

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Hearn expressed hope that Pope Leo will inspire connection and global hope, especially in the United States.

I think it will resonate deeply to have a Pope that will help us with our own unity and issues in our own country, he said.

All facts from this article were gathered by FOX 5/KUSI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by FOX 5/KUSI staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Pope Leo XIV watched the film Conclave so that he would know how to behave in the secretive election, his brother has revealed.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, as he was until Thursday evening when elected the first North American pontiff, picked up tips as to how the conclave might unfold by sitting down and watching the award-winning film, which stars Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci.

The revelation underlines how extraordinarily prescient the film was, being released just five months before the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.

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John Prevost said he had asked his brother whether he had watched Conclave before taking part in the real thing. The future pope  the first to come from the US  replied that he had.

So he knew how to behave, said Mr Prevost, 71, who lives in Chicago and remains close to his sibling. He had asked the question almost as a joke, because I wanted to take his mind off of it, laugh about something, because this is now an awesome responsibility, Mr Prevost told NBC News.

The film, directed by Edward Berger, portrays backstabbing, horse trading, secrets and power plays as cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new pontiff.

It stars Ralph Fiennes as Thomas Lawrence, a liberal British cardinal who is the Dean of the College of Cardinals and in charge of organising the election.

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Hell arrives tomorrow when we bring in the cardinals, he says in one memorable line.

The film has been praised for its accurate portrayal of the inner goings on regarding the election of a new pope

The film has been praised for its accurate portrayal of how voting in the conclave is conducted, with cardinals writing the name of their preferred candidate on slips of paper, which are then burned in a special stove after every two rounds. The smoke then billows from a chimney installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel.

Robert Harris, the author of the novel on which the recent film was based, said it was surreal to learn that Pope Leo had watched the movie ahead of entering the real-life conclave.

This is getting more and more ridiculous, he told LBC Radio. There was a report earlier in the week that several cardinals had watched the movie because they had never been in a conclave and they didnt know how it was going to operate.

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The film, following the novel, tries faithfully to recreate the process. It is doubly amusing that the man who has just got the job watched the film and maybe took a few clues from Ralph Fiennes performance. It is becoming surreal to be honest.

Totally surreal

Mr Prevost, who had a long career as a Catholic teacher and headmaster in Chicago, said he had a slight feeling that his brother might be elected, despite most Vatican analysts assessing the leading contenders as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Luis Antonio Tagle, a cardinal from the Philippines.

His brother was far less sure, however. He didnt think so. I kind of did, because what I was reading and what I was hearing was that there were three outstanding candidates that were in first, second and third place. The cardinal from the Philippines, the secretary of state and him, Mr Prevost said.

He also heard that his brother, who spent two decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru, had good odds in Las Vegas. A Catholic priest told him: The odds in Las Vegas are 18-1 that its going to your brother.

Pope Leo XIV is the first US pontiff - AP/Andrew Medichini

Mr Prevost said he had barely had time to digest the fact that his brother is now Pope.

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Its totally unreal, totally surreal, and its a tremendous, tremendous thing to take in, but its something to be very proud of, he said.

He said his brother, who he calls Rob, would likely continue the inclusive, compassionate legacy of Pope Francis.

He has great, great desire to help the downtrodden and the disenfranchised, the people who are ignored.

The best way I could describe him right now is that he will be following in Francis footsteps. They were very good friends. They knew each other before he was Pope, before my brother even was bishop.

Describing his brother as middle of the road, he said: I dont think well see extremes either way.

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But his views on migrants and refugees could put him on a collision course with Donald Trump, the US president.

I know hes not happy with whats going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far hell go with it is only ones guess, but he wont just sit back. I dont think hell be the silent one, said Mr Prevost.

Pope Leo-related merchandise is already on sale in his home town of Chicago, from collectible cards to T-shirts bearing messages such as Da Pope and Sweet Pope Chicago.

Brandon Johnson, Chicagos mayor, posted on social media: Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV.

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Pope Leo XIV was elected on Thursday, becoming the 267th leader of the Catholic church. His election is historic, as he becomes the first American pope in the church's history.

Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, attended Villanova University in Philadelphia. The school is one of the top Catholic universities in all of America, and it released a statement after he was chosen for the papacy.

As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our University community and the global Church," said University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue.

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"Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reasonbetween spirituality and wisdom.

With todays election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIVs leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission.

Pope Leo XIV completed his undergraduate studies at Villanova, earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1977. That same year, he joined the Order of St. Augustine.

In 1982, he received a Master's of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and was ordained in the same year. He spent over 20 years in Peru as a bishop, among other roles, and became a naturalized citizen of the nation during his time there.

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Peace be with you all. Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God," the new pope said as he emerged to a balcony at the Vatican, addressing thousands in the square below.

"I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts to reach your families to all people everywhere to all the earth: peace be with you.

As the world prepares for the first American pope, we'll see what the future has in store for the Catholic church and for Pope Leo XIV in his papacy.
Childhood teasing came true May 8 when the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost became the first American pope in history.

Not only is Pope Leo XIV the first pope from the United States, he also has ties to Florida.

While former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was born in Chicago, one of his brothers currently lives in Port Charlotte along Florida's west coast.

Here's what you should know about the new pope.

Cardinals elected new pope on second day of conclave

On just the second day of voting, on May 8, 133 cardinals from across the globe made history during the papal conclave Thursday, May 8, choosing the first American-born pontiff in Cardinal Robert Prevost.

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The papal conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor began on May 7.

 Was this the fastest conclave in history? What to know after white smoke appears

During the conclave, cardinals vote four times per day: twice in the morning and twice in the evening.

In 2013, Pope Francis was selected on the second day after five rounds of voting. Before him, Pope Benedict XVI was chosen on the second day after just four rounds.

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV, 69, was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago.

"Though he may be American by birth, he has spent only a third of his life in the United States, instead spending much of the rest of it in Europe and Latin America," according to the National Catholic Reporter. He spent most of his time, since 1985, serving in Peru, where he became a naturalized citizen.

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 Who is Robert Francis Prevost? What to know about newly elected Pope Leo XIV

In 2023, Prevost became the new prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which helps the pope choose bishops, according to Vatican News. In 2024, he was created cardinal by Pope Francis.

At the time, Prevost told Vatican News, "Certainly, my life has changed a lot: I have the opportunity to serve the Holy Father, to serve the Church today, here, from the Roman Curia. [It is] a very different mission from before, but also a new opportunity to live a dimension of my life, which simply was always answering Yes when asked to do a service." According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV:

Born: Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois

Parents: Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. The Chicago Sun-Times reported his father was an educator and his mother a librarian.

Siblings: Two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.

Ordination: He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica in Rome

Education: Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a degree in mathematics and also studied philosophy. Received theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago At the age of 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where he earned his doctorate.

Languages: Prevost speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese.

Sports: Brother John Prevost told ABC News the pope is a White Sox fan.

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His episcopal motto is In Illo uno unum words pronounced by Saint Augustine in a sermon on Psalm 127 to explain that although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.

'You're going to be pope one day': Brother talks about Pope Leo XIV from his home in Southwest Florida

Pope Leo XIV's brother, Louis Prevost, lives in Port Charlotte.

In an interview with FOX4, the Pope's sister-in-law, Deborah Prevost, said she and her husband were surprised by the news, and a little saddened that it meant they wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Robert.

He always wanted to be a priest, his older brother, John Prevost, told ABC News outside his home in Illinois on Thursday.

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"He knew right away. I don't think he's ever questioned it. I don't think he's ever thought of anything else," John Prevost said.

Louis Prevost said he tuned in to the live broadcast of the Vatican announcement from his Florida home, where he wasn't feeling well at the time.

"They started reading his name, and when he went, 'blah, blah, blah, Roberto,' immediately I knew  that's Rob," he said. "I was just thankful I was still in bed lying down, because I might have fallen down."

Louis Prevost told ABC News he got out of bed and started "dancing around like an idiot."

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"It's just incredible," he said. "I'm suddenly wide awake and feeling wonderful."

"We heard them read the name so we knew it was coming and then to see him  it all hit home  and became real and it was like oh that's Rob oh my god yay Rob," Louis Prevost told Fox4.

He described his brother as "down to earth," someone who has a good sense of humor and is "smart as a whip." He loved his work as a missionary in Peru and being with the people, and through his work with the Vatican has traveled the world, Louis Prevost told ABC News.

Louis Prevost said his brother seemed to always know his calling, and that as young as 4 or 5, the family knew he was destined for great things in the Catholic Church. When his brothers were playing cops and robbers, Leo would "play priest" and distribute Holy Communion with Necco wafers, Louis Prevost said.

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We used to tease him all the time  youre going to be the pope one day," he said. "Neighbors said the same thing. Sixty-some years later, here we are."

Before the conclave, brother asked: Would you accept it?

"We talked a little bit about it and I said you know what happens if you win? if they vote for you? are you going to accept it?" Louis Prevost asked his brother.

"[He said] 'I will accept it; it's God's will; it's in his hands,'" Louis Prevost told Fox4.

"He'll do a really good job of being pope and all the things that entails, just because he's a man of the people. He's been with the people all around the world in his worldly travels."

Where is Port Charlotte, Florida?

Port Charlotte is located along Florida's west coast, about 60 miles south of Tampa, 30 miles north of Fort Myers or just over 100 miles southwest of Orlando.

Changes comes to pope's family, brotherly connection

The brothers currently speak by phone two to three times a week, Louis Prevost told Fox4.

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"That's the hardest part  all day I've been like  I wonder if we'll actually be able to see him again and be with him  and shake his hand and hug him  yeah I'm the pope's brother but it's hard to get in to see the pope," Louis Prevost said.

Contributors: USA Today Network; Sarasota Herald-Tribune

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Pope Leo XIV's brother, Louis Prevost, lives Port Charlotte, Florida
For centuries, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church were largely Italians until a cardinal from Poland was elected pope in 1978 and then succeeded by a German and an Argentine.

Now, for the first time, the pope's an American who has taken the name Leo XIV.

And he's from the South Side of Chicago, home of the beleaguered White Sox, the Daley political dynasty and, until they decamped for Washington and eventually the White House, Michelle and Barack Obama.

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The new pope, who has spent much of his career ministering in Peru and leading the Vaticans powerful office of bishops, was born Robert Francis Prevost on Sept. 14, 1955, at what was then called Mercy Hospital, at the corner of South Prairie Avenue and 34th Street.

But while Prevost made his debut in Chicago, his parents and two older brothers were already living just south of the sprawling city in a working-class suburb called Dolton.

Home was a tidy brick house the Prevosts bought new in 1949 on East 141st Place.

Prevost's father, Louis Prevost, served in the Navy during World War II and worked as a superintendent of schools in the south suburbs of Chicago.

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The future pope's mother, Mildred Martinez Prevost, was a librarian with a master's degree in education and two sisters who were nuns.

But the focus of the family was St. Mary of the Assumption Parish on 137th Street, which was then a busy church and school that straddled the Chicago/Dolton border.

It was there that the Prevost family regularly attended Mass, which back then was still in Latin. And it was there that his classmates realized that Robert was already practicing what he would one day be preaching.

We used to pray with our hands, you know, our fingers pointing to heaven, and after a while you get tired of doing that, and you just want to fold them over, former classmate Marianne Angarola, 69, told the Chicago Sun-Times. Robert Prevost never folded his hands over. He was just godly. Not in an in-your-face way. It was part of his aura, like he was hand-selected, and he embraced it. And he wasnt weird. He was nice.

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While most of the boys from St. Mary's went on to local Catholic high schools like Mendel College Prep, Prevost left home and attended St. Augustine Seminary High School, a boarding school in Holland, Michigan, that was run by priests from the Order of St. Augustine.

Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after his election, at the Vatican, on Thursday. (Gregorio Borgia / AP)

Upon graduating, he headed east to Villanova University in Pennsylvania, a private Catholic college, where he earned a bachelors degree in math in 1977. By then, he had found his calling, and in 1978 he officially joined the Order of St. Augustine.

Four years later, in June 1982, Prevost was ordained a priest after having studied theology at Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. Then he was off to Rome, where he earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1987.

He returned to Chicago, but only briefly, before he was dispatched in 1985 to Peru, where he served the order as a missionary and taught canon law in the diocesan seminary in the city of Trujillo for 10 years.

By 1999, Prevost was back in Chicago and appointed leader of the Augustinian order's Midwestern region, which he oversaw until 2010.

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Part of his turf included Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, and it was during his tenure that allegations surfaced that the schools president, the Rev. Richard McGrath, had abused at least one student and kept child pornography images on his phone.

The Sun-Times reported last June that the Augustinians paid a $2 million settlement to the abused student and that Prevost never explained why he did not remove McGrath from his post.

By 2014, Prevost was back in Peru after Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and later the bishop of Chiclayo.

But in Peru, he was once again accused of failing to investigate and punish a priest accused of sexually abusing three sisters from 2007 to 2015.

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The Diocese of Chiclayo denied a cover-up, and Prevost has never been personally accused of abusing members of his flock.

The allegations also did not derail his rise through the ranks.

Francis promoted him to archbishop in January 2023 and made him a cardinal a year later.

In public statements, Prevost often echoed Francis with calls for reaching out to the poor, to the neediest, to those on the margins.

But while Francis promoted greater acceptance of LGBTQ people, Prevost in a 2012 took a less tolerant tone in an address to a group of bishops, complaining that Western culture was fostering "sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," The New York Times reported.

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Meanwhile, Prevost's other job running the office that helps decide who will be appointed a bishop made him a contender for the top job at the Vatican, which he landed Thursday.

Speaking in Spanish and Italian, but not in English, Pope Leo stood on the balcony overlooking his cheering flock and thanked the pope who blazed the path for him. He also laid out a vision of the future that Francis would most likely have applauded.

We can be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone  just like in this square, to welcome everyone, in charity, dialogue and love, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, is officially the new pope  and much like his predecessor Pope Francis, His Holiness is "outspoken about the need for urgent action" to address the impact of rising temperatures around the globe.

Prevost, a native of Chicago, took the name Pope Leo XIV. Notably, Prevost is the first American pontiff in history.

Pope Francis, who died on April 21, was known for his devotion to the betterment of humanity and the planet. He fearlessly advocated for the marginalized and impoverished, but it was his focus on protecting the environment that The New York Times profiled on the day of his passing.

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According to the Times, Francis authored "the first-ever papal encyclical focused solely on the environment," titled "Laudato Si'." The paper described it as "a sprawling call to action," in which Francis "recognized climate change as both a social and environmental crisis," foregrounding that its "greatest consequences were shouldered by the poor."

Father James Martin, Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America magazine, told the Times that Francis' 2015 call to action was a game-changer in the Catholic Church. Martin indicated that before Francis was elected, "climate change was seen either as a political issue or a scientific issue," but his writing "frame[d] it as a spiritual issue."

Martin said Pope Francis "started from the standpoint that God had created the universe, had created the world and that this was a responsibility of ours  to care for it." Per the Times, Francis' missive "clearly laid out the consequences of climate change, from loss of biodiversity to water scarcity and the breakdown of society."

Official Holy See news platform Vatican News covered a Nov. 28 conference in Rome, during which Cardinals and representatives gathered "to discuss the global impacts of the ongoing environmental crisis." In a letter to attendees, Pope Francis emphasized that rising temperatures were of particular concern for the "poorest nations," adding that issues like extreme weather "cannot be hidden or disguised."

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Prevost  months before becoming Pope Leo XIV  spoke at the conference, and he didn't mince words. Stating that leaders must immediately escalate "from words to action," Prevost described "dominion over nature" as a crucial responsibility with which humanity is tasked, cautioning against a "tyrannical" approach to environmental stewardship in favor of a "relationship of reciprocity" with nature.

Although the entirety of his remarks were not transcribed, Vatican News said the Cardinal spoke out about "the 'harmful' consequences of technological development," and "reiterated the Holy See's commitment to protecting the environment, enumerating examples, like the Vatican installing solar panels and shifting to electric vehicles."

During the two-day papal conclave leading up to Pope Leo XIV's election, Cardinals under consideration were profiled by the College of Cardinals' Report. Prevost's firm stance in terms of protecting the environment was listed among his most prominent positions, representing a continuation of Francis' devotion to caring for the planet and its people.

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.
Pope Leo XIV has taken the reins as leader of the Catholic Church, and on Friday, started his first full day as Pontiff with a mass at the Sistine Chapel, during which he called his election both a cross and a blessing.

You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel, Leo said, addressing the College of Cardinals.

Although the Popeformerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevosthas presided over his first service for the cardinals, the formal papal inauguration Mass is still more than a week away. There is no rule dictating how much time should pass between the conclusion of a conclave and the papal inauguration Mass, though this years service will occur after a longer period of time than the last. When Pope Francis was elected as Pope on March 13, 2013, he was inaugurated just six days later.

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The election of the Chicago-born Pope Leo, 69who holds dual citizenship from the U.S. and Peru, where he spent decades working as a missionaryhas been greeted with excitement among the 1.4 billion Catholics living across the globe. The first American Pope also served as the head of the churchs Dicastery for Bishops, and previously talked about his desire to look at the "challenges" facing the Catholic Church in the United States.

Heres what we know so far about Pope Leos inauguration Mass.

When is the inauguration Mass?

The inauguration Mass is due to take place on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. local time at St. Peters Square.

Ahead of the inauguration, Leo has a busy schedule as he familiarizes himself with the papal responsibilities. He's due to have meetings with cardinals, the press, and hold prayer sessions.

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Leo will also be thinking about any appointments or changes he may wish to make. A statement from the Vatican press office said it was the Pontiff's wish that the Heads and Members of the Institutions of the Roman Curia, as well as the Secretaries and the President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State, continue, on a provisional basis in their current roles.

It was also noted that Leo has the right to take a certain amount of time for reflection, prayer, and dialogue ahead of making any definitive appointments or confirmations.

Joe Biden, then the U.S. Vice President, is pictured arriving at the inauguration Mass for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on March 19, 2013, in Vatican City. Dan KitwoodGetty Images

What happens during the inauguration Mass?

Global leaders will gather on May 18 for the papal inauguration Mass, which marks the official start of the Popes term. Pope Francis 2013 inauguration featured guests such as former U.S. President Joe Bidenthe second Catholic President to serve in the United States, after John F. Kennedyand Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez.

The long service typically begins with a visit to St. Peters tomb inside the Basilica. Deacons gather two objects: a fishermans ring and the pallium, an ecclesiastical vestment worn by the Pope.

During Pope Francis inauguration, he gathered with nine other Catholic Church leaders at the Basilica to pray. A procession shortly followed into St. Peters Square, during which the chant Laudes Regiaealso known as "Christus vincit," the Latin phrase for Christ is King/Christ conquerswas recited.

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After performing his own version of this procession, the new Pope will likely be presented with the pallium and the ring as a symbol of his taking of the papacy.

While there is no strict time limit, Francis inauguration Mass lasted for around two hours.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The News

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, was embroiled in US politics within minutes of his election.

US President Donald Trump congratulated Chicago-born Robert Prevost  a registered Republican  on his election, but the new pope may clash with the White House.

As a cardinal he criticized Vice President JD Vance for his stance on immigration, and has repeatedly lambasted the Trump administration. Trump-supporters appeared unimpressed: One MAGA activist called Leo a WOKE MARXIST POPE.

His selection represents a rejection of intense lobbying [for] a pontiff sympathetic to President Donald Trump, Time magazine argued, and his chosen papal name harks back to Leo XIII, the early-20th-century pope credited with kickstarting the Churchs acceptance of political modernity, the Financial Times wrote.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include comments from a 2022 interview, given while Robert Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.

With the announcement that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope and leader of the Catholic Church, Ukrainians are wondering what the surprise appointment of the American-born pontiff will mean for their country.

Past comments made by the new pope, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, quickly surfaced to form an idea of his views on immigration, gay rights, climate change, and the current U.S. administration. But with a limited public record of statements on Russias invasion, Ukrainians are left scrutinizing his public comments and hoping the world leaders stance toward the ongoing war will benefit their country.

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I am not aware of any statements or actions the current pope has made regarding the war in Ukraine, said Father Ihor Yatsiv, a spokesperson for the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, which falls under the Vaticans leadership.

So we can only operate based on who he is through his experience, his human life experience, his service, where he has been, where he comes from, and, accordingly, also after whom he comes.

However, a recently resurfaced interview from 2022 may shed light on Pope Leo's views on the war. While serving as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Prevost condemned Russia's "imperialist" aggression against Ukraine in an interview with Peruvian news outlet Semanario Expresion.

Prevost described Russia's war as a "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power."

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The strong condemnation marks a departure from the tone of Pope Francis, whose public remarks on the war fell short of denouncing Russia's role as the aggressor.

Another potential sign of the pope's future policies is in the selection of his new name, one of the first decisions a new pope makes. While Pope Leo XIV has not yet said why he selected Leo, a pontiff's new name often refers to previous pontiffs whose footsteps they wish to follow.

We identify Pope Leo XIV as a pope of hope for Ukraine.

Pope Leo XIII, the most recent pope to use this name, is widely remembered for his championing of social policies and social justice.

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He was "a pope who paid attention to the socially vulnerable, a pope who stood on the side of the oppressed, a pope who stood for justice and, accordingly, spoke out against the powerful of this world," noted Yatsiv.

"We identify Pope Leo XIV as a pope of hope for Ukraine," Yatsiv added.

Many observers have noted that the selection of an American pope  long considered taboo  is likely, in part, a response to the current policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump and a rise in isolationism from his administration.

Americans from Texas, including Cole Wendling (C), celebrate after the announcement of newly elected Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, Vatican, on May 8, 2025. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

"Trumpism has broken many international taboos in recent months," said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of historical theology at Villanova University. "The conclave responded in kind by breaking another taboo: that it was not possible for a Catholic from the U.S., a superpower, to become pope, in order to avoid an overlap between political-military supremacy, and the leadership of the church symbolically, at least, heir to the Roman Empire."

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In selecting Pope Leo, the cardinals who voted may have aimed to counter Trump's policies with a different message about what U.S. exceptionalism and greatness can look like, Faggioli said.

"It remains to be seen what it means for a pope from the U.S., in the world of the crisis of liberal and constitutional democracies today, to speak as the head of the Catholic Church and the Holy See to Russia and Ukraine, to Israel and the Arab world, to China and the two Koreas," said Faggioli.

Prior to his election as the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo had boosted criticisms aimed at the anti-immigration policies of Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, on X.

In February, he reposted an article titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

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Pope Leo succeeds Pope Francis, who left behind a mixed legacy on the war in Ukraine. His repeated calls for peace often left Ukrainians frustrated by his failure to call out Russia as the aggressor or to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While this reflects the Vaticans commitment to neutrality, allowing it to carry out a humanitarian role and negotiate prisoner exchanges, it also came under fire as being influenced by the historic ties between Moscow and the Vatican.

After it was announced that Cardinal Robert Prevost would replace him as the new church leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Pope Leo XIV on social media, saying, "Ukraine deeply values the Holy Sees consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federations military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians."

Read also: Pope Francis leaves a mixed legacy in wartime Ukraine, overshadowed by historic Vatican-Moscow ties

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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.

Even the new pope has a social media trail. In todays edition, we look at how his X page provides a window into his views on U.S. political matters. Plus, Bridget Bowman writes that President Donald Trump is looming large over the New Jersey GOP gubernatorial field ahead of next months primary.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

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 Adam Wollner

When the pope and politics collide

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the first-ever pope born in the United States. So naturally, domestic politics quickly intervened.

As Rebecca Shabad reports, the new popes social media footprint was quickly dissected just minutes after the Chicago native was announced as the new head of the Catholic Church  sparking a mixed reaction from some on the right.

Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Prevost occasionally posted on social media, including some messages that appeared to be critical of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and their worldview.

His most recent activity on X came in mid-April, when he shared a post on his account from a Catholic commentator who called out Trump and El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele for laughing about the deportation of Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The post linked to an article published by the Catholic Standard newspaper, in which Bishop Evelio Menjivar asked about Abrego Garcia: Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?

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In February, Prevost posted links to stories that were critical of Vance, including one from the National Catholic Reporter. Prevost reposted the headline on X: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others. In the article, the writer rebutted the vice presidents claim from a Fox News interview that Christians prioritize loving people close to them before those from other countries.

How Trump and Vance are responding: The two only offered congratulations to the new pope on social media.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, posted: Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!

And Trump wrote: What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

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How conservative activists are responding: Laura Loomer published a series of posts decrying the new popes politics.

He is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis, Loomer, a close Trump ally, wrote on X. Catholics dont have anything good to look forward to. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.

Charlie Kirk was more neutral in his reaction.

Lets just say, not so great tweets about having some willingness for open borders. Well see kind of how he is on that. Also some George Floyd stuff that Im not too crazy about, he said in a video posted on X. But overall, it seems like hes a pro-life warrior. Theres a lot yet to learn about this pope, but I hope that he will be a strong advocate for strong borders. And for sovereignty.

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Read more 

New Jersey GOP gubernatorial hopefuls clash in debate as Trump looms over race

By Bridget Bowman

Three Republican candidates for governor in New Jersey ended their hourlong debate Wednesday night with a heated clash over their partys leader, underscoring how Trump is looming over the fast-approaching primary.

Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate in New Jersey, which is one of two states, along with Virginia, that is holding a governors race this year, with both races expected to be competitive. Though Democrats have been successful at the federal level, Trump made significant gains in November. And in 2021, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli came close to defeating Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who cannot run for re-election due to term limits.

Ciattarelli is now the front-runner for the GOP nomination in New Jersey this time around, and hes been jockeying for Trumps endorsement along with former radio host Bill Spadea ahead of the June 10 primary.

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Spadea and Ciattarelli sparred over their support for Trump in the final minutes of the debate, hosted by NJ Spotlight News, NJ PBS and WNYC. Spadea said he is the only candidate to have supported Trump from the start, prompting Ciattarelli to shoot back, Thats a lie. He challenged Spadea to fess up, and Spadea responded that Ciattarelli disrespected [Trump] for eight years.

Both candidates met with Trump in late March, and they told Emma Barnett and me last week that they havent spoken with him since then. Spadea and Ciattarelli also have some baggage when it comes to supporting Trump, with past comments that have resurfaced in dueling attack ads.

Trumps actions drove other questions during Thursdays debate involving cuts to federal programs and due process for undocumented immigrants who are deported.

That question sparked a fiery exchange between Spadea and state Sen. Jon Bramnick, the more moderate GOP candidate in the race, who has sharply criticized Trump. Bramnick argued that everyone deserves a hearing and the government should not be trusted when it claims someone is a criminal.

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Why do you get due process on the way out if you didnt get due process on the way in? Spadea asked, and Bramncik shot back: Why? Because welcome to America.

A fourth candidate in the primary, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, did not qualify for the debate, but he has also been vying for support from the partys MAGA base.

What to know from the Trump presidency today





 Today's other top stories

Tariff fallout: While Trump is looking to boost American manufacturing through his sweeping tariffs on goods from other countries, some businesses that already make products in the U.S. are getting hit with higher costs and declining demand. Read more 

 Rubio vs. Vance? Trump mentioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a possible successor during his recent Meet the Press interview, potentially setting up a clash between him and Vice President JD Vance. Read more 

 The ayes have it: The GOP-led House passed a bill to codify Trumps executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Read more 

 The nays have it: A vote to advance a major crypto regulation bill in the Senate failed on Thursday, with Democrats uniting to block the measure after bipartisan negotiations stalled. Read more 

 2026 watch: Rep. Buddy Carter became the first major Republican to jump into the Georgia Senate race after Gov. Brian Kemp passed on a bid. Read more 

 Making the rounds: Former President Joe Biden, during an appearance on ABCs The View, denied he suffered cognitive decline while serving in the White House. Read more 

Follow live politics coverage on our blog 

Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Bridget Bowman.

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And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV  Chicago-born Robert Prevost, a member of the Augustinian religious order who spent much of his life ministering to Catholics in Peru  is a true servant of God, who lives his life according to St. Augustines core values of truth, unity, and love, a former protege who has known him for decades told The Independent.

In a phone interview on Thursday, Fr. Rob Hagan, who was mentored in his earlier years by Prevost, said that he always referred to the 69-year-old Pope as Bob.

Now, he said, referring to him as Pope Leo XIV is just an honor.

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We are so humbled and grateful for the person that he is, and has been, Hagan went on. Hes incredibly bright, he speaks multiple languages  he served a large part of his ministry outside of the U.S., helping the poor and people on the margins. He has a real approachability and warmth, a twinkle in his eye, hes really a gift to the church and to the world.

Hagan said that while Prevost, a dark-horse candidate, was chosen to be the first-ever American-born Pope by the College of Cardinals, members of the Catholic community also believe that the holy spirit is very much guiding the process.

For [him] to have emerged as Pope, it is our belief that this was the will of God, Hagan said. Its just wonderful, the peacemaker and unifier that he is.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, ascended to the papacy on Thursday. A former protege described the first American pope. (AFP via Getty Images)

The faithful turned out in droves for Thursday's announcement of Robert Prevost as the 267th Pope (Getty Images)

St. Augustine was known for his empathy, and the order centers its work on how to best care for the neediest.

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As an Augustinian, Prevost will naturally bring a somewhat progressive outlook, relatively speaking, to the papacy, according to Hagan. As an American, Hagan expects Prevost to bring the best of what the United States has historically stood for, he said.

Do we have problems? Yes. Are we flawed? Yes. But if you think about the values upon which this country was founded: justice, peace, opportunity for all people, I think Leo XIV will embody what is best about American values and really serve in such a way that those values will be lived for all people, of all countries, Hagan continued. And that everyone will feel that they are a part of the flock, and that this is a shepherd who is for all the people.

Prevosts predecessor, Pope Francis, made a point of focusing his papacy on those considered outsiders, such as the poor, the incarcerated, and the LGBTQ+ community. Francis, a Jesuit who served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires before becoming Pope in 2013, will cast a long shadow over Prevosts upcoming tenure, according to Prof. Erin Galgay Walsh, a scholar of ancient and late antique Christianity at the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Prevost worked very closely with Francis, and both men were students of Latin American liberation theology, with a strong commitment to the poor, Walsh explained.

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The tenets of St. Augustine are often about making sure that each person is taken care of, and has what they need, Walsh told The Independent.

She said she thinks Prevost will carry forward Franciss devotion to the excluded, which he may combine with aspects of Pope Benedict XVIs reputation as an intellectual. When Walsh first heard that Prevost had been elevated to the papacy, her mind immediately went to Pope Leo XIII.

Prevost is expected to carry on the work of his predecessor, Pope Francis, according to theologians and historians (Getty Images)

Leo XIII, who died in 1903, is known and remembered for critiquing the excesses of capitalism, and also socialism, and really promoting the welfare of the worker, Walsh said, adding that Catholics can likely expect the same from Prevost.

An important message that Catholicism teaches, as we face AI and other challenges, is the dignity of work, Walsh said.

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She sees something very poignant in Prevosts ascension to Pope as an American who later became a dual citizen of Peru, specifically now that we live in an age of rising nationalism and [in] a very polarized society. Walsh thinks Prevost could serve as a counterpoint to the form of insularity dominating politics in many places today.

I always emphasize to my students that the Jesus movement was multilingual and multicultural from the very beginning, and embraced living among others, Walsh said. [Prevost] has done that, he embodies that, and perhaps offers Americans an alternative way of thinking about what it means to be an American.

Raul Zegarra, a Peruvian-born assistant professor of Roman Catholic theological studies at Harvard Divinity School, called Prevost quite a remarkable figure.

He also expects to see a sense of continuity with the legacy left by Pope Francis, emphasizing Prevosts focus on peace during his first address as pontiff.

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The first sentence was about peace, it was the word he said the most in his allocution, Zegarra told The Independent. You cannot hear that without thinking about the fact that there are multiple wars going on right now, and as a major spiritual leader, the reiteration of peace is particularly powerful. I think that may signal some of the work he may want to pursue.

Further, Zegarra said, the emphasis on a God that loves all of us, without limits and conditions, was also very Francis-like.

It sounds a lot like Francis, and frames the church as one that is open and welcoming, a church for all, a church that builds dialogue, that builds bridges, Zegarra maintained.

He said it will be impossible for many to avoid making comparisons between Prevost and U.S. President Donald Trump, but that we will inevitably see radical points of contrast. While Trump and other right-wing leaders are kind of closing up and not willing to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable, Prevost will offer a well-defined alternative, according to Zegarra.

Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American-born Pope, will likely offer a 'radical contrast' to U.S. President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Trump himself welcomed the new Pope with a Truth Social post writing, Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

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At the same time, many in Trumps orbit were significantly less enthused about the 267th Pope.

WOKE MARXIST POPE, far-right conspiracy theorist and alleged Trump concubine Laura Loomer posted on social media following the announcement that Prevost had been elected.

Of course hes anti-MAGA and WOKE, she ranted in a separate post. Another Open Borders Pope. Gross.

In a TV appearance last week, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon denigrated Prevost as one of the most progressive candidates for the papacy, cautioning that he would not be a friend to the MAGA movement.

As MAGA influencer Vince Langman tweeted after Prevosts selection was made public, In case you're wondering why they picked an American to be a Pope for the first time in history... He's a WOKE Never Trumper liberal. That's why!

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Conversely, to Fr. Hagan, Prevost is someone he always looked up to, and a person he has always had a great deal of respect for.

Prevost modeled a way of life that Hagan could aspire to, and has always been kind to me. Now, as Pope Leo XIV, Hagan knows his onetime mentors life will be very different from now on.

His message to the new Pope?

Hagan told The Independent, I certainly just offer my congratulations and my prayers.
The new pope, Leo XIV, voted in Republican primaries in Illinois, voting records viewed by CNN show.

The former Robert Francis Prevost has lived and worked all over the world but is registered to vote in New Lenox, a suburb southwest of Chicago, CNN reports. He was born in Chicago and was vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of Mother of Good Counsel in another suburb, Olympia Fields, briefly in the late 1980s. He has a brother who lives in New Lenox.

Records that the Will County Clerks Office in Illinois provided to CNN show he voted in the Republican primaries of 2012, 2014, and 2016. Illinois voters do not have to register as a member of a particular party, but they can choose a party primary in which to vote. 2012 and 2016 were presidential election years, with Mitt Romney becoming the Republican nominee in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016.

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Prevost voted in the general elections of 2024, 2018, 2014 and 2012. Who he voted for in either primaries or general elections is secret, as it is for all American citizens.

He has a mixed record on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2012, at a meeting of bishops, he criticized homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children as being at odds with the gospel. He has also objected to the teaching of what he called gender ideology in schools. But at other times, he has expressed sympathy for the LGBTQ+ community.

LGBTQ+ Catholic groups said they hoped his views had evolved or will evolve. We pray that Pope Leo XIV will demonstrate a willingness to listen and grow as he begins his new role as the leader of the global Church, said a statement from DignityUSA.

We hope that he will further educate himself by meeting with and listening to LGBTQ+ Catholics and their supporters, added Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry. Catholics need to be freed from the deadening homophobia and transphobia which strangles their personal and spiritual growth.

Michael OLoughlin, executive director of Outreach, gave The Advocate this statement: From his choice of name honoring a pope committed to justice, to his call for a church focused on peace and dialogue, early signs show that Pope Leo XIV hopes to continue the pastoral outreach of Pope Francis. While we do not yet know how the new pope will interact with LGBT Catholics, the same was true in 2013 on the night Pope Francis was elected, and his pontificate wound up being inspiring to so many in our community.
In his first mass as the new leader of the Catholic Church on Friday, Pope Leo XIV warned materialism and cautioned that losing one's faith can have "dramatic side effects."

These include finding that "the meaning of life is lost, mercy is forgotten, human dignity is violated in the most dramatic ways, the crisis of the family and many other wounds from which our society is suffering significantly," he said, speaking in Italian.

The comments came one day after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was announced as the first US pontiff, with white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney after four rounds of voting in the papal conclave.

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Now Pope Leo XIV, he presided over the first mass as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Friday morning, flanked by cardinals in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Leo was clad in a long white robe and wearing a traditional mitre. He wore dark shoes, not the red shoes worn by many previous popes, which his predecessor Francis had also eschewed.

The 69-year-old said faith is regarded as something "absurd," as something for "weak and unintelligent people."

Faith is often replaced by other things such as technology, money, success, power and pleasure, he said.

He added that the figure of Jesus Christ is often seen merely as a "charismatic leader or superhuman." This, he said, was effectively a form of atheism.

US pope considered a centrist

Chicago-born Leo, 267th pontiff in two millennia of Church history, is considered a centrist who does not shy away from criticizing politics. US President Donald Trump was among the first to congratulate him, calling it a "great honor" for the United States.

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However Prevost had repeatedly criticized the policies of the Trump administration. Before his appointment as a cardinal, he spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, where he also holds citizenship.

There is much anticipation about whether he will continue the cautious reform course of the Argentinian Francis - or be deferential to conservative cardinals who want a more traditional direction. In Europe, the Catholic Church has recently seen a significant decline in membership, driven by numerous abuse scandals. However, the number of Catholics is growing on other continents.

No immediate changes

Leo has decided to temporarily keep the current heads of the Vatican's key offices and institutions in their positions, the Holy See said on Friday. He has also not yet decided whether he will reside in the Apostolic Palace like previous popes. Francis lived for 12 years in a relatively modest apartment in the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta.

Reactions keep coming

Following his Thursday's election, congratulations poured in from around the world and the well wishes continued on Friday.

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"I believe we have found the right candidate," German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki told Domradio, a German-Catholic broadcaster based in Cologne, where Woelki is archbishop. He was one of three German cardinals eligible to vote.

Woelki pointed out Leo's extensive pastoral experience in Peru, saying the new pope is therefore familiar with different worlds and can be "a bridge builder."

Woelki said Leo's election after only four rounds of voting is "a very good indicator" that the Church hierarchy is behind him.

"There are not the major divisions and differences that were being talked about."

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In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry hopes Russia's exchange with the Vatican will continue under the new pope.

"We value the constructive cooperation with the Vatican in resolving a number of humanitarian issues in the context of the conflict in Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

The relationship is based on a mutual commitment to "traditional spiritual and moral values" and a similar approach to issues of global development and the establishment of a just world order, the Russian ministry said.

Leo's predecessor, pope Francis had repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than three years ago.

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In March, the former pontiff said the underdog, meaning Ukraine, must have the courage to negotiate, a statement that drew criticism worldwide, as some saw it as suggesting Kiev capitulate.

Relations between Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic one have not always been smooth, with the Russian Church accusing Catholics of trying to proselytize Russians for years.

In 2016, the first ever meeting was held between the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill I and Francis, the pope then.

Busy days ahead

The new pontiff has a packed schedule for the coming days, including an expected appearance at around midday on Sunday on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica for the traditional Regina Coeli prayer.

Pope Leo is to be inaugurated on May 18 with a mass in St Peter's Square, the Vatican said later, in a ceremony due to take place at 10 am (0800 GMT) next Sunday in the Vatican. The first of his weekly general audiences is planned for May 21.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on Thursday, he chose the name Leo XIV  joining a centuries-old tradition in which each new pontiff selects a name with personal meaning, historical significance and symbolic weight.

By choosing the name Leo, the 267th pope is joining a group of 13 other popes who took the name.

Kansas City diocese reacts to first American pope being selected

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While every pope is free to choose their own name, they often honor a saint or a past pope they admire or pick a name that is important to their family, according to Vatican News.

Many popes choose the name of their predecessor, which is why several are repeated in the long list of pontiffs, such as 23 Pope Johns. Other popular names are Benedict (16), Gregory (16) and Clement (14).

There are 13 previous Pope Leos. The papal name Leo XIV is a nod to the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, particularly his contributions to social justice and his Rerum Novarum encyclical, which addressed workers rights and capitalism, according to OSV News.

The name Leo, meaning lion in Latin, also symbolizes strength and courage, aligning with the new Popes commitment to navigating contemporary challenges.

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The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, who served from 1878 until his death in 1903.

Pope Leo I, also known as St. Leo the Great, lived in the fifth century (440461), according to Catholic.org. There were significant disruptions during this era in both society and the Church.

According to Catholic.org, Pope Leo XIVs papal motto, In the one Christ we are one, embodies his commitment to upholding unity within the worldwide Church. During his first public speech as pope, he stressed the importance of peace, unity, and a renewed emphasis on Christs teachings.

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In this day and age, even the holy leave social media trails.

The new pope's online footprint was quickly dissected Thursday just minutes after he was elected the next head of the Catholic Church, sparking a mixed reaction from some on the right.

Before he became Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost occasionally posted on social media, including some messages that appeared to be critical of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance and their worldview.

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His most recent activity on X came in mid-April, when he shared a post on his account from a Catholic commentator who called out Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele for laughing about the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland. The post linked to an article published by the Catholic Standard newspaper, in which Bishop Evelio Menjivar asked of Catholics about Abrego Garcia: Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?

In February, Prevost posted links to stories that were critical of Vance, including one from the National Catholic Reporter. Prevost repeated the headline on X: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others." In the article, the writer rebutted Vances claim in a Fox News interview that Christians prioritize loving people close to them before those from other countries.

Reached for comment Thursday, the White House directed NBC News to a post on X by Vance.

Pope Francis meets with Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican on April 20. (Vatican Media via AFP - Getty Images file)

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and happened to meet with Pope Francis the day before he died, congratulated Prevost on being elected the first American pope.

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"Im sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him! he wrote on X.

Trump also offered his congratulations. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope, he wrote on Truth Social.

What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

Other reposts from Prevost's X account have suggested he supports protecting immigrants, reducing gun violence and combating climate change.

The day after the Las Vegas mass shooting in October 2017, Prevost shared a post from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., that said: "To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it."

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Also in 2017, Prevost reposted someone who was defending immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children, known as Dreamers.

"I stand with the #Dreamers and all people who are working toward an immigration system that is fair, just, and moral. #DefendDACA #DACA," the post said.

In a matter of hours, his X account had added more than 200,000 followers.

Still, the new pope has not been a prolific poster  and much of what he shared was fairly standard Catholic fare  so his social media posts don't give a complete picture of all his political views.

Some conservative commentators have already seized on Prevost's posts and comments.

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Laura Loomer, a far-right commentator and close Trump ally, published a series of posts decrying Leos politics. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican, she wrote.

Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was more neutral in his reaction to Prevost's election.

"Lets just say, not so great tweets about having some willingness for open borders. Well see kind of how he is on that. Also some George Floyd stuff that Im not too crazy about," he said in a video on X. "But overall, it seems like hes a pro-life warrior. Theres a lot yet to learn about this pope, but I hope that he will be a strong advocate for strong borders. And for sovereignty.

In 2020, Prevost reposted tweets offering prayers and a message of support for Floyd, whose murder by a Minneapolis police officer led to a national reckoning on race relations and policing.

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Other Republicans, like former President George W. Bush, had more positive reactions. Bush said in a statement that it's a "historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America and for the faithful around the world."

Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat and only the second Catholic to be elected to the White House, also voiced support for the new pope on X: "Habemus papam  May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Eggroll Co. is boosting its presence at Camp North End.

The concept  born out of a family-run food truck and catering company  will move into a 1,569-square-foot space in the Keswick District there this summer.

ALSO READ: Sourdough pizza restaurant opens at Camp North End

Eggroll Co. has occupied a 385-square-foot food stall in that section of Camp North End since November, often drawing long lines. It will continue to operate there until its new location opens at 301 Camp Road, Suite 102. That location was previously Babe & Butcher.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Sourdough pizza restaurant opens at Camp North End
One Southeast Asian country is the subject of a renewed travel advisory from the U.S. government.

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday, April 30, that Indonesia has been classified with a Level 2 Travel Advisory of Exercise Increased Caution. The advisory cites the increased risk of "terrorism and natural disasters."

However, certain areas in Indonesia were labeled with the highest travel advisory level, at a Level 4 Advisory of "Do Not Travel." It is advised to avoid Central Papua and Highland Papua, and specifically Jayawijaya, which is in Highland Papua, and Nabire, Timika and Mimika, which are in Central Papua.

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"In Central Papua and Highland Papua, violent demonstrations and conflict could result in injury or death to U.S. citizens," the State Department website said. "Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Armed separatists may kidnap foreign nationals."

Beginning in February 2025, students across Indonesia started to protest in opposition to President Prabowo Subianto's policies, per Reuters.

Getty Indonesia, Papua, Jayawijaya Indonesia, Papua, Jayawijaya

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Travelers were also warned that the U.S. government has "limited ability" to aid citizens in the case of emergencies because government officials must secure special visas before visiting the aforementioned areas.

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"Due to the risks, the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Central Papua and Highland Papua because U.S. government employees working in Indonesia must obtain special authorization before traveling to those areas," the State Department website said.

Getty Balim River in Jayawijaya, Papua, Indonesia Balim River in Jayawijaya, Papua, Indonesia

Additionally, the day before the travel advisory for Indonesia was issued, the State Department announced that Indonesia's neighbor, Papua New Guinea, received a Level 3 advisory of "Reconsider Travel."

Papua New Guinea borders Indonesia to the east. Travelers are advised to reconsider travel "due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy," per the State Department. "Exercise increased caution due to kidnapping, unexploded ordnance, inconsistent availability of healthcare services, and potential for natural disasters."

Also, areas near the Panguna Mine on the island of Bougainville and the Highlands Region (except Mt. Hagen and Goroka) have Level 4 warnings of "Do Not Travel." Both advisories are due to civil unrest.



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(KRON)  One of the most well-known jewelry brands is closing its San Francisco Centre mall location. Swarovski is closing its location inside the mall on May 19, according to multiple reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner.

Swarovski does have another store in Union Square as its 295 Geary St. location remains open. That store is about two blocks away from the indoor mall.

Despite another closure by a major retailer inside the mall formerly known as Westfield, there are still several still operating. That includes H&M, Foot Locker, Shoe Palace and Bath & Body Works.

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Swarovskis closure comes at a time when two major department stores announced their departure from Union Square: Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. Luxury spa Burke Williams permanently closed last month, citing safety concerns as a reason.

However, there are still big-name companies set to open in the downtown area.

The Nintendo store opens next week on May 15. Zara is opening a huge four-story, 40,000 square-foot location at an unknown future date. In January, KRON4 compiled a list of retailers opening in the area.

Michelin-star restaurant blames San Francisco economy for closure

KRON4 reached out to an SF Centre spokesperson who declined to comment, neither confirming nor denying Swarovskis closure. We also reached out to multiple Swarovski representatives and did not hear back in time for this report.

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Swarovski is one of the most recognizable jewelry brands in the world, boasting 20 million followers across its X, Facebook and Instagram pages. Brand ambassadors include Ariana Grande, Bella Hadid and K-pop star Kim Chaewon of LE SSERAFIM.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The Port of Virginia will feel the effects of the ongoing trade policy changes, but likely not to the same extent of others, according to the ports executive director.

In front of packed room at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, Stephen Edwards, who is also the Port of Virginias CEO, addressed what he called the ultra-large container ship in the room: uncertainty.

While the first five months of 2025 have been strong, changes are likely on the horizon.

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On April 9, Trump announced total tariffs on most Chinese imports would be 145%. Seattles port had started to see the effects this week with a drop in container traffic, and in some cases, container ships altogether.

Edwards said he doesnt expect the Port of Virginia to face a similar reality as trade with China only makes up 19% of their overall cargo.

Uncertainty makes companies pause, reconsider supply and yes, that has ripple effects on us at the Port of Virginia, Edwards said. Today, were in the fortunate position of being the least exposed major U.S. port on trade with China and maintaining a diverse mix of international trading partners that support a strong, steady book of business.

The ports largest trade partners are the European Union, China, India and Vietnam according to Edwards.

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But still, he expects cargo rates to drop off if nothing changes.

So March is OK. April is OK. May towards the back end of May will be the first ships that are arriving at port which will have China tariffs cargo, Edwards said. They will have less cargo, so there will be less cargo arriving at the end of May. But it wont be the steep drop off that youre seeing on the West Coast.

The port directly employs 480 people, but supports 570,000 jobs throughout Virginia, according to Edwards.

The number of longshoremen working each day at the port is directly related to the cargo volumes, according to Joe Harris, a spokesperson for the port, as are truckers, railroad workers and more.

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Edwards was not prepared to predict what could happen if the tariffs are long-term.

Our job is to make sure that we get world-class service so that the importers and exporters know that theyve got certainty of service, Edwards said, and we will not compromise our service levels, and we will not compromise our investments.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
By Sergio Goncalves

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's governing centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) kept its lead in a new opinion poll released on Friday ahead of a May 18 national election, though it was seen falling short of a majority in a parliament that looks set to remain fragmented.

The ICS/ISCTE survey published by Expresso newspaper showed the AD - which came to power in a snap election last year - dropping to 32% support from 33% two weeks ago.

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However, their main rivals, the centre-left Socialists, also fell, to 27% from 29%.

It leaves the AD far from a parliamentary majority, which under Portugal's proportional representation system could only be achieved with at least 42% of the vote.

The March 2024 election saw the AD and the Socialists finish neck-and-neck with 28% and 27% of the vote, respectively, which led to a minority AD government.

Jose Tomaz Castello Branco, a political science professor at the Catholic University of Portugal, said polling suggested that "on the day after the election, the situation will not be that different from what it is today".

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"That will be the most dramatic result," he told Reuters.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro failed to win parliament's confidence two months ago after the opposition questioned his integrity over the dealings of his family's data protection consultancy, prompting what will be Portugal's third parliamentary election in as many years.

Montenegro, now in a caretaker role, has denied any wrongdoing.

Far-right party Chega, with whom Montenegro refuses any deals, is polling third at 19% - above the 18% it garnered in last year's election - apparently emerging unscathed from scandals involving several senior party members.

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Liberal Initiative is polling at 5%, virtually the same as a year ago, and not enough to give a potential alliance with the AD a full majority.

The poll suggests 12% of voters are undecided.

ICS/ISCTE surveyed 1,002 people between April 25 and May 5. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points.

(Reporting Sergio Goncalves; Editing by David Latona and Gareth Jones)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  American reaction poured in Thursday after Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vaticans powerful office of bishops, was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Its such a great honor for our country to have an American pope, President Donald Trump said from the driveway entrance to the White House. I mean, what greater honor could there be and we were a little bit surprised and very happy. Its just a great, absolutely great honor.

The Chicago-born missionary took the name Leo XIV. In his first words as Pope Francis successor, he emphasized peace, dialogue, and missionary evangelization.

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People gathering outside the historic St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City were bullish on the idea of an American-born pontiff.

Im just so excited for our country, for the world, Paquita Chavez, a resident of Maspeth, NY, a residential community in Queens, told CBS News.

And in the Pennsylvania suburb of Oakland, near Pittsburgh, the reaction was similar.

From what I hear, hes a good guy and [Im] just looking forward to seeing how the new pope works and what hell do for the Catholics, Parth Bhargava, outside St. Paul Cathedral, told CBS News.

Morgan Weaver, also outside of St. Paul Cathedral, told CBS News Thursday, He said that he was going to build on Pope Francis practices and teaching, so Im excited to see how he leads the church.

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People in Philadelphia  not far from Villanova University, where the new pope studied  are claiming some pride and ownership of Prevost as well. From the Main Line to the Divine Line, a billboard on a Pennsylvania freeway said.

Prevost graduated from Villanova with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977 and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, from the university in 2014. He is also the first Augustinian Pope.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Strict regulations on the sale of hemp and CBD products could soon be in place, leaving those who rely on the products worried.

I dont understand why you are trying to ban something thats not hurting anybody, its not alcohol, its not tobacco, this is CBD, its lab tested and helps with a whole bunch of problems, said consumer and patient Rasheryl Kinkade.

Kinkade uses CBD products from Natures Pointe Wellness for her diabetic neuropathy after she says the medication that she was prescribed affected her physically and mentally, making her suicidal at times, and she says she would hate to revert.

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Alabama bill giving ABC Board regulation over THC products derived from hemp awaiting Gov. Iveys signature

This is a good product and people need to understand how good it is and the leiglature needs to try it are they on medication get off it for a minute or add cbd and see if it helps you dont ban something if you dont know anything about it..

The potential ban also comes with restrictions, like limiting edible products to not exceed 10 milligrams per dose and no more than 40 milligrams per container, and gummies would have to be packaged individually.

It will also require the products to be sold only in liquor stores, as the ABC board would control this.

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The state of Alabama is saying its an intoxicant, governing it like alcohol; it has no business in helping people other than intoxication. Our product does not do that. For the legislature to look at it like that, you have to think there is some big money somewhere, said Jude Rodgers, co-owner of Natures Pointe Wellness.

Additional people may qualify for WIC under new Alabama guidelines

It also would impose a 10% tax on hemp products that would make it more expensive for consumers, which they say is way more affordable right now.

The potential restrictions could have a major economic impact on businesses like Natures Pointe Wellness and consumers.

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It will put us out of business who help many in the state. Youre gonna make it to where people are going to spend that money out of state, said Rodgers.

Therefore, consumers and small businesses say they plan to stand up against lawmakers.

Youre attacking things that dont matter. Attack homelessness, thats running rampant, hunger, issues that matter. CBD is not, Kinkade said.

Call, email, go on social media, and ask Governor Ivey to veto, said Kinkade.

Alabamas potential CBD ban leads to consumer backlash

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Agents arrested a Prairieville woman accused of stealing over $125,000 in benefits in a fraud scheme involving two Louisiana agencies.

Priscilla Jackson, 40, of Prairieville, was charged with unauthorized use of SNAP benefits, theft over $25K, and government benefits fraud.

According to Attorney General Liz Murrills office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation received a criminal tip to investigate Jackson on suspicion of Medicaid fraud on Nov. 17, 2022.

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During the investigation, the Louisiana Department of Health Recipient Fraud Unit learned that Jackson allegedly failed to provide accurate personal information, such as her marriage and her husbands income, to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to get SNAP benefits. Murrills office said that between 2018 and 2025, Jackson would not have been eligible for Medicaid if she had reported the accurate information.

Jackson is accused of underreporting information and providing falsified applications. She reportedly stole a total of $126,812 from both state agencies. According to an affidavit, Jackson bought a $110,742 Cadillac Escalade and paid $70,000 for pool installation.

Jackson was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday, May 8. Her bond was set at $10,000.

3 from Baton Rouge plead guilty to charges in health care fraud schemes

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with IowaWORKS and Goodwill of the Heartland, is hosting a job and career fair on Thursday, May 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the YMCA (1823 Logan Street).

This job fair is FREE, open to the general public and registration is NOT REQUIRED to attend.

As in years prior, booths will be hosted by many local businesses, schools and staffing agencies.

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New this year, the Chamber is also partnering with IowaWORKS, Goodwill of the Heartland and The Iowa Center to provide a Job Fair Prep Clinic on Thursday, May 15 at the Musser Public Library (408 E. 2nd Street) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Job seekers will be given the opportunity to edit and print copies of their resumes, brush up on interview and professional grooming skills, speak with career advisors and learn about resources available to entrepreneurs. This is also free to the public and registration is not required.

Preparation is the key to success and we want to make sure job seekers have the tools that enable them to put their best foot forward in the application and interview processes. We believe that pairing these two events will improve the human resource elements for everyone, said Lindsay Trumbull, Director of Membership at GMCCI.

For additional information (or for additional businesses that would like to host a booth), please contact Lindsay Trumbull at ltrumbull@muscatine.com.

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From left to right, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attend a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

In an interview on May 4, 2025, with Kristen Welker, host of NBCs Meet the Press, President Donald Trump was asked: Dont you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States, as President? Shockingly, Trump answered: I dont know.

Shocking, because Trump, on Inauguration Day three months ago  for the second time in his life  swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Shocking, because the Take Care Clause in Article II requires the president to faithfully execute the laws. Shocking, because Article VI declares that the Constitution and the Laws of the United States shall be the supreme Law of the Land.

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Trumps answer reflects, not ignorance of the solemnity of the oath that he took, but rather the authoritarianism that he is seeking to entrench in the United States, a governing approach that is embodied in a plebiscitary presidency.

The philosophical framework of a plebiscitary presidency toward which Trump is moving, represents the completion of Richard Nixons conception of government. The model is not that created by the Framers of the Constitution, nor is it a parliamentary regime.

Trumps expression of doubt about the binding nature of the Constitution, and his duty to uphold it, cannot be dismissed by his indifference our constitutional system  separation of powers, checks and balances, enumeration of powers  but rather his disdain for it.

Trump, as we have seen, has usurped fundamental congressional powers  lawmaking, appropriations and appointment, among others and has unilaterally abolished statutory requirements, defied the U.S. Supreme Courts order requiring adherence to the commands of due process and engaged in a calculated disparagement of the free press, universities and other bodies committed to free and independent thought.

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Trump has subdued GOP leadership in Congress and party faithful, at his beck and call, are loathe to resist his personality, temperament and judgment. He is in command of the economy, and he has concentrated in his hands, alone, power over foreign and domestic policymaking. At this historic juncture, Trumps ambitions, moods and perceptions determine acceptable fare for his presidential agenda and the nation.

Trumps usurpations are met by stunning silence from members of Idahos congressional delegation  U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, as well as U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher  who refuse to defend the Constitution and their institutional powers. He betrays his oath of office while they betray theirs.

Trump is engaged in an audacious reconstruction of the Constitution, one grounded in the premises of a plebiscitary presidency, which assumes that democracy is enhanced if the capacity to govern is vested in the White House, undeterred by constitutional restraints. In its glory, it speaks of the investment of the sovereignty of the nation in the chief executive and reflects contempt for the rule of law. As Trump told The Atlantic, I run the country and the world.

The plebiscitary presidency is intended, as political scientist Theodore Lowi observed, to evoke the powerful imagery of Roman emperors and French authoritarians who governed on the basis of popular adoration, with the masses giving their noisy consent to every course of action.

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Robert Michels classic, Political Parties, published in 1911, explained the rationale of the personal dictatorship conferred by the people in accordance with constitutional rules. By plebiscitary reasoning, once elected the chosen of the people can no longer be opposed in any way. He personifies the majority and all resistance to his will is anti-democratic. He is, moreover, infallible, for he who is elected by six million votes, carries out the will of the people; he does not betray them.

Imagine how much stronger the president would be if elected by 30 million votes. If the opposition becomes annoying it is for the voters themselves, we are assured, who demand from the chosen of the people that he should use severe repressive measures, should employ force, should concentrate all authority in his own hands. The president, having aggrandized the powers of the legislature and judiciary, would become democracy personified.

Trump, it will be recalled, has spoken  repeatedly  in such grandiose terms. Daily, he reminds Americans of his victory in the 2024 presidential election, although baselessly claiming a landside victory, for the purpose of swelling his plebiscitary claims and aims.

In his Meet the Press interview, he shrugged off constitutional limitations, by reiterating that he won the election  they had their chance  as if victory confers power beyond authority derived from the Constitution. Of course, the Constitution is the sole source of governmental authority and the president, until constitutional provisions are surrendered or trampled, has a solemn duty to uphold the Constitution.

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President Donald Trump endorsed Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Axson in a social media post on Thursday.

Axson is facing a challenge to his chairmanship from former state lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman.

In his post, Trump pointed out that Axson has received endorsements from Sen. Mike Lee and Gov. Spencer Cox.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, Republicans in Utah have the opportunity to Re-Elect a FANTASTIC Chairman! Robert Axson has dedicated his life to the Republican Party, and the Great State of Utah. He is Strongly Supported by many, including Highly Respected Senator Mike Lee, and Governor Spencer Cox. Robert Axson has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election as Chairman of the Utah Republican Party  HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!

Republicans in Utah have the opportunity to Re-Elect a FANTASTIC Chairman! Robert Axson has dedicated his life to the Republican Party, and the Great State of Utah. He is Strongly Supported by many, including Highly Respected Senator Mike Lee, and Governor Spencer Cox. Robert  Trump Posts on  (@trump_repost) May 8, 2025

Lyman has styled his campaign for party chair around MAGA-related messaging, including his Make Utah Great Again slogan.

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In a post on X on Friday, Lyman didnt respond directly to Trumps endorsement of his opponent, instead telling Republican delegates that they had a choice to make at the state organizing convention. Please choose wisely. There is so much at stake and the Republican party needs to be the influence for good that it was created to be, he said.

Delegates will elect a party leader at the May 17 state convention at Utah Valley University.

Axson: Trump endorsed party chairs who were in partnership with him

Axson said he has spoken to Trump a number of times in the past, but did not speak to him immediately ahead of the endorsement.

Trump backed several state party chair candidates, and Axson said he sees a link between the endorsees. The thing that is universally the case is these are states and state chairs who have been in partnership with Trump and engaged with him, he said.

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What hes been able to see from my style of leadership is how focused I am on growing the party and having the party be a force for strength and good, built around our platform, and then actually delivering results for President Trump, Axson said.

He pointed out that Utah sent nearly 1,000 volunteers to Arizona and Nevada in the run-up to the 2024 election, including Axson and his two sons.

Utah leaders react to Trumps endorsement

Several other prominent Utah Republicans celebrated Trumps endorsement of Axson.

Congressman Burgess Owens wrote, President @realDonaldTrump is 100% correct and @RobertAxson has my full endorsement."

Sen. Lee wrote, I stand with President Trump: The Utah GOP needs to re-elect Robert Axson as party chairman.

I stand with President Trump:



The Utah GOP needs to re-elect Robert Axson as party chairman @realDonaldTrump @RobertAxson https://t.co/qFEAYcZ1Ys  Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) May 8, 2025

Former Senate candidate Carolyn Phippen, who supported Lyman in his race for governor last year, said she also supported Axson.

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I agree, and while I strongly and loudly supported the other candidate for governor, This is a different race with a different necessary skill set. President Trump is right - @RobertAxson for Utah GOP Chair!
President Trump Names Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro as Top Prosecutor in D.C.

President Trump is going back to the Fox News well for another important position in the federal government ... naming host Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.

POTUS just shared his intentions in a post on Truth Social. She is replacing Ed Martin, who Trump says is moving over to the Justice Department.

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Pirro hosts on Fox News and she's also been a county judge in New York and a district attorney there, too.

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Trump says ... "During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime. Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutor's Office was the first in the Nation. She excelled in all ways."

Donald Trump Wins The 2024 Presidential Election - Click image to open gallery

He adds ... "Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!"

A FOX News Media spokesperson told TMZ in a statement ... Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to "The Five" over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

Trump previously nominated former Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth as his Secretary of Defense.

Jeanine's been an outspoken Trump supporter since he got into politics ... and now it's paying off with a government job!!!
ALEDO, Texas (Nexstar)  Elliston Berrys life changed just a couple of months into her high school career when a classmate decided to take photos from her social media page and generate fake pornographic images of her, known as deepfakes.

Ellistons mom, Anna McAdams, recalls the moment her 14-year-old daughter discovered the images were circulating around social media.

Coming to our room crying going, Mom you wont believe whats happening,' McAdams said. We really watched her go into a shell, kind of go inside herself. She got off social media completely. We saw her withdraw.

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That was in October 2023. This year, sparked by the mother-daughter duo, President Donald Trump said he will sign the Take It Down Act  a bill to criminalize those who publish non-consensual intimate images.

McAdams said she struggled to get help from the school and from the social media app, Snapchat, to get the images removed.

We would go on there and just request please take these down. Id leave my email, my phone number, and never heard back from them, McAdams said.

Their story made its way to Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs office, who authored the Take It Down Act. According to the senator, more than 90% of the victims in these cases are women. Cruz said he had to intervene with Snapchat to get Ellistons fake images removed from the app, and his bill looks to make it easier for victims to get the intimate images taken down in the future.

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It shouldnt take a sitting-U.S. Senator making a phone call to get that content down, and now as soon as the President signs the Take It Down Act into law, any victim will have a federal statutory right to ensure that content gets taken down, Cruz said.

The senator explained his bill borrows the notice-and-takedown system from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. For example, social media companies have teams responsible for taking down content that is copyright infringement.

Cruzs bill would require tech companies to take down any non-consensual images within 48 hours of receiving a complaint from a victim. If this is a non-consensual intimate image, either a real one, or a deepfake, it doesnt matter, the victim has a right to get that content taken down, Cruz said. It not only applies to AI-generated images, but any image that is intimate in nature and does not have the consent of the person depicted.

The Federal Trade Commission will have the authority to punish and force a tech platform to comply with the law.

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McAdams and her daughter continue to advocate for victims. McAdams said she is currently working on a curriculum to teach schools and parents about the bill and how they can use in it in the future.

This Take It Down Act is there and we can use. Law enforcement can use it, McAdams said.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  President Trumps tariffs appear to be getting mixed reviews in Tennessee. A new poll from Vanderbilt University found that a majority of Tennessees registered voters oppose tariffs.

From Chinese goods, to steel and aluminum, and auto parts, News 2 spoke to a local business about how the tariffs are impacting them.

On Nolensville Pike, Bass Tire has been in business for 47 years. Yeah, what I get to do every day is I get to wait on folks in all walks of life and make their car run better. Making them smile and just helping people, said Steve Bass, Owner of Bass Tire.

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Bass said the majority of his customers are regulars. Now hes fearful that tariffs on auto parts might impact their bill.

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It adds up, it really adds up like everything else, it impacts the family budget, Bass said.

According to a new Vanderbilt University poll, 46% of voters in the study support Trumps plan to impose tariffs on foreign products, while 53% oppose the move.

Tariffs remain controversial. Tennesseans in general are not wild about tariffs, John Geer, Vanderbilt Political Science Professor, Poll Founder, said.

The poll also shows that when it comes to the economy, 61% of Tennesseans say they worry about having enough money to pay for emergencies, such as medical care or car repairs.

Meanwhile, at Bass Tire, Bass said hes seen a cost increase from tire manufacturers. Most of the major manufacturers have announced a 5% increase, and most of that will take effect in June.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

He said most of his products and parts are not made in the U.S. Probably 60% is built overseas.

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However, he said it is still cheaper to fix your car than buy a new one, and hes hopeful that prices on auto parts will balance out in the future.

I think the long term, if they can get manufacturing back here, it will help to some degree, but in the short term, we are going to feel the pinch on that, Bass said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Prince Harry seems to be losing more support as his former pals have turned on him over his recent BBC interview.

The Duke of Sussex made several shocking remarks and even hinted at King Charles' health during the interview after he lost his appeal to restore his police protection in the UK.

Now, several of Prince Harry's old pals have made scathing statements condemning his behavior.

Prince Harry Gets Called Out By His Old Friends

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

While royal experts and biographers have lambasted Harry for his recent remarks about the British monarchy, the duke's old pals have also spoken out to criticize his actions.

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One of the most significant comments comes from Harry's friend, Ben Goldsmith, a 40-year-old financier who grew up with the prince and was very close to his late mother, Princess Diana's family.

Goldsmith publicly blasted Harry, saying, "Tragic but true  Prince Harry's behaviour is unforgivable."

According to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, several other close pals of the duke have slammed him in private, calling his BBC interview "disgusting."

During the interview, Harry expressed his desire to reconcile with his family, saying there is no need to continue fighting with them and that he is not sure how long his father has left, referencing King Charles' cancer battle.

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Harry also stated that people who "wish [him] harm" are taking his defeat in court as a "huge win."

Reacting to these remarks, one of the prince's old pals said, "I don't know what's more disgusting  Harry's comment about his father's health or his suggestion that people want him dead. It's very sad, but we all know that he doesn't want to hear things he disagrees with."

Some of Harry's pals are also opting not to say anything about his recent remarks, reportedly out of fear of being cut off by the Duke of Sussex.

Prince William Shuts Down Talks Of Reconciliation With His Younger Brother

MEGA

According to insiders, Prince William appears to have firmly shut the door on hopes of reconciliation with Harry, showing no intention of repairing their fractured relationship.

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"William doesn't talk about Harry anymore," a source shared with Us Weekly. "Everyone knows it's a subject that they shouldn't bring up, so he hasn't brought up the interview and won't."

The source emphasized that the Prince of Wales, now 42, has emotionally checked out of the relationship, noting: "When he becomes king, everybody thinks the divide will become even wider."

While William is seemingly done with his brother, Harry, on the other hand, wants to reconcile.

In his explosive interview with the BBC, he opened up about the emotional toll of his ongoing rift with the royal family.

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"There have been countless disagreements between me and certain family members," Harry said, adding that he has since chosen forgiveness. "I want us to move past it. There's no use in dragging this out any longer."

'Major Trust Issues' Leave Prince Harry 'Blackballed' By The Royal Family

MEGA

Despite Harry's hopes for healing the rift with his family, insiders say that goal is drifting further out of reach with the duke getting "blackballed."

According to Page Six, the divide between Harry and the rest of the royal family, particularly his brother William and King Charles, is wider than ever due to "major trust issues."

"I genuinely think nobody trusts him, and that's the bottom line. The royal family has major trust issues with him, and that's what's at the heart of everything," a palace insider shared.

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The source added, "They don't trust him and Meghan, and that's why they can't have a relationship  maybe there's room to forgive, but they won't forget. Forgiveness and trust are two different things."

Palace Insider Defends King Charles After The Duke's Claims

MEGA

A palace insider argued that Harry's memoir, "Spare," and his past actions may not have done significant damage to his relationship with his father.

"The King is a Christian and a good man. Forgiveness is central to that," they noted, per The Mirror. "But how can anyone forget the events of the past five years when they are repeated so often? The whole episode is as exhausting as it is sad."

They continued: "If there were anxieties about things remaining private, Friday [and Harry's BBC interview] will not have done them the power of good."

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"The King is a kind man with a warm heartand quite enough on his plate to deal with, without all this from his son," the insider added, pointing to the King's ongoing cancer treatment.

In response to the court ruling on Harry's legal battle over security, Buckingham Palace issued a rare and pointed statement, reiterating the finality of the matter: "All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion."

Prince Harry Says His Children May Never Visit the UK After Security Ruling

Instagram | Meghan

The Palace's statement came after Harry expressed deep disappointment following the removal of his publicly funded UK security.

Speaking after the ruling by Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, who called the security downgrade "predictable" and "sensible" in light of Harry's 2020 step back from royal duties, Harry admitted he felt "devastated" and "let down."

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In his BBC interview, the Duke of Sussex shared his heartbreak over what the ruling means for his family.

"I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point," he shared.

Harry added: "I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done... and I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland."
Prince William shared a powerful new statement with the public as he condemned the recent deadly attacks on wildlife rangers in Mozambique.

A message was initially shared through United For Wildlife, founded by William and The Royal Foundation in 2013, which works to protect endangered animals from poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

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"We are deeply saddened to hear of the horrific attacks on the Niassa Special Reserve in northern Mozambique and the tragic passing of two of the Niassa Carnivore Project antipoaching scouts, Domingos Daude and Fernando Paolo Wirsone," began the statement.

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It went on, "Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and colleagues of Domingos and Fernando as well as the severely injured scout Mario Cristovao who we hope makes a full recovery. Our thoughts are also with the families of the two scouts that remain unaccounted for, we pray for their safe return and know the team in Niassa are doing everything possible to find them."

William then shared a direct statement in response to the attacks through his official social media channel that he shares with his wife, Kate Middleton, writing, "This attack is yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world."

This attack is yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world.



The reality is that being a ranger has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. My thoughts are with all those affected and their families. W https://t.co/GVlzIdmTGH  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 7, 2025

The message concluded, "The reality is that being a ranger has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. My thoughts are with all those affected and their families. W."

The attack that led to the death of two anti-poaching rangers reportedly occurred on the night of April 29.

Related: Why Prince William and Princess Kate Will Go By Different Names on Anniversary Trip






Prince William displayed discreet PDA towards his wife Kate Middleton at VE Day 80: A Celebration To Remember

The Prince and Princess of Wales have seemingly relaxed their stance on public displays of affection as she's resumed royal duties after undergoing treatment for cancer in 2024

Princess Kate spoke about the power of love in the September video she released to share that she had completed chemotherapy







Prince William showed his protective affection for wife Kate Middleton with a subtle move at their latest royal engagement.

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On May 8, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance at the VE Day 80: A Celebration To Remember concert in London, where they joined King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. The musical evening concluded the national celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, commemorating the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945, and William showed his love for Kate with a tender gesture.

As Prince William, 42, and Princess Kate, 43, filed into their seats, he put his hand on his wife's back to guide her.

While the British royals have historically refrained from PDA (often only sharing a public kiss on their royal wedding days), the Prince and Princess of Wales have seemingly relaxed their stance on the matter as Princess Kate has gradually resumed public duties after stepping back while undergoing treatment for cancer in 2024.

Chris Jackson/Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William attend a concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London on May 8, 2025. Kate Middleton and Prince William attend a concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London on May 8, 2025.

At the concert on Thursday, cameras captured the split-second moment where the Prince of Wales guided his wife to their seats in the front row of a box at the show.

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In another romantic moment, Princess Kate gave William a total look of love.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London on May 8, 2025. Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London on May 8, 2025.

It's thought that there are no formal rules governing how affectionate royal couples can act towards one another in public  it's at their own discretion.

"Senior members of the royal family would likely not be told how to interact or when they can or can not show PDA and would be trusted to use their better judgement as to when it's appropriate," royal etiquette expert Myka Meier, founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, previously told PEOPLE. "The royals often adjust PDA to mirror the formality of the event they are attending."

The Prince and Princess of Wales are parents to children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, and recently rang in their 14th wedding anniversary on April 29. William and Kate were away on the actual day as the calendar overlapped with a working visit to the Scottish Isles of Mull and Iona, and their team released an intimate picture of them together.

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"Wonderful to be back on the Isle of Mull. Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome  W & C," read the caption of the snap shared to social media, where they had their arms linked as they looked out a lake.

Scotland is a special place for the Prince and Princess of Wales as it's where they first met and fell in love as students at the University of St. Andrews in Edinburgh. Their two-day stay in Scotland on April 29 and 30 was their first official overnight work trip since the Princess of Wales announced in January that she was in remission from a cancer diagnosis she announced last year.

Princess Kate shared in September that she completed chemotherapy treatment in the most intimate video yet of the Wales family's private world. The footage filmed in Norfolk (where they have their country home) showed William and Kate cuddling, laughing and laying on a blanket together. In audio over the video audio, she spoke, in part, about the power of love.

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"This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved," Kate said.

Read the original article on People
A private special education school on the Upper East Side is accused of skipping out on $800,000 in legal bills to defend against sexual harassment claims and health violations, a new lawsuit claims.

But its founder blames the citys Department of Education for the debt, claiming that any lapse in payments is because of $6 million in funding that the Big Apple owes them.

The International Institute for the Brain, or iBRAIN, a specialty school for children with brain injuries and disorders, hired the elite law firm Pryor Cashman to solve a slew of legal headaches with the city, plus state and federal courts, back in 2023.

The International Institute for the Brain, or iBrain, allegedly owes over $800,000 to a law firm for work they did in 2023. Google Maps

While the school has paid the firm roughly $81,000, it still owes a whopping $815,000, the suit claims.

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Despite Pryor Cashmans repeated good faith attempts to obtain payment from iBrain, iBrain has failed and refused to make payment, reads the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Manhattan Supreme Court.

iBrains students are all non-verbal and wheelchair-dependent, the schools founder said. iBrain / Facebook

The firm did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Pryor Cashmans legal work for iBrain took place during 2023 and ranged from advice on what to do about a former worker publicly disparaging the school to helping resolve unspecified health code violations.

iBrain was also represented by Pryor Cashman in a salacious civil lawsuit in state court in 2023, where a former employee claimed that the school was extremely filthy and unsanitary  with dead rats visibly rotting and roaches crawling on students.

Pryor Cashmans legal work for iBrain took place during 2023 and ranged from advice on what to do about a former worker publicly disparaging the school to helping resolve unspecified health code violations. Pryor Cashman / X

iBrain also sued the same disgruntled worker in federal court for libel and malicious copyright infringement, claiming she used and exploited copyrighted photographs of iBrains disabled students as poster-children and pawns for her social media campaign of defamation.

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Both suits settled out of court, according to records and Pryor Cashmans lawsuit.

And when the firm sent iBrain its invoices, the school happily received them and partially paid up, but has been mum since.

iBrain never disputed the Invoices at any time, the suit claims, adding that the firm has demanded the school pay up.

iBrain has not responded to these demands.

School founder Patrick Donohue told The Post that while he couldnt comment yet on the suit, he blamed the citys DOE for continued and purposeful delays.

iBrains students are all non-verbal and wheelchair-dependent, many of whom require nursing due to their complex medical conditions, he said.

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The NYC DOE has a long history of withholding funds for special education students, and they are currently withholding over $6 million in tuition and related service funds for our students for just this school year, Donohue said.

iBrain founder Patrick Donohue founded the school after his newborn daughter suffered a debilitating attack that left her disabled. Patrick Donohue / Facebook

DOE officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claim.

We intend to fulfill any and all of our obligations as soon as the NYC DOE fulfills their legal and financial obligations to the families of iBRAIN, Donohue said.

The single father  once a finance director for former Gov. George Patakis winning campaign  founded the school after his newborn daughter suffered brain damage when her baby-nurse brutally attacked her.

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According to court papers, iBrain charges only a $100 refundable deposit for enrollment, with parents obtaining funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, in addition to public and private funding.

The school now has locations on the Upper East Side, Brooklyn and Washington, DC.

On Monday, the school held its inaugural iBrain Gala at the Central Park Boathouse  intentionally contrasting with the Met Gala  where their students made their way down a red carpet, some with the aid of futuristic exoskeleton devices.
Columbia University has suspended 65 students after the campus library was stormed by pro-Palestinian protesters.

More than 80 people are understood to have been involved in the incident on Wednesday, including at least 33 people who are not students at the university.

Masked protesters were seen in standing on tables, beating drums and unfurling banners reading strike for Gaza and Liberated zone in videos shared on social media.

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One person was filmed being handcuffed by a campus public safety officer. New York police eventually arrived in riot gear to clear the demonstration.

A total of 80 protesters were arrested, authorities said, and those involved could be face up to three months in jail. Columbia alumni and students from other universities were among those detained.

Demonstrators wearing masks protest in the main library on the New York campus of Columbia University - Johanna HA

Two campus public safety officers were injured as the demonstrators forced their way into the Butler Library, where students were revising ahead of their final exams.

Protesters were demanding an amnesty for students facing disciplinary action after last summers protests.

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They also demanded the release of activists facing deportation including Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, who was arrested and detained by ICE agents in March and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, said those on student visas are facing deportation. Students involved in similar demonstrations have previously been suspended had their degrees revoked.

Mahmoud Khalil was detained by ICE in March

The university, one of the most prestigious in the US, called police after protesters refused to leave. The university took around five hours to call in the police report, according to Fox News.

In spite of the delay, the Trump administration praised the universitys acting president for meeting the moment with fortitude and conviction.

The demonstration came just days before final exams at the university - Derek French/UPI/Shutterstock

The move came in stark contrast to the universitys handling of pro-Palestinian protests in the summer, when a pro-Gaza encampment remained in place for more than six weeks.

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Claire Shipman, Columbias acting president, said she called in the police because the protesters posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety.

Ms Shipman said she arrived at the library to see a public safety officer being wheeled out on a stretcher and another being bandaged up.

She said: As I left hours later, I walked through the reading room, one of the many jewels of Butler Library, and I saw it defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans.

Let me also make clear, our administration spent substantial time working to defuse the situation in multiple ways, through Public Safety and Delegate visits to the students, scenes I witnessed first-hand.

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The students were told they simply needed to identify themselves and then leave, but most refused.

The 2024 encampment on the Columbia University campus - Stefan Jeremiah

Four student journalists who were reporting on the protest for campus media were initially suspended but the action was later lifted.

Ms Shipman took over the post after Minouche Shafik, the former president of Columbia University, was forced to quit amid criticism of her handling of the summer protests.

Columbia declined to comment on what form disciplinary action might take.

Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa. This administration will not tolerate non-citizens causing mayhem on our college campuses, the state department said.

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Columbias response to the latest protests comes against a backdrop of the Trump administration threatening to withhold 300 million ($400 million) in federal grants if it failed to tackle on-campus antisemitism.

The New York Police Department was contacted for comment.

Additional reporting by Meera Navlakha.

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Helena Area Habitat for Humanity has unveiled more details for its new housing development that could break ground in East Helena as early as 2026 and eventually bring in 1,500 homes.

And a Habitat official said they have recently created another nonprofit to deal with land development for the project.

Jacob Kuntz, Habitats executive director, talked about the large housing project Friday to about 80 people at the Holter Museum and unveiled its logo and brand:

Rose Hills: A neighborhood for everyone.

Its a perfect name for what we think we be a transformational community, he said.

It will be more than a housing development, it will be a place where Montanans can thrive the rest of their lives.

The project was named after Al and Ann Rose, a longtime East Helena couple.

Al Rose had served as East Helenas police chief and Ann Rose was the first woman hired at the smelter.

Kuntz also outlined plans for phase 1 of the project, which will include 180 units on 110 lots. He said they are working with the city of East Helena on the subdivision application.

That will include 25-30 Habitat homes, 70 apartment homes, and another 84-90 market-rate homes.

Kuntz said the site will have more homes per acre than most developments, have smaller yards, maximize use of infrastructure and be a water conservation community because people would not have to water giant lawns.

He said the neighborhood would have 46 acres of green space, be directly connected to the Prickly Pear trail system and have trails connecting to Mountain View Meadows, a nearby housing project in Helena.

Kuntz mentioned that the 230-acre Prickly Pear Park opened May 1 adjacent to the Rose Hills property.

He said Habitat plans to maximize the land while balancing the needs of the community.

Kuntz said it is the largest land development ever undertaken by any Habitat for Humanity organization.

He said Rose Hills would stand alone as a mixed-income neighborhood with a variety of homes and incomes.

It will be a mix of homes, townhomes and apartments. There will be 1,500 homes on 200 acres. It will include a town center with businesses that offer services such as child care, a senior center, coffee shop, small restaurant and even a post office. There will also be room for a school.

Habitat for Humanity plans to build 350-450 starter homes they say will be accessible to Montanans through a community land trust.

He said if Rose Hills were to be built out today, it would have a value of $700 million. Homes would be in the $300,000 range. He said more homes per acre would generate a larger tax base.

A brochure says that once complete, Rose Hills will generate $3.5 billion in local economic impact and $7 million annually in property tax revenue.

Cottages, with prices starting in the low $200,000s, would range from 700 square feet to 1,200 square feet, and townhomes, ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 square feet, would begin at $200,000.

Medium and large family homes over 1,500 square feet would start in the low $400,000s.

He said they plan on building all the housing types in the first phase to see how people interact.

A lot of people say to me, Oh, people dont want to live in a townhome, Kuntz said. And usually those folks have their housing secured and they dont realize how challenging it is to get into the market. So were going to build this and were going to find out.

He said the project is designed so that they can change any subsequent phase to accommodate what the market and owners need. Habitat anticipates 1215 phases over 15 years.

He said Habitat was set up to build houses, but was not set up for land development. So it created another nonprofit agency to develop land dubbed Eleanor Development Corp., named after former first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt and Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, who both championed affordable housing.

Eleanor Development Corp. will be the entity doing the land development in Rose Hills and will sell land to builders to build their homes so we can make affordable to more people, Kuntz said.

He said this means there are two nonprofits working together on the project.

It will be interesting to see how this progresses over time, Kuntz said.

He said there is some thought of setting up a trust through Eleanor to take some of the proceeds from the neighborhood and provide a housing trust for homes. And he said there is some talk about Habitat creating a construction wing to work with Eleanor and contract with Eleanor to build more housing and reach a goal of building 30 homes a year by 2030.

Were not in this to break even  on Rose Hills, Kuntz said. We want to come out of this with some money to replicate this over and over again.

He later offered a timeline: He said through September they will be working on an application. From September 2025 to 2026, they will be working on infrastructure  the streets, sewer and water systems  and hopefully get to a final plat where they can sell lots to people by late 2026.

He said it will cost $11 million to establish the first building lot in Rose Hills. That includes $2 million used to buy the land, pre-development expenses of tests and surveys of $1 million and engineering costs of about $300,000. He said streets for the first phase will be $1.6 million, green space for the park system will be about $500,000 and administration will $400,000. They also have a $1 million contingency set aside.

A lot of the costs are one-time costs, Kuntz said. Phase one is the most expensive phase.

He said once the lots are ready for purchase, they estimate $8 million in land sales.

Rome wasnt built in a day. Rose Hills wont be built in a day, Kuntz said. Its going to take several phases to be able to start paying off these large expenditures in the first phase so that we can get things rolling.

He said its estimated it will take until they are in phase three for them to be in the black.

Kuntz said Helena Area Habitat for Humanity has been able to cobble together $2 million in the past few years.

He said they are currently debt-free on Rose Hills. But he expected expenditures to build up at the end of 2025.

An investor recently came forward to Habitat with a $1 million loan for 10 years at 2% interest, Kuntz said.

He said while Habitat plans to build 1,500 homes, there is another subdivision east of the project site in which the developer wants to build 4,500 homes, meaning there will potentially be 6,000 homes coming to East Helena in the next 20 years.

He said it is hoped that Rose Hills will impact generations, not just one family at a time.

We want to know that 100 years from now, Rose Hills will be more vibrant and active than ever, Kuntz said. And the work and the money invested there and the homes that were built there are still doing their job. I think that is what makes this whole thing interesting.

Among those in the audience was Iris Maness, the 98-year-old daughter of Al and Ann Rose.

She was accompanied by Albert Buzz Rose III, her nephew and grandson of Al and Ann Rose.

I want to say how honored mother and dad would be  and how thrilled I am, Maness said.

For more on Rose Hills, go to: https://www.rosehillsmontana.com/
This article was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat.

Sarah Osofsky returned to school last year to earn her masters degree in social work, hoping to give back to her community and find a job that would pay enough to survive Hawaiis high cost of living.

Now, less than two weeks away from graduation, the mother of two is struggling to find a position that can sustain her family.

Most social work jobs shes seen in recent months offer salaries of $60,000 or less  enough to disqualify her from safety net programs like food stamps, but not enough to comfortably provide for her kids. Shes considered moving back to California where she has family who could support her, but she wants to stay in Hawaii so her children can be near their dad.

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What Im balancing right now is, do I take a low, low paying job that then Ill qualify for services like food stamps and Medicaid, Osofsky said, or do I hold out and try to find those few and far between really good jobs that will make enough so I dont qualify but I dont need it.

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Osofskys struggle is a familiar one for working families in Hawaii. In 2024, nearly 30% of Hawaii households were living paycheck-to-paycheck and struggling to afford basic necessities like housing, child care and food, according to an annual count of the states ALICE families  an acronym for people who are asset limited, income constrained, and employed.

Like Osofsky, roughly 40% of these families considered leaving the state over the past year, according to a study from Aloha United Way.

While some reports indicate that more locals have been returning to Hawaii in the last few years, the states high cost of living continues to drive some families away, straining the public education system and economy.

Earlier this year, the Department of Education said its kindergarten enrollment dropped from 13,000 in 2019 to nearly 10,800 this year, citing estimates that 20% of people leaving Hawaii are school-aged kids. The department is now starting the process of consolidating small schools, although it hasnt yet identified which campuses are at risk of closure.

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A few years ago, state lawmakers grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic proposed a bold slate of reforms to improve the plight of working families: free school meals for all, universal access to preschool and paid family leave. But the states big plans for progress have resulted in incremental steps, and some families and advocates say change isnt happening quickly enough.

Lawmakers this session created a working group to study paid family leave but failed to turn the yearslong proposal into law. The state expanded eligibility for preschool tuition subsidies and funded preschool construction but failed to address the ongoing shortage of early learning educators. And Senate Bill 1300  considered one of the biggest wins for students this year  expanded access to free school meals but stopped short of providing them for all kids.

At the same time, uncertainty looms around the future of programs that rely on federal dollars to support working families, including school meals and early learning centers.

Amid the upheaval, state lawmakers were hesitant to pass big spending measures this year, opting instead to set aside $200 million to help Hawaii prepare for federal funding cuts. But some advocates say now is exactly the time for the state to make a bigger investment in families.

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The state Legislature, and frankly, the counties, should be thinking, Bad stuff is coming, said Deborah Zysman, executive director of Hawaii Childrens Action Network. We dont quite know what yet, but we should be thinking about how to take care of our own people.

An Urgent Need For Child Care

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Osofsky worried about the social development of her son, who was just turning 2 when lockdown restrictions began. But when he began attending the University of Hawaii Manoa Childrens Center later that year, Osofsky said, he received services for his speech delay and became comfortable making friends and recognizing letters.

But paying for preschool was a challenge, Osofsky said. The Preschool Open Doors program provides a state subsidy to help cover tuition, but her son was ineligible when he started because the program only covered 4-year-olds at the time. The program expanded to include 3-year-olds last year.

Hawaii has pledged to offer preschool to all 3- and 4-year-olds by 2032. The Ready Keiki initiative, led by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, currently estimates the state needs to add more than 330 classrooms in the next seven years to provide preschool to an additional 6,700 children.

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While lawmakers successfully expanded access to tuition subsidies and funded more preschool construction this year, progress toward the states ambitious goal has slowed on other fronts.

One successful bill this session expands eligibility for preschool subsidies by including 2-year-olds and repealing the requirement that families must use the subsidy at a nationally accredited provider, which has created financial and administrative barriers for smaller programs in the past, Zysman said.

But the Department of Human Services is on track to spend only $20 million of its $50 million budget for preschool subsidies this year, said Scott Morishige, administrator of the departments Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division.

To ramp up its spending, DHS is considering expanding the income eligibility to 500% of the federal poverty line. If DHS adopts the rules this summer, Morishige said, a family of four could make up to $184,000 annually and still be eligible for assistance, compared to the past income limit of $110,000.

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The state budget sets aside $20 million to build more public preschool classrooms over the next three years. The state plans on opening 25 public preschool classrooms this fall and an additional 25 classrooms the following year, far less than previous estimates that Hawaii could build 40-50 classrooms annually.

While the state would like to take a more aggressive approach to opening public preschool classrooms moving forward, Luke said, the Ready Keiki initiative is also relying on private providers and charter schools to help expand access. The state is starting larger construction projects, like standalone preschool centers, that could add seats more rapidly as they open in the next few years.

There is an urgency for us to open as many preschool seats as we can, she said.

But families demand for preschool could grow beyond what the state has anticipated if the federal government stops funding its own child care programs. Head Start, which relies on federal funding and serves roughly 2,800 children and pregnant mothers, is currently Hawaiis largest provider of early learning services, said Ryan Kusumoto, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents And Children Together.

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The Trump administration has previously threatened to cut funding entirely for Head Start, although the most recent version of the federal budget keeps program funding intact. Some Hawaii Head Start programs are still waiting to receive confirmation for next years funding, and the recent closure of some regional offices could create backlogs in awarding this money, said Ben Naki, president of the Head Start Association of Hawaii.

Theres no existing infrastructure that can pick up those 2,800 kids, Kusumoto said. And were talking about kids who dont have any other resources.

First Steps For Free Meals

Since September, Christine Russo said paying for meals has become a greater challenge for her family as her twins joined her 10-year-old in attending school every day. She sets aside roughly $180 each month so her kids can purchase breakfast and lunch at school  a challenge for the public school teacher, whose husband is a retail store manager.

Russos kids dont qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, but she said her family could still benefit from the ongoing push to bring back a pandemic-era program that made meals free for all students.

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Lawmakers stopped short of funding a universal free meals program this year but took incremental steps by passing Senate Bill 1300. Starting next year, the state will provide free school meals to students who currently qualify for reduced-price lunch. The following year, eligibility for free school meals would be expanded to families making up to 300% of the federal poverty level, or roughly $110,000 for a family of four.

The bill appropriates $565,000 to provide more free school meals next year and an additional $3.4 million for the programs expansion the following year. More than 68,000 students in the Department of Education qualified for free meals this year, and 10,000 qualified for reduced-price meals.

The bill also requires schools feed students who dont have enough money to purchase lunch or already have meal debt. Students have accrued more than $105,000 in meal debt this school year, DOE communications director Nanea Ching said.

At Castle High School, junior Tayli Kahoopii said she receives free meals, but some of her friends dont qualify. When someone doesnt have enough money in their account to purchase lunch, the register makes a buzzing sound  loud enough to embarrass students and, in one instance, deter Kahoopiis friend from trying to purchase meals for a week.

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On a daily basis, you see kids getting their food taken away, and theres really nothing that they can do about it, Kahoopii said, adding that its difficult for students to learn and focus when they dont have access to food during the school day.

Rep. Scot Matayoshi, who has introduced bills for the past three years proposing free school meals, said SB1300 is an important step. But he still plans on advocating for universal free school meals in the coming years, especially since it would reduce the administrative barriers schools and families face in determining who qualifies for free meals.

Daniela Spoto, director of food equity at Hawaii Appleseed, said providing all students with free school meals could also become more important with federal funding on the line. Proposed federal cuts to a program allowing schools in low-income areas to provide free meals to all children could impact 52 schools and more than 27,000 kids in Hawaii, according to estimates from the Food Research and Action Center.

It should be a staple for our schools to have free school lunch, said Castle junior Halia Tom-Jardine, who will begin qualifying for free school meals next year. It should be a right.

Bad Things Are Coming

During the pandemic, people saw lawmakers step up and meet the needs of working families through federal initiatives like the child tax credit and free school meals, said Kayla Keehu-Alexander, vice president of community impact at Aloha United Way. Now, she said, state lawmakers need to do the same during times of uncertainty.

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If we dont start making some big policy changes around the cost of living, around housing, we could potentially be looking at a larger out-migration than weve had in the past, she said.

Hawaii is already starting to see the possible impacts of out-migration on its schools and economy. While some people are coming back to Hawaii to raise families, Keehu-Alexander said, its unclear if theyre joining the workforce in areas with the worst staffing shortages, like education or healthcare.

Looking ahead to next year, Zysman said she would like to see a successful bill establishing paid family leave in Hawaii, which would provide caregivers paid time off to care for their loved ones. Lawmakers have failed to pass a bill for several years, although they did approve a resolution last month establishing a working group that will study how to implement paid family leave over the next year.

Zysman added that shes concerned about the long-term impacts of the historic tax cut lawmakers passed last year. While she supports cuts that can make it more affordable for people to stay in Hawaii, she said, shes worried that tax breaks for the wealthiest will make it harder for the state to fund programs that can keep working families afloat.

In my gut, I feel like bad things are coming, Zysman said, and we should have acted more preemptively.

This story was originally published on Honolulu Civil Beat. Civil Beats education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy.
Prairie Rose Seminole, board vice chair of Gender Justice, and Dalton Erickson, executive director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, speak at the Capitol May 8, 2025, about policy issues they say went unaddressed during the 2025 legislative session. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

Progressive advocacy groups frustrated with what they saw as a tone-deaf and unproductive legislative session will host an all-day organizing event May 16 at the Heritage Center.

Called The Peoples Session, the goal of the event is to hear what North Dakotans policy priorities are. Representatives from its organizers  Gender Justice, Prairie Action and the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition  met Thursday morning on the steps of the Capitol to share what they have planned for the conference.

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Its time our Legislature listens to people across our state and leads with our values that we share  like fairness, privacy, freedom and respect, said Prairie Rose Seminole, who is vice chair of Gender Justices board and also sits on the board for the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.

A survey of North Dakota residents commissioned by Gender Justice last fall indicates that North Dakotans support policies like expanding reproductive rights, and investing in child care and affordable housing, Gender Justice Executive Director Megan Peterson said Thursday. The survey, which was conducted by firm PerryUndem, gathered responses from 800 adults across the state.

The policy priorities reflected in the survey arent what lawmakers spent most of their time on this session, Peterson said.

She pointed to legislation that prevents K-12 schools from having multi-stall all-gender restrooms, as well as a bill that would have required school and public libraries to put sexually explicit material in areas children cannot easily access, which Gov. Kelly Armstrong ultimately vetoed.

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Why did lawmakers spend their time on book bans and bathroom bills while families are struggling to find affordable child care, pay the rent and access basic health care? Peterson asked.

While lawmakers defeated many of the most controversial proposals introduced this session  including a bill to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in lunchrooms, and a resolution to declare the kingship of Jesus Christ  advocates at the Thursday morning gathering said these bills took valuable time and resources away from more pressing policy issues.

The group acknowledged that the Legislature passed bills this session aimed at improving access to child care, housing and health care, but argued the policies do not go far enough.

When politicians cant or dont want to solve real problems, they create fake ones to divide and distract us, Peterson said.

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She said The Peoples Session will put together policy proposals for the next legislative session that better reflect what North Dakota residents actually want.

The event is free, but registration is required. It will take place at the Heritage Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Topics of discussion will include health care, housing, schools, LGBTQ issues, reproductive rights and more.

We hope to take the peoples agenda forward, crafting and refining it into bills through public input, and then put it forward for sponsors to bring to the 2027 legislative session, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Executive Director Dalton Erickson said.

For more information about the event, including registration details, visit Gender Justices website. Those who arent able to participate in person can still submit their thoughts through the registration form.

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The intersection of Post Street and Old Roosevelt Boulevard in the Riverside area is known to cause problems.

But now, the Florida Department of Transportation is looking to change that.

This summer, work will begin to improve the intersection.

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Jacob Pickering with FDOT said he knows it can be a headache.

He said, There have been about 124 crashes at this intersection between the years 2015 and 2020.

So now, the FDOT is creating a new roundabout.

We are calling it an elongated roundabout because it is a bit unusual from your typical roundabout you would see in Murray Hill or Riverside, Pickering said. Basically, we have a railroad track running through the middle of this roundabout.

FDOT research shows 8 to 10 trains travel through the intersection daily, with no true safety measures for pedestrians or cyclists - one thing Pickering said FDOT and CSX are working to change.

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As pedestrians approach the railroad track like we are now, they are going to experience lights, as well as a pedestrian gate that will come down when the train is coming," Pickering said.

Making the area safer and more efficient is the goal.

Were going to eliminate the amount of lanes that cross the railroad track here from seven to two," Pickering said. Once the roundabout is built, all of these traffic signals and high mast arms will be gone.

A full detour will be in place when the work begins.

And this isnt the only thing crews plan on upgrading.

Read: Jax-area woman accused of running illegal facial filler clinic: How to spot counterfeit products

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Pickering said, "We also have a sister project, a companion project, to resurface Post Street from this section at Old Roosevelt all the way down to Cassat Avenue."

The roundabout section of this project we expect to be completed by late 25, by the end of summer, hopefully. Then we get boots on the ground for resurfacing Post Street.

FDOT is hoping to have the entire project done by mid-2026.

Read: First bid to construct new Duval County jail received by the city

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GRAND RAPIDS  Protesters in downtown Grand Rapids had a message for Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker May 8: seek a second trial of Christopher Schurr, the former police officer charged with murder over the 2022 killing of Patrick Lyoya.

Hours earlier, a jury had deadlocked over a second-degree murder charge against Schurr, causing a judge to declare a mistrial in Kent County Circuit Court. Schurr fatally shot Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, in the back of the head after tackling him after Lyoya tried to flee a traffic stop on April 4, 2022.

The mistrial declaration prompted demonstrations, where activists led marches and made speeches calling on Becker to continue seeking accountability for the shooting.

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Becker told reporters at a press conference that he would take time to consider whether to retry the case. Cristian Bartolo, a Grand Rapids resident who was among those gathered outside the 17th Circuit Court, said Becker had a duty to seek a second trial against Schurr.

"It's his job to hold government officials accountable, whether it's a corrupt mayor or a police officer," Bartolo told the Detroit Free Press. "It's his job to uphold the laws."

DeeDee Grier, of Grand Rapids, holds his hand to his face while shouting with others as police coral them to the sidewalk as they march through downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday, May 8, 2025, following the mistrial in the Patrick Lyoya case.

A crowd of around a hundred people participated in demonstrations Thursday evening, beginning with chants and speeches outside the courthouse and later a march through parts of downtown Grand Rapids. Chants of "justice for Patrick," "no justice, no peace," and "say his name" were shouted by protesters. The crowd included people of varying ages, from children to seniors, and backgrounds. Speakers were Black, but white people marched by their sides.

The protest was similar to those that took place three years ago, after the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) released footage of Schurr shooting Lyoya to the public, although the previous protests were much larger in size.

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More: Mistrial for ex-Grand Rapids officer Christopher Schurr, who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya

Some Michigan State Police troopers on bikes advised demonstrators to march on the sidewalk when they began walking down Fulton Street, a main road in Grand Rapids. One person in their 30s was arrested for resisting and obstructing during the demonstrations, according to a Grand Rapids Police Department spokesperson.

Those leading Thursday's demonstrations said it was important to continue pressuring Becker.

"I'm not going to lie, I don't have a lot of faith in the system," said Aly Bates, one of the demonstration's leaders. She later added, "we cannot allow the city to forget what happened."

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Jurors deliberated for roughly 20 hours before informing 17th Circuit Judge Christina Mims they were unable to reach a verdict. Mims declared a mistrial in the case, where jurors heard about five-and-a-half days of arguments and testimony.

Schurr's lead defense attorney, Matt Borgula, told reporters after the mistrial declaration he did not believe the case should go to court again. Schurrs attorneys had argued the former officer was acting in self defense after Lyoya attempted to grab Schurrs Taser during the physical struggle.

Attorneys for the Lyoya family had urged community members to show support during the trial and stressed they wanted demonstrations to remain peaceful.

Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, who could be seen seated next to the Lyoya family during the trial, said community members had urged city officials in Grand Rapids to enact new policing standards in the years leading up to Lyoya's killing. In 2022, after the shooting, many protesting in Grand Rapids said Lyoya's death reopened wounds formed after years of mistrust between the community and police.

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More: Christopher Schurr testifies in trial over Lyoya shooting, says he feared for his life

Womack told demonstrators to continue pressuring elected officials.

"It's up to us, and we have got to make them see," Womack said.

Becker said a decision on retrying the case is likely to come in a matter of weeks.

This story was updated with additional information.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Protesters call for retrial after deadlock in Christopher Schurr trial
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  Protesters gathered Friday in the Slovak capital to demonstrate against populist Prime Minister Robert Ficos latest trip to Russia.

Fico was the only leader of a European Union country to travel to Moscow for festivities marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Chanting slogans like Weve had enough of Fico, Slovakia is Europe, and Stay there, protesters filled Freedom Square.

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Organizers said that Fico doesnt represent the whole Slovakia.

Its a shame for Slovakia, and one of the worst moments for the Slovak foreign policy, Michal Simecka, the leader of the major opposition and pro-Western Progressive Slovakia party, said about the trip.

The Kremlin has used the annual Victory Day celebrations to tout its battlefield prowess. On Friday, President Vladimir Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying that we are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.

Fico said in a video message his goal was to establish normal, friendly cooperation, with Russia.

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The rallies in Bratislava and some other towns and cities across Slovakia were the latest in a wave of protests fueled by Ficos recent trip to Moscow for talks with Putin over gas deliveries in December.

Fico, who is a divisive figure at home and abroad, returned to power in 2003 after his leftist Smer (Direction) party won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.

Known for his pro-Russian views, he has openly challenged the European Unions policies over Ukraine.
Utah County remains the states fastest-growing county, which requires extensive planning, including ways to handle new transportation challenges.

Growth is coming and we have got to get ahead of it, said Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. We cant sit and wait until its a problem.

She sees public transit as a potential solution for moving more people around more efficiently than having everyone drive.

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Orem Mayor Dave Youngs city has FrontRunner, bus rapid transit and traditional bus services. Still, both he and Kaufusi say there are still gaps in connectivity  something that they hope will be fixed by Utah Transit Authoritys newest Utah County service.

The state agency extended its UTA on Demand service to Utah County for the first time last month, adding an 8.6-square-mile zone covering the west side of Orem and Provo, including destinations like Provo Airport and Provo City Hall. The microtransit service blends traditional bus operations with ridesharing, allowing customers to hail a van with other riders heading in a similar direction.

Both mayors say it should help west-side residents connect with the transit options that are easier to find east of the FrontRunner line, while offering better connections to key places like the fast-growing airport.

This on-demand service really is the final touch in making that happen, Young said. This is designed to bring that final level together.

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UTA first tested the concept in southwest Salt Lake County in 2019, reaching an area that experienced similar transit gaps. It became a permanent fixture two years later, before the agency added new service areas to Salt Lake Citys west side and parts of Davis and Tooele counties.

Ridership has grown as a result. The agency reported having 2,207 average weekday boardings in April, an 18% increase from last April and its highest monthly average since adding the service. UTA Director Jay Fox hopes the trend continues as it extends to a crucial part of Utah County.

One of the reasons on-demand coming here is a pretty big deal is because its been so successful everywhere else, Fox said. You know right away that bringing it to an area, its going to connect people to places they couldnt connect to before directly; its going to be an incredible success. ... For both cities, its going to just drive so much mobility.

It could also spark new transit service down the road. UTA used heat maps to carve out a traditional bus service route in southwest Salt Lake County that also debuted last month. The same could happen in Utah County.

In the meantime, UTA on Demand will be available within the Orem/Provo zone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day from Monday through Saturday. One-way rides are $2.50, the same cost as a bus.
and CEO of National Public Radio Katherine Maher, left, and President and CEO of Public Broadcasting Service Paula Kerger prepare to testify before a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on March 26 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

In July 2020, just several months into the COVID pandemic, Colorado Public Radio published a remarkable story about how the virus was spreading just as a brain drain weakened the states public health agency and the governor was turning to outside tech entrepreneurs for help with disease testing.

Relying on public records and more than two dozen interviews with officials and experts, CPR produced one of the most illuminating examples of Colorado journalism on the biggest news story of the era. The coverage had no agenda but the truth, and it enriched all Coloradans understanding of how public officials at the top of state government handled their responsibilities.

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Such accountability reporting has always posed a threat to tyrants, including the tyrants in power today.

President Donald Trump is trying to undermine National Public Radio  of which CPR is a member station  and the Public Broadcasting Service, falsely accusing them of bias. His real objection is that accurate, independent journalism exposes him to scrutiny.

Like all of the Trump administrations assaults on institutions  in education, science, health, public welfare  the ultimate victim of his attacks on public media is the public. But, at least in this case, a direct form of resistance is readily available to anyone who values the threatened institutions.

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Public media is grounded in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit established in 1967 by Congress. Lawmakers at the time thought public media furthers the general welfare and should be responsive to the interest of people both in particular localities and throughout the United States. The act that created the CPB envisioned TV and radio programs that address national concerns and solve local problems through community programs and outreach programs.

Anticipating political hostility to independent programming, the act was careful to ensure that public media has protection from extraneous interference and control.

In 1969, CPB established PBS, which delivers beloved educational, news, cultural and family programming with member stations around the country. Rocky Mountain PBS, based in Denver, is the only statewide television network in Colorado.

The following year, NPR was incorporated. The nonprofit and its local member stations reach more than 95% of Americans. The stations provide invaluable, impartial journalism, and they broadcast emergency alerts and public safety information during disasters. The NPR news programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered, both carried by Colorado member stations like CPR, are irreplaceable components of many Americans daily routines.

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These public media sources, which are free for all Americans, have a long public-approving, award-winning tradition of fulfilling the vision Congress articulated for public media almost six decades ago. But Trump has actualized the initial fear that public media would be threatened by interference. On May 1, he issued an executive order calling for CPB funding for NPR and PBS to be canceled.

Loss of federal funding would hurt local stations most. NPR member stations  such as KUNC in Greeley and KRCC in Colorado Springs  typically rely more on direct federal funding than does NPR. CPR gets about 5% of its annual funding from the federal government, while NPR gets about 1%. Direct federal money comprises up to 10% of the budget of some local stations.

The reality of a loss of federal funding would be to weaken or shutter locally owned independent stations particularly in remote and rural communities, CPR said in a recent statement.

In case 5% doesnt sound like a lot, it amounts to about $1.4 million, a loss that CPR, an outlet that laid off 15 staffers just last year, would surely struggle to absorb without a noticeable decline. And the threat runs deep. Public media stations use pooled assets such as satellite networks and emergency alert systems, which could be compromised for CPR and other local stations that benefit from them. Also, NPR gets most of its funding from member stations like CPR, so a loss of direct federal funding for local stations could in turn mean a substantial loss of indirect federal funding for NPR.

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CPR and Rocky Mountain PBS get most of their funding from individual, business and foundation contributions. This suggests an answer to a tyrants attacks. Theres little that individuals can do to counter, say, Trumps efforts to shut down the U.S. Education Department. But individual community members who value trusted institutions like CPR and Rocky Mountain PBS can act as a form of immediate, grassroots countermeasure to MAGA hostility.

That support promotes the general welfare, as Congress intended. CPR is the only outlet in Colorado with a Washington, D.C.-based reporter focused on Colorado issues. For almost 20 years, Colorado governors have regularly sat down with CPR for interviews, which often present insights about state policy that are not available anywhere else. Through voter guides, state Legislature coverage and other useful nonpartisan reporting, the outlet consistently elevates the community life of the state, adhering to the highest professional standards and exemplifying the essence of the First Amendment.

This is what Trump wants Americans to believe is harmful to the country. But a weakened public media in the state would mean a weakened Colorado.

Disclosure: Colorado Newsline is a tenant in a building operated by Rocky Mountain PBS parent organization Rocky Mountain Public Media. Newslines journalism is wholly independent of RMPM.

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May 9Send public meetings to briefs@irontontribune.com.

 The Ironton Lions Club meets on the second Tuesday of the month at noon and the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. All meetings are at The Armory Smokehouse, 920 Vernon St. Ironton.

 The Ironton Kiwanis of Greater Ironton meets at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday in the Ohio Room of the Collins Building at Ohio University Southern. You do not have to be a member to attend.

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 Hamilton Township Trustees meet at 6 p.m. every Tuesday at the fire station on old U.S. 52.

 The Ironton Rotary Club meets at noon at Frisch's every Wednesday, except the third Wednesday of each month.

 The Mason Township Trustees meet at 7 a.m. today at the Mason Township Community Building.

 The Windsor Township Trustees meet at 7 a.m. today at the Township Building, located at the Wilgus intersection.

 The Lawrence County Land Bank Board meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the third-floor conference room in the courthouse.

 The Village of Proctorville Council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday.

 The Woodland Cemetery Board of Trustees meet at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the cemetery office.

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 The Aid Township Trustees meet at 8 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the Aid Township garage, State Route 141, Kitts Hill, or when weather is not permitting at the Aid Township Volunteer Fire Department garage as necessary.

 American Legion Post 806, AmVets Post 141 and VFW Post 2761 meets at 7 p.m. the last Monday of each month at the Aid Volunteer Fire Department.

 The Lawrence County Educational Service Center governing board meets at 2 p.m. on the last Monday of each month at the Educational Service Center office.

 American Legion Post 433 meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at the corner of Seventh and Vernon streets in the rear.

 AmVets 5293 meets at 1 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month.

 The Symmes Township Trustees meet at 6 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month.
Members of the Burleigh County Planning Commission hear public comments during a meeting on Aug. 29, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Every meeting of a public board in North Dakota will be required to hold a public comment period during each of its meetings beginning Aug. 1.

Senate Bill 2180, signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on April 30, requires local subdivisions, school districts, park districts and water resource boards to give meeting attendees the opportunity to make public comments to the board during their meetings.

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The bill states public boards may only limit the comment period based on total time of the comments, the time of each individual speaker to deliver their comments, or both. It would also limit the public comment topics to the current meetings agenda items or the preceding meetings agenda.

Sen. Jose Castaneda, R-Minot, chair of the bills conference committee, said the law sets the minimum standard and boards can choose to be less restrictive on public comments.

Castaneda told lawmakers that if someone misses a meeting, they should be able to go to the next meeting and have their concerns be heard by that board.

The bill stems from concerns that public entities were not providing adequate public comment periods during meetings and were limiting comments to only items on the boards current meeting agenda.

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Karen Krenz of Williston, who submitted testimony for the bill, said her local school board was limiting comments that could be made at meetings.

As taxpayers, we should have the opportunity to contribute our input during public meetings, Krenz wrote. When public input is limited, decisions may not fully reflect the needs and priorities of the community, leading to policies that are out of touch with public sentiment.

The law requires boards to craft public comment policies. The policies may require that comments need to be pertinent to the entity receiving the public comments and may not interfere with the orderly conduct of the meeting. Comments may not be defamatory, abusive, harassing or unlawful, and may not include confidential information.

Castaneda said the goal of the legislation was to find a good balance between giving time for people to address these public entities and not letting the comments hijack the meeting.

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Sen. Chuck Walen, R-New Town, a previous school board member, said limiting the comments to the current and preceding meeting was a good balance, otherwise, you can get into the weeds really, really fast.

I see this as a good compromise to have in here, Walen said.

Previous versions of the bill would have limited comments to only the current agenda items of the public board meeting and would have required a public comment period be offered at only some of the meetings, or once every three months.

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(PUEBLO, Colo.)  Pueblo School District 60 (D60) said that after the Bessemer Academy Student Council learned that several Pueblo police officers were injured in a shooting in March, they rallied to provide support.

Back in March, three Pueblo Police Department (PPD) officers were injured when they were ambushed by Billy Soto, according to PPD. Police were looking for Soto in the Bessemer area related to an attempted murder case. PPD said Soto fired 80 rounds from a rifle at officers before he was shot by police, killing him.

Courtesy: Pueblo School District 60 Courtesy: Pueblo School District 60 Courtesy: Pueblo School District 60 Courtesy: Pueblo School District 60 Courtesy: Pueblo School District 60

When Student Council learned of the officers injuries, they leaped into action and set up a Pickles for Police fundraiser. On Thursday, May 8, Student Council presented a $200 check to representatives of PPD along with a jar of pickles as an added gesture of gratefulness.

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D60 said the donated funds will be divided among the officers currently recovering from their injuries.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.






Organic Traditions Jumbo Pumpkin Seeds are being recalled.

The recalled pumpkin seeds were sold nationwide in Canada.

This product is being recalled following a related Salmonella contamination in another country.







Theres an active recall on pumpkin seeds sold in three states and across Canada, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This is due to a Salmonella contamination.

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The pumpkin seeds impacted are Organic Traditions Jumbo Pumpkin Seeds. In Canada, they were sold in 227-gram packages with UPC 6 27733 00175 5 and printed code L250212160 or L250319170, as well as in 454-gram packages with UPC 6 27733 00180 9 and printed code L250319171. Additionally, these seeds were sold in New Jersey, New York and Virginia with lot code "L250320200" and expiration date "05/02/2027" printed on the packaging.

Check your pumpkin seeds, and if they match the above recall information, dispose of them or return them to your place of purchase for a possible refund. While there are no illnesses connected to this recall, Salmonella infection can be serious for young children, those age 65 or older, those who are pregnant, and immunocompromised individuals. Common signs include fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea, and symptoms may not begin for up to six days after infection. If you are experiencing any sickness after consuming the recalled pumpkin seeds, contact a health care provider.

For questions about this recall, contact the company at info@organictraditions.com or the CFIA through their toll-free number at 1-800-442-2342 or email information@inspection.gc.ca.

Related: Costco, Amazon and More Recalled Nearly 1.2 Million Coolers Nationwide

Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday equated his war in Ukraine with the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, as Moscow marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a major military parade.

"Russia remains an insurmountable obstacle to Nazism, Russophobia and anti-Semitism and will fight the excesses perpetrated by the henchmen of these aggressive destructive ideas," Putin said in his speech.

Truth and justice are on Russia's side, said the Russian president, adding that the whole of Moscow supported the fighters in the "special military operation" - the Kremlin's term for its invasion of the neighbouring country.

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Putin emphasized that Soviet soldiers played the decisive role in defeating the Nazi regime. However, he did concede that the opening of a second front in Europe accelerated the Allied victory.

He also highlighted China's contribution to the war separately, with Chinese President Xi Jinping among the international leaders in the audience.

Russian servicemen march on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. -/Kremlin/dpa
Russia commemorated the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 with its traditional military parade on Friday - but this time the weapons displayed included drones used in the Ukraine war as President Vladimir Putin drew parallels between the two conflicts.

It was the fourth annual parade, featuring thousands of soldiers and heavy military equipment on Red Square, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Security measures were even tighter than usual due to threats by Ukraine not to comply with a unilateral ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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During his speech, Putin equated the war in Ukraine with the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany 80 years ago.

"Russia remains an insurmountable obstacle to Nazism, Russophobia and anti-Semitism and will fight the excesses perpetrated by the henchmen of these aggressive destructive ideas," Putin said.

Truth and justice are on Russia's side, he said, adding that the whole of Moscow supported the fighters in the "special military operation" - the Kremlin's term for its invasion of the neighbouring country.

Putin emphasized that Soviet soldiers played the decisive role in defeating the Nazi regime. However, he did concede that the opening of a second front in Europe accelerated the Allied victory.

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He also highlighted China's contribution to the war, with Chinese President Xi Jinping among the international leaders in the audience.

While most of Europe marked the anniversary on Thursday, Russia always holds its annual parade on May 9.

This year was unique in that Russia for the first time showed off drones being used in the Ukraine war.

Several lorries carrying Orlan reconnaissance drones as well as Lancet and Iran-made Geran combat drones rolled across Red Square in the televised parade.

The latter are often used to attack targets in Ukraine far behind the front line.

The Russian military also displayed tanks, armoured troop carriers and reconnaissance vehicles, howitzers, S-400 air defence systems and Yars nuclear missiles in front of the many international dignitaries.

International event

According to media reports, the approximately 10,000 parade participants included soldiers from numerous other countries as well as Russian participants in the Ukraine war.

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After the parade, Putin greeted North Korean soldiers who had fought on Russia's side against Ukraine. He wished all the fighters good health, he said in a conversation with the generals sent from Pyongyang.

The North Korean soldiers were deployed in the Russian border region of Kursk, which the Ukrainian military overran in a surprise offensive last summer.

Slovakia's Robert Fico was the only prime minister of an European Union and NATO country to be in Moscow, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was also present to watch the parade.

According to the Kremlin, leaders from Brazil, Cuba and Laos, as well as Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were also attending.

After the military parade, Putin laid a wreath at the grave of the unknown soldier. This was followed by a reception for state guests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall in Alexander Garden during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. -/Kremlin/dpa

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Eighty years after the end of World War II, Russia is set to commemorate the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 with its traditional military parade on Friday.

It will be the fourth parade featuring thousands of soldiers and heavy military equipment on Red Square since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Security measures are even tighter than usual due to threats by Ukraine not to comply with a unilateral ceasefire ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Putin is expected to once again justify the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in his speech, which is why Western representatives are staying away.

Slovakia's Robert Fico is the only prime minister of an EU and NATO country expected in Moscow. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is also in Moscow.

According to media reports, the approximately 10,000 parade participants will include soldiers from numerous other countries as well as Russian participants in the war against Ukraine.

As is tradition, tanks, air defence systems and missile systems will be on display. A flypast featuring Russian fighter jets is also scheduled.

Putin's most important guest this year is Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the Kremlin, leaders from Brazil, Cuba and Laos, as well as Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are expected to join Putin on the podium.
Russia marked the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany with its traditional military parade on Friday - but this time the weapons displayed included drones used in the Ukraine war as President Vladimir Putin drew parallels between the two conflicts.

It was the fourth annual parade, featuring thousands of soldiers and heavy military equipment on Red Square, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Security measures were even tighter than usual due to threats by Ukraine not to comply with a unilateral ceasefire declared by Putin.

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During his speech, Putin equated the war in Ukraine with the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, 80 years ago.

"Russia remains an insurmountable obstacle to Nazism, Russophobia and anti-Semitism and will fight the excesses perpetrated by the henchmen of these aggressive destructive ideas," Putin said.

Truth and justice are on Russia's side, he said, adding that the whole of Moscow supported the fighters in the "special military operation" - the Kremlin's term for its invasion of the neighbouring country.

Putin emphasized that Soviet soldiers played the decisive role in defeating the Nazi regime. However, he did concede that the opening of a second front in Europe accelerated the Allied victory.

Advertisement Advertisement

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He also highlighted China's contribution to the war, with Chinese President Xi Jinping among the international leaders in the audience.

While most of Europe marked the anniversary on Thursday, Russia always holds its annual parade on May 9.

This year was unique in that Russia for the first time showed off drones being used in the Ukraine war.

Several lorries carrying Orlan reconnaissance drones as well as Lancet and Iran-made Geran combat drones rolled across Red Square in the televised parade.

The latter are often used to attack targets in Ukraine far behind the front line.

The Russian military also displayed tanks, armoured troop carriers and reconnaissance vehicles, howitzers, S-400 air defence systems and Yars nuclear missiles in front of the many international dignitaries.

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Putin said significantly less about the invasion of Ukraine at the parade, the fourth to be held since he started the war in February 2022.

US President Trump meanwhile reiterated his call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and again threatened sanctions, on his platform Truth Social, in a post seen as directed primarily at Russia.

Chinese sources said Xi had also again spoken out in favour of a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict during talks with Putin the previous day.

A "comprehensive, joint and sustainable concept of global security" is needed, Beijing said.

International event

Some World War II veterans watched the parade from the stands, wrapped up in thick jackets against the cold wind.

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The approximately 11,500 parade participants included soldiers from numerous other countries as well as Russian participants in the Ukraine war, reports said.

After the parade, Putin greeted North Korean soldiers who had fought on Russia's side against Ukraine. He wished all the fighters good health, he said in a conversation with the generals sent from Pyongyang.

The North Korean soldiers were deployed in the Russian border region of Kursk, which the Ukrainian military overran in a surprise offensive last summer.

Few Western leaders were present at the ceremonies given the Kremlin's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Slovakia's Robert Fico was the only prime minister of an European Union and NATO country to be in Moscow, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was also present to watch the parade. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the two leaders for their visit.

According to the Kremlin, leaders from nearly 30 countries around the world attended including from Brazil, Cuba and Laos, as well as Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were also attending.

After the military parade, Putin laid a wreath at the grave of the unknown soldier. This was followed by a reception for state guests.

Trump and Putin exchange congratulations

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump also exchanged congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

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The two heads of state sent congratulations "on the occasion of our joint holiday" through their assistants, Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television.

However, Putin indirectly contradicted the US president, underlining that Soviet Army soldiers played a decisive role in the victory over Hitler's Germany in World War II.

Trump had earlier described the contribution of the US Army as decisive.
They came in behind the T-80 tanks and the Yars nuclear missiles. They were not much to look at; spindly, winged things carted on the back of a few lorries.

But drones were included in Moscows Victory Day parade for the first time on Friday, capping their rise to become the most deadly weapon on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin watched them roll past alongside Xi Jinping, the president of China, who has facilitated the supply of technology needed for Russias unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry.

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Unlike the subdued parades of recent years, Putin churned out thousands of troops and dozens of tanks, while nuclear-capable ballistic missile launchers crawled over Red Squares cobblestones.

Up to 11,000 Russian troops took part in the parade, including 1,500 veterans of Russias current invasion of Ukraine - Alexander Vilf/Shutterstock

The commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the USSRs triumph over Nazi Germany were not just about honouring the estimated 27 million Soviets who died in the Second World War. They were part of a carefully co-ordinated display of Moscows supposed military might.

Drones have revolutionised warfare, and state TV commentators lauded their effectiveness on the battlefield as they were lugged past the Kremlin.

But behind the pomp and ceremony, analysts said the event served as a reminder of how much the Kremlin has come to rely on foreign backers to prop up its war machine.

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The Kremlins much-vaunted drones were designed by Iran, while Putin embraced North Korean generals in thanks for their help in expelling Ukrainian forces from Kursk.

Credit: Reuters

China, whose leader sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Putin, has long been accused of covertly sending weapon components for Russia to use in Ukraine.

Keir Giles, a Russian military expert at Chatham House and the author of Who Will Defend Europe? told The Telegraph: In previous years and decades, it would have been inconceivable to showcase the extent to which Russia is dependent on other countries for military support and sourcing equipment.

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On one hand, Russia wants to demonstrate it is not isolated, and is supported by a military and political coalition in challenging the West.

On the other, it represents a normalisation of the way Russias idea of itself as a great power that does not need allies has now been torpedoed.

Up to 11,000 Russian troops took part in the parade, including 1,500 veterans of the special military operation  Russias name for the war in Ukraine.

Credit: Reuters

Soldiers from 13 so-called friendly countries  including China, Vietnam, Egypt and Myanmar  also took part, which was Putins way of showing off global clout amid the Wests efforts to isolate Moscow.

Drones

The Lancet, Geran-2, Orlan-10 and Orlan-30 were among the drones that were shown off as they perched on top of their launchers, facing the sky.

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Orlan drones are widely used for reconnaissance and target-selection missions. Zala Lancet drones focus on surveillance and precision attacks and are responsible for destroying numerous Ukrainian tanks, a jet and other heavy equipment.

The Geran-2 is a domestically produced clone of Irans Shahed-136 UAVs, a suicide drone that was widely used to attack Ukraine before Russia began manufacturing its own variants.

1005 Geran-2 drone

The latest version, the Geran-3, is purported to use a turbojet engine that can power it to speeds of about 350mph with a range of 1,553 miles. That is a significant step-up on previous iterations  but little has been seen of them on the ground.

In 2024, Ukrainian factories churned out some 2 million unmanned aerial vehicles, ratcheting up production at back-breaking speeds. Ukraines target for 2025 is 4.5 million.

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The drones Ukraine produces are reputed to be better than their Russian counterparts: harder, more lethal and better able to resist electronic warfare jamming.

Zala Lancet drones focus on surveillance and precision attacks and have destroyed much of Ukraines heavy equipment - Pavel Bednyakov/Associated Press

But Moscow is catching up, at least in terms of brute force. Russia claims it can churn out 4,000 every day and is developing increasingly sophisticated  and fast  long-range drones.

The battlefield in Ukraine is the place where military confrontation is evolving more rapidly than anywhere in the world, said Mr Giles.

The fact this evolution, particularly through UAVs, is on full display in Moscows military parade shows the extent to which this new nature of warfare has been internalised and embraced by the Russian system.

Tanks and armoured vehicles

During the Victory Day parades in 2023 and 2024, a solitary Second World War-era T-34 tank rolled across the Red Square.

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This year, 180 tanks and armoured vehicles were paraded, up from 60 in 2024.

These included nine historic T-34s, columns of Soviet-era T-72s and T-80s, as well as more modern T-90s, the most advanced tank deployed en masse to Ukraine.

Moscows fleet of 180 tanks included Soviet-era T-80 tanks as well as their most advanced armoured vehicles - Alexander Zamlianichenko/The Associated Press

The mechanised column also included Tigr armoured vehicles and BMP-2 and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.

Russia is reported to have lost more than 3,000 tanks in Ukraine, while Kyiv puts the figure at 10,000 with another 22,000 armoured vehicles lost.

Faced with staggering losses, largely owing to the prevalence of explosive-loaded drones, Moscow sent ageing models onto the battlefield and dramatically reduced their uses in assaults.

The T-90 tank is the most advanced tank deployed en masse to Ukraine - Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Earlier this year, analysts had noted that despite Russia churning out new tanks and armoured vehicles at a rate unmatched by the West, the newly available vehicles were not being sent to Ukraine.

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The conclusion was that they were being held back for Russias next attack against a neighbour, potentially a Nato member state, said Mr Giles, adding: But of course, that reserve of presentable vehicles also allows Russia to indulge in vanity projects like its May 9 parade.

The Ministry of Defence estimated last year that Russia had the capacity to produce 100 main battle tanks per month.

Missile systems

As a reminder of Russias nuclear might, huge Rs-24 Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile launchers were wheeled out.

Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles are programmed to strike targets within a range of 12,000km - Maxim Shipenkov/Shutterstock

The Yars ICBM is a thermonuclear missile that can be armed with four warheads that are individually programmed to strike different targets with a range of 12,000km.

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They were followed by Iskander ballistic missiles, Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers and Tosochka heavy flamethrower systems and advanced artillery weapons including Msta-S howitzers, Giatsint-K and Malva artillery guns  which have all been used against Ukraine.

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Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed an agreement on Thursday 8 May to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Source: Reuters

Details: The agreement was signed in the Kremlin after talks between Putin and Xi Jinping, who had arrived in Moscow for an official visit.

In a speech following the talks with Xi, Putin stated that Russian-Chinese relations were self-sustaining and that both countries will continue to increase the proportion of their national currencies used in mutual settlements.

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For reference: Xi Jinping and Putin have met dozens of times and signed a "no-limits partnership" in February 2022, less than three weeks before Putin sent his troops into Ukraine. China is Russia's largest trading partner and has provided Moscow with economic support, helping Russia cope with Western sanctions.

Background:

On the evening of 7 May, it was reported that Xi Jinping had arrived in Moscow to attend the 9 May parade.

During his visit to Moscow on 8 May, Xi expressed support for Russia, described Putin as an ally in building a new world order and confirmed their joint position on the war against Ukraine.

Chinese military personnel will take part in the parade on Red Square in Moscow on Victory Day. Putin said that the parade formation of Chinese military personnel would be the largest among all foreign military contingents. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

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China urges U.S. to show sincerity in upcoming high-level economic, trade meeting

Xinhua) 08:15, May 09, 2025

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce called on the United States to show sincerity if the U.S. side wants to solve the trade dispute between the two countries through negotiations.

Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference on Thursday that China has consistently maintained a firm stance against the United States' abuse of tariff measures. He urged the U.S. side to face up to the serious negative impact that its unilateral tariff measures have had, both on itself and the global community.

"The U.S. side should make preparations and take actions on issues such as correcting its wrong practices and lifting the unilateral tariffs," the spokesperson said in response to a journalist's query on an upcoming high-level economic and trade meeting between the two countries.

The spokesperson urged the U.S. side to respect international economic and trade rules, uphold fairness and justice, heed rational voices from all walks of life, and show sincerity in talks.

"We hope the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction and address the concerns of both sides through equal consultation," the spokesperson said.

"But if the U.S. says one thing but does another, or even attempts to continue to coerce and blackmail under the guise of talks, China will never agree, nor will it seek to reach any agreement by sacrificing its principle and position as well as international fairness and justice," he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12. During his visit, He, as China's lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Bishop Austin Vetter of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena on Friday praised the selection of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope.

Its an exciting time. It really is, Vetter said Friday at a news conference at the diocese office in Helena. I always thought its impossible wed ever get an American as a pope, but nothing is impossible with God.

He said it also shows a great deal about the cardinals who elected Leo XIV on Thursday that they go into a conclave not to hide, but to have real freedom and open dialogue that is confidential.

This is an election different than any other election, he said.

Leo XIV is the 267th pope; St. Peter is recognized as the first.

The tradition of the life of the church continues on. Peter just simply took a new name, Vetter said.

Vetter said he met Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, in September 2023 when Prevost was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and Vetter was attending the New Bishops' Program, also known as "Baby Bishop School," for two weeks.

He said he was also neighbors with him in Rome while on the faculty of North American College.

He said Leo XIV is thoughtful and confident.

He came out very calm, very much at peace and his beautiful opening line ... Peace be with you, he said.

I think they can see that peacefulness in him, Vetter said, adding Leo XIV speaks six languages fluently.

That sure doesnt hurt to be fluent in that many languages, he said.

Vetter said even though Leo XIV is American, he has spent much of his time in the missions in Peru.

He knows a lot of the world and would be comfortable in the missionary aspect of being pope. He also knows a lot of the bishops, he said.

Vetter said Leo XIV is 69.

That should tell you something, that the cardinals werent scared to take someone a little younger, he said.

Who knows? He could be a pope for a month or a pope for 25 years. That is the mystery for all of our lives though, that is no different for him.

Vetter said he knows there were heated discussions, but those in the conclave left their hearts open to be able to send who the Holy Spirit has chosen to be the next vicar of Christ on Earth.

Thats their main task in the conclave, he said.

Vetter said members of his church are excited about Leo XIV. Vetter led a Mass at 7 a.m. Friday at the Cathedral of St. Helena to pray for the new pope.

What is always so funny, they always say, What kind of pope will he be?

To which he replies, I dont know. What makes you think I know? Just because I hung out with him a few times 

His whole life has changed completely, Vetter said. Hes not going home to Chicago anytime soon. He gives up his whole life.

Vetter said the first steps of a pope are always fun and he encourages people to listen to Leo XIV with open hearts and open ears.

Lets watch him and being inspired during this time, he said.

Vetter said he hopes everyone grows in holiness during Leo XIVs time as pope and aren't afraid to go out and evangelize and bring the Gospel to the world.

Vetter was in Rome for Pope Francis' funeral. He was in Rome when the pope died. He was part of the transfer of the popes body from his home to St. Peters.

Vetter returned to the United States because his mother died.

Vetter shrugged aside criticism by some of Leo XIV for speaking Spanish in his opening address.

He spoke English today in his homily to all the cardinals, Vetter said. Hey, when you are fluent in six languages you can pick and choose. I think he spoke in Spanish because he was speaking to his diocese.

He said there are a lot of Spanish speakers in the Catholic world.

Give the guy a break. He just dressed in white and came out and the whole world is watching, he said.

He said his role as a bishop is one of support.

Im with him, he said, adding that when he next meets him he will say: You can lean on me and Im gonna lean on you.
Xi Jinpings arrival in Moscow, to commemorate Russias VE day, on May 9, (a day after Europe, the UK and the US), wasnt just a formality. It was a very public and deliberate show of support from Russias closest ally.

We already know that China is a critical part of the axis of totalitarian states, made up of China, North Korea, Russia and Iran. The countries in this group, prompted by China, have delivered a great deal of support to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. This includes a significant number of drones from Iran in the early stages of the war, and now weapons and ammunition from North Korea.

It was China that helped arrange the rapprochement between North Korea and Russia, opening the door to huge levels of military support. It is worth remembering that, at that time, Russia was in some difficulty and had begun running low on artillery ammunition and other weaponry.

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Perhaps the best example of this support is the estimated delivery of over five million artillery shells from North Korea, not to mention the thousands of North Korean soldiers now engaged in fighting alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region.

During a recent visit to Ukraine, the Ukrainian military revealed to me that these North Korean troops have proven to be more effective than existing Russian troops.

But we should cast our minds back to the Winter Olympics in China in 2022. On February 4 2022, Putin flew in, clearly to discuss the coming invasion with Xi. Just 20 days later, Putins forces invaded Ukraine. What is absolutely clear is that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine without Xis agreement.

On March 22 2023, at a previous meeting, president Xi gave Putin the strongest level of support when he said: Change is coming that hasnt happened in 100 years. And we are driving this change together. This visit of Xi now re-emphasises this strong alliance between them.

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After all, the alliance isnt just words, as China now buys a huge proportion of Russias oil and gas; and in return it supports Russia at the UN. This purchase of Russias oil and gas has increased dramatically in the year following the invasion. China has also encouraged a network of other nations to do the same.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, the West not only froze Russian assets but also cut off Russian financial institutions access from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), the backbone of global financial transactions.

In response, China immediately stepped in and facilitated financial transactions through its own system, Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). This intervention alone saved Russia from a cash flow crisis.

What should not be forgotten is that China has its own territorial ambitions in Taiwan. Chinas support for Russia is also because what happens in Ukraine will have a bearing on what happens in Taiwan. Xi is watching carefully to see how strong the Wests resolve is over Ukraine, as this will give him a strong indication of how the US and other elements of the Nato alliance might respond if and when Taiwan is blockaded or invaded.

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So far, what China has seen from the West has significantly emboldened its position over Taiwan. Since the beginning of this conflict, it has become clear that Europe first and foremost was unprepared for any kind of conflict and unable to support Ukraine as they should have done.

Even under president Biden, the US was unable to make its mind up whether it wanted Ukraine to win or just not to lose. This was evidenced by the early refusals to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and in restrictions on Ukraines use of US missiles to target sites within Russia.

Whilst we all want peace, any deal that trades away significant Ukrainian territory would be manna from heaven for president Xi. As Xi got off the plane in Moscow, he must be smiling to himself as he watches the divisions in the West and contemplates the beginning of a new world order.

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Fraud investigators looking into devices that steal credit- or debit-card information in Puyallup recently found that over 900 cards were compromised in a scheme police have tied to two men accused of stealing thousands of dollars from their victims.

The alleged fraudsters are suspected to have targeted 7-Eleven convenience stores with devices known as credit-card skimmers, then used the data to make withdrawals at ATMS in March and April, according to charging documents filed Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court.

One victim lost $15,500 over a month and another had $12,800 stolen. Documents dont describe where the skimming devices were placed.

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Prosecutors have charged a 53-year-old man and a 39-year-old man each with two counts of first-degree identity theft and two counts of first-degree theft.

Puyallup police arrested the older man Tuesday while he was shopping on Meridian after detectives found he was associated with a vehicle identified in a separate credit-card skimming investigation. He was located with the help of the citys FLOCK license-plate readers.

A plea of not guilty to the charges was entered on his behalf at arraignment Thursday. Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille ordered him held at Pierce County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

That defendants criminal history includes convictions in Romania and Hungary. According to the probable cause document, he was fined for complicity to counterfeit documents in 2004 in Hungary, was convicted of fraud in 2006 in Romania and was convicted for smuggling migrants in 2010 in Romania.

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The younger man has not yet been arrested, according to court records. He was reportedly encountered by Canadian law enforcement in October while with a known smuggler attempting to enter the United States illegally.

Detectives began investigating the case in March when they were contacted by a fraud investigator from BECU, according to the probable cause document. The investigators team was compiling surveillance footage of suspects completing ATM withdrawals with cards believed to have been compromised at area 7-Eleven locations.

Images of the suspects were sent to a nationwide email distribution list that specializes in those types of investigations. Detectives were contacted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the suspects.

The U.S. Secret Service also reportedly contacted detectives about the older suspect more recently using a different last name. This helped police connect him to a separate fraud investigation in Puyallup where officers found he was renting a black Nissan Rogue. Officers placed an alert for the vehicle on the citys FLOCK database, and a camera captured the vehicle Tuesday traveling on Meridian.

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Credit-card skimmers can be found at fuel pumps, ATMs and other point-of-sale terminals, according to the FBI. Some are installed within the terminal, and others fit over the card reader. In some cases, customers PIN numbers are recorded through pinhole cameras or keylogging keypad overlays.

The devices store customer information to be downloaded or wirelessly transferred later. The data is then used to create fake payment cards to make unauthorized purchases or steal from an account.

When the older suspect was arrested, police searched his vehicle and found a visa gift card. A police officer wrote in a report that these types of cards with magnetic strips can easily be programmed.

According to the probable cause document, the man asked police during his arrest how they caught him.

I explained we knew what car he was driving, a police officer wrote in a report. He again inquired, How? I replied, Police work. He seemed impressed and said, Good work 






Queen Elizabeth had only one major fear, and it's related to technology.

She often had to fly for royal duty, and contend with the fact that her sons and grandsons flew all the time for military duty when each served.

Her fear made her 2012 London Olympics sketch even more powerful and poignant, proving that we can all stare fear in the eye and conquer it.







Queen Elizabeth only had one real fear, a royal biographer saidand as monarch, she had to interface with her fear all the time. Speaking on The Daily Mails podcast "Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things" (via Marie Claire), according to veteran royal author Robert Hardman, the late Queen was only afraid of one thing, and that was helicopters.

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She could put up with everything else, Hardman added. Shed been through the war, shed been through Heaven knows what, but she always had a thing about helicopters.

Getty Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth on May 20, 2011 Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth on May 20, 2011

The fear, Marie Claire reported, stemmedat least in partfrom a member of her staff dying in a helicopter crash in the 1960s. Hardman said the accident left a very deep impression on the Queen and that, in the immediate aftermath, she refused to ride in helicopters. That said, she did ride in them later in her reignat times, it was necessary due to her schedule or where she was traveling, Marie Claire reported.

Not too terribly long after the 1960s accident, the Queen traveled to Northern Ireland in 1977 and had to come face-to-face with her fear. The historic visit came during the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and because of security concerns, her team suggested the safest way to travel was via helicopter. Hardman said on the podcast that Her Late Majesty was given no choice but to take a helicopter during the visit.

Getty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip boarding a helicopter Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip boarding a helicopter

Getty Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth

Even at the end of her life, she was very reluctant to use helicopters in bad weather and at night and particularly during winter, Hardman continued, adding, Its somewhat ironic that several of her children and grandchildrennotably Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince William, and Prince Harryall ended up flying helicopters at various points. She never liked them.

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The Queen especially butted heads with William, a trained helicopter pilot, who frequently flew his young family in helicoptersincluding, of course, eldest son Prince George, who is heir to the throne.

Getty King Charles and Prince William King Charles and Prince William

Royal biographer Robert Jobson wrote (via The Daily Mail) that the Queen once had sharp words with William for defying her wishes: She had warned him against flying with George in case of an accident, telling her grandson [William] he always had to be aware of the succession, Jobson wrote.

The Queen apparently had several conversations with William about the matter, with a source telling The Sun, Her Majesty has told close friends and courtiers that she would like William to stop flying himself, particularly in bad weather, as helicopters are not the safest form of transport. It keeps the Queen awake at night, and she is understandably very worried.

It makes it even more admirable that Queen Elizabeth faced down her fear of helicopters to imitate jumping out of one for the 2012 London Olympics and her memorable sketch with Daniel Craig (aka James Bond).

Getty Queen Elizabeth at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games Queen Elizabeth at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

We wrote up this James Bond idea and we sent it into [Buckingham Palace], director Danny Boyle said, per The Daily Mail. We were asking, really, for permission. For them to accept that it wouldnt embarrass them and we would get a doublea good double. We were thinking Helen Mirren. They came back and said, We are delighted for you to do it, and Her Majesty would like to be in it herself. She would like to play herself.

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The day of filming, Boyle shared that the Queen had been at the dentist all day and was therefore not in a very good mood: That put me in my place immediately, he said.

As to why the Queen agreed to do the bit, royal biographer Tina Brown wrote in her book The Palace Papers that She thought it would be a great joke to amuse her grandchildren, adding, Her only real concern was keeping it a secret until the moment she walked out in person after the leap to take her place with Philip in the Royal Box.

Getty Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry at the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry at the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Middle distance runner Sebastian Coe watched the Olympics opening ceremony alongside Prince Charles, with Prince William and Prince Harry sitting in the row behind them, per The Daily Mail. None of them knew about the Queens involvement, nor that the film even existed, Coe told Brown. So when the sequence began, with the corgis racing up what were obviously very familiar stairs, Prince Charles looked at me and began laughing rather nervously, wondering where on earth this was going.

And when the film cut to the shot of the royal back, he had exactly the same reaction as everyone else, which was to assume it was the lady who does the impersonations, Coe continued. But the moment she turned around and everyone realized, My God! It really is the Queen! he began roaring with laughter.

Getty Images Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth

As for William and Harry, they were beside themselves, he continued. As she started her descent two voices shouted out in unison behind me, Go Granny! For me, that was the nicest thing.

Who says you cant look fear in the eye sometimes?

Read the original article on InStyle
Lovetta Quinn-Henry was sworn in this week at the Apopka City Hall, making history as Apopkas new Deputy Police Chief.

She will transition from deputy police chief to chief, succeeding retiring Chief Michael McKinley when he steps down on October 31.

The City of Apopka Town Hall

McKinley stepped into the role of Apopka police chief in August 2016 after dedicating over 31 years to the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

As a lifelong resident of Orange County, he now happily calls Apopka home, where he lives with his family.

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Quinn-Henry will replace Jerome Miller as deputy police chief. Miller left last December to become the deputy chief of the Orange City Police Department.

Miller served with the Apopka Police Department for more than 28 years in total.

Quinn-Henry, a proud Apopka resident and alumna of Apopka High School, has dedicated an impressive 25 years to the Orlando Police Department.

Most recently, she served as the deputy police chief, showcasing her commitment and leadership in the community.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Catholic Church on Thursday experienced a moment of history when cardinals elected the first-ever U.S. pope.

Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order who spent his career ministering in Peru, was named the 267th pontiff. He took the name Leo XIV.

Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV

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Catholic communities across the world celebrated the news of the new leader of the Catholic Church, who replaced Pope Francis after his death last month.

In Central Texas, a Catholic population of more than 700,000 covered by the Austin Diocese is undoubtedly marking the occasion.

Diocesan Administrator Father James Misko joined KXAN to talk about the historic moment. The Austin Diocese is currently without a Bishop as of late March, when its former Bishop Joe Vasquez stepped into the role of Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Misko is the priest appointed during the interim, until a new Bishop is appointed.

When it happened, it was just overwhelming, of course, as a Catholic priest, to see the new Holy Father come out, and then to realize, wow, hes an American, Misko said of Pope Leo XIV. This is quite a privilege for us. What an honor for us to be able to have the Holy Father be an American.

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Misko said he was in a finance council meeting for the Austin Diocese when white smoke billowed from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. He said he stopped the meeting immediately and everyone at the meeting gathered around his laptop.

Austin Catholic community mourns death of Pope Francis

It was just really a magnificent moment for us, Misko said. We knew that he was one of the papabile  these are the Cardinals that prognosticators thought could be the next pope, he explained. It was about 10 or 12 of them, and so we heard his name, but I didnt expect that.

Misko thinks Pope Leo XIVs background is important to his new role because he has experienced both with his feet on the ground in a diocese with people, and also at the Vatican with the important work of running the universal church, Misko said.

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Pope Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which is the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Its one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.

Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know

Prior to that, Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order, the 13th-century order founded by St. Augustine, per the AP. Francis moved him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023.

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Misko posted a message on the Diocese of Austins website on Thursday, celebrating the election of Prevost.

Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In Gods good providence and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Cardinals have provided the Church with a new shepherd. We ask God to fill him with grace and wisdom to sanctify the Church in unity, teach with truth and mercy, and lead us to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by our lives. Our time in history is marked by profound and complex challenges. We look to the Holy Father to be a voice that speaks not only for Catholics but for all humanity, bearing witness to the hopes, struggles, and dignity of every person created in Gods image. As the rock, Pope Leo XIV now endeavors to embed himself onto the mountain of God so that we might have a foothold by which to pull ourselves ever closer to heaven in this life. May the Lord grant him strength in accepting the weight of this sacred office and may he be a faithful Vicar of Christ on earth. Invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we ask the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, to guide Pope Leo XIV as he begins his Petrine ministry to the glory of God and for the good of Gods people. Sincerely in Christ,

Very Reverend James A. Misko

Diocesan Administrator

St. Mary Cathedral in Austin hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday, May 9, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) St. Mary Cathedral in Austin hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday, May 9, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) St. Mary Cathedral in Austin hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday, May 9, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) St. Mary Cathedral in Austin hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday, May 9, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) St. Mary Cathedral in Austin hosted a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday, May 9, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)

St. Mary Cathedral in Austin will host a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday. The Mass was also streamed 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 KXAN Austin.
Radar screens serving Newark Liberty International Airport went black early Friday morning, raising more air traffic safety concerns at the busy New Jersey hub, federal authorities said.

The outage shortly before 4 a.m. EDT lasted only 90 seconds on a limited number of sectors, the FAA said, but the blackout is still a troubling development in the wake of revelations that controllers lost radio contact with pilots flying into the airport in recent months.

The difficulties were traced to Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) network out of Philadelphia.

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"There was a telecommunications outage that impacted communications and radar display at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace," according to an FAA statement. "The outage occurred around 3:55 a.m. on Friday, May 9, and lasted approximately 90 seconds."

A current veteran controller said the situation is getting worse by the day.

Its a s--- show, the controller told NBC News. "Theres new stuff every day. We work with a monkey on our back, knowing our equipment is not reliable. Its like driving your car, knowing the brakes will go out any time.

Any moment without radar access can have dire consequences, the controller said.

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Its just dangerous, period, if you lose your radar!" the controller said. "Any hour of the day is dangerous if you lose radar. Every second, the airspace changes because planes are constantly moving.

This latest snafu unfolded less than a day after federal authorities made an hour-plus presentation, explaining the inadequacies of American air traffic control systems and how they plan to upgrade it.

The officials often cited Newark as an example of where outdated technology is impacting travelers.

"And I guess you're having a big problem in Newark that seems to be the one of the moment, the flavor of the moment," President Donald Trump said Thursday.

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"The equipment on most airplanes in the sky is now generations ahead of the ground systems and recently, and you've seen this, the controllers lost contact with planes for 30 critical seconds at Newark."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Rangers have hit out at the Trump administrations plans to hand over control of National Parks to states, warning that it could lead to the closure of many lesser-known sites and monuments.

The unprecedented plans, announced in a budget proposal for 2026, call for sites that receive small numbers of mostly local visitors to be handed over to state control and for a cut of some $1 billion from its $4.8 billion budget.

The National Park Service is protecting not only these really remarkable natural resources, but some of the most important cultural and historical resources as well, said one ranger who asked to remain anonymous.

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Oftentimes, those more difficult stories and those smaller stories don't get as much attention as those big-name national parks, the ranger said, adding that they could now be under threat.

There are more than 430 national parks that span across 85 million acres, including every U.S. state and territory. Among that number are 76 national historical sites and 87 national monuments that include archeological sites and shorelines like the Canaveral National Seashore in Florida.

The ranger said sites like the Nicodemus National Historic Site in Kansas, the only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi River, receive very few visitors, but have significant historical and cultural importance.

It's telling such an important historical story that it would make sense to me and others that it would be a national park and part of the national story that we protect, but when you're only looking for diamonds, those smaller gems are on the chopping block, it seems, they said.

Horseshoe Bend is an ancient sandstone formation in Grand Canyon National Park  and unlikely to be one of the parks on the chopping block (Getty)

Some rangers see a more sinister reason for the handover of national parks to state control.

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The budget proposal comes amid a push from the Trump administration to open national parks for mineral extraction, mining, logging and drilling.

Any indication of states rights is a smoke screen for ease of access to drilling and logging, said another ranger, who also asked to remain anonymous over fears of reprisals from the Trump administration.

They were also concerned that the handover to state control would inevitably lead to closures.

The states dont want these lands. Theyre a huge financial burden. Theyre going to be sold off and massively downsized, they said.

Precisely which parks would be handed over to the states is unclear from the budget request. The proposal claims that the budget would continue supporting many national treasures, but there is an urgent need to streamline staffing and transfer certain properties to state-level management to ensure the long-term health and sustainment of the national park system.

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The budget proposal comes just three months after the Trump administration abruptly fired some 1,000 National Park Service employees as part of a huge reduction of the federal workforce spearheaded by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory board that has been given sweeping powers by the White House to reduce government spending.

Two courts later ordered the workers to be re-hired, but many of them remain in limbo .

Brian Bengs, 54, was a ranger in Wind Cave National Park, in South Dakota, when he learned his job was at risk of being cut by Musks DOGE. The Air Force veteran later resigned and launched a second run for Senate in the state as an independent.

He sees the budget plan as an attempt by the Trump administration to exploit the national parks for profit.

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This is an attempt to recreate the Gilded Age, where public lands were looted for resource extraction, and it helps out the rich folks, Bengs said.

An effort to privatize would be easier at the state level. In many of these states, they want money because they can't afford to do things themselves. So the politicians will be more than happy to turn over whatever resources to the federal government, to private developments, mining companies, and whoever.
Some people spend a lifetime trying to unravel their relationship with their mother. That bond, after all, is fundamentally asymmetrical: Moms can watch their children become who they are, but children will never see their parents formative years firsthand. Who was she before I came into the picture? many of us wonder. What makes her tick?

These questions are hard enough to answer when mother and child are close and mutually fond; for those pairs with complicated histories, explanations can feel even more elusive. The results of every maternal audit will differ, because moms are people, and people are distinct. Still, many of us cant help but try, over years or decades, to understand the women who ushered us into the world.

The seven books below are about different kinds of parents, fictional and real; many, but not all, are told through the points of view of their children. These stories offer a starting pointand perhaps some insightsfor those seeking perspective on their mothers. Reading them might spark contemplation about the choices our forebears have made, the losses theyve endured, or the people they were before, and after, we showed up.

Blue Light Hours, by Bruna Dantas Lobato

When the unnamed narrator of Lobatos semi-autobiographical debut leaves her home in Brazil to attend a liberal-arts college in Vermont, Skype becomes a lifeline for her and the lonely mother she left behind. On their near-daily video calls, the protagonist obliges her moms eager requests for the news, even while insisting there isnt much to tell. Soothe this old heart, her mother says, a demand as much as a supplication. Mothers are frequently our first and best listenersbut they also have their own needs and longings, this novel shows. Though the books first section unfurls from the daughters perspective, the second focuses on the mother: her worries for her child, her declining health, and her struggle to define herself outside of the role of caregiver. Over the course of the novel, their relationshipnow mediated by screensshifts, as each woman takes turns mothering the other through their shared senses of sadness and isolation. Blue Light Hours concludes with the two womens bittersweet reunion after five years apart. The separation has inevitably changed themyet with it comes the possibility of discovering each other anew.

Mothers Before

Mothers Before, edited by Edan Lepucki

Coming across an old picture of your momseeing her in her youth, maybe the age you are now, perhaps even bearing some resemblance to youcan provoke strange, striking feelings. A few years ago, Lepucki tried to get to the bottom of that sensation. She invited her female followers on social media to send her photos of their mothers before they became moms and cataloged the submissions on the Instagram account @mothersbefore, which now hosts hundreds of pictures of young women across many years and continents, along with wistful captions from their daughters paying tribute to the people they became. The account later spawned this book, which features more than 60 photos and essays from contributors such as Brit Bennett, Jennifer Egan, and Jia Tolentino. For these daughtersand, inevitably, for their readersthe images call to mind the forces that constrained their mothers lives, the sacrifices made on their childrens behalf, and times swift, inexorable passage. But the pictures also honor the individual personalities often obscured by the maternal role. Becoming a mom can cleave a life into before and after; Lepucki finds that looking closely at an old photo of your own mother and asking yourself who she was then, and who she is now, asks you to blur that line a little.

Mom & Me & Mom, by Maya Angelou

The seventh and final installment of Angelous series of autobiographies, which began with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969, commemorates her relationship with her mother, Vivian Baxter, who abandoned Angelou and her older brother as young children and reentered their lives a decade later. (Neither of her parents, Angelou writes coolly at the start of the book, wanted the responsibility of taking care of two toddlers.) When they reunite, Baxter attempts to compensate for her absence with displays of loyalty: If you need me, I will come, she tells her daughter at one point. She fights for Angelou, but she is also an erratic and intensely independent person who doesnt care to be pigeonholed as a parent; she throws herself into many jobs (shipfitter, nurse, real-estate broker, barber) and many lovers. Writing with the hindsight of decades, Angelou is more generous to Baxter than she was in her more youthful treatments, including Caged Bird. Here, she tries to accept her mother for who she was, acknowledging her shortcomings while feeling gratitude for the admirable qualities she instilled. You were a terrible mother of small children, Angelou concedes, but there has never been anyone greater than you as a mother of a young adult.

Tom Lake

Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett

In Patchetts novel, set in the spring of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic sends 57-year-old Lara Nelson and her husband, Joes, three 20-something daughters, Emily, Maisie, and Nell, back to the Michigan cherry farm they call home. There, the family hunkers down, their days occupied with the grueling task of picking cherries in the absence of their usual workers. To pass the time, Larawho long ago abandoned her acting careerregales her daughters with the story of her 1980s romance with a now-famous film star. Her recollections teach the girls about a version of their mother they hardly knew existed: a 24-year-old thespianabout the age they are nowwhose life was all art and pleasure; a woman who was single-minded about her craft, while squeezing in time between summer-stock-theater rehearsals for trysts and dips in a nearby lake. Her daughters, seeing new dimensions in Lara, initially cant understand why she left acting behind to settle down with a farmer. But Lara has no regrets, and assures them that she is exactly where she wants to be. Although the glow of that summer has faded, she finds in the sum of all her choices a deeper, more durable joy.

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[Read: Reading in the dog days of summer]

Girl Woman Other

Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo

Among the bustling cast of characters in Evaristos kaleidoscopic novel about the lives of a large group of Black British women are several indelible mother-daughter pairs who tryand often failto make sense of one another across generational, ideological, and economic divides. The sprawling Girl, Woman, Other plays out across decades, dropping readers into the worlds of women on both sides of the parental equation. Among them are Amma, the lesbian playwright whose fiery, combative daughter, Yazz, is the miracle she never thought she wanted; Bummi, a Nigerian immigrant whose daughter, Carole, becomes illegible to her when she goes off to a famous university for rich people; and Winsome, who came from Barbados to ensure a better life for her now well-off daughter, Shirley, who in turn is never satisfied with what she has. Even when these children and parents wound one another, Evaristo takes no sides, instead extending empathy and offering insights into what compels their sometimes maddening, sometimes relatable decisions.

The Hero of This Book

The Hero of This Book, by Elizabeth McCracken

McCracken once promised never to make her deeply private mother, Natalie, a character in one of her booksespecially not in a memoir, a genre the elder McCracken despised. But when Natalie died, in 2018, the writer reconsidered that vow. The Hero of This Book, a novel that playfully skirts the boundary between fact and fiction, sees the bereaved McCracken wrestling with the ethics of writing about the ones she loves. In the process, she tries to parse Natalies many contradictions. McCracken, or her avatar, spends the novel wandering around London, a favorite city of Natalies, shortly after her death, recalling as much as she can about her: her small stature and larger-than-life personality, her bookish brilliance and financial incompetence, her stubbornness and self-mythologizing. (Natalie claimed to have invented both the mojito and childrens Tylenol.) From this swirl of memories emerges a moving portrait of an imperfect person who, McCracken writes, loved being alive and in the world. Her vivid rendering proves to be not a betrayal but the ultimate tribute.

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[Read: The problem with mothers and daughters]

Loved and Missed

Loved and Missed, by Susie Boyt

Boyts novel is one of the sharpest, most poignant portraits of motherhood in recent memory. Loved and Missed is narrated by Ruth, a middle-aged schoolteacher in London who is estranged from her drug-addicted daughter, Eleanor. When Eleanor gives birth to a baby named Lily andin Ruths eyesproves unfit to care for her, Ruth decides to raise the girl alone. Its a second shot at parenting for the new grandmother, who blames herself for Eleanors addiction. Over some 15 years, Ruth and Lily form an intimate, unshakable bond, anchored by their domestic routines and mutual affection. I breathed my love onto Lily, Ruth says. What we felt for each other had a lot of heat and urgency. Boyt elides the quotidian miseries of child-rearing, instead extolling its quiet, tactile pleasures. At the same time, the novel acknowledges that to become a mother is to take a profound risk, and offers an unvarnished look into Ruths mindher regrets, desires, and fierce loveas she decides to leap one more time.

[Read: Tolstoy was wrong about happy families]

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Dozens of horses seized in an animal cruelty case in Madison County earlier this year have found new homes, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), with more soon to become eligible for adoption.

The national organization has worked with the Madison County Sheriffs Office and the Humane Society of Western Montana to provide emergency care to 85 horses who were being allegedly neglected by a horse breeder. The update on the horses status was provided in a press release noting that May marks the groups Adopt a Horse Month.

"We are thrilled to have found a soft landing for the dozens of horses rescued earlier this year in Montana, stated Christie Schulte Kappert, the ASPCAs vice president of equine welfare. "This Adopt a Horse Month, we are thrilled to find even more homes for equines across the country and urge all animal lovers to advocate for equine adoption in their communities and support their local shelters and rescues who work tirelessly to save lives."

Meanwhile the Montana horse breeder at the center of the allegations appears poised to plead no contest to a charge of aggravated animal cruelty related to the January raid on his ranch.

Bryan Blatt, 75, previously pleaded not guilty in Madison County District Court with the single felony count, and was released without needing to post bail, according to court records. A December search of Blatts ranch confirmed that 86 of the horses were in need of veterinary care due to neglect, according to an affidavit filed by Madison County Attorney David Buchler.

Under the plea agreement, filed Tuesday with the court, Blatt would enter a no contest plea, meaning he accepts the conviction while not explicitly admitting guilt. In exchange, the parties would agree to jointly recommend a two-year sentence with the Department of Corrections, deferred for five years. In the event no restitution is required by the judge, the deferral would be for three years.

A deferred sentence allows a convicted person to remain law-abiding and complete certain conditions of a sentence during a period of time, after which the sentence is not imposed.

The plea agreement will allow both the prosecution and the defense to argue for whatever restitution they feel is appropriate.

County prosecutors have also moved to recover the costs of caring for the 85 horses since they were seized from Blatt. That request, which under Montana law is filed as a separate civil proceeding, was granted by Judge Berger, who ordered Blatt to pay a $34,000 bond plus additional $23,000 bonds each month thereafter.

Those amounts were granted over the objections of Blatts defense counsel, who argued Montanas cost-of-care law is unconstitutional. By requiring such large payments prior to any finding of guilt, the defense argued the law violated Blatts due process. The defense initially sought to challenge the law in the Montana Supreme Court, but withdrew the appeal once the plea agreement was reached.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of all 85 horses and granted prosecutors request to give them to the ASPCA.

The criminal case against Blatt originated with a tip from a local rancher, according to the affidavit, which prompted a visit from a Madison County sheriffs deputy. Blatt had hired two ranch hands who said that on their first day of work it was apparent that the horses had not been provided sufficient food, water or other necessities.

A deputy who responded to the property noticed almost every rail on the fences had been chewed down, saw horses with emaciated bodies and observed other evidence they were not being cared for, according to court documents.

A ranch hand hired by Blatt also testified to the lack of care, noting that manure had built up in the corrals and he didnt have sufficient tools to remove it, horses would go days without being fed, the pastures were grazed down to nothing and there was insufficient power to keep ice off the water troughs during the coldest winter days.

Anika Ward, a local veterinarian who examined the animals, also testified that every horse had at least one concerning medical issue and some horses had multiple issues.

No change-of-plea hearing had been scheduled as of Thursday. A pre-trial conference had previously been scheduled for June 16.

Phone calls to Blatts phone number listed for his business, Westwind Morgans, went straight to a full voicemail box. His attorney, Judd Jensen, did not respond to a phone message requesting comment Wednesday.

Madison County Attorney David Buchler declined to comment on the case, but did offer a statement thanking those who have helped out.

My office was assisted by the ASPCA, the Humane Society of Western Montana and Madison County veterinarians  doctors Anika Ward and Tori Wilson, Buchler said. Those two organizations and the two vets provided tremendous assistance in the case.

The ASPCA also stated that those interested in adopting horses from the animal welfare group can visit its adoption website, myrighthorse.org. Some of the animals seized from Blatts ranch are still receiving treatment, but the group plans to make them available soon.
Rent-stabilized shouldnt destabilize landlords

Staten Island: As a small property owner of rent-stabilized apartments in NYC, I appreciate your editorial Good politics in bad rent freeze (May 2). The candidates running for mayor are out of touch with the real world. Having no rental increases or close to zero, as former Mayor Bill de Blasio implemented, is forcing their constituents to live in slums.

Average rent for free-market apartments in NYC is $3,397 per month. In 2024, it cost $2,296 for NYCHA to maintain an apartment, and NYCHA does not pay mortgage or real estate taxes. In NYC, the median income is $79,713 and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development states that occupants should not spend more than 30% of their salary on housing. This calculates to an affordable rent of $1,992 per month. Average rent for a rent-stabilized apartment is $1,477, way below the threshold set by the city. The Rent Guidelines Board stated that our expenses increased by 48.6% over the last 10 years. It approved a total of 11.75% increases. One of the candidates stated last year that we are double-dipping and the rental increases are historically high as 11% (This NYS agency is allowing illegal rent hikes, op-ed, July 10, 2024).

We are severely financially strapped. At 76, I am using my retirement money for the upkeep and will never be able to retire. Owners of rent-stabilized properties are the only group that politicians are attacking, wanting us to compensate for the welfare of tenants with income below the median. Why cant tenant advocates and politicians work with owners on trying to get them proper assistance and get back to the original intentions of rent stabilization: providing affordable housing, maintaining it and making a reasonable profit? Vincent Ragosta

Head grifter

Union, N.J.: This is neither an endorsement nor a defense of Bob Menendez. He went wrong, got caught and will pay the price. Thats fine with me! This is an inquiry. What did Menendez do that President Trump hasnt done while in government? We know from 2016 to 2020 that he is an agent of a foreign government (Russia)! And please dont give me the he didnt take his presidential salary nonsense. He took many, many more times that amount in return for favors to foreign governments, lobbyists and, more disturbingly, to himself and his family! His crimes are easily an equal match for Gold Bar Bob, so why arent they sharing an equal punishment? Lou Alt

Ill-spoken

Brooklyn: To Voicer Tom Scott: Stephen Smith is from Queens. He has a New York accent just like Trump and many native New Yorkers. Unlike Trump, Smith is educated and has a command of the English language. Third-graders read and talk better than Trump. Why did he obtain a court order to have his school records sealed? Trump doesnt want the voting public to know how uneducated he is. Did you happen to watch Terry Morans 100-day White House interview with Trump on ABC? It was alternately scary, cringeworthy and wet-your-pants. Moran asked Trump, What does the Declaration of Independence mean to you? Typical Trump: He stumbled, gaffed and mumbled, answering, Unity love respect means a lot and special (one of Trumps favorite low-IQ words). He couldnt even recite the preamble of this consequential document. Who hangs signs or wears T-shirts with messages they dont understand or comprehend? The president. Taplow Vincennes

Pro-ban

Ormond Beach, Fla.: As a retired military person, I was very pleased to see that the Supreme Court just ruled that Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will be allowed to ban trans people from the military. The radical left has become more and more like the characters in a Charles Dickens novel, crammed to the seams with grotesques, eccentrics, amiable idiots and moral monstrosities. These freaks and insipid oddballs have become central to the progressive movement and most responsible for its demise. Indeed, they have become a ramshackle, disheveled party and have given a new meaning to spontaneous combustion. Charles Michael Sitero

Fantasizer

Beechhurst: Trumps twisted tongue-in-cheek suggestion that the cardinal conclave in the Vatican should have contemplated electing him as the next Holy Father brings to mind Friedrich Nietzsches famous wish about Cesare Borgia (a worldly, power-hungry Italian prince and illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI) ascending to the papacy. The White Houses AI-generated image of Trump as the new pope, as well as its AI-generated image of him as a buffed-up, red-lightsaber-wielding Star Wars hero, are tawdry homages to The Donalds solipsistic will to power. Not surprisingly, 45/47 vainly aspires to be chiseled in stone on Mount Rushmore  but he fittingly belongs on Mount Narcissus. James Hyland

Singular focus

Bronx: Trumps ego has no limits. He now believes that our nations motto, E Pluribus Unum, refers to him. A press secretary explained that this Latin phrase means out of many, one. Trump immediately took this as a perfect self-description. Out of the vast (and diverse) multitudes in this country, he is Number 1  the Chosen One. In the process, he has turned the United States into a lugubrious union. Fred Smith

Inconsequential numbers

Bronx: To Voicer Diane Doberman: Leave it to a querulous, woke loser to whine about the statistical margin of victory in the last presidential election in response to a letter about a cancer-stricken child being used as a political pawn. To quote Mark Twain, There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. Its no wonder you lost. Charles T. Compton

Work for us

Brooklyn: Dear Rep. Nicole Malliotakis: If not you, who? There is nothing wrong with being liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican  as long as you are concerned with everyone, not just yourself and one segment among your nation, state, town or city. Trump is a real estate developer (the segment that is the biggest source of campaign contributions at the local level, as you clearly know). Elon Musk is interested in benefiting his own multiple interests. Its evident that both of them are running this country for narcissistic reasons. So, who are you concerned with, everyone or one segment and one person? The future of the nation or the future of wealthy people? I suggest that its time for you to work to get the Musk-MAGA segment under control. If you and your colleagues dont work on doing this, who will? If you and they wont, then seriously consider leaving office. Ed Jaworski

Unmet demand

Flushing: Humanitarian groups and European officials have condemned Israel for blocking food, fuel and medicine from entering Gaza. Israel has announced that the siege of Gaza will end the moment that Hamas wants it to end. That moment will occur when Hamas releases all the remaining hostages abducted on Oct. 7, 2023. Theodore Sheskin

Further reading

Brooklyn: To Voicer Richard Sherman: By way of rebuttal, you should study the words of David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, who said, Politically speaking, we are the aggressors, and the Arabs are just defending their homeland. I find it rather bizarre that you would quote Zuheir Mohsen, someone who Zionists went out of their way to assassinate in 1979. Significantly, you should also study the words of Jewish luminary Sigmund Freud, who, in the 1920s, indicated that the formation of Israel would be a terrible idea. That prophecy has proven to be spot-on prescient. So, Richard, study up! Nick Smith

An American dream

West Palm Beach, Fla.: According to Sean Puffy Combs charges  racketeering, insane freak-offs, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and any other dark sexual, immoral sin  there is no real, tangible evidence. For example, the charge of racketeering would suggest or depict a man full of pride and deception about who he had become  a monster. The truth is that through observance over the years, Combs was an ordinary man who became extraordinary. He finished high school and went to college, then pursued his passion and dream, which was to be rich. That idea is not evil. Combs pursued his endeavor through legal means, such as music, media, alcohol, fashion and technology. Being a Black man in todays society, he should be applauded. Although some of these ventures are less conventional, they are still legitimate. Felicia Jefferson
Yall, when is MAGA not complaining about something? They flooded social media following the election of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and the first American pope to be elected. However, his liberal stance has ruffled some far-right feathers.

Cardinal Robert Prevost was selected by the Conclave to be the next leader of the Vatican following the recent death of Pope Francis. Prevost grew up in the southsuburbs of Chicago and embarked on the path to priesthood having attended seminary school, been ordained a priest and made a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2023, per CBS News.

If there was a question as to whether Prevost would live up to the previous liberal policies that shifted the focus of the Vatican, the answer would be yes. Prevost is known for standing on the left when it comes to social issues. He cares deeply for the poor, supports immigrants, enforcing missionary work and giving a voice to disenfranchised communities. Considering his grandparents were Black Creole couple from New Orleans, PEOPLE reported, this comes as no surprise.

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Despite President Donald Trump congratulating Prevost for his election, calling it a Great Honor for our Country, his MAGA-mites cant stand him. He does have quite an anti-Trump digital footprint. He reposted one X users rant condemning mass deportation.

Screenshot: X

His latest post before being elected was an article titled, JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others. MAGA tried to eat him up in the comments.

Catholicism has gone woke, read one X comment.

Another globalist sellout masked as a religious leader. Catholics are fcked over again, read another comment.

You are not my Pope. You people have destroyed the church and now I must find a new church, said another X user.

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This is only a preview of the ignant comments he received condemning him to be a Marxist and interrogating him on how he feels about illegal immigration. One person even accused him of bribing the cardinals for their vote.

On the other hand, many people believe its almost karmic that the highest ranking church leader stands against his own president. For this reason, a lot of people have hope in him and also say his left-leaning stance doesnt make him a liberal. It simply makes him Catholic.

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GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  The American Red Cross is partnering with Georgetown County Emergency Services to prepare the community for the upcoming hurricane season.

The focus is on local shelter volunteer training.

Together, the Red Cross and the countys emergency management will hold a one-day boot camp Saturday at the Emergency Operations Center.

Red Cross volunteers assist with the countys disaster response efforts, especially when emergency shelters are required due to evacuations and serious storm threats.

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Theyre a crucial partner, said Brandon Ellis, Georgetown Countys Director of Emergency Services. When an event happens, they help us open and manage shelters, ensuring residents have a safe place to go.

One challenge is finding volunteers to help with shelter needs. Volunteers will learn what is required to help run an emergency shelter, and other helpful skills like CPR that could save a life inside or outside a shelter environment.

That event will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. You can register for the event by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Elizabeth Smart says her kidnapper Wanda Barzees reasoning for recently visiting two Salt Lake parks  a violation of Barzees sex offender registry status  is something she has heard before.

Her justification was she was commanded by the Lord, which unfortunately is very familiar to me and is probably the most concerning thing because thats how they justified kidnapping me. I feel like Ive been vocal about my concerns since Barzees initial release, and this incident confirms exactly why," Smart said.

Thursday night, Smart publicly addressed Barzees arrest last week by posting a video message to the Elizabeth Smart Foundations Instagram page and a corresponding statement on the foundations website. Smart hopes the arrest will serve as a reminder that survivors need to be a top priority in the legal system.

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Barzee, 79, who was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail under the name Wanda Mitchell, was arrested last week for investigation of being a sex offender in a protected area. Barzee was spotted in April in Liberty Park and Sugar House Park, places she is forbidden to visit because she is a registered sex offender.

She admitted that she went to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City  because she was commanded to by the Lord, and also admitted to going to the park to sit on benches and feed ducks. (Barzee) also admitted to going to Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City after being commanded to, according to a police booking affidavit.

Barzee and her husband, Brian David Mitchell, kidnapped then-14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her home in 2002 and held her captive until their arrests nine months later. Mitchell claimed he was commanded by God to take Smart. After years of court battles over her competency, Barzee pleaded guilty in federal court in 2009 to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. In 2011, Brian Mitchell was sentenced to life in federal prison.

In 2010, Barzee was found competent to proceed in a separate state court case against her. She pleaded guilty and mentally ill in state court to the 2002 attempted kidnapping of Smarts cousin and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. After completing her federal prison sentence, Barzee returned to Utah State Prison in April 2016. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole gave Barzee credit for her time served in federal prison and released her on Sept. 19, 2018, after serving her complete sentence.

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On Thursday, Smart thanked the Salt Lake City Police Department and Chief Brian Redd for their quick and professional response.

They handled this situation with a trauma-informed approach, which means so much to me personally, Smart said. When authorities take these situations seriously, it sends a very powerful message that survivor safety matters.

However, while Smart recognizes that my case received so much attention  the sad truth is most survivors never see their perpetrators arrested, let alone convicted, she said, calling the process more of a legal system than a justice system.

But, we also believe in the possibility of change, she said on her website.

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Smart hopes that policymakers and other community leaders will use Barzees arrest as an example for why survivors need to be front and center in the legal system, and also use her arrest as a reminder that sex offender registries and release conditions exist for important reasons.

I believe in a future where all survivors can be heard, believed and supported, Smart said.

As for her personal feelings on Barzees new violations, Smart says shes not going to waste time worrying about them.

I turned back to the advice my own mother gave me the day I was rescued, where she said, Theyve already stolen nine months of your life away from you. Do not let them steal another second. You need to move forward with your life and you need to be happy. And I have always tried to follow that advice to the best of my ability. So, although this situation has arisen, I refuse to live my life in fear.

Barzee filed for divorce from Brian David Mitchell in 2004 after their arrests. However, the case was dismissed in 2010 because Mitchell was never served, according to court records, making them still legally married.
Regent David Barker has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the assistant secretary for postsecondary education. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Board of Regents member David Barker has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as assistant secretary for postsecondary education, the U.S. Department of Education announced Friday.

According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Education, if appointed, Barkers job will include improving outcomes and accountability in higher education through accreditation reforms and changing federal student aid programs for the better. He would also make sure grant programs are invested in agency priorities, the release stated.

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Sen. Joni Ernst called Barker a great pick in the news release, citing his long career and work on the board.

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Sixth generation Iowan David Barker has a proven 40-year track record as a successful entrepreneur and led the fight on the Iowa Board of Regents to undo restrictive COVID-19 mandates on students, Ernst said in the release.

Barker, who has served on the board of regents since 2019, was confirmed by the Iowa Senate to continue his tenure on the board in late April. His term is set to expire in 2031.

He also works as a partner in Barker Companies, which oversees and develops real estate, and was previously an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, according to his board of regents biography.

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In response to whether Barker is planning to step down from the board, board of regents spokesperson Josh Lehman said in an email he is still a member. Sherry Bates, president of the board of regents, congratulated Barker for the nomination in a statement.

He will bring his tremendous knowledge, expertise and passion to that role, Bates said. Its great that a fellow Iowan has been selected for this position, and we wish him well.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  The Central New York Regional Market will not receive the $35 million that legislators asked to be included in the state budget.

Legislators needed to prioritize where money went locally, and for many of them, priority number one was a new Upstate Emergency Department, lawmakers told NewsChannel 9. The project received the full $450 million that the hospital and lawmakers asked Governor Kathy Hochul for.

Also passed in the budget was $116 million for water infrastructure for Micron Technologies in Clay, an investment Governor Hochul often touts.

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While no state funding was passed for the market this year, Onondaga Countys $4 million investment is full steam ahead. With the $4 million, the current main entrance will be renovated, and a ghost kitchen will be added.

The fight to get funding for the Regional Market is not over. Both Assemblyman Al Stirpe and Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli told NewsChannel 9 that funding for the Regional Market will be back on the table for next years budget. Magnarelli said that planning for the funding is already underway.

Statement from State Senator Rachel May

I am disappointed that we could not secure the $30 million in funding needed to renovate the CNY Regional Market. We must keep this facility safe and usable for the farmers and the thousands of patrons who enjoy it each year. I will continue to advocate for the market in the legislature, and I remain hopeful that we will secure the necessary funding to transform the market into a modern and functional space for Central New Yorkers.

Statement from State Senator Chris Ryan

I am very proud of the significant wins we took home in this years budget for Central New York, including $450 million investment in SUNY Upstate Medical University and the $116 million in Micron-related water infrastructure upgradesall of which will drive long-term growth, create jobs, support innovation, and help build out the infrastructure needed for a booming regional economy. Agriculture plays a key role in that economy, which is why we allocated millions to support the farming industry, and continued to fund programs that connect farm fresh food with residents with $113 million going towards Nourish New York and HPNAP, and $2 million to Double Up Food Bucks. We also secured $340 million to make sure every child in the state gets two free school meals a day, which will transform childhood outcomes for our region. As impactful and as critically important as these wins are, Im just as determined to keep pushing for whats next, including a renewed effort for Central New York Regional Market funding in next years budget fight, so they too get the resources they deserve.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
All hail Keir Starmer, who has just marked VE day by making his own history.

Against all odds, this dreariest, unluckiest of Prime Ministers has somehow succeeded where so many of his predecessors failed and pulled off a landmark US-UK trade deal.

How Rishi Sunak, for whom high profile Brexit wins proved frustratingly elusive, would love to have been able to announce something that sounded this good. As for Boris Johnson, who prided himself on delivering Brexit, he would surely have swapped his trademark blond mop for a buzz cut to deliver this.

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On the face of it, it is an extraordinary triumph for Downing St, stunning all those who struggled to imagine Donald Trump doing Starmer any favours. After all, the two men could hardly be more different. Behind one set of negotiators was a dull, grey technocrat whose yearning for closer relations with the EU might have derailed all this.

Behind the other set was the magnetic, mercurial, swashbuckling Trump, who despises Brussels and wants to teach its leading lights a lesson.

Yet there they both were today, playing footsie across the Pond, gushing about how the deal they have struck makes the Special Relationship stronger than ever. What a coup!

From the leader of a political party whose MPs, activists and grassroots supporters almost all detest Trump, the spectacle must have been a tremendous shock.

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Leading Labour figures like Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who not so long ago labelled the US President a neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath, and the UKs ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson  who once described him as a bully and danger to the world  may have spent the last nine months desperately trying to gloss over these old insults, but we all know what they really think.

As for Labour backbenchers, few bother to conceal their contempt for the occupant of the White House. As their great leader dispensed with all formalities today, addressing the President affectionately as Donald not once; not twice; but an astonishing eight times; many will have been cringeing and praying for him to stop.

However, that fleeing discomfort pales into insignificance relative to other adjustments they, and the rest of the Left-leaning Establishment, must now make. For as of today, their dreams of rejoining the EU are now well and truly over.

On this front, the small print of todays deal does not matter a jot. Whether it turns out to be so good for both countries, as Trump cheerfully proclaimed, or whether the master deal maker has stitched us up, there is now absolutely no going back. In landmark deals with both India and America, Starmer has cemented our departure from the UK. We are now on a very different path.

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For the many die-hards who have spent years trying to derail or reverse Brexit, it is quite a blow. That it is game over, for them, thanks to Starmer is a particularly nasty surprise. They had every reason to hope he would help. A staunch Remainer himself, the prime minister has spent much of his Premiership trying to rebuild ties with the EU. Earlier this year, he thrilled Remainers by becoming the first British prime minister since Brexit to attend an EU meeting in Brussels. Downing St has repeatedly indicated that he wants to reset the UKs relationship with the bloc. All this has raised hopes among Remainers that he and his EU friends would conspire to create Brexit in name only. This weeks deals have put paid to all that.

It will take some time to identify the various winners and losers in these agreements.

Amid all the jubilation, already there are signs that some UK sectors will lose out. (Amid a deluge of cheap US agricultural products, for example, our own biggest food export  salmon  of which a quarter goes to the US, now faces a ten per cent tariff. Previously, it was zero.).

If it does turn out that we have been shafted, there will be one great consolation: Remoaners will be among those Trump has put out of business.

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Remote employees are the most likely to be engaged at work but are less likely to be thriving at it, according to a survey published Thursday.

Gallups State of the Global Workplace report found that 31 percent of remote workers were engaged at work, marking 8 points higher than both those in a hybrid or on-site nonremote-capable setting, at 23 percent. Less than 2 in 10 of those who are only able to work on-site said they have been engaged at work.

Despite registering higher engagement, remote workers were not as likely to be thriving, 36 percent, compared to those on-site remote-capable employees and hybrid workers at 42 percent each. About 30 percent of workers who are only able to work on-site said they are thriving, the report found.

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Those employees working in a fully remote setting were more likely to feel sadness, loneliness and anger compared to on-site or hybrid workers.

Hybrid and remote workers reported about the same amount of stress levels, 45 percent, but they reported about 7 points higher than those who work on-site.

The report tracks how employees around the world are doing in their lives and work.

A majority  57 percent  of fully remote workers worldwide were actively searching or passively looking for new job opportunities. The figure is 10 points lower, 47 percent, among those fully remote employees who are engaged, according to the report.

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Just less than 4 in 10 fully remote employees who are both thriving and engaged said they are searching for new jobs while on the clock.

A poll from YouGov that came out last month found that most Americans, 62 percent, said they believe their job is meaningful to society.

Gallup surveyed 227,347 workers around the world from April to December last 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 The Hill.
Channel 2 Action News is hearing from the lone Republican to throw his hat in the race, so far, to try and unseat Jon Ossoff in the U.S. Senate race in 2026.

While there is a long list of Republicans potentially waiting to announce, Georgia U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter is the only one to announce his run.

Carter told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that he thinks he will win the primary and general election.

Elliot was inside the studio on Friday as Carter made his first appearance on Atlanta radio, just days after he announced he would run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

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The St. Simons Island lawmaker said he only jumped in when he learned Gov. Brian Kemp stepped aside.

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After the governor decided he didnt want to run, I knew we needed a true Conservative, someone whos going to support President Trumps agenda, Carter said.

But Carter may not be the only republican jumping in.

In an exclusive interview at the White House last week, Elliot asked U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene if she intended to run.

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All options are open to me, Greene said.

Earlier this week, Elliot also spoke with U.S. Rep. Mike Collins about a potential run.

He said he wants to hear from President Trump.

Well obviously get in touch with and be with the Trump administration on talks, and just see who the president wants to get behind. Well start pushing from here, Collins said.

Meanwhile, Ossoff is taking a position of wait and see.

Im not spending a whole lot of time worrying about who might run for the Senate. My job is to deliver for Georgia. My job is to deliver for my constituents, Ossoff said.

Ossoff doesnt have an opponent in the Democratic primary.

Other Republicans reportedly considering a run are Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King.
[Source]

U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) fired back at conservative commentator Dinesh DSouza, who publicly mocked the congressmans accent and Indian heritage after Thanedar introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

DSouza mocks Thanedar

In a video posted on X on April 29, DSouza criticized Thanedars introduction of articles of impeachment, calling his English broken and claiming he only succeeded in the U.S. because of diversity initiatives.

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If this guy lived in India, he would be a municipal clerk or waiter, DSouza wrote. Here he thrives because of diversity.

Trending on NextShark: Vietnam races against time as Trumps tariff deadline looms

He added, On the Left, his broken English and semi-illiterate solecisms are seen as positive traits. We need fewer people like him in this country.

Thanedar responds

I did grow up in India. My dad was a clerk, Thanedar wrote on social media in response. Then I found my American Dream. Now Im helping many other Americans achieve their dreams.

Trending on NextShark: Rep. Shri Thanedar rebukes Dinesh DSouza for mocking his Indian heritage and accent

He followed with a pointed jab at DSouzas criminal record: If you need help recovering from your felony, please let me know. Happy to help.

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In 2014, DSouza was convicted of making illegal campaign contributions through the use of straw donors. He was pardoned by Trump in 2008.

Shris son defends his father

Trending on NextShark: Trump freezes funds to clear unexploded mines in Vietnam

Thanedars son, Neil Thanedar, also joined the rebuttal, defending his fathers background and legacy: He did live in India as a kid. Then he worked multiple jobs while graduating from college by 18, then made it to America, then started multiple businesses, then employed hundreds of Americans, then became a US Congressman.

When DSouza responded, So what makes me just a felon?  referencing his own achievements including writing bestsellers and working in the White House  Neil replied: Your books and movies spew hate. You get conservative jobs and can't keep them. The biggest award youve earned is a pardon. So, yes, felon goes first.

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Stop trolling successful Americans for views, he added.

Trending on NextShark: ICE raids Irvine couples home over sons alleged involvement in personnel doxxing

Impeachment move draws spotlight

The exchange followed Thanedars April 28 announcement of seven articles of impeachment against President Trump. The resolution, which cited obstruction of justice, bribery and unconstitutional actions, drew immediate controversy within the Democratic Party.

Reps. Jerry Nadler, Robin Kelly and Kweisi Mfume  initially listed as co-sponsors  withdrew their names from the measure within 24 hours. A spokesperson for Mfume said, He was made aware it was not cleared by Democratic leadership and not fully vetted legally  and he preferred to err on the side of caution.

Trending on NextShark: Teen survivor of Vancouver festival attack donates $193K to other victims

Though the resolution is unlikely to gain traction in a GOP-controlled Congress, it has placed Thanedar at the center of both political and cultural backlash.

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Former UFC fighter and Conor McGregor bodyguard Charlie Ward faces corruption charges in Dublin, according to Irish news outlets.

According to multiple reports, including Roscommon Herald, Ward and co-defendant Noel Carroll are accused of trying to bribe a policer officer (Garda) for "confidential information."

Ward, 44, and Carroll, 57, are out on bail and will stand trial. Neither have made pleas yet. Both men appeared in Dublin District Court on Friday.

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Court documents say the two men requested compensation from a Garda member in exchange for confidential intel about another person. That incident allegedly took place March 2, 2022. Ward is accused of committing a similar violation on Feb. 28, 2022 and Carroll is accused of also doing it Jan. 26, 2022.

Ward is also accused of an additional offense that he did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence.

Ward, a 10-7 professional MMA fighter, competed twice in the UFC (0-2) and 11 times in Bellator (7-4). However, he was most notably known for his ties to McGregor, whom he befriended and served as a bodyguard for. Ward has not competed in MMA since September 2023.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ex-UFC fighter, Conor McGregor bodyguard Charlie Ward charged
Voters fill out their ballots at the Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus in Las Cruces on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM)

Observe New Mexico Elections on Thursday released a report on its findings from the states 2024 general election that mostly gave high marks after observing operations at a majority of voting sites during early voting and on election day.

Specifically, the nonprofit election transparency group dispatched 50 watchers to 91 sites in 24 counties during early voting, and had 160 election site watchers in 29 of New Mexicos 33 counties on election day.

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This important, nonpartisan information-gathering effort  led by and for New Mexicans  found that elections went well, votes were counted, and problems were limited, ONME co-leader Carmen Lopez said in a statement. We are pleased to see that the findings reflect sufficient staffing levels, poll timeliness, proper functioning of tabulators and voter privacy. All of these things in conjunction made it possible to ensure every vote was counted and New Mexicans voices were heard this election cycle. The findings of our report  showing both successes and room for improvement  will allow us to make the voting process and poll worker training even stronger and more transparent in the years to come.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver told Source New Mexico she had not seen the report yet, but had heard about its findings.

Thats what we always shoot for, she said when Source conveyed the reports overall positive findings. So, thats good.

The report did identify a handful of issues, such as same-day registration overwhelming the system, as Source reported last year.

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The ONME report recommends the state ensures robust stress-testing of the bandwidth available to accommodate processing of same-day voter registrations and works closely with county clerks to increase the levels of staffing necessary to process same-day registrations in a timely manner.

Toulouse Oliver said the state suffered server problems during the morning of the Nov. 5, 2025 general election, followed by a large volume of people participating in same-day registration. According to data provided at the time, 52,705 people used same-day voter registration in last years general election  and approximately half of them did so on election day.

County clerks had already fallen behind due to the server issues, Toulouse Oliver said, and the volume of people registering to vote overwhelmed them. Im not criticizing the clerks at all, she added. This is not their fault, but they did not have enough staff to process the amount of registrations that came in through the day and with the backup and everything it did get bogged down.

For the next election, she said, the state will need to ensure the servers are robust enough and clerks will need to have adequate staffing, in so far as the budget allows. That being said, she does not anticipate a repeat of the same-day registration overwhelm from last years Election Day.

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I really feel like 2024 was an anomaly when it comes to same day registration, she said, compared with years past. Moreover, starting this summer, the state will have automatic voter registration through the Motor Vehicle Division. So I really feel like between just that election being an anomaly and AVR, and now that we know we need more resources on [same day registration], moving forward, just in case, I think its going to be much better.

The ONME report also identified confusion by some presiding judges at polling places over the use of provisional ballots, which also were used in higher numbers last year, as well as seven locations that lacked sufficient provisional ballots. Toulouse Oliver said she had not heard previously of any locations running out of provisional ballots. She said given the challenges clerks were facing with same-day registration, her office was repeatedly advising the use of provisional ballots. Thats what they are there for, she noted. Legislation that would have provided additional training on issues like provisional ballots did not pass the Legislature, Toulouse Oliver said, but nonetheless, her office plans to keep reinforcing the provisional process as the option for if SDR is not working.

ONME also recommended the state and county clerks, during early voting and on election day, use trained translators who are familiar with elections terminology after watchers were unable to validate that written and oral translation services into Native languages were provided in all areas of the state covered as minority language jurisdictions under Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Toulouse Oliver told Source NM she thinks we do a really good job of that in our Native communities, because thats who we hire is people who can speak and interpret. She said her interpretation of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act is that clerks need to have people available, but not necessarily physically present, to provide other translation services as needed.

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And I have been under the assumption that every county that falls under that section is doing that, and apparently thats not the case. Apparently we need to do a better job of that, she said.

Toulouse Oliver said while her office already works with academic institutions, including the University of New Mexico, for analyses of elections, shes happy to receive the additional outside observations.

They make some really good points, she said. Andfrom our perspective of trying to make the argument to the Legislature,we need this or we need that, its not just coming from me. Its coming from other sources.
After many months of extreme temperatures in the United Kingdom, eight common produce items have seen an uptick in pricing of at least 15%.

What's happening?

Drought, extreme heat, and floods have increased the price of 10 staple produce items commonly found in U.K. households, reported The i Paper. The produce items most affected are lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, cauliflower, zucchini, onions, and broccoli. Tomatoes and mushrooms have also been affected, but those price increases amounted to only 3.88% and 2.30%, respectively.

Five of those foods increased 15% to 20%, while cucumbers increased 27%, carrots increased 34%, and lettuce increased 40%.

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"British farming has recently been on the front line of climate change with unpredictable extreme weather giving us the wettest 18 months since records began [from September 2022 to March 2024]," Rachel Hallos, the vice president of the National Farmers' Union, told The i Paper.

Over the last few years, England has endured its second-worst harvest on record, record-breaking rain in the winter, and 20% heavier rainfall overall. While lettuce has seen its price impacted due to weather conditions in Spain, carrots are the most affected produce item grown in the U.K.

"The floods of winter 2023-24 led to our farm losing 15 per cent of our carrot crop  about 4,000 tonnes  and the drought of 2022-23 led to a 20 per cent yield reduction," Rodger Hobson, a Yorkshire carrot farmer and chairman of the British Carrot Growers Association, told The i Paper.

Why is it important that rising temperatures are affecting agriculture and its costs?

Extreme temperatures affect the quality of produce and the quality of life for farmers and workers. In particular, carrots become tougher and less flavorful. Lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and leeks react similarly to high heat. Farmers also see an increase in production costs, labor costs, and storage costs when there is not proper irrigation or the rainfall is too extreme.

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In addition to affecting agriculture, rising global temperatures and extreme weather disrupt entire ecosystems and their food chains.

"The price trend is clear. If harvests continue to be lumpy and we are forced to import more and more vegetables like carrots, we will continue to see higher prices," Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, said to The i Paper.

What's being done about extreme temperatures affecting produce?

The weather has been steadier, allowing some produce prices to stabilize for the time being. However, as agriculture is already a low-margin industry, farmers must continue preparing for climate disasters.

Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Farmers are also considering alternative ways to ensure their crops do not get destroyed. Some want to improve irrigation, while others are looking into gene editing to improve resilience to extreme temperatures or transitioning to indoor farming.

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If grocery prices are increasing in your area and you are noticing your household staples go up drastically, consider using a meal plan, buying in bulk, or freezing multiple portions of prepared meals to stretch your dollar.

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.
The Joint Committee on Finance voted May 8 to slash at least three dozen programs focused on behavioral health and substance use from consideration of the 2025-27 biennial budget, according to an executive session document reviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Grants for peer-to-peer suicide prevention of youth, veterans mental health, peer-run respite centers and mental health helplines, postpartum mental health, and creating stronger collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health were among the items Republican lawmakers cut.

The Joint Committee on Finance also rejected the latest bid to expand Medicaid, continuing the trend of Wisconsin being one of the lone states in the country to limit Medicaid assistance.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, flanked by fellow legislative Republican leaders, react to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' budget address in the state Capitol in Madison on Feb. 18.

Related: From marijuana legalization to PFAS. Here are items the Republicans removed from Tony Evers' budget

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Of the 15 state Legislators on the Joint Committee for Finance, just four are Democrats. The Democratic committee released a scathing joint response to what they perceived as an unveiling of measures that "strip Governor (Tony) Evers state budget to the bone."

Democratic members of the Joint Committee on Finance see the Republican members' moves as a mirroring of the Trump administration's overhaul of services at a time when "Wisconsinites are looking for support and stability from their state-elected officials," wrote Sen. LaTonya Johnson of Milwaukee, Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison, Rep. Tip McGuire of Kenosha and Rep. Deb Andraca of Whitefish Bay.

In a news conference before the vote, state Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, who co-chairs the committee, said Evers' budget was a "pile full of stuff that didn't make sense and spends too much."

"We'll work from base, and the first step of that today is to remove all that policy," Born said. "And then begin the work of rebuilding the budget, the legislative budget for all of Wisconsin."

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Evers slammed the decision, accusing Republicans of stripping "the most pro-kid budget" in state history. Many of the mental health provisions removed specifically focused on youth mental health programs, from early childhood care through school-based needs in K-12.

In 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, I introduced the most pro-kid budget of any governor in our state's history, because I believe doing what's best for our kids is whats best for our state. But, today, Republican lawmakers are gutting my budget that did what's best for our kids and the folks, families, and communities that raise them, Evers said.

Republicans have long argued that policy should not be created using the budget process, so some proposals could return as separate legislation later this year.

State Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, who chairs the Joint Committee on Finance said in an interview with Wisconsin Eye on April 23 that he's heard concerns from constituents about unknowns regarding issues like Medicaid. The state has a surplus of $4.3 billion, the result of a one-time payment $67 billion from COVID-era funding. Marklein said lawmakers need to be "somewhat cautious" about how that surplus is used going forward.

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Born said in that interview that the budget should have both "investments in priorities and tax cuts."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out multiple times to Marklein and Born for additional comments but never heard back.

Federal cuts have shriveled mental health agencies

The elimination of dozens of behavioral health programs comes at a stark time for health and human services. Under the Trump administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has been decimated by federal cuts. Widespread Veterans Affairs layoffs have left medical providers scrambling to offer services that include mental health, suicide prevention and substance use disorder programs.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was abruptly discontinuing $1 billion in school-based mental health services, including $10 million in Wisconsin, funded in response to the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 elementary school students and two teachers dead.

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About $2.2 million of the Wisconsin grant had already been used to expand online certification pathways, develop grow your own university programs for future school-based mental health providers, and offer statewide training and professional development to improve retention rates of mental health professionals.

Republicans continued those cuts by eliminating the "grow your own" university programs from the budget, which means schools may face additional setbacks in finding and retaining school-based mental health professionals who are educated and trained in-state.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, right, answers questions during a civics club forum at West High School Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.

State Superintendent Jill Underly told the news organization over email that, faced with an unprecedented youth mental health crisis, schools serve as a frontline of support.

"Now is not the time for austerity. School-based mental health programs are literal life-savers," Underly said. "Addressing this crisis requires a serious, sustained solution  one that includes schools, educators, and mental health professionals. I stand ready to work with anyone committed to building that solution."

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Republicans also cut a mental health program specifically for young children that would have provided more resources to support children with autism and other mental health needs. Through grant funding, the service has typically been free for families, said Ashley Bowers, assistant executive director of Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, in order to "eliminate the cost burden on an already burdened child care system."

Within the category of firearms, Republicans scrapped universal background checks, a 48-hour waiting period for purchasing a handgun, and someone's choice to temporarily opt out of purchasing a firearm for a period of time  typically due to mental health reasons. These provisions have been highlighted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions as a means of preventing suicide as well as homicide.

Programs at risk of closure

Already, sweeping federal cuts have forced Wisconsin's mental health organizations to shutter or limit operations.

Peer-run respite homes and peer-run warmlines have been hit hard by ongoing federal cuts. Respite homes allow people experiencing emotional distress, crisis and housing instability to seek temporary relief from their stressors. COVID-era grants served as an integral funding source for both respite homes and mental health helplines.

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In late March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it was canceling $11 billion in grants tied to COVID-19, which included grants supporting mental health and substance use programs. Although a court order reversed these cuts and Wisconsin Department of Health Services ultimately released those funds, it was too late for Uplift Wisconsin. The mental health helpline ceased operations in early April.

Organizers were holding out hope that five statewide respite homes would be recognized in the upcoming budget, but Republicans removed these items from the budget.

Parachute House, the peer-run respite home that also operates a mental health helpline in Milwaukee, has been in a state of turbulence since that announcement. The home vacillated between closing shop and remaining open through June amid funding concerns.

Nora Hitchcock, executive director of Our Space, stands for portrait in front of a Parachute House, short-term residential facility for individuals experiencing emotional distress or a low-level mental health crisis, on March 28 in Milwaukee.

Nora Hitchcock, executive director of Our Space, Inc., a mental health nonprofit in Milwaukee that operates Parachute House, can't understand why the state doesn't recognize the importance of crisis services at a time when the rates of behavioral health challenges have continued to rise since the pandemic.

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"Do they just want to lock people up in jail or have them use other resources at a higher cost to the state?" Hitchcock said. "I don't get it."

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, a D.C. nonprofit organization focused on legislation on items like public safety and heath, the criminal justice system and substance use disorder, published a report in 2021 on the effectiveness of peer-respite homes, noting several studies and reports that found people who utilized respite homes had fewer hospitalizations.

"I'm prepared as a program for what this is going to do, but I don't think the community is prepared for what this is going to do," Hitchcock said. "Crisis services are one of the probably most needed services in Milwaukee and the surrounding area, and I know that we're going to feel the effects from these decisions."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Republicans remove 3 dozen mental health programs from state budget
The rescue of a hiker who broke their leg in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretched across several days.

The rescue mission began the evening of May 8, according to Great Smoky Mountains National Park spokesperson Katie Liming.

"Yesterday evening, Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers responded to a hiker with a broken leg a half mile down Alum Cave Trail from the LeConte Lodge," Liming said in an email statement the afternoon of May 9. "Due to weather conditions last night, the patient was hiked up to the lodge where the team sheltered in place yesterday evening."

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The hiker broke their leg in the backcountry of the national park, about 13 miles in on the trail near the Alum Cave Trailhead in Sevier County, according to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Rangers were carrying the hiker out on May 9, with the support of the Tennessee Highway Patrols Knoxville Strike Team.

Tennessee Emergency Management, Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers and a team from the Tennessee Highway Patrol were working together to assist the hiker.

"This is a coordinated mission between state and federal partners to get help to someone in need deep in the backcountry," the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a post.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Great Smoky Mountains hiker injured, rescue operation underway
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR)  A controversial property development project will move ahead in Lakewood near Belmar Park after a 5-0 vote by the Lakewood Planning Commission on Wednesday.

The Save Belmar Park Inc. group had submitted a petition with nearly 9,000 signatures to stop the proposed 400-unit apartment building from being constructed on the edge of the park.

Community holding vigil, raising funds for teacher killed in Weld County crash

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We are feeling really unheard and disappointed about the results from the city, said Founder Regina Hopkins.

Some residents tell FOX31 a large residential building will affect the nuance of the area.

Some are just concerned about just a big development in their backyard, said one cyclist.



The group says that for every 1,000 people added to the city, developers are supposed to provide 10 and a half acres of parkland, but the law also says developers can buy out of that requirement.

We feel that they are cherry picking their own zoning codes that they want to apply here, said Hopkins.

A city spokesperson issued a statement to FOX31 explaining that the project meets all zoning requirements and the commission cannot base its decision on personal preferences for the development or whether the community likes or dislikes the development.

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Denver rent prices trending down compared to nearby cities, state overall: Report

The current parkland dedication requirement means developers must dedicate five and a half acres for every 1,000 residents expected to live in the new development, the spokesperson explained, including three acres for a community park and two and a half acres for a neighborhood park.

The city said no trees were ever to be removed or affected in Belmar Park, there will be an 8,600 square foot parkland dedication benefiting wildlife and compensation for the removal of 66 trees on the developments property. More than 2,000 shrubs will be planted rather than the required 179 and several trees will be preserved.

Many who use the park agree that the metro area needs more apartment units to reduce the overall price of rent.

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Its outrageous, said one visitor.

The Apartment Association of Metro Denver reports the average monthly rent is currently $1,819, down from $1,875 in the second quarter of last year. The market has seen more than 20,000 new units over the past 12 months, but the number of apartments under construction is still down 36% from 2023. The Association indicates that additional regulations will thwart new construction.

Hopkins tells FOX31 the Save Belmar Park Group will now file a lawsuit against the city. Construction on the apartment building is scheduled to begin later this year after the permitting process is completed.

More parkland dedication information can be found on the citys website.

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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 FOX31 Denver.
By Mubahsher Bukhari, Tariq Maqbool and Saurabh Sharma

LAHORE/MUZAFARRABAD, Pakistan/AMRITSAR, India (Reuters) - Residents across Pakistan and India rushed to stockpile foods and other essential supplies, while families living near the border fled to safer areas, as armed clashes between the nuclear-armed nations escalated on Friday.

India and Pakistan accused each other of launching new military attacks, using drones and artillery for the third day, in the worst fighting between the two countries in nearly three decades.

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The conflict erupted after India struck multiple locations in Pakistan on Wednesday that it said were "terrorist camps", in retaliation for a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir last month.

In the Indian state of Punjab, Amanpreet Dhillon, 26, said many families in his village  just 13 km (8.08 miles) from the border with Pakistan  have already sent women and children to safer areas.

"I am also contemplating it... I'm afraid my village could be next," he said.

In Indian-administered Kashmir's Uri district, residents said many fled overnight after several houses were struck by shelling, some taking shelter behind rocks or in bunkers.

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"We have never seen such intense shelling in our life. The majority of the people fled the town and other villages as soon as shelling started last night with some taking shelter in underground bunkers," said Bashir Ahmad, 45, in the town of Baramulla in Uri. "It was a nightmare for us."

In the Pakistani city of Lahore, which lies near the border, residents were shaken on Thursday by drones that Pakistan said were launched by India and were shot down in the city, setting off sirens and leading the U.S. consulate to tell its staff to shelter in place.

Schools were closed on Friday and residents and shopkeepers said Lahoris were stocking up on food, gas cylinders for cooking and medicine, prompting authorities to issue a notice warning businesses not to artificially increase prices.

"I have stocked grocery for a month: we got meat, flour, tea, oil lentils etc and also drew extra cash from bank," said Aroosha Rameez, 34, a Lahore resident.

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Muhammad Asif, 35, said his pharmacy had seen an influx of customers.

"People in Lahore have started stocking medicines as well, which may lead to shortages of paracetamol, anti-allergies, antibiotics, blood pressure and diabetes medicines," he said.

Food delivery app FoodPanda, popular in Pakistan, said it had seen a surge in grocery orders nationwide.

Across the border, India's Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution minister warned against panic buying of food grains.

"We currently have stocks many times higher than the normal requirementwhether it is rice, wheat, or pulses...There is absolutely no shortage," he said.

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Pankaj Seth, a resident of Amritsar in India's Punjab state, said people felt they had no choice: "We do not know if the markets will open tomorrow or not...I have children and grandchildren at home so I have to stock up."

Some residents of border regions were also requesting relatives to bring them supplies as prices rose.

"My aunt lives in Attari and has asked me to get some flour for her as supplies are getting expensive there," said Navneet Kaur, a nurse in Amritsar, 30 kilometres (19 miles)away, who was travelling to the town with a sack of flour.

FLEEING AT NIGHT

Residents of Kashmir near the line of control that divides the region faced a more stark and immediate threat.

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Residents said they were starting to leave their villages and spend the nights, when shelling and firing roars through the valleys, in bunkers.

The prime minister's office in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said over 400 people had been evacuated by authorities in two areas near the line of control.

Ever since the attack (Indian strike) in Muzaffarabad, we have been living in our bunker, which we carved into a nearby rocky mountain," said Manzoor Ahmed, 43, a resident of Jura Bandi village in the Neelum Valley, where local police confirmed most people were spending the night in bunkers.

(Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore, Tariq Maqbool in Muzaffarabad, Saurabh Sharma in Amritsar, Fayaz Bukhari in Srinagar, Jose Devasia in Kochi, and Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield and Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
GARDNER, Kan.  Moving supplies, trucks, tough decisions on what to leave behind and where they will call home next.

Its what families forced to move out of Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner, Kansas are dealing with after a 48-hour notice to vacate the complex.

Loionl Compere moved here a year ago from Florida. He said he and his family will be staying at a temporary shelter in Olathe. He showed FOX4 his now empty apartment.

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I dont have a friend, I dont have family, he added.

Write the check: Protesters call out KC leaders over Linwood grocery crisis

Arnold Ogle and his daughter were in the line of cars leaving for good.

Where do you go in 48 hours when you cant even find a place. Every place weve been, they ask for a background check that takes almost a week to get back, Ogle said.

Ogle said his family of five are staying in a hotel for a week but they had to give their puppy to a family friend and take off work to move.

Ive seen a woman out here with babies that cant be more than a few weeks old and Im freaking out with teenagers, Michelle Price said. I cant imagine what theyre going through its heartbreaking.

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The City of Gardner condemned Aspen Place due to serious health and safety hazards.

Since Tuesday, volunteers like Bethany Kiker have showed up to help. She said her parents used to live at the complex but moved out two months ago.

I lived here for 15 years, they lived here for 17, so to see everyone in this community struggle, I mean we were there so you have to come back home and this is the last time coming home, Kiker said.

Even during the toughest times, the help is not going unnoticed.

I really appreciate help from everyone who came to help me, I say thank you and good job, Compere said.

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The City of Gardner said there are temporary housing options available through the Salvation Army in Olathe and Project 1020.

Hope Markets emergency fundraiser to help families is still active and complex is working on processing prorated rent checks for May and security deposits for the residents.

KU School of Nursing report highlights dangers of growing maternal care desert in Kansas

Here are a list of resources available to Aspen Place residents and for anyone who wants to donate:

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  WREG sat down with an MPD colonel with nearly 40 years on the force who says fighting crime requires both police and the public.

Meet Colonel Caroline Beasley with the Memphis Police.

I joined the police department in 1987, Beasley said. I started from the very bottom as a police service technician, what they call a PST, so I have been doing this. I went to homicide in 2003.

Just two years later, in 2005, while in her new role as a homicide detective, her efforts on the local level were watched nationally, even internationally, when she, along with other MPD detectives, were showcased on reality TV.

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First 48 helped us a lot in the sense that since it was just so few of us and they were just starting to film that show, the citizens felt comfortable with us. They felt like they knew us, so they would call straight through to homicide, Beasley said.

Memphis mother warns about homemade machine gun that killed her son: Our city is in trouble

Beasley says she continues to foster that connection with citizens in a city where she was born and raised and has raised her three children. What happens here hits home for the Melrose High graduate.

I lost my cousin that was dear to me, and my aunt has never gotten over it, Bealsey said, so we always ask people to put yourself in those shoes.

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Violence has spilled into the streets of Memphis over the years. Beasley says whats even worse is knowing many of the cases involve teenagers.

So Tom Lee Park, that happened on Riverside Drive. Our victim then was a juvenile, Beasley said.

An 18-year-old has been charged with the deadly attack at Tom Lee Park.

Our victims were students at Booker T. Washington, and in that case, we have made an arrest, Beasley said.

A week after the fatal shooting of two Booker T. Washington students, another minor was charged with killing a store clerk.

The suspect is a juvenile, Beasley said. He went in and stole some items out of the store, and was confronted by the clerk.

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Beasley says what needs to be confronted now is a culture of violence.

We want to be a stronger, safer Memphis. Help our children. Its all of our responsibility, Beasley said.

MPD introduces camera-based crime-fighting tool

Beasley says another crime-fighting tool is a program called Connect Memphis. Once a resident or business owner registers their outdoor security camera, it informs investigators that a camera is present, for detectives to easily request video evidence should an incident occur.

Every little piece, you put that together. Your information, her information, his information. You put that together, and it makes a complete picture.

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In the meantime, the calls for help are still coming in. Beasley will continue answering them with hopes things will turn the corner, to allow this 38-year police veteran the chance to finally walk into retirement.

Regardless of what goes on in this city, I am not going to give up on my city, Beasley 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 WREG.com.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Waste water might not be something we think about, but its something we all produce. The waste water treatment plant on South Lumpkin Road in Columbus sees 40 million gallons of it.

It is a workload the South Lumpkin Road plant has been undertaking since the 1960s.

The water comes into the plant via a large pipe connected to the citys waste water and combined water drainage systems. From there it goes through a series of pipes to different processing center for the water and solid waste.

A top down map of the waste water treatment facility. Different colored lines indicate the types of water and waste moving through the pipes and to different processing centers. (Nick Bentley/WRBL).

Time marches on, however, and President of Columbus Water Works Jeremy Cummings, explained new regulations are presenting new challenges

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Were looking at upgrading this plant because the permit requirements, Cummings said. We foresee them changing in the future.

Upgrades to the plant would focus on the removal of forever chemicals and adding what is called a nutrient ferment with nitrogen and phosphorus requirements. Implementing these processes would keep excessive levels of phosphorus and nitrogen out of the water that receives the cleaned water.

These upgrades wont come cheap. Prices could range into the millions of dollars.

While no decision has been made regarding funding, Cummings says they are looking are a variety of different options.

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As we plan for the future were looking at bonds. Were looking at possibly because there are some tax opportunities, Cummings said. Is there is there some grants that are available? And then we may end up having to put some into the rate payers.

These are pools used to clean waste water and filter out waste using microscopic organisms and bacteria that feed on the waste. (Nick Bentley/WRBL).

Above all, Cummings said, the people who work at the Columbus Water Works and the treatment facilities are focused on helping the environment.

Facilities like the waste treatment plant ensure the Chattahoochee River and the communities who benefit from it have access to clean water.

Cummings said, Its our role here to protect the water and to clean the water that we use before it goes back into the Chattahoochee River and downstream to our neighbors.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Justice David Souter, a quiet and iconoclastic jurist who spent nearly two decades on the United States Supreme Court from 1990 to 2009, has died at age 85.

The New Hampshire-born attorney was named to the highest court in the U.S. by then-president George H.W. Bush, who sought a conservative replacement for Justice William Brennan, an icon of the courts liberal wing. But Souters time on the court revealed him to be more pragmatic than ideological as he shifted to the center, often voting with the courts liberals in abortion-related cases that made him a pariah in right-wing legal circles.

In a statement, Chief Justice John Roberts praised his late colleague as having served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years and said the Granite State resident had brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service.

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Roberts also praised Souter for spending roughly 10 years of retirement as a part-time judge on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and said his former colleague would be greatly missed.

President George HW Bush announces Souter as his Supreme Court nominee in July 1990 (AFP via Getty Images)

David Hackett Souter was born on September 17, 1939 in the town of Melrose, Massachusetts but spent the vast majority of his childhood  and his life  on his familys farm in Weare, New Hampshire.

After attending New Hampshire public schools, he matriculated at Harvard University and earned a bachelors degree there in 1961 before accepting a Rhodes Scholarship that took him to Magdalen College, Oxford. There, he earned an A.B. in Jurisprudence and a Masters degree in two years, after which he returned to Harvard Law School for a three-year period of study to earn a Bachelor of Laws.

Souter was admitted to the bar and began practicing law at the Concord, New Hampshire firm of Orr and Reno as an associate attorney. But he turned to public service in 1968 when he accepted a job as an Assistant Attorney General of the Granite State. Three years later, he was New Hampshires Deputy Attorney General, and by 1978 he was the Attorney General of New Hampshire, the states chief law enforcement officer.

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His meteoric rise through the profession continued when he was selected to be an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1978. He would spend the next 12 years on that court, including the last seven as Chief Justice, before then-president George H.W. Bush nominated him to serve on the First Circuit. He took his seat on the Boston-based court in May 1990.

But Souter did not remain in Boston for long. Brennan, the outspoken liberal whod been a stalwart of the high court since 1956, suffered a stroke and announced his retirement from public service.

Bush, whose close friend and chief of staff John Sununu had selected Souter to be a justice on New Hampshires top court during his time as governor, successfully advocated for him to be elevated to the nations highest court as a replacement for Brennan with the aim of tilting the courts ideological balance to the political right.

After a confirmation hearing, the United States Senate voted to confirm Souter as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Court by a vote of 90 in favor and just nine against, leading to him being sworn in to office on October 9, 1990.

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At first, Souters output on the court placed him firmly in the courts growing conservative bloc, led by Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Antonin Scalia. But after Bushs 1992 selection of Justice Clarence Thomas to replace another liberal icon, retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall, Souter made a marked shift towards the center by voting with the courts liberals against permitting prayer at a public high school graduation ceremony.

It was in the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey that Souters centrist shift made his name a reviled one among conservatives.

Anti-abortion activists had hoped that the additions of Souter and Thomas to the court would permit the justices to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion across the country.

Souter served as Attorney General of New Hampshire before joining the states Supreme Court (The Concord Monitor)

The case had been brought by a group of abortion clinics and physicians whod sought to overturn a Pennsylvania law that placed multiple restrictions on the procedure. It was the first opportunity for justices to overturn Roe since Brennan and Marshall  both strong supporters of the 1973 ruling  had left the court.

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Yet Souter, whose legal output up to then had never provided much of a window into his views on the abortion issue, sided with a trio of justices who supported reaffirming Roe: Justice John Paul Stevens, Justice Sandra Day OConnor, and the 1973 decisions author, Justice Harry Blackmun.

The three justices authored a plurality opinion upholding what they called Roes essential holding. Specifically, they said women had the right to terminate a pregnancy before viability without undue burden from government, while any post-viability restrictions needed to have exceptions for the mothers life and health.

His decision to keep Roe in place infuriated conservatives and led to efforts by the Federalist Society and other right-wing legal groups to ensure that future Republican presidents would choose more ideologically reliable legal activists for court seats at all levels. That stricter vetting ultimately resulted in presidents George W Bush and Donald Trump nominating justices who would overturn Roe in the 2022 case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Souter would remain in the courts ideological center during the 17 years he spent there following the Casey decision, though the courts rightward shift meant he voted with the liberal wing far more than his more conservative colleagues over that time period.

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One case among the many he considered reportedly had a significant effect on him, the 2000 Bush v. Gore case in which he sided with three liberals  Stevens, Steven Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg  in a dissenting opinion while a five-vote majority of justices appointed by Republicans voted to end a recount of votes in Florida months after the 2000 presidential election, effectively handing the presidency to GOP candidate George W Bush.

In his 2007 book on the court, The Nine, journalist Jeffrey Toobin wrote that Souter considered stepping down from the court in the wake of the 2000 election case because he viewed the majoritys ruling as so transparently, so crudely partisan that Souter thought he might not be able to serve with them anymore.

He ultimately decided against resignation and remained on the court for another nine years. But Souter was never entirely comfortable living or working in the nations capital. While he remained there during the times of year when the court heard cases, he would always rush back to his home on the Weare, New Hampshire farm where hed lived since childhood.

In both places, Souter was widely known to live an analog, iconoclastic existence. He never used a computer and preferred to write opinions with a vintage Esterbrook fountain pen. But upon his retirement in 2009, veteran New York Times correspondent Linda Greenhouse wrote that focusing on those eccentricities meant one missed the essence of a man who in fact is perfectly suited to his job, just not to its trappings.

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Far from being out of touch with the modern world, he has simply refused to surrender to it control over aspects of his own life that give him deep contentment: hiking, sailing, time with old friends, reading history, she wrote.

Unlike many justices who remain on the court until death or only retire when they can be sure an ideological successor will fill their seat, Souter chose to stand down in mid-2009 when, according to NPR, he determined that no other justices would be retiring during that term so he could avoid causing more than one vacancy at once.

He was replaced on the court by Justice Sonya Sotomayor, but he continued to avail himself of a privilege afford to retired federal judges by continuing to hear cases and participate in deliberations as part of the First Circuit court where hed briefly served before being nominated to the Supreme Court.

Souter did make one significant life change in his retirement, however. In August 2009, he sold his childhood home in Weare and moved from that family farm to a single-story house in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.

According to Concord Monitor, he told a neighbor that his decision to move was so he could live somewhere with floors that could support the weight of the thousands of books he had acquired over the years.
There will never be another David Souter on the Supreme Court.

Indeed, the Republican appointees liberal votes made no more Souters a GOP rallying cry for judicial nominations going forward.

He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. But his votes in a series of cases over the years made him a cautionary tale for Republicans. The courts recent decisions are proof that the party learned its lesson, having amassed a GOP supermajority that, among many other things, overturned abortion rights in 2022.

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Republicans still lash out these days at occasional defections from Chief Justice John Roberts and the Trump appointees. But those newer justices were all vetted to an extent that they would not be Souters.

Roberts said this of Souters passing Thursday at age 85:

Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade. He will be greatly missed.

The mild-mannered New Englanders retirement in 2009 was also emblematic of the era he left behind (or, that left him behind). A Democrat, Barack Obama, was president at the time. That cleared the way for Obama to nominate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who sits today as part of the three-justice Democratic minority. Likewise signifying this bygone era, Obamas other appointment, Elena Kagan, replaced Justice John Paul Stevens in 2010; Stevens, who died in 2019, was appointed by Republican President Gerald Ford and, like Souter, came to align with the courts liberal wing.It would be shocking if any current justices deliberately retired while a president of the opposing party is in office.

Today, the court is more precisely split along party lines. That partisan hardening is what lets us describe the courts actions in big cases occurring along party lines, as opposed to the vaguer conservative and liberal labels. Thats an uncomfortable fact for some, but its nonetheless a legacy of the no more Souters campaign.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Jeanine Pirro was a co-host of The Five - Courtesy Fox News

New Trump Hire: Fox News is losing another employee to President Donald Trumps administration. The Five co-host Jeanine Pirro has been named the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.

Pirro was not on The Five on Thursday evening, and FNC confirmed that she will no longer be appearing on the network, effective immediately. A rotating group of personalities will fill her seat until a new permanent co-host is named.

"Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure," the network said in a statement provided to TVNewser. "We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington."

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A former prosecutor and judge, Pirro joined Fox News in 2011 as host of Justice with Judge Jeanine. She joins a list of Fox New Media-to-White House transfers that includes defense secretary Pete Hegseth and transportation secretary Sean Duffy.

CNN Additions and Departures: CNN announced a few appointments this week-two in front of the camera and one behind-plus one farewell. Aaron Blake joins the network as a senior reporter based in Washington, D.C. after previously work at The Washington Post in a similar role. Hell focus on political topics, including President Trump, Congress, and the federal government.

CNN announces @AaronBlake has joined the network as a senior reporter focused on analysis of President Trump, Congress and the federal government for the network. Welcome to CNN!



More: https://t.co/Hhz2JR1vmY pic.twitter.com/hhvBw8zy9m  CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 8, 2025

Meanwhile, Annie Grayer has been promoted to senior reporter at the network. Her previous CNN roles include previously covering Capitol Hill as a reporter, and the 2020 presidential election as a video producer. She started off her CNN career as an intern for Anderson Cooper 360.

Annie Grayer has been promoted to CNN Senior Reporter. Annie will continue her excellent reporting on Capitol Hill across the network's platforms. Congratulations, @AnnieGrayerCNN! pic.twitter.com/tny6JieJgu  CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 5, 2025

Additionally, Choire Sicha joins CNN as a senior vice president of features editorial. Based in New York, hell be responsible for building a content strategy and leading a team of writers and editors across verticals including travel, style, wellness, and culture. Sicha was previously with Vox Media as an editor at large for New York Magazine.

Finally, Kayla Tausche has left CNN after nearly two years as the network's senior White House correspondent. She joined CNN from CNBC, where she co-hosted Squawk Alley from 2014 to 2017.

CNBC Shift: Bob Pisani is relinquishing his senior markets correspondent role at CNBC for a less taxing position as a contributor to the networks direct-to-consumer business. Pisani has been part of the CNBC family for 35 years; his last day is May 9 and he begins his new role later this year.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a Thursday interview said President Trumps new nominee for surgeon general turned away from modern medicine because she was not curing patients.

Casey Means, an ally of Kennedys Make America Healthy Again movement, has come under scrutiny since Trump made her the surgeon general pick, as she never finished her residency and does not have an active medical license.

Kennedy defended Means during the interview Thursday on Fox Newss Special Report.

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She walked away from traditional medicine because she was not curing patients, Kennedy said.

She couldnt get anybody within her profession to look at the nutrition contributions to illness, and she said, If were really going to heal people, if were healers, we cant just be making our life about billing new procedures, he told host Brett Baier.

Kennedy defended Trumps pick for the role after pulling the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat, a physician and former Fox News contributor.

We actually have to figure out new approaches to medicine, and thats the kind of leadership that shes going to bring to our country, he said.

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Kennedys former presidential running mate Nicole Shanahan and others have criticized Meanss nomination.

Yes, its very strange. Doesnt make any sense, Shanahan wrote on the social platform X, responding to a post that expressed concern that Means, a graduate of Stanford Medical School, has just about no clinical experience.

I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be), Shanahan said. I dont know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on.

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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is lying about the qualifications of his pick for surgeon general.

During an appearance on Fox News Thursday night, Kennedy attempted to defend his choice of Casey Means, a wellness influencer and author who has no active medical license and never completed her physician residency. But, as is typical for the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, in lieu of evidence, Kennedy just made stuff up.

She was the top of her medthe very top of her medical class at Stanford, Kennedy said.

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She is in everyduring her residency, she won every award that she could win. She walked away from traditional medicine because she was not curing patients. She couldnt get anybody within her profession to look at the nutrition contributions to illness, Kennedy said.

But it wouldve been impossible for Means to be at the top of her class at the Stanford School of Medicine, because students arent actually ranked there. A spokesperson from the school told CNNs Daniel Dale that medical students are graded on a pass-fail system.

Kennedys claim that Means quit her residency to walk away from traditional medicine is also untrue.

Dr. Paul Flint, a former chair of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at Oregon Health and Science University, who helped oversee Means during her five-year residency program, provided a completely different explanation for why she had walked away from it after four and a half years.

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She wasnt even sure she wanted to be in medicine. She wanted to do something different. She wanted to resign, Flint told the Los Angeles Times.

Means was under so much anxiety that she was given three months paid time off. She did that, came back and decided she wanted to leave the program. She did not like that level of stress, Flint said.

Flint said there was a lot of anxiety around being a surgeon. You become much more responsible the more senior you get, he explained. Now Means may become the surgeon general, the highest-ranking doctor in the country. Or in her case, the highest ranking non-practicing doctor.

Kennedy argued in a post on X Thursday that Meanss lack of qualifications were exactly what made her such a great fit with his Make America Healthy Again agenda. No, seriously.

The attacks that Casey is unqualified because she left the medical system completely miss the point of what we are trying to accomplish with MAHA. Casey is the perfect choice for Surgeon General precisely because she left the traditional medical systemnot in spite of it, he wrote.
"Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Lydia McLaughlin and her family are planning to sue the law enforcement officer who was involved in her brother's death in April 2025.

In a new statement, Lydia McLaughlin, who previously described the loss of her brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, 45, as "devastating," said her family is even more "disturbed" by the situation after viewing the police officer's body camera footage.

'RHOC' Star Plans To Sue After Body Camera Footage Of Brothers Shooting Was Released

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In the initial reports, "RHOC" fans learned McLaughlin's brother was shot and killed by Newport Beach police after he was stopped while riding his motorcycle down the Pacific Coast Highway.

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Sources close to the situation described Stirling's behavior as "uncooperative," which caused the shooting.

In the body camera footage released, the 45-year-old went back and forth with a police officer after he was stopped for a traffic violation.

After refusing the officer's commands to sit on the curb, the two got into a physical altercation after the officer believed Stirling was reaching for something in his pocket.

Law enforcement said that during the scuffle, Stirling grabbed their taser, prompting them to fire six shots, ultimately killing him.

Newport Beach Police Shared A Statement After Lydia McLaughlins Brothers Shooting

The Newport Beach Police Department released a statement following the shooting and shared more details about the incident with the public.

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"Shortly after being stopped, Stirling became uncooperative and assaulted the officer," the statement, which was shared on Instagram, read. "During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officers duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred."

Additional officers later arrived on the scene and attempted to render aid to Stirling before he was transported to the hospital, where he later passed away.

McLaughlin, who appeared on Bravo's "RHOC" for two seasons, said she and her family were "devastated by the loss" of their family member. She went on to thank those closest to her, including local community members, for their "outpouring of love."

Lydia McLaughlin Is Bothered By The Officer's Actions During The Traffic Stop

In a statement shared with The US Sun, McLaughlin and her family revealed their plans to file a lawsuit against the officer involved in Stirling's shooting after the "disturbing" body camera footage was released.

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The videos have raised serious concerns and many questions about the actions of that police officer. Of grave and specific concern is that the videos appear to show Geoff moving away from the officer at the time he was shot six times," the statement read.

The family, through their Attorneys, plan to file a lawsuit in Federal Court to obtain full answers and seek accountability," it continued.

McLaughlin and her family also claimed in the statement that Stirling was "unarmed" and "posed no deadly threat to the officer," despite the claim that he grabbed an officer's taser.

"The family remains heartbroken and devastated that Geoff was taken from them in what appears to be an unjustified use of lethal force," the statement read, adding, "Equally tragic is that there may have been other options and tactics available to the officer that he failed to utilize based on his training."

Lydia McLaughlin Honored Her Brother On Social Media

On Instagram, McLaughlin honored her brother with a moving collection of photos, sharing that her faith in God has been a source of strength during this difficult time.

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"Yesterday, we laid my brother to rest. Just six months ago, we stood in this same place, grieving the loss of my mom," she wrote in the caption. "My heart is broken, and the shock still hasnt settled. But even in the sorrow, I cling to what I know is true: God is good. He is in control. I am not."

She continued, "My brother is now with my mom, and I hold onto the promise that one day, well all be reunited. Until then, I will miss them every single day."

McLaughlin Is Working Through The Grief

In a separate Instagram post, McLaughlin revealed she'd been working on learning to process grief after the loss of her mother.

The reality star went on to say that attending a group called "Grief Share" has helped her "healing" journey.

She added, "Grief can make you better or bitter. I am putting in my whole heart to turn my sorrow into thanksgiving, for having the privilege to have such a beautiful mom. She will always be my hero, and my favorite."
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Gov. Larry Rhoden is taking a different approach than Kristi Noem had when it comes to the offices state government credit card.

Thats according to the head of state governments Bureau of Finance and Management.

Commissioner Jim Terwilliger told the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee on Thursday about changes that he said Rhoden has put in place since becoming governor in January.

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Murder charge against Yankton man dismissed

In an effort to be more transparent, Terwilliger said Rhoden has started separating the South Dakota Highway Patrols charges for providing the governors 24-hour security from the charges he makes as governor for travel and expenses.

Terwilliger said Rhoden also canceled some subscriptions such as for Sirius radio that were paid by Noem with a state credit card.

Lawmakers on the committee sharply questioned in general the credit-card charges Noem made when she was governor.

Noem resigned from the office in January after the U.S. Senate confirmed her appointment as federal Homeland Security secretary.

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The South Dakota Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor becomes governor when there is a vacancy.

Republican Sen. Taffy Howard said Noem traveled to more than 30 states during her six years as governor, taking her security team with her.

Howard said Noem used a government credit card to charge non-travel expenses, too.

State Auditor Rich Sattgast testified Thursday that his office sometimes questioned but never denied a credit-card charge made by a governor.

Republican Rep. Marty Overweg, Republican Rep. Julie Auch and Democratic Sen. Red Dawn Foster said they have faced questions from constituents about Noems use of government credit cards.

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Sattgast said the Legislature could place limits on their use.

Howard said the committee might return to the issue later this year regarding possible legislation for the 2026 session.

The Dakota Scout was first to obtain Noems credit card records from the state auditors office. KELOLAND News also received the records.

Terwilliger, however, said the credit-card charges werent hidden.

He said they are available on the open.sd.gov website and can be found by checking payments state government made to First Premier Bank.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  International human rights organizations on Friday filed a lawsuit with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asking that the commission order El Salvadors government to release Venezuelans deported from the United States and held in a maximum-security prison.

In March, the U.S. government deported more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants alleged to have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador, paying the Salvadoran government to imprison them.

Since then, they have had no access to lawyers or ability to communicate with their families. Neither the U.S. nor Salvadoran governments have said how the men could eventually regain their freedom.

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These individuals have been stripped from their families and subject to a state-sponsored enforced disappearance regime, effectively, completely against the law, said Bella Mosselmans, director of the Global Strategic Litigation Council, which helped bring the suit.

One of them is Euder Jose Torres.

Tattoos flagged

In September, Torres boarded a Houston-bound flight in Quito, Ecuador with his 21-year-old stepson after successfully completing a monthslong screening process that included health exams and criminal history checks.

The 41-year-old Venezuelan and the young man he had raised since early childhood had been approved for family reunification through the U.N.s International Organization for Migration and were headed to the U.S. to join his long-time partner and his stepsons brother.

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But at the airport in Houston, immigration agents saw a tattoo of a compass on the stepsons forearm with the initials of his mother, father and brother in place of the cardinal directions. They said it signaled him as a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The next day he was on a flight back to Ecuador.

But Torres didnt have an Ecuadorian visa, so agents placed him in immigration detention in Texas. He had tattoos too, the name of his saint Elegua in script on one forearm  he is a practitioner of Santeria, a fusion of African religions and Catholicism  and skull on the other.

Torres sought U.S. asylum and passed his credible fear interview, but at an immigration hearing in January the government lawyer told the judge, without providing evidence, he too was a member of Tren de Aragua. The judge issued a deportation order, according to his longtime partner, who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation despite her legal status in the U.S.

In March, Torres found himself among more than 200 Venezuelans sent to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

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His partner questions how the U.S. government could send him to a prison there without any evidence that he had broken the law or has a criminal record.

Lack of due process

El Salvador has been living under a state of emergency for more than three years, which has suspended some fundamental rights and given the administration of President Nayib Bukele extraordinary powers. More than 85,000 Salvadorans have been arrested over the period for alleged ties to the countrys once-powerful street gangs.

The improvement in El Salvadors security has won Bukele widespread domestic support and some admirers in the region who seek to imitate his success. But the lack of due process and numerous arbitrary arrests have drawn international condemnation. Bukele has dismissed those critics as defenders of criminals.

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A spokesperson for Bukele's office declined to comment Friday.

With the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump taking a hard line on immigration and portraying migrants broadly as criminals, neither government has been swayed by legal maneuvers in their own country to seek the mens release or return to the U.S.

A judge in Washington this week said he would order the U.S. government to provide more information about its prison deal with El Salvador as he moved closer to requiring the government to return the men to the U.S.

The human rights organizations hope that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will accept this emergency petition. The commission is an arm of the regional Organization of American States. The groups presented the case on behalf of the families of 18 of the men sent to El Salvador, who provided sworn statements about their cases.

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Some of the men had pending asylum applications in the U.S., while others had been vetted and approved for refugee resettlement by the U.S. government, still others had temporary protected status allowing them to work in the U.S., according to the lawsuit.

Bukele has said he has the room to hold the men and the payments from the U.S. will help cover the costs of his new prison.

Legal maneuvers unsuccessful

While both the Venezuelan government and nongovernmental organizations have filed habeas corpus petitions  essentially compelling the government to prove someones detention was justified  in El Salvadors courts, none have advanced.

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The groups are asking the human right commission to order precautionary measures, basically an emergency action to prevent irreparable harm. Among them are the ability to communicate with their families, access to legal counsel and return to the United States. The commission would seek a response from El Salvadors government before making a decision, but is expected to move quickly.

The other organizations involved in the lawsuit are the Boston University School of Law International Human Rights Clinic, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
MAULDIN, S.C. (WSPA)  One person was taken to the hospital after a chemical reaction created a cloud of hazardous gas at a waste treatment plant in Mauldin.

The Mauldin Fire Department responded to a reported chemical spill, with reaction, at the VLS Piedmont at 11:24 a.m. on Friday.

Officials said that upon arrival, a fire broke out in the building. The building had already been evacuated before the fire department arrived.

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The Mauldin Fire Department quickly put out the fire however, vapor clouds continued to linger, officials said.

A truck with the fire department was sent over to Drury Lane to monitor air quality, due to the area bordering the VLS property. Residents were advised to take temporary shelter as a precaution.

The HAZMAT Unit with the City of Greenville Fire Department determined that the area was safe after conducting air monitoring tests, officials said.

Officials said that the chemical reaction happened within a vat, creating the vapor cloud, and the heat from the reaction caused the fire.

One employee was exposed to the cloud and was taken to the hospital for observation.

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A section of SC 417 was closed as officials monitored the area. It was reopened at 1:15 p.m., and the scene was cleared by 2:24 p.m.

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May 9MOSES LAKE  The rebuilding of a 2.1-mile section of Westshore Drive west of Moses Lake has reached the sidewalk stage.

Curbs have been poured along the route and construction crews were adding a base layer for the sidewalks Thursday. A power shovel and front loader dumped rock along the sidewalk course, which was spread partly by the shovel and partly by hand. Once that's done the material is compacted.

The work is affecting travel on Westshore; a few drivers were using it on Thursday morning, negotiating around construction equipment. There are detours along Road E Northeast and Road F Northeast for most of the project's length.

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The road itself was excavated and the old asphalt removed, and the rebuild has reached the stage of a completed base layer. The project began in early March and is scheduled for completion in mid-July. Total project cost is about $3.63 million.

The sections of Westshore Drive immediately north and south of the construction zone have already been repaved and have sidewalks. This project connects the sections and gives Westshore sidewalks along most of its length.

After some uncertainty, a roundabout will be coming to Othello this summer.

"The roundabout at (state Route) 26 is a go," wrote Sebastian Moraga, communications consultant for the Washington Department of Transportation, in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald.

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Construction is scheduled to begin in early August and last two to three months, Moraga said.

The roundabout will be at the intersection of SR 26 and South First Avenue in Othello. The existing intersection doesn't allow traffic across SR 26, and access to State Route 24 requires a detour down East Wahluke Street.

Ellen Guisfredi, DOT assistant project engineer, told Othello City Council members in December that the design takes into account the substantial truck traffic at that intersection.

"It will have a fully mountable truck apron as a lot of heavy traffic and very large trucks come through this intersection," she said. "It is designed for larger vehicles because of the large truck movement."

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The project will affect drivers trying to access SR 26.

"The majority of (traffic control) will be alternating one-lane traffic with temporary signals on state Route 26," Guisfredi said. "We won't be detouring highway traffic, but we will be detouring traffic that is on city and county roads. Any traffic attempting to enter (SR) 26 at this intersection will be directed to use detour (routes)."
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Some road closures for the Amway River Bank Run started Friday in downtown Grand Rapids, while others went into effect early Saturday morning.

If you are heading downtown, here are the closures you will need to be aware of:

Monroe between Michigan and Louis from 3 p.m. Friday until about 6 p.m. Saturday

Lyon between the Grand River and Ottawa from 3 p.m. Friday until about 6 p.m. Saturday

Pearl between Louis Campau and Ottawa from 6 p.m. Friday until about 6 p.m. Saturday

Ottawa between Michigan and Fulton from 3:30 a.m. Saturday until 12 p.m. Saturday

Monroe Center between Monroe and Ottawa from 6 p.m. Friday until about 6 p.m. Saturday

Eastbound/westbound I-196 ramps at Market will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until about 11:30 a.m. Saturday

Southbound US-131 ramp at Market will be closed from 6:45 a.m. Saturday until about 10:30 a.m. Saturday

Northbound/southbound US-131 ramps at Pearl will be closed from 6:30 a.m. Saturday until about 10 a.m. Saturday

Westbound Wealthy will be detoured southbound on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue from 6:45 a.m. Saturday to about 12 p.m. Saturday

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River Bank Run forecast: Likely cool and dry

Other closures will go into place just before the different races step off Saturday morning:

Closed between 6:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.: Michigan between Ionia and Monroe; Bridge between Monroe and Mt. Vernon; Pearl between Front and Scribner; Front between Mt. Vernon and Pearl; Fulton between Mt. Vernon and Winter; Watson between Winter and Front; Front between Watson and Wealthy

Closed between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.: Winter between Fulton and Lake Michigan Drive; Lake Michigan Drive between Winter and Valley; Valley between Lake Michigan Drive and Butterworth; Park between Valley and John Ball Park St; Butterworth between OBrien and Marion; Marion between Butterworth and Hovey; Hovey between Marion and Straight; Straight between Hovey and Butterworth; Butterworth between Straight and Front

Closed between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: Cesar E Chavez Ave between Weston and Wealthy; Wealthy between Grandville and Front; Market between Wealthy and Indian Mounds; Ottawa between Oakes and Louis; Louis between Ottawa and Monroe; Indian Mounds between Wilson and Market

Closed between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.: Butterworth between OBrien and Maynard; Maynard between Butterworth and Veterans Memorial Drive; Butterworth between Veterans Memorial Drive and Wilson; Wilson between Butterworth and Indian Mounds (one westbound lane closed for race traffic)

For more information, you can visit the River Bank Runs website.

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA)  History was made Thursday with the Catholic Church electing the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV, whose very own brother is a Florida resident in Charlotte County.

In an interview with NBC affiliate WBBH, Louis Prevost described the appointment of his brother, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as shocking, surprising, and exciting.

Im almost speechless; its just mindblowing that my brother was elected Pope today, said Louis Prevost.

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Reminiscing on the moment he realized his brother was chosen, Prevost relayed to reporters his immediate thoughts, when the Cardinal went out and started to read his name, as soon as he went Rob I knew, He was going to say Roberto! And he did, and I just freaked out and said Its Rob, OMG. I was up, dressed, out, just going nuts.

When asked if he saw this coming, Prevost responded, weve kind of known he was special and we used to tease him about being pope when he was 6 years old, and then when he became cardinal the rumors floating around in Rome at the time were like Hes got a 1 in 3 chance of becoming pope. Its incredible, its awesome.

Prevost then addressed concerns surrounding his brother, the new Popes, nationality saying, I just hope for others here and overseas, you know, that it doesnt turn political. Oh hes an American, hes going to screw the church up. Hopefully, that doesnt happen and they just keep the nationalities, the nationalism out of it, and lets just be the Catholic Church.

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In an appearance on NewsNation on April 30, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked about his responsibility to encourage vaccination against preventable diseases such as the measles. Kennedy said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should focus on alternative treatment options for measles, claiming that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine contains a lot of aborted fetus debris and DNA particles.

There are populations in our countrylike the Mennonites in Texaswho are most afflicted, and they have religious objections to the vaccination because the MMR vaccine contains a lot of aborted fetus debris and DNA particles, Kennedy said. So, they dont want to take it. So, we ought to be able to take care of those populations when they get sick, and thats one of the things that CDC has not done.

There is no fetus debris or DNA particles in the MMR vaccine. The rubella vaccinewhich along with the measles and mumps vaccines makes up the MMR shotwas initially developed using a cell line, cultured cells that reproduce indefinitely, taken from a single aborted fetus in 1962, but those fetal cells are not in the finished vaccine product.

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To understand why researchers used fetal cells requires some background on vaccine development. Researchers develop vaccines by injecting viruses into living cells, adapting them to provoke a more effective response from the human immune system. But to do this safely, they need host cells that are free of other viruses or contaminants.

For the first half of the 20th century, finding suitable cells that could safely host viruses over long enough periods of time for them to adapt posed challenges. Unlike today, there was good reason for vaccine hesitancy back then, because there werent very safe vaccines, Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, an epidemiology and biostatistics professor at the University of IllinoisChicago, told The Dispatch Fact Check. Having a completely pure, safe medium for growing viral vaccines was critical.

At the time, live cells taken from humans were not considered suitable for vaccine development because of inefficient growth and survival rates, and mass vaccine production would require ample amounts harvested from living donors. Additionally, there were contamination concerns with human cells, which, though not supported by scientific research, were considered more likely to carry pathogens susceptible to humans. So, scientists turned to what they thought was the next best thing availablecells taken from monkey kidneys. Those animals were adult animals that had been exposed to viruses during the course of their lives, and those kidney cells often contain those viruses, Olshansky said. These viruses, some of which were lethal or linked to cancer, could be passed down through the vaccine to its recipients and sometimes even vaccine workers.

In 1961, Dr. Leonard Hayflick of the Wistar Institute, a biomedical research nonprofit based in Philadelphia, discovered that human cells were not eternal but subdivided on average about 50 times over their lifespan before dyinga cutoff known today as the Hayflick limit. From that discovery, Hayflick saw the potential to reshape vaccine development. He believed that if you had a pure cell line, uncontaminated by viruses from the outside worldwhich would come from a fetus, for exampleno exposure to the outside world  that might be the perfect medium to grow safe vaccines, Olshanksy, who worked closely with Hayflick and is currently writing a book about him, explained. And he was right.

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If cells subdivided a set amount of times, Hayflick wondered, could the subdivision process be paused by freezing the cells, allowing for the proliferation of the cells over long periods of time? To experiment, Hayflick took a sample of cells taken from lung tissue of a fetus electively aborted in Stockholm, Swedenunrelated to any ongoing scientific researchin 1962. He discovered that the duration of life of the cells was extended by the amount of time that they were frozen, Olshansky explained. After the cells thawed out, they continued replicating and indeed remembered how many times they had subdivided before being frozen. You could actually stop the process of cell division and it will renew itself, remembering how many cell divisions had already occurred. That was the key finding, Olshanky said, the ability of the cells to know how many times they replicated before.

Researchers today, a year from now, and 50 years from now could use cells from the same cell line, providing a safe and standard environmental host for viral vaccines to grow in. And thats precisely what happened with the fetal cell line Hayflick experimented with, named WI-38. That cell line provided a sterile environment for viral vaccines to develop safely, without fear of contamination. While the cell line from that fetus is no longer used to manufacture new vaccines, it is still used today in vaccine testing.

In addition to the MMR vaccine, the WI-38 cell line was used to develop vaccines for poliomyelitis, varicella (chicken pox), herpes zoster, adenovirus, rabies, and Hepatitis A. In 2017, Hayflick and Olshansky co-authored a study in which they estimated that about 4.5 billion cases of those diseases have been averted globally with a vaccine developed using the WI-38 cell line or a derivative from it, saving about 10.3 million lives. Nearly everyone born in the developed world since 1962 received at least one vaccine manufactured with the WI-38 cell strain, Hayflick and Olshansky wrote, along with a growing proportion of the population in developing nations.

Although WI-38 is today retired from vaccine development, other fetal-based cell lines are still used to create new vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca, were developed using a cell line taken from a different fetus aborted in the 1970s. A March 2021 statement from a group of pro-life Catholic scholars, stated, While there is a technical causal linkage between each of the current vaccines and prior abortions of human persons, we are all agreed, that connection does not mean that vaccine use contributes to the evil of abortion or shows disrespect for the remains of unborn human beings. It added, As a matter of scientific fact, no fetal body parts are present in these immortal cell lines.

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Kennedy has made other misleading claims about the MMR vaccine in recent media appearances. In an April 8 interview with CBS News, Kennedy publicly recommended that the public receive the MMR vaccine, but tempered his endorsement by falsely claiming in the same interview that the vaccine wanes very quickly and that many potential health risks are unknown because theyre not safety tested. MMR vaccines have undergone rigorous safety testing, and those who have received two doses of the shot have lifetime protection from the viruses.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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The first American Pope, Leo XIV, has spoken about the role of women in the Catholic Church.

In an interview with Vatican News in 2023, the Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost weighed in on some controversial topics. Among them: The role of women.

Prevost was named Pope by the conclave of cardinals on May 8, 2025, Vatican News confirmed. That has many people eager to learn more about his views.

According to GBN, "Ideologically, Prevost occupies a centrist position within the church hierarchy."

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GBN reported that Prevost is "viewed as a progressive" on social issues, especially dealing with "his embrace of marginalized groups." He "maintains conservative positions on certain matters of church doctrine," that site reported, including opposing "the ordination of women as deacons."

Prevost has also shared posts critical of U.S. immigration policies on Twitter (now X).

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/Getty Images

CBS News also described his opinions on women in the church, writing, "The Illinois native opposes ordaining women as deacons, for instance, so on that point he's seen as conservative on church doctrine."

"One of the novelties the Pope has introduced was to appoint three women among the members of the Dicastery for Bishops. What can you say about their contribution?" Vatican News asked Prevost at the time, referring to the now-deceased Pope Francis.

US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost attends the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peters Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Franco Origlia/Getty Images

"On several occasions, we have seen that their point of view is an enrichment. Two are religious and one is a laywoman, and often their perspective coincides perfectly with what the other members of the dicastery say; while at other times, their opinion introduces another perspective and becomes an important contribution to the process," Prevost responded, according to Vatican News.

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"I think their appointment is more than just a gesture on the part of the Pope to say that there are now women here, too. There is a real, genuine, and meaningful participation that they offer at our meetings when we discuss the dossiers of candidates," he added.

Adding the three women to the "voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the Pope" was considered Francis's "most revolutionary" reform, and Prevost presided over it, GBN reported.

Related: Pope Leo, Robert Prevost, Posted Tweets Slamming U.S. Immigration Policies

Related: Cardinal Robert Prevost Becomes 1st American Pope in History
VATICAN CITY (News-Press NOW)  Robert Francis Prevost is the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, from Chicago, Illinois, will take the name 'Leo XIV'.

Prevost earned his bachelors in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and went on to receive his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.

He was later sent to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University and was ordained as a priest in June 1982. Later in his career, he taught canon law in the seminary in Trujillo, Peru.

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While it is often said cardinal electors would always shy away from choosing a pope from the US due to Americas outsized global political influence, Prevosts long experience in Peru may have mitigated those fears among the electors.

Hes somebody that, even though hes from the West, would be very attentive to the needs of a global church, said Elise Allen, CNNs Vatican analyst. Youre talking about somebody who spent over half of his ecclesial career abroad as a missionary in Peru.

Allen added that he is seen as an apt leader in Vatican circles because hes able to accomplish things without necessarily being authoritarian about the way he did things.

Prevost is somebody who is seen as an exceptional leader. From very young, he was appointed to leadership roles, Allen said. Hes seen as somebody who is calm and balanced, who is even-handed, and who is very clear on what he thinks needs to be done but hes not overly forceful in trying to make that happen.
CANNES, France (AP)  Robert De Niro will receive an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a culmination for the 81-year-old actor whose history with the French film festival stretches back half a century.

In 1976, De Niro starred in two films  Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver and Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900"  that premiered in competition at Cannes. Taxi Driver" was an immediate sensation, and went home with the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or.

Since then, De Niro has been a regular on the Croisette, returning with The King of Comedy in 1983, Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America in 1984 and Roland Joffe's The Mission in 1986. Joffe's film also won the Palme, making De Niro the rare actor to star in two Palme d'Or winners.

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Though De Niro helps run his own film festival back in New York, the Tribeca Festival, he has remained a mainstay in Cannes. He presided over the jury in 2011 that selected Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life for the Palme. Most recently, he and Scorsese returned to premiere Killers of the Flower Moon in 2023.

I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes," De Niro said when his honorary Palme d'Or was announced last month. Especially now when theres so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us together  storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. Its like coming home.

De Niro is to receive the award in the festival's opening ceremony on May 13.

___

For more coverage of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Rochester Mayor Malik Evans presented his proposal for the 2025-26 city budget Friday.

Evans says the $680-million plan is down about $27 million from the current budget and will hold the property tax levy flat for the fourth straight year. Although there will be a less-than $5 increase on water bills for infrastructure improvements.

Some of the highlights include a focus on youth development, such as funds for an e-sports gaming lounge, new pools and splash parks.

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There are also funds for public safety efforts, including hiring a new fire lieutenant and two classes of 25 police department recruits.

Well have much more coming up on News 8 at 4 p.m.

You can read the entire budget proposal here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Rochester Education Foundation celebrated 20 years of providing resources to city students at Thursdays gala.

The REF serves more than 20,000 students in the Rochester area through four core programs providing help with reading and literacy, music and arts, and even financial aid guidance when it comes to applying for colleges.

One student we spoke with shared about his experience with the foundation as an ambassador at his school.

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Ive been helping others by advocating for what the ref does, by helping them fill out the FAFSA form for college and what not, also how they operate in schools like mine by donating instruments and spreading joy through their many different programs, World of Inquiry School No. 58 Student Ambassador Trevor Wiggins said.

A familiar face was also in attendance  News 8s own Natalie Kucko was the emcee for the night.

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Rock Island County Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Linnea E. Thompson has announced she will be retiring from the bench before her term expires on December 7, 2026. Her retirement will be effective at the end of the business day on June 30. Thompson announced last month that she would not be seeking another term on the bench in 2026.

Associate Judge Tionn Fambro Carter is seeking the Democratic nomination to fill the vacancy created by Thompsons retirement. The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to appoint a judge to fill the rest of Thompsons term until a successor is elected.

Judge Thompson was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in June 2013 to fill a judicial vacancy. She was elected to a six-year term in November 2014 and retained by voters in 2020. She earned her law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1979 and practiced law, mostly in the Illinois Quad Cities, before being appointed judge. She presides over civil cases and has been the Supervising Probate Judge in Rock Island County since 2015. She considers some of her career highlights to be establishing a probate division for Rock Island County, giving input for the design of the domestic violence courtroom, supervising summer judicial interns, participating in continuing education legal programs and promoting bench diversity within the circuit.

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Her retirement plans involve checking things off an overdue to do list, like spending more time with family and friends.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Paul Sletten, owner of several Rockford restaurants, has purchased the Irish Rose Saloon and plans to reopen it as Harvey Wallbangers.

The former Irish Rose Saloon, at 519 E. State Street, permanently closed in February 2023, as longtime owner Mike Leifheit fell into bad health.

Leifheit died a year later, in February 2024.

The building formerly housed The Stop Tap and Mas Cafe, which Leifheit restored to much of its original 1880s architecture.

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The bar was listed for sale in January 2023. According to a real estate listing, the two-story mixed-use building, which houses a restaurant and bar on the first floor and two apartments on the second, was on the market for $510,000.

Paul Sletten, who owns Abreo Restaurant at 515 E. State Street, Social at 509 E. State Street, and Disco Chicken at 212 E. State Street, announced on Facebook Thursday that he purchased the property.

Im pumped about this. Im not gonna lie, taking over such an iconic space that so many people have memories and feelings about, is a little intimidating, Sletten wrote. But I feel like I have a great plan to bring back what many loved about the place, while also giving it just enough updates to feel cared for. Thank you Drew Leifheit and Robin Leifheit for passing this place with such history and character to me. Im sure Mike is rolling his eyes at me right now, the same way he did as a neighbor and friend for 20 years.

Sletten plans to rename the restaurant as Harvey Wallbangers.

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The City of Rockford congratulated Sletten on his new business, saying he plans to open a casual and cozy neighborhood bar that keeps much of the same look as the decades-old establishment.

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ROLLA, Mo.  The Rolla City Council is considering a proposal to remove fluoride from the citys drinking water, prompted by a recent federal court ruling and renewed public debate over the potential health impacts of fluoridation.

Rolla City Administrator John D. Butz tells FOX 2 the city council has reviewed months of public feedback and plans to submit a summary of around 100 comments during its next meeting on May 19.

After that, the city council could choose to take no action, schedule further discussion, or draft an ordinance to amend city code to either lower or eliminate fluoride levels in the municipal water supply. Many procedural steps remain before any change could be finalized.

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Butz says the city council revisits the issue of fluoride removal at least once every decade, often triggered by new studies or recommendations, such as the EPAs 2015 decision to lower the recommended fluoride drinking water from 1.0 ppm to 0.7 ppm. Rolla followed suit shortly thereafter.

Police spike dozens of reckless drivers in slideshows across St. Louis

Just last year, the issue began to resurface again. Butz cited an Associated Press report published in Aug. 23, 2024 print edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and titled Report links excess fluoride to lower IQ in kids. The AP article summarized a U.S. government review that, for the first time, linked high levels of fluoride exposure  described as twice the recommendation limit  to lower IQ in children.

Researchers described the link as having moderate confidence, enough to reignite public debate in Rolla.

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In October 2024, two of Rollas 12 city council members requested a public discussion on the prospect of removing fluoride. A majority of the council members agreed to explore the matter further. Then, in January, the city council passed a motion to formally consider fluoride removal, which required a 90-day public notification and the launch of an email and phone line for public input.

Now, efforts to potentially remove fluoride are in a holding phase. The two councilmembers who raised the issue last fall are no longer on the council, and six newly-elected members have limited familiarity with previous discussions. For now, the proposal remains on the table.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long credited fluoride with reducing dental cavities and improving oral health, particularly for underserved populations. However, following the aforementioned August 2024 federal ruling, the EPA is now reviewing information on whether fluoride exposure poses cognitive risks to children. U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy has also called on the CDC to stop recommending fluoridation altogether.

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As part of its formal review process, the City of Rolla notified both the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on the possibility of changing its fluoride regulations. Butz says the DNR took a neutral stance, while a DHSS representative who advocates for water fluoridation addressed the council to share information on its public health benefits.

Butz says removing fluoride from Rollas water system would likely have little financial impact, but it could affect childrens dental health, especially among lower-income families.

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While the issue returns to the council later this month, it remains uncertain whether the proposal to remove fluoride could gain momentum, especially with a mostly new group of elected officials in place.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's hard-right presidential frontrunner George Simion said in a televised debate that the EU and NATO state should be compensated for the aid it has provided to neighbouring Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia.

The eurosceptic nationalist swept the first round of the presidential ballot on Sunday, and an opinion survey earlier this week showed him leading ahead of the May 18 run-off vote against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

In a debate late on Thursday, Dan said that, should he be elected Romania's support for Ukraine would not waver as defending Kyiv meant protecting Romania from potential future Russian aggression.

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Simion, 38, opposes military aid to Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

Analysts have said a Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO's eastern flank, where Bucharest plays a key role in providing logistical support to Ukraine as it fights a three-year-old Russian invasion.

In the debate Dan, 55, a two-term mayor of Bucharest running as an independent centrist on an "Honest Romania" ticket, fully backed EU plans to arm itself, whereas Simion suggested he would veto Brussels military aid to Ukraine while saying Europe should depend on NATO for its own defence.

Romania's president has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that decides on military aid. The president can also veto important EU votes that require unanimity.

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"I will vote for the interest of the Romanian state without prioritising other states," Simion said during the debate organised by television station Euronews Romania.

"Our position towards Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is one of neutrality not escalation, not supplying weapons, in alignment with the Trump administration."

Trump came to office promising a swift end to the war in Ukraine and on the campaign trail threatened to stop military aid to Kyiv. Despite a brief pause in February and the longer one that began in early March, the Trump administration has resumed sending the last of the aid approved under U.S. President Joe Biden. No new policy has been announced.

'JUST PEACE'

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Simion said Romania should be compensated for the support it has given Ukraine once the rebuilding process starts.

"I don't know if that will be reflected in contracts for the rebuilding or in grains but ... for the donated Patriot system and other spending by Romanians there should be reciprocity."

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. The donated Patriot will be replaced by allies.

"For Ukraine to secure a just peace it needs the support of Western states, including Romania, and that is for our own security," Dan said.

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He said that Romania must be fair to its Western partners, which are helping Ukraine against a war at Romania's borders and that it should also contribute if it wanted to take part in the future rebuilding.

He also fully backed European plans to prepare for a potential attack from Russia as EU governments seek to be less reliant on the United States for their security.

"To say that if you defend yourself means you want war is ... populism," Dan said. "No, you want to spend money and have a reformed army to prevent a war."

Under the ReArm Europe plan, the EU is looking to boost military spending by 800 billion euros ($876 billion) over the next four years, via loosening fiscal rules on defence investment and joint borrowing for large defence projects against the EU budget.

Simion said that "for defence we have NATO, not the EU".

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Alex Richardson)
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  A priceless golden helmet and other Romanian artifacts stolen from a small museum in The Netherlands have not been melted down and could still be recovered, Dutch prosecutors said Friday.

The theft in January shocked Romania, whose national museum loaned the artifacts for an exhibition. The then President Klaus Iohannis said at the time that the artifacts had exceptional cultural and historical importance for Romanian heritage and identity, and that their disappearance had a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.

Thieves used a homemade firework bomb and sledge hammer to break into the Drents Museum, in the eastern Dutch city of Assen, on Jan. 25 and steal items, including the intricate golden Cotofenesti helmet that dates back 2,500 years and is one Romanias most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization.

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Grainy security video distributed by police after the raid appeared to show three people opening a museum door with a large crowbar, after which an explosion is seen. Within days of the break in, three people were arrested by police.

On Friday, a judge at North Netherlands District Court ordered two suspects, aged 35 and 35, to remain in custody for a further 90 days pending further inquiries. They have been charged with three offenses linked to their alleged involvement in the heist: Causing an explosion, damaging the museum and stealing the artifacts.

A third suspect, aged 20, is also under arrest. All three come from the same town near Amsterdam.

One of the suspects, identified by Dutch media as Douglas W., insisted he was innocent, national broadcaster NOS reported. I'm sitting here innocent and my life is ruined, he was reported to have told the court.

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Police are still seeking four other people who are suspected of playing supporting roles in the theft of the artifacts, which art experts believe would be impossible to sell.

Dutch prosecutors believe the art treasures "have not been melted down and that the main suspects, particularly the 36-year-old, still have control over them, the prosecution service said in a statement. A trial is expected to begin in about a year.
The occasion was a splashy trade deal with Britain, the first since Donald Trump triggered a tariff war as he looks to remake the global economy.

But an appearance from Lord Mandelson, the British ambassador to the US, technical questions about imports of chlorinated chicken and even a cameo  albeit by speakerphone  from Sir Keir Starmer were overshadowed by looming trade talks at the weekend with China.

If Britain was the days big news, China was the context and climate  and probably the timing.

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Questions about talks with China dominated the hour-long press conference.

So when I asked him whether the discussions with London included efforts to wean the UK off its trade with China, he quickly pivoted to why the world will be better off once he gets an agreement over the line with Beijing to open the country up.

Credit: Reuters

Thatll be the greatest thing that ever happened to China. The people will be happier, he said. Theyll buy for less. Theyll see things that they never saw before  and itll really create great long-term peace.

Mr Trump had revealed what the announcement was really all about. He is one step closer to a much bigger prize, and one that could define his presidency.

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I will tell you that China very much wants to make a deal, said Mr Trump, from his position behind the gleaming Resolute Desk. Well see how that works out.

Key members of his cabinet stood behind him, while Lord Mandelson hovered over his left shoulder.

Lord Mandelson looms over Mr Trump in the Oval Office - Bonnie Cash/UPI

No one had expected the UK to be first across the line with a trade deal, although it was about the easiest to negotiate.

Washington and London share warm relations, and the two countries each export to each other just as much as they import.

And with one of Mr Trumps top negotiators headed for talks with China at the weekend, it gives the president a big win to deflect any hint that his administration is about to back down in its stand-off with Beijing.

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China, as you know, has a tremendous trade surplus with us, and we cant, you know, we just cant have that, Mr Trump said.

A speakerphone on the desk allowed Sir Keir to add his voice to proceedings, even if his officials werent sure whether the call would even happen until the very last moment.

Were prepared for all eventualities, said one.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke on the line to Donald Trump from a car factory in Solihull - WPA Pool/2025 Getty Images

That uncertainty reflected a deal that was scrambled together at the 11th hour.

It may have been sweetened by the special relationship, and Mr Trumps love of the Royal family, and with the way it was unveiled on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe day, but the timing caught some British officials off guard.

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Lord Mandelson had not even been in Washington for much of last week, with trips to New York and California.

Officials were still haggling over details on Wednesday after Mr Trump used a social media post to reveal that a major trade deal was coming. It had been sealed in a phone call that night between Mr Trump and Sir Keir.

Mr President, thank you very much indeed in hosting us this morning, and thank you very much indeed, also for that very typical 11th-hour intervention by you, demanding even more out of this deal than any of us expected, said Lord Mandelson, prompting laughter from Mr Trump.

Mr Trump laughs after Lord Mandelson thanks him - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images North America

British officials insisted that the late-night tweaks simply marked the final approval step in a deep and thorough trading of language, benchmarks and texts that had gone on for weeks.

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Yet other countries were supposedly ahead in the line.

India, South Korea, Japan and Australia had all been suggested as the first winners from talks, as Mr Trump looked to isolate China in its own backyard.

Instead Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary who kept a low profile at the fringes of the Oval Office on Thursday, will head to Switzerland for talks with Chinese negotiators.

Mr Trump exuded optimism, saying it could mean tariffs on China come down immediately. Well, it could be, he said. I mean, were going to see. Right now you cant get any higher at 145.

Credit: Reuters

Like the chamber of the British House of Commons, the Oval Office never feels quite big enough.

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In recent weeks Mr Trump has taken to using it for press conferences, enjoying the back and forth with journalists lobbing questions from close range.

On Thursday, he had all the key players lined up behind him.

JD Vance, his vice-president, and Howard Lutnick, his commerce secretary, were lined up over his left shoulder, and the first to laugh at any jokes.

Mr Mandelson was on the other side, his face a fixed mask for much of the occasion, particularly Mr Trumps close-to-the-bone jokes about opponents.

Howard Lutnick and JD Vance laugh as Lord Mandelson remains composed - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images North America

But he managed to make the president smile, when he offered to sell him a Rolls-Royce after Mr Trump admitted his admiration for the British brand.

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Beside them a chart showed the benefits to the US from the deal: $5 billion in extra market access, an extra $6 billion in tariffs.

Yet the questions kept coming back to China and who blinked first in asking for a meeting.

We can all play games, who made the first call, who didnt make the call, doesnt matter, said Mr Trump.

With his first trade deal out of the way, Mr Trump can declare his strategy a success as he swiftly moves on to a bigger but more contentious prize  forcing a reset in relations with China.

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Rosie ODonnell accused Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman of using Erik and Lyle Menendez for publicity, adding that the truth [will] come out in the brothers case.

In an interview with Andy Cohen, ODonnell, who has advocated for the incarcerated siblings even before their case was revived by Netflixs Monsters series, ODonnell said, I think the district attorney is using them for publicity.

Referring to the clemency request put in to California Governor by previous DA George Gascon, she said she hoped that Gavin Newsom would pay attention to the public swell of support for the brothers and pardon them and/or commute their sentence down to manslaughter. She pointed out, Theyve already served almost 35 years.

Hochman, who was elected in November 2024, has repeatedly stated that, despite corroboration from an additional victim and the support of most of the Menendez family, he does not believe Lyle and Erik Menendez account of sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez. The brothers shot and killed both their parents in 1989 and were sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996.

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ODonnell said, Theres been so much proof that they were sexually abused and horrifically tortured their whole life. Their whole family  the extended family of the parents they murdered  supports them. Everyone agrees that this happened.

She told Cohen, I really feel that they are going to get out, because in the end, the truth does come out.

Erik and Lyle, as well as other members of the Menendez Family have asked Hochman to recuse himself from the case. In response, Hochman said their request was devoid of merit.

As she pointed out, the sexual abuse was not permitted as a defense in their second trial, in which they were convicted. In the first trial, there were hung juries. In the second trial, the DA had just lost the O.J. case, and they werent going to lose another one, she said, calling the trial part of a malfunctioning judicial system.

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ODonnell argued that the things Lyle and Erik have done in prison, including training guide dogs for blind people, veterans, and children with autism, should qualify them for parole and resentencing. The comedian recently talked about her new documentary, which is about how much a guide dog helped her child with autism.

ODonnell is a longtime advocate for the brothers, having first come out in support of their defense argument in 1996. She was introduced to Lyle Menendez by his wife in 2022 and they have since become close friends.

The post Rosie ODonnell Supports Menendez Brothers Release, Accuses DA of Using Them for Publicity: Truth Does Come Out | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
The royal family marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and paid tribute to all those who served during the Second World War. The palace released a striking photo of King Charles saluting from behind during the military procession.
UPDATE ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  Roanoke police announced they have arrested the fifth suspect, 26-year-old Tyrese Justin Hairston.



ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  Roanoke PD has made four arrests in connection with the shooting on Market Street that left three men injured on May 3.

According to RPD, officers arrived at the 200 block of Market Street SE around 12:56 a.m. on Saturday after reports of a shooting. At the scene, there were no victims; however, officers said they allegedly found evidence that a shooting had occurred at that location.

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It was later reported that three men arrived at the hospital with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds and are currently expected to recover, police said.

During the preliminary investigation, it was determined that 27-year-old Keajhae Tyrik Cooper of Roanoke was allegedly the primary aggressor in the shooting. RPD said Cooper has been released from the hospital and arrested for possession by a felon and shooting in the city.

Investigators have since identified four more men who they also believe were involved in the incident.

ORIGINAL REPORTING | Three hurt in early Saturday morning shooting in Downtown Roanoke

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37-year-old Douglas Troy Hale of Roanoke has been charged with shooting from a vehicle, reckless handling of a firearm, and shooting in the city.

22-year-old Aundele Maurice Burwell II of Roanoke has been charged with Shooting in public and reckless handling of a firearm.

24-year-old Deshaun Eric Hunt of Roanoke has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, reckless handling of a firearm, and shooting in the city.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and a fifth suspect, identified as 26-year-old Tyrese Justin Hairston of Roanoke, is still at large. He is wanted for charges including reckless handling of a firearm and shooting in the city.

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Anyone who endangers our downtown by bringing violence or chaos will be found and held fully accountable, said Chief Scott Booth. Our community deserves safety, and we will not tolerate reckless behavior.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hairston is asked to call police at 540-344-8500.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Under Secretary of State Marco Rubios leadership, the State Department appears to have become a tool to serve Elon Musks business interests.

Rubio has overseen the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the closure of an office thats been crucial to the fight against foreign disinformation, which is to say: He has taken a sledgehammer to some of the departments crucial missions worldwide.

Meanwhile, a new report from The Washington Post suggests his State Department has launched a new project of sorts: getting foreign nations  particularly, nations who may want to curry favor with the U.S. amid Trumps destructive tariff war  to adopt Musks Starlink internet service.

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The Post obtained an internal State Department memo suggesting that the country of Lesotho, which Trump mocked at this years joint address to Congress by saying no one has ever heard of it, was hoping that its recent Starlink deal would lead to tariff relief.

The Post quotes the memo as saying:

As the government of Lesotho negotiates a trade deal with the United States, it hopes that licensing Starlink demonstrates goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses.

The report says Lesotho is one of several countries that have granted Starlink access while trying to navigate Trumps tariffs. And it details how the administration has pushed for nations to reach such deals amid the tariff talks, though they havent demanded it. According to the Post:

A series of internal government messages obtained by The Post reveal how U.S. embassies and the State Department have pushed nations to clear hurdles for U.S. satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name. The documents do not show that the Trump team has explicitly demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs. But they do indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has increasingly instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musks satellite firm at a moment when the White House is calling for wide-ranging talks on trade.

Its easy to see how other nations might conclude that reaching agreements to do business with a company run by Musk, the presidents top campaign donor in 2024, might earn them some tariff relief. And for the record, the State Department didnt even deny that its hawking Musks service, telling the Post:

Starlink is an American-made product that has been game-changing in helping remote areas around the world gain internet connectivity. Any patriotic American should want to see an American companys success on the global stage, especially over compromised Chinese competitors.

No acknowledgment there of the obvious conflict of interest in this case.

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It would be one thing if Starlink were simply the best internet service available, but Ive written about the federal governments previous determinations about Starlinks shortcomings, so the fact that the State Department seems to have a specific interest in promoting the service to foreign nations feels like a favor to Musk over all else.

Keep in mind: This is all being carried out by the same conservative movement that accused Hunter Biden of unethically using his fathers name to prop up his art business. The same Republican Party that portrayed itself as a defender of free market capitalism as it complained about the Obama administration picking winners and losers in certain industries.

This movement is now led by someone who turned the White House lawn into a showroom to promote Musks Tesla company, whose administration is quickly implementing Starlink across federal agencies, and whose State Department is urging foreign countries to adopt the service, as well.

Republicans seem to know how unethical this all is, even if they wont admit it. Last month, I wrote about Republicans changing House rules to prevent Democrats from forcing votes on whether to investigate various Trump administration scandals  including Musks conflicts of interests.

It looks like Republicans would rather turn a blind eye to this obvious issue.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
By Dmitry Antonov and Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Friday with a major military parade that went off without any reports of Ukrainian attacks despite three years of devastating war.

President Vladimir Putin, the longest-serving Kremlin chief since Josef Stalin, stood beside China's Xi Jinping, several dozen other leaders and Russian veterans on a roofed tribune beside Lenin's mausoleum as Russian troops marched past.

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Putin said Russia would never accept attempts to belittle the Soviet Union's decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany, but that Moscow also recognised the part played by the Western allies in defeating Adolf Hitler.

"The Soviet Union took upon itself the most ferocious, merciless blows of the enemy," Putin said.

"We highly appreciate the contribution of the soldiers of the Allied armies, the members of the resistance, the courageous people of China, and all those who fought for a peaceful future to our common struggle."

Putin made no criticism of the West and referred only in passing to the Ukraine war, Europe's deadliest since World War Two, but it haunted the celebration.

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More than 11,500 troops were lined up in ranks on Red Square, including 1,500 who have fought in Ukraine. Drones - the biggest technological innovation of the war - were paraded for the first time, as well as tanks and intercontinental Yars missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Ukraine attacked Moscow with drones for several days this week, though there were no reports of major attacks on Moscow on Friday amid a 72-hour ceasefire declared by Putin.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, including many millions in Ukraine, but pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in 1945.

Chinese Communist Party historians say China's casualties in the 1937-1945 Second Sino-Japanese War were 35 million. The Japanese occupation caused the displacement of as many as 100 million Chinese people and significant economic hardship, as well as the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, during which an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 victims were killed.

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Moscow and Kyiv do not publish accurate casualty numbers for the war in Ukraine, though U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he wants peace, says hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed and injured.

MOSCOW PARADE

Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 p.m. on May 8, 1945, marked as "Victory in Europe Day" by Britain, the United States and France. In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Union's "Victory Day" in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.

For Russians - and for many of the peoples of the former Soviet Union - May 9 is the most sacred date in the calendar, and Putin has sought to use memories of World War Two to unite Russian society, especially amid the war in Ukraine.

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The Kremlin says the attendance of Russian allies such as Xi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and several dozen leaders from the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia and Latin America shows Russia is not isolated even if Moscow's former WW2 Western allies want to stay away.

Chinese troops took part in the parade, and Putin shook hands with North Korean officers, praising them for their fighting skill. North Korean troops have helped Russia fight an incursion into its western Kursk region by Ukrainian forces seeking a bargaining chip in any peace talks.

Trump on Thursday called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and said that if the truce was not respected then "the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions."

Putin proposed a 72-hour ceasefire that would run on May 8, May 9 and May 10, though Ukraine said Russia had broken the ceasefire, a claim dismissed as absurd by Moscow.

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In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on allies to help it resist Russia, which now controls about a fifth of Ukraine.

"Evil cannot be appeased. It must be fought," Zelenskiy said, according to the Kyiv Post. He criticised Moscow's Victory Day parade. "It will be a parade of cynicism. There is just no other way to describe it. A parade of bile and lies."

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Guy Faulconbridge in London,Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Maxim Rodionov, Anton Kolodazhnyy, Filip Lebedev, Mark Trevelyan and Andrew Osborn Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
The Communist Party of Russia unveiled a monument to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on May 8 to commemorate Victory Day in World War II, the party announced.

The statue carries a plaque that reads: "To the organizer and inspirer of the victory of the Soviet people over the Nazi invaders, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin, from grateful descendants."

The ceremony was attended by Russian-installed officials and local school students who laid flowers at the site.

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Melitopol has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

Stalin's legacy in Ukraine is marked by profound suffering. Under his rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 19321933.

The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.

While some in Russia credit Stalin for leading the Soviet Union to victory in World War II, portraying him solely as a military hero ignores the brutal policies and immense human cost of his regime.

The monument comes amid a broader revival of Stalin's cult in Russia.

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On April 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree renaming Volgograd's international airport to "Stalingrad." Days earlier, Russian media reported that Putin had endorsed the renaming of Volgograd's Gumrak airport to honor the dictator.

Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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The News

Russia hosted two dozen foreign leaders for a Victory Day parade that showcased Moscows growing global acceptance, despite its invasion of Ukraine.

The leaders of Brazil, China, Indonesia, and several ex-Soviet republics took part, transforming an event that had in previous years underscored Moscows relative isolation into a propaganda exercise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN said.

A separate meeting, meanwhile, pointed to the wider international battle over the legacy of World War II: Fifteen EU foreign ministers and the blocs diplomatic chief visited Lviv in Ukraine, seeking to establish a tribunal to prosecute Kremlin leaders over the war.

In Moscow, theyre trying to resurrect an empire, Politico wrote. In Lviv, theyre trying to resurrect the international order.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Ukrainian troops have made further attempts to breach the Russian border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday as President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a major military parade in Moscow.

The Defence Ministry said the attacks occurred during a three-day ceasefire running from May 8-10 that Russia has unilaterally declared to mark the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Ukraine has called the ceasefire a "farce" and on Friday documented scores of armed clashes.

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It noted in particular, northeastern Sumy region, site of some of the heaviest Russian assaults in recent weeks, saying there had been no letup during the Kremlin-inspired ceasefire.

"There has been no 'ceasefire' in Sumy region on the 8th or 9th of May. Over the two days Russia has killed three civilians,the region's military administration said on Telegram.

Ukraine's military, in its account late on Friday of battlefield operations, said 162 armed clashes had been recorded over the past 24 hours, with the Kremlin ceasefire in effect, along with 22 air strikes and 956 drone attacks.

It noted heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, a logistics hub in eastern Ukraine targeted by Moscow's troops for months. Russian forces had attempted to break through Ukrainian lines 51 times.

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The Russian Defence Ministry account said it had registered four attempts by Ukrainian forces to smash through the border into the Kursk and Belgorod regions in the past week.

In eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's troops had attacked Russian forces 15 times during the ceasefire, the ministry said.

Ukraine has said Russia had repeatedly breached its own truce this week. The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that Russia hit eight Ukrainian frontline villages 220 times since the ceasefire went into effect.

In Russia's Belgorod border region, the local governor said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a government building on Friday.

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In Kursk, Ukrainian troops launched a major incursion last August and held onto a chunk of Russian territory for many months as Moscow's forces battled to eject them with help from North Korean soldiers. Some fighting has continued, even after Putin last month declared "victory" in Kursk.

Ukraine said its troops had repelled 19 attacks in the region.

Rybar, a pro-Russian war blogger, said there was "high-intensity fighting" between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Tetkino, a village in the region. Rybar and other bloggers said Ukrainian attacks on multiple villages in the neighbouring Belgorod region were continuing on Friday.

Reuters could not independently verify statements by war bloggers or battlefield reports from either side.

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Ukraine and Russia both accused the other of repeatedly violating a previous 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan, Ron Popeski and Jacqueline Wong)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump exchanged congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on Friday.

The two heads of state sent congratulations "on the occasion of our joint holiday" through their assistants, Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television.

Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany every year on May 9, holding a major military parade in Red Square in Moscow.

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However, Putin indirectly contradicted the US president, underlining that Soviet Army soldiers played a decisive role in the victory over Hitler's Germany in World War II.

Trump had earlier described the contribution of the US Army as decisive.

Meanwhile in Moscow, few Western leaders attended the ceremonies given the Kremlin's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Of EU and NATO members, only Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico attended. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also attended the parade and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the two leaders for their visit.

Especially when it comes to Vucic and Fico, "it is simply an act of heroism," Peskov said, referring to Brussels' warnings that people not join the military parade.
Russia is worried that its medical graduates aren't working in hospitals after finishing school.

A new draft bill would force many of them to find healthcare jobs within a year of graduation.

The country is short of 23,300 doctors, but poor wages are keeping new ones from taking up work.

Russia's health ministry has drafted a new bill that requires fresh medical and pharmacy graduates from state-affiliated programs to start working within a year of finishing school.

If they fail to do so, they'll have to pay a fine worth three times the amount spent by the government on their education, whether it be funds from a state, federal, or local budget.

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This latest version of the federal education bill, made public on Tuesday, also proposes that after finding a healthcare job, medical graduates from state-funded schools must continue working for three years. Their other option is to continue their studies.

The vast majority of Russia's medical schools are funded by or affiliated with the government, with lawmakers saying 154 institutions and scientific organizations draw from federal, state, and local budgets.

Russian business daily Kommersant estimated in February that it costs the state about $2,480 a year to train a medical student. As such, under the new bill, if a Russian medical student undergoes the typical six years of training, they could face a fine of $42,000 or higher if they don't find a job within a year of graduation.

Calculations for the fines would be up to the Russian government, the bill added. If these measures become law, they would take effect on January 1, 2026.

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Sergei Leonov, the head of the Russian State Duma's healthcare committee, told local media on Monday that parliament was ready to support the bill, but could tighten it with further amendments.

"In fact, they violate their obligations to the state," he said of graduates avoiding hospital work.

The proposal underscores a shortage of doctors and nurses in Russia, which authorities fear will escalate into a national crisis.

In February, Russia's health minister, Mikhail Murashko, told local media that the country was short of about 23,300 doctors and 63,500 "midlevel" personnel, which includes nurses and technicians.

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That's out of a total of about 550,000 doctors already in Russia's workforce, per Murashko. But he added that nearly a fifth of these professionals are over 60 years old.

A bleak outlook for Russia's medical workers  and their country

Meanwhile, the country's public healthcare system is struggling to recruit young doctors and nurses.

In a note attached to the new bill, the health ministry said that in state-affiliated schools, 35% of graduates from higher medical education and 40% of graduates in vocational medical education don't work in state or public health organizations.

Low pay and poor working conditions often discourage young doctors from the public system, Vladimir Gimpelson, a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Russia project, told Business Insider.

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"The graduates prefer either private clinics or pharmaceutical firms, or the insurance sector. Moving here from the public healthcare system gives them a very significant wage premium," said Gimpelson, who until 2022 led labor market studies at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow.

Russian lawmaker Galina Izotova, who serves in the government chamber that audits federal budgets, said in March that doctors' salaries in 21 of Russia's 89 regions hadn't reached the minimum level mandated by law.

"There remains significant variation in salary levels between neighboring regions, contributing to labor migration. In some regions, salary differences can be three times or greater," Izotova told the Duma that month.

When the Doctors of the Russian Federation, a professional community for medical workers, surveyed 2,030 doctors in March 2024, 78.9% of them said they had to work more than one job to make ends meet.

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About two-thirds of them, including doctors in the Moscow region, said that they were drawing monthly salaries of $727 or less. That could indicate a wide imbalance in wages across the country, since Russia's federal statistics service reported that the average physician's salary was about $1,400 from January to June of 2024.

Russia is also struggling with a brain drain of highly educated and skilled workers since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, with a million citizens, mostly young and college-educated people, leaving that year.

The effects of the departures, compounded with the war's toll on Russian lives, led to a reported shortage of some 5 million workers in 2023.

The UK's Defense Ministry said in a February 2024 intelligence update that the war has likely exacerbated Russia's shortage of doctors, with about 2% of its medical personnel fleeing the country to avoid a mobilization in September 2022.

Another 3,000 medical staff were also likely assigned to help treat the war's wounded, the ministry added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, on Friday laid wreaths at Soviet memorials in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Nechayev visited both the huge memorial in Treptower Park, in the former East Berlin, and the site in Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate, which was part of the city's western sector.

On Thursday, the ambassador laid a wreath at the Schonholzer Heide memorial in northern Berlin, the site of a huge Soviet cemetery.

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In Russia, the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany is commemorated on May 9, while in Europe the war's end is celebrated on May 8.

The Russian ambassador was accompanied by representatives of other states that were once Soviet republics, as well as bodyguards.

The diplomat was wearing the so-called St. George's ribbon on his lapel, which is considered a symbol of Russian nationalism.

Ribbon banned, but not for diplomats

The Berlin police had banned the wearing of the ribbon, as well as the display of other pro-Russian flags and symbols, near the Soviet memorials on both days of the commemoration.

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However, diplomats and veterans of the Allied powers of World War II are exempt from these restrictions.

The ambassador's actions came as Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the war's end with a massive military parade in Moscow.

Visitors stand at the Soviet Memorial in Tiergarten, which commemorates Soviet soldiers who died in the Second World War. While May 8, 1945, marks the wars end in Europe, the Soviet Union and many of its successor states celebrate Victory Day on May 9. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, on Friday laid wreaths at Soviet memorials in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Nechayev visited both the huge memorial in Treptower Park, in the former East Berlin, and the site in Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate, which was part of the city's western sector.

On Thursday, the ambassador laid a wreath at the Schonholzer Heide memorial in northern Berlin, the site of a huge Soviet cemetery.

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In Russia, the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany is commemorated on May 9, while in Europe the war's end is celebrated on May 8.

The Russian ambassador was accompanied by representatives of other states that were once Soviet republics, as well as bodyguards.

The diplomat was wearing the so-called St. George's ribbon on his lapel, which is considered a symbol of Russian nationalism.

Ribbon banned, but not for diplomats

The Berlin police had banned the wearing of the ribbon, as well as the display of other pro-Russian flags and symbols, near the Soviet memorials on both days of the commemoration.

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However, diplomats and veterans of the Allied powers of World War II are exempt from these restrictions.

The ambassador's actions came as Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the war's end with a massive military parade in Moscow.

Pro-Russian biker group present

Some members of the pro-Russian Night Wolves biker gang were also seen at the Treptow memorial.

A small group laid a wreath there in the morning. Following police instructions, they removed their vests with insignia, according to a police spokeswoman.

Police said they expected most of the group's 100 participants in the Tiergarten at midday. They were due to park their motorcycles near the park in central Berlin and proceed to the memorial in groups of eight to 10 people.

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The Night Wolves, seen as extreme nationalists, are considered supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

On Thursday, the bikers had visited two Soviet memorial sites in the state of Brandenburg surrounding Berlin.

On Friday, the police once again drew attention to the regulations for "dignified commemoration" at the memorials and announced that they would enforce them "consistently."

Sergei Netshaev, Russian Ambassador to Germany, lays a wreath at the Soviet Memorial in Tiergarten, which commemorates Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. May 9 is marked as Victory Day in Russia and several successor states. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church stand at the Soviet Memorial in Tiergarten, which commemorates Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. May 9 is marked as Victory Day in Russia and several successor states. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine with guided aerial bombs despite a 3-day ceasefire on Victory Day, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainska Pravda on May 9.

Despite the Kremlin's announcement of a May 811 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the front line.

Russian troops launched 130 guided aerial bombs on May 8 against Sumy Oblast, which shares a border with Russia, including Bryansk Oblast to the northeast, Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts to the east.

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Russia kept striking the Ukrainian territory on the following day, on May 9, which coincides with Victory Day, one of the biggest national events, commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Russian forces launched 56 guided bombs by midday using Su-34 aircraft operating under the cover of Su-35 fighters, Ihnat said.

The spokesperson added that at noon, nearly 10 Russian aircraft were near the front line's Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy sectors.

Before the ceasefire, Russia launched three waves of drones against Ukraine, totaling more than 200, according to an Air Force report. Ukrainian forces shot down 101 drones, while another 70 disappeared from radars without causing any damage.

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On the following morning, when the ceasefire had started, Russian attacks killed and injured Ukrainian civilians in at least two oblasts, according to local authorities.

Read also: 5 things Putin conveniently left out of his Victory Day speech in Moscow

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Russian forces have attacked the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with drones and artillery, injuring one person, causing a fire and damaging residential buildings.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: The Russians targeted the city of Nikopol and the Pokrovske, Chervonohryhorivka, Myrove and Marhanets hromadas. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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Quote: "An 83-year-old man has been injured. He will be treated on an outpatient basis. A garage and an outbuilding caught fire. Firefighters have extinguished the fire."

Affected house

Photo: Serhii Lysak on Telegram

Details: Two houses, an outbuilding, a moped and power lines were also damaged in the Russian attack.

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Russian forces have dropped guided aerial bombs on the Richky hromada in Sumy Oblast, killing a woman. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote from the prosecutor's office: "Early reports indicate that on the evening of 8 May, the enemy dropped eight guided aerial bombs on the Richky hromada in the Sumy district. Only on the morning of 9 May, the body of a 63-year-old woman with no signs of life was found on the territory of one of the households."

Photo: Prosecutor's office

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Details: A criminal investigation has been opened into this incident.

Background:

On the night of 7-8 May, one person was killed and two others wounded as a result of Russian strikes with aerial bombs on Sumy Oblast. The Russians attacked peaceful settlemen ts, despite the so-called three-day truce announced by the Russian leadership.

Colonel Yurii Ihnat, head of the communications department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, told Ukrainska Pravda that Russia continues to terrorise the border areas of Sumy Oblast with guided bombs. On 8 May, the Russians dropped about 130 bombs. Over the morning of 9 May alone, they dropped 50 bombs.

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The Russians have set up a monument to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the occupied city of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on the occasion of Victory Day. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

Source: website of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation; Ukrainian news agency hromadske

Details: The monument has a plaque with a signature: "To the organiser and inspirer of the victory of the Soviet people over the Nazi invaders, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, from grateful descendants".

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The Russian communists point out that the opening was attended by a representative of the Russian-backed "administration" of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Oleg Sliusarenko. The event was also attended by local pupils who laid flowers at the monument to Stalin.

The monument to Stalin in Melitopol.

Photo: Russian Communist party

The monument to Stalin in Melitopol.

Photo: Russian Communist party

This monument was installed after the approval of representatives of the occupation "city administration" of Melitopol.

For reference: The Soviet government led by Joseph Stalin committed the Holodomor of 1932-1933, a genocide of the Ukrainian people that claimed the lives of millions of people. The political system and ideology created under his rule were called Stalinism.

Background:

Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022 under the mythical propaganda slogans of "demilitarisation and denazification".

Russians contributed to the emergence of the new term "Ruscism" by committing war crimes against civilians in many occupied cities of Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism on 8 May that the parade of fear on Red Square in Russia would feature convoys of tanks, units of murderers marching, a disguised crowd, and half-dead faces looking down on the procession.

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The Rutland Education Association voted Thursday to authorize its members to strike on May 14 if the teachers union and the citys school board cant come to an agreement on a new contract.

The association said the teachers have worked 311 with no contract, and two sides have been negotiating for a year and a half. The union says it would be Vermonts first teachers strike in Vermont since the Burlington Education Association struck in 2017.

Sue Tanen, the unions president, said Rutland teachers are among the lowest paid in the state, and have some of the least amount of sick leave.

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Tanen said weve set aside time tomorrow for continued negotiation with the Rutland City Public Schools Board of School Commissioners. But she warned that if there isnt an agreement reached by the start of school May 14, union members will begin picketing.

We didnt have to be here, she said. And we still dont have to take this path., she said. We hope the board joins us, so we can avert a disruption of the school year.

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The countryside on Londons outskirts could be concreted over to make way for tower blocks as Sir Sadiq Khan backs building on the green belt.

The Mayor of London will on Friday announce plans to release more of the capitals green spaces for housing as he launches a consultation on the citys development strategy for the next two decades.

Sir Sadiq is expected to argue that parts of the green belt can often be low-quality land, poorly maintained and rarely enjoyed by Londoners and would be better used as housing.

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The Mayor will say in a speech in Greenwich, south-east London: Development on carefully chosen parts of the green belt  done in the right way  would allow us to unlock hundreds of thousands of good-quality new homes for Londoners.

This would not only go a long way to ending the housing crisis but provide a huge boost to our economy.

It represent an about-turn in his stance, having staunchly opposed green belt development in previous years in favour of construction on brownfield sites.

However, the change of heart comes as Sir Sadiq scrambles to hit has target to build 88,000 homes per year. His existing plan is only delivering around 40,000.

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Recent findings by research company Molior show that housebuilding in the capital has slumped to its lowest level since 2009, with works starting on just 1,120 private homes in the first quarter this year, and no works starting in 23 of Londons 33 boroughs.

The move to open up Londons green belt sparked an immediate backlash from campaigners and the Conservatives.

Alice Roberts, at CPRE London, the countryside charity, said: Our green belt is incredibly valuable. Its a home for nature, its the countryside next door, its important for agriculture close to the city, its incredibly important for climate because of the need to plant trees, to absorb rainwater, to manage rainwater and surface flooding. Theres no more important time to keep our green spaces green.

David Mooney, the chief executive of the London Wildlife Trust, said: We will fight hard to protect our nature-rich green belt and hold the Mayor to account to make absolutely sure only the right sites are selected, and that nature is not shoved out the way.

Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservatives, said: Once again, Sadiq Khan has shown his true colours by dancing to the tune the Labour Government sets.

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This is a Mayor who will sacrifice Londons precious green spaces to appease his Labour paymasters.

Londoners elected him on a promise to protect our environment, but its now clear those promises werent worth the recycled paper they were printed on.

Andrew Boff, who represents the City Hall Conservatives on planning matters, said: The mayor has repeatedly stood in the London Assembly chamber and given categorical assurances that he would protect Londons green belt.

This announcement is a complete betrayal of those promises and shows utter contempt for Londoners who treasure these vital green spaces.

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A review is already under way in City Hall examining the scope to build on so-called grey belt land, but the mayors plans are expected to go further than this.

A spokesman for the GLA said the focus will be on low-quality, poorly-maintained land rarely accessed by Londoners, with scope to build high-density housing and good transport links.

Earlier this year, Sir Sadiq was accused of presiding over a crusade to build on parks in the capital, after a row broke out over suggestions from Transport for London to release historic land in Enfield for more than 10,000 homes.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A local township is teaming up with AAA to host a Shred Day event this weekend.

AAA and Harrison Township will offer a Shred Day on Saturday, May 10. The event will go from 9 a.m. to noon at the North Dayton AAA, located at 6580 N. Main Street, Dayton.

NATO is coming to Dayton, heres what to know

This free event is available for Harrison Township residents only.

Residents can bring up to three boxes or bags of documents to be shredded. Documents should be removed from binders, but staples and paper clips are okay.

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The event will last until noon, but may close early if the truck reaches capacity.

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Sam Altman stressed the importance of America's AI efforts not being "slowed down" by ill-considered regulations, as the OpenAI CEO testified on Capitol Hill Thursday for the first time in two years and faced an audience of largely friendly and deferential lawmakers.

The hearing, focused on winning the race against China to dominate AI globally, marked Altmans first congressional appearance since his high-profile testimony in May 2023, which propelled him onto the global stage and sparked widespread media coverage just six months after the launch of ChatGPT.

Dressed conservatively on in a dark grey suit, blue tie, and white shirt on Thursday, Altman faced little in the way of hostile questions or pushback from U.S. senators.

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In response to Senator Ted Cruz, who asked how close China is to U.S. capabilities in AI, Altman replied, Its hard to say how far ahead we are, but I would say not a huge amount of time. He said he believed that models from OpenAI, Google and others are the best models in the world, but added that to continue winning will require sensible regulation that does not slow us down.

That spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is uniquely American, Altman continued, emphasizing that none of this is rocket science. We just need to keep doing the things that have worked for so long and not make a silly mistake.

Oh, what a difference two years make. Altmans testimony was worlds away from his 2023 appearance, when the primary focus of lawmakers was AI safety and regulation. Altman himself urged Congress at the time to implement regulations for AI technologies, emphasizing the potential risks if left unchecked. He proposed the creation of a new federal agency responsible for licensing and auditing AI models, particularly those with capabilities that could pose significant risks.

To be fair, Thursdays hearing, in which Altman was joined by AMD CEO Lisa Su, CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator, and Microsoft President Brad Smith, was all about the geopolitical stakes at play in todays AI erathat is, winning the race to dominate AI globally by strengthening U.S. capabilities and boosting innovation.

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It offered the perfect opportunity for Altman to expand on OpenAI for Countries, the global expansion of its $500 million Stargate mega data center project the company announced yesterday. The future of artificial general intelligence (AGI), said Altman in his pre-written testimony, can be almost unimaginably bright, but only if we take concrete steps to ensure that an American-led version of AI, built on democratic values like freedom and transparency, prevails over an authoritarian one. That is particularly important, he emphasized, as AI systems become more capable and people want to use them even more.

Meeting that demand requires more chips, training data, energy, and supercomputers, he said.

Infrastructure is destiny, and we need a lot more of it.

Several of the questions lobbed at Altman veered to OpenAI policies and business practices, but lawmakers treated Altman deferentially in contrast to the grilling that other Big Tech CEOs have received on Capitol Hill. For example, Senator Amy Klobuchar, who said she had never heard of AI hallucinations (though they have been widely reported since ChatGPT was launched), seemed satisfied when Altman said that while OpenAIs models are not 100% accurate, users are smart  that is, people understand what they can do and what they cant.

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And when Senator Lisa Rochester (D-Del) lightly questioned Altman about the timing of OpenAIs efforts to restructure its for-profit business, Altman said he was grateful for the chance to explain a complicated thing that I think it's gotten misrepresented. The companys plan has always been to have a robust nonprofit, he explained: We hope a nonprofit will be one of the best, maybe someday, the best resource nonprofit in the world. Restructuring the for-profit arm as a public benefit corporation with the same mission, he added, would make it possible for us to raise the capital needed to deliver these tools and services at the quality level and availability level that people want to use them at, but still stick to our mission.

There was a notable absence, however, of references to AI safety in Altmans testimony, which was in stark contrast to his 2023 comments, which mentioned AI safety dozens of times.

But OpenAI has transformed beyond recognition from the AI research lab that burst into the public consciousness when ChatGPT debuted. As of last summer, half of the OpenAI staff that once focused on the long-term risks of superpowerful AI had left the company, including cofounder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. Nearly 20% of the company now works in sales. And just yesterday, Instacart CEO Fidji Simo joined OpenAI as CEO of applications, overseeing the companys product offerings and business operations.

OpenAI is not a normal company and never will be, Altman said in his pre-written testimony. But he sounded perfectly relatable by closing with an optimistic personal anecdote about growing up in St. Louis and getting his first Mac computer when he was eight years old, which he called a dividing line in his life.

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I can draw a straight line from that to founding OpenAI, he said to the group of senators. I am a child of the Internet revolution and I am proud to be one of the many parents of the AI revolution. In a recent visit to St. Louis, he recalled passing by his old house and looking up at the top floor window.

The light was on, and I thought,hopefully there's some kid in there staying up late at night, playing with ChatGPT, figuring out how he or she is going to start whatever company comes next and whatever the next thing is after AI will happen here too. That is, to me, the magic of this country.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
(FOX 5/KUSI)  Catholics all across San Diego County witnessed a historic moment as the papal conclave chose an American as the new pope.

At the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego in Clairemont, parishioners and church leaders gathered to watch as Cardinal Robert Prevost was named pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

Just by the name  Leo the 14th  it tells me that hes concerned about social justice, said Maria Valencia, a local Catholic.

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The announcement was met with emotion and reflection, especially among those who see Pope Leo as a continuation of Pope Francis legacy.

This is the man for the hour, obviously, especially right now, said Sister Kathleen Warren. Because of his extreme sensitivities to those who are poor, those who are on the margins, asylum seekers, and those in need of welcome to a new situation because of the horrendous oppression in so many places of the world.

Bishop Michael Pham of the San Diego Diocese recalled working with Prevost during a bishops workshop in Rome.

He was kind, quiet and compassionate  always listening, Pham said. He would come over and read us like everyone else. That was a great moment for me, to know a cardinal who was so observant.

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The sense of excitement was echoed at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown San Diego, where Catholics gathered for a noon Mass.

I know that he is a missionary, which is important to me, said Catherine Barley. So I think his heart is in the right place.

With everything happening in the world, especially in the United States, its a good thing that we have a true American  the first pope who is fully English-speaking, said James De Leon. I think he can relate to a lot of people all over the world.

Pope Leo XIV is multilingual, fluent in Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese  qualities that local Catholics believe will help him connect with a global audience.

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This is a great day for our Church  and for the world, Pham said.

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The Sandcastle Early Learning Center was launched in 1981 by the Sisters of Notre Dame in St. Paul, drawing in some cases multiple generations of the same family to a former convent building on Juno Avenue near Randolph Avenue and West Seventh Street, just behind St. James Church. On Friday, after more than 40 years of offering affordable childcare, the early learning center will close its doors permanently following a failed restructuring and at least seven staff resignations.

The closure was announced on May 1 on Sandcastles website, with consultant and interim administrator Oona Myhre attributing its end to the difficulty of providing its core services  small group sizes and personal attention to each child  in an era of critical staffing shortages.

While staff maintained compliance with all Department of Human Services (DHS) licensing requirements at all times, the center can no longer sustain operations at the level of care and stability for which it has been known, she wrote. Despite the best efforts of our staff and leadership, the centers operational model is no longer sustainable.

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Becky Gaiovnik, a West Seventh Street neighborhood resident whose 3 1/2-year-old daughter has attended Sandcastle from the age of 4 months, called the sudden closure a nasty, nasty shock that has given parents and employees little time to prepare.

Gaiovnik said families were informed by Myhre on April 21 that classroom assignments would be restructured, and then issued their new room assignments with new teachers on April 24, to take effect April 28, giving the kids less than five days to transition.

They hired a consultant and the consultant pushed teachers out by restructuring very suddenly, said Gaiovnik, noting the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis failed to respond to parents questions for weeks. I dont think there was any plan to keep Sandcastle open. This was an abrupt change for a lot of families and were really disappointed in how the consultant and the church are handling it.

Its just not profitable

Some parents and former staff have called closing the long-established center with a weeks notice irresponsible, and they noted most of the staff departures came after the sudden resignation of a longstanding director two years ago, as well as the decision to bring in Myhre and Karl Kornowski as consultants to change the centers structure coming out of the pandemic.

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Efforts to reach Sandcastle administrators for further comment were not successful on Thursday.

However, Kornowski  who worked with the Church of St. Francis de Sales of St. Paul parish until late last year and has been brought back in for the wind-down  said the center provided staff modeling that was very, very unique.  Honestly, its just not profitable. Thats why they were losing over $150,000 per year.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis installed the Rev. James Adams as parish administrator during the pandemic, and Adams directed staff to boost the centers Catholic focus, according to parents and staff. He, in turn, contracted Kornowski, who sought to update operations.

These werent high-end business folks operating a for-profit center, said Kornowski, while noting the early learning site received excellent reviews from rating groups like Parent Aware. This was started more as a ministry.

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Clashes between management and staff followed.

Different employees were leaving because of the way things were going, said Cheryl Schroeder, a bookkeeper and payroll manager for Sandcastle who left her job of seven years in 2023. At the time, there were more than 50 employees on staff.

Its been a community daycare for 40-plus years, Schroeder added. Its been there forever. I think its just a matter of time before its razed. Its just really sad. It was a great daycare center.

Future of school, church

While Sandcastle has operated fairly independently of the church for years, it rebranded with more Catholic-forward imagery on its website in recent months. The Awaken Community church moved out of the St. James Church in late February after its lease was not renewed, according to Awaken Communitys website. The St. Paul School of Northern Lights, a K-8 charter school, relocated out of another parish property on Osceola Avenue last June.

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A sales representative with Cushman and Wakefield said that without ownerships approval, he would not confirm if the church and school will be put up for sale by the parish, as parents and staff have speculated.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese said Thursday that each parish is separately incorporated and makes its own decisions about property sales. Kornowski said the two campuses have been the subject of a strategic plan for months.

They are a very small parish, and they dont have a lot of income and they have a lot of land, Kornowksi said.

Deacon Luis Rubi, the parish business administrator, said in an email Thursday that the parish is currently in the midst of a strategic planning process to determine the best use of all parish buildings across our two campuses. The recent, unexpected closure of Sandcastle Early Learning Center has significantly complicated this process.  No formal listing has occurred, but several properties are under active evaluation.

A community of love

In late April, Sandcastle teacher Emily Trudeau posted on Facebook that she was leaving her job of five years on positive terms, referring at the time to a cleaning job she worked on the side. When she arrived at Sandcastle that day, an administrator informed her she would be terminated and escorted from the premises because of her social media post.

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Trudeau said she was able to clear up the confusion and keep her job, but she quit anyway. She had recently been demoted from a permanent classroom into a floating position as part of the company-wide scheduling rearrangement that was to take effect April 28. The new schedules, which were not popular with staff, put all teachers on four weekly 10-hour shifts, and segregated kids by classroom depending upon if they were part-time or full-time.

Its terrible. We had a community of love. At one point, I could name 30 people who lived within a mile, whether it was staff or children, said Trudeau, noting Myhre had barely met staff and done little more than a walk-through of the building before announcing the new room assignments. We had the tightest staff community you could ask for. I miss it. Ive grieved for a few weeks now.

In a Facebook community group devoted to West Seventh Street, some former parents and staff said they were moved to tears by the unexpected news of Sandcastles closure, which has left them scrambling to find new jobs and alternative daycare options.

I myself worked at Sandcastle for 12 years and what a great place it WAS, wrote a former staffer. This center is filled with amazing teachers, awesome parent involvement and some of the most amazing smart kids that I know and LOVE 

Daycare centers, Catholic schools under pressure

In an era of declining church attendance, Catholic institutions around West Seventh Street have struggled with diminishing membership. Two parishes  St. Francis de Sales and St. James  merged in 2011 to become the Church of St. Francis de Sales of St. Paul. After almost 130 years operating in the West Seventh neighborhood, the St. Francis-St. James United School on Osceola Avenue closed in 2016.

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Sandcastles shuttering also marks the latest in a wave of childcare center closing across St. Paul and the state as a whole. The industry has been roiled by the national labor shortage and competition from higher-paying entry-level work. Some daycare operators have said they long to pay workers competitive wages with benefits but cant afford it without pricing themselves out of the market.

Others have bemoaned losing more 4-year-olds  a lucrative client demographic  to the St. Paul Public Schools expanded free pre-kindergarten offerings, which switched from half-day to full-day programming in the fall of 2022. The overall number of pre-K seats within the public schools has also grown, as have alternative offerings such as a fee-based, nature-based pre-kindergarten program at St. Anthony Park Elementary School.

For some Sandcastle families, public school offerings will be a timely safety net.

We have heard from a couple Sandcastle families who have kids who will be entering kindergarten in the fall and will be able to enroll in summer Discovery club, which is a full-day program, said Erica Wacker, a spokesperson for the St. Paul Public Schools.

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Two brothers who attend Santa Ana High School have been arrested in a stabbing incident at the campus that left one student dead and two others injured.

The brothers, ages 17 and 15, showed up with their parents at the Police Department's headquarters and turned themselves in late Wednesday, just hours after the deadly stabbing, according to Santa Ana Police Officer Natalie Garcia.

She said the two teens were questioned, then arrested and transported to juvenile hall, where they were each booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. She said the weapon used in the attack remains missing.

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The incident occurred at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday when Santa Ana School Police officers reported a stabbing that occurred during a fight in front of Santa Ana High School.

At least three male students, ages 14, 15 and 16, were found with stab wounds and transported by fire paramedics to a local hospital.

The 14-year-old, police said, died from his injuries, and the two other victims were listed as stable.

The boy killed was identified as Armando Morales of Santa Ana by Orange County coroner officials and a GoFundMe page was created by his family to raise money for his funeral expenses.

Read more: A chain-saw-wielding vandal cut 13 trees in downtown L.A. How the LAPD tracked down a suspect

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Misael Morales wrote on the site that his brother was a happy and smart kid who was known for making people laugh.

Jazmin Delgado, the victim's cousin, echoed those words in an interview with ABC 7.

"He was just always a happy kid and always loved to help and was just an amazing little kid," Delgado told the station. Armando's family said the teen was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They said he was stepping in to help his friends when he was stabbed.

Homicide investigators believed the five teens involved were suspected gang members and were investigating the stabbing as gang-related, according to Garcia. But what sparked the confrontation remained under investigation.

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She said investigators also believed one weapon was used in the attack and had been unable to locate it so far.

Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the stabbing and are asking any potential witnesses to contact investigators at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE)  A former Rio Rancho Police Department Police Officer, who is a current Santa Ana Police Department Officer, was arrested for aggravated DWI Thursday night.

Rio Rancho City Council delays vote on development after contentious meeting

Officials say RRPD responded around 11 p.m. to the area of Leon Grande Ct. and Villa Verde Ave. Officers saw a truck leaving the area as they arrived on scene and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Kristofer Martin. According to a criminal complaint, Martin told officers he was planning on driving to his ex-wives house to pick up his children and admitted to drinking three fireball shots before driving. Officers performed field sobriety tests and Martin was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI. Martin retired from RRPD and is currently employed as a police officer by SAPD, according to officials.

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Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who faces more than seven years behind bars after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft, revealed this week that he will be seeking clemency from President Trump.

Ill take a commutation, clemency, whatever the president is willing to give me, Santos told British media personality Piers Morgan in an episode of Morgans YouTube show Uncensored on Thursday.

Seven years and three months in prison for a first-time offender over campaign matters just screams over the top, and I would appreciate if the president would consider, he added.

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The embattled former lawmaker also noted he is filling out paperwork to formally seek intervention from the White House before he reports to prison in July.

Santos was elected to represent New Yorks affluent Long Island-centered 3rd District in 2022, becoming the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat as a nonincumbent. But his standing quickly unraveled as he was exposed for a slew of fanciful lies during his campaign about his background. The House expelled Santos from the chamber in a 311114 vote in 2023, as ethics charges mounted against him.

I do believe this is an unfair judgment handed down to me, he said Thursday. I think there was a lot of politicization over the process.

The White House didnt immediately respond to The Hills request for comment, but Trump has demonstrated a willingness to use his presidential power to aid like-minded politicians facing jail time.

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The president pardoned a Republican former Tennessee state lawmaker last month who had pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and was serving a 21-month sentence.

May God bless America, despite the prosecutorial sins it committed against me, President Trump, and others the past four years, former state Sen. Brian Kelsey said in a social media post about his reprieve.

In his interview with Morgan, Santos blasted former Biden administration Attorney General Merrick Garland, whom Trump and his allies have frequently criticized and accused of weaponizing the Department of Justice against the president and his allies.

Merrick Garland was by far the most disgraceful and disgraced political [attorney general] to ever serve in that capacity of the United States, Santos said.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  People gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist smiled as Pope Leo XIV was announced on Thursday.

Savannah Diocese Bishop Stephen D. Parkes called it a great day for the church and the world. He told News 3 he actually met Pope Leo in Rome in the fall of 2023 when he was still a cardinal.

He was a very nice man. He seemed to be very, very kind. He seemed to have a great heart and a love for people, Bishop Parkes said. I think hes somebody that we can relate to, somebody that knows what our struggles are, what our challenges are not just here in Savannah, not just here in the United States, but throughout the world. I think thats pretty exciting.

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WSAV was inside the cathedral when former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevosts name was revealed.

Weve just received good news that a pope has been elected and he happens to be American. Were especially happy about that, Ann Slifka said.

The white smoke from the Vatican indicated the selection and cathedral visitors could be seen checking their phones, anxiously waiting for his name to be released.

I think its wonderful. Its awesome. Im surprised, especially being from the U.S., Lisa Carswell said.

Pope Leo spoke to the tens of thousands of people in St. Peters Square, God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.

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I think that there are faith-based characteristics that bring all people together and we can agree on the commonality of that to promote humanity, Slifka said.

Many people shared that they were reflecting on the legacy of Pope Francis during this transition.

We hope for openness, inclusion, hopefully bringing together people of all nations. Thats what were all hopeful for, Slifka said.

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FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY)  The West Virginia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrated its annual Small Business Awards celebration Wednesday at the Mollohan Research Center in Marion County, featuring 12 News Anchor Eric Minor as the emcee.

SBA Regional Administrator Jim Spencer gave the keynote address.

In West Virginia, there are over 115,000 small businesses, said Spencer. One of the things weve talked aboutif only ten percent of those small businesses created one new job this next year, that would be huge for the state of West Virginia. So, when you think about it, a lot of times in economic development, you want to go out and land the next big fish and next big project, but we have the power in West Virginia to strengthen our economy just by one job at a time.

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Advocates raise awareness for ovarian cancer in Fairmont

The award winners included:

SpaOasis in Fairmont, Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year

Hatfield Family Distillery in Charleston, Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year

Paul Wissmach Glass Company in Paden City, Small Business Exporter of the Year and Mid-Atlantic Regional Winner

Cathy Jo Higgins of The Developmental Advantage in Charleston, Small Business Person of the Year

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House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, talks to reporters following the end of the legislative session on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  South Carolina legislators wrapped up a pair of bills in the final days of the legislative session that, a week before, seemed doubtful of becoming law this year. Without agreements reached on insurance relief for restaurants and a sweeping energy package that paves the way for a power plant in the Lowcountry, accomplishments for the 2025 could have been short.

Instead, the chambers ruling Republicans touted Thursday getting most of their goals accomplished, when including this weeks deals with last weeks compromise on state aid for private K-12 tuition, and stiffer penalties for professional shoplifters, which passed in March.

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You measure your success on the substance of bills that pass, and we really concentrated on big-ticket items, House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, told reporters.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey pictured at the Statehouse Thursday, May 8, 2025, on the final day of the legislative session. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

There are certain things that we had to get done, and we addressed those things, said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.

Meanwhile, a House GOP priority to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs across state government and private contractors passed that chamber but got nowhere in the Senate. And a Senate initiative to remove State Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office for his role in a $1.8 billion accounting error was never addressed by the House.

While mainstream GOP leadership took a victory lap at the sessions conclusion, Democratic leadership and members of the ultra-right House Freedom Caucus referred to the 2025 session as uneventful.

The next court challenge

In the big picture, we did not do any momentous legislation thats going to be remembered long after this year, said Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto.

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That is, unless the voucher bill survives an expected court challenge, which the Orangeburg Democrat told reporters he doesnt believe will happen.

We dont think that that should be in the future in this state, and certainly dont believe the bill is constitutional, he said.

Massey, however, said I feel much better this time about the new scholarship programs chances before the state Supreme Court. I think we corrected those things that led to the high courts ruling last fall that ended private tuition payments as unconstitutional.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed the latest private school choice program into law Wednesday. A lawsuit is considered imminent.

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Rep. Jordan Pace, R-Goose Creek, who leads the Freedom Caucus, said he thought the Legislature didnt go far enough to address conservative priorities, calling it a year of wasted opportunities.

The budget

Legislators must still return in the coming weeks to finalize the state budget that takes effect July 1.

The House and Senate so far agree on raises for teachers and funding for more police officers in schools. Plus, state employees wont be asked to pay more for health insurance. Differences the chambers must sort out include the use of debit cards for the purchase of lottery tickets, whether or not to allow colleges to raise tuition on an incremental basis, and a possible pay raise for legislators.

House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford called continued increases for teachers a bright spot of the session.

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The budget includes an additional $112 million to raise the minimum salaries for all K-12 public school teachers by $1,500. That means first-year teachers in the coming school year can make no less than $48,500, marking a 72% increase since 2017.

People always act like education is not important in South Carolina and I disagree, said Rutherford, D-Columbia, who sits on the House budget-writing committee. Its obvious where we put our money, and that is toward education.

One big change from previous state budgets: This years package wont include any spending requested by legislators for local projects, or whats called earmarks.

The decision comes two years after total earmarks soared to $713 million. While last years tally was smaller, at $435 million, Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler called for a one-year hiatus in an effort to reign in the unvetted spending. Some pushed back, arguing the freeze leaves small and rural districts behind.

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Peeler said the spending could be decided through a competitive grant process in the future. Hutto said hes fine with that, as long as there is a process to fund community needs. Massey, who helped lead the charge for transparency in earmarks, called the lack of such local funding a huge win.

What passed?

Among legislation that McMasters already signed into law is a bill merging three health agencies that provide services for people with mental health issues, disabilities, and drug and alcohol addictions.

Passage comes a year after a larger merger attempt, which involved three additional agencies, was successfully blocked by the Freedom Caucus in a chaotic close to the 2024 session.

Other signed bills include legislation upping the number of family court judges in the state, stiffer penalties for professional shoplifters, and an educator-endorsed bill pledging increased teacher pay transparency, job stability as well as more planning time.

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Bills passed in the waning days of session that await the governors signature include a hands-free driving law to deter scrolling behind the wheel. Without passage of some kind of hands-free law, South Carolina risked losing $40 million to $80 million in annual federal highway funding.

Legislators also passed bills setting rules for South Carolinians who rent out their personal cars to earn extra cash, requiring labeling of lab-grown meat, and a final-day compromise on a measure to criminalize the use of technology to morph childrens photos into pornographic images.

And in a flurry of last-day confirmations, the Senate appointed a new head for the states child welfare agency. Tony Catone, acting director of the state Department of Social Services, will now move into the role permanently.

I have full confidence that (Catone) is the right person to build on the agencys critical work to strengthen families and protect our most vulnerable children and adults, McMaster said in a statement following the confirmation.

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Still, senators have refused to confirm McMasters pick to head the state Department of Public Health. However, Dr. Edward Simmer remains the agencys acting head indefinitely, unless the governor nominates a replacement.

When it comes to legislation, the governor has no plans to veto any bills sent to his desk, according to spokesman Brandon Charochak.

He did send a warning, however, ahead of the chambers budget negotiations: If they send him a budget with the Houses proposal loosening strings attached to additional state funding for universities that freeze in-state tuition rates, the governor will use his line-item veto powers to strike that, Charochak said.

McMaster has said he will not support any measure that raises tuition for South Carolina college students who choose to attend one of the states public higher education institutions.

Whats next?

As the first year of a two-year session, any legislation that did not pass both chambers can still be taken up in the new year.

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The 2026 session will likely start with work on a GOP plan to restructure state income taxes.

This year started with House GOP leadership putting a historic tax cut as their top priority.

Following major pushback on an initial plan that would have actually raised taxes for nearly 60% of tax filers, House leaders advanced a revamped plan. It would cut taxes for more filers than would see an increase in the first year while calling for continued cuts to flatten and eventually eliminate income taxes at some point in the future.

The House sent that over to the Senate this week.

The 64-47 vote was closer than most in the GOP supermajority chamber, as members of the archconservative Freedom Caucus joined with Democrats in opposing the bill. Members of both caucuses said the plan didnt go nearly far enough in cutting income taxes, which account for nearly 45% of the states general fund revenue.

Rep. Sarita Edgerton, R-Spartanburg, poses with a toy hammer labeled with the acronym for the South Carolina Freedom Caucus on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

Rutherford, a longtime proponent of legalizing gambling and marijuana, told reporters Thursday he believes doing both would generate enough revenue to slash income and property taxes.

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As for senators priorities for January, Massey hopes to take up stiffer penalties for drunken driving.

Our DUI walls are really weak, he said after session ended. There are a lot of people being hurt and killed because of them.

And an effort remains to allow a casino near the southern shore of Lake Marion.

While the proposal is likely to face fierce opposition, particularly in the Senate and from the governor, its advancement to the House floor shows a new willingness by Republicans to consider legalized gaming in a state that has historically resisted any change to anti-gambling laws.

Rutherford said hes wholly disappointed that nothing related to gambling passed this year.

Beyond the casino bill, other proposals that stay alive for next year would legalize online sports betting and, more narrowly, allow betting specifically on horse racing through an app.

Also, as part of compromises on energy and liquor insurance, legislators agreed to continue work in the off-season to develop new, stand-alone legislation to address those provisions excluded from the bills passed this week.

That includes how South Carolina plans to address energy-intensive data centers that are driving the need for more power generation in the Palmetto State.

SC Daily Gazette reporters Skylar Laird and Shaun Chornobroff contributed to this article.
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA)  Crews were at work Thursday stabilizing and repairing a cracked pillar in a Clearwater Beach condo building.

On Tuesday, residents were forced to evacuate from the South Beach III condominium building on Sand Key.

Clearwater Ferry resumes daily operation

The split prompted a massive response on Gulf Boulevard. Sixty people were forced to evacuate, and some residents were carried out on stretchers.

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Residents will not be able to return home until the project is complete.

I live on the 12th floor, said resident Scott May. All of a sudden, I got (a) knock, two firemen on the door hard that we had to get out immediately. I am wearing the exact same clothes that I wore when I left, Tuesday, coming down from the building.

Officials said the crack was discovered amid the condo renovation project to the garage floor.

Its one of many renovations taking place over recent months.

Last year, an engineering firm conducted a milestone inspection for the Clearwater Key Association, South Beach III Condominium at 1460 Gulf Boulevard.

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The City of Clearwater released the following statement about the recent milestone inspection report conducted by Karins Engineering:

Those documents were provided to their Community Association in August and September of 2024, and the city does not have record of receiving these required building milestone inspection reports by the Dec. 31, 2024, deadline. Per Florida Statute, buildings 30 years old before July 1, 2022, must have their initial inspection by Dec. 31, 2024, and meet all the statutory requirements in order to be in compliance.

On Wednesday, city officials received the phase 1 milestone inspection reports that were issued on August 8, 2024, and Sept. 26, 2024.

The report states that the engineer did not observe conditions that would compromise the safety of the building for its intended use and occupancy.

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I dont think it can hurt to have a second opinion, May said. Peoples lives are at stake. If we go back up there, of course, we want to know that were safe.

The city issued a permit to a general contractor for temporary shoring. Officials said there will be a threshold inspection to verify the work and to allow occupancy of the building. Additional work will be needed to complete more substantial repairs.

According to officials, the Clearwater Building Official will not allow residents to return to the building until a structural engineer delivers a report with confirmation that the structure is stable and safe to occupy.

Leaders with the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Division said construction crews saw a crack in one of the beams, noticed the split was widening and called first responders.

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The 12-story, 140-unit condo building was constructed in 1980. According to the Clearwater permitting website, the structure was inspected last May.

The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents. The condo association told residents that it could be three to four more days before until structural engineers verify the building is safe to re-enter.

On Thursday, the condo association sent this update to residents:

While the building is still under no access, we are working on a plan to have resident entry for emergency retrieval of personal items. The City and the Engineer continue to work on stabilizing the building.

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We anticipate written authorization for emergency access from Karins Engineering within the next 24 hours.

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A schools average exam results improved by an entire grade after mobile phones were banned.

A-Level results at Excelsior Academy in Hackney, east London, improved from a grade C average to B over a year, official statistics show.

Omar Deria, the 45-year-old head teacher, credited the improvement to a ban on students using their mobile phones in school.

He said the new rules, which see phones confiscated for up to a week if pupils are caught using them in lessons, had a miraculous effect.

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Mr Deria, who joined the school in 2022, said: On my first day, the first thing that I noticed was students glued to their phones scrolling.

If I am honest, it was a struggle at first. It is the most important thing in their lives and they struggle when it is taken. They may not be happy in the moment, but on results day, they thank us.

The impact in the classroom has been nothing short of miraculous. You are dealing with completely different people, their personalities are different.

They are more articulate, chattier, nicer, more engaged, not just with the learning but with other people in general.

Starmer rules out ban

The Government has opposed measures to introduce a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools, saying it was unnecessary because headmasters could introduce their own restrictions.

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The success of the measure at Excelsior Academy contradicts a University of Birmingham study, which in February found the bans do not improve childrens marks or mental health.

Mr Deria claimed 90 per cent of the schools behavioural issues came from online.

It gets brought into school and then that takes up a lot of our time, he said. Kids have a completely different personality online. There are so many truly lovely students who go online and become unrecognisable.

If we can ban phones, then we can reduce peer-on-peer abuse and sexual harassment. If mobile phones are not banned in your school, then they are asking for trouble.

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Mr Derias pupils expressed praise for the policy, saying it was a great thing.

Cilen Garip, 17, who hopes to study law at university, said: It really encourages us to learn. Students were always on their phones in their free time, and it distracted not only them but the people around them.

They would show a funny video around and it would distract the whole room. Now we can use that time to revise, and I think we get a lot more done. I dont even bother bringing my phone in any more. I dont miss it.

I find myself revising more

Hamz Hussain, 16, who wants to study engineering at university, said: It has really helped me to focus and revise more. Sometimes I miss it but that makes me realise how distracting they can be.

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Since it started in September, I have found myself revising way more. It means that all our work is finished in school and we can enjoy free time more at home. I appreciate having my phone in the evening more now that it is gone in the daytime.

Falma Hashi, another student, said: Since we cant have mobile phones at school, I have become a lot more open to group social activities.

Yesterday we played some card games and just talked rather than all sitting alone on our phones, head down, not talking. When you are on your phone, you spend a lot of time comparing yourself to people who seem to have this amazing life.

When you are with your peers, you dont do that as much. You see, everyone is really the same as you, without the filters.

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LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A concerning social media trend is prompting officials in several local school districts to warn about fire hazards inside classrooms.

Several videos circulating online show students across the U.S. tampering with school-issued laptops and causing chemical reactions, prompting smoke plumes and sparking small fires in some cases.

Teen arrested after bringing loaded gun to Gaithersburg High School, police say

Marshall County Schools in Kentucky shared a photo of a burned laptop after a student recently engaged in the 'Chromebook Challenge' on social media.

In a letter to parents, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) urged parents to warn their children against the potentially dangerous trend known as the Chromebook challenge, after the districts IT department recently handled an uptick in similarly damaged laptops.

LCPS School Board Member Dr. Sumera Rashid shared a recent letter to parents warning of the laptop social media challenge

If the kids are doing their homework and theres paper nearby things like that, you could end up with a house fire or a fire at a school, said LCPS Spokesperson Dan Adams Thursday, adding, You could obviously end up with an injury. So, obviously thats what were most concerned about.

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LCPS shared photos of a now-fried USB port after a piece of mechanical pencil replacement lead was shoved inside the outlet port.

School officials in Prince Georges County, Md., and Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, Va., reportedly shared similar warnings about the trend.

Michelle Light, a Fairfax County Public Schools mother, suggested students Get off social media, stop looking at these ridiculous challenges and just use your computer for school work and get off, or go outside and play.

LCPS officials are warning parents that they will be responsible for repair costs, which could range upwards of hundreds of dollars, according to online estimates from tech service websites.

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I think that the parents should pay because, you know, its their kids at the end of the day, said Matthew Rios, a senior at Marshall High School in Fairfax County.

Irene Friendly, a counselor of 30 years with FCPS, told DC News Now that students should face individual consequences for causing fires to laptops.

I think in terms of paying back through service, [ it depends] on the age of the student. So if theyre old enough for like high school and earn some moneytheyre paying back for what they destroyed. For the middle school student, it might be in terms of service to support others, Friendly explained.

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Teenage best friends Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, were laid next to one another "holding hands" after they were killed in a car crash in July 2023, according to testimony during a sentencing hearing

The victims had been traveling to a high school prom at the time of the incident

Anthony McGinn, 61, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of the teenagers and is set to be sentenced next week, per reports







Two teenage best friends were laid next to each other "holding hands" after they were killed in a car crash in Ireland, one of the girl's mothers said during a sentencing hearing at the Monaghan Circuit Court for the man who pleaded guilty to causing their deaths.

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Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, were fatally injured on July 31, 2023 after the car they were traveling to their high school prom in struck a tree at approximately 75 mph, per The Irish Times.

Anthony McGinn, 61, who was driving the victims to the event at the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of the teenagers in January, the BBC previously reported.

The suspect was also charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Dlava's sister, Avin Mohammed, who was also in the car but survived, the outlet noted.

The victims were laid next to one another "holding hands" following the crash, per The Telegraph. The crash took place on the N54 road at Legnakelly, just outside Clones, the Raidio Teilifis Eireann (RTE) stated.

Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty A photo of the order of service at Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohammed's funeral A photo of the order of service at Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohammed's funeral

Kieas mother, Teresa, said in court that she'd "trusted" McGinn to drive her daughter to the prom. When we got to the scene, Kiea was already gone. Her dad tried CPR on her. Nothing would bring her back, she said, per The Telegraph.

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Kiea and her best friend were robbed of their lives. They were put side by side holding hands on the grass as me and my husband lay beside them," she added, according to the outlet.

Passenger Oisin Clerkin had been sitting in the front seat at the time of the crash, and asked the suspect to slow down, The Telegraph reported.

Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty A photo of Kiea McCann's funeral procession A photo of Kiea McCann's funeral procession

He was driving really fast and it scared me. None of the girls said anything. Kiea looked scared. I said Goodbye to Kiea and I woke up in hospital" Clerkin told the Republic of Irelands police force, the Gardai, in a statement.

Dashcam footage of the crash, taken from a vehicle traveling behind the suspect's car, was played during a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, May 7, per The Irish Times. It showed the road had been wet at the time of the incident due to rain.

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On the day of the crash, McGinn "had called over to the McCann family home before they all gathered at a pub in Clones" ahead of the school prom, the RTE stated.

Kiea's father, Frankie, told the court that his daughter will "never know her first love, get married or have a child of her own," per the broadcasting company, while Dlava's father, Mohammed, said in a victim impact statement read out by Inspector Lardner that his daughter was a "piece of his heart."

Mohammed said that the family had moved to Ireland from Syria to start a new life, but added that his daughter's dreams were "now buried with her," the RTE stated.

Kiea's father said his daughter's death was a "death sentence" for the family, and her mom said Kiea's 18th birthday present had been a headstone, The Telegraph reported.

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Dlavas sister Avin, who was seriously injured in the crash, said, My sister came with me [to prom] because I had no one else to go with. She added that "everything changed" as soon as they got into McGinn's car, per The Irish Times. Avin remembered asking the driver to stop, before she said everything went black, and she woke up with serious injuries in the hospital.

Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty The hearse carrying Dlava Mohammed's body is pictured The hearse carrying Dlava Mohammed's body is pictured

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Defense barrister Breffni Gordon noted that McGinn had been seriously injured in the crash and "formally apologizes to the family and friends of the victims," the RTE stated.

McGinn is expected to be sentenced on Wednesday, May 14.

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The Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information, and the Gardai said it wasn't able to comment "on named individuals" or on "matters before the courts."



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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  According to the top Democrat in our state, President Trumps new budget proposal would raise costs on seniors, families and small businesses while cutting critical investments in communities in the Rochester area.

Thursday, Senator Chuck Schumer addressed how the cuts to the programs would impact Upstate New York.

Such programs aim to reduce housing costs while addressing homelessness, support small businesses, combat the opioid crisis, and removing lead pipes, and more.

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The White House calls this their so-called Skinny Budget, but I have to say its a fat slap in the face to Upstate New York. The budget either totally eliminates or cuts to the bones so many of the federal programs Upstate New York families rely on most, Schumer said.

To learn more about programs and services in New York State, visit otda.ny.gov/programs

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MORRISONVILLE  After more than two decades of planning, the Town of Schuyler Falls officially broke ground Thursday on a transformative water infrastructure project set to replace nearly 30,000 feet of aging asbestos cement water mains in the Morrisonville Water District.

At a ceremony held at the Schuyler Falls Town Hall Thursday, community leaders, engineers and residents gathered to celebrate one of the largest infrastructure projects the town has ever undertaken.

This brainchild started back in January 2020, Kevin Randall, Clinton County Legislator (R-Area 5) and former Schuyler Falls Town Supervisor, said.

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When I talked to Mr. Laberge about wanting to do this project, he asked me, Are you sure? Do you know what youre biting off here? We worked really hard on it.

Randalls persistence paid off, in coordination with the town and engineering firm the Laberge Group, millions in funding were secured from various federal and state programs.

Funding includes $2.56 million in Community Project Funding from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville), Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; $1.3 million in USDA Water and Environmental Program grant funding; $1.25 million in Community Development Block Grant funds; and $5.56 million in USDA low-interest loans.

Our first real goal was the CDBG funding and then USDA low-interest loan funding, Randall said.

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The project, with the help of The Laberge Group, will replace deteriorating water lines originally installed in the 1950s with modern infrastructure designed to last the next 100 years.

The project includes the installation of approximately 12,000 linear feet of 12-inch water main along State Route 22B and Flat Rock Road to the water storage tank, as well as an additional 17,000 feet of 8-inch water main throughout the remainder of the district.

The Laberge Group has been a crucial partner in the project, conducting the Preliminary Engineering Report, assisting with grant applications, and now overseeing implementation.

Ronald Laberge, Laberge Group Vice President, acknowledged the long road it took to get here.

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This project has been in the works for 25 years, Laberge said.

Former town boards have looked at replacing the water system for a long time. Laberge Group has helped in the past, but it never flew until Kevin came into office in 2020. He helped get the funding, which was about 50% grant funding and 50% low-interest loans.

Once complete, the upgrades will reduce service disruptions caused by leaks and breaks, improve water pressure, ensure adequate fire protection, and conserve water.

Town Supervisor Mindy Smith, who inherited the project as it moved into its most critical phase, called the milestone a breath of fresh air, and that residents should not expect major disruptions from the project.

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It should not disrupt things. Some side streets may need to be closed, if they are more narrow, but we will have at least one lane open on New York 22B, she said.

Smith emphasized the impact this upgrade will have on the daily lives of residents, including less frequent breaks and leaks and potential growth.

Of course breaks happen in an outdated system. That will happen less with the new system, she said.

We expect to possibly grow our water system further over the years.

According to Laberge, this project is absolutely necessary to consistently provide residents with clean water.

These asbestos pipes have plagued the area for a long time, not in health, but with breaks and leaks, he said.

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The current system leaks about 50% of the water supply, and that will be reduced to near zero in the new system.

The replacement process will be very methodical, according to Laberge, crews have already begun setup, and construction will proceed on a street by street basis.

You can already see down the street, we are setting up, he said.

We will be going through every street, replacing the main from the old to the new main.

The project has also garnered support from neighboring communities and state-level representatives.

Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor of Plattsburgh, attended the groundbreaking and expressed his enthusiasm.

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I applaud the leadership, he said.

Assemblyman Billy Jones echoed those sentiments in a statement.

Everyone deserves clean water, and I applaud the Town of Schuyler Falls for working diligently for years to fix their water system in Morrisonville, he said.

Unfortunately, the Town is not alone in facing issues with aging water infrastructure, and that is why I continue to push for more funding to help local governments address this issue.

As the Laberge Groups golden shovels turned the first soil of the project site, residents and officials alike reflected on the teamwork and dedication that made the moment possible.

Theres been a ton of hours of work behind the scenes, Randall added.

Its nice to finally see shovels in the ground. So excited to get things going after so much hard work.
Heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury found in China's Yangshan Port pose a risk to human health and wildlife, according to a new study.

What's happening?

Researchers from China's Zhejiang Ocean University investigated the concentration of seven heavy metals  arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc  in seawater, sediment samples, and five species of fish and crustaceans living on or near the seafloor at the port, which is south of Shanghai.

Their findings, summarized by Phys.org, revealed that the concentration of heavy metals was higher in sediments than in the water, which correlated with a greater incidence of toxicity in organisms that lived near the seafloor. They also found that the heavy metals in the water and sediments were influenced by human activities such as wastewater discharges, household pollution, and agricultural and fishery discharges.

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"Human health risk assessments showed that the heavy metal posed a potential carcinogenic risk to human health, particularly to children," the researchers stated.

Why is heavy metal contamination important?

While some heavy metals occur naturally in the environment, human activities can increase their concentration, threatening wildlife and human health. For instance, the scientists in this study found that arsenic and mercury posed the greatest threat to the marine environment, with mercury posing the most significant risk to human health through trace metal poisoning, or the accumulation of toxic metals in the body. Mercury poisoning most often happens by eating too much seafood that contains mercury, according to Cleveland Clinic.

"This can affect multiple areas of the body, including the liver and skin, plus respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems, and may also increase the risk of developing cancer," Phys.org explained.

Yangshan Port is not the only water body contaminated with heavy metals. One Canadian gold mining company allegedly ruined rivers in multiple countries, as mining for gold can release heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and mercury into waterways.

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Lead can also make its way into drinking water through lead pipes. In the United States, Florida still has a whopping 1.2 million lead pipes in its water system  more than any other state. Drinking water contaminated with lead can cause heart problems, lower IQ rates in children, and anemia, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

What's being done about heavy metal contamination?

The authors of the study recommended that the local population and people in other areas with heavy metal toxicity avoid consuming too much seafood to reduce their exposure. However, Phys.org noted that this could have serious socioeconomic impacts for communities who rely on the fishing industry to support themselves.

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An analysis of over 97,000 sites around the globe found that human activity is causing rapid biodiversity loss, The Guardian reported.

What's happening?

Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology and the University of Zurich analyzed over 2,000 studies to come to their conclusion. The trends all pointed in one direction: humans.

The study cited "habitat change, pollution and climate change" among the main factors driving "unprecedented effects on biodiversity." Invasive species and resource exploitation were other factors. Though the degree to which certain habitats were affected varied, the cause remained the same.

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Francois Keck, the study's lead author, told the newspaper that "all five factors have a strong impact on biodiversity worldwide, in all groups of organisms and in all ecosystems."

Why is this study important?

This study proves that humans are the cause behind mass biodiversity loss. The authors noted that previous research made the "extent of human impacts on biodiversity remain ambiguous." Now, however, it can't be denied  humans are the root cause.

Biodiversity is crucial for all living things, including humans. It keeps everything in balance. According to the World Health Organization, about 75% of infectious zoonotic diseases arise in habitats disrupted by human activity.

If activities such as deforestation and intensive agriculture continue unchecked, more deadly diseases could be introduced.

What's being done about biodiversity loss?

Scientists and environmental organizations already knew that humans cause rapid biodiversity loss.

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They've been hard at work trying to figure out ways to offset it. Scientists at the Smithsonian, for example, are looking into ways to cryopreserve endangered species' tissues on the moon.

You can play your part too. Donating to climate causes and rewilding your yard are just a couple of ways you can help preserve biodiversity.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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Researchers have confirmed the presence of at least one Eurasian pygmy owl in Spain, a new location for this little bird.

Mongabay reported that the owl's sounds were first recorded in early 2023 in the Catalonia region of Spain. However, it wasn't until January 2025 that specialized teams were able to confirm its presence.

"This is the first individual of this species detected in Catalonia," the local government of Val d'Aran, an administrative entity in the region, said in an announcement.

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Eurasian pygmy owls are the smallest owl in Europe, at only about seven inches (18 centimeters) tall, but seem to be expanding their territory. They are known to inhabit areas in Norway, northeastern China, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, France, and now Spain, according to Animal Diversity Web.

Photo Credit: iStock

As many animal populations dwindle and species move up the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, it's wonderful to see one species thriving. The owls are classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.

While the owls are moving into new areas, they are not considered invasive. Instead, they're bolstering healthy biodiversity in new regions.

Biodiversity is essential for flourishing ecosystems. It helps prevent the spread of diseases, balance the food chain, and stabilize the climate. Humans benefit from biodiversity, as it supports crop growth and freshwater security. More biodiversity means a cooler planet for everyone.

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Experts aren't certain why the owl is popping up in new regions. It's possible that a lack of available prey could force the owls to expand their range. However, it's most likely that the owls have been moving their way into Spain for quite some time, and observers are just now spotting them.

"We have similar experience from Slovakia," one commenter on the Mongabay article said. "Here, we recorded it outside of known areas  especially in lower mountains and also in small forests in agricultural land."

Bird Guides also covered the discovery of the owl in Spain, and someone shared a personal story: "I saw a very small owl, which could have been a pygmy owl, in the Tossa de Mar campsite in 1963."

Whether they're new to Spain or have just been hiding, researchers are glad to consistently see the species in large numbers.

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Years ago, Calvin Thomas would escape the rigors of life by visiting Disney World  but not the way most people do.

Thomas, you see, was homeless and spending his nights at a shelter in downtown Orlando. So to pass the time during the day and beat the brutal summer heat, he would sometimes head to the Lynx bus station and catch the longest ride he could find  the route that runs to Disney.

Through the bus windows, Thomas would peer at theme parks he couldnt possibly afford to visit. Just to get away, he said. Just to escape.

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Thomas still takes a ride most days, but now its atop an ATV where he starts his workday before dawn, picking up trash around the City Beautiful. He does so as an employee of the citys public works department. And when he finishes his shift, he no longer sleeps in a shelter but an apartment he pays for with something he always craved  a steady paycheck.

Thomas, 55, is one of the success stories stemming from a city partnership with a national nonprofit that specializes in training homeless and previously incarcerated residents for new jobs and fresh starts.

Orlando provides nonprofit with money for job placement, rides to work for homeless

First Step Staffing, an Atlanta-based nonprofit with an Orlando office, provides local employers with temporary workers for fill-in jobs. Thats the first step, anyway. When the program works as designed, the workers transition from temporary gigs to full-time ones. And since Orlando partnered with First Step four years ago, the city has hired 31 First Step clients to be part of its full-time workforce. They work in parking, water reclamation, solid waste and where Thomas does  in the citys streets division, picking up trash that others cavalierly discard.

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Hes so appreciative of the job, said Mayor Buddy Dyer. He wanted to be the best trash picker-upper we had in the city of Orlando. And thats exactly what you want to have in an employee.

The two men worked alongside each other a couple of years ago when the city wanted to showcase the programs success  a moment Thomas still finds remarkable: I couldnt believe I was elbow to elbow with the mayor.

The scene was far removed from the days when Thomas didnt have a place to live, much less to work.

Thomas grew up in Orlando as one of seven kids and attended Grand Avenue Elementary School and Memorial Middle School. But like so many of First Steps clients, his life story wasnt so storybook. Trouble in school led to trouble in life, to juvenile detention and then a string of run-ins with the law.

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By the time he finally got out of the states justice system in his 40s, he wasnt exactly any employers idea of a dream hire. So he roamed the streets of Orlando, finding work when he could as a day laborer. It was just easier, he said. No one asked for a resume or even a job application.

Thomas knew that there were full-time jobs out there. But he also knew they would require him making changes in his life. You can lead us to water, but you cant make us drink, he said. Well, finally, I was ready to drink. I had dreams. And I wanted to make them come true.

So when a staffer at the shelter where he slept each night at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida told him about First Step, he decided to take a chance on himself.

First Step taught Thomas how to compile a resume and put on his best face during an interview. As much as anything, the nonprofit gave him an advocate  an organization willing to vouch for him and tell potential employers he was worth hiring.

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Kellie Brownlow, the chief mission officer for First Step, said the company promises to deliver employees who are on time and ready to work in places like manufacturing plants, warehouses and phlebotomy labs. We tell them: Not only can we get you as many people as you need tomorrow, we are going to take them to and from work.

The nonprofit was founded for altruistic reasons, but Brownlow said employers wouldnt use their services unless they delivered reliable employees, saying: Most employers do not hire us for our mission.

And Thomas is definitely reliable, according to his supervisor, Steve Bailiff, who said Thomas was promoted to crew leader after the team saw his work ethic. I know everything Calvins gone through, Bailiff said. But Calvins a good worker. He does a great job. Hes earned the position.

Thomas said he didnt do it alone. It helped immensely to have someone who had his back. But he also said he had to decide to help himself. You gotta be truthful with yourself about the root cause of your problems, whether its mental health, drugs or something else, he said. If you dont deal with that first, youre not gonna drink the water.

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Brownlow said thats why her agency exists  to help those ready to make a change and who often arent being helped by anyone else. Were called First Step, she said. But for many of our clients, were often the last stop.

smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Thousands were at the Vatican on Thursday to witness the election of a new pope.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected to be the 267th pope, and he chose the name Leo. This makes him the first American to become the pontiff.

Connecticut church leaders, lawmakers react to election of new pope

Pope Leo XIV made his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica on Thursday while delivering his first blessing. He emphasized peace several times and said he wants to pick up where the late Pope Francis left off.

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Catholics from around Connecticut are also reacting to the new American pope.

On the Southern Connecticut State University campus at the Interfaith Center, students were very excited, very joyful very happy at the new pope, but surprised by a new American pope.

The symbolism of Catholic globally, coming together in the Cardinals, choosing an American pope, was not lost on us, SCSU Newman Society vice president Jack Abbot said.

Students with the Newman Society at SCSU are celebrating the new American Pope and the hope that he brings to the future of America.

America needs unity right now, and I hope that it will unify us with other countries, said SCSU Newman Society president Sydney Crockett.

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I think the American pope is nice, especially with a more controversial election of our current president and the stirring pot that can be American politics, added SCSU Newman Society secretary Pierce Kozlowski.

Father Anthony Federico is from the Hartford Archdiocese, and he talked to News8 from Rome just after returning from the Vatican.

Im hearing all of these different languages and seeing the flags and banners from all over the world, a very festive atmosphere, jubilant, Federico said.

He booked a trip to the Vatican months ago and was only in Italy for two days, but was there when they named a new pope.

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There was nothing like the surge of excitement that rolled through Saint Peters Square when the white smoke came out, there was just like this exuberant exaltation of so many people, Federico said.

In Hartford, there were flowers and bunting at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph as parishioners came in for a celebratory mass.

My hope is that he will show to the world a side of America that is merciful, charitable, and generous and peaceful, Archbishop Christopher Coyne of the Archdiocese of Hartford said.

As students continue celebrate a new American pope, theyre going to remember next year as they reconvene at school, and move forward, keeping his mission in mind.

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The selection of the final 12 men and women who will make up the jury for Sean Diddy Combs federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial has been pushed to Monday to prevent those selected from getting cold feet about hearing the high-profile and closely-watched case that could end with the rap mogul walking free or behind bars for the rest of his life.

Friday was the day that attorneys for the prosecution and defense would further question the 43 men and women from the jury pool, whittling that group down to 12 jurors and six alternates by exercising their peremptory strikes. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian had already conducted one-on-one interviews with all of them over this past week, ensuring that they could remain unbiased and open-minded while hearing evidence in the high-profile case. Many prospective jurors expressed that they had previous knowledge of Combs and particularly of the footage leaked on CNN of his attacking his ex-girlfriend in a nearly decade-old incident at a Los Angeles hotel.

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The Court will hold a hearing on May 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 26A, Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 for the parties to exercise their peremptory strikes. If the parties have any remaining issues that need to be resolved before the start of trial, they should try their best to raise them by May 8, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., a memo from Judge Subramanian read.

Despite Combs massive fame, enough jurors passed muster, and the threshold of men and women to sit on the jury was met on time. Until this morning, it seemed that opening arguments in the anticipated eight-week trial would begin first thing on Monday morning. But lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo expressed concerns Friday morning that if they were to finalize the 12 jurors and six alternates today, some of the selected jurors may get a case of cold feet over the weekend and wish to excuse themselves, leading to further delays. Judge Subramanian agreed that this threat was valid and adjourned the court for the day. Final jury selection will take place first thing on Monday, and the court will go immediately into opening statements once the jury is seated.

The government has accused Combs of using his billion-dollar business as a criminal enterprise in which he and several co-conspirators under his purview engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice. The federal prosecutors laid out their case in a five-count indictment, which was made public just ahead of Combs arrest in Manhattan in September and saw additions made to it in subsequent months.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charge and denied all accusations against him.

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In court this week, the defense team made it clear that in terms of Combs relationship with Ventura, who is listed as Victim-1 on the indictment and who plans to testify under her real name, they will paint a picture of a relationship where the violence was not one-sided, but that both Ventura and Combs committed violent acts towards one another throughout their on-off relationship.

[The defense team] is going to take the position that there was mutual violence in their relationship  hitting, on both sides: DV (domestic violence), Agnifilo said amid a debate on the parameters of Venturas cross-examination vis-a-vis her medical history, We are absolutely going to admit to domestic violence. But at what point does it become coercive?

Ventura is one of four anticipated alleged victims the prosecution intends to have taken the stand to testify against Combs. However, the prosecution admitted on Thursday that it is unsure if one of the alleged victims will turn up to court as they have lost contact with her this past week.

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 Remember the life-saving door at the end of "Titanic"?

The one that Rose and Jack couldn't both fit on?

At Heritage Auctions in Dallas, the Balsa wood panel used in the movie sold for $718,750 to an anonymous buyer, The New York Times reported.

The auction liquidated a large trove of items from Planet Hollywood, including Indiana Jones' whip and Jack's ax from "The Shining."

No word yet on whether the new owner has tested the door's width to see if Jack might have, after all, survived. [New York Times, 3/26/2024]
GUEST RESEARCH: The pandemic catalysed a seismic shift in the expectations employees have of their workplacesespecially those on the front lines. Once celebrated as the backbone of our transport, hospitality, and services (THS) sectors, frontline workers are now rightfully demanding more than just a regular salary. They want engagement, flexibility, and purposeand they want tools that make their work more manageable and meaningful.

In this new era, traditional workforce management (WFM) tools are no longer enough. Businesses relying on large frontline teams must now look beyond scheduling and timesheets. They need agile, holistic solutions that address everything from communication and learning to retention and morale.

Why Frontline Experience Matters More Than Ever

The connection between happy employees and happy customers is no longer a vague idealits a tangible reality. In a time where Australia is grappling with rising minimum wages, cost-of-living pressure, shifting government policies and unpredictable labour demand, companies must learn to do more with less. Hiring has slowed, and seasonal surges stretch already lean teams. The organisations that succeed are those that optimise and empower their existing workforce.

Modern workforce management solutions now integrate employee engagement tools, helping businesses upskill, support, and retain frontline workers. The goal? To create a rewarding experience that strengthens customer service from the inside out. Flexibility and agility are paramountespecially during peak timesand cutting-edge WFM technology is rising to meet the challenge.

Digital Transformation and the Rise of Connected Workforces

Digital transformation is no longer confined to the C-suite. Todays smartest organisations are extending their transformation strategies to encompass their frontline teams. The pandemic underscored this necessity; WFM systems built solely for office environments failed to support part-time, seasonal, or laid-off employees. Businesses realised the need for more inclusive, dynamic tools that reach every corner of the workforce.

We're now seeing increased alignment between finance, HR, and IT leadersparticularly as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), and Chief Information Officer (CIO) all converge around shared objectives. Modern WFM platforms sit at this intersection, helping companies streamline operations, engage their workforce, and create a future-ready business.

Perhaps most critically, frontline workers are no longer seen as replaceable. With fewer applicants and higher churn, todays employees want to contribute to something meaningful. Purpose and empowerment have become essential to workforce retention.

The Benefits of Next-Gen Workforce Management Solutions

So, what does a modern WFM platform look like? It's mobile, modular, multilingualand designed with frontline empowerment in mind.

Here are some of the key benefits:

Enhanced Collaboration

A digital frontline workplace connects employees regardless of their location. With streamlined communications and shared workflows, teams can innovate and problem-solve collaboratively, boosting business results. Real-Time, Targeted Communication

Unlike generic messaging tools, leading WFM platforms enable real-time, targeted updates between head office and frontline staff. These systems foster transparency and cohesion, which are critical to engagement and morale. Streamlined Task Management

By automating repetitive tasks and simplifying workflows, businesses reduce administrative burden and enable employees to focus on delivering value. Continuous Learning

Upskilling isnt optionalespecially when roles evolve fast. Integrated training modules ensure employees stay competitive and confident, which in turn lifts morale and job satisfaction. Flexible Scheduling

Flexibility is the cornerstone of a modern workplace. Empowering employees to swap, drop, or claim shifts, enhances their work-life balance. A WorkJam commissioned Forrester ROI study showed that enabling frontline self-service scheduling saved location managers an average of 2 hours a weekfreeing them up to focus on leadership.

Overcoming the Challenges of Implementation

While the benefits are clear, transitioning to digital frontline workplaces can be daunting. Many businesses are held back by complex legacy systems or concerns around deployment speed.

The key is simplicity and modularity. Organisations can start smallperhaps with a communications moduleand scale up as needed. A unified mobile platform that integrates scheduling, training, and messaging reduces complexity and boosts adoption.

This modular approach is particularly valuable in industries like retail, healthcare, logistics, and hospitalitywhere juggling multiple apps and systems is a common pain point. With the right WFM strategy, businesses can deliver seamless experiences to employees across devices, from smartphones to kiosks.

Best Practices for Success

To get the most from WFM technology, organisations should follow several key best practices:

Prioritise Real-Time Communication: Keep everyone alignedfrom headquarters to frontline.

Keep everyone alignedfrom headquarters to frontline. Invest in Skills and Development: Provide relevant, role-specific training throughout the employee lifecycle.

Provide relevant, role-specific training throughout the employee lifecycle. Use Crowd-Staffing Tools: Enable shift swapping across regions while maintaining compliance.

Enable shift swapping across regions while maintaining compliance. Incentivise Performance: Recognise achievements through gamification and digital badges to drive motivation.

Recognise achievements through gamification and digital badges to drive motivation. Maintain Compliance: Roll out and track task completion across all locations to ensure operational consistency.

A New Era of Workforce Orchestration

The world of work has changedand WFM must evolve with it. As businesses navigate economic uncertainty and shifting workforce expectations, success hinges on their ability to empower and engage their people. With the right digital tools, companies can create a thriving frontline culturewhere employees feel heard, valued, and equipped to deliver their best.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  An Endangered Child Alert has been cancelled after a 17-year-old boy with autism who ran away from his Clarksville home was found safe.

Clarksville police reported 17-year-old Johnathan Roe was last seen at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday on Randall Drive when he ran into the wooded area.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has issued an Endangered Child Alert for Jonathan.

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Multiple officers swarmed the area, searching for Johnathan since he was reported missing.

Clarksville police reported Jonathan was found safe around 8:30 a.m.

No additional information was immediately released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
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Credit: Marian Femenias-Moratinos / Getty Images

Moscow is using Telegram to recruit cheap and "disposable" agents to perform sabotage attacks in Europe, according to a European security official. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin has launched a campaign of "sabotage, arson and disinformation", sometimes focused on "specific targets" linked to support for Kyiv, but often "simply aimed at causing chaos and unease" among Russia's enemies in the West, said The Observer.

Although Russian "subversion, sabotage and assassination" projects "long predate" the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the past three years have seen a surge in such attacks, said The Telegraph.

Arson and emojis

A "shadowy" new unit is based in a "sprawling glass-and-steel complex" on Moscow's outskirts, nicknamed the "aquarium", said The Wall Street Journal. Euphemistically known as the Department of Special Tasks, it's overseen by Col. Gen. Andrey Vladimirovich Averyanov, a veteran of Russia's Chechen wars, and his deputy, Lt. Gen. Ivan Sergeevich Kasianenko, who is believed to have co-ordinated the UK operation to poison Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

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Anonymous recruiters use Telegram and similar platforms to invite people in European countries to join the fight against Ukraine's Western allies. "On the ground", said The Observer, saboteurs are recruited online and although some of them "know exactly what they are doing and why", many don't realise they're "ultimately working for Moscow".

For example, when a man known only as Serhiy S. was arrested in Poland, officers found firelighter cubes, a juice bottle filled with paraffin, a lighter, two pocket knives, a mini handsaw and a face mask. Desperate for money, he'd been recruited via Telegram and asked to photograph shopping centres and industrial estates in Wrocaw. Once a "suitable place" was agreed, he was to set it ablaze, for which he'd be paid $4,000 (3,000).

In a separate incident, an undercover journalist posing as a 26-year-old Russian-speaking Estonian keen to earn some extra cash was offered money to spy on military bases, set fire to Nato vehicles, and even commit murder at $10,000 (7,500) "a head", according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The recruiter's demeanour was "brisk", and "even rude at times", but some of his messages were "incongruously accompanied" by smiley emojis.

Trash fishing

Indrek Kannik, the director of Estonia's International Centre for Defence and Security, described the mass recruitment of saboteurs through social media as "trash fishing" because of its low success rates. But from Russia's perspective, these "so-called low-level agents are cheap, fast and safe", a source from a German security agency told the OCCRP. They often "don't even know who they are working for".

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People with a criminal background are particularly attractive recruits, as head of MI6 Richard Moore told a Financial Times panel. The Kremlin "can't use their own people", he said, so "they're having to do with criminal elements". But although criminals "do stuff for cash" they're "not reliable" or "particularly professional". "Usually we are able to roll them up pretty effectively," he said.

As for Serhi, even though he hadn't gone through with the arson plan, he was handed an eight-year sentence. The judge said this was meant as "a clear and unequivocal signal to you and to all potential candidates that committing such acts is not worthwhile". Indeed, Serhi shouldn't expect any help from his Russian paymasters, a European security official told The Observer. "These people are disposable and Moscow doesn't care about them."
May 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the takeover of Columbia University's library by pro-Palestinian protesters on Wednesday could lead to deportations.

"We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University's library," Rubio said Wednesday in a post on X. "Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation."

About 80 people were arrested after they stormed the university's library on Wednesday night and injured two university employees.

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Many of the protesters wore masks and keffiyehs that covered their faces while they entered the university's Butler Library and would not disperse when told and then warned about a potential police response.

Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman said the library's occupation was a "safety hazard" and called for help from the New York Police Department.

Shipman called it a "necessary step" to "assist in securing the building and the safety of our community."

"Disruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies," Shipman said. "This is especially unacceptable while our students study and prepare for final exams."

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She said the university "strongly condemns violence on our campus, antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination, some of which we witnessed today."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the NYPD removed protesters for trespassing.

"New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest," Adams said, "but we will never tolerate lawlessness."

The federal antisemitism task force commended Columbia University officials for their quick response to the library takeover.

Some international students throughout the nation have had their student visas revoked and at times have been arrested for participating in pro-Palestinian protests that led to violence and interfered with other students' educational opportunities.
Speech by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine (20212024) Valerii Zaluzhnyi at the London Defence Conference, May 9, 2025

It is very symbolic to speak today, when the world should celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the end of the war against fascism. But unfortunately, the country that suffered from fascism then, today, having appropriated the joint victory, continues the brutal war. Killing women and children today, just as the fascists did eighty years ago, using the slogans of their propaganda. And on the other hand, the descendants of those who put down their arms by force are doing their best to protect the Ukrainian people. What has happened in this world?

But first of all, I would like to say that we are extremely grateful to you, our partners, because without your help with money and weapons, without political and moral support, of course, I would not be here today. Western assistance helped us not to fall and to survive. Of course, I can confirm that we sometimes had to pay a very high price for every delay. But today, in the year twenty-five, such support is probably not enough. And this is not about the size or timing of this aid, despite the fact that they are still important.

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Today I want to speak about the growing threats that continue to destroy the world order. And may soon lead to each of us in this room needing help. All this is happening against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, where it is clear: Ukrainian soldiers are fighting not only with the combined resources of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, but also with their soldiers. Doesn't it seem strange to you that in the 21st century, exactly 80 years after the end of the bloodiest war in human history, a war has been in the very heart of Europe for 11 years? A war that continues to escalate every day, claiming more and more lives. Doesn't that surprise you? What about the world order? Does it even exist?

Here is our experience of world order. But the hardest thing is to explain this to children whose parents died on the real front. It is impossible to explain it to parents who have lost their innocent children. I can also tell you what it's like to talk to mothers who don't even know where their child is and hope for a miracle to the last.

Let's figure out what this "world order" that was before 8 August 2008, meant for Ukraine. I mention that date on purpose. When Russian missiles and shells flew over the heads of Georgian children this world order was supposed to make itself felt. But it stayed silent, watching as one country killed people in another. What happened to the rules that this world order was based on?

The same rules kept in the organization called the United Nations also stayed silent.

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And now, 17 years later, this organization itself, the United Nations, in 2025, cant officially acknowledge the obvious fact that Ukrainians are being killed every day.

By 2014, this world order finally showed concern. As a result of such concern, on February 24, 2022, just like the nazis in 1941, at exactly 4 a.m., new cannibals in tanks began to crush the Ukrainian state. As a result, Ukraine has lost tens of thousands killed and hundreds of thousands wounded. Millions of people have lost their homes. Millions more have left the country to save their children from the war. The occupied territory looks like a stone desert from the apocalypse. Every day the same enemy terrorizes civilians with missiles, bombs and shaheds, killing primarily women and children. Most Ukrainian men are on the front line. This is what the world order means for Ukrainians. It simply doesnt exist. It didnt exist in 2014, not in 2022, and still doesnt today. Maybe you think you're luckier. You're not Ukraine. This wont happen to you. I have to disappoint you. Some in Ukraine thought so too in 2008 and 2014. By the way, many of these latter, already part of another army, came in 2022 to kill their relatives and neighbors of yesterday with a horde.

It is especially interesting for me today to see people in Europe who have been very surprised by the emotional speeches in Munich 2025, and not because of what is happening right next door in Ukraine for 11 years.

As a result, Ukraine, which stayed outside that world order, was forced to fight for the right to live with arms in its hands, at the cost of the lives of its own people. By the way, we will make sure that in the next world order, Ukraine is not outside of it.

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But there is no more world order described in the works of the great founders of the liberal world. It has come to its logical end under the pressure of the unsatisfied, on the one hand, and fear and incapacity, on the other. As a result, the existing system of world order, which historically was based on two components: a set of rules and a balance of power, began to collapse. Because these rules would have to be ensured by the power of force provided by the leaders of world politics.

The rules written for peaceful coexistence no longer work. The institutions meant to control these rules can no longer do so, because they themselves are part of those who rejects them.

The strength of the treaty means nothing anymore. Destructive trends in the global security system have called into question the system of international security guarantees. What is the Budapest Memorandum worth? About as much as Article 5 of the NATO treaty. The concept of security guarantees  legal, diplomatic, or military  has lost its certainty. And Ukraines experience shows that even searching for such guarantees today calls into question whether they exist at all.

The balance of power that our university professors told us so much about no longer exists. The same balance that was created after the end of the Cold War. And not only morally, but also physically. If someone measures their military power under NATO Article 5 on the basis of the last war in Iraq, I have great pity for you.

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And there is another very important aspect. One that people today seem afraid to talk about. This is Morality. The world order was meant to be built on shared human values, on principles and basics of morality.

But where is it all? Human life should be the highest value. In the most difficult situations, when political and legal mechanisms fail, it is moral norms that should guide the behavior of nations. And yet, morality too has vanishedundermined by those who are dissatisfied with the current system. New information technologies have transformed how people communicate, reshaping entire societies. Traditional media has steadily been replaced by social media. The filters that once helped slow the spread of lies and harmful psychological influence are gone. Today even a madman can instantly turn into an expert and later influence the mood of millions, and as a result, shaping national policy.

And so, while one part of humanityenchanted by its own comfort and peacewas busy fighting wrinkles and promoting ideas of social justice and tolerance, the other was sharpening knives and raising killers. Over time, as Ive already said, even the very institution meant to uphold international morality couldnt bring itself to call the aggressor by its name. Because for some, morality means murder. And for others, its just business  and no morality at all.

So we come to the main question. What exactly are the existing alliances that have been the basis of the world order?

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It is difficult and not very pleasant for me to make an honest estimate of those who helped and are helping us. But still, if we are looking for a solution, I will be honest and give only my own opinion.

I hope that NATO is likely to pass this strength test, which naturally must be. And I really want it to be a moral test. But that is only my wish. At the same time:

NATO is afraid to expand with countries like Ukraine or, for example, Moldova or Georgia. This is a real fear of Russia, that these countries probably belong to it. Then the question is: what is the purpose of this alliance, if it is afraid of having enemies? Can it then, at least theoretically, play any role in securing a group of countries? The same fear of escalation, red lines or something else, shared not only by me but also by some members of the alliance, makes me doubt the so far supposed implementation of Article 5. In the current situation, this is an extremely troubling signal. I have repeated many times that the nature of modern warfare has changed and continues to change. When I talk about the nature of war, I don't just mean drones taking over the battlefield. Never imagine that you need just a transformation of the defence industry or some rearmament. You need a new state policy. As it was in the past: in the days of nuclear energy mastery or space exploration. I'm talking about technologies that continue to develop, I'm talking about new science, production and, of course, the use of armed forces. This means new tactics, new organisation, new doctrines, new training and defence planning (budgeting). All this requires not only additional resources, but also, most importantly, additional time. For example, if NATO stops using tanks tonight and starts adopting technologies, it will be able to reach the level of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the year twenty-four in about five years. But technology will move on during this time. And so will the enemies. The nature of modern warfare is far from what NATO is now operating. So the current capabilities can be used up within a very short period of time. If a future war involves more than one region, the resource will be consumed even faster.

These are only a few examples of how to measure the effectiveness of an alliance from a realistic point of view. I doubt that what I am talking about now is not known to a possible enemy.

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What to do next?

It seems simple. First, find leaders who are brave enough to face the truth and lead into the future.

Today all politicians are looking for their victories in the past, where they would like to return. Some want to restore the USSR and return NATO to its 1997 borders. Some want to make America great again. Some think about a Greater Hungary, some about the glory of the Ottoman Empire. China draws inspiration from the time when it led global development. But the truth is, going back to the past is probably no longer possible. The world has changed completely. And with how fast technology is developing, its even less likely we can return to the way things were. So, we all have a chance to save our own children and their future.

What does this mean? It means that global problems require global solutions. We must build an alternative to the world order of dictatorships that is already taking shape.

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Of course, this must start with one clear truth. The Western world cannot afford to let Ukraine lose its battle against those who seek to destroy it. Because it is Ukraine that stands in the way of world order in Europe.

The next step, of course, is to build a completely new security architecture for Europe. It is clear that the new American policy most likely means that the security contract with Europe is over.

Then Europe needs Ukraine as a shield. We have the biggest army on the continent. We are the only one with an army that knows how to contain Russia. The only one with an army that knows how to wage modern, high-tech warfare.

Ukraine needs Europe as a source of investments, as well as political and moral support.

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Europe needs to consolidate. The difficulties that we face today and will face in the future give us the push to form a new alliance - first of all, a security one, and then an economic one. Ukraine will play an important role in this alliance, because it is impossible without Ukraine.

So, new alliances and coalitions are waiting for us. The fast development of technology gives us a chance for security. But only for those who could build flexible coalitions. Today, on the one hand, technological competition between possible or actual enemies no longer directly depends on economic potential and GDP. Cheaper information technologies for intelligence, modern defeat measures, radio-electronic warfare and situational awareness make them available to almost any country in the world.

On the other hand, the war of Russia against Ukraine and the development of military capabilities of some countries show that some states may have technological advantage in some areas, but none of them will be able to secure their own independence in the full range of modern defence technologies. Even the USA, according to recent studies, is behind a number of countries in such critical areas of the future as 5G, hypersonic weapons, electronic warfare, semiconductors, directed energy and quantum technologies.

So, the search for alliances and partners to develop and share advanced technologies, increase production capacity and consolidate resources will become an absolute must for countries that want to ensure their own technological superiority and, as a result, guarantee their own security. Control over critical resources and technologies will become a matter of survival.

And the last thing. For such alliances, education and science are the best investment, and innovation potential is the new key advantage of the future.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network that was spying against the Ukrainian state.

Source: SSU press service

Quote: "For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine exposed an agent network of Hungarian military intelligence that conducted espionage activities to the detriment of our country.

The task of this cell was to collect information about the military security of Zakarpattia Oblast, search for vulnerabilities in the oblasts ground and air defence, as well as study the socio-political views of local residents: in particular, scenarios of their behaviour if Hungarian troops enter the oblast."

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Details: It is reported that as a result of complex measures in Zakarpattia, the SSU detained two agents from the Hungarian secret service network.

The investigation indicates that both suspects were supervised by a Hungarian military intelligence officer, whose identity has already been identified by the Security Service of Ukraine.

One of his agents was a 40-year-old former military officer from the Berehove district, who was recruited by foreigners and put on standby back in 2021.

The SSU counterintelligence and investigators report that a handler activated this agent in September 2024.

The traitor was reportedly given a task to study the mood of the local population and obtain the following information:

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- what would be the reaction of the military and civilian population of Zakarpattia if a peacekeeping contingent, including the Hungarian military, entered the oblast;

- what military equipment and weapons can be purchased on the black market in Zakarpattia;

- what is the situation with the migration of the Hungarian population in the oblast;

- what military forces are located in Zakarpattia, whether there are many vehicles and combat vehicles;

- how well the law enforcement agencies are staffed and what is their size, etc.

It is documented that after that, the agent personally reconnoitred the deployment of Ukraines defence forces and the coordinates of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems in the oblast.

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After gathering intelligence, he travelled to Hungary to report to his supervisor. In order to cross the border, the traitor obtained a carer certificate for his sick father, who needed treatment in foreign institutions.

According to the case file, during the meeting, the Hungarian intelligence officer handed over cash to the agent, which was to be used for the performance of the assigned tasks. Among other things, the traitor was looking for a network of informants. The SSU established that the resident tried to recruit at least two people.

By forming an agent network, foreign intelligence hoped to expand the range of information gathering, including obtaining data from the line of contact and frontline regions, the SSU said.

In March 2025, SSU counterintelligence documented the second meeting between the agent and the handler. This time, he received a phone with special software for covert communication.

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Among the traitor's new tasks was to identify official cars belonging to representatives of the defence forces in Zakarpattia Oblast. In addition, the resident had to find and pass on data on the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Russo-Ukrainian war and current events from the combat zone to the Hungarian secret service, and he had already found a suitable contact in the defence forces.

Another detainee is a former member of the Ukrainian defence forces who retired from the unit in 2025. According to the available information, her tasks included informing the Hungarian secret service about the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia Oblast, as well as about the defence systems of the military unit where she served.

SSU counterintelligence documented every step of the Hungarian agents and detained the defendants at their places of residence. During the search, their phones and other material evidence were seized.

Investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine served the defendants with a notice of suspicion of treason committed under martial law.

It is stated that the offenders are in custody. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

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Sure, troops getting bitten and envenomated by poisonous snakes isnt high on the list of things the Department of Defense needs to worry about. Its probably not even in the top 100, but for the guy in the unit who was bitten by a Saw-Scaled Viper while out on patrol. That particular viper is active at night, very common in Afghanistan, and is responsible for the most deaths by snake bite. It would take about 15 minutes to become one of the biggest issues a troop has out in the field.

But to combat a venomous snake bite, you need to get the specific snakes antivenin, if one is available. Getting a specific kind of snake antivenin anywhere in Afghanistan was a logistical nightmare, not to mention that the U.S. military had to acquire the treatment from the government of Iran  who has not traditionally been our best friend.

It would be so much easier if your medic or doc just happened to have that kind of treatment readily available, but since there are more than 100 different kinds of snake antivenins available, the chances arent great. In Americas next war, however, things might be different. A former truck driver from California has been on a nearly 20-year journey of injecting himself with snake venom and his effort may have led to a universal cure for venomous snakebites.

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Tim Friede is a self-taught herpetologist, a scientist from an old breed. Hes like Evan ONeill Kane, who removed his own appendix to prove it could be done using local anaesthetic, or Dr. Barry Marshall, who ate a dish of H. pylori bacteria to prove it caused ulcers. Hes a researcher at Centivax, a biotech firm with the mission of creating universal vaccines and broad spectrum anti-infectives. While the company is working with the Department of Defense to create new antibiotics and a universal vaccine for influenza, Friede is on a whole different project.

Friedes project is a broad-spectrum anti-venom, but his methods are pretty unusual. He started out by injecting himself with snake venom to build up an immunity, in case he was bitten while handling snakes at work. When he received two cobra bites in a row that left him in a coma, he decided to take a different approach. He has since taken more than 200 bites and more than 700 injections of venom, many from the worlds deadliest snakes with venom that can kill a human very quickly  unless that human is Tim Friede.

The way antivenin (or anti-venom) serums are created is by injecting small amounts of the poison into animals like horses or lambs. When the animals immune systems start producing antibodies to fight the intruder, the antibodies are harvested and made into life-saving treatments. The only problem is, historically, you need to know what bit you. The snake anti-venom serum has to be matched to the snake. Centivax, with its unique mission, started looking to create something more universal. Thats where Friede came in.

If the cobra that put Friede in a coma were to bite him today, the only effect it would have is a slightly annoyed Tim Friede. Hes not only immune to cobras, hes been bitten by mambas, kraits and even taipans, the worlds most toxic snake.

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It just became a lifestyle and I just kept pushing and pushing and pushing as hard as I could push, Friede told the BBC.  for the people who are 8,000 miles away from me who die from snakebite.

Centivax began looking for antibodies from 19 elapids, snakes whose venom is a potent neurotoxin in Friedes blood. The ones they chose are identified by the World Health Organization as among the worlds deadliest. They found them. A study published in the medical journal Cell revealed two broadly neutralizing antibodies that protected lab mice from fatal doses from 13 of 19 venomous snake species. That kind of protection means it can cover venomous bites from some snakes that dont currently have an antivenin and may even lead to a treatment for all elapid bites.

There are currently a dozen different classes of toxins within snake venoms, and because of Tim Friedes 20-year mission, there may soon be a cure for all of them within the next 20 years.

Im doing something good for humanity and that was very important to me, he said. Im proud of it. Its pretty cool.
(WHTM) Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) showed support for fellow Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) on X Friday, amid questions being raised regarding Fettermans well-being.

Reports surrounding Fettermans mental health have been circulating after multiple media outlets published pieces regarding his mental health.

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McCormick came to Fettermans defense on X, calling the recent reports concerning Fettermans mental health vicious, personal attacks.

Its time to put politics aside and stop these vicious, personal attacks against Senator Fetterman, his wife, and his health. While we have many differences, we are both committed to working together to achieve results for the people of Pennsylvania and make their lives better. He is authentic, decent, principled, and a fighter. These disgraceful smears against him are not the John that I know and respect. Sen. Dave McCormick via X

The Associated Press reported that Fetterman had an outburst during a meeting with Teachers Union officials last week after an attendee of the meeting reported that Fetterman began repeating himself, shouting why does everybody hate me, what did I ever do, and slamming his hands on a desk.

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The New York Magazine also published a report stating that former staff and political advisors to Fetterman voiced concerns regarding his mental health. The Democratic Senator has been open about his struggles with his mental health in the past, and he was hospitalized for treatment of clinical depression in 2023.

The FreeStore, opened by Senator John Fettermans wife, Gisele, to distribute free clothing and food in Braddock, was also vandalized in early April. Sen. Fetterman posted a photo on social media of a banner placed in the store, which called the two Genocide John and Genocide Gisele.

Fetterman has said he believes hes still fit to serve in the Senate, a term that runs through 2028.

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At the behest of supporters of New Hampshire gunmaker SIG Sauer, the state Senate approved legislation Thursday that would block future liability lawsuits in state courts over the presence or absence of optional features.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said SIG Sauer is one of the states leading employers and shouldnt face lawsuits over injuries suffered because gun owners didnt realize their weapons lacked specific features.

We shouldnt think of 100 different scenarios; if they are making a good product and its safe we shouldnt let people sue them for misapplication or the right of people to not want certain items on the gun, Gannon said.

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The legislation would not apply to suits already filed, and Gannon stressed it would not prohibit any liability lawsuit brought over a guns manufacturing defect.

Sen. Tara Reardon, D-Concord, said the Legislature shouldnt insert itself in an ongoing national legal dispute involving a popular SIG pistol.

Plaintiffs nationwide including law enforcement have filed suit on this. Guns are inherently dangerous goods, Reardon said. I agree SIG Sauer is a wonderful New Hampshire employer but this is no way to address a products liability issue.

The lawsuits involve SIGs P320 pistol, which lacks a mechanical safety and which plaintiffs contend can fire unintentionally without a trigger pull, leading to injuries.

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The Senate voted 16-8 to add the amendment to a popular House-passed bill (HB 551) that would eliminate a license needed to sell handguns.

All Senate Republicans backed the amendment, while all Democrats opposed it.

The House passed the latter bill about pistols on a voice vote in March.

Gannons amendment specifically exempts gunmakers from liability claims over the absence or presence of items such as a magazine disconnect mechanism, a loaded chamber indicator, authorized user recognition (such as fingerprint) technology or an external mechanical safety.

Sen. Daryl Abbas, R-Salem, said people living outside the state are bringing lawsuits in New Hampshire against SIG Sauer over this issue.

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You loaded the weapon. It must have some kind of warning that it has been loaded or the company could be sued  does that make any sense? Abbas said.

This is an attack on a New Hampshire company. We should support New Hampshire businesses. Lets adopt this amendment.

Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester, who also supported the change, is a licensed firearms instructor.

You are the safety device for that weapon. These are mechanical instruments that can fail. It is your responsibility as a firearms owner to know your firearm, thats all this bill is saying, Sullivan said.

Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth, who opposed the proposal, said businesses must design what they sell in a way that can withstand legal challenges.

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If you are going to design a product you should stand behind that product. As a state government, we should get out of the way and let our businesses be run, Perkins Kwoka said.

Whats Next: The bill heads back to the House of Representatives, which must decide whether to support the amendment to a bill it badly wants.

Prospects: Second Amendment forces are strong in the House, which makes it entirely possible that the membership will accept this compromise and send it on to Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
Japan Tip of the Day (Graphic illustration by Stripes Japan)



Only in Japan can I order fish that is about 800 kilometers (about 497 miles) away from Tokyo to be delivered fresh and ready to eat.

My fiance Kotono and I enjoy traveling to try new foods, but flights, lodging and other costs can get expensive. We found Tabechoku, an app where we can order most specialty items like Aomori salmon sashimi or Kagoshima chicken sashimi to be shipped directly to our door. The food is a little expensive, but it has been a great way to save money on travel and still enjoy delicious eats from other prefectures.

(abechoku app)



When we made our first order, we were a bit skeptical. How could they get us sushi-grade sashimi through the mail while ensuring its freshness? In the States, it would seem too good to be true. But in Japan, its possible.

When Kotono heard of a special Aomori salmon farmed in perfect condition, we immediately wanted to go there to try it. Unfortunately, we calculated the costs and found that it was probably too expensive to travel just for some fish. We used Tabechoku and nabbed some tasty salmon straight from the source.

As a foreigner, navigating the app is difficult as it is all in Japanese. I used Google Translate and screenshots and was able to open an account and make an order. The struggle was worth it in the end! Yes, I could have my Japanese fiance take care of it, but I want to show our military community that a foreigner could navigate the app.

To search for an item youre interested in, make sure you translate the text to Japanese first, then copy/paste into the search bar.

For checking out and payment, you may have difficulty using a credit card, but the app offers conbinni payment at 7-Eleven stores through third-party biller Atone. Select Atone and then select convenience store. After you place your order, you will receive a message with a barcode within a few days (you must have a Japanese phone number). All you do is show the barcode to the 7-Eleven cashier and pay. This is a cash-only choice, so carrying yen is important.

It took a few days to receive our order, but it was worth the wait. Yamato Transport shipped the order in a Styrofoam container with frozen contents. There was no question about the freshness.

The hardest part was waiting for the chicken and salmon to defrost. Our meal arrived flash frozen so we had to leave it out for about two and half hours to thaw before we could enjoy our meal.

(Photo by Luis Samayoa)

(Photo by Luis Samayoa)

(Photo by Luis Samayoa)



In addition to fresh catches and meats, the app also offers local produce like Niigata rice and premium seasonal fruits like Hokkaido melons and Okinawa pineapples. If youre a foodie, youll want to make the effort to check out Tabechoku!

MORE INFORMATION

App details: Tabechoku (Japanese Only) is available for iOS and Android. Google Translator is needed if you cant read or type in Japanese.

IOS

Android

Website

Shipping is through Yamato Transportation; shipping fees are added upon check out.

Desktop is available, but you will still need to use Google Translate to create an account and check out.

You will need to be at home or your desired pick-up location to sign for the delivery.

Link to Aomori sashimi fish

Link to Kagoshima Sashimi Chicken
Boats can be seen at anchor at the Wahweap Marina in Lake Powell near Page, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The U.S. Senate voted to expand motorized access in Utahs Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, passing a resolution on Thursday to overturn a Biden-era policy that closed a handful of roads to certain off-road vehicles.

If signed by President Donald Trump, the resolution would open up some of the more remote regions of the recreation area to dirtbikes, side-by-sides and other off-road vehicles, the latest development in nearly two decades of controversy over motorized access in the area.

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Under the Biden administrations rule, 25 roads amounting to roughly 26 miles would be off limits to specific vehicles  conventional vehicles like trucks or SUVs are still allowed to travel the routes.

But specialized off-road vehicles like dirtbikes, ATVs or side-by-sides are restricted. Environmental groups, along with lawmakers opposed to the resolution, say these vehicles have potential to cause severe damage to the regions most sensitive and pristine environments. Republicans, as well as motorized recreation activists, have called it another example of federal overreach that ignores the will of locals.

Last week, the U.S. House passed companion legislation sponsored by Utah GOP Rep. Celeste Maloy. Both resolutions state the Biden administrations rule shall have no force or effect, invoking the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to review and overturn federal rules.

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Managed by the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was formed in 1972 and borders multiple national parks and monuments, like Bears Ears, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands. The areas biggest draw is Lake Powell, the countrys second-largest reservoir, which attracted more than 4.7 million visits in 2025, according to National Park Service data.

For years, environmental groups have criticized the National Park Service over what they say is a loose regulation of off-road vehicles around the recreation area. And in 2005, groups sued the park service over its lack of enforcement  in 2008, the service settled and agreed to create an off-road vehicle management plan.

Then in 2021, the first Trump administration released a new plan that opened up much of the recreation area to all kinds of motorized use.

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance sued two years later, arguing the administrations plan failed to take all of the environmental impacts into consideration  the National Park Service settled again, agreeing to close the Lake Powell shoreline to motorized use, unless water levels were sustainable and put restrictions on ATV and side-by-side use in certain areas.

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In January, the rule was finalized. It affects a small section of the recreation area, preventing off-road vehicles and ATVs on segments of the Poison Spring Loop and a section of the Flint Trail, remote and challenging, yet popular, motorized routes in the recreation area. About 4,930 acres of shoreline were also covered.

For members of the Utah congressional delegation, the rule was antithetical to the concept of a recreation area.

If it says, National Recreation Area on the map, people should be able to recreate there, said Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, in a statement, calling environmentalists push for a management plan a classic case of sue-and-settle policymaking where bureaucrats caved to activists and cut Americans out of the process.

The so-called bathtub ring, a deposit of pale minerals left behind where reservoir water levels once reached, is shown on the edge of Lake Powell near Page, Arizona on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Sen. John Curtis, also a Republican, said the resolution will help ensure public lands are more accessible.

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Utahns have responsibly accessed Glen Canyon for decades, and Washingtons one-size-fits-all restrictions threatened not only that access but also the livelihoods and traditions of rural communities. This legislation restores the balance between conservation and responsible recreation  something Utahns have always led on, Curtis said in a statement.

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance pointed out that more than 250 miles of roads within the recreation area still remain open to all vehicles, and the group criticized Republicans for chipping away at National Park Service protections.

Congressional Republicans, who have previously said that the National Park Service was immune from their destructive agenda, made it clear: they lied. Led by the Utah delegation, they voted to undermine the Park Service and instead bowed to extreme motorized recreation in some of the most remote and wild parts of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, said Hanna Larsen, a staff attorney for the alliance. Todays action means that Orange Cliffs, Gunsight Butte, and Canyonlands National Parks Maze District will be impaired by noisy, destructive off-highway vehicles. Its a dark day for all who love Southern Utah and Glen Canyons wild places.

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Washington, D.C (FOX44)  U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met with Texas A&M University System Regent Randy Brooks to discuss the systems work to advance their world-class agriculture programs and Texas A&M graduate and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins complementary efforts at the USDA.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A new bill in Congress aims to cut down the youth crime rate by funding more afterschool programs.

Most juvenile crime in the U.S. spikes between the afterschool hours of 2 and 6 p.m., according to a 2019 report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national law enforcement organization.

We also know that gangs go about trying to recruit students during this afternoon period, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said.

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Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto are working to cut down on that.

Senator Blackburn and I agree that after school, if theyre not engaged, some of these kids, theyre going to get in trouble, Cortez Maso (D-Nev.) said.

Their bipartisan AFTERSCHOOL Act allocates $15 million a year for afterschool programs in counties with a juvenile offense rate of 10% or more.

The Justice Department would administer those grants to schools or nonprofits that apply for activities that serve an educational purpose.

This is the time where kids need to have some supervision or activities sports, music, robotics, Blackburn said.

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But the bill has its hurtles, Cortez Masto says, even with support from Republicans and Democrats.

Heres the challenge with all of this. Theres bipartisan legislation to do just this, but this administration is already gutting afterschool programs, Cortez Masto said.

The Presidents 2026 budget proposal would cut Education Department spending by $12 billion.

Blackburn though says shes confident this will make it to the White House.

The goal is to move it as a standalone bill and then get it to the presidents desk, Blackburn said.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Bishop Steven Raica with the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham describes the first words spoken by newly elected Pope Leo XIV as powerful.

Hes announcing to the world that Christ is risen, and these are his words to all of us. Peace be with you. Peace in our hearts, peace in our world. Peace across the globe. I think those are beautiful words to begin ministry with, said Bishop Raica.

After 40 days in ICE detention, Alabama student Alireza Doroudi decides to self-deport back to Iran

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At St. Peters Square Thursday, thousands of people waited with eyes glued on the white smoke coming from the Sistine Chapel chimney on just the second day of the conclave.

Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell, who is a lifelong catholic, said his eyes were glued to the tv screen.

Ive been paying attention since yesterday. When the cardinals first got together, I watched them walk in on the tv. As a catholic, its one of those things youll always remember, said Bell.

Bell, who has visited Vatican City several times and even met Pope Francis, said he looks forward to seeing what Pope Leo XIV will accomplish.

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The fact that he took Pope Leo as his name, Leo XIV, it sent a message. Because Leo XIII believed in helping the working poor and reaching out to those who cant help themselves, and be your brothers keeper. I think thats the footsteps that Leo XIV will follow, said Bell.

As the first American Pope, Leos election is a significant moment in world history.

It gives us a sense of pride. A sense of optimism because at least for us in America we might sometimes feel that we have our own challenges but yet hes one of us. In that sense can provide a unique perspective not just from missionary perspective but an American perspective from a global stage. said Bishop Raica.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow on the evening of 8 May.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Vucic's post on Instagram

Quote: "A brotherly meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico tonight in Moscow. Serbs and Slovaks, brothers forever!"

Details: The Serbian president also posted a video in which he shakes hands with Fico.

European Pravda reiterated that the politicians arrived in the Russian capital to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

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According to RTS, on the evening of 8 May, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin hosted a dinner for leaders who had arrived in Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.] After dinner, Vucic said that he had had many warm meetings with leaders with whom he does not have the opportunity to communicate often.

He also added that on Friday, he will hold very important meetings with Putin, as well as with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The conversation with Putin will particularly focus on Russian gas.

Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska, was also present at the gala dinner.

Background:

Fico and Vucic were the only European guests at the level of state leaders at the celebrations in Moscow on Victory Day.

Fico arrived in Moscow on the evening of 8 May after the Baltic states banned his plane from crossing their airspace.

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(KRON)  A 17-year-old boy who uses the moniker GIZMO and was behind a string of gang-motivated graffiti vandalism around San Jose, police revealed Friday.

A weeks-long investigation into GIZMO stemmed from complaints made by local residents.

Detectives discovered that multiple vandalism incidents with the same graffiti moniker, GIZMO, were reported between April 4, 2025 and April 22, 2025. Many of these incidents were reported via the City of San Joses 311 app, as well as by residents during community meetings, San Jose Police Department spokesperson Stacie Shih wrote.

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On May 3, Gang Investigations Unit detectives found the boy, conducted a probation search of his vehicle, and found evidence of his crimes, Shih said. The suspected GIZMO vandal was arrested and taken into custody. Police did not release his name because he is a minor.

SJPD Chief of Police Paul Joseph said his gang unit is committed to taking down vandals who incite fear in our neighborhoods. Our residents deserve to live in safe and clean communities, not ones shadowed by threats of gang violence.

A van is tagged with GIZMO graffiti. (Photo via San Jose Police Department)

Our community will now be cleaner and one of our misguided youth will have the opportunity to make better choices, Mayor Matt Mahan said. If you deface San Jose, you will be held accountable and you will have an opportunity to make amends by beautifying our city.

The bust is one of several made by SJPD targeting destructive young residents who vandalize public property.

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Last month, a prolific graffiti vandal who tagged his work with the moniker GOOB was arrested. GOOB, whose real name is Alex Garcia, was behind a surge of graffiti vandalism plaguing downtown, according to police. Garcia, 20, is suspected of tagging dozens of public, private, and commercial properties.

Photo: SJPD

Garcia was apparently aware that police officers were investigating him. In one of his graffiti tags he wrote F**k SJPD, and turning myself in to jail in 3 days, photographs released by SJPD show. Garcia was later booked into jail for multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor vandalism.

Four San Jose teenagers, including a 13-year-old boy, were arrested this May in connection to a gang-motivated incident that happened on the night of January 5 in Nisich Park.

Evidence found on an open source showed four unidentified suspects cutting a city-owned park sign with a handheld saw, while shouting gang threats. The suspects then proceeded to take the sign, Shih wrote.

A city sign at Nisich Park was sawed off and stolen. (Photos courtesy SJPD)

SJPD Gang Investigations Unit detectives identified the four suspects as 18-year-old Donner Sosa, 18-year-old Michael Reyes, and two juvenile boys.

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On May 1, Donner and Reyes were booked into jail. The two juvenile suspects, ages 13 and 15, were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of vandalism and grand theft.

Anyone with information about more incidents involving the moniker GIZMO is asked to contact Detective Minkel #5003 of the San Jose Police Gang Investigations Unit via email, 5003@sanjoseca.gov, or phone, 408-277-3835.







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In 2023, a Southern California man pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from road rage incidents in the Los Angeles area. He was sentenced to five years in prison  but was released 212 days early for good behavior last fall.

On Thursday, he was arrested on suspicion of committing similar crimes.

According to the Honolulu Police Department, a 38-year-old man was arrested in Hawaii on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the first degree and assault.

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On Wednesday, an 18-year-old woman was parking a vehicle with her mother in the passenger seat when she observed a gray Tesla speed past her. Words were then exchanged, and the man allegedly assaulted both women before fleeing in the Tesla.

Nathaniel Radimak is seen getting out of a Tesla SUV and attacking a victim with a large pipe along the 2 Freeway on Jan. 11, 2023. (DroneZone_LA)

According to HPDs arrest logs, that man was Nathaniel Radimak.

In January 2023, Radimak was spotted getting out of a Tesla on the 2 Freeway before attacking victims with a metal pipe. According to reporting from CarScoops, $30,000 in cash and some steroids were found in the vehicle.

Its not clear if he was driving the same Tesla in Hawaii.

He was also accused, but not convicted, of other road rage incidents dating back to 2020.

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As of Friday, its not clear if hes been formally charged in Hawaii.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The chains were invisible, but they effectively disenfranchised the descendants of enslaved African Americans or Negros  in the best of times  as they were called during the Jim Crow era.

Attorney Thurgood Marshall and other Black lawyers challenged local school boards that enforced segregation in public schools. The case, known as Brown v. Board of Education, would change the course of history for a country that was built on the backs of slaves.

On May 17, 1954, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. A month later, the child who would become Virginias 71st governor was born.

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In an exclusive interview with WAVY-TV 10s Regina Mobley, former Gov. Bob McDonnell talked about his early memories of the Jim Crow era.

Regina Mobley: Tell me your memories of segregation in America. Do you remember seeing signs that said white only or colored only?

Bob McDonnell: I do. As a young kid, I grew up in, Northern Virginia, right by Mount Vernon. and, I remember seeing those facilities. I couldnt understand that, colored only because even though Brown v Board was handed down some of the Black Codes, the Jim Crow laws, youre right. Did not end until 1964. I do remember those signs. I couldnt really understand it.

Regina Mobley: I was born in 1961, I would say around 1971, when we lived we lived near the Norfolk Naval Base, we would be outside jumping rope or whatever, and a car would speed by and someone would yell what is now called the N-word and speed away with a loud squeal.

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Bob McDonnell: Well first, Im sorry that you lived in a country that was like that. Thats completely contrary to the founding ideals, completely contrary to the words of [Thomas] Jefferson of the Declaration, although he wrote it and then went home and had 500 or 600 enslaved people at Monticello.

That includes Sally Hemmings, who was the mother of some of Jeffersons children.

The governor then viewed a portion of a now-viral video of a young mother who recently hurled the racial slur at a 5-year old boy who purportedly had his hands in her diaper bag. She then said the world repeatedly as a bystander, with a video camera, confronted the young mother.

We got a long way to go there, McDonnell said. Thank God, though if you if you look at where we were in 1954 compared to today, I think any honest person would say weve come a long way, but videos like that show that the laws cannot necessarily change the hearts and minds of people.

On the 71st anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, seven Virginia governors will discuss racial progress and the future of education quality and equality.

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So, you know, were a nation of contrasts, McDonnell said. But the thing that I like about what were trying to do is to talk honestly about the painful past, admit that it was Virginia governors that started this. My predecessor, George Yardley, in 1619, is the guy right over here at Fort Monroe, the colonial British governor that accepted the 19 Negroes in exchange for rations off the White Lion slave ship, and that is what started the enslavement.

The event is hosted by Virginians for Reconciliation and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Education is the great equalizer, McDonnell said, that if kids have equally good educations, theyre going to be able to compete equally in the marketplace of ideas and the marketplace for jobs, and thats how this ultimate goal of equal opportunity in society comes to pass.

The event is free and open to the public.

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SPRINGFIELD  One of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies in Illinois this week called for the state's county sheriffs to defy a 2017 state law that limits the cooperation of state and local law enforcement agencies with federal immigration enforcement.

Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro said on Tuesday, "Gov. JB Pritzker's sanctuary state policies have transformed Illinois into a cesspool of crime and drugs brought by the illegals he is actively resettling.

Our communities are being overwhelmed, innocent girls are being raped, and Americans are being ruthlessly murdered," Miller said in a statement. "These are the tragic consequences of his failed leadership.

"I call on every local sheriff in Illinois to defy these dangerous directives, cooperate with ICE, and support President Trumps deportation efforts. We must act now before one more innocent American life is lost or harmed.

Miller's office did not respond to a request for data or other information to back up her statements about crimes being committed in Illinois by immigrants without legal status.

Several academic studies published in the past decade have found no relationship between the proportion of immigrants in an area and the crime rate in that area.

A 2018 study from sociologists at Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin found the level of undocumented immigration does not increase violence in an area. And many areas that saw an increase in undocumented immigrants actually experienced lower rates of crime, the study found.

In another study, economists at the University of California, Davis who looked at data from 2000 through 2015 from 47 states found no significant relationship between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehensions and the rates of violent crime, property crime or murder.

What is Illinois' TRUST Act?

In 2017, Illinois lawmakers passed and then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, signed the TRUST Act. It generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting the federal government with civil immigration enforcement. Cooperation is permitted, however, when there is a federal criminal warrant.

The state and federal policies are meant to foster trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement by ensuring interactions do not result in immigration detention or deportation.

However, the laws have long been the subject of ridicule among conservatives and immigration hawks, who claim it impedes federal officials from doing their jobs.

The Trump Administration and Republican allies in Congress have specifically taken aim at cities and states with such ordinances and laws on the books.

In February, the administration sued Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, seeking to have state and local sanctuary policies invalidated, alleging they "have the purpose and effect of making it more difficult for, and deliberately impeding, federal immigration officers ability to carry out their responsibilities in those jurisdictions."

The case is pending.

Johnson was among a handful of big-city mayors who was brought before the House Oversight Committee in March to testify on the city's immigration policies.

In June, Pritzker will join New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in testifying before the committee on their states' immigration policies.

And earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lambasted Illinois' immigration policies during a brief visit to Springfield, saying "people are dying every day because of these policies."

She specifically cited the 2023 murder of a Springfield woman, 24-year-old Emma Shafer, whose alleged killer once qualified for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status but had subsequently lost it. The suspect remains at large, and police have said he may have fled to Mexico. Shafer's parents released a statement condemning the use of their daughter's death for political purposes.

Pritzker dismissed Noem's visit as a "publicity stunt" and has long maintained the TRUST Act is compliant with federal law.

Sheriff's association: 'We enforce the laws'

Jim Kaitschuk, executive director of the Illinois Sheriff's Association, said he heard of Miller's call "at the same time everybody else did."

"That's kind of disappointing," he said.

Kaitschuk's organization opposed the TRUST Act and continues to do so. He said it "ties our hands" by limiting local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with federal agents.

Illinois is one of five states, for example, where law enforcement agencies can't participate in ICE's 287(g) program, which would authorize them to perform some federal civil immigration enforcement measures.

However, Kaitschuk dismissed Miller's request, saying "we have to abide by and follow state law."

"If there's a criminal warrant or there's some other criminal offense that occurs while they're here, we will take action, as we always have," Kaitschuk said. "We're just precluded by state law from engaging in anything that relates to civil immigration issues."

This also means local law enforcement and state prison officials cannot communicate with ICE agents about undocumented people in their custody.

"It's not like the information is not out there," Kaitschuk said. "We're just not allowed to actually make that phone call (to) contact ICE and say, 'Here they are.'"

Instead of telling sheriffs to flout state law, Kaitschuk suggested that Miller take her case to Pritzker and the state legislature.

"They're the ones that make the laws," he said. "We enforce the laws."

'Really don't care what country they're from'

County sheriffs who spoke with Lee Enterprises agreed, saying they will continue to enforce the TRUST Act as long as it is on the books and found to be compliant with federal law.

Macon County Sheriff Jim Root said he and his deputies follow all that the TRUST Act requires them to do and nothing more. This means no involvement with civil immigration enforcement.

I don't necessarily know if the people that I have in my jail are here legally or illegally, Root said. The only time that I know that they're not here legally is whenever they send the detainer down," he said, referring to a civil document signed by federal immigration authorities.

"The federal government will send a detainer. Well look at the detainer, and if it's not signed, it's not a criminal offense signed by a judge, then we disregard it, and we don't respond to it.

Similarly, Shelby County Sheriff Brian McReynolds said his office does not get involved with immigration enforcement either, but, in extreme cases, they would seek legal assistance.

If there's cases where it's just outlandish that we become aware that the person has been deported several times, had several issues, those would be ones I would probably be reaching out for some legal assistance to find out what our options are, McReynolds said. We would do that through conferring with our state's attorney.

Both sheriffs explained they have seen crimes committed by non-citizens in their counties, but it's not a common occurrence.

Root said he plans to continue following the TRUST Act guidelines but wouldnt be surprised if those guidelines change due to the federal government.

If they (Trump administration) want to challenge it, once they get it challenged, and if they deem it's unconstitutional, we'll discard it, or the state of Illinois will amend it to make it within compliance of what the federal courts say they have the authority to do, and we'll abide by that, Root said.

Until then, we'll just continue to keep doing what we're doing and trying to lock the bad guys up," he said. "Really don't care what country they're from.

Editor's note: Illinois statehouse reporter Brenden Moore has written previously about his personal relationship with Emma Shafer. He was not responsible for coverage of Noem's visit and remarks.
GARLAND COUNTY, Ark.  The Garland County Sheriffs Office is reporting that an active parolee and registered sex offender was arrested after exposing himself on a Garland County school campus recently.

GCSO officials said 31-year-old Allen Clem Lewallen is being held without bond while facing charges of parole violation, indecent exposure and felony registered sex offendeer prohibited from entering a school campus with $110,000 bond on the two non-parole charges.

Arkansas State Police arrest two in Cherokee Village for child exploitation

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Investigators said Lewallen drove onto the campus of the Fountain Lake Elementary School at about 4 p.m. on May 2, got out of his car, and exposed himself in view of the public. He then got back in his car and went to another part of the campus to expose himself again without getting out of his car.

Court records show Lewallen is on parole after two 2019 second-degree sexual assault convictions, both against children. Arkansas Community Corrections arrested him and he is currently held in the Garland County Detention Center.

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KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  A Knoxville man on the Tennessee Sex Offender registry has been charged with aggravated child abuse after deputies responded to a Knox County home Wednesday evening.

The Knox County Sheriffs Office said on Thursday that William A. Gilbert was charged with aggravated child abuse of a child 8 years old or younger, which is a violation of Haleys Law and categorized as a Class A felony, and violation of the sex offender registry.

2004 Knoxville murder case, mothers persistence highlighted in ABC special

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A general sessions docket states that deputies responded to a Mascot home around 6 p.m. Wednesday along with the Department of Childrens Services. There, a deputy spoke with the victim, who is under 8 years old and had bruising on the side of their face and forehead along with other injuries. According to the narrative, the child identified Gilbert to the deputies as the person who caused their injuries.

The docket continues to state that Gilbert was charged with violating the sex offender registry because a child he was not related to lived in the home he had been staying at.

Court records state that Gilbert is on the sex offender registry because a conviction of repeated sexual assault against a child in Brown County, Wisconsin. The Tennessee Sex Offender Registry lists The dates of Gilberts offenses as November 30, 2004 and May 5, 2005.

Tennessee death row inmates want firing squad over lethal injection ahead of states first execution in years

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Gilbert was taken into arrested without incident, the docket stated. A bond has not been set for either of his charges. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, May 13.

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[Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player above.]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team has found a shake-up in the lawyers for the U.S. attorney handling the Cleveland police consent decree, federal oversight of reform going on for a decade.

A federal court filing shows Notice is hereby given that Acrivi Coromelas, J. Jackson Froliklong, and Melody Joy Fields withdraw as co-counsel of record for Plaintiff United States of America.

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When we sent an inquiry to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Cleveland, we received a response, saying, Thank you for your inquiry, but we are unable to comment.

Fugitive from UK wanted in child sex assault arrested in Garfield Heights

However, an email obtained by the I-Team indicates those lawyers dropping off the case are all leaving the U.S. Attorneys Office.

This comes as leaders in Cleveland wonder if an executive order by President Donald Trump could affect federal oversight of Cleveland police under the consent decree.

Cleveland police have been under watch by a federal monitoring team for a decade. And, members of the Cleveland Police Monitoring Team earn up to $750 an hour.

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An executive order recently posted by the White House says, Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall review all ongoing Federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements and post-judgment orders to which a state or local law enforcement agency is a party and modify, rescind or move to conclude such measures that unduly impede the performance of law enforcement functions.

The federal watch over Cleveland police currently has no end in sight.

The latest report from the monitoring team identified some progress made by Cleveland police, and it also identified some areas where police had taken a step back.

Recently, the city has complained that the monitoring team standards are too vague, and the city cannot tell exactly what still needs to be done.

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Longtime Oberlin patrol officer dies

Meanwhile, the I-Team has revealed outrageous billing by the monitoring team even charging taxpayers to watch police awards ceremonies, sit in on community meetings and write a sympathy letter after an officer died. Records show, in one case, the group billed the city $2,400 just for putting together one cover letter.

U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno has spoken out against the spending, calling for an end to the oversight.

Still, Judge Solomon Oliver recently called for the start of monthly meetings on the consent decree and Cleveland police reform.

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In the six years since a team of Chicago police officers incorrectly served a search warrant at the Near West Side home of social worker Anjanette Young, the use of residential search warrants has plummeted, police officials said this week.

CPD officers last year executed 210 residential search warrants  an 84% decrease from 2019, the year of the Young raid, when officers used residential search warrants nearly 1,400 times, according to figures provided by the Police Department.

The sharp drop-off comes as the department continues to develop and refine procedures on search warrants. Meanwhile, serious crimes across the city  homicides, nonfatal shootings, robberies and car thefts  continue on a downward trajectory, in keeping with national trends.

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There (are) a lot more measures around making sure that these search warrants are checked, double-checked, triple-checked, CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said in an interview this week with the Tribune. There are layers of approval that werent there before, and we just want to ensure that all of our officers are out there doing this the right way.

In 2022, the citys consent decree mandating reform was expanded to include search warrant provisions. And while search warrants  an invaluable tool for investigators seeking to disrupt illegal narcotics and firearms dealing  are now mostly carried out by officers assigned to the departments bureau of counterterrorism, all sworn officers will soon receive additional training on search warrants.

Were also going to look at those who actually develop, approve and serve the search warrants, and theyre going to get additional training, Lt. Michael Kapustianyk, of the departments research and development division, told the Tribune. Not only in the policy, in the development, in the investigation and approval processes and how to develop a search warrant  but theres also going to be tactical training with an emphasis on minimizing trauma, minimizing harm, and tactics and efforts to serve a search warrant, (and) the application of actually serving a search warrant.

Even before the raid on Youngs home, CPDs search warrant executions were the subjects of several federal lawsuits that alleged civil rights abuses.

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The majority of search warrants will require a CPD deputy chiefs approval. All no-knock warrants will be served by SWAT officers after approval from a bureau chief and a Cook County judge, according to the department. Also, more stringent safeguards around the use of John Doe informants, documentation of previous cooperation and the accuracy of information provided, will be standard protocol. A lieutenant and sergeant will each be present for residential search warrant executions, as well.

The February 2019 search of Youngs home, and the subsequent release of body-worn camera footage, enraged scores of Chicagoans who saw a team of officers enter Youngs home while she was undressed. The female officer on the scene, the late Ella French who was killed in the line of duty about two years later, allowed Young to cover herself while the officers figured out that they were in the wrong place.

The search, led by a sergeant not typically assigned to that unit, was sparked by a tip from a John Doe informant that an illegal gun was in the residence. That informant, records show, was the same man who was arrested in 2022 after he was seen throwing a bundle of heroin from a car owned by current first deputy superintendent, Yolanda Talley.

That sergeant was later fired by the Chicago Police Board and his appeal was rejected by a Cook County judge. The former sergeant now works for a police department in the northwest suburbs, according to state law enforcement records.






Leslie Diaz spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about being named one of two inaugural recipients of the Alix Earle Scholarship at the Miami Herbert Business School.

The California native, who's graduating on May 9, broke down the unique application she submitted that was inspired by the social media influencer's widely-known content.

She opened up about what the scholarship means to her and her community, in addition to revealing the advice Earle has given her.







Alix Earle has established herself as one of the world's top influencers on social media today, but her influence spans beyond "Get Ready With Me" videos on TikTok and party-centric vlogs that her 7 million-plus followers have come to know and love to date.

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At her core, the New Jersey native is a business-minded powerhouse who racked up her following while simultaneously pursuing a marketing degree at the University of Miami, where she graduated in 2023. That same year, she founded a notable scholarship that would impact graduates to come.

One of those graduates is Leslie Diaz, a current senior at the University of Miami who was one of the first of two students named recipients of the Alix Earle Scholarship at the Miami Herbert Business School. Now, through her respective accomplishments, the soon-to-be-grad is influencing others with a path of her own.

Related: Alix Earle Teases 'Lots of Plans' After Pausing Her Hot Mess Podcast for the Unseeable Future

Valeria Izaguirre Alix Earle and Leslie Diaz at the University of Miami Alix Earle and Leslie Diaz at the University of Miami

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of her graduation on May 9, Diaz spoke about the personal milestone, including what the earned honor means to her and for future generations that follow.

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"The scholarship was specifically for women who are really passionate in business and entrepreneurship  and that's something that's always really intrigued me," Diaz, 21, tells PEOPLE of the inaugural Alix Earle Scholarship at the University of Miami in Florida.

As a business student, the California native says "an opportunity to learn" from Earle attracted her to the scholarship when she first learned about it during her junior year  committing to it, though, was a decision she pursued with more than just herself in mind.

"I am Mexican-American," says Diaz. "My family's from Mexico. My mom was born and raised from Guadalajara, a small town there... My childhood was mostly there. I have all my family, my grandparents on both sides are there."

"This is such a big deal for my community. I'm first-gen, I'm a Latina," she continues. "I think advocating for my community is so important, and for someone like me to have a scholarship like this and be able to talk about to other Latinas... I can be like, 'If I can do it, you can.'"

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She adds, "And there's people who want to help!"

Related: Alix Earle Proves She's a Real-Life Elle Woods as She Breaks Down Traveling from Coachella to Harvard in Less Than 24 Hours

Courtesy of Leslie Diaz Alix Earle and her scholarship winners at the University of Miami Alix Earle and her scholarship winners at the University of Miami

In this case, Earle is one of those people, who Diaz says has been mentoring her throughout her final year in college since being named recipient of the scholarship her junior year in 2024. The time limit on the mentorship is vague, so she's taking full advantage.

"You get the scholarship for one year, but then she is a mentor basically for the rest of your life," Diaz says of Earle, then jokes, "Well, that's how I'm interpreting it. I'm like, 'You're never leaving me, so you're my mentor. I'm going to be hitting you up.'"

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Diaz tells PEOPLE that Earle has been "a soundboard to bounce stuff off" as her university experience comes to an end. "She's been mentoring me and guiding me throughout. Especially now my senior year that I'm looking for jobs, she's been such a huge help."

When news of Earle's scholarship was first announced in May 2023, Diaz recalled it being a "big deal" at the time, making it near incomprehensible for her to believe that she was one of the two inaugural recipients chosen.

Related: Alix Earle Has a Legally Blonde Moment at Harvard  Complete with Her Own Bruiser

Valeria Izaguirre Leslie Diaz and Alix Earle Leslie Diaz and Alix Earle

In fact, Diaz said she was hesitant to submit an application given her former mindset  "When in a million years would I ever get that?" However, with the encouragement of her sister and school advisor, she decided to throw her hat in the ring.

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The zinger? Diaz did so in the most Earle-girl way: she made a "Get Ready With Me" video.

"I set up my phone and I do a 'GRWM' for why I should win the Alix Earle Scholarship," she tells PEOPLE of the final step in the application process. "It was kind of tricky. I had to keep a balance... for my professor and have a certain level of seriousness. Professionalism."

Still, she went all in with the "GRWM"-styled application video.

"I propped up my phone. I'm not very good at makeup, too. It was all drugstore stuff," she says. "And I was kind of just talking to the camera and literally doing my makeup in front of most prestigious professors and alum and people on the board."

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"I talked about myself and my journey," she continued. "I talked about how I'm such a fan of 'the U' and how involved, how passionate I am about school, how much a scholarship like this would mean to have a mentor, to have someone like her."

Related: Alix Earle Says Shes Going to Barbie-fy Boyfriend Braxton Berrios' 'Ken House' Now That They've Moved in Together

Valeria Izaguirre Leslie Diaz and Alix Earle Leslie Diaz and Alix Earle

Diaz was "very involved" throughout her time at the University of Miami. She was in Girls of Outreach and Diversity, Whiteley Women's Leadership Symposium, Latin Leadership Council and Model UN. She was in the Honor Council, the youngest ever to be in an e-board position in student government.

Ultimately, Diaz learned she was selected for the scholarship. "I think my makeup looked a mess, but I mean, the message got across!" she jokes of her "GRWM" attempt that impressed the board, noting that Earle did not choose the recipients herself.

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As for Earle's involvement in the scholarship program, however, Diaz confirms she "sees her quite a lot," adding, "She's very involved in my life." And despite the thriving content creator's busy schedule, she always makes the time.

"I would text her and be like, 'Hey, I would love to catch up, or I would love some advice.' And she's like, 'Okay, I'm here this day. Let's meet up this day,'" Diaz says of her working relationship with Earle. "Or I can always shoot her a text like, 'Hey, what are your thoughts about this?'"

Related: Alix Earle Tearfully Reveals Her Foster Dog Was 'Supposed to Be Put Down' Before Taking Him in

Valeria Izaguirre Leslie Diaz and Alix Earle and the University of Miami Leslie Diaz and Alix Earle and the University of Miami

Since having Earle as a mentor, there are a few words of wisdom that stand out to Diaz the most.

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"Follow my passions," she says of the best piece of advice she's received from the influencer. "I think she's been really, really big about that. I've talked to her a lot and I'm like, I feel a huge pressure being first gen... do something exceptional for my community and for what this means."

"She's like, 'Leslie, trust me, you're going to be fine  but just be yourself. Be authentic... If I wouldn't have pursued my passions as strongly as I did, I would not be here,'" she continues of Earle's tips. "Don't feel pressured by everybody else or what everybody's telling you to do. Block out the noise.'"

Now, Diaz  who majored in legal studies and international business  has sights set on law school post grad, in addition to potential endeavors on the entrepreneurial side in the future. "I really love all of that," she says.

And while Diaz is head down on navigating those next steps in her career, there's one "long-term" goal she knows for sure.

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"I've told Alix this... my absolute dream would be to come back to the school and have my own scholarship," she shares. "That has always been a huge, huge dream of mine. So fingers crossed!"



Read the original article on People
It was Valentine's Day 1985, and Terri McAdams, like many others, had a special gift she planned to give to the one she loved.

While the 22-year-old couldnt spend the day with her fiance, who was on a business trip, she hoped to give him the heart-shaped cake she baked for him once he returned, Karin Anderson, the host of The Reporter's Notebook Podcast and former reporter for the Dallas Morning News, told CBS News.

Later that night, an intruder broke into McAdams fiances apartment in Arlington, Texas, where McAdams was staying, and attacked her. She was brutally beaten, sexually assaulted, and murdered, local and federal authorities said in a statement. The Tarrant County medical examiners office ruled her cause of death as blunt force trauma.

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Arlington police believed the killer entered the apartment through a sliding glass door that connected to a bedroom, and they ruled out McAdams fiance as a suspect. But decades would pass before authorities would be able to identify her killer.

Arlington Police Department Terri McAdams Terri McAdams

After years of investigation, multiple pieces of physical evidence from the case were sent to a lab for DNA testing in 2021. From that testing, a DNA profile for an unknown male suspect was developed. That profile was entered into CODIS, a national database of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, missing persons, and unsolved crimes, but it never produced a match.

In August 2023, the police department asked the FBI Dallas Field Office to see if forensic genetic genealogy was an option to help push the case forward. The office agreed, and months later, the testing led authorities to a potential suspect  a deceased man named Bernard Sharp.

Authorities said Sharp was involved in a double murder-suicide in Arlington on Nov. 3, 1985  nine months after Terri was killed. He shot three people, killing two of them, before turning the gun on himself, the statement reads.

Arlington Police Department Bernard Sharp Bernard Sharp

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Since they werent able to compare his DNA to the genealogy results, authorities found one of Sharps close relatives, who agreed to provide the team with their own DNA profile.

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That sample was sent to a lab at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and in August 2024, results confirmed that Sharp was a genetic match to the suspect DNA sample taken from the crime scene.

Over the years, it would be easy to lose faith and accept that this case might never be solved, Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said in the statement. But Terris family never gave up hope and our detectives never wavered. Now, we get to provide answers that this department has wanted to provide for nearly four decades.

After the identity of McAdams' killer was announced, her sister, Karen Hooper, told CBS News she knows that "she and my mom and dad are smiling down on this miraculous moment."

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



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A former model who has accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault took the stand this week at the disgraced movie moguls retrial in New York City  and claimed he first assaulted her when she was just a teenager.

Kaja Sokola, 39, who claimed Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006 when she was 19, testified Thursday, May 8 that Weinstein asked her to his hotel room to read a script, according to the New York Times.

Sokola said thats when Weinstein allegedly pinned her down, ripped off her stockings and underwear, and allegedly performed oral sex her as he masturbated, the outlet reported. She claimed he ignored her pleas to stop.

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When the alleged act was over, Sokola testified that Weinstein said, You see? That wasnt too difficult, per the Times. She added that she later received a birthday card from Weinstein reading, Happy birthday to someone with a real zest for life.

Related: Harvey Weinstein Is Going on Trial Again in New York  and He's Facing a New Charge

Sokola said she never told anyone about the alleged assault. Im 39 years old now and I know what I would do now, she said, per the Times. Back then, I was 19.

During her testimony, Sokola also spoke about another alleged encounter with Weinstein, whom she said she first met in 2002, when she was 16 years old and hoping to work as an actress, according to CBS New York and NBC News. She said he invited her to his Manhattan apartment to discuss work opportunities. There, she said, Weinstein allegedly asked her to take off her clothes.

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Soon after, Sokola alleged Weinstein put his hand down her underwear and forced her to touch his genitals, CBS reported. She described Weinstein's eyes, which she saw through a bathroom mirror, as "black and scary.

I felt stupid and ashamed and like it's my fault for putting myself in this position," Sokola testified, per CBS. Sokola said that she kept in touch with Weinstein for career prospects until the second alleged assault in 2006.

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.

Sokola is one of three accusers testifying as part of Weinstein's retrial on sex crimes charges in New York after his 2020 conviction was overturned last year. A 2024 indictment added an additional criminal sex act charge, which includes Sokola's allegations. The other two women, actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Miriam Haley, also testifed during Weinstein's first trial.

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Related: Harvey Weinsteins 2020 Rape and Sexual Assault Convictions in New York Overturned

Weinstein, 73, has consistently denied allegations of sexual misconduct, having been accused by dozens of women.

In 2022, Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in California, a conviction that still stands.

NPR reported that Weinstein has received treatment for bone marrow cancer recently. PEOPLE reported in 2024 that the disgraced mogul had emergency heart surgery at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.



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Maura Gallagher had a healthy pregnancy when she went to deliver her twins via C-section on May 8, 2017, but she died from a brain bleed hours after giving birth

Lawyers for the Gallagher family claim the doctors failed to assess and treat her risk for preeclampsia

A jury recently awarded the family $22 million in a wrongful death lawsuit







On May 8, 2017, Maura Gallagher was a 38-year-old living in New Canaan, Connecticut, and expecting her first babies, a set of fraternal twins. That morning, she went to Stamford Hospital with her partner, Max DiDodo, to undergo what she and her family thought would be a routine cesarean section, to bring the twins  a boy and a girl  into the world. It was supposed to be a joyous day.

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Instead, four hours after she delivered her babies, Maura was dead, leaving her family shattered, and two newborns, Thomas and Lyla, without their mom.

Now, nearly eight years after her death, Maura's family was awarded $22 million in a wrongful death suit, after jurors found that the hospital's anesthesiologist and Stamford Anesthesiology failed to provide Maura Gallagher with the applicable prevailing professional standard of care during childbirth. Now the Gallaghers are speaking out about her story to prevent this type of tragedy from happening to another family.

Her older sister Erin O'Rourke recalls what happened on the day of the tragedy. Maura was clearly in trouble," she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"She was hypertensive and had thrombocytopenia from the time she arrived at the hospital. There was clearly a risk for preeclampsia, which was confirmed during the procedure."

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According to the Cleveland Clinic, people with preeclampsia experience high blood pressure, protein in their pee, swelling, headaches and blurred vision. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, puts a person at risk for stroke, heart attack and other problems, while thrombocytopenia occurs when bone marrow doesnt make enough platelets and makes it hard to stop bleeding.

Erin believes doctors' neglect in screening for preeclampsia happens far too often.

"This is why telling Maura's story is so important," she says, adding, Maternal mortality in the U.S. is a systemic failure for thousands of women, but it is also a story of medical professionals and hospitals, because of arrogance and sloppiness, failing to understand or acknowledge the signs that new mothers are in trouble."

According to trial documents, when Maura went in for delivery, she presented with a recent onset of low platelets and a new onset of elevated blood pressure, despite having normal blood pressure throughout her pregnancy. The complaint says the two factors were indicative of pre-operative preeclampsia.

Courtesy of the Gallagher Family Maura Gallagher, 38, cradles her baby bump in 2017 Maura Gallagher, 38, cradles her baby bump in 2017

Daniel Thomas, a lawyer for the Gallagher family tells PEOPLE, Mauras pregnancy  being 38 and expecting twins  should have been considered slightly higher risk. But how she showed up that morning  with elevated blood pressure and thrombocytopenia, or low platelets  were clear signs that something new and potentially dangerous was going on.

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The twins' delivery initially went smoothly, but then Maura began suffering from nausea and her blood pressure remained alarmingly high.

According to court documents, she was given ephedrine to combat the nausea, which caused her already elevated blood pressure to increase further. When Maura began shaking and complaining of a headache and shortness of breath, her lawyer says it was dismissed as a panic attack.

"The saddest part of this story is that Maura was giving the doctors subjective complaints that were being dismissed as anxiety," Thomas says.

Court documents state that the anesthesiologist failed to properly manage Maura's blood pressure or formulate a plan to treat preeclampsia, and went ahead with the C-section before the preeclampsia testing results came back from the lab.

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After the procedure, when Maura complained of shivering and nausea, she was given different cocktails of drugs to combat the headache, nausea, and artificially stabilize her severe range of blood pressures but by then, it was too late.

Four hours and fifteen minutes after delivery, she suffered an unsurvivable, catastrophic brain bleed. She died the next day when the family had to make the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support.



Courtesy of the Gallagher Family Maura Gallagher and her partner Max DiDoro, before Maura's tragic childbirth death Maura Gallagher and her partner Max DiDoro, before Maura's tragic childbirth death

Related: Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the U.S. Increased 27% in Five-Year Period, Affecting Women Between 25-39 Years of Age

The Gallagher family sued the hospital in a wrongful death lawsuit. After a long, eight-year battle, in which the hospital claimed that Maura had a genetic underlying vascular malformation in the brain, jurors sided with the Gallaghers, concluding that Maura's death was preventable.

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While the decision vindicated the family, they say it will never be able to bring back their sister, partner, and the twins' mother.

"Were glad that the jury agreed that Mauras death was preventable," said Maura's brother John Gallagher. "This verdict means Mauras children will know that human failure caused her death."

Related: Nursing Influencer Hailey Okula's Cause of Death Revealed After She Dies Due to 'Complications from Childbirth' of First Baby

Maura's partner, Max, says that eight years later, the twins are thriving as they celebrate their 8th birthday, but the hole left by Maura's loss can never be filled.

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Our beautiful children have a wonderful life. They are happy, funny, and smart, but I think about what Maura has missed and is missing all the time," he says. "It is so unfair, but she is with them and all of us every day.

He adds, "We hope that telling her story will help prevent another tragedy like this  and spare the life of another woman and another family the same pain."

Courtesy of the Gallagher Family Maura Gallagher's family, Erin O'Rourke, Max DiDoro, and John Gallagher at her twin's christening Maura Gallagher's family, Erin O'Rourke, Max DiDoro, and John Gallagher at her twin's christening

A spokesperson for Stamford Health tells PEOPLE, "Stamford Health is very sorry for the Gallagher familys loss, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to them. We are, of course, disappointed with the jurys verdict, which we feel is entirely inconsistent with the evidence. We still believe that there is absolutely no basis for any claim that Stamford Hospital, nor any of its physicians, failed to provide appropriate care. Providing high-quality care is our top priority, and we continue to uphold that commitment.

Meanwhile, Erin says the family will celebrate Maura this coming Mother's Day the way they always do: Remembering the bright light that she was.

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"Our love for Maura and her children provides all of us with the strength and resolve we need to keep going," Erin says. "She was warm, funny, bright, and beautiful, and we can't adequately express how much we miss her."





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The human remains of a sex offender have reportedly been found in the New Hampshire

According to reports, a body was found in a shed across the street from a state prison facility

An autopsy identified the remains as Michael Schilz







The human remains of a sex offender have reportedly been found.

According to ABC affiliate WMTV, police were alerted about the remains on April 21 after a man found the materials in a shed across the street from the New Hampshire State Prison.

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Per ABC affiliate WMUR, on Monday, May 5, an autopsy said the remains belong to 59-year-old Michael Schilz. The Department of Corrections confirmed that Schilz was a convicted sex offender on parole.

According to reports, the remains had likely been at the location for a while.

Per the Concord Monitor, Lt. Thomas Yerkes said that it was possible the remains have been in the area for as long as years due to the condition of the skeletons.

A cause of death has currently not been determined and charges have not been made yet, Yerkes told the outlet.

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.

NH Department of Corrections Michael Edward Schilz wanted poster Michael Edward Schilz wanted poster

PEOPLE has contacted the Conrad Police Department, while NH Department of Corrections told PEOPLE they did not have a comment at this time.

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According to Concord Monitor, Schilz was "convicted in 2005 of aggravated felonious sexual assault on a minor."

Following his time in prison, he was released in December of 2021. He had also been wanted after violating his parole from his initial conviction, the outlet reported.

Per WMUR, Schilz, who officials said was homeless following his release, was one of the the Department of Corrections fugitives of the week in October 2023.

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The naming of the first U.S. pope prompted plenty of celebration in Central Illinois, heightened by the fact that the Catholic Church's new leader has roots just a few hours away.

At Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, students gathered in the auditorium May 8 to watch on a screen as Robert Prevost  taking the name Pope Leo XIV  addressed the tens of thousands who gathered at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

"There was a sense of unity and pure excitement throughout our building," said Sean Foster, president of Central Catholic High School in Bloomington.

Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago and educated in Michigan before serving at a church in St. Louis. He was a math and physics teacher at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago before becoming a missionary and later archbishop in Peru.

In a phone call with The Pantagraph on Friday, Foster said the students began jumping, chanting "USA" and "Leo," and showing excitement for the first American pontiff as they watched his election.

"It was just something I'll never forget. It's a historical moment in our church and a great moment in our school," Foster said.

Foster, who has been at Central Catholic for 10 years, said it was a beautiful reminder that people are part of something bigger than themselves, and "we are people full of hope, who are called to share our love of Christ with the world."

The school's chaplain, the Rev. Derick Mwesiga, shared the excitement.

"He is a good person and in his speech he mentioned that God loves all people and the Pope should be a bridge between the people and the Lord," Mwesiga said in a statement. "When this happens, we become united and we become one in our mission to become disciples.

When researching the new Pope, Foster said he came across a video dated about nine months back in which Prevost talked about the 2013 election of Pope Francis.

In the video, Prevost said Pope Francis came at a time when he was needed, just like Pope Benedict XVI before him, and Pope John Paul II before that, Foster recalled.

"It's really cool to see him say that, and now see the Holy Spirit say we really need Pope Leo," Foster said.

OSF HealthCare, a Catholic-affiliated health care system founded by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, also provided a statement after hearing the news: With hearts full of joy and hope, we join in prayerful gratitude with our brothers and sisters around the world as we recognize and welcome Pope Leo XIV.

OSF said Pope Leos election marks a new chapter in the life of the Church, and we give thanks for his faithful witness and willingness to serve in this sacred role.

May God bless Pope Leo XIV with many fruitful years of ministry, guiding him in wisdom and strength after the example of the Good Shepherd.

An Illinoisan pontiff

Some were also surprised by unexpected connections to the new pontiff.

That was the case for Hugh Sullivan, a Decatur resident who attended Saint Gabriel Catholic School in Chicagos Caneyville neighborhood. Growing up, he said, the pope always felt like a foreign entity, just so far away.

That changed dramatically on May 8, when he learned that the new pope's brother, John Prevost, had in fact been his childhood principal.

John Prevost held the role at Saint Gabriel from 1993 to 2004, according to a joint post from the school and the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Sullivan, multimedia director at Illinois State University, couldn't recall any personal interactions with the new pope, but remembered that Robert Prevost visited the school often, on account of his brother being the principal. Sullivan recalled knowing at the time that Robert Prevost was higher up in the clergy.

Sullivan said he never expected the pope to have been part of his church, a sentiment shared by many others from the congregation of that parish.

Thats wild to me, he said.

He described the new pope's brother as a great principal who was patient with Sullivan, a "class clown" in his grade school years. The two have stayed in touch.

One anecdote stood out: Once, when Sullivan's mother wanted to confront a teacher with whom she was angry, John Prevost talked to her and convinced her that he would handle the issue.

He talked me off a cliff, Sullivans mom had told her son of John Prevost.

My mom doesnt get talked off the cliff very often, said Sullivan. He was a good negotiator.

The Rev. Steven Loftus of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bloomington said he was pleasantly surprised" to learn an American had emerged from the conclave as the churchs chosen leader.

Although Loftus said he did not know much about the new pope, assuming he was "quite hidden under the radar," he expressed excitement for the American pontiff.

"I assume he is a White Sox fan, as he grew up on the South Side. Sox could use some help!," Loftus wrote in an email to The Pantagraph.

The Rev. Dustin Schultz of St. Patrick Church of Merna and Most Holy Eucharist also noted, "a lot of people are trying to find different connections, if he roots for the same sports teams we like, or went to school with a friend in Chicago.

"The important thing is to pray for the new pope that God gives him the grace and strength during this crazy time in his life. I've been praying for him amidst the personal excitement," Schultz said.

The Merna pastor continued, saying the election of the first American pope has been a "complete surprise."

He added that usually, when an American cardinal is being considered in discussions, he is quickly dismissed.

"To be from an hour and 45 minutes north from where we're at is pretty crazy," Schultz said.

'Commitment to social issues'

The selection was signaled May 8 by white smoke that poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. Rome time. The U.S. is home to 10 of the 133 cardinals who voted for the next pope. Among them was Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, who Francis made a cardinal in 2016.

Prevost chose Leo XIV for his papal name. Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903, softened Catholicisms confrontational stance toward modernity  especially science and politics  and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers rights and capitalism.

The name is a deep sign of commitment to social issues. I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome, said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of religious studies at Manhattan University in the Bronx.

The pontiff on May 8 stood on a balcony of St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, where he honored his predecessor and being "a church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer."

Elsewhere in Illinois

In Chicago, Catholics celebrated their native son's rise to becoming the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the church.

The bells pealed at Holy Name Cathedral as a crowd quickly gathered. Schoolchildren mingled outside, whooping and shouting. Bishop Larry Sullivan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, told a press conference that its an exciting day for the city and the country.

I would say the Chicago way is that we come together, we share our faith, he said.

The cathedrals rector, Father Gregory Sakowicz, said the sun came out in Chicago when the new pope was announced, a coincidence he described as Gods way of remaining anonymous.

He said he was happily shocked, and that he had a burning question: Is the new Pope a White Sox fan? A journalist said shed heard hes for the Cubs, and Sakowicz chuckled. God bless him, he said.

Brendan Denison, Kaitlyn Klepec, Mateusz Janik, Allison Petty and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
COWDEN, Ill. (WCIA)  A man from Shelby County was arrested for involuntary manslaughter following a deadly shooting on Wednesday.

Brian McReynolds, the Shelby County Sheriff said in a release that deputies were informed at 9:46 p.m. of a disturbance in progress in Cowden where a gun was fired. Sheriffs deputies and Cowden police officers responded to the scene.

Two people displaced after Taylorville home catches fire

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When they arrived at the reported location, they found 54-year-old Chad Perry of Mattoon dead. McReynolds said the shooter was 56-year-old Trent Buchanan; he was booked into jail on involuntary manslaughter but is not yet facing a formal charge from the States Attorneys Office.

The investigation into this shooting is ongoing. The victim was taken to the Shelby County Coroners Office for an autopsy. The Illinois State Police, Shelby County Coroner and the Shelby County States Attorney have been contacted to assist.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A hoax call stirred up the Tuscola community Thursday night, prompting a large law enforcement response.

Around 8:00 p.m. on May 8, the Taylor County Sheriffs Office responded to a call for service at a home on the west side of Tuscola. While there was no threat to the public, deputies asked residents to avoid the area due to the significant police presence.

Many concerned residents messaged KTAB/KRBC, prompting us to look further into the situation.

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Later Thursday night, the sheriffs office confirmed the residence had been cleared and the call was determined to be a hoax. Officials say there was never any danger.

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May 9Freeborn County's sheriff said Thursday he is certain there are "no serious human rights concerns" in the county's jail after a Mankato clergy group had questioned conditions there.

In a statement posted on social media, Sheriff Ryan Shea said he began receiving media questions Tuesday about a clergy group from Mankato that was going to visit the jail because of concerns.

He said at first he had no idea what the questions were about as the department has not had any complaints from the local inmates or the detainees being housed through Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

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On Wednesday, the group reached out to Jail Administrator Mike Stasko with questions.

Shea said their concerns were about food provided to the inmates, access to medical care, access to communication with family, access to sunlight, access to programming and some other general care questions.

Shea said hopefully the answers to their questions will alleviate their concerns about the quality of care received in the jail.

The administrator also pointed out the department's excellent ratings it has received each year during its ICE inspections. He was unable to answer questions directly related to the county's agreement with ICE.

"We at the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office are committed to treating people with dignity no matter our encounter with them," Shea said. "We take pride in the work we do and always strive to provide professional service to the community."
Researchers have discovered the likely location of a Dutch ship that sank off the coast of Australia over 150 years ago.

The Koning William de Tweede was an 800-ton ship that was sailing near Robe, South Australia when it sank in June 1857. Hundreds of Chinese miners had disembarked from the vessel just days before the sinking, the Australian National Maritime Museum said on social media.

The ship was sailing with 25 crew members when it sank, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Sixteen of the crew members died in the sinking, ABC reported.

The Koning Willem de Tweede. / Credit: Eric van Straaten / Australian National Maritime Museum

The museum began working with Silentworld Foundation, which studies Australia's maritime history, as well as Flinders University and South Australia's Department for Environment and Water. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands also supported the research efforts, the museum said.

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Dr. James Hunter, with the maritime museum, told ABC that researchers found parts of the ship on the seabed of Guichen Bay. Those parts included the ship's winch and iron components, Hunter said.

A component from the Koning Willem de Tweede. / Credit: Australian National Maritime Museum

The efforts to find the ship have been ongoing for about four years, the Silentworld Foundation said on social media. Poor visibility underwater hindered the work, Hunter told ABC. Researchers believed they had identified the ship in 2022, but it took until March 2025 to confirm the vessel's identity.

"The latest visit to Robe ... led to the probable identification of the shipwreck," the Silentworld Foundation said on social media. "The visibility was challenging, but still enough for the team to make this incredible call!"

A diver underwater near the Koning Willem de Tweede. / Credit: Australian National Maritime Museum

The maritime museum said on Facebook that future monitoring will be done at the site. Those visits will assess the site and work to "uncover more of this important piece of maritime history," the museum said.

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The waters off Australia's coast are littered with shipwrecks and several have been found in recent months.

Last July, Australian scientists pinpointed the final resting place of the Noongah, a huge freighter that sank in rough seas in 1969, killing 21 of the 26 crew members on board.

Three months before that, a small underwater drone located a century-old vessel in a region known as a "ship graveyard" off Australia's coast. That discovery came just weeks after an expedition found the wreck of the coal steamship SS Nemesis off Australia's coast, more than a century after it sank.

Did the conclave pick a front-runner to be new pope?

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police are investigating a shooting near Riverview Middle School, which was placed on lockdown on Thursday.

At 3:32 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the area of Modder Avenue and Castex Street.

Photo by WREG Photo by WREG

Police say no injuries were reported, and the driver crashed into a pole and fled the scene.

Officers say they are checking the area for a suspect. This is an ongoing investigation.

Memphis Shelby County Schools said during afternoon dismissal, there was an off-campus shooting near Riverview Middle School.

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Next step for Tyre Nichols family: $550M civil lawsuit that could bankrupt city

While the incident did not take place on school grounds, staff responded immediately by bringing all student walkers back into the building as a precaution, said MSCS in a statement. The school was placed on a brief lockdown to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

Neighbors say they believe the suspect was a 13-year-old, but MPD has not confirmed a suspect.

Neighbors also say the crash caused their power to go out, and crews are working to restore power in the area.

A neighbor said its important for parents to be more present for their kids and the youth.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man involved in a Memphis shooting spree that left two people hospitalized last week has been identified as an undocumented immigrant, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Enoc Martinez, 24, is from Honduras. DHS says the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer against Martinez after the shooting spree.

Enoc Martinez_Courtesy of MPD

Martinez was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder, five counts of employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, evading arrest on foot, intentionally evading in an auto, and domestic assault.

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They said Martinez illegally entered the U.S. in June 2014 as an unaccompanied minor, and he was apprehended by Border Patrol and was turned over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and then placed with a sponsor in Memphis, TN. He was issued a final order of removal in 2022.

ORIGINAL: MPD: Shooting spree leaves 2 people hospitalized

Martinez was accused of taking part in the following incidents:

At 12:03 p.m., a shooting occurred in the 3600 block of Faxon Avenue.

Officers found a male victim who was later taken to Regional One in critical condition.

The suspect fled the scene in a silver Ford Edge.

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At 12:15 p.m., police said the suspect proceeded to travel into the area of Sam Cooper and White Station Road, where the suspect allegedly shot a driver.

The male victim was driven by a private vehicle to Baptist East in non-critical condition.

How Chattanooga jury impacted verdict in Tyre Nichols case

At 12:18 p.m., the suspect, while driving on I-240 and Walnut Grove Road, allegedly shot at a vehicle.

A male victim was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.

At the same time, another driver reported that she was on I-240 southbound near Walnut Grove when the occupant of a silver Ford SUV allegedly shot at her. The victim said that the suspect fired one round at her out of his passenger side window.

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The victim followed the silver Ford Edge until it exited onto Perkins Road.

At approximately 12:21 p.m., officers located the silver Ford Edge at South Perkins Road and Showcase Boulevard.

Remains of missing woman found in Dyer County after 3 years

Officers initiated a traffic stop using blue lights and sirens when the driver refused to stop fleeing from officers.

After a brief pursuit, the suspect later crashed out in the area of Hickory Hill and Raines Road.

He fled on foot before being placed into custody. Officers located a black handgun outside the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver was identified as Enoc Martinez.

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The investigation revealed that Martinez was solely responsible for each incident.

According to an affidavit of complaint, Martinez got into a fight with his sister over the phone about a vehicle before the Faxon shooting.

The sister said Martinez threatened to kill her, and a few minutes later, she heard gunshots outside and saw Martinez leave in her sisters Silver Ford Edge.

MPD said Martinez made a spontaneous utterance to investigators stating, the people were trying to kill me, and thats why it happened today.

Martinez is being held on a $1M bond.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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NUUANU, Hawaii (KHON2)  Honolulu police are on the lookout for the suspect involved in a shooting in the Nuuanu area.

Outrageous: Hawaii Sen. Schatz on Maui ICE investigation

Around 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, HPD said officers responded to reports of shots fired near Nuuanu Avenue and N. Kuakini Street.

According to police, there was an altercation between a male and multiple victims when the males friend started shooting at the victims.

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Following the shooting, the suspect then fled the scene in a black BMW. No injuries have been reported.

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HPD secured the area around 1:45 p.m. to investigate and reopened the roads around 4 p.m.

Police have opened an attempted murder in the first degree investigation and advise anyone who sees the vehicle to stay away and call 911.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Anyone with information is asked to call Honolulu police or CrimeStoppers at (808) 955-8300.

This is a developing story. KHON2 will update as details become available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Roman Catholics around the world are celebrating the election of their new leader. Catholics in the United States were particularly excited, as Chicago-born Cardinal Robert F. Prevost became the first American Pope. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

The leader of the Catholic Diocese of Shreveport, Bishop Francis Malone, postponed mass on Thursday afternoon, so everyone could watch the announcement from Vatican City. He said the papal conclaves decision to elect Cardinal Prevost came as a shock.



For those of us from the United States, who were familiar with Cardinal Prevost, we were saying Prevost? An American?, said Bishop Malone. Theres that surprise, that shock because we were always at the time of a death of a Pope and the election of a new Pope that they say it will never be an American only because of the political ramifications of being the greatest country in the world.

Worshippers who were gathered at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans acknowledged this significant moment.

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Pope Leo XIV celebrates first mass after historic election as successor to Pope Francis

Its very exciting and very emotional too, because I think, as the Bishop said, its not just a person that appears there. Its a pastor. Its like a father for us, said Julieta Roche of Shreveport.

Pope Leo follows the teachings of Saint Augustine and graduated from Villanova University near Philadelphia, one of only two Augustinian Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. His election as pontiff holds special significance for other Augustinians.

Being Augustinian it means a lot to us. So, theres a lot of digging that we still need to do; you know, trying to know him better, and seeing what his background is beyond being Augustinian, said Noemi Saybe, a Roman Catholic from Shreveport. Its more to it. Its more than the church. Its more about hope, and to see what it is that, with his guidance, we need to do locally. to serve our families.

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CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  He stole a work car, then turned around and lit a fire that engulfed the building in flames, now, a jury says he has to pay the price.

A Shreveport man accused of burglarizing his job and lighting the place on fire has officially been found guilty of simple arson.

The verdict came down Thursday, May 8, in Caddo District Court. A jury consisting of six men and six women took less than two hours to reach a unanimous decision, finding 23-year-old Cross McCray guilty as charged.

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Wanted, SPD search for Apple Pay crook with the last name Crooks

The fire happened back on December 20, 2022, at a business in the 4100 block of Curtis Lane. According to investigators, McCray broke in, stole a company vehicle, and before leaving, came back and set the building on fire.

Man wanted for strangling woman in Walmart parking lot

Shreveport fire crews responded around 3:15 a.m. and had the flames under control by just after 4:30. Fourteen units were called in. No injuries were reported, but the building was heavily damaged.

In court, jurors heard from the business manager, a fire investigator, a police fingerprint expert, and even McCrays father, who testified in his defense.

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McCray is set to be sentenced on June 17. He faces up to 15 years in prison at hard labor and a fine of up to $15,000.

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Vote Utah announced Thursday that signature verification for the HB267 referendum had been completed by state elections officials.

HB 267 referendum update. Signature verification is complete pic.twitter.com/PUnmNBO9wf  Vote Utah (@ElectionsUtah) May 8, 2025

At the end of the verification process, conducted under direction of the Utah Lieutenant Governors Office, 251,590 signatures had been verified and 73,136 signatures had been rejected.

There are a number of reasons why signatures may not get certified: signers may not be registered to vote, they may have written their address wrong, filled out the form incorrectly or their handwriting may be illegible.

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The number of verified signatures is far above the number required to certify a referendum and get it on the ballot. The required number of verified signatures is 140,748, a benchmark which officials say was reached on April 28.

County clerk offices across the state participated in the signature verification. The Salt Lake County Clerks Office verified signatures from over 115,000 registered voters in Salt Lake County, as well as an additional 20,000 signatures of registered voters from other Utah counties, according to a release from the Salt Lake County Clerk.

After the deadline to turn in signatures on April 16, and county clerks offices had 21 days to verify the signatures. That deadline was Wednesday.

Larry Littlefield passes down boxes full of signatures bound for submission to the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office supporting a referendum on HB267 at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Background on the HB267 referendum

HB267 was passed by the state Legislature in February and was one of the first bills signed by Gov. Spencer Cox. Shortly after the legislative session ended, the Protect Utah Workers coalition launched a signature-gathering effort to certify a referendum to repeal the law.

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On Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson issued a temporary stay of the law which was supposed to go into effect on July 1.

Under the temporary stay, the ban on public sector collective bargaining will stay paused until the lieutenant governor declares the referendum petition insufficient or the governor issues a proclamation putting the law into effect.

The law prohibits public sector collective bargaining, which is when a union acts as the sole collective bargaining agent for public employees with their employers.
(NewsNation)  The selection of Pope Leo XIV has made him the first Augustinian friar to be elected to lead the Catholic Church.

The Order of St. Augustine includes about 2,800 Augustinians in 47 countries throughout the world.

Who is new pope Cardinal Robert Prevost?

As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our university community and the global church. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason  between spirituality and wisdom, the Rev. Peter Donohue, president of Villanova University, said in a statement.

The Augustinian Order was created in 1244

The Augustinians are Catholic priests and brothers following in the footsteps of Christ and Saint Augustine since 1244, according to the Augustinian Vocations of North America.

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We serve God and His people in diverse ministries as pastors, educators, and missionaries, its website said.

Saint Augustine is known as the doctor of grace, the Rev. Robert Hagan, a friend of Leo, told NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas.

A core Augustinian value is friendship, he said.

The order is also known for charity and missionary work. Hagan said Leo embodies many teachings from the Augustinian Order.

The world is in for a real treat for him to now lead and shepherd the flock with those values, he said.

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was born in Chicago and spent his career ministering in Peru. He recently led the Vaticans powerful office of bishops and was promoted to cardinal in January 2023 by Pope Francis.

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In 1977, Prevost attended Villanova University, receiving a bachelors degree in math before attending the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago to get a diploma in theology.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, left, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, appears with, from left, Master of Ceremonies Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, and former Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican on May 8. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, left, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, appears on the central loggia of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican shortly after his election as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) FILE  New Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, stands for a portrait at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File) FILE  Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, leads the recitation of the Holy Rosary for Pope Francis health in St Peters Square at the Vatican, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) Pope Leos visit to Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL, in August, during which he celebrated a special Mass for the schools Celtic community Pope Leos visit to Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL, in August, during which he celebrated a special Mass for the schools Celtic community Pope Leos visit to Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL, in August, during which he celebrated a special Mass for the schools Celtic community Pope Leos visit to Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL, in August, during which he celebrated a special Mass for the schools Celtic community Faithful react after the announcement of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Faithful holds an American flag following the election of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) ope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peters Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peters Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen, and lived there for years, spending time as a missionary and archbishop. Francis brought Prevost to Rome in 2023 to be the head of the office that vets bishop nominations, a key role in the church.

Prevost speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, and can read in Latin and German, according to the National Catholic Report.

His first words outside St. Peters Basilica on Thursday translated to, Peace be with you all.

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Despite being the first American pope, Prevost did not use English during his speech.

When asked about Leos selection, President Donald Trump said, What greater honor can there be? Were a little bit surprised, and were happy.

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German submarine builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) intends to build two additional submarines for Singapore.

A contract has been signed for the construction of two more Type 218SG submarines, the company announced in the northern city of Kiel on Thursday.

This further increases TKMS's record order book, which currently stands at around 16 billion ($18.1 billion).

According to thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, "the order extension can be handled within existing capacities in Germany, despite high capacity utilization until the 2040s."

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In December 2024, the company received major orders worth billions, including four additional Type 212CD submarines for the German Navy, the new Polarstern research icebreaker, and funding for the project launch of the new F127 frigate generation.

Singapore already has four submarines built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in Kiel.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  With summer fast approaching and the temperatures rising, there are plenty of events taking place for Siouxlanders to attend.

The City of Sioux City held a press conference Friday morning announcing multiple events, including a new event. Its the Always Going To Be Me festival, meant to highlight the individuality, freedom, and resilience of local artists and musicians. The event will take place on Virginia Street between 3rd and 4th Streets on June 6.

An event taking place for the second time is the La Familia Summer Jam Block Party hosted by La Familia Nightclub. Headlining the party area are three Atlanta legends: Gorilla Zoe, Lil Scrappy, and Yung Joe. It takes place June 7 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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Downtown Partners announced a new event series called First Fridays. Taking place June 6, July 4, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, and Oct. 3, the series will highlight what downtown Sioux city has to offer by provide multiple activities, including Downtown Live and Food Truck Fridays.

Story continues below

Downtown Live is also returning to Sioux City this summer. The line up for the summer concert series was announced Friday morning. The concerts will take place on from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 6, July 4, Aug. 1, and Sept. 5.

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The Siouxland favorite of Food Truck Fridays is also returning. In its 10th year, Food Truck Fridays will start June 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Friday through August 29. The weekly event takes place every Friday in the summer and features a slew of local food trucks all in one place.

In addition to all the above events, the Sioux City Public Museum is hosting multiple events themselves. On top of the exhibits that will be on display, the museum is also hosting many family-friendly events, such as National Dinosaur Day, Floyd Monument and First Brides Grave Family Field Trip, and Kids Thursdays. More information about the museums events can be found here.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Sioux City Public Museum is hosting a cluster of events throughout this summer.

The first event being held this summer is the 34th Annual Sioux City History Projects Reception, and itll be followed by some family-friendly programs that focus on educating local participants. The details for each event can be seen below.

May 10

 Sioux City History Projects exhibition

 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

 Awards ceremony starts at 2 p.m.

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May 15

 History at High Noon: Dinosaurs of Hell Creek

 Dinosaur hunters Brian Buckmeier and Darren Maurer sharing stories, behind-the-scenes photos, and fossil adventures

 Starts at 12:05 p.m.

June 1

 National Dinosaur Day

 Meet a Dinosaur Hunter stamps are being handed out for those with Junior Dinosaur Hunter Field Notebooks.

 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

June 18 or June 21

 Family Class: Creatures of the Cretaceous

 Learn about the late Cretaceous period and its creatures

 June 18th: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 June 21st: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

June 19

 History at High Noon: Lakota Spirituality and Science

 Jerome Kills Small, an Oglala Lakota man, will share his experience growing up as a Native American. Hell talk about sacred sites and cover the spiritual aspects of water.

 Starts at 12:05 p.m.

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July 12

 South Bottoms and Combination Bridge Family Field Trip

 Explore these key Sioux City locations with a guided tour

 Starts at 10 a.m.

July 15 or July 19

 Family Class: Fossil Finders

 Learn about hunting dinosaurs, layers of geological time, tools used by hunters, and creating fossils.

 July 15th: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 July 19th: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

July 17

 History at High Noon: Jazz in Sioux City

 Visitors can learn about Sioux Citys jazz scene, spanning from the 1910s to the 1960s.

 Starts at 12:05 p.m.

August 2

 Floyd Monument and First Brides Grave Family Field Trip

 Explore these key Sioux City locations with a guided tour

 Starts at 10 a.m.

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Story continues below

Additionally, the museum will be holding Kids Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. twice a month in June and July. Its meant for families with young children. Below, weve listed the dates and topics per session.

Kids Thursday

June 12: Sioux City at Work

June 26 : Cowboy Round-Up

July 10 : Animal Stars of Sioux City

July 24: Claws, Teeth, and Dino Tales

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If you have any questions about the events listed above, contact the Sioux City Public Museum at 712-279-6174. You can also visit their website by clicking here.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Six people have been charged in connection with an alleged multi-national drug smuggling operation, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Kansas announced Friday.

The group is accused of using a commercial charter bus to transport liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia, Kansas.

Man found dead in parking garage in downtown Kansas City

According to court documents, the following defendants have been charged in federal court:

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Omar Villa Carranza, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia, Kansas

Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, 42, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia, Kansas

Troy Wagaman, 42, of Emporia, Kansas

Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, 28, of Emporia, Kansas

Moises Cervantes Sanchez, 67, of McAllen, Texas

Elizabeth Benitez, 33, of Emporia, Kansas

Theyre each charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Between March and April 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) noted a charter bus making multiple crossings into the United States from Mexico carrying few or no passengers.

Prosecutors say license plate reader information showed the bus traveling to Emporia every time before returning to Mexico. During one crossing, CBP officers conducted a secondary inspection and found several aftermarket anomalies, including bolts around the fuel tank that had been tampered with.

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Investigators learned that the buss destination was a rural property in the Emporia area.

When the bus again arrived at the U.S. border on May 4, a canine alerted officers to the presence of controlled substances. CBP took a sample of a substance found in the gas tank that tested as liquid methamphetamine, according to prosecutors.

The driver was allowed to proceed, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents followed the bus  which eventually arrived at the rural property.

The Emporia Police Department arrested Wagaman, Villa Carranza, Cruz Rodriguez, Cervante Sanchez and Ayala Rangel while the men were at the property or shortly after leaving. Benitez, who lived with Villa Carranza, was arrested at a different location.

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HSI, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Emporia Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hines are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, which streamlines efforts and resources from the Departments Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

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EMPORIA (KSNT)  Six people have been charged in connection with a drug smuggling operation to bring liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia.

The six defendants were charged on one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to a press release from the U.S. District Attorneys Office of Kansas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made note of a charter bus making multiple crossings into the U.S. from Mexico with no passengers between March and April this year, according to the District Attorneys Office. A license plate reader showed the bus was traveling to Emporia for each trip before going back to Mexico.

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CBP officers performed an inspection on the bus and found anomalies like bolts around the fuel tank that were tampered with, according to the District Attorneys Office.

A canine alerted on the bus on May 4, 2025. The CBP took a sample from the gas tank and found evidence of liquid methamphetamine, according to the District Attorneys Office. The driver was allowed to continue and Homeland Security agents followed the bus back to a rural property in Emporia.

Kansas machine gun constitutionality case moving forward

The Emporia Police Department later arrested five individuals at the rural property and another man who was living at a different location in connection to the investigation. Two of the individuals who were arrested are Mexican nationals. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative to address illegal immigration, according to the District Attorneys Office.

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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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LANCASTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Six people were arrested Tuesday stemming from a series of undercover drug purchases by Lancaster County law enforcement.

According to the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, there was a narcotics search warrant carried out in the 1400 block of Crestfield Drive on the north side of Lancaster. Investigators with the Multijurisdictional Narcotics Task Force reportedly recently made two controlled buys of suspected methamphetamine from 54-year-old Scott Veld Duncan, who lived at the home.

Early Tuesday morning, Task Force investigators along with members of the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office served the warrant. Officers say Duncan, his daughter Samantha Duncan, 33; Brittney Carnevale, 33; and James Walters, 43, were reportedly inside the home where investigators allegedly found:

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Suspected fentanyl,

Methamphetamine,

Gabapentin,

Trazadone,

Marijuana, and

Digital scale.

Fallen South Carolina officers inducted into law enforcement Hall of Fame

Two people  Jessica Sims, 35, and George Twitty II, 43  were found in a camper on the property and were also detained.

The home is a short distance from the University of South Carolina-Lancaster campus, bring the proximity-to-a-school charges.

This address was very familiar to us, and we have been getting complaints about drug activity there for some time, said Sheriff Barry Faile. Our Task Force investigators put together a very successful operation to make buys from Scott Duncan and get enough evidence for a search warrant. We were a little surprised about the number of people on the property when the drugs were found and are pleased we could make the charges we did.

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All six suspects were arrested and transported to the Lancaster County Detention Center. Here are each of their charges:

Scott Duncan

Two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine,

Two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in Proximity to a School,

Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,

Possession of Gabapentin without a Prescription,

Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and

Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in Proximity to a School

Bonds were set totaling $87,500, and Duncan remains in the detention center.

Samantha Duncan

Possession of More than 2 Grains of Fentanyl.

Bond was set at $2,500, but she was also served with a General Sessions bench warrant for failing to appear on a shoplifting charge and remains incarcerated.

Carnevale

Possession of Methamphetamine and was released Wednesday after posting a $2,000 bond.

Sims

Possession of Tramadol Hydrochloride (Trazadone).

She was released on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond.

Twitty

Possession of Methamphetamine and remains in jail on a $3,000 bond and a detainer from the Rock Hill Police Department for a driving offense.

Walters

Two counts of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Contraband

Suspected Methamphetamine was allegedly found on him when he was booked into the detention center.

Bond was set at $26,000, but he has a detainer from Union County, North Carolina, for a probation violation. He is still in the detention center.

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Islamabad, Pakistan  On Wednesday evening, as Pakistan grappled with the aftermath of a wave of missile strikes from India that hit at least six cities, killing 31 people, the countrys military spokesperson took to a microphone with a chilling warning.

When Pakistan strikes India, it will come at a time and place of its own choosing, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in a media briefing. The whole world will come to know, and its reverberation will be heard everywhere.

Two days later, India and Pakistan have moved even closer to the brink of war.

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On Thursday, May 8, Pakistan accused India of flooding its airspace with kamikaze drones that were brought down over major cities, including Lahore and Karachi. India confirmed the drone assault, but said it was responding to a provocation from Pakistan  missiles and drones launched towards cities and air defence systems in India and Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan denied that charge, and subsequent accusations of missile and drone attacks on parts of Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday night.

With Pakistan denying any missile or drone strikes against India, Chaudhrys warning of upcoming retribution remains alive, hovering over the 1.6 billion people of South Asia, 17 days after armed gunmen killed 26 male civilians in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, triggering the current escalation.

Experts say how Pakistan responds will likely be shaped by its desire to demonstrate that it can hurt India, without pushing the crisis over the edge into a full-blown conflict.

We are still far away from a war, but we are much closer than we were 24 hours ago, said Christopher Clary, assistant professor of political science at the University at Albany.

India launched several drones inside Pakistani territory, targeting urban centres in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and other cities, on May 8, 2025 [Imran Ali/Reuters]

Next target: Military bases?

Clary said that the next logical escalatory step for both countries might be to target each others military bases.

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We have already seen this with air defence-focused strikes, Clary told Al Jazeera, referring to the Indian drone attacks that tried to target Pakistani radar systems overnight on May 7-8, and New Delhis claims that Pakistan launched missiles and drones towards its military facilities.

But I fear other strikes are likely in the next 24 hours. I think we are still several days from de-escalation, Clary said, adding that more deaths are likely.

India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since gaining independence from British colonial rule in August 1947, especially over the scenic Kashmir Valley in the northwestern subcontinent. Both control parts of it, with China in control of two thin slices. India claims all of Kashmir, while Pakistan claims all of Kashmir except the parts held by China, its ally.

They have fought multiple wars over Kashmir. The last major escalation occurred in February 2019, when India accused Pakistan of supporting armed groups responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian soldiers in Pulwama, in Indian-administered Kashmir.

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In response, India crossed the border for the first time since the 1971 war, launching air strikes in Balakot, Pakistans northwest, claiming to have hit terrorist infrastructure and having killed hundreds of fighters.

Pakistan countered that the area was a forest and reported no casualties. It responded the next day with its own fighter jets, leading to a dogfight and the downing of an Indian jet. The captured pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, was later returned to India, easing tensions.

Kamran Bokhari, senior director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, DC, called the current situation much more dangerous than in 2019.

India, he said, appeared to be locked into an escalatory spiral.

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In case Pakistan makes a move, India will respond and up the ante, he said.

This is a new situation for Pakistan. For the military to say that it will respond in a time of its own choosing suggests they want to think it through, to strike in a manner that does not lead to escalation. But how that materialises is a function of capability and constraint.

The mosque in Muridke city in Punjab was one of the several locations hit by Indian missiles on May 7, 2025, as Indian struck Pakistan [Abid Hussain/Al Jazeera]

A deliberate response

It took India 12 days to respond to the Pulwama killings with the Balakot strike in 2019. In the current conflict, the Indian response took even longer, 15 days, via Operation Sindoor, which struck multiple Pakistani cities, including ones in Punjab, close to the Indian border.

Some analysts argue that while Pakistan has so far calibrated its response diplomatically and militarily, the drone strikes on Thursday morning marked a serious escalation.

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The military is expected to respond in a manner that is firm and resolute, drawing on both public and political support. The scale of Pakistans response will be quite telling, said Arsla Jawaid, associate director at global consulting firm Control Risks, while speaking to Al Jazeera.

She said Pakistan is likely to opt for precision strikes targeting Indian military assets while avoiding civilian casualties.

This could issue a decisive response while minimising further escalation. The latter will be a critical calculation in any Pakistani response, she added.

Sahar Khan, a Washington, DC-based security analyst focused on South Asia, agreed that Pakistan will definitely respond.

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Khan said India had crossed several red lines, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam attack, and launching missile and drone attacks. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), mediated by the World Bank and signed in 1960, governs the distribution of Indus River waters, critical for millions across the subcontinent, particularly in Pakistan.

The question is, what will they [the Pakistani military] target? That will determine the escalation dynamics and the eventual off-ramps, she told Al Jazeera.

I think Pakistan will retaliate, showcasing its military capabilities. Its defence systems remain intact, and that is an added incentive to respond, Khan added.

Who blinks first?

With brinkmanship at its peak and both sides locked in aggressive posturing, the greatest fear remains that even a small miscalculation could lead to a fully fledged war between two nations with more than 150 nuclear weapons each.

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Bokhari warned that Indias strikes in Punjab, Pakistans most populous and prosperous province, marked a dangerous precedent.

By attacking Punjab, which was almost unthinkable, India has now made this the new normal. This is a real slippery slope, he said.

Jawaid concurred, noting that drone strikes on Pakistani urban centres also suggest a shift in red lines.

That opens the door to a sustained and heightened risk of escalation, which is deeply problematic due to the risk of miscalculation on both sides. We are in a case of who blinks first, she said.

But Khan believes that there are a few potential off-ramps.

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The first is the international community, such as the US, China, and Russia, urging restraint. The second is for India and Pakistan to show willingness to redefine red lines, like India agreeing to the IWT again and Pakistan agreeing not to strike Indian military targets, she said.

Jawaid, however, warned that even if India and Pakistan avoid a war, their already deeply strained equation has changed  theres a new normal that will define it.

The longer this is sustained, the more challenging it becomes, she said. The bilateral relationship is already fraught with heightened tensions, which will continue even if the current conflict settles down, especially due to unresolved issues around natural resources and Kashmir, which remains a flashpoint.
(Reuters) -Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Friday his country wanted to develop relations with Russia, and he derided those in the European Union who he said created obstacles to his attendance at World War Two commemorations in Moscow.

Fico broke ranks with the EU by visiting Moscow late last year, more than two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin late on Friday evening following the Red Square parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

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China's Xi Jinping was among several dozen leaders at the commemorations, but nearly all Western leaders stayed away.

Fico arrived after a circuitous journey made necessary by EU members' barring his aircraft from their airspace.

"As a head of government, I want to assure you that it is in my interest to have pragmatic relations with the Russian Federation," Russian news agencies quoted Fico as telling Putin.

He said he opposed the creation of any new "iron curtain and pledge to do everything so that we can shake hands across a curtain".

"Let us consider as a childish joke all the technical problems we confronted, created by our European Union colleagues."

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Putin said Russia appreciated Fico's decision to attend despite the "logistical obstacles that were created. But you are nonetheless here."

Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, had criticised Fico's attendance at the Moscow ceremonies. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said attending the victory parade and "applauding President Putin...brings shame to everyone who is there."

In a response to Kallas' comments on Facebook, Fico said he was paying tribute to Soviet Red Army soldiers who had liberated Slovakia in the war. Kallas had no right to criticise him, Fico said, as it was normal to hold a dialogue with other leaders.

Fico also told Putin he was prepared to use a national veto to oppose plans by the 27-nation EU to phase out Russian energy purchases should the proposal come up for a unanimous vote.

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But under the European Commission's legal proposals due in June, approval would require a qualified majority of member states - which means one or two countries could not block the plan and Slovakia would likely be outvoted.

Slovakia and Hungary had earlier voiced opposition to the plan. Fico described the proposal as "simply economic suicide".

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Leslie Adler)
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  An open letter to Burlingtons mayor named ten specific concerns about the future of the downtown neighborhood, including the condition of local parking garages, public nudity, and the safety of children.

A coalition of over 80 small business owners and other people Friday addressed the letter to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, saying that safety, cleanliness, and public accountability need urgent improvement in downtown Burlington for it to remain the vibrant, welcoming, and locally-owned heart of the Queen City.

While newer ventures have come and gone, reads the letter, we have remainedthrough COVID, economic hardship, and an increasingly difficult downtown environment. But even we have limits.

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The letter emphasizes safety above all and asks for a consistent security presence in parking garages and on Church Street itself. Among the letters suggestions are clearer signage near the construction project on Main Street, a cleanup program for needles, and the relocation of Food not Copss free lunch program from the Cherry Street parking garage.

Burlingtons Church Street was first conceived by architecture student Bill Truex who in 1962 witnessed the transformation of downtown Copenhagen, Denmark from a traffic-snarled nightmare into a lively, successful pedestrian mall. With help from Burlington voters and then-senator Patrick Leahy, the Church Street Marketplace was opened to the public in 1981 and then expanded in 1994.

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Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, on Friday laid wreaths at Soviet memorials in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, while pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian groupings held rallies.

Nechayev visited both the huge Soviet memorial in Treptower Park, in the former East Berlin, and the site in Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate, which was part of the city's western sector.

In Russia, the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany is commemorated on May 9, while in Europe the war's end is celebrated on May 8.

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The Russian ambassador was accompanied by representatives of other states that were once Soviet republics, as well as bodyguards.

He later hosted a reception at the Russian embassy. Among the attendees were several current and former lawmakers from Germany including former GDR head of state Egon Krenz, former Left Party chairman Klaus Ernst who is now part of the new BSW party, and Sevim Dagdelen, also formerly of the Left Party.

The diplomat wore a St George's ribbon on his lapel, which is considered a symbol of Russian nationalism.

The Berlin police had banned the wearing of the ribbon, as well as the display of other pro-Russian flags and symbols, near the Soviet memorials but diplomats and veterans of the Allied powers of World War II are exempt from these restrictions.

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The ambassador's actions came as Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the war's end with a massive military parade in Moscow.

Pro-Russian biker group present

Some members of the pro-Russian Night Wolves biker gang were also seen at the Treptow memorial.

A small group laid a wreath there in the morning. Following police instructions, they removed their vests with insignia, according to a police spokeswoman.

They were due to gather at the other memorial, in Tiergarten, later in the day, but later, most cancelled their plans after speaking with the police.

The Night Wolves, seen as extreme nationalists, are considered supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

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Only some 50 headed to the city centre and laid wreaths at the memorial. They then planned to go to the Treptower Park memorial, a police spokeswoman said. She noted the police would be there through until the evening to prevent any disturbances.

Isolated protests over war

Ukrainian supporters protested against Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in front of the embassy on Unter den Linden, at Treptower Park and at the Soviet memorial near the Brandenburg Gate.

Meanwhile around 1,200 people took part in a pro-Russian demonstration at the memorial in Tiergarten, police said.

Split up into smaller groups, the demonstrators laid flowers at the memorial.

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A police cordon prevented clashes with a small group of Ukrainian demonstrators, according to the police, who noted the pro-Russian demonstrators mostly complied with the ban on flags, symbols and slogans.
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Police Chief Willie Armstrong has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of destroying or changing an audio recording from an investigation into a decades-old cold case in the small Catawba County town of Brookford.

On Thursday, the chief made a court appearance, waiving his right to a court-appointed attorney because he has already hired a lawyer.

Armstrong walked away from Queen City News on Thursday outside the Catawba County Courthouse, not saying a word on camera. Instead, letting a statement speak for him, where his attorney says Armstrong is not guilty.

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Woman sentenced for DWI crash that killed Hickory teenager

Armstrong smiled in his mug shot on a felony charge of altering, destroying, or stealing criminal evidence and a misdemeanor of willfully failing to discharge duties.

I dont believe theyll hold up in court, said Brookford Mayor Thomas Schronce.

Schronce doesnt believe the claims that Armstrong destroyed or altered an audio recording from October of last year in the investigation into a 1992 cold case, the murder of 13-year-old Dee Dee Dawkins.

I dont think theres anything to it because if there had been anything on that phone, he would have kept it, he wouldnt have deleted it, said Schronce.

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The Catawba County Sheriffs Office says a Brookford police officer came to them last November and reported allegations of criminal activity by Chief Armstrong.

The sheriffs office says they gave that information to the SBI and the District Attorneys Office, and after that, they have not been involved in the investigation into Armstrong.

Mayor Schronce says Armstrong is on paid leave following his arrest Wednesday.

Well, with the town, Im going to keep him. I dont want to get rid of him because hes a good police officer, said Schronce.

The mayor says the town board will decide whats next at its meeting on June 16. According to the Brookford website, the town covers 4 square miles just south of Hickory and has just 441 residents.

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Armstrongs attorney, Harold Cogdell Jr., released the following statement Thursday:

Brookford (NC) Police Chief Willie Armstrong has never altered, destroyed, or stolen evidence. Chief Armstrong has never failed to discharge his duties as a law enforcement officer. Willie Armstrong has spent the last eight years serving as an EMT and law enforcement officer seeking nothing more than to work hard and protect others with integrity and compassion. It is apparent that the decision to charge Chief Armstrong is neither rooted in the law nor supported by credible evidence. Chief Armstrong eagerly awaits his trial date and looks forward to all facts related to these charges being brought to light.

The Catawba County Sheriffs Office released the following statement:

On November 7th 2024, our office received information from a Brookford Police Officer. Contained in that information were allegations of criminal activity by the Chief of Brookford Police Department. Our office reported that information to the SBI and District Attorney as we were obligated to do. Since making that report, our office has had no further involvement in that criminal investigation and is not otherwise connected to that matter. Any allegations or claims of misconduct made by Chief Armstrong are false and completely without merit. Our office will continue to rely on the criminal justice system to handle this matter accordingly. Our office has been requested by the District Attorney to partner with the SBI in furtherance of the investigation into the murder of Dee Dee Dawkins. We are jointly investigating.

Scott Reilly, the District Attorney for Catawba County, sent Queen City News this statement:

As District Attorney for Catawba County, I want to provide clarity regarding my role and actions of my office in the matter involving Brookford Police Chief Willie Armstrong and the investigation into the 1992 murder of DeeDee Dawkins. In instances where a public official is accused of criminal misconduct it is my practice to refer those cases to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys for an independent review. In November 2024, upon learning of potential misconduct by Chief Armstrong related to the DeeDee Dawkins case, I immediately referred that case to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys for review. My office has had no further involvement and is not connected to the criminal investigation or prosecution of Chief Armstrong in any way. However, recognizing the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of preserving the integrity of the underlying murder investigation, I directed that the DeeDee Dawkins murder investigation be turned over to the Catawba County Sheriffs Office and the Cold Case Unit of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. These agencies have taken over all investigative responsibilities moving forward. This coordinated effort ensures that the most skilled and experienced investigators are engaged in bringing justice to DeeDee Dawkins and closure to her family. I believe it would be wholly inappropriate  legally and ethically  for Chief Armstrong, who has been indicted and under investigation for possible misconduct related to the DeeDee Dawkins case, to remain involved in the case. This is not a matter of personal preference nor retaliation. It is a matter of professional responsibility and legal integrity. Our actions were guided by these principles from the outset. On May 5, 2025, a Catawba County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Chief Armstrong in relation to his handling of matters in the DeeDee Dawkins case. Because the prosecution is now being handled independently, and out of respect for the ongoing legal proceedings, I will not comment further on the facts of the case. Our office remains committed to transparency, fairness and upholding the rule of law, and we will continue to support the proper administration of justice in Catawba County.

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SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  The Smith County Sheriffs Office is looking for a man in connection with two burglaries.

Dead men cant testify: East Texas judge accused of coercing plea with death threat

The sheriffs office said Wayne Nathaniel Nate Hooser is wanted for burglary of habitation at a residence and burglary of a building in Lakeway Harbor. Hooser was arrested in the past for burglary of a building, failure to ID fugitive from justice and criminal trespass.

Photo of Wayne Nathanial Nate Hooser, courtesy of Smith County Sheriffs Office

Those who have information regarding Hoosers whereabouts can contact Detective Justin Eakin by phone at 903-590-2969 or email at JEakin@smith@smith-county.com. The Smith County Sheriffs Office is also available at 903-566-6600.

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A social media account under the popes name repeatedly criticized the Trump administration  and especially Vice President JD Vance  in the months and years before assuming the papacy.

A series of posts under an account for Robert Prevost  now the Bishop of Rome and newly anointed as Pope Leo XIV  shows the Chicago-born Cardinal reposting an op-ed criticizing Vance on his interpretation of his faith, and the strict immigration policies that Vance along with President Donald Trump have touted.

POLITICO has not been able to independently confirm the authenticity of the account. The Vatican press office, the Vaticans embassy to the U.S, the Midwestern Augustinians and the diocese in Chicago and Peru did not respond to questions.

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The account in mid-April reposted someone elses rebuke to Trumps meeting in the Oval Office with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, and pointed to an op-ed by auxiliary Catholic Bishop Evelio Menjivar of Washington, D.C., highlighting the suffering of migrants summarily deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador.

Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? the op-ed that Prevost reposted reads.

In a more pointed example, the account in February posted an opinion piece from the National Catholic Reporter, a liberal-leaning Catholic newspaper, titled: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

Catholics are the single largest Christian denomination in the United States, and Trump heavily courted Catholics in key states in order to win the 2024 presidential election. Trump also named several Catholics  in addition to Vance  to high-ranking Cabinet positions. Pope Francis, who died on April 21, regularly criticized the Trump administration and at one point pointedly scolded Vance for his interpretation of church teaching around love.

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In several tweets dating back to the 2016 presidential campaign and Trumps first term in office, the account demonstrated a strong opposition to the death penalty and to Trumps rhetoric, while signaling support for gun control and a more welcoming immigration system.

Its time to end the death penalty, the account tweeted in March 2015.

In 2017, the account retweeted a post by Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D), in which Murphy pressured his fellow Senators to act on gun control and wrote, your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers.

In that same year, the account retweeted a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemning hate in response to the deadly white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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And it reposted several tweets in May 2020 expressing sympathy for the family of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man whose killing by a police officer touched off massive protests that summer.

We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice, the account wrote in May 2020.

People also rushed to read the tea leaves of the new pope's electoral history. A person with his name and birthdate, registered to vote in the Chicago suburbs, cast ballots in the 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections.

The person also voted in the 2012, 2014, and 2016 GOP primaries, which Republicans highlighted to claim the new pope as one of their own.

Shia Kapos contributed to this story.
The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing administers and oversees many of Iowa's state licensing boards. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images; logo courtesy the State of Iowa)

An Iowa-licensed social worker accused of having personal or sexual relationships with two clients has agreed to surrender her license.

Earlier this year, the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals charged Stephanie A. Davies, formerly Stephanie A. Levy, with engaging in sexual activity with a former client within five years of the client relationship ending, and with having her social work license revoked in the state of Nebraska.

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Nebraska Bureau of Public Health records show the bureau revoked Davies Nebraska license as a master social worker and mental health practitioner in March 2024 for alleged immoral or dishonorable conduct, exploitation and failure to keep adequate records.

The Nebraska records indicate Davies was working in private practice as a mental health practitioner and was a leader in the Nebraska First Responders Support Network when the alleged violations occurred. The bureau alleges that while speaking to a therapist, Davies disclosed that in the fall of 2020, she had become attracted to a female first responder to whom she provided services between July 2019 and February 2022.

In February 2021, the bureau alleged, the first responder admitted to her ex-wife she was having an affair with Davies, and in September 2021, Davies and the first responder attended a wedding together as a couple. In January 2022, Davies allegedly moved out of the home she shared with her husband and, on occasion, began staying at the first-responders home.

According to the bureau, Davies admitted to a state investigator, I recognize that this is against the rules, I own it and, yeah, that is where we are at.

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As part of the Nebraska boards investigation of the matter, an investigator spoke to another of Davies clients who allegedly said he and Davies had once maintained a weird, blended relationship and that, yes, professional lines were probably crossed.

To resolve the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals charges against her, Davies recently agreed to surrender her license.

Social workers sanctioned by board

The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals recently sanctioned two other licensees:

 Michelle Munsen, a licensed mental health counselor who practiced in Sioux City, was employed at Stokes & Associates where she allegedly failed to create and complete the appropriate notes for counseling services she provided. The board charged Munsen with professional incompetence. To resolve the case, Munsen agreed to complete six hours of educational training on recordkeeping and the board issued her a warning.

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 Terris Sallis, a masters level social worker who practiced in Newton in 2024 when the board charged him with practicing outside the scope of his license. According to the board, Sallis owns his own practice, Integrated Treatment Services, which contracted with an independent social worker.

Under Iowa regulations, a masters level social worker cannot oversee the practice of independent social worker and cannot complete the clinical hours required for license when supervised by an employee due to the inherent conflict of interest. Sallis agreed to have his license placed on probation for three years and to complete at least 3,000 hours of additional clinical practice while overseen by a new clinical supervisor.
Hammered by Reform, its poll ratings in freefall, Labour will soon unveil its immigration masterplan.

It cannot come a moment too soon. The failure to control Britains borders is fuelling widespread public dismay and a sense of betrayal. No country can sustain net migration levels of 728,000, as the UK saw in the year to June 2024. Its pushing our crumbling public services to the brink.

Yet the early signs are that Labour will, at best, marginally tweak our useless system. This is in stark contrast to America and Europe, where the pendulum is swinging the other way, with immigration policies being dramatically hardened. There is a real danger that the UK could become the Wests weak link. The consequences for the country, and for Keir Starmer politically, could be dire.

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The fairytale of open borders has disintegrated. In many Western countries the penny is finally dropping that caring about the volume of immigration isnt simply a far-Right obsession. The idea that large-scale immigration can drive economic prosperity is no longer tenable: in practice, mass migration primarily benefits big businesses while depressing GDP per capita, increasing house prices and straining public services. Hopes that large influxes can defuse the Wests demographic timebomb have been dashed; immigrants swiftly adapt to low native fertility rates. The assumption that the tolerant West could absorb hundreds of thousands of newcomers from contrasting cultures without stoking community tensions or risking the rise of fundamentalist enclaves now looks deeply naive.

Yet still, Labour doesnt appear to have got the memo. How seriously can we take its vision to restore order to our broken immigration system, when the provisions in its forthcoming White Paper seem so modest? Some policies  migrants will have to be fluent in English and financially secure if they want to remain in Britain, for example  are so basic that it is flabbergasting they have not already been implemented.

And the plan is unlikely to include the two measures necessary to decisively cut legal migration: raising salary thresholds and establishing a legally-binding cap on migration.

If anything, Labour seems to be losing the limited momentum that Rishi Sunak gained towards the end of his premiership. In the year to June 2023, net migration exceeded 900,000, yet Labour have kicked into the long grass Tory plans to further increase the salary threshold for family members. Theyve also agreed a trade deal with India which could allow more Indian citizens to come to Britain and work, albeit temporarily as part of company transfers.

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This Government also lacks a robust, coherent plan to tackle illegal migration. When he came to power, Starmer shelved plans to send illegal migrants to Rwanda  leaving Britain without any concrete deterrence policy. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper seems to think a deal with France is a panacea, but French experts worry a breakthrough remains elusive.

As Camille Le Coz of the think tank MPI Europe told me: For France to play ball, the UK will likely have to create more legal pathways for migrants. Besides, France has always wanted to go for an EU approach. The French might be more inclined towards an arrangement whereby other Member States also cooperate with the UK, for instance on readmission. But working with the UK on migration is not a priority for other European countries, whose eyes are more on control at EU external borders.

This flabby response to an issue of such importance looks even more baffling when you consider how other Western countries are now responding. Illegal immigration across Americas southern border has plummeted around 94 per cent.

The big lesson for Britain is that illegal immigrants react to realities on the ground, a former Trump adviser told me. The US President is determined to use every lever in his power to ramp up deportations, whether that involves sending criminals to El Salvador or paying illegal migrants to leave. Trump may even eventually consider a systemic crackdown on employers who hire illegal immigrants  hitherto often a no-go area for Western politicians keen to keep corporate supporters on side.

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In Europe, Merkels fanciful open borders vision lies in tatters. Germany is tightening border controls and plans to turn back asylum seekers without papers. Even the attitude in Brussels has drastically shifted, with EU leaders actively considering detention centres in third countries and tougher border security forces in gateway countries like Tunisia and Libya. They may even be willing to look the other way as Greece pursues potentially illegal Mediterranean pushbacks and Italy deports migrants to Albania.

All the while, Britain flounders. Asylum hotel costs are spiralling. The number of small boat crossings have reached record levels. The great frustration is that there are many things we could do to bring this under control. We could renew the Rwanda plan. We could collaborate with other European countries, not just France, on pushbacks in the Mediterranean  a move that would not necessarily violate maritime law because the operations would be conducted in high seas rather than low water. It would also tackle the problem at source.

Instead, Labour are offering marginal tweaks to a broken system. Nigel Farages chances of becoming the next Prime Minister are increasing by the day.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas lawmakers are considering cracking down on a growing problem of scams and fraud related to solar panels.

In recent years, Texas has led the country in installing more new solar capacity than nearly every other state. However, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, told her colleagues she believes that positive development is being overshadowed by a rise in fraudulent and predatory residential solar panel sales practices.

A recent report from Texas Appleseed reviewed consumer complaints from recent years and confirmed skyrocketing rates of frauds, scams and consumer harms related to the solar industry. It found the number of complaints related to solar panels submitted to the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) increased by 818% from 2018 to 2023. The number submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) increased 576% during the same time frame.

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The report also found that many of the harmful practices targeted older Texans and people who are not native English speakers. They including misleading statements, false promises, forgeries of signatures or other deceptive practices used to execute financing contracts, according to Texas Appleseed.

Its why Zaffirini authored Senate Bill 1036, which aims to better regulate the solar industry and expands and provides more consumer protections.

Her proposal would require salespersons and companies to register with the state and provide proof of liability insurance to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The bill would also create standardized contracts for solar panels, ban deceptive trade practices, provide a cancellation period for customers and allow the state to penalize violators. Those penalties increase if a victim is over the age of 65.

The Senate passed the bill in April. In a hearing prior to its passage, State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, told his colleagues he had heard several stories about older people, in particular, in his district falling victim to this kind of fraud. He relayed a story about a woman in her seventies, convinced to sign a 30-year loan for the product.

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Andrea Earl, Associate State Advocacy and Outreach Director with AARP Texas, said the organization has heard countless similar stories. For example, one older person thought they were getting more information on solar panel installation, only to later realize they had signed a contract.

So, they used this tablet kiosk, signed it, and then they were locked into a 30-year contract that would essentially outlive them, with a ton of hidden fees and something they really could not afford to do, Earl said.

Earl said AARP Texas has been working to raise awareness about this and other types of fraud aimed at older Texans, often using technology such as artificial intelligence or cryptocurrency. However, regarding door-to-door sales scams, Earl said, Theres just a certain comfortability of somebody coming to your door and doing this, as well as just some of the language that they use. And so its really key for vulnerable adults and just vulnerable populations in general, to understand whats happening.

The bill also received support from the Texas Solar and Storage Association. Its executive director, Mark Stover, told lawmakers they want the industry to flourish in the state.

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Unfortunately some bad actors have given the industry a black eye, leaving consumers harmed along the way. Its time to tighten up regulations, expand consumer trust and ensure responsible home solar installations, Stover said.

Representatives from associations of electric and roofing contractors also testified in favor of the increased regulation.

On Friday, the House State Affairs committee will hear testimony SB 1036. KXAN will update this article after that hearing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The United States and Europe this week celebrated some form of Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day, to mark the 80th anniversary of Adolf Hitlers downfall and Nazi Germanys surrender to Allied forces.

Despite all the jubilation 80 years ago on May 8, 1945, however, there was still unfinished business to attend to. Soviet forces were already being transferred via Trans-Siberian Railroad to Japanese-held Manchukuo, a British army was battling its way into Burma (now Myanmar) and a Royal Navy task force was assisting its American allies in taking Okinawa, the last major island standing between the Allies and the receding empire of Japan. There, U.S. and Royal navies fought for survival against suicidal airmen, called kamikazes, while Japanese forces put up a stubborn fighting retreat designed to slow the Allied advance while inflicting as many casualties as possible.

Among the thousands involved in World War IIs last acts was Pfc. Clarence Byrle Craft, a rifleman in Company G, 2nd Battalion, 382nd Regiment, 96th Infantry Division. In May 1945, Crafts company was pinned in place on Okinawa by a 450-foot-high patch of high ground that the Americans called Hen Hill. It was a key chess piece that represented a potential breakthrough that the Americans were grimly determined to achieve and the Japanese were desperate to prevent. On May 31, 1945, Craft led several men on a reconnaissance of Hen Hill. What followed would exceed everyones expectations.

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Viet Cong targeted US officers  they hadnt counted on this sergeant

Craft was born in San Bernardino, California, on Sept. 23, 1921. His father died when he was around 8 years old and his mother was a cook in a restaurant chain, ultimately settling in Santa Ana. Craft worked as a ranch foreman until Sept. 15, 1944, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Before shipping out to the Pacific, he got married.

In April 1945, Craft arrived at Okinawa, where he experienced combat for the first time. On May 31, Craft checked what resistance Hen Hill still presented and was not far along when he got an answer  in the form of heavy gunfire and grenades, which wounded three of his troops. Standing up in full view of enemy forces, Craft advanced, shooting at any sign of hostile movement until hed driven Japanese troops into their trenches. Reaching the hilltop, he threw some grenades into the enemy positions

He was joined by his remaining troops who, following his lead, carried up cases of explosives. Between hurling explosives at enemy positions on the other side of the hillcrest, Craft directed his men as to where to lob their grenades. Craft then moved on to attack the main trench and, straddling a deep ditch, fired into it at point-blank range. He was chasing the stunned survivors as they fled when he came upon an enemy machine gun nest, which he eliminated with rifle and grenades.

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One of Crafts troops caught up to see him moving down the central trench to a camouflaged cave mouth and passed him a bag of explosives, which Craft threw into the cave  only to see it fail to detonate. Reaching down, Craft recovered the explosive, relit it and heaved it back into the cave. This time it blew, entombing any enemy troops seeking shelter there.

Craft was credited with at least 25 enemy kills, but many in his outfit opined that his seemingly suicidal advance to secure Hen Hill had unhinged the entire Japanese defensive line, hastening the Allied victory on Okinawa. Ironically, shortly afterward, Craft was withdrawn to Guam for two months, convalescing with typhoid fever.

Returning home in September 1945  after Japans surrender and the end of World War II  Craft trained soldiers at Fort Ord, near Monterey, California. On Oct. 12, he was called to the White House, where he received the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman alongside 14 other Medal of Honor recipients.

Craft was honorably discharged in 1946, but he soon reenlisted for several more years, encompassing the Korean War.

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In the 1960s, he moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he lived with his second wife and worked in construction. During that time, a janitor named Jim Wronski reportedly found Crafts Medal of Honor and Bronze Star citations in a trash can in Southern California and after 10 years of tracking him down, found him and returned them.

Craft spent some of his retirement working at the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which named its primary care unit after him in 1998.

Craft died on March 28, 2002, and is buried in the Fayetteville National Cemetery.
When Alex Denholtz woke up Wednesday morning, his mother was gone. Shed just celebrated her 63rd birthday.

Carolina Toradse-Denholtz died in a crash at US-1 and Pine Island Road near Nocatee

Her name was Carolina Toradse-Denholtz. Shed been killed in a crash at US-1 and Pine Island Road, near Nocatee. He found out from alerts he got to his phone saying his mom had been in a crash.

Carolina Toradse-Denholtz died in a crash at US-1 and Pine Island Road near Nocatee

She was the last person who deserved to die, and especially like this, said Denhotlz.

Denholtz came all the way from New York to Nocatee to be with his family. He recently found out St. Johns County had already had a traffic light planned at the intersection where his mom lost her life. He believes it could have prevented his mothers death.

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When is this going to happen? Denholtz asked, How many people have to die and suffer, how many more families have to be torn apart?

Florida Highway Patrol says the crash happened Wednesday at around 8:00 AM. The crash report says Denholtz was trying to turn onto US-1 from Pine Island Road when an SUV hit her from the left, causing her death. FHP says the driver of the SUV and the driver of the truck Denholtzs car hit after the crash werent seriously hurt.

Action News Jax found out St. Johns County got a $2.7 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to build a traffic light at the intersection. The county tells Action News Jax its already being built, but theres no set date its expected to be finished.

Rendering of new intersection traffic light at US-1 and Pine Island Road

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Both Denholtzs son and her best friend, Ellen Megan, believe the project could have prevented this crash if it had been done by now.

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How many people have to die or get injured or get hurt before they do something like this, Megan said.

Action News Jax reached out to Florida Highway Patrol and the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office to request the number of crashes, both deadly and non-deadly, that have happened at the intersection over the last three years. Were still waiting to hear back.

Denholtz is glad a light is being built, but says it should have been done sooner.

I keep thinking about my mother and how scared she might have been, Denholtz said, you never think its going to happen to you. I know people say that, but you dont.

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The Denholtz family tells Action News Jax a funeral is being planned for next Tuesday at 11:00 AM. Its set to be held at the San Sebastian Catholic Church in St. Augustine.

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Sen. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, speaks in the Senate during the chamber's organizational session on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, when he and other newly elected senators were sworn into office. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  An herbal substance used as both a stimulant and sedative will likely soon be illegal for anyone under 21 in South Carolina.

The two psychoactive compounds in kratom, which comes from the leaves of a tree in Southeast Asia, can provide energy in low doses or mimic the effects of opioids in large doses. Lawful and unregulated, the potentially dangerous drug is available for anyone to buy at stores statewide.

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Legislation sent Thursday to Gov. Henry McMaster would change that.

The bill approved unanimously in both chambers would ban stores from selling kratom to anyone under 21 and from displaying kratom products in a place where minors can access them.

While kratom products, often sold in capsules or gummies, would still be legal for adults, the bill sets requirements for the packaging. The containers must have clear labeling that includes ingredients, the amount of kratom, recommended amount for safe usage, and servings per container.

The bill also bans selling kratom products mixed with other things.

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Violators could be fined $1,000 on the first offense and $2,000 for each additional offense.

There are no restrictions or regulations around any type of kratom product, Sen. Russell Ott, the bills lead sponsor, told the SC Daily Gazette. A 14-year-old could walk into a store, buy it  buy as much as they want  and its legal in the state of South Carolina.

The law takes effect 60 days after the governor signs it. Ott said that should give owners of the stores that sell the products time to comply.

Were not going to have to wait another seven months with minors being able to access something that clearly has an impact, said the St. Matthews Democrat. I think its appropriate to say, Its not for the kids. Im excited about the bottom line of getting it out of here.

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There are no federally approved uses of kratom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against taking it, and the Drug Enforcement Agency considers it a drug of concern.

However, people use the drug to increase energy and alertness (in low doses) and as an alternative to opioids (in high doses) for pain relief and to manage withdrawal from opioids, according to the National Institute of Health. But it is also potentially addictive, linked to liver toxicity, seizures and could even be deadly.

Kratom was responsible for more than 4,100 deaths between 2020 and 2022, according to a Washington Post analysis of 44 states and Washington D.C. That is a fraction of the nearly 320,000 overdose deaths the Center for Disease Control and Prevention tallied during the same period.

Something brand new

Ott, a former House member newly elected to the Senate in November, said he first heard of kratom in 2018, when he got a call from a constituent about an addicted family member.

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After that, he started noticing neon kratom signs regularly.

I started asking some questions, but didnt really get a lot of answers, Ott said, adding he just clearly realized that this was something kind of brand new.

Then, about 2  years ago, Ott got another phone call about it, this time from a friends son who admitted to having a kratom addiction.

Over a 90-minute conversation, the man detailed how the habit hurt his confidence and wallet, but said its still less dangerous than opioids and other drugs.

He gave me both sides of it, said Ott.

As kratoms popularity has increased, states nationwide have tried to figure out how to tackle it.

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At least six states, including Alabama and Arkansas, have banned kratom, according to an April report from the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association. And in 18 more states the selling, manufacturing or possessing kratom is regulated, the report found.

Ott first proposed regulations on selling kratom last year.

The bill received a single hearing in the House before dying with the end of session. However, Ott noticed that more legislators were getting calls about kratom.

We finally started getting a little traction, finally started getting people to ask more questions about it, he said.

House moves quickly

A companion proposal to Otts was filed in the House in February. However, Rep. Heath Sessions, a co-sponsor of the bill, said he thought it had little chance this year.

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But once the Senate unanimously approved the bill two weeks ago, supporters in the House jumped on the chance to make the bill law, the Rock Hill Republican told the SC Daily Gazette.

The lead sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Don Chapman, R-Townville, has been pushing to regulate kratom since 2023.

Chapman, an architect, had a client with a son who became addicted to kratom while in high school and was eventually sent to rehab.

He was taking so many pills because he built up a tolerance to it, and then just took more and more, said Chapman, adding that he knows of constituents who have died from kratom overdoses.

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This bill doesnt stop anyone 21 or older from using it, Chapman said, likening it to alcohol.

But it does ensure that children are kept safe, the primary reason he advocated for the bill to be fast-tracked through the House.

Time is at the essence when youre trying to protect our young kids, he said.
SoundCloud has issued a statement clarifying that it isnt using artists content for generative AI music, following considerable backlash over a change some users noticed in the platforms terms of service.

In a statement issued to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, a spokesperson for SoundCloud said the platform has never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes.

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In fact, we implemented technical safeguards, including a no AI tag on our site to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use, the spokesperson said. The company said that SoundCloud has always been and will remain artist-first, adding that it believes AI can be a helpful creative tool for artists especially when guided by principles of consent, attribution and fair compensation.

SoundClouds statement comes following vocal criticism from some musicians and music industry advocates online after the platforms updated terms of service had begun to make the rounds. The update said that users explicitly agree that your content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services.

SoundCloud confirmed the terms of service had been updated in February 2024. SoundCloud said it updated the TOS to clarify how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundClouds own platform. Those uses, SoundCloud said include personalized recommendations, content organization, fraud detection and improvements to content identification with the help of AI Technologies.

AI music generation is among the hottest button issues in the industry; the major record labels sued prominent AI music generation platforms Suno and Udio last year on allegations of massive copyright infringement. That suit is ongoing.

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SoundCloud said on Friday that any application of AI at SoundCloud will be designed to support human artists, enhancing the tools, capabilities, reach and opportunities available to them on our platform.

Examples include improving music recommendations, generating playlists, organizing content and detecting fraudulent activity, SoundCloud said. These efforts are aligned with existing licensing agreements and ethical standards.

Those services would align with some of the uses the company lists on the website for Musiio, an AI platform SoundCloud purchased in 2022. In SoundClouds statement, the company said that tools like Musiio are strictly used to power artist discovery and content organization, not to train generative AI models.

The uses SoundCloud lists are less controversial than music generation, though several musicians began sharing posts Friday encouraging other artists to consider taking their music off the platform.

If youre a musician/composer/artist/band etc and have a @SoundCloud account, Id urge you to consider whether its worth keeping your music on there. Ive just deleted mine as they seem to be using the data to train AI systems without our permission.  #music #production pic.twitter.com/PHNTSDW7cj  Gareth Baker Thomas- Composer for Film & TV (@gareththomasmus) May 9, 2025

Among the advocates voicing their concern Friday was Ed Newton-Rex, the founder of Fairly Trained, a non-profit that calls for AI companies to train their models ethically and with permission from the original content creators. Newton-Rex told THR Friday that he was still concerned in light of SoundClouds clarification, noting that the statement doesnt actually rule out SoundCloud training generative AI models on their users music in future.

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This is particularly worrying because the terms of service clearly allow it, Newton-Rex said. I think its important they rule this out and update their terms accordingly. Otherwise I for one will be removing my music.

A rep for SoundCloud said the terms of service explicitly prohibits the use of licensed content, such as music from major labels, for training any AI models, including generative AI.

For other types of content uploaded to SoundCloud, the TOS allows for the possibility of AI-related use, The rep said. Importantly, no such use has taken place to date, and SoundCloud will introduce robust internal permissioning controls to govern any potential future use. Should we ever consider using user content to train generative AI models, we would introduce clear opt-out mechanisms in advance  at a minimum  and remain committed to transparency with our creator community.

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Welcome back, Deadline: Legal Newsletter readers. Ever wonder how we got to this extreme point in American life? Some of it has to do with David Souter. More specifically, it has to do with the fact that the late Supreme Court justice was a reasonable man. He was nominated by a Republican president in 1990 but eschewed the partisan push to overturn abortion rights and accomplish other GOP priorities from the bench. The retired justices death on Thursday thus highlights todays radically different court  and country.

No More Souters was the Republican rallying cry against the George H.W. Bush appointees moderate streak. If the party were to accomplish its goal of overturning Roe v. Wade, it could no longer afford to nominate squishy jurists. That quest for Supreme Court domination helped put Donald Trump in the White House for his first term, where the three justices he appointed helped make a majority in the Dobbs case.

The Dobbs dissenters lauded Souter as a judge of wisdom. They noted that he and fellow GOP appointees Sandra Day OConnor and Anthony Kennedy had previously declined to overturn Roe. They would not have won any contests for the kind of ideological purity some court watchers want Justices to deliver, Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan wrote in that rare joint dissent in 2022. But if there were awards for Justices who left this Court better than they found it? And who for that reason left this country better? And the rule of law stronger? Sign those Justices up.

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Sotomayor replaced Souter, another sign of how different things are today. He retired in 2009, when Barack Obama was president. That cleared the way for the Democrat to put his stamp on the court. Its unthinkable today for a justice to willingly depart their powerful seat when the opposing party is in control. Kennedy didnt do that; he stepped down under Trump so Trump could nominate Brett Kavanaugh. Thats a legacy of the No More Souters ethos.

Trumps presidency and all it has wrought are a legacy of that ethos, too. Republicans who mightve otherwise hesitated to back him in 2016 had their eye on the high court prize. They got it, and the country got that and more: The Jan. 6 insurrection; the attempts to crush dissent; the gutting of the federal government; the lawless renditions to El Salvador; the profiting off the presidency while toying with the economy. Without the GOPs fear of a wobbly justice on abortion, thered be no Ed Martin running the U.S. attorneys office in D.C., and no Jeanine Pirro in his place when even he was deemed too extreme for the party of Dobbs  and even then, just barely so. The list goes on.

The court that the GOP built with Trump let the president start enforcing his transgender military ban this week. It did so on a straight party-line vote, a description that wouldnt have been possible in Souters time, when the justices didnt strictly align with the presidents who nominated them. Next Thursday, the court will hold a rare hearing stemming from Trumps attempt to curb birthright citizenship  a move that judges around the country have deemed unlawful.

Technically, the appeal isnt about whether Trumps underlying move was legal, but whether judges can block it nationwide. Yet, the court chose this issue as a platform to scrutinize nationwide injunctions. Ill report back next week on where the Souter-less court seems headed on this issue.

Have any questions or comments for me? Please submit them on this form for a chance to be featured in the Deadline: Legal blog and newsletter.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  Today is the last day of the legislative session in South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster has signed several bills into law, and more are sitting on his desk, waiting for approval; but Lawmakers have been working since January, and wont return again until next year. At that time, theyll have one more chance to push any bills through to the governors desk.

This legislative session lawmakers passed the Hands-Free Act, which cracks down on using cellphones while driving. The law also states if police can pull people over if they have a reason to suspect the driver is on their phone. Despite its passage, the bill had strong opposition from some Democrats, who said police could use the cellphones as an excuse to pull someone over.

I think we all want to see safer roads. We all want to see drivers that are less distracted. My greatest concern is that the bill will allow for discrimination,  said Representative Kambrell Garvin (D  Richland), who voted against the bill.

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Fallen South Carolina officers inducted into law enforcement Hall of Fame

Representative Bill Taylor (R  Aiken) has tried to pass this bill many times, saying that the states seatbelt rule is equivalent.

Discrimination, that hasnt been proven, and no ones ever said that. Its the same with this. If they see you with a phone in your hand, youre breaking the law. 

Another bill that pushed through this week deals with the states energy supply. It creates a partnership between Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper to build a natural gas plant in the midlands. Senator Shane Massey (R  Edgefield) said if this bill were not passed, it would hurt every South Carolinian.

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Your constituents are going to be paying more for energy. Theyre going to be paying more for energy because of the cost of generation.

On the education front, Lawmakers pushed forward a bill that would give K-12 students public money to attend private schools. The original law was ruled unconstitutional because of how the publics funds were used. Lawmakers hope that adding a third-party person to oversee the funds will help.

The education scholarship trust fund has been a long and rocky path sometimes. Weve been working on it now for five years, said bills main supporter and advocator Senator Greg Hembree (R  Horry).

But still not everyones in agreement.

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I think theres a strong chance that this ends up in court again. That it potentially gets struck down again. Ultimately this should be left for voters to decide if they want this, said Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

There are still hundreds of bills left to be debated, but remember this was just the first year of a two-year legislative session. Lawmakers will pick back up where they left off in January of next year.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A South Carolina man accused of stabbing a person to death last year was arrested Wednesday in Horry County, authorities said.

Donovan Ryan Holman, 34, of Lexington, was charged with murder and attempted murder. Horry County police arrested him after responding for a report of an unwanted person at a Myrtle Beach-area home. He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Weve been looking for Holman since he was involved in a situation at a home on Oak Ridge Lane last July, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. We arrested Edward Leroy Smith on the same charges for his involvement in August.

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Both Holman and Smith are charged in the death of Caldwell Melton Motley Jr., Koon said. Holmans attempted murder charge stems from the stabbing of another man who was found injured inside a detached garage beside the home that burned on July 20.

Koon said Holman will be transferred to the Lexington County Detention Center at a later date.

* * *

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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CLINTON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) South Vermillion was selected by the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis to be a partner school in the Rural Early College Network (RECN) 2.0.

This is the result of a $10 million Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Through the RECN 2.0, CELL is assisting 20 rural high schools in getting Early College High School programs. These programs provide advanced coursework and they hope increase the number of students who go into higher education.

South Vermillion is ecstatic and honored to be chosen to partner with RECN to improve college-going and programming for our students, said Kara Skinner, Principal at South Vermillion High School.

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The RECN was originally created in 2019 and operated in 20 schools over six years. during RECN 1.0, the 2022 cohort had 75% of its participants go on to college, which is 22% above the state average. RECN 2.0 will establish a new cohort, and schools involved will also receive mentorship from another rural high school. It will also provide collaboration with peer educators to expand the advanced coursework and earn Early College endorsement from CELL. RECN 2.0 will expand on its first version as well by offering professional development for dual credit teachers and school counselors.

Early College is a recognized model allowing high school students the ability to earn college credits, and the program has been proven to increase the number of students who need additional academic support to go to college.

In Indiana, CELL endorses Early College High Schools based on how well they follow eight core principles. CELLs Early College work also allows schools to offer the Indiana College Core, a block of 30 general education credits that are transferable to any state and most private universities. More than 60 schools are currently endorsed for these programs.

We are thrilled to partner alongside these fifteen schools through RECN 2.0 to positively impact schools, educators, students, and families, said Janet Boyle, director of the Rural Early College Network at CELL. In partnership with our mentor schools, CELL is poised to guide these schools in their Early College program implementation to increase postsecondary options for students.

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To learn more about the RECN, you can visit this link. West Vigo High School in Terre Haute was also named a partner school in the RECN 2.0.

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A former SpaceX employee who suffers from Crohns disease claims supervisors monitored his restroom use, timing each toilet break and issuing a formal reprimand if he wasnt back within 10 minutes.

Thats according to a federal discrimination lawsuit obtained by The Independent, which says Douglas Altshulers gastrointestinal condition makes it impossible for him to last more than 35 to 45 minutes without a trip to the lavatory  meaning as many as 14 times over the course of an eight-hour shift.

But not only would the 58-year-old Altshuler be disciplined for taking longer than his bosses deemed necessary, they brazenly threatened termination if [he] used the bathroom too often, the lawsuit contends.

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People living with Crohns often suffer from debilitating urgency to use a restroom immediately, or risk having an embarrassing accident, according to the nonprofit Crohns & Colitis Foundation.

After Altshuler went to management about the issue, complete with a doctors note outlining his debilitating ailment, his suit says they dismissed his grievance as unsubstantiated. When Altshuler pushed back on the seeming lack of concern for his physical well-being, the suit says he was subsequently let go for alleged deficient performance.

Altshulers suit also takes aim the Elon Musk owned SpaceXs business and safety practices, accusing the company of denying him proper meal breaks, shorting his pay, exposing him to toxic chemicals, and, in one instance that he reported to both state and federal authorities, he witnessed industrial parts being dried in the kitchen oven where employees cook their food.

Fired SpaceX employee and Crohn's sufferer Douglas Altshuler says the company headed up by billionaire "First Buddy" Elon Musk unlawfully interfered with his bathroom needs (AFP via Getty Images)

Lawyer Clive Pontusson, a former trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is representing Altshuler in the case. He said SpaceX has a legal responsibility to accommodate workers disabilities.

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The law says that an employee has a right to ask their employer for a reasonable accommodation for a disability, without fear that their job will be threatened or taken away, Pontusson told The Independent.

The law also says that employees should be able to raise concerns about workplace safety without fear of retaliation, he said, noting that government regulators eventually substantiated many of Mr. Altshulers concerns about an unsafe work environment at SpaceX.

A SpaceX spokesperson and the attorney defending the company against Altshulers lawsuit did not respond to requests for comment.

The law says that an employee has a right to ask their employer for a reasonable accommodation for a disability, without fear that their job will be threatened or taken away, Douglas Altshuler's attorney Clive Pontusson said (AFP via Getty Images)

Altshuler began working at SpaceX, one of the numerous entities headed up by Musk, the erratic billionaire and Donald Trumps First Buddy, on June 2023, where he was assigned to answer customer support calls at its Redmond, Washington, facility, according to his complaint. The Redmond campus includes a factory where components are assembled for Starlink, the SpaceX unit that provides mobile broadband service by way of a network of satellites put into orbit aboard the companys rockets.

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The job seemed fine until early 2024, when Altshulers supervisor began tracking Mr. Altshulers bathroom breaks and repeatedly criticized [him] for using the bathroom, the complaint states.

In response, it says Altshuler provided the supervisor with a letter from his physician requesting a reasonable accommodation due to his Crohns, namely, permission to use the bathroom every 35 to 45 minutes. The supervisor acknowledged that Altshuler had a legitimate disability, and assured him that he would never restrict [his] restroom use, the complaint continues.

Further, it goes on, a second manager gave Altshuler his word that the company would not question or track his bathroom usage.

The SpaceX Human Resources department followed up by asking Altshuler to fill out reasonable accommodation request forms, according to the complaint. However, since Altshuler had been informed by supervision that he would be free to use the toilet as needed, the complaint says he told HR that he did not need to formalize things because leadership confirmed that his bathroom use would not be restricted.

Altshuler needs to use the restroom every 35-45 minutes, a medical need he says his bosses at SpaceX refused to accomodate. (Getty Images)

Yet, according to Altshuler, the fragile peace didnt hold for long. His supervisor soon went back to monitoring his bathroom breaks, and, the complaint alleges, would give Altshuler an occurrence  that is, an adverse write-up  if he was away from his desk for more than 10 minutes, the complaint states. So Altshuler went to his bosss bosses to report his ongoing predicament, according to the complaint.

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They asked for details, which Altshuler provided in an email, the complaint says. Still, it alleges, higher-ups responded with confusion.

When it came time for Altshulers next performance review, his threatening and argumentative supervisor, apparently upset over Altshuler having escalated the bathroom matter up the chain of command, allegedly retaliated by giving him an unsatisfactory appraisal that included alleged performance deficiencies which were never brought to [Altshulers] attention before, the complaint states.

In October 2024, Altshuler was reassigned to a new supervisor, according to the complaint. Nevertheless, it says his old supervisor still continued to listen in on Altshulers customer calls throughout the day and kept watch over his support tickets. It felt to Altshuler that he was being bullied, so he again notified HR about what was going on, the complaint states.

Not only was Altshuler prevented from freely using the bathroom, he claims SpaceX, denied him meal breaks and shorted his pay (Getty Images)

That November, Altshuler was forced to file a workers compensation claim and take three weeks of medical leave due to a debilitating chemical exposure on the job, according to the complaint, which says he then notified the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about the incident. Altshuler also told OSHA and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries about the SpaceX employee he claimed to have seen drying industrial components in the breakroom oven, the complaint states.

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When Altshuler returned to work, bathroom visits once again became a point of contention, his complaint alleges. This time, it says, Altshulers new supervisor threatened to fire him if he used the toilet too often.

In mid-December, Altshuler went to the head of HR with his grievances, according to the complaint. He had now been working at SpaceX for some 18 months, and his managers were still making his life miserable on a constant basis, the complaint states.

It says Altshuler additionally revealed to HR that he, in fact, was the one who had informed government regulators about the alleged safety problems.

After Altshuler stuck up for himself, SpaceX fired him, claiming deficient performance, according to the lawsuit he filed earlier this week in federal court (AFP via Getty Images)

On January 6, 2025, HR emailed Altshuler with their findings, telling him that his concerns were unsubstantiated, according to the complaint. The same day, he contacted SpaceXs HR chief, upset that the company had dismissed his claims as being without merit despite the evidence he presented, the complaint says.

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Three days later, SpaceX fired Altshuler for deficient performance, according to the complaint.

The multiple grievances Altshuler reported to SpaceX regarding discrimination, retaliation and safety issues, [his] request for reasonable accommodation, and [his] workers compensation claim were motivating factors in the decision to terminate [his] employment, the complaint states.

It says the ordeal caused Altshuler mental anguish, humiliation, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Broadly speaking, Pontusson, Altshulers attorney, told The Independent, The companys actions are egregious and in clear violation of the law. Mr. Altshuler intends to seek all legal remedies that are available to him.

Altshuler is now seeking economic damages for back pay, front pay, lost benefits, and medical expenses in an amount to be determined by a jury, along with actual, compensatory, consequential, incidental and exemplary damages for disability discrimination, retaliation, failure to accommodate, wrongful termination and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
A late-night weekend rocket launch in beautiful, breezy, springtime Florida? That's the (potential) plan!

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry Starlink internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit near NASA, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows. Launch time and day for SpaceX is possibly after midnight (see below).

Rockets launch from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, Florida, in Brevard County, which is an hour east of the Orlando theme parks. Depending on cloud cover, weather and visibility, people from Daytona Beach to Titusville to Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach might see a nice streak in the sky  given the proximity to NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

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Below are suggestions on where to watch the rocket launch from this area and other things to know. If there are changes to the launch schedule, this story will be updated.

Rocket launch calendar: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral

For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Repoter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Where can I see a rocket launch in Florida? Are there sonic booms with every launch from Cape Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center?

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, rocket launches from the Space Coast could be visible from almost every part of Brevard County. Night launches, in particular, offer a beautiful view. After launch, theres typically a rumble here and some possible window-shaking.

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Some rocket launches have an added bonus: The SpaceX boosters return to a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean or, occasionally, to the company's landing zone at Cape Canaveral. If a booster returns to the landing zone, there's a sonic boom.

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.

What time is the next rocket launch from Florida? Saturday, May 10: SpaceX Starlink 6-91

Mission: Though SpaceX has yet to publicly announce this mission, a 4-hour Starlink post-midnight launch window will open Saturday, May 10, 2025, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory indicates.

Launch window time and day: 2:28 a.m. EDT Saturday, May 10, 2025, to 6:59 a.m. EDT Sunday, May 11, 2025, or Mother's Day

Location of rocket launch : Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Sonic booms: No

Trajectory : Southeast

Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Networks Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch?

Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.

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.

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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

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:

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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: What time is SpaceX rocket launch near NASA, Kennedy Space Center?
Voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5, 2024, at a polling location in Edmond. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Three men are on the ballot in Tuesdays special election to fill a vacant Oklahoma Senate seat that represents constituents living in five counties.

The Senate District 8 seat, which represents Okmulgee, Okfuskee and McIntosh counties and portions of Creek and Muskogee counties, has been vacant all session, following the resignation of former Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah.

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Republican Bryan Logan of Paden, Democrat Nathan Brewer and independent Steve Sanford, both of Henryetta, are on the ballot.

Logan, 41, is self-employed and a pastor at Paden Holiness Church.

He said he is running to make a difference in the district.

He said his top issues are education, health care, roads and infrastructure.

Brewer, 41, said the murder of his daughter at the hands of a sex offender motivated him to run.

Brewer, who is a small business owner and works full time for Okmulgee County, said not enough is being done to protect children and the community from sex offenders.

Brewers 15-year-old daughter, Brittany, was one of seven people killed in a murder-suicide on a rural property in May 2023. Authorities said Jesse McFadden, who was a registered sex offender, killed his wife and five teenagers before killing himself. Brittany was visiting the property when the slayings occurred.

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Brewer said he plans to prioritize increasing mental health care availability in rural communities and growing funding for volunteer and rural fire departments.

Sanford, 58, is a member of the Henryetta City Council and owns Rustlers BBQ.

If you want to make a difference, you have to put yourself in a place where you can, he said.

He would like to increase the availability of vocational education and help the community grow.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Some 40 world leaders announced their support Friday for the creation of a new international court to prosecute those most responsible for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The special tribunal aims to target senior Russian leaders for the crime of aggression," which underpins the countless war crimes Ukraine accuses Russian forces of committing since the start of the war in 2022.

Because Russia is not a member of the International Criminal Court, it cannot prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior leaders for starting the conflict. Ukrainian and European leaders came up with the special tribunal as an alternative way to hold Russian leaders to account.

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The court will be formed following a joint agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights organization.

What is the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine?

Since early in the conflict, Kyiv has been pushing for the creation of a special tribunal that goes beyond prosecuting war crimes that Ukraine alleged Russian forces committed  including bombing civilian infrastructure, killing civilians, rape, taking hostages and torture. Russia denies those claims.

If we want true justice, we should not look for excuses and should not refer to the shortcomings of the current international law but make bold decisions that will correct those shortcomings that unfortunately exist in international law, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a visit to the Netherlands in 2023.

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Similar special tribunals were established after World War II, the Balkan wars sparked by the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia and the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The institution will be funded by the countries who back it, known as the Core Group, including the Netherlands, Japan and Canada. The United States had backed the project under former President Joe Biden, but President Donald Trump's administration did not support the initiative.

On Friday, Ukraines Foreign Ministry said in a joint statement with foreign ministers from some 40 countries that technical legal work necessary to establish the tribunal is complete. It added that the court will be formalized at a Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg later this month.

The statement was agreed in the presence of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Lviv, in western Ukraine.

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Once established the tribunal will focus on prosecuting Russian leaders most responsible for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.

Kyiv has been pushing for the creation of a special tribunal since early in the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday Moscow will not be reacting to the tribunal announcement.

The legal framework for the project was agreed on by leaders in February.

What is the crime of aggression?

The crime of aggression is the planning and execution of a large-scale military invasion of another country.

The crime of aggression is sometimes referred to as the mother of all other crimes because it precedes all of the other crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity, even genocide," Iva Vukusic, an international law expert at the University of Utrecht, told The Associated Press.

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You dont prosecute foot soldiers for aggression, she added. The tribunal plans to pursue cases against around 20 to 30 high-ranking officials.

A dozen Nazi leaders including Hermann Goring and Rudolf Hess were convicted of what was then called a crime against peace during the Nuremberg trials following WWII. That was the last time anyone has been convicted of aggression.

Will the tribunal prosecute Putin?

International law grants the so-called troika  consisting of a countrys head of state, head of government and foreign affairs minister  immunity from prosecution while they are in office.

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However, the tribunal could initiate proceedings against Putin and wait until he leaves office to move forward with a trial. There is no statute of limitation on the crime of aggression.

The court will have the power to hold trials in absentia, though anyone convicted without being in the custody of the tribunal would have the right to a retrial.

Why cant the International Criminal Court prosecute these crimes?

The move to create a special tribunal aims to fill a void created by limitations on the ICC. While The Hague-based court can go after Russian nationals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, it cannot prosecute Russians for orchestrating the invasion itself.

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The 2002 Rome Statute which created the court was amended in 2010 to include the crime of aggression  but only for countries that have joined the court. The Russian Federation is not a member state.

The court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine, as well as five other officials.

Where will the tribunal be established?

The Hague, already home to the ICC, the top court of the United Nations and other judicial institutions, has been suggested as a location but a final decision has not yet been made.

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The city is already home to the International Center for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression, which supports evidence-gathering and is overseen by the European Unions judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust. The Council of Europe-backed register of damages, which allows Ukrainian victims of war to catalog the financial harm they have suffered, is also based in the Netherlands.

Backers are hopeful the institution will be up and running by early next year.
May 8For a brief moment, it seemed Spokane would have a direct link to the papacy, and more so than just the Washington State University flag that was spotted waving in the Vatican square during the conclave.

Word of the new pope's ties to Chicago spread quickly, and with bated breath, some Spokane residents hoped to hear Cardinal Blase Cupich's name called. Cupich served as bishop of Spokane from 2010 to 2014, when he was tapped by Pope Francis to become Archbishop of Chicago.

But the 133-member College of Cardinals opted for another with Chicago ties: 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was raised in the Windy City before going on to lead a life of international ministry. The first American selected for the papacy took the name Pope Leo XIV, greeting the crowds at the Vatican Thursday with "peace be with all you."

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A few hours after white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel to signify the selection of a new pope, Spokane Catholics gathered for midday Mass at their respective parishes.

"It's a wonderful day for the Catholic Church, for all Christians, for all people in the world," said Fred Costello, who attended noon Mass Thursday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in downtown Spokane.

He never thought there would be an American pope in his lifetime and said it feels especially resonant with the United States approaching its 250th anniversary next year.

"I just think it's a message sent from above and from the church that our country will unite and bring everyone together," Costello said.

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Mary Ellen Spink and Thomas Spink, parishioners at St. Charles Catholic Church, shared Costello's amazement at the selection of a cardinal from America.

"I'd say that probably we're a pretty prosperous church, and he's going to look for us to be supportive of the church's mission, to be helpful and financially supportive," Mary Ellen said.

Although he hails from the U.S., Tom said Pope Leo seems more like a global citizen, noting the newly minted pope's education in Rome, the more than two decades he spent serving in Peru and recent leadership of the office that selects and manages bishops globally.

"He has perspective of what the bishops around the world have to deal with," Tom said. "I don't know if there's too many Cardinals that have ever had that experience."

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Mary Ellen said the church is a "fine balance between magisterium, sacraments, and mission," and she expects Pope Leo to be able to manage that balance amid the deliberations within the church. Tom added that Pope Leo has firsthand experience in all three regards, as well as holding a mathematics degree from Villanova University and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

"I think that's wise to have a pope that has a science background in this day and age," Tom said.

Pope Leo is assuming the earthly reins of the Catholic Church at an interesting point in its multimillennium history. It's yet to be seen if he will embrace his predecessor's progressive efforts, which polarized some Catholics, who preferred the more conservative, traditional approach of those who came before Francis.

Tom does not expect Pope Leo to follow as closely in Francis' footsteps as some may expect.

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"He has a view of South American liberation theology because he lived down there, but he also has a doctorate in canon law, which is different than Francis," Tom said. "So, my guess is he's more of a lawyer-mathematician, which is probably appropriate for this day and age, where the church is right now."

There's also a looming financial crisis that Pope Leo will have to contend with sooner, rather than later. The Vatican's pension fund had a $708 million shortfall as of 2022, which experts believe has ballooned in the years since. There's also a $94 million shortfall in the Vatican budget as of mid-2024, as reported by Reuters.

"Francis has kind of given him a mess," Tom said. "Yes, Francis had a mess given to him, but it's been 12 years, and the mess isn't cleaned up."

Kevin Brown, lecturer and director of the Religious Studies graduate program at Gonzaga University, said that based on Pope Leo's first address Thursday in St. Peter's Square, his theological leadership appears poised to continue the path of Pope Francis, especially in the areas of climate change and the need for global solidarity.

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Prevost's choice for his papal name further indicates interest in Catholic social teaching, Brown said. The last Pope Leo  Leo XIII  in the late 1800s introduced this teaching for the church to address matters of economic justice, war and peace.

Brown said that the relatively quick conclave suggests the cardinals saw Pope Leo as a consensus-building candidate capable of meeting the needs of the moment.

"I think that the cardinals were looking for someone who would be willing to take a more vocal moral stance in the world, along the lines of Francis," Brown said.

While Pope Leo seems more reserved in his personality than Pope Francis, he has shown willingness to stand up to American politicians. Earlier this year, he posted on X a critique of Vice President JD Vance, who is a Catholic convert, about comments Vance made about "the order of love," a theological concept Vance interpreted as prioritizing love for in-groups before out-groups.

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"JD Vance is wrong," Pope Leo posted in February. "Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

Pope Francis in February wrote a letter to the bishops of the United States, in response to the Trump administration's mass deportations and clarifying the order of love as a meditation on the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Pope Leo also reposted a criticism of Donald Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele joking in the Oval Office about deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a prison in El Salvador.

"He's definitely someone who would be critical of particular policies of the current U.S. administration," Brown said.

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And while it is notable that Pope Leo is American born, he spent much of his adult life as a missionary in Peru and also has Peruvian citizenship.

"That indicates that the cardinals would have seen him, yes, as American born, but also as someone who gave up some level of privilege to minister amongst the poor," Brown said.

During his speech, Pope Leo didn't use English, and the only time he deviated from Italian or Latin was to address the Peruvians he had worked with in Spanish.

"He isn't necessarily going to see himself as beholden to anyone in the United States, but is going to be beholden first and foremost to the gospel," Brown said.

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Pope Leo has talked about a need to integrate women more into church leadership, though that doesn't necessarily mean ordination, Brown said.

There remains some question where he will land on LGBTQ issues. In the past, Pope Leo denounced what he called modern culture's sympathy for the "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families," but his speech Thursday showed a different tone more in line with Pope Francis' approach toward making the church inclusive.

He talked about "building a bridge" with marginalized groups. "Building a Bridge," is the title of a well-known book by American Jesuit priest James Martin about how the Catholic church can be more welcoming to LGBTQ people.

"I don't know if that was an explicit allusion to it, but as an American, I don't see how he couldn't have been aware of that connection," Brown 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.
May 9A Springfield man pleaded guilty and was sentenced this week for a November shots-fired incident that was followed by a police pursuit on the east side.

Raekwon Hall, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of improper discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony. He was sentenced to 4-6 years in prison and ordered conveyed to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections in Orient.

Four other people were allegedly involved in the incident. Charges are still pending for Noah Cameron, 20; Sha'Ron Threats, 18; Shelton Threats, 19; and Kavonte Knolton, 26.

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According to court records, at 10:19 a.m. Nov. 26, a police officer was at the Springfield Police Substation at 17 W. Johnny Lytle Ave. organizing Operation Thanksgiving when he heard 30 or more gunshots. When officers responded, they saw a gray Chevrolet Tahoe fleeing eastbound on West Grand Avenue.

According to police, two homes were struck by gunfire during the incident: one in the 100 block of West Southern and one in the 100 block of West Grand.

Police began to follow the vehicle and it pulled to the curb in the first block of West Southern Avenue. Hall allegedly exited and fled on foot. He was arrested after a brief foot chase, and police said they found a 9mm Glock handgun on him.

A police incident report says the pursuit reached 65 mph on city streets, then went onto the Simon Kenton Trail bike path, and onto East Main Street.

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When the Chevy Tahoe reached the intersection of East Main Street and Belmont Avenue, Shelton Threats allegedly exited and fled on foot. He was later arrested. He had a gunshot wound to his left leg and was transported to the hospital.

Police said that while the search was ongoing, a Springfield police detective crashed his vehicle at Main and Belmont. They said the detective was treated for minor injuries at Kettering Health ER.

According to court records, the Tahoe continued south on Belmont Avenue to East High Street before stopping. Police found Sha'Ron Threats and Noah Cameron inside and arrested them. Another person fled the scene.

A search of the Chevy Tahoe found a .357 semiautomatic Glock with a device that made it fully automatic, as well as Knolton's belongings, according to court records.

Soon after the Nov. 26 incident, an officer stopped a man who identified himself with a different first name and date of birth but gave the last name Knolton. Body camera footage allowed police to positively identify him, according to police. He was later arrested.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man from Springfield was sentenced to prison for the 2022 shooting of a cook at a Holyoke bar.

In December 2022, officers were called to a shooting at the Unicorn Bar on High Street around 8:45 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found 39-year-old Benito Agron, a cook at the bar, had been shot several times.

Charges dropped against South Hadley driver in connection with deadly hit-and-run crash in Chicopee

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In a news release sent to 22News from the Hampden District Attorneys Office, security footage inside the bar revealed that the suspect, 37-year-old John Brown Jr. of Springfield, was sitting at the bar talking with Agron and later received a sandwich from Agron. A verbal interaction ensued when Brown Jr. saw bacon in his sandwich. This turned into a physical fight, and as it was broken up, the DAs office says, Brown Jr. yelled at Agron that if he was at the bar when he returned, he would kill him.

Approximately 30 to 40 minutes later, Brown Jr. returned to the bar and shot Agron with a handgun four times. Several witnesses identified the suspect as Brown Jr., and DNA evidence was recovered from Brown Jr.s sunglasses, which were left at the bar during the fight.

In January 2023, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Brown Jr. on the following charges:

Murder, Attempted

Firearm, Discharge within 500 ft. of a building

Firearm in Felony, Possess

A&B with Firearm

Firearm, Carry without a License

Ammunition without FID Card, Possess

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A week later, Brown Jr. was escorted into the Holyoke District Court by his father. During his trial, a Hampden County jury found him guilty of armed assault with intent to murder. On April 29th, he was sentenced to 18 to 20 years for armed assault with intent to murder, and three to five years for illegal possession of a firearm to be served after the first penalty.

John Brown Jr. (Courtesy: Holyoke Police Department)

The defendants actions were vicious and needless  an act of unadulterated violence over a disagreement about a sandwich. The victim still suffers debilitating injuries from the attack, but the fact that he survived is nothing short of a miracle. I want to thank Assistant District Attorney Tom Prendergast and Victim Witness Advocate Stacy Martel for their work on this case, as well as our law enforcement partners in Holyoke for their thorough investigation, which helped ensure justice was served, said Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni.

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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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN)  It was 17 years ago today that a mother in Springfield heard the most heartbreaking news of her life  her daughter was dead. Now, on the anniversary of her death, that mother is still seeking closure.

Springfield police say they found 25-year-old Alia Hartman deceased inside her home after it was set on fire on May 9, 2008. Her cause of death was ruled a homicide, and the fire caused by arson.

17 years have gone by, and Alias family is still seeking answers. 2 NEWS sat down with her mother as she shares that the wait for closure has been a long one.

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Springfield PD seeking publics help with 17-year-old cold case

Everyday for the past 17 years, Kay Poor waits for any sort of news to finally close the book on this heartbreaking chapter of her life. She is hoping that the public will step forward so she can finally have a sense of closure.

She raised me more than I raised her. I dont know if thats true with all mothers, but shes the only child I had, said Kay Poor, Alia Hartmans mother.

Poor says she and Alia had the closest mother-daughter connection.

We would pick a night and go over and order a pizza and sit there and eat pizza and watch TV, said Poor. We love to go garage sales and secondhand stores.

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However, Poors life would change forever in May 2008, when she received a call from Alias husband, saying their house was on fire. Poor quickly headed to her daughters home, and after talking with detectives, she heard the grave news.

They told me that Alia was gone and they hadnt removed her body yet, said Poor. And I told him, I said, I dont want to see you bring her out. I dont want to see her in a body bag.

Alias husband and son were not in the home at the time of the fire. Poor couldnt believe the news, having just seen her daughter the night before.

She looked really, really tired, as she was sitting on the couch. I went over and kissed her on the forehead, said Poor. And thats the last time I saw her.

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The grief she feels is still with her, as for 17 years, Alias case remains unsolved.

I keep it all in a little box inside of me and I just open it up once in a while and, you know, go through it and grieve. And then I put it away again, said Poor.

Alias mother as well as the Springfield Police Division are asking for the publics help in closing this case.

For now, Poor waits, as the emotional scar left on her continues to show.

I dont have a family, its just me. Shes gone, said Poor. I got my grandson, hes the only one I have.

Poor says shes thankful for Springfield PD, as well as Detective Mill, for continuing to investigate this cold case. She hopes that one day, shell receive the answers that she needs to find out what really happened to her daughter back in 2008.

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The Springfield Police Division is asking that anyone with information on her death call 937-324-7685, Detective Kevin Miller at 937-324-7709 or email spdtip@springfieldohio.gov.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Three men are facing multiple felony charges after being arrested in connection with a violent armed robbery late Wednesday night, leaving one victim hospitalized.

Man arrested during police search at West Springfield barber shop

According to Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh, between 10:45 and 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, police received reports of an assault near School and High Streets after members of the departments Real-Time Analysis Center (R-TAC) observed armed individuals attacking a man on city surveillance cameras.

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Police say the suspects beat the victim with the bottom of a firearm and stole a television before leaving the scene on foot. Detectives reviewing live video footage observed one suspect discard a firearm under a car near the intersection of High and Myrtle Streets. Officers located the weapon, which was loaded with 11 rounds and capable of holding up to 15.

Courtesy of the Springfield Police Department

Shortly after, officers arrested 27-year-old Manuel Torres, identified as the suspect who tossed the gun, on Myrtle Street. He was taken into custody without incident.

A second suspect, 45-year-old Denis Rivera, was located on High Street after R-TAC analysts spotted him on surveillance footage. He was arrested at the scene.

The third suspect, 30-year-old Jordan Lazu, was found near Myrtle and High Streets in possession of two knives. He was also arrested.

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The victim, who suffered head injuries, was brought to a local hospital for treatment. The recovered firearm is classified as a large capacity weapon, and investigators confirmed it had been improperly stored and carried without a license.

All three suspects now face an array of charges:

Manuel Torres, 27, of Springfield, is charged with:

Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm

Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way

Firearm-Armed & Masked Robbery

Carrying a Firearm without a License

Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm during Commission of a Felony

Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon causing Serious Bodily Injury

Conspiracy

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Denis Rivera, 45, of Springfield, is charged with:

Firearm-Armed & Masked Robbery

Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon causing Serious Bodily Injury

Conspiracy

Possession of a Class E Drug

Jordan Lazu, 30, of Springfield, is charged with:

Firearm-Armed & Masked Robbery

Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon causing Serious Bodily Injury

Conspiracy

The investigation remains ongoing.

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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Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has hired an outside school finance firm to help the school district get its finances in order and accepted the resignation of its chief financial officer, effective May 9, weeks ahead of his original departure date.

In an announcement made Thursday evening, the school district said that it is taking critical actions to address a budget shortfall which will be higher than previously projected. The exact figure is still being determined.

A school finance firm, HIL Consultants, is working on a plan to meet the districts financial obligations for this year, including payroll, the district said.

The consulting firm was hired in late April.

In March, Superintendent Tricia McManus provided a list of $8 million in savings to balance the current year budget and $16 million for next year. The school districts finance department said that those cuts would be sufficient to balance the school districts local fund.

Our top priority is to ensure all staff members are paid through the end of the fiscal year, June 30, McManus said. The district plans to provide more information early next week.

The school districts dire financial picture was made public in March when an audit, already four months late, showed that the school district had used about $13 million in fund balance without authorization from the school board, a violation of state statute.

A few weeks later, CFO Tommy Kranz abruptly announced he was going to resign. He was expected to stay until the end of June. That date has now changed to May 9.

McManus will appoint an interim financial officer while the district looks for a permanent replacement.

Amanda Lehmert, a school district spokeswoman, declined to say if Kranz was asked to move up the date of his resignation, citing personal privacy rights.

Adding to the turbulence, McManus announced her retirement to the school board at a closed session on April 17, saying that she wants to spend more time with her family, who live in Tampa, Florida.

Four days after that announcement to the school board, she received a letter from State Auditor Dale Boliek saying that his offices intended to look into the districts finances.

Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) said Wednesday that he and others in the state delegation contacted the auditor because they had concerns with what we understand are irregular accounting of taxpayer funds and felt like an independent and fresh set of expert eyes were worth asking.

The school board also heard from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education about its finances. The letter amounted to a warning for the school board to get its finances in order or face financial sanctions and additional state oversight.

The district hired HIL to gain a full picture of the districts current financial landscape. The consultants preliminary analysis, provided to McManus on Thursday, showed that the district is overspending state funds that cover personnel costs. McManus was not aware of that when she provided the board with the financial update in March, the districts statement said.

Maintaining the financial health of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is of utmost importance to district. To make the best financial decisions, you need to have accurate fiscal projections. As hard as it is to eliminate positions, we would have done more before this year if we had known we were overspending, McManus said. If we had accurate projections, we would have made different decisions.

The rest of the statement reads:

The district has added hundreds of jobs to support the increased needs of students since 2019. At the same time, the pandemic spurred a loss of student enrollment, which led to less state funding for staff salaries. Temporary funding provided by the federal government for COVID relief and two years of the state holding districts harmless for enrollment declines provided extra funds to cover the staffing overages.

The consultant is working to review and analyze local, state, and other funds to estimate deficits and fund balances and recommend potential cost savings. McManus and the board are working to determine the next steps needed to balance the budget for the current year and Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The district has already implemented $21.5 million in cost savings for next year.

Our community places its trust in us to manage public funds with accuracy and accountability. We did not meet that standard. We are already taking corrective action. Our goal is not only to fix past issues, but to rebuild trust and ensure this never happens again, McManus said.

The district is cooperating with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the state auditors on their requests for additional information.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL)  The white smoke signal at the Vatican Thursday signified that the Catholic Church has a new pope.

Students at St. Dominic School in Kingsport watched with excitement as the new pope, Leo XIV was announced to the world.

Robert Prevost elected the first American pope in history, will take the name Leo XIV

Teacher Debbie Roth said her students have been very engaged in the process of the popes election.

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I teach fourth and fifth grade religion and so weve been watching videos about the conclave and all of the things that go into it and who gets to vote and how the vote process works, Roth explained. Theyve asked a lot of questions. Some of them I know the answers to. Some we look up together because they ask pretty specific questions sometimes. So, Ive learned things, too.

Christine Browning is the director of religious education at St. Dominic. She teaches younger grades and had them go through a mock conclave as a way to better understand the process.

I made up three fictional cardinals for them to select and a few characteristics and virtues, Browning said. We went through that process and tallied the votes, and we did not have a two-thirds majority. We explained to them and then those votes would go in the incinerator, and we would have black smoke.

Roth said she has enjoyed watching her students experience the conclave and the final decision.

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Its been really great to see how excited they are and how curious they are and how much they want to know about it, said Roth. Theyre excited, theyre happy, theyre asking questions. Its great to see your students really engaged in what youre doing

Browning explained this was not only a historical lesson for students, but also a spiritual one.

The emphasis was its really not just our choice, Browning said. Were trying to listen to the Holy Spirit. Who does God want to lead the church right now? Whos the best person? They were very excited.

Browning also said many teachers kept the live stream on in the classrooms. When the smoke at the Vatican changed colors, she said there were cheers down the hallways.

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Roth said some of her students spent their recess time today watching the stream on her phone.

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ST. LOUIS  The American Red Cross hosted its 2nd Annual Battle of the Breweries Blood Drive at nine different locations throughout the St. Louis Metro Area.

Donors were invited to vote for their favorite local brewery from 26 participating locations and receive a coupon for a free pint of beer at the brewery they selected.

FOX 2 spoke with donors at the Mid-County YMCA in Brentwood about this event and what giving blood means to them.

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I have a five-year-old son whos going through chemotherapy treatments, said Emily, a first-time donor. I am giving blood for him.

It helps people to be able to do it, explained Brad Niermen, a frequent donor. It doesnt take much of my time or my day to be able to do this on a regular basis.

The initiative proved fruitful as nearly 240 units of blood were donated and the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood won the popular vote.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (WFLA)  A local non-profit is struggling to open its doors for a free grocery store to continue helping feed those in need.

The space in Tangerine Plaza was already supposed to be a no-cost neighborhood market.

Flying car being tested in downtown Tampa

Organizers with Positive Impact said the community is relying on them to be able to provide food and other supplies to those in need, but they need the communitys help.

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For those who need help putting food on their table, Positive Impact in St. Pete has been an answer to their prayers.

Theres been days before I even lived over here that I didnt know where I was going to get food. I kept eating rice and ramen noodles, because thats the only thing I could afford. Now that Im over here, I get a better quality of food, said Angela Sheats.

Positive Impact is known for its free Saturday grocery distribution events and is trying to expand to be able to feed more people.

Operation of Clearwater Ferry resumes following deadly crash

Executive Director Karen Rae said that with their no-cost market, they plan to offer a dignified shopping experience where people can pick out what they want to eat.

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She said there have been a lot of holdups preventing their market from opening.

There have been government cutbacks and so, its going to take individuals linking arms to make this happen. We cannot depend upon government funding, but we can depend upon each other, she said.

Rae said to make this happen, they need monthly partners and corporate sponsors. If they do not get help, they will not be able to continue operating, and thousands of people depend on them.



I wish it would open, real soon. We need it over here, Sheats said.

Positive Impact is going to continue their regular grocery distribution events every Saturday, but as summer is getting closer, they said they need more volunteers to help. If you would like to register to volunteer or help with the no-cost neighborhood market, click here.

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CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  Saturday your mailbox could be more than just a stop for letters  it can be a powerful way to fight hunger in the Coastal Empire.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, now in its 33rd year, is led by the National Association of Letter Carriers. This one-day event couldnt come at a more crucial time for families in Coastal Georgia. The shelves at Second Harvest Food Bank are in urgent need of restocking as summer nears.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is the nations largest single-day food drive, collecting nearly 2 billion pounds of non-perishable goods since it started. Saturday you can leave food donations like canned vegetables, peanut butter and canned meats next to your mailbox.

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Letter carriers will pick up the food during their regular mail delivery and deliver it directly to food banks. With schools closing soon, many children will face hunger. Second Harvests summer feeding program serves over 7,000 meals a day across 85 sites starting in June.

Mary Jane Crouch, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia told News 3 the event means everything to them [One year in the past,] we had over 100,000 pounds donated to us. And weve had lesser years when, you know, maybe the economy wasnt doing so great. And people, as we said earlier, are struggling. So, were really worried about this year. Were hoping people can pick up that extra couple of cans at the grocery store, pick up that extra jar of peanut butter. It will make a huge difference.

The food drive is Saturday, May 10th. Just place a bag of nonperishable items next to your mailbox in the morning. The postal service will handle the rest, delivering the food to Second Harvest.

Last year, Second Harvest collected 34,00 pounds through the Stamp Out Hunger food drive and they hope to reach 50,000 pounds this year.

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Having brought trade negotiations with the United States to a lacklustre conclusion, Sir Keir Starmer is now preparing for the UK-EU summit later this month. As the contours of a potential deal with the bloc begin to emerge, concerns are rising over what the Prime Minister is giving up, and what he is winning in return.

A leaked draft of a new security partnership commits the UK to consider sending its Armed Forces abroad on EU military missions, and would effectively lock Britains decision-making powers in Nato, the G7, the G20 and the United Nations to the EU in an aligned foreign policy, severely limiting the UKs room for independence. Separately, we may be preparing to concede long-term access for European boats to fish in our waters, and to agree a youth mobility scheme for the under-30s.

In exchange for these concessions, Britain is seeking dynamic alignment with EU rules on food standards to reduce border frictions, and for Brussels to consider its participation in a 127 billion rearmament programme, with no actual guarantee of participation.

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While British sources have insisted that no final deal has been reached, the direction of travel is concerning. It is entirely possible that we will strike a deeply uneven deal at considerable cost. Should this happen, it will reflect at least in part Sir Keirs failure to update his world-view to account for developments since 2016, a moment when Britains leverage with the bloc was at its lowest.

With the German economy crushed by catastrophic mismanagement, populists surging across the Continent, a major land war unfolding on the EUs borders, and the US increasingly unwilling to shoulder the cost of defending it, the ability of the UK to win concessions is much greater.

Regrettably, this appears to have passed the Government by. Downing Street is still acting as if London is in far greater need of a deal than Brussels, and as if each crumb that falls from the EUs table should be gratefully received or dearly purchased. It is an attitude of a piece with his calamitous approach to negotiations over the Chagos Islands, and his willingness to give up too much to American and Indian negotiators in exchange for too little in return.

Sir Keir, an ideological Remainer, may have struck trade deals which will make realignment with the EU more difficult. He has not, however, struck deals which will make it impossible, and Britain should be deeply wary of his attempts to negotiate closer ties. The sting in the tail may be a real risk of London surrendering its hard-won Brexit freedoms without a fight, slipping into the EUs regulatory orbit without a voice and without a vote, making the path to rejoining all too real.

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Sir Keir Starmer and European leaders will ramp up pressure on Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in an unprecedented joint visit to Ukraine on Saturday.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Frances Emmanuel Macron, Germanys Friedrich Merz and Polands Donald Tusk in a show of solidarity a day after the Victory Day military parade in Moscow.

Their visit to Kyiv is designed to expose Putin as a barrier to peace as he continues to resist American, Ukrainian and European calls to sign up to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

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They will also convene a meeting of the coalition of the willing that plans to defend Ukraines airspace and seas and train Kyivs armed forces to deter future Russian attacks following any peace deal.

We reiterate our backing for president Trumps calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace, the European leaders said in a joint statement.

Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.

We are ready to support peace talks as soon as possible, to discuss technical implementation of the ceasefire and prepare for a full peace deal.

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Their statement represents a clear sign that both European leaders and Donald Trump are more closely aligned than at any point since the US president began his bid to end Russias invasion of Ukraine.

By lining up behind Mr Trumps position, the travelling Europeans hope it will highlight Putin as the main obstacle to efforts to deliver peace.

The US president has previously claimed he would slap Russia with crippling sanctions if he believed its leadership was not serious about ending its full-scale invasion.

Zelensky demands US sanctions against Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, amplified his calls for US sanctions against Russia at a meeting with leaders from the Joint Expeditionary Force countries on Friday.

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Were all on the same page  there has to be a full ceasefire. And if Russia keeps dragging out the war, well need stronger sanctions  especially if they break the ceasefire when it finally happens, he said.

The US and all of you in Europe know what hurts Russia the most  what really puts pressure on Moscow to think about peace and stopping this war.

Sir Keir signed off on Britains largest round of sanctions against Moscow on Friday by targeting 100 oil tankers responsible for keeping Russian exports flowing.

Putin has said he would sign up to a ceasefire but only under conditions set out by the Kremlin, including a deal to prevent Ukraines battle-stricken armed forces from replenishing their stockpiles.

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The US truce offer, backed by Europe and Ukraine, would freeze the fighting unconditionally to pave the way for the first rounds of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

Ahead of the talks in Kyiv, the leaders of Germany and Finland said separately that they hoped Russia would agree to the ceasefire this weekend.

The ball is exclusively in Moscows court, Mr Merz told journalists during a visit to Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Vladimir Putin is joined by, from left: Sadyr Japarov, the president of Kyrgyzstan, Chinas Xi Jinping, Emomali Rahmon, leader of Tajikistan and Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the president of Turkmenistan in Moscow for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Victory Day - Evgenia Novozhenina/REUTERS

However, Ukrainian sources said they did not expect any breakthrough and that the European visit was in response to Russias Victory Day parade.

The celebration of the Soviet Unions defeat of Nazi Germany was attended by Chinas Xi Jinping, Slovakias Robert Fico, the only EU leader to travel to Moscow, and former MP George Galloway.

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Those assembled in Red Square watched Russian drones, ballistic missiles and tanks paraded to mark the occasion.

In a unique gesture, Putin embraced a North Korean general after the communist state deployed troops to help Russia drive Ukraine out of its Kursk region.

The Russian president had called a three-day ceasefire to honour the celebrations, but both Moscow and Kyiv have accused one another of breaching it.

Mr Zelensky called the truce offer a theatrical show designed to protect the parade from long-range Ukrainian attacks.

The visiting dignitaries in Moscow were sheltered underneath what experts described as a bomb-proof cover in an acknowledgement of the threat posed by Ukrainian drones.

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Mr Zelensky had hoped to host European leaders on Friday in a direct clash with the Russian parade but they were unavailable.

On Friday night it was reported that the Trump administration was in talks with European officials to finalise an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire and to impose new sanctions on Russia.

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A semi-truck driver is alive thanks to the heroic efforts of first responders after his rig made contact with a power line and he was electrocuted on Thursday morning.

The incident happened around 9:20 a.m. near a grain elevator on the edge of town  near the intersection of Hwy. 61 and Nicolai Ave.  when the semi hit the power line, electrocuting the driver and causing the semi to start on fire.

According to the Miesville Fire Department, employees of the Dakota Electric Association were at the gas station on the same property and they quickly cut power to the line and immediately began CPR on the driver, who had gone into cardiac arrest.

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Deputies then used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to shock the driver, bringing back a pulse. Medics took over the driver's care while firefighters battled the blaze.

The driver was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

"This morning the stars aligned, and the EMS system was put to the test," Miesville Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. "To the Dakota Electric, River Country Employees and others rushing to assist, job well done, your actions did not go unnoticed and clearly made a difference."
The Environmental Media Association kicked off its ninth annual Impact Summit on Thursday, rolling out a two-day lineup of stars and activists for wide-ranging conversations about the environment.

A large focus of the summits first day was discussing the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires that devastated the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas earlier this year. Jenna Dewan led a conversation about philanthropy and how the city banded together after the fires, while Property Brothers star Drew Scott moderated a panel about rebuilding homes in the destroyed areas.

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Youre rooted in your home, its your memories, its everything in your life. Its where you wake up every morning, go to bed every night and it affects every aspect of your life, whether its work or relationships, Scott told the audience at the Pendry West Hollywood. And weve had that ripped away from us, a lot of families did here in January.

Ben Stapleton, executive director for the U.S. Green Building Council California, noted how the world is watching us and seeing as Americans, as Angelenos, how do we respond to the tragedy? How do we do this in a way where we come together? Can we rebuild at scale in a way that can be more resilient and be more sustainable, and can we have a different narrative that the world can come see here for the Olympics, for other events, than what theyre seeing coming out of the U.S. right now?

Stapleton continued that immediately after the fire, he was getting flooded with emails and calls from people who lost their homes saying they wanted to rebuild in an environmental way; going with electric over gas was one such suggestion for how to do that.

Of choosing to rebuild with the planet in mind, he added, its going to reduce our utility bills long term, its going to reduce the air pollution in our homes, which is going to reduce our health care costs. The reason we rebuild green is because its healthier. And ideally, people are getting these homes they dont even know its green, its just cheaper, faster, easier. And so were launching a group purchasing platform to help drive down some of that cost for folks to get access to some of those sustainable materials. Were trying to do the things that we can to help meet people where theyre at, including contractor training. People need to know how to rebuild the right way.

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Scott also called out contractors who are telling people they need to rebuild with steel, concrete and materials where its basically going to be four times the cost to build your home back. These are people who didnt have the money  they didnt have the insurance or they were underinsured, they cant even afford the build back, let alone somethings going to cost four times. You dont need all of that. What you need is the envelope to be more fire retardant. We dont need the old vents that all these old houses have, we dont need exposed eaves especially with your neighbors five feet away. Its going to spread really fast if you have those issues.

Ed Begley Jr., Miranda Cosgrove, Malin Ackerman, Daniella Pineda and Peyton List also took part in conversations throughout the day, and Phil Rosenthal recorded a live version of his Naked Lunch podcast with Kevin Nealon. During the conversation, the pair touched on what to do with their Teslas given Elon Musks current role in the Trump administration.

I bought mine in 2012 when it first came out. Why? To protect the environment. Now, do I get rid of that car in solidarity with people who are against what hes doing to the country? Or do I keep that car because its better for the environment than a gas car? Rosenthal asked the audience of activists, as several suggested it was best to keep the car.

I think Im doing my part by keeping a car from 2012 in the first place, right? Im not buying a new car, by the way, the tariffs are going to make it terrible for me to buy another car, he continued, as Nealon deadpanned, I have a Tesla, but I am so opposed to Elon its in the shop now. Were having a gas engine put in it. Another audience member suggested to put a bumper sticker on the car that would disavow Musk while still keeping the Tesla.

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Now, does that keep the mob from dragging me out of my car and beating me up? It does? So thats all I need, everythings fine, Rosenthal responded, joking, Is this the problem with you people, is that you think a bumper sticker is going to fix the world?

Eli Roth, Sosie Bacon, Lance Bass, Nikki Reed and Jesse Metcalfe are among those taking part in the second day of the summit, sponsored by Toyota.

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In recent years, the Triad has faced unusually early warm spells and record-breaking heat waves that mirror global trends, according to meteorologists and climatologists such as UNC professor Charles Konrad and Corey Davis with the North Carolina State Climate Office.

As a result, some species, including one found only in the Triad, are in danger.

Endangered in the Piedmont

The Cape Fear shiner, a small endangered fish that lives only in the Cape Fear River Basin in the Piedmont region, is one of many species struggling to survive as rising temperatures change its environment.

They maintain their own body temperature the same way that we do, Brena Jones, central aquatic wildlife diversity research coordinator at N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, said.

They have what we call thermal limits. Beyond a certain temperature, they wont be able to survive anymore. Their metabolism will start to shut down. Theyll stop reproducing. If the water temperature exceeds that level, they wont be able to survive.

The Cape Fear shiner lives in the upper portion of the Cape Fear River Basin, specifically in headwater streams of central North Carolina such as the Deep, Haw, and Rocky Rivers, where dams block its movement and isolate it into small, similar habitats. Because it has nowhere else to go, any environmental changes, such as warmer waters or increased sediment from heavy rain, could wipe out the species, Jones explained.

According to the National Park Services Point Reyes National Seashore website, biologists estimate that climate change could drive as much as 35% of plant and animal species to extinction in the wild by 2050. Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Funds 2022 report found that global wildlife populations have declined by 69% on average since 1970.

In North Carolina, one of the most well-known cases of population decline is that of the red wolf, whose numbers have dropped to less than 20 wolves in the wild as of September 2024, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. The decline is blamed on habitat loss and human conflict such as vehicle strikes and illegal killings.

Ann Somers, senior lecturer emerita in the biology department at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, emphasized that climate change is especially hard on turtles and salamanders as rising temperatures can kill turtle embryos, while shifting rainfall and seasons threaten the wetlands that amphibians depend on.

The species that we have all around us here in central North Carolina today, will be very different in 20, 30, 50 years, John Bruno, a marine ecologist and professor in the department of biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said. In fact, the climate projections are that well have the climate roughly, of Jacksonville, Florida, by the end of the century.

Bruno explained a notable trend where rising temperatures are causing species to migrate north. In North Carolina, this means that native wildlife will increasingly be replaced by species from the warmer regions like South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

They call it species on the move. Almost every species right now is migrating to higher latitudes to escape the heat of migrating to cooler places, he said, referring to the increasing range expansion of nine-banded armadillos, which have been seen in North Carolina.

Similarly, bumblebees are experiencing a northward shift in their range and a decline in their populations in North Carolina. While there isnt yet concrete evidence directly linking their changes to rising temperatures, the trend mirrors broader patterns observed in various species across the globe.

Theres not a specific smoking gun if theres temperatures contributing, if there are diseases that are contributing, or if theres something else, said Elsa Youngsteadt, associate professor of applied ecology at NC State University. But knowing what we know about bumblebees, they are one of the more heat-sensitive bees in the bee world.

Bees play a crucial role as pollinators in both natural areas and agricultural systems across the state. They actively pollinate crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and various other flowering plants, essential for successful fruit development.

Why should I care?

We are beneficiaries of all these ecosystem services in combination that allow us to have a healthy, vibrant living landscape, Somer said.

If were going to try to pick it apart (and only focus on) But what do whales do for me? What do salamanders do for me? What does that bird do for me?  that limited viewpoint is going to be the undoing.

NC Wildlife Commission watches for federal fallout

President Donald Trump on March 1 signed an executive order directing the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to fast-track timber harvesting on federal lands.

The order directs agencies to use emergency rules under the Endangered Species Act and to convene the Endangered Species Committee, a federal panel with the authority to override species protections, to speed up logging approvals and address endangered species that might delay timber projects.

The move prompted environmental groups like Earthjustice to criticize the decision, calling it a chainsaw free-for-all on our federal forests that will worsen the effects of climate change, while also destroying critical wildlife habitat.

While the administration emphasized the economic benefits of these decisions, Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University, called them incredibly foolish even from an economic standpoint.

Rough rule of thumb is every visitor to a state park or a national park drops about $100 a day, Pimm said.

In 2023, the National Park Service reported that 325.5 million people visited the National Park System and spent $26.4 billion in national parks and nearby communities, contributing to $55.6 billion in economic output for the U.S. economy.

Massive clear cuts of forests in North Carolina will be ugly. They will reduce peoples quality of life. They will create areas that are very dry, and as they get drier, they become more flammable. Its bad news all the way around, Pimm continued.

Protecting endangered species is almost always a matter of protecting their habitats. Those habitats are worth huge amounts of money to our state especially.
May 8ALBANY  Language in the New York state budget will close a loophole that has blocked dozens of farms from accessing a state tax credit meant to cover the extra overtime costs caused by the mandated reduction in the farm worker overtime threshold.

Starting two years ago, New York labor officials started a gradual reduction in the farm worker overtime threshold. Under previous state regulations, agricultural workers were paid overtime after they'd worked 60 hours in a week, and they were the only sector of the workforce held to that standard. After a ruling from the state Labor Department's Farm Laborers Wage Board in 2023, that threshold is coming down gradually  first to 56 hours per week in 2024, with four-hour reductions every other year. By 2032, the overtime threshold will be 40 hours per week, the statewide standard for all other industries.

Farmers worried about the extra costs they'd have to carry, and argued that the move would make New York's farms less competitive  they said farm workers wouldn't want to work for fewer hours to avoid overtime costs, and farmers couldn't afford to pay enough staff to run their operations without overtime. State legislators laid out a tax credit program where farms can get a refund on their taxes for the value of what they pay in overtime each year.

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But a loophole in that program left out farms that used payroll management companies rather than handling human resources work in-house  because the workers were being paid not directly by the farm, but by a payroll company that the farm was paying a bill to, they weren't considered eligible for the tax credit. That model is common in upstate New York, especially among dairy farms.

But language in this year's state budget, in the bill that lays out revenue and addresses a number of tax credit programs, will fix that loophole by detailing that agriculture workers employed by a farm or by a "qualified professional employer organization" can be counted for the credit. The tax credit will still be paid to the farm the employee works at, rather than the employer organization.

The program also allows for farmers to seek this tax credit in advance, by certifying their overtime costs for the first half of the year.

And it shifts most of the responsibility for the program, from data management and farm certifications to the drafting of guidance and uniform program application documents, to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

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In a statement, the Northeast Dairy Producers Association lauded the fix, thanking Governor Hochul and the ranking members on the state legislature's agriculture and labor committees.

"By ensuring the Farm Overtime Tax Credit can be accessed by all of New York's farms, our state has made clear it's commitment to supporting New York's family dairy farms," they said. "We appreciate the efforts of Governor Hochul and Rankers, all working collaboratively to find a solution to ensure all farms have access to this program."

The association also thanked the state Department of Agriculture and Markets for taking on responsibility for the program's continued operation.

"We applaud their dedication to supporting New York farms," the group said. "This is one of several recent investments in the future of New York's dairy industry, and we look forward to continuing to work with all our partners to maintain New York's status as a top-producing dairy state, now and in the future."

Neither chamber of the legislature has taken up the bill that includes this language. Lawmakers continued to vote on various budget bills through Thursday  while plenty of lawmakers have expressed frustration with this year's budget process, which has extended more than a month past its statutory deadline and pushed a number of controversial policy issues, each budget bill has passed with a healthy majority in both chambers. Most controversial policy issues had been made public by Thursday, and lawmakers in the state Senate started to vote on the appropriations bills, which establish taxation and monetary distribution, on Thursday afternoon.
SOUTHINGTON, Ohio (WKBN)  An investigator with the State Fire Marshals Office will be conducting a routine investigation to determine what caused an attached garage to catch fire Thursday evening.



It happened in the 4100 block of County Line Turnpike Road in Southington.

Southington Fire Chief Scott Bower said when crews arrived, the garage was well involved and the fire was extending into the attic of the house.

Multiple fire departments were called to assist with both manpower and water.

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Bower said no one was hurt.

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Charlotte Waters plan to draw more from the Catawba River is facing pushback from the North Carolina State House.

The House passed a bill nearly unanimously this week that puts a pause on what are called inter-basin water transfers of more than 15 million gallons.

Charlotte Water wants to pull 30 million gallons from the Catawba. The utility says its necessary to keep pace with the citys economic and residential growth.

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Residents alarmed Charlotte Water wants 30M gallons daily from Catawba River

Opponents of the measure, including upstream communities like Hickory, say this could leave them more vulnerable to drought and water shortages.

Only one representative from Mecklenburg County voted against the moratorium.

(VIDEO: Catawba Riverkeeper calls Charlotte Water request for river water irresponsible)
IRONVILLE The CEO of the state association of charitable nonprofits said the organization needs to hear from nonprofits across the commonwealth in order to best fulfill its purpose.

The Kentucky Nonprofit Network hosted a free regional forum Thursday at Kentucky Educational Development Corporation on Rose Road in Ironville.

Danielle Clore, KNNs CEO, led the session, which featured the latest updates on potential federal executive orders, funding and operational challenges, a recap of Kentuckys legislative session and insight into using the nonprofit voice to protect and advance the work of charitable organizations.

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KNN was established 23 years ago. It includes 1,180 members.

According to its website  kynonprofits.org  KNN works to strengthen and advance our nonprofit sector through a unified public policy voice, quality education and resources, and a strong network of nonprofit leaders and organizations serving Kentucky communities.

The session drew a small crowd and lasted about 90 minutes.

Mike Maynard, of Hillcrest-Bruce Mission, said it was fruitful.

Definitely in this environment of change, having an organization that, one, informs nonprofits, is a beneficial asset, and, two, having someone who can speak on your behalf at the state level, is good. I think their mission is good, Maynard said.

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Clore said Kentucky ranks second among all 50 states in being most dependent on federal funds, which account for roughly 46% of the states revenue.

Clore expressed concern regarding funding pauses and cuts. She said 66% of Kentucky nonprofits face potential loss of government funding. Government sources account for 33% of annual revenue for Kentucky nonprofits, according to urban.org.

She said it creates a problem for everyone.

Every Kentuckian benefits from the programs and services provided by charitable nonprofits, and they are also essential to our economy as employers, consumers of goods and services, strong community partners with local businesses, and key to tourism and attracting businesses to Kentucky, Clore said. This report underscores the importance of the need for Kentuckians to voice their support for these organizations because when nonprofits are hurting, Kentuckians are hurting. The helpers need help to continue to make Kentucky communities good places to live, work and raise a family.

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Clore referred to that impact report throughout Thursdays session.

According to the report, 81% of all voters report trusting nonprofits to engage in nonpartisan advocacy and address needs that government cannot or should not provide.

We want nonprofits to be nonpartisan, Clore said.

Clore said a popular myth is private philanthropy can fill in gaps and maintain services. She said private foundations contribute around $107 billion annually to U.S. charitable nonprofits. To replace lost government funding, private donors would need to increase their giving by 282% per year, which is not feasible, she said.

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Clore said its important for all to become more educated in nonprofits. The nonprofit sector is the fourth-largest employer in the state  behind only manufacturing, retail trade and accommodation and food services.

KNN says charitable nonprofits accomplish the following: improve lives, are economic engines, attract other employers and industries, bring Americans together to solve problems, build and strengthen democracy and promote civic engagement.

Were in this together, Clore said.
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH)  Connecticut State Police are looking for the publics help in identifying a person of interest in connection to a bus station stabbing in New Britain that happened in April.

On Friday, state police posted surveillance photos on social media of a person of interest in the April 4 stabbing at a CTastrak station in New Britain.

VIDEO: Dog saves another dog who was having seizure, Milford couple says

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The investigation has determined that a physical altercation occurred between the suspect and victim, which ended with the suspect stabbing the victim in the back, state police said. The victim was transported for non-life threatening injuries.

State police asked anyone who recognizes the man in the photos to call Trooper Cullen McCormack #840 at 860-534-1000 or by email at cullen.mccormack@ct.gov and reference case number 2500125895.

Tips can be made confidentially.

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The White House is actively looking at ending habeas corpus as it continues its massive deportation crusade, according to deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Habeas corpus requires authorities to justify an individuals confinement.

Well, the Constitution is clearand that of course is the supreme law of the landthat the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion, Miller told reporters at the White House Friday.

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The Trump administration has leaned on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify its immigration crackdown while ignoring immigrants due process rights, sometimes defying court orders in the process. Donald Trump has defended the infractions by claiming that immigration into the country is tantamount to an invasion, and has described the current era as a time of war.

But continuing that rhetoric flies in the face of direction by the Supreme Court, which ruled immigrants must be allowed to challenge their deportations under the centuries-old act via habeas corpus.

Judges in several cases have so far ruled against the Trump administrations interpretation of the law, deciding that the executive branch was illegally leveraging the Alien Enemies Act to deport residents it perceived to be threats.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez ruled that Tren de Araguas presence did not constitute an invasion, as Trump had claimed.

The Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and, as a result, is unlawful, Rodriguez decided. [Administration officials] do not possess the lawful authority under the AEA, and based on the Proclamation, to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States, or remove them from the country.
STOCKHOLM (AP)  The Stockholm City Council has rejected the U.S. Embassy's demands that it comply with the Trump administration's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

It's the latest in U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to terminate such programs within the federal government  and beyond  in what he described in his inauguration speech as a move to end efforts to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.

Countries and cities across Europe have received similar outreach from U.S. embassies, including France, Belgium and the city of Barcelona, all of which lashed out at the U.S. efforts to expand its anti-DEI policies to the continent.

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In an email to the city's planning office, dated April 29, the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm asked that Stockholm officials sign a certification that their contractors do not operate any programs promoting DEI that would violate U.S. anti-discrimination law.

The city council said Friday that it will not comply with the embassy's demands or respond officially.

We were really surprised, of course, Jan Valeskog, vice mayor for city planning, told The Associated Press. We will not sign this document at all, of course not.

Valeskog said that while the city wants to continue its good relationship with the embassy, it will follow Swedish law and city policies to include DEI practices.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A shooting that put a South Memphis school on lockdown Thursday started when the owner of a stolen car found someone driving it, and someone opened fire, police said.

Police were called to Modder Avenue and Castex Street at 3:30 for a shooting call. When they arrived, they found an unoccupied red Hyundai Sonata that had been shot at multiple times.

Shooting near middle school prompts lockdown

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A witness said a male wearing an orange shirt and red pants had run away from the car. Officers found that persons relative, who told them the victim stole the car, but the cars owner caught him while driving.

The owner was in a van or truck with three people inside. One man got out of that vehicle, approached the stolen Hyundai and began shooting as the driver put it in reverse and tried to get away, according to police.

Photo by WREG

One severely injured in Third Street crash involving semi-truck

The victim who was inside the stolen car ran away. He told police he was walking nearby when two friends pulled up in the Hyundai, and he did not know it was stolen. He didnt know what happened to the two friends.

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No one was injured in the shooting, but the people in the van or truck got away. The shooting put nearby Riverview Middle School on lockdown, and knocked out power to part of South Memphis.

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ROCHESTER, NY (WROC)  A stolen Mazda ran a red light and crashed into a Hyundai in Rochester Thursday evening in the area of Jay Street and Ames Street, according to the Rochester Police Department.

Rochester police responded to the area just after 5 p.m. When officers got on scene, they found a Mazda and a Hyundai still at the scene.

RPD said the Mazda had been stolen, and the driver ran a red light and crashed into the Hyundai before he and the others in the car ran from the scene.

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The driver of the Mazda, a 27-year-old man, was found by police shortly after and was apprehended. He was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The driver of the Hyundai was taken to Strong Hospital after complaints of minor injuries.

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PIPFPD

Press Statement 8th May 2025

War is not the solution

In this critical moment as tensions escalate, Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) urgently appeals to the governments of India and Pakistan for peace.

We implore both the countries to step back from the brink of war and immediately halt any further military escalation.

As leaders of nuclear-armed nations, both India and Pakistan should exercise restraint. Any continuation of the present situation with unpredictability of further military expansion would unleash catastrophic humanitarian consequences. It would claim countless innocent lives, and create massive displacement.

Both India and Pakistan face pressing developmental challenges that require full attention and resources. The aspirations for economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved quality of life on both sides would be severely compromised by the enormous financial drain of a continuation and escalation of an armed conflict. The consequences will be borne not only by the two countries but all of South Asia.

Lives have been lost in India, Pakistan and in Jammu and Kashmir. The sufferings of people are only increasing. Jammu and Kashmir as a region continues to face persecution despite the loss of thousands of lives to violence and terror in the last few decades.

We observe with deep concern the growing war frenzy gripping segments of the public in both nations. Social media platforms are overflowing with jingoistic rhetoric, and news channels are broadcasting inflammatory content that demonizes the other country. This war hysteria is fueled by the weaponization of religious identities coupled with desperation to prove ones nationalism that creates a dangerous atmosphere for the people of both countries. What appears as widespread public support for military action is often the product of this manufactured frenzy without thinking about the devastating consequences that would follow.

The normalization of war is most visible at this stage and the restraints that international peace processes and diplomatic systems have, seem hollow and weakened globally.

We urge both the countries to resist being swept along by these currents of hostility.

The immediate cessation of hostilities, followed by renewed diplomatic engagement, offers the only sustainable path forward. We appeal to both the countries to find a diplomatic solution that addresses legitimate security concerns while avoiding the devastating consequences of armed conflict.

Please find the link to the PIPFPD statement condemning the Pahalgam Attack issued on 23rd April 2025:

https://pipfpd.info

Issued by: Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD)

Email: pipfpd.india[at]gmail.com
Maybe you heard that we have a new pope, Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader formerly known as Robert Prevost of Chicago.

Im not sure why I said we just now, because Im a Presbyterian. Maybe its because Pope Leo XIV is a fellow American. Or maybe its because many people around the world, myself included, look to the pope for some sort of wisdom about life and the right way to live.

The most interesting thing to me about selecting a new pope is this unwritten requirement for being elected by the conclave, according to insiders:

Act like you dont want the job.

No one stands up and gives a speech  Vote for me, said Father Christopher Davis in 2013 when Pope Benedict was elected. They write down the name of whoevers name they feel led to write down.

At the time, Davis was serving at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Greensboro, with Father Eric Kowalski.

Back then, Kowalski implied that being named pope was a humbling and daunting proposition.

Theres also, I would imagine, that sense of, What if it is me? What if God is calling me? Will I have the strength to say yes? Kowalski said.

Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, told interviewers that he never wanted to be pope.

I tried that approach several decades ago when I was nominated to be an officer in my church. I was in my thirties, had four children under the age of 10 and was trying to be a decent father and husband while working long hours at a high-stress job.

I didnt feel qualified to be anybodys spiritual leader, and I also didnt need anything else to do. When I met with our pastor and a group of elders, they asked me why I would make a good elder. I told them I would not. The jury was still out on my ability to lead my own family, I said, and when someone cut me off in traffic, I cursed at them like a sailor.

They looked at each other and nodded. Thats the right answer, they said.

I thought about this during the selection of the pope. And just for kicks, I went back and watched Conclave, a movie about the selection of the pope.

You know, because nobody understands faith and religion like Hollywood.

Conclave has been categorized as a thriller, which is true if your idea of a thriller is old guys in robes staying in what looks like a Motel 6 with marble walls, eating tortellini in the cafeteria, and riding a tour bus to St. Peters Basilica.

In one scene, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) tells Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) that hes never wanted to be pope.

Bellini scoffs. Every one of the cardinals has already picked out a papal name for himself, he said. Not me, Lawrence says.

Later in the movie, Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), a pompous ass who clearly wants to be pope, gets humiliated in front of all the other cardinals by a nun. Played by Isabella Rossellini.

And when Lawrence, who says he doesnt have a pope name picked out, casts a vote for himself, part of the basilica ceiling falls on his head.

Lesson learned.

I really cant think of another full-time job that you get by acting like you dont want it.

The exact opposite, I suppose, would be fighter pilot. The militarys not looking for flyers who doubt their ability to do the job, or act like they do.

I think Conclave would have truly qualified as a thriller if the late Val Kilmer had been cast as one of the 133 cardinals jockeying for the papacy. He could have snapped his jaws and grinned at John Lithgow before he cast his ballot.

Pope Iceman.

Not gonna happen.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Happy Friday, Utah! A ridge of high pressure builds through Saturday with plenty of sunshine and a solid warming trend for our temperatures.

The bottom line? Above average warmth with increasing wind for Mothers Day weekend.

We will see daytime highs climb between 15-20 degrees above seasonal norms, with highs about ten degrees above average in the southern part of the state. When high pressure builds, we see clearer skies so more sunshine, and overall dry conditions.

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Expect daytime highs to hit the low 80s today along the Wasatch Front and high 80s through the weekend. St. George will reach the low 90s for the close of the work week, with mid-90s on deck for Saturday and Mothers Day.

When it comes to wet weather potential, the chance for thunderstorms begins to uptick as we get into Saturday afternoon. Our ridge of high pressure slides east, and we begin to see southwesterly winds crank up. Gusty winds, especially on the western side of the state, will increase with the potential of blowing dust.

These winds pick up ahead of a trough that moves into the Beehive State. The Mothers Day trough is expected to impact Northern Utah with isolated thunderstorms and a cold front arriving by the evening, with winds keeping daytime highs well above average on Sunday.

The front will cool highs into the beginning of the work week, with the trough increasing precipitation potential and allowing temperatures to drop well below average. Right now, it looks like the Wasatch Front could see several days with highs in the low to mid-60s. Time will tell!

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Well keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in our 4Warn Weather forecast, both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
To reduce reliance on traditional dirty fuels, British supermarket chain Sainsbury's has launched an initiative to transform its food waste into fuel for its fleet of heavy goods vehicles.

RenEco, a waste processing company, has partnered with the chain to help it reduce waste and the use of diesel for its trucking fleet at the Emerald Park distribution center, according to Retail Insight Network.

The company will create biofuel from food that cannot be donated or used for animal feed to power 30 trucks at the location, which is half the fleet.

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Organic waste will be broken down through anaerobic digestion, an oxygen-free method for producing biogas, per the report. It's then further refined into a liquid biofuel that the company can use to power its distribution network vehicles.

Moving to a fully circular economy for fueling the vehicles is expected to save approximately 3,300 tons of planet-warming emissions from being released into the atmosphere each year. It also supports the company's ambitious goal of becoming net zero across its operations by 2035.

Studies have shown that food waste is a global problem and occurs at every level of the food supply chain, including harvesting, transporting, processing, packaging, and consuming. The labor, energy, and resources involved in these industrial processes will also have been wasted.

More than 95% of discarded food will end up in landfills, which are a major source of methane, a particularly dangerous greenhouse gas. Reducing waste streams and converting waste materials into valuable resources is an essential step toward sustainability.

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"Food waste is a global tragedy. Millions will go hungry today as food is wasted across the world," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, in a press release.

"Not only is this a major development issue, but the impacts of such unnecessary waste are causing substantial costs to the climate and nature," added Andersen.

Sainsbury's eco-friendly initiative highlights the change that can be enacted when corporations get involved in climate issues and work to make a difference. HelloFresh, an international meal kit company, has also launched an effort to convert food waste into usable resources.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury's chief property and procurement officer, said, "Today's announcement underscores the power that collaboration has in driving impactful change across business."

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"We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenEco to deliver a pioneering move that supports our commitment to circularity and helps us to take a further step towards becoming net zero across our operations by 2035," Dunne added.

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.
10 May 2025 at 11:20 am

Popular wellness brand Optimal Carnivore has issued a voluntary recall on one of its supplements due to potential salmonella contamination.

The recall includes nearly 1,500 bottles of their Bone & Joint Restore capsules, which were distributed nationwide through major retailers, such as Amazon.

The capsules contain bone marrow and bones from cows, as well as cartilage, per the nutrition label.

The recalled bottles have an expiration label of December 2026 and a lot number of 1224064. Each bottle contains 180 capsules.

Optimal Carnivore first issued the recall in April and has since taken the product off its website.

On Monday, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave it a Class 1 label, the most serious designation for products with a high risk of health hazard or death.

Wellness brand Optimal Carnivore issues a voluntary recall on nearly 1,500 bottles of their Bone & Joint Restore capsules for potential salmonella contamination (Getty Images)

As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the affected supplements, however, the company is urging customers with the affected products not to consume the capsules due to the risk of salmonella infection.

The Independent has reached out to the company for comment.

Salmonella bacteria are commonly found in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Salmonella infection is a common bacterial disease that can affect the intestinal tracts and occurs after drinking contaminated water, eating raw meat, poultry, eggs, or unpasteurized milk.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Salmonella is the most common form of bacterial food poisoning, with symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, chills, and stomach cramps.

In some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and requires prompt medical attention. Life-threatening complications also may develop if the infection spreads beyond the intestines, Mayo Clinic states.

The incubation period  the time between exposure and illness  can be 6 hours to 6 days. Often, people who have Salmonella infection think they have the stomach flu, the clinic explains.

Any individual, adult or infant, with a weakened immune system, is at higher risk of serious illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A well-known tomato brand recently issued a voluntary recall due to potential salmonella contamination.

Ray & Mascari Inc. announced the recall of its four packs of Vine Ripe tomatoes on May 2.

The company issued the recall after they were notified by Hanshaw & Caping Farms in Immokalee, Florida, of potential bacterial contamination.

At-risk tomatoes were packaged in plastic cartons with a VINE RIPE TOMATOES label that read "Packed by Ray & Mascari Inc."

The recall extended to several states, including New York, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Williams Farms Repack LLC also recalled a crop of tomatoes sold to wholesalers in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, highlighting the same bacterial risk.
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter, a Republican appointee who retired from the high court in 2009 after voting consistently with its liberal wing, has died, the Supreme Court announced on Friday.

He was 85 years old.

Souter, a low-key New Englander who eschewed the national spotlight, was known by some as the stealth nominee when President George H.W. Bush nominated him in 1990 to replace the liberal lion William Brennan. Advisers assured the president that Souter would move the court to the right  a misreading that continues to reverberate today.

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The Supreme Court said Souter died peacefully on Thursday at his home in New Hampshire, but did not disclose the cause.

Justice David Souter served our court with great distinction for nearly twenty years, Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service.

Measured, scholarly and faithful to the idea of judicial restraint, those who knew Souter said his approach to the law shouldnt have surprised anyone who was paying close attention.

The whole point of it was that it was a Constitution and a Bill of Rights for the indefinite future, Souter said during a 2012 event. The application of these values, the problem of trying to make them work in practice, was an assignment that was left to the future.

Souter appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing in September 1990 in Washington, DC. - Marcy Nighswander/AP

It did not take conservatives long to regret Souters nomination. After less than two years on the bench, he helped orchestrate a significant opinion that upheld the central tenet of Roe v. Wade, that the right to abortion was implicitly guaranteed by the Constitution. It wasnt until 2022  three decades later  that the court ultimately overturned Roe.

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And he would go on to side with the courts liberal bloc in cases dealing with civil rights, affirmative action and voting.

His tenure inspired a rallying cry on the right  No More Souters  and led to a more rigorous ideological vetting of candidates. Subsequent nominees from both parties  including todays justices  are less likely to break with the party that appointed them.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who joined the court about a year after Souter, remembered him as a wonderful colleague who was kind, honorable, and decent, in a statement released by the Supreme Court on Friday. Justice Samuel Alito, who also overlapped with Souter, said he was impressed with his learning, his dedication to the law, and his delightfully old-fashioned ways.

I was very sorry to see him retire, but he sorely missed his native New Hampshire and his book-laden home there, and I was happy that he was able to spend the last 16 years of his life in the surroundings he cherished living the kind of private life he preferred, Alito said a statement released by the court.

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David Souter was a unique man with a special kindness and grace. He joined the court purely out of a sense of duty to the country, said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who replaced Souter on the bench after he retired in 2009.

Attorney General Pam Bondi described Souter in a social media post Friday as a brilliant man who devoted his life to public service and our courts.

Contemplative, humble jurist

Souter wrote a widely cited First Amendment unanimous opinion in 1995 that permitted organizers of a St. Patricks Day parade in Boston to deny a place for an LGBTQ group. A decade later, he wrote for a 5-4 majority finding that three counties in Kentucky had violated the Frist Amendment when they displayed framed copies of the Ten Commandments in courthouses and public schools.

The divisiveness of religion in current public life is inescapable, Souter wrote. This is no time to deny the prudence of understanding the establishment clause to require the government to stay neutral on religious belief, which is reserved for the conscience of the individual.

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He was often understated in his opinions. In a 2009 concurrence in a case involving Navajo Nation mineral rights, Souter put down only two sentences.

I am not through regretting that my position in an early case did not carry the day, he wrote. But it did not, and I agree that the precedent of that case calls for the result reached here.

In another break with todays norms, Souter stepped down after 19 years on the Supreme Court, seeking a return to his contemplative life in New Hampshire. Never married and never fond of the Washington social scene, Souter was only 69 when he stepped down  far younger than most departing justices.

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His retirement gave President Barack Obama, a Democrat, his first chance to name a Supreme Court justice. Obama chose Sonia Sotomayor, a self-described fiery Latina to fill the shoes of the low-key New England native Souter. Today, Sotomayor is the senior member of the courts three-justice liberal bloc.

Souter, happy to leave the politics and agitation of Washington behind, spent his retirement in New Hampshire, often sitting on lower courts to fill a vacancy when necessary. His preference for a quieter life was evident during his time at the Supreme Court where he spurned technology and wrote his opinions in longhand. Asked if there would ever be cameras in the courtroom, he famously said, over my dead body.

A stinging defeat for Souter was the 2000 decision Bush v. Gore that cleared the way for Bushs presidency.

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He was very aggrieved by the decision, said Ralph Neas, the founder for People for the American Way. He believed it was the ultimate politicization of the Supreme Court.

Not only liberty, but equality

David Hackett Souter was born in Massachusetts in 1939 but he grew up and attended grade school in New Hampshire. His father was a banker and his mother was a store clerk. He spent the summers as a child in his grandparents house in New Hampshire, and attended Harvard, Oxford and Harvard Law School.

In 1976, Souter became New Hampshires attorney general, taking over for Warren Rudman. Rudman, a centrist Republican, would go on to serve in the US Senate and become one of Souters greatest champions.

New Hampshire State Attorney General David Souter, stands with then-Gov. Meldrim Thomson in the executive chambers of the Statehouse in 1977. (AP Photo) - AP

Despite stiff opposition from the NAACP and the National Organization for Women, Souter was confirmed 90-9 by the Senate.

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Douglas Kmiec, a lawyer who served in the Bush administration, said that Souter was tabula rasa when he showed up on the bench and called him a surprise.

The law for him, unlike many of his conservative colleagues, was not an abstract set of rules totally divorced from its effect in the real world, said Peter Rubin a former law clerk. It wasnt just an intellectual puzzle for him.

Some of his habits were idiosyncratic, especially for Washington. Souter was known to be a charming guest, but he didnt go out much. Instead, he preferred solo pursuits like reading and hiking in the New Hampshire mountains.

In 2016, at a joint appearance discussing the role of food at the Supreme Court, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sotomayor revealed his unusual lunch habit.

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My dear colleague David Souter, Ginsburg said, with a hint of distaste, ate one thing for lunch most days: plain yogurt.

I understood, Sotomayor said, he had an apple.

Yes, Ginsburg replied.

Sotomayor added: He ate the core.

After retiring from the Supreme Court, Souter continued to occasionally hear cases on the Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals. He also took part in civics education curriculum reform efforts in New Hampshire, the court said.

His depth of commitment to the rule of law, his reverence for the Constitution, his faith in the American legal tradition, and his deep respect for the profession of law had a profound influence on all of us who had the privilege of sitting with him, said 1st Circuit Chief Judge David Barron.

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In 2010, Souter set out his philosophy during a commencement speech at Harvard.

We want not only liberty, but equality as well, he said.

These paired desires of ours can clash, and when they do, a court is forced to choose between them, between one constitutional good and another one, he said. The court has to decide which of our approved desires has the better claim, right here, right now, and a court has to do more than read fairly when it makes this kind of choice.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

Ariane de Vogue contributed to this report.

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Man dies after being pulled from water at Ocean Beach: SFFD

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  The San Francisco Fire Department said a man has died after being pulled from the water at Ocean Beach on Thursday afternoon.

Another dead whale found floating in SF Bay

The incident occurred at the location of Ocean Beach at Lawton Street. SFFD said the fully clothed man entered the surf line to rescue a dog, and for an unknown reason, collapsed.

SFFD said two women jumped into the surf line and were able to rescue the man then call 911.

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San Francisco Fire said crews arrived in just minutes and CPR was performed on the man before he was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite life-saving measures, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

The dog was able to exit the water on its own and is expected to be okay, confirmed SFFD.

SFFD had sent an alert at 2:19 p.m. advising residents to avoid the area while the rescue was underway. The scene was cleared an hour later.

In a social media post, San Francisco Fire Department wrote This is an unfortunate reminder not to enter the water for humans or pets but rather, to call 911.

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Leo XIV was forged as much by the outside world as by the United States.

That may be why hes Americas first pope.

When the newly elected pontiff walked onto the balcony overlooking St. Peters Square on Thursday, he shocked the world. For as long as anyone can remember, its been accepted that a conclave of cardinals would never choose an American.

The United States was often deemed too powerful  militarily, diplomatically, and even culturally  for one of its own to control one of the worlds most influential seats of moral authority: the Roman Catholic Church and its flock, which is currently more than three times the size of the US population.

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Yet, on Thursday, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, whom his friends know as Bob, pulled off a feat many US believers thought theyd never live to see, sending outbursts of pride and pinch-me moments across the country of his birth.

This is not primarily an American story, although it could change the nation.

But hundreds of millions of believers around the world wont care that much that this is an unprecedented moment in US history. To them, Leo XIV is the Holy Father, who holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven as the Vicar of Christ.

Yet at this of all times, there is a fascinating question: Why did the cardinals pick an American?

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Only the electors inside the Sistine Chapel fully understand the dynamics that led to Leo succeeding the late Pope Francis on the conclaves second day.

But it seems an extraordinary coincidence that the first American pope arrived at just the moment when the United States, under its new, second-term President Donald Trump, is turning on many of the foreign approaches, alliances and even domestic values that it has long observed as the worlds most powerful nation. Could the cardinals have been making an implicit argument that there is another American path?

President Donald Trump outside the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, May 8, 2025. - Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images

This is where the new popes personal history may offer a clue.

Prevost spent decades as a missionary and spent 20 years in Peru, where he is a naturalized citizen and served as a bishop. He speaks multiple languages and made no reference to his US heritage in his first public appearance as pontiff, instead speaking in Italian and Spanish and sending a greeting to his dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru. It was as if the new pope was sufficiently separate from the country of his birth that there was no way he could be perceived as an instrument or endorsement of its policy or authority.

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For a new age  in which nationalism; a geopolitical creed of strong states preying on the weak; and authoritarianism are rising  the cardinals chose a pope born in a land where those earth-shaking changes are most obvious. Amid rising anger in Global South nations over economic disparities, and with hostility on the right against mass migration peaking in the US, the Roman Catholic Church again has a leader who lived his vow of poverty among the marginalized in Latin America, where many migrants to the US originate.

At a time when the US administration is cutting assistance to the sick, for instance in the evisceration of USAID programs in Africa, the new head of the Roman Catholic Church has made serving the poor his vocation.

It would be superficial to argue Leos election is a rebuke of Trumpism. Yet its also impossible to ignore that the Roman Catholic Church mastered the techniques of high politics centuries before the United States won its independence.

Newly elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, right, receives his biretta from Pope Francis as he is elevated in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 30, 2023. - Riccardo De Luca/AP

Two Americans in positions of great global power

Whatever the motivations of those who chose Pope Leo, events in the Vatican on Thursday have created a fascinating situation.

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There will now be two Americans wielding vast power on the world stage  one politically and the other spiritually  and the implicit comparisons and potential disagreements between Trump and Pope Leo will be impossible to ignore. If the papacy of the late Pope Francis is any guide, they are also likely to grow.

This will further intensify the debate about Americas identity and values, which is already raging inside and outside this country. It may cause new reflect about what Americans stands for and its global role.

I am an American, I love America, I love the values that we stand for, said the Rev. Robert Hagan, a friend of the new Pope Leo, who described the new Chicago-born pontiff as a man of depth, strength and serenity. Sometimes we are not perfect, right, we have flaws, Hagan told CNNs Jake Tapper on Thursday. Sometimes the perception of us is rightly deserved, in terms of things that we could do better at and work on. But I think in Leo XIV, we have really what the best of what America stands for. For peace. For justice. That everyone has a role to play; that there should be opportunities for all.

While Americans may be seeking reasons why one of their own was chosen, there are many other possibilities. Prevosts nationality could be incidental to his election.

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The new pope became a powerful figure in the Roman Catholic Church during the papacy of Francis, when he moved to a key post in the Vatican  and his election is an implicit statement by the college of cardinals that the late popes predominant concern for the poor and relatively progressive doctrinal themes of his tenure will be preserved,

Bishop Robert Barron, of Rochester, Minnesota, who also knows the former Prevost, told CNNs Erin Burnett at the Vatican that he was shocked at the outcome of the election. I was telling interviewers the day before the conclave  they will never elect an American pope. Barron added, America runs the world politically, economically, a lot of popular culture, they wont let an American run the Church. Well, I was wrong.

But asked whether the cardinals had chosen to make a statement about America with the country moving away from some of its global relationships, Barron replied, I really think they chose the man. I think they recognized this man as uniquely qualified  he had an international feel, an American, yes indeed, but worked in Latin America, had been here for some years, speaks Italian fluently and knows the Curia. When you put all that together, you say, Well, there is a very qualified guy.

This undated picture shows Robert Prevost with Pope John Paul II. - Courtesy of the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel

Political debates over Leo are already raging back in the US

Still, since this is America, the election of Leo is sure to become polarized. Some opinion formers of the Make America Great Again movement were already expressing dismay on Thursday on social media about his selection. Some conservatives had hoped for a new pope who would turn away from some of Franciss positions  for instance, on climate change.

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The late pope also issued an extraordinary condemnation of the Trump administrations mass deportation policies and warned that they would deprive migrants of their dignity. He appeared to take direct aim at Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, over his defense of the program on theological grounds. Given Leos closeness to Francis, there are already some expectations that he might hold similar views, although he may be less strident in expressing them early in his papacy.

Controversy is already surrounding reposts critical of Vance and Trump on immigration policy from an X account listed under Prevosts name. The account did not personally write any of the critical posts, but reposted articles and headlines from others. CNN has reached out to the Vatican, X and friends of Prevost, but has not been able to independently confirm the X account is connected to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.

Trump was gracious when he learned of Leos election on Thursday, telling reporters at the White House that to have the Pope from America is a great honor.

While MAGA conservatives may have been hoping for a different pope, some liberals are sure to see his election and the Roman Catholic Churchs decision to steer away from more conservative candidates as a rebuke to Trumps political creed and policies.

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Yet the issues and divides that preoccupy the Catholic Church dont always fit snugly over the deeply dug political battle lines of US politics. While he made a significant shift in the Church toward acceptance of LGBTQ Catholics, Francis rejected other liberal positions such as the right to an abortion and the ordination of women priests. These are also questions that cleave the Church in the United States, as well as globally.

Those schisms, at a time of deep political angst  as well as raging wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and new clashes in South Asia  are the backdrop of a new papacy that will begin amid daunting global crises. That may have been on Leos mind in his first speech as the head of the Roman Catholic Church as he pledged to serve Christ as a bridge to bring humanity together

Peace be with you, he said, in the first words ever uttered by an American pope.

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Front of the Florida Capitol Building, taken on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his full-fledged campaign on Friday to get the Florida Legislature to back his idea of providing immediate targeted property tax relief this year to Floridians, and for lawmakers to jettison their proposed sales tax cut.

Speaking in Tampa earlier this week, the governor declared that any tax package sent to his desk that features a sales tax component would be dead on arrival. That comment has now led to an apparent breakdown between legislative leaders in trying to come together on the state budget, which forced them late last week to extend the legislative session into June.

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DeSantis and Hernando County Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia said in Tampa this week that they have encountered very few members of the public who say theyd rather have a cut in the sales tax vs. property taxes, and a public opinion survey of Floridians released on Friday seems to back up the anecdotal evidence.

In the survey of 1,200 Floridians taken in April for the James Madison Institute, 46% said they support eliminating property taxes while 32% supported reducing sales taxes. Another 12% said they preferred keeping things status quo.

When asked whether they support eliminating property taxes by expanding the homestead exemption for primary residents, 65% said yes while just 24% opposed that proposal. Another 11% were unsure.

However, following that question up, 60% said that they were concerned about how elimination of property taxes would affect potential cuts to local services, such as law enforcement and public schools. Only 33% of voters said that they were not concerned about that outcome.

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If policymakers want to eliminate property taxes, they would need to raise $43 billion (or $2,015 per Floridian) to maintain public services now funded with property tax revenue, the Florida Policy Institute recently wrote in a report titled, A Risky Proposition.

House Speaker Daniel Perez said last week that because the Florida Constitution prohibits the Legislature from exercising direct control over property taxes, any such reform would need to go before the voters on the November 2026 ballot. Thats why, he said, there is a need for his Select Committee on Property Taxes to study the issue.

The 37 lawmakers on the committee will prepare a Joint Resolution by this fall to allow lawmakers to put the question on the ballot next year. It would require 60% support to pass.

DeSantis has said that the committee has been set up to fail, noting that Perez appointed several far-left Democrats who the governor predicts will end up voting against such a proposal.

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The James Madison Institute survey was conducted by Targoz Market Research of 1,200 voters, 43% of whom said they were Republicans, 33% Democrats, and 23% independent voters. It has a +/- margin of error of 2.77%.

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This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating an accidental discharge of a firearm during a police chase.

Detective and PIO Dalton Beebe with SLCPD spoke with ABC4 about what occurred. He said that at the Beans and Brew near 200 E and 900 S, officers were called to respond to a fight in progress.

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Beebe stated that the multiple parties involved in the fight began running when officers arrived. Officers were able to detain several individuals involved.

According to Beebe, one of the individuals had a firearm. While attempting to ditch the firearm, the individual accidentally shot himself in the lower extremities.

Officers were able to perform life-saving efforts and transport him to the hospital. He is in stable condition, according to Beebe.

SLCPD states that no officers discharged their firearms during the chase. Beebe stated that the preliminary investigation shows that only one shot was fired and that no other parties were at risk.

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Traffic is closed at 900 South between 300 East and 200 East while police investigate. They say there is no threat to the community.

Our officers reacted very quickly, performed life-saving measures under a stressful situation, were very proud of that, Beebe stated. Im proud of them.

There is no further information at this time.

Latest headlines:

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man is in the hospital and faces numerous charges after a shooting Thursday in the Clairemont area.

The incident occurred around 7:06 p.m. in the 3800 block of Canning Avenue, San Diego Police Officer Anthony Carrasco confirmed to FOX 5/KUSI.

When authorities arrived on scene, they learned that the man had discharged his firearm inside the home.

Salmonella cases increase after outbreak at popular Clairemont restaurant

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One of the rounds went through the wall and through another room, causing some shrapnel and debris that impacted a woman inside the room, according to Carrasco.

Police ordered the suspect to come out of the home, but he was not compliant with officers.

The suspect eventually did come out of the home, but he only made verbal contact with officers. When he turned back to go inside the home, police released a K-9 and apprehended the suspect, police said.

The suspect was taken to the hospital due to injuries from the K-9.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A 47-year-old man was charged with murder Thursday after he admitted using large rocks to bludgeon a man to death more than a decade ago outside the downtown Bakersfield courthouse, police say in a court filing.

Jeremy Daniel Cruzen is due in court Monday for arraignment on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Christopher Wagstaff, court records show.

Detectives on May 2 interviewed Cruzen in Corcoran State Prison, where he was serving time for an unrelated case and set to be released next month, police said.

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Wagstaff was found dead on Aug. 31, 2014, outside the Kern County Superior Court building at 1415 Truxtun Ave. He died from blunt force trauma.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Frank McIntyre at 661-326-3921, the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111 or Kern Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A man charged in the 2019 shooting death of a Charlotte nursing student and mother of two is now out of jail after posting bond this week.

Adonis Smith, now 23, walked free after posting a $10,000 secured bond.

Smith had been behind bars for six years, since he was 17, awaiting trial for his role in a fatal shootout that claimed the life of 27-year-old Kendal Crank.

Crank, an innocent bystander, was on her way to nursing school in March 2019 when she was struck by a bullet during a gunfight at the intersection of East 28th St. and North Tryon St.

Photo: Adonis Javell Smith, 2019, Mecklenburg County Jail

Earlier this year, Smiths first trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. In a recent motion requesting bond reduction, Smiths attorneys argued that he had spent nearly a quarter of his life in jail without a conviction and posed no flight risk.

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The judge agreed to set the bond at $10,000, which was posted this week.

During the initial trial, Smith claimed he was acting in self-defense, stating he had been shot at by the two other suspects and returned fire without realizing that anyone else had been hurt.

Mint Hill man charged after opossum burned alive on video: Police

Cranks death sent shockwaves through the Charlotte community. Witness testimony painted a harrowing scene: Cranks friend, Porchia Jordan, described through tears how she saw Crank slumped over in the drivers seat with blood on the dashboard.

With Smith now out on bond, the community and Cranks family await news on whether the case will head back to trial or potentially result in a plea deal.

Latest stories from QCnews.com

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A 42-year-old man accused of stealing more than $6,000 worth of merchandise from the Walmart in Indian Trail crashed while trying to get away from law enforcement earlier this week, said deputies with the Union County Sheriffs Office.

2017: Group stole thousands worth of merchandise from Indian Trail Walmart

Deputies said they were called to the store to investigate a shoplifting incident. When they arrived, they were told the suspect had already left the store with a large amount of non-essential items.

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A short time later, deputies found the suspect, Marco Vongmalaythong, sitting in his SUV behind the Walmart. Deputies tried to stop him, but he sped off onto Younts Road, investigators said.

Vongmalaythong tried to turn left at a high speed onto Indian Trail Fairview Road, but turned too wide, hit a curb, and rolled his SUV onto its side, according to the sheriffs office. Because of how the vehicle landed, he was unable to get out.

Deputies helped Vongmalaythong from the vehicle and took him into custody. Officials said his SUV was full of stolen items valued at more than $6,000.

Due to the attempt to evade law enforcement, the vehicle was seized under North Carolinas Run and Done law.

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Vongmalaythong was taken to the Union County Detention Center and charged with felony larceny and felony speeding to elude arrest. He remains in custody under a $100,000 secured bond.

VIDEO: 12-year-old pleads guilty to starting fire in Lancaster Walmart
Video is previous coverage

PENNSBORO, W.Va. (WBOY)  A woman who has been named a suspect in a shooting incident that left a man dead in rural Ritchie County last month has been released from the hospital, but charges have yet to be filed.

According to West Virginia State Police Director of Public Relations Cpt. Leslie T. Goldie, the prosecuting attorney is still reviewing the case to determine if charges are warranted and what those charges may be.

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Man charged after allegedly making threats to snipe children at Upshur County school on Discord

The woman was named a suspect in the case following a shooting incident on April 11 near Farleys Run Road in the Pennsboro area. Troopers who arrived on the scene found a man dead as well as the woman in question, who was unresponsive at the time and was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Troopers said that both people had gunshot wounds and named the woman as a suspect.

The identities of both people involved have yet to be released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The man sought by Wichita police in connection with a Feb. 11 homicide in southeast Wichita has made his first appearance in court.

Jerry Johnson, III was captured Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. He was sought in the shooting death of Manuel Roach, 23, at a home in the 1200 block of South Bleckley. A week after the shooting, two other men, Sergio Clement, Jr., 18, and Allen J. Griffin, 22, were charged with first-degree murder in the case.

Jerry L. Johnson III makes his first appearance on May 8, 2025 (KSN File Photo)

KHP leadership condemns release of troopers killer

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Johnson was in court Thursday, where he was also charged with first-degree murder. A preliminary hearing for all three men is scheduled for May 22.

Records show the bond is set at $1 million for all three men.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A suspect driving the emergency unit who crashed into a DeSoto County hospital was identified and was also involved in a vehicle crash moments earlier on Goodman Road, Southaven police say.

Southaven Police confirmed the woman involved in this Goodman Road crash was Kandanice Stevenson, who also crashed a Southaven Paramedic unit into Baptist Desoto Hospital Wednesday morning.

An ambulance crashed into Baptist DeSoto Hospital Wednesday morning (Photo by WREG) An ambulance crashed into a wall at Baptist DeSoto Hospital on Wednesday morning (Photo by WREG) An ambulance crashed into a wall at Baptist DeSoto Hospital on Wednesday morning (Photo by WREG)

We were inside and we heard a loud noise and there was an accident right here in our intersection, said Corey Merrill, General Manager, Christian Brothers Automotive.

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Ambulance crashes into Baptist DeSoto Hospital; suspect in custody: Police

A car traveling probably 50 miles an hour drove out of the neighborhood and sideswiped a Dodge Durango, and then she turned the corner, ran over the curb, and continued down the street, said Merrill.

The vehicle driven by a woman flipped into a ditch alongside Goodman Road.

Merill said when he arrived on the scene, the woman was bouncing around the inside of the car saying prayers. He tried to help her get out, and she said Im not taking any outside help.

He says paramedics arrived and transported the victim. Police have not released the charges against Stevenson or how she was able to take control of the emergency vehicle.

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A spokesperson told WREG one employee received minor injuries, but no patients were injured, and emergency room operations were not affected by the crash.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com.

A man armed with a large knife was shot and killed by law enforcement officers Wednesday night after leading them on a pursuit through Poulsbo, police confirmed.

The incident began around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday when a Poulsbo police officer attempted to stop a vehicle near Viking Way and Nordic Cove Lane. The driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit. Deputies from the Kitsap County Sheriffs Office responded to assist, according to a news release from the Poulsbo Police Department.

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After the vehicle came to a stop, officers approached the driver, who was reportedly armed with a large knife. Authorities said the suspect refused to comply with commands and posed a threat to officers and deputies on the scene.

Police pursuit turns into officer-involved shooting

After attempts to de-escalate and the use of non-lethal options were unsuccessful, the suspect continued to present a lethal threat to officers, causing the use of deadly force, which resulted in the death of the suspect, the police department said in the release

No officers or deputies were injured during the incident.

The identity of the suspect has not been released.

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In accordance with standard procedure, the officers and deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave. The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has taken over the investigation into the shooting.

The area around Viking Way and Nordic Cove Lane was closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene.

Further details about the incident, including the events leading up to the shooting and the suspects background, have not been released. Authorities have not indicated whether body camera footage or dashcam video captured the incident.

The Poulsbo Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriffs Office have not provided additional comments beyond the initial news release.

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A man accused in the shooting death of a nursing student will have to pay a thousand dollars to get out of jail.

Adonis Smith was in court Thursday for a bond reduction hearing. Hes one of two suspects arrested in the death of Kendal Crank.

Crank was driving to school in March of 2019 when she got caught in the crossfire of a shootout between two groups of people.

Smith was already put to trial in March and admitted that he fired the bullet that killed Crank, but he says he did so in self-defense. A majority of jurors believed that, with a nine-to-three vote in favor of not guilty.

PREVIOUS TRIAL COVERAGE:

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Judge Matt Osman told prosecutors Thursday that hes never seen a case with such a lopsided hung jury be re-tried a second time. The state says they plan to retry Smith after they couldnt strike a plea deal with his defense team.

In the end, Osman was critical of prosecutors, saying Smith has already been in jail for six years and they still cant get a guilty verdict.

The judge said he was uncomfortable setting an unsecured bond for a murder suspect and asked if Smiths family could put up any money for a secured bond. Then, the bond was set at $10,000.

We reached out to Cranks family, but we havent heard back yet.

The co-defendants in this case are set to go to trial in August.

(VIDEO: Police chief appears in court after being indicted for destroying evidence)
A man suspected of shooting at a drone near a park in Southern California is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly opened fire on officers as he tried to flee on Thursday.

A 911 call reported the initial drone shooting near Claremont Hills Wilderness Park on the 4000 block of North Mills Avenue, the Claremont Police Department stated in a news release Friday.

Deployed officers received a description of the suspect and his vehicle, which they located near Mills Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

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The officers attempted to stop the driver, who instead led police on a 20-mile pursuit through the cities of Claremont, Pomona, La Verne and Montclair, police said.

During the pursuit, the suspect shot multiple rounds from his vehicle at the pursuing officers, the Police Department stated in the news release.

The chase ended when an officer used a PIT maneuver on the eastbound side of the 10 Freeway near Indian Hill Boulevard, causing the suspect to lose control of the vehicle.

The driver was then taken into custody without further incident.

The investigating officers recovered a loaded firearm and additional loaded magazines at the scene, police said.

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The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Daniel Rombach of Pomona, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, felony evading and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He was being held on $2 million bail and was scheduled to be arraigned on May 12.

Anyone with additional information regarding the case was asked to call the Claremont Police Department at 909-399-5411.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
DENVER (KDVR)  Aurora police are still looking for suspects in a stolen vehicle after a Friday morning chase led to a crash, sending one officer to the hospital.

The Aurora Police Department said at 5:51 a.m. on Friday, District 2 patrol officers located a stolen Ford F-150 Raptor out of Denver. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver didnt stop, and police followed the truck through District 2 and District 3.

Illegally parked car in Highlands Ranch leads to drug bust

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At 5:57 a.m., officers driving with lights and sirens attempted to join the pursuit, which is when the department said there was a collision with an uninvolved female driver at Buckley Road and Dartmouth Avenue. This is between the Meadowood and Aurora Knolls  Hutchinson Heights neighborhoods.

Crash on Buckley Road and Dartmouth Avenue (SkyFOX)

The department said the woman didnt sustain any injuries, but an Aurora officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

At this time, the department said the suspects are still outstanding.

FOX31s Jim Hooley is at the scene gathering more information.

This is a developing story. FOX31 will update this post when more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Freddy Escobar stood on the sidewalk outside his former workplace waving a green thumb drive and a stack of papers that he said would clear his name.

The suspended president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City said he couldnt get into the office where hes worked since 2018. He said the unions parent organization had changed the locks to the building and the gate code to the parking garage.

He rang the doorbell to deliver his evidence, including photos of receipts, to counter allegations that he hadn't documented many of his credit card purchases. But there was no answer.

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Wow, he said. As he turned to face news cameras, Escobar closed his eyes for a moment. An organization that I would have died for is not giving me an opportunity now to present to them what theyve been looking for.

The dramatic scene unfolded Friday morning outside the unions office in Historic Filipinotown, four days after the International Assn. of Fire Fighters suspended Escobar and two other union officers over financial improprieties, including serious problems with missing receipts.

The IAFF also placed UFLAC under conservatorship, a first for any of the local firefighter unions overseen by the Washington, D.C.-based organization, a spokesperson said. The unprecedented move followed Times reports about the IAFFs financial audit as well as massive overtime payments to Escobar and other union officials.

IAFF General President Edward Kelly disclosed the audits findings in a letter to UFLAC members Monday.

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Read more: Top LAFD union officers suspended after audit flags $800,000 in credit card spending

From July 2018 through November 2024, Escobar initiated 1,957 transactions on his UFLAC credit card, totaling $311,498, the letter said. More than 70% of those transactions  amounting to $230,466  had no supporting documentation.

The auditors could not ascertain the purpose of these transactions, Kelly wrote in the letter. He added that an additional 157 transactions  amounting to $35,397  were only partially supported by required documentation.

This means there is no way to determine whether $265,862.34 in dues money spent by President Escobar without documentation was for legitimate union expenditures, the letter said.

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The audit found that two other UFLAC officials  former Secretary Adam Walker and former Treasurer Domingo Albarran Jr.  together had more than $530,000 in credit card transactions with no receipts or partial documentation. Walker did not respond to a request for comment, and Albarran declined to comment.

In all, about $800,000 in credit card purchases were not properly documented, the letter said.

Vice Presidents Chuong Ho and Doug Coates were suspended and accused of breaching their fiduciary duties in failing to enforce UFLAC policy. Neither responded to a request for comment.

Escobar arrived at the union office Friday morning to speak to reporters at a news conference he had called to refute the allegations. He said he was unaware he was being audited and was never asked to provide his receipts.

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Under UFLAC policy, receipts are required for all credit card expenditures, along with an explanation of the expense, including the names of those present and the business reason for the expenditure.

Escobar said the records he was holding included everything the IAFF said was missing. But he also said he did not tally up the totals and did not know how much money he was accounting for. All the receipts he was providing, he said, had already been uploaded into the unions expense system.

Whatever they say I dont have, I have, he said.

Read more: A Times investigation: LAFD union head made $540,000 in a year, with huge overtime payouts

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He said he compiled years of documentation, including more than 1,500 receipts, meeting minutes and explanations for his expenses, which included transactions for gas, food, hotels and Uber rides. He said none were personal expenses.

Asked why he expensed Uber rides when he had a take-home car provided by the union, he said the rides were for members doing union business.

Accounting problems had been flagged earlier by auditors for UFLAC, who in March 2024 highlighted significant deficiencies because officers were failing to properly document their expenditures.

Despite that warning, Escobar made 339 transactions in 2024 using his UFLAC credit card  for a total of $71,671  without submitting a single receipt, Kelly wrote.

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Escobar said the auditors never spoke to him.

Whats a warning? It was an audit that said that we could always do better and that always occurs  we could always do better, he said.

Asked what could have been improved, since he said he had all his receipts, he replied: Probably more detail. ... Explanations, fine tuning.

He called on the IAFF do the right thing and reinstate him as president. In the meantime, he said he will go back to work as an LAFD captain at a fire station in Boyle Heights.

In a statement Friday, IAFF spokesperson Ryan Heffernan said that since March 2024 and as recently as last month, Escobar was "repeatedly urged  in written communication and face-to-face meetings  to fulfill his fiduciary duties to the members of Local 112 and submit proper documentation for all expenditures."

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"Despite this, the forensic audit, issued in May 2025, confirmed serious deficiencies in Mr. Escobars expense reconciliation and record-keeping practices between 2018-2024," the statement said.

Last month, a Times investigation found that Escobar and other top union officers have for years been padding their paychecks with overtime while also collecting five- to six-figure union stipends.

Escobar made about $540,000 in 2022, the most recent year for which records of both his city and union earnings are available. He more than doubled his base salary of $184,034 with overtime payouts that year, earning more than $424,500 from the city in pay and benefits, payroll data show.

He collected an additional $115,962 stipend from the union, according to its most recent federal tax filing. He reported working 48 hours a week on union and related duties, while records provided by the city for that year show he picked up an average of roughly 30 hours of overtime a week on firefighting shifts  a total of about 78 hours of work each week.

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On Friday, he disputed his total earnings, saying its a lot less than that," though he did not provide evidence.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Emma Farge and Ariane Luthi

GENEVA (Reuters) -Switzerland and the United States have agreed to accelerate their trade talks and are determined to reach an agreement quickly, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said on Friday, without specifying a time frame.

U.S. President Donald Trump has upended global commerce by imposing tariffs aimed at shrinking the U.S. trade deficit in goods.

Switzerland is among the countries seeking to strike a quick deal to reduce those tariffs, and Keller-Sutter said it was towards the front of the line after "positive" discussions.

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"We both actually made a commitment today that the process would be accelerated," Keller-Sutter told reporters in Geneva, saying she was summarising what was agreed in her meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer in Geneva.

"Both sides are determined to find a solution quickly. That was clearly palpable today and was a clear commitment, including by the American side," she added.

Switzerland was hit particularly hard with a 31% tariff rate, compared with 20% on the European Union and 10% on Britain, a decision which stunned Swiss officials, who described it as incomprehensible and counterproductive.

The U.S. is Switzerland's single biggest export market.

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Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday announced a limited bilateral trade agreement that leaves Trump's 10% rate there in place, modestly expands agricultural access for both countries and lowers prohibitive U.S. duties on British car exports.

"The U.S. side was quite clear about the fact that they wanted to accelerate the process with Switzerland. They couldn't guarantee we would come second (after Britain) but that we would really be in a group of countries that are now treated swiftly," Keller-Sutter said, adding she could not give a time frame.

(Reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva and Ariane Luthi in Zurich; Writing by Francois Murphy; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Instability has plagued Syria in the past two weeks after fighting broke out in two of Damascuss suburbs and a southern governorate, drawing in government forces and non-state armed factions.

Using the unrest as a pretext, Israel also launched attacks on several locations in Syria.

The fighting and the Israeli attacks add to the difficulties faced by Syrias new government  which only came to power after the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad  as it attempts to rebuild Syria after nearly 14 years of war.

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The violence of that war has not fully subsided. Instead, the recent fighting has taken on a sectarian character, though locals also told Al Jazeera that some actors were motivated by power as they try to carve out spheres of influence in the new Syria.





Violence

The recent clashes began on April 28 in the town of Jaramana, on the outskirts of Damascus, before spreading to nearby Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and the southern governorate of Sweida, where many of the countrys Druze population live.

All of the areas have significant Druze populations, and the violence began after attackers were incensed by a blasphemous audio recording criticising the Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a religious leader from the minority group.

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The religious leader denied the recording was in his voice, and an investigation by Syrias Ministry of the Interior has concurred. But it mattered little, as fighting between local armed Druze groups and outsiders began.

The violence was followed by several Israeli attacks, including one near Syrias presidential palace in Damascus. Syrias government called it a dangerous escalation.

Israels military has struck Syria hundreds of times since the fall of al-Assad, while Syria has yet to retaliate and has indicated that it has been involved in non-direct talks with Israel to calm the situation.

Israel has attempted to portray its latest attacks in Syria as evidence that it is a defender of the Druze, many of whom live in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, saying the attack was a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow [Syrian] forces to deploy south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community.

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But many officials in Syrias Druze community have expressed an openness to working with the new authority in Damascus and denied Israels overtures that claim to protect them.

Sources told Al Jazeera that these recent clashes have not altered that view on Israel.

Israel is protecting its own interests, Ali Jarbou, a professor at Damascus University and a member of a prominent Druze family, told Al Jazeera. They are not protecting anyone. Not the Druze or anyone else.

Experts have said Israel prefers to have weak states on its borders, and is therefore attacking Syria to weaken the new government and prevent it from exercising its power over the whole country. Allying with regional minority groups may also appear attractive to some in Israel, although a similar strategy in the past, most notably in Lebanon during the 1975-1990 civil war, failed.

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But the Israeli government is also facing internal pressure to act from its own Druze community, the vast majority of whom are supportive of the Israeli state and serve in the Israeli army, despite being Arabic-speaking.





Druze diversity

The Druze community in the Middle East is split between Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and a small community in Jordan. They have played an influential role across these countries  in Syria, one of the leaders of the countrys independence was a famous Druze named Sultan al-Atrash.

Syrias Druze are mostly split between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Mount Hermon, Sweida (in an area called Jabal al-Druze, or Mountain of the Druze), and a couple of Damascuss suburbs, while there is also a small community near Idlib.

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Syrians in the occupied Golan Heights live under Israeli authority but most have rejected offers of Israeli citizenship. Theyve also historically been able to keep ties to Syria, sometimes studying in Damascus or marrying across the border, according to Tobias Lang, director of the Austrian Centre for Peace, who has extensively studied the Druze community in the Levant.

The Druze in Syria are, however, very fragmented politically, Lang said, due to years of life under the al-Assad dictatorship.

No distinct Druze leadership was allowed to emerge, and the traditional leadership lost much of its power to the Baathist regime, he said, referring to the Baath party, which ruled Syria from 1963 to 2024.

During the war in Syria, competing voices emerged within the Druze community. Some, like Hikmat al-Hijri, the top Druze religious figure in Syria, initially supported the al-Assad regime. Others, like Wahid al-Balous, founder of the Men of Dignity Movement, split off from the regime much earlier and refused to send local men to die in support of the government.

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Al-Balous was later assassinated in 2015. Opposition figures blamed the regime.

In 2023, when antigovernment protests erupted in Sweida, al-Hijri finally turned against al-Assad and supported the local opposition.

Al-Hijri has also been sharply critical of the new Syrian authorities since the outbreak of violence last month, calling the attacks against the Druze a genocidal campaign.

We no longer trust a group that calls itself a government, because the government doesnt kill its own people through extremist gangs that are loyal to it, and after the massacre claims they are loose forces, al-Hijri said.

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The Syrian government has denied any involvement in the attacks on the Druze, and has instead emphasised that its forces have sought to provide security and prevent any further sectarian attacks.





Were scared of our neighbours

Agreements struck between local actors and the new government at the start of this month have ended the fighting for now. But dozens of people had been killed, many civilians among them.

In Jaramana, locals are still on high alert.

Were scared of our neighbours, a resident told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity for fear of retaliation against them or their family.

In the early days after the fall of al-Assad, places like Jaramana and Sweida were hesitant to work with the new Syrian government. Local leaders, some of whom are Druze notables, demanded a say in local governance and security matters.

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But members of the Druze community have now been working with the central authority in Damascus to calm tensions, resolve disputes, and negotiate security arrangements.

Some of those agreements will see locals join the new governments internal security force and police their own areas under the central governments authority.

Still, locals are on edge after the clashes and fear they could restart. Locals told Al Jazeera that some Syrians, particularly from minority sects like the Druze, have had their faith in the new central authority shaken.

Trust [in the new government] began to decrease after the events on the coast, Jarbou said, referring to attacks in early March on Alawite  another minority community  in the coastal region after government forces were attacked. Hundreds were killed, many of them civilians, and while the government quickly announced an investigation into the attacks, the violence provided evidence for those fearful of the new order in Syria.

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Syria has lived through 14 years of war and more than five decades of brutal dictatorship. For many in the country, the fall of Assad was a welcomed reprieve. For others, the fear and uncertainty from the Assad era has not completely dissipated.

In other words, we can say that the war hasnt stopped, Jarbou said, adding that a serious, participatory political solution is needed for the country. Should that not come to pass, the current pattern of clashes and increased communal tensions will only worsen.

Sedition is raging, he said. Its not that were afraid of sedition. Were in sedition now.




BEIRUT (AP)  Lebanon and Syria are cracking down on Palestinian factions that for decades have had an armed presence in both countries and which on some occasions were used to plan and launch attacks against Israel.

The crackdown comes as Syria's new rulers under Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are pursuing officials of the former government under Bashar Assad, including those in the ousted president's web of security agencies. Syria's most prominent Palestinian factions were key allies of the Assad dynasty in both war and peace time and closely cooperated on security matters.

It also comes after Irans main regional ally, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, was weakened after over a year of war with Israel and as Lebanons new government vows to monopolize all arms under the government, including Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

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On Wednesday, Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa said his government is holding indirect talks with Israel through mediators, who he did not name. He said the aim of the indirect negotiations is to ease tensions after intense Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

A crackdown on hardline Palestinian factions, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which took part with Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Gaza, is likely to be welcomed by Israel.

A Syrian government official declined to comment on the matter.

A Palestinian official who had been in Damascus for more than 40 years, and who recently left the country, said Palestinian factions in Syria were forced to hand over their weapons and the Palestinian embassy will be the only side that Syria's new authorities will deal with. The Palestinian groups would only be limited to social and charitable activities, the official added, who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing for their safety.

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We are simply guests here

Palestinian factions for decades have lived in refugee camps in Lebanon and Syria and have been involved militarily both locally and regionally. They closely aligned themselves with the Assads and later with Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose powerful military arsenal grew over the past few decades. Over time, many of the leaders of groups like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad were based in those countries.

However, the regional developments of late 2024 that went against Irans favor in the Levant began to take shape in recent weeks among the Palestinian factions in Lebanon and Syria.

No weapons will be allowed in the (Palestinian refugee) camps. The Syrian state will protect citizens whether they are Palestinians or Syrians, said Syrian political analyst Ahmad al-Hamada, whose view points reflect those of the government. It is not allowed for Palestinian factions that were arms for Iran and the Assad regime to keep their weapons.

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When asked whether the state will prevent any attacks against Israel, al-Hamada said Syria will not allow its territories to be used as a launch pad against any neighbor.

Syrian authorities in Damascus this week detained two senior officials of the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad group and briefly detained and questioned the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, FLP-GC, that since its founding had been a key ally of Assad.

Another Palestinian official with one of the factions that had been based in Syria said the developments caught them by surprise, and that regardless of who runs the country they are keen to have good relations with Syrias new rulers and maintain the countrys stability.

We hope that this wouldnt have happened. But we dont have a say in this, the official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are still based in the country. We are simply guests here.

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The government in Lebanon, which is trying to expand its armys influence in the south near Israel, has also been reclaiming dozens of informal border crossings with Syria, which were key arteries for Iran and its allies to transport weapons and fighters over the years. Many of those crossings were held by PFLP-GC militants who have given some of those positions up to the Lebanese army after Assads downfall.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who Palestinian factions in Syria oppose, visited Damascus last month for the first time in more than a decade and he is scheduled to visit Lebanon on May 21.

Unprecedented times

After Israel intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon in response to Hamas allegedly firing rockets from southern Lebanon in late March, the Lebanese government for the first time called out the Palestinian group and arrested nearly 10 suspects involved in the operation. Hamas was pressured by the military to turn in three of their militants from different refugee camps.

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Ahmad Abdul-Hadi, a Hamas representative in Lebanon, was also summoned by the head of one of the countrys top security agencies over the incident and was formally told that Hamas should stop its military activities.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun, who is backed by the United States and Arab countries rather than Hezbollah and Iran, has said armed factions should not be allowed to shake up national security and stability. His statement has set a new tone after decades of tolerating the presence of armed Palestinian groups in refugee camps which have led to armed conflict in the crowded ghettos.

I think were in unprecedented times, politically speaking, said Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. The (Lebanese) army is acting out of a political will, with its former chief now the president. There is a strong political thrust behind the army.

A Lebanese government official familiar with the initiative said that Hamas was told to hand over wanted militants and end all its military activity in the country. He added that there is also a plan to gradually give up Hamas' weapons, which coincides with the visit to Lebanon of Abbas, leader of the rival Fatah group.
By Ben Blanchard and Liz Lee

TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) -Taiwan President Lai Ching-te sent congratulations on Friday to newly appointed Pope Leo, saying Taiwan looked forward to building on existing ties to advance peace and justice, while China offered a more low-key response.

The Vatican is one of only 12 countries to retain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, though Lai did not attend Pope Francis' funeral last month, sending instead former vice president Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic.

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Francis had led a wide-ranging outreach to officially atheist China, including signing a deal on the appointment of Catholic bishops in that country, worrying Taiwan.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Lai sent a congratulatory message via its embassy to the Vatican.

"We look forward to building on our diplomatic ties with the Holy See, 83 years strong, to advance peace, justice, solidarity & benevolence," Lai wrote in English on his X account.

China, which has no official diplomatic relations with the Vatican, congratulated the new pope, saying it hoped for continuous improvement of ties.

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"We hope the Vatican under the new pontiff will continue to engage in dialogue with China in a constructive spirit," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press conference in Beijing.

Two government-backed groups, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops' Conference of Catholic Church in China, also sent congratulations, the official Xinhua news agency said in a one-line report.

Last October, China and the Vatican extended for four years a landmark 2018 agreement signed when Francis was pope on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China.

Taiwan's foreign ministry did not say whether Lai might attend Leo's inauguration. In 2013, then-president Ma Ying-jeou went to Francis' inauguration.

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Taiwan's embassy to the Vatican posted a picture of its outgoing ambassador, Matthew Lee, shaking hands with Leo at a Vatican event in 2023.

Lee told Taiwan's official Central News Agency that when he told Leo, whose name is Robert Prevost, that he was from Taiwan, Leo's responded that he was able to distinguish the difference between "democratic Taiwan and communist China".

Vatican official Paulin Batairwa Kubuya, under-secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, is visiting Taiwan to attend a conference and meet members of its different faiths.

China says Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to state-to-state ties, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects.

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Chinese Catholics are split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.

Taiwan puts no curbs on freedom of religion.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)
By Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan criticised Russia and China on Friday for distorting World War Two history, saying Chinese communist forces made "no substantial contribution" to fighting Japan and instead took the opportunity to expand their own forces.

Taiwan has this year sought to cast the war as a lesson to China in why aggression will end in failure, reminding the world it was not the government in Beijing that won the war.

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The Chinese government at the time was the Republic of China, part of the U.S., British and Russian-led alliance, and its forces did much of the fighting against Japan, putting on pause a bitter civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists whose military also fought the Japanese.

The republican government then fled to Taiwan in 1949 after finally being defeated by Mao, and Republic of China remains the democratic island's official name.

Responding to comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the war was won under the leadership of China's communist party, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it was the Republic of China government and people who fought and ultimately won.

"The Chinese communists only took the opportunity to expand and consolidate communist forces, and made no substantial contribution to the war of resistance, let alone 'leading' the war of resistance," it said.

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China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Xi is in Moscow to attend Friday's military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.

In a joint statement with China, Russia reaffirmed that Taiwan was an "inseparable part of the People's Republic of China" - a position the government in Taipei strongly disputes.

The government in Beijing says that as it is the successor state to the Republic of China it has a legal right to claim Taiwan under the text of the 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Declaration, the island at the time being a Japanese colony.

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Taiwan's foreign ministry said those documents confirmed that it was the Republic of China which had sovereignty over Taiwan.

"At the time, the People's Republic of China did not exist at all," it said.

"Any false statements intended to distort Taiwan's sovereign status cannot change history, nor can they shake the objective facts recognised by the international community."

China labels Taiwan President Lai Ching-te a "separatist". He rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Philippa Fletcher)
Its old news that the staff in Tampa Mayor Jane Castors office and City Council members clash. But strong disagreements have caused the mayor to make a personal appeal for greater decorum.

Castor sent a letter to City Council chairperson Guido Maniscalco in March with concerns regarding respect for city staff and their time. The council met Thursday to discuss her request, and members werent shy with their response.

Why are we here? council member Lynn Hurtak asked at the beginning of the meeting, which lasted more than an hour.

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A large portion of the conversation regarded the semantics of communication between council members passionate about their work and city staff who have a lot on their plate.

If the situation does get heated, council members say they are just doing their job.

Even tone and texture, especially coming from a Black woman, it may sound like its angry, Its not angry. Its just pointed. Its direct. Its assertive, council member Gwendolyn Henderson said. Im not going to conform just to make sure that Im following within a rule of what somebody else may believe is good decorum.

There are several dynamics at play affecting the councils relationship with the mayor and her staff. They include the looming mayoral election and Castors financial ties to mailers that attacked two council members during their bid for office in 2023.

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In her letter in March, Castor said council members referring to her staff or their actions as lying, slow rolling, unethical or illegal is inaccurate.

She said this is unnecessarily hostile and in violation of the councils rules of procedure.

Her letter also said the councils requests for staff reports are delaying critical City projects because of how time-consuming they are. At the time of her letter, Castor said staff were working on more than 60 reports.

But during the meeting Thursday, Bill Carlson, who has been critical of Castors administration, said staff have lied in public and are conducting unethical, dirty politics with the South Howard flood relief project. It involves digging up parts of Howard Avenue, which has drawn objections from business owners and some residents.

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Carlson, who may be a contender for the citys next mayor, has also been critical of former Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who is likely running again and aligns closely with Castor on many top policies and priorities.

We have an administration thats not transparent, Carlson said.

Castor has two years left as Tampas mayor. Her tenure has experienced some internal strife, with a number of senior staff leaving their positions.

The city announced Wednesday that Vik Bhide, Tampas director of mobility, is resigning. Some of the employees who have left said they faced retaliation for speaking about a toxic work environment in the department, and one employee alleged gender discrimination from the departments leadership.

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Spokesperson Adam Smith said Bhide did not leave due to workplace environment concerns.

I feel its the right time for me to take a break, recharge, and reflect before moving on to my next professional chapter, Bhide said in a statement.

But Carlson said many of the people who have left the citys office did so because the mayor or her staff threatened them.

Practically every City Council meeting features Mr. Carlson attacking Mayor Castor and the public servants who work for her, Smith said in a statement. Mayor Castor has barely even acknowledged his toxic hostility because its a distraction from all the good work being done for Tampa residents in collaboration with every other council member.

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Carlson said he has received more than 100 calls and emails about systemic cultural issues in the city. When the Tampa Bay Times asked if he could provide copies of any of the emails, he asked a reporter to make a public records request, citing human resources policies, and said most conversations were by phone.

Carlson also said former staff members were criticized and faced questions about their allegiance after he complimented them in a meeting and that Castor cussed and yelled at her staff.

He also said Castor told multiple people she was declaring a war on City Council. Council member Hurtak said she had heard the same.

Anyone who knows Jane Castor knows the idea of her declaring war or threatening anyone is absurd, Smith said. Thats just not who she is.

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Henderson disagreed with Carlsons statements and said she wasnt going to take heed of any war on City Council rumors. She said he often challenges the mayor and makes very generic claims.

Theres really nothing that she could do to us as a body that could hurt us, she said. So I would be very dismissive of a comment like that.

Part of the acrimony between Carlson and Castor is that during the 2023 election, Castor, along with other elected officials, gave money to independent political committees that sent out mailers attacking him and Hurtak during their campaigns.

Council member Luis Viera said it was one of the most divisive municipal elections he had seen  and it may be impacting the council still.

There are consequences to things that happen in politics, he said. There were always going to be reactions.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  Community members and local businesses are worried about the ripple effect of tariffs.

President Trumps 10% tariff on all imports went into effect on April 5 for nearly all U.S. Trading partners. Port Panama City has been dealing with the effects since.

The port received cargo from Mexico before the Trump Administrations 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs.

The shipping company had to pay an extra $54,000 in import fees.

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Officials said more imports are on the way, with some shipments containing orders made prior to the presidents tariffs.

Tyndall highlights mental health resources at Elevate Expo

So far, cargo operations are steady, actually elevated, but it is due to acceleration of imports coming in prior to the tariffs. So were monitoring that closely, and well see how all this transpires, as we know, its a moving target, Port Executive Director Alex King said.

King said the tariffs are going to affect people in different ways, and the full consequences are yet to be seen.

Its unclear whether these prices will be swallowed by shipping companies or passed down to the consumer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
DICKSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A former detective with the Dickson County Sheriffs Office has been charged with reckless endangerment following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

At the request of the 23rd Judicial District Attorney General Ray Crouch, TBI agents started investigating a complaint involving a man who allegedly allowed his 13-year-old to drive. Investigators discovered that 41-year-old Douglas Kimbro allowed his child to drive in Dickson County and Humphreys County. Kimbros 9-year-old was also a passenger in the vehicle.

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Kimbro had been employed by the Dickson County Sheriffs Office at the time, though he was off-duty.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

On Wednesday, Kimbro was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless endangerment. He was booked into the Dickson County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Teacher Appreciation Week this year is taking place under a shadow of uncertainty for those navigating political waters while trying to ensure students get the education they need.

K-12 schools are navigating book bans and running into state laws barring diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and transgender athletes.

College professors are watching as billions of dollars in research funding gets frozen.

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And, increasingly, children and parents are being called on to report teachers they feel may be in violation of new policies to the authorities.

A teacher from California, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, told The Hill her colleagues are no longer teaching the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird because its too racially charged.

Educators are avoiding hard topics, she said, because they dont know which parents are going to get angry.

They become very kind of angry and activist, and its really hard to navigate right now. Its just uncertain, she added.

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Pressures on teachers have come from the federal, state and local levels, creating a precarious situation for schools across the country.

The Education Department recently created an anti-DEI portal where parents and concerned members of community can report what the federal agency describes as illegal practices in classrooms.

The portal came on the heels of a certification letter the department sent to districts and states to verify there are no DEI programs in their schools. That letter has been temporarily blocked by a judge, echoing concerns of teachers that the federal agency is not operating under a clear definition of what is considered illegal DEI.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has pulled millions of dollars in contracts with universities over alleged inaction on antisemitism, jeopardizing thousands of jobs.

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Fears of divisions among students, educators and parents are particularly prominent in Republican-led states that have laws on the books against DEI and what can be discussed in class.

If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has said. And that has no place in our public institutions.

In a Wednesday op-ed in The New York Times, Anna Peterson, a professor of religion at the University of Florida, said someone claiming to be a student wrongfully accused her of talking about whom she voted for in class and discussing specific candidates.

I was stunned. That never happened in that class or any other; it is antithetical to the way I teach. Peterson wrote. Far worse than the fear of investigation was the way the accusation shook the trust I thought I had with my students. Did one of them hate me so much that one would lie to get me in trouble?

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That incident shattered my conviction that if I did my job well and followed the rules, I would be safe, she added.

In Texas, a new bill on its way to Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) desk will remove legal protections for adults and teachers who share materials with students that could be considered harmful.

It makes it easier to prosecute not just educators or librarians, but also parents and medical professionals, while simultaneously adding vagueness to the definition of what is prohibited, said Caro Achar, the engagement coordinator for free speech for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, a civil rights organization, The Texas Tribune reported.

Higher education is also on the hook in Texas with a law banning DEI in campus life and hiring; the measure has some professors fleeing the state.

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It wasnt supposed to target classrooms, wasnt supposed to target research, but the actual application of it has and so thats had, on the one hand, material effects, wherein people across the state of Texas have been told that they cant submit certain research projects for grants because its in violation of the DEI law, even though theres an explicit exception in the DEI law. And so, thats had material impacts, and a lot of faculty have actually left as a result of that, said Karma Chavez, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Many staff across the state have lost their jobs who used to do DEI work, and under S.B. 18, there have been many faculty who have either lost their jobs or have been threatened with losing their jobs because its easier to fire faculty now, Chavez added.

And in Utah, one principal came under fire after a former state Board of Education member blasted the school for having an inclusion sign, although it was referring to an event for special needs students.

A simple call  to find out why we used the word inclusion to support our Special Needs students would have clarified our intent and saved me time answering angry people who are against diversity, equity and inclusion rhetoric in schools, said Todd Quarnberg, principal of Herriman High School, in a Facebook post.

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Many Democratic-led states have rejected movements to get rid of DEI practices, but that does not protect teachers from the local pressures they may face.

I think we are teaching the kids properly, but I think that people are just very careful. Theyre concerned, you know. They dont want to upset any Trump supporters, the teacher from California said, noting not everywhere in the state is as blue as Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rennerfeldt said the man alleged that, about 20 minutes after they got to his home, Ochoa kicked in his bedroom door and shot him once.

The other woman, who wasn't injured, helped him call an ambulance but left before police arrived.

In an affidavit for Rogers' arrest filed Friday, Rennerfeldt said Rogers had rented the black car with Illinois license plates at the Lincoln Airport and helped get them out of Nebraska to Florida.

He said a check of license plate readers showed the car in the area of the shooting early May 4. A day later, license plate readers hit on the car in Tallahassee, Florida.

Law enforcement there found it parked in a driveway in St. Petersburg.

On Thursday morning, police there arrested Ochoa on the warrant and found a Glock 9mm handgun in the rental home where she had been.
Teachers strike posters line a whiteboard in a Clark County Education Association conference room on Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by: April Corbin Girnus/Nevada Current)

The Clark County teachers union is pushing legislation to speed up the arbitration process and allow teachers to petition in district court to allow them to legally go on strike.

If the Legislature doesnt pass the proposal  or if Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoes it  the union says it is prepared to make their case directly to Nevada voters through their right to strike initiative, which is already slated to appear on the 2026 General Election ballot.

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Clark County Education Association, which represents the approximately 18,000 teachers and licensed professionals within the Clark County School District, is backing Senate Bill 161. The bill would establish an expedited arbitration process for teachers unions and school districts, which could kick in if a contract has not been reached 75 days before the start of a new school year.

More controversially, the bill would also establish a pathway for K-12 public school teachers to legally go on strike, something they are currently prohibited from doing.

The bill, which was given an exemption from standard legislative deadlines, received its first hearing Wednesday night in the Senate Committee on Government Affairs. The bill was immediately passed out of committee on a 5-2 vote and is headed to the full Senate for possible consideration.

State Sen. Rochelle Nuygen, the Las Vegas Democrat sponsoring the bill, told the committee that the threshold set in SB 161 to authorize a strike is high. Teachers would have to make the case that their proposed strike would be equally or less detrimental to students than remaining in schools that are failing them through existing policies or conditions.

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The strike would also not apply to special education services, food services, mental health counseling, and after-school supervision.

Nguyen characterized it as a nuanced approach that meets the spirit of the states existing anti-strike law while addressing the established pattern of prolonged arbitration between the fifth largest school district in the country and its largest bargaining unit.

In contrast, the right-to-strike ballot initiative would be a blunt instrument, she argued. Nevada state law prohibits legislators from altering a law established through the initiative petition process for two regular sessions (so, four years) after it is approved by voters, so lawmakers couldnt quickly alter it if issues arose.

Thats the choice, CCEA Executive Director John Vellardita told the Nevada Current in an interview. The choice is: This is going to be on the ballot in 26. We have the resources to run a successful campaign. Weve done field research. We have the support.

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Bradley Schrager, an attorney who represented the teachers union in numerous cases two years ago, pointed out in the bill hearing that CCSD and CCEA have reached a negotiation impasse and gone into arbitration four times in the past decade.

Theres only five two-year cycles in a decade, he added.

The pattern of prolonged arbitration means teachers are routinely beginning the academic year without new contracts in place, which can be demoralizing and lead to poor teacher retention, argued CCEA members who spoke in support of the bill.

That was the case in 2023, when the Legislature and Lombardo approved a K-12 education budget they routinely described as historic in its funding levels, only to see another impasse and months of public bickering between the district and union. That year, a contract agreement was reached in December, halfway through the school year.

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That fall, a significant percentage of teachers at a handful of schools coordinated sickouts, leading to those schools closing for one day. The court ruled it strike activity, which put the union at risk of punishment.

SB 161 forces cooperation at a very early time, said Schrager, and evens the playing field between the union and district.

But not everyone agrees with that sentiment.

Tom Clark, a lobbyist representing the Nevada Association of School Boards and the Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce, suggested teachers strikes would wreak havoc on communities, make national news, and cause pain and suffering to families. Tens of thousands of children could be left without childcare, he added.

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Thats the leverage the strike gives to one side of the equation, he said. That imbalance does nothing for negotiations, does nothing for the benefits of students, the teachers, the families, the people in our community that rely on the vital public service that our teachers and our schools provide.

The Nevada State Education Association, whose affiliate units include teachers in non-Clark counties and support staff in CCSD, is opposed to the bill on the grounds it would give teachers unions an unfair advantage over other bargaining groups. NSEA and CCEA have an antagonistic relationship with one another.

The Nevada Association of School Superintendents is also opposed, with lobbyist Mary Pierczynski arguing that states like Nevada have outlawed teacher strikes for very good reason.

The emphasis tonight has been on Clark County and CCEA but there are 17 school districts in our state and they will all be impacted, she added.

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CCSD did not participate in the hearing and has not expressed a public position on the bill. When contacted by the Current for comment, the districts media relations department stated it is tracking the bill.

District staff work with legislators to monitor changes made to the language in bill drafts. CCSD provides public comment on bills as appropriate throughout the process as the legislation progresses, continued the statement.

Nguyen in her presentation emphasized the bill is not a criticism of Jhone Ebert, CCSDs new superintendent, who started last month. Nguyen said she and others working on the bill are rooting for her success.

This years legislative session is scheduled to end on June 2. That leaves SB 161 a little over three weeks to pass both chambers of the Legislature and make it to the governors desk.
Former congressman George Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft last year, is hoping President Donald Trump bestows some form of clemency to keep him from serving seven years in federal prison.

Last month, a federal judge in New York sentenced Santos to 87 months in prison for his crimes, believing the former congressman had no remorse for the campaign donors and voters he lied to and swindled out of money.

On Thursday, Santos appeared teary-eyed and lethargic on Piers Morgan Uncensored to make his plea to the president.

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Previously, I was not entertaining a pardon because I didnt know what my judgment would be. Now, I am in the process of filling an application to a pardon for the president. Ill take a commutation, a clemency, whatever the president is willing to give me, Santos said.

George Santos, the former congressman who pleaded guilty to a series of crimes, wants President Donald Trump to give him a pardon or issue clemency (Getty Images)

The former congressman, who was ousted by his colleagues following a damning House Ethics Report in December 2023, said he believes the judges sentence was over the top for a first time offender.

Taking a page from Trumps book, he asserted that former attorney general Merrick Garland had been unfair in leading the Justice Department, and the case against him was politically motivated.

I do believe this is an unfair judgment handed down to me. There was a lot of politicization over the process, Santos said.

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The Independent has asked Santos for further comment.

Federal prosecutors brought a series of charges against Santos in 2023, alleging he engaged in several schemes to pocket money from political donors and government assistance programs to enrich himself as he sought a seat representing New Yorks 3rd congressional district.

Santos had gone from relative obscurity to an overnight headline-maker in a series of months after reports accused him of fabricating education and work experience on his resume, lying about his mothers whereabouts on September 11, 2001, misrepresenting himself as being Jewish, misleading people about running a dog charity and more.

Now, Santos believes his bad actions could be used in the countrys benefit to sniff out other bad actors.

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Who better, Piers, and President Trump  I hope he would agree, to be able to sniff out other bad actors doing similar actions that I did. I mean, I understand that I could help, I can be an asset for the country and I want to use that for the good, Santos said.

Last August, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft to avoid a federal criminal trial. He also admitted to a series of other wrongdoings, including lying to Congress and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits.

Santos believes a seven-year-long federal prison sentence is too harsh for the crimes he committed (AP)

But since pleading guilty, Santos had taken to social media to capitalize on his name recognition and dispute prosecutors claims.

His defiance against federal prosecutors ultimately cemented his harsh punishment.

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Santos believes it was unnecessarily harsh, tearfully telling Morgan that it would impact his familys routine, force him to miss crucial life events and potentially put him at risk of serious injury.

President Trump, Id appreciate if you could give me a consideration. Im not an altar boy, Im not pretending to be one. But Im not a hardened criminal who deserves to be in prison for seven years off of what I would call ambitious mistakes and its something that I deeply regret, Santos said.
ROSSVILLE (KSNT)  Law enforcement has released new information Friday after a local man was killed in a pedestrian vs. vehicle crash on Thursday.

The Shawnee County Sheriffs Office said in a press release on May 9 that Nicholas I. Claspill, 36, of Tecumseh was identified as the victim of a recent deadly crash. He died on May 8 after he was hit by a truck in Shawnee County.

Sheriffs deputies were called around 4:40 a.m. on May 8 to a rural area south of Rossville on reports of a pedestrian vs. vehicle crash. Law enforcement arriving in the area learned a pedestrian was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was traveling north in the 3800 block of Northwest Carlson Road.

The pedestrian, later identified as Claspill, died as a result of injuries sustained during this incident. The driver of the truck is fully cooperating with the sheriffs investigation into the situation.

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Man charged with second degree murder for central Topeka killing

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GAITHERSBURG, Md. (DC News Now)  A 15-year-old was arrested and charged for bringing a loaded, unregistered handgun to school Thursday, according to the Gaithersburg Police Department.

Police say officers responded to Gaithersburg High School at around 1:10 p.m. for an investigation.

Cocaine confiscated from student at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, deputies say

There, officers and school staff located the teen, and after searching the boy, a privately manufactured handgun was seized, police said.

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The teen was transported to the Gaithersburg Police station, where he was charged with underage possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded handgun, possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, and possession of a firearm without a serial number.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 16-year-old was arrested for murder after a fight at a billiard hall ended with a fatal stabbing, authorities said.

Early Thursday morning, Salem police said that a group of young men got into a fight at The Cue Ball at 1242 State Street.

Accelerated disposition planned for federal Medford courthouse

During the fight, authorities said that 21-year-old Isac Steven Rizo was stabbed and later passed away at the hospital from his injuries.

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Another unnamed 20-year-old was also stabbed and later treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

On Friday, police announced that a suspect, a 16-year-old, had been arrested outside his home in northeast Salem.

The teen is facing numerous charges after the stabbing, including second-degree murder, first-degree murder, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

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A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty Friday morning in a New Orleans courtroom to the killing of the co-founder of Howdy Bagel, a popular Tacoma bagel shop.

Malik D. Cornelius pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for the Jan. 5, 2024, death of 32-year-old Jacob Carter. Carter was shot while on vacation with his husband, Daniel Blagovich.

Carter and Blagovich opened Howdy Bagel in summer 2023 on South Tacoma Way after becoming a hit at local farmers markets. The couple traveled to New Orleans for New Years Day and were attacked late at night on the outskirts of the Marigny neighborhood.

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Cornelius defense attorney, Michael Kennedy, said Friday that the plea deal called for his client to be sentenced to 26 years in prison. He said a sentencing hearing was scheduled for May 19.

The Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. Efforts to reach Blagovich for comment Friday morning werent successful.

Kennedy said from a defense standpoint, he was pleased with the outcome of the case.

A plea short of trial was preferable for Mr. Cornelius for several reasons, all of which are rooted in Louisiana law regarding juvenile defendants charged as adults and varying time calculations dependent on potential outcomes, Kennedy said in a text message to The News Tribune.

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Cornelius, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, was arrested about a week later on unrelated charges in Jefferson Parish. Days earlier detectives pulled a stolen Kia out of Bayou St. John believed to be connected to the homicide. NOLA.com reported that, according to police, Cornelius allegedly helped others sink the vehicle and then the group stole another car to get away.

A grand jury indicted Cornelius on the charge of second-degree murder, and his case was transferred to adult court.

Carter was born and raised in Texas. He started Howdy Bagel with Blagovich, from West Seattle, after the two were laid off from their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The storefront continues to draw out-the-door lines of customers from near and far for bagels, sandwiches and queer fellowship.

Former U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Democrat who represented Washingtons 6th Congressional District, highlighted the impact of Carters work in a speech in February last year on the floor of the House of Representatives. Kilmer said Carter was a light in Tacoma and said Howdy Bagel was an inclusive gathering spot not just for the LGBTQ+ community but for anyone willing to make new friends with their neighbors.
The family of Nahzir Taylor now has a sense of closure after the Rocky River High School student was shot in 2022 after getting off his school bus.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CMPD: Teen dies after shooting near CMS bus stop; juvenile to be charged with murder

Rodrizus Stafford, one of the two suspects arrested for the crime, took a plea deal Thursday for the charge of second-degree murder.

Prosecutors said Stafford was with a group of teens who followed Nahzirs school bus home.

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Taylor and his brother got off the bus near Robinson Church Road and that was when Stafford and the other kids got out of a car and chased Taylor.

The defendant fired several shots at Nahz, one of which hit him in the head, said prosecutor Jane Collins. Nahzs younger brother is actually the one who called 911.

The shooting was captured on Ring doorbell cameras in the neighborhood.

Detectives believe the motive was that some of Taylors friends beat Stafford up earlier that day. Staffords defense attorney told the judge that it could have been stopped.

The school failed to put an end to it, and by separating people, but removing people, said defense attorney Joel Adelman.

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He told the judge that his client, who was 16 when he committed the crime, had eight pews of family and friends supporting him. The defendant also has two kids.

Judge Matt Osman noted the sad reality of the situation in his courtroom.

In many ways, this case feels like a microcosm of so many of the societal issues we face these days, the judge said. That makes it profoundly sad.

As part of the plea deal, Stafford was sentenced to at least 13 years in prison. Another teen was also arrested in connection with this incident, but there has been no word on where that case stands.

VIDEO: CMPD: Teen dies after shooting near CMS bus stop; juvenile to be charged with murder
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  As Tennessee is set to carry out its first execution under the states new death penalty protocol this month, some death row inmates say the firing squad would be more humane.

Currently, the states main method of execution is lethal injection, but death row inmates whose crimes were committed before Jan. 1, 1999, also have the option of the electric chair.

Kelley Henry, the chief of the Capital Habeas Unit at the Federal Public Defenders Office, questions the constitutionality of the two options because they can both cause severe pain.

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When that chemical enters your system, that poison, its going to eat away the lining of your lungs, cause fluid to rush into your lungs, and then you will essentially drown in your own fluid, Henry said. Or theres this other opportunity where you can be electrocuted and your internal organs will all be cooked, and it feels like youre being set on fire.

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In addition, the lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, has strict procurement, storage, transportation, and administration guidelines, which a 2022 independent report revealed the state wasnt following under its old death penalty protocol.

Henry told News 2 that, due to those issues and the potential for severe pain, many inmates would prefer the firing squad as an execution method.

What our clients have proposed is the firing squad because that doesnt require sophisticated training. Its still brutal, its still incredibly violent, but what we know now from science and the Department of Justice report that came out in Jan. of this year, where the United States Dept. of Justice said we are no longer going to use pentobarbital because of the ways in which it causes super added pain and suffering Henry said. With the firing squad, youre going to see a brutal death, but it will be much quicker.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

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Tennessee Republicans tried to add the firing squad as an execution option in 2023, but the bill never made it out of committee.

Why would we want correctional officers to sit there and point guns at individuals as a form of killing? Its almost legalizing first-degree murder. That is not cool, Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) said in 2023.

Some people have survived an initial volley of bullets in a firing squad execution, leading to a second volley of bullets, Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) read from a lawsuit out of South Carolina during a 2023 committee hearing on the bill. If some of this information is accurate, were probably going to end up in court on constitutional issues.

A similar bill was brought this past legislative session, but it never made it to committee.

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Henry and other groups will continue to push for what they call a constitutional execution method.

Even if theyre going to be executed, if thats going to be the case, theyre still entitled to a constitutional method of execution, and not only are they entitled to it, the citizens of Tennessee want to see a constitutional method, Henry said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Its unclear if lawmakers plan to bring legislation to legalize the firing squad in executions next session.

The state plans to execute death row inmate Oscar Smith, by lethal injection, on May 22.

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India and Pakistan both say their military sites were targeted with attacks, leading to an escalation between the two countries late Thursday.

Both of the nuclear powers deployed drones, missiles, air defense systems and fighter jets against each other in what is a rare aerial clash.

Tanks havent moved yet in this war-like conflict, expected to continue for at least the next few days.

India hasnt faced such airborne attacks since the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war.

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Border villages and towns in both countries were evacuated ahead of the exchange of gunfire, according to reports.

The India-Pakistan border ranked as one of the most dangerous international boundaries in the world, according to a Foreign Policy article in 2011. But tensions are especially high right now, following the deadly militia attack on tourists in Kashmir, India, in late April.

New Delhi held Islamabad accountable for the act of terrorism in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, as the Deseret News reported.

At least two dozen people were killed by terrorists in Kashmir, India. Pakistan authorities denied the countrys involvement.

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Kashmir has long been the scene of frequent unrest between India and Pakistan, which both control portions of the land there, as does China.

India launched a retaliatory attack against Pakistan on May 7, killing more than 30 people.

But New Delhis measured response led to a dangerous crossfire between the two countries Thursday night.

At the second annual Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit Thursday in Salt Lake City, former United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he hopes the conflict wont continue to escalate.

He acknowledged the horrific attack on India but added, Its not in Pakistans interest to continue this.

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Pakistan is making strides with their economy, under the International Monetary Funds direction, he said.

And fundamentally, I dont think India wants this, Blinken added.

Sanjeev Barghava, left, performs the last rites of his son Vihaan Barghava, 13, killed in Pakistani artillery shelling in Poonch along the Line of Control, Indian controlled Kashmir, Thursday, May 8, 2025. | Channi Anand

On the ground

Although verified information is sparse, many credible reports indicate continued shelling on the ground.

Several videos online show Indias Air Force Defense System deployed to the maximum effect for the second time in two days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not addressed the nation since the strikes. During a cabinet meeting, he called for continued alertness and clear communication.

Pakistan closed airports for four hours and India suspended all its flights departing from near the 2,000-miles-long India-Pakistan border.

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X, formerly known as Twitter, received an order from the Indian government to suspend accounts belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users amid the conflict, when misinformation is rampant on social media.

In New Delhi, public spaces, like the areas near India Gate, were closed and evacuated while other parts of the country, especially Srinagar in Kashmir, experienced blackouts. Schools in Punjab, an Indian state that shares a border with Pakistan, will be closed for the rest of the week.

X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the companys local employees. The orders include demands to block access in India to  Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) May 8, 2025

U.S. calls for deescalation

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif separately on Thursday but fell short of playing the mediator.

He emphasized the need for immediate deescalation and encouraged a direct dialogue between the two parties in both conversations.

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He also expressed his condolences for the losses on the Indian and Pakistani sides. The vice president called on Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups and reaffirmed the United States commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism.

New Delhis Wednesday strikes were intended as a response to the tourist massacre in Kashmir in April and they only targeted alleged terrorist infrastructure, Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra told CNN.

When we did this the day before yesterday, our assumption was that we have completed what we set out to do ourselves vis a vis the terrorists, he said. We, from our perspective, had brought a certain finality to it.

Pakistan chose to escalate it further, he added.

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Following the terrorist attack on India in April, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who was visiting India that same week, told Fox News that he hoped New Delhi responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnt lead to a broader regional conflict.

And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyre responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with, Vance added.

President Donald Trump also condemned the terror attack and expressed his support for India at the time.

Former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, an Indian American, defended Indias recent attacks in a post on X.

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Terrorists launched an attack that killed dozens of Indian citizens. India had every right to retaliate and defend itself, she wrote. Pakistan does not get to play the victim. No country gets a pass for supporting terrorist activity.

Terrorists launched an attack that killed dozens of Indian citizens. India had every right to retaliate and defend itself.



Pakistan does not get to play the victim. No country gets a pass for supporting terrorist activity.  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) May 8, 2025

What started the current conflict?

Weeks after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India responded through Operation Sindoor," a measured and non-escalatory plan.

New Delhi directed 24 missiles at nine alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan, killing 30 people over the course of half an hour on Wednesday night.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said their Chinese-made aircraft shot down two Indian aircraft and 25 drones, according to CNN.

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The next morning, Pakistan shot down 25 Indian air defense system drones. According to the Indian defense minister, 16 people, including some children, died during this attack.

This led to an ongoing flurry of drone attacks on Thursday night.

Reports out of India also indicate the possibility of a naval operation underway against Pakistan.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A large crowd at Thursday nights meeting of the Terre Haute City Council. A lot of people were there to talk about a proposed housing development in Terre Haute.

Brickyard Estates and Paddock at the Park is a proposed $70 million project by Gibson Development. It will include single family homes and multi family units located between Ohio Boulevard and Edgewood Grove. A project spokesman says it will help reverse the outward migration of middle and upper income households, and it responds to a growing need expressed by employers for housing.

The homes are slated to be part of 93 home subdivision of 1600 square feet and with a price between $350,000 to $400,000. There will also be 11, three story apartment complexes.

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Many residents voiced concerned about the city helping the project through tax increment financing or tif.

The tool that is being proposed its a residential tif district, a new iteration of that tool which is only been used for a couple of years in Indiana. So, we the council are all learning about it. Same with the public, City Council Member representing District 4 Todd Nation said.

The proposal was tabled until June 12th. Between now then, discussions will continue.

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HONOLULU (AP)  A Tesla driver charged with attacking motorists vehicles with a pipe in the Los Angeles area has been arrested again for allegedly assaulting two women during a road rage incident in Honolulu.

The recent arrest comes less than a year after Nathaniel Radimak was released from prison for the California road attacks, KABC-TV reported.

Honolulu police arrested a man with the same name on Thursday, a day after what police described as a road rage incident. A woman, 18, was parking her vehicle downtown on Wednesday when she saw a gray Tesla speeding past, police said.

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The woman and the Tesla driver exchanged words" before he got out of the Tesla and assaulted the woman and her mother, 35, who was a passenger, police said. The Tesla driver then fled.

Police said the gray 2022 Tesla had Oregon license plates.

Radimak, 38, was located in Waikiki on Thursday and arrested on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and assault.

It was not clear Friday if Radimak had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. Police records listed him as in custody and said charges were pending.

In 2023, California Highway Patrol arrested Radimak in connection with other assaults he was accused of committing while driving a Tesla Model X. The highway patrol said the assaults were recorded on a dashcam video, which showed the Tesla did not have a rear license plate.

Other drivers came forward with accounts of attacks after video of the attacks was shared publicly.
The Texas Democratic Party will not vote on a resolution to condemn Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, for voting against the interests of the party and his federal charges, a member of the state party leadership said on Friday.

If the resolution had passed, Cuellar would have been barred from party resources and from party events  except events that he could not be legally blocked from attending.

I welcome the withdrawal of a deeply misguided resolution that sought to divide Democrats rather than unite them, Cuellar said in a statement. This effortdriven by a small group of fringe activistswas never about values or vision. It was about division, and it has failed.

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Cuellar added that he believed cutting party support for his campaign would harm the party, because of his fundraising work, writing: Their proposal would have drained, not strengthened, our shared resources. The congressmen said the people behind the resolution represent the partys permanent minority caucus.

The resolution is being pulled due to legal concerns with how to enforce a ban on Cuellars access to the partys voter file, according to a member of Texas Democratic Party leadership.

Jen Ramos, the author of the resolution and a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee, is pulling the resolution.

"For the first time in recent memory, this was an effort to hold an elected official accountable, not only for the ways that they contradicted our values but also for their inappropriate actions and the way that they embarrassed us," Ramos said. "I think it's relevant to say that this resolution  while may not have been the outcome that I wanted  is still an effort to say that we are better than our conservative counterparts because we can actually hold ourselves to a better standard."

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Cuellar faces a September federal trial on charges of bribery, money laundering and working on behalf of the Azebaijani government and a Mexican Bank. Cuellar has maintained his innocence.

The congressman has repeatedly voted with the Republican Party on major bills  including bills to restrict transgender athletes, toughen voter identification laws and require the government to detain undocumented immigrants accused of minor crimes.

Congressman Henry Cuellar has a proven track record of disregarding the values of the Texas Democratic Party and the ethos that comes with being a Texas Democrat and often acting against the peace and dignity of the State of Texas, the resolution read.

The resolution committee voted to move forward with the resolution on Monday, with only one disapproving vote. The executive committee was supposed to consider the resolution on May 12.

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Renzo Downey contributed to this report.

First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 1315 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Legislation aimed at barring people and agents of countries deemed hostile to U.S. interests from owning land in Texas leaped closer to becoming law after House Republicans late Thursday and again on Friday beat back several attempts by Democrats to derail or soften the proposal.

The House sponsor of Senate Bill 17, Mount Pleasant Republican Rep. Cole Hefner, said the legislation would make Texas and the nation safer because "adversarial nations," as identified by the U.S. national intelligence director  China, Russia, Iran and North Korea  could not become Texas landowners.

"Countries on this list have demonstrated their desire to harm this country and present a significant national security risk," Hefner said Thursday during the hourslong debate in the lower chamber.

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Under an amendment added to the bill, the governor would have the power to add or remove countries from the list of those sanctioned by the measure.

Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) discusses an amendment to SB17, which would bar certain immigrants from owning land in the state, while on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Texas Capitol Friday, May 9, 2025.

Hefner and his allies in the House rebuffed assertions from several Democratic members that the measure would unfairly prevent immigrants from those nations from putting down roots in the country that has given them refuge from repression.

"Let's be clear: These people are not enemies of the state. They came to Texas seeking the freedom and liberty this bill supposedly tries to protect. ... I know because I was one of them," said Rep. Hubert Vo, D-Houston, who told his colleagues of how his family escaped a Communist regime in Vietnam as his Democratic colleagues stood behind him in support. "Texas should proudly welcome those who play by the rules, not brand them as traitors."

The bill, which passed the House with several modifications on a 86-59 vote Friday, now returns to the Senate, which can accept those changes or ask for a conference committee to iron out the differences. Once both chambers agree on a final product, SB 17 would be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott to be signed into law.

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The bill would grant the attorney general jurisdiction to investigate violations of the land law, and courts could order the divestiture of property acquired by restricted individuals or organizations. Violators could be liable for a fine of $250,000 or more.

Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mt. Pleasant) holds up a two, signifying voting no, on an amendment to SB17, which would bar certain immigrants from owning land in the state, while on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Texas Capitol Friday, May 9, 2025.

Before the vote on final passage Friday, Hefner asserted that current visa holders would be exempt from the bill's restrictions on landownership, saying "If you're lawfully present at the time of the purchase of this property, then you're fine."

Green card holders will be able to buy homes in Texas, and while temporary visa holders are not explicitly exempt from the bill's restrictions, an amendment adopted Thursday night would ostensibly spare long-term residents on visas from the ban.

Furthermore, the bill as amended, only allows for leases up to one year at a time. The Senate's version would have allowed 99-year leases  "a loophole you could drive a Mack truck through," Lewisville Republican Rep. Mitch Little said.

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The Senate's version of the bill carved out an exception for an individual's primary residence, but the House previously stripped that provision in a committee substitute. The House further tweaked the bill with a handful of floor amendments.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick talks with lawmakers on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Texas Capitol Friday, May 9, 2025.

SB 17 garnered bipartisan support in the upper chamber and passed March 19 by a 24-7 vote. A similar House companion bill was heard in an April meeting of the lower chamber's Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee but has not received a vote.

SB 17 is the latest push in a yearslong campaign to restrict foreign land ownership, with a similar proposal dying in the House during the 2023 legislative session. Proponents of the restrictions say the issue is a matter of national security, often citing concerns that individuals or businesses loyal to foreign governments could buy up large swaths of land in the U.S., posing a risk to agriculture and critical infrastructure.

Around half of U.S. states have passed laws restricting foreign investment in domestic land, with 12 codifying restrictions in 2024, according to the National Agricultural Law Center. Arkansas became the first state to enforce such a law in 2023.

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About 5.3 million acres, or 3.41% of private agricultural land in Texas is foreign-owned, according to a Texas Farm Bureau report that cites the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Of that, a majority is owned by ally nations like Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. China makes up 3.6% of Texas' foreign-owned land.

I have been dreading this day for 3 years.

Watching in slow motion as we eagerly repeat the sins of our past.



Senate Bill 17 will strip away property ownership rights of #AAPI immigrants, based solely on national origin. 

Hate has no home in Texas, but we do. #txlege pic.twitter.com/pkHhE53zgX  Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) May 8, 2025

House and Senate hearings on land ownership legislation have drawn dozens of witnesses, many opposed to the bills, who testified for hours on SB 17 and its House companion bill. Democratic lawmakers who spoke ahead of the House committee hearing argued that the proposal is discriminatory and said it mirrors the prologue to the World War II-era incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese descent in America. Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, repeated those concerns during Thursday's debate.

"Why my community is so angry is that this exact thing has been done before  done for the same reasons, using the same rhetoric, passing the same laws, and against the exact same communities," said Wu, who is Asian-American. "The fear isn't just about this legislation. For me, the fear is about the community as a whole."

But Republican House members, including Garland Rep. Angie Chen Button, who immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, maintained that the bill is not discriminatory but a matter of protecting Texas.

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"I am supporting this bill because it is to protect our country's freedom, liberty, national security," Button said. "This is not my mother land, but this is my chosen land, and I'm here to protect the liberty and freedom of my chosen land."

Staff writers John C. Moritz and Bayliss Wagner contributed to this report.

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House passes bill barring certain immigrants from owning land
Space companies in Texas, including Elon Musks SpaceX, could save millions of dollars in taxes under a financial incentive bill the state House narrowly passed Thursday afternoon.

House Bill 3045 would exempt all corporations that operate a spaceport used by the U.S. Department of Defense from franchise taxes, which businesses typically pay to the state. At least three companies with Texas spaceports would qualify: SpaceX, Jeff Bezos Blue Origins and Firefly Aerospace. The Pentagon awarded SpaceX and Blue Origin a combined $13.8 billion to launch defensive satellites for the U.S. Space Force in April, and Cedar Park-based Firefly won a contract to perform a responsive on-orbit mission.

State Rep. Stan Gerdes, whose district includes Bastrop County, filed the bill to keep those companies in Texas and attract others to the state, he told the American-Statesman.

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The space industry is a big player, Gerdes, R-Smithville, told the Statesman. This is a small tool with a little bit of an incentive to say, Hey, we want you to stay here and keep doing what you're doing instead of going to Florida or California.'

The space industry invests billions in Texas, including $1 billion in Gerdes' district, which includes a SpaceX manufacturing facility, Musks Boring Company and facilities for X, the social media platform Musk owns.

"We want to be No. 1 in space race," Gerdes said.

The measure would cost Texas $2.9 million in expected revenue over the next two years and $4.6 million by 2030, according to the Texas Comptroller. The companies still pay property taxes.

Elon Musk speaks with guests including Donald Trump Jr. (L) and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (2nd from R) at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas.

After the bill passed by a 15-vote margin in a preliminary vote Wednesday, several representatives switched their vote, an unusual move. After a vote verification Thursday, it passed 70-69.

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A number of hardline Republicans voted against the bill and several Democratic members approved it.

Austin state Rep. John Bucy III was among the bills Democratic supporters. He said HB 3045 will directly benefit his district and Williamson County, where Firefly Aerospace is headquartered.

Being a leader in space industry is vital, and we've got real competition. So I think these measures matter, said Bucy, who is vice chair of the House Innovation & Technology Caucus. Other states are looking at whatever package they can to lure space industry away.

His colleague in the Austin delegation, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, however, had a different perspective.

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If Elon Musk wants to establish a business here, then he should pay taxes like the rest of us, he said.

Talarico said the tax break isn't necessary to keep space companies in the Lone Star state.

Theyre already here and I think theres a lot of reasons to start a business or bring a business to Texas, he said. We can have economic development without special tax giveaways to the wealthiest people.

SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft atop its Super Heavy booster is launched on its eighth test at the company's Boca Chica launch pad in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., March 6, 2025.

Several other Democratic members opposed the bill on the grounds that it would benefit Musk and Bezos, both billionaires. But Bucy said that shouldn't be the deciding factor.

I kept hearing Dems say this helps Elon. Well, not exclusively. It helps Firefly, which I believe in a lot, Bucy said. Yes, it also helps Elon  but I don't know that the personality is the reason we should set policy.

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United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, could also look to take advantage of the measure. The company won $5.3 billion for 19 Space Force missions in April, according to Reuters.

Franchise taxes go directly into the property tax relief fund, which is used to offset what Texans pay to fund public schools. According to the fiscal note, an equal amount of tax revenue would need to be allocated in the budget to replace the expected losses.

Republican Sen. Adam Hinojosa, whose district includes the SpaceX launching site in Brownsville, filed the companion bill in the Senate. The measure was heard in the Senate Finance Committee in March but has not received a vote.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bill passed by Texas House would slash taxes for Elon Musk's SpaceX
A bill in the Texas House would prevent people from China and other countries from buying property in the state. Additions by representatives would also give the governor the ability to add other countries to the ban without legislative approval. Opponents have called the bill racist.

Lawmakers in the Texas House of Representatives have advanced a bill that, if approved by the state Senate, will prohibit citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from buying real estate in the stateand would give the governor broad power to add any other nation he wants to that list.

The House added the gubernatorial powers to the bill, which had already been approved by the Senate. It now will be voted on once more by the House before it goes back to the Senate for another vote. (The upper chamber had previously approved the bill, but the amendments require a revote.) If passed by both branches, it then moves onto the governor.

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Critics, including most Democratic representatives, have lambasted the bill, calling it racist. Proponents say the goal is to ensure countries deemed hostile do not gain any level of control in the state.

"We must not allow oppressive regimes who actively seek to do us harm to seize control and dictate their terms over our economy, supply chain and our daily lives," said Rep. Cole Hefner, the Republican sponsor of the bill.

Exceptions were made for non-citizens from those countries who entered the U.S. legally.

Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat who immigrated from China as a child, warned the bill could result in attacks on Asian Americans.

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"Nobody around here knows the difference between Chinese and Taiwanese or Japanese or Vietnamese," he said. "When the attacks come, when the hate crimes start, it will be against Asians  everybody with [an] Asian face."

Texas' attempts to limit who can buy property in the state come on the heels of a similar bill in Florida, which was passed in 2023. That bill is currently on hold after a federal appeals court ruling.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Texas Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have issued two bills that, if passed by Congress, would empower the federal government to seek to have undocumented migrants convicted of murder put to death in all 50 states, including those in which executions are currently banned.

The Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act in the House and the Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act in the Senate are ultimately likely to be combined into one legislative package and would codify President Donald Trumps executive order in January seeking justice for American citizens killed by perpetrators who arrived in the country unlawfully.

Violent predators who enter our country illegally and brutally murder American citizens should be subject to the death penalty as a consequence of their heinous actions, said Senator John Cornyn in a statement introducing the upper chambers bill, co-signed by a dozen of his GOP peers.

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This legislation would protect the American people, make our country safe again, and ensure no future president can single-handedly undo this consequence for taking innocent lives.

Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is calling for the death penalty for undocumented people who are found guilty of murder (AP)

Representative Morgan Luttrell said in his own statement that the bill seeks to close a dangerous loophole by ending jurisdictional inconsistencies in the administration of capital punishment.

This bill gives us the authority to deliver justice when local prosecutors simply dont have the tools, manpower, or funding to take on a high-profile death penalty case, he said.

If youre in this country illegally and you murder an innocent American, you will be held fully accountable no matter where the crime happens.

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The proposed laws follow on from Trumps Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety order, directing his Justice Department to seek the death penalty in murder cases involving undocumented migrants.

These efforts to subvert and undermine capital punishment defy the laws of our nation, make a mockery of justice, and insult the victims of these horrible crimes, the presidents order read.

The South Carolina Department of Correctionss death chamber in Columbia, South Carolina (South Carolina Department of Corrections/AP)

His call was inspired by cases like the killings of Maryland mother-of-five Rachel Morin in August 2023, nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia in February 2024 and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungary in Houston the following June, which led Trump to denounce migrant crime during last years presidential election campaign and demand tighter border control measures and tougher penalties.

His Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attracted criticism this week after delivering a speech outside the former home of another woman, Emma Shafer, 24, in Springfield, Illinois, who Noem said was killed by an undocumented migrant, a gesture that led her grieving parents to denounce the secretary as cruel and heartless for politicizing their daughters tragic passing.

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On the new bills potentially putting the federal government at odds with states that oppose capital punishment, Erin Epley, a former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Texas, told Fox 26 Houston that the practice is rare and that only 16 federal executions have been carried out since 1976.

I do not think the U.S. will move forward with the death penalty in every case involving an illegal immigrant, she said.

But it gives them the ability to do that. You look at if its on a federal nexus, on federal land, it was the murder of a federal agent.
FLANDREAU, S.D. (KELO)  The man charged in the 2024 death of a Moody County deputy was back in court Thursday afternoon.

The judge granted Joseph Hoek a third defense attorney and a mitigation specialist, who will gather information about the case.

I had made arguments there, and that expert would be somewhat limited with respect to the states motion. The motions were granted, with respect to no motivated prosecution, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said. Expert reports will need to be placed in writing.

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Hoek is charged with the 2024 murder of Moody County Deputy Ken Prorok. A witness told investigators previously that Hoek swerved his car to hit him during a chase.

Hoek has already entered a not guilty plea. However, if he is found guilty, he could face the death penalty.

In this case, the state is alleged two factors. One is officer Ken Prorok was in his official duties during his death, and the second was it occurred at a time that defendant Hoek was fleeing from law enforcement, Jackley said.

In court today, the judge also indicated that the county is hoping to send out 350 jury questionnaires to potential jurors in Moody County. Jackley said there will be more discussion of the process at an upcoming motions hearing in June.

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The prosecution said its prepared for the set October trial date.

It is still dependent upon some expert reports, but the psychiatric side of this case is complete, Jackley said. The state has disclosed its experts, both with respect to the accident, reconstruction and other matters.

Moody County Deputy Ken Prorok was killed in February last year during a pursuit near the I-29 and Colman exit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Larry Hendersons fellow deputies at the Hamilton County Sheriffs office knew what to expect when he relieved them at the end of their shifts.

He arrived early, usually by at least 15 minutes, so he could get a good briefing about the work ahead on his own shift. He wanted to be as prepared as possible, and he wanted his colleagues to know he wouldnt let them down.

And if anyone worried about leaving too much for him to do or suggested staying late to help him, Henderson always had a quick response.

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Go home, hed say. I got it.

Those who knew and worked with Henderson, who was struck and killed by a car May 2 while directing traffic, remembered him Friday at his memorial service as the guy who always seemed to know the right thing to say and do, no matter the situation.

Whether he was disarming explosives as a member of the bomb squad or handling a routine change of shift, they said, Henderson, 57, built a reputation during his 33 years at the sheriffs office as a reliable pro and a great friend.

Lt. Dave Downing, a friend for years, said in his eulogy that hed heard Henderson tell him and other deputies countless times to go home at the end of their shifts, assuring them he could handle whatever still needed to be done.

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When I heard that, Downing said, we all knew that everything was going to be just fine.

Law enforcement and public safety vehicles line Spring Grove Avenue as the funeral for fallen Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson takes place at Sprig Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Thousands turn out for funeral, processions

He said Henderson, a retired Marine, routinely volunteered for the most dangerous jobs, risking his life on many occasions, but he also showed up for the routine tasks. He led by example.

One of those routine jobs came May 2, when Henderson, whod retired from the sheriffs office months earlier, agreed to take on traffic duty outside the University of Cincinnatis commencement ceremony.

It was there that Rodney Hinton Jr. spotted him, police say, and intentionally ran him down as he worked a traffic signal on Martin Luther King Drive.

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Prosecutors say Hinton, who is charged with aggravated murder, sought out a law enforcement officer after his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was shot and killed by Cincinnati police as he ran from a stolen car with a gun.

The only target was a police officer, any police officer, Downing said.

But as thousands of friends, family and strangers honored Henderson during two funeral processions and the memorial service at Xavier Universitys Cintas Center, few spoke of the violent act that took his life.

Instead, most remembered Henderson as a devoted father of five, as a man who joined the Marines before hed graduated high school, as a respected, 33-year veteran of the sheriffs office, as a foster father who volunteered his time at schools, and as the kind of deputy who knew when to lighten the mood with a well-timed joke and when to buckle down and get serious.

'We will never walk alone'

An emotional Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey urged the hundreds of officers who attended the memorial, many of them from around the country, to rally around Hendersons friends and family.

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She said those who loved him may not be sworn law enforcement officers, but, in their own way, they took the same oath to walk the path of justice that he took. And with that oath, she said, they also assumed the burden that goes with it.

Our families, McGuffey said, they have their hands raised, too.

She said Hendersons family need not suffer alone now, because they are part of the extended family of law enforcement officers.

It is then, in the darkest of times, that we must grab on to each other, so we do not lose our way, McGuffey said. We will never walk alone.

Rabbi Mendy Kalmanson, the sheriff departments chaplain, urged those at the memorial service to honor Henderson by living their lives as he did, as someone who quietly and consistently did good.

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Doing so, he said, is the best way to combat the darkness many of them feel as they grieve for Henderson and his family.

The procession for Deputy Larry Henderson continues along Martin Luther King Drive Friday, May, 9, 2025. Henderson, 57, was fatally struck on May 2 while directing traffic for a graduation ceremony at the University of Cincinnati. He retired in December after working 33 years with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

A little light dispels much darkness, Kalmanson said. In a dark room, even a flicker of light can change everything.

Outside the arena Friday, thousands of people seemed to heed that message. They gathered along Hamilton County streets, clutching American flags and signs bearing Hendersons photo, waiting for his funeral procession to make its way to Spring Grove Cemetery.

Downing, in his eulogy, said the love and respect shown to Henderson after his death speaks to the man he was in life.

Rick Andres, of Western Hills and a member of Southern Ohio Bikers, watches the procession for Deputy Larry Henderson as it continues to Spring Grove Cemetery. Andres' son works as a police officer in Boone County. Henderson, 57, was fatally struck on May 2 while directing traffic for a graduation ceremony at the University of Cincinnati. He retired in December after working 33 years with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Turning to the deputies and police officers at the memorial, Downing told them it was now their turn to relieve their friend. He asked them to say to Henderson what he had said to them so many times over the years.

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Go home. I got this.

Enquirer reporter Patricia Gallagher Newberry contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Larry Henderson's funeral: Sheriff says he walked 'path of justice'
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Thousands of people gathered in Romania's capital on Friday for a pro-European Union march. It came a week before the final vote of a closely watched presidential election that pits a hard-right nationalist front-runner against the capitals pro-EU mayor.

Marchers converged in Bucharest in front of the government building, where many waved the blue and yellow flags of Europe. Many chanted slogans such as We are in Europe and Bucharest is not Budapest, referring to Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a member but also a longtime critic of the EU.

A communist country until 1989, Romania joined the EU in 2007. But last year it was plunged into its worst political crisis in decades when a top court voided the previous election. The far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied.

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The rally was held nearly a week after the first round of a presidential election redo that saw hard-right nationalist George Simion, 38, emerge as the front-runner. In second place was 55-year-old incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

We need to develop  we want to be like the best countries, and we dont have the possibilities on our own, said Stefan Gheorghe, a 23-year-old lawyer. You need the European Union to help us out. It is very important to us to stay together  and to benefit from each other.

A median of polls ahead of the runoff suggests Simion holds a lead in the vote, which will be held between the two staunchly antiestablishment candidates on May 18. Observers have warned that the outcome could reshape the EU and NATO member countrys geopolitical direction.

After reaching second place on Sunday night, Dan called the final vote a choice between a pro-Western direction for Romania and an anti-Western one.

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Simions critics have long accused him of being Russia-friendly and warn that his presidency would undermine both the EU and NATO as Moscows war drags on in Ukraine. But in an interview with The Associated Press this week, Simion rejected the accusations and said, Its not for the good of the Romanian people to be close to Russia."

We want to be a member of the European Union. Some fake news were saying that we want to exit the European project, said Simion, who leads Romania's second-largest party, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians. We dont want to leave. We are here to stay. We invested a lot.

Simion, who came fourth in last years race and later backed Georgescu, said in an earlier interview with the AP that he wants to see "more power" go to the blocs 27 individual members, not toward the European institutions.

Similar rallies were held in several cities across Romania on Friday to mark Europe Day, a date that proclaims to celebrate peace and unity in Europe.

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Although Simion and Dan are ideological opposites, they both made their political careers railing against Romanias old political class, which has fallen out of favor as strong antiestablishment sentiment among voters grips the country.

For Diana Draghici, 38, the upcoming runoff will be a pivotal moment for Romanias future and a choice between forging stronger EU ties or potentially shifting East.

I think its important that the young people who were undecided and didnt vote so far ... to have a wake-up call and choose who they want to have represented, she said. It could decide two extremely different scenarios for Romanias future.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Thousands of owners who had their pets cremated in the Pittsburgh area, including a woman who works in West Virginia, were recently told that the ashes they received dont belong to their pets.

Total shock, disbelief, deceived, was kind of the worst thing you could ever hear, said Bobbi Loveridge, assistant professor of Vet Tech at Pierpont Community and Technical College in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Nearly two weeks ago, Loveridge was stunned to learn that the ashes she received may not be from her three beloved pets. Owners of the ashes received them between 2021 and 2024.

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Last week, the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, David Sunday, filed criminal charges against 70-year-old Patrick Vereb, the owner of Eternity Pet Memorials. Charges against him include deceptive business practices, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, with allegations of deceiving more than 6,500 pet owners out of more than $650,000.

According to the AGs office, in many cases, instead of providing the pets ashes, the pets remains were discarded in landfills, and customers were given ashes from unknown animals.

Eternity Pet Memorials cremation certificate of Bobbi Loveridges dog Neyely. Courtesy: Bobbi Loveridge.

Letter sent to Bobbi Loveridge by Eternity Pet Memorials. Courtesy: Bobbi Loveridge.

Like we give you our pets and you send a letterthe letter was the worst. With each ashes that you get back, you get a letter, and it says something to the effect of Thank you for entrusting us with your beloved pet, and its signed the Verebs. And when I was initially asked who had cremated my animals, I remember the Vereb name because of that letter, Loveridge said.

Worthington couple charged after kids found in trailer with raw sewage

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Loveridge was able to confirm with the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office that her cat Lilac and dog Lewi were not cremated, but her Rottweiler mix Neyely was cremated. Its still unknown what portion of Neyelys ashes went to Loveridge and what may have gone to others.

Email sent to Loveridge by the OAG verifying her pet was not cremated.

Email sent to Loveridge by the OAG verifying her pet Neyely was cremated.

Loveridge frequently brought Neyely to class, and she was loved by students. Due to health conditions, she also had implants that Loveridge said were very unique to her.

When I had her cremated, I did ask to have her implants returned in hopes I could use them as a teaching aid for my students to be able to see. I had every intent of having them put into resin, and normally, I move pretty quickly and, like, do things so that the students can benefit. However, I havent done that, and I feel like there was a reason maybe that I hadnt because maybe thats the only ashes that I do have of hers, Loveridge said.

Memorial made with what was believed to be Neyelys ashes (WBOY image).

Loveridge still has a memorial light-up orb made from what was supposed to be Neyelys ashes. I chose to turn it on because I thought maybe it was somebodys baby, and I wanted to honor them, she added.

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West Virginia man found with nearly 1500 child porn images, troopers say

Loveridge said in the future, if she chooses cremation services, she will opt for ones she can observe, even if its difficult. For now, her trust in crematoriums has been broken.

All of my animals have been processed through that funeral home. I did work at Loyalhanna Animal Clinic in the past, and thats how I got hooked up with Eternity Pets because thats who we had used. As far as we knew, he was a trustworthy person, and thats why we chose him. However, in the event that we found out he is not, Loveridge said.

According to an email sent to Loveridge from Loyalhanna, Loveridge purchased the private cremation service for all three of her pets in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The total cost of the three services was $290.

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When asked what she would do if there was a return of funds after the court cases, Loveridge originally said, No moneys going to change it, its dirty money, probably going to donate it if there is anything.

Courtesy: Bobbi Loveridge Courtesy: Bobbi Loveridge Courtesy: Bobbi Loveridge Courtesy: Bobbi Loveridge Bobbi Loveridges cat Lilac (WBOY image) Bobbi Loveridges dog Lewi (WBOY image). Bobbi Loveridges dog Neyely (WBOY image).

Then, after pondering the question further, Loveridge later told Nexstars WBOY, Should I receive a settlement, I would like to memorialize my pets by creating a scholarship for vet tech students.

Vereb waived his right to a preliminary hearing. All of the charges will now proceed to the court of common pleas, but no date has been announced as of this publication.

Loveridge is now part of a class action lawsuit against Vereb, seeking to know exactly what happened to all the pets during that time.

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According to the attorney generals press release in the case, the victims in this criminal case were walk-in and direct-pay clients of Eternity Pet Memorials, as well as pet owners from 20 veterinarians/businesses.

To learn more about the case and to go to the dedicated page for it, you can go 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 Queen City News.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of people rallied in Romania's capital, Bucharest, and other cities in support of the European Union on Friday, one week before a presidential election run-off that could see a hard-right eurosceptic sweep into power.

Hard-right nationalist George Simion won the first round of the presidential ballot on Sunday, and an opinion survey earlier this week showed him leading ahead of the May 18 run-off vote against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

Simion, 38, opposes military aid to Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

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Analysts have said a Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO's eastern flank, where Bucharest plays a key role in providing logistical support to Ukraine as it fights a three-year-old Russian invasion.

In Bucharest on Friday, an estimated 15,000 people rallied, waving EU and Romanian flags and chanting, "Russia, don't forget Romania is not yours" and "We want our country forward not backward."

"I was seriously thinking about taking out a loan for an apartment," said 26-year-old Petre, who declined to give his last name. "But I don't know that I could do that if George Simion were president.

"Our EU membership brought us prosperity and security."

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In a televised debate on Thursday, Dan, 55, a two-term mayor of Bucharest running as an independent centrist on an "Honest Romania" ticket, fully backed EU plans to arm itself. In contrast, Simion suggested he would veto Brussels military aid to Ukraine while saying that Europe should depend on NATO for its own defence.

"It scares me that other people might not benefit from the same opportunities I have had," said 19-year-old student Alex, who has studied abroad under the EU's program for supporting education across Europe and said he will always be grateful for the friendships and connections it enabled.

In the western Romanian city of Timisoara, protesters held a banner reading "Better dead than fascist."

"Today, on Europe Day, we reflect on what Romania's 18 years of EU membership have meant for our country: greater opportunities, better infrastructure, and the chance to thrive in a united Europe," interim President Ilie Bolojan said on social media platform X.

(Reporting by Octav Ganea and Luiza Ilie; Editing by Leslie Adler)
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE)  A woman has been rescued after breaking their leg while hiking near the Alum Cave trailhead in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Around 8:15 a.m. Friday, Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that a strike team of state troopers specially trained in search and rescue were on the way to assist the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers with the rescue.

Part of Foothills Parkway closed for inspection after earthquake near Greenback

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According to Tennessee Highway Patrol, the hiker broke their leg 13 miles into the hike near the Alum Cave Trailhead in Sevier County.

The woman was first stabilized by two EMT-certified Park Rangers. They stayed with her overnight. The next morning, the strike team went out on foot and carried her out using a rescue stretcher. She was taken to LeConte Medical Center in Pigeon Forge. THP said she is believed to be in stable condition.

This is a coordinated mission between state and federal partners to get help to someone in need deep in the backcountry, THP wrote.

TWRA releases commemorative pocket knife for 75th anniversary

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The THP added that just two days earlier, their troopers and National Park Service rangers underwent a simulated scenario involving a similar mountain rescue.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Friday, the Terre Haute community came together to honor city and county law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Every year, the Terre Haute Police Department (THPD) and Vigo County Sheriffs Office (VCSO) gather to honor 20 fallen police officers from the community.

They gave the ultimate sacrifice for our community. For their brothers, their sisters, in law enforcement. For family members, said THPD Lieutenant Justin Sears.

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During the ceremony, officers were commemorated through prayer, a ceremonial flag folding, a 21-gun salute and a performance of taps. Then the name of each officer and their end of watch date were read out loud to honor their life and community involvement.

When someone lays their life down for a fellow officer, for a community member, we owe it to them. Its just that simple. We owe it to them, we owe it to their families to remember their legacy, the work they did, the sacrifices they made, said VCSO Sheriff Derek Fell.

Its been over one hundred years since the first fallen officer, but Lieutenant Sears says they are all as equally important.

There is 20 names we read off today,14 of that from the Terre Haute Police Department, as early as the late 1800s. And, their all as equally important. Equally important to the Terre Haute Police Department and equally important to the Vigo County Sheriffs Office, said Lieutenant Sears.

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For Sheriff Fell and Lieutenant Sears, these fallen officers werent just coworkers, they were friends.

Three of the city officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, I knew each of them So it definitely hits home. And I think it does from many of us who have been around and serving for a number of years, said Sheriff Fell.

The three statues behind me, Greg, Rob, Brent, are three very good friends of mine. So, it hits home every single day. Especially just coming into work, you see the statues of your friends, but know that they were excellent officers. Some of the best Ive ever seen, said Lieutenant Sears.

Today wasnt just about honoring these heroes in our community, Sheriff Fell said, its about never forgetting them.

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Its a way for us to say thank you again for those who have lost their lives protecting our community. Its also a way to let the family members know, who have lost loved ones, we are still here for you, we have not forgotten about your loved one, and we will never forget about them, said Sheriff Fell.

Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun was also in attendance and read a proclamation declaring next week Police Week to honor our local law enforcement officials.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After a KOIN 6 News investigation revealed how multiple women accused the owner of a skincare kiosk in the Vancouver Mall of taking them for thousands of dollars, dozens more reached out to report the same tactics  but at entirely different shopping centers throughout the metro area, including Portland, Clackamas and Washington counties.

For this report, KOIN 6 News spoke with shoppers Allison Hale, Karen Chaivoe, Kathlene Kelley, Jill Slansky and a woman named Bev. None of these women know each other but they all have similar stories about a different skin care store.

What follows is their stories of what each experienced at BH28 Skincare Consultants in the Vancouver Mall, Green Spa at Washington Square Mall and Bee & Company at Clackamas Town Center and on Northwest 23rd.

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This is everywhere, Hale said. Its all across Oregon. Its all across Washington. Its nationwide. This is an issue, Hale said. This goes well beyond high pressure sales. What I experienced was coercion. It was deception, it was threats, intimidation, lies.

They prey on people like me, said Bev, 74.

Bev was one of the many shoppers who told KOIN 6 News they were victimized by high-pressure sales tactics from area skincare retailers, May 2025 (KOIN)

I was just a target, and they were going to try and sell me as much of their product as possible without concern, Chaivoe said. Its basically buyer beware.

The women in this story spent between $300 and $22,000.

How it begins

I was just walking in the mall and someone comes up and says, want to try this face cream? Bev said.

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I walked out of Nordstroms into the mall and theres a kiosk there, and this girl waved at me, Slansky said.

And when I walked by the kiosk, Hale said, She was handing out samples.

They had a couple of young people standing outside on the sidewalk that were calling out to people and complimenting and offering free samples, Kelley said.

And he says, Oh, would you like a free sample?' said Chaivoe.

The free sample often leads to a sales associate testing out eye cream on the customer, they explained.

It was amazing. It took 20 years off my eyes, Hale said.

Slansky said she puts stuff under here and then used a little fan to dry it real quickly and you could just see all the wrinkles go away.

Jill Slansky was one of the many shoppers who told KOIN 6 News they were victimized by high-pressure sales tactics from area skincare retailers, May 2025 (KOIN)

It looks good at first but the women said, it later gets crusty and flakes off. However, before they realized that, theyre sold products for hundreds of dollars and whisked into what theyre told will be a complimentary facial or taken to a spa to get a voucher for a free facial later.

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She takes me to this back room, Hale said, which is a very tiny room. It was probably smaller than a jail cell.

Now we get to this little back room that was really creepy, Slansky said.

Chaivoe described the VIP facial room was more like a a converted closet.

The hard sell begins

The complimentary facial turned out to be a hard sell. In each of their stories, a man tried to get them to buy a red light therapy wand.

Bee & Company in the Clackamas Town Center, May 2025 (KOIN) A makeup station at BH28 Skincare Consultants in Vancouver, undated (KOIN) A brochure for the Red wand at BH28 Skincare Consultants in Vancouver, undated (KOIN) The BH28 Skincare Consultants kiosk in the Vancouver Mall, January 2025 (KOIN)

In my head Im saying, I want to get out of here,' Slansky said. But that wasnt an option because the door shut and theres no way you could get out of there.

I kept saying, I dont have time, but it was so hard to turn around and just walk out, Kelley said.

Kathlene Kelley was one of the many shoppers who told KOIN 6 News they were victimized by high-pressure sales tactics from area skincare retailers, May 2025 (KOIN)

Hale said the same thing. I keep telling him, I dont have time for this. I want to leave. But hes blocking the doorway.

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The red light therapy products and services are said to cost thousands of dollars.

How much is this? And he started out as something like $9,000 and some dollars, and he dropped it down to $5,000, Kelley said.

The guy continues to kind of tell me about this product, and Im like, How much is this? He says, $5,000. I just laughed. I was like, Im not buying this,' said Hale.

Chaivoe said she was told it cost $4,000. And I went, What? $4,000? I dont have that kind of money to spend, especially at this time of year. I think I need to leave. (He said) Oh, what if I drop the price to $2,000? I said, I dont think so.'

Another sales technique

I started to get up and he became upset. Wait, wait, wait just a minute. And he comes back with a box that has the lid kind of torn and goes, Oh, this product got damaged in shipping, and I will give it to you for $1,000,' Chaivoe said.

Karen Chaivoe was one of the many shoppers who told KOIN 6 News they were victimized by high-pressure sales tactics from area skincare retailers, May 2025 (KOIN)

Slansky said she was getting nervous about it all. He walks out and comes back with a package and the cellophane on the outside is torn. And he said, Every once in a while we get a package like this. Theres nothing wrong with whats inside, but we cant sell it the way it is, but you have to promise never to tell anybody that I made you this offer.'

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It was the same for Hale. He was standing kind of next to the door and he goes, I found a box in the back thats damaged. You can have it for $700. And I was like, No, no, no, no, were done.'

These are the products Jill Slansky spent thousands of dollars on from a skin care retailer in Portland metro, May 2025 (Jill Slansky)

The women said the salesmen wouldnt take no for an answer.

I realized the only way I was going to get out of there was to buy the product, Kelley said. And I thought, OK, Ill buy these products and then Ill just return them later.

Hale said she believes the tactic is holding people hostage, basically. And then at this point youre like, I will pay anything to get out of here.

But there was a problem they wouldnt realize until later.

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When I got the receipt, it said No Refunds. I felt sick, Kelley said. I thought how at my ageat 67 years oldcould I let someone so take advantage of me? How did I let that happen? And I felt ashamed.

The tactics worked because, as Bev said, he would really butter you up, try to be really nice.

Chaivoe said there was the overt friendliness, Slansky said it was the whole thing about flattery and Hale described it as cognitive overload. Its this rapid fire questions.

Small rooms can create a sense of being trapped or confined, which can intensify feelings of pressure, especially in a sales situation. The confined space might also trigger a psychological response where individuals are less likely to voice objections or disagree, as it can feel more confrontational or less comfortable.

Allison Hale was one of the many shoppers who told KOIN 6 News they were victimized by high-pressure sales tactics from area skincare retailers, May 2025 (KOIN)

The women also talked about things that are too good to be true, like free refills or services for a lifetime.

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They were saying, Well, we are having this thing where were paying upfront and you can have it for the rest of your life. You dont have to reup it,' Bev said. So I put in this ridiculous amount of money  $16,000.

There were other claims, too: A cream that is permanent Botox, Slansky said. Claims of how their products can help or cure diabetes and certain cancers, Kelley said.

Chaivoe said she saw before-and-after pictures of several clients, and of course the first one, everybodys kind of wrinkly and pinched looking, and the next one, its like, wow, did you have facial surgery?

Another similarity in stories

Hale said she  immediately recognized her as Israeli. I lived in Israel, I speak Hebrew.

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He said he was Israeli, Slansky said. And then he gave me this story about how I might not see him again. He has to go back and fight because of the war  and Im Jewish, so I got sucked right into that, of course. And he did have an Israeli accent.

Chaivoe said she forgot where he told me he was from, but he says, yes, I lived there for a long time, but now I live here and my family is Jewish.

Apparently, he was Jewish, said Kelley. At least thats what he said.

Bev said the owner of the skincare store at the Vancouver Mall was also Israeli, which court documents later confirmed.

Law enforcement

The FBI and US prosecutors have targeted this foreign multi-billion dollar industry in the past. A class action lawsuit in Hawaii is set for this July calling out companies for these predatory skincare businesses. A Forest Grove woman is the lead plaintiff.

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According to published reports and leaked cables from US diplomats, based in Israel, the companies recruit ex-military draftees to aggressively sell expensive cosmetics to middle-aged and elderly women worldwide.

Following a complaint in October, emails show Washington Square Mall chose not to renew Green Spas lease.

The owner/operator of Washington Square Mall, Macerich, told KOIN 6 News, We can confirm the tenant is no longer at the property. Were not able to provide comments regarding tenant leases.

In a statement, Tracy Peters, the senior general manager at the Vancouver Mall said:

Mall management has fully cooperated with the efforts of local law enforcement as they conducted a criminal investigation into the activities of a former tenant of the mall. We appreciate the efforts of the Vancouver Police Department as they work hard to help keep the Vancouver community safe.

We confronted employees at Bee & Co. in person about customers complaints. We left our business card asking for the manager to contact us. A man who went by the name of Avi called us back, but he would not share his last name. He said in part, Im sorry about it and Im happy to help solve. Im not here to hurt, Im here to help. He claims hes willing to give these customers a refund.

Meanwhile, Clackamas Town Center didnt respond to our request for comment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Residents living in parts of western North Carolina saw hail, heavy rain and lightning Thursday evening.

According to 7NEWS Chief Meteorologist Malachi Rodgers, the storms span from Henderson County, through Polk County and into Rutherford County.

Flood warning issued for western North Carolina

Dog sniffs hail in Forest City, N.C. on May 8, 2025. (Photo: Joey Allen) Hail fell in Forest City, N.C. on May 8, 2025. (Photo: Joey Allen) Hail fell in Forest City, N.C. on May 8, 2025. (Photo: Tara Porter) Hail fell in Forest City, N.C. on May 8, 2025. (Photo: Tara Porter)

Some rain and thunderstorms are redeveloping in the Upstate, specifically in northern Spartanburg County.

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Hailstones, Rodgers said, tend to happen during thunderstorms during the warmer months. A raindrop freezes and updrafts from the storm lift it into the cold air, then it gets too heavy and falls from the sky.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division said the main threats to the area are damaging winds, hail less than two inches in diameter and possible isolated tornadoes.

Want to share your hail photos and videos with us? Email news@wspa.com, or send them our way via Facebook.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
A first daughter is about to have her first son. Tiffany Trump, only child of President Donald Trump and Marla Maples, is going to be a mom any day now, according to her social media feeds.

And her parents will be grandparents  "any day now."

Tiffany Trump's baby boy, with billionaire husband Michael Boulos, would be the 11th grandchild of Donald Trump and the first for Maples, a former model and second ex-wife to the commander-in-chief. Donald Trump and Maples were married from 1993 to 1999. (His first marriage to Ivana Trump  with whom he has three children: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump  was from 1977 to 1990. He married current wife, First Lady Melania Trump, in 2005. They have one child together, their son Barron Trump).

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Tiffany Trump, the 31-year-old expectant mom and former model married the 27-year-old businessman Boulos in 2022 at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's private club and home in Palm Beach, Florida.

The couple has been busy preparing for the birth of their baby  and documenting the "Tiffany Trump baby bump" for her followers.

On May 1 and May 2, 2025, Tiffany Trump posted on X and Instagram portraits of her and Boulos, with a peek at her bare baby bump. On May 7, the expectant mama shared photos of her "dream nursery" as an Instagram Story.

Unlike her older siblings, Tiffany Trump has largely stayed out of the political arena during her father's nearly 10 years in the spotlight.

How did Tiffany Trump meet her husband Michael Boulos?

Like her father, Tiffany Trump attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. After graduation, she continued her studies at Georgetown Law School in Washington, D.C. The couple met in 2018, when he was studying project management at City University of London and Tiffany Trump was a law student at Georgetown. Both were vacationing in Santorini and met in Mykonos at Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club, according to People magazine.

Where do Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos live in Florida? Where do Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, Eric and Barron Trump live?

News reports show Tiffany Trump and her billionaire husband Michael Boulos have lived in Miami, Florida, since Tiffany graduated from Georgetown University in 2020. Marla Maples also lives in Palm Beach County, moving to Jupiter to be closer to her daughter. Tiffany Trump and Boulos live fairly close to the rest of the Trump family:

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President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump live at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, though Barron is a sophomore at New York University and stays at Trump Tower in Manhattan during the school year.

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump live with their families in Jupiter, Florida.

Ivanka Trump, husband Jared Kushner and their three children live in Indian Creek Village aka "Billionaire Bunker," near Miami Beach, Florida.

Photos of Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump and Marla Maples

Photos of Marla Maples, ex-wife of Donald Trump, mom to Tiffany Trump

How many grandchildren does Donald Trump have?

As of May 8, 2025, Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos are expecting their baby boy. Their son would be the 11th grandchild for President Donald Trump and the first for Tiffany Trump's mother, the second ex-wife of Donald Trump, Marla Maples. Here's a list of Donald Trump's grandchildren and their parents:

Kai Madison Trump, eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump, and the eldest grandchild of Donald Trump

Donald Trump III, eldest son of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump

Spencer Trump, son of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump

Tristan Trump, son of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump

Chloe Trump, daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump

Arabella Kushner, daughter of Ivanka Trump and husband, former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner

Joseph Kushner, son of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

Theodore "Theo" Kushner, son of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

Luke Trump, son of Eric Trump and "Fox News" host Lara Trump

Carolina Trump, daughter of Eric Trump and Lara Trump

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: Pregnant Tiffany adds to Trump grandchildren: From Kai to baby Boulos
Just south of Tucson, sits one of the last boomtowns of the American West.

Tombstone, nicknamed "the town too tough to die," is chock-full of Wild West lore and historic landmarks. Whether you're wandering Allen Street, taking a ghost tour in the Bird Cage Theater or chatting with people wearing Old West getups, you can't help feeling like you've discovered time travel.

Though the town has been infamous for more than a century, a 1993 movie brought its story to a new audience. "Tombstone", featuring the late Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, was a box-office smash. The film centers around some of the most notorious characters of the West and, of course, their legendary showdown at O.K. Corral.

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Step back into the past. Here's everything you need to know about Tombstone, Arizona, and why you should visit.

How Tombstone became infamous at the O.K. Corral

The legend of Tombstone began in 1877, when a down-on-his-luck prospector named Ed Schieffelin found himself searching for ore in the hills of the San Pedro Valley. As the story goes, Schieffelin was warned that all he would find would be his tombstone.

When Schieffelin claimed mining rights over the rich silver deposits in the area, he named his discovery "Tombstone." Just four years later, the town was booming.

Tombstone isn't notorious for it's minerals, though. Everything changed on Oct. 16, 1881, when a long-simmering feud erupted into a shootout near the now legendary O.K. Corral.

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City Marshal Virgil Earp appointed his brothers, Wyatt and Morgan, and Doc Holliday as deputy city marshals. The group strode through the streets with a concealed, sawed-off shotgun on a mission: disarm a no-good pack of ranchers and rustlers known as "the Cowboys."

Firearms were not permitted in town, and tensions had been high between the two factions for months. It was the outlaws  Ike and Billy Clanton, Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Claiborne  versus the lawmen.

The Earps and Holliday faced off against the group in a vacant lot about 100 feet west of the back entrance to the O.K. Corral. It's still debated who fired the first shot that fateful day, but the 30-second gunfight killed the McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton. The Earp brothers and Holliday were wounded.

Two months after the shootout, Virgil Earp was ambushed and seriously wounded. Morgan was killed with a shot to the back shortly after.

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Wyatt Earp would set out on his "bloody Vendetta Ride" after no one was convicted of either crime. He tracked down and killed the men he deemed responsible for the murders of his brothers and promptly left Arizona Territory.

More Arizona history: Have you heard of these seven Arizona ghost towns?

Tombstone's story on the silver screen reignites interest

Though Tombstone was a tourist destination before, a 1993 movie cemented its status as a Wild West town worth visiting.

The 1993 "Tombstone" was directed by George P. Cosmatos and starred Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, Bill Paxton and, of course, the late Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.

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With Kevin Costner's big-budget "Wyatt Earp" set to hit theaters six months after the release of "Tombstone", Cosmatos' film was supposed to be the lesser of the two. It ended up becoming a favorite among modern Westerns.

Val Kilmer's work in "Tombstone" is referenced amongst his greatest successes.

USA TODAY reporter Brian Truitt described Kilmer's portrayal of Doc Holliday as "a wry guy who looked like death, drank laudanum like it was going out of style but was still dangerous as a rattlesnake."

Kilmer even named his memoir "I'm Your Huckleberry" for his love of Mark Twain and an iconic line in the film.

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You can stream "Tombstone" on Hulu, AMC+ or Philo.

A must-see Arizona town

If Wild West history interests you or if you're planning a state-wide road trip, Tombstone is an essential destination.

Consider stopping by the O.K. Corral, which was expanded to include the actual site of the famous gunfight. It sits at 326 East Allen Street. Catch one of the shootout reenactment shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily.

Tourists often frequent Boot Hill Graveyard, another Tombstone landmark and Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers' final resting place.

You can also visit the blacksmith shop, the O.K. Corral Stables, C.S. Fly's Photographic Gallery, the Tombstone Courthouse Museum, the Tombstone Epitaph Newspaper (a museum dedicated to Arizona's oldest, still running, newspaper) and the Good Enough Silver Mine.

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Even without the shows or tours, just spending time in Tombstone is enough to make you feel the rich, and often violent, history rushing through the town's veins.

Despite the town's historic designation, the government doesn't provide funding for upkeep. This means the magic of Tombstone is created by the employees and residents who work to preserve the town's 1880s vibe, while also following the strict rules laid out in the historic designation.

To get there from central Phoenix, take Interstate 10 east past Tucson to Benson. Go south on State Route 80 (at Exit 303) to Tombstone.

Arizona Republic contributor Roger Naylor, Republic reporter Bill Goodykoontz and USA TODAY reporter Bryan Alexander contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tombstone, Arizona: How the movie highlighted its infamous story
Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller told reporters Friday that the administration is looking at ways to end due process protections for unauthorized immigrants who are in the country.

The Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended at a time of invasion. So I would say thats an action were actively looking at, Miller said in the White House driveway.

A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not, Miller said.

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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on whether he was referring to a specific group of people who've entered the country illegally, or all the people who have. It also did not comment on what he meant by the courts doing the right thing.

In his remarks, Miller maintained that the courts don't have jurisdiction in immigration cases. The courts arent just at war with the executive branch; the courts are at war, these radical rogue judges, with the legislative branch as well too. So all of that will inform the choices the president ultimately makes, he said.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration about constitutional due process protections slowing down his efforts at mass deportations.

I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it, he said in an interview with Kristen Welker that aired Sunday on NBC News' Meet the Press.

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Welker pointed out the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law and that the Supreme Court has long recognized that noncitizens have certain basic rights, but Trump complained that those protections take too much time.

I dont know. It seems  it might say that, but if youre talking about that, then wed have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials, he said, adding that some of the people the administration wants to deport are murderers and drug dealers.

Welker then asked if he needs to uphold the Constitution.

I dont know, Trump replied. I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.

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A clause in the Constitution says due process protections can be suspended during an invasion: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."

Trump claimed the U.S. was being invaded back in March, when he invoked the rarely used Alien Enemies Act to send alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to a prison in El Salvador.

The proclamation said the gang is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States. Three federal judges in different states have found the gang's criminal activities aren't tantamount to an invasion.

The Supreme Court has not weighed in on the invasion issue, but held in a ruling last month that the people the government wanted to deport are entitled to due process. AEA detainees must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act. The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs, the order said.

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In an essay for the National Constitution Center, attorney Neal Katyal and then judge - and now Supreme Court justice - Amy Coney Barrett wrote that, "A suspension is temporary, but the power it confers is extraordinary. When a suspension is in effect, the president, typically acting through subordinates, can imprison people indefinitely without any judicial check."

The writ of habeas corpus, according to that essay, has been suspended four times before, including throughout the country during the Civil War. The last time was in Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Topeka family is asking for its communitys support as their son battles cancer for the second time.

Isaac Reynolds, an 8-year-old boy from Topeka, is facing his second battle with cancer in two years. According to a GoFundMe created by his mom, Jill Reynolds, in November 2023, Isaac was initially diagnosed with Wilms Tumor on his left kidney. His surgery was complicated by a tumor rupture, which left him having to undergo extensive treatment, including radiation and nine months of chemotherapy.

Photo courtesy: Jill Reynolds Photo courtesy: Jill Reynolds Photo courtesy: Jill Reynolds Photo courtesy: Jill Reynolds

Jill said his scans were clear for several months, until his nine-month post-treatment scans showed numerous tumors on both of Isaacs lungs.

The treatment plan for this recurrence is extensive and demanding. At a minimum, Isaac will require surgery to place a port, thirty weeks of chemotherapy (including ten inpatient stays of three days each), significant radiation therapy, and surgeries on both lungs. Medical professionals have indicated that the side effects this time are expected to be more severe and that we should anticipate multiple unplanned hospitalizations and blood transfusions. Jill Reynolds, GoFundMe excerpt

Possible DEI changes to Topeka ordinances are on hold

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The surgeries come with possible side effects as malnutrition, compromised immune system, the possibility of infertility and chemotherapy-induced leukemia. Jill said GoFundMe was created to help with the cost of frequent travel to see Isaacs oncology team, to assist as Jill and her husband, Andrew, take time off of work and to help their other two children.

If you are unable to contribute financially, we kindly ask that you consider sharing Isaacs story with your network, Jill said in the post. Additionally, we urge you to hold your children close, cherish every moment, and shower them with extra love. Our greatest hope is that no other family will ever have to navigate this terrifying and overwhelming reality.

If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe created to help Isaac and his family, click here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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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 KSNT 27 News.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Dr. Tracy McGrady, Ozarks Techs provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, will give the keynote address at Commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 15.

McGrady will retire on June 30 after nearly 25 years spent with Ozarks Tech.

Dr. McGrady has served as the colleges chief academic officer since 2017. She has been responsible for overseeing faculty, curriculum, assessment and institutional priorities in support of the colleges overarching mission.

It has been the honor of my life to serve as the voice of the OzarksTech faculty and Academic Affairs staff, McGrady said. Im incredibly proud of the work we do here, and its been deeply rewarding to play a part in creating a rich educational experience for our students. Ive been so fortunate to build my career at an institution where I genuinely believe in the mission. I take great pride in drawing a clear, direct line between the work we do and the improved lives of people throughout southwest Missouri.

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Commencement ceremonies will be at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena on the Missouri State campus.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
During the early days of his basic training for the U.S. Army, there came a time when Nicolas Talbott stood with 64 other men preparing to answer questions from a superior who had arrived to inspect their quarters. As inspections ended, everyone was asked why they joined the military.

Until that moment, Talbott had only told a few fellow trainees that he was transgender.

My strategy was to blend in and be judged solely on my performance, he said.

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But that day, after inspections, the words came tumbling out for all to hear when it came time for him to answer why he was there.

I said, I wanted to prove that transgender people like me can do this and we have something to contribute, Talbott recalled saying in an interview with HuffPost on Wednesday.

After that moment, Talbott said fellow trainees came up to him in a big huddle.

They said, Nic, we had no idea. We never would have known. We dont think any less of you, he said.

One person approached and said they thought even more of him, knowing that Talbott had this extra layer of substance on his plate, he recalled. In January, shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning people with gender dysphoria from military service, Talbott, along with six other trans service members, sued the administration under the Fifth Amendments equal protection provision.

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After a series of hearings, a federal judge overseeing his case in Washington, D.C., grilled government attorneys over whether Trumps order was discriminatory on its face. She found it was, and a tug-of-war in the courts between Talbott and the now 32 trans service members who have joined his lawsuit has continued up to the appellate level.

So when the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated a ban on transgender military service on Wednesday, as other litigation played out in a separate but similar case, it took only a few hours before the phone calls started rolling in.

People I went to basic with reached out and said, Sir, I know Im just a private, but is there anything I can do? What can I do? How are you doing? Talbott said.

Today, Talbott is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, and being open about who he is as he has pursued a career in the U.S. military has created a gateway to new conversations. It has helped answer questions among fellow service members. And this, Talbott said, is something he believes has only improved his and fellow soldiers capacity to serve the United States military  and each other  to the best of their ability.

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I received tremendous amounts of support all across the board. Its been a very positive and enlightening experience, Talbott said.

That acceptance and a shared belief among service members that they should be judged for their actions  and not who or what they identify as  stands in profound contrast to the position the Trump administration has taken toward trans service members of late and historically.

In January, via executive order, Trump claimed that radical gender ideology had permeated the military and harmed its readiness. During his first administration, Trump tried to ban transgender troops  they had only been allowed to serve openly since 2016  and he had some degree of success doing it. The Supreme Court in 2019 agreed to uphold the ban while litigation against it ensued.

It wasnt until 2021 that then-President Joe Biden rescinded Trumps ban.

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Trumps executive order this January conspicuously did not use the word transgender. Instead, it focused on gender dysphoria and banned from service anyone expressing a false gender identity different from their sex assigned at birth. Within a month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy echoing Trumps order banning troops with gender dysphoria. (Gender dysphoria is the distress one feels when a persons gender identity and the sex assigned to them at birth dont align.)

Hegseths memo did not explain how or why the Defense Department had concluded that people diagnosed with gender dysphoria were unfit or a liability. He only stated that they did not meet the militarys high standards for service member readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity.

The ban sparked a series of lawsuits in multiple venues, including Washington state and the District of Columbia.

The Supreme Courts decision Wednesday was a direct response to the Washington state challenge brought by Emily Shilling, a Naval commander with 20 years of experience who is also a transgender woman. Shillings case, while similar, is still distinct from Talbotts lawsuit, and the result for Shilling does not mean Talbotts case is decided or over.

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Talbotts case went before the Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., last month after the Trump administration pushed to have U.S. District Judge Ana Reyess injunction on the ban lifted.

Reyes had found the ban was soaked in animus towards Talbott and other trans service members. To that end, Reyes blasted the government for being unable to point to data that supported its claims that trans members were less honest or capable, or posed a danger to military readiness, or were prohibitively expensive to take care of.

Nicolas Talbott, second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, said being open about who he is as he has pursued a career in the military has created a gateway to new conversations. Nic Talbott

While scrutinizing the administrations claims that care for trans troops was uniquely harmful, Reyes pointed out that the U.S. military spent $42 million on Viagra in 2024 versus just $5.2 million that same year on gender affirming care for trans soldiers.

The military considers Viagra a treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress, and as Reyes noted, gender affirming care has been found to ease depression, too. The stats gave the judge pause as she pondered aloud in court this spring: If the ban was about improving military readiness, how was the military more ready by denying troops the care they need to perform at their highest level?

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The judge over Shillings case in Washington state, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, did not rule on whether the policy was based on animus. Shannon Minter, Talbotts attorney, told HuffPost on Wednesday that this distinction between the cases is crucial.

While the Supreme Courts decision puts an enormous amount of pressure on the appellate court, it is not bound by the Supreme Courts ruling in Shilling.

They can issue their own decision and are supposed to make their own independent assessment, Minter said.

The D.C. Appeals Court seemed dubious about arguments from Justice Department lawyers who claimed the ban wasnt discriminatory. The governments position that transgender people can still serve so long as they havent been diagnosed with dysphoria or are living in a sex or gender different from their own prompted one appellate judge to remark in seeming disbelief. Your argument that this is not a ban on transgender service is that you can serve as a transgender person so long as you dont serve as a transgender person? Is that right? Judge Cornelia Pilard said.

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The Justice Department insisted then and now that the ban isnt discriminatory because gender dysphoria amounts to a medical condition that requires medical treatments, which they say is disruptive to military service.

But being transgender or being diagnosed with gender dysphoria never stopped Talbott from being the best the military would demand of him, he said.

He was diagnosed with gender dysphoria a full nine years before he joined the Army.

I received my diagnosis back in 2011, when I was still in high school. Being able to go through the process of transitioning, Ive become a better version of myself every single day since I began that process, Talbott said. I have so much more confidence and clarity than I did when I first began. Some of that can be attributed to being 31 years old versus 18 at the time, and that comes with life experience and growing older. But it has been proven by my performance that my being transgender has had no impact on military service.

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Talbott was an honor graduate at basic combat training, a distinction that typically occurs when a person is recognized for stepping up into leadership roles even when not called to do so.

He also completed officer candidate school, which required intense interviews with officer boards before finally being accepted into a 12-week-long rigorous training program. Talbott recalled traveling 14 hours to officer training school after basic training was done.

While there, he said he was taught how to run military operations and how to make quick split-second decisions in super high-pressure situations and do so with little to no sleep or resources.

He said he also learned how to lead young people into what might be the worst day of their lives, and how to do it effectively.

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His hard work paid off: Talbott was eventually made a platoon leader for a military police unit.

The U.S. military is something Ive always had an interest in. Starting from playing Army on the playground, going into high school marching band and learning Veterans Day is the most important performance Ill ever give or going to college for an undergraduate degree and having my criminology and counterterrorism professor tell me I would be an incredible asset to the U.S. military, he said. This is something I have spent most of my adult life working toward.

Today, as a member of the Army Reserve, Talbott says he still has a civilian job that provides an income, but the ban has left him in limbo otherwise.

Hell feel the heat, he said, of losing his military income as well as the stress of simply being in this situation.

But it wasnt just himself he was worried about, he said.

I also have concerns for my unit and what this is going to look like for them. Theres a human side to this. This impacts more than just we trans service members, it impacts our families and the people we serve with. So many of us have so many years of experience in our units. This has been our livelihood for so long, its going to have a huge impact operationally and emotionally, he said.

I went in as someone who had fully transitioned, and it is so mind-blowing to me that were even questioning whether or not I should be allowed to continue to serve. I was serving without an issue. Why are they trying to make an issue where none existed previously? Talbott said.

People who have transitioned or are transitioning while in service are still subject to medical evaluations and are assessed on an individualized basis, he emphasized.

If any of us could not perform our duty, we would be separated as individuals. Theres no reason to do this mass exodus, Talbott said.

And in addition to the financial catastrophe that can come for people who will lose their jobs, Minter emphasized other financial penalties that ousted trans service members face, too, including the repayment of sign-on bonuses.

This is designed to be punitive, Minter said. It is designed not just to kick people out but to harm them. It is utterly baffling.

Minter represented Talbott when he sued the Trump administration over the first ban. And though many years have passed since then, Minters shock and horror at the administration is no less potent.

The Trump administrations likening of trans people as individuals inherently incapable of honesty or integrity is deeply discriminatory and offensive, Minter said.

If this policy were applied verbatim to any other group, it would be immediately struck down, and the Supreme Court wouldnt have issued that stay, he said. Its an egregious double standard and just an indication that, unfortunately, we still live in a time when it is considered OK to demean and discriminate against transgender people. Shame on us for that, and shame on the Supreme Court.

Related...
Sunlight is starting to break through at the Capitol in the final month of the Texas legislative session.

Open government measures have won passage in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, and more House votes are scheduled on legislation championed by the broad-based Texas Sunshine Coalition.

However, this transparency legislation is still waiting to be heard in the Senate. Action is needed soon in the upper chamber to protect Texans information rights before the Legislature adjourns June 2.

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Its simple: Access to information builds public trust in government.

House members approved House Bill 4219 by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, requiring governmental bodies to respond to Texas Public Information Act requests, even if no such records exist, and establishing a complaint system for failure to respond. The common-sense measure is now in the Senate, where Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, is the author.

Several open-government measures that have passed the Texas House await votes in the Senate. The bills would better ensure that Texans can access information about their government.

Also moving in the House are HB 2248, by Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, allowing recovery of attorneys fees in certain Texas Public Information Act lawsuits, and HB 3719, by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, restoring access to dates of birth in public records to help lenders, landlords, journalists and voters verify someones identity when theres a common name.

House Bills 4990 and 4991, by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, are gaining traction, too. They require the Attorney Generals Office to operate an open government hotline and require open government training for outside lawyers hired by governments to handle Public Information Act requests.

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All these bipartisan bills have Senate companions. They are initiatives backed by the Sunshine Coalition, a group of 16 organizations with different missions but united in the notion that transparency allows us all to participate in our government.

While advocating for positive open government legislation, transparency proponents have also been speaking out about measures that would thwart the free flow of information.

For instance, Senate Bill 986 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would flip the Texas Public Information Act upside down, undoing the laws structure that has served Texans well for over 50 years. The TPIA emphasizes the power of individuals over the government by requiring government officials in most cases to seek permission from the Attorney Generals Office if they want to withhold information from the public.

The Bettencourt bill would allow governmental bodies to decide on their own what information to release to requestors without getting a neutral ruling. If requestors are denied information, they would have to navigate a tedious appeals process, without the benefit of knowing what is being withheld from the documents, and may simply give up.

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Another troubling Bettencourt bill, SB 2680, would force delays for requestors in filing a TPIA lawsuit when they must resort to the courts to obtain public information.

Before legislators adjourn, lets urge them to stand up for the citizens of Texas and their information rights. Approving sunshine laws  and rejecting proposals that block information  help Texans keep a watch on their government.

Kelley Shannon is executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas.

The Sunshine Coalition includes the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas; Texas Association of Broadcasters; Texas Press Association; Texas Public Policy Foundation; Institute for Justice; ACLU of Texas; Every Texan; Common Cause; Grassroots America; League of Women Voters of Texas; SMU School of Law First Amendment Clinic; Texas Appleseed; Texas Association of Licensed Investigators; Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom; Public Citizen; PublicData.com.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lawmakers advancing bills that shine a light on government | Opinion
Travelers headed to Fiji this summer better pack more than just their swimsuits  they might want to add some serious bug spray.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just issued a warning for the tropical hot spot as dengue fever cases spike across the Western Pacific.

Dengue, a potentially deadly virus spread by mosquitoes, has Fijis government on high alert.

About half the worlds population is now at risk for dengue with an expected 100 to 400 million infections occurring each year, the World Health Organization wrote in a recent statement, as countries like Mexico, Canada and much of the Caribbean and Latin America are also seeing a rise in cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just issued a warning for the tropical hot spot as dengue fever cases spike across the Western Pacific. Travel Tips Stories  stock.adobe.com

Mosquitoes are the ones responsible for spreading this potentially deadly virus. Getty Images

According to the agency, dengue fever typically starts with a high fever, headache, severe muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and a rash.

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Some people may also feel pain behind their eyes.

There isnt a cure for it, and in mild cases, over-the-counter pain medications can relieve some symptoms.

In severe cases  known as dengue hemorrhagic fever  symptoms can escalate to bleeding, breathing difficulties and intense abdominal pain.

The Central Division alone has logged over 1,000 dengue cases from January to late March, according to the Fiji Government.

In severe cases, dengue hemorrhagic fever can cause bleeding, breathing issues and severe abdominal pain. Fijis Central Division reported over 1,000 cases from January to late March. AFP via Getty Images

The March surge is above the expected [dengue] levels for the same period last year, it warned.

The World Mosquito Program dubbed 2024 the worst year for dengue on record, and the numbers arent slowing down.

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In the US, the CDC marked dengue as a Level 1 health alert, advising travelers to practice usual precautions.

Spring and summer travel coincide with the peak season for dengue in many countries, increasing the risk of both travel-associated and locally acquired cases in the United States, the CDC wrote in its recent health advisory.

The World Mosquito Program dubbed 2024 the worst year for dengue on record, and the numbers arent slowing down. AFP via Getty Images

Tourists are being urged to protect themselves by using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms or ones with screened windows.

And its not just Fiji feeling the sting.

The CDC has flagged several other destinations with dengue fever hot spots, including Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines  all of which have reported more dengue cases among American travelers returning to US soil.

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With climate change fueling unpredictable weather patterns  including heavier rains and flooding experts fear that the conditions are prime for mosquitoes to breed and spread the virus.

If we continue to release planet-warming gases into our atmosphere through industrial pollution, landfills, and other forms of pollution, dengue and other vector-borne illnesses will only thrive, the Fiji government warned.
Traveling is never without risks, like your stomach not responding positively to new foods. Despite that, people power through for the opportunity to experience other cultures and to see other parts of the world.

However, travelers with plans to visit certain popular tropical destinations may want to do a little more than pack some Tums, as the Centers for Disease Control have issued a travel notice after a spike in dengue fever cases.

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The CDCs travel notice indicates that certain countries are reporting higher than usual numbers of cases, or CDC has identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries.

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The government agency continued, noting that travelers visiting these countries may be at increased risk.

There are currently 18 countries on the list, including several popular vacation destinations like Fiji, Mexico and Saint Lucia.

The full list of countries at the time of publication was: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Sudan and Tonga.

Per the CDC, dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites that can take up to two weeks to develop.

Common symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding, and can develop rapidly into more serious symptoms like hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.

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According to the Cleveland Clinic, most people recover from dengue fever without any lasting complications. If you have symptoms of dengue fever, you have about a 1 in 20 chance of it worsening to severe dengue. If you have severe dengue and are treated immediately at a hospital or medical facility, you have a greater than 99% chance of recovering.

Two vaccines against dengue fever exist, including one available in the United States.

Next: Popular Item Sold at Aldi Subject of Nationwide Health AlertHere's What to Know
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Several U.S. senators on Thursday introduced the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, which would safeguard Americans ability to opt out of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) facial recognition screenings at airports.

It also aims to prevent the abuse of passenger data thats obtained through these scans.

Six arrested in Kansas as part of alleged drug smuggling operation

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U.S. senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) introduced the legislation.

Although the TSA calls its plan to implement facial scans voluntary, the news release said passengers are largely unaware of their ability to opt out. It also said the TSA does not effectively display notices at its checkpoints to inform travelers that they can opt out.

The TSA subjects countless law-abiding Americans to excessive facial recognition screenings as they travel, invading passengers privacy without even making it clear that they can opt out of the screening, Senator Kennedy said in the news release.

The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would protect Americans ability to say no to these facial scans and safeguard the personal data that the TSA collects.

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Senator Merkley said the TSAs unchecked expansion of facial recognition technology is leading us toward a national surveillance state.

Privacy is one of Americas most sacred liberties, and we must protect it, Senator Marshall said.

In no universe should the federal government collect biometric data from Americans without their full, informed consent. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act strengthens safeguards around this sensitive data and brings transparency for travelers.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

Senator Markey said the TSA has consistently ignored their calls to halt the use of facial recognition tools and protect passenger privacy.

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Instead, the agency rapidly expanded the use of the technology nationwide, Markey said.

U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) also co-sponsored the legislation.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  The Travis County Sheriffs Office is on the scene of a shooting involving a deputy near Lake Travis.

TCSO posted on X at 11:05 a.m. that the shooting happened in the parking lot of a Randalls on FM 620.

The deputy was unharmed, according to TCSO. No details were provided about what led to the shooting or if anyone else was injured.

TCSO is planning to hold a press briefing at noon, and this story will be updated with new information.

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Check back for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. is on track to run out of money to pay its bills as early as August without congressional action, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Friday.

He is calling on Congress to either raise or suspend the debt ceiling by mid-July.

A failure to suspend or increase the debt limit would wreak havoc on our financial system and diminish America's security and global leadership position, Bessent wrote in the letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Prior episodes have shown that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can have serious adverse consequences for financial markets, businesses and the federal government.

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Earlier this week, Bessent twice testified in front of congressional committees that the Treasury's debt ceiling is on the warning track.

After the debt limit was reinstated in January, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen  in one of her last acts in the position  said the agency would institute extraordinary measures" intended to prevent the U.S. from reaching the debt ceiling.

Since then, the Treasury Department has stopped paying into certain accounts, including a slew of federal worker pension and disability funds, to make up for the shortfall in money. Bessent has continued to notify Congress about the use of extraordinary measures in an effort to prevent a breach of the debt ceiling. In his latest letter, Bessent attributed the August deadline, known as the X-date, in part to receipts from the latest tax filing season.

A Bipartisan Policy Center analysis released in March estimated that the U.S. could run out of cash by mid-July if Congress did not raise or suspend the nations debt limit.

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President Donald Trump had previously demanded that a provision raising or suspending the debt limit  something his own Republican Party routinely resists  be included in legislation to avert the last potential government shutdown under his Democratic predecessor, President joe Biden.

Anything else is a betrayal of our country, Trump said in a statement in December. That deal did not ultimately address the debt limit.

The letter to Johnson comes as Republicans consider a massive tax cut and border security package that includes an increase in the debt limit. Bessents request could give GOP lawmakers greater incentive to reach an agreement.
(WKBN)  There were reports circulating Thursday that Jim Tressel has not yet ruled out running for governor of Ohio.

The initial report came from NBC News, which quoted a statement released by Tressel, stating that he had not ruled out a run for governor.



Tressel said many people are encouraging him to run. He said there will be a time in the future for those conversations.

Tressels statement comes the day before Ohios Republican State Central Committee meets to endorse a candidate for governor in 2026  a vote Governor Mike DeWine opposes because he says its too early.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A Tennessee man charged with setting fire to an education center that trained civil rights leaders like Rosa Parks and John Lewis in 2019 was indicted on Wednesday. The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty in federal court on Thursday and a trial date has been set for later this year.

Regan Prater faces one count of arson and one count of carrying an explosive device during the commission of the arson in connection to the fire that destroyed the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County. He remains in federal custody pending trial, which has been scheduled for July 15 in United States District Court in Knoxville.

Car burglaries strike fear into Sevier County neighborhood

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If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the arson charge and an additional 10 years for the explosive charge.

Investigators say Prater used an homemade explosive to firebomb the centers administrative building on March 29, 2019. Officials said the fire destroyed decades of historic documents, speeches, artifacts, and memorabilia from the Civil Rights Era and other social movements.

An affidavit filed in federal court says posts made by Prater in several group chats affiliated with white supremacist groups link him to the Highlander Center fire. Court documents also allege he was inspired by the March 2019 mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. A white-power symbol was found spray-painted on the pavement of a parking lot at the site of the fire, the same symbol that appeared on the Christchurch gunmans rifle.

Prater was previously sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fire to an adult video store in Manchester, Tennessee in June 2019.

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 See more top stories on WATE.com

The Highlander Center was founded in Monteagle in 1932 before moving to New Market in 1971. The nonprofit organization educated many of the Civil Rights Movements most important figures, including John Lewis and Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a keynote address for the schools 25th anniversary celebration in 1957.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
May 8Three men have pleaded guilty and been sentenced for crimes tied to the 2017 death of a Down East fisherman.

Police say they found Wayne Foss's body at his home in Whitneyville on Oct. 28, 2017. The home had been set on fire, but they were still able to determine the death was a homicide.

Foss was 48, and a husband and father of three, according to his obituary. Family remembered him as selfless and talented, particularly in woodworking.

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Six years after Foss's death, a grand jury indicted three men on felony murder, arson and robbery charges in connection with his killing: Justin Matthews, 35, Basilio Liranzo, 29, and Leanza Boney, 27.

Matthews was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison and risks serving another six years if he violates a four-year probation term. He and Liranzo both pleaded guilty to a felony murder charge, which is used when a death occurs during the commission of another crime.

Liranzo was previously sentenced to 16 years behind bars after also pleading guilty to arson.

Boney pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is serving five years in prison. He risks another 11 years if he violates a four-year probation.

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Maine State Police encouraged anyone with information related to this case, or any unsolved homicide or missing persons case to contact their offices.

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Prosecutors in Karen Reads second murder case spent Thursday quizzing a key investigator about how he gathered information surrounding the death of the defendants Boston police officer boyfriend.

Prosecutors say Read, 45, backed her SUV into John OKeefe, 46, and left him to die after dropping him off at a party hosted by a fellow officer. Her lawyers say she was framed in a police conspiracy and that someone inside the home that night in January 2022 must have killed him.

A mistrial was declared last year. Reads second trial on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene has appeared to be similar so far.

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RELATED: Digital forensic examiner analyzes critical phone search in Karen Read trial

Investigators say missing shoe was significant

On Thursday, Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik told the prosecution that he had not formed any conclusions about the case when he initially arrived at the Canton police station on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.

Bukhenik said he was given several statements, including Reads, saying she wasnt sure if she had hit OKeefe with her vehicle. He was also shown evidence: A broken bottom of a cocktail glass, OKeefes phone and a brown paper bag with six solo cups containing blood.

We are not ruling people in as much as we are ruling people out, he told the court while describing the investigation process. We need to get as much information as possible.

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When Bukhenik went to the hospital, he found OKeefe declared dead and covered in a sheet. Bukhenik said he noticed OKeefe was missing a shoe, potentially critical evidence of how he died.

MORE: Karen Reads words used against her in witness testimony

At that point, the theory had evolved to a vehicle strike, he said. Based on the injuries, I was suspecting he was hit out of his shoes a phrase that means he was hit so hard that he was pulled out of his shoes.

The prosecution also played a series of Ring surveillance videos showing Reads car leaving OKeefes driveway that appeared to touch another parked car around 5:07 a.m. on Jan. 29, several hours after Read dropped off OKeefe at the party.

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Bukhenik maintained that every photo he saw of Reads car included a missing red taillight.

Separate surveillance footage shown to the jury included Read and OKeefe out at bars on Jan. 28 that the prosecution used to show how much Read had been drinking. The footage does not show that Read finished everything she had in her hand, but it did show her adding shots of alcohol to her drinks.

Bukhenik said he counted Read had been served seven drinks between 9:10p.m. and 10:53 p.m. but her defense objected to that and the judge struck that remark.

Proctors involvement questioned

Reads attorney Alan Jackson kicked off questioning Thursday by focusing on the integrity of the case, which Bukhenik defended.

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However, when the questioning turned to Michael Proctors involvement, Bukhenik downplayed Proctors involvement and denied Proctor was considered the lead investigator on the OKeefe case. Instead, he said Proctor was assigned the case because Proctor was on call.

The investigation was conducted with honor and integrity, and all the evidence pointed in one direction, Bukhenik said. The investigation was handled with integrity by Michael Proctor.

ALSO READ: Karen Reads angry voicemails to boyfriend played aloud in court

Proctor did not have a major role, Bukhenik said, explaining that would mean that Proctor was in charge of more than 50% of the case.

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Jackson then had Bukhenik read several search warrants that allegedly were spearheaded by Proctor but Bukhenik said he could not validate the forms. He later told Jackson that Proctor was keeping the team informed about what was happening, which search warrants were issued and which interviews were conducted.

Proctor was eventually fired after it emerged during the first trial that he sent sexist and crude texts about Read to his family and colleagues. Bukhenik also was disciplined but not fired for failing to reprimand Proctor for offensive text messages, some of which were read aloud on Friday.

MORE: Karen Read Trial

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A local school district has urged parents to speak to their children about the dangers of a troubling social media trend involving Chromebooks.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Springboro Schools notified parents Thursday about the Chromebook Challenge.

The school district said it is a social media trend that has circulated nationwide and is now being seen in some local communities.

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This trend encourages students to intentionally damage school Chromebooks or electrical outlets by inserting metal objects or pencil lead into USB ports or outlets, Springboro schools said. The goal of these videos is to cause sparks, smoke, or even fireposing a safety risk.

TRENDING STORIES:

Several Connecticut high schools have been evacuated this week because of this trend, according to CBS affiliate WFSB-TV in Connecticut.

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Springboro Schools asked parents to speak to their children about those dangers.

In addition to the risk of injury, these actions can result in damaged equipment and police involvement, the school district said.

A spokesperson for TikTok told WFSB-TV that the social media app blocked the term Chromebook Challenge on it.

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LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW)  A suspected attempt to smash through a local gas station and take an ATM caused major damage to a Lakewood gas station.

At about 4:15 a.m. on Friday, police said a stolen 2024 Dodge Ram truck slammed into the 7-11 gas station on Hilliard Road. According to a press release, the truck reversed and crashed through the stores entrance.

Rethink when you fix your dog, new study says

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Whoever was inside the vehicle fled, leaving the truck and the ATM behind  as well as a lot of damage.

WJW photo WJW photo WJW photo WJW photo

Shortly after driving through the entrance and upon seeing an employee in the store, the suspects abandoned the truck and fled southbound by foot on Olive Avenue, read the release.

A K9 and drone searched the area, but no suspects were found. Police said they believe the suspects fled the area in another vehicle before they arrived on the scene.

Earlier this week, a similar smash-and-grab attempt took place at a Speedway in Mentor, which also involved a dark colored pickup truck, as well as a Dodge Grand Caravan.

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Bay Village community holds vigil honoring student who died after lacrosse injury

The Mentor police chief said the caravan backed into the building several times, causing significant damage.

Its not clear if the two cases could be related.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
CHICAGO (WGN)  Pope Leo XIV an Augustinian priest.

Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

He is a Chicago area native and has many connections to St. Rita  an Augustinian High School  on Chicagos South Side.

There was a sense of excitement Thursday that a son of the South Side is now the leader of the worldwide catholic faith.

Brother answers burning question: Is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Cubs fan?

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Father Thomas McCarthy has known Prevost nearly four decades. They met back in 1983.

Us Augustinians, we know Bob. We know who he is. We know the world is going to find out who he is. Hes just an unbelievably, good normal guy, he said.

In fact, the two were emailing each other just one day before the start of the conclave.

The last couple of weeks, every two or three days, just saying, Bob, praying for you and the cardinals, he said. And hed always respond back, Thank you, keep praying.

McCarthy is now the director of community outreach at St. Rita High School on the South Side.

Thursday the classrooms of the Augustinian high school were as joyous as St. Peters Square in Rome to see an Augustinian priest become the pope.

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More: Who is Robert Francis Prevost?

Prevost had been a substitute teacher at St. Rita years ago.

When the announcement came you heard an eruption through this school, Deacon John Donahue said.

And for McCarthy and all those with a connection the man they once called Bob, there is a sense of pride that the Second City gave the church its forts American pope.

He truly is a son of Chicago, he said.

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HOWLAND, Ohio (WKBN)  IUE-CWA Local 717 President Joseph Ferradino said morale at some local plants is very defeated.

IUE-CWA Local 717 represents more than 430 Aptiv employees at the companys three plants in Trumbull County. The union says that at this point, 63 workers will be impacted by the closure of Plant 10 in Howland this summer, 46 in production and 17 in skilled trades.

The working people are always being sold out for corporate gains, Ferradino said.

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In Mondays letter to its members, the union informed workers that APTIVs Electrical Distribution Systems would be outsourcing all remaining cable production at the plant, which produces copper wiring, effective July 14  essentially closing the plant.

I think theyve just come to their accomplishment of moving and outsourcing all the work to the south, Ferradino said.

The union plans to meet with management over the next few weeks to talk about ways to soften the blow.

Maybe we can offer some buyouts. Maybe we can negotiate with the company to hold these people and put them in other places, Ferradino said.

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According to Ferradino, the company has gradually been reducing the local workforce over the past few years. In December, there were more than a dozen permanent layoffs.

Its super frustrating because its a slow death, he said. Its just hard because people come to work every day, they put in their time and their life developing product for this company, and the company, at every turn and corner, is cutting them down.

WKBN 27 First News has reached out to Aptiv for comment but has not heard back yet.

Majority Whip Nick Santucci (R-Niles) issued the following statement Friday in response to the announcement that Aptivs Plant 10 facility will be closing.

Aptivs Plant 10 closure and the loss of 63 jobs is a disappointing announcement for Howland and Trumbull County. Ive spoken with the Lake to River economic development team, who have reached out to company officials and union leadership to identify possible solutions. My office stands ready to support all involved if necessary and appropriate. Majority Whip Nick Santucci

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump fired the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, on Thursday, according to a copy of her termination email obtained by NBC News.

In the email sent to Hayden, Trent Morse, the deputy director of presidential personnel, wrote: On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately.

The email was shared with congressional Democrats and obtained by NBC News.

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Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen sent an email Thursday informing library employees of Haydens dismissal, according to a copy obtained by NBC News. Newlen said in the email that he will assume the duties of acting Librarian of Congress until further instruction.

A spokesperson for the Library of Congress later confirmed Hayden's termination.

"Tonight, the White House informed Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position effective immediately," the spokesperson said.

Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress in the institution's 225-year history, was appointed by President Barack Obama in February 2016 and confirmed by the Senate in July 2016 in a bipartisan vote of 74-18.

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She was the first woman and the first African American to occupy the role, milestones Obama called "long overdue." In addition, she was the first Librarian of Congress to occupy the position without a lifetime appointment, with Obama signing a law in 2015 to establish a 10-year term for the Librarian of Congress. Her term was set to expire next year.

Before her tenure as Librarian of Congress, Hayden was the CEO of Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore.

In testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday morning and then to the House Administration Committee that afternoon, she outlined her efforts to extensively modernize and optimize the library's systems, processes and staff.

She is the second official to have testified to Congress and then be fired this week after Cameron Hamilton was dismissed as acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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Democrats have roundly criticized Hayden's dismissal, with Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, which oversees the Library of Congress, accusing Trump of unfairly targeting a public servant.

"The Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, has spent her entire career serving people  from helping kids learn to read to protecting some of nation's most precious treasures. She is an American hero," Morelle said in a statement, adding that he plans to introduce legislation to "guarantee that the Librarian of Congress is appointed by Congress."

Morelle called Trumps decision ignorant and said it will impact Americas libraries, our copyrighted economic interests, and service to the American people.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also called for congressional intervention.

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"We must assert our congressional prerogative by making the position of Librarian of Congress appointed by a Congressional commission not by presidents that treat federal appointments like reality TV prizes," he said in an emailed statement, calling the dismissal Trump's "latest foray in his relentless campaign to dismantle the guardrails of our democracy."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the firing "a disgrace."

Donald Trumps unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock, Jeffries said in a statement.

A conservative nonprofit group, the American Accountability Foundation, has targeted Hayden in recent days, accusing her of being "woke" and claiming she promoted access to books about "radical gender identity."

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The group praised Trump's decision to terminate Hayden.

"THANK YOU @POTUS !!!! Woke & radical Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has been fired," it said on X.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com






The Trump administration has fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

The deputy director of presidential personnel informed her via a two-sentence email, according to multiple outlets

Hayden held the position since 2016, when she was appointed by Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate with a 74-18 bipartisan vote







The White House has fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who has held the position since 2016.

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A spokesperson for the Library of Congress confirmed the firing to PEOPLE on Friday, May 9. "Last night, the White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position," the statement read.

Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel, informed Hayden in a two-sentence email obtained by NBC News, CBS News, and POLITICO and shared with congressional Democrats. The New York Times also reported on the email, citing a screenshot from Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, who wrote on social media that Hayden was fired around 6:56 p.m. on Thursday.

"On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately," the email read, per CBS News. "Thank you for your service."

Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen wrote in an email to employees that he would assume the duties of acting Librarian of Congress until further instruction" following Hayden's dismissal, per NBC News.

Kevin Richardson/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden photographed in June 2024 Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden photographed in June 2024

Hayden's dismissal comes before her 10-year term was set to expire in 2026, as she was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016, and confirmed by the Senate with a 74-18 bipartisan vote that same year. She was the first woman and African American to hold the position, as well as the 14th person to ever do so.

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As reported by NBC News, conservative nonprofit American Accountability Foundation targeted Hayden ahead of her dismissal, accusing her of promoting access to titles about "radical gender identity." The outlet notes that her firing arrives just days after her Tuesday testimony at both the Senate Appropriations Committee and House Administration Committee, where she discussed efforts to optimize the systems and staff at the library.

According to the Library of Congress website, Hayden's vision for the institution has "redefined and modernized the Librarys mission: to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity." During her time in the position, per the website, she invested in information technology infrastructure and digitization efforts and has launched opportunities for communities underrepresented in the its collections to "engage" and add their perspectives.

She previously worked as the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore from 1993 until her appointment, and has also worked at the Chicago Public Library and the University of Pittsburgh. She was also notably the president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004.

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Several Democrats have since expressed their frustrations with the Trump administration's latest move to remove the head of a federal institution, now months after Trump announced separate efforts to make the Kennedy Center "great again" by naming himself chairman. Among critics, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the latest decision "unjust."

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"Dr. Carla Hayden is an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress. Her historic tenure has taken the institution to new heights, and I am thankful for her incredible service," Jeffries shared in a statement. "Donald Trump's unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock."

"The Library of Congress is the People's Library. There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later," his statement continued.

Similarly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the administration's apparent decision "the latest foray in his relentless campaign to dismantle the guardrails of our democracy and punish public servants who don't bend to his every will."

"Enough is enough. Just as weve moved to bring accountability to the Architect of the Capitol, we must assert our congressional prerogative by making the position of Librarian of Congress appointed by a Congressional commission  not by presidents that treat federal appointments like reality TV prizes," Schumer wrote in a statement. "Dr. Hayden is a trailblazer, a scholar and a public servant of the highest order. She brought integrity, vision and truth to the Library of Congress. That she is being ousted by a man who knows more about sowing division than preserving knowledge is an insult not only to her but to every American who values facts, history and truth."

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A major political battle is brewing on Capitol Hill as House Republicans push for sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nations largest food assistance program. The proposed plan includes $230 billion in cuts over the next decade, along with stricter work requirements and increased oversight by states.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is leading the charge for reform, arguing that the government must rein in spending and eliminate waste in large federal programs like SNAP.

We have to be better and smarter and more intentional about how were spending that money, Rollins said. Were trying to right-size the government to rip the corruption and the waste out of these massive programs like SNAP.

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The proposal would also require states to turn over detailed records on how SNAP benefits are distributed.

President Trump is rightfully requiring the federal government to have access to all programs it funds, said Secretary Rollins, and SNAP is no exception. For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data. The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and todays request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible, Rollins said.

Were going to make sure that every dollar, every taxpayer dollar that is spent, is spent wisely with the intended purpose, she added.

The plan is facing strong pushback from Democrats, who warn the cuts could devastate low-income families and vulnerable communities that rely on SNAP to feed their children.

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These are people. These are families. These are meals, said Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.). No Democrat supports any kind of waste. All of us want our federal programs to be as efficient and effective as possible. But that shouldnt come at the expense of leaving families hungry.

Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio.) says the impact in her state would be especially severe. In my district in Ohio, 1 in 5 households rely on SNAP, including 1 in 3 Black households, she added.

So far, the proposed cuts have not been drafted into a formal bill. However, the debate is expected to intensify as lawmakers move deeper into budget negotiations. The White House, meanwhile, has signaled that it will not support any policy that results in children going hungry.

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The White House is reviving the National Space Council, a historically influential policy body that could help guide the administrations ambitious space goals, while acting as a counterbalance to Elon Musk.

The revival of the council ends speculation that President Donald Trump would not bring back the office following lobbying from Musks SpaceX company.

The council, which Trump also revived in 2017 after it had been dormant for 24 years, is chaired according to law by the vice president. A White House official, who was granted anonymity to discuss plans that had not been announced, confirmed that the White House was staffing the council.

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The council is normally staffed by an executive secretary and a small number of officials. The council serves as an executive branch body for developing space policy and keeping agencies with space portfolios on task, from the Space Force to the Department of Commerces space offices.

The council will likely take on the Trump administrations already lengthy space ambitions, including building a space-based missile shield called Golden Dome, beating China to a moon landing before 2030, landing astronauts on Mars, and supporting commercial space companies. That includes potentially launching new rockets next year to trial systems for landing astronauts on Mars.

The council could dilute the influence of Musk, founder of SpaceX and confidante to Trump, who plans to step away as top adviser to the president. Reuters in January reported that SpaceX opposed the return of the National Space Council, and Trump was likely to end it.

The council would also provide an avenue for industry to inform White House space policy through the bodys Users' Advisory Group.

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Vice President JD Vance has made few public pronouncements on space, making it unclear how he might lead the council. However, as a senator he served on the committee that covers space, and was a co-sponsor on a space bill. His former position as a senator for Ohio put him in contact with major NASA research facilities in Cleveland.

The office was founded in 1989, but was unstaffed from 1993 to 2017, when Trump brought it back in his first term in a ceremony that included astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon.

That council, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence with Scott Pace as its executive secretary, was viewed as influentia l in helping establish the Space Force, NASAs planned return to the moon under the Artemis program, and ushering in regulatory reform in support of commercial space companies.
Donald Trump is appointing Fox News host and former New York prosecutor Jeanine Pirro to serve as interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., after the president announced earlier Thursday he would be pulling his support for the full nomination of Ed Martin, who currently holds the role.

Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday evening. She is in a class by herself.

The president touted Pirros time as Westchester County District Attorney and work establishing the first domestic violence unit in a prosecutors office, calling her a powerful crusader for victims of crime.

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The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure, a FOX News Media spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

Since Trump took office, Pirro has steadfastly defended the administration.

White House hasnt made final announcement on pick to replace Ed Martin, but reportedly considers Pirro highly qualified (Getty)

She has voiced her support for the invocation of the wartime Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport alleged gang members.

In a March segment, she said she was not disturbed by migrants, including asylum seekers, being deported before they got full hearings in a court, adding, The only due process I believe in is the legal way to enter this country.

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Current staffers who spoke with The Independent noted that when the president was initially tapping a slew of Fox News personalities to fill out his administration  Pirro now makes 23 former network employees hired for Trumps second term  she had openly wondered why her name wasnt called.

Judge Jeanine wasnt too thrilled that she didnt get picked because shes been so loyal, one network employee noted. Indeed, as the staffers pointed out, her loyalty to Trump has been unwavering since he first entered politics as she was one of the first Fox News hosts who openly embraced his 2016 presidential run.

Additionally, while Pirro tends to be in a generally good mood behind the scenes, two sources said that the now-former Fox News host was in a great mood these past 48 hours. Notably, while Pirro hosted The Five on Wednesday, she was absent for Thursdays broadcast and was replaced by Fox News commentator Johnny Joey Jones.

Meanwhile, a number of former network staffers reached out to The Independent to weigh in on the president hiring the longtime pro-Trump Fox host as a US attorney for the District of Columbia.

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What a god-d*mned joke, one former Fox producer texted immediately after Pirros appointment was announced.

Another ex-Fox News producer jokingly wondered why so many network personalities were jumping ship to the Trump administration rather than just sticking it out with the conservative cable giant.

I dont even understand why any of the Fox Newsers that have accepted jobs in the administration would even want them! Dont they realize they have it made already? the former staffer snarked. Grifting is the easiest job in the world, and being DC attorney or Def Sec is actually hard!

But yeah, Jeanines super qualified, they added. Shell do great.

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Pirro was among the top Fox News talent who endorsed at times this false notion of a stolen election, media executive Rupert Murdoch said during a defamation suit from Dominion Voting Systems against the news channel, which was later settled in 2023 for $787 million.

Producers for Pirro reportedly warned network executives one of the former prosecutors election-time segments was rife w[ith] conspiracy theories and bs and is yet another example why this woman should never be on live television.

Before the January 6 attack, Pirro compared efforts to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election to the American Revolutionary War, wondering if there was anyone in Congress willing to battle for the America that those soldiers fought for, the one that you and I believe in." (She later condemned the storming of the Capitol.)

Trump said earlier Thursday he wouldve liked to see Martin get nominated, but pulled his nomination as Republican senators like North Carolinas Thom Tillis announced they wouldnt back the conservative attorney.

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To me, it was disappointing. Ill be honest. I have to be straight. I was disappointed, a lot of people were disappointed, but thats the way it works sometimes, Trump said.

Martin reportedly lost support over failing to originally disclose appearances on Russian state media and for his stances on the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which has included ordering the firings of lawyers who brought January 6 charges and pushing for reduced sentences for those convicted in the riot.

Martin, a conservative attorney who backed Trumps Stop the Steal movement, falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen, was also physically present on the larger Capitol grounds during the insurrection.

During his brief stint as interim U.S. attorney, Martin threatened to investigate Democrats, academic institutions, and some critics of billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk.
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow immigration officials to end a Biden-era program that allowed more than a half million immigrants to enter and stay in the U.S. legally for humanitarian reasons.

Solicitor General John Sauer filed an emergency appeal Thursday seeking to lift a lower court order that blocks the administration from ending the parole program for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Sauer argues that a federal judge in Boston erred last month when she ruled that immigrants in the program were entitled to a case-by-case review before their legal status in the U.S. was revoked. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, temporarily blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems March order that sought to end the legal status within weeks for all 532,000 people admitted under the program.

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Sauer said Talwani had improperly interfered with a policy choice that should be left up to the executive branch.

That discretionary rescission of a discretionary benefit should have been the end of the matter: Congress reserved those decisions exclusively to the Secretary, who weighed foreign-policy objectives and other factors and rendered her decision, Sauer wrote.

The Trump administrations only direct ask in the appeal is for the high court to temporarily pause Talwanis ruling. That would allow the administration to cancel the parole program  and potentially revoke the immigrants legal status  while litigation continues in the lower courts.

More broadly, though, Sauer also urged the justices to correct a recent, destabilizing trend of district court judges issuing rulings about the legality of national immigration policies.

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Sauer contended that district court judges have no authority to do that because Congress has directed that immigration disputes proceed first in immigration courts, with appeals taken directly to federal appeals courts. However, many district judges have heard legal challenges to broad immigration policy decisions and ruled on them.

In addition, the Supreme Court has reviewed such decisions issued by lower courts and sometimes upheld their rulings against federal policy moves, like Trumps effort, in his first term, to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program.

The latest high court filing came as the Trump administration is engaged in three other immigration-related fights on the Supreme Courts emergency docket.

One involves the administrations attempt to wind down a grant of temporary protected status to about 600,000 Venezuelans in the U.S. Another pertains to Trumps invocation of his wartime powers under the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans the administration contends are linked to a violent gang.

The administration is also fighting a series of rulings against Trumps bid to end birthright citizenship for some babies born on U.S. soil. The justices are set to take up those cases at an unusual oral argument session next week, although its unclear whether they intend to address the birthright citizenship issue or only the administrations objections to the judges in those cases issuing nationwide injunctions against the policy.
The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to reinstate its decision to end a program that granted temporary humanitarian parole to more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

In an emergency filing, Solicitor General D. John Sauer requested that the court block a ruling by a federal district judge in Massachusetts that stopped the Department of Homeland Security from revoking the parole status granted under a Biden-era policy.

The program, introduced by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, allowed migrants from those four countries to come to the U.S. for up to two years as part of an effort to reduce unlawful border crossings.

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In March, current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the parole program, known as CHNV for the initials of the countries involved, citing national security risks, mounting immigration backlogs, and evolving foreign policy concerns. But after the case went to court, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled that DHS could not end the program across the board. Instead, she ordered the agency to conduct individual case reviews for all 532,000 migrants before revoking their parole.

The administration argues that the decision exceeds the courts authority and interferes with powers Congress granted to DHS. Sauer noted that federal law gives the DHS secretary broad discretion over parole decisionsincluding the ability to revoke themand limits judicial review of such actions.

Sauer criticized what he called a one-way ratchet, saying the court allowed Mayorkas to approve parole for large groups but is now requiring Noem to revoke it one case at a time. He warned that this could overwhelm the already overburdened immigration system.

The district courts indefinite halt of parole revocation irreparably harms the government, Sauer wrote. The courts order blocks the Executive Branch from exercising its discretionary authority over a key aspect of the Nations immigration and foreign policy and thwarts Congresss express vesting of that decision in the Secretary, not courts.

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The First Circuit Court of Appeals had previously denied the administrations request to pause the lower court ruling, prompting the appeal to the Supreme Court.

The administration emphasized that migrants knew their parole was temporary and could be revoked at any time. It warned that the courts order could disrupt immigration enforcement and diplomatic efforts.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision soon, with major implications for executive authority and immigration policy.

President Biden established the CHNV humanitarian parole program in January 2023 in an effort to stem the flow if undocumented immigration to the U.S.-Mexico border. It allowed people from the four countries to come to the U.S. for two years if they had a sponsor in the United States, passed a background check and bought a plane ticket. The program allowed a maximum of 30,000 people a month to come to the U.S. More than 500,000 people came to the U.S. under the program.

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The attorneys representing the four groups argue that ending the CHNV program is not only legally flawed but also inhumane, as it effectively cuts off pathways to asylum and permanent residency for thousands of vulnerable individuals.

Freezing the status quo in place prevents hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela from imminent termination of their parole status by the Trump administration. Still, the paroled immigrants, depending on when they arrived in the United States, face a two-year deadline that affects each one differently  it could fall next month, this summer or even in 2026 for those who arrived as recently as last December, for example.

Immigration lawyers highlight challenges for paroled immigrants seeking asylum, TPS, or green cards while advocates hope those with pending applications can remain in the U.S. even after their parole expires, a courtesy the Trump administration would likely not extend, arguing its termination order was not subject to court review.

Talwanis ruling only halted the revocation of parole status and work permits, not pending applications for other immigration benefits.

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The Trump administration argued during the Boston case that the parole program, created by Biden to provide a legal avenue for entry and reduce border irregular migration for individuals with U.S. sponsors and who passed checks, did not align with its foreign policy and had little impact on border flows.

As of December 2024, over 531,000 people entered via the program from the troubled nations facing political repression, violence and economic turmoil. The administration intends to prioritize for deportation those without pending applications for legal status, such as asylum or TPS. Talwani ruled the administration misinterpreted immigration law by viewing paroled migrants as illegal border crossers rather than individuals granted legal entry.

Miami Herald reporter Jay Weaver contributed to this story.
A recently published study in the prestigious British medical journal The Lancet reports that the Trump administrations evisceration of the landmark Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, program that has long been a bulwark in the fight to combat global HIV/AIDS has already sentenced tens of thousands of people in Africa to death, and with each week that passes with the program stuck in limbo, many thousands of needless deaths will follow.

PEPFAR is, by far, the most successful U.S. foreign aid program in history. Since George W. Bush launched it in 2003, it has provided life-giving anti-retroviral, or ARV, medications that have already saved an estimated 26 million lives, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. That 26 million figure is no exaggeration or guesstimateit has been confirmed in multiple scientific reports. PEPFAR has also prevented some 5.5 million mother-to-child transmissions of the deadly virus.

For these reasons, its shocking that the U.S. mainstream media is barely reporting on the PEPFAR crisis. This media malpractice contrasts decisively with the American presss blanket coverage some decades ago, when HIV/AIDS was scything its way across Africa, killing more than two million people a year. The lack of attention now raises the uncomfortable suspicion that people in the global south are interesting to the American media only when they are dying in large numbers.

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Beyond the millions of lives saved, PEPFAR is also a wildly successful extension of U.S. soft power, the absence of which will only create a vacuum for others to fill. As a former U.S. ambassador to Zambia warns, ending PEPFAR is, in this way, a substantial blow to American national security because it opens up space to both China and Russia to expand their already growing influence on the African continent.

The Lancet study offers up some grim details of the near future. Its 23 co-authors looked at nine countries in sub-Saharan Africawhich is only about half the nations that are most affected by the gutting of the program. Still, it concluded that Trumps January 27 suspension of PEPFAR in those countries alone would eventually cause 60,000 additional deaths, even if the program were restarted after only 90 days. Those 90 days passed on April 27, and there are no signs that PEPFAR is about to be revived.

Those of us with firsthand experience in Africa, who witnessed both the scourge of AIDS and then the miraculous recovery though PEPFAR, are terrified at what we are seeing.

The programs current status is not at all clear. First, the Trump administration canceled it entirely; then there was talk of a waiver, which was then apparently rescinded. This is where the mainstream U.S. media failure is particularly damaging, because firsthand reporting could answer these questions about what is actually happening in nations like Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania. The New York Times has five correspondents in Africa; The Washington Post has two; the American cable news networks seem to have no problem sending their reporters to Ukraine or Israel-Palestine, but somehow Africas dire health emergency is passing unnoticed.

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It was not always so. A quick search of The New York Times website for 1999 and 2000, back when HIV/AIDS was sweeping across the continent, revealed roughly 88 reports and opinion pieces over that two-year period. But now, since January 1, 2024, the grand total of articles is around 11.

Its maddening that PEPFAR should find itself in political peril. The program was established by a Republican president, and has typically enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress until recently. Among its most enthusiastic backers are evangelical Christians, both in America and Africa; evangelicals have long been deeply involved in health care in Africa and actually run a number of the hospitals there that help dispense the life-giving medications. They, and others, point out that the program has been a tremendous success, untouched by significant corruption scandals, despite its huge size.

Today, Shepherd Smith is part of a vigorous evangelical effort to persuade the U.S. Congress to revive PEPFAR. He and his wife, Anita Moreland Smith, started doing HIV/AIDS relief work in Africa back in the mid-1980s; theyve been there more than 60 times. They head an organization based in Washington, D.C., called Childrens AIDS Fund International.

Smith told me that no one seems to know with any precision about the current status of PEPFAR programs across Africa. I do hear a lot, but theres no good information anywhere, he said. Its an absolute mess. We do know that some PEPFAR programs are still operating, while others have closed. Virtually all of the orphan and vulnerable childrens sites have been closed.

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He estimates that PEPFAR right now is functioning at no better than one-third of its former capacity. And he warns that the Trump shutdown has done tremendous damage in only three months. Many treatment sites had to let all their workers go, he said. Reconstructing a supply chain that has never been the very best is going to be extremely difficult.

Smith and his allies are concentrating on lobbying conservative Republican members of Congress to restore PEPFAR to the budget legislation that is currently under consideration. He is optimistic. We still have a lot of support in Congress, he said. On international HIV issues, the faith community is the strongest voice on the Hill.

He encourages the public to lobby their own senators and members of Congress to revive the program.

Smith is also worried about the lack of U.S. media coverage about the PEPFAR crisis. Will it take 25 million people in Africa dying to get peoples attention again? he asked, when enough attention now can prevent that from happening?

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Dan Foote was the U.S. ambassador to Zambia from 2017 to 2020, and was in charge of the PEPFAR program there. He echoes Smiths concern that the Trump administration has already done critical damage. Part of my job was to make sure that the ARV medications got from the capital, Lusaka, into the villages, he told me. I spent a lot of time going out into the countryside. You need to push the drugs out to where the people need them. It took time, but we were finally at the point where the distribution was working. But as soon as you disrupt that exceptionally complex supply chain, the chain breaks.

Foote cautions that restarting the ARV distribution will not happen overnight. He warns that Trumps threatened tariffs could further interfere with the procurement of the ARV drugs, which are imported from around the globe. Turning the supply chain back on, full blast, could take as much as a year, he said.

The former envoy also warns that ending PEPFAR could revive a global HIV/AIDS epidemic. People in Zambia and in Africa who take the ARVs regularly have reduced their viral loads to an undetectable level, he explains. That means you cannot transmit AIDS to others. Cut off the medications, and millions of people can spread the illness again. We live in a time of expanding international travel. HIV/AIDS will explode globally and eventually reach the United States.

Foote also explained that the ARV drugs are expensive. Maybe 2 percent of the Zambian people could afford them, he said.

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One of Footes most passionate pro-PEPFAR arguments is that the program is actually vital to Americas national security. In order to have strong national security, we need to have robust alliances around the globe, he said. We need to have access to governments to build those alliances. So we need to do something for them. As ambassador, my only job was to promote Americas national interests, and PEPFAR was vital to that.

He continued: Both China and Russia are expanding their influence in Africa. When China wants to see senior government officials there, they get in the door by bringing a suitcase full of $100 bills. I got in by reminding them about PEPFAR.

Foote concluded, I cant even calculate how much cutting PEPFAR has damaged Americas national security over the past 105 days.

Those of us who witnessed the before and after with PEPFAR are horrified. Back in the early 1980s, I spent years based in the southern African nation Swaziland, now called Eswatini, reporting on apartheid and war across the region. Swaziland was one of the countries hit hardest by HIV/AIDS; Ive made several return visits over the years since the disease first ravaged the population. In 2008, before PEPFAR took full effect, the epidemic was on the verge of destroying the country. Death notices filled the newspapers every single day. One friend, a professor at the national university, told me at the time: Sometimes I look at the students in my biggest lecture course, who are 19, 20, 21 years old. There they aretalking, giggling, full of life, just as students always have been. And I think that if nothing changes, 10 years from now, one out of three of them will be dead.

I went back to Swaziland eight years later, after the PEPFAR program had arrived in force. Precious Dube, a 50-year-old nurse matron, told me with feeling: People in America have saved the Swazi Nation. If you had not helped us, our people would be sleeping in the streets and dying of disease and hunger. Instead, now, we are about to contain AIDS. Millions of people across sub-Saharan Africa would echo Precious Dubes gratitude. When will mainstream American journalists find them, and publish or televise what they have to say?
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich and his supporters wave campaign signs at the corner of the Seward Highway and Northern Lights Boulevard on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

President Donald Trump has endorsed incumbent Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, for reelection.

In a social media post Thursday afternoon, Trump said Begich is doing an incredible job representing the Great People of Alaska, a State I love, and WON BIG THREE TIMES, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!

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Begich responded by posting a social media message of his own, thanking Trump for his support.

Together we are working to Unlock Alaskas FULL potential! Begich wrote.

In the 2024 U.S. House election, Begich was Trumps second choice. He initially supported Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, but when Dahlstrom withdrew from the race after finishing third in the primary election, Trump switched to Begich.

In 2024, Begich defeated incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, by 7,876 votes out of 321,846 counted, or 2.44 percentage points.

Begich is the only candidate who has formally indicated his intent to run for Alaskas seat in the 2026 election so far.

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The national Democratic Party has named Alaska as one of its top targets for the 2026 election, but no candidates have yet signed up to challenge Begich.

Campaign finance documents published by the Federal Elections Commission show Peltola as a candidate, but that is incorrect; Peltola has $20,794.30 remaining from her 2024 election run.

Begich raised more than $800,000 during the first quarter of 2025 for his reelection campaign, with much of the money coming from Republican-aligned political committees. Jeffery Hildebrand, the billionaire owner of oil and gas firm Hilcorp, also was a major contributor.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which is supporting Begichs reelection, said in a statement that the Trump endorsement and Begichs fundraising shows his growing momentum for 2026.

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Under Alaskas elections system, all candidates run in the same primary election, and the top four vote-getters advance to the general election, where a winner is chosen by ranked choice voting.

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President Donald Trumps hopes to pass one big, beautiful bill seems to be on life support as Republicans seem to put some of the more ambitious tax cuts on ice.

On Friday, the president posted on Truth Social that he would be open to raising taxes on the wealthy if Democrats would not demonize it.

The problem with even a TINY tax increase for the RICH, which I and all others would graciously accept in order to help the lower and middle income workers, is that the Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming,Read my lips, the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election, Trump said, referring to former president George H.W. Bush raising taxes after pledging in 1988 Read my lips: no new taxes.

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NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election! Trump said. In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do!!!

House Speaker Mike Johnson has lowered the amount of tax cuts he hoped to pass from $4.5 trillion to $4 trillion (Getty Images)

This comes as Politico reported that Republicans plan to scale back their attempts to cut taxes as they hope to pass a budget reconciliation bill. Specifically, House Speaker Mike Johnson lowered the number of tax cuts he hoped to pass from $4.5 trillion to $4 trillion.

Republicans talk a big game  about reining in reckless spending, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington told reporters. You wont get the full permanency in the tax policy on all the provisions if we dont get to the $2 trillion in savings, and thats unfortunate.

When House Republicans passed their budget resolution in February, the bill stipulated that the House would need to cut $1.5 trillion to cut $4.5 trillion worth of taxes. But if they fail to find $2 trillion worth of savings, the amount of money from the tax cuts would be reduced by the difference between $2 trillion and the final number of money saved.

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Republicans hope to pass a major spending bill that will ramp up spending for immigration enforcement along the US-Mexico border and energy production as well as extending the 2017 tax cuts that Trump signed. They plan to do so using the process of budget reconciliation, which allow them to avoid a filibuster from Democrats as long as all parts of the bill are related to the budget.

But Republicans only have a two-seat majority in the House and a three-seat majority in the Senate, making their plans to pass a comprehensive bill more difficult.

Trump has specifically called for Republicans to fulfil his 2024 campaign pledge to remove taxes on tips, Social Security and overtime.

It would be a very bad idea to not give tax cuts to working people who elected Donald Trump and elected us, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri told The Independent last week.

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The House version of the reconciliation bill gave specific instructions to each committee to find a targeted number of spending cuts. By far the most politically contentious has been the instruction for the House Energy & Commerce Committee to make $880 billion in cuts.

With the rules for reconciliation forbidding legislation from touching Social Security and Republicans pledging not to touch Medicare, the health insurance program for seniors, many fear they will have to make steep cuts into Medicaid, the health care program that covers children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Republicans in the Senate also say they do not want steep cuts to Medicaid or other nutrition assistance programs.

Im not excited about the proposal, but I have to say, there are a number of people in both the House and the Senate who are, and if the president weighs in favor of it, then thats going to be a big factor that we have to take into consideration as well, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

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The tax cuts Trump signed in 2017 expire at the end of this year, meaning Republicans risk seeing taxes increase under their watch. Senate Republicans tend to prioritize cutting taxes even if they do not see major spending cuts while many House Republicans do not want to add to the deficit without substantial spending cuts.

At the same time, Republicans face another issue given their small margins: In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act capped the deduction people can file for state and local taxes to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples.

Many Republicans in New York, California and New Jersey, which have higher tax rates than red states, hope to reduce the cap for the deduction, known as the SALT deduction, in the next bill.

On Thursday, New York Republican Reps. Mike Lawler, Elise Stefanik, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota put out a statement criticizing a proposal by House to lift the cap to $30,000.

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Its not just insultingit risks derailing President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, the statement said. New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get backunlike many so-called low-tax states that depend heavily on federal largesse.

The statement shows the numerous moving parts Johnson must navigate to get the bill across the finish line.

Last month, Stefanik, the former House Republican Conference chairwoman, was forced to retract her nomination to become US ambassador to the United Nations to help pass the legislation.
President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the scientific community with his proposed budget that would slash federal spending on research and development by an unprecedented 23%  or $163 billion  in fiscal 2026. A broad range of experts are warning that those short-term savings will likely have serious long-term repercussions on the economy and harm the countrys global competitiveness.

A recent study by American University set out to calculate just how damaging the budget cuts would be, and determined that a 25% reduction in public funding of research and development would reduce GDP by 3.8%, more than $1 trillion, while decreasing annual tax revenue by 4.3% and making the average American approximately $10,000 poorer (in todays dollars).

If those dollar numbers, anywhere from 20%-45%, are real, I want to be really clear: we are no longer in a race with China on biomedical research. We will have lost that race, Sudip Parikh, president of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, testified at a congressional hearing last week.

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The federal government is the nations largest source of funding for basic and applied scientific research. The White House is requesting cuts in spending of 37% at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and more than 50% at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the countrys two major science funders. It also wants to cut NASAs science budget by more than half and eliminate most federal funding of climate and ecological research.

U.S. research and development spending accounted for 3.43% of the countrys GDP in 2022, with the federal government responsible for about one-third of the total.

The American University researchers pointed out that the federal government has historically been the dominant funder of basic research because the payoffs from such investments can take 20 to 30 years, too long of a time period for private investors to risk major investments. A paper published in January by the National Bureau of Economic Research noted that such public funding of basic research creates a pipeline for private sector innovation and commercialization.

The U.S. Governments long time largesse has already been responsible for revolutionary breakthroughs in science and technology that the private sector would never have taken on in the early stages because of the risk involved, including the Internet, GPS, semiconductors, the Human Genome Project, and numerous advances in medical treatment, as noted in a 2023 report by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The report determined that one job is created for every $25,000 spent in public funding on research and development.

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Using these metrics, a $100 billion investment would in theory then generate 4 million new jobs, the WEF said. The data across sectors and industries is clear: Government-funded R&D directly and indirectly fosters innovation and job growth.

University research departments, among the main recipients of federal funding and now under attack by Trump, can also drive economic growth. In an essay in the Boston Business Journal on Tuesday, Don Ingber, founding director of Harvards Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, wrote that in the 16 years since Wyss was founded it has filed over 4,500 patents, negotiated 145 licenses with industry, launched almost 70 startup companies, and enabled the creation of nearly 2,000 new jobs.

We are at the dawn of a new age, in which biotechnology and artificial intelligence are merging, and those who figure out to harness these advances will win big. Ingber wrote. Cutting back now on the partnership that has been in place between government and academia for the past 75 years, he warned, This will hurt our economy and your pockets.

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Coming up with a final federal budget always involves arm twisting and other negotiating tactics as everyone lobbies for their priorities, so the initial budget proposal released by the White House in early May remains far from final.

However, pick any topic related to conservation, environmental protection, climate change or weather and its not hard to find someone concerned by the cuts the Trump administration is proposing in its quest to shrink the federal budget.

In total, President Donald Trump's proposed budget recommends chopping more than $32 billion across agencies charged with monitoring weather, oceans and the atmosphere and protecting natural and historic resources, parks and conservation lands, according to a USA TODAY analysis. The cuts echo an array of actions already taken by federal agencies and the president's Department of Government Efficiency.

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The Environmental Protection Agency for example, faces a 54.5% proposed cut, taking its budget to a level last seen when Ronald Reagan was president. The proposed cuts in other environmental-related spending range from 15% to 55% across federal agencies.

Democrats, former federal scientists and advocacy groups say the cuts will set back the nation's efforts to combat climate change, leave the country's environmental satellite programs lagging other nations and allow increases in pollution and harmful emissions.

The White House said its overall budget would save taxpayers $163 billion in wasteful spending" among non-military agencies and "provide historic increases for defense and border security. The president's supporters say such cuts have to happen if the nation is ever going to pay down its debt.

Shrinking the federal deficit through budget cuts is crucial, said Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think-tank that drafted Project 2025. She was one of its many authors.

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The president's budget does include "a lot of cuts to offices that look at renewables and social and environmental justice, she said. We have a $36 trillion national debt and we have a $2 trillion deficit. We shouldn't be spending money on these things."

"We want to have a fiscally sound budget, just the way households have a fiscally sound budget."

Trump could balance the budget by cutting Social Security and Medicare, she said. "But during the campaign, the president said he was not going to cut those programs  Hes fulfilling his promises."

Activists see a 'striking blow'

But a wide range of conservation and environmental advocates argue the president's budget could have devastating impacts for years to come and that there are better ways to cut federal spending. The cuts come on top of months of staff reductions that have seen the workforce in some agencies reduced by as much as 20% or more, according to USA TODAY reports.

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The budget proposal is "another clear signal of how far this administration is willing to go to demolish the critical infrastructure that supports our cherished public lands and wildlife, said Robert Dewey, vice president of government relations at Defenders of Wildlife, a nonprofit animal advocacy group. The Trump administration is making a grievous error by slashing programs and staff in the name of efficiency and would be striking a disastrous blow to the agencies charged with conserving imperiled species and habitats."

Ranking Democrats in the House and Senate vowed to work against some of the budget reductions.

Trumps budget  bought and paid for by his fossil fuel megadonors  would be an unmitigated disaster for everyone except the looters and polluters, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, in a news release.

With the cuts to the EPA budget, the most hazardous industries would get to spew cancer-causing pollution and greenhouse gases into our air, exacerbating climate-flation on everything from insurance to groceries.

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Here are some examples of key cuts:

Department of Interior

At the Interior department, which includes the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Geological Survey, the budget would be cut by almost a third, even though it's slated to take on services now provided by other agencies. The budget would drop from $17 billion to $12 billion next year.

National parks advocacy groups were quick to raise concerns about the more than $1 billion cut to the parks budget, a 25% reduction. The budget also included a proposal to shed many of the smaller, less visited 433 parks by handing them over to states to manage, though it did not specify how many or which ones.

At the U.S. Geological Survey, $564 million would be eliminated for university grants and programs that focus on "social agendas" such as climate change rather than "achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals," according to the budget document.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's office that oversees protected marine species such as whales and sea turtles would be merged with an office performing similar functions for land and freshwater species at the fish and wildlife service that is slated for a $37 million cut. That concept had been discussed among the agencies for years.

The merger is "consistent with the Presidents efforts to improve performance and reduce the federal bureaucracy, as well as his deregulatory agenda," the White House said.

The administration's budget also announced plans to create a new "Federal Wildland Fire Service" in the Interior Department. It would take wildfire mitigation and firefighting responsibilities at the U.S. Forest Service, which has been under the Department of Agriculture for 120 years, and merge with staff with similar responsibilities at four agencies in the Interior Department.

U.S. Forest Service firefighter Ben Foley lights backfires on Aug. 6, 2021 to slow the spread of the Dixie Fire, near Greenville, California.

Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency's budget would shrink from $9.1 billion to $4.2 billion.

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The cuts would end $1 billion in grant funding to states. Almost $500 million would be eliminating or reducing three grant programs the administration describes as "radical environmental justice work, woke climate research, and skewed, overly-precautionary modeling that influences regulations."

Two additions are noted across these environmental areas, $9 million would be added to a budget of more than $100 million for the drinking water program and $27 million to a grant program for Indigenous Tribes to maintain water and wastewater infrastructure, increasing the program's budget several times over.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

A variety of "climate-dominated" research, data and grant programs would be terminated at NOAA, reducing the budget by $1.3 billion. The cuts also include NOAA's climate adaptation partnerships.

The proposal would scale back the planned replacement for NOAA's existing geostationary operational environmental satellites. The system provides a host of public data for weather observation and modeling, as well as other kinds of earth, atmospheric and solar data. Plans for its replacement would have added improved imagery and composition, as well as additional instruments for monitoring the atmosphere and ocean. The Trump proposal would also cancel unspecified contracts for what the administration termed "unnecessary climate measurements."

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Craig McLean, a former chief scientist at NOAA and former assistant administrator for research, is among those dismayed by the efforts to strip back the instrumentation of the planned new satellite system. It "seems to reinforce the naive presumption that satellites should only support the weather mission and ignores the ability of satellite-based sensors to assist our understanding of ocean sciences and changes in the earth and similarly in the atmosphere," he said.

A Geocolor composite of a GOES satellite image of the United States, captured on the afternoon of May 7, 2025.

Department of Energy

Although the so-called "green new deal" was never passed by Congress, the president's budget makes several references to the "Green New Scam" in its proposal to shave money from the Energy department's budget.

It proposes cancelling more than $15 billion in funds allocated from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for renewable energy sources.

More than $2.5 billion would be cut from the office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which oversees the department's "Energy Star" program, and the budget blames for unpopular regulations on gas stoves and lightbulbs. It also cuts $389 million from the environmental management program that oversees waste cleanup at 14 active clean-up sites.

Other proposed spending cuts:

 Department of Agriculture: The budget cuts more than $2 billion in environmental-related expenses, such as $754 million for a program that provides technical assistance for property owners who want to conserve and maintain natural resources on their land. The document notes the budget supports the administration's efforts to "improve forest management" and increase domestic timber production.

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 NASA: The space agency would see a 24.3% cut in its programs related to Earth science and climate change, a reduction from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. It would eliminate $1.1 billion for "low-priority climate monitoring satellites" and would restructure the Landsat Next mission. The mission, proposed for launch in 2030-2031, would have continued the "longest space-based record of Earth's land surface" and expanded the data available for water quality, crop production, critical mineral mapping and ice and snow dynamics, according to federal websites. The budget document states NASA will study "more affordable ways" to maintain Landsat imagery.

Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate change, wildlife and the environment for USA TODAY. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump budget aims to cut billions from environmental programs
United States President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia.

Writing on Truth Social following a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump expressed his hope for "an acceptable ceasefire," with both countries "held accountable for respecting the sanctity of... direct negotiations."

"If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions," Trump threatened.

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Separately, in a recent interview, Trump said that U.S. may consider implementing additional sanctions against Russia if it does not reach a peace deal with Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers have preemptively prepared a comprehensive sanctions bill that would impose new penalties on Russia.

"As president, I will stay committed to securing peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans... This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a peace agreement," Trump added, expressing his support for an end to the war.

Trump's post follows a "constructive" phone call with Zelensky. During the call, the leaders discussed the war, diplomatic efforts, and "a real and lasting ceasefire."

Recent months have seen a series of failed peace talks and ceasefires, including one initially brokered by the U.S. in March. While Ukraine immediately agreed to the ceasefire, Russia repeated violated it.

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Later, in April, Russia declared a ceasefire over the Easter holiday, though Zelensky accused Moscow of nearly 3,000 violations between April 19 and April 21.

Russia has repeatedly proclaimed its supposed readiness for peace talks while simultaneously pushing for maximalist demands. Kyiv has dismissed these declarations , noting that Russian forces have only intensified their attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns.

Read also: Majority of Ukrainians unwilling to trade territory or Western path for peace, poll shows

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Trump said Thursday hes appointing Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

The presidents naming of a replacement for outgoing interim prosecutor Ed Martin was expected to come sometime Thursday, sources earlier told ABC News, who first reported Pirro was under consideration.

Trump made the news official hours later on Truth Social.

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Jeanine was Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York, and then went on to serve as County Judge, and District Attorney, where she was the first woman ever to be elected to those positions, he wrote. Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television.  She is in a class by herself.

Martins nomination was pulled earlier in the day after Trump confessed that his first choice for the job  who had no prosecutorial experience and advocated for Jan. 6 attackers  didnt have enough support in the Senate to get the position permanently.

We have somebody else that will be great, Trump teased before announcing Pirro as the latest in a string of appointments coming from Fox News, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend.

Pirro, 73, has been fiercely loyal to Trump dating back to his first term in office. When he lost reelection in 2020, she was one of the Fox News hosts who promoted lies about voting machines being rigged against the Republican incumbent. Fox News settled a $787.5 million lawsuit with one of the voting technologies company it was accused of defaming and is still being sued by another.

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Trump has also been supportive of Pirro. Before leaving office in 2021, he signed a last-minute pardon for her ex-husband, whod been convicted on conspiracy and tax evasion charges equaling more than $1 million.

Trump didnt indicate whether he would nominate Pirro to lead the nations largest U.S. attorneys office on a more permanent basis, though her ability to prosecute without bias is sure to be called into question. Pirro was suspended by Fox News in 2019 for making anti-Islamic comments on air, according to CNN. Fox News said at the time it would not discuss its internal dealings.

Trump was quick to come to Pirros defense after that incident, claiming mainstream news outlets were conspiring in all-out campaigns against @FoxNews hosts who are doing too well.

Fox News also had to come to Pirros defense when she appeared intoxicated during a 2020 broadcast, which the network blamed on technical difficulties due to her having to broadcast from home for the first time during COVID-19 lockdowns.
President Donald Trump is believed to be considering Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

The presidents naming of a replacement for outgoing interim prosecutor Ed Martin could come as early as Thursday, sources told ABC News.

Martins nomination was pulled earlier in the day after Trump confessed that his first choice for the job  who had no prosecutorial experience and advocated for Jan. 6 attackers  didnt have enough support in the Senate to get the position permanently.

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We have somebody else that will be great, Trump promised.

But ABC reports the appointment of Pirro, a cantankerous host of Fox News The Five and a former judge and prosecutor in New Yorks Westchester County, is anything but certain.

Pirro, 73, has been fiercely loyal to Trump dating back to his first term in office. When he lost reelection in 2020, she was one of the Fox News hosts who promoted lies about voting machines being rigged against the Republican incumbent. Fox News settled a $787.5 million lawsuit with one of the voting technologies company it was accused of defaming and is still being sued by another.

Trump has also been supportive of Pirro. Before leaving office in 2021, he signed a last-minute pardon for her ex-husband, whod been convicted on conspiracy and tax evasion charges equaling more than $1 million.

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Pirro did not immediately address ABCs claim that shes being eyed for the role of D.C.s top attorney, or whether she would accept the job if offered it.

Her ability to prosecute without bias is sure to be called into question. Pirro was suspended by Fox News in 2019 for making anti-Islamic comments on air, according to CNN. Fox News said at the time it would not discuss its internal dealings.

Trump was quick to come to Pirros defense after that incident, claiming mainstream news outlets were conspiring in all-out campaigns against @FoxNews hosts who are doing too well.

Fox News also had to come to Pirros defense when she appeared intoxicated during a 2020 broadcast, which the network blamed on technical difficulties because of her having to broadcast from home for the first time during COVID-19 lockdowns.
President Donald Trump tapped Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to serve as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. Trump announced the news after dropping his previous nomination for the position, Ed Martin.

The president lauded Pirro as a powerful crusader for victims of crime in a Truth Social post. Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself.

Pirro joined Fox News as a host in 2011, and has been an ardent supporter of the twice-impeached president throughout his myriad of criminal and civil investigations. In 2021, voting machine company Smartmatic USA sued Fox News, Pirro and other Fox hosts, accusing them of spreading lies that the company helped sabotage the 2020 presidential election from Trump. The lawsuit remains pending.

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Before recently serving as co-host of the networks The Five, Pirro previously hosted weekend show Justice With Judge Jeanine.

Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington, a Fox News Media spokesperson said in a statement.

Pirro will join a string of former Fox News employees plucked by Trump including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend, and former co-host of The Bottom Line, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Trumps announcement of Pirros appointment as the U.S. attorney for D.C. arrives after the president withdrew Martin, his first pick for the role, from consideration following bipartisan criticism over Martins support for Jan. 6 rioters.

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He is a terrific person. He wasnt getting the support from people that I thought, Trump told reporters at the White House. I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. The president said that Martin would be moving to the Justice Department as the director of the Weaponization Working Group, as well as associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney, to focus on the alleged weaponization of the government during the Biden administration.

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Press Release

The following statement was issued to the press by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations on 9th May 2025.

The Platform of the Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations met on 8th evening, reviewed the preparations for the scheduled Nationwide General Strike on 20th May. The preparations have been in full swing for the Strike. The anguish among workers is on rise as the Government of India and the managements in some places continue to violate the existing laws by applying the provisions of labour codes which are yet not notified/implemented in the country. In this background the preparations are more determinedly progressing. This should continue with full vigour.

The meeting condemned unequivocally the Pahalgam massacre of innocent citizens in barbaric terrorist attack with a motive to spread hatred and trigger communal clashes in India.

We, the Unions also denounce the efforts of communal outfits and those who continue perpetuating their agenda of communal divisive polarisation to harm the peaceful and harmonious living of our citizens and continue spreading venom enhancing the motive of terrorists.

We condemn the attack on Kashmiri citizens and students in different parts of our country in aftermath of ghastly incident of Pahalgam. We take note of and highly appreciate the response of the people of Jammu and Kashmir showing their immediate rejection of this killing of tourists and standing as solid rock for national unity and integrity.

We condemn the trollers/abusers of Himanshi Narwal widow of Lieutenant Narwal of Indian navy who in her interview had disapproved attack on Kashmiri students and on Muslims in general and pleaded for maintaining unity of Indian masses.

We take note of the press conference held by Shri Vikram Misri, the Foreign Secretary, Government of India, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh terming the action by Indian army as Combat action to punish the perpetrators of terrorism on Indian soil, and that they are not for escalation of situation. All efforts, including utilising diplomatic channels must be taken to punish the terrorists. At the same time, the situation should not be allowed to escalate.

The People in the country have largely taken the sober view and are not for war to harm citizens in both the countries.

This is the high time for Indian government to control the jingoists and hate mongers in the interest of our country.

We call upon all workers to be in the fore front to maintain the unity and harmony among the masses.

It was resolved that the CTUs will meet again on 15th May to review the situation as it evolves further.

INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC

The platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Trump administration terminated more than $30 million in health care grants, resulting in the loss of dozens of jobs and leaving communities without services.

Governor Laura Kellys office announced in a news release Thursday, May 8 that President Donald Trumps administration abruptly unilateral termination of more than $33 million in grants that support health care and mental health in the Sunflower State.

These cuts force the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to get rid of 56 positions in health posts, which leaves communities across the state without access to critical services.

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Topeka family asks support for sons second battle with cancer

The Trump administrations abrupt and unilateral funding cuts will have severe and immediate consequences for the health, safety, and quality of life of Kansans across the state, especially in rural areas, Kelly said. These cuts come when Kansas is in the midst of fighting two outbreaks  tuberculosis and measles  and has no additional resources to continue this work.

According to the news release, the federal funding that goes towards grants and employees helps strengthen the states epidemiology and laboratory work, monitor and respond to disease outbreak, administer critical programs that provide vaccines for children, and address health disparities for underserved communities and rural Kansans.

Parole board grants release of man convicted of killing KHP trooper

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After becoming aware of these cuts, Kelly called Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, (R), to bring a case on behalf of the state to fight these federal funding cuts, and Kobach declined, according to the news release.

On March 25, the Trump administration notified KDHE and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) that six grants administered to them were terminated the day prior.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Virtually everyone understands the real reason why Donald Trump is sending ICE agents to round up immigrants who have no criminal record and then send them to a gulag in El Salvador. Trump is a lifelong flat-out racist who is being steered by deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, a guy who virtually inhales white nationalist conspiracy theories. But there's no law that gives the president unilateral authority to deport or imprison people without due process just because he dislikes nonwhite people. He needs some kind of legal justification, so Trump is claiming  don't laugh!  that the U.S., without knowing it, is at war with Venezuela.

Trump has dredged up a 1798 law called the Alien Enemies Act, which gives the president broad powers during a "declared war" or "invasion" to detain immigrants from an enemy nation. Government prosecutors claim, on no real evidence, that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is sending members of the gang Tren de Aragua into the U.S. as a de facto military invasion aimed at "harming United States citizens, undermining public safety, and supporting the Maduro regimes goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas." This argument is a joke on its surface. Few of the people arrested so far, if any, are clearly members of Tren de Aragua, and that criminal organization is not invading the U.S. in any normal sense of the word. Maduro is no doubt a bad guy, but he isn't sending a covert military force to attack the U.S.

Trump's lies are especially obnoxious, because the press keeps getting hold of memos circulated by U.S. intelligence agencies that make clear that no part of Trump's conspiracy theory is true. A leaked Feb. 26 memo featured CIA analysts, among others, arguing, as the New York Times reports, that Tren de Aragua "was not directed by Venezuelas government or committing crimes in the United States on its orders." Another declassified memo released this weekreaches similar conclusions in even more straightforward language: "[T]he Maduro regime probably does not have a policy of cooperating with [Tren de Aragua] and is not directing TDA movement to and operations in the United States." MAGA loyalists will no doubt cling to that "probably" like a life raft, but if you're making an extraordinary claim you need solid evidence, not a report that everything you're saying is most likely made-up nonsense.

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Trump, of course, lies about everything all the time, but this particular case has strong echoes of a previous Republican administration's attempts to bamboozle the public about foreign intelligence: George W. Bush's lies about Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's alleged possession of "weapons of mass destruction," the pretext for the 20-year disaster that was the Iraq war.

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Former Bush officials like Ari Fleischer have pushed the self-serving myth that Bush "faithfully and accurately reported to the public what the intelligence community concluded," and that it came as a shock when no WMDs were found in Iraq. That's a lie. David Corn of Mother Jones has been a real hero in resisting this false claim, which gets invoked to this day by never-Trump Republicans seeking absolution. There's ample evidence that Bush himself, Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration officials flatly contradicted the intelligence they were provided and claimed to have imaginary evidence of these imaginary weapons. In August 2002, Cheney said there was "no doubt" that Hussein had these weapons, although he had seen intelligence reports that there was no credible evidence they existed.

A handful of prominent Bush-era Republicans, including Cheney, have publicly rejected Trump, but most of the GOP has simply gone along with our would-be dictator. It's logical enough that MAGA forces would import Bush's tactics to bolster Trump's lies. That's especially true on the issue of immigration, which resembles war in that public opinion can swing wildly back and forth, depending on the level of perceived threat. Republican operatives learned from Bush that falsified evidence is an excellent way to manufacture public consent, to use a hoary academic term. Sure, most Americans turned against the Iraq war a few years later, but by that time it was far too late to do much beyond mourn the losses.

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It's clear from the Trump administration's legal gamesmanship that its officials see their main goal as deceiving the public just long enough to get lots of people deported and imprisoned in ways that can't be undone. But it's starting to look like they have less time than the Bush administration did to execute their plan to outrun reality. Blitzing the public and the compliant media with scary foreign-sounding terms like "Tren de Aragua" or "MS-13" worked at first, but polling data shows that the public is already souring on Trump's immigration policies.

Trump has two things going against him that Bush didn't. With the 9/11 attacks not far in the past, Bush enjoyed months of credulous press coverage for his lies. But in the second Trump term, even mainstream media outlets have worked to expose the illegal deportations people who are likely innocent of any crime. Indeed, perhaps the biggest reason Trump officials wants to evade due process is because they're afraid that most deportees would be proven innocent in court. Trump is a known liar who lies all the time about literally everything, even in routine legal filings, as was abundantly demonstrated during his attempted coup after the 2020 election. Bush didn't have that reputation for dishonesty, although maybe he should have. His unearned post-9/11 goodwill also made it tougher for the press to approach his lies with the skepticism they deserved.

Bush had another important advantage: His Iraq lies didn't need to be adjudicated through the courts. Congress authorized his war powers, and, sadly, most of the members who did so were only thinking about their own political futures rather than the facts. Despite the Trump White House claiming that deportations are a matter of foreign policy  and as such the president's responsibility  the reality is that immigration law is a domestic concern regulated by American courts.

Trump has certainly done his best to flood the federal bench with right-wing hacks, but even Republican judges are struggling to pretend that Venezuelan immigrants fleeing political persecution are secretly working for Maduro as covert mercenaries. Or at least they're asking the question that all Americans should be asking: if Trump is sure these guys are criminals, why not prove it in court? In fact, Trump's team keeps on losing legal challenges to its immigration policies, even before the Supreme Court. That hasn't yet been enough to free the men Trump illegally sent to El Salvador or hastily deported elsewhere, but at least it's slowing down the efforts to target more innocent people.

The Iraq war killed 4,000 Americans and at least 200,000 Iraqi civilians, but its true impact was much more devastating than that. It destabilized the entire region and triggered a cascade of wars leading to at least 4.5 million deaths. Trump and aides like Miller openly fantasize about inflicting that kind of suffering with their promises to deport 20 million people. Since there are no more than 11 million undocumented people in the U.S.., Trump will have to start deporting legal immigrants and, quite likely, "denaturalizing" citizens to get anywhere close to that goal. His scheme is so illegal and so unpopular that he would need Bush's post-9/11 levels of approval to pull it off. The bad news here is that Trump's team learned dire lessons from the Bush administration about manipulating public opinion with falsified intel. The good news is they are nowhere near as skillful, or as lucky, as Bush was when he lured America into two decades of destructive war.
Attorney General Nick Brown (center) announces a lawsuit against the Trump administration in Seattle, Washington, on May 9, 2025, over its declaration of an energy emergency. (Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

Washington and 14 other states are suing the Trump administration over the presidents declaration of an energy emergency to speed up permitting for fossil fuel projects.

Issued the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trumps executive order says inadequate domestic energy development and an unreliable grid warrant the national emergency. The order argues these issues are most pronounced in the Northeast and on the West Coast.

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Dangerous State and local policies jeopardize our Nations core national defense and security needs, and devastate the prosperity of not only local residents but the entire United States population, the order reads.

The order pushes federal agencies, like the Army Corps of Engineers, to use any lawful emergency authorities to facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including, but not limited to, on Federal lands.

In practice, this has meant bypassing or quickening reviews under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Historic National Preservation Act for planned energy projects and giving the public less time to weigh in, according to the complaint filed Friday in federal court in Seattle. Washington and California lead the 15-state lawsuit.

The lawsuit cites a proposed 100-mile transmission line that would mostly run under the riverbed of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon. The project could be expedited despite water quality concerns.

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Attorney General Nick Brown noted Trumps order emphasizes oil and natural gas, while excluding renewable energy like wind and solar.

This is not a serious or lawful effort by the president, Brown said in a press conference Friday. It is all about limiting competition and shackling America to dirty fossil fuels forever.

Last month, the Interior Department announced it would fast-track the approval of coal, gas, oil and mineral projects on public lands in light of Trumps emergency declaration. Environmental reviews that can typically take a year would be shrunk to two weeks.

Meanwhile, the United States produces more oil and gas than any other country and production is growing, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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The energy emergency order is separate from one the president issued last month targeting state climate policies, including potentially Washingtons Climate Commitment Act.

Casey Sixkiller, the director of the state Department of Ecology, said the emergency declaration is an abuse of authority.

Environmental regulations arent red tape, Sixkiller told reporters. There are guardrails that protect our air, water, land and keep people safe.

Bill Iyall, chair of the Cowlitz Tribe, said its difficult to weigh in on what projects will mean for the tribes land when they only have a week or two.

We are there to advocate for our cultural and natural resources, Iyall said. Looking at a project individually, if you did it carefully and planned it carefully, you would be able to minimize those impacts and get a facilitated permit.

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The lawsuit asks a judge to declare the presidents order illegal and stop the issuance of emergency permits. The states are not seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately stop the Trump administrations actions, as it has in other cases.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

This marks 17 lawsuits Brown has filed or joined against the Trump administration since January. Four of those came this week, over freezing permitting for wind energy development and funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, as well as dismantling the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.

Undocumented students in Colorado have gone on to be teachers, nurses, and business owners thanks to a program that allows them to pay in-state tuition at public universities.

Now the future of that program and ones like it in 23 other states are in doubt after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that seeks to punish states and cities with so-called sanctuary policies.

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The order, signed on April 28, also specifically calls out programs that provide in-state tuition for undocumented students who graduated from high school in that state or who meet other residency requirements.

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Allowing in-state students who are not citizens to pay less tuition than out-of-state students who are citizens represents discrimination, according to the order, which says that the attorney general, in cooperation with the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, shall identify and take appropriate action to stop the enforcement of state and local laws, regulations, policies, and practices favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens that are unlawful.

Advocates for immigrant students say that without in-state tuition, many undocumented students will struggle to afford college. They dont qualify for any federal financial aid and face other barriers to college.

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This is absolutely essential for immigrant students, said Raquel Lane-Arellano, communications manager for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, which fought to pass Colorados in-state tuition law in 2013. Its not these students fault that our immigration system is so broken. They deserve the opportunity, just like all of their peers, to access higher levels of education.

So far, Colorado universities are not making any immediate changes to their policies. The executive order does not provide enough details to truly know what federal actions will be taken, said Colorado Department of Higher Education spokesperson Megan McDermott.

The Trump order sets up a possible legal showdown over the state-supported tuition programs that immigrant rights and higher education-advising groups have called essential to help undocumented students access higher education and educate them to fill in-demand jobs.

Twenty-four states, including Colorado, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, along with Washington, D.C. have programs that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. While the programs have received bipartisan support, Republicans in several states have recently filed bills to consider rolling back in-state tuition for undocumented students. Last week, Florida lawmakers ended the states decade-old program.

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The order adds to an already uncertain environment for immigrant students, who worry about the risks of filling out financial aid paperwork while grappling with deportation fears. Denver Scholarship Foundations Natasha Garfield said the college-advising nonprofit will continue to provide students information about their options and allow them to decide whether college is right for them during a time when Trumps immigration stance has brought incredible uncertainty.

There are some who are very, very concerned about the state of things, and I dont think theres anything that DSF or anyone else could say to reassure them, said Garfield, the scholarship organizations director of scholarships and financial aid. I think thats completely understandable given some of the actions that weve seen coming from ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and the federal government.

The order is part of Trumps larger push to crack down on people in the United States without legal authorization. His directive to punish states with these programs also included several other enforcement actions such as punishing so-called sanctuary cities and states. The administration filed suit Friday against Colorado and Denver for its policies.

The administration argues in the order that some state and local officials use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of federal immigration laws. This is a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law.

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States have a long history of offering in-state tuition at public universities to youth who were brought as children and without legal status. Texas and California passed the first laws in 2001, and other states followed with similar laws. Each varies in how they approach granting in-state tuition.

About 408,000 undocumented students enroll in higher education each year, although not all benefit from these state programs, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. However, even in states without these laws, some private schools in Tennessee and elsewhere may offer in-state tuition for all students regardless of their residency or legal status. And in Pennsylvania, at least one public institution provides in-state tuition to undocumented students.

Colorados Advising Students for a Stronger Tomorrow law, or ASSET, updated in 2019, says students must have attended a Colorado high school for at least one year before graduation or been physically present in Colorado for at least one year to qualify for in-state tuition.

New Yorks law says students must have attended at least two years of high school in New York and graduate or receive a general education diploma. Students must also apply to a college or university within five years and show proof of residency. They must also sign an affidavit saying they will file for legal status.

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Illinois law has similar requirements, while New Jersey requires three years of residency.

National student immigrant advocacy organizations FWD.us, TheDream.US, and the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration all criticized the order. Collectively, they said states, colleges, and universities shouldnt overreact and that the order hurts states that need qualified workers.

Blocking states from offering in-state tuition to undocumented students who have lived in these states for most of their lives would purposefully lock countless individuals out of the higher education system, waste years of educational investment, hurt local economies, and rob all Americans of future leaders, said Todd Schulte, FWD.us president.

State leaders are still working to understand the impact of the order, and a spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement the administration is looking into the impacts of this order. The state remains committed to ensuring the state remains a destination for all learners, the statement says.

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The state has not filed any legal action against the order, but leaders have been willing to push back on Trump administration orders.

Colorados largest university system also doesnt plan changes at this time. University of Colorado System spokesperson Michele Ames said its schools are committed to following applicable laws and will not make any changes at this time. Other universities, such as the University of Northern Colorado, are monitoring the actions.

Schools across the state have also said that they wont release individual student information, such as information about undocumented students who attend schools through the ASSET program, to the federal government without a court order or warrant, per federal student privacy laws.

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
An aerial view of the Brandon Road lock and dam near Joliet, Illinois. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Updated at 6:36 p.m.

Movement on a project to block invasive carp from the Great Lakes is on the horizon after President Donald Trump signed a memo Friday afternoon directing his administration to expeditiously implement measures to prevent their migration and expansion into the region.

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The memo, which was first reported by the Detroit News, offers its express support for the $1.15 billion Brandon Road Lock and Dam project, provided that the State of Illinois does not stand in the way of its construction.

In reaction to the signing, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement noting the project has been a priority for over 20 years.

Today, Michigan scored another huge win that will protect our Great Lakes and secure our economy. After years of advocacy alongside our partners in Illinois and together with a wide range of stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels, we now have renewed assurances from the Administration to move forward expeditiously on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. I am grateful to the President for his commitment, Whitmer said.

Last July, Whitmer announced the state would cosponsor the project alongside the United States Army Corps. of Engineers and the state of Illinois. The project targets a critical pinch point near Joliet, Ill., and would implement a series of complex deterrents against invasive carp and other nuisance species.

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Whitmer pledged $64 million in support of the project, matching $50 million from Illinois and unlocking $274 million in federal funding for the effort.

While Michigan announced its first construction contract for the effort back in December, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a vocal Trump critic, has refused to move forward on the effort without a commitment from the president to supply the funds appropriated to the project, including $226 million allotted through President Joe Bidens Bipartisan infrastructure law.

During a meeting with Whitmer and Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall in April, Trump pledged to protect Lake Michigan, and by extension all of the Great Lakes, from the invasive fish. However, Pritzker remained unswayed, despite pressure from members of Michigans Republican Congressional delegation.

Hall called the memorandum a big, important victory for Michigan, and thanked Trump for making it happen.

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President Trump has committed the federal government to this important project. Michigan is committed to this project. And now we just need Gov. Pritzker to show some of the same leadership, do his part and hold up his end of the deal so this gets done as soon as possible, Hall said.

Members of the Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives advanced a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday, also calling on Pritzker to move forward with the project to prevent the carp from spreading into the Great Lakes.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources warns that if invasive carp move into the Great Lakes, they could outcompete native species and greatly harm the ecology and economy of the entire Great Lakes region including rivers and inland lakes, and its $20 billion fishing and boating industries.

The fish can grow up to 60 pounds and eat 40% of their body weight each day. A single female can produce one million eggs, with only 10 females and 10 males needed to establish a population in the Great Lakes.

This story was updated to reflect Trump had signed the memo and add comments from Gov. Whitmer and House Speaker Hall.

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In this op-ed, psychiatrist and conversion therapy survivor Dr. Matt R. Salmon addresses the Trump administration's report on gender-affirming care and the idea of exploratory therapy.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a 409 page report called "Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices." Meant to be an evidence-based look at gender-affirming care for trans kids, the report reads less like a scientific review and more like a policy hit job against transgender youth.

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There are many issues with the report, from cherry-picked data to advice that contradicts what nearly every major medical association has agreed constitutes best practices for treating trans youth. Among those many issues, all of which are alarming, is one thats particularly egregious to me: The report repackages conversion therapy in a new outfit, calling it exploratory therapy and daring to suggest it be a new intervention.

Let me be clear: this isnt evidence-based medicine. Its state-sponsored gaslighting.

Conversion therapy is a debunked and discredited practice that aims to change the sexuality and/or gender identity of LGBTQ+ individuals. According to The Trevor Project, conversion therapy is based on the incorrect idea that LGBTQ+ identities are disordered and need to be fixed. Currently, 23 states and Washington D.C. ban the practice, and another four states and Puerto Rico specifically ban it for minors. The practice has been linked to increased depression, PTSD, and suicidality in LGBTQ+ people.

Ive seen the impact of this practice myself. I know the harm this kind of therapy causes because I endured it. Mine was called reparative therapya clinical-sounding name for a process that sought to unmake me. I was told my queerness wasnt inherent, but the result of emotional deficits  specifically, a lack of healthy, non-sexual male bonding. According to my professional counselor, I was trying to consume other men, a kind of sexual cannibalism meant to fill a missing masculine core. Week after week, I was dissectedmy desires reframed as pathology, my identity treated as trauma. The damage wasnt loud or immediate. It settled in slowly, teaching me to doubt intimacy, to fear tenderness, to see my own reflection as something to be fixed.

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Now, I know thats not the case, and Ive spent my career working to undo that harm. As a divergent-affirming psychiatrist, Ive sat across from transgender teens whose families rejected them, whose therapists tried to neutralize their identities, and whose medical access was dangled like a reward for compliance. Ive seen firsthand what happens when we treat identity as a symptom to be cured instead of a truth to be honored. So, when I read that the HHS report is recommending exploratory therapy as a treatment for gender dysphoria, to encourage trans youth to come to terms with their bodies, it was an immediate red flag to me.

Conversion therapy has tried to rebrand before, but given the stated intent in the report to repackage gender dysphoria as common during puberty and adolescence and to encourage adolescents come to terms with their bodies  this seems like yet another attempt. The report explicitly denies this, the authors seemingly aware that theyd come up against this criticism (the authors, by the way, have not been named).

Critics of exploratory psychotherapy for [gender dysphoria] claim that therapists are trying to promote gender identities that are aligned with the persons sex assigned at birth, the report says. A less theoretically-laden description would be that some therapists are trying to help children and adolescents come to terms with their bodies.

Again, lets be clear: Any therapy meant to convince you to be someone you know youre not isnt a treatment, its a dangerous effort at control and conformity. Critics of gender-affirming care for trans youth often say theyre simply urging caution, wanting to sway kids away from treatments that they might later regret (though statistics show they overwhelmingly do not regret this care). This isnt about caution, its about control. Its about forcing trans kids to sit in rooms with adults who believe their existence is a pathology. Its about framing trauma as a treatment plan. Its about replacing affirming care with coercive, ideologically driven delay tacticsuntil its too late.

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The HHS report isnt just ethically bankruptits medically indefensible. It ignores decades of research and consensus from major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, all of which support gender-affirming care as the appropriate standard. Instead, the report leans heavily on discredited sources like the Cass Review and Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), two efforts widely criticized for promoting anti-trans policies under the guise of scientific neutrality.

We know where this road leads: increased suicidality, broken families, and queer youth who learn to dissociate from themselves just to survive.

We dont need this exploration the government is claiming to offer. In fact, as writer Katelyn Burns pointed out in an op-ed for MSNBC, therapy is already a major requirement for gender transitions of people of all ages, and especially for children. We need affirmation. We need accountability. We need to stop calling cruelty a treatment model.

As both a psychiatrist and someone who was once a queer kid trapped in a system that didnt see me, I say this with everything Ive got: transgender youth dont need to be changed. Its the systems harming them that do.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
Its unclear how it would work. No one knows what it would cost. And its anyones guess whether it will ever actually happen. But in the days since Donald Trump floated the seemingly crazy idea of slapping tariffs on foreign-made film and TV productions, something unexpected has started to happen in Hollywood: befuddlement has turned into murmurs of approval  at least in certain corners of the industry.

This is the first time Ive ever seen this kind of divide, says Diego Mariscal, an IATSE member who runs Crew Stories, a popular online forum for below-the-line workers. People Im talking with are saying, At least Trumps doing something. Whens the last time a president even tried? Hes creating a conversation.

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That conversation, like so many sparked by Trump, is sorting itself along sharply drawn class lines. While the executive class is almost universally opposed to the proposed tariffs  calling them impractical, bad for business, and politically unserious  the crews they employ are, at the very least, intrigued. Some are outright cheering.

These gigantic corporations line their pockets by recklessly cutting corners, abandoning American crews and exploiting tax loopholes abroad, read a fiery joint statement from Teamsters general president Sean OBrien and Hollywood Teamsters leader Lindsay Dougherty. While these companies get rich fleeing to other countries and gaming the system, our members have gotten screwed over. We thank President Trump for boldly supporting good union jobs when others have turned their heads.

In other words, Hollywood may still be indigo-blue politically, but on this particular issue, the class divide is growing harder to ignore.

Mariscal says the resentment toward studio brass  the people who decide where and when a movie shoots  hasnt been this raw since the dual strikes last year. Even just a few years ago, a proposal like this wouldve been 70 percent opposed by the rank and file. Now? Its split down the middle.

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To be fair, its not like domestic production is dying a very fast death, as Trump claimed in his Truth Social announcement. But its not exactly thriving either. On-location shooting in Los Angeles fell 22 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year, according to FilmLA. Film and TV employment statewide has dropped by roughly 20 percent since 2022.

Meanwhile, business is booming in places like London, where Marvel, DC, Mission: Impossible and Star Wars now routinely set up camp. So, while executives are scrambling to assess how much of their upcoming slates might be affected, many of the below-the-line unions were cautiously optimistic  or, like the Teamsters, outright enthusiastic.

SAG-AFTRA, for instance, issued a notably warm statement. Were open to the idea and look forward to advancing a dialogue to achieve our common goals, said national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. A surprising level of diplomatic openness for a guild that also represents household names like George Clooney and America Ferrera.

As a piece of policy, the proposed tariffs are still vaporous. No mechanism has been outlined. No cost estimate has been floated. And the administration has already started to soften some of its language. But as a piece of political theater  which, lets be honest, is Trumps specialty  it has hit its mark. A wedge has been driven, and its splitting the industry right down its socioeconomic spine.

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My first reaction to Trumps film tariff proposal was surprise, says actress Miki Yamashita. In the past, I had generally thought of Trump as a petty and vindictive brute who would revel in the opportunity to exact revenge on Hollywood. Instead, he presents this huge foreign production tariff concept to reignite filmmaking in the U.S., which I think shows a shocking level of character growth on his part.

That may be generous. But Trumps knack for weaponizing resentment  particularly class resentment  is well documented. Hes a billionaire whos somehow convinced millions of working-class voters that hes one of them. In Hollywood, where most executives hail from Ivy League campuses and live in zip codes far removed from set life, that disconnect is now being laid bare.

Of course, people would love to shoot in L.A. and sleep in their own beds, says one studio exec, but thats not the reality anymore  not unless an A-list actor or director insists on it.

Part of the problem is Californias tax credit system, which applies only to below-the-line costs. Other regions  both domestic and international  offer broader rebates that make them far more attractive to producers. California currently provides a 20 to 25 percent tax credit. Governor Gavin Newsom recently proposed expanding that to 35 percent and increasing the annual pot from $330 million to $750 million. That might help, several execs said, but not enough to stem the tide.

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The situation has gotten so bleak that Hollywood is now being compared to Detroit  a onetime industrial powerhouse now struggling to reinvent itself.

For now, studio leadership seems to be in a defensive crouch, hoping the whole tariff saga will just blow over. As of Wednesday, the Motion Picture Association  which represents the major studios and streamers  had yet to issue any official comment. But top execs are scheduled to huddle with MPA chairman Charles Rivkin later this week to discuss next steps.

Will the Trump proposal ever become law? Possibly not. But as a cultural litmus test  a flashpoint in Hollywoods ongoing identity crisis  its proving surprisingly effective. One more example of how even in showbiz, class is now the biggest divide of all.

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President Trump unceremoniously fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden after she was branded woke and anti-Trump by a conservative activist group.

Hayden, the first woman and first Black person to lead the worlds biggest library, was told in a curt email Thursday that she would be relieved of her duties.

Carla, on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service, the emailfrom the White Houses Presidential Personnel Officeread, according to Politico.

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No reason was given for the firing. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.

Haydens ouster follows pressure from the advocacy group American Accountability Foundation. The group accused Hayden, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, of pushing radical literature towards children.

The current #LibrarianOfCongress Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids, the group posted on X hours before Haydens firing was announced publicly. Its time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!

Trump has purged officials who don't fall in line with the MAGA message. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

The news comes as President Trump culls government officials who are perceived to be against his MAGA agenda.

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Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was also removed on Thursday after he expressed opposition to Trumps proposed cuts to the agency.

The Associated Press reported that over a half-dozen top general officers at the Pentagon have also been purged since January. Trump has additionally presided over the anti-woke transformation of the Kennedy Center, which included axing bipartisan members from the arts centers board and installing friendly faces like Fox Newss Laura Ingraham.

Congressional Democrats, meanwhile, have raged against Haydens ouster.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it the latest foray in [Trumps] relentless campaign to dismantle the guardrails of our democracy and punish public servants who dont bend to his every will.

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Enough is enough, he added, calling Hayden a trailblazer, a scholar, and a public servant of the highest order.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was particularly perturbed by Trump's decision. / Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Images

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Hayden was callously fired and demanded an explanation for the decision.

Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, meanwhile, called Hayden an American hero.

Hayden has spent her entire career serving peoplefrom helping kids learn to read to protecting some of our nations most precious treasures, he added.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Hayden is an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress.

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Donald Trumps unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock, he said.

The Library of Congress is the Peoples Library, Jeffries added. There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later.
President Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill.

Hayden was the first woman and the first African American to be librarian of Congress.

A spokesperson for the library told The Hill in an email that Tonight, the White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position.

Democrats in Congress condemned the decision by the administration.

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Over the course of her tenure, Dr. Hayden brought the Library of Congress to the people, with initiatives that reached into rural communities and made the Library accessible to all Americans, in person and online, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said in a statement Thursday.

While President Trump wants to ban books and tell Americans what to read  or not to read at all, Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone, the Democratic senator added. Be like Dr. Hayden.

In the press release, Heinrich also shared a copy of the email Hayden received at 6:56 p.m. EDT informing her of the termination.

Carla, On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service, Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse wrote.

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Hayden, who was confirmed to lead the worlds largest library in 2016, faced scrutiny from a conservative nonprofit, American Accountability Foundation (AAF), that called for her ouster.

The President and his team have done an admirable and long-needed job cleaning out deep state liberals from the federal government. It is time they show Carla Hayden and Shira Perlmutter the door and return an America First agenda to the nations intellectual property regulation, AAFs president, Tom Jones, told the Daily Mail in late April.

Hayden, who was nominated by former President Obama, was confirmed by the Senate with a 74-18 vote in 2016. Her 10-year term was set to expire next year.

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President Trump recently switched his nomination for Surgeon General but his first pick, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, will continue to work at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said during a Thursday interview with Fox News Bret Baier that the administration will put Nesheiwat in a very good place, in the agency.

The White House pulled Nesheiwats nomination after her credentials were scrutinized last month. CBS News reported that the physician and former Fox News contributor graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, not the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, as she said after her nomination was announced.

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Earlier this week, the Trump administration replaced Nesheiwat with wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means.

Means has been a major influence in Kennedys Make American Health Again movement since last year, along with her brother Calley Means, who serves as a White House senior adviser focusing on food and MAHA health issues.

Means is a graduate of Stanford Medical School and began a residency program at the Oregon Health and Science University before eventually dropping out.

Casey Means, we felt, was the best person to bring the vision of MAHA to the American public, Kennedy said.

Kennedy pointed to Means academic record, noting that she graduated top of her medical school class, and her willingness to consider new approaches to medicine as reasons she is qualified to be Surgeon General.

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She walked away from traditional medicine because she was not curing patients. She couldnt get anybody within her profession to look at the nutrition contributions to illness, Kennedy added.

An HHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions from The Hill about what position Nesheiwat will hold. Dr. Nesheiwat could not be reached for comment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Trump flip-flopped again Friday on a controversial tax hike on millionaires as congressional Republicans struggle to reach agreement on a sprawling budget bill.

Just two days after saying he backs higher tax rates for the wealthiest Americans, Trump softened his stance.

Trump conceded in a social media post that the higher tax rate would be politically controversial, citing President George H.W. Bushs toxic decision to break his no new taxes vow in 1992.

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The problem with even a tiny tax increase for the rich.is that [Democrats] would go around screaming,Read my lips, the fabled quote by George Bush the elder that is said to have cost him the election [to former President Bill Clinton], Trump wrote.

In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do, Trump added.

Trumps post amounts to a reversal from a directive he reportedly gave House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday to raise income tax rates back to 39.6% on the highest earners in the plan to extend his 2017 tax cuts that reduced the highest bracket to 37%.

He proposed the higher rates on those earning more than $2.5 million a year and framed it as a populist messaging tool to help counter criticism about harsh budget cuts, especially to the Medicaid program that serves low-income people.

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The mixed messages has already injected more uncertainty into make-or-break Republican talks over Trumps one big beautiful budget bill.

Johnson needs the votes of virtually every single Republican in the House to pass the sprawling bill and send it on to the Senate, which needs to pass the exact same bill to comply with an arcane rule known as reconciliation that allows it to avoid being scuttled by a Democratic filibuster.

A tax hike could be political poison that makes the bill unacceptable to at least a handful of fiscal conservatives, who are also fighting for much deeper cuts in spending.

But the Republican Party historically has strongly opposed any higher taxes, especially for high earners who they believe should be incentivized by lower taxes to make more money and boost economic growth.

The bill is crawling through various House committees. There is no sign of major disputes being resolved, including a bitter dispute with New York-area lawmakers over raising the cap on deducting state and local taxes, or SALT.
President Donald Trump flip-flopped again Friday on a controversial tax hike on millionaires as congressional Republicans struggle to reach agreement on a sprawling budget bill.

Just two days after saying he backs higher tax rates for the wealthiest Americans, Trump softened his stance.

Trump conceded in a social media post that the higher tax rate would be politically controversial, citing President George H.W. Bushs toxic decision to break his no new taxes vow in 1992.

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The problem with even a tiny tax increase for the rich ... is that (Democrats) would go around screaming,Read my lips, the fabled quote by George Bush the elder that is said to have cost him the election (to former President Bill Clinton), Trump wrote.

In any event, Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do, Trump added.

Trumps post amounts to a reversal from a directive he reportedly gave House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday to raise income tax rates back to 39.6% on the highest earners in the plan to extend his 2017 tax cuts that reduced the highest bracket to 37%.

He proposed the higher rates on those earning more than $2.5 million a year and framed it as a populist messaging tool to help counter criticism about harsh budget cuts, especially to the Medicaid program that serves low-income people.

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The mixed messages has already injected more uncertainty into make-or-break Republican talks over Trumps one big beautiful budget bill.

Johnson needs the votes of virtually every single Republican in the House to pass the sprawling bill and send it on to the Senate, which needs to pass the exact same bill to comply with an arcane rule known as reconciliation that allows it to avoid being scuttled by a Democratic filibuster.

A tax hike could be political poison that makes the bill unacceptable to at least a handful of fiscal conservatives, who are also fighting for much deeper cuts in spending.

But the Republican Party historically has strongly opposed any higher taxes, especially for high earners who they believe should be incentivized by lower taxes to make more money and boost economic growth.

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The bill is crawling through various House committees. There is no sign of major disputes being resolved, including a bitter dispute with New York-area lawmakers over raising the cap on deducting state and local taxes, or SALT.

_____
Even as President Donald Trump pushes a message of self-sacrifice when it comes to how many dolls American children should own, his administrations first trade deal includes a carveout for cars  luxury ones.

Trump on Thursday hailed the fact that the US-UK framework for trade talks calls for lowering tariffs on UK cars, saying it wasnt his intention to persuade super-luxury brands including Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Jaguar to build cars in the United States.

According to a fact sheet shared by the White House, the Trump administration has already agreed to lower tariffs on the first 100,000 UK vehicles imported into the United States each year to 10%. Additional vehicles face a 25% tariff.

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We took it from 25 to 10 on Rolls-Royce because Rolls-Royce is not gonna be built here. I wouldnt even ask them to do that. You know, its a very special car and its a very limited number too, Trump said, announcing the agreement with Britain in the Oval Office.

During the same event, Trump floated slapping a 100% tariff on toys made by Mattel and attacked the companys CEO after the Barbie and Hot Wheels maker said its toys couldnt be manufactured in America and still be sold at affordable prices.

The United Kingdom exported only about 90,000 cars to the United States last year, according to S&P Global Mobility, making it the sixth-largest source of imported vehicles, responsible for only 1% of imported cars.

US Commerce Department data showed that the value of cars imported from the UK came to $12.3 billion, meaning that the average price of a British import was more than $135,000.

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Its not one of the monster car companies that makes millions of cars. They make a very small number of cars that are super-luxury and that includes Bentley and Jaguar some very special cars, Trump said. Thats really handmade stuff and theyve been doing it for a long time in the same location, he added, noting that he wanted to help the makers of such cars.

Other luxury British car brands that could benefit from the lowered tariffs include Land Rover, Aston Martin and Mini.

That means Trump has made it cheaper to import cars that relatively few Americans buy  or, for that matter, can afford  while keeping tariffs for now on more popular and affordable brands, mostly imported from countries other than the UK.

Laser focused on reducing prices for everyday Americans from Day One, University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers posted on X, the President has struck a deal that will lower the price of Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Jaguars, Aston Martins, Range Rovers and Minis.

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Wolfers noted that no other consumer good received carveouts from the US-UK trade framework.

Meanwhile, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz said its unlikely Trumps tariffs will cause toy manufacturing to come to America.

We dont see that happening, the Mattel CEO told CNBC after the company warned that tariffs will increase toy prices for American consumers.

Trump fired back, saying: Well put a 100% tariff on his toys, and he wont sell one toy in the United States, and thats their biggest market. Trump added: I wouldnt wanna have him as an executive too long.

Of course, a 100% tariff on Americas leading toy company would likely cause an even bigger jump in toy prices charged to US consumers. It could also make it very difficult or virtually impossible for parents to buy new Barbies and other toys. Retailers typically start stocking up over the summer for the holiday shopping season.

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Ken Griffin, the hedge fund billionaire who backed Trump in the 2024 election, told CNBC this week that tariffs are a painfully regressive tax that will hit the pocketbook of hardworking Americans the hardest.

In an interview with Politico, Griffin added that tariffs open the door to crony capitalism, with the government picking winners and losers. I thought this would play out over the course of years. Its terrifying to watch this play out over the course of weeks, he said.

CNNs Maria Sole Campinoti contributed to this report.

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[Source]

The Trump administration has suspended funding for clearing thousands of unexploded mines in Vietnam, threatening reconciliation efforts five decades after the Vietnam War ended.

What you need to know

Amid sweeping foreign aid cuts, the State Department announced a three-month suspension of mine clearance in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in January. The freeze temporarily left 1,000 Vietnamese deminers jobless in Quang Tri province, which has the highest concentration of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Though some operations resumed in April after diplomatic pressure, the future of U.S.-funded operations in Vietnam are in limbo as the 90-day review deadline passed without resolution.

Why the funds matter

Trending on NextShark: Rep. Shri Thanedar rebukes Dinesh DSouza for mocking his Indian heritage and accent

UXO has caused more than 105,000 casualties, including over 38,000 Vietnamese civilian deaths since 1975. Funding for Agent Orange cleanup at Bien Hoa air base was similarly affected, leaving dioxin-contaminated soil untreated. Agent Orange continues to cause cancers, birth defects and other health issues across generations.

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Donald Trump threatens to sabotage  and I dont use that word lightly  sabotage 30 years of cooperation with a key partner in one of the most challenging regions of the world, former Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) told the Washington Post, adding that the only country that can really be happy about the colossal mistake is China.

With Chinese troops marching across Ho Chi Minh City during this years military parade for the first time, critics warn the diplomatic uncertainty comes at a critical moment for U.S. influence in the region.

Trending on NextShark: Trump freezes funds to clear unexploded mines in Vietnam

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This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter  a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. took the unprecedented step of deepening cooperation with international courts of law.

Washington has never been party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC), and U.S. policy towards the Hague-based international tribunal has varied widely under different administrations.

Now, since President Donald Trump returned to office, that cooperation has stalled.

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Among his first actions after returning to the Oval Office, Trump imposed sanctions on the ICC. Just over a month later, the U.S. withdrew from the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) and fired the coordinator responsible for collecting data on Russian war crimes.

Since nearly the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv has been collecting evidence of Russian war crimes to bring their perpetrators, both ordinary Russian soldiers and those giving them orders, to justice. But the Ukrainian government cannot accomplish that without international support.

Washington's steady retreat from investigating Russian crimes is a poor omen for justice in Ukraine.

"This is a hazardous and bad signal that the (international legal) processes aimed at holding the perpetrators accountable may be deprioritized," Maksym Vishchyk, a legal advisor at Global Rights Compliance, told the Kyiv Independent.

Sharp turn in US policy

During more than three years of war, Russia has committed nearly 152,000 war crimes against Ukrainian citizens, according to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine.

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Ukraine has identified more than 800 suspected perpetrators of these crimes. But one of the country's top priorities is to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle to justice.

The ICPA was founded in 2023 to speed up this process and collect evidence to be presented in a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting the Russian government for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the media aboard Air Force One while flying from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S. on May 4, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)

It also aims to overcome another obstacle to prosecuting the Russian leadership. Under international law, the president, prime minister, and foreign minister of a country have immunity, meaning other states do not have the right to arrest or prosecute them. There is only one way to overcome this immunity: If the leaders have committed the most serious international crimes, they can be tried by a legitimate international tribunal.

This March, the Trump administration withdrew from the investigation team, citing its need to "redeploy resources" elsewhere.

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In April, the Trump administration dismissed the coordinator of the War Crimes Accountability Team (WCAT). Created in 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland, this entity was supposed to coordinate the U.S. Justice Department's efforts to collect and share information about the Russian nationals responsible for atrocities in Ukraine.

The new U.S. president has not spared the ICC either. In February, Trump imposed sanctions on the court and Prosecutor Karim Khan after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

"Will it be enough for society if Putin is not held accountable for the aggression against Ukraine?"

Although Trump's order only mentions individual sanctions against Khan, this list may be expanded to include other ICC employees. Human rights activists also emphasize that this decision directly affects the court's operations, as it could lead to secondary sanctions against all foreign organizations and companies that cooperate with or provide services to the ICC.

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Read also: European Parliament passes resolution demanding return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

Experts interviewed by the Kyiv Independent say Trump's recent moves put the global legal order at risk. But they also believe Ukraine will not feel any significant changes, for now, at least.

Vishchyk noted that the recent U.S. withdrawal from the ICPA, although a "big symbolic step backwards," will not technically affect the processes of investigating Russian crimes.

"Of course, the U.S., as a major strategic partner with significant intelligence capabilities, would be very useful for this center," he said. "But to suggest that removing the U.S. would jeopardize prospects for investigating and prosecuting criminal aggression is a big statement."

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Kateryna Rashevska, legal advisor at the Regional Center for Human Rights in Kyiv, said that Trump's decision to distance the U.S. from the ICC was not unexpected. The U.S. has always been on the sidelines of this institution, and deeper intelligence sharing and cooperation with the court under the Biden administration was somewhat unprecedented. So was the U.S. decision to join the ICPA.

"They (the U.S.) have returned to their normal state of affairs," Rashevska told the Kyiv Independent. "The first task for them now is to get the parties to stop shooting and sit down to talk."



Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh shake hands during an official welcoming ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Sept. 3, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

At the same time, Rashevska emphasized that the Trump administration's change of course, including its exit from the ICPA, could affect the future special tribunal for Russia, which has been in the works since 2022.

"The ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate the crime of aggression. Therefore, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, there have been discussions that we need a special tribunal, because only it can lift personal immunity," Rashevska said.

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"And if this does not happen, who will we judge?" she asked. "Will it be enough for society if Putin is not held accountable for the aggression against Ukraine?"

Will there ever be punishment?

International human rights organizations and Ukraine's allies have called for the arrest and prosecution of Russia's top officials since the scope of the country's war crimes in Ukraine became apparent.

But the goal remains elusive, at least in the near future.

In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, over their role in the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

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However, in September 2024, Putin visited Mongolia, which is a member of the ICC. The Mongolian government did not detain the Russian president, as required by the Rome Statute. The ICC later declared that Mongolia had failed to fulfill its international obligations under the statute, but it has, so far, not been penalized.

"The International Criminal Court is a powerful institution as a symbol," legal expert Vishchyk told the Kyiv Independent. "But it has big constraints, and we must be realistic about that. It will not punish everyone."

Rashevska of the Regional Center for Human Rights emphasizes that such failures are not unique. In January, the Italian government deported Osama Elmasry Njeem, the chief of the Libyan judicial police, back to Libya, despite an ICC warrant for his arrest.

No one can clearly predict when the perpetrators will be punished.

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Almasri Njeem stands accused of overseeing killings, torture, and sexual assault in Tripoli's Mitiga prison.

According to Rashevska, such failures by member states are even worse for the ICC than sanctions from non-member states like the U.S.

"When you are a member state, you have made commitments and must fulfill them," she said.

Both experts emphasized that, despite such incidents, it is necessary to continue investigating Russian war crimes at the national level and work with international partners in order to achieve justice. Over 20 countries have now opened investigations into Russia's war crimes, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

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But international justice can take years due to its complexity. No one can clearly predict when the perpetrators will be punished.

"Unlike general criminal offenses, the investigation of these crimes has to go through so many levels to at least reach the perpetrators in the chain of command," Vishchyk said. He notes that the perpetrators of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina were only convicted in the late 2010s.

Moreover, in Ukraine, investigators often do not have access to witnesses, victims, or evidence, as much of it is located in Russian-occupied areas. This also means that the number of crimes could be significantly higher than the figure recorded by Ukrainian law enforcement.

"We are moving at the pace we can at the national level," Vishchyk said. "We are now advising prosecutors to aggregate proceedings, prioritize them, and move on to cases involving (Russian) commanders. This is what Ukraine can do now."

Read also: Who are Russias allies, and can Kremlins war machine survive without them?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WASHINGTON (NewsNation)  President Donald Trump on Friday hinted at lowering tariffs on Chinese imports as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares to meet with his Chinese counterpart in Switzerland over the weekend.

80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B, Trump said on social media.

He also urged China to open its markets to U.S. goods.

China should open up its market to USA  would be so good for them, he wrote in another post. Closed markets dont work anymore.

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It was unclear whether the 80% rate would be a long-term plan or a step in negotiations.

Chinese companies eye moves to US amid sky-high tariffs

Bessents meeting Saturday will mark the first in-person talks between the United States and China amid escalating trade tensions. It will take place days after the Trump administration revealed the framework of its first trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

The White House appears to be building on that momentum. President Donald Trump previously said that steep 145% tariffs on Chinese imports could be reduced if the talks go well.

When asked Thursday during the U.K. deal announcement whether he would consider lowering tariffs, Trump responded, It could be.

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I mean, were going to see, he continued. Right now  You cant get any higher. Its at 145, so we know its coming down. I think were going to have a very good relationship.

US port activity slows amid trade tensions

The tariffs are already being felt across the United States. Ports are seeing fewer Chinese imports, and some companies have responded by raising prices. Ford Motor Company, for example, has announced price hikes on three car models it manufactures in Mexico.

Amid these economic pressures, Trump has indicated he hopes new trade deals will ease the burden on American consumers and businesses.

According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the White House plans to roll out dozens of additional trade agreements in the coming weeks.

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Florists feel the pinch as tariffs hit during busiest time of year

US, UK unveil trade deal framework

Trump called the agreement with the U.K. a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the two nations for years to come.

He said the U.K. was chosen first due to the countries shared history and alliance, and hinted that more deals are in serious stages of negotiation.

While British officials emphasized that the deal is not yet finished and significant negotiations remain, the White House has touted it as a significant achievement for the U.S.

As part of the deal, Trump agreed to reduce tariffs on British auto steel, and aluminum, though a baseline 10% tariff on other British goods will remain.

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Trump highlighted increased access to U.S. agricultural products, with the U.K. expected to import more American beef and ethanol.

He also suggested other countries seeking similar deals may face higher import taxes. According to administration officials, the agreement with the U.K. is intended to serve as a template for future negotiations.

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The Trump administration has engaged the United Nations migration team to help enact its self-deportation program for undocumented immigrants.

The UN agency for migration has championed migrant safety across the world, but is now being put at the epicenter of President Donald Trumps attempt to restrict illegal migration.

Officials at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement that the agency will work to ensure that the process remains safe and dignified, according to The Washington Post. It stressed that it would help with assisted voluntary returns, and not with deportations.

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Trump has offered $1,000 to unauthorized immigrants who leave the U.S. of their own accord, and he has issued threats of fines and prison time to those who remain in the U.S.

Almost 1,000 immigrants have signed up for the first step of the process, which involves receiving information about the initiative.

Trump administration officials have claimed that the program allows immigrants to leave with compensation and the opportunity to possibly return legally; however, immigration attorneys have said that the administration is using violent and unusual enforcement strategies to push people to leave.

Over the last few decades, the IOM has aided more than 1.5 million people return to their home countries, such as Syria and Georgia. However, this is the first time the agency has enacted a program for people to leave the U.S voluntarily.

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As of February, the U.S. was the largest donor to the IOM.

In the United States, many migrants face a challenging reality  navigating complex systems with limited options and resources, said the agency, according to The Post. "This initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) headquarters in Geneva. The Department of Homeland Security has called the agency an implementing partner in getting migrants to leave the U.S. (AFP/Getty)

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security told the paper that the IOM is an implementing partner.

In addition to the self-deportation program, the Trump administration has sent migrants to an El Salvadorian prison designated for terrorists, and it has considered deporting people to Ukraine as well as other hazardous nations. It has also threatened to place any immigrant in the U.S. illegally behind bars.

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Advocates are concerned that some immigrants may leave the U.S. even if they have legal asylum applications or other benefits that could end in permanent residency or U.S. citizenship.

The IOM was established in 1951 to organize the resettlement of Europeans following the Second World War and is now the top intergovernmental organization handling migration issues in the UN system.

The IOM operated safe mobility offices during former President Joe Bidens time in office, the Migration Policy Institute think tank noted to The Post. They were regional processing centers that helped people find opportunities to migrate lawfully.

The organization slammed the Remain in Mexico policy in 2021, arguing that it was inhumane. Trump enacted that policy during his first stint in the White House to force asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. during the processing of their claims. He ordered the government to restart the policy in January.

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Our role is to ensure that those who lack the means to return on their own can do so in a safe, dignified, and informed way, the IOM told The Post. IOM does not facilitate or implement deportations.

The organizations assisted voluntary return system in Latin America includes orientation for immigrants, followed by an interview with a case worker to make sure that people are aware of their options. Staff may also help immigrants plan travel and find places to stay, food, and other kinds of support. It remains unclear if the organization is set to offer those same services to immigrants in the U.S.

The DHS website states that immigrants without funds to pay for a ticket to get home can request funding and help with booking their travel and getting passports.

However, immigration attorneys in the U.S. note that while officials are telling migrants they may be able to return legally, according to federal law, a person who has been in the U.S. unlawfully for over a year is barred from entering the U.S. for a decade.

If someone leaves during the processing of their immigration court case, a removal order may be issued for them that would also stop them from returning for years. Immigration and Customs Enforcement states on its site that it may agree to dismiss a case if an immigrant can prove that they voluntarily left the U.S.
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

The Trump II Cancer Metastasizes At DOJ

I hate to break it to you, but the failure of Ed Martins nomination to be D.C. U.S. attorney has not produced an outcome that looks appreciably better. Thats not to say Martins nomination should not have been opposed or that its pointless to fight the good fight. Its merely to try to preserve a little sanity by acknowledging that in the dystopian Trump II world things can always get worse and often do.

Instead of being a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney, Martin will now hold three significant roles at Main Justice that dont require Senate confirmation:

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associate deputy attorney general; U.S. pardon attorney (the previous U.S. pardon attorney was fired after refusing to go along with restoring Mel Gibsons gun rights following a domestic violence conviction); and director of the Weaponization Working Group.

Dont let the Orwellian name of that last role, which has never existed at the Justice Department until this presidency, confuse the issue. Martin will be taking his bag of tricks as acting U.S. attorney  politicization, intimidation, and threats  to lead the weaponization of the Justice Department.

With the blessing of the President through his weaponization executive order and of Attorney General Pam Bondi through her weaponization memo executing that order, Martin will be at the epicenter of turning the Justice Department itself into a threat to the rule of the law.

Dont Normalize Jeanine Pirro

Im still shook by how otherwise reasonable people treated Pam Bondis nomination as attorney general as normal, calling her qualified and a more traditional pick for the office. That was on the basis of her having served as Florida state attorney general and, critically, her having replaced the insanely unqualified and unfit Matt Gaetz as nominee. Those two attributes alone should not have been enough to obscure all of the other ways in which Bondi was not normal, including her deeply alarming confirmation hearing, but they did.

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The same dynamic is at play with Trumps decision to replace Martin with Jeanine Pirro, the unhinged Fox News personality. This line from the WSJ story on Pirro is literally true but you can see the bar-lowering already underway: Still, Pirro, who has experience as a prosecutor, is a more conventional choice than Martin, 54, who was a lightning rod from the outset.

Pirro hasnt been a prosecutor in two decades. Since then, she became a unsuccessful political candidate then a right-wing media personality whose brain has pickled in the Fox News ecosystem. Her whole TV schtick is as an over-the-top, indiscriminate bomb-thrower, and Ill concede it may not be a schtick. These are not the attributes one looks for in a prosecutor, let alone the top federal prosecutor in the nations capital.

Fun fact: In the waning minutes of his first term, Trump pardoned Pirros ex-husband Albert, who had been convicted in 2000 on federal tax charges while they were still married and she was still Westchester County district attorney.

Is Pirros Appointment Valid?

By swapping out Martin for Pirro before the end of Martins 120-day maximum tenure as an acting official, President Trump appears to be taking the position that he can avoid Senate confirmation indefinitely via a rotating cast of D.C. U.S. attorneys. This is a complicated and tricky area of law, with two different authorizing statutes, so Im not going to unpack it all here. But the NYT briefly touches on the issue and the risk it poses of criminal defendants challenging their prosecutions on the grounds that Pirro is not validly appointed.

DOJ Weaponization Fully Underway Now

New York Attorney General Letitia James appears to be the highest profile initial target of the new Trump-directed DOJ. Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into mortgage loan fraud allegations that have circulated online among Trump allies for months:

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A federal grand jury has been empaneled in the Eastern District of Virginia and begun issuing subpoenas (one of James properties is in Norfolk);

FBI agents in Virginia and New York are involved in the investigation;

To give you some sense of the tone and tenor of things, this is what U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III of the New York Northern District  whose office is not handling the case  had to say about it on the record: Unlike Letitia James, who unethically ran around the state campaigning on getting Donald Trump  my office conducts itself in a manner that is proper and professional.

Trump Hijacks DOJs Voting Rights Section

Devastating news in this Associated Press exclusive: The Justice Department unit that ensures compliance with voting rights laws will switch its focus to investigating voter fraud and ensuring elections are not marred by suspicion, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.

Quote Of The Day

For many American citizens and organizations, then, the cost of opposition has risen markedly. Although these costs are not as high as in dictatorships like Russia  where critics are routinely imprisoned, exiled or killed  America has, with stunning speed, descended into a world in which opponents of the government fear criminal investigations, lawsuits, tax audits and other punitive measures and even Republican politicians are, as one former Trump administration official put it, scared out of their minds about death threats. political scientists Steven Levitsky, Lucan Way, and Daniel Ziblatt

Good Read

TPMs Josh Kovensky: Inside One Venezuelans Last-Minute Escape From a Flight to CECOT

The Damage SCOTUS Has Done

The Supreme Courts decision to allow President Trumps purge of trans service members to proceed while the legal challenge is on appeal is already producing the easy-to-predict and hard-if-not-impossible-to-reverse result: The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify under a new directive issued Thursday.

The Purges

Library of Congress : President Donald Trump fired Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress. She was the first woman and first African American to hold the position.

FEMA: Cameron Hamilton was fired as the acting administrator of FEMA one day after he took issue with eliminating the agency in an appearance before Congress.

A Creole Pope

Pope Francis elevates to cardinal US prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops Robert Francis Prevost during a consistory to create 21 new cardinals at St. Peters square in The Vatican on September 30, 2023. Pope Francis elevates 21 clergymen from all corners of the world to the rank of cardinal  most of whom may one day cast ballots to elect his successor. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Of all the deeply resonant chords struck by the elevation of the first American to lead the Roman Catholic church, none hits quite like his mother being the product of a Creole family from New Orleans:

The popes maternal grandparents, both of whom are described as Black or mulatto in various historical records, lived in the citys Seventh Ward, an area that is traditionally Catholic and a melting pot of people with African, Caribbean and European roots. The grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquie, eventually moved to Chicago in the early 20th century and had a daughter: Mildred Martinez, the popes mother.

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Jeanine Pirros absence from The Five on Thursday was a tell. Minutes after the Fox News show wrapped, President Trump confirmed that Pirro will become the interim US attorney in Washington, DC, one of the top prosecutor jobs in the country.

Dont tune into The Five expecting a Pirro send-off show; her exit was effective immediately, according to a Fox spokesperson.

This means that one of the most coveted seats in right-wing media is suddenly up for grabs.

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The Five often ranks as the top-rated show across all of cable news and is a proven launchpad for MAGA media superstardom. It is also an important plank of Foxs profits since the high ratings for the 5pm talk show help propel viewership for the rest of the evening.

Fox News says it will rely on a rotation of Fox personalities to fill the seat until a new co-host is named.

Numerous Fox hosts and contributors have filled in for Pirro in the past, including Katie Pavlich, Kayleigh McEnany and Kellyanne Conway. Fox contributor Joey Jones sat in Pirros usual seat on Thursday.

Kellyanne Conway in the Fox News Channel studios on November 05, 2024, in New York City. - Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Of all the Fox figures Trump has tapped to fill out his administration this year  by one count, hes approaching two dozen  Pirro is one of the most bellicose.

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Trump and Pirro have had a friendly relationship for decades. (She was hanging out at Mar-a-Lago long before Trump even ran for president.) One of her books, titled Dont Lie to Me, was even dedicated to Trump.

Pirros staunch defense of Trump and derision of his critics made her a favorite of the networks Trump-aligned fan base.

And Trump was a regular (and fawning) guest when Pirro hosted a weekend evening show called Justice with Judge Jeanine.

In 2020, however, her Trump loyalty wound up angering her bosses and wounding Foxs parent company when she promoted his voter fraud lies.

Pirros name came up repeatedly in Dominion Voting Systems blockbuster lawsuit against Fox News.

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Documents obtained by Dominion during the legal battle showed that her own executive producer, Jerry Andrews, wrote to a colleague in 2020 that one of Pirros proposed monologues was rife with conspiracy theories and BS and is yet another example why this woman should never be on live television.

During one internal argument over Pirros conspiratorial pro-Trump commentary, Andrews called her a reckless maniac.

In 2022, she was moved onto The Five.

Pirros Fox persona has been ripe for SNL impersonation over the years. Her Fox colleagues truly respect her, though, specifically for her legal background, including her time as DA of Westchester County, New York.

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While her law-enforcement work ended 20 years ago, she is recognized as a trailblazer and still brings a lawyerly mindset to TV segments, Fox staffers said.

In a statement on Thursday, the network said, Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

Ed Martin, then the interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, attends a meeting at Martha's Table in Washington on March 25, 2025. - Valerie Plesch/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Pirro is replacing archconservative activist Ed Martin, whose conduct in the US attorney job was so aberrant that even some Republican lawmakers spoke out against him.

Fox News has barely covered any of the many Martin controversies, so Pirros viewers may be unfamiliar with the reasons why she is, as The New York Times put it, ditching a lucrative TV career, on short notice, to bail Trump out of an embarrassing jam.

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But her willingness to do so is certainly not surprising.

We should respect her experience as a former elected official and prosecutor, CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams said on The Source with Kaitlan Collins Thursday night.

However, he continued, if you look at the 20 years since then, she has demonstrated a willingness to step out for the President of the United States in a role  U.S. attorney for the nations capital  that really ought to be independent of the White House.

We have to remember, these are very important management roles, Williams said. This is the biggest U.S. Attorneys Office in the country. He said Trump picking Pirro is quite frankly, an affront to the office.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  President Donald Trump officially weighed in on Utahs race for chair of the states Republican Party on Thursday, endorsing incumbent Robert Axson in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Axson, who is running to retain his seat against former Representative and gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman, has served as Chairman of the Utah Republican Party since 2023. In his endorsement, Trump said Republicans in the Beehive State have the opportunity to re-elect a fantastic Chairman.

Candidates for the State GOP chair debate convention system, logistics, and party unity ahead of state convention

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Robert Axson has dedicated his life to the Republican Party and the Great State of Utah. He is Strongly Supported by many, including Highly Respected Senator Mike Lee and Governor Spencer Cox. Robert Axson has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election as Chairman of the Utah Republican Party [sic.], Trump wrote, adding in all capital letters that Axon will never let you down.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee said he stood with the President in a post on X, emphasizing the Utah GOP needed to re-elect Axson as chairman.

Rob Axson is not only one of the most effective state party chairmen weve ever had in Utah, but hes also one of the best in the entire country, wrote Lee. Hes uniformly respected and admired as a member of the RNC. Hes an unusually dedicated, talented, and energetic person Ive known and worked closely with him throughout the last 16 years, and hes one of the most decent people Ive ever known.

Rep. Burgess Owens also commented on Trumps endorsement, saying he was 100% correct, adding that Axson has his full endorsement.

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Phil Lyman responded to the endorsements for his opponent in his own post on X, saying, MAGA is about America.

Utah House Majority leader resigns to take new role in Governors Office

My support for Donald Trump is not contingent on his support for me. We have work to do, Lyman wrote before taking a jab at his former gubernatorial opponent, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, by calling him a cheater.

While Axson has not yet commented on his recent endorsements, ABC4s Chief Political Correspondent Lindsay Aerts sat down with him on Inside Utah Politics, along with Convention Chair Thomas Wright, to break down the race and his proposal to strip party membership from candidates who gather signatures to get on the ballot. That conversation can be watched live on Sunday, May 11, on ABC4.

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Whats at stake (in the chairs race)? In my opinion, (its) really whats the direction that were going? Axson said. Are we building a party that will be relevant for years to come that will impact generations?

Axson argued that so-called party purity tests are counterproductive to that goal.

I believe the Republican party can help deliver on thatto rescue our future, we have to grow that apparatus, we have to build the relevance. We cant be doing purity tests, we cant be limiting the size and impact of what the party can do, and so thats the case that Im trying to bring the delegates of Utah.

Utahs Republican Party delegates will elect a Chairman during the upcoming Republican State Convention on Saturday, May 17, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Latest headlines:

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
President Donald Trump suggested that tariffs on Chinese goods should be slashed to 80%.

The rate would still be high but would be a dramatic reduction from the 145% the US has imposed.

Just two days ago, Trump said "no" when asked whether he would consider lowering tariffs on China.

President Donald Trump made the first move ahead of US-China trade talks this weekend.

In a Friday morning Truth Social post, the president suggested significantly lowering his tariff on Chinese goods to 80%  still high but 65 percentage points lower than the current 145% rate.

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The president posted: "80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, announced this week that they'd be meeting with their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland this weekend to discuss US-China trade relations as Trump's heavy tariffs remain in effect and the trade war rages on.

"CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA  WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON'T WORK ANYMORE!!!" Trump wrote in another Friday morning post.

Just two days ago, while speaking with reporters from the Oval Office, Trump flatly said "no" when asked whether he would consider lowering his tariffs on China to help ease this weekend's talks, though he also recently said that the 145% tariff on China is "very high" and would "come down substantially."

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Ahead of the talks, shipments from Chinese ports have slowed. US importers have begun to weigh whether they can afford to do business now that each shipment is subject to the 145% tariff.

"It has gone very fast, so this is the result of customers reacting very, very fast on canceling orders or stopping orders and waiting to see if this is going to resolve itself," Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said on his company's first-quarter earnings call.

Trump previously lashed out at China after Beijing retaliated against his "Liberation Day" tariffs. Since April, the world's two largest economies have remained largely at loggerheads. Starting late last month, the president has said that China is talking to the White House  a claim Beijing has repeatedly denied.

The two sides couldn't even agree on who initiated the high-level talks this weekend, but news of the face-to-face conversation was seen as a serious indication that a deal is in the offing.

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The current 145% tariff is so high that many economists have essentially compared it to a trade embargo. The White House did grant a series of exemptions for certain tech items, including Apple's iPhones, but other industries have said that price increases could be coming if relief isn't on the horizon.

Trump said that Americans needed to take some price increases on the chin to pave the way for the reshoring of manufacturing.

"Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls would cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally," he told reporters in April during a Cabinet meeting.

In past talks, Trump has shown he will start with significant bluster before a breakthrough arrives. In his first term, he ratcheted up tensions with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, dismissing him as "little rocket man" before ultimately agreeing to hold historic talks with the nuclear-armed nation.

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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, another trade advisor, on Thursday lavished praise on the president for his methods.

"He's the closer," Lutnick said, looking over to Trump in the Oval Office. "He gets deals done that we could never get done."

Correction: May 9, 2025  An earlier version of this story misstated how much lower an 80% tariff on Chinese goods would be from 145%. It would be 45% lower, not 55%.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Trump administration is considering slashing the 145% tariff on Chinese imports to as low as 50%, the New York Post reported on Thursday.

In addition, import duties on neighboring South Asian countries could be cut to as low as 25%, a source added.

They are going to be bringing it down to 50% while the negotiations are ongoing, an unidentified source told the Post.

The White House dismissed the report as conjecture.





When decisions on tariffs are made, they will come directly from the president. Anything else is just pure speculation, a White House spokesperson said in a statement to the New York Post.

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The White House currently has broad import taxes of 145% against China, with some sector-specific tariffs as high as 245%.

China has raised its duties on imports of U.S. goods to 125%. On April 4, China also began restricting exports to the U.S. of rare earth materials, which are used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.

China was the third-ranked U.S. trading partner in 2024 at $582 billion in two-way international commerce.





The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese officials for trade talks this weekend in Geneva.

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Chinese officials said they are open to trade discussions with the U.S.

The Chinese side carefully evaluated the information from the U.S. side and decided to agree to have contact with the U.S. side after fully considering global expectations, Chinese interests and calls from U.S. businesses and consumers, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson told China Daily.

The post Trump may cut tariffs on China imports to as low as 50%: Report appeared first on FreightWaves.
The Trump administration is looking at ways to suspend habeas corpus, a Constitutional right that allows a person to challenge government detention, as a way to assist President Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff who is largely credited with helping shape Trumps immigration agenda, told reporters on Friday that the administration could circumvent habeas corpus under claims of an invasion.

The right of habeas corpus is directly given in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, allowing those detained by the government to challenge their detention by filing a petition with a court that has jurisdiction.

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However, habeas corpus can be suspended in cases of rebellion or invasion when public safety may require it.

Stephen Miller said the Trump administration was looking at suspending habeas corpus in carrying out Trumps mass deportation agenda (Getty Images)

The Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of an invasion, so that is an option we are actively looking at, Miller said.

To invoke such, the administration would need to prove that the country was under threat of rebellion or invasion by a specific country or group of people  which it is not currently.

There have only been a handful of occasions in history when habeas corpus has been suspended, and not without intense debate. Former president Abraham Lincoln suspended it nationwide during the Civil War, though Congress later passed a statute permitting it.

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But Miller believes the Trump administration could do just that.

A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not, he told reporters.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has sought ways to expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants and bypass traditional due process. But judges have consistently intervened in challenges.

One way Trump has sought this is by invoking the Alien Enemies Act, declaring an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, in order to remove alleged gang members without traditional due process.

Trump has ordered for the removal of hundreds of undocumented immigrants using little-known or rarely-used statutes (US Government)

Multiple judges have blocked removals under the act, and while the Supreme Court allowed the administration to continue, they contended that immigrants are entitled to submit habeas corpus petitions.

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Trump and members of his administration have expressed deep frustration over judges intervention, claiming theyve gone rogue and defied the administration.

Miller continued, saying Congress stripped federal courts of their jurisdiction over immigration cases under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The habeas corpus clause does not explicitly specify which branch of government has the authority to suspend it, but it has largely been interpreted to be Congress because it falls under Article I.

Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have repeatedly affirmed that habeas corpus extends beyond U.S. citizens to immigrants or foreigners detained by the U.S. government.

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On the surface, Miller's comments appeared to be an escalation of the administration's position compared to one week ago, when right-wing influencer Rogan O'Handley used his turn in the White House's "new media" briefing room seat to explicitly ask White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt if Trump would consider suspending the writ to "circumvent ... radical judges."

At the time, Leavitt said she had "not heard such discussions take place" while hedging by suggesting that Trump was "certainly open to all legal and constitutional remedies" to continue expelling people from the United States."

But privately, some administration officials concede that suspending the writ would be a "heavy lift" because it has only been done previously at time of war or in overseas territory controlled by the United States.

Andrew Feinberg contributed to this report






President Donald Trump named Jeanine Pirro the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.

The announcement follows the decision that the current Washington D.C. interim prosecutor, Ed Martin, would not be taking the position permanently

Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News personality, will take the position after Martin's term concludes on Tuesday, May 20







President Donald Trump named Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro to be the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., per his Thursday, May 8 Truth Social post.

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During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime, Trump, 78, wrote in his announcement after detailing her law enforcement background. Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself.

Pirro, 73, formerly served as the judge of the Westchester County Court, N.Y., in 1991-1993. Next, she served as the Republican district attorney of Westchester County, N.Y., from 1994 to 2005. She then stepped down to run against then-Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. However, she then announced her run for New York attorney general instead, which she lost to Andrew Cuomo.

In 2006, Pirro joined Fox News and later hosted Justice with Judge Jeanine. Since 2022, she has been a co-host on Fox News' The Five. Due to Trump's recent announcement, she is leaving effective immediately, a Fox News Media spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE. A rotation of Fox News personalities will fill her position on The Five until a new co-host is named.

Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington, a Fox News Media spokesperson said.

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Pirro is Trumps latest selection of a government official who previously worked on Fox News. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth previously hosted Fox & Friends.

Theo Wargo/Getty Jeanine Pirro on December 05, 2024 in Greenvale, New York. Jeanine Pirro on December 05, 2024 in Greenvale, New York.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump said current Washington D.C. interim top prosecutor Ed Martin would not be taking the position permanently. Martin has been serving in the position since Trumps Jan. 20 Inauguration, and his interim term concludes on May 20.

The president withdrew Martin from consideration after Republican senators said they would not support Martin because he defended rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, per the Associated Press.

Hes a terrific person, and he wasnt getting the support from people that I thought, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, per the Associated Press. But we have somebody else that will be great.

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Pirro has supported Trump since his 2016 campaign and defended him during the Access Hollywood tape scandal, per The New York Times. During his first administration, in 2019, Pirro was reportedly suspended by Fox News after she questioned whether Muslim Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, 37, held anti-Constitutional beliefs due to her religion.

In the final hour of Trumps first term, he issued a last-minute pardon to Pirro's ex-husband, a longtime GOP donor, Albert Pirro. He was convicted in 2000 on 34 counts of conspiracy and tax evasion.

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James Devaney/GC Images Donald Trump on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Donald Trump on May 30, 2024 in New York City.

Additionally, following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, Jeanine was named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit seeking $1.6 billion filed by Dominion Voting Systems.

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The suit alleged that she and the other Fox News hosts purposefully shared falsehoods on air that the companys voting machines contributed to the notion that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen. In April 2023, Fox News Media paid a $787.5 million settlement and acknowledged that statements were false.

She has also been named in a similar, still pending, lawsuit filed by voting-tech vendor Smartmatic.



Read the original article on People
President Donald Trump has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., one of the most important prosecutorial positions in the country.

Pirro is currently a co-host of Fox News most-watched show, the afternoon program The Five, after previously hosting a weekend show, Justice With Judge Jeanine.

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Pirro was previously a judge and later a district attorney in Westchester County, New York, just north of New York City.

I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Trump posted. Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself.

In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, a Fox News Media spokesperson said, Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure.

We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington, the statement concluded.

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Earlier this year, fellow former Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth was named the nations defense secretary. Like Hegseth, Pirro is exiting Fox effective immediately to assume her new role.

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President Donald Trump said Thursday hes appointing Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

The presidents naming of a replacement for outgoing interim prosecutor Ed Martin was expected to come sometime Thursday, sources earlier told ABC News, who first reported Pirro was under consideration.

Trump made the news official hours later on Truth Social.

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Jeanine was Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York, and then went on to serve as County Judge, and District Attorney, where she was the first woman ever to be elected to those positions, he wrote. Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television. ... She is in a class by herself.

Martins nomination was pulled earlier in the day after Trump confessed that his first choice for the job  who had no prosecutorial experience and advocated for Jan. 6 attackers  didnt have enough support in the Senate to get the position permanently.

We have somebody else that will be great, Trump teased before announcing Pirro as the latest in a string of appointments coming from Fox News, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend.

Pirro, 73, has been fiercely loyal to Trump dating back to his first term in office. When he lost reelection in 2020, she was one of the Fox News hosts who promoted lies about voting machines being rigged against the Republican incumbent. Fox News settled a $787.5 million lawsuit with one of the voting technologies company it was accused of defaming and is still being sued by another.

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Trump has also been supportive of Pirro. Before leaving office in 2021, he signed a last-minute pardon for her ex-husband, who had been convicted on conspiracy and tax evasion charges equaling more than $1 million.

Trump didnt indicate whether he would nominate Pirro to lead the nations largest U.S. attorneys office on a more permanent basis, though her ability to prosecute without bias is sure to be called into question. Pirro was suspended by Fox News in 2019 for making anti-Islamic comments on air, according to CNN. Fox News said at the time it would not discuss its internal dealings.

Trump was quick to come to Pirros defense after that incident, claiming mainstream news outlets were conspiring in all-out campaigns against @FoxNews hosts who are doing too well.

Fox News also had to come to Pirros defense when she appeared intoxicated during a 2020 broadcast, which the network blamed on technical difficulties due to her having to broadcast from home for the first time during COVID-19 lockdowns.

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President Donald Trump has appointed Fox News star Jeanine Pirro as his interim federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C.

Trump announced the appointment in a Truth Social post Thursday afternoon, where he described the 73-year-old as a powerful crusader.

Jeanine was Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York, and then went on to serve as County Judge, and District Attorney, where she was the first woman ever to be elected to those positions. During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime, the president wrote, listing off a handful of Pirros other accomplishments in her legal career before moving on to her work on Fox.

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In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television. Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York, he continued. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!

News of Pirros potential appointment was first reported by ABC News, and came just hours after Trump admitted defeat and pulled his first choice for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from contention following pushback from lawmakers. Ed Martin, a far-right prosecutor who defended the Jan. 6 riots, lost so much support for his extreme views among Republican Senators that Trump was forced to cut him loose.

Pirro is a longtime Fox News personality who once served as district attorney for New Yorks Westchester County. Crucially, she is also an outspoken defender of Trump both on the air and off.

She is also infamous for a viral appearance on Fox News in 2020, during which her disheveled appearance and slurred speech led manyincluding Saturday Night Liveto crack jokes about whether she was drunk.

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Fox News officially blamed technical hiccups for the bizarre incidentsaying that it was the first show she hosted from her home due to COVID restrictions. Representatives for the network did not comment on the rumors that she was intoxicated.

Just days later, SNLs Cecily Strong portrayed Pirro as a wine-slugging television personality, spilling wine all over Weekend Update host Colin Jost during a well-received sketch.

Pirro has supported Trump during his most controversial moments, including when in 2016 she dismissed his resurfaced vulgar comments about women (grab them by the p----) as locker room banter.

Her ex-husband, Albert Pirro, was pardoned by Trump during the final hours of his first term, despite being convicted more than 20 years ago on 34 counts of conspiracy and tax evasion. He was also shrouded with countless rumors linking him to the mafia, which, paired with his on-the-record crimes, ultimately ruined his wifes political career.

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Pirro tried to run for Senate in 2005 but her hopes were dashed after she embarrassed herself in an awkward speechshe forgot a page of her script and fumbled with it on stage.

Judge Jeanine Pirro is a host for FOX Nation and likely the president's choice for top prosecutor. / John Lamparski / John Lamparski/Getty Images

Pirro, who signed the couples joint tax return, maintained that she was unaware of her husbands crimes. During his trial, it came to light that he spent $1,800 on a wrought-iron pen for Pirros two potbellied pigs. The two later divorced, and Pirro admitted to trying to wiretap his yacht to catch him in an affair.

Pirro has a long history of making controversial statements about Muslims. In 2015, she said on Fox that we need to kill them, the radical Muslim terrorists hellbent on killing us. She was suspended by Fox News in 2019 after questioning Ilhan Omars patriotism, asking on air if the Minnesota representatives religious beliefs undermined her loyalty to the United States. She also claimed Omars hijab meant that she followed Sharia law, prompting Fox network to release a statement saying they strongly condemn Pirros comments.

Jeanine Pirro and others watch on stage as The Village People perform YMCA during the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball at the Salamander Hotel on Jan. 19, 2025. / Samuel Corum / Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Trump then posted: Bring back Pirro, adding that Fox should be strong and prosper rather than be weak and die.

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Along with her jaunt as a Fox host, Pirro has also tried her hand at daytime television. She hosted a low-rated courtroom show and appeared in You the Jury, which was canceled after just two episodes. She also starred in Justice With Judge Jeanine on Fox News.

Following Trumps 2020 loss, Pirro echoed false allegations of voting machine election fraud. She was named in a defamation lawsuit for broadcasting alleged lies about a voting systems company. Fox News later settled the case for $787.5 million.

Her candidacy for the top prosecutor came to light after Trump got word of dwindling Republican support for Martin, who was seen on Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6 attack and has appeared on Russian state media over 150 times.

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro walks the red carpet at the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball at the Salamander Hotel on Jan. 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Samuel Corum / Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Trump, who said it was disappointing to lose Martin, added that he could serve in another capacity at the Department of Justice.

He wasnt getting the support from people, he said. We have somebody else that will be great. Thats just how it goes sometimes.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
President Donald Trump named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro acting U.S. attorney general for Washington, D.C. on Thursday, continuing the dizzying revolving door between the conservative cable-news network and the Trump administration.

In an afternoon Truth Social post, the president said, Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself.

Pirro was previously a judge and later district attorney in Westchester County, New York. She later joined Fox News in 2006. Until being tapped by Trump for the acting U.S. attorney general gig she has served as one of the co-hosts of The Five  one of the highest-rated programs on cable news, a distinction that Trump noted in making the announcement.

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Trump chose Pirro after his first choice, Ed Martin, lacked the support to make it out of Judiciary Committee from a key Republican senator. Martins nomination had faced multiple controversies, including several revisions of his disclosures to Congress regarding past appearances on Russian state media, and his public praise of Capitol rioter Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, an alleged Nazi sympathizer.

After announcing Pirro, Trump stated on his Truth Social account that Martin would join the Department of Justice in another capacity as Associate Deputy Attorney General and pardon attorney.

Pirro, a longtime friend of Trumps and outspoken supporter, had previously annd successfully lobbied the president during his first term to pardon her ex-husband, Albert Pirro, over a more than two-decade-old conviction on 34 counts of conspiracy and tax evasion.

In leaping from TV to the Trump administration, Pirro joins a long list of Fox News talent, contributors and alumni  totaling 21 in all  including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino.

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Several of those appointments have come under intense criticism, none more so than Hegseth, who has been under siege since news broke of the Signalgate scandal and subsequent revelations about the way that he has treated sensitive information, such as including his wife and brother on the channel.

Fox News Bret Baier announced Pirros exit on air, saying, We obviously wish her well. Fox said that the network will feature rotating hosts in Pirros place on The Five until a permanent replacement is named.

Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure, a network spokesperson told TheWrap. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

The post Trump Names Fox News Jeanine Pirro Acting US Attorney General appeared first on TheWrap.
President Donald Trump has nominated Minneapolis commercial litigator Daniel Rosen to be the next U.S. Attorney for Minnesota.

Earlier this year, Rosen, of Rosen LLC, was one of three candidates recommended for the position by Minnesotas Republican congressional delegation to replace Andrew Luger, who stepped down as the states top federal prosecutor before Trumps inauguration.

The nomination was referred Tuesday to the U.S. Senates Committee on the Judiciary, which will review Rosens qualifications before it goes to the full senate for a vote.

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The congressional delegation  Reps. Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber  issued a statement Wednesday calling Rosen one of the sharpest legal minds in the entire country.

With over three decades of experience as an attorney and a proven commitment to public safety, Dan will uphold the rule of law and keep criminals off our streets, the statement says. As fraud and crime run rampant under Governor Walzs watch, we urge our colleagues in the Senate to act quickly to confirm Dans nomination.

The delegations other nominees sent to Trump on Jan. 27 were Erica MacDonald, who he appointed as Minnesotas U.S. Attorney during his first term as president, and Ronald Schutz, who has held senior leadership roles at Robins Kaplan LLC in Minneapolis for nearly three decades.

Rosen is a U.S. Navy veteran and University of Minnesota Law School graduate who has over 30 years of practice focusing on commercial litigation in federal and state courts, according to the delegations letter to Trump.

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He has used his expertise to advocate for community and charitable issues, especially matters of particular interest to the American Jewish community, the letter continues.

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Rosen previously served as a partner of the Parker Rosen firm and was partner-in-charge when Miami-based law firm Kluger Kaplan opened a satellite office in Minneapolis in 2017.

If confirmed, Rosen will oversee a U.S. attorneys office with about 140 staffers, including more than 70 attorneys. The office is headquartered at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis, and a branch office is maintained in St. Paul.

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Under Lugers leadership, the attorneys office prioritized the prosecution of crimes related to gun and gang violence while also tackling the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

Lisa Kirkpatrick is the acting U.S. attorney.
By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is aiming to bring the first group of white South Africans to the United States via its refugee program as soon as next week, three people familiar with the matter said, a divisive effort given that Trump has been blocking refugee admissions from the rest of the world.

The Trump administration aims to fly the initial cohort of about 50 Afrikaners into Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, two of the people said, requesting anonymity to share internal plans. The group would participate in a press conference at the airport and then board flights to their U.S. destinations, the sources said.

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The sources cautioned that their arrival had already been delayed a week and that the plans could change. As of Thursday afternoon, a charter plane intended to ferry them to the U.S. had not secured a landing permit, one source said.

The U.S. State Department, which administers the resettlement of South Africans whom the Trump administration granted refugee status, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NPR first reported the timing of the arrivals.

Trump kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January, including an indefinite suspension of refugee resettlement. In a related executive order, the Republican president said the U.S. would only admit refugees who "can fully and appropriately assimilate."

Despite the broad refugee freeze, Trump in February called on the U.S. to prioritize resettling Afrikaners, descendants of mostly Dutch early settlers, saying they were "victims of unjust racial discrimination."

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The assertion that minority white South Africans face discrimination from the Black majority has spread in far-right circles for years and been echoed by Trump's white South African-born ally Elon Musk.

The average white household in South Africa owns 20 times the wealth of the average Black household, according to the Review of Political Economy, an international academic journal.

In interviews with U.S. immigration officers, white South Africans seeking refugee status have highlighted troubles with land disputes, crime and perceived racism, Reuters reported in April.

The South African government has criticized the Trump effort, saying it fails to recognize the country's history of colonialism and apartheid.

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"It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being 'refugees' is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africas constitutional democracy," South Africa's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Stephen Miller, a top White House official and the architect of Trump's immigration agenda, defended the program while speaking to reporters, saying the situation "fits the textbook definition" of race-based persecution.

While some Afrikaners have expressed interest in moving to politically conservative U.S. states, Democratic-leaning Minnesota has emerged as a popular choice, two of the sources told Reuters.

Minnesota has a reputation as a welcoming state for refugees, including those from Somalia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Some also plan to head to Republican-leaning states, such as Idaho and Alabama, one of the sources said.

The reason to charter a flight for the initial group of Afrikaners was not immediately clear. The charter plane would cost far more than commercial tickets, sources said.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Additional reporting by Catherine Schenck, Harshita Meenaktshi and Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Stephen Coates, Tomasz Janowski and Daniel Wallis)
Donald Trump has decided to appoint one of his favorite Fox News hosts, Jeanine Pirro, as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., and she has quite a history.

Pirro has spent the last two decades with the conservative TV network as a legal analyst and host of the weekend show Justice With Judge Jeanine, and later co-host of The Five. During that time, she has shared some outrageous statements and views, including election denialism.

During Trumps first term, Pirro said that the FBI and Justice Department were full of individuals who should not just be fired but who need to be taken out in handcuffs. She has not held back in sycophantic praise of the president, calling Trump a nonstop, never-give-up, no-holds-barred human version of the speed of light. Pirro also spoke onstage at a campaign rally for Trump, seemingly violating network policy (without getting punished).

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On MSNBC Thursday night, Chris Hayes aired a montage of some of Pirros craziest takes, including how shed make a deal with the devil to get opposition research on an opponent.

Pirro is only getting the job because Trumps previous pick, Ed Martin, faced too much Republican opposition in the Senate over his connections to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, as well as his own election denialism. Martin also used his brief time as acting U.S. attorney to make legal threats against everyone from Georgetown University to Democratic members of Congress.

What will Pirro do as the top federal prosecutor in the nations Capitol? Her rhetoric as a TV host rivals Martins insane background, and it remains to be seen how shell handle the positionor even if the Senate decides to confirm her at all.


By Jeff Mason and Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday plans to sign a proclamation to encourage migrants who are in the United States illegally to voluntarily depart the country, according to a White House official.

The "Project Homecoming" initiative will encourage migrants to "self deport" with the assistance of the federal government and financial support, or face enforcement and penalties, according to the official.

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Trump, a Republican, took office in January pledging to deport millions of people but so far has trailed deportations under his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The Biden administration faced high levels of illegal immigration and quickly returned many caught crossing the border, driving up deportation numbers.

The Trump administration has tried to encourage migrants to leave voluntarily by threatening steep fines, trying to strip away legal status, and deporting migrants to notorious prisons in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.

The Department of Homeland Security said on Monday that it would offer a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to migrants who elect to voluntarily leave the country.

Some advocacy groups criticized the stipend and said migrants should consult with an attorney.

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A draft of Trump's proclamation said he would direct "a full-scale, aggressive deportation surge, including with an additional 20,000 officers" for immigrants in the country illegally who refuse to depart.

It was not clear which officers the Trump administration would use for the supplemental force.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Ted Hesson; Additional reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Donald Trumps nominee to serve as permanent U.S. attorney for Washington will soon start walking in a different direction.

Ed Martin has served as acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., since Trumps inauguration. But mounting pressure from Senate Republicans, who seemed increasingly unlikely to advance Martins nomination to keep the job, forced the White House to look elsewhere.

Martin, a conservative political operative from Missouri who garnered national attention for his staunch support of January 6 rioters, had used his time at the U.S. attorneys office to help Trump transform the key prosecutors chair into a tool for the presidents political retribution. He threatened to investigate some of Trumps purported enemies, including Democratic lawmakers, universities and schools, and critics of tech billionaire Elon Musk. But on Thursday, Martin found out that his time at the office was coming to an end.

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Instead, hed be the recipient of an entirely different title.

Ed Martin has done an AMAZING job as interim U.S. Attorney, and will be moving to the Department of Justice as the new Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney, Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday evening. In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims. Congratulations Ed!

In Martins place, Trump tapped exFox News host Jeanine Pirro. The former prosecutor has been one of Trumps most ardent defenders at a network that already has an apparent soft spot for him. In internal emails made public by the conservative media behemoths lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, Pirros former executive producer once described the election conspiracists beliefs as completely crazy. Pirro has not held a law enforcement job in roughly two decades.

But the tap-and-replace strategy may have an underlying motive.

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By replacing one interim U.S. attorney with another, the Trump administration appears to be trying a legal tactic that could essentially eliminate any need to submit U.S. attorney picks to the Senate for confirmation, assessed The New York Times.

Martin isnt the only member of Trumpverse to receive a cozy new assignment. After he publicized massive national security risks in the Trump administrations communication channels by accidentally inviting a journalist to a Signal group chat, former national security adviser Mike Waltz was promoted to the role of U.N. ambassador.

Trump was reportedly sensitive to the idea of ousting Waltz, believing that doing so would be interpreted as a bend to public pressure. One source familiar with the situation at the National Security Council told CBS News last week that the president believed enough time had passed that the administration could reasonably reframe Waltzs departure as part of a larger reorganization.
President Donald Trump said Thursday he was proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war  and threatened additional sanctions if the pause in fighting isnt respected.

Trump wrote in a social media post that he will stay committed to peace between Ukraine and Russia, a departure from comments by him and his administration last month stressing that the U.S. could back out of talks if negotiations did not progress.

After pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the beginning of Trumps term, the Trump administration has recently been amping up pressure on Russia, as Trumps patience has grown thin after being unable to end the war in his first 100 days.

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This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moments notice if my services are needed, Trump wrote on Truth Social .

Trump said both countries will be responsible for upholding a potential ceasefire, without directly calling out Russia. The negotiations for lasting peace will continue with European leaders, he added  as many Europeans have previously been anxious about potentially being pushed out of talks over Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said Russia is asking for too much to end the war, saying at the Munich Leaders Meeting that Russia has rejected calls for a 30-day ceasefire and that the U.S. would look toward a longer term settlement.

Vance added that theres a big gulf between Russia and Ukraine, and that it would be necessary for both sides to sit down with each other to actually hammer out a deal.

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Following a rocky start where Trump blasted Zelenskyy as a dictator without elections and dressed him down with Vance during their Oval Office meeting in February, the U.S. and Ukraine signed an economic agreement last week to harness Ukraines rare earths and create an investment fund to help Ukraine rebuild after the end of the war. The deal came after Trump and Zelenskyy met before the funeral for Pope Francis in Vatican City.

Trump took to Truth Social shortly after meeting with Zelenskyy and expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that he potentially did not want to stop the war and is tapping me along.

Trumps criticism also came as Russia expanded its ground offensive and blasted Kiev in a series of deadly missile strikes. Top Russian officials including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded that they are ready to reach a deal.
Some observers contend that, in contrast to his predecessor, U.S. President Donald Trump is doing all he can to curry favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some even go as far as to claim that Trump seems subservient to Putins will. But the past week has offered notable evidence to the contrary. Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Pope Francis funeral, Trump opined that Putin didnt seem interested in reaching a peace deal to end its war against Ukraine. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. and Ukraine finally signed a long-delayed mineral deal, which could ensure that Washington will continue supporting Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression.

Trump followed that up with a social media post last week that at first glance may seem trivial compared to efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Many of our allies and friends are celebrating May 8th as Victory Day, he wrote, but we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II. He reiterated that claim this week, when in referring to Russias military parade marking the end of the war, he stated, By the way, they lost millions of people and were a decisive factor, but there was no such decisive factor as us.

What makes those statements notable is that Putin, who fancies himself a historian of Russias military legacy, has long been especially keen to tout Moscows contribution to the Allied cause during World War II. Indeed, he rarely minces his words in portraying Russia as having saved the world from the tyranny of the Nazi regime. As he remarked during last years Victory Day parade, the destiny of humankind was decided during the colossal battles of Moscow, Leningrad, Rzhev, Stalingrad, Kursk, Kharkov, Minsk, Smolensk and Kiev, and in the intense and bloody fighting from Murmansk to the Caucasus and the Crimea.

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In other words, if there is one thing that Putin takes seriously and cares deeply about, it is Russias pivotal role in winning World War II. That is why, following Trumps remarks, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted that, at present, the people of the United States, the American nation and the state of America do not know their own history.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

Setting aside whether Trump intended to irk Putin, the timing of his remarks is no coincidence, as this week marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, or VE, Day, when the Allied powers defeated Nazi Germany to bring the war in Europe to a close. This is a major annual event for many European countries. But this years edition is a symbolically important occasion in the countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Russia and particularly for Putin.

While it is important to get the history right, whats even more important is that major wars like World War II remain just that: history.

Given the significance of Victory Day this year, and given the seriousness and pride that leaders and citizens of the Allied powers continue to take in their countrys contributions to the war effort, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the issue lying at the core of the historical disagreement between Trump and Putin: Who should get the most credit for winning the war?

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According to a saying often attributed to Josef Stalin, in defeating Nazi Germany, the British gave time, the Americans gave money, and the Soviet Union gave blood. Its worth breaking down each of these contributions.

Britain did indeed buy time for the war effort. After the fall of France and the escape of the British and French forces from the beaches of Dunkirk, the British continued to Stay Calm and Carry On in the face of the German bombing campaign known as the Blitz. If Britain had given in to German demands that it acknowledge German hegemony on the continent, this would have lessened the likelihood of eventual U.S. intervention, as Britain was the critical player encouraging the U.S. to enter the war in order to establish a postwar Anglo-American order.

Relatedly, British surrender would have enabled Adolf Hitler to consolidate his forces and concentrate fully on the Soviet Union. His eventual attack against the USSR may also have been better timed, as he would not have felt the pressure of his window of opportunity closing due to fear of an eventual U.S. entry into the war. Beyond that, Britain served as the staging ground for the D-Day invasion, and British forces took the fight to the Axis powers in North Africa. In short, its no exaggeration to say that, at a time when their empire was facing strains that would eventually induce its collapse, the British did much to save the world from Nazi Germany.

But its also impossible to exaggerate the scale of Russias contribution to the war effort. In many ways, the European theater of World War II was a German-Soviet confrontation in which the British, Americans, French and Italians played supporting roles. The Great Patriotic War, as it is still called in Russia, was initiated by Germanys massive invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Viewed in isolation, the fighting on the Eastern Front would be the largest war in human history, whether measured in terms of geographic range, number of personnel involved and lives lost. The Soviets engaged in the heaviest direct fighting against the Nazis, and despite repeated appeals from Stalin to open a second front in Europe, the British and Americans seemed willing to let the fighting in the East play out, in part because they were not yet ready to invade the continent, but also because the communist government in Moscow was an ally of circumstance, not choice.

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As for the U.S., there is no denying the fact that it also gave lives to the effort. But Washingtons primary contribution was in the form of arms, with the U.S. fulfilling its role as the arsenal of democracy, a phrase coined by French official Jean Monnet and adopted by then-President Franklin Roosevelt. The Lend-Lease program enabled Britain and the Soviet Union to sustain their war efforts. While the Soviets eventually ramped up their own war production, that output would not have been sufficient to defeat Germany, despite Germanys own economic weaknesses.

Where the U.S. effort might have been more profound is in shaping Europes recovery from the war and the global order that emerged after it. As I wrote last year when reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, with all the European powers severely weakened after the war and U.S. troops stationed in the heart of Europe, Washington was poised to shape the postwar world order in a manner that served its economic and security interests. Hence, it is ironic that Trump takes pride in the U.S. effort during the war, but seems to have at best ambivalence for the international order that Washington built when it ended.

The truth is that defeating Nazi Germany required the efforts of the British, the Americans and the Soviets. There is no need for one party to take more credit than another. But regardless of how one answers this historical question, the very debate over the issue is important, as societies should regularly reflect on history to ensure that their understanding of the past, which influences claims to legitimacy in the present, is sound. But its also important for ensuring that the lessons of that war, especially its horrors, are not forgotten. While it is important to get the history right, whats even more important is that major wars like World War II remain just that: history.

Paul Poast is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The post Trump and Putin Are Both Learning the Wrong Lesson From World War II appeared first on World Politics Review.
NEW YORK  Trump officials vowed to review the visa statuses of 80 pro-Palestinian protesters taken into custody during a takeover of a Columbia University library.

We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia Universitys library, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X hours after the brief occupation. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.

Assistant Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin added Thursday the threat could extend to permanent residents.

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If you are in this country on a visa, green card or otherwise, you are a guest, she wrote on X. Act like it. If you are pushing Hamas propaganda, glorifying terrorists that relish the killing of Americans, harassing Jews, taking over buildings, or other anti-American actions that we have seen lately on these campuses, you can book yourself a ticket home. You can expect your visa will be revoked.

Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman authorized the NYPD to enter campus a few hours after the swarm of masked protesters showed up at Butler Library and forced their way inside Wednesday.

Cops were seen escorting out dozens of protesters in zip ties who school officials said were trespassing.

Columbia is actively negotiating with the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funding that was canceled over claims the school did not do enough to protect Jewish students from harassment during the protests.

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Whether the library protest will hamper those negotiations remains to be seen. But on Thursday, an interagency federal body involved in the talks, the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, praised Shipmans response.

The Task Force is encouraged by Acting President Shipmans strong and resolute statement regarding the unlawful, violent and disgraceful takeover of Butler Library yesterday. She has stepped in to lead Columbia at a critical juncture and has met the moment with fortitude and conviction, read a statement, which called on Columbia to take disciplinary action.

Of the 80 protesters arrested, two were given summonses for disorderly conduct while the rest were given desk appearance tickets to appear in court at a later date on trespass charges, NYPD officials said.

Shipman attributed the decision to allow NYPD officers on campus to the large number of protesters creating a safety hazard. Two Columbia security officers were injured as protesters forced their way inside the building, with one wheeled out on a gurney.

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The college president accused the protesters of putting international students in danger: I am deeply disturbed at the idea that, at a moment when our international community feels particularly vulnerable, a small group of students would choose to make our institution a target, Shipman said in a video released overnight.

Let me be clear: Columbia unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all other forms of harassment and discrimination. And we certainly reject a group of students  and we dont yet know whether there were outsiders involved  closing down a library in the middle of the week before finals and forcing 900 students out of their study spaces, many leaving belongings behind.

Footage on social media showed the activists, who wore masks, pushing through security at the entrance of Butler shortly after 3 p.m., steps away from where students pitched a tent demonstration last year. Meanwhile, large demonstrations broke out on campus and along its perimeter Thursday.

Protesters called to free Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia graduate and green card holder who has been detained by federal immigration authorities. DHS detained another lawful permanent resident, Mohsen Mahdawi, before a federal judge ordered his release. Other Columbia students targeted by the Trump administration have gone into hiding or decided to leave the country.

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Columbia has one of the largest international student bodies in the country, with 13,745 people coming from around the globe to study in New York. It was not immediately clear how many of the protesters on Wednesday were international students.

Butler Library reopened by Thursday morning with the room of the protest restored and ready for use, school officials said. Columbia finals begin Friday.

The main protest group on campus, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, on Wednesday reveled in their ability to pull off the disruption despite a crackdown on student activists. Last month, an effort to repitch a tent encampment was averted after NBC News publicized their plans.

Students outsmarted the university, exposing the cracks in their broken system, the group said in a statement.

_____






On Wednesday, May 7, President Donald Trump announced that he was nominating Dr. Casey Means to be the new U.S. surgeon general, replacing his initial pick.

The nomination quickly drew scrutiny as Means is a wellness influencer who did not finish her medical residency and does not currently have a valid medical license.

Despite touting Means qualifications on Truth Social, Trump told reporters the following day that he doesn't know her.









President Donald Trump recently announced a change of plans in his administration, withdrawing his previous nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as surgeon general and naming her replacement.

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On Wednesday, May 7, the president's Truth Social account revealed his new nomination of Dr. Casey Means, a medical professional and wellness influencer, who is closely linked to the Make America Healthy Again ideology espoused by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Casey has impeccable MAHA credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans," Trump's post read. "Her academic achievements, together with her lifes work, are absolutely outstanding.

Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History," the post continued.

Jason C. Andrew/Bloomberg via Getty President Donald Trump confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services on Feb. 13, 2025 President Donald Trump confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services on Feb. 13, 2025

However, less than 24 hours after Trump's Truth Social post, the president backtracked when faced with questions about Means qualifications.



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On Thursday morning, an Oval Office reporter asked Trump, You just announced a new nominee for the U.S. surgeon general who never finished her residency and is not a practicing physician. Can you explain why you picked her to be America's top doctor?



"Because Bobby thought she was fantastic," he answered, referring to RFK Jr.

"I don't know her," he added.

AP Photo/Ben Curtis Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, with Megyn Kelly at RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, with Megyn Kelly at RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing

While Means completed her undergraduate degree and medical school at Stanford University, she never finished her surgical residency. In her book, Good Energy, and in public appearances, Means has said that her residency experience left her disillusioned with the state of modern medicine.



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Ultimately, she did complete enough postgraduate work to qualify for a medical license in Oregon, and turned to alternative medicine. Her website purports her ultimate goal to be working towards a healthier and happier planet by empowering people to understand their health and the limitless potential within them.



It remains to be seen, however, if Means nomination will hold up to congressional scrutiny  particularly given that her medical license has been inactive since January 2024, according to Oregon public records.



Means clearly has a strong supporter in RFK Jr., who took to X on Thursday with a lengthy defense against Means critics.



The attacks that Casey is unqualified because she left the medical system completely miss the point of what we are trying to accomplish with MAHA, he wrote. Casey is the perfect choice for Surgeon General precisely because she left the traditional medical system--not in spite of it.

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Kennedy then accused the medical industry and media outlets of paying influencers to "vilify" Means, adding, "But it will not work."

Every day, I wake up emboldened to drive change because I know the support of MAHA moms has my back," he wrote. "Casey has played an integral role in galvanizing these moms. She will be the best Surgeon General in American history."



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Since President Donald Trump was sworn into office in January, he has sat for just 12 presentations from intelligence officials of the Presidents Daily Brief.

Thats a significant drop compared with Trumps first term in office, according to a POLITICO analysis of his public schedule.

In much of his first term, Trump met with intel officials twice a week for the briefing, which provides the intelligence communitys summary of the most pressing national security challenges facing the nation.

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The low number of briefings this time around is troubling to many in and around the intelligence community, who were already concerned about Trumps act-first-evaluate-after approach to governing.

Its sadly clear that President Trump doesnt value the expertise of and dangerous work performed by our intelligence professionals each and every day, and unfortunately, it leaves the American people increasingly vulnerable to threats we ought to see coming, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement to POLITICO.

The sporadic pace of briefings comes as Trump has been working to broker an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and to jump-start nuclear talks with Iran  all while navigating increasing potential threats from adversaries such as Russia and China.

Each president is different in the manner and pace at which they receive their briefings, and Trump is not entirely out of step with some of his predecessors.

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But with Trump, there is added concern as he is known not to read the accompanying briefing document, referred to as the book, that is put together by intelligence analysts in a highly labor-intensive process. This document is delivered in hard copy or on a tablet device to the president and his key advisers five days a week.

The briefings from senior intelligence officials are often a chance for the president to hear detailed assessments on global crises and to receive updates on highly classified covert operations overseas  along with blunt facts about the state of the world, regardless of policy implications or the presidents own views.

Trump received just two in-person PDB briefings per month in January, February and March, before settling into a more regular rhythm of once per week in April and May, according to the presidents daily schedule maintained by Faceba.se, a website that collates the presidents statements as well as his public calendar.

PDB presentations are typically tailored toward informing the president as he conducts high-stakes diplomacy, detailing what a foreign government may be thinking and what its intentions are, former intelligence officials said.

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The point of having an $80 billion intelligence service is to inform the president to avert a strategic surprise, said a former CIA analyst who, like others in this story, was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

Trumps top national security aides and Cabinet officials receive similar intelligence briefings and can ensure that critical information reaches the presidents ears.

Senior administration officials said Trump gets the information he needs through frequent communication with his intelligence chiefs.

The president is constantly apprised of classified briefings and is regularly in touch with his national security team, said Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson. The entire intelligence community actively informs President Trump in real time about critical national security developments.

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Ingle declined to comment on why Trump has received fewer daily PDB presentations compared to his first term..

Former intelligence officials argued that the PDB sessions are an opportunity for the president to hear from career intelligence officials who are skilled in imparting information regardless of whether it complements or contradicts the presidents foreign policy strategies.

They questioned whether other top advisers or Cabinet officials would be able  or willing  to relay these stark realities to the president.

And the circle of officials receiving the PDB may also be smaller than in Trumps first term. CNN reported last month that the Trump administration has tightly restricted the number of people who have access to the intelligence report.

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Trumps first term in office was marked by a high turnover in his national security team, a trend that looks set to continue. Last week, Trump ousted his national security adviser Mike Waltz, who had long been on thin ice with other administration officials.

The advantage of an IC briefer is its somebody who is trained to tell the hard truths to the president, said Larry Pfeiffer, who served as chief of staff to CIA Director Michael Hayden.

They are going to be more inclined to provide him with more nuanced information  information thats not been parsed through a policy perspective, Pfeiffer said.

Presidents vary in how often they have received in-person briefings. George W. Bush saw briefers from the intelligence community almost every day and preferred hearing directly from analysts, while Obama was a studious reader of the PDB book itself.

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Obama received in-person briefings 44 percent of the days he was in office during his first term, according to a 2012 analysis by the conservative research group the Government Accountability Institute, which would equate to multiple briefings a week. He was attacked by the conservative media and former Vice President Dick Cheney for not attending more.

Biden received one to two briefings a week, according to a former U.S. intelligence official familiar with the matter and a former Biden White House official.

But Biden was known to regularly read the PDB briefing book, the former intelligence official said. A former official who served in Bidens National Security Council said that the president would use the delivery of the book as an opportunity to gather his top national security aides and Cabinet officials to discuss its contents and foreign policy implications.

During his first term, Trump read little of his daily intelligence briefings, according to accounts from his former briefers and reports in the New York Times.

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At the time, intelligence officials found Trump to be more responsive to graphics, maps and a more storified approach to recounting the intelligence, according to interviews with his briefers published in Getting To Know The President, a history of intelligence briefings of candidates and presidents-elect, authored by John Helgerson, a former senior CIA official.

Trump had a fraught relationship with the intelligence community during his first term. But the cadence of briefings almost three months into his second term represents a stark drop when compared to his first four years in office, and offers insight into how Trump might prioritize these briefings throughout the next four years.

In the first five weeks following his inauguration in 2017, Trump received an average of 2.5 briefings a week before settling into an average of two briefings a week in the latter half of his presidency, according to a detailed historical account published by the CIAs own in-house academic research center.

Trumps briefings during his first term were substantive, the former U.S. intelligence official said, noting that the president listened and was interactive during the presentations.

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And during Trumps first term, Vice President Mike Pence was an assiduous, six-day-a-week reader, of the PDB, Helgerson noted in his book.

A second former senior U.S intelligence official stressed that there are other avenues for Trumps spy chiefs to get information to him, beyond his daily briefing, including standalone memos and articles based on the latest intelligence findings.

Its not the be all and end all, they said, speaking of the PDB. The person also noted, as the White House did, that the presidents top advisers can also serve as a conduit for relaying information to the president.

A person familiar with how Trump takes his PDB briefings said that the president has received standalone briefings on global flashpoints on an ongoing basis separate from the PDB and that it would be incorrect to imply he wasnt fully briefed. They were granted anonymity to discuss how Trump receives his intelligence.

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Hes calling people all day. If he wants an update on some of these things, hell call Ratcliffe, Rubio, Witkoff, Waltz, kind of in an ad-hoc fashion throughout the day, receiving this stuff, said the person, who spoke before Waltz was removed from his position as national security adviser last week.

Asked for comment about the presidents briefing schedule, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said President Trump has multiple high-level, national security briefings every day. While the scope can range from a comprehensive presentation of global intelligence, to meeting with senior national security officials on an issue of immediate importance, the daily engagement of President Trump is prolific.

Former intelligence officials argue that the in-person presentations from experienced briefers offer a further opportunity for the president to receive important context on the intelligence delivered, ask questions and relay any requests for additional information back to the intelligence agencies.

That feedback gives the countrys spy agencies an opportunity to learn more about the presidents needs and interests. We learn too, said a third former senior U.S. intelligence official.

Daniel Lippman contributed to this report.
By Jeff Mason and Jody Godoy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order discouraging criminal enforcement of regulatory offenses, in a bid to combat the overcriminalization of federal regulations, a White House official told Reuters on Friday.

Trump's order is meant to ease the burden on small businesses that do not have the same compliance resources as large corporations, according to a draft the official shared.

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The executive order would have agencies publicly post a list of regulatory violations that can trigger criminal charges, and guidance on the circumstances under which they would refer violators for prosecution.

The order would discourage prosecutors from filing charges not on the lists, and charges that do not require prosecutors to prove the defendant had criminal intent. One such law has been used to prosecute executives for misbranded or adulterated food and drugs.

The order would not apply to immigration or national security.

The reach of federal criminal statutes has long been a target of criticism for some conservatives and business groups.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Chizu Nomiyama)
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump is signaling openness to a higher top tax rate on millionaires as Republicans struggle to agree on Medicaid cuts that would help pay for an array of tax cuts.

Trump is considering allowing the top marginal tax rate to go up from 37% to 39.6%, where it was at the start of his first term, according to a source familiar with the presidents thinking. The higher rate would kick in on incomes above $2.5 million.

This will help pay for massive middle and working-class tax cuts, and protect Medicaid, the source told HuffPost.

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The president suggested the tax increase during a conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) earlier on Thursday, according to Punchbowl News.

Johnson has previously said on multiple occasions that he doesnt love the idea of including a tax increase as part of the so-called big, beautiful bill that Republicans are hoping to send to the presidents desk this year.

Im not in favor of raising the tax rates because our party is the group that stands against that, traditionally, Johnson said last month.

Steve Bannon, the MAGA populist podcaster who served as a White House adviser during Trumps first term, has championed tax hikes on the rich as a way to undercut Democratic attacks that the Republican agenda is a tool of oligarchy.

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Trump himself has seemingly waffled on the tax hike idea. He repeatedly spoke against it last month amid reports it was under consideration.

I think it would be very disruptive because a lot of the millionaires would leave the country, Trump said at the White House. You lose a lot of money if you do that.

In fact, a higher top marginal rate could bring in hundreds of billions of dollars, and Republicans need money. It would cost more than $4 trillion for Republicans to extend the household tax cuts they enacted in Trumps first term. Those cuts, which included the reduction in the top marginal rate to 37%, were temporary and will expire at the end of this year if Congress doesnt act. (The top rate currently kicks in on incomes above $600,000.) Republicans are also planning potentially trillions more in cuts based on the various promises Trump made on the campaign trail. They need lots of money.

Republicans had hoped to offset part of their tax agenda with $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, including as much as $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, but some moderate House Republicans have said they wont vote for such a steep cutback, and Trump has vowed to protect the program.

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A handful of Republicans, including House Freedom Caucus chair Andy Harris (R-Md.), have said they support raising the top marginal rate.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said Thursday it could be a good idea. I think we need to focus our tax relief on working people, Hawley said.

Asked how many of his colleagues would go along with the idea, Hawley said, Zero  Maybe one or two.
President Donald Trump on Friday opened up the possibility of lowering the hefty 145 percent tariffs he has levied on China.

The president posted on Truth Social that he would be open to lowering those tariffs, which he announced in April, to 80 percent. However, he signaled that the final decision lays with Scott B., a reference to his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent who departed for Switzerland on Thursday and is scheduled to meet with Chinese trade representatives this weekend.

80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B., the president wrote in the post.

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An 80 percent tariff on goods from China would still be prohibitively high for most companies doing business between the two countries, but could signal movement that would ease fears among consumers, businesses and the markets.

Its not the practical effect. It is about demonstrating progress, said one person familiar with the discussions, granted anonymity to discuss details of private conversations. Markets may react to the scent of progress with China trade.

Perhaps more importantly, the Friday morning post signals that the president has given Bessent his proxy to negotiate a lowering of the tariffs on his behalf.

He is giving the keys to Bessent, the person added.

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Any concrete movement out of the talks would be seen as a major step forward toward an easing of tensions with China, the worlds second largest economy and the U.S.s third largest trading partner.

Even the establishment of a baseline relationship between Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng, Chinas lead negotiator on economic and trade affairs with the U.S., would be seen as positive movement toward deescalating the bitter trade war between the two countries.

The post also comes two days after Trump gave a firm no when asked if he would lower the levies to get China to the negotiating table. The president had previously expressed openness to lowering the tariffs, so long as China gave up something in exchange.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status, and some media outlets have reported that the Internal Revenue Service is taking steps in that direction.

Harvard President Alan Garber says this would be highly illegal. Several U.S. senators, all Democrats, have urged the IRS inspector general to see whether the IRS has begun auditing Harvard or any nonprofits in response to his administrations requests or whether Trump has violated any laws with his pressure campaign.

The Conversation U.S. asked Philip Hackney, a nonprofit law professor who previously worked in the office of the chief counsel of the IRS, and Brian Mittendorf, an expert on nonprofit accounting, to explain what it would take for the federal government to revoke a universitys tax-exempt status.

Can Trump order the IRS to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status?

No.

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First, the IRS rarely revokes an organizations charitable tax-exempt status for failure to operate for a charitable purpose.

Before the IRS can do that, tax law requires that it first audit that charity. And its illegal for U.S. presidents or other officials to force the IRS to conduct an audit or stop one thats already begun. Even doing either of those things indirectly is a crime. The punishment can include fines and imprisonment.

Congress strengthened constraints on presidential power after Richard Nixon resigned in the midst of the Watergate investigations. At the time, evidence indicated that he had used the IRS as a weapon to punish his perceived political enemies.

Worried that future presidents or officials might abuse the IRS, a Republican-led Congress later passed Section 7217 of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.

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That provision prohibits presidents and vice presidents, as well as other officials and their staff, from instructing, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.

President Richard M. Nixon holds a tax bill he signed into law in 1970, four years before he resigned. Part of his legacy is that its now more clearly illegal for presidents to use the IRS as a political weapon. Bettmann/Getty Images

What does it take for a nonprofits tax-exempt status to be revoked?

This cant happen on a whim. The IRS first has to audit the nonprofit. If it obtains evidence of wrongdoing  and a court upholds that finding  the IRS can proceed.

The government has to find that the nonprofits operations have a substantial nonexempt purpose. Thats because these tax exemptions are provided only to organizations that are organized and operated primarily for charitable purposes, such as education, religion or scientific research.

Any audit of Harvard would involve a large team of IRS agents familiar with higher education, which would work on this probe for months. The process could take years.

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If, after completing that audit, that team were to determine that Harvard violated the rules, the IRS would have to send Harvard a proposed revocation letter. Harvard then would have 30 days to file an appeal with the IRS. Were the IRS to propose such a revocation, we would be shocked if Harvard didnt take that step.

If the IRS Office of Appeals were to uphold the revocation, the IRS would send a revocation letter to Harvard. But Harvard would have the right to challenge that official revocation in court under Section 7428 of the tax code.

How often does this happen?

Very rarely. Almost never for private schools. The only legal precedent the Trump administration could perhaps invoke is Bob Jones University v. United States.

That litigation got underway in the 1970s after the IRS had, following years of civil rights litigation, stopped allowing private schools to have charitable status if they discriminated on the basis of race.

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That policy put the small Christian university on the spot because it barred the admission of Black students until 1971. At that point, it began to accept Black students but only if they were married to another Black person. The school justified this restriction by voicing its belief that the Bible forbids interracial marriage and dating. In 1970, the IRS had notified the university that it intended to cancel Bob Jones tax-exempt status.

The IRS issued a final revocation in 1976 after determining that Bob Jones University continued to discriminate with the ban on interracial dating and marriage. And in 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the IRS action in an 8-1 decision.

The courts majority wrote that an institution should be denied charitable status only where there can be no doubt that the activity involved is contrary to a fundamental public policy.

Whats the Trump administrations rationale?

Many signs indicate the Trump administration would try to use the fundamental policy limitation to revoke Harvards status. Were unaware, though, of what alleged violation of a fundamental public policy the IRS might invoke if it were to carry through on Trumps threat to strip Harvard of its charitable status. The Trump administration has signaled that it might rest its case on Harvards diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

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In a related case, a majority found in a 2023 ruling that affirmative action admissions programs violated the Constitution. The case, known as Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, also considered the University of North Carolinas policies.

Harvard subsequently enrolled fewer new Black students, indicating that it had changed its admissions policies. Regardless, there are many precedents finding elements of diversity, equity and inclusion to be activities that do further a charitable purpose.

We believe the Trump administration would be unlikely to prevail in the courts with an anti-DEI argument should it try to use one to justify stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status.

What happens if a big nonprofit loses its charity status?

Losing nonprofit status can do a lot of damage.

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An organization that loses its status, whether its a university like Harvard, a food bank, a homeless shelter or any other kind of charity, is suddenly subject to federal income tax. It also loses the ability to receive tax-deductible gifts from donors who are eligible to make them.

Because many state and municipal tax breaks are tied to federal tax status, losing tax-exempt status can also lead to local tax penalties. One compelling local tax break afforded to many charities is an exemption from property tax. Universities with large amounts of buildings and land  as Harvard has  would especially feel the pain.

Without charity status, organizations that rely on grants from local, state and federal government sources, as well as private sources such as other charities, will find many of those sources of funding largely cut off. This is because many grant providers require all recipients to have tax-exempt status.

The Internal Revenue Manual, which guides IRS agents in carrying out their work, indicates a number of other problems that would arise after revocation. For instance, an agent is required to consider the impact on the organizations deferred compensation plans and tax-exempt bonds.

Does the government appear to have a strong case against Harvard?

Theres been little concrete information about the basis for Harvard losing its status. Most of what we know comes from social media posts and media interviews.

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The Trump administration has attacked Harvard for its efforts to increase its diversity and its response to antisemitism on its campus. In response to concerns about these issues, Harvard has retooled its DEI office and begun to roll out reforms to combat both antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.

But it is hard to argue that these issues would be central to Harvard and its educational mission, let alone warrant it losing its tax-exempt status.

Whats the impact then?

Given the steep climb it would be to prove that the organization has strayed from its educational mission, and not just taken some actions the White House dislikes, we find it hard to imagine a viable path toward the IRS revoking Harvards charitable status.

That doesnt mean there will not be any consequences from the administrations campaign against Harvard.

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The daily onslaught of public attacks coupled with the ongoing legal battles are a drain on Harvard officials time and energy.

The administration has put Harvard and other universities on the defensive in many other ways too. It has cut federal funding for scientific research, sought to revoke international student visas, expressed an interest in reducing federally funded student loans and grants, and floated proposals to increase what is today a small tax on the income some higher education endowments earn.

If theres a silver lining for Harvard, we think its that Trumps attacks could spur giving to the nations wealthiest university, at least in the short run. Harvards supporters stepped up their donations after the administrations initial efforts to punish Harvard. And giving-as-activism has been a frequent theme in both of Trumps terms.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Philip Hackney, University of Pittsburgh and Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University

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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Just before trade talks in Switzerland between the United States and China, US President Donald Trump floated the idea of cutting his current 145% tariffs on Chinese imports to 80%.

"80% Tariff on China seems right!," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

But he said the decision would be up to his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"Up to Scott B.," he added.

Bessent will lead the US delegation this weekend to Switzerland to discuss the two countries' trade imbalances with his Chinese counterparts.

In an interview with US broadcaster Fox News, Bessent said the two sides first have to agree what they want to discuss.
Not even people on Donald Trumps side think that his trade negotiations with the United Kingdom have gone well.

Conservative radio show host and far-right influencer Erick Erickson blasted the Trump administrations deal with one its longest and strongest international allies Thursday, likening the minimum rate tariff to permanent taxes on the American people.

Its actually a pretty shitty deal with the UK, wrote Erickson on X. First, they told us the 10 [percent] tariff was just a baseline for negotiations to get to free trade deals. Now were being told the 10 [percent] tariff is for keeps.

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Thats just a tax on the American people, he noted.

The U.K. dealannounced Thursdaywas the first handshake that Trump had secured since announcing his sweeping tariff plans last month. But even the two countries special relationship (per deceased British Prime Minister Winston Churchill) could not spare the U.K. from a seemingly permanent 10 percent baseline tariff.

Under the deal, the U.K. can export 100,000 vehicles each year at a 10 percent rate, with any additional vehicles facing 25 percent duties. British steelmakers and the aluminum industry will be able to export tariff-free, down from the 25 percent rate that the U.S. imposed in February, reported NBC News.

The 10 percent hike is just the tip of the iceberg, according to Trump, who called it a low number for future deals.

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They made a good deal, he continued. Some will be much higher because they have massive trade surpluses.

Trump has argued that tariffs are the best solution to closing the countrys trade deficits, which he has incorrectly likened to taxpayer-backed subsidies for other nations. He has claimed that without tariffs, the U.S. is transferring wealth to other countries while receiving nothing in exchange. He has also pitched that hiking tariffs on other nations would bring jobs and manufacturing opportunities back to American shores, but economists dont agree with either point.

Instead, droves of financial and economic experts have insisted that tariffs on other nations will only serve to harm America and its markets, making products more expensive stateside and making American consumers less likely to spend their money (something that Trump doesnt seem to have any problem with, actually). The Harvard Kennedy Business School even floated in April that Americas trade deficit basically doesnt matter, writing that Americans earn more from, or earn just about as much from, their total investments abroad as foreigners earn in the United States.

So if you look historically, we have felt no additional pressure about sustainability of our position, the school wrote in an early stage tariff explainer. As long as we borrow the money and use it productively to increase investment in the United States, it is eminently sustainable, as with any investment.

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The presidents tariff shenanigans have not boded well for his popularity. The Cook Political Report observed Wednesday that Trumps net job approval rating had plummeted since just April 15, dropping by seven points from -3.9 percent to -10.7 percent.

An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll published last month found that Trumps approval rating had sunk to 39 percenta 6 percent drop from Februarymarking the lowest first-100-day rating of a president since modern polling began roughly 80 years ago.

And an April report by the Conference Board found that its consumer confidence index had fallen by 7.9 points, bringing overall U.S. consumer confidence to 86 points. Consumer futures were brought to a 13-year low, with outlooks on the economy dropping by 12.5 points to 54.5 pointswell below the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead, according to the Conference Board.

The root cause of the instability was high financial market volatility in April that hit American consumers stock portfolios and retirement savings hard and fast, per the Conference Boards report. That was almost singularly due to Trumps machinations in the White House, which included releasing (and stalling) a sweeping and vindictive tariff proposal plan that economists observed (and the White House eventually confirmed) was founded on bad math.
As the Trump administration continues to target law firms and defy the rule of law, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor had some rallying remarks for lawyers at an event in Washington.

Speaking Thursday at a meeting hosted by the American Bar Association, Sotomayor urged lawyers to steel themselves for difficult fights ahead. The Associated Press quoted her as saying:

Our job is to stand up for people who cant do it themselves. And our job is to be the champion of lost causes. But right now, we cant lose the battles we are facing. And we need trained and passionate and committed lawyers to fight this fight.

Sotomayors comments come at an incredibly fraught moment for the law profession. President Donald Trump has used his executive power to target multiple big law firms, many of which have acquiesced and struck deals with the administration. The federal government also is appearing to defy court orders in cases involving its immigration policies, as the president seeks to carry out mass deportations through legally questionable methods.

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Supreme Court justices are not especially known for speaking their mind in public. But more than one of them have recently criticized attacks on the judiciary. At an event in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday, Chief Justice John Roberts underscored the judiciarys duty to check the excesses of Congress or the executive.

At a judicial conference last week in Puerto Rico, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson condemned the threats of physical violence and professional retaliation against judges, saying they undermine democracy. Like the other justices, she did not mention Trump by name.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had picked Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

The move came after Trump announced he was pulling current interim U.S. attorney Ed Martins nomination for the full-time role amid faltering support from Capitol Hill Republicans.

Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York, Trump wrote on Truth Social. She is in a class by herself.

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Prior to joining Fox News in 2006, Pirro worked as a county court judge and then served three consecutive terms as Westchester County district attorney. Fox News anchor Bret Baier confirmed Pirro would be leaving the network on his show Thursday.

Throughout his second term, Trump has routinely mined the television network controlled by Rupert Murdoch and his family to build out his administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy both came from Fox News. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was previously a paid contributor.

Martin, Trumps first pick for the job, came under fire for his views on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He helped run an organization that advocated for Jan. 6 defendants and has vehemently pushed Trumps claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

For Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a crucial vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Martins activism around Jan. 6  he marched to the Capitol before the riot but did not enter  was a dealbreaker. Tillis opposition was a grave blow for Martins chances of confirmation. Sure enough, Trump told reporters earlier Thursday that he was moving on.

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We have somebody else that will be great, he said. We have somebody else who well be announcing.

Several hours later, the president announced he'd landed on Pirro.

But Martin will remain in the administration as the new Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice, Trump also announced Thursday on Truth Social.

In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims, Trump said.

Just before the end of his first term in January 2021, Trump issued a pardon to Pirros ex-husband, Albert, who was convicted in 2000 on charges of conspiracy and tax evasion.
President Trump on Thursday tapped Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former judge, to serve as the top prosecutor in the District of Columbia.

Trump announced on Truth Social that he was appointing Pirro to the role of U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., on an interim basis.

In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television, Trump posted.

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Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York, he continued. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!

It was not immediately clear if Trump intended to nominate Pirro to the job on a full-time basis, which would require Senate confirmation.

Pirro is a former judge and prosecutor who was elected multiple times to serve as district attorney for Westchester County in New York.

She is currently a Fox News host who appears regularly on The Five, though Pirro was not among the shows panelists Thursday as speculation swirled about the D.C. job.

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Pirro has been a fixture at the network for nearly two decades. She was named as a co-host of the networks top rated table talk show in 2022.

The firebrand commentator has been sharply critical of Democrats, top media figures and others who Trump and his allies regularly argue have weaponized the Justice Department against him.

During Trumps first term, Pirro drew a rare rebuke from her own network in 2019 when she made controversial comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), an episode during which Trump defended her.

In a statement to The Hill late Thursday, a Fox News spokesperson said Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

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Pirro is just the latest in a slew of Fox hosts, including Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy, to be plucked from the cable channel to serve in the presidents Cabinet.

Trump has a complicated relationship with Fox going back years, and he regularly knocks the channel over its polling numbers and coverage he views as not favorable enough of him.

But in Pirro, Trump has had a consistent ally.

Trump earlier Thursday indicated he would withdraw the nomination of Ed Martin for the top D.C. prosecutor job.

Martins chances of confirmation hit a roadblock when Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday he would not back the nominee, effectively sinking his nomination given the tight margins in the Senate.

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Martin, who has never served as a prosecutor, has been serving in the role on an interim basis and has already taken a number of remarkable moves in his short tenure. He was otherwise set to continue serving as interim U.S. attorney until May 20.

Trump announced in a follow up post on Truth Social that Martin would take a job in the Justice Department as a pardon attorney and head of a Weaponization Working Group.

In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims, Trump posted.

Dominick Mastrangelo contributed to this report.

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Updated at 7:45 p.m. EDT

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President Trump plans to put Ed Martin, his first pick for U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., who was rebuffed by the Senate, in a far-reaching role at the Justice Department.

In a Thursday evening post on his social media site, Trump said Martin would serve as both the head of a new Weaponization Working Group and as the U.S. pardon attorney from a perch in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General.

Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims, Trump wrote.

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Trump indicated Thursday that he would pull Martins nomination after Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he would not vote to advance the attorney out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, effectively killing his nomination after a string of controversies.

Trump then said Thursday in the Oval Office that he hoped to find a role in the Justice Department for the controversial attorney.

The Weaponization Working Group was established by Attorney General Pam Bondi and lays out clear objectives  mandating review of special counsel Jack Smiths work and the pursuit of improper investigative tactics related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

As pardon attorney, Martin would also be responsible for reviewing petitions of those hoping to have their sentences commuted or be pardoned by the president  a group that already includes former GOP Rep. George Santos (N.Y.).

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The Trump administration fired the prior pardon attorney, Liz Oyer, after she said she declined to recommend actor Mel Gibson have his gun rights restored. She was later informed U.S. Marshals were set to be dispatched to her house to deliver a letter asking her not to testify when she agreed to appear at a panel organized by congressional Democrats.

Martin, who previously worked for Phyllis Schlafleys Eagle Forum, responded to the news by tweeting, Eagle Unleashed.

Martin, who was already serving as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., took a number of remarkable moves in his short tenure in the post.

A former Stop the Steal speaker, Martin represented several Jan. 6 defendants in trials, while one of his first moves in his current post was to reassign or dismiss prosecutors on those cases.

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He also simultaneously represented one client while moving to dismiss charges against him as U.S. attorney, doing the same for all cases in the wake of broad pardons issued by Trump on his first day in office.

He also wrote a public letter to Elon Musk threatening to use his prosecutorial platform to go after those who even acted simply unethically, later launching investigations into two Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Martin has sent letters to Georgetown University threatening to investigate the school over its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and more recently he sent letters to a D.C.-based medical marijuana dispensary saying it was operating in violation of federal law.

Trump also announced Thursday that he would put Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former judge, in the U.S. Attorney post in D.C. on an interim basis. Like Martin, she may only serve in the post for 120 days, and Trump did not make clear whether he plans to formally nominate her.

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Beyond his description as being unleashed, Martin also retweeted a post from conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

The left got its wish. Ed Martin wont be U.S. attorney for D.C. Instead, hell get a senior DOJ job heading the investigation into Biden-era weaponization of the DOJ against conservatives, Kirk wrote.

Be careful what you wish for, libs. You just might get it!

Updated at 10:56 a.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Big Blue Box trucker Freddy Lazo steps out of his rig at the truck terminal in New Brighton, Minn. in April 2025. (Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer)

Freddy Lazo left a restaurant job for a higher paying one in trucking about two-and-a-half years ago. But the way President Trumps trade war is going, hes thinking he might have to go back to waiting tables soon.

Its really super slow, Lazo said, looking across the mostly empty trucking yard of shipping company Big Blue Box in New Brighton.

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A slump in work is to be expected in this industry every once in a while, although in normal times, its usually brief and quickly followed by a boom in business. Looking out at the horizon though, harder times may lie ahead.

Since Liberation Day on April 2, when Trump announced tariffs on the whole world, many retailers have suspended orders of patio furniture, Barbie dolls, candles and everything else that arrives on rail from coastal ports in giant shipping containers, which Lazo trucks to final destinations across the Midwest. Although Trump paused the so-called reciprocal tariffs, the 145% tax on Chinese imports and a 10% tax on imports from most other countries remain, along with deep uncertainty.

Lazo is an independent contractor, which means if hes not driving, hes not getting paid. It also means hes not eligible for unemployment benefits to ease the pain of lost earnings. Fortunately, hes already paid off his older rig and has been able to tap into his savings. Still, a protracted slowdown would mean he or his wife will need to get another job to support their five kids.

If this continues I definitely have to find a different way to make money, Lazo said.

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Big Blue Box Vice President Ted Longbella said they aim to move about 120 containers a day  big blue shipping containers, as the name suggests. Toys, windows and games come in. Scrap metal, grain and dairy powder go out.

Hes been keeping a close eye on the number of blank sailings, when an ocean shipping company cancels a planned trip, because it tells him what demand will be like in the near future.

Hes like a taxi driver staring up at the airport sign listing arrivals and watching one flight after another canceled. There are passengers that still need rides home now, but pretty soon the airport will be empty.

Big Blue Box Vice President Ted Longbella at his companys headquarters in New Brighton, Minn. in 2025. (Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer)

There are more than 56,000 semi-truck drivers and another 18,000 light truck drivers in Minnesota, according to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development, meaning widespread layoffs and reductions in income could ripple throughout the greater economy.

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Ocean carriers in the Pacific have been canceling trips at a faster rate than during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to freight forwarder Flexport. The company reports more than 25% of weekly transpacific service-loops were canceled in late April and early May compared to 24% in the same time period in 2020.

Cargo at the massive Port of Los Angeles, which handled nearly 20 million containers in 2024, is down 35% in early May from the same time last year.

To prepare for the coming dip, Longbella said hes put on his salesman hat to find new business to keep his 140 employees and independent contractors busy  and keep them from leaving to work for competitors.

He said truckers in Minnesota will really feel the effects of the tariffs around June, when the surge of goods that were panic-ordered before Liberation Day turns into a trickle.

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That lines up with a timeline of turmoil from Apollo Global Management, which predicts empty shelves by the end of May and layoffs in trucking and retail in early June. A recession could follow shortly after that.

The situation could be worse had companies not diversified their suppliers after the COVID-19 pandemic to be less reliant on China. Many companies have been able to switch to suppliers from other countries and are now loading up on goods before the pause on reciprocal tariffs lifts on July 9.

Yet its not just imports that are suffering.

Were usually doing a lot of soybean pickups throughout the whole year, and those have slowed since the tariff uncertainty, Longbella said.

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Trump administration officials are scheduled to meet with Chinese representatives this weekend in Switzerland, which could help lead to a deal that reduces the tariffs on China that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as effectively an embargo. Even if Trump lays down arms in the trade war soon  an unlikely, best case scenario  the trucking and retail industries will still feel aftershocks.

On the other side, demand is going to be nuts, Longbella said.

That will give shipping companies power to raise prices like they did during the pandemic. The challenge for truckers is to make it to the other side.

Trucking companies have to pay their bills in one or two weeks, Longbella said. A lot of companies will have gone out of business, unfortunately, because a lot of trucking companies are hand-to-mouth.
President Donald Trump wanted a big, beautiful bill. Now Republicans are having to take some of the shine off of it.

GOP leaders on Capitol Hill signaled Thursday they are scaling back their tax-cutting ambitions after running into difficulty making deep spending cuts and facing stern warnings from Republican deficit hawks who are threatening to vote against Trumps sprawling megabill.

On the chopping block could be a litany of Trump demands, including a permanent extension of the tax cuts passed during his first term, as well as second-term campaign promises to provide tax relief to seniors while also exempting taxes on tips and overtime earnings. Those provisions could end up getting enacted only temporarily, according to four Republican lawmakers, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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With key committees struggling to meet a $2 trillion spending cut target, Speaker Mike Johnson told a group of House Republicans Thursday he is now targeting $4 trillion of tax cuts. Thats a half-trillion dollars less than many in the GOP had hoped, and its likely below the threshold needed to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent  one of Trumps earliest demands for the party-line megabill.

Republicans talk a big game  about reining in reckless spending, House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) told reporters. You wont get the full permanency in the tax policy on all the provisions if we dont get to the $2 trillion in savings, and thats unfortunate.

That cake is not yet totally baked: Republican leaders are still exploring a request from Trump to increase income taxes on the highest-earning Americans  from 37 percent to 39.6 percent, the level that prevailed before the 2017 law  in order to make room for more tax cuts elsewhere.



The Houses top tax writer, Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), is set to visit the White House Friday as GOP leaders grapple with the idea of a more modest package. Trump posted Wednesday on Truth Social that the bill would deliver the biggest Tax Cut for Middle and Working Class Americans by far.

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We are going to do NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON SENIORS SOCIAL SECURITY, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, and much more, he wrote.

Under Johnsons new $4 trillion tax plan, however, Smith may not be able to deliver on all of Trumps requests. Many of the desired tax cuts might be in place for only a few years  forcing future Congresses to decide whether to keep them in place.

Time is running out for Republicans to put the puzzle pieces together. Johnson is pushing to have three key committees vote on their portions of the bill next week. And with the committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Agriculture all currently slated to convene on Tuesday, the window to make changes to the overall package is closing quickly.

Committee rules give the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is weighing major Medicaid changes, until 24 hours before the meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. to release final legislative language. Ways and Means is aiming to meet at the same time.

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Even if House GOP leaders manage to pull the megabill together, the Senate is poised to revise many of the policies. Many GOP senators have balked at making deep cuts to Medicaid and pushing food aid costs onto the states, which could trim back the cuts further, and Senate tax writers are pushing back on the higher top-earner rate.

Im not excited about the proposal, but I have to say, there are a number of people in both the House and the Senate who are, and if the president weighs in favor of it, then thats going to be a big factor that we have to take into consideration as well, Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said Thursday in an interview with talk show host Hugh Hewitt.

Crapo has been an outspoken advocate for essentially writing off the cost of permanently extending the 2017 tax cuts and accounting only for the cost of new tax provisions. But the politics in the House are different, where a cadre of fiscal hawks are demanding that GOP leaders hold spending cuts and tax cuts in rough balance.

Smith had already indicated it would be difficult to make the 2017 bill permanent under the Houses fiscal framework, which envisioned $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts. (Fiscal hawks are counting on economic growth and other dynamic effects to make up the difference.)

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Now that Johnson is planning on $500 billion less in tax cuts, tax writers on the committee will have to make some very difficult choices on what to prioritize. One tax writer, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.), said Wednesday that he expects a number of tax provisions to be temporary, with some extended for four, six or eight years.

Those include various pieces of Trumps 2017 tax law, such as tax deductions for businesses, individual tax rates and estate taxes. House Republicans have also wanted to restore three critical business provisions, which would cost more than $600 billion to make permanent. Then, Smith has to find room for enacting Trumps campaign priorities, such as his ideas on tips, overtime and Social Security.

Even with revenue-generating proposals  such as increasing the tax on university endowments and repealing Biden-era clean energy credits  the math is not adding up for Republicans who want to fit it all in.

Thats to say nothing of the push from blue-state Republicans to increase the income tax deduction for state and local taxes. The so-called SALT Republicans presented proposals to Ways and Means members Wednesday, but they left far from a resolution that would satisfy both sides.

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On Thursday evening, New York Republicans Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik rejected one House GOP idea under discussion: increasing the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $30,000. They called the number insulting.

We were on the 25-yard line with about 75 yards to go, LaLota told reporters Thursday. We got sacked at that meeting. We probably lost five to ten yards.

Meanwhile, House GOP efforts to amp up spending cuts have largely faltered. On Medicaid  which had been targeted for as much as $600 billion in savings  Republicans have found consensus on only the more modest proposals, such as adding work requirements in the program, strengthening eligibility checks and booting noncitizens from the rolls.

Johnson ruled out one of the most controversial Medicaid cuts GOP leaders had been pursuing, slashing the federal cost share for the joint federal-state program, after meeting with moderates Tuesday evening. And House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said a policy intended to lower drug prices in the program that the White House has pitched is likely off the table, too.

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Another ambitious cost-cutting proposal  capping the federal payments for at least some Medicaid enrollees  remains an option, though its politically explosive.

Ultraconservatives are demanding those kinds of structural changes, but moderates are wary. In a report requested by Democrats, the Congressional Budget Office estimated Wednesday that a similar policy to what is being discussed could lead to 3.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage and 1.5 million people going uninsured. It would, however, generate $225 billion in savings.

Its a sensitive thing, Johnson conceded Thursday.

House Republicans also still need to convince centrist holdouts to back a controversial proposal to shift some costs of food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to states for the first time ahead of the scheduled House Agriculture Committee meeting.

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While the pared-down tax cuts might represent a setback for the Trump agenda, some in the White House have been relieved that Congress has stepped back from the most far-reaching proposals for safety-net cuts, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the private reactions, and are privately rooting for the swing-district moderates to win out over hard-liners.

Trump has promised the largest tax cuts in history, but hes also repeatedly pledged not to cut Americans government benefits  and hes recently grown uncomfortable with proposals for far-reaching Medicaid cuts.

Brian Faler and Robert King contributed to this report.
Donald Trumps administration is calling on the Supreme Court to let immigration officials cancel humanitarian protections for tens of thousands of immigrants who were allowed to legally live and work in the United States.

Solicitor General John Sauer, making yet another emergency appeal to the nations highest court, called on the justices to lift a lower court order that blocks the administration from ending a parole program for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Demonstrators in Miami protest Trump's decision to revoke temporary protected status for thousands of Venezuelans who fled the country and immigrated to the United States (Getty Images)

Last month, Barack Obama-appointed District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts temporarily blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems order that would have ended legal status for more than 530,000 people admitted to the program within weeks.

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In a filing on Thursday, Sauer argued that the decision should be left up to Noem and Trump, not the courts.

Judge Talwani engaged in the very review Congress prohibited  needlessly upending critical immigration policies that are carefully calibrated to deter illegal entry, vitiating core executive branch prerogatives, and undoing democratically approved policies that featured heavily in the November election, he wrote.

The judges order maintained temporarily legal status for roughly 110,300 Cubans, 210,000 Haitians, 93,100 Nicaraguans, and 117,300 Venezuelans.

Ending the program would force targeted immigrants to choose between two injurious options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings that put them at risk of arrest and detention and effectively kill any chances of receiving other forms of immigration relief in the future  potentially permanently, Judge Talwani wrote.

Courts have blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from ending humanitarian parole programs granting temporary legal status for tens of thousands of immigrants fleeing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (Getty Images)

Trump is separately calling on the Supreme Court to let the administration end temporary legal status for roughly 600,000 Venezuelans, after a federal judge warned that Noems attempts to cut humanitarian protections for fleeing immigrants will inflict irreparable harm on hundreds of thousands of persons whose lives, families, and livelihoods will be severely disrupted, cost the United States billions in economic activity, and injure public health and safety in communities throughout the United States.

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That ruling from California District Judge Edward Chen, another Obama appointee, said the administrations attempt to strip protections smacks of racism and appears predicated on negative stereotypes casting class-wide aspersions on their character, including insinuating they were released from Venezuelan prisons and mental health facilities and imposed huge financial burdens on local communities, according to the judge.

Trump has repeatedly called on the Supreme Court to intervene after several court rulings struck down parts of his anti-immigration agenda.

Another case before the Supreme Court relates to his use of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members from the country.

On May 15, the justices will hear oral arguments in his challenge to several nationwide injunctions that blocked Trumps executive order that attempts to deny citizenship to children born in the United States if their parents are unlawfully present or have lawful but temporary status in the country.

It is unclear whether the justices will address the merits of his birthright citizenship order or only the objections to the nationwide scope of the rulings against it.
As high-stakes U.S.-China trade talks approach, President Donald Trump on Friday morning signaled a dramatic potential shift in policy, floating the idea of an 80% tariff on Chinese imports.

80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B., Trump posted on his Truth Social account, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will lead the American delegation in a pivotal meeting on Saturday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva, Switzerland.

The talks aim to address continuing trade tensions and explore avenues for de-escalation. At the moment, the U.S. has a 145% levy on goods imported from China, while China has a 125% duty on goods imported from the U.S  levels that have contributed to slowing economic growth on both sides of the Pacific.

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Though no formal policy shift has been announced, Trumps public endorsement of an 80% rate has fueled speculation that his administration is preparing to revise its tariff strategy.

The president also wrote on social media in an all-caps message that China should open up its market to the U.S. because it would be so good for them.

CLOSED MARKETS DONT WORK ANYMORE!!! Trump wrote.

Trump has signaled before that he is open to lowering tariffs on Chinese imports. In late April, he floated the idea of making substantial cuts, suggesting a more conciliatory approach. Speaking to reporters at that time, Trump said he intends to be very nice to China during negotiations and indicated that tariffs could be reduced if a deal is reached.

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[The tariff level] will come down substantially, but it wont be zero, Trump said, adding that were going to be very nice, and theyre going to be very nice, and well see what happens.

The New York Post (NWSA) reported on Thursday that those numbers might not be the 80% the president teased Friday morning but lower: reportedly between 50% and 54%.

The U.S.-China trade talks are expected to cover a broad array of topics, including tariffs, intellectual property protections, and the resumption of direct bilateral investment talks. Whether Trumps latest comment reflects a new strategy or a negotiating posture remains to be seen.

The president said in late April that he had talked with Chinese President Xi Jinping many times, but Chinese officials have pushed back against that, with one spokesperson calling that fake news.

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The Trump administration announced its first post-tariff trade deal Thursday, with the United Kingdom, a deal which is to maintain the 10% baseline tariffs on the sovereign nation. In the Oval Office when speaking to reporters, the president said the U.K. earned its 10% rate thanks to what he described as a history of respect and fair treatment in its dealings with the U.S.

Some will be much higher because [other countries] have massive trade surpluses and, in many cases, they didnt treat us right, Trump said.

One thing with U.K. ... they always treated us with great respect, he told reporters, dismissing any suggestion that the 10% tariffs were a template for future deals. Thats a low number  they made a good deal.

Trump claimed that the deal with the U.K. was the first of many to come. He wrote Friday morning that there are Many Trade Deals in the hopper, all good (GREAT!) ones!

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Trump has hinted at a number of deals for a while now, with his administration suggesting its in active negotiations with the U.K., India, South Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

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With the clear crushing of his dreams about winning a Nobel Prize for ending the war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump is now setting his sights on equally grand history by making a deal that halts Irans pursuit of a nuclear weapon. He is likely to find this reverie equally fantastical.

First, there is the awkward fact that in his first term, Trump scuttled an accord that struck just such a deal, for the sole reason that the deal had been negotiated by his predecessor and object of loathing, Barack Obama. In the seven years since the sabotage, Tehrans leaders have revived their nuclear program and are now closer than ever to building an actual bomb. Among other things, this makes it unlikely that they would agree to a deal more restrictive than Obamasor that Trump and entourage would swallow a deal that puts lighter clamps on the Islamic Republics aims and capabilities.

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Second, even leaving history aside, the conditions that Trump and his entourage say they would place on a new nuclear deal make it all but impossible for the mullahs of Tehran to agree. The main obstacle is Trumps insistence on Irans total dismantlement of every aspect of its nuclear program, including its uranium enrichment facilities. It is hard to imagine any reward that would lure the Iranians to go that far.

In the first phase of the original Iran nuclear talks, Obama and his P5+1 negotiating partners (China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom) insisted on an enrichment ban. But they soon realized that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treatyconcluded in 1970, ratified by the United Nations, and signed by 190 countries (including Iran)explicitly allows the signatories to enrich uranium to a purity level of 3 percent; enough to generate electrical power. The American and Soviet officials who drafted the NPT half a century ago lured other countries to sign not only by allowing them to harness nuclear energy but by assisting them to do so; the treaty guaranteed them the necessary technology, as part of a program called Atoms for Peace.

Uranium enriched to 3 percent is a long way from the roughly 90 percent level needed for weapons-grade stuff. But the technology is the same, and the step up to 90 percent from 60 percentIrans level at the momentis minor.

This has always been a loophole in the NPT. A country could sign on, start enriching uranium while staying within the treatys limits, and then one day suddenly exceed those limits and declare itself a nuclear-weapons state.

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Still, the Iranian delegates to the Obama-era talks argued that they should not be denied a right that an international treaty granted to almost every other country on Earth. Besides, an annex to the NPTwhich Iran had also signedallowed international inspectors to verify compliance with the treatys limits. The argument was compellingand the Obama-era deal stiffened the inspections. (Trumps first secretary of defense, retired Gen. James Mattis, testified early on in his term that the deals verification clauses, which he said hed read three times, were robust.)

Vice President J.D. Vance recently said that the only countries now enriching uranium are those that have nuclear weapons. If this were true, it would be a persuasive argument that a treaty barring Iranians from nuclear weapons should also bar them from enrichmentbut it isnt true. Five other countries possessing no nuclear weaponsArgentina, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlandshappen to enrich uranium. In other words, Irans programespecially a program whose level of enrichment is limited by an arms control accordimplies nothing about its intention.

It would be nice if senior U.S. officials talked with expert advisersor even consulted Googlebefore speaking in public about a subject.

Trump, of course, is the model for those who feel no obligation to fact-check before yammering. On this issue, Trump said its fine if Iran uses uranium for electrical power as long as it doesnt use it to build nuclear weaponsignoring, or perhaps not knowing, that the NPT and the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal allowed precisely this distinction. He also said that he would love to lift the economic sanctions against Iran, allowing its people to lead better and richer lives, in exchange for the dismantlement of its nuclear programsagain ignoring, or perhaps not precisely knowing, that this was the essence of the Obama deal.

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Its worth wondering what Benjamin Netanyahu thinks of all this. Israels prime minister was instrumental in convincing Trump, back in 2018, to scuttle the first Iran nuclear deal. Many Israeli military and security officers supported Obamas deal, some in public, others more quietly, noting that it was at least better than no deal at all. Some of those officers thought at the timeI dont know whether they knewthat Netanyahu objected not so much to the section limiting Iranian nukes but rather to the section lifting sanctions and thus allowing Iran to reenter the global economy and as a participant in legitimate Middle Eastern diplomacy. Trump, after his latest reversal, is holding out the latter prospects as a positive development.

Trump hopes to hold direct talks with Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian later this month after first visiting Saudi Arabia. Pezeshkian, a moderate by his countrys standards, has advocated reopening relations with the West, even resuming some version of the nuclear deal if it means the lifting of sanctions. It is possible that the two presidents could sign a statement of principles guiding new nuclear talks.

But its the details that matter. It took Iran and the P5+1 countries two years to thread the details of the 159-page deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signedand ratified by the U.N.in 2015. Trump tends to think deals, even big deals, can be hammered out in an instant. In this case, he doesnt knowor think he needs to knowthe broad outlines of what would make a new deal acceptable to all sides. And to the extent hes spoken about it, his notion of the broad outlines wouldnt be acceptable at all.
President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on toy-maker Mattel after the company said it would diversify its production to other countries, but not the United States.

Sitting in the Oval Office Thursday, Trump indicated he was not afraid to punish Mattel, the creator of Barbie, Hot Wheels, Uno, American Girl and more, for refusing to move its production in the U.S.  the ultimate goal of Trumps tariffs.

It was in response to Ynon Kreiz, the chairman and CEO of Mattel, telling CNBC on Tuesday that it was unlikely the company would move production into the U.S as a result of tariffs; preferring instead to diversify production to other countries or just raise prices on U.S. consumers.

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He said that even with tariffs, costs are too high in the U.S. to produce affordable toys for even the American consumer

Thats ok. Let him go, and well put a 100 percent tariff on his toy, and he wont sell one toy in the United States, and thats their biggest market, Trump said.

Toy maker Mattel said it would not move production to the U.S. as a result of Trumps tariffs, angering the president (EPA)

Kreiz said that a significant portion of toy creation does occur in the U.S., such as design, development, product engineering and brand management, but that producing toys overseas allows them to create a quality and affordable product.

Approximately 20 percent of Mattels toy imports to the U.S. come from China.

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Kreiz said the company hopes to bring that down to 15 percent next year and eventually 10 percent or less in 2027. This year, Mattel is relocating production of 500 of its toys from China to other locations, such as India.

When asked if Trumps 145 percent tariffs on China, or other reciprocal tariffs, would inspire Mattel to move its toy production to the U.S., Kreiz reiterated, We dont see that happening.

The company said its determined to keep 40 to 50 percent of its products priced at $20 or less, but it may have to raise some prices in the U.S.

From the Oval Office, Trump threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on Mattel for not moving production (AP)

Trump brushed that claim off, saying tariffs were the most misunderstood thing  in any form of business.

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Oftentimes, the country picks them up, oftentimes the company picks it up, the people dont pick it up, Trump asserted in the Oval Office on Thursday.

Global economists agree that tariffs do impact consumers because companies raise prices to offset the additional taxes on imported goods that they cannot absorb.

Last week, Trump acknowledged that his tariffs could lead to higher prices or less inventory, saying, Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. He also suggested those two dolls could cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.

But he has remained firm that tariffs will ultimately help the U.S. economy by increasing domestic production  a claim that economists are skeptical of.

The president said he believes Mattel is threatening to move production elsewhere besides the U.S. to negotiate a deal with him.
As the Trump administration faces multiple lawsuits over its rescission of temporary protected status for people of various nationalities who are fleeing legitimate strife in their countries, its preparing to roll out the red carpet for a new group it has designated as refugees: white South Africans who say theyve been discriminated against by their countrys anti-apartheid government.

The MAGA movement  including Trump and his top campaign donor, Elon Musk, who is himself a native of South Africa  has spent years peddling the claim that South Africa has discriminated against white people as it has sought to correct the racist wrongs inflicted on Black South Africans during the apartheid era. The argument is not far removed from the one embraced by some white nationalists, who look to ex-colonial Africa for dubious claims of anti-white oppression.

The New York Times reports Trump is preparing to welcome 54 white South Africans, known as Afrikaners, on Sunday.

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According to the New York Times:

The Trump administration is planning to bring the first group of white South Africans it has classified as refugees to the United States on Monday, according to officials briefed on the plans and documents obtained by The New York Times. Although the president halted virtually all other refugee admissions shortly after he took office in January, his administration hastily put together a program to allow in white South Africans, who he claims have been the victims of racial persecution in their home country. The administration plans to send government officials to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia for an event marking the arrival of the South Africans ... according to a memo from the Department of Health and Human Services.

This news (which has not been verified by MSNBC or NBC News) dropped on Thursday  the same day the administration asked the Supreme Court to allow it to rescind deportation protections from hundreds of thousands of Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan immigrants. It has already rescinded TPS for Afghan and Cameroonian refugees, as well. All of these decisions are being challenged in court, and the racial overtones seem like they should be clear to anyone willing to see them. (One might note that Trump was also reportedly weighing revocation of TPS for Ukrainian refugees but has not done so, to date.)

Trump, who launched his political career with a bigoted diatribe in which he characterized Mexican immigrants as drug-pushers and rapists, has built a movement largely centered around white grievance politics. And he reaffirmed his allegiance to that effort last year when he vowed to crack down on what he called anti-white feeling in the U.S. if elected president  even though anti-white discrimination doesnt exist in any systemic way. The administration importing white South Africans suggests an attempt to globalize his pro-white agenda.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The trade war between the US and China is putting tens of thousands of jobs in Germany at risk, according to insurer Allianz Trade.

Exporters from China are likely to push into the European market, and particularly into Germany, if the US and China fail to reach a compromise, according to an analysis seen by dpa.

US President Donald Trump announced the US was imposing blanket tariffs of at least 10% on all imports to the country, plus additional levies for a host of trading partners, triggering significant turbulence in the stock and financial markets.

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While many of the planned tariffs were suspended to allow for trade negotiations, special tariffs of up to 145% remain in place on Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on US products.

Chinese companies are likely to try to find other sales markets for their goods, the analysis said, which would increase competitive pressure on German companies at home and abroad as supply will increase.

Some 14% of Chinese exports relocated elsewhere could end up in Germany over the next three years, Allianz Trade said, saying this meant goods worth some $33 billion.

"The US tariffs are leading to significant shifts in trade flows almost everywhere in the world," said Milo Bogaerts, head of Allianz Trade in Germany, in a statement.

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Between 17,000 and 25,000 jobs in German industry are at risk if goods are relocated, with mechanical engineering, the textile industry and companies that make household goods and sanitary products all areas which could see job losses, the analysis said.

Companies that produce electronics, computers and vehicles would also be affected.

Southern Germany could be particularly hard hit, as it is home to a relatively large number of industrial companies manufacturing such products.
Jeanine Pirro, co-host of the Fox News show "The Five," will leave the network immediately after being appointed as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.

A representative for Fox News confirmed her departure after Trump announced Thursday on Truth Social he has named Pirro for the position currently held on an interim basis by Ed Martin.

Martin's nomination for a permanent spot was pulled amid concerns raised by Republican senators over his connections to Nazi sympathizers and his legal defense of Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters.

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Pirro, 73, is a former district attorney for Westchester County, N.Y., and also served as a county judge before launching a career as a television commentator. She had her own program on Saturday night until 2022, when she was moved to "The Five," the most watched program on cable news.

Once a Fox News employee or contributor is nominated for a government role, their contract with the network is terminated as a standard practice for the company.

Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to 'The Five' over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure," a network representative said in a statement. "We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.

Fox News hosts and contributors have filled a number of roles in the Trump administration, the most prominent being Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

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Like most nominees that Trump has selected from the Fox News pool, Pirro has been an ardent supporter of the president.

Pirro's nomination, which needs to be confirmed by the Senate, comes with some baggage.

She is a defendant in the defamation lawsuit filed against Fox News by voter software company Smartmatic. The $2.7-billion suit says she presented false conspiracy theories and accusations about Smartmatics role in the 2020 election.

Fox News has said in court that Smartmatic was not damaged by its reporting, which the network says is protected by the 1st Amendment.

Pirro was moved to "The Five" after the network canceled her weekly Saturday night program. Hosting alongside Jessica Tarlov, Jesse Watters, Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld, the program became more popular than ever during her tenure.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Corrects president who appointed judge in paragraph 17)

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - A Tufts University student from Turkey who was held for over six weeks in an immigration detention center in Louisiana after co-writing an opinion piece criticizing her school's response to Israel's war in Gaza was released from custody on Friday after a federal judge granted her bail.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions during a hearing in Burlington, Vermont, ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, who is at the center of one of the highest-profile cases to emerge from Republican President Donald Trump's campaign to deport pro-Palestinian activists on American campuses.

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The judge said Ozturk, whose arrest in Massachusetts in March was captured in a viral video, had raised a substantial claim that the sole reason she was being detained was "simply and purely the expression that she made or shared in the op-ed in violation of her First Amendment rights."

"Her continued detention potentially chills the speech of the millions and millions of individuals in this country who are not citizens," Sessions said. "Any one of them may now avoid exercising their First Amendment rights for fear of being whisked away to a detention center."

Ozturk, who appeared before the judge virtually from the Louisiana detention facility, could be seen hugging one of her attorneys after the judge ordered her release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's custody.

She was released hours later, her legal team said. The judge will take up arguments in her underlying lawsuit at a later hearing.

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"We are so relieved that Rumeysa will soon be back in Massachusetts, and won't stop fighting until she is free for good," Jessie Rossman, a lawyer for Ozturk at the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said in a statement.

Massachusetts-based Tufts has said it plans to help provide Ozturk housing upon her release. In a statement, a university spokesperson said it hoped she would be able to rejoin its community as soon as possible to resume her doctoral studies.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called the judge's ruling another sign of what he considers a "judicial coup" in the United States. Several parts of the president's hardline immigration agenda have been blocked by judges.

"We cannot individually litigate every single visa that we want to revoke," Miller told reporters.

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The judge ruled shortly after a federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's bid to re-detain Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian campus activist who a different judge in Vermont ordered released last week after immigration authorities arrested him as well.

'SIGNIFICANT CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS'

Ozturk was arrested on March 25 by masked, plainclothes officers on a street in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts, near her home after the U.S. Department of State revoked her student visa.

The sole basis authorities have provided for revoking her visa was an opinion piece she co-authored in Tufts' student newspaper criticizing the school's response to calls by students to divest from companies with ties to Israel and to "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide."

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Her lawyers at the ACLU argue that her arrest and detention were unlawfully designed to punish her for speech protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and to chill the speech of others.

The PhD student and Fulbright scholar was moved to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana, even though her lawyer filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts the day she was arrested and a judge there barred her from being moved out of the state without 48 hours' notice.

By the time that order came down, ICE had already taken her to Vermont, where she was held briefly before being flown to Louisiana. A judge in Massachusetts subsequently transferred her case to Vermont, saying it could be properly heard there.

Sessions, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, then ordered that Ozturk be moved to Vermont so she could be available while he considered her "significant constitutional concerns."

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A federal appeals court on Wednesday ordered her transferred back to Vermont by May 14, but Sessions opted to proceed with a previously-scheduled bail hearing on Friday and allow Ozturk to appear remotely after her lawyers said she was suffering from worsening asthma attacks while in custody.

She suffered one such asthma attack in the middle of Friday's hearing. She told the judge she had suffered about a dozen while in custody, more than at any time in the last two years, which she blamed on the "challenging" conditions of her confinement in an overly-packed space with poor air ventilation.

"The duration and frequency have increased because of both the constant triggers surrounding me and also the stressful environment that I am living in right now," Ozturk said.

(This story has been corrected to clarify that Bill Clinton appointed the judge, not Barack Obama, in paragraph 17)

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by David Bario, Bill Berkrot, Deepa Babington and Diane Craft)
May 9 (UPI) -- Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University doctoral student grabbed by ICE in Massachusetts and imprisoned in Louisiana, was granted bail from ICE detention Friday.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions said at the end of the hearing that Ozturk raised "very substantial" and "very significant" claims of First Amendment and due process rights violations in her case.

He said her detention cannot stand.

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Sessions said, "Ozturk is free to return to her home in Massachusetts. She's also free to travel to Massachusetts and Vermont as she sees fit, and I am not going to put a travel restriction on her, because, frankly, I don't find that she poses any risk of flight."

The judge ordered the government to immediately release her.

Ozturk began coughing at one point during the hearing and she rushed out of the room to get her inhaler. She attended the hearing virtually.

A defense lawyer had urged the judge to grant immediate bail, telling him Ozturk faces "significant health risks" if she stays in ICE custody.

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The 2nd Circuit's U.S. Court of Appeals had ordered Wednesday that she be transferred back to Vermont.

Her student visa was revoked immediately and she was taken into custody by armed masked agents without warning March 25 in Somerset, Mass., after she co-wrote an op-ed in the campus newspaper.

She was imprisoned in a Louisiana detention center afterward. Tufts University demanded her release "without delay."

Ozturk is a Turkish national and was legally studying in the United States until the Trump administration's State Department abruptly revoked her visa without prior notification.

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Ozturk attorney Mahsa Khanbani said she was targeted for her pro-Palestinian views expressed in the student newspaper op-ed.

Trump administration prosecutors charge without evidence that Ozturk supported Hamas.

Before Ozturk's release was ordered, her defense lawyers said she has not been charged with any crime and maintained that her detention violated constitutional free speech and due process rights.

President Donald Trump said May 4 during an NBC News interview he was not sure immigrants are entitled to due process rights.

Asked to respond to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comment that every person in the United States is entitled to due process, Trump replied, "I don't know. I'm not, I'm not a lawyer. I don't know."
BURLINGTON, Vt (AP)  A federal judge in Vermont on Friday released on bail a Turkish Tufts University student detained in a Louisiana immigration center more than six weeks after she was arrested while walking along a street in a Boston suburb.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Burlington released Rumeysa Ozturk pending a final decision on her claim that shes been illegally detained.

Turkish Tufts University student detained by ICE can be sent to Vermont, appeals court rules

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Ozturk, detailing her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate degree focusing on children and social media, appeared at a bail hearing remotely from the Louisiana center.

Lawyers for Ozturk, 30, said her detention violates her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process.

Ozturk was released Friday on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions, Sessions said. He said she is not a danger to the community or a flight risk, but that he might amend his release order to consider any specific conditions by ICE.

He said he didnt think electronic monitoring would be in order, and that she would also check in with a staffer of the Burlington Community Justice Center for supervisory checks.

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The U.S. Justice Department said an immigration court in Louisiana, which is conducting separate removal proceedings regarding Ozturk, has jurisdiction over her case.

Sessions ordered Ozturks transfer to Vermont, where she was last confined before she was taken to Louisiana. The government requested a delay, but a federal appeals court upheld his decision Wednesday, ordering Ozturk to be transferred to ICE custody in Vermont no later than May 14.

Sessions decided not to wait for the transfer, going ahead with the bail hearing.

Ozturk waived her right to appear at the hearing in person, agreeing to participate remotely.

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Vermont leaders launch rapid-response effort to protect legal rights of immigrants

Immigration officials surrounded Ozturk in Massachusetts on March 25 and drove her to New Hampshire and Vermont before putting her on a plane to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana. Her student visa had been revoked several days earlier, but she was not informed of that, her lawyers said.

Ozturks lawyers first filed a petition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they did not know where she was and were unable to speak to her until more than 24 hours after she was detained. A Massachusetts judge later transferred the case to Vermont.

Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an op-ed in the campus newspaper, The Tufts Daily, last year criticizing the universitys response to student activists demanding that Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
ROME  Dwight and Sarah Hardison of Tupelo had an unforgettable day in the Eternal City.

They were among the tens of thousands in Rome when white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, the signal that the conclave of cardinals had elected a new pope.

The Hardisons left for Italy on May 1, with stops in Naples and Sorrento before taking a train to Rome for a few nights.

"On two business trips in the early 2000s to Italy, I had the chance to visit Rome. I had promised to take Sarah to Italy as it was on her bucket list," Dwight Hardison said.

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This year also is a Jubilee Year, which began on Christmas Eve 2024 and continues until Epiphany in 2026  a time of celebration, spiritual renewal and a stronger connection to faith. Many Catholics flock to Rome and the Vatican during this time, and the Hardisons were expecting the city to be packed with people.

Ironically, Dwight Harrison said prior to the trip, "Maybe we'll see some white smoke if our timing is good."

Their timing was indeed good.

They began Thursday with a private tour of the Vatican (the Sistine Chapel was closed off to the public because of the conclave). Little did they know what would happen hours later.

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"Our tour was breathtaking, all the artistry, proportions and beauty of the collections and buildings, Dwight Hardison said. I guess there were 15,000 to 20,000 people. Tours gathered in St Peters square and the surrounding area. News stations from everywhere were set up in the square."

After their tour ended around 1 p.m. local time, the Hardisons had lunch at a nearby restaurant.

"With the next vote around 6 p.m. or so, we decided to see a few more sites near Vatican City, Dwight Hardison said.

At approximately 6:11 p.m. local time, cathedral bells began ringing across Rome  the signal that a new pope, Pope Leo XIV, had been selected.

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It was unlike anything the couple had ever experienced.

"Both Sarah and I had goosebumps knowing we were in Rome near Vatican City for this historic event, Hardison said. We would have rather seen the white smoke to fully mark the occasion; just being here and seeing the reactions of the locals and tourists made it an unforgettable moment."
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on May 8 that he believed either Turkey or China would serve as a capable "mediator" if the United States pulls out of negotiations to end the war.

Speaking to reporters following an EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Warsaw, Sikorski said that he hope the U.S. succeeds in "mediation efforts" between Russia and Ukraine, European Pravda reported.

"But if this path turns out to be unsuccessful, there are other candidates," Sikorski added. "There is Turkey, which maintains channels of communication. And then, above all, there is the People's Republic of China, which, more than anyone else, has the means to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin come to the negotiating table and soften his demands."

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Sikorski's comments come as the United States has reportedly grown frustrated at the lack of progress being made on negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. On April 26, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be "tapping me along" in negotiations.

On May 8, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the U.S. would be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war.

Turkey has positioned itself as a potential mediator in Russia's all-out war against Ukraine by maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both nations. Leveraging its strategic position and influence in the Black Sea region, Turkey has facilitated negotiations and grain exports, while expressing willingness to participate in ceasefire monitoring.

While China has also positioned itself as a potential mediator in the war, it has simultaneously criticized the U.S. and its allies for "exacerbating" the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine. NATO has labeled China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's aggression.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on April 17 that China is supplying weapons to the Russian military. His statement marks Kyiv's first confirmation that Beijing supports Russia's war effort by providing weapons.

Despite Vance's comment, following a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump seemingly contradicted Vance on May 8, saying that he was "committed" to securing a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

"As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions," Trump added.

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Read also: Trump calls for unconditional ceasefire, committed to securing peace between Ukraine, Russia









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Harvest reports from the 2025 spring turkey seasons are rolling in, and in many states, like Ohio, the numbers are still behind long-term averages. Although the Ohio Wildlife Council has already approved an either-sex turkey season for the coming fall, The Columbus Dispatch reports that concerns around bird populations have re-opened debates about whether hunters should be shooting any hens in the fall.

The Buckeye State isnt the first to grapple with questions around hunter harvest. Hunter harvest isnt the only factor impacting turkey populations, but is the only one that wildlife agencies can fully control. Over the last 10 to 20 years, many state agencies (including the ODWR) have lowered bag limits, pushed back spring season dates, or tweaked other regulations (like the ban on reaping that was just enacted in South Carolina) in the name of turkey numbers. Others have taken the more drastic steps of restricting or eliminating their fall turkey seasons altogether, which have traditionally allowed hunters to take birds of either sex. The reasoning shared by some managers is that if were trying to stem or reverse population declines, we should keep as many egg-laying females on the landscape as possible

There really is no biological justification for taking a hen out of a population. It either doesnt matter, or it does, or its somewhere in between, says Dr. Mike Chamberlain, a professor of wildlife ecology and researcher at the University of Georgia, and one of the foremost experts on wild turkeys today. But we know there is no benefit.

Turkey hunting started as a fall sport, any the tradition remains strong in some states. Photo by robertharding / Adobe Stock

This uncertainty is because biologists are still trying to understand the correlation between hunter harvest and turkey populations as they continue to research how populations ebb and flow. Biologists know, Chamberlain says, that the number of poults per hen is a main indicator of future bird numbers, and that a small minority of hens are responsible for most of the reproductive success in a given population. State harvest data also shows that in many cases, the low number of hens being taken each fall is negligible at the population level. But that hasnt kept hunters from arguing about whether its ethical.

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Read Next: Why Are Wild Turkey Populations Declining?

You could probably survey a hundred different turkey hunters and youre likely to get a hundred different opinions, the National Wild Turkey Federations national director of science and planning Mark Hatfield tells Outdoor Life. Its just a very difficult thing to tease apart.

Hunters Arent Killing Enough Fall Hens to Drive Statewide Populations

The true impact that U.S. hunters have on wild turkey populations is hard to calculate, and its the subject of multiple ongoing studies, Hatfield says. At the same time, we dont even have exact turkey population figures for states.

To quote my good friend [and biologist] Brett Collier, Its a scientific wild-ass guess, Turkeys for Tomorrow CEO Jason Lupardus tells Outdoor Life.

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The two main drivers of turkey recruitment, according to biologists, are weather and habitat. Natural predation is another important factor  Hatfield and Lupardus are both proponents of trapping  but predation rates of turkeys are also affected by weather, habitat, and other variables.

When we have cicada events, for example, the populations of birds and predators grow. And next year, in those states that had a big cicada hatch in 2024, Ill bet you whatever you want to bet that theyll have a higher turkey harvest, Lupardus says. Because the turkeys had plenty of food. But also, all your raptors, your foxes and coyotes, everything else was filling up on cicadas, too. And with that shift in the predator-prey dynamic we tend to have very high recruitment.

In scenarios like these, where conditions are beneficial to breeding and nesting, and habitat is plentiful, hunters can take a relatively large number of birds without impacting populations. This is known as compensatory mortality: the idea that those birds would have died of natural causes, and hunters are simply replacing those causes through harvest. And looking at the harvest data from states that still hold fall seasons, it doesnt seem like hunters there are killing enough turkeys in the fall to have a noticeable impact on their overall numbers. (There are 41 states with fall turkey seasons, and most of them allow hen harvest during the fall. For a complete list of fall hunting opportunities across North America, visit the NWTFs 2024 Fall Hunt Guide.)

Research has shown that the same hens have better nesting success year after year. Photo by Steve Droter / Chesapeake Bay Program

A nationwide study that was put together for the 12th annual NWTF Symposium in 2022 compared population estimates and harvest data from the 2013 to 2014 fall and spring seasons with the 2018 to 2019 seasons. Based on the data collected from 29 state agencies, the study showed a roughly 28 percent decline in the number of fall turkey hunters, and a similar 31 percent decline in the number of turkeys harvested in the fall.

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Tap here to expand the chart to view your states turkey population changes over time.

Kansas, for example, reported a fall harvest of 3,600 either-sex birds in 2013-2014, compared to just 1,275 in 2018-2019. Kansas has 105 counties, and if you spread that harvest across the state, its negligible  even if we imagine that all those birds were females.

So hunters there killed 12 birds per county [that fall], Hatfield says. Looking at the data, you can see how this does not drive a biological or population-level response.

The Reasoning for Limiting Statewide Harvest

Statewide, Kansas turkey population dropped by roughly 60 percent between 2008 and 2021, triggering big reductions in bag limits in 2017. But as bird numbers kept sliding, some wanted the agency to take more action by further limiting harvest. So in 2023, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks suspended its fall turkey seasons for the foreseeable future.

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Changing regulations, or adjusting the structure and/or timing of seasons, is the only lever states have to pull. And in many cases I think these agencies are reducing or eliminating their fall harvest to show they are listening to hunters, who can then say, Well, at least my agency is doing something, Hatfield says. I dont think this change [alone] is going to solve what were seeing in terms of population instability and declines  but I do understand their need to pull that lever.

Read Next: Why Are Wild Turkey Populations Declining?

Lupardus cautions, however, against looking too broadly at bird populations, and he says that as we try to learn more about population dynamics, we should be studying them at a more localized level rather than just at the state level. He says this is where private landowners and private-land hunters can also play a bigger role in determining what a conservative harvest might look like for their area.

There are a couple counties in northwest Alabama, where I grew up, and they have some of the lowest populations in the U.S. and no one really knows whats going on. Well, if we decide to go up there and do some fall harvest: Number one, its going to be hard, and number two, if we do find success, we will probably severely impact the population, he says. But you may go down to the Black Belt of Alabama where the turkey population is a little bit stronger, and guess what? The population is robust enough that it can handle some fall harvest.

Bearded hens are often fair game during both spring and fall seasons, but there are similar debates among hunters around whether these birds should be killed at any time. Photo by duaneups / Adobe Stock

To explain this nuance further, Lupardus points to where he now lives in Kentucky, which allows for the harvest of bearded hens during the spring season. (Shooting bearded hens in the spring is also controversial, but it does simplify regulations and enforcement since some newer hunters can mistake bearded hens for males.) Citing the data that just came out for 2025, he says hunters in Kentucky harvested a little over 30,000 birds this spring. Around 400 to 500 of those were bearded hens, which he accounted for roughly .5 percent of the overall estimated statewide population.

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That averages out to maybe three hens per county. And is that impactful? Maybe not, he says. But at a localized level, if those two hens were in an area where overall hen numbers are low, then, hell yeah, it could be important.

Many Fall Hunters Pass on Hens, But Few Hunters Want Less Opportunity

For his part, Hatfield says he would not choose to shoot a hen in the fall, even where its still allowed. Neither would Dr. Chamberlain.

Chamberlain points out that trying to correlate hunter harvest with changing populations is more difficult with wild turkeys than other game species, like deer. Whitetail does breed and reproduce pretty evenly across the board, and each doe will typically give birth to one or two fawns each spring. But Chamberlain says his research has shown unequivocally that a small percentage of hens produce most of the poults in a population, and its these same hens that find success year after year.

Its because of their dominance hierarchies. We know that dominant hens typically breed earlier, they nest earlier, and theyre more successful, Chamberlain explains. So, it gets complicated when you start taking hens out of a population and you dont know who youre taking.

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Which means, if we were to manage turkey populations as conservatively as possible, it would be easy to simply stop harvesting hens. Tennessee took this approach beginning in 2018 by restricting (but not eliminating) its fall season to male turkeys only, as opposed to either-sex birds as before.

Read Next: Trouble in Turkey Country: Can Two Conservation Orgs Help Declining Populations?

In many other cases, hunters are already self-limiting to an extent. When Mississippi wildlife managers announced in 2022 that they were considering eliminating fall seasons, the states Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks opened the proposal to public comment, and 83 percent of respondents supported the change, according to NWTF.

Part of this shift is related to a change in values among turkey hunters. Chamberlain is a case in point.

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Turkey hunting started out as a fall enterprise, and so the fall seasons we have today are, in many ways, relics, says Chamberlain, who witnessed the shift toward hunting gobblers in the spring as North American turkey populations grew in the 80s and 90s, and as state wildlife managers found ways to increase hunting opportunities. When I was growing up in Virginia and hunting turkeys in the fall, it didnt matter what bird we called up  we shot it if it was a hen, or a tom, or a jake.

If theyre able to successfully hatch a brood, hen turkeys typically stay with their poults during their first spring and summer. Photo by Danita Delimont / Adobe Stock

While Southern hunting culture has mostly moved away from fall seasons, its still entrenched in places like Illinois and Ohio, and the Northeast. Chamberlain and Hatfield say that as long as either-sex fall turkey seasons remain supported by science, they still support them.

Many states are trying to keep their fall seasons, because what they dont want to do is remove that opportunity  that tradition  out of the state, Hatfield says. When you remove a tradition, it is very hard to get it back. And if were not harvesting enough hens in the fall to impact population levels, then why dont we keep these traditions alive and going?

Read Next: Never in a Million Years. Turkey Hunter Tags Banded Gobbler in Oklahoma

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Ultimately, changes to bag limits, fall seasons, and harvest methods will remain the key levers state agencies can pull to influence bird numbers  even while knowing hunter harvest isnt the main driver of turkey numbers.

It gets contentious anytime you start talking about changing or taking away opportunities because we all want the same thing. Im a turkey hunter, and I want to do this forever. I want sustainable populations, and I want as many turkeys out there as possible, Chamberlain says. I dont think any of us [hunters] would say anything different. But there are a lot of viewpoints on how to make that happen, and thats something we constantly grapple with.
TUSCUMBIA, Ala. (WHNT)  City of Tuscumbia officials are pushing for a stoplight installation near Veterans Boulevard and U.S. Highway 72 in Tuscumbia.

Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan tells News 19 that U.S. 72 East and West bounds are busy.

Florence Police arrest off-duty Killen police officer for DUI

Theres about 20,000 drivers a day that travel down highway 72, Logan said.

Near the intersection of U.S. 72 and Veterans Boulevard in Tuscumbia, Logan said, there are often major accidents.

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Weve had multiple wrecks and then weve had several fatalities, including pedestrians struck and killed, Logan said.

Logan said drivers tend not to slow down when approaching the next intersection.

Former Decatur Police Officer Mac Marquette appeals denial of immunity claim, trial moved to September

As people are coming east from Mississippi or wherever, if they dont slow down even though the speed limit drops, they dont do a good job of slowing down until they get to the red light, weve had several serious wrecks, especially with big trucks, Logan said.

Logan told News 19 that there have been at least 10 fatalities in this specific intersection. He said he is working with the state and the Alabama Department of Transportation to bring a stoplight to prevent more accidents.

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We feel like the best solution is if we can get a red light there at Veterans Drive, then they have to stop, and then by that time, they cant get as much speed approaching the next intersection, Logan said.

Logan said he and Mayor William Foster will head to Montgomery in the coming weeks to meet with ALDOT and start the process of getting a stoplight installed.

Logan said until then, drivers should use caution and drive the speed limit when traveling on US Highway 72.

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William Shatner slammed Donald Trump earlier this week after the U.S. president continued to entertain Canada becoming the 51st state despite getting a hard no from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

At a certain point, persistence becomes insulting, the Canadian-born Star Trek actor told Fox News Jesse Watters on Tuesday.

Shatner  who has previously expressed his concerns about how climate change will fare under Trump  tore apart the U.S. president for digging into his annexation threats in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

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Moments after Carney emphasized that Canada was not for sale during the meeting, Trump responded, never say never.

Shatner told Watters that hes dealt a little in real estate, before encouraging Carney make a real estate deal with Trump.

Make a counteroffer, lets offer  Canada offer  to the United States to be the 11th province. Think of the joy! And its the best thing! he said.

He continued, Here you have a friendly group of people saying, Come on over. Its cleaner, theres plenty of power, theres some lovely people who want to work with you. Be our 11th province!

Watters replied that Carney would have brought the house down with his remarks.

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Shatner agreed before turning his attention back toward Trumps 51st state talk.

I mean, everybodys so serious about what is an unserious offer, said the actor, adding that Canada has been around for over 150 years and its people have fought nobly ona number ofoccasions during both world wars.

Tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers have died in the fight for freedom and making the world playable for all of us. You cant denigrate that. You cant deny that, he added.

Shatner would later post on X, formerly Twitter, declaring that Americans have so much to gain from taking the proposed deal including greater access to poutine, lots of ketchup-flavored potato chips and free health care.

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If you are angry about my posts on the US becoming a Canadian province: imagine how Canadians felt when an actual leader of a friendly neighboring country floated that idea across the border, he wrote in a post on Thursday.

Doesnt feel good; does it? Learn a lesson from it. .

H/T Mediaite

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  The man involved in an apparent road rage incident in Kakaako on Wednesday, May 7, has been arrested.

Drive with Aloha: Honolulu raises driving awareness for summer months

According to Honolulu police, the incident happened just after 6 p.m. on Halekauwila Street, when an 18-year-old female and her 35-year-old mother, as a passenger, were parking her car.

HPD said they saw a man in a gray Tesla speeding past when both drivers began exchanging words.

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The Tesla driver then got out of his car and assaulted both women before leaving the scene.

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The man was described as 511, 185 pounds and drove a gray Tesla with an Oregon license plate.

At around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, HPD announced they had located and arrested the 39-year-old man in the Waikiki area.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

He was arrested for Unauthorized Entry in a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree and Assault. Charges are pending.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Two people were arrested in connection to reported fraudulent charges on a bank card in Pitt County on Jan. 2, 2025.

Law enforcement said the victim allowed Melissa Chandler, 36, and Shannon Waller, 43, to move into her Greenville home. During that time, the victim allowed them to use her debit card to assist in paying bills.

Then, they said Chandler and Waller made unauthorized purchases that led to $18,000 being stolen from the victim over a year.

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Chandler was charged with:

Fourteen counts financial transaction card fraud

Sixty-two counts identity theft

Sixty-one counts obtaining property by false pretense

Two counts felony conspiracy

Two counts attempting to obtain property by false pretense

Chandler was jailed in the Pitt County Detention Center under a $410,000 secured bond.

Waller was charged with:

Financial transaction card fraud

Identity theft

Nine counts obtaining property by false pretense

Two counts felony conspiracy

Waller was jailed in the Wayne County Detention Center for charges unrelated to this case. He will be served the warrants listed above.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  Two men will appear in court next week to face charges of shooting at three people outside their Glasgow Village home.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department, the shootings occurred just after 11 p.m. in the 500 block of Dornoch Drive.

Police said the first of the three victims arrived at the home to visit James S. Hayes brother. Hayes confronted this person and twice fired shots at him. The victim was not wounded but fled the area.

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A short time later, Gerald D. Snipes arrived at the house, spoke with one of the residents, then noticed the second and third victims walking on the street. Snipes then opened fire, emptied his magazine, went inside the home, and retrieved another gun. Hayes, who was inside the home at the time, heard the gunfire, exited the house, and started shooting at the two victims in the street.

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One of the victims was shot several times in their lower left leg while the other victim was shot in his left thigh.

Snipes told investigators he shot the second and third victims because he believed they were suspicious. Hayes said he shot at the two victims because Snipes told him they were suspicious.

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The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Hayes with three counts of first-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. Snipes was charged with two counts first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of receiving stolen property.

Both Snipes and Hayes are due in court on May 14 for a bond reduction hearing, with preliminary hearings scheduled for June 5. They remain jailed on $200,000 cash-only bond apiece.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Two additional members of the Geneva Police Department have been placed on administrative leave ahead of a criminal investigation by the Ontario County Sheriffs Office, a release from the Geneva Police Department confirmed Friday.

The GPD confirmed the other two officers are Sergeant David Felice and Officer Nathan Jacon. According to the GPD, no other officers have resigned at this time.

Chief Ronald Eveland said the placement of the members on leave stems from Wednesdays announcement that 13-year-veteran Officer Michael Tapscott was placed on leave pending an investigation and subsequent arrest.

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Former Geneva police officer accused of selling drugs while on duty

Officer Tapscott submitted a letter of resignation to Geneva Police Tuesday before he was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and official misconduct relating to the sale of a form of Adderall. Its alleged this happened while the officer was on duty and operating a police car.

If true, the allegation against Mr. Tapscott is deeply unsettling. However, we trust and faith in our judicial system to conduct a thorough investigation resulting in the appropriate outcome, Chief Eveland said in a statement. This is an extremely difficult time not only for our police department family, but for the Geneva community and for any innocent parties involved.

The Ontario County Sheriffs Office released a statement shortly after Chief Evelands letter to the community.

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We understand that the allegations in this case are troubling, and the public wants to know the extent of criminality involved. Sheriff David Cirencione said in a statement. The Ontario County Sheriffs Office remains committed to conducting a thorough, unbiased investigation, and we are going to continue to pursue our findings, wherever they lead. Further information will continue to be released as appropriate to maintain the integrity of the investigative process.

Sheriff Cirencione urged anyone with information relating to the case to contact Christopher.Drake@ontariocountyny.gov, or utilize Submit a Tip on the OntarioSheriffNY mobile app.

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Two new drone designs, Apollo and Athena, are in development at Kratos with a particular focus on collaborative operations with other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, and an eye toward sales in Europe. The modular Apollo and Athena designs are smaller than the companys XQ-58 Valkyrie, and could be configured to carry weapons, electronic warfare systems, or additional sensors.

Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, shared details about Apollo and Athena in an interview with TWZs Howard Altman on the sidelines of the annual Modern Day Marine exposition last week. In December 2024, Kratos confirmed to us that it secured contracts for both drones, but said it could not provide any additional information. During a quarterly earnings call in August 2024, Kratos CEO Eric DeMarco had disclosed the Apollo contract and said one for Athena was expected in the coming months. The company has yet to release imagery of either design.

I cant say too much, but they are high-subsonic systems, Fendley told TWZ. Theyre quite a bit smaller than the [XQ-58] Valkyrie. So, much smaller footprint.

Fendley also said that Kratos was targeting a sub-$5 million unit price for both Apollo and Athena, which have highly modular designs to allow them to be configured for multiple mission sets.

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Per Kratos website at the time of writing, the company says the Valkyrie is 30 feet long, has a 27-foot wingspan, a dry weight of 2,500 pounds, and a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds. The drone also has a stated cruising speed of 0.72 Mach, a maximum speed of 0.85 Mach, and a maximum range of 3,000 nautical miles. In 2022, the company also announced it had developed a Block 2 version with a heavier overall weight, but did not provide a specific weight figure. A number of additional variants have been developed since then, but specific details about their configurations remain limited.

XQ-58 specifications from the official Kratos product card, available on the companys website at the time of writing. Kratos

Kratos has also said in the past that its goal is to eventually drive down Valkyries unit cost to around $2 million. However, last year, the company told TWZ that the price tag for a single XQ-58 was still between $4 and $6 million, depending on the exact configuration. In general, Kratos has historically focused on lower-cost designs and ones that can be manufactured relatively quickly.

Apollo and Athena are designed to be hard to detect, Fendley added, but did not elaborate on that. There are various ways to reduce an aircrafts radar cross-section, as well as its infrared, auditory, and visual signatures. For instance, the external moldline, the shape and position of the engine intake and exhaust, and other features of the XQ-58 contribute to that designs low-observability (stealthiness).

The big focus with both of the new drones is interactive collaboration of multiple aircraft at the same time, Fendley explained. So multiple uncrewed aircraft at the same time, collaborating, [and] performing missions with, basically, any fighter or attack aircraft in the inventory, thats the intent.

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So joining those [Apollo and Athena] aircraft, or even Valkyrie, up with a fifth-gen[eration stealth] fighter, you have some capability to get to go out in front. You have some capability to basically light up the enemy, he continued. But whats really interesting, when you combine it with a [non-stealthy] fourth-gen or even a third-gen system  which, of course, the U.S. doesnt do much of that anymore, but the international customers do  what you really do is you substantially increase the capability of that third or fourth-gen system because now it has off-board capability thats not adding risk to that system.

So lets pick an F-16. The F-16 can have a Valkyrie or an Athena or Apollo doing part of a mission that it normally would do, but it would have to be within a risk area to be able to conduct that part, he added.

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58 flies together with a U.S. Air Force F-16C during a test. USAF

Speaking in more general terms about drones with the kinds of capabilities that Athena and Apollo are expected to offer, one use case is a system thats hard to detect  can, from a, lets say, from an EW [electronic warfare] perspective, can detect potential threats or potential targets of interest without being detected itself, which again, brings a capability that you cant do with a third or fourth-gen fighter system, Fendley said. The other use case is if you have a group of them [the drones] and a handful of them are configured for EW, and a handful of them are carrying actual weapons  either air-to-surface, air-to-ground, or air-to-air  the sensor system can identify the target, can point out the target, basically pass the coordinates, and then the weapons aircraft can conduct the termination mission.

One of the other things that allows us to be more cost-effective than others is we dont put all that on one aircraft, he continued. Lets just talk in rough numbers. Lets say there are six useful mission systems. And, again, rough numbers. Lets call three of them sensor-type systems, three of them weapon-type systems. We wont put all six on any one aircraft. Well distribute that. It allows each aircraft to be much less expensive. It also allows you in a large mission, it allows you to distribute your risk and make it very hard for the enemy to decide do I want to shoot down a sensor airplane or a weapons airplane?'

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For years now, TWZ has been highlighting the inherent benefits of distributing systems and associated roles among individual drones in a fully networked swarm or other collaborative environment. Beyond helping to reduce the cost of each uncrewed aircraft, including just by allowing them to be smaller and less complex, this also offers valuable operational flexibility since different drones can be performing multiple tasks simultaneously. It also means that the loss of some number of drones is less likely to immediately render the entire group ineffective.

That stealthy loyal wingman drones also feature high degrees of autonomy and collaborative capabilities could be especially valuable force multipliers when paired with fourth-generation crewed combat jets, which is something TWZ has noted in the past, as well. This was a particular key point in a detailed case we previously laid out for how the trilateral Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) defense cooperation agreement could offer an ideal framework for the shared development of loyal wingmen-type drones.

A Boeing rendering depicting a quartet of MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones flying together with a fourth-generation F/A-18F Super Hornet. The MQ-28 and F/A-18F are both Boeing products. Boeing

In speaking with TWZ, Fendley also talked about how the modularity of the Apollo and Athena drones could allow them to be better tailored to a customers particular needs from a regional perspective.

The European market is very different than the Pacific markets. The European market is more interested in, lets call it,  sensor capability, weapons capability doesnt need the long legs, the long endurance that you do for the Pacific, he explained. What that allows you to do is that allows you to really load that airplane up with more weapons, for example, than you would for an aircraft thats going to the Pacific, but has to fly a long way, so its carrying fuel. So thats kind of the trade there.

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Right now, Kratos is working on Apollo and Athena configurations to focus more on that European market, he added.

There is already extensive work ongoing on various tiers of drone wingmen across Europe, including in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, and Turkey. This reflects a global trend, as well. However, if Kratos can offer a particularly low-cost option that is readily adaptable to multiple mission sets, it could be very attractive to smaller air forces looking to bolster their airpower capabilities and overall capacity, and that cannot afford more exquisite crewed or uncrewed platforms.

The core attributes of Apollo and Athena could be of interest to larger air arms, as well. The U.S. Air Force has indicated that it may now be leaning toward cheaper and simpler designs for the second iterative development phase, or Increment 2, of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Kratos, which was notably absent from the CCA programs Increment 1 competition, has said on several occasions that it is interested in taking part in Increment 2. General Atomics and Anduril are currently developing designs, now designated YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively, under Increment 1. The Air Force has also previously said that Increment 2 could be the first phase of the CCA program to weave in foreign participation.

A composite rendering of the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A designs now in development for the Air Force CCA programs Increment 1. General Atomics/Anduril

The U.S. Marine Corps has separately said it is looking into whether certain roles and missions that are typically associated with larger, more exquisite drones, could be performed, at least in part, by smaller designs. Its worth noting here that the Air Force and the Marine Corps are also currently the only two known operators of Kratos XQ-58.

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The U.S. Navy has also outlined a vision for future carrier-capable CCA-type drones that would be low-cost enough to be consumable, and then expended as one-way attack munitions, or as targets in training or testing, at the end of relatively short service lives. CCA-related work across the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy is directly intertwined via a joint service agreement.

With Kratos now having secured contracts for both Apollo and Athena, more details about both of these specific designs may begin to emerge.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Two wildlife photographers from Turkey have issued an apology for posting a video to social media in which they criticized Native hunters in Nunavut for hunting polar bears.

The men, Suha Derbent and Murat Uslu, had planned a 10-day trip to Arctic Bay to document how climate change is affecting the Arctic, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. They also planned to photograph polar bears, but reported that local outfitters had stopped them from venturing out onto an ice floe and potentially interfering with a hunt.

Before coming here, we did not know that hunting, hunting of polar bears was permitted in [sic] here, one of the men says in the apparently scripted Instagram reel that was taken down but later uploaded to CBC News Norths YouTube channel. And hunters prevented us from heading to where we wanted to go and make pictures, make photos. And claimed that area as theirs. And wanted us to evacuate the cabin that we had been living in.

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We are here to be the voice of the nature and the polar bears while some hunters are chasing them to kill them as a sport, the goggled photographer continues in the video. We believe its an unacceptable injustice. Be the voice and spread this message with everyone that you know of. Please. Stop hunting polar bears.

According to local regulations, tourists are not permitted to get close to hunters  including polar bear hunters. Please respect Inuit subsistence hunting, fishing and trapping rights and refrain from interfering with these activities, reads one ecotourism handbook for a Nunavut hamlet.

The video, filmed in Arctic Bay, prompted a swift backlash from Nunavuts native community. Nooks Lindell, an artist in Arviat, told the CBC that this isnt the first time outsiders have misunderstood his communitys way of life. (Arviat is a small, primarily Native, community on the shore of Hudson Bay, to the south of Arctic Bay.)

Weve had southerners come and tell us were doing things wrong. The way youre living, the way youre doing things is wrong, he said. Weve lived here for so long. Weve lived with the environment. And being told, you know, [you] have to conserve nature and you have to respect nature  thats how we lived. This is still how we live.

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Polar bear hunting in Canada is tightly regulated by provincial governments and local jurisdictions, and only Natives are allowed to pursue the big bears. More than 80 percent of the polar bear hunting that occurs in Canada takes place in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, where, according to the international Polar Bear Specialist Group, management agreements  have been developed with local communities to ensure that all human-caused mortality is sustainable. Within Canada, only Manitoba prohibits polar bear hunts.

Polar bears currently exist in four additional countries: Greenland, the United States, Norway, and Russia. Polar bear hunting is prohibited in Norway and technically legal for one Native group in Russia, though no regulated hunt has been established. Similar to Canada, Greenland closely regulates harvest.

In the U.S. polar bears are listed as an endangered species wherever theyre found. Their take is regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits hunting by anyone except coastal-dwelling Alaska Natives for subsistence and handicrafts. Its only legal provided the take is not wasteful, according to the PBSG.

The men have since apologized in an interview with CBC News.

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We have huge cultural respect to the past, current and future Inuit, Derbent told the outlet. I apologize personally if we have offended them but it was not our intention.

Read Next: Miracle on the Tundra: How a Caribou Hunter from Arviat Survived a 5-Day Blizzard

While issuing his apology, however, the photographer still seemed unclear about the inseparable connection between hunting and Inuit culture, or that visitors in Nunavut do not share the same privileges as residents.

We didnt have any rights, Derbent said. Hunters did. And that was the reason we said whatever we said. It was nothing to do with anything whatsoever with the culture of Inuit.
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  After 168 dogs and cats were rescued from a hoarding situation in Ogden, two Utahns are sharing their experience with taking in dogs. The dogs and cats rescued from the home have been adopted out, fostered, and sent to other shelters across the Wasatch Front.

Lisa Peterson, who lives in Weber County, was fostering Coco. Sadly, she passed away yesterday after being spayed on Friday. Peterson said that Coco was the first dog that was part of the animal rescue she started.

Brandi Hysell, from Utah County, adopted Leia. She said that Leia has been making progress and adjusting to her new home after being rescued from the hoarding situation.

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In a statement from the Ogden City Police Department, they said, As of today, only 13 dogs remain at the Weber County Animal Shelter and are available for rescue. No animals required euthanasia.

RELATED: Bodycam footage released after over 150 dogs rescued from Ogden home

Coco crosses the rainbow bridge

Lisa Peterson was fostering Coco, one of the rescued dogs, but shared that she sadly passed away just yesterday.

Peterson said that just over a month ago, she found two stray dogs at her front door. She and a neighbor who both work for rescues put leashes on them and started looking for their owners. Instead, they found animal control at a nearby house.

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Be prepared were about to get flooded, Peterson warned local shelters.

Two Ogden men facing hundreds of charges related to animal hoarding case

Peterson said that she helped two of the shelters pull dogs from where they were first taken, Weber County Animal Services. One of those shelters was Hopes Rescue, which Peterson began fostering Coco through. She was a small dog, weighing only five pounds and two ounces, Peterson said.

Unfortunately, Coco passed away yesterday, Peterson shared. She was just spayed on Friday, but her tiny little body just wasnt able to handle the anesthesia and the impact of the surgery.

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Walking through the shelter when the dogs were first brought in, Peterson said there was no way she could describe it. It was crates stacked on top of each other, full of dogs.

It looked like a puppy family reunion; they were all inbred, Peterson stated.

Peterson said that she knew she planned on adopting Coco herself from the moment that she saw her in the shelter.

Heartwarming: Community rallies to help over 150 animals rescued from Ogden home

With Coco specifically, when I saw her and I saw her face, she looked shut down, Peterson said. And just something sparked in me, just right to my soul.

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Peterson was inspired to start her own foster-based animal rescue, with Coco being the first animal to join it. Even though she has passed away, Peterson is looking forward to helping more pets and said that they just took in two kittens.

Help rescues. Adopt, dont shop, Peterson said. Theres too many sitting in shelters that need us.

Peterson encourages the community to attend an adoption event on May 18 in Roy. She says that Hopes Rescue and Weber County Animal Services will be there. The event starts at 9 a.m. at 1845 W 4400 S in Roy.

Animal shelters come together to help 152 dogs rescued in Ogden

Resilient Princess Leia

Brandi Hysell adopted her dog from the hoarding situation, Leia. Her first full day with Hysells family was May 4, Star Wars day. She said Leia was named after the Star Wars character because she is a resilient little princess.

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Hysell said she ran into Leia at a store when she bumped into a woman with a rescue called Whiskey Tango Feline. Initially, Hysell was just planning to foster, but said that when Leia leaned into her, she knew that she had to adopt her.

Weve always, always been dog people. Weve always had dogs, and we just havent had one since the pandemic, Hysell said.

(KTVX/Maclane Westbrook)

From what Hysell had been told, most of the dogs rescued were relatively healthy. Leia was partially shaved due to the fleas that were found on her. Theyre waiting for that fur to grow back in.

Shes a little underweight, and she did have a lot of fleas she had a nice bath yesterday, and though she wasnt a fan, shes looking nice and clean, Hysell shared.

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152 dogs rescued from extremely poor conditions in Ogden home

Leia is blind in one eye, though it doesnt cause her any pain or suffering. Hysell says that the rescue believed another dog may have injured her because shes small and young. The vet guessed that shes only a year or two old.

Shes doing great, huge progress every day, Hysell said. Yesterday I took her out and let the neighborhood kids say hi to her, and little girls were all over her and she was happy as a clam.

Leia is hesitant around people, especially men, but Hysell says that shes getting better. Her husband leaves in the morning, and when he returns, Leia is afraid for a few minutes before being happy to see him.

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The rescue told Hysell that Leia was not potty-trained. Hysell said she was worried, but Leia is very smart and learned quickly. She only had one accident in the home before she was house-trained. Hysell also said that Leia follows her everywhere around the home.

Abandoned pets are a growing problem in Utah  What local experts say

I think I needed her as much as she needed me. Shes healing my heart. The worlds been a little rough, and shes been a bright spot in our family the last few days, Hysell said.

The vet believes that Leia is a Jack Russell terrier and chihuahua mix. Hysell joked that she believes that because Leia is bouncy and shakes all the time.

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Many of Leias siblings are still available for foster or adoption, Hysell said. She encouraged people to help out where they can.

Even if you cant foster a dog, even if you cant adopt a dog, the shelters are definitely still in need of plenty of volunteers, Hysell said. They definitely need dog and cat food, puppy pads, and blankets they are all definitely very full.

Kayla Baggerly, MJ Jewkes, and Kade Garner contributed to this report.

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In January 2023, I traveled to Memphis to report on the killing of Tyre Nichols, an unarmed Black man beaten to death by a group of Memphis police officers. Like most Americans, I have seen far too many videos in recent years of police brutalizing people, and I had reported on the particular failures of justice in Memphis, a city afflicted by both underpolicingin the form of high rates of violent crime in its poorest neighborhoodsand overpolicing, in the form of widespread abuse.

Even so, I was shocked by what I saw when the city released videos. A team of police from a special squad called the SCORPION unit savagely beat Nichols and then didnt bother to provide any medical aid. They did most of this underneath SkyCop, one of the ubiquitous Memphis surveillance cameras, evidently unworried that they would face repercussions for their actions.

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They were wrongbut not that wrong. Although five officers were quickly fired, and the SCORPION unit was disbanded, it now seems possible that few, if any, will be convicted of the most serious charges in a mans senseless death. This week, at a trial in Memphis, a jury acquitted three of the former officers involved in Nicholss death on several charges, including second-degree murder. Two others have agreed to plead guilty to some federal and state charges, and one testified in the trial. The same three officers were convicted of witness tampering in a federal trial last year, and one was convicted of violating Nicholss civil rights by causing bodily injury.

There is still no good explanation for why any of this happened; Memphis Police Chief C. J. Davis said that the officers appeared to have no reason to pull Nichols over in a traffic stop. Yet as soon as they did, some of the officers drew weapons and began pepper-spraying and manhandling him. When heunderstandablytried to escape, police called for backup, gave chase, and eventually caught him. I hope they stomp his ass, one officer, who did not chase Nichols and was not charged, was recorded saying. His fellow officers did, beating Nichols just yards from his mothers house. He died at a hospital.

Prosecutors did face some challenges in this case, despite the existence of video evidence. First, officers are seldom charged with murder, and when they are, they are seldom convicted. Second, the three former officers who stood trial were, in the words of the deputy district attorney, the least culpable, compared with the two who agreed to plead guilty. Third, defense lawyers successfully argued that widespread news coverage in Memphis of the killing would preclude a fair trial, so instead of a jury pool from Memphis, which is majority-Black, the jury was all white and drawn from around Chattanooga, on the opposite side of Tennessee.

Even so, District Attorney Steve Mulroy seemed shell-shocked after the verdict. Was I surprised that there wasnt a single guilty verdict on any of the counts or any of the lesser included offenses, given the overwhelming evidence that I think that we presented? he said, his voice straining. Yes, I was surprised. Do I have an explanation for it? No.

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Nicholss mother, RowVaughn Wells, not bound by the same ethical guidelines as a prosecutor, was blunter. Those people were allowed to come here, look at the evidence, and deny the evidence, she said.

The outrage that met George Floyds murder in 2020 seemed at first to be a turning point for criminal justice. After a string of high-profile cases starting in 2015, officials and the public were aligned in demanding law-enforcement reforms that would punish and prevent needless killings. But as I wrote when Derek Chauvin was convicted for kneeling on Floyds neck until he died, that case was a rare exceptionnot least because of the stomach-churning video evidence involved and the strong condemnation by the Minneapolis police chief. Although individual prosecutions were important, the greater need, I argued, was for systemic reforms.

The verdict in Memphis shows what an outlier Chauvins conviction was: Despite videos at least as horrifying, despite the police chiefs quick action to fire the officers and condemn their behavior, these three former officers escaped murder convictions. Meanwhile, the changing political winds and rising violent crime after 2020 helped the movement toward broader reform stall out, both locally in Memphis and nationally.

In early 2024, the Memphis city council refused to reappoint Davis, but she continued serving as interim chief. Earlier this year, Davis got her permanent title back. Around the same time, the city of Memphis refused to enter into a consent decree that would allow oversight from the U.S. Department of Justice, which had found a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law, documented in appalling detail. City leaders knew that once Donald Trump took office, the Justice Department would pull back on oversight of local police departments and civil-rights laws, just as his administration had done the first time.

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Trump has long called for more brutal policing, complaining that cops arent allowed to fight crime with the necessary toughness. Please dont be too nice, he said in a speech to Long Island officers in 2017. After taking office this time, he closed a database tracking serious offenses by federal police officers, which was designed to facilitate background checks; he also issued an order to unleash police officers and to have private law firms provide pro bono legal defense for officers accused of misconduct.

What I do know is this: Tyre Nichols is dead, and deserves to be alive, Mulroy said on Wednesday. The failure of courts to secure murder convictions for the former officers who beat him, and of politicians to bring greater accountability, means that he will not be the last to suffer an unjust death.

Related:

Here are four new stories from The Atlantic:

Todays News

A federal judge ordered the U.S. government to immediately release from federal custody Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student who was arrested in March. The judge said that the only rationale the government has provided for her arrest is an op-ed criticizing Israel that she co-wrote last year. The Trump administration is planning to accept and help resettle a group of white South Africans because of allegations that they are experiencing racial discrimination in South Africa. They are the first white South Africans to be granted refugee status in America. David Souter, a former Supreme Court justice, died at 85 years old.

Dispatches

The Books Briefing: Women today might have more choices than the characters of the Canadian writer Mavis Gallant do, Maya Chung writes. But the kind of freedom that Gallants women seek can still be out of reach.

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Evening Read

AI Is Not Your Friend

By Mike Caulfield

Recently, after an update that was supposed to make ChatGPT better at guiding conversations toward productive outcomes, according to release notes from OpenAI, the bot couldnt stop telling users how brilliant their bad ideas were. ChatGPT reportedly told one person that their plan to sell literal shit on a stick was not just smartits genius  But this was not just a ChatGPT problem. Sycophancy is a common feature of chatbots.

Read the full article.

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Culture Break

Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Murray Close / A24.

Retell. Making the film Warfare (in select theaters) was an exercise in exposure therapy for the veterans whose memories it reconstructs, Shirley Li writes.

Read. These stories offer a starting pointand perhaps some insightsfor those trying to understand their mom, Sophia Stewart writes.

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Stephanie Bai contributed to this newsletter.

When you buy a book using a link in this newsletter, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
For the first time since President Donald Trump imposed a sweeping 145% tariff on Chinese imports, senior U.S. and Chinese officials will meet face-to-face this weekend in Geneva. The high-level talks could mark a turning point in a trade war that has frozen key sectors of the global economy and rattled business confidence.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are scheduled to meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijings top economic official and a key figure on the Communist Partys Politburo. This marks the highest-level engagement between the two countries since the latest escalation in tariffs brought U.S.-China trade nearly to a halt.

Heres what you can expect discussions to focus on.

Talks likely aimed at deescalation, not a deal

While no breakthrough  and certainly no trade deal  is expected, the meetings are widely seen as a first step toward cooling trade tensions.

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My sense is that this will be about de-escalation, not about the big trade deal, Bessent told Fox News (FOXA) Laura Ingraham earlier this week. But weve got to deescalate before we can move forward.

Bessent noted that the 145% U.S. tariff and Chinas 125% retaliatory duty are tantamount to an embargo, warning that such levels are not sustainableespecially on Chinas side. He emphasized that the Trump administration is seeking fair trade, not decoupling. The Treasury Secretary previously said it was Chinas responsibility to cool the flames of the trade war, flames Trump largely stoked.

Trump, earlier this week hinted that China wants to meet and that talks will happen at the right time. The president has also signaled that rates could come down substantially  though he insists that its other countries, not the U.S., that need trade deals.

We dont have to sign deals. They have to sign deals with us, he said during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

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Trumps rhetoric remains unpredictable. Friday morning, he suggested a potential lowering of the high tariffs he placed on Chinese goods  a still-high but significantly lower 80%.

80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B., Trump posted on his Truth Social account, referring to Bessent.

The presidents post has further fueled speculation that his administration is preparing to revise its tariff strategy. The New York Post (NWSA) reported Thursday that those numbers might not be the 80% the president teased Friday morning but lower: reportedly between 50% and 54%.

Whats on the table

While both sides have kept the official agenda vague, expectations are coalescing around a few core themes: tariff deescalation, supply chain stabilization, investment and market access, and technological policy.

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The most immediate focus is expected to be easing the punishing tariffs that have brought U.S.-China trade in sectors such as consumer electronics, agriculture, and industrial goods to a standstill. Both governments have acknowledged these levels are economically damaging.

U.S. businesses continue to push for relief, warning of rising costs and supply chain disruptions. Imports through key U.S. ports have plummeted to early-pandemic levels, prompting some manufacturers to accelerate diversification strategies, including relocating production or reshoring parts of their supply chains.

Although not expected to result in any immediate agreements, the Geneva meetings could reopen channels for more formal bilateral investment talks. American firms, particularly in finance, health care, and manufacturing, have long sought more predictable access to Chinas market, a key issue in past negotiations. Trump wrote in an all-caps social media message Friday morning that China should open up its market to the U.S., because it would be so good for them.

CLOSED MARKETS DONT WORK ANYMORE!!! Trump said in the Truth Social post.

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And intellectual-property protections and export controls remain flashpoints. U.S. officials could to press Beijing on IP enforcement, while China is likely to challenge expanding U.S. tech restrictions.

A carefully choreographed first step

Both governments are portraying the talks as a pragmatic, if unofficial, step forward. In a nod to diplomacy, Bessent claimed the meetings came about because both delegations happened to be in Switzerland, while Chinese officials framed Vice Premier Hes presence as a response to an invitation from the Swiss government.

The neutral setting of Geneva  also home to the World Trade Organization  offers symbolic cover as both sides navigate the political optics of meeting after months of tariff escalations and stalled backchannel efforts.

The Commerce Ministry said in a statement last week that senior U.S. officials have reached out multiple times to start negotiations. Trump, however, has insisted that Chinese President Xi Jinping has been the one to reach out to him  and not the other way around.

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Trump said in a recent interview with Time that Xi had called him, which prompted Chinese officials to call that report fake news and emphasize that there had been no calls and no talks on tariffs. Since then, however, China has hinted that the government is willing to talk trade  with some significant caveats, including no coercion or blackmail.

If the U.S. wants to talk, it should show its sincerity and be prepared to correct its wrong practices and cancel the unilateral tariffs, a spokesperson for the commerce ministry said in a statement in early May.

A fragile opening

Despite the symbolic weight of the meetings this weekend, Bessent has emphasized that the U.S. has not yet begun formal negotiations with China. We have not engaged in negotiations with [them] as of yet, he said in testimony before Congress earlier this week, even while acknowledging that 17 other countries are in active trade talks with the U.S. The Trump administration announced its first post-tariffs trade agreement, with the United Kingdom, on Thursday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian acknowledged the talks but warned that Beijing would not respond to threats and pressure. If the U.S. is serious about a negotiated solution, he said, it must change its approach.

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Still, markets reacted positively to the Geneva announcement. U.S. stock futures rebounded Tuesday evening after the news broke, reflecting optimism that a diplomatic thaw might be underway.

Whether this weekends talks mark the start of real negotiations  or simply a bucket of water thrown on the flames of an intensifying trade war  will depend on what is said behind closed doors this weekend.

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May 8 (UPI) -- In a 211 to 206 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

The legislative effort follows a recent executive order from the Trump White House renaming the gulf, and the bill now goes to the Senate, where chances for its passage are less certain.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced the measure following an executive order by President Donald Trump in January that directed the Interior Department to "take all appropriate actions to rename the Gulf," and update a database of the official names and geographic landmarks in the United States.

Greene appeared to conflate the name of the gulf with narco-trafficking activity in Mexico. Prior to floor debate, while she was introducing the bill Thursday, she accused House Democrats of "fighting to keep the Gulf of America named the Gulf of Mexico because the cartels are their business partners," Greene said.

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"They fight for the cartels so much," she added during floor debate, referring to her Democratic colleagues.

Tourists walks past a display of the "Gulf of America" on a map in front of the office of Speaker Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill on Thursday in Washington, D.C. Photo by Anna Rose Layden/UPI

Democrats, and some members of the GOP, have said there are more pressing issues at hand than renaming the Gulf.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pointed out that there are other factors that stand to have a more important effect on the country than renaming the gulf or other major landmarks.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. (pictured at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., in December), introduced the bill to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. Her move came after an executive order by President Donald Trump in January that directed the Interior Department to do the same. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

"What might members of Congress under this temporary Republican majority be debating on the floor today," he asked, rhetorically. "Would it be legislation about the economy? Something about healthcare, anything about Social Security? Perhaps something on public safety, maybe national security measures? Anything to bring to life the American dream for hardworking American taxpayers?

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"No," Jeffries added. "What Republicans have decided to spend this entire legislative day doing is to debate a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said because executive orders can be overwritten, it is important for Congress to change the officially change the name, and codify it into law.

"We're going to pass Marjorie Taylor Greene's bill to permanently rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Johnson said.

Congressional action would prevent a future administration from reversing the name change by executive order.

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Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called the measure "juvenile."

If the measure becomes law, federal agencies would have six months to update federal records and registries.

The bill awaits action in the Senate, where it will be in the hands of Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

"Does it take an act of Congress? I suppose -- I don't know," Thune said. "I haven't, haven't thought that far ahead and got a lot of other stuff we've got directly in front of us at the moment."
The United States Department of State has issued a travel warning of its most severe and serious category this week, giving a warning to potential travelers as they plan their potential summer tourism.

The United States Department of State has a lengthy database of travel advisories, giving travelers information on various countries across the planet and providing necessary warnings. These travel advisories are divided into four categories.

A Level 1 travel advisory tells travelers to "Exercise Normal Precautions." This level of advisory is issued for many common tourist locations and is not to dissuade anyone from traveling, but reminds people to be careful even when there is no explicit threat.

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A Level 2 travel advisory, meanwhile, warns travelers to "Exercise Increased Caution" in their travels. This advisory typically applies to locations where there is no explicit danger or threat, but crime is prevalent, there is civil unrest, or the country is often targeted with terrorist plots.

A Level 3 travel advisory is where it starts to get serious, warning travelers to "Reconsider Travel" to these destinations. This category of warning typically applies to countries that the State Department deems inherently dangerous for a number of reasons, such as heightened risks of crime, civil unrest, or terrorism.

A Level 4 travel advisory is the most severe, warning Americans to simply "Do Not Travel" to those locations. This category of warning usually applies to active armed conflicts or countries that are enemies of the United States or have little to no diplomatic relationship with the United States.

On Thursday May 8, the State Department reaffirmed one of those Level 4 travel advisories, reminding travelers not to travel to Russia "for any reason" due to the following issues:

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Danger associated with the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The risk of harassment or wrongful detention by Russian security officials.

The arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

The possibility of terrorism.

"The U.S. government has limited ability to help U.S. citizens in Russia, especially outside of Moscow. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has reduced its staff and the Russian government has restricted travel for embassy personnel. All U.S. consulates in Russia have suspended operations, including consular services. Do not travel to Russia for any reason," the United States Department of State wrote in the advisory.

The advisory warns that Russia has been known to falsely imprison Americans "without credible evidence."

"Russian officials have questioned and threatened U.S. citizens without reason. Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on false charges. They have denied them fair treatment and convicted them without credible evidence. Russian authorities have opened questionable investigations against U.S. citizens for their religious activities," the advisory warned.

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The advisory goes on to warn that dual citizenship between the United States and Russia is not protected in Russia, peaceful assembly and freedom of speech are not protected rights, all phones and electronic devices are monitored by the Russian government and information on your phone could lead to your arrest. Additionally, it is a crime to discuss LGBTQ topics in the country and it is considered a crime to support the human rights of LGB people in Russia.

Additionally, the advisory warns that Russia is at risk of terrorist attacks from extremist groups and also as a result of the ongoing armed conflict with Ukraine.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Some of the biggest names in tech are testifying before the Senate as lawmakers explore how the United States can strengthen its position in artificial intelligence. The goal: maximize innovation and ensure long-term advancements in AI.

How close is China to us? asked Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas.)

Its very hard to say how far ahead we are, responded OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. But I would say not a huge amount of time.

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Altman, alongside executives from Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices, warned senators that the U.S. is in a tight AI race with China.

The number one factor that will define whether the United States or China wins this race is whose technology is most broadly adopted in the rest of the world, said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft.

Sen. Cruz emphasized Congress role in charting a path forward, noting private AI investment in the U.S. has surged to more than $109 billion, nearly 12 times higher than Chinas $9.3 billion.

Do we go down the path that embraces our history of entrepreneurial freedom and technological innovation? Cruz asked. Or do we adopt the command and control policies of Europe?

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New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim raised concerns about the AI talent pipeline in the U.S.

I think we do have a very talented overall base, said AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su. But we also have the desire to have the best. And that includes not only U.S. nationals, but also international.

Drawing from that pool, Kim responded.

Executives encouraged lawmakers to modernize regulations to support computing infrastructure and AI development, and to expand AI chip exports.

I think you in Congress and the Senate can help the White House and the Department of Commerce get this right, Smith 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 Queen City News.
U.S. officials, including members from the National Security Council and the National Economic Dominance Council, are reportedly considering offering Greenland a Compact of Free Association (COFA), as reported by Reuters on Friday. COFA agreements generally mean that the U.S. provides essential services in a territory, such as mail delivery, emergency management, and military protection, while allowing the American military to operate freely on the island and facilitating largely duty-free trade.

The discussions about a COFA with Greenland follow President Donald Trumps previous interest in acquiring the island. Since his re-election in January, Trump has intensified efforts and has not dismissed the possibility of taking Greenland by force, despite strong opposition from Denmark, which currently governs the island.

A COFA agreement, however, would not fulfill President Trumps initial ambition to fully integrate Greenland, with a population of 57,000, into the U.S. territory. Reuters report indicated that this proposal is one among others on the table and would encounter numerous practical challenges.

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The COFA agreements have historically been made with independent nations, suggesting that for such an agreement with Greenland to be feasible, the island would need to pursue independence from Denmark. The discussions are said to involve high-level officials such as Markus Thomi, acting senior director for the Western Hemisphere section of the National Security Council, and David Copley, a key figure in mining from the National Energy Dominance Council.

The proposal reflects the Trump administrations continued interest in Greenland due to its strategic importance and abundant natural resources.

Related articles

U.S. may propose Compact of Free Association deal to Greenland

Carney confirms formal trade talks with U.S.

Canada Not for sale, Carney tells Trump as trade talks begin
The Pentagon has been ordered to begin kicking out openly identifying transgender service members by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued the internal instructions in a memo on Thursday. Other service members will be given 30 days to self-identify.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trumps administration to start enforcing a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military that had been previously been blocked by lower courts.

After a SCOTUS victory for @POTUS , TRANS is out at the DOD, wrote Hegseth in an X post on Thursday, alongside a video of him vowing to relentlessly pursue the Presidents agenda. Reading from the memo, Hegseth said: In accordance with policy now reinstated, service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria may elect to separate voluntarily. The Fox host then turned back to the camera, echoing his early statement: This is what the American people voted for and were going to continue to relentlessly pursue it.

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According to The Associated Press, department officials have said medical records will indicate which service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated.

Following the Courts ruling, Emily Shilling, a Navy commander, who had sued to block the ban along with other transgender service members, told NBC News: Transgender service members have served this nation with courage, skill, and selflessness for years.

I know this decision will cause fear and doubt in the ranks. To those feeling shaken, I say this: stand tall, Shilling continued. You are not alone. You are part of a community that will fight for you, stand beside you, and never stop pushing forward.



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BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 9 (UPI) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has warned that Israel's plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas, annex territory in Gaza and forcibly displace its population would cause further mass displacement and jeopardize the Palestinians' continued existence in the Strip.

Turk said in a U.N. statement released Friday that Israel's reported plans to forcibly transfer Gaza's population to a small area in the south of the strip and threats by Israeli officials to deport Palestinians outside of Gaza "further aggravate concerns that Israel's actions are aimed at inflicting on Palestinians conditions of life increasingly incompatible with their continued existence in Gaza as a group."

He said expanding the offensive on Gaza will "almost certainly" cause further mass displacement, more deaths and injuries of innocent civilians and the destruction of Gaza's little remaining infrastructure.

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Israel's new plan, he added, "would only compound the misery and suffering inflicted by the complete blockade on the entry of basic goods for almost nine weeks now."

The U.N.'s top human rights chief warned that "any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime," noting that Gaza's residents have already been deprived of all "lifesaving necessities," particularly food, with Israel's relentless attacks.

On Monday, the Israeli security cabinet approved a new plan to increase military operations in Gaza and to establish a permanent presence until all war objectives are achieved, including destroying Hamas and rescuing its remaining hostages.

The plan also includes the displacement of Gaza's 2.1 million population to the south of the enclave.

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According to Israeli media reports, the goal is to strengthen Israel's position in negotiations with Hamas over a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

"There is no reason to believe that doubling down on military strategies, which, for a year and eight months, have not led to a durable resolution, including the release of all hostages, will now succeed," Turk said.

He called for full compliance with international law as "the only lasting solution to this crisis."
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied supplying Chinese-made weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is locked in a brutal conflict with Sudans military government.

Salem Aljaberi, the UAEs assistant minister for security and military affairs, said on social media on Friday that the allegations, contained in an Amnesty International report released the previous day, are baseless and lack substantiated evidence.

Abu Dhabi has long rejected accusations  stemming from sources including the United Nations, United States, and NGOs  that it is arming the RSF.

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The UAE strongly rejects the suggestion that it is supplying weaponry to any party involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Aljaberi said in a statement shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X.

Statement by the #UAE Assistant Minister for Security and Military Affairs, HE Salem Aljaberi: The United Arab Emirates is aware of a misleading report published by a non-governmental organisation regarding allegations surrounding the presence of AH-4 howitzer systems in Sudan.  Afra Al Hameli (@AfraMalHameli) May 8, 2025

Amnesty said on Thursday that it had verified footage showing RSF fighters using Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers during attacks in Khartoum and Darfur.

According to the rights group, the UAE was the only known buyer of the howitzers from China, citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Aljaberi dismissed the conclusion, saying the weapon system has been available on the international market for nearly a decade and was not exclusive to the UAE. He described the report as misleading.

New drones attacks on Port Sudan

Suffering a series of battlefield setbacks in recent weeks, the RSF has intensified its long-range drone attacks on areas controlled by the army.

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The eastern city of Port Sudan has been a particular target and was hit for a sixth consecutive day on Friday. An army official, speaking to the AFP news agency anonymously, said air defences intercepted enemy drones.

Witnesses reported attacks damaging vital infrastructure, including the countrys only operational international airport, the largest fuel storage facility, and the main power station.

Port Sudan serves as the countrys principal aid hub. The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 13 million, creating the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the attacks threaten to increase humanitarian needs and further complicate aid operations in the country, according to his spokesperson.

(Al Jazeera)

Sudans Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim on Tuesday accused the UAE of violating the countrys sovereignty by backing the RSF, and the military government announced it would cut diplomatic relations.

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In response, Abu Dhabi denied supplying weapons and rejected the legitimacy of Sudans internationally recognised government.

Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice threw out Sudans lawsuit accusing the UAE of involvement in genocide, saying it does not have jurisdiction over the issues due to the Middle Eastern countrys exemption from Article 9 of the Genocide Convention.

UAE official Reem Ketait welcomed the ruling, calling it clear and decisive.
The United Kingdom is allocating an additional 25 million (about 29 million) for humanitarian projects in Ukraine.

Source: press service for the UK government, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The UK allocates about 25 million to support humanitarian organisations operating in Ukraine.

Of this amount, 10 million will be provided to the HAVEN humanitarian project association aimed at helping civilians in frontline areas.

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A further 9.4 million will be allocated to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. Part of the funding will be used to upgrade rehabilitation centres, including those for veterans.

Background:

Sweden announced around 2 million in funding by 8 March to support opportunities for women in Ukraine, followed by an additional US$137 million for recovery and development efforts.

In March, Finland pledged 16 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine, to be delivered via the United Nations and the Red Cross.

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Russia's territorial advance in Ukraine slowed considerably in April 2025 compared to late 2024.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 9 May on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: UK intelligence noted that Russia's Ground Forces have likely taken control of around 200 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in April, averaging approximately 6 square kilometres per day.

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This represents a slight increase compared to March, when Russia seized 150 square kilometresthe lowest monthly figure since June 2024, according to UK intelligence.

Russian advances in sq km

Photo: UK Defence Intelligence

UK Defence Intelligence also pointed out that Russian forces made tactical gains around the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast in April.

"Pokrovsk has likely remained the priority axis for Russia in its campaign but it has been unable to make any notable advances around the city since late 2024," the update says.

The Pokrovsk front situation

Photo: Screenshot from DeepState Map, an interactive map of hostilities in Ukraine

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UK intelligence further reported that, while Russia celebrates Victory Day on 9 May, Ukrainian troops are continuing limited combat operations in Kursk Oblast, marking the first time since World War II that foreign troops have operated on Russian soil. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

Background:

Earlier, UK intelligence suggested that Russia could suffer record losses in the war against Ukraine in 2025.

UK Defence Intelligence warned that the sharp decline in oil prices threatens Russia's ability to finance its planned budget for 2025.

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LONDON (AP)  A UK jury convicts two men of cutting down the beloved Sycamore Gap tree in an act of vandalism.
The United Kingdom on May 9 announced its "largest ever" sanctions package against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," imposing restrictions on 100 oil tankers and an additional vessel said to be supporting the Russian government.

Moscow's shadow fleet consists of aging tankers used to circumvent sanctions, including those imposed by the U.K., EU, and U.S. These vessels often operate under obscure ownership structures, use flags of convenience, and evade Western oversight.

London's latest round of sanctions name 100 shadow fleet tankers that have shipped over $24 billion in cargo since 2024, according to a press release. The penalties also target another ship "involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting" the Kremlin, as well as several individuals and entities in the Russian energy and financial services sectors.

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The sanctions are intended to disrupt Russia's ability to finance the full-scale war against Ukraine and protect undersea infrastructure from the risks posed by potentially unsafe vessels.

"The threat from Russia to our national security cannot be underestimated, that is why we will do everything in our power to destroy his shadow fleet operation, starve his war machine of oil revenues, and protect the subsea infrastructure that we rely on for our everyday lives," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

The latest sanctions package means that the U.K. has imposed penalties on more shadow fleet vessels than any other country.

Starmer announced the sanctions at a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a U.K.-led coalition of 10 northern European NATO countries which met today in Oslo. The JEF in January set up a tracking system to alert allies if a ship poses a threat to undersea cable infrastructure and to monitor Russia's shadow fleet.

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The system was developed after several telecommunication and energy cables underneath the Baltic Sea were damaged over the previous months.

The JEF coalition wants to establish "an enhanced partnership with Ukraine," providing training and disinformation support to Kyiv while learning from the battlefield experience of Ukrainian troops, according to London.

Read also: The enemy is right here  how Ukrainians living under Russian occupation defied Putins Victory Day

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PRESS CLUB OF INDIA

1, Raisina Road, New Delhi - 110 001, INDIA

Email:- pressclubofindia1[at]gmail.com, Web: presscubofindia.org

Phone No.23719844 23730248, 23357048

Statement Condemning Crackdown on media

On 9 May 2025, the news website The Wire released a statement, stating that "the Government of India has blocked access to thewire.in across India." Some internet service providers say The Wire has been "blocked as per the order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IT Act, 2000."

If the government of India has indeed ordered this block, it would constitute a grave action against the interests of a free press in India. We the undersigned journalist organizations Press express deep concern over any action by the government that stifles independent news media such as The Wire.

The block is especially concerning as it appears to follow on the heels of actions against journalists across India after the horrific act of terrorism in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, which was uniformly and unequivocally condemned by the Indian press. However, sections of the media and some You Tube news channels have been unfairly targeted. The X account of independent media organisation Maktoob Media has been "withheld" in India on a "legal demand," alongside the accounts of Kashmir based news organisations, and senior journalists such as Anuradha Bhasin and Muzamil Jaleel.

Previously, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmir-based journalist Hilal Mir was detained, allegedly for his posts on social media. The X account of BBC Urdu too has been withheld in India. There are news reports that the government of India has issued executive orders to block 8,000 X accounts. X has not been allowed to share any details of these orders owing to legal restrictions, which goes against transparency and accountability.

While there is no doubt that the media as a whole has to conduct itself responsibly, the arbitrary blocks on some social-media accounts of media-persons and news organizations, the orders for which have not been made public, must be lifted.

Such crackdowns are against the freedom of the press and directly against the interests of the Indian public.

We strongly urge the government to be transparent in its actions, and to let journalists and news organisations carry out their work in an unrestricted manner.

Signed

For Press Club of India,

Sd/-

Indian Womens Press Corps, Press Association, Delhi Union of Journalists
As Trump administration officials prepare to meet with Chinese officials in Geneva this weekend, its tempting to believe the momentum from the United Kingdom trade deal announcement on Thursday will carry over. Dont hold your breath.

Im keeping my expectations in check. Tariffs are high. Tensions are high. Its easier to impose tariffs than to unwind them, said Wendy Cutler, a former US trade negotiator who is now vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

President Donald Trump despises trade deficits  a situation when the US buys more from another country than it sells. In his view, its a sign that America is being ripped off and treated unfairly. (Economists are much less convinced of his argument.)

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Since China is the worlds second-largest economy and a manufacturing supercenter, its perhaps unsurprising that, across all trading partners, the US ran the largest trade deficit with Beijing last year, at nearly $300 billion.

Trump has therefore levied the steepest tariffs on China, with rates starting at a whopping 145% for most products. China responded by slapping a minimum tariff of 125% on most US goods. Both countries economies are poised to take massive hits from the trade war, and bruises are already beginning to appear on both sides.

Investors and many businesses and consumers from both countries are eager to see the situation improve and are holding out hope that the weekend talks, which mark the first official dialogue between top US and Chinese government officials during Trumps second term, will help. But it could quickly turn south, too.

Trumps deal with the UK is hardly a great starting point for trade talks with China

Cutler anticipates that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who are meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Saturday, will bring up the UK trade deal to show that their policy is working and also that other countries have concerns with China.

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Never mind that the scant details of the UK deal reveal its a relatively small win  if one at all. And it was also an agreement that was relatively easy to reach.

President Donald Trump speaks alongside British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson after making a trade announcement with the United Kingdom on Thursday. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

It helps that the UK had much less to negotiate down, with tariffs on its exports starting at 10%  which, even after the deal, remain at those levels. Some cars from there are getting a slight break on tariffs, and the Trump administration seemed to imply other carveouts are on the table. Another positive: The US ran a $12 billion trade surplus with the UK last year.

Its basically balanced trade, Cutler told CNN. China, meanwhile, is a different animal.

The best possible outcome

Hardly anyone believes this first round of talks will bring US and Chinese tariffs back to where they were before Trumps second term. That includes Bessent, who told Fox News earlier this week: My impression is that this weekends discussions will focus on de-escalation rather than a significant trade agreement.

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Trump even outright said he wouldnt consider lowering tariffs to get China to the negotiating table on Wednesday. But on Thursday, citing unnamed sources, the New York Post reported that the Trump administration was considering plans to cut tariffs on China to as low as 50% as soon as next week.

In that regard, its a positive sign that Trump said on Thursday he wasnt considering levying even higher tariffs on Chinese goods. You cant get any higher. Its at 145, so we know its coming down, Trump said in the Oval Office after announcing the UK trade deal.

A sailboat passes idle shipping cranes at the Port of Oakland on April 28 in Oakland, California. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Bessents comments about de-escalation stood out to Susan Shirk, a research professor at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and director emeritus of its 21st Century China Center.

What that suggests is that this decoupling, this extreme level of tariffs, is going to move in the direction of coming down either to zero or to some minimal level on both sides, Shirk said.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his administration, she said, are acting in a more disciplined manner compared to previous talks with the US. That suggests to her that theyre not likely to mess it up.

Theyre skeptical of Trump, and so theyre going to be very careful, which I think puts the right kind of pressure on President Trump, she said.

Shirk said shes hoping China demonstrates how they are making a good faith effort to reduce the flood of exports going not just to the United States but all these other countries.

In Cutlers view, the best possible realistic outcome of the weekend talks would be if both sides leave with a process for further engagement, she said. Chief among those would be getting the ball rolling on a call between Trump and Xi.

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Trump suggested hed consider speaking with Xi on Thursday depending on how the weekend talks go.

The worst possible outcome

In contrast, the sky is the limit for how bad these talks could go and the actions both governments could take as a result. Both Cutler and Shirk agreed one of the worst-case scenarios would mirror the 2021 talks Biden administration officials held with Chinese officials in Alaska.

That quickly became disastrous for both sides as officials had a very public spat with one another using harsh rhetoric in front of a slew of journalists invited to cover what was initially intended to be brief opening remarks.

The worst thing that could happen is kind of a big blowup, and the media is there to report it, Shirk said.

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Thats exactly the type of meeting one wants to avoid, said Cutler, who also served as acting deputy USTR in the Obama administration.

Alaska repeats aside, the worst possible outcome, she said, is for the US and China to stake out their hard-line positions and not find common ground to move forward, which would open the door for even higher tariffs to be imposed.

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Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the reaction of Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast, detaining two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state, the agency announced on May 9.

According to the SBU, this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.

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The operation's objectives reportedly included gathering intelligence on military defenses, identifying vulnerabilities in its ground and air defense systems, and assessing local residents' socio-political views, particularly scenarios of public reaction if Hungarian troops entered the region.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly leader in the EU during Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. He has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war.

Zakarpattia Oblast is a region with a sizable ethnic Hungarian minority and a sensitive location along NATO's eastern frontier. Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and dual citizenship schemes.

SBU counterintelligence detained two alleged agents as a result of a complex operation. Investigators identified their supervisor as a Hungarian military intelligence officer, whose identity has been established by the agency.

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One of the suspects, a 40-year-old former Ukrainian military officer, was recruited by Hungarian intelligence and placed on standby in 2021.

The SBU said he was "activated" in September 2024. After that, he reportedly conducted reconnaissance on the deployment of Ukrainian Armed Forces and the coordinates of S-300 air defense systems in the region.

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The agency documented that after gathering intelligence, the agent crossed into Hungary to deliver reports to his handler.

During these meetings, the Hungarian intelligence officer allegedly provided him with cash to fund operations and instructed him to expand an informant network.

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According to the investigation, the agent attempted to recruit at least two individuals.

In March 2025, the SBU recorded a second meeting between the agent and his handler. The agent reportedly received a phone equipped with specialized software for covert communications.

His new tasks included identifying official vehicles belonging to Ukraine's army, gathering data on military losses, and reporting front line developments through an identified contact in the Armed Forces.

The second detainee is a former member of Ukraine's security forces, who left service in 2025. The SBU said her responsibilities involved reporting on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia and the air defense systems at her former military unit.

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The agency said the suspects have been charged with high treason under martial law. They are currently in custody and face life imprisonment with property confiscation.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that Budapest had not received any official information about the case and called the information "Ukrainian propaganda."

"If we receive any details or official information, we will be able to deal with it then, but until then it should be treated as propaganda, which should be treated with caution," he said.

Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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Ukraine is expelling two Hungarian diplomats in response to similar steps taken by Hungary.

Source: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, as reported by European Pravda,

Details: On Friday 9 May, Ukraine announced the expulsion of two Hungarian diplomats. They have been ordered to leave Ukraine within 48 hours.

"We have just summoned the Hungarian ambassador to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed him the relevant note," Sybiha stated.

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He stressed that Ukraine is acting in response to Hungarys actions, based on the principle of reciprocity and to defend national interests.

Background:

On Friday, Ukraines Security Service announced it had uncovered a Hungarian military intelligence network engaged in espionage in Zakarpattia Oblast in Ukraines west. The network was reportedly assessing the mood of local residents and gauging their reaction to the possible presence of Hungarian peacekeepers in the oblast.

Initially, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest had not received any official notification from Kyiv about the uncovered Hungarian spy network, and referred to the reports as "anti-Hungarian propaganda".

However, a few hours later, Budapest announced the expulsion of two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage.

The Hungarian authorities asserted that Ukraines statement about uncovering a Hungarian intelligence network on its territory indicates cooperation between Kyiv and the Hungarian opposition party Tisza.

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Ukraine and the Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding on the protection of critical infrastructure.

Source: Dutch government portal, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The document aims to strengthen structural cooperation between the two countries in protecting critical infrastructure.

The parties agreed to share knowledge and expertise in threat detection, risk assessment and the development of resilience strategies. The Netherlands will also assist in aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU standards.

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The memorandum follows the security cooperation agreement signed by Ukraine and the Netherlands in March 2024.

Quote from David van Weel, Dutch Minister of Justice and Security: "Critical infrastructure means power plants, water supply systems and other vital facilities. Ukraine has been living under the pressure of attacks for many years, and today it is an example of resilience from which we can learn a great deal."

Details: He emphasised that the Netherlands has significant experience in this area, but also acknowledged that Ukrainian approaches, particularly the duplication and triple redundancy of critical systems, are unique and extremely effective.

Background:

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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (the Government of Ukraine) has approved a draft law proposing to tax the income of Russian prisoners of war.

Source: Taras Melnychuk, government representative to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), on Telegram

Details: Melnychuk reported the approval of the relevant bill by the Cabinet on 9 May.

According to the proposed law, prisoners of war will be required to pay personal income tax as well as the military levy.

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The bill defines prisoners of war as a separate category of non-resident individuals in Ukraine, in line with the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War and the 1977 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions.

Tax agents  including prisoner of war camps, penal institutions and pre-trial detention centres  will be obliged to include in their tax reporting both the total amount of income accrued to prisoners of war and the total amount of tax withheld.

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Russia has violated its own three-day ceasefire in Ukraine more than 700 times, Ukraine's foreign minister said on Thursday, just hours after the pause in fighting was supposed to take effect.

"Predictably, Putin's 'Parade ceasefire' proves to be a farce," Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.

Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a 72-hour ceasefire surrounding Moscow's celebrations commemorating the end of World War II, which Russians celebrate on May 9.

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But Sybiha said Ukrainian data showed that from midnight until midday on Thursday, Russia violated the ceasefire 734 times, including 63 assault operations, 586 attacks on Ukrainian troops' positions and 176 strikes by FPV-drones.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that its army is strictly observing the ceasefire and is only responding to Ukrainian attacks.

In the Russian region of Kursk, there was an attempt by Ukraine to break through, the ministry stated.

The Russian military also reported 488 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire, even though the leadership in Kiev has not publicly agreed to it.

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Moscow said that it continued to log attacks by drones and artillery despite reports from an opposition Ukrainian lawmaker that the Ukrainian armed forces have received a ceasefire order from Kiev.

The claims made by the warring parties cannot be independently verified.

Kiev informs allies about ceasefire violations

Kiev is sharing its information about Russian violations of the ceasefire with the United States, EU partners and other organizations, Sybiha said.

He repeated Ukraine's willingness for a 30-day complete ceasefire, which could pave the way for peace negotiations.

The comments came hours after the head of the Ukrainian president's office, Andrii Yermak, said on Telegram following online discussions with Western security advisers that the ceasefire was intended only to guarantee the security of the military parade in Moscow.

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The talks - which included US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, French adviser Emmanuel Bonne, the UK's Jonathan Powell and new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's adviser Gunter Sautter - centred around demands for a longer 30-day ceasefire.

"We have emphasized that a complete and unconditional ceasefire must be the first step towards a just and lasting peace," Yermak said.

Trump renews ceasefire calls, threatens sanctions

US President Donald Trump renewed his calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and threatened sanctions if it is not respected.

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"As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions."

Trump wrote that the ceasefire must "ultimately build" towards a peace agreement.

"It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment's notice if my services are needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he wrote.

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A similar call was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said he had a "very warm and constructive" conversation with Trump.

"We discussed the situation on the front lines. We discussed diplomatic efforts. We talked about how to bring closer a real and lasting ceasefire  for at least 30 days. That could open up many opportunities for diplomacy," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

"Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire starting right now, from this very moment  a 30-day silence. But it must be real. No missile or drone strikes, no hundreds of assaults on the front," he said.

"Thirty days that could become the beginning of years of peace. A ceasefire, lasting and reliable, will be a real indicator of movement toward peace. America can help with this. The world needs America now just as it did eighty years ago."

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years.

A general view of a building damaged by a large-scale Russian drone attack in the city of Maryinka. Dmitry Yagodkin/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine said that it has expelled two Hungarian diplomats on Friday, hours after the country's main security agency said that it had arrested two people on suspicion of spying for Hungary by gathering intelligence on Ukraine's military in the west of the country.

The allegations of spying were met with anger in Budapest, where Hungary's Foreign Ministry expelled two Ukrainian diplomats for what it said were Ukraine's own espionage activities.

The Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, said in a statement that two suspects, both former members of the Ukrainian military, had been detained as members of a spying network, and that they each face charges of treason, which is punishable by life imprisonment. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later said that two Hungarian diplomats were expelled.

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It was the first time in Ukraine's history that a Hungarian espionage operation had been discovered, the statement said.

The activities of the suspected spies were focused on the western Ukraine region of Zakarpattia, which borders Hungary and is home to a sizeable Hungarian ethnic minority. Budapest and Kyiv have clashed over the rights of Hungarians in Zakarpattia, most of which was part of Hungary until the end of World War I.

Sybiha said in a statement that the spy network was tasked with collecting information about the military security of the region, search for vulnerabilities in the regions ground and air defenses and "study the sociopolitical views of local residents, in particular scenarios of their behavior if Hungarian troops enter the region.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto didn't directly deny the allegations of a Hungarian espionage cell operating in the neighboring country, but stated that the SBUs claims could be classified as anti-Hungarian propaganda launched by Kyiv in retaliation for Hungary's refusal to assist Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

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We do not tolerate Ukraines continuous launching of such defamatory actions against Hungary and the Hungarian people, Szijjarto said, adding that he had expelled two spies working under diplomatic cover at the Embassy of Ukraine in Budapest in response.

Hungary, a member of NATO and the European Union, has taken an adversarial approach to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion launched on Feb. 24, 2022, refusing to supply Kyiv with weaponry or to allow its transfer across Hungarian territory.

Hungary's government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has also threatened to block EU financial assistance to Ukraine, argued against sanctions on Russia and opposed Ukraine's EU membership hopes.

Orban is widely seen as having the warmest relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin among EU leaders, though he has acknowledged that the war was a result of Russian aggression.

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The SBU said that both suspected spies were overseen by a career officer of Hungarian military intelligence, whose identity also had been established. That officer supplied the network with cash and a special device for covert communication to support the operation, and had attempted to recruit other individuals into the network, the SBU said.

The Hungarian Defense Ministry and Military National Security Service didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

___

Justin Spike reported from Budapest, Hungary.
By Christian Lowe and Gergely Szakacs

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Ukraine and Hungary said on Friday they were expelling two diplomats each after each side accused the other of engaging in espionage.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, writing on the X social media platform, announced the action after Kyiv's SBU security agency said it had uncovered a spy network run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about its defence.

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Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest's expulsion order was in response to what he called Ukrainian "propaganda".

"Two Hungarian diplomats must leave our country within 48 hours. We have just summoned Hungarian Ambassador to MFA_Ukraine and presented him with the relevant note," Sybiha wrote on X in English.

"We are acting in response to Hungarys actions, based on the principle of reciprocity and our national interests."

Ukraine's SBU said in a statement it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence.

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It was the first time in Ukraine's history that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests, it said.

Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Kyiv is closely allied in Russia's war in Ukraine, but relations between Kyiv and Budapest have often been fraught.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine.

He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders, who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

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The SBU said the two suspects were former members of Ukraine's military, were in custody and had been given notice they were under suspicion of committing state treason.

It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication.

The SBU said the alleged agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southwestern Ukraine.

ETHNIC HUNGARIANS, LANGUAGE RIGHTS

Ukraine is home to around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians, most of them in the Transcarpathia region. Orban's government and Kyiv have clashed over the community's language rights.

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Szijjarto told a press conference he regarded the move as Ukrainian propaganda that should be treated with caution before announcing that Budapest had expelled from Hungary two people it had identified as spies.

"We do not tolerate that Ukraine should continuously launch such defamatory acts against Hungary and the Hungarian people," Szijjarto said in a Facebook video.

"Therefore, today we have expelled from Hungary two spies working under diplomatic cover at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest."

Szijjarto accused Ukraine of often using anti-Hungarian propaganda that proved unfounded and said Ukraine's latest move was driven by Hungary's opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia's three-year-old invasion.

(Reporting by Christian Lowe and Tom Balmforth; Additional reporting by Gergely Szakacs in Budapest; Editing by Frances Kerry, Timothy Heritage, Hugh Lawson, Ron Popeski and Deepa Babington)
Ukraine said Friday it had exposed a network of Hungarian spies trying to obtain defense secrets in a border region of Ukraine  the first time it said such an operation has been discovered.

The Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) said it had detained two Hungarian special services agents, whom it claims were reporting to a handler in Hungarian military intelligence and were looking for ground and air defense vulnerabilities in the southwestern Zakarpattia region, which borders Hungary.

Comprehensive measures are currently underway to bring all members of the Hungarian intelligence network to justice, said the statement.

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Hungary responded to the arrests by expelling two of the staff at the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on his Facebook page that two spies who had been working under diplomatic cover at the embassy were ordered to leave.

Ukraine and Hungary are at odds over the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and Ukrainian accession to the European Union. Hungary has also criticized European sanctions against Moscow.

The Hungarian government has also frequently complained that the ethnic Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia is discriminated against.

The past three years have shown that the war in Ukraine is being fought not only on the battlefield, but also in the information space. Anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used without any factual basis, Szijjarto said in a post on X in response to the arrests.

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Speaking to reporters, Szijjarto said: If we receive any details or official information, then we will be able to deal with this. Until then, I must classify this as propaganda that must be handled with caution.

We will not tolerate smear campaigns against Hungary and the Hungarian people, he said, before alleging that anti-Hungarian propaganda has intensified, since the start of the war.

We havent let Hungary be dragged into this war  and we wont. Thats exactly why we keep being targeted, Szijjarto said.

Ukraines SBU said the Hungarian spies were tasked with gathering information about the military security and studying the views of residents and behavior scenarios if Hungarian troops entered Zakarpattia.

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The SBU alleged that one man from Berehove in Zakarpattia was recruited in 2021 and activated last September. It accused him of collecting information on the location of Ukrainian defense systems, including its S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in the region.

It also alleged he had attempted to recruit two other men as he tried to establish a network of informants.

The second person detained, a woman who left her unit in Ukraines Security and Defense Forces this year, had been tasked with informing the Hungarian special services about the defense systems of her unit and informing on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in the Zakarpattia region, the SBU claimed.

The Zakarpattia region stayed part of Ukraine after the breakup of the Soviet Union. The region was once part of the former Kingdom of Hungary and later Czechoslovakia.

People walk past Hungarian and Ukrainian signs in the western Ukrainian city of Berehove in November 2022. - Danylo Pavlov For The Washington Post/Getty Images

According to a census in 2001, just over 150,000 ethnic Hungarians lived in the region, but the number is widely thought to have declined since then. Last year, representatives of the Hungarian-speaking community criticized a draft Ukrainian law that would have restricted the use of Hungarian in schools by allowing it to be used only in classroom activities and not outside classroom settings.

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The two countries had disagreements over Hungarys 2011 decision to relax its naturalization procedures and allow anyone who can speak Hungarian and has Hungarian ancestry to gain citizenship  even if they have never stepped a foot in the country. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians were granted Hungarian passports since then, despite Ukraine not allowing dual citizenship.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has opposed Ukraines accession to the EU in part because of claims that ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine face discrimination.

Orban has remained on good terms with Moscow throughout the conflict and has opposed the growing raft of EU sanctions against Russia as well as EU aid packages for Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Orban said EU President Ursula von der Leyen wants to pour further billions into Ukraine, pull Europe further into a losing war, and rush a bankrupt state into the EU.

Hungary wont go along with this, he said.

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Ukraine said Friday it had exposed a network of Hungarian spies trying to obtain defense secrets in a border region of Ukraine  the first time it said such an operation has been discovered.

The Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) said it had detained two Hungarian special services agents, whom it claims were reporting to a handler in Hungarian military intelligence and were looking for ground and air defense vulnerabilities in the southwestern Zakarpattia region, which borders Hungary.

Comprehensive measures are currently underway to bring all members of the Hungarian intelligence network to justice, said the statement.

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The news triggered a series of diplomatic tit-for-tats on Friday.

Hungary responded to the arrests by expelling two of the staff at the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on his Facebook page that two spies who had been working under diplomatic cover at the embassy were ordered to leave.

Later Friday, Ukraine summoned the Hungarian ambassador and ordered two diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.

We are acting in response to Hungarys actions, based on the principle of reciprocity and our national interests, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media.

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Ukraine and Hungary are at odds over the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and Ukrainian accession to the European Union. Hungary has also criticized European sanctions against Moscow.

The Hungarian government has also frequently complained that the ethnic Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia is discriminated against.

The past three years have shown that the war in Ukraine is being fought not only on the battlefield, but also in the information space. Anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used without any factual basis, Szijjarto said in a post on X in response to the arrests.

Speaking to reporters, Szijjarto said: If we receive any details or official information, then we will be able to deal with this. Until then, I must classify this as propaganda that must be handled with caution.

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We will not tolerate smear campaigns against Hungary and the Hungarian people, he said, before alleging that anti-Hungarian propaganda has intensified, since the start of the war.

We havent let Hungary be dragged into this war  and we wont. Thats exactly why we keep being targeted, Szijjarto said.

Ukraines SBU said the Hungarian spies were tasked with gathering information about the military security and studying the views of residents and behavior scenarios if Hungarian troops entered Zakarpattia.

The SBU alleged that one man from Berehove in Zakarpattia was recruited in 2021 and activated last September. It accused him of collecting information on the location of Ukrainian defense systems, including its S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in the region.

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It also alleged he had attempted to recruit two other men as he tried to establish a network of informants.

The second person detained, a woman who left her unit in Ukraines Security and Defense Forces this year, had been tasked with informing the Hungarian special services about the defense systems of her unit and informing on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in the Zakarpattia region, the SBU claimed.

The Zakarpattia region stayed part of Ukraine after the breakup of the Soviet Union. The region was once part of the former Kingdom of Hungary and later Czechoslovakia.

People walk past Hungarian and Ukrainian signs in the western Ukrainian city of Berehove in November 2022. - Danylo Pavlov For The Washington Post/Getty Images

According to a census in 2001, just over 150,000 ethnic Hungarians lived in the region, but the number is widely thought to have declined since then. Last year, representatives of the Hungarian-speaking community criticized a draft Ukrainian law that would have restricted the use of Hungarian in schools by allowing it to be used only in classroom activities and not outside classroom settings.

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The two countries had disagreements over Hungarys 2011 decision to relax its naturalization procedures and allow anyone who can speak Hungarian and has Hungarian ancestry to gain citizenship  even if they have never stepped a foot in the country. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians were granted Hungarian passports since then, despite Ukraine not allowing dual citizenship.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has opposed Ukraines accession to the EU in part because of claims that ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine face discrimination.

Orban has remained on good terms with Moscow throughout the conflict and has opposed the growing raft of EU sanctions against Russia as well as EU aid packages for Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Orban said EU President Ursula von der Leyen wants to pour further billions into Ukraine, pull Europe further into a losing war, and rush a bankrupt state into the EU.

Hungary wont go along with this, he said.

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Ukraine's Air Force has not recorded any use of Shahed-type loitering munitions for the second day in a row. However, Russia continues to terrorise the border areas of Sumy Oblast with guided aerial bombs. Russian forces launched around 130 such bombs over the past day, with another 50 dropped by the afternoon of 9 May.

Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Details: The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched around 130 guided aerial bombs on 8 May, all targeting the Sumy front. Russian Su-34 warplanes, escorted by Su-35 fighter jets, are continuing to strike Sumy Oblast with guided bombs on Friday 9 May. As of 12:30, 56 bombs have been dropped on the frontline area.

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Quote: "Right as Putin's Victory Day parade is taking place, Russian tactical aircraft were striking Sumy Oblast with guided aerial bombs." [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

Details: Ihnat noted that no Shahed kamikaze drones have been detected in Ukrainian airspace for two days (the last attack involving three waves of drones occurred on 7 May). However, Russian forces continue their aerial terror, striking Sumy Oblast with guided bombs and posing a significant threat of airstrikes in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. As of 12:30, around 10 Russian warplanes have been observed in the air near the front line in these areas.

Background: On 7 May, Russian forces launched three waves of attacks using Shahed UAVs and decoy drones, deploying over 200 UAVs in total. Ukrainian air defence shot down 81 drones in the first two waves and another 20 in the third. Around 70 drones disappeared from radar.

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Key developments on May 9:

Russian glide bombs attack Sumy Oblast despite ceasefire, Air Force says

European ministers approve special tribunal to prosecute Russia's aggression against Ukraine

EU to provide Ukraine with over 1 million shells over 2025, allocate over $2 billion for military aid from Russian frozen assets

US, European allies finalize proposal for 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Reuters report

Ukraine detains Hungarian spy network in westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast, SBU reports

Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine with guided aerial bombs despite a three-day ceasefire on Victory Day, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainska Pravda on May 9.

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While the Kremlin unilaterally announced a truce from May 811 , heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the front line.

Russian troops launched 130 guided aerial bombs on May 8 against Sumy Oblast, which shares a border with Russia, including Bryansk Oblast to the northeast, and Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts to the east.

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Russia continued striking Ukrainian territory the following day, on May 9, which coincides with Victory Day, a major national holiday commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

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Russian forces launched 56 guided bombs by midday using Su-34 aircraft operating under the cover of Su-35 fighters, Ihnat said.

The spokesperson added that at noon, nearly 10 Russian aircraft were near the front line's Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy sectors.

Before the ceasefire, Russia launched three waves of drones against Ukraine, totaling more than 200, according to an Air Force report. Ukrainian forces shot down 101 drones, while another 70 disappeared from radars without causing any damage.

On the following morning, when the ceasefire had started, Russian attacks killed and injured Ukrainian civilians in at least two oblasts, according to local authorities.

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Read also: Ukraine is sending the war back to Russia  just in time for Victory Day

European ministers approve special tribunal to prosecute Russia's aggression against Ukraine

European foreign ministers approved the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine during a meeting in Lviv on May 9.

The tribunal, which will operate under the auspices of the Council of Europe, aims to prosecute Russia's top political and military leadership, including President Vladimir Putin.

The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.

In a joint statement, coalition representatives welcomed the completion of technical work on the legal instruments necessary to establish the tribunal.

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They cited the UN General Assembly resolutions on aggression against Ukraine and the Vienna-Riga Statement of Nov. 22, 2024, as the foundation for the tribunal's mandate.

The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to launching the tribunal's work as soon as possible and called on additional states and international organizations to join and support the tribunal's activities.

The next formal step will be at the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on May 1314.

The statement was endorsed in the presence of EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and Council of Europe Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and Rule of Law Michael McGrath.

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Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv on May 9. The visit coincided with Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, an annual event the Kremlin uses to showcase military might and justify its war against Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for the tribunal to ensure that Putin and other senior Russian officials face justice for launching the invasion nearly three years ago.

Ukrainian authorities have documented thousands of war crimes, including deliberate strikes on civilians, cultural heritage sites, medical facilities, as well as torture and forced deportations.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

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Unlike other international charges such as war crimes or crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression targets only the top leadership responsible for planning and waging a war.

Read also: France is sending Ukraine more AASM Hammer bombs  heres what they can do against Russian forces

EU to provide Ukraine with over 1 million shells over 2025, allocate over $2 billion for military aid from Russian frozen assets

The European Union has pledged to supply over 1.35 million rounds in 2025 and plans to allocate nearly 1.9 billion euro ($2.1 billion) from Russian frozen assets in military support for Ukraine, Ukrainian officials announced on May 9.

The news comes as delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv to discuss the establishment of a special tribunal against the Russian leadership and new defense aid for Ukraine.

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Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and EU allies for the initiative to provide 2 million artillery rounds for Ukraine. According to Sybiha, by the end of 2025, European partners must send Ukraine at least 1.35 million shells, while work to increase this number is ongoing.

The minister also highlighted the new EU instruments for the long-term development of the European defense sector and the accelerated integration of the Ukrainian and European defense industries.

"This will strengthen European defense with our unique technologies and strengthen our defenders on the battlefield," Sybiha said.

Read also: I just hate the Russians  Kyiv district recovers from drone strike as ceasefire remains elusive

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Following the event in Lviv, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the EU has announced its intention to allocate almost 1.9 billion euro ($2.1 billion) for military support to Ukraine.

"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Shmyhal said.

One billion euros ($1.1 billion) of this sum will be used to purchase weapons according to the Danish model, that is, directly from Ukrainian manufacturers, by Italy, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands, Shmyhal added.

Another 600 million euros ($676 million) will be spent on artillery and ammunition, while more than 200 million euros ($226 million) will be spent on strengthening Ukraine's air defense, according to Shmyhal.

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Speaking at the same event, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that Paris will allocate profits from frozen Russian assets to the maintenance of CEASAR 155mm howitzers, of which Ukraine has received dozens since 2022.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Europe has allocated 138 billion euros ($157 billion), 23 billion euros ($26 billion) more than the U.S., according to an April 15 report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy's Ukraine Aid Tracker.

The U.S. still holds an edge in terms of military aid  its 65 billion euros ($74 billion) total leads Europe by 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion)  but the gap is narrowing, as Washington has not allocated a new aid package since Jan. 9, still under the Biden administration.

Read also: How medics of Ukraines 3rd Assault Brigade deal with horrors of drone warfare

US, European allies finalize proposal for 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Reuters reports

The U.S. and European allies are in the final stages of working on a proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in the Russian war against Ukraine, Reuters reported on May 9, citing a French diplomatic source.

The day before, U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia.

Yet, recent months have seen a series of failed peace talks and ceasefires, including one initially brokered by the U.S. in March. While Ukraine immediately agreed to the ceasefire, Russia repeatedly violated it.

Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.

"We felt in the discussions with the Americans a certain irritation towards the Russian posture, the lack of reactivity and seriousness in its responses to what was proposed before," the source told Reuters. "The decision is practically taken."

Nearly two months ago, Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, but Moscow rejected it, demanding a complete halt on military aid to Ukraine.

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: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

Ukraine detains Hungarian spy network in westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast, SBU reports

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast, detaining two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state, the agency announced on May 9.

According to the SBU, this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.

The operation's objectives reportedly included gathering intelligence on military defenses, identifying vulnerabilities in its ground and air defense systems, and assessing local residents' socio-political views, particularly scenarios of public reaction if Hungarian troops entered the region.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly leader in the EU during Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. He has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war.

Zakarpattia Oblast is a region with a sizable ethnic Hungarian minority and a sensitive location along NATO's eastern frontier. Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and dual citizenship schemes.

SBU counterintelligence detained two alleged agents as a result of a complex operation. Investigators identified their supervisor as a Hungarian military intelligence officer, whose identity has been established by the agency.

Read also: Russian regimes legitimacy rests on the manipulation of history

One of the suspects, a 40-year-old former Ukrainian military officer, was recruited by Hungarian intelligence and placed on standby in 2021.

The SBU said he was "activated" in September 2024. After that, he reportedly conducted reconnaissance on the deployment of Ukrainian Armed Forces and the coordinates of S-300 air defense systems in the region.

The agency documented that after gathering intelligence, the agent crossed into Hungary to deliver reports to his handler.

During these meetings, the Hungarian intelligence officer allegedly provided him with cash to fund operations and instructed him to expand an informant network.

According to the investigation, the agent attempted to recruit at least two individuals.

In March 2025, the SBU recorded a second meeting between the agent and his handler. The agent reportedly received a phone equipped with specialized software for covert communications.

His new tasks included identifying official vehicles belonging to Ukraine's army, gathering data on military losses, and reporting front line developments through an identified contact in the Armed Forces.

The second detainee is a former member of Ukraine's security forces, who left service in 2025. The SBU said her responsibilities involved reporting on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia and the air defense systems at her former military unit.

The agency said the suspects have been charged with high treason under martial law. They are currently in custody and face life imprisonment with property confiscation.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that Budapest had not received any official information about the case and called the information "Ukrainian propaganda."

"If we receive any details or official information, we will be able to deal with it then, but until then it should be treated as propaganda, which should be treated with caution," he said.

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Read also: 5 things Putin conveniently left out of his Victory Day speech in Moscow

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The tribunal concerning the crime of aggression against Ukraine is an essential element of justice, and the Russian leadership must not remain unpunished.

Source: Ukrainian and European diplomats at a joint press conference in Lviv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stressed that the crime of aggression carries particular weight, even in comparison to the war crimes committed by Russian troops.

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She stated that if there had been no aggression and no such crime, there would have been no war crimes committed in Ukraine. Kallas also emphasised that aggression is a leadership crime, which entails the responsibility of a country's top officials.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, for his part, expressed confidence that the newly established tribunal must sentence Russian highest-ranking leaders.

"The president of Russia, the prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs of Russia  all of them are international criminals, and the tribunal will in the future deliver the relevant verdicts [concerning these Russian leaders  ed.]," he said. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president  ed.]

Sybiha stated that there is a legal possibility to achieve these verdicts. "The operational framework of the tribunal that has been developed is acceptable to Ukraine," he stated.

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Kallas also noted that it is possible to deliver verdicts even before the arrest of top Russian officials. She said that they could be sentenced in absentia, but noted that there are limitations as long as they remained in office.

"The tribunal will be located in The Hague, the capital of international law and accountability," Sybiha added.

Background:

As previously reported, Kaja Kallas hopes for the first decisions of the tribunal to be issued as early as 2026.

European diplomats meeting in Lviv made a joint statement on the Special Tribunal regarding Russian aggression.

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A Ukrainian national was arrested for attempting to scam an elderly woman out of $30,000 in San Bernardino County.

On May 6, the victim, identified only as an elderly woman from Loma Linda, received a phone call from the suspect who had pretended to be an inspector general at the sheriffs department.

The woman was told she needed to withdraw $30,000 to avoid being arrested for an active arrest warrant. She would then be contacted the next day with further instructions.

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Out of fear of being arrested, the woman withdrew $30,000 from her bank account. When she realized the phone call was a scam, she immediately reported it to law enforcement.

Detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department began investigating the case and later identified the suspect as Tyhran Shvets, a 20-year-old man who was a Ukrainian national.

During the investigation, detectives also learned Shvets had reportedly scammed several other elderly female victims and had successfully collected money from them.

Shvets was arrested for attempted theft by false pretenses, conspiracy, and elder abuse.

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Anyone who may have been a victim or has information on the case is urged to call Detective M. Magdaleno at 909-387-3545.

Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at wetip.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ukraine drives robots packed with explosives at Russian positions and blows them up.

The robots can carry much more explosives than aerial drones, a Ukrainian soldier told BI.

His unit sent a robot with 66 pounds of explosives into a basement and killed Russian infantry.

Ukrainian soldiers use ground robots to blow up Russian troops and equipment. These carry a far heavier explosive payload than drones that fly.

Operators control these uncrewed ground vehicles, or UGVs, remotely. The UGVs can travel close to Russian positions, assuming they're not spotted, and detonate. And Ukraine's soldiers can stay safe and far from the action. They are a lot like flying drones, but the systems pack a greater punch because they don't take flight.

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Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told Business Insider that Ukraine's soldiers attach bombs and explosives to ground robots, "turning that system into a kamikaze one."

The UGV actions mirror what has been done with aerial drones in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the flying drones explode and drop grenades.

"A crucial difference between aerial and on-the-ground unmanned systems is the mass that they can carry," Yabchanka said. He said Ukraine needs to "always be one step, half a step ahead of the enemy in terms of the powers of destruction." That's where these ground drones come into play.

Packing a much bigger punch

He said that while the biggest aerial drones can carry mines that weigh 22 pounds each, the smallest ground robots that he works with can take more than 48 pounds. On average, they can carry much more.

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He said that just a few hours before he spoke with Business Insider, his unit sent a ground robot carrying 66 pounds of explosives into a basement held by Russia, where it eliminated Russian infantry.

Ukraine's soldiers work with a host of drone types linked to do a wide range of work. There are small airborne drones for tactical action ranging from recon to strike and larger aerial uncrewed systems used to hit targets inside Russian territory. There are also naval drones that target ships in the Black Sea, and then there are the UGVs, which can deal damage and carry out missions like casualty evac.

A dog walks past a serviceman of the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces working on an uncrewed ground vehicle. Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Yabchanka said the growing ground robot technology allows Ukrainian troops to massively amplify their firepower without having to put more soldiers in harm's way. That's key when they're fighting at a disadvantage against Russia's much larger military army.

He said that roughly 80% of Russians killed in battle are killed by uncrewed systems. The other 20% is mostly artillery  at the start of the war, it was the opposite. Aerial drones are responsible for most of the drone kills because of how prolific they are.

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More ground robots could mean a major firepower boost for Ukrainian forces. "Imagine how much more powerful we could be if we could bring twice as much explosives to the front line as we do now," Yabchanka said.

Unlike the quadcopters, this technology isn't widely available to all units yet, but where it is being used, UGVs are evacuating wounded soldiers, firing into Russian positions with mounted weapons, carrying gear, laying mines, exploding inside enemy positions, and spying on the Russians, and more.

An uncrewed arms race

This is a technology that Russia is developing too. Yabchanka said that the question is: who will do it faster?

There's an effort on both sides of the war to advance this technology. The dynamic echoes the drone race that Ukraine and Russia are both currently locked in, with both sides developing new drones and counter-drone measures to defeat the other side's drone tech, as well as rushing to make as many drones as possible.

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Yabchanka said Ukraine and its partners need to constantly innovate to keep coming out with new ground robot upgrades and improvements to other military technology.

A soldier from the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces field testing a UGV. Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

It's something that requires consistent innovation, as "what was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore," he said.

He said they are developing so fast that they are getting upgraded on the actual front lines  with soldiers sometimes making tweaks themselves or calling the manufacturer directly to make a request for changes and upgrades to future drones.

Calling on Ukraine's partners

Yabchanka called for much greater European involvement in making this type of technology, saying that "whatever is required on our end is at your service."

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Europe, like the US, has given Ukraine billions of dollars in military aid, but Ukraine has increasingly made more and more of its own weaponry as it looks to innovate faster, create weaponry that is designed for a fight with Russia, and overcome shortages in Western aid cause by delays and political debate.

Ukraine has become a pioneer in the development of certain types of weaponry, and European leaders and defense ministers have acknowledged that there are lessons Europe's defense industries can learn from Ukraine, particularly on drones, as they warn Russia could attack their countries.

Yabchanka said that Europe also has "more resources than Russia," making deepening cooperation a win-win.

He urged European industry and leaders to get onboard. "The manufacturers, developers, military personnel all stand ready for cooperation. Just come along; we'll deliver training and whatever else is necessary."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Longstanding efforts to breathe new life into a blighted Naperville shopping center with an upscale grocery store are soon coming to fruition.

Ohio-based Heinens Grocery Store will be opening its doors at 1244 E. Chicago Ave. later this year, the company announced in a news release this week. Store construction is underway, and will not only mark the grocers fifth location in Illinois but also the redevelopment of Napervilles Eagle Crest Plaza shopping center.

We couldnt be more excited, Heinens spokeswoman Jackie Shultz said. There seems to be a very positive feeling about us coming to town, which is great. We are thrilled to be joining the Naperville community.

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Heinens is projecting a late summer to early fall opening, Shultz said.

The project has been in the works for nearly three years.

Heinens initially went before city leaders with its redevelopment aspirations in August 2022. From the start, the idea was to revitalize Eagle Crest Plaza, which became blighted due to years of neglect and deterioration by rainwater detention.

The 7.3-acre plaza was formerly anchored by Butera Market, which is the space Heinens is taking over. The strip mall had been home to a handful of other businesses, including a travel agency, a martial arts studio and most notably, Pepes Mexican Restaurant. None of them will be part of the new development.

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Pepes closed in early 2024. Its owners opened a tavern offshoot of their former Naperville staple  dubbed The Can  at 34 E. Ogden Ave. in September.

Plans for bringing Heinens to town were finalized last summer, earning the endorsement of Napervilles Planning and Zoning Commission in June and the Naperville City Council in August.

The new store will have 46,000 square feet, per the companys news release. Its hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Features will include a butcher shop, specialty cheese shop and fresh flower market in addition to produce, seafood, bakery, prepared foods and grocery departments, the release said.

At the highest level, were committed to quality and pay very close attention to our sourcing, Shultz said.

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There will also be an Eat at Heinens section, where patrons will be able to enjoy freshly made meals, as well as opportunities for customers of legal age to buy wine-by-the-glass or draft beer, Heinens says. Indoor and outdoor seating will be available on site.

Shultz said customers experience in store is a key focus.

Were committed to making the experience in our stores feel really good for customers, she said. One of our goals is that we want customers to leave the store feeling better than when they arrived.

Operating for nearly a century, Heinens was founded in 1929 by a local butcher in Shaker Heights, Ohio, according to the companys website. The company continues to be family-owned and today operates 19 locations in Ohio and in addition to the four across the Chicago area.

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Heinens made its Illinois debut in Barrington 13 years ago. By 2014, the grocer had opened locations in Glenview, Bannockburn and Lake Bluff.

Beyond building out a new store, the company will be raising the surrounding plazas lot and providing stormwater storage beneath it.

To help pay for the stormwater improvements, the Naperville City Council approved the creation of an Eagle Crest business district in December 2022, allowing the city to collect an extra half-percent sales tax from purchases made within the district.

Revenue accrued will go towards reimbursing Heinens for stormwater management costs.

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Reimbursement can be requested after an occupancy permit has been obtained, according to city spokeswoman Linda LaCloche. As of Thursday, no certificates of occupancy had been issued for the site, she said.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
Union Hospital on Thursday shared its response to a letter from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita in which the state officer opposed the proposed merger between Union Hospital and Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

Union argues the merger is a critical next step to secure health care for the Wabash Valley for years to come. It says state approval  known as a Certificate of Public Advantage, or COPA  will help preserve and broaden local access to care, protect cost efficiency and build a healthier, more resilient future by leveraging combined resources.

Union says its response addresses the questions and claims made in the attorney generals letter. It also says it reinforces how the 45 commitments outlined in the COPA application are designed specifically to achieve Union Hospitals vision for a healthier and more resilient community.

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Since the late nineteenth century, Union Hospital and Regional Hospital have treated patients from the region each and every day, Steve Holman, president and CEO of Union, said in an emailed statement.

Union Hospital and Regional Hospital have a demonstrated history of being committed to doing what is best for the health and well-being of the people that call the Wabash Valley home, Holman said. We believe the COPA is the next best step in our journey to care for the people of this community.

Union Hospital outlined its key points as to why the merger  is the only way to change and enhance the trajectory of the future of health care in the area.

To wit:

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* The proposed merger will maintain and increase access to care. It says under the merger, Union Hospital is committed to investing at least $117 million in various services and community health programs and recruiting 30+ new primary and specialty care providers.

* Union is committed to protecting cost efficiency. While the attorney general expresses concern that Union Hospital may raise its prices after the seven-year pricing limitation period ends, Union says little will change with respect to hospital prices in the community. Health insurance plans determine pricing for services for 98.4% of its patients, and the hospital is not free to set prices at any level. Federal government programs will continue to set rates for Union Hospital and commercial and Medicare Advantage plans will continue to robustly negotiate rates with Union Hospital as they do today.

* Union acknowledges that concerns may exist with a reduction in competition, but these concerns are being addressed with specific commitments designed to protect the community. And without the merger, the community will be met with significant job losses, fewer services and worse health outcomes.

Unions complete statement regard the attorney generals letter is available with this article on the Tribune-Stars website, www.tribstar.com.

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The attorney generals letter also is available with this story at www.tribstar.com.

To view the merger application pending before the state, visit bit.ly/3YX7vgv.

Union also invites the public to find more information on its COPA application and its and commitments at union.health/healthier-together.

Union Hospital and Terre Haute Regional Hospital are seeking merger via state regulation rather than via Federal Trade Commission approval.

Indiana is one of about 20 states that allow such a process. However, legislation (Senate Enrolled Act 119) signed this week by Gov. Mike Braun effectively closes down that method of approval in Indiana, which is by state issuance of a Certificate of Public Advantage, or COPA.

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Barring the COPA law being resurrected by future government action in Indianapolis, it appears the Union/Regional application will be the one and only COPA application to proceed in the Hoosier State.

That application is now before the Indiana Department of Health, which must rule by mid-August.

Rokita, the states chief legal officer, argued the proposed merger presents monopoly concerns and could drive up healthcare costs and reduce access.

Union maintains that without the merger, Regionals owners  HCA Healthcare  may well close the hospital on the south side of Terre Haute, costing the area 500 to 600 healthcare jobs and leaving Union Health hard pressed to replace all of the healthcare access lost.
LAURA SHIMABUKU /WEST HAWAII TODAY The entrance to North Hawaii Community Hospital, part of the Queens Health Systems, is seen in March 2015.

LAURA SHIMABUKU /WEST HAWAII TODAY The entrance to North Hawaii Community Hospital, part of the Queens Health Systems, is seen in March 2015.

Nearly 100 unionized nurses at Queens North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea have given notice of plans to hold an informational picket next Saturday.

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The Hawaii Nurses Association, which represents the registered nurses, says it is frustrated with the lack of progress on a new contract after five months of negotiations. The notice is legally required 10 days ahead of the picket scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 17.

The nurses contract expired on March 31. Negotiations have been ongoing since mid-December.

We respect our nurses right to participate in lawful protected activities such as their scheduled informational picket,  said Stephany Vaioleti, president of Queens North Hawaii Community Hospital, in a statement. Since February, we have worked constructively with HNA to reach an agreement for our nurses at Queens North Hawaii Community Hospital. We will continue to bargain in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable agreement that provides wage increases and other improvements that support our nurses and their profession.

HNA says the nurses are seeking the same high standards of patient care and nurse-to-patient ratios that are in place at The Queens Medical Center on Oahu.

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This is a health equity issue. We believe there should be one standard of care across the state,  said Rosalee Agas-Yuu, HNA president, in a news release. Neighbor island residents already face challenges with access to quality care. When North Hawaii residents are admitted to Queens in Waimea, they deserve to receive the same quality of care as those Oahu.

She added, Our elected officials, especially those in our legislature, have said state health policy is not their kuleana. They have determined patient safety should be a collective bargaining issue, so we will continue to advocate for our patients. We hope to reach an agreement on a contract that has the same safe nurse-to-patient standards of care that Oahu patients have to avoid the picket.

A strike by nearly 2, 000 nurses working at two Queens hospitals on Oahu was in the final hours in January.

HNA says when nurses are assigned too many patients on their shift, they cannot provide the attention and care each needs, which results in diminished quality of care and higher chances of overlooking symptoms that should be treated immediately.

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Queens North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea is an acute-care hospital with a level 3 trauma center and primary care clinic.

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Members of the Washington Public Employees Association march at the 2025 public service recognition event at the state Capitol on May 7, 2025. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Thousands of state government and community college employees in Washington want Gov. Bob Ferguson to ensure they receive a pay raise in July like the rest of the state workforce.

They are asking the first-term Democrat not to sign a new state budget unless it pays for their contract, which lawmakers said was ratified too late to be put in the spending plan awaiting Fergusons signature.

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This request from the nearly 5,300-member Washington Public Employees Association is a long shot and could require the governor calling lawmakers back to Olympia for a special session.

In the meantime, the much larger Washington Federation of State Employees is pressing Ferguson to sign the budget, which would pay for raises for its members and does not include furlough plans that the union fought against.

The Washington Public Employees Association delivered a letter to Ferguson this week, asserting that inaction by negotiators in his budget office prevented contract talks from being completed faster so the collective bargaining agreement could get funded.

I recognize that the position you find yourself in is not an easy one, union president Amanda Hacker writes in the letter. Please recognize that signing a budget that harms over 5,000 of your employees for asserting their legal right to participate in their union is not the correct way out of this situation.

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Hacker sought to drop the letter off at the governors office on Wednesday but was told no one was there to accept it.

Fergusons communications director, Brionna Aho, emailed the Standard late Wednesday, indicating the letter had been received. She emailed again later to say that staff were out of the governors office at lunchtime on Wednesday for a public worker appreciation event.

Governor Ferguson looks forward to reviewing [the letter], Aho wrote.

On Wednesday, about 100 association members rallied at a public service recognition event held across the street from the state Capitol.

Throngs of state workers attended the annual celebration that featured food, music and dozens of information booths representing agencies, community organizations, and service providers.

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Ferguson did not attend the event, choosing instead to schedule a midday bill signing in Seattle.

Delayed agreement

The Washington Federation of State Employees represents 50,000 state government, higher education and public service workers. It has more than a dozen contracts funded in the budget approved by the Legislature on April 27, the last day of session.

We want him to sign it, Ashley Fueston, the federation vice president, said. Its definitely a tough situation for all of us. We worked very hard to get our contracts funded. We hope they find a way into the budget.

Those contracts contain general pay hikes of 3% on July 1, 2025 and 2% a year later. These agreements also raise the starting wage for state workers to $18 an hour.

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Members of the Washington Public Employees Association are not receiving those increases. They work at 14 community colleges and nine state agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Revenue, the Liquor and Cannabis Board and Department of Agriculture.

By law, public sector unions in Washington must approve a new contract by Oct. 1 to be considered by a governor for funding in the ensuing two-year budget.

But association members overwhelmingly voted down a tentative agreement with the pay hikes by that deadline. Union leaders told employees then that rejecting the accord would put them in uncharted territory.

Hacker said they sought to keep bargaining. But the Office of Financial Management, which represents the state, wouldnt, she said. The union sued to try to force a resumption of talks. Negotiations restarted in December. Hacker lays out the timeline in her letter.

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The two sides reached a tentative agreement in March and union members ratified it April 3. It is essentially the same contract they turned down, and has 3% and 2% increases, the same as the other contracts.

As you know, Governor Ferguson was not in office when most of this occurred, Aho, the communications director, emailed. We would defer to OFM for more details.

On March 19, the Office of Financial Management told legislative budget writers that separate tentative agreements had been reached with Washington Public Employees Association general government workers and higher education employees. OFM staff estimated those two contracts would cost $55.8 million for the 2025-27 biennium.

In the same letter, OFM director K.D. Chapman-See said the agency supported a one-time non-precedent setting suspension of the Oct. 1 statutory deadline to enable these tentative agreements to be considered for funding.

She also included potential language that could be put in the budget bill, making clear the funding would be solely for the upcoming budget cycle.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Archbishop Christopher Coyne of the Archdiocese of Hartford reacted to the election of American-born Robert Francis Prevost as pope.

Connecticut church leaders, lawmakers react to election of new pope

As pontiff, Prevost has selected the name Leo XIV, a name that harkens to some of the Churchs most storied leaders including Pope Leo I, known as Leo the Great, and Pope Leo XIII, who was known for his articulation of the churchs social teachings as the global economy industrialized in the late 19th century.

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Coyne noted the historical significance of the new pontiffs choice of name and also anticipated that Leo XIV would embody a continuity of leadership that has run through the popes of the modern era, including Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

He also described Leo XIV, who was born in the Chicago area and spent two decades ministering in Peru, as a bridge between the northern and southern hemispheres.

In Pope Leo, we have a man who is uniquely qualified for the office, Coyne said.

Coyne also weighed in on speculation as to the direction of the Church following the reign of Pope Francis, who was seen as a change agent who sometimes found himself at odds with more conservative Catholics.

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If youre asking me if the Pope will depart from the tradition of the Chruchs dogma and doctrine and its creeds and its faith  no, Coyne said.

But, Coyne added, there may be areas where, like Francis before him, Leo XIV might interpret certain pastoral situations and realities in new ways.

Hold fast to the deposit of faith, Coyne said. But also do so in a way thats merciful, loving, and salvific.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
United Airlines is expanding its travel waivers and letting customers change flights for free as massive flight disruptions, delays and cancellations continue at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, one of the busiest airports in the United States.

The Chicago-based airline, which has a major hub at Newark, announced that passengers with travel plans to or from Newark between May 6 to 23, 2025, are eligible for a "flexibility" waiver that will allow them to reschedule flights without any change fees or fare differences, so long as tickets were purchased on or prior to May 4. Previously, the waiver was available for travel plans up until May 17.

PHOTO: Airplanes sit parked at gates while others proceed to a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport, Feb. 20, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

United said free flight changes only apply to new flights in the same cabin that are leaving and arriving within two days before or after the original travel dates and between the original cities of travel, or Philadelphia or New York.

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Major flight disruptions at Newark Airport as air traffic controllers walk off job

This is the third waiver announcement from United, following an initial waiver that applied to tickets purchased on or before April 29 for trips scheduled between May 1 and 5, and the company's announcement on Tuesday this week.

What's happening at Newark Liberty International Airport

Equipment outages, such as a brief radar blackout at Newark early Friday morning, have been causing a domino effect of delayed, disrupted or cancelled flights at the New Jersey airport in recent days.

United began cutting about 35 daily flights out of Newark on May 3, citing ongoing air traffic control staff shortages and equipment issues as a major reason behind the significant change.

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A previous April 28 equipment outage at Philadelphia TRACON, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Airport, caused the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily halt departures to Newark, kicking off a series of flight headaches for travelers. More than 900 flights have been canceled at Newark since the outage.

Newark airport outage last week lasted 60-90 seconds, ATC screens went dark: Sources

Newark Airport has also been reeling from air traffic controller staffing shortages, with existing controllers doubling up on work and taking trauma leave, especially after the first major outage.

The FAA is working to bring in air traffic control supervisors from around the country to help ease the problem, though it is unlikely to provide a quick solution to the ongoing problems.

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The FAA acknowledged in a previous statement to ABC News that existing technology and systems are "antiquated."

"Our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce," the FAA said in part. "We are working to ensure the current telecommunications equipment is more reliable in the New York area by establishing a more resilient and redundant configuration with the local exchange carriers. In addition, we are updating our automation system to improve resiliency."

Traian Hernandez, a retired air traffic controller who spent 25 years working the skies around Newark Liberty Airport, previously told ABC News he believes the long-standing staffing issues have bred "unsafe" conditions.

"They had another radar failure and another communications failure last week, for about a minute and a half. ... As a controller, that's an eternity because planes are moving," Hernandez said. "In 90 seconds, you can go from one end of the airspace to the other and you have airplanes pointed at each other and you can't do nothing about it. That is extremely stressful, creates anxiety."

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The FAA said air traffic controllers on leave cannot be easily or quickly replaced.

"While we cannot quickly replace them due to this highly specialized profession, we continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace," the federal agency said.

For now, Hernandez urged travelers to reconsider flying in and out of Newark.

"Reschedule if you can. I will fly out of [John F. Kennedy International Airport] right now. If I have to fly to New York, that's where I'm flying -- Kennedy, maybe LaGuardia [Airport]. I'm avoiding Newark right now," Hernandez said.

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ABC News' Sam Sweeney and Ayesha Ali contributed to this story.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information about United's latest "flexibility" waiver waiver extension and the May 9 Newark radar outage.

United extends free ticket changes amid Newark airport delays, cancellations originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  More than $37 million in grant funding to the University of Tennessee has been terminated. The university system is currently assessing the impacts and determining its next steps.

As of April 9, 2025, the University of Tennessee had received a total of 58 federal grants. Of these grants, 42 have been terminated, six are pending, and only 10 remain active. Although the total funding cut exceeded $51 million, the university had already utilized some of these funds. The $37,655,82 being terminated is what remains unspent.

No tuition increase included in $2.3B University of Tennessee budget proposal

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The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture experienced the largest funding cut, with eight grants totaling $37,199,860 being terminated. Of this amount, $31,192,986 was still unspent. The UT-Knoxville campus faced the highest number of grants cut, with 25 grants totaling $7,085,105, of which $2,068,061 remains unspent.

Both UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) each had four grants terminated, amounting to a total of $2,892,331 for UTHSC, with $2,594,101 remaining unspent, and a total of $3,471,192 for UTC, with $1,383,566 remaining unspent. Additionally, one grant for UT Institute of Public Service (UTIPS) was terminated, totaling $698,802, with $419,107 remaining. No grants were cut from the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM), although their only grant is currently pending.

These funding cuts come amid President Donald Trumps efforts to reduce federal funding and eliminate several federal agencies, including USAID, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Department of Education. The University of Tennessee receives funding from each of these agencies, including $4 million from USAID and $421,375 from IMLS, which have all been cut.

Fired Clinton High School teacher charged after grade manipulation investigation

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Several other organizations in East Tennessee, such as the Beck Center, Zoo Knoxville, and Second Harvest Food Bank, have also been affected by these federal funding reductions.

Furthermore, cuts to AmeriCorps have caused their programs in East Tennessee to be gutted, while reductions in the Department of Health and Human Services pose a risk to a program that assists Knox County seniors with their utility bills. Knoxville officials are also facing uncertainty regarding federal funding for a pedestrian bridge project. In addition, Trumps proposed budget includes cuts of more than $1 billion to the National Park system, which could impact the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A breakdown of the total number of grants received by the university system, categorized by federal agency, is available below.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Two grants terminated Total Award: $1,415,187 Remaining: $12,628

Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) One grant terminated Total Award: $129,999 Remaining: $73,757

Department of Defense (DOD) Three grants terminated Total Award: $623,944 Remaining: $179,751

Department of Energy (DOE) Three active grants Total Award: $2,427,463 Remaining: $1,538,949

Department of the Interior (DOI) Two active grants and one pending grant Total Award: $289,769 and n/a Remaining: $183,819 and n/a

Department of Justice (DOJ) One grant terminated Total Award: $698,802 Remaining: $419,107

Department of State (DOS) One grant terminated and one grant pending Total Award: $70,000 and $1,140,000 Remaining: $6,466 and $1,140,000

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) One grant terminated Total Award: $31,225 Remaining: $31,225

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Two grants terminated Total Award: $702,218 Remaining: $136,492

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Two grants terminated Total Award: $421,375 Remaining: $372,746

NASA One active grant Total Award: $1,475,557 Remaining: $26,312

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Two grants terminated Total Award: $209,957 Remaining: $148,157

National Institutes of Health (NIH) 12 grants terminated and one active grant Total Award: $9,460,786 and $499,071 Remaining: $4,757,373 and n/a

National Science Foundation (NSF) Seven grants terminated and one active grant Total Award: $1,476,394 and $100,000 Remaining: $358,508 and $89,891

USAID One grant terminated Total Award: $4,999,943 Remaining: $4,130,835

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Four grants terminated, two pending grants and two active grants Total Award: $30,290,573, $175,000 and $1,613,992 Remaining: $26,925,823, $144,245 and $1,383,472

Others Three grants terminated, two pending grants Total Award: $816,887, $128,190 Remaining: $102,933, $52,052



Several universities have also had their federal funding targeted by the government in order to comply with the Trump administrations political agenda, including Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.

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A recent poll by Vanderbilt found that 66% of voters opposed cutting funding research at universities.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Graduate student Alex Connolly signs a letter to U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) as part of the New Mexico Stand Up for Science outreach on the last day of spring semester classes. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

On the last day of classes for the spring semester, organizers for the New Mexico Stand Up for Science tabled at the University of New Mexico, asking more students to join efforts to protest White House efforts to dismantle funding mechanisms for science research.

The intent really is to make sure that people dont lose steam throughout the summer, said Nina Christie, a post-doctoral researcher studying substance use.

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The group is part of a national movement seeking an expansion of research science funding and reinstating research cuts under anti-diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

The cuts, led by Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency, have impacted billions of dollars in research  including a UNM neuroscience researcher studying impacts of repeated traumatic brain injuries, who spoke at an earlier protest at the New Mexico Legislature.

About two dozen students stopped by over the course of 45 minutes. Some UNM employees also visited, including undergraduate advisors Madison Castiellano-Donovan and Dylan Velez. Velez told Source NM some of the psychology students whom they advise are expressing uncertainty in finding future jobs, wanting to graduate early or considering switching majors altogether due to the cuts to higher education.

Matison McCool, a post-doctoral researcher on substance use at the University of New Mexico urges more undergraduates and graduate students to organize against federal cuts for scientific research. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

Matison McCool, a research assistant professor in substance abuse research, said lost funding will close doors for upcoming students.

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Without general training grants in place, without that infrastructure, there simply wont be pathways to get into science anymore, for people who want to do that, he said.

McCool said he also hoped the effort to organize will push the university to further protect funding.

I want to hear concrete steps the administration is going to take and plan on taking to help continue funding researchers who lost their grants, and finding the resources for funding science, he said.

McCool said the recent 2026 Budget Request from the White House proposes Congress halve the National Science Foundation by more than $4.7 billion, and cut the National Institutes of Health budget by more than $17 billion dollars.

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That will devastate cancer trial research, substance trial use research  that is a fact, he said. We cannot fund these studies that are solving these problems, people will die if these studies dont exist.

His own five-year research grant hasnt been impacted yet, but hes concerned that research will only get more limited, and he worries the grant could be rescinded at any time.

The hardest part is looking at these White House proposed budgets and thinking I dont have a job in five years, he said. This may be the only science I ever get to do.

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ABBEVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  An Abbeville County man is headed to prison for 20 years for trafficking methamphetamine.

The 8th Circuit Solicitors Office reported that 56-year-old Kenneth Dewayne McGaha pleaded guilty on Monday afternoon to the drug charge. It was reported that the defendant fled the area but was apprehended Tuesday evening in Clayton, Georgia.

Officials said McGaha has a lengthy criminal record.

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In December 2021, investigators with the Abbeville County Sheriffs Office used an informant to purchase 28 grams of methamphetamine from McGaha.

Based on the buy, investigators were able to obtain a search warrant for McGahas residence in the Honea Path area, where the defendant was found with more than 450 grams of methamphetamine ready for distribution.

McGaha received his sentence after changing his plea to guilty just before a jury was to be selected for his trial scheduled for Tuesday.

He must serve a minimum of 85 percent of the prison sentence before being considered for parole.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
A driver transporting uranium ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon to the White Mesa Mill near Blanding fell ill near Flagstaff.

According to authorities, Coconino County Sheriffs deputies were alerted on May 8 after a driver stopped near U.S. Highway 89 and Townsend Winona Road, just north of Flagstaff, reporting minor flu-like symptoms.

There is no evidence that the uranium ore caused the drivers illness, according to the Coconino County Sheriffs Department. The Flagstaff Fire Department assessed the scene using a radiation detection instrument and confirmed that radiation levels were within a safe range.

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The truck was later moved, and the situation was resolved.

"It appears one of our drivers in a loaded truck had a flu bug, food poisoning, or something similar. He stopped for a bathroom break in north Flagstaff. It appears someone saw the parked truck, panicked and called law enforcement, which was of course not necessary," said Curtis Moore, a senior vice president at Energy Fuels Inc., which operates the Pinyon Plain Mina.

"Like all truck drivers, ours are allowed to stop for bathroom breaks, food, refueling, rest, and the like, and even truck drivers get the flu from time to time," Moore said. "He was treated with some fluids and will be fine. Unfortunately, some irresponsible activist voices on social media are making wild claims about the situation, which are not remotely true. It was just a driver stopping for a bathroom break."

Mining concerns: Uranium shipments worry Navajo, Ute tribal members along truck route

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The Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency said it received reports regarding the uranium ore truck parked along U.S. 89 with concerns about the ill driver.

"At 9:56 a.m., NNEPA completed routine inspections of three other uranium ore trucks that had arrived at the designated inspection site," Stephen Etsitty, director of NNEPA, said in a press release. "Upon passing inspection, the trucks continued their transport route to the White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah."

Etsitty said at 11:40 a.m., the company notified NNEPA of its decision to return the fourth truck  whose driver had reported illness  back to the Pinyon Plain Mine as a precautionary measure.

Under the terms of a uranium transport agreement, Energy Fuels is permitted to transport uranium through the Navajo Nation on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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In March, a month after uranium transport resumed, Etsitty informed concerned Navajo community members in Mexican Water that Energy Fuels had been sending two trucks per day along the route during the first six weeks. That number increased to three and was expected to rise to four, with a future maximum of 8 to 12 trucks per day.

We appreciate the swift response and coordination from Coconino County officials and Energy Fuels Resources, Inc. in addressing this matter, said Etsitty.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Uranium ore truck driver reports 'flu-like' symptoms near Flagstaff
The U.S. logged 122 more cases of measles this week  but only four of them in Texas  while the outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Michigan have officially ended.

There are 1,168 confirmed measles cases in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, said they'll now post case counts only once a week  yet another sign the outbreak is slowing.

There are three other major outbreaks in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 2,009 cases from mid-October through June 3. The province logged its first death Thursday in a baby that got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.

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Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened 761 as of Thursday. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 1,940 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.

Other U.S. states with active outbreaks  which the CDC defines as three or more related cases  include Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio and Tennessee.

In the U.S., two elementary school-aged children in the epicenter in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus thats airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

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How many measles cases are there in Texas?

There are a total of 742 cases across 35 counties, most of them in West Texas, state health officials said Friday.

Throughout the outbreak, 94 people have been hospitalized.

State health officials estimated less than 1% of cases  fewer than 10  are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 411 cases since late January  just under 2% of the countys residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of what the childs doctor described as measles pulmonary failure. A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.

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How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?

New Mexico added two cases in the past week for a total of 81.

Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the states cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Dona Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each.

An unvaccinated adult died of measles-related illness March 6. The person did not seek medical care.

How many cases are there in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma added one case this week for a total of 15 confirmed and three probable cases.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.

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How many cases are there in Colorado?

Colorado has seen a total of 12 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of seven related cases.

The outbreak is linked to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May, and includes three cases each in Arapahoe and El Paso counties and one in Denver, plus a person who doesn't live in Colorado.

Other counties that have seen measles this year include Archuleta and Pueblo.

How many cases are there in Kansas?

Kansas has a total of 71 cases across 11 counties in the southwestern part of the state, with three hospitalizations. All but two of the cases are connected, and most are in Gray County.

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How many cases are there in Montana?

Montana has 17 measles cases as of Thursday. Ten are in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up  Montanas first in 35 years.

Flathead and Yellowstone counties have two cases each, and Hill County has three case.

There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

How many cases are there in North Dakota?

North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, is up to 34 cases as of Friday. Two of the people have been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.

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There are 16 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state on the Minnesota border, there are 10 cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, has one case.

How many cases are there in Ohio?

Ohio remained steady for a third week at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents.

The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20  14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors. Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each.

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How many cases are there in Tennessee?

Tennessee has had six measles cases since early May, but no change since. Tennessees outbreak appears to be over, as health officials say there have not been any new cases in six weeks.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania were declared over by health officials after six weeks of no new cases.

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Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s dont need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from killed virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

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People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally dont need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have presumptive immunity."

Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates  above 95%  due to herd immunity. But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

How can you treat measles?

Theres no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration will welcome more than two dozen white South Africans to the United States as refugees next week, an unusual move because it has suspended most refugee resettlement operations, officials and documents said Friday.

The first Afrikaner refugees are arriving Monday at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. They are expected to be greeted by a government delegation, including the deputy secretary of state and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, whose refugee office has organized their resettlement.

The flight will be the first of several in a much larger-scale relocation effort, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters.

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The Trump administration has taken a number of steps against South Africa, accusing the Black-led government of pursuing anti-white policies at home and an anti-American foreign policy. The South African government denies the allegations and says the U.S. criticism is full of misinformation.

While State Department refugee programs have been suspended  halting arrivals from Afghanistan, Iraq, most of sub-Saharan Africa and other countries in a move being challenged in court  President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February prioritizing the processing of white South Africans claiming racial discrimination.

Whats happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created, Miller said. This is persecution based on a protected characteristic  in this case, race. This is race-based persecution.

Efforts to get white South Africans to the US

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Since Trump's executive order, the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews, prioritizing consideration for U.S. refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination, the State Department said.

The department said nothing about the imminent arrival of what officials said are believed to be more than two dozen white South Africans from roughly four families who applied for resettlement in the U.S. Their arrival had originally been scheduled for early last week but was delayed for reasons that were not immediately clear.

The HHS Office for Refugee Resettlement was ready to offer them support, including with housing, furniture and other household items, and expenses like groceries, clothing, diapers and more, the document says. This effort is a stated priority of the Administration."

HHS didnt respond to messages seeking comment.

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Supporters of the refugee program questioned why the Trump administration was moving so quickly to resettle white South Africans while halting the wider refugee program, which brings people to the U.S. who are displaced by war, natural disaster or persecution and involves significant vetting in a process that often takes years.

We are concerned that the U.S. Government has chosen to fast-track the admission of Afrikaners, while actively fighting court orders to provide life-saving resettlement to other refugee populations who are in desperate need, Church World Services president Rick Santos said in a statement. His group has been assisting refugees for more than 70 years.

Letting in white South Africans while keeping out Afghans is hypocrisy, said Shawn VanDiver, who heads #AfghanEvac, which helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the two-decade war.

Afghans who served alongside U.S. forces, who taught girls, who fought for democracy, and who now face Taliban reprisals, meet every definition of a refugee," he said. Afghans risked their lives for us. That should matter, he said.

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Trump administration has accused South Africa of anti-white policies

The Trump administration alleges the South African government has allowed minority white Afrikaner farmers to be persecuted and attacked, while introducing an expropriation law designed to take away their land.

The South African government has said it was surprised by claims of discrimination against Afrikaners because white people still generally have a much higher standard of living than Black people more than 30 years after the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule.

South Africa is the homeland of close Trump adviser Elon Musk, who has been outspoken in his criticism, and it also holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 developed and developing nations.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio notably boycotted a G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg in March because its agenda centered on diversity, inclusion and climate change. He also expelled South Africas ambassador to the U.S. in March for comments that the Trump administration interpreted as accusing the president of promoting white supremacy.

Shortly thereafter, the State Department ended all engagement with the G20 during South Africas presidency. The U.S. is due to host G20 meetings in 2026.

What South Africa says about the refugees

South African President Cyril Ramaphosas office said in a statement Friday that he had spoken with Trump late last month on issues including U.S. criticism of the country and allegations that Afrikaners are being persecuted. Ramaphosa told Trump that the information the U.S. president had received was completely false.

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Therefore, our position is that there are no South African citizens that can be classified as refugees to any part of the world, including the U.S., the statement said.

The South African foreign ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Alvin Botes spoke with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Friday about the refugees. Landau is expected to lead the delegation to welcome the group Monday.

South Africa expressed concerns" and denied allegations of discrimination against Afrikaners, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being refugees is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africas constitutional democracy, the statement said. It noted that the country has worked to prevent any repeat of the type of persecution and discrimination that happened under apartheid rule.

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The foreign ministry said it would not block anyone who wanted to leave as it respected their freedom of movement and choice.

But it said it was seeking information about the status of the people leaving South Africa, wanting assurances that they had been properly vetted and did not have outstanding criminal cases.

The foreign ministry added that South Africa was dedicated to constructive dialogue with the U.S.

___

Gumede reported from Johannesburg. Associated Press writers Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, Gisela Salomon in Miami, and Seung Min Kim and Amanda Seitz in Washington contributed to this report.
The U.S. Air Force deployed a swarm of supersonic stealth strike fighters and anti-aircraft missile systems for a large-scale elephant walk in Japan, in an apparent display of combat power and regional deterrence.

A total of 53 aircraft participated in the traditional showing this week at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, a major U.S. military installation in the Asia-Pacific region located about 400 miles off the coast of China.

Air Force photographs captured fighter jets in tight formation behind helicopters and drones. Larger aircraft were stationed toward the rear with advanced Patriot air defense systems flanking the sides.

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An elephant walk like this sends a message you cant ignoreit shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that were united, capable, and ready, 18th Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant Brandon Wolfgang said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 18th Wing Commander Brigadier General Nicholas Evans said in a statement Friday that the Air Forces ability to project airpower alongside its allies demonstrates our commitment to the alliance with Japan and to maintaining stability across the Indo-Pacific.

The air base said two dozen F-35As, eight F-15E Strike Eagles, six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, and two MQ-9 Reaper drones were included in the traditional showing on Tuesday, which involves the taxiing of aircraft in close formation before takeoff.

U.S. military planes line up on the runway for an elephant walk during a routine operational readiness exercise (US Force Japan/X)

Operations tankers, reconnaissance planes stuffed with listening devices and other electromagnetic spying equipment, and airborne warning systems were among other aircraft in the walk.

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The U.S. Navy also deployed two EA-18G Growler electronic warfare fighter-bombers and one P-8 Poseidon submarine hunter, while the U.S. Army chipped in two MIM-104 Patriots mobile interceptor missile surface-to-air missile systems.

According to military news website Task and Purpose, this weeks elephant walk appears to be one of the largest in recent memory. It topped the 52-aircraft formation at Hill Air Force Base in Utah in 2020.

The Japanese base held a similar, 33-aircraft elephant walk about a year ago.

The Air Force said most of the planes in the walk are flown by crews at Kadena, and other aircraft regularly operate out of the Japanese air base day in and day out. "

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The display coincided with the 18th Wings week of operational readiness training involving ground burst simulators, smoke canisters, and mobilization drills.

Our Airmen are out there doing the mission every day, Wolfgang said. Exercises like this sharpen their skills under pressure and make sure they are ready when it matters.
A 53-aircraft exercise put US military airpower on display in Japan earlier this week.

Fighter jets, rescue helicopters, and spy planes taxiied the runway at Kadena Air Base.

The massive aircraft display "sends a message you can't ignore," a senior enlisted leader said.

Dozens of fighter jets, military helicopters, and Patriot missile defense systems lined the runway at a US Air Force base, which could be the largest "elephant walk" ever in Japan.

The "elephant walk" exercise at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, was part of a broader capability demonstration, showcasing US military airpower as China's growing military presence fuels tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

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Here are the various military aircraft and assets featured in the exercise, which drills airmen on readying large numbers of aircraft to take off in rapid succession.

What is an elephant walk?

US Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers line up on a flightline during an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan R. Sifuentes

Dating back to World War II, the term "elephant walk" referred to the taxiing of military aircraft en masse before taking off in single-file formations like a herd of elephants walking trunk-to-tail.

Elephant walks not only demonstrate operational airpower and readiness but also train military pilots in wartime operations that involve launching a large number of sorties in a short period of time.

Third-largest elephant walk in Air Force history

US Air Force, Army, and Navy aircraft and equipment line up on a runway for an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer

Elephant walks typically involve a large number of aircraft, and the Kadena Air Base event on Okinawa was no exception  53 Air Force and Navy aircraft, as well as two Army Patriot air defense batteries, participated in the runway display.

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The elephant walk could be the largest to ever take place in Japan, nearly twice the size of last year's 33-aircraft display at the base, which featured F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The Kadena elephant walk is among the largest ever by the US Air Force, outnumbering an elephant walk in 2020 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that only featured F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

In April 2023, 80 aircraft were displayed in an elephant walk at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, a 70-aircraft demonstration consisted of only F-15E Strike Eagles, making it the largest single-type elephant walk.

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Rescue helicopters, drones, and fighter jets

Two Patriot missile launchers were stationed on the sides of the runway. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer

Fighter jets made up more than half of the elephant walk, with 24 F-35As, eight F-15Es, and two Navy EA-18 Growlers.

Six HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters led the herd, along with two MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are used for surveillance and precision strikes.

Cargo planes, tankers, and spy planes

The closest aircraft seen is an E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, which has a circular radar dome mounted above its fuselage. US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer

Two MC-130J Commando II special operations cargo planes and six KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft brought up the rear of the formation.

Three spy planes also made an appearance in the elephant walk  one E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, one RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, and one P-8 Poseidon operated by the Navy for maritime patrol and reconnaissance.

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The formation was flanked by two US Army MIM-104 Patriot missile interceptors, which have proven to be vital assets in the US' air defense strategy against Chinese missile threats.

Exercise Beverly Herd

US Air Force aircraft line up on the flight line for an elephant walk during a routine readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley

The airpower demonstration on Okinawa was an iteration of Exercise Beverly Herd, an annual military exercise that prepares US and allied forces for combat in the Pacific.

Aside from the elephant walk, rescue and maintenance squadrons stationed at Kadena also practiced surveilling damage on an airfield, and Air Force civil engineers worked with Navy specialists to remove simulated unexploded ordnance from the runway.

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At Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, about 11 miles from Kadena, F-35 fighter squadrons from Eielson Air Force Base are also training in warfighting concepts and maneuvers focused on Agile Combat Employment, which is designed to increase lethality and survivability in combat.

'A message you can't ignore'

US Air Force airmen marshal aircraft on a runway next to an F-15E Strike Eagle. US Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Nadine Barclay

The military exercises come as China escalates its military presence in the Pacific over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own.

"An elephant walk like this sends a message you can't ignore," Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, said in a statement. "It shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we're united, capable, and ready."

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China's rapid military build-up has been fueling tension with other US allies on the First Island Chain, which includes Japan and the Philippines. The latter nation also has ongoing territorial disputes with China, primarily in the South China Sea.

Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker taxis down the flightline for an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base. US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Micaiah Anthony

The Beverly Herd exercises were among a series of military drills the US and its allies are hosting in the Indo-Pacific theater to counter growing Chinese aggression in the region.

Earlier this month, the US and the Philippines held a joint exercise, Balikatan, at a strategic chokepoint south of Taiwan. China criticized the military drills, accusing the US and the Philippines of using Taiwan as an excuse to "provoke tension and confrontation."

"This kind of teamwork and presence is exactly how we maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific," Wolfgang said of the Kadena elephant walk.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a federal law preventing felons from possessing firearms, rejecting a challenge by a California man who said the ban should not apply to non-violent felons like himself.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California said the government showed the "permanent and categorical disarmament" of felons was consistent with the country's historical tradition of firearms regulation, and with the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

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Circuit Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw said the ban helps protect from the public from people who commit "the most serious crimes" and represent a "special danger of misuse."

The law was challenged by Steven Duarte, who had five convictions for nonviolent crimes, including vandalism and evading police, before being convicted and sentenced to 4-1/4 years in prison for violating the firearms ban.

Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor a federal public defender representing Duarte immediately responded to requests for comment.

SUPREME COURT PRECEDENTS

Friday's decision was issued by an 11-judge panel as courts around the country struggle to apply two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions addressing Americans' right to bear arms.

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In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the Supreme Court in 2022 expanded Americans' 2nd Amendment rights to arm themselves in public, and required courts to look for historical analogues to justify new gun restrictions.

Two years later, in U.S. v. Rahimi, the court limited the Bruen decision by saying a "historical twin" wasn't required, as upholding a federal ban on gun ownership by people subject to restraining orders for domestic violence.

Duarte had been a passenger in a red Infiniti that Inglewood, California, police pulled over in March 2020 for running a stop sign.

Police saw him throw a handgun out the window, and while searching the car's interior found a loaded magazine that fit the handgun "perfectly."

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A three-judge 9th Circuit panel struck down the firearms ban as applied to Duarte and threw out his conviction last May, before the Rahimi case was decided. Friday's decision overturned that ruling.

'RED-HEADED STEPCHILD'

Wardlaw said five federal appeals courts have upheld the firearms ban as applied to all felons, while two have found it might be unconstitutional as to some felons.

In contrast, the federal appeals court in Philadelphia in December found it unconstitutional as to a man who pleaded guilty to making a false statement to obtain food stamps.

All 11 judges in Friday's decision voted to uphold Duarte's conviction, though three did so on procedural grounds.

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Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke, a vocal critic of recent 9th Circuit gun control rulings, dissented from the court's constitutional analysis.

He said the court is giving legislatures "effectively unconstrained authority to disarm entire swaths of our citizenry," while leaving the 2nd Amendment "inarguably the red-headed stepchild of the Constitution."

The case is U.S. v. Duarte, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 22-50048.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
The new trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom is drawing criticism from the US auto industry, which says it could disadvantage domestic manufacturers.

Under the agreement, announced by US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, tariffs on 100,000 UK-made vehicles imported to the US will be reduced from 25% to 10%.

The American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC), which represents the Big Three US automakers  Ford, General Motors and Stellantis  warned the move would give UK producers an unfair edge over US-based firms.

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Trump's administration previously imposed 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and parts.

Carmakers in the US rely on parts and production from Mexico and Canada, much of which currently remains exempt from tariffs under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

However, these exemptions are expected to shrink over time. The AAPC said that under the new deal, it could soon be cheaper to import a UK vehicle than one from Mexico or Canada that contains a significant portion of US parts, leading to a disadvantage for US manufacturers, suppliers and workers.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick argued that the 100,000 vehicles in question represent only a small share of the US market but were a relevant amount for UK brands such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Jaguar Land Rover.
By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Cardinal Robert Prevost may be the first person from the U.S. to become the head of the Catholic Church but his surprising election by the world's cardinals as Pope Leo XIV probably had less to do with his birthplace than his former workplace.

Prevost, a relative unknown on the world stage, spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and became a senior Vatican official and a cardinal only in 2023.

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His first assignment as a bishop was in Chiclayo, in northwest Peru, where he served from 2015 to 2023.

For the 133 cardinals locked in conclave in the Sistine Chapel to pick a successor to Pope Francis, an Argentine and the first pontiff from the Americas, this was likely no small detail.

"For us, he's the second Latin American pope," Fernando Morales-de la Cruz, a Guatemalan human rights activist, told Reuters. Prevost has dual U.S.-Peruvian nationality.

But unlike Francis, who was elected pope in 2013 after serving for decades as a local bishop and had no Vatican experience, Prevost was not a complete outsider.

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He spent the last two years leading the powerful Vatican office that helps decide which priests are appointed as Catholic bishops across the world. He also took part in two Vatican assemblies of global bishops hosted by Francis in 2023 and 2024.

With his combined experiences, he becomes pope with a head start on some of the big issues facing the 1.4 billion-member Church and is already well known by many of the cardinals.

Given the secrecy of the conclave, not much will be known at least for now about the thinking of the cardinal-electors and how their rounds of voting went up to the moment they made their choice on Thursday.

But some analysts have some theories, including about how Prevost overcame what was until now thought to be an unlikely proposition: a U.S. cardinal becoming pope.

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"Before the conclave, the American cardinals thought a U.S. passport was a dealbreaker," said Michael Sean Winters, a U.S. commentator who has followed the Vatican closely.

But cardinals decided that Prevost's nationality, given his experience in Latin America, "was not an insuperable barrier", he said.

"What they wanted was someone known among the other cardinals and also committed to carrying on with Francis' reforms," said Winters. "And more than any other papal contender Prevost had both things."

In Donald Trump's second U.S. presidency, the cardinals may have also seen real value for the first time in elevating another American as pope.

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Francis was a sharp critic of Trump, saying earlier this year that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the U.S. was a "disgrace".

"As for why the cardinals picked (Prevost), I have to wonder if elevating a 'different sort of American leader' wasn't a part of the discernment process," said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a U.S. academic and Catholic expert at Manhattan University in New York.

QUICK CONCLAVE

Heading into the conclave on Wednesday, two other cardinals were seen as leading frontrunners: Italian Pietro Parolin and Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle.

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Cardinals vote in conclaves once on the first day and four times on subsequent days.

When white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at 6:08 p.m. (1608 GMT) on Thursday, signalling the election of the new pope, many watching thought it must be either Parolin or Tagle.

The timing of the smoke meant the new pope was probably elected on the fourth ballot of the conclave, a fast result. Francis was elected on the fifth ballot of the 2013 conclave.

In 1978, it took eight ballots to elect Pope John Paul II. Like Prevost, the Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla had not been seen as a frontrunner heading into the conclave that made him pontiff.

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PREPARED SPEECH

One cardinal - who was not able to participate in this conclave because he is over the age of 80 - said that based on his experience in past conclaves, a consensus probably emerged on the third ballot that on the next round Prevost would reach the two-thirds majority required to win election.

The third ballot would have been the second one held on Thursday morning, before the cardinals took a break for lunch.

The retired cardinal, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secretive process, suggested that Prevost may have taken time in the lunch break to choose his papal name and begin drafting his first address as leader of the Church.

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When Pope Leo appeared for the first time on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, about 70 minutes after his election, to greet tens of thousands in the square below, he spoke from a written text.

None of the past four popes used a written text for their first address from the balcony. In 2013, Francis' first word was simply "Buonasera" (Good evening), and he spoke extemporaneously for just a few minutes.

Asked by a reporter with Italy's Channel 4 two days before the conclave if he would be elected as pope, Prevost replied: "Everything is in the hands of the Holy Spirit".

The reporter then mentioned how the cardinal had a range of experiences he could offer as pope, being born in the U.S., living in Peru, and knowing bishops around the globe because of his Vatican job.

"All of this is true, yes," Prevost replied.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Additional reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Frances Kerry)
Full production of a new polar security cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard was recently approved by the Department of Homeland Security, as the administration seeks to boost shipbuilding and maritime security in the increasingly competitive Arctic region.

The new vessel  the first heavy polar icebreaker to be built in the U.S. in about five decades  will be constructed by Bollinger Shipyards.

Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, hailed the move in a release as a historic achievement not only for Bollinger Shipyards but also for American shipbuilding.

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Securing the green light for full production underscores the confidence the U.S. government places in Bollinger to deliver the nations first heavy polar icebreaker in nearly 50 years, he said.

The U.S. Coast Guard currently fields a single heavy polar icebreaker, the USCGC Polar Star, and a single medium polar icebreaker, the USCGC Healy.

The Healy was put out of action by an electrical fire last July and the Polar Star is nearly five decades old.

To compensate for a dearth of existing icebreakers, the service in December purchased a commercially available light polar icebreaker  which was renamed the USCGC Storis  that became the first to be added to the services fleet in a 25-year period.

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The green light for the heavy polar icebreaker, meanwhile, comes as the U.S. military has observed a recent surge in foreign maritime activity in the Arctic region, including a joint Chinese-Russian air patrol near Alaska last summer.

In an April 9 executive order, President Donald Trump called for a new strategy to improve maritime security in the Arctic. Resources to ramp up Coast Guard vessel production are part of the reconciliation bill currently being considered by lawmakers.

The bill would provide over $9 billion for Coast Guard vessel manufacturing, which could see the construction of up to 30 new cutters of various sizes and operational capabilities, as reported by USNI News. Those new vessels could include three or more Arctic security cutters, two polar security cutters, eight heritage-class offshore patrol cutters and up to 15 fast response cutters.

The legislation also includes provisions to increase Coast Guard aviation capacity, with funding for fixed and rotary wing aircraft and maintenance.

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Additional vessels are only one facet of sweeping changes now being introduced to the U.S. Coast Guard, which is currently being restructured according to a recently announced initiative called Force Design 2028.

We are executing transformational change to renew the Coast Guard, said Acting Commandant Kevin Lunday in a statement.

Changes would include the addition of a Coast Guard service secretary, a move that has already been proposed in legislation.
A U.S. court of appeals ruled on May 7 that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) must release $12 million in funding previously approved by Congress for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the media organization reported.

The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.

The court order compels USAGM to comply with an April 29 district court ruling and transfer the funds, which had been blocked following an order by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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The money is part of broader congressional appropriations supporting RFE/RL's operations in Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond.

The media organization, established during the Cold War to challenge Soviet influence, operates as an independent media corporation funded by U.S. congressional appropriations through USAGM.

On March 15, Trump signed an executive order slashing funding to seven government agencies, including USAGM. The agency soon after issued a notice terminating a congressionally approved grant for RFE/RL, freezing around $75 million already allocated for the 2025 fiscal year.

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The freeze sparked legal action from RFE/RL. On March 25, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled in favor of the media outlet, but USAGM withheld the funds. The corporation returned to court, prompting the April 29 ruling mandating the immediate release of the funds.

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That ruling was briefly suspended by a panel of appellate judges just hours before the appeals court hearing. The May 7 decision reinstates the lower court's order, forcing USAGM to release the $12 million. The agency can still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

USAGM's interim leadership justified the funding freeze under Trump's executive order, which mandated cuts to "inefficient spending of U.S. taxpayer funds."

The move, however, has been celebrated by Russian propagandists and coincided with Trump's diplomatic outreach to Moscow as he seeks to broker a peace deal in Ukraine.

RFE/RL's broadcasts have long been a target of Kremlin ire. The outlet provides critical coverage of authoritarian governments, human rights abuses, and Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

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Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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LUSAKA (Reuters) -The United States said it would cut $50 million in annual aid to Zambia's health sector because the government had failed to stop "systemic theft" of donated medicines and medical supplies.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is finalising a broader review of its foreign aid, but the cut for Zambia is "wholly separate from that process," U.S. ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales said in a statement.

"I am disappointed to share publicly today that since 2021 we have uncovered systemic theft of life-saving medicines and other products that were intended for free for the Zambian public," Gonzales said, adding medicines stolen included antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV.

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Zambia's health ministry responded in a statement acknowledging the U.S. ambassador's concerns and said recurrent theft of medicines was a "persistent challenge" dating back to before 2021.

After he was alerted to the issue Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema commissioned an independent forensic audit of the entire medicines supply chain, the ministry said.

A number of officials found to have been involved had been removed from office or suspended, while others were arrested and are set to appear in court.

"We want to assure the public that Zambia currently maintains sufficient stocks of essential medicines, including antiretroviral, antimalarial, and other critical drugs, with no immediate risk of shortages," Zambia's health ministry said.

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Gonzales said he had recommended to Washington that the U.S. continue to procure and deliver lifesaving medicines and medical supplies to Zambia until January 2026 to provide time for the government to develop a transition plan.

After January, the U.S. will still offer technical and logistics assistance to support humanitarian activities and prevent drug resistance and disease transmission, he said.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Sfundo Parakozov and Toby Chopra)
The United States embassy in Kyiv on May 9 issued a warning that Russia could launch "a potentially significant" attack in the coming days and urged U.S. citizens to prepare to take shelter immediately in the event of an aerial alert.

The warning comes amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's self-declared "Victory Day truce," a ceasefire the Kremlin claimed would last from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11 in honor of Russia's May 9 celebrations.

"The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received information concerning a potentially significant air attack that may occur at any time over the next several days," the embassy announced on its website.

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"The Embassy, as always, recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced."

The embassy has previously issued similar warnings as part of its standard security protocols.

While the temporary ceasefire has ostensibly already begun, Russia has continued to launch deadly attacks against civilians in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military has also reported that combat operations on the front lines have not stopped.

Similarly, Moscow's unilateral "Easter truce" was a ceasefire in name only, as Russia violated its own terms thousands of times.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin's latest ceasefire declaration as a "theatrical performance" and reiterated calls for a full, unconditional truce.

U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia  a proposal Kyiv first assented to back in March. Moscow has repeatedly refused these terms, insisting Ukraine halt all military aid before agreeing to a full ceasefire.

The U.S. and European allies are in the final stages of developing a proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Reuters reported on May 9.

Read also: The enemy is right here  how Ukrainians living under Russian occupation defied Putins Victory Day

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The United States and its European allies are working on a proposal to announce a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, citing an unnamed French diplomatic source, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The source stated that the US and its European allies are finalising preparations for a proposal on a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Reuters notes that, if Russia rejects the proposal, new sanctions will be imposed. However, the specific measures were not disclosed.

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The source also stated that the 30-day ceasefire proposal has not yet been approved and will be developed further over the weekend during the "coalition of the willing" meeting, which will take place in Ukraine.

Background:

US President Donald Trump, after a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on 8 May, stated that he would like to see a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

On Friday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said that the current efforts towards achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine are moving in the right direction.

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The U.S. and European allies are in the final stages of working on a proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in the Russian war against Ukraine, Reuters reported on May 9, citing a French diplomatic source.

The day before, U.S. President Donald Trump on May 8 called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia.

Yet, recent months have seen a series of failed peace talks and ceasefires, including one initially brokered by the U.S. in March. While Ukraine immediately agreed to the ceasefire, Russia repeatedly violated it.

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Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.

"We felt in the discussions with the Americans a certain irritation towards the Russian posture, the lack of reactivity and seriousness in its responses to what was proposed before," the source told Reuters. "The decision is practically taken."

Nearly two months ago, Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, but Moscow rejected it, demanding a complete halt on military aid to Ukraine.

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.

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Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

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By John Irish

PARIS (Reuters) -The United States and its European allies are finalising a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that if refused would see them jointly impose new sanctions on Russia, a French diplomatic source said on Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Thursday for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, warning that Washington and its partners would impose further sanctions if the ceasefire was not respected.

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Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal. Russia has unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire running from May 8-10 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

"We're not completely with a finalised project, but we hope that we're at a moment of convergence," said the diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"What could happen in the coming hours and days, there could be an announcement of a ceasefire either of 30 days or compartmentalized, which is still being discussed."

France, Britain and Germany in recent weeks have sought closer coordination with Washington. Two weeks ago they pushed back against some U.S. proposals on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine, making counterproposals on issues from territory to sanctions, according to the full texts of the proposals seen by Reuters.

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"We are reaching a point where we will not wait for a formal response from Moscow to a joint proposal to declare this ceasefire," said the source.

The source said there were still discussions on whether to announce a unilateral ceasefire or to give a short response time to Russia, although if it refused then new American and EU sanctions would be imposed on Moscow.

The two sides are coordinating on the sanctions packages.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who was in Washington last week to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was in Ukraine on Friday.

A meeting of Ukraine's closest allies is due to take place on Saturday where the U.S.-European proposal will be discussed.

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President Emmanuel Macron said earlier on Friday France would take part in the hybrid meeting.

The source said political and technical talks between Europe and the U.S. had stepped up since last week. Trump and Macron spoke on Thursday to discuss the ceasefire proposal.

"We felt in the discussions with the Americans a certain irritation towards the Russian posture, the lack of reactivity and seriousness in its responses to what was proposed before," the source said. "The decision is practically taken."

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by GV De Clercq, Alex Richardson and Nia Williams)
By Siddhi Mahatole and Sneha S K

(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first at-home test for cervical cancer screening, its maker Teal Health said on Friday, offering an alternative to Pap smears that need to be undertaken at a doctor's office.

Pap smear tests have significantly reduced cancer incidence from when they were first introduced 80 years ago. But they can be uncomfortable due to the requirement for an in-clinic exam.

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Teal Health said the FDA's decision was based on a study in more than 600 women that showed self-collected samples using its test had the same performance as clinician-collected samples.

The approval is "not just about an innovative new product, it's about finally giving women an option that makes sense for their lives  something that can be done quickly and comfortably at home," said Teal's co-founder and CEO Kara Egan.

Each year in the U.S., about 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed and about 4,000 women die of this, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The startup's test, Teal Wand, detects human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for nearly all cervical cancers, similar to Roche's cobas HPV test. But Teal Wand allows women to collect samples from home and send it to a certified lab for testing, while Roche's test is approved for use in the clinic.

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Teal Health did not disclose the test's price, but said it was working with major insurance providers for coverage and flexible payment options.

Egan pointed to another at-home test called Cologuard, made by Exact Sciences, to detect colon cancer.

"So Cologuard (is) fully covered by most insurance, but also, if you have to pay out pocket, it's around $600. We plan to be less than that," she told Reuters.

Teal Health plans to begin rolling out the kits in June for patients aged 25 to 65 years.

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Manas Mishra and Shilpi Majumdar)
(WJW)  The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) announced 3 arrests this week in three separate homicide cases.

According to a press release, NOVFTF officers arrested Anthony Ortiz, 28, Jalin Tyler, 20 and Quinterious Parker, 23.

Rethink when you fix your dog, new study says

Ortiz was wanted by the Cleveland Police Department for aggravated murder.

Hes being investigated in connection to a body found in a burned-out vehicle in the 800 block of East 134th St. on Sept. 28, 2024.

Ortiz was arrested in Maple Heights on Wednesday.

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Another operation led to a suspects arrest in Toledo on Tuesday.

Urgent safety recall for eye care products

Jaylyn Tyler was wanted for aggravated murder in connection with a deadly shooting in January 2025.

Police suspected Tylers involvement in the shooting death of Derrick Rogers, 18.

Thursday, NOVFTF agents arrested a man suspected in a murder in Alabama at a motel in Milan, Ohio.

Bay Village lacrosse player dies after critical injury during game

Quinterious Parker was wanted in the shooting death of Frenicka Craig.

Craig, 28, was shot and killed in Mobile in April 2025.

Parker is the sixth person arrested in connection with the death.

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Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive is asked to contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday it has opened a national security investigation into the import of commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts.

The "Section 232" investigation, which was opened on May 1 but not publicly disclosed previously, could be used as a basis of even higher tariffs on imported planes, engines and parts. Several airlines said they were unaware of the probe before it was disclosed late on Friday.

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Airlines and manufacturers have been lobbying President Donald Trump to restore the tariff-free regime under the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement, under which the U.S. sector enjoyed a $75 billion annual trade surplus.

Most imported airplanes and components from around the world now face 10% tariffs. A deal in principle struck with the United Kingdom on Thursday will allow British-made Rolls-Royce engines to enter the U.S. duty-free, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.

The commerce department said on Friday it wants public comment within three weeks on a series of questions including on "the impact of foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices on the competitiveness of the commercial aircraft and jet engine industry."

Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning said in response the group will engage with the department "to identify opportunities to strengthen our domestic supply chain while also maintaining the trade framework that has enabled our global leadership in aerospace."

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Airline executives have raised the possibility of returning leased planes and deferring aircraft deliveries.

Delta Air Lines is also unwilling to pay tariffs on aircraft deliveries.

U.S. assembled planes are not immune, as aircraft makers must pay levies on imported parts.

Boeing is paying 10% duty on supplies from Italy and Japan. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said last month that Airbus has had to pay tariffs on planes it is building in Alabama.

Airbus and Boeing did not immediately comment on Friday.

Aerospace industry officials say their situation differs from other industries, as their sector exports more than $135 billion of products annually.

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GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp told Reuters in April he met with Trump and explained to him how the industry's decades-old duty-free status helped it produce the highest trade balance of any sector.

The company said on Friday it "will continue to work with the administration on efforts to preserve America's global leadership in aerospace."

Last month, the department opened a similar probe into the national security impact of imports of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and related parts.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Jacqueline Wong)
Ukraines Western allies including the US are threatening to slap Russia with more sanctions if Moscow fails to sign up to the 30-day truce in Ukraine proposed by the United States.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday added the threat of additional sanctions from the US and its partners to his latest call for an unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that Moscow has repeatedly rejected.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the new Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, are set to meet Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday morning, Starmers office said in a statement late on Friday, adding that the countries will ratchet up pressure on Russias war machine until Moscow accepts a ceasefire.

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Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine one of his priorities and he has invested much effort into trying to get Russian President Vladimir Putin on board. Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff went to Russia four times to meet with Putin and there have been several other high-level meetings between US and Russian officials since Trump returned to the White House in January.

But despite offering some previously unthinkable concessions to Russia, the Trump administration has not been able to get Russia to agree to the limited ceasefire proposal, intended as opening a path towards a permanent truce.

Now it seems that Trump is rapidly losing his patience with Putin over this stalling. And the latest move by Trump marks another shift in US stance on the conflict, which had at times been sympathetic to Kremlin.

Just days ago, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened the US would walk away from the talks if there is no progress. Instead, the US is now leading Ukraines other Western allies in trying to put more pressure on Russia.

European leaders back Trumps proposal

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted on Friday that an announcement outlining details of the ceasefire proposal is expected as early as Saturday.

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He said that leaders of the so-called Coalition of the Willing  a group of Western nations that have pledged to help defend Ukraine against Russia - will meet in Kyiv on Saturday.

Trump spoke to Zelensky and a number of European leaders about the ceasefire proposal and sanctions on Thursday.

The French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Trump several times on Thursday, commending his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

We must all work towards this goal without delay, false pretenses, or dilatory tactics. Ukraine has already expressed its support for such a ceasefire nearly two months ago. I now expect Russia to do the same, Macron said on X.

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Macron added that if Russia fails to accept the proposal, France was ready to respond firmly, together with all Europeans and in close coordination with the United States.

Speaking on Friday alongside the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Macron confirmed there would be a meeting, partly virtual and partly in-person in Kyiv on Saturday.

Burnt-out cars stand near a destroyed apartment building after a Russian attack in Dobropillia, eastern Ukraine. - Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Trump also spoke to the leaders of 10 countries northern European countries that form the security alliance known as the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) on Thursday. The leaders of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland called both Trump and Zelensky during their dinner at a summit in Oslo, according to statements from the governments of several of the countries represented at the meeting.

Our message to both presidents was that we are committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We also conveyed our full support for the proposal for a 30 days ceasefire and continued European and US commitment to the peace process, Swedens Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement on X.

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On Friday, just as Putin hosted number of Kremlin-friendly world leaders, including the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, at a pompous military parade in Moscow, Ukraines European allies showed their support for Kyiv by sending top level delegations to a meeting in Ukraine.

Dozens of foreign delegations were in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Friday to endorse the ceasefire proposal and the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate crimes of aggression against Ukraine.

The EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Germanys new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and dozens of top diplomats from other European countries were among those attending.

CNNs Pierre Bairin contributed reporting.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Outgoing U.S. poet laureate Ada Limon and her two immediate predecessors, Joy Harjo and Tracy K. Smith, are condemning President Donald Trump's firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who had appointed each of them to their positions.

Dr. Carla Hayden is the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation," Limon, who last month completed a three-year run as poet laureate, said in a statement on Friday.

"She promoted books, libraries, and curiosity while dedicating herself to serving both sides of the aisle with genuine grace. I am heartbroken as the cruelty of this administration continues with seemingly no end in sight. She is the best of us and deserves the utmost respect. I hope people are paying attention. What we once feared is already happening.

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The library, an outgrowth of Thomas Jefferson's personal book collection, holds a vast archive of the nations books and history.

Hayden, whose 10-year term was scheduled to end next year, was notified late Thursday that she had been fired, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.

On Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Hayden "did not meet the needs of the American people.

There were quite concerning things at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI, and putting inappropriate books in the library for children," Leavitt told reporters during a briefing. "And we dont believe she was serving the interest of the American taxpayer well, so she has been removed from her position, and the president is well within his rights to do that.

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Confirmed by the Senate in 2016, Hayden was the first woman and the first African American to be the librarian of Congress. U.S. poets laureate are employees of the Library of Congress, generally serve one to three years in the role and may not take political positions in their official capacity while serving as laureate, according to the library's website.

Hayden had been expected to announce a new poet laureate over the summer.

Hayden, appointed by President Barack Obama, had been labeled by the conservative American Accountability Foundation as woke and anti-Trump. Her ouster continues the Trump administration's wave of actions against Washington cultural institutions, from the Kennedy Center to the National Endowment for the Arts.

Harjo, the laureate from 2019 to 2022, called her firing shocking news and added that she found her to be steadfast with good humor as she took excellent care of an institution established close to the founding of the country as a resource for all of its citizens.

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Her reputation will stand through time, Harjo wrote in an email to the AP.

Smith, who served from 2017 to 2019, told the AP in an email that Hayden had sought poets such as herself who engage communities nationwide with the joys and the power of poetry in all its forms.

Her abrupt firing suggests a desire to tamp down the ceiling on our collective remembering and deprive the collective imagination of vital resources," Smith wrote.

___

Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report.
By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) - In the Peruvian coastal city of Chiclayo, some 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) from new Pope Leo XIV's hometown of Chicago, Catholics took to the streets and church bells rang on Thursday to celebrate the election of the former missionary who they embrace as one of their own.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, chosen as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is a dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen who worked for decades in the north of Peru, first as a missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023.

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In the small city, the faithful gathered in front of the cathedral in the heat on Thursday after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. As the announcement was made, they jumped and cheered. Bells tolled around the city.

"We are excited by this blessing from God," Jesus Leon Angeles, who is coordinator of a Catholic group in Chiclayo and has known Prevost since 2018, told Reuters by phone.

"We had been praying since yesterday when the conclave of cardinals began at the Vatican to elect the pope."

Leon Angeles said she had worked closely with Prevost on a number of charitable and social assistance projects in Chiclayo and nearby Trujillo, and in other impoverished towns across the country.

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She told Reuters previously that Prevost was humble and down-to-earth, as well as being a person who liked to help others.

"He is someone who has leadership skills, but is also a good listener," she said before the election. "He has that virtue. He is very well-liked, we love him very much, he is not an arrogant person."

In the Plaza de Armas, the main square of Peru's capital Lima, dozens of people gathered at the cathedral next to the government palace.

"In the office we were waiting anxiously for the white smoke to see who would be elected Holy Father," said lawyer Carolina Flores.

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"It is a tremendous gift from heaven that he is Peruvian. For us the Pope is Peruvian. He is Peruvian because he has lived decades in Peru, he was a bishop in Chiclayo," she said.

After the election at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and greeted the waiting crowds. During his first address as pope, he spoke briefly in Spanish, sending greetings to Peru and to Chiclayo.

Prevost was made a cardinal in 2023 by Argentine pontiff Francis, who brought him to Rome to head the Vatican office charged with electing priests to serve as bishops worldwide. He has since participated in the selection of many of the world's bishops.

Lima resident Salvador Oliva Ramos said that he was sure the new pope would come back to visit his adopted homeland and "fix" things in the country - as well as enjoy some of the local cuisine.

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"He's a Pope who eats ceviche, eats his beans with mutton, eats his cau cau," he said outside the cathedral, referring to popular local dishes. "I assure you that one year from now, the pope will visit for the food."

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Additional reporting by Reuters TV; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien)
The United States will be ready to "walk away" from the negotiating table if it does not see Russia making progress in negotiation to end the war, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on May 8.

"What would bother me is if we conclude that the Russians are not engaging in negotiations in good faith. And if that happen, yeah, we're going to walk away," Vance said in an interview.

The United States has reportedly grown frustrated at the lack of progress being made on negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. On April 26, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be "tapping me along" in negotiations.

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Despite growing frustrations from the White House, Vance said that the fact that the parties are offering proposals to one another is a sign of "progress."

"We knew that Russia would ask for too much because Russia's perspective on the ground is that they're winning," Vance said. "Our attitude is we don't want Ukraine to collapse. We obviously want Ukraine to remain a sovereign country. But Russia can't expect to be given territory they haven't event conquered yet."

"We knew that the Russians' first offer would be too much. We knew that they would ask for more than what was reasonable to give, that's how negotiations often work," Vance continued.

Vance warned that Russia and Ukraine "are going to be left to settle this thing without the advise and the mediation of the United States," if Moscow continues to stall talks.

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Despite Vance's comment, following a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump seemingly contradicted Vance, saying that he was "committed" to securing a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

"As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions," Trump added.

U.S. government officials have reportedly prepared a new sanctions package against Russia, although Trump has yet to make a move on implementing the measures.

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Read also: Trump calls for unconditional ceasefire, committed to securing peace between Ukraine, Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Reuters) -A U.S. senator introduced a bill on Friday that would direct the Commerce Department to require location verification mechanisms for export-controlled AI chips, in an effort to curb China's access to advanced semiconductor technology.

Called the "Chip Security Act," the bill calls for AI chips under export regulations, and products containing those chips, to be fitted with location-tracking systems to help detect diversion, smuggling or other unauthorized use of the product.

"With these enhanced security measures, we can continue to expand access to U.S. technology without compromising our national security," Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said.

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The bill also calls for companies exporting the AI chips to report to the Bureau of Industry and Security if their products have been diverted away from their intended location or subject to tampering attempts.

The move comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would rescind and modify a Biden-era rule that curbed the export of sophisticated AI chips with the goal of protecting U.S. leadership in AI and blocking China's access.

U.S. Representative Bill Foster, a Democrat from Illinois, also plans to introduce a bill on similar lines in the coming weeks, Reuters reported on Monday.

Restricting China's access to AI technology that could enhance its military capabilities has been a key focus for U.S. lawmakers and reports of widespread smuggling of Nvidia's chips into China in violation of export control laws have further amplified the concerns.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
The News

The US stepped up efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza ahead of President Donald Trumps visit to the Middle East next week.

Washington has proposed a 21-day truce, The National reported, while Haaretz said the White House was pressing Israels government to agree a deal before Trumps trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, which begins May 13.

The negotiations come with the UN warning of worsening deprivation in Gaza, which has been subject to an Israeli aid blockade for two months, resulting in dwindling supplies of everything from fuel to medicine. American pressure may have limits, though: Hamas has said there is no point in any negotiations with the blockade in place.
Federal immigration authorities in Arizona are warning people to think twice about crossing into the United States without using the proper channels to immigrate.

Unauthorized immigrants could face prosecution if caught, which could result in imprisonment.

If you try to enter the U.S. by crossing the border illegally, you will be found, detained, and deported, Jesus Vasavilbaso, U.S. Border Patrol agent and spokesperson for the agency's Tucson Sector, said on May 8. If you have committed a crime, more than once, you will be processed for a federal crime, which could result in a prison sentence.

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Vasavilbaso spoke to media outlets in Spanish on Thursday morning at Mariposa Canyon, a desert grassland where gravel service roads run along the border west of the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona.

In previous years, that area had seen hundreds of people entering daily through gaps in the 30-foot steel bollard wall to turn themselves in daily to the Border Patrol. The flow of people stopped when the gaps in the wall were completed last year, Vasavilbaso said.

He announced the end of "catch and release," a policy that allows the release of migrants into the community rather than detaining them while they wait for their court hearings. He also underlined the Trump administration's intention to prosecute 100% of all unauthorized crossings.

Vasavilbaso warned that Mexicans caught crossing illegally could face charges and be deported to the interior of Mexico, and as far south as the Mexico-Guatemala border, miles away from where they entered the U.S.

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"If you try again, the consequences will be worse," he warned. "Trying to enter the country illegally is not a process of trial and error."

He noted that if someone is caught crossing illegally and has previous criminal charges, they could face many years in prison.

Despite the current low numbers of unauthorized crossings into Arizona from Mexico, Vasavilbaso said he wants people to heed the warning.

Being charged with a federal crime could impact a persons ability to come to the U.S. de por vida, he said. For life."

The warning comes as the southern border is seeing a decrease in border patrol apprehensions. While the number of unauthorized border crossings was already decreasing under the Biden administration, the number has dropped even more under President Donald Trump, according to the Migration Policy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan think tank.

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The think tank attributed the drop in numbers, in part, to Trump ending the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to schedule appointments at a border port of entry. Trump renamed the app CBP Home and repurposed it for reporting self-deportations, the think tank said. As of April 24, at least 5,000 immigrants reportedly used CBP Home to report they were leaving the country, the Migration Policy Institute said.

Vasavilbaso noted that the Tucson Sector alone has seen a 90% decrease in people crossing over, compared with last year.

Despite the current administration's focus on arrests, the pace of deportations suggests the administration will fail to reach its goal of 1 million deportations annually, the Migration Policy Institute said.

The Trump administration appears on track to deport roughly half a million people this year, said the group in an April 24 publication. The article notes that the number of people deported this year is fewer than the 685,000 deportations recorded in 2024 under former President Joe Biden.

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At Thursdays news conference, The Arizona Republic asked Vasavilbaso if there would be a legal process for people to enter the United States.

There already are legal pathways into the United States with various types of visas, Vasavilbaso said, but that is something Congress decides, not border enforcement officials.

The Migration Policy Institute maintains that the Trump administration has effectively ended access to asylum at the Southwest border, which had already been decreasing during Bidens last year in office.

Firsthand look: Arizona border, once the busiest in the nation for illegal immigration, goes quiet

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Arizona Republic reporter Raphael Romero Ruiz contributed to this article.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.

The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: US officials warn migrants not to cross border illegally
The U.S. Air Force will have to prioritize the sustainability of its new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones if its to ensure they are an effective additive to the force. This is the conclusion of Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, Director of Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming and Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures, who also called for a significant degree of shared components between the first increment of CCA drones, which comprises the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril YFQ-44A. The topic of maintenance, logistics, and sustainment of CCAs, including a heavier focus on commercial-off-the-shelf components, is something we have addressed in the past.



Kunkel was speaking as a guest at the rollout of the Mitchell Institutes latest research study, authored by Air Force Col. Mark A. Gunzinger (ret.), Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments. Based on a series of wargames, the study looks at the logistics requirements for Air Force CCAs in combat scenarios.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, Director of Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam R. Shanks SSgt Adam R. Shanks

Ultimately, Kunkel said, the CCAs will only be of real value as combat mass as long as they can be kept flying at high rates, either alongside crewed fighters or flying missions alone. In this way, the adversary will be forced to respond to their presence, generating sorties and expending weapons in their effort to counter them.

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While that is one of the main reasons behind developing the CCAs in the first place, it does impose a significant logistics burden, Kunkel observed.

Even without the demands of making its CCAs suitable for distributed operations, these drones will come with a significant logistics burden, simply due to their number.

The service expects to buy between 100 and 150 Increment 1 CCAs, but has said in the past that it could ultimately acquire at least a thousand of the drones across all of the programs increments.

The YFQ-44A production representative test vehicle from Anduril. Courtesy photo via U.S. Air Force

The goal, according to Kunkel, is to have CCAs that are able to operate for hundreds of hours without needing significant maintenance work. This becomes especially important when operating from forward locations, as is the expectation of future conflicts, notably in the Pacific theater. The drones are being designed from the outset to make them suitable for concepts of distributed and disaggregated operations, something also referred to as Agile Combat Employment (ACE).

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Kunkel highlighted the relevance of this concept to the new drones: [With] an ability to position CCAs and posture them in different places in a theater, you can increase the complexity of the picture that our adversary sees dramatically  increasing dilemmas for the adversary, increasing the complexity of the picture that theyre going to see, increasing the complexity of what it takes for them to counter us.

In the past, Kunkel has described the Air Force CCAs as the first aircraft that we have developed specifically for ACE.

Reflecting these concerns, Kunkel said he has already had talks with General Atomics and Anduril, with a view to reducing the number of different components in the companys CCA designs. This would also seem to indicate that the Air Force currently plans to buy a mix of YF-42As and YF-44As, under Increment 1, although that could still change.

A rendering of the General Atomics YFQ-42A. GA-ASI

Kunkel noted that he has encouraged those firms to explore motors that are the same, controls that are the same, actuators, tires  those types of things that we need, to make it easier to sustain CCAs once deployed.

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They dont necessarily have to be the same aircraft, but certainly many of the components need to be the same, Kunkel added.

Meanwhile, the increased use of condition-based maintenance should help reduce the maintenance demands involved in CCA operations by alerting ground crews early to any looming issues.

Already, we have explored the Air Forces ambition for its CCAs to make greater use of commercial-off-the-shelf components than the services existing crewed and uncrewed platforms.

On the other hand, Gunzinger proposed a somewhat different approach to dealing with maintenance issues, namely by fielding more expendable CCAs, with the idea of less-exquisite and cheaper drones in future increments gaining some traction recently.

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CCAs do not need to be anywhere near as reliable or have as large a mean time between failure as crewed aircraft, Gunzinger contended. If its a recoverable CCA that might fly 10, 15, or 20 sorties, there are still lower costs.

Gunzinger raised the scenario of some kind of mechanical failure keeping a CCA on the ground in the middle of the fight. We can push it off the side of the runway  because we dont have time, we dont have resources to get around and repair that CCA on the ground, increasing the time our airmen are on the ground, and possibly vulnerable.

For Kunkel, another important reason for ensuring as much subsystem commonality as possible is the sheer number of different CCA drone variants that are currently planned.

According to Gunzinger, the wargames involved 16 different variants, reflecting the wide spectrum of missions the CCAs are expected to undertake.

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While the Increment 1 CCAs are expected to work closely together with crewed combat jets primarily in the air-to-air combat role, at least initially, they will also be used as electronic warfare platforms and sensor nodes, further augmenting crewed platforms. There is also significant potential for the drones to fulfill roles additional to these: intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions have also been discussed.

Another mission that was included in the recent wargames was logistic support, in which the CCAs would move ammunition and supplies around different forward operating locations.

This reflects Air Force experiments involving MQ-9 Reaper drones, deployed in small packages to forward locations under the Rapid Reaper concept. For the MQ-9, General Atomics helped develop a kit to assist with deploying and sustaining those drones within the ACE construct. Future CCAs, like the Reapers, could be adapted to carry small cargoes in travel pods under their wings, or in internal payload bays.

A travel pod under the wing of an MQ-9 Reaper. U.S. Air Force

With so many different versions of the CCA likely to be fielded, the Air Force will need to avoid having different sets of logistics trains to support them. In particular, weapons, refueling equipment, other ground equipment, and loading equipment should be common for CCAs, as far as is possible, Gunzinger said.

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Even with existing crewed aircraft, the demands of specialized maintenance and logistics, as well as the need for more bespoke equipment on the ground to support flight operations, have been significant challenges for the Air Force when it comes to implementing the ACE concepts.

When it comes to optimizing the CCAs for combat operations from forward locations, Kunkel pointed to the utility of drones that can operate free from the constraints of traditional airbases, including being fully independent of runways.

The Kratos XQ-58 Valkryie, seen here at the moment of launch, is a runway-independent design that the U.S. Air Force has already used to support research and development and test and evaluation efforts that are feeding into the CCA program. U.S. Air Force

We know that the adversary is going to try and target our bases, Kunkel added, in an obvious reference to China. For the last 30 years, theyve developed a rocket force. Theyve developed cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, and all these things are meant to counter our bases, meant to keep us from reliably generating combat power from bases.

Putting CCAs at forward locations is one of the ways to thin out the adversarys mass  and the logistics pipeline of CCA is less complex than for crewed aircraft. Compared with a traditional combat aircraft that likely requires complex logistical pipelines, long runways, and extensive infrastructure, all of which are vulnerable, CCAs are being specifically built so you can put them in a lot of different places. And if you can put them in a lot of different places, you can create a tremendous ground picture that an adversary has to attack if theyre going to be successful. Increasing the number of ground targets for an adversary, I think, is just as important as increasing the number of air targets.

A Marine Corps F-35B refuels at an established Forward Arming and Refueling Point during simulated Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations at Ie Shima Training Facility, March 14, 2019. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dylan Hess An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 refuels at an established Forward Arming and Refueling Point during simulated Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations at Ie Shima Training Facility, March 14, 2019. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dylan Hess)

Kunkel noted that for certain roles, CCAs would need a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) capability, but that short or vertical takeoff is something that we need to look at in future CCA increments.

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As you look at how we generate combat power, and the number of sites we can use  theres something to a shorter takeoff length, Kunkel said. Weve got to figure out what that takes because, generally, when you do a vertical takeoff aircraft, you decrease the payload, you decrease the range. Theres a balance that we need to strike here.

In addition to potential STOL and VTOL capabilities for future CCA increments, Kunkel also suggested that some of these drones could potentially be launched from other aircraft.

Clearly, the Air Force is very much still in the process of working out how best to utilize its CCAs and what kinds of missions they should be used for. Its also notable that the promise of these drones to augment crewed combat aircraft, making them more lethal and flexible in the process, is also tempered by the potentially challenging logistics requirements that will come with them. These challenges will become greater the more different mission sets are taken on and as the different increments and versions of the drone diversify. It will therefore be critical to strike a balance between fielding CCAs with a range of capabilities and meeting the requirements of operating from forward locations with limited support.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  After some testing with the USDA, Vermont has been declared unaffected by highly pathenogenic avian influenza. Vermont is the first state in New England to be declared as such.

Vermonts Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets began this mandated milk sampling program with the USDA over the winter, mainly to find HPAI infected dairy cattle and to test all Grade A, local milk.

The declaration of HPAI-free cattle and milk still comes after an isolated incident of bird flu last year.

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H5N1 bird flu found in Windsor County flock

Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, thanks dairy farmers for stepping up and participating.

Thank you to our dairy farmers for stepping up and participating. This achievement means that, as always, you can depend on Vermont milk to be nutritious and safe.

Additional information bird flu can be found on the FDA and VAAFM websites.

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May 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors announced Friday that former Waste Management CEO David Steiner and a board member of FedEx as the 76th postmaster general.

Steiner, 67, will succeed former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who resigned in March, and acting Postmaster General Doug Tulino. DeJoy was appointed by Donald Trump during his first term in 2021.

The independent federal agency has been in operation for 250 years since its creation July 26, 1775, at the beginning of the American Revolution.

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"It is an incredible honor to be asked to lead the world's greatest postal organization, with a history that stretches back before the founding of the United States," Steiner said in a news release. "I deeply admire the public service and business mission of this amazing institution, and I believe strongly in maintaining its role as an independent establishment of the executive branch.

He was Waste Management's CEO from 2004 through late 2016.

"Dave is the right person to lead the Postal Service at this time to ensure this magnificent and historic organization thrives into the future," USPS Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds said in a statement. "Dave is a highly regarded leader and executive with tremendous vision, experience and skill that can be."

Steiner earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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FexEx has been shipping competitor with USPS but provides "last-mile" service for some addresses for the private company. Steiner plans to resign his board position.

Frederick Smith, who is FedEx's founder and executive chairman, said Steiner can help USPS become more efficient.

Smith said his "sharp business acumen will be key to addressing the significant challenges facing the United States Postal Service which has lost more than $108 billion since 2007 despite receiving billions in taxpayer relief" in a statement to CNBC.

USPS lost $3.3 billion in the second quarter of the 2025 fiscal year compared with $1.5 million last year, the agency announced Friday. Total revenue was $19.7 billion, about the same as last year.

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"As we mark 250 years of service to the nation, our organization continues to face economic headwinds. We are working diligently to control costs, increase revenues, and transform and modernize our infrastructure," Tulino, the acting postmaster, said. "At the same time, we are seeing strong market acceptance of shipping products like USPS Ground Advantage and adopting an increasingly competitive posture across our product portfolio. We are also encouraged that the increasing efficiencies of our processing, logistics and delivery network are showing steady progress in reducing our relative cost as we serve the nation and American commerce."

President Donald Trump has proposed merging the Commerce Department and the Postal Service. USPS employee unions protested this proposal.

"Well, we want to have a post office that works well and doesn't lose massive amounts of money, and we're thinking about doing that, and it will be a form of a merger," Trump said at Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's swearing-in ceremony in February. "It'll remain the Postal Service, and I think it'll operate a lot better than it has been over the years."

Earlier this month, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency called USPS a prime candidate for privatization.

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DeJoy confirmed 10,000 USPS jobs would be cut through the agency's voluntary early retirement program.

"I look forward to engaging with its employees, who provide such an important service to all our communities," Steiner said. "As the entity with the largest union membership in the United States, I look forward to engaging with the unions and management associations to ensure that together we create a world-class employment experience. I also look forward to working with industry associations, customers, and policymakers, as we chart a positive path forward."

The National Association of Letter Carriers' president criticized Steiner's selection.

"His selection isn't just a conflict of interest -- it's an aggressive step toward handing America's mail system over to corporate interests," Brian L. Renfroe said in a statement obtained by Politico. "Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years. Steiner's selection is an open invitation to do just that."

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Since 1982, the agency has received little tax dollars and has raised prices.

The cost of a 1-ounce letter will increase 2 cents to 78 cents in July 2025. Ten years ago it was 49 cents and 20 years ago 39 cents. In 1971, it was 8 cents.

"I am excited by the challenges ahead and by the many opportunities to shape a vibrant, durable and increasingly competitive future for the Postal Service," Steiner said.

USPS delivers an average of 318 million pieces of mail each day to 169 million addresses. There have been proposals to cut home delivery from six to fix days a week.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The inaugural class of 100 Civics Honors freshman starting at the University of Texas at Austin this fall should have a full-time home by the time theyre seniors. On Thursday, the Board of Regents announced a $100 million investment to renovate the schools Biological Laboratories building to host the upstart School of Civic Leadership.

We have needed a place where civic education is focused on the foundational principles of our constitutional democracy, Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife said. The School of Civic Leadership at UT Austin is that place, and today we are giving it a permanent home.

The School of Civic Leadership was founded in 2023 as the newest of UT Austins 19 schools and colleges to equip the next generation of leaders with the philosophical, economic and historical understanding needed to preserve constitutional democracy. Currently the school is housed in UTs Littlefield House.

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Study ranks UT Austin one of Texas best value colleges

This is a bold investment that empowers the School of Civic Leadership to fulfill its mission to prepare leaders committed to the principles of freedom, self-government and civic responsibility, School of Civic Leadership Dean Justin Dyer said.

During Thursdays event, Dyer and Eltife were joined by Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and UT Austins Interim President Jim Davis.

With regards to classic education  classic civics to say the least  theres been a dramatic departure from those principle and precepts over the past one to two decades, Abbott said. Thats been to the detriment of this university, our state and our country. We need to get back on the pathway of ensuring that were educating our students with the leading concepts that have led to the great country we are.

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People can die of exposure. Is musician payout worth the prestige of playing SXSW?

I believe students will flock to this, Patrick said. Youll have to build a second building, a third building and a fourth building because I think theres a real thirst by young people.

The renovations are expected to be completed in 2028. Existing programs within the Biological Laboratories building will be moved to more modernized lab facilities on campus.

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With over 20 years of roots in Macao, Sands China has always treated local suppliers as close partners, demonstrating the companys philosophy of supporting the development of local SME suppliers and fostering their prosperity by providing a high-level, effective platform for them to grow. Sands Chinas Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme was created in partnership with the Macao Chamber of Commerce in 2015 to increase procurement opportunities for Macaos SMEs, making it the first such programme launched by an integrated resort operator in Macao. It targets three types of local businesses: local, small, and micro suppliers, Made in Macao companies and Macao young entrepreneurs. In line with government policies, the programme propels Sands Chinas longstanding efforts to support the growth and development of local SME suppliers. While cooperating with the Macao SAR governments policy of supporting small, medium and micro enterprises, it also demonstrates the companys long-term commitment to supporting the development of local suppliers. To date, the company has been cooperating with thousands of SMEs and they have grown together with Sands China.

Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., said: We are honoured to witness our Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme celebrating its 10-year milestone. Sands China has proactively launched various initiatives to support local SMEs and we have consistently adjusted our strategies in response to the latest market changes and demands, putting innovative ideas into practice to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. We would like to express our gratitude to the Macao SAR government for its longstanding policy guidance, to the Macao Chamber of Commerce for being our key partner and a crucial bridge between us and local commerce, and to all local SMEs for their active participation and support throughout the years  as we all share the impactful achievements of Macaos development.

Hoi Lok Man, vice president of the board of directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, said: SMEs are the economic foundation of Macao. The flourishing development of Macaos local SMEs is one of the citys golden accesses to economic prosperity. Co-launched with Sands China in 2015, the Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is a testament to our philosophy of supporting the growth and development of local SMEs, making progress together to achieve our mutual goal. Our support to local SMEs mirrors the adage to teach a man to fish and is a microcosm of the solidarity of Macaos business sectors  demonstrating their collaborative spirit of growth, success, and shared prosperity. Our partnership with Sands China has significantly surpassed commercial procurement, in turn becoming an accelerator for Macaos moderate economic diversification.

SME Open Day

(2015 to present)

First integrated resort operator to organise SME Open Day

Facilitates face-to-face conversations for potential suppliers to learn about procurement opportunities in various Sands China departments

News feature stories on SMEs

(2016 to present)

 Cooperation with local media to interview Sands Chinas SME suppliers and publish more than 140 inspirational stories to showcase the suppliers unremitting spirit of self-improvement

Sands Procurement Academy

(2017 to present)

 Assists Macaos small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and move towards international standards

 16 intakes to date

 Has provided more than 550 Macao SMEs with over 8,600 hours of training in total

The Macao Showcase

(June 7-9, 2023)

 Sands Chinas first large-scale event in an overseas market after the pandemic

 Facilitated procurement opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to enter the international market

Expedited Payment Programme for Local SMEs

(2017, 2021)

Provision of MOP 200 million after Typhoon Hato and MOP 350 million during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide advance payments and accelerated payments to SME suppliers in need to ease their cash flow pressures and operational burdens

Sands Shopping Carnival

(2020 to present)

 Held annually for five years and counting, it provides a large-scale free exhibition and sales platform for Macaos SMEs and Sands retailers, creating a synergy effect through the exhibition and sales of international retail brands and local SMEs at the same venue

 More than 540,000 visitors and around 2,800 booths in total to date

Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens

(2024 to present)

 Provides financial assistance to local entrepreneurs to launch new businesses at Rua das Estalagens

 Six businesses have already begun activating the community economy, following the programmes results announcement in July 2024

Macao Technological Innovation Exploration in Lisbon

(Nov. 11-15, 2024)

 In order to provide a platform for Macaos tech industry to Go global and attract foreign investment, 17 Macao tech enterprises certified by DSEDTs Technology Enterprise Certification Program were invited to Lisbon for the tour

 They attended the annual Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon and visited innovative companies to gain an in-depth understanding of the latest information and development trends in the technology industry

Leading Macao SMEs to go global: Min Da Construction & Engineering Company Limited

Min Da Construction & Engineering Company Limited first participated in a Sands China project in 2006. Over the past 20 years, Min Da has participated in many large-scale projects for Sands China, such as the construction and renovation of hotel rooms, and the interior decor of ballrooms and casinos, and has grown together with Sands China. Thanks to its collaboration with Sands China, Min Da has successfully broadened its horizons, learned about the latest industry technologies and knowledge from abroad, and utilised Sands network to explore overseas business opportunities. In 2008, Min Da expanded its business to Singapore. After Typhoon Hato, Min Da participated in the post-disaster recovery and community restoration work in Lai Chi Vun organised by Sands China, providing immediate support to residents whose homes were severely damaged, jointly demonstrating the power of the community and corporate care.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utah House Majority Leader Rep. Jefferson Moss (R-Saratoga Springs) will be stepping away from the House of Representatives and his role as House Majority Leader at the end of the month.

The announcement comes as Gov. Spencer Cox tapped Moss to serve in his office as the Executive Director of the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). He will officially step down from his role in the House on May 30 and begin work in the GOEO on June 2 as an interim until his role can be confirmed by the Utah Senate.

Mosss new role will see him oversee statewide efforts to promote business development, innovation, and economic strategy.

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Moss, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 2017 and in Majority Leadership since 2019, said he was incredibly proud of the work he accomplished while representing the Saratoga Springs district.

8 Utah bills going into effect on May 7 you should know about

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of House District 51 and the state of Utah, said Moss in a statement. I look forward to continuing my work in a new capacity, helping lead Utahs economic future.

Throughout his career, Moss has held a variety of positions, including the Utah State Board of Education, the Saratoga Springs City Council and Planning Commission, and leadership positions at Utah Valley University. Aside from serving as the House Majority Leader, Moss also serves as the Associate Commissioner of Innovation, Commercialization and Economic Development for the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and as the managing director of the Utah Innovation Fund.

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According to a media release, Moss will continue serving in the USHE in addition to leading GOEO.

Jefferson Moss brings a rare combination of public service, private sector experience, and a deep understanding of innovation and education, said Gov. Spencer Cox. Hes been a driving force behind many of Utahs most forward-thinking initiatives, and Im confident hell lead the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity with the same vision, energy, and commitment to our states future that have defined his career.

In the coming weeks, the House Majority Caucus will hold a special leadership election to elect a new House Majority Leader. Republican delegates in Utah County will also meet to select a new representative to serve District 51.

Lindsay Aerts contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Utah House Majority Leader Rep. Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, is stepping down to take a key position in Gov. Spencer Coxs cabinet.

Cox named Moss his pick to oversee the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity. Moss is slated to take over on May 30, helping oversee business development, innovation, and economic strategy promotion statewide. Thats also when hell resign from the Utah Legislature.

Jefferson Moss brings a rare combination of public service, private sector experience and a deep understanding of innovation and education, Cox said in a statement Friday. Hes been a driving force behind many of Utahs most forward-thinking initiatives, and Im confident hell lead the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity with the same vision, energy, and commitment to our states future that have defined his career.

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Moss joined the Utah Legislature in 2017, rising in the House of Representatives before becoming the House majority leader, one of the top leadership positions in the chamber. He also serves as the associate commissioner of innovation, commercialization and economic development for the Utah System of Higher Education, a leadership role he will retain despite his new cabinet role.

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Before that, he held roles at Utah Valley University and businesses like KeyBank and Credit Suisse. He was also a member of the Saratoga Springs City Council.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of House District 51 and the state of Utah, he said in a statement. Im incredibly proud of the work weve accomplished together to strengthen our economy, invest in education, and expand opportunity for Utah families. I look forward to continuing my work in a new capacity, helping lead Utahs economic future.

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The Governors Office of Economic Opportunity oversees several state agencies, committees and programs, including the Utah Office of Tourism and Utah Film Commission. Its also the agency that gave final approval to the Capital City Convention Center Reinvestment Zone, a piece of the financing options for major downtown Salt Lake plans by the Delta Center, as it handles housing and transit reinvestment zones.

Moss will replace Ryan Starks, whose departure was announced last week. He has since been named the director of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah.

Meanwhile, the House Majority Caucus plans to hold a special leadership election in the coming weeks to find a new House majority leader, according to the Utah Legislature.

Rep. Moss is an extraordinary leader, a trusted colleague, and a loyal friend, House Speaker Mike Schultz said. While well miss his leadership in the House, I know he will continue to serve Utah with the same passion and purpose in his new role.

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Lawmakers are expected to meet in a special session the week of May 19, but a spokeswoman for the Legislature said a leadership vote wont take place during those interim meetings and will likely come in early June, after Moss resignation is official. The caucus last elected new leaders in 2023 after then-Speaker Brad Wilson resigned to run for U.S. Senate. In that case, the three remaining members of GOP leadership each moved up to fill a more senior role.

Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Syracuse, currently serves as majority whip, with Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, as assistant whip.

Lisonbee confirmed to KSL.com that she will resign her post to run to replace Moss and Snider is believed to be vying for the seat as well. Other Republican lawmakers are also mulling running to replace Moss.

Lisonbee called Moss resignation bittersweet news, saying she is elated for Moss.

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Bringing transparency to you in this moment of change, I am running to be the next majority leader in the Utah House, she told colleagues in an email shared with KSL.com. This necessitates my resignation as majority whip as of the upcoming leadership election. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve you as a member of the leadership team. I am proud of the work we have accomplished together and I look forward to our continued collaboration.

Republican delegates from Utah County will vote to elect a replacement for Moss in House District 51, and Utah County Republican Party Chairwoman Cristy Henshaw told KSL.com the party would release a timeline for that convention Friday night or Saturday. The state GOP organizing convention is May 17.

Contributing: Bridger Beal-Cvetko
ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  There was a powerful show of support for survivors of domestic violence in Northern Virginia, all to raise awareness and some much-needed funding.

The head of a womens shelter slept in her car Thursday night to show the extreme measures some people will take to leave an abusive home.

Woman charged for allegedly assaulting Stafford elementary student at bus stop

This is probably where Ill sleep, said Tiffany Santana, the executive director of the Bethany House of Northern Virginia. She gestured to one blanket in the backseat of her car.

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Santana, telling DC News Now that, for the fifth straight year, she is sleeping in her car for one night  a reminder of how lucky she is that it is only one night.

Bethany House is a nonprofit that provides shelter and services to women and children escaping domestic violence.

Santana says that many women leave abusive relationships for fear of their safety. They tell her that living in a car, however long they may do so, is better than staying in their dangerous home.

We also know that the chances of a woman experiencinghomicide in her lifetime, if she stays in a domestic violence relationship, [are] high, she explained.

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Beyond the symbolism, the night was about raising money to help provide alternatives for the women.

Keller Williams Realty team members joined Santana by sleeping in their cars overnight and raising money.

Weve raised almost $12,000 for the Bethany House, which would support full-year operations and maintenance on a shelter, said Christy Roelke from Keller Williams. Its not always a choice [for these women], but there are services available that they dont have to spend the night in their car.

Those participating slept in a parking garage, which had lights that turned off at night unless prompted by motion.

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Every little noise you hear, youre checking to make sure youre okay, Santana said. Youre checking to make sure that youre okay. And I imagine having to leave a really dangerous situation, youre afraid of whats behind you, and you dont know whats ahead of you.

Santana said the event was dedicated to Anesha Isaacs, who was a victim of a domestic-related shooting in Fairfax County last year.

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Amid rising measles cases, vaccine skepticism despite a preponderance of safety evidence, and on the heels of the most severe flu season in 15 years, infectious disease threats are urgent and public health teams stretched thin. Recent funding cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health jeopardize the personnel and expertise to support epidemic and containment responses. Infectious diseases do not respect borders or political party  we're all at risk.

In the clinic when I ask patients why they decline certain vaccines, I preface with letting them know I care about them and want to avoid serious poor health outcomes. Humanity and health are our common threads and help me bridge some vaccine hesitancy gaps, but many opportunities are lost to fear or misinformation. Prevention is the best practice. Current measles outbreaks, a disease previously eliminated from the United States, illustrate the risks of vaccine preventable illness and deaths.

Opinion: Doctors battle misinformation. RFK Jr. is wrong  and measles may only be start.

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Undoing scientific progress is not efficient. It is incumbent upon us all to support infectious disease prevention, treatment and research programs to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities. This infectious disease doctor originally from Milwaukee is urging you to get vaccinated and advocate for funding our vital public health organizations.

Rebecca Stern, M.D., Nashville, Tennessee

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Diseases like measles don't respect borders or your politics | Letters
A Dayton high school valedictorian made school history, earning his associates degree before receiving his high school diploma.

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Thurgood Marshall STEM High School Valedictorian Justin Lee is the first student from the school to reach this academic achievement, a spokesperson for the Dayton Public School District said in a media release.

Lee will graduate with an associates degree in psychology from Sinclair Community College this month through the districts College Credit Plus program.

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The College Credit Plus program offers students the opportunity to take college-level courses at no cost. The program was designed to help students save time and money as they prepare for college and careers after graduation.

The college credits students earn in the program can be transferred to any Ohio public college or university, according to the release.

Private and out-of-state institutions often accept these credits as well.

Justins accomplishment is nothing short of extraordinary. He represents the very best of what our students can achieve when given access to rigorous academic opportunities and strong support systems, said Superintendent of Dayton Public Schools Dr. David Lawrence.

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Lee will attend the University of Dayton on a full-ride Flyer Promise scholarship this fall. He plans to major in psychology, according to the release.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A Vanderwagen man has pled guilty to assault and federal firearms charges after the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico says he fired shots at a man, then threatened him during an argument. Perris Jeremiah Arthur, 36, is facing a minimum of seven years to life in prison, with up to five years of supervised release.

Santa Ana officer arrested for aggravated DWI, officials say

Court records show on May 1, 2023, Arthur started a confrontation at John Does residence in Vanderwagen. Arthur went outside to get his rifle, fired two shots into the RV, and later pointed the weapon at John Doe.

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The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with help from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC) honored students in their construction pathway program during a lunch banquet on Monday.

The Annual Construction Trades Student Recognition Banquet started back in 1986, and since then, students in the Vigo County School Corporation have built homes for the community while earning college credits, all before graduating high school.

Technical Education Director for the school corporation, Doug Dillion, said this program exposes students to new and different experiences in the workforce.

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So programs like this expose kids to those different career opportunities that use their hands. A lot of people, they dont want to sit at a desk for the rest of their life and be whats called a pencil pusher. These kids, when they graduate, will be able to go out and pick something they really love, and theyve got some skills with their hands, and they will be able to work in different environments. You know, every day is a different day, said Dillion.

Jackson Page is a Junior at Terre Haute North High School and said the hands-on experience he has gained from the program is even helping him do better in school.

Sitting in a classroom, I dont really pick up on knowledge that well, but learning hands-on has definitely helped me a lot with just having a better time at school and also learning what I need to There is never a dull moment when your their working together. I mean, I got many stories I could tell about things that have happened in this class. I always go home with something new to tell them, said Page.

Page said after graduation, he plans on doing five years in the Carpenters Union, and then once he gets his Journeyman Card, he will attend Ivy Tech in the hope of getting a degree in construction management.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, became the first-ever American pope, prompting reaction from Las Vegas Catholic congregations Thursday.

I dont know what to say, Im so happy, said Jesusa Arias, who was in the middle of 9 a.m. Mass when the bishop announced that white smoke had emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signifying that a new pope had been chosen.

Im happy that hes American, said Miriam Guzman, originally from Mexico and a Las Vegas valley resident for over two decades. I think that is going to build bridges to Latin America because he was there and he speaks Spanish.

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Guzman said she went to Mass after hearing the announcement.

Weve been praying to have someone who can guide us, said Guzman.

George Leo Thomas, Archbishop George Leo Thomas of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, said Pope Leo would put a much friendlier face on America.

Especially across Europe, Thomas said. Especially some of the lands that have been affected by the tariffs. I think this Holy Father is going to bring people around a table for dialogue.

Thomas described the new pope as a centrist, adding that he did not expect the Catholic Church to shift politically to the right or the left under his leadership.

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This week, the Macau Daily Times (MDT) was once again targeted by scammers in two instances of identity theft, aimed at spreading false accusations against two local well-known public figures.

In both cases, the fake news was posted on the Facebook platform. We are aware that at least one of the defamation victims is pursuing legal action against uncertain perpetrators.

We refrain from publishing the details of the false content, as doing so would serve the interests of those behind these attacks, whose aim is maximum exposure and disruption.

This is not the first time our online operations have been targeted. In June and August last year, similar attacks were carried out using the MDT brand to promote fake interviews with personalities from both Macau and Taiwan. At the time, our publishing company filed complaints with the Judiciary Police. Unfortunately, those cases reached a dead end, as no perpetrator could be identified.

Macau Daily Times remains committed to publishing truthful and verified information. We urge our readers to stay vigilant and always verify the sources of their news to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent schemes. For news and updates, refer exclusively to our official website: macaudailytimes.com.mo.

Importantly, in all incidents, including those this week, the integrity of MDTs website and official social media accounts has not been compromised.

Finally, we call on Meta (Facebooks parent company) and law enforcement authorities to take firmer action against these recurring incidents, which continue to unfold in plain sight without consequence for Meta or the perpetrators.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Youve probably seen them or even used them: electric scooters all across the city of Rochester. Some of them have been seemingly dumped into the Genesee River.

Friday, the Senior Policy and Partnerships Manager & Policy Counsel of VEO, Joe Bott, spoke with News 8s Adelisa Badzic.

We see this as being kind of a small-scale problem, Bott said. So, have retrieved some, but on the scale of, you know, compared to our total fleet, which is, over a thousand vehicles and amongst the 425,000 rides we did in 2024, its not something we see on a large scale, the majority of our fleet are completely intact and are operational.

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News 8 asked him if this type of vandalism brings out negative thoughts about terminating the current contract with the city, which was signed in 2023 for three years  he ultimately said they plan to continue operations here.

Rochester has been a great market. And again, this is something we see on a small scale, were super excited about being in Rochester and we plan to be a long-term partner, Bott said. And thats been our driving force and what our conversations with the city have centered around.

When asked what the next plans are on retrieving the vehicles from the water, he said where they are located, they are difficult areas to get down safely to.

Just making sure we can get down there safely, retrieve them safely, remove them, and then recycle them, which is what were going to do, Bott said. And so, weve been actively working on a plan for the last several weeks with the city, several months even to get those out of there.

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VEO vehicles are located in over 40 cities throughout the U.S., with only two cities in Upstate and Western New York, those being in Rochester and Syracuse.

Bott asks anyone who sees any kind of vandalism to the vehicles to call the Rochester City services line at 311.

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A priest with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence was among those in attendance Thursday when Robert Prevost was announced as the new pope.

Im still pinching myself, Father Christopher Murphy told 12 News. Just being here for the conclave, the election.

Murphy moved to Rome last summer to work as a spiritual director at the Pontifical North American College. He said the crowds reaction was really moving as many shed tears.

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Its a very emotional moment, Murphy explained. I mean, theres no other way to put it. Its the successor to Saint Peter.

RELATED: First pope from US in history of Catholic Church takes name Leo XIV

Prevost, 69, chose the name Leo XIV and made history as the Catholic Churchs first-ever American pope. He was born and raised in Chicago, where he first began studying theology.

Pope Leo XIV, who was appointed to be a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, studied in Rome during his late 20s, then worked in Peru for decades before coming back to Rome.

Murphy witnessed the pontiff in action as a cardinal last year when he presided over Thanksgiving mass at Pontifical North American College.

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I remember him just being a steady and very prayerful presence, Murphy recalled. Actually, what I remember most about his presence that night was his prayerfulness at Mass. He prayed the Mass with great intention and just there was a peace about him, and stability as a presider.

Murphy described that moment as a very special connection those who were there will certainly never forget.

As for the feeling of having an American pope, Murphy said its obviously a great honor for the country.

I saw in the crowd a number of times the American flag just kind of being shown on camera, so the blessing that this is for us, as Americans, is huge, he said.

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NEXT: This conclave to choose a new pope was short  but not the shortest ever

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Vic Mensa shows support for Kehlani amid concert cancellations connected to the musician's vocal opposition of genocide - Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images; Gilbert Flores/Billboard

The R&B musician Kehlani was scheduled to perform at Cornell University and New Yorks SummerStage, but saw both performances cancelled in connection with her vocal support of Palestine. These repercussions, the loss of opportunity or performance income, are an example of why some musicians may be hesitant to speak out. But those who do have inspired others to reconfigure their idea of loss. In an open letter, fellow musician Vic Mensa commended Kehlani for choosing to center humanity and courage as boldly and uncompromisingly as you have despite the backlash.

Ive been awe inspired by the way youve stood up. Especially at a time when I fell back. And I asked myself, Although i need to feed my son, what kind of man do i want to inspire him to be?' Mensa wrote in the letter published on Instagram. He shared with it a screenshot of a news report with the headline Kehlani Pride Month Concert Cancelled After Artist Says I Am Anti-Genocide.'

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The article refers to the SummerStage cancellation as well as Kehlanis response to having her offer to perform at Cornell revoked. If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your zionism. Dont make it anti-jew, she wrote in the caption of an Instagram video. In the clip, she stated: I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, Im anti the bombing of innocent children, men women thats what Im anti.

Nearly all two million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from their homes in Gaza amid the Israeli militarys mass destruction of infrastructure. Estimates say that between 45,000 and 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, when Israel launched a brutal response to Hamas-led militants killing around 1,200 civilians and soldiers on Oct. 7, 2023. The attacks are ongoing following ceasefire violations, and Israeli forces are currently blocking food, medicine, and aid from entering Palestine, per Associated Press.

I have often thought about your choices over the last 18 months. Wished I was more brave. And more self sufficient, Mensa wrote in his letter to Kehlani. The truth is, your people love you. Not because of an opportunity provided to you by a booker here, or a city there, but because they cherish the depth of your soul. None of this can change that. As long as you have them you can never lose. The powers that be may be great, but I do believe we can all agree  there is a greater power.

Earlier in the note, he said: The all-powerful presence of the divine, is taking note  of every selfless action, of every sacrifice, of every time we jeapordize our security to do whats right. I toe the line with you. Sometimes I think my baby cant eat beliefs and I hold my tongue. And something inside me dies slowly. It eats me from within.

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Kehlani responded to the open letter in the comment section. Im glad we got each other. youve spoken life into me more times than i can count, i love you, she wrote. 10 toes, brother.

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Six weeks before American Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the activist group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) filed a complaint against him, along with other church leaders, to the Vaticans Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The group alleged Prevost harmed the vulnerable and caused scandal by mishandling two situations  in Chicago in 2000, and in Peru in 2022  involving priests accused of sexual abuse.

The group said that as provincial supervisor in Chicago for the Augustinian order in 2000, Prevost allowed a priest accused of abusing at least 13 minors to live at the Augustinian orders St. John Stone Friary in Hyde Park, half a block from St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School. The priest, Father James Ray, had been barred since 1991 from performing parish work or being alone with minors  restrictions the Archdiocese of Chicago noted when it asked Prevost to allow Ray to live at the friary, the complaint said.

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The school was never notified, said SNAP spokeswoman Sarah Pearson. In 2002, after the US Conference of Catholic Bishops tightened their policies, Ray was moved from the priory and removed from public ministry. He was removed from the priesthood in 2012.

News outlets work outside the Holy Name Cathedral after Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago, had been named as first American leader of the Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois, on May 8, 2025. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images) - Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images

Patrick Thronson, an attorney who represented a plaintiff in an abuse case against Ray and the Archdiocese of Chicago, said he found it shocking that Ray was allowed to live so close to a school, though Thronson added he wasnt aware of the details of Prevosts involvement in the decision-making.

Theres extensive documentary evidence the archdiocese was aware by the 1980s at the latest of numerous reports of serious, devastating sex crimes allegedly committed by Ray against children, Thronson said. Given that Ray was removed from active ministry in the early 1990s over allegations of severe abuse, it would be surprising if Augustinian leadership was not aware of his history.

The Archdiocese of Chicago settled the case in 2022, a little over a year after it was filed, Thronson said.

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The archdiocese did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Prevost served as a parish pastor and diocesan official in Peru. He returned there in 2015, when Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo, in northwestern Peru. In April 2022, three women filed a complaint to Prevost accusing two priests there of sexual abuse beginning in 2007, when they were minors, as reported by The Pillar, a Catholic investigative journalism project.

In December 2022, the women filed civil complaints, saying the diocese had failed to act or inform civil authorities about their allegations. But prosecutors closed the case a month later, saying the statute of limitations had expired, according to SNAPs complaint.

The diocese denied the womens allegations, saying that Prevost met with them personally when they filed their initial complaint. The diocese said it suspended one priest after the complaint, and that the other was no longer in ministry because of his age and poor health. It also said it forwarded their complaint to higher-ups in Rome, to an office known as the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. But the dicastery closed that case in August 2023, after the diocese notified it of the dismissal of the civil case.

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SNAPs March 25 complaint alleges that Prevost, as bishop, failed to open an investigation, properly inform civil prosecutors, or restrict the priests involved.

The women also said church investigators never talked to them, SNAPs Pearson told CNN. The fact they say they werent even interviewed is extremely concerning to us.

Prevosts successor as Bishop of Chiclayo, Guillermo Cornejo, reopened the case in December 2023 and called for a new investigation, after one of the three women went public with her accusations, as first reported by The Pillar last year.

People gather at the Cathedral of Saint Mary, on the day of the election of Pope Leo XIV, in Chiclayo, Peru May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda - Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters

While he served as Bishop of Chiclayo, Prevost told the Peruvian national newspaper La Republica in 2019 that, We reject cover-ups and secrecy about sexual abuse cases. They cause a lot of harm, because we have to help people who have suffered due to wrongdoing.

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He urged people to come forward if theyre aware of abuse against minors by a priest. On behalf of the Church, we want to tell people that if there has been any offense; if they have suffered or are victims of the wrongdoing of a priest, they should come and report it, so we can act for the good of the Church, the person, and the community.

Rodolfo Soriano Nunez, a sociologist in Mexico City who has written extensively about the Roman Catholic church and its handling of clerical sexual abuse, said that, for any failings, Prevost was one of the few bishops in Peru who tried seriously to address sexual abuse by priests, setting up a commission to deal with such cases.

I think Prevost was the best bishop in Peru when dealing with abuse cases in his diocese. And there were plenty of cases, said Soriano-Nunez. He dealt with the issue as far as he was able to deal with it. Unlike some of his counterparts elsewhere in Peru and the rest of Latin America, he said, Prevost was not going after the victims, or gaslighting the victims or playing the fool.

More broadly, Soriano-Nunez said he finds it encouraging that the new Pope Leo XIV was not a prince of the church. For most of his career, He wasnt in Rome, or in Paris. He was a poor Augustinian priest in Peru. He was working with peasants, learning Quechua. Learning Spanish is easy for English speakers. But learning Quechua, that takes time.

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Pearson said SNAP has not heard back from the Vatican about its complaint. Knowing that Prevost is now Leo XIV, were concerned whether this will ever be investigated. She added, Were calling for a zero-tolerance law, to permanently remove from the ministry anyone found to have abused children and there has to be independent oversight and a means through which they can be held accountable.

She said SNAP is calling on the new pope to apologize for his shortcomings and put these investigations in the hands of people who are not part of the Vatican. If he doesnt do that, he wont have the credibility survivors need him to have, if this cycle of abuse in the Catholic Church is ever to end.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Capitol hosted an event to celebrate Victory in Europe Day on Thursday, honoring the growth and success that having a relationship with the European Union has created.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was in attendance, and took time to talk about the relationship between Michigan and Europeand how important it is that we maintain a close relationship with our European allies.

The work strengthens the bridge between Michigan and Europe. And I want you to know that Michigan has your back, she said

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State Rep. Joseph Aragona also gave his thoughts on communication  keeping a safe, friendly, and productive conversation to maintain the relationship between Michigan and the European Union.

This many decades later, I think it is great that we are coming together, as the governor said to promote peace, promote shared culture, and that is something that we need to continue because that communication needs to continue before there is ever bloodshed in the future, he said.

The organizer of the event and the Italian Consul of Detroit, Allegra Baistrocchi, wanted to point out that since V.E. day in 1945, there have been 27 nations, including the U.S., that benefited from the true connection that has been made.

Other members in attendance all said the same thing: bringing the culture and business from the EU into Michigan has only made each others successes grow and flourish.

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[Source]

The U.S. and Vietnam have kicked off critical trade negotiations as the Southeast Asian nation faces a potential 46% tariff that could significantly impact its export-driven economy.

State of play

Todays negotiations in Hanoi mark the first substantive talks between the U.S. and Vietnam since President Donald Trump unveiled his reciprocal tariffs on Liberation Day on April 2.

Initial discussions began on April 23 with a call between Vietnamese Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in which Nguyen expressed Vietnams desire to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership with the U.S. On Monday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told parliament that Vietnam is among the first countries the U.S. has agreed to negotiate tariffs with, highlighting the urgency as the deadline approaches.

Trending on NextShark: Vietnam races against time as Trumps tariff deadline looms

Impact on businesses

The threatened 46% levy  among the highest rates in Trumps tariff plan  has sent shockwaves through Vietnams manufacturing sector, where global brands like Adidas, New Balance and Nike maintain significant production facilities. Some factories have accelerated production to beat the July 8 deadline, with seafood exporters planning to increase U.S. shipments by 10-15% in May compared to April.

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Others are freezing expansion plans or canceling orders amid the uncertainty. Vietnamese garment manufacturers are particularly vulnerable, with industry representatives indicating that tariffs exceeding 20% would be unsustainable for many factories.

Trending on NextShark: Rep. Shri Thanedar rebukes Dinesh DSouza for mocking his Indian heritage and accent

The big picture

Vietnam, whose growth forecast has been lowered by the IMF from 6.1% to 5.2%, finds itself caught between the worlds two largest economies. While the country exports roughly 30% of its goods to the U.S., it also relies on China for components and raw materials. Washington has expressed concerns that Vietnam may serve as a backdoor for Chinese goods entering American markets, while Beijing has warned it will retaliate against countries signing deals with the U.S. that harm Chinese interests.

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Chinh is seeking Vietnams early recognition as a market economy and removal of restrictions on high-tech exports in exchange for addressing the trade imbalance. Meanwhile, industry leaders hope to reduce the final tariff rate to 20-28%, which local manufacturers believe would allow them to maintain operations, albeit with reduced margins.

Trending on NextShark: Trump freezes funds to clear unexploded mines in Vietnam

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Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member  your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

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Americans are feeling closer than ever to the new leader of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV is the first American to ever hold the title.

Pennsylvanians are also drawing connections to the pope as he spent his college career at the University of Villanova.

When I learned wait, when to Villanova? For me, it changed everything, said Villanova class of 2020 alumna Julie Kasunic.

She is a Pittsburgh native and, just like Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova University alum. Despite the fact that the Pope graduated 40 years before her  Kasunic said she still feels a bond with the Pontiff.

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For me, its very touching, Kasunic said. To have walked in the same place as this pope at Villanova and to understand where he is coming from.I think its incredibly powerful.

Villanova is one of only two Augustinian Catholic Universities in the country. The Pontiff actually served two consecutive terms as the head of the Augustinians before being elected Pope.

Now what I experienced at Villanova will now hopefully be shared with the entire world, Kasunic said.

Kasunic said that her connection does not stop at Villanova, though.

Through the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Chimbote Foundation, Kasunic has taken many trips to Peru, where Pope Leo XIV worked and lived for over 20 years and was granted citizenship in 2015.

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And the pope, he was a missionary about two hours north of there. So, when I learned that, I thought oh wow he has this huge connection to Peru and so does Pittsburgh, Kasunic said.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh is planning to hold a Mass of Thanksgiving in the new Popes honor at St. Pauls Cathedral on Monday at 7 p.m.

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New details are emerging about the mysterious death of a 24-year-old Virginia woman  but many questions remain unanswered.

Emily Keene was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in the driver's seat of her car on May 5, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke declared Keene's death to be a homicide, and soon after two arrests were made by the FCSO.

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On May 7, deputies announced the arrest of Corion Manns, 22, and Isaiah Witcher, 25, who have both been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Isaiah Witcher Isaiah Witcher

Franklin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Corion Manns Corion Manns

Related: A Louisiana Woman Lost Her Daughter, 2, in a Murder-Suicide. She Will Now Spend Mother's Day Burying Her Baby Girl.

Witcher and Keene were in a relationship at the time of the murder, according to an arrest warrant obtained by PEOPLE.

The warrant also alleges that Witcher admitted to being in the car with Manns at the time of the crime  but claimed Manns was the one who shot Keene.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Deputies arrested Manns and took both suspects into custody, where they will remain held without bond pending court proceedings, according to the FCSO.

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A search of state court records shows that Manns has been convicted of assault and battery in three separate cases and was sentenced to a year in prison after violating a protective order.

Witcher has multiple arrests for charges of assault and battery but just one conviction, records show. His two most recent charges on that count were dismissed.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Sen. James Gray listens to budget testimony during the hourslong public hearing Tuesday. Gray, a Rochester Republican, chairs the Senate Finance Committee. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Hundreds of people flocked to Representatives Hall Tuesday to testify before the Senate Finance Committee about the House-passed New Hampshire budget, the last official public forum to do so this year. The atmosphere was emotional  and often testy.

Sen. James Gray, a Rochester Republican and the committee chairman, exchanged heated words with some of the testifiers, cutting off those he thought were repeating previous speakers and others he said were veering off topic. The proceedings lasted through the afternoon and well into the evening, wrapping up around 11 p.m.

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The Senate Finance Committee will now take up the budget and make a series of changes, beginning on Friday at 1. The Senate has until June 5 to pass the budget, at which point it will likely head to negotiations with the House. The Legislature must deliver the budget to Gov. Kelly Ayotte by June 30, the end of the 2025 state fiscal year.

Speakers raised the Houses proposed 3% decrease to Medicaid reimbursement rates, the elimination of the State Council on the Arts and Aging Commission, cuts at the Department of Corrections, and education freedom accounts, among other topics.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Ayotte said her budget director watched the hearing, and that she had taken note of the public commentary, particularly around the Medicaid cuts.

My takeaway is that my budget was a lot better, said Ayotte, who has opposed many of the Houses proposed cuts.

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Here are some of the voices.

Jeffrey Fetter, chief medical officer of New Hampshire Hospital, testifies against Medicaid cuts at Tuesdays hearing in the New Hampshire State House. To his left is Cathy Stratton, CEO of the New Hampshire Medical Society, who also testified. (Photo by William Skipwort/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Fears of Medicaid cuts

Many of the speakers decried a 3% decrease to Medicaid reimbursement rates that the House included in its version of the budget. They urged the Senate to reverse it.

We often think of Medicaid as a benefit, but it really is a part of the infrastructure, Jeffrey Fetter, chief medical officer at New Hampshire Hospital, said. The way that we deliver mental health care is more embedded in how Medicaid works than many folks understand or realize.

The cuts, which were inserted into HB 2, would lower the amount the states Medicaid program reimburses providers for medical care purchased through Medicaid.

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I look outside my office at New Hampshire Hospital, I see 2,000 offices in buildings that used to have 2,000 patient beds, Fetter said, referring to the psychiatric hospitals history as a mental institution and asylum. All those patients did not go away with de-institutionalization. They are living good lives in the community, and if our community mental health centers are unable to get the Medicaid funding they need, all those patients come streaming back into New Hampshire Hospital through emergency rooms, and thats what we dont want to see happen.

Doctors and providers fear that when people lose access to Medicaid, theyre less likely to receive preventative care  including for mental health  and more likely to visit the emergency room, oftentimes for things that should be handled by a primary care provider oftentimes sicker than they would be otherwise.

Tiffany Gladu, a registered nurse with Granite State Independent Living, testified about how vital Medicaid is to the clients she works with, who have disabilities.

Many of the individuals I serve dont just need a little help, Gladu said. They rely on Medicaid-funded care for their very survival. These are not optional supports. They are critical, life-sustaining services that keep people alive, safe, and in their homes.

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She pointed out that many of those she works with cannot bathe themselves, get dressed, or get out of bed safely, without assistance, putting them at risk for pressure sores and infections that can become life-threatening. They also need help preparing meals, grocery shopping, taking their medications, accessing clean drinking water, and using the restroom. Some require physically invasive bowel programs or catheterization. These services are paid for through Medicaid.

Without this support, their lives would be at risk, she continued. The care provided by these services allows people with disabilities to maintain their well being and live with dignity and safety in their homes. While personal care services are nonmedical in classification, they are medically necessary in practice. Without them, people are at risk for hospitalization, displacement from their homes, or death.

Gladu said this care system is already stretched thin.

A rate reduction in reimbursement means providers will be paid less for the same medically necessary work, she said. This does not only impact agencies. It directly impacts the people receiving the care. Lower rates make it harder to retain and hire qualified caregivers in a field that is already underpaid and undervalued. When we cant find staff, consumers go without care.

Defending state arts funding

A number of people spoke against the Houses decision to eliminate the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

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In Nelson, the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music educates 300 students each summer on its 100 acre campus, greatly assisted by grants from the State Council on the Arts, said Sam Bergman, the executive director. But it doesnt help just students, he said.

In the Monadnock Region, sir, as in so many parts of our state, the tourism economy is critical to everything that we do, and the arts are a critical part of that tourism economy, Bergman said, addressing Gray. The people who come to our arts organizations eat in our restaurants, they stay in our hotels, they patronize our businesses.

Mary McLaughlin, the interim board chair of the State Council on the Arts, noted that the organization had supported artists and organizations since 1965. And she agreed that the grants help stimulate local economies.

The arts are a revenue generator for the state, providing a positive 5-to-1 ratio return on investment, McLaughlin said. In 2024 New Hampshire invested 73 cents per citizen in the arts and culture sector, contributing to an estimated yield of over $2 million in in-kind goods and services, and over $50 million in payrolls of grantee organizations.

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McLaughlin noted the organizations artisan residents projects, in which artists receive funding to teach their art in public schools. Its often the only arts education that some of our schools can afford to offer, she said.

And she said that the elimination of the arts council would also result in a loss of National Endowment for the Arts funding.

Funding art is important for more than just economic activity, argued Andrew Pinard, the interim executive director of the AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon and the founder of the Hatbox Theater in Concord. Art is both important and fragile, Pinard said. It should not be taken for granted.

Representatives Hall in the State House was packed for Tuesdays budget hearing. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Speaking up for the Commission on Aging

As another cost-cutting measure, the House budget would eliminate New Hampshires Commission on Aging, which was established in 2019 to advise policy related to senior citizens. The commissions executive director, Lily Wellington, testified Tuesday urging senators to restore it.

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In 1925, the average person could expect to live for 59 years, she said. Today, that average lifespan has increased to 79 years, a testament to the power of public health, medical innovations, better nutrition, and wise public policy. This remarkable extension of life now requires a fundamental shift in how we plan and build our shared futures. We must now proactively adapt our systems to support longer lives.

Wellington pointed to a 10-year blueprint the commission created for how the state can support its aging population and a transportation needs assessment it conducted on senior citizens as ways the commission was helping the state adapt.

Education freedom account expansion draws opposition

Some of the people present spoke against the Houses proposed expansion of education freedom accounts. The Houses budget would raise the current income threshold for the program from 350% of the federal poverty level to 400% in the first fiscal year, and then to all income levels in the second fiscal year.

The program allows families to access state education funds of between $4,000 and $7,000 per child per year to pay for private school or home-schooling expenses.

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Some at the hearing argued the states Education Trust Fund should be used to increase state support of public schools, and should not fund the education freedom account program.

Im here to ask you today to please support increased school funding in our state budget for public schools, and relieve the pressure on property taxes by ending the voucher system formula for school funding, said Shelly Gingras, a school guidance counselor in Rochester.

Laura Vincent, a school board member at the Merrimack Valley School District, also opposed the education freedom account expansion. And Vincent warned lawmakers against adding mandatory budget caps for school districts. The House considered adding that measure to the budget, but did not ultimately do so.

Together with EFA expansion efforts, this will put our schools in a type of a vise, Vincent said. As money flows out to EFAs on one end, the money obtained through local taxes on the other end will start shrinking.

Speaking against Department of Corrections cuts

One speaker Tuesday testified against the proposed cuts of 190 positions  149 of them currently filled  at the Department of Corrections.

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Matt Davis, recruitment and retention sergeant for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, said his job is one that would be eliminated. He said the cuts would create a risk to public safety and to the states prison system, which he said had earned national recognition.

Im here today to ask one simple question: Whos left behind the walls?

Davis argued that by cutting positions for training officials, teachers, mental health counselors, and others, lawmakers would not be eliminating the need for those roles.

That work just doesnt go away, he said. It shifts to officers already drowning in responsibility and burnout. Thats not just unsustainable, its dangerous.

Stern rebukes from the chairman

Throughout the roughly eight-hour hearing Gray, the Finance Committees chair, chastised speakers who he said were being repetitive in a way that was taking up too much of the committees time. His rebukes began with the first few speakers.

I believe I have the three minutes to finish my statement, said Pinard, after he was interrupted by Grays gavel.

Sir, I believe I am the chair, Gray responded. And if you read the Senate rules, Im the one in charge. So you dont tell me what Im doing and not doing. Im asking you to summarize your testimony and not repeat. Thank you.

Gray continued this through the hearing to varying degrees.

Every time that we have one of these public hearings that last a long time, there are people who come and cant stay long enough to do the testimony, because the testimony continues, continues, and continues, he said at one point. That is one of the reasons we have a time limit. That is one of the reasons we restrict the repeating. That is one of the reasons we dont want you clapping and stuff. And thats all in the Senate rules of this committee. So please, with respect of your other people who want to testify and are very low on the list.

Late in the hearing, Gray got into an argument with Rep. Jonah Wheeler, a Peterborough Democrat who said the Senate Finance Committees process for hearing public comment was too limited. Gray urged him to focus his comments on the budget.

We are in the peoples House, Wheeler said.

And you are in a Senate hearing, Gray countered. And I am the one who gets to decide whos talking and whos not talking, Representative. Back to the bill.

Gray then asked staff to cut his microphone please.
Macaus mental illness patient population reached 3,600 by the end of September last year, and the Health Bureau (SSM) has emphasized that any involuntary hospitalizations of patients with severe mental disorders must be approved by a court to ensure patient rights are protected through appropriate judicial oversight.

Lawmaker Lam Lon Wai has raised concerns about high-risk cases involving individuals with mental disorders in the community and has submitted a written inquiry on the issue.

He referenced official data showing that as of the end of September last year, there were 3,600 locals classified under the mental disability category, making up 19.43% of the total disability population. Notably, 1,766 of these individuals were aged 55 or older, representing 49% of the total.

However, he added, official data from January this year indicated that there were only 177 registered social workers in the rehabilitation services sector, which constitutes just 12% of the total workforce.

Of the total, 1,766 individuals aged 55 and above account for 49%, the lawmaker noted.

In light of the rising number of individuals with mental disorders in Macau, Lam questioned the authorities on their strategies to adjust the staff-to-patient ratio for high-risk cases. He referenced insights from industry professionals who highlighted that in community mental health rehabilitation services, each staff member manages an average of 30 service recipients, a figure comparable to case loads in Australia and New Zealand.

Additionally, he noted that the criteria within the legal framework necessary for the proper implementation of compulsory treatment are also somewhat vague. He urged the government to balance individual rights and interests, public safety, and the treatment needs of patients with mental disorders during the implementation of such measures.

In response, the SSM stated that if a person with a severe mental disorder poses a threat to themselves or others and refuses treatment, the bureaus director may authorize temporary compulsory hospitalization, with the decision submitted to the competent court for confirmation within 72 hours. These laws ensure that such measures are appropriate and subject to judicial oversight, protecting the rights of individuals with mental disorders.

The SSM provided examples to illustrate the process. When a case is suspected to meet the criteria for compulsory hospitalization, the psychiatric outreach team and specialist doctors will assess the severity of the mental disorder. If it meets the criteria, arrangements will be made after obtaining approval from the bureaus director. However, if the individual strongly resists, the psychiatric outreach team will collaborate with family members or social workers and coordinate with the police and fire rescue forces to transport the patient to the Conde de S. Januario Hospital (CHCJS) for temporary compulsory hospitalization.

The bureau further pointed out that Macau is currently supported by a total of 108 mental health professionals, comprising 16 psychiatrists and 25 senior psychology staff. In addition, the public sector employs six psychotherapists, while the private sector boasts three psychiatrists and 58 psychotherapists.
May 9AUSTIN  Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. This week, they highlight the service of Information Specialist 5 (SP5) George Padilla who served in in the United States Army.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas in the shadow of Big Tex and the Texas State Fair, Padilla said he went to North Dallas High School, graduating in May 1963 before attending college.

"The first college I attended was the University of Texas at Arlington where I was a pre-law major and participated in debates there before transferring to North Texas State University, which of course is now known as the University of North Texas (UNT), where I was a radio and television broadcast announcer."

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While he was attending UNT, Padilla said he was in the vicinity of where President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.

"I was there on the corner of Industrial and Commerce Streets sitting in my 1960 white Chevrolet Impala watching the motorcade race up the on ramp onto the freeway. I had gotten there seconds after he had been killed, yeah, I was there," he said about that day. "That day is as vivid as yesterday, if I was to get off the phone right now, it still comes back, I know exactly what happened."

Padilla left the university to get married and said that's when Uncle Sam sent him a letter he has yet to forget that told him he had been drafted.

"It said 'Greetings, you are now in the U.S. Service, please report to the following location,' so I dropped out of college, got my draft notice and went and talked to my friendly recruiter at 1100 Commerce here in Dallas and he says 'Gosh boy, you've been to college, sign here for an extra year and we will guarantee you will not go to Vietnam, which is a common conversation for many in Texas during that time."

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Padilla said he reported to boot camp at Fort Polk in Louisiana, now known as Fort Johnson, in November 1967 as Third Squad Leader in Company D. Padilla said he learned quickly about the real world when he was in Louisiana.

"I gravitated from academia to the reality of the real world, it took me out of my comfort zone," Padilla explained about boot camp life. "It taught me physically how to maneuver against another opponent since I was one of the shortest guys in the military, I learned how to defend myself quickly."

After boot camp, Padilla was sent to Korea and believes he was sent there after the USS Pueblo was captured off the coast of North Korea in January 1968. A lot of people, he said, from Fort Polk were sent to Korea instead of Vietnam for that reason.

"Since my college background was in radio and television broadcasting, I finagled my way out of a company morning report clerk job with the 2nd Aviation Battalion and I ended up in Public Information Office for a 15 minute interview," Padilla said. "I told them about my experience in high school and college, the debate teams, and he just told me I was hired and they would have my orders transferred in one week."

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While in Korea, Padilla interviewed soldiers and sent their recordings back to the States to be played on their hometown radio shows for families to hear. While all of it gave him more action in the field, something he acknowledged wasn't the case as a morning report clerk, it also afforded him the chance to interview Bob Hope during one of his tours.

"The big highlight for me was just interviewing G.I.'s. My regular job was called 'Radio Hometown Interview.' I would interview from five to 50 soldiers in a 30 day period and I would package that up, send to it to Washington D.C., and they would disperse it to the hometown of the G.I. to be played on their local radio station," Padilla told the GLO. "Other than that, the other highlight was interviewing Bob Hope in December 1968, rubbing elbows with Ann Margaret, Penelope Plummer and Miss World at that time."

Click here to listen to SP5 George Padilla tell his story.
Across the board, Americans and Britons agree that a free-trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom is a good idea, but far fewer are confident that President Donald Trump will abide by whatever deal he strikes.

On Thursday, Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the two countries agreed to increase access for U.S. agricultural exports while lowering some levies against the U.K., in the first deal since Trump launched his global trade war.

But polling from last month indicates that details of an agreement are less of a concern to adults in the U.S. or U.K.  instead, most people are wary of Trumps unpredictability.

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While 78 percent of U.S. adults support a free-trade agreement in principle, only 44 percent believe Trump will abide by the terms of an agreement, a Politico and Public First poll conducted last month found.

Fewer than half of US and UK adults trust that President Donald Trump will abide by trade deal terms (AP)

Similarly, 73 percent of U.K. adults said they support the same kind of agreement, but less than 30 percent trust that Trump will keep his word.

A signature of Trumps public-facing leadership style is unpredictability. Hes known to reverse course on policy approaches and throw people off with sudden sharp rhetoric.

Of the 2,000 U.S. adults surveyed between April 23 and 27, 50 percent said they believe the presidents unpredictability is his biggest barrier when it comes to negotiations.

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Those findings are consistent with other polls.

In a PBS/NPR/Marist survey, 62 percent of respondents said the president rushes into changes. In a New York Times/Siena College poll, 66 percent of respondents, including 47 percent of Republicans, said the word chaotic described Trumps second term well.

Given the majority of U.K. adults opposed Trumps tariffs, theyre likely to approve of the deal, which lifted a 25 percent tariff on steel exports and lowered the 27 percent tariff on automobiles to 10 percent for 100,000 vehicles.

But for U.S. adults, who are currently facing 145 percent tariffs on China, the U.S.s second-largest trading partner, and general 10 percent tariffs for nearly every one of its trading partners, the U.S.U.K. deal is less likely to land happily.

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While nearly half of Americans believe the U.K. is the most important country to have as an ally, only 20 percent believe it is the most important to have a trade deal with.

Trump had only implemented the 10 percent tariff on the U.K., one of the U.S.s closest allies. That baseline tariff will remain even after the deal.

Economists have largely agreed that while the U.S.U.K. deal is good for their relationship, its unlikely to make any major economic changes and it certainly wont serve as a blueprint for other trade deals.
VERNON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  The Vermont Drug task force arrested three people Thursday following a months-long drug investigation and the execution of a search warrant.

Authorities were looking into cocaine and fentanyl distribution in the Vernon, Putney and Brattleboro areas. As part of this investigation, police conducted their search on a Silver Lane residence in Vernon.

Officers found three individuals, 45 grams of crack cocaine, 73 grams of fentanyl and a firearm at the home. Damar Ausby, 40, of Bridgeton, NJ; Jennifer Peduzzi, 54, of Vernon, VT and Antwan Brown, 33, of New Britian, CT, were all arrested.

Pictured above from left to right: Ausby, Peduzzi, Brown (VSP)

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Ausby faces 26 violations of release conditions, five fentanyl sale violations and more. Peduzzi faces a firearm while committing a felony violation and cocaine plus fentanyl possession violations among other charges. Both were ordered held at $50,000 bail.

Brown only faces possession of cocaine, and firearm possession while committing a felony violations, plus was ordered held on $10,000 bail.

All three will appear at Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division May 9

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Fifteen states led by Washington filed a federal lawsuit Friday challenging a executive order by President Donald Trump that fast-tracks energy infrastructure projects by bypassing environmental review, according to court documents.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, argues that the emergency declaration issued by Trump on January 20, 2025, unlawfully invokes the National Emergencies Act to label energy infrastructure as a national emergency.

The order directs federal agencies  including the Army Corps of Engineers and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation  to expedite permits and skip long-established environmental protections for energy-related projects.

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In the complaint, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and attorneys general from 14 other states contend that Trumps order sidesteps key legal requirements under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.

These laws require extensive environmental reviews and public input before permits can be issued for construction that affects wetlands, wildlife habitat, waterways, or cultural landmarks.

There is no actual energy emergency, the complaint states, noting that U.S. energy production is at an all-time high and that the country has been a net energy exporter since 2019.

The states argue that the orders claim of grid unreliability and energy shortages is unsupported and contradicts data showing record oil and gas production.

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The executive order, titled EO 14156 and published in the Federal Register on January 20, directs agencies to use emergency permitting procedures  usually reserved for disasters like floods or oil spills  to authorize energy infrastructure projects. The lawsuit claims that using these emergency rules for non-emergencies violates federal law.

The suit names President Trump, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Army Corps Commander Lt. Gen. William Graham, and officials from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation among the defendants.

Washingtons lawsuit seeks a court declaration that the executive order is unlawful and an injunction blocking agencies from fast-tracking permits under the orders direction.

The plaintiffs include the states of California, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
The sale of firearms magazines that hold more than 10 rounds will remain banned in Washington state under a 2022 law that the state Supreme Court upheld in a May 8, 2025 ruling. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the states ban on the sale of gun ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

The law, passed in 2022, faced a challenge from a Kelso gun shop that argued the ban on selling the magazines violates the state constitution, which protects the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state.

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Gators Custom Guns also said the law ran afoul of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In a 7-2 ruling, state Supreme Court justices disagreed.

They ruled that high-capacity magazines arent arms, but just a component of a gun, and are not generally used for self-defense. The ruling tracked with arguments attorneys for the state made before the court in January.

By restricting only magazines of a capacity greater than 10, the statute effectively regulates the maximum capacity of magazines, leaving the weapon fully functional for its intended purpose, Justice Charles Johnson wrote in Thursdays opinion. Indeed, we can safely say that individuals are still able to exercise the core right to bear arms when they are limited to purchasing magazines with a capacity of 10 or fewer.

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Justices Sheryl Gordon McCloud and G. Helen Whitener dissented.

Attorneys for Gators Custom Guns, including former Republican attorney general candidate Pete Serrano, had argued that the popularity of high-capacity magazines inherently proved they abide by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting firearms that are in common use and are typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.

In the dissent, Gordon McCloud sided with this argument, writing that millions of people have chosen semiautomatic firearms with high-capacity magazines as the primary tool for lawful purposes.

It necessarily follows that the Second Amendment protects the arms-bearing conduct at issue here, she wrote.

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Attorney General Nick Brown said the majority decision is right on the law and will save lives.

Large capacity magazines are used in the overwhelming majority of mass shootings, and reducing the toll of these senseless killings is vitally important, he continued in a social media post.

Serrano said in an interview Thursday that the ruling was what we anticipated, but he was glad to see two justices disagreeing with the majority.

Gators Guns will seek direct review by the U.S. Supreme Court, he said.

Were ready to take this to the next level, Serrano said. We believe the Second Amendment analysis in this ruling will be a draw for review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Legalese

The case was poised to be a test of a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that moved the goalposts when it comes to assessing the constitutionality of gun regulations.

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Washingtons ban on high-capacity magazine sales took effect about two and a half years ago. The state is among at least 14 nationwide with similar restrictions. These laws have attracted lawsuits as lower courts grapple with the decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled state firearm laws must stay true to the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. Judges have now had to deduce how laws written over a century ago would square with technological advances, like high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic weapons.

In this case, attorneys for the gun shop argued justices have no historical analogue to compare with Washingtons high-capacity magazine law.

But the state attorney generals office, led by Solicitor General Noah Purcell, countered that the comparison need not be so specific, pointing to Bowie knives banned after they rose in popularity in the 1800s.

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The U.S. Supreme Court has since clarified its decision in Bruen to note judges can use general principles, not just exact matches, when comparing modern gun laws to historical regulations.

Johnson didnt touch on the Bruen test in his ruling, given the majority found the ammunition magazines arent firearms in the first place.

Joseph Blocher, the co-founder of the Duke Center for Firearms Law, noted that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a high-capacity magazine ban in California on similar grounds, though the federal court found the prohibition also falls within the Nations tradition of protecting innocent persons by prohibiting especially dangerous uses of weapons and by regulating components necessary to the firing of a firearm.

In the dissent, Gordon McCloud argues that the laws the state cited as comparison points regulate carrying, rather than banning a common arm completely. And others are from the 20th century, later than what the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated is part of the historical tradition.

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Gordon McCloud also writes that the states argument on this issue is the sort of interest-balancing that repressive governments have historically used to suppress opposition. In a footnote, she cites laws restricting enslaved people and Native Americans from owning guns in the United States, as well as Nazis seizing guns from Jews in the 1930s.

The ruling comes about four months after attorneys from both sides argued before the justices about the laws standing under the U.S. and state constitutions.

The case came to the state Supreme Court after a Cowlitz County Superior Court judge struck down the ban in April 2024. The judge, Gary Bashor, ruled the law violated the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms for self-defense granted in the state constitution. He cited the Bruen decisions historical tradition test as justification for overturning modern firearm laws.

That ruling had been paused until the case was resolved, so the ban had remained in effect. The Washington law still allows people to own high-capacity magazines, but bans importing or selling them.

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The case now returns to Cowlitz County Superior Court to decide if Gators violated state law in allegedly flouting the prohibition.

This year, Washington lawmakers passed another controversial gun control measure to force firearm buyers to get a state permit before purchasing a gun. Republicans uniformly opposed the bill, with some arguing judges would deem it unconstitutional under Bruen.

That legislation awaits Gov. Bob Fergusons signature.

Reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report.

Washington State Standard, like the Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com.
CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Several Wabash Valley organizations came together to host a free car seat clinic at the Clay County Health Department on Friday afternoon.

Chances and Services for Youth (CASY) and Union Health provided free car seat inspections for the local community. Skilled child safety technicians inspected car seats and even provided new car seats free of charge.

This is all part of CASYs initiative saving lives one car seat a time.

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9 out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly, said Brandon Halleck, Chief Operating Officer for Chances and Services for Youth. Thats either from (child) not being installed properly in the car seat or the car seat itself not being installed properly in the vehicle. Its just so vitally important that your most precious cargo is riding around safe.

If you missed the event, CASY teams up with other health departments across the area to host other car seat clinic throughout the year.

We do these car seat clinics year-round. We partner with Union Hospital. Union Hospital is one of our sponsors and so they host quite a few with us as well. Were always making sure and if you cant make it to the one of these clinics, we also have a permanent fitting station. I have staff on hand at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, and they can check those car seats at any time as well, said Halleck.

If interested, you can call CASY to set up a car seat safety inspection with a technician at 812-232-3952. For more information about CASY click here.

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As of late, there are around 25 certified child safety technicians across the Wabash Valley. Old car seats from car seat clinics will go towards training new technicians in the future.

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** Previous Buc-ees coverage above **

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN)  Ohios first Buc-ees is one step closer to being completed.

Our 2 NEWS crew arrived at 8000 State Route 235 in Huber Heights Thursday afternoon to find construction workers placing the walls of the Buc-ees at the site.

What is Buc-ees, and why is everyone so excited?

Walls at future Buc-ees installed on May 8, 2025 at 8000 SR 235, Huber Heights | WDTN Photo/Hosna Sadaqat Walls at future Buc-ees installed on May 8, 2025 at 8000 SR 235, Huber Heights | WDTN Photo/Hosna Sadaqat Walls at future Buc-ees installed on May 8, 2025 at 8000 SR 235, Huber Heights | WDTN Photo/Hosna Sadaqat

Buc-ees broke ground in Huber Heights in August 2024. Construction was stopped in November 2024 due to a conflict between Huber Heights and Clark County, but restarted in December 2024.

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Jeff Nadalo, general counsel for Buc-ees, confirmed to 2 NEWS in March that the location is projected to be operational in spring 2026.

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Former Washington state Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens listens to testimony, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, during a hearing in Olympia, Wash., on a lawsuit addressing the constitutional freedom of state presidential electors to vote for any candidate for president, not just the nominee of their party. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Washington state Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens, who died in March, was honored in a memorial on Thursday hosted by the court.

The room at the Temple of Justice in Olympia was packed with loved ones, friends, and colleagues who shared memories of her as someone who loved going to boutiques to find unique clothing or jewelry and throwing legendary Christmas parties.

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She was the seventh woman to serve on the state Supreme Court and the first woman to reach the courts mandatory retirement age of 75. She retired in December, just a few months before she passed away in California while visiting family.

Owens grew up in an era when it was less common than it is today for women to become attorneys. Her father, who was a lawyer, encouraged her to pursue a career as a legal secretary.

Instead, she graduated from Duke University in 1971 and obtained her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975.

Before being elected to the state Supreme Court in 2000, Owens served as a judge in Clallam County for almost 20 years, and prior to that as chief judge for the Quileute and Lower Elwha SKlallam tribes.

The Washington State Supreme Court hosted a memorial for Justice Susan Owens on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Owens passed away in March. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

During her time as a justice, Owens helped elevate the voices of domestic violence victims and many marginalized groups and wrote some of the courts most important opinions, said Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens.

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She was also a champion of rural and tribal courts and taught on the subject of rural courts at the states Judicial College.

Outside the courtroom, she was described as smart and bold  someone who would cut to the heart of the matter. She could be found by the karaoke machine or at dance parties with a feather boa, according to memorial attendees.

She brought joy and loved making friends wherever she went, said Judith Hightower, a friend and former colleague.

During the ceremony, Rio Jaime, friend of the Owens family and vice chairman of the Quileute Tribal Council, wrapped Owens two adult children in a Native blanket to provide love and comfort and sang a traditional Quileute song, symbolizing a protection prayer.

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The one thing that, as Ive grown to know about my mom, that Im most impressed with is her toughness and her resilience, said James Owen Golden, her son.

She is also survived by her daughter, Sunny Golden, and grandchildren Jameson, Skye, Aubriana, Arabella, and Cannon.
ST. LOUIS  Washington University in St. Louis will remove the name of a former anatomy department leader from all university honors and features following an ethics review that cited his promotion of eugenics and nonconsensual collection of human remains.

The university announced plans Friday to remove the name of Robert J. Terry, MD, from campus branding, including the Robert J. Terry Lecture Series and the Robert J. Terry Professorship at the School of Medicine.

Terry, who died in 1966, was once the leader of the anatomy department at WashU Medicine, the universitys medical school.

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Why Burger King cant use its name  or open  in one small Illinois town

The decision to strip his name from WashU features followed a formal request submitted last fall by 12 students and later endorsed by the Washington University Native American Students Association. The submission called for the removal of Terrys name based on his support for eugenics and involvement in collecting human remains without consent, practices that the submission claimed to disproportionately affected African Americans.

After reviewing more than 3,000 pages of archival material, the universitys Naming Review Board determined that Terrys actions were fundamentally inconsistent with the universitys values of equity, inclusion and respect for human dignity.

This is about more than a name change, said Paul Scott, a WashU senior who helped lead the submission effort. Its about acknowledging the real harms that were done  and that continue when we fail to confront them  and committing to do better moving forward.

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The NRBs final report, which is available in full online, outlined two core recommendations: First, to remove Terrys name from all university-affiliated features without legal impediments, and second, to create educational opportunities to contextualize the decision and encourage deeper engagement with the historical and ethical issues raised by Terrys practices.

Additionally, the university will continue with ongoing efforts to ethically manage Terrys specimen collection, a set of human bones and tissue samples acquired primarily from local hospitals and institutional morgues in the St. Louis area. The collection was previously used for research and teaching purposes.

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Recognizing the growing presence of mainland Chinese F&B brands in Macau, Vincent U, president of the Macau Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), has emphasized that these enterprises have long been a vital part of Macaus economy.

In an interview with the Times on the sidelines of a G2E Asia event, U said that their consistent investments are significantly contributing to the market development with their consistent investments significantly contributing to market development.

In recent years, Macau has witnessed a significant influx of mainland Chinese restaurant brands.

Alongside well-known establishments in various integrated resorts, such as Tai Er, famous for its signature Chinese Sauerkraut Fish, and the Haidilao hot pot chain, the city also boasts numerous popular mainland tea shops, particularly concentrated in the citys centers and tourist hotspots, including Taipa.

On this matter, U shared with the Times earlier this week how IPIM has supported mainland brands in establishing a presence in Macau.

While many have opened multiple stores across various cities and are familiar with mainland operations, they face challenges when expanding into new regions due to differing market environments, legal regulations, site selection processes, and customer preferences. They aim to leverage their Macau experience for future international growth. For example, Tai Er launched its first store in Macau with IPIMs assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, some tea brands have even opened more branches in Macau than in other regions.

U noted that current statistics on the number of brands in Macau, particularly in the catering industry, are unclear, with a lack of specific growth figures.

However, he emphasized that in recent years, mainland Chinas catering industry has accelerated its development in terms of chain stores and branding, showing particularly strong performance in the Macau market.

However, their core objective is not solely to target Macaus population market, but to gain insights into the operational environment overseas through Macau, he said.

He cited the example of a brand that expanded into Southeast Asia and other regions after entering the Macau market, showcasing strong growth in its international business.

They chose to open a store in Macau during the pandemic, gaining valuable overseas operational experience that laid the foundation for their subsequent expansion.

The IPIM chief noted that in recent years, many mainland companies have chosen to form joint ventures with local businesses or enter the Macau market through franchise agreements. This approach allows local young entrepreneurs to operate tea beverage businesses using established brands without needing to create their own.

This model enriches Macaus dining options and provides local businesses with greater opportunities.

According to him, from the perspective of market competition, the entry of mainland brands is not just about increasing numbers; it also introduces diverse dining options that drive overall market development. This approach can be viewed as a strategy to expand the market pie while simultaneously promoting business opportunities for local companies.

He believes that the entry of mainland brands has not only created new job opportunities but also given local youth greater room for development.

Large mainland companies typically have well-established training systems. Some young people are sent to the mainland for training before opening a store in Macau, where they acquire operational skills before returning to start their businesses. This model not only enhances their professional capabilities but also injects fresh vitality into Macaus catering market.

The IPIM chief anticipates a 20% increase in investment promotion this year, particularly from listed companies and leading enterprises. In promoting the first-mover economy, the focus will be on new store openings in Macau, especially those from Portuguese-speaking countries and Southeast Asia. We are actively seeking outstanding brands from these regions to enrich Macaus market.

He believes that introducing such brands will not only drive incremental growth and create new investment opportunities but also promote job creation, aligning with the goals and direction of their work.

Influx has effectively encouraged the industry to self-improve

Regarding the entry of numerous mainland food and beverage brands into Macau, Aeson Lei, president of the Macao Catering Industry Association, noted that, rather than creating a sense of crisis for local brands, this influx has effectively encouraged the industry to self-improve.

Local businesses are learning from these large food chains in areas such as site selection, supply chain management, capital strategy, and overall strategic planning.

However, relying on just one or two brands to sustain a communitys economy is unrealistic, he said. On the contrary, the initial novelty of opening a new branch may provide short-term stimulation.
May 9 (UPI) -- Firefighters and police responded to a beach on the South Side of Chicago to rescue a dog stranded on a rock in Lake Michigan.

Emergency responders were called to Calumet Beach to rescue the dog on Wednesday after the canine was spotted on a rock off a breakwater near 100th Street.

The rescue teams used ladders to reach the dog and were able to escort it to shallow water, where it was able to walk back to shore.

It was unclear how the dog came to be stranded on the rock.

The dog was taken to animal control to be assessed by a veterinarian.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will brief reporters Friday afternoon, a day after President Trump announced the first major trade deal following last months sweeping tariff announcement.

Trump unveiled an agreement Thursday between the U.S. and United Kingdom, as global and domestic markets continue to reel from the administrations rollout of tariffs. On Thursday, the president suggested that many more deals were in the works.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to meet with Chinese officials in Switzerland over the weekend, as the White House has signaled it could lower import taxes on Beijing  currently facing 145 percent tariffs on goods imported to the U.S.

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The briefing also comes ahead of the presidents trip to the Middle East next week and as the Trump administration continues to aid in ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland Police Department has asked for help from the community to identify a suspect accused of damaging air conditioning units.

According to Crime Stoppers, on April 16, an unknown person unlawfully entered property owned by Lone Star Heating and Cooling, located at 3216 Commercial Drive, and stripped the copper off of four air conditioning units, which damaged the units in the process. The approximate value for the damages is $10,000.

If you have any information on this suspect, please call Crime Stoppers at 432-694-TIPS and reference case number 250416302. You may also submit your tip online or by using the P3 TIPS mobile app. If your tip is the first one to lead to an arrest or solves this case, you will be eligible for a cash reward. You always remain anonymous and no caller ID is ever used.

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will shut down portions of Loop 101, Loop 202 and Interstate 10 over the weekend for improvements to freeways.

ADOT encouraged drivers to allow for more time while driving through closures and to plan on using alternative routes and detours.

ADOT said the closures were part of the Broadway Curve Improvement Project and a widening project.

For real-time traffic updates, drivers can check AZ 511, download the AZ 511 mobile app or call 511.

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Schedules were subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors, ADOT said.

Here are the freeway closures from May 9 through May 12.

Eastbound I-10 closed between State Route 143 and US 60

The closure will begin 10 p.m. May 9 and will end 10 p.m. May 10. The closure in Phoenix is for electrical work as part of the Broadway Curve Improvement Project.

The southbound Interstate 17 ramp to eastbound I-10 at the Split interchange near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was also scheduled to be closed.

Eastbound on-ramps at 24th Street, 32nd Street and 40th Street to the eastbound Interstate 10 off ramp at Broadway Road were scheduled to be closed between 8 p.m. May 9 and 10 p.m. May 10.

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ADOT also reminded drivers that northbound 48th Street will be closed between Broadway Road and Interstate 10 between 8 p.m. May 9 and 10 p.m. May 10.

Detours: Eastbound I-10 traffic can detour northbound to SR 143 and use eastbound Loop 202 at Red Mountain Freeway to southbound Loop 101 at Price Freeway. Drivers can then either use westbound Loop 202 at Santan Freeway or westbound U.S. 60 to reach Interstate 10. Drivers in the West Valley could also consider using southbound or eastbound Loop 202 at South Mountain Freeway to reach I-10 in the Chandler area.

Eastbound Loop 101 ramps to north and southbound I-17 closed

The closure will last between 10 p.m. May 9 and 5 a.m. May 10 and will be closed for a sign structure removal as part of the widening project.

Detours: ADOT encouraged drivers to consider using 35th Avenue to reach either eastbound Deer Valley Road or eastbound Union Hills Drive to reach I-17.

Southbound Loop 101 frontage road closed overnight between Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Raintree Drive

The closure was scheduled between 10 p.m. May 9 and 8 a.m. May 10 for work on signs as part of the widening project.

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Detour: Drivers were encouraged to consider exiting at Cactus Road.

Westbound Loop 202 narrowed to one lane in areas between Gilbert Road and Cooper Road

These roads in the southeast Valley were scheduled to be narrowed as part of the widening project. ADOT encouraged drivers to allow extra time for travel.

ADOT also reminded drivers that the westbound Loop 202 on-ramp at McQueen Road will be closed for two months starting 11:30 p.m. May 11 and was scheduled to reopen in mid-July.

Detours: Drivers were encouraged to consider using the westbound Loop 202 on-ramps at Cooper Road or Arizona Avenue.

Heading to Flagstaff from Phoenix? Be prepared for a traffic change along Interstate 17

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix-area weekend freeway closures and detours for May 9 to May 12
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- The City of Abilene began the process of pumping in water, or scalping, from the Clear Fork of the Brazos into Lake Fort Phantom Hill on Thursday afternoon. This comes just one day after the City had issued a statement that repairs were underway on the scalping pipeline, due to a failure when the process initially began on April 21st. With those repairs complete, local fishermen made their way out for a full day lakeside. Local Fisherman Gayland Kidd told KTAB/KRBC that he had to reevaluate which area he would cast in once he realized water was being pumped in.

Oh I come out to do some Crappie fishing, and I noticed the pump was running, so Im gonna change my tactics here a little bitItll bring catfish in here, itll bring white bass, hybrid itll bring everything in here, Kidd said.

During his interview with KTAB/KRBC, Kidd received a call from his fishing buddy who was waiting for him at the Lake Fort Phantom Hill boat dock, ready to cast a line as well, and they werent the only ones coming out to reel in some Crappie. Abilene Christian University Juniors Holt Wilkinson and Barrett Clark celebrating their last days of school with a trip to the lake.

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Local lakes surge, but Abilenes water levels remain low

We just finished finals, so we gotta get out here and hope we can catch some Crappie. We were here yesterday, and the Crappie were spawning in about 4 feet of waterwe had no idea they had started scalping from the Brazositll be interesting to see because were headed out just right next to where theyre scalping the water Ill be interested to see if it changes the fishing or not, Wilkinson and Clark said.

Scalping water is a process by which localities like Abilene can be allowed to use existing pump stations to bring excess water off of the Brazos to fill up local bodies of water. That process can only begin after the localities are given permission by the state, when the river has enough water to spare.

Map of the Brazos. Via Brazos River Authority

Possum Kingdom is in good shape, they dont need the water so Im glad theyll let us have it, said Kidd.

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Following the storms that have passed through the state in the past few days, the Brazos filled to an acceptable level to begin scalping.

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Waterbury man charged with drug, gun, vehicle offenses

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH)  A Waterbury man was arrested on May 1 and charged with drug, firearms and vehicle infractions.

According to Waterbury police, the VICE and Intelligence Unit, Auto Theft Task Force, Gang Task Force, and the Crime Prevention Unit executed a search warrant at 96 Giles Street, second floor as well as 36-year-old Jacquise Henry of Waterbury.

Police said they seized drug paraphernalia, 2,000 bags of heroin, a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun and $1,043 cash during the search.

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Henry was charged with operating a drug factory, possession of an ounce or more of heroin/ fentanyl, improper use of marker plates, insufficient insurance, operating a motor vehicle under suspension, illegal sale or transfer of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm/ammunition.

Henry remains in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections on a $1,000,000 bond. Henry is also a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

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FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT)  For our News 19 Student of the Week, Ellie Byrd headed over to Weeden Elementary School in Florence, Alabama, to visit Kate Castellanos!

Kate is a pretty special fifth grader, not only to her teachers but to her classmates as well. Its pretty easy to see why after you meet her.

Spanish is her first language, and she uses it to help her classmates who are learning English feel more confident and included.

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I just think its something I can do to help out in a small way, my mom would always speak Spanish to us growing up, so it was an easy thing for me, said Kate Castellanos.

Her teachers admire her deeply, not just for her language skills but for her incredible work ethic and maturity beyond her years.

Ive really never met another kiddo like her. She is so helpful and kind and really sets the bar high, said Mrs. Johnson.

Kate is the kind of student who never gives up, always asks thoughtful questions, and encourages others to do their best.

Youll rarely see her without a book in hand. She reads at recess, in the lunch line and even while waiting for the bus. Her love for reading has made her a regular in the school library, where she formed a special bond with Mrs. Johnson, the librarian.

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She walks into school with her nose in a book and she comes in here probably a couple of times a day, I mean she loves reading that much, said Mrs. Johnson.

To Kate, Mrs. Johnson isnt just a teacher  shes a best friend, a mentor, and someone who truly understands her passion for learning. Mrs. Johnson often says shes never met a student quite like Kate, so determined, compassionate and curious about the world.

Well read together, or sometimes Ill read to her, but I just am thankful for a teacher like her. She really is my good friend, Kate said.

Kate will stay at Weeden next year and take on the 6th grade, where she will continue to inspire the school.

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You go, Kate! We here at News 19 are so happy for you! We know there are only a few weeks left in the semester, but we want to highlight all the amazing kiddos around the valley. So, if you would like to nominate a student of the week, email us at studentoftheweek@whnt.com. Tune in every Thursday at 6 a.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.!

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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White smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on the evening of the second day of the conclave to elect a new pope. A new pope has been elected by cardinals meeting in the Vatican after around 24 hours of the secret conclave. Oliver Weiken/dpa
Weight-loss jabs will be a game-changer for the economy, Wes Streeting has said.

A study, based on government modelling, suggests that the rollout of injections could save taxpayers 5 billion a year by dramatically boosting productivity.

The research found that prescribing jabs to about four million people could save an average of 1,100 per person annually  with an average of five fewer sick days for those taking the medication.

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Treasury officials are already understood to be examining the case for wider rollout, with particular interest in the impact of the jabs on productivity and worklessness.

Tackling worklessness is a priority for the Government, which is attempting to reduce a spiralling benefits bill being driven in part by long-term sickness.

The findings, which are about to be presented at the European Congress of Obesity in Malaga, will heap pressure on the NHS to speed up the rollout of the new class of medication.

Mr Streeting said that the Government would carefully consider the results of the research, saying the findings were important.

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He said: These drugs could have colossal clout in our fight to tackle obesity and in turn get unemployed Britons back to work.

Reversing worrying obesity trends through our Plan for Change will be better for the health of the nation and its finances, with our excess weight currently weighing down on our economy.

The Health Secretary said that the NHS would test new approaches to speed up rollout of obesity medicines, while the Government was taking measures to prevent obesity by cracking down on junk food advertising.

He said: Each of us has a responsibility to look after our own health and not rely solely on the NHS.

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But there can be no doubt that these drugs will support our shift from sickness to prevention and be a game-changer for millions.

Until now, the use of jabs such as semaglutide  marketed as Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss  has been heavily rationed on the health service.

Pilot schemes are expected to soon start offering the injections in pharmacies, allowing some patients to pay less than 10 for a prescription, while those on benefits would receive them free.

The new study analyses findings from three major trials of GLP-1 agonists  a new class of medication that suppresses appetite and increases satiety.

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Economists used a Department of Health framework to assess the productivity of more than 2,600 participants, using trial data to assess the difference the medication made, looking at metrics such as mobility levels and participation in activities.

Researchers estimated that prescribing injections to everyone with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, plus a weight-related health problem, and to some patients with Type 2 diabetes would boost the economy by 4.5 billion.

Almost three quarters of the gain came from those of working age, analysts found, suggesting that the jabs could play a major role in getting Britain back to work.

At the start of the year, about a quarter of the working age population was out of work  some 10.8 million people.

Last year, separate research found obese people are twice as likely to be off work, with Britain having the worst record of 28 countries examined.

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Another international study, including those from the UK, found that 47 per cent of those with morbid obesity were limited in the amount they could work, while 13 per cent of all obese participants were out of work because of their weight.

The new study is by health economists from consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock, which previously published research that found morbidly obese patients cost the NHS twice as much as those of healthy weight.

Clinical trials have found that those on weight loss jabs lost 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight.

Over the past year, the medication has been linked to remarkable improvements in health, which go far beyond weight loss, with some experts hailing them as the fountain of youth.

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One leading study found the jabs cut the risk of heart death by a fifth, while they have since been found to set back the clock on a host of diseases.

Last December, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) health watchdog recommended that jabs were offered to around 3.4 million people, with a BMI of at least 35 and a weight-related health condition.

But it said it had taken the difficult decision to restrict the jabs to just 220,000 patients in the next three years, accounting for only around one in 10 of those eligible.

Economists said that rolling out jabs more widely would mean an average of five fewer sick days for those on the jabs, and 12 extra productive days for activities such as childcare.

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In total, around 4.5 billion would be saved annually, from improved productivity and lower reliance on NHS and care services, the study found.

The potential economic gains of using weight loss jabs to get people back to work could vastly outweigh the sums Labour has raised through a plethora of taxes.

It will take 10 years to raise 5 billion from changes in inheritance tax for farmers, and three years for private school taxes or the axing of winter fuel payments to raise as much as the 5 billion suggested by the new research.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of adults in England are obese and a further 36 per cent are overweight.

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Estimates suggest that obesity costs the economy around 100 billion annually in lost productivity, welfare payments and pressure on healthcare services.

Global economic impacts of obesity are forecast to reach $4.3 trillion annually by 2035.

Robert King, a senior health economist at Lane Clark & Peacock, said the new findings were significant.

He said: We know this is an issue on a huge scale, especially with these chronic diseases, which impact an incredible amount of people.

So there are far-reaching implications of not treating these types of conditions. Were looking at really large populations here.

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Prof Jason Halford, from the European Association of the Study of Obesity, urged ministers to act on the findings.

He said: This could significantly boost the economy. Potentially this could have a dramatic impact on the economy, but for me, its the impact on peoples personal lives, which is the big thing thats great.

Not only does obesity-related disease have a terrific negative impact upon our health services in terms of costs, but it also has a negative impact on our wider economy, and that holds the UK back.

If only for economic reasons, it makes sense to have effective treatments available for those who need them.

A booming economy will produce revenues which can be put back into the NHS.

The problem is thats a long-term issue, and politics deals in the short-term, so it might be a couple of governments before we start really reaping the benefits of this.

Around 500,000 people in Britain now estimated to be buying weight-loss jabs privately, from high street chemists and online pharmacists, at a cost of between 120 and 250 a month.

The analysis did not take account of the cost of injections, with prices expected to keep falling, amid fierce competition, as some drugs go off patent.

The Tony Blair Institute has called for the remit for the Nice to be overhauled, saying it is shortsighted and absurd to disregard the broader economic benefits from weight-loss medications.

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Beijing Daily: President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to Russia and will attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. We noted that this is President Xis 11th visit to Russiathe country he visited the most as president. The heads of state of China and Russia have maintained close communication and met over 40 times, and guided the growth of China-Russia relations in the new era amid a complex external environment. Can you share with us more details of this visit?



Lin Jian: President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Russia upon invitation starting from May 7 and will attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. During the visit, President Xi and President Putin had in-depth, friendly and fruitful talks. They had in-depth exchanges of views on China-Russia relations and major international and regional issues and reached many new and important common understandings. The two heads of state signed the Joint Statement Between the Peoples Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Deepening the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era on the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Unions Great Patriotic War and the Founding of the United Nations. They witnessed the exchange of over 20 bilateral cooperation documents, injecting new imputes into the development of China-Russia relations.

President Xi noted that the two sides are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners for mutual success. The relationship between China and Russia is characterized by a distinct historical logic, strong endogenous driving force and rich civilizations. It does not target any third party and it is not subject to restrictions from any third party. The two sides have successfully found the right way for the two neighboring major countries to get along with each other and forged a spirit of strategic coordination for a new era with permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation at its core. The two countries need to nourish everlasting friendship and deepen political mutual trust, and increase strategic coordination. The two countries need to pursue mutual benefit, and continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields. The two countries need to uphold fairness and justice, and firmly defend the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law. The two countries need to enhance solidarity, safeguard true multilateralism and steer global governance towards the right direction.

President Xi stressed that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Unions Great Patriotic War, and the World Anti-Fascist War. Facing unilateralism, power politics and bullying acts in the world, China and Russia, as two major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will shoulder responsibilities to uphold the correct historical perspective on WWII, safeguard the authority and standing of the UN, firmly defend the victorious outcome of WWII, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and all other developing countries, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

During the visit, China and Russia issued a joint statement on global strategic stability, reiterating that the two sides will endeavor to practice true multilateralism and support the central role of the UN and relevant multilateral mechanism. The two sides stressed that nuclear-weapon states, which bear special responsibility for international security and global strategic stability, should reject Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, address concerns via dialogue and consultations on an equal footing, and build confidence to avoid dangerous miscalculations. This demonstrates China and Russias sense of responsibility as major countries for upholding and enhancing global strategic stability.

The two sides also issued a joint declaration on further strengthening cooperation to uphold the authority of international law, reiterating the two countries full commitment to the principles of international law including the United Nations Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and opposition to the abuse of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. The declaration emphasized that states have the right to conduct normal economic and trade cooperation, elaborated on the two sides shared stance on important matters concerning international law and sent a strong message of resolutely upholding the the international order based on international law to the international community.

AFP: There was a new Pope declared yesterday in the Vatican, an American named Robert Francis Prevost, who is now known as Pope Leo XIV. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? And what are Chinas hopes for engagement with the Vatican during the new papacy?



Lin Jian: We congratulate Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as the new pope. We hope that under the leadership of the new pope, the Vatican will continue to have dialogue with China in a constructive spirit, have in-depth communication on international issues of mutual interest, jointly advance the continuous improvement of the China-Vatican relations and make contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Bloomberg: I just have a question about President Xi Jinpings comments in Russia where he spoke about the Ukraine crisis. And he said that he hoped that a fair, lasting and binding peace deal that is accepted by all parties involved could be reached through dialogue. This is the first time that President Xi has personally spoken about the contours of a peace plan. Is this a new kind of constructional idea about what China wants to end the conflict or is this a continuation of Chinas previous statements?



Lin Jian: On the Ukraine crisis, Chinas position is consistent and clear and remains unchanged. China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role for resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace.

Kyodo News: The competent authorities of China and Japan held their third round of talks yesterday regarding the export of Japanese aquatic products to China. Has any positive progress been made in the talks? What are the prospects for resuming imports of Japanese aquatic products?



Lin Jian: On May 8, Chinas General Administration of Customs held a technical exchange with the Japanese side at the latters request on the safety of Japanese aquatic products. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to strengthen the inspection and monitoring of aquatic products, and to ensure their quality and safety. The Chinese side stressed that the resumption of the import of Japanese aquatic products depends on data from Chinas continuous independent sampling and monitoring, and whether Japan will take concrete measures to effectively guarantee the quality and safety of the aquatic products. It should be in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. The Japanese side attached great importance to the concerns of the Chinese side and Chinese people. They once again made sure that international monitoring of the discharge will continue being implemented, stakeholders can continuously carry out independent sampling and monitoring, and Japans exported aquatic products to China will meet Chinas regulation requirements and standards.

Chinas opposition to Japans unilateral discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea remains unchanged. We will continue to work with the international community to urge Japan to honor its commitments and ensure that the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water always remains under strict international oversight, which is an effective measure to control the risks that come with the discharge.

Ukrinform News Agency: Russian leader Vladimir Putin yesterday at a meeting with Chinese President Xi stated that Russia and China are jointly countering modern manifestations of neo-Nazism. Id like to ask whether it means that the Chinese side shares Moscows vision, and whether this means that from now China will help Russia struggle against so-called Nazism, and support Russias military operation?



Lin Jian: The UN General Assembly adopted multiple resolutions on fighting neo-Nazism with overwhelming majority, which represents the unequivocal position of the international community on this issue. You may refer to those resolutions. As I just said, on the Ukraine crisis, Chinas position is consistent and clear and remains unchanged. China stands ready to, in light of the will of parties concerned, work with the international community to continue playing a constructive role for resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace.
For over two decades, Suquamish tribal member Joshua George has dived into the emerald waters of the Salish Sea looking for an unusually phallic clam thats coveted thousands of miles away.

George is a geoduck diver. Pronounced gooey-duck, the worlds largest burrowing clam has been harvested in tidelands by Georges Indigenous ancestors in the Pacific Northwest since before Europeans arrived.

In recent years it has also become a delicacy in China, with Washington state sending 90% of its geoducks there, creating a niche yet lucrative American seafood export.

But the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China is now crippling an entire industry that hand-harvests geoducks, leaving Washington state divers without work, Seattle exporters without business and Chinese aficionados with fewer of these prized clams.

Its the first time in 24 years where I dont know when or if well be going back to work or if I have to find another job or what were going to do, George said.

U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff-driven economic feud with China, which dates back to his first term in office, swiftly resumed in February within weeks of taking back the White House. By April, Trump had placed tariffs of at least 145% on China, which led China to retaliate with tariffs of 125% on the U.S.

Top U.S. officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since the latest tariffs were imposed, but it is unclear where those talks will lead.

Enter the geoduck, weighing about 2 pounds and so entrenched in local culture that it is the mascot for Evergreen State College in Olympia. The meaty mollusk is best described as sweet and briny, and its often sliced raw for crisp sashimi out west while China consumers prefer it chewy in stir-fries or hot pot soups. Pre-tariff costs were as high as $100 per pound in restaurants, so its a dish generally reserved for special occasions like Chinese New Year, or to celebrate a business gathering.

Unlike other products with long-lasting shelf life and standing inventory, the trade war has had an immediate, direct effect on the delicate geoducks, which are shipped alive the same day of harvest.

The whole market, everybody just had to stop, said Jim Boure, general manager of Suquamish Seafoods, an enterprise of the Suquamish Tribe. We started getting phone calls from buyers saying orders are canceled.

Fewer geoducks are being harvested

The millions of pounds of geoducks shipped annually to China come from two main sources: wild harvests on tracts of seafloor that are split between the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Puget Sound Treaty Indian Tribes, and tideland farms. The states share is auctioned to private exporters that often hire contract divers to harvest them.

As of late April, Washington state divers had only pulled about half of the expected harvest from the state tracts, said Blain Reeves, an aquatic resources division manager for the states Department of Natural Resources. Last year, the state and tribes collectively harvested about 3.4 million pounds of wild Washington geoduck for sale. The state generated $22.4 million in revenue for their half of the clams, which went toward paying for aquatic restoration projects locally. The state doesnt track how much is harvested by private farmers.

If only half the pounds that were contracted are harvested, then our revenue is halved, Reeves said.

The Suquamish operation has no orders to harvest for at the moment, but it still must keep up with the maintenance to stay ready for business if and when China comes calling.

On a recent April day, Georges team made a quick trip to collect a handful of the clams for state lab testing.

When were doing the job, and its not all this other political stuff behind the scenes and everything else, we love this, said George, adding that diving, which takes place early in the day so that the geoducks are on an airplane by evening, has allowed him to watch his kids grow up.

Fellow diver Kyle Purser said he cherishes his underwater job, but now fears its being taken away.

When youre watching your money disappear and youve got families to feed and not knowing when youre going to get your next paycheck, (its) very stressful, he said.

Americas loss is Canadas gain

The geoduck import market was already facing weaker demand in recent years due to the Chinese economys struggle to regain post-pandemic momentum. While the tariffs have only exacerbated troubles for geoduck sellers in Washington, theres also been an unintended consequence: The American trade war has inadvertently boosted the Canadian geoduck business, which is facing a mere 25% tariff from China in comparison to the 125% for the U.S.

Washington state in the U.S. and Canadas British Columbia province are the two primary places where the wild geoducks grow naturally for commercial harvest. The two countries did healthy business primarily serving Chinese appetites for decades, in part because quantities are limited. Its a labor-intensive and heavily-regulated harvest, as divers must go several feet below the surface to dig for them.

They love the fact that it tastes like the sea, said James Austin, president of Canadas Underwater Harvesters Association. Its a product thats really a hit with the Chinese. Its all about the wild coastline. Its really prestigious.

Austin said he expects there will be 2.75 million pounds of Canadian geoducks harvested in 2025, worth approximately $60 million Canadian dollars ($43.4 million USD) in revenue.

While demand has been relatively low but still steady for Canadians geoducks, Austin said theyre now the leading exporters for China, which has helped them negotiate higher prices as a result.

We have no competitors right now, Austin said.

Yang Bin at Beihai Huaxiashougang Health Industry Company in Beihai city of Guangxi province in China said their seafood wholesale important business no longer gets geoduck from the U.S.

We dont care about U.S. tariffs because we can get geoduck from other countries with stable prices, Yang said.

On their first week back to work since the tariff fight brought business to a standstill in Washington state, Derrick McRae and his brother pulled up about 800 pounds of wild geoducks in just one April day. SALLY HO & MANUEL VALDES, SUQUAMISH, MDT/AP
Former model Kaja Sokola took the stand on Thursday to testify about being sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein when she was 16, calling the alleged incident the most horrifying thing I ever experienced.

Sokola is the second of three accusers to testify in the retrial and the only alleged victim that was not part of the original 2020 trial. She said that he assaulted her a second time just before her 20th birthday, forcibly performing oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel in 2006, according to the Associated Press. The earlier assault, which allegedly took place at Weinsteins apartment in 2002, is not part of the case as it is considered outside of the statute of limitations.

In describing the first alleged assault, Sokola said that Weinstein told the aspiring actress to take off her clothes as proof that she would be comfortable undressing in films.

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Sokola said, despite her objections to him, she did as he told her, including engaging in mutual masturbation, because, I was 16 years old, and I was alone with a man for the first time, and I didnt know what else to do.

She described his eyes as black and scary during the assault and that afterward, if she didnt tell anyone, he would help her become a Hollywood star.

I felt stupid and ashamed and like its my fault for putting myself in this position, Sokola testified through tears.

I never wanted anything else from Harvey Weinstein other than to honestly say if I have a chance to be an actress or no, Sokola said. She testified that she had absolutely not ever had any romantic or sexual interest in him.

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The 2006 assault allegedly happened after Weinstein arranged for her to be an extra for a day in the film The Nanny Diaries. He invited Sokola to his hotel room on the the pretense of showing her a script.

Instead, she stated, he pushed her onto a bed and stripped off her boots, her stockings and her underwear. My soul was removed from me, Sokola said.

She added that she begged him, please dont, please stop, I dont want this, but was unable to fight him off. Her older sister was in town for the occasion, but Sokola testified that she did not tell her about the assault at the time.

Sokola detailed the 2002 allegation in a lawsuit filed during his first trial but the case was dropped after he was convicted. After the conviction was overturned, she eventually received $3.5 million in compensation.

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Another accuser, Miriam Haley, testified last week that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006. A third and final accuser, Jessica Mann, has yet to testify about her alleged 2013 assault.

Weinsteins lawyers will question Sokola on Friday. They have previously maintained that all of their clients accusers willingly consented to sexual encounters with the powerful producer to further their careers.

Last April, the New York Court of Appeals threw out Weinsteins conviction after ruling that the mega-producer did not receive a fair trial the first time. He had been sentenced to 23 years in prison. Weinstein has repeatedly denied every allegation of sexual assault and pleaded not guilty.

A judge ruled in April that Weinstein, who is in declining health, can stay in the hospital for the rest of the rape trial, rather than be forced to return to prison.

The post Weinstein Trial: Accuser Kaja Sokola Testifies on Horrifying Sexual Assaults When She Was 16 and 19 Years Old appeared first on TheWrap.
A man described as a well-known felon is now facing more than a dozen charges in Habersham County.

Habersham County deputies say they spotted Marvin Chris Mangum, who was wanted out of Hall County, on Ivey Street and tried to pull him over.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Instead, they say Mangum sped off and lost control of his truck and brushed against the bumper of a deputys patrol unit. He regained control and continued fleeing from police.

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In a vacant gravel parking lot, deputies say Mangums truck jumped a ditch and crashed into a Habersham County Sheriffs Office SUV.

Thats when they say he ran off, but a K9 chased him down. He was arrested and charged with DUI by Georgia State Patrol.

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The sheriffs office says they are also charging him with possession of methamphetamine, fleeing or attempting to elude, obstruction and several traffic offenses.

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He was treated for minor injuries before being taken to the Habersham County Detention Center where he was given a $15,600 bond. He also faces a probation hold for Hall County.

The second SUV he crashed into sustained some damage, but remains in service. No deputies were injured.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  After todays meetings, the Wichita Falls Fire Department and the city of Wichita Falls are nearing a conclusion to their contract negotiations.

This is the second day of negotiations between the Wichita Falls Fire Department and the city, and its the first negotiation between the two parties since collective bargaining and binding arbitration were approved by citizens during the November elections. Todays negotiations ran from 9 a.m. to around 8 p.m.

President of the Wichita Falls Fire Fighters Association Al Vitolo, along with representatives from the fire department and the city, discussed details like vacation benefits, disciplinary action, hiring practices, and pay.

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All the way through to citizens and every time we stood in front of some kind of media, weve said the same thing, Vitolo said. We want the average market value. We want a concrete step plan thats been condensed and our offer, we felt like, reflected that.

As negotiations wrapped up for the night, members of both sides are optimistic theyre close to an agreement. The fire department, firefighters association, and city officials will reconvene at the MPEC on Friday morning to continue finer details on the contract before its final version is approved.

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Members of the Writers Guild of America West are engaged in unusual vote this week on whether to banish two of their own  Roma Roth and Edward Drake  for allegedly performing writing services during the 2023 strike.

The membership is also being asked to uphold disciplinary moves against two others, Julie Bush and Tim Doyle, that fall short of expulsion. The vote will conclude at 2 p.m. on Friday.

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In an email to members on Wednesday, WGA Board Member Rob Forman acknowledged that its an awkward situation.

I know its deeply uncomfortable to vote on disciplining other writers, especially during this horrible contraction, he wrote.

But, he urged the membership to join me in holding these writers accountable for breaking guild rules, and reject the disciplined members excuses for hurting the Guild by turning their backs on their fellow writers during the strike.

A vote of this kind is extremely rare. The WGA West expelled a writer, Larry Amoros, in 2013, but he did not appeal, saying he had already resigned. After the 2007-08 WGA strike, Jay Leno was cleared of strike-breaking allegations, while three others were disciplined. Forman said there had not been an appeal of a disciplinary matter in the last couple of decades.

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There has also been some internal consternation over whether the process has been fair.

Doyle is facing a public censure for posting a tasteless joke on Facebook. His attorney has argued that the WGA went beyond its powers by policing his speech on social media. His trial committee  the five volunteer writers tasked with adjudicating rule violations  recommended a lesser, confidential censure along with some equity and inclusion training. The board overruled that recommendation in favor of public discipline.

One of the members of the trial committee strongly objected to the process, calling it a gross overreach. Doyle was disciplined under Article X.A. Section 1 of the WGA Constitution, which allows penalties for any conduct which is prejudicial to the welfare of the Guild or of unfair dealing with another member of the Guild.

In a minority report, the dissenting trial committee member argued that using that language to censure members speech would subject everyone to the whim of five randomly selected trial committee members.

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The member wrote, I feel that the Board and guild counsel have chosen to intentionally misrepresent and weaponize provisions of our Constitution in an attempt to send a message and punish a member of the guild.

In three of the four cases before the membership, the WGA board imposed a higher penalty than was recommended by the trial committee. In the fourth case, the trial committee recommended that Roth be expelled for working on Sullivans Crossing during the strike.

But a member of that committee, Jill Goldsmith, refused to sign off on the penalty, saying the process was not fair and proper. Goldsmith agreed that Roma had violated the rules, and said she concurred with the committees initial recommendation of a five-year suspension.

After that recommendation was approved, Goldsmith alleged that a guild lawyer, Laura Raden, informed the committee that no penalty would have an impact on Roths career. That caused the committee to reconsider and support the stiffer penalty of expulsion, Goldsmith alleged.

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Goldsmith, a former public defender, argued that the discipline could indeed impact Roths career, and that the process had been improperly tainted by the representation that it wouldnt.

I believe that before expelling a member and making a decision that can affect their life and livelihood, a proper process needs to be put in place, she wrote. Systems could be put in place to make sure this doesnt happen again.

Under the WGA Constitution, members may appeal any discipline imposed by the board at the next annual membership meeting. The constitution also provides that the disciplined member, or their attorney, may speak in person at the meeting, and that the outcome will be determined by an in-person vote of the members.

The WGA West has not had an annual meeting since April 2019, and does not have one scheduled. So when the appeals were filed, the board adopted a resolution to hold an online vote, rather than an in-person one.

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Bush, who was given a one-year suspension for submitting a script to a non-signatory company during the strike, has argued that the board cannot unilaterally change its appeal process in midstream. She argues that would entail a change in the constitution, which requires notice and a 2/3 vote of the membership.

She has also argued that the online vote exposed her alleged violation to the entire guild and to the general public, rather than limiting it to the members who choose to attend a closed-door meeting.

Replacing this guaranteed in-person forum with an asynchronous online ballot eliminates the opportunity for live discussion, debate, and transparency, which are fundamental to a fair appeal

process, she wrote to the board in a demand letter on April 30.

The disciplined members were allowed to submit written arguments and replies to the WGAs arguments, which were shared with the entire membership.

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The WGA counsel has argued that the constitution is subject to interpretation by the board, and that the constitution allows for mail-in or online ballots if a quorum cannot be reached at a membership meeting. The board decided to substitute the online process after deciding that it would be unable to obtain a quorum, which equals 10% of the active membership.

Bush has maintained that the failure to adhere to the governance procedures is a potential violation of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.

I reserve the right to escalate these issues to the Department of Labor if not resolved in a timely manner, she wrote.

Nicole Yorkin, another board member, sent a message Wednesday to her friends in the guild urging them to deny the appeals.

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Voting is now open (until Friday) on the Guilds strike-related disciplinary actions, she wrote. Please vote to uphold the WGAs Board of Directors decisions in these matters and encourage your WGA member friends to do the same!

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On Thursday, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was introduced to the world as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first American pope, taking the name Leo XIV.

For Catholic theologians, the significance of the name was evident, with the new pope tying himself to one of the foundational figures of modern Catholic social teaching, Pope Leo XIII, who advocated for the rights of the poor and working class amid profound economic change.

Leo XIII served as pontiff from 1878 to 1903, encompassing the Gilded Age in the U.S. and the Second Industrial Revolution across the globe. It was a time of labor abuses and exploitation  before minimum wages, attention to workplace safety or mandated days off.

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Workers, particularly in Europe, were becoming disillusioned with the church and the perception that it sided with the rich and the elite, said Father Kenneth Himes, a retired Boston College theology professor who wrote and edited numerous books on Catholic social teaching.

"Leo heard from American bishops that if he were to come out in opposition to labor unions and raise questions about the rights of workers, that could also turn [American Catholics] into disillusioned members of the church," Himes said.

To bridge the chasm, Leo XIII in 1891 used the platform of the papacy to offer a spirited defense of union organizing and the rights of workers in his seminal encyclical, "Rerum Novarum."

In it, he condemned "wealthy owners and all masters" who sought to profit off "the indigent and destitute." His writing launched a latter-day focus by successive popes on the underclasses, capitalism and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.

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"One pope after another did an encyclical to mark further the rights of the poor," said James F. Keenan, S.J., a Jesuit priest and professor of theology at Boston College. "We always had a long social tradition of the church ... but it wasn't until Pope Leo XIII, who started the tradition of how popes needed to address the conditions of the poor and the worker."

While Leo was motivated by a moral stance around social justice, Himes said, it was also "pastoral," aimed at ensuring that the Catholic church was attuned to social currents.

"Leo was concerned that the church would become a church of the elites, not a church of the working class," Himes said, and wanted to avoid a repeat of the French Revolution, when the church was viewed as siding with aristocrats and monarchs.

"If it came across that we hadn't learned anything," Himes said, "Leo was afraid that the church would not recover."

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Several popes have explicitly paid homage to Leo XIII's writings.

In 1931, Pope Pius XI issued his encyclical "Quadragesimo Anno," or "40th Anniversary," commemorating Rerum Novarum's release with expanded teachings on labor and how "the worker's human dignity in it must be recognized."

Pope Paul VI's 1971 "Octogesima adveniens," or "80th Anniversary," advocates for equality and addresses youth and women. Legislation, he wrote, should recognize women's "independence as a person, and her equal rights to participate in cultural, economic, social and political life."

In 1991, Pope John Paul II issued "Centesimus Annus," or "100th Anniversary," writing about devastating poverty in developing countries along with worldwide economic, cultural and spiritual poverty caused by forces such as "consumerism."

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To Keenan, the choice of "Leo" parallels and complements the previous pope's choice of "Francis." When he was elected in 2013, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio said he was honoring St. Francis of Assisi, known for his dedication to the destitute.

"Francis was someone who took care of the poor, ministered to them, he raised money for them, visited and anointed them," while Leo "advocated for their rights," said Keenan.

And thus, the new pope was signifying his desire to build upon Francis' legacy.

"He's picked what he's been  an advocate  and someone who doesn't just want to be with the poor, but advocate for them," Keenan added.

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In his first address Thursday, standing on a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV honored his immediate predecessor, speaking of building bridges and of being "a church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer."

"He talked about a way of proceeding that was completely collective," said Keenan, who viewed the new pope's background as an asset.

In addition to serving as bishop in Peru, the Chicago-born Prevost was elected by his fellow priests to run the Augustinian religious order. In 2023, Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of bishops around the world and monitors the performance of bishops.

"This administrative capability of the new pope is very important  and it brings some of the order that people were looking for, and doesn't remove Pope Francis' legacy but makes it more palpable," Keenan said.

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All eyes are now on Pope Leo XIV  and many are wondering where he stands on a number of important issues

A friend described the new pontiff as representing a "dignified middle road" between more progressive and conservative ideologies

Described as a centrist, the new pontiff has made comments that indicate he may not be as open to the LGBTQ+ community as his predecessor, who made his own missteps







Now that he's pope, people across the globe are wondering where Pope Leo XIV stands on a number of important topics, including LGBTQ+ issues.

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A friend and mentee of the American pontiff, Rev. Michele Falcone, told The New York Times that the new pope  who was elected on Thursday, May 8  represents a dignified middle of the road, helping breach the gap between more progressive and conservative ideologies that have played out in the Church for years.

The new pope is seen as being similar to Pope Francis in his dedication to the poor and his ability to connect with people of a wide range of backgrounds. Born in the United States, the new pope spent 20 years in Peru and served as the Archbishop of Chiclayo. He was also Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in which role he advised Francis on bishop appointments across the globe.

In his first address as the new head of the Church, the pontiff talked about unity.

Together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogues, he said from the balcony in the Vatican City, emphasizing the need to be able to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.

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His past comments on the LGBTQ+ community, however, have not always been as welcoming.

In 2012, he said he was pained that Western media and society created sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," the Times reported, specifically referencing the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.

In Chiclayo, he also pushed back on a plan by the Peruvian government to teach about gender in schools, the newspaper reported. The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that dont exist, he told a local outlet, according to the Times.

It remains unclear if his views have changed over the years.

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Francis, his predecessor, was largely seen as being more progressive and in fact surprised the world when he asked, Who am I to judge? after being asked a question about gay people in 2013.

A decade later, Francis announced that blessings should be extended to LGBTQ+ couples, though it did not change the church's opinion on marriage, according to the New York Times. The Vatican also cleared the way for priests to baptize transgender people, as long as it doesnt result in "public scandal or confusion among the faithful, the AP reported.

Despite these sea changes, Francis received his own share of criticism for anti-LGBTQ+ remarks he made and for approving a document released by the Vatican in April 2024 that transition surgery and gender fluidity directly opposed human dignity, according to the Times.

Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Antonio Masiello/Getty Pope Leo XIV; Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV; Pope Francis

While Leos views on certain topics are still somewhat unknown, his belief in love for others is at the fore.

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In February, he posted two news articles on X that denounced Vice President JD Vance. One of them, which was titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," refuted Vance's proclamation on Fox News about Christian priorities. The other delved deeper into the late Pope Francis' criticism of Vance using the Catholic concept of "ordo amoris" to justify the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Father James Martin, who knows the new pope, wrote about the new pontiffs warm traits on X after the election.

I know Pope Leo XIV to be a kind, open, humble, modest, decisive, hard-working, straightforward, trustworthy, and down-to-earth man, Martin wrote. A brilliant choice. May God bless him.

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In a statement shared with PEOPLE after the pope's election, Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, shared that the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization is hoping to work with the new pope, as they had with Francis.

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The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter, she said. With Pope Leo XIVs leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love.

She added that the pope can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all.



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America celebrates Mother's Day this year on Sunday, May 11, and there's no shortage of brunch and lunch options available in the Twin Cities.

Here's a look at some of the best deals and specials we've found at Twin Cities restaurant.

Cafe Lurcat

Breva

The $45 Mothers Day brunch starts at 7 a.m. and includes white cheddar and chive scrambled eggs, maple braised bacon, herbed breakfast potatoes, and more. Later in the day, its hosting a dinner with options like filet mignon and porcini-crusted swordfish. 115 2nd Ave. S, Minneapolis

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Butcher & the Boar

A brunch buffet will be on tap Sunday morning with hand-made sausages, house-cured bacon, fried chicken, and more. Itll cost $55 for adults and $20 for kids. 901 N 3rd St. Minneapolis

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Cafe Lurcat

A "bountiful" family-style brunch service costs $50 per adult and $18 for kids aged 12 and under. Dishes include French toast, Amish chicken, Harissa brasied lamb shoulder, chocolate financiers, cinnamon rolls, soft scrambled eggs and smoked bacon.

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D'Amico and Sons

DAmico & Sons

Mom dines free with the purchase of a meal. A special Mothers Day brunch buffet will be served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, featuring honey ham, roasted vegetables, fresh fruit, baked French toast, and popular dishes including gorgonzola and chicken cherry pasta (pictured above). $30 per adult, $12 for children 10 and under. Bottomless mimosas are also available for $11 per person. Locations in Minneapolis, Edina and Golden Valley.

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Diane's Place

Diane Moua's celebrated bakery and restaurant is serving special Mother's Day desserts and pastries through May 11, including Lychee, Rhubarb and Calamansi Danish, Mango Vanilla Cake, Jasmine Milk and Strawberry Profiterole, and Butter Shortbread with Yellow Cake Batter Marshmallow. 117th 14th Ave. NE., Minneapolis.

Click here to pre-order.

Creations by Diane's Place.Bump Opera Photography

The Drake at The Saint Paul Hotel

An a-la-carte, three-course Mother's Day brunch menu features lobster artichoke dip, chorizo quiche, honey biscuits and gravy, and orange chocolate mousse. It's served from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 350 Market St, St Paul.

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Kendall's Tavern & Chophouse

The bar and restaurant is hosting a brunch buffet between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. costing $39.95 for adults and $19.95 for kids, including access to an omelette station. 12800 Bunker Prairie Rd NW, Coon Rapids.

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The Lexington

The normally evening-only restaurant is opening it's doors early and serving an a la carte brunch on Sun., May 11, from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., as well as its regular menu which will be served all day from 10 a.m.-8pm. The special brunch menu includes eggs benedict options, omelettes, a variety of side dishes, as well as a children's menu. Reservations are highly recommended.

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P.S. Steak

The steakhouses lounge is hosting a brunch with oysters, cinnamon pull-apart bread, crab and shrimp frittata, and more. 510 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis

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Park Tavern

The St. Louis Park venue's Mother's Day brunch buffet runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It costs $24.95 for 12 and up, $19.95 for kids aged 6-12 and seniors, and free for under 5s. 3401 Louisiana Ave., St. Louis Park.

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The St. Paul Grill

A special Mother's Day menu that includes Waldorf Salad, Shrimp Ceviche, Macadamia Nuts Crusted Seabass, Veal Prosciutto Roll, Baked Sole Roll, and Tiramisu Cheesecake. Reservations recommended. 350 Market St., St. Paul.

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Spoon and Stable

For the first time, Spoon and Stable is offering a prix-fixe option for Mother's Day brunch. The meal will include a selection of pastries for the table, an appetizer, and a choice of entree ($65 per person). A modified menu is also available for children ($30). Select reservations are available on Tock. 211 N 1st St, Minneapolis.

Stanley's Northeast Bar Room

Is hosting a Mothers Day Brunch Buffet costing a very reasonable $29.99 for adults and $12.99 for kids, plus complimentary mimosas for all moms. Runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 2500 University Ave NE, Minneapolis.

Reserve here.

Stockyards Tavern & Chophouse

Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes salmon eggs benedict for $23.95, spinach and mushroom quich for $18.95, and red velvet pancakes for $16.95. 456 Concord Exchange S, South St Paul,

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Tria Restaurant

Its dishing up a special Mothers Day brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 5959 Centerville Rd., North Oaks

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White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Friday that President Trump and his team are actively looking at suspending habeas corpus as part of the administrations immigration crackdown.

Well, the Constitution is clear  and that of course is the supreme law of the land  that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion, Miller told reporters at the White House.

So, its an option were actively looking at. Look, a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.

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A writ of habeas corpus compels authorities to produce an individual they are holding and to justify their confinement.

Its been a key avenue migrants have used to challenge pending deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely-used 18th-century power Trump cited to deport Venezuelan nationals hes accused of being gang members to a notorious megaprison in El Salvador.

Its also been how recently detained students such as Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil have challenged their detention.

The Constitution says habeas corpus may not be suspended unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

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Steve Vladeck, a national security law expert who teaches at Georgetown University, said that requirement is key.

This last partis not just window-dressing; again, the whole point is that the default is for judicial review except when there is a specific national security emergency in which judicial review could itself exacerbate the emergency. The emergency itself isnt enough, he wrote on his blog.

Miller also doesnt deign to mention that the near-universal consensus is that only Congress can suspend habeas corpus.

The writ of habeas corpus has been suspended only four times, according to the National Constitution Center: During the Civil War, in parts of South Carolina overrun by the Ku Klux Klan during reconstruction, in two provinces in the Philippines in 1905, and in Hawaii after the bombing at Pearl Harbor.

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Suspending habeas corpus, as a result, would be highly controversial. But the administration has already taken controversial steps as part of its deportation regime, such as triggering the 1789 Alien Enemies Act.

The Supreme Court directed migrants to challenge their Alien Enemies Act deportations through habeas corpus, and since then, judges in at least three cases have sided with migrants, determining the Trump administration was improperly using a law meant to address warfare and incursions.

Its possible judges might have a similar interpretation of efforts to suspend habeas corpus, as challengers would also likely dispute whether the U.S. is currently experiencing rebellion or invasion.

Vladeck went on to say that the comment read like a threat to the courts, adding that Miller is telling on himself by saying the White Houses actions depend on court rulings in immigration cases.

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Its not the judicial review itself thats imperiling national security; its the possibility that the government might lose, he said.

Miller asserted that the Immigration and Nationality Act, passed in 1965, takes away the judicial branchs jurisdiction over immigration cases and gives the president wide authority to end temporary protective status and other policies.

The courts arent just at war with the executive branch, the courts are at war  these radical, rogue judges  with the legislative branch as well. So all of that will inform the choices the president ultimately makes.

However, judges routinely weigh the legality of immigration policies, which are often brought by plaintiffs directly affected.

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The Trump administration has for months clashed with federal judges as it seeks to aggressively implement its immigration agenda by deporting people, suspending refugee admissions and taking other steps to curb the flow of migrants into the U.S.

Administration officials on March 15 rebuffed an oral order from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to turn around or halt flights of Venezuelan migrants headed to the Salvadoran prison  teeing up the legal battle that brought the Supreme Courts ruling on how such cases must proceed.

A federal judge in Massachusetts on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of migrants overseas, possibly to Libya and Saudi Arabia.

Another federal judge granted bail to Tufts Universitys Ozturk on Friday, freeing her from federal immigration custody more than six weeks after the Trump administration revoked her visa and arrested her.

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One Democratic aide mocked Miller for suggesting the lifting of a bedrock constitutional principal.

Stephen Miller is not a lawyer but he plays a sty one on TV. No one in their right mind would take his advice seriously, but sanity is in short supply in this administration, the aide said.

Millers comments come amid a broader discussion over the due process protections afforded to migrants under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Like the suspension of habeas corpus, the Alien Enemies Act has also been used just a handful of times, activated three times prior and all during times of war. It was most recently used as the basis for Japanese internment.

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Democrats and immigration advocates argue habeas petitions are the only way for migrants to gain any due process as they might otherwise be deported to a foreign facility where the Trump administration has argued in court they have no legal right or power to secure their return.

Many of the men deported or fearing such removal have denied having any gang ties and Democrats have argued they deserve a day in court to challenge such assertions.

If Donald Trump can sweep noncitizens off the street and fly them to a torturers prison in El Salvador with no due process, he can do it to citizens too, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said last week. Because if there is no due process, no fair hearing, you have no opportunity to object.

This story was updated at 6:12 p.m.

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The White House is defending President Donald Trumps decision to sack the first woman and first non-white person to serve as Librarian of Congress by stating that ousted librarian Carla Hayden did not fit the needs of the American people.

Hayden, who was confirmed to serve a 10-year term in 2016 and had one year left in the job, was also the first professional librarian to lead the library since the 1970s.

She was informed of her termination by way of an email from the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, the little-known arm of the White House that has been carrying out a purge of federal officials who served under or were appointed by Trumps predecessor, former president Joe Biden.

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The email said her service was terminated effective immediately.

Carla Hayden was told that her employment was being terminated effective immediately (AP)

Hayden had been the subject of criticism from a group called the American Accountability Foundation that has targeted civil servants and other government officials who they have deemed woke or insufficiently loyal to Trumps agenda. The group accused her of being anti-Trump and of having promoted trans-ing kids in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, just before she was terminated from her position.

Asked why Trump had moved to fire Hayden, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the her continued service did not fit the needs of the American people and accused her of having done quite concerning things ... in the pursuit of [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion], as well as having put inappropriate books for children in the library, which receives copies of every book that is copyrighted in the United States each year.

We don't believe that she was serving the interests of the American taxpayer well, so she has been removed from her position, and the President is well within his rights to do that, Leavitt said.

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Democrats in Congress have condemned Trumps decision as part of an assault on free expression.

Rosa DeLauro, the Connecticut congresswoman who serves as the top Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that Hayden had been loved and respected by members of both parties.

Hayden had one year of her 10-year term to serve (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A fighter of freedom and a guardian of our nations truth and intellectual legacy, Dr. Hayden was just abruptly and callously fired by President Trump. Dr. Haydens tenure has been marked by a steadfast commitment to accessibility, modernization, and the democratization of knowledge. Her dismissal is not just an affront to her historic service but a direct attack on the independence of one of our most revered institutions, she said.

Representative Joe Morelle of New York, the ranking member of the House Administration Committee, called Hayden an American hero and said in a statement that he would introduce legislation to "guarantee that the Librarian of Congress is appointed by Congress going forward.

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He also called Trumps move ignorant and warned that it would impact Americas libraries, our copyrighted economic interests, and service to the American people.

Another New Yorker, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, called her firing a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock.
May 8A Whitefish man charged with multiple felonies in 2023 and 2024 received a suspended jail sentence in one case while a judge dismissed a second.

Douglas Trent Zellers, 29, picked up a burglary charge after allegedly beating down the door of a Kalispell apartment and attacking a man inside on Aug. 20, 2023. He pleaded not guilty before Judge Danni Coffman at his arraignment on Sept. 7 of that same year.

Witnesses told investigators with the Kalispell Police Department that Zellers had publicized his plans to attack the victim prior to the Sixth Avenue West home invasion, according to court documents. After getting past the door, Zellers allegedly grabbed the victim and tossed him outside before punching and strangling him.

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Investigators described the door to the apartment as badly damaged in court documents. The victim suffered from abrasions on his limbs and sported red marks around his neck, according to court documents.

In May 2024, prosecutors amended the charge to misdemeanor assault, of which Zellers was convicted. Coffman sentenced Zellers to six months in the county jail with all, but 11 days suspended. She gave him credit for 11 days of time served and ordered him to pay $200 in restitution to the Flathead County Attorney's Office.

As that case wound through the courthouse, prosecutors brought Zellers up on two counts of felony assault on a peace officer following a New Year's Day incident near Kalispell.

Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Zellers while responding to a disturbance call at a home near Kalispell in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2024. Zellers allegedly became combative as deputies attempted to put him into a patrol car. He headbutted one deputy and kicked another, court documents said.

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Zellers pleaded not guilty to the charges on Jan. 11, 2024. In March of that year, his attorneys sought to see the case dismissed, accusing the Sheriff's Office of illegally entering his home without a warrant to arrest him. Judge Amy Eddy, who presided over the case, agreed and granted the motion the following month.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.
Employees in Macau are clocking some of the longest work weeks in East Asia, with new data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) placing the city second in the region for average weekly working hours.

According to 2025 figures compiled by the World Population Review, Macaus workforce averages 45.6 hours per week, surpassing both the global average and most of its regional neighbors.

The only East Asian country with longer work hours is Mongolia, where employees work an average of 45.7 hours weekly.

Mainland China follows Macau in third place at 44.8 hours, while Hong Kong takes fourth with 43.1 hours. Other Asian economies, including North Korea (40.8 hours), Taiwan (39.1 hours), and South Korea (36.8 hours), all report significantly shorter average work weeks in comparison to the SAR.

Macaus work week not only exceeds the world average of 38.7 hours, recorded by the ILO, but the region also documented a pronounced gender gap: women in Macau work an average of 46 hours per week, compared to 45.4 hours for men. Both figures outpace the ILO global averages for female (35.4 hours) and male (40.7 hours) employees.

Internationally, Macaus long hours are still surpassed by countries such as Bhutan (54.5 hours), Sudan (50.8 hours), and the UAE (48.4 hours). At the opposite end of the spectrum, nations like Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark report average work weeks of less than 29 hours.

According to the World Population Review, shorter work weeks are often found in wealthier countries with strong work-life balance cultures, which tend to report higher levels of happiness. In contrast, nations with longer work weeks frequently struggle with lower happiness and potential overwork.

Macau remains one of the wealthiest places globally by GDP per capita.

Government data shows that in 2024, Macaus GDP per capita is at MOP587,922, with the IMF ranking it among the top 10 highest worldwide. This places Macau close to nations like the United States (USD89,678, about MOP717,000) and Norway ($90,320, about MOP721,000), and just behind Iceland and Singapore, which have GDP per capita figures exceeding $90,000.

The demanding work culture in Macau is not without consequences. Local surveys indicate that 68% of young residents cite busy work schedules and lack of time as key reasons for delaying or forgoing having children.

The citys birth rate remains among the lowest globally, with just 750 live births recorded in the first quarter of 2025 and a fertility rate of 0.68 births per woman.

In response, the Legislative Assembly (AL) has pledged to increase maternity leave and annual holidays, with changes expected later this year. Currently, female employees are entitled to 70 days of paid maternity leave, with government subsidies available for a portion of this period.
Russias annual Victory Day parade is taking place in Moscow on May 9, in a week dramatically marked by a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on the city, and a dubious unilateral ceasefire announced by the Kremlin.

Russia's Victory Day celebrations, which mark the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, are one of the country's biggest public events of the year.

The annual event is a key part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's propaganda efforts to justify aggression against what the Kremlin falsely describes as "Nazis" in Ukraine.

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The parade takes place after Ukraine reportedly attacked Moscow with drones for three days in a row from May 4-6, repeatedly forcing the closure of several airports in the region.

In an effort to provide some semblance of security to the event, Russia last month unilaterally announced a "humanitarian" truce from May 8 until midnight on May 11.

Under no obligation to sign up for a ceasefire it wasn't consulted on, Ukraine has not agreed to adhere to it, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissing it as a "theatrical performance."

Zelensky said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Moscow on May 9, warning that any incidents on Russian territory fall solely under the Kremlins control.

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Read also: The enemy is right here  how Ukrainians living under Russian occupation defied Putins Victory Day

Who's attending Moscows parade?

At least 29 world leaders were expected to attend the event, Russian state-controlled media reported on May 6.

"We have invited many foreign guests. And we expect 29 leaders of the countries we have invited to be present at the Victory Parade," Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.

Last year, only nine foreign leaders joined Russian President Vladimir Putin at the parade. Ukraine and most European nations mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day.

The most high-profile guest in attendance this year will be Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrived in Moscow on May 8 to "sign a number of bilateral inter-governmental and inter-departmental documents" to strengthen Chinese-Russian relations, according to the Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) during their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, May 8, 2025 in Moscow, Russia (Contributor/Getty Images)

It is Xis second trip to Russia, after he met with Putin in Moscow in 2023 during his first foreign visit since his re-election.

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China, which portrays itself as a neutral party in the war, has become the Kremlin's largest supplier of dual-use goods essential for weapons manufacturing.

Tensions between Ukraine and China have risen in recent weeks after Zelensky on April 9 said that 155 Chinese citizens were fighting for Russia on the territory of Ukraine.

A day prior, Kyiv captured the first two Chinese nationals in Donetsk Oblast. China has denied any role in Russia's full-scale invasion.

Xi was originally scheduled to fly to Russia on May 7  it's now known if Ukraine's drone strikes delayed his arrival.

President of Brazil Ignacio Lula da Silva arriving for a gala concert held for heads of foreign delegations attending celebrations to mark Victory Day in Moscow, Russia on May 8, 2025 (Alexei Danichev/RIA Novosti/Pool/Anadolu via Getty Images)

President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is also in Moscow in show of support to Putin.

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According to Brazilian media, Lula will hold a bilateral meeting with Putin during which he hopes to position himself as a mediator in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

In 2024, Lula jointly developed a Ukraine peace plan with China that was dismissed as "destructive" by Kyiv.

European officials absent on Red Square

Europe is sparsely represented at the parade  Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico represents the only EU member state, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is also attending.

All other EU leaders are boycotting the parade once again. The U.S. also doesnt plan to send representatives, despite U.S. President Donald Trumps sharp turn of American foreign policy towards renewing diplomatic contacts with Russia that were severed after its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic meet to discuss illegal migration in Komarno, Slovakia, on Oct. 22, 2024. (Robert Nemeti / Anadolu via Getty Images)

According to Russian state media, the other world leaders in attendance are those from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palestine, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

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Representatives from North Korea and Russian-controlled Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as defense ministers from 31 countries, will also be present.

A number of countries are also contributing troops to the parade. Military personnel from 13 countries  Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Egypt, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam  are expected to march through Moscow.

Other security measures

As well as the unilateral truce, Russia on May 7 confirmed that mobile internet restrictions will be enforced in Moscow and several Russian regions while foreign officials visit the country.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the measures, which may last through May 10, are necessary due to "dangerous neighbors."

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Read also: The front is noisy  for Ukraines soldiers, Russias Victory Day ceasefire is yet another sham

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Filipino immigrant detained in Texas described being woken up at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday by armed guards in tactical gear, being told he was being sent to Libya, and then waiting for hours on a bus at a military base outside a military plane, his lawyer said.

The flight never took off and he was sent back to solitary confinement in the Texas facility along with the other 12 detainees, mostly from Asian countries, the immigrants lawyer, Johnny Sinodis, told NBC News. The immigrant requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation.

The immigrants, including people from the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Mexico, would later learn that their attorneys filed an emergency motion after reports that the Trump administration had planned to send a group of immigrants to Libya.

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A federal judge then enforced a previous order Wednesday afternoon, halting deportations to third countries.

Tin Nguyen, another immigration attorney whose client was aboard the bus, said that though the deportation was halted, many continue to be on edge over the possibility of being sent to a country that is unfamiliar to them and has been criticized for major human rights abuses.

Libya or El Salvador or Rwanda  its very scary for people, Nguyen, whos based in North Carolina, said. People dont know anything about these countries, and what they have heard about them is very terrifying.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment on questions related to the deportation flight and legal motion.

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Last week, a judge granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that prior to removing any noncitizen to a third country, the Trump administration must take several steps to ensure they receive adequate due process.

Sinodis said that his client had been told earlier this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that he was being sent to Libya. Days later, the detainees were given a few minutes to gather their belongings before being processed out of the facility, shackled and shuffled onto a bus, the attorney said.

The detainees were eventually taken back to the facility and released to the facilitys general population by the next morning.

Sinodis criticized the process as both legally concerning and inefficient. Sending an immigrant from Mexico across the world, for example, makes little sense, he said.

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I mean how much money does it cost to send someone from Mexico to Libya? he said. You can just drive someone to Mexico.

Nguyen recounted a similar chain of events, adding that his client, whos Vietnamese, had previously been threatened with the prospect of being sent to Libya. At one point, the detainee and others were ordered to sign a document agreeing to be deported to the country, according to the emergency motion filed on Wednesday, in which Nguyens client is a plaintiff.

He didnt read the document. He cant read [English] and it wasnt translated in Vietnamese, or through an interpreter. So he refused to sign, Nguyen said. And because he refused to sign, he was separated from the other folks.

The emergency motion said that detainees who refused to sign off on the removal to Libya were put in separate rooms, cuffed in and forced to provide their signatures for the document.

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After hours on the tarmac, Nguyen said his client called his wife.

They were not intermingling with the general population or with each other, but they were able to make phone calls, Nguyen said.

Nguyen said its unclear what will happen next, but his client would rather be sent back to Vietnam than a third country.

This time around Im helping folks speed up the process of actually trying to get the travel documents from Vietnam, so people can just go to Vietnam, the attorney said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month at a Cabinet meeting that the United States is actively searching for other countries to take people.

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We are working with other countries to say, We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries, Rubio said. Will you do that as a favor to us? And the further away the better, so they cant come back across the border.

Reports of plans to send migrants to Libya drew backlash from immigration and humanitarian advocates.

Libya has long been criticized for its treatment of migrants. The Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council, found in its report from 2023 that it was likely that crimes against humanity were committed against Libyans and migrants throughout Libya.

The report documented examples of arbitrary detention, murder, torture, rape, enslavement, sexual slavery, extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance, confirming their widespread practice in Libya.

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The State Departments own website cautioned against traveling to Libya, classifying the country as under a Level 4, the highest advisory level due to a greater likelihood of life-threatening risks.

Libyas provisional Government of National Unity said on social media that it is not coordinating deportations with the United States and that it rejects using the country as a destination for deported immigrants without its knowledge or consent.

The Government categorically denies the existence of any agreement or coordination with it regarding the reception of any migrants deported from the United States, it said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
In 533, a Roman named Mercurius took the first symbolic papal name out of transparent necessity. Named after Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, the newly-elected pope didnt think it wise to keep his pagan-inspired name. So, he became John II instead.

Fifteen centuries later, name selection remains one of the most intriguing facets of a papal election. Cardinal Robert Prevost continued that tradition on Thursday, officially becoming Pope Leo XIV after his ascension to the role via the fourth vote of a conclave.

Leo is now the fourth-most common papal name in history along with Clement. The only more popular names are John, Benedict, and Gregory.

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While the 69-year-old hasnt confirmed his reasoning, there are some hints from his predecessors that explain why choosing Leo makes sense.

The first Leo was an important papal figure

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The historic line of Leos started with Leo the Great, who served as pope from 440 to 461. He not only helped define a key tenet of church doctrine but might have saved countless lives. Historical accounts suggest Leo was the key figure of a peace negotiation with Attila the Hun in 452. According to a writer named Prosper the Aquitane, Leo directly confronted the notorious warrior and convinced him to keep withdraw his army from its invasion of Italy.

And the outcome was what his faith had foreseen; for when the king had received the embassy, he was so impressed by the presence of the high priest that he ordered his army to give up warfare and, after he had promised peace, he departed beyond the Danube, Prosper wrote, according to Fordham University.

The name Leo might suggest the new pope could stand up to oppressive political forces in the world, according to CBS News correspondent Candida Moss.

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Leo the Great also built a reputation as an intellectual and theologian. He wrote the Tome of Leo, a letter outlining the tenet that Jesus Christ was both a fully human and fully divine figure. Our new pope has a doctorate in canon law, so we might expect that he too is going to clarify the churchs teachings on central issues, Moss said.

However, the likelier inspiration for the new pontiff lies in much more recent history.

Leo XIII and Leo XIV closely align on social doctrine

Prevost is hands down signaling a connection to Pope Leo XIII with his name choice, Dr. Michael Pasquier, a professor of Christian studies at Louisiana State University, told Biography.com.

Leo XIII held the papacy from 1878 to 1903 and is known for the 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum, or Of revolutionary change. The letter critiques socialism and unrestricted capitalism, prioritizes the rights of workers and the needs of the poor, and reaffirms the Catholic Churchs purpose of working toward justice and dignity for everyone.

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The tenets in Leo XIIIs letter formed a basis for the modern understanding of Catholic social teaching. That encyclical was the popes way of saying the church is in the world, and it bears a responsibility to manifest the gospel message that Jesus provided, Pasquier explains. And Jesus was a person that went out of his way to care for the marginalized.

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In his previous roles, Leo XIV has shown a similar affinity for confronting social issuesincluding championing the poor and migrants. He has publicly criticized U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump through social media.

This also reinforces some of the ideals of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, the Italian friar known for his vision of a Church which is poor and for the poor.

Leo XIVs first prayer could be another hint to Leo XIII

Pasquier says that Leo XIVs opening address to worshippers offered another valuable clue. The pontiff concluded his remarks Thursday from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica with a prayer to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus according to church doctrine. Devotion to Mary was another characteristic of Leo XIIIs leadership.

Two other themes from the address were an emphasis on forging peace amid global conflicts and the image of Catholicism as a missionary church, or taking an aggressive approach to outreach, Pasquier said.

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The Chicago-born pontiff has a personal history of missionary work. Much of his early ministry took place in Peru. He joined the countrys Augustinian mission in 1985 and, while in the country, oversaw the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and taught canon law before returning to Chicago in 1999.

No matter what his first actions as pope might be, Leo XIVs unlikely electionhe is the first pope born in the United States and only the second from the Americashas generated even greater interest in an already world-altering event. So while we dont know the direct inspiration for the Leo XIV quite yet, its likely well find out very soon.

Were going to know this pope like weve never known a pope, Pasquier said.



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Winona LaDuke

Barn Raiser

The preamble for the next war over water is here. Aggressive corporations are coming after the few remaining pristine places on Mother Earthmainly on the land of Indigenous people. Nowadays, its not just Native people being targeted, its our allies.Last month, two separate court decisions highlighted the repression being leveled on our Water Protector allies.

On June 28, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota, author Winona LaDuke speaks out against the Enbridge Energy Line 3. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune via AP Photo)

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On March 19, a jury in Mandan, North Dakota, in Morton County, leveled a blistering $660 million verdict against Greenpeace for its part in the Standing Rock resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Anyone who was at Standing Rock knows that Greenpeace was barely there, but they have a name, and Energy Transfer, the pipelines owner, made an example out of them. I was in the courtroom when the verdict came in. It was sickening.

On March 10, Marian Moore, a Water Protector who had participated at a gathering to pray for healing, had her charges reversed by a Minnesota Court of Appeals. Her story: Marian, 67, a long-human rights advocate and environmentalist, was the daughter of Paul Moore Jr., the Episcopal bishop of New York from 1972 to 1989 who had walked with Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. In this century, Marian had been active in opposing Enbridges Line 3 pipeline, which crosses northern Minnesota, on its way from Calgary, Alberta, to Superior, Wisconsin, on lands that are subject to Native treaty rights and through waters full of wild rice, an essential food to the Anishinaabe.

On January 9, 2021, Moore was among the more than 100 Water Protectors who gathered on state Highway 169 for a prayer ceremony near a Line 3 construction site in Aitkin County. For that, she caught three charges, including trespass on critical infrastructure (a gross misdemeanor), unlawful assembly and, rather redundantly, presence at an unlawful assembly (both misdemeanors). I was a witness in her defense.

In November, 2023, an Aitkin County jury found her guilty of gross misdemeanors and sentenced her to six months in county jail, but with a stay of execution for nine months, allowing her to appeal. I had to not trespass on any Enbridge property and be law-abiding, or I would be in Aitkin County jail for six months, she explains to me.

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Six months seems like a long time for someone who stood on a state highway to pray, looked at a construction site and left once a dispersal order was given. I think they targeted me because I was friends with Indigenous people and [was] bringing money to the movement against the pipeline, says Marian.

Meanwhile out in Morton County, Greenpeace is getting socked with that ridiculous verdict. $660 million is a lot of money for some folks who were barely at Standing Rock. Aitkin County, Minnesota, and Morton County, North Dakota, are trying to teach a lesson; or, more appropriately, through these cases, corporations are trying to stifle resistance and discourage allies.

How does this happen?

Welcome to the New Order, the one where corporations are now considered legal persons, protected by law enforcement and the judicial system as they press the laws boundaries and extract precious resources.

The entire trial against Greenpeace was shameful.

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Heres how it went: The law firm Gibson Dunn carefully picked Mandan in Morton County, an oil-friendly jurisdiction where Judge James Gion denied most important motions made by Greenpeace. Four motions to change the venue from Mandan were denied. Gion would not let Greenpeace tell the jury of Energy Transfers terrible safety record. According to a report by Greenpeace and Waterkeeper Alliance, the Pipeline Hazardous and Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued 106 safety violations to Energy Transfer and Sunoco between 2002 and 2018, including failures to conduct corrosion inspections, to maintain pipeline integrity and to repair unsafe pipelines in a timely manner within five years.

Greenpeace was not allowed to tell the jury that Energy Transfers identical federal lawsuit against Greenpeace was dismissed by a federal judge. The judge effectively limited defense evidence.

Gion would not allow live streaming, so if you wanted to see justice you had to go to Mandan. Its said that justice is blind, and, in North Dakota, justice is literally blind and asleep. I saw jurors asleep while on duty in the court room.

Greenpeace did not manipulate Standing Rock, but Energy Transfer has manipulated Morton County, Janet Alkire, Chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement shortly after the verdict.

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As I drove toward Bismark from my own reservation, White Earth, a verse from the Rolling Stones You Cant Always Get What You Want stuck in my head: I went down to the County Courthouse to get my share of abuse. At least thats how I sing it. Ive had my share. Thats what its like being on trial in the Deep North, especially if youre a Water Protector.

The chances for a Native person to get justice in North Dakota or northern Minnesota are probably pretty small. Native people represent a third of the people in jail in Becker, Hubbard and Aitkin counties. Yet, we represent only 5.2% of the population.

Standing Rock Tribal Chairwoman Alkire was appalled at the state of justice in Mandan:

I take offense to the jury verdict.  We expect more from North Dakota judges and members of the jury from our neighboring communities.  Neither Greenpeace nor anyone else paid or persuaded Standing Rock to oppose DAPL.  Energy Transfers false and self-serving narrative that Greenpeace manipulated Standing Rock into protesting DAPL is patronizing and disrespectful to our people. We understand that many Morton County residents support the oil industry.  But we are your neighbors, and you should not be fooled that easily.

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The lawsuit against Greenpeace is called a SLAPP suit, or Strategic Litigation against Public Participation. It is intended to silence opposition. There are anti-SLAPP laws in 35 states, including Minnesota. Fundamentally, this is a question of free speech. When Energy Transfer sues people for so-called defamation, they send a clear message: If you stand up, you will be punished in a lawsuit.

To me, this is a freedom of speech case and freedom of association case, attorney Sarah Vogel, twice-elected former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, told the North Dakota Monitor before the case went to trial. Vogel, who grew up in Mandan, said, As residents of a small state without a whole lot of power, wed better be able to speak up. Who knows? I mean, this time, its Greenpeace, but who will it be next time?

The case in Aitkin County was a little different but had some of the same premises. The idea that outside agitators came and did not do nice things was a theme. Greenpeace fits that narrative for Energy Transfer, and Marian Moore, who is a striking six feet two inches tall, does not quite look like a local gal.

Trey Cox is Energy Transfers lead attorney from Gibson Dunn (the same law firm that brought us the Chevron Donziger verdict). Cox kept referring to Water Protectors as outsiders and paid protesters. One might wonder, where Energy Transfer is from? Certainly not from Mandan. They are from Texas. Where was TigerSwan, the private security company hired by Energy Transfer from? North Carolina. And where was Frost Kennels, the company whose employees unleashed dogs on Water Protectors, from? Ohio. In other words, mercenaries.

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In Minnesota, remember that Enbridge is a foreign corporation from Canada, with big swaths of pipeline networks across our north country, including aging pipes and the dirtiest oil in the world that poses a major threat to the Great Lakes, repository of a fifth of the worlds freshwater. Yet, Enbridge received priority policy protection in Minnesota during the Covid-19 pandemic and was allowed to bring in 4,300 people to build Line 3 as a part of essential industry in the state.

These companies also want to censure and erase any mentions of their abysmal safety records. Energy Transfer has a multitude of fines for spills, and Enbridge has the two largest oil spills on the U.S. mainland to its name. In the North Dakota trial, Greenpeace could not bring up Energy Transfers safety record, while in Aitkin County, the judge did not allow Marian Moore to say treaty rights or allude to the Minnesota case where Anishinaabe Water Protectors charges were dismissed in September 2023, based on the treaty and cultural beliefs, and in the interests of justice.

The pipeline to curtail First Amendment rights

The Trump administration intends to further criminalize Water Protectors, and certainly protests in general. That much is clear. This is on top of the more than 300 anti-protest bills introduced in state legislatures since 2017, according to the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, 54 of which have been enacted and currently undermine the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly.

Moreover, over the past half-century, a dangerous doctrine of qualified immunity has been hatched up, underwritten by the Supreme Court, to limit the ability of individuals to hold police officers accountable for violating their constitutional rights. Qualified immunity basically gives officers expanding impunity to injure, or even kill, civilians like Water Protectors.

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In April 2024, North Dakota Federal Judge Daniel Traynor dismissed Sophia Wilanskys case against North Dakota law enforcement on the grounds that law enforcement had qualified immunity.

A blast from an explosive munition was leveled at her in the early hours of November 21, 2016. Law enforcement had constructed a barricade across Backwater Bridge on North Dakota Highway 1806 to prevent unarmed Water Protectors, including Wilansky, from using the road. Morton County Deputy Jonathon Moll, had positioned himself on the turret of a Humvee and fired a flashbang grenade from his 12-gauge shotgun, hitting Wilansky, nearly severing her hand and destroying almost all of the arteries, skin, tissue, muscles, nerves, tendons and bone in her left forearm. At 21-years-old, I lost the use of my arm because a police officer shot me from a gun turret with an exploding grenade at a protest. My life will never be the same, but I will also not be scared away from fighting for what is right, Wilansky said in a Civil Liberties Defense Center media release on April 6, 2024. An additional statement read: The doctrine of Qualified Immunity is repulsive in that it allows police officers to  shoot protestors with anything they want without repercussions.

Yes, there will be appeals. Marian Moore won on appeal. And a Greenpeace spokesperson told Barn Raiser the nonprofit will appeal the verdict, but the timing and process of the appeal has yet to be determined.

But whats so sad is that the North Dakota jury couldnt even stand up for the water, the land and the people. Instead, that jury gave a Texas oil pipeline company, founded by Trump-supporting billionaire Kelcy Warren, everything it wanted and then some. That was shameful. And, without that appeals court, an Aitkin County jury would have been content to let Marian Moore sit in the slammer.

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Marty Garbus is a trial attorney who has represented, among others, Nelson Mandela, Leonard Peltier, Daniel Ellsberg, Lenny Bruce, Elie Wiesel, Cesar Chavez and Vaclav Havel. Garbus is also a member of the Energy Transfer v. Greenpeace Trial Monitoring Committee, a group that followed the trial day in and day out. Here is what he said when the jury returned its shameful verdict:

In my six decades of legal practice, I have never witnessed a trial as unfair as the one against Greenpeace that just ended in the courts of North Dakota. This is one of the most important cases in American history. The law that can come down in this case can affect any demonstration, religious or political. Its far bigger than the environmental movement. Yet the court in North Dakota abdicated its sacred duty to conduct a fair and public trial and instead let Energy Transfer run roughshod over the rule of law.

Greenpeace has very strong case on appeal. I believe there is a good chance it ultimately will win both in court and in the court of public opinion.

What to do? Stand our ground. Make the solutions. And keep working together.

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In Minnesota, we call ourselves the Home Team, and we are many colors. Marion and thousands of others told their stories and faced a lot of police for the sake of protecting water. I, for one, am grateful to them, and the new work underway by groups like Rise and Repair in Minnesota that does multi-racial organizing work around climate justice.

Weweg bi azhe giiwewag. The snow geese return.

There is greatness in the flocks of birds returning to these lands of water. Each year, they return and remind us of the life that is here, a life which needs water. I am reminded thats who I work for. Greenpeace was inspired by a story called the Rainbow Warrior, where people of all colors would come together to protect Mother Earth. Critics say the story wasnt a real prophecy, but I see it happening today. People of all colors coming together to protect Mother Earth is a good story for epic times. Thank you, allies.

Update: On April 23, in a long-awaited decision, a federal judge ordered the U.S. government to pay North Dakota $28 million in damages for expenses the state made on police in response to the Standing Rock demonstrations.
New Delhi  A deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir's picturesque Pahalgam area in April brought India and Pakistan once again to the brink of war. The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors attacked each other this week with missiles and drones in a sudden flare-up of a decades-old feud that's being watched with concern by leaders around the world.

On Saturday, the countries announced they had agreed to a ceasefire after U.S.-led mediation talks. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire on Truth Social, saying both nations had used "Common Sense and Great Intelligence" to reach a "full and immediate ceasefire."

The announcement came after the countries traded drone strikes against each other's military facilities overnight.

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Pakistani officials have accused India of killing at least 36 people this week, including 26 it says died in a Tuesday night missile attack on multiple locations, which Islamabad labeled an "act of war." India called those strikes a measured response to the April terrorist attack, claiming it had killed 100 terrorists at camps and other sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

An Indian Army vehicle moves through a street in Uri, in Indian-administered Kashmir, as tension between India and Pakistan rises May 8, 2025. / Credit: Faisal Khan/Anadolu/Getty

The rivalry between the two countries goes back decades, and at the heart of the dispute lies the stunning mountainous region of Kashmir.

The Kashmir conflict explained

Kashmir is a Himalayan region dotted with snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes, and beautiful meadows. It was previously one of the many "princely states" of India, ruled by so-called maharajas, before India gained independence from British rule in August 1947 .

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That independence, however, has never been a simple matter. As it ceded its colonial power, Britain partitioned India into two nations: Hindu-majority India, and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

The migration of Hindus from the newly carved out Pakistan into India, and of Muslims from India into Pakistan, was marred by massacres and widespread sectarian violence. It is widely considered the deadliest partitioning of a nation in contemporary history.

At the time of partition, Kashmir was a Muslim-majority princely state, and its Hindu Maharaja Hari Singh, chose to remain independent of the two newly defined nations. But in October 1947, when tribesmen from Pakistan invaded Kashmir, the Maharaja sought India's help.

India agreed to come to his assistance, but only if Singh would let India claim dominion over Kashmir as a precondition. The Maharaja agreed.

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India sent its army to Kashmir, which drove out the Pakistani tribesmen and, for all intents and purposes, Kashmir became a semi-autonomous part of India.

India and Pakistan's wars over Kashmir

Pakistan refused to recognize Kashmir's accession to India, dismissing it as a fraud. The standoff led the two nations into their first war that same year, and it endured into 1948.

India asked the United Nations to intervene. The U.N. recommended that, after the full demilitarization of the region by both armies, a vote be held by Kashmir's residents to determine its future.

That was never achieved, and in 1949, India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement that divided hotly-contested Kashmir into two parts.

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Both nations claim all of Kashmir as their own territory, but each controls only part of it. Another, northeastern portion of the region is administered by China, which has long been a point of friction between Delhi and Beijing.

In 1965, the tension over the region between India and Pakistan again erupted into a full-scale war. Thousands of people were killed on both sides. About seven years later, an agreement was signed that formally established a Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, which still serves as the de-facto border between the two rivals.

In 1989, a heavily armed pro-independence insurgency took root in Indian-administered Kashmir, launching deadly attacks against Indian forces. India has long accused Pakistan of training, arming and backing those militants  a charge Pakistan flatly denies.

The three-decade insurgency has left tens of thousands of people dead.

Damage to a mosque is seen after Indian strikes in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, May 7, 2025. / Credit: Zubair Abbasi/Middle East Images/Middle East Images/AFP

Pakistan has consistently denied the allegations that it supports Kashmiri separatists.

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In 1999, the two countries again engaged in a brief war, fought along the LoC in northern Kashmir.

They almost went to war again following the deadly terror attack on India's commercial capital Mumbai in 2008, which was carried out by a militant group based in Pakistan-administered Kashmir  with, Indian authorities alleged, the full support of Pakistani security forces.

India removed Kashmir's autonomy in 2019

As the insurgency continued, India maintained a heavy military presence in Kashmir, making it one of the most militarized zones in the world. Indian forces have killed hundreds of separatists every year in regular shootouts across and around the LoC, but they have not managed to stop the militants' attacks.

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In 2016, gunmen whom India said were based in Pakistan killed 19 Indian soldiers in an attack on the town of Uri. India responded by launching what it called "surgical strikes" across the LoC, targeting alleged militant bases. Pakistan denied any Indian strikes on its territory.

In 2019, another attack blamed on alleged Pakistani gunmen, on an Indian military convoy in Kashmir's Pulwama area, killed more than 40 paramilitary forces.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, furious over the attack, ordered airstrikes against Pakistan, sparking retaliatory raids and an aerial dogfight in which one Indian fighter jet was downed.

A civilian, who according to local media was injured in a cross-border shelling near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan in Poonch sector, is rushed to a hospital in Jammu, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, April 1, 2019. / Credit: REUTERS

Later that year, India's federal government, under Modi, revoked Kashmir's special status, lifting the partial autonomy it had enjoyed since 1947, which granted the region its own constitution and major decision-making powers.

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Modi's government faced criticism for the way it revoked Kashmir's autonomy. A day before his government tabled and passed the bill in parliament, Indian forces launched a major crackdown in Kashmir. Internet, television and phone lines were shut down, and civilians were ordered to remain indoors. Dozens of people, including local politicians, were placed under house arrest as India flew more paramilitary forces into the region to maintain a security and information lockdown. Some of those restrictions remained in place for more than two years.

Pakistan objected to the move and vowed to "exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps."

Over the following years, as India continued to bolster its security presence in the region, militancy waned and tourism returned to Kashmir. Modi's government took credit for transforming the region from a hotspot for terrorism, into a hotspot for tourism.

But last month's terrorist attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam changed everything. It has once again put the two nations on a war footing - and the world on edge over the risk of another major conflict breaking out in already-tumultuous times, and between two nations with a long history of animosity, and nuclear weapons.

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Wondering if Judge Jeanine Pirro is leaving Fox News? The outspoken legal analyst and longtime co-host of The Five has been a prominent voice on the network for over a decade, known for her fierce commentary and unwavering support of Donald Trump. Her sudden absence from the show sparked questions about her next moveand now, theres a major update.

Lets look into Jeanine Pirros departure from Fox News and the high-profile federal role shes stepping into.

Is Judge Jeanine Pirro leaving Fox News and why?

Yes, Judge Jeanine Pirro is leaving Fox News.

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he is appointing Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Fox News confirmed her departure, with anchor Bret Baier and a spokesperson noting her exit was effective immediately.

Bret Baier just told Fox viewers about Jeanine Pirro's new job. She will be leaving Fox to take this position and we obviously wish her well, he said. pic.twitter.com/SrwkN084tA  Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 8, 2025

Trumps decision followed backlash over his initial nominee, Ed Martin, whose confirmation process stalled amid concerns about his past media appearances and comments on the January 6 Capitol riot. Republican Senator Thom Tillis supported Pirros appointment, calling her a great choice, and Trump praised her as a powerful crusader for victims of crime.

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Pirro previously served as a judge and district attorney in Westchester County, New York, before joining Fox News in 2006. She hosted Justice with Judge Jeanine for ten years and most recently co-hosted The Five. Trump highlighted her media and legal experience, stating, She excelled in all ways.

Pirro has faced legal scrutiny for her 2020 election claims. Dominion Voting Systems included her broadcasts in its defamation case against Fox News, which led to a $787.5 million settlement. She is also named in Smartmatics pending $2.7 billion lawsuit against the network.

Pirros personal and professional ties to Trump span decades. She has been a longtime ally, reportedly lobbying him in the past to pardon her ex-husband, Albert J. Pirro Jr., convicted of tax evasion. Trump granted the pardon during his final hours in office. Pirro now becomes the latest in a line of Fox News personalities appointed to roles in Trumps administration.

The post Why Is Judge Jeanine Pirro Leaving Fox News? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
After Pope Leo XIVs first day as the pontiff, a local attorney says he and his clients arent thrilled about the decision from the Vatican.

Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston-based attorney, has represented thousands of victims and survivors over decades of alleged clergy sexual abuse.

He told Boston 25 News on Friday he was disappointed to see Pope Leo XIV was appointed.

Theres a track record here that doesnt give many survivors or victims hope, said Garabedian. He doesnt send a message hes going to protect children or help survivors heal.

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He pointed towards two incidents over the last 25 years.

Garabedian said in 2000, as head of the Augustinian Order in Chicago, Prevost allegedly housed a priest near a school facing accusations of sexual abuse.

Garabedian explained, That priest was a pedophile, and those children were susceptible.

He also pointed to an incident while Pope Leo XIV was serving in Peru. The attorney criticized his handling of alleged sexual abuse against three young women.

Garabedian continued, Those women have stated ... Pope Leo did a shallow job in the investigation.

The majority of New Englanders who spoke to Boston 25 News were happy about the appointment of Pope Leo XIV.

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Richard Heath said outside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End, I was really excited about that!

Alexa MacPherson, a client of Garabedians, said she was the victim of sexual abuse at a parish in Dorchester in the 1980s.

She is still demanding action from the Vatican with new leadership.

MacPherson asked, Youre doing Gods work? Well, youre not when youre hiding predatory priests.

The archdiocese of Boston said in a statement Friday:

The Archdiocese of Boston has a robust, effective trauma - informed program in place to address the long-term impact of the clergy sexual abuse crisis. We have long been proactive with a vigorous child protection program that requires background screening, adult education, and youth education. We take our responsibilities seriously including reporting any allegations to law enforcement. We are committed to the protection of the young people entrusted to our care and to the prevention of any harm to them by anyone. Our new Holy Father has shown his compassion and commitment to the people entrusted to his care over and over again throughout his priestly ministry. We have full faith and confidence in our new Holy Father.

A celebration mass for Pope Leo XIV is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.

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The U.S. Senate Thursday passed a resolution introduced by Urah Sens. John Curtis and Mike Lee to overturn a Biden administration rule enacted by the National Park Service restricting the use of off-road vehicles and all-terrain vehicles in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The resolution, passed by a simple majority vote, aims to restore access to approximately 24 miles of park roads in the area of Glen Canyon known as the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit.

Companion legislation introduced by Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, cleared the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

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Restoring off-road vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a step to ensure that public lands remain accessible for the people, not dictated by Washington bureaucrats, Curtis said.

Utahns have responsibly accessed Glen Canyon for decades, and Washingtons one-size-fits-all restrictions threatened not only that access but also the livelihoods and traditions of rural communities. This legislation restores the balance between conservation and responsible recreation  something Utahns have always led on," he added.

The Biden-era rule, which went into effect on Feb. 12, restricted ORV and ATV use that included an eight-mile segment of the Poison Spring Loop.

The GOP senators from Utah said the area has traditionally been open to the public featuring long-accessed routes near Lake Powell.

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This was a classic case of sue-and-settle policymaking where bureaucrats caved to activists and cut Americans out of the process, Lee said.

Thats not how representation is supposed to work.

He added if it says national recreation area on a map, people should be able recreate there.

Reaction to restoring the trails

Its deeply disappointing to see Congress pass a bill that undermines the National Park Services ability to protect one of the most remote places in the country, said Erika Pollard, campaign director for the Southwest Region for the National Parks Conservation Association.

The Orange Cliffs is a place of rare solitude and unbelievable beauty that creates the once-in-a-lifetime moments so many come to Glen Canyon to experience. Thats why the park service limited off-road vehicles along some of the most sensitive areas and fragile shorelines. With more than 250 miles already available for off-road vehicle use, removing protections is as unnecessary as will be damaging.

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The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance said the efforts undermine the solitude people come to expect in the area.

(The) action means that Orange Cliffs, Gunsight Butte, and Canyonlands National Parks Maze District will be impaired by noisy, destructive off-highway vehicles, said Hanna Larsen, staff attorney for the organization.

Its a dark day for all who love southern Utah and Glen Canyons wild places.
Within minutes of the news breaking this week that Brian Kemp, the popular second-term Republican governor of Georgia, would not run for the United States Senate, the incumbent Democrat seemed to breathe a sigh of relief via an email fundraising appeal.

The email opens with a photo of a smiling little boy, the future Sen. Jon Ossoff, and his dad. You may be wondering how this kid on his fathers shoulders  ended up here, reads the email. The next photo shows the 38-year-old Georgia Democrat standing at the podium at a political rally, looking cool, confident, and relaxed.

And thats how Ossoff should be feeling, given the threat Kemp posed to his reelection. Only days before, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution released a poll showing the governor leading Ossoff by 3 points in a hypothetical match-up for the 2026 Senate race. Against all the other potential Republican candidates, Ossoff holds commanding leads, including a 17-point advantage against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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Kemps victory over Ossoff wouldnt have been a sure thing, but he was certainly the GOPs best chance to wrest control of one of Georgias Senate seats, both of which have been in Democratic hands since 2021. Yet no amount of appeals from Sen. John Thune, the majority leader, nor other senators, donors, or party bigwigs could convince Kemp to spend the final two years of his term in Atlanta running for a new job in Washington. As the AJCs Greg Bluestein reported, Kemp told friends and allies on Monday that he just wasnt all-in on being a senator.

Theres no doubt some strategy at work herebetter to run for president in 2028, as Kemp may do, as a successful former governor of a key swing state than as a mere freshman senator. But there are other factors, from the perception that not much gets done in the Senate these days to Kemps age (hell turn 62 this fall) that made the at least six-year commitment of a full term unattractive.

If this were 2002 or 2004, maybe things would be different, a Republican familiar with Kemps thinking told me. Embedded in that explanation is perhaps the biggest reason Kemp begged off the Senate run: Donald Trump and the current political ecosystem that crowds out everything but the Republican president. In Georgia, Ossoff will almost certainly run a campaign aimed squarely at Trump to galvanize his base and peel off independents exhausted by tariffs and GOP control of government. The only option for a Republican challenger would be to stand by the president and defend his record. For Kemp, that would have been a bridge too far.

Indeed, Kemp is only the latest Republican governor during the Trump era to have made a similar calculation about taking the leap into the Senate. Republicans twice tried to recruit Arizonas Doug Ducey, another popular two-term governor, to run for that swing states Senate seat, striking out in both 2022 and 2024. Gov. Phil Scott, the only Republican to have won multiple statewide elections in Vermont in the last decade, declined to run when a Senate seat opened in 2022. Earlier this year, former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker ruled out running for the Senate in 2026.

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Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is familiar with the pitch from Washington Republicans, who practically begged him to run in 2022 before he said no. A few weeks ago Sununu (whose brother, John, served a term in the Senate during the George W. Bush administration), also closed the door on running next year for New Hampshires open Senate seat, despite overtures from Thune and others in Senate GOP leadership.

In a text message to me this week, Sununu praised Thune and Sen. Tim Scott, who is chairing the Senate Republican campaign arm, for doing a terrific job bringing a refreshed approach. But their pitch held little appeal to the 50-year-old Republican, who spent eight years running the Granite State.

It is a fundamentally very different job than a governor and would undoubtedly be a frustrating 12 years for any former state executive trying to get stuff done, Sununu told me, referring to two full six-year Senate terms. For me and my family, we need to spend time focusing on making some money and putting our kids through college.

The only Republican governor in the past few years to make the leap to the Senate is Jim Justice of West Virginia, who from his time in Charleston has been a staunch ally of the current president and was recruited to run against the conservative Democrat Joe Manchin in 2024. (Manchin ended up leaving the Democratic Party and announcing his retirement from the Senate.)

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Indeed, what unites all the Republican governors, including Kemp, who have recently passed on the Senate is their independence from the Trump brand. Thats a precious commodity, a resource not to be expended for a spot on politics current B team: a pliant, do-nothing Congress. At the same time, that autonomy can also be a clear impediment to moving up within the party.

Take Larry Hogan of Maryland, whose moderate politics and willingness to distance himself from Trump helped him cruise to reelection in 2018 to become the first two-term Republican governor of his state in 60 years. And while Hogan rebuffed the push to have him challenge freshman Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland in 2022, he decided two years later to run for an open Senate seat during the presidential year of 2024. During his campaign, Hogan went to extraordinary lengths to differentiate himself from Trumpending up in the absurd position of touting Trumps grudging endorsement of his candidacy (an endorsement Hogan insisted he didnt want). In the end, the race wasnt even close, with Hogan losing to a replacement-level Democrat, Angela Alsobrooks.

Small wonder that blue- and purple-state Republican governors look at those kinds of contortions, which members of Congress must perform on a daily basis, and say no thanks.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Taco Bell has a habit of revisiting the past in an effort to spark nostalgia, like it did with the limited-time Decades Menu that brought back fans' old favorite foods. What the chain doesn't want to revisit, though, is its 1990s ad campaign that featured Gidget the chihuahua and the voice actor Carlos Alazraqui. Together, these two planted the phrase "Yo quiero Taco Bell" in the minds of millennials for eternity. However, it turns out that the story behind Taco Bell's infamous ad campaign doesn't exactly match the chill vibes the fast food restaurant was trying to give off at the time.

At a 1996 New York trade show, Joseph Shields and Thomas Rinks were pitching their idea for a cartoon dog they called "Psycho Chihuahua." They were spotted by Taco Bell's licensing manager Ed Alfaro who then took the idea back to Taco Bell. After a few months of what seemed like the fast food company preparing to run with "Psycho Chihuahua," Taco Bell then shocked not only Shields and Rinks but also Alfaro by pulling out of the deal.

Not long after, Taco Bell partnered with a different ad agency, TBWA Chiat/Day, which presented an idea for an ad campaign starring a talking chihuahua. Despite Alfaro pointing out the similarities between this ad and the one pitched by Shields and Rinks, company executives including Peter Waller, the chain's president, and Chief Marketing Officer Vada Hill decided to roll with the new chihuahua idea. Unsurprisingly, Shields and Rinks filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell shortly after the first commercial aired in 1997.

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Read more: Restaurant Chains That Use The Highest Quality Beef In Their Tacos

Taco Bell Was Ordered To Pay Millions

The outside of a Taco Bell location - Artran/Getty Images

While Gidget the chihuahua was busy gaining fame, behind the scenes, the lawsuit against Taco Bell was quickly becoming one of the most interesting food lawsuits of all time. In June 2003, Taco Bell was ordered by a federal jury to pay Thomas Rinks and Joseph Shields $30 million in damages. Shortly after, a judge added an additional $12 million of interest to the total.

The immense amount of money owed prompted Taco Bell to file a lawsuit against the ad agency TBWA Chiat/Day, claiming the company was liable for the damages as it had plagiarized "Psycho Chihuahua." TBWA was represented in the case by Doug Emhoff (who would later become the United States' first ever second gentleman). Emhoff claimed the ad agency was no more than a third party caught in the middle. In 2009, it was finally ruled that the ad agency was not liable for any of the damages regarding the '90s ad campaign and that Taco Bell was solely responsible for paying the amount owed to the creators of "Psycho Chihuahua."

Many Thought The Advert Was Racist

Gidget the Taco Bell chihuahua posing - Chris Weeks/Getty Images

Aside from costing the chain millions of dollars, the Taco Bell chihuahua ad campaign also raised eyebrows. Many people thought the campaign was racist or, at the very least, insensitive and distasteful. It may have been possible for Taco Bell to save the campaign and keep the chihuahua if it had shifted gears early on, but the fast-food giant made matters worse with the release of a 1998 commercial that featured the dog in a beret -- an unsubtle representation of revolutionary Che Guevara. The commercial sparked outrage, and a civil rights activist from Sacramento, Mario Obledo, told the LA Times, "To equate a dog with an entire ethnic population is outrageous, despicable, demeaning, and degrading."

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It turns out, many consumers felt the same way. In 2000, Taco Bell sales in restaurants that had been open for at least one year fell by 6% in the second quarter. This decline was the largest the company had ever experienced and many people blamed the chain's chihuahua ad campaign. (This made Taco Bell's chihuahua ad campaign far more damaging than any other fast food marketing gaffe from around this time, including Burger King's 1980s advertising error.) As a result, Taco Bell switched advertising agencies, leaving TBWA Chiat/Day -- and Gidget -- behind.

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Macau and France have taken a step toward deeper collaboration in innovation with the signing of a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, a move hailed by Secretary for Economy and Finance, Tai Kin Ip, as a historic moment for the citys diversification push.

Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday, Tai highlighted Macaus commitment to accelerating the development of high-tech industries, noting recent advances in fields such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and space science.

We are fully promoting scientific and technological development, Tai said, referring to the 2025 Policy Address, which outlines plans for industry-academia integration, industrial funding, and the creation of science parks.

The Secretary revealed that just two weeks ago, he led a delegation to Paris to explore the operational models of science parks and startup incubators in the region. I was deeply impressed by Frances innovation landscape, he said.

Tai emphasized that the new agreement is not just symbolic. According to him, it is expected to inject momentum into the SARs role within the Greater Bay Areas innovation corridor, spanning Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macau.

The pact, he added, also stands to deepen Sino-French cooperation in science and technology.

This is an important opportunity for complementarity and mutual benefit, Tai said. It will contribute to the advancement of innovation while strengthening the friendship between Macau and France. LV
The News

After successfully lobbying President Donald Trump to push out national security aides, right-wing agitator Laura Loomer may have picked a fight she cant win: against Casey Means, the presidents newest pick for US surgeon general.

Loomer sparked a social media firestorm on the right on Thursday by attacking Means, the sister of Calley Means  a top adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Those online jabs came as Kennedys former presidential running mate, Nicole Shanahan, suggested Kennedy is reporting to someone other than Trump and said she was promised neither Means sibling would be working under HHS or in an appointment.

For the moment, some both close to and inside the Trump administration are dismissing the Loomer-led pushback against Casey Means. One person close to the White House described the attacks as merely social media masturbation, arguing that Loomer (who has a contentious relationship with many inside the White House, even as Trump remains a fan) doesnt have internal support to take down Trumps new surgeon general pick.

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White House spokesman Kush Desai said that Trumps 2024 win was partly driven by Making America Healthy Again  a Kennedy-driven catchphrase that Casey Means championed online before it became intertwined with Trumpism. And he defended her nomination.

Dr. Casey Means has the ideal balance of elite credentials without the baggage of being beholden to a corrupt healthcare system that has profited from Americas chronic disease epidemic, Desai said.

Perhaps most critically, Casey Means may find it easier to get confirmed after Kennedy got through the Senate despite GOP wariness over vaccine criticism similar to her own. While several senators said they were unfamiliar with Means after the abrupt withdrawal of former surgeon general pick Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, others struck a positive note.

Shes got a lot of good things to say, from my standpoint, said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who added that he was aware of Loomer and Shanahan attacking Means: I guess thats the presidents headache, in terms of who hes appointing and the reaction people give to his appointments.

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Johnson said he thought Means could be confirmed but cautioned: I dont know, I thought Ed Martin would get confirmed  a reference to the federal prosecutor nominee forced to withdraw on Thursday amid Republican opposition.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., read Means book last year and said her nomination is great  having read the Means family book that they wrote, my wife and I had already been heading down that path of holistic health. He said he hadnt met her yet, though.

Trump said Thursday that Kennedy hand-picked Casey Means for the job (adding that he doesnt know her well). She also has allies inside the administration: Vince Haley, the quiet but influential official leading the White Houses Domestic Policy Council, helped incorporate Make America Healthy Again into the Trump campaign machinery.

The Means siblings are in lockstep on issues like opposing Ozempic prescriptions for children, reining in ultraprocessed foods, and more  all goals Calley Means touted last month during a discussion with Semafor. They also wrote a book together.

Know More

Many of Trumps closest confidants and allies praised Trumps decision to tap Casey Means: Donald Trump Jr. called it an excellent pick; Roger Stone said Means is a truly great appointment; Charlie Kirk praised the pick as phenomenal; Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said shes excelled in every endeavor she has undertaken.

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Loomer, alongside Shanahan, quickly pushed back; Loomer said Means is a terrible pick, adding: I would call her a Witch Doctor, but she doesnt even have a valid active medical license.

Loomer did not respond to a request for comment.

The person close to the White House argued Shanahan has less relevance internally than during the campaign, describing her as no longer as involved, or as influential in Kennedys decision-making, as she used to be.

Meanwhile, other senators said they were not quite sure why Nesheiwat was withdrawn. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he didnt have any objections to Nesheiwat.

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I am perplexed as to why the first nominee was withdrawn, Ive seen no explanation for that and I dont know who Dr. Casey Means is. So when I saw the Truth Social announcement of it, the whole thing was just baffling to me, said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Both Collins and Paul serve on the Senates primary health committee.
A series of Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities have killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks, shaking an already uneasy sense of safety for Ukrainians living far from the front lines.

The Russian strikes are growing more lethal as foreign air defense aid to Ukraine has dwindled, particularly deliveries of Patriot missiles. Ukraine is left struggling to cover the shortfall.

Ukraines ability to shoot down inbound Russian drones and cruise missiles has grown enormously since Russias full-scale invasion. But despite ingenuity in domestic weapon production over the past three years, Ukraine has no homemade equivalent to the Patriot, a U.S.-made surface-to-air missile system whose latest iterations are uniquely good at stopping ballistic missiles in flight.

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Ukraines local missile makers are working through a long list of demands on their production, while also finding their factories under frequent Russian aerial strikes. Before February 2022, Ukrainian aerospace engineers were reconfiguring their leftover Soviet air defense batteries for the next generation of threats. Like the stocks of Patriot missiles, those systems are also running low on ammunition, and their designers are prioritizing building cruise and ballistic missiles over anti-ballistic air defense missiles.

Ukraine is consequently unlikely to field strong anti-ballistic missile defenses of its own any time soon. The only near-term solution to Russias increasingly aggressive ballistic attacks remains the delivery of more Patriot missiles from allied nations.

Renewed Russian strikes and reduced Ukrainian defense

Ballistic missiles are among the toughest challenges that any air defense system faces. They fly in high parabolas far from the Earths surface, coming down at several times the speed of sound to strike their targets.

Intercepting ballistic missiles in their flight paths requires precision both in detection of incoming missiles and in the launch and targeting of outgoing air defense missiles. Cruise missiles and drones fly slower and nearer to the ground, giving ground-based air defense more time to hit them out of the sky.

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There's a big difference between ballistic missile defense and missile defense targeted at air-breathing threats like drones and cruise missiles, said Fabian Hoffmann, a missile specialist at the Oslo Nuclear Project. Airbreathing refers to aircraft with jet engines that take in oxygen as they fly at relatively low altitudes. For ballistic missile defense, there simply is no shortcut.

Much of the weaponry American arms makers have sent to Ukraine has fallen short on the battlefield. Missile defense systems are a major exception, particularly when it comes to fending off ballistic threats like Russian Kinzhals and Iskanders.

The Americans mastered that technology because they had to, said Hoffmann. The U.S., after the Cold War, operated under the assumption that it would always have air dominance near where it fought. That means the only credible airborne threat you really have to worry about is standoff munitions like ballistic and cruise missiles.

Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has slowed down air defense aid to Ukraine. The last major shipment of Patriot equipment was the week following Trumps inauguration  90 missiles redirected from Israel. Another Patriot system from Israel is currently being refurbished after almost a year of back-and-forth, but U.S. standards of refurbishment have famously held up much simpler deliveries like armored vehicles for months.

U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2025. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images)

Rescue workers operate at the site of a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025. (Andrew Kravchenko / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ukraine guards details about its missile programs in general and air defenses in particular extremely closely. But by the figures available, the situation is growing dire.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte lamented that almost all the Patriots promised to Ukraine were already there as of the middle of April.

The Defense Department declined to provide specifics as to remaining Patriot deliveries. A spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent that "the Defense Department continues to provide equipment to Ukraine from previously authorized PDA and USAI packages.

EU countries that had previously shared their Patriots more generously with Ukraine have run through much of their own stockpiles and are now buying up new missiles.

Russia has at the same time radically stepped up its own ballistic missile production. While Ukraine claimed Russia was running out of Iskanders early in the war, production has rebounded to between 40 and 50 Iskanders per month, Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate, said in December. Russia is launching more of those Iskanders as Ukraine has gotten worse at deflecting them.

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The numbers reported by the Ukrainian Air Force show a major drop off in the effectiveness of air defense against ballistic missiles in recent months. They tally a total of 22 ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine throughout April, mostly Iskanders. The Air Force reported that air defenses shot down eight, seven of which were in a mass attack on Kyiv, the best-defended city in the country. That attack still saw four missiles touch down, killing 12 civilians and injuring another 87.

Other Russian attacks used Iskanders with cluster munitions to kill 20 in Kryvyi Rih on April 4 and 34 in Sumy on April 13. Another strike on Kyiv killed two and injured eight on the night of May 6. The new vulnerability is acutely felt among Ukrainians who had previously relied on stronger protections in cities far from the front.

What Ukraine has and what it needs

Ukraine is working to shield itself from the increasingly brazen Russian strikes on civilians. President Zelensky is haggling for Patriot systems with money he doesnt have. Ukraine also cannot bootstrap a modern Patriot system or PAC-3 missiles of its own at home.

Developing SAM (surface-to-air) systems is expensive and time-consuming, says Michael Duitsman, a missile expert at the Middlebury Institutes James Martin Center for Non-Proliferation Studies.

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SAMs are a system of systems  missiles, launchers, radars, computers, software, user interfaces, etc. Each of those components needs to be developed, prototyped, and tested, and all of them must mesh together and perform reliably against hostile forces in adverse conditions. This can involve years of testing and debugging.

Domestic Ukrainian air defense is dominated by leftover Soviet SAM missile launchers, especially S-200s and S-300s.

An S-200V launcher at the Military History Museum of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. (George Chernilevsky / Wikipedia)

Post-Soviet Russia upgraded the S-300s to S-400s, which are supposedly better at shooting down ballistic missiles. But an S-500 that, as proposed, more closely resembles the newest Patriots has remained under development for years. Chief of the General Staff of Russias Armed Forces Valeriy Gerasimov announced the first S-500 division in December. The only known footage emerged days later.

Ukraine was already at work on an S-300 upgrade of its own called the SD-300 before the war. Per a since-removed 2021 flyer from Design Bureau Luch, the envisioned system still had a warhead, meaning it still relies on fragmentary explosions that the newest and best anti-ballistic defenses have moved away from.

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The physical hardware of these anti-ballistic missiles takes years to build out. But improvements in software, particularly in algorithms predicting the trajectory of incoming ballistic attacks, would be a cheaper way of boosting S-300 effectiveness, as would more imports of advanced radar systems.

But Ukraine is also running low on ammunition for its SAMP-T and S-300 systems, as well as Patriots. The factories that would, pre-war, have been best equipped to build out more ammunition or upgrades for these S-300s find themselves prime targets for Russian air attacks.

Ukraine is, for now, trapped in a vicious cycle in which it needs air defense to protect the factories where it can build more air defense missiles of its own. They are also the same factories working on Ukraines own cruise and ballistic missiles  namely the Neptune and Hrim-2  which have taken priority since the wars outset.

A Ukrainian-made Neptune-derived cruise missile is fired from an unspecified location in Ukraine on April 5, 2019. (Presidential Office of Ukraine)

Hoffmann, for one, sees domestic anti-ballistic defenses as being far out of range for Ukraines wartime research and development relative to other, cheaper drone and missile development.

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If the Ukrainians start investing in indigenous BMD (ballistic missile defense), Ill eat my shoe, said Hoffmann. That would not be worth it from an opportunity cost perspective.

Ukraine consequently continues to bank on the West to provide more Patriot missiles.

What makes Patriot missiles unique

There are two main species of Patriot missiles critical to Ukraine today, PAC-2s and PAC-3s.

Raytheon makes Patriot ground systems, launchers, and PAC-2 missiles, which are primarily for shooting down cruise missiles. Lockheed Martin makes the PAC-3 missiles, which are, to all appearances, the best anti-ballistic defense on the international market, particularly the newest Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) models.

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The Ukrainian Air Force wrote early in April that since the start of the full-scale war, they had shot down 90 ballistic missiles and 40 Kinzhals, classified as aeroballistics.

Other air defense units in Ukraine include Soviet S-300s, Norwegian NASAMS, German Iris-Ts, and the French-Italian SAMP/T, the land-based system from Aster, and likely the closest competitor to the newest Patriots.

PAC-3s are uniquely designed to hit to kill. Traditional air defense missiles are shot into the sky to explode, sending shrapnel into adjacent incoming planes, drones, or missiles. Hit-to-kill missiles like the PAC-3 destroy their targets by physically flying into them.

A deck that Lockheed Martin provided to the Kyiv Independent touts that hit-to-kill attacks are far better at destroying not just the missile, but the explosives or even chemical charges that a missile is carrying. The company also says explosive air defense doesnt change the flight path of ballistic missiles, leaving debris to fall more or less where it was initially heading.

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In a statement, Lockheed Martin wrote to the Kyiv Independent: PAC-3 Hit-to-kill technology encompasses advanced software and hardware components, including the seeker, a highly responsive airframe, agile control system, and guidance software. All components are necessary to achieve hit-to-kill capability.

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor unit is seen deployed on Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on May 24, 2024. (Kyodo News via Getty Images)

Without explosives, a PAC-3 is much smaller, lighter, and more maneuverable than a PAC-2. As a result, a standard Patriot launcher can fit 16 PAC-3s at once, as compared to four PAC-2s.

The precision targeting technology required for hit-to-kill is new. PAC-3s came under development when PAC-2s largely failed against Iraqs arsenal of Soviet-made SCUD ballistic missiles in the first Gulf War. The embarrassment of those encounters prompted a new design that took a decade and a half to make operational.

To date, the U.S. is the only exporter of hit-to-kill technology in the world. Chinas HQ-19 seems to use something similar, but public information is limited. The Chinese government announced a successful anti-ballistic test in 2022 but has remained quiet about details.

Russia, meanwhile, has the same S-300s as Ukraine as well as upgraded S-400s that Ukraine does not have. The Russian defense industry is working on the S-500 but has yet to properly field them.

Ukraine can similarly tinker with its stockpiles of S-300s, particularly with updated software and radar systems. But ammunition for those weapons is also running perilously low.

Ballistic patriotism and missile diplomacy

The PAC-3 MSEs boast two critical features. One is that they are uniquely effective at shooting down Russian ballistic missiles, as their time in Ukraine has demonstrated.

Thanks to this success, countries across Europe and the Middle East are petitioning the U.S. government to buy progressively more, with Germany getting the go-ahead for an unprecedented $5 billion purchase back in August.

The second critical feature of PAC-3s is that they are produced en masse, at a scale that is growing thanks to their performance in Ukraine and an increasing number of nations ordering them to defend themselves from ballistic missile attacks.

Lockheed Martin is planning to expand production from 500 to 650 annually. Multinational European missile maker MBDA has gotten the go-ahead to build the first manufacturing for Patriots outside of the U.S.

New production of Patriot missiles will, however, take years to build out. Largely thanks to their performance in Ukraine, a glut of new Patriot missiles should be going around in two years. Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defense remains largely dependent on foreign donations of missiles, whose supply is stretched thin worldwide.

Note from the author:

Hi there, this is Kollen, the author of this article. Thanks for reading. Ukrainians responses to Russias invasion showcase a society that is deeply resilient and inventive, despite pullbacks in aid. If you like reading stories highlighting the development of Ukraine's wartime technology and economy from on the ground, please consider supporting our work by becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Ukraines long-suffering aerospace giants look to Europe to break free from Russian orbit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz and House Majority Assistant Whip Casey Snider were among a contingent of Utah lawmakers who were in Washington, D.C., Wednesday to discuss important issues to the state and elsewhere in the West.

It was amazing, Schultz, R-Hooper, said in an interview Thursday, emphasizing how impressed he was with the responsiveness of Trump officials the delegation met.

On the same day, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins hosted an inaugural Farmers First roundtable at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Rollins hosted Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, the board of directors for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and over 20 farmers and ranchers from 11 states who run smaller-scale, independent, family-owned operations.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks with reporters at the White House, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Washington. | Alex Brandon

These operations, Rollins said, are at the heart of American agriculture and their success is critical for the economic viability of the industry.

Both Schultz and Snider, R-Paradise, are steeped in farming, but they also met with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service and other top ranking officials.

Following several natural disasters that deeply impacted farms and ranches across the country, Rollins announced plans to expedite $21 billion in disaster assistance.

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Farmers receiving livestock relief for drought and wildfire can expect to receive payments as soon as the end of this month.

Schultz said Rollins gets it: There must be some way to salvage small- and mid-sized farming operations in the United States.

Snider added the meeting convened included some East Coast farming operations, but was of particular note to smaller farming interests in Utah and elsewhere in the West.

I think it is pretty humbling, he said. That level of deference. ... And just the fact that a Cabinet member would spend two hours to talk about this issue when everything else is going on is, just  Im just incredibly grateful for that opportunity".

How the federal government plans to help

Rollins, in a release, said while the agency aims to move all payments out to struggling farmers expeditiously and to cut timelines where possible, some payments will take more time.

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At USDA, we understand there are many challenges to starting a new farm and maintaining a small family farm. While there are many programs to assist our farmers, we feel strongly that it takes government entities, nonprofits, and the private sector working together to improve the viability, prosperity, and longevity of small family farms, she noted.

I have had the honor of visiting many farms and speak with families over the last several months and have heard firsthand that farmers are struggling. We are working every day to improve the farm economy, Rollins said.

Alan Vause poses for a portrait at Sunnyfield Farm in Eden, Weber County, on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Vauses family has farmed the land for the last five generations. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Schultz said a main topic of conversation centered on how to build up a cadre of processing centers that support U.S. farmers and ranchers.

Farmers in Utah and elsewhere are struggling with the lack of ability to process U.S. production of food and fiber.

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Years ago, a processing plant for lamb shut down in adjacent Colorado.

That set producers in Utah in a quandary, only to be accentuated by the effects of COVID-19.

Local food supplies were a huge concern, but farmers and ranchers had no way to get it to market.

As the supply chain dried up for high-end meat due to the shuttering of cruise lines and expensive sit-down restaurants  and processing plants shut down due to the risk of spreading coronavirus  cattle, lambs and other animals sat idle on ranches and in feedlots.

In Utah we have small family farms for the most part, Schultz said. She understands and realizes that this consolidation we have happening in our farm industry is not good for America.

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The Utah lawmakers heard from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and from the U.S. Forest Service on issues related to air quality regulations and shared stewardships agreements when it comes to Forest Service land management.

Utah was among the first to ink a deal that solidified collaboration with the federal agency and land managers in Utah to better manage forests which are getting increasingly dry in the West, particularly.

Both Schultz and Snider said they believe Utah has caught the attention of Cabinet members of the Trump administration due to a number of factors, the states leadership and its continuing role as the best managed state in the nation.

In so many ways, we are leading out on some of these issues, as no one else in the nation, Schultz said. They want to figure out what Utah is doing and how we can help other states do it.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Chicago-born Robert Prevost was introduced to the crowd in Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV. He is also a citizen of Peru and lived there for years, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. He was a strong candidate to head the Catholic Church despite a long-standing taboo against a U.S. pope.

KSN sat down with a historian in Wichita, who said he was shocked that a man, originally from Chicago, was selected as the leader of the Catholic Church.

Wichita-based historian Ken Spurgeon calls this a day millions of Catholics wont soon forget. He said Pope Leo XIV has unique qualities that make him an interesting and promising selection.

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White smoke billowed, and cheers echoed, as an American cardinal was named pope for the first time in history.

Local Catholics express hope, joy over Pope Leo XIVs election

You think about 2,000 years, and theres never been an American, and here we are, 267 popes, and finally an American, Spurgeon said.

Spurgeon said Pope Leo XIV was not a frontrunner, but a healthy relationship with the late Pope Francis could have played a role. He said that even in tense times across the globe and with divided views of America, this move could be therapeutic.

Its kind of an interesting time for an American to be chosen, sort of world spokesperson. Maybe time will tell on that, Spurgeon said. It could be a wonderful thing, and it could be a great, even healing thing. I think it is great.

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He believes picking the name, meaning lion, could play off the longevity and good feelings of Pope Leo XIII, as the pope, during an unheard-of quarter-century run, from 1878 to 1903.

Is he selecting it because of the name or because of the history and legacy of Leo XIII? I mean, either would be great and interesting, Spurgeon said.

Pope Leo XIV has a backstory that Spurgeon said could make him the perfect fit.

Thirty-something years working in South America and Peru, thats unique. I mean its unique to have him be American, from Chicago, but its unique to have someone who has spent 30 years in the mission field, said Spurgeon.

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Spurgeon expects Pope Leo XIV to be very similar to Pope Francis. He thinks he will be more moderate and centrist. Spurgeon also believes Pope Leo XIV could be someone who can reach people from all walks of life.

Time will tell the legacy of the first-ever American elected pope.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Wichita Police Department is investigating at least five separate cases of counterfeit bills being used at local businesses.

A police spokesperson said many fake bills being used are $20s, but some have been $100s.

The WPD urges businesses to:

Carefully inspect bills before completing sales,

Use counterfeit detection pens or UV lights, and

Report suspicious transactions immediately to police by dialing 911.

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How to tell if your cash is fake

People holding garage sales should also be aware and prepared to check for counterfeit bills.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A local Massachusetts college was a small stepping stone to the historic moment Pope Leo XIV became the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV gave communion back in 2005 when he received an honorary degree from Merrimack College. He was recognized for his work in Augustinian education.

Father Ray Dlugos is Vice President of Mission and Ministry at Merrimack College, one of only two Augustinian colleges in North America.

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The other one is Villanova, where Dlugos was classmates with the newly ordained pope!

I was in at least two or three philosophy classes with him, and from that experience I can, and Im going to betray my Philadelphia roots and become a New Englander, I can tell you he is wicked smart! Father Dlugos said.

Hes very unassuming, you would not know that until youd have to encounter him and feel the strength of his intellect, the warmth of his personality and his just gentle goodness would come through, he was like that as a college student, Dlugos explained further.

Pope Leo XIV was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, entering the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977. He took his vows in 1981 and was ordained in 1982.

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Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, then earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

He was the apostolic administrator of Callao, Peru, from 2020 to 2021.

Pope Francis appointed him as the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023, which was responsible for selecting bishops and was in that position until the death of Francis on April 21.

He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on September 30, 2023.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Residents across a portion of Montgomery County found themselves in the dark for a portion of Thursday afternoon.

The AES Ohio Outage Map shows power has returned to residents, as of 5:06 p.m.

The outage appeared to primarily impact the New Lebanon area.

New Lebanon police said temporary stop signs were in place as a solution to traffic signals not working.

There is a widespread power outage in the village, said New Lebanon Police Department. Please use caution as all traffic lights are currently out.

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2 NEWS reached out to AES Ohio for information on what caused the outage.

To report an outage, 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.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY)  The Williamsburg Police Department is warning the community about scams involving misinformation about Pope Francis.

Police said scammers are spreading AI-generated images and fake news about Pope Francis death to steal personal and financial info.

These posts may be found on social media or search results, and clicking on the link can lead to malicious websites, fake Google pages or malware downloads.

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To protect yourself, the Williamsburg Police Department advises residents to keep their browser and operating system up to date, avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links and to be skeptical of viral headlines or shocking news.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
May 8---- The

had 65 sign-ups prior to the evening meeting of the

on Monday. The site had launched three days prior to that on May 2.

That information was part of an update from City Operations Director Kyle Box on the

a city effort to construct a $24.5 million open-access, high-speed fiber network throughout the city of Willmar.

The marketplace website, which can be reached from the city website at willmarmn.gov, allows residents to sign up for services and for project updates, while allowing the city to gauge residents' and businesses' interest.

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The interest shown by the city's residents and businesses will help assure the council and the city that the network will pay for itself as designed.

"I think it will be important for us to have an opportunity to keep this marketplace open for an extended period of time  three, four weeks, maybe  to really make sure that we're getting our message out there ... just to have people look at and sign up for service," Box said.

Residents and businesses should understand that they are not committing to receiving the service if they sign up, and that they have the ability to change their chosen plan at any time, according to Box.

Councilor Stephen Gardner pointed out that there is not yet an option on the marketplace for low-income residents, noting that having a lower-cost option is something that has been important throughout the planning process.

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Box explained that the city is committed to providing low-cost options and they will be available, but none of the internet service providers currently on the marketplace have provided one as of yet. The city has the option of including that as a requirement in the contracts that it signs with the ISPs that operate on its network.

Although there is not currently a low-cost option available for low-income residents, they are still encouraged to sign up.

will manage the system, and the city plans to take out bonds to pay for its construction. Lease fees from the multiple ISPs that will operate on the system will be used to pay the debt service on the bonds.

The city has partnered with

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to manage the online marketplace, according to Box. Silverlight also acts as an aggregate internet service provider and has contracts with three of the four ISPs currently on the marketplace, according to Box.

"There are four active ISPs operating on (the marketplace)," Box said, noting that the fourth ISP is Broadband MN, which operates locally out of Hutchinson. "We feel that's a comfortable number. It's a larger number than we initially had anticipated  we were going to be extremely happy with one, and ecstatic with two, especially when they're trying to propose an open-access, fiber network."

The city plans to build the network in three phases, but those plans may change depending on the locations of those who sign up, showing interest in receiving the service, according to Box.

Phase one, which is expected to begin construction sometime this year, includes the

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and all businesses and residences to First Street South between 19th Avenue Southwest and the BNSF Railway.

Phases two and three, which would be southeast and northeast Willmar, respectively, would be constructed in the following years.

However, if there are pockets of Willmar outside of phase one that have signed up to receive services, the city may expand phase one to those areas, according to Box.

Phases two and three may be constructed at the same time if enough people in those areas show interest via sign-ups.

At this time, the city and its contracted engineering firm, Bolton & Menk, are finalizing the project plans for phase one to make sure it is ready to go when the council is asked to consider letting the project out for bids, according to Box.

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Box expects bringing an action item to the council to authorize the project go out for bids by the first meeting in June, though it may happen as early as the May 19 meeting.

The bids would be out for a little more than 30 days and the City Council is expected to consider approving the bids at its first meeting in July, according to Box.

"That's the timeline that we're anticipating at this point," he said. "Obviously, it's still subject to change, but that's the goal that we are aiming for, for an authorization for the project."
DOLTON, Ill.  The newest Roman Catholic shrine in America has three bedrooms, two baths, a finished basement and used to be the home of newly elected Pope Leo XIV.

A day after the Vatican shocked the world by electing Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal who spent most of his career in Peru, to be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, pilgrims have started trickling to the brick bungalow on East 141st Place in suburban Dolton to see where he grew up.

The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Ill., on Friday morning. (Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP - Getty Images)

Robert and Susan Castagna traveled from Indiana to see the new pontiff's childhood home in Dolton, Ill., a place "close to the person who is so close to Jesus." (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News)

Bob and Susan Castagna drove over from St. John, Indiana, to see the pope's old home.

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I grew up in a house like this, Bob Castagna, 77, a lawyer who has worked for the church and is originally from New York, said as he looked at the bungalow. This fills my heart with joy.

It's a magnet, said Susan Castagna, 76, who said she grew up in Oregon. We just want to come someplace that is close to the person who is so close to Jesus, so close to God.

Marilyn Awong, who lives in Dolton, also described the house as a magnet and said the current owner even allowed her to look inside. She said he confided that his wife was pregnant and carrying a boy. She said she suggested he consider naming him Leo.

Marilyn Awong. (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News)

Its really awesome to know this house is in Dolton, Awong said. Its really positive for the village.

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Donna Sagna, who lives next to the home, set up a speaker with solemn Italian prayer music to welcome pilgrims into a place that has newly become sacred for Catholics around the world.

Donna Sagna. (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News)

"My idea is to support the people that come in the community to connect with God in some kind of way," Sagna said. She credits the power of her prayers for why "I was pulled into being close to the pope."

Sagna and Awong said that for a community fighting to overcome high crimes rates and recover from a political scandal involving local officials, having this connection to the pope brings them hope.

"It used to be violent over here, even in the pope's house. But we prayed and we prayed and you know, it's better now. It's better now," said Sagna, who also put a cross outside the pope's house with the faces of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and five other Black people whose killings rocked the nation and sparked national debates over police brutality and racial injustice.

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"I'm honored that I'm able to be a testament. I can tell everybody about my prayer life and how great God is," Sagna added.

'Just mind-blowing'

Watching all the unfolding devotion was Louis Prevost, one of Leos older brothers, who told NBC News on Thursday that he was still almost speechless.

Its just mind-blowing that my brother was elected pope, he said. Weve kind of always known he was special. We used to tease him about being pope when he was 6 years old.

John Prevost, the pope's other older brother, said he jokingly told his kid brother to watch the movie Conclave so he would know how to behave.

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I wanted to take his mind off of it, laugh about something, because this is now an awesome responsibility, he said.

John Prevost said in an interview from New Lenox, Ill., on Thursday that he jokingly had told his brother to watch Conclave to know how to behave. (Obed Lamy / AP)

Back in the '60s, the future pope and his family attended St. Mary of the Assumption Parish on 137th Street, which was then a busy church and school that straddled the Chicago-Dolton border.

Now it's a collection of abandoned buildings  physical reminders of the challenges Leo faces to revive a church that has been hit hard by the sexual abuse scandals and has been losing active worshippers for decades in the U.S.

Leo was born on the South Side of Chicago and the Windy City media was quick to celebrate their 69-year-old native son, and do so in Chicagoese.

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DA POPE blared the headline of the Chicago Sun-Times, the tabloid of record in this sprawling city of nearly 2.7 million people on Lake Michigan.

Meanwhile, famed Chicago street food purveyor Portillo's introduced a new Italian beef sandwich to honor the new pope. Dubbed The Leo, it features the holy trinity of pepperssweet, hot, or a combo.

Bishop Lawrence Sullivan holds Mass at Holy Name Cathedral to celebrate Pope Leo XIV in Chicago on Friday. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Over at Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, some 200 worshippers packed the pews at the 8 a.m. Mass, far more than usual for an early Friday morning.

Thanks for the gift of new Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Lawrence Sullivan said after handing out Communion to dozens of attendees.

Sister Maryjane Okolie is from Chicago's South Side, like the new pontiff. (Nicole Acevedo / NBC News)

And as the music from the organ filled the sanctuary, Sister Maryjane Okolie, who is based on the South Side, was beaming with pride.

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God has chosen the right person, Okolie said.

But Okolie said she did not expect the cardinals to chose a Southsider.

I was shocked, the sister said. And then hearing he is from Chicago, South Side, oh, my goodness. God is great!

Chicago is home to a large Latino community, including Peruvian Americans, and they too were rejoicing to have somebody in the Vatican who is very familiar with their region and culture.

Leo's mother, Mildred Martinez Prevost, was of Spanish heritage, and the new pontiff spent two decades in Peru, where he was the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and later the bishop of Chiclayo, even becoming a naturalized citizen of the South American country.

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As a Latin American living here in Chicago, I feel so proud that the pope is from Chicago and that he has dedicated a large part of his life serving the Latin American community, one woman told Telemundo.

Being from Chicago and also Latin American, he knows about the suffering of the people. It makes me happy that we have things in common, one man said.

Another Peruvian man told Telemundo that the pope spent about 10 years in the city where Im from, Chiclayo in Peru.

I have family who received their confirmation from him, he said, referring to the Catholic sacrament.

In Rome, Cardinal Blase Cupich, head of the Chicago Archdiocese, told NBC News' Lester Holt that they did indeed pick the right man for the job.

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Well, hes an individual who is just very real, Cupich said. What you see is what you get. Hes authentic. He cares about people. He wants to do the right thing. Hes not afraid to take a decision, and its been said he doesnt pick a fight, but he wont run from it either.

It wasn't just Chicagoans putting claims on Leo. The president of Villanova University in Pennsylvania, from which the pontiff graduated in 1977 with a math degree, said he emailed Leo not long after he was unveiled as the new pope.

I wrote to him yesterday congratulating him, and I jokingly said to him, Maybe I can get you for next years commencement speaker, the Rev. Peter Donohue told MSNBC's Ana Cabrera on Friday. And he wrote back and he said, Thanks, Peter. I appreciate it but Im probably going to be busy.

People exit after Mass at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Friday. (Carlos Osorio / Reuters)

Nicole Acevedo reported from Chicago, and Daniella Silva and Corky Siemaszko reported from New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Macaus cultural and creative industries made a strong impact at the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) 2025, recently held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) organized the Macau Creative Pavilion to promote local intellectual property (IP) brands globally and facilitate business partnerships.

The pavilion showcased 12 original Macau IP brands, attracting over 14,000 visitors during the three-day event. It hosted 14 promotional sessions that drew more than 100 international buyers and institutions, leading to nearly 300 business negotiations and several preliminary cooperation agreements.

These brands integrate distinctive local cultural elements into innovative designs and have formed partnerships with tourism, commercial, and leisure enterprises, including the Macau International Airport and organizations across the Greater Bay Area.

Notable exhibitors included Whatelephant, Bucket King, Cosmic Travelers, and Mr. Bubbles.

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), HKILS is one of Asias premier licensing exhibitions, providing a platform for global licensors, brands, and buyers to explore cross-disciplinary business collaborations. This years event featured over 550 brands, including international giants like Coca-Cola and Monopoly, alongside the rising stars from Macau, Hong Kong and the Design Licensing and Business (DLAB) Support Scheme.

Nadia Shaw
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

Happy Friday! For one Kentucky mom, stepping out the door to a wall of 22 boxes containing Dum-Dum lollipops lining the hall must have caused quite the confusion. But her 8-year-old son, who coincidentally has access to her Amazon account, appeared less confused by the arrival of 70,000 lollipops: Mom, my suckers are here!

(For all we put our moms through, giving them the gift of thoughtful, informed journalism is the least we can do this Mothers Day. Click here to explore our Dispatch membership options!)

Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories

The Latin Yankee Takes Rome

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, arrives on the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time after the cardinals end the conclave in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Roman Catholic Church has its first American pope. But dont worryits not Donald Trump (despite his recent campaigning for the papacy).

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Just after 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signaled that the papal conclave had chosen the next bishop of Rome. On the second day of voting in a closed-door process, at least 89or two-thirdsof 133 voting cardinals lent their support to a 69-year-old Chicago native: Cardinal Robert Prevost. Now called Leo XIV, the new pope will be tasked with serving as the spiritual guide to more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide at a moment of growth and upheaval for the church.

Donning red and gold vestments, the new pontiff addressed crowds in Italian and Spanish from a balcony overlooking St. Peters Square in Vatican City yesterday evening. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward, he said, before speaking directly to the church of Rome: We have to look together how to be a missionary church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.

Prevost is assuming the papacy at an uncertain time, as the Catholic Church confronts a polarized world and navigates internal clashes between modernity and tradition. Despite initial reports that he aligns in many ways with the late Pope Francis, its unclear whether Prevost will adopt the often progressive approach of his predecessor or seek to return to the Vatican to its more traditional roots.

Prevosts first encounters with Catholicism came early in life. He served as an altar boy and later attended a seminary high school. He eventually went on to complete a doctorate in canon law after earning a bachelors degree in mathematics in 1977. Prevost was ordained as a priest in 1982, and three years later, moved to Peru, where he would serve as a missionary before eventually leaving to head the Order of St. Augustine between 2001 and 2013.

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Prevost later returned to Peru in 2014, becoming a citizen and eventually the bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, which includes the populous northwestern city of Piura. He ended his mission in Peru in 2023, after being named the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin Americaa department that oversees some 40 percent of the worlds Catholicsand head of the Dicastery for Bishops, which is charged with leading the selection of new bishops. Prevost became a cardinal the same year but continued to profess his commitment to the missionary cause. I still consider myself a missionary, he told Vatican News in 2023. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.

In February 2024, Pope Francis promoted Prevost to the position of cardinal-bishop. While Prevost is generally known as a supporter of Pope Francis, its unclear whether Prevost will take up the often controversial causes of his predecessor, which arguably left the church more divided than when he inherited it in 2013.

Prevostonce described as the dignified middle of the road candidate for the papacyhas criticized the former popes endorsement of blessings for same-sex marriages, arguing that support for the practice alienates bishops in Africa, where views on sexuality are often highly conservative. But on the role of women in the church, Prevost has largely aligned with his predecessor in opposing their ordination. Although he has said women can add a great deal to the life of the church on many different levels, he has argued that making them priests doesnt necessarily solve a problem. It might make a new problem.

Francis call for world leaders to build bridges, not walls, also seems to have resonated with Prevost. His appointment breaks a decades-long taboo on electing American popes for fear that the worlds secular superpower would dominate the Catholic Churchs religious authority, but for now, the new pope looks more poised to be a thorn in the White Houses side than an arrow in its quiver. On X, Prevost has posted and reposted several articles criticizing the Trump administrations hardline immigration policy, foreshadowing possible clashes between the Vatican and Washington.

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The new pontiff will also inherit the papacy amid continuing efforts to root out sexual abuse within the church. But Prevost himself has faced scrutiny for his past handling of abuse cases. As head of the Augustinians Midwest province in Chicago, a role he served in from 1998 to 2010, he permitted a priest with a known record of sexually assaulting minors to live in an Augustinian rectory close to a school. In a more recent incident, three women accused him of failing to launch an immediate investigation into abuse allegations against clergymen in the Diocese of Chiclayo. But commentators have challenged claims about his purported negligence.

Pope Francis made history as the first Jesuit pope; the new pontiff has made his own history by being the first pope from the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), founded in 1244 and focused on community and service. Community is the axis around which Augustinian religious life turns: a community of brothers who live harmoniously in their house, united by a single soul and a single heart, seeking God together and open to the service of the Church, reads the constitution of the OSA.

And Prevost himself has espoused those ideals of community and service. We are often preoccupied with teaching doctrine, the way of living our faith, but we risk forgetting that our first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ and to bear witness to our closeness to the Lord, he said in a 2023 interview with Vatican News. This comes first: to communicate the beauty of the faith, the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus. It means that we ourselves are living it and sharing this experience.

Todays Must-Read

Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch (Photograph from Getty Images)

Claire Lehmann

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We tend to take our modern world for grantedrunning water, piped-in gas, an electricity grid, internet, superabundant consumer goods, medicines, and life-saving surgeries performed under anesthesia. Citizens in a modern liberal society are like fish in water: They dont comprehend the luxuriousness of their lifestyles and could not survive without them. We are surrounded by the fruits of liberal capitalism to the point where critics of this system rely on the very tools created by it to condemn it. Yet success has bred complacency, and in the third decade of the 21st century, this complacency is now coming home to roost.

Toeing the Company Line

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Forward bases give the U.S. vital access and advantages.

Reps. Lisa McClain and Roger Williams and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson depart a news conference following a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 6, 2025, in Washington. House Republicans continue to work on finding consensus for their budget plan. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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Worth Your Time

In The New Yorker, Jordan Salama detailed migrant life in the big city. In recent years, the newest residents have come mostly from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. Such migrants line up each day at dawn at paradasstopshoping to get picked up for day jobs, like tiling, roofing, or painting. At least among Spanish speakers, paradas across New York are known by names that describe either their location or their purpose, such as La de Limpieza (the Housecleaning One) or Home Depot. How these spring up is less complicated than one might thinkpeople learn to do whatever work is immediately available in the area, he wrote. Earlier this year, after the Trump Administration took power and began what it called the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, the numbers lessened for a whilepeople are terrified of ICE. A regular told me that, at least twice, an unmarked car pulled up to the parada, sending everyone running. But attendance at the parada has since returned to pre-Trump levels, despite the obvious risks. People have to work.

Russias creed is not Orthodox Christianity but a religion of war created and propagated by state and Church officials alike, Ian Garner argued in New Statesman. The most important date in this religions calendar is not Easterit is Victory Day on 9 May.  Under Putin, Second World War celebrations have become central to state ideology. The young president attended a Victory Day parade on Red Square just two days after ascending to office in 2000, and he has since transformed the day into a centrepiece of state religion. The increasingly bombastic celebration of Russias role in the Second World War has been described many ways, from cult to pobedobesie, a Russian neologism that decries the obsession as victory fever. But above all, this celebration bears all the hallmarks of a religion. It has its own holidays (on 9 May and other dates that mark great victories); its own temples (which take the form of memorial and museum complexes both Soviet and new); and holy scripture in the form of novels, films, and textbooks that reiterate a myth of religious sacrifice.

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In the Zeitgeist

Indie rock band Arcade Fire releases its new album today: Pink Elephant, produced by Columbia Records. If you havent already woken up to the Montreal-based band, their performance at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival might do the trick.

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Conservative radio host and pundit Erick Erickson slammed President Donald Trumps newly announced trade agreement with the United Kingdom as shitty.

Its actually a pretty shitty deal for Americans, he wrote on social media.

Trump on Thursday hailed the accord  thats been condemned by many top economists and which will, in effect, triple taxes that Americans pay on imports from the U.K.  and said it was a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.

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But Erickson vehemently disagreed.

First, they told us the 10% tariff was just a baseline for negotiations to get to free trade deals, he wrote on X, the Elon Musk-owned platform formerly known as Twitter.

Now were being told the 10% tariff is for keeps. Thats just a tax on the American people, he added.

It's actually a pretty shitty deal with the UK. First, they told us the 10% tariff was just a baseline for negotiations to get to free trade deals. Now we're being told the 10% tariff is for keeps. That's just a tax on the American people.  Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) May 8, 2025

In a later post, Erickson said the dirty little secret is that many of the suddenly loud pro-tariff voices dont like them, but want to be seen as team members and are mad at the rest of us for not joining them in lying.

Dirty little secret is many of the suddenly loud pro-tariff voices don't like them, but want to be seen as team members and are mad at the rest of us for not joining them in lying.  Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) May 8, 2025

Erickson also shared conservative economist Joel Griffiths rebuking of the deal.

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Griffith suggested on X: Tripling our tariffs to 10% on UK imports is hardly a win for the American people and its hardly reciprocal, at > 5x the UKs level.

This so-called trade deal is a multi-billion $ tax hike. And nationalizing (socializing) British Steel at Trumps behest is hardly free market, he added.

Related...
A chat bubble shows ChatGPT's response to a user query of 'What's a deepfake?' (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

ChatGPT was hardly a household name when Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski first pitched state regulations limiting artificial intelligence in elections in January 2024.

Seventeen months later, the AI-powered chatbot is part of the zeitgeist.

Probably everyone has it downloaded on their phones right now, Baginski, a Cranston Democrat, said in an interview Wednesday.

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Its only a matter of time, in Baginskis view, before the rapid embrace of artificial intelligence filters through to local elections, potentially harming candidates and voters manipulated by deceptive images, audio and video created by generative AI. Which is why Baginski is again pushing for legislation that would restrict and regulate election deepfakes for the second year in a row.

Like last year, her proposal sailed through the Rhode Island House of Representatives Thursday, with a 64-1 vote, with one abstention.

Rep. Jennifer Stewart, a Pawtucket Democrat, cast the sole vote against the bill. Stewart in an interview Monday cited First Amendment concerns as reason why she voted against the bill, along with questions over enforcement.

I am certainly sympathetic, and take the problems its trying to address very seriously, Stewart said. I also think we really need to uphold the First Amendment and make sure that is protected.

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Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat, abstained. Corveses son-in-law works as policy director for Meta.

But across the rotunda, companion legislation from Sen. Lou DiPalma remains held for review by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, the same place where it languished and eventually died in the 2024 session.

DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, insists he intends to shepherd the legislation across the finish line this year.

This is an opportunity for us to get out in front of whats going to happen, DiPalma said in an interview Thursday. Its going to happen in Rhode Island. Lets get out there and put some regulations in place before it does.

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Longstanding fears that AI could be used to manipulate elections and deceive voters was put to the test in 2024, with mixed results, according to experts. In January 2024, a robocall impersonating then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden urged New Hampshire voters not to participate in the states presidential primary. The high-profile example of deceitful AI was later linked to a Democratic political consultant fined $6 million by the Federal Communications Commission.

But AI was used in positive ways too, helping candidates connect to voters more efficiently through self-deployed chatbots, emails and text campaigns. In Tokyos 2024 gubernatorial election, an obscure independent candidate placed fifth out of 56 contenders after using AI to respond to 8,600 submitted questions from voters, according to analysis by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation out of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Secretary of State Gregg Amore acknowledges there are positive and negative outcomes for AI in elections. The legislation, which has Amores backing, doesnt stop anyone from relying on artificial intelligence to advance campaigns or candidacies. Instead, it simply requires that the candidate, campaign or political action committee wielding AI disclose they are using manipulated images, audio or video in any ads that run within 90 days of an election.

Were not designing a felony here, were not trying to put someone away, Amore said in an interview Thursday. Were just trying to make sure the public has accurate information 90 days before an election. And that theyre comfortable with the information theyre receiving  who its from and how it was created.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore supports legislation to restrict and regulate election deepfakes. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Proactive, not reactive

Its not unlike the 2012 state law that forced special interest groups to publicly report donations and spending to the state elections panel and include financial disclosures in any campaign ads, John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, wrote in a March 18 letter to the House Committee on State Government and Elections.

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We hadnt yet seen large expenditures of dark money, but we knew we soon would, Marion wrote, referring to the 2012 state law passed in reaction to the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case. In 2014, that prediction came true and the state was ready to respond because of the General Assemblys foresight.

At least two dozen states have passed some form of regulations around AI advertising in elections, the bulk of them enacting laws in 2024 or later, according to an online tracker by D.C. think tank Public Citizen.

Rhode Island sought, but failed to join them in 2024, with the bill languishing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Amore chalked up the stall to concerns raised by broadcasters and technology companies afraid of legal action from AI ads broadcast or posted through their platforms without proper disclosure. This years bill shifts the onus, and risk of civil court charges, from the content creator to the candidate, political action committee or campaign.

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And it expands disclosure requirements to AI ads promoted via mobile applications and streaming services. Like last years iteration, satire and parody are exempt.

Despite these tweaks, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island again raised First Amendment concerns in a March 18 letter to lawmakers.

While we recognize that free speech standards in the political arena are not limitless, this legislation, as worded, suggests that any image or recording that meets the definition of synthetic media is deceptive or fraudulent and can therefore be regulated, the ACLU wrote in its unsigned letter. To allow the government to regulate or ban political speech that some might view as misleading undermines the breathing space that robust political speech requires, whether generated with the help of artificial intelligence or not.

To allow the government to regulate or ban political speech that some might view as misleading undermines the breathing space that robust political speech requires, whether generated with the help of artificial intelligence or not.

 American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island in a letter to House lawmakers regarding proposed regulation of election deepfakes

Indeed, misinformation and deception in elections is a centuries-old malady, considerably worsened and more evident as technology has advanced, as documented in a 2022 report by the Bipartisan Policy Center. Ahead of the 2000 election, a humor magazine manipulated Google search results so that a search of dumb motherf****r redirected to a George W. Bush merchandise center. The lighthearted Googlebombing devolved into more sinister tactics by 2016, when Russian interference into the U.S. presidential elections prompted a yearslong special federal investigation and report, resulting in 100 criminal charges to 34 individuals and 3 companies.

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Given the rapid adoption of ChatGPT, Baginski and DiPalma dont want to wait for the next iteration of technology to sow confusion in elections.

It may not seem urgent yet because nothing has happened here yet, DiPalma said. Once something happens in a local election, watch how fast this passes.

A committee vote on DiPalmas bill has not been scheduled as of Thursday, according to Greg Pare, a Senate spokesperson.

Senate President Valarie Lawson remained noncommittal.

I will be reviewing the committee testimony and speaking to the [Senate Committee] Chairman [Matthew] LaMountain regarding the particulars of this legislation, Lawson said in a statement Thursday. All elections should be conducted with the utmost fidelity and the highest standards of transparency and fairness.

Updated to include a comment from Rep. Jennifer Stewart.

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May 8ROCHESTER  Father Will Thompson, vicar general of the archdiocese of Winona-Rochester, said he never expected to see the Catholic Church appoint someone born in the U.S. as pope.

Thompson gave public remarks at the diocese headquarters Thursday afternoon in response to Chicago-born missionary Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, being elected as the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church.

"The church in America is seen as a little cavalier," Thompson said, speaking in the sanctuary at the diocese's new pastoral center in northwest Rochester.

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Thompson said he believes that attitude is rooted in the democratic culture in the U.S.

"The church is not a democracy," Thompson said. "The church wants to hear from all people within it, but the church is not a democracy."

Along with surprise, Thompson said the diocese, the church and Christians are rejoicing with the news from Rome.

Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, emphasized a message of peace when he spoke to a crowd from St. Peter's Basilica in Italian and Spanish, but not English.

Thompson said people are scrutinizing what Leo says and how he says it to get an indication of what his papacy will be like.

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"They're looking for any insight," he said.

Thompson said Leo's choice of languages showed acknowledgment to the Italian people gathered outside the basilica, church tradition and reflected his experience including as a president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023 in Peru.

"With all of these different experiences, we can see him as someone really close to us," Thompson said. "He's now a holy father for everybody."

Leo succeeds Pope Francis who died April 21, 2025.

In his time as pope, Francis criticized the rise of anti-immigration policies in the U.S. and right-wing populism and supported decriminalizing homosexuality.

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Thompson said Francis brought to mainstream Catholics a philosophy of "synodality," which is a concept of "walking together." Synodality emphasizes the need for mutual listening and collaboration among all levels of the Church, from the lay people to the pope, Thompson said.

Leo's first message as pope, emphasizing peace indicates a willingness to continue that philosophy, Thompson said.

"He seems to be signaling that he's going to continue to bridge gaps," Thompson said. "Gaps in the world, gaps in the church or even gaps within families as we walk together as a church."

Emphasizing peace also seemed to signal his willingness to be a part of bridging those gaps wherever he is asked to be," Thompson said.

"I think he's going to take every seat at the table he is offered," he said.
FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A statement released by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools on Thursday offers new details in the districts ongoing budget shortfall problem.

Earlier this week, FOX8 received a copy of a letter from State Auditor Dave Boliek that was sent to WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus on April 21.

State auditors office investigates Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools finances

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The letter states that the state auditors office will investigate the school districts financial records.

According to the audit of 2024, the district is short $16 million. However, the district said in the statement that the budget shortfall is higher than previously projected.

The exact amount of the budget shortfall was not listed in the statement.

A finance firm that WS/FCS brought in to analyze their spending said they were overspending on personnel costs. According to the school districts statement, McManus was not aware of that when she presented the numbers.

Maintaining the financial health of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is of utmost importance to district. To make the best financial decisions, you need to have accurate fiscal projections. As hard as it is to eliminate positions, we would have done more before this year if we had known we were overspending, McManus said. If we had accurate projections, we would have made different decisions.

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The state auditors office said that anyone with any knowledge of fraud should come forward.

An investigation has been launched into the WS/FCS budget by the state of North Carolina.

In the letter, Boliek informed McManus that the school system is being audited, and it is centered around the districts financial records and transactions, including payroll and use of federal grants.

On May 1, the NCDoPI sent a letter to the district with a detailed breakdown showing the school system overspent by $16 million.

How could this happen? Thats the question a newly hired financial firm is trying to answer for the district. The state is giving the school system until May 15 to get to the bottom of it.

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Theres a lot on the line for the district. That May 1 letter says the district needs to make changes or face sanctions.

North Carolina Board of Education Chairwoman Deanna Kaplan sent the following statement:

We are deeply concerned about the issues raised by the State. We want the community to know that the Board is committed to adopting and maintaining a balanced budget. We take this responsibility seriously. Being in good financial standing is something we are all committed to achieving. We will develop a plan to submit to the State Board of Education that will address the financial concerns as well as outline steps to mitigate future budget issues. North Carolina Board of Education Chairwoman Deanna Kaplan

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Chairman Don Martin says he is hopeful the school system can figure it out.

Because never has the county had to bail out a school district in any situation, and Im really hoping thats not going to happen in any way this time, Martin said.

Martin said that he doesnt think this will impact the county receiving grants further down the road.

Doubtful that would be a limitation. Essentially, the district is a large organization that is stable aside from this one little blip at this point. I think that could be corrected and would not inhibit a federal reward in any kind of way, Martin said.

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State Board of Education warns Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools to fix budget or face sanctions

McManus accepted the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Thomas Kranz. His last day is now Friday. His last day was previously set for June 30.

McManus will appoint an interim chief financial officer while the district looks for a permanent replacement.

She is set to retire on 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 FOX8 WGHP.
By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) - Wirecard fugitive Jan Marsalek and the leader of a British-based Russian spy ring discussed sourcing drones for Russia's war in Ukraine, trading blood diamonds and providing mercenaries in Africa, according to messages shown to a London court.

Six Bulgarians who were part of a unit tasked by Marsalek to carry out surveillance on journalists, dissidents and Ukrainian soldiers being trained at a U.S. military base in Germany are facing up to 14 years in jail for spying for Russia.

Three of the group were convicted in March after a trial, while its leader Orlin Roussev, 47, and his deputy Biser Dzhambazov, 43, pleaded guilty last year.

Prosecutors say the unit did not work directly for Russian intelligence and were motivated mostly by money.

The Russian embassy in London has not commented, though the Kremlin has always rejected such spying allegations. Relations between the nations have plunged to post-Cold War lows since the start of the Ukraine war, with Britain accusing Russia of trying to cause "mayhem" in Europe.

Marsalek's lawyer previously declined to comment.

Marsalek and Roussev repeatedly referred to Russia's GRU military intelligence and other security services, and discussed plans to supply drones to Russia and weapons to Cameroon, as well as speaking of their admiration for Elon Musk, in messages relied on by prosecutors.

Marsalek told Roussev that he had met with "GRU guys" and "will be introduced to the drone-procurement guru to discuss requirements", and discussed obtaining and shipping drones from China.

In January 2023, Roussev told Marsalek about how his Chinese contacts wanted "NATO/American weapons and gear captured in Ukraine" in order to reverse engineer the technology.

The pair also talked about selling wheat to Cameroon, with Roussev saying that an order for weapons "will also be on the table", as well as for Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

PROVIDE MERCENARIES

"We can pretty much organise anything they need except nukes ... even the nukes if they pay", Marsalek said. "Also happy to provide mercenaries to fight Boko Haram."

Roussev spoke in glowing terms about SpaceX CEO Musk and his satellite system Starlink, saying that, unlike British networks, Starlink "allows everything from Russia ... and Iran".

"Musk is super cool," Marsalek replied.

The pair also talked about contacts who wanted "guns and light infantry vehicles" who would pay with diamonds.
SHOREWOOD HILLS, Wis. (WFRV)  An 18-year-old from southern Wisconsin was arrested for OWI twice within an hour after first submitting a preliminary breath test of more than five times the legal limit.

The 18-year-old, who officers with the Shorewood Hills Police Department say is from Madison, was initially pulled over around 9:30 p.m. on May 5.

Two in Wisconsin arrested on drug charges after hotel employee discovers narcotics in room

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During the traffic stop, the officer reportedly noticed signs of impairment. She was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) after her preliminary breath test (PBT) result was .41, which is more than five times the legal limit.

Officers say she was processed and released to a responsible party at 10:21 p.m.

Shortly after, around 10:36 p.m., the same officers spotted the same vehicle at high speeds with poor lane control. After a traffic stop, the same 18-year-old was found to be driving.

Suspect in Marinette 2-vehicle crash near local Kwik Trip sought for hit-and-run

Once again, she failed field sobriety tests, and a PBT revealed a .32. She was arrested once again for OWI, but this time she was taken to the Dane County Jail on a 12-hour hold.

This incident highlights the dangers of impaired driving and the critical importance of strong OWI enforcement. The Shorewood Hills Police Department remains committed to keeping our roads safe. Shorewood Hills Police Department

No additional information was provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
When 27-year-old Cody Kabus realized the massive buck hed just killed after two days of tracking wasnt actually his deer, he made a decision few hunters would find easy: he returned the buck to the rightful hunter. As a result of that tough but honest decision, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources honored him with the states Ethical Hunter Award last month.

Kabus, a resource efficiency manager who contracts with the U.S. Army, had taken the afternoon off work to squeeze in a bow hunt on Nov. 10, a week before the 2023 gun season opened. He was hunting from a treestand on family land near Independence, occasionally rattling to see what might turn up, when he heard something crashing through the woods.

It was a good-size buck, so I grabbed my bow and stopped him [with a grunt], Kabus tells Outdoor Life. He started looking at me as I drew my bow. Then, just as I released the arrow, he lurched forward. I immediately knew it wasnt a great shot. It hit too far back.

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Not wanting to bump the buck, Kabus decided to back out and wait a bit before tracking. He went back a few hours later with a flashlight. By that time, it was well after dark.

I only found about seven or eight drops of blood, Kabus says. It wasnt much.

When the scant blood trail ran dry, Kabus decided to come back in the morning. Before he turned in for the night, he informed a neighbor on the bordering property that he had shot a buck, but that it wasnt a great shot. The neighbor said another hunter had shot a buck near there two days before his own Friday hunt, but he hadnt been able to locate either. The neighbor promised hed keep an eye out for Kabuss deer.

The following day, Kabus heard from his neighbor: Hed spotted a buck walking along the road with an arrow sticking out of its side.

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I didnt want him to suffer, so I hurried out there as fast as I could, Kabus says.

Over the next two days Kabus tracked the buck, getting permission from two different neighboring property owners to search their properties.

I walked and walked without seeing any blood, but I had this feeling that I needed to keep going.

On Sunday evening, more than 48 hours after he made his shot, Kabus hiked up to the top of a ridge on the neighbors property. He looked over the hill, and as he was scanning the terrain, he saw a big rack resting on the leaves.

I saw this buck just laid out, Kabus says. I said some colorful words in that moment.

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Although the deer looked dead, Kabus approached it cautiously. When he got within 20 yards, the buck jumped up and attempted to run.

I saw his front leg just collapse as he tripped and fell into a bunch of brush, Kabus says. I thought that was odd because my arrow hit my buck pretty far back.

Kabus approached even more cautiously, and was able to finish him with another arrow. Once the deer was still, he waited a few more minutes just to make sure before closing the remaining distance.

After following a wounded buck for two days, Cody Kabus realized it wasnt the buck hed shot from his treestand. Photo by Cody Kabus

I was looking at that rack and thinking, This is the biggest buck I have ever seen, Kabus says. Then, when I rolled him over, I saw another arrow, but it wasnt one of mine.

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Thats when he realized this wasnt the buck hed shot Friday afternoon.

Kabus wasnt sure what to do in that moment. Even though hed been the one to kill the deer, he didnt want to take credit for tagging a buck that wasnt his. He called up a buddy for advice. His friend asked if he knew anyone else who hunted in the area. Thats when Kabus remembered the other hunter his neighbor had mentioned who hadnt found his buck. His neighbor helped put the two men in touch.

The first hunter arrived and confirmed the arrow was his. He had shot the big buck more than half a mile away, four days before Kabus dispatched it. His mechanical broadhead had only penetrated a few inches before striking the shoulder blade.

I never once thought about keeping that buck, Kabus says. I may have finished him off, but he was in pretty bad shape when I found him. I got his buck back to him, and Im good with that.

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Unfortunately, Kabus was never able to recover the buck that he shot. While the end of his own hunt weighed on him, he was content with having helped out a fellow hunter. After Kabuss coworker Matt Schneider heard the story, however, he thought his friend deserved some recognition. Schneider nominated Kabus for the Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award.

Established in 1997 by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the award recognizes hunters who demonstrate exceptional moral actions and character while out in the field.

Kabus holds up his certificate (third from the right) beside Babino, who returned two rifles to a hunter whod left them behind. Photo courtesy Wisconsin DNR

Kabus was recognized as a 2024 recipient of the award, along with Eliot Babino of Platteville, who found two hunting rifles left at a boat landing and, with the help of a DNR conservation officer, was able to return the guns to their rightful owners.

We want to ensure future generations have good stories to hear about hunters doing the right thing. Or, better yet, see these actions as they occur in the field, Wisconsin DNR hunter education administrator Renee Thok said in a DNR press release. These ethical acts are real-life examples of how to hunt correctly and ethically, and it is very important to highlight and honor them.

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Read Next: Wisconsin Bowhunter Bleats in 16-Pointer and Kills It with a 20-Year-Old Bow

But for Kabus, returning that big buck to the right hunter was never about receiving recognition.

When were hunting, I just think this is what we should do. As neighbors, we watch out for each other, Kabus says. Doing the right thing means more to me than having that buck on the wall.
A Wisconsin man charged with crimes for a school shooting committed by his daughter is the latest U.S. parent taken to court for violence caused by a child.

Prosecutors have extended responsibility beyond shooters if they believe there is evidence that a parent contributed to the violence.

Jeffrey Rupnow is charged with intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 causing death. In December, his daughter, Natalie Rupnow, 15, killed a student and a teacher at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, and killed herself.

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Over a lawyer's objections, Rupnow's bond was set at $20,000 Friday.

A look at other cases:

Oxford school shooting

Jennifer and James Crumbley were the first U.S. parents held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by a child. They are serving 10-year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter.

Their son, Ethan Crumbley, killed four students and wounded others at Michigan's Oxford High School in 2021. The school revealed his violent drawings to the Crumbleys a few hours before the shooting, but they declined to take him home. No one checked his heavy backpack for a gun.

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The Crumbleys were not aware of their son's plans, but they had given a gun as a gift a few days earlier. Prosecutors said Ethan's actions were foreseeable and that the Crumbleys had failed to prevent the violence.

July Fourth tragedy

Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to misdemeanors for endorsing his son's Illinois gun permit in 2019 despite knowing that Robert Crimo III had expressed suicidal thoughts.

Three years later, Crimo III killed seven people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, a suburb north of Chicago.

He was criminally reckless the moment he submitted that affidavit, prosecutor Eric Rinehart said of the father.

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Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail. His son is serving a life prison sentence after pleading guilty in March to murder.

Gun as a gift

In Georgia, Colin Gray is awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of two students and two teachers last year at Apalachee High School in Winder.

Gray gave his son, Colt Gray, an assault-style firearm as a gift and was aware that the childs mental health had deteriorated, investigators said.

Colt Gray had a shrine above his home computer for the gunman in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school massacre, according to prosecutors.

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Colin Gray has pleaded not guilty. In a separate case, his son has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Boy, 6, shot teacher

Deja Taylor was prosecuted in state and federal court after her 6-year-old son took her gun to school and wounded a teacher in a classroom full of students in Newport News, Virginia, in 2023.

Taylor was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for a drug-related crime connected to possessing a gun. Separately, she was sentenced to two years in state prison for child neglect.

That is my son, so I am, as a parent, obviously willing to take responsibility for him because he cant take responsibility for himself, Taylor told Good Morning America in 2023.

The teacher, Abigail Zwerner, told a judge she wasn't sure whether it would be my final moment on Earth.
A Wauwatosa police squad on the scene of a non-fatal officer-involved shooting. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

The State Assemblys Committee on Judiciary held a public hearing Wednesday to discuss a bill which, if passed, would restrict the use of John Doe hearings in cases where prosecutors decline to charge police officers after deadly force incidents. Republicans and law enforcement supporters of the bill (AB-34) said officers need to be protected from repeated investigations, and that anti-police groups have abused Wisconsins John Doe law to harass innocent officers whove been involved in civilian deaths. A long line of attorneys, legislators, social workers and others spoke in opposition to the bill, arguing that it adds to an array of legal privileges and protections police already enjoy.

Wisconsins John Doe law allows for a judge to be petitioned to review a case where prosecutors have already decided not to file charges. Once a John Doe hearing has been called, the judge may hear arguments from the petitioner as to why probable cause should be found that a crime was committed. If the judge agrees that probable cause does indeed exist, then special prosecutors may be appointed by the judge to review the case. Those prosecutors, however, ultimately decide whether charges will be pursued, regardless of whether a judge finds probable cause of a crime.

The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.

Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), an author of the bill, said the law had been used to unfairly target two officers whove been involved in deadly incidents. Former Wauwatosa officer Joseph Mensah killed Jay Anderson Jr. in 2016, claiming that Anderson lunged for a gun on the passenger seat of his vehicle. Anderson was the second person Mensah had killed in a year. He was involved in a total of three fatal shootings over his five year career at Wauwatosa PD. Mensah left Wauwatosa PD in late 2020 and was hired by the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department, where he is a detective.

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In 2021, a John Doe hearing was called to review Andersons shooting, after which Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Glenn Yamahiro found probable cause existed to charge Mensah with homicide by negligent use of a dangerous weapon. The second John Doe hearing, started in 2023, focused on Madison police officer Matthew Kenney for the 2019 killing of 19-year-old Toney Robinson. A judge declined to allow the hearing to go forward.

After the investigations, the court confirmed that he had acted in self-defense, Moses said of the John Doe hearing in Andersons case. Mensahs John Doe hearing mirrored reviews done by the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office, U.S. Attorneys Office, FBI, and Wauwatosa PD, he said. Its concerning that such investigations, which echo previous exhaustions, can be perpetuated, consuming significant time and resources, said Moses.

While speaking Wednesday, Moses incorrectly referenced Mensahs 2015 shooting as being the reason for the John Doe hearing in 2021. Officer Mensah used self-defense to protect himself while on the job in a situation in 2015, Moses testified on Wednesday. In 2015, Mensah killed 29-year-old Antonio Gonzales while still in his probationary period at Wauwatosa PD. Neither Gonzales, nor Mensahs third fatal shooting of Alvin Cole in 2020, were the subjects of John Doe hearings.

Last year, when the bill was first introduced, Moses joined Sen. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) in claiming that families of people killed by police were seeking vengeance against officers. Moses confused details of Mensahs shootings during those hearings as well. When asked about the mix up, Moses admitted to Wisconsin Examiner that he had not closely followed the Mensah cases.

Rep. Clint Moses (Wisconsin Legislature)

As Moses testified on Wednesday, Hutton joined him in the committee room. Hutton, who has brought forward Senate versions of the bill, has said that although hes taken extensive feedback from law enforcement about the bill, he has not reached out to the families of people killed by police. During a hearing in February, Mensah testified in favor of the bill.

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Mark Sette, vice president of the Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police, said the bill is crucial and that law enforcement have both the duty and right to use deadly force to protect themselves or others. Sette said that police must make split second decisions in high-stress circumstances, and that deadly use of force incidents are rare. Sette praised Wisconsins process of conducting reviews of deadly force incidents led by an outside agency, saying that the investigations are thorough. Sette said that repeated investigations prevent officers from moving on with their lives, and trap them in a cycle of psychological trauma and financial stress.

West Allis Police Chief Patrick Mitchell, a former president and current legislative chair of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, also praised the investigative process. Mitchell pointed to the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team (MAIT) as an example of how thorough reviews of deadly force incidents by police can be.

Not everyone was sold on the bill, however. Rep. Andrew Hysell questioned Sette and Mitchell about whether or not its possible for a district attorney to make a mistake in clearing an officer of wrongdoing. Sette said although its possible, that its incredibly unlikely because of the thoroughness of deadly force investigations. Hysell said that district attorneys arent infallible, and that the bill  if passed  would set in stone a prosecutors decision, and deny one legal avenue for families of people killed by police.

Detective Joseph Mensah (right) testifies before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

After Moses, Sette, and Mitchell came numerous people from a variety of backgrounds voicing opposition to the bill. Gregory Jones, vice president of the Wisconsin NAACP and president of the organizations Dane County branch, urged lawmakers to dig deep, ask tough questions, and consider all aspects of how the bill could negatively impact civil rights and the pursuit of justice.

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Amanda Merkwae, advocacy director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin, stressed that the bill takes away judicial discretion and elevates law enforcement as a privileged class above all other citizens. Merkwae noted that prosecutors and law enforcement have close working relationships, and that district attorneys often rely on the very officers whose actions theyd need to review when citizens are killed.

The advocacy director also cited investigations by MAIT, citing an investigation by Wisconsin Examiner in partnership with Type Investigations, which reviewed 17 MAIT investigations from 2019-2022, all of which resulted in no charges against officers. Merkwae listed the articles findings including that officers who kill citizens are interviewed as witnesses or victims only, can refuse to have their interviews recorded, and may amend their statements after viewing video evidence. In several MAIT investigations, officers were not separated from one another to prevent statement contamination despite this being a required policy.

Mensah and other officers provided contradictory statements and were not separated from one another after his third shooting. These facts were raised during a federal civil trial into Alvin Coles death earlier this year. The trial ended in a hung jury, with jurors unable to unanimously agree on whether Mensahs killing of Cole was excessive.

Jay Anderson Sr. (left) and Linda Anderson (right), the parents of Jay Anderson Jr. in 2020. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

Merkwae said that last year, Wisconsin had 24 fatal police encounters, up from 14 incidents the prior year. So by creating a separate standard for police officers, this bill sends the message that they are above the law, said Merkwae. Which, I think, is a dangerous precedent that erodes trust and makes community engagement with law enforcement more fraught and less effective.

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Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) also spoke in opposition. Clancy said that he hadnt planned to speak on the bill, but decided to when he heard Mensahs name being used. The idea that an officer who killed three people in three different incidents is a poster boy for why this is good legislation rather than bad is mindblowing to me, said Clancy. Joseph Mensah serves as an example of how our current system is failing the people that it is designed to protect. Had Joseph Mensah been held accountable after the first time he shot and killed somebody, he wouldnt have shot and killed a second and a third person, in three different incidents. And it is sickening to me that he was brought up as an example of how this is necessary because he feels that some folks are mean to him in trying to find some measure of accountability.

More people rose to speak against the bill after Clancy. Some were social workers and medical staff, who recounted being spat on, punched, kicked, scratched, and hurt yet never once considering criminally charging the person who hurt them. Its a privilege that police officers have which they do not, the speakers argued. At one point, a Wisconsinite who wished to be identified only as G. Lee attempted to testify while wearing a hat that used an obscenity to criticize President Donald Trump. Committee Chair Ron Tusler (R-Harrison) called the hat offensive and got into an argument with Lee, after which he called for the assistance of the Capitol Police and called the committee into recess.

Wauwatosa Police Department squad cars responding during a standoff with protesters on July 7, 2020. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

When the hearing re-started, G. Lee was allowed to testify on AB-34 while wearing the hat, though he was warned any breaches of decorum would result in him being removed. Lee apologized that the hat threatened or offended Tusler, and stated that Tusler reacted from a position of power. Comparing that to the powers police have, Lee said what scares me about the decorum set in this room, and the measure tied to this bill, is about power.

Lee, speaking directly to Tusler, said that when the hearing was stopped because of Tuslers feelings, One of my concerns here is that we are privileging the feelings of law enforcement over the feelings of families whove actually lost loved ones to bullets. Thats an important thing to consider here. The whole system is set up to protect a particular part of the state power, and youve used your state power to make a message.

This article has been edited to correct a misspelling of Menomonie, represented by Rep. Clint Moses.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Kremlin. Xi, who Putin earlier described as our main guest at Fridays Victory Day festivities, arrived in Russia on Wednesday for a four-day visit.

In welcoming Xi, Putin said that the brotherhood of arms between our peoples, which developed during the harsh war years, is one of the fundamental foundations of modern Russian-Chinese relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.

He added that Moscow and Beijing were developing ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries and not against anyone.

Xi, in turn, said that history and reality have fully proved that the continuous development and deepening of China-Russia relations is a necessity for the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation. He also called for safeguarding international fairness and justice.

Putin and Xi have met over 40 times and developed strong personal ties that bolstered the countries strategic partnership as both face tensions with the West.

China has offered robust diplomatic support to Moscow after its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has emerged as a top market for Russian oil and gas, helping fill the Kremlins war coffers. Russia has relied on China as the main source of machinery and electronics to keep its military machine running after Western sanctions curtailed high-tech supplies.

Ukraines parliament ratifies minerals deal

Ukraines Parliament unanimously voted in favor of ratifying of a landmark minerals deal with the U.S. yesterday, a lawmaker said.

The ratification is a key step in setting the deal in motion. It calls for the creation of a joint investment fund with the U.S.

Parliament approved the agreement with 338 members voting in favor out of the required 226 votes, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote on his Telegram account. No lawmaker voted against it or abstained.

Russia and Ukraine both reported attacks on their forces on the first day of a 72-hour ceasefire called by Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark the anniversary of the World War II victory with a parade in Moscow.

Russian bombs struck northeast Ukraine in the opening hours of the ceasefire, killing at least one civilian, while artillery assaults took place across the 1,000-kilometer front line, Ukrainian officials said, although with less intensity than in the previous 24 hours.

The unilateral ceasefire coincides with Russias biggest secular holiday, the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. Kyiv has pressed for a longer-term ceasefire.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of violating its own ceasefire 734 times between midnight and midday yesterday. He called the ceasefire a farce on the social media platform X.

He said Russia carried out 63 assault operations along the front line, 23 of which were still ongoing as of midday. Ukraine responds appropriately and is actively sharing information about the attacks with the U.S, the European Union and others. We will not let Putin fool anyone when he does not even keep his own word, Sybiha said.

Russian attacks also took place near Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region on Thursday morning, a press officer of Ukraines 24th Mechanised Brigade, Oleh Petrasiuk, told The Associated Press via phone.

One person died and two were wounded when Russian forces dropped guided air bombs on residential areas near the border in the northeast Sumy region, the regional prosecutors office said. MDT/AP
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman is accused of burglarizing a home and assaulting a woman by spraying her with pepper spray in Northaven.

Yasmine Brown, 29, was charged with Aggravated Burglary and Simple Assault.

Yasmine Brown_Mugshot Courtesy of Shelby County District Attorneys Office

On April 14, deputies responded to a report of an aggravated burglary and assault at a residence in the 4800 block of Libby Lane.

Next step for Tyre Nichols family: $550M civil lawsuit that could bankrupt city

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When they arrived, the victim told them that someone had entered her home through an unlocked window, physically assaulted her, and sprayed pepper spray. The suspect then fled the scene.

On May 7, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office Fugitive Apprehension Team arrested Brown in the 2900 block of Mimosa Avenue in East Memphis. She was taken into custody and transported to Jail East.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
I cant tell you what joy this gathering is bringing to me, says Gail Slater. It is early April, three weeks into Slaters new job as assistant attorney general for antitrust, President Donald Trumps top cop on corporate monopolies. She has convened a forum at the Department of Justices hulking headquarters aimed at combatting the scourge of Big-Tech censorship, aided by a panel of whom Slater describes as several of our most important MAGA influencers.

She singles out one of those influencers. As the great Stephen K. Bannon would say to his audience, she says of the former Trump adviser, its time for action, action, action.

Slater passes the mic to Brendan Carr, Federal Communications Commission chair, who talks about using the tools of government to smash the censorship cartel. Thank you, Brother Carr, she says. She kicks it over to Andrew Ferguson, the combative new chair of the Federal Trade Commission, who rails against the concentrated power that allows the truly terrifying Silicon Valley elites to censor speech.



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I often hear the criticism that what Im describing is not a, quote, traditional concern of antitrust, end quote, says Ferguson. Yes, it is, yes, it is. Of course it is.

Thats another amen from me, Slater says.

It is a scene that until recently would have been unheard of for a mostly Republican crowd in Washington. Until Trump, Republicans largely embraced a light-touch approach to applying the countrys antitrust laws  a tendency seen as part and parcel of the partys generally more business-friendly stances when compared to those of the Democrats. When it comes to antitrust, went one Washington Post headline from 2006, when the last pre-Trump Republican, George W. Bush, was president, Washington is antibust. Trump himself showed limited interest in aggressive antitrust against the major tech companies until near the end of his first term, when the DOJ filed a case against Google over the multibillion-dollar company allegedly unfairly competing in the search market just three months before he left office.

But thats all shifting now, and Slaters own arc is one window into how it all changed for many other conservatives. Slater is a longtime Republican who throughout her legal and lobbying career has been known both as a by-the-book enforcer and bipartisan bridge-builder, according to interviews with nearly two dozen people who know her. But her long-standing disdain for the abuses of monopoly power has positioned her to be the leader of the surging MAGA antitrust movements legal agenda, overseeing cases that include a pair of lawsuits against Google and another against Apple. She will also serve as an ally to Ferguson as his FTC sues Facebook-parent Meta over its purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp.

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Slater, who declined to comment for this story, made it clear at the forum on censorship that she is an adherent to the belief oft-heard among the MAGA faithful that Americas trillion-dollar tech companies have used their enormous stature to strangle personal freedoms of people whose politics they dont like.

Trump is arguably among this group. Big Tech has run wild for years, said Trump on his own Truth Social network in December in a post announcing Slaters nomination, shortly after personally interviewing her at Mar-a-Lago, according to a person with knowledge of their meeting. This person was granted anonymity to discuss transition meetings with Trump. But to critics, including Washingtons many tech-industry lobbyists and allies, Trump is more motivated by his own personal grudges against tech companies that he thinks have wronged him  like when, near the tail end of his first term, he issued an executive order attempting to weaken online platforms liability protections just days after X, then Twitter, attached warning labels to a pair of Trumps tweets. The company condemned the presidential action as reactionary and politicized.





All this sets up a very difficult task for Slater. To deliver on Trumps mandate for her in this role  much of which is also the goal of a growing part of the right and many advocates on the left  of checking Silicon Valleys power, Slater will have to develop and persuade judges of legal arguments against that concentration of that power. And crucially, she will have to do that while ensuring her arguments in court are perceived as separate from Trumps personal grievances toward tech companies. Because the easiest way to lose an antitrust case, say experts in the field, is to give a judge the impression a case is mere political retribution and not a dispassionate application of the law.

Slater allies dismiss the worries. Claims about the politicization of antitrust enforcement are evergreen, says Roger Alford, Slaters second-in-command at DOJ. In recent Republican and Democratic administrations, defendants alleged political enforcement in the press, but lost each time they brought those allegations to court.

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Others are not so sure. Many have pointed to the possibility that Trump could easily go on X or Truth Social, take shots at tech companies and blow Slaters chances in court.

I think a big challenge for Gail is, how impulsive will the president be? says William Kovacic, a former chairman of the FTC, appointed by then-President George W. Bush and who says hes heartened to have Slater  with whom he worked at the FTC more than a decade ago  in her new post. You cant say, My god, shut up, because then youre fired. So you cross your fingers and hope youre not a target.





A career attorney, Slater has typically been relatively mum about her worldview or legal philosophy  until her confirmation hearing in February and the public speaking events of early April, at least  but the Irish-born American has been a Republican since coming to the United States, according to several of her colleagues from her early days in Washington. In a recent speech at the University of Notre Dames law school, Slater expanded on her belief that America First antitrust empowers Americas forgotten men and women to shape their own economic destinies in a free market. Whats more, said Slater, believing in aggressive enforcement of the antitrust laws on the books is a deeply conservative position, and there is nothing radical about it. Over the course of her career, one can see her antitrust beliefs hardening as she watched tech companies power growing and other institutions failing to check them.

Born in early 1970s Dublin, Slater (nee Conlon) studied law at University College Dublin and competition policy at Oxford, moved to the United States in the early 2000s and in 2004, she went to work at the FTCs competition bureau. While there, she developed a reputation as a rare welcoming ear for those trying to make the case that Silicon Valley was growing too fast and some companies monopolistic tendencies needed to be reined in.

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But at the time, the Internet was largely seen as a force for good, and in 2014, Slater joined its first real lobbying group, dedicated largely to preserving that lack of government oversight. That portfolio would soon turn controversial, though, as the tech industrys fortunes shifted.



In the wake of the 2016 election, Republicans and Democrats alike had grown alarmed at the ability of online platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to shape election narratives. Amid that burgeoning techlash, there was also bipartisan interest in combatting the use of online platforms in sex trafficking. In 2017, Slater found herself in an uncomfortable position: testifying on Internet Association members behalf against a bill aimed at combatting sex trafficking by increasing platforms liability for what users post. Speaking later about the episode on a conference panel, shed sarcastically refer to the episode as a deep personal joy, saying she saw it as symptomatic of Silicon Valleys foot dragging when it came to dealing with Washingtons increased scrutiny. People close to the group, who were granted anonymity to discuss its inner workings, say Slater was put off by the sex-trafficking episode and the Internet Associations management, and in 2018, she left the organization.

Slater immediately joined the Trump White House, serving as a special assistant to the president for technology, telecommunications and cyberspace policy on the National Economic Council. There, she worked primarily on accelerating the deployment of high-speed wireless technologies in a race against China, a push inside the administration that generated robust conversation about the tech sectors obligations to promote national interests. I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible, posted Trump on X, then Twitter, at the time, American companies must step up their efforts.





During Slaters time at the White House, Trump often lashed out at powerful companies he felt had wronged him, including, critics said, by using antitrust powers. During his first term, the DOJ antitrust division tried unsuccessfully to block an $85 billion merger of AT&T and Time Warner, an effort that was widely interpreted as motivated at least in part by Trumps animus towards CNN. Time Warner owned the network that Trump had branded, with others in media, the enemy of the American people! over its coverage of him and others on the right. She left after 16 months.

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It was after Slaters time in the White House that she started to more consistently take the other side against tech companies. By 2019, she was back in the private sector, working as senior vice president for policy and strategy at Fox Corporation, a frequent antagonist to Facebook and Google, pushing policymakers and law enforcers to challenge the power of what founder Rupert Murdoch has called Big Digital. While Slater mostly focused on issues like data privacy and online copyright, the move was taken by some as a slap at her old allies from her Internet trade association days.

The pandemic and 2020 presidential campaign supercharged the growing conservative movement against tech companies. Many on the right accused social media platforms of smothering speech ranging from stories detailing the misdoings of Bidens family members to scrutiny of Covid vaccine efficacy. Figures like Republican Sens. Josh Hawley, Mike Lee and Chuck Grassley and then-Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Ken Buck led the charge with investigations and legislation in Congress.

It was around this time when Slaters views on free speech and antitrust started to come together.





Slater had previously not spoken in great detail publicly about ideas on free speech and antitrust, but they emerged during her confirmation testimony in February. Slater said that she worried that, with only a handful of big platforms online, someone can be disappeared from the Internet quite easily, a reference to complaints from the right that the Biden administration pressured social media companies to suppress posts, including those on Covid-19 vaccines and the Hunter Biden laptop saga, it found objectionable. In markets that are highly concentrated, she said, conservative viewpoints or anybody's viewpoint can be quickly throttled or suppressed when there is market power on back of that.

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Censorship, Alford, Slaters deputy, tells me, is the downstream manifestation of monopoly power.

These arguments align Slater with an emerging school of antitrust thought, increasingly popular on the right, that online platforms only feel free to stifle speech because, through unfair means, theyve destroyed their competitors. Others have made attempts to name this new doctrine. MAGA Antitrust, Ferguson has called it. Slater and others of late have come to call it America First Antitrust. But speaking earlier the same day as the censorship panel at a conference in downtown Washington D.C. put on by the tech incubator Y Combinator, Slater had another idea for a name. She said it was inspired by the notion of crafting an economy that works for everyday Americans.

Im also quite partial, said Slater, to Hillbilly Antitrust, defining the approach as giving American citizens a seat at the table in antitrust enforcement, which has long skewed, she argued, towards the interests of big business.

At the censorship panel in early April, she also summed up her thoughts on the political stakes of antitrust work. The late, great Andrew Breitbart used to talk about how our politics are downstream from our culture, Slater said at the event, citing the conservative media figure who died in 2012. Slater took it a step further: In the past decade or so, weve realized that our culture is hugely downstream of technology.

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One of her recent book recommendations, says Joel Thayer, an ally and fellow antitrust lawyer, is The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium, a work by former CIA analyst Martin Gurri that details how Trump and other modern political figures have come to power by riding the wave of mass digital communications. Thayer said she recommended it because Slater, like Gurri, is interested in how tech shapes society. Gurri is a free-speech advocate who thinks large tech platforms have silenced dissenting voices.

In 2022, Slater would return to antitrust work and go head-to-head with many of the Internet Associations members, whose interests she had once defended. She joined the streaming service Roku as a vice president, pushing for antitrust legislation opposed by the biggest online platforms. That bill failed in Congress. The loss solidified a belief among those eager to check the power of tech companies that Congress wasnt up to grappling with the nature of competition in the digital age. The remaining hope: American antitrust agencies  the FTC and antitrust division of the Justice Department.

At the forefront of that push on the right was Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance. Though just a freshman legislator, the Hillbilly Elegy author had a national profile and was attempting to turn his Senate office into something of a think tank for an economic populism that included rethinking the assumptions baked into the modern practice of antitrust. At the time, Vance was arguing that, as a general matter, low prices should no longer be treated as a pass to avoid antitrust scrutiny. Long overdue, but its time to break Google up, Vance wrote in a post on X in February 2024, arguing that the company had monopolistic control of information in our society and was a threat to democracy.

That same month, Slater signed on to Vances office as an economic policy adviser. Five months later, Trump picked Vance as his vice-presidential running mate, and Trumps team turned to Slater. She sailed through her Senate confirmation, 78 to 19.

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To those eager for DOJ antitrust cases to include ones against tech giants, Slater was their next great hope.

Luther Lowe is a former Yelp official who tried to get antitrust enforcers in both the United States and abroad to take action against Google in that role and is now with Y Combinator. After Slaters nomination, he said he was pleased with the Slater pick, in part because of what he sees as her early openness to constraining Google. Im a Democrat, says Lowe, but I could not be happier in terms of somebody who was on the right side of history now [being] in a place of power.

Some on the right are betting that Slater can bring both sides together, too. Were in an uneasy coalition, Bannon said to me at the event held by Y Combinator held just before the DOJ panel, gesturing towards Biden-era FTC Chair Lina Khan, who had joined our conversation. Gail Slaters key to that.





Slater took office a full six months before her counterpart in the first Trump administration, taken by many observers as a signal that Trump is more eager, this time around, to put his stamp on his administrations antitrust project.

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Slater doesnt start with a fresh slate, and so it remains to be seen if she will advance novel legal arguments in the cases she launches herself rather than inheriting. For now, though, shes taken over a bevy of high-profile cases, including the one against Apple for allegedly using tricks to keep customers from switching to competitors products, like unnecessarily blurring videos sent from Android devices. There are also cases against plaintiffs ranging from Visa (blocking rivals in the debit-card market) to Live Nation and Ticketmaster (inflating ticket prices) to the property management platform RealPage (algorithmic price-fixing).





But arguably the biggest items on her docket: a pair of cases against Google. The further along of the two began under the first Trump administration and applies the Sherman Acts little-used-of-late provision making monopolies illegal. In August, a federal judge decided in favor of the Justice Department and dozens of state attorneys general in the case: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. The question now: What to do about it?

In November, the Biden-era antitrust division asked the judge in the case to break Google up, including by forcing it to divest its Chrome browser. Google recoiled, calling it evidence of a radical interventionist agenda. But in early March, the antitrust divisions Trump-appointed acting chief largely re-upped the break-up request.



The trial over Googles penalty for behaving as a monopolist began before a federal judge in late April, the first real test of Slaters ability to win cases in court. Closing arguments in that trial are scheduled for the end of May, and the judge is expected to issue a decision in August.

In a time of political division in our nation, the case against Google brings everyone together, Slater said, speaking outside the courthouse before opening arguments. Nothing less than the future of the Internet is at stake.

Slaters task is to argue that she is pursuing cases like the one against Google because a corporation has acted as an abusive monopoly  perpetuating its dominance of the search market through unfair means, which in the Google search case involves paying mobile phone makers to install Google by default. In the Google case, Slaters team has argued that Google drives a vicious cycle, in which it spends heavily to make its own search engine the default, then uses the vastly greater volume of data it generates to improve itself and edge out future competition.



A successful case also requires persuading skeptical judges that taking the bold step of blocking a deal or splitting apart a corporation is the required outcome of an impartial application of the law. Slaters biggest challenge could be her boss, who has a seemingly reflexive desire to offer running commentary on legal matters facing his presidency, even if it ends up harming his own policy goals.

The pitch youre making to the court, says William Kovacic, the one-time FTC chair, is, you can trust us because were experts using good technical judgment. Were using our best professional judgment. Judges, says Kovacic, are not going to defer to extortion, to political pressure.

If judges think that your case is simply the consequence of political pressure, you really have to fight for your life, he says.

If Trump regularly speaks out about what he sees as tech abuses targeted specifically at him, as he did during his first presidency  Google search results for Trump News shows only the viewing/reporting of Fake News Media. In other words, they have it RIGGED, he tweeted in the summer of 2018  it may well undercut Slaters carefully crafted arguments in court that the administrations antitrust lawsuits have nothing to do with politics.

That is what happened during Trumps first term when organizations sued over his administrations executive orders banning travel from some majority-Muslim countries. Judges ruled against him on one iteration of the travel ban and specifically cited the presidents tweets, which undermined his own lawyers arguments.

Slater herself has said it wont be difficult to avoid the presidents meddling.





In follow-up questions after the confirmation hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, asked Slater how she would respond if Trump asked her to bring an enforcement action against a firm out of retaliation, his political interests or personal grudge. I do not expect that President Trump would make such a request, Slater responded.

I asked Bannon about this. President Trump tends to speak about matters before the court, I say. Does that complicate things when it comes to antitrust, where judges can be wary of politicization?

The reality is, youre not going to change it, Bannon says. He points out that its Liberation Day, or the day that Trump is set to announce tariffs that will upend global trade. And yet, hours out from revealing the plan, says Bannon, Im not sure theyve made a final decision on what the tariffs would look like. Same goes, says Bannon, for whatever will end up being Trumps role in his administrations antitrust agenda.

Hes got his house style, says Bannon. You just have to deal with it.


Officials in New Hampshire are investigating what they say is a probable murder-suicide that left a mother and a 3-year-old boy dead early Friday morning.

Pembroke police officers responded to 336 Pembroke Hill Road around 1:00 a.m. in response to a 911 call, according to the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office.

Responding officers made contact with the resident who called 911.

Officers went into the upstairs bedroom and found a mother and child suffering from serious gunshot wounds.

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The mother, identified as 26-year-old Julia Byrne, was pronounced dead inside the home. The boy, identified as 3-year-old Blake Byrne, was rushed to Concord Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on both Byrness.

Julia Byrnes cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head, and her manner of death is pending.

Blake Byrnes cause of death was a single gunshot wound of the head, and the manner of his death was homicide.

The AGs office said they are investigating the shooting as a possible murder and suicide.

While the investigation is just beginning, there does not appear to be any threat to the general public in connection with these two deaths, the New Hampshire AGs Office said in a statement.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman was found dead in her home after a welfare call on Friday in Cordova, Memphis Police say.

At 9:35 a.m., officers responded to a welfare call in the 1500 block of Oaken Bucket Drive. A woman was found in the home and pronounced dead on the scene.

MPD says Memphis Animal Services was called to the home to remove dogs from the property.

Police say this is an ongoing death investigation.

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DES ARC, Ark.  Special agents with the Arkansas State Police are investigating after a woman was shot and killed in Des Arc Wednesday.

According to ASP officials, officers with the Des Arc Police Department responded to a 911 call around 9:15 p.m. at a home in the 300 block of South 15th Street.

Little Rock police identify victim killed in South Cross Street shooting

After arriving, officers said they found that 60-year-old Teri Overton had been shot. Officials said she died Thursday.

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Investigators have not released information on the suspect.

Little Rock police make arrest in Asher Avenue deadly shooting

ASP officials said Overtons body will be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of death.

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(FOX40.COM)  The BCSO dispatch received a 911 call from a resident reporting a disturbance that involved a female threatening someones life at a neighboring property.

 Video above: What happens when you call 911?

BCSO stated in a press release that the call came from the 11000 block of Butte Creek Island Road in the Butte Creek Canyon area at around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. When deputies arrived at the scene, they saw a female armed with a rifle.

The deputies that were on the scene reported that the female was pointing the rifle at them and told them to shoot her, according to BCSO. A deputy fired one shot at the female from his service rifle.

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Other deputies then immediately rendered medical aid to the 48-year-old female, and she was transported to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries, said BCSO.

Man gave teen girl vape pens, cash for sex, say Ceres police

BCSO stated that this is an active investigation, and the Butte County Officer Involved Shooting Protocol team and the Butte County District Attorneys Office are on scene investigating alongside the California Department of Justice.

The woman who was shot by an officer has been identified as Valerie Ann Cadwallader, 48, of Chico, according to BCSO.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A woman could face criminal charges after being questioned in connection with a double shooting Wednesday night that left one person dead.

Earlier on Thursday, Columbus police named the woman as a person of interest in the shooting; then, a short time later, said the woman had been interviewed by detectives and the county prosecutors office would be consulted to determine what charges would be appropriate. Watch a previous report on the shooting in the video player above.

Ohio family contracted stomach bug from puppy bought from Petland, lawsuit claims

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NBC4 is not naming the woman since she has not been charged with a crime.

Columbus police responded to the 2500 block of Mock Road at approximately 9:39 p.m. Wednesday near Mock Park for a report of a shooting.

The victims, two women, drove about two miles away from the park to the area of Joyce and Minnesota avenues, where first responders found them. One of the women, Aujai Davenport, 18, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. A second woman was hospitalized and is expected to survive her injuries. Three other people, including two juveniles, were found in the car; none of them were injured.

Police are still searching for a grey or silver four-door sedan with tinted windows and a sunroof as a vehicle suspected of being involved in the shooting.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A woman was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of witness intimidation from a case in Berkshire County.

Berkshire District Attorneys Office Spokesperson Julia Sabourin told 22News in a news release that Destiny Culpo-Lechner provided testimony for a defendant in a grand jury case that concluded in November 2022. It was alleged during that time that she attempted to intimidate a person based on their participation in the grand jury.

Cambridge teacher, Maryland man charged in federal child exploitation case

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The DAs office says that Culpo-Lechner, who was also the landlord for this person, sent harassing text messages, which disrupted his family, and attempted to evict him from his apartment.

District Attorney Shugrue stated, Witness intimidation is a very real issue in the Berkshires. It creates fear in victims and witnesses of crime and hinders our attempt to fully prosecute cases. I will not tolerate attempts to intimidate victims of crime and will continue to bring charges forward on those attempting to do so.

On Wednesday, Culpo-Lechner pleaded guilty to two counts of witness intimidation and was sentenced to two years in the House of Corrections, suspended for one year with conditions of no contact with the victim and anger management.

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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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Following a January 2023 lawsuit, the Austin City Council approved a $550,000 settlement with Jessica Arellano, who was shot in January 2021 by an off-duty Austin Police officer while riding as a passenger in a car.

RELATED | Wrongful death lawsuits filed against 2 APD officers, City of Austin

Edwards Law, the firm that handled Arellanos use of excessive force lawsuit, provided a statement regarding the settlement:

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While Austin police found a gun in the car and the off-duty officer claimed the driver pointed it at him, it was undisputed that Jessica Arellano was an innocent passenger who had done nothing wrong.

2021: Austin Police wont release video of deadly Jan. 5 police shooting, says it needs another month due to winter storm

The city previously filed a motion to have itself dismissed from the case, but a judge issued an order denying the motion on March 27. Edwards Law said that after the judges order was issued, Arellano and the city settled the case.

In this case, as in all lawsuits, the City evaluates claims individually based on the facts and circumstances involved to work towards the most appropriate resolution for all involved, and here the parties mutually agreed to the terms of this settlement, a spokesperson for the City of Austin said in a statement.

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During the same 2021 incident, Alex Gonzales, Jr., the driver of the vehicle, was shot and killed by a different police officer, KXAN previously reported.

Travis County DA says no indictment in deadly Jan. 2021 police shooting of Alex Gonzales

Ms. Arellano should never have been shot. While she will live with the pain for the rest of her life, we are pleased the Austin City Council did the right thing and resolved her case, said Jeff Edwards, Arellanos attorney. Hopefully, [the judges] recent order and this settlement will encourage the City to reflect and change the way APD investigates shootings.

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Cardinal Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vaticans powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV.

Originally from Chicago, Prevost is the head of the churchs Dicastery for Bishops. The powerful position means he oversees the selection of new bishops.

Prevost is a dual citizen, holding nationality in both the U.S. and Peru, where he served for many years.

While Prevost is seen overall as a centrist, on some key social issues hes viewed as progressive. He has long embraced marginalized groups, a lot like Francis, who championed migrants and the poor.

White smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peters Basilica tolled early today [Macau time] after cardinals elected the 267th pope to lead the Catholic Church on the second day of their conclave.

The crowd in St. Peters Square erupted in cheers, priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted Viva il papa! after the white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky at 6:07 p.m. Waving flags from around the world, tens of thousands of people waited to learn who had won.

The smoke signal means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

As the crowd waited, the Swiss Guards marched out and a military band played, marching up the steps to the basilica.

The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words Habemus Papam!  Latin for We have a pope!  from the loggia of the basilica. The cardinal then reads the winners birth name in Latin and reveals the name he has chosen to be called.

The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.

Eyes on the chimney

Yesterday, large school groups joined the mix of humanity awaiting the outcome in St. Peters Square. They blended in with people participating in preplanned Holy Year pilgrimages and journalists from around the world who have descended on Rome to document the election.

The wait is marvelous! said Priscilla Parlante, a Roman.

Pedro Deget, 22, a finance student from Argentina, said he and his family visited Rome during the Argentine popes pontificate and were hoping for a new pope in Francis image.

Francis did well in opening the church to the outside world, but on other fronts maybe he didnt do enough. Well see if the next one will be able to do more, Deget said from the piazza.

The Rev. Jan Dominik Bogataj, a Slovene Franciscan friar, was more critical of Francis. He said if he were in the Sistine Chapel, hed be voting for Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem who is on many papal contender lists.

He has clear ideas, not much ideology. Hes a direct, intelligent and respectful man, Bogataj said from the square. Most of all, hes agile.

Some of the cardinals had said they expected a short conclave.

Conjecture on contenders

The cardinals opened the secretive, centuries-old ritual Wednesday afternoon, participating in a rite more theatrical than even Hollywood could create. Bright red cassocks, Swiss Guards standing at attention, ancient Latin chants and oaths preceded the slamming shut of the Sistine Chapel doors to seal the cardinals off from the outside world.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the 70-year-old secretary of state under Francis and a leading contender to succeed him as pope, assumed leadership of the proceedings as the most senior cardinal under age 80 eligible to participate.

Parolin seemed to have received the blessings from none other than Re, the respected elder among the cardinals. During the traditional exchange of peace during the pre-conclave Mass on Wednesday, Re was caught on a hot mic telling Parolin auguri doppio or double best wishes. Italians debated whether it was just a customary gesture acknowledging Parolins role running conclave, or if it might have been an informal endorsement or even a premature congratulations.

The voting process

The voting followed a strict choreography, dictated by church law.

Each cardinal writes his choice on a piece of paper inscribed with the words Eligo in summen pontificem  I elect as supreme pontiff. They approach the altar one by one and say: I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.

The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and tipped into a silver and gold urn. Once cast, the ballots are opened one by one by three different scrutineers, cardinals selected at random who write down the names and read them aloud.

The scrutineers, whose work is checked by other cardinals called revisers, then add up the results of each round of balloting and write them on a separate sheet of paper, which is preserved in the papal archives.

As the scrutineer reads out each name, he pierces each ballot with a needle through the word Eligo. All the ballots are then bound together with thread, and the bundle is put aside and burned in the chapel stove along with a chemical to produce the smoke. MDT/Agencies
A woman showed up at a Pittsburgh hospital early Friday morning after she was shot.

Police said that just after midnight, a 34-year-old woman arrived at the hospital in stable condition after she was shot in the foot.

She told officers that the shooting happened in the 500 block of Elmer L. Williams Square in Larimer.

Police went and searched the area, and found a scene in the rear of a home.

There is no word on any suspects.

Pittsburgh police continue to investigate.

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(Photo by tchara/Getty Images)

As Washington residents who live near Longview and Hoquiam, we are concerned about two wood pellet plants proposed for construction in these Washington communities. These mega-plants could soon compete with existing industries to buy timber, wood chips, and sawmill residues as raw material for wood pellet manufacture. The wood pellets would be exported and burned in power plants in Asia to generate electricity.

Some critics have raised concerns about how these industrial-scale wood pellet plants could lead to the overharvesting of Pacific Northwest forests, similar to how large swaths of forests in the southeastern U.S. were logged despite promises that the plants would only use leftover timber scraps. This is a serious concern, compounded by recent federal cuts that could lead to lax forestry oversight. But another equally important concern on the minds of Washington residents is this: How will our health be harmed?

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These concerns are not hypothetical. Those of us who live in the communities targeted for pellet-plant construction are learning about the serious health impacts associated with these plants. We have spent hours on the phone talking with people who live in the South, where the wood pellet industry is already established.

Theres no way around it  producing wood pellets from forest biomass is dirty, noisy and bad for our health. Making industrial wood pellets releases hazardous air pollutants, dust and fine particles. Colleagues from the South who live near these facilities describe how dust is ever-present in the air, clinging to every surface and burrowing deep into residents lungs.

Micro-particles are released by industrial biomass plants, worsening asthma, causing other significant respiratory issues and can even trigger heart attacks in vulnerable individuals. The release of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less is of particular concern because these particles penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

Other pollutants emitted in large quantities include acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, both probable carcinogens, and acrolein, a toxic substance that affects the eyes, skin, nose, and throat and can cause respiratory disease.

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And then theres the noise. Hammer mills, the machines that break down trees and wood chips into the wood fibers used to make the pellets, are described as like the loudest train whistle youve ever heard, but constant. The facility proposed for Hoquiam, similar in size to the plant proposed for Longview, is less than a mile from the Hoquiam High School and Middle School buildings and even closer to the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important stopovers for migratory birds on the entire Pacific flyway.

One of the pellet companies trying to set up in Washington, Drax Global, a U.K. company positioning to open the Longview plant, currently operates wood pellet plants in several southern states. In the last few years, the state of Mississippi fined Drax $2.5 million for violating air emissions limits, and Drax agreed to pay $3.2 million in pollution-related settlements in Louisiana.

Fortunately, weve learned about the harms to communities from these plants before theyve taken root in the Northwest. In Hoquiam, local and national conservation groups challenged an air discharge permit for Pacific Northwest Renewable Energy on the grounds that its pollution estimates were too low. A Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board hearing for this appeal is planned for May.

Drax was similarly moving forward with its facility in Longview but withdrew its permit following scrutiny by its regional clean air agency.

We oppose the construction of these wood pellet plants in Hoquiam and Longview because of the pollution these plants would bring, and because the industry has not been honest about the health harms they cause in nearby communities.
Did the Writers Guild of America West board of directors go too far in disciplining members that allegedly broke the rules of its 2023 strike? Or did it appropriately respond to actions that threatened the union and its members?

Union members answered that question with a mixed response on Thursday in a vote that upheld three out of four punishments. Discipline was upheld after very tight results in the case of Julie Bush (745 to 686), Edward Drake (769 to 652) and Roma Roth (778 to 639). Doyles punishment was overturned and an alternative action taken after members voted 915 to 557.

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Out of seven writers disciplined for allegedly breaking the WGAs strike rules, Bush, Drake, Doyle and Roth had all chosen to appeal their punishments. The punishments handed down to the three other disciplined writers remain unknown.

The board of the labor organization had previously expelled two of the writers  Drake and Roth  while suspending Bush until 2026 and banning her from occupying non-elected office in the guild. Doyle was publicly censured for posting an image on social media considered racist.

For a Guild that usually rubber stamps the Boards decisions with 95 percent-plus majorities, Im pleasantly surprised to see how close the vote was, Drake said in a statement, adding that This has been an ordeal I hope no other member has to go through, but Im going to keep doing what I love. Making movies.

Roth added in her own statement that this vote result will undoubtedly shape the standards by which the WGA and its Board continues to operate moving forward. She added that she hoped new union members would run for the WGA West board to address these serious issues.

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The vote concludes a highly charged period for the famously hard-charging guild. In their appeals materials, the accused writers called into question the methods practiced by the union to police its own and raised charges that the guild had violated its own constitution, even federal labor law.

But the unions member leaders have maintained that they meted out appropriate punishments. In the last few days, board members Nicole Yorkin and Rob Forman have encouraged union members to uphold the bodys rulings, with Forman saying the board acted fairly.

In his message, Forman called for writers to reject the disciplined members excuses for hurting the Guild by turning their backs on their fellow writers during the strike.

WGA team captain Tyler Ruggeri in a separate email to the WGA members for whom he is a resource also encouraged them to uphold the boards initial disciplinary action. These measures might seem difficult or uncomfortable to vote on, but the bottom line is that the members were found in violation and are exercising their right to an appeal, he said, in between reporting on other WGA business.

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Unions can determine the specifics of how they want conduct internal disciplinary procedures, within limit. The Landrum Griffin Act, also known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, requires unions in disciplinary proceedings to provide members with written, specific charges, an appropriate amount of time to assemble their defense and a full and fair hearing.

Meanwhile, a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions has demonstrated that, under the National Labor Relations Act, an individual union has the power to protect against the erosion of its status through reasonable discipline of members who violate rules and regulations governing membership, says Fordham School of Law professor James Brudney, who specializes in labor and employment law. That remains true for discipline of a member who violated a rule against working during a strike.

In these sorts of situations, unions often walk a fine line between attempting not to alienate their own members with punishments that could be perceived as overly harsh while also protecting their interests. If enough members break strike rules or cross picket lines, the unions leverage with employers to negotiate and enforce contracts would be severely eroded.

Generally, unions shouldnt, and they typically dont, go wild, but they do have a lot of latitude, says University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Labor and Employment Relations professor Robert Bruno. Keep in mind, the unions a private organization. Its not a government entity.

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Over the course of the appeals process, arguments that the union had taken liberties with this process came to the fore. A letter written by the chair of an internal trial committee in Roths case emerged, alleging that a guild attorney had inappropriately tipped the scales of that groups decision on a suitable punishment. That chair, former public defender Jill Goldsmith, removed herself from the committee.

A minority opinion in Doyles case, written by an unnamed member of his trial committee, also became public. Its writer claimed that the WGA West board and a union lawyer had chosen to intentionally misrepresent and weaponize provisions of our Constitution in an attempt to send a message and punish a member of the guild.

And Bush raised the issue of the WGA West board recently changing its process for disciplinary appeals. In a letter to the WGA West board posted April 30, Bush called for a general membership meeting, which the unions constitution designated as a forum for appeals. In February, the unions board adopted new rules for appeals allowing for an online vote. I reserve the right to escalate these issues to the Department of Labor if not resolved in a timely manner, Bush wrote.

In a response, Writers Guild West general counsel Sean Graham denied her request and said the board had adopted the new procedures as a practical matter. The Board concluded that it would be ineffective to hold an annual membership meeting to resolve the appeals due to the inability to achieve a quorum, which is defined as 10% of the Current Active membership of the Guild (approximately 1,100 members). At the last membership meeting, in 2019, he said, fewer than 30 members attended, so the online vote allowed for more members to be able to participate.

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Documents were released to members about the proceedings before the appeals vote commenced on May 6, shining a light on an often private process previously undergone by major figures like Jay Leno and Joan Rivers.

The timing of the vote is significant, considering that the Writers Guild of America is about a year away from returning to the bargaining table with major studios and streamers. The union will be looking to keep members activated, engaged and united in order to present a strong front to employers in 2026.

May 9, 5:50 p.m. Added statements from Drake and Roth.

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The NIOSH Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program offered periodic black lung screenings at no cost to coal miners in the U.S. (NIOSH photo)

As the federal government moves forward with a reorganization that has left the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) largely unstaffed, attorneys for West Virginia coal miners are asking a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction to keep the program running and grant miners a protection against developing dangerous black lung disease.

In a hearing Wednesday, attorneys for the coal miners argued that the shutdown of the CWHSP  which operates within the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health  means the government is not meeting its legal obligation to coal miners or others as the work the agency is statutorily required to do is no longer being performed.

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Attorneys for the federal government argued that the closure of the CWHSP  as well as other departments within NIOSH  is temporary.

Workers were notified that they were to be on administrative leave on April 1. Last week, some were told to return to work. But this week they were once again moved back to leave and permanent terminations are slated to take place come June.

NIOSH as well as the services performed in it, attorneys for the government said, will eventually return in a reorganized form under the federal Department of Health and Human Services. As such, they contended that the lawsuit on behalf of coal miners was premature.

Those testifying during Wednesdays hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Irene Berger included coal miners, epidemiologists from the CWHSP and supervisors from within NIOSH.

No one, including the attorneys representing the federal government, provided details or a timeline for when the agency would resume the duties it is required by law to perform.

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Laura Reynolds, a supervisor over the CWHSP, was asked if she was aware of any plans or discussions happening to transfer the agencys services to DHHS.

Her response was one word: No.

Scott Laney, who worked as an epidemiologist at NIOSH, said the community of researchers and providers qualified to do the work done by those at the CWHSP is quite small. He hasnt heard of anyone being asked to do it and has not been included in any plans to train others.

There is nobody who does the surveillance and breadth of what we do at NIOSH [for black lung], Laney said.

Without plan to resume services, coal miners left exposed to dangerous dust

Meanwhile, coal miners who have been diagnosed with black lung  including Harry Wiley, a coal miner in Raleigh County who is the lead plaintiff on the class action suit  are in a dangerous position.

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NIOSH plays a critical role in the Part 90 program, which allows workers diagnosed with black lung to transfer to a less dusty part of a mine without facing retribution or negative repercussions from a mine operator. Miners transferred under the rule have their pay, benefits and hours protected while being able to work in an area that is less likely to advance their black lung disease.

In order to qualify for Part 90, miners anywhere must have their black lung testing results evaluated and marked eligible by a NIOSH worker in order to be approved.

But now there are no NIOSH workers. Laney said labs certified to test miners for black lung were instructed to stop in April since there was no one at the CWHSP to evaluate the results.

This leaves Wiley, who was diagnosed with black lung in November and who applied for a transfer under Part 90, without any options to protect himself from the dangerous disease advancing.

And the disease will advance, said Noemi Hall, another NIOSH epidemiologist.

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The best protection to stop the progression of black lung  which has no cure and few treatment options  is prevention and reducing any exposure to coal mine dust, Laney said.

We know that this intervention [of transferring workers to less dusty areas] works from the science, Laney said. [Its] very clear in the scientific research.

Debbie Johnson, the black lung program director at Bluestone Health in Princeton, told the court she knows of at least four coal miners from her clinic who are depending on the CWHSP to resume services.

Two have already entered their applications for a Part 90 transfer and two others need their results evaluated and certified.

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None have heard from NIOSH.

Anita Wolfe, who retired from NIOSH in 2020 but still worked for the agency on a contract basis, said the CWHSP could see more than 5,000 x-rays a year that need to be evaluated. Thats 5,000 workers who could be at risk of developing a complicated and severe form of black lung disease without intervention.

Freeze on CWHSP occurs while silica dust rule under threat

While the federal government says its sorting out what a reorganization of NIOSH and the CWHSP will look like, it has also delayed the implementation of a federal labor rule that would have limited miners exposure to dangerous silica dust for the first time ever.

That rule was meant to go into effect in April. Its been delayed until August, however, partially due to the shakeups at NIOSH and the critical role workers there would have played in its implementation.

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Sam Petsonk, a labor attorney representing the miners in their lawsuit against the federal government, said in an interview after Wednesdays hearing that without the silica rule and without Part 90 transfers, miners are left with little to nothing to protect themselves.

West Virginia coal miners fought to create these programs because workers here walked off the job, picketed and demanded protections for themselves and miners throughout the world, Petsonk said. This whole program was created to protect our miners. And now the government isnt doing its part.

Meanwhile, more than just the response actions NIOSH is mandated to perform are going undone. The agency was also responsible for critical research to aid in identifying and preventing black lung in miners.

Thats especially important today in central Appalachia, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 20% of the regions coal miners are suffering from black lung  the highest rate detected in more than 25 years. One in 20 of the regions coal miners are living with the most severe form of the condition.

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And the resurgence of black lung is hitting coal miners at younger ages than ever before. This is due to miners, because of a lack of easily accessible coal, being forced to dig through more silica-rich sandstone than their predecessors in order to reach what little coal remains.

Were seeing a lot of younger miners who are at that point [of needing a Part 90 transfer], Johnson told the court Wednesday.

Before being told not to come to work in April, Hall was researching cases of black lung where individuals did not show symptoms but were developing the disease. Hall hoped that research could go toward working with miners to get tested early and frequently throughout their careers in order to stop symptoms from onsetting.

Now, she said, that work has been dropped and she doesnt expect it to pick back up again.

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While on the stand Wednesday, both Hall and Laney were asked two questions by Mike Becher, an attorney from Appalachian Mountain Advocates who is representing the coal miners.

Do you feel through your work youve made a difference in the lives of coal miners? Becher asked.

I know that to be the case because of the scientific evidence, Laney responded.

Yes, said Hall.

Do you feel youve saved miners lives? Becher asked.

I do, Laney said.

Yes, responded Hall.

The class action lawsuit against the federal government was filed on behalf of miners by Appalachian Mountain Advocates, Mountain State Justice and Petsonk PLLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern

District of West Virginia on April 21, 2025.

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On Wednesday, Judge Berger said she would have a response to the plaintiffs request for a preliminary injunction to order NIOSH to resume its work soon.

This story is republished from West Virginia Watch, a sister publication to the Kentucky Lantern and part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network.
X said it was ordered to restrict thousands of accounts in India.

The company said its staff in India faced "significant fines and imprisonment" if it didn't comply.

The takedown demand follows a Kashmir terror attack that has reignited India-Pakistan tensions.

Elon Musk's X says India's government has ordered it to block more than 8,000 accounts in the country or face "significant fines and imprisonment" for local X staff.

The company's global government affairs team said Thursday that it had begun restricting access to the flagged accounts in India.

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"X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees," the team's account wrote in an X post.

The company said the order, which comes as tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, includes demands to block international news organizations and high-profile users.

X added that it disagreed with the demands, which it said amounted to "censorship of existing and future content," but that it would "withhold the specified accounts in India alone."

The directive appears to be part of a wider crackdown targeting social media accounts tied to Pakistani politicians, media outlets, and celebrities.



India has also blocked more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels in recent weeks, accusing them of spreading "provocative" content. Several of the blocked channels belong to Pakistani news outlets.



Meta blocked access to a prominent Muslim news page on Instagram in India at the government's request, the page's founder said Wednesday.



Military clashes between India and Pakistan have ramped up in recent days following an attack on tourists last month in Kashmir, a contested region between the two countries, that killed 26 people.

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"In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws," X's global affairs team said. "For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts."

The takedown demand could add tension to Musk's expanding business interests in India. India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, spoke with Musk in April about increasing tech collaboration. Tesla is planning to open showroom locations in Delhi and Mumbai, and Musk's satellite company, Starlink, is seeking final approval to launch internet in the country.

An X spokesperson and India's government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has expressed support for Russia, described Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin as an ally in building a new world order and confirmed their joint position on the war against Ukraine during his visit to Moscow on 8 May.

Source: Reuters, citing a statement from Xi Jinping

Details: In a joint statement following talks, Xi Jinping and Putin stated that the war in Ukraine could only be resolved by removing its "root causes". Such formulation clearly echoes key Russian propaganda messages used by the Kremlin to justify the launch of the full-scale war, including the threat of NATO expansion, discrimination against Russian-speaking people and the suppression of the Russian language, culture and media in Ukraine.

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Quote: "Xi's participation  and the joint statement aligning China with Russia's view of the conflict  provide Putin with an important boost as Russia comes under pressure from the United States to end the war."

Details: Xi Jinping also stated that Russia and China should "be true friends of steel that have been through a hundred trials by fire".

Furthermore, Xi Jinping and Putin pledged to strengthen coordination in all areas, including military, and to "decisively counter Washington's course of 'dual containment'" of China and Russia. They also expressed their intention to personally oversee key areas of cooperation and to increase trade and investment by 2030.

For reference: Xi Jinping and Putin have met dozens of times and signed a "no-limits partnership" in February 2022, less than three weeks before Putin sent his troops into Ukraine. China is Russia's largest trading partner and has provided Moscow with economic support, helping Russia cope with Western sanctions.

Background:

On the evening of 7 May, it was reported that Xi Jinping had arrived in Moscow to attend the 9 May parade.

Chinese military personnel will take part in the parade on Red Square in Moscow on Victory Day. Putin said that the parade formation of Chinese military personnel would be the largest among all foreign military contingents. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.]

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You do not need to be a veteran Kremlinologist to read the symbolism of the Victory Day parade in Moscow. There in the front row of dignitaries, at the right hand of Vladimir Putin, stood Xi Jinping, the president of China.

Not only were the two leaders shoulder-to-shoulder, but Mr Xi was also wearing the orange and black ribbon of St George, a symbol of Russian military glory.

The message was unmistakable: for as long as Mr Xi and Putin are side-by-side, representing by far the strongest military powers in Eurasia, all of the Wests efforts to isolate Russia will be doomed to fail.

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So far so good from Putins perspective, but the truth is that Mr Xi was always going to attend the parade.

To prove that Russia has plenty of friends, Putin needed to achieve a clean sweep of the presidents of Brics countries and Kremlin-friendly leaders in Europe.

He did not quite manage either goal.

Of the Brics nations, Mr Xi was joined by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil. The fact that Brazil voted in the United Nations to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine seems to have been forgiven.

Xi Jinping stands side-by-side with Vladimir Putin at a wreath-laying ceremony after the Victory Day parade - Yuri Kochetkov/Pool EPA

Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, is on the brink of all-out war with Pakistan, providing a good reason for his absence.

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But the non-attendance of Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, means that Putin narrowly fell short of a Brics clean sweep.

As for the Kremlins friends in Europe, Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, was the only EU leader at the parade.

Russian servicemen took part in the Victory Day military parade in Moscow - Maxim Bogovid/RIA Novosti

There was no sign of Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, despite his status as Putins longest-serving and highest-profile apologist in the EU.

Many of the other heads of state were more or less obliged to attend.

No matter what their private view of Putin  and some loathe him  the leaders of countries that were once part of the Soviet Empire will always remember how millions of their people served in the Red Army and paid a terrible price during the Second World War.

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Hence, Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian prime minister who has a poisonous relationship with the Kremlin, was there in Moscow.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil was also present at the Victory Parade in Moscow - Alexey Nikolskiy/RIA Novorosti/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Other presidents were more or less certain to be present, not because they carry any international weight but rather for the opposite reason. Some are so discredited that they are welcome in few capitals apart from Moscow.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the president of Zimbabwe, falls firmly into that category.

He was in Red Square not because Zimbabwe had any great affinity with Russia or played a part in the Red Armys struggle, but because he had few opportunities to travel anywhere outside Africa.

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But for Putin, these are quibbles. The presence of Mr Xi by his side will have made the occasion worthwhile.

Anyone who thinks that China is a half-hearted or ambiguous partner in Putins assault on Europes biggest country should look again at the ribbon of St George adorning Mr Xis jet black overcoat.

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 missile launched from Yemen on Friday toward Israel triggered air raid alarms in several parts of the country and was intercepted, according to the Israeli military.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they had fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv and claimed it "successfully hit its target."

Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree added in a televised statement that the group had also fired a drone at a "vital target" in Jaffa.

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The official renewed the militia's warning to airlines to stop flying to Israel.

On Sunday, a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport, prompting Israel to launch heavy airstrikes on the militia's targets in Yemen.

Since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked Israel and international merchant ships in support of its ally, the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement.

The threat led major shipping companies to avoid the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe and sailing the much longer journey around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope instead.

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Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said the Houthis had agreed to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea and in return the United States will end its bombing campaign against them.

Despite the ceasefire deal, the rebels said they would continue to attack Israel until the Israeli attacks in Gaza end.
Russias President Vladimir Putin is set to host the leaders of China, Brazil and other heads of states for festivities on Friday marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Victory Day, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9, has become the countrys most important secular holiday. A massive parade through Red Square and other ceremonies underline Moscows efforts to project its power and cement the alliances it has forged while seeking a counterbalance to the West amid the 3-year-old war in Ukraine.

For Putin, this day is important as a demonstration how broad a coalition backing Russia is, said political analyst Nikolai Petrov.

The lineup of leaders coming to Moscow this year contrasts sharply to some past celebrations that drew top Western leaders at a time of friendlier ties between Russia and the West.

The festivities have been overshadowed by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and severe disruptions at all four of the capitals airports, with dozens of flights delayed or canceled, stranding hundreds of passengers.

Tightened security around the celebrations also led to restrictions on cellphone internet service and reports of outages. Banks and taxi firms have preemptively warned customers about disruption to services over the holidays due to unstable internet access, and some shops and supermarkets have restricted deliveries due to potential network problems.

Guest list reflects Moscows priorities

Putin described Chinese President Xi Jinping as our main guest at the Victory Day festivities when he discussed preparations for his visit with Chinas foreign minister. The Russian leader noted that he and Xi are to discuss both bilateral and global issues at their summit in Moscow.

China has offered robust diplomatic support to Moscow after the 2022 invasion and has emerged as a top market for Russian oil and gas, helping fill the Kremlins war coffers. Russia also has relied on China as the main source of machinery and electronics to keep its military machine running after Western sanctions curtailed high-tech supplies.

While Beijing hasnt provided weapons to use in Ukraine, it has backed the Kremlin diplomatically, blaming the West for threatening Russias security. China also condemned Western sanctions against Moscow.

Russia, in turn, has consistently voiced support for Beijing on issues related to Taiwan.

Last month, Ukraine reported capturing two Chinese soldiers who were fighting for Russia and claimed there were over 150 others deployed alongside Moscows forces. Beijing disavowed official involvement, saying it told its citizens not to enter foreign conflicts. Reports suggested the men were mercenaries answering advertisements.

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Mod i, another top ally whom Putin has courted, had been expected in Moscow but he canceled his trip amid tensions with Pakistan after an attack in which gunmen opened fire on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India, which has had persistent tensions with China, watched the growing Russia-China relationship with unease but sought to maintain close ties with Moscow. Russia is a major defense supplier for India, and New Delhis importance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine. Just like China, India has become a key buyer of Russian oil.

Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also arrived Wednesday, his first official trip to Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine. He twice visited Russia during his previous tenure as president in 2003-10.

Other signs of global support for the Kremlin

Other guests include Slovakias populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has openly challenged the European Unions policies over Ukraine. Fico has shrugged off warnings from the EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, against visiting Moscow, defiantly saying, nobody can order me where to go or not to go.

Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic made his first trip to Russia since the invasion, despite EU pressure that visiting Moscow could derail Serbias ambitions to join the bloc. He arrived in Moscow on Wednesday after falling ill last week on a trip to the U.S., which raised questions about his attendance. The Kremlin said Putin will have bilateral meetings with him and Fico today.

Petrov said attendance by European countries despite EU pressure demonstrates that the Kremlin isnt just in any sort of isolation but has quite powerful support not only in the Global South but also in the West.

Putin met Wednesday with the leaders of Cuba and Venezuela, who also came to Moscow. He and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed an agreement on strategic partnership and cooperation.

The leaders of Vietnam and Burkina-Faso, plus presidents of several former Soviet nations, also were expected.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the guest list reflects the importance of the holiday and shows that Russia not only has allies, but a large number of countries that feel close to the spirit of our ideology and world vision.

Ushakov said Tuesday that leaders of more than two dozen countries are expected, and Putin will hold more than 15 bilateral meetings. The Kremlin also invited U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, although whether she will be present at the parade, we will see on May 9, Ushakov said. The State Department didnt confirm whether any U.S. officials would attend.

Ushakov said Wednesday the presidents of Laos and Azerbaijan werent coming after all. Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith fell ill with COVID-19, Ushakov told Russias Life news outlet, and Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, who the Kremlin said in March had accepted an invitation, had to attend events at home.

Relations between Moscow and Baku cooled after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed in Kazakhstan in December, killing 38 of 67 people aboard. Aliyev said it was shot down over Russia, albeit unintentionally, and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to hush up the incident for several days. Putin apologized to Aliyev for what he called a tragic incident but stopped short of acknowledging responsibility.

Aliyev hasnt attended the Moscow parade since 2015, the Russian daily Vedomosti reported.

Past celebrations featured top Western leaders

When Russias ties with the West blossomed after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, many Western leaders attended Victory Day celebrations. In 1995, U.S. President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister John Major and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien were among the guests.

U.S. President George W. Bush attended the 2005 Victory Day parade along with the leaders of France, Germany and other heads of states, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on Red Square for the 2010 parade.

Ties with the West were badly strained after Russias illegal annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow backed a separatist insurgency. Western leaders stopped coming to the event.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who this year upended Washingtons policy of isolating Russia over the war, hasnt ruled out visiting Moscow someday, but will not be attending on Friday. MDT/AP
A missile launched from Yemen on Friday toward Israel triggered air raid alarms in several parts of the country and was intercepted, according to the Israeli military.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they had fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv and claimed it "successfully hit its target."

Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree added in a televised statement that the group had also fired a drone at a "vital target" in Jaffa. The information could not initially be independently verified.

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The official renewed the militia's warning to airlines to stop flying to Israel.

Due to escalating tensions, the Lufthansa Group said on Friday that it was extending its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 18.

The measure affects all group airlines, including SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Eurowings, ITA and Lufthansa Cargo.

Flights were initially halted on Sunday, after a Houthi missile struck near Ben Gurion Airport, the country's busiest, prompting Israel to launch heavy airstrikes on the militia's targets in Yemen.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement after the missile strike that Israel would "respond decisively in Yemen and wherever necessary."

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Since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked Israel and international merchant ships in support of its ally, the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement.

The threat led major shipping companies to avoid the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe and sailing the much longer journey around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope instead.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said the Houthis had agreed to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea and in return the United States will end its bombing campaign against them.

Despite the ceasefire deal, the rebels said they would continue to attack Israel until the Israeli attacks in Gaza end.
Editors Note: A previous version of this story identified an incorrect member of the city council as being one of those behind the new funding plan. This story has been updated to reflect the accurate list of council members involved with the plan.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  In a final scramble to fund park decks over the Texas Department of Transportations I-35 expansion project, some Austin city council members are combing through possible funding options that wouldnt take away from the citys borrowing power for its proposed comprehensive bond package next year.

We have identified additional funding mechanisms that would allow us to do a yes, and approach, Austin City Council Member Ryan Alter said.

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Alter is one of the council members pushing for the building of those highway spaces, called caps and stitches  alongside council members Zo Qadri, Chito Vela and Jose Velasquez  and are asking staff to look at funding options like looping a cap into the convention center project, using increased temporary right-of-way fees and pulling from eligible transportation bonds.

Looking at previous bond projects that are so over their original cost estimates that we cant even build them, so how about we use those funds for something else? Looking at a car rental tax, which is something that allows for us to spend on a project like the caps, but once again couldnt be used to spend on homelessness or parks, Alter said.

If city staff can swing that funding puzzle, the Austin City Council will still need a majority vote when it commits funding to TxDOT later this month. Some council members, like District 6s Krista Laine, have questioned whether the city should really be the main investor for this project at all.

The diversity of funders beyond the city of Austin has shrunk considerably, Austin City Council Member Krista Laine said. District 6, in northwest Austin, is one of the farthest from where the caps will be built near downtown.

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In an analysis of caps in six other cities, a group called Hayat Brown found similar projects relied much more heavily on philanthropy or federal and state funds. In none of the examples Hayat Brown brought forward to city council earlier this week did the city fund more than 25% of the total cost of caps in those other projects.

The city taking that on entirely, I have very significant concerns about whether thats a smart financial thing to do, Laine said.

What are caps and stitches?

Caps and stitches would look like deck plazas, parks and community spaces over the Texas Department of Transportations (TxDOTs) I-35 expansion project near downtown. The deadline for Austin to commit funding to TxDOT for the roadway elements of the project is May 31.

Talking about the 1928 plan, where black and brown Austin was pushed to the east side, I really do believe this is a way to do right, Austin City Council Member Zohaib Qadri said. He represents the downtown district where these caps would be built.

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In a November 2024 council work session, city staff said they believe building out the full cap and stitch vision plan would cost more than $1.4 billion.

Artist rendering of a cap over I-35 between Cesar Chavez and 4th Street looking north (Photo: Austins Cap and Stitch Project vision plan)

One chance: Neighbor coalition pushes for city to fund its portion of Austins I-35 Cap and Stitch

Advocacy groups have pushed the city to fund at least the roadway elements for all of the caps and stitches in Austins initial vision plan.

City staffs recommendation

City of Austin staff released an updated recommendation for which caps and stitches the city may want to commit funding to this week.

While a vision plan placed highway covers with parks and community spaces over the highway in a handful of locations, the city is now recommending only funding the roadway elements for a cap spanning from Cesar Chavez to Fourth Street and another project from 11th to 12th.

An update cap and stitch staff recommendation (courtesy city of Austin)

The city of Austin only has so much money it can borrow if it doesnt want to hurt its credit rating. City staff said Tuesday that, assuming there is no change in state law, the city should not exceed $750 million in additional bond debt between caps and stitches and anything the city opts to put into its 2026 comprehensive bond package.

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Austinites likely to vote on a bond package in 2026, what you need to know

Im also looking at November of 26 with a comprehensive bond package that meets things like parks and affordable housing and other needs that we might have. It reduces, in my head, what I think we can afford, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a sit-down interview with KXAN Monday.

Analysis: Return on investment

Austin city council members previously asked staff to look at whether the return on investment from the caps  increases in property values nearby, amenities on top of the caps, etc.  would significantly help offset the cost of constructing the structures.

Analysis of return on investment for Austins I-35 cap and stitch vision plan (Hayat Brown)

City staff brought Hayat Brown on to help with that analysis. That group found Austin would be well short of offsetting the cost of building all of the caps and stitches in the vision plan.

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Caps will not produce sufficient revenue to fund their construction and operations, but constructing caps will produce unquantifiable social benefits, Hayat Brown wrote in their presentation to the council.

City parks dont bring return on investment. They bring joy, they bring happiness, they bring quality of life. But they dont bring additional revenue to the city, Austin City Council Member Chito Vela responded.

$105 million federal grant still in limbo

The city of Austin is still waiting to see if it will have $105 million to build one of those key caps, but a recent move by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee makes that likelihood seem smaller.

Austin was previously awarded that grant by the federal government, but with a new administration working through a budget reconciliation process, Austin leaders will have to operate on the notion that the funding will no longer be available for now.

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Will Austin still get $105M federal grant for I-35 cap? New budget proposal paints grim picture

Theres always hope, Watson said. This has a couple of hurdles before it ends up passing. And how they get to reconciliation, theyre gonna have to talk about Medicare, theyre gonna talk about food stamps, theyre gonna have to talk about some of the hard votes. But I think its probably smart on our part to be making our decisions with the anticipation that that kind of grant wont be there.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) The York College of Pennsylvania and York County government announced a pilot program to provide county employees access to the York College Career Academy.

According to York College, the countys board of commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding with York College on Wednesday, allowing employees in the York County Information Technology Services Department to access the Career Academy online learning platform.

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This is part of an effort to help county employees gain access to professional development locally.

There is a reason one of the countys strategic anchors is our people, said York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler. Our employees are our most valuable resource, and we are committed to helping them grow, learn and improve so that we can continue to provide exceptional service to our community. With this partnership, our employees can gain access to high-quality professional development through a trusted, local leader in higher education.

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York College says the Career Academy helps learners develop workforce skills in various fields, including information technology, business operations, and project management.

As we continue to build partnerships that strengthen our regional workforce, this agreement with York County underscores our belief that education is a lifelong pursuit, said Dr. Thomas Burns, President of York College. We are excited to help county employees advance their careers through accessible and practical professional development opportunities.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  New York State has reported one of the worst flu seasons on record with the highest number of pediatric flu-related deaths in the states history.

Were all alarmed, Ontario County Public Health Director Kate Ott told News 8 Thursday.

Earlier this week, New York States Department of Health Commissioner announced 25 flu-related pediatric deaths over the course of the 2024-2025 season  the highest in state history.

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Ontario County confirms measles case, no current risk to the public

Nationwide, 216 pediatric flu-related deaths were reported. The highest in 15 years.

Its pretty obvious that vaccine hesitancy is on the rise in the us, Ott said. Weve seen a decline in pediatric vaccine coverage since 2019 for flu. We were at about 62 percent of kids getting vaccinated in 2019 and 2020 and were down now to about 50 percent. We see flu pediatric associated deaths every year. From a public health professional standpoint, you look at those deaths and think, so preventable.'

Ott notes the vast majority of deaths were in unvaccinated children, or children too young for the vaccine. With the current flu season coming to a close, health officials continue to push awareness on the flu shots effectiveness.

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I think we need to do a better job as a public health community, Ott said. And a medical community in educating a community and educating our patients. We need to talk about vaccines a lot and provide proof to families and individuals that it is safe, effective and a tool they can use to prevent becoming seriously ill or prevent even death.

Ott adds Ontario County has among the highest flu vaccination rates in the state right now at 35 percent. While its not very high, she says its a good start at helping to prevent the spread of diseases like influenza.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
When Father Tony Ricard watched Pope Leo XIV deliver his first address to the faithful Thursday in St. Peters Square, he felt an instant kinship.

When he came to the balcony, I looked up, and I was like, That dude looks like he could be my brother, said Ricard, a New Orleans Catholic priest with a Creole background.

And thats before we even knew what his heritage was.

As it turns out, Robert Francis Prevost, who became the first elected Pope from the United States, has Creole grandparents who lived in New Orleans, a genealogist says.

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The newly elected pontiff is not known to have publicly commented on his Creole ancestry, which includes people of mixed Spanish or French and Black descent. And the family did not identify as Black, his brother told The New York Times.

Still, the revelation of Leos background has created a stir in New Orleans, one of the few US cities that is both majority Black and predominantly Catholic.

From what Ive seen thus far within 24 hours, the city is beyond excited, said Arkesha Baquet, co-owner of Lil Dizzys Cafe, a self-described Creole-Soul restaurant in the legendary Treme, among the nations oldest African American neighborhoods.

Grandparents came to US from Haiti

Pope Leo XIVs grandparents on his mothers side lived in New Orleans before they migrated to Chicago, where his mother, Mildred Martinez Prevost, was born in 1912, said Jari C. Honora, a family historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection who shared his research and records with CNN.

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Leos maternal grandparents, Joseph and Louise Martinez, are listed as Black in a Census record from 1900. Joseph is recorded as a cigar maker born in Hayti. The Census record shows the couple as living in New Orleans 7th Ward, historically a melting pot of cultures in the Crescent City.

Pope Leo XIVs maternal grandparents, Joseph and Louise Martinez, are listed as Black in the 1900 Census. - Courtesy Jari C. Honora

Honora also shared a marriage certificate for Mildreds parents and a photo of a family grave site that shows her parents name.

The family were free people of color prior to the Civil War. When they move to Chicago between 1910 and 1912, they passed into the White world, Honora said.

And thats OK. I think thats important to bring out that this is not accusatory, added Honora, who has worked as a researcher on the popular PBS genealogy series Finding Your Roots. Its not meant to be a sort of I got you moment. This is taking a long view of history and showing you things that people did hold on to, and their faith is one of them.

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John Prevost, the new popes older brother, confirmed that his maternal grandparents came from Haiti but told CNN he didnt know much more about the familys background.

There wasnt a whole lot spoken about roots in our day, he said, noting the grandparents on his fathers side came to the US as orphans without any documentation of their ethnic history.

Leos own history was already an unusual one: He was a missionary to Peru who has spent decades outside the United States.

The exciting part is a realization that theyre finally recognizing the role that Catholics from the US are playing in the world church, Ricard said. We have guys that have been missionaries all over the world.

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The newly unearthed chapter of the Prevost family story is also representative of New Orleans own unique cultural stew.

I guess we have to start calling him the Gumbo Pope, Ricard said, because hes a little bit of everything mixed together.

Creole identification has a complicated history

Before the Civil War, free Black Americans held higher social status than those who were enslaved, according to the Data Center, a research non-profit focused on Southeast Louisiana. After the war, all people of color were suddenly categorized together for the first time, which amounted to a significant social demotion for those who were previously free.

They were suddenly denied access to networks and resources (such as education and capital) that had previously been available to them, an entry on Creole history on the Data Center website says.

A marriage certificate for the parents of Mildred Martinez Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIVs mother, according to genealogist Jari C. Honora. - Courtesy Jari C. Honora

Mildred's family grave site shows her parents names. - Courtesy Jari C. Honora

On the other hand, the ubiquity of the Catholic Church in this French-settled community provided a space where all people could come together to worship.

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For all of the population  free White, free people of color and enslaved people  all of them you had practicing the faith, taking part in the sacraments, said Honora, the genealogist.

But while the term catholic means all-encompassing, that doesnt mean life for Black Catholics in the US was always truly equal, he noted.

It would have been socially unacceptable for women of color to pursue vocations in the existing religious orders  just to live under the same roof was at various points in time against the law, Honora said. And all of the challenges of Black men to ascend to the altar to be priests, we have so many stories of that.

Indeed, while only 6% of Black adults in the US are Catholic, nearly half of them live in the South, a survey from the Pew Research Center found.

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We are a huge Catholic city, Baquet said of New Orleans.

New Orleans energized by unexpected connection

The citys newly uncovered bond to the Roman Catholic leader is a great connection for our local population, said Honora, one of the founders of New Orleans Creole Genealogical and Historical Association.

Ricard  who serves as campus minister of St. Augustine High School, a historically Black Catholic school in New Orleans named for the North African priest who founded the order whose membership includes Leo  says their unexpected ties to the bishop of Rome mean a lot to his students.

Its exciting for us because its also letting the younger Creole community in New Orleans understand that we do have a legacy that we stand on, he said.

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All of a sudden, its one of our homeboys thats now the Holy Father, Ricard added.

John Prevost points to a childhood photo of his brothers. The newly elected Pope Leo XIV is at the left of the photo. - Obed Lamy/AP

The mayor of New Orleans also acknowledged the finding, saying in a statement the city is honored to share this history with the pope.

The City of New Orleans is a melting pot of different religions and beliefs, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. We are thrilled to welcome Pope Leo XIV, who embodies morality, unity, and inclusivity.

Although Pope Leo XIV has never lived in New Orleans, Honora hopes the Holy Fathers deep heritage in the community will lead to a papal visit. That hasnt happened since John Paul II came to the Crescent City in 1987.

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So, were long overdue, he said.

A papal visit to his hometown would be extraordinary, Ricard said, adding he hopes the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has a good sense of humor.

I would let him know that I was supposed to be the first Creole pope, Ricard joked.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Michelle Krupa and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has accepted two key items for a petition involving a proposal for property tax elimination to move forward.

Yost said the title and a proposed constitutional amendments summary to add a Section 14 to Article XII of the states constitution received approval.

The title of the proposal is Abolishment of Taxes on Real Property.

Below is the full text of the proposed amendment:

(A) No real property shall be taxed, and no law shall impose any taxes on real property.

(B) No other provision of the Constitution shall impose any taxes on real property.

(C) As used in this Section, real property includes land itself, all growing crops therein, and all buildings, structures, and improvements permanently attached to the land

According to Yost, the Ohio Ballot Board will determine whether the proposed amendment is either one or multiple constitutional amendments. If the proposal is certified by the OBB, signatures from registered voters must be collected. A minimum of 10 percent of the signatures must have voted in the last gubernatorial race.

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Those signatures must come from voters in at least 44 of Ohios 88 counties, and for each of those counties the number must equal at least 5% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, said Yost.

Yost also said that if the Ohio Secretary of States Office verifies the legitimacy of sufficient signatures at a minimum of 65 days before the election, the full text of said proposed amendment would be placed on the ballot.

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In vitro fertilization process. (Stock photo by Antonio Marquez lanza/Getty Images)

A bill that can help people start and grow their families through fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization will become law, after Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed it along with several other measures he initially tried to amend.

House Bill 1609 by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, will require the Health Insurance Reform Commission (HIRC) to consider coverage for diagnosis and treatment of infertility and procedures like IVF in its 2025 review of essential health benefits covered by health insurance.

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The timing is actually really critical in that HIRC is about to do the essential health benefits plan, Helmer said, adding that now the state will have to look seriously at whether to include infertility care in the health insurance coverage it offers Virginians.

When the legislature concluded the bulk of its work this past February, Youngkin then reviewed the bills that passed and weighed whether to sign, veto or seek amendments on them. Before signing Helmers bill, he tried to tweak it by including a provision for nongovernmental health insurance plan sponsors to opt out of potential coverage requirements for religious or ethical purposes. The legislature rejected this idea, punting it back to Youngkin, who recently approved it in its original form.

In his signature explanation, Youngkin called Helmers bill a balanced approach to expanding fertility care in the state because it didnt outright mandate immediate coverage for the treatment.

Calling it an interim step, Youngkin commended the bill and said HIRCs review of how infertility care coverage could be implemented can ensure the General Assembly has the data, analysis and necessary input to make an informed decision in the future.

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Like his previous attempt to amend Helmers bill, Youngkin added that he believes its essential for his exemption idea to be taken up if Virginia does eventually cover fertility treatments like IVF.

The conscience clause that my amendment would have added is critical to ensure the expansion of fertility care does not come at the cost of religious liberty, Youngkin said.

While some states have passed laws to protect IVF access, members of Congress have sparred over the issue and failed to agree on federal protections. The reproductive healthcare treatment, which was less controversial in past years, has come under scrutiny after Alabamas state supreme court ruled last year that embryos are people  prompting fertility clinics to suspend the procedure for risk of lawsuits. The state recently passed a law to protect IVF in the state, though questions remain about future challenges.

Virginia-born Elizabeth Carr, the first person born of the procedure in the U.S., has emphasized that IVF is not just (to treat) infertility.

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There are implications for if you need a surrogate, if you are a same-sex couple, if you want to screen for a genetic disease, she told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2024. Or, if you are going through cancer treatment and want to preserve your eggs so that after youre done and you want to conceive, you can use IVF.

The use of IVF after a cancer diagnosis hit close to home for Helmer, whose close family member had to leave Virginia because health insurance didnt cover the treatments in the state. For the past several years, hes carried some version of House Bill 1609 to bring the state closer to realizing coverage.

Nobody should face the choice of having to leave to start a family. Im grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle were able to unite on the measure, Helmer said. I think the signing of this bill should give a lot of hope to a lot of people that we are going to be there for them, and this is exactly the kind of legislating that we should be doing.





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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A city man who pleaded guilty to a gun charge was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison.

Trayshaun Hill, 23, received the sentence from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court following his April 30 guilty plea to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

The sentence in the case was recommended by the attorneys and adopted by Judge Krichbaum.

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The charge stems from Feb. 4 traffic stop where Hill was arrested by city police who pulled over a car he was a passenger in about 1:15 p.m. in the 200 block of East Ravenwood Avenue for excessive window tint.

Reports said Hill ran from the car but was caught after a short foot chase. Underneath the seat in front of where Hill was sitting, police found a semiautomatic handgun, reports said.

Hill is not allowed to have a gun because of a 2017 conviction for kidnapping in Mahoning County Juvenile Court, reports said.

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EL PASO, Texas (EL PASO MATTERS)  The Ysleta Independent School District is offering teachers, counselors and administrators a $5,000 incentive to voluntarily resign to help reduce personnel costs as it prepares its budget for the coming school year.

In an email sent out to administrators obtained by El Paso Matters this week, YISD states it is offering to buy out the first 400 qualified employees to submit their resignation notice early.

The incentive is open to those in full-time administrative positions or those employed under Chapter 21 contracts  typically teachers, counselors, administrators and others that require state certification, according to the letter. The district states the incentive applies only to those who were already planning to resign or retire from the district at the end of their 2024-25 contract.

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Employees have until May 29 to submit the resignation notice to the districts human resources office to qualify for the incentive. The resignation would be effective on the employees last day of duty this school year.

Due to declining enrollment and in preparation for the upcoming school year, the early notification incentive is being offered to ensure proper staffing at our campuses and support the effective use of district funds, YISD officials said in an email statement to El Paso Matters.

No other details on the buyout were made available, and the district didnt respond to questions about how much the resignations are estimated to save the district in personnel costs or whether it intended to implement layoffs if 400 employees dont take the incentive.

During an April board meeting, YISD officials estimated the district would generate $368.3 million in revenue under the current school financing laws, but did not reveal its projected expenses or whether they expect a deficit.

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Last year, the YISD board approved a $408.2 million budget with a $17.2 million deficit.

The district has also considered taking out a $25 million loan to cover its payroll expenses if it depletes its cash reserves while awaiting payment from the state.

The YISD buyout offer comes as school districts throughout the region attempt to cut their budgets to address ongoing budget deficits. Socorro ISD this week laid off 43 teachers after also offering incentives for early retirement and resignations. SISD had initially said it planned to lay off up to 300 employees. EPISD is closing eight elementary schools over the next two years to reduce expenses.

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Jia Zhangkes Caught by the Tides is less than two hours long and yet contains nearly a quarter-century of times relentless march forward.

Few films course with history the way it does in the Chinese masters latest, an epic collage that spans 21 years. Jia undertook the film during the pandemic, assembling a mix of fiction and documentary, including images from his earlier films as well as newly shot scenes.

That might sound like a mishmash kind of moviemaking. But for Jia, the preeminent cinematic chronicler of 21st century China, its a remarkably cohesive, even profound vessel for capturing what has most interested him as a filmmaker: the tidal wave-sized currents of technological progress and social transmutation that wash over a lifetime.

The high-speed upheavals of modern China are, of course, a fitting setting for such interests. Jias films are often most expressed in their surroundings  in vistas of infrastructure that dwarf his protagonists. Fans of Jia will recognize some from his previous films. For me, theres never been a more moving backdrop from him than the rubble and mass displacement of the Three Gorges Dam project (seen here, as in his 2008 film Still Life).

Caught by the Tides is ostensibly about Qiaoqiao (Zhao Tao, Jias wife and muse) and her lover Bin (Li Zhubin), whom she searches for years after a row sent them in different directions. But in Caught by the Tides, these characters are more like life rafts bobbing in expansive waters, making their way aimlessly.

The poetry of Caught by the Tides comes from a grander arc. In one of the films opening scenes, shot on grainy digital film, women in a Datong city room laugh together, singing old, half-remembered songs. The films final scenes, set more than two decades later in the southern city of Zhuhai, are more crisply photographed and depict a more impersonal world of smartphones, robots and QR codes. For a moment, Jia even adopts the perspective of a surveillance camera.

Another moment: a shot, from pre-digital times, drifting down a street with men looking back at us, smoking and mildly curious. Cut then to what might be the same street years later, where a woman parades as a model in front of a sprawling shopping mall.

In Caught by the Tides, these changes go unexplained and unspoken. But the evolutions they chart are deeply familiar to anyone who has lived through even some of these years, in China or elsewhere. We see how people once moved differently, spoke differently and sang differently. Progress and loss exist together as one. Zhao and Li age through the film, leaving them weathered, too, by time. A song late in the film goes: I cant grasp the warmth we once shared. JAKE COYLE, MDT/AP Film Writer

Caught by the Tides, a Sideshow and Janus Films release, is unrated by the Motion Picture Association. In Mandarin. Running time: 116 minutes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the "coalition of the willing" is due to gather in Kiev on Saturday, referring to nations prepared to support a peace deal in Ukraine if one is reached.

The leaders are expected in the Ukrainian capital, Zelensky said in a video conference on Friday, without stating who exactly would attend.

The meeting is important for the security architecture in Europe, and Europe will also benefit from it, he said.

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Earlier, the Kiev military administration warned of road closures in the centre of the city on Saturday due to foreign delegations but said the times and specific roads would not be revealed yet for security reasons.

The "coalition of the willing" consists of some 30 countries and is led by France and Britain. All are working on plans to support Ukraine after a possible ceasefire.

While Washington recently urged the two battling nations to agree to a ceasefire, the US is not part of the "coalition of the willing."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the "coalition of the willing" is due to gather in Kiev on Saturday, referring to nations prepared to support Ukraine, as fighting continued in the embattled country.

The leaders are expected in the Ukrainian capital, Zelensky said in a video conference on Friday, without stating who exactly would attend.

The meeting is important for the security architecture in Europe, and Europe will also benefit from it, he said.

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Earlier, the Kiev military administration warned of road closures in the centre of the city on Saturday due to foreign delegations but said the times and specific roads would not be revealed yet for security reasons.

The "coalition of the willing" consists of some 30 countries and is led by France and Britain. All are working on plans to support Ukraine after a possible ceasefire.

While Washington recently urged the two battling nations to agree to a ceasefire, the US is not part of the "coalition of the willing."

Moscow, Kiev trade blame over ceasefire violations

Earlier on Friday, Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a three-day ceasefire declared unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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According to the Ukrainian General Staff, there have been almost 200 clashes on the battlefield in the past 24 hours.

Around the key mining city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine repelled 71 Russian advances, according to the situation report. Towns close to the front line were also being shelled, it said.

For their part, Russian authorities reported a drone attack on the regional administration in Belgorod.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov published a video on Telegram apparently showing the aftermath of the attack.

Some metal parts - possibly drone debris - could be seen on the ground in the video, although there was no visible major damage to buildings. There were no deaths or injuries, Gladkov said.

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The information from the front could not be independently verified.

The ceasefire, which Putin said he called for humanitarian reasons, is set to end on Saturday night.

It comes as Russia marks the 80th anniversary of victory over the Nazis in World War II with a huge parade in Moscow's Red Square.

Ukraine said the ceasefire was only for show and has called for it to be extended to 30 days.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with United States President Donald Trump on a phone call on May 8 to discuss the war, continued pressure on Russia, and a potential ceasefire.

Zelensky reported on the details of phone call during his nightly address.

According to Zelensky, the two leaders had a "good conversation" that was both "warm and constructive." They congratulated each other and their respective nations with Victory in Europe Day  commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

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Zelensky commented on how the defeat of Nazism, as well as the cooperation between Allied nations, laid the foundation for peace, international law, and normal life for so many countries.

"Now, this life must be protected and restored  rebuilt from the ruins after Russian strikes. Just as before, we must work together to bring peace," Zelensky said.

Zelensky and Trump also discussed joint actions, including US support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia. They also discussed the frontline situation, diplomatic efforts, and "a real and lasting ceasefire."

"Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire starting right now, from this very moment," Zelensky said. "A ceasefire, lasting and reliable, will be a real indicator of movement toward peace."

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He also noted the critical role that the United States can play in securing peace: "America can help... the world needs America now just as it did eighty years ago."

The conversation between Zelensky and Trump follows recent attempts by the US to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Nearly two months ago, Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, but Moscow rejected it, demanding a complete halt on military aid to Ukraine.

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.

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Read also: Ukraine war latest: Over 100 clashes reported on the front line since Russias Victory Day ceasefire began

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) against 58 Russian nationals and 74 companies, most of which are linked to Russias defence-industrial complex.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine

Details: The sanctions list also includes three companies each from Iran and Uzbekistan, as well as one company from Hong Kong, China. The restrictions were approved by the NSDC and then enacted by a presidential decree.

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Of the 74 legal entities under sanctions, 67 are Russian companies involved in military technologies.

Background:

President Zelenskyy had previously enacted an NSDC decision to impose sanctions against Novatek, Russias largest producer of liquefied natural gas and one of its biggest natural gas producers.

He also enacted NSDC sanctions targeting companies involved in missile production.

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The man who police say provided the gun his troubled daughter used to kill two people in a Madison school shooting last year was ordered held Friday on $20,000 bail.

Jeffrey W. Rupnow, 42, of Madison, is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child and two counts of providing a dangerous weapon to a person under 18  all felonies  for allegedly purchasing the Glock handgun Natalie Rupnow used in the Dec. 16 shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on the citys Southeast Side.

The shooting left teacher Erin Michelle West, 42, and student Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, dead, and wounded six others, including a student who as of Thursday was back in the hospital due to his injuries, according to acting Madison police chief John Patterson. The shooting ended when Natalie, 15, shot herself to death.

During an initial hearing Friday, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne called the case unprecedented.

These facts allege that Mr. Rupnow purchased and provided firearms and allowed unlimited access to the internet to his minor child, knowing her concerning history and fragile mental health status, he said. There was no other person who knew the child better than the defendant. His actions and lack of judgement here contributed to the fatal and tragic mass violence incident at Abundant Life Christian School.

Rupnow told investigators his daughter lived with him but had been struggling with his divorce from her mother in 2022, saying she hated her life and wanted to kill herself. Natalie also used to cut herself to the point that Rupnow said he had to lock up all the knives in his house. The criminal complaint against her father says that she had a fascination with past school shooters and had long planned the attack on Abundant Life.

The complaint alleges that after the shooting, multiple legally purchased guns were found in the North Side Madison home the father and daughter shared. The Glock was one of two handguns Natalie brought to the school on the day of the shooting. It was the only one she used, and the complaint says Rupnow had purchased it for her and she had paid him for part of its cost.

There was a gun safe in the home that most of the guns were kept in, according to the complaint, but Rupnow had told his daughter the safes combination at one point and his daughter might have known the combination from watching him open the safe.

Ozanne had asked for bail of $100,000, consisting of $40,000 each for the weapons offenses and $20,000 for the contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge.

Rupnows attorney, Bruce Davie, argued his client should be released on a signature bond  in short, without putting up any money  noting that he has ties to the community, a full-time job and no criminal record.

My understanding was he was cooperative with the investigation into this matter, he said. Hes shown no signs of being a risk of not coming whenever the court schedules matters. Theres no reason to hold him in jail under those circumstances.

He said Rupnow would not be able to raise $20,000 for bail.

Hes not a wealthy man, he said. Hes got to work to pay his bills to keep his house. You might as well give him a $100,000 (bail).

Patterson on Thursday declined to comment on whether anyone else would be charged in connection with the shooting, although his agencys investigation into the incident remains open. Natalies mother, Mellissa Rupnow, typically saw her daughter on the weekends.

Jeffrey Rupnow is the latest parent of a school shooter to face charges associated with an attack.

Last year, the mother and father of a school shooter in Michigan who killed four students in 2021 were each convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The mother was the first parent in the U.S. to be held responsible for a child carrying out a mass school attack.

The father of a 14-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting four people at a Georgia high school was arrested in September and faces charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for letting his son possess a weapon.

In 2023, the father of a man charged in a deadly Fourth of July parade shooting in suburban Chicago pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanors related to how his son obtained a gun license.

Rupnow is next scheduled to be in court June 9 for a status hearing.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Despite the European Unions clearly expressed "unwillingness" to see candidates (or those aspiring to become candidates) at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, Nikol Vovaevich Pashinyan grabbed his overcoat, pulled on his cap, and set off for the Russian capital.





On May 9, he will take part in the celebrations on Red Square  shoulder to shoulder with those from whom, according to his own rhetoric, Armenia is supposedly "distancing itself." Even more amusing is that Armenian troops will not participate in the parade.





Given the passionate speeches about a "European choice" and the approval of a draft law on EU integration, Pashinyans move seems, at the very least, odd. Of course, the Armenian Prime Minister has already explained to a puzzled public that this is supposedly a "balanced foreign policy," but it seems neither Brussels nor even Moscow truly believes that.





It will be interesting to see how Vovaevichs European friends explain all this. What will Kaja Kallas or Macron say? Did Macron shake his hand in Paris for nothing? Will there be a reaction, or will they stay silent?





For now, Pashinyan continues to waver between Moscow and Europe  clumsily and comically. The only question is: how long can this Yerevan acrobat keep up the act?












"Viktor Orban's government have lied to Hungarians about peace but it turns out they are ready to take our wonderful country to war," Peter Magyar, head of the opposition Tisza Party, MEP, said on Facebook.

Below his post, Magyar published a voice recording attributed to the defence minister, recorded in April 2023, talking, among other things, about the government aiming to set up a capable, combat-ready Hungarian army.



"Viktor Orban's government is a government of lies and war. It's over. They must go," Magyar said in his post.



"In this recording, the defence minister admits, in fact, he proudly announces that what they have been preaching about for years is just a stupid lie," the head of the Tisza Party said. "Last year, the presidential pardon scandal made it clear that Orban and his government only protected families and children in words and they were actually the ones supporting pedophile monsters.



Now it turns out that while the government has been talking about protecting Hungarians for years, they are the ones who would be willing to sacrifice the security of their compatriots for money and power. This is not a political mistake. This is a crime. A crime for which there will never be a pardon".



In the recording, the minister talks about the government having decided to set up a strong, capable Hungarian army.



"This means that we are breaking with our peace activities. We know what these are; but we are basically breaking with the peace mentality through a process. It is natural that the process publicly known as rejuvenation is simply the easiest way to change this. Let us break with the peace mentality and move into phase zero of the road to war. I am asking Lieutenant General Gabor Borondi to carry out and implement this. "



Gulyas: 'Recording published by Magyar nothing to write home about'



Commenting on a recording published by the head of the Tisza Party on his Facebook page, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Minister's Office said it was "nothing out of the ordinary", in the face of an immediate threat of war, what the defence minister was saying was self-evident and the right thing to do.



"In fact, we can all see that this is nothing to write home about. Nothing happened here. A defence minister is saying that the soldiers must defend the country, who else would be talking about this, if not him," Gulyas said.



The Hungarian government has done everything in recent years for peace, but soldiers must prepare for war and the defence of the country, not peace, he said.



The difference is that while the previous chief of staff, Gulyas said, referring to Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, who has taken up a role in Tisza, wants to defend Ukraine and deploy soldiers to Ukraine, the defence minister and the Hungarian military must defend Hungary, he added.



Gulyas also noted that the Hungarian prime minister talked about the need for a joint European defence force well before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.



"We were the ones who recognised that there was a major change taking place in the world, the threat of war was getting greater than before, and if somebody must prepare for this, it was the military," he said.



Meanwhile, Magyar: Tisza supports solidarity with Ukraine, rejects fast-tracking EU accession



The Tisza Party supports solidarity with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, but does not agree with fast-tracking Ukraine's accession to the European Union, party leader Peter Magyar said in an open letter to Manfred Weber, the president of the European People's Party.



Ukraine is currently fighting a war and facing significant challenges in governance, the rule of law and economic stability, Magyar said in the letter. He said that the most important task was to broker a ceasefire and peace.



A consistent and fair implementation of the EU accession rules is key to the EU's credibility, Magyar said. Prospective member states must be assessed according to equal standards, he said.



Magyar said that those considerations and "a public conversation with Hungarians" had prompted the party to commit to holding a "binding national referendum on Ukraine's EU accession at the right time, when all requirements to the accession are clear."



Prime Minister "Viktor Orban and his propaganda are spreading ridiculous lies" on the matter, Magyar said. Tisza is sticking to the stance that now is not the time to discuss Ukraine's accession, and Hungarians will have to have the right to decide on the country's official stance once the issue is on the agenda, he said.



He noted that Tisza MEPs had not attended the EPP's congress in Valencia and so they had not supported the declarations announced there."All statements to the contrary lack any basis."



Tisza remains committed to its stance, "guided by honesty, democratic participation and the long-term interests of Hungary and the EU," he said.



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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NEW DELHI: The Civil Aviation Ministry has said that 24 airports across the country have been temporarily closed for civil flight operations as of Thursday evening amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which soared further after a Pakistani drone and missile attack on Indian cities in Jammu, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

In response to the elevated threat level, several Indian airlines have issued travel advisories, urging passengers to plan accordingly and cooperate with the enhanced security checks. The Ministry did not specify the duration of the closures or the reasons behind the move. The closures are part of a broader security protocol, with several of the affected airports located close to the international border or in strategically significant areas.

The grounding of civil flights is expected to impact connectivity in northern and western India, and travellers have been urged to check with airlines before heading to the airport. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has advised all airlines and airports in the country to strengthen security measures. All passengers will go through a Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC), often known as pre-boarding inspections, at all airports.

Vehicles will be carefully examined at all airport terminals, IDs will be checked before admittance, and passenger luggage will be scrutinised at random. Visitor entry to terminal buildings has been prohibited. Air Marshals will be deployed accordingly. "In view of the recent attack in Pahalgam and subsequent surcharged security scenario, it is necessary to enhance security measures at all the civil aviation installations like airports, airstrips, airfields, air force stations, helipads, flying schools, and aviation training institutes so that no untoward incident takes place in the country. Accordingly, utmost precautions need to be taken by all the stakeholders," BCAS said in its order.

Air India said, "Due to an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security regarding enhanced security measures at airports, passengers across the country are encouraged to allow extra time for check-in and boarding. Check-in will close 75 minutes before departure." Akasa Air posted a similar notice on X, saying, "Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, passengers are advised to arrive at least three hours prior to their departure. This is to ensure a smooth check-in and boarding process."

"Passengers must carry valid government-approved photo ID for airport entry. In addition to checked baggage, only one handbag weighing up to 7 kg will be permitted. All passengers will be required to undergo secondary security checks before boarding." IndiGo, India's largest airline, also issued a statement, "During these extraordinary times, heightened security measures are being implemented at all airports. Travellers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys to accommodate security checks and formalities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation."

With the current geopolitical climate remaining unpredictable, aviation officials and airline staff are working in coordination with national security agencies to manage operations and keep passengers safe. Due to increased tensions with Pakistan, Indian airlines suspended aircraft operations at more than two dozen airports in the country's northern and western regions this week.

Many states have also imposed school closures, border district blackouts, and a suspension of leave for police officers and administrators. "Pakistan pushed the situation, and we just retaliated. The choice is with Pakistan. Our approach is not to escalate the situation; we only responded to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a briefing on Thursday evening.
New Delhi: There is no room for doubt that the next trillion-dollar disruption is quietly building momentum within the worlds oldest and most valuable asset class, that is, real estate. And the valuable force behind this disruption is none other than real estate tokenization.

Poised to unlock trillions in illiquid property value, it is redefining how investment and ownership management are carried out in the real estate sector. So its incorrect to say that it is just a hype when its a shift already underway.

The Real Estate Shift- Powered by Blockchain

According to Savills World Research, the global real estate market is valued at an estimated $397 trillion, nearly three times the global GDP.

But the sector remains one of the most illiquid, inaccessible, and antiquated markets, bound by slow transactions, mountains of paperwork, and high entry barriers. Tokenization changes all of that.

By converting ownership rights into blockchain-based digital tokens, real estate tokenization enables investors to buy and sell fractions of properties, from residential condos to commercial office spaces, through decentralized platforms, often with as little as $100.

"Imagine being able to invest in a New York apartment or a Dubai high-rise as easily as youd buy shares in Tesla," says Aman Vaths, founder of Nadcab Labs, an industry-leading company specializing in tokenized property ecosystems. It actively participates in providing innovative blockchain-based solutions for real asset industries like real estate.

Aman Vaths also explains, People used to say real estate was only for the rich or well-connected. Tokenization flips that narrative. Were seeing 22-year-olds buying a fraction of a Tokyo apartment or a slice of a London office building, all from their phones. This isnt just tech evolution, its a financial revolution.

Exceeding Market Potential - Trillions on the Table

While many see implementation of real estate tokenization solutions as a trend in the real estate industry, the reality is that its already here and scaling fast. Tokenized real estate could unlock over $1 trillion in new capital flows by 2030 as the tokenization trend accelerates.

On top of that, the real estate tokenization sector is drawing serious institutional attention. BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, has publicly committed to exploring real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, including property-based products.

Not limited to that, over 40 blockchain-based platforms like RealT, SolidBlock, and Brickblock are actively listing tokenized properties and onboarding new investors regularly. So, this was made possible only with blockchain development solutions.

3 Catalysts Fueling the Boom of Tokenized Assets

One of the biggest reasons behind the rise in real estate tokenization gaining momentum is blockchain infrastructure maturity.

Platforms like Ethereum, Polygon, and Avalanche have matured significantly, offering lower transaction costs, faster settlement times, and robust smart contract ecosystems, essential for fractional property ownership.

Another reason might be the shift in investor behavior. Modern investors, especially Millennials and Gen Z, prefer decentralized, mobile-first investment channels. A survey also showed that 74% of Gen Z investors favor alternative assets, including crypto and tokenized real estate, over traditional stocks and mutual funds.

Regulatory Clarity is also powering real estate tokenization development. Countries such as Switzerland, Singapore, the UAE, and Germany are leading the way in crafting frameworks to govern tokenized securities and property transactions. In the United States, Wyoming and Texas are already experimenting with blockchain-based land titles and digital asset regulations.

As blockchain tools mature and regulatory bodies adapt, real estate may become one of the largest tokenized sectors in the world.

Hence, for everyone dealing with property assets, including developers, investors, startups, and policymakers, its high time to pay attention to tokenization, powered by blockchain solutions.

About Nadcab Labs:

It is a well-established, reliable real estate tokenization company, providing unmatched real estate tokenization solutions. It also offers advanced blockchain solutions, smart contract development, DeFi development, cryptocurrency wallet development, and coin development services and consultation since 2017.

Media Contact:

Aman Vaths

Founder, Nadcab Labs

Email: info@nadcab.com

Phone: +91 7985202681

For any queries, visit: www.nadcab.com

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)
Under One Roof, a foremost real estate investment company in Dubai, aims to deliver strategic investment solutions to Indian investors. With over 15 years of experience in the real estate sector, Under One Roofs team assists investors in gaining a foothold in Dubai's dynamic property market while being led by a seasoned industry stalwart, Sunnyy Kumar Tyagi.

With an eye for diversification and strong returns, the Indian investor has regarded Dubai's real estate sector for long as his treasure trove. Under One Roof understands the special objectives and requirements of its Indian clients and complements their offerings by identifying off-plan projects and resale opportunities, short-term rentals, offering leasing services, concierge, property management services and company setup services.

Besides investment opportunities, Dubai affords a quality lifestyle, easy connectivity, and pro-business environment that makes it an excellent choice for entrepreneurs and families. Under One Roof assists individuals not only with property matters in Dubai but also people wishing to relocate or set up a business. Under One Roof has helped many make this big transition into the UAE.

Sunnyy Kumar Tyagi's career boasts of many instances, including scaling the worth of assets of the boutique brokerage to AED 3 billion prior to its acquisition. His strategic outlook has also ensured the accrual of several prizes, including the Emaar Broker Awards and recognition from DAMAC Properties.

"Dubai's real estate market offers Indian investors a unique combination of high rental yields, averaging between 68% annually, and strong capital appreciation. The stability of the AED, pegged to the USD, further enhances the appeal for those seeking secure investments. Additionally, initiatives like the Golden Visa program make it easier than ever for investors to establish long-term roots in the UAE," said Sunnyy Kumar Tyagi, CEO, Under One Roof Real Estate. "At Under One Roof, we leverage our deep market expertise to help Indian investors navigate this lucrative landscape, ensuring they make strategic investments that offer stability, growth, and long-term success."

Strategic investment firms such as Under One Roof assist HNIs in navigating the dynamic landscape that is Dubai's real estate market. From first-time buyers to experienced investors, Indian investors looking to enter Dubais thriving real estate market, their expertise ensures that investors receive prompt, professional, and personalised service to seize opportunities consistent with their investment objectives and risk tolerance to maximise returns while limiting risk.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)
Patanjali Ayurveda, under the leadership of Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, claims it has played a significant role in enhancing India's economy in recent years. The company claims it is not only about selling Ayurvedic products but is also creating job opportunities and contributing to the growth of both rural and urban sectors. With a steady rise in revenue and profit, Patanjali claims it has managed to carve a strong presence in the market.

As one of the top FMCG companies in India, Patanjali claims it focuses on creating employment, fostering local entrepreneurship, and promoting indigenous products. Through its unique business model and affordable pricing strategy, Patanjali claims it has made a mark in the FMCG and Ayurvedic sectors. But how exactly are Patanjalis investments improving the economy of both rural and urban areas? Lets explore.

Patanjalis Investments in Rural Development

Agriculture-Based Development Model

Patanjali claims it will launch a major agriculture-based development project in the Mauganj district of Madhya Pradesh. This project will involve crop diversification, training centers for farmers, seed preparation units, and units to process crops from the start. The company claims that successful implementation of this project could increase farmers earnings, making them economically stronger. This approach also reduces farmers dependency on pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and excessive water use. The company claims this would lower farming costs and encourage more sustainable and efficient farming methods, ultimately benefiting rural development and even boosting tourism in the area.

Organic Farming and Improving Farmers Conditions

Patanjali claims its Organic Research Institute (PORI) is focused on promoting organic farming. The aim is to improve soil health and strengthen farmers economically. The company claims this institute provides organic fertilizers, high-quality seeds, and affordable inputs, which help farmers reduce their costs and increase their income. The company claims through the Patanjali Farmer Prosperity Program, farmers are trained in organic farming methods, supported by the National Skill Development Corporation and Agricultural Skill Council of India.

Patanjalis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activities

Patanjali claims it focuses on improving health, promoting village development, conserving the environment, and promoting education through its CSR activities. The company claims its CSR approach is aligned with its mission to bring positive change to society, especially by helping those in need, protecting the environment, and preserving ancient Indian practices like Ayurveda and Yoga. Patanjali claims it integrates its social work with its business, ensuring that its efforts benefit both society and the environment, not just profit-making.

Patanjalis Impact on Urban Economies

Expansion of Production Units

Patanjali claims it has expanded its production facilities in urban areas like Noida, Nagpur, and Indore. The company claims, in March 2025, the company inaugurated Asias largest lemon (orange) processing plant in Nagpur with an investment of 1,500 crores. The company claims this plant can process 800 tons of fruits daily and benefits local farmers while creating job opportunities in the city.

Retail Franchise Network

Patanjali claims it has established over 15,000 stores across the country, making Ayurvedic products easily accessible to consumers while also creating thousands of jobs. The company plans to introduce new products in segments like dairy, instant food, baby care, natural cosmetics, and health supplements, which will further generate employment opportunities in these sectors.

In conclusion, Patanjali claims its investments are significantly contributing to the growth of both rural and urban economies in India. Through initiatives in agriculture, manufacturing, and retail, along with a focus on local entrepreneurs and sustainable practices, Patanjali claims it is helping shape a more self-reliant and prosperous India.
Ivanka Trump is set to make a rare public appearance to promote access to healthy food in support of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement spreading through Washington, D.C.

Trump, 43, will speak at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Thursday, according to Axios.

She will use the occasion to spotlight her latest initiative to expand access to fresh produce, which comes as her return to the national stage after maintaining a relatively low profile during her fathers second term.

During the event, Ivanka will be interviewed by Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global. Their discussion will focus on how private-sector innovations and whole-harvest sourcing are being leveraged to improve access to fresh food, support farmers, reduce waste, and create lasting, positive impacts in communities, the outlet reports.

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This appearance will also mark the first time Trump publicly discusses her role as co-founder of Chicago-based Planet Harvest, which she launched in 2023 with Melissa Melshenker Ackerman, a seasoned produce supply chain expert and the company's CEO.

Ivanka Trump, 43, will speak Thursday about access to fresh produce at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas. (AFP via Getty Images)

"Beginning with the [USDA's] Farmers to Families Food Box program during the COVID pandemic, I've developed a real passion for supporting American farmers and getting more food into communities in need, Trump told Axios in a statement.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Trump, Thrive Global, and Planet Harvest for comment.

Led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the MAHA movement has become a key initiative of the Trump administration and a central cause for the MAGA base.

Trump served as an advisor during her fathers first presidential term from 2017 to 2021. Her role focused on advancing women's education and economic empowerment, supporting families, and promoting job creation and economic growth through workforce development, skills training, and entrepreneurship.

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But when Donald Trump announced his third run for presidency in 2022, Ivanka Trump revealed she would not be joining him.

I love my father very much. This time around I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics, Ivanka Trump said in a social media statement.

Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who served as a senior advisor in President Donald Trumps first administration from 2017 to 2021, share three children: Arabella, 13, Joseph, 11, and Theodore, 8.
Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti, widely known as Rabindra Jayanti or Pochishe Boishakh, is more than just the celebration of a birth anniversaryit is a heartfelt homage to one of Indias greatest minds, a global literary figure, and a relentless advocate of cultural renaissance. As the nation observes the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in 2025, the occasion brings with it a sense of reflection, inspiration, and pride.

A poet, philosopher, musician, painter, playwright, and Nobel laureateTagore was a true polymath whose contributions continue to shape the cultural and intellectual landscape of India and the world. This annual observance is a celebration not just of his birth but of a legacy that transcends generations.

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025: Important Dates Across Regions

Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi, into a family deeply rooted in literature, art, and reformist thought. While the Gregorian calendar marks May 7 as his birth date, in West Bengal, his Jayanti is traditionally celebrated on the 25th day of the Bengali month Boishakh, also known as Pochishe Boishakh. In 2025, this corresponds to May 9 in West Bengal, while the rest of India will celebrate it on May 7, and Bangladesh will mark the day on May 8.

This regional variance reflects the cultural depth and traditional adherence to the Bengali calendar, especially in Tagores native Bengal.

The Historical Journey of a Visionary

Tagores upbringing in Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral mansion of the Tagore family in Kolkata, exposed him early to the artistic and intellectual richness that would define his life. He began writing poetry as a child and published his first substantial works by his teenage years. Over the years, he mastered various literary formspoetry, short stories, essays, plays, and songsand introduced a distinctive lyrical and philosophical style that redefined Indian literature.

His contribution was not just literary but also national. Tagore penned Jana Gana Mana, which would go on to become Indias national anthem. Remarkably, he also composed Amar Shonar Bangla, the national anthem of Bangladesh, and even influenced Sri Lanka's national anthem through his works and teachings.

In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for his English translation of Gitanjali, a soul-stirring collection of poetry that left the world awestruck with its spiritual depth and universal appeal. His Nobel Prize catapulted Indian literature onto the global stage and immortalized him as one of the world's greatest literary figures.

More Than a Poet: Tagore's Cultural and Philosophical Influence

Tagore was a pioneer of Contextual Modernisman intellectual and artistic movement that emphasized the relevance of Indian culture in modern art. Through his writings, he advocated for freedom of the mind, universal humanism, empathy, and self-expression, ideas that became core values of Indian identity.

Known by the affectionate titles Gurudev, Kabiguru, and Biswakabi, Tagore's influence extended far beyond writing. He was a musician who composed over 2,200 songs, collectively known as Rabindra Sangeet, blending classical Indian ragas with modern themes of love, nature, and spirituality. His melodies still echo through every Bengali household and are integral to cultural performances.

Tagore also left a mark as a painter, with nearly 3,000 artworks that showcased his imaginative abstract styleunusual in his timeand demonstrated his versatility as an artist.

Founding of Visva Bharati: A Dream of Holistic Education

Another of Tagores monumental contributions was the establishment of Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal. Founded in 1921, the university was envisioned as a place where the world would meet India, where education would be based on harmony with nature and learning beyond the confines of classrooms.

Visva Bharati remains a vibrant symbol of Tagores visiona fusion of traditional Indian learning with modern liberal education. It attracts students, thinkers, and artists from all over the world, keeping alive his legacy of intellectual openness and creativity.

Significance and Celebrations of Rabindra Jayanti

Rabindra Jayanti is not merely a date on the calendarit is a cultural phenomenon, especially in West Bengal, Bangladesh, and among Bengali communities worldwide. On this day, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, and art academies organize a multitude of events inspired by Tagores works:

1. Rabindra Sangeet performances

2. Poetry recitations and dramatizations of his plays

3. Lectures and seminars on his philosophy and contributions

4. Art exhibitions showcasing his paintings

5. Musical tributes and dances based on his writings

The atmosphere is celebratory yet reverent, as generations old and new come together to revisit Tagores timeless messages of humanism, harmony, and self-discovery.

Rabindranath Tagores Timeless Message

Even after over 160 years, Rabindranath Tagores words continue to resonate. His poetry reflects a longing for spiritual liberation, his essays challenge colonial thinking, and his songs carry a message of love, hope, and identity.

He once wrote:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high..."

This line, from his iconic poem, still stirs hearts, reminding readers of his unwavering dream for a free, enlightened, and united India.

A Day to Remember, Reflect, and Reignite

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025 is more than a celebration of a birth anniversary. It is a reminder of what India stands forcreativity, compassion, and cultural richness. As we commemorate Kabigurus 164th birthday, let us not only sing his songs or read his poems but also carry forward his ideals in education, art, and life.

Whether in the heart of Kolkata, in the courtyards of Shantiniketan, or in Bengali communities abroad, the essence of Pochishe Boishakh lies in celebrating Tagores vision of a more thoughtful, inclusive, and beautiful world.

Let his legacy be not just remembered, but relivedthrough learning, music, and soulful celebration.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
New Delhi: As tensions flare up between India and Pakistan, at least 11 per cent of the daily domestic air traffic has been affected following the shutdown of 24 airports in the country, data showed on Friday. According to industry data, average daily domestic flights dropped from 3,265 in April to 2,907 (as of May 8).

Nearly 670 airline routes will be affected over May 9-10. This includes 334 incoming and 336 outgoing flights across the 24 airports that have been shut, according to FlightRadar24 data. Airports in Srinagar, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu and Leh account for the most affected routes. Other impacted airports include Patiala, Bhuntar, Pathankot, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Mundra, Keshod and Rajkot.

As per industry data, arrivals are also delayed across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai. Departures from these airports face higher disruption, according to FlightRadar24 data. Meanwhile, the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi remained open and operational on Friday.

"Delhi Airport operations remain normal. Some flights are impacted due to changing airspace conditions and heightened security. Please check with your airlines for the latest updates, said the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) in a post on X.

We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise any inconvenience," DIAL added. Low-cost carrier IndiGo, which is facing up to 500 flight cancellations, said in an X post Your safety is paramount and we are here to help you travel with ease.

The grounding of civil flights is impacting connectivity in northern and western India, and travellers have been urged to check with airlines before heading to the airport. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has advised all airlines and airports in the country to strengthen security measures.

Due to an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security regarding enhanced security measures at airports, passengers across the country are encouraged to allow extra time for check-in and boarding. Check-in will close 75 minutes before departure, said Air India said. On the other hand, international traffic remains largely stable, with daily flights dipping marginally from 616 to 604, according to FlightRadar24 data.
New Delhi: Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp decline on Friday as rising tensions between India and Pakistan spooked investors. The selloff came after Pakistan fired eight missiles at Indian cities in response to Indias precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Fortunately, all the missiles were successfully intercepted by Indian air defence systems.

At the closing bell, the Sensex fell by 880.34 points, or 1.10 per cent, to close at 79,454.47, while the Nifty slipped 265.80 points or 1.10 per cent, to settle at 24,008. "Nifty traders appeared to embrace risk-off trades amid India-Pakistan tensions, as the index fell from its recent consolidation zone," Rupak De of LKP Securities said.

The Nifty managed to stay above the 24,000 mark as the index found support around the 21-day exponential moving average (EMA), he added. Among Sensexs 30 stocks, ICICI Bank led the losses, falling 3.09 per cent during the intra-day session, followed by PowerGrid, which was down 2.61 per cent, Bajaj Finance, which declined 1.84 per cent, and Reliance Industries, which also dropped 1.84 per cent.

However, a few stocks managed to post gains. Titan led the pack with a 4.25 per cent rise, followed by Larsen and Toubro at 4.02 per cent, Tata Motors with 3.86 per cent, State Bank of India at 1.39 per cent, and Asian Paints, which edged up 0.2 per cent.

Investor sentiment was hit across the board. The Nifty Bank, financial services, and realty indices each dropped more than 1 per cent, with the realty sector emerging as the worst performer, plunging nearly 2 per cent. Other key sectors such as auto, IT, energy, pharma, FMCG, healthcare, and oil and gas also ended the day in the red.

Despite the overall weakness, a few sectors bucked the trend. Nifty PSU Bank, consumer durables, media, and metal stocks managed to close with gains, offering some support to the market. In the broader market, the Nifty Midcap 100 index ended flat, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 0.61 per cent.

Additionally, the rupee traded in a volatile range of 85.90 to 85.35 amid ongoing border tensions between India and Pakistan, with signs of escalation keeping market participants cautious. "Any fresh developments on the geopolitical front are likely to have a significant impact on the rupees direction," said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.
New Delhi: A crucial meeting will be held at Finance Ministry on Friday. The meeting which is scheduled today at 4:30 pm will have cyber security discussions as one of its main agenda.

Officials from RBI, Banks, NPCI, GSTN, Income Tax, Exchange will be present during the meeting. The government is taking all due steps to avoid and thwart any kind of cyber attack originating from the Pakistani soil.

Pakistan is reportedly attempting to launch a cyber offensive targeting Indian citizens through social media platforms. Intelligence agencies have issued a high alert, warning the public against opening unknown files or links that may be used in a coordinated cyber attack. Pakistan is reportedly using platforms like WhatsApp, email, Facebook, and Telegram to distribute malware aimed at compromising sensitive information and financial data.

One such malware, identified as the "Dance of the Hillary" virus, is being circulated in the form of video files or documents. Security experts warn that once activated, the virus can severely damage mobile devices or computers, potentially giving hackers access to confidential data, including bank credentials.

The virus is said to arrive via suspicious links or attachments, particularly those with file names ending in .exe such as tasksche.exe. Authorities are urging users to avoid clicking on or opening any unknown files, especially from unfamiliar sources.

Meanwhile, India has also said that it will oppose Pakistans case for availing a fresh $1.3 billion IMF loan. India is staunchly opposed to extending financial assistance to Pakistan because of serious concerns over the neighbouring countrys role in financing terrorism, Foreign Secretary Misri confirmed.

The IMF meeting comes within days of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, sponsored by Pakistan, in which 26 tourists were killed.
India-Pakista War School Holiday: As part of precautionary step amid the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, schools in Gurugram will remain closed today but there is no official confirmation about schools of Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Faridabad in Haryana. The schools are likely to function as normally, unless an official notice is issued. Schools are also likely to conduct online classes today.

Though parents and students are anxious about possible school and college closures elsewhere, there is no formal announcement in this regard apart from Gurugram. Authorities advise citizens to remain vigilant as the situation evolves.

These developments follow a significant military operation by India in response to Pakistans aggression in the early hours of May 7. Under the codename Sindoor, Indian forces launched a series of coordinated precision strikes deep into Pakistani territory, including regions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), to avenge the deadly Pakistan-backed deadly terrorist attack at Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives.

The operation is ongoing and exact figures are still emerging. In a further escalation, Indian forces also thwarted a large-scale Pakistani drone and missile attack on multiple northern and western military installations. India's air defence capabilities successfully neutralised threats, including the destruction of a Pakistani air defence system near Lahore.
India-Pakistan War: The Pakistani missile and drone attack, which was launched targeting India's Jammu region and Rajasthan, including Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia and Jaisalmer on Thursday night, was met with an extremely strong response by the Indian defence systems, which shot down almost all the drones which could have caused damage to infrastructure.

Defence sources told news agency ANI that around 500 drones were launched towards Indian positions by the Pakistan Army last night, which were sighted at 24 locations from Siachen base camp in Ladakh to the Kutch area in Gujarat.

#WATCH | Around 500 drones were launched towards Indian positions by the Pakistan Army last night, which were sighted at 24 locations from Siachen base camp in Ladakh to Kutch area in Gujarat. Around 50 of these drones were destroyed by air defence guns, while around 20 were pic.twitter.com/w5Cwaniei5  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

The agency sources further claimed that around 50 of these drones were destroyed by air defence guns, while around 20 were brought down through soft kills. Most of the drones were unarmed. The drones were fitted with cameras and possibly relaying footage to their ground stations.

Pictures of drone parts recovered after they were shot down by Indian air defence systems last night.



(Source: Defence Sources) pic.twitter.com/QFlrvTTrld  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Hours after a Pakistani drone and missile attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday convened a high-level meeting in the national capital to review the prevailing border situation and evaluate security arrangements at airports across the country.

In a nearly one-hour meeting that began at 12:30 pm at the Home Minister's residence, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Daljit Chawdhary, Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) RS Bhatti, and Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS) Rajesh Nirwan were present.

The meeting held today focused on strengthening inter-agency coordination, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and bolstering rapid response strategies to prevent any potential security breaches, particularly in sensitive installations and high-traffic public areas like airports, ANI reported, citing sources.

The meeting was focused on reviewing the current border situation and assessing security arrangements at airports across the country. The discussion comes amid heightened vigilance along sensitive zones and a push to strengthen national security infrastructure.

The officials present in the meeting apprised the Home Minister about the overall security preparedness and current ground situation.

The Home Minister on Thursday night also held discussions with the Director Generals of all border guarding forces and reviewed the current security situation along India's borders. The meeting was also aimed at assessing preparedness and operational readiness in light of recent developments, as Pakistan on Thursday night launched a significant missile and drone attack targeting India's Jammu region and Rajasthan, including Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia and Jaisalmer.

The Home Minister's fresh meeting with the DGS of BSF, CISF and BCAS was held hours after the border guarding force in a major security operation along the India-Pakistan border thwarted a significant infiltration attempt in the Samba Sector of the Jammu Frontier early Friday and neutralised seven terrorists.

On the intervening night of May 8 and 9, alert BSF troops foiled a bid by a large group of terrorists attempting to cross the border under cover fire from the Pakistan Rangers at the Dhandhar post. The BSF neutralised at least seven terrorists and inflicted significant damage on the Pakistani post using retaliatory firepower, with thermal imagery capturing the destruction.

The incident has heightened security concerns along the western front, prompting a comprehensive review of border management protocols and the readiness of airport security systems amid increasing cross-border threats.

(With agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Indian Army Officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi's old interview is making rounds on social media where she revealed how she joined the armed forces. Qureshi made headlines for her strong command during a press briefing after 'Operation Sindoor' alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. In Ministry of External Affairs press briefing on Operation Sindoor strategic details of India's retaliatory strikes after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack were shared.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi's 1857 Revolt Connection

A video from Colonel Sofiya Qureshi's 2017 interview has resurfaced on social media in which she revealed a significant ancestral connection to the 1857 revolt. She shared that her great-grandmother was a woman warrior who fought alongside the freedom fighter Rani Laxmibai during this uprising. In the Interview shew shared, I am a Fauji kid, so I have been exposed to the Army environment, and not only that, my great-grandmother was with Rani Laxmi Bai, she was a woman warrior, she said. Raised in an army family, she shared the significant reason that played a crucial role in her decision to join the armed forces. She revealed that it was her mother who encouraged either her or her twin sister to enlist. She shared, ''My mother wanted either of us because we are two sisters she wanted.. she is in NCC she is joining would you like to join I said, If i'm getting an opportunity I would like to So, I applied for it and I got it.''

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi's Strong Amry Background

Indian Army Officer Sofiya Qureshi shared her ancestral roots, having been raised in a household with strong ties to the Indian military. Her father and grandfather both served in the armed forces. ''My grandfather, who was also in the Army, he used to say Vayam Rashtre Jagrayam, It is the responsibility of every citizen to be alert and stand up for our country and with the nation. Her Father fought in the 1971 Bangladesh war. This multi-generational tradition of service has shaped her values.

Colonel Sophia Qureshi's Notable Contribution

Colonel Qureshi is a decorated Indian Army officer and comes from Vadodara, Gujarat. She was commissioned into the Indian Army through the Officers Training Academy in 1999 and has served in various posts across the country. Colonel Sophia Qureshi is the first woman officer to lead an Army training contingent in a multinational military exercise. She commanded a 40-member Indian Army contingent at Exercise Force 18, as per ANI report.

She was the only Woman officer contingent Commander among all the ASEAN Plus contingents. The exercise held was in Pune, and 18 ASEAN Plus countries, including China, the USA, Russia, Japan, and South Korea, had participated in it. According to ET report, she had served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) for six years and was a part of the UN Mission in Congo in 2006.

'Operation Sindoor'

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India's retaliatory strikes, called 'Operation Sindoor,' targeted and destroyed nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early in the morning on May 7. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Air Force conducted precision strikes on four terror sites inside Pakistan and five within PoK. The ministry in the press conference described the operation as 'focused, measured and non-escalatory,' adding that no Pakistani military installations were targeted. 'These actions are in direct response to the horrific Pahalgam attack,. We are upholding our commitment to ensure that those responsible for the attack face consequences.' The defence ministry further said in its statement.
New Delhi: The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials.

The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 has successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border.

Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system

"The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated.

The Akash air defence missile system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system that provides area air defence against multiple air threats to mobile, semi-mobile, and static vulnerable forces and areas. The system has cutting-edge features and cross-country mobility.

The real-time multi-sensor data processing and threat evaluation enable simultaneous engagement of multiple targets from any direction. The entire system is flexible and up-scalable and can be operated in group and autonomous modes. It employs command guidance and relies on phased array guidance radar to guide the missile until intercept.

Indian Army successfully repelled multiple Pak drone attacks

During the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, the Indian Army successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated.

The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force."Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI.

The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts of a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised.
India-Pakistan War LIVE Updates: Amid escalating tensions between India-Pakistan standoff, Ambala Deputy Commissioner Ajay Singh Tomar said on Friday that the district administration has made preparations to deal with any emergency. "Our city is sensitive area and has been attacked during previous wars as well. The district administration has, in view of this, made full preparations for any eventuality. We are in coordination with the armed forces. Our air raid sirens are fully working. We have conducted a blackout mock drill," Ambala Deputy Commissioner Ajay Singh Tomar told ANI.

DRONES BANNED IN AMBALA

Highlighting the safety protocols now in place, Tomar urged residents not to place billboards or signage on generator-inverter systems, citing past issues where such boards remained illuminated during blackout tests. In a strong warning to the public, Tomar announced a complete ban on drone use within district limits.

"Drone flying has been banned in Ambala. If anyone is seen flying a drone, strict action will be taken. Any unidentified drone in the area will be shot down immediately," he said. Similarly, authorities in Rajasthan's Jodhpur have imposed a ban on drone operations across the district without prior permission.

PAKISTAN ATTACK JAMMU AGAIN

Fresh attacks were launched by Pakistan on Friday in Jammu and several areas of Punjab, including in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur.

On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted multiple cities, including military installations, with a volley of drones and missile attacks, however, all were repulsed by India's robust air defence system, and this left the Pakistani Army flustered and panicky.

India launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terrorist base camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), to avenge the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.
We are living through a difficult period for traditional, establishment politicians. In country after country, renegade gangs of populists, demagogues and mavericks are challenging the old liberal elite for power, with increasing success. As the masses confidence in the liberals rightly crumbles, across the world the vacuum has been filled by the likes of Farage, Le Pen, Meloni and, of course, Donald Trump.

Elections are not like they used to be! Upsets are the new norm. All the sacred traditions, parties and institutions of the postwar liberal order are now cowering before the populist axe or at least they are in most countries.

Readers would be forgiven for thinking that Australia has yet to receive the memo. The 2025 federal election has been framed as a decisive landslide for the discredited status quo led by the ruling Labor Party. But this illusion of sweeping support hides more than it reveals.

Labors landslide victory

Labor did not surge on a wave of working-class enthusiasm. It limped across the line with just 34.8 percent of the primary vote  a meagre increase of barely 2 percent on its 2022 result and almost identical to the result that led to its defeat in 2016.

While much has been made of erstwhile cop and vile Opposition leader Peter Dutton losing his parliamentary seat, the right-wing Coalitions primary vote nationally fell by roughly 3.5 percent  not a particularly dramatic swing, even by Australian standards.

What the superficial results of the election conceal, however, is that the two major parties won their lowest combined result in over a century at just 67 percent. Increasingly, workers and youth are abandoning the major parties, searching for a political expression of their discontent, even if no such genuine alternative currently presents itself.

Beneath the surface of Labors much-vaunted success lies an electorate that is more fragmented and disillusioned than ever. The so-called landslide was not a popular mandate, but the result of Australias byzantine electoral system rigged in the interest of the bosses, as well as the absence of a genuine alternative. These are not signs of a healthy system, but of one in terminal crisis.

More of the same

The capitalist press were quick to hail Labors victory as a triumph of stability and moderation. They cheered Labors supposed ability to bring the nation together and restore confidence in government. Cloaked in the language of unity and responsibility, the continuation of Labors programme of austerity, militarism, and corporate handouts was heartily welcomed by the capitalists. Indeed, Albanese will continue to be a loyal servant of their interests.

Over the past three years of government, Albaneses Labor has carried out a programme of brutal attacks on the working class / Image: MattH093, Twitter

Over the past three years of government, Albaneses Labor has carried out a programme of brutal attacks on the working class. While claiming to represent working families, Labor presided over real wage stagnation, rising living costs, and an unprecedented housing crisis.

They upheld tax concessions for landlords, rejected rent caps, and punished the unemployed with poverty-level welfare and punitive obligations. The government has targeted unions like the CFMEU, cut and privatised public services, and poured billions into militarisation through AUKUS, while social needs were neglected.

The 2025 federal election campaign saw this rotten Labor Party leadership generously offer the tired and exploited masses a hearty dose of more of the same, whilst the programme of Duttons Coalition offered little else, but called for the thrilling prospect of a government that would manage the budget in a prudent and responsible way!

In an epoch of political upset and surging populism, the victory of the status quo in this years Australian election is an exception that demands an explanation. In reality, while the current period of political turmoil is yet to manifest in Australia, the forces that have for decades driven the countrys political consensus are threatened by developments in the world situation that will ultimately see it unravel.

Why no Aussie Trump?

Aside from the farcical decision by one Western Australian MP to change his name to Austin Aussie Trump, no one has yet been able to successfully emulate Trumps brand of populism, although there has been no lack of candidates.

Dutton has consistently denied any desire to be Australias Trump, and the Coalition has been notably hesitant to adopt the more populist rhetoric of the US Trump Republicans / Image: Australian Embassy Jakarta, Wikimedia Commons

Dutton has attempted to draw on Trumpian demagogic rhetoric, initially proposing a massacre of 41,000 government jobs in the name of efficiency, declaring war on the woke curriculum indoctrinating schoolchildren, and scapegoating migrants.

On the swivel-eyed fringes of parliament, outside the two main parties, we find a plethora of wannabe populists who have long occupied the Australian House of Representatives and the Senate. From infamous islamophobe Pauline Hanson to mineral magnate Clive Palmer, on paper, the list of candidates to lead a demagogic surge to the populist right is long.

Yet Dutton has consistently denied any desire to be Australias Trump, and the Coalition has been notably hesitant to adopt the more populist rhetoric of the US Trump Republicans, attacking the establishment and making broad appeals to the working class, which formed the bedrock of their electoral success. Similarly, there has been no significant change in support for outsider right-wing candidates in Australia for years, as this election likewise confirmed.

Playing with fire

The Australian ruling class main party are unwilling to play with fire and risk burning their fingers on a right-wing populist candidate that would upend the decades of received economic wisdom that capitalists in Australia depend upon.

Australias economy  and with it the eye-watering profits of its bosses and bankers  is inextricably tied to precisely the liberal economic order that the drive towards protectionism threatens to overthrow. Whereas Trump can plausibly claim he will bring back industry and jobs through measures like tariffs, it is not so easy for right-wing populists to make such arguments in the case of Australia.

After the 2008 crisis, which sent a shockwave through the global economy, the deepening of Australias trade ties to China allowed it to remain relatively unscathed as one of only three OECD countries to not enter a recession in that period. The economys focus on raw materials  especially agriculture and mining  fit neatly into a globalised capitalist system that demanded resources for manufacture abroad.

While raw materials do not make up the bulk of Australias GDP, they dominate the countrys exports, with mining alone responsible for 62 percent of exports in 2020. With manufacturing jobs increasingly relegated to Australias near abroad, the ruling class has been able to focus on developing the more lucrative service sector.

While raw materials do not make up the bulk of Australias GDP, they dominate the countrys exports / Image: Harry and Rowena Kennedy, Flickr

Thus, over the last 20 years, the Australian Securities Exchange has grown to become the largest stock exchange in the southern hemisphere, trading over AU$5 billion every day. Why risk having industry  and the pesky industrial workers that come with it  when the ruling class can make more money on services, whilst speculating wildly on international markets?

Calm, stable world trade  with minimal tariffs!  has for years been the lifeblood of the Australian ruling class. For a political party in Australia to challenge this would be suicide for the bosses and bankers.

Under capitalism, the state and the government serve as a tool for the ruling class to preserve and maintain their class interests. Political parties  in the absence of a mass revolutionary party  represent nothing more than different approaches to subduing the class struggle and maximising profits for the rich.

In the present period, the Australian capitalist class has little room for manoeuver. They have grown fat off the profits of the globalised world economy and dare not pose a challenge to it, even when they see it crumbling in front of their eyes. Despite the superficial differences between Albaneses Labor and the Coalition  and likewise the Greens and other smaller parties  they all ultimately represent the needs of the bosses to expand their profits. This leaves them organically incapable of shifting Australia from the narrow, but lucrative, course it has charted over the past decades.

Slavish shortsightedness

The desperate desire to maintain the status quo is not simply a product of the profit-driven narrowmindedness of the capitalists  Australia is, after all, not the only country where the ruling class has economically benefited from globalisation. In addition, the obsequious mentality with which Australias servile ruling class approaches the liberal world order is ingrained in their very psychology.

Ever since the development of capitalism in Australia, the ruling class has desperately clung to one imperialist power or another for its survival. For decades this role was fulfilled by British imperialism, until the Empire became decrepit and senile enough for US imperialism to take over the role of militarily and politically dominating Australia. On top of this, as explained, for almost two decades the Australian capitalists have been economically dependent on Chinese imperialism as a market for their exports.

Ever since the development of capitalism in Australia, the ruling class has desperately clung to one imperialist power or another for its survival / Image: U.S. Secretary of Defense, Flickr

The Australian ruling class has developed precisely no traditions of independence or agency. Every government for decades, regardless of party, has slavishly parroted US imperialisms interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Likewise, since the Second World War, Australia has increasingly become an outpost of US military operations in the Pacific, with numerous joint military bases and thousands of US military personnel now stationed in the country. Australian governments have also been among the most consistent internationally in supporting the US imperialist wars and invasions around the world, including wars in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan to name a few.

In the past, this servility could be disguised by the so-called post-war consensus, with its deified global institutions of democracy and justice, such as the UN. This served the ruling class well, as Australian politicians could celebrate their mateship with the self-proclaimed forces of freedom internationally, while profiting from stable economic relationships. Increasingly, however, as the world capitalist system lurches from crisis to crisis, imperialisms naked interests are more obvious than ever.

The rise of protectionism in various countries reflects the intensification of the clash between different imperialist powers for spheres of influence, as different ruling classes attempt to shore up their own position in the world to the detriment of friends and foes alike.

The Australian capitalists are nervously eyeing their protectionist counterparts abroad, and would undoubtedly love to take a bigger slice of the market for themselves. But, in the words of former prime minister John Howard, as they all too well understand, you cant fatten a pig on market day. You cannot invent Australian manufacturing overnight, you cannot threaten other countries when your economy depends on their markets, and you cannot grow a spine for a ruling class that has been craven since birth.

Walking the tightrope

For these central reasons, the Australian election had bucked the global trend towards upsets and demagogy  for now. To the extent that Dutton attempted to posture in a somewhat Trumpist way, the ruling class made clear they had no truck with that sort of posturing. Meanwhile, he couldnt convince anyone that theres anything anti-establishment about him, given that he has been the establishments man par excellence.

The fact is that Australian capitalism has benefited from globalisation and the liberal world order, to the extent of remaining a happy exception for a long time. But those days are coming to an end, and it would be foolish to imagine that Australia is in any way immune to demagogues and populists emerging in the future as anger continues to grow.

Politically dependent on US imperialism and its NATO allies, they have nonetheless cultivated economic ties with western imperialisms main rival: China / Image: Anthony Albanese, Twitter

The unfortunate truth for the bosses, bankers and politicians is that the global order they so desperately cling to is not long for this world. With protectionism on the rise and the tensions between imperialist powers sharpening, this will inevitably have to find an expression in Australia and in the process will deal a blow to the traditions of the establishment parties.

The Australian ruling class finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Politically dependent on US imperialism and its NATO allies, they have nonetheless cultivated economic ties with western imperialisms main rival: China. The breaking of either of these links would represent an unthinkable crisis for the capitalist class, either politically or economically  or, most likely, both.

Yet the world situation is moving in such a direction that Australias balancing act will have to become impossible at one point or another, and one or the other imperialism will force the Australian ruling class to end the status quo, if they are not brave enough to do it themselves.

These conditions would lay the basis for all kinds of latter-day free thinkers, demagogues and mavericks to emerge with confused solutions for the masses. A genuine Trump-style candidate could even take shape. For now, however, we can only speculate on this.

Build a real alternative

Democratic elections under capitalism offer us the choice, as Marx explained, to decide once in three or six years which member of the ruling class was to misrepresent the people in Parliament. This election has made that clearer than ever. Behind the hollow differences in branding and rhetoric, every party offers the same bankrupt programme: defend profits, manage the crisis, and keep the system intact.

It is entirely understandable that millions breathed a sigh of relief at the defeat of the Coalition in this election. But we must be clear: this Labor government will bring just as little for the working class as it has for the past three years.

Labor has so far done its job for the capitalist class / Image: UNSOCIAL UNSECURE, Twitter

The central concern for communists is not the shallow rhetoric of the capitalist politicians, it is the mood of the working class. The oppressed and exploited workers and youth of Australia are the force that will ultimately decide the fate of the country. The central battleground for this will not be elections, but the living struggle of the working class in the streets, workplaces, educational institutions, etc. None of the capitalist politicians are worthy of support. We fight for a real alternative, one based on the independent power of the working class.

Labor has so far done its job for the capitalist class. It has kept the unions shackled, pacified unrest, and protected profits. The class that owns the mines, banks, and media currently prefers a Labor government, because it has been relatively effective at navigating the capitalist crisis without provoking mass resistance. For now.

The electoral calm masks global chaos. As protectionism rises and imperialist tensions sharpen, the pressure will eventually spill over here too. Tied to the US politically and to China economically, the ruling class faces a crisis no matter which link snaps. Sooner or later, the old consensus will splinter.

The same crisis that threatens Australias liberal consensus will draw a growing layer of workers and youth into the struggle to defend their conditions and demand more. The stage is being set for an immense conflict. The bosses and bankers have their organisations and parties, the working class need their own.

The task facing us is to build a revolutionary organisation that can bring together the firmest, boldest layers of communists to explain the need to kick out not only the rotten capitalist parties, but their whole decrepit system.

No faith in Labor and the capitalist parties. No illusions in parliament.

There is no future under capitalism. We need revolution. We need organisation. We need to build it now. If you agree, join us.
India-Pakistan War News: The government on Friday reiterated that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, emphasised that there are adequate stocks available in the country.

The current rice stock stands at 356.42 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) against a buffer norm of 135 LMT. Similarly, wheat stock is 383.32 LMT against a buffer norm of 276 LMT, demonstrating a strong surplus over the required buffer norms, ensuring nationwide food security, the minister said.

"I want to assure everyone that we currently have stocks many times higher than the normal requirement  whether it is rice, wheat, or pulses such as chana, tur, masoor, or moong. There is absolutely no shortage, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains," Joshi said.

In addition, India currently holds approximately 17 LMT of edible oil stocks. Domestically, the availability of mustard oil is ample during the ongoing peak production season, further supplementing the edible oil supply.

The ongoing sugar season started with a carry-over stock of 79 LMT. Production is estimated at 262 LMT, after accounting for the diversion of 34 LMT for ethanol production.

As of now, around 257 LMT of sugar has already been produced. Considering the domestic consumption of 280 LMT and exports of 10 LMT, the closing stock is expected to be around 50 LMT, which is more than the consumption of two months.

The production outlook for the 202526 sugar season is also promising due to favourable climatic conditions, the minister said. The minister cautioned not to fall prey to misleading reports, and any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling would be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act.

"Dont believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in the trading of essential commodities are directed to cooperate with law enforcement agencies," said Joshi.
New Delhi: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi and all Ranks of the Indian Army paid tribute to Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who was killed on May 7 during ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

In an official statement, the Indian Army said, "General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and All Ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who laid down his life on 07 May 2025 during ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control."

#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS and All Ranks of the #IndianArmy salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who laid down his life on 07 May 2025 during ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control.#IndianArmy stands in solidarity with the https://t.co/O5QGGkQavb  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 8, 2025

The Army also extended its solidarity to the innocent civilians affected by the attacks, stating, "Indian Army stands in solidarity with the innocent civilians who are victims of attacks orchestrated through indiscriminate artillery shelling by the adversary in the #Poonch sector. The nefarious designs of our enemies have been and will continue to be thwarted with resolute and punitive action."

Meanwhile, heart-wrenching visuals from his home showed his inconsolable wife, devastated parents, and a mourning village that gathered to pay their respects. Dinesh Kumar is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and siblings.

Kapil, the brother of Dinesh Kumar, recounted the sequence of events to ANI. "At 4 AM, I received a call from his number. When I called back at 8 AM, his senior answered and informed me that my brother was in serious condition at the field hospital and was undergoing surgery. Later, when I called again, I was told that my brother was stable. But when I called the field hospital directly, I was informed that my brother had passed away," Kapil said.

Earlier, the White Knight Corps on Wednesday confirmed the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of the 5 Field Regiment was killed in the shelling that took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Confirming his death, the White Knight Corps posted on social media platform X, "GOC and all ranks of White Knight Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of 5 Fd Regt, who laid down his life on 07 May 25 during Pakistan Army shelling."
India-Pakistan War: It has been two days since India and Pakistan have been standing at the brink of a war with both sides exchanging fire, shooting drones and missiles. While India's air defence system has ensured zero ground hits of Pakistani missiles/drones, India has managed to inflict heavy damage across Pakistan. For the last two weeks, Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire despite being warned by the Indian Army. Now, the Indian Army has shared that it used anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) to destroy several Pakistani military posts across the LoC.

What Is Anti-Tank Guided Missiles?

A missile system designed to destroy and neutralise enemy tanks and other armoured vehicles with precision, using guidance systems that ensure accuracy over various ranges and operational conditions. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has tested many ATGMs which are of the world-standards.

India's Own ATGMs

* Nag  3rd-gen fire-and-forget ATGM with top attack capability.

* HELINA  Helicopter-launched version of Nag.

* MPATGM  Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile designed for infantry use.

* SANT  Standoff Anti-Tank missile with long-range capability.

* Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) - employs a tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles.

Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) are designed for effective operation in both day and night conditions, making them reliable across a wide range of combat scenarios. Some advanced models feature a 'top-attack' mode, enabling them to strike tanks from abovetargeting the area with the weakest armor.

Modern ATGMs often incorporate a dual-mode seeker, which significantly enhances their ability to detect, track, and accurately engage targets under diverse battlefield conditions.
India-Pakistan Tensions: The Ministry of Defence has instructed the citizens, especially in border areas, to remain indoors. Additionally, they have been advised to limit unnecessary movements and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.

In a post on the social media platform X, the Ministry of Defence stated that drones were sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

It read, Drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and LoC with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala.

The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. The situation is under close and constant watch & prompt action is being taken wherever necessary, it added.

Citizens, especially in border areas, are advised to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential, the post continued.

 Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 9, 2025

Also Read: J&K CM Issues Advisory, Appeals People In Jammu To 'Stay Off Streets'

Pakistani Drone In Firozpur

A Pakistani drone hit a residential area in Firozpur, Punjab, on Friday, injuring three people. According to ANI, SSP Ferozepur, Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, said that three people suffered burn injuries and were immediately rushed to the hospital.

ANI quoted Bhupinder Singh Sidhu as saying, "We received information about three people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army."

Pakistani Drones In J&K

Explosions were heard in Jammu as India's air defence intercepts Pakistani drones amid a blackout, as per ANI. Additionally, a complete blackout was enforced in Udhampur of the Jammu division. This is the second night in a row that Jammu observed a blackout after blasts and sirens were heard.

This comes a day after Pakistan's attempt to target civilian infrastructure along the Line of Control and the International border was foiled by the Indian air defence.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister also appealed to the people in and around Jammu to stay off the streets, ignore rumors, and not spread unsubstantiated stories. On the social media platform X, on Friday evening, CM Abdullah shared a picture and said that there was a blackout in Jammu and sirens could be heard.

Indias Operation Sindoor

The Ministry of Defences statement had informed that the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir; altogether, nine sites were targeted.

These steps by the Indian Armed Forces came after the gruesome Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed.

(with ANI inputs)
Delhi School Assembly News, Delhi School Holiday News: India and Pakistan are exchanging fire across the Line of Control amid a massive military escalation between the two nuclear-armed nations. While Pakistan tried to target Indian military installations, India responded in the same domain and even destroyed their air defence systems in two places. Amid the Indo-Pakistan tensions, people have been concerned over the opening of the schools in the national capital Delhi.

Let's tell you that several schools in Delhi have decided to conduct their classes online. There is no official order about the school holiday today, i.e. May 9, as parents are eager to hear from the authorities. As of 5 am, the schools in Delhi remain open, with some opting for online classes. The government schools and colleges remain open, unless reversed through an official order.

Schools in Gurugram, some parts of Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir have already been closed due to Pakistani shellings and missile attacks.
The central government on Saturday debunked an image doing the rounds on social media claiming explosions at the Jaipur Airport. Confirming that the claims are fake, PIB fact check stated that the airport is safe.

Jaipur Airport is Safe Claims are circulating that explosions were heard at #Jaipur Airport. #PIBFactCheck These claims are FAKE Here is the clarification from the District Collector & Magistrate, Jaipur, the PIB fact check said in a post on X.

Jaipur Airport is Safe



Claims are circulating that explosions were heard at #Jaipur Airport.#PIBFactCheck



These claims are FAKE



Here is the clarification from the District Collector & Magistrate, Jaipur



https://t.co/qqbbFgGZ7x pic.twitter.com/rijeLipwhY  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

The PIB fact check shared an X post of District Collector & Magistrate, Jaipur, to confirm that the images of explosions at Jaipur Airport being shared are misleading. This news is baseless and misleading. Jaipur airport is completely safe, Jaipur District Collector said in his post.

Meanwhile, the PIB's fact-checking unit, early Friday morning, debunked a widely circulating video on social media claiming to show Pakistani attacks on Hazira Port in Gujarat and a drone attack in Jalandhar.

The PIB said the Hazira Port video is an unrelated video "confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion".

The footage captures an oil tanker explosion that occurred on July 7, 2021, and Pakistan is falsely propagating it as its attack on the port.

Another video claimed to show the aftermath of a drone attack in Jalandhar. In a post on X, PIB fact-check clarified that the video is unrelated and depicts a farm fire.

PIB's post stated, "Drone Attack in Jalandhar. This drone strike video from #Jalandhar is widely circulating on social media#PIBFactCheck This is an unrelated video of a farm fire. The video has the time 7:39 PM, while the drone attack began later."

After India launched its most expansive cross-border strikes on terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan, a flood of misinformation and false propaganda is being peddled from across the border by its influencers and media, as well as government-sponsored social media handles.

Several such videos have already been exposed by the team of the PIB since India's military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir began on May 7.

PIB has urged citizens to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it online. "In times of heightened national security, misinformation can lead to unnecessary panic and confusion. Always rely on official sources for updates," a PIB spokesperson stated.

(With IANS Inputs)
Firozpur News LIVE: Fresh attacks were launched by Pakistan on Friday in Jammu and several areas of Punjab, including in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur. According to agency reports, the loud explosions was heard in Pathankot and Ferozepur districts.

Sources said air raid sirens were sounded in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur districts. "We received information about 3 people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army," Bhupinder Singh Sidhu told ANI. Indian Air Defnce have intercepted most of the drones in the Firozpur area.

According to Indian Express report, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called an emergency Cabinet meeting at his residence and assigned 10 of his Cabinet colleagues to hit the ground in the state and stay in the border areas. The government issued the orders on Friday, saying that the ministers have to be with the people.

Ferozepur Explosions, Air Raid Alert At Chandigarh Airport

After the incident in Ferozepur, the administration of the neighbouring border district has urged resident to remain calm and indoors. The authorities have reportedly issued an alert in areas surrounding the Chandigarh airport on Friday, including Mohali and Panchkula, warning residents about a possible air strike.

The Indian armed forces on Wednesday carried out precise missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan under 'Operation Sindoor' after the dastardly Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent tourists were killed.
India abstained from the vote on the International Monetary Funds proposed $1.3 billion bailout for Pakistan. India has cited concerns over Islamabads historical inefficiency in utilising prior financial assistance and has expressed concerns over its neighbour's "poor track record". India also voiced concerns on the possibility of misuse of debt financing funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

The IMF conducted a review today of Pakistans $1 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program while also assessing a proposed $1.3 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) loan package. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Misri confirmed that Indias executive director, Parameswaran Iyer, will participate in the upcoming IMF board meeting to highlight concerns related to Pakistan as a country that funds and actively promotes terrorism as a state policy. He said that the case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those who generously open their pockets to bail out this country.

He had urged the IMF board members to look within and study the facts before extending further assistance. The IMF Executive Board will take a decision on Islamabads request for a loan under a climate resilience programme, along with the first review of the ongoing $7 billion bailout package that has been given to Pakistan. India is staunchly opposed to extending financial assistance to Pakistan because of serious concerns over the neighbouring countrys role in financing terrorism.

The IMF meeting comes within days of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, sponsored by Pakistan, in which 26 tourists were killed. Misri accused Pakistan of misusing international financial assistance, including IMF loans, to support military-intelligence operations and terrorist groups. He specifically pointed to Pakistan-based groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which have been linked to multiple attacks in India and are designated terrorist entities under UN sanctions. The country was on the brink of sovereign default in 2023 and had to be bailed out by a $3 billion IMF loan. The country is still critically dependent on this financial lifeline and is desperately trying to raise another $1.3 billion climate resilience loan.

The IMF had, on March 25, announced a staff-level agreement with Pakistan under a new 28-month Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), granting Islamabad access to $1.3 billion. Meanwhile, World Bank President Ajay Banga has reached Lucknow as part of his visit to Uttar Pradesh on Friday to get a first-hand view of the remarkable economic progress of the state. He has already met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Banga is reported to have assured the Prime Minister that the World Bank will not interfere in Indias decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty amid tensions with Pakistan. The World Bank chief also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the national capital.

(IANS inputs)
India and Iran held the 20th meeting of the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), where New Delhi apprised Tehran of Pakistan's link to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. Iranian foreign minister Dr. Abbas Araghchi came to India after visiting Pakistan and held meetings with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, President Droupadi Murmu and NSA Ajit Doval. This is Dr. Araghchis first visit to India since assuming office as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran in August 2024.

The Joint Commission Meeting, was held on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the India-Iran Friendship Treaty, reviewed issues of mutual interest between the two countries and the way forward in strengthening bilateral relations. "During the JCM, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including cooperation on trade and economic issues, agriculture, healthcare, cultural exchanges, connectivity and people-to-people ties," said the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

The MEA said that regional and global developments of mutual interest were also discussed. "The Indian side briefed the Iranian delegation on the cross-border linkages of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called for enhanced regional cooperation to combat the threat," it said.

The ministry further said both sides welcomed the signing of MoUs on Medical Products Regulation and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreement on Customs Cooperation. "Both sides agreed to adopt a humanitarian approach to issues concerning prisoners, fishermen, seafarers and students, and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in multilateral fora.
New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, India has shot down Pakistan Air Force's F-16 as well as two JF-17 aircraft after Pakistan tried to attack multiple locations in Jammu and Punjab, government sources said.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan made attempts to target several locations in India; however, Indian air defence guns shot down the intruding drones.

India also shot down Pakistan's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) inside its Punjab province, sources said, adding that it fell on their side.

Meanwhile, drone attacks have also been foiled in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur and Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, and a drone was shot down in Akhnoor.

Two Kamikaze drones were also shot down in Poonch.

According to sources, the Indian SAM (Surface-to-air missile) shot down the F-16 fighter jet near the Sargodha air base.

Notably, F-16 is one of Pakistan's main fighter jets that it procured from the US. Along with it, the JF-17 is another crucial fighter aircraft. The F-16 fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, were given to Pakistan in the late 1980s. These jets were also used by the Pakistan Air Force after India's Balakot air strikes in 2019.

Earlier, Pakistan also attempted a missile strike in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer region late on Thursday, prompting a swift response from India's air defence systems.

The air defence systems in the region have been fully activated to intercept and neutralise incoming threats. More than 70 missiles have been destroyed mid-air, preventing any damage to ground targets, sources said.

In a major escalation, Pakistan simultaneously attacked several locations in Jammu, including the airport. Rockets were fired at Jammu from across the International Border on Thursday night.

One of the drones hit the Jammu Civil Airport, prompting fighter jets to scramble in response. India activated its air defence systems, which successfully intercepted the incoming rockets.

Pakistani troops have also resorted to unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Samba, and Uri districts of Jammu and Kashmir late on Thursday evening.

Eight Pakistani missiles were intercepted by the S-400 air defence system over Jammu airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and nearby areas. Two Pakistani drones were downed near Jammu University.

The Integrated Defence Staff in a statement said, "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu and Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per standard operating procedure with kinetic and non-kinetic means."

The escalation by Pakistan followed less than 48 hours after India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
New Delhi: Following Pakistans aggression in Indian territories from Thursday evening, tensions between the two nations have significantly escalated. Indias calculated and controlled attack on terrorist infrastructures across the border as part of the ongoing Operation Sindoor to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack has drawn global reactions, including from China.

Chinas Foreign Ministry termed Indias airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as regrettable. A ministry spokesperson expressed concern over the current situation. India and Pakistan are neighbours and will always be. Both are also Chinas neighbours. China opposes all forms of terrorism, said the spokesperson.

China urged both countries to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further complicate the situation. Experts believe China would never want Pakistan to become unstable, as that would jeopardise billions of dollars in Chinese investment. The country has invested approximately $68 billion in Pakistan from 2024 to 2005.

This includes major investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Instability would threaten Chinas dream of establishing overland connectivity to Central Asia. Experts are of the view: Tensions in this region directly affect Chinas investments and strategic goals. China would never want its interests to be compromised.

China-Pak Diplomatic And Strategic Ties

Diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan began on May 21, 1951. Over the decades, defence cooperation and diplomatic relations have grown, and Pakistan has become increasingly economically dependent on China. Though China supplies weapons to Pakistan, it has never directly supported it in a war against India. As India has grown closer to Western countries, Pakistan has leaned more heavily on China.

China has backed Pakistan at critical junctures such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) proceedings or financial bailouts. However, it has maintained a balance in its relations with India too. The experts argue that China would never want a war or even the threat of war between India and Pakistan. It would damage its interests and raise major concerns in Central Asia.

They add that China is already in a trade war with the United States and would prefer to maintain stable ties with India during this time. China is interest-driven and avoids entanglement in conflicts. Therefore, it has never supported Pakistan militarily against India.

China wants to develop its Xinjiang province, which borders both India and Pakistan. That is only feasible if its CPEC and BRI projects in Pakistan succeed. India has long opposed the two projects. And China would not want that opposition from India to grow stronger.

China-Pak Trade Ties

At present, China is Pakistans largest trading partner and its top import source. Bilateral trade between China and Pakistan, according to Chinese customs, reached $23.1 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase. Chinas exports to Pakistan rose 17% to $20.2 billion, while imports fell 18.2% to $2.8 billion.

With around $5.6 billion, electronics and machinery made up a significant portion, including 35% semiconductors and 27% smartphones and telecom equipment. Other key exports included $2.4 billion worth of nuclear reactors, boilers and mechanical equipment and $1.3 billion worth of iron and steel products.

When trade with a country is this large, it is only natural to want a stable environment to secure economic interests. Many Chinese projects in Pakistan are already under threat. Rising tensions would only increase risks, especially as Chinese citizens in Pakistan already face security threats.

Strategic Interests

Pakistan has become closer to China and is maintaining an increased distance from the United States. The two countries not only conduct joint military exercises but also have major defence deals. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 81% of Pakistans weapons imports over the last five years came from China. Four out of every five weapons Pakistan acquired were Chinese-made.

China supplied PL-15 and SD-10 missiles, equipped with modern Beyond Visual Range (BVR) technology, capable of striking airborne targets from long distances. China gains access to Gulf countries through Pakistan. And therefore, it is in the best interest of China to maintain peace and stability in Pakistan as instability would prevent the former from realising economic benefits. For instance, the Gwadar port is ready, but it can only be fully utilised if peace prevails.

Therefore, China is consistently urging restraint from both sides and aims to stay out of regional conflicts. He says Chinas current trade tensions with the United States make it even more reluctant to create friction with India, which is one of its major trade partners. India seeks strong global support like Israel receives against terrorism. However, Chinas diplomatic tilt toward Pakistan often dilutes Indias global standing.
Jaipur: After the recent drone attacks in Pokhran in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, Pakistan has now targeted Barmer with drone strikes, an official said. Within just half an hour, Pakistan carried out two separate drone attacks in Pokhran. Indian air defence systems promptly responded, successfully shooting down the drones mid-air, the official added. This escalation follows a series of missile and drone attacks by Pakistan on five Indian military bases across Rajasthan during the intervening night of May 7 and May 8 and again on the night of May 8.

These aerial threats were intercepted and neutralised by Indian defence forces. In response to the latest drone threats, a red alert has been declared in Barmer and Sriganganagar. A complete blackout has been enforced in the border districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sriganganagar, Phalodi, and Jodhpur. In Jodhpur, the scheduled blackout at Friday midnight was advanced to 9 p.m., indicating the seriousness of the threat.

Sirens were sounded by the Air Force to alert the population in affected areas. In Alwar, a ban has been imposed on flying drones during weddings and public events. The District Collector has prohibited large gatherings and public functions involving large crowds. In Pokhran, local markets were ordered to shut down by 4 p.m. on Friday.

Residents were advised to stay indoors after 6 p.m. on Friday. By Friday evening, public announcements were made via loudspeakers by the administration, police and municipal authorities urging people to remain inside in their homes during the blackout.

After 5 p.m. on Friday, the town saw widespread closure of shops, deserted roads and widespread compliance with the blackout instructions. The rapid succession of drone strikes and the imposition of blackouts reflect heightened tension along the India-Pakistan border.

With escalating threats, local administrations are taking proactive measures to ensure civilian safety and maintain order. Vigilance remains high, and further security alerts may follow depending on the evolving situation, said officials.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah left Srinagar for Jammu on Friday to take stock of the situation after a failed Pakistani drone attack there.

The CM said on his X handle, Driving to Jammu now to take stock of the situation after last nights failed Pakistani drone attack directed at Jammu city & other parts of the division.

The Pakistani drones and low-range missiles were neutralised by the alert troops in Jammu, Samba, R.S. Pura and other places. Terrorists aided by Pakistan troops made an unsuccessful infiltration attempt in J&Ks Samba district on the international border.

A BSF spokesman said that a major infiltration bid from across the international border was foiled around 11 pm last evening.

The intruding terrorists were forced to withdraw back into the Pakistan side of the border, the spokesman added.

A woman was killed and another injured in Pakistan's heavy mortar shelling on civilian areas in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. Officials said a vehicle travelling from Razerwani to Baramulla was hit by a shell fired from across the LoC near Mohura.

In this incident, a woman identified as Nargis Begum was killed while another woman, Hafeeza Begum, was injured.

The Pakistan Army continued resorting to heavy mortar shelling in Uri, Tangdhar, Poonch, Rajouri on the LoC and in Samba on the international border.

Drones and low-range missiles fired at the Jammu airport, defence installations in Jammu city failed as these were neutralised in the air by an efficient air defence system in place by the Indian armed forces.

A complete blackout was observed in Jammu and Srinagar cities immediately after sirens started warning the people of an impending attack by the enemy. Electricity has been partially restored in Jammu and Srinagar cities.

Amid the prevailing situation, authorities on Wednesday said that schools, colleges and universities shall remain closed across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and Saturday.

Sakina Itoo, the education minister, said that keeping in view the safety of students, all the private and government schools, colleges and universities shall remain closed on Friday and Saturday.

Registrar of Kashmir University also said that classwork will remain suspended at the university for the day.
New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, several viral claims are doing the rounds to mislead the common man. Pakistani social media handles are abuzz with viral claims that a Sukhoi Su-30MKI was shot down in Muzaffarabad, capturing an Indian Pilot alive. It has been revealed in PIB fact check that it is a FAKE news.

Fact Check: Sukhoi Su-30MKI Shot Down In Muzaffarabad

PIB debunked the

Fake News Alert

Pakistani social media handles are claiming that a Sukhoi Su-30MKI was shot down in Muzaffarabad, capturing an Indian Pilot alive.

#PIBFactCheck

This Sukhoi SU-30MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Undre Vasti of Kulwadi village near Pune-Ahamad Nagar highway, Maharashtra on October 14, 2014.

Do not share this post. See the news report below

Fake News Alert



Pakistani social media handles are claiming that a Sukhoi Su-30MKI was shot down in Muzaffarabad, capturing an Indian Pilot alive.#PIBFactCheck



This Sukhoi SU-30MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Undre Vasti of Kulwadi village near Pune-Ahamad pic.twitter.com/Fr5GITYQzL  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

India-Pakistan War

Pakistan fired eight missiles directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia and all were intercepted and blocked by air defence units today, defence sources told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets are used to target cities. Pakistan Army is operating and behaving like a terror organisation, Hamas. Last month, ISI and Hamas met in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, a viral claim that the Indian armed forces have launched an attack on Karachi Port in Pakistan has flooded social media. Several users on X (formerly Twitter) posted videos and images, alleging to show explosions at the port. However, fact-checkers have debunked the claim.

Amid the rising war tension, many clippings and visuals from Gaza, Syria, and even movies are being circulated online attributing falsely to the ongoing India and Pakistan war.
New Delhi: Indias Operation Sindoor has struck a decisive blow against the terrorist infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Bahawalpur, Pakistan -- a group long believed to have played a role in one of the darkest episodes in the post-9/11 world: the brutal killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

The operation, launched in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, was reportedly aimed at dismantling Pakistan and PoK-based terror sites, including that of a JeM facility deeply tied to multiple cross-border terror activities. But for many, this was more than just strategic retaliation. It was a thread in a web woven two decades ago -- one that ties terror attacks, state complicity, and personal grief across generations and borders.

On X, Judea Pearl, father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, posted a pointed critique, accompanied by a photograph of a funeral procession for the JeM terrorists killed in the Bahawalpur strike. Pakistani Army officers and other Muslim leaders are seen standing in front of coffins.

"I wish these dignitaries could tell us: 'What exactly are you mourning? What role models you wish your children to revere? What have you learned from this man'?" Pearl wrote.

Pearls anguish is not abstract. His son, Daniel, began working at The Wall Street Journal in 1990, eventually taking assignments that led him deep into the nexus of terrorism and intelligence in South Asia. In 2002, while investigating links between extremist groups and Pakistan's ISI, he was kidnapped and later beheaded by terrorists linked to JeM.

At the centre of Pearls murder was Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British Pakistani militant with a chilling history. Once jailed in India for kidnapping Western tourists, Sheikh was released in 2000 in exchange for hostages during the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking. Within two years of his release, he lured Daniel Pearl to his death.

On Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the press: "Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was directly or indirectly responsible for the killing of Daniel Pearl."

"The real connection is through Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Pakistani jihadi who was held in India but was finally released in 2000. And he was the one who lured Daniel Pearl to his eventual murder. So, these are all connected figures, connected individuals, connected institutions. The attack on Bahawalpur, on that facility of JeM in Bahawalpur, is, I would say, a fitting part of this unfortunate incident, Misri said.

Operation Sindoor may go down in the books as another effective counter-terror victory, but for the Pearl family, and indeed for much of the world, it resonates on a far deeper level. As images of the slain JeM operatives funerals circulate, the question posed by Judea Pearl hangs heavily in the air: What exactly are you mourning?
New Delhi: Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western border on the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, Indian Army officials said.

Pakistani troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs, the Indian Army said in a statement.

Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation.

All nefarious designs will be responded with force, the Indian Army added.

India on Thursday night neutralised Pakistan military's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations.

New Delhi's retaliation not only destroyed drones and missiles, but also shot down Islamabad's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, marking a significant blow to Pakistan's air surveillance and battlefield coordination capabilities.

Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Armed Forces have successfully foiled a large-scale drone and missile attack launched by Pakistan to target multiple military stations in Northern and Western India, including Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said.

In a post on X, the HQ IDS said: "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per standard operating procedure with kinetic and non-kinetic means."

The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan came after India on Thursday morning targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities with one in Lahore being "neutralised".

The Indian military responded swiftly and decisively, neutralising the threat using both kinetic and non-kinetic means in accordance with standard operating procedures (SoP).

As the Ministry of Defence reiterated that any attack on military sites in India will invite a "suitable response", Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan only can decide if it wants to de-escalate tensions with India as New Delhi responded to the "original escalation" triggered by the Pahalgam massacre.

Blackouts from several cities and towns in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan were enforced as drones were sighted from across the border.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, speaking at a Ministry of External Affairs press briefing, confirmed that India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems had successfully countered the attacks.

"This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. The Indian response has been in the same domain and with the same intensity as Pakistan's. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system in Lahore has been neutralised," Colonel Qureshi said.

She also detailed that during the night of May 7 to May 8, Pakistan attempted to strike military targets at several locations, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

However, India's robust air defence systems neutralised all attempted incursions, and debris from intercepted drones and missiles is being recovered from multiple sites, confirming the attacks.

The missiles were aimed at key locations, including Satwari (Jammu Airport), Samba, R.S. Pura, and Arnia, defence sources said.

A sudden power outage plunged Jammu city into darkness following two loud explosions, likely resulting from the interception of intruding drones. Immediately after, sirens echoed throughout the city, alerting panic stricken residents to seek shelter.

Sound of massive explosions were heard in Jaisalmer and a blackout was enforced in western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan, plunging the whole stretch into darkness, police said.

The escalation followed India's launch of Operation Sindoor -- a series of focused and precise strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)  in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

"Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution," the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

At Thursday's media briefing, Colonel Qureshi reiterated that on May 7, India had clearly said that any attack on Indian military assets would invite a "suitable response".

Following Operation Sindoor, the Union government convened an all-party meeting on Thursday at the Parliament Annexe to brief political leaders on the security situation and India's calibrated military action.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the briefing, which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, among others.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh also addressed the press conference following the all-party meeting.
Chandigarh: Amid heightened tension, Punjab, which shares a 532-km border with Pakistan, has ordered closure of all educational institutes and cancelled exams.

I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University in Jalandhar on Friday said that with the approval of the competent authority, it added that the end semester examinations being held has been postponed until notice due to unforeseen circumstances.

The revised schedule for the examinations will be announced at least five days prior to the new date of commencement, it said.

The state government has set up a control room for the convenience of people.

It can be reached out at landline phone numbers 0172-2741803 and 0172-2749901.

State Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that in view of the evolving situation, "it is hereby ordered that all schools, colleges, and universities -- government, private, and aided -- across entire Punjab would remain completely closed for the next three days. On Thursday night, blackouts were reported in six border districts of Punjab -- Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, where Pakistani drones attempted to infiltrate."

In Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, authorities declared closure of all schools till Saturday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday neutralised a Pakistani intruder in the Ferozepur sector.

The intruder, yet to be identified, was gunned down in the early morning hours of Friday while crossing the International Border between India and Pakistan.

The intruder was spotted trying to infiltrate near a gate adjacent to Lakha Singh Wala BSF post.

Amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan, people in some border villages of Punjab have started moving to safer places.

Villagers settled in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts close to the International Border began shifting their belongings to safer places despite the BSF, the Indian Army and even the local civil authorities not having issued any official evacuation orders.

The leave of all Punjab Police personnel was also cancelled.

Punjab Aam Aadmi Party Chief Aman Arora said the state government and all three crore Punjabis stand firmly with the Indian Army.

Arora added that the Punjab Police, as the "second line of defence," is also fully prepared.

"The state's police force will join the Indian Army in every battle to deliver a crushing response to any Pakistani attack."

Punjab shares a 532-km-long border with Pakistan. Therefore, during any military tension, the role of the Punjab government and its security and law enforcement agencies becomes extremely crucial.

The state government also appealed to the people of Punjab to strictly adhere to all government orders and guidelines to ensure there is no risk to public safety.
A complete blackout has been enforced in several districts in Jammu, including Akhnoor of Jammu Division, and sirens are being heard in the region. According to media reports, Pakistan has targeted Jammu with loitering munitions, and Indian Air Defence guns are firing back in retaliation. The Air Defence system has been activated to neutralise the drone attack.

Educational institutions in border states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan will remain closed for the coming few days given the escalating military tensions with Pakistan.

This came after the Defence Ministry said that India thwarted Pakistan's attempts to hit various key Indian military installations, including stations at Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, with drones and missiles on Thursday evening.

Jammu and Kashmir

All schools, colleges and universities in the Union territory will remain closed for two days as a precautionary measure.

UT Education Minister Sakina Itoo took to X and wrote, "All schools, colleges and universities in J&K to remain closed on 9th & 10th May as a precautionary measure. Stay safe."

All schools, colleges and universities in J&K to remain closed on 9th & 10th May as a precautionary measure. Stay safe.  Sakina Itoo (@sakinaitoo) May 8, 2025

All schools, colleges and educational institutions will also remain closed in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch on Friday, May 9, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu wrote on X.

Himachal Pradesh

All government and private educational institutions will remain closed in Una district of Himachal Pradesh on Friday, May 9.

PIB Chandigarh wrote on X, "Important Notice: All schools, colleges, and educational institutions in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, will remain closed on May 9. Please plan accordingly."

This comes after the Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised the Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised.

Addressing the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) press briefing on Thursday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems successfully neutralised the threats.

After last nights Pakistani drone attack, a local Jammu and Kashmir said, "Last night at around 8 PM, we saw 3-4 drones. There was retaliatory firing, which continued the entire night. What Pakistan did is not right. We are not scared. Schools are closed here...," as quoted by ANI.
New Delhi: As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, several viral claims are doing the rounds to mislead the common man. It has been revealed in PIB fact check that an old Kabul airport blast picture is falsely being circulated online as explosion visual from the Jammu Air Force Base.

According to PIB Fact Check: An old image is being circulated with false claims of multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base in India.

#PIBFactCheck

This image is from the Kabul Airport blast in August 2021.

Heres a report from that time: https://al-ain.com/article/1630002029

Dont fall for misinformation. Always verify before sharing!

Explosion at Jammu Air Force Base? Here's the truth!



An old image is being circulated with false claims of multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base in India.#PIBFactCheck



This image is from the Kabul Airport blast in August 2021.



Heres a report from that pic.twitter.com/y99zbukBGM  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

Earlier, a viral claim that the Indian armed forces have launched an attack on Karachi Port in Pakistan has flooded social media. Several users on X (formerly Twitter) posted videos and images, alleging to show explosions at the port. However, fact-checkers have debunked the claim.

Amid the rising war tension, many clippings and visuals from Gaza, Syria, and even movies are being circulated online attributing falsely to the ongoing India and Pakistan war.
In a decisive military operation on Wednesday, May 7, the Nigerian Army successfully neutralized eight Boko Haram fighters during a counter-offensive in the Gwoza region of Borno state.

The attack by the terrorist group was swiftly repelled by the Nigerian military under the command of General Reuben Kovangiya, who led the subsequent operation that led to the elimination of the militants. This operation forms part of a broader, ongoing effort by Nigerian forces to curb the Boko Haram insurgency, which has been a persistent threat in the region for over a decade.

Boko Haram, a jihadist group responsible for widespread violence and terror across the Lake Chad Basin, has caused significant suffering since it emerged in the early 2000s. The group has been behind countless attacks in Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, with reports indicating that nearly 2,000 people have died due to their actions in recent years. The Nigerian military continues to focus on dismantling the groups operations, ensuring the safety of civilians, and preventing further bloodshed in the region.

This latest military victory highlights the Nigerian armys unwavering commitment to combating Boko Harams insurgency and supporting regional counter-terrorism efforts. While Boko Haram remains a formidable threat, the successful operation brings a sense of optimism for the future, offering some measure of relief to the hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals who have been affected by the ongoing conflict in the Lake Chad Basin.
New Delhi: In the wake of a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam last month, India has launched a renewed diplomatic campaign to pressure the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) into placing Pakistan back on its "grey list" and also, cancellation of the IMF loan to Islamabad. If it happens, the designation can damage Islamabads already fragile economy and limit its access to international financial aid.

The move comes after the Pahalgam terror attack, carried out by the Resistance Front (TRF), a terror group long identified as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were gunned down in Baisaran meadow in the assault. While Pakistan has denied any involvement, Indian officials point to a pattern of support for terrorist groups operating across the border. They argue that the TRF is merely a rebranded offshoot of Islamabad-backed banned outfits such as the LeT and the Hizbul Mujahideen.

The assault has resulted in a coordinated response from New Delhi, with security and intelligence agencies preparing a detailed dossier of what they call "actionable evidence" to submit to the FATF  which is the global watchdog that monitors money laundering and terrorism financing. India has added further evidence against Pakistan after it launched Operation Sindoor a terrorists infrastructure across the border following the Pahalgam attack.

Showing the image of Hafiz Abdul Rauf, one of the LeT commanders, leading funeral prayer of those who were killed in Indias assault on May 7. If only civilians were killed (as claimed by Pakistan), what does this picture signify?" asked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Also pointing to presence of the personnel from the Pakistan Army in their uniforms, he said it is only the latest in a series of faux pas that have exposed the deep links between terror outfits and the Pakistani establishment.

Opposition members too, during an all-party meeting in Delhi soon after the Pahalgam attack, had asked the government to ask the United States to designate the TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and push to bring Pakistan back on the FATF grey-list for allowing declared terrorists to operate freely in the country even after sanctions against them.

According to government sources, this evidence is intended to prove that Pakistan has not only failed to sustain reforms mandated by the FATF in the past, but is once again allowing financial networks to support terrorism, especially groups that target India.

The Ministry of External Affairs, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Enforcement Directorate have all been involved in the campaign. A senior official familiar with the effort said India is lobbying key FATF member nations to back the case for Pakistans re-listing, citing the countrys alleged backsliding since it was removed from the grey list in October 2022.

India is set to raise concerns over Pakistans repeated misuse of International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout packages during a crucial board meeting of the global financial institution in Washington on Friday. The countrys position will be formally articulated by its representative at the IMF, Misri confirmed during a press briefing on Thursday.

I am sure that our executive director will put forward India's position, he told the media. Stopping short of predicting the outcome of the meeting, he further added, The decisions of the board are a different matter... But I think the case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those people who generously open their pockets to bail out this country.

"Pakistan's reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances... I do not need to remind where Osama bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr," Misri said, referring to Pakistans harbouring of the al-Qaeda leader and the countrys glorification of his legacy in certain quarters.

He further highlighted the ongoing presence of numerous UN-sanctioned terrorists operating openly within Pakistans borders and casted doubted the countrys sincerity in curbing terrorism and fulfilling its international obligations.

India, in recent months, has grown increasingly vocal about Pakistans financial practices, particularly after the IMF approved a $7 billion loan package in September 2024, of which $1 billion has already been disbursed. The financial package is spread out over several years and is designed to support macroeconomic reforms and stability in the crisis-hit nation.

Compounding India's concern is the approval of a $1.3 billion climate-related loan by the IMF in March 2025, which India fears may also be susceptible to misuse. Misri said the core issue is not simply about IMF funding, but Pakistans track record with such aid. "Many of the 24 bailout packages sanctioned by the IMF for Pakistan had not reached a successful conclusion," he pointed out and emphasised the chronic nature of Pakistan's financial mismanagement.

Interestingly, the responsibility to represent India at the IMF currently rests with World Bank Executive Director Parameswaran Iyer after removal of K.V. Subramanian from the role. With mounting evidence of Pakistans financial misdirection and in light of its repeated bailouts, India wants international financial community to reevaluate support to Pakistan and ensure accountability, especially when that support risks fuelling global terrorism.

Paris-based FATF reviews countries compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) standards. It maintains two public lists  a blacklist for high-risk countries with severe deficiencies and a grey list for jurisdictions under increased monitoring. Grey-listed nations are expected to work with the FATF to resolve strategic shortcomings within agreed timeframes.

Pakistan was previously grey-listed after a FATF review found its national risk assessment severely deficient. The country was asked to implement a 34-point action plan to improve oversight, tighten laws and crack down on terror financing. While Pakistan did eventually pass significant legislation and allow the FATF to conduct an on-site visit, leading to its removal from the list in 2022, India remained sceptical of the countrys intentions.

"Pakistan was forced to take some action against well-known terrorists, including those involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as a result of the FATF scrutiny. However, it is in the global interest that Pakistan takes credible, irreversible and sustained action against terrorism," the MEA had said following Pakistans delisting in 2022.

The stakes are high for Islamabad. Returning to the grey list could restrict access to financial markets and foreign investment. It may also jeopardise a $7 billion loan package from the IMF set to be reviewed at an upcoming board meeting. India has raised concerns that IMF funds may be misused to bankroll terror-related activities. Pakistan denies the charge but one that has found traction in international circles in the past.

To underscore its position, India has already enacted a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border, halting visa services and banning several Pakistani digital platforms and social media accounts. Pakistan, in turn, has responded with diplomatic countermeasures, including suspending trade ties and putting the Simla Agreement in abeyance.

The geopolitical tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours adds urgency to the upcoming FATF deliberations. While the organization insists on neutrality and technical assessments, its decisions are heavily influenced by global political dynamics, particularly the positions of major powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
New Delhi: India will put forward the country's position at a board meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington on Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in response to a query on New Delhi asking for a review of loans to Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary Misri said on Thursday that India's executive director at the IMF will put forward the country's position during the meeting of the board of the global financial body.

"I'm sure that our executive director will put forward India's position," he added at a media briefing.

"The decisions of the board are a different matter... But I think the case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those people who generously open their pockets to bail out this country," he said.

Foreign Secretary Misri noted that many of the 24 bailout packages sanctioned by the IMF for Pakistan had not reached a successful conclusion.

Parameswaran Iyer, Executive Director at the World Bank, is currently handling this responsibility after the government removed K.V. Subramanian as the IMF Executive Director.

Pakistan has received several bailout packages from the IMF over the past 10 years. For instance, the Fund approved a $7 billion loan in September 2024 to be disbursed over the years. Of this $7 billion, $1 billion has already been disbursed.

Besides, a $1.3 billion climate change-related loan to Pakistan was approved by the IMF in March 2025.

IMF loans are conditional and require loanee countries to structurally reform their economies.

Foreign Secretary Misri did not hold back in his criticism of Pakistan's use of IMF funds, alleging that the financial support is indirectly enabling Pakistan to fund its military intelligence operations, including groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

"Pakistan's reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances... I don't need to remind where Osama Bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr," he said.

He also pointed to the large number of terrorists, including those sanctioned by the UN, who continue to operate within Pakistan's borders.

Foreign Secretary Misri's statement follows mounting concerns that financial support to Pakistan might be used to fuel its ongoing cross-border terrorism activities, particularly against India.

Pakistan, currently facing a severe economic crisis, is highly reliant on IMF support through its Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

The IMF's review on May 9 will determine whether Pakistan meets the necessary conditions to unlock the next tranche of funding. However, the timing of the review is particularly sensitive, coming just days after India's "Operation Sindoor," which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

This development has added weight to India's calls for a reassessment of Pakistan's financial assistance.

The recent escalation between India and Pakistan was sparked by the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir on April 22.

Foreign Secretary Misri noted that this attack marked the beginning of rising tensions between the two nations.

Despite Pakistan's denial, Foreign Secretary Misri said that the terror group responsible, The Resistance Front (TRF), had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.

He also highlighted that Pakistan had objected to the mention of TRF in a UN Security Council statement on the attack, underscoring the ongoing cover-up by Pakistan's authorities regarding their support for terror groups.

"Our approach is not to escalate the situation; we only responded to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack," Foreign Secretary Misri asserted.

Pakistan's longstanding support for terrorist organisations like LeT and JeM remains a significant point of contention between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Misri reiterated that Pakistan's actions have destabilised the region, contributing to global terrorism.

He also reminded the international community of Pakistan's role in harbouring terrorists who have been responsible for high-profile attacks across the globe.

In his remarks, Foreign Secretary Misri mentioned that both Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and former Foreign Minister had recently admitted to their country's involvement with terrorist groups, further confirming India's position on the matter.

Military tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, with both nations continuing to target each other's military sites.

During a joint press briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and security forces, Colonel Sofia Qureshi of the Indian Army confirmed that Pakistan had targeted multiple military sites in northern and western India on the night of May 7 and May 8.

The Foreign Secretary's comments came amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan since New Delhi's military strikes on Wednesday against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025, targeting several Indian positions with drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border, the Indian Army said on Friday.

The Indian Army stated that Pakistani troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir," he said in a post in X.



Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and pic.twitter.com/9YcW2hSwi5  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 9, 2025

Indian army vowed to be commited to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation and added, "The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force."
Indian carriers on Friday announced that flights to 24 airports had been cancelled till May 15, following a notification from aviation authorities on the continued closure of multiple airports in the country.

Keeping the escalating India-Pakistan conflict in mind, the government has extended the closure of 24 airports till May 14.

Air India said its flights to and from the following stations  Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bhuj, Jamnagar, and Rajkot  "are being cancelled till 0529 hrs IST on 15 May, pending further updates".

"Customers holding valid tickets for travel during this period will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling charges or a full refund for cancellations," said the airline.

Low-cost airline IndiGo said that in accordance with the latest directives from the relevant authorities, "please be advised that all flights to and from the following destinations will remain cancelled until 0529 hours on 15th May 2025 due to temporary airport closures: Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Rajkot, Jodhpur, and Kishangarh".

The airline further stated that these precautionary measures have been instituted with "your safety and security as our highest priority. We remain fully committed to providing you with unwavering support while navigating this situation together".

As tensions flare up between India and Pakistan, at least 11 per cent of the daily domestic air traffic has been affected following the shutdown of 24 airports in the country.

According to industry data, average daily domestic flights dropped from 3,265 in April to 2,907 (as of May 8). Nearly 670 airline routes will be affected over May 9-10. This includes 334 incoming and 336 outgoing flights across the 24 airports that have been shut, according to FlightRadar24 data.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has advised all airlines and airports in the country to strengthen security measures. "Due to an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security regarding enhanced security measures at airports, passengers across the country are encouraged to allow extra time for check-in and boarding. Check-in will close 75 minutes before departure," said Air India.
India-Pakistan Tensions: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on Friday appealed to the people in and around Jammu to stay off the streets, ignore rumors, and not spread unsubstantiated stories.

On the social media platform X, on Friday evening, CM Abdullah shared a picture and said that there was a blackout in Jammu and sirens could be heard.

Blackout in Jammu now. Sirens can be heard across the city. pic.twitter.com/TE0X2LYzQ8  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 9, 2025

The Chief Minister in the second post wrote, "Intermittent sounds of blasts, probably heavy artillery, can now be heard from where I am."

In another post, he appealed to the people in and around Jammu to stay at home and not spread unverified stories.

Its my earnest appeal to everyone in & around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, dont spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories & we will get through this together.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 9, 2025

Pakistani Drones In J&K

The news agency ANI reported that explosions were heard in Jammu as India's air defence intercepts Pakistani drones amid a blackout. Additionally, a complete blackout was enforced in Udhampur of the Jammu division.

#WATCH | Explosions heard in Jammu as India's air defence intercepts Pakistani drones amid blackout



(Visuals deferred by an unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/ewKZzNoJI9  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

This is the second night in a row that Jammu observed a blackout after blasts and sirens were heard in the region.

Pakistan's drones were sighted in the Jammu, Samba, and Pathankot sector on Friday. This comes a day after Pakistan's attempt to target civilian infrastructure along the Line of Control and the International border was foiled by the Indian air defence.

Pakistan Drone In Firozpur

One Pakistani drone hit a residential area in Firozpur, Punjab, on Friday, injuring three people, according to ANI.

SSP Ferozepur, Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, said that three people suffered burn injuries and were immediately rushed to the hospital.

The news agency quoted Bhupinder Singh Sidhu as saying, "We received information about 3 people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army."

Pahalgam Attack, Operation Sindoor

On April 22, terrorists opened fire in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and killed 26 people.

Days after New Delhi took a series of diplomatic and punitive measures against Islamabad, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In a statement, dated May 7, the Ministry of Defence said, "Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution."

Altogether, nine sites were targeted in Operation Sindoor.

(with ANI inputs)
Palwal: The last rites of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who was killed in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control, were performed with full military honours on Thursday at his native village Mohammadpur in Palwal district.

Lance Naik Kumar lost his life on May 7, 2025, during unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces along the LoC. Family members, residents, and officials from the armed forces and civil administration paid their final respects to the fallen soldier.

The funeral ceremony was marked by a gun salute in honour of his sacrifice.

#WATCH | Palwal, Haryana | Last rites of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, performed with full honour at his native place in Mohammadpur.



He was killed during a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control on 07 May 2025. pic.twitter.com/ECIAbmzQdX  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025

Speaking to the media, Haryana Cabinet Minister Rajesh Nagar who attended the last rite of the Lamce Naik said, "All the countrymen are with the Army right now. They are proud of their army...Our Army will give a befitting reply. The nation stands with the family of Dinesh Kumar, who sacrificed his life while serving the country."

Haryana Cabinet Minister Gaurav Gautam also said the entire country "bows down" to Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar for his sacrifice.

Minister Gautam said, "The government and the Army are looking forward to avenging the terrorist activity. Dinesh Kumar has sacrificed his life in this process. The whole nation bows down to him for his sacrifice."

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi and all Ranks of the Indian Army paid tribute to Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who was killed in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

In an official statement, the Indian Army said, "General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and All Ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, who laid down his life on 07 May 2025 during ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control."

The Army also extended its solidarity to the innocent civilians affected by the attacks, stating, "Indian Army stands in solidarity with the innocent civilians who are victims of attacks orchestrated through indiscriminate artillery shelling by the adversary in the #Poonch sector. The nefarious designs of our enemies have been and will continue to be thwarted with resolute and punitive action."

Meanwhile, heart-wrenching visuals from his home showed his inconsolable wife, devastated parents, and a mourning village that gathered to pay their respects. Dinesh Kumar is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and siblings.

Kapil, the brother of Dinesh Kumar, recounted the sequence of events to ANI. "At 4 AM, I received a call from his number. When I called back at 8 AM, his senior answered and informed me that my brother was in serious condition at the field hospital and was undergoing surgery. Later, when I called again, I was told that my brother was stable. But when I called the field hospital directly, I was informed that my brother had passed away," Kapil said.

Earlier, the White Knight Corps on Wednesday confirmed the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of the 5 Field Regiment was killed in the shelling that took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Confirming his death, the White Knight Corps posted on social media platform X, "GOC and all ranks of White Knight Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of 5 Fd Regt, who laid down his life on 07 May 25 during Pakistan Army shelling."
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the Pahalgam terror attack and New Delhis suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. According to The Express Tribune, Sharif has advised his brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to prioritise dialogue and restraint amid the growing standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London this week, reportedly to support the government during a period of heightened security and diplomatic pressure. Sources told The Express Tribune that after being briefed on the National Security Committees (NSC) recent deliberations, Nawaz urged Shehbaz to employ all available diplomatic tools to ease the situation and avoid a military confrontation.

The former premier is said to have opposed any aggressive posture and advocated for a calm, measured approach to Indias recent actions, which include precision strikes in Pakistan-administered territory and the suspension of the IWTa move that Islamabad has termed a serious provocation.

Nawaz Sharifs call for peace is consistent with his long-standing stance on India-Pakistan relations. In public remarks made in 2023, he reflected on his ousting from office in 1999, linking it to his opposition to the Kargil conflict. I want to know why my governments were overthrown in 1993 and 1999. Was it because we opposed the Kargil war? he had said, as quoted by The News International.

Sharif also acknowledged that Pakistan had violated the 1999 Lahore Declaration, a bilateral peace agreement signed with then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. After Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us we violated that agreement. It was our fault, Sharif admitted in a rare candid statement last year.

The Lahore Declaration, signed on February 21, 1999, was aimed at de-escalating tensions and promoting regional stability. However, within months of its signing, Pakistani troops infiltrated Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a limited but deadly war.

Sharifs latest intervention comes at a time when Indian and Pakistani forces remain on high alert. With airstrikes, drone incursions, and artillery exchanges marking the worst cross-border violence in years, the former prime ministers diplomatic overture could influence Islamabads response in the days ahead.
New Delhi: As India decided to treat the Pahalgam massacre as the last straw and made up its mind to hit back hard on terror, the cynics and naysayers were worried about the diplomatic fallout and also expressed fears of India's 'isolation' for stepping up the heat at the border.

However, the reality is directly opposite to what they anticipated  India has aced the diplomatic battle and is clearly ahead in the battle of narratives, too.

India's military strikes on terror factories in Pakistan have garnered global support as governments and leaders across the world have backed New Delhi's right to defend its citizens and do whatever is possible to wipe out terror from the region.

From the United States (US) to the European Union (EU) to a few Arab nations, all have justified India's air strikes and some even asked Pakistan to refrain from escalation.

The global support for India comes on the back of its measured, calibrated and non-escalatory strike on terror spots across the border.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, soon after Indian strikes, shared details of the operation and also explained how any collateral damage was avoided.

However, Pakistan didn't take the strikes lying down and launched air attacks on Indian military installations for two consecutive nights, though all its bids were thwarted.

India was firm and resolute in its response. It not only repulsed every attack by the Pakistani side but also launched a diplomatic offensive to brief the friendly as well as global bodies about Pakistan's brazen audacity despite nurturing terror on its soil.

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, spoke to his US and EU counterparts, soon after the missile and drone attack by Pakistan last night and told them that India will respond firmly if there was any act of escalation by the other side.

India's actions and diplomatic outreach have cut ice with the world and this is evident in the global support building towards it, with many nations issuing a statement in New Delhi's favour, and some others endorsing its fight against terror.

The United Kingdom's (UK) Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, supporting Bharat's actions, said that India had every reason to be outraged.

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, No country should tolerate cross-border terror. Though Russia expressed concern over military escalation, however it condemned terrorism in all forms.

Israel supported India's right to self-defence, saying, Terrorists have no sanctuary. European Union + all 27 Member States issued a unified statement in India's favour while nations like France, Netherlands and Japan echoed support for India's right to self-defence.

US President Trump backed India's sovereignty and right to respond to terror, while Vice President J.D. Vance urged for de-escalation, emphasising that "it is a regional issue."

A couple of Islamic nations also stood with India, though they refrained from explicitly calling out Pakistan for its terror acts.

Saudi Arabia said it was concerned about rising tensions and emphasised on avoiding civilian harm.

UAE and Qatar called for calm and reaffirmed opposition to terrorism. Iran urged peace and said, Targeting civilians or using terror is unjustifiable.

Bangladesh, however, backed India's right to self-defence.

The message from the world community, therefore, largely remains in favour of India. It widely believes that the Indian military establishment acted with restraint and resolve, avoiding wider conflict and it is Pakistan which is behind the escalating row.
In a sharp escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, Pakistani drones were spotted across several Indian sectors late Friday, prompting swift action by Indian Air Defence systems. Interceptions were reported in Jammu, Samba, Pathankot, Udhampur, and Amritsar, with blackouts enforced in multiple regions as a precautionary measure.

According to defence officials, explosions were heard in the Samba sector of Jammu after Pakistani drones were intercepted. In one alarming incident, a drone strike in a residential area of Firozpur, Punjab, injured a family. The victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.

#WATCH | Punjab | A complete blackout has been enforced in Firozpur, and sirens and explosions can be heard.



(Visuals deferred by an unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/VqsKb4clxX May 9, 2025

In response to the aerial threats, power blackouts were initiated across high-risk zones, including Akhnoor and Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir), Ambala and Panchkula (Haryana), Firozpur (Punjab), and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan). These preventive blackouts aimed to reduce visibility for incoming drones and safeguard civilian and military assets.

List Of Locations Where Pakistani Drones Were Spotted:

 Jammu

 Samba

 Pathankot

 Udhampur

 Amritsar

Addressing the media, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that on the night of May 78, the Pakistani military carried out widespread airspace violations along the western border. Around 300 to 400 drones were deployed to target 36 Indian locations, including military infrastructure, she said, adding that several of these were shot down using a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic technologies.

Initial investigations suggest that the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models, used potentially for surveillance and to test Indias air defence readiness. Forensic analysis of drone debris is currently underway.

The drone incursions came just a day after India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision strike operation targeting nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The operation was conducted in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.

With tensions continuing to rise, both countries remain on high alert as international observers urge restraint to avoid further escalation.


India-Pakistan Conflict: As the India-Pakistan border continues to be on the boil after Pakistan's missile and drone attack on May 8 to target 36 locations along Indias western border, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met a group of armed forces veterans.

The Prime Minister had an extensive interaction with veterans on various issues regarding the current situation. The high-level meeting saw the presence of former Air Force Chiefs, Army Chiefs, Navy Chiefs and other veterans who have extensively served the country. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval and CDS Anil Chauhan were also present during the meeting.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high level meeting at his residence in Delhi



Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also present. pic.twitter.com/kVaktYpW68  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Apart from discussing the future course, the Prime Minister is believed to have discussed the continuous violation of the ceasefire by Pakistan in the sectors along the Line of Control and the border, as reported by the news agency IANS.

PM Modis engagement with military commanders and strategists also involved an extensive interaction with veterans. Those who took part in the discussions included former Air Force Chiefs, Army Chiefs, and Navy Chiefs, sources told IANS.

Earlier, the Indian Armed Forces briefed media persons about the violation of airspace by Pakistan on Thursday night and the forceful response given by the Indian side.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said Pakistans army fired around 300-400 drones on the intervening nights of May 8 and May 9 at about 36 locations along the Western border. The drones are apparently Turkey-made. However, evidence to this effect is awaited.

The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusion was to attempt infiltration and test Indias air defence system and collect intelligence, said Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during a special press briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on 'Operation Sindoor'.

On Thursday night, Pakistan targeted multiple cities, including military installations, with a volley of drones and missile attacks; however, all were repulsed by India's robust air defence system, and this left the Pakistani Army flustered and panicky.

The women officers of the Indian Armed Forces informed us that the forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done; however, "initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones".

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. It also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. However, all their attempts were neutralised by us via kinetic and non-kinetic means.

India launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terrorist base camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), to avenge the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.

(With agencies' Inputs)
Mozambique has taken on May 8 a strategic leap toward solidifying its role as a pivotal energy player in Southern Africa by signing two landmark memorandum of understanding with neighbouring Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The accords, unveiled during the 11th Mining and Energy Conference (MMEC) in Maputo, underscore a collective ambition to foster cross-border energy integration, stimulate industrialisation, and enhance sustainable development within the framework of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The agreement with Zambia sets the stage for a transformative gas pipeline linking the Port of Beira to the city of Ndola. Designed to transport up to 3.5 million metric tonnes of petroleum products annually, the project promises not only to stabilise Zambias fuel supply chain but also to revitalise Mozambiques coastal economy through increased throughput and job creation at Beiras fuel terminal. Meanwhile, the accord with Zimbabwe focuses on electricity generation, supply, and infrastructure development, aligning energy collaboration with Zimbabwes industrial ambitions while deepening bilateral trade in fuels.

Mozambiques Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy framed the deals as more than transactionalthey reflect a regional vision of mutual reliance and economic convergence. By enhancing energy interconnectivity, Mozambique is not only bolstering its export capacity but also reinforcing its geopolitical relevance as an energy corridor within SADC. The trilateral cooperation, grounded in pragmatism and shared prosperity, sets a precedent for coordinated regional development amid growing global demand for energy security and sustainability.
Members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly and Council, belonging to the ruling Congress, will donate their one-month salary to the National Defence Fund in view of the current high tension on the borders between India and Pakistan.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy mooted the proposal for donating a months salary to the National Defence Fund to help the Indian Army valiantly fighting Pakistan.

He discussed the proposal with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and the latter will make an announcement in this regard after discussing the proposal with the Congress MLAs and MLCs.

The Chief Minister requested the MLAs and MLCs of other parties to donate a months salary.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has condoled the death of an Army soldier from the state in the heavy shelling by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Murali Nayak of the Sri Sathya Sai district lost his life in the indiscriminate shelling by the Pakistan Army.

Pawan Kalyan said that the nation will never forget the supreme sacrifice of Murali Nayak. "The Indian nation will never forget the sacrifice of Jawan Shri Murali Nayak, who died a hero's death in Operation Sindoor," the Jana Sena leader posted on X.

The actor-politician prayed to God to grant peace to the soul of the jawan who laid down his life while fighting against enemy forces on the borders of Jammu and Kashmir. "This young jawan from Kallithanda of Sri Sathya Sai district dedicated himself to the defence of the country and became a martyr on the battlefield. I express my deepest condolences to the parents of this hero, Smt. Jyoti Bai, Sri Ram Nayak, and other family members. The state government will provide all possible assistance to the family," Pawan Kalyan added.

YSR Congress Party President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of Nayak in Jammu and Kashmir.

He stated that Nayaks supreme sacrifice, laying down his life for the nations security, can never be forgotten. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and expressed his profound sympathy for their loss.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said he was deeply saddened by the loss of Nayak, a Telugu braveheart who laid down his life while defending the nation against Pakistan. "My profound tributes to his supreme sacrifice and heartfelt condolences to his family," Kishan Reddy posted on X.
In a major decision demonstrating increased military readiness, the Ministry of Defence has mobilized 14 of the 32 Territorial Army infantry battalions, India's reserve military force, for deployment nationwide until 2028. The directive, given by the Department of Military Affairs, is issued at a time of increased tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed lives.

Pursuant to defence officials, the Territorial Army is being deployed for "enhanced readiness and strategic buildup," reiterating India's resolve to be prepared for any escalation.

India, with almost 14.75 lakh active military and more than 16 lakh paramilitary troops, has a huge manpower and equipment edge over Pakistan, which has under seven lakh active military and around 2.9 lakh in paramilitary ranks. The comparison, according to figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), also reveals India's dominance in aerial assets, armoured vehicles, and artillery systems.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rule 1948, the Central Government empowers Chief of the Army Staff to exercise the powers under that rule to call out every officer and every enrolled person of the Territorial Army to provide for essential pic.twitter.com/eMiDhYouus  IANS (@ians_india) May 9, 2025

In the last 72 hours, India successfully warded off two waves of simultaneous drone and missile attacks by Pakistan, intercepting threats using its networked air defence system featuring the S-400 Triumf systems, Akash missiles, and the counter-UAS grid. Moreover, Indian air forces shot down Pakistani fighter jets that were attempting incursions.

India's military response began earlier this week with Operation Sindoor, a tri-service precision strike targeting nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These strikes reportedly eliminated over 100 terrorists and neutralised key infrastructure linked to past attacks, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Operation Sindoor is India's first unified military operation involving all three services after the 1971 war against Pakistan. The government claimed the operation was in direct retaliation to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, including its suspected role in the Pahalgam attack that left 26 civilians dead.

India has also referred to Pakistan's past patronage of international terror groups, citing its suspected complicity in the 2005 London bombings. On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri restated India's stand, producing evidence of Islamabad's ongoing patronage of terror activities, and dismissing Pakistan's demand for an international investigation as a ploy.

With tensions still running high, security personnel throughout India are on high alert, and strategic deployments are being watched very closely by defence leadership.
New Delhi: Ten per cent of the world's richest individuals have a higher carbon footprint than the poorest 50 per cent, leading to climate extremes such as heat waves and droughts, according to a study on Wednesday.

The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, that the world's wealthiest 10 per cent are responsible for two-thirds of observed global warming since 1990.

"Our study shows that extreme climate impacts are not just the result of abstract global emissions, instead we can directly link them to our lifestyle and investment choices, which in turn are linked to wealth," explains lead author Sarah Schongart, from the ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

"We found that wealthy emitters play a major role in driving climate extremes, which provides strong support for climate policies that target the reduction of their emissions," she added.

An international team of researchers from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Australia assessed the contribution of the highest emitting groups within societies.

The findings showed that the top 1 per cent of the wealthiest individuals globally contributed 26 times the global average to increases in monthly 1-in-100-year heat extremes globally and 17 times more to Amazon droughts.

The research sheds new light on the links between income-based emissions inequality and climate injustice, illustrating how the consumption and investments of wealthy individuals have had disproportionate impacts on extreme weather events.

"If everyone had emitted like the bottom 50 per cent of the global population, the world would have seen minimal additional warming since 1990," says co-author Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, who leads the Integrated Climate Impacts Research Group at International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.

The impacts are especially severe in vulnerable tropical regions like the Amazon, Southeast Asia, and southern Africa -- areas historically known to have contributed the least to global emissions.

The study also emphasises the importance of emissions embedded in financial investments, rather than just personal consumption.

The researchers argued that targeting the financial flows and portfolios of high-income individuals could yield substantial climate benefits.
India-Pakisan War: As India continues to retaliate against Pakistan's missile and drone attack, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his British counterpart David Lammy where the EAM categorically conveyed that India has 'zero tolerance' for terrorism. Jaishankar's X post also indicated that the UK may have pushed the case of ceasefire or de-escalation, an idea which may not have gone well with India, given Pakistan's provocation.

Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Friday with discussions between the two leaders centred around countering terrorism. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar stated, "Had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy this afternoon. Our discussions centered around countering terrorism, for which there must be zero-tolerance."

The talks between the two leaders come amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured several others. In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 carried out precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian forces, targeted nine terror sites, which were successfully hit.

The strikes, executed between 1:05 am and 1:30 am on Wednesday, involved a coordinated effort by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, targeting key facilities like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) bases in Pakistan as well as PoJK. During the intervening night of May 8 and 9, the Indian Army successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated.

In a post on X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Indian Army stated.

Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The operation was launched after Pakistan made failed attempts to send multiple swarm drones into Indian territory across different locations.
India Vs Pakistan War: The Airports Authority of India (AAI), along with other aviation authorities, has issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the temporary suspension of civil flight operations at 32 airports across Northern and Western India. The closure will be in effect from May 9 to May 14, 2025, citing operational reasons.

Full List Of Airports:

The list of 32 airports includes Adampur, Ambala, Amritsar, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu-Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Srinagar, Thoise, and Uttarlai.

Adding further, a senior Ministry of Civil Aviation official informed that all civil flight activities at these airports will remain suspended during this period.

Air Route Restrictions:

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs) due to operational reasons. As per NOTAM G0555/25 (which replaces G0525/25), the 25 route segments will remain unavailable from ground level to unlimited altitude until 2359 UTC on May 14, 2025 (corresponding to 0529 IST on May 15, 2025).

Airlines and flight operators are advised to plan alternate routings as per current air traffic advisories. The temporary closure is being managed in coordination with relevant ATC units to ensure safety and minimize disruption, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, drones were spotted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC), defence sources said on Friday. The drones are suspected to be armed and pose potential threats to both civilian and military targets.

The locations where drones were spotted include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. (With Inputs From ANI)
Ahmedabad: Tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising in recent days, leading to heightened security measures along the border areas, particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan. In response to the tense situation, several trains operating in key regions have been cancelled to ensure public safety.

The Western Railway, via a post on the social media platform X, informed the public about the cancellation of five trains on the Bhuj, Rajkot, and Gandhidham routes. The trains affected include the Superfast Express and special trains scheduled for May 9 and 10, 2025.

The cancelled trains are -- AhmedabadBhuj Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (Train No. 94801) on May 9, 2025, and its return service, BhujAhmedabad Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (Train No. 94802), on May 10, 2025.

Additionally, the JodhpurGandhidham Superfast Express (Train No. 22483) on May 9, 2025, and its return service, GandhidhamJodhpur Superfast Express (Train No. 22484) on May 10, 2025, have also been cancelled.

The BhujRajkotBhuj Special Train (Train No. 09446/09445) scheduled for May 10, 2025, has also been cancelled. In addition to the train cancellations, the Gujarat government has imposed a ban on flying drones and bursting firecrackers at any public or private events across the state until May 15, 2025.

The government has appealed to the public to adhere to these guidelines and avoid paying attention to rumors that may spread in such volatile times.

A key meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Gujarat has been held to assess the situation and reinforce the importance of public cooperation. Further, in Rajasthan, similar security measures have been put in place.

In border areas such as Jaisalmer, the flying of drones and bursting of firecrackers has been banned during events, including weddings, until May 15.

Additionally, a two-day blackout has been declared in Mount Abu on May 9 and 10, 2025, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tourists from other states, including Gujarat, have been asked to return to their hotels before 7 p.m. and ensure all lights are off during the blackout period.
Mumbai: Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has expressed her profound gratitude to the Indian Armed Forces for their steadfast protection during challenging times. Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Anushka took to social media to praise the bravery of the nation's defense forces, calling them "heroes."

In a heartfelt post, she thanked the soldiers and their families for their sacrifices, emphasizing the critical role they play in safeguarding the nation. Taking to Instagram, the 'PK' actress shared a note that read, Eternally grateful to our Indian Armed Forces for protecting us through these times like the heroes that they are. Heartfelt gratitude to the sacrifices they and their families have made.

Jai Hind. Several Bollywood actors have come forward to express their admiration and gratitude for the Indian Armed Forces amid the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. As the situation escalates, many celebrities have taken to social media to praise the defense forces for their unwavering commitment, courage, and sacrifices to ensure the safety and security of the nation.

Celebs including Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Raveena Tandon, Kangana Ranaut, and R. Madhavan, among others, have acknowledged the bravery of the soldiers and their families, describing them as true heroes.

In his recent post, Madhavan expressed his deep concern and solidarity with the innocent amidst the escalating India-Pakistan conflict. He offered heartfelt prayers for the safety and protection of civilians caught in the crossfire, emphasizing the importance of peace and security for all affected by the ongoing tensions.

Also Read | R Madhavan Expresses Deep Concern For The Safety Of 'Innocent' Amid India-Pakistan Conflict

Salute to our armed forces. Jai HindMay god protect them and all those that are innocent. Operation Sindoor, wrote R. Madhavan. On May 8, Indian air defense forces successfully intercepted a series of at least eight missiles fired by Pakistan, which were aimed at critical border locations in Jammu, including the strategically important Jammu Airport at Satwari, according to defense officials.
India-Pakistan War 2025: Amid the rising tension between India and Pakistan, social media is abuzz with various videos and unverified reports, creating frenzy among masses. Urging citizens to practice patience and abstain from any false claims, Bollywood actress Richa Chadha urged all to refrain from spreading fake news and support the soldiers fighting at the borders.

BOLLYWOOD REACTS TO PAK ATTACK

Richa Chadha posted on Instagram: It is not a match. It is not a game. War is sombre Not everything needs comical commentary or a meme. Please be thoughtful. Some of us feel this anxiety in our bones. Pause for a second and think of the ppl residing near our borders.

Actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut took to her Instagram Stories and wrote, Jammu on target. An excerpt of her post also read, Stay strong #Jammu.

Actor Anil Kapoor took to his Instagram handle and shared, All my gratitude and prayers for the brave women and men defending us. You are our heroes.

My cousin brother #SunilKher sent this video from his home in Jammu. I called immediately and asked him if he and his family are ok? He laughed a little proudly and said, !    !                pic.twitter.com/fv8UmCILC0  Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) May 8, 2025

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who is a Kashmiri Pandit posted a video from the attack site. He added, My cousin brother #SunilKher sent this video from his home in Jammu. I called immediately and asked him if he and his family are ok? He laughed a little proudly and said, Jai Mata Di! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! !    !                              !     (Brother! We are in India! We are Indians. Our safety is in the hands of the Indian Army and Mata Vaishno Devi. Dont worry. Anyway, no missile is being allowed to hit the ground here) Jai Mata Di! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!"

To family, friends and more who sit in blackouts, thinking of you, praying for you. To those protecting us, we thank you. Gratitude, prayers and respect. Be safe, be strong  Vir Das (@thevirdas) May 8, 2025

Comedian, actor Vir Dad posted on X, To family, friends and more who sit in blackouts as we speak, thinking of you, praying for you. To those protecting them, we thank you. Gratitude, prayers and respect. Be safe, be strong.

Actress Tanishaa Mukerji reacted to the growing conflict between India and Pakistan. Stop this war stop destroying our beautiful land and its people #jammukashmir #missileattacks," she said.

Angad Bedi shared, Waheguru sukh rakhe. Shakti de sab nu (God keep everyone in peace and give strength to all) .. to endure these tough times.

Mini Mathur added, This is going to be a sleepless night for me. Praying for everyone's safety.

PAKISTAN ATTACKED JAMMU

Pakistan fired eight missiles directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia and all were intercepted and blocked by air defence units today, defence sources told ANI.

The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets are used to target cities. Pakistan Army is operating and behaving like a terror organisation, Hamas. Last month, ISI and Hamas met in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Explosions were heard as Indian air defence intercepted Pakistani drones in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani drones were intercepted by Indian air defence in Jaisalmer. Explosions were heard and flashes seen in the sky.

A complete blackout has been enforced in Bikaner in Rajasthan and in Jalandhar in Punjab. Blackouts have also been enforced in Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, and Amritsar, Jalandhar.

Following Indias missile strikes, Pakistan has reportedly imposed Lockdown in the country and curfews in several regions.
Chennai: Well known actor, director and producer Raghava Lawrence has come to the rescue of a farm labourer, whose family had lost their life time earnings of a lakh to termites. Recently, television news channels had reported the case of a poor farm labourer's family that was in distress as the money they had been saving by putting it in a box and burying it in the ground was destroyed by termites.

The poor labourer and his family were in shock when they discovered that their hard earned money had been destroyed by termites. Actor Raghava Lawrence, who happened to learn of their condition through news channels, has now returned to them whatever they had lost.

Taking to his X timeline, the actor wrote, "Hi Everyone, I came across the news that a coolie family lost one lakh of their many years of savings due to termites. My heart sank thinking about what they mustve gone through. So, Im happy to contribute the lost money for them.

https://twitter.com/offl_Lawrence/status/1920460624813043754

Thanks to the media and people involved in reaching this news to me. #Maatram #Serviceisgod." He also posted a video in which he surprised the family by placing a sum of one lakh in a box and returning it to them.

Raghava Lawrence, who is known to be a philanthropist, came in for widespread appreciation when in an event in 2023 he told his fans that he did not want them at his film functions because he did not want to encroach on their time.

While working on director Karthik Subbaraj's Jigarthanda Double X, the actor told his fans, "I've got to know that you, my fans, are feeling bad about me not inviting you to film events. I will not assign responsibilities nor will I invite you to my film functions for I do not wish to encroach upon your time. I know how much you will have to spend if you have to come here.

That is because I too was a fan before I became a star. I don't need your claps for any stage or in any audio function. You spend on bus fare to come here and also to stay in hotels and on food. Please spend that money on your parents. Spend your time on your work. I will not use you. You are already helping us a lot by watching our film."
Mumbai: After stunning fans at the Met Gala 2025, Shah Rukh Khan is back in Mumbai.

The Bollywood superstar, who made headlines with his debut at the prestigious fashion event, was seen walking out of the airport on Thursday evening. The actor looked stylish as always.

He was accompanied by his manager, Pooja Dadlani.

In videos captured by paparazzi, the actor was spotted in a white t-shirt paired with blue jeans, a black jacket, and sunglasses. He completed his look with a blue bag, brown belt, and white sneakers.

Shah Rukh Khan made a scintillating debut at the prestigious Met Gala this year.

For Shah Rukh's Met Gala appearance, ace designer Sabyasachi created a black floor-length, elongated coat in Tasmanian superfine wool with monogrammed Japanese horn buttons. The coat is hand-canvassed, single-breasted, with a peak collar and wide lapels. It was paired with a crepe de chine silk shirt and tailored superfine wool trousers.

A pleated satin kamarbandh completed this bespoke look. SRK layered the outfit with a custom stack and complemented it with The Bengal Tiger Head Cane, crafted in 18k gold with tourmalines, sapphires, old mine cut, and brilliant cut diamonds.

The actor also took to his X account to express his gratitude to designer Sabyasachi and his team for making him feel "comfortable" in a "space" that doesn't belong to him.

Taking to X, he wrote, "Thx Sabyasachi & ur whole team for introducing me to the Met Gala. It's not my 'space,' but u made me feel so comfortable... because u, like me, believe... Style & Fashion... is just being who you are. And all of u made me feel like a 'K!'"

Thx Sabyasachi & ur whole team for introducing me to the Met Gala. Its not my space but u made me feel so comfortablebecos u, like me, believeStyle & Fashionis just being who you are. And all of u made me feel like a K! pic.twitter.com/Ff2AHJmMXm  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 6, 2025

This year, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani also debuted at the Met Gala.
Amid growing unease over democratic regression in Mali, United Nations human rights experts have sharply criticized on Thursday May 8 the countrys military-led government for its decision to suspend political party activities indefinitely. The decree, announced on Wednesday under the pretext of maintaining public order, follows rising opposition protests and escalating state crackdowns on dissent. UN special rapporteurs have called the move a flagrant violation of civil and political rights, urging transitional President Assimi Goita to immediately lift the restrictions and honour Malis international obligations under human rights law.

The experts condemned not only the suspension order but also a recent legislative proposal that would dismantle key safeguards for political participation. This bill, which imposes prohibitive financial requirements for party registration and candidacies, threatens to sideline large segments of the population from the democratic process. Legal observers fear it could effectively dissolve political pluralism in the West African state, narrowing political engagement to a privileged few and eroding the foundational right to freedom of expression and association.

Dismissing the juntas justification that the reforms stem from national dialogue outcomes, the UN experts argued that no meaningful consultation can occur in a climate marked by fear, censorship, and civic suppression. They warned that the intimidation of journalists, activists, and political opponents undermines any semblance of democratic governance. Ahead of opposition rallies planned for Friday, the experts reminded Malian authorities of their duty to safeguard peaceful assembly and warned that any repression would further imperil the nations fragile political transition.
Mumbai: Television actor Aly Goni has expressed deep concern after learning that his family in Jammu was directly impacted by recent drone attacks amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan.

As cross-border unrest intensifies, Goni took to social media to share his distress, shedding light on the fear and uncertainty faced by civilians in conflict-affected regions. In his post, the Bigg Boss actor, who is currently out of the country, expressed his anguish, calling out the glorification of war on social platforms while innocent civilians bear the brunt of the conflict.

On Friday, Goni shared a couple of his photos with his family members and wrote, Sleepless and shattered, stuck out of India as my family in Jammu endures last nights attack. My whole family, children, and parents face the terror of drones and unrest, yet some people glorify this war from the comfort of their homes, posting on social media. Its not that easy for those near the border. Thanks to our IAF And Indian Army praying for safety and peace.

Aly Goni, who hails from Jammu, also extended heartfelt thanks to the Indian Air Force following the recent spate of drone and missile strikes by Pakistan targeting Jammu. He shared that he has been extremely anxious about the safety of his loved ones back home. Despite his concern, Aly expressed immense relief after receiving confirmation that his family is safe, crediting the alertness and swift action of the Indian Armed Forces amid the mounting cross-border tensions.

He wrote on his X handle, I am out of India shooting, and My family is in Jammu I was so mind F**Cked here.. thank god everyone is safe.. Thanks to our IAF.(sic)

I am out of India shooting and My family is in Jammu I was so mind F**Cked here.. thank god everyone is safe.. Thanks to our IAF  Aly Goni (@AlyGoni) May 8, 2025

On May 8, Pakistan launched a series of aerial strikes targeting over a dozen locations, including the Jammu civil airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and multiple military installations in the region. These strikes followed Indias precision strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, part of Operation Sindoor, which was a response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attacks. Despite the escalation in hostilities, Indias S-400 air defense system effectively intercepted and neutralized the incoming threats.
New Delhi: Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, a wave of fake messages is spreading across social media. One such message, falsely claiming that ATMs will be shut for 23 days has gone viral on WhatsApp. The government has dismissed the claim as fake and confirmed that ATMs will continue to operate normally. It has also urged people not to spread unverified information during this sensitive time.

The misleading message which is being widely shared on WhatsApp, sparked worry among some users about cash availability. However, the PIB has clarified that the claim is false and has urged people not to forward such unverified messages.

The government has stepped in to debunk a viral WhatsApp rumour claiming ATMs will be shut for 23 days. Sharing an update on X, the PIB fact check handle wrote: A viral #WhatsApp message claims ATMs will be closed for 23 days. This Message is FAKE. ATMs will continue to operate as usual. Dont share unverified messages," the PIB fact check handle (@PIBFactCheck) posted.

Are ATMs closed



A viral #WhatsApp message claims ATMs will be closed for 23 days.



This Message is FAKE



ATMs will continue to operate as usual



Don't share unverified messages.#IndiaFightsPropaganda pic.twitter.com/BXfzjjFpzD  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

The governments fact-checking agency issued this clarification to prevent unnecessary panic and reassure people that ATM services will continue as normal. The PIB has also reminded the public to stay alert to fake news on social media and to trust only official sources for accurate updates.

In the evening, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lead a review meeting to assess the cybersecurity preparedness of banks and financial institutions, the ministry announced.
New Delhi: As tensions rise between India and Pakistan, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged all banks to stay on high alert. She stressed the importance of being fully prepared to handle any unexpected situations, ensuring that banking and financial services continue smoothly for both citizens and businesses. Her message comes as part of a broader effort to maintain stability and confidence in the financial system during uncertain times.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday held a high-level meeting with senior officials from public and private banks, along with insurance companies. The key agenda was to review cybersecurity measures and ensure that banking services continue without disruption amid the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Finance Minister has directed all banks to appoint two senior officials at their headquarters  one to handle and report all cyber-related issues, and another to oversee day-to-day operations like branch functioning and ATM cash availability. Any incident must be reported in real-time to CERT-In, concerned agencies, and the Department of Financial Services (DFS).

Banks have also been asked to stay in real-time coordination with the Reserve Bank of India, CERT-In, and other relevant government agencies to enable quick and effective information sharing and response. Moreover, the Finance Minister emphasized the need to ensure the safety and well-being of employees and their families, especially those posted at branches in border areas.

The Finance Minister also directed insurance companies to ensure timely claim settlements and uninterrupted services for customers. Meanwhile, the MDs and CEOs of various banks and insurance firms briefed her on the steps theyre taking to stay prepared amid the ongoing border tensions.

India successfully thwarted several missile and drone attacks from Pakistan on the night of May 8. In response, the government has asked key institutions to strengthen cybersecurity across critical financial systems  including core banking, payment gateways, RTGS, and UPI  to ensure smooth and secure operations.
New Delhi: Amidst the retaliatory action taken by India in the wake of the series of attacks launched by Pakistan on Indian on Thursday night, several changes have been announced --related to schools, government offices. Gurugram has declared closure of schools tomorrow, while Delhi government has announced cancellation of leave of employees.

It is to be noted that bank branches WILL NOT BE CLOSED due to ongoing Indo-Pak conflict escalation. As per RBI holiday list, banks in West bengal will be closed for regional celebration. Banks will be closed in West Bengal for the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

Banks will have extended holidays between May 9 and May 12, as per the RBI bank holiday list. However, it must be noted that these holidays will not be staight holidays for all branches across the country. Banks will be closed in various states for different festivals and regional celebrations being observed this week.

Bank Holiday Between May 9 And May 12

May 9: Banks in Bengal will be closed for the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore

May 10-11: Weekend holiday

May 12: Banks will be closed in Agartala, Aizawl, Belapur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Itanagar, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Raipur, Ranchi, Shimla and Srinagar for Buddha Purnima

Last week, banks were closed in Belapur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Guwahati, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Imphal, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, and Thiruvananthapuram on account of Maharashtra Din/May Day (Labor Day).

In May 2025, banks across India will be closed for 12 days, including regional holidays, national events, Sundays, and the second and fourth Saturdays.

Bank Holidays In May 2025

Maharashtra Din/May Day (Labor Day: May ): May 1

Panchayat Election 2025: May 7

Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore: May 9

Buddha Pournima: May 12

State Day: May 16

Birthday of Kazi Nazrul Islam: May 26

Maharana Pratap Jayanti: May 29

Furthermore, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for all the days consecutively in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays. For instance banks will be closed for Birthday of Kazi Nazrul Islam in Agartala, but in other states it will NOT be closed for the same reason.

Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states.
The Vatican conclave on Thursday chose a new Pope, Robert Prevost - the first American pope, Vatican News said.

The Cardinals gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel have elected 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV becomes the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the first American to lead the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon appeared on the St. Peter's balcony that overlooks the St Peter's square and announced, "Habemus Papam!" - "We have a pope."

US President Donald Trump was among the first world leaders to offer his congratulations. "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

At the Vatican the doors on the balcony opened to reveal the new Pope who greeted the crowds with, "May peace be with all of you."

"Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you," he said.

In his first comments in Italian, Pope Leo XIV said wants this message of peace to "enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are."

Paying tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis, he urges faithful to "move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other."

The former leader of the Augustinian order also thanked fellow cardinals for choosing him for the role.

Earlier, crowds broke out into cheers as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney indicating that a new leader of the Catholic Church has been elected.

The 133 cardinal electors who had been sequestered inside since Wednesday reached a two-thirds majority decision on who will succeed Pope Francis.

The voice of the six bells of St Peter's Basilca announced that the Church has its new Pope. "It's a moment of joy,the wait is over," the Vatican News said in a message.

During the most recent hospitalization of his predecessor at the "Gemelli" hospital Prevost presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis's health in Saint Peter's Square on March 3.

According to the Vatican, the new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.

He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy.

On September 1 of the same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in Saint Louis, in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Chicago, and made his first profession on September 2, 1978. On August 29, 1981, he took his solemn vows.

He received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

In Rome, he was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica by Monsignor Jean Jadot, then Pro-President of the Pontifical Council for Non-Christians, now the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984; and the following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985-1986). In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis on "The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine" and was appointed vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of "Mother of Good Counsel" in Olympia Fields, Illinois (US).
New Delhi: As missiles fly across the India-Pakistan border since Thursday, the United States has taken a step back, exactly what it has quietly aimed to do for years in South Asia. The change in presidency in the United States has now altered Washingtons policy of entanglement. Following Indias retaliatory strikes after the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir, the latest flare-up is deadly serious. The two nuclear-armed neighbours are exchanging fire.

But there is no rush in Washington to mediate, fly a special envoy to the region and hold high-profile summits to defuse tensions. Its none of our business, said Vice President JD Vance, reacting to the conflict.

The statement on Fox News is not just a diplomatic misstep; but it is a strategy. It reflects that the United States cannot control the dynamics of the India-Pakistan crisis as trying to do so often backfires.

Preserving Relationship

One major reason for US restraint is its good strategic relations with India, which is not just another strategic partner but central to its Indo-Pacific vision and a vital counterweight to Chinas growing assertiveness. India is a fellow democracy, a member of the Quad alliance and a key trading partner.

Publicly criticising Indias use of force, especially after a terrorist attack linked to Pakistan-based militants, could strain this carefully nurtured bond.

And make no mistake: the United States, too, shares Indias concerns. The State Department continues to acknowledge Pakistans troubling history with terrorist groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, both long associated with Pakistans intelligence apparatus. US officials are not blind to the patterns. They also know that pressing India too hard could be seen in Delhi as both hypocritical and unhelpful.

Leverage Over Pakistan

The influence of the United States is waning on the other side of the border. Its once-robust military and intelligence ties with Pakistan have eroded. Years of frustration over Islamabads duplicity, which is fighting some terrorists while sheltering others, have left American officials disillusioned.

Washingtons calls for Pakistan to dismantle terrorist networks are no longer met with much urgency or cooperation.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has grown closer to China. It has made the country less responsive to US pressure and more defiant on regional issues. Washington, with limited trust and fewer tools of persuasion, knows that it cannot compel Islamabad to act decisively, or even responsibly, when tensions with India rise.

A Deeper Fear

There is also a deeper fear beyond diplomatic calculations and that is nuclear escalation. Any major conflict between India and Pakistan carries the unthinkable risk of going nuclear. Therefore, the United States does not want to fan flames, even inadvertently.

Senior officials, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and spokespersons like Tammy Bruce, have issued carefully worded statements: urging restraint, condemning terrorism and avoiding any appearance of taking sides.

Washingtons goal is not to win a diplomatic contest. It is simply to prevent a catastrophe. That means operating through quiet diplomacy, not media statements. It means intelligence sharing behind the scenes, not grandstanding about Kashmir at the United Nations. It means doing just enough to avoid war, but not so much that the United States becomes part of the story.

This caution is not new. The US involvement in past India-Pakistan disputes, especially over Kashmir, rarely yielded lasting peace and often harmed Washingtons credibility. Attempts to mediate were met with resistance. India has long opposed third-party involvement in what it views as a bilateral matter. The Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is especially resistant to outside pressure.

Even when violence escalates, India expects the world to recognise its right to respond to terrorism, not to second-guess it. As Vice President Vance made clear, the United States will not try to force either side to lay down their arms. That is not indifference; it is recognition of limits.

Stability, Not Ownership

The United States wants stability in South Asia but at the same time, it does not want responsibility to secure the same. In a region where Washington has few levers and where its credibility is often distrusted, the goal is modest  avoid escalation, protect core partnerships and stay out of a war that would damage global security and US interests.

So while others, such as Saudi and Iranian diplomats, scramble to de-escalate, the position of the United States remains one of deliberate distance. Watch, warn and work the phones behind the scenes. And above all, stay out.

The United States in South Asia has learned that presence can provoke and carefully managed absence can prevent disaster. And therefore, Washington is betting on absence.
India-Pakistan War: With India retaliating against Pakistan, there has been chaos in many Pakistani cities, including Sialkot, Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. According to reports, Indian missiles hit several key cities in Pakistan as Islamabad announced to close its airspace for all flights. According to various media reports, following the Indian retaliation, Pakistan asked its residents to remain indoors and observe a blackout by turning off the lights. Notably, reports claimed that Pakistan announced a lockdown in its key cities like Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, and Karachi.

However, there is no official confirmation about the claims of a lockdown in these Pakistani cities. None of the Pakistani media houses has reported any lockdown-like situation. Thus, it's hard to substantiate these claims in the absence of an official statement.

Is Shehbaz Sharif Hiding In Bunker?

Some reports also claimed that fearing intensity of the Indian attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly gone underground and is hiding in a bunker. However, this claim also appears to be false as PM Sharif has called an emergency meeting in wake of the escalating situation with India.

Notably, Pakistan tried to bomb 15 Indian cities on the night of May 7 and continued to target Indian cities using drones and other munitions. Indian Army said in a statement that it responded effectively to the Pakistnai provocation. "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 8 and 9 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs," said the Army.

Earlier, the Defence Ministry has said in a statement that it neutralized in Lahore. "Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," said the Ministry.
A profound sense of sorrow has gripped on May 8 South Africas media fraternity following the discovery of decomposed bodies believed to be those of journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, more than two months after they went missing. The remains, found in a remote area of Limpopo province, are undergoing DNA confirmation, though forensic investigators and two media organizations  the African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC)  have identified them as the missing couple.

Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder, reportedly found in possession of stolen belongings and car parts linked to the victims.

Ndlovu, a respected media voice and founder of Pretoria-based Capital Live radio, was a well-known advocate for community journalism. His death, and that of his partner, has sent shockwaves through the journalistic community, which had clung to hope that the pair might be found alive. Elijah Mhlanga, chairperson of AMCF, expressed deep anguish at the loss, calling it terribly sad and extending condolences to their families. The tragedy underscores South Africas worsening security climate, where journalists and ordinary citizens alike are exposed to staggering levels of violent crimefigures for 2024 indicate an average of 72 murders per day, reflecting a broader societal crisis in law enforcement and public safety.
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A no-contact thermometer, stethoscope and a calendar are seen at the Andrews County Health Department measles clinic, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. Credit: AP Photo/Annie Rice

Eleven states in the U.S. have active measles outbreaks as of Tuesday, when North Dakota joined the list after confirming its first cases since 2011.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's confirmed measles case count is 935, more than triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The three-month outbreak in Texas accounts for the vast majority of cases, with 702 confirmed as of Tuesday. The outbreak has also spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measles-related illnesses in the epicenter in West Texas, and an adult in New Mexico who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.

Other states with active outbreakswhich the CDC defines as three or more related casesinclude Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

North America has two other ongoing outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 1,243 cases from mid-October through April 29. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 922 measles cases and one death as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry. Health officials in Mexico and the U.S. say all three outbreaks are of the same measles strain.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

As the virus takes hold in U.S. communities with low vaccination rates, health experts fear that spread could stretch on for a year. Here's what else you need to know about measles in the U.S.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 19 new cases of measles since Friday, bringing the total to 702 across 29 countiesmost of them in West Texas. The state also added two hospitalizations to its count Friday, for a total of 91 throughout the outbreak.

State health officials estimated about 1% of casesfewer than 10are actively infectious.

Fifty-seven percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 403 cases since late Januaryjust over 1.7% of the county's residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of "what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure." A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late FebruaryKennedy said age 6.

New Mexico was steady Tuesday with 67 total cases. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County, two in Dona Ana County and one in Chaves County.

How many cases are there in Indiana?

Indiana confirmed two more cases April 21 in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the statefive are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown.

The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health has said.

How many cases are there in Kansas?

Kansas added two cases Wednesday for a total of 48 across eight counties in the southwestern part of the state. The state has had one hospitalization.

The state's first reported case was linked to the Texas outbreak based on genetic testing.

How many cases are there in Michigan?

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has an outbreak of four cases that state health officials say is tied to the Ontario outbreak. The state had nine confirmed measles cases as of Friday, but the remaining five are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak.

How many cases are there in Montana?

Montana state health officials announced five cases April 17 in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and later confirmed it was an outbreak. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.

They were Montana's first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn't say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.

How many measles cases are there in North Dakota?

North Dakota announced its first measles case since 2011 on Friday, and by Tuesday, there were nine cases.

All are in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. The state health department said Monday that three of the confirmed cases are linked to the first casean unvaccinated child who health officials believe got it from an out-of-state visitor.

The other five cases, announced Tuesday, were people who were not vaccinated and did not have contact with the other cases, causing concern about community transmission. The state health department said four people diagnosed with measles attended classes while infectious at a Williston elementary school, middle school and high school.

How many cases are there in Ohio?

The state has two outbreaks. Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases. And Knox County in east-central Ohio has 2014 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 34 measles cases and one hospitalization Thursday. That count includes only Ohio residents. Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, has had one case. So have Allen, Defiance, Holmes counties.

How many cases are there in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma added one case for a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases as of Tuesday. The outbreak is linked to Texas and New Mexico.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Oklahoma and Sequoyah counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

There are eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officials said Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state has said it has 13 cases overall in 2025, including international travel-related cases in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia.

How many cases are there in Tennessee?

Tennessee had six measles cases as of last week. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that "at least three of these cases are linked to each other" but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started.

The state health department announced the first measles case March 21, three more on April 1 and the last two on April 17, but none of the news releases declared an outbreak. However, Tennessee was on a list of outbreak states in a CDC report April 17.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don't need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from "killed" virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don't need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have "presumptive immunity."

In communities with high vaccination ratesabove 95%diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called "herd immunity."

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

How can you treat measles?

There's no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Experts from across the U.K. have called on the government to do more to address the growing problem of hoarding.

Approximately 4 million people in the U.K. are affected by hoarding, either by being an individual who hoards items, being a member of their family or by working in a profession where they are called on to support people with hoarding behaviors.

To mark the start of Hoarding Awareness Week (1216 May) the UK Hoarding Partnership, which is led by Northumbria University, has written to the U.K. government and other relevant national organizations asking them to increase funding for mental health services and to do more to raise awareness of hoarding behaviors and their consequences. They hope this will reduce stigma around the condition and encourage people who hoard to ask for support.

They have also asked the government to develop national guidelines to help professionals working with people who hoard, due to the impacts that hoarding behaviors can have on public health and safety, mental health and support services and legal implications for housing providers.

Professor Nick Neave is director of the Hoarding Research Group at Northumbria University and chair of the UK Hoarding Partnership, which was formed last year due to a growing demand from organizations and councils to share best practice when dealing with people who hoard.

A range of national and regional charities and organizations are members of the UK Hoarding Partnership, which also includes many councils and fire and rescue services.

Professor Neave explained, "Hoarding is often misunderstood, or dismissed as mere clutter, laziness or a lifestyle choice, but it is a complex mental health condition that goes far beyond an inability to organize or let go of possessions. It is deeply rooted in emotional distress, mental health struggles and, in many cases, underlying trauma, often stemming from adverse childhood experiences.

"Hoarding can result in unsafe living conditions, social isolation and a diminished ability to manage day-to-day responsibilities such as cooking and washing, which can become impossible. However, people who hoard often struggle to find adequate support and services, meaning they are frequently overlooked by social care systems, health services, housing authorities and mental health professionals."

He called for the government to prioritize the issue of hoarding in its policies to reduce costs to the NHS and local authorities and to ensure that individuals suffering from hoarding disorder receive the support and care they need.

"In the absence of a coordinated national strategy, current support services are often disjointed, which leads to significant inefficiencies and ineffective expenditures," he said.

"Because of this, and due to the complexity of individual cases, hoarding often falls between the cracks, with those affected continuing without adequate help."

Kayley Hyman, director of Holistic Hoarding, agreed, saying, "We are seeing rapidly growing numbers of people in need of support with hoarding across the U.K. and we hope that national guidelines will result in hoarding support being considered an essential and accessible element of equitable mental health provision."

Jo Cooke, director of Hoarding Disorders UK, a not-for-profit community interest company, said, "Never has there been a more important time to raise awareness of the urgent need to address the increasingly complex issue of hoarding. It has reached a crisis point and there is much need to provide clear national guidelines to assist with this complex, ever-growing mental health issue."

The Hoarding Research Group at Northumbria University works to develop a better understanding of hoarding behaviors and the subsequent impact on the individual and society. Members of the group focus on a range of issues relating to hoarding behaviors, including self-neglect, safeguarding, mental capacity and neuropsychological aspects; animal hoarding; legal implications and multi-agency approaches; and the social, industrial and cybersecurity implications of digital hoarding behaviors.
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Credit: JCI Insight (2025). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.184975

The sCD13 protein has been previously identified by a rheumatology research team at the University of Michigan as a powerful inducer of inflammation in multiple autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis.

High levels of the sCD13 protein are also now being seen in blood and lung tissues of COVID-19 patients.

Researchers from University of Michigan Health, in collaboration with external institutions such as the NIH and Weill Cornell Medical School, have been able to identify this protein as a prominent cause of inflammation in the SARS-CoV-2 infection, more commonly known as COVID-19, using data sets from three separate cohorts of COVID-19 patients.

The work is published in the journal JCI Insight.

Formation of the sCD13 protein occurs by shedding of CD13 from the surface of certain types of cells, through a process that occurs in autoimmune disorders and as the body attempts to fight off the COVID-19 virus.

When this response is excessive, it is termed hyperinflammatory, and can exacerbate the severity of the disease.

The inflammatory response of increased amounts of sCD13 in COVID-19 patients is normally located in the lungs, where the virus levels are highest. Complications include respiratory failure requiring supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation. Additional complications include the formation of blood clots within small arteries of the lung.

These clots obstruct the flow of blood through the lung.

In some diseases, the formation of blood clots can be caused by NETs, neutrophil extracellular traps, which are sticky webs that are extruded by the neutrophil, a type of white blood cell.

In their research on sCD13 in COVID-19, the U-M Health researchers showed that sCD13 caused NET formation, following binding of sCD13 to two types of receptors on the surface of the neutrophil.

"In severe cases of COVID-19, this inflammation in the lungs can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, which causes difficulty breathing and can result in significant respiratory failure," said Eliza Tsou, Ph.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at University of Michigan Health.

"When determining the severity of a COVID-19 infection, especially in patients that are experiencing extreme respiratory symptoms due to the virus, physicians can assess the level of sCD13 proteins as an indicator of the severity of the hyperinflammatory response within the patient."

Tsou notes that evidence of the sCD13 protein impacting inflammation in COVID-19 also opens new avenues for treatment of the virus.

"The sCD13 protein and its receptors have emerged as new targets for treatment in pre-clinical trials for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis with success in animal models of these diseases," said Tsou.

"As these treatment methods move into their clinical trials, it is important for researchers and providers to note that targeting the sCD13 protein also has a potential future role in the treatment of severe COVID-19 cases."

More information: Pei-Suen Tsou et al, Soluble CD13 is a potential mediator of neutrophil-induced thrombogenic inflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infection, JCI Insight (2025). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.184975 Journal information: JCI Insight
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Joyce Lokonyi sits on an upturned bucket, fingers weaving palm fronds as the wind pulls her dress to expose the stump of her amputated foot, lost to a little-known disease ravaging Kenya's poorest county.

Mycetoma is a fungal or bacterial infection that enters the body through any open wound, often as tiny as a thorn prick.

Starting as tiny bumps under the skin, it gradually leads to the erosion of tissue, muscles and bone.

The fungal variety is endemic across the so-called "mycetoma belt"including Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and northern Kenyawith funding and research desperately lacking.

Once the disease has reached the bone the only option is amputation.

"I was able to slightly walk, although the disease had eaten all my toes," Lokonyi, 28, told AFP.

She was shunned by the local community, she said.

"They used to say that when you go to someone's home, you will leave traces of the disease where you stand."

She was unable to afford medication despite her husband selling off his goats, and amputation became the only option.

"I accepted because I saw that it was going to kill me," she said, a pair of battered crutches lying on the sand beside her two-year-old daughter.

But she has struggled with the aftermath.

"I have become a good-for-nothing, I can't work, I can't burn charcoal, I can't do anything," she said.

Neglected

In Kenya's poorest county, Turkana, around 70% of the population lives beneath the poverty line, with health care limited and hard to reach.

Mycetoma disproportionately affects rural communities of farmers and herders, according to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a global NGO.

It was only recognized as a neglected disease by the World Health Organization in 2016. Ignorance and misdiagnosis remain widespread.

"Doctors are not aware of the disease," Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, DNDi's head of mycetoma research, told AFP.

"If you're used to donkeys, you don't start seeing zebras everywhere."

The scale of the problem is difficult to estimate, but Ekiru Kidalio, director of Lodwar Hospital in Turkana, said they "rarely go a week without finding a case".

He added that the local population, 80% of which is illiterate, often turns to traditional medicine.

By the time they come to hospital "the condition is already advanced such that it's not easy to reverse".

Medication is also expensivetreatment takes up to a year and costs as much as $2,000and comes with dizzying side effects.

Diagnosis and treatment are not free under Kenya's overwhelmed health system, leaving patients at the mercy of foreign donors or seeking sums that are unimaginable for subsistence farmers.

'Think about the worst'

In Lodwar Hospital, lab technician John Ekai bends over his microscope and examines a suspected mycetoma sample.

"Mycetoma is a very neglected disease, no-one is giving it attention," he told AFP.

He has become the go-to man for suspected patients, handling his charges with a mischievous sense of humor that puts them at ease.

Ekai has treated more than 100 mycetoma patients in the past year, but has seen only five recoveries, with many simply vanishing back into Turkana's arid plains.

He worries for those who have disappeared: "The mycetoma will grow and grow and maybe... lead to amputation."

During AFP's visit, he examined young mother Jennifer Ekal, 19, who had lived with the disease since she was 11.

"I was in school but I decided to leave because of my foot," she said, showing her swollen and painful extremity, hidden beneath a red-and-white dishcloth.

Four doses of medication a day appeared to be helping, she said.

But as she gathered up her daughter, three-year-old Bianca, she admitted she was worried about the future.

"I do not want to think about the worst."

 2025 AFP
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In neighborhoods across America, women face a daunting threat from a federal practice that, although it was outlawed decades ago, continues to negatively impact their health today.

That's according to the findings of new University at Buffalo research that examines how historical redliningthe federal policy from the 1930s where neighborhoods were given mortgage security grades based on race, ethnicity, class status and land useimpacts both present-day breast cancer factors and survival after diagnosis.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) began redlining in 1934, denying prospective homeowners access to credit based solely on where they lived, oftentimes in urban neighborhoods that had large populations of Black residents. Neighborhoods were assigned grades from A to D. Marked on a map in green, "A" neighborhoods were deemed the best, while "D" areas were marked in red and considered hazardous. The practice was made illegal in 1968.

"While it is a near-century-old residential segregation policy, redlining still has influences on a neighborhood's breast cancer environment, and a woman's survival," says Sarah M. Lima, the lead author on both studies, who will graduate this May with her Ph.D. in epidemiology from UB's School of Public Health and Health Professions.

Lima's study on redlining and breast cancer survival was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; the paper on redlining and clustering of breast cancer factors was published in January in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.

"Historical redlining is a really interesting factor to study with breast cancer because it ties neighborhood environmental profiles to socioeconomic factors," explains Lima, who focused on the increasing rates of breast cancer among younger women while working toward her master's at Columbia University, where she also worked on a breast cancer study prior to coming to UB.

Lima credits her UB advisors, Heather Ochs-Balcom, Ph.D., associate professor, and Tia Palermo, Ph.D., research associate professor, both in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health and co-authors on the two papers, with helping to identify the connection between redlining and breast cancer.

Homeownership and wealth continue to be much lower in redlined neighborhoods, which were also used as sites to build highways and industrial facilities, Lima says. As a result, those neighborhoods continue to have higher exposure to pollution and toxic waste, and fewer parks and trees.

"Redlining affected the design of U.S. cities and determined much of today's environmental profiles and socioeconomic resources in neighborhoodsthat makes it a type of perfect storm for breast cancer," according to Lima.

Spatial patterning of historical redlining with neighborhood-level overall and subscale scores for selected US cities. Darker color for scores indicates higher score and higher number of high-risk factors present in neighborhood. Credit: Cancer Causes & Control (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10552-024-01950-9

Progressively lower survival by redlining grade

The study on redlining and survival after breast cancer diagnosis showed that regardless of a woman's health insurance status, the treatments she received and the socioeconomic status of her neighborhood, she is more likely to die within five years of her diagnosis simply based on whether her neighborhood was redlined or not.

In fact, it showed that redlining was associated with progressively lower survival for each grade among breast cancer cases. The study was based on nearly 61,000 breast cancer cases in New York State from 2008 to 2018.

Among the 60,773 cases, only 5.6% were in A-graded neighborhoods, compared to 21.7% for B, 42.5% in C, and 30.1% in D neighborhoods. Breast cancer cases in B, C and D areas had a 1.29, 1.37 and 1.64-fold higher risk of death compared to cases in A areas.

In addition, the study found that worse redlining grades had a higher prevalence of worse prognostic factors, including distant stage or metastatic cancer and more aggressive forms of breast cancer like hormone receptor-negative tumors and triple-negative breast cancer.

"These results tell us that the differences in survival by historical redlining are not just due to differences in the resources of the people who live there, but that there's something about the neighborhoods themselves that have an effect," says Lima, who encourages women who live in historically redlined areas to make sure they are up to date on breast cancer screenings.

The study was conducted in collaboration with New York State Department of Health cancer epidemiologists Tabassum Insaf, Ph.D., and Furrina Lee, Ph.D., who provided guidance with the state cancer registry data.

"This project demonstrates the power of population-based cancer surveillance data and how it can be used to understand how factors related to places in which we live and work can influence cancer survival," says Insaf, who serves as director of the state Department of Health's Bureau of Cancer Epidemiology and scientific director for the New York State Cancer Registry.

"Through our New York State Cancer Registry, the New York State Department of Health is proud to partner with the University at Buffalo to contribute to our understanding of cancer disparities."

Additional UB co-authors are Lili Tian, professor of biostatistics; Henry-Louis Taylor Jr., professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning; and Deborah O. Erwin, research professor of epidemiology and environmental health and professor of oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Differences among regions

The paper looking at clustering of breast cancer risk and survival factors complements the survival research by explaining how the neighborhoods may influence breast cancer survival.

This study examined 12,894 neighborhoods around the U.S., 74% of which were historically redlined. Researchers found that high-risk breast cancer factors were more common in redlined neighborhoods than non-redlined, with the exception of binge drinking, which was more prominent among non-redlined communities.

While historically redlined areas had an average of 5.41 breast cancer factors at high-risk levels, non-redlined neighborhoods averaged 3.55. High school education, lack of health insurance and physical inactivity were most strongly correlated to historical redlining status. Efforts to improve education, income, healthy lifestyles and mammography in redlined areas could help boost survival, Lima says.

Interestingly, this study revealed differences across U.S. regions (Northeast, South, Midwest and West) and is believed to be the first to evaluate historical redlining with geographic distribution of established breast cancer factors.

The identification of geographic differences could be used to help health departments in those areas think about useful interventions to reverse factors that contribute to a higher risk for breast cancer, Lima says. For example, the disparities discovered in the South region would suggest that health practitioners there should focus on reducing obesity and smoking and improving physical activity, particularly for residents of redlined communities.

In the West, however, increasing mammography and routine medical care access would be more beneficial.

In addition to Taylor and Tian, Jared Aldstadt, associate professor in the Department of Geography, is also a UB co-author on this paper.

Taken together, Lima says, "Our results suggest that redlining determines a person's environment and access to health resources, which, in turn, affects their health. While redlining was outlawed long ago, that doesn't mean the pathways it helped establish are gone."

More information: Sarah M. Lima et al, Historical Redlining and All-Cause Survival after Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2025). DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-24-1862 Sarah M. Lima et al, Historical redlining and clustering of present-day breast cancer factors, Cancer Causes & Control (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10552-024-01950-9 Journal information: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
On Thursday, the chief justice of India (CJI) sent a missive to the President of India and the Prime Minister, along with a copy of the report of the in-house inquiry which is learnt to have found allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma credible.

The letter from CJI Sanjiv Khanna also has a copy of the response given by Justice Varma about the findings of the in-house inquiry.

CJI Khanna's letter is in terms of the In-house procedure , says a press note released by the Supreme Court of India.

On May 3, a three-member committee comprised of Justices Sheel Nagu, GS Sandhawalia and Anu Sivaram, Chief Justices of the Punjab & Haryana and Himachal Pradesh High Courts, and a judge at the Karnataka High Court, respectively, submitted its report to CJI Khanna. The committee was formed to investigate the allegations against Justice Varma, the then-sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, in whose residence sacks of burning currency were reportedly discovered.

As per a report by The Wire, the committee is learnt to have found allegations against Varma credible.

It is also learnt that after receiving the report, CJI Khanna sent a letter to Justice Varma seeking his comments on the report, and also advising him to resign.

In the evening today, it was reported that Justice Varma refused to resign as the High Court judge.

Now that CJI Khanna has sent a letter to the Prime Minister, it is understood that he has recommended removal of Justice Varma as he has refused to resign.

As per the in-house inquiry procedure if the committee finds sufficient substance in the complaint/allegations and the misconduct disclosed is so serious so as to warrant the removal of the judge concerned, the CJI first asks the judge concerned to resign from office or seek voluntary retirement. Given that Justice Varma has reportedly refused to resign, the CJI will ask the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court not to assign him judicial work. At the same time, the CJI also wrote to the Prime Minister and President about the same and stated that it has been done because the allegations against the judge concerned are found to be serious, warranting his removal.

In the past, former CJI Dipak Misra had written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking removal of the Allahabad High Court Justice S. Narayan Shukla after he was found guilty by an in-house committee for his involvement in the alleged medical college bribery case. Justice Shukla, however, was never impeached as no motion for his impeachment was ever moved in the Parliament.

In August 2008, the then CJI K.G. Balakrishnan had written to the Prime Minister seeking the removal of Justice Soumitra Sen from the Calcutta High Court who was found guilty of misappropriation of money. Justice Sen resigned before the impeachment motion could be voted upon in the Rajya Sabha. The motion was passed in the Lok Sabha.
Last month, a Department of Government Efficiency aide at the nations consumer watchdog agency was told by ethics attorneys that he held stock in companies that employees are forbidden from owning  and was advised not to participate in any actions that could benefit him personally, according to a person familiar with the warning.

But days later, court records show, Gavin Kliger , a 25-year-old software engineer who has been detailed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since early March, went ahead and participated in mass layoffs at the agency anyway, including the firings of the ethics lawyers who had warned him.

Experts said that Kligers actions, which ProPublica first reported on last week, constitute a conflict of interest that could violate federal criminal ethics laws . Such measures are designed to ensure that federal employees serve the public interest and dont use their government power to enrich themselves. At the CFPB, which regulates companies that provide financial services, there are strict prohibitions on the investments that employees can maintain.

As ProPublica previously reported, Kliger owns as much as $365,000 worth of shares in Apple Inc., Tesla Inc. and two cryptocurrencies, according to his public financial report . Investments in those businesses are off limits to employees since the bureau can regulate them. A further review now shows that hes invested in even more companies that are on the agencys Prohibited Holdings list. Kliger also disclosed owning as much as $350,000 worth of stock in Google parent Alphabet Inc., Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway and the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba.

That means, at a maximum, Kliger could own as much as $715,000 of investments in seven barred companies, the records show.

Experts said a defanged and downsized consumer watchdog is unlikely to aggressively regulate those and other companies, freeing them of compliance costs and the risk associated with examinations and enforcement actions. That in turn could boost their stock prices and benefit investors like Kliger.

Don Fox, a former general counsel of the independent federal agency that advises executive branch workers on their ethical obligations, said that this looks like a pretty clear-cut violation of the federal criminal conflict-of-interest statute.

Richard Briffault, a government ethics expert at Columbia Law School, said the fact that Kliger was warned not to take any actions that could benefit him personally showed that hes on notice that this is a problem, as opposed to doing this by accident, or unintentionally.

But Briffault said there would likely be no recourse for Kligers actions given that the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has greatly deprioritized public integrity, ethics and public corruption as issues for them. The New York Times reported last week that the section handling such cases is down to just a handful of lawyers.

From the outset, the Trump administration has been dogged by ethics controversies, from the presidents own foray into the cryptocurrency industry to Elon Musks dual roles as both the head of DOGE and a major federal contractor. Kligers case is a nice illustration of how even on this micro level, they are violating the law, acting in ways that positively should cause people to not trust what theyre doing because there is no question that these corporations will benefit, said Kathleen Clark, an expert on government ethics at Washington University in St. Louis.

Kliger hasnt returned a phone call or email seeking comment. The CFPB didnt respond to a request for comment.

The White House didnt answer questions about the warning, whether Kliger had sought ethics waivers or if he was in the process of divesting. Instead, a spokesperson provided ProPublica the same statement it previously had, writing that Kliger did not even manage the layoffs, making this entire narrative an outright lie. A spokesperson said that Kliger had until May 8 to divest.

The April 10 ethics warning came amid a heated legal battle over the future of the CFPB.

The following day, an appeals court in Washington, D.C., allowed the agencys acting director, Russell Vought, to implement mass firings after a lower court judge had stayed them. The court instructed Vought to conduct a particularized assessment of the bureau and to lay off only those employees who were deemed to be unnecessary to perform the agencys statutorily required duties. In court filings, the government has said that review was done by the bureaus chief legal officer, Mark Paoletta, and two other attorneys. In court papers, Paoletta has said the cuts are designed to achieve a streamlined and right-sized Bureau.
The Supreme Court on Friday emphasised that courts must not order takedown of media reporting of court proceedings without valid reason at the cost of public debate and impartiality.

The Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan added that there must be a robust debate for the improvement of any system, including the judiciary.

"It is not the duty of the Court to tell the media, delete this, take that down."

The Court also said that the media and the judiciary must supplement each other for the betterment of a liberal democracy

"For the improvement of any system, and that includes the judiciary. Introspection is the key. That can only happen if there is robust debate, even on issues which are before the court. Both the judiciary and the media are the foundational pillars of democracy, which is a basic feature of our Constitution. For a liberal democracy to thrive, both must supplement each other," the Court observed.

The Bench further stressed that the courts must remain open to the public criticism and debate.

"We may once again remind ourselves of the profound words of this Court expressed through the nine-judge bench decision in Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar. Trial held subject to the public scrutiny and gaze naturally acts as a check against judicial vagaries, and serves as a powerful instrument for creating confidence of the public in the fairness, objectivity and impartiality of the administration of justice. Courts, as a public and open institution, must always remain open to public observations, debates and criticisms. In fact, courts should welcome debates and constructive criticism," Justice Bhuyan said, while pronouncing the verdict.

The Court also said that even matters pending before the courts can be debated by public.

"Every important issue needs to be rigorously debated by the people and the press, even if the issue of debate is sub judice before a court."

On criticism against judges, the Court said.

"Those who offer criticism should remember that judges cannot respond to such criticism, but if a publication scandalises the court or a judge or judges, and if a case of contempt is made out, as highlighted by Justice Krishna Iyer in the sixth principle, certainly courts should take action."

However, it also held that the courts have the power to postpone reporting of judicial proceedings in the interest of administration of justice. In these cases, the burden lies on the applicant to demonstrate the substantial risk of prejudice to the pending trial which would therefore justify postponement of offending publication, the Court added.

"Such an order should be passed only when necessary to prevent real and substantial risk to the fairness of the court proceedings. The order of postponement will only be appropriate in cases where the balancing test otherwise favours non-publication for a limited period," it clarified.

This order should be subject to the twin test of necessity and proportionality to be applied only in cases where there is real and substantial risk of prejudice to the proper administration of justice, or to the fairness of the trial, it added.

Further, the Court said that it would be open to the media to challenge such an order in appropriate proceedings.

"A postponement order is not a punitive measure, but is a preventive measure," it further said.

The page in question documented the proceedings in the defamation case filed by ANI against Wikipedia in the Delhi High Court. The High Court had last year taken objection to the page and said the discussion about the Court's observations would amount to contempt of court.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs4 lakh on five cooperative banks for non-compliance with the directions issued by the banking regulator. The highest penalty of Rs1.50 lakh has been imposed on Nicholson Cooperative Town Bank Ltd from Tamil Nadu.

Other banks penalised by RBI are Jammu Central Cooperative Bank Ltd, Vishwakalyan Sahakara Bank Niyamit and Sree Harihareshwara Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd from Karnataka and Shree Warana Sahakari Bank Ltd from Maharashtra.

Nicholson Cooperative Town Bank has been penalised for violating RBI guidelines related to loans and advances given to directors, their relatives and associated firms, as well as for non-compliance with know-your-customer (KYC) norms.

RBI statutory inspection revealed that Nicholson Cooperative Town Bank had approved loans linked to its directors and failed to upload KYC records of some customers to the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR) within the required timeframe.

Jammu Central Cooperative Bank has been fined for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). The lender had accepted fresh deposits in savings bank accounts in violation of specific directions issued by RBI.

Additionally, Vishwakalyan Sahakara Bank Niyamit, Sree Harihareshwara Urban Cooperative Bank and Shree Warana Sahakari Bank have each been fined Rs50,000 for violating Section 31 of the BR Act. All three banks failed to submit their statutory returns to RBI within the required timeline.

The central bank says, "After considering the reply and oral submissions of all the banks during the personal hearing, RBI concluded that the charges of non-compliance with RBI directions were substantiated and warranted imposition of a monetary penalty."

In all five cases, RBI says the penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and are not intended to be pronounced upon the validity of any transaction or agreement they entered with their customers.
In a historic and unexpected decision, US cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope, taking the name Leo XIV, and making history as the first American to lead the worlds 1.4bn (billion) Catholics.

I announce to you a great joy;

we have a Pope:

The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord,

Lord Robert Francis

Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost

who has taken the name Leo XIV.



Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announces that the Cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert pic.twitter.com/u3lDDlk1L4  Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 8, 2025

The announcement came just over an hour after the traditional white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling that the 133 cardinal electors had successfully chosen a new pope. The declaration, Habemus Papam (We have a Pope), was made by French cardinal Dominique Mamberti from the balcony of St Peters Basilica to tens of thousands gathered in St Peters Square.

Pope Leo XIV, 69, hails from Chicago and brings with him a wealth of international experience. A member of the Augustinian order, he served for years as a missionary in South America and holds dual citizenship in the US and Peru, where he previously served as a bishop. Most recently, he led the Vaticans influential office responsible for the appointment of bishops worldwide.

His election marks a significant milestone for the global Catholic community, which now numbers over 1.4bn. Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month after a transformative 12-year papacy.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, was known for ushering in a wave of reform and encouraging open discussion on previously taboo subjects, including the ordination of women and the inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics.

The cardinals entering the conclave were divided, with some advocating a continuation of Pope Francis' reformist vision and others favouring a return to more traditionalist values. Pope Leo XIVs leadership is expected to reflect a balance, building on Pope Francis' legacy while potentially introducing his own perspectives shaped by years of pastoral service across continents.

Pope Leo XIVs appearance on the central balcony of the Basilica marked not only a new chapter in Church leadership but also a moment of significance for American Catholics, who for the first time saw one of their own at the helm of the Vatican.
A woman who pleaded guilty to trying to hire a hitman to kill the father of her children was sentenced Thursday to six years in federal prison.

Autumn Jeanine Carianna Markley, 30, of Davenport, was arrested Jan. 3, 2024, after a federal grand jury indicted her on the single charge of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire.

She pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 19, 2024, during a hearing in U.S. District Court, Davenport.

During Thursday's hearing in District Court, Davenport, Judge Stephen Locher sentenced Markley to 72 months, or six years, in prison. The maximum sentence for the charge is 10 years.

She will receive credit for the time she has served in custody awaiting trial and sentencing.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Markley also was ordered to spend three years on supervised release after she completes her prison sentence.

According to the criminal complaint filed Nov. 30, 2023, by Scott County Sheriffs detective Greg Hill, a confidential informant contacted the Sheriffs Department about a person who was looking for a hit man.

The informant had been talking to Markley over Snapchat when Markley asked if the informant knew of any shady people. Markley was in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the time.

In her chats, Markley discussed issues she was having with the Iowa Department of Human Services, and violations of a no contact order, Hill said in his complaint. The informant knew Markley was having issues with the father of her children.

According to the complaint, Markley eventually said 'At this point I just need to make his [sic] disappear.'"

While in Hills presence, the informant sent Markley a message, "How sketchy of things are we talking, I might have someone." Markley responded, "Ideally murder." Markley went on to say "Or like set him up for a drug bust, so that he spent the rest of his life in prison. Or kidnapping. Or all of them."

Markley was told by the informant there was someone in mind and told her they are going to want to know what they can get out of it. Markley responded that she was willing to pay and that she is to the point where [shell] do anything.

On Nov. 22, 2023, Hill added Markley as a friend on Snapchat and posed as a potential hit man. Hill initiated a conversation with Markley over Snapchat telling her he heard she needed some help with something. Markley responded, "Yeah I really do I'm desperate."

On Nov. 22, 2023, Hill contacted Markley on the Signal application using a phone number she had provided.

Hill informed Markley that he could do the job for a price. When he asked who it was, Markley said, How much info do you need? And it would be best if it looked like an accident like an overdose or something. We have kids and I don't want them involved.

Later in November, 2023, Hill made a video call to Markley through the Signal application, and he was able to see her face, which matched photos she had sent and her drivers license. Hill asked Markley who it was she wanted taken care of, and she gave the name of the father of her children.

Markley provided an address in Scott County, and she agreed to send $200 up front through Western Union.

On Nov. 28, Hill received the Western Union code from Markley for the money transfer via the Signal application. Hill then went to a local store with another officer and collected the $200 Markley had sent.

According to the complaint, on Nov. 29, 2023, Hill received a Signal message from Markley asking, "Is it possible to just make sure he goes to prison or like something bad enough that he can lose custody cause that's the end goal."

Talking to Hill over Signal, Markley said she was driving through Nebraska. After some initial conversation, Hill asked Markley what was going on and whether she did not want him to do it anymore. She responded that she did not know, she was just trying to think of a way to do it without permanently scarring her kids.

Hill asked whether Markley still wanted him to keep working on it to get it done, and Markley responded, Ya.

Hill told her he did not know exactly when he would be able to get it done, but that he would let her know, and she thanked him.
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu will return to court on June 18 for the hearing of his appeal in a Ksh588 million corruption case, after the High Court denied him bail for the second time.

Justice Lucy Njuguna dismissed a renewed bail application by Waititu and his two co-accused, ruling that they had not provided sufficient grounds to justify their release. During Thursday mornings session, she said, The applicants have not presented new or compelling reasons that would justify a review of the earlier decision, and emphasized that, Bail is not an automatic right once a conviction has occurred, especially in cases involving serious economic crimes.

Waititu, who served as Kiambu governor from 2017 to 2020, was convicted alongside his wife and a county official in connection with the irregular award of a Ksh588 million road tender. The court found them guilty of conflict of interest, abuse of office, and laundering public funds. Following the conviction, the court imposed a Ksh53.5 million fine on Waititu, while his wife received a Ksh500,000 fine, which she paid.

Waititus defense team pushed back against the ruling, arguing that the former governor had complied fully with court processes and posed no flight risk. Our client is a public figure with deep roots in the community. Continued incarceration serves no justice, said the lead defense counsel, expressing hope that the Court of Appeal will reverse the lower courts decision.

The prosecution, however, maintained a hard stance. State counsel Mercy Mungai asserted, This is a high-profile graft case. Releasing the convicts before the appeal is determined would undermine public confidence in the war against corruption.

As it stands, Waititu and his co-accused will remain in custody as they await the crucial appeal hearing next month.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pushed back against criticism surrounding his designer fashion choices, calling out what he described as misguided scrutiny.

Speaking on Thursday, May 8, Murkomen questioned why his wardrobe had become a national conversation, especially when other leaders wear similar attire.

Why am I being singled out for simply wearing shoes and shirts? Others wear the same clothes, he said, brushing off the fashion-focused jabs as petty distractions.

He urged critics to shift their attention to more pressing national matters rather than obsessing over his taste in clothes.

The only thing they talk about me is which watch, shirt, or shoe I wear, as if Im the only one who wears those kinds of things. I want to tell those people to have an objective conversation, Murkomen added.

The CS also clarified that he no longer engages in active politics and operates strictly under the directives of President William Ruto.

I am no longer in the political arena; I dont engage in politics. I work under the directive of President William Ruto, he said.

Despite Kenyas tough economic climate, Murkomen has found himself at the center of online conversations for his lavish fashion items. One notable instance involved a Hublot Classic Fusion Ceramic King Gold watch, valued at approximately Ksh2 million.

Murkomen later explained that he received the luxury timepiece as a gift and that it came at a heavily discounted price.

He further acknowledged owning a Rolex watch but dismissed public speculation that it cost Ksh4 million, saying the actual price was considerably lower.

Murkomen also offered insight into the value of his fashion accessories, noting that his most expensive shoes range between Ksh70,000 and Ksh80,000, while his belt is worth Ksh40,000 to Ksh50,000. Still, he insisted that his fashion sense should not overshadow the real work he is doing in public service.

Murkomen Addresses Incompetence Claims

Beyond his wardrobe, Murkomen also took the opportunity to respond to questions about his competenceparticularly regarding his tenure as Transport Cabinet Secretary, where concerns had been raised over airport infrastructure issues and stalled road projects.

He described the accusations as politically driven and exaggerated, claiming that a small group of individuals consistently targets him with unfair criticism, no matter the docket he holds.

Ever since I left the Roads docket, you will notice there has not been much talk about incompetence on the new CS, Murkomen said, defending his legacy at the ministry.

Even in his current Interior docket, he said, some critics continue to question his competency. Statistics show that crimes have decreased since I became the CS for Interior, but a section of individuals have said that crime is still on the rise, he stated.

The former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator maintained that his only focus now is delivering on his public service mandate.

I am here to serve and to deliver on the mandate given to me by the people of Kenya, Murkomen affirmed, dismissing political noise as a distraction from his responsibilities.
The government has launched a major push to formally recognize and empower skilled workers in the informal sector, aiming to certify over 15 million artisans through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.

This initiative, led primarily by TVET institutions, seeks to validate the skills of millions of workersmany of whom have never set foot in a formal classroom but have mastered trades through hands-on experience.

According to Stanley Maindi, Director of the RPL programme, the country has a huge population of highly skilled individuals, particularly in the Jua Kali sector, who have gone unrecognized for too long.

We have thousands of young people doing excellent work in the Jua Kali sector , but they lack certificates to help them grow professionally or compete for government and private contracts, Maindi said.

Thousands Already Certified  Millions More to Go

Maindi revealed that over 5,100 artisans have already been assessed and certified through various TVET colleges across the country. The government plans to increase that number significantly, with an additional 700,000 artisans set to be certified by the end of the year.

He spoke during a training workshop at the Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP), where trainers from 20 TVET colleges gathered to sharpen their skills on how to assess artisans effectively. He was accompanied by TENP Chief Principal Dr. Charles Koech and TVET Director Meshack Obwora.

TVET Colleges Become Assessment Hubs

Dr. Koech emphasized TENPs role as an RPL certification center, stating that the institution is committed to reaching as many local artisans as possible.

Were grateful for the governments continued support, and were determined to take this programme reach as many of our youth as possible,, Dr. Koech said.

Maindi added that all TVET colleges across the country will operate as walk-in assessment centers, allowing artisans to be evaluated and certified at their convenience. He also revealed that the programme plans to retrain and sensitize over 7,000 TVET tutors to ensure consistent and credible assessments nationwide.

Government Partners with Jua Kali Federation

To identify and connect artisans with assessment centers, the government is partnering with the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations. This collaboration is crucial in helping locate skilled individuals in informal settings and guiding them through the certification process.

Were taking the RPL programme seriously as part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Maindi said. This approach puts people in the lower economic brackets at the center of national growth.

On-Site Assessments and National Reach

In addition to assessments at colleges, the programme will also conduct on-site evaluations at workplaces, making it easier for artisans who may not be able to travel. More than 240 TVET colleges are supporting the implementation of this flexible and inclusive model.

Maindi emphasized that the training of RPL assessors will take place in all regions of the country to ensure no artisan is left behind.

Our goal is to reach every skilled Kenyan working in the informal sector, he said. These certificates will carry the same weight as those issued by formal colleges and institutions.

Empowering the Backbone of the Economy

The RPL initiative isnt just about issuing certificatesits about restoring dignity, unlocking opportunities, and recognizing the vital contribution artisans make to Kenyas economic growth.

Our artisans are critical to this country, Maindi concluded. We must empower them not just with tools and trainingbut with the recognition theyve long deserved.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has declared that he has no interest in a Cabinet position in President William Rutos government.

During a lively panel discussion on Citizen TVs Daybreak program, Sifunas Kisumu counterpart, and fellow ODM member, Tom Ojienda, implied that Sifuna was eyeing the recently filled Gender Cabinet Secretary position.

Sifuna quickly responded with a lighthearted remark, I understand why he says that; its because I am loved by the ladies, which is not something we can say about him.

The Nairobi senator was clear in his rejection of a Cabinet role, adding, I have no interest in serving in a government like the one in power. I would never accept a Cabinet position. I am not Makau Mutua or any of those people, referring to Rutos recent appointment of Odingas 2022 campaign spokesperson as his constitutional affairs advisor.

Sifuna also revealed that he would not seek any other political position in the 2027 general election, emphasizing his commitment to serving as Nairobis senator.

I am happy serving the people of Nairobi as senator, and even in 2027, I will not seek any other office than the Nairobi senatorial position, he said.

Known for his outspoken stance, Sifuna, a key member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has been a consistent critic of Rutos broad-based government, formed last year after the President allied with long-time opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Sifuna didnt mince his words when evaluating President William Rutos performance, declaring that he had already graded the Head of Stateand the results were dismal.

As a man with a marking scheme, I have given William Ruto a strong E. Therefore, he must go home in 2027, Sifuna said, underscoring his belief that the current administration has failed Kenyans and should be voted out in the next general election.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed the governments commitment to uplifting mama mboga, boda boda riders, and small-scale traders at the grassroots level, emphasizing their vital role in Kenyas economic growth.

Addressing locals on Thursday during the Boda Boda and Mama Mboga Empowerment Forum in Mawingu, Kipipiri Constituency, Nyandarua County, Prof. Kindiki highlighted the administrations drive to honor its campaign pledges through targeted policy, legislative, and financial interventions. He made it clear that the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda remains focused on empowering everyday Kenyans who form the backbone of the economy.

We will continue to empower mama mboga, boda boda, and small-scale traders and other critical groups who are at the grassroots because it is critical to boost their efforts in order to uplift their livelihoods, said the Deputy President.

Kindiki dismissed critics who have questioned the relevance of these empowerment programs, insisting that these groups deserve direct attention and real support. He noted that strengthening small businesses is key to improving earnings and stimulating economic expansion at the community level.

For the small-scale traders, empowerment is important as it will go a long way in bolstering their businesses, aiding expansion to improve returns, he added. This is the bottom-up empowerment we are after as we fulfill what we promised the people during campaigns.

With the national economy now supposedly stabilized through tough but effective policy decisions over the past two years, Prof. Kindiki said the government has shifted its focus to implementation.

We have stabilised the economy and now its time to work. We are working every day to uplift the lives of the people, he stated.

In Kipipiri, the government is already rolling out tangible development projects. Construction of modern markets in Mawingu and Wanjohi towns is underway to provide clean, structured spaces for local traders. Additionally, stalled road projectssuch as the GetaNdunyu Njeru routehave resumed and are set for completion before the next general election.

The Deputy President also pledged to resolve long-standing land issues, particularly the lack of title deeds in colonial villages across Nyandarua County. We will find a solution to the pending title deeds issue for colonial villages in Nyandarua County because it is an issue we must solve as requested by residents, he promised.
Kenyas taxman has crossed a line it has never crossed this earlySh2.112 trillion in revenue with two months still left in the 2024 / 25 financial year.

The haul, recorded by April 30, meets 96.5 percent of the Sh2.189 trillion target KRA set for the ten-month window and beats last years collections for the same period by 6.1 percent.

Domestic taxes brought in Sh1.386 trillion, up 4.7 percent on last years pace. Customs duties were even stronger, climbing 9.1 percent to Sh722.7 billion.

Customs revenue also showed strong performance, registering a 9.1 per cent growth, KRA said.

Agency revenuemoney KRA gathers for other state bodiesrose the fastest, surging 37.1 percent to Sh205.5 billion and overshooting its target by nearly 12 percent. Exchequer revenue reached Sh1.906 trillion, reflecting a 95 percent achievement rate.

Stream July 2024Apr 2025 (Sh bn) YoY Growth Domestic taxes 1 386.0 +4.7 % Customs duties 722.7 +9.1 % Agency collections 205.5 +37.1 % Total revenue 2 112.0 +6.1 %

Even so, KRA says the economy is working against it. GDP growth slowed to 4.0 percent in Q3 2024 from 6.0 percent a year earlier. The PMI averaged 49.8, signalling shrinking private-sector activity, while imports and exports both declined.

Borrowing costs have stayed stubbornly high despite a lower Central Bank rate, and a stronger shilling dragged oil imports down 10.2 percent. Policy tweaks that let workers deduct SHIF and the Housing Levy from taxable income also trimmed Pay-As-You-Earn receipts.

To squeeze out every shilling, KRA leaned on new tech: a Centralised Release Office sped up cargo clearance, and the Electronic Rental Income Tax System is nudging landlords to comply. A tax-amnesty drive has already netted Sh13.5 billion and wiped Sh164.9 billion in penalties for more than three million taxpayers.

If collections keep rising at the current pace, KRA could finish the fiscal year with its strongest showing yet, even in the face of a cooling economy.
In a landmark move that signals Kenyas renewed commitment to inclusion and human rights, President William Ruto on Thursday signed into law the transformative Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2024. The signing ceremony, held at State House Nairobi, concluded a determined two-year legislative journey and ushered in a new chapter for the protection and empowerment of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

A Progressive Milestone in Kenyas Legal Framework

President Ruto hailed the law as a progressive piece of legislation that upholds the dignity and rights of PWDs while aligning Kenyas legal framework with Article 54 of the Constitution, which enshrines the rights of persons with disabilities.

This law not only protects but elevates the voices and needs of PWDs, Ruto said. It speaks to who we are as a countryone that recognizes diversity as strength and inclusion as duty.

The new law replaces the outdated Persons with Disabilities Act, Cap. 133, and introduces a rights-based approach rooted in equality, accessibility, and full societal participation.

Legislation Backed by Advocacy and Bipartisan Support

The bills journey began with Senator Crystal Asige, who sponsored the legislation alongside National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah as co-sponsor. Parliament published the Bill on February 20, 2023, and it underwent its first reading in the Senate on March 22, 2023.

The Senate passed it with amendments on February 21, 2024, and the National Assembly approved further changes on January 16, 2025. The Senate ratified those changes on April 9, 2025, clearing the way for the Presidents assent.

Key Provisions: From Rights Protection to Practical Incentives

The law outlaws all forms of discrimination against people with disabilities in every aspect of life. It mandates reasonable accommodations in public places, transportation systems, and information and communication technologies, ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind.

To support implementation, the law introduces robust financial incentives:

Employers who hire persons with disabilities can claim 25% tax deductions on salaries paid.

Organizations that invest in workplace accessibility improvements qualify for 50% deductions on related costs.

At least 5% of all county government job opportunities must go to PWDs.

A minimum of 5% of market stalls are reserved for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

The law also exempts assistive devices from taxes and levies.

I have sat in rooms where no one saw me. Ive spoken when no one bothered to listen. And still I kept going. Now my Persons with Disabilities Bill is an Act of Parliament! Being there, when the President turned my Bill into an Act by the stamp of his seal meant a lot  not pic.twitter.com/kSSXAlnOm1  Crystal Asige (@CrystalAsige) May 8, 2025

Accountability and Oversight Strengthened

To oversee the laws implementation, a revitalized National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) will operate as an independent statutory body. With expanded powers, the Council can advise, investigate, and take action on disability-related issues, ensuring enforcement is not symbolic but actionable.

The law also reinstates the Disability Mainstreaming Performance Indicator in public service performance contracts, allowing the government to track and enforce inclusivity standards across all ministries and agencies.

Inclusive Design and Media Representation Now Mandated

Public and private entities must now comply with adjustment orders, which require modifications to physical and digital environments to ensure full accessibility for PWDs.

Additionally, the media must implement closed captioning in local newscasts, educational programming, and national events. This change ensures that information remains inclusive, particularly for those with hearing impairments.

Strong Safeguards in Health, Education, and Social Protection

The law makes bold commitments in health and education:

It guarantees inclusive learning environments with tailored accommodations for students with disabilities.

It mandates free medical rehabilitation services and requires safeguards in healthcare delivery for PWDs.

Universal design standards will guide the development of public infrastructure and transportation, ensuring accessibility from the ground up.

Moreover, the law strengthens social protection measures for vulnerable groups and recognizes disability rights as central to Kenyas human rights agenda.

President Rutos Call to Action: The Real Work Now Begins

President Ruto underscored that passing the law is only the beginning. He urged collective responsibility, stating:

The real work now begins. The National Council and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection cannot fulfill the laws promise alone. Achieving true inclusion requires collective action from all stakeholders.

His message was clear: every Kenyanwhether in government, business, civil society, or the general publichas a role to play in building a more inclusive, equitable nation.
Investigators probing the assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ongondo Were have uncovered critical leads that are rapidly advancing the case. A suspicious phone call made just hours before the MPs death and the recovery of the murder weapon have emerged as pivotal breakthroughs in the ongoing investigation.

Sources close to the case revealed that detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are zeroing in on an anonymous caller who phoned the MPs bodyguard on April 30 at around 2:40 p.m.roughly five hours before Were was fatally shot along Nairobis Ngong Road. The call, which lasted just over a minute, was placed while the bodyguard was on duty at Parliament Buildings.

Further analysis revealed that the same number had reached out to the bodyguard two days prior, deepening suspicion about the callers motives. Forensic teams traced the number to a SIM card registered only three days before the murder, using the identity of a deceased woman from the Nyanza region. Investigators believe the number was created specifically to contact the aide, as no other activity has been linked to it.

This discovery has heightened scrutiny around the planning and coordination behind the high-profile killing. DCI officers are now working to trace the source of the phone number and unmask the individual behind the mysterious calls.

Murder Weapon Linked to Crimes in Nairobi and Kimabu Counties

In a major breakthrough, detectives also recovered the firearm used in the assassination. During a late-night raid on Tuesday in Chokaa, Kayole, police found a Sarsilmaz pistol believed to have fired the fatal shots. Officers also seized a second pistol, a bag, and a pair of shoes, all thought to be linked to the case.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed on Thursday that ballistic tests had conclusively matched the Sarsilmaz pistol to the MPs shooting.

The ballistic report we have received unequivocally links the Sarsilmaz pistol, recovered from the residence of one of the suspects, to the fatal shots that took his life. This critical piece of evidence not only identifies the weapon used in this heinous act but also reveals its involvement in a series of other criminal activities, said IG Kanja.

Ballistic reports have further connected the same weapon to at least three robbery incidents in Kayole, Komarocks, and Ndumberi in Kiambu County, suggesting it was part of a wider criminal network.

So far, police have arrested ten suspectsincluding the MPs own driver and bodyguardin connection with the killing. IG Kanja assured the public that detectives are working tirelessly to bring all those responsible to justice.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has fired back at Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, accusing him of arrogance and a sense of political entitlement. The fierce exchange followed remarks Sifuna made during an appearance on Citizen TVs Daybreak on Thursday, May 8, which Salasya claims disrespected him.

Taking to social media, Salasya asserted that he deserved respect from the ODM Secretary General, whom he criticized for riding on the coattails of party leader Raila Odinga to achieve political success. In contrast, Salasya described himself as a grassroots politician who fought his way into Parliament without party favoritism.

Edwin Sifuna, you have a degree in law; I have a degree in banking and finance. Youre a Senator, Im a Member of Parliament. You come from Western, and I come from Western. The only difference between us is that I am self-made, while you were given your position by Raila Odinga. You cant survive politically without him, so respect me  Im your presidential candidate, Salasya stated.

He further cautioned Sifuna against using legal language to appear superior in political debates, arguing that legalese belongs in courtrooms, not political discourse. Too much English shouldnt make you arrogant. Take it to court, not into politics, he added.

To underscore his point, Salasya mentioned that his personal assistant, Elvis Anguche, is a qualified lawyersubtly undermining Sifunas reliance on his legal background.

Sifunas Remarks During TV Interview

The spat escalated after Sifuna clashed with Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda on Daybreak over the controversial 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

During the live broadcast, Sifuna rebuked Ojienda for criticizing the document without, in his view, fully understanding it. In a sharp jab, he likened Ojiendas stance to Salasyas.

I can forgive Salasya for refusing to read this document and assuming Sifuna signed it, but I cannot forgive Professor Ojienda, Sifuna said.

He added, You are a professor of law, please dont behave like Salasya. Read the document so that you can understand and explain it to your people.

The fiery remarks came as debate around the MoU continues to dominate Kenyas political landscape. Sifuna clarified that the concept of a broad-based government existed before the February 7, 2025 MoU, noting that leaders like Mbadi and Joho were already in Cabinet roles before the agreement was signed.

The so-called broad-based animal started existing in Rutos mind before this document was signed. It was signed on February 7, 2025, by that time, Mbadi, Joho and the other were already in the cabinet, Sifuna remarked.
EALA MP Winnie Odinga has confirmed that she has no plans to run for any political seat in the 2027 general election.

In an interview with Hot 96 on Thursday, May 8, Odinga, daughter of ODM leader Raila Odinga, acknowledged the increasing calls from supporters urging her to contest for office. However, she emphasized that politics is not her primary focus at this time.

At the moment, I am not really keen on it. People are asking me to do that, but I am not feeling it right now, she shared, signaling that her priorities lie elsewhere for now.

Additionally, she revealed that she has no intention of returning to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). Ms. Odinga further explained that she believes others might be better suited for a political role, pointing out that her strengths are better aligned with hands-on engagement rather than legislative duties.

I think that there would be somebody better suited than me, she said.

In the same conversation, Odinga addressed the growing disconnect between Kenyans and their elected leaders. She urged the political class to listen to the peoples concerns more attentively, especially the unresolved issues affecting the youth.

Living in Kenya can be very annoying. It is frustrating. Nothing works. Simple things cannot be done. The bubble is going to burst, she quipped.
'Nazi war criminal Barbie was big fish in drugs trade'

Dubbed the "Butcher of Lyon," Klaus Barbie was extradited from Bolivia to France in 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987. Photo: AFP

Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie was deeply involved in setting up one of South America's most important drug cartels, according to a report on Friday by German news weekly Der Spiegel.



Dubbed the "Butcher of Lyon" for his wartime torture of prisoners, the former Gestapo chief in the occupied French city fled to South America after the end of World War II.



He was extradited from Bolivia to France in 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 on charges of crimes against humanity. He died in prison in 1991.



According to Der Spiegel, Barbie  living under the alias Klaus Altmann  became a security adviser to drug baron Roberto Suarez after the two men met in the 1970s.



Suarez's son Gary told the magazine that Barbie was "an important person to my father."



"He knew something about security, military strategy and secret service work," he said.



Barbie was also active in advising the Bolivian security services, helping set up a death squad for dictator Luis Garcia Meza.



Gary Suarez told Der Spiegel that "Barbie had been deeply involved in the military regimes going back decades."



Barbie had helped "organise the militias that would overthrow the government" in the run-up to the violent 1980 coup that brought Garcia Meza to power.



Among them was a group of neo-Nazi mercenaries called the "Bridegrooms of Death" who had a swastika-clad headquarters called Club Bavaria in the city of Santa Cruz.



After the coup they were deployed to help both crush political opposition and Suarez's rivals in cocaine production.



A CIA despatch from May 1974 seen by Der Spiegel reveals that the agency's officers already suspected Barbie of involvement in the drug trade, the magazine said.



Roberto Suarez's son-in-law Gerardo Caballero told Der Spiegel that "Barbie helped us a lot, including in working together with Pablo Escobar," the Colombian drug kingpin.



Barbie was recruited as an anti-communist agent by American secret services after the war, and the United States later apologised to France for helping Barbie evade justice.



Der Spiegel has previously reported that Barbie was also active as a secret agent for West German intelligence in Bolivia.



The magazine said he was recruited in late 1965 in the Bolivian capital La Paz and given the code name "Adler" ("Eagle"). (AFP)
SIUs Father Brown: First American pope a leader this complicated age needs

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, will likely carry on the mission of his predecessor and serve as an inspiration to young people to make a positive difference, says Father Joseph A. Brown, a professor and coordinator of Southern Illinois University Carbondales Africana studies program and director of the School of Africana & Multicultural Studies.

Brown was excited by the news that 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born in 1955 in the south suburban Chicago community of Dolton, was chosen Thursday by the College of Cardinals, the second day of a papal conclave at the Vatican. As the 267th Vicar of Christ, he succeeds Pope Francis, who died April 21 of a stroke at 88 years old.

I feel quite strongly that his being elected pope will spark increased interest in what Catholicism stands for, Brown said. Will he be a second Pope Francis? Of course not. But he will continue to be a force for protecting the common good of all people everywhere.

He has had a global ministry for most of his life. That will continue. And I think he will inspire many of our young people to step into the world and make a positive difference, knowing that they are sisters and brothers to everyone.

I am content in my belief that he will be the leader that this complicated age needs.

Media availability

Father Joseph A. Brown, a professor and coordinator of SIU Carbondales Africana studies program and director of the School of Africana & Multicultural Studies, is available for interviews on Pope Leo XIV. He can be reached at jbrownsj@siu.edu.

Long service in South America

It has been long believed that the Catholic Church, with an estimated 1.4 billion worldwide believers, would not select an American-born cardinal to be pope. But Pope Leos global experience and long service in South America as an Augustinian missionary, priest and later bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023 were likely important factors, Brown said. The new pope holds a dual citizenship in Peru.

Pope Francis called his successor to Rome in 2023 to work closely with him in various capacities, including as head of the churchs Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees selection of new bishops.

Brown said the new pope strikes me as someone who will continue to call the church and the world to care for the forgotten, abandoned, lost and abused, wherever they are.

Some normal controversies will be the focus of much commentary concerning the new pope, most especially what many see as what may be  in contrast to Pope Francis  a less-welcoming perspective to the LGBTQ+ communities, Brown said.

Being a shepherd among the flock

Each human performs according to their personality, Brown said. While he doubts Pope Leo will move among crowds in the same manner as Pope Francis, each pontiff understands his role to be a shepherd among the flock and accompany that flock according to what he is most comfortable doing.

What interests me the most is the work he did helping Pope Francis populate the Roman Catholic clergy with scores of episcopal leaders, Brown said. In his capacity as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he did the evaluation of candidates for appointments as bishops across the world.

That influence will continue to be manifested in how this pope challenges church leadership to be open to all, concerned about social justice issues  in keeping with his predecessor Pope Leo XIII, who wrote about the rights of laborers and the need for social and economic justice in 1891.

Brown, who was ordained into the priesthood in 1972, has been with SIU Carbondale since 1997, when he began as an associate professor and director of the then-Black American studies program before being promoted to professor in 2000. A native of East St. Louis, Brown earned a bachelors degree in philosophy from St. Louis University and a masters degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a masters degree in Afro-American studies and doctorate in American studies from Yale University. In 2023, Brown was one of two inaugural recipients of the SIU Systems Dr. Wesley G. Robinson-McNeese Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award.
Europe marks 80th anniversary of WWII victory with calls for peace, unity

Xinhua) 08:25, May 09, 2025

This photo taken on May 7, 2025 shows a view of ceramic poppies displayed at the Tower of London in London, Britain. An installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies is on display from May 6 to Nov. 11 at the Tower of London, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

European Council President Antonio Costa underlined: "Peace is a heritage, but also a responsibility."

BRUSSELS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Europe celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War this week, with parades and wreath-laying ceremonies unfolding across the continent. The defeat of Fascism and Nazism in 1945 is celebrated on Victory in Europe (VE) Day and throughout the week, European leaders underscored the enduring value of peace and unity.

In Poland, nationwide observances on Thursday culminated in Warsaw's Wesola district, home to the Polish Army's Tadeusz Kosciuszko Armored Brigade. During an address to the army, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed to strengthen Poland's defense capability and safeguard the country.

Meanwhile, on the social media platform X, Polish President Andrzej Duda posted a strong plea: "No more war! This appeal must resound today." He called for a world grounded in "the force of law" rather than "the law of force," and called the memories of World War II a solemn reminder of the need to be "responsible stewards of peace."

A ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known as Victory in Europe Day, is held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, on May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday reflected on Germany's responsibility for the wars and called for the protection of unity, citing challenges including growing extremist forces in the country. He also reaffirmed Germany's commitment to the principles of the post-war international order.

In addition, the CEOs of 48 major German companies, including BASF, Evonik, Siemens, Bayer, and Deutsche Bank, issued a joint statement acknowledging their companies' historical responsibility in the Nazi era and calling for efforts against hatred, exclusion and antisemitism.

On the eve of the anniversary of VE Day on Wednesday, a meeting between newly-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris bore a special significance. The two leaders, representing nations once bitter enemies, emphasized the significance of German-French reconciliation.

"German-French friendship is a gift, a gift of forgiveness and reconciliation, especially for us Germans," Merz said during his first trip abroad since being elected.

People attend a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, May 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu)

Earlier this week in Britain, nearly 30,000 ceramic red poppies cascaded down the walls of the Tower of London, representing the loss of lives during the war. British King Charles and Queen Camilla reviewed a military parade in front of Buckingham Palace, as part of four days of commemorations beginning on Monday.

In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico laid a wreath on Tuesday at the Red Army Military Cemetery in Michalovce, a city liberated by the Russian Red Army. Paying tribute to young soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the liberation of Slovakia, Fico emphasized that victory over fascism is a celebration of peace and life.

In the Netherlands, flags were flown at half-mast across the country for the national day of remembrance. Thousands gathered in Amsterdam on Monday, where Dutch King Willem-Alexander laid a wreath at a war memorial, and the nation held a two-minute silence to honor the fallen.

Italy's commemorations began earlier, on April 25, with Liberation Day parades in Rome, Milan, Florence and other cities. National museums and parks offered free admission to the public as part of the celebrations. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Altar of the Fatherland.

"Defending the freedom of the European peoples is a shared task," President Mattarella declared. "Now, equality, the affirmation of the rule of law, cooperation, the same freedom and democracy, have become common goods of the European peoples to be protected by all the parties to the European Union pact."

This photo taken on May 7, 2025 shows a view of ceramic poppies displayed at the Tower of London in London, Britain. An installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies is on display from May 6 to Nov. 11 at the Tower of London, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

At the EU level, the European Parliament marked the occasion in a plenary session that featured three Second World War veterans on Wednesday. Parliamentary President Roberta Metsola stressed that the best tribute to those who gave their lives is the resolve to "never again" repeat such wars.

European Council President Antonio Costa underlined: "Peace is a heritage, but also a responsibility."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
India and Chile took a major step forward in strengthening their economic partnership by signing the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement on Friday that this agreement marks a new chapter in trade relations between the two countries. The ToR was signed by Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile to India, and Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, who is also the Chief Negotiator for India-Chile CEPA from the Indian side. The signing of the ToR reflects the shared vision of both countries to deepen bilateral ties and promote economic cooperation. The Ministry said, "India and Chile signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 08 May 2025, marking a significant advancement in their bilateral trade relations". It also added "The CEPA aims to build upon the existing PTA between the two nations and seeks to encompass a broader range of sectors, including digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, MSME, critical minerals etc. thereby enhancing economic integration and cooperation". The first round of CEPA negotiations is scheduled to take place from May 26 to 30, 2025, in New Delhi. Both countries expressed their commitment to working together towards a fruitful and comprehensive agreement. Critical minerals will be an important part of the CEPA discussions, as they are essential for sectors like semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries, and robotics -- all of which are gaining importance in the global economy. These efforts are expected to enhance economic integration and cooperation between the two nations. India and Chile have shared warm and cordial relations for many years. A Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation was signed in January 2005, followed by the signing of a PTA in March 2006. The PTA was later expanded in September 2016 and came into effect in May 2017. From 2019 to 2021, both sides held three rounds of negotiations to further expand the PTA. To take their economic relationship to the next level, both countries decided to move towards a CEPA. This decision was based on the recommendations of the Joint Study Group (JSG) formed under the 2005 Framework Agreement. The JSG report was finalized and signed on April 30, 2024. The momentum for CEPA gained further support during the State visit of Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font to India from April 1 to 5, 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, leaders from both sides recognized the vital role of trade and commerce in their bilateral relationship. They also welcomed the launch of CEPA negotiations and stressed the importance of creating a balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial agreement that would unlock new opportunities for growth and cooperation. (ANI)
Palakkad (Kerala) [India], May 9: 'Where Legends Meet Across Time' print campaign has been recognized by Luerzer's Archive as the top campaign, marking a significant achievement for the Kerala-based branding agency Push 360.

The captivating campaign was meticulously crafted for Hortus, the art and literature festival launched in 2024 by the prominent media house, Malayala Manorama. The artwork, crafted by Push 360's Chief Creative Director, Jayaprakash (JePi), imagines a surreal meeting of cultural legends - Vincent van Gogh and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer on the shores of Kozhikode, echoing the festival's spirit of timeless creative dialogue.

Luerzer's Archive, a leading global authority on advertising creativity, praised the campaign for its artistic merit, communication impact, and conceptual innovation.

V. A. Shrikumar, CMD of Push 360, stated, "The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. I'm truly happy about the recognition our work has received, it speaks volumes through its visual narrative. At Push 360, every campaign is born from a deep process of strategic thinking and creative ideation - crafted to elevate and transform brands with purpose and meaningful differentiation."

Jayaprakash, Chief Creative Director, explained the campaign's concept, "The central idea was to create a visual metaphor for the Hortus event, as a unique intersection of brilliance, where legacies could symbolically interact. We wanted to pay homage to the rich heritage of the 'Hortus Malabaricus' while highlighting its enduring relevance and reinterpret that legacy through a modern creative lens aligned with the festival's identity."

Push 360 is a premier branding and public relations agency based in Palakkad, Kerala, India, leveraging a distinguished 33-year history of crafting impactful and memorable campaigns that effectively connect across diverse languages and cultures. The agency has built a strong reputation for its strategic branding, impactful advertising, cutting-edge digital solutions, and effective public relations strategies.

Launched in 2024, Malayala Manorama Hortus is designed to foster intellectual exchange and artistic expression. Inspired by the 17th-century botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus commissioned by Hendrik van Rheede, the festival celebrates creativity across disciplines like art, literature, and culture, while engaging a wide audience.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise, Indian Oil Corporation has assured the public that there is no shortage of fuel in the country. The company said that there is no need for panic buying and that fuel and LPG are readily available across all its outlets. In a social media post, Indian Oil stated, "#IndianOil has ample fuel stocks across the country and our supply lines are operating smoothly. There is no need for panic buying--fuel and LPG is readily available at all our outlets." The company further urged customers to remain calm and avoid rushing to fuel stations unnecessarily. It said that such actions could disturb the supply chain and lead to avoidable chaos. Indian Oil added, "Help us serve you better by staying calm and avoiding unnecessary rush. This will keep our supply lines running seamlessly and ensure uninterrupted fuel access for all." With fuel stocks in place and supply operations continuing without disruption, Indian Oil's message aims to prevent fear-based buying and ensure that fuel remains accessible to everyone across the country. India and Pakistan have been actively at loggerheads after terrorist camps were destroyed by India at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. Pakistan too resorted to firing on Thursday night across the Line of Control (LoC) on civilians and Indian Army installations in Uri, Kupwara, Tangdhar, and Karnah sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, violating the ceasefire. Indian army has successfully neutralised the attacks. Explosions were heard as Indian air defence intercepted Pakistani drones in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], May 9: In India, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are often referred to as the backbone of the economy. However, this crucial sector faces persistent challenges such as lack of awareness, delayed payments, and limited access to government schemes. Addressing these issues head-on is young entrepreneur Shashank Nigam, the founder of Udyamita Helpline--a platform dedicated to creating awareness and support for MSMEs across the country. Udyamita Helpline: A Movement for MSME Empowerment Shashank Nigam launched Udyamita Helpline with a clear vision: to educate and empower MSME owners by providing them with the knowledge they need to grow and protect their businesses. Through regular webinars, events, and digital outreach, the platform offers guidance on: - Delayed Payment Solutions: Helping MSMEs understand their legal rights and how to seek redressal under MSME Samadhan and other frameworks. - Government Schemes: Providing simplified insights into various subsidies, loans, and support schemes offered by the Ministry of MSME and other government bodies. - Entrepreneurial Awareness: Sharing real-time updates, expert sessions, and practical advice for business growth. Expanding Horizons: Entry into the AWS Ecosystem Recently, Shashank Nigam has taken a significant step by entering the technology startup ecosystem through a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Under this new initiative, Udyamita Helpline is helping early-stage tech startups by providing access to free AWS credits, enabling them to build, scale, and innovate without the burden of heavy initial infrastructure costs. This move marks a strategic expansion of Udyamita Helpline's mission--from supporting traditional MSMEs to empowering the next generation of digital entrepreneurs and startups. Conclusion With Udyamita Helpline, Shashank Nigam has not just created a support platform--he has sparked a movement. Whether it's a small manufacturer in a Tier-3 city or a budding tech founder in Bangalore, Shashank's vision is clear: empower through awareness, enable through access. As India strides toward a digital and self-reliant future, leaders like him are playing a crucial role in ensuring no entrepreneur is left behind. Visit here: https://udyamitahelpline.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)
India PR Distribution Karnataka [India], May 9: In a prestigious event that celebrated innovation in veterinary technology and sustainable farming, the Minister for Science and Technology, N. S. Boseraju, along with Vice Chancellor of Kodagu University, Dr. Ashok S. Alur, officially launched Petologist, a pioneering veterinary platform developed by Transduceideas Technologies LLP. Petologist is an innovative digital healthcare platform designed to connect pet parents and farmers with licensed veterinarians, clinics, and hospitals. It offers features such as digital health records, vaccination tracking, medication reminders, farm animal monitoring, and telemedicine consultations, thereby redefining the way animal healthcare is delivered in both urban and rural settings. This transformative initiative is digitalising a healthcare platform developed to connect pet parents and farmers with licensed veterinarians, clinics, and hospitals. It offers features such as digital health records, vaccination tracking, medication reminders, farm animal monitoring, and telemedicine consultations, thereby redefining the way animal healthcare is delivered in both urban and rural settings. Petologist is incubated under the RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubation (R-ABI) Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, hosted at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI). IVRI, established in 1889, is India's premier institute for veterinary research and education, contributing significantly to animal health, vaccine development, and disease eradication. The soft launch marks the beginning of a restricted release available exclusively to select veterinary doctors and clinics in Karnataka, allowing the platform to be fine-tuned before its nationwide rollout. During the ceremony, the contributions of Dr. Roopa Alur, Dr. K. Ravi Kumar, Shreyas A., and Vijay were recognized for their instrumental roles in developing animal health technologies by the Minister Tilak R.K. and Priyanka M were also honored for advisory on architecting a robust, scalable platforms in technology infrastructure in the software, ecommerce, agritech and veterinary care sectors. "We are proud to introduce Petologist as a one-stop veterinary platform that empowers doctors while making pet and livestock care seamless for families and farmers," said the Petologist team. "Our goal is to democratize access to affordable, efficient veterinary care across India, starting with this phased launch in Karnataka." Dr. Ashok S. Alur, Vice Chancellor lauded the initiative as a powerful example of how technology and science can serve rural development, sustainable farming, and animal welfare, urging more innovators to follow suit. Key Features of Petologist Include, (i)Digital medical records and vaccination logs(ii)Real-time teleconsultations and reminders(iii)Farm animal health tracking(iv)Doctor-patient connectivity through clinics and hospitals Availability: Currently accessible via restricted access to selected veterinary professionals and clinics in Karnataka. The platform will soon open to users and doctors across India. Download Now: Petologist - For Pet Parents and Farmers (Android) * Dr. Petologist - For Veterinarians and Farm Managers (Android) Visit: www.petologist.org (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Surat [India], May 9: Surat-based Ethnic wear brand, Ethnic Plus has launched its 2025 Bridal Collection with a focus on affordability, inclusivity and traditional craftsmanship. Founded in 2016 by Jagdish Dhameliya, the brand was born out of a simple yet powerful idea: to make designer ethnic wear affordable, inclusive, and rooted in tradition. It began as a small venture and has now grown into a reputable name for thousands of women across India, especially brides-to-be seeking elegance without breaking the bank. "I used to watch my mother and sisters get excited about weddings, but always worry about the cost of outfits," recalls Jagdish. "Fashion shouldn't come with financial stress. That's what drove me to create Ethnic Plus." Determined to create a solution, he launched Ethnic Plus with the vision of delivering designer lehengas and sarees that are both high in quality and low in price. Unlike traditional designer labels, Ethnic Plus offers vibrant, intricately designed pieces made with premium fabrics such as georgette, silk, and velvet. This month, the company unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 Bridal Collection, combining rich heritage-inspired detailing with styles that speak to the contemporary Indian bride. Its online platform and Instagram community, now over 150K strong, are filled with testimonials from real women celebrating how Ethnic Plus helped them feel beautiful without financial strain. With sizes ranging from XS to 5XL and a wide variety of styles, the brand ensures that every woman--regardless of body type or background--can find something that makes her feel confident and celebrated. Operating from Surat gives the brand a strategic advantage. With close ties to local artisans and fabric mills, Ethnic Plus is able to maintain high quality and rapid production while keeping costs low. Looking ahead, Jagdish plans to expand the brand's reach with pop-up experiences in metro cities and global shipping to serve the Indian diaspora. At its core, Ethnic Plus isn't just selling clothes, it's offering access to tradition, beauty, and self-expression for every woman. (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 9: CREDAI-MCHI today hosted a focused knowledge seminar at its Mumbai office to decode the implications of the recent Bombay High Court order in the matter of M/s Shrinivasa Realcon Pvt. Ltd. vs. Deputy Commissioner, Anti-Evasion Branch, a ruling that has delivered significant GST relief for homeowners involved in redevelopment projects. The seminar featured expert insights from a distinguished panel including Mr. Sunny Bijlani, Joint Secretary, CREDAI-MCHI, Mr. Rohit Jain, Deputy Managing Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP); and Mr. Harsh Shah, Partner at ELP. The Bombay High Court's ruling clarified that GST is not applicable where homeowners appoint a developer to carry out redevelopment work, provided there is no sale or transfer of development rights (TDR) or Floor Space Index (FSI). The Court quashed the tax demand under Entry 5B of the relevant GST notification, noting that the agreement was purely for construction and did not involve any transfer of TDR or FSI as per Maharashtra's Unified DCPR. Sunny Bijlani, Joint Secretary, CREDAI-MCHI highlighted, ""If Mumbai is to realise its full redevelopment potential, we must address viability challenges head-on. The stark difference in approval costs--Rs55,200 per square metre in Mumbai compared to Rs1,800 in Pune and Rs5,500 in Delhi--shows how disproportionately high our development charges are. When you add layers of GST and regulatory ambiguity to that, projects simply don't take off. Solving these issues isn't just about helping developers--it's about providing safer homes to thousands living in dilapidated buildings, improving urban infrastructure, and unlocking housing supply. Fixing GST interpretation and aligning taxation to ground realities can significantly accelerate redevelopment. These are low-hanging fruits with massive economic and social impact, and we urge decision-makers to act swiftly." Harsh Shah. Partner, Economic Laws Practice (ELP)added, "The confusion around the GST treatment of development rights has resulted in a wave of litigations across the country--with cases pending in Bombay, Delhi, Gujarat, and Karnataka High Courts. The judgement by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has been misinterpreted in some quarters as a blanket exemption from GST, which is inaccurate. The court merely ruled that GST on development rights is not payable under the reverse charge mechanism--it did not abolish the tax altogether. Until the GST Council or a larger bench of the High Court gives a conclusive verdict, developers remain exposed to legal and financial risk. A clear and consistent interpretation of GST law, in line with the nature of redevelopment transactions, is essential to restore confidence in the sector." Rohit Jain, Deputy Managing Partner, Economic Laws Practice (ELP) mentioned, "The redevelopment model is critical to achieving the goal of 'Housing for All', especially in urban centres like Mumbai. However, the current GST regime has inadvertently made many of these projects financially unviable. Developers today face up to four layers of GST--5% on sale to customers, 18% on transfer of development rights, 5% on units handed back to existing residents, and non-creditable GST on construction materials. These cascading taxes severely impact margins and slow down redevelopment. It is important to clarify that despite recent High Court rulings, GST is still applicable--either under forward or reverse charge mechanisms--and the confusion in interpretation must be addressed urgently. CREDAI-MCHI, along with several developers, has made detailed representations to the GST Council, and we hope for swift intervention to reclassify development rights as immovable property, which should not attract GST under prevailing laws." According to CREDAI-MCHI, over 25,000 buildings in the MMR are eligible for redevelopment, with an estimated project value exceeding Rs30,000 crore. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has already initiated structural audits for nearly 13,000 cessed buildings in South Mumbai, underscoring the urgent need for redevelopment. The judgment is expected to stimulate redevelopment in Mumbai--a city where vertical growth remains the most practical solution amid limited land availability and aging infrastructure. CREDAI-MCHI reiterated its commitment to facilitating smoother redevelopment processes and supporting housing societies with clearer legal frameworks. The organization also announced its upcoming initiatives, including the second edition of the EODR Exhibition, aimed at showcasing best practices and easing challenges in redevelopment. ABOUT CREDAI-MCHI CREDAI-MCHI is an apex body comprising members from the Real Estate Industry in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). With an impressive membership of over 1800+ leading developers in MMR, CREDAI-MCHI has extended its reach throughout the region, establishing units in various locations such as Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Virar, Raigad, Navi Mumbai, Palghar-Boisar, Bhiwandi, Uran-Dronagiri, Shahapur-Murbad, and most recently in Alibag, Karjat-Khalapur-Khopoli, and Pen. Being the only Government-recognized body for private sector developers in MMR, CREDAI-MCHI is dedicated to promoting the industry's organization and progress. As a part of CREDAI National, an apex body of 13000 developers across the nation, CREDAI-MCHI has emerged as a preferred platform for regional discussions on housing and habitat by establishing close and strong ties with the government. It is committed to breaking barriers to create a strong, organized, and progressive real estate sector in the MMR.The vision of CREDAI-MCHI is to empower the Real Estate fraternity of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as it preserves, protects, and advances the right to housing for all. To continue being a trusted ally, guiding their members, supporting the Government on policy advocacy, and assisting those they serve through the ever-evolving real estate fraternity. Website: https://mchi.net/ For further media queries, please contact: Sonia Kulkarni | 9820184099 sonia.kulkarni@hunkgolden.in (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], May 9: After captivating fragrance enthusiasts from around the world at Siloso Beach, Sentosa, Scentopia is set to leave its olfactory mark on India with the launch of Scentzania--a unique chain of immersive, interactive fragrance studios designed especially for the Indian consumer. Seamlessly blending scent, science, and storytelling, Scentzania redefines what perfume means in an era driven by personal expression, nostalgia, and mindful indulgence. Recently recognized as a Tripadvisor Best of the Best 2024 attraction and featured as a Mastercard Priceless Experience, Scentopia has already established itself as a global leader in sensory tourism. With Scentzania, the brand takes that ethos one step further--inviting Indian consumers not just to wear a fragrance, but to craft it from memory. Scentzania soon launches in India with six flagship studios across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, with each space designed as a multi-sensory experience zone. Visitors will be guided through an AI-personalized scent creation journey, where personality quizzes, scent notes, and memory triggers will converge to create a one-of-a-kind perfume, crafted by you, for you. "With Scentzania, we're not just selling fragrance--we're reviving its lost intimacy. Our goal is to reconnect people with the emotional core of perfumery, where each scent becomes a reflection of self, memory, and moment," said Prachi Saini Garg, Founder, Scentzania. By marrying ancient Indian perfumery traditions with cutting-edge personalization technology, Scentzania bridges heritage and innovation, inviting everyone to rediscover fragrance not as a commodity, but as a lived, remembered, and cherished part of their lives. About Scentzania: Scentzania is India's first immersive scent experience brand, blending technology, storytelling, and personalization. Born from Singapore's award-winning Scentopia--ranked Tripadvisor's Best of the Best 2024 and a Mastercard Priceless Experience--Scentzania invites consumers to craft fragrances that reflect who they are. With flagship studios and franchise formats launching across India, it is reimagining how a nation wears its scent. (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)
Indian stock indices - Sensex and Nifty - edged lower for the second straight day as the ongoing tensions between Indian and Pakistan have escalated to another level. Sensex closed at 79,454.47 points, down 880.34 points or 1.10 per cent, and Nifty closed at 24,008.00 points, down 265.80 points or 1.10 per cent. Nifty realty was the worst hit among the sectoral indices - down 2.4 per cent. Amidst these volatility, Nifty and Nifty PSU bank are the only sectoral indices that have managed to remain in the green. Cumulatively, Sensex and Nifty slumped about 2 per cent each during the week that ended today. Last week, the Sensex and Nifty indices registered their longest weekly winning streak of 2025. Cumulatively, Sensex soared over 1,100 points or 1.5 per cent in the holiday-truncated week. The stock exchanges were closed on May 1 for Maharashtra Day. Pakistani armed forces have been violating ceasefire and targeting civilian villages and Indian armed forces' posts along the International Border and the Line of Control in various sectors. The attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the ceasefire violations by the Pakistani side. "A conflict was anticipated but the market was not expecting the situation to intensify, raising concerns about its duration. However, it is still projected to be a short-lived confrontation, given the strategic advantage and the opponent's weak economic standing," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited. "Interestingly, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) continued to invest in the Indian market until yesterday, while retail investors remain slightly cautious at the moment," Nair added. Foreign portfolio investors turned net buyers in Indian markets after three months, though the pace of buying remains tepid. "Benchmark indices extended their downward trajectory for the second consecutive session on May 9, as heightened geopolitical tensions overshadowed otherwise constructive global cues," said Bajaj Broking Research. Indian stock indices had seen upward movement since Trump's decision to pause the reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries, including India, for 90 days. The tariffs had initially set off a sell-off in equities globally, and India was no exception. Geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, had weighed on investor of late. The investors will continue to keep an eye on the escalation of tensions between the two nations, as they bet in the financial markets. (ANI)
VMPL Dalu (Assam) [India], May 9: A recent study titled "A Study on the Impact of IBDF in Consumers' Life - Dalu Sub-division", conducted by Lavanya Joshi in collaboration with Dr. Karuna Sharad Kamble, has shed light on the significant influence of IBDF on consumer behavior, economic growth, and overall quality of life in the region. This comprehensive research highlights key trends and findings that offer invaluable insights for policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders. The impact report presents a comprehensive study of the Input-Based Distribution Franchisee (IBDF) model implemented by Sai Computers Limited (SCL) in the Dalu Sub-Division of Meghalaya. SCL, a prominent utility service provider with over four decades of experience, has served as the Distribution Franchisee for Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) since April 2019. The report assesses the model's effectiveness in improving power distribution, enhancing consumer services, and driving regional development. Before IBDF, Dalu residents received electricity for less than two-thirds of the day, often facing long outages and delayed repairs. After IBDF, power availability surged to nearly an entire day with faster restoration and modernized infrastructure. This shift resulted in a 70% reduction in outage duration and a dramatic drop in AT&C losses--from 87.89% in 2018-19 to 16.93% in 2023-24. Key Findings of the Study: * Economic Empowerment: The IBDF has played a pivotal role in boosting income generation, particularly among small businesses and local entrepreneurs in Dalu. IBDF initiatives increased small business income by up to 35% in three years, driven by efficient billing and expanded consumer reach. Reliable electricity also strengthened healthcare and education, enabling uninterrupted services, safer deliveries, and improved learning environments. * Healthcare Impact: With close to 24 hours of power supply, emergency services now operate reliably with life-saving equipment like oxygen concentrators and diagnostics. This consistent electricity reduced emergency response delays by over 70%, significantly improving patient care and outcomes. Enhanced Market Accessibility: Consumers in the Dalu Sub-division have benefited from increased access to various products and services, improving their purchasing power and lifestyle. Improved digital access and localized services enabled rural consumers to participate in broader markets, streamlining rural-urban trade and enhancing consumer lifestyles. * Sustainability and Growth: Over 75% of businesses reported steady growth over five years, showcasing the model's resilience in rural economies. Unlike conventional models, the IBDF model demonstrated greater financial resilience and adaptability in rural markets. * Consumer Awareness and Digital Adoption: A notable increase in consumer awareness regarding financial literacy and digital transactions has been observed, indicating a shift toward a more technologically inclusive economy. According to the study, digital transactions in the region have grown by 60%, demonstrating a significant adaptation to modern financial tools. * Job Creation and Skills Development: The IBDF model has played a crucial role in employment generation and workforce skill enhancement, contributing to regional economic stability. IBDF efforts created over 1,000 jobs in five years through mobile payment units, field operations, and maintenance services, building a skilled local workforce. One of the most critical metrics, AT&C losses, saw a dramatic decline from a high of 87.89% in 2018-2019 to a low of 16.93% in 2023-2024 This reduction is indicative of effective measures to curb losses through advanced metering infrastructure, stringent loss reduction strategies, and diligent revenue collection practices. This dramatic improvement stands as a major achievement, showcasing the model's effectiveness in enhancing efficiency and ensuring sustainable power distribution. Tech integration through AI-powered photo analysis, spot billing, and smart metering enhanced billing accuracy and operational efficiency. These innovations, combined with 24/7 helplines and seamless online payments, elevated consumer satisfaction. The 5'S strategy--Samvaad, Samasya, Samadhan, Suvidha, Sudhaar--further improved engagement, issue resolution, and service delivery, thus providing better, faster, and more consumer-centric utility services. Broader Implications of the Study The Dalu model underscores the potential of IBDF, as a form of partial privatization, to bridge rural-urban disparities. By empowering local economies, integrating technology, and promoting sustainable practices, IBDF offers a scalable blueprint for rural transformation across India. The findings of this study highlight not just the immediate impact of IBDF on consumers but also the long-term economic benefits that such frameworks provide. The study emphasizes scaling consumer-centric distribution models and calls for fostering resilient business ecosystems integrated within the IBDF. Policymakers, development agencies, and financial bodies are encouraged to replicate the Dalu IBDF model to promote inclusive, tech-integrated business ecosystems and reduce rural-urban development disparities. Furthermore, the study suggests that IBDF initiatives can serve as a blueprint for rural economic transformation. By leveraging technology, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing consumer awareness, the model has demonstrated its potential to bridge economic disparities and create a more balanced economic landscape. Future Prospects and Recommendations The study provides several recommendations for the continued success and expansion of IBDF programs: 1. Strengthening Digital Infrastructure: Policymakers and businesses must invest in expanding digital literacy programs and improving access to high-speed internet. 2. Enhancing Financial Support: Financial institutions should create specialized lending programs tailored for specialized financing for businesses operating within the IBDF can boost their scalability and financial viability. 3. Regulatory Simplification: The government should work on reducing bureaucratic hurdles and streamlining compliance procedures to motivate more micro and small enterprises to engage with the IBDF model. 4. Encouraging Entrepreneurship: The IBDF model has emphasized mentorship through structured initiatives like SAMVAAD, which focuses on grassroots communication and awareness-building to encourage local entrepreneurship. 5. Scalability of IBDF: The successful implementation in Dalu Sub-division serves as a model that can be replicated in other rural areas facing similar economic challenges. Significance of the Study for Policy and Business Leaders The implications of this study extend beyond the Dalu Sub-division, serving as a crucial case study for regions across India and beyond. Business leaders, government officials, and financial institutions can utilize these insights to shape more effective economic policies. By integrating IBDF operational strategies into rural financial and business planning, the model can catalyze widespread economic improvement. This study serves as a valuable reference for policymakers, business leaders, and financial institutions, offering insights into how decentralized, consumer-focused utility models can foster inclusive economic growth and systemic resilience. This study calls for continued research and investment in business development strategies that not only enhance individual consumer experiences but also contribute to larger economic transformations. About the Researchers: Lavanya Joshi is a renowned researcher specializing in consumer behavior and economic impact studies. Dr. Karuna Sharad Kamble has extensive experience in business development and sustainable economic research, contributing their expertise to this groundbreaking study. To know more about The Impact of IBDF in Consumer Life: Email ID - lavanyajoshi@protonmail.com Know more about The Sai Computers, Visit site: Website Link - http://www.thesaicomputers.com Read the full research by clicking on this link: Link - https://bit.ly/ImpactReportfinal (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 Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 9: Emmadi Silver Jewellery, a leading name in premium silver jewellery, successfully celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Karnataka on 9th May at 11:00 AM in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. The event was graced by popular actress Ashika Ranganath, who inaugurated the store and captivated attendees with her presence and endorsement of the brand's timeless designs. Also present at the event was former Dy CM of Karnataka Ashwath Narayan alongside other dignitaries and well wishers. The launch marks a significant milestone for Emmadi Silver Jewellery as it expands its footprint beyond Telangana and Andhra Pradesh into Karnataka -- a culturally rich market that values tradition and craftsmanship. The new store, located at No. 306, Ground Floor, 2nd Main Road, 16th Cross, Sampige Road, Malleshwaram, introduces Bengaluru customers to Emmadi's exclusive range of over 75,000 silver jewellery designs crafted by expert goldsmiths and intricately gold-plated to resemble fine gold ornaments. Speaking at the event, actress Ashika Ranganath said, "Jewellery connects us to our traditions and tells our stories. Emmadi Silver Jewellery's designs reflect that timeless beauty, and I'm honored to be part of this new beginning in Bengaluru." The grand opening attracted jewellery enthusiasts, loyal customers, and members of the press, who were introduced to the brand's unique value proposition -- offering luxury-quality silver jewellery at accessible prices, without compromising on heritage or craftsmanship. A spokesperson for Emmadi Silver Jewellery shared, "Malleshwaram, with its rich heritage and discerning consumers, was a natural choice for our Bangalore debut. We are humbled by the overwhelming response and excited to continue bringing Emmadi's legacy of elegance to new markets." Founded four years ago in Hyderabad, Emmadi Silver Jewellery has swiftly gained a strong following with over 150,000 customers globally, including a growing base in the United States. The brand plans to open its next store in Marathahalli within 10 days, followed by launches in Jayanagar and additional locations across Karnataka, with the goal of establishing 10-15 outlets by the end of 2025. The store launch highlights Emmadi's commitment to bringing tradition, quality, and affordability together, offering a new destination for jewellery lovers in Bengaluru. For more information, visit: www.emmadisilverjewellery.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 9: Ideal Eyes Interior, one of Kolkata's most dynamic and fast-growing interior design firms, has surpassed 430 completed projects across Eastern India, marking a significant milestone in its journey of transforming spaces into timeless design statements. With an expanding clientele that includes luxury homeowners, retail developers, and commercial brands, the company is now preparing to scale its operations nationally--ushering in a new era of bespoke, experience-driven interior design. Redefining Interior Design in India Founded in 2010, Ideal Eyes Interior has emerged as a leading player in the premium interior segment, known for its distinctive blend of functionality, aesthetic sophistication, and cultural storytelling. What sets the brand apart is its ability to translate a client's personality into immersive living and working environments--making every project a signature experience. Led by Vision, Driven by Design At the helm of Ideal Eyes Interior is Principal Designer and Founder Madhusudan Halder, a seasoned industry professional with over 13 years of hands-on experience across Kolkata, Delhi, and Hyderabad. Halder's leadership has been instrumental in shaping the company's design philosophy and reputation. His design sensibility--rooted in empathy, storytelling, and attention to functional detail--continues to guide the firm's growth and inspire its team. While Halder prefers to let the work speak for itself, his influence is unmistakably present in every project the brand delivers. A Proven Track Record of Excellence With over 430 successfully delivered projects and a consistently high client retention rate, Ideal Eyes Interior has built a solid reputation for quality execution and customer satisfaction. Each project is a reflection of the company's core values: design integrity, attention to detail, timely delivery, and complete transparency. The firm's diverse portfolio features luxury villas, contemporary apartments, retail environments, corporate offices, and turnkey spaces--each tailored to the client's aspirations and lifestyle. Clients repeatedly choose Ideal Eyes Interior for its professionalism, reliability, and creative agility. Design That Speaks with Purpose At Ideal Eyes Interior, design is not just about appearances--it's about storytelling, atmosphere, and experience. Every project begins with an in-depth consultation, ensuring that the final outcome is deeply aligned with the client's vision. Whether it's a calming home retreat or a high-functioning commercial hub, the company's approach centers around designing meaningful spaces that evoke emotion and deliver impact. This philosophy has positioned the firm as a trusted partner for those who seek not just beautiful interiors, but spaces that embody a unique identity. Technology Meets Tradition Innovation is at the core of Ideal Eyes Interior's operations. The team combines time-tested craftsmanship with the latest in design technology--from 3D visualizations and smart space planning to sustainable material sourcing. This balance allows the company to maintain creative excellence while adapting to modern-day demands, including energy-efficient and future-ready design solutions. Scaling Up: The Vision Ahead Building on its regional success, Ideal Eyes Interior is now setting its sights on national expansion. With plans to open new design studios, expand its team of professionals, and introduce a product line of custom interior solutions, the brand is gearing up for its next growth phase. Strategic partnerships with developers and real estate leaders are also in the pipeline, aiming to bring the firm's design expertise to a broader audience. Despite the growth, the company remains committed to its founding ethos--designing spaces that inspire, comfort, and endure. The Ideal Eyes Promise For discerning clients who value precision, personalization, and design that goes beyond the ordinary, Ideal Eyes Interior is more than a design firm--it's a creative partner in building beautiful, functional, and lasting spaces. Whether you're envisioning your dream home or reshaping your workspace, Ideal Eyes Interior offers a design journey defined by clarity, creativity, and craftsmanship. Because great design isn't just about how it looks--It's about how it feels. Website: https://idealeyesinterior.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India will put forward its perspective on the impending IMF bailout for Pakistan at the board meeting of IMF scheduled today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday. "You must be aware that the IMF meeting is underway. We will put forward our perspective and our views with the IMF members. It is up to the Board as to what decision they take," India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, told reporters at a press conference here in the national capital. It is obvious that India will mount opposition to the bailout package to Pakistan, a country that supports terrorism. The foreign secretary, however, was tightlipped as to what India will convey at the IMF meeting. Reportedly, Pakistan is seeking the next tranche of IMF bailout worth USD 1 billion. India has sharply downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan after the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, leading to the death of 26 individuals and several other injured, mostly tourists. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which would over a period of time will severely reduce Pakistan's water supply. Earlier this week, sources told ANI that India will also approach FATF (Financial Action Task Force) to include Pakistan in the grey list. Adding the country to the grey list would make it difficult for terror-harboring Pakistan to attract multilateral lending. Asked about the status of Indus Waters Treaty, Misri said, "Indus Waters Treaty is in abeyance, and I have nothing further to add to the decision that was announced by Cabinet Committee on Security." The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, which is also a signatory. A day after the horrific terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that led to the loss of 26 lives, mostly tourists, the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was kept in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Separately, World Bank President Ajay Banga said the international financial institution has no role beyond being the facilitator of the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan. "We have no role to play beyond a facilitator. There's a lot of speculation in the media about how the World Bank will step in and fix the problem but it's all bunk. The World Bank's role is merely as a facilitator," Ajay Banga was quoted as saying by the Press Information Bureau. Banga met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here in the national capital on Thursday evening. Soon after, there were speculations that the World Bank will step in and interfere in the matter. The Indus Waters Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. At the same time, the Treaty allows each country certain waters of the rivers allocated to the other. The treaty gives India 20 per cent of the water from the Indus River System and the rest 80 per cent to Pakistan. (ANI)
Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to India, Herve Delphin, on Friday said that the negotiating teams from the bloc will be India next week. "...The negotiation of a substantive free trade agreement represents a central plan in our relationship. Our leaders have directed the negotiating teams to conclude the negotiation by the end of the year. Both sides are fully committed to reaching this goal. It is a matter of necessity as much as urgency. Next week, the negotiating teams will meet here in Delhi and it is our sincere hope that it will represent a major milestone towards an agreement," the EU envoy to India said, speaking at the Europe Day celebrations here in the national capital. "The strength of EU and India economic and business ties cannot be understated. The EU is the largest trading partner of India...with this FTA it has the potential to grow exponentially," Delphin added. On 17 June 2022, the European Union relaunched negotiations with India for a Free Trade Agreement, and launched separate negotiations for an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). The EU is India's largest trading partner, accounting for Euro 124 billion worth of trade in goods in 2023 or 12.2 per cent of total Indian trade. India is the EU's 9th largest trading partner, accounting for 2.2 per cent of the EU's total trade in goods in 2023. Trade in services between the EU and India reached Euro 59.7 billion in 2023, up from Euro 30.4 billion in 2020. India and EU are commited to conclude an ambitious FTA by the end of 2025, India's Ministry of Commerce and Industrysaid earlier this month. This commitment builds on the strategic direction given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen during the landmark visit of the EU College of Commissioners to New Delhi in February 2025. Both sides reiterated their aim to address pending issues in a spirit of mutual respect and pragmatism, including at the next round scheduled to be held from 12-16 May 2025 in New Delhi, the commerce ministry statement had said. India emphasized that meaningful progress in trade negotiations requires equal focus on non-tariff barriers (NTBs) alongside tariff discussions and regulatory frameworks must be inclusive, proportionate, and avoid restricting trade. (ANI)
Bollywood celebrities have extended support to the nation and also offered prayers for the safety and well-being of the people. On Thursday, the Indian Army shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the Line of Control and the International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The operation was launched after Pakistan made failed attempts to send multiple swarm drones into Indian territory across different locations, including Jammu and Pathankot in Punjab. Actress and MP Kangana Ranaut shared a video on her Instagram handle, showcasing the valour of the Indian Army as they neutralise Pakistan drones. While sharing the video, the actress wrote, "Jammu On Target! Indian Air Defence Neutralises Pakistan. Drone in #Jammu. Stay strong #jammu." Comedian and actor Vir Das offered his prayers to the people of India who were under blackout due to a drone attack by Pakistan, which the Indian Army neutralised. Taking to his X handle, the actor wrote, "To family, friends and more who sit in blackouts as we speak, thinking of you, praying for you. To those protecting them, we thank you. Gratitude, prayers and respect. Be safe, be strong." https://x.com/thevirdas/status/1920531022678000063? South actor Varun Konidela lauded the Indian Army for their successful neutralisation of Pakistan drones, as stated by the Indian Army. Taking to his Instagram handle, he wrote, "More power to our brave Indian Army defending against the attacks of the perpetrators with unwavering valour. We stand united in support and pray for your safety. Jai Hind." Through the photo-sharing app Instagram, the actress Shraddha shared her love for the Indian army. She wrote, "Proud of our protectors. Jai Hind." Veteran actor Anupam Kher took to social media to share a video from his family's home in Jammu. The short clip, sent to him by his cousin, showed the area under complete blackout, reportedly due to recent security developments. On Thursday, the actor shared the video on his X account along with a caption stating that he immediately called his cousin after receiving the video to check on the family's safety. However, his cousin's spirit made him proud as he reassured Kher that the Indian Army was there to protect them. He wrote, "My cousin brother #SunilKher sent this video from his home in Jammu. I called immediately and asked him if he and his family are ok? He laughed a little proudly and said, 'Bhaiya! Hum Bharat mein hain! Hum Hindustani hain. Hamari suraksha Bharatiya Sena aur Mata Vaishno Devi kar rahi hain. Aap tension mat lo. Waise bhi koi bhi missile hum zameen par nahi lagne de rahe.' Jai Mata Ki! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!" https://x.com/AnupamPKher/status/1920522487110250756? Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also wrote, "It's going to be a long night ahead. Let's stand united with our Armed Forces; may their strength and courage prevail. #SupportOurTroops #StayUnited #IndianArmy #OperationSindoor2" The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. Taking to X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Army stated. (ANI)
Actor Anushka Sharma has expressed her support for India's Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). On Friday afternoon, Anushka took to Instagram and thanked the Indian armed forces for working day and night to protect the nation. In a heartfelt message, she wrote, "Eternally grateful to our Indian Armed Forces for protecting us through these times like the heroes that they are. Heartfelt gratitude to the sacrifices they and their families have made (folded hands and Indian Flag emojis)." Anushka's husband and star batter Virat Kohli also saluted the Indian Armed Forces. Virat Kohli posted on his Instagram, "We stand in solidarity with and salute our armed forces for fiercely protecting our country in these difficult times. We are forever indebted to our heroes for their unwavering bravery and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices they and their families make for our great nation." India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads against each other after terrorist camps were destroyed at nine locations in the neighboring country under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 has successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force."The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Bollywood celebrities Varun Dhawan and Parineeti Chopra urged citizens to rely on verified sources and not fall prey to fake news. "Let's spread correct information only," Varun posted on Instagram Story. Parineeti also took to Instagram Story and asked people to stop spreading fake news. "The worst we can do right now is spread fake news and terrify the people who are watching. Let's rely on official updates and nothing else. Report responsibly," she wrote. Actor Sonakshi Sinha criticised news channels for sensationalising the India-Pakistan conflict. ""Our news channels are a joke! I'm so done with these over-dramatised visuals and sound effects, the screaming and shouting! What are you'll doing? Just do your job, report facts as they are. Stop sensationalising WAR and creating panic in people who are anyway anxious, for God's sake," she posted. India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads with each other after terrorist camps were destroyed at nine locations in the neighbouring country under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 has successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs.Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force. The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. (ANI)
Ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli has shown strong support for the Indian Armed Forces amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. On Friday, the 'RRR' director took to his X account to praise the bravery of Indian soldiers and urge citizens to act with care and unity during this critical time. In his post, the filmmaker praised the armed forces and their efforts to protect the nation from terrorism. He also urged the public to "stand together" and stay united. "Saluting our brave Indian Armed Forces for their unwavering courage in protecting our nation from terrorism. Let's stand together as a nation, inspired by their valor, to build a future of peace and unity. Jai Hind!" read his tweet. https://x.com/ssrajamouli/status/1920742874645250246 In his second tweet, the director also warned people not to share sensitive information or "unverified news." He said, "If you see any movement of the Indian Army, don't take pictures or videos. Don't share them, as you might be helping the enemy. Stop forwarding unverified news or claims. You'll only create noise, which the enemy wants. Stay calm, alert, and positive. Victory is ours." https://x.com/ssrajamouli/status/1920746905228771330 India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads after terrorist camps were destroyed at nine locations in the neighbouring country under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. The Indian Army, during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pakistani troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. The Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation. All nefarious designs will be met with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. (ANI)
Sitara met Kendall during what appeared to be a casual flight and didn't miss the chance to take selfies with the global celebrity. Both were seen in comfy T-shirts and caps, smiling warmly for the camera. Sitara later shared a collage of their pictures on her Instagram Stories, giving fans a sweet peek into her fun vacation moment.

Take a look:

Earlier in April, Sitara, her brother Gautam Ghattamaneni, and their mother Namrata Shirodkar also attended Nick Jonas's Broadway musical The Last Five Years in New York.

Namrata shared a photo with Nick Jonas on Instagram, thanking him for the lovely experience.

"Watched @thelastfiveyears last night!! @nickjonas, you were absolutely incredible--so vulnerable and so real! You brought such depth to Jamie. It was truly moving to watch! It's not often that you see a spectacular musical with so many emotions! Kudos to @adriennelwarren, you were brilliant," Namrata captioned.

She also thanked Priyanka Chopra, writing, "Huge congratulations on a beautiful show! Thanks @priyankachopra for this special evening. #NickJonas #TheLastFiveYears."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Mahesh is currently preparing for his upcoming film, SSMB29, directed by SS Rajamouli and co-starring Priyanka Chopra. The film is expected to be a high-budget action adventure spanning multiple countries. (ANI)
Actor Aly Goni, who is currently out of India for a shoot, expressed deep concern for his family in Jammu amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Following Pakistan's aerial strikes targeting Jammu on Thursday night, Aly, took to Instagram and wrote, "Sleepless and shattered, stuck out of India as my family in jammu endures last night's attack. My whole family, children, and parents face the terror of drones and unrest, yet some people glorify this war from the comfort of their homes, posting on social media. It's not that easy for those near the border." He also thanked the Indian Armed Forces for their brave efforts as they work day and night to protect the nation. "Thanks to our IAF And Indian Army praying for safety and peace," Aly added. India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads with each other after terrorist camps were destroyed at nine locations in the neighbouring country under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 has successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs.Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. (ANI)
Amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan, voices from the film industry have also come forward to show support for the Indian Armed Forces and the government. Following the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 innocent tourists, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military response targeting terrorist camps across the border. Actor Vindu Dara Singh, speaking to ANI earlier in the day, expressed his support for the government and lauded the Indian military's response. Expressing how Pakistan's actions backfired by uniting Indians across religions and regions, the actor shared, "Pakistan ki buddhi bhrasht ho gayi thi jo unhone logon ko Kashmir mein bheja. Kashmir bahut tarakki kar raha tha. This incident was a big mistake by Pakistan because, for the first time, even the Kashmiris have come in support of Hindustan. The whole of India has united. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians--all of us are united, and this is a huge mistake by Pakistan, for which they are facing consequences. Operation Sindoor is just fantastic." "I had tweeted earlier that whoever gave this operation its name, I offer them my deepest respects... Operation Sindoor has touched our hearts. I'm with the government. The government is fantastic. The way they responded, our army personnel, our navy--they deserve all the salutes possible. We are so proud of all of you," the actor added. Veteran actor Mukesh Rishi also praised the government's actions and shared, "I would like to express my thanks to PM Modi. This was not something that could have been handled by just one, two, or even fifty people. It was something that only the government could manage. The actions that the government has taken were beyond what any of us could have imagined." India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since the destruction of terrorist camps at nine locations in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were largely intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage. (ANI)
The two will star alongside Adam Driver in the upcoming movie, which is set to begin filming next month in New Jersey.

Johansson and Teller will replace Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, who had to leave the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Paper Tiger is a tense drama about two brothers chasing the American Dream. Their hopes take a dark turn when they get involved in a risky deal that leads them into the world of crime and danger. As things spiral out of control, the brothers face threats from the Russian mafia, and their bond is tested like never before.

The film is written and directed by James Gray, known for movies like Ad Astra and The Lost City of Z. It will be produced by Rodrigo Teixeira, Anthony Katagas, and others.

Scarlett Johansson, a two-time Oscar nominee, is known for her roles in Marriage Story, Lost in Translation, and the Avengers films. She will also appear at Cannes in Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme. Johansson is also working on her directorial debut.

Miles Teller is best known for Top Gun: Maverick, Whiplash, and The Spectacular Now. He has recently completed work on several films, including a Michael Jackson biopic and an A24 drama titled Eternity. (ANI)
The incident came amid a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces in the area, sources added.

According to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Pakistan also tried to target military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, which are near the International Border (IB). However, the Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised the attack, and no loss of life was reported.

"Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu and Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means," Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held discussions with the Director Generals of all border guarding forces to review the current security situation along India's borders.

The meeting aimed at assessing preparedness and operational readiness in light of recent developments as Pakistan launched a significant missile and drone attack targeting India's Jammu region and Rajasthan including Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia and Jaisalmer. However, all missiles were intercepted and blocked by air defence units and no major damage was reported.

In a separate interaction, Shah also spoke with the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to evaluate airport security measures across the country.

The review comes amid heightened vigilance at key infrastructure points.

This attack followed India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, wherein Indian forces conducted missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

India claimed these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in retaliation for an April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 28 civilians. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the sound of explosions was heard near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir early Friday morning. Further details are awaited. Meanwhile, the Border Security Forces (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt along the International Boundary in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The attempt was made around 11 pm on May 8. In a post on X, BSF Jammu wrote, "At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K." Earlier, multiple sources told ANI that a Pakistani Air Force jet was shot down by Indian Air Defence systems in the Pathankot sector of Punjab. However, official confirmation from the government is still awaited, and more details are expected soon. Defence sources also said that the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted during a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces. According to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Pakistan also tried to target military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, all located near the International Border. The Indian Armed Forces responded strongly, and no loss of life was reported. In a post on X, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff stated: "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu and Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic and non-kinetic means." These developments come after India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7. During the operation, the Indian Armed Forces carried out missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). According to Indian officials, the strikes targeted infrastructure linked to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation was carried out in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 28 civilians. (ANI)
"This is the new India. This is the India that strikes inside enemy territory. Pakistan should stay within limits. Their actions will cost them dearly. PM Modi has taught them a lesson through Operation Sindoor," Shinde told reporters.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde also commended the Indian armed forces, saying they worked with full force to neutralise terror camps in Pakistan.

"The Army has taken a commendable step. They acted with full force to destroy these camps. Today, the entire country stands with the Army," he told ANI, referring to posters put up in Mumbai by the Shiv Sena praising the armed forces.

Speaking on the all-party meeting, the Shiv Sena MP said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed leaders that over 100 terrorists were killed in the precision strikes.

"The Defence Minister informed us today that more than 100 terrorists were killed when we attacked the terror camps," Shinde said.

The all-party meeting was held at the Parliament Annexe to brief political leaders on Operation Sindoor and the rising tensions with Pakistan. The meeting came after India conducted pre-dawn strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on May 7, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed leaders about the operation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi were among those who attended. (ANI)
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Director General of Intelligence, and the Additional Director General of Law and Order.

This meeting comes after Pakistani drones were intercepted by the Indian air defense in Jaisalmer. Explosions were heard, and flashes were seen in the sky. Blackouts were also enforced in Bikaner and parts of Punjab, as well as in Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, Amritsar, and Jalandhar.

Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah also chaired a meeting with the Director Generals of the border guarding forces to assess the situation. Amit Shah also discussed airport security with the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Pakistan has targeted military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, in proximity to the international boundary, according to a post on X by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

The Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised the attack, and no losses were reported. The post read, "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means."

India had earlier responded to the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor, in which terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK was targeted through precision strikes. India also made it clear that any attack on military installations would invite a suitable response. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) in Amritsar has urged all residents to stay indoors, keep their lights turned off, and draw their curtains for safety. "All citizens are requested to stay indoors and away from the windows, keep lights turned off, and draw the window curtains. There is no need to panic. A siren will blow now, and we will pass the message again once it is clear," the Amritsar DPRO said. The DPRO also lauded the armed forces and appealed to the public to cooperate. "Our armed forces are on the job, and we need to support them by staying indoors. There is no need to panic," the official added . This comes after the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Earlier, Defence sources said the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted during a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces. Meanwhile, according to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Pakistan also tried to target military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, which are close to the International Border (IB). However, the Indian Armed Forces successfully responded to the attack, and no loss of life was reported. In a post on social media platform X, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff stated: "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu and Kashmir, targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by Indian Armed Forces as per SoP with kinetic and non-kinetic means." (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is heading to Jammu on Friday to assess the situation following a failed Pakistani drone attack that targeted Jammu city and adjoining areas. Residents reported a night of blackout and gunfire, while the Army successfully neutralised all incoming drones. In a post on X, Abdullah said, "Driving to Jammu now to take stock of the situation after last night's failed Pakistani drone attack directed at Jammu city & other parts of the division." According to locals, a complete blackout was enforced before the drone activity began, adding to the anxiety in the region. "There was a complete blackout last night, after which, drones started flying and firing continued the entire night. Our forces are giving Pakistan a befitting reply. We have trust in our Prime Minister and our Army. All drones were neutralised by our forces. We are proud of our country. There is tension near the border but rest of the places are safe," a local told ANI. Similarly, another local said, "As soon as we started dinner last night, we heard the sound of some explosions. Explosions were heard again at around 4:30 a.m., but they were also neutralised by our forces. There is nothing to worry about. Our forces are on alert. Bhagwati Vaishno Devi is sitting in Jammu, there is nothing to be scared of." "Attacking civilians is nothing but cowardice because they (Pakistan) don't have the courage to fight our forces. This is all that they can do. Our forces are giving a befitting reply and we are proud of them," he told ANI. Earlier on Thursday, a complete blackout was enforced in Jammu after sirens were heard and explosions were reported near the Line of Control (Loc) in Poonch and Rajouri districts, amid rising tensions in the region. Further details are awaited. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Border Security Forces (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt along the International Boundary in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The attempt was made around 11 pm on May 8. In a post on X, BSF Jammu wrote, "At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K." Additionally, defence sources confirmed that the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted amid a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces. These developments come after India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7. During the operation, the Indian Armed Forces carried out missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). According to Indian officials, the strikes targeted infrastructure linked to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation was carried out in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. (ANI)
The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 has successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. Taking to X on Thursday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Army stated. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The operation was launched after Pakistan made failed attempts to send multiple swarm drones into Indian territory across different locations. The Indian Army Air Defence units responded swiftly and targeted the drones in areas including Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, and Pathankot. Sources added that the Army used several air defence systems and weapons, including L-70 guns, ZU-23 mm, Schilka systems, and other advanced counter-UAS equipment, to destroy the drones. The Indian Armed Forces successfully thwarted the drone attack targeting civilian areas. No casualties have been reported so far. (ANI)
Srinagar Police has initiated legal proceedings against individuals accused of circulating false information and inflammatory content on social media, following recent tensions between India and Pakistan. Taking on X, Srinagar Police stated that it had initiated legal action against online provocation and false information prejudicial to peace and public order." https://x.com/SrinagarPolice/status/1920524030957814138 "It has come to the attention of credible agencies that certain unidentified individuals, acting in furtherance of a larger enemy design, are systematically disseminating misinformation and inflammatory content on various social media platforms amidst the current rise in tensions between India and Pakistan. Preliminary findings indicate that these posts contain fabricated narratives, distorted facts, and sensitive information about ongoing covert operations within Indian territory. The unauthorised disclosure of such information poses a serious threat to national security and serves the strategic interests of hostile elements. The content being circulated is deliberately crafted to spread confusion, incite fear, and provoke unrest among the public. Initial assessments suggest that the dissemination of such material has already caused concern within sections of the civilian population and holds the potential to disrupt public order," the Police said. Given the gravity of the situation and its impact on national sovereignty, unity, and security, Srinagar Police has identified the accused, Inayat Hussain Rather Shalina, Pampore, Rather Arif (Wanpora, Anantnag, and Sheikh Umar Farooq from Ichgam, Budgam, the post further added on X. In this connection, case FIR No. 14/2025 under sections 197(1)(d), 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered in PS Shergarhi, and investigation has been initiated to apprehend the individuals responsible for these unlawful activities. The general public is urged to remain vigilant and refrain from sharing unverified information on social media. Any suspicious activity or content may be reported to the concerned authorities for prompt action. Srinagar Police says it remains committed to preserving peace and ensuring the security of all residents. Any individual found promoting violence, disruption, or unlawful activities will face stringent legal consequences following the law.(ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow him to serve the country as an "aviator" amid the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan following the launch of Operation Sindoor. "You (PM Modi) are requested to give us citizens also an opportunity to serve Mother India. If I lose my life in protecting the country and its citizens, I would consider myself fortunate," Yadav posted on X. He said he wishes to serve the country alongside security personnel deployed at the border. "Honorable Prime Minister, Vande Mataram. All of us countrymen are together in this situation of disaster. I, Tej Pratap Yadav, Father: Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav, Resident: Patna, State: Bihar, am also capable of performing my duties as an aviator. I have a strong desire to work shoulder to shoulder with the security personnel (forces) on the border and destroy the evil intentions of the enemies," the RJD leader said. His request comes as India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads against each other after terrorist camps were destroyed at nine locations in the neigbouring country, under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. On Thursday, a complete blackout was enforced in Jammu after sirens were heard and explosions were reported near the Line of Control (Loc) in Poonch and Rajouri districts, amid rising tensions in the region. The Border Security Forces (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt along the International Boundary in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The attempt was made around 11 pm on May 8. In a post on X, BSF Jammu wrote, "At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K." Additionally, defence sources confirmed that the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted amid a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces. According to Indian officials, the strikes targeted infrastructure linked to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation was carried out in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir in India on April 22, the Indian Armed Forces on Wednesday launched 'Operation Sindoor', carrying out precision strikes on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), days after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. (ANI)
Assam Governor and President of the Indian Red Cross Society, Assam State Branch, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, attended the celebration of World Red Cross Day 2025 and unveiled three commemorative busts of Jean Henry Dunant, Dr. Poal Chandra Duarah and Renuka Devi Barkataki at the Indian Red Cross Society, Assam State Branch campus in Guwahati on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Acharya expressed his profound happiness in unveiling the memorials of the legendary figures who epitomise humanitarian service and selfless dedication through the motto of the Red Cross. "The unveiling of busts is a tribute to the selfless souls who have given true meaning to humanitarian service," the Governor remarked. Highlighting the enduring legacy of the three personalities, the Governor noted that their contributions transcend time and continue to inspire generations of Red Cross volunteers. They represent the spirit of compassion and courage. Describing the Red Cross as more than just an organisation, Governor Acharya lauded the Assam State Branch of the Red Cross for its deep commitment, unwavering sensitivity, and consistent efforts in public welfare. He also attributed the selfless services of the Red Cross Society to its unflinching commitment to human welfare. "Humanity is not just a concept--it is an emotion," he said, adding that when one acts with compassion in response to another's pain, that is the true expression of humanity. Recalling India's timeless tradition of compassion, he cited spiritual leaders like Gautam Buddha, Lord Mahavira, and Swami Vivekananda who have long guided society toward selfless service. It may be mentioned that Jean Henry Dunant was the founder of the Red Cross Movement, inspiring people across the world to unite in the service of humanity through his compassion. Dr. Poal Chandra Duara was the founder of the Guwahati Red Cross Society Hospital, who dedicated his life to human service. Renuka Devi Barkataki is largely responsible for bringing the Indian Red Cross Society, Assam State Branch to its present position and the programme was attended by the Chairman of the Assam State Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society, AK. Absar Hazarika, former vice chairman and social worker, Padma Ajay Dutta, along with a host of other dignitaries. (ANI)
Meghalaya is taking a big step forward in protecting the environment by using the Miyawaki Forest method - a fast and effective way of growing dense, native forests. This method was developed in Japan by botanist Akira Miyawaki and is now being used across the state as part of a major afforestation project led by the Soil and Water Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has played a key role in pushing for environmental conservation. He has raised serious concerns about deforestation across the state and has been working to restore green cover through various programs. To support this effort, the state has initiated different interventions, including Green Meghalaya, and has partnered with different organisations to promote conservation and afforestation programmes. The state government is also providing financial incentives through the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for the conservation of forest cover. On Thursday, the Chief Minister visited a Miyawaki forest site at Mawsharoh, Ummir in East Khasi Hills, where the method is being used to grow a forest in a 1.5-hectare area. Currently, similar projects are being implemented in 25,000 hectares throughout Meghalaya. Officials from the Soil and Water Conservation Department shared how the Miyawaki method is helping to restore the ecosystem. The method involves planting native trees close together in layers, which leads to rapid growth of dense, self-sustaining forests. These forests grow faster than traditional plantations and require less maintenance over time. The project is being carried out with strong support from local communities, who are actively involved in the planting and care of these forests. The first Miyawaki forest plantation in Meghalaya began three years ago in Garo Hills as a pilot project. "The project will be expanded across the state as one of our main afforestation drives," said Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The Miyawaki method not only helps restore greenery but also brings many other benefits. These mini-forests help absorb carbon dioxide, fight climate change, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and provide shelter for wildlife. Meghalaya's rich soil and unique climate make it ideal for growing these forests. (ANI)
Amid the Pakistani Army's continued ceasefire violations and aggression against India, devotees offered prayers and sought blessings for the Indian army at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam, on Friday morning. Expressing gratitude to the Indian Army, many want them to eradicate terrorism which threatens India's integrity. "We are really proud of the Indian army for their tremendous work. They should continue this till terrorism is completely eradicated. We salute them. Jai Hind!" a devotee, Shantanu Roy, told ANI. "We pray that Maa gives strength to the family of those who lost their loved ones in the (Pahalgam) attack... People who are still fighting to eradicate terrorism, may Maa give them the strength to conquer terrorism," Shumita Roy, another devotee, said. Jai Kumar Das, another devotee, expressed his anger at Pakistan, which he said launches attacks against India frequently. "Give the army the power to finish off Pakistan completely. It is attacking India again and again. Pakistan cannot be trusted... We have complete faith in Modi ji... I pray to Maa Kamakhya to give power to the Indian Army. Don't give us power. First, give it to those who are protecting us so that they can return home safely," he said. Meanwhile, Multiple drones and heavy cross-border shelling were reported near civilian areas in Jammu on Thursday night. According to local accounts, the situation unfolded around 8 PM when residents witnessed 3-4 drones in the sky, followed by intense firing that continued through the night. "Last night at around 8 PM, we saw 3-4 drones. There was retaliatory firing, which continued the entire night. What Pakistan did is not right. We are not scared. Schools are closed here," he said. "As soon as we started dinner last night, we heard the sound of some explosions... Explosions were heard again at around 4:30 a.m., but they were also neutralised by our forces. There is nothing to worry about. Our forces are on alert. Bhagwati Vaishno Devi is sitting in Jammu, there is nothing to be scared of," he said. Visuals showed Civilian houses in the border town of Jammu & Kashmir damaged after shelling by Pakistan last night. In view of the prevailing situation, schools, colleges & educational institutions in Udhampur have been closed today. (ANI)
In a significant announcement marking the close of Assam's vibrant Bihu season, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday has appealed to the public and organizers to cancel all remaining Bihu functions scheduled from May 10 onwards. The appeal was made through an official statement in which the Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the widespread and enthusiastic participation in cultural programs throughout the past month. "Over the past month, we have joyfully celebrated Bihu across Assam through numerous cultural events. I sincerely thank everyone for their enthusiastic participation and contributions," Sarma said in a post on X. "However, the time has now come to conclude this festive season. I humbly appeal that all remaining Bihu functions scheduled from 10th May onwards be kindly cancelled. Let us bring this vibrant celebration to a graceful close, with the same unity and spirit in which it was celebrated," he added. Though the Chief Minister did not cite a specific reason for the sudden request to cancel remaining programs, the timing has sparked speculation. And one of the major reason can be the escalating tension between India and pakistan. Meanwhile, devotees offered prayers and sought blessings for the Indian army at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, on Friday morning. Expressing gratitude to the Indian Army, many wanted them to eradicate terrorism. "We are really proud of the Indian army for their tremendous work. They should continue this till terrorism is completely eradicated. We salute them. Jai Hind!" a devotee, Shantanu Roy, told ANI. "We pray that Maa gives strength to the family of those who lost their loved ones in the (Pahalgam) attack... People who are still fighting to eradicate terrorism, may Maa give them the strength to conquer terrorism," Shumita Roy, another devotee, said. Jai Kumar Das, another devotee, expressed his anger at Pakistan, which he said launches attacks against India frequently. "Give the army the power to finish off Pakistan completely. It is attacking India again and again. Pakistan cannot be trusted... We have complete faith in Modi ji... I pray to Maa Kamakhya to give power to the Indian Army. Don't give us power. First, give it to those who are protecting us so that they can return home safely," he said. Earlier, multiple drones and heavy cross-border shelling were reported near civilian areas in Jammu on Thursday night. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will chair a high-level security review meeting today in Mumbai. The meeting is set to take place at his official residence, Varsha Bungalow. Senior officials from the police and administrative officials will also attend the meeting. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review and reinforce security arrangements across the state, with a special focus on the border districts. The Chief Minister directed officials to remain on high alert and issued strict instructions for bolstering security infrastructure statewide. The meeting comes after Pakistani drones were intercepted by the Indian air defence in Jaisalmer. Meanwhile, explosions were heard, and flashes were seen in the sky. Blackouts were also enforced in Bikaner and parts of Punjab, as well as in Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, Amritsar, and Jalandhar. "In view of the tense situation arising on the border, he gave instructions regarding security arrangements across the state, especially in the border districts. The Chief Minister also gave instructions regarding cancelling the leave of all government employees and making them present at the headquarters," read the statement from the CMO. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot issued a strong statement backing the armed forces and urging public calm. Calling for unity in the face of external threats, Gehlot said, "I request all the residents of the state not to panic at all, remain patient, alert and cautious and follow the guidelines issued by the government. The army should give a befitting reply to the enemy. The ruling party and the opposition are united in this decisive battle against terrorism, and the entire country is with the army and the government. India has already split Pakistan into two parts, and even now our victory is certain due to our unity and the valour of the army." India had earlier responded to the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor, in which terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan was targeted through precision strikes. India also made it clear that any attack on military installations would invite a suitable response. (ANI)
Air sirens were sounded across Chandigarh on Friday as part of a precautionary measure after the city received an alert from the local Air Force station about a possible attack, said the official. https://x.com/ssputchandigarh/status/1920691469548962182 According to Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner, "An air warning has been received from Air Force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies." Earlier today, Security has been heightened outside Shri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar. All the functions of the airport are shut until further notice. "There is adequate security at the airport. Only airport personnel are allowed inside. Police are continuously patrolling. The villagers have been made aware of protocols to be followed," said Airport ACP Yadwinder Singh. The Indian Army shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Borders (IB) on Thursday night, sources confirmed to ANI. The District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) in Amritsar has urged all residents to stay indoors, keep their lights turned off, and draw their curtains for safety. "All citizens are requested to stay indoors and away from the windows, keep lights turned off, and draw the window curtains. There is no need to panic. A siren will blow now, and we will pass the message again once it is clear," the Amritsar DPRO said. The DPRO also lauded the armed forces and appealed to the public to cooperate. "Our armed forces are on the job, and we need to support them by staying indoors. There is no need to panic," the official added. Meanwhile, according to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Pakistan also tried to target military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, which are close to the International Border (IB). However, the Indian Armed Forces successfully responded to the attack, and no loss of life was reported. (ANI)
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, has raised critical questions about Pakistan's claims of retaliation following India's Operation Sindoor, emphasising that Pakistan's actions are a response to strikes on terrorism infrastructure. "If Pakistan says it's retaliating... What are they retaliating about? They're retaliating against attacks on terrorism infrastructure... What does that tell you of their relationship with the terror groups?" Doraiswami said during an interview with Sky News's Yalda Hakim. The High Commissioner underscored the precision and moderation of India's response to the April 22 terrorist attack, noting that the original escalation was done by Pakistan when they killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam. He clarified that India did not strike Pakistan's military establishment or national infrastructure, aiming to avoid military escalation. "The original escalation is Pakistan's sponsored terror groups' attack on our civilians in Pahelgam on April 22... Our response thereafter was precise, targeted, reasonable, and moderate. It was focused principally and solely on terrorist infrastructure," the High Commissioner said. "We did not strike the Pakistani military establishment, we did not strike national infrastructure, and we made it abundantly clear that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation. The fact was actually acknowledged in a left-handed way by the Pakistani side in terms of their official statements, which said that the airspace hadn't been violated and that no military establishments were attacked," he added. Doraiswami pointed out that the images shared by Pakistan itself depicted well-known terrorism infrastructure sites associated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. "The images that they put out themselves - these were at places well known and identified for many, many years as central points in the terrorism infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, well-known parts of that infrastructure," he stated. Regarding Pakistan's claim of downing Indian fighter jets, Doraiswami questioned the credibility of such assertions. "You had the (Pakistani) Defence Minister on your show and he said that the evidence for that was on social media and by that yardstick today's media all over India has reported the shootdown of two Chinese-made fighter jets and an F-16," he remarked. He suggested that Pakistan could have used such claims as an "off-ramp" to de-escalate but continued escalating instead. He further probed the rationale behind Pakistan's retaliation, drawing parallels to Pakistan's handling of evidence related to the investigation of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where substantial information was provided but allegedly used to "hide their tracks". "If you go all the way back to 2008, to the Mumbai terror attacks, where a substantial amount of information and material and material evidence was provided to the world and to Pakistan, which made the same generous offer of cooperation, all they've used it for is to hide their tracks and to take away fundamentally what are assets of their deep state," he stated. On the concern over the China factor, as it was the leading weapons provider for Pakistan, Doraiswami expressed confidence, noting China's relationship with India and the measured statements from the Chinese foreign office. "I don't see why we should...the Chinese have a relationship with us also... Statements from their foreign office have been, by the broad metrics of the reactions elsewhere," he said, adding that it is for Pakistan to decide whether to use defence imports for self-defence or to attack other countries. "This has been the problem even with materials supplied by the UK or by the US in the past. Essentially, it's been taken on the guise of fighting terror," he noted. (ANI)
Leader of the Opposition of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Tika Ram Jully lauded the Armed forces after the Indian air defence systems foiled Pakistani drone strike in the intervening night of May 8 and 9. He said that those who nurture terrorists should also be punished. Jully said, "We share a border of more than 1000 km with Pakistan. Pakistan tried to attack Jaisalmer, but our air defence systems were advanced enough to destroy their drones in the air. The Armed Forces is fighting this war with great vigour and the entire country is standing with them. There is such passion built in our country that shows there is no leniency for terrorists now. Those who nurture terrorists should meet the same fate." Earlier locals in the border districts of Rajasthan expressed their enduring faith in the Armed forces after every Pakistani drone strike was intercepted by Indian air defence in Jaisalmer last night. A local said, "After the sudden strike we were under fear but all the Pakistani drones were neutralised. The attack on the Army and Air Force were completely thwarted. There is peace and no fear among the people. We are with the Indian Air Force and Army. We heard the explosions, but none of the explosions happened on land." Another local said that they were very frightened in the beginning but they were relieved after the indian air defence system destroyed all the drones in the air. He said, "Many drones were targeted towards us but the indian air defence system destroyed all the drones in the air. We felt extremely relieved. India is many times stronger than Pakistan. We are happy to listen to the news that their F-16 and JF-17 were shot down. Pakistan will always face failure." Another local said that the atmosphere of fear was over and Pakistan won't be able to harm Jaisalmer. He said, "When blackout happened at 9 in the night, we heard the explosions. Earlier, we thought it was firecrackers, but later we realised it was a real bomb, targeted at us. We never thought of experiencing this. We are happy that all the Pakistani drones were neutralised. There is no atmosphere of fear. Indian air defence system is completely efficient. Pakistan can never harm Jaisalmer." The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. Taking to X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Army stated. (ANI)
EaseMyTrip.com, EaseMyTrip.com, one of India's leading online travel tech platforms, on Friday issued travel advisory, suggesting commuters to visit countries including Turkey and Azerbaijan only if it was unavoidable since these two countries have extended support to Pakistan amid increasing tensions with India following the launch of Operation Sindoor. https://x.com/EaseMyTrip/status/1920462363125236072 "Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey & Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary. Stay informed. Travel responsibly," EaseMyTrip posted on X. EaseMyTrip Co-Founder and Chairman Nishant Pitti expressed concerns over the recent development, stating that customers were advised to exercise utmost caution while travelling to sensitive regions. "Deeply concerned by the recent developments. At EaseMyTrip, the safety of travellers is our top priority. We advise all our customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions," Pitti posted on X. Amid the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, several airlines have issued advisories urging passengers to reach the airports three hours before flights depart. Passengers have also been requested to carry valid government-approved photo identification documents. SpiceJet has announced the cancellation of flight operations to and from six airports in northern India, following airport closures implemented amid heightened security in the wake of the Indian Armed Forces' 'Operation Sindoor' launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. In its travel advisory posted on social media platform X, SpiceJet stated that Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Kandla, and Dharamshala airports are currently shut, and all flight operations to and from these cities remain suspended till 5:29 am IST on May 10. Earlier, IndiGo cancelled its flight operations in 11 cities across north, northwestern, and central India till May 10, following aviation authorities' directives regarding airport closures. IndiGo in its travel advisory stated that Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Gwalior, Kishangarh, and Rajkot are the affected cities where flight operations have been cancelled till 5:29 am IST on May 10. Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian Armed Forces targeted infrastructure linked to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan. The operation was carried out in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. (ANI)
The Karnataka Congress on Friday organised a Tiranga Yatra from KR Circle to Minsk Square near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, extending support to the Indian armed forces as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated. Party leaders and workers marched with the national flag, expressing solidarity with the security forces and sending out a message of unity during the ongoing border developments. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM DK Shivakumar, and state Cabinet Ministers led the rally. Speaking at the rally, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parmeshwara said, "We would like to send out a message saying that we are all with you (Indian armed forces). Whatever action you have taken, it's appreciated and praised. This rally has been organised to say that symbolically..." The yatra, marked by tricolour flags and spirited slogans, saw participation from across sections of society, including students, armed forces, and leaders from various political parties. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed satisfaction at the wide participation and said, "We have invited all sections of the society... We want to salute our armed forces and stand in solidarity with the country... I'm pleased that within a short period, all sections of people, including retired armed forces, students, and all political parties, are participating here..." "India is stronger. Like we managed the situation under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, the same thing will happen now, and India will win," DY CM Shivkumar added. Karnataka Minister HK Patil underscored the significance of the rally, stating,"This Tiranga Yatra conveys our moral support and appreciation for our armed forces. They have succeeded and shown the world that India is the strongest and the most intelligent force in the world." "Since Pakistan escalated yesterday, we are not keeping quiet... We are not in favour of escalating, but we will not keep quiet if they escalate," he told ANI. The Congress-led rally comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with political parties across the spectrum voicing support for the Indian military's actions. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. (ANI)
On Pakistan's failed drone attack last night, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said, "Our army has shown amazing bravery yesterday. When there are attacks on the military establishments of a country, that is what a war is. When someone attacks civil society, it is considered wrong. But Pakistan is doing both. This time, Pakistan could not even stand in front of India. A large section of the people of Pakistan is feeling suffocated. Therefore, a final decision should be taken with Pakistan." He continued, "If Pakistan continues to attack from the wrong sides, using drones and missiles on the border, it can be seen as a complete defeat for them. Our army has made remarkable efforts. They have not been able to drop any missiles or cross the borders of India. This is a great show of strength by our army. I believe that a final decision should be made with Pakistan." Sharma also said, "When India was attacked in the past, Pakistan targeted military stations, like in Jammu. That's what war is. Military stations are attacked, and the military fights back. But when civil society is attacked, it is wrong. Pakistan has done that. India has not attacked civilian targets, and it stands firm in its commitment to not tolerate terrorism." "Pakistan may have been able to withstand India for a while, but this time it will not. I believe this is the final war, and we must make a final decision with Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are feeling suffocated. It is time to make that final decision." As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan after both sides engage in retaliations, defence expert Sanjeev Srivastava on Friday warned of a "full-fledged war" if Pakistan continues to escalate the situation. He said that a war would prove fatal to Pakistan and may lead to its disintegration. On Thursday, a complete blackout was enforced in Jammu after sirens were heard and explosions were reported near the Line of Control (Loc) in Poonch and Rajouri districts, amid rising tensions in the region. The Border Security Forces (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The attempt was made around 11 pm on May 8. In a post on X, BSF Jammu wrote, "At around 2300 hours on 8 May 2025, BSF foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K." Additionally, defence sources confirmed that the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted amid a heavy exchange of artillery fire between the Indian and Pakistani forces. According to Indian officials, the strikes targeted infrastructure linked to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation was carried out in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. (ANI)
In a statement issued today, Das also told that Odisha Congress organised a blood donation camp on Thursday at the State Congress Committee headquarters.

"Pakistan's policies and strength have no stand in front of us... Our soldiers are working to eradicate terrorism forever, and the Congress party is standing with them," said Das.

"Yesterday, we organised a blood donation camp in the state Congress committee to honour our soldiers. Today, we are organising the Tiranga Yatra all over the country to show respect for our brave soldiers, he added.

Earlier, Congress party sources said they will hold a 'Jai Hind Yatra' in all states across the country on May 9 to express solidarity in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

"Congress party to hold 'Jai Hind Yatra' in all Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) units across the country tomorrow to show solidarity," the Congress sources stated.

The Congress party extended its full support to the central government during the all-party meeting held to brief political leaders on the ongoing tensions with Pakistan following India's military operation in the early hours of Wednesday.

However, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the meeting, asking if the PM thought he was above the Parliament.

Kharge's comments echo similar criticism he made when PM Modi skipped an all-party meeting following the Pahalgam terror attack. He said that the Prime Minister should have directly heard the viewpoints of opposition members.

During the meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed political parties on India's action on cross-border terrorism.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi are among several other leaders who participated in the meeting. (ANI)
On Pakistan's failed drone attack last night, Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, "I salute all army officers for giving a fitting reply to Pakistan. We will not spare this enemy nation. I hope they have learned their lesson and won't attempt anything similar further." He stated, "All the people from civil administration, police administration, political groups, and intelligence are on our ground. The leaves of our government officials have been cancelled. Our health department has been strengthened. Schools have been shut down for those days." Cheema added, "No one needs to panic or be afraid. We have ensured all security arrangements. Stringent action will be taken against those involved in black marketing of ration." The Indian Armed Forces successfully foiled a large-scale drone and missile attack launched by Pakistan targeting multiple military stations in Northern and Western India, including Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said. The Indian military responded swiftly and decisively, neutralising the threat using both kinetic and non-kinetic means, following standard operating procedures (SoP). In a post on X, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said: "Military Stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means." Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, addressing the Ministry of External Affairs' press briefing, confirmed that India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems successfully countered the attacks. "This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," Colonel Qureshi said. She further detailed that during the night of May 7-8, Pakistan had attempted to strike military targets across a wide range of locations--Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. However, India's robust air defence systems neutralised all attempted incursions, and debris from intercepted drones and missiles is being recovered from multiple sites, confirming the attack. The escalation followed India's launch of Operation Sindoor--a series of focused and precise strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. "Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and the method of execution," the Ministry of Defence had said on Wednesday. During Thursday's media briefing, Colonel Qureshi reminded that on May 7, India had clearly stated that any attack on Indian military assets would invite a "suitable response. "Following Operation Sindoor, the Union Government convened an all-party meeting on Thursday at the Parliament Annexe to brief political leaders on the security situation and India's calibrated military action. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the briefing, which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, among others .Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh also addressed the press conference following the all-party meeting. (ANI)
In a major security operation along the India-Pakistan border, the Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted a significant infiltration attempt in the Samba Sector of the Jammu Frontier early Friday and neutralised seven terrorists. The BSF confirmed the input through a statement pointing out that the infiltration bid was noticed during the intervening night of May 8 and 9. According to BSF, a large group of terrorists attempted to cross into Indian territory under the cover of fire provided by Pakistan Rangers from the Dhandhar post. However, the force said, the attempt was promptly detected by the BSF's advanced surveillance grid. "Acting swiftly, alert BSF troops engaged the infiltrators in a fierce exchange of fire. In the ensuing gunfight, at least seven terrorists were neutralised," said the BSF. Additionally, retaliatory action by BSF caused extensive damage to the Dhandhar post. The BSF, which is mandated to guard the 3,323 km India-Pakistan border, also issued a Hand-Held Thermal Imager (HHTI) clip of the destruction of the Pakistani Post Dhandhar. The action came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions with the Director Generals of all border guarding forces and reviewed the current security situation along India's borders. The meeting was aimed at assessing preparedness and operational readiness in light of recent developments, as Pakistan on Thursday night launched a significant missile and drone attack targeting India's Jammu region and Rajasthan, including Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and Jaisalmer. However, all missiles were intercepted and blocked by air defence units, and no major damage was reported. In a specific talk with the Border Security Force DG, the Home Minister had also taken stock of the situation in the border areas and the preparedness of the border guarding force. The BSF's fresh action followed additional explosions reported on Thursday night in Jammu and Jaisalmer, prompting air-raid sirens and civilian evacuations in border areas. The Pakistani attack followed India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, wherein Indian forces conducted missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India said that these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in retaliation for an April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. (ANI)
Rajasthan minister Jogaram Patel on Friday said Indian armed forces neutralised Pakistani drones near the border, with officials and the police had asked residents to stay on alert. The Chief Minister has also called a high-level meeting, and leave for government staff in border areas has been cancelled. Speaking to ANI, Patel said, "Our armed forces gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. Our ministers and officials were constantly monitoring the situation in the border area. We share the longest border with Pakistan, around 1000 km. In such a situation, we anticipated that Pakistan would attack Jaisalmer, Jodhpur...Last night, our air defence system neutralised Pakistani drones...We got constant active support from the people in our border areas..." "All the government officials in the border areas are requested to withdraw their leave and remain alert in the region...All our departments are constantly working. The Chief Minister (Bhajanlal Sharma) is monitoring the situation," he added. Similarly, Home Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham said, "... The Indian army gave a befitting reply and thwarted the drones sent by Pakistan to Jaisalmer or other border areas of our country to attack civilians yesterday..." He further added, "CM Bhajanlal Sharma called a high-level meeting today to issue instructions for whatever suitable arrangements that must be made... The administrative officers whose posts were vacant have also been sent to the border areas, along with the State Police and RAC companies. They have been instructed that the state government will leave no stone unturned in helping the army men, military force, and common people there..." The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVS) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVS. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force." Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
In a swift response to rising security concerns following escalating tension and exchange of fire taking place between Indian and Pakistan, the Punjab government is stepping up its preparedness by sending cabinet ministers to border districts. According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), a high-level review of emergency services is set to take place today, with ten cabinet ministers scheduled to visit border areas immediately after a cabinet meeting. "Punjab government is preparing to deal with the situation. Today, the ministers will review the emergency services in the border districts. Will inspect hospitals, fire stations, Will inspect the availability of ration and emergency services, Cabinet ministers will reach the border districts, immediately after the cabinet meeting, 10 ministers will leave for the border areas," read the statement from CMO "Ministers Lal Chand Kataruchakk and Dr. Ravjot Singh will go to Gurdaspur. Ministers Kuldeep Dhaliwal and Mohinder Bhagat will take charge of Amritsar," it added further. Amid all this, District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) in Amritsar has urged all residents to stay indoors, keep their lights turned off, and draw their curtains for safety. "All citizens are requested to stay indoors and away from the windows, keep lights turned off, and draw the window curtains. There is no need to panic. A siren will blow now, and we will pass the message again once it is clear," the Amritsar DPRO said. The DPRO also lauded the armed forces and appealed to the public to cooperate. "Our armed forces are on the job, and we need to support them by staying indoors. There is no need to panic," the official added. This comes after the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Earlier, Defence sources said the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted during a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces. (ANI)
In view of the current situation in Bangladesh, night curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The curfew will be enforced within a 1 km radius from the Zero Line along the International Border. According to the order issued by R.M. Kurbah, IAS, District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, the night curfew will be in place daily from 8 PM to 6 AM and will remain in force for two months from the date of its issuance- May 8, 2025. The curfew prohibits movement of people near the border with the intent to cross into Bangladesh or enter India illegally. It also restricts any unauthorized procession or unlawful assembly of five or more persons and bans the carrying of items that could be used as weapons, such as sticks, rods, and stones. Additionally, the order aims to curb illegal and undesirable activities including the smuggling of cattle, contraband goods, betelnut, betel leaves, dry fish, bidis, cigarettes, and tea leaves in and around the Indo-Bangladesh border. The order has been enforced immediately due to the urgency of the situation. Meawnhile, following Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike mission to destroy terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pok in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Bangladesh said it is observing the situation. Expressing concern over the situation, the nation urged both countries to show restraint and called for "diplomatic endeavours" by both sides to ease tensions. Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, "The Government of Bangladesh is closely observing the evolving situation in India and Pakistan. Bangladesh expresses its deep concern over the situation and urges both countries to remain calm, show restraint, and refrain from taking any steps that could further aggravate the situation." "In the spirit of regional peace, prosperity and stability, Bangladesh remains hopeful that tensions will be defused through diplomatic endeavours, and that peace will ultimately prevail for the benefit of the peoples in the region," it added. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched a strike at the terror hideouts deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday morning. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh informed that a total of nine terror sites were targeted and successfully destroyed. She asserted that the locations were selected so that there was no damage to civilians and their infrastructure. "Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed... The locations were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructures and loss of any civilian lives," Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said. Meanwhile, during the press briefing, Col Sofiya Qureshi presented the videos of the destruction of terror camps, including from the Muridke and where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab, perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, received training. Other than Muridke, Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala and Markaz Abbas, Kotli and Mehmoona Joya camp, Sialkot, were targeted in the strikes conducted by the Indian Army, Col Qureshi informed. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the attack on Pahalgam was driven by an objective of undermining the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. "The attack in Pahalgam was marked with extreme barbarity, with the victims mostly killed with head shots at close range and in front of their family...the family members were deliberately traumatised through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message. The attack was clearly driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir," he said. (ANI)
Amid heightened tensions across the border areas, a projectile-like object was found in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer on Friday. The security forces and Police have reached the spot to identify the nature of the object. Jaisalmer Station House Officer (SHO), Premdan, said, " We have received information that this could be a bomb or a part of it. Therefore, Police have reached the spot and an investigation is underway" Further investigation is ongoing. On Thursday, in Punjab, debris believed to be part of a missile was found in an open field in a border village in Amritsar district. Station House Officer (SHO) of Jandiala, Harchand Singh Sandhu who arrived at the scene confirmed the nature of the object, stating, "It is a portion of a missile which has been neutralised in the air itself and its debris scattered in the area. I am ensuring safety measures are followed here."The part of a missile was spotted at Makhan Windi and Jethuwal village. For now, the Army personnel cordon off the area where projectile debris has been found and bomb disposal units are on alert. Congress MP from Amritsar, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, also visited the site and expressed concern. "The Army has been called here. We have to cooperate with the Army and the Administration. We are ready for this (to face the ceasefire violation by Pakistan). India only took action on terror sites in Pakistan, but look what they (Pakistan) have done," he said. Meanwhile, the Fact Check unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked another fabricated narrative by the Pakistan side of conducting strikes on a military base in Amritsar, Punjab, asserting that the narrative was false and misleading. The post shared by a Pakistani user named Shamil Jawani (@ShamilJawani1) alleged "numerous casualties" and "several critically injured" at the Amritsar base, using hashtags like #IndiaPakistanWar, #OperationSindoor, and #Pakistan. The PIB Fact Check stamped the video as "FAKE" and issued a warning against the spread of unverified information, labelling it a "Pakistan Propaganda Alert". The unit clarified that the video accompanying the claim is an old clip from a 2024 wildfire, unrelated to any military operation or strike. The PIB urged the public to rely solely on official sources from the Government of India for accurate updates. "Pakistan-based handles are spreading old videos falsely alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar. #PIBFactCheck: The video being shared is from a wildfire from 2024. Avoid sharing unverified information and rely only on official sources from the Government of India for accurate information," the PIB stated in its post. (ANI)
Congress MP Manish Tewari lauded the Indian Air Force and the country's integrated Anti-Missile Theatre Defence System for effectively neutralizing the drones and projectiles launched by Pakistani forces on Thursday night. Speaking to the media in Delhi, Tewari issued a stern warning to Pakistan, condemning its continued reliance on terrorism as a policy tool. " I would like to compliment Indian Air Force and the integrated Anti-Missile Theatre Defence System they have put in place. The attacks launched by Pakistan in the northwest, were successfully neutralised." Tewari cautioned that if Pakistan continues on this path, it will be met with equal resolve. Pakistan is clearly escalating (situation)...rather than learning a lesson...if this is the trajectory they have adopted, obviously it has to be met in the same coin and that is precisely what is happening. It is in Pakistan's interest to realise that terror as an instrument of terror policy, has an expiry date and Pakistan is well beyond that expiry date..." The senior Congress leader further criticized Pakistan's internal situation, describing it as deteriorating. "If this is the trajectory they have adopted, obviously it has to be met in the same coin--and that is precisely what is happening," he remarked. It's worth mentoning that the indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 has successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. "The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday conducted a review of the country's current security situation at South Block, which houses the Ministry of Defence, in the national capital, in the aftermath of the foiled large-scale drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday. The Defence Minister was accompanied by the military top brass and senior officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh. The meeting came in the wake of Pakistan's attempted retaliation following Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. "The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated. The Akash air defence missile system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system that provides area air defence against multiple air threats to mobile, semi-mobile, and static vulnerable forces and areas. The system has cutting-edge features and cross-country mobility. The real-time multi-sensor data processing and threat evaluation enable simultaneous engagement of multiple targets from any direction. The entire system is flexible and up-scalable and can be operated in group and autonomous modes. It employs command guidance and relies on phased array guidance radar to guide the missile until intercept. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts of a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Friday paid tribute to the erstwhile Rajput ruler of Mewar, Maharana Pratap, on his birth anniversary. In a post on X, CM Bhajanlal Sharma said, "Tribute to the powerful roar of Indian self-respect, national leader, 'Hindu Sun', Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap on his birth anniversary. Your sacrificial life will continue to inspire all of us to serve the nation for ages to come." Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday paid tribute to the erstwhile ruler. Maharana Pratap was born on May 9, 1540. In a post on X, UP CM Yogi Adityanath shared, "Tributes to the immortal son of mother Bharati, the eternal voice of independence, the bright flag of sacrifice, the 'Hindu Sun', Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap on his sacred birth anniversary! Maharana, who sacrificed everything for his country, religion and self-respect, is the great hero and people's leader of India. The aura of Maharana's personality, imbued with strong democratic values, will continue to illuminate the 'struggle of humanity' and guide us for centuries." Maharana Pratap was the Rajput ruler of Mewar in Rajasthan who famously fought the battle of Haldighati with Akbar in 1576. CM Yogi Adityanath has pointed out in the past that during the Congress era, history was manipulated to portray Akbar as great while undermining the greatness of Maharana Pratap. Earlier, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Maharana Pratap was a true national hero who valiantly fought to defend his motherland. He not only inspired the Indians but his name also became a source of inspiration for people living in other countries. Rajnath Singh had said, "Maharana Pratap became an icon for freedom fighters because his name evoked a strong feeling of love and sacrifice for motherland. Even the Vietnamese people were inspired by him and it helped them in defeating a powerful country like the United States during US-Vietnam war." (ANI)
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Friday lashed out at Pakistan amidst heightened tensions and escalation, stating that the actions undertaken by the neighbouring country and its army were "cowardly". He said that Pakistan doesn't dare to "fight with dignity" since it was attacking India's cities and civilians in Poonch. "We attacked their terror hotspots, and they attacked our civilians. If they want war, then they will get war," Dikshit told ANI, adding, "All the acts done by Pakistan and its army are cowardly. They do not have the courage to fight with dignity. Killing innocent civilians in Pahalgam was that not cowardice? Tell me one thing they have done with dignity in the last 40-50 years." He stated that Pakistan was "trapped" between its destruction and the fight for its "fake self-respect". "The Pakistan army cannot grasp the beehive they have disturbed... We have practised restraint earlier. Now, Pakistan is trapped. On one side, there is its destruction, and on the other side, there is this fight for its fake self-respect," Dikshit said. Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera asserted that the neighbouring country must understand that India remains superior in technology. He said that India's credibility was also greater since, unlike Pakistan, it doesn't attack civilian establishments. Khera said that India has only attacked terrorist camps, which was in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack, but Pakistan was attacking civilian areas. "Pakistan should understand that India had technical superiority. India's credibility across the globe is more since we are not like Pakistan, which would attack civilian establishments. We have only attacked terrorist camps in response (to Pahalgam terror attack). Pakistan is still not ready to stop its misdeeds. They are still trying to attack civilian areas. The global community needs to pay attention to this," Khera told ANI. This comes as India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads against each other after terrorist camps were destroyed at nine locations in the neigbouring country under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terrorist attack. The Border Security Forces (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt along the International Boundary in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir earlier. Additionally, defence sources confirmed that the Indian Army shot down two Pakistani drones in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The drones were intercepted amid a heavy exchange of artillery fire between Indian and Pakistani forces. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking implementation of the three-language formula, proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. A bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala refused to entertain the plea, saying the court cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020. The top court in its order stated, "It (court) cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020. The court may, however, intervene if a state's action or inaction related to the National Education Policy violates any fundamental rights. We do not propose to examine this issue in this writ petition. We believe that the petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse. Although he may be from the state of Tamil Nadu, yet on his own admission, he is residing in New Delhi. In such circumstances, this petition stands dismissed." The plea was filed by BJP lawyer GS Mani, stating the refusal or failure of the state government to implement the National Educational Policy of the Central government or sign an MOU may harm the public interest or infringe on citizens' rights. The petition sought direction to the state governments to implement the National Education Policy and sign an MOU which involves fundamental public welfare and rights of Education, constitutional rights, or government obligations that are being neglected or violated is very well maintainable. "The state government is under a constitutional or legal obligation to implement the National Educational Policy, 2020 of the Central government and to enter into an MOU for the implementation of the said policy, scheme, or project," the petition stated. All state governments except Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal have adopted and implemented the Central government's most important national education policy, the tri-language curriculum policy, advocate Mani said. In the petition, the National Education Policy is a major education policy plan brought by the Central government with the aim of improving the quality of school education for students from all walks of life. "All Indian languages should be taught free of cost to school children belonging to the poor, scheduled, tribes, backwards, and the most backwards classes," the petition added. The petition said that the state governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal are refusing to accept the three-language formula for political reasons, citing the false reason of imposing Hindi. The Central government's laws, plans and policies are applicable to all state governments, the petition further stated. It is the duty of the state government to implement such a policy and this is a fundamental duty and right given in the Constitution, it added. "Free education is a fundamental right given by the Constitution. By refusing to accept this plan, the state government is denying the fundamental right of free education to the school children concerned. Therefore, the Supreme Court should intervene in this matter and issue an order to these three state governments to immediately implement the Central government's National Education Policy," added the PIL. While the Centre defended the policy as a step towards multilingualism, Tamil Nadu said that it unfairly pressures non-Hindi-speaking states. The Tamil Nadu government has accused the Central government of trying to push Hindi "sideways" through the NEP, despite the state's longstanding resistance to such policies. The government has strongly opposed implementing the NEP, raising concerns over the three-language formula and alleging that the Centre wants to "impose" Hindi. (ANI)
Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following recent cross-border military operations, the Himachal Pradesh government has issued an alert across the state in line with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is set to hold a high-level security meeting on Friday afternoon to review preparedness and supply chain logistics. District Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) will also join the meeting virtually. The decision comes after Indian forces reportedly carried out "Operation Sindoor," targeting and destroying multiple terrorist camps across the border in retaliation for the brutal killing of Indian tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. This operation has sparked nationwide sentiment of unity and defiance. In response, all schools and colleges in Himachal Pradesh's Una district, which shares a border with Punjab, have been ordered shut until Friday. Future decisions regarding educational institutions will be taken by individual district magistrates based on the evolving situation. Speaking to ANI, Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur explained the rationale behind the closures: "As you know, this entire situation arose following the brutal murder of Indian tourists, which led to the current tensions. Every Indian has been demanding justice, and our forces have delivered through Operation Sindoor, destroying all identified terrorist camps. This is a moment of pride for all of us." He said. Thakur also highlighted the military legacy of Himachal Pradesh. "Our state has a glorious history. Though our population is relatively small, about 7.5 million, Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest rates of enlistment in the Indian Army. Whether it's the story of Major Somnath Sharma or countless other decorated soldiers, Himachal has always been proud of its contribution. The entire country stands united like a rock behind the government and our forces." Thakur said. While Una has been the most sensitive district due to its proximity to Punjab, the government is closely monitoring other districts, including Chamba, which has not yet seen school closures. "Based on intelligence inputs and the advice received from the Ministry of Home Affairs, we decided to shut down educational institutions in districts adjoining Punjab. Shimla and the rest of northern and western India are also on alert," Thakur added. The state government is expected to take further decisions depending on additional advisories from the Centre. Officials confirmed that the administration is keeping a close eye on developments, and Chief Minister Sukhu had already held a preparatory meeting two days ago. Friday's special meeting aims to ensure readiness across all fronts amid the prevailing national security situation. (ANI)
Rajasthan Home Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham congratulated the Armed Forces after every Pakistani drone strike was intercepted by Indian air defence in Jaisalmer last night. He said that the state government is standing along with the Armed forces and whatever assistance is required would be provided to them. Jawahar Singh Bedham said, "CM Bhajanlal Sharma called a high-level meeting today to issue instructions for whatever suitable arrangements that must be made. The administrative officers whose posts were vacant have also been sent to the border areas, along with the State Police and RAC companies. They have been instructed that the state government will leave no stone unturned in helping the army men, military force, and common people there." He congratulate the Armed Forces for foiling the drone strikes on Thursday night. "The Indian army gave a befitting reply and thwarted the drones sent by Pakistan to Jaisalmer or other border areas of our country to attack civilians yesterday and then retaliating on various locations. I would like to congratulate the Armed Forces for their exemplary courage and tough action against the terrorists. They have made the entire country proud," he further added. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma convened a high-level meeting to review and reinforce security arrangements across the state, with a special focus on the border districts, said a statement from CMO on Friday. The Chief Minister directed officials to remain on high alert and issued strict instructions for bolstering security infrastructure statewide. This meeting comes after Pakistani drones were intercepted by the Indian air defense in Jaisalmer. Explosions were heard, and flashes were seen in the sky. Blackouts were also enforced in Bikaner and parts of Punjab, as well as in Kishtwar, Akhnoor, Samba, Jammu, Amritsar, and Jalandhar. "In view of the tense situation arising on the border, he gave instructions regarding security arrangements across the state, especially in the border districts. The Chief Minister also gave instructions regarding cancelling the leave of all government employees and making them present at the headquarters," read the statement from the CMO. Meanwhile, locals in the border districts of Rajasthan expressed their enduring faith in the Armed forces after every Pakistani drone strike was intercepted by Indian air defence in Jaisalmer last night. A local said, "After the sudden strike we were under fear but all the Pakistani drones were neutralised. The attack on the Army and Air Force were completely thwarted. There is peace and no fear among the people. We are with the Indian Air Force and Army. We heard the explosions, but none of the explosions happened on land." Another local said that they were very frightened in the beginning but they were relieved after the indian air defence system destroyed all the drones in the air. He said, "Many drones were targeted towards us but the indian air defence system destroyed all the drones in the air. We felt extremely relieved. India is many times stronger than Pakistan. We are happy to listen to the news that their F-16 and JF-17 were shot down. Pakistan will always face failure." Another local said that the atmosphere of fear was over and Pakistan won't be able to harm Jaisalmer. He said, "When blackout happened at 9 in the night, we heard the explosions. Earlier, we thought it was firecrackers, but later we realised it was a real bomb, targeted at us. We never thought of experiencing this. We are happy that all the Pakistani drones were neutralised. There is no atmosphere of fear. Indian air defence system is completely efficient. Pakistan can never harm Jaisalmer." The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. (ANI)
The Ministry of Defence has urged media channels, digital platforms, and individuals to avoid live coverage or real-time reporting of defense operations and security forces' movements. The Ministry emphasized that revealing such sensitive information could compromise operations and put lives at risk, citing past incidents like the Kargil War, 26/11 attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking. According to Clause 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, only authorized officials can provide updates during anti-terror operations. The Ministry has called on everyone to be responsible and mindful of national security. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday conducted a review of the country's current security situation at South Block, which houses the Ministry of Defence, in the national capital, in the aftermath of the foiled large-scale drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday. The Defence Minister was accompanied by the military top brass and senior officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh. The meeting came in the wake of Pakistan's attempted retaliation following Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier, Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. "The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated. The Akash air defence missile system is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile system that provides area air defence against multiple air threats to mobile, semi-mobile, and static vulnerable forces and areas. The system has cutting-edge features and cross-country mobility. The real-time multi-sensor data processing and threat evaluation enable simultaneous engagement of multiple targets from any direction. The entire system is flexible and up-scalable and can be operated in group and autonomous modes. It employs command guidance and relies on phased array guidance radar to guide the missile until intercept. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary arrived in Rajouri on Friday morning to review the security situation in the region. During his visit, he conducted a thorough review of the hospital arrangements in the district, which has been a focal point for recent security concerns. Choudhary emphasised that this was not the first instance of Pakistan launching attacks against India. "I reached Rajouri in the morning. I have reviewed the hospital arrangements. This is not the first time Pakistan has attacked India...our people are brave. They (Pakistan) think that they can break the morale of people of India, especially J&K people, that is wrong," he told ANI. "People are standing with the Indian armed forces bravely. Pakistan will get a befitting reply. I appeal to people to keep up the brotherhood," DY CM Choudhary added. In a related development, civilian houses in a border town of Jammu and Kashmir were damaged last night due to shelling by Pakistan. The situation prompted local authorities to take preventive measures, including the closure of schools, colleges, and educational institutions in Udhampur on Friday. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted an infiltration attempt in Samba sector of the Jammu frontier on the night of May 8-9, neutralising seven terrorists. According to BSF, a large group of terrorists attempted to cross into Indian territory under the cover of fire provided by Pakistan Rangers from the Dhandhar post. However, the force said, the attempt was promptly detected by the BSF's advanced surveillance grid. The BSF's fresh action followed additional explosions reported on Thursday night in Jammu and Jaisalmer, prompting air-raid sirens and civilian evacuations in border areas. The Pakistani attack followed India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, wherein Indian forces conducted missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India said that these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in retaliation for an April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. (ANI)
The Directorate of Civil Defence, under the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, will carry out testing of air raid sirens at the PWD Headquarters, ITO, on Friday at 3 PM, the District Magistrate (Central) said in a statement. According to an official statement, the siren testing exercise will last for 15 to 20 minutes. The public has been advised not to panic during the exercise, which is being conducted as part of routine preparedness measures. The District Magistrate (Central), G. Sudhakar, has urged the public to remain calm and not to be alarmed when they hear the sirens. Authorities have also requested that adequate publicity be carried out through social and electronic media platforms to inform residents and prevent confusion. The District Administration has informed key officials across departments, including the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary, and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, about the exercise. Coordination has also been established with the Directorate of Information & Publicity to amplify public awareness regarding the test. Such exercises are part of periodic drills conducted by civil defence agencies to ensure preparedness for emergencies and to check the functioning of critical alert systems. Meanwhile, authorities in Ambala district issued an air warning in the early morning after receiving an alert from the local Air Force station. Sirens have been sounded throughout the city, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid balconies or terraces. According to an official alert issued by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ambala, sirens have been sounded across the city to warn residents. People have been advised to remain indoors and refrain from stepping onto balconies or terraces. In an additional measure, the Deputy Commissioner has ordered a complete blackout in the district, with all lights to remain switched off between 8 PM and 6 AM. Similarly, the air sirens were sounded across Chandigarh as part of a precautionary measure after the city received an alert from the local Air Force station about a possible attack, said the official. According to Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner, "An air warning has been received from Air Force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies." Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Border (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. The Pakistani attack followed India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, wherein Indian forces conducted missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India said that these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha held a high-level security meeting at his residence here on Friday to address security concerns along the India-Bangladesh border. The meeting lasted for over an hour and focused primarily on intensifying surveillance and security measures across the international boundary. Senior officials from the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and various other security agencies, including intelligence officers, participated in the strategic discussion. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for increased vigilance to prevent cross-border crimes and maintain law and order in the border regions. Sources indicate that the authorities are set to implement more robust monitoring systems and joint operations in sensitive areas in the coming days. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday convened a high-level meeting in the national capital to review the prevailing border situation and evaluate security arrangements at airports across the country. In nearly one hour meeting, that began at 12:30 pm at Home Minister's residence, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) Daljit Chawdhary, Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) RS Bhatti, and Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS) Rajesh Nirwan were present. The meeting was focused on reviewing the current border situation and assessing security arrangements at airports across the country. The discussion comes amid heightened vigilance along sensitive zones and a push to strengthen national security infrastructure. The officials present in the meeting apprised the Home Minister about the overall security preparedness and current ground situation. The Home Minister on Thursday night also held discussions with the Director Generals of all border guarding forces and reviewed the current security situation along India's borders. The meeting was also aimed at assessing preparedness and operational readiness in light of recent developments, as Pakistan on Thursday night launched a significant missile and drone attack targeting India's Jammu region and Rajasthan, including Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia and Jaisalmer. The Home Minister's fresh meeting with the DGS of BSF, CISF and BCAS was held hours after the border guarding force in a major security operation along the India-Pakistan border, thwarted a significant infiltration attempt in the Samba Sector of the Jammu Frontier on early Friday and neutralised seven terrorists. (ANI)
Authorities in Ambala district issued an air warning on Friday morning following an alert received from the local Air Force station. According to an official alert issued by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ambala said, sirens have been sounded across the city to warn residents. People have been advised to remain indoors and refrain from stepping onto balconies or terraces. In an additional measure, the Deputy Commissioner has ordered a complete blackout in the district, with all lights to remain switched off between 8 PM and 6 AM. Meanwhile, the Air, sirens were sounded across Chandigarh as part of a precautionary measure after the city received an alert from the local Air Force station about a possible attack, said the official. According to Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner, "An air warning has been received from Air Force station of a possible attack. Sirens are being sounded. All are advised to remain indoors and away from balconies." Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts of a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. The Pakistani attack followed India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, wherein Indian forces conducted missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India said that these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in retaliation for an April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. (ANI)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday congratulated Pope Leo XIV, wishing that his pontificate embodies peace, amity, fraternity, compassion, and dignity. In a post on X, Kharge said, "Many congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as Pope Leo XIV. May his pontificate be marked by the human values of peace, amity, fraternity, compassion and dignity. On the behalf of the Indian National Congress, our warmest wishes to the Catholic community in India and around the world on this momentous occasion." https://x.com/kharge/status/1920758412641530186 Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended wishes to Pope Leo XIV and expressed India's commitment to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further shared values. He said that Pope Leo XIV's leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service. In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "I convey sincere felicitations and best wishes from the people of India to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service. India remains committed to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further our shared values." The Vatican conclave on Thursday chose a new Pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost - the first American pope, Vatican News said. The Cardinals gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel have elected 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV becomes the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the first American to lead the Catholic Church.Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon appeared on the St. Peter's balcony that overlooks the St Peter's square and announced, "Habemus Papam!" - "We have a pope." At the Vatican, the doors on the balcony opened to reveal the new Pope, who greeted the crowds with, "May peace be with all of you." "Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you," he said. In his first comments in Italian, Pope Leo XIV said he wants this message of peace to "Enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are." Paying tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis, he urged faithful to "move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other." The former leader of the Augustinian order also thanked fellow cardinals for choosing him for the role. Earlier, crowds broke out into cheers as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that a new leader of the Catholic Church had been elected. The 133 cardinal electors who had been sequestered inside since Wednesday reached a two-thirds majority decision on who will succeed Pope Francis. The voice of the six bells of St Peter's Basilica announced that the Church has its new Pope. "It's a moment of joy, the wait is over," the Vatican News said in a message. During the most recent hospitalisation of his predecessor at the "Gemelli" hospital, Prevost presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis's health in Saint Peter's Square on March 3. According to the Vatican, the new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph. He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy. On September 1 of the same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in Saint Louis, in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Chicago, and made his first profession on September 2, 1978. On August 29, 1981, he took his solemn vows. He received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). In Rome, he was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica by Monsignor Jean Jadot, then Pro-President of the Pontifical Council for Non-Christians, now the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984, and the following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985-1986). In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis on "The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine" and was appointed vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of "Mother of Good Counsel" in Olympia Fields, Illinois (US). (ANI)
Haryana Minister Anil Vij strongly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Army on Friday and said that the entire nation stood united with the soldiers who are deployed in the border area. Speaking to ANI, Vij said, "The countrymen are united and standing with PM Modi. We stand with all the soldiers who are deployed in the border area." He also demanded strict action against those running terror training camps and factories, calling for a complete halt of all supplies to such elements. He further stressed the need for a tougher stance on terrorism, adding, "Every type of supply should be stopped to those who operate terror camps, their training camps and run their factories." Earlier in the day, the Haryana Government issued strict instructions directing all officers and employees of departments, boards, corporations, undertakings, and universities to remain at their respective headquarters or stations until further notice. The directive, issued by the Chief Secretary's Office, clearly states that no official is allowed to leave their station until additional orders are given. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, Minister Jogaram Patel said Indian armed forces neutralised Pakistani drones near the border, with officials and the police having asked residents to stay on alert. The Chief Minister has also called a high-level meeting, and leave for government staff in border areas has been cancelled. "Our armed forces gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. Our ministers and officials were constantly monitoring the situation in the border area. We share the longest border with Pakistan, around 1000 km. In such a situation, we anticipated that Pakistan would attack Jaisalmer, Jodhpur...Last night, our air defence system neutralised Pakistani drones...We got constant active support from the people in our border areas...," Patel told ANI. "All the government officials in the border areas are requested to withdraw their leave and remain alert in the region...All our departments are constantly working. The Chief Minister (Bhajanlal Sharma) is monitoring the situation," he added. Similarly, Rajasthan Home Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham said that the Indian army gave a befitting reply and thwarted the drones sent by Pakistan to Jaisalmer or other border areas of our country to attack civilians. He said, "CM Bhajanlal Sharma called a high-level meeting today to issue instructions for suitable arrangements. The administrative officers whose posts were vacant have also been sent to the border areas, along with the State Police and RAC companies. They have been instructed that the state government will leave no stone unturned in helping the army men, military force, and common people there." Earlier, the Indian Army said that it had repelled multiple drone attacks by the Pakistan Armed Forces in the intervening night of May 8 and May 9. (ANI)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday grieved the death of children, including twins Ayaan and Aruba, who were killed in the deadly cross-firing between India and Pakistan, saying that military action merely treats symptoms and not the root cause of the problem. She appealed to the Prime Ministers on both sides to end the conflict. "In Poonch, we saw two twins, Ayaan and Aruba, who died while they were playing. What is the fault of the children and women trapped in this crossfire? These incidents, including Pahalgam (terror attack), have brought this region on the path of catastrophe," Mufti said during a press conference. Advocating for political intervention, Mufti said that military action never provides a solution or peace. She urged the leadership in India and Pakistan to end these attacks since people in Jammu and Kashmir suffer consequences. "Military action treats symptoms, not the root cause. It never provides a solution or peace. Both countries should opt for a political intervention, not a military intervention. What did we achieve after the Balakot airstrike in response to the Pulwama attack? I saw that a boy in Poonch was killed, and a part of his head was separated. I appeal to the leadership on both sides to end this attack. How long will people of J&K, especially the border areas, suffer the consequences?" Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said. She said that both sides are making claims of carrying out attacks, which means that scores have been settled equally. Mufti made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating his statement about the era of war coming to an end, adding that the Prime Ministers from both sides could pick up the phone and resolve the ongoing conflict. "Their purpose has been served after they claimed to have conducted a major strike (Operation Sindoor). Similarly, Pakistan is claiming that they shot down our fighter jets and destroyed brigade headquarters in Poonch. That means both of them settled the accounts equally. I appeal to Pakistan''s leadership and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised that the era of war has come to an end, and there is a need for political intervention. Both Prime Ministers can pick up the phone and resolve this conflict," Mufti said. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday extended its interim order staying the proceedings of the criminal defamation case against former Delhi Chief Ministers Atishi and Arvind Kejriwal over their remarks on the alleged deletion of voter names from the electoral roll in the national capital in 2018. As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajeev Babbar, who filed a complaint, had saught four more weeks to file a reply, a bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal adjourned the matter. Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to Delhi Police and the complainant and sought their responses in the matter. In the meanwhile, proceedings before the trial court will remain stayed in the defamation case, the apex court had said. Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi approached the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court's refusal to quash a criminal defamation case by BJP leader Rajiv Babbar filed over their remarks on the alleged deletion of voter names from the electoral roll in the national capital in 2018. Atishi and Kejriwal have challenged the September 2 order of the Delhi High Court. They had made remarks on the alleged deletion of the names of 30 lakh voters belonging to some communities from the electoral rolls in 2018. The High Court had said the imputations were prima facie "defamatory" with an intention of vilifying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and gaining undue political mileage. The High Court had dismissed the plea by Atishi, Kejriwal and others challenging the defamation proceedings pending before the trial court. The defamation complaint also named two other AAP leaders, Sushil Kumar Gupta and Manoj Kumar. It had also directed the AAP leaders to attend the trial court hearing scheduled for October 3. Kejriwal and the other AAP leaders had challenged in the High Court the trial court's decision, which upheld the summons issued by the magistrate court following Babbar's complaint. The AAP leaders, before the High Court, sought to quash the magistrate court's March 15, 2019, order and the Sessions court's January 28, 2020, order, labelling the complaint as "politically motivated" saying Babbar was not an aggrieved party. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Central government not to relieve a group of Army officers from service in a plea challenging the premature termination of a woman Army officer. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant also remarked that during times of conflict, the morale of army officers needs to be kept high. "This is not the time when we keep these people roaming around the Supreme Court and courtrooms. There's some better place for them. They need to be at a better place," Justice Surya Kant said, implying that at such a pressing hour, the country needs army officers on the battlefield. The Court was hearing a plea in which a woman officer of the army, Lt. Col. Geeta Sharma, had allegedly been released from service at an earlier date (March 17) even though the date of her release was June 9. Thus, she had moved to the top court seeking a stay in the release of her service. Interestingly, Senior Advocate Maneka Guruswamy appearing for Sharma submitted that the Supreme Court had, in an earlier decision, allowed a similar plea in which Colonel Sophia Qureshi, who has been leading briefings of the Indian forces to inform the nation of updates regarding the ongoing conflict with Pakistan, was lauded by a bench led by former CJI DY Chandrachud, along with other officers of the army, for their immense contributions towards national security. "Your lordships had intervened in the systemic discrimination (against women army officers). If your lordships hadn't intervened, she (Colonel Sophia Qureshi) wouldn't be briefing the nation," the senior counsel stated. Justice Surya Kant responded in agreement and stated, "As of date, we would like their morals high and higher than anything. Each of them is meritorious." During the hearing, the Court was of the view that it would hear the matter on merits and in detail at a later date. However, it clarified that until the next hearing, army officers should not be bothered or distracted by pursuing litigation; instead, their focus should be on more pressing issues that the nation is going through at such times of conflict. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Bhati, appearing for the Centre, however opposed the plea and argued that allowing such pleas will lead to systemic difficulty for the government. The Court, however, stated that for now, such officers shall not be ordered to be released from service. It stated that the matters be heard on August 6 and 7, on a continuous basis from 11 AM. "On August 6, we'll hear the matter. The first batch (of pleas) will be of the army, followed by navy, airforce and coast guard matters. Until then, the officers including Geeta Sharma who are in service be not released," the Court said. During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant, while lauding the contributions of the Indian army, remarked, "All of us feel very little before them. This is the time when each of us needs to stand with them." "The nation is sleeping while the army is awake," Senior counsel Guruswamy said, in agreement with the Court's view. Advocate Amrita Panda represented Lt Col Geeta Sharma. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday strongly condemned Pakistan's attempted drone attacks targeting civilians in Jammu, warning that continued escalation would lead to severe consequences for the neighbouring country. Addressing the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, Abdullah emphasised that Pakistan would "suffer the most" if it persists with its aggressive actions. He noted that since the 1971 War, such a kind of attack had never taken place in Jammu. The J&K CM credited the Indian defence forces for their swift response, noting that all the drones were shot down, thwarting Pakistan's attempt to attack an ammunition depot in Kashmir's Anantnag district, which was reportedly also a target. "The biggest thing is that they (Pakistan) have tried to target civilians. The way they targeted the attack on Jammu with drones, I don't think that since the 1971 war, such an attack on Jammu has taken place," Abdullah said. "But the credit goes to our defence forces. They shot down all the drones... It was reported that they tried to target the ammunition depot in Kashmir's Anantnag, but the attempt was foiled," he added. CM Abdullah reiterated that India did not initiate the conflict, pointing to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians as the trigger for India's response. "Our people, innocent people, were killed in Pahalgam, and we had to reply to it," he said, referring to Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday. The Chief Minister criticised Pakistan's recent actions as an attempt to escalate. "What happened last night was an attempt to escalate. They will suffer the most if they escalate. They should move forward with de-escalation instead of escalation," Abdullah warned, urging Pakistan to lay down its weapons to normalise the situation. Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts of a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the second phase of Mumbai Metro Line 3 on Friday and said that they are planning to implement one ticket for all public transport systems. The new section, stretching 9.77 km, was inaugurated today at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. The CM said, "We are planning to implement one ticket for all public transport system. This multimodal ticketing will not only be for Mumbai but for the whole MMR region." Fadnavis also announced that the final phase, which runs from Worli to Cuff Parade, would be opened by August, completing the entire Metro 3 route from Cuff Parade to SEEPZ. He shared the government's ambitious plans for integrated public transport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Mumbai Metro Line 3 will cover a 9-km stretch between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Acharya Atre Chowk and run under the Mithi River's water. The first phase of Mumbai Metro Line 3, from Aarey to BKC, was inaugurated in October 2024. After inaugurating the service, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a ride from BKC to Siddhivinayak Station. He said, "Mumbai Metro Line 3, Phase 2A is not just infrastructure. It is the backbone of a future-ready Mumbai. This is India's largest underground metro route with 26 state-of-the-art stations and multiple connectivity points." Earlier, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated this crucial infrastructure project, marking a new era of connectivity for India's financial capital. The first phase of the Rs14,120 crore Metro Line-3 connects Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey, spanning the JVLR section. As Mumbai's first underground metro, the Aqua Line will revolutionise travel in the city. It will feature 10 new stations, including key transit hubs such as T2 and Santacruz, thereby easing congestion and reducing travel times. The full 33.5 km route of the Aqua Line connects Aarey to Cuffe Parade, incorporating 27 stations along its path. The recently launched first phase spans 12.5 km between Aarey and BKC, offering an important boost to the city's transport network. Moreover, this metro line will integrate with Mumbai Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka, offering improved connectivity across Mumbai's key regions. Officials stated that the Prime Minister would also launch the final phase of the project soon. Authorities said that despite several logistical and structural challenges during construction, the project successfully moved into its final phase. The 26-station metro line was a landmark example of modern underground engineering. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, senior government officials, and project engineers attended the ceremony. At the launch event, the CM inspected a scaled replica of the metro train. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Friday, met security forces in Uri and assessed the security situation in the region. After taking stock of the security situation, the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha assured people that J-K administration is working to ensure that people don't face any inconvenience amid the escalating situation between India and Pakistan. Speaking to mediapersons, Sinha said, "Attempts were made (by Pakistan)...Indian armed forces are ready to deal with any kind of situation. J&K administration is ensuring that people here don't face any inconvenience. I went to villages in the border areas that suffered losses." Sinha also said that the administration is providing ex-gratia to people who suffered losses. "The injured and the families of those who died have been given ex-gratia. The loss is being ascertained...there will be a need for new bunkers, so in the coming days, that will be built too," Sinha said. Pakistan on Thursday night launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were largely intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage. In Poonch, a local house was damaged by Pakistan shelling. The resident thanked Indian armed forces for their efforts to safeguard every citizen amid the escalating tensions "I can't understand what Pakistan thinks and does. This is not humanity. If Pakistan won't understand now, then what will it? If it weren't for our Armed Forces, we wouldn't have been able to sleep peacefully at night," he said. Additionally, a Hanuman Temple in Poonch was also damaged in the shelling last night. A local criticisied Paksitan for targeting religious places, "Pakistan army is targeting religious places in poonch, gurudwara, masajid, temples , this is very bad he said we are stand with Indian army and government of india," he said. Pakistan strikes were reportedly in retaliation to India's Operation Sindoor conducted earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. The situation remains volatile, with international calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. (ANI)
BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain has expressed pride in the Indian Army's capabilities, particularly in the context of India-Pakistan tensions. Hussain's comments highlight the Indian Army's efforts to counter Pakistan's nefarious activities, following air strikes conducted by the Armed forces on terror infrastructures in Pakistan and then thwarting drone strikes. BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain expressed his pride for the Army and said that as terrorists were being killed in Pakistan, their masters had started trembling. Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said, "We are proud of our Army. The whole world is watching the might of our army and how we have attacked the nefarious activities of Pakistan. The whole country is united irrespective of their religion and caste. India has attacked them by entering their land and will continue to do so. Terrorists are being killed, and their masters are also trembling." He noted that the world is watching the Indian Army's actions and its ability to counter Pakistan's nefarious activities. Hussain emphasised that India has taken decisive action against terrorists, including entering Pakistan's territory, and will continue to do so. He further said that curbs have been imposed on platforms supporting Pakistan on social media, YouTube and OTT. "Some people, even after staying in India, are creating hashtags such as Say No To War. Such people are staying in this country and posting against it. When the country has been attacked, a response would be given," he further added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday conducted a review of the country's current security situation at South Block, which houses the Ministry of Defence, in the national capital, in the aftermath of the foiled large-scale drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday. The military top brass and senior officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh accompanied the Defence Minister. The meeting came in the wake of Pakistan's attempted retaliation following Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, the Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. "The Indian armed forces have effectively used the Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated. (ANI)
Asserting that he is ready to sacrifice his life for the country, Karnataka Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Friday said that if the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi permit, he will go to Pakistan as a "suicide bomber." "I am ready to sacrifice myself for the country. If the central government and the Prime Minister permit, I will go to Pakistan as a suicide bomber... We (Indian muslims) have nothing to do with Pakistan, we hate it," Karnataka Minister said. Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted a review of the country's current security situation at South Block, which houses the Ministry of Defence, in the national capital, in the aftermath of the foiled large-scale drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday. The Defence Minister was accompanied by the military top brass and senior officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh. The meeting came in the wake of Pakistan's attempted retaliation following Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, the Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. "The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated. (ANI)
The arrests were made during simultaneous raids in the Birbhum district on May 8-9, 2025, according to the West Bengal STF.

The suspects were found to be propagating JMB's ideology and were part of a module that is engaged in dissemination of seditious and jihadi materials by using encrypted sophisticated mediums.

They were allegedly planning to target specific people and places in India, aiming to harm the country's sovereignty.

The suspects were involved in recruiting young Muslim men, trying to radicalise them and encourage them to join terrorist groups.

Ajmol Hossain had previously attempted to enter Bangladesh for jihadi activities and has connections across the subcontinent.

The suspects, along with others, tried to buy firearms and make explosives to support their cause of "Ghazwatul Hind."

The two suspects will be presented in court, and the police have requested remand to continue questioning them and investigating further links to their network.

In a related incident, the STF of Kolkata Police had earlier arrested two individuals, including a woman, for the illegal possession of firearms. Aziz Molla (36) was found with 10 improvised single-barrel firearms, and Moyana Majhi (32) was found with a single-barrel firearm. (ANI)
Asserting that Pakistan is "habitual of giving shelter to terrorists," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Praveen Khandelwal on Friday said that there is "no stability" in their own country, so they never want India to "move ahead" with prosperity. "Pakistan is a country that habitually gives shelter to terrorists. There is no stability in their own country, so they never want India to move ahead with prosperity on the path of progress that it has already set foot on under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Therefore, it is Pakistan's nature to destabilise India and promote terrorist activities in India," Khandelwal told ANI. "Not even a single casualty of our army has occurred. This tells us that the Indian army is now one of the best armies in the world. Its capability and efficiency are commendable," he added. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted a review of the country's current security situation at South Block, which houses the Ministry of Defence, in the national capital, in the aftermath of the foiled large-scale drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday. The Defence Minister was accompanied by the military top brass and senior officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh. The meeting came in the wake of Pakistan's attempted retaliation following Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, the Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials further added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. "The Made in India Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has been effectively used by the Indian armed forces in foiling Pakistani attacks towards Indian targets. Both the Indian Army and Air Force have the missile system all along the Pakistan border," defence officials stated. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a high-level meeting regarding the state's security arrangements at Samatva Bhavan (Chief Minister's residence), in Bhopal on Friday, saying citizen security is the top priority of the state government. This comes in the wake of Pakistan's attempted retaliation following Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. According to an official release, during the meeting, CM Yadav highlighted that national security is the supreme duty, and in view of the current situation, the security of all citizens should be given the highest priority. He also directed all senior officers that special attention should be paid to essential citizen services, all departments should strengthen their respective systems, and all necessary precautionary security measures should be implemented with immediate effect. The Chief Minister emphasised that strict control should be imposed on any anti-national propaganda. Citizens should be encouraged and informed not to pay attention to rumors. Special attention should be given to the security all around important central and state government establishments. All disaster management measures and necessities such as health and fire services should be further strengthened. Additionally, CM Yadav reviewed the current state of the state's security arrangements, the condition of citizen facilities, and departmental coordination. He gave instructions to further improve mutual coordination among officers. He also said that all departments should remain ready and alert for any kind of emergency situation. He stated that until the situation becomes normal, officials and field staff of all departments related to smooth supply of citizen facilities should not go on leave. State Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Home JN Kansotia, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister's Office and Water Resources Rajesh Rajora, Director General of Police Kailash Makwana, DG Home Guard Arvind Kumar, ADG Intelligence A Sai Manohar, military officers, and Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and other senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a high-level security review meeting on Friday at his official residence 'Varsha' in Mumbai in wake of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Director General of Police (DGP), top Home Department officials and other senior officers of various agencies and departments, said the Chief Ministers Office. Speaking to the media over India-Pakistan tension, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said, "All the security forces, be it police, coast guard or navy, are on alert mode. Regular exercises are carried out, Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) are set. We have done everything needed according to the War Book. We are also going to review the internal security and have also called for a meeting." Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also spoke about the security arrangements in Maharashtra in view of India-Pakistan tension and said, "Review meeting was chaired, a detailed discussion took place regarding security of Mumbai and Maharashtra. People don't have to panic. The government will take care of them and has made all the arrangements for their safety. We will follow the guidelines of the central govt." Meanwhile, in light of the current security environment and the threat of hostile attacks, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has urged all states and Union Territories (UTs) to augment civil defence measures under the Civil Defence Act and Rules of 1968. Highlighting Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, the Ministry in a letter titled "augmentation of civil defence measures in the states/UTs" reminded that state governments are empowered to undertake all necessary actions for the protection of people and property, and to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of vital services during a hostile attack. The call to strengthen civil defence measures follows a serious security incident along the India-Pakistan border, as Pakistan on Thursday night launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan. According to Indian defense officials, the attacks were largely intercepted by India's air defense systems, including the S-400 missile defense system, preventing significant damage. These strikes were reportedly in retaliation for India's Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. The escalating conflict has led to heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with both sides accusing each other of aggression and violating airspace. The situation remains volatile, with international calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann convened a high-level cabinet meeting on Friday, which resulted in 15 key decisions on security, agriculture, and industrial development. The most significant decision was activating the anti-drone system across the state. Ministers and MLAs will be stationed in the border areas to maintain security and peace. The government has urged the citizens to remain calm and assured that the administration is fully prepared and with them. In addition, it has been decided that the unused lands of the Housing Department will be handed over to the Industry Department to be used for industrial purposes. The cabinet also approved the launch of the 'Rangla Punjab Fund', encouraging public contributions. The government has assured that funds will be used transparently, and tax exemptions will be provided by the Centre. On the agriculture front, the government has decided to procure maize at Minimum Support Price (MSP). Discussions are underway with agencies and ethanol producers for procurement. Farmers sowing maize instead of paddy will receive compensation at the rate of Rs 17,000 per acre. To combat illegal mining, the state will adopt the mining system of IIT Ropar. Additionally, the Land Pooling Scheme will be implemented in various cities, enabling landowners to access residential and commercial plots. The cabinet further proposed to benefit about 2,500 employees appointed before 2014 under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The 'Farishta Scheme' has also been introduced, under which accident victims, terror victims, and war victims will receive free treatment in government hospitals. The state also decided to install signal jammers in 13 state jails to halt illegal activities going on inside the prisons. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that these decisions aim to advance Punjab on the path of security and agricultural and industrial development. (ANI)
The Directorate of Civil Defence, under the Delhi government, carried out the testing of air raid sirens at the PWD (Public Works Department) headquarters, located at ITO, on Friday. Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma was also present at the spot during the testing of the air raid sirens. Speaking to reporters, Verma emphasised the preparations of the NCT (National Capital Territory) government, stating that similar 40-50 sirens will be installed at high-rise buildings in Delhi in 1-2 days, adding that these sirens have a range of 8 kilometres. Delhi Minister further highlighted that control of these sirens is under National Disaster Management and would be controlled by a single command centre. Verma stated, "The work of installing sirens in Delhi has started. Sirens will be installed on all the high-rise buildings in Delhi. Its range is 8 kilometres. Starting tonight, 40-50 more sirens will be installed in high-rise buildings in Delhi. We will run it in case of any emergency. We can run it from a single command centre... If in case of emergency, these sirens will run for around 5 minutes... Control of this will be under National Disaster Management." "As PWD's building is high rise building, hence, today it is installed here. From tonight, 40-50 similar sirens will be installed in high-rise buildings. The installation work will be completed under 1-2 days. Delhi government is ready for any order of Centre. All our forces are ready," he added. Earlier, the District Magistrate of Central Delhi said in a statement that the Directorate of Civil Defence, under the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, will carry out testing of air raid sirens at the PWD Headquarters, ITO. These exercises are being conducted as part of routine preparedness measures. The District Magistrate (Central), G Sudhakar, has urged the public to remain calm and not to be alarmed when they hear the sirens. Authorities have also requested that adequate publicity be carried out through social and electronic media platforms to inform residents and prevent confusion. The District Administration has informed key officials across departments, including the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary, and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, about the exercise. Coordination has also been established with the Directorate of Information & Publicity to amplify public awareness regarding the test. Such exercises are part of periodic drills conducted by civil defence agencies to ensure preparedness for emergencies and to check the functioning of critical alert systems. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Border (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. The Pakistani attack followed India's "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, wherein Indian forces conducted missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India said that these strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. (ANI)
Asserting that Pakistan should be "isolated", Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday said that they have demanded from the International Monetary Fund not to provide funds to a country which shelters, protects and produces terror. "The world has to realise that Pakistan will not improve, they'll not correct themselves...It's important to isolate Pakistan. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) is meeting today. We have demanded from the IMF that funds should not be given to a country which shelters, protects and produces terror," Khera told ANI. Pakistan's chronic dependence on global bailouts hit another low on Friday as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared to hand over yet another USD 1.1 billion lifeline to the flailing South Asian economy -- a country seemingly incapable of surviving without external aid, ARY News reported. The IMF's Executive Board is expected to give its nod for the disbursement during its meeting today, part of a long-running USD 7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program. However, this isn't just another payout -- it's a stark reminder of how Pakistan has reduced itself to a perpetual borrower, unable to manage its economy without IMF intervention. According to an ARY News report, this deal was confirmed by the IMF Director of Communications, Julie Kozack, who responded to a question during a press conference. Behind the official jargon of "staff-level agreements" and "performance criteria" lies the real story: a nation stumbling from crisis to crisis, unable to make tough economic decisions, yet quick to chase handouts. In its statement, the IMF acknowledged that Pakistan will now receive a total of USD 2 billion under the current bailout, while simultaneously locking itself into yet another 28-month dependency cycle under the RSF, ARY News reported. The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force." (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Armed Forces over the ongoing India-Pakistan tension and said that the PM and the Indian Army together gave a befitting reply to Pakistan for what they did. CM Yadav also noted that it is a challenging yet proud moment of the Indian Armed Forces and PM Modi's leadership, as the Indian Army had shot down over 50 Pakistani drones and neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations. "PM Modi and Indian armed forces have together given a befitting reply to Pakistan for what they did and left them completely stunned. It is a challenging time for us, but at the same time, it is also a proud moment for our armed forces and PM Modi's leadership. In the last eleven years, the Prime Minister has made a distinct identity in the country and across the globe. Also, if any enemy attacks the nation, we have also seen an example of how the country succeeds in dealing with it with the help of modern technology. The enemy left no stone unturned in trying to attack us from all sides, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu, and Kashmir but we all saw and also showed it (defence) to the world," CM Yadav said. He further added, "Today, we have all modern facilities for safety and security. If we are safe, then it is because of our Armed forces and modern resources. I would like to thank PM Modi, Defence Minister, and Home Minister. Seeing the current situation and on the orders of the Central government, I called a meeting in the morning, and we have made all the arrangements for the whole nation to be united. We are ready to deal with any kind of situation. If the enemy dared, then it had to pay a price for it." Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
JD(U) leader KC Tyagi expressed strong support for India's military response to ongoing provocations from Pakistan. He praised the Indian Army, saying, "The Indian Army is responding to Pakistan's every attack as a challenge. It is destroying its every plan." Tyagi further added, "Despite these decisive actions, Pakistan continues with its evil activities. The Indian Defence Force cannot be praised enough for its resilience and response." He concluded by stating, "If Pakistan imposes war, India will give a befitting reply." Congress leader Pawan Khera also backed the Army action in Pakistan and said that it was important to isolate Pakistan. "The world has to realise that Pakistan will not improve; they'll not correct themselves...It's important to isolate Pakistan. IMF (International Monetary Fund) is meeting today. We have demanded from the IMF that funds should not be given to a country which shelters, protects and produces terror," he said. Meanwhile, the Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. Taking to X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Moreover, it has been learnt that Indian armed forces struck deep into Pakistani territory while responding to the missile strikes, destroying a Chinese-supplied HQ-99 air defence unit in Lahore and damaging key radar infrastructure. The sources informed that the Narendra Modi government didn't materialise the level of preparedness overnight, but has been upgrading India's air defence architecture since 2014. This includes a Rs 35,000 crore deal signed in 2018 for five 400 Triumf squadrons, of which three are operational along the borders with China and Pakistan. Moreover, India signed a deal worth Rs 2.5 billion dollars with Israel for the deployment of Barak-8 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MR-SAM), which remain active in frontline bases like Bhatinda, the sources said, adding that the centre also focused on developing Indigenous Akash missile batteries and DRDO-developed counter-drone systems. The Operation Sindoor also marked the debut of loitering munitions - suicidal drones, ordered in 2021 and manufactured in India. The sources said these drones executed simultaneous, precision strikes across sectors, taking Pakistan's defences by surprise. Harop drones of Israeli origin are now built locally, sources said. They were deployed to target and destroy air defence assets in Karachi and Lahore. (ANI)
President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga on Friday said that creating jobs destroys poverty and praised the development efforts of the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government. The World Bank Chief is on a day-long visit to Lucknow to attend a range of meetings and events. Addressing a meeting in Lucknow, President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, stated, "The single most important thing that we can do together is to create jobs for people. A job is the best way to destroy the illness of poverty, poverty not only of the money you earn, but poverty of your mind. Poverty of your mind comes from not having hope, not having optimism, not having a future that you deserve, and what you are doing is destroying poverty by creating jobs. The best way to create jobs is to build the infrastructure: highways, railways, airports, logistics." Banga emphasised that a developed India cannot materialise without a developed Uttar Pradesh and commended Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for fulfilling the needs of the populace. "'Viksit Bharat' cannot happen without 'Viksit UP'... The Chief Minister's leadership has transformed the perception; as you said, it starts from the determination to create the right environment, law and order, safety, business regulations, and infrastructure. You have a leadership that is focused on delivering on all the things that people care about, and it requires determination," Banga said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attended the meeting. Speaking there, Chief Minister Adityanath mentioned that the state government is seeking support from the World Bank for the UP-AGREES program to enhance agricultural productivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh. "On behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh, I welcome Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, to Uttar Pradesh... The productivity of agriculture in the western part of Uttar Pradesh is much higher than in the eastern part. To increase productivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh as well, we have sought help from the World Bank in the UP-AGREES (Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Development and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening) program," CM Yogi stated. CM Yogi added, "Poshan Abhiyaan is an important mission being run by the World Bank, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we have taken steps in this direction in Uttar Pradesh. Take-Home Ration (THR) is one of the steps in that direction. The World Bank team will also visit the Take-Home Ration (THR) plant in Lucknow." (ANI)
Retired Indian Army officer Major General Dhruv C Katoch on Friday asserted that Pakistan attempted to escalate tensions with India, but the Indian armed forces responded strongly, including by destroying Lahore's air defence system. Major General Katoch claimed the actions were part of a desperate move by Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir to protect his position. Speaking to ANI, Major General Katoch said, "Pakistan is trying to escalate the situation again and again. This is the action taken by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir... he is doing this to save his chair." "India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan. India's air defence system has shot down the missiles and drones fired by Pakistan... we have destroyed Lahore's air defence system," Major General Katoch further added. Major General Katoch's remarks came after the tension between India and Pakistan across the border. On Thursday, the former Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Shirish Baban Deo (Retd), praised the Indian Air Force's (IAF) recent use of the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra missile system, which was used on Thursday night to stop targets moving toward India. Air Marshal Deo added that the S-400's accuracy is very high, and it can even take down medium-range ballistic missiles. While speaking to ANI, Air Marshal Deo said, "It is a very capable system, perhaps the most potent system in the world. It's an entire system with three types of radars and three types of missiles, each optimised for specific targets, from low-RCS to high-speed threats. Its single-shot kill probability is extremely high, and it's accurate and effective even against medium-range ballistic missiles." About the Harpy drone, Air Marshal said, "Additionally, we have drones like the Harpy, which are anti-radiation drones equipped with seekers that detect active radars. Once a radar is switched on, the drone homes in on it and destroys it, even if it is later turned off. These drones can loiter in the area for 10 to 12 hours and have a video link, allowing operators to monitor their movement and strike precisely when needed. Overall, this makes the system extremely effective in neutralising enemy air defences." (ANI)
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the launch of Operation Sindoor, Punjab police on Friday urged the public not to trust any rumours circulating on social media. Speaking to ANI, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandigarh Kanwardeep Kaur urged people to only trust information from government social media handles. "I appeal to the people of Chandigarh not to trust any rumours circulating on social media. For correct information, follow the social media handles of Chandigarh Administration and Police. The situation in Chandigarh is normal. All markets are open. There is no need to fear," SSP Kaur told ANI. SSP Kaur added that contingency reserve and quick reaction teams are prepared to respond to any security threat. "Contingency reserve and quick reaction teams are ready 24/7. All vital installations in Chandigarh have been provided with security forces. We have identified sensitive zones, vulnerable areas, and buildings, and conducted security audits for all of them. They will be securely protected with a 24-hour police deployment," SSP Kaur told ANI. Her remarks came after Pakistan's provocative shelling of civilian areas in Punjab and other parts of India on Thursday night. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalted after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Hours after India conducted a series of strikes on terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh held a media briefing in the national capital to share details of the operation. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who briefed the media alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, stated that 'Operation Sindoor' was launched to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Singh reported that a total of nine terror sites were targeted and successfully destroyed. She emphasized that the locations were chosen to ensure there was no damage to civilians or their infrastructure. "Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed... The locations were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructures and loss of any civilian lives," Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said. Col Sofiya Qureshi presented videos of the destruction of terror camps, including those from Muridke, where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab, perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, received training. Other than Muridke, the Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, and Markaz Abbas, Kotli, and the Mehmoona Joya camp in Sialkot were targeted in the strikes conducted by the Indian Army, Col Qureshi informed. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the attack on Pahalgam was driven by an objective of undermining the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. "The attack in Pahalgam was marked with extreme barbarity, with the victims mostly killed with head shots at close range and in front of their family...the family members were deliberately traumatized through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message. The attack was clearly driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir," he said. India has carried out its deepest strikes inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Amid India-Pakistan tension, Telangana Government has established a round-the-clock Control Room at Telangana Bhavan in national capital on Friday to provide assistance, information, and support to residents of Telangana residing in border states, an official release said. "In light of the prevailing situation in the international border, the Government of Telangana has established a Control Room at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi, with a view to provide timely assistance, information, and support to residents of Telangana who are currently residing in the border States," I&PR Telangana release read. The contact details are as follows:Landline: 011-23380556, Vandhana, Private Secretary to the Resident Commissioner & Liaison Head Mobile: 9871999044, Haider Ali Naqvi, Personal Assistant to the Resident Commissioner Mobile: 9971387500, G Rakshith Naik, Liaison Officer Mobile: 9643723157, CH Chakravarthy, Public Relation Officer-Mobile: 9949351270. "The Control Room shall operate round-the-clock to ensure uninterrupted support," the release added. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of 7th May, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Hours after India conducted a series of strikes on terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh held a media briefing in the national capital to share details of the operation. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who briefed the media alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, stated that 'Operation Sindoor' was launched to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Wing Commander Singh reported that a total of nine terror sites were targeted and successfully destroyed, and emphasised that the locations were chosen to ensure there was no damage to civilians or their infrastructure. "Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed... The locations were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructures and loss of any civilian lives," Wing Commander Singh said. Col Sofiya Qureshi presented videos of the destruction of terror camps, including those from Muridke, where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab, perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, received training. Other than Muridke, the Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, and Markaz Abbas, Kotli, and the Mehmoona Joya camp in Sialkot were targeted in the strikes conducted by the Indian Army, Col Qureshi informed. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the attack on Pahalgam was driven by an objective of undermining the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. "The attack in Pahalgam was marked with extreme barbarity, with the victims mostly killed with head shots at close range and in front of their family...the family members were deliberately traumatised through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message. The attack was clearly driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir," he said. India has carried out its deepest strikes inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
In light of rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conducted a comprehensive review of the state's security and preparedness with police and administrative agencies on Friday. According to the Chief Minister's Office, while reviewing aspects such as mock drills, blackouts, and more, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued several directives. CM Devendra Fadnavis issued directives to conduct mock drills in every district and to establish war rooms at the district level. The directives also included setting up coordination mechanisms with hospitals during blackouts. He said that since lights are turned off to avoid becoming targets, to continue operations using alternate power sources, and use dark-colored curtains or tinted glass to prevent light from being visible outside. The directives stated to share educational videos explaining what a blackout is and what actions to take during one with students and citizens and raise widespread public awareness. Fadnavis said study the Union Government's "Union War Book" thoroughly and ensure everyone is informed. The directives said that cyber cells in each district police department should monitor social media to identify and act against handles supporting Pakistan. Take action against those spreading false or enemy-supporting information. It said that emergency funds will be released today to all District Collectors, enabling immediate purchases of urgent supplies and any other major proposal related to this should be approved within an hour. The directives said convene meetings of all municipal corporations in the MMR region and instruct them to raise awareness about blackouts. Involve cooperative housing societies in this process. Police departments must maintain higher than usual vigilance. In anticipation of increased anti-national activities, intensify combing operations and patrolling. Fadnavis stated filming military preparations and sharing such content on social media is a criminal offence--file immediate cases against such acts. The directives said that to boost coastal security, hire fishing trawlers as needed and that the government will establish a system to provide citizens with accurate and up-to-date information about the situation. Considering the potential for cyberattacks on the government's critical infrastructure (e.g., power generation and distribution), conduct immediate cyber audits through the cyber department, it said. It also added that to ensure better coordination between the government and security agencies, invite heads of the Army's three wings and the Coast Guard in Mumbai to the next meeting via video conference Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also present at the meeting. Acting Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, State Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Additional DGP of Civil Defense Prabhat Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Home Department Radhika Rastogi, Additional IGP of Intelligence Department Shirish Jain, and District Collectors of Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban were also present. (ANI)
In light of sensitive security concerns amid tensions between India and Pakistan, the Barmer administration on Friday issued strict guidelines for all district residents. The guidelines include a complete blackout from 6 pm to 6 am. It also provides for the closure of all markets by 5 pm. According to the official notification, all household and establishment lights must be switched off during blackout hours, and the movement of vehicles--including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers--will be strictly prohibited throughout the night. A 5-kilometre no-entry buffer zone has been enforced around the defence area, and any suspicious activity or persons in this region will be subject to strict legal action. Additionally, the operation of drones has been completely banned, and the use of firecrackers or fireworks is strictly prohibited throughout the district. The district administration has appealed to residents to cooperate fully and follow the orders in the interest of national security. "This step is extremely necessary and sensitive. Therefore, the general public is appealed to maintain peace and cooperation with caution keeping national security in mind," the administration stated. The unprecedented measures are part of a high-alert security protocol around key defense zones in the region. As the situation escalates between India and Pakistan, with both sides indulging in retaliations following the launch of Operation Sindoor, sources confirmed that every missile fired by the neighbouring country was "intercepted or neutralised," with none being able to reach its intended target. Pakistan attempted to escalate tensions by launching missile strikes at Indian military installations across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. However, the sources said that they were successfully neutralised. According to sources, India's response depicts the strength of its air defence ecosystem, which has been established over the past 11 years. The Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumf systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO's anti-drone technologies came together to create a firm aerial shield. Meanwhile, in light of the current security environment and the threat of hostile attacks, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has urged all states and Union Territories (UTs) to augment civil defence measures under the Civil Defence Act and Rules of 1968. Highlighting Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, the Ministry in a letter titled "augmentation of civil defence measures in the states/UTs" reminded that state governments are empowered to undertake all necessary actions for the protection of people and property, and to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of vital services during a hostile attack. In the letter issued, considering the last night attacks by Pakistani forces in Jammu and Jaisalmer regions, the provision also authorizes the use of local authority funds for such emergency measures, giving them precedence over other financial obligations. In the communication, the Ministry has requested that "states and UTs invoke Section 11 and grant emergency procurement powers to their respective Directors of Civil Defence." This step is aimed at enabling the swift and efficient implementation of precautionary and protective measures. (ANI)
Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Friday expressed confidence in the Indian government's ability to deal with Pakistan and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Majumdar's comments come amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Majumdar credited PM Modi's leadership for transforming India, particularly in its response to Pakistan. He praised the Indian armed forces for giving a "befitting reply" to Pakistan and expressed confidence that they will continue to do so in the future. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, India has been transformed. The way all the armed forces are giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, they will give more befitting replies in the future," he said. Majumdar highlighted India's actions against terror hotspots and suggested that Pakistan's targeting of residential areas and army establishments in India will be met with further strong responses. "We attacked the terror hotspots. After that, the way Pakistan targeted residential areas and the army establishment in India, it will get more befitting replies from India," Majumdar said. He urged people to have faith in PM Modi's leadership, implying that the government can handle security challenges, adding, "I will say, have faith in PM Modi." On Thursday, Sukanta Majumdar condemned Pakistan's attacks and called them a provocation. Majumdar emphasised that India had previously responded to such attacks without harming civilians or Army posts and vowed to continue defending against any further aggression, further adding that India will respond to every attack. Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, "Such attacks by Pakistan are a kind of provocation. India had attacked militant hideouts in response to the Pahalgam incident, but neither civilians nor Army posts were attacked. Pakistan tried to attack military installations at several places in India yesterday, which was neutralised by our air defence system. The confrontation is still going on. India will respond to every attack." Meanwhile, a comprehensive civil defence mock was conducted at Desun Hospital in Kolkata on Thursday evening. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared her firm support for India's fight against terrorism, affirming that the state stands in solidarity with the national effort to confront threats in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale to publish a public apology within a week to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, as per the court's previous judgment on July 1, 2024. This decision comes after Lakshmi Puri filed a contempt petition against Gokhale for failing to comply with the court's orders. Lakshmi Puri filed a defamation suit against Saket Gokhale in 2021 after he published tweets questioning her property purchase in Switzerland, raising concerns about her and her husband, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's, assets. The Delhi High Court deemed Gokhale's tweets defamatory, citing Shakespeare's Othello to emphasise the damage inflicted on Puri's reputation. Saket Gokhale appeared before the Delhi High Court on February 28 and April 15, 2025, in compliance with orders issued in the contempt petition. After reviewing submissions, Justice Anish Dayal directed Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages to Lakshmi Puri, issue an unconditional public apology on his X handle, to remain visible for six months, publish the apology prominently in a national daily newspaper, specifically The Times of India and refrain from making any further defamatory statements against Puri on any platform Additionally, regarding the Rs 50 lakh damages, a coordinate bench led by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora had already ordered the attachment of Gokhale's salary on April 24, 2025. The Court further directed that arguments on the issue of wilful noncompliance would be considered on the next hearing date, which is 12.09.2025. Gokhale failed to comply with the court's previous judgment, leading to a contempt petition filed by Lakshmi Puri. Recently, another bench of the Delhi High Court dismissed applications filed by Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale, who sought to recall an order directing him to pay Rs50 lakh in damages and publicly apologise to Lakshmi Puri, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, in a defamation case. Another bench of the Delhi High Court also issued an order attaching a portion of Saket Gokhale's salary, a Member of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The court directed that the salary will remain under attachment until a total sum of Rs 50 lakh is deposited in the court. The defamation case originated in 2021 after Gokhale published a series of tweets questioning Puri's property purchase in Switzerland. His posts raised concerns regarding her and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's assets. Additionally, Gokhale tagged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in his tweets, calling for an ED investigation. In its July 2023 ruling, the High Court deemed the tweets defamatory, citing Shakespeare's Othello to emphasise the damage inflicted on Puri's reputation. Earlier, in July 2021, the court had issued an interim injunction, mandating Gokhale to remove the tweets within 24 hours and barring him from making further defamatory statements. However, Gokhale failed to comply with the court's previous judgment, leading to a contempt petition filed by Lakshmi Puri. (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to stay vigilant in view of the latest cross-border tensions escalating between India and Pakistan. While presiding over a high-level meeting here today, the Chief Minister took detailed feedback from all DCS and SPS regarding the prevailing condition in their respective districts, according to a release. "There is no need to panic as such, but you all should remain cautious and watchful at all levels", stated the Chief Minister. He said that the essential government offices, including the Chief Minister's office, Office of Chief Secretary, and Control Rooms with essential staff, will remain operational across the state during the upcoming three holidays. The release stated that the Chief Minister hoped that the district administration adjoining inter-state borders would immediately take necessary measures as and when warned by the sound of sirens, particularly in Pathankot, Chandigarh, and Jammu and Kashmir, in case of possible escalation of tension. He directed that all adhere to the instructions of the Union Government and the State Government to ensure the safety of the people. He also directed ensuring adequate security around vital installations, including religious places, airports, dams, and bridges. He also instructed to conduct regular mock drills in accordance with the advisories of the Union Government. He also assured us that he would extend full support in strengthening the Control Rooms established across the State. CM Sukhu extended solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces and the Union Government, further commending the action of our armed forces for giving a befitting reply to the Pakistani failed intrusion. "We are proud of our brave hearts and action being taken by our Armed forces in safeguarding the Nation," he remarked. The Chief Minister also urged the people of the State to rely on the official information and not be swayed by the rumours or fake news. Principal Advisor Media to Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Director General of Police Dr Atul Verma, Additional Chief Secretaries KK Pant, Onkar Chand Sharma and RD Nazeem, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Secretaries Abhishek Jain and Rakesh Kanwar attended the meeting at Shimla while Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police of all the districts joined the meeting virtually. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday praised the Indian armed forces for carrying out a strong counter-strike under 'Operation Sindoor', and said the military action gave a "befitting reply" to Pakistan for killing innocent civilians. Speaking to the media, CM Saini said, "I salute all jawans who are foiling the evil intentions of Pakistan. Through Operation Sindoor, our armed forces are giving a befitting reply to Pakistan for killing our innocent people... Pakistan needs to realise that a country won't develop through terrorism." The remarks came after the Indian Armed Forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation for the recent Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan. CM Saini expressed confidence in the Indian Army's capabilities and added that national security must be protected at all costs. "Our forces are always alert. They know how to protect the country and teach the enemy a lesson. I am proud of them," CM Saini said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has urged all states and Union Territories (UTs) to augment civil defence measures under the Civil Defence Act and Rules of 1968. Highlighting Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, the Ministry in a letter titled "augmentation of civil defence measures in the states/UTs" reminded that state governments are empowered to undertake all necessary actions for the protection of people and property, and to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of vital services during a hostile attack. In the letter issued, considering the Thursday night attacks by Pakistani forces in Jammu and Jaisalmer regions, the provision also authorises the use of local authority funds for such emergency measures, giving them precedence over other financial obligations. In the communication, the Ministry has requested that "states and UTs invoke Section 11 and grant emergency procurement powers to their respective Directors of Civil Defence." This step aimed at enabling the efficient implementation of precautionary and protective measures. Officials also emphasised that timely action and preparedness at the state and local levels are essential to mitigate the impact. The call to strengthen civil defence measures follows a serious security incident along the India-Pakistan border as Pakistan on Thursday night launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were largely intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage. These strikes were reportedly in retaliation for India's Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday said that 140 crore people of the country stand in support of the armed forces. "The armed forces will take action as deemed appropriate...140 crore people of the country stand in support of the armed forces," Khera told ANI. Khera said that they have demanded from the International Monetary Fund not to provide funds to a country which shelters, protects and produces terror. "The world has to realise that Pakistan will not improve, they'll not correct themselves...It's important to isolate Pakistan. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) is meeting today. We have demanded from the IMF that funds should not be given to a country which shelters, protects and produces terror," he added. Pakistan's chronic dependence on global bailouts hit another low on Friday as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared to hand over yet another USD 1.1 billion lifeline to the flailing South Asian economy -- a country seemingly incapable of surviving without external aid, ARY News reported. The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded to with force." (ANI)
China committed to being growth engine for world economy: spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:34, May 09, 2025

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China will always be committed to high-level opening-up, win-win cooperation and being a growth engine for the world economy, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks when asked to comment on the view that the resilience of the Chinese economy enables it to withstand various external shocks, with the vitality of the Chinese economy during the May Day holiday especially seeming to defy concerns about the nation's economic outlook.

"The booming holiday consumption reflects the vitality and potential of the Chinese economy," Lin said, noting that the number of entries and exits by foreigners averaged around 1.1 million for each of the five days of the May Day holiday, growing 43.1 percent year on year, and that the sales of inbound tourism increased by about 90 percent during the period.

"Institutional opening-up measures are being transformed into tangible appeal to foreign tourists," he added.

Lin noted multiple indicators such as the attendance of overseas buyers and record on-site intended export transactions at the recently concluded Canton Fair, reflected that foreign business communities continue to be optimistic about the long-term development of the Chinese economy.

"Temporary turbulence cannot capsize the giant ship of China's economy, nor can it stop the Chinese people's pursuit for a better life," Lin said, noting that China will always be committed to high-level opening-up, win-win cooperation, and being a growth engine for world economy.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Indian government has decided to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty for use in four Indian states, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. The Jal Shakti Ministry is working on infrastructure development at a war-footing level to implement this decision, according to sources. The ministry aims to ensure that not a single drop of water meant for Pakistan goes to waste. Instead, it will be utilized to meet the water needs of four states--Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. These states will benefit from the diverted water, addressing their water shortages, sources added. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that "Desh ka pani desh ke haq me bahega ("India's water will flow in India's favor")". The Jal Shakti Ministry has been working towards this goal under the guidance and supervision of Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil held a meeting on Friday at the Jal Shakti Ministry to review and discuss the Indus Water Treaty with officials. The meeting, which started around 4 PM, lasted for an hour. Important discussions took place, and war-footing level work is underway, sources said. The Jal Shakti Ministry will hold further meetings to discuss the issue soon, according to sources. On April 25, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil stated that India won't give Pakistan even a single drop of water, adding that the decision to scrap the Indus Water Treaty will be implemented 100 percent. He said that important discussions took place in the meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. CR Patil mentioned that Amit Shah suggested several important points regarding this, which will be implemented soon. He further stated that the implementation will be done step by step. A crucial meeting regarding the Indus Water Treaty was held at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence on April 25. The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, and other senior government officials. The meeting lasted around two hours. India has formally notified Pakistan in writing about the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Devashree Mukherjee, has informed the Secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources, Syed Ali Murtaza, about this decision of the Indian government through a letter. India has issued a notice for changes in the treaty. The letter states that the Indian government has given notice to the Pakistani government for amendments to the treaty. The notice mentions that several fundamental aspects of the treaty have changed and require reconsideration. Population changes, the development of clean energy, and various factors related to water distribution under the treaty have occurred. Any treaty should be implemented in good faith, but Pakistan is promoting cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. These communications cited fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the treaty was executed, requiring a reassessment of obligations under the various articles of the treaty, read with its annexures. These changes include significantly altered population demographics, the need to accelerate the development of clean energy, and other changes in the assumptions underlying the sharing of waters under the treaty. The obligation to honor a treaty in good faith is fundamental. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India's full utilization of its rights under the treaty. Furthermore, apart from other breaches committed by Pakistan, it has refused to respond to India's request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the treaty and is thus in breach of the treaty. The Indus Waters Treaty governs the use and distribution of the waters of the six rivers of the Indus basin--Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej--between India and Pakistan. Under this treaty, the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) are allocated to Pakistan, while the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) are allocated to India. Earlier today, World Bank President Ajay Banga clarified that the organization's role in the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty remains limited to that of a facilitator, dismissing speculation about its potential intervention in resolving the matter. "We have no role to play beyond a facilitator. There's a lot of speculation in the media about how the World Bank will step in and fix the problem, but it's all bunk. The World Bank's role is merely as a facilitator," said World Bank President Ajay Banga. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on Friday held a review meeting with senior ministry officials to discuss the availability of food items in the country. This meeting aimed to ensure uninterrupted food supply nationwide and address public concerns about food availability. The meeting reviewed the current stock position of food grains, with Minister Paswan emphasising the importance of maintaining sufficient reserves. The government is focused on ensuring food security and addressing misinformation about food grain stocks. Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi assured that the country has sufficient food grain reserves exceeding necessary standards. Joshi urged people not to believe misleading propaganda about the food supply. Additionally, he warned against hoarding or stockpiling food items, stating that anyone found engaging in such practices will face prosecution under the relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act. In a post on X, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "Don't believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. DON'T PAY HEED TO SUCH MESSAGES. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of Essential Commodities are directed to cooperate with Law Enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act." The government is closely monitoring food stocks to prevent shortages and ensure availability of essential items. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan confirmed that food grain stocks are ample, and there is no shortage of essential items. "As the agriculture department, our responsibility is to ensure food security. Our agricultural reserves are full. Whether wheat, rice or other grains, we have sufficient quantities. The soldiers are posted on the border, and the scientists are with the farmers in the fields...It is our responsibility to work with the farmers in the fields and increase production...," said Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a press conference in Delhi today. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. (ANI)
Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday asserted that everyone is together during this time. "Sab log saath hain iss samay mein (Everyone is together at this time)," the RSS Chief told ANI when asked about Operation Sindoor at Belagavi airport. Bhagwat will stay in Dharwad for two days, as he is scheduled to visit the Rashtrotthana Center. An RSS camp is to be held at the Rashtrotthana Center, and the RSS Chief Bhagwat is expected to participate in the camp. Earlier in the day, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) extended full support to the Indian government and armed forces and lauded the launch of "Operation Sindoor", aimed at targeting Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. "We congratulate the central government leadership and our armed forces for decisive action, 'Operation Sindoor' taken against Pak-sponsored terrorists and their supporting ecosystem following the cowardly attack on unarmed tourists at Pahalgam. This action to serve justice to aggrieved families and the entire country in the brutal massacre of Hindu tourists has enhanced self-respect and morale of the whole country," the RSS said in its official statement. Calling for national unity and civic responsibility, the RSS appealed to the public to strictly follow government directives and remain vigilant against divisive forces. "In this challenging time, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh appeals to all citizens to ensure full compliance of the instructions being given by the government and administration. Along with this, while discharging our sacred civic duty, we all have to be cautious and do not let any conspiracy of anti-national forces to succeed in disrupting social unity and harmony.""All citizens are requested to display their patriotism and be ready to cooperate with the army and civic administration wherever and however required and strengthen all efforts to maintain national unity and security," added the statement. The Indian Army during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9 successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." The indigenously developed Akash surface-to-air missile air defence system has played a crucial role in thwarting Pakistani drone attacks targeting Indian assets on Thursday, according to defence officials. Officials further added that both the Indian Army and Air Force have deployed the missile system along the Pakistan border. (ANI)
Union Consumer Affairs and Food Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday dismissed rumours of a food grain shortage in the country, saying that India has adequate food grain stocks, far exceeding the required norms. Minister Joshi urged people not to believe misleading propaganda about the food supply. Minister Joshi also warned against hoarding or stockpiling food items, stating that anyone found engaging in such practices will face prosecution under the relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act. In a post on X, Minister Joshi emphasised, "Don't believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. DON'T PAY HEED TO SUCH MESSAGES. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of Essential Commodities are directed to cooperate with Law Enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act." Earlier in the day, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan held a review meeting with senior officials from the Ministry to discuss the availability of food items in the country. The meeting comes amid mounting tension between India and Pakistan and rumours of food grain shortage in the country. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Hours after India conducted a series of strikes on terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh held a media briefing in the national capital to share details of the operation. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who briefed the media alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, stated that 'Operation Sindoor' was launched to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Wing Commander Singh reported that a total of nine terror sites were targeted and successfully destroyed. Wing Commander further emphasised that the locations were chosen to ensure there was no damage to civilians or their infrastructure. "Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed... The locations were so selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructures and loss of any civilian lives," Wing Commander Singh said. Col Sofiya Qureshi presented videos of the destruction of terror camps, including those from Muridke, where David Headley and Ajmal Kasab, perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, received training. Other than Muridke, the Sarjal camp in Sialkot, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, and Markaz Abbas, Kotli, and the Mehmoona Joya camp in Sialkot were targeted in the strikes conducted by the Indian Army, Col Qureshi further informed. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed that the attack on Pahalgam was driven by an objective of undermining the return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. "The attack in Pahalgam was marked with extreme barbarity, with the victims mostly killed with head shots at close range and in front of their family...the family members were deliberately traumatised through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message. The attack was clearly driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir," Misri said. India has carried out its deepest strikes inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
In light of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Union Minister Sonowal reviewed key maritime projects and directed the officials to ensure that business remains as usual.

Sonowal also reviewed measures to ensure cargo operations' smooth and regular movement.

Major organisations under the ministry, including the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd. (IPRCL), Indian Port Global Ltd. (IPGL), the Directorate General of Shipping, and the Mumbai Port Authority attended the meeting.

The Union Minister also reviewed the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, one of the ministry's flagship initiatives.

In a detailed interaction with the CMD and directors of SCI, the minister reviewed current operations, fleet augmentation, and long-term expansion strategies aligned with the government's Vision 2047.

As India's strategic national shipping line, SCI plays a pivotal role in advancing maritime self-reliance and capacity enhancement.

An in-depth review of the Greenfield Mega Port project at Vadhvan was held with JNPA Chairman Unmesh Wagh and senior officials.

Union Minister Sonowal stressed the need to fast-track the port's development, citing the Prime Minister's vision of making India a global maritime leader.

The minister also met with IPGL Chairman Sunil Mukundan to assess the company's global performance.

Discussions included the progress and plans for Chabahar Port in Iran and Sittwe Port in Myanmar, a key project that aims to expand India's maritime footprint internationally.

A separate meeting was held with IPRCL Chairman M.K. Semwal and Senior management to assess progress on critical rail connectivity projects, particularly those supporting IWAI operations in Assam and infrastructure across major ports.

The minister urged IPRCL to prioritise the development of port-linked rail tracks given rising cargo volumes.

In addition, the Union Minister interacted with the newly constituted National Shipping Board (NSB), welcoming its Chairperson and members.

Sarbanand Sonowal emphasised the board's strategic role in policy guidance and expressed confidence in its contribution to shaping India's maritime future.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are working towards unearthing opportunities of the blue economy and enabling our maritime sector to step up to become a major force in the world. All our agencies, organisations, and teams are working towards the realisation of PM Modi's vision of transforming our country into a Viksit Bharat. We met to review our key projects and take measures towards swift realisation of these maritime goals," tUnion Minister Sonowal, said. (ANI)
Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ahmad Pare on Friday assured the people not to panic and stated that the army, air force, police and civil authorities are fully prepared amid the rising tension between India and Pakistan. Dy Commissioner Pare further instructed people to follow advisories, stay indoors, and switch off lights, including CCTV and reflective lights, during the blackout. Speaking to the mediapersons, Shaukat Ahmad Pare said, "Nobody should panic. The army, air force, police and civil authorities are fully prepared. There is no cause for worry. Whatever advisories are issued must be followed... People need to stay indoors, and it has been seen that when the siren goes off, they climb the roofs to make videos. All must go to safer places, and all lights, including CCTV and reflective lights, must be switched off. This will ensure the safety of everyone. There is no threat today. The events yesterday were ably handled, and no damage was reported in any district... Blackout will be done when informed so..." Dy Commissioner Pare also said that the procurement season is going on in Punjab and warned that strict action will be taken against those who create fake scarcity, hide the stocks, or increase their prices. The authorities have also enforced Section 163 in Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the area. Commissioner Pare further urged the citizens to adhere to the official guidelines and take precautionary measures in any crisis. "Procurement season is going on in Punjab. All our stocks are stored in the godowns. We will ensure the best arrangements are made for fuel and other things... If someone tries to create fake scarcity, hides the stocks and increases their prices, we have ordered BNS 163 and conveyed that strict action will be taken against them... Wherever you find an unidentified object, make a 100-metre distance and inform the nearest police officials... Please do not post any photos or videos without confirmation, follow the guidelines given by the authorities and only believe official government accounts..." Dy Commissioner Pare informed. (ANI)
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport remains open and fully operational on Friday despite the closure of multiple airports amid an escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. However, flight schedules have suffered, with 138 flights cancelled as of May 9. According to sources at Delhi airport, the cancellations include 63 domestic arrivals and 66 domestic departures, significantly affecting internal travel plans. Four incoming and five outgoing flights have also been cancelled on the international front. "Delhi airport is open and operational. Only some flights were cancelled," it said. Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport for real-time updates on flight status. Earlier in the day, IndiGo announced that all flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Rajkot have been cancelled until midnight on 10 May 2025. IndiGo assured passengers that it would provide updates through official channels and be available to assist with changes to travel plans. The update was posted on IndiGo's official X handle. Similarly, Mumbai International Airport has issued a passenger advisory regarding the country's ongoing situation. The airport remains operational, but passengers may experience longer wait times due to enhanced security protocols. The airport recommends that passengers plan their travel to the airport and arrive early to accommodate the extra time required for security checks. Meanwhile, in a major escalation along India's western front, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." During the press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, "Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7 at 08:30 pm. Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is unsafe for unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights that fly near IB between India and Pakistan. The screenshot we just showed shows the data of the application FlightRadar24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector." Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute to army jawan Murali Naik, who was killed in the line of duty during cross-border firing by the Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC). According to an official release from the TDP, Chandrababu Naidu condoled the demise of the young soldier from Ananthapuram district. Naidu spoke with Murali's parents, Jyotibai and Ram Naik, and assured them of the state government's support. He praised Murali's invaluable service in the army over the past two years and called on everyone to stand united with patriotism and vigilance. CM Naidu also urged everybody to observe two minutes of silence in honour of Murali Naik's sacrifice. As per reports, Agniveer M Murali Naik was injured during heavy shelling from Pakistan side on Thursday. He was later taken to hospital for treatment but succumbed to injuries on Friday morning. Meanwhile, in a major escalation along India's western front, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." She added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." During the press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, "Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on May 7 at 08:30 pm. Pakistan is using a civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is unsafe for unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights that fly near IB between India and Pakistan. The screenshot we just showed shows the data of the application FlightRadar24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector." Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday made announcements urging residents to follow blackout protocols and respond promptly to sirens amid heightened tensions in the region. As a precautionary measure, markets in Jammu City have begun closing operations. The citizens are requested to follow the advisories and cooperate with the authorities to ensure their safety. Multiple residential buildings were damaged in the region of Kupwara, Poonch, and Rajouri sectors of Jammu in the cross-border shelling by Pakistan on Thursday. In a series of coordinated drone and missile strikes, Pakistan, on Thursday night, targeted multiple locations across Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the majority of the attacks were intercepted by India's advanced air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, averting any significant damage. These attacks are a response to Operation Sindoor, a recent Indian military offensive that targeted terrorist camps and infrastructure inside Pakistan. The operation followed a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 tourists. The situation remains volatile, with international calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. Earlier in the day, addressing a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." Colonel Qureshi added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. (ANI)
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Friday emphasised that there's no shortage of essential commodities in the country. "I want to assure everyone that we currently have stocks many times higher than the normal requirement--whether it is rice, wheat, or pulses such as chana, tur, masoor, or moong. There is absolutely no shortage, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains," Joshi said. Union Minister Joshi has firmly cautioned not to fall prey to misleading reports. In a post on X, Joshi said, "Don't believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. DONT PAY HEED TO SUCH MESSAGES. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of Essential Commodities are directed to cooperate with Law Enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling, shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act." "Pertinently, the current Rice stock stands at 356.42 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) against a buffer norm of 135 LMT. Similarly, Wheat stock is 383.32 LMT against a buffer norm of 276 LMT. Thus, demonstrating a strong surplus over the required buffer norms, ensuring nationwide food security," as per a Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution release. In addition, India currently holds approximately 17 LMT of edible oil stocks. Domestically, the availability of mustard oil is ample during the ongoing peak production season, further supplementing edible oil supply. "The ongoing sugar season started with a carry-over stock of 79 LMT. Production is estimated at 262 LMT, after accounting for the diversion of 34 LMT for ethanol production," the release read. As per the release, as of now, around 257 LMT of sugar has already been produced. Considering the domestic consumption of 280 LMT and exports of 10 LMT, the closing stock is expected to be around 50 LMT which is more than the consumption of two months. The production outlook for the 2025-26 sugar season is also promising due to favorable climatic conditions. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes conducted by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that India is strong and will "cut Pakistan to size" and eradicate terrorism. Speaking to reporters after participating in 'Jai Hind Tiranga' march from K R Circle to Minsk Square, Shivkumar said, "The country is capable of handling strikes from Pakistan. India will cut Pakistan to size this time, just like during Indira Gandhi's tenure." When asked about the Tiranga march, Shivkumar said that the aim was to support our armed forces. Shivkumar said, "Our soldiers are fighting for our country. We have organised this march to support our armed forces and the Union government. We had invited people from all sections of society. The march was well received as people participated in large numbers." Asked if the time was ripe to put an end to terrorism, he said, "Our armed forces are hitting back appropriately. They have hoisted the Indian flag high and we are very proud of them and would like to support them in all possible ways." The Tiranga march was led by CM Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Over 10,000 people participated in the march holding the national flag. The Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. She added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." Pakistan's retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The Operation Sindoor was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)
Demonstrators carried Indian flags and placards, expressing their support for the armed forces while chanting slogans of "Vande Mataram."

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned Pakistan for deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri criticised Pakistan for intentionally shelling gurdwaras, churches, and temples along the Line of Control (LoC), describing the attacks as "a new low even for Pakistan."

Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Misri said, "During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students of the school, who unfortunately lost their lives and their parents sustained injuries."

"Several school staff and locals took refuge in an underground hall of the school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school was fortunately closed, otherwise, more losses would have occurred. Pakistan is targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan," he said.

Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).

This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national.

Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes carried out by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Amid the India-Pakistan tension, Telangana Jagruthi president and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha on Friday said India was engaged in a 'dharam yuddha' and asserted that the country was fighting with morality and honesty. She said India had not harmed common people in Pakistan and had only targeted terror camps. She said, "This is a righteous war (Dharma Yudh). India never makes mistakes. We are fighting with ethics and honesty. We did not harm the common people in Pakistan. We only destroyed terrorist camps." "Telangana Jagruti President and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha has appealed to the state government to postpone the Miss World pageant to be held in the state. She said that it is not appropriate to hold beauty pageants at this time of war in the country and suggested that the Miss World pageant should also be postponed in the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL)," a release from Kavitha's office read. She opined that this is the time to show wisdom and not give room for wrong indications. "On Friday, in support of Operation Sindoor and in solidarity with the Indian Army, MLC Kavitha led a huge rally from Indira Park to RTC Cross Road in Hyderabad. She paid a tribute to Murali Nayak, a soldier who died while performing his duties on the border," the release read. Reportedly, Indian Army soldier M Murali Naik was martyred on May 8 due to Pakistani shelling. Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes carried out by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla praised the armed forces on Friday for their valour, bravery and vision as the country sees escalating tensions with Pakistan in the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor,' which was carried out in retaliation to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, "We are proud of our armed forces - their valor, bravery, and vision. Just as the Indian Army has made our borders impregnable and strong, similarly, the Steel Frame of India, i.e., the Indian Civil Service, has played a vital role in shaping the country." He called upon the young civil servants to leave a legacy of service, guided by Indian values and democratic ideals and urged them to bring the sense of purpose, discipline, and service to their own roles in governance and public administration. While addressing IAS Officer Trainees of 2023 batch, in Parliament premises on Friday, Birla exhorted the young officers to dedicate themselves to the vision of Viksit Bharat--a developed India that is just, inclusive, innovative, and globally respected. He called on them to make this vision their daily motivation and guiding principle. Whether it is addressing the needs of backward and tribal areas, using technology to improve the lives of the poor, or ensuring last-mile delivery of services, he said the future of India depends on the strength and dedication of its civil servants. Birla encouraged the trainees to engage in daily self-evaluation and strive to make tangible differences in the lives of citizens through transparent, responsive governance. "With India undergoing a rapid socio-political transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, civil servants must lead from the front and act as catalysts in building a new, empowered India," said Om Birla. He invoked the vision of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who believed that a strong and principled administrative system was essential for safeguarding India's unity and democracy in the turbulent period following independence. Birla emphasised that the Indian civil service must always be guided by the spirit of Indian culture, remain sensitive to public sentiment, and support the continuous deepening of democracy and that administrative systems should ensure vigilant compliance with policies while always remaining people-centric and transparent. Reflecting on India's democratic journey, he stated that democracy is the most effective model of governance for ensuring transparency, accountability, and participation. "Even countries that do not formally follow democratic systems, he noted, are seeking to introduce democratic features into their institutions. Debate, dialogue, and discussion are the lifeblood of a functioning democracy and are essential to achieving equitable and sustainable development," he said. Lok Sabha Speaker has emphasised the need for greater adoption of technology by IAS officers to enhance governance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery. Highlighting the transformative role of digital tools in today's administrative landscape, the Speaker urged officers to proactively integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and e-governance platforms into their daily functioning. He noted that leveraging technology can bridge the gap between the government and citizens, streamline public service mechanisms, and ensure faster decision-making. The Speaker also stressed the importance of continuous upskilling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving tech ecosystem, asserting that a tech-savvy bureaucracy is vital for building a future-ready and citizen-centric administration. Calling the selection into the IAS one of the most challenging and prestigious achievements, Birla said that these officers now carry the responsibility of contributing meaningfully to India's progress. He reminded them that their efforts must not only be efficient but transformational--leaving behind a legacy of work that serves the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society. Birla expressed pride in the record number of women in this batch--73 in total--saying that their representation reflects the growing inclusivity and diversity in the civil services and is a strong indicator of India's changing societal fabric. Overall, 180 IAS officer trainees of the 2023 batch attended the programme. Birla concluded by calling on the officer trainees to commit themselves to serving with integrity, humility, and vision, so that their work becomes part of the nation's enduring legacy. (ANI)
Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port issued a directive to heighten its security on Friday, instructing all its personnel to stay alert and report any suspicious activity on port premises and waterways amid the escalating tension between India and Pakistan. "In view of the security situation of the country, a high-level security review meeting was taken by TK Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India through virtual mode, where Rathendra Raman, Chairman, SMP Kolkata, Samrat Rahi, Dy. Chairman, SMP Kolkata, Ruchi Anand, Sr Commandant, CISF and Heads of the Departments were present," as per an official release from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. Following the discussions, as guided by the Secretary (Shipping), MoPS&W, Govt. of India, Rathendra Raman, Chairman of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, announced a series of robust security measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and to continue port operations "As per directives from the Directorate General of Shipping, SMPK has raised its security level to 2. All personnel have been instructed to remain alert and surveillant, ensuring that any suspicious activity within port premises and waterways should immediately be brought to the notice of security personnel without delay," the release read. To ensure full operational readiness, all leave of employees, (including contractual staff) stand canceled from 10th May to 14th May. Additionally employees are required to remain at headquarters, even during the days of weekly off. Pilots and dock ilots will be on high alert and ready for emergency evacuation from KDS and HDC, if necessary. "On the digital front, cybersecurity measures will be enhanced, for which a detailed circular would follow. The CISO of SMPK has been instructed to implement strict protocols to thwart cyber threats," the release stated. Regular security drills will be carried out with all stakeholders, ensuring preparedness for any contingency. In the event of planned or unplanned blackouts, port operations will be suspended to mitigate risks. "Furthermore, CISF and PSO personnel have been advised to enforce strict access control, permitting entry only to individuals with valid Dock Entry Permits or Photo ID cards," the release read. Reflecting on the fortified measures, Secretary Raman asserted, "At Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, the safety and security of our men, property & vessels is of utmost priority. Given the current national security situation, it is our collective responsibility to stay vigilant and prepared. We have elevated our security protocols in line with the directives of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the DG Shipping to ensure that our port remains a secure gateway for maritime trade." (ANI)
Amid the India-Pakistan tension, authorities in Jodhpur have imposed a ban on drone operations across the district without prior permission. The directive, issued under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defence Code, 2023, aims to safeguard national security. An order issued by the Jodhpur Deputy Commissioner Of Police on Friday, read, "In view of the current circumstances, due to Jodhpur city being located near the Indo-Pak border and being strategically important, drone operation in the entire Jodhpur Commissionerate jurisdiction has been prohibited without permission in the entire Jodhpur Commissionerate jurisdiction by this office order No. PU.A-Jodh/Avisha/Sang/2025/966 dated 09.05.2025 under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defence Code, 2023 in view of national security." Drone operators in the region have been instructed to deposit their drones at the nearest police stations immediately, failing which legal action will be taken as per regulations. "Therefore, in the said order, all drone operators/holders of Jodhpur Commissionerate are directed to ensure that the drones held by them are deposited in the concerned/nearest police stations today itself with immediate effect. If the drone is not deposited by any operator/holder, action will be taken against him as per rules," the order read. Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes carried out by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were shifted to Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar from the Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Havelian village of Tarn Taran on Friday. Manager of Golden Temple, Rajinder Singh, said that the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being shifted to safer locations. "Given the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have visited the villages and, after the consent of Granthis of the Gurdwara, the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being shifted to safer locations. This is a village along the border...The holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being shifted to Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar," Singh told ANI. Earlier today, the Punjab government cancelled all leaves approved for the IAS and PCS officers across the state. It has also been instructed that no officer shall proceed on any kind of leave or move from station of posting without the explicit approval of the Chief Secretary. "In view of the prevailing situation and preparedness for the emergency response system, it has been decided that no officer shall proceed on any kind of leave or leave their station of posting without the explicit approval of the Chief Secretary, Punjab. All the leaves approved so far stand cancelled," said an order issued by Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Secretary, Personnel. The District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) in Amritsar has urged all residents to stay indoors, keep their lights turned off, and draw their curtains for safety. "All citizens are requested to stay indoors and away from the windows, keep lights turned off, and draw the window curtains. There is no need to panic. A siren will blow now, and we will pass the message again once it is clear," the Amritsar DPRO said. Pakistan on Thursday night launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage. (ANI)
Amid the India-Pakistan tension, authorities in Ludhiana have imposed a ban on the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), including drones, across the district, citing potential threats to public safety, security, and law and order. An order issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner - Cum -District Magistrate, Ludhiana on Friday, read, "It has been brought to the notice of the undersigned that the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in the jurisdiction of district Ludhiana, poses a potential threat to public safety, security, and law and order. There is credible information that certain anti-social elements or miscreants may misuse such UAVs for surveillance, smuggling, photography of sensitive installations, or other activities prejudicial to public peace and tranquility." The directive, issued by District Magistrate Himanshu Jain, comes in response to credible intelligence indicating that anti-social elements may misuse drones for surveillance, smuggling, or photographing sensitive installations. "It is necessary to take immediate preventive measures to ensure public safety and maintain peace in the district. Therefore, I, Himanshu Jain, IAS, District Magistrate Ludhiana, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by virtue of Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, hereby prohibits: Flying, operating, or use of any kind of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), including drones, of any size or specification, is strictly prohibited in the entire jurisdiction of district ludhiana, with immediate effect. This restriction shall remain in force till further orders," the order read. However, exemptions are given for drones operated for official duties by law enforcement agencies, armed forces, and other government bodies. Additionally, individuals can operate drones by obtaining prior written permission from the District Magistrate or any authorised officer. "The following categories are exempted from this restriction: Drones operated by law enforcement agencies, armed forces, or any other government agencies, for official duties. Drones used with prior written permission from the District Magistrate or any officer authorised by the District Administration. Any person violating this order shall be liable for penal action under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and other applicable laws," the order read. Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes carried out by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Escalating the tensions even further, one Paksitani drone hit a residential area in Firozpur, Punjab on Friday, injuring three people. Three people suffered burn injuries and were immediately rushed to the hospital, SSP Ferozepur, Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said. "We received information about 3 people being injured. They have burn injuries. Doctors will treat them. Most of the drones have been neutralised by the army," Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said. Indian Air Defnce have intercepted most of the drones in the Firozpur area. Further details are awaited. A day after Pakistan's attempt to target civilian infrastructure along the Line of Control and International border was foiled by the Indian air defence, the neighbour country's drones were again sighted in Jammu, Samba, Pathankot sector on Friday. Red streaks could be seen and explosions were heard in Samba sector of Jammu as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid blackout. Meanwhile a precautionary blackout has been enforfced in the multiple areas amid the esclating tensions between India and Pakistan. Complete blackout has been enforced, Akhnoor and Udhampur region of Jammu and Kashmir; Ambala and Panchkula area of Haryana.The blackout are also enforced in Firozpur of Punjab and Jaisalmer of Rajasthan. Pakistan has violated the ceasfire for yet another day.On Thursday Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." She added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)
Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday referred to the Pahalgam terror attack as one of the most barbaric incidents and stated that Pakistan's misadventure will cost them dearly. Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "Pakistan's misadventure will cost them very dearly. In one of the most barbaric and inhuman terror attacks, what happened in Pahalgam was a shocker to everyone in the civilised world... It was highly justified that India launched attacks on the terror camps. The Indian Armed Forces did an outstanding job with the strikes on the terror camps in PoK and Pakistan." Minister Reddy warned Pakistan that further escalation could lead to a full-fledged war and urged them to back off, avoid potential decimation and division. "There is a steady escalation, and any further escalation will lead to a full-fledged war that will lead to the decimation and division of Pakistan as a country. I don't think it will remain even a district. So it will be wiser for them to back off," Minister Reddy told ANI. Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes carried out by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad on Friday raised concern over the fake news being disseminated in regards to confrontation between India and Pakistan and urged the government to take this issue in consideration. Speaking to media, Karnataka Minister said, "I feel that the Ministry of Defence or somebody official should come and address the fake news that are coming in... Government of India should take into consideration that wrong information can lead to chaos in the society. I request that the government should authenticate all the videos." The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has been constantly debunking the misinformation circulating on social media. Pakistan-based social media handles have been trying to deliberately sabotage the narrative from the ground reality by launching intense misinformation campaigns amid these tensions. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense has also urged media channels, digital platforms, and individuals to avoid live coverage or real-time reporting of defense operations and security forces' movements. The Ministry emphasised that revealing such sensitive information could compromise operations and put lives at risk, citing past incidents like the Kargil War, 26/11 attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking. According to Clause 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, only authorised officials can provide updates during anti-terror operations. The Ministry has called on everyone to be responsible and mindful of national security. Pakistan on Thursday night launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defense officials, the attacks were largely intercepted by India's air defense systems, including the S-400 missile defense system, preventing significant damage. This comes after India conducted Operation Sindoor earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. The situation remains volatile, with international calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. (ANI)
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday voiced support for the Indian armed forces and the central government amid rising tensions with Pakistan and said that the Army has repeatedly taught Pakistan a lesson and will soon "neutralise" it again. The RJD leader affirmed the opposition's solidarity and called for the complete eradication of terrorism and separatism from the country. Speaking to reporters in Bhagalpur, Tejashwi Yadav reaffirmed his party's faith in the Indian Army's capabilities and cited past victories as evidence of its strength. Referring to the recent all-party meeting convened by the Centre, the RJD leader said that all opposition parties had expressed their support for the government's stance on national security. "We have full faith in the Indian Army, it has taught a lesson to Pakistan multiple times and divided it into two parts (Bangladesh and Pakistan). The Indian Government called an all-party meeting, and in that too, the opposition expressed solidarity. We think that soon the armed forces will neutralise Pakistan," said Yadav. "We stand with whatever decision the army and government take. We want terrorism and separatism is uprooted from the country. We will support whatever they do for this," he added. This comes as political parties across the spectrum continue to present a united front in support of the armed forces, amid ongoing India-Pakistan tensions following recent incidents at the border. Earlier in the day, the Congress party held a 'Jai Hind Yatra' in all Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) units on Friday to express solidarity with the armed forces amid escalating tensions with Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal reiterated the party's support for the armed forces and said, "Solidarity with the armed forces, the whole nation is with them. We are saluting their services." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting at his residence amid the rising tension between India and Pakistan.Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were among those present in the meeting. Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted a review of the current security situation. The review was held a day after Pakistan sought to target Indian cities and civilian infrastructure, in addition to some military targets.The Indian Defence Forces effectively repelled the attacks. The country's top security brass attended the meeting, and Defence Secretary RK Singh was also present.Pakistani drones were sighted in Jammu, Samba, and Pathankot sectors on Friday, according to defence sources. Red streaks could be seen, and explosions were heard in the Samba sector of Jammu as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout. A precautionary blackout has been enforced in multiple areas amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. A complete blackout has been enforced in the Akhnoor and Udhampur regions of Jammu and Kashmir and in the Ambala and Panchkula areas of Haryana. The blackout are also enforced in Firozpur of Punjab and Jaisalmer of Rajasthan. Pakistan has violated the ceasfire for yet another day. On Thursday, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)
Indian Army retaliated strongly in the Jammu sector in response to the drone attacks on Indian cities by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), Defence Sources said on Saturday. Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, drones were spotted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday. The drones are suspected to be armed and pose potential threats to both civilian and military targets. The locations where drones were spotted include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. In a serious incident, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Punjab's Ferozpur, severely injuring members of a local family. The injured received immediate medical assistance, and the area has been sanitised by security forces. The Indian Armed Forces are on high alert. All aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. Defence sources said the situation is under close and constant watch, and prompt action is being taken wherever necessary. Citizens, especially in border areas, have been advised to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary movement, and follow safety instructions from local authorities. While officials have said there is no need to panic, they have called for heightened vigilance and precaution. As a safety measure, a blackout has been imposed in villages of the Santalpur taluka in Gujarat's Patan district, which borders Pakistan. In a post on X, the Gujarat CMO advised people to stay away from rumours and follow the instructions issued by the administration. "As a precautionary measure, a blackout has been imposed in the villages of bordering Santalpur taluka in Patan district. All the citizens are advised to stay away from rumours and follow the instructions issued by the administration from time to time," CMO Gujarat said. A day after its attempt to target civilian infrastructure along the Line of Control and International border was foiled by the Indian air defence, Pakistan's drones were again sighted in Jammu, Samba, Pathankot sector on Friday. Red streaks could be seen, and explosions were heard in the Samba sector of Jammu as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout. A blackout has been enforced in the Akhnoor and Udhampur regions of Jammu and Kashmir. India had responded through precise strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK to the original escalation by Pakistan through Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan has now resorted to escalation, which is being responded appropriately by the Indian Defence Forces (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar, stated that there is no cause for public concern and assured that the town has a sufficient supply of essential items. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Parihar said everyone is proud of India's armed forces and will support any decision made by the army. "There is no need to panic. The Indian armed forces can handle any situation, and Prime Minister Modi is monitoring the entire situation," Parihar said. "We have adequate stock of essential items. There is no need for anyone to worry. We are proud of our armed forces and we will support any decision taken by the army," she added. Meanwhile, the Indian Army retaliated strongly in the Jammu sector in response to the drone attacks on Indian cities by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), Defence Sources said on Saturday. Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, drones were spotted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday. The drones are suspected to be armed and pose potential threats to both civilian and military targets. The locations where drones were spotted include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. In a serious incident, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Punjab's Ferozpur, severely injuring members of a local family. The injured received immediate medical assistance, and the area has been sanitised by security forces. The Indian Armed Forces are on high alert. All aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. Defence sources said the situation is under close and constant watch, and prompt action is being taken wherever necessary. Citizens, especially in border areas, have been advised to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary movement, and follow safety instructions from local authorities. While officials have said there is no need to panic, they have called for heightened vigilance and precaution. As a safety measure, a blackout has been imposed in villages of the Santalpur taluka in Gujarat's Patan district, which borders Pakistan. In a post on X, the Gujarat CMO advised people to stay away from rumours and follow the instructions issued by the administration. "As a precautionary measure, a blackout has been imposed in the villages of bordering Santalpur taluka in Patan district. All the citizens are advised to stay away from rumours and follow the instructions issued by the administration from time to time," CMO Gujarat said. A day after its attempt to target civilian infrastructure along the Line of Control and International border was foiled by the Indian air defence, Pakistan's drones were again sighted in Jammu, Samba, Pathankot sector on Friday. Red streaks could be seen, and explosions were heard in the Samba sector of Jammu as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout. A blackout has been enforced in the Akhnoor and Udhampur regions of Jammu and Kashmir. India had responded through precise strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK to the original escalation by Pakistan through Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan has now resorted to escalation, which is being responded appropriately by the Indian Defence Forces (ANI)
Nepal on Thursday evening voiced support with "all in the fight against terrorism", reacting to India's "Operation Sindoor." "Nepal stands together with all in the fight against terrorism. In line with its principled position, Nepal shall not allow any inimical forces to use its soil against its neighbouring countries," the Nepal foreign ministry stated in a release. Reacting further over the Operation Sindoor, the release stated, "The Government of Nepal is deeply concerned about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, India on 22 April 2025, in which a Nepali national also lost his precious life. During this tragic period, Nepal and India stood in solidarity, united in shared grief and suffering." "It may be recalled that Nepal had immediately and unequivocally condemned the barbaric terrorist attack, consistent with its resolute stance against all forms of terrorism," the foreign ministry added. Nepali lawmakers, since Wednesday, after India targeted the terrorist hotbeds inside Pakistan, had been demanding the government's stand against terrorism. On Wednesday, lawmaker Sarbendra Nath Shukla from Loktantrik Samajbadi Party had called on the government to maintain distance from those countries that are known for supporting terrorism. "Nepal while standing against the terrorism, those countries who directly or indirectly support the terrorism we should maintain the distance. The government should give enough attention to it, otherwise, relations with those countries might result in Nepal being a common playground to harbour terrorism," the lawmaker had said. Hours before the Foreign Ministry's release, CPN-Maoist Center's Deputy Secretary General Janardan Sharma also had welcomed the move of India in fight against terrorism. "India has conducted "Operation Sindoor" against terrorism. Terrorism is the worst thing that can happen to human civilisation. It should be the duty of every nation to fight against terrorism. At the same time, it is necessary to defeat terrorism through mutual cooperation for peace and stability," Sharma wrote on Facebook. Defence Ministry said in a statement that during the press briefing on Operation Sindoor yesterday, India had called its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response. It said that on the night of May 7-8, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks. Today morning Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised, the statement said. It said that Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using Mortars and heavy-calibre Artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring Mortar and Artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt, the statement added. (ANI)
US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Thursday (local time) said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's primary focus is to ensure the situation does not escalate further amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a press briefing, Bruce said the United States has been actively engaging with both countries to broker peace and emphasised that communication is essential. "The real focus of the Secretary of State is that this should not escalate. This has been a key framework. This has been an issue for decades and with what we saw over the last few weeks, after the terrorist attack. It was not surprising but very, very disappointing. It should not escalate and communication was fundamentally key that there should be talks, there should not be silence, and that America was at the center of this in speaking with a variety of leaders of both countries over the last two days," she said. Bruce added that the US was working with India on several intergovernmental levels. "There's some discussion that Pakistan wants an independent investigation as to what has happened regarding the terrorist attack. We want the perpetrators to be held accountable and are supportive of any efforts to that end. We continue to urge India and Pakistan to work towards a responsible solution in this," she said. "We also want to say that what matters in this particular instance right now is that the phone calls happened and we are remaining engaged with both governments at multiple levels. We will not engage in the nature of discussing what the conversations have been or what we've conveyed," Bruce added. When asked whether the US supports India's view that Pakistan shelters terrorist groups, Bruce pointed to the long-standing US position on cross-border terrorism. "Obviously in today's world, that's a call that we have been making for decades. It is the dynamic that we've seen in the Middle East disrupting lives and clearly what happened in Kashmir is awful and we've all send our condolences. The world has rejected the nature of that kind of violence," she said. Bruce also confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to call for restraint and direct communication. "This morning Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and EAM Dr S Jaishankar. In both calls, the Secretary emphasised the need for immediate de-escalation and called for an end to the violence. He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications," she said. (ANI)
US Vice President JD Vance has said that the India-Pakistan conflict is "fundamentally" 'none of America's business' and has nothing to do with its ability to control the situation. While speaking to Fox News, Vance said that although the United States can ask both parties to de-escalate, it cannot get involved in the conflict. "Fundamentally, India has its gripes with Pakistan. Pakistan has responded to India, what we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit. But we are not going to get involved in the middle they were fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it," he told Fox News. Vance acknowledged that the US is concerned about the possibility of nuclear powers colliding and is working to prevent that from happening. "We are concerned about any time nuclear powers colliding and having a major conflict, and what we said and what Secretary Rubio has said and the President has said- is that we want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though," he said in an interview with Fox News. He emphasised that the US cannot force either country to stop and is relying on diplomatic channels to prevent escalation. "America can't tell the Indians to lay down their arms or tell the Pakistanis to lay down their arms. And so we will continue to pursue this thing through diplomatic channels, our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or God forbid, a nuclear conflict," he told Fox News. Vance further noted that war, if it happens, would be disastrous, and urged both nations to exercise restraint. "But sure, we are worried about these things, but I think the job of diplomacy, but also the job of cooler heads in India and Pakistan, is to make sure this doesn't become a nuclear war. If it happened, it would be disastrous for right now, we don't think that will happen," he said. Meanwhile, on Thursday (local time), US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's primary focus is to ensure the situation does not escalate further amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a press briefing, Bruce said the United States has been actively engaging with both countries to broker peace and emphasised that communication is essential. (ANI)
Social media platform X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees, a statement by the Global Government Affairs said. The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users. https://x.com/GlobalAffairs/status/1920522981744238814 In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws. For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts, the statement said. To comply with the orders, we will withhold the specified accounts in India alone. We have begun that process. However, we disagree with the Indian government's demands. Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech. This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians' ability to access information. We believe that making these executive orders public is essential for transparency - lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision making. However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time. X is exploring all possible legal avenues available to the company. Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. However, we encourage all users who are impacted by these blocking orders to seek appropriate relief from the courts. X said that they provided the affected users with notice of the actions in accordance with our policies. Affected users may also contact the Indian government at cyberlaw@meity.gov.in. Meanwhile, following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the accounts of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have been suspended in India. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that 14 sorties of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Naval (PLAN) vessels and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Friday. Out of the 14 sorties, 12 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, " 14 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 12 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1920644892058910808 Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that five sorties of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Naval (PLAN) vessels and one official ship were detected. Out of the five sorties, one crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1920282503593808215 Meanwhile on Thursday, Two US senators have reintroduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, stating that its purpose is to reaffirm America's commitment to supporting Taiwan's democracy and international participation in response to growing diplomatic and military pressure from China, as reported by Central News Agency (CNA). Republican John Curtis and Democrat Jeff Merkley introduced the bill on Monday for the fourth time, following unsuccessful attempts in 2020, 2021, and 2023, when it failed to advance beyond the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, CNA reported. Curtis stated, "Our alliance with Taiwan is one of the most strategically and morally significant partnerships America has in the Indo-Pacific, and we need to ensure our policies match our principles. The Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act will deepen our relationship with Taiwan by elevating the status of our top diplomat, incentivising high-level cooperation and visits between our governments, and combating Chinese Communist Party disinformation campaigns targeting Taiwan." (ANI)
Michael Rubin, former Pentagon official and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, while talking about the India-Pakistan conflict said that Pakistan started the conflict with its support to terrorism, and India was the victim of it. While talking to ANI, he said that India's military has shown itself to be much capable. He said, "Pakistan started the conflict with its support for terrorism. Indians were the victims of terrorism. While I was initially critical that Prime Minister Modi had taken so long to respond, but it's clear that the Indian military was carefully planning and the Indian military has shown itself to be far more capable," he said. He added that Pakistan is now trying to save its face. He added that when one sees themselves in a hole, they must stop digging. "Pakistan is thrashing about, looking for a way to save face. But Asim Munir should understand that the first rule of hole digging is when you're in a hole, stop digging... Looking forward, there can only be one metric by which we look at the diplomatic solution to this issue. Pakistan has to be designated by the United States to be a state sponsor of terror," he added. Rubin added that although the US designated individual terror groups, they have not designated Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism. "The United States has previously designated individual terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, but we haven't designated Pakistan itself as a state sponsor of terror. It's time to stop designating the tentacles of the octopus and designate its head. The United States should side unequivocally with India," he said. Rubin said that PM Modi and other leaders are rallying to the realisation that all Indians are under threat. Pakistan Army General Asim Munir gave away his goal that Hindus and Muslims should not be able to live together. "The job of any democratic leader is to protect their citizens. What we see PM Modi and others across the Indian political spectrum doing is rallying to the realisation that all Indians are under threat. Before this started, Asim Munir gave away his goal. He argued that Hindus and Muslims should not be able to live together," he said. However, Munir added that both communities live together successfully in India but not in Pakistan because their government has driven the minorities outside. "The fact of the matter is that they live together successfully in India. The only reason why they no longer live successfully together in Pakistan is because Pakistan has systematically driven its minorities out of the country," he said. Rubin added that every time the government fails, they turn the guns to their minorities. "Every time Pakistan fails inwardly, in terms of corruption, economy, society, or its leadership, it turns its guns on its minorities to distract the Pakistani people from the government's failings. That is the playbook of a failed state. Fortunately, India has a different playbook in which all Indians thrive and openly discuss their issues," he said. Meanwhile, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Thursday said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for restraint amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. During a press briefing, Bruce said that Rubio spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging immediate de-escalation. (ANI)
Indian-American entrepreneur Danny Gaekwad has said that US Vice President JD Vance's statement showcases "great support" of America for India and called it "fantastic news" for India. Speaking to ANI, Gaekwad said that Vance's statement indicates that he is not going to get in middle of it and "do what needs to be done." He said that India will not get the opportunity again as Pakistan will work diplomatically with America and make sure that somebody gets in the middle of it. When asked about Vance's statement on India-Pakistan tensions, he responded, "I was really surprised listening to JD Vance. It's a clear indication that he's not going to get in middle of it and go do what you need to do. He said, I'm not getting in middle of it, this is two countries problem. Please resolve it. This is a fantastic news for India. This is the God given opportunity to India. A vice president of United States is saying, go get done what you need to be done. We are not coming in your way. You know, as you understand, and we all do, usually that level people do not speak this language, but he clearly said in a first statement, that we are not getting in the middle." "Usually they say, don't do this, let's think the diplomatic solution here. We have a clear mandate, go get it and if we miss this, we will not get again the same opportunity because Pakistan will work diplomatically with America and they will make sure that somebody get in the middle of it. He is giving clear from the United States of America, go get it. It's our time to go get it. Do not waste time. Fantastic news for India. Great support of America for India," he added. While speaking to Fox News, Vance said that although the United States can ask both parties to de-escalate, it cannot get involved in the conflict. "Fundamentally, India has its gripes with Pakistan. Pakistan has responded to India, what we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit. But we are not going to get involved in the middle they were fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it,"Vance told Fox News. When asked about the rising tensions between India and the Pakistan, Gaekwad said, "I don't think it will escalate We have a small window of a week or ten days before whole...We are given a time and opportunity to finish the mission and our mission is only one mission to finish terrorism and anybody supporting terrorism, we must finish with India's might, with India's military, India's economic power, this is it. After, you know, if the war starts and it's keep going, then everybody has to say, don't do this, don't do that. They know it innocent Indians are getting killed for last 20, 30 years. This is not the first incident and we are not doing aggression by the first incident. I mean, I've been waiting for this for 20 years. I'm sure world is waiting for last 20 years. Then why they're not doing what needs to be done. and this is the right approach and is taken and let's get it done." He said that Pakistani army leaders' participation in the funeral prayers of those targeted by India demonstrates India has "all right to go and finish them." He said that Pakistan is supporting terrorists openly, and India needs to "go and finish them openly." On being asked about Pakistani army leaders participation in the funeral prayers of those targeted by India, which included Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) leaders, he responded, "I think you said it in your own answer. If the terrorist chief or terrorist supporters are doing it, India has all the right to go and finish them. Wish we don't need nothing. This is a clear indication that it is a state-provocated, it is state-sponsored, it's a country sponsor. It's a military sponsor. This is the time we respond and we finish them. I won't be worried about what America says and what China says, I don't care. This is our problem. Let's finish it. We have a proof in the pudding. These people are attending openly, they're not even afraid. We need to go and finish them openly. We shouldn't be afraid." During the briefing on 'Operation Sindoor' in Delhi on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri displayed a photograph of Pakistan army personnel attending the funeral of terrorists killed in the Indian military strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' and said that it is "odd that the funerals of civilians are carried out with the coffins being draped in Pakistani flags and state honours being accorded". Gaekwad said that India is a powerhouse "economically" compared to Pakistan. He said India is capable and can handle the consequences of the tensions with Pakistan. He said that India should not worry about economy as terrorism has more impact on a nation in a long run. When asked about the consequences of the prolonged tensions between India and Pakistan, he said, "Economically, India is a powerhouse compared to Pakistan. They are nothing. They have more problems than God has given them. We have not created any problem from that. India is an economic powerhouse. India is one of the top, what, six or five largest economy in the world. Go look at where the Pakistan stacks up. This is why I said India is capable. India can handle, India will handle and India has a foreign surplus, we call it in dollars. We have an 800 plus billion dollars. This is the time we use it and we use it for good because if we miss this opportunity, it will be difficult to come. Whole world is waiting for this one. Nobody has jumped in and said, don't do this, don't do that. It is right there. We shouldn't be worried about economy. We shouldn't because ultimately, you look at it, terrorism has a more impact on any country in a long range. In a short range, the war has more impact. But, if you finish the terrorism, the way you like, it's a long time relief and a long time prosperity of the country is on the way and tourism and travel." He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to target terrorists and emphasised that he needs to strike "more hard and precisely." On how he sees the current tension between the two nations as compared to previous ones, he said, "I think Narendra Modi did the right thing to strike where he needs to be strike. But, I think he need to strike more hard, more precisely and shouldn't stop. Right now, world is watching. Everybody is wondering what we need to do. Look at the diplomatic, people take America for instance, they're our largest economic partner for the country. They openly said we are not getting into it. This is a clear mandate. You wouldn't get more clear than this ever. So, let's get it done. And I think Prime Minister Modi is ready. He's ready. He must be ready for long time and he need to use India's might to teach a lesson. No, we finished the problem." India, on early Wednesday, carried out precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian forces, targeted nine terror sites, which were successfully hit. Over 100 terrorists were eliminated in a series of precision strikes, according to sources. The operation, aimed at avenging the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, remains underway, making it challenging to provide an exact casualty count of the terrorists at this stage, sources further stated. Danny Gaekwad said that he would want the US to help India, as India has never acted aggressively in the past 10,000 years. However, he said that India has the right to defend itself and is capable of doing so. On his thoughts about the conflict between India and Pakistan, Gaekwad said, "I think I want my country, America, to help absolutely my motherland, India, because India has never done aggression in last 10,000 years since Ashoka the Great or whatever, 5,000 years. We have never gone to other country, but I have seen India, the Dutchs have come, the Huns have come, the Portuguese has come, the whites have come, the French came, the British came, the moguls came, the Mongolian came. We never ever cross our border to take somebody's else piece or somebody's else land. India has a hundred percent right to defense himself. India is capable and I want India to use his might at this moment. Please don't let this opportunity go. India has never done aggression anywhere. You look at the book, but if the aggressor came. This is the time we fight." (ANI)
Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on India and Pakistan to exercise the utmost restraint to prevent an escalation of tensions. It also advised Brazilian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Kashmir and adjacent areas. In a statement issued on Thursday on the situation of conflict between India and Pakistan, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its condemnation of all acts of terrorism and said it is monitoring the situation of Brazilians in the area. It also shared consular emergency hotline numbers for Brazilian nationals in New Delhi and Islamabad. It said, "As expressed in the statement of 23 April regarding the attack in Kashmir on the previous day, the Government of Brazil reiterates its repudiation of all acts of terrorism. Brazil calls on the parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint in order to prevent an escalation of tensions." "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Brazilian nationals to refrain from non-essential travel to Kashmir and adjacent regions. Itamaraty is monitoring the situation of Brazilians in the area. There are no reports of Brazilian victims. The Embassies of Brazil in New Delhi and Islamabad remain at the disposal of the Brazilian community through the following consular emergency hotline numbers," it added. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 carried out precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian forces, targeted nine terror sites, which were successfully hit. During the intervening night of May 8 and 9, the Indian Army has successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. In a post on X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Army stated. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The operation was launched after Pakistan made failed attempts to send multiple swarm drones into Indian territory across different locations. (ANI)
As India's Op Sindoor continues to damage the terrorist infrastructure amd its support structure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistan government has pleaded with international partners to provide more loans. It has also called on international partners to help de-escalate as the stocks were crashing. The Pakistan government made the request in an account purportedly belonging to the Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, on the social media platform X. In a post on X, Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, stated, "Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflected by enemy. Amid escalating war and stocks crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast." https://x.com/eadgop/status/1920683116441604197 Pakistan's economy is in the doldrrums. Pakistan's outstanding debt to the IMF was approximately USD 8.8 billion. Pakistan is the fourth-largest debtor to the IMF. The weak sentiments are also reflected in stock market indices. Pakistan's benchmark KSE-100 index has lost over 7,500 points, or 6% since April 23. On Monday, Moodys' warned that sustained escalation in tension with India could hurt Pakistan's growth, impact its fiscal consolidation and macroeconomic stability. On Thursday, Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts of a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised. Addressing the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) press briefing on Thursday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems successfully neutralised the threats.She further said that in response to Pakistan's attempted attacks, the Indian Armed Forces this morning targeted multiple air defence radars and systems across Pakistan. "This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," she said. "On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks," Colonel Qureshi said. Meanwhile, during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, the Indian Army successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. Ther Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. (ANI)
Pakistan has claimed that its Economic Affairs Division account on the social media platform X has been hacked and called the post, where it appealed for more loans from the international community as it faced losses following India's Operation Sindoor, "fake." As India's Op Sindoor continues to damage the terrorist infrastructure and its support structure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistan government in the post had pleaded with international partners to provide more loans. It has also called on international partners to help de-escalate as the stocks were crashing. In a post on X, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fact Checker shared a picture of the post and mentioned that it was "fake." It also claimed, "The account was hacked." However it is clear that Pakistan's economy is in the doldrrums. Pakistan's is the IMF's fouth largest debtor with an outstanding debt of approximately USD 8.8 billion. On Monday, Moodys' warned that sustained escalation in tension with India could hurt Pakistan's growth, impact its fiscal consolidation and macroeconomic stability. Meanwhile, during the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, the Indian Army successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. The Indian Army said, "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignity and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force." Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts of a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8 and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. Addressing the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) press briefing on Thursday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said that India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems successfully neutralised the threats.She further said that in response to Pakistan's attempted attacks, the Indian Armed Forces this morning targeted multiple air defence radars and systems across Pakistan. "This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," she said. "On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks," Colonel Qureshi said. (ANI)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian has expressed concern over current developments and called on India and Pakistan to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, including the UN Charter, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation. Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, Lin Jian expressed China's readiness to work with the international community to continue playing a "constructive role" in easing the tensions between the two nations. He reiterated China's condemnation of all forms of terrorism. When asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statement that Pakistan will respond to India's strikes, he said, "We've shared China's position yesterday on the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan. China is concerned over the current developments. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbours." "They're both China's neighbours as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, observe international law, including the UN Charter, remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation. We stand ready to work with the rest of the international community to continue playing a constructive role in easing the current tensions," he added. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 carried out precision strikes at the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian forces, targeted nine terror sites, which were successfully hit. During the intervening night of May 8 and 9, the Indian Army has successfully repelled and decisively responded to multiple drone attacks and ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army stated. In a post on X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) stated that the drone attacks were "effectively neutralised" and the ceasefire violations were appropriately responded to. The ADG PI also noted that the successful retaliation by the Indian Armed Forces was also under Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the early hours of Wednesday, during which the Armed Forces neutralised nine terror camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous cease fire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force," the Army stated. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during the large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The operation was launched after Pakistan made failed attempts to send multiple swarm drones into Indian territory across different locations. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended wishes to Pope Leo XIV and expressed India's commitment to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further shared values. He noted that Pope Leo XIV's leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service. In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "I convey sincere felicitations and best wishes from the people of India to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service. India remains committed to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further our shared values." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1920755490285645831 The Vatican conclave on Thursday chose a new Pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost - the first American pope, Vatican News said.The Cardinals gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel have elected 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV becomes the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the first American to lead the Catholic Church.Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon appeared on the St. Peter's balcony that overlooks the St Peter's square and announced, "Habemus Papam!" - "We have a pope." At the Vatican the doors on the balcony opened to reveal the new Pope who greeted the crowds with, "May peace be with all of you." "Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you," he said. In his first comments in Italian, Pope Leo XIV said wants this message of peace to "Enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are." Paying tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis, he urged faithful to "move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other." The former leader of the Augustinian order also thanked fellow cardinals for choosing him for the role. Earlier, crowds broke out into cheers as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that a new leader of the Catholic Church had been elected. The 133 cardinal electors who had been sequestered inside since Wednesday reached a two-thirds majority decision on who will succeed Pope Francis. The voice of the six bells of St Peter's Basilica announced that the Church has its new Pope. "It's a moment of joy,the wait is over," the Vatican News said in a message. During the most recent hospitalization of his predecessor at the "Gemelli" hospital Prevost presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis's health in Saint Peter's Square on March 3. According to the Vatican, the new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy. On September 1 of the same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in Saint Louis, in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Chicago, and made his first profession on September 2, 1978. On August 29, 1981, he took his solemn vows. He received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). In Rome, he was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica by Monsignor Jean Jadot, then Pro-President of the Pontifical Council for Non-Christians, now the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984; and the following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985-1986). In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis on "The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine" and was appointed vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of "Mother of Good Counsel" in Olympia Fields, Illinois (US). (ANI)
Tibetan Government-in-Exile President Sikyong Penpa Tsering held a meeting with US Congressman Joe Wilson in Washington, DC. Wilson, a long-time advocate for human rights, expressed concern over the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) systematic repression of the Tibetan people and pledged continued US backing for their struggle, according to Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) statement. The meeting held on Thursday, attended by staff from the Office of Tibet and the International Campaign for Tibet, focused on strengthening US support for the Tibetan freedom movement. Wilson praised Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama and reiterated his strong support for the Tibetan cause. The Tibetan delegation also held a closed-door discussion with Elliott Abrams, a respected foreign policy expert, at the Council on Foreign Relations. According to CTA statement, Abrams has served in key diplomatic roles, including as US Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela. The discussion focused on China's growing authoritarianism and its ongoing crackdown in Tibet. These high-level meetings are part of a continued effort by Tibetan leaders to build global alliances and push back against Beijing's campaign to erase Tibetan identity, according to CTA statement. With strong bipartisan support in the US, the Tibetan cause remains a powerful symbol of resistance to tyranny and a call for justice amid decades of occupation. In 2024 and early 2025, China intensified its repression in Tibet, drawing international condemnation. Authorities shut down Tibetan-language schools like Jigme Gyaltsen Vocational High School and Gangjong Sherig Norbu School, replacing them with Mandarin-only state institutions, eroding cultural identity. As noted by the CTA report, peaceful protests such as those against the Kamtok hydropower dam in Derge County were met with mass arrests and violence. Religious freedoms were curtailed, and monks and civilians faced imprisonment for possessing images of the Dalai Lama or sharing his teachings online. Surveillance intensified, with reports of DNA collection and forced disappearances were reported, according to CTA statement. Despite global appeals, China rejected most UN recommendations addressing these human rights violations. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi co-chaired the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties, including cooperation on trade and economic issues, agriculture, healthcare, cultural exchanges, connectivity and people-to-people ties. During the India-Iran JCM in Delhi on Thursday, the two sides discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release. The Indian side briefed the Iranian delegation on the cross-border linkages of the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. In a press release, MEA stated, "Both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called for enhanced regional cooperation to combat the threat." The two nations welcomed signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Medical Products Regulation and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreement on Customs Cooperation. In a press release, MEA stated, "Both sides agreed to adopt a humanitarian approach to issues concerning prisoners, fishermen, seafarers and students, and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in multilateral fora." In his opening remarks at the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting in Delhi on Thursday, Jaishankar welcomed Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to India. He recalled the meeting held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in 2024. Jaishankar said, "It's a great pleasure to welcome you and your delegation to India and to co-chair along with you, the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting today. In recent years, our cooperation has progressed in many aspects. There are also situations that we need to address. Prime Minister Modi and President Pezeshkian have met in Kazan in October 2024 and given us guidance on how to develop our ties further." "They've also had a phone conversation on 26th April. Excellency, this is the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. It is a reminder of the closeness of our collaboration and the deep friendship between us. I'm sure that we will mark the anniversary appropriately," the minister said. He also spoke about 'Operation Sindoor' conducted by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, calling India's response "measured and targeted." Jaishankar warned that India would give a "firm response" if it faced a military attack. During his visit to India, Abbas Araghchi called on President Droupadi Murmu. In a post on X, President's Secretariat stated, "Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Abbas Araghchi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Welcoming Araghchi, the President noted that while civilisational and cultural ties between India and Iran go back thousands of years, this visit is taking place on the special occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries." https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1920452454488969517 Araghchi also held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to co-chair the 20th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting. MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the visiting dignitary and highlighted the significance of the visit. (ANI)
Islamabad [Pakistan] May 9 (ANI) Pakistan''s chronic dependence on global bailouts hit another low on Friday as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared to hand over yet another USD 1.1 billion lifeline to the flailing South Asian economy -- a country seemingly incapable of surviving without external aid, ARY News reported. The IMF''s Executive Board is expected to give its nod for the disbursement during its meeting today, part of a long-running USD 7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program. However, this isn''t just another payout -- it''s a stark reminder of how Pakistan has reduced itself to a perpetual borrower, unable to manage its economy without IMF intervention. What''s more alarming is Islamabad''s increasing reliance on climate funding as a financial escape route. Pakistan has now managed to bag an additional USD 1.3 billion under the IMF''s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) -- a mechanism meant for genuine climate action, not budget patchwork. According to ARY News report, this deal was confirmed by IMF Director of Communications Julie Kozack, who responded to a question during a press conference. Behind the official jargon of "staff-level agreements" and "performance criteria" lies the real story: a nation stumbling from crisis to crisis, unable to make tough economic decisions, yet quick to chase handouts. In its statement, the IMF acknowledged that Pakistan will now receive a total of USD 2 billion under the current bailout, while simultaneously locking itself into yet another 28-month dependency cycle under the RSF, ARY News reported. Pakistan''s leadership continues to tout these loans as achievements. In reality, they are signs of a collapsing economy and a bankrupt vision. With no structural reforms in sight and debt mounting, the question isn''t when Pakistan will recover -- it''s whether it even wants to. (ANI)
Sharing a post on X, Seth wrote, "Honoured to meet President Vladimir Putin during my Russia visit. Represented India at the banquet marking the 80th Victory Day anniversary. Expressed gratitude for Russia's support in India's fight against terrorism under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Jee."

https://x.com/SethSanjayMP/status/1920749507588825114

Sanjay Seth also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and met Russian Deputy Defence Minister Col Gen Alexander Fomin to discuss deepening military and technical cooperation yesterday.

He thanked Russia for its support against crossborder terrorism, with both sides agreeing to enhance ties through existing frameworks and regular consultations.

In a post on X, Seth said, "Today I attended a bilateral meeting with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin. In this meeting, I thanked the Government and people of Russia for Russia's support in India's fight against cross-border terrorism."

The post further said, "Also, there was a positive discussion on multifaceted military and military-technical cooperation. In the meeting, we agreed to further deepen these relations within the framework of existing institutional mechanisms. India and Russia will continue regular consultations in the future and enhance mutual cooperation in the changing situation."

Seth arrived in Moscow on Thursday and was received by Ambassador Vinay Kumar and Major General Oleg Molessev of the Russian Defence Ministry.

Victory Day commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and is marked with a grand military parade in the Russian capital. (ANI)
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stepped in to advise his brother, current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the need for a diplomatic approach to ease the growing crisis, The Express Tribune reported. Following India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London to help his brother the Prime Minister. After his arrival, The Express Tribune reported that Sharif had advised PM Shehbaz Sharif to ease tension diplomatically after he briefed the PML-N supremo on the decisions taken by the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting in the wake of the suspension of the IWT by India. It was said that Sharif wanted the PML-N-led coalition government to utilise all available diplomatic resources to restore peace between the two nuclear-armed states, saying he was not keen on taking an aggressive position, The Express Tribune reported. Earlier in 2023, Nawaz Sharif had underlined the importance of having good relations with India and said that his government was ousted in 1999 because he opposed the Kargil war. According to The News International, Nawaz had said that PML-N always performed well but was always ousted from power. "I want to know why my governments were overthrown in 1993 and 1999. Was it because we opposed the Kargil war," Nawaz had said. Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister of Pakistan when his government was overthrown in a coup d'etat on October 12, 1999. Last year, Nawaz also admitted that Pakistan had 'violated' an agreement with India in 1999. "On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement...it was our fault," the former PM had said. The agreement mentioned by Sharif was the "Lahore Declaration," which he and then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed on February 21, 1999, with the goal of fostering peace and stability between India and Pakistan. However, shortly after the signing, Pakistani troops infiltrated the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the Kargil War. (ANI)
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has highlighted India's importance to Wellington's prosperity, security, and society and emphasised the economic opportunities India presents and announced the start of trade negotiations with India, aiming to boost both economies. https://x.com/chrisluxonmp/status/1920739653101170943 While adressing the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) event on Friday, Luxon said, "India is a country of huge importance to New Zealand's prosperity, security and society. And India provides huge economic opportunity for Kiwis too." "This week, we've begun trade negotiations with India in an effort to grow both of our economies," he stated The goal is to create jobs, increase wages, and support cost-of-living efforts. "When we do that, we create jobs, lift wages and put more money in people's back pockets - my total focus is to help you with the cost of living. Was great to reflect on this and on my visit to India at the India-NZ Business Council's Summit this morning," Luxon added. Earlier, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, called Luxon on the sidelines of the India-New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) event. The two leaders explored ways to take the partnership forward and strengthen bilateral ties in various sectors. In a post shared on X, Margherita stated, "Honoured to call on Rt Hon @chrisluxonmp, New Zealand PM, on the sidelines of INZBC event. Explored ways to take forward the India-New Zealand partnership in strengthening our bilateral ties across various sectors." Margherita also addressed the INZBC Summit 2025 alongside Luxon and New Zealand's Deputy PM Winston Peters in Auckland, where he mentioned that the event's theme was 'Boardroom to Border leadership dialogue. On Thursday, Pabitra Margherita met with New Zealand's Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. The two leaders discussed ways to advance the trade partnership between the two nations. Pabitra Margherita arrived in Auckland for his two-day visit to New Zealand on Thursday. Upon arrival in Auckland, Margherita said that he looked forward to engagements with New Zealand's senior dignitaries. (ANI)
Former Indian Ambassador Vidya Bhushan Soni has sharply criticised Pakistan's approach to ongoing tensions with India, calling it a "failed state" incapable of responding effectively due to internal chaos. "It's sad that Pakistan has not learnt lessons from the past. Pakistan is not in a position to respond at all, because it's a failed state - that has been acknowledged for decades by all international agencies and world bodies. How are they going to respond when they are not ready for it? Which part of the government is ready? The civilian government is not in control. The terrorist forces are reigning supreme," Soni stated. Soni expressed concern over the fractured governance in Pakistan, where the civilian government lacks control, and extremist forces dominate. He highlighted that the Army Chief's statements are often "hardly professional and not related to the reality on the ground situation." Soni questioned how a country facing such internal instability could even consider taking actions that provoke regional tensions. Focusing on the incident in Pahalgam, Soni described the region as a peaceful, safe tourist destination and criticised Pakistan's actions as unnecessary and provocative. "How can Pakistan possibly have taken such a foolhardy step? They provoked India. It's not as if we did anything at all. Can you imagine - it's a very peaceful, safe state of Pahalgam where the accident happened. Why did they have to provoke, because this is the beginning of the tourist season. It was totally uncalled for, unnecessary." Soni clarified that India's response was calculated and precise, targeting only terrorist camps without causing any harm to civilian areas. "The response has been very calculated, very precise, I would say surgical. Our targets are specified, and they're not civilian targets at all. These are all terrorist camps which were operating and brainwashing and preparing action against the civilian targets in India. We have told them that that is what we are aiming at and that's what we did. We have not gone anywhere beyond that." He emphasised that India's actions were not meant to provoke but were necessary to respond to the shedding of innocent blood on Indian soil. "So what more can we do? The message is - we do not want to provoke, but once you have taken the initiative - you have shed innocent blood of Indians on our soil, you cannot get away with it - in order that such acts are not repeated in the future." Praising the professionalism of the Indian armed forces, Soni drew a clear distinction between India's disciplined defence forces and Pakistan's fragmented leadership. "I do not because I'm an Indian, but I feel proud that our armed forces, defence forces, have risen like a real professional army. It's their job to defend the country. They do not enter into politics. They do not make statements." Soni further underscored India's rising global stature, noting that the country is recognised for its economic strength, diplomatic influence, and responsible leadership on the international stage. "We are now too big a country, too big an economy. We are a successful country. Our presence is felt on the international arena, on the international stage. Countries come to us for advice and our support for the various initiatives - both on the development aspect, the environmental aspect, and of course on the political-diplomatic aspect." In his final remarks, Soni reinforced that India's response was professional, measured, and in line with its commitment to protecting national security. "So that is what my response is - that I think this is a measured response, very professional response, and the response which we as a nation are proud of, of the defence forces." (ANI)
President Donald Trump has indicated that he is open to significantly reducing the United States' existing 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods ahead of upcoming trade negotiations between the two nations. Trump said that 80 per cent tariff on China "seems right," adding that the final decision would be left to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Sharing a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B." "China should open up its market to USA -- would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don't work anymore," Trump wrote in another post. According to NBC News, the post was made a day ahead of Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's meeting with their Chinese counterparts in Geneva for trade talks. An across-the-board tariff of 80 per cent would remain significantly higher than the duties the US had on Chinese imports prior to Trump's presidency. Initially, he implemented a 20 per cent tariff on China, citing its failure to address fentanyl trafficking, and several weeks later, he issued an executive order raising the tariffs to 125 per cent. A day earlier, Trump announced a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom, and hailed it as the first "fair, open, and reciprocal" deal of its kind, saying it will generate USD 6 billion in tariff revenue and create USD 5 billion in new export opportunities for American producers. He also emphasised the deal's role in strengthening national security through deeper cooperation in critical sectors such as steel, aluminium, and pharmaceuticals. Sharing a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Today is an incredible day for America as we deliver our first Fair, Open, and Reciprocal Trade Deal -- Something our past Presidents never cared about. Together with our strong Ally, the United Kingdom, we have reached the first, historic trade deal since Liberation Day." The post added, "As part of this Deal, America will raise USD 6 billion dollars in External Revenue from 10% tariffs, USD 5 billion dollars in new Export Opportunities for our Great Ranchers, Farmers, and Producers, and enhance the National Security of both the US and the UK through the creation of an Aluminum and Steel Trading Zone, and a secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. This Deal shows that if you respect America, and bring serious proposals to the table, America is open for business." Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs that went into effect on April 7 and were paused for 90 days on April 9 affect dozens of countries. A hundred or so more are subject to the 10 per cent universal tariff. (ANI)
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh exposed Pakistan's airspace tactics, saying that Islamabad deliberately kept its civil airspace open after launching a "failed unprovoked drone" and missile attack on Wednesday, effectively using civil airliners as shields. Adressing the special briefing on Operation Sindoor on Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, "Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite it launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7 May at 08:30 hours in the evening. Pakistan is using civil airliner as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response." She further emphasised that this decision endangered unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights operating near the India-Pakistan border. "This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan," she said. During the briefing the Wing Commander showed the data of the application flight radar 24 during a high air defence alert situation in the Punjab sector. Singh pointed out that while India's airspace was closed due to the heightened alert, Pakistan allowed civil airlines to continue flying, including those on the Karachi-Lahore route. "As you have seen, the airspace on the Indian side is absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure. However, there are civil airlines flying the air route between Karachi and Lahore...Indian Air force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response thus ensuring safety of international civil carriers," she said. Further, she also higlighted that, in response to the Pakistani attack, armed drones were launched at four air defence sites in Pakistan. One of the drones was able to destroy an Air Defence radar on Thursday. Citing Pakistan's attack on Indian Army on the night of May 7 and 8, she stated, "Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the line of control using heavy-calibre artillery guns and armed drones... which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian army personnel. Pakistan army also suffered major losses in Indian retaliatory fire." Meawhile, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that, in a major escalation along India's western front, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." She added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday condemned the May 8 attacks by Pakistan targeting multiple locations in India, including Amritsar,, dismissing as "preposterous and outrageous" the claim by Islamabad that India was attacking its own territories. He also condemned Pakistan's attempt to spread disinformation about a drone strike on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, calling it a blatant lie. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Misri said, "Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that are targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan." "That we would attack our ciites is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with, perhaps they do it because they are well versed in as their histroy would show," he said. "Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie... Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord...," the Foreign Secretary said. Misri strongly condemned the "provocative and escalatory actions," by Pakistan stating that the attacks were deliberately aimed at Indian cities, including civilian infrastructure, alongside military establishments. "These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly... The official and blatantly farsical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths they are plumbing to," Misri said. Meanwhile, addressing the same briefing today, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods, with initial investigations suggesting the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." She added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned Pakistan for deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri criticised Pakistan for intentionally shelling gurdwaras, churches, and temples along the Line of Control (LoC), describing the attacks as "a new low even for Pakistan." On Pakistan targeting schools and religious places along the LoC, Misri during the press briefing on Friday said, "During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of May 7 , a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students of the school, who unfortunately lost their lives and their parents sustained injuries." "Several school staff and locals took refuge in an underground hall of the school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school was fortunately closed, otherwise, more losses would have occurred. Pakistan is targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan," he said. Misri also slammed Pakistan for targeting Indian cities, including Amritsar, in a series of actions aimed at both civilian and military infrastructure. Misri dismissed Pakistan's claims that India was attacking its own territory as "preposterous and outrageous." He also condemned Pakistan's attempt to spread disinformation about a drone strike on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, calling it a blatant lie. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Misri said, "Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that are targeting its own cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan. They are well-versed in such actions as their history would show... Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie... Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord..." Misri strongly condemned Pakistan's "provocative and escalatory actions," stating that the attacks were deliberately aimed at Indian cities, including civilian infrastructure, alongside military establishments. "These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly... The official and blatantly farsical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths they are plumbing to," Misri said. Addressign the same briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods, with initial investigations suggesting the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Colonel Qureshi said during the press briefing, "On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border with the intention of targeting military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations." She added, "The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones..." Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB), sources told ANI. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)
"Singapore is gravely concerned about the ongoing military confrontation between India and Pakistan following the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025," according to the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We call on both parties to de-escalate tensions through diplomatic means and ensure the safety of all civilians," it added.

On Thursday night, Pakistan launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were intercepted mainly by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage.

In Poonch, a local house was damaged by Pakistan's shelling. The resident thanked the Indian Armed Forces for their efforts to safeguard every citizen amid the escalating tensions

"I can't understand what Pakistan thinks and does. This is not humanity. If Pakistan won't understand now, then what will it? If it weren't for our Armed Forces, we wouldn't have been able to sleep peacefully at night," he said.

Additionally, a Hanuman Temple in Poonch was also damaged in the shelling last night.

A local criticisied Paksitan for targeting religious places, "Pakistan army is targeting religious places in poonch, gurudwara, masajid, temples , this is very bad he said we are stand with Indian army and government of india," he said.

Pakistan strikes were reportedly in retaliation to India's Operation Sindoor conducted earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22.

The situation remains volatile, with international calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar on Friday thanked Russia for standing in solidarity with India and reaffirmed the country's resolute response against confronting the challenge of terrorism by Pakistan. Speaking at the Victory Day joint reception at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, Jaishankar addressed the ongoing challenge of terrorism, calling it a shared threat to the global community. "We also meet at a time when India is confronting the challenge of terrorism, one that is a shared threat to the global community. I thank those who have expressed solidarity with us and understand the resolute response that is underway...," said Jaishankar. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, Pakistan resorted to small arms and artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening. The Indian Army has been responding proportionately. In a major escalation along India's western front, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military's attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. He also highlighted the significance of the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in 1945. "It's a great pleasure to join you all on this occasion to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war over fascism in 1945. It is hard to overstate the importance of such a momentous event, one that laid the foundation for the current world order," Jaishankar stated. The minister emphasised India's contributions to the Allied war effort and acknowledged the participation of Indian forces in various global campaigns. "The contribution that Indians made to this defining event is well known. It ranges from the Burma, North Africa, and Italy campaigns to the Persian corridor to the Soviet Union and the hump over the Himalayas." His remarks highlighted India's military role across multiple regions during World War II. Jaishankar also spoke about the evolving global economic landscape, stating, "There has been a significant rebalancing of the global economy, the world has begun to return to its natural diversity and pluralism." He pointed to ongoing changes in the world order and the recognition of a more diverse and multipolar global structure. (ANI)
In a forceful statement, Burfat described the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict as a continuation and completion of NATO's unfinished war against terrorism in South Asia.

He argued that NATO's sudden withdrawal from the region created a vacuum, allowing terrorist networks to regroup and thrive, especially under the protection of Pakistan's military and intelligence agency, the ISI.

"Pakistan has since institutionalised terrorism as state policy - providing safe havens, training, and weapons to globally recognised extremist groups," Burfat said.

The JSMM Chairman further identified several terrorist organisations, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS-Khorasan, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which he claimed are actively supported by Pakistan's military establishment.

"Rawalpindi has become a sanctuary for these groups, allowing them to operate with impunity while Pakistan falsely projects itself as a partner in the war on terror," he stated.

Burfat highlighted the spread of jihadist ideology, drawing a direct connection between the ideology behind the 9/11 attacks in the United States and the ongoing bloodshed in India.

"From beheadings and mass rapes to bombings and civilian massacres, these terrorist groups continue to threaten global peace and humanity," he warned.

He asserted that India's air strikes and ground operations against terror camps inside Pakistan are "not acts of aggression but morally justified actions aimed at dismantling threats that endanger the entire world."

In contrast, he condemned Pakistan's military for "waging an unprincipled war to shield and sustain the extremists it has long nurtured."

Burfat concluded that India, by standing alone in this conflict, is "sacrificing its blood and resources not only for its own safety but for the future of global civilisation."

He insisted that India's campaign should be recognised as a global fight against terrorism. (ANI)
About a dozen Nepali human rights and peace activists on Friday protested in front of the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu, calling for the de-escalation of increasing tensions with India. The activists who held a protest at a distance of 100 meters from the embassy gate held placards and banners with slogans to de-escalate the situation, as well as requesting Pakistan to stop harbouring terrorism. "Two weeks ago, a terror attack was made in Pahalgam (India) which claimed lives of 26 innocent people which included a Nepali citizen, that was a terrorist act; we condemned that was the crime against humanity. We would like to request that Pakistan first take action against those involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. Why does Pakistan protect those terrorists? It's our second question. We would like to request Pakistan, take action-not provide shelter to terrorists and take concrete steps to de-escalate tension," Krishna Pahadi, the founder of Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) told ANI. Apart from holding the protest, the activists also had planned to submit a memorandum to the Pakistan Embassy officials which as per them has been denied. "Today we are here in front of the Pakistan Embassy and they denied to accept our letter to submit a memorandum. An email from the Pakistan Embassy that they are not going to accept the memorandum but suggested to send via e-mail," Pahadi told ANI. "What we have said (in that memorandum) is that we condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Terrorism is not accepted. Pakistan should take action against terrorism," the peace activist added further. Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan has been deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on Friday criticized Pakistan for intentionally shelling gurdwaras, churches, and temples along the Line of Control (LoC), describing the attacks as "a new low even for Pakistan." "During heavy shelling across the LoC in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School in Poonch. The shell hit the home of two students of the school, who unfortunately lost their lives and their parents sustained injuries." "Several school staff and locals took refuge in an underground hall of the school during the shelling by Pakistan. The school was fortunately closed, otherwise, more losses would have occurred. Pakistan is targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design, including gurdwaras, churches and temples. This is a new low even for Pakistan," he said. Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday, defence sources had told ANI. The sources said the attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came in the wake of India's Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "In my personal opinion, Pakistan started this. That is also the act of war, the Pahalgam attack that was the act of war, we condemn the terrorism, we have no sympathy for the terrorist organisation. So Pakistan should give the impression to the International community first, stating, 'We are going to start action against terrorism', that kind of message we are expecting from Pakistan," Peace activist Pahadi, also the former Chairman of Amnesty International's Nepal Section, told ANI. (ANI)
Speaking to journalists at the US Embassy this morning, he said: "President Trump wants food distributed in Gaza safely and efficiently...

"There is a desperate need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, but Hamas is not capable or willing to provide it."

He went on to announce that the US will employ a private security company and Israel will not be involved. (ANI/TPS)
Speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has called on the government to take necessary measures to ensure the security of Nepali citizens residing in India and Pakistan amid escalating tension. Speaker Ghimire raised the matter during today's House of Representatives meeting, urging the government to remain vigilant and prepare for any consequences that may affect Nepal due to the ongoing conflict. "In light of the current situation between India and Pakistan, I draw the attention of the Government of Nepal in the village to make necessary arrangements regarding the security and possible problems that may arise for all the Nepalis living there," Ghimire said. Before the ruling from the speaker, nearly half a dozen parliamentarians echoed Ghimire's concerns, emphasising the need for the government to assess and address the potential impact of the situation on Nepal, and to initiate necessary preparations. In retaliation for the killing of 26 tourists, including one Nepali national, in India's Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, Indian armed forces on Wednesday night launched several airstrikes on nine "terrorist infrastructures" on the Pakistan side. Nepal has called for de-escalation as a measure towards peace. Amid growing calls to clarify its stand on terrorism, the Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday and reiterated its "resolute stance against all forms of terrorism." On Thursday night, Pakistan launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were intercepted mainly by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage. Pakistan strikes were reportedly in retaliation for India's Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this week, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday condemned the May 8 attacks by Pakistan targeting multiple locations in India, including Amritsar, dismissing as "preposterous and outrageous" the claim by Islamabad that India was attacking its territories. He also condemned Pakistan's attempt to spread disinformation about a drone strike on the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, calling it a blatant lie. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Misri said, "Instead of owning up to its actions, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it is the Indian armed forces that are targeting its cities like Amritsar and trying to blame Pakistan." "That we would attack our cities is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with, perhaps they do it because they are well-versed in, as their histroy would show," he said. "Pakistan spread disinformation that India targeted the Nankama Sahib Gurdwara through a drone attack, which is yet another blatant lie... Pakistan is trying desperately to impart a communal hue to the situation with an intention to create a communal discord...," the Foreign Secretary said. Misri strongly condemned the "provocative and escalatory actions" by Pakistan, stating that the attacks were deliberately aimed at Indian cities, including civilian infrastructure, alongside military establishments. "These provocative and escalatory actions taken by Pakistan last night were targeted at Indian cities and civilian infrastructure in addition to military establishments. Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately, and responsibly... The official and blatantly farsical denial of these attacks that Pakistan carried out, by the Pakistani state machinery is another example of their duplicity and the new depths they are plumbing to," Misri said. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], May 9 (ANI/WAM): The 21st Emirates Critical Care Conference commenced Friday at the InterContinental Festival City Hotel in Dubai, held in parallel with the 2nd World Summit of the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care (WFICC). The event also runs concurrently with the 7th Global Network for Emergency Medicine (GNEM), the 16th Asia Africa Conference of the WFICC, and is organised in collaboration with the Seventh Conference of the Emirates Nursing Association - Critical Care Chapter. In addition, it is held alongside the 20th World Conference of Critical Care Nurses (WFCCN) World Congress and the 21st International Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society Conference (IPACCMS). Prof. Dr. Hussein Al Rahma, Chairman of the Conference, said that the conference, which began in 2004 with the participation of 300 doctors and nurses, is today the first in the Middle East and North Africa and the third in the world. Today, it attracts over 2,000 participants annually from across the world, with this year's edition welcoming attendees from 45 countries. Prof. Hussain Al Rahma noted that the conference, organised by Info Plus Events, currently attracts 60% of international medical associations. He expressed his aspiration to increase this figure to over 90% by 2028, especially given the significant annual growth in both the number of international speakers and the quality of scientific papers presented, as well as the diversity of accompanying workshops. He emphasised that the conference aims to bring together leading doctors, specialists, and researchers in the field of intensive and critical care from the Middle East and around the world to exchange expertise. The event also serves as a platform to discuss advancements in mechanical ventilation techniques, the latest pharmaceutical developments, and cutting-edge findings in critical care medicine. The President of the Conference highlighted that this year's edition features 275 speakers, including 130 international and 80 local experts. Over the course of the three-day event, attendees will benefit from 381 lectures across 77 scientific sessions, in addition to four scientific workshops, four training courses, and six industry-focused seminars. The conference also includes the presentation of 131 scientific research papers by doctors and resident physicians. He noted that all scientific papers to be discussed reflect the collective experiences and findings of critical care professionals, covering a wide range of topics. These include sepsis, infections, fluid management in intensive care units, nephrology and acute kidney injury, mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), anaesthesia and pain management, cardiology, clinical nutrition, geriatric care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and infection surveillance. The goal is to share best practices, research outcomes, and treatment protocols developed over recent years. Participants will receive 22.5 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours accredited by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The conference witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding: the first with the International Federation of Intensive Care Societies, the second with the International Federation of Intensive Care Nursing, and the third with the International Academy of Fluids in critical care departments. Following the opening session, the conference--accompanied by Dr. Younis Kazim from the DHA and other attendees, inaugurated the exhibition held alongside the event. The exhibition features the participation of 34 international and local companies specialising in critical care equipment and ventilators, showcasing the latest innovations and products in the field of critical care medicine. The event underscores Dubai's status as a strategic hub for global medical companies seeking growth and expansion, particularly within regional markets. (ANI/WAM)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar on Friday attended the Europe Day celebration in New Delhi, marking 75 years of the Schuman Declaration. Europe Day marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, symbolizing unity and cooperation among European nations. He highlighted the growing partnership between India and European nations, citing a landmark visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU College of Commissioners in February 2025. This visit strengthened ties between India and the EU, paving the way for deeper cooperation. "India's longstanding relationship with European nations is today poised to ascend a higher level. The visit of the EU College of Commissioners led by President Ursula von der Leyen herself in February 2025 was truly a milestone in our ties," Jaishankar said. He emphasised that the high-level visit connected key policymakers " comprehensively," allowing both sides to advance their partnership. "Our cooperation is acquiring many more dimensions. We are engaged, as you heard from the Ambassador, in complex trade negotiations, but one that we hope, and we're confident, will produce an outcome this year itself," he stated. India and the EU are engaged in complex trade negotiations, with expectations of a positive outcome this year. Their interactions span multiple domains, directly impacting their societies. The partnership is expanding into areas like technology, energy, space, and defense, with visible progress. Jaishankar noted that India and the EU share commonalities as democratic polities, pluralistic societies, and market economies, serving as powerful binding forces. "From AI to IMEC, the uptick is clearly visible. This is now a multipolar world, and both of us have an interest in expanding and developing our convergence. At the end of the day, we are democratic politics, we are pluralistic societies, and we are market economies. That in itself are three very powerful binding forces." Jaishankar emphasised the need for zero tolerance on terrorism, a shared threat, and thanked those who expressed solidarity with India. "We are gathered today at a time when India is firmly confronting the challenge of terrorism. We believe that this is a shared threat for which there must be zero tolerance. I thank all those who have expressed solidarity with us and recognise the need for a resolute response." Concluding his remarks, the External Affairs Minister looks forward to visiting EU counterparts and engaging with member states to further strengthen ties "So let me conclude by conveying my best wishes for India's stronger ties with Europe and for Europe's own progress and prosperity. I am looking forward to visiting my EU counterparts and engaging member states in the coming days," he said. (ANI)
https://x.com/drtchand/status/1920277418687836291

In a statement addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chand said, "Dear Prime Minister Modi Ji, I want to express my support for the recent actions taken against terrorism by entering Pakistan. However, it is important to acknowledge that Pakistan has harboured many such terrorists."

Chand highlighted the situation in Balochistan and affirmed, "Until the situation in Balochistan, which is crucial to Pakistan's stability, is addressed, Pakistan will continue to pose challenges for India. It is time to consider a strategic approach to the freedom of Balochistan, similar to how Gandhi played a pivotal role in the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Currently, the people of Balochistan stand in solidarity with the people of India."

Earlier, Tara Chand highlighted that the Baloch people are resilient and determined, suggesting that any attempts to control or exploit their land will face significant opposition.

He suggested that India consider a strategic approach to support Balochistan's freedom.

In recent months, Balochistan has witnessed a significant escalation in human rights abuses attributed to Pakistani security forces.

According to a January 2025 report by Paank, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, there were 107 enforced disappearances across 14 districts, with Kech district reporting the highest number at 30 cases. Additionally, the report documented eight extrajudicial killings during the same period.

In the previous year, Paank reported 22 enforced disappearances and five extrajudicial killings, with Kech and Gwadar districts being the most affected. (ANI)
Air India has announced that all flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended until May 25, 2025, amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. https://x.com/airindia/status/1920815113688482296 In a travel advisory posted on X (formerly Twitter), Air India stated, "Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended till 25th May 2025. Customers holding valid tickets for travel till 25th May 2025 will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling charges or a full refund for cancellations." IndiGo also issued a travel advisory, announcing the cancellation of all flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Rajkot until midnight on May 10, 2025. The advisory, posted on IndiGo's official X handle, assured passengers that the airline would provide updates through official channels and assist with any changes to travel plans. Mumbai International Airport issued a passenger advisory stating that it remains operational but warns of longer wait times due to enhanced security protocols. Passengers were advised to arrive early, cooperate with security personnel, and follow official channels for accurate information. "Passengers are encouraged to cooperate with security and airport personnel, follow Ahmedabad Airport's social media channels for accurate and timely information, and reach out to their airline for precise details," the advisory read. Akasa Airlines and SpiceJet also issued similar advisories on X, urging passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure due to increased security measures. "Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, we request you to reach the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure," Akasa Airlines stated. These developments come amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, with reports of firing by the Pakistan army across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri, Kupwara, Tangdhar, and Karnah sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, violating the ceasefire. Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday (May 7th), targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. Operation Sindoor is one of the deepest strikes carried out by India inside Pakistan's undisputed territory since 1971, successfully targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This marks New Delhi's most significant military action within Pakistani territory in over five decades. (ANI)
Following the briefing, the Nepali PM assured the Indian envoy that Nepal would not be allowed to be used against any neighbouring countries.

The Nepali Prime Minister's remarks come amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan at his official residence, Baluwatar.

"Ambassador Srivastava also expressed gratitude for Thursday's Nepal government's statement regarding the incident," an official from Oli's secretariat told ANI.

Nepal, late Thursday evening, voiced support for "all in the fight against terrorism," reacting to India's Operation Sindoor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issuing a press release, also called for de-escalation as a measure towards peace.

"During this tragic period, Nepal and India stood in solidarity, united in shared grief and suffering. It may be recalled that Nepal had immediately and unequivocally condemned the barbaric terrorist attack, consistent with its resolute stance against all forms of terrorism," the release stated.

The ministry added that, in line with its principled position, Nepal shall not allow any inimical forces to use its soil against its neighbouring countries. Nepal hoped for a de-escalation of tension and affirmed its commitment to lasting peace and stability in the region.

"Prime Minister Oli told the Indian envoy that Nepal stands for global peace and, in line with its firm stance against all forms of terrorism, condemned the terrorist attack," the official confirmed ANI.

India, past midnight on 7th May, carried out a precise attack inside Pakistan, neutralising locations and terrorists who had been orchestrating terror attacks on India.

On April 22, terrorists had killed 26 tourists, including a Nepali national, in India's Jammu and Kashmir. The "Operation Sindoor" is in retaliation for the orchestrated terror attack by Pakistani terrorists. (ANI)
Board members and staff from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce visited Lynchburg this week as part of their Blueprint Virginia 2035 tour.

A Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance meeting on Wednesday discussed the initiative, which focuses on advanced manufacturing, business climate and corporate sustainability.

Key regional data highlighted included $5 billion in exports, a 1.81 job multiplier in manufacturing  meaning the number of additional jobs resulted in the creation of one job  and a small business presence of 97% of overall businesses within the region.

Challenges identified were workforce needs, technology adoption and energy policy.

Linda Stanley, chair of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is committed to being the leading and most influential voice for Virginias business community and driving long-term economic growth across the commonwealth.

She said this is achieved by advocating in the General Assembly, engaging in key work groups and forming strategic partnerships, all focused on representing the interests of its members.

Virginia Chamber really does strive to be the leading and most influential voice of business in the Virginia business community, she said Wednesday.

Monica Schmude, co-chair of Blueprint Virginia 2035, emphasized the grassroots nature of the initiative and encouraged businesses to participate in shaping Virginias economic future.

As the president of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Virginia, Schmude also spoke of the importance of health care in business and community.

Health care is local and the effectiveness of our businesses in the community is driven by the health of our workforce, she said, adding 20% of health happens in the doctors office, 80% is about social needs.

An easy yes for me is to make sure that the Blueprint has health care on it as a priority, she said.

The Blueprint Virginia 2035 is a strategic initiative to ensure business priorities are communicated to gubernatorial candidates and future administrations, she said, but it starts with local chambers and industry councils, involves surveys and regional tours, gathers input from various stakeholders and then moves through advisory councils to final board approval. A final presentation will be made to Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Dec. 5.

The initiative will focus on business climate, workforce, education, infrastructure and corporate sustainability.

One of the main questions right now, in this moment is, how do I get my voice heard? How do I make sure that my business priorities are making their way to Richmond and have an impact with my policy and lawmakers? So its really important to have these conversations, she said.

Cathie Vick, CEO and president of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said 97% of all private sector businesses in our GO Virginia Region 2 are small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, slightly above the statewide average of 96.3%. She added that 64.5% of all private sector employees in GO Virginia Region 2 are employed by a small business, nearly 10 percentage points higher than the statewide average of 55.5%. Among the regions, Region 2 ranks 6th for both small business concentration and small business employment as a percentage of all private sector businesses.

Region 2 consists of the cities of Covington, Lynchburg, Radford, Roanoke and Salem; and the counties of Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and Roanoke.

Vick said knowing how to plan, having certainty and stability is key to being able to successfully plan and market businesses.

Some of that we can control. Some of them we cannot, but to the extent we can provide advice and recommendations, I think one of the biggest wins that we saw from the last Blueprint was implementation of the transparency and permitting and some of the expedited permitting that has happened under this administration. So there are things that we can do, and we hope to hear that from you, she said.

As for policy, its uncertain most times, she said, and when businesses face inconsistent regulations and long permitting timelines, it delays investment and planning.

In order for the commonwealth to remain the No. 1 state for business, it needs a regulatory environment thats clear, consistent and builds confidence, she said.

Somebody turned over the puzzle box. All the pieces, you see the cardboard, you know eventually theyre gonna fit together, but somebody threw away the box and you dont know what the pictures supposed to look like, she said describing policy uncertainty.

She encouraged businesses to market themselves more and share their wins on social media.

Virginia has a lot of advantages, but its under-marketed, she said.

Virginians are really good at speaking to themselves. We must create a unified, proactive narrative to promote our strengths and build momentum for growth, she said.

In our regions top 10 exports, Georgia Pacific topped out at No. 1 in the pulp, paper and paperboard category, followed by motor vehicle manufacturing, and mobile vehicle parts manufacturing.

What I thought was really great for your region is that all of your top 10 are over $100 million in revenue every year, Vick said.

As energy demand grows, the aging electric grid needs major upgrades, Vick told attendees. Budgeting for these improvements is getting harder with rising costs and there are gaps in both physical and digital connectivity that are slowing business operations.

And so if we can bring [individuals involved in the energy industry] together, both the users who are creating this increased demand and the energy providers to come up with some solutions that then we can bring forward with recommendations where folks are aligned, then the hope is well actually start not just seeing what the problems are, but what the solutions, Vick said.
GIFU, May 09 (News On Japan) - Gifus Mino City has announced that elementary schools will no longer issue report cards for first and second graders starting this academic year, citing concerns over unnecessary feelings of inferiority and the difficulty of report card language for young children.

Many adults may recall the anxious excitement of receiving their report cards at the end of each term. But in Mino, that familiar practice is being phased out. The move stems from a remark made by a Board of Education staff member in November last year, who questioned whether lower-grade report cards were really necessary. The comment prompted discussions among the principals of the city's five elementary schools, who ultimately agreed to scrap report cards for grades one and two.

The reasons behind the decision are twofold. First, comparing report cards among classmates can lead children to develop feelings of inadequacy. Second, the language used in report cards is often laced with complex educational terminology that is difficult for young children to understand.

Examples from actual report cards highlight this issue. In language class, one description reads: "The student tries to connect with others through words, forms thoughts and feelings, and enjoys reading and using language with an appreciation of its richness." In music class, another comment states: "The student listens for musical elements, reflects on their connection to beauty and enjoyment, and finds meaning in the music and performances."

Despite using a three-tier grading systemdouble circle, circle, and triangleteachers report that both students and parents tend to fixate on the number of double circles. Some residents in Mino supported the move, noting that children in the early grades may not fully grasp the meaning of evaluations, and that it may not be necessary to assign symbols like circles and triangles at such a young age. Others expressed curiosity about how the change would affect student motivation going forward.

While some parents worry that doing away with report cards might hinder communication about student progress, others see the move as part of a broader shift toward more supportive learning environments. In Japan, studies have shown that young people often struggle with low self-esteem, and educators hope this change may foster more positive self-image.

One commentator noted that while he had always received top marks, becoming a parent changed his perspective. His child, now in second grade, attends a school in Germany where students self-evaluate before discussing their assessments in meetings with teachers. This participatory approach helped him see the value in moving away from traditional grading.

Japan is not alone in experimenting with new approaches. A school in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, once abolished report cards entirely in 2020, though reinstated them the following year after mixed feedback from parents and teachers. These cases highlight the ongoing trial and error involved in reforming educational evaluation.

While the long-term impact of the policy in Mino remains to be seen, many believe it marks a step toward fostering healthier attitudes toward learning in early childhood. The focus, they say, should shift from arbitrary marks to meaningful communication between teachers, students, and parents.

Source: TBS
FUKUOKA, May 09 (News On Japan) - The Ukiha roadside station, ranked No. 1 in the Kyushu and Okinawa region for nine consecutive years in a nationwide roadside station ranking, is set to reopen following large-scale renovations.

The revamped interior features a much brighter and more spacious layout, with significantly more shelving to accommodate a wider range of products. Known for its year-round selection of fresh local fruits and vegetables, the station attracts both travelers and local shoppers alike.

Since its opening 25 years ago, the station had been showing signs of age. Coupled with its increasing popularity, this prompted the upgrade. The newly renovated space is approximately 1.3 times larger than before, while the walkways have been widened by about 1.5 times, making the station more accessible even during peak visitor periods. Flat shelves have been replaced with tiered shelving, allowing for greater product display.

Local farmers welcomed the improvements, expressing joy at being able to bring their carefully grown produce to more customers. One visitor commented, "It feels like a completely different roadside station."

A major hotel, Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha, opened next to the station last year, contributing to a record annual revenue of approximately 1.36 billion yen. With the expanded retail space, management now expects to attract 1.56 million visitors annually1.3 times the previous foot traffic.

The stations operator stated, "Were excited to offer a wider variety of products and create a facility that customers will enjoy. Well continue working hard to make that happen."

The official reopening is scheduled for May 16th. From May 16th to 18th, special events including giveaways and limited-edition gift bags will be held to celebrate the reopening.

Source: FBS
TOKYO, May 09 (News On Japan) - An 86-year-old man was arrested for attempting to burglarize an apartment shortly after his release from prison, admitting he had spent 200,000 yen on horse racing the same day he was freed.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Minoru Murata, an unemployed resident, allegedly broke into an apartment in Tokyo's Ota Ward in April with the intent to steal money and valuables. Murata had just completed his prison sentence earlier that month.

When confronted by the apartment's resident, Murata reportedly pleaded, saying, "I just got out of prison, I have bad legs, and I can't find work," and was initially let go without incident.

Following a report filed after the encounter, police launched an investigation and identified Murata as a suspect linked to a string of burglaries occurring across Tokyo. Officers discovered him through a "facial recognition patrol," a method in which suspects are located based on remembered facial features.

Murata has admitted to the allegations, telling investigators, "I did it to steal." He also confessed to spending 200,000 yen on horse racing the same day he was released, adding that he began committing theft the following day.

Source: FNN
Turkish explorations offshore Somalia led to the discovery of commercially viable crude oil, estimated at 20 billion barrels.

Turkey and Somalia had signed a deal under which Turkey controls 90% of oil and gas output rights.

The deal triggered criticism for its unfavorable terms for Somalia, a war-torn and cash-strapped country.

Somalias President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has defended the agreement, highlighting its benefits for unlocking the countrys energy sector.

Major oil and gas companies withdrew from exploration deal after the outbreak of the 1991 war in the country, which was followed by decades-long instability.
Australian mining giant Fortescue is considering investing in Moroccos renewable energy sector to export electricity via undersea cables to the UK.

This came in an interview on the Telegraph with Andrew Forrest, the founder and boss of iron ore giant Fortescue, who is seeking support from the UKs Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband.

Youve got the most impossible amount of energy being wasted every single day in North Africa right now, so were developing a proposal to send the equivalent of 500TW to Europe, The Telegraph quoted Forrest as saying.

The mining company last year signed a deal with Belgium-based offshore cable maker Jan de Nul to look at potential manufacturing facilities in Morocco.

Fortescue has also signed a joint venture with Moroccos OCP to develop green hydrogen and green ammonia as well as fertilizers production.

Forestcues plan adds to a rival project developed by the Xlinks, which plans to invest 25 billion pounds, but struggles for the UKs government support.

The Xlinks cable would transport solar and wind power generated in Moroccos Saharan Tan-Tan region to the Devon coast, via 4,000km of underwater cables.
Influential Italian Think Tank, Luigi Einaudi, urged the Italian government to take a position in favor of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara territory and warned of the growing threats to regional stability posed by the Algeria-sponsored Polisario militias.

In a detailed analysis, Andrea Cangini, the Think Tanks Secretary General and former MP, said that Polisarios destabilizing acts pose a serious stability risk to the whole North African region.

She deplored that Italys position in the Sahara issue remains ambiguous, guided primarily by the business interest of energy giant ENI in Algeria.

Recalling the centuries-old ties with Morocco, and the Kingdoms role as a bulwark against extremism in the region, Cangini argued that Italy has more to win by supporting Morocco.

She warned of the close links between the Polisario militias and terrorist groups in the region as well as with Iranian proxies, citing reports including a Washington Post article on Polisario members who received training by Iranian proxies in Syria.

Cangini recalled the global momentum in support of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, mentioning in particular the US recognition of Moroccos full territorial integrity including its southern provinces, a position that was followed by support from key European powers such as France and Spain, with the majority of EU member states backing the Moroccan autonomy plan.

It is time for Italy to align its foreign policy with its real geostrategic interests. Morocco, a loyal ally of Rome, deserves clear and unambiguous support in the face of separatist tendencies manipulated by Algiers and exploited by Tehran, she said.
Morocco has launched a charm offensive to increase threefold the number of visitors from China, Moroccos tourism promotion office ONMT said.

Morocco has recently won the China Ready label as it invests in services tailored to the needs and expectations of Chinese tourists, ONMT said in a statement.

Annually, some 150 million tourists travel abroad spending generously, with a high curiosity to discover new attractions, ONMT chief Achraf Fayda said.

Direct flights would also encourage Chinese tourists to visit the Kingdom. The number of Chinese tourists increased from about 15,000 annually to 132,000 in 2018, after Morocco canceled visa requirements for Chinese nationals in 2015.

Thanks to Moroccos growing appeal among Chinese tourists, Moroccan flag carrier RAM launched a direct flight between Casablanca and Beijing. The flights were halted during Covid-19 and resumed in January this year.

In anticipation of resuming the direct Casablanca-Beijing route, RAM had signed in December 2024, sixteen agreements with leading Chinese travel agencies, specializing in Morocco as a destination.

Chinese arrivals picked up to 106,000 last year, a steady increase to break the 2018 record.

With 17.4 million tourists visiting Morocco in 2024, arrivals were two years ahead of schedule or 20% higher compared with 2023, showing the country has turned the Covid-19 page thanks to major investments in its hospitality sector.
Authorities in Tunisia have ramped up security measures on the island of Djerba following an axe attack on a local Jewish jeweler, just days before the island hosts its annual Lag BOmer pilgrimage. The victim, a 50-year-old shop owner, sustained defensive injuries and was admitted to hospital on Thursday, May 8, though he is expected to be discharged the following day.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of the El-Ghriba synagogue, one of the oldest Jewish sites in Africa, which annually attracts thousands of visitors for religious celebrations.

Rene Trabelsi, a prominent figure in the local Jewish community and Tunisias former tourism minister, called for calm, emphasizing that it was premature to draw conclusions about the motive behind the assault. We fully trust Tunisian authorities because were Tunisian too, he remarked, reinforcing the communitys longstanding ties to the nation.

While no official statement has been released by the government, the timing of the incident has revived memories of a deadly 2023 attack during the same festival, prompting enhanced security arrangements across the island.
After the failure of its polisario separatist project becoming a ticking time bomb and after suffering diplomatic setbacks in its showdown against neighboring Morocco, the Algerian regime has started looking for a way out for survival in a new geopolitical landscape.

According to experts, 2025 will be the year of the closure of the Sahara issue in favor of Morocco as the Trump administration, France, Spain and other superpowers are pushing for the final resolution of the Sahara regional conflict on the basis the autonomy plan offered by Morocco under its sovereignty as the ONLY realistic solution to this issue.

After nearly five decades of fruitless UN efforts to advance a political solution due to the Algerian rulers intransigence, they are now faced with US-led international ultimatum: either to accept the realistic, serious, and credible autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 or bear the consequences.

Among these consequences, the designation of the Polisario as a terrorist organization and labeling Algeria as a state sponsor of terrorism. Such designations would have serious economic and political implications for the Algerian junta, de facto rulers, with deepening socioeconomic and political crises and strained relations with neighboring countries and international partners.

In a bid to weather the coming storm gathering force, the deceptive Algerian rulers have tried by all means to woo Trump inner circle, offering access to their countrys oil & natural resources as well as normalization of relations with Israel in return for political support. But all their attempts, which show their frailty, insecurity, and predicament, have failed.

The same strategy was used with the United Arab Emirates, one of Moroccos staunch supporters, but to no avail, leading to their hysteria and brinkmanship.

According to press reports, Algeria has asked Oman to engage mediation with Morocco and Israel. These reports emerged following the recent visit paid by Sultan Haitham bin Tarek to Algeria. Some analysts say Omans neutral foreign policy and diplomatic ties with Algiers and Rabat make Muscat appear as a potential mediator.

However, mediation attempts between Algeria and Morocco had been in the past unsuccessful, with Algeria rejecting a Spanish mediation offer in 2021 and dismissed Saudi efforts in 2022.

Algeria had consistently rejected mediation viewing international growing support for Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara and its ties with Israel as provocations.

Morocco appears more open to dialogue but is unwilling to compromise on its Sahara. The EU and other powers like the U.S. could play roles in de-escalation, but Algerias distrust of Western mediators and Moroccos diplomatic gains complicate prospects.

According to intelligence reports, secret emergency meetings were held lately between Algerian President Abdemajid Tebboune, army chief Said Chengriha and their top advisors to discuss the fate of the Polisario, the alarming situation in the Tindouf camps, and the risk of the establishment of a Sahrawi micro-state within the Algerian state.

They also discussed the establishment of a buffer zone around Tindouf camps, preparing a regional mediation with neutral countries to reach a negotiated deal but without appearing as a loser of the conflict, fearing accountability over spending billions of petrodollars on a lost cause.

What is certain, is that the balance of regional power has shifted in favor of Morocco and the Algerian regime is not in a position to dictate its own terms!
Morocco has officially established eight Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along its Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts as part of its commitment to the global biodiversity framework, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Leila Benali announced Thursday at the opening of the 8th Sea Forum in El Jadida.

The initiative aims to protect 10% of Moroccos maritime surface by 2030. Thirty percent of marine protected areas would increase fish biomass by 500%, providing more certainty for the fishing industry while significantly increasing added value for local communities, Benali explained.

Under King Mohammed VIs leadership, Morocco has implemented strategic, legal, institutional, and operational measures to protect its marine and coastal ecosystems. The preservation of fragile environments, particularly marine ones, is now at the heart of our National Sustainable Development Strategy, the reference framework for integrating sustainability principles into all sectoral and territorial policies, the minister stated.

Morocco has adopted a coastal law establishing the foundations for integrated coastal zone management in compliance with international commitments, particularly the Barcelona Conventions ICZM Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastline.

The country has also made progress in pollution control through the Plastic-Free Coast Action Plan and the National Emergency Plan against Accidental Marine Pollution. Bathing water quality compliance increased to 93% in a year, exceeding the 88% recorded in 2021, while beach waste decreased by over 21%.

The 8th Sea Forum, themed The Sea, Future of the Earth, continues until May 11, bringing together experts, researchers, artists, and representatives from institutions, NGOs, and businesses to discuss major environmental and maritime challenges.
TUI group, the leading international travel & tourism Company, has launched a new flight from Newcastle International Airport to Moroccos coastal city of Agadir.

The new route offers holidaymakers the chance to have access to Moroccos stunning Atlantic coastline. The twice-weekly service will run throughout the summer season to allow travelers to experience Agadirs sunshine, beaches and rich cultural heritage without having to travel from other UK airports.

Agadir, a renowned resort town on Moroccos southern Atlantic coast, has captured the attention of global travelers as one of the most in-demand destinations for 2025.

Agadir has experienced an extraordinary surge in travel interest, with British Airways Holidays reporting a 308% increase this year in searches compared to the same period last year.

The airlines 2025 Travel Trends Report revealed that Agadirs popularity has outpaced other major tourist hubs like Abu Dhabi, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing holiday destinations.

With year-round sunshine, Agadir has become an ideal destination for travelers looking for an alternative to the Mediterranean. The city is just a four-hour flight from the UK, making it an attractive choice for European tourists seeking a warm getaway during winter months.
Tanger Med Engineering, a subsidiary of Moroccos Tanger Med Port Authority, has signed a landmark agreement to modernize Liberias ports of Monrovia and Buchanan.

The Moroccan company has pledged to upgrade container terminals, cargo berths, and warehousing systems. It also pledged to deploy smart logistics platforms, advanced security systems, and sustainable energy solutions.

Dredging and expansion of the two ports are also planned to accommodate larger vessels and increase trade volumes.

The ports modernization will support Liberia stimulate its economic growth by rehabilitating critical infrastructure, facilitating regional trade, and modernizing the countrys logistics services.

This project will attract investment and better integrate regional supply chains. The goal is to turn Liberia as a competitive logistics hub on the West African maritime corridor, while strengthening its capacity to serve as a transit corridor for landlocked neighboring countries such as Mali and Guinea.

The agreement builds on a November 2024 deal signed with Marsa Maroc for a multipurpose terminal in Monrovia and Buchanans rehabilitation, emphasizing public-private partnerships.

Tanger Med is Africas largest port, handling 9 million containers and connecting to over 180 ports globally. Its expertise in port management and logistics is central to this project.
A delegation of foreign diplomats accredited to Morocco paid a visit to the Sahara city of Dakhla, where they could see first-hand the momentum of development and progress in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region in several fields.

Meeting as part of a Cycle of seminars in Dakhla, the foreign diplomats hailed the socio-economic development achieved in the region, and emphasized the regional and continental scope of the ambitious development projects undertaken in this part of the Kingdom.

Malawis ambassador to Morocco, Vincent Thom Nundwe, highlighted, in a statement to the media, the development projects launched in the region, mainly Dakhla Atlantic Port, touted as one of the most important in the continent.

This large-scale project will boost logistics connectivity in Africa, with a positive impact on peoples living conditions thanks to lower transport costs, he explained.

For his part, Djim Bamoriba, Counsellor at the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Morocco, pointed out that Dakhla-Oued Eddahab is a strategic link between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the regions strategic position as a regional hub, through concrete projects carrying an integrated and promising development vision.

At a meeting with President of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Regional Council, El Khattat Yanja, the diplomats followed presentations on the regions development momentum in various fields, including tourism, agriculture, sea fishing, logistics, and renewable energies, and on major infrastructure projects aimed at connecting the territory and unlocking its potential, as well as on investment opportunities and facilities provided to economic operators.

During the trip, the foreign diplomats paid field visits to several development projects, including the Dakhla Atlantic Port construction site, and the Dakhla Learning Center, dedicated to youth training and empowerment.
The CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), Remy Rioux, who is on a working visit to Morocco, announced that he will be carrying out a field mission in the Kingdoms Southern Provinces.

The announcement was made by Rioux during a press briefing following a meeting, in Rabat Friday, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita.

The AFD CEO said that his visit is part of the implementation of the Joint Declaration signed in October 2024 between King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron, during the latters State visit to the Kingdom.

You might recall that on that occasion, President Emmanuel Macron expressed Frances new position on the Southern Provinces, he recalled, adding that his current mission is part of the rapid operationalization of this strategic guideline.

Referring to the extension of AFDs mandate to the Southern Provinces, Rioux said that he will be visiting Laayoune tomorrow and Dakhla on Sunday and Monday, marking an important step in the implementation of commitments made.

He welcomed the fact that the Southern Provinces represent a strategic link with Sub-Saharan Africa in the Atlantic coast, and emphasized that this constitutes a very important action framework for the AFD group.

Rioux underlined the steadiness and strategic scope of the partnership between Morocco and France, stating that the Kingdom remains the AFD Groups leading partner. Some 70 projects, worth 3 billion, are underway in Morocco, he said, adding that no fewer than 80 Group employees are mobilized on the ground in the Kingdom.

The visit by AFDs chief is part of the Reinforced Exceptional Partnership signed between His Majesty the King and President Emmanuel Macron, and is a tangible expression of the shared desire to further strengthen the rich bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and to support the momentum of inclusive and sustainable development in all regions of the Kingdom.
Morocco and Cote dIvoire have inked a military cooperation agreement destined to enhance military cooperation, particularly in the fields of training, exercises, military healthcare, technical assistance, and the exchange of expertise across various areas of mutual interest.

The agreement was initialed In Rabat Friday by Minister Delegate in Charge of National Defense Administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, and Ivorian Minister of State, Minister of Defense, Tene Birahima Outtara, who is visiting Morocco at the head of a high-level delegation, the National Defense Administration said in statement.

This working visit is part of the efforts to bolster and diversify bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, Loudyi highlighted the Royal Initiative aimed at transforming the African Atlantic facade into a hub of economic integration, peace, stability and shared prosperity, by including the continents Atlantic countries, and enabling Atlantic Access for landlocked Sahel states.

For his part, the Ivorian official emphasized the highly strategic and priority nature of the partnership between Cote dIvoire and Morocco. He also praised King Mohammed VIs commitment to South-South cooperation, and his support of African partners.

Both parties voiced their shared ambition and will to strengthen relations by implementing the provisions of the just-signed military cooperation agreement, which reflects the ties of friendship and mutual respect that unite the two countries, the statement said.
Local Catholic Church leaders have reacted to the historic election of Chicago-born Robert Prevost as the new pope of the Catholic Church.

Thursday was a monumental day in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church as Prevost was elected pope, taking the name of Pope Leo XIV and becoming the first U.S. pope and the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church. Father Gil Pierre of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Opelika said he was shocked when he realized that the papal conclave elected an American pope.

"It was really something I never expected to see in my lifetime. I was also touched by his demeanor on the balcony of Saint Peters Basilica. It was clear that he understood the gravity of what he was taking on," Pierre said.

The first American-born pope

Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88 at the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where he lived at the Vatican, according to the Associated Press. The 133 cardinal electors gathered on Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel to begin voting on the successor to Francis, and by Thursday the conclave made its selection in Prevost. According to the Associated Press, the 69-year-old Prevost is a member of the Augustinian religious order, and he spent his career ministering in Peru.

Rev. Msgr. Michael L. Farmer, the pastor of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Auburn, was surprised by Prevost's election but relieved that the Catholic Church has new pope. With Pope Francis as the first pope from Latin America and Pope Leo XIV the first from the U.S., Farmer said this shows the growth of the Catholic Church.

"What we're seeing now is basically the growth of the church, both in North America, South America and Central America...plus Asia and Africa as well," Farmer said. "So I think we're just seeing as the church lives out and evangelizes and so forth that we have folks coming from the influence of the church, where it's growing and lively."

Pope Leo XIV could bring more clarity to the church, Farmer says

In looking ahead to the future of the church under Prevost, Pierre said it is still very early to make any predictions on what Pope Leo XIV's pontificate will bring.

"Every pope brings different gifts and talents to the office," Pierre said. "I do think his experience as a bishop in Peru and his time as head of the Vaticans Dicastery for Bishops will help him in his new role. In both roles he was able to gain a unique perspective on the Church across the globe. That experience will be an asset to him as he takes on the role of spiritual father to 1.4 billion Catholics across the world."

Farmer also touched on that experience that Prevost has within the Vatican and he expects his papacy to be more organized because of it. Farmer said that one of the criticisms of Pope Francis was how he sometimes made ambiguous statements that could leave people confused or looking for clarifications. He expects something different from Pope Leo XIV.

"I think probably with Pope Leo, there's going to be an importance upon when he makes a statement or says something, particularly when it's on content of faith and so forth, that you're not left with ambiguity or second guessing what he said or what he didn't say, or trying to read into it and so forth. I think there will be a greater clarity," Farmer said.

Farmer also cited Prevost's experience in the U.S., in Latin America and in Rome and he said he expects him to be a bridge builder in many ways. In addition to the historical significance of the election, he believes Prevost will bring that unique perspective of the Catholic Church in the U.S. to his pontificate.

"The Church here in the United States is a very charitable church, a church that tries to help people in other parts of the world," Farmer said. "So I think just seeing that aspect of his papacy too will be very interesting as it unfolds in a good way."

'Sound judgment, humility and strength'

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mobile Thomas J. Rodi said it was a day to rejoice, and a historic day for the church the U.S. with the election of Prevost.

"I think its significant he has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV will explain to us in the upcoming days why he chose that name, but Pope Leo XIII was known as the pope of the working people, so I expect Pope Leo XIV will give great attention to the dignity of all people," Rodi said.

The Archdiocese of Mobile is the archdiocese for Southern Alabama, encompassing 22,969 square miles and includes the lower 28 counties of the state.

"Pope Leo XIV is known as a man of sound judgement, humility and strength. Let us all pray for Leo XIV as he begins his ministry as the successor of St. Peter," Rodi said.
Paul Mescal kissing Josh OConnor! Harry Melling kissing Alexander Skarsgard! Tom Cruise kissing Ving Rhames (I hope??) These things and more await us in Cannes



[image or embed]  Richard Lawson (@rilaws.bsky.social) May 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival starts next week and Vanity Fair has chosen 23 films they think will get a lot of buzz. I've picked seven of them based on ONTD's interests and secret shames.Beloved Scottish director Lynne Ramsay returns to the Croisette eight years after winning the screenplay prize for You Were Never Really Here. This time shes bringing with her a drama-thriller about postpartum depression called Die, My Love. The film will have no trouble attracting attention at the festivalboth because Ramsay is revered in the international art house world, and because it stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte, and Sissy Spacek. This will no doubt be one of the hottest tickets this year.Wes Anderson loves highlighting the same performers over and over. So the headline out of the Oscar winners latest intricately designed, star-studded romp may be that of its three leads, hes only ever worked with Benicio Del Toro (in The French Dispatch). Del Toro plays a wealthy businessman with a long list of enemies who enlists his estranged daughter and Norwegian tutorplayed by Anderson newcomers Mia Threapleton and Michael Cera, respectivelyto secure his familys future. Threapleton, whose mother is Kate Winslet, is poised to be the films discovery, nailing Andersons particular brand of deadpan heartbreak. I remember this moment where I had Tom Hanks on my left, Bryan Cranston on my right, Riz Ahmed diagonally, Benicio in front of me, Wes at one end, and Michael to the other side, Threapleton recently told Vanity Fair. I just sat there and I put my hands under my legs.Two men, played by rising stars Paul Mescal and Josh OConnor, fall in loveand thats only the start of this sweeping period drama, which opens in the midst of World War I. The movies initial romantic encounter reverberates over decades alongside the eclectic folk songs that light up the soundtrack. We felt very boyish in each others company throughout, Mescal told Vanity Fair of his dynamic with OConnor. Ive always said this to Josh, but he brings out a childlike version of me. I havent felt that kind of degree of boyishness in myself for a long time.Maybe Kristen Stewart will too! The actors debut feature film as a director is based on a 2011 memoir about a former swimmer experimenting with drugs and exploring BDSM sex. That has the makings of a buzzy Cannes envelope-pusher. It certainly wont hurt Stewarts chances that she is beloved by French cineastesStewart is one of only two American actors to have won a Cesar award, Frances equivalent to the Oscar. The Chronology of Water could also mean good things for its star, Imogen Poots, though were more curious about her costar Thora Bircha former teen queen who doesnt work much these days but is an arresting screen presence whenever she pops up.From writer-director Harry Lighton, this romantic drama stars Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgard as two men who enter into a sub-dom relationship. It wouldnt be a proper Cannes without at least some taboo sex in the lineup, which Pillion seems to offer, what with its leather and pup play. Though we probably shouldnt expect something luring and exploitative. Weve heard that Pillion takes the arch provocation of last years Babygirl (also from A24) and turns it into something more sincere, even poignant. Even so, there should be lots of post-premiere chatter about what is and is not seen onscreen.Spike Lee is conditioning us to expect the unexpected of his take on Akira Kurosawas 1963 classic High and Lowand thats just in the delivery of the movie. Cannes didnt include the film in its initial lineup announcement, but Lee posted on his Instagram that it was going to Cannes anyway; earlier this week, A24 posted on socials that a teaser trailer would land in about 24 hours, then Lee almost immediately leaked it. Heres a guy who likes to keep us on our toes. How thrilling that anything seems possible for the project that marks Lee and Denzel Washingtons first collaboration since Inside Man, 19 years ago.The main cast that Ari Aster has assembled for his latest, a Western set in the glorious spring of 2020, says all you need to know about just how excited Hollywood is by the rising filmmaker of Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. Even when hes divisive, Aster has proven unmissable.
Whats more, Brussels itself knows this. The goal now isnt to actually eliminate Russian gas. Its to sanitize itdisguise the source, launder the contract chain, and let the energy flow while the political optics stay intact.

Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria are already primed to jump in. These are countries that never fully signed onto the EUs energy morality play. Theyre pragmatic, exposed, and already importing Russian gas via TurkStream. Once the taps open, they wont hesitate to sign new dealswhether through a loophole, an intermediary, or a quiet nod from Washington.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. and Qatar is expensive. Infrastructure is uneven. And political unity across 27 member states is mostly a fiction when the energy bills arrive. If the U.S. succeeds in brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine that includes resuming Russian pipeline gas to Europe, plenty of EU members will take the deal, even if it means bending Brussels' rules.

The truth is this: Europe wants Russian gasit just doesnt want to be seen wanting it.

On paper, the EU is phasing out Russian gas. A ban on new contracts kicks in by 2025, and the goal is full independence by 2027. Thats the public position, reinforced by press releases, parliamentary votes, and the REPowerEU strategy. But behind the curtain? Brussels is playing a double game.

On paper, the EU is phasing out Russian gas. A ban on new contracts kicks in by 2025, and the goal is full independence by 2027. Thats the public position, reinforced by press releases, parliamentary votes, and the REPowerEU strategy. But behind the curtain? Brussels is playing a double game.

The truth is this: Europe wants Russian gasit just doesnt want to be seen wanting it.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. and Qatar is expensive. Infrastructure is uneven. And political unity across 27 member states is mostly a fiction when the energy bills arrive. If the U.S. succeeds in brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine that includes resuming Russian pipeline gas to Europe, plenty of EU members will take the deal, even if it means bending Brussels' rules.

Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria are already primed to jump in. These are countries that never fully signed onto the EUs energy morality play. Theyre pragmatic, exposed, and already importing Russian gas via TurkStream. Once the taps open, they wont hesitate to sign new dealswhether through a loophole, an intermediary, or a quiet nod from Washington.

Whats more, Brussels itself knows this. The goal now isnt to actually eliminate Russian gas. Its to sanitize itdisguise the source, launder the contract chain, and let the energy flow while the political optics stay intact.

So yes, technically the EU can refuse the gas. But it wont. Because while energy independence looks great in a communique, cheap Russian gas delivered through a neutral-sounding broker is still the path of least resistance.

This isnt energy strategy. Its geopolitical theater.

Libya: Cracks in the Backdoor Agreements

Weve been tracking Libyas unraveling for months, and the story of Arkenu Oil now provides us with one of the best illustrations of the backdoor deals that have been keeping the lid on the civil war pressure cooker.

Arkenu has been exporting crude from the Haftar-controlled east since mid-2024, quietly raking in over $600 million outside Tripolis oversight. Whats changed is the clarity with which this case exposes Libyas dangerous dependence on backdoor deals between sworn enemies. These arrangements arent signs of stability, and as we have noted before, any small disruptioncorruption charges, a shift in oil flows, or a missed paymentcould blow the top off the pressure cooker.

Arkenu is a privately held entity operating from Benghazi (Haftar clan territory) with deep ties to Saddam Haftar, General Khalifa Haftars son. Despite being a direct challenge to the state oil monopoly, Arkenu secured a joint contract with the NOC and Schlumbergera deal that appears to have been facilitated (or at least tolerated) by Tripoli-based interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Haftars main political rival.

Now, Dbeibehis under formal scrutiny for that deal. The scandal pulls back the curtain on a mutually beneficial arrangement: Tripoli gets continued oil flows, Benghazi gets money and legitimacy, and no one asks too many questions about whos really in charge. Proceeds from Arkenus exports have reportedly (not independently confirmed) bypassed Libyas Central Bank and flowed through Geneva and Dubai.

These fragile alliances depend on a delicate balance of profit, denial, and power-sharing without trust. Tip that balance, and it will be a pretext for renewed conflict, unless both sides see a way out (another lucrative deal or a readjustment of the profit-sharing).

Liberation Day Back-and-Forth Continues 

Markets ticked up on Thursday after Trump floated the idea of cutting tariffs on Chinese imports ahead of trade talks in Geneva. Oil was trading up nearly 3% on hopes that easing tensions might boost demand. But there is a pattern here: Trump negotiates in headlines, using public signals to steer talks and test reactions. Its performance, not policy. Investors treating every quote as an event risk, mistaking noise for movement.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

Sunoco announced a $9.1 billion acquisition of Canadian fuel distributor Parkland, expanding its fuel and retail footprint across North America and the Caribbean. The deal, structured as a mix of cash and stock, will create a new publicly traded entity, SUNCorp. This marks one of the largest downstream deals of the year and significantly boosts Sunocos geographic reach into 40+ U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and parts of Europe and Mexico.

I Squared Capital, alongside Enbridge and MPLX LP, is acquiring up to an 85% stake in the 580-mile Matterhorn Express natural gas pipeline, valued at over $5 billion including debt. Operated by WhiteWater, the pipeline moves up to 2.5 billion cubic feet per day from the Permian Basin to the Houston area. WhiteWater will hold up to 65%, while Enbridge and MPLX each secure 10%. MPLX also disclosed a separate $151 million payment for a 5% interest.

Norways Equinor has agreed to sell a 60% operated interest in Brazils Peregrino oil field to PRIO SA (via its subsidiary Prio Tigris) for $3.5 billion. The deal marks Equinors strategic retreat from certain upstream markets while allowing PRIO to strengthen its position in Brazils offshore sector.

Saudi Aramco and Nabors Industries are evaluating an IPO of Sanad Drilling, their 50:50 joint venture operating 50 rigs across Saudi Arabia. Though still in early stages, the IPO could be one of the regions key energy listings this year. Nabors CEO described Sanad as the most attractive company in the region, with roughly 75% of its fleet focused on natural gas after Aramco paused its crude capacity expansion.

Discovery & Development

ExxonMobil has announced plans to invest $1.5B between Q2 2025 and 2027 to revitalize production at Nigerias Usan deepwater oilfield (offshore block OMi 138). The project includes 34 subsea wells and eight manifolds. Final investment decision is expected in late Q3 2025, pending regulatory approvals. This is part of Nigerias project to boost output to 2.4 million bpd.

Beacon Offshore Energy's Shenandoah project is expected to achieve first oil in June 2025, while LLOG Exploration's Salamanca development targets first production in August 2025. Both deepwater projects are significant additions to U.S. Gulf of Mexico output and reflect ongoing investment in offshore infrastructure.

Q1 Earnings Beat
Five Shandong-based refineries halted Iranian crude imports in April due to fears of further U.S. sanctions.

Rising fuel oil costs and U.S. sanctions on two Chinese refiners have driven the shift from Iranian oil to Middle Eastern supplies.

Some of Chinas independent refiners, the so-called teapots, are making a rare foray into the prompt Middle Eastern crude supply by buying cargoes of Abu Dhabis Murban grade for delivery in June, anonymous sources with knowledge of the deals told Bloomberg on Friday.

The buyers, independent refiners Fuhai Group Co. and Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group, bought 1 million barrels of Murban crude each, at a premium of about $5 above the August ICE Brent futures, traders told Bloomberg.

While the reason for the Chinese teapots to turn to Abu Dhabi crude was not immediately clear, trade sources pointed to the news outlet two possible reasons. These are more than enough supply in the Middle East which has pointed to lower prices, and an unusual premium of fuel oil to international benchmarks. Chinese refiners often use cheaper and dirtier fuel oil as a feedstock. However, recent price hikes of the fuel have now made running it at teapots uneconomical.

In addition, the recent supply of cheap Iranian crude oil to Chinese teapots has been disrupted by the U.S. sanctions on two independent refiners earlier this year.

Independent refiners in China have started to experience difficulties in procuring cheap Iranian crude while others have stopped purchases from Iran, after the United States sanctioned two independent refiners in the past two months, sources with knowledge of the issue told Reuters earlier this week.

In March and April, the U.S. sanctioned two small independent Chinese refiners for purchasing and transporting Iranian oil, as part of U.S. President Donald Trumps maximum pressure campaign on Iran to force it to negotiations over its nuclear program.

Five refineries in Chinas Shandong province, home to the teapots, stopped buying Iranian crude in April for fear of being next on the list of sanctions, two trading executives told Reuters.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Shiting over to the Middle East, this is crunch time for Syrias new regime, with plenty of players still scrambling to take advantage of any perceived gaps in control. We saw ISIS rear its cowed head this week, for starters. President Ahmed al-Sharaa (ex-Islamist commander, current reformer) has secured Gulf financial backing (Qatari, $29M/month for 3 months), U.S. approval

India and Pakistan are sliding into their most dangerous confrontation in years. After a deadly Kashmir attack killed 26 civilians, India responded with deep airstrikes into Pakistanthe boldest military action in over five decades. Pakistan retaliated fast, claiming multiple shootdowns, and U.S. officials confirmed at least two Indian jets were brought down by Chinese-made fighters. Civilian casualties are climbing, and now the region is caught in a volatile mix of high-tech weaponry, rising nationalism, and the absence of any real diplomatic backchannel. This is no border flare-upits a live stress test between two nuclear powers, and so far, neither side is blinking.

Its been a busy first half of the year, geopolitically, and this week has been no different, with the India-Pakistan conflict erupting into airstrikes, more back-and-forth on the tariff front, ISIS rearing its head in repositioning Syria, more cracks in the Libyan power architecture, and the hatching of a European plan to ban Russian gas fully by 2027 (but please can we find a way to get Russian gas that is  less obvious?).

Its been a busy first half of the year, geopolitically, and this week has been no different, with the India-Pakistan conflict erupting into airstrikes, more back-and-forth on the tariff front, ISIS rearing its head in repositioning Syria, more cracks in the Libyan power architecture, and the hatching of a European plan to ban Russian gas fully by 2027 (but please can we find a way to get Russian gas that is  less obvious?).

India and Pakistan are sliding into their most dangerous confrontation in years. After a deadly Kashmir attack killed 26 civilians, India responded with deep airstrikes into Pakistanthe boldest military action in over five decades. Pakistan retaliated fast, claiming multiple shootdowns, and U.S. officials confirmed at least two Indian jets were brought down by Chinese-made fighters. Civilian casualties are climbing, and now the region is caught in a volatile mix of high-tech weaponry, rising nationalism, and the absence of any real diplomatic backchannel. This is no border flare-upits a live stress test between two nuclear powers, and so far, neither side is blinking.

Shiting over to the Middle East, this is crunch time for Syrias new regime, with plenty of players still scrambling to take advantage of any perceived gaps in control. We saw ISIS rear its cowed head this week, for starters. President Ahmed al-Sharaa (ex-Islamist commander, current reformer) has secured Gulf financial backing (Qatari, $29M/month for 3 months), U.S. approval for humanitarian salary channels, and is even floating indirect talks with Israel. But this is still very shaky ground were on.

ISIS attacks have resurged in the east. This week, sleeper cells killed two SDF fighters in Deir ez-Zor, with additional plots thwarted in nearby towns. The SDF is the most reliable partner the U.S. has on the ground, but the reality of the need for their presences simply underscores how little control the central government actually has at this time. But there is also a backlash over how much control the new government should have, particularly as the countrys interim constitution consolidates power in the presidency, an authoritarian red flag. The SDF will be very keen to make itself indispensable right now against ISIS.

At the same time, Sharaas moves to sideline Iranian and Russian influence have won cautious Western interestbut this is still a wait-and-see game for Washington, which is primarily an indirect actor on this one.
OPEC+ remains a key source of downside pressure. The group confirmed a second straight month of production hikes, adding 411,000 barrels per day in June. This lifts total output additions since April to nearly 1 million bpd. Saudi Arabias push to unwind voluntary

Additionally, a new U.S.-UK trade agreement, including industrial and pharmaceutical cooperation, further lifted overall market sentiment. However, analysts caution that trade-induced gains could be fleeting unless supported by broader economic improvement and clearer demand signals.

The upcoming May 10 trade negotiations between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinas top economic official have helped underpin crude prices. As the worlds top two oil consumers, any thaw in trade relations could provide much-needed demand support. Analysts flagged improved investor sentiment tied to hopes of reduced tariffs, though warnings persist that volatility from tariff headlines will continue to impact price action.

Crude oil futures ended the week higher, buoyed by renewed optimism around U.S.-China trade talks and signs of tightening inventories. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled near $59.91, marking a 2.78% weekly gain after rebounding sharply from multi-year lows earlier in the week. Bargain buying and improved sentiment supported prices despite strong macroeconomic and supply-driven headwinds.

Crude oil futures ended the week higher, buoyed by renewed optimism around U.S.-China trade talks and signs of tightening inventories. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled near $59.91, marking a 2.78% weekly gain after rebounding sharply from multi-year lows earlier in the week. Bargain buying and improved sentiment supported prices despite strong macroeconomic and supply-driven headwinds.

Trade Talks and Risk Sentiment Offer Limited Relief

The upcoming May 10 trade negotiations between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinas top economic official have helped underpin crude prices. As the worlds top two oil consumers, any thaw in trade relations could provide much-needed demand support. Analysts flagged improved investor sentiment tied to hopes of reduced tariffs, though warnings persist that volatility from tariff headlines will continue to impact price action.

Additionally, a new U.S.-UK trade agreement, including industrial and pharmaceutical cooperation, further lifted overall market sentiment. However, analysts caution that trade-induced gains could be fleeting unless supported by broader economic improvement and clearer demand signals.

OPEC+ Supply Strategy Caps Gains

OPEC+ remains a key source of downside pressure. The group confirmed a second straight month of production hikes, adding 411,000 barrels per day in June. This lifts total output additions since April to nearly 1 million bpd. Saudi Arabias push to unwind voluntary cuts faster has put pressure on non-compliant members, but it also threatens to deepen the global supply glut.

Inventories remain elevated, with Vortexa data showing a 150 million barrel build in global crude stocks since mid-February. This oversupply is compressing the Brent futures curve, briefly pushing the prompt spread into contangoa structure typically bearish for crude.

U.S. Output and Inventory Data Send Mixed Signals

On the domestic front, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a 2 million barrel draw in crude inventories last week, well above expectations. Declines at the Cushing hub and a five-year high in jet fuel demand suggest some firming in consumption. However, gasoline inventories rose by 200,000 barrels, raising concerns about weak domestic demand heading into the driving season.

U.S. output remains under scrutiny. While some shale producers like Diamondback Energy and Coterra Energy have reduced rigs, the EIA slightly revised down its output forecast. U.S. production is now expected to average 13.42 million bpd this year, down from 13.51 million previously. Still, caution prevails as rig cuts may take time to translate into meaningful supply-side tightening.

Oil Prices Forecast Mixed as Risks Mount

Price forecasts continue to reflect market uncertainty. Citi Research cut its Brent outlook to $55 per barrel, citing a 60% probability of a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal that could add significant supply. A successful deal could pull prices down to $50, while failure might push them back above $70. Barclays and Goldman Sachs have also trimmed projections, pointing to weak fundamentals and growing downside risk.

Meanwhile, ANZ and ING maintain a more cautious tone, warning that even modest rallies are likely to face selling pressure unless broader demand improves or OPEC+ reverses course.

Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures

Trend Indicator Analysis

The main trend is down according to the weekly swing chart. A trade through $64.87 will change the main trend to up. A trade through $54.48 will signal a resumption of the downtrend.

The long-term range is $52.45 to $84.90. Its 50% level is $68.67. This is major resistance. Trading on the bearish side of this key level is a sign of weakness. Additional resistance is the 52-week moving average at $68.58.

The short-term range is $71.64 to $54.48. Its pivot at $63.06 is resistance.

The minor range is $64.87 to $55.30. Its pivot is $60.09. Trader reaction to this level is likely to set the tone next week.

Weekly Technical Forecast

The direction of the Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures market the week ending May 16 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to $60.09.

Bullish Scenario

A sustained move over $60.09 will signal the presence of counter-trend buyers. If this creates enough momentum, we could see a possible near-term rally into the major pivot at $63.06.This is the last potential resistance before the main top at $64.87 and the trigger point for a change in trend and an upside breakout.

Bearish Scenario

A sustained move under $60.09 will indicate the presence of sellers. This will leave the market vulnerable to another plunge into the value zone at $55.30 to $54.48. This is followed by a multi-month low at $52.45. If this level fails then look out to the downside.

Market Outlook: Bearish Bias with Potential for Temporary Rallies

Despite this weeks bounce, driven by bargain buying and trade optimism, the fundamental backdrop remains bearish. Persistent supply growth, especially from OPEC+, and only tentative signs of demand recovery suggest rallies may be capped. Unless WTI can hold decisively above $60.09 and absorb incoming supply without fresh inventory builds, price action is likely to revert toward the $55.30$54.48 value zone.

Each of these factorsOPEC+ supply growth, geopolitical negotiations, inventory trends, and price forecast revisionsfeeds into a market still wrestling with imbalance. While temporary rallies may offer intraday trading opportunities, the broader direction remains pressured by structural oversupply and uneven demand signals. The near-term oil prices forecast is bearish. Traders should remain cautious, as rallies into resistance are likely to be met with selling, especially if trade talks fail to produce tangible results or if inventory data disappoints.

Technically, a counter-trend breakout over $60.09 could face headwinds at $63.06 to $64.87. However, were more likely to see a two-sided trade that straddles the $60.09 pivot.
Risks of a slowdown in U.S. shale production and OPEC+ plans to boost output are influencing market expectations.

Markets are now focused on upcoming U.S.-China trade talks, expected to ease global trade tensions further.

Oil prices rose following the announcement of the first U.S. trade deal post-tariffs with the UK, which will eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Oil prices are on track to post a weekly gain amid expectations that the first U.S. trade deal post-tariffs, with the UK, could be a good sign of thaw in the tense trade relations ahead of the U.S.-China talks this weekend.

As of 9:45 a.m. EDT on Friday, the front-month U.S. benchmark futures, WTI Crude, were up by 0.92% at $60.42. The international benchmark, Brent Crude, was rising by 0.80% at $63.31.

After posting a weekly loss last week, oil was on track early on Friday for a weekly gain this week, after the U.S. and the UK announced on Thursday a trade deal. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the landmark U.S.-UK trade deal, calling it a "breakthrough" with one of Americas "most cherished allies." The agreement is set to drive billions of dollars in export opportunities for both nations. Under the agreement, the U.S. will eliminate its 25% tariffs on UK steel and aluminum imports, easing costs for British manufacturers.

With one deal done, the market will now be watching the beginning of tentative trade talks between the United States and China, scheduled to start in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinas Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Geneva.

Trade tensions have somewhat cooled before the trade talks, and the commodities sector has taken notice.

Following a challenging April the commodities sector has been finding its feet again, with early May action driving a 1.4% gain, led by pro-cyclical and growth-dependent sectors, Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, said in a commentary on Friday.

Risks of a slowdown in the U.S. shale patch have also supported oil prices this week.

Sub-$60 WTI threatens profitability, with top producers cutting spending and signs that production growth is stalling, Hansen noted.

Yet, the upside to oil prices is being capped by the OPEC+ plan to continue boosting production by more than previously expected.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil prices climbed this week on hopes that the U.S. and China might come to a trade agreement after a deal was announced with the UK.

Friday, May 9th, 2025

ICE Brent futures have recovered to $64 per barrel as oil markets keep their hopes high for the upcoming first round of US-China trade talks this weekend. Should US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reach some sort of breakthrough with his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng, May could recoup most of Aprils losses.

US Slaps Sanctions on Third Chinese Refiner. The US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on the Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group refinery and three companies operating the Dongying port in Shandong province, arguing they had facilitated the delivery of Iranian crude oil over the past years.

IEA Warns of Global Methane Risks. Releasing its Global Methane Tracker 2025 report, the International Energy Agency warned that the energy sector emitted 145 million tonnes of methane last year, adding that at least 35 million tonnes could be cut at no net cost, if oil companies took heed.

Russia Wants China Investing into Its Upstream. As Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow this week, the Kremlin pitched the idea of Chinese companies investing into its mulled 13 mtpa Baltic LNG project in Ust Luga, concurrently seeking to expedite talks on the stalled Power of Siberia-2 pipeline.

Mexicos Offshore Platforms Leak Again. Mexicos state oil company Pemex reported two separate leaks in a pipeline connecting the offshore Akal-C platform with the Dos Bocas maritime terminal in the southern state of Tabasco, with oil slicks reported along a 5-mile stretch of the shoreline.

Glencore Expands into Singapores Chemicals. Aster Chemicals, the JV of global trading major Glencore (LON:GLEN) and Indonesian petrochemical company Chandra Asri, agreed to buy Chevrons polyethylene-producing plant in Singapore, less than a month after it bought Shells Bukom refinery.

Norway Mandates Resumption of Frontier Exploration. Norways parliament ordered its government to launch a new oil exploration licensing round that would include frontier parts such as the eastern part of the Barents Sea in the Arctic, as gas production is expected to fall sharply after 2030.

US Jet Demand Roars Back to Strength. Returning to pre-COVID levels for the first time in 5 years, the EIA reported that US jet fuel demand surpassed 2 million b/d in the week ended May 2, for the first time since December 2019 after a robust 474,000 b/d week-on-week increase.

Venezuela Restarts Key Refinery. In defiance of tightening US sanctions, Venezuelas state oil firm PDVSA restarted the 310,000 b/d capacity Cardon refinery after a year-long halt that was triggered by a power failure and subsequent lack of equipment, seeking to ramp up gasoline production in the country.

Europe Soften Car Emission Mandates. The European Commission has yielded to intense lobbying from Europes car manufacturers and extended the timeline to meet new CO2 emission targets by 2027 rather than just this year, defined as 93.6 CO 2 /km for passenger cars and 153.9 CO 2 /km for vans.

Iran Rekindles Hopes of Caspian Drilling. Having failed to find any commercial volumes of oil in the offshore zone of the Caspian Sea so far, Irans Oil Ministry is now looking to renew exploratory drilling in its shallow water part, drilling the Rudsar wildcat after a 28-year drilling hiatus.

Texas Drilling Activity Plunges on Trump Impact. According to energy consultancy Enverus, oil and gas permit applications in Texas fell to their lowest since February 2021 this past April, dipping 30% month-over-month to 570 applications after Q1 2025 hovered around 800 applications per month.

Brazil Gets Its Exploration Mojo Back. Brazils state oil firm Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) announced the discovery of a high-quality oil reservoir in the Aram block of the offshore Santos Basin, with its wildcat drilled to a water depth of 1,952 metres and potentially expanding the scope of its pre-salt ambition.

Soybeans Carry the Weight of Trade Wars. Chinas soybean imports collapsed to their lowest since at least 2015 when Beijings statistical agency started to track them, amidst halted US imports and loading delays in Brazil, with inflows totalling only 6.1 million metric tonnes, a 30% drop from March levels.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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If that seems like a mixed bunch, it is. However, Buffett has never limited himself to any one sector, industry, or style of stock. He has invested in what are classed

While Berkshire Hathaway is best known for investing in insurance and financial companies...they own GEICO, for example, but he has also shown himself to be a fan of fast food and snack companies, with Dairy Queen, Coca-Cola (KO), and KFC and Taco Bell parent Yum! Brands (YUM) represent a large part of his portfolio. More recently, he has made significant bets on the expansion of fracking in the US, buying a railroad and, over the last year or so, a significant stake in Occidental Petroleum (OXY), having taken some big profits on tech investments, most notably Apple (AAPL).

Last weekend, at the Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) shareholders meeting, Warren Buffett surprised everyone except his two children, who were the only people he had told beforehand, by announcing that he would be retiring as the companys CEO. I guess we shouldnt have been surprised that a 94-year-old wanted to retire, but Buffetts boundless energy and enthusiasm for investing created an illusion that he would go on forever. He didnt, of course, but much of his investing advice will. Warren Buffett was enormously successful as an investor, but the things that really set him apart were his willingness to share the principles behind his success and, most of all, to express those ideas in a way that made sense to the average investor.

Last weekend, at the Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) shareholders meeting, Warren Buffett surprised everyone except his two children, who were the only people he had told beforehand, by announcing that he would be retiring as the companys CEO. I guess we shouldnt have been surprised that a 94-year-old wanted to retire, but Buffetts boundless energy and enthusiasm for investing created an illusion that he would go on forever. He didnt, of course, but much of his investing advice will. Warren Buffett was enormously successful as an investor, but the things that really set him apart were his willingness to share the principles behind his success and, most of all, to express those ideas in a way that made sense to the average investor.

While Berkshire Hathaway is best known for investing in insurance and financial companies...they own GEICO, for example, but he has also shown himself to be a fan of fast food and snack companies, with Dairy Queen, Coca-Cola (KO), and KFC and Taco Bell parent Yum! Brands (YUM) represent a large part of his portfolio. More recently, he has made significant bets on the expansion of fracking in the US, buying a railroad and, over the last year or so, a significant stake in Occidental Petroleum (OXY), having taken some big profits on tech investments, most notably Apple (AAPL).

If that seems like a mixed bunch, it is. However, Buffett has never limited himself to any one sector, industry, or style of stock. He has invested in what are classed as both growth and value stocks in almost every industry imaginable. There is a common theme, though. He likes products and services that people use regularly and with which he can identify, and he likes companies that are already well run. A Berkshire Hathaway investment is not a warning sign for a companys executives, it is a vote of confidence in them.

Probably the best-known Buffett quote on how to invest for success was when he said that we should be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful. It is by far the most often quoted Buffettism. In fact, it has been used so often by writers like me that it has become a tired cliche, lessening its impact considerably. However, ubiquity does not equal irrelevance. It is still not just relevant, but essential to remember as a great encapsulation of the principles behind contrarian investing and trading. Regular readers will know that that is my preferred style, for somewhat obvious reasons.

Most of us know that we should buy low and sell high if we can, but human nature tells us to do the exact opposite. We want to join in with the crowd, which leads to us buying after a move up and selling near the end of a drop, even though logic tells us that there must be a correction to those moves at some point. By putting the focus on the mental state of others, though, Warren Buffett reminds us that we dont have to pick exact tops and bottoms of stocks, nor do we necessarily have to pick exact stocks. We can be successful just by knowing what greed and fear look like, something that most of us do.

That has led to much of BRKBs success over the years. Buffett didnt predict the 08/09 crash, but he did sell a substantial amount of stock in front of it, based simply on the fact that by early 08, investors were getting greedy, then, when things got so ridiculous that Bank of America stock (BAC) hit around a dollar despite it being basically solvent and essentially protected by potential government intervention, he started to buy back. Nor did he know that stocks would drop dramatically in January of this year, but he was still selling at the close of last year. The market was hitting new highs seemingly every day, despite the fact that economic policy was about to change. Whether you think that change was for good or bad, it was bound to be disruptive, so that level of exuberance at that time suggested greed rather than rational analysis.

For most individual investors, though, who tend not to try to predict even long-term market moves, the fear and greed thing was not the most important of Buffetts lessons. That honor goes to his insistence that, for most of us, the number one factor that determines success or failure in investing is the fees we pay to financial institutions. As was usually the case with Buffett, he was not afraid to put his money where his mouth was when it came to his convictions.

In 2005, he said that he would bet $500,000 of his own money, later doubled to $1 million, that a low-cost index fund, specifically the Vanguard S&P 500 tracker VOO, would outperform the average return from a selection of leading hedge funds. Fund manager Tom Seides accepted the challenge, beginning on January 1st, 2008, but accepted defeat even before the decade was fully up. The point Buffett made here was not that investors shouldnt make changes to their portfolio. (For his attitude to that, see the above about fearful and greedy), but rather that if high fees will inevitably cripple the best investment managers in the world, what chance does a small, individual investor have.

Needless to say, that bet made Buffett unpopular in some areas of the finance and investment industry, but unpopularity was something with which he was quite familiar. Over the last decade or so, as American politics has both shifted rightwards and become more divisive, Buffett is often held up as a bogeyman by those on the right. Prior to that shift, though, he was hated and despised by the left, who saw him as just another capitalist, getting rich by investing other peoples money to take advantage of when a company was struggling.

It seems that neither criticism surprised nor bothered Mr. Buffett. He remained focused on making money by sticking to his investing principles: being fearful when others were greedy and vice versa, investing in companies that were well run but being dragged down by circumstances, and keeping costs low. That is a formula we can, and probably should, all follow.
Indonesia plans to slash its fuel imports from Singapore and source more refined products from the United States as the country looks to negotiate lower tariffs with the U.S.

Indonesia was slapped with one of the highest tariffs - 32% - in the liberation day tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in early April. These tariffs have been suspended for 90 days, during which the Trump Administration expects most countries to come pleading their cases and promising to boost their imports of U.S. goods to avoid high tariffs.

In Indonesias case, more fuel would be sourced from the United States and the Middle East, instead of from Singapore, Indonesia Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Friday.

It is not only a matter of price but also geopolitical issues, we need to have a balance with other countries, Lahadalia was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

Indonesia could replace about 60% of all its fuel imports from Singapore to the U.S. in the early stages, while purchases from Singapore could be cut to zero some day, the minister said.

Last month, Lahadalia said that Indonesia, which is Southeast Asias biggest economy, would offer to buy an additional $10 billion worth of American oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

With the offer of $10 billion more U.S. energy imports, Indonesia plans to buy total U.S. goods worth between $18 billion and $19 billion to eliminate its trade surplus with America.

Indonesia is just one of the countries looking to buy their way out of steep tariffs with deals to purchase American energy products.

Most Asian countries are racing to pledge increased imports of U.S. energy to avoid the high tariffs slapped on them in early April. Delegations from many Asian countries are heading to Washington D.C. these days to discuss the U.S. tariffs, which are the highest for economies in Asia and Southeast Asia.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Nord Stream 2, the Switzerland-based company behind the gas pipeline project, has reached an agreement with its creditors to restructure its debt, a Swiss court in Zug said on Friday.

Friday, May 9, was the deadline set by the court for Nord Stream 2 to restructure its debt and repay smaller creditors, or be declared bankrupt.

Bankruptcy was avoided thanks to the debt restructuring deal announced by the court today.

Nord Stream 2, an $11-billion project to carry Russian natural gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea following the Nord Stream route, was built at the end of the 2010s. However, the pipeline was never put into operation after Germany axed the certification process in early 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia, for its part, shut down Nord Stream 1 indefinitely in early September of 2022, claiming an inability to repair gas turbines because of the Western sanctions.

Gas leaks in each of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea were discovered at the end of September 2022.

Debates on the pipelines continue despite the fact that they havent shipped any gas to Germany for more than two and a half years.

In March this year, the then German economy and energy minister Robert Habeck said that ideas to resurrect the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany were the wrong direction of discussion. Speculation has intensified that a revival of the pipelines could be a part of a deal for the end of the war in Ukraine.

The EU, however, is seeking to end the blocs dependency on Russian energy, and unveiled a roadmap this week to phase out imports of Russian oil, gas, and nuclear energy by 2027.

But Slovakia and Hungary have criticized the EUs plan, claiming that it is economic suicide that will hurt the EU more than Russia.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The UK government will impose sanctions on as many as 100 tankers that it says are used to ship Russian crude oil abroad. Bloomberg reports that this constitutes a 75% increase in the number of sanctioned so-called shadow fleet vessels.

This, Downing Street said, will make the UK the country that has sanctioned the most tankers carrying Russian oil. Initially, it targeted 133 vessels with sanctions, the Bloomberg report also noted. The UK has already sanctioned 41 vessels used to transport Russian oil abroad. Of these, however, 39 have continued to ship Russian crude.

Tankers used to carry Russian oil abroad have been a big sanction targets for the EU and the UK. One way tankers were used to enforce punishment on Russia for its invasion of the Ukraine was the G7 price cap mechanism that was linked to Western tanker insurance coverage. Russia, however, worked around this by using tankers insured in Russia itself and other countries not part of the G7 such as India and the UAE.

Sanctioning the vessels directly has been another approach, with some even going furthermuch furtherand seizing a vessel. This is what Germany did two months ago, when it seized an oil tanker of the Russian shadow fleet that was found adrift in the Baltic Sea in January.

The tanker, Eventin, was traveling under the flag of Panama when German authorities said in January that the vessel, belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, was stuck in German waters in the Baltic Sea. The tanker was carrying oil worth some $43 million, which has now become property of the German state.

The Eventin was featured on a list of sanctioned vessels produced by the European Union, which while not a single country, leads the UK in terms of sanctioned tankers, with 153 in total.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The U.S. is proposing that the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Risks (TFCR) at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) be downgraded to a working group, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing sources briefed on the matter.

The Basel Committee is the top global regulator of the banking sector, and its 45 members comprise central banks and bank supervisors from 28 jurisdictions. For the United States, the representatives on the committee are four institutions  the Fed, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

In a sign of the continued retreat from climate issues of the Trump Administration, the U.S. regulatory bodies on the Basel Committee have proposed downgrading the task force, and debates on the matter are on the agenda for a meeting of the committee on Monday, according to FTs sources.

The task force was created in 2019 and has published several proposals for the assessment of climate-related risks in the financial sector since then.

It is likely that the European Central Bank (ECB) and other European members on the Basel Committee oppose the American proposal of diluting the task force into a working group.

Earlier this year, reports emerged that the US Federal Reserve had blocked an attempt led by the ECB to make climate risks a pillar of global rules for banks and require them to report their strategies on meeting climate commitments.

Members of the Fed have expressed in closed-door meetings at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) concerns about such rules because they believe the committee might be overreaching with this particular supervision, according sources who spoke to Bloomberg. The Fed officials also feel they have a narrow mandate in this area to regulate climate risk disclosures from the Wall Street banks, the sources added.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Thomas Kluver was thrilled to see the first of his soybeans popping through the soil of the land he owns and rents near Fairfield in central Nebraska.

Growing season was real now, the 40-year-old said. Its game on.

Just like his dad, grandfather and great grandfather, Kluver earns his living farming. He tried city life after graduating from Hastings College, but came back to the fields 12 years ago.

Its just in my blood, he said.

He knows well the many challenges farmers face each year. Uncertain weather, like the recent frost that threatened those tender shoots, and low prices for corn and soybean that often dont cover the cost of planting.

This spring, he has another challenge, one he already experienced in 2018. President Trump has levied tariffs on United States trading partners, prompting a trade war with China, and it could hit farmers hard.

Half of our soybeans go to China, Kluver said. If we lost that market, thats kind of scary.

China, Canada and Mexico together had purchased an estimated 90% of Nebraskas whole soybean exports, with about 60% going to China, before Trump's tariffs disrupted the global economy.

U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting in Switzerland this weekend in what could lead to a thaw in relations, but the situation has created uncertainty for Kluver and others in Nebraskas agricultural community.

The disruption comes at a time when soybeans are selling for around $10 a bushel, which was already making it tough for many farmers to cover their production costs.

There are lots of moving pieces and uncertainty about where things stand and where they might be going, said Brad Lubben, an extension policy specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Everyone is hoping we can figure out how to resolve the trade conflict and restore the trade we have.

The tariff escalation affects nearly every country in the world, including some of the United States best agricultural trading partners.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), has said Nebraska farmers are already seeing the impacts of Trumps tariffs and called for the country to open agricultural trade with other countries to support the industry.

Tariffs make it difficult for Nebraska's producers to sell their commodities and livestock. When we put large tariffs on our trading partners, it leads to reciprocal tariffs that hike up the costs of our products abroad, he said. Ive heard from several Nebraskan producers who have already lost market access abroad, hurting their bottom line.

China might look elsewhere

Nebraska is the countrys fifth-largest agricultural exporting state, shipping $7.9 billion in domestic agricultural exports abroad in 2023, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soybeans accounted for $1.8 billion, beef and veal brought $1.6 billion and corn $1.5 billion.

Nebraska exported more than $1.1 billion in value of Nebraska soybeans and soy products to China in 2024, according to the Nebraska Soybean Association.

In 2024, the state produced an estimated 301 million bushels of soybeans and an estimated 1.80 billion bushels of corn for grain.

Producers are concerned that those top customers will look to other countries to buy their crops if the tariff war continues.

Thats what happened during Trumps first term.

John Hansen, the president of the Nebraska Farmers Union since 1990, said China went from the countrys No. 1 trade partner to third behind Canada and Mexico as a result of tariffs imposed during Trump's first time in office. Hansen was in Washington this week, pushing for Congress to pass a new farm bill.

In the case of the last time, China went from buying from us first to buying from us last, Hansen said. The market we lost last time is still lost. This time, if they stick, who knows how long they are going to be in place or how this is going to work. China may do with soybeans what it did with beef, which is to say 'No more U.S. beef. Well be getting our beef from Australia.

Brazil, the top soybean producer in the world, has now become Chinas leading soybean exporter. China is also investing in agricultural export infrastructure in South America.

If China continues to pull away as a trade partner, the U.S. will need to find other customers. But if the tariffs remain at current levels, that could be difficult.

New exports, new markets

Some good could come from the tariff fight, says Anne Meis, who farms with her husband Jim in Elgin.

The U.S. has built several new soybean crush facilities in the Midwest, including in Norfolk and David City, and theres an expansion in Hastings.

The Philippines and other countries in southeast Asia could purchase the meal and oil those facilities produce instead of the whole soybean as China does.

We really feel like there is going to be a market for that in countries that dont have crush facilities, said Meis, who is on the Nebraska soybean checkoff board. I think soybean farmers have recognized for a long time that China isnt a dependable and trustworthy trade partner, so shifting to other markets may be good for us in the long run.

Meiss view is shared by many farmers and producers, according to a national survey released Tuesday.

Although 56% of farmers said they were concerned about the short-term impact of tariffs, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer found that 70% of respondents said they expect the increased use of tariffs to strengthen the U.S. agricultural economy over the long term.

Meis, who helps run the family operation with son Jonathon and in-laws Joe and Pam Meis, said that because of the high cost of production and lower returns on soybeans, they will be growing more corn this summer.

Corn, too, will be affected by tariffs, with Mexico and Japan its major buyers. However, ethanol production provides a steady market.

Were just going to have to let that play out, Meis said of U.S. production. We grow our crops and we market them the best we can. We always provide a high quality and very dependable product.

Kluver said he stuck with his plan of devoting about a third of his acres to soybean and two-thirds to corn. But he said many farmers in his area have talked about moving more to corn because of the low soybean prices.

If we have a huge U.S. corn production, it could just overwhelm the market and the corn prices will go down, he said. Its a double-edged sword.

He said theres also hope that the government could again provide a bailout to offset losses as it did during Trumps first term.

American farmers received more than $22 billion in aid payments in 2019 and nearly $46 billion in 2020, though that year also included aid related to the COVID pandemic.

More farmers would rather sell their crop at a profitable price than get a handout from Uncle Sam, Kluver said. I hope it doesnt come to that again. It was a lot of money  tax payer money.

While both Lubben and Hansen said tariffs may sometimes be a good tool to use, they question if the current policies have been well-thought out and wish there had been more input from Nebraska's agricultural community.

The process matters. The impacted parties have simply not been engaged at all in this redo of U.S. trade policy, Hansen said. We need more transparency. We need more shareholder involvement. The people should know what the plan is.

Lubben wonders how long the pain to producers will continue on exports. Farmers also will feel the impact on imports such as steel and aluminum, which can drive up the price of farm equipment. Fertilizer and pesticide products are also affected.

As a business matter, Lubben said, tariffs could be damaging the United States reputation as a trading partner, possibly for a long time in the future.

There are big questions in whether this second round will translate into long-term gains in trade relationships and opportunities, Lubben said.

Kluver is hoping that prices for his crop dont drop lower and that cooler heads will prevail by the time his young crops are ready to harvest.

He just wants to make a profit. But who knows how it will all play out, he said, because the news on tariffs seems to change every day.

I dont have to go to Las Vegas to gamble, he said. Every year I put a crop in, Im throwing the dice. Thats part of the fun of it.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.


As Oregon Dems take aim at the poor, GOP offers roads funding blueprint with zero tax hikes

By Americans for Tax Reform

& Taxpayers Association of Oregon

Doubling the gas tax. Doubling the car registration fee. A new 1% tax on vehicle purchases.

These are the marquee items in big-city Oregon Democrats plan to rob their constituents of another one-and-a-half billion dollars, claiming its the only way to keep the roads up and running.

But on Friday, flanked by members of her caucus, House Minority Leader Christine Drazan smacked down the notion that tax increases are the only path forward. In a press conference that slammed Democrats for dismissing the harmful effect of taxes on their constituents, the minority lawmakers offered up a fiscally responsible alternative, filled to the brim with $732 million in specific cuts to a bloated transportation agency budget that has grown by over 30% in just the last four years.

We have today a proposal which will stabilize the Department of Transportation without a tax increase, said Rep. Drazan. So my question to my Democrat colleagues is: Why are they so determined to raise taxes when they dont have to?

Indeed, Speaker Julie Faheys plan involves countless new and higher taxes. So far, none have been walked back. Democrats control exactly 60% of seats in Oregons House and Senate, the bare minimum required to raise taxes, making the specter of higher taxes the realest it has been in years.

Here is a sampling of the plunder Oregonians can expect under Speaker Faheys tax-o-rama:

 $268 million: 80% payroll tax increase, 0.1% to 0.18%. (Payroll taxes hit the poor the hardest.)

 $50 million: New 4% tire pollution tax. (Smells like a sales tax!)

 $1 million: 63% bike tax hike. (Bikes dont emit greenhouse gases  why do Democrats want to disincentivize their use?)

 $44.8 million: 60% Vehicle Privilege Tax increase (0.5% to 0.8%). (Vehicle taxes are paid by anyone with any car, including the working poor.)

Remember, these taxes are in ADDITION to the taxes listed above:

#1. $486 million: 1% vehicle sales tax. (Remember this next time Democrats claim they would never pass a statewide sales tax.)

#2. Double the gas tax. Double the vehicle registration fee. Nearly double the titling fee. (Oregon already has the 4th highest gas prices in the country.)

As opposed to Speaker Faheys laundry list of tax hikes on the poor, Rep. Drazans recommendations will receive a warm reception in Oregon households already struggling with the price of food and energy. Here are a few of our favorite common-sense reforms proposed at the press conference:

#3. $68 million: Eliminate all vacant positions at Oregon Department of Transportation. (Many of these chairs have been collecting dust for years. Taxpayer dollars should be spent on roads and bridges, not bureaucratic bloat.)

#4. $39 million: Redirect money from ODOTs civil rights division and climate initiatives. (Civil rights and climate change are not in the purview of a state transportation agency.)

#5. $1-2 million: Lease out unused ODOT office space in Salem. (Half of state employees work remotely. Its high time to do something useful with that office space.)

#6. $40 million: Clean 3% budget cut. (ODOT saw a 31% increase in its budget in just four years (2021 to 2025). A three percent cut today is a no-brainer.)

The overfunded ODOT has certainly not been a model of good governance. Back in February, Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, the ranking member on the House Transportation Committee, pointed out that shoveling more tax dollars into ODOT would be a mistake after years of crucial errors at the agency.

A billion-dollar budget mistake coupled with a more than 300% increase on the cost of the Abernethy Bridge [on Interstate 205] are just two examples, although massive, of problems that need to be fixed and accounted for before we ask Oregonians for another dollar, Boshart Davis said.

Though Speaker Fahey has only doubled down on her tax hikes, it only takes one Democrat to put a stop to these regressive policies. Perhaps the GOPs common-sense reform package will be enough to sway a moderate who has empathy for the working poor, whom these tax hikes squarely target.
PLA Honor Guard set for Red Square parade

08:37, May 09, 2025 By Jiang Chenglong ( Chinadaily.com.cn

The People's Liberation Army Honor Guard has prepared well to take part in the spectacular military parade that will mark the 80th anniversary celebrations of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War on Friday in Moscow, Russia, in a demonstration of China's commitment to maintaining world peace.

The 119 members of the PLA Honor Guard have already participated in three rehearsals  on April 29, Saturday and Wednesday  for the parade at Red Square in Moscow.

In a statement released on Monday, the Chinese Defense Ministry said the PLA Honor Guard was invited by the defense ministries of Russia and Belarus to participate in commemorative parades marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow and Minsk.

Meanwhile, videos of the members of the Honor Guard participating in the rehearsals in Moscow have sparked widespread discussions on Chinese social media.

In the videos, the guards can be seen singing popular Chinese military songs while marching, as Chinese students and local residents warmly cheer them on.

"When I guarded the Chinese flag down the streets of Moscow and saw countless Chinese expatriates waving the national flag, I felt that the flag is a symbol of faith, direction and the dreams and hopes of countless Chinese people," Cui Hangteng, a member of the Honor Guard squad, was quoted by China Media Group as saying after a rehearsal.

"This warmth is our strength in this mission," he added.

In another widely circulated video, the Honor Guard soldiers can be seen chanting slogans, such as "Remember history, commemorate the martyrs" and "Justice will prevail. Peace will prevail. The people will prevail", as they march down the streets. Crowds of onlookers can be seen responding enthusiastically, shouting, "Long live China!"

Another popular video shows the Honor Guard members singing Ode to the Motherland, one of China's best-known patriotic songs, accompanied by a Chinese woman in the crowd playing a bamboo flute.

Liu Chao, another member of the Honor Guard, told China Media Group that to further demonstrate the friendship between China and Russia, they also learned to sing classic Russian songs.

During the rehearsals in Red Square, they chanted "Long live China-Russia friendship. Long live world peace" in Russian.

Upon arriving in Moscow, the Honor Guard squad had to adjust to the time difference and change in weather. They trained rigorously to ensure a high-standard performance.

Another team member, Zhang Dingxin, said that they drew from previous experience of international appearances, actively overcoming the adverse effects of time and temperature differences, as well as changes in environment. They especially made plans to cope with possible adverse weather conditions and unexpected situations to ensure a spectacular parade appearance.

In 2015, members of the PLA Honor Guard participated in a military parade in Moscow commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
SHELBYVILLE  You don't often see a teacher giving autographs, but Tim Aberle had the unique experience of his students asking him to do so.

Aberle teaches history and English at Shelbyville High School, and last fall a former student, Kara Tipsword, nominated him for the Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching award.

He knew he was a finalist, but he didn't know he won until representatives from the organization appeared Friday from behind the curtain in the auditorium at the end of an assembly, bearing a banner, a basket of goodies, and an oversized check for $5,000, which is one of the prizes.

The Golden Apple Award recipients are given a paid sabbatical to Northwestern University and become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programsinitiatives dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois. This year there were 470 nominations, whittled down to 30 finalists, and 11 winners. Each winner was surprised by a visit from Golden Apple staff at his or her school over the last two weeks.

Keeping the secret was a major production, said Principal Kyle Ladd, who had arranged for Aberle's family to attend, trying to stay invisible in the back of the auditorium until the big reveal. Several other staff members were in on the secret and helped orchestrate it. The surprise was sprung at the end of an assembly to congratulate seniors and celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day.

The autographs came in when a staff member from Golden Apple handed out pom poms and signs to the students to wave as they cheered and gave a standing ovation for Aberle. Some of the students went to him afterward and asked him to autograph their signs, which he did, laughing.

I was in his class sophomore year and junior year, said senior Hannah Morgan. He was, honestly, one of the best teachers I've ever had. He was always the first person to walk up to me and ask me how my day was.

Fellow senior Kenna Prosser is in Aberle's psychology class this year, and has an inside joke with him due to her ambition to be a police officer.

He's always got a bright smile on his face, she said, glancing toward the stage where Aberle was posing for pictures with that smile. He's good at engaging all of his students, checking in on us, and joking around when he needs to. Part of winning stuff like this is not being serious all the time. You have to also be laid back, and that's Mr. Aberle.

Aberle was clearly caught by surprise, and Golden Apple President Alan Mather said his was the last of the 11 surprises, so he probably thought he hadn't won. When Mather and the others popped out from behind the stage curtain, Aberle said, Wow, and he said it several more times as students surrounded him for photos and congratulations.

This is amazing, overwhelming and incredible, all at the same time, Aberle said. This is an incredible honor and privilege and I recognize that and I want to thank all of you folks for making this a reality.

After thanking his fellow teachers and Ladd, Aberle told the students that he hoped they would realize that every teacher is a Golden Apple teacher to someone, and he knows they have at least one in their lives. He urged them to go and tell that teacher thank you and show them they appreciate them, and to do it right away.

You know who that special teacher is for you, who that teacher is that inspired you, that makes your day a little brighter, he said. It's Teacher Appreciation Day, and I know a lot of you have written letters, but whoever it is, whoever gave you that tough love when you needed it, whoever it might be, tell them.
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The red-marked bacteria with the gene cluster switched off were no longer able to synthesize the detergent. The bacteria were then unable to attach to the surface of oil droplets (left) the way they usually do (right). Credit: Dr. Dormanns working group / University of Bonn

The marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis feeds on oil, multiplying rapidly in the wake of oil spills, and thereby accelerating the elimination of pollution, in many cases. It does this by producing an "organic dishwashing liquid" which it uses to attach itself to oil droplets.

Researchers from the University of Bonn, RWTH Aachen University, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf and research center Forschungszentrum Julich have now discovered the mechanism by which this organic liquid is synthesized.

Published in Nature Chemical Biology, the research findings could allow the breeding of more efficient strains of oil-degrading bacteria.

Loosely translated into English, the Latin name of the bacterium is "alkane eaters from Borkum." Indeed, the name says it all, for alkanes are chains of hydrocarbons that exist in petroleum in large quantities. A. borkumensis feeds on energy-rich chains that occur naturally in the seaand on non-naturally-occurring chains like those dispersed in oil spills. In many cases, the bacteria multiply rapidly, thereby accelerating the pollution-clearing process.

Oil and water don't mix

Because of the well-known fact that oil and water don't mix, in order to eat its favorite food, the microscopic sea creature requires a chemical aid. It makes this for itself, producing a kind of natural dishwashing liquid. This "detergent" is a compound consisting of the amino acid glycine and a sugar-fatty acid compound.

"The molecules have a water-soluble part and a fat-soluble part," explains Professor Peter Dormann, who is a biochemist at the University of Bonn's IMBIO institute (Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants). "The bacteria settle on the surface of the oil droplets, where they form a biofilm."

The mechanism by which the alkane eater synthesizes this detergent was not understood until a working group led by Professor Karl-Erich Jaeger of Forschungszentrum Julich and the Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf intensively studied the bacterium's genome.

"In our research we identified a gene cluster which we believed could play a role in the production of the molecule," Professor Jaeger explains. Indeed, when the genes of this cluster were switched off, the bacteria were impaired in their ability to attach to oil droplets.

"As a result they absorbed less oil, and grew much more slowly," said Professor Lars Blank of RWTH Aachen University.

Potential biotech applications

Jiaxin Cui, a doctoral student of Professor Dormann, ultimately succeeded in elaborating the synthetic pathway by which A. borkumensis produces the detergent. Three enzymes are involved in this process, in which the molecule is assembled step by step. The three genes contain the instructions for building these biocatalysts, without which the bonding process cannot efficiently proceed.

"We successfully transferred the genes involved to a different bacterium, which then produced the detergent as well," Cui explains.

Bacteria like A. borkumensis are important for degrading oil pollution, thus these findings are of significant interest, possibly leading to the development of new, more effective strains.

"This natural detergent could have biotech applications as well, such as for microbial production of key chemical compounds from hydrocarbons," says Dormann, who is a member of the University of Bonn Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Sustainable Futures."

More information: Jiaxin Cui et al, Biosurfactant biosynthesis by Alcanivorax borkumensis and its role in oil biodegradation, Nature Chemical Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-025-01908-1 Journal information: Nature Chemical Biology
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Participants descend from Bhimtang to Goa after the snow. Credit: Silian Pan

One chilly morning this past December, nine women awoke to the sight of a glacier looming before them, glowing orange in the rising sun. These scientists had spent their lives studying the cryospherethe frozen part of Earthbut most had never encountered it in person.

The members of this group were selected as the first cohort of the Hindu Kush Himalaya HKH Women on Ice expedition, an initiative recently launched by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). ICIMOD is a Nepal-based NGO focused on the conservation and sustainability of mountain regions in Asia. For this expedition, women from five countries traveled to the Ponkar Glacier in the Gandaki River basin in Nepal.

There are an estimated 54,000 glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, covering 60,000 square kilometers and serving as a vital source of freshwater for the region's rivers. Now, these glaciers are shrinking substantially due to climate change. The Women on Ice team set out to explore the impacts of climate change on the Ponkar glacier, which has a terminus at 3,651 meters (11,978 feet) and is one of the most massive glaciers in the area.

Guided by cryosphere experts with extensive field experience, the participants conducted interdisciplinary fieldwork projects to learn about the glacial features and surrounding human communities.

The inspiration: Bringing more women into cryosphere science

Cryosphere science has been a historically male-dominated discipline. In the 1980s, when senior ICIMOD scientist Miriam Jackson began her glacier research in England, women were not permitted to go to Antarctica through the British program.

In 1987, Jackson managed to land a spot on an expedition to Greenland through Ohio State University, where she was the only woman in a group of 10.

"There was definitely a genderand also a bit of a powerimbalance," Jackson told GlacierHub.

Robin Bell, a lecturer at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and former president of the American Geophysical Union, had a similar experience on a research trip in 1989.

When the opportunity came for Bell to work in Antarctica, she grabbed it, and became the only female principal investigator at McMurdo, which operates year-round and is the largest U.S. station on the continent. The following year, Bell brought two more women for the journey, a student and a technician.

Since then, Bell has prioritized inclusive science in her work.

"I've worked on trying to make science open for everybody," said Bell. "Sometimes we don't think about bringing everyone along, but the understanding is that our science is better with more people at the table."

Female porter and mountain guide on the way back to Goa. Credit: Silian Pan

Bell also emphasized the power of inclusivity more generally.

"Research shows that more diverse groups make better decisions," she said.

Despite some concerted global efforts to invite women into glacier science, such as Girls on Ice and Adventure of Science, Jackson noted the gender imbalance she and Bell experienced in the 1980s remains prevalent, particularly in Asia. There, many women engage in office-based work like glacier modeling and remote sensing, but rarely conduct fieldwork.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya Women on Ice expedition aimed to change this.

"We wanted to capacitate these women so that they go back to the community and lead the community as well," said expedition organizer Sunwi Maskey, a cryosphere research associate at ICIMOD.

Nine women comprised the final team, ranging from undergraduate to postdoctoral students, spanning disciplines from geosciences to international relations, and coming from Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and China.

Participants save the coordinates of a soil profile on GPS. Credit: Silian Pan

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Walking on ice: Preparations and challenges

"The preparation started the day we announced the participants," said Maskey.

Long before meeting in person, the leaders conducted virtual meetings so participants could get to know each other and learn how to prepare, physically and mentally. On December 4, after months of preparation, the team piled into jeeps in Kathmandu and departed for the glacier.

Despite the cultural, religious and disciplinary differences between them, the participants bonded quickly. Aishwarya Sanas, who is currently earning her Ph.D. in international relations and governance studies at Shiv Nadar University in India, had originally worried that she would be the "odd one out" as the only participant not studying the natural or physical sciences. Meeting in person a few days before the journey, however, quenched her anxiety.

"The way in which everyone just came together and helped each other out is what stood out," Sanas said. "The team dynamics were incredible."

Additionally, facing high altitudes and steep terrain encouraged strong collaboration among the participants, many of whom struggled with the altitude and extreme weather conditions despite rigorous pre-journey preparations. Silian Pan, a Ph.D. student in Germany at Leibniz University specializing in Arctic permafrost microbiology, recalls a day when she walked for 10.5 hours, arriving at the campsite late at night in -18 degrees Celsius weather.

"I suffered a lot," she said.

Still, for Pan, seeing the peak and the glaciers made the pain worthwhile.

"When you see the picture from 10 or 20 years ago, and how the mountains looked, and you compare them, you find the meaning of your work; it has changed a lot," she explained.

The region's aesthetic beauty and recreational opportunities were another source of motivation for the participants. Remote sensing and geo-information analyst Finu Shrestha said, "Every day was beautiful. The mountains are so close that you can't keep your eyes off them."

Tuba Farooq, a Pakistani participant who recently completed her MPhil degree in environmental science from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, found fulfillment in connecting with her companions past the level of being research associates.

"At night, when we came back from trekking, we played a lot of games. Sometimes we danced as well. That was the best part," said Farooq.

For Sanas, an important takeaway was that glacial science is intricately connected to one's physical readiness and mental capacity to do the work.

"You have to look after your health," she explained, "and at the end of this, [with] whatever life you have left in you, you do your research."

Participant Yurika Sherpa interviewing a guest house owner. Credit: Silian Pan

Sharing knowledge: Research and lessons

As it turns out, the participants had plenty of life left in them to conduct research throughout the journey. They were divided into three group focus areas: glaciers, permafrost, and social and economic factors.

Sanas participated in the third group, interviewing porters, guides, mountaineers and locals. She learned that many locals want a road to ease the process of transporting the goods that tourists demand.

For example, Sanas explained, "The tourists want coffee. The locals don't consume coffee. It's not part of the culture."

After completing her project, Sanas recommended that villagers come together to form what she termed a "code of conduct" between themselves and the tourists to encourage respect and sustainability.

For Pan, recognizing the impacts of climate change on the region reminded her of the importance of the research.

"Now, the glacier lake is gone, the water there is very small," she explained. "The local people need to walk 30 minutes to get the water for daily use. That's why we study this."

Another unusual aspect of the expedition was the employment of female porters. Shrestha explained that female porters are rare, because they typically cannot bear the same physical load as men.

Pan learned through interviewing these porters that many were housewives for whom carrying baggage is one of the only ways to generate income. She explained, "They want to hike. A lot of people like hiking, but they don't have the chance; it's too expensive for them. They cannot come as a tourist, [but] as a worker, they can."

The experience transformed how participants will conduct research going forward.

"When you go into the field, there are so many other things that come into life," Farooq explained.

Before the expedition, Farooq had not traveled to another city, let alone another country, without her family. She advised other women to take advantage of such opportunities when they arise.

"Be courageous," she said. "Whatever opportunity you have, you should avail yourself of that."

Farooq also noted the importance of having a diverse group.

"We were all looking at the same picture, but from different angles," she said.

The initiative's leaders hope to run the program again in coming years. They have already begun brainstorming for the next expedition, continuing to chip away at the "ice ceiling" and toward inclusion and greater opportunities for women in the cryosphere sciences.

Provided by State of the Planet
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Image showing how the team created ferroelectric topologies through 3-dimensional structural transformation. Credit: Sun et al.

Ferroelectrics are a class of materials that exhibit so-called spontaneous electric polarization, which is the separation of electric charges that can be reversed when an external electric field is applied to them. The dipole moments (i.e., pairs of equal and opposite charges) in these materials can sometimes be arranged in complex configurations known as topological textures.

The topological structures of some ferroelectric materials can interact with light in interesting and unexpected ways, which could have interesting implications for the development of optical technologies and communication systems. The size of ferroelectric polar topologies unveiled and studied to date, however, is not aligned with that of laser light modes, which limited their previous use for the development of optical technologies.

Researchers at Nanjing University recently realized a micrometer-scale center-convergent ferroelectric topology using barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ) membranes that enables the precise spatial control of light fields.

This topology, outlined in a paper published in Nature Nanotechnology, could open new possibilities for the manipulation of light fields leveraging the topology of oxide-based ferroelectrics.

"This work began with an unexpected discovery during our team's study of ferroelectric polarization textures in freestanding oxide membranes, like topological polar nanodomains on silicon, targeting high-density storage," Prof. Yuefeng Nie, co-senior author of the paper, told Phys.org.

"Dr. Haoying Sun, the first author of this paper, identified micrometer-scale polar topological structures in BaTiO 3 membranes. Through detailed analysis and optimized design, we achieved controlled fabrication of these micro-scale structures."

Prof. Nie, Dr. Sun and their colleagues suspected that the micro-scale structures they identified in BaTiO 3 membranes could influence light-matter interactions. To explore the potential application of these structures for light field engineering, they began collaborating with Prof. Yong Zhang, who is an expert in optical physics.

"When Prof. Nie first presented his team's experimental data to me, I was particularly intrigued by its implications," said Prof. Zhang, co-senior author of the paper. "Our research group has long been dedicated to exploring the generation and manipulation of vortex light fields. This spatially distributed polar topological structure provided an ideal material platform for such photonic engineering."

As part of their study, the researchers showed that the dome-shaped configurations they unveiled can serve as a transient intermediate state while engineering the polarization of ferroelectrics. To realize the center-convergent dome-shaped topology, they first fabricated thin and planar bilayer BaTiO 3 films with different strain states.

Image showing how the team exploited polar topology for nonlinear vortex beam generation. Credit: Sun et al.

"Upon releasing from the substrate, the strain relaxation in the freestanding bilayer film drives a spontaneous 2D (planar)-to-3D (dome-shaped) structural transformation," explained Dr. Sun, co-first author of the paper. "During this process, the radial flexoelectric fieldgenerated via anisotropic lattice distortioninduces symmetry-breaking polarization ordering, ultimately stabilizing non-trivial 2D polar textures through geometric confinement."

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The fabrication strategy employed by Prof. Nie, Dr. Sun, Prof. Zhang and their colleagues can be used to create polarization states that are inaccessible using conventional planar epitaxy-based approaches. These states are produced leveraging the interplay between the strain and topology of oxide-based ferroelectrics.

"Our innovations manifest in two crucial aspects," said Nie. "First, we developed a novel route for polar topological structure engineering. Unlike traditional approaches that manipulate planar thin films through epitaxial strain, thickness, or doping, we introduce an innovative technique that leverages intermediate three-dimensional deformation to construct new polarization topological structures."

A second achievement of this recent study is that the micro-scale topological structures identified by the researchers are also designed to match the wavelength and size of lasers. In their experiments, the team successfully used center-convergent topologies to modulate the orbital angular momentum of the light field.

"The vortex light field carries orbital angular momentum, enabling high-capacity information encoding in optical storage and communication systems," said Prof. Zhang. "The realization of vortex light field manipulation in this new material system provides new approaches for on-chip integration and photoelectric conversion."

The recent paper by this team of researchers could soon pave the way for the discovery of other ferroelectric topologies that can be exploited for the manipulation of light, potentially opening new avenues for the advancement of optical and photonic technologies. In their next studies, Prof. Nie and his colleagues will try to enhance the modulation rate and efficiency of optical fields leveraging the same topological structures, as this could further broaden their work's practical applications.

"In our next studies, we will also apply this innovative material preparation method to more systems to achieve a wider variety of polarization configurations and explore the manipulation of electrical, magnetic, and optical properties," added Prof. Nie.

More information: Haoying Sun et al, Ferroelectric topologies in BaTiO 3 nanomembranes for light field manipulation, Nature Nanotechnology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-025-01919-y Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology

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New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York reveals that wrinkle patterns on skin actually stay the same over time. Credit: "Soaked hands" by Brenderous, CC BY 2.0

Do your wrinkles always form in the same pattern every time you're in the water for too long? According to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York, the answer is yes.

A couple of years ago, Binghamton University Associate Professor Guy German published research about why human skin wrinkles when you stay in the water too long. Received wisdom held that the water swelled your skin and made your fingers wrinkly, but little to no research had been done to prove that.

What German and his team at the Biological Soft Matter Mechanics Laboratory found is that blood vessels beneath the skin actually contract after prolonged immersion, and that's where the wrinkles come from.

He wrote about the research for The Conversation in 2023 as part of its Curious Kids feature. One of the follow-up questions stumped him, though.

"A student asked, 'Yeah, but do the wrinkles always form in the same way?' And I thought: I haven't the foggiest clue!" said German, a faculty member at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science's Department of Biomedical Engineering. "So it led to this research to find out."

Experimental procedure. (A) Control image of representative finger before water exposure. (B) Finger imaged after 30 min of water exposure on Day 0. (C) Finger imaged after 30 min of water exposure a minimum of 24 h later. Credit: Guy German

In a paper recently published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, German and Rachel Laytin '23, MS '24, show that, yes, the topography patterns remain constant after multiple immersions.

"Blood vessels don't change their position muchthey move around a bit, but in relation to other blood vessels, they're pretty static," German said. "That means the wrinkles should form in the same manner, and we proved that they do."

The research put subjects' fingers in water for 30 minutes, taking photos and then repeating the immersion under the same conditions at least 24 hours later. By comparing the images, German and Laytin found the same patterns of raised loops and ridges after both immersions.

They also made an interesting side discovery: "We've heard that wrinkles don't form in people who have median nerve damage in their fingers," German said. "One of my students told us, 'I've got median nerve damage in my fingers.' So we tested himno wrinkles!"

Images of topographical skin wrinkles overlaid on each other from the two different time points 24 h apart, with opacity levels of (A) 0%, (B) 50%, (C) 100%. Credit: Guy German

Representative wrinkle pairs established and numbered across (A) Day 0 and (B) 24+ hr later on a subject's ring finger. Black curves denote clearly paired wrinkle morphologies. Red curves denote inconsistent wrinkles between the two time points. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.). Credit: Guy German

As much fun as it was to figure out something a child asked, the research also could have real-world applications in forensics, such as fingerprinting at crime scenes and identifying bodies found after prolonged water exposure. German's father, a retired U.K. police officer, faced some of these challenges during his law enforcement career.

"Biometrics and fingerprints are built into my brain," he said. "I always think about this sort of stuff, because it's fascinating."

German is eager to further explore questions about skin immersion with his students: "I feel like a kid in a candy store, because there's so much science here that I don't know. We thank the people at The Conversation and the wonderful question they asked us, because it does create cool new science."

More information: Rachel Laytin et al, On the repeatability of wrinkling topography patterns in the fingers of water immersed human skin, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106935
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Lab sample of a lignin polymer product. Credit: University of Boras

Lignin, a by-product of the forest industry, can be used to produce sustainable materials that can replace traditional plastics. This has been revealed in a research project at the University of Boras in Sweden. Matilda Johansson, holder of a Ph.D. in Polymer Technology, has investigated how lignin can be chemically modified and used in fiber-reinforced biocomposites. The goal was to create materials that can not only replace oil-based products, but also reduce the weight of structures without compromising mechanical properties.

The project revolved around four key issues: How can the compatibility of lignin with other substances be improved? How can the modification process be made more efficient and environmentally friendly? How can the mechanical and thermal properties of the material be improved? And how can a fiber be incorporated to further strengthen the material?

"There are many unexplored possibilities for lignin. By chemically modifying lignin, it is possible to create a material that has great potential to replace oil-based materials," said Johansson.

The method involves extracting lignin from forest and agricultural waste and chemically modifying it using acetic anhydride and microwaves. This allows the lignin to bind with other polymers, such as PLA (polylactic acid). Then, methods such as extrusion, 3D printing and compression molding are used to create a composite reinforced with regenerated cellulose fibers.

Environmental benefits and resource efficiency

"The project contributes to minimizing the use of traditional plastics, i.e. oil-based materials. The material consists of natural components and no harmful chemicals are used during production. More and more industries are switching to bio-based alternatives and this material could be an option to reduce climate impact. The fact that it also consists of a material that is considered to be a byproduct from another industry, i.e. of low value, makes the whole process more resource-efficient," explained Johansson.

The project is an important contribution to research on sustainable materials. This demonstrates the importance of developing environmentally friendly alternatives to today's materials.

"Today's high consumption means that there is an incredible amount of material, yet a very small proportion is recycled, resulting in accumulations of material that contribute to a lot of destruction in nature. If it is possible to choose a material that has had less impact on nature when it is produced as well as less impact on nature when it is used, that's a win-win," said Johansson.

Provided by University of Boras
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As the nation's colleges and universities respond to the U.S. Supreme Court's "race-neutral" admissions mandates and the Trump administration's efforts to cut funding to campuses with DEI programs, a UC Riverside education professor has offered a framework for institutions to defend racial equity and student well-being.

Rather than eliminating race-conscious strategies, Uma Mazyck Jayakumar, an associate professor in UCR's School of Education, urges institutions to respond to racial inequalities by working to improve their "racial climate health"a concept she developed that draws from the medical and public health fields.

This can be done in ways that are legally compliant, morally grounded, and structurally informed at a time when DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs are under attack, she said.

The framework is detailed in her paper, "Transforming Racial Climate Health on Campus: The Need for Structural Competency in a Legal Context of 'Race-Neutrality,'" recently published in the journal Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.

Jayakumar's "racial climate health" concept acknowledges that racial injustices harm the minds, bodies, and futures of students of coloreffectively creating a public health crisis, she said. Students of color often suffer from the cumulative emotional, mental, and physiological toll of navigating inequitable environments in which they are devalued or rendered invisible.

Jayakumar's framework builds on the view that racism on campuses is chronicnot episodic. To address this, universities must recognize their own "structural vulnerabilities" that perpetuate racism, understand who is most exposed to harm, and identify whom they are failing to protect.

Instead of capitulating to outside political pressure, higher education institutions can:

Build racial literacy and understanding among faculty and leadership;

Assess and address structural vulnerabilities that perpetuate racism;

Support truth-telling by student activists as essential to transformation;

Realign institutional values and missions to improve racial climate health, even within constrained legal environments.

Jayakumar's call comes in response to the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to strike down race-conscious admissions and a national backlash against DEI programsintensified by the Trump administration's efforts to halt federal research funding to campuses with such programs.

Rather than retreating, Jayakumar urges universities to deepen their commitments to racial justicenot through superficial campus climate surveys, but by acknowledging structural racism and recognizing the health consequences of institutional denial.

Jayakumar describes the "race neutrality" in college admissions championed by the Supreme Court's conservative majority as "a fantasy" that reinforces privileged access to higher education for affluent white students at the expense of marginalized groups. She adds that today's attacks on DEI efforts are meant to intimidate colleges into submission.

She warns that many universities, fearing legal repercussions or public backlash, have grown silent on racial issues or resorted to symbolic gestures, such as conducting campus climate surveys. But when universities deny or downplay the existence of racism by staying silent or avoiding hard truths, they perpetuate the problem, she said.

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"Denial doesn't protect students," Jayakumar writes in the article. "It protects institutions." In today's legal and political climate, she adds, denial is not neutralit is an active form of institutional harm.

Jayakumar's recommendations draw from her role as an expert witness in Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, a case consolidated with the Harvard University case in the Supreme Court's 2023 landmark 6-3 ruling against race-conscious admissions. In that case, Jayakumar worked on behalf of student intervenorsBlack and Latino students who challenged UNC's narrative of progress and argued that the campus climate remained hostile to students of color.

Her findings showed that while UNC highlighted positive trends in cross-racial engagement and student belonging, its campus climate data obscured the ongoing effects of segregationist legacies, racial tokenism, and microaggressions in campus life. These harms, she contends, are part of the "structure and culture" of racism that persists in higher education.

Jayakumar has also collaborated with scholars such as Maria Ledesma at the Universidad Maimonides in Argentina and UCR education professor Rita Kohli to center the voices of students most impacted by structural racism. Her article builds directly on this legal advocacy and student activismresponding to calls for justice, not just policy compliance.

Jayakumar asserts that diversity work is being criminalized and redefined by right-wing ideologues intent on dismantling it.

"Transforming racial climate health is a timely intervention," she said. "It challenges institutions not just to survive the backlash, but to deepen their commitments to justice, healing, and educational integrity."

More information: Uma Mazyck Jayakumar, Transforming Racial Climate Health on Campus: The Need for Structural Competency in a Legal Context of "Race-Neutrality," Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (2025). DOI: 10.3102/01623737241304405
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: Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177432

Metals and hormone-disrupting substances such as estrogens present a genuine risk to the sustainability of agriculture and water management in Europe. This is the conclusion of doctoral research conducted by Chinese environmental scientist Yuwei Jia at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Her research provides new insights into the distribution, availability, and risks associated with these pollutants, while also highlighting shortcomings in current regulations.

The current study, published in Science of The Total Environment, focused on two main areas: metals in fertilized agricultural soils and estrogens in aquatic systems, including the Scheldt estuary. In both domains, attention was paid not only to the presence of pollutants but more importantly to their behavior and interaction with environmental factors such as pH, redox potential, and dissolved organic carbon.

From manure to metal mobility

A significant portion of Jia's research investigated the effect of fertilizers on the mobility and bioavailability of metals. This included the use of the S920-Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) techniquea novel method allowing researchers to measure the fraction of metals that are truly bioavailable for plant uptake. This is crucial in the context of food safety and long-term sustainable agriculture policy.

"Fertilizers are a source of heavy metals in agricultural soils," explains her supervisor, Professor Yue Gao of VUB's Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC) research group. "The application of the passive DGT sampler is essential for assessing the bioavailable fractions of metals in soil, as this is directly linked to plant uptake."

Using innovative analytical techniques, Jia was able to map the impact of different fertilizers on metal distribution in agricultural soils. She compared three types of fertilizers: phosphate fertilizer, sewage sludge, and animal manure. Her findings indicate that animal manure is the preferable option when it comes to limiting metal contamination.

Estrogens in the Scheldt: A declining trend

In parallel, Jia studied the presence of estrogens in the Scheldt estuary. These hormone-disrupting compoundsoften originating from domestic wastewatercan affect the endocrine systems of aquatic organisms and, ultimately, human health. Through bioassays (ER-CALUX), she demonstrated that estrogenic activity in the water column decreases downstream, and that sediment concentrations show a general decline over a period of four decades.

"These results demonstrate the impact of investment in wastewater treatment and the effect of European regulations such as the Water Framework Directive," says Professor Emeritus Willy Baeyens. Nevertheless, continued monitoring remains essential, particularly in light of emerging chemical substances and changing industrial and urban discharge patterns.

More information: Yu-Wei Jia et al, Time evolution of estrogen contamination in the Scheldt estuary, Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177432 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment
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:

Fig. 1. The COFs synthesized by water-assisted microwave method. Credit: Dr. Wei Zhao and Prof. Dan Zhao

In our recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, our team from the National University of Singapore has developed a rapid and eco-friendly method for synthesizing imide-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) using a water-assisted microwave approach.

This innovative technique significantly reduces the synthesis time and eliminates the need for toxic organic solvents, marking a major advancement in the field of materials science.

Rapid and green synthesis

Traditional solvothermal synthesis methods for COFs require high temperatures, toxic organic solvents, sealed pressurized reactors, and long reaction times, often extending from days to weeks. In contrast, our new microwave-assisted method can synthesize high-quality imide-linked COFs in just minutes. This method not only speeds up the synthesis process but also enhances the crystallinity and porosity of the resulting materials.

We successfully synthesized four previously reported COFs and three new ones using this method (fig. 1). The crystallinity and porosity of these COFs are comparable to or better than those produced by traditional methods. Our study demonstrates that water plays a crucial role in achieving highly crystalline and porous products by moderating the reaction rate and enhancing the self-healing of defects.

High performance in energy applications

One of the most promising applications of these COFs is in energy storage, particularly as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. We prepared a composite of one of the synthesized COFs, NUS-63, with carboxylic acid functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

This composite exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance, achieving a specific capacity of 154.0 mAh g-1 at an ultrahigh current density of 10 A g-1 (equivalent to 26 C). The material maintained a specific capacity of 128.6 mAh g-1 after 10,000 cycles, demonstrating remarkable stability and durability under extreme operational conditions (fig. 2).

Fig. 2. The performance of NUS-63 and NUS-63/CNT as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Credit: Dr. Wei Zhao and Prof. Dan Zhao

Future implications

Our water-assisted microwave synthesis method offers several advantages, including reduced costs, enhanced efficiency, and improved material properties. This method eliminates the need for solvent screening and significantly shortens the reaction time, making it a more sustainable and practical approach for the synthesis of COFs.

Our study highlights the potential of microwave synthesis for the rapid discovery and development of functional imide-linked COFs. The findings suggest that this method could be applied to the synthesis of other types of COFs, unveiling new possibilities for the development of advanced materials for various applications, including gas adsorption, catalysis, and energy storage.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.

More information: Wei Zhao et al, Water-Assisted Microwave Synthesis of Imide-Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks in Minutes, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c01990 Bios: Dr. Wei Zhao obtained his Bachelor's degree in 2015 from Hunan University. Then, he earned his MS degree in 2018 from Sichuan University under the guidance of Prof. Xikui Liu. He then moved to the University of Liverpool, where he successfully obtained his PhD in 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Andrew I. Cooper. Wei is currently furthering his research and expertise as a research fellow in Prof. Dan Zhao's group at the National University of Singapore. His research interests focus on the synthesis and applications of covalent organic frameworks, such as photocatalysis, battery, and gas sorption. Prof. Dan Zhao obtained his Ph.D. degree in Inorganic Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Hong-Cai Joe Zhou from Texas A&M University in 2010. After finishing his post-doctoral training at Argonne National Laboratory, he joined the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at National University of Singapore in July 2012 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Professor in January 2025. His research interests include advanced porous materials and hybrid membranes with applications in clean energy and environmental sustainability. Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society
LAKE LUZERNE  A pair of Lake Luzerne residents have sued the towns planning board for failing to take a hard look at multiple environmental impacts during the approval process for the controversial 18-lot Luzerne Woods subdivision  the largest residential development for the town in 20 years.

The lawsuit, which was filed on April 24 in Warren County, will look to upend the planning boards initial approvals for the construction of single-family homes on 33 acres of land near the towns aquifer, as previously reported on by The Post-Star.

The lead developer for Luzerne Woods is real estate investor Dr. Eric Moses of Schenectady.

The lawsuit detailed that during the subdivisions environmental review, the planning board neglected to do their due diligence on weighing the construction on slopes exceeding 15% grade; lack of water pressure for fire suppression; impacts of overuse of a private beach on the lake; and installation of 18 separate septic systems over the principal aquifer.

The planning boards approval of the preliminary plan is arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law and should be vacated, the lawsuit alleges.

As lead agency, the Lake Luzerne Planning Board, back in February, declared a negative declaration of significance under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. This essentially means that the planning board found that the proposed construction will have minimal environmental impacts to the surrounding land.

Lake Luzerne residents Kevin Boyd and Rosa Ortiz filed the lawsuit. Both residents would live in close proximity to the 18-lot construction.

However, the pair are certainly not alone in their opposition to the development, with several residents speaking out against the subdivision over many months of public hearings dating back to last year.

The lawsuit also took issue with Luzerne Woods being labeled as a conservation subdivision, arguing that the development would exceed the density permitted on such a parcel.

It does not cluster development and protect contiguous open space in a separate lot. It includes construction on slopes excluded from the developable area of the property, the lawsuit states.

In short, the proposal is a conventional subdivision limited by site topography, not a conservation subdivision, the lawsuit argued.

The Post-Star has extensively covered the Luzerne Woods approval process as arguments have been made against the proposal to have 18 new septic systems on the nearby town aquifer, a source of the towns drinking water.

Along the way, the developer and his engineer, Brandon Ferguson, have pushed back against criticisms, stating that there will be erosion controls in place and that the Department of Health will inspect the septic systems associated with such a development to ensure standards are met.

During the SEQRA review, the planning board maintained the position that the location of the on-site septic systems was farther away from water wells than the minimal regulated distance. The board also did not see it as a significant issue since the Department of Health would need to sign off on the appropriate distance between septic systems and water wells anyway.

However, the lawsuit argued that since the planning board cited DOHs eventual inspection that the planning board improperly deferred to another agency to address this potential impact and failed to take a hard look.

Claudia Braymer, executive director for Protect the Adirondacks, joined Lake Luzerne residents in voicing staunch opposition to the proposed development throughout the planning process.

During the review of the proposed subdivision we raised concerns about the environmental impacts of the sprawling configuration of the lots; the failure to protect open space, forested areas and wetlands on the site; and the number of septic systems in close proximity to the towns watershed lands, Braymer wrote in an email to The Post-Star.

We also requested that the planning board impose conditions that would protect the shoreline and water quality of Lake Luzerne at the common beach area that the new lot owners would most likely be using, Braymer continued.

Those concerns were not thoroughly addressed by the planning board during its SEQRA review or the preliminary subdivision approval process, and those issues now form part of the basis for the lawsuit against the planning board, Braymer explained.

Braymer is an attorney with extensive environmental litigation experience. She has worked on similar cases across New York State and was co-counsel on Protect the Adirondacks successful lawsuit that upheld and defended the Forever Wild clause in the state constitution in 2021.

As for Luzerne Woods, Braymer explained that the recent lawsuit could stop the current proposal from being finalized.

Hopefully, the town and applicant will reconsider the proposed subdivision and formulate a more appropriate and less impactful design that complies with the relevant environmental and subdivision laws, Braymer concluded.

The Post-Star will continue to monitor this story and update as needed.
The Richmond Retirement System since 2015 has paid more than half a million dollars to deceased former City Hall employees, according to a report from the Office of the City Auditor.

Nearly 75% of those funds have not been recovered, city auditors found.

RRS, which is governed by a seven-member board, administers retirement and survivor benefits for more than 4,000 former city employees. That number has fallen in recent years  and will continue to go down  as city officials transfer current and future retirees to the Virginia Retirement System, a change that was implemented in 2023.

Five of the RRS board members are appointed by City Council, while two are appointed by the mayor.

Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg, who was appointed to the board in 2023 by then-Mayor Levar Stoney, could not be reached for comment. RRS Executive Director Leo Griffin did not immediately respond to a phone call.

One deceased retiree received nearly $250K

The $554,661.50 in improper payments went to 44 different retirees who had previously died. RRS officials failed to claw back $415,660.76 of that amount due to ineffective controls in preventing, detecting and recovering payments to ineligible recipients, the report found.

The improper disbursements were caused by poor auditing processes, faulty communication and outdated policies. RRS staff failed to catch and match deceased retirees when reviewing death audit reports.

The death audit reports are provided by a third-party vendor, which analyzes lists of retirees and notes potential matches with death records.

In 2022, RRS management informed city auditors that one deceased retiree had received $247,213.98 over a period of seven years. That retiree had not been flagged by the vendor, prompting RRS to transition to an updated report in 2024, according to city auditors.

The new death audit report identified a further nine deceased retirees whod collectively received $110,037.89 between 2019 and 2023.

RRS management explained that it took (two years) to implement the new death audit report because of the time required to identify the issue, test the new process and implement it, city auditors wrote. They further stated that, after transitioning to the new reports, they believed the issue of improper payments to deceased retirees was limited to the 10 theyd identified.

But city auditors eventually found dozens of additional deceased retirees RRS staff had missed.

Director: Focused on governance, not operational issues

In their findings, city auditors distributed the blame. While some of the retirees had not appeared in the initial death audit reports provided by the vendor, at least two of the names had been on 12 of the reports.

The death audit report is not RRS staffs only source. They also review obituaries and death notifications from families and funeral homes.

When the overpayments were identified, RRS management was sometimes unaware because of delayed notification to the board, the report says. Griffin told city auditors that RRS management had not received prompt notice because their focus is more on governance, and this issue was considered operational.

Thats despite the fact that city code requires the RRS board to oversee and correct payment issues. Griffin told city auditors he was unaware of the code requirements.

RRS did not take appropriate action to recover overpayments once deceased members were identified, the auditors wrote. There was inadequate oversight of the identification and collection of overpayments.

Inaccurate tracking and recovery procedures led to most of the overpayments going unrecouped.

Standard operating procedures for overpayment collection were last revised in 2014. They didnt define the employees responsible for sending collection letters, the timeframe for issuing them or criteria for writing off uncollectible overpayments. Several managers had not even read the procedures until city auditors began their probe.

RRS management informed (auditors) that a former payroll accountant was responsible for carrying out the procedures, the report says. This employee worked in isolation, and senior management was unaware of any actions taken regarding overpayments.

When steps were taken by the employee to recover funds, they were not well-documented. City auditors said they were only able to review nine out of 26 collection letters sent by RRS staff  a possible violation of state record retention requirements.

At least one of those letters listed an incorrect overpayment amount. In 25 of the cases, required follow-up letters were not issued.

RRS staff deactivated all but one of the retirees accounts prior to the audits release, indicating that they had the information necessary to identify and address overpayments, but did not take appropriate action.

Given the volume and age of improper payments, as well as the control weaknesses described,  there is an increased risk that fraud occurred, the auditor wrote, recommending individual accounts be referred to the Office of the Inspector General for review.

RRS treated the issue seriously

The report said RRS leadership have treated the issue seriously and already begun taking corrective actions, including enhancing death audit processes, updating recovery procedures and refining payment tracking and oversight.

RRS management and staff have started meeting weekly to ensure better financial controls, the auditors wrote.

However, these actions alone do not guarantee long-term effectiveness without ongoing monitoring and enforcement, the report says.

City auditors recommended RRS leadership update standard operating procedures for recovering overpayments, and have more employees review death audit reports.

They also recommended RRS staff notify the board  about overpayment issues.

Appropriate oversight is a critical component of an effective internal control system, they wrote. Establishing clear oversight responsibilities would help ensure that issues like overpayments are promptly reported to the board, even if operational responsibilities have been delegated to staff.
Authorities say no permits granted for fourth pier or beach club on Isla Cozumel

Cozumel, Q.R.  Governor Mara Lezama says permits have not been issued for the construction of a fourth pier on Cozumel. Lezama said she personally verified the status of the project after her recent visit to the island.

I just went to Cozumel a few days ago. Its a widespread feeling but there are no permits. The mayor made it very clear. I still asked about it Wednesday because there might be a surprise there, she said.

According to Lezama, neither federal or state authorities have issued construction permits for a pier. She said public opinions would be taken into account before considering a development of that nature.

Lezama attributed the resurgence of the issue to statements made during an international cruise ship event in Miami, but made it clear that as of yet, no formal authorization has been issued by the relevant authorities.

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama

Lezama said if there were any future intentions to promote that type of infrastructure, a detailed evaluation would be necessary including environmental studies.

Cozumel Mayor Jose Luis Chacon Mendez also clarified there are no permits issued for a fourth pier. He said that the fourth pier project did not originate during his administration, but rather stems from a lawsuit initiated six years ago by a private company, which recently won the case.

Chacon Mendez explained that the presence of machinery near the Naval Search and Rescue Station (ENSAR) is allegedly due to environmental studies, although the City Council has not received any formal request for the construction of a dock.

It is a project that must have its Environmental Impact Statement. Theres still no formal authorization, he confirmed. Chacon Mendez also confirmed no permits for a possible beach club. Cabo Mantarraya, a beach club that would be part of the fourth pier, is also not in the works. We have not granted, nor do I think we will grant, any permission for a beach club, he said.
Secretary of Tourism calls flight cancellations into Tulum International technical factors

Tulum, Q.R.  International flight cancellations by Copa Airlines and Avianca to Tulum International are due to technical factors. State Tourism Secretary Bernardo Cueto Riestra says the cancellations will not have a negative effect on Tulum as a destination.

Cueto says that the situation is due to technical factors related to aircraft availability, particularly Airbus A320 and A321 models, which have been temporarily grounded for engine overhauls. However, the two airlines that have pulled their international flights have reported wanting to focus on busier destinations.

Despite the cancellations, Cueto said that Tulums air connectivity remains strong with as many as 50 operations on some days. He also says there is sustained interest from other airlines in opening new routes into the Tulum airport.

Tourism in Quintana Roo continues to show strength. In the first quarter of 2025 we have already welcomed nearly five million visitors and we expect to exceed 20 million tourists again this year, he stated.

In November 2024, Panamanian airline Copa Airlines announced they would halt operations at the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) outside Mexico City and Tulum International to improve operational efficiency by focusing on busier destinations. The last Copa flight into the Tulum airport was January 10, 2025.

In April, Avianca confirmed that it will also cease operating its route between Bogota and Tulum. The company explained that the decision is part of a strategy to reorganize its route network and concentrate its capacity on markets with higher demand.

The last direct flight between Bogota and Tulum will operate on July 1, 2025. Passengers with bookings after that date will be rebooked via Cancun, the airline reported.
" " . Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

Take a glance around any crowd and youll notice one thing: Noses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. From sleek and straight to curved and prominent, the many types of noses play a big role in defining our unique facial features.

Whether shaped by genetics or refined through a surgical procedure, every nose tells its own story. Lets sniff out the most common and iconic types of nose shapes seen around the world.
The state Senate signed off on a major energy bill Wednesday that opens the door for construction of a large natural gas plant in rural South Carolina, while encouraging generation of more energy as the state grows.

But the Senates decision, which still needs approval from Gov. Henry McMaster to become law, didnt come without complaints that the legislation does not protect power company customers from rate increases driven by big energy users.

The 35-11 Senate vote to approve changes the House made to the bill follows at least two years of discussion and arguments over how to craft the legislation that utilities and some lawmakers say is vital to keep the lights on in South Carolina and to recruit industry. The vote to support the House changes, made on the next to last day of the legislative session, occurred as time was running out on the bill.

Hallelujah, said Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, after the bill passed Wednesday afternoon. This is a win for everybody.

Key elements of the legislation are:

Authorization for state-owned Santee Cooper to help build a 2,000 megawatt natural gas plant with Dominion Energy

A streamlined process for appealing permits for new energy projects;

Encouraging the expansion of nuclear energy.

Allowing utilities to raise rates in smaller amounts, more frequently, than large increases at one time.

Dominion Energy issued a statement Wednesday saying it was pleased with the Senates decision.

This new legislation will enact smart reforms, resulting in the ability to provide critically needed electricity and natural gas to power homes and businesses in the Palmetto State efficiently and cost effectively, the company said.

While boosters of the legislation were enthusiastic because they say it will help address energy demands, others said the bill dropped consumer protections, including important controls on the growth of data centers that use large amounts of energy and water. The Senate, in early April, amended the bill with controls on data centers, including limiting state incentives. But following the upper chambers 41-3 vote April 2, the data center section was removed by the House of Representatives before sending the bill back to the Senate last week.

It remains unclear which senators negotiated with the House on removing the data center oversight, but environmentalists say the House changes were pushed by power companies.

A major concern with data centers moving into South Carolina is how they might affect the average ratepayer. Some senators were worried that when new data centers open in the state, they could create the need for more energy plants  and costs related to the plants could be passed on to ratepayers. Data centers provide power for internet searches, among other things.

Im fine if they come here, said Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.  I just dont want everybody else to pay for what they require. I dont know why we need to incentivize them.

He and Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, said data centers are the root of the states energy demand.

By not including language to control data centers, youre giving money away you dont have to give away, said Massey, the Republican majority leader who has been critical of state utilities. Massey said data centers will put demands on the need for more energy, and that will almost surely cost the average ratepayer.

Massey also criticized a section of the bill, supported by utilities, that would allow them to raise rates more frequently for customers. The idea is to charge certain costs annually, so that a major rate increase doesnt hit all an once. But Massey said legislators would regret supporting that section of the bill.

The bill also does not include expanded public notice about pending energy projects that could require the condemnation of private property. The House dropped that section before sending it to the Senate after power companies complained about the notice requirement.

Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine, D-Richland, voted against the bill because she said the House stripped out important consumer protections, including language that would have held large data centers responsible for any infrastructure built to serve them. Some of her constituents already have trouble paying power bills and could have benefited from rules that could hold rate increases in check, she said.

Were about to pass something because it is the next to last day of session, she said.

Even with the House changes, Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, said he supported the bill because it has key elements the state needs to embrace.

There is enough good in here to move us forward, Davis said.

Parts of the bill that raised relatively little debate in the Senate are provisions to encourage expansion of nuclear power.

The bill requires the Governors Nuclear Advisory Council to develop a strategic plan to advance development of atomic power generation. Additionally, it encourages utilities to explore the potential for advanced nuclear power options, including small modular reactors, which are atomic power plants that are much smaller than those developed in the U.S. previously. The concept with small reactors is that they can be developed more easily and deployed in more places than large plants.

Some of the biggest parts of the bill are sections to reduce what utilities see as obstacles to establishing new power plants and pipelines. Appeals of energy permits would go directly to the Supreme Court after a review in the states administrative law court, instead of going to the state Court of Appeals first. That eliminates one level of legal appeal.

Proponents of the bill say eliminating obstacles that can delay projects for years is vital to energy expansion in South Carolina, even though critics say it could allow work to be done with less regard for protecting the environment and customers.

The legislation also calls on state agencies to put on priority any applications for new energy projects. It establishes a six-month deadline for agencies to approve permits for such projects, once applications are considered complete. In addition, the bill makes it easier for mid-sized businesses, such as retail stores, to generate their own solar power. And it encourages energy efficiency, although specific targets for achieving those goals for utilities were removed.

The natural gas plant, to be built at the site of an old coal-fired power plant in the Canadys community, would cost more than $1 billion to build, according to some estimates. The 2,000 megawatts to be provided by the facility are comparable to the energy that would have been generated from a failed nuclear expansion project in Fairfield County eight years ago. The plant would still need approval from the S.C. Public Service Commission, as well environmental agencies.

Not only will the plant help provide energy for future needs, but it would help Santee Cooper and Dominion replace the capacity they will lose when the companies remaining coal fired power plants close. Plants such as Santee Coopers Winyah coal plant are getting old and expensive to run, and tighter federal regulations make them tougher to operate. Coal fired power plants are a major source of carbon dioxide pollution, which contributes to global warming.

Environmentalists have cautioned that the natural gas plant presents concerns. It will require the need for more pipelines, which could disrupt the landscape, including the acclaimed ACE Basin nature preserve between Columbia and the coast south of Charleston. A meeting by conservationists was planned Wednesday night in Colleton County to discuss environmental concerns.

Senators voting against approving the energy bill as amended by the House were: Karl Allen, Allen Blackmon, Chip Campsen, Richard Cash, Tom Corbin, Tameika Devine, Shane Martin, Shane Massey, Harvey Peeler, Rex Rice and Ed Sutton.
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Late last month, the New York Times quietly bid farewell to my favorite weekly hate-read. The Conversation, as its title implied, was a breezy weekly chat between Times op-ed columnists Gail Collins, a liberal, and Bret Stephens, a Trump-critical conservative. For eight years, the two ideological opponents sparred weekly over Trump-era politics, in the jaunty manner of affluent people who did not themselves feel endangered by any of the policies or portents under discussion. Hanging out with you like this for eight years was such a pleasure, Collins said to Stephens in their final joint column. Unfortunately, the pleasure was all theirs.

For as long as opinion journalism has existed, overworked editors and program directors have sought to fill space and time by bringing together politically mismatched pundits and directing them to duke it outbut respectfully. These sorts of conversations can be entertaining, even illuminating, and can help build empathy and consensus in polarized times. The Conversation wasnt that sort of conversation. Stephens is a tedious bore, and Collins is excessively nice, and in practice what this meant is that Stephens dominated the conversations while Collins laughed at his wordplay and rarely pushed back on his fatuous both-sidesism. In the context of this countrys most prestigious op-ed section, the Conversation always seemed like a bizarre waste of column inchesand, in the context of Donald Trumps political resurgence over the past few years, its commitment to cocktail-party politesse struck me as tone-deaf, if not downright embarrassing. In the Conversation, civility reignedand actual, productive debate was nowhere to be found.

In the abstract, Im all for political civility. I suppose I would rather discuss current events with someone whos willing to respect my viewpoints than with someone who keeps interrupting to tell me how much I suck. (My running inner monologue already does quite enough of that, thank you very much.) But most paeans to political civility tend to be uttered by the sorts of people whose arguments tend to wilt under scrutiny. These empty pundits are the ones who benefit most from the cover that civility brings; they get to serve up their bad takes with relative impunity, secure in the knowledge that their counterparts will not want to appear rude by pushing back too hard.

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This dynamic played out regularly in the Conversation, with special frequency during the 2024 presidential campaign. While Stephens was no Trump supporter, neither was he inclined to give too much credence to those who claimedcorrectly, it turns outthat a second Trump administration would have devastating consequences for the United States. Collins never seemed to try too hard to convince him of this, perhaps because the act of convincing might have made both of them momentarily uncomfortable. In July 2024, for instance, Stephens asked Collins if she thought a second Trump term would be fundamentally worse and scarier than the first one? Im inclined to think it would be frequently foolish and damaging but not catastrophic. But Im often too optimistic. Rather than take the opportunity to cite some of the more outlandishand now very plausibleproposals of Project 2025, or to identify some of the low-quality leaders who would be in line for Cabinet roles if Trump won, Collins praised Stephens for asking a good, if terrifying, question,  and then basically left it there.

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That same July, after Biden had withdrawn from the presidential race but before Kamala Harris had secured the Democratic nomination, Stephens argued that Harris is an even weaker candidate than Biden. Not that Ill vote for Trump, but I dont think I can vote for her. Upon receiving some gentle pushback from Collins, Stephens clarified his position: I wont vote for just any Democrat at all on the theory that definitionally theyre all better than Trump. I dont believe that. And I dont believe that Trump means the end of democracy or civilization or life on Earth. We lived through four bumpy Trump years before, and Im pretty sure we can survive another four. Collins left it there and moved on to talking about J.D. Vance.

A week later, when Harris had secured the Democratic nomination, Stephens was still wondering why he should vote in favor of a politician whose views I oppose and whose judgment I doubt. Persuade me that Im wrong. Instead of doing exactly that, Collins noted that plenty of elections feature two unwelcome options, and that refusing to pick a less-bad choice is being, well, a kinda snob. (Guilty as charged, Stephens replied.)

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A week after that, although Stephens was showing some begrudging respect for HarrisShe appears competent and in command, and she is connecting to votershe was still full of advice for how Democrats ought to conduct their campaign. Democrats need to stay away from epithets like weird,  Stephens said, echoing a point that his colleague Thomas Friedman had also recently made. It risks being this elections version of deplorables. Also, it gives Republicans the opening for a killer comeback. As in: The left calls us weird, but they want biological males to participate in womens sports. They call us weird but want us to forget their calls to defund the police.  Not gonna fight with Tom. Or you, at least on that point, was Collins response.

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Fight with him! Go ahead! Thats what youre there for! If youre not going to push back on his lazy groveling, then what are you even doing? Whats even the point of putting a liberal in dialogue with a conservative in an election year if the liberal cant be bothered to make the point that the right is going to make those sorts of tendentious arguments no matter what the left does or doesnt say?

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Bipartisan dialogue doesnt have to be this lame. In June of last year, for instance, Stephens found himself in conversation with his colleague Jamelle Bouie, a former Slate columnist. Unsurprisingly, the two men clashed, and although the dialogue was respectful, Bouie showed no interest in letting Stephens slide off the hook. After Stephens made his standard point that the Democrats shouldnt just hand the nomination to Kamala Harris and instead should consider other candidates, such as the governor of Maryland, Bouie pushed back.

The argument for muscling Harris aside in favor of a nationally untested governor without deep and proven ties to key constituencies is much weaker than it looks, he said. And that the downside risks of fracturing the Democratic Party should be considered as much as the upside chance of finding a Goldilocks candidate who offends no one, unifies the party, escapes the burden of Bidens unpopularity, runs a competent campaign on the fly, and goes toe-to-toe with Trump.

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Stephens didnt seem to like this. I dont know what muscling Harris aside means, exactly, he repliedbut Bouie refused to back down. Im not sure how else one describes the spectacle of party elites coordinating to keep the sitting vice president from getting the nomination after the president unexpectedly declines to continue his campaign, he wrote. I havent seen the Times put the two men in conversation since.

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Collins and Stephens, meanwhile, kept at it until the end of April, when they set the column aside apparently so that they could both work on books. Their final installment was all cheery good humor and self-congratulation. As Stephens put it, Theres a silent majority of people who prefer our style of good-humored disagreement to the endless food fight that is todays politics. But the thing that those who valorize civil bipartisanship for its own sake tend to miss is that there is often a reason why politics are fractious and polarized. Right now, for instance, what Stephens calls a food fight is perhaps more accurately described as racist bullying invective from the right; appropriate anger from the left over the anti-democratic policies of the gaudy would-be despot in the White House; and general frustration that so many of the remaining so-called reasonable conservatives seem intent on insisting that everything is fine. Im sure that Stephens and Collins will miss their weekly conversation. The rest of us can only say good riddance.
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The Catholic Church has a new supreme pontiffand hes from the South Side of Chicago. These are words that no reporter alive today ever really expected to be writing. Until very recently, the prospect of an American assuming the throne of St. Peter seemed about as dim as the prospect of a Fox & Friends Weekend host becoming secretary of defense. And yet, here we are, with Pete Hegseth Signaling up a storm in the Pentagon and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Dolton, Illinois, assuming the papacy. We live in unusual times.

So just how American is the new Pope Leo XIV? Given that he spent much of his pre-papal ministry in Peru, then spent his cardinalship in Italy, it might lead some to think that he is primarily a man of the world, and that he has long since transcended his South Side origins. On the other hand, hes been known to go by Bob, which is perhaps the most American nickname; he went to Villanova in the Rollie Massimino era; he presumably has opinions on deep dish vs. tavern-style thin-crust pizza; and he will almost certainly be the first pope to know what the Super Bowl Shuffle is. If all that werent enough, Ive learned he also has an older brother named Lou, who loves Donald Trump, posts online about it all the time, and lives in Florida. That settles it: Pope Leo XIV is as American as the Original Rainbow Cone!

A few minutes after Prevost was named pontiff Thursday afternoon, I went online to see if he had a Facebook page. He does, indeed, although it hasnt been updated since December 2021. (I requested him as a friend, and I promise to keep you all posted if and when he gets back to me.) Prevost has two older brothers, both of whom also appear to have Facebook pages. (The three Prevosts are mutual friends and share other mutual friends; the two non-pope Prevosts have posted things on the platform indicating that the man now known as Leo XIV is their brother. I have not otherwise independently confirmed the pages.)

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One brother, John Prevost, spent his career as a school principal on the South Side, and has spent part of the day fielding congratulations from his flabbergasted former students. John doesnt post much (but did give some sweet interviews on Thursday).

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Their other brother, Lou, is a different story. Lou Prevosts Facebook page is an open book, and the story it tells is a very American one:

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Lou studied at DeVry in Chicago, lived in Mississippi for a time, and at some point moved to Port Charlotte, Florida, which sits between Sarasota and Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast. In July 2023, he posted that he woke up this morning on my birthday and found out my brother was one of 21 announced as new Cardinals by Pope Francis today. Congratulations Rob!

Like many Floridians, Lou is a fan of Donald Trump who does not think very highly of the Democratic Party. Obama and the Democrats. They suck. Theyre one very small step away from being full blown communists, reads one post. Why arent these anti-American democrat communists arrested and tried for subversion and even treason against the U.S.A.? begins another.

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At times, he has been fond of owning the libs via meme warfare. He worries that liberals around him are suffering from TDS (Trump derangement syndrome, for those unfamiliar with Lou lingo). He disagrees with keying the cars of your political opponents, which, fairnot much grace in that.

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Its not all politics for the popes eldest brother, though. He recently enjoyed a hair-metal tribute concert at a taco festival in Punta Gorda. (Maiden Cane concert at Taco festival.  Forgot how good these guys are.) Like all good Chicagoans, he sometimes takes trips to Door County, Wisconsin. And he enjoys the sonic stylings of Floridas foremost Jimmy Buffett tribute band, the Caribbean Chillers. Who wouldnt?

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Ive never bothered to wonder about whether any previous popes had brothers. If they did, they probably were not embarrassing ones. But the embarrassing political brother is a distinctly American tradition, and Im delighted to know that the first American-born pope plans to honor that tradition. Jimmy Carter had Billy. Bill Clinton had Roger. Pope Leo XIV has Lou, and I can only hope that Leo XIV finds some way to make him a cardinal or at least to invite him to move in with him at the Vatican as the Official Papal Roommate or something. Until that time, Im going to make a standing offer: Lou, if you ever find yourself in Tampa, look me up. Ill buy you a beef at the Portillos up on Fowler, we can spend the day reminiscing about Refrigerator Perry, and Ill keep my mouth shut when you start crowing about Trump and DOGE. Just tell your brother to accept my friend request, and well call it even.
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Justice David Souter died on Thursday at his home in Concord, New Hampshire. He was 85. Whereas the phrase No more Souters would become a Republican battle cry for decades, a warning to never again confirm a justice who would drift to the left, today the words No more Souters stand as something of an elegy: The disappearance of public figures who move through the world with humilityattempting only to do the best they can to marry the law as drafted to the lives of the people who must live with it. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick spoke to one of Souters former clerks, Mary-Rose Papandrea, the Samuel Ashe Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law. She clerked for Souter at the Supreme Court in the 1997 term. Highlights of their conversation, previewed below, have been edited for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Justice Souter always seemed like he was preserved in amber; a man from some other century. He just seemed like he was in a Cary Grant movie from some other time. And yet he was so not zealous about this perfect past. He was really mindful of the ways in which he lives in this present moment right now, with exigent problems that need to be solved.

Mary-Rose Papandrea: Right. He easily could have gone the other way; committed to this old-fashioned way of life, with no television or internet, or email, or even a typewriter. But he was very much of the time and engaged with the present moment. I was just listening to a clip about his confirmation hearings where he talked about how every case impacts someone. At the end of the day, whatever they do will impact someone. He was keenly aware of the importance of his job, and he took it very seriously. But he was not trying to impose the old times, or go back in time and figure out what the Framers would have said about some new issue. That could have been his approach, but it surely was not.

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I was just thinking about that colloquy he had at his confirmation. He was supposed to be a stalwart conservative, and John Sununu and George Bush and everybody thought he was going to be the anchor for the conservative revolution, and yet, at his confirmation hearing, he talked glowingly of Justice Brennan. And then theres this funny colloquy with Sen. Chuck Grassley, whos trying to trap him into articulating his views on judicial activism, and his response was kind of beautiful. He said that courts must accept their own responsibility for making a just society. Again, its both a grand notion of the role of courts but also acknowledges that courts have to live with what they have done.

I was just reading a little bit about the confirmation battles and Bush nominating Harriet Miers, and then that tanked and he nominated Samuel Alito. And Justice Alito is the antithesis of Souter in every possible way. To the extent that we see a very different court right now, its unfortunate because Souter representedeven if you didnt like some of his decisionsan aspiration of what judges should do. How they approach their job and the seriousness with which they approach it, yet not serious about themselves in any way. I dont know if you know this, but Justice Souter was adamant that there not be a memorial for him. So right now I personally hope the law clerks, the Souter family, can get together and honor him, because I need that to process my grief. But he did not want that spectacle. And he was very adamant. Unless the court overrides his wishes, and I dont know how the internal workings of the court go, but you may have noticed on the announcement from the court, it didnt say details will be forthcoming. He did not want that. It was never about him. He really wanted to do his work and he enjoyed the work, but he enjoyed the work in an intellectual way. He hated D.C., and there are a lot of things about the job he didnt love, but I think he enjoyed the challenge of it.

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Id love to ask you just one last question about Souters approach to the Constitution, and to originalism. He famously gave this landmark speech at Harvard in 2010, where he talked about how he tried to be pragmatic, to have a functional jurists tool kit. And theres this line toward the end of it, where he says, If we cannot share every intellectual assumption that formed the minds of those who framed the charter, we can still address the constitutional uncertainties, the way they must have envisioned, by relying on reason, by respecting all the words the Framers wrote, by facing facts and by seeking to understand their meaning for living people. Its such an elegant formulation of how doing strict textualism, to the peril of people, or strict originalism, to the peril of people, is not the job; that there was no one unitary, coherent, simple approach to doing this work. That it was just this evolving organic effort to do your best. It was such a humble and careful craft that he tried to hone.

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When I clerked for him, I never sensed any overriding judicial philosophy. I dont think he was saying he was a textualist or originalist. He took every case as it came and really grappled with it, in all ways; looked at it from every angle. But he wasnt dogmatic in any way, he was just trying to do his level best, you know, to do justice. I really think he just tried, and thats what I hope we can see more of from the court. Outcomes matter, but the commitment to trying to not have it be about yourself, and really grappling with the difficult questions before the court, in an honest way, without preconceived outcomes and narrow judicial philosophies, matter as well.
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On July 30, 1788, during debate in the North Carolina ratifying convention over whether the state would sign on to the proposed federal Constitution, pro-Constitution delegate James Iredell rose to confront what he considered a risible objection to the document brought by some of his colleagues.

Iredells fellow delegate, one Henry Abbot, had observed that Article VIs proscription of religious tests for office made some people uncomfortable: They suppose that if there be no religious test required, pagans, deists, and Mahometans might obtain offices among us, and that the senators and representatives might all be pagans. When Iredell rose to put Abbots mind at ease, he referred to a pamphlet he said he had just come across that, to his mind, expressed such concerns in their fullest, truest, and most absurd version, a straw man he could easily, gleefully set on fire.

The pamphlet worried not just about pagans, deists, and Mahometans, but also that without religious tests for office the pope in Rome himself could be elected president of the United States. Iredell, a bit of a card, leaned into the absurdity of this worry, born of that eras run-of-the-mill Protestant anti-popery, some opportunistic fearmongering, and, well, plain stupidity.

I confess this never struck me before, Iredell said. The proposed Constitution mandated native-born citizenship and 14 years of residency for presidential eligibility. Iredell was pretty sure that this, among other things, would keep popes out of the running.

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I know not all the qualifications for pope, but I believe he must be taken from the college of cardinals; and probably there are many previous steps necessary before he arrives at this dignity, Iredell pointed out, rightly. A native of America must have very singular good fortune, who, after residing fourteen years in his own country, should go to Europe, enter into Romish orders, obtain the promotion of cardinal, afterwards that of pope, and at length be so much in the confidence of his own country as to be elected President. Beyond that, he went on, in the late 18th century being president of the United States would be a significant step down from being pope. An American so intrepid as to make himself eligible for both offices would be unlikely to give up his popedom for our presidency. Iredell was unstinting in his mockery of such fearmongering: Sir, it is impossible to treat such idle fears with any degree of gravity.

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At issue in this flashpoint of the debate over the Constitution was the specter of absolute, despotic authority, which American Protestants associated with the papacy, owing to views of Catholicism inherited from the Reformation. We can observe this as the bigotry it was while still taking the point: Americans, having thrown off the yoke of the British crown, should be, as Abbot put it, suspicious of our liberties, on the watch for any possibility that we might set ourselves up for a new despotism despite our best intentions.

As of Thursday, for the first time in the nations history, the bonkers worry that there might be a pope-president is, technically, a live possibility: Pope Leo XIV, a native-born American citizen of the correct age and more than 14 years residency, really couldif he ever wanted to give up or split time with his popedomrun for president of the United States.

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That fear, of course, is no more going to be realized than it was in Iredells day. Much scarier is our actual presidents own mocking suggestion, the week before an American was named pope, that he would really like to be pope himself. While some during the American founding era may have actually worried about a pope wanting to be president, no one in those debates over the Constitution ever wondered if a president would want to be pope. That is, no one imagined that an elected scion of the new republican thing we sought to create with the Constitution would joke about wanting an earlier, older, more absolute form of authority. Donald Trumps musing turns Iredells mockery on its head: How could someone who has successfully convinced the free people of the United States to elect him their president ever associate himself with what 18th-century Protestants saw as the despotism of papal rule?

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Trump was trolling us, of course, the troll post being his default and favorite genre. He has already called himself a king and will persist in taunting us about his desire for a third term as president, in direct violation of the Constitution, right up until he actually tries to run for one (or just declares that he has one, by fiat). He is mocking our sense that he wants the absolute power of a monarch by professing his desire to have the absolute power of a monarch. Iredell knew there is no response to such mockery but more mockery.

To be sure, there are aspects of Iredells conception of religious freedom that today we find blinkered. Open-minded as he was in matters of religion, like most decision-makers of his era, he assumed that any good person fit for office would necessarily believe in a single supreme being and a future state of rewards and punishments. He was also an enslaver, blind, as so many others, to his own hypocrisies. But his instincts regarding religious freedom were the ones that we should revere today, and his mocking attitude toward bald stupidity is instructive and prescient. Religious tests, Iredell knew, had never done anything to keep the opportunistic out of office. It never was known that a man who had no principles of religion hesitated to perform any rite when it was convenient for his private interest. No test can bind such a one.

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The presidentan opportunistic person with no principles of religion if there ever was onehas called Leos election a Great Honor for our Country, characteristically missing the point while giving himself (since he is the country, to his mind) credit for something he had nothing to do with. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV, Trump wrote. It will be a very meaningful moment! Obviously, he meant that it will be meaningful for Pope Leo to meet him. Nevertheless, such a meeting will be meaningful: an American president shaking hands with an American pope, two bearers of globe-altering power, their origins separated only by the distance from New York to Chicago. Trump obviously doesnt realize that Leo will be the first-ever pope technically eligible to run for the American presidency, as those North Carolinian delegates feared so long ago, or else he would already be responding to the threat to his own power.

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As Iredell knew, accepting the possibility of error is part of the wager of freedom. Our democracy under the Constitution opens a free people to the possibility of mistakes that, in our collective freedom, we will all have to live with. The Framers could not, would not, guard against all possible electoral errors. It is impracticable to guard against all possible danger of peoples choosing their officers indiscreetly, Iredell told the North Carolina convention in 1788. If they have a right to choose, they may make a bad choice. Error might be the cost of freedom, but freedom is also the only option for correcting error.
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Tyre Nichols was murdered.

Not killed. Not lost. Not a life that simply ended. He was murdered. He was ripped from the fragile thread of existence by the deliberate choices of men who decided that his life did not matter. His life was stolen, snatched from the world beneath the fists, boots, and batons of men who wore the authority of the state on their chests.

Dragged from his car on a January night in 2023 for alleged reckless driving on a dark Memphis road. Five officers beat Nichols mercilessly, fists crashing into his face, boots smashing his ribs, a baton splitting the air and cracking against his skull. They laughed while he screamed. They mocked him while he begged for his mother. They called him a bitch and worsewhile his voice broke, his fear exposed, his dignity stripped, his life withering beneath their hands.

Again, Nichols was accused simply of reckless driving, the kind of claim that should mean a ticket, a court date, an argument over a fine. Not a death sentence. The kind of accusation that, in the eyes of the Constitution, is supposed to be met with a process, a calm exchange, a conversation beneath the protection of rights. A chance to contest, to be heard, to be seen. But for Black Americans, the promise of due process is too often a mirage, a pledge written in ink that fades when touched. In its place is the law of the street. In its place is the verdict of the badge. In its place is violence.

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Three of the officers who brutalized Tyre Nichols have been acquitted, found not guilty by a jury drawn not from Memphis, the city where Nichols was beaten to death, but from a different part of Tennessee, insulated from the pain, from the streets still stained with his blood. A jury of Americans that looked at the footage of a man being battered to death and saw an open question. A jury that stared at the blows, the screams, the begging, and chose to believe the uniforms instead of the suffering they witnessed frame by frame. Once again, a jury speaks clearly: The badge is not a symbol of accountability. It is an alibi.

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Two of the former officers who brutalized Tyre Nichols still stand to be sentenced federally, a thread of accountability grasped only because the Department of Justice saw in their actions not just a breach of duty but a violation of fundamental rights. But that narrow federal reprieve does not cleanse the stain of the state acquittals. It does not erase the mockery of a system that looks at a man being beaten to death beneath the fists of those who swore to protect and calls it justice.

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A federal conviction is not a cure for a system that refuses to see Black suffering as a crime. It is not a victory for truth when a state can look at the blood on its streets and shrug. It is not an answer when the highest charge carries the faint hope of accountability only because another government intervened. It is a bandage on a festering wound. It is a hollow promise whispered over a grave.

State acquittals of police lawlessness are not just a failure. They are a signal. A signal that the machinery of local justice has not only tolerated but embraced its role as the protector of brutality. That the courtrooms meant to deliver justice have become sanctuaries for those who mock it. That the juries meant to be the voice of the community have become the chorus of complicity. Federal charges are, in some ways, an admission that the state cannot be trusted.

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And in that void, where state justice has failed, where the communitys voice has been silenced, where the law has turned its back, we are left to ask: What does it mean when the only justice we can hope for must come from a distant, reluctant hand?

And it only gets worse.

Under Donald Trumps presidency, the lie of progress has become a weapon. Days ago, Trump signed an executive order that not just dismantles federal oversight of the most violent police departments. It consecrates their cruelty. He proudly declared that his administration was strengthening and unleashing Americas law enforcement while deriding efforts to demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs.

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His administration endeavors to shred consent decrees, the fragile agreements meant to rein in police brutality, dismissing them as an insult to officers. Federal monitors who once watched the most abusive departments will be swept aside, their management condemned as unnecessary interference. And even more chillingly, the order makes clear that local prosecutors who pursue accountability for police violence will face scrutiny themselves, their actions cast as threats to public order.

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The message in this case, like so many others, is clear: There are no rules, only force. There is no accountability, only allegiance. Brutality is not a failure. It is a virtue. The badge is not just a symbol of authority. It is a weapon, a license to dominate. Those who wield it are not only protectedthey are applauded. State violence is not merely toleratedit is endorsed. And this administration has made clear that those who brutalize will be celebrated as patriots.

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Its notable that this acquittal happened in the same month that George Floyd was murdered five years ago. Since the summer of 2020, the nation that painted streets with the words Black Lives Matter has scrubbed them clean. The corporate giants that filled their social media feeds with solidarity have quietly deleted their posts, their promises of change swept away in a return to comfortable silence. Diversity initiatives have been scuttled, the kente cloth draped in the Capitol has been folded and forgotten, its symbolism exposed as empty theater.

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The NFLs end zones no longer shout for justice, having removed what should have been a banal message: End Racism. Teams that once locked arms and knelt in a symbolic show of unity have returned to the choreography of indifference. The CEOs who tweeted #BlackLivesMatter now offer platitudes about unity without acknowledging the brutal reality of state violence. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a promise born in the streets where millions marched and mourned, died quietly in Congresssmothered beneath partisan bickering and legislative cowardice. A reform abandoned, a reckoning that was never real.

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For all the names I knowTyre Nichols, George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray, Laquan McDonald, Rodney King, Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Jean, Oscar Grant, Stephon Clark, Sonya Masseythere are thousands more. Names that never became hashtags. Lives that ended in back alleys, side streets, police vans, jail cells, and empty fields. Men and women brutalized out of sight, away from cameras, erased without a whisper of outrage.

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Tyre Nichols was more than his suffering. He was more than the screams they mocked, more than the body they shattered, more than the blood they left on the pavement.

Tyre Nichols was a son, a father, a man with dreams that stretched beyond the Memphis streetsa lover of sunsets, a young man with a skateboard beneath his feet and a camera in his hands, capturing light and chasing joy. He was not a symbol or a statistic. He was a life interrupted.

Until we confront the truth, that this system is not broken but monstrous, nothing will change.

They told us in 2020 that real change was coming. But the only thing that has changed is the name. And the blood keeps flowing.

Beneath the pain, there is power no one can take from usthe only offering we can make. The power to refuse silence, to name this violence, to tell the truth. To speak the names we know and to honor the countless others we never will.
The Sebastian K S five-year-old gelding Benjamin Hanover, who set a divisional track record over the Harrahs Philadelphia surface last season, returned to the southeast Pennsylvania oval on Thursday, May 8 and promptly posted a wire-to-wire 1:52.4 victory in the $20,833 fast-class handicap trot.

Four-time defending Philly driving champion Tim Tetrick had Benjamin boiling off the gate and quickly grabbed the racetrack, the favourite setting fractions of :27.4, :56.2, and 1:24.2, with second choice Golden Rain S (Andy McCarthy) sitting in the two-hole and third choice Once In A Lifetime (George Napolitano, Jr.) moving up to challenge uncovered late in the backstretch. But the biggest danger to Benjamin Hanover in the stretch was 79-1 shot Rivers (Corey Callahan), who angled wide for room and got to within a half length of the winner at the wire.

Benjamin Hanover, now 25-for-43 lifetime with earnings of $343,006, is trained by Scott DiDomenico for owner Angela Corelli, and he seems a possible contender for the $100,000 USD Maxie Lee Trot, one of three six-figure Invitationals for older performers set for Phillys Super Sunday on May 26.

The top winner tag for the day in the horsemens colony has to go to Team Orange Crush: son Tyler drove three winners, mom Julie trained all three, and dad Andy owns a share in the trio of victors. Also red-hot were the Philly bettors, whose favourites won 11 of the 14 races, including eight in a row at one juncture.

Racing on Friday, May 9 starts at 12:25 p.m., with up-and-coming trotters in the spotlight; the card on Sunday, May 11 starts at 12:40 p.m. and will feature a mixture of developing and fast-class pacers. Free Philly program pages are or will be available at phha.org.

( PHHA / Harrahs Philadelphia. Photo from previous race date.)
In need of activities students can complete and submit to you digitally? We offer customizable interactive activities that you can share with your students wherever they are.

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What root should Lexie use next? Find three words that contain the same

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Ontario has begun building the first of four new, small nuclear reactors, as Canada seeks to lead the Group of Seven industrialized nations in developing next-generation nuclear technology.

Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce announced Thursday at the site that the government approved Ontario Power Generation's plan to begin construction. Behind Lecce, workers were already excavating the land for the first reactor and grading the site for the others.

"We are protecting Ontario by building the most resilient energy future any country has ever seen," Lecce said. "We are taking our true place as a global clean energy superpower and a leader in nuclear innovation and technology."

A number of countries are speeding up efforts to license and build a new generation of nuclear reactors to meet a surging demand for electricity and supply it carbon-free. Canada's first commercial small modular reactor should be connected to the electrical grid by the end of 2030, Lecce said, putting them ahead of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In the U.S., Bill Gates' energy company is preparing a site in Wyoming for a next-generation nuclear power plant while the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission reviews its application for a construction permit. Kairos Power is building a low-power demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Russia and China are the only countries that are already operating advanced reactors.

Electricity demand in Ontario is expected to soar by 75% by 2050, primarily due to demand from industry and large data centers. Ontario Power Generation picked a boiling water reactor design from GE Vernova for the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Clarington, Ontario. When constructed, each reactor will provide enough electricity to power 300,000 Toronto homes, at 10% the size and complexity of a traditional boiling water reactor, according to GE Vernova. The first will cost $6.1 billion, along with $1.6 billion in costs for systems and services common to all four, Lecce said. The cost is expected to decline with each subsequent reactor.

Canada has historically been a net exporter of electricity, sending significant amounts of hydropower to the United States. In the fall of 2023, the electricity trade between the two countries became more balanced because of drought conditions that reduced the amount of hydropower available and lower natural gas prices in the United States that made U.S. electricity more competitive, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Now with a trade war and U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly saying that Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, Canadians are feeling like the alliance is broken. Ontario's Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy alluded to that at Thursday's nuclear announcement, saying their traditional relationship with the United States isn't going to be the same and Canada needs new, clean energy.

"The world economy is changing," he said, "and it's important that Canada be self-reliant."

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Lessons learned from the traditional connection with nature in Japanese and Danish architecture could help build greener urban spaces for the future. Credit:  PhD Carmen Garcia Sanchez, 2020

EU researchers are exploring the role of architecture in designing living spaces that harness the healing power of nature to improve the health and well-being of urban populations.

Dr. Carmen Garcia Sanchez likes to ride her bike in the Danish countryside. That is how she first discovered how closely post-war Danish architecture is linked to nature.

A practicing architect, she was inspired to dive into the study of biophilic architecture, which allows people to enjoy the everyday benefits of being closer to nature from the comfort of their own homes.

"Biophilia means love of life. It relates to our innate need to be in contact with nature. There's a restoring effect that comes from being connected to the natural world," said Garcia Sanchez, who was also a postdoctoral researcher at the Royal Danish AcademyArchitecture, Design, Conservation, in Copenhagen and is currently an assistant professor at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid.

Inside-outside

Garcia Sanchez has been able to build a bridge between architectural practice and academic research through her Nature-In project, which ran from 2020 to 2024.

"Architects have always been interested in improving people's lives, but this connection to nature is underexplored. I felt I could bring something innovative to my practice and also that of other European architects," she said.

Garcia Sanchez hopes that her research could inform governments and architects alike on how to better integrate nature into the design of indoor spaces, particularly in urban environments.

A visit to Japan brought another revelation. Traveling across the country, Garcia Sanchez came to appreciate how the Japanese have lived and built their houses for centuries with an "inside-outside" vision, designing functional buildings that allow their inhabitants to experience nature from the inside.

"There's an ancestral need to connect to nature," said Garcia Sanchez, who explains that the more people are trained to enjoy nature, the more benefits they get.

She explains that biophilic design is not only about placing plants everywhere. It is about being aware of nature in all its manifestations, such as daylight, water, materials, the passing of time and the forces of nature.

Nature-based design

Now a recognized expert in the field, Garcia Sanchez has been invited to share her knowledge at this year's World Expo being held in Osaka, Japan, from 13 April to 13 October 2025.

Nature-based design features prominently at Expo 2025, which has been organized around the theme "Designing future society for our lives."

The EU's "Nurturing Tomorrow" pavilion was designed to embody the principles of the New European Bauhausan initiative that seeks to transform our living spaces by merging sustainability, aesthetics and inclusivity. Those principles also align nicely with Nature-In's vision.

Along with Japanese architect and researcher Dr. Ryo Murata, an associate professor in the Department of Architecture and Building Engineering at the Institute of Science Tokyo, Garcia Sanchez will introduce visitors to the traditional connection with nature in Japanese and Danish architecture.

Together, they will explore how to make cities and buildings more livable through closer contact with nature and discuss how people can improve their health and well-being by designing their homes with nature in mind.

Natural connection

These are not trivial questions. It is estimated that most people spend 80% to 90% of their time indoors. In densely populated cities, people have lost contact with the healing power of nature.

Transforming our indoor environments could increase our well-being and also strengthen our relationship with nature and, therefore, our willingness to preserve it. The closer we are to the natural world, the more we can appreciate it and want to protect it.

For Garcia Sanchez, it is important that the brain can perceive nature's natural rhythms: light and dark, for example, through exposure to natural light.

She points out that we experience nature through all our senses, so small details matter. This might be leaves outside casting shadows in a flat, the feel of wooden floors under bare feet, or even the smell of stones in a courtyard after the rain.

"Nature is constantly telling us: 'I'm here. You forgot it, but I'm in the cities too. I'm everywhere,'" she said. With climate change and extreme events such as floods, fires and earthquakes becoming more frequent, she believes that the need to reconnect with the natural world is becoming more urgent.

"Even the most extreme phenomena, such as earthquakes, are Mother Nature's way of reminding us that she's there."

The old anthropocentric approach that sees nature as something humans have to harness for their own benefit has become obsolete. To make a difference, we have to bring nature back into our lives. We need to live in it and with it.
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The Asco I nuclear power station, center, is seen near houses in the small town of Asco, Spain in Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Credit: AP Photo/David Ramos, File

The massive power outage that hit the Iberian peninsula on April 28 has reignited a debate in Spain over the country's plan to phase out its nuclear reactors as it generates more power with renewable energy.

As people wait for answers about what caused the historic power cut, which abruptly disrupted tens of millions of lives, some are questioning the wisdom of decommissioning nuclear reactors that provide a stable, if controversial, form of energy compared to renewables, whose output can be intermittent.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has rejected such criticism, asking for patience while the government investigates what caused the grid's disconnection. He said that his government would not "deviate a single millimeter" from its energy transition plans.

Here's what to know about the energy debate:

What is nuclear power and why is it controversial?

Nuclear power is a zero-carbon energy source formed from nuclear fission, when the nuclei of atoms are split into two or several parts, releasing energy.

It accounts for about 10% of electricity generation worldwide, according to the International Energy Association.

Many countries consider nuclear power critical to reaching their net-zero goals. But while nuclear reactors do not emit planet-warming greenhouse gases like gas- or coal-fired power plants, they produce radioactive waste that even advanced economies have struggled to dispose.

Why does Spain want to decommission its nuclear reactors?

Spain generated nearly 57% of its electricity in 2024 from renewable energy sources like wind, hydropower and solar, according to Red Electrica, the country's grid operator. About 20% came from nuclear power plants.

In 2019, Sanchez's government approved a plan to decommission the country's remaining nuclear reactors between 2027 and 2035 as it expands its share of renewable energy even further. The country aims to generate 81% of its electricity by 2030 from renewable sources.

Sanchez on Wednesday said that the four nuclear facilities that were online the day of the blackout did not help re-power the grid.

Batteries and other methods help regulate changes in electricity supply from wind and solar.

Why is Spain's renewables push being questioned now?

While the cause of the sudden outage on April 28 is still unknown, the event has raised questions about the technical challenges facing electricity grids running on high levels of solar and wind.

Solar and wind provided roughly 70% of the electricity on the grid moments before Spain lost 15 gigawatts of electricityabout 60% of its supplyin just five seconds.

Electricity grids were designed for a different era, according to Gilles Thonet, deputy secretary general of the International Electrotechnical Commission, an industry group.

"Traditionally, power flowed in one direction: from large coal, gas or nuclear plants to homes and businesses," Thonet said. "These plants provided not only electricity, but also stability. Their spinning turbines acted like shock absorbers, smoothing out fluctuations in supply and demand."

In the days following the blackout, Google searches in Spain for "nuclear" spiked, according to data from Google Trends.

Spain's nuclear lobby group Foro Nuclear said this week that the government should rethink its plan to decommission its nuclear reactors after the outage. Ignacio Araluce, its president, said the nuclear plants online before the outage "provide firmness and stability."

Would more nuclear power have prevented a blackout?

Others say it is too soon to draw conclusions about what role nuclear energy should play.

"We do not know the cause of the oscillations," said Pedro Fresco, director general of Avaesen, an association of renewable energy and clean technology firms in Valencia. "Therefore, we do not know what would have allowed them to be controlled."

Spain's grid operator last week narrowed down the source of the outage to two separate incidents in which substations in southwestern Spain failed.

Environment Minister Sara Aagesen said earlier this week that the grid had initially withstood another power generation outage in southern Spain 19 seconds before the blackout.

Sanchez in his speech to Parliament said there was "no empirical evidence" to show that more nuclear power on the grid could have prevented a blackout or allowed the country to get back online faster. In fact, the four nuclear facilities online on April 28 before the blackout were taken offline after the outage as part of emergency protocol to avoid overheating.

He said that nuclear energy "has not been shown to be an effective solution in situations like what we experienced on April 28," and called the debate surrounding his government's nuclear phase-out plan "a gigantic manipulation."

Gas and hydropower, as well as electricity transfers from Morocco and France, were used to get the country's grid back online.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Tech leaders representing four major players in artificial intelligence appeared before Congress on May 8, urging looser regulation and heavier investment in energy to support the technology's growth.

Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation probed Microsoft President Brad Smith, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others on ethical and energy concerns with widespread AI adoption. But the theme running through most of the hearing was whether the U.S. was winning the AI race, especially against China.

"It is very hard to say how far ahead we are," Altman said.

Smith said in his testimony that to win the race, the federal government needs to support the private sector at every level. That means improving and building out the infrastructure needed to scale up AI, namely massive data centers and a modernized electrical grid.

"The country must recruit and train skilled labor like electricians and pipe fitters that are in short supply," Smith said. "We must all summon the best of our researchers at national labs and universities, supported by federal basic research programs and partnerships that have become the envy of the world."

During the hearing, Smith said some of the tightest regulations for building out an AI infrastructure come from the federal level. One example is permitting for data centers.

"The number one challenge in the United States when it comes to permitting is not local, it's not state; it is the federal wetlands permit administered by the Army Corps of Engineers," he said. "We can typically get our state and local permits done in six to nine months; the federal wetlands permit is taking often 18 to 24 months."

If the Trump administration focused on that, Smith said, data center construction could accelerate.

Microsoft, like other companies, has committed billions this year to build out its AI infrastructure. As of January, Microsoft was on track to pump $80 billion into AI-enabled data centers and other AI investments during its 2025 fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

Outside of regulation, AI leaders don't want to be caught up in escalating trade wars. If the U.S. wants to be a global leader in AI, as Smith put it, then it has to be able to send its technology across the globe.

"At the end of the day, the world wants to be able to build and deploy artificial intelligence in a very broad way," said Michael Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave, a cloud computing startup focused on high-performance systems. "If we do not step into that role, other technology will step in that role."

Lisa Su, CEO of California-based hardware giant Advanced Micro Devices, said there's a "clear recognition" that the U.S. needs an export strategy for AI to make sure allies get chips and other technology without it being diverted to competing countries like China.

Where the four tech leaders broke ranks is on the issue of standards in AI. Sen. Maria Cantwell, the Washington Democrat serving as ranking member of the committee, asked the quartet whether the U.S. needed the National Institute of Standards and Technology to support developing standards in AI.

Su, Intrator and Smith all said yes.

"I don't think we need it," Altman said. "It can be helpful."

When asked to support their answers, Smith said AI will need industry standards.

"We will need American adoption of standards," he said. "We will need U.S. efforts to really ensure that the world buys into these standards."

2025 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been selected as the next pope, the first American pontiff in history and the 267th pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.





In his first remarks as pope from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica, eighteen days after Pope Francis delivered his final greeting on Easter Sunday, he called for peace and paid tribute to the late Pope Francis to a roaring crowd.





Cardinal Prevost, a 69-year-old from Chicago, is a leader with global experience. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and served as bishop in Peru. He most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments.





He is expected to build on the reforms initiated by his predecessor who "respected him and thought of him very highly, according to CNNs Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb.





It was Pope Francis who appointed Cardinal Prevost to be the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which is in charge of assessing candidates and making recommendations for new bishop appointments.





Vatican insiders say that Pope Francis saw in him something  he saw him as a capable leader.





His role in the Vaticans bishops office would have also given him a lot of insight into the global church and opportunities to meet with church leaders all over the world.





When Pope Francis stepped onto the balcony of St. Peters Square in 2013, he did so in a simple white robe, doing away with much of the pomp that shrouds the papacy.





But when Pope Leo XIV revealed himself to the world, he was wearing the traditional papal robes.





In reverting to norms, perhaps Pope Leo XIV wanted to show he isnt trying to clone Francis papacy. In his speech, however, he praised Francis legacy  and seems set to follow in the Franciscan path.





And the world will be anxiously waiting to see whether Pope Leo XIV will follow Pope Francis who decided not to live in the splendour of the Vaticans Apostolic Palace, opting instead for the humbler Santa Marta guesthouse.





As expected, congratulations poured in from across the globe.





Among those reaching out to the Vatican were Presidents Trump and Putin.





American President Donald Trump said: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!





Russian President Vladimir Putin wished the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV "success, saying he hoped the American pontiff would engage in "constructive dialogue with the Kremlin.





"I am confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us, Putin said in a message published by the Kremlin.
Nicolas Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, addressing supporters during which he reinforces Venezuelas claim to sovereignty over the 61,600 square mile Essequibo region. (Source: ET EnergyWorld)

Venezuelas government has said it "categorically rejected a ruling from the UNs top court (international Court of Justice - ICJ) ordering the South American country to refrain from holding elections for officials, who supposedly would oversee the Essequibo, a resource-rich region in neighboring Guyana, that both countries claim as their own.





The government of Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, in a statement, underscored its historical position to not recognize the jurisdiction of the international court of justice, and asserted that international law does not allow the body to "interfere or "attempt to prohibit an election.





The Essequibo "is an inalienable part of the Venezuelan territory and a legacy of our liberators, according to the statement. "Its defense is a historical, constitutional, and a moral mandate that unites the entire Bolivarian Homeland. No international pressure, judicial blackmail, or foreign tribunal will make us back down from this conviction.





This position is in keeping with what passed in the Argyle Declaration of 2023, to wit: the declaration "noted Venezuelas assertion of its lack of consent and lack of recognition of the International Court of Justice and its jurisdiction in the border controversy.





Try as much as it would and could to isolate Venezuela on the issue, Guyana condemnation of Venezuelas plan to hold an election by May 25 for a governor and other officials to administer the disputed Essequibo region, seemed to have fallen like crumbs from the dinner table of fellow heads of State and Government.





Guyana had protested as early as January 7 when President announced that an earlier referendum in Venezuela had given legitimacy to his countrys plan for the election of a "Governor of the Guayana Esequiba by "the people of Guayana Esequiba.





"This unilateral action disregards the spirit of the Argyle Agreement, undermines the agreed framework for dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and significantly escalates tensions between our nations, Guyanas Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated then.





In addition to Venezuelas intent to elect a Governor and other officials to administer the disputed Essequibo region on its behalf, in March Guyanas president, Irfaan Ali, denounced an incursion by an armed Venezuelan naval vessel in disputed waters that are home to a major offshore oil deposit being developed by ExxonMobil. The Venezuelan vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez, disputed Alis claims and called ExxonMobils oil installations "illegal.





Guyana has urged Venezuela to immediately cease all actions that contravene the Argyle Agreement and the ICJ Order, and to recommit to the principles of international law and peaceful dispute resolution to which it agreed at Argyle.





Guyana said it remains prepared to engage in constructive dialogue under the agreed frameworks, but it cannot condone or accept unilateral actions that threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity. (Sources: AP, Reuters, News Room Guyana)




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.
Bilateral trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India reached a record TT$1.2 billion (US$368.96 million) in the last fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

She disclosed this as she announced that her Government aims to expand exports to tap into Indias market of 1.4 billion consumers, and will pursue a Partial Scope Trade Agreementthe first from a Caricom countrywhile laying the foundation for a new Bilateral Investment Treaty.
ON Thursday night, when hosted at the Diplomatic Centre, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an experience that has been preserved by the nations diaspora for 180 years.

In images that have since gone viral, Modi was seen eating on the leaves of the sohari (Calathea lutea).

In a social media post to Angelo Bissessarsinghs Virtual Museum of Trinidad and Tobago Facebook page, Patricia Bissessar said the serving of food on the leaves of the sohari is a practice rooted in Indo-Trinidadian cultural heritage, particularly among the Hindu community.
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.
For decades, trades such as welding, machining and aircraft maintenance have lived squarely in the realm of hands-on, in-person training. These skills were honed through repetition and mentorship, enhanced by the scent of sawdust or the buzz of a soldering iron. Today, these shop-floor only disciplines have evolved to become as accessible online as they are in person.

The reason for this is two-fold. First, traditional four-year colleges can be expensive with a high barrier to entry. Potential students may face long-term debt and unclear career outcomes, two particularly challenging concerns that might cause them to reconsider taking the traditional route. The second driving force is the increased accessibility of vocational training. These courses are accessible, can be cost-effective and have a clearly defined career path, and may give students a sense of security as they plan their future.

This hesitancy around higher education is reflected in a recent poll undertaken by Gallup. It found that Americans are split down the middle when it comes to their confidence in higher education: 36% have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence while 32% have little or no confidence. Interestingly, there is more confidence in two-year colleges, says Gallup. A sentiment reflected in the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) data showed that public two-year institutions prioritizing vocational programs saw significant growth for the second year in a row in 2024.

The rise of skills-first learning

Many Americans are questioning whether a college degree is the only, or even the best, route to career success, says Jarred McNeely, Chief Academic Officer at Sonoran Desert Institute. Many young adults are seeking out certifications, apprenticeships and hands-on technical programs that may allow them to move quickly into gainful employment, giving them the space to explore their skills and potential.

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Projections believes that certain skilled trades are expected to grow faster than the average from 2023 to 2033. These professions are keeping pace with, and in some cases outpacing, white-collar jobs as there may be a growing demand for people who can build, repair and operate specialized machinery with precision.

Instead of sitting in lecture halls, learners are seeking certifications, apprenticeships and hands-on technical programs that may be capable of fast-tracking them into employment. On these skills first pathways, learners may have the opportunity to benefit from a better return on their study investment. They may be able to start earning out sooner than their college counterparts, potentially graduating with little to no debt.

Vocational education is economically smart, says McNeely. Students may be able to avoid carrying extensive debt into their careers and benefit from the fact that most vocational programs are very closely linked to industry demand so the skills theyve learned may be in demand almost immediately.

Vocational learning has also seen significant uptake because it is accessible online. Learners can study when it suits them, from wherever they are in the country. Theyre not limited by geography.

From physical to online: How does this work?

Of course, skeptics want to know how something like drone flying can be taught online. The answer is simple  hybrid delivery models which combine remote theory with mailed toolkits, video instruction and virtual simulations.

These programs ship materials directly to a students home so they can start working with the technology immediately. They learn theory via a modern learning management system (LMS)  of which there are plenty and complete projects in their own workspaces while guided by video modules and one-to-one feedback from instructors. Video simulators, planning software and assembly kits ensure students can learn by doing from almost anywhere in the world, without compromising hands-on proficiency.

The research backs this up

From 2019 to 2023, online enrollment at trade schools grew by 16.9%, exceeding the growth of 9.4% felt by the higher education sectors. A 2025 report by Validated Insights projects that trade school enrollment will keep rising at a robust 6.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030  far outpacing the 0.8% CAGR anticipated for traditional higher-education programs over the same 2024  2030 period.

In 2024, a peer-reviewed study by Frontiers found that there is a measurable positive correlation between the use of digital technology such as online learning platforms and digital resources and student satisfaction with vocational education.

Online doesnt have to mean impersonal. In fact, institutions are designing their courses around hands-on engagement and real-world readiness which are the same things students expect from a traditional shop class.

A shortcut to professional growth

One of the most compelling reasons students choose online trade programs is speed, with many programs easily completed within 12 to 18 months. Students can enter the workforce sooner and start building their careers immediately.

Industries that reward practical know-how, real-world experience and certification are looking for graduates who have these skills and training, says McNeely. These online programs bring access to networks, peer forums for shared discussions and insights and a sense of belonging that spans distances. Students learn from instructors who have decades of industry expertise and often receive individualized feedback on their projects or assignments.

Whether its uncrewed drone flights or robotics assembly, students are given the skills they need to step into sectors that may have real job openings and growth potential. These are industries where employers value skill, certification and hands-on ability over formal credentials. At a time when people may be rethinking the cost and purpose of higher education, vocational training online might offer a compelling model with career-ready training, at home, at their own pace and in a field theyre passionate about.

The success of schools meeting this need shows that hands-on training doesnt have to be tied to a physical classroom. Students benefit from access and flexibility and, as industries continue to evolve and learners seek out alternatives to the traditional, these online trade schools may be central to reshaping what career readiness looks like in the future.

This content contains links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by the publisher, Lee Enterprises. The views, thoughts and opinions in this contributor content belong solely to the writer.

Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
CHANDLER  There were dozens of statements submitted to the court by family and friends of Christopher Pelkey when it came time to sentence the man convicted of fatally shooting him during a road rage incident. They provided glimpses of Pelkeys humor, his character and his military service.

But there was nothing quite like hearing from the victim himself  even if it was a version generated by artificial intelligence.

In whats believed to be a first in U.S. courts, Pelkeys family used AI to create a video using his likeness to give him a voice. The AI rendering of Pelkey told the shooter during the sentencing hearing last week in Phoenix that it was a shame they had to meet that day in 2021 under those circumstances  and that in another life, the two of them probably could have been friends.

I believe in forgiveness and in God who forgives. I always have and I still do, Pelkeys avatar told Gabriel Paul Horcasitas.

The AI version of Pelkey went on to encourage people to make the most of each day and to love each other, not knowing how much time one might have left.

While use of AI within the court system is expanding, its typically been reserved for administrative tasks, legal research and case preparation. In Arizona, its helped inform the public of rulings in significant cases.

But using AI to generate victim impact statements marks a new  and legal, at least in Arizona  tool for sharing information with the court outside the evidentiary phases.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang, who presided over the case, said after watching the video that he imagined Pelkey, who was 37 at the time of his killing, would have felt that way after learning about him. Lang also noted the video said something about Pelkeys family, who had expressed their anger over his death and had asked for Horcasitas to receive the maximum sentence.

Even though thats what you wanted, you allowed Chris to speak from his heart as you saw it, Lang said.

Horcasitas, 54, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10.5 years in prison.

Horcasitas lawyer, Jason Lamm, told The Associated Press they filed a notice to appeal his sentence within hours of the hearing. Lamm said its likely the appeals court will weigh whether the judge improperly relied on the AI video when handing down the sentence.

The shooting happened the afternoon of Nov. 13, 2021, as both drivers were stopped at a red light. According to records, Pelkey was shot after getting out of his truck and walking toward Horcasitas car.

Pelkeys sister, Stacey Wales, raised the idea of her brother speaking for himself after struggling to figure out what she would say. She wrote a script for the AI-generated video, reflecting that he was a forgiving person.

In Arizona, victims can give their impact statements in any digital format, said victims rights attorney Jessica Gattuso, who represented the family.

Wales, a software product consultant, took the AI idea to her husband, Tim. He and his friend, who have work experience creating humanlike AI avatars. Using a video clip of Pelkey, they aimed to replicate his voice and speech patterns. They generated Pelkeys likeness through a single image of him, digitally manipulating it to remove glasses and a hat logo, edit his outfit and trim his beard.

Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Timmer didnt address the road rage case specifically in an interview Wednesday. But she said the rise in popularity and accessibility to AI in recent years led to the creation of a committee to research best practices in the courts.

Gary Marchant, a member of the committee and a law professor at Arizona State University, said he understands why Pelkeys family did it. But he warned the use of this technology could open the door to more people trying to introduce AI-generated evidence into courtrooms.

Theres a real concern among the judiciary and among lawyers that deepfake evidence will be increasingly used, he said. Its easy to create it and anyone can do it on a phone, and it could be incredibly influential because judges and juries, just like all of us, are used to believing what you see.

Marchant pointed to a recent case in New York, where a man without a lawyer used an AI-generated avatar to argue his case in a lawsuit via video. It took only seconds for the judges to realize that the man addressing them from the video screen didnt exist at all.

In the Arizona case, Wales said the AI-generated video worked because the judge had nearly 50 letters from family and friends that echoed the videos message.

Everybody knew that Chris would forgive this person, Wales said.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Reporter Follow James D. Watts Jr. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Fairfax native Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief was well on her way to a career as a concert pianist when she chanced to attend a performance by the legendary dance company Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

It was so romantic, she later recalled, saying that the principal ballerinas of that company, Alexandra Danilova and Alicia Markova, made an incredible impression on me and really opened my eyes to what ballet was. And I thought to myself, Thats the kind of world I want to be in. Seeing the Ballets Russe was what started me thinking about becoming a dancer instead of a pianist.

About a dozen years later, when she was performing with the New York City Ballet under the name Maria Tallchief, this citizen of the Osage Nation created a role that has inspired generations of young Americans to take up dance.

In December 1954, New York City Ballet debuted its first-ever full-length ballet of The Nutcracker, choreographed by George Balanchine, her former husband. Balanchine devised the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for Tallchief, which she later stated was the most difficult part she ever had to dance.

Former Tulsa Tribune dance critic Lili Cockerille Livingston performed in New York City Ballets The Nutcracker as a youngster, and in her book American Indian Ballerinas recalled, I distinctly remember that there was a special electricity on the stage and in the wings when Tallchief performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy  a quality that was missing when others performed the role.

The Nutcracker was more than a triumph for Tallchief as a performer. It was salvation. The publics enthusiasm for this ballet helped New York City Ballet remain in operation when it was facing financial ruin. It would become a part of the companys touring program, with local youngsters brought in at each stop to perform on stage with the professional company.

The Nutcracker  over 70 years and literally thousands of iterations  has become a staple of American ballet companies, as both a generator of income and as a way of introducing ballet to new generations.

To me, that is one of her greatest legacies, because her performances in The Nutcracker helped bring ballet to all of America and helped establish this ballet as a holiday tradition, said Marcello Angelini, artistic director of Tulsa Ballet.

Over two decades  from 1942, when she joined the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo as a teenager through her retirement from performing in 1965  Maria Tallchief was, for many dance critics and fans, the epitome of the prima ballerina, thanks to her magnetic stage presence, her emotional expressiveness, and her technical prowess, which was the result of her tireless work ethic.

Livingston wrote that Tallchief essentially remade the look of a ballerina, saying that the long-legged, fast-footed ballerina of contemporary ballet companies started with Tallchiefs partnership with Ballenchine.

As the prima ballerina for New York City Ballet, Tallchief created dozens of indelible roles, many of them choreographed for her by Balanchine  The Prodigal Son, Swan Lake, Allegro Brillante, Symphony in C and The Firebird, which became her signature role.

This year, the dance world, and the world at large, has been celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of Maria Tallchief, the first American prima ballerina and one of five ballerinas of Native heritage  along with Tallchiefs sister Marjorie, Rosella Hightower, Yvonne Chouteau and Tulsa Ballet co-founder Moscelyne Larkin  who would come to be known as Oklahomas Five Moons.

Earlier this year, New York City Ballet presented a program featuring three signature roles Balanchine created for Tallchief, staged by the daughter of Andre Eglevsky, who often performed as Tallchiefs on-stage partner.

Tallchief has also been honored by the U.S. Mint with special editions of quarter and dollar coins, featuring her in poses from her iconic Firebird role, as well as her Osage name, Wahle- opa, which has been translated as Two Standards and Woman of Two Worlds. She was the subject of a Google Doodle on the popular search engine and last year received perhaps the ultimate pop culture accolade, when Mattel released a Maria Tallchief Barbie doll as part of its Inspiring Women series.

Its really been incredible, said Elise Paschen, Tallchiefs daughter who has helped oversee many of the tributes to her mother and her artistic accomplishments. I like to say that my mother is having a second renaissance.

Tallchief was born in Fairfax in 1925. She began studying piano at age 3 and began taking dance lessons at age 5.

Ruth Porter Tallchief, the girls mother, originally planned for Maria to become a concert pianist, while Marjorie would become a dancer. But Marias natural talent and phenomenal stage presence quickly became apparent once the family moved to California, where the Tallchief girls studied ballet under Bronislava Nijinska.

At 17, she joined the corps de ballet of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo  partly because Tallchief had a passport, and the company was about to embark on a tour of Canada. She was encouraged to change her name to a Russian-esque pseudonym, but Tallchief refused.

Even though she didnt grow up immersed in the Osage culture, my mother was always very proud to be Osage, Paschen said.

Two years later, Balanchine joined the company as its resident choreographer; two years after that, the two married. The union lasted only six years  because Balanchine did not want to have children, Tallchief had the marriage annulled  but the professional partnership would continue into the 1960s, as Tallchiefs performances in ballets by Balanchine and others helped create a uniquely American form of ballet.

Tallchief appeared several times in Tulsa, on tour with New York City Ballet, participating in the first Oklahoma Indian Ballerina Festival in 1957, and appearing as a guest artist with Tulsa Ballet in 1964, performing excerpts from Giselle and Don Quixote.

She retired from performing in 1965 and devoted her energies to developing the dance scene in Chicago, where she made her home with her third husband, Henry D. Paschen Jr. Tallchief directed the ballet program at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, then founded Chicago City Ballet.

Among the accolades Tallchief received: a Kennedy Center Honor in 1996 for her contributions to American and world culture; the National Medal of Arts in 1999; inductions into the National Womens Hall of Fame, the National Native American Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame; and being named an Oklahoma Treasure in 1997. Tallchief has been immortalized in oil and in bronze along with her fellow Oklahoma Indian Ballerinas in Mike Larsens mural, Flight of Spirit, at the Oklahoma State Capitol and in The Five Moons sculpture on the grounds of the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.

Tallchief has been the subject of a number of books, including her autobiography Maria Tallchief: Americas Prima Ballerina. Paschen, an award-winning poet and professor of poetry at the School of Art Institute in Chicago, has often written about her mother in her work, including her most recent collection, Blood Wolf Moon.

The first section of the book, Heritage, is a series of 14 interlinked poems that delve into her and her familys Osage history, including how it was affected by the Osage Reign of Terror, depicted in the book and film Killers of the Flower Moon, as well as Paschens relationship with her mother and her mothers legacy since her death in 2013.

My mother had dementia, and after my dad died in 2005, she was really not herself until her death, Paschen said. For me, it became hard to remember my mother the way she was before the dementia took control of her. Writing this book allowed me not just to really dig deeper into our shared history and heritage, but also it allowed me to reclaim and remember her, to see her again in all her brilliance and beauty and complexity.

Paschen also worked with the Osage Nation and the Balanchine Trust Foundation to make sure the representations of her mother were accurate.

Throughout the past few years, in working with different organizations on these on these amazing projects honoring my mom, Ive had to educate them quite a lot, Paschen said. But when I started working with Mattel on the Barbie, I was really dumbfounded, because I hardly had to edit anything. They understood her biography, and I think they presented her beautifully  and I was never much of a Barbie girl growing up.

The Maria Tallchief Barbie was officially launched with an event in Pawhuska, in which Paschen took part.

What was especially moving to me, she said, was that Mattel gave a number of the dolls to the Osage Elementary School. The chief of the Osage Nation and I stood at the very end of the program and gave each child a Barbie, and oh my gosh, that meant the world to me, because I knew my mother would have just loved that.

//leemun-rdcbh/MUN_RDC_DATA/RDC_Sites/TUL/InDesign/Pages/Adobe%20InDesign%20Documents/TUL_WRLD/11/D/Images/TUL_WRLD_051125_01_D_001_00_01/031b2bc2-ca71-4650-ad4a-4ea6de70436a/031b2bc2-ca71-4650-ad4a-4ea6de70436a.jpgCourtesy, Beowulf Sheehan

Paschen

Elise Paschen by Beowulf Sheehan

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Maria Tallchief is depicted in a scene from the ballet The Firebird, one of her signature roles, in The Five Moons, statues of Oklahomas Indian Ballerinas at the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.

Maria Tallchief

37cb6e50-e986-11ef-9a96-131017b30966IcyconditionsSPp01//leemun-rdcbh/MUN_RDC_DATA/RDC_Sites/TUL/InDesign/Pages/Adobe%20InDesign%20Documents/TUL_WRLD/11/D/Images/TUL_WRLD_051125_01_D_001_00_01/750a0016-fb69-11ef-a8e7-5b9e947cf9bc/750a0016-fb69-11ef-a8e7-5b9e947cf9bc.jpgCourtesy, United States Mint Department of Treasury

The Maria Tallchief Quarter depicts the ballerina in one of her signature roles, the title character from The Firebird, and it includes her Osage name: Wa-Xthe-Thonba, or Woman of Two Worlds.

Maria Tallchief Coin

750a0016-fb69-11ef-a8e7-5b9e947cf9bcMaria Tallchief Coin//leemun-rdcbh/MUN_RDC_DATA/RDC_Sites/TUL/InDesign/Pages/Adobe%20InDesign%20Documents/TUL_WRLD/11/D/Images/TUL_WRLD_051125_01_D_001_00_01/63e1d227-3e7d-421a-b4dd-b9b75cc4ccc1/63e1d227-3e7d-421a-b4dd-b9b75cc4ccc1.jpgJ. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press file

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton applauds as President Bill Clinton congratulates Maria Tallchief after presenting her with a National Medal of Arts on Sept. 29, 1999 in Washington.

Maria Tallchief

63e1d227-3e7d-421a-b4dd-b9b75cc4ccc1051125-tul-scn-mariatall100p8//leemun-rdcbh/MUN_RDC_DATA/RDC_Sites/TUL/InDesign/Pages/Adobe%20InDesign%20Documents/TUL_WRLD/11/D/Images/TUL_WRLD_051125_01_D_001_00_01/5fdb2e55-3837-463e-a048-4aa0a4ae56c0/5fdb2e55-3837-463e-a048-4aa0a4ae56c0.jpgJOHN ROONEY, Associated Press file

Artistic director and choreographer George Balanchine kisses his bride, ballet dancer Elizabeth Maria Tallchief, as he holds their marriage license on Aug. 16, 1946.

Elizabeth Maria Tallchief

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Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Columnist Follow Ginnie Graham Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Two days and two strikes against women in the Oklahoma Governors Office. For someone who proudly claims to be pro-life, that apparently doesnt extend to breast cancer patients or missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Both bills  House Bill 1137 and House Bill 1389  received near unanimous approval from the Legislature. Thats a good indication that these are widely accepted throughout Oklahoma.

On Monday, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed HB 1137, a bill that would have amended 2021 legislation known as Idas Law, named for a Cheyenne and Arapaho woman who disappeared in 2015.

This proposal, co-authored by Rep. Ron Stewart, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, sought to delete a federal funding requirement for a dedicated MMIP liaison at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The bill passed unanimously in the House in March and was approved by a 42-1 vote in the Senate.

The lone dissent came from Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee. Well, until Stitt came along.

Stitt argues that a liaison would unfairly prioritize criminal cases based on race and gender: Every missing person  regardless of race or background  deserves equal attention and urgency, Stitt wrote in the veto.

That is the goal of America  to be treated equally. But that is not happening, especially with these cases. A liaison wouldnt re-prioritize anything for the OSBI, only ensure that cases dont get lost or forgotten. When inequality is identified, then its up to our leaders to find a solution.

Nationally, there is a problem of unsolved homicide cases and scant attention paid to missing persons cases involving Indigenous women. Homicide is the third leading cause of death for Indigenous girls and women age 15 to 24. Half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have been victims of intimate partner violence, and one-fifth have been stalked.

Reasons these cases arent getting cleared more are myriad but include complications of jurisdiction. That has become even more complex in Oklahoma as law enforcement works through the consequences of the 2020 U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt ruling, which led to lower court rulings that the reservations of several tribes in Oklahoma were never de-established. That ruling shifted the majority of criminal prosecutions involving Native Americans in the eastern half of the state from state court to federal court and increased the need to bolster tribal courts.

A liaison would help ensure that cases dont get dropped as law enforcement adjusts to the new reality. That role holds the potential to uncovering why Indigenous women are subjected to these higher rates of violence. That would help all women.

Adding insult, the veto was made on National Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Day.

Stitt has been fighting with tribal leaders almost since the day he took office. This only adds to that continuing antagonism, only it will be women  particularly young Indigenous women  who will suffer from this political fight.

Then came Tuesday. What a disappointing day that was.

One of the most beautiful and rare days in the Oklahoma House came on March 10 when the chamber gave Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, a standing ovation in support of her battle against breast cancer. Interestingly, she had taken up the cause for health insurance parity for diagnostic mammograms well before her own diagnosis.

In 2022, Provenzano was contacted by a constituent about some health insurers refusing to pay for further tests, like MRIs and ultrasounds, after a routine mammogram discovered anomalies that could be cancer. Patients were forced to pay $400 to $1,000 per test. She found that unfair, as did fellow lawmakers when they passed House Bill 3504. Now 27 other states have similar laws.

This past summer, the Susan G. Komen Foundation pointed out that the law needed some clarifying language as to which tests fall into the approved category. Provenzano sponsored HB 1389 to do that. It passed unanimously in the House and 34-11 in the Senate, with opposition coming from the more right end of the conservative members (including Jett).

Stitt released a video to go along with his veto, saying he is deeply sympathetic to the women who bravely fought breast cancer. But he argued that such government mandates would hurt consumers and raise insurance premiums, calling them new and costly requirements on private health companies.

So his sympathy for sick women just isnt enough to overcome insurance lobbyists and Big Pharma.

Stitt double-downed the next day, tweeting that he would veto all legislation about government health mandates. It was nice that he left off the especially-for-women part.

To be clear, these are not new mandates. Even with the veto, insurers will still have to pay for follow-up cancer screenings. This would only add specific language as to what screening mammography means. It seems that would be helpful for insurers and doctors.

If anything, Stitts reasoning doesnt match the bills language.

Each year, breast cancer accounts for 30% of new female cancers. One in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Getting an early diagnosis can make the difference between life and death.

Besides both vetoed bills centering on helping women and getting overwhelming legislative, bipartisan approval, theres another commonality: Democratic authors. Some conservative Republicans object to any idea from the opposing party, even if its a good one.

When it was reported that a record number of Democratic-authored bills recently advanced out of the House (29 from Democrats and 409 from Republicans), Stitt retweeted on April 9, stating, Wow. Disappointing.

That kind of thinking has led to gridlock, division and harm to constituents. Issues like breast cancer and unsolved murder and missing persons cases shouldnt be political.

The Legislature ought to override both vetoes. These bills  and Oklahoma women  are worth it.

Where your story lives: Tulsa Spotlight
60 Minutes profiles Ali France, plus trade negotiations with US and the death of Virginia Giuffre.

Labor of Love

Theres a very good reason why the House of Representatives in Canberra is about to become a better place. Ali France. She won for the Labor Party the Queensland seat of Dickson, previously held for 24 years by the now former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. That alone means shes history-making, but its not what makes her truly remarkable. In a freak car accident 14 years ago, she almost died trying to save the life of one of her sons. Then, early last year, she lost her other son after he succumbed to cancer. For many people there would be no coming back from tragedy like this. But as Tara Brown discovers, Ali France is not one of them. Shes inspired by the love of her boys to be the best member of parliament she can be.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Laura Sparkes

Trade Wars

A long time ago, 21 years to be exact, in a capital far, far away, Washington DC, Australia and the United States signed an historic free trade agreement. At the time it was a new hope for shared prosperity. Everyone was pleased, especially the Americans who, truth be told, probably got the better end of the deal. But now that pact seemingly counts for nothing. Donald Trump says hes sick of America being ripped off by other nations, including Australia, and has decreed his empire will strike back. Negotiating with the undeniable force of the U.S. President wont be easy for Australias re-elected prime minister, Anthony Albanese. However, as Dimity Clancey reports, its a mission he has no option but to get right.

Reporter: Dimity Clancey

Producers: Garry McNab, Toni Ambrogetti

Virginias Fight

Sex abuse survivor Virginia Giuffre first appeared on 60 Minutes six years ago. Back then she was in combat mode, determined to bring to account the notorious trio of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew. Tragically though, her brave crusade for justice and an end to human sex trafficking took a heavy toll, and two weeks ago, haunted by physical and emotional scars, she died at her home north of Perth, aged 41. As Tara Brown reports, those closest to Virginia will always be awed by her strength and the hope she gave to so many.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Sammi Taylor

8:10pm Sunday on Nine.
10 has made more changes to its schedule as of next week, which is the second change for The List in two weeks.

The List will now screen on Tuesdays following The Cheap Seats.

NCIS: Origins also moves to a later Wednesday slot with FBI: International in its place.

Tuesday May 13

9:4pm The List

Finland

Jack and Falcon take on The List, a bunch of travel challenges most people avoid. In Finland, theyre set on fire, swamp ski in dresses, enter a hobby horse competition and call upon a bear spirit.

Wednesday May 14

9:40pm FBI: International

Youll Never See IT Coming

The star witness against Greg Csonka, responsible for the death of Wes former partner, is beaten to death in a Budapest prison before he can testify, the Fly Team attempts to salvage the case

10:40pm 10s Late News

11:05pm NCIS: Origins

Thursday May 15

7:30pm Taskmaster Australia

08:40pm The Cheap Seats rpt

09:40pm The Graham Norton Show rpt